The political priest. The church leader. The power player who helped oust two corrupt presidents. Jaime Cardinal Sin was all of these and more. He certainly has been one of the most important figures in recent Philippine history.

 Born in the small coastal village of New Washington in the central province of Aklan, Jaime Lachica Sin was the son of an immigrant Chinese merchant and a Filipina. His mother, one of the biggest influences in his life, was a fervently devout catholic, having convinced her Chinese Buddhist suitor to convert to Catholicism before she consented to his proposal of marriage.

 Sin, the 14^th of 16 children, was supposed to follow in his entrepreneur father’s footsteps, but he fulfilled his mother’s wish that one of her children enter the priesthood. He entered the San Vicente Ferrer Seminary in Iloilo city at the age of 11. he was ordained in April 1954; his early career as a priest was uncontroversial. Sin became the youngest member of the Vatican’s College of Cardinals when he was made a prince of the Church at the age of 47.

It was after Cardinal Sin was officially installed as the Archbishop of Manila in 1973 that he entered the limelight of the country’s history. He was among the handful of people who dared to openly stand up against President Ferdinand Marcos, who had imposed martial rule the previous year. The popularity of the Church rose dramatically under Sin’s watch. Thanks to his defiant stand, he was seen by the masses as a symbol of resistance against the Marcos regime. Sin carried the fight against Marcos with courage and determination, lending strength to other freedom fighters and activists during the turbulent times of the martial law.

TURNING POINT

 The assassination of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. Marcos’ main political opponent, at the Manila Airport on August 1983 was the turning point for Cardinal Sin. He was a very close friend of Aquino, and for the country’s sake, he convinced Aquino’s widow Corazon to run against Marcos in the February 1986 snap election. Following the ballot, which was flawed by massive cheating, Sin then played a major role in rallying the people’s support for the peaceful revolt that ousted Marcos. Sin went on radio and called on Filipinos to surround Camps Crame and Aguinaldo with a human barricade to protect a small mutiny led by Marcos’ deputy commander Fidel Ramos and defense minister Juan Ponce Enrile. More than a million people heeded the call and jammed a large portion of EDSA in Quezon City to prevent the Marcos forces from attacking the mutineers. Marcos fled and Mrs. Aquino became the country’s first woman president. Dubbed “People Power”, the non-violent revolt became the blueprint for bringing about changes in the authoritarian regimes in Eastern Europe.

"Politics

 without Christ

 is the greatest

 scourge of

 our  nation."

- Cardinal Sin,
in his retirement speech in 2003

Yet even with the Marcos’ removal of power, the country’s problems continued, partly because of the system-wide corruption that blossomed under Marcos. The witty archbishop once cleverly remarked, “We got rid of Ali Baba, but the 40 thieves remained.” In January 2001, Sin also helped lead “People Power 2” – street protests that were once again centered on EDSA, leading to the ouster of President Joseph Estrada over allegations of corruption and misrule. In 2003, an ailing Sin, suffering kidney ailments, retired after serving as Manila Archbishop for 29 years, and spent his time in quiet seclusion in his residence in Mandaluyong City.

 While he was revered by most Filipinos, Sin was often criticized for his active advocacies. Critics branded him a “politician-priest” and said that he interfered in political matters in which the church should have kept its distance, citing the policy of separation of church and state. To this, Sin replied, “Politics without Christ is the greatest scourge of our nation,” in his retirement speech in 2003.

 INSTRUMENT FOR CHANGE

 Perhaps Cardinal Sin will best be remembered for his strong statements on the important issues affecting the country. Sin strongly opposed changes to the Philippine Constitution. He believed that Charter change would only benefit politicians, a “poorly disguised pursuit of self-interest.” He also campaigned for clean and honest elections, citing electoral fraud as the trigger that caused the 1986 EDSA revolution. The Archbishop issued guidelines that would help voters elect the country’s next public officials. In President Fidel V. Ramos’ time, the government’s health department, led then by Secretary Juan Flavier, strongly pushed for a family planning program with the use of artificial contraceptives. Cardinal Sin led the Catholic Church in opposing the plan; he said that contraceptive use would only promote promiscuity.

 Like his friend, the late Pope John Paul II, Sin won the respect of people from all walks of life. “We Filipinos will truly miss Cardinal Sin. He earned respect among Catholics and non-Catholics alike because of his countless social contributions to the nation,” said Louie, a businessman from Manila. In fact, during Pope John Paul’s first historic trip to the country, he chose to stay at Cardinal Sin’s residence instead of the government-built Coconut Palace. “We are thankful to God, who has given us two great men who had both touched the lives of so many people, Pope John Paul II and Cardinal Sin,” sys Mikee, an office assistant from Makati.

Despite the criticisms against him, Jaime Cardinal Sin was as inspirational leader. He was decisive and courageous, strong-willed and intellectual, and yet he truly cared for his flock, the Filipino Catholic populace. “He stood against Marcos when many others, including those in the Church, refused to take sides. Some may disagree with the political stances he took, but he was brave enough to speak out for what he felt was moral, even if society found his views inconvenient and sometimes too traditional,” remarks Marlon, a student in Quezon City. Even those who vehemently disagreed with his policies and his views will agree that he only had the best interests of the Philippines at heart.

 Jaime Cardinal Sin served the people unconditionally. He was truly an instrument for change. Filipinos everywhere hope that his legacy of taking a stand and doing what is best for the country will live on forever. DP