Drilon, Nancy Binay urge Filipinos to strengthen faith

By: Maila Ager - 11 years ago

Catholic faithful in Binondo and Quiapo walked through the last moments of Jesus’ life to renew their faith on Maundy Thursday. Video by INQUIRER.net’s Ryan Leagogo

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Nancy Binay is urging all Filipinos to strengthen their faith this Holy Week so that “true reconciliation” and “redemption” will be achieved.

“As a Christian nation, we hold onto Christ’s promise of salvation. He suffered and died so that we may fully live,” Binay, an opposition member, said in a statement Wednesday.

“And as we renew our faith and reconnect with Jesus Christ in this Season of Lent, may we reflect on His passion and death on the cross by remembering the millions of Filipinos who bear every day the pains brought by the thorns of life, and those who continue to endure carrying crosses on their shoulders,” she said.

Binay noted that the hardships and challenges that Filipinos are facing now were “incomparable to the suffering and death of Christ on the Cross.”

“The crucifixion of Jesus Christ symbolizes both suffering and salvation—it also mirrors our pain and healing,” she said.

Senate President Franklin Drilon and Senator Nancy Binay INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The senator then urged Filipinos to strengthen their faith “by taking an active role in society and in the Church, so that true reconciliation and redemption will be realized.”

“Salvation is central to our faith—and for our journey ahead—yes, there is hope for all of us,” she further said.

In his Lenten message early this week, Senate President Franklin Drilon also reminded everyone that “Lent is a time of deep reflection as well as renewal.”

“We must all remember what Jesus said: “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me,'” Drilon said.

Lent, he said, is also an occasion “to think more profoundly about the obligations we have to ourselves, and the obligations we have to one another as human beings.”

“Christ demonstrated God’s unconditional love for us. He taught us the importance of helping others. We must therefore refocus our goals and values so that they are truly consistent with the teachings of Christ,” Drilon added.