A date with history

By Gonzalo Duque

 

WE had already touched down at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Wednesday, but our short stay in Russia – yes, we were in the President’s official talk with his Russian counterpart President Vladimir Putin.

Our wild expectation to loiter and savor things Russian and hobnob with key Russian officials as part of President Digong’s entourage did not come to pass. You already know why; the President cut short his supposed 3-day sojourn because of the bloody Marawi problem back home.

But it was worth it… our unscheduled, sudden return home.

It was worth it, why? Because we saw at close range the reality of a leader whose heart and soul were for his beloved constituents, his country.

The memory of that short tour of Russia, its grand Legislative building, a splendid, historic scenes and sparklingly clean surroundings and masterpieces of architecture are still in our mind.

We were so impressed with the importance accorded by President Putin to us, particularly President Digong. Though on official business with some Russian dignitaries in another occasion, President Putin saw to it that he was able to squeeze his precious time for our President. What was slated for a 10-minute talk lasted an hour and 20 minutes!

It was sunny when we were there.

But there was utter gloom in President Digong’s heart… we could feel it… because of the bloody Marawi incident.

Forthwith, he, exercising his presidential authority, did a historic act far away from home. He declared Martial Law for Mindanao to decisively quell violence and breakdown of law there.

Behold your President, aging, concern written all over his face, but was moving sprightly for country and for those hurt and bruised by terrorists.

While in Russia, we wondered what our leaders back home would be doing about the carnage in Mindanao. Thoughts of then Evangelist Willie Almeda flashed across our mind. Fired by his concern for fellow Filipinos during President Gloria’s time, he took his evangelical group to the hinterlands in Mindanao to convince the Abu Sayyaf to stop their terroristic activities.

What happened? The evangelist and his group were pounced upon by the terrorists, herded as prisoners, and the pitiful reverend’s evangelical mission collapsed!

We just thought: can Bishop Soc Villegas approximate what Rev. Almeda attempted to do?

It’s reeking with danger tho… how about it, people?

Too brief a trip, but historic… not for the Russians, but for us Filipinos, who have seen it all, a national leader who is devoted to country and people.

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime one could see first-hand a true patriot doing his work in a foreign land, whose mind, heart and soul were wholly in his native land!

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