There is an abundance of faith healers in the Philippines like nowhere else in the world. To be sure, many of those who have claimed to be able to heal have been proven to be hoaxes. And many of those who were healed might have been suffering from some psychosomatic malaise. Still in all, there is still such an overwhelming number of medically authenticated of lame people who have been able to walk, cancers that have gone into remission, intractable illnesses that simply disappear and incurable conditions that have been declared totally cured to doubt that true healing has taken place.
Filipinos are among the most cynical and critical of people – specially when it comes to their political leaders. And yet, the faith of the Filipino has always impressed me no end. Fr. Horatio de la Costa, in his famous essay “Jewels of the Pauper”, writes that the Philippines, impoverished though it may be, has two precious treasures – faith and music. The whole world knows that many young world-class singers today are from the Philippines. And one visiting the Philippines is likely to be impressed by our religiosity and deep abiding faith.
This gives me hope and keeps my faith in my God and my people. We are going through a most divisive junction in our history. And things look like they will get worse before they get any better. But I am hopeful that through all the divisiveness and the anger and hate I see today, this nation will one day come together to sing and to pray.
The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.