By Yolanda Ortega Stern – President Emeritus, FPACC

In the wake of the irreversible damages brought by the cyclone of the century to the Philippines, Manny Pacquiao is about  to return to Las Vegas to fight Catto. His photo in TIME and the write- up in the Sports Section of the New York Times all but make him the savior of the boxing industry. Scores of Filipinos are planning to go to Las Vegas to cheer this genuine product of General Santos. In the New York Times article, he talks of leaving his home because his father “ate my dog”.

I woke up today thinking that if only India could produce “Mahatma” Ghandi,  only the Philippines  could  produce a Manny Pacquiao.  Manila, General Santos, and Las Vegas are caught up in the Manny wave. For now, the aftermath of the cyclone and other typhoons are temporarily forgotten. Nillions of dollars are going for the match.

Then news came early of the beheading of the young Christian head teacher who was kidnapped in Jolo last October. It made me ill. Having just vicariously gone through the kidnapping of a nephew’s wife who spent more than 7 months under captivity, I knew that money or the lack of it may have played a role in the beheading. Or is that all?

Someone I recently met in Manila told me, “We are a country of liars.  We sing and dance and pretend that we are all happy and fine when underneath it all we are all rotten to the core!”  My own eyes , ears, and even my own heart have played tricks on me countless times, and even my wallet has been victimized by untruths.  But a life devoted to confirming the truth can be a very interesting life.

“Who did the beheading?” I texted  some Tausugs. I got many different answers but all of them gave me the names that were already in print media and TV.

“Why?” I texted back.

“The family could only raise P150K instead of 2M”. This was also information in print media and television.

I am reminded that there is an Irish priest in captivity. Accusations and counteraccusations between the MILF and the GRP representatives are flying in print media and TV. This administration has had its share of handling kidnap cases.  It knows that those who kidnap can also deliver. It also knows that if there is ransom to be paid, it is to be divided between all participants.  In-between, you just work at keeping the victims alive.

The GRP wants the MILF to rescue the priest with drums not guns and those drums from Lanao are big enough to send signals.  Why not the MILF who claim control over the territory? Is it true the beheading is in retaliation for the arrest of an MILF commander who was on his way to Mecca?  Could this one person have beheaded all those marines in Basilan or was it his command responsibility? The MILF leadership is naturally upset at the accusations if they are indeed false. But how does one arrive at the elusive truth?  Hello Mindanoaons! Does anybody know?

There should be a sign at the International Airport that says, “WELCOME TO THE LAND OF PUZZLES”. Nobody knows the real answers to questions and nobody knows the truth from the lie, not even the courts. Witnesses can be killed and informers are not taking advantage of the multimillion dollar rewards on the heads of the Most Wanted posters. Victims of crimes are fearful of testifying. It is not clear what the US mission is in the Philippines, and it is generally not so clear what the Philippine Military Missions are in Mindanao. It is not clear even why the Filipino soldiers are barred from entering the US military compounds and why a Filipino military officer is often not properly addressed by his title by a US serviceman. There are many in the Philippine military who consider US servicemen “bastos” for disrespecting their commands or their  territories. And the US assertion that “we will let the country dictate what we should be doing here” is a warning cry that they are getting mixed signals. The two militaries do not see eye to eye on the ground and it is not clear what the young Filipino soldiers are dying for. This dichotomy can also be said about the MNLF and the MILF as well as the Philippine Legislature.  Professional rivalry impedes mutual cooperation and can destroy even a good home.

The Philippines is a top down society like India, and in many respects, similar.  This chain of command is broken by provinces, municipalities, towns, baranggays. The rest are local superstitions, omens and signs. The local shamans are doing brisk business foretelling and dispensing advise and answering riddles and treating illness via all sorts of vitamin pills and mediums. But the dam breaks loose often to reveal a people capable of violence, often after much meditation and prayer.

Chopping a head off, a shot to the heart, a fatal blow to the head, rape, assault of all kinds - the police blotters are full of unsolved violent crimes committed in high and low places.

Is the Philippines a country in control?  What would the people have the government to do?  I will canvass the opinion mills and have answers for you in the next of this series.

An Opinion Column. This does not reflect the thoughts and opinions of FPACC or its members