What’s in ‘sa awa ng Diyos’ and VP Jejomar Binay?

“Sa awa ng Diyos (by God’s mercy)” is an interesting religious expression. How can one not be interested in an expression that works like a kind of a spiritual lift or a moral crutch whereby a seemingly impossible problem is explained away by an intervention of an external figure or event? I like to ponder on this.

 

When spoken by the common man—he who ekes out an existence—it makes me less cheerful, but more than anything else, more pensive. I don’t mean to rationalize his life situation but every time I hear about the common man's difficulties in life, I stop and think: How does one survive? How does one make sense of it all? If not, “sa awa ng Diyos,” how does one go on? After all, who does not want to be a recipient of a favor—an undeserved one at that?

 

But when spoken by politicians, I prick up my ears. I say this because I am always unsure whether they mean what they say or say what they mean. It is difficult to tell. 

 

But how does one tell? How does one find out whether what was spoken was done so truthfully or untruthfully? 

 

A way to tell is to check the “when,” “where,” and “why” it is being spoken. In short, understand its context. The context is everything for me. As the saying goes: “A text without a context is a pretext.” That is, words taken out of their context lead listeners to an agenda of false understanding, and thereby, to a false conclusion.

 

I learned this principle many years ago and it has been particularly valuable in properly interpreting the meaning and intent of a text. Some, however, don't seem to comprehend the importance of understanding context. This principle is as true in religious interpretation as it is in the study of politics.

 

The recent use of the expression in light of VP Jejomar Binay’s defense against the allegation of his involvement in corruption shows the power of context and should cause each of us to pause before we unthinkingly assert a generalized meaning, sentimental or otherwise.

 

Consider this. A politician who invokes the expression in the context of money and power is not the same by any stretch of imagination to the common man who invokes it out of want and poverty. The former expresses privilege, while the latter, helplessness. 

 

Quite a change of meaning, isn't it?

 

And so, when VP Jejomar Binay laces his speeches with not just one, but a series of “sa awa ng Diyos” phrases, my curiosity gets piqued. I have never heard of any Filipino politician who uses the expression as much as him to the point of overkill.  

 

Why does he do that, I wonder. I’m sure his God is not hard of hearing and is contented with one reminder. But I guess he does it in the context of an objective other than his religious conviction or economic destitution. 

 

I think it is a political one. It makes sense to me, because just like the other aspirants, he wants the coveted presidency but wants it really bad. Like other politicians, he will plot to achieve that goal even at the risk of displeasing the divinity he alludes to with mercy. 

 

Come to think of it, I’m sure his God does not even see any reason why a politician like him with his level of social and economic status should be dispensed with “awa.” He knows that VP Jejomar Binay is not wanting, poor, and powerless. In other words, he is not “kawawa.” Maybe, "nagpakamaawa?" This scheme is worth exploring too.   

 

Nonetheless, with more money and more power, he can vanquish any political opponent with lesser money and lesser power, unless his detractors find his “Achilles’ heel”—that deadly political weakness in spite of his overall strength of money, power, and support, which can actually or potentially lead to his downfall. Perhaps, something like a “dirty secret” that can be exposed into the light of day.

 

I wonder how many of us have understood the expression out of context but if we frame the expression within its proper context, the meaning of the expression changes in our minds. For example, given the serious allegations that VP Jejomar Binay and his family demanded kickbacks from city projects in Makati, the context of the expression raises a laundry list of questions with intense moral and political implications. 

 

If the allegations are true, what is really the truth about the use of “sa awa ng Diyos?” How is it related to his defense to clear his name and his family? Is it simply a ploy to manipulate the listener’s emotion? Is he going to be made accountable for its use by his church? How is it related to his integrity or character as a person? Will understanding it encourage people to reject falsehood or simply accept that God is merciful and forgiving?

 

I have been asked, "How can two individuals disagree on the meaning of an expression?” My answer: That's not as difficult as it might seem. It's all about context.

 

 

The author is a full professor at California State University, East Bay. His areas of specialization are urban sociology, urban planning, and social demography. During his quarter breaks, he provides pro bono planning consultancy to selected LGUs in the Philippines.

 

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of this website.