By Nora Soriño
ILIGAN City ― Recently, the pope received a message, maybe from some persons who did not like him. It was in the form of bullets placed inside an envelope addressed to him. These were discovered by sorters in Milan. It had come from France reports say but with no specific address.
Poor Pope Francis. He had just gone through major surgery in his colon.
And now this…
The news had been given only scant attention even by international media. What with other world happenings. Like the withdrawal of American troops in Afghanistan which led to the conquest of the Taliban there that humbled this world power called America.
Well, our own Cardinal Jose Advincula encouraged the faithful to pray for the pope.
The pope himself is considered one of the most powerful men in the world. Hence, this message is in the bullets.
Though the bullets themselves are mute, they speak a thousand words. Just like pictures. Remember that movie, “Isang bala ka lang,” in l983, starring Da King, FPJ?
These words were repeated by then President Marcos during the twilight of his long reign as president. This was the parting shot he gave a message to then presidentiable Cory Aquino. This was during a “bigatin” meeting of the Rotary Club of Manila where he was then the guest speaker, reports said.
Not to be “out threatened” Cory too said in her parting words in another similar meeting of said RCM where she was the guest speaker. “Isang boto ka lang,” she said.
“Bullets,” to note give a strong message. But “votes” give some message, maybe not as “strong.”
Years later though, Fernando Poe, Jr. was felled. Not by bullets, but by words. From the wisp of a woman by her “Hello Garci” words. And other words like “I …am sorry.” And we all knew what happened. She had some “lapses” she said in her “sorry” episode. We all know who that woman is. She became President too, like Cory.
Here in our beloved city, I will cite just one “bullet” message. One Atty. Ranulfo Cenas who was then the head of the city environment office had some bullet “experience.” On his way to his office, one day and that was B.C. (before Covid), he heard bullets fired which found their way near the ground where he was walking on. He interpreted it as some message for him to “retire” early, or else…
After some great thinking, he did retire ― early. For there was some “heavy” message on the bullets, analysts say.
The pen, they say, is mightier than the sword. Similar to saying, “experience is the best teacher.” But I heard one teacher say “but the experience is a slow teacher.” Now, applying that “formula” to bullets, we could say, “the pen, or the words or the vote is mightier than the bullets.” But the might of the pen or the word or the vote is slow, much slower than the bullets. But
Compared to punctuation marks, the bullet is an exclamation point (!), whereas the others…wait a minute, for I think I heard voices that say otherwise.
(Email: norasorino2@gmail.com)
