OF SUBSTANCE AND SPIRIT

It was exhilarating, that experience to see the fabled rice terraces of the Cordilleras. Years ago, we managed to do both the western and eastern sides of Northern Philippines. In Ilocos Norte, we were just simply amazed at the beaches of Pasuquin and Pagudpud. They’re pristine, so unspoiled then. In Tuguegarao, Cagayan, it was in-structive to visit Callao Cave in Peñablanca which houses the oldest known remains of an early human species. But we would always miss out on the middle region of the Cordilleras now consisting of Abra, Apayao, Ben-guet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province. As former deputy governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and chair of its Numismatic and Currency Management Committees, we shepherded the transition to the new generation bank notes in 2010. We recommended and the Monetary Board approved, among others, the placement of the Cordilleras’ rice terraces on the reverse side of the ₱20 bank notes. But the sad part of it is that while we researched on and knew volumes about this living cultural heritage, we have not had the time to actu-ally appreciate the magnificence of our very own rice terraces. They’re like Apple smart phones, both neat and functional. They’re just incredible. So, without hesitation, we accepted the invitation of various churches in Isabela and Ifugao, and spoke about the role of the church in nation transformation last week in Santiago, Isabela. Bro. Cezar Arceo, a retired BSP officer himself, revealed the Lord’s assurance about the forthcoming release of material resources upon the Philippines. It was a rare opportunity for our Touching Heaven Changing Earth (THCE) Movement for Nation Transformation to share our thoughts and on the side, visit one of UNESCO’s legendary cultural heritage sites. We launched THCE at the PICC in September 2005 with various servants of God and business partners who shared the common vision of His plan for the Philippines. In that inaugural conference, we recalled various pro-phetic declarations made in the past, some as early as 1992, that the Philippines would be experiencing eco-nomic breakthroughs. Since then, we have seen signs and wonders, with the Philippines growing steadily for over 20 years. God has blessed us with a series of game-changing policy and structural reforms that have con-tributed to our impressive economic growth. Based on the Scripture, the church has a role to play in nation transformation, a big word indeed, perhaps a little heavy on the plate. Mandated to preach God’s word about righteousness, truth and justice, the church could unquestionably be the light and salt through evangelization and discipleship, and its active involvement in the marketplace. Noth-ing should prevent the church from espousing righteousness in government, opposing corruption and excesses in the bureaucracy, as well as demanding competence and honesty among public servants. The church should be a partner of government in nation building. The Santiago event must have been the 50th after PICC between 2005 and 2019, before we retired from public service. THCE has partnered with about a thousand churches. After the pandemic, we held the first THCE confer-ence in mid-September 2022 in Dipolog City at the invitation of the churches in Zamboanga Peninsula through former Zamboanga del Norte Governor Roberto Uy, himself a Christian. This was followed by the THCE in San Fernando, Pampanga last March 2023. More are in the pipeline. THCE, driven mostly by retired BSP officers and their respective churches, is self-funded. We contribute to our mission fund from our own pockets. We pay for our air fare, hotel accommodation and conference facilities. We have never charged participants and invited guests for the spiritual food that we share. After the Santiago THCE last weekend, we drove to Ifugao and Mountain Province to see some of the region’s high rice fields that blend with the contours of the mountains, that to UNESCO reflected “a landscape of great beauty that expresses the harmony between humankind and the environment.” These historic wonders actually cover a broad area with some five clusters of the most preserved and im-pressive terraces in four municipalities of Kiangan, Hungduan, Mayoyao, and Banaue. We saw the Mayoyao rice terraces after we spoke last Sunday at the Bible Christian Fellowship along its ridge. The cluster features houses and granaries on the side of the rice paddies to avoid generalized community fire and to ensure closer steward-ship. We also saw both the Bangaan and ampitheater Batad terrace clusters in Banaue, and they were simply breathtaking. If Greece and Rome had their ampitheaters, ours was more functional because they provided live-lihood. To us ordinary mortals who did not have to contend with the harsh mountain realities, carving those terrac-es in the steep contours of the Cordilleras and fortifying them with a complex of stone or mud walls is just as impressive as building the pyramids. Pyramids were built on level ground. In addition, our highland forefathers developed an intricate irrigation system to bring water from the forests. They have more to share on water man-agement and flood control. Most revealing, our rice terraces should teach us that their building and maintenance could not have been done individually. They were whole-of- community efforts. Cooperation enabled vast accumulation of knowledge of biological resources in Ifugao, reading lunar cycles as proxy to times and seasons. Our forefathers knew about zoning and planning as well as pest control more than 2000 years ago. It is the beauty of learned communal system of rice production and working with nature that is the wonder of our rice terraces. But the reduction in the workforce with urban migration and the breakdown in watershed forest management now threaten the future of this cultural heritage. Both the church and the government should join hands in protecting and pre-serving this “living cultural landscape.” Nation transformation involves not only sustained and inclusive business and economic activities, but it also demands re-newed mind and spirit.