The Philippines Supreme Court Redefines Immorality

What makes an act immoral? According to the Philippine Supreme Court an act is only immoral if it contravenes existing laws or state policy. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/12/17/2407947/sc-unmarried-teachers-cant-be-suspended-being-pregnant

Consensual sexual relations between unmarried people that result in pregnancy are not immoral and not a valid ground for suspension from work of the pregnant woman, the Supreme Court (SC) has ruled.

In an 18-page ruling, the SC First Division said sexual relations between two consenting adults who have no legal impediment to marry is not deemed immoral.

“No law forbids such, and said conduct does not contravene any fundamental state policy enshrined in the Constitution,” the SC decision, penned by Associate Justice Ricardo Rosario, read.

The high tribunal has declared illegal the 2016 suspension by a Christian school in Bohol of a teacher who became pregnant before marrying her boyfriend.

In September 2016, when she was two months pregnant, the teacher informed the school principal about her pregnancy and her scheduled marriage to her boyfriend.

The teacher was “verbally suspended” indefinitely until her marriage to the father of her child for violating the school’s policy.

She also received a written notice, stating that she was suspended indefinitely without pay due to immorality until she gets married.

She filed a complaint for illegal suspension. The labor arbiter held that she was constructively dismissed, but the National Labor Relations Commission reversed the decision.

The Court of Appeals (CA) ruled that there was no constructive dismissal, and found the teacher’s suspension illegal.

The appellate court said it did not find the teacher’s conduct immoral as she did not have sexual relations with a married man and neither was she married at the time.

The CA ordered the school to pay the teacher the salaries and benefits she did not receive during her suspension.

An immoral act is an act that does not conform to accepted standards of morality. Morality is not something that can be enshrined in law but is in large part cultural. According to this ruling fornication is a moral act in the Philippines because there is no law against it. The Supreme Court based their decision on  the distinction between public secular morality and religious morality. The SC's "jurisdiction extends only to public and secular morality."

pg. 10

In the eyes of the law, there is a standard of morality that binds all those who come before it, which is public and secular, not religious. It is important to make this distinction as the Court's jurisdiction extends only to public and secular morality. 

Public and secular morality refers to conduct proscribed because they are detrimental to conditions upon which depend the existence and progress of human society. Otherwise, if government relies upon religious beliefs in formulating public policies and morals, the resulting policies and morals would require conformity to what some might regard as religious program or agenda." 

In this case, respondent was suspended for engaging in premarital sexual relations, resulting in being pregnant out of wedlock. The Court has previously ruled in similar cases that premarital sexual relations resulting in pregnancy out of wedlock cannot be considered disgraceful or immoral when viewed against the prevailing norms of conduct. 

How exactly is fornication an act which is not "detrimental to conditions upon which depend the existence and progress of human society?" Are sexually transmitted diseases not detrimental to society? Are single mothers not detrimental to society? How about when children are abandoned and thrown away like garbage as soon as they are born, is that not detrimental to society? All of those acts are the fruit of fornication. Yet the Supreme Court says fornication is moral and not "detrimental to conditions upon which depend the existence and progress of human society."

Furthermore this lady was a teacher at a Christian school. No doubt she signed a morality clause but even if she didn't surely faculty and students would be expected to uphold Christian values and teachings. The Supreme Court has ruled in two previous cases that upholding Christian values at Christian schools do not matter when it comes to the law. 

pgs.10-11

The Court has previously ruled in similar cases that premarital sexual relations resulting in pregnancy out of wedlock cannot be considered disgraceful or immoral when viewed against the prevailing norms of conduct. In Leus v. St. Scholastica's College Westgrove," We held: 

In stark contrast to Santos, the Court does not find any circumstance in this case which would lead the Court to conclude that the petitioner committed a disgraceful or immoral conduct. It bears stressing that the petitioner and her boyfriend, at the lime they conceived a child, had no legal impediment to marry. Indeed, even prior to her dismissal, the petitioner mended her boyfriend, the father of her child. As the Court held in Radam, there is no law which penalizes an unmarried mother by reason of her sexual conduct or proscribes the consensual sexual activity between two unmarried persons; that neither does such situation contravene any fundamental state policy enshrined in the Constitution. 

Admittedly, the petitioner is employed in an educational institution where the teachings and doctrines of the Catholic Church, including that on pre-marital sexual relations, is strictly upheld and taught to the students. That her indiscretion, which resulted in her pregnancy out of wedlock, is anathema to the doctrines of the Catholic Church. However, viewed against the prevailing norms of conduct, the petitioner's conduct cannot be considered as disgraceful or immoral; such conduct is not denounced by public and-secular morality. It maybe an, unusual arrangement, but it certainly is not disgraceful or immoral within the contemplation of the law. 

And in Inocente v. St. Vincent Foundation for Children and Aging Inc.." 

In this ease, we note that both Zaida and Marlon at all times had no impediments to marry each other. They were adults who met at work, dated, fell in love and became sweethearts. The intimate sexual relations between them were consensual, borne by their love for one another and which they engaged to discreetly and in strict privacy. They continued their relationship even after Marlon left St. Vincent in 2008. They took their marriage vows on after Zelda recovered from her miscarriage, thus validating their union in the eyes of both men and God. All these circumstances show the sincerity and honesty of the relationship between Zaida and Marlon. They also show their genuine regard and love for one another — a natural human emotion that is neither shameless, callous, nor offensive to the opinion of the upright and respectable members of the secular community. While their actions might nor have strictly conformed with the beliefs, ways, and mores of St Vincent which is governed largely by religious morality — or with the personal views of its officials, these actions on not prohibited under any law nor are they contrary to conduct generally accepted by society as respectable or moral.

Sexual intercourse between two consenting adults who have no legal impediment to marry, like respondent and her boyfriend, is not deemed as immoral." No law proscribes such, and said conduct does not contravene any fundamental state policy enshrined in the Constitution." 

Going by this law Christian schools cannot forbid their faculty from engaging in fornication because "no law proscribes such, and said conduct does not contravene any fundamental state policy enshrined in the Constitution." Any morality clause signed by a teacher is made void and null by these decisions. That is an outright denial of the right to freedom of association. According to the Supreme Court a teacher at a Christian school can commit the most "immoral" acts imaginable and there is nothing the school can do about it. Firing the teacher for his conduct would be illegal. 

This ruling, as well as the previous two, opens a can of worms. For instance, homosexuality is not illegal in the Philippines. According to the Supreme Court that means it is also not immoral. Is that what Philippine society thinks? Then why is there no sodomite marriage? Why does the SOGIE bill languish in Congress? Because even though homosexuals are tolerated and in some instances celebrated homosexual immoral in the eyes of Philippine society. 

What about abortion? Right now it is illegal and thus, according to this ruling, immoral. But if it were to become legal then it would suddenly become a moral act. What kind of legal sorcery is that? Would the status of abortion from illegal and immoral to legal and moral reflect Filipino values? On what basis could it be said today abortion is detrimental to society and tomorrow it is beneficial?

What about divorce? Right now it is illegal and seen as "detrimental to conditions upon which depend the existence and progress of human society." If it ever becomes legal then it will be moral. How can this be so? On what basis can an action go from moral to immoral? The Supreme Court has told us on what basis, public opinion. That is no foundation on which to erect morality or ethics.

I'm no legal scholar but the implications of basing morality on public opinion and what is legal or not sets a bad precedence. This ruling will surely come back to haunt the Philippines in the coming years as it debates abortion, homosexual marriage, and divorce. Let's not forget there is a separate Sharia law system in the Philippines where this definition of morality would not fly. 

Insurgency: NTF-ELCAC is Communist Groups' Worst Nightmare

Plenty of voices have called for the abolishing of the NTF-ELCAC and plenty of others have praised the NTF-ELCAC for the work they do. The task force says there is so much controversy because they are a thorn in the side of the CPP-NPA.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1239532

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) is a "thorn" and the "worst nightmare" of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA), for bringing development in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said since 2018, the task force has improved the infrastructure and education facilities in far-flung areas.

"That is why, (with) every opportunity, they would like to have it abolished," Torres said in a statement.

“We have now our road map focused on socio-economic development until we reach the objective of really empowering the people to be more resilient against the threat of terrorist groups and other groups, particularly the CPP-NPA-NDF [National Democratic Front],” he added.

As a result of the anti-insurgency task force's multi-faceted approach, including development programs, information campaigns and community engagement, Torres said the communist groups have weakened.

Thousands of rebels surrendered, dismantling 85 out of 89 guerilla fronts, and weakening of the remaining four.

“So, we will now celebrate the successes, the achievements, and the partnerships that we had for the past six years,” Torres said.

The NTF-ELCAC was established through Executive Order 70 signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte in December 2018 to “provide an efficient mechanism and structure for the implementation of the whole-of-nation approach to aid in the realization of collective aspirations for inclusive and sustainable peace.”

In a separate statement, the NTF-ELCAC said its sixth anniversary "serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility in addressing the root causes of conflict and empowering communities."

Building infrastructure and education facilities in far-flung areas makes them a thorn in the side of the CPP-NPA? That is ridiculous. Good governance is what the CPP-NPA wants. Good governance should not be counterinsurgency program it should be the day-to-day job of the government elected by the people.

Apparently the CPP-NPA are recruiting in Iloilo schools. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1239547

The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division has expressed serious concern over the reported recruitment activities by the communist group in schools, urging an immediate halt to these actions.

In a statement released Monday, the Army condemned the "aggressive actions" of the communist group after recruitment materials, allegedly distributed by the Kabataang Makabayan (KM), were discovered at two state universities in Iloilo province.

The University of the Philippines Visayas’ student publication “Pagbutlak” reported on its official Facebook page that propaganda materials and KM stickers were found in various areas in the campus on Dec. 6.

Similarly, Forum-Dimensions, the student publication of West Visayas State University, confirmed that similar materials were discovered on its campus the same day.

Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, described the recruitment efforts as a desperate attempt by the communist group to find prospective leaders following the deaths of high-ranking leaders in recent encounters.

“Our students are particularly vulnerable to these deceptive tactics," Sison said.

"We cannot afford to let even one student be misled into wasting their life fighting for a futile cause. We will not allow this to happen.”

Sison urged educational institutions in Panay to take stronger measures to prevent the infiltration and recruitment within their campuses.

“Investigations should be launched to identify those responsible for distributing these recruitment materials, with appropriate administrative action taken, if necessary,” he said.

The Army also plans to bring the issue before the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, for a “coordinated, inter-agency approach to stop the group’s recruitment of youth.”

Sison expressed hope that students would reflect on the tragic consequences faced by those recruited into the New People’s Army, urging them to learn from these experiences.

Don't forget the AFP has claimed the NPA is leaderless and can no longer carry out recruitment activities. Looks like they were wrong. 

More rebels continue to surrender. 17 ex-rebels surrendered in Central Luzon. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1239636

Seventeen former communist rebels have surrendered to police units in Central Luzon, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 3 reported on Tuesday.

In a statement, PRO Central Luzon director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said the 15 former members of Liga ng Manggagawang Bukid (LMB) under Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) surrendered 11 a.m. on Dec. 9 in Barangay Bunol, Guimba, Nueva Ecija.

The surrenderers include Iza, alias Bebe, alias Cindy, alias Auring, alias Fidel, alias Josie, alias Josa, alias Juday, alias Vane, alias Mayo, alias Len, alias Maring, alias Quel, alias Roma and alias Yolly.

Around 2 p.m. on the same day, alias Matwa, a member of Alyansang Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL-KMP), surrendered in Pampanga 2nd PMFC (Provincial Mobile Force Company) in Barangay San Pablo, Sta Ana, Pampanga, who also turned in a rifle grenade.

Alias Lei, also member of AMGL-KMP, surrendered in Barangay Consuelo, Macabebe, Pampanga around 3:45 p.m. and turned over 40mm explosive ammunition.

"These voluntary conversions are proof of the success of our joint efforts to stamp out the insurgency,” Maranan said.

“We will continue to support those who want to renew their lives and become part of our society again. PRO 3 will remain committed to maintaining peace and security in our region,” he added.

Maranan urged the remaining members of these groups to lay down their arms and take advantage of the government's Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) benefits.

It's not clear if these are people who left the NPA long ago and are now surrendering or if they left only recently. Whatever the case they will be able to avail of E-CLIP benefits. 

The two NPA supporters who were arrested after a clash in Quezon will not be able to avail of those benefits. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/12/13/2-npa-supporters-nabbed-in-quezon

Troops arrested two suspected civilian New People’s Army supporters in an encounter here on Thursday, Dec. 12.

The two individuals were identified as Ronilo and Genero.

The 85th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army was patrolling Barangay Guinhalinan when it engaged an undetermined number of rebels under Platoon Reymark of the Sub-regional Military Area 4-B.

The communist guerillas fled following a brief gun battle and apprehended the duo after they were found in the area.

Seized from them were improvised explosive device, gadgets, personal belongings, and subversive documents.

No casualties were reported on the side of the military and the NPA.

Other rebels have surrendered after watching Christmas wish videos of their families pleading with them to surrender. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1239712

At least five active members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Leyte and Samar provinces have surrendered more than a month after the Philippine Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade launched the “Wish Upon a Star" project.

The project that has been reaching out to families, relatives, and loved ones of active rebels to learn about their Christmas wishes has been found effective in the government’s anti-insurgency campaign, said Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade.

The surrenderers are Guillerma Alvero alias "Majay" from Mahaplag, Leyte; Ferning Canhatan alias "Dods" also from Mahaplag town; and Jemilyn Malinao alias "Mitch" from Kananga, Leyte; Realyn Basada alias "Lorry" from Hinabangan, Samar; and Ruben Magcoro alias "Ara" from Pinabacdao, Samar.

Alvero, Canhatan, and Malinao used to be members of the island committee-Levox of the NPA’s Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee based in Leyte Island.

Basada was the secretary of the NPA's sub-regional committee, while Magcoro held the position of vice squad leader of the NPA’s Apoy Platoon in Eastern Samar.

In the case of couple Alvero and Canhatan, they surrendered after watching the video clip of a Christmas message from their friends asking them to return home to be with their sick two-year-old son.

The former NPA members called for the other NPA remnants to be reunited safely with their respective families this Christmas.

Vestuir thanked those who liked, followed, and shared the “Wish upon a Star” episodes on social media until it reached its target audiences.

“A wish will remain a wish if you won’t do something, but if you do it with faith, trust, and effort, it might come true and eventually become a blessing,” Vestuir added.

Under the “Wish Upon a Star” project, the Army has been recording the Christmas wishes of families of active NPA combatants. The videos are being shared by members of the local task force to end local communist armed conflict and netizens until they are viewed by active rebels.

These videos were mentioned last week but it's not clear if they are the same people. They do not seem to be. So, who made the videos? How were they delivered to the rebels to watch? Are they shared on Facebook? What's the mechanics behind this psy-op?

The NTF-ELCAC has said there is no such thing as red-tagging but that's not stopping Baguio from penalizing the practice. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2014358/baguio-to-penalize-red-tagging

Red-tagging and other forms of intimidation will soon be punishable offenses in Baguio City, following the passage of a measure aimed at protecting activists from harassment and vilification by law enforcement and government officials.

The proposed ordinance was approved on Monday during the regular session of the city council, just ahead of Tuesday’s Human Rights Day celebration.

It was transmitted to Mayor Benjamin Magalong for signing for the measure to become a local law.

Magalong, who was expected to sign the measure, was himself a victim of Red-tagging by a former National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict official after the mayor ordered the removal of posters labeling student activists as terrorists.

Passed with 11 affirmative votes and three abstentions, the measure titled “Human Rights Defenders Ordinance” is designed to shield activists from threats, defamation and harassment.

It includes penalties for public officials and state agents who engage in Red-tagging and mechanisms for redress.

The measure underwent a year of public hearings and rigorous deliberation. Despite opposition from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police that argued that existing human rights policies were sufficient, Councilors Peter Fianza, Jose Molintas, Arthur Allad-iw and Fred Bagbagen successfully pushed for its enactment.

Romel Daguimol, regional director of the Commission on Human Rights in the Cordillera, lauded the ordinance as a “model legislation” for other local governments.

He emphasized its significance by pointing out its inclusion of a “redress mechanism” for victims of Red-tagging and harassment.

Under Section 39, any public authority found guilty of Red-tagging must immediately rectify or expunge their statements.

Failure to comply may result in administrative and criminal charges. Violators may also face fines ranging from P1,000 to P5,000.

The measure enumerates 19 rights for activists, including protection against vilification and the right to advocate for human rights.

It also guarantees legal protection for state employees who refuse orders to participate in acts that violate human rights.

Red-tagging, as defined by the ordinance, includes labeling individuals or organizations as communists, subversives, or terrorists.

The definition covers acts, such as tagging groups during school-led activities, spreading defamatory content on social media and government-sanctioned vilification campaigns.

The ordinance aligns with the Supreme Court’s recent recognition of Red-tagging as a form of harassment and intimidation.

In a May 2023 decision granting a writ of amparo to a former Bayan Muna representative, the high court declared that Red-tagging could lead to surveillance, harassment, and, in extreme cases, violence.

In his keynote speech during the Human Rights Day program here on Monday, Allad-iw noted that the proposed local law is rooted in the community’s long struggle against vilification.

We will have to see how this plays out. The PNP and AFP are very much fond of red-tagging. They almost always retract their statements but by that time the damage is done. Why not have the violator pay the victim for the damage caused? Having the statements rectified or redacted doesn't seem like much of a redress.

Another Preventable "Tragedy" That is Actually A Crime

Recently 15 Boy Scouts were electrocuted when the tent they were moving accidentally touched a live wire. Three of them died and 12 others were hurt.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/12/12/3-boy-scouts-electrocuted-to-death-in-zamboanga-city

Three Boy Scouts were killed and 12 others were injured when the tent they were transferring touched a live wire during a jamboree at Abong Abong Park in Barangay Pasonanca here on Thursday, Dec. 12.

The incident happened prior to the Philippine Boy Scouts Jamboree opening program where around 2,000 scouts from various elementary and high schools were gathered.

Mayor John Dalipe here ordered the cancellation of the activity from Dec. 12 to 15 to ensure the safety of remaining scouts and other participants.

Investigation disclosed that a group of Boy Scouts were ordered by one of the organizers to transfer the tent to the site of the program.

They were moving the tent when one of the metal pipes touched a low-lying electric wire, resulting in the electrocution of the victims aged nine to 22.

Police assisted the victims.

Three died and nine were brought to the Zamboanga City Medical Center by an ambulance of  the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office. Three sustained minor injuries.

What a tragedy, right?

Wrong.

The prevalence of low hanging electric wires across the Philippines posing danger to the whole of society is astounding. How this situation is allowed to exist is mind-boggling. It's like LGUs do not care about the people because if they did they would make sure these wires were PERMANENTLY cleaned up and not just during some one-time-big-time operation. It's all about a culture of safety which the Philippines is sorely lacking in every facet of society.

The death of three Boy Scouts because of the negligence of the electric company is NOT a tragedy. It is   A CRIME! Whoever owns those wires should be charged accordingly. 

Of course this situation is being painted as a tragedy and the Bureau of Fire Protection is one more warning electric companies to clean up their wires. 

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2024/12/13/bfp-reiterates-appeal-to-electric-companies-fix-your-spaghetti-wires-1712

The Bureau of Fire Protection reiterates its appeal to electric cooperatives to fix their wires in communities to prevent accidents like electrocution. 

This, following the death of three teenagers in Zamboanga City during a city-wide Boy Scout Jamboree last week.

Speaking to ABS-CBN News, Fire Senior Inspector Gabriel Solano, acting chief of the Civil Relations Service of the the Bureau of Fire Protection, said it is incorrect to assume that wires dangling overhead are just telephone and cable TV lines.

Some of them are in fact, live.

While some of them have insulators, it is highly likely that some of them are already exposed and may therefore pose a risk to the public.

(We don't know where there may be wear and tear. We don't know if rats have chewed through or if exposure to the elements has made them brittle. Chances are there already are some of the copper is already exposed)

It also wouldn’t be wise to get into contact with them by using other objects that are perceived to be non-conductors of electricity.

“Everything can be a conductor of electricity given a combination of two things, water and salt. Sabihin natin kahit kahoy 'yan (Even, for example, wood), it can conduct electricity given the moisture content," he said. 

Initial investigation showed that at least 15 boy scouts at the jamboree had been tasked to transfer a canopy, the tip of which accidentally touched a live wire, sending the scouts flying to the ground.

In a statement the Boy Scouts of the Philippines said it is working with authorities to investigate the incident and is ready to extend all forms of assistance to the victims and their families as well as to the survivors.

“We are also looking closely at the details of the incident in order to revisit and strengthen our existing policies and procedures on the conduct of Scouting activities,” the statement read.

It has also implemented a moratorium on all outdoor scouting activities.  

“We are implementing a moratorium on all outdoor Scouting activities and encouraging our Local Councils to promote Scouting activities in controlled environments/settings. We will use this opportunity to equally capacitate our field Implementors in mainstreaming sound risk and safety management practices in Scouting.”

How many appeals need to be made before the Philippines is healed from the scourge of spaghetti wires? What is needed is the political will to start fining these companies hundreds of thousands of pesos every day until these dangerous low hanging death traps are cleared. Sadly that is never going to happen and more Filipinos will die from electrocution. 

The God Culture: Jesus Spent His Lost Years In The Philippines

Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture thinks he is Indiana Jones but he is actually Alice in Wonderland. He has fallen down a deep hole and things keep getting curiouser and curiouser.  This time Tim has fallen down the deep hole of a new book called Revelation of the Magi. This book has led Tim to claim Jesus spent his lost years in the Philippines. 

Revelation of the Magi Study with Tim Schwab and Lisa George

1:11:10 Patrick is asking, "Do you think the Messiah could have been in the Philippines during his Missing Years?" 

Wow! What a question, you know?

I know I like that question.

Nobody knows, uh, where. We have not found documentation of it. Uh, however we can tell you two things. Number one Messiah showed up as light in the Philippines at his birth. He was being born on the other side of the Earth but at the same time he was in the Philippines, number one. Number two it is highly likely that he went to the Philippines though again we cannot prove, we don't have any evidence of that. Um, but we do believe very strongly that it's the case just as we believe believe that, uh, the Apostle Thomas, uh, when he traveled to India in Legends, right? We knew when we saw that we knew, wait a minute, India no, no, no, no, no, no. India is broad. India is from Eastern Iran, Afghanistan all the way over to the Maylay Peninsula, all the way up Indochina to China and includes the Indies. So, when you say India in the ancient perspective you were not necessarily talking about, uh, what we call India on a map today. And so the reality is we just we knew that when we saw that, it's like I bet you, I bet you, Thomas came to the Philippines. Guess what? Revelation of the Magi documents that Thomas came to the Philippines. So there you go.

How stupid. Everybody knows Jesus spent his lost years in Glastonbury with his tin trading uncle Jospeh of Arimathea. And after that he spent some time in a Tibetan monastery. 

But seriously, Jesus did not show up as light in the Philippines at his birth. First of all Revelation of the Magi does not take place in the Philippines. Second of all the Star Child that appears to the Magi in Revelation of the Magi spews heresy when he says:

Revelation of the Magi 13:10 And I am everywhere, because I am a ray of light whose light has shone in this world from the majesty of my Father, who has sent me to fulfill everything that was spoken about me in the entire world and in every land by unspeakable mysteries, and to accomplish the commandment of my glorious Father, who by the prophets preached about me to the contentious house, in the same way as for you, as befits your faith, it was revealed to you about me. 

The real Jesus Christ would never say such a thing. He came to fulfill the law and the prophets of Israel and Israel alone, not the mysteries of all the religions of the world. 

Now, I will predict what will happen next. Tim says he believes very strongly it is the case that Jesus visited the Philippines during his lost years. Lisa George, before she asks the question indicates that either she or Tim or both of them or someone else is working on a book or books that will discuss that topic.

1:10:48 Tim real quick I'm so sorry to interrupt you but there's a there's a question in chat that I, I'm very intrigued by and we've actually discussed this. Um, I don't know if you, I don't know how much detail you want to go into on this or, um, uh, have the person asking the question read some books that we're planning to publish later on on this topic.

Already there are legends that Jesus travelled to India and Tim has expanded India to include the Philippines. My prediction is Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture will now work towards attempting to "prove" that Jesus Christ did in fact spend time in the Philippines during his lost years. We shall see. 

The God Culture: The Mystery of the Three Kings Book Review, Part 2: Revelation of the Magi

In part 1 of this review of The Mystery of the Three Kings I analyzed Timothy Jay Schwab's guiding foundational principles. Those were the Magi must have taken a two year journey to arrive in Israel and the "restored geography" of Psalm 72 tells us the Magi originated in the Philippines. Now I shall take a look at Tim's arguments from the text of Revelation of the Magi itself.

https://issuu.com/thegodculture/docs/three_kings_ebook

Tim has this to say about Revelation of the Magi:

We are not looking to conduct a counsel to vote it into Biblical Canon, but those who ignore history are destined to repeat it. Test this for yourself; you will find there is nothing in the content of Revelation of the Magi that is bothersome.

pg. 57

Nothing bothersome? As we shall see there is a lot to for Tim to be bothered about in Revelation of the Magi.

Chapter two of Revelation of the Magi says:

RotM 2:4 These are kings, sons of Eastern kings, in the land of Shir, which is the outer part of the entire East of the world inhabited by human beings, at the Ocean, the great sea beyond the world, east of the land of Nod, that place in which dwelt Adam, head and chief of all the families of the world

pg. 83

The Magi came from the land of Shir. Where is Shir? Here is what Tim has to say:

In the introduction of Revelation of the Magi, translator Brent Landau oddly refers to this land of Shir as “semi mythical” and in one footnote as “mythical.” It is neither. This is because he never researched where it was and is unqualified to speculate. He cannot even seem to agree in his own footnotes. His translation appears unmanipulated, but his interpretation is unfortunately uneducated on this topic. There is nothing mythical about the land which we will prove has always existed and is even mapped for 6,000 years. Such terminology is deceiving, as it infers he draws conclusions to what he never researched. It is only myth to him because he does not have such knowledge. We find this inexcusable though routine in Bible scholarship.

If they do not understand it, it must be fiction. Perhaps this is their thinking: they possess a kind of godhood, which is mythical. However, having conducted this research for over a decade, we prove it to be the Land of Gold described in the Bible, which houses the Garden of Eden and is known as Ophir, Sheba and Tarshish in the Philippines. Even this word, Shir, is Hebrew in origin, and appears to be a direct characteristic and prophecy of the Philippines.

shir: שיר: Masculine noun meaning song in much the same way as our English word. It’s used for religious songs (Psalm 42:8, Nehemiah 12:46), triumphal songs (Judges 5:12), festive songs (Genesis 31:27), love songs (Song of Solomon 1:1), etc. Denominative verb: shir: שיר: to sing (Exodus 15:1, 1 Samuel 18:6, Isaiah 26:1). Feminine noun: שירה (shira), also meaning song (Exodus 15:1, Isaiah 5:1). This feminine noun seems to denote the more odic song.– Abarim Publications

In Hebrew, the word shir is very revealing. It means to sing or song in Bible usage. Anyone familiar with the culture of the Philippines is aware that singing is deeply rooted in its DNA. This is really the mechanism that will lead to the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy of these famed isles at the end of the Earth who sing. Shir is a perfect connotation for the isles that sing at the ends of the Earth, precisely fitting the Magi geography from their first century writing, affirmed in Isaiah and Psalm.

pg. 99

Translator Brent Landau says Shir is mythical. Tim says that is not the case because Shir is Hebrew for singing, Filipinos love to sing, therefore Shir is the Philippines! QED. But that doesn't prove anything. 

I do not have the edition of Revelation of the Magi Tim has. What I have is Brent Landau's doctoral thesis which is an analysis and translation of the text. Here is his footnote on Shir in 2:4.

In contrast to the “land of the East,” the name “Shir” (Syr. 􏰀􏰁􏰂) is less common in the RevMagi, used only twice. However, it appears in a number of other ancient texts as a mysterious and faraway land, sometimes identified with China: see Josephus, Ant. 1.68-71; Bardaisan, Book of the Laws of Countries (ed. and trans. H.J.W. Drijvers, p.40-43); Strabo, Geogr. XI.11.1; Pliny, NH, VI.20.54.

The Sages and the Star Child, pg. 79

In Chapter 5 section 4B Landau writes:

The RevMagi not only names the home country of the Magi as Shir, but places it in the easternmost part of the inhabited world, at the shore of the great Ocean. Localizing the Magi in this region taps into pre-existing traditions about the land of Shir and the far edges of the earth. A land known as Shir is mentioned in Greek, Latin, and Syriac sources; Flavius Josephus (Ant. 1.68-71), the geographer Strabo (Geogr. XI.11.1), Pliny the Elder (NH VI.20.54), and the second-century Syriac Christian philosopher Bardaisan (Book of the Laws of Countries), existence and traits. In these sources, Shir is a faraway land whose inhabitants possess among others, discuss its number of fantastic characteristics, including primeval wisdom, extreme longevity of life, and an absence of such typical human concerns as sickness and warfare. In his article on the land of Shir in ancient literature, G. Reinink demonstrated that the people called the Seres are quite often associated with the commodity of silk. Therefore, despite its description as a kind of never-never land, Shir was also connected with the very real land of China, known to the West primarily through the silk trade. The RevMagi therefore demonstrates an awareness of traditions about the people Seres and the land Shir that find attestation elsewhere.

The Sages and the Star Child, pg. 261-262

As you can see Tim is wrong about Shir and Landau. There is an actual recorded history of the land of Shir outside of Revelation of the Magi that leads to China. Tim's edition might not have this information but it is available. It is quite ridiculous to say shir is Hebrew for singing, Filipinos love to sing, therefore Shir is the Philippines. 

Later on Tim will connect Shir to the province of Sirigao.

Very close to Camiguin Island in Northern Mindanao, there is a large province known historically as Surigao with Siargao (Shir-gaw) Island as well. Maps have identified it as an ancient region with the name of Shir. Coincidence? The name originates in the local Waray language which is extremely revealing.

It is interesting that Surigao/Siargao (Shir-gaw) comes from the Waray word “sirak” meaning “sunlight or sunshine.” Imagine this definition even leads to the Land of Light. This name translates to Greek, even in the apocryphal book::סרה (Wisdom of Sirach/Ben Sira, from the 1611 KJV. In Hebrew, that form is sirah Çirâh: withdrawing of a fountain, Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon H5626). However, it also leads us to Shir from the prophecy of the Philippines in Isaiah 42:10 (H7891: shîyr: שיר) in this prophetic Land of Song.

pg. 123

It's more of his silly etymology which is that a word looks and sounds like another word therefore it is that word. But as noted above the Land of Shir was not unknown to antiquity and is mentioned in several documents which predate Revelation of the Magi. 

The next important argument Tim employs is the names of the Magi as given in Revelation of the Magi.

pg. 159

“RotM 2:3 The names of the wise men and kings were called as follows: Zaharwandad son of Artaban; Hôrmizd son of Sanatruq; Auštazp son of Gudaphar; Aršak son of Mihruq; Zarwand son of Wadwad; Arîhô son of Kosrau; Artahšišat son of Hawîlat; Aštanbôzan son of Šîîšrawan; Mihruq son of Humam; Ahširaš son of Sahban; Nasardîh son of Baladan; Merôdak son of Bîl. 2:4 These are kings, sons of Eastern kings, in the land of Shir...”

In researching these names of the twelve Wise Men of the Philippines of which some were Kings, sons of Kings and others Wise Men, it would be negligent to fail to at least attempt to connect some of these to the Filipino languages in origin. The geography is truly indisputable, and now, let us see if the linguistics are as well.

This is research no one seems to have ever conducted, but with the proper geography, we at least know we are looking in the right place. This really fulfills a leg of affirmation as well as it can in any language. For those who would say some of these could be other languages, they should first test the geography, which they have not, or they would not attempt such an illiterate point. The purpose of this exercise is not to promise definitive relation, but to test an association that should exist, at least for some. Once again, we have a match with even direct names.

pg. 160

Tims reasoning is that once the proper geography of the Magi's origin is restored it is only reasonable that their names should reflect the language of that area. The Magi are from the Philippines as prophesied in Psalm 72 therefore their names should contain traces of Tagalog and other local Filipino languages.

This whole chapter can be immediately dismissed because Tim's geography is wrong. Psalm 72 is not a prophecy of the Magi and Ophir, Tarshish, and Sheba are not the Philippines. But that would be too easy. Tim is very sure that several of these names are 100% Filipino words. 

pg. 161

Brent Landau's note on these names is illuminating.

As for the names found in the RevMagi, I have incorporated without changes the spelling of the names as found in the Latin translation accompanying the most recent critical edition of the CZuq; see Chabot, 121: 45. As noted in Chabot, 91:57, several names in this list are corrupt (nonnulla corrupta sunt). The only Syriac text with vocalized forms of these names is Solomon of Basra’s Book of the Bee 39, though the spelling there is slightly different. See Bee, 84-85. Variations of this list of twelve names also appear in the works of Theodore bar Konai, Dionysius bar Salibi, Michael the Syrian, and Moshe bar Kepha. For the forms of the names in these Syriac sources, see the tables in Magi in Syriac 2007, 30-33; H. Kehrer, Drei Könige, 1:72-73. Witakowski also points out that these names are derived from the names of Persian and Babylonian kings and gods, see his Magi in Syriac 2007, 2.

The Sages and the Star Child, p 78

Just like the Land of Shir, these names are found in sources other than Revelation of the Magi. One scholar says these names are derived from Persian and Babylonian kings and gods. His paper can be read here.

The point is there is a whole tradition of the Magi in Syriac that Tim is ignoring in order to pretend the Philippines can be found in the Bible. That makes claims like the following:

This document preserved by the Vatican was originally written by Filipinos, in fact.

p. 183

completely 

retarded and illogical.

pg. 124

The document was written in Syriac and is attested to in other Syriac sources. Except for what Tim conjures up out of his head, there is no evidence Revelation of the Magi was written in Tagalog, Illocano, Visayan, or any other native Filipino language. 

In part 1 I noted that Tim's first foundational principle is that the Magi travelled for two years. However, a two year journey is not recorded in Revelation of the Magi. Here is the entire narrative of the journey to Israel as recorded in chapter 16.

16:1 And when all these things and many others were spoken about the revelation that appeared to us, the star was with us in (its) all excellent forms so we could see it. And we spoke about it like frail human beings, not being able to say anything that we saw.

16:2 And we got ready with our whole encampment, and with our provisions, and with the pure and holy gifts, those that we brought out of the Cave of Treasures of Hidden Mysteries, in which they were [deposited] previously by our fathers, and we went forth in great joy, our hearts exulting to come to the place that was commanded to us, to worship the vision of the star of infinite light.

16:3 And the star, our guide, our good messenger, our perfect light, our glorious leader, again appeared for us, going before us and upholding our whole caravan from all sides, and enlightening us by its hidden light.

16:4 And we had no need of the light of the sun or of the moon, because their light became diminished in its sight, and by night and by day we walked in its light, exulting and rejoicing without distress or weariness. 

16:5 And it prepared before us a blessed dwelling-place in which to reside while we rested and exulted. Even our provisions were abundant in our eyes and did not decrease, but rather from one day to another they increased when it came to rest over us with its light.

16:6 And it gave rest to us from all our fatigue as if we were not journeying on the road, and it made mountains, and hills, and rugged places level before us. Even the rivers before us we crossed by foot without fear, because of the light of our good guide that went along with us for our encampment. And again, when we crossed into the places [of beasts and vicious snakes,] we trampled them with our feet.

16:7 And our leader and our guide, in his glory, appeared to each one of us in all forms and appearances in every (stage.) And he filled our hearts with great joy, and all the (stages) in which we journeyed were short and swift in our eyes, because our victorious sign and our powerful light, which is beyond every human mouth to speak, guided us with its victorious strength.

Not only is this obviously a journey over land but it was also a very swift journey. It does not say how swift but two years is not swift. Thus Tim's first foundational principle, the journey of the Magi took two years which means they came from the Philippines by boat circumnavigating Africa, contradicts this very text. How can Tim not find this to be bothersome? Unsurprisingly Tim does not discuss the actual travel narrative of Revelation of the Magi. He'd rather not bother with it at all. 

As I noted in part 1 there is a lot of information in this book. In fact, Tim is essentially rehashing his entire Philippines is Ophir, Tarshish, Land of Creation, Garden of Eden thesis using Revelation of the Magi as a prop. Not only does Tim's thesis weave in and out on every page but so does the invective against scholars including Brent Landau who translated Revelation of the Magi. Here is one of many examples. 

One of the most inept criticisms by Brent Landau, translator of Revelation of the Magi, is his accusation of the text not mentioning the name of Jesus. It is hard to believe that a Bible scholar does not know that Jesus cannot even be rendered as a word in Ancient Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, nor Latin. These languages did not contain the letter “J’ until the 1500’s, and the New Testament does not actually use that name either. It appears he never bothered to look up the Hebrew name of Yahusha which means “Yah is salvation.” So, if we wish to find whether Yahusha was invoked in the text, we would simply look for the word “salvation.” Such a word study proves that the name of Yahusha is there several times in context. This author translated the name into English, forgetting that is what His name is.

In fact, in some instances, the text is very clearly invoking the actual name of Yahusha, who is salvation, as if we are to believe in “salvation,” which is erroneous in application. We are to believe in Yahusha, who is salvation. That is His name. Has Landau read the New Testament, or even his own translation? Landau translated the name “Jesus Christ” several times; once before the section involving the Apostle Thomas. It is not the only place where Jesus Christ is mentioned. Landau disassociates with that section invalidly, (which is ridiculous), as it is a necessary piece for the manuscript to be complete.

RotM 29:6 And Judas said: “My brothers, I also rejoice, because it is for this gift that I was sent in salvation (Yahusha!), since everyone who believes in salvation and with love receives the seal of my Lord Jesus Christ in truth, the Enemy does not rule over.”

When the Apostle Thomas visited the Philippines on his mission there, he absolutely and indisputably spoke the name of Yahusha. Anyone can see the obvious where Thomas said: “I was sent in Yahusha” which is not accurate to say He was “sent in salvation.” Landau says “he who believes in salvation.” Even Satan believes in salvation, trembles, and knows it is fact. We are to believe in the Son, as scripture specifies. There is only one way to salvation, through the Son. Landaualso translates it improperly when the Magi receive the seal of “my Lord Jesus Christ.” This should read Yahusha Messiah. Even though this is Syriac, translated to Latin, then to English, Landau knew it was Jesus, but could not recognize Yahusha’s name. The majority of Bible Scholars and most church-goers will not recognize this important dynamic of the text.

Yahusha means salvation, but His name is right there in the text, translated to English, forgotten in Hebrew, and close in Greek. It is His name, regardless of transliteration. Was salvation born, or was Yahusha born? An educated translator should have known this. The below descriptions would read so much better as the mystery, light, birth, child, gift, voice of Yahusha. There are too many to ignore.

pg. 209-210

This is total nonsense. Revelation of the Magi was not translated from a Latin text. It is translated directly from the Syriac. There is not a Latin text in between. 

The Sages and the Star Child, pg. 69

This composition, which this study calls the  Revelation o f the Magi (henceforth RevMagi), is a lengthy and complex apocryphon that purports to be the personal testimony of the Magi and provides their perspective on the coming of Christ. The text is only extant in Syriac, though a summary of the same basic narrative occurs in the Opus Imperfectum in Matthaeum (henceforth OIM), the aforementioned commentary on the Gospel of Matthew probably composed in the fifth century by an anonymous Arian theologian.

The Sages and the Star Child, pg. 2

The verse Tim cites has the English "salvation" and "my Lord Jesus Christ" because they are translated from different Syriac words. It just goes to show Tim is no linguist and has no idea what he is talking about. He also has this to say about Brent Landau:

For a supposed Bible scholar and linguist to not know that “Jesus Christ” is not the name of our Messiah, and is not proper, is already evidence that he has no right to attempt an interpretation; he has no foundation in understanding. His translation is solid. His interpretation is useless.

pg. 188

Is Tim really unaware that translation is interpretation? To call Landau's translation solid and his interpretation useless is contradictory. He should simply reject Landau and make his own translation. 

Here is some more railing against scholars. 

However, the scoffing academic would then ignorantly claim, “that is simply not enough.” No, it is not, and that is not the end of this narrative. What about these two definitions of prayer and silence? Certainly, neither of those could be of Philippine origin. Scoff! Scoff! Snark! Oops!

pg. 72

Of course, we are supposed to ignore such direct and simple associations and allow the so-called experts to continue to offer obtuse etymologies of these words in ignorance. We will not. Test these for yourself, because you will typically hear “Scoff! Scoff! Snicker!” from a group who lost the Land of Gold, lost the Garden of Eden, and lost the home of the Magi. 

pg. 73

The whole book is interlaced with that kind of nonsense. 

While the entire book has not been covered the salient points have been analyzed. Tim's founding principles are wrong with the nature and time of the journey in the text contradicting him, his interpretation of the text (specifically the names of the Magi and the Land of Shir) are wrong, and his criticism of translator Brent Landau as uneducated is not just wrongheaded but also prideful as Tim pretends to know more than Brent. 

This is simply another awful and worthless book from Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture. There are only two more major points to discuss and those are Tim's etymology of the Greek word Magi which shall be covered in part 3 and the Star of Bethlehem which shall be covered in part 4.