The Theme ….All Saints’ Day – 2

This also explains the apparent sturdiness of the Pilipino soul when confronted by perils and calamities. Though the typhoons and mudslides have inundated towns and cities in many places here, killing people in their paths, though terrorists have burned houses and people in the South, we pick up the pieces of our lives, and resume the dangerous business of living. Not that we are gluttons for punishment, but that we possess a surplus of patience.

Whereas in other countries such hardships might be cause enough for a major national upheaval, here we only blame ourselves, attributing our punishment to some unforeseen violation of divine regulations. After all, we are responsible for our actions, good or bad. Reaping what you sow, karma, “guhit ng palad” (palm lines) – we have many terms for their consequence, but we simply gloss over the causes. And all this, strangely enough, seems to work to our advantage. Divine Providence is a veil behind a veil which is difficult to penetrate. Wise men in their limited wisdom try to , and end up adding another veil to it. Is not acceptance, then better than interrogation? The acknowledgement of things as they are enables us to adjust our abilities and weaknesses to the realities at hand. This may not ennoble the spirit, but it will empower the body. In a manner of speaking, the poor derive strength from their poverty, deprived form their deprivation. The earlier they acknowledge that, the sooner their struggle for amelioration can begin. Instead of raging against an imagined cruel god, they will assess their chances of survival. Sure many of them will fail in the enterprises, but the few who will succeed will inspire others.