Filipinos urged to pursue Sin’s legacy of courage and charity

The Filipino people can best honor the late Manila archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin by pursuing his legacy of courage and charity, a Catholic bishop said yesterday.

Speaking at a Mass marking Sin’s first death anniversary at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Bishop Socrates Villegas said the time had come for Filipinos to "follow the footsteps of Cardinal Sin and let his legacy be a challenge."

"We must never allow the courage he (Sin) had taught us to die out," he said.

"We must never allow compassion to be deemed with practicality. We must take courage and be ready to suffer."

The Catholic hierarchy commemorated yesterday the first death anniversary of Sin, who died at 76 on June 21, 2005 due to multiple organ failure.

The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop of Manila Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales.

Villegas, a protégé of Sin, noted the courage it took to lead the Church in two significant events of the country’s history — in 1986 and 2001, when two former presidents were ousted from power — could be Sin’s greatest contribution to Filipinos.

Villegas, Bishop of Balanga, Bataan, said the heroic persona of Sin was perfectly illustrated in his monument built at a Gawad Kalinga village named after him in Punta, Sta. Ana in Manila.

"The image of Cardinal Sin is standing at the tip of a diving board — a very dangerous place to be — and yet he stood there saying, ‘Do not be afraid, if I can do it, you can do it too,’" he said.

Villegas said Sin was the "only leader who taught Filipinos how to dream amid difficulties, to work together to free themselves from suppression, and to share unconditional love with others."

In 1986, Sin’s voice was heard over radio stations calling on the Catholic faithful to "protect" rebel soldiers holed up in Camps Crame and Aguinaldo from the Army under dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Millions of Filipinos heeded his call, resulting in what became known worldwide as a "people power" uprising that ousted Marcos.

In 2001, Sin supported then Vice President Gloria Arroyo when she took over the presidency from President Joseph Estrada, who was ousted in a military-backed civilian uprising.

Villegas said another significant legacy of Sin, who served as Archbishop of Manila for 29 years, was his love for the poor and underprivileged.

"Cardinal Sin was always willing to serve even if he would suffer," he said.

"During his last years, I had advised him to just stay at home, but he always found ways to go out and join us. He taught us that for somebody who loves so much, nothing is impossible."

But Villegas lamented that Sin’s legacy, especially the Filipino’s reclaiming of freedom, seems to be ignored by some people who have shown inaction on pressing socio-political issues.

"Ang bunga ng kalayaan ay ibinigay sa atin subalit dahan-dahan pa rin tayong bumabalik sa ating pagkaalipin (The fruit of freedom was given to us but we are still slowly returning to slavery)," he said.

Villegas is among several Catholic bishops campaigning against gambling in the country.

Filipinos’ inaction on certain issues is a dishonor to Sin, he added.

Yesterday’s Mass marked the end of triduum, or three-day series of Masses held in tribute to Sin on his first death anniversary.

On the first day of the tribute, Villegas led the blessing of 84 new units at the third building of Cardinal Sin Village.

Certificates of occupancy to poor families will also be awarded during the first-day program, which also includes a free medical mission and livelihood seminar.

The Cardinal Sin Village was put up by Gawad Kalinga Foundation through the help of Serviam Foundation in honor of Sin, not just to provide homes for poor families, but also to create a peaceful community.