Robredo’s Christmas message: Spread hope, not fear, amid dark times
Spread hope and not fear; unity, not division.
This was the Christmas message of Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo amid what she called “darkness” shrouding the nation.
In a statement on Saturday, Robredo said she was saddened by a recent survey that showed fear among Filipinos. She was alluding to the recent Social Weather Stations survey that revealed 8 out 10 Filipinos are worried that they or someone they know would be killed amid the administration’s bloody war on drugs, which has claimed thousands of lives since President Rodrigo Duterte took office.
READ: Robredo urges Pinoys: Dispel darkness, bring happiness to PH
“Lubos kong ikinalulungkot ang pagkabahala ng ating bayan, sa panahong dapat tayo ay nagdiriwang (I’m very saddened by the anxiety of our nation at a time when we should be celebrating),” Robredo said in a video message on Christmas Eve.
But noting that even Christ was born in a time of suffering, the Vice President called on Filipinos to share a message of hope and love instead of fear and anger.
“Tandaan natin na si Hesukristo ay ipinanganak sa panahon ng pag-uusig at pagdurusa. Isang munting sanggol ang nagdala ng ilaw at pag-asa sa isang bayang balot sa takot. At ang munting sanggol na iyon ay siya ring nagdala ng kaligtasan sa buong sanlibutan (Let us remember that Jesus Christ was born at a time of persecution and suffering. A little child brought light and hope to a nation filled with fear. And that little child also brought salvation to the whole world),” Robredo said. “Sa tingin ko, hindi aksidente na ang unang nakatanggap ng balita ng kanyang pagsilang ay mga pastol—silang may mga simpleng pamumuhay (I think it was not an accident that shepherds first received the news of His birth—they had simple lives).”
“Ang mensaheng natanggap ng mga pastol ay mensahe para sa ating lahat. Ang bawat isa sa atin ay inaanyayahang magpakumbaba at makinig sa isa’t isa. Maghatid ng pag-asa; sa halip na panghinaan ng loob. Magbigay ng pagmamahal; hindi galit at poot. Magdala ng pagkakaisa; hindi palalimin ang pagkakaiba-iba. Naniniwala ako na kaya nating hawiin ang kadiliman at magdala ng ligaya sa ating bayan,” she added.
(The message the shepherds received is the same message for us. Each of us is invited to humble before and listen to each other. Bring hope; instead of losing it. Give love, not anger and hatred. Bring unity; instead of highlighting differences. I believe we could dispel the darkness and bring happines to our nation.)
The Inquirer’s “Kill List” notes 1,822 drug-related deaths since Duterte’s electoral victory in May.
Robredo had resigned from the Cabinet earlier this month after the President asked him not to attend Cabinet meetings due to “irreconcilable differences.” The Vice President has been very vocal on her stand against extrajudicial killings and the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. RAM
