the Bible's Exodus story and La Islas Filipinas

Some chronology first.

Adam and Eve. Then, Noah. Then Abraham. Then, Isaac. Then, Jacob. Then, Joseph. Then, Moses.

Between Joseph, the Dreamer, and Moses, the Ten Commandments, is 400 years.

And in that 400 years, Israelites, God chosen people transformed to become slaves of Egypt. In all that 400 years, they were enslave not only physically but also mentally. That when the time came for them to be free men, courtesy of God and Moses, they needed another 40 years in the wilderness.

So, what has that got to do with us, Filipinos.

For one, we were enslaved by the Spanish Conquistadores for over 300 years. They enslaved us because they wanted spices. Yes, the things we put on our food. Like Aji Ginisa Mix. Think about how highly we were regarded :- )

And of course, they needed supplies to strengthen the dreaded Spanish Armada.

And during this time, we were transformed from a proud race of Lapu-Lapu and of Sultan Kudarat to Indios.

So, now what?

Well, the Israelites had to learn certain things. God taught them by the miracles they experienced. Think parting of the Red Sea and the manna from heaven. But even with this, the Israelites still insisted in going back to Egypt and be slaves again. Why? Well, they do not know anything else other than be slaves.

Which is also, sadly, true to us Filipinos.

We are still Indios.

We rather have aid rather than trade. We rather be slaves to the homes and offices of the 1st world. Is this all we know?

I know the President is only doing her job when she goes out of the Philippines to seek aid. I know that. I believe that.

But I hope she also knows that because of this, we, are not respected as a race. I had a recent rubbing with a white man. He was surprise that I can actually think.

If Israel had the parting of the Red Sea, we have our Edsa of 1986.

Israel still sinned even though they saw the Red Sea part. Think, worshiping a golden calf.

And we, the Philippines still have our Erap experiment. We still have our Oakwood and Manila Peninsula Mutiny. We still have our ZTEs. We still have our Euro Generals. We still have our Fertilizer scam.

I guess, the over 300 years of being an Indio does not disappear overnight, like in 20 years.

Serious, I think we are learning what it means to be a nation. We have to know, really know, what is right and what is wrong. I just hope, and pray, that we do not go the path of how America became a great nation. I hope we do not go the path of how France became a great nation. If one follows history, both countries went to civil war.

And if you read, deeper, they were lifted from their quagmire because the Spirit moved.

I hope and pray, that when the Spirit moves to the East this time, He does not have the same movement and imprint like in the west, which was civil war.

"Lord, lead us to path everlasting..."

I am not an Indio. I am a Filipino!