Lent is time for Duterte, everyone to change bad ways – Pabillo

Roman Catholic faithful receive ash from the palms used on last year’s Palm Sunday at St. Joseph’s Shrine in Quezon City on Ash Wednesday, February 17, which marks the beginning of Lent– the first of 40 days of fasting, prayer, and charitable acts observed by Christians. The IATF eases restrictions on religious gatherings and allowed 50 percent capacity on its venue to maintain physical distancing to curb the spread of the coronavirus.-INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — A number of devotees went to Quiapo Church to observe Ash Wednesday, which signifies the start of Lent – a liturgical season of prayer, fasting, reflection, and almsgiving for Christians. 

Attendees of the Mass inside and outside the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene received the ash, which symbolizes death and repentance, via sprinkling on their heads instead of the traditional application on one’s forehead in observance of health protocols enforced due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bishop Broderick Pabillo, the apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila, led the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. In a subsequent interview with members of the media, he was asked about any advice he could give to President Rodrigo Duterte.

The prelate has been one of Duterte’s staunch critics, especially on the administration’s war on drugs.

But he said his advice also goes out to anyone and everyone.

“Ang payo ko ay payo ko para sa lahat: na sana kunin natin itong panahon na ito, panahon ng pagbabago, at lahat naman tayo ay kailangang magbago, hindi naman makakasabi na ‘hindi ko na kailangang magbago’,” Pabillo told Radyo Inquirer.

(My advice for him is the same for everyone: that maybe, we could use this time as a time for change because we all need to change and no one can say, ‘I do not need to change anything.’)

“Magbago sa ating pananalita, sa ating pakikitungo sa kapwa, sa ating pagkalinga sa nangangailangan […] Nasa kanya [Duterte]na ‘yon, ito’y nasa diwa ng pagpasok natin dito, kaya lahat naman tayo ay nangangailangan ng pagbabago at nang paglapit sa Panginoong Diyos,” he added.

(Change the way we talk, the way we treat people, how care for those in need… It’s up to him [Duterte], it’s the essence of this season, that’s why all of us need to change and be closer to the Lord.)

Apart from this, Pabillo also appealed for charity and for Filipinos to help the less fortunate people especially in this time of a pandemic.

“Lalong-lalo na po ngayong panahon ng Covid-19, na maraming taong nangangailangan, at isa nga sa gawain ng Quaresma ay ang pagkawang-gawa,” Pabillo said.

(Especially nowadays as the Covid-19 pandemic left a lot of people needing help, one of the things we could do this Lenten season is to extend assistance.)

“Sana maging bukas tayo sa pangangailangan ng iba, at anumang matitipid natin sa ating pagpepenitensya, sa ating pag-aayuno ay maitulong natin sa nangangailangan,” he added.

(I hope we would be open to attending to others’ needs, and whatever we save from our penitence, from our abstinence, may we use it to help the less fortunate people.)

KGA