MANILA, Philippines — To trolls who hide behind social media accounts and peddlers of fake news, do you know how to love truthfully? Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle asked this question during his homily on Good Friday.
Tagle, who delivered his homily at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, called out those who hide their real identities on social media to spread negativity online.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle. INQUIRER.NET PHOTO/CATHY MIRANDA
“Sa social media, kung anu-anong pangalan ang ginagamit, minsan nga hindi pangalan eh, kung ikaw ay totoo, gamitin mo ang pangalan mo, wag kang magtatago sa kung anu-ano. ‘Hagipis,’ naku, maniwala akong ‘Hagipis’ ang pangalan mo. Kasi ang ‘Hagipis’ matapang, duwag ka eh, tinatago mo ang pangalan mo, ang nagmamahal, totoo,” he said.
“At dahil gumagamit ng ibang pangalan, nagtatapang-tapangan, kung manira, kung bumatikos. Matapang lang kasi hindi niya inaamin ang tunay niyang pangalan. Nakakapagduda, ang mga sinungaling marunong ba yang magmahal?” he added.
Christ’s exmaple
Tagle recalled the encounter Jesus Christ had with his captors and emphasized how He did not lie about his identity, which showed His genuine love for the people.
“Dumating ang dadakip kay Hesus. Hindi nila kilala si Hesus. Si Hesus pa nga ang nagtanong, ‘Sino ang hinahanap ninyo?’ Sabi nila ‘Si hesus na taga-Nazaren.’ Sabi nun ni Hesus: ‘Ako si Hesus’” he said.
“Si Hesus na nagmahal totoo, at kahit para sakanyang kapakanan, pwede siyang lumusot. [Pero] hindi,” he added.
Victim of fake news
Speaking from his own experience, Tagle also shared that he had discovered false information about his supposed death masquerading as news posted on social media.
“Nung isang taon po, January 31, may nagpadala sa akin na isang naka-post daw na balita na ako ay namatay. Ako raw ay namatay sa Cardinal Santos Hospital, napapaligiran ng aking mga magulang at mahal sa buhay at mapayapa ko raw na hinarap ang huling sandali,” he said.
He also said he found four unauthorized Facebook accounts under his name.
“Ako po ay nakadiskubre na meron akong apat na Facebook accounts na ginagamit ang pangalan ko, hindi naman ako ang nagbukas,” Tagle said.
“May pangalan ka naman siguro eh, may pangalan ka, gamitin mo. Ba’t mo hinihiram ang pangalan ko…pagnanakaw ‘yan ng identity,” he added.
Message to the youth
Meanwhile, as the Catholics’ Bishop Conference of the Philippines celebrates the “Year of the Youth” this 2019, Tagle’s homily also zeroed in on young people.
He urged the youth not to carry the character of thinking solely of their own welfare.
This as he drew parallel on St. Peter, who denied connections with Jesus Christ to protect himself.
“Mga kabataan, ‘wag na ‘wag ninyong gagawin ‘yan, kasi kapag nasanay kayo na ipahamak ang iba para lamang maisalba ang sarili, kasasanayan ninyo yan,” he said.
“Ang tunay na nagmamahal, poprotektahan ang iba. Hindi ipapain ang iba, para lamang siya ang maligtas. Mga kabataan simulan nagyon ang pagiging marangal na tao, hindi nagpapahamak ng iba,” he added. /gsg