Since the rise of dictatorship to the restoration of democracy, the Philippines has become nothing but a bygone. Year after year, the once highly regarded country in Asia sank deeper and deeper into a quick sand of ill luck where poverty is everywhere, children are dying, journalists are on the run, criminals are walking around freely, power is coveted, and hard-earned tax money are vanishing. Crimes have become nothing but a sign of normality; the scales of justice tipping favorably on one side. It's a well-crafted tar pit of wickedness. And through the years, it just hardened the hearts of many and sadly, left millions hopeless.

Was the country discovered only to be doomed in the end? Is it bitter fate? Probably many believed it that's why many have become apathetic.

But in the midst of the abysmal quandary, there were brave ones who stepped up. Too much negativity and wrongness were a jolt of electricity that pushed them further into boldness.  Finally, people braved to question such circumstances. Is it really fate? Are we really inclined to doom? No, it's not. And we have to do something about it.

Being known as the "only Christian nation in Asia", Filipinos used a weapon they were good and known to be good at: Prayer. During the first People Power Revolution, people joined together to pray. During the second People Power Revolution, people once again prayed. And when things heated up even worse than the last, the Christian people once again came together to fast, pray and and repent for the sins of the nation for three whole days. Such an event was held a month before the last presidential elections. Now there's a new president. It's been a year and if one looks at the newspapers, it seems that God has been listening to the cries and prayers of His children after all. Massive expose's are happening. Government offices are being swept clean of corruption. Most importantly, throngs of people are giving their lives to the Lord.

The "Only Christian Nation in Asia" believed that this quandary happened not because of fate, but because of the nation's high disregard to the Word of God through the people's blatant wickedness and craftiness. It's a consequence of faults ignored and consented. It's a punishment brought by the Almighty God.

Interestingly, the Philippines is not the only one who thinks that the nation's problems were a consequence of disobedience to God. Thousands of miles away, through scorching deserts and war-torn streets, the Muslim Radicals also believe that their "bad luck" is caused by a spiritual force.

What happened to the Muslims?


Centuries ago, the Muslims were once considered a world power. Their military and economic powers were vast and great. They once led the world into the era of discovery. They were great in scientific feats. They owned vast areas of land. They conquered, killed, enslaved, and wrapped the world into their own hands. But now, their former glory has become nothing but a trail of dust. They are now ruled by tyranny. Muslim people live in terror. Their once "glorious" soil has become a breeding ground of terrorists.

What had happened?

Bernard Luis, a Princeton University Scholar on Islamic and Middle East History, gave an interesting explanation on this. Since the Muslims centuries ago made travel to Asia very difficult for the Westerners, the Westerners decided to find ways on how to get to the East continent without having to pass through the dominating Middle Eastern countries. And so, what started as a dangerous voyage to the unknown became an eruption of discovery for the Westerners. Their knowledge, where a majority was contributed by the Muslim scholars, was leveled up. It certainly left the Middle East behind. And before they knew it, they were "choked" by Islam while the "rest of the world moved on".

Centuries later, the Muslim's pride was trampled on after the tumultuous defeats they gathered at their end. Worse, the abhorred Israel was recognized as a country and defeated them in a series of wars. This enraged the Muslims, particularly the radicals. They believe that this ill-luck of power change with the West was nothing but a spiritual thing. They believed this was a punishment of Allah for their impudence and insolence. Their leaders have become secular. Their government has forgotten the Islam. With that, they saw the need to re-educate their people and bring them back to the roots of Islam religion, including killing the "unbelievers" which is infamously known as the "Jihad".

To this day, Middle Eastern countries run by Radicals are being led by their religious ideals. But while the Philippines is called the "only Christian nation in Asia", Middle East has Iran which is the "only Islamic nation in the world" because their Islam-run law. The two countries have similarities in terms of believing that their ill luck is caused by a spiritual force, but while one is run by peace and love, the other is run by radicalism and hatred.



This essay was based from the non-fiction book of Joel C. Rosenberg entitled Inside the Revolution.