No confirmation needed to enter God’s kingdom

There is no twin-engine Piper Seneca in existence or in production which has a watertight fuselage compartment. The plane sank less than a kilometer from the shore on what was otherwise a clear day. It was established that except for Secretary Jesse Robredo’s aide-de-camp, everybody on board went down with the plane. From the time the aide was fished out of the water, he and his fisherman-rescuer did not rush to shore but lingered for nearly an hour in the hope that others would break the surface. The succeeding rescue operation was thorough and was fairly scientific and methodical. These factors made me conclude, after the first 24 hours passed without a trace of  Secretary Robredo, that he did not survive the plane crash.

But of course, I could not voice nor post my opinion on the Net. I did not want to aggravate the anguish that everybody was going through.

As to why good people have to die young while the bad ones remain to wreak havoc and terror (why, their near-death experience is so pathetic and uninspiring as choking on a slice of watermelon) is one of life’s bitter ironies. There was even a time when tragedies like this made me question and challenge my faith. But over the years, I have learned to accept fate and to surrender everything to the Lord. I have come to realize that sometimes God has his own reason which even reason itself finds difficult to follow.

So congratulations for a life well lived and rest in peace, idol Jess. In life, the traditional politicians never confirmed your Cabinet post; your sterling qualifications and high moral standards must have been below the trapo’s criterion of “good governance.” I am consoled with the thought that in death, you need not undergo a “confirmation hearing” just to be able to enter the kingdom of heaven. Surely, the gates of St. Peter will readily open, and the angels will sing hosannas as God welcomes you in his loving embrace.

Why do people like Secretary Jess—a humble and incorruptible leader who genuinely cared for the poor—have to die young? Perhaps, the answer could be found in a line from an old Don McLean song: Secretary Robredo “… this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you…”

—ROY P.M. PEREZ,

president,

Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Leyte

(IBP-Leyte) Chapter, [email protected]