Early Morning Good Friday Procession

Every Friday morning at 4:00 am during Lent Filipinos hold a procession through their neighbourhoods which showcase the stations of the cross. They carry candles and sing as they walk the streets. The priest sings loudly through a huge megaphone as well as reciting all the prayers as they stop at each station.  

When I lived downtown this was progressively weird, annoying, and then expected. Thankfully I wake up everyday at 4:00 am to take out the dogs.  Where I live now they only do the procession on Good Friday.  Below are pictures of the crowd this morning.

The last picture is more than a little ironic.  These Roman Catholic devotees are going through the motions of their ritual thinking such worship is acceptable and pleasing to God and contributes to their salvation.  All the while they are standing next to a sign that references John 3:16 which Martin Luther called "the  heart of the Bible, the Gospel in miniature."  If only these people would listen to the simplicity of the Gospel and reject their foolish and Godless traditions then they would be saved.

John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Lament for A Modern Day Robinhood

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/888787/death-of-abu-rami-is-sort-of-bad-news-for-some-sulu-folk

Cryst have mercy on his soule,

That dyed on the rode!

For he was a good outlawe,

And dyde pore men moch god.

-A Gest of Robyn Hode, The Eighth Fytte

The death of Muammar Askali alias Abu Rami is, in a way, bad news for some communities in Sulu that had benefitted from the ransom money he got from kidnappings.

Oh the poor communities of Sulu! Now how will they eat?

This brave young man kidnapped innocent tourists and demanded ransom from their country's governments. And not for himself! Oh no this brave young man did it all to feed the people.

In previous phone interviews made by the Inquirer with Askali, he confirmed receiving P250 Million ransom for German couple Stefan Viktor Okonek and Henrike Dielen; P20 Million for the liberty of Filipina Maritess Flor; and P30 Million for Kjartan Sekkingstad. 

But where does the ransom money go? 

The source said Askali used part of the money “feeding communities.” 

“They need the money to silence the community to get their loyalty. That’s how it works there in Sulu,” he said. 

Those who called themselves his friends had tried to stop him:

“And before this report about Bohol came out, we had several friends who sent Malaysian-made noodles to him, and advised him to leave the kidnapping and beheading,” the source said.

 But he in his zeal for the poor would not be deterred.

“And I guess he went to Bohol to get new captives,” he added. 

The source said Askali and his group would not be bringing firearms with them if they went to Bohol for a vacation.

How selflessly did he and his band of merry men travel about the provinces looking for men to take captive for ransom.

Oh how he selflessly dipped his blade in blood and beheaded those whose governments would not pay the ransom which helped to feed his beloved community.

And oh how now shall the poor folk in Sulu live?  And how will that band of merry men survive if they have no money to buy the cooperation of the community? Will the poor remain loyal to the poor?

Will that band of merry men merrily dissolve now that their Captain is gone into that good night?

The beauty of Sulu is slain upon the high places. Oh how are the mighty fallen in the midst of battle!

Oh that my head were waters and my eyes a fount of tears that I might weep day and night for the death of this young man who spilled his blood for his community's sake. 

Until their last days the fire of his loss will remain in the hearts of the poor of Sulu.

May Allah have mercy on his soul who beheaded the innocent to feed the poor.

Senator De Lima is Sad She Can't Participate in Idol Worship this Good Friday

Disgraced Philippines Senator Leila De Lima is in a deep sadness this Good Friday.  Why?  Because they have crucified her Lord?  She must be a very devout Christian. A real worshipper of Jesus Christ her Lord and Saviour. Right? Wrong!

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/888909/good-friday-brings-deep-sadness-to-de-lima

“For the first time in my life, I won’t be able to join the Good Friday procession in our home parish. I will not be there to touch the image of our dear AMA, the Santo Entierro, and say my most intimate prayer,” De Lima lamented. 

“The mere thought of missing this annual spiritual experience, this lifetime “panata” of mine, produces a revolting emptiness inside me. It’s like being cast away in an abyss of despair,” she said.

She is sad because she can't engage in her annual ritual idol worship. 

Easter is one of the greatest time for national cosplay in the Philippines.  All across the country devotees scourge themselves with whips and some even go so far as to crucify themselves half naked like Jesus with their crucifers dressing up like Roman centurions. Most however join Good Friday processions showcasing the stations of the cross.  What De Lima wants to touch and pray to is an idol of the dead body of Jesus Christ that looks like this:

https://bicolanopenguinswonderlog.wordpress.com/2013/04/01/good-friday-procession-in-fatima-parish-iriga-city-2/

That is the exact idol from her parish. Though there is a lot of variation in this particular idol the idea is the same: a wooden idol of the dead Christ ensconced inside a gold-trimmed glass coffin.  

The usual highlight of Good Friday is the Santo Entierro ("holy interment"), which is the name of both the rite and the wooden or resin sculpture of the dead Christ lying supine used in the ritual.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Week_in_the_Philippines#Santo_Entierro

Where do they even get the idea for this idol?  Jesus was a poor man and though he was buried in a rich man's tomb he was wrapped up like a mummy and buried in a stone sepulchre in the common manner of the jews. He was not buried in a gold-trimmed glass coffin. The image is so horrific in its gaudiness and its unbiblical and blasphemous denial that he who was rich became poor for our sake. It is an image straight out of Snow White

not the Gospel.

John 19:40: Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. 

John 19:41: Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.

John 19:42: There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

De Lima is sad that she cannot touch the wooden figurine of a dead Jesus and say her most intimate prayer.  Why?  Because her religion is a sham religion that relies on images and pictures.  She does not worship God in spirit and in truth. She worships him in the flesh and in lies. So does every other idolater.

The Santo Entierro idol is not a witness to the incarnation as the Seventh Ecumenical Council declared about images. It is a false image that bears witness to man's deceitful imagination which is only evil continually.  Her deceitful imagination even leads her to believe that she is being crucified.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/13/17/missing-lent-in-hometown-crucified-de-lima-to-spend-week-in-silent-reflection

“Beginning Wednesday evening, and up to Easter Sunday morning, I would prefer to be alone. I shall entertain no visitors as I intend to spend more time for prayers and reflections. I’ll be on a sabbatical within a sabbatical,” De Lima told ABS-CBN News in a letter. 

“This is my reflection: I’m carrying a cross now and going through a crucifixion. In carrying my cross, I feel no disgrace or regret at all, but a renewed and fortified spirit to fight to the end,” said De Lima, the highest elected official so far detained on drug charges under the Duterte administration.

De Lima needs to stop striking a Jesus Christ pose.  Come on down off that cross Senator.  We could use the wood. If De Lima needs an idol to worship God then she is not worshipping God.  And if she is not worshipping God then it is no wonder that God does not answer her prayers.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/881176/de-lima-prays-for-liberty-by-holy-week

Willful Ignorance

In a previous post I proposed that Duterte might be waking up to the very real threat ISIS poses to the Philippines.  It looks like I was wrong.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/888414/afp-chief-saw-no-terror-threat-day-before-bohol-clash

The Bohol fighting between government troops and suspected Abu Sayyaf men erupted on Tuesday a day after Armed Forces Chief Eduardo Año said that the military did not see any terror threat in the Philippines despite the recent warning by the US Embassy in Manila to Americans to avoid going to Central Visayas. 

“We have to be vigilant. We would like to encourage the public to report suspicious people, suspicious objects or circumstances so the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) can take immediate, fast counter actions,” Año told reporters during a pre-departure press briefing of President Duterte at the Davao International Airport on Monday. 

“But right now, we don’t see any terror threat,” the military chief added. 

President Duterte likewise downplayed the US travel warning, saying the government could handle any terror threats. 

“Kaya natin ang threat of terrorism. Why should you worry about the (US) embassy? I should be worrying about my country, not the (American embassy),” the President said. 

In its travel advisory on Sunday, the US Embassy cautioned Americans against traveling to tourist resorts in Cebu and Bohol in Central Visayas, citing “unsubstantiated yet credible information” that terrorists might kidnap foreigners there.

How is it that neither the chief of the armed forces nor Duterte didn't "see any terror threat" when both the US Embassy and the chief of the PNP confirmed that there is a threat? The Philippine Army has an intel problem.  They cant even see what is so plain to the entire world. 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/606521/news/nation/bato-dela-rosa-confirms-threat-in-central-visayas-but-says-pnp-ready-for-it

How can Duterte be so blithe regarding the threat warning issued by the US embassy? 

 "Why should you worry about the (US) embassy? I should be worrying about my country, not the (American embassy),” the President said." 

He should be worrying about his country.  He should be worrying about the threat that ISIS poses to the stability of his country. When the US Embassy issues a threat warning he should not brush it off as being of no substance. With information drawn from the CIA, the NSA, and numerous other black-ops organisations US intel is highly reliable. 

It's not just the US embassy that recognises the threat ISIS poses to the Central Visayas.

http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/clashes-in-bohol-spark-concerns-that-abu-sayyaf-may-be-moving-into-central-philippines

In 2014 Barack Obama made the grave mistake of underestimating ISIS as the JV team but he was wrong as they have proven to be resilient and effective killers. They have stated their goals for all to see.

ISIS makes no secret of its ultimate ambition: A global caliphate secured through a global war

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/11/middleeast/isis-syria-iraq-caliphate/ 

ISIS is in the Philippines and they are not going away. Until the president and the army take their heads out of the sand this threat will continue to grow.  They won't stop until they are dead or they have won. Send the whole army into Mindanao and destroy them all before it's too late.

Listen, and understand. ISIS is out there. They can’t be bargained with. They can’t be reasoned with. They don’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And they absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead.

Duterte is on a Fool's Errand in the Middle East

OFW's are routinely abused by their employers.  None more so than those who work in the Middle East.  Take this latest case.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/887697/drug-war-sends-ofw-rushing-home-for-son-who-couldnt-run

She said she learned about her son’s fate through a message sent by a niece on Facebook: “Tita, Raymart’s gone. Bonnet-wearing men killed him.” 

Her world shattered in an instant, Siapo asked her employer to allow her to leave immediately. The answer was no. 

She begged her boss for days and had to show online news of Raymart’s death as proof of the tragedy back home because her employer, cold and unmoved, kept saying that “you’re just making that up.” 

She was finally granted permission after going down on her knees to kiss her employer’s feet. 

Siapo arrived in Manila practically empty-handed; the employer asked her to leave her belongings behind as a sort of guarantee of her return to Kuwait. When met by her elder brother Bong at the airport, all she had was a handbag and two boxes of toys for her other child, a 10-year-old girl

Pretty disgusting.  She, ostensibly a Christian, was forced to kneel down and kiss her Muslim employers feet in order to come home to bury her dead son. What an outrage.  This kind behaviour is typical of the abuse that OFWs endure at the hands of Muslims.

http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/balikbayan/110485-ofw-rina-saudi-arabia-dies

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/599120/news/pinoyabroad/abused-ofw-from-kuwait-admitted-to-mental-hospital

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/597866/news/pinoyabroad/ofw-allegedly-abused-by-employer-dies-in-kuwait-nbsp

You can read more about abuse of Filipino OFWs here: http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Philippines/sub5_6g/entry-3921.html

A simple Google search for "abused OFW Middle East" brings up 675,000 results! 

Clearly there is a problem with Muslim employers in the Middle East abusing their Filipino guest workers.  Reforming the system that allows these abuses is one reason why Duterte is visiting Saudia Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar.

President Rodrigo Duterte will leave for the Middle East today for a weeklong state visit that aims to secure good working conditions for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), Labor Secretary Silverstre Bello 3rd said Sunday. 

We are going for a bilateral agreement with these countries concerning our household service workers (HSWs). We are eyeing fixed minimum salary rate for HSWs, insurance coverage, securing a day off and fixed working hours,” Bello said in a phone interview with The Manila Times. 

http://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-middle-east-trip-boon-ofws/321924/

I will make a bold prediction: agreements will be drawn up and signed but horrendous mental and sexual abuse will continue. Why?  Because the Muslims do not see the Filipinos as people.  Filipinos are Christians and therefore kafir.  

The language of Islam is dualistic. As an example, there is never any reference to humanity as a unified whole. Instead there is a division into believer and kafir (unbeliever). Humanity is not seen as one body, but is divided into whether the person believes Mohammed is the prophet of Allah or not. 

Kafir is what the Koran and Islam call the unbelievers. Kafir is the worst word in the human language. 

The word kafir should be used instead of “unbeliever”, the standard word. Unbeliever is a neutral term. The Koran defines the kafir and kafir is not a neutral word. A kafir is not merely someone who does not agree with Islam, but a kafir is evil, disgusting, the lowest form of life. Kafirs can be tortured, killed, lied to and cheated. So the usual word “unbeliever” does not reflect the political reality of Islam.

https://www.politicalislam.com/kafir/ 

This idea of "kafir" is also why Duterte's quest to "seek their support for our efforts to bring just and lasting peace in Mindanao" is a fools errand. 

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/10/17/duterte-leaves-for-middle-east-to-seek-support-for-peace-efforts-in-mindanao

But there is an even more disturbing reason why seeking support for peace efforts in Mindanao is pointless.

The Philippines is fighting Abu Sayyaf in Mindanao. This group has aligned itself with ISIS and Saudia Arabia and Qatar are both financing ISIS!

http://www.salon.com/2016/10/11/leaked-hillary-clinton-emails-show-u-s-allies-saudi-arabia-and-qatar-supported-isis/

Duterte is a tough guy when it comes to the war on drugs.  He is so tough he says outright that he will kill drug pushers and users.  Why can't he be that tough in the war against ISIS?  

There is no compromise with ISIS and there is no peace with the kingdoms who support and finance ISIS.  Duterte has no business seeking peace in the Middle East because none will be found.  The best thing he could do for the Philippines is to recall and ban all OFWs from working in the Middle East.

There is no peace with Islam.

Duterte says "Hello America"

At first he was like:

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/150839/duterte-says-bye-bye-america

But then he was all:

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/09/17/duterte-calls-on-us-to-help-fight-terrorism

So what's it going to be?  He can't have it both ways. What would prompt such a change? I think it's because the Philippines is finally waking up to the real threat that ISIS poses to both the country and  the  SEA region.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/06/17/bi-officers-nab-2-suspected-isis-members

The arrest for the first time confirmed earlier suspicion that the militant group, responsible for deadly attacks in key cities around the world, had reached the Philippines. 

Confirmed for the first time?  First time? Abu Sayyaf publicly pledged allegiance to ISIS last year.

http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/1980725/southeast-asian-islamic-state-pledges-allegiance-abu-sayyaf

Just a few days ago it was reported that ISIS fighters returning from the Middle East would be regrouping in the Philippines.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/04/04/1687663/returning-fighters-regroup-philippines-experts

Battle-hardened Southeast Asian Islamic State (IS) fighters returning from the Middle East following the group's setbacks are expected to rebase in Mindanao, a security conference heard Tuesday.

Instability and the easy flow of weapons have made Mindanao and nearby Philippine islands attractive to extremist groups, said speakers at the Milipol conference on homeland security in Singapore.

"Currently, IS is moving towards creating a territory in southern Philippines. The most recent communication issued by IS has announced that they have formally declared an East Asia division of IS in the southern Philippines," counterterrorism analyst Rohan Gunaratna told the conference.

"Our forecast for 2017 is that the threat in this region will grow because of the creation of an IS nucleus in the southern Philippines," added Gunaratna.

"The instability in the southern Philippines and the availability of weapons, internal displacement, refugee flows... create the ripe conditions for foreign terrorists to come," he told AFP after his speech.

Abu Sayyaf's modus operandi is kidnapping foreigners and holding them for ransom. The threat from this group has moved from the fringes of Mindanao to the Central Viayas.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/606521/news/nation/bato-dela-rosa-confirms-threat-in-central-visayas-but-says-pnp-ready-for-it

Is the Philippines finally waking up to the threat that Abu Sayyaf poses? It seems so.  It also seems that Duterte realises the Philippines cannot contain this problem on their own.  They simply do not have the firepower.  Or the troops.  They are resorting to using civilian militiamen rather than only professional soldiers.

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2017/04/10/1689559/3-militiamen-killed-11-others-injured-basilan-clash

The military said soldiers from the 4th Special Forces Battalion and members of the the civilian active auxiliary (CAA) were on patrol after setting up their detachment when they encountered the Abu Sayyaf group at Barangay Cabcaban around 7:15 a.m.

Why is the Philippine Army using civilian soldiers?  What is stopping them from sending every professional soldier into Mindanao and absolutely destroying Abu Sayyaf?

We all do stupid things we later regret and of which we repent. Hopefully Duterte's repentance is genuine. History, past and present, has shown that the Philippines cannot fight terrorism on its own.  They have neither the firepower nor the will.  If they had the will they wouldn't be waking up just now to the fact that ISIS has established itself in the Philippines and poses a grave threat to the country and the region.

On the other hand the United States has no obligation to help the Philippines. Can they even trust the waffling Duterte? Without a declaration of war by the US Congress any military action would be unconstitutional.  A little known fact is that the US has not declared war since WW2.  That makes every conflict since then illegal.

Surely the USA can help out by providing logistical and tactical support and arms rather than putting troops in a another Southeast Asian jungle. It remains to be seen what kind of aid will be provided and what Duterte will accept.

Let's hope this is a prelude to victory against ISIS in the Philippines.

This is What Happens When You Politely Ask Your Neighbour to Turn Down Their Karaoke

Today a neighbour celebrated his 60th birthday. By 9pm the party had been going on for 12 hours. I was headed to slumberland except for the loud music barring my entrance.  So I walked over to my neighbours house and politely asked them to turn down their karaoke so I could get some sleep.

Thirty minutes later this happens:

A loud motorcycle, a thrown bottle, and a kick at the gate to the house.  I got to the window just in time to see two men speed off.  I couldn't make out who they were but I knew where they came from.

Despite the people at the party admitting the thrown bottle came from them the police could do nothing because I could not identify the assailants.  But the police did admonish them to turn down their karaoke because they had received other complaints.

So this is where politeness gets you in the Philippines. 

Nowhere.