After God’s Own Heart
By Boy Blue P. Abad Laurel-Filomeno
CHRISTMAS is supposed to be a joyful event because it is a celebration of the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ. What makes me quiver is the story on the heartless order of King Herod to kill all the baby boys two years old and below, when the three wise men did not tell him the exact location of the newly-born Jesus. It is shocking that Joseph and Mary had to run to Egypt to hide Jesus and protect Him from harm.
I never imagined that I and my wife, too, would have our own share of sorrow, pain and agony when she was pregnant with our first child in 2006. We had to fortify our defense against those who wanted to harm her and our child. Tracing our history back, my paternal roots are from Argao and Barile, Cebu, the “Queen City of the South.” It was on April 27, 1521 when a Portuguese, Ferdinand Magellan, attempted to introduce Christianity by landing on the shores of Mactan. Dubbed as the “Battle of Mactan”, Lapu-Lapu and his
men subdued the foreign colonizers and ultimately, killed Magellan. Incidentally, on April 27, 1964, or more than four centuries after the
historic battle, little “Boy Blue” was born at Padre Burgos St., Cagayan de Oro, the “City of Golden Friendship.” Father Burgos was one of the Filipino patriots of the triumvirate, “Gomez, Burgos, Zamora.”
Later, I spent my growing up years in Heroes de Cagayan and Antonio Luna Extension, Mabulay Subdivision. My paternal ancestors — Vicente Recio Abad and Josephine Bracken-Abad (Dr. Jose Rizal’s widow), had their humble share in the history of the Philippines. After, Dr. Rizal’s execution in Bagumbayan, Ms Bracken briefly joined the Katipunan in Cavite. Vicente and Josephine settled in Cebu and the latter became the private tutor of Sergio Osmeña, who later became President of the Republic of the Philippines.
As a spokesperson and trustee of the Philippine Alliance Against Pornography Inc., I was in the forefront when the issue on the infamous film ” The Da Vinci Code” erupted. In a meeting with President Gloria Arroyo in Malacañang, together with civic spirited citizens such as Tita Pilapil-Reverente, I passionately explained that the film was against the law particularly Presidential Decree 1986, the law creating MTRCB, and,Article 201, “The Anti-Pornography Law” of the Revised Penal Code. I was grief-stricken on the showing of the libelous film because Christians just celebrated the Holy Week of 2006. A few weeks just passed, in a wink of an eye, many became Judases who had helped crucify Christ, without mercy. My wife saw me slumped in my computer chair crying profusely because of the so-called Christians’ coldness toward Christ, in exchange for few pieces of silver coins.
I wrote to US Ambassador Kristie Kenney to intercede in stopping the importation of the film. Though I appreciated Kenney’s letter-reply, it was already water under the bridge. It was made after the MTRCB approved the showing. The lady ambassador explained that the malicious film had caused so much controversy in the US, among others.
Due to my steadfast position against the showing of the film, in accordance to the stance of the Vatican, I was mocked, insulted, harassed, by those who called themselves my enemies. Worst, the attack against my honor was deafening. I even personally talked to one of the owners of a top television station, to discipline one of its hosts from threatening to harm my family.
Our first born is God’s answer to our prayers after four years of waiting. But as the baby was growing in my beloved wife’s womb, people who were known to us, attempted for several times to hurt him. My wife, too, was in great pain. She was bleeding and had preterm labor. But the evil forces kept hounding us without mercy.
We bought a number of books, musical tapes for the baby’s growth. One of the musical tunes that gave meaning to our struggle was from the album titled, “Sing for me Daddy,” which goes: “I was there on the day you were born just like your mom sat beside you And when you cried your first tear, I was close with you I will always be there for you I will be there for you Staying in prayer for you And in God’s grace , your heart will embrace Yes, I will be there for you”
My son is God’s best Christmas gift to us. He was born on the Immaculate Conception Day. He made our family complete. It will be our second Christmas with our precious child and we fervently pray that he, too, will follow God’s will. It is fulfilling to learn that my son’s guardian angel, whom we named Michael, the Archangel, allowed himself to be photographed beside my precious child.
My unconditional and immeasurable love for God, country and fellowmen will forever be inscribed in my wounded and bleeding heart. Not even death can take that love away from me, for my deepest passion is to follow God’s will.
Amidst the merriment and festivities this Christmas, let’s pause for a moment and ask ourselves, are we willing to allow Jesus to have a small space in our heart? It is only then that God will allow restoration and rebuild our country as the “Pearl of the Orient Seas.”
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