UNA prays critics will have change of heart this Holy Week

By: Yuji Vincent Gonzales - 9 years ago

Vice President Jejomar Binay. Marc Jayson Cayabyab/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) on Wednesday said they are hoping that the commemoration of Holy Week would pave the way for their critics, particularly alleged detractors of the party’s standard-bearer Vice President Jejomar Binay, to have a change of heart.

“Forgiveness is the message of Holy Week—and with all sincerity, we pray that the anger and hate in the hearts of critics and detractors be transformed into gestures of charity and compassionate connection to our fellow Filipinos who are in pain and suffering from poverty and injustice,” UNA President Tobias “Toby” Tiangco said in a statement.

READ: Belmonte calls for ‘political ceasefire’ on Holy Week

Tiangco said the opposition party joins the rest of the Filipino people in the solemn observance of the Christian tradition as they pray for “sincere compassion, genuine forgiveness and reconciliation.”

“Ang bawat Pilipino ay may dalang piraso ng krus sa kanilang buhay—silang mga nawawalan ng pag-asa at pinagkaitan ng mga pangarap—nawa’y ating ipanalangin na manumbalik ang kanilang sigla at palakasin ang kanilang pananampalataya,” Tiangco said.

(All Filipinos are carrying pieces of cross in their lives—those who are losing hope and deprived of dreams—let us all pray that they may regain their enthusiasm and strengthen their faith.)

“In observance of the passion of Jesus Christ, may we turn our attention to a deeper sense of spirituality and personal acts of faith,” he added.

READ: Poe on Lenten ‘political ceasefire’: I did not fire the first shot

Less than two months before the upcoming May presidential elections, the Navotas representative also urged Filipinos to be united in prayer “so that we may show our unanimity in advancing the welfare of the entire nation.”

“With all sincere intentions, we in UNA consider it essential to observe prayer and sacrifice during this Paschal Triduum, and we have adjusted our schedules for everyone to have a meaningful moment of reflection with their families and loved ones this Holy Week,” Tiangco said.

“Higit kailanman—sa kabila ng mga pagtuligsa at pananakit—panalangin namin na ating makamit ang tunay na pagpapatawad, pagkakaisa at paigtingin ang tunay na diwa ng malasakit sa kapwa hindi lamang sa panahon ng Kwaresma,” he added.

(Despite criticisms and hurt, we pray that we may achieve genuine forgiveness, unity and deepen the true meaning of compassion to our fellow [countrymen] not only this Lent.) RAM