Chapter
31
With Ake
& Kikki Svalfors, Visited the
King’s Palace & Sweden’s Parliament in Sessions
I stayed with Kikki and Ake Svalfors in their home during my 5 days visit.
That Sunday, October 1, 1989, I joined
the worship service at Bromma Baptist Church. I preached. Earlier, Rev. Olof Lindstrom told me
I will preached at Bromma. Bromma Baptist was a big church, not only of its members but of its
economic, educational and socio-political involvements they adhered to.
Bromma Church has sent missionaries to some countries of the world – Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The missionaries helped worked for strengthening of the people’s spiritual faith and lives. They missionaries also worked and helped in
the social, economic and political change in the communities they were working.
To help support their ministries, they have a restaurant nearby and a
students hostel, which help provide income for their ministires. They may have
other enterprises to support their ministry. They supported also our
ministries in Aklan, in Central Philippines.
I shared my
message to the church that morning. Their was a big attendance. There were also
some 6 people from Estancia, Iloilo who came to Bromma Baptist Church
after hearing, I will come. They were now living in Sweden and would
like to know how were their relatives after Typhoon Undang hit northern Iloilo in
1984. Ake Svalfors has prepared a
presentations that will be made that Sunday afternoon.
That morning, I reflected on the life, the
situations and the works of Jesus. I tried to recover the years of Jesus life
from his 13th year to possibly his 20th year.
Jesus first 12 years of life was a struggle.
Starting with his birth in the manger. Their escape with his father and mother
to Egypt for fear of the armies of King
Herod, the dictator of the time.
The order of King Herod to kill all children in the Kingdom,
who were 5 years old and below, was
very, very hard for the parents.
I think, Jesus witnessed the political situations in
Judea and Galille. He have seen, when
he was still very young from about 10
years old to 20 years, young people and adults, arrested by the Emperor’s
army, imprisoned and some crucified or tied on the cross until the die. We have seen
pictures of a thousand crosses,
on the highways, with rebels and dissenters tied on the cross or crucified.
They died of thirst, hunger, agony and pain.
That was how capital punishment were
done in Jesus time. Crucifixion or hanging on the cross. Those were brutal, but
bloodless executions.
But Jesus may have gone outside Galille and Judea. And
perhaps, the desire of knowledge and skills and experiences, brought
him outside of Judea, as some books said, of the “Silent Years”. Jesus visited other countries of the world. There were stories of his days in
India. There it was said, he sent St. Thomas to start the Christian ministries in India. There, in India, St. Thomas lived, worked and died in India.
The Mar Thomas Church in India was
witnessed to St. Thomas ministry in the
Indian continent.
There were reports that he went England and
Tibet. These seem to be revealed on Jesus knowledge of almost everything. He
have seen and experienced like in different places in Judea and perhaps in
other parts of the world.
His historical and knowledge seem to reveal wide exposures that
made him a powerful teacher and preacher of his time.
I would like
to think that the situation in Jesus time under the rule and tyranny of the
Roman Empire and the tyranny of the local Judean elites. The lives of the
people of Judea, during King Herod’s time, show semilarity with our situations, and struggles for equality, freedom and justice. In our country.
To illustrated
these, I would like to share my
story and my struggles.
“ I am a son of carpenter and a farmer. I also joined my uncles in fishing. I learned
fishing in my early life. I was born
a few
months before the Japanese attacked our country in 1941. Our people
fought, together with Americans. But they were defeated. I was told, more than
60,000 Filipino and American soldiers, were forced to march nearly 100 kms., to
Capas, Tarlac.
Many soldiers died in the hard and tyrant march from thirst,
hunger and hot sun. In our history, that was called the “Death March” and seem
to be the only country during the 2nd World War, where “ Death March’ have happened.
The Japanese ruled our people after the Philippine and
Americans soldiers surrendered. The
ruled us for more than 4 years. I lived during the war in a far flung town,
at the northern end of Panay Islands. I heard the tyranny of the Japanese. How
soldiers were killed. And even, women and children were pierced with bionets
and killed.
I learned
the Baptist faith in my childhood
and youth. I was brought by my
grandmather to the Baptist church when I was 3 years old. We walked 2
kilometers to church Sunday mornings and back at noon. A lay Baptist woman
leader, thought my grandmother the Baptist faith.
I also learned
the rudiments of the Seventh Day Adventist faith in my childhood. My mother was an Adventist.
She brought to the Adventist Church every Saturday. We were in the church the
whole day Saturday.
I am now a Baptist pastor. I was influenced to be a
pastor and preacher by my uncle, who was a prominent pastor and evangelist in
his time.
“In college, I
studied first in the biggest Baptist
University in Iloilo City and worshiped in Jaro Evangelical Church, where the first 20
members were baptized by Dr. Eric Lund, the first Swedish Baptist missionary to
the Philippines under the American Baptist
Missionary Society. Dr. Eric Lund, worked together with Pastor Braulio Manikan,
a Filipino who was converted in Sweden by Dr. Lund. I was a working student for
two years. I worked for my tuition and for my daily needs.
Then, I ventured to Manila. I studied in Manila and worked
as Proof Reader in a national newspaper, Philippines Herald. After about 2
years, I resigned. I was employed as as News
Editor by Agence France Presse ( French News Agency), Manila Bureau. At AFP, I
worked for about 2 years and resigned. I
decided to join a labor union and help
organized workers and work for social and political change.
Even, then I
felt, the national newspapers were
mouthpieces of big business interests in our country. The major purpose was business, and strengthen the elitists powers and holds in the life of our country.
In late 50’s,
the liftist and the liberal democrats
were living and working together to help bring change in the social, economic and political life of the country.
But in 1946, after the 2nd World War, President Manuel Roxas, under the direction of
the United States, specially Gen. Douglas MacArthur, declared as illegal the
Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (Communist Party of the Philippines), despite
the fact, that PKP has helped much in fighting the Japanese during the war. The
5 Communists and Socialists Congressmen were forced to leave Congress and
went underground.
The
strengthened their movement and fought
the government in a “civil war” that lasted for many years. Since that time,
until 1967. the Communists and the Armed Forces of the government were fighting
in a war, killing thousands of our
people.
By this time, the Comunnist movement has greatly
weakened. The capture and imprisonment
of Jesus Lava, Chairman of the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP) and the surrender and imprisonment of Jose Taruc, the Supreme Commander of the
Hukbalahap has weakened the communist movement.
In 1968, Jose
Ma. Sison and his friends and revolutionary partners, with some members of the
Kabataang Makabayan (KM), re-organized the Communist Party of the Philippines.
The considered the old communist party (PKP) has weakened. And the new CPP was now to lead the
revolutions. They organized the New People’s Army in March 1969.
“In 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos, declared Martial Law, and put our country under his rule.
It was the darkest time
in our country’s history. Majority of the leaders in government –
Congress, both the Senate and the Lower House,
the Supreme Court, the Press and Media, most of the Political opposition
were silenced. They bowed down under
Marcos martial rule.
“Some of our people -- the nationalists, the communists, the New People’s Army, the
Moro Liberation Movement, the Christians
for National Liberation, the KM, the Women's Group Makibaka, and other movements for transformation, joined
and fought President Marcos martial
rule.
“One day, the most powerful man in our country,
President Ferdinand Marcos was thrown
out of power, under the movement headed
by a woman, Corazon Aquino, in 1986. He was thrown out of power by the people, but he was rescued
by the United States President and exciled him to Hawaii, the United States.
“We were under
a new president, Corazon Aquino. We thought there would be changes in the
social, economic and political situations in our country. We looked for some great
changes. But none came. The same people, who ruled the
country with President Marcos, ruled the country after he was overthrown.
They were headed by Defense Secretary
Juan Ponce Enrile, the architic of martial law and Constabulary Chief Gen. Fidel Ramos. They ruled the
country, until 2016.
They told
stories of a “ peaceful revolution” in
the Philippines, in 1986. It was not a revolution. It was a big event, a strong upheaval. It caused the
overthrow of the hated President. But never a revolution. There were no
substancial changes in the social, economic and political life of the country.
Under the
situations, we went on with our works. We continue to involved in the task of the task of educating, training, organizing
and mobilizing our people for the work of change. But it’s really hard. The
country was ruled by a group of elites and oligarchs, so rich and powerful,
that they controlled the country and continued
to bleed the economy.
“We were leaving in a society where, 70 percent of the
people mostly poor farmers, fishermen, sugarcane workers, many under-employed and unemployed-- were living
in dire poverty. Only 6 per cent of the Filipinos have finished four years college degree recognized by the government. 64 per cent has
finished only six years of elementary education.
Twenty 24 per percent has never gone to school. 7.7 per cent were considered rich. And .03
per cent considered the richest. They belong to the 64 richest and powerful families who ruled the
country through the years. These was one of the
glaring difference, between your
society in Sweden which I saw in my
short visit and ours in the Philippines
“Our
faith in the Lord Jesus,
sustained and strengthened us in
the darkest time of our lives as individuals and as a nation. It sustained
us in our struggles in the past, and will continue to be with us in our struggle for the future.
“We are happy
that Sweden was blessed by God with
peace. You were not touched by the 1st World War that destroyed countries around you. The 2nd World War did not reached you, even it other countries near you were heavily
affected and destroyed.
And revolutionary forces did not succeed to
reach your country as it did many countries in the world, including ours.
These was God’s blessing to your people.
And for that you must be thankful. God bless you, my friends!”
After, our worship service, we went to another big
room at the book of the church. There was a big space with a Lectern. Some
70 people can set around. There was a canteen. And food were prepared.
Anyone can buy lunch while the Open Forum was held. There were some questions. Several families, who
were from Estancia, Iloilo came. They asked the situations of their families in
Estancia, Iloilo. Typhoon Undang hit Estancia very, very hard. Many died.
And small houses in Estancia were blown down.
I told them the situations in Estancia, Northern
Iloilo and North Eastern Panay were heavily affected. But slowly, the
situations has improved. The country joined hands with partners around the
world, including partners from Sweden to help victims of the disasters. They
were able to build their homes, they were able to plant their crops and fruit
trees again, the startedto plant herbal
plants to serve as their medicine. They
were standing again!
In 10 years time “from 1970’s and 1980’s thousands
of volunteers, including youth and teenagers from both the urban and rural
areas, joined the militant organizations.. The movement become strong in
different areas in the country. By 1989
there was a developing crack in the NPA movements.
The crack continued to expand. Efforts were made to
heal the problem. The revolutionary movement
of the CPP and NPA was was now devided.
It was devided to several groups. And the movement that was hoped to bring the
needed revolutionary change in the near
future, was greatly weakened.
On October 2, about 9:30 A.M., Ake Svalfors
accompanied me to see the the Royal Palace
of the King and Queen and their children, the Drottningolm Palace.
These was the real residence of the King and Queen. It
was a beautiful palace. The King’s
palace was secured by the Royal Guards of Sweden. They
protect the Swedish Royal Family.
I saw only two uniformed Royal Guards
near the King’s Palace that day.
We walked near the palace. I hoped, to see the King and Queen
strolling around. But no! They did not stroll around. They were busy with their
daily activities. King Gustav XVI and
Queen Silvia may be doing their
official duties. And the children were perhaps, in school.
But it was great time, to see the Palace of the King and Queen Sweden.
That afternoon, I went with Ake Svalfors to the
Riekstag, the Swedish Parliamant. I cannot remember anymore how we reached
the Rickstag. I think, we just walked from the King’s Palace to the to
the Rickstag. We were there that afternoon walking among buildings. Along the way to the Parliament, we passed the houses of members of the Swedish Parliament. The houses
of the Members of the Parliament were beautiful houses. But these were not palaces.
They were not
big. Just ordinary houses, mostly two
story houses. The members of the Swedish
Parliament were living in ordinary
homes. Not the kind of big houses
and palaces that the Philippine Senators and Congressmen lived -- big and
beautiful houses surrounded with high cement
and hollow block fences. The members of Swedish Paliament were living in
respectable homes, but ordinary homes. The homes, near the Parliament, were not even
surrounded with fences.
We entered the Parliamant about 2:30 PM. Ake
talked to the officer nearby. We were ushered inside. The
Parliament was in Session.
I sat in one of the few vacant seats at the back. I sat beside Aki. He will, if possible, translate in whisper, what were spoken and discussed.
There were 9 political parties in the Swedish Parliament – the Social
Democrats, Moderates, Sweds Democrats,
Green Party, The Left Party which include
the Socialists, Communists and Feminists and the Liberal Christian
Democrats. These were the political parties that passed the laws of the land.
The Communists, the
Socialists and Feminest have joined
together in a kind of coalition as
the Left Party. They participated
in discussions and decisions on the laws that will led and direct the life of the nation. In Sweden, the Communists were fighting their
causes thru the Parliament.
I listened to the
Members of the Swedish Parliament discussed
issues that afternoon. I
tried to
listen hard. They were speaking on Swedish language.
Ake translated and summarized to me what was spoken by the Parliament in Session.
Later, Ake said to me. “The members of the Parliament will now speak there
final words. Each speaker,
representing his Party, will speak
before they cast their votes.
Each member recognized, will
speak for 5 minutes only. No more.
After all have spoken, they will
make decision. They will cast their
votes by secret voting.” That afternoon, the Paliament made the vote.
It was a simple way of making
decision. I thank Ake Svalfors, for helping me see the workings of the Swedish Parliament, even for just two hours.
I did not knew the results of the votes. But I have seen, the simple methods
how, the Swedish Parliament made decisions, leading the country with the laws
they promulgated.
I asked myself. Was this methods of decision making possible,
in a society like Philippines were decisions were made by less than
1 per cent of the most powerful and richest people in country?
When, I was with
Agence France Presse in Manila, often I was
sent by our Senior Editor to cover the Philippine Congress – both the
Lower and Upper House.
I’m used to seeing Congressmen
and Senators at work in the Philippine
Congress. Filipino Senators and Congressmen were the most wealthy in the country. They were mostly members of
the 1% families, the composed the richest people in our country.
And, I could not remember a time, when a Senator or
Congressman were told by the Speaker of the House or by the Senate President, to speak only for 5 minutes. That was before 1969.
That evening I saw, on TV
His Highness, King Gustav XVI of
Sweden. His pictures was flashed on the TV Screen during the evening newscast.
I looked at the King. I tried to look into his eyes. I would like to see
his eyes as he spoke. I think, the Swedish King lives a simple life. One of the
news was summarized to me by Ake Svalfors.
He said, “The King
was requesting the Parliament to
add a little to his
family’s monthly honorarium
or salary. Their children were now growing -up and they need a little
more money for their needs, daily expenses and needs of the children.”
That’s it! The King of
Sweden, asking Parliament to add a little
to his salary as the children were now growing and need more for their expenses. President Marcos
never thought of doing that during his
term as President –asking Congress to
increase his salary as expenses for
family needs were growing. Wny? They have
so much!!
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