Archbishop Cruz: Do good by helping countrymen during typhoon

Archbishop emeritus Oscar Cruz has advised the public to do good deeds this Lenten season by helping those who may be affected by the typhoon that is threatening to hit the country on Holy Week.

Typhoon “Maysak,” which will be called “Chedeng” when it enters the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday evening or early Thursday, will hit the country during the Holy Week break when many will be traveling to and from the provinces.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Wednesday said the typhoon, packing maximum sustained winds of 190 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 225 kph, was expected to make landfall by late Saturday to early Sunday on the eastern part of Central or northern Luzon.

“Holy Week is often deemed as the time to repent for our sins. But there are actually two kinds of sins,” Archbishop Cruz told Radyo Inquirer on Wednesday.

“It is a sin to do wrongful acts but it is also a sin to refrain from doing good deeds. It is okay to avoid wrongful acts, but we should also do good deeds.”

The retired archbishop then advised the public to do good deeds by aiding those who might be affected by the typhoon.

“We can help even in a small way; it doesn’t have to be grand or heroic … let’s donate, let’s give, let’s help, let’s be one with them and sympathize—those are considered good acts.”

Archbishop Cruz also has a suggestion on what government officials should ponder on during the Holy Week.

“If they ever did things that are not acceptable—they should know it even if they’re not Christians—they should (go back to) the Ten Commandments of God. It is clear there that there are things that we should not do,” said the former Lingayen-Dagupan archbishop.

“Kung meron man sa kanila, at mukhang meron nga na nagkamali dito, nakagawa ng masama sa mga kapwa nila, ay sana konting sipag naman po, konting integrity and honesty po (If there are some of them who have done wrong to others, and some of them have, hopefully they would show a little more effort, a little integrity and honesty).”

Archbishop Cruz also said that people should practice more the virtues of mercy and compassion and help those who are suffering from poverty, as Pope Francis taught when he visited the Philippines in January. Melizza Jane Tacang/RC