Fisherman

 The Fisherman

"Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body, and mind will vanish like evil at the dawn of the day." - (Thomas Jefferson)

The power and wiliness of evil that tend to darken the world, particularly the Philippines need a talisman. And, by the grace, mercy, and blessing of God, the country found one, a fisherman. He is an inspiration to the Filipinos who are in a country of 7,100 islands, 80.58 % Catholics, 10.8 % Protestant, and 5.57% Muslim according to the 2010 Census. This fisherman has a talisman and is leading his people to the placid waters of peace, and prosperity

However, the kingdom of darkness of Satan with his multitude of followers ceaselessly lays siege to the devoted fishers, industrious farmers, and humble folks in the corner and crevice of the rich, fertile, resource-fraught islands. 

This fisherman, talisman, and leader plied across the straits to the islands, observed the waters, and found the fountain of hope, a panacea to the ills that beset his peoples' livelihood. It dawned on his perception of the empirical and ontological reality that the people own the primeval water, the ancestral land, and the spacious sky.

"Vox populi, vox Dei", the voice of the people is the voice of God. The Malacanan Palace at San Miguel, Manila, the official residence of the president of the Philippines could only be occupied by an official duly elected by the people. That freedom is "the government of the people, by the people, and for the people." What is happening after the granting of Independence- the government became " off" the people, "bought" by the people, "fought" by the people.) 

Education opens the door to knowledge. The genesis of governance appears clean and promising but later on, power and greed wriggled their ugly tentacles. Corruption entered the backdoor, while honesty dwindled, and the strong arms of the moneyed and the mighty flexed their muscles to grab a bag of power. and influence. And in these serious instances, a burst of anger is the only resource left.

Rebellion is a welcome tool. It has acquired the ability to take what it can get not by friendly persuasion but by a drastic measure. It has a tenacious grip on the accumulation of wealth and the increase of power. It has focused the blame on the government by creating trouble and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake alleging that the Palace is remiss on its demands like land reform, a deaf ear to the indigenous' cry for their social and economic status, and the unequal distribution of government projects. 

Enter a rebel with a cause. In the 1930s there was agrarian unrest, a political figure, Luis M. Taruc  (1942- 1950) emerged who led a communist-inspired guerilla movement together with the Central Luzon farmers called Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon (Hukbalahap)  acronym, The Huks. The spark of the movement ignited the Filipino mind at the rice granary of the country - Central Luzon but later the ember faded. The Huk rebellion ended during the  Ramon Magsaysay administration after 4 months of negotiations represented by Manuel Manahan and Benigno Aquino, Jr.  

Mindanao became an island of opportunity. It was now: go South as a battle cry.  (Remember the Pilgrim Fathers in World History.) The adventurers, the ambitious, the dreamers embarked on a ship, others on big sailboats carrying with them luggage of dream and hope for a better sunrise: Destination - Mindanao.

Sure enough, the timing was precisely right. They were overwhelmed with expectations.  On a bright sunny day, they saw the untouched sea of limitless grasses and bushes dancing with the wind, the kilometers of the primeval forest darkened with lumber slumbered with the lullaby of birds and the bees. The scenario was of abundance but behind it loomed hard work, perseverance, and the conundrum of the odds of circumstances.

And the pioneering spirit in Mindanao holds on to the Pilgrim Fathers' progress until the onslaught on the citadel of their living occurred inspired by the acquired idea of a UP vintage of Jose Ma Sison aka Joma. who founded the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), then the National Peoples Army ( NPA) under the aegis of the reestablished CPP with a significant base of young urban youth and in the small area of the countryside that spread even as Martial Law was declared by Marcos in 1972. Nonetheless, by the capture of Sison in 1977, the seed of the revolutionary movement and armed struggle had been sown in every major region from North to South. Despite the heyday day of the Marcos regime Martial Law, the Philippine revolutionary movement burgeoned greatly in the late 1970s. Sison's writings and books served to awaken and arm a whole generation of radical activists and revolutionary cadres. CPP, NPA, NDF aim the overthrow the government through armed struggle. Peace talk is only a propaganda machine, an alliance of building operations and maneuvering against the government. But the ultimate aim is death, and destruction by way of radical terrorism which is their main form of advocacy for change. However, President Duterte is serious to find peace.

 And lately, Sison has lost his grip. Bad news for these radical activists and revolutionary cadres like waves are rushing to the shore of the Palace, so to speak, for a change.

Now this fisherman, talisman, and leader continue on scouring the deep waters of the archipelago and sees the reflection that there's a gold mine in the sky. Then twilight approaches as he watches the world roll by still thinking of that long-lost gold mine in the sky. And there is a whisper with a tinge of ontology, not far away, not far away and it will be soon some sweet day.

This leader has not only love but loyalty to his Creator, country, and people. God bless the Philippines!