200 priests march to honor Gomburza

‘ALAY LAKAD’ More than 200 priests join the Manila Archdiocese clergy in a penitential walk to pray for Filipino voters when they choose the country’s new leaders in the May elections.—PHOTO COURTESY OF JHENG PRADO

More than 200 priests joined the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila (RCAM) clergy on Thursday in an “alay lakad” or penitential walk from Manila Cathedral to the Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guia in Ermita to pray for the Filipino voters as they choose the next leaders in the May elections.

“We ask our fellow Filipinos to be maka-Diyos kaya makabayan (godly therefore patriotic), to discern their choice well, and prefer leaders who embody and promote the values of the Kingdom of God,” the archdiocese said in a statement.

The liturgical activity was conducted on Feb. 17 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the martyrdom of Fathers Mariano Gomes, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora, collectively known as Gomburza.

The three diocesan priests were publicly executed in Luneta after being framed by the Spanish colonial government in 1872 for allegedly committing treason and sedition.

Duty bound

“Indeed, Apolinario Mabini aptly described the circumstances of their death: ‘Slandered, they died like Christ … and so Filipinos keep them in grateful and imperishable memory, and venerate them as martyrs of justice,” the clergy said.

The Manila archdiocese underscored that every Christian is duty bound to participate in creating and renewing the nation, “giving the best of ourselves in the service of common good.”

“We do not say ‘maka-Diyos pero makabayan’ because these two values are not opposed to each other. We also do not say ‘maka-Diyos at makabayan’ because love of country is not a mere addendum that is juxtaposed to love of God,” the clergy said.

“Rather, we say ‘maka-Diyos kaya makabayan’ because true heroism is borne of holiness, and true holiness issues into service for justice,” it added.

Different kind of sacrifice

The penitential walk was overall a good experience as the priests endured the rain while walking from Manila Cathedral to the execution site in Luneta, according to Fr. Reginald Malicdem, RCAM spokesperson.

“I thought we would get wet because of sweat under the heat of the sun but the priests did a different kind of sacrifice,” he said, adding that some were even asking him if they should stop for a while.In preparation for the coming elections, Malicdem said they were starting to organize the different Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting in communities and parishes.

“We have also started doing a discernment process of the circles of discernment in parishes and churches … and these can be done wherever the people can gather,” he said.

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