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I am Cebuano, and that is something no one can take away from me. I am proud to be from Cebu, and that pride grows stronger each day. And yet, when I make statements regarding Cardinal Vidal, those in disagreement, especially fellow Cebuanos, interject when I criticize the beloved Cardinal. They ask for my skepticism, and I must retort back, where are theirs? Are there not enough anomalies in The Arroyo Administration to turn even the most skeptical into a believer? Is not the 2004 elections proof enough? Is not the prostitution of our land in exchange for favor from Beijing something that we should all be infuriated over?

I am a Cebuano, but most of all, I am A Filipino. Don’t let this discussion be about Manila versus Cebu, it is about corruption, always has, always been.

As I have said in my comments from my previous article, there need not be a written order from The Cardinal, his actions are orders enough. I’m glad that Manuel has tackled the same point in his most recent article, “The Interdiction Of A Witness“, where he says,

When Cardinal Vidal was criticized for supposedly issuing instructions to the clergy to deny the Mass to Jun Lozada, the Cardinal denied ever issuing such instructions. I believe him.

Undoubtedly no memorandum was ever signed—but then again no one ever said the instructions had been given in written form. He didn’t need to issue any instructions, because his past actions are as unambiguous as any human act can be. For when he allowed Remonde to address the assembled priests of the archdiocese, approved the handing out of a government-prepared primer on NBN-ZTE, forbade petitions and interceded for schoolteachers with the President, the clergy knew right there and then on which side their archbishop stood—and assumed they’d be expected to act accordingly.

No need for instructions, no need for prohibitions; once Cardinal Vidal showed partiality his priests took the cue: and as subordinates tend to do, probably with greater zeal than the Cardinal ever imagined. It wouldn’t surprise me if perhaps a priest or two, to salve his own conscience, maligned his Cardinal by whispering to angry nuns that they would not say Mass because the Cardinal said so—when he only implied and was never explicit about denying anyone the Mass. This is how our culture works: the boss winks, and everyone beneath him does the nudging.

Actions my friends, certainly do speak louder than words, and in this case, much louder than any memorandum or issuance of any order could ever do. Orders have paper trails, actions need not stand the scrutiny, but can always be spinned in the direction that any Public Relations Officer relays to media and the people.

Again, Jun Lozada is no hero, stop emailing me about that point. I understand, I get it, and I agree.

To the individual who was improperly “escorted” out of a forum in San Carlos, let your voice be heard. And again, please stop emailing me, I understand, and I agree he should not have been treated that way.

But, let’s stop dancing around the real issue. Let’s go back to Malacañang and the shady deals that can only profit the Arroyo Administration. China, for all the growth they are experiencing, has closed its eyes to the poor nations that it deals with, The Philippines included. Where is Sudan and Myanmar now, are they not in a situation that continues to exist because of the need of China for their natural resources? Is this the future we want for The Philippines? I need not elaborate, but only wish to make a point. There is a great tragedy happening in front of our eyes, and that goes far beyond Jun Lozada, he is only but one man, who chose to tell his story.

But the story of The Arroyo Administration is playing out right in front of our very own eyes, my dear friends, There in that Palace lies the bigger enemy in our midst.

I don’t apologize for my statements regarding The Cardinal, they are what I feel. My dismay, I cannot hide. But my love for that man still remains. He is my Cardinal, and I am a Cebuano. This is my home, and for this reason, I shall not allow The President herself to make a political mockery of the church for her own political gains. Cebu is a great part of The Philippines, and as a Cebuano, there need not be division as to the attacks against The Cardinal, that is his stand on this issue, and however dismayed I am, I can only respect his wish, but it need not be my own. After all, The Cardinal is still human, and as humans we are still subject to our own opinions and convictions. That goes the same for any other Cebuano.

Keep the skepticism, it is all we have, lest we become a mob with only a single mind.

But bare in mind, skepticism must be sprinkled around, not just on Jun Lozada, but as well as Arroyo herself.

tags: arroyo administration, cardinal vidal, cebu, Rodolfo Jun Lozada