Tagle to guide Cebu voters, candidates in recollection
About 500 people are expected to attend today’s “discernment recollection” in Cebu City for voters and candidates.
Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle will be the event’s main speaker in the activity whose theme is “Listening: Key to Genuine and Effective Companioning of Public Servants.”
Some candidates are expected to attend the activity at the Sacred Heart Center but their names were not disclosed.
“This will not be an event for debate and grandstanding. Instead, candidates are invited to reflect,” said Jenny Tan, project coordinator of Dilaab’s Circles of Discernment for Empowerment. She said invitations were sent to all candidates.
A unique aspect of the recollection is Dilaab’s promotion of the use of the LASER Test to guide voters in choosing leaders.
LASER stands for criteria for electing candidates – Lifestyle, Action, Supporters, election Conduct and Reputation.
The activity is organized by Dilaab and the Couples for Christ.
Two sessions will be held. From 9 a.m. to 12 noon, the partcipants will be voters, including priests and religious communities, officials of the Comelec, PNP, and Department of Justice, and other stakeholders .
From 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., the session is set aside for candidates.
“The journey to become an elected public servant is difficult and hard physically, emotionally financially and morally. Only those who believe in God and fear Him can withstand the rigors of such process and keep his moral integrity,” said the invitation of Fr. Carmelo Diola, Dilaab executive director.
“One must find his or her quiet time to relate to his soul and understand his and her purpose and role in this sacred activity. One needs to discern and listen.”
Tagle, 56, will join next month’s conclave in Rome to choose the successor of Pope Benedict XVI.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, in a circular, endorsed the activtity.
“(This event) highlights the value of listening to the various roles we play as engaged citizens during elections,” he said.
