‘Awa,’ anger, and action amid storms and scandals

Recent typhoons and earthquakes have set alarm bells ringing across the archipelago. Typhoon “Tino” (Kalmaegi) passed through the Visayas, leaving hundreds dead. Supertyphoon “Uwan” (Fung-wong) swept from Batanes to Bohol. The storm left most of Luzon and the Visayas waiting for four days. While not the monster storm expected, it still greatly impacted eastern Luzon.

In most conversations, especially with young ones, the introductory clause has been, “Sa awa ng Diyos.” This will be followed by an account of how an ordeal has been overcome. Fisherfolk whose livelihoods have been hampered by storm surges, residents living in low-lying areas, farmers whose crops have been inundated, and the ordinary Filipino trying to live by—most will say they have pushed through with God’s mercy.

In the Catholic religion, the belief is that God is the God of infinite divine mercy. In fact, according to the liturgical calendar, the Sunday after Easter Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday. With our country introduced to Catholicism the moment Spanish explorers set foot on Homonhon Island, we have been accustomed to God’s mercy. In every escape from death, in every individual victory, God’s mercy, awa, has been playing its part.

It’s a shame that this has not been extended to the nation as a collective.

With the recent explosive scandals involving the use of public coffers, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines called for a “National Day of Prayer and Public Repentance” with a prayer titled “A National Cry for Mercy and Renewal.” The prayer is replete with contrition, often reserved for repentant seasons, such as Lent and Advent. One of the 10 Commandments, often observed from the lens of personal offense, is now viewed as a collective—the sin has been so grave and evil that we need to repent as a country.

That’s the mercy Catholics seek. The awa that knows no bounds. This is in stark contrast to self-pity. Self-pity is often seen as degrading as it allows oneself to look internally, self-reflect, and still choose to look lowly of oneself. It’s resigned hopelessness before the peak is reached. But the realization comes after the status quo can endure no longer. The inflection point is reached as self-pity reaches its peak. It should either drive one to indignant action or continue loathing oneself. I prefer the former response.

Amidst the finger-pointing between officials in the executive and legislative and the slow mill that is the judiciary, when will we start pitying ourselves with the bottomless pit we are now stuck in? Two ”Trillion Peso” rallies after and still no apparent justice in sight seems to have boiled the pot even more—anger seems to be turning into rage, but still no pity in sight. It is correct to be angry. But blind anger without a sense of where we are going, the pity that allows us not only to put blame but to examine ourselves and drive the emotion toward action, will keep us hooked to the cycle that exploits the poor and enriches the bloated rich.

More than self-pity and seething anger are those whose lives were worse off just because they were not accorded the opportunity that only a few are given. There is no excuse for plunder of public funds, for it not only robs those who pay taxes but also strips away the dignity of those who have none in the first place.