An ‘act of God’

By Alex P. Vidal

“Men must be governed by God, or they will be ruled by tyrants.” – William Penn

MOST of us may not have noticed it, but the saying that God’s hands work in mysterious ways, or God works in mysterious ways, was manifested in brutal fashion in the recent chaos in the Philippine senate.

The phrase is a popular sentiment used to emphasize life’s unexpected turns or hardships. While the exact wording isn’t found in scripture, it reflects biblical themes of divine sovereignty.

The senate coup that toppled Tito Sotto had to happen, as well as the unmasking of traitors like perennial contrabida Loren Legarda.

The foiled bid by the NBI to arrest Bato dela Rosa, who was eventually allowed to escape amid bursts of “warning shots” by the trigger maniac sergeant at arms and his minions, had to develop.

The tumult, including Alan Pete Cayetano’s “the senate is and was under attack) saber rattling, needed to occur.

It was probably an “act of God” or a severe, unavoidable natural event—such as a hurricane, earthquake, or flood—that occurs without human intervention and could not have been reasonably prevented.

It serves as a defense to excuse parties from liability or contract performance in law and insurance.

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But the “act of God” the Filipinos, including some people around the world monitoring the embarrassing event, witnessed on May 11, 12, 13, 2026 was meant to awaken the Filipinos from deep slumber and remind them how important are the events that will unfold once the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio unwraps this week (barring unforeseen circumstances—and maneuvering by pro-Duterte SIN-nators).

The triple whammies (game of musical chairs for senate presidency, Houdini-like escape of Bato, Cayetano’s eruption) could be warnings in disguise.

A portent of things to come.

Warning that if Cayetano (granting he won’t be yanked out himself in another rumored coup set on May 18), et al won’t behave during the Duterte-Carpio impeachment trial, “there will be a prize to pay.”

Warning that if they dilly dally, they will incur the public wrath.

Warning that if they ignore the full weight of “overwhelming” evidence against the vice president and vote to acquit her, there will be a series of devastating political consequences.

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Because of the chaos and imminent threat of public censure, Cayetano, et al will now be careful in their moves to shield and rescue the embattled vice president even if the pieces of evidence will show her guilt in the following articles:

Article I: Culpable Violation of the Constitution and Betrayal of Public Trust (Misuse of P612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds across the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education).

Article II: Betrayal of Public Trust and Unexplained Wealth (Discrepancies in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth and hidden assets).

Article III: Bribery, Graft, and Corruption (Alleged use of cash envelopes to influence and bribe DepEd officials).

Article IV: Culpable Violation of the Constitution, High Crimes, and Betrayal of Public Trust (Publicly threatening to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the First Lady, and the House Speaker, and inciting sedition).

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TOP 20 WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES: 1. Bananas, 2. Apples 3. Carrots 4. Tomatoes 5. Iceberg Lettuce 6. Oranges 7. Broccoli 8. Grapes 9. Winter Squash 10. Onions 11. Pears 12. Watermelon 13. Peaches 14. Spinach 15. Zucchini 16. Cauliflower 17. Strawberries 18. Cabbage 19. Cucumber 20. Cantaloupe. (Source: Produce Retailer)

LAST SEASONAL FRUITS. Fresh cherries are one of the few items in the produce department that don’t have year-round availability. Imports start in November and run through January from Chile, then pick back up in May from California and end in late August or early September from the North-west and British Columbia. There can be as much as 5 to 6 months with no fresh cherry availability.

WHAT’S THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIFE? They are the ones in which we decide our problems are our own. We don’t blame them on our parents and relatives, the ecology, the system, the voters, or the weather. When we realize that we mind our own business and control our own destiny.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines—Ed)