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IN BRIEF
A Message of Hope:
THEOTHER
PHILIPPINE VISIT
by
Stanley R. Rader
T
HE LATE
February visit of
Pope John Paul JI momen–
tarily focused world atten–
tion on thc Philippines.
World press coverage of the
Pope's visit was extensive, cen–
tered primaril y on the political
implications of the Pope's state–
ment, and particularly his public
scolding of Presidcnt Ferdinand
Marcos at a formal reception at
the presidential paJace.
Just a few short wccks earlier,
however. a nother religious figure
visited the Philippines, and aJso
spoke to President Marcos. While
this visit wasn't thc object of
extensive worldwide news cover–
age, his message was considerably
more hopeful for the Filipino
people.
The Pope cri ticized President
Marcos for his "human rights
problem," echoing something
that has become a cliché in much
of the Western press.
"A Jegitimate prcoccupation
with the securily of the slate
could lead to the temptalion to
subjugale the people, their digni–
ty and their rights to the stale,"
the Pope told President Marcos,
in obvious reference to sorne of
the criticisms that have been Jev–
eled at the Marcos government.
Presidenl Marcos took the crit–
icism wilh uncommonly good
grace: " ... we resolve thal we
shall wipe out all conA1cts and set
up a society t hat is harmonious,
to attain the ends of God.' ' The
Western press failed lO note that
very few- if any-leadcrs m this
world would have allowed the
Pope into their country m the
first place, knowing they would
be given a stern lecture. Fewer
would have had the humility to
accept his criticism.
Freedom House, a nonpartisan
organizat1on that rates govern–
ments by the amount of freedom
they allow, ranks the Philippines
as "partly free," considerably
above sorne 55 other countries
about which one doesn ' t hear con-
stant reference to human rights '
violations.
But two weeks after the Pope
spoke to thc Filipinos abou l
human rights, union organizing
a nd pol itical involvement, anolher
message was given them, a mes–
sage of hope
.:~nd
peace.
1
remem–
ber Bias Oplc, Filipino Minisler
of Labor, tclling the bearer of
lhat message, Herberl W . Arm–
strong, "We know lhat you carne
here for a higher purpose, lo be
the bearer of good tidings for
mankind and for this particular
part of the world.' '
The prophet lsaiah said much
the same thing more than 2,500
years ago, "How beautiful upon
the mountains are the feet of bim
that bringeth good tidings, that
publisheth peace, that publisheth
salvation . ..." (Jsaiah 52:7).
Herbert Armstrong has a spe–
cial love for the Filipino people.
He lold an a udience in Manila,
and meant it , "You are the mosl
warmhearted, the most friend ly
people that
1
have known in any
country in the world." Mr. Arm–
s trong's speciallove for the Filipi–
no people was also remarked on
by Marcos Herras, one of the
Philippines' most prominent at–
torneys, as well as M
r.
Opte and
others whom wc met in the
course of our visn.
Herbert Armstrong carne to the
Philippines to hclp. Fo r example,
Mr. Arms trong , through the
Ambassador lnternational Cul–
tural Foundation, is giving signifi-
The PLAIN TRUTH