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Wednesday, June 25, 2003
Wenceslao: Gracia’s book
By Bong Wenceslao
I finally finished reading “In the Presence of My Enemies” by former Abu Sayyaf hostage Gracia Burnham (with Dean Merrill). A former activist and politician, who is also a friend, gave me the book with the reminder that, “as you go over the pages, please bear in mind that we lost over 40 soldiers and marines in the hunt for Abu Sabaya.”
That is well taken, of course, although I find it sad that a work with a very Christian perspective would end up becoming controversial for a wrong reason. USA Today described the point of the book well: “The issue…is not why an all-powerful God might choose to subject a man to evil, but how a man, with God’s help, responds to evil.”
“In the Presence of My Enemies” is supposed to be the tale of Martin Burnham, as narrated by his admiring wife and fellow missionary. But is also the story of the wife, Gracia; of Abu Sabaya and Musab, Hurayra and Sakaki; of Ediborah, Angie, Fe, Sheila and Reina; of Guillermo Sobero and the others, including some nameless people.
And it is a story of contradictions, not only between government forces and a terrorist group, but also between beliefs—Christians and Muslims—and ways of life. As I read the journey of the Burnhams and the other hostages, I also got a glimpse of the Abu Sayyaf’s mindset, of the military’s tactics, and the response of civilians in-between.
But before that, there was Martin and Gracia balancing missionary work for the New Tribes Mission in the Philippines with building a family. And, yes, there is such a job as a missionary pilot like Martin—they who bring supplies to the missions and those they are servicing in the hinterlands of, in the Burnhams case, Bukidnon or Palawan.
The Burnhams had been in the Philippines for 15 years when the Abu Sayyaf seized them and 18 others at the Dos Palmas Resort in Palawan on May 27 2001. They would stay in the jungles of Basilan and Zamboanga for a year, seeing other hostages coming and going (including the nurses captured later in a Lamitan, Basilan hospital).
But Martin was in the Philippines even earlier, joining his parents who were also on a mission to the country. Gracia wrote: “He talked about his classes and about his folks far away in the Philippines, serving a tribe called the Ibaloi…He said one day, ‘Did you know I had to help my Mom sew up my leg one day after I cut it with a machete?’”
This is actually what is tragic in the Burnhams’ journey. Here were two people from a foreign land sacrificing many things to serve some Filipino tribes and yet they ended up suffering even more.
There are two passages, one about their departure for the Philippines and the other on Martin’s death that still rings in my mind.
The departure: “…When we got on the Philippine Airlines flight at Los Angeles International Airport, the greetings to the passengers began in Tagalog instead of English. Suddenly, tears began streaming down my face. I was truly leaving home, and I didn’t know when or if I would ever return. But then Martin held my hand, and I didn’t cry long.”
And then this passage, years later, after the firefight between the Abu Sayyaf and government troops: “I looked back at where Martin still lay. The red spot on his shirt was larger now. His complexion was pasty white. And then I knew—the man I loved more than anyone in the world was gone.” (to be continued)
P.S. Here’s Text Reax contributor Eric Unabia of Argao, Cebu: “To all priest wannabes, don’t bother to enter the seminary if you can’t live without sex. Priesthood comes with the vow of celibacy.”
(For your Text Reax contributions, my cell phone number is 09166496783. Please give your complete name and address. Or e-mail to cowens21@lycos.com or opinion@sunstar.com.ph)
(June 25, 2003 issue)
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