Ngayong linggo ipinagdiriwang natin ang Pambansang Linggo ng Biblia. Bakit nga ba? Sino bang nagsabi na gawin natin ito? Sa katunayan, hindi naman ito isang pagdiriwang na pinasimulan mismo ng Simbahang Katolika, bagkus ay pinasimulan ng pamahalaan sa pangunguna ng dating Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos, at saka inamyendahan ng mga dating Pangulong Corazon Aquino at Fidel Ramos, at ng kasalukuyang Pangulo, Rodrigo Duterte.
PROCLAMATION No. 2242
DECLARING THE LAST SUNDAY OF NOVEMBER AS BIBLE SUNDAY AND THE WEEK FOLLOWING AS NATIONAL BIBLE WEEK AND EVERY YEAR THEREAFTER.WHEREAS, it is a policy of the State enunciated in the Constitution that the government shall aid and encourage the development of the moral character and personal discipline of the people;
WHEREAS, certain activities pursued in the exercise of religious freedom contribute to the attainment of this goal which should receive the encouragement and support of the government upon the condition that all religious sects shall be accorded the same priveleges and opportunities;
WHEREAS, the Bible has been recognized by both Christians and non-Christians alike as an exellent source of principles for the development of moral character and personal discipline;
WHEREAS, Christian churches throughout the country celebrate Bible Sunday every year to encourage the reading of the Holy Bible as an instrument to develop moral character, personal discipline, understanding and unity among our people;
WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that national attention be focused on the important role played by the reading and study of the Bible in molding the moral fiber of our citizenry.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the first Sunday of Advent as Bible Sunday and the week following as National Bible Week and every year thereafter under the auspices of the Philippine Bible Society and other involved organizations.
I encourage radio stations throughout the country to air Bible readings everyday during the week.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.
Done in the City of Manila this 19th day of November, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-two.
PROCLAMATION No. 44
AMENDING PROCLAMATION NO. 2242WHEREAS, it has been unanimously agreed upon by the members of the Philippine Bible Society, Inc. Board that the observance of National Bible Week and Bible Sunday be held at a time when there are no other celebrations or activities to make the celebration more exclusive and meaningful;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the last week of January, 1987 as National Bible Week and the Sunday ending as Bible Sunday and every such week and day of every year thereafter as such National Bible Week and Bible Sunday, under the auspices of the Philippine Bible Society, Inc. and other involved organizations.
I urge radio and television stations throughout the country to air, and the print media to feature, Bible readings everyday during the week.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.
Done in the City of Manila, this 21st day of November, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-six.
PROCLAMATION No. 1067
DECLARING THE LAST WEEK OF JANUARY OF EVERY YEAR AS NATIONAL BIBLE WEEKWHEREAS, it is a policy of the state enunciated in the Constitution that the government shall aid and encourage the development of the moral character and spiritual foundation of the Filipino people;
WHEREAS, certain activities pursued in the exercise of religious freedom contribute to the attainment of this goal which should receive the encouragement and support of the government upon the condition that all religious denominations of whatever persuasion shall be accorded the same priveleges and opportunities;
WHEREAS, the Holy Bible is recognized by both Christians and non-Christians alike as an exellent source of life-giving principles to develop a values-oriented, morally strong and socially responsible citizenry;
WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that national attention be focused on the importance of reading and studying the Bible in molding the spiritual, moral and social fiber of our citizenry;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the last week of January of every year as National Bible Week.
This supersedes Proclamation No. 44 dated November 21 1986.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.
Done in the City of Manila, this 26th day of August in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety seven.
PROCLAMATION No. 124
DECLARING THE MONTH OF JANUARY OF EVERY YEAR AS NATIONAL BIBLE MONTH CULMINATING IN THE LAST WEEK THEREOF AS NATIONAL BIBLE WEEKWHEREAS, the State recognizes the religious nature of the Filipino people and the elevating influence of religion in human society;
WHEREAS, while maintaining neutrality in its treatment of all religious communities, the government is not precluded from pursuing valid objectives secular in character even if it would have an incidental result affecting a particular religion or sect;
WHEREAS, the 1987 Constitution calls on the government to support efforts to strengthen the ethical and spiritual values and to develop the moral character of the Filipino people;
WHEREAS, history bears witness to the profound impact of the Bible on the life of nations, and to how it has moved and inspired many people, including statesmen and social reformers, to work for the betterment of their fellow human beings even at great cost to themselves;
WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper, for the molding of the spiritual, moral and social fiber of our citizenry, that national attention be focused on the importance of reading and studying the Bible;
NOW, THEREFORE, I RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the month of January of every year as National Bible Month, culminating in the last week of January as the National Bible Week.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.
Done in the City of Manila, this 5th day of January, in the Year of our Lord, two thousand and seventeen.
Kinikilala ng gobyerno ang kahalagahan ng pagbabasa at pag-aaral ng Biblia, subalit tungo sa anong layunin?
- Sa Proclamation No. 2242, ang layunin ay "molding the moral fiber of our citizenry."
- Sa Proclamation No. 1067, may mga nadagdag: "molding the spiritual, moral and social fiber of our citizenry." Gayon din ang sinasabi sa Proclamation No. 124.
Bakit kaya kinailangang idagdag ang espirituwal at panlipunang pagpapahalaga? Tila may kinalaman dito ang nasasaad sa umiiral na Konstitusyon. Sa panahon ni Pangulong Marcos, ang itinataguyod ng Konstitusyon ay ang "moral character and personal discipline." Sa Konstitusyon ng 1987, kasama na sa mga itinataguyod ang "spiritual foundation," "ethical and spiritual values," atbp. Ito'y mga layuning maganda sa pandinig, pero ano bang paliwanag dito ng mga pangulong naglabas ng mga naturang proklamasyon? Para sa kanila, ano bang sukatan ng isang taong may moral, espirituwal, at panlipunang pagpapahalaga? At mabisa nga bang nakakamit ang mga layuning ito sa pamamagitan lang ng pagbabasa at pag-aaral ng Biblia? Sa totoo lang, nauunawaan ba nila ang mga pinagsasasabi nila?
Ano bang gusto ng gobyerno na gawin natin tuwing "National Bible Month"? Ang tanging binabanggit ay ang panghihikayat sa mga istasyon ng radyo at telebisyon at sa iba't ibang print media na magtampok ng mga pagbasa sa Biblia araw-araw sa buong panahon ng pagdiriwang. Kakatwa, dahil kahit walang panghihikayat ng gobyerno, dati na itong ginagawa ng Simbahan, at araw-araw pa nga sa buong taon, hindi lang tuwing Enero. Araw-araw ay may Banal na Misa, at alam naman nating ang mga pagbasa ng Biblia ay isang mahalaga at permanenteng bahagi ng ating mga pagsamba at debosyon mula pa noong kapanahunan ng mga Apostol magpasa-hanggang ngayon. Ganyan din sa mga pagsamba at pagtitipong ginagawa sa ibang mga sekta. Maliban na lang kung sadya kang magbubulag-bulagan o magbibingi-bingihan, o kung lubos mong tatalikuran ang Cristianong Pananampalataya at permanente kang maninirahan sa isang malayo at liblib na isla, kabundukan, o kuweba, hindi mo magagawang takasan ang Biblia sa iyong pang araw-araw na pamumuhay. Namumuhay tayo ngayon sa isang bansang lagi ka na lang may maririnig o makikitang Bible verse, sa ayaw mo man o sa gusto, napapansin mo man o hindi.
Kaya nga ang tanong: Sa kabila ng laganap na presensya ng Biblia sa buhay nating mga Pilipino, bakit parang wala namang pagunlad sa ating mga moral, espirituwal, at panlipunang pagpapahalaga? Ang daming sumusuporta sa diborsyo, bagama't letra-por-letra na ngang nasusulat: "For I hate divorce, says the LORD, the God of Israel" (Malachi 2: 16 NABRE). Binabalewala natin ang pagkakaroon ng kabit, pagtatalik ng mga di kasal, homoseksuwalidad, paglalasing, atbp., gayong tahasan na ngang sinasabi: "Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6: 9-10 RSVCE2). Sa Facebook, ang daming mga mahihilig magdebate gamit ang Biblia, at karaniwan na sa kanilang magmurahan, magbintangan, magsiraan, magbantaan, atbp. Kung hindi naman tayo nagagawang mapagbuti ng Biblia sa kabila ng di matatakasang presensya nito sa buhay natin, ano pang pakinabang ng pagkakaroon ng "National Bible Week" o "National Bible Month"?
Hindi ko maiwasang isipin na ang mga naturang proklamasyon ay pawang pagdadamit-tupa lang ng gobyerno, at ang talagang layunin ay ang magbait-baitan at magkunwaring kaibigan ng Cristianismo, habang dahan-dahang nagpapatupad ng mga imoral na batas at programa. Kung talagang kinikilala natin ang kahalagahan ng Biblia, bakit hindi isama ang Bible Study sa curriculum ng elementarya, hayskul, at kolehiyo? Bakit kay dali lang para sa gobyerno na limitahan o ipagbawal ang pagsisimba, gayong sa Banal na Misa binabasa at naipaliliwanag nang maayos ang Biblia? Bakit may mga pinunong naluluklok sa katungkulan kahit lantarang imoral, lantarang kumakalaban sa Simbahan, lantarang sumasalungat sa mga aral ng Biblia? Hindi ako laban sa pagkakaroon ng pambansang linggo/buwan ng Biblia, bagkus laban ako sa paimbabaw na pagdiriwang nito.
Ang landas ng kabutihan ay hindi lang tungkol sa pagbabasa at pag-aaral ng Biblia. Ang pagpapahalaga sa Biblia ay hindi naisasagawa sa pamamagitan ng mga walang kapararakang pagsasangkalan ng mga pinili, wala sa konteksto, at sinaulong taludtod. Balewala ang pamamahagi ng mga Biblia kung wala namang kalakip na tamang pagpapaliwanag. Walang saysay ang mga pagpapaliwanag, kung hindi bubuksan ng Panginoon ang isip ng taong pinagpapaliwanagan. At sayang lang ang biyaya ng katotohanan, kung wala ka namang kababaang-loob at paninindigan na tumalima rito. Sa likod ng tila mabuting layunin ng "National Bible Month" ay ang mga nagkukubling kamalian ng Sola Scriptura, kapaimbabawan ng mga pulitiko, at mababaw na konsepto ng pagiging "mabuting mamamayan."
"We can get to heaven without reading the Bible. If that were not so, then people who are unable to read would be in a very hopeless state. If it were necessary to read the Bible in order to get to heaven, most of the people who lived before the invention of printing (over five hundred years ago) also would find heaven closed to them."LEO J. TRESE
The Faith Explained (3rd edition), p. 559
DISCLAIMER:
Ang iyong mga nabasa ay pawang sariling pagpapaliwanag ko lamang bilang isang indibiduwal na Katolikong layko batay sa aking sariling pagkakaunawa sa mga aral ng Simbahan, at sa gayo'y hindi dapat ituring na opisyal/pormal na kapaliwanagan ng Simbahang Katolika, at hindi rin kumakatawan sa panig ng alinmang samahang pang-Katoliko. — MCJEFF