The lost voice of the right hand

I was scrounging through the papers yesterday, hoping to find some good and encouraging news out of the hard times that have befallen our land. Out of the human tragedy of Wowowee came the natural tragedy of Leyte. (But was it really "natural", when the general degradation of the environment has caused the soil to loosen and cascade after two weeks of relentless rain?)

Well, there was the help coming from across the world, sending goods, men and machine in rescue effort. That is good news.

The other day, Fil-Am Brian Viloria won his engagement against his Mexican rival (whose country, by the way, also suffered a tragedy with 65 or so of their miners also trapped underground). On the local scene, I noted that in Orophil's 25th anniversary celebration, Councilor Ana Marie Palermo was beaming bright and beautiful with the Orola family, with Congressman John beaming brighter still just above her in the picture. That was refreshing also, almost as if love is in the air.

On the other hand, there was the arrest of Lt. San Juan, renegade elite soldier who turned against his own government for unabated corruption. I surprised myself that I was saddened by his capture. Of course, rebellion is against the law, and coup d'etat is a crime.

But soldiers who have been willing to lay down their lives for their flag and country, and leave behind wife and kids, but who all of a sudden turn around and risk their lives against the government they used to serve, usually have stories to tell. Stories of idealism, courage, patriotism, and anger for things wrong. That is why I feel sad that he had to be captured and handcuffed when we probably have to do that to more than half of our government officials in the land.

But there was one thing that gave me real joy, and that is we are beginning to hear again the lost voice of the right hand. Let me explain:

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The right hand is generally recognized as the stronger hand. So that when someone is called the "right hand" of another, it means that he is the implementor, the confidant, the disciple of someone important, someone influential . If that other one is a great man, the right hand man usually imbibes the values, the strength, the character of the principal whom the right hand has the opportunity serve.

Yesterday, we heard again the voice of the loyal right hand. Bishop Socrates "Soc" Villegas, diminutive and humble right hand man of the late great Jaime Cardinal Sin, is re-emerging from the shadows. Assigned to Balanga (with all due respect and apology, where is that again, please? - in Bataan - ED) after the death of the brave Cardinal, slammed politicians for "raping" the memory of the peaceful people power revolt.

Comparing politicians to "pimps and rapists" who abandon their victims after getting what they want, Bishop Soc lambasted the non-celebration of the historic event by the powers-that-be.

He minced no words, unlike some of his peers who are so careful and who want to sound so politically correct. There were no ifs or buts to his statement, no second-guessing, no gray area, no room for interpretation. Black is black and white is white. Listen to his words again:

"The hope of our nation is not in the politician-beneficiaries of people power. They have betrayed the trust of the people. We drove away Ali Baba but the forty thieves have taken over! It is very sad. It is very disheartening."

I would rather have one bishop like him who speaks that way than a thousand who would like to be very careful with their words. Listen to him again:

"The innocent youthful beauty of people power has been raped. People power is the victim, not the culprit." How correct! No, he is not exempting the people from the indictment, for he said "the aim of people power is change of heart -conversion. We changed presidents but forgot to change within."

"People power, raped by politicians, is ready to stand up and start anew. May God spare people power from immoral politics." Whew! It has been sooooo long that we have heard words like these again.

Thank God for the voice of the right hand. The right hands have changed history. From Joshua (right hand of Moses), Elisha (right hand of Elijah), John Mark and Timothy (right hand of Paul), the right hands have their place and role in history.

Thank God Bishop Soc is emerging from the shadows. Thank God for the voice of the right hand! Perhaps something will change in the land!*