"Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday." Psalm 37:1-6
March 11, 2025, started with a clear plan—I was determined to complete the course I had been working on and finalize everything for my online store. But as the day unfolded, an unexpected message from my sister changed my focus. She asked me about what happened to former President Duterte, and soon, my social media feed was flooded with mixed emotions—grief, reflection, debates, and uncertainty.
Amid the noise of the online world, today also held a deeply personal and significant moment. It was the first day I invited my sister to join me in a daily online prayer meeting. With great joy, we came together before God, lifting our beloved country, the Philippines, in prayer. In times like these, when emotions run high and opinions clash, there is no better place to turn than to the One who holds all things in His hands.
I never planned to write about this. Yet, something within me urges me to share—not to add to the noise but to offer a space for reflection, peace, and faith. How do I write about this event in a way that is both unbiased and honoring to God? That is the question pressing on my heart.
May this moment remind us of all to seek wisdom beyond our own understanding and to pray for healing, unity, and guidance for our nation.
The Year God Turns Reality into Wise Wisdom
First and foremost, as I write this, I want to make it clear that I do not intend to condemn my brother or my family in any way. Among my siblings, I have always been the one to speak openly about reality, especially after God opened my eyes to many things in my life. I believe our story matters—not for judgment, but so that others may learn from it or find encouragement. However, I never write, create, or design without prayer. My confidence is in Christ Jesus alone. I understand that not everyone will agree with me, and that’s okay—I respect that.
Whenever there is news about former President Duterte, my heart stirs. Why? Because during his tenure, something happened in our family—an event no family would ever wish to experience. Yet, through it all, God revealed to me the deeper reason He allowed it to happen. Even in our moments of despair, fear, worry, and heartbreak, His grace gently led me to a place of understanding—one where I could see His greater plan and purpose for my brother and our family.
Five years ago, I received a call and a message from the same sister, delivering heartbreaking news about our brother. I was at work when it happened. Stunned, I sat there trying to process her words, and after a few moments, the weight of it all sank in—I broke down in tears. My brother had been arrested for drug use. During this time, my sister was also pregnant, but her baby died on her womb a few weeks before she gives birth. She was the one who visited my brother all the time because she lives near where my brother is.
I love my brother dearly. We’ve always been close, but there were choices he made that I didn’t agree with or feel at peace about. We were raised in a Christian home, under the guidance of strict parents, especially our late father. With all due respect to them, they did their best to bring us up in the faith—taking us to church, sending us to Sunday School, and enrolling us in Daily Vacation Bible School (DVBS) every summer.
However, faith isn’t something we inherit from our parents. It’s not about being born into a Christian family. As we grew into adulthood, each of us strayed in different ways. Yet, the seeds of faith our parents planted remained in our hearts, waiting for God’s perfect time to take root.
“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
Before this event, when my brother chose to enter politics, I didn’t agree with his decision. I knew how challenging and complex the political landscape was, especially back home. However, I respected his choice. Instead of opposing him, I turned to prayer—I lifted him up to God and even fasted for him. In the end, he won.
I have always believed that wherever God places us—whether in our personal lives, business, or career—He has a purpose and plan that He desires to fulfill through us. Yet, every path we take comes with choices—decisions that can lead us in different directions. That’s why it is so vital to seek God’s wisdom and discernment in every step.
I trust that God has a plan for my brother’s life, and I believe one of the significant moments in that plan unfolded in February 2020.
Why I started my blog with a glimpse into my family story? Many people remain angry about the drug war during former President Duterte’s administration. If there’s any family that might have a reason to share that anger, it would be ours. But for me, this isn’t about politics—it’s about what God was revealing through it all and His plan for my brother.
Legally, there were loopholes in how my brother was arrested, but I won’t delve into that here. What I will say is that through everything, God’s goodness remained. After a year and five months, my brother was acquitted. Some people spread rumors that we bribed the judge, but the truth is, we had neither the money nor the mindset for such a thing. Our only response was prayer—nothing more, nothing less. And God answered.
To this day, my brother still struggles with what happened to him, despite the undeniable miracles Jesus showed him while he was in prison. I understand his feelings and extend grace to him. I witnessed firsthand how God transformed him during that time—he was like a different person, a brother I had never seen before.
I don’t fully know God’s plan for his life or why He allowed him to return to politics. But one thing I am certain of—God will reignite the fire He once placed in my brother’s heart while he was in prison. I always remind him not to forget what Jesus did for him in those moments of brokenness.
He still holds some resentment toward the former Duterte administration because of what happened, and I understand that, too, with grace. But I trust that God is working in his heart, and in His perfect time, He will bring healing and purpose out of it all.
To all the families who feel they were victims of the drug war, I understand how painful this journey has been. Some of you have lost loved ones, and my heart truly breaks for you.
But here’s something to consider—we must awaken to the reality of our family members’ choices. Each person is responsible for the path they take. In every war, there are no true winners, only lessons to be learned. Instead of holding onto hostility toward former President Duterte, I encourage you to also recognize the good he accomplished during his tenure and find reasons to be grateful.
For me, the greatest outcome of what happened was that Jesus ignited a fire in my brother’s heart while he was in prison, leading him to serve the Lord. And even now, I trust that God has a greater purpose for his life.
Let us choose to view these events not from a place of politics, but through the lens of faith—seeing God's hand at work even amid suffering.
A Call to See, Pray, and Discern
Maybe you’re someone who doesn’t pay much attention to what’s happening in the Philippines—or even in the world. I understand because I was once like that, too. But everything changed when the Lord opened my eyes to a greater purpose and helped me see why I am here.
As an ordinary person, I may not have the power to make a huge impact on our country in a tangible way. But my heart aches when I see wicked leaders deceiving the Filipino people. And yes, it’s a reality—there are both righteous and wicked leaders.
However, my purpose in writing this is not to call for condemnation, nor to stir anger against any leader or individual. Instead, I invite you to pray—for our leaders, for our nation, and for God’s will to prevail. Our God is a God of second chances. Do not allow the enemy to lead you into a place of revenge, hostility, or condemnation. Instead, open your heart to the Spirit of God—a Spirit of purity, goodness, kindness, and compassion.
If someone is being persecuted for doing what is right, pray for them. No leadership is perfect, but God has given us the wisdom to discern, to evaluate, and to judge fairly the fruit of those who lead us. May we choose to see things not just with human eyes, but through the lens of God’s truth and righteousness.
Prayer (Psalm 31, Romans 8:28)
Father God, thank you for today. Thank you for the time of prayer with my sister. Father, I lift up to you our beloved country Philippines, the leaders, and the people. My heart breaks to see our country is in chaos and divided heart because of politics. I pray for the leaders to touch their hearts to refrain from hostility, unforgiveness, and wickedness. You know each one of them more than I do. Lead them Father, to Your righteousness. Help the Filipino people to fret not because of the evildoers neither be envious against the workers of the iniquity, for they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. I pray that our leaders and the Filipino people, including myself, will trust you and do good and dwell in your land. Lead us to delight ourselves before you, and I know you shall give our heart’s desire. I pray for former President Duterte’s safety, good health, and protection together with his family. I pray also for all our leaders to kneel before You. Father, heal our nation. And bring forth unity in faith and prayers. I know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to them who are called according to Your purpose. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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