President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday said he was hoping that Filipinos will always choose what is right and just, amid the country’s progress in curbing corruption and poverty and ahead of the May national polls that will elect a new chief executive.
In his Lenten message for the observance of the Holy Week, Aquino urged Filipinos to be more united in prayer and in love as he touched on the achievements of the administration’s reform on good governance.
“Sa pag-ikot po natin sa bansa, harapan kong nakikita ang layo ng ating narating kumpara sa ating dinatnan. Napakasarap pong gunitain ang dami ng ating napagtagumpayan ng halos walang dagdag na pabigat sa bawat isang nakiambag,” Aquino said in a video message.
(As we went around the country, I saw how far we have already come. It’s great to remember our many victories where we hardly had any encumbrance.)
“Ang panalangin ko: Lalo pa nating paigtingin ang pagmamahal sa kapwa at lagi tayong pumanig sa tama at makatwiran. Sa ating pagkakaisa at pagsunod sa ehemplo ni Hesukristo, makakamit natin ang lahat ng ating minimithi,” he added.
(My prayer is that we strengthen our love towards others and that we side with what is right and just. In our unity and our observance to Jesus’s example, we achieve our goals.)
Aquino said Filipinos should follow Christ as a role model in doing what is good and in making sacrifices despite persecution and judgment from other people.
“Samakatuwid, pag-ibig ang dumaing sa mga hamong hinarap ng sanlibutan. Maaalala natin sa hardin sa Gethsemane, alam ni Hesus ang lahat ng kanyang haharapin. Alam niyang pagtataksilan siya ng isa niyang kasamahan. Alam niyang dadaan siya sa hagupit ng latigo, sa hapdi ng koronang tinik at sa sakit ng mga pako sa kamay at paa,” he said.
(Love conquered all the challenges in the world. We can remember in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus knew what He was going to face. He knew the betrayal of his disciple. He knew he was going to go through lashing of the whip, the pain of the crown of thorns, and the agony of the nail in His hands and feet.)
“Kung tutuusin, bilang bugtong na Anak ng Diyos, pwede namang iniwasan na lang niya ang lahat ng mga pasakit ngunit batid ni Hesukristo ang kanyang dakilang misyon. Bukal sa puso niyang inialay ang kanyang sarili para matupad ang kalooban ng Diyos. Ang pagmamahal na ipinamalas niya ang naging tulay sa ating kaligtasan,” Aquino added.
(In fact, as the only Son of God, He could have avoided all of that but he knew his noble mission. He wholeheartedly gave himself to fulfill God’s purpose. The love He showed became our bridge to salvation.)
The President said it was Jesus’ lessons on love and sacrifices that served as the government’s building blocks in its fight against poverty and corruption in the past years.
“Wala nga pong hihigit sa ehemplo ng sakripisyo at pagmamahal kundi ang buhay ni Hesukristo. Kung ang ating Panginoon mismo ay handang ibigay ang sarili sa karaniwang tao, hindi ba’t mas handa dapat tayong kumilos para sa kapakanan ng ating kapwa?” Aquino said.
(Nothing can surpass the example of sacrifice and love but the life of Jesus. If our Lord Himself readily gave himself to normal people, shouldn’t we be more ready to act for others’ welfare?)
“Sa pag-ibig natin sa kapwa, alinsunod sa aral ng Panginoon, buong loob nating isinulong ang Daang Matuwid. Nilaban natin ang korupsyon at kahirapan upang maipamana ang mas maliwanag na bukas sa mga susunod na salinlahi,” he added.
(In our love to others, according to teachings of God, we push forward the “straight path.” We fought against corruption and poverty so that we can bequeath a brighter future to the next generation.) JE
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