The true meaning of Easter to the Philippines

More than any time in recent history, the Philippines needs an Easter which is not only for one day but a resurrection for a long, long time, if not forever. We need a savior who, albeit will be gone for a while, shall come back in no time to bring us all to the eternal home in the House of the Father. The Philippines, among all the countries in Asia, is the chosen land where Easter is celebrated as the central point of our faith.

Easter means a hope for salvation for our country and people. Our country needs to be saved from an imminent invasion by China. We also need to be spared from the possible war between the Americans and the Chinese. We are at the frontline. Just like what happened in 1941, when the US had conflict with Japan, we were attacked, invaded, and subjugated by the Japanese because we were hosting American forces and assets right in our territory. Today, the Americans are building up massive military hardware in many strategic parts of our country. If China wants to hit the US, we are the first and foremost target. We need deliverance then in the same spirit as Easter.

The Philippines also needs salvation from traditional politicians, many of whom are in government, mostly in the legislative and the executive departments, who are always pushing for initiatives that can only bring more damage to our battered nation and people. A great majority of these trapos are in power not because they have been chosen for their superior wisdom and compassion but because they bought the votes that lend a semblance of legitimacy to their claim for power, influence and prestige. These people are bringing the country down and have in fact enriched themselves at the expense of the long-suffering taxpayers. We need to be saved from these kinds of impostors as new scribes and Pharisees.

This country also needs to be saved from local government leaders who, by themselves or by their underlings, do lead in ravaging nature or abet in the denudation of our forests, in the destruction of our cultural domains and in the devastation of our natural environment. We need to pray for salvation from those in national agencies who are either sleeping on their jobs or are in cahoots with illegal miners and illegal loggers who continue the rape of Mother Earth. We need to heal our lands from the pernicious and reprehensible recklessness of decision-makers who are intentionally or unwittingly exacerbating the destructive impact of climate change.

Our people need to be saved from power-hungry politicians and fake religious leaders who nonchalantly and mindlessly commit heinous crimes and just flee the country to avoid the force of law. Our country needs to be resurrected from warlords masquerading as politicians who use the drug war to kill people and claim to administer justice extra-judicially by summary execution. This nation needs a salvation from political dynasties that rule the government as if it is their private domain and family corporation, where husbands and wives both sit in the same Congress, where brothers and sisters are governors and congressmen, mayors, senators, and Cabinet members.

Easter, a continuing Easter, is what this country requires amidst many man-made sufferings and pains being borne by this perennially-crucified nation. The only Christian nation in Asia, the only Catholic country in the Far East is still hanging on the cross of man's unabated inhumanity to the people. May God save the Philippines.