The acronym B.S. has several meanings. Bachelor of Science is one, while the more common one stands for something foolish or rubbish in colloquial language. We say “B.S.” in response to a remark that we think is not believable or credible. For instance, someone famous once said “B.S.” when the US space program in the 1950s committed to land man on the moon. Fast forward five decades, some of my countrymen were saying “B.S.” when the notion of a Marcos coming back to power in the Philippines was mentioned a decade after the Marcoses fled the country in light of the 1986 People Power Revolution. Hence, the tagline “Never Again” was introduced as a reminder to all Filipinos that Martial Law or a Marcos dictatorship should never be allowed to return to the country.
Disgraced yet still influential, members of the Marcos family managed to slowly make a comeback—first in their bailiwick in Ilocos, and then in Congress. Unperturbed by his defeat in a vice presidential race in 2016, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is now on the cusp of holding the same position that his father held for 20 years. If the elections were held today, the tagline “Never Again” may have become nothing but B.S.
But one pastor once said that B.S. can also stand for Belief System or Blanket Statements. According to Steven Furtick, people say or do things based on their B.S. For instance, close to a century ago, US military organizations may likely have said never to women joining men in combat. Such was the prevailing position back then due to the Belief System of most people in the Army. Soldiers need to be men only. The prevailing B.S. back then was that women had less physical and mental toughness—attributes necessary in a fighting unit.
Same-sex relationships were practically unacceptable before, tracing them back to biblical times. These days, some countries have even adopted and legalized same-sex unions. I suppose said blending was called B.S. then inasmuch as the concept of a heterosexual relationship was a solid part of the US Constitution by way of the Fourteenth Amendment. How same-sex marriages came to be in all 50 US states is a much longer story.
Bottom line: what happens if the “never,” as in women in the military and same-sex unions, becomes “now”? What happens next when #NeverAgain becomes #Now in a matter of months? It appears to be a very bleak proposition but is bound to happen unless something short of a miracle prevents a scion of a dictator from being the 17th President of the Republic. Some of my lawyer friends are frantically gathering financial support for the opposition while my colleagues in the military are interestingly supporting candidates against Marcos, albeit anonymously. The other contenders’ campaign team should be in panic mode. Last time I checked, survey ratings put Marcos way ahead with points greater than all the points of the other candidates combined! After all, Marcos has the name recall, the political pedigree, the war chest presumably from his family’s ill-gotten wealth, the nationwide machinery, and such an organized propaganda machine that even some of my more knowledgeable contemporaries have come to believe the narrative peddled by the Marcos campaign team. Voting can be difficult amid the pandemic, which makes the casting and counting of ballots subject to human frailties. The sanctity of the electronic counting machines remains suspect. Worse, should election issues be presented to a higher body, after the vote, members of such a tribunal may not have the fortitude to go against the wealthiest presidential candidate. If you asked me 30 years ago if the Marcoses can return on top of the totem pole, I can easily retort “B.S.” as in “No Way,” relying on my Belief System decades ago.
Be like Martha, so I was told. In the Bible, John 11:21-22 gives us the context as to the story of Lazarus rising from the dead. Martha said to Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Now this brand of Martha faith gives us the confidence that we can ask and pray for, even for the seemingly impossible! The numbers are foretelling —Marcos can win by a landslide if the other contenders cannot boost their ratings. Many have suggested that some contenders, especially those who consistently garner single digit survey ratings, should abandon their presidential bid and cast their support to others who have better chances of beating Marcos. The Church has been doing its share of promoting values and attributes needed for a leader, in its subtle way of campaigning against Marcos. I am not sure if these efforts will be enough.
Be like Martha! In response to her faith-filled statement, Jesus said to Martha, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” (John 11:23-24). Then came the most compelling verse that tells believers to follow Jesus—“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (John 11:25). What I learned from my pastor cousin based in California is that God will give us whatever is asked whenever we acknowledge His presence, subject to His will. We can make life’s choices based on our free will and live with the consequences of our decision. While our loving God knows the desires of our hearts, He knows what’s best for us and when to give it. My free will today tells me to actively campaign against Marcos with the understanding that I may not get the results I want in the end. I urge others to do the same—to engage, educate, and inform those in their communities about the values needed for a leader. This country needs someone who’s not afraid to face the truth or correct the falsity of a story, in a debate or otherwise. This country needs a leader who places the interest of the people above his own, to the point of admitting fault of his own family. This country needs a leader who will genuinely serve the people and not talk B.S. in the colloquial sense, fabricating stories and revising history in the process.
Such is exactly what my friends Ross and Andy do in their own little way. They freely engage every person they meet who they think need greater awareness beyond what the Marcos propaganda tells them. They politely engage all—colleagues at work, security guards, waiters, servers, household helpers, neighbors, family and friends! For Ross and Andy, posting or sharing stories on social media is not enough as they have set their personal stake on the line. So, I encourage those espousing #NeverAgain to exert these kinds of “up close and personal” efforts as done by Ross and Andy reinforced with some Martha-like prayers.
In the end, the challenge lies not in consolidating our focus on the things that are visible—like surveys and propaganda. We should keep our eyes on the One who is eternal, and stand on His promises that never fail. For even our choices are subservient to the will of our Heavenly Father, as we become conscious of the truth that He knows what is best for us and for our country, and no one can ever love us more than He can.
Certainly there is hope for this country, even with a Marcos presidency. If God wills it, then He will allow such “B.S.,” the Never Again to be Now! And if and when it happens, we just have to trust in His plans. Like women in the military now and same sex marriages, these B.S. years before turned out for the good. Either way, be like Martha!
A former infantry and intelligence officer in the Army, Siegfred Mison showcased his servant leadership philosophy in organizations such as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Malcolm Law Offices, Infogix Inc., University of the East, Bureau of Immigration, and Philippine Airlines. He is a graduate of West Point in New York, Ateneo Law School, and University of Southern California. A corporate lawyer by profession, he is an inspirational teacher and a Spirit-filled writer with a mission.
For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.