Dear friends,

I wish you all a merry and peaceful Christmas!
I’m writing to you all not only to greet you this holiday season but also to let you know what’s been going on. My uncle was supposed to spend Christmas with our whole family, as he promised. He was supposed to be in our house last Thursday, Dec 21 but he never came. None of us could contact him. His cell phone was dead. Reports came to us that he was abducted.

My uncle is Cesar Batralo and he is working as a National Democratic Front Consultant (NDF) of the Philippines and he’s working for the peace talk to resume between the government and the left wing. “The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) is the formal united front of the organizations of the basic forces of the revolution, comprising of the working class, the peasantry and the urban petty bourgeoisie.” (http://home.casema.nl/ndf/index.html) Although it’s a legal group, the group is often categorized as leftist or anti-government and therefore treated as the enemy of the state or worse, they are considered terrorists.

Our President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, declared a ceasefire since, according to Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon Jr., “This is simply a Yuletide gesture.” Although the suspension of military operations against the New People’s Army (NPA) should take effect on Dec 24, Dec 25, Dec 30 and January 1, there should be no reason why my uncle should not be home for Christmas. There’s no reason why he should be abducted.

Since Friday, we’ve been searching every military camp and police station to know if he’s there. But we can’t find him and we are so worried. However, a militant group called KARAPATAN (English translation: RIGHTS) is helping us to find my uncle. “KARAPATAN is the major and most militant human rights alliance in the Philippines. It is made up of human rights institutions and the rights desks of people's organizations, and the regional and provincial HR formations all over the country.” (http://www.philonline.com.ph/~krptn/index.html). Our family only got acquainted with them when we started searching for my uncle. There are more than 60 of them from KARAPATAN. They told us that it’s much safer for our family to have a bigger force than going around camps alone. They said that there were families who were detained as well and they were trying to protect us from that situation. Since, the group is composed of the human rights activists, militants, and the grassroots, our pictures were taken at the camps as if we are on a “wanted list.” The military and the police are on red alert whenever there are militants as they suspect them as NPAs. Aside from the photos, my family was fairly treated but they were on guard with the militants. I felt bad for the militants because they have been very supportive and good to us. A lot of them are my uncle’s friends too; and their stories about my uncle only make me more proud of him. He is loved not only by his family and friends but the mass as well.

Our family only wants to know where he is. If the government thinks that he’s committed a “crime”, then let him undergo a due process.

I am writing to all of you because our family needs support and prayers. I am writing to you because a few more hours and Christmas is over and our uncle is still not with us. I am writing to you because I wish and pray that none of you will experience what our family is experiencing now. We all work for peace, justice and human rights, I hope you’re one with my family.

Compassion in Progress
A few months ago, I went to Chiang Mai , Thailand to participate in a workshop on Buddhism, Feminism and Peace Building . The workshop is composed of 15 participants from 8 countries around the globe. Although I am baptized as Catholic, Buddhism is not alien to me. Sitting down in a lotus position or walking in meditation has the same charm as mindfully eating the body of Christ or drinking His blood. Whenever I attend the mass, I make sure that I’m focused and practicing noble silence.
However, it is to my surprise how strong the female face of Buddhism is (knowing that all dominant religions are patriarchal), and how asserting my rights as woman is in line with peace building process.
In the activities that we do, there is always a discussion—an analysis—on why this results to this and not the other way. We are always asked what we feel and then what we think. We share everything with our buddy, then with our family group then with the whole sangha (community). It is very important to have an integration of the body, the mind and the heart, and the self, the partner and the group in everything that we do. Whenever we bow to the Buddha in the meditation hall, we have to touch (with our hands in prayer) our forehead, our lips and our heart, and then “kiss” the earth. We have to do the ritual 3 times to remind us that peace, liberation, freedom or enlightenment can only transpire if one is complete—if the body, the mind and the heart are one.
It is not difficult to be one or to be in unity with the self and the rest of the community since the people around me are walking on the same path. But the kind of Buddhism I learned is called, “engaged” Buddhism. This means that I cannot leave the teachings and practice in the mountains of Chiang Mai and announce to the world that I have been enlightened and found peace. I have to carry it with me and bring it wherever I go. I have to bring it back to the Philippines , to San Pablo City . I have to practice compassion to people who are less fortunate to have it, to people whose minds are narrowed by their own biases, and whose hearts are hardened by the pains and sufferings they’ve incurred in their lifetime. How can I teach them the art of letting go without getting a raised eyebrow? This reminds me of the teaching of Master Choa Kok Sui, “Do not expect other people to live by your standard. Remember not everyone is like you.”
It’s tough and it’s getting tougher everyday as I hear them whisper behind my back, maliciously spreading rumors. In reality, there will always be people whose existence lies in their insecurities and pride. It’s a fact that I have just learned to accept. The words of Master Sui, again, reverberates, “Be very grateful to people who are nasty to you! They help you evolve!” I must admit, I lose myself once in awhile but I’m glad I can always go back to my breathing—the measure of my existence, of being here. Breathing reminds me of mindful walks and the song that has become my mantra:

Now I walk in Beauty
Beauty is before me
Beauty is behind me
Above and below me
I wish more people can experience what I experience so they may realize what I realize—positive energy is not hard to carry and compassion is definitely not hard to share.