Sunday, May 8, 2022

MAHALIN AT IGALANG ANG IYONG INA: The Darkness of Lorenzo Legarda Leviste





MAHALIN AT IGALANG ANG IYONG INA

(Love and Respect Your Mother)
The Darkness of Lorenzo Legarda Leviste

        Most of the world celebrates the second Sunday of the month of May as Mother’s Day. This celebration originated on May 12, 1907, when Anna Maria Jarvis (1864-1948) held the first Mother’s Day service of worship at the Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia, U.S.A.

        In the Philippines, a different origin can be attributed to the Ilocos Norte Federation of Women’s Club. In 1920, they petitioned for the declaration of the first Monday of December as Mother’s Day to honor “the women who brought forth God’s children into this world.” In response, acting Governor-General Charles Emmet Yeater (1861-1943) of the American colonial government issued circular No. 33 declaring the celebration.

        On November 27, 1980, President Ferdinand E. Marcos (1917-1989) issued Presidential Proclamation 2037, officially declaring the first Sunday and first Monday of December of every year as “Father’s Day” and “Mother’s Day,” respectively. In 1988, under the regime of Cory Aquino (1933-2009), the dates of celebration were changed to coincide with American traditions – the second Sunday of May for Mother’s Day and the third Sunday of June for Father’s Day – letting go of the Pilipino heritage. In 1998, President Joseph Estrada returned both celebrations to the first Monday of December.

        On my part, I would rather follow the Pilipino tradition of the first Monday of December. Current events, however, prompted me to write this article seven month ahead of schedule.


        Most recently, many of us heard and read the news about a son, Lorenzo Legarda Leviste, publicly disowning and maligning the refutation of his mother, former senator Loren Legarda. This he did just because his mother joined the Marcos-Duterte UniTeam. This shocked and angered many people.

        I just couldn’t let this passed. I still feel the sorrows of my mother’s passing less than five years ago. For me, mothers are the greatest of GOD’s blessing. If not for our mothers, we wouldn’t be breathing in this world. If not for their labors and sacrifices, we would not be standing on our feet. So, it makes me wonder in disgust, why would a certain Lorenzo Legarda Leviste do such a horrible and ungodly act? In my book, unless he retracts, I would have to list him as the greatest idiot that ever lived.

        Nobody’s perfect in this world. Parents and children may not see eye to eye; they may argue and disagree on many things; they may even hurt each other’s feelings and prides in certain occasions, but to curse and utterly disown the person that brought you unto this earth? That is, perhaps, one of the greatest sins any man can commit!

       My conclusion is this: Lorenzo Legarda Leviste is either coerced, obliviously drunk, drugged, crazy, or demonically possessed. For nobody in his right mind would do what he did. Which brings me to my next inquiry – political evil!

        It is a given from Lorenzo Legarda Leviste’s disposition and declaration that he is opposed to his mother’s political inclination. He is against his mother joining the BBM-Sara UniTeam, and for her endorsement of Bongbong Marcos for President and Sara Duterte for Vice-President. It is also a given that he favors the yellows/pinks Leni-Kiko tandem, which are now being exposed as elitists, fascists and oligarchic in their political campaign. His mother, on the other hand, chose what she believes in her viewpoint will be the best for a struggling nation divided by more than three decades of political bickerings and blame-mongerings. Is it wrong to believe there will be “Victory in Solidarity!”

        Now, to counter Lorenzo’s statement: “I (Lorenzo) was born in 1990, in the shadow of decades of Marcos terror, oppression and corruption. I truly cannot believe the success with these crimes have been whitewashed. I feel like the rug has been pulled out under me.”

        Your own statement contradicts you! You said you were born in 1990, but by this time Cory Aquino was president already for more than four years and President Marcos has already passed away. How can you still be “in the shadow of decades of Marcos terror...”? And as a baby you already experienced these things and discerned the real facts behind the falsehoods? Or were you just “educated” under the distorted new curriculum of the elitist school you studied, or just “tutored” by self-righteous, self-serving nuns of the clerico-fascist kind? Did you experience firsthand what really happened during the Marcos administration? What happened after the EDSA Revolt; what happened during the reign of the Yellow Regime, when the poor became poorer and the opportunistic rich became richer, and the oligarchy-controlled media became tools to misinform the people? Did you even know that Cory Aquino ordered the purging, burning and destruction of all documents and records pertaining to Marcos’ projects and achievements, even the school records of the Marcos children? Did you even know that Cory Aquino ordered the stoppage of all Marcos’ social programs and infrastructure projects ongoing at the time, an example of which is the flood control system of Metro Manila that led to devastating inundation of the metropolis years after?

        The yellow journalist media like Rappler sell the Lorenzo betrayal as if it is a good thing, Esquire Philippine Edition promoted the image of this mother-hater, and the Leni-Kiko people are even cheering for him. Are demons now in our midst? Deus adiuva nos!

        The Lorenzo Legarda Leviste example is a clear indication of the attitude, the political spectrum, of the anti-BBM-Sara UniTeam conglomerates – disunity and discord. These yellows/pinks will go to the extent of imposing their malicious will even within the context of the Pilipino family? How desperate, dire and evil! But neither you nor those pink-shirt evil-mongers can prevent destiny from happening!

        For Senator Loren Legarda, I hope Lorenzo will realize his grave error and find his way back. Thank GOD the senator has another son, the younger Leandro “Lean” Legarda Leviste, who defended her mother on the issue and consoles her grief. A light after an encounter with darkness!


INA

Mayroon bang nilikha o nilalang ng Maykapal
Ang hihigit sa ulirang ina kung magmahal?
Limiin mo’t unawain ang sagradong aral:
Ang puso niya ang luklukan ng bait at dangal!

Bigyan mo siya ng paggalang, papuri at saya
Habang siya’y nakangingiti at may hininga.
Kung siya’y pumanaw at di mo ito nagawa,
Laksang hinagpis ang dadalhin mong alaala!



HULING NGITI - Ang isa ko pang tulang-handog sa aking namayapang ina.

NOTE:
Top picture – Courtesy to Esquire Philippines online article, “Who is Lorenzo Leviste, Son of Loren Legarda?”
Middle picture – Mr. & Ms. magazine, April 17, 2001 issue, featuring Sen. Loren Legarda and her two sons, Lorenzo and Leandro. From the magazine collection of the author.
Bottom picture – Sen. Loren Legarda (right) with her nanay Fely Bagasas and son Leandro “Lean” Leviste. Taken from Philippine Star online article “Lean on Me” (May 12, 2013) by Joanne Rae M. Ramirez, photo by Walter Bollozos.


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