Blog

It is time for the LORD to act, for your law has been broken.¹ O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old: you with your own hand drove out the nations, but them you planted; you afflicted the peoples, but them you set free; for not by their own sword did they win the land, not did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them.²

It is healthy to remember milestones that we may never forget the lessons taught. Thirty six years ago, the People Power Revolution, also known as the EDSA Revolution, was a series of popular demonstrations, mostly in Metro Manila, from February 22 to 25, 1986. It was a sustained campaign of civil resistance against regime violence and electoral fraud. The nonviolent revolution led to the departure of Ferdinand Marcos, the end of his 20-year dictatorship and restoration of democracy in the Philippines.³

Also known as the Yellow Revolution due to the presence of yellow ribbons, a brainchild of Nina Estrada-Puyat, a poetess known for her sonnets, intelligence, and grasp of history. Coined from the song by Orlando and Dawn, “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” to symbolize a protest following the assassination of Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr., Gov. Emilio Javier, among others. After Marcos had left, Corazon “Cory” Aquino became president. Hoping to heal a nation, the ills of the past were glossed over losing the opportunity to pass on crucial lessons of Righteousness and Justice⁴ to the next generation. If I may, our generation victimized by the oppression didn’t go through the grieving process; rather, remained in denial.

We have unscrupulously bought into the subtle lie adopting worldly wisdom—known as syncretism (the amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought).⁵ Especially, the separation of church and state—one of the legacies of the American and French Revolutions at the end of the 18^th century. The first, as implied in the Constitution of the United States.⁶ A breach from being salt and light of the earth.⁷

After God had chosen Moses to lead the Jews out of Egypt into the promise land,⁸ the Jews wandered in the desert for 40 years;⁹  God turned over the leadership to Joshua prior to their finally crossing over to the Promise Land,¹⁰ a generation arose who didn’t know God.¹¹

Joshua was given specific instructions, This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.¹²

There is nothing new under the sun.¹³ Today, fraught by social media and fake news, we have a generation that is clueless about the truth of the Marcos Era; a generation that had been deluded and can’t discern the truth. God’s chosen ones are to speak up! It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice.¹⁴ God should be in every area of life. YES! Including politics.

Commiserate with the ignorant and teach them, Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me! My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times. You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments. . . . Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.¹⁵

Walk . . . consider . . . go through . . . that you may tell the next generation that this is God.¹⁶ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples . . . Then he reiterates what God promised to Joshua, And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”¹⁷ Only, this promise is premised on obedience. He would rather that we be cold or hot not lukewarm.¹⁸

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!¹⁹