Reminder from Archbishop Rosales: Let’s look beyond 2004

The new Archbishop of Manila, His Grace Gaudencio B. Rosales, D.D. addressed some 1,500 enthusiastic young people who flocked to Mater Ecclesia Gym of San Carlos Seminary recently to attend an interactive youth forum on socio-political issues dubbed as Vote Ko ‘To — Transformative Leadership (Ka-Talk Youth Forum Series 19).

Since has installation into the premier seat of the Catholic hierarchy in the country, many are curious how a man known for his session for pastoral ministry will fare in a place like Manila known as a capital of politics and with a predecessor whose legacy is not only to the flock in the Archdiocese of Manila but to the Filipinos in general.

The youth of the Archdiocese of Manila is no exception. Like any member of the laity, they are as eager and curious to know the heart and mind of the New Archbishop. During the Ka-Talk Youth Forum Series 19, the young people got an impressive glimpse into the person of the Servant-Leader – a simple man with deep convictions and passions – a man of unwavering faith in God and Jesus, a man of hope and a man of compassion. Truly, he is visionary.

Archbishop Dency, as his friends fondly call him, asserted during his talk with young people that politics has divided the Philippines so much. Worse than dividing the nation, politics has also corrupted the minds and hearts of our countrymen. In his opening statement, he was quoted as saying that "evil or bad governance has seeped through the community of the Filipino. It is embedded in our culture – almost suffocating the Filipino people."

The Shepherd of the Archdiocese of Manila asserted that the nation, embroiled by too much politics, is in dire need of, not so much a change of leadership festively presented by the coming elections, but a change of ourselves, a change of our mentalities, our attitudes, our orientations and our values.

No political system can change the inner movements of our people. However, he exhorted the youth not to despair because God’s grace and only Him through our Lord Jesus will see us through.

Voter’s education forums are mushrooming with the coming elections. It is very good that we look towards enlightened choices, enlightened electors, and enlightened people and citizens. But there is more to life beyond May 2004. If we only plan for the May elections we are like the politicians. This is not the way of a Christian.

According to the Archbishop, we must look beyond May 2004. We must widen our perspectives and horizons. Otherwise, we fall prey to the politicians’ trap. We must dream… search for alternatives to combat bad governance.

We can never fight bad governance with a diametrical collision. Archbishop Rosales called on the faithful to join him in his crusade to fight bad governance in an oblique collision. "We will dream together as one Christian community."

At this point, His Grace presents his vision of a movement for all – young and old, rich and poor, healthy and sick. He names this PnP – Pondo ng Pinoy. He envisions this as a way to operationalize the love of Jesus Christ through our neighbors, especially the least among our brothers and sisters. Before we can begin this work of God, the good Archbishop believes that we must be solidly grounded on a "theology of crumbs," – based on the parable of Lazarus, the poor man who longed for the scraps that fall from the table of the rich man (Luke 16:19-31).

PnP is the gathering every day of the "crumbs" from everyone – rich or poor, the strong and the weak, the young and the old. In our context, the crumbs have been valued at .25 centavos to P1 "There is power in the small, the little – the crumbs," said Archbishop Rosales. This project is currently on the planning stage and will be launched via a multi-sectoral gathering in June.

Citing from the gospels, he said that according to the Lord Jesus, the highway to perdition is wide and huge… and the way (door) to heaven is narrow. In addition, Archbishop Rosales continued Christ never said it is neither difficult nor impossible. Do little acts of kindness and heaven will be yours."

His message urged the warm-hearted young people to share a little… spare as little… spare as little as .25 centavos everyday.

In closing, Archbishop Rosales reiterated his point with a known Batangueño saying "Anumang magaling, kahit maliit, basta’t malimit at papuntang langit."

Pondo ng Pinoy… Pag-Ibig ng Panginoon… Pag-Asa ng Pilipino… PnP!