As the nation pauses with the rest of Christendom starting tomorrow to remember Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Black Saturday, we propose a view of our reality through the prism of the Cross.
We find ourselves crucified:
In persons plagued by want like 16-year-old Kristel Tejada, who took her own life amid personal circumstances that included the discontinuation of her studies for lack of money.
In victims of terror like former Australian Army Soldier Warren Richard Rodwell, who was kept captive for 15 months by the evil Abu Sayyaf.
In the members of the Sultanate of Sulu and the Filipinos in Sabah who suffer the consequences of longtime government inaction on the Philippine claim to Sabah.
In televiewers who are deprived of quality, nation-building programming like the millions forced to endure the histrionics of Kris Aquino or the parents of Heart Evangelista, et. al., because the news media can get carried away by celebrities.
In the poor who do not receive basic services from pork barrel-wielding lawmakers who channel the people’s money to dummy nongovernment organizations.
In the fresh graduates who will have a hard time entering the workforce, let alone finding their decent first jobs.
In the earth that endures with little substantial relief the consequences of global warming and climate change, making life difficult for families who ought to be making a living through farming and fishing.
In the voters who deserve better leadership than what they see of politicos who issue motherhood campaign statements, clutter walls with their posters and engage in mudslinging with their opponents.
In the loved ones of overseas Filipino workers who continue to miss their breadwinner abroad because the government has yet to fulfill its promise to make employment in foreign shores an option rather than a necessity.
In residents of locales like Cebu City whose progress is held back by intramurals between the mayor and the legislative council who would rather stay on opposite ends of the canyon than walk the road of intelligent compromise.
In young people who have become so attached to gadgets and the Internet they have forgotten the value of neighborliness, the pleasure of outdoor play, and face to face interaction.
In young people who have no fallback plan in times of difficulty but to resort to drugs, drink, sex and other paths to addiction.
May these holy days lead us to the doorway of resurrection out of these and hundreds of other crucifixions.