Araw ng mga bayani / National Heroes’ day

Gestern Sonntag stand in der Zeitung, dass in Manila ein neues Museum eröffnet wurde. Darin ist eine Gefängniszelle nachgebildet, in dem Friedenskämpfer während der Zeit des Martial Law (Ausnahmezustand/Kriegsrecht) von 1972-1986 gefangen gehalten wurden. Die Leiterin des Museums Carolina Malay sagt: „Wenn du Kinder hast, was willst du ihnen erzählen? Wie erkennst du, dass diese Zeiten wieder kommen? Was ist das Wichtige, um das martial law zu überleben? Was willst du tun, dass so etwas nicht wieder passieren kann?

Mich erinnern die Zeilen an die Zeit in Europa während Hitler, Auschwitz und den heutigen Methoden von Mobbing (Harassment) und wie man die Wahrheit unterdrückt und verfolgt.

Letzte Woche traf ich Bischof Francisco F. Claver. Er war ein energischer Kämpfer für die Unabhängigkeit, Freiheit, Frieden und Gerechtigkeit während der Marcos Zeit zwischen 1965-1986. Ein weiterer Führer zu mehr Demokratie und Frieden war der hier berühmte Kardinal Sin, der vor zwei Jahren gestorben ist. Und nicht zuletzt muss man den berühmten Benigno „Ninoy“ Aquino nennen, der ermordet wurde, als er das Flugzeug in Manila verlassen wollte, das ihn aus seinem Exil in den Vereinigten Staaten zurück brachte. Er soll einmal gesagt haben: Was nützt mir ein friedliches Leben in den USA. Ich gehöre zu meinem Volk.

Im Gespräch erzählte mir Bischof Claver, „dass sie viel gelitten hätten, während dieser Zeit“. In seinem Buch „Die Steine werden es herausschreien“ (Lk 19,40) sind Predigten aus jener Zeit. In einer sagt er, “wir haben immer völlig offen gesprochen (und nie etwas verborgen) und wir werden weiterfahren so zu handeln. Das ist unsere Verfahrensweise, der wir von Anfang an, seit der Zeit des martial law, gefolgt sind. Und es meint die Wahrheit immer auszusprechen, auch wenn es zu Konflikten mit der Methode führt, wie die Behörden die Wahrheit unterdrücken.“ In einer anderen Predigt sagt er, dass die Menschen (und damit auch die Kirche) unter der Verfolgung leiden, wie sie bedroht und belästigt werden, wenn sie nicht mit der Regierung gemeinsame Sache machen.

Francisco Claver ist für mich einer dieser Helden, der wir gestern und heute gedenken. Die Schüler haben heute Montag im Gedenken an die Opfer dieser Zeit schulfrei. Hoffentlich vergessen sie es nicht, dass dieser freie Tag mit Blut und viel Leiden bezahlt wurde. Hoffentlich vergessen die Menschen in Europa und überall auf der Welt nicht, womit ihre Freiheit und ihr Wohlstand bezahlt wurde.

Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino on 500 Pesos note and Francisco F. Claver, Bp em. Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe

Araw ng mga bayani (english)

Yesterday we celebrated the National Heroes day (araw ng mga bayani). Bayani is a word that comes from bayan, which means country, town, land etc. The heroes in fact are people from its own country. In the news I could read, that there is a newly opened museum in Manila in which is a prison cell of some heroes. Activists against the situation during Marcos time and martial law were fighting for Peace, Independence, Freedom, and Justice. Carolina Malay, head of the museum said in an interview: “If you have children, what will you tell them? How do you recognize that it’s going to come aground again? What is it that’s important to know to survive martial law? What will you do so that it won’t happen again?”[1)

I truly recognize the situation, which I studied in lectures, held by Prof. Dr. Clemens Thoma, SVD in Switzerland and many others about the Second World War, concentration camps in Auschwitz etc.

Last week I have been meeting Bishop Francisco F. Claver. He was one of many energetic fighters for human rights during Marcos regime in 1965 till 1986. An other leader for more democracy and freedom of the people was Cardinal Sin, which died two years ago. Last but not least of fighters for the independence was the famous Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, which started the people’s silent protest on EDSA-Avenue in Manila. He was shot as he left airplane in Manila when he came back from his exile in US. Ninoy Aquino said once: Why shall I have a fine life in US – I belong to my nation.

During the conversation Bishop Claver told me: “you know, we suffered a lot in that time”. In his book “The stones will cry out” are some speeches from that time. In one of this he said: “We have operated completely in the open and we will continue to do so. This is a policy we have followed from the very beginning of martial law, and it means speaking the truth out at all times, even when it leads to conflict with the government’s policy of suppressing truth.”[2] The people and therefore the church have been suffering a lot under the persecution and the harassment of this era.

Francisco Claver is for me one of the heroes, which we have been celebrating yesterday and today. The students have a day off today because of this memorial. I hope they will think on the suffering and the blood the heroes paid for. Hopefully people in Europe and all over the world will not forget how their Freedom and Welfare has been paid.

[1] Philippine Daily Inquirer, Sunday, August 26, 2007, A1,A6

[2] Claver, Francisco, F.: The Stones will cry out, Orbis Books, Maryknoll, New York, 1978

National Day Celebration

August first is the National Day of Switzerland. A day which mostly all of Swiss people in the world are celebrating. Kaya I decided to make a small celebration and to invite some Filipinos. When I was running around to organize food and to buy a cake in the palengke (market), I realized I was maybe one of the first Swiss doing this in the world. People in Switzerland were still sleeping at that time. Here it was already after 8am – but in Switzerland people were still sleeping at 2am. Six hours difference is still enough to be the first bird in the morning ;-)

Our Celebration was really halo-halo (mixed) of Swiss and Pinoy style. I was cooking Swiss Älpler Magronen. But of course with Pinoy ingredients. For myself I don’t need really Swiss cheese. The Philippine cheese is good enough. I had no Swiss cake of course. Also to bake a Zuger Kirschtorte was completely impossible, because of lack of this finest liquor. So we enjoyed the Pinoy cake. I estimate the food was quite good. There was also a bottle of wine. Nearly all of the invited people were attending this celebration with also modern Swiss music. It was just twelve midnight when I went to my bed. In Switzerland people perhaps were just starting their celebration.

I really enjoyed this special Swiss-Pinoy celebration. It was like to share a feeling, a taste, an idea of the own country to each other. I remember June 12: Independent Day of the Philippines. We were celebrating together too. And some Filipinas were telling me, that I encouraged them to be proud of the own nation and to celebrate in an own cultural way. It’s a way to show how much we appreciate our roots!