SALVATION SUNDAY: Different Windows on The Ang Lahi Academy

Today, we attended the service led by Bro. Patrick with a testimonial from Coach Eric (Alumnus of The Ang Lahi Academy - Batch Labaw Donggon). It was again one of those Sundays where they emphasized that the Ang Lahi Academy, Meridian, and the MTM program are the only hope for our struggling country. But I think this Sunday changed my views about the academy. 

Side note: I decided to write this because at some point, I feel that I am the only one at home who thinks this way. Kudos to online journal writing! ^_^

My past view
The first batch definitely awed everyone by how the curriculum of the academy was prepared. Every single teenager may have had that thirst and envy to be part of The Ang Lahi Academy Batch Namwaran. Even my parents wanted to enroll my brother there. It showed us how we really need discipline in order to be part of the solution to the country and most importantly how the hearts of the young Christians have changed after attending the academy. However, the first challenge for this first batch was: With that short period of time, given the intense hardships that they may have gone through, were there hearts really fixed? Will they still be the same after they go out of the academy?
The answer: Extend the training period and intensify the exercises = Batch Kalipulako. Even more, the Church prepared for a longer and more intensified curriculum = Batch Labaw Donggon or what they have planned as Formula 8 (representing 8 months of training). 
With these in hand, I still really didn't see why they had to point out that this is the only answer to our country's cry. Here are other challenges that it may pose: 

How about the youth who have great thirst for a deeper relationship with the Lord and who have sincere and deep love for our country? Can they not take part in this future movement for our country because they failed to join the Academy? 

Who can qualify to enter the academy? Only those who have created strong ties in the Church? Or those who can afford? How about those who are silently listening to the testimonials and badly want to join but cannot because of financial problems or maybe because they feel that they are at a disadvantage since they are really not that active in the Church? 

Truthfully, it always made me cringe when I hear our Church leaders say that this is the only answer to our problem. Despite of my many flaws like 1.) being lazy most of the time; 2.) lacking fire in my heart to persevere and achieve greater heights, and achieve not only for me but for God and for our country; 3.) not having the resource/time to enroll in the Academy since I am attending medical school. It personally hurts me because I too have a dream for our country and a deep sense of eagerness to be part of the movement which will change our system. ...


...but this Sunday, I was reminded that there have been many people who left the ministry because they are hurt by the preaching extended to us every Sunday. But this is the exact  point why we attend Church - to be constantly reminded of what we should do in order to be worthy to be called Christians...


My present view
It may be true that the Ang Lahi Academy together with Meridian and MTM is the key to our nation's revolution, but I also believe that what "Ang Lahi" really means is to have a burden which will always remind us, that we have a much greater responsibility other than fixing ourselves and our family. We should always remember that we have our whole country to carry in our hearts and offer daily to our Lord. 
What the Ang Lahi imparts to us, those who have not been part of the academy, is that there is no easy way to becoming a great nation. The cadets of the Ang Lahi Academy goes through hardships patterned according to the hardships that our countrymen, here and especially those abroad, feel. Thirst, hunger, loneliness, pain, removal of all human rights and all other things which would equate to suffering - they all have gone through it. Although we cannot say that they have really gone through the feeling of "isang kahig, isang tuka", I must say that 8 months of experiencing the same kind of training and suffering would definitely change you - give you a different perspective. 

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. - Romans 5:3-5 NIV

With this we gain comfort. We know that something will be great if we have worked hard for it. We know that something will be great if it has broken our hearts that it leads us to thirst for new knowledge and for God's guidance. If we really give all that we can - blood, sweat, tears, and even our life - for the country that is just waiting for its people, only then can we rise up just as how other countries like Singapore and Korea has risen from poverty because they have learned that only through suffering will they gain prosperity. We will rise up when we are all able to answer Rizal's call:

"Nasaan ang kabataan na naglalaan ng magagandang sandali, ng kanilang mga pangarap at kasiglahan alang-alang sa ikabubuti ng kanilang bayan? Saan naroroon ang handang magpakamatay upang hugasan ng dugo ang napakaraming pagkakasala? Upang karapatdapat ang pagpapakasakit ito'y kailangang malinis at busilak. Nasaan ang kabataang may lakas na tumanan na sa aming mga ugat, ng kalinisan ng diwa na narumihan na sa amin, ng apoy ng sigla na patay na sa aming puso? O kabataan, kayo'y aming hinihintay!"

For my remaining years in medical school, I will push harder, aim higher and be the best doctor that I can be for the greater glory of our nation and for our one only Savior. It will be tricky and it will definitely be hard, but I need to sacrifice a lot of things in order to achieve this goal. This is the path that we have been taught several times to take - the path of the Ring bearer. Only then can I, together with all the Filipino youth, answer Rizal's call to the youth to build a great nation.  


Have a blessed week ahead! ^^