PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. should consider declaring Feb. 25, a commemoration of the EDSA revolution, as a regular public holiday like before. This is not to remind him and the rest of the Marcos family how his father, former President Ferdinand Marcos, was driven out of power, but to provide a huge reconciling gesture to the Aquinos and the opposition that may yet turn out to be an iconic class act by the President.
‘… to provide a huge reconciling gesture to the Aquinos and the opposition that may yet turn out to be an iconic class act by the President.’
The President should be thankful somehow that no one from his family has been charged and indicted for the assassination of then-opposition leader Ninoy Aquino.
Whoever was behind the killing of Aquino on August 21, 1983 has never been identified.
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The current rift with the Dutertes has provided former senator Antonio Trillanes and the camp of former Vice President Leni Robredo a rare avenue of fellowship with the Marcoses. Trillanes and Barry Gutierrez, spokesman of Robredo, have called for the resignation of Vice President Sara Duterte as DepeEd Secretary for the very unsavory remarks thrown by her cussing father and brother against President Marcos Jr. as an alleged drug user.
It would also be a huge political advantage for Marcos to lead a coalition with the major opposition groups mainly if they intend to prevent another Duterte from assuming power.
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The government should ensure the security and safety of ICC probers in the country, especially after former President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to shoot them dead if and when an arrest order is issued and enforced against him. He made the serious threat, punctuated with demonic tirades, in a recent interview with local radio in Mindanao.
Justice Secretary Boying Remulla may have given a hint that the government has eased its initial resistance to any arrest warrant against the former President by stating that international bodies entering our country should abide by the Constitution. In a sense, he conveyed more indirect guidance to the top officials of the criminal justice system that the groundwork, as mandated by law, has long been laid down for the actual enforcement of any arrest order against the former President or any Filipino citizen for that matter.
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Christ’s Commission Fellowship (CCF) Senior Pastor Peter Tan-chi’s preaching last Sunday dealt with how many in the Christian community have failed to live a truly Godly lifestyle. He cited a recent survey of people not affiliated with any religious organization that yielded the following findings – that 55% of Christians are hypocritical while 54% of them are judgmental. The centerpiece of the Christian faith is genuine love. And yet, Pastor Tan-chi points out that seeking the highest good of others is a deep manifestation of selfless love that can otherwise be costly and risky and has not been quite evident in our society.
Indeed, Christians still grapple with the major relevant commands of Jesus in Luke 6:27-28, in brief: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you, And, pray for those who mistreat you.”
Pastor Tan-chi admits that he had struggled with forgiveness in his early Christian life. He recalls that his family’s business partner, a long-time friend, had taken over their very profitable real estate company and forced him out during the martial law regime. His friend, also Chinese, was a crony of then-President Marcos.
Several years later, Pastor Tan-chi learned that his friend was suffering from a serious illness that had left him bedridden.
As a Christian pastor, he knew it was his job, especially when requested, to pray for the sick and suffering. He gave in to his very resentful heart and argued with some Christian friends, “What if he gets well??” Ultimately, Pastor Tan-Chi went to visit his very sick friend at his home, and when he entered his room, the latter got up from his bed to welcome him and shake his hand.
The Pastor recalls vividly that stirring moment – as he shook his friend’s hand, all his bitterness and anger suddenly vanished and was replaced by God’s love and compassion. God made their tears flow to wash away their pain, anguish and regrets!
