The Citizen On Mars

Over there at the Quiapo area, about a couple of days ago, was the happening this year’s version of a religious ritual that sums up the phenomenon of faith, where hordes of men convene in a sea of humanity (nearly 600,000 according to Torn and Frayed), rising and moving and at times tumultuously swerving in any direction. These were men and women who displayed the ultimate devotion to Christ, thru the replica image of the Black Nazarene, braving the mortal danger that may arise in such a hugely unrehearsed congregation of thousands of individuals, just in order to take part in the dangerously heaving parade. There were even those who completely brush aside any fear and inhibition and worked themselves into the middle of the monstrous crowd, slowly and painstakingly, just in to be able to touch the mystical religious artifact. Such is the phenomenon of faith—believing fully while not seeing entirely the object or cause of faith.

I am writing about this even if the Feast of the Black Nazarene happened two days ago because of some side talk, a political side talk that had suddenly caught my interest. You see, I have learned from the evening news yesterday that no less than the Vice-President himself, Mr. Noli de Castro, is a fanatic of the Christ image, stressing in the interview how doggedly passionate he is to the image that he had been coming to Quapo almost every year just to participate in the massive ritual.

Inevitably, we could see here an unusual mix of politics and religion and the unlikeliness of a major political persona like Mr. de Castro showing signs of forceful religiosity. Except for the entrance of Brother Eddie Villanueva into the political scene, I have never heard once before or come to knowledge of any politician so engrossed in the matters of faith, until I have heard about the Vice-President’s ultimate devotion to the Christ-image of Quiapo. Well, I have surely heard that thing about U.S. President George Bush having been spoken to by God—advising him to conquer Iraq at all cost—but I think there is just too much humor in Mr. Bush’s veins that we couldn’t really take his words as it is.

We might ask then: Is this a welcome respite for those who are already sick and tired of those run-of-the-mill politicians so lacking in morality and uprightness that they virtually tear this nation apart with their thievery? Is Noli de Castro that kind of politico that could finally bring the moral leadership that this nation’s seriously longs for? If his passionate faith in God is no fluke or a doggoned propaganda, maybe Noli de Castro could finally one day lead this nation towards a moral recovery, instituting the norms of forthrightness and morality into the government and purging the bureaucracy from serpents and snakes whose only purpose for being in their work is to turn the government treasury upside down.

They say good intentions are never enough. There is this catch with Mr. de Castro’s reputation, he being described by many as somewhat lacking in intellect and eloquence. (remember that “stupid quip” he had made in an interview with a U.S. Embassy agent?). His oversimplistic approach towards political issues and problems may just render him to be incapable of running a government. I guess, we could not have it all. We have leaders so full of morality and uprightness (like Bro. Eddie Villanueva for instance) but they lack something between their ears while we have leaders so eloquent in tongue and so agile in thinking but in truth they are robbers hiding behind barong tagalogs and dark Armani suits.Is this a punishment from God or what?