If the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) weren’t a religion, today’s event (benignly described in an Inquirer report
as an “outreach project”) would surely constitute what may be a unique
peace time civilian invasion of a major capital city. The anticipated
scale of the INC’s “medical mission” was such that it prompted Manila
mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada to suspend all college-level classes last
Friday and the Department of Education (DepEd) to issue an even later
eleventh-hour advisory on a decision to suspend classes in major
affected cities in the Metro yesterday (Sunday). According to the Inquirer report, the DepEd announcement came on the advise of Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino…
“I am proposing a floating holiday which is normally done abroad, particularly in the United States. In this case, employers allow their workers to take a leave of absence with pay whenever they wish to attend religious activities,” Tolentino said Sunday on MMDA’s weekly radio show.
The MMDA chief also explained that apart from the INC project, there are important occasions for people of other faiths that employers should also consider this week.
“Tomorrow is the start of the pilgrimage to Mecca of our Muslim brothers. It is also the eve of their Eid’l Adha, which is an important day for them. Today, members of the Roman Catholic Church observe the feast day of Our Lady of La Naval and Our Lady of Fatima,” he said.
As of this writing reports have started trickling in of buses and
jeepneys full of people (presumably INC members) coming into the city
and parking along major thoroughfares snarling traffic flow in the
process. Some reports have estimated that up to 1.6 million people may
be engulfing Metro Manila over the course of the day. It is likely that
much of Metro Manila will be effectively paralysed for the rest of the
day.
Some people have noted the bizarreness of this latest religious
extravaganza. The question of whether this event which significantly
impacts access to public areas within Metro Manila had been issued the
proper permits is floating around. And if so, it begs the obvious
question: Why was the MMDA evidently unprepared for this? Others have
described this spectacle as a “show of force” masquerading as a
“charity” operation. One thing is certain, the interesting timing of
this vast and paralysing mobilisation of warm bodies in the Philippines’
premier city — its centre of commerce and industry — is not lost in
many observers.
The INC has always been a force to reckon when it comes to mobilising
blocs of compliant voters and activists to support political positions
and agendas decreed by its leadership. Just about every one of the most
controversial presidents who’ve ever ruled this sad nation had at one
time or another found favour with an INC top honcho…
Rather than elaborate further, I will instead illustrate my point with a brief history of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) religious sect:
1986: The INC supports President Ferdinand Marcos over then leader of the “Opposition” Corazon Aquino (Noynoy Aquino’s mother).
1998: The INC supports Joseph “Erap” Estrada’s successful bid for the presidency.
2004: The INC endorses Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in her campaign for President of the Philippines.
2010: The INC endorses Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas as future President and Vice President of the Philippines.
Perhaps what the real agenda of this “charity” event really is will be revealed at some point. For now, as always, we shall defer to the very relevant advise of our favourite kapamilya media outlet:
Abangan ang susunod na kabanata…
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