In Europe, religious piety produced some of the world’s greatest artistic achievements – Bach’s music, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes, and Gothic architecture. In contrast, Filipino piety cannot seem to rise above the dread with which we regard the Supreme Being. Our ardor does not result in offerings of sustained creativity but only in acts of … Read more
My brother, Fr. Pablo David, a biblical scholar, has published a fascinating essay on the power of metaphors and the changing images of God in the Bible. He focuses on the shift in imagery that the “weird” prophet Hosea popularized to induce the ancient people of Israel to re-imagine their relationship with Yahweh. From being … Read more
Erap’s complains that he has been singled out and offered as an exhibit by the ruling elite to show that justice works in this country and that wrongdoing will not go unpunished. He is being cast, he says, in the role of the proverbial big fish that will not get away. They – big business, … Read more
Four elders of our political community, all masters in the art of pragmatic politics, met recently to find a solution to the problem created by the withdrawal of ex-president Joseph Estrada’s lawyers from the cases filed against him. They are traversing the thin line between law and politics. Senators Blas Ople, Edgardo Angara, and Aquilino … Read more
If, suddenly, Erap decides to keep silent and not defend himself in protest against an unfair judicial process, I would think the system would really break down. If he says he won’t play the game, explain himself, question the witnesses or dispute the evidence against him, we would be unable to judge him. We would … Read more
The first time it happened in 1986, we stood in total awe of its amazing qualities – its swiftness, its passion, its strength and its restraint. We did not think it was possible for a people that had stood so helplessly before a dictator for 14 years to summon enough will and grace to free … Read more
Many people argue against taking a constitutional and principled approach to the problem of the Abu Sayyaf because we need to be practical and realistic. They justify accepting American military assistance to crush this terrorist group on this basis. Is this a practical and realistic option? I submit that it is not. After nine months … Read more
The 1987 Constitution is clear enough on the matter: After the expiration of the RP-US Military Bases Agreement in 1991, no foreign military bases, troops, or facilities shall be allowed in the Philippines except under a treaty. On September 16, 1991, the Philippine Senate rejected a new treaty that sought to extend the stay of … Read more
By “terrorist talk”, I mean absolutist talk like President George Bush’s “Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists.” Such talk does not allow any room for alternative viewpoints. Its speaker has seen the “truth,” therefore any other view must be false or evil. What President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said the other day … Read more
In its simplest sense, terrorism is the use of fear to force an individual or a community to act in a way contrary to reason. It is the opposite of debate, argument, or persuasion. You cannot argue with a terrorist. He is not interested in dialogue or discussion. His mind is closed. He feels superior … Read more