The

ILLINI

Official Publication of the Association of Filipino Physicians in Southern Illinois Volume IV, Spring-Summer, 2014

Contents (Hyperlinked: Hold Ctrl then click on page number to go directly into article or simply scroll down) 2 AFPSI Constructs Feeding Center in Leyte (Elcee Cagas Conner)
Center inaugurated with opening of PMAGSL Auxiliary Feeding Program. Scholarship programs start.

5 Science Scholarship Quiz Show XXXIII (David M. Conner, MD)

The popular show for HS students continues to inspire pursuit of knowledge in the sciences

6 So. Illinois Churches Help Super Typhoon Victims

They sent a big truckful of relief goods and provided funds for repair of houses and churches.

9 Rizaliana Mania II
Second of a series. View paintings of Rizal writing at his desk and being shot at Bagumbayan.

10 The Philippines: A Tryst with Destiny (Ramon G. Lopez, MD)

This great grandnephew of Rizal explains why the Philippines is gaining international recognition.

14 ELIASEmerging Leaders Across Sectors (Emmanuel G. Herbosa, BSIME, BMA)

Another great grandnephew of Rizal offers ideas on how to continue his Lolo Joses work.

18 Rizals Alleged Retraction Revisited (Gil C. Fernandez)

The best evidence against the alleged retraction is the document itself.

24 Rizal in the Historical Novel I Shall Return (Cosme R. Cagas, MD)

Rizals teachings and inspiration come alive in the characters of the novel.

29 Brig. Gen. Emilio Narcise (Ret.) (Angelita Narcise Kurle, MD)

A loving daughter profiles a living hero of WWII.

33 The Fil-Am Historical Society Celebrates 26th Anniversary (Rebecca Geronimo)

Find out who are the officers for 2014-15.

34 Paul in Jerusalem (Rev. Shane L. Bishop)

Paul took seven progressive steps towards metamorphic evangelism.

38 PEACE Welcomes Proposals for Artesian Wells 39

Email your proposals to the Executive Director/Chair Potable Water Committee. A Story within a Story (Alan Zurliene) A deep and abiding faith in Jesus led to healing

42 Dr. Vic Zata Celebrates 70th BD in Manila

Guess what top celebrity dropped by and read a stirring tribute from his son

45 The Tryst (Lestrino C. Baquiran, MD) 46 The Great Stalker (Carmelo C. Dichoso, MD). 47 Interpretation (Cosme R. Cagas, MD)

AFPSI Constructs Feeding Center in Leyte

The Association of Filipino Physicians of Southern Illinois
Officers, 2013-14
Evelyn YU, MD- President David Deloso, MD- Vice Pres. Emma Sunga, MD, Pres.-elect Claravel B. Criste, MD- Secretary Elcee Cagas Conner-Treasurer Raymund Pineda, MD-Auditor Enrico T. Farinas, MD- Bus. Man. Virgilio R. Pilapil, MD- APPA Delegate Cesar Yu, MD-Executive Director David M. Conner, MD, Imm. P. Pres. Board of Governors Rachel Gotanco, MD Erica Fe Salarda, MD Vanessa Salarda, MD Seigfried Yu, MD Vicente Zata, Jr., MD Board of Advisers Calixto Aquino, MD Cosme R. Cagas, MD Urbano Dauz, MD Virgilio Dycoco, MD Elvira Salarda, MD Auxiliary Officers 2013-2014 Elcee Cagas Conner -President Teresita Deleste-Pres.-elect Lily Santos, Vice Pres. Georgina Cagas Zurliene-Secretary Virgie Abinoja-Treasurer Kay Pineda-PRO Raydo Bugayong, Ph.D, Imm. P. Pres. Board of Governors Wilma Aquino Remy Bugayong Ann Butalid Linda Cagas Grace Farinas Board of Advisers Ray Bugayong Emma Fabi Ynna Naguit Editorial Board Cosme R. Cagas, MD- Editor Carlos P. Capati, MD Urbano Dauz, MD David Deloso, MD Rebecca Geronimo, BSN Virgilio R. Pilapil, MD Associate Editors Office of the Editor 1 Bunkum Woods Drive Fairview Heights, IL 62208 Crcagas@aol.com ccagas2@gmail.com

Elcee Cagas Conner The AFPSI constructed a Feeding Center for underprivileged children in remote Maticaa, a barangay of Ormoc, Leyte. The idea occurred to me in October, 2013 when I was travelling with my parents Dr. Cosme and Linda Cagas and church missionary James Dunn to this area as part of our regular visitations for the scholarship, feeding and dental health programs of the Christ Philippine Missions based in our church in Fairview Heights, IL. I was searching for a site for a feeding program initially for the PMA of Greater St. Louis Auxiliary, where I serve as president. Earlier the auxilians, under the able chairmanships of Drs. Isabel Perez and Nila Villafuerte walked for hunger for this purpose. It was as if an omen and opportunity beckoned to us, for no more than a week later, typhoon Yolanda struck leaving massive destruction and unprecedented death tolls in Leyte and neighboring islands. While I was still in the Philippines feeling the anguish of the victims, back home in Southern Illinois, AFPSIs leadership under President Evelyn Yu, who herself is a native of Tacloban, Leyte, and former auxiliary president Ann Butalid led a fundraiser for typhoon victims at Dr. Yus home during one of Manny Pacquiaos televised boxing matches. With some of the funds raised that day, the AFPSI feeding center came to reality. PMAGSL Auxiliary Feeding Program The Center was formally inaugurated on February 4, 2014, the day that the PMAGSL Auxiliary opened its weekend feeding program there for about 60 children from the surrounding community. Since its inauguration, feedings are being held there without fail every Saturday and Sunday. For the majority of the children, the food that they receive are the most substantial meals they get during the week. The feeding center doubles as an educational center because the children are given weekly educational activities including learning new songs, art projects, as well as interactive discussions about their hopes and dreams for the future. 2

The APPA (Dr. Leonor Pagtakhan So, president) has donated $1000 to AFPSI towards a summer feeding program there to start in April this year. Finally, the shelter can someday be used as a site for medical clinics by AFPSI or other groups. Aid for Typhoon Victims While the Feeding Center is designed for long-term service, AFPSI also addressed the problem of immediate aid to the typhoon victims. Accordingly, it gave cash for the purchase of relief goods to victims in Ormoc, sent four Balikbayan boxes containing clothing, shoes, toiletries and canned foods to Tacloban and gave $1000 in cash to a Catholic Monastery in Ormoc through Dr. Virgilio Guzman who has a nephew (monk) there. Other AFPSI members helped on their own. Dr. Renato Rivera, for example, collected clothing, medicines and surgical instruments from his family and friends then shipped them in five Balikbayan boxes to Tacloban. Repair of Schools and New Scholarship Programs
Dr. Romeo Perez former APPA president and a member of the PMAGSL, who helped inaugurate the Feeding Center and open the Feeding Program along with his wife, Dr. Isabel Perez, visited the Cabatuan Elementary School located near the Feeding Center, noticed three school buildings damaged, one so badly

School building showing windows and doors already repaired. Next will be the roofs (report from Cabatuan Elem. School as of this writing)

as to be condemned. Informed that the funds for their repair is not forthcoming (all relief are directed towards Tacloban, all other localities could wait!), he could not help being touched. Right then and there he volunteered the money for the repair of one school building and offered to try to raise more for the repair of the other. Upon his return one PMAGSL auxilian pledged $1000 for the project.

AFPSI scholars

In a related development, the PMAGSL auxiliary started a scholarship program for 10 elementary and 5 HS students from funds raised by the event Maskara cochaired by Mrs. Virgie Abinoja and Mrs. Cres Mayuga, and AFPSI a similar program for 10 pupils from different schools surrounding the center. We are grateful to our contacts in Ormoc, namely Mrs. Myrna Margemen, Fely Mae Maregemen and Mary Jane Hernani who are overseeing all our projects there. The former supervised the building construction and the latter two are the feeding and scholarship programs coordinators; they are gainfully employed college graduates and former scholars of the Christ Philippine Missions.

I believe we are changing the world by saving one child at a time. As Libba Bray states, And that is how change happens. One gesture. One person. One moment at a time. 4
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Science Scholarship Quiz Show XXXIII

David M. Conner, MD

he 2013 annual Association of Filipino Physicians of Southern Illinois (AFPSI) Science Quiz Show was held at the Carlyle High School in Carlyle, Illinois on November 10. The host of the quiz for many years now, the school once again did a wonderful job of ensuring the comfort of all in this demanding contest. The quiz is intended to inspire students to pursue science and to award scholarships for excellence in science knowledge. Questions span the entire spectrum of science, including current events. High schools participating this year were Bayless (sole contender from St. Louis, Mo.), Carlyle, Hardin City, Mascoutah, Mater Dei, Salem, Sandoval and Trinity (all Southern Illinois).

Third Place went to Nico Rodriguez of Sandoval, Amy Telford, coach, $150 award plus trophy; Second Place to Kyle Neace of Mascoutah, Stephanie Neace, coach, $300 award plus trophy; and First Place to Adam Holbrook of Mater Dei, Scott Timmerman, coach, $600 award plus trophy.

Left, Dr. David M Conner, Quizmaster; center, Adam Holbrook and his mother, and right, AFPSI President Evelyn Yu (photos courtesy of Dr. Elvira Salarda)

Congratulations to our awardees, finalists, participants, and coaches, as well as our profound thanks. We look forward to seeing entries in 2014 from the many schools that have made this program such a success, and we remind all members of AFPSI how much their participation is appreciated by our leadership and the students and faculty involved. 5
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SO. ILLINOIS CHURCHES HELP SUPER TYPHOON VICTIMS

s images of the widespread devastation and news of increasing number of the dead and missing in Tacloban in the wake of Super Typhoon Yolanda preoccupied the TV and other news media in November 2013, two churches in Southern Illinois quickly responded by raising special funds for the relief of the suffering survivors. The Christ United Methodist Church of Fairview Heights, under the inspired leadership of Senior Pastor Rev. Shane L. Bishop and the Grace Community Baptist Church of Trenton under the caring and devoted guidance of Pastor Bob Marsh, each immediately wired $2500 in mid-November to the Digos Joggers Club of Digos, Davao del Sur. Earlier Atty. Johari Bana, president of the club and his members had already distributed food and water to the victims in Tacloban and nearby Samar. They related that the trip just to reach Leyte took them five hours and was very difficult because of the rain, darkness and lack of facilities along the way. With the $5000, the club purchased sacks of rice, boxes of sardines and other canned goods, blankets and miscellaneous items and rented a big truck.

Atty. Johari Bana (extreme right) and the boys and girls of the Digos City Joggers Club after delivering half their load in Tacloban

With Pastor Iris Picardal of the Tacloban UM Church

Gaining experience from their previous trip, the joggers turned relief workers avoided panic and looting by staying close to guards and channeling their deliveries through church groups, irrespective of denominations. They reported that the second trip was more orderly and the people less difficult to deal with, in part perhaps because their truck had the names of the U.S.based churches. Christ United Methodist Church actually raised $22,000 on a special Sunday collection. Onehalf of the amount was given to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) that 7

With Pastor Bayani Sagun Alkuino of the Holy Mountain UM Church of Ormoc

offered to double it. The other half ($11,000) went to the immediate relief as described above, the repair of the Holy Mountain UM Church of Ormoc City, to the families of CPM scholars in Ormoc and Bantayan City whose houses were damaged by the typhoon and a fund allocated for the minor repair and repainting of its sister church in Upper Paatan, North Cotabato.

Inside of Holy Mountain UM Church of Ormoc after repair and repainting.

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The Philippines: A Tryst with Destiny

(Keynote speech delivered before the 35th Anniversary Celebrations of the Association of Filipino Physicians of Southern Illinois at the Hilton Garden Inn, OFallon, IL on May 25, 2013).

Ramon G. Lopez, MD*

he Philippines is once again a nation at a critical crossroad. It is at a critical crossroad internally with its people, and internationally as it gains recognition with its growing economic power, its claim to newly-discovered oil-rich natural resources, and foremost because of the primary contribution of its people - the global Filipino - as a responsible and productive citizen of the world. It looks like an economic springtime for the Philippines with its many buds now starting to bloom. All indicators point forward in that direction. The crisp economic air gives a fragrant essence. It is indeed a time of great optimism! Of the 196 countries in the world, the Philippines now has the 40th largest national economy as it transitions from agriculture-based market initiatives to that which is more primed on services and manufacturing. The Goldman Sachs investment banking firm estimates that by the year 2050 the Philippines will be the 14th largest economy in the world. In the same token unless the winds of change blow in another direction, the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) projects that by 2050 the Philippines will have the largest economy in the sphere of South East Asia. The Gross Domestic Product of the country was 3.7% for the year 2011, but was 6.6% for 2012 thus exceeding all expectations! There is a robust and growing business process outsourcing (voice-based) industry of which the Philippines is the world leader. This presently employs about 700,000 Filipinos. It is projected that the 2016 employment from this industry will be almost double at 1.3 million workers, and will have a revenue of about $27 billion. Unbeknownst to many, the Philippines is the fourth largest shipbuilding nation in the world booned by its surrounding waters and abundant natural deep-sea ports, which are ideal for development as production, construction, and repair sites of sea vessels. Then we have our heroic international workers, who with their sacrifices and the sacrifices of 10

their estranged families had brought into the country about $21 billion for the year 2012 which was about 13.5% - 14% of the years GDP. All of these economic bonanzas will help enlarge the narrowed middle class segment of the society, the majority of whom are on the $2.00 - $4.00 daily spending range. With the economic coffers of the Philippines seemingly comfortable at over $75 billion in foreign exchange reserves, and with lower interest payments on its debts, President Benigno Aquino III and the Bangko Sentral in June of 2012 had pledged a $1 billion loan to the International Monetary Fund to do its bit for the struggling economies of Europe. From an essentially mendicant country to a loan-giver is simply astonishing! And additionally if it can be had there is about $26.3 trillion worth of untapped hydrocarbon deposits in the disputed Spratly Islands, amounting to more than 17 billion barrels of oil, which is more than that of Kuwaits, one of the worlds top oil producers; plus, another stroke of good fortune a recently discovered field of oil reserves in the Sulu-Celebes Sea which is within the uncontested scope of Philippine territory. Never not since the 1950s and 1960s when the Philippines was considered the economic sleeping tiger of Asia has the country have as much economic confidence as it has now! As the dawn breaks into a new day as we see the glint from the rays of the rising sun on the Pearl of the Orient Seas , we pay homage to our storied past. We pay homage to our foreb ears. We pay homage to those who have kept faith during the uncertain times and dark chapters of Philippine history. We pay homage to those who shed their tears and carried their scars as they struggled to be self-evident and to be autonomous as they searched for national identity. We look and learn from our past as our beloved Filipinas now faces a new future.

We look and learn from our past as our beloved Filipinas now faces a new future
We bow in reverential awe and give respect to those men and women, and to the unnamed many, who blazed the trail for us. From Lapu-lapu and his heroic stand at Mactan , to Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat Sultan of Maguindanao who in the 16th century successfully fought the colonizers in the defense of the autonomy of the island of Mindanao , Dagohoy from Bohol and his 85-year rebellion the uprising against British occupation as spawned by Diego and Gabriela Silang in the Ilocos and the native priest Pedro Pelaez, who in 1851 lighted the guiding torch for the martyred Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora as they fought for the secularization of Catholic parishes with native priests; and of Hermano Pule who in 1840 in Tayabas, mounted his courageous revolt for religious freedom. Then there were men of letters too such as the patriarchal Tomas Pinpin who in 1610 published a book entirely written by himself using the old Tagalog orthography, of Luis Rodriguez Varela, 11

The El Conde Filipino nationalist who early in the 19th century inspired by the Enlightenment period and the French Revolution, published a series of books advocating social change in the Philippines, and the development of a Creole-Filipino consciousness. Of Francisco Balagtas Baltazar The Prince of Tagalog Poets who in 1838 published his inspirational epic Florante at Laura , a novel replete with passages depicting love of country, love of fellowmen, and tolerance for people of other creed and religion. There was the nationalist-propaganda movement with brethren and compatriots working for the same cause indeed they were brothers all! Dr. Jose Rizal and his elder Paciano, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Andres Bonifacio, Graciano Lopez-Jaena, Apolinario Mabini, Mariano Ponce, Pio Valenzuela, Maximo Viola, Valentin Ventura, Jose Maria Basa, General Emilio Aguinaldo, and Melchora Aquino among many, many others. There was Juan Luna, Felix Resurreccion-Hidalgo, and Felix Pardo de Tavera displaying to the world the multi-faceted talent of the Filipino in other fields of endeavor. Patriots all -- these heroic figures were! They may have used a different tint, a different tone and texture in their respective persuasions but they were all in the same canvas trying to create the same masterpiece for the Motherland!

We give respect and admiration to the early Filipinos the mariners who jumped ship from the Spanish galleons
Likewise, we give respect and admiration to the early Filipino settlers in their newly-found land the mariners who jumped ship from the Spanish galleons which sailed to as far down as Florida- the Spanish-speaking Asians the Manillamen, as alluded to by Herman Melville in his epic novel Moby Dick. These same men who eventually settled in the bayous of Saint Malo and the deltas of Barataria Bay fought side-by-side with then General Andrew Jackson and French privateer Jean Lafitte, in the Battle of New Orleans against the British in 1815. It is a nice to think Ladies and Gentlemen ... that these Manillamen - these early Filipinos - had helped and probably had given their lives in solidifying the birth and independence of America. All the children of the Diaspora -- you and I -- also have kept faith. Though now acculturated to a new life and a new society, we have not forgotten and have continued to believe and contribute. From the late 1700s when the first Filipino merchant seaman arrived in Alaska to the Alaskeros who worked the salmon canning industry, and to those who helped lay the underwater communication cables to link with mainland U.S.A., had kept their covenant in search of a better tomorrow. These hardy souls after their summer work in Alaska persevered and sacrificed and would then travel to do strenuous and back-breaking tasks in the farmlands of eastern Washington, California, and Oregon during the other seasons of the year. They were assigned the hardest tasks and paid the lowest wages. During the first half of the 20th century the agricultural economies of California and Hawaii needed a continuous stream of cheap and dependable labor. In 1906 the first 15 Filipino sakadas 12

or migrant workers arrived in Hawaii. They were docile, subservient, and uneducated Filipinos who were unschooled in their labor and legal rights. Although theirs were economic oppression, brutal working conditions and racial discrimination, they were found to be industrious and hardworking. We salute and give deference to the pioneers of the Philippine labor movement in America. From Virgil Duyungan and Aurelio Simon of the Cannery Workers and Farm Laborers Union, to Pablo Manlapit in the 1920s in Hawaii to Rufo Canete, Johnny Estigoy and many o thers, who in 1933 formed the Filipino Labor Union in California. We are indebted to Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz, Pete Velasco and many other courageous activists as they carried their crusade in 1965 in California to form the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee. In 1966, in alliance with the National Farm Workers Association they had become the iconic and vigorous United Farm Workers organization. From the crucible of World War II the ignominy of almost a decade of martial law the travails and exhilaration of EDSA I The People Power Revolution in 1986 - the bloodless revolution that amazed the world and in so many other trials and tribulations, the Philippines is once again at a critical crossroad of nation-building. We do not envision nor expect results in one fell swoop, but work has to be started now for it will take time. The tasks at hand are complex, challenging, and many. But, we cannot afford the shadowed specter of those inglorious days gone by repeated. The economic ascendancy of the Philippines will be a pyrrhic achievement if the scourge of poverty is not profoundly addressed and alleviated that of inequitable disparities for the opportunities of income, the processes of asset distribution such as in a meaningful and effective land reform program, and a differential access to resources as envisioned by the Philippine Reproductive Health law given as an example. The great opportunity is here to have the muted voices of the poor the disenfranchised and the marginalized find utterance in us, in what we do and what we say. The many victims of different human rights abuses cry out for their own voices to be heard. Those victims of child slavery, human trafficking, torture, gender discrimination and violence those in indentured domestic servitude those whose autonomy in reproductive rights are curtailed and those who are victims of extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances they all cry out for justice. The Preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations states the recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world. The stroke of the midnight hour is upon us. Let the job that has to be done be started, and the work finished. Let the Filipino nation and its people keep its tryst with destiny.
(A great grandnephew of Jose Rizal, Dr. Lopez is president-elect of the Philippine Medical Association in Chicago and secretary of the Philippine Economic and Cultural Endowment)

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ELIAS Emerging Leaders Innovating Across Sectors CONTINUING THE WORK of RIZAL
(Basis of speech delivered before the Knights of Rizal, St. Louis Chapter on June1, 2013. This speech was initially given before the Knights of Rizal Youth Leadership Institute forum in Davao City on October 29, 2010)

Emmanuel G. Herbosa, BSIME, MBA

y talk is how to continue the work of Dr. Jose Rizal in building our nation. It seems like a tall order, especially when we view Rizal as a special person who happened to be at the right place, at the right time. It seems he was thrust by fate to become an outstanding hero, a giant in his time, particularly earmarked for martyrdom. He was so extraordinary as we are so ordinary. And so, how can we, his children of 150 years, hope to fill in his shoes? To begin to understand how we can possibly continue the work of Dr. Rizal, we must first know what he was all about and appreciate the times that he lived in and the conditions that he confronted which have molded his character. Then, as our role model, we can have a closer examination of how he transformed, even reinvented himself, in order to achieve the goals that he set for himself. At the time of his birth in 1861, a new world power had started to emerge in the Western Hemisphere - - ironically from its own internal strife. That was the United States of America, engaged in a mighty civil war that would determine a new way of living for all its citizens. On the surface, it would seem there was a clash in commercial or business interest to industrialize or be predominantly agriculture-based. But the real underpinning was the struggle to make freedom available also to the African slave workers at the southern plantations. You can just imagine how this social accomplishment of its time caused a stir in a world dominated by colonial powers who were at the zenith of subjugating most of Africa and Asia. This U.S. event was indeed a game changer! We all know that it was US President Abraham Lincoln, inaugurated as the 16th president in the year of Rizals birth who made this all, but at the cost of his own life to an assassination in1865, as the civil war was drawing to a close. This human sacrifice of Lincoln as well as the hundreds of thousands who perished in the war, bore a major fruit when the United States elected its first black president Barack Obama in 2008, on the bicentennial of Lincolns birth.

A curious parallelism between Lincolns assassination and Rizals execution both martyrdoms in the quest for national freedom
Interesting coincidence, a curious parallelism between Lincolns assassination and Rizals execution both martyrdoms in the quest for national freedom! There is a new term for this coming together of events, an alignment of consequences from seemingly unrelated events. It is called synchronicity; the dictionary describes this as a coming together or occurring at the same rate of frequency. This is the other word for Man of the Hour, or Moment of Truth. But close examination of great men and women who changed the course of human events, reveals that they were very aware of themselves (their strengths and weaknesses, value system, cultural disposition) and the conditions that they were living in, or confronting. But there had to be 14

catalyst along the way to prod a certain action or series of actions towards a desired outcome. With Lincoln, the beginning was the hardship of farm life in Ohio. It was the hardscrabble of poverty; the young Abe had to walk miles to the nearest school and of course had to take his turn to work in the fields. It is this early exposure which made him first wonder how much more severe were the living conditions of African slaves working in the cotton and tobacco plantations in the South. In the case of Rizal, though of upper middle class upbringing with private tutoring from his mother Doa Teodora, the catalyst was his older brother Paciano. Paciano, making sure that his young brother did not miss the atrocities being committed by the Spanish authorities, highlighted eventually by the martyrdom of Frs. Burgos, Gomez and Zamora. Rizal himself testified later on how GomBurZa awakened him to the reality of suppression and oppression of Spanish colonialism. He had to look outside his home, and use his studies and actual experiences to lead him to answers and a clear understanding of how current events were shaping not only the Philippine colony, but the world around it. This is clearly why, at Pacianos urging, Rizal was easily convinced to take further studies in Europe, even if it meant the personal sacrifice of separation from his family, particularly his mother, who he was so close to. This was a major step outside his comfort zone, and into his personal transformation. You see, when Rizal was ten years old, the Iron Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck led the Prussian forces to victory over the French forces in the Franco-Prussian War. By the time of his twenties, in Spains political decline was being felt throughout her colonies. Prussia continued to expand and exert its power in Continental Europe, while the United States was expanding its territory and influence in the New World. And we know full well that a world power in decline leads to decay in its government structures and how much worse would be the case it its far flung colonies like the Philippines?

During Rizals lifetime, the Philippines suffered from the six evils of the Spanish regime
During Rizals lifetime, the Philippines suffered from the six evils of the Spanish regime, namely, 1) corrupt local government officials, 2) deprivation of human rights and inequality before the law, 3) racial discrimination (among the Peninsulares, Insulares and Indios), 4) forced labor, 5) military imposition (through the infamous Guardia Civil) and 6) the Frailocracy. The corruption of government officials resulted when incompetent officials were recycled here from the collapsing Spanish colonies in the New World. With self-enrichment and narrow selfinterest, it easily gave rise to deprivations of human rights and inequality before the law. Filipinos who cannot afford lawyers suffered unjust punishments and cases were often ruled against their favor. Settlement of cases outlived the Filipino petitioners because the Spanish judges sat on their cases deliberately, or due to plain neglect. It was highly improbable that a Filipino aggrieved by a Spanish mestizo would obtain justice in court. Furthermore in the Spanish Penal Code, Filipinos were meted heavier punishments than counterpart Spanish citizens for the same crimes. The maladministration of the law was also due to the refusal of the Spanish 15

government to allow Filipino representation in the Spanish Cortes, the central legislative body in Spain. This allowed the abuses to go unabated. Thus it became part of Rizals educational thrust in Europe to observe how the Spanish national government in the motherland was so different from its colonial regime in the colonies. In Spain, the justice system worked, liberal thought and ideas were nurtured and propagated, and the government upheld human rights and equality! We thus see in the example of Rizals life that it was not a matter of being in the center of the universe, but of influencing towards where the action should take place. Rizals life was one of arduous, conscientious preparation. He got to know himself; a discipline of recognizing his strengths and weaknesses, improving on his unique attributes through education, both formal and experiential. His first experiential learning was with his mother, watching a moth get closer and closer to the fire that was attracting it. From this event in his early age, Rizal drew a prescient inspiration, which he writes about later on and I quote; The flame rolled its golden tongue to one side, and the moth which this moment has been singed, fell into the oil. It had died a martyr to its illusions, perhaps in its death was its real happiness. It is no wonder why the incident with the moth is among the highlights if Rizals learnings in his early years. You can just sense his zeal for the supreme sacrifice for his motherland! With this strong self-awareness, Rizal mastered himself. In the same way must we master ourselves by hungering for knowledge and striving tirelessly for the truth. From the early lesson of the moth, he became keenly aware of the world around him; the issues, the burning concerns of the time seeking resolution, new trends in governance and the emerging outlook on equality for all men. It is for this reason that he

From the early lesson of the moth, he became keenly aware of the world around him
ventured forth, out of his comfort zone. He sacrificed to go abroad in pursuit of new ideas, new social trends, new systems of management, new products that he can learn from which to distill a unique Philippine solution. And this is where I believe his genius is initiating simultaneous action across varied sectors. In todays terms, Rizal was multi-tasking and more! So his is not an uncommon trait. We have seen this genius in many other leaders, including those outstanding ones who eventually failed as dictators. Not so long ago, we had such a dynamic and brilliant president who had almost everything to master the Filipino psyche that gave him confidence to make this nation great again, to use his slogan. But why did he turn out to be a total failure compared to Rizal? It is because he lost out on a third awareness the Spiritual. There was no concept of a Supreme Being in his life to whom he had an accountability a very real concern for leaders who feel on top of the world. Rizal in contrast, perhaps because his parents were devout Catholics, had his religious beliefs that convicted him of his special calling the crucible by which all leaders are put to the ultimate test which is to put the interest of the nation, the common good, always ahead of oneself. In his recent book, British Prime Minister Tony Blaire defines this nobility of spirit as feeling for the nation. And so, what about us? How are we called? What is our sense of mission for our country? Do we know ourselves how well aware are we of our strengths and weaknesses? Are we convinced of our own uniqueness, as each human being is? How can we now rise above 16

ourselves, and beyond ourselves? Rizal though very much conscious of his genius and unique value contribution to the propaganda movement, was a very humble man. Notice how he shunned the limelight, but his ideas and words (through the Noli, El Fili, letters and other publications) brought him into the spotlight. Can we move out of our comfort zones, like Rizal did in order to experience vulnerabilities? Rizal left home at a very young age, unsettled by what may happen to his family under an increasingly oppressive Spanish regime. But he needed wider learning in Europe. While there, he had the courage to develop relationships with foreigners (like Ferdinand Blumentritt) and work well with rivals (fellow ilustrados like Marcelo H. del Pilar, Graciano Lopez-Jaena and others), bringing himself to respect them for their own uniqueness and contributions to the cause. He had absolutely no attachment to any position. In 1890, aside from his longing to return home and see his mother, Rizal left Madrid to avoid splitting the propagandists over the choice of La Solidaridads editorship. While in Dapitan, inspite of his becoming the byword and thus moving spirit of the Katipunan, he refused to join it because an armed revolt was contrary to his principles for reforms. In 1895, he left the comforts of Dapitan to volunteer for the Spanish forces in Cuba as a medical doctor. He yearned to know more about the emerging superpower in the Americas that was challenging Spain and hastening the demise of its empire, and how this new country would in turn affect the Philippines. Can we challenge convention? In the last elections, both national and barangay levels, I was askance at how many of our countrymen can still be swayed to vote unwisely because of pagkakaibigan, pakikisama, utang-na-loob at negosyo. Can we, like Rizal, risk being misunderstood, ridiculed, even ostracized, by family and friends because we stand for our principles to strive for the common good? In Hongkong, on June 20, 1892, Rizal wrote, I wish to show those who deny us patriotism that we know how to die for our duty and convictions. What matters death if one dies for what one loves, for native land and cherished ones? Indeed, helping others become better, helping others attain a better life, is among lifes greatest joys! Born on a Wednesday with difficulty, Rizal died under distressing circumstances on a Wednesday the day of the week devoted to St. Joseph (San Jose) the Catholic patron for a serene and peaceful death! For us, our dying is every day, because we have to die first to ourselves before we can die for others. This is the martyrdom for Rizals children of 150 years.

(A great grandnephew of Dr. Jose Rizal, Mr. Herbosa heads the Rizal Family Foundation and is Senior Vice President and Branches Division Head (for VisMin), Consumer Banking Group, Bank of the Philippine Islands).

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RIZALS ALLEGED RETRACTION REVISITED

Gil C. Fernandez*

he alleged retraction document:

http://xiaochua.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/rizal-retraction.jpg?w=412 18

The best evidence against Rizal's alleged retraction is the alleged document itself.
English Translation of the alleged retraction document as follows: I declare myself Catholic and in this religion in which I was born and educated I wish to live and die. I retract with all my heart all my words, writings and actions that have been contrary to my condition as a son of the Catholic Church. I believe and profess whatever she teaches and I submit to whatever she demands. I abominate masonry as an enemy of the Church and as a society condemned by the Church. The diocesan prelate, as superior ecclesiastical authority, may make public this spontaneous manifestation, to make reparation for the scandals which may have been caused by my works, and that God and my fellow-men may pardon me. Manila 29th December 1890 (sic). Jose Rizal Witnesses: Chief of Picket Adjutant Juan del Fresno Eloy Moure Note the last line of the alleged document is dated, Deciembre de 1890! How could this be when Rizal was in Europe at that time? Dr. Ricardo R. Pascual in his book, Rizal Beyond the Grave (1) comments extensively on the above document-- on pages 31 through 35 he wrote: (page31) The signature of Jose Rizal was supposed to have been written by Rizal, himself, and signatures of the witnesses together with their corresponding titles above their names are supposed to have been written by each individual witness, himself, respectively." "Let us now observe closely these writings of the witnesses....Observe that each witness was writing with equal economy of the strokes at the end of each word...They were not just economical but that their economy was almost identical." (page 33) "Look at the writing of the two supposed witnesses. Do they not show the same tendency to go "down hill" as they are written? It seems quite, nay, very strange that both of the witnesses who were supposed to be different persons, should write in almost, exactly the same tendency of going down in the alignment of their writings, as they were, in the same document. (page 34) "Another fact that must not here be forgotten is the slant of the supposed writings of three different persons..... We here find that the slant of Maure's writing and the signature of Jose Rizal are almost the same, and there is affinity between the slants of the signatures of Maure and Fresno. 19

(page 33) " Is there anything strange in finding the same tendency manifested by the same hand, especially in the writings done at almost the same instant? No, nothing! The only thing strange here is the fact that the forger forgot to vary his ways of committing this forgery." (page 35) Is it strange that this forgery was done by one hand? No ! it is only imprudent to employ more mouths and hands than one person's to be a witness to the act. Please note the last line of the alleged document was dated "Manila Deciembre de 1890". How could that be when Rizal was in Europe at that time? In 1958, historian, Teodoro A. Agoncillo, proposed that the document of the alleged retraction be submitted to the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States) for scientific analysis to determine its authenticity. A similar proposal was reiterated by Dr. Eugene A. Hessel in 1965, although this time Dr. Hessel suggested "some neutral country such as Switzerland or Sweden. please see: http://joserizal.info/Reflections/retraction.htm). Both proposals landed on the deaf ears of the Archbishop of Manila. If the document is really genuine as claimed by many Catholics why should they be afraid to find, after secular, scientific scrutiny, that it is really genuine? Refusal to submit the document for scientific examinations is a ground for doubt as to its authenticity. I am reminded of the two governor-generals of the Philippines, both freemasons, who tried to save the life of Jose Rizal (2), and how it relates to the Rizal's Alleged Retraction. The first time was in 1887, when Rizal returned to the Philippines (3). Emilio Terrero was the governor-general at that time, gave Rizal bodyguards because the friars were after his blood. After six months, Governor Terrero asked Rizal to leave the country since he could not give him protection anymore. The second time was in 1896; Governor Ramon Blanco had decided in advance to veto a death sentence for Rizal if found guilty of sedition and rebellion. The Catholic Church through the Dominicans secretly persuaded the ultraconservative, Spanish queen, Maria Cristina, to fire Governor Blanco and they succeeded(4). Blanco was fired. Polevieja took over and Rizal's fate was sealed and doomed to die . What does the foregoing tell us in regards to the Rizal's Alleged Retraction, where Rizal alleged to have written: "I abominate Masonry" , abominate means extreme hatred and is a very strong word to use, the words "resign, terminate, relinquish" would seem more appropriate to use and besides what was there in masonry that Rizal had to abominate? The writings shown below from the Grand Lodge of Maine Ancient Free and Accepted Masons accurately elaborated about Freemasonry. Its objectives are making good men better. Its teachings include brotherhood, morality, justice, tolerance, citizenship, education and freedom of ideas, of religious choice and of expression." The people who would want Rizal to retract were the same people who had every reason to abominate freemasonry. It just seem strange why a good man, like Rizal would abominate Freemasonry, where two of his brother masons tried to save his life, against the wishes of the Catholic Church who was instrumental for his death. In Rizals poem, Ultimo Adios, completed just before Rizal was killed, he wrote: "Gladly I go to give thee this faded life best." This is contrary to the alleged document where Rizal said: I wished to live(3) How could that be reconciled, except that the alleged retraction did not happen. 20

Timing of the Alleged Retraction Dr. Rizal had been imprisoned in Fort Santiago since the November 3, 1896. Why did the friars try to have Rizal retracted only on December 29th, around 11:30 PM a few hours before his execution ,this was narrated by Fr. Balaguer? The text of the alleged retraction was published immediately in the newspapers in Manila after Rizal's death, thus making it impossible for Rizal to deny or affirm the alleged retraction, since a "dead man tells no tales". The friars had almost 2 months to convert Rizal. Why did they not attempt to have Rizal retracts, days, weeks or even a month before his execution in order to give Rizal the time to affirm or deny the alleged retraction? No, the Friars would not take that chance. Rizal must be dead before the publication of the alleged retraction. All the newspapers in Manila published articles on the execution and alleged retraction of Rizal (Diario de Manila, El Espanol, El Comercio, La Oceania Espanola, and La Voz Espanol) and many of the newspapers inserted the TEXT of the alleged retraction and not the PHOTOGRAPH because at that mtime there was no document yet, --either forged or genuine. The fabrication of the forged document was done several years later; the friars failed to convert Rizal, and consequently failed to show any document to the family of Rizal in spite of their repeated request. For a while the Catholic Church claimed that the alleged document was lost and could not be found after search in the Archives of the Archbishop of Manila. Those who did not believe in the alleged retraction had demanded the Catholic Church to produce the document. And on May 18, 1935, 39 years after the supposed retraction was made, was "discovered" (1) in the Archives of the Archbishop of Manila. What happened to this document when they were looking for this at the same archive did not find it there? This fraud perpetrated on Rizal by the friars was similar to the "Catholic Inquisition" where men were burned alive at the stake for speaking the truth. Rizal spoke the truth in his writings, and died outside the fold of the Catholic Church, as the way the friars treated him even after his death which was nauseating. He was buried without a coffin in unconsecrated ground, his body placed in direct contact with the earth his burial, to say the least, barbaric. No mass was heard for his soul, in spite of the repeated requests from Rizal's family. Is this the way to treat a man who went back to the fold of the Catholic Church? Now regarding Dr. Zaide's on this alleged retraction, bear in mind, that he was a Catholic historian. The Philippine Government Textbook Board disapproved and ordered the immediate discontinuance of the use of his books, the "Philippine History for Catholic High Schools and its college equivalent, for being BIASED and INACCURATE"(3). I believe that Dr. Zaide wrote anything and everything to promote the sale of his books among the Catholic schools in the Philippines. It is sad to say that a few fellow Filipinos have found economic comfort through their open support of this ecclesiastical fraud. Teodoro A. Agoncillo, an eminent historian, former head of the Department of History of the University of the Philippines wrote: "there are well-known historians who engaged in the art of distorting historical facts, and with a business propensity issued a "Philippine History for Catholics". Why for Catholics? Are there several Philippines Histories for different religions, faiths and beliefs, e.g., the Protestants, the Islams, the unbelievers, the freethinkers, etc.? Dr. Zaide in his "Jose Rizal: Works and Writings" wrote: 21

"The Church teaches love of country.I am a product of Catholic schools; I don't believe that the Catholic Church ever teaches the love for the Philippines. Dr.Zaide must be referring to another country and not the Philippines. Rizal did not die within the fold of the Catholic Church; this fraud perpetrated on his name by the friars was similar to the "Catholic Inquisition where men were burned alive at the stake for speaking the truth. Rizal spoke the truth in his writings, and died outside the fold of the Catholic Church, This was the way the friars treated him even after his death which was nauseating. He was buried without a coffin, his body placed in an old sack thrown in a hole in direct contact with the earth (2) -- his burial, to say the least, barbaric. What did the Catholic Church hope to achieve by Rizals alleged retraction? The answer is plain and simple, PROPAGANDA! The Church was interested in Rizal's conversion for political and religious reasons. Bear in mind we had a theocratic rule during those days, i.e., the union of Church and State. And with the revolution already going on, the retraction of Rizal would have a great effect throughout the Philippines favorable to the colonial government and at the same time would strengthen the prestige of the Catholic Church. To paraphrase Russell and Rodriguez authors of the Book "Hero of the Filipinos", that the alleged retraction would have been worth to the Spanish cause more than the strength of many brigades against the revolting masses. And also, be reminded that almost half of Rizal's writing was about religion and many of those were against the Catholic Church. Let me add about Rizals religious beliefs enumerated as follows: 1. Rizal believed that the will of God is different from that of the priest: that religiousness does not consist of long periods spent on your knees, 2. Rizal believed that miracles were created to fool the people. 3. Although Rizal believed in the existence of God, however in his April 4, 1893 letter to Father Pastells, he wrote: *that his faith in God is blind, blind in the sense that he knows nothing, judging from this statement I could say that his concept of God has the elements of agnosticism, since an agnostic does not know. 4. Rizal did not believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ 5. Rizal did not intend to destroy the Catholic Church but desired its practices more consistent with the fundamental tenets of Christianity. 6. Rizal rejected the Catholic Church claimed of infallibility. 7. Rizal gave the greatest importance to human capacity to reason. His Christianity did not rely on friar orders; neither did he follow mandatory performance of religious rituals, sacraments and ceremonies 8. Rizal was a Mason. The foregoing listing would become worthless, and consequently would be a boon to the Catholic Church, a blessing from heaven, if the wordings in the retraction, shown below, were to be believed: I retract with all my heart whatever in my words, writings, publications and conduct have been contrary to my character as son of the Catholic Church. 22

Rizal and the Galileo Retraction

Galileo Galilei was the most notable scientist of his time on account of his scientific discoveries, inventions and his conflict with the Catholic Inquisition. He had modified the astronomical telescope and led him to the proof of the Copernican theory of the solar system, in which the Sun and not the Earth is the center of our planetary system. The Catholic Church regarded this as HERESY. The Inquisition summoned Galileo to Rome. By the end of his trial, Galileo was forced to recant his own scientific findings as abjured, cursed and detested a renunciation that saved him from being burned alive at the stake. Galileo's sentence was commuted to house arrest and ordered during the next three years to recite, once a week, the seven penitential psalms. It must be remembered that Giordano Bruno, a Dominican priest, earlier was burned alive at the stake for espousing the same Copernican theory of the solar system, which he refused to retract. Galileo, in his later life became blind, and died at age 77; such was the end of his life - an unhappy man who was forced to commit perjury by the Catholic Church. What does the foregoing tell us in regards to the alleged retraction case of Rizal? By way of analogy, if the retraction is true why was it no ecclesiastical request for pardon or even at least a commutation of the death sentence was made by the Archbishop of Manila. Bear in mind that Galileo's death sentence was commuted when he retracted. Where were the priests, especially Fr. Balaguer, who said they were willing to be shot in place of Rizal, if he would only retract? No one, but no one, aside from the family of Rizal petitioned the Governor for pardon. In fact in the last ditch effort, Teodora Alonzo, the mother of Rizal, wrote a petition of pardon to Governor Polavieja and hand carried it to Malacanang. Doa Teodora, with her daughters and Josephine waited at the gate of the palace. After a while Polavieja emerged and they threw themselves at his feet, crying and imploring for mercy, but to no avail, the Governor was not moved. Rizal's fate was sealed; the death sentence was carried out at 7AM on December 30, 1896. Adding insult to an injury, the Spanish friars then libeled Rizals good name with the publication of this alleged retraction. Rizal with his keen intelligence predicted more or less his execution and this alleged retraction when in 1882 he wrote to Fr. Gregorio Aglipay as follows: In all parts of the world where an honest man tries to achieve reforms he is crucified on Golgotha. It is possible that I will be executed. Then they will try to bring about my moral death by covering my memory with slander. This Rizals alleged retraction document perpetuated by the Catholic Church on the good name of Rizal is the greatest HOAX in Philippine history.

Bibliography
1. 2. 3. 4. Pascual, Ricardo. Rizal Beyond the Grave. Manila: Luzon Publishing Corporation, 1950. Russell, and Rodriguez, Hero of the Filipinos , New York and London, 1923. Palma,Rafael, The Pride of the Malay Race, translated from the original by Roman Ozaeta Karnow, Stanley, In Our Image, Americas Empire in the Philippines, New York, NY. Random House, Inc., 1989. 5. Runes and Buenafe,The Forgery of Rizal's Retraction and Josephine, Manila,1962. (*The author is a retired civil engineer of the Illinois Department of Transportation. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois, Ohio and in the Philippines).

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RIZAL IN THE HISTORICAL NOVEL I SHALL RETURN*

(Speech given before the St. Louis Chapter of the Knights of Rizal, St. Louis, Mo. on September 15, 2013)

Cosme R. Cagas, MD*

The Novel in Brief

I Shall Return is an historical novel set in WWII Philippines and the Pacific with an overarching theme of patriotism and a Christian underpinning. It is less about war but more about peopletheir faith, love, struggles and their willingness to die for country, family and friends. It relates the sacrifices and martyrdom of unheralded heroes some who occupied the highest positions in government. While the novel focuses on the years 1941to 1946, it has occasional flashbacks to as late as the Philippine revolution of 1896 (and even during preSpanish times when Lapu-lapu, the first Filipino hero, killed Magellan) and fast forwards to the 1950s and even to as late as 1990. Rizals Relevance In this presentation, I wish to show how the life and teachings of Rizal are reflected in the lives and actions of the principal characters and to compare how he was treated by the Spaniards while imprisoned in Fort Santiago and how the members of the resistance movement in WWII where treated there by the Japanese. For this purpose, I will present relevant chapters and pages in the novel to gain insights on the life, decisions and struggles of the characters as influenced by our national hero. 24

Julian Chapter 1- Six hours after Pearl Harbor, Japanese air squadrons destroy half of MacArthurs Airforce. Page 2 introduces the hero of the novel, Julian, as a boy almost a man, who arrived in the middle of a dark and rainy night to deliver the news that his benefactor Tio Titoys bosom friend had just arrived from Manila seriously ill and maybe near death. Chapter 3- The Jap Army bears down towards Manila as the Filipino-American forces from the north and the south join up in San Fernando on time to safely proceed to Bataan. Page 11 relates that Julian is the son of poor farmers whose potential was discovered early in life by Tio Titoy who implored his parents to support Julians schooling. Tio Titoy not only supported him materially but also loved and nurtured him. Before Tio Titoy left for Manila to review for the bar examinations, he paid for Julians correspondence course in radio and radio kit. Chapter 31- The Japanese lands in three places in Mindanao. Here, we find Julian agonizing with a difficult decision: whether to stay with beautiful Pinay, the love of his life, whom he only recently successfully wooed but whose mother had rejected him and actually reviled him in public or to accept a challenge to join a dangerous mission trip to Manila and then to Candaba, Pampanga to rescue former prisoners of war who escaped from the dreaded Death March. Paramount in his mind is the possibility that his benefactor, Tio Titoy, might be among the ex-POWs to be rescued. His decision was made when he recalled Dr. Jose P. Rizals Mi Ultimo Adios. Tio Titoy taught it to him one weekend. The first two stanzas gave him an inspiration, a role model, if you may, to pattern and consecrate his life for higher purposefor his country and people. Julian compared his beloved Pinay to Rizals Josephine Bracken whom Rizal called dulce extrangera, mi amiga, mi alegria in the penultimate line in the last and fourteenth stanza. On page 132 are my own translations of the first two and the last stanzas of the poem. Even with my limited Spanish, I endeavored first, to translate literally as much as possible in order to retain the authors original meaning, second to rhyme the end words and three, perhaps uniquely, to have the same number of syllables in the English translations as the Spanish original. It is a credit to Rizal that in each stanza are not only end rhymes but internal rhymes as well. Also most lines throughout the poem are enriched with alliterations. The internal rhymes and alliterations give the poem an awesome rhythm, a unique cadence and beauty all its own. These are difficult to emulate in English. The Spanish language and also the Malayo-Polynesian languages, at least Cebuano and Tagalog that I speak lend themselves to these literary tools. That is why English translations including mine dont even attempt to copy the internal rhymes and alliterative beauty of Rizal poetry, a failure that cannot be corrected perhaps even with intensive study and effort. 25

Chapter 46 starts with a brief quote of the speech Jorge Vargas, chairman of the Philippine Executive Commission, which leaves no doubt as to his true pro-Japanese sentiments. In page 191, Julian has a day off and he found himself facing Rizal at the Luneta. At this time the Candaba mission has been accomplished but his mentor, Tio Titoy, was not one of those rescued. Recalling Rizals urgent call to the Filipino youth at a time when he was perhaps angry and frustrated, he confronted the statue: Pepe, if you were alive today would you sound a fresh budyong (horn) to raise arms against the invaders? Or would you remain a pacifist like many have labeled you? The very next breath, Julian rued his insolence and asked the national hero to forgive his rudeness, now addressing him as Dr. Rizal. Just to give you an insight what kind of a man is Julian: While on the shores of Manila Bay along Dewey Boulevard, he was reminded of Baybay where Tio Titoy, Pinay and Julian used to have their picnics. He felt a deep yearning for her and for the first time he understood more clearly what the young Hiawatha in Henry Wadsworth Longfellows epic poem pondered unto himself: As unto the bow the cord is, So unto man is woman, Though she bends him, she obeys him, Though she draws him yet she follows, Useless each without the other! Later, we see Julian hungry. Intrigued by the tastiness of Japanese food that his partner Conchito, who used to be a waiter at the restaurant Majol Shikudo, described to him a few times, he ordered Sukiyaki, which he found to be expensive and left him still hungry! But instead of simply savoring the delicious food that it truly was, he felt guilty! Jose Flores Jose Flores was a former Philippine Scout and along with his older brother Teodorico fought in Bataan. Teodorico was a fourth year medical student at the University of Sto. Tomas who joined the medical corps and served in Mariviles, Bataan. He survived the war and served as rural health officer in his home town of Oroquieta after the war, dying there only recently. With their two younger brothers, they suffered the Death March and were interned at Camp ODonnell. The four were among the lucky ones to have been released from the concentration camp early because they came from Misamis Occidental then considered by the Japanese as an open province, meaning no significant anti-Japanese activities. Instead of honoring their pledge to return to MisOcc. and not to fight the Japanese any more, the four organized the Live or Die Guerrillas based in Manila with Jose as the supremo. 26

Chapter 67, entitled Dragnet, quotes the Philippine Pledge of Allegiance in its entirety. Here we find Jose in deep introspection asking himself why he founded Live or Die instead of farming safely at the foothills of Mt. Malindang. At that time their plan was to bomb the Japanese ship Taikuku Maru moored in Pier 7. Many Japanese hell ships had been used to transport American prisoners of war to distant countries like Formosa, Korea and Manchuria. In page 283, we read that there had been no fighters in Jose Flores family before the four brothers, that he had a happy but really mostly unheralded childhood, except that he had a prodigious memory. He remembered memorizing the Pledge of Allegiance as early as first grade while some of his classmates simply mumbled it, repeating after him. There was no sweat for him to also memorize Rizals Mi Ultimo Adios and its English translation My Last Farewell by Charles Derbyshire. Senator Jose Ozamis and Fort Santiago Chapter 66 reprints the Land of the Morning, the Philippine National Anthem, in its entirety. It was the song that Senator Jose Ozamis and his family were singing on his wifes birthday as the Kempetai was banging at the gate. As they were huddled together and the banging became louder and louder, Ozamis told his family, Be brave and courageous and always have faith in God as I fulfill the last line! The last line you may recall is, For us thy sons to suffer and die!
In this chapter and on page 353 under Chapter Notes, we learn that Jose Ozamis was born with a silver spoon, attended the Ateneo, finished law at UP with highest honors and obtained a masters degree in law at Columbia University. He had won all the highest elective positions in his province. As majority floor leader, he was second only to Manuel Roxas in the political ladder and there seemed to be little doubt it was just a matter of time that he would become president of the Philippines. The Japanese invasion of the Philippines spoiled all that. Ozamis held the position of vice commissioner for sports under the puppet government but unlike many of his colleagues, the countrys elite of the era, he accepted the position only to camouflage his activities as a leader of the resistance movement. To shorten a very long story, it did not take long for the Japanese to discover his true leanings and on February 11, 1945 along with Jose Flores and many others including scores of LOD members were nabbed by the Kempetai and hauled directly to Fort Santiago. Fort Santiago is described in Chapter 68, page 286 as both the symbol of Spains might and power housing its military and government officials as well as its premier prison where escape was impossible and torture the mode of extracting what the interrogators wanted to hear. How Senator Ozamis and Jose Flores were treated as prisoners in Fort Santiago is not exactly known but can be gleaned by the fate of the senators executive secretary, Praxedes Velono, who was brought out of the fort almost dead. His wife, a nurse, saw him at the hospital with face almost unrecognizable, pocked

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with cigarette burns all over and with all his fingers nails pulled out. Rosa Pausanus, the only member of LOD who was released from the fort, vitiated and decrepit but able to walk even after months of daily questionings and torture, documented all her torment and sufferings in the hands of the Japanese in a book published in 2008. Among others, she related what we know today as water cure. Senator Ozamis shared his cell with many others including Hans Menzi, Raul Manglapus and the Dean Reyes of Arellano University who were among the lucky few to have been released. They would observe Ozamis bleeding after hours of isolated interrogation. Under pain and duress, Ozamis always refused to implicate others, especially Manuel Roxas, the frequent focus of the questionings: I dont want others to suffer on account of me! In his inaugural address, President Roxas paid the highest tribute to Jose Ozamis thus:

Senator Jose Ozamis is a man whose loyalty, integrity and courage stand out as an example for all to follow. He could have lived an easy life by relaxing on his principles and conscience. I am one of those with reason to be grateful that he did notfor had he chosen to live, he would be where I am today and I would be where he is.
I relate here the sufferings and martyrdom of Jose Ozamis and Jose Flores and other members of the LOD guerrillas with some detail at Fort Santiago for a good reason: I want to underscore the contrast of their cruel treatment with that of Rizals. If you recall, Jose Rizal while already convicted of a crime was still accorded the privilege of occupying his own cell at the fort. In fact, he was allowed visitors and able to write. Hence today, we have the joy, the pleasure and the pride of reading his Ultimo Adios, which in all probability was written there. I can only conclude that one, although the Spaniards, specifically the friars, regarded Rizal with disdain and contempt, they also respected him; two, they were probably concerned of the repercussions from the Filipino populace and about world opinion; and three, the Spaniards were as civil as the Japanese were as cruel and savage.

Conclusion In the historical novel I Shall Return, I portray how Rizals life, writings and teachings have influenced the characters who were the youth in their time, a reflection of how the national hero was regarded with love, respect and affection during that era (pre-WWII, Philippines). I have also attempted to dissect the anatomy of Rizals haunting poetry, attributing its beauty and timelessness not only to content but also to external rhymes but more so to internal rhymes and copious use of alliteration. In this presentation, I have also contrasted the cruel treatment of prisoners even those who occupied high positions in government as exemplified by Senator Ozamis, during WWII in the hands of the Japanese, and the benign treatment that Rizal was accorded at Fort Santiago in the hands of the Spaniards, which indicates that the latter while regarding him with disdain and contempt also respected him.
(Hard and soft- bound copies available from the author; ebook from www.ourskirtspress.com and kindle edition from www.amazon.com. Read reviews in amazon)

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BRIGADIER GENERAL EMILIO NARCISE (RET.)

A Hero of Bessang Pass Angelita Narcise Kurle, MD

e still prides himself as the "Hero of Bessang Pass," (and was honored a few years back at Camp Aguinaldo as one of the only living heroes of World War II). The Battle for Bessang Pass was a strategic battle on the Northwestern slope of the Cordillera Mountains of Northern Luzon. As I understand it, the Japanese held this narrow pass on Buccual Ridge as the key blocking point to their mountain stronghold against advancing Filipino and American troops. In a multi-phase battle lasting from February into June of 1945, Filipino troops of the USAFIP NL with American artillery support fought their way forward. Finally, on the morning of June 14, Captain Narcise led Company L in what an after-battle report described as one of the most dramatic assaults in the battle of Bessang. At the head of Company L, he planted its flag on the peak of Buccual, marking the end of Japanese resistance. It accomplished the goal of helping defeat General Yamashita in Northern Luzon. And if I knew my father, I think he earned the right to be recognized as a hero, among many unnamed others of his L Company. My dad, Brigadier General Emilio Narcise, born into a family of twelve children, grew up in a barangay of the town of Sudipen, La Union. Walking, carrying his sack of rice ration on his back, he attended Tagudin High School (in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur). After graduation, he decided to follow in the steps of my farmer grandfather Paulo Narcise. After a couple years of schooling at the Central Luzon Agriculture College in Nueva Ecija, he proceeded to finish his college education at the UP College of Agriculture in Los Banos, Laguna. (He also prides himself as a sprint runner, having participated at an interscholastic competition during his college years. This might have proved to be valuable when he joined the guerrilla movement in Northern Luzon at the beginning of the war). 29

While at UP, he had the privilege to join ROTC and become a proud member of the Vanguard. In Los Banos, he joined a choir group of a Protestant Church, and recalls having had a heart transformation experience while there. When the war broke out after the infamous Pearl Harbor bombing, Dad's military career began to unfold. Committed to help protect his country from a formidable invader, he decided to join the guerrilla movement. He headed north, riding his bike on the long trek home. This meant having to risk arrest at any of the Japanese checkpoints along the 250 miles of road back to La Union. When stopped at a checkpoint, a Japanese guard asked why he had a callous between his right thumb and forefinger, suspecting he might be a soldier. Prudently, he explained that it was from riding his bike. To say the least, having joined the guerrilla movement was not easy for my father or for his family. If you want to know what a real water treatment is, my grandfather, Lolo Paulo, would have told you his harrowing experience with this cruel torture. Word got around that my dad was involved in the guerrilla movement. The Japanese found Lolo Paulo in his small remote village of Seng-ngat (meaning a village pinned between two hills) and grilled him with questions about my fathers whereabouts and military involvement. He honestly didnt know where they could find his son and told the truth. After a gallon of water was literally forced down his throat, Lolo Paulo was tied to a tree head down and beaten black and blue, water trickling out of his ears and nose. Thank God he persevered and lived to tell my dad the story. I heard it a dozen times.

A gallon of water was literally forced down on Lolo Paulos throat

News about the cruelty of the Japanese during war spread around in Ilocos Sur where I grew up. My maternal uncle, then an officer, was beheaded, and his head was paraded around town to serve as a warning. A year or so prior to this, my mother and her family, including my great grandmother, hid in remote villages east of the poblacion. As a teenager, she also survived being killed or caught and possibly raped by Japanese soldiers. She and Nang Soling, a family friend, sneaked into town risking their lives to get more food supplies from our ancestral homes backyard. They needed rice and vegetables to augment a meager supply they had left. Rice then was quite an important or even a luxurious commodity. They had been eating white sweet potatoes and sweet potato tops or whatever was available in the barrios. When they had just finished gathering what food they could, suddenly the young ladies heard gunshots up the north highway. With fear factor and adrenaline up, Mom and Nang Soling sprinted and jumped like hurdlers over a four-foot tall dike just west of where she later taught grade school. (She became my fourth grade teacher.) Running through prickly bushes and a shallow, rocky river, they finally met up on a beach west of town. Kneeling on the sand, they thanked God for allowing them to live and to tell their story. Destiny with Angustia Mina-Ponce, my mother, and my future life in this world was apparently 30

The Narcise family on the occasion of the parents' 50th wedding anniverary in 1996. With Lita in the picture are sister Amy (nurse), brother Audie (surgeon), and brother Amor (married to a physician).

sealed when the war was finally over, and people came out of remote barrios to go back to the poblacion (town center). One way the town of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur celebrated the long awaited freedom and liberation from an oppressive foreign rule was to hold a dance. Of course, the young women in the locality were invited to the occasion. The soldiers who survived the war could not have been happier. My father rode up on a horse, and I gathered that he spotted my mother right away. After asking around who this young lady was, he went up to ask her to dance. He greeted her with the flattering words, You are very beautiful, Miss Ponce. Just a few months later they were married. After the war, my father decided to pursue his military career. He served in different parts of the

Captain Emilio Narcise, being promoted to major in 1967

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country from Northern Luzon to Mindanao (Ilocos Sur, Apayo, Iloilo, Cotabato, Davao Oriental and Zamboanga del Sur). He was in the Army as a captain for several years stationed in Ft. Mckinley, now Ft. Bonifacio. During the last several years of his career, he served as PC provincial commander in different provinces, moved up the ranks to be the Zone Commander of the Third PC Zone (Visayas), and when zones were broken up, Regional Commander of Region 7, stationed in Cebu City. He retired as an honorable, hardworking officer. Litas lawyer friend once kidded him: You are 'Milio' (his nickname) not a millionaire. He is religious to this day, a member of the Cursillo, and praying everyday without fail. He influenced me to pray the LORD's prayer more often, in fact daily. At 94, he is healthy, still attending church regularly.

The author with her father when she received her award as a UP college scholar

He has made a positive influence in communities he served. When I went on a three-day medical mission to Sagada, a remote town in the Northern Cordilleras, people asked how I was related to a certain Captain Narcise. They remembered him as a kind, caring soldier. I proudly responded that he was my father.

Bessang Pass Marker bdomongas.wordpress.com/2010/05/17/cervantes-bessang-pass/

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The Filipino American Historical Society Celebrates 26th Anniversary

Rebecca Geronimo The Filipino American Historical Society celebrated its 26th anniversary and installed its 20142015 slate of officers at a dinner-dance on January 11,2014 at the Hilton Hotel in Springfield Illinois. Inducted by Wilmer Andrada, past president of FILAMHISSO were: President-- Rebecca Geronimo; Vice President --Agnes Conrad; Secretary --Lilia Brown; Treasurer-- Nina Herr; PRO-- Rose Amon; and Area representatives --Dr. Arturo Espejo, Mila Tolentino and Alfred Aguilar.

In her speech President R. Geronimo thanked the past and current officers and members of the organization for all their contributions. She emphasized that their service is akin to any local community service but catering mostly to our kababayans. The guest speaker Dr Juan M. Castro related his early beginnings in the United States as a physician in the State of Missouri. An avid collector of Filipino artifacts, he began a museum in St. Louis after retirement from medical practice. This gallery seems to expand as people, who heard of his new-found hobby he was passionate about, donated objects and items to be included and exhibited in his gallery. He extended an invitation to everyone to pay a visit to his museum. The entertainment included native dances from Bloomington and Springfield performers. Deborah Pilapil was the program's emcee and Jason Lee was in charge of the music and sounds. Following the ceremonies, the usual potluck afterglow was held at the Presidential suite, which lingered through past midnight.

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PAUL IN JERUSALEM
Acts 22:1-30 Rev. Shane L. Bishop

aul had traveled over 2,700 miles on his Third Missionary Journey and with his return to Jerusalem in 58 AD, his soul trek was completed. Pauls presence in a politically charged Jerusalem caused a full blown riot and when we left Paul last time, he was being carried through the crowd to safety by Roman soldiers when he people chanted, Kill him! You would have to say things were not going well.
POP UP: The Fortress Antonia was built by Herod the Great in 19 AD and named for Roman General Marc Antony

Once safely inside the Fortress Antonia, Paul meets the Roman military commander Claudius Lysias. Once convinced Paul is not a wanted Egyptian political revolutionary, he grants Pauls request to speak and the frenzied crowd falls silent as Paul offers his witness. The speech we are about to explore constitutes the essence of Pauls defense and the rest of Acts is spent following Paul on a Fourth Missionary Journey of sorts; through the Roman appellate court process.
POP UP: The Greek word we translate defense is apologia, from where we get the English word apologetics.

In Acts, Paul has morphed from persecuting Christians, to becoming a Christian, to preaching in synagogues to Jews, to preaching in the marketplaces to Gentiles and now for the remainder of Acts he will preach to judges, governors and kings. Paul is now leveraging his own life against the opportunity to evangelize at a level he would have never dreamed possible. In the end, he forfeits his life but the Gospel he shares will one day take over the Roman Empire! Our mission at Christ Church is to connect people to Jesus Christ. Our strategy for accomplishing this is to reach out, welcome and disciple through worship and service. For me, reaching out is taking the message we celebrate inside the building, outside the building. Evangelism is my wheelhouse. There is nothing that makes me happier than when a person who doesnt know Christ meets Christ. We can call it outreach, witnessing, missions, faith sharing or something else but at the end of the day, proclamation of the Gospel is the very thing the Holy Spirit was sent to help Christians do. In fact, I would argue that in Acts, the primary sign of being filled with the Holy Spirit is having the power to be a witness to Christ. Though we may not all be primarily gifted as evangelists, all Christians are called to evangelize. Lets take Pauls defense apart and discover a seven step progression for metamorphic evangelism! Witnessing Step #1: Establish common ground Paul spoke Aramaic .The mob considered Paul an outsider who had come to make trouble but this is countered immediately: 1) Paul spoke the language of Jerusalem 2) Paul was raised in Jerusalem 3) Paul was educated in Jerusalem 4) Paul once shared the convictions of the crowd 5) Paul was even more zealous than they for the 34

law. Witnessing Step # 2: Gain credibility Paul was a student of Gamaliel, the most famous teacher in Judaism. Though everyone knew who Paul was rumored to be and many knew who Paul used to be, few actually knew who the apostle standing before them truly was. There was a conservative and moderate school of thought in first century Israel and the moderates were centered on the teaching of Hillel. Gamaliel was not only from this prestigious school of thought but was Hillels biological grandson. Gamaliel was the most famous Jewish teacher in the first century; well respected for his knowledge of the Jewish Law and sensible views. It was Gamaliel in Acts 5 who advised the Jewish religious establishment to be careful in how they treated Peter and the apostles. Leave these men alone. If they are doing these miracles on their own, they will soon be overthrown but if God is behind them, they cannot be overthrown and we may find ourselves fighting God. Gamaliel was Pauls teacher. Anybody with that kind of educational pedigree deserved a serious hearing. Witnessing Step # 3: Describe your life pre-Jesus Paul was a Jewish zealot, just like them Paul apparently rejected the more moderate views of his teacher and became a full blown zealot and persecutor of the early Christians. He makes no apology for this part of his life nor does he pull any punches. His point is unmistakable; were it not for Gods intervention in my life, I would be right here with you calling for my death! I have heard many people street preach over the years but the most effective street preachers begin with the idea that I was right where you are and except for Gods intervention my life, I would be with you right now. I am one of you is a far more effective beginning to a witness than I am better than you! Witnessing Step # 4: Describe how you discovered you were on the wrong side Why are you persecuting me? Paul makes it clear that he was not on some kind of quest for truth when he was converted. He had already found the truth in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and was so convinced he was right, anything he did to those who disagreed with him was fully justified. Paul was on a mission from God on his way to Damascus and the God of that mission intervened and gave him new and surprising orders. The Greek word translated repent is a military word meaning to become so convinced of the enemies cause that you change uniforms! In a sense, our salvation testimony is simply the story of how we discovered we were on the wrong side and changed uniforms. Witnessing Step # 5: Testify to the miracle I was blind but now I see. When Jesus knocked Paul off his proverbial high horse, (and with apologies to Manfred Mans Earth Band) he was blinded by the light. When he arrives in Damascus, God prompts a man named Ananias to pray for his healing and his sight is recovered. This physical healing is powerful proof that God was behind the whole encounter because things are happening that would be impossible except by the favor and power of God. Paul is now ready to move to step six, the one that always makes you or breaks you. Witnessing Step #6: Take the big chance Paul was called to the Gentiles. Paul knew Jesus had called him to be an apostle; he had faithfully preached the Gospel to the Gentiles and he had to 35

know his audience would not like what he was about to say. He said it anyway. Paul argues that he was not going all over the Empire doing what he wanted; he was carrying out the orders God had given to him! The sticking point here is not that Paul is preaching to the non-Jews of the world, the problem is that he is preaching that Jesus is the Messiah on one hand and not making them fully convert to Judaism on the other. Eight years had passed since the Jerusalem Councils liberal terms to Gentiles were agreed upon and the compromise James made with Paul back 50 AD didnt seem to be making much sense in the politically charged Jerusalem of 58 AD. Witnessing Step # 7: Rely upon the Holy Spirit He isnt fit to live. There is a point in a witness at which you can no longer play the notes and you just have to play by ear. This is usually just after you take the big chance and frankly you never quite know how things are going to go from there. If people accept revival breaks out, if they reject a riot breaks out. Jesus told his disciples in Luke 12: 11-12 not to worry when they were dragged before magistrates and governors for the Holy Spirit would tell them what to say.This prophecy is fulfilled in Paul.
POP UP: Claudius Lysias first name was taken in honor of the Roman Emperor Claudius who reigned from 41 -54 AD

V. 24 Claudius Lysias cannot figure out why the response to Paul is so strong and orders him to be scourged to get a confession. It is clear the commanders gut instinct to let Paul talk was a mistake. His supposition was that Paul wanted out of this mess but like Jesus 25 years earlier, Paul had no intention of settling things down. The chances the commander understood Aramaic had to be about zero so whether an interpreter was with him or whether he was just watching unintelligibly as Paul spoke, it was clear his plan had backfired. If he had thought Paul a man who possessed the education and sophistication to get out of this mess and restore the peace, he was wrong. To pacify the mob, to get at the truth of who this man really was, to discover what crime he had committed and to relieve his personal irritation at Paul the commander ordered Paul scourged. Things were no longer friendly. Public whipping is unthinkable in our culture but was most common in the Roman Empire. Rather than send people to prison to live off the state for a few years, a vicious public beating was a common sentence for non-capital crimes. This type of whipping called a scourge is the same as what Jesus endured. A short leather whip attached to a wooden handle was used that had small pieces of bone or metal embedded in it. It was designed to tear the flesh and it would take weeks or months to recover from such tortureif you recovered at all. There are no precise numbers of lashes assigned, for the whipping is being used as a method of interrogation, not punishment.
POP UP: There is historical uncertainty as to the specific rights of Roman citizens throughout the first century Empire.

V. 25 Is it legal to whip a Roman citizen without trial? Obviously the answer was, No or 36

Paul would not have asked. Claudius Lysias would need to walk carefully. Paul had always seemed to keep a proverbial card up his sleeve to be played only if the situation becomes dire. The situation had become dire.
POP UP: The Roman Emperor at his time was Nero who reigned from 54-68 AD

V. 29 The commander withdrew and was frightened because he gave the order for Paul to be whipped. If the flogging had actually occurred, Lysias would lose his job at best and his life at worst when word got to Rome. Since it did not, a reprimand would probably be the worst he could expect so he gathered his wits back about him and proceeded.
POP UP: The Roman Law Lex Julia granted legally charged Roman citizens the right to appeal to the Emperor

Pauls argument in Jerusalem pits the new thing God was doing across the Roman world in the first century against the old thing God was doing in Israel before the birth of Christ. Paul believed the promised Jewish Messiah had come in Jesus and a New Covenant was now in effect. The Jewish leaders violently disagreed. Bishop Will Willimon describes this dichotomy as traditionalism versus tradition. For Willimon traditionalism appeals to blind obedience to what we have always done. Whereas traditionalism always leads us backwards and has us pining for yesterday, tradition is defined as being faithful to Gods leading even when that leading takes us into surprising places (like preaching to the Gentiles). Willimon writes, This is the tradition worth defending. I must confess my attempts to pursue our mission of connecting people to Jesus Christ over the past seventeen years here have led me into places I would have never imagined and I pray we have established a tradition of being faithful to God even as we have broken the deathly grip of traditionalism! The Metamorphic Application When I graduated from seminary at Emory University, I had great clarity on my calling. I was going to go into churches and preach the Gospel, grow them in size, build effective ministry plans and organizational infrastructure, stay five years and move on to the next place. Forty years, eight churches, boom-shaka-laka a career! My first assignment in Sumer lasted five years. One down, seven to go! I was told upon arriving here that I would be in Fairview Heights for five years and to grow the church and be prepared to be moved on. Then something metamorphic happened! The Holy Spirit showed up, God began to grow this congregation and in year four I was informed that I was not moving. The Bishop informed me that I was hereindefinitely. I took six weeks off just to make sure I was hearing God correctly and I wondered why God would have put the previous vision in my heart only to switch the tracks on me. At the end of my time of searching I said, God, these are not my original orders but if these are the orders you have for me, I am in! With that yes to Gods prompting, the trajectory of my life and ministry was forever changed. For example: I Never Imagined I Would 37

1. Have ever been in one place seventeen years. Didnt God get my five and out memo? 2. Be responsible for six church services every weekend. How could anyone pull that off? 3. Be planting campuses. I was the only person I knew in seminary who didnt want to plant new church starts. 4. Be centering discipleship around small groups. I am a really good lecturer 5. Be utilizing bi-vocational ministry models. Who would have imagined we would have hundreds of people putting in 5-15 hours a week in service to God? Who would have imagined that the last two full time people that we had move along were replaced with part time people for far less money and we think the ministry is going to move forward! 6. Be leading the largest Methodist church in Illinois. I would have been thrilled to go from 200 to 400. We will easily average over 1,800 in 2013 by time Christmas gets here! 7. Have a vision to become a church of 3120. This is the size of the early church by the evening of Pentecost! That number will not go away. I truly dont even know it is possible to have a church this size in the Illinois Metro-East but for some inexplicable reason I think that is in our favor. I want to suggest that as you say yes to Gods prompting to be a witness to your faith and enter into the ministry to which God has called you and the Holy Spirit has equipped you; you will end up in places you would have never imagined and your life will stand for more than you ever dreamed! God is Good!
(Rev. Bishop is senior pastor of the Christ United Methodist Church in Fairview Heights, IL. He has preached in the Philippines and is the moving spirit behind Philippine Missions)

PEACE WELCOMES PROPOSALS FOR ARTESIAN WELLS

The Philippine Economic and Cultural Endowment is now considering proposals for the construction of artesian wells and other potable water systems for the needy in the Philippines. After a hiatus of three years, this charitable foundation wants to refocus on this, its signature project. PEACE has been providing potable water to many communities in the Philippines since 1988 from as far north as Cagayan province to as far south as Sulu and Basilan. During its first 25 years, it had built more than 500 such wells and other water systems. Beneficiaries or their representative may contact Crcagas@aol.com or ccagas2@gmail.com, Executive Director and Chair, Potable Water Committee

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A STORY WITHIN A STORY

Mark 5:21-24
(Sermon given before the Grace Community Baptist Church, Trenton, Illinois, on Sunday, April 21, 2013)

Alan B. Zurliene*

he story we will look at today is recorded in 3 of the 4 gospels. Matthew, Mark and Luke all include the story of the woman with the hemorrhage.

Jairus was one of the rulers of the synagogue, a man of influence and prestige. We will attempt to view this story from his perspective. His motivation is that of a desperate father seeking healing for his beloved daughter. Information about this young Rabbi (Jesus) spread throughout the region of Capernaum. Only a few days before (Mark 4:35-41), Jesus and the disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee when a furious squall came up. Jesus was so concerned about the storm that he was fast asleep on a cushion! After the disciples woke him to ask , Teacher, dont you care if we drowned? Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and waves, Quiet! Be still! Important to note here is that vs. 36 tells us that there were other boats besides them. The others must have gone back to tell the people of Capernaum that this Jesus has authority over the wind and waves. One of those people was Jairus. Chapter 5:1-20 tells the story why Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Its the story of the demonic man and how Jesus delivered him from the demons and cast them into a herd of swine--2000 pigs! Thats a lot of bacon! The people of Gerasenes pleaded with Jesus in vs. 17 to Leave their region. By now the word had spread that this young Rabbi had power over the wind and waves and also could heal a hopeless demoniac.

Jesus does not check his day planner or ask his assistant to make an appointment
Jairus came to Jesus and fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live. This is a beautiful display of faith. Jairus knows that Jesus can heal his daughter. Another thing: that Jesus does not ask any questions. He does not check his day planner or ask his assistant to make an appointment for him to go and see the daughter. Verse 24 simply says, So Jesus went with him.
Now our story takes a bit of a turn. In the crowd there was a woman who had a problem with

bleeding for 12 years (Jairus daughter was 12 years old). The bible tells us that she suffered 39

much under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had. Yet instead of getting better she grew worse. It is important to note that medical science was woefully lacking in those days. Plinys Natural History reveals that the generally low state of medical science in the world at that time. Physicians were accustomed to prescribe doses of curious concoctions made from ashes of burnt wolfs skull, stag horns, heads of mice, the eyes of crabs, owls brains, the livers of frogs and other like elements. For dysentery powdered horse teeth were administered, and a cold in the head was cured by kissing a mules nose.

She was very desperate and believed that if she could just touch his clothes she would be healed
This woman had also heard about Jesus. She was very desperate and believed that if she could just touch his clothes she would be healed. She was considered unclean because of the issue of blood (Leviticus 15:1-3). The crowd was pressing in and surely no one would notice if she touched the savior? Note the response of the disciples when Jesus asked Who touched my clothes? Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it? I love this because Jesus is God and yet he was looking for the person who touched him. The woman fell at his feet and trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be free from your suffering. What a fantastic story of faith and healing! Imagine what emotions Jairus felt to see this display of divine power? This man was coming to his home to touch his dear daughter. Just then some men from his house came and said Your daughter is dead, why bother the teacher anymore? If you are ever the person that is chosen to deliver the news that someone has died, maybe using a small bit of compassion would be nice. Only a moment ago. Jairus had seen with his own eyes the healing of this woman. Only a moment ago, his heart was filled with hope because Jesus was coming to touch his little girl. Now he hears of his daughters death! Maybe, if this woman would not have delayed them on their journey, Jesus would have been there in time to heal his daughter? Vs 36 tells us that Jesus ignored what they said and told the synagogue ruler, Dont be afraid; just believe. Remember only a few days before this young Rabbi spoke to a storm and calmed the wind and waves. He commanded demons to leave a man and go into a herd of swine. He healed a daughter of Zion in Jairus own sight! Jesus did not let anyone follow him to the house except Peter, James and John. When they approached the home of Jairus, Jesus saw a commotion with people crying and wailing loudly. It was the Middle Eastern culture to have professional mourners. It was their job to cry and wail loudly! Jesus went in and said to them Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep. Mark tells us they laughed at him. The wailing and loud crying turned into laughter immediately. Next step: he put them all out! 40

I love the tenderness of this part of the story. Jesus took the childs father and mother and the disciples into where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her in his own language, Talitha koum (which means little girl, I say to you, get up). These could have been familiar words her own mother spoke to her when she would rise in the morning. Immediately the girl stood up and walked around. At this, they were completely astonished.

I say to you, get up Immediately the girl stood up and walked around
What touches me most in this story is how Jesus responded to the faith displayed by Jairus and the daughter of Zion. These two people could not be more different in that one was a ruler in the synagogue and the other was a poor woman who had been taken advantage of because of her health issues. Both were desperate and believed that if they could have Jesus touch them their situation would be corrected. Even though their economic status may have been opposite, their need of Jesus healing was common ground. Another thing that strikes me is how the emotions of this story within a story are like a roller coaster. You may be here today and you may have a need in your life-- one that you know only God can fix. You may need to just reach out and touch the hem of his garment. Your heart may have grown cold over the years. You need to allow Jesus to take you by the hand and bring life back into your heart. Whatever reason If God is pulling on your heart right now, just come forward and the elders will pray with you. You dont have to depart from here today with a heavy burden that you can leave here at the altar. Let today be the day you take Jesus by the hand!
(Alan Zurliene is a deacon and has preached in the Philippines and travelled there extensively)

Dates to Remember in 2014

AFPSI Spring BallMay 10, Hilton Garden Inn, OFallon, IL BISAYA MEDICAL ASSO.June 12-15, Caribe Royale , Orlando, FL UPMASAJuly 8-12, San Diego Marriott, San Diego, CA PEACE MeetingAugust 2 (with APPA31Jul to 3Aug), Lexington, KY Philippine BanquetAugust 10, Christ UM Church, Fairview Hts., IL

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DR. VIC ZATA* CELEBRATES 70TH BD IN MANILA

At Gloria Maris Restaurant, Metro Manila

From left, Elcee Cagas Conner, Zaneth Zata, former Philippine President, now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, Fred de Vera, Malou de Vera, Vic Zata.

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Sons (Vincent Zata, MD) Tribute:

I am so excited to celebrate this day with my dad as well as my mom and brother, extended family, and friends. Thanks to everyone for their help in preparing this amazing celebration! And a special thanks to Auntie Lalie-- She has helped make this day truly special. I am always amazed at how time goes by so fast! It just seems like yesterday that my dad was showing me and my brother how to perfect that baseline 3! But to me, he is much more than that. He, along with my mom, has been and continues to be my mentor, support, and friend. Tonight I want to share 3 of my favorite memories, to illustrate who my dad is through the eyes of a son. First, my dad has many interests. But if anyone knows my dad the way I do, they would know that he loves music. Growing up, I would hear him playing one of his favorite Beatles song. . Songs like Yesterday and With A Little Help From My Friends. And like all his piano renditions, he would accompany the main melody with stride piano, while adding a little flair with a string of arpeggios and wonderful trills. My dad would also take us down to the basement to listen to his prized record collection. . . on his top of the line LP player, amplified by his top of the line stereo, streaming music through his top of the line Venturi speakers. Actually, my dads love of top of the line stuff would often get him in trouble with my mom...the boss! My second favorite memory of dad is that of him reading all the time. Our bookshelves overflowed with numerous Tom Clancy, Clive Cussler, and John Grisham novels. Furthermore, he loved being an expert on everything. If a patient talked about farming, he would read about it so he can talk about it the next time the patient came back. If they talked about finance, he would read about it. If they talked about hunting, civil war, or water heaters, he would read about it. One time, he became a temporary expert in WWII submarines. Luckily that phase was short lived! But my most cherished memory of dad is that of a dedicated father and mentor, devoted husband -- with the ability to balance his career and family. He, along with my mom, taught me the value of hard work, delayed gratification and discipline. During our childhood, if we really wanted those toys, we had to earn them, by getting good grades, practicing piano, and doing chores. We were not allowed to be dependent on others. I had to be my own man and create my own success. Dad also taught me that nothing beats having a passion for something--having a mission--being part of something bigger than yourself. None says that more louder than his recent trip to Bolacan, in which many volunteered to see hundreds of patients for a medical mission. But he has been doing this his whole life. Because as many people in this room know, when you are a doctor in a small town, there is no such thing as a day off. One story in particular occurred on a random rainy Saturday night in Hardin, Illinois. One of the locals apparently had a severe cut in the right hand while working on the lawnmower. We did not have a 24-

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hour emergency room in that town, so very often, our house became the emergency room. So my dad took the patient down into the basement, cleaned the wound,sutured it up and gave the patient antibiotics. And even though he was tired, instead of hurrying the patient off so he could get some sleep, I could hear him asking the patient about the mechanics of the lawnmower. . .always curious, always learning. But despite being passionate about his career, dad never neglected his family. Despite his busy schedule, he never failed to attend a basketball game, piano recital, spelling bees, or speech competition. My brother and I also witnessed how devoted a husband he was to our mom! When reflecting upon my dad and his 70 yearr, I began to think about how small our lives really are. . .taking into account the long history and great deeds of men who came before us. But then I remembered this quote reflecting on the meaning of our life: That you are here that life exists... That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. Dad, you have definitely contributed a verse to this powerful play of life. And your story will play on long after you have left this earth. Just look around you. . .. at the legacy you have created by being who you are. . . by existing. . . by living. This room is filled with a lot of amazing people, and I see all the values and traits you cherish, imprinted in the DNA of all the friends and family hereespecially with me and my brother. Cheers! And with that, I invite everyone to raise their glasses... Dad, my brother and I are very blessed to have you as a father. We hope to continue your legacy and honor you! And we wish you a very Happy 70th birthday.
(*Dr. Vicente Zata had served as AFPSI president. The artesian well shown below was constructed from funds earned during his presidency)

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The Tryst
and putting their mouths to the level of a starry pool, they drank their fill
-Title of a painting by N.C. Wyeth

He arrived, ignoring risk. After putting his mouth to the level of the Starry pool, to drink his fill, He half-expected a welcome, a presence. He had traveled long distances, Walked misty and unfamiliar roads, Crossed many bridges, Suffered the elements Overcame all the turning backs. Without resting, he looked and looked But there was no sign of her. They had promised to meet There had been no amendments since parting He continued, with the persistence of denial, Without the agitations of lust. He would respect the beginning limits, before caress. Absence requires return to a time, to an origin As if he would be seeing her, their eyes locked, For the first time. Then through the rapid sequences of years

The memories, surfacing, as if from mines, from oceans. And even if only a little withstood, permit, Enough only to see her, how she had changed, And for her, to see how he had changed, Their hairs, their bellies, their legs, Their skins, their eyes, awaiting moisture The surfaces of their hearts Awaiting the heat of their merging, unwitnessed longings Their bodies, each, in a phase of reciprocation. Suddenly, he caught the respiring glimpse of her Kneeling, bowing by the pool, drinking her fill, Surrounded by reflected, unenvious stars It was her, no transformed native Indian maiden No compensating apparition. And then he awoke, he was dreaming again. -- Lestrino C. Baquiran, M.D..

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The Great Stalker

A shadow spoke to me one day Remember, youre not forever --live accordingly. Coached, wary but sanguine, I charged at life And soared to heights that tantalized, yet so ephemeral I fell back down to flawed reality I rose again, Phoenix-like -- or so I thought Only to plummet posthaste, this time to a nadir so low, so low I sulked As if on cue, the shadow spoke again, Infallible is not for mortals, he said. naive is. Failures abound, but with motives pure, There is no shame, no guilt, no rancor So get up, your life has just begun. Once more, I took a stab at life Through light and darkness I sat beneath the tree of knowledge Gleaned the musings of sage and savant Learned the subtle ways of man and maiden Parted ways with my impatience Tamed and curbed my wild naivete And acknowledged my raw propensities --the distillation of my mortality Once more I rode the roller coaster of earthly existence But this time molded woe to my advantage And welcomed failures as staging pads for my successes And lo, the world stepped into my parlor Kings and queens and bourgeoisie were game Privilege was my middle name Largesse equated with my fame To far and near my fortune did I flaunt I raised more than a glass at near Bacchanalian feasts The golden apple in my hand I gave away to far more picks than Paris ever claimed The things of youth I shared with them, the likes of Aphrodite Indeed, I reached a zenith high, so high I sighed, Is that all there is? Waxing avuncular, the shadow broke his silence Ah, my wide-eyed, artless, callow, simple, clueless friend, Youve sorely missed it all along: Its not the goal its the struggle! The shadow began to leave -- or so I thoughtBut he was only lengthening.

- Carmelo C. Dichoso, M.D.

Reprinted with permission from the Filipino Reporter

The Great Stalker: Interpretation

In the beginning, the shadow reminds the poet that his sojourn in this world is temporal. It is not clear at this point if the shadow has control over him or is simply advisory, or even if he understands what the advice is all about. He charges into life to attend either honor, pleasure, or self-satisfaction, or all three, only to realize that what he has attained is so fleeting that instead of glory he has actually hit dirt. He despises himself for having fallen to a level so low that he had to rise like the mythical bird that is cyclically reborn from its own ashes. At a time of remorse, the shadow reappears, not harsh but forgiving, reassuring him that failure is part of living and advising him to plunge into more meaningful experiences. Accordingly, he thrusts himself fully into the world, savoring new pleasures, learning new things, gaining more knowledge, accepting failures as learning experiences, reaching greater heights and attaining wealth and princely successes where royalty became subject to his beck and call. He feels as one privileged to possess and even give away a golden apple (a divine fruit, which could be had by trickery or plain good luck) and to outdo the strong and handsome Paris, the Prince of Troy who had the pleasure of selecting Aphrodite over a Hera and Athene (after goggling the curvaceous goddesses in their birthday suits) in a beauty contest (and thereby being rewarded the prize of his choice, the most beautiful woman in the world-- Helen-- she with the face that launched a thousand ships). But ultimately, the poet comes to the realization that for all the secular pleasures, wine, women and perhaps song, wealth, glory and honor, there has not been a deep, real and meaningful satisfaction-- Is that all there is? The shadow appears the third time (it has been stalking him all along) to impart a bit of wisdom: Its not the goal its the struggle! One can look at the poem through the eyes of Sigmund Freud. Like all men, the poet is motivated by the id, the unorganized, inaccessible instinct driven by pleasure, a principal part of which is the libido. This drive is tempered by the ego, which develops from the id. While the ego does not control the id, it strives to satisfy the ids desire in realistic ways acceptable to society. The poem is about a journey to maturity. Initially the shadow could be the id itself that develops into the ego. At the end, when the authors perceives that the stalker isnt going away but merely lengthening, the shadow, has metamorphosed from ego into the superego, which unlike the former, has control over the id. Although the poet continues to struggle, he is better armed with a defense, not necessarily new, but perhaps just ignored all along, against the raw instincts of the id. Whether or not the defense is strong enough, remains to be seen. -Cosme R. Cagas, MD

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