June 24,2020
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes.
Not needing to clutch for power, not needing the light just to shine on me,
I need to be just one in the number, as we stand against tyranny.
Struggling myself don’t mean a whole lot; I come to realize
That teaching others to stand up and fight is the only way my struggle survives.
(Excerpt from Ella’s Song: “We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest Until it Comes”)
Lyrics of this civil rights protest song reverberate through the life of Sr. Mary John Mananzan, OSB. At 82, she does not give in to tyranny and does not give up the struggle for freedom, for women’s liberation, justice, peace and environmental integrity. Blessed with genes and opportunity, Sr. Mary John became a scholar, a theologian, an artist, and a linguist. A perceptive listener who was sensitive to the voice of God, she found her calling to be a religious, nationalist, ecumenist and feminist. She also became an activist.
When Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy in her Facebook account maliciously attacked Benedictine Sr. Mary John Mananzan, Badoy also attacked Gabriela as an above-ground organization of the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front-New People’s Army (CPP-NDF-NPA) and then went further to call these terrorist organizations. Badoy’s unhinged rant further accused Sr. Mary John of aiding and abetting rape, pillage, plunder, economic sabotage, mass murders, the destruction of our culture, the unabated blood bath of our indigenous peoples, the burning of schools, the recruitment of our children into the terrorist fold. Such behavior from a state official is very alarming.
Recently, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reported, “For decades now, ‘red-tagging’ – or labelling individuals and groups as communists or terrorists – has been a persistent and powerful threat to civil society and freedom of expression.” They explained that the phenomenon includes human rights defenders and NGOs. In some cases, those who have been red-tagged were subsequently killed. They also noted that others told the UN Human Rights Office, that they had received “death threats or sexually-charged comments in private messages or on social media.”
We are concerned about the safety of Sr. Mary John, but we have faith that she will not give up. She was energetic and willful in her younger days and she mobilized many to join her. Her commitment to education bears fruit even now as generation upon generation has been inspired to work for social transformation that benefits the toiling majority. Sr. Mary John will undoubtedly continue to stand with pride and love for country and people.
Watching Sr. Mary John in action is inspiring. Her consistency and persistence in pursuing Justice and Peace has made her a potent instrument for social change. Sr. Mary John is a quintessential and authentic Religious Filipina activist who has made a difference in this world.
This incident exemplifies the pervasively malicious spirit that has taken hold of the Duterte administration, but it also drives home the danger of the pending Anti-Terrorism Act in the Philippines. Take a look at the life of Sr. Mary John and see how easily she was attacked and red-tagged by the current administration. If the government can attack Sr. Mary John, it will surely use the Terror Bill as weapon to red-tag and accuse many, or any, who criticize, protest, or dissent. The vague definition of terrorism renders this bill a threat and danger to many.
Her brilliant scholarship combined with her activism contributed greatly to the development of Asian and Feminist Theology. Her writing prowess and research competence contributed greatly to the body of knowledge and articulation of feminist theology and Philippine Women’s History.
Her testimony distills complex ponderings of the religious and simplifies the compatibility of faith and struggle. Sr. Mary John has placed the heart of her spirituality with the people, who need salvation and liberation from oppression, exploitation and repression. The clarity of her perspective, which remains embodied in genuine love for the people, has been sharpened by both social analysis and faith articulation.
Sr. Mary John’s ears are attuned to the “masa” or toiling majority. This attitude is exemplified in her anecdotes on how she was “baptized by fire” on the La Tondena Workers Strike in the 1970s. She joined the picket line along with many religious, driven by passion to side with the poor in the stand for justice. Perhaps, at times she had difficulties with her superiors with convent life’s strict rules in going out, but she was moved to fulfill the meaning of her, nay their, calling to support the workers, who had long been exploited and repressed under the dictatorship of Marcos.
She must have been aware of her privilege, both in economic class and as a religious; however, this did not blind her, nor allowed herself to be insensitive to the needs of others. Her faith and prophetic articulation made clear that SOCIAL JUSTICE is key to social salvation.
Looking back on the pages of different ecumenical organizations born during Marcos Martial Law and post-martial law time, her name appears in many, as an initiator or an inspiration. These organizations flourished because Sr. Mary John espoused a social change commitment that she believed required education, organizing, advocacy, and mobilization. Some of the institutions and organizations she was part of or have been inspired by her are the Institute of Religion and Culture, the Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologians(EATWoT), the Association of Women in Theology (AWIT), Ecumenical Center for Development, and GABRIELA. She is the founder of Institute of Religion and Culture – an institute that produced hundreds of empowered church women leaders, educators, organizers in the churches and communities .
Today, Sr. Mary John is an active member of the core group of the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP). This is an ecumenical network of major church institutions in the country, pursuing the cause of peace through Peace Talks. By both heart and logic, Sr. Mary John presses that addressing the roots of the armed conflict is the way to build peace. Through PEPP she joins in a long testimony of pushing both parties, the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, to honor their signed agreements and to continue to pursue Peace Talks.
A religious who is an activist, human rights defender, feminist, nationalist, and environmentalist should not be a surprise at all. Sr. Mary John has lived out her faith. The contrasting image should shock us; we should be dumbfounded by a church or a religious that is quiet, safe, and unengaging, when their flock is being attacked, when democracy is undermined, or when human rights defenders are killed and incarcerated.
Sr. Mary John Mananzan, OSB, is a historic icon of feminism in the Philippines. Maligning her expression of solidarity-spirituality, her political view, or her social actions is not only disrespectful, but puts her life in danger.
Sister Mary John will continue to resist tyranny and pursue freedom of the Filipino.
She who believes in freedom cannot rest until it comes.
#nunsensemakessense
#standfordemocracy
#faithintheserviceofthepeople
Signed
1. Bishop Feliciana P. Tenchavez
Bishop assigned to West Visayas Jurisdictional Area
The United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP)
2. Bishop Ligaya F. San Francisco
Northwest Mindanao Jurisdictional Area
The United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP)
3. The Right Rev’d. Emelyn Gasco-Dacuycuy
Bishop, Diocese of Batac
Iglesia Filipina Independiente
4. Sr. Marilen Java, RC –
Chairperson
Association of Major Religious Superiors Women in the Philippines (AMRSP)
5. Dr. Gay B. Manodon
Vice Chairperson
National Council of Churches in the Philippines(NCCP)
6. Dr. Celia Adriano
7. Rev. Nehemia Punzalan – Allera
President
Board of Women’s Work
Philippine Central Conference
The United Methodist Church
8. Ms. Arceli P. Bile
Co- Convener
Ecumenical Women’s Forum
9. Sr. Theodora Bilocura, OSB
Coordinator
Socio-Pastoral Apostolate
10. Sr. Asuncion Borromeo, FMM
11. Deaconess Darlene Marquez-Caramanzana
Area Liaison for Asia and the Pacific
General Board of Global Ministries
The United Methodist Church
12. Sr. Gemma Dinglasan, RGS
Member, Religious of the Good Shepherd
Philippines-Japan Province Leadership Team
13. Deaconess Norma P. Dollaga
General Secretary
Kapatirang Simbahan Para sa Bayan
Kasimbayan Women’s Collective
14. Ma. Ceres P Doyo, journalist
Board Member
Office for Women and Gender Concern (OWGC)
Mission Partner-AMRSP
15. Sr. Mary Emmanuel Espera, OSB
Vocation Directress
Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing-Manila Priory
16. Atty Corazon Fabros
Board Member
Office for Women and Gender Concern (OWGC)
Mission Partner-AMRSP
17. Dr. Liza B. Lamis
Executive Secretary
International Committee for the Fellowship of the Least Coin
18. Dr. Evelyn Mejillano
19. Jennifer Ferariza-Meneses
Co-Coordinator
Association of Women in Theology
20. Rev. Dr. Muriel Orevillo-Montenegro, PhD
Inter-Faith Cooperation Forum, Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs
Coordinator, Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation
One Faith, One Nation, One Voice
22. Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Tapia, PhD
Clergy Member
The United Methodist Church
23. Dr. Marita Wasan, PhD
Past President
Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas
One Faith, One Nation, One Voice
