Walls of Jericho – Manila Bulletin

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

The last few days have been filled with anxiety as the campaign season draws to a close. Everyone I spoke to had sleepless nights and so did I. Our fears were justified. The future is at stake.

But we did everything we could: organized Viber groups, raised funds, printed collateral, became social media warriors, made Lugawan, pink puto, pink taho, made everything pink, painted murals, composed songs and jingles, medical Conducted missions and voter meetings, made witty posters, went on door-to-door campaigns, and attended massive rallies to support the only deserving candidates for President and Vice President and their Senate lists.

Then we prayed; oh how we have stormed the skies with our fervent pleas for good government, for a country that can stand proud in the community of nations, for an end to corruption. We have done everything humanly possible, and so may Your will be done.

On this we rest our case. My fears are somewhat allayed by the youth’s strong support for our cause. That bodes well, because they make up a large part of the electorate.

The pink movement took traditional politicians by surprise. It turned the traditional way of campaigning on its head. They watched in shock as crowds of hundreds of thousands flocked to our rallies, undeterred by obstructionist movements, motivated only by the desire for a new way of governance and of their own free will.

Citizenship has been energized and hopefully the momentum will continue beyond the elections to create the vanguard that will be a national movement for good governance (see my April 19, 2022 Imagine column).

Victory or defeat, the die is cast. We should no longer return to our previous routines and attitudes. Instead, let’s stick to the course we charted during the campaign. Stay in your Viber and other chat groups. Stay in touch with like-minded people and continue our conversations. Keep the pink spirit alive. No matter who sits in Malacanang, we should ask questions, apply pressure and voice our objections to any form of wrongdoing. Hold local and national government officials accountable for their actions. If necessary, initiate new elections.

We, the people, hold the power in our hands. Do not leave the fate of our children and grandchildren to politics alone. We can and should actively shape the future of our beloved country.

This election season has seen so many favorable omens for our candidate. Rainbows appeared when she arrived at a sortie. Rains stopped as she began to speak. Wherever she stood, white doves flew overhead. People were moved to tears by her words and inspired to do good deeds for one another. There are biblical references to the multiplication of fish and loaves of bread, David’s campaign against Goliath, and the widow’s mite.

Allow me to add one more thing. Let our movement be like that of Joshua and the Israelites. Faced with the impassable walls of Jericho, the city that stood in their way of claiming the Promised Land, God had told Joshua to gather the army and the priests. For six days the army marched once around the city while the priests blew trumpets and carried the Ark of the Covenant. On the seventh day they marched around the city seven times, the priests blew their trumpets and the army shouted loudly. Thus the walls of Jericho fell so the Israelis could claim the city.

It will take an army (kakampinks) of the clergy’s “moral conviction” and perseverance to bring about change for the better. Let’s claim our Jericho! To the promised land!