The tale of The Son

"Any takers?"

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.

When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous, but died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and he grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, “Sir, you don’t know me, but, I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talks about you and your love for art.”

The young man held out the package and said: “I know this isn’t much. I’m not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.”

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the portrait. But, the young man said: “Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It’s a gift.”

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home, he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works of art he collected.

The father died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeking the great paintings and a having the opportunity to purchase one for their own collections. On the platform of the auction house sat the painting of his son.

The auctioneer pounded his gavel and said: “We will start the bidding with this portrait of the son. Who will bid for this painting?” There was silence in the back of the room. There was shouting: “We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.” The auctioneer persisted. “Will someone bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?” Another voice shouted angrily, “We didn’t come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!” But the auctioneer continued. “The Son! The Son! Who will take The Son?’”

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the father and his son. “I’ll give $10 for the painting.” Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. “We have $10, who will bid for $20?’ The angry buyers shouted, “Give it to him for $1. Let’s see the masters.” The auctioneer shouted and said: “$10 is the bid, will someone bid $20?”

There was no response. The crowd was becoming angry. They did not want the painting of the son they wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer said “Going once, twice sold for $10!” A man sitting on the second row shouted, “Now, let’s get on with the collection!”

The auctioneer laid down his gavel.

I am sorry, the auction is over. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auction whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings of the masters and the collections. The man who took the son gets everything!

God gave his son 2,000 years ago to die on a cruel cross. Much like the auctioneer, his message this Holy Week is: ‘The Son, the Son, who will take The Son?’

* * *

The promulgation of the verdict on the 10-year-old Maguindanao massacre case has revealed the flaws in our justice system. These need to be rectified.

As reported, Malacañang was dismayed over the incarceration of so many individuals who were eventually acquitted. They wasted their productive years behind bars. Is it their fault to be in jail for a long time just because of the snail-paced system in our country?

The justice system is notorious in the case of poor people who cannot afford a lawyer to speed up their cases, much less pay for their bail bonds.

This is why I have been urging the Duterte administration to establish special courts to try those who have surrendered or who have been arrested in the war against drugs.

Another aspect is the case of the photojournalist Reynaldo Momay whose remains were never found. Thus, his family was not qualified for indemnification.