MANILA, Philippines -- “I am just a messenger.”

This was how Father Amado Picardal described himself after enduring four flat tires, a crash, and pedaling a bicycle for 3,134.6 kilometers through Mindanao, the Visayas, and Luzon to deliver a message of life and peace to the very doorstep of Malacañang.

At a press conference Saturday at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines compound in Intramuros, Manila, Picardal appeared weary yet ecstatic over being so close to one of his “side trips” -- handing his personal appeal to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Clad in his yellow-and-black-streaked biking outfit, the priest told reporters that he had been riding his white Merida mountainbike for the last 34 days from Davao through Bukidnon, Bohol, Cebu, Panay, Mindoro, Cagayan Valley, Aparri, Laoag, Abra, Baguio, Alaminos, Bataan, and Manila.

“From Bataan I biked 157 kilometers to Manila and I have 22 more days to go in this 56-day, 5,000 kilometer journey of peace and life. Part of this journey is to deliver a message to the President,” he said, revealing that he has endured four flat tires in Cagayan, Cordillera, Iba, Zambales, and San Fernando, Pampanga and a crash in Cordillera in his trip.

“My purpose is to propagate the good news of life and peace. Delivering the letter is not my main purpose for biking. I don’t want to focus my biking on moves to seek the President’s resignation. Delivering the letter is just a side trip. I am doing this to propagate the pro-life and pro-peace culture,” said the Redemptorist priest.

In the two-page letter dated March 23 that he is scheduled to deliver on Sunday to the Palace after celebrating Mass at the Baclaran Redemptorist Church at 6 a.m., he introduced himself as a 54-year-old Catholic priest who is biking around the country “to preach the good news of life and peace in a land where the culture of death, violence, and corruption prevails.”

He revealed that he biked eight years ago for the same cause under the administration of then President Estrada. And when Arroyo assumed office, he was happy and thought it would no longer be necessary for him to make such a journey on a bicycle again.

“Now as I look at our situation, I am filled with disappointment and indignation. After seven years under your administration, what you promised remained a dream,” the letter stated, referring to the era of new politics that the President promised in her inaugural address following Estrada’s ouster.

The priest lamented the continuing armed conflict in Mindanao, the extrajudicial killings, the environmental destruction, and the prevalent “corrupt patronage politics,” which he alleged the President was at the center of.

“Even if I wish you would resign, I will not ask you to step down because I know it will be futile. You intend to hold on to power and finish your term,” Picardal stated.

Nevertheless he said that the President can still redeem herself and live up to her promises by using the remaining years of her presidency to resume the peace process in Mindanao; to investigate thoroughly extrajudicial killings, bring the perpetrators to justice, and put an end to the killings; to protect the environment by implementing a total log ban, repealing the mining act, and prohibiting aerial spraying; and to allow the investigation on corruption to continue even if those involved are close to her under the cloak of executive privilege and prevent corruption in all levels.

“Madam President, do not allow yourself to be dominated by the dark side but live in the light. Instead of perpetuating the culture of death and corruption, may you promote the culture of life, peace, and good governance. Think of what legacy you are going to leave behind. Remember you will face the judgment of history and God,” he wrote, concluding his letter.

Picardal confessed that he does not expect the President to meet him when he bikes from Baclaran to Malacañang on Sunday.

“I am just a messenger. I echo what I hear from the people. I resonate this, I will be speaking in behalf of the people because I agree with these things,” he said, adding, “I have done my part. I hope she listens because her legacy is at stake.”

After he delivers the letter, the priest said that he will ride his bicycle back to Davao for the 1,865.4 kilometer remainder of his 5,000 kilometer journey.

“I will be going back, whether she listens or not though I hope she does. There is no pressure on her. I have expressed what I and many others feel… It is up to her,” Picardal said.

“Whether she meets me or not, I go my way on my bicycle and do something I enjoy doing,” he said.

Throughout his journey, he has preached respect for life, peace, and protecting the environment in more than 30 or his targeted 56 churches. He revealed that he never mentioned the President in any of his sermons but only denounced the culture of violence and death.

“If the situation persists in the term of the next President, I will still be biking even if I am old,” he added, with a laugh.