All Under One Heaven

It's a New Year and after a few weeks of rest, Dinagyang Fever is on! It’s an event that most of the Ilonggos are waiting for. I'm proud to be an Ilonggo because of this event, normally I would sell Dinagyang to those who hasn’t experienced it yet. Many people think that it is a religious affair, but I see it otherwise, for me Dinagyang is a cultural event, although the heart of the celebration is in honor of our Patron Saint Sr. Santo Niño. Okay, I take back what I have written a few sentences ago it is both cultural and religious affair. But it doesn’t mean that a religious organization would limit their members not to watch such event. Think of it as a cultural presentation, a cultural contest, surely, Filipino as we are, we are proud of our rich culture which distinguishes as from other countries. I don’t want to sound nationalistic about this but I don’t see the reason why you can’t go and watch Dinagyang. I may sound against your order but this is what I feel about the situation and whatever beliefs that you have I gladly accept it and honor it. I know that you do it for the greater good and for discipline and above all for God. Let’s not forget though that your God is my God too, though we praise and follow Him differently. Let’s not forget we are all under one sky, all under one moon, and all under one heaven (--,) and governed by only one God! (--,)

Reminds of a story that i have heard from one of the sermon of Fr. Balete on a requiem mass, the story goes like this; (If my memory serves me right, we were having a mass with people who have different religion)

“There was once an Elephant and three blind men, the blind men approach the elephant with eagerness to know what is the amazing thing that an elephant can offer. And so the first blind man approaches the trunk and said “hmmm, the elephant is widest thing I’ve ever felt.” The second blind man heard what the first one said, and began approaching the elephant on his tusk. “Whoa,” says he, “but the elephant is the sharpest thing that I have ever felt.” Upon hearing different version of the two blind men, the third approaches the elephant on his tail with enthusiasm. “I bid to disagree” he said, “but the elephant is the longest thing I’ve ever felt.” There was misunderstanding among the three blind men. No one was really sure if who among them was right, although they were referring to the same elephant.

For me the moral of the story is that although we all have different religion, we praise and we value the same God who loves peace in this world. All the three blind men rely on their perception and on their senses to know what an elephant is, in the same way we rely on our faith and on our religion to know who God really is. But the bottom-line that I would like to reiterate is that everyone is right on their way and on their own understanding. We serve and we follow the same God who loves us all and that is all that matters. (--,) This is how I see things I could be wrong but you have to admit that I do have a point right? Some thoughts to fonder...