Jose Ma. Montelibano
THEY SAY that when anxiety deepens, people pray more and the sales of candles increase. They say when people are depressed, people drink more and the sales of liquor go up. Frankly, I have not seen statistics to prove these assertions, but I have not heard much argument to the contrary either. Let me proceed, therefore, assuming that there is truth to them, enough to stimulate our minds to reflective, if not critical, thinking.
The agitation caused by the proposed Bangsamoro Judicial Entity (BJE) brings to fore old wounds which have never healed well. The heart of the controversy is not the terms in the proposed agreement but in the hearts of prejudice and historical animosity. After a thousand years when conflict first broke out between Christians and Moors in North Africa and Iberia, a great distrust has grown between three religions that all came from Abraham — Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
On the surface, the BJE controversy covers the extent of what is considered “ancestral domain” and the resources therein. The issue is not only where and what, but who controls where and what. Glaringly, the chasm between Christian and Muslim relationship predicates everything, as though a concession for one is a defeat of the other. It is almost as though that one expects the other to remain an enemy despite a negotiated agreement.
When two groups are friends to each other, the blessings and victories of one are cheered on by the other. In the last 100 years, Filipinos have cheered victories of the United States against its enemies — Germany, Russia, China, North Korea, Cuba, North Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iraq and some more in Africa and the old Eastern Europe. When the opposite is true, Filipinos have mourned every defeat of the United States.
Muslims around the world may cheer the BJE as a victory of Filipino Muslims, which means that the BJE is a defeat of Filipino Christians. That is what partisanship and prejudice do to a spat between brothers — make wounds fester rather than heal them. And there is enough ill will going around by this time between people of the same blood and country that makes it easy for vested interests to play one against the other.
The belligerent rhetoric that has dominated the air waves and print media stokes the resentment that is all so easily awaiting to be activated. Thank goodness that not everyone has jumped into the bandwagon of mindless drumbeating for war. Thank goodness that something deeper, like common blood, country and culture, can sometimes rise above the din of fear and anger and attempt to make these heard and seen.
In the midst of great uncertainty in an ugly environment polluted by corruption, poverty and violence, many Filipinos have turned to religion, turned to gambling, turned to fantasizing. Escapism has been the preference of people who cannot take the stark horror of daily societal life, the tens of millions of poor Filipinos who live from one meal to another. And leaders from the Church, from the State, from Business and Media have not come together to understand the deterioration of a national psyche and the corruption of a national soul — then work together to counter the perversion of a beautiful people and culture.
Is it, then, a search for Utopia that I am caught up with? Is it Utopian to tie white ribbons for peace while many others scream for war? Is it Utopian to dream of a society where every human being is equal in worth and dignity, where each one works diligently and produces according to his or her talent, where the value of good relationships outweigh the value of money?
Was it Utopian when the early Christian communities shared everything with one another and no one was in want? Is it Utopian to believe that, indeed, these early Christians did exist and that, indeed, a lifestyle of caring and sharing is possible?
May I quote Oscar Wilde when he tried to describe Utopia:
“A map of the world that does not include Utopia is not worth even glancing at, for it leaves out the one country at which Humanity is always landing. And when Humanity lands there, it looks out, and seeing a better country, sets sail. Progress is the realization of Utopias.”
It seems, then, that Utopia becomes an obsession when the day grows dark, when the night is chilly and empty, when the air is heavy and laughter disappears, when foreboding penetrates even the most optimistic of people. Perhaps, the demand for Utopia has wormed itself into the creative minds of artists, writers, performers and directors responsible for TV shows like Dyosa, Dyesebel, and Darna.
On the social front, the Gawad Kalinga movement is anchored on cultural and spiritual values like bayanihan, nobility and sacrifice, heroism and a vision that has in its center the presence of God and love of country. Its high-profile work has not prevented Gawad Kalinga from quietly but bravely establishing its presence and work in many areas considered delicate because of their history of conflict and violence. Its formula is simple: Filipinos are first brothers and sisters, before being government or anti-government, before being Left or Right, before being Christians and Muslims. Its plea is, hold the line for peace, and tie white ribbons anywhere and everywhere as peace symbols.
How many other individuals and groups have been there before Gawad Kalinga and kept Utopia in their hearts and have never tired of sharing it at our worst moments? How many managed to set aside personal comfort and convenience in order to pursue and promote the truth, in order to feed and clothe the needy, in order to keep alive hope and aspirations in the hearts of those bludgeoned by despair?
There must be more and more among us who will defend Utopia and ensure its perpetuity. There must be the warriors whose prowess for war is overshadowed by their capacity for nobility and virtue. There must be Filipinos who have become victorious in other lands who must come home with their sons and daughters to rescue those they left behind and help them build their Utopia.
17 Feedbacks on "Searching for our Utopia"
RLTJ
On Federalism proposed by some as one Solution to the Mindanao conflict
One of the real motives behind honest clamors for federalism is that development and progress is all concentrated in and around the capital city and Metro Manila. And proponents are hoping that by federalization there will be automatic decentralization.
Interesting however is that many of those proposing for Federalism, which would formally decentralize this unitary State, were also seen as the loud critics against the Pork Barrel system. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the much criticized congressional pork barrel system is already part of decentralization if people don’t see it as such. There cannot be development and progress without funding. Money, money, and more money, to be brought closer to the people.
And money is also the crux of the issues for Federalism. But cannot Filipinos go direct to the point without affecting revolutionary change to the present system? Like, maybe Pork barrel should be increased instead of abolished.
If the problem is corruption no system, nothing will ever work, Federalism or Unitarian.
troy
Have you also considered the possibility that Utopia is there for the sole purpose of escaping reality?
This thing with BJE should be opposed by all Filipinos not because the proponents are Muslim, nor because it will be a loss for Filipino Christians, but because of the fact that since the MILF itself cannot satisfactorily govern the land that they are given now, how would you expect them to do well this time?
They cannot even control their members, always falling back to their “not sanctioned by MILF” alibi when it is glaring that they do nothing to stop the atrocities caused by their men to Muslim and Christians alike.
The MILF leaders must prove first to the people in their area of responsibility, then to the whole Filipino nation that they could be good stewards of their land, and that they could dedicate their lives to peace and harmony with other ethnic groups that live with them.
If not, I’m sure the MILF will just become another Prodigal Son who squanders away this country’s wealth. Let’s not be suckered into believing that they are for peace, when all along they ransack, murder and rape the innocent, ambush our troops and continue to spit on our Constitution.
Naive is the person who continues to look at Utopia when everything is burning all around him. Even angels took up their swords and fought for what is right when Satan challenged God. Men should not hesitate to do the same.
Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS
Boy Montelibano’s writings have always been full of wisdom and admirable compassion for our country and our people. He is a brilliant defender of truth and justice. To have a massive explosion of Filipinos with his benevolent thinking and mindset would be a utopia for our struggle against injustice, corruption, poverty, and abuse in the Philippines. May his tribe increase, indeed.
God bless the Philippines and the Filipinos!
Boying
I agree that every piece of land that belongs to the Republic of the Philippines should be defended against terrorism and (separatists).
But let us not give up on peace. We are one people, one nation, regardless of our religious beliefs. We may disagree on many issues. But dividing our nation (and killing each other) is not the solution to the many challenges we are facing today.
We encourage all parties to go back to the negotiating table and exhaust all means to cease all hostilities in all areas affected by this conflict.
I may have been living in the US for so many years. But it doesn’t mean that I have forgotten the Philippines. It hurts to see that this beautiful country is being destroyed because of politics and religious beliefs.
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God”
Bart
history will repeat itself…Philippines was not discovered by Magellan. Chinese and Arabs were trading long before these crusaders arrived. They christianized all filipinos by the sword and brute of force and people like LAPU LAPU, a HERO of his time and now defended the natives with courage unlike no other. but since historians are composed of spanish priest who thrive in calling our grandfathers “INDIO” has written a total different HISTORY or THEIR-STORY.
A lot of Philippine history is crap, at school we never deal with lessons that it was Aguinaldo who betrayed the supremo Bonifacio, and Rizal was just lucky to die as a hero when he was more of Espanol than a Filipino….
Utopia is something of a dream these days, i admire the writer for sharing such wonderful thoughts. Muslims and Christian can live in Unity and with out predudice and with respect and peace. We see in Qiapo that Church and Mosque are just a street apart and yet people respect each other. The problem lies within teh colonial mentality, Pinoys mourn when US are deafeted and yet they are happy when people are wronfully accused and detained at GITMO for being a suspected terrorist…while in the US , GITMO was just another theme for a movie starring HAROLD AND KUMAR, the actors are from CHINESE AND INDIAN origin.
We say we have a democratic country and yet we are the number 1 corrupt nation. We simply forgot that Philippines was one of those countries that pioneered development after WWII, and most countries in asia were 50 years left behind, now we are behind…ironic?
We have a president, a fake one that is, that is surrounded by different generals who lost their honor by selling themselves to power…executives with shadow past, the list goes on and on…
I agree that -
Its plea is, hold the line for peace, and tie white ribbons anywhere and everywhere as peace symbols.
PEACE OUT THERE, NO TO WAR, NO TO CHACHA, NO TO GLORIA, HELLO GARCI!
De los Reyes
Everyone has his own utopia of his dreams. The jihadist Muslim look forward to the 72 virgins that await him after his demolishing job on earth is done. GMA’s nirvana is when she becomes the next prime minister after 2010. Jamby will be in eternal paradise when she becomes Tita Chito’s chosen one to share the vast fortune she left behind. Erap’s heaven is when he becomes president a second time around. Ping will be on cloud 9 when he finally catches Big Mike red handed. Joey The Third will be on seventh heaven when he gets the NBN deal all to himself and his dad gets to be prime minister if GMA does not beat him to it. Ping’s conviction in whatever means, who cares what it may be, is Big Mike’s eternal bliss. Manny, Mar, Loren, and Noli’s ecstasy is to become president unless something happens before 2010 that sends GMA for an extended term. The MILF will be in absolute rapture when the entire archipelago is declared their ancestral domain following Esperon’s wish since the Muslims were already here long before Magellan came to visit. The count goes on and on …
Spooky
there is mucn apathy that floats the air. There is no actual problem. Its all in the state of mind, in this case, its the mind of a fake president who loves to play tricks. watching the lame president walked out on her staff twice during a very important new briefing simply says that there is more to form than substance and i think our fake president is more like a puppet without strings.
there is something wrong with the current scenario, peace is something to be achieve using peaceful methods. however with the current mindset of our government which is to ensure its survival in further squatting malacanang, there is no stoping her and her minions to continue plotting and abusing the human rights of every Filipinos.
Self serving and greed of power, let us see how long can the government continue to fool the common folk…
I simply pity the MILF for follwoing a loose thread agreement after all these years of negotiations. Its like giving your neighbor a land without giving him the right to utilize it…
we cannot just tell ourselves that there is nothing wrong with what is happening around us, the problems need to be solved and it should start from fair and balance , give and take relationship….
Lessons have been learned, GMA will not go away and her minions would like her to stay more…so they can stay longer…The power that is abused is no power at all…..
where do you think this mumbo jumbo will end?
Norma Nunag
For a long time many Filipinos have complained about how disunited we are as a people. I offer a suggestion. People should define themselves first as human beings, then their ethnicity and then their religious affiliation. And in that order. The last two are just accidents. They are adds on. Inordinate preoccupation of ethnicity can deteriorate into value judgments about other groups as superior or inferior, which eventually can lead to ethnic cleansing. The same is true with religious affiliation. Inordinate pride of one’s religious affiliation can lead to fanaticism and exclusivism. Unbelievers can be demonized and can be scape goated as the root of the problems in society. Both can result to violence and war.
Being a human being on the other hand can only lead one to unity and harmony with others. When a person discovers or recognizes his humanity he finds kinship with other human beings. He sees himself in others. He recognizes that what happens to others, good, bad or indifferent, can happen to him too. When he sees the sufferings of others he feels their pains too. When he sees others treated unjustly he reacts to correct the situation immediately, because he feels it could be him in the future. During the second World War it was the humanity of hundreds of people that caused them to risk their own safety, their own lives to hide Jews in their houses from the Nazis. It was also St. Catherine of Siena’s humanity that empowered her to rebuke the hypocrisy of the cardinals in the 14th century saying:”You are flowers that shed no perfume, but a stench that makes the whole world reek.” It was St. Francis of Assisi’s humanity that inspired him to pray: Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is despair, hope; etc. etc. etc.
Gawad Kalinga is humanizing all sectors of society- from the bottom up and from top bottom. The lives of the poor are finally being turned around, and slowly they are beginning to feel that they are indeed part of the human family. From the top down the works of GK are challenging/inspiring the well off to reach down to the core of their being- their humanity, where they can cry together with the poor. As a poet wrote when she passed a beggar woman on the street. ” I took her hand,
kissed her delicate cheek
we talked, she was
the same inside as I am,
from the same kind,
I sensed this instantly
as a dog knows by scent
another dog.”
That’s what our humanity does for us. It connects us to others.
GK is a wondrous gift, a blessing for all of us. We need to nurture it, support it and celebrate it. I believe its works can pave the way to peace in the south. It is truly an organization/movement of the people, by the people and for the people. It is already uniting many Filipinos- local, hyphenated Filipinos from across the globe and the OFWs. GK is our utopia.
bart
We were butchered by the Spaniards and yet we cheer when Pau gasol makes a shot. We were duped by the Americans when we were sold by Spain, and yet we buy the lastest Kobe Bryant nike shoes. We were raped by the Japanese and yet we continue to send our women to be raped again and again…
Colonial mentality is strong in us and we dont even have a true identity,that is the reason why we strive hard to be like these conquistadores, GI joes and Kamikaze’s…..
Pogito
The current agitation regarding the “bangsamoro” is by no means related to the quest for Utopia. On the contrary, it’s merely GMA’s ploy to test the waters and to sow the seeds of discord. It is a trojan horse designed to divert the people from their current predicament and dangles a madness which is GMA staying in power long after 2010.
Utopia is an ideal state a government should aspire for. But that is never part of the plan nor the grand scheme GMA is hatching in her demented fragile little excuse of a mind.
rogerlasquite
‘August 21,Ninoy’s and the Filipinos,and…’
Utopia!!!-and reading the writeups about Ninoy’s 25th year of Martyrdom,turned me to the same ‘utopia’ i had after the assasination,the funeral,the snap election,and EDSA 1,and making me really pray and reflect.I can’t forget the funeral,as I was the last one at Ninoy’s grave,alone and craying.And today,I can really say that I have the same feeling again that I have during those times.So many things happened,in the country,in the world,in us Filipinos and in me personally.And I can say that Boy Montelibano ,my tukayo is right,as I continue reading his columns,and as I remember those years.But…you are right again,in your latest writings,not all…!!!,and we who felt or who experienced that ‘utopia’,should continue,I thank Ninoy and Cory and pray that they will continue to inspire us as we…do and join the ‘utopia.’
Harry King
Our society has evolved so much and in so many ways that Utopia which was deem as possible in the past is now regarded as a pipe-dream of idealists searching for a miracle that would suddenly transform this wretched country into Paradise.
Gaining supremacy by physical means or progress is not Utopia. In Utopia, equality is so absolute that no one person is better than the other.
wonderwoman
I can only surmise that we are in utopia if we ethnic Filipino can run our own affaire without foreigners with Filipino citizenship, telling us or bombarding the media with ridiculous notion, who we are, and what we are capable of.
I can only say that we are in utopia if we ethnic Filipinos own the major businesses in our country.
I can only say that we are in utopia if we ethnic Filipinos are the only ones who occupy all the positions in our government and kick out all these foreigners with Filipino citizenship out from the civil service.
I can only say that we are in utopia if we can put all corrupt government officials and employees, no matter what his rank is, in jail.
I can only say that we are in utopia if our government gives a stern warning to mainland China and the government of Taipei not to export drugs into this country. And telling them that the next time their nationals are caught, they will be executed right then and there.
I can only say that we are in utopia if only ethnic Filipinos are the ones in export and import business.
I can only say that we are in utopia if there are no longer foreigners with Filipino citizenship who manufacture, fabricate, and sell fake drugs, substandard building materials and appliances, and stops smuggling fake goods.
I can only say that we are in utopia if we do not grant Filipino citizenship or permanent residency to foreigners.
I can only say that we are in utopia if the ethnic Filipinos will assert their rights to this country.
M.White
I really agree with your comment dated August 18,but really your trouble in the Mindanao is exactly the same as we had here in Europe,Northern Ireland.But since the 11 September 2001 when the IRA and UDA realised that they were terrorists and that George Bushes administration was against any form of terrorism,the MILF is also a terrorist organisation who terrorises the civilian population,For 40 years there have been more than 120000 deaths due to terroist activities,no terrorist organisation has ever got what it requires by placing the gun to the Goverment of the day and to the civilian population.
mang godo
In this time of war not peace, it is hard to find utopia…anger and resentment prevails..
In this time of hunger,high price, it is hard to imagine…hunger makes one angrier.
This imaginary perfect society is a creation of the wondering mind,to create an ideal society that can be portrayed only in literature.
Utopia is sometimes used pejoratively, in reference to an unrealistic ideal that is impossible to achieve.
Even great nation like America, there is no utopia, much more in a third world country like Philippines.
Utopia is imaginary and yet we live in reality.
Try to find one ideal society, go and live like the Mangyans of Mindoro , a model society in isolation where anger but calm reins in their heart.
No need to go further beyond our thinking, it is right there to find.
It is ironic that we only see the bad should be punished and virtue rewarded in this article of prose and poetry, the only thing I can say is…
this imagination of utopia is dystopia…
a Poetic Justice… indeed.
rogerlasquite
after the assasination,the special edition of Inquirer came out,so i started reading and learned and was inspired a lot by all the writers,during those times,then the snap election,the campaigning voluntarily,and also for the laban sa mandaraya,and the guarding and protecting the ballots from the local precints to provincial canvassing with no volunteer to watch cory’s votes,and staying to watch not knowing what will happen.And then to EDSA 1,and went home only to the province when…it was all over.Appointed as a municipal councilor and the reality…,and saw a lot
that needs to be done,to change.And yes,it was hard and a lot of resistance,’karamihan sa mga kababayan e ayaw o hindi pa handa sa pagbabago’,as they hated the appointed officials and didn’t even vote for us when the first election came.But the inspiration i got from the likes of Ninoy,Diokno,Tanada,Burgos,Pimentel,Saguisag,Cory,Cardinal Sin and the so many Priest and seminarians and some outstanding lawyers and politicians and a lot of ‘katulad kong maliliit na simpli lang ang pangarap’ remains.And as I continue to where I am now,praying with a lot of our kapatid and following the leading of the Holy Spirit i still have a strong faith that,we will overcome all the challenges,as Filipinos for God in His goodness e ‘kailanman e hindi tayo pinabayaan at kinalimutan’.'Sapagkat mas malakas ngayon ang aking paniniwala at tutuong masasabi ko na wala o hindi natin kaya kung ating mga sarili lamang ang ating aasahan,ang ‘Panginoong Jesus’ lang ang tanging ating magiging tunay na gabay at tutuong lakas at inspirasyon.
Norma Nunag
Dear Bart,
You sound so angry. Name calling and making blanket generalizations are counter productive. Please do check your assumptions about Spain, USA and Japan, and their influence on RP. No one country/culture has the monopoly of goodness or evilness, positives or negatives. Both are present in all cultures and countries. It is obvious to me that your knowledge of history is
based on half truths and propagandas. Focus therefore on the positive contributions these countries have given to our country. You’d be amazed at how many there are. Recognize and accept them with dignity and grace. Otherwise you would remain in perpetual identity crisis. The development of all human beings are influenced by the cultures/environments they are exposed to. (Jose Rizal admitted this in his prologue to his novel, Noli Me Tangere) We simply cannot escape this fact. What we do to these influences are our responsibility. If you see certain elements in the culture to be bad, then discard them, but keep the good and move on and make and add your own
contribution. As the saying goes: don’t just throw the dirty water along with the baby. These three countries have given us many blessings. For one thing they have enabled us to have access to the outside world. Their contributions to our own culture enabled us to be flexible, broad-minded and open to other cultures and ideas. No wonder Filipinos can migrate and thrive in any corner of the globe. It is a fact that we share our best to the whole world.
Sincerely, Norma
deny this.
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