Welcome Home

It was one of the most heartbreaking stories for New Zealanders: its sailing Team Emirates New Zealand failed to win the 34th America’s Cup in San Francisco, USA after leading 8-1 against Team Oracle USA. After the miraculous escape of a near capsize, TENZ lost 8 consecutive matches against  the American team that played second fiddle in the earlier races.

While the US sailing team was financed by Larry Ellison, one of the richest men in the world, TENZ had funded its campaign from sponsors, benefactors and the government. It was primary a battle between David and Goliath. Only this time, David (TENZ) lost.

Ellison is getting the flak of criticisms for cheating and unfairness, and you can’t blame the media and critics for such, as in the previous Cup competition his team was found guilty of cheating, and he does not deny having placed modern equipment that overrode human error in operating his US$10-million-plus catamaran.

While the NZ team failed to bring back the Auld Mug, its members showed passion in their training, commitment to excellence and courage under pressure, as they took on the best sailors in the world. It wasn’t about personal glory for they dedicated each race to their nation, to their fellow Kiwis. Because of these their names will forever be etched in the annals in the history of the sports and the nation. “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” (1 Corinthians 9:25)

One lesson we learned from skipper Dean Barker and company was in their being true athletes, taking the competition one race at a time, and observing the rules. So while the Cup remains with Larry Ellison, who can never be called an athlete, but certainly a businessman. “Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.” (2 Timothy 2:5)

While they never said it, it is without question that the NZ sailors were guided by this passage: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”  (Philippians 2:3) The qualities (like professional demeanor and humility) they demonstrated throughout the competition made them giants among men.

We are proud of you boys. Welcome home.

Someone Looking Down on Us

For another half a degree, the $10 million worth sleek NZL05 boat of Team New Zealand would have tipped over and capsized during race 8 on September 15, 2013 in the finals races of the 34^th America’s Cup.  Not only would the boat be damaged and most possibly sink, some of the sailors would have fell into the waters and suffered injuries, if not worst.

One news article described it rather more dramatically: “Left to the mercy of the laws of physics, the boat heeled at a dramatic angle, hanging there for what seemed like minutes before slowly righting itself.”

After the race which Team New Zealand lost to Oracle Team USA, TNZ skipper Dean Barker was asked to comment on what could have ended his team’s $120 million campaign.  He said, “I think we were close as we possibly could have got without the boat going on its side…We must have had someone looking down on us.”

Barker and his team have worked hard for the past three years to find themselves in the finals against the well-financed defender Oracle Team USA. The latter team, having won the previous contest, set the rules that nearly made it difficult for any team to compete especially with the new design. TNZ had to convince the New Zealand Government to support it with $36 million people’s money, and source the balance from sponsors and other benefactors.

All the sacrifices would have gone to naught for one mistake, yet there was “someone looking down on us.”  From that near-disaster, TNZ has taken Oracle Team USA to some of the finest ever sailing races in the history of America’s Cup.

As I am writing this on September 19, TNZ is just one win away from raising high the “Auld Mug”, the oldest active trophy in international sport. TNZ deserves to win against a team that won the 33^rd America’s Cup by cheating. (Oracle Team USA started the race with -2 score).

Praise you Dean Barker for acknowledging God. And when TNZ wins, as it certainly will, let us give “thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1)

When Will We Ever Learn

If we are to believe US intelligence reports, the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad ordered chemical weapons attack in Damascus that killed 1,429 people including more than 400 children.

Chemical weapons have long been banned in warfare; and if indeed Assad ordered its use against his own people, he will face charges of crimes against humanity, and will join the inglorious company of Adolf Hitler (who used chemicals to kill Jews in concentration camps) and Saddam Hussein (who used chemical weapons against Iranian forces and Kurdish villagers).

On 24 July 2013, the United Nations put out an estimate of over 100,000 that had died in the civil war.  Also, the conflict has resulted in 1.8 million Syrians becoming refugees in Iraq, Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon, with 4 million others displaced within its borders.

When will we ever learn? We have yet to experience a totally peaceful world, as conflicts arise in different countries year in, year out. One despot disappears, another one emerges.  It is cyclical, and who suffers but civilians including the innocent children.

On September 7 Pope Francis fasted and prayed for Syria together with hundreds of thousands of Christians across the globe. He asked, “How many conflicts, how many wars have mocked our history?” He answered his question, “Even today we raise our hand against our brother…We have perfected our weapons, our conscience has fallen asleep, and we have sharpened our ideas to justify ourselves as if it were normal we continue to sow destruction, pain, death. Violence and war lead only to death.”

He continued, “Can we get out of this spiral of sorrow and death? Can we learn once again to walk and live in the ways of peace? Invoking the help of God under the maternal gaze of the Salus Populi Romani, the Queen of Peace, I say yes it is possible for everyone. From every corner of the world tonight, I would like to hear us cry out: Yes, it is possible for everyone!” 

Let us continue to fast, continue to pray for peace in Syria. Let us ask God to fill the minds of the leaders of the warring parties, and those who have the influence, with wisdom; and their hearts with love.

I Love You Dad

I am most fortunate to have thoughtful children – Kim, Jam and Me-el. On the eve of Father’s Day celebration (September 1 in New Zealand), they came with their young families (except Me-el who is single) sharing food, giving gifts and viewing together the musical, “Goddess”. Each year, they find time to gather for this occasion.  To my children, I am most grateful.

But this piece is not about me; it’s about my Dad, Angel Libre Jr. My dad was a strict disciplinarian, and when I was a kid I had my share of spanking for mischief.  I thought I had one over him, by putting cardboard to cover my buttocks, but he knew better, that I couldn’t escape punishment.  I did not really like my father during those days, and sought refuge with my mother, Milagros

When I became a young adult; I saw a different picture of my dad. He was involved in opposing the Marcos dictatorial regime, as an opinion writer and was active in the protest movement. Those were dangerous times, but that did not deter him in fighting for the cause.  He must have really ruffled the dictatorship as a warrant of arrest was issued against him. Knowing the kind of justice dispensed by the regime, he opted to live a life of a fugitive, until freedom was restored when Corazon Aquino became president.  My dad was given executive clemency, and returned to live a normal life, happy that in a way he had contributed to the democracy regained by the Filipino people.

We often had family gatherings, and I guess, those were the best days of my parents’ lives, seeing their children as professionals and raising their own families.  Then in 1999, my mother died followed by our eldest brother, Angel III in 2001.  These two tragedies took a toll in my Dad’s health, and in 2003, he was diagnosed with cancer of the lungs.

From the robust man I always knew, my Dad became frail and the pain that he underwent could not be hidden.  In one occasion that I visited him, he called me to his room. He asked me about my health, as he learned that I had undergone a stress test that showed four blocked arteries in my heart.  What he said at that time is forever etched in my heart: “Son, I will die soon. I have money for my medication; but I believe you need this more than I do. I am giving you this to help you defray the cost of the operation. Live a full life.” 

The last time I saw him, we had dinner at home, and when he needed to stand up, he refused the help from anyone.  Sadly, I was not even in his bedside when he died.  (He told my wife that he’d wait for me to return, but I was one day late.)

I owe my life to my father, having been born into this world. I owe my life to my father, who inspired me to become a writer and to do my share in the betterment of society. I owe my life to my father, having obtained his financial support in my successful heart bypass surgery.

I could not say thank you to him before he died. Through this piece, I would like to tell the world of my gratitude to my father.  I love you, Dad. Thank you.