IF ERAP had his way, he would have controversial author Dan Brown eat his words. The same goes for his Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, who has been crowing that soon, Manila would be known as the gateway to heaven.
Dan Brown’s latest novel “Inferno” created a buzz among the netizens of the Republic for depicting Manila as the gateway to hell. Hell, it piqued my curiosity as to why Dan Brown, best known for the “Da Vinci Code” where he depicted Jesus as having married Mary Magdalene and begot children with her, chose to depict Manila as one of the gateways to hell. (In Rick Riordan’s “The Lightning Thief”, the gate of hell was a nondescript place in Los Angeles, California.) I just had to grab a copy of the book, or, better yet, borrow a copy from my daughter Katen, who graciously allowed me to read it ahead of her.
Just like Brown’s previous books (“Angels and Demons”, my favorite; “Da Vinci Code”, “The Lost Symbol”), Inferno is full-packed with suspense and heretical assertions. Just one example: Pope John XXIII is anti-Pope. The Catholic Church hierarchy must be having an apoplectic fit right now, especially since Pope John XXIII, champion of ecumenism, is to be declared a saint, along with Pope John Paul II, anytime soon.
“Inferno” is taken from the great epic of Italian author Dante Aleghieri, “Dante’s Comedy” which is not funny at all. Students who have taken this in class would remember that Dante’s masterpiece depicts heaven, purgatory and hell. Especially interesting is how Dante consigned to hell, where, he wrote, there are 10 levels each with its own kind of punishment.
Dan Brown’s previous novels were anchored on the Illuminati, supposedly composed of the powers that rule men’s lives. “Inferno”, however, is solely wrapped around Dante’s Inferno and provides the foundation of his richly-depicted story. If one has not read Dante’s Comedy -- it’s a requirement in school but in my time I found it too cumbersome to really read it -- this novel is a great substitute, for here are insights which provide a deeper appreciation of “Dante’s Comedy” (the name of which is explained in the book). It is also a veritable travelogue which takes the reader through major European cities — Florence, which judging by Brown’s words is the major repository of Italian art; Venice, the golden city; Budapest I think; and back to Florence. One could really learn a lot by reading this book. My first look of Venice was at the break of dawn, coming down from the Eurorail (which traverses most of Europe). I fell in love with Venice then, with its castles all aglow with golden light. Now I know why; the castles and old buildings are lined with gold (mosaics, marble, et al).
The book’s main plot revolves around a mad genius scientist who argued that there was no way the world is going to survive if the population growth remains at its level of exponential growth, and that a serious purging was the only way the world can survive. Does he want to do a Hitler, who murdered hundreds of thousands of Jews? No. He argued to the World Health Organization (WHO, which figures prominently in the book), that the Black Plague, which killed practically half of the population, was the best thing that ever happened to mankind: it spawned the Renaissance Age, where art and science flourished and gave mankind the meds to prevent all sorts of fatal diseases.
As you have probably deduced, “Inferno” is an RH propaganda (unintentionally). And Dan Brown’s figures, if correct, are a scary look at our future. Too many people, dwindling resources. And that is how Manila figures as the gateway to hell. I thought at first that the picture of the City of Manila as a smelly place with people living in extremely small spaces, squatters living under the bridge, men with criminal intent, 6-hour traffic… the works, was exaggerated. On second thought… And Dan Brown wasn’t even talking about Manila under water!
So, yes, Manila could be a gateway to hell, but if former President and now Manila mayor Erap Estrada and Vice Mayor Isko Moreno had their way, in three years’ time they could invite Dan Brown and give him a tour of Manila as a gateway to heaven. And I hope to God they succeed.