Reflections on Eid Al-Adha: God does not work for us

Joining our Muslim kababayans in reflecting and meditating on the eve of Eid Al-Adha was a most relevant and spiritual experience for me.
 

If Eid Al-Adha was a test of faith for Ibrahim/Abraham to surrender a beloved son – whose birth came to him when he was more than 80 years old – to God's will, for Filipinos, it’s been the most trying of months for our country that's been devasted by insurgency, calamity, as well as revelations of corruption and impunity.

 

It’s just been one national problem after another. The wait for sustainable development and accountability is protracted while Mother Nature has been smacking our landscape around relentlessly. 

 

Nothing but redundant knee-jerk solutions are delivered and the impatience of the people is percolating. But Eid ul-Adha reminds us, regardless of religion, of the serene submission of Ibrahim/Abraham to the will of God and, allowing God to work THROUGH him.

 

Despite the calamitous earthquake that struck Bohol and Cebu, a blessed Eid ul-Adha it still was, for we are being comforted with the promise that through all the trials, no matter how insurmountable and incomprehensible it may seem to limited human understanding, God’s love is always greater than our fears and His plans always better than our dreams.

 

We are not asked to be blind and leave all to God but rather we are being challenged to be stronger in our faith and steadfast in our actions. We should push on doing away with the myopia, finally learn from the insults that are almost forgotten and demand what is due for our country and our people. 

 

Be reminded that in the 1970s there was. . .

 

The Coco Levy Fund Scam: Marcos, Danding and Enrile conspired to tax coconut farmers, promising them the development of the coconut industry and a share of the investments, but on the contrary were used for personal profit particularly in the purchase of United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) and majority stake in San Miguel Corporation (SMC), to name a few.

 

In the 1980s there was. . .

 

The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant Debt: A project that was protracted from the Marcos, Aquino, Ramos, and then to the Arroyo governments that cost the nation $US2.3 billion in construction and an IOU of US4.2 billion from NAPOCOR for maintenance. Maintenance cost per year: US40 million a year.

 

Operation Big Bird: The Cory admin’s failed efforts to pursue the Marcos Swiss accounts worth US$7.5B in hidden accounts and assets. Only US$540 Million was recovered. Over time, it grew to US$683 Million. The money was supposed to be awarded to an agrarian reform program, and the remaining part would compensate the victims of Martial Law. 

 

Unfortunately, when it was transferred to the Department of Agrarian Reform, it was allegedly used for the 2004 presidential election.

 

In the 1990s, there was. . .

 

The PEA Amari Scam (Ramos Administration), and the Textbook Scam (Estrada Administration)

 

And in the 2000s there was the Fertilizer Fund scam, the NBN/ZTE deal, the Euro Generals scandal (Arroyo Administration), and under the second Aquino Administration are issues on PDAF, DAP, the  exorbitant bonuses of the boards of GOCC and the overspending of line agencies are headlines of late.

 

While a few bask in the taxpayer’s billions, millions of people are defenseless, hungry and uneducated. Our people are relegated to nothing but casualties to the Filipino's ubiquitous short-term memory.

 

The century old churches of Bohol now diminished to rubble, are painful wake-up calls. It is a strong testament of bad stewardship and low regard for our country’s rich heritage. The bold caption reads: Foresight has never been integral to a fiesta nation.

 

Pity that, with all the billions that went to the pockets of the greedy, not even a million was spent to fortify the antique structures, no inspiration drawn from Italy's regard for the Roman Coliseum. Dilapidated public schools and hospitals, antiquated military hardware, pathetic government services and the apathetic majority all scream of a country built on a house of cards. Something that is more than an insult to a beautiful land abundantly blessed by God.

 

The real tragedy of the Philippines is that, despite the resiliency of many Filipinos who rise from the worst of trials, most don't even bother to serve and give back. Most of the have's seldom bother, but neither do a huge number of the have-not’s.

 

Through all that has recently happened to our country,  our people are once again reminded that God does not work FOR us. We already know that our system sucks, yet self-entitlement takes precedence in a selfie society.

 

We should move the Philippines forward with hope to power us on and allow for God to work through each of us. A proud Filipino should serve and give back. – KDM, GMA News 
 

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Ms. Portes is the author of "Minsan may Isang Puta", a story that won a film grant in 2010 and is included in the multi-narrative indipendent film "Ganap na Babae.” This piece originally appeared in the GetRealPHL blog on October 17. We are re-posting it here with the author's permission.