Poncardas Romas, Ex-Christian, Philippines
I was born on December 2, 1959, in Kawit, Kauswagan, Lanao del
Norte, Philippines. Since birth my parents were devoted Seventh Day
Adventists, one of the thousand branches in Christendom. I was a
former Evangelist of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA). Since
childhood until I became Muslim in 1981, I had been a devoted
SDA.
My Father's Background
My father was a former member of the ILAGA and CHDF (Civilian Home
Defense Force) formed by a former dictator, President Ferdinand
Edralin Marcos. The Ilonggo Land Grabbing Association (ILAGA) is
the name given to a cultic group of Christians who are trained to
grab Muslim lands and annihilate Muslims in Southern Philippines.
ILAGA members believe that they have an invisible bulletproof vest
and some believe bullets do not hit them. They used to cut, roast,
and eat the right ears of their victims, literally. Then, they make
ashes of the remaining ears, and make these ashes as amulet
(perfume-liquid bottles). The ILAGA members believe that the more
Muslims they kill, the more power they will possess.
Brainwashing in Childhood
In childhood I was indoctrinated (brainwashed) that Muslims are
pagans. We believed that Muslims are warlike people, traitors,
happy to kill non-Muslims, lawless, and all negative attributes of
humanity are in the Muslims' doctrines. Actually when I was a
Christian, I did not know the difference between Islam, Muslim, and
Moros-I believed they were all synonymous with paganism. What I
knew about Muslims was that "they were pagans and idiots!"
Personal Background
I was brought up in a conservative Christian educational
institution (church school). In my early days of childhood we were
trained to open the Bible quickly and explain the meaning of the
text day and night. We were also trained to deliver speeches at the
pulpit as smart as we could. In my youth, I conducted countless
Ministerial works in the Seventh Day Adventist Churches. I studied
at Southern Mindanao Academy, Managa, Davao del Sur; Matutum View
Academy, Tupi, South Cotabato; Notre Dame of General Santos City;
Forest Hills Academy, Bayugan 1, Agusan del Sur; and completed my
college degree at the Silliman University, Dumaguete City. Silliman
University was founded and supported by Protestant American
philanthropists, a sister University of the UNIVERSITY OF
PHILIPPINES (UP). I obtained a degree in Bachelor of Arts, major in
Speech and Theatre, and a junior college degree in Mass
Communication. In my youth, I was a battalion commander in
paramilitary training. I was then the Senior Students' president,
and the Chairman of the Youth Organization, Science Club President,
and Sabbath School Superintendent.
Training Ground
In 1981, I was trained extensively in Pagadian City, Philippines
how to preach Christianity, particularly in Muslim community, and
with the pretext of selling medical books under the banner of
Adventism. We were later formed into groups and were assigned in
Zamboanga City, Southern Philippines to conduct house-to-house and
office-to-office evangelism. Our main targets were to raise funds
and to spread our doctrines and convert the Muslims to Christianity
(Adventism). Even today there are Christian Institutions in the
heart of the Muslim community in Mindanao whose main motive is to
gradually Christianize the Muslims.
First Encounter
One day in Zamboanga City, I was assigned at the Al-Malin Shipping
Line Office, district of Santa Barbara, to do our jobs. That is
where I had my first encounter with a Muslim intellectual. His name
is Najeeb Razul Fernandez, formerly Samuel Fernandez, who was also
a former Seventh Day Adventist-Evangelist. We discovered later that
we were neighbors during our childhood, and our parents and his
uncle's family (Memong Fernandez) were close friends and
neighbors.
Proper Encounter
I introduced myself to Mr. Najeeb Razul Fernandez. He warmly
welcomed me and asked my purpose of visiting his office. He was a
liaison officer that time at Al-Malin Shipping Line Office. He
asked me, "Are you Seventh Day Adventist?"
"Yes, of course!"
" Do you believe in Jesus Christ?"
"Of course! We would not be a Seventh Day Adventist, unless we
believe and follow Jesus Christ!"
He continued, "Your religion is Seventh Day Adventist, was Jesus
Christ a Seventh Day Adventist?"
I knew that if I answer "yes", the next question would be; "Can you
show me in your Bible that Jesus Christ was a Seventh Day
Adventist?" I knew well that there is no passage in the Bible that
mentions that Jesus Christ was an Adventist! I was shocked at the
question, because in my experience I never encountered such
question in my life. I tried my best to ignore his question, and I
talked of things which were not related to his question. He
repeated the question direct to my eyes, and said; "If you could
not answer that question, please bring that question to your team
leader and tell me his response."
Shocking Revelation
Then he related to me the true name and life of Jesus Christ (may
God praise him) whose name is Iesa Al-Maseeh ibn Maryam in the
Muslim world. Jesus was a prophet and messenger of God. The
religion of the Muslims and the prophets of Allah is Islam. And in
fact, the prophets of Allah (God) were Muslims. He also emphasized
that Islam teaches about the Day of Resurrection, Judgment Day,
Paradise, Hell-Fire, Angels, Prophethood, Morals, Divine Books,
etc. All these words were like thunderbolts that awakened me from a
deep sleep! After I heard those words I did convey them to my team
leader, and I asked him what the religion of Mary, Joseph, and
Jesus Christ was. He did not answer, instead I received warning not
to talk to Mr. Fernandez or I will be excommunicated. My team
leader's reaction had pushed me to investigate what Islam is all
about. It also sowed doubts to my belief being a Seventh Day
Adventist.
If indeed my belief is the truth, I am not supposed to be afraid to
deal with other religions!
I did not heed his warning. Again I went to Mr. Fernandez, then he
asked me "DID JOSEPH, MARY, THE 12 DISCIPLES WORSHIP JESUS CHRIST
AS GOD, AS YOU SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS DO TODAY?" I turned
speechless. I went back to our quarter in Zamboanga City, and
debated with my team leader! At that moment after our
confrontation, our team leader immediately ordered me to pack up my
things and leave. That time I could not accept that I was a Muslim.
My team leader and our whole group branded me that I became a
Muslim and not fit to do our task in Muslim community. With tears
and confusion, I was forced to leave my SDA companions. That was
the turning point which led me to research Islam and eventually
became a Muslim a few months later in September 1981, Isabela,
Basilan, Philippines
I pondered. The center of the Muslim world is in the Middle East!
If the West and the East knew the life of the Prophets, and
particularly Jesus' life, how about in the Middle East - the
birthplace of the Prophets, and where the Muslims are praying, in
the House of God,… built by Abraham, may God praise him. There are
almost two billion Muslims throughout the world, and more people
are embracing Islam daily than any other religion. Why? This trend
had challenged me to research history in the Middle East, and the
life of the last Prophet.
I had never believed that Muslims
believe in God
I never ever thought that Muslims believe in God, as well as the
above mentioned. What I had believed before was that Muslims are
people who are doomed to Hellfire. Some non-Muslims believe that
Muslims are like rats, a menace to a developed and peaceful
society. This might be the reason why some countries systematically
carry out ethnic cleansing and deprive Muslims of basic human
rights. Such state-sponsored activities were done in Bosnia,
Kosova, Kashmir, Chechnya, Mindanao, and the occupied territories
in Israel which originally belong to Palestinians. In my native
land, there is a well-known maxim which says: "A GOOD MUSLIM IS A
DEAD MUSLIM."
I embraced Islam because I found out that Islam is the true way of
life (religion) prescribed by God, given to the Prophets, and the
Quran is the only perfect book of God that has never been revised.
I am appealing to non-Muslims to know about Islam from the Quran
and authentic sayings or references written by Muslims.
Sad Reality
At time I write this article, the population of the Philippines has
reached 95 million, only 10% are Muslims. This means that more than
80 million are non-Muslims, and the majority of these non-Muslims
are Christians. Most Islamic propagators in the Philippines are
driven to Muslim-Arab Countries for economic survival. If our Arab
Muslim brothers are sincere to spread the message of Islam, why
don't they send us back to our country with substantial support to
propagate Islam there?
In Saudi Arabia 90% who embraced Islam are Filipinos. It is easy
for the Filipinos to understand Islam, because the original culture
and traditions of Filipinos are rooted in Islam. Historically,
Islam came to the Philippines in 1380, almost 200 years before
Christianity. Christianity came in the Philippines on March 16,
1521. Muslims remained a minority due to incessant civil war,
struggle for independence and enormous efforts and well-funded
activities of Christian Missionaries. The early Christians embraced
Christianity not because they love and understand Christianity.
They were forced to embrace Christianity through guns and cannons
brought by the Christian Spaniards.
Personally, spreading Islam to Christians is interesting and
challenging endeavor. Due to my background as energetic Evangelist
in SDA, I am enthusiastic in propagating Islam both publicly or
privately. Alhamdulillah! I strongly believe that light is for the
darkness: Likewise the non-Muslims need Islam for them to see that
light and embrace the truth.
By Poncardas Romas
The Religion of Islam
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