Let Our Principles be PRICELESS: Paco Larrañaga is innocent

I have watched lots of documentaries before about the different social issues in my country. Mostly, they are about poverty and other things related to it such as prostitution, lack of education, premarital sex, etc. Those films just usually helped me to realize things about what, why and how they are happening but after that, it always leaves me clueless on what should I do next to contribute any help for the good of my country. But “Give Up Tomorrow” is different. It is not just a documentary portraying injustice but a movement for change, and in particular to change the course of one man's horrible destiny and to continue supporting his family and friends — those who never stopped believing in his innocence for all the past, long fifteen years.

I was too shocked to react after seeing the documentary, which have crushed my faith in the justice system of the Philippines. I was filled with sadness and hopelessness especially when I think of the countless names and faces who are victims of injustice, most especially of the bureaucratic kind. The film makes a steady and reasonable case for the defense. Interviews from Paco's family were as tempered as they could possibly be at one point. I saw how the father's lips were trembling in an attempt to control his emotions; I thought it was the most heartbreaking moment in the film. On the other end, Mrs. Chiong, mother of the murdered victims and her actions ground me. I can't tell for sure if her interviews were taken out of context but I find it difficult to criticize her as I can only imagine the pain of what she had gone through. Her words about their plan of killing Paco really disturbed me as if there’s really something wrong with the whole context.

It’s not the royal incompetence of the justice system that dismayed me but my realization that the media could have turned things around, especially when the case hearings were going downhill. There was an angle about a drug lord connection which any of the journalists could have pursued but didn't. Skipping the preceding step, they could have cited the irregularities in the courtroom which had turned into a circus. They could have simply been fair, accurate and reasonable in their news reports. I thought the Larrañagas were too nice, naive, and sensible not to have tried to win public sympathy through press interviews. It could be better if the media had done their part and approached the family for their story.

CHANGE is never too late

Social injustice is the biggest curse to humanity as a whole. Man has a sociable nature that is the origin and basis of society. It is social justice that brings about social unity, stability and progress. It is social injustice that offends human dignity, undermines public harmony and ascertains social deterioration. There has never been and there will never be a nation on earth that is built, promoted and developed by social injustice. Social discrimination leads to violation of human rights and the waste of human lives all over the land. Due to social injustice, the socio-political instability in the Philippines primarily on account of intense conflict and discontent that promote bitter anti-government rallies.

It is social injustice that is the root cause of all the basic ills of this country but as a Christian nation with families of strong Filipino values, Philippines could surpass this challenge. We can do something to change what has the past generation have committed wrongly, it’s never too late to change, and that change should start from modifying our principles — principle that is priceless and can never be bought by anything.

To Believe is To See: A Reflection on Les Miserables

The movie Les Misérables meaning “The Miserable Ones” is a musical portrayal of the French Revolution that happened more than 200 years ago. The musical film is an epic tale showing the different faces of the poorest of the poor and their sufferings throughout their lives. There are four main characters in the story namely Fantine, a factory worker that later on became a prostitute; Jean Valjean who is a convict but given another chance by a priest to change his life; Javert, Valjean’s arch enemy and Cosette, the naïve daughter of Fantine. The story focuses on one man’s conversion and how an experience of God’s mercy can change a person’s life.

Few days have passed but I’m still unpacking the impact of this movie to me. There are lots of remarkable scenes in the film but what I love the most is the scene where a priest found the protagonist Jean Valjean sleeping outside in the cold. He then invites Valjean into his rectory and treats him as an honored guest. Jean Valjean stayed for the night and while the priest sleeps, he makes off with all the silver he can carry. The police catch him and was brought before the priest. At this point, the priest does something extraordinary, he called Jean Valjean his friend and gave him the candlesticks along with the stolen silverware as a gift. He blessed Jean Valjean and commended his soul to God; this encounter is a turning point for Jean Valjean. The clarity to truly see the person before him and not just a convict required the eyes that are well-acquainted with the biblical view of things. I believe that the key lies in the priest’s gaze—a gaze which showed generosity, mercy and forgiveness. This gaze helped Jean Valjean to see himself in a new way.

Cosette

I didn’t expect that this epic musical film would also affect my prayer life. After seeing the movie, every time that I pray or talk to God I always include the people who need mercy and justice just like the characters in Les Misérables. Both the characters of Jean Valjean and Javert believe that they are serving God in their own way: Valjean’s actions are motivated out of love and Javert’s are motivated out of justice and obligation. This resulted to a question that wouldn’t leave my mind, “Do I do good things, avoid committing sin and practice Catholic virtues because I’m obliged to? Or am I doing these things because of my love for God?” I’m not sure of my answer so I talked to God and asked Him to help me to know the answer for my question and then I realized that God loves me from the beginning and is steadfast and unfailing even when I am at my worst.

God’s love for us is unconditional and unfailing—we do not have to perform or live up to certain expectations to receive His love.  In our personal lives, we may always strive to be good enough, interesting enough or attractive enough to be accepted and liked by others, but with God all we need to do is to trust and have faith in Him. God says, “When you call Me, I will answer.” This is a strong affirmation; there are no limitations, no strings attached, just a simple and pure promise. This is what unconditional love is about—it is all about God being there for us, day and night, year after year, during the highs and the lows of our life.  Will we always get the answer we want? Probably not, but then God, like a good parent, knows what is best for us; His answers are the right ones and He will always provide us the love we need.

We live in a world where a proof is needed first before we believe in something. People want to make sure that they are not fooled just like what magicians do to them. Unlike God’s unfailing love, we must believe in it first before we could feel and experience His love. Jesus once said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”