Of Bibles and Bible Quizzes

So, a friend (Totep!), reminded me of a blog I wrote ages ago. That and a recent experience I really want to write about led me to rediscover this interest in blogging. So here goes...

I was invited to be the quiz master for a parish's Bible Quiz Bee recently. It is quite an honor for me to be entrusted with such a role. (Roles, actually; since I wrote the questions, made the PowerPoint presentation for the quiz, hosted the quiz, and served as sole judge for technicalities.) Suffice it to say it was a challenging afternoon for me, to say the least. What I'd really like to say it was controversial.

It was controversial because come the difficult round of the quiz, I met a lot of questions (protests) over some technicalities. The easy and average rounds were smooth, no one asked questions since these earlier rounds were in multiple choice type. You write the letter corresponding to the correct answer, you score; you mistook the answer, no score, as easy as that. Then came the difficult round which is identification type. I prepared questions, the answers to which will either be names of people or words, even sentences directly taken form the Bible.

So with the difficult round came the technicalities. What if the participants did not get the answer word for word? What if they wrote Peter when the Bible read Simon? When I asked who knew the day and the hour according to Mk. 13, what if they answered "God," instead of "the Father?"

What made it more difficult for me was, when I was expecting there would be a panel to judge these technicalities and decide which answers to consider or not, there was none. There were questions, there were protests as I mentioned. In the end, I had to decide, and I had to assert my decisions.

When the contest ended, I was asking myself questions. Are my decisions over technicalities the sole determinant of the winner? (The champion won by only one point over the runner-up) Had I been to harsh on some instances, too lenient on others? I was looking the faces of the losers; would some of them blame me that they lost because of technicalities? Will I ever get over this experience? Will they, can they, get over and move on from their loss? So many questions, but the answers are so few (oh wait, did I just sing a love song?).

When the coordinating committee was awarding the winners, I wanted to take the microphone and ask for some time for few words, a message to all of them. But it wasn't part of the program, I didn't dare ask. But here's what I wanted to tell everyone if I had the chance:

The Bible should be a source of unity. Scripture teaches us peace. The Word of God directs us to love.

These things happen all the time, in all contests; some win, others lose. But I guess they already know that. A Bible Quiz Bee is a unique situation. They read, we all read, the Word of God. And the end of the day, the Bible should teach us not really to compete or to fight with each other. Not quarrel, over mere words or names written. Not to feel mad over some technicalities. Not to be hurt over some award or certificate. I've seen this in may instances. It hurts when division results out of our reading of the Bible. This is not the way it should be. I will just repeat, I feel there is no more need to expound more: The Bible should be a source of unity. Scripture teaches us peace. The Word of God directs us to love.

I am not fond of weaving Biblical texts. But let me just end this article with a few verses that we can all weave for ourselves.

 The Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone (2Tim 2:24)

Avoid foolish arguments, genealogies, rivalries, and quarrels about the law, for they are useless and futile. (Ti 3:9)

What is important is faith expressing itself in love. (Gal 5:6)

Linggo ng Pentekostes

"Nadagdag sa kanila ang may 3,000 tao nang araw na iyon. Nanatili sila sa itinuro ng mga apostol, sa pagsasama-sama bilang magkakapatid, sa pagpipira-piraso ng tinapay, at sa pananalangin." Gawa 2:41-42

"Araw-araw, sila'y nagkakatipon sa templo, nagpipira-piraso ng tinapay sa kanilang tahanan, at nagsasalu-salong masaya ang kalooban. Nagpupuri sila sa Diyos at kinalulugdan ng lahat ng tao. Bawat araw ay idinaragdag sa kanila ng Panginoon ang mga inililigtas." Gawa 2:46-47

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Sa mga tala ng Banal na Kasulatan, ang isang naging bunga ng pagdating ng Espiritu Santo ay ang paglaganap ng pananampalataya kay Kristo; ang pagdami ng mga mananampalataya.

Narito na agad ang matinding tanong at hamon sa atin, mga makabagong Kristiyano:
- bakit, ayon sa tala ng ilang eksperto, dumarami ang tumatalikod sa Simbahan o tumatalikod sa pananampalataya? Bakit tinatamad ang mga Kristiyano pagdating sa mga gawain kaugnay ng pananampalataya?

Iniwan na ba tayo ng Espiritung Banal? Hindi na ba natin taglay ang Kanyang biyaya at pamamatnubay?

Nakatitiyak akong hindi ang Espiritu Santo ang dapat sisihin sa ganitong pangyayari; sapagkat ang bisa ng patnubay ng Espiritu Santo ay katumbas ng pag-ibig ng Diyos -- walang hanggan. Bagkus tingnan natin ang pagkukulang sa panig nating mga tao.

Napapabayaan sa ting mga pamayanan ang paglaganap ng mga paraan ng pamumuhay na salungat sa ating tawag bilang mga Kristiyano. Nakikita pa ba sa atin ang diwa ng pananatili sa itinuro ng mga apostol, ang pagsasama-sama bilang magkakapatid, ang pagsasalu-salong masaya ang kalooban? Inilalaan ba natin ang ating sarili sa layuning ipalaganap ang Kaharian ng Diyos?

Magtatagumpay lamang ang pagsusumikap na ipalaganap ang paghahari ng Diyos kung ang Banal na Espiritu ay nananahan sa puso ng mga tao, ng mga Kristiyano. Ang Dakilang Kapistahan ng Pentekostes ay hindi lamang ang paggunita sa pagpanaog ng Espiritu Santo sa mga Apostol, kundi ang pagtatanto natin, na ang Espiritung ito ay taglay din natin sa ting mga puso, at tinatawagan tayong kumilos ayon sa kanyang paggabay.

(Pagninilay halaw sa aklat ni Adolf Adam: The Key to Faith)

A Late Addition to the Election Brouhaha...

A late addition to the Election bruhaha...
(makikigulo lang)

Contrary to what some people may say, there is not yet any evidence of a "catholic vote." And contrary to what is sensationalized in mass media, it does not seem that the RH issue factored significantly in the election. If it did, Hontiveros would win if the Pro-RH dominated the elections, Mitos Magsaysay would win if it's the other way around.

The reason neither Hontiveros nor Magsaysay is likely to win is they are not as popular as a "Poe" or a "Binay" or even an "Estrada," or at least not yet.

This is no expert opinion; but it does not seem as if we need an expert to figure this out.

Also, it is absurd to claim any Divine intervention stopped Hontiveros from being in the Senate; that is simply delusional  If God was responsible for that, He should have as well made sure Magsaysay, delos Reyes, Llasos, et al., won the election. But as such, there is no need for God to do that. He gave as reason, free will, plus conscience for purposes such as that.

MAINTAINING A NON-PARTISAN CHURCH: THE PHILIPPINE CHURCH, COMELEC, AND TEAM BUHAY

MAINTAINING A NON-PARTISAN CHURCH:

THE PHILIPPINE CHURCH, COMELEC, AND TEAM BUHAY

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Now that some Bishops, priests, and lay leaders want to distinguish between ‘Team Buhay and Team Patay’ and directly or indirectly campaign for or against certain political candidates, here’s my two cents’ worth:

The Supreme Court initially favoring the Church via the TRO issued against the Comelec’s order for the removal of the “Team Buhay, Team Patay” tarp, it may, in one way, show the possibility of a so-called “Catholic vote.” But this would not in any way guarantee a better election, better politics, much less a better Philippine Nation.

I understand the Church’s rage on Legarda, Escudero, Hontiveros, et al., for supporting the RH Law. But calling Cynthia Villar, JV Ejercito, Nancy Binay, and others “Team Buhay” and endorsing their candidacy is another thing. I appreciate ‘Team Buhay’ for their opposition to the RH Law, an opposition that is seemingly a continually losing battle in this secular world. But putting them in the Senate, tantamount to saying they are our best choices for the highest law-making body of our country, to me that is unacceptable.

THE FALLIBILITY OF A POSSIBLE CATHOLIC VOTE

I have not forgotten how in 2010, even without the idea of a “Catholic vote” some bishops and priests, some of them still have that ominous yellow ribbon on their cars to this day, openly endorsed Noynoy Aquino. Fast forward to 2013 we all know that Aquino played a vital and most important role in the railroading and immediate passage of the RH Law after hasty deliberations. Noynoy might have still won the elections then even without endorsement from the Church leaders; he would still have railroaded the passage of the RH Law afterwards. But those who endorsed him have less of a right, or maybe they have no right at all, to scream in protest; they are partly to blame for the ‘success’ of RH.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A NON-PARTISAN CHURCH

In 2010, in the midst of election campaigns, I also did ask myself, “isn’t it high time for the Church to identify and promote certain candidates that would echo the “Catholic voice” in the government. At that point an acquaintance, now a priest in the Diocese of Malolos, answered me in this line thought: “if the Church names candidates the Catholics should vote, the Church would be as much responsible if a candidate she endorsed fails in governing, or worse, end up being as corrupt as the leaders the Church so condemn.” And now I realize, Ta Menx, now Fr. Menald, was right then; right until today if he still holds the same opinion.

The Church serves as the herald of the truth; the arbiter of morality of this nation.  If the Church leaders would openly dictate who the Catholics should vote and they directly or indirectly commit a mistake and help elect corrupt, even evil officials, then her voice as a moral guardian would be muffled. If the Church would endorse candidates who cannot keep their promises of good governance, then she would lose her authority as an arbiter of morality. It would be hypocritical of a Church that would engage in partisan politics if one day she rejoices and claims credit for electing a leader via the Catholic vote and then the next day cries “Anathema sit!” on that same leader.

This is the very reason why the Church should remain non-partisan; it is essential to her nature and mission to remain so. It is vital to witnessing to the truth that the Church does not take sides on the issue of politics. The Church can remain non-partisan when it comes to elections, but be still as bold in proclaiming the truth about Christ’s teachings.

STATEMENT OF FILIPINO BISHOPS AND STATEMENT OF THE BISHOPS OF THE PHILIPPINES

This need to maintain the non-partisan stand of the Church may be the reason why, of the many voices I hear on the ‘Catholic vote’ there is one obviously missing; one so important – that of the pre-eminent Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle. Moreover, lay leaders, priests, and bishops have taken initiative, but it is apparent that the initiative is not sanctioned on an official level by the Philippine Church, there seems to be no official statement by the CBCP. These two facts, the silence of the Archbishop of Manila, ‘primus inter pares’ among Filipino prelates and the lack of an ‘official’ declaration of the CBCP tells me the initiative of the so-called Catholic vote is just that, an initiative, though not in any way an official teaching of the Philippine Church.

With this in mind, I have reason to believe that though some Filipino bishops would want otherwise, the bishops of the Philippines via the CBCP leadership and the Philippine Church that Cardinal Tagle so vividly represents, intends to remain as non-partisan as ever and refrain from partisan politics, as all of us should do so.

Unknown land

Back in my College years, I remember; whenever it's time for our weekend-at-home or free afternoon, whenever Monico or Joseph, or both (our juniors) would leave carrying a huge bag, (which means either is going home) their classmates (usually Pao and company) would ask: "mag-aabroad ka?" (You're going abroad?) Somehow it's been a joke for their classmates in the Seminary to call our place "abroad." I was just lucky I'm a senior, and the juniors dare not mess with me.

Monico, Joseph, and I hail from Cay Pombo, Sta. Maria, Bulacan. To most of our colleagues, even to most priests, Cay Pombo is an "unknown land;" just like unrevealed terrain in an RPG. That is why they call it "abroad." The name of the place just sounds too weird for them; maybe too primitive. Say you're from Cay Pombo and you get a funny reaction; where in hell is that? But say you're from Sta. Maria, and your problem's gone (but then again, they'd ask, where exactly in Sta. Maria?)

But to come to think of it, Cay Pombo, the place where I grew up, is not very different from other places in Bulacan. We're not that primitive, you know? Our small barrio is somehow better off than other barrios. We're closer to civilization, closer to Manila -- compared  to Hagonoy, Baliuag, San Miguel etc. And there are a lot more other places the name of which I find more amusing; like "Kalye Bungo" or "Kalye Walang Diyos," etc. I somehow find it insulting that people would make so much fun out of the name of our barrio, so much to call "abroad."

But now I realized, the barrio Cay Pombo that I knew, the place I remember, is just that now - an unknown land. Cay Pombo today is no longer the Cay Pombo I remember long ago. The barrio I used to call home had vast green fields around it. On those fields I used to play as a child. The roads where not too busy back then, we could run around and play on the streets. People in our small barrio then knew almost everyone. Know the surname of one, and you could identify all of his/her relatives. You would know that Villanuevas live in Malawak, the Mateos somewhere in Pasomil, The Guballas and the Marcoses near the Barrio School, The Reyeses somewhere in Looban,etc. Leisure to us was as simple as "tambay sa may kanto," counting or just looking at the vehicles that pass by.

Cay Pombo today is highly urban, I can be proud to say. It's getting famous now; you could read the name of our barrio if you're in Metro Manila, waiting for a bus (We have buses passing our small barrio bound straight to Makati.) Various shops abound in the commercialized "kanto." You may not even need to go somewhere else, say to a mall, if you need anything. You just might be able to buy what you need in the shops around. The roads are too busy, there would always be two to three Barangay Police to manage the traffic. The fields we used to play on back then have now houses; some had subdivisions built on them. These subdivisions in turn are occupied by people from all places and walks of life; our barrio is now full of "strangers." Looking for my home? Ask the people around, and I'd bet you would have spent hours before you met someone who could tell where I live. I just don't know the people, I do not know the place anymore.

So back to reality, Cay Pombo as I knew as a child is just that now, an unknown far away land or should I  just say, "abroad."

(original article was lost. This is an attempt at re-writng an essay I wrote 3 years ago.)

Banal na Hapunan

Noong isang araw, sa pagsakay ko ng jeep na byaheng Meycauayan via NLEX sa Bocaue, natapatan na nakikipagtawaran ang isang pasahero sa driver. Mangyari kasi ay, kahit gaano katagal ang abutin, (na minsan ay inaabot ng mahigit isang oras) hinihintay talgang mapuno ang jeep dito bago ibiyahe. Kaya nakikiusap ang ale, "sige na kuya, 200.00 ibabayad ko, ibiyahe muna, male-late na 'ko sa Banal na Hapunan namin e." Ayaw nga lang pumayag ng driver: "Lugi ako sa ganoon, ang dami pang kulang nito." Hanggan sa may sumakay na mag-asawa (mag-asawa nga kaya sila?) na may kasamang apat o limang bata. Sinabi ng driver: "Sige ho, 200.00 biyahe na tayo." Nag-atubili naman ang ale: "Hindi na ho. E andami ng sumakay e." "Eh hindi pa po tayo makakabiyahe niyan, pupunuin pa po ito," sagot ng driver. Tumawad uli ang ale: "pamasahe ng limang pasahero na lang ang babayaran ko, marami naman nang sakay." Sumagot ang driver: "hindi ho pwede, lugi ako," at nagbilang "Walo pa po kulang nito e." Natahimik ang ale, nag-iisip at halatang nababalisa na at nagparinig: "Wala na, hindi na ako aabot sa Banal na Hapunan nito, magbibihis pa ako e. Ang tagal p siguro bago mapuno ito" Tumawad ang driver: "150 po, ibibiyahe na natin." Nag-isip saglit ang ale, at sumagot, "sige po, 150, maibiyahe lang, eto ang bayad."

Sa totoo lang, sa isang banda ay nainis ako sa tagpong ito, para kasing si Mirriam 'yung ale (medyo masakit sa tenga ang boses) at parang ako is Atty. Vitalliano ba 'yun, kaya naglagay ako ng earphones at nagpatugtog sa aking cellphone. Pero sa kabilang banda, ay natuwa na rin ako. Ipinakita kasi nag aleng ito na handa talaga siyang gagawa siya ng paraan, kahit mapa-gastos ng medyo malaki, (hindi naman siya mukhang mayaman) para masigurong umabot siya sa kanilang "Banal na Hapunan." Nakapanghihinayang na 'din at hindi siya Katoliko. Sana lang marami ding ganitong Katoliko, handang magbigay ng "extra-effort" para makadalo sa Hapag ng Panginoon. Sana nga...

Langit o Impyerno: Kaligtasan o Kapahamakan (Nasa impyerno daw si Pope John Paul II?)

Nito lamang mga nagdaang araw, ako, inyong abang lingkod, ay naanyayahan magsalita sa isang pagtitipon, isang ‘rekoleksyon’ ng isang pangkat ng mga kabataang hinuhubog bilang mga lingkod ng Simbahan. At sa aking pagkagulat at pagtataka, isang bata ang tila ba ibig humamon sa aking ipinangangaral. Mangyari ay nakarating pala sa batang ito ang ilang bagay na kumakalat sa “internet,” lalo na ang isang pangitain daw ng isang pinagpalang babae na ang aming pinagpipitaganang yumaong Santo Papa, Beato Juan Pablo Ikalawa, ay napapasa-apoy ng impyerno, kasama ng ilan pang kilalang mga tao. Akin ding napag-alaman na ang batang ito, ay nasa paunang yugto na ng paglipat ng pananampalataya mula sa pagiging isang Katoliko, tungo sa isang sekta ng mga Protestanteng isinilang daw mag-uli.

At tila ba hindi pa sapat ang mga pagsabat at mga pasaring ng batang ito habang ako’y nagbibigay ng panayam, anupat sa pagitan ng panayam, habang ako’y kumakain ng “Sandwich” at umiinom ng malamig na “Coke,” ako ay atubiling nilapitan ng bata at tinanong tungkol sa mga bagay na ito. Ang katotohanan ay kulang ang aking kaalaman upang sagutin siya. Ni hindi ko pa nakita ang paksang iyon sa “internet” sapagkat sa aking pakiwari, ni hindi ko dapat pag-aksayahan ng panahon ang gayong usapin. Kaya’t ang nasabi ko na lamang sa batang nagtatanog ay ganito:

“Pag-aralan mo na lang ang buhay ni ‘Pope John Paul II,’ tingnan mo din sa internet; tingnan mo kung ano ang naging buhay niya, ano ang mga nagawa niya, at saka mo na lang din isipin; sa akin kasing pagbabasa, ang aking pakiwari ay, si Juan Pablo II ay isang napakabuting tao; kaya ikaw na din ang tatanungin ko: sa tingin mo ba ang isang mabuting taong tulad niya ay sa impyerno mapupunta?”

Umalis ang bata. Hindi ko alam kung napahiya ba siya. Hindi ko alam kung naging masungit ba ang dating ko sa kanya na tila ayaw malapitan o makausap; bagamat sa aking sarili, gusto ko din talagang magtanong pa siya, upang sa abot ng aking makakaya mabigyan ko siya ng paliwanag. Ngunit sa muling pagsisimula ng ikalawa at huling bahagi ng aming panayam, mukha namang mas naging interesado na isyang making. Sa akin ay isa itong magandang tanda, bagamat hindi ko na nakadaupang palad muli ang nasabing bata.

Ngayon sa aking pagbabalik-tanaw, ako’y umaasa na lamang, nananalangin, at nananalig, na sana’y naging sapat ang maigsi kong tugon upang siya’y maliwanagan; at kung hindi man ay mas magsaliklik siya at magtanong upang maakay sa wastong landas.

Sa ganang akin, totoo at tama naman ang kaunti kong nasabi. Hindi na muna tayo daraan sa masalimuot na pagsasaliksik sa Banal na Kasulatan, o kaya’y sa pagtatalo at pagtalakay sa masakit sa ulong mga nilalaman ng mga Katuruan ng Simbahan. Ang aking paanyaya’y tingnan na lang muna natin ang buhay at gawa ng taong hinuhusgahan – ang yumaong Papa Juan Pablo. At kaunti lang din ang nais kong idagdag at banggitin, hindi ko naman siguro kailangang ilahad ang kanyang buong talambuhay.

Sa aking pagkakaalam, bagamat kailangan ko pa din itong salilksikin ng mas maigi, may tala si Papa Juan Pablo II, na bumababa, kung hindi man panandaliang naglalaho, ang bilang ng mga krimen sa mga bansang kanyang dinadalaw. Para bang ipinahihiwatig na ang kabutihan, kabanalan, at kadakilaan niya bilang isang pinuno ay nakahahawa sa mga tao upang hindi man sila gumawa ng mabuti, ay mawaglit sa kanilang isip ang gumawa ng masama.

Isa siyang tunay na daan ng kapayapaan. Sa kanyang panahon naganap ang makasaysayang pagsira sa “Berlin Wall” ang pader na humahati hindi lamang sa anyong lupa ng bansang Aleman, kundi naghahati rin sa mga taong kaninirahan dito at sumasagisag sa paghahari ng Komunismo sa naturang bansa. Ang pagsira sa”Berlin Wall” ay tanda ng muling pagkakaisa ng bansang “Germany” at ng pasimula ng bagong yugto ng kapayapaan dito. Muli, ito’y patunay ni si Juan Pablo II ay daan ng kapayapaan. Paumanhin, sinabi kong hindi tayo daraan sa pagsasaliksik sa Banal na Kasulatan, ngunit hayaan nyo na ring banggitin ko ito = Mateo 5:9 “Mapalad ang gumagawa ng daan para sa kapayapaan, sila’y ituturing na mga anak ng Diyos.”

Saksi ang buong mundo sa dami ng mga pinuno ng mga bansa, pati pinuno ng iba’t ibang mga relihiyon at mga sekta na nanggaling sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo, upang saksihan ang libing ng butihing Papa Juan Pablo at maglaan ng huling paggalang at pamamaalam sa kanya. Isa na namang patunay kung gaanong kinikilala ng napakaraming tao, Katoliko at hindi, kahit mga pinuno ng mga sektang Protestante, pati na mga pinunong Muslim, ang kabutihang loob ni Juan Pablo.

Kaya’t sa pagwawakas sasambitin ko na lang muli ang aking tanong at ilang pahayag: Sa impyerno nga kaya naparoon ang kaluluwa ni Juan Pablo? Mas kapani-paniwala kaya ang pangitain ng isang babaeng ni hindi ko matandaan ang pangalan hanggang ngayon, kaysa sa pagsaksi ni Juan Pablo sa kadakilaan, kabutihan at awa ng Diyos sa pamamagitan ng kanyang buhay?

Alin ang paniniwalaan mo, ang “tunay ng buhay” ni Juan Pablo, o ang “panaginip” ng babaeng ito?

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Ilang karagdagan:

Kung ako man ang ilagay mo sa katatayuan ng isang pinuno ng isang Relihiyon, ni hindi ko huhusgahang mapapasa-impyerno ang sinumang pinuno ng ibang Relihiyon. Muli, isasantabi muna natin ang usapin kong sino o aling relihiyon ba ang tama. (Bagamat marami rin tayong maaring tingnan o talakaying patunay na ang tinanggap na ‘aral’ ng Simbahang Katoliko ang wasto = ang ‘turo’ na iningatan at ipinamana at ipinasa mula pa sa panahon ng mga Apostol hanggang sa ngayon sa panahon ng mga humalili sa kanila)

Masasabi naman siguro natin, na ang lahat ng Relihiyon ay nakasandig sa ilang pangkalahatang paksa, gaya ng pagtahak sa kabanalan, pagtuturo sa paggawa ng kabutihan, kagandahang-asal, pakikitungo sa kapwa, atbp. At sa ganitong diwa silang mga pinunong nagtuturo ng kabutihan ay maaring maligtas. Sapagkat ang Mahabaging Diyos ay magpapala na “sinuman na may tapat na hangaring Siya ay makilala at paglingkuran, at tumutupad sa Kanyang Kalooban ayon sa bulong ng kanilang konsiyensiya, kung hindi naman nila sinasadya ay kinulang sa kaalaman tungkol kay Kristo at sa kanyang Iglesia (Iglesia Katolika) – sila man ay maaaring maligtas. (tingnan ang dokumento ng Vatican II – Lumen Gentium no. 16 )

Kapayapaan, hindi pagkaka-watak-watak;

Kapayapaan sa mga taong kinalulugdan ng Diyos.