Celdran: Bagong Bayani

Dressed as Jose Rizal, Manila's famous tour guide Carlos Celdran walked into the Manila Cathedral, went to the altar, raised a sign that says DAMASO (in reference to Jose Rizal's antagonist in Noli me Tangere) and shouted "Stop meddling in politics!". Now that's what I call guts. For all the hot air and bluster I've been hearing from the Palace about supporting the Reproductive Health Bill, what Celdran did was a breath of fresh air. Celdran was later arrested and charged with violation of Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code.

What the priests and bishops failed to realize that they played right into Celdran's hands. This is exactly why he was garbed as Jose Rizal. What the church demonstrated when they had Celdran arrested was that they were in fact the modern day Damasos ordering the arrest of a modern day Rizal and putting him behind bars. But what Celdran did was merely an exercise in freedom of expression, something the church cannot fully understand since it is anchored in dogma written in the middle ages.

If the church continues with its threats against the government's plan to push for Reproductive Health, then we are seeing the end of days of the church's holier-than-thou meddling in politics and I would not be the least bit surprised if activists replicate this action by Celdran. Let's see if the church can take a dose of civil disobedience.

As for Celdran, I say stay strong. We are behind you 100%.