|
Thursday, May 27, 2004
Wenceslao: Divine intervention or money?
By Bong Wenceslao
One film whose few scenes are still pasted on my mind was the Sean Connery-starred “The Man Who Would Be King.” The story revolved around two men who strayed into a primitive civilization—with one of them (Connery) eventually worshipped as a god when an arrow, blocked by a hard object, failed to penetrate his body.
The story turned tragic when the natives discovered he was human after all. His companion (played by Michael Caine) escaped death and brought with him back to his world the head of his friend—with the crown still on it. It was a sad tale, but what struck me was the point that people, in the midst of the unexplainable, often turn religious.
I was reminded of this while looking at the twists and turns in the case of Ruben Ecleo Jr., who is accused of killing his wife Alona Bacolod-Ecleo. It occurred to me that the so-called supreme master of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA) now has fresh materials to continue spinning the yarn of his supposed divinity.
Consider this. Judge Generosa Labra let go of the Ecleo case and it surprisingly landed on the lap of Judge Anacleto Caminade, who, for one reason or another, promptly allowed him to post bail. Weeks later, prosecutors, for one reason or another, succeeded in convicting Cedrick Devinadera, who claimed it was Alona’s brother who killed Ben.
If I am a PBMA member, who, for one reason or another, considers Ecleo god, what will I make out of these seemingly unexplainable developments favoring my “supreme master”? Or if I were one of Ecleo’s preachers, how will I present this to my followers? You’re right. I’ll use it to “prove” the supreme master’s divinity. Di ba?
Of course, there are rational explanations to the recent twists in the Ecleo story in much the same way that there was a reason why the arrow did not penetrate the body of the Connery character in “The Man Who Would Be King.” But there’s no denying the point that these recent developments do seem like miracles to some sectors.
However, one cannot attribute these developments solely to “god.” Because in our society, miracles can also be spun by another powerful entity: money. For doesn’t money make its holder handsome even if he is ugly, young even if he is old, and yes, innocent even if he has done something wrong? Faith can move mountains? Money can, too.
So the choice is: divine intervention or money? Your answer, I would say, would be as good as mine.
P.S. This one is an e-mailed reaction by letter writer Elsie Storey to yesterday’s column on the killing of an 11-year-old kid in Bulacao last Sunday:
“I am glad you wrote about Vicente Lastimosa. It tore my heart apart. I could never imagine such cruelty during my childhood. I grew up in Cebu and had friends who didn’t have a lot. The older people then were loving and considerate and more sharing. Compassion was abundant. What happened to our people?
“I hope Vicente will get justice. Those who killed him should not find mercy in our courts. His death was worse than executing somebody in an electric chair. Don’t give up on this boy until he finds justice.”
Some texters, moved by what happened, also asked me where they could channel their donations to Vicente’s family. Actually, his wake is at a chapel in Cogon, Pardo. Or one can coordinate with the office of Cebu City Councilor Gerardo Carillo, who is also helping the family of the victim.
(e-mail: khanwens@yahoo.com; text: 0927-4912362)
(May 27, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
