Isagani Cruz--Jealous God of Unalloyed Devotion

There is something redolently uncharitable about the War on Dual Citizens now being waged by Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Isagani Cruz who describes many overseas Filipinos and possibly several of his own fine genetic descendants as follows--

"Compared to the average Filipino who has never even left this country, the repatriated Filipino under the Dual Citizenship Law who has deserted this country in search of a better life abroad is welcomed back by our authorities with open arms. Dual citizens are even rewarded with special privileges not accorded ordinary citizens who have never wavered in their fidelity to the only country they love with unalloyed devotion."

One would think he ought to argue his case before the Supreme Court which disagreed with him when he was still on the High Bench instead of a High Horse. But perhaps Luke had the right idea in the Parable of the Lost Sheep--

15:3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

It is of course up to nine million Filipinos who have possibly "deserted this country in search of a better life" that Isagani Cruz fumes and fulminates against, whether or not they even bother to apply for such a precious commodity as dual citizenship--crying bitterly they ought not to be "welcomed back by our authorities with open arms." Again Luke replies with a parable...

15:11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

15:13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

15:15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

15:16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 15:23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

15:25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

15:26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

15:27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

15:28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

15:29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

15:30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

15:31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

15:32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Now, I wouldn't exactly describe the millions of OFWs repatriating a billion US dollars a month to the Homeland, nor email critic, Loida Nicolas Lewis, who inspired Isagani Cruz's bilious explosion, as "prodigal sons and daughters". Those who have angered the jealous god of unalloyed devotion may become swineherds or toilet bowl cleaners of the world or even harlots, but as far as I am concerned Luke has made the point clearly enough for even the billionairesses and those are simply devoted to the people that they love and cannot survive without their sojourns as strangers in strange lands.

Still Isagani Cruz disagrees and reiterates the Zero-Sum interpretation of the Covenant with his Jealous God of Nationalism

Forgiveness is blessed as in the case of the prodigal but remorseful son in the Bible, but we live in a mortal world where the Dual Citizenship Law lures the unrepentant renegade back to the country he has renounced, his disloyalty forgiven and even rewarded by our coddling government. With all due respect, I hope Congress will give its sentimental mistake a second more realistic look.

God bless your black heart, Elder Brother! Let us drive these disloyal renegades and their filthy billion dollars a month back to the lands of their traitorous new allegiances. Let the Fatherland eat the Fatted Calf with a second more realistic look, and not be such a Sentimental Old Fool.
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