Sen. Risa Hontiveros, FILE PHOTO / Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — An opposition lawmaker, a Catholic bishop and activists from various sectors urged the Filipino people to offer prayers for the country during a “Mass for Justice and Peace” to be held a few hours ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona) next week.
During a virtual pre-Sona press conference on Monday, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, who will lead the scheduled Mass, pointed out that “real peace is based on justice.”
“Ang hinahangad natin ay kaayusan, and hinahangad po natin ay peace. Pero ‘di magkakaroon ng peace kung walang justice,” Pabillo said.
(What we long for is orderliness, what we long for is peace. But we cannot have peace without justice.)
“Ang panawagan natin ay magdasal tayo sa July 27 for the people to wake up and to be conscious about what is happening around [them] and at the same time panawagan sa leaders natin, na makinig naman sa panawagan ng mga tao,” he added.
(We are calling for prayers on July 27, for the people to wake up and to be conscious about what is happening around [them] and at the same time a call to our leaders to listen to the appeal of the people.)
Pabillo said he hopes the President’s Sona would give the Filipino people an insight to genuine state of the country, especially amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros said she expects that the President would deliver a speech that would give assurance to the public, adding that the past years of his administration has sowed more fear than peace.
“Ang takot na ito ay mas lalong naging masahol ngayong may pandemya at dahil sa kakulangan ng epektibong pamumuno. Ang kawalan ng isang malinaw at masinop na plano kontra-Covid, ang nakakahilong magkakasalungat na anunsyo ng mga opisyales ng gobyerno, ang hindi epektibong pagpatakbo ng Social Amelioration Program, ang paggamit ng pwersa laban sa mamamayan, ay ilan lamang sa mga halimbawa kung paano napabayaan ang publiko,” she said.
(The feeling of fear is much worse these days because of the pandemic and because of the ineffectiveness of the response. A lack of clear plan against COVID-19, the confusing and conflicting statements of government officials and the delayed implementation of the Social Amelioration Program, are some of the examples to prove that the Filipino public has been neglected.)
Duterte’s Sona should reflect that the government’s response to a pandemic is well-thought of, that there is still justice in the country and that the lives of every Filipino is treated with dignity, the opposition lawmaker said.
This, as the recently signed anti-terror law is feared to be used to crack down on legitimate dissent against the government.
“Nananaig man minsan ang takot, dapat hindi tayo maduwag. Hindi tayo dapat mawalan ng pag-asa. Hindi tayo dapat mawalan ng tiwala. Faith, not fear,” Hontiveros told the public.
(Fear sometimes prevails, but we should not be afraid. We should not lose hope. We should not lose trust. Faith, not fear.)
In urging her countrymen to participate in the event to pray for the country and protest for what is right, she said she has ever since believed that even Jesus Christ is an activist.
The Mass will be held on July 27 from 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the Manila Cathedral and will be live streamed online.
“Bilang isang habangbuhay na Katoliko na galing sa progresibong tradisyon, matagal ko nang niyakap ang paniniwalang si Hesukristo ay aktibista rin,” the senator said.
(As a Catholic who lived progressively, I have long believed that Jesus Christ is an activist.)
“While He walked this earth, He not only fed the hungry and healed the sick but he also challenged authorities by exposing their hypocrisies and making people imagine a world that is both just and ideal,” she added.
Hontiveros then cited a bible verse from Hebrews 11:1, which states that “[f]aith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
“Sa gitna ng isang napakadilim na yugto ng ating bansa, kumapit tayo sa ating pananampalataya at pagtitiwala,” she said.
(Amid the dark chapter that our country is currently facing, let’s hold on to our faith and our belief.)
“Pananampalataya sa Diyos at pagtitiwala na bukas ay may liwanag din,” she added.
(Faith in God and our belief that tomorrow would eventually bring us light.)