Of principles and passages

Between Aug. 1, the day former President Cory Aquino died, and Aug. 21, the 26th anniversary of the martyrdom of her husband Sen. Ninoy Aquino, Jr., Filipinos showed the world why those who seek to do good on earth are not just rewarded in heaven.

I used to think Filipinos had a short memory for the evil done to them, and an even shorter memory for the good done to them.

After the death of Cory Aquino, there is no more doubt in my mind that Filipinos, despite shifting political loyalties, and inconsistencies on certain issues, are not sieves when good is poured over them. They keep the good and remember where it came from.

Having worked in the administration of President Cory and having covered her when she became a private citizen anew, I have seen how critics have trivialized her contribution to the restoration of democracy in the Philippines (some have even falsely claimed she was not in EDSA during the people power revolution), how they did not put on a pedestal her legacy of clean government and detachment from power. Power corrupts, they say, and tempts even the most principled. Cory resisted the temptation, and I am sure there were many, including the temptation to extend her stay at Malacañang.

Do-gooders, even if you do not seek any reward, be consoled by the thought that Filipinos are a grateful people — and that they know the difference between good and evil, immoderate or not.

“Good will always triumph over evil,” Pinky Aquino Abellada said in her response after a Mass at the Don Bosco Church commemorating the 26th death anniversary of her father. She said the love, support and appreciation shown by the Filipino people for the sacrifices made by her parents before the altar of democracy and clean government in 1983, 1986 and 2009 was overwhelming.

That Filipinos are a discerning people, especially when it comes to what is good and evil, was made clear in the last three weeks.

The question is, is their outpouring of gratitude for Cory transferable to the cause she lived for — and the person who personifies that cause?

Pinky, who said she was designated the spokesman for the day by Ballsy, her ate, said the emotions of the past three weeks should be translated to votes come May 2010. And who should the votes of those who want to honor Ninoy and Cory go to?

Pinky did not name names, but she did identify the characteristics of the person we should elect president. According to Pinky, that person should be “sincere, honest (“No one can accuse my parents of corruption”) at hindi manlalamang sa kapwa nila Filipino.”

“They should be in public office for the public good and not to make their personal lives better,” Pinky said.

So vote in May 2010 — or forever hold your peace.

‘Passages’

I like Daniel de la Cruz’s works because they make me think. They are essays, not just pieces of sculpture. Each dent, each fold, each spike, each rounded thigh and full belly convey a message. Looking at his works is like going on a 60-second recollection.

It is probably because, laughs Daniel, he is in the cusp of mid-life. Mid-life, like adolescence, nudges, even pushes one into a journey of self-searching, of filling in the blanks and finding answers in a sea of multiple choices. Some mid-lifers go into sabbaticals; some, like me, go into a spiritual retreat (an unforgettable passage that I will share in a future column). Others, like Daniel, well, they just sculpt away and put their issues, thoughts and feelings into metal — brass, copper, lead and now, chrome and nickel.

That is perhaps why the 42-year-old Daniel entitled his fifth one-man exhibit, “Passage.” He is in transit, and in his journey, several feelings bounce off the corners of his heart and mind.

“This is my statement as an artist who is trying to evolve with the passage of time and the accumulation of wisdom. I believe that there is a sense of connection with the divine. This great journey forces us to go through countless passages as we search for the truth,” says Daniel.

One also starts to think beyond the here, the now, and starts ruminating about forever.

Some of Daniel’s figures “depict the eternal struggle for redemption.”

“Redemption” shows a woman struggling to break into the surface of a watery realm — a visual statement on the need to be free. “Deliverance,” another favorite, depicts a woman in flight with streaks of chrome radiating from her body to suggest speed and single-minded movement.

Among my favorites in his current collection is entitled: “Be Still.” It presents the contrasting form of a woman serenely standing in the middle of a whirlwind but remaining perfectly poised and steady.

In many ways, we are that woman. We are enveloped in a whirl of activity, of commitments, expectations and people. We struggle to remain grounded so we are not displaced. Spiritually, we also need to be still so we can hear the voice of God and the answers to our prayers amid the cacophony of voices and activities around us.

“The exhibit is simply trying to convey the basic kernel of truth that life is a passage, a journey to a higher level of consciousness and existence. We all must undergo the crossroads and junctions towards enlightenment.”

Passages can be smooth, or they can be turbulent. Daniel’s works show that they can be liberating, too.

“Passage” opens at the Artistspace of the Ayala Museum on Aug. 28, and will run till Sept. 10.

Journey with it.

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