HE EXPLAINS IT WELL
Posted at 04:27 AM
It shames me to admit this, but I have a difficult time explaining why I believe. Oh, I know (memorized soon I hope) the verses and the historical facts. Yet to explain my faith in a way that would be effective, straightforward and non-judgmental seems nigh impossible. People would either get defensive, critical or offended; or some give a non-committal “I see” then think “I thought you were smart. I guess not…”
How I wish I can be ready, in season or out of season, to give a reason for the hope that I have.
For now, I’ll borrow the words of one of our churchmates. I would have chosen another word except for religion… but he explains it well.
Salonga, a man of faith: Eloquent, lyrical, compelling
By Dante VelascoInquirer
Not By Power Or Wealth AloneBy Jovito R. Salonga
Regina Publishing, 2007
MANILA, Philippines—You will be grabbed by a deep sense of nostalgia for a heroic leader when you read this book, “Not by Power or Wealth Alone,” written by one who lives this article of faith till now.
Carefully note the present tense, because the writer has lived to be over 80— living audaciously to make a difference, one more time, in the life of a nation still sadly divided by many issues.
Once in a rare while, his cogent analyses of issues on politics, law and governance find their way to the pages of the Inquirer—to provide a sharp insight, a compelling persuasion or an ennobling thought above and beyond the reach of petty partisanship or feeble lawyerly arguments.
He’s widely known as one who became
the Senate President who achieved, against all odds, what others failed to do—dismantle the foreign military bases. It was he who was most qualified to be President but—to the eternal regret of many—did not make it because he ran on a platform of “principled politics.”
He lost the presidency, and yet he won—and continues to win—the hearts of many freedom-loving, democratically committed and virtue-driven people.
Much is known about the public man—Jovito R. Salonga—but less is known about the private person, the inner world of Author Salonga. This book is a rare chance to take a peek at Salonga’s inner life.
This anthology of speeches, devotional messages, sermons, reflections and eulogies show Salonga’s depth of wisdom, range of interests and, yes, height of his dreams.
Theodore Roosevelt spoke of men wounded and scarred in the “arena of action”—here’s a man who was really tortured by the Japanese Kempetai and was almost lifeless when a bomb exploded in Plaza Miranda in August 1971.
This man prayed and said: “So that I may learn to consecrate myself to something bigger than life itself, so that I may realize the truth that to have broken bones, to be physically shattered and crippled is not of great moment as long as we do not allow anyone to break our faith in God, and cripple our love for our fellowmen.”
The author himself explains it, quoting a poet: “Vengeance may be sweet, but it is not really sweet if it robs a man a peaceful night, makes his days darker and stifles the song that should be in his heart.” This is a quote from a message speaking of the power to forgive delivered on Channel 2 on Good Friday in 1972.
Whence come the uncommon strength and courage of the author? He provides us a clue In a speech before cursillistas: He finds strength from his faith:
“To some people, religion is a little air-conditioned compartment on the side of life, an escape, a refuge from the real issues. But the meaning of the Christian gospel is that religion is everything—or it’s nothing.”
This author-leader disproves the point of Nikolai Lenin that religion is the “opiate of the people.” The author’s 1969 New Year reflections show he remains attuned to sobering realities about the people, while so-called “religious people” tune them out:
“There are things I do not want to forget—the suffering I saw in the provinces, the injustice of incredible poverty in many of our villages and barrios, the lack of opportunity among our people bound by years of misery. It is by remembering those little faces of children, haunted by hunger and by the fear of tomorrow that I realize there is still so much to be done.”
The author’s thoughts about his encounters with leaders are both revealing and instructive. Because of that, they are tinged with irony since the people he dealt with were shifting positions on issues or even on ethical matters.
Salonga recalls his prayer in a National Prayer Breakfast in Manila Hotel, with President Arroyo in attendance, and recited this statement (that should now be timely considering the controversial presidential pardon that was met with mixed emotions by the country):
“In case of doubt, we should choose the hard right over the easy wrong; and when we are tempted to compromise, we should remember that anything can be compromised except truth and justice.”
The author also recalls advising a head of state, in connection to a wiretapping incident in 2005, saying: “My advice to the President was quite simple and direct: ‘Be not afraid to tell the truth’.”
As expected, this book of speeches and short remarks are also adorned by the usual niceties about speech making. What one notices, though, is that the words and phrases rise to the level of eloquence and lyricism not by a conscious use of rhetorical devices—but by the sheer force of the man’s thoughts and the pure simplicity and beauty of one so committed to higher causes and principles.
Actually, one better understands the durability and extreme relevance of Author Salonga in a eulogy where he quoted a rabbi:
“Many people are not afraid of dying; they are afraid of not having lived. What frightens people is the dread of insignificance, the notion that we will be born and live and one day die—and none of it will matter.”This man matters to this country in desperate search for modern-day heroes. This simple quote from the book is a clarion call: “Greatness is all about service, not about power or wealth.” This rings especially true for this author-leader.
(dantemvelasco@yahoo.com)
