Dilaab: There's still hope for this country

Is there still hope for the country? This question is often asked by many Filipinos who have already lost hope that this country could still develop politically, economically and ethically.

The issues on corruption by the government, killings, robbery, dishonesty, greed and inequality, among others, have gradually dimmed the light of hope in many’s heart.

The fading hope, which is the key to meaningful human existence, and from which the future is planned, is dangerous when gone, Fr. Carmelo Diola of Dilaab movement has once said.

With this, Dilaab movement, whose mission is to ignite spaces of hope in people’s heart, has launched the “Pwede Pala Pinoy!” recently that was created to popularize its Heroic Christian Citizenship and Leadership Program.

Dilaab said Pwede Pala Pinoy! aims to showcase fruitful faith-impelled collaboration between and among different individuals, sectors, geographical groupings, and religious denominations, for the common good.  The activity is envisioned to ignite hope among ordinary citizens to move by faith in God and love of country to contribute in building a better Philippines.

Last Saturday’s activity launching at Sacred Heart School-Jesuits in Cebu City was attended by hundreds students, teachers, government officials and other concerned individuals.

A story telling festival was divided into three parts—Festival of Booths where contemporary heroes were introduced, Barrio Fiesta where there was sharing of food, and Kalingawan as the term implied was all about entertainment that highlighted the event.

The event revolved around four themes expressed in the form of questions such as “Can anything good come from the PNP?” “Can one man and one family make a difference?” “Can we move beyond Traditional Politics?” and the piece called “You.”

The first theme tells about the story of a colonel who worked closely with a woman brangay captain to create an ideal loving community while the second told about a retired university professor who used the grace of knowledge bestowed to him by God to help farmers improve their way of living.

There was also a middle class family that has made a difference in the lives of the students of a public elementary school.

The third theme was about Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio, a former priest, who proved to everybody that absence of corruption in a government unit is possible.

The last theme expressed about the very important player in the fight for change—each individual. — Jessica Ann Pareja/WAB