Of El Nino and Edsa

Batas Mauricio

DO you remember this? “I don’t know whether we should be alarmed or not, but there is a report which said that the Philippines is likely to be hit by the El Nino phenomenon in the next several months, and is probably going to last very long, according to Pagasa, or the weather bureau.

“Traditionally, the El Nino phenomenon is believed to cause warming of the ocean’s surface and, consequently, the evaporation of sea water to form rain clouds which later on transform into relatively strong downpours.

“But reports suggests that because of the El Nino phenomenon these coming months, the Philippines will more likely suffer ‘below normal rainfall condition’ in northern and central Luzon, including Palawan, and some areas in Central Visayas and Mindanao. Which means, hotter and drier temperatures, and which means, further, less agricultural production.

“But whatever way this El Nino turns out to be when it finally comes–whether it would bring more flood-inducing rains or a hotter climate which is greatly more pernicious to agriculture–it would appear from press advisories that there is nothing much we and the government can do to stop it from happening.

“Indeed, that is the truth–there is no one which can stop El Nino or even its counterpart, the La Nina phenomenon, which is supposed to be a weather condition characterized by stronger than normal rains. This plainly means we are all vulnerable,  and more Filipinos will likely suffer the death and devastation coming from these rains, floods or dry spells, once again.

“Unless, of course, if we start believing that warming temperatures around the world, and the rains and the floods that have been wrecking havoc in our lives more regularly now, have a spiritual or Biblical dimension so that, in addition to the disaster mitigation programs which the government had been pushing relentlessly, we as a nation could look at what the Bible prescribes as remedies for surviving the foregoing natural calamities.

“First, we must understand that under Deuteronomy 28:15, 22-23 of the Bible, there is a warning that global warming and climate change will happen and give rise to fiery skies and metal-hard soils, scorching heat and deadly droughts, and dust and powder falling from the heavens. For what reason? Deuteronomy 28:15 says: `…if you no longer listen to God and no longer obey His commands…’

“Then, Jesus Christ, our God and Savior, warned all of us about the impending rains, floods and strong winds. In Matthew 7:24-27, He said these calamities will come and people who listen to, and obey, Him will survive these natural tragedies. But, Jesus clarified, those who listen but do not obey Him will all die.

“Based on these two parts of the Bible, it is quite clear that there is no stopping these natural calamities from coming to the world. But God, in His great love and mercy for all of us, provided us a way out: we must listen to Him and obey His commands if we want to survive and prevail. Translated, this means, we must read His Bible and obey what He says. Or we perish and die.”

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The implications for the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution are simply staggering, if we will only try to “look through” more carefully on what Catholic Bishop Teodoro Bacani Jr. of Novaliches, Quezon City said in his homily celebrating the Edsa event last Feb. 25 at the Edsa Shrine in Mandaluyong City.

Bacani was quoted as saying that the most important revolution of all is not really a revolution of the people asserting their power, which means to say the Edsa People Power Revolution was in reality an irrelevance to Filipinos wanting real change, but a revolution that leads to a conversion of the heart of an individual.

“The most important revolution is (the) revolution of the heart, (or the revolution of) conversion,” Bacani was also reported to have preached, in the presence of high government officials belonging to the Cabinet of President Benigno Aquino III. The prelate further urged that Filipinos must obey God, and not men, and that we must help each other not only with the work of our hands but with hearts that have Jesus.

That was a mouthful, if you ask me. Why would Bacani, a respected leader of the Philippine Roman Catholic Church, be advocating for a “revolution of the heart” at a time when “people power revolution”–or the ouster of the country’s president through a supposedly bloodless uprising of the people–was being extolled in its 30th year?

It could only mean one thing: that as far as Bacani and his Church were concerned, the so-called “people power revolution” that took place in Edsa in 1986 was not the kind of revolution that the country and its people needed at that time as it did not, in fact, improve their lives. Yes, Edsa may have ushered in a change in leadership alright, but a change in the heart, in the attitude and behavior of many Filipinos, did not take place.

Many Filipinos, leaders and ordinary citizens alike, remained corrupt and concerned only about their personal and family interests, and in the furtherance of their financial fortunes which suffered greatly during the 20-year reign of Ferdinand Marcos. Democracy and economic prosperity continued to be enjoyed only by the rich and the mighty after Edsa 1986, while our countrymen remain shackled in poverty and want.

There did not come about a change in the mindset of Filipino politicians, oligarchs, and social warlords towards the great number of ordinary Filipinos who continued unable to make both ends meet with the meager incomes being earned by them. There was not even a mere attempt at improving the lives of the poor, who suffered all the more.

All of these showed the failure of Edsa to change the system of governance which the Cory Aquino presidency inherited from the Marcos regime. As we have pointed out in earlier items in this column, the Cory Aquino presidency was itself enmeshed with accusations of gargantuan corruption, many of which were reported to have been committed early on in her term.

Why did Edsa fail? Bishop Bacani’s implied answer was right—there was no revolution of the heart principally of Edsa leaders, which trickled down in torrents towards a great number of Filipinos who got disillusioned in knowing that throwing out the Marcoses from power did not enable them to live new lives, as promised by Cory and her allies when they grabbed power.

E-mail: batasmauricio@yahoo.com