Aklanons are silent about it, yet a vast majority knows about it. Local Mass media has kept its mouth shut, except perhaps for a few. But this is not because we are approaching the Holy Week.  Mysterious Silence but perhaps respectful and conscientious fear that it could also happen to each of us or some of us have received unwittingly the loot, in good will and perhaps in good intention of the giver. Is Aklan undergoing a self purification? Although we are not in a habit (unless perhaps of some mud sliding and black propaganda of some decades ago) of doing calumnies, slander and intentionally destroying the good name of the person. I believe, this is not an inherent in the decent Aklanon culture. Perhaps a petty gossip here and there exists but an organized calumny or bearing false witness is a not a habitual agenda in the Political scene. But this kind of silence is quite mysterious.  

On the other hand, facts and facts.  There are those who forwarded a renewed and clear political moral uprightness in the affairs of Aklan. They should be encouraged. Lifestyle check, political and economic transparency are necessary in any good governance and service for the Aklanons. This a necessary condition to a good political platform. Patronage system to the point of vote-buying should be outmoded by now. Political dynasty is also a cancer in the present and future political scenario in Aklan.

As people of good will we are also very grateful to the office of the Ombudsman headed by Conchita Sereno Carpio, whose leadership in this governmental office should be independent of any political affiliation, one continues to desire and monitor that it should be.  

Here and elsewhere, morality should rule: the deep sense of what is right and what is wrong, otherwise there will be no renewal. Relativism – where right and wrong is determined by what is good only for certain individuals or groups – has entered not only in politics and political judgments but also in the church. This time of reflection and purification, which passes through a pain expressed and articulated through a deafening silence, could lead us into certain clarification of moral truths, justice and of what is good and beautiful.

In fact, the church has a share in this relativistic mentality. The present leadership in the diocese seemed to justify years before the “yes” vote for the immoral and infamous RH Bill. The reason forwarded was to let Aklan receive the development funds that is deserved as purported to be. However, I knew in first person from the previous leadership of the diocese, Bishop Reyes, the then president of the Episcopal Commission of Family Life who resigned due to his failing health after the visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines, that if the two Aklan representatives voted for a “no” vote, there could have been a suspension due to a fifty fifty vote with other decision of absention from other from other congressmen. He suffered a lot because they promised to give a negative vote. But the dye was cast, and it is not the time to cry over spilled milk. Yet we have succumbed to the temptation of relativism: that what is true is what is convenient and good to the province even with the guise of the common good of Aklan without minding the many infant and fetuses’ death due to contraceptives encouraged by RH Bill. No, it was a mistake. What is morally evil is morally evil. Even the adage: “blood is thicker than holy water” does not hold any water.

We are happy of the voices here and there and whispers perhaps said in dining tables, in restaurants or in public places, re-establishing what is right or wrong and affirming what is just and unjust. Though we don’t need to be harsh in our judgements we need to adhere to truth and justice especially if it is truly and authentically documented.  

On the other hand, perhaps we are all victims of a system infected not only by a relativistic mentality but also by the idolatry of the God of money. Someone said, two thousand years ago, to a sinful woman: let those who have not sinned cast the first stone! We could intuit that in one way or another, even the scale in the market place of a tricycle driver and even and stole fees of our churches, could be infected by a certain proportionate injustice.   

This silence seems to tell us that perhaps the Aklanon do not wish to cast the first stone, condemnatory as it could be. Instead it is for us to reflect on our personal life and our political life. Enough is enough, A lot of beloved Aklanons have suffered in silence since what is due to them has not been granted but ended up elsewhere.  

This could be the propitious time for self reflection, healing, purification and renewal in our religious and civic life in our beloved province of Aklan. As a people, we could together raise our prayers to God our loving and merciful Father and allow all of us to start all over again – in the right track.