A Surprise to Christians

Today I decided to take a sudden trip to the Filipinas Heritage Library, run by the Ayala Foundation (where I’m interning) and just a few minutes from the office. This is my first-ever visit to a library in the Philippines, which shouldn’t surprise Filipinos reading this. There are unfortunately not very many functioning libraries in this sprawling Metropolis.

In January 1942, the “Religious Section of the Imperial Japanese Army” then occupying Manila issued the release of all missionaries encamped at a university campus. Among them was Eva Anna Nixon, an American missionary of the Friends Church. Here’s the pamphlet the Japanese circulated among the church members in Manila about their decision to release clerics and missionaries. Enjoy it like I did.

The original typewriter font enhances it, seriously.

A SURPRISE TO CHRISTIANS

You cannot imagine how the Japanese Army is of deep sympathy and good understanding toward the Christian religion! The Religious Section in the Army! Not for the Army itself, but for the Christians in the Philippines!

“The Great East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere” is the aim of the Japanese Army, where all races, you Filipinos and we Japanese are to live, giving and taking, helping and loving one another with the spirit of reciprocity, the very spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Yes, in such days as these, it is the Christian faith that is most badly needed! The Japanese Army has done and is doing the best to protect the churches and their equipments (sic). It has released one hundred and fifty-three missionaries, who  belong to the hostile nations, from the internment camp, to let them enjoy their daily lives with their families under the special care and considerations of the Army. The Japanese chaplains have helped and are helping in the pulpits, and the Fiipino Christians have been richly blessed.

The Japanese Army wants you to return to your respective places and do your ordinary work. The Japanese Army is strong not only in fighting but in loving its neighbors. Facts are numerous! If only you have eyes to see!

We know the fact that you Filipinos are extraordinarily religious, and you Christians in particular. You have to build up the Christian church of your own and that under the Filipino leadership. The Philippines need the moral backbone for their “Independence with honor.” And you Christians are destined to take that role upon yourselves! Trust in the Japanese Army. Come, cooperate with the Army through the Religious Section which is in the Philippines with good will and love.

The army is NOT fighting with the pro-Japanese Filipinos, but it enthusiastically seeks after the restoration of peace, hand in hand with the Filipino Christians. Come, let us join hands together and show the example for other Christians to follow. Do not ever uphold the anti-Japanese attitude without accepting the Army’s generosity and inflicting the unhappy results upon yourselves.

Baguio City, Philippines

I spy religious keychains.

 

At the entrance of Mines View Park, one of my earliest memories of Baguio.

Mine's View Park, overlooking the Cordillera Mountain Range

Local government officials

An “official trip” to Baguio

I was invited by one of the members of the Manila City Council to join councilors and other city government officials on a 3-day “seminar” in Baguio City, 6 hours north of Manila. Of course, I won’t just be sitting around daydreaming. This will be an opportunity to understand Filipino politicking and see just why it’s so notorious.

In the next 2 days, I will be tweeting about the trip, from the under-the-table dealings (literally, but more on that later) to the history of this city founded by Americans over a century ago as a recreational destination. Here are some pics from my phone today. Will upload ones from camera soon.

Meanwhile, check out where we’re staying. Not bad for $175/night. Actually, it’s really underpriced.

Camp John Hay Manor Hotel

 

The welcome swine flu check-up. Classy.

"Merienda" (mid-afternoon snack) before the business talks.

Baguio was "discovered" and founded by Americans in 1900 as recreational territory.

Feast of St. Josemaria Escriva

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales celebrated high mass today at the Manila Cathedral-Basilica in honor of St. Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei. Over 100 other masses were also offered through the Philippines for this renowned saint of recent times.

Manila Cathedral and Plaza de Roma by night

Opus Dei publications

Holy Water not swine flu free?

Imagine if the NYT frontpage had nothing but Church news. Ha.

I like to call one of the Philippines’ five major English papers, the Manila “Church” Bulletin because nearly everyday, frontpage headlines refer to some churchy thing. Like yesterday’s announcement that some archdioceses in the Philippines will empty holy water fount following the swine flu scare.

The overblown scare was good in many ways, I thought. It drove hundreds of volunteers to help sanitize every inch of school campuses. Malls began to install free hand-sanitizers. And people generally became more alert about their health, preventing the spread of disease before it’s too late.

Unfortunately, everything got out of hand. Schools began shutting down for weeks on end. Some, like my cousin, had their summer breaks extended a month: 2 weeks by the government and another extra week for even the slightest sign of even the most minor illness. Heck, a bruise might’ve gotten you out of school for the day.

Topping the insanity in the Philippines are some of the measures the Church has taken to go with the H1N1 frightfest. First they prohibited communion by tongue. Then they asked Catholics not to hold hands in Church. Now, there’ll be no holy water at church doors.

I only hope that these unnecessary measures will not become permanent, as losing these seemingly unimportant part of the liturgy can take away from the church experience- a downgrade that in the past has led to so many Filipino Catholics leave the Church en masse. Trust me, people have told me so.

Saint of the Ordinary

Today, June 26, the Church celebrates the 34th death anniversary of St. Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei and one of the most revered saints of the contemporary world. St. Josemaria founded Opus Dei in Madrid in 1928, and by his death 47 years later, the lay prelature had reached over 60 countries around the world, including right here in the Philippines. Nearly five centuries after Catholicism was brought to these islands by Magellan and his crew, two Harvard graduates introduced God’s Work to their fellow Filipinos in 1964. Today there are more than 3,000 members in the Philippines.

Although not as visible as the Knights of Columbus (whose logo marks many public parks and churches), it’s common to see Fr. Escriva’s portrait hanging in churches in the Philippines, in between saints of earlier centuries. That’s an incredible feat, considering many people here tell me all they know about Opus Dei is it “made news long ago.” It was probably news report of some goon babbling about Mary Magdalene did this and that.

Last Thurday, Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist, Belinda Olivares-Cunanan, announced the masses for today’s feast in the Philippines:

Masses for his 34th death anniversary on June 26 will be said all over the world. Here’s the schedule of Masses in the Philippines: June 26, at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Manila in Intramuros, 6 p.m., with Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales as lead celebrant; at Stella Orientis Chapel, Ortigas Center, 12 noon; at Mt. Carmel Shrine in New Manila, 7 a.m. with Father Chito Reyes as celebrant; at the Holy Spirit Parish, Mariso Subdivision, Angeles City, 6:30 a.m.; and at the Holy Rosary Parish in Angeles City, 5:30 p.m. to be officiated by San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto and Auxiliary Bishops Roberto C. Mallari and Virgilio S. David. On Saturday, June 27, at 7:15 a.m. there will also be a Mass at Sanctuario de San Jose, Greenhills, to be celebrated by Father Noel B. Magtaas, OSJ. The public is cordially invited.

Fun fact for my fellow philatelists:

For his 100th birthday in 2002, the Philippine Post Office issued a stamp commemorating then-Blessed Josemaria Escriva. According to the Postmaster General,

“The inspiration brought by Escriva has contributed to educational, cultural and religious development as well as to empowerment of the poor in our country,” said Rodriguez. “It is therefore fitting for the Philippines to honor him in his centennial.”

Referring to the stamp’s caption, “Magpakabanal sa Gawain” (Tagalog for “Holiness through one’s work”), Rodriguez said that this message needed to spread. “Indeed, this is what the Philpost wants to achieve with this commemorative stamp, as our contribution to celebrate the centennial of a great man of God, Josemaria Escriva.”

Rodriguez reported that the stamp, which had been issued several days prior to the launching ceremony, was already sold out. “No other commemorative stamp issued to any individual, institution or province has sold as briskly as the birth centennial commemorative stamp that we have issued as part of the year-long celebration of Father Escriva’s 100th birthday. In fact, not even the stamps issued to commemorate the centennial of the Republic of the Philippines sold as well and as fast.”

That’s right. Fr. Escriva’s centennial stamp sold out sooner than the country’s own centennial stamp. Not good for my 1998 centennial first day release.

Sock ‘em Boppers

Since 1891, every 24th of June, areas in the Philippines that have St. John the Baptist as their patron saint celebrate his feast day with the traditional “basaan” or “buhusan” (dousing of water). People douse even strangers, motorists, and innocent pedestrians supposedly to remind them of their baptism. So back in the day, my mom says her inattentive friends would come to class drenched and cursing. Another reason to know your saint days.

The city mayor also joined in the fun, riding in a convoy of fire trucks that used their water cannons to drench children and other revelers under an overcast sky.

The ritual to commemorate Christ’s baptism by John the Baptist has been celebrated for decades in the Philippines, Asia’s largest predominantly Roman Catholic nation. The 118-year-old tradition is said to have begun in the City of San Juan in Metro Manila:

Feast of St. John

Convoy of fire trucks that used their water cannons to drench revelers

Then, as if by divine coincidence, TROPICAL STORM “FERIA” arrived the same night, carrying 25cm of rain and gusts of upwards of 81kmp. Wow.

Next time I make it to San Juan, I’m joining in the fun with Sock ‘em Boppers. That’ll punch baptism right into their heads.

Feast of Sacred Heart of Jesus

To celebrate today’s Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I joined a procession at the historical Binondo Church (formally the Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint) following Mass. In a country with 80% Roman Catholic, religious processions like this are part of everyone’s spiritual life. Even if they don’t have time to walk an hour around town reciting the rosary, Filipinos feel obliged to drop whatever they’re doing, peak out the window, check out the commotion below, then proceed back to their telenovellas.

Downtown Express

Took an unconventional tour of downtown Manila often removed from maps. I’ll add captions later, as soon as DSL is up and running. I’m a few decades behind here with dial-up.

The National Museum that houses world-class Filipino artwork

Binondo Church built by Chinese Catholics, destroyed in WWII, saving only the facade and belltower

East meets West. Filipino-Chinese Catholics worship with incense

Santa Cruz Church, also Chinese influenced in design

Vendor bottling abortificent sold around the church

Corpus Christi

Heard Mass at the Nasugbu Church (Saint Francis Xavier Parish) goin Batangas.

Mayor Antonio A. Barcelon with wife leading Eucharistic Procession