“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so, you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Matthew 23:27-28)
The sky was clear after weeks of enervating downpour, the heavens promised to usher in a peaceful day as the thousands of Jesus is Lord faithful who flocked to the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta for their congregation’s 47th Anniversary gathered in their finest clothes, anticipating a blessed and sacred day.
It was a day of prayer, of singing, of praises, and everyone hopes that the Holy Spirit will pour down from heaven and bless every believer who were deliriously waiting to be touched and renewed.
After all, the church has been blessed through the years—beginning with the preaching of Eddie Villanueva, a former activist and atheist, inside the Polytechnic University of the Philippines campus in 1978.
Villanueva, now on his third term as CIBAC party list Representative, said a life-changing personal encounter with God in 1973 opened his eyes, which eventually led to the founding of the religious movement that has crossed 55 countries worldwide.
Soon after, the strength of the JIL Church translated into political influence and clout, and has placed the entire family into a solid political dynasty. Eduardo Jr., who was charged with murder in relation to the killing of a soldier in the 2007 election, is currently the mayor of Bocaue, Bulacan, daughter Joni Villanueva-Tugna, was the former mayor of the same municipality until her passing in 2020. She was married to Sherwin Tugna, who was also a former CIBAC party-list representative, and Senator Joel, who is currently embroiled in the infamous flood control scam.
Everything went smoothly with the program until Senator Villanueva took center stage.
His voice booming, his conviction at a fever pitch, and his persuasive oration, head on. He was a pastor after all. He trained for this. This is his turf, this is where he excels, and every word from his liturgy is a reflection of years of expertise not only on his biblical knowledge but his motivational prowess as a messenger of God.
But then he started showing his self-serving videos as if advertising his political achievements, giving more time to his so-called accomplishments as TESDA Director General, which he used as a stepping stone in his senatorial bid.
He, however, forgot to mention that former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered his dismissal from public service for “grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the interest of the service” over alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund in 2008 during his tenure as a CIBAC representative.
His soliloquy was emphatic, his theatrics resonated like a true proselyte whose aim was not only to convert but to agree on his term with pure conviction.
His videos clearly speak of his battle against corruption, his love of country, and his affection to the poor. He called on errant policemen, hit government officials who were involved in online gambling, expressed his acrimony against corruption, and his abhorrence against the scandalous flood control projects.
Then the video presentation ended with a note that he will continue to fight against corruption.
Ho-hum…
However, there is a proper forum for everything. To everything there is a season, so the Bible says in Ecclesiastes. The oratory was tasteless, the timing was questionable, the attempt at cleansing one’s self in front of his own people was hard sell.. Give to Caesar what is to Caesar, and God what is God’s, Matthew so wrote.
Has Villanueva grown tired of explaining his innocence to the public? Was it really necessary to wash his linen in front of his congregation? Does he really need to exacerbate his legal woes by trying to convince his own people that he is faultless and a worthy Christian after all?
Did the JIL faithful attend the fellowship to hear their pastor absolve himself from the accusations of corruption and misdeeds?
I don’t know about you people, but for me, it leaves a bad taste in the mouth. In gutter language, usually you would hear ‘tambay sa kanto’ say, “Dun ka sa presinto magpaliwanag!”
And as Villanueva wraps up his monologue, and as the congregation tries to absorb his sermon and righteous indignation that was filled with fire and fury, it dawned on me that all he did was parry the accusations, justify his actions, cleanse his name in front of his people, but nothing was mentioned about repentance.
