#MaryJaneLives

After 5 years in Indonesian prison, Mary Jane Veloso was sentenced to die on April 28 because of drug trafficking. Mary Jane was a victim of such crime last 2011. She was just trying to support her family and hope to find a better job in Indonesia when her recruiter deceived her by giving her a suitcase filled with more than two kilograms of heroine. With high hopes of doing a proper job in Indonesia and support her family, landing in the said country, she was shocked and defeated when the authorities found the suitcase with drugs and later on was imprisoned since.  After 5 years, we, the Filipino people, just heard about the situation just now. Maybe if not for some people who knew about this since had an uproar when the Indonesian Pres. Joko Widodo gave the death penalty for Mary Jane. By then, many have rallied in the Indonesian embassy and other places, asking for justice and some, most especially those who cannot rally, are posting prayers and support for the justice for Mary Jane in social medias. The government also find solutions and suddenly become driven to do diplomatic or whatsoever strategies and meetings for pleading the case of Mary Jane.


Until it was that day, lawyers and other political experts say that only a miracle could help Mary Jane because Pres. Widodo was really pushing through the death penalty for it will strengthen support for his position. But everyone pleads mercy and there will always be no justice in killing. Everyone was fighting for justice and standing up for it. Pres. Aquino talked to Pres. Widodo and asked for a plea, others said that he "broke protocols" (as if it should be headlined) just to save Mary Jane. Mary Jane's recruiter also came out of the open, looking guilty asking for forgiveness, turned herself to the authorities. #SaveMaryJane trended in twitter worldwide and there were petitions to save her. Global protests didn't stop even to the last minute. I, myself, signed the petition and by that, I believed that my voice, our voice, for protest can be heard in such a way.

Picture above was a message just hours before the execution. It is an update of hope.

Then finally! A miracle happened in our sleep and for others who are still praying and hoping. Everyone rejoiced when Mary Jane Veloso was spared from execution that day. The Indonesian authorities said it was because of the president Aquino's plea and Mary Jane's recruiter just turned herself to the authorities. With that, investigation must be continued, said Pres. Widodo.

Though it was sad that the other 8 prisoners was still executed. Their countries was outraged by the decision made the Indonesian President. We were outraged that death penalties are still active in the world. But that would be another issue. 

The important thing is when people choose to stand for justice, miracles happen. When we always resort for mercy and prayers, it can always move mountains. We always have to remember that we have an amazing Lord God. But there was this:

Well, maybe Mary Jane's reprieve was due to legal process - credit for her lawyers and yea, the government's "actions". But it was never an issue of credit because when it comes into fighting for justice, everyone did their parts in asking for it and standing for it. A beautiful thing about these global protests is that you know that the support is there, that everyone is standing on your back and you feel that you are not the only one fighting. It was what happened with Mary Jane Veloso and probably that's what she felt and what her families felt. They were fighting with full of distress for the past five years and knowing now that they are not alone on this, that gave them more strength to fight and to hope. And for me, that's what matters. That even in the darkest moments, you feel that you are not alone and someone will remind you that God have His plans and reasons. And now that her sentence to die was delayed and everyone's efforts were not wasted, remember what the authorities said earlier the day of her supposed end - that only miracles can help her. Now, we have to acknowledge that a miracle had happened. Yes, thanks to those who must be credited. But Mary Jane lives, and people fought for her and she was still alive and breathing. For now, let's take a breath, continue praying and ready to stand again over something worth standing for.