MANILA, Philippines - Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales thanked the new group of leaders led by President Benigno Aquino III, whose simple and humble ways please the Lord.
Rosales led a concelebrated mass “Misa Para sa Totoong Pagbabago – Tagumpay ng Taong Bayan, Panata ng Pagbabago” at the Manila Cathedral at 7:30 a.m. yesterday.
Joining the Cardinal were Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Public Affairs Committee (CBCP-PAC) chairman Calookan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez, Pampanga Auxiliary Bishops Roberto Mallari and Roberto David, Emeritus Novaliches Bishop Teodoro Bacani, and CBCP-Media Office director Monsignor Pedro Quitorio III.
The mass, which was offered for the new governance in the country, coincided with the oath taking of President Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Rosales said the responsibility to serve the country should be shared by the members of the Cabinet, who were handpicked by Aquino to help implement his programs and develop the country.
He asked the Cabinet to be honest, transparent and courageous in serving the country.
“And because integrity cuts across sectoral and interest lines, the Cabinet that is about to serve with him should wear with the young President the badge of courage that his father Ninoy carried in the fight for freedom versus a dictatorship, and the halo of purity in the service of democracy that his mother Cory gave the country,” the Manila prelate added.
He also reminded the faithful that the dream to improve the situation in the country “is not the job of one man, no matter how gifted or great.” “Neither is it a collective work for a group of good men. The dream of a better Philippines is within the response and the ability of every Filipino,” he said.
Rosales called on every Filipino to include President Aquino in their prayers and appealed to the leaders of the new administration to assess the conditions of the poor and not just rely on statistics because it can hide the truth on the extent of poverty and hunger.
“The attempt to build buildings that reach up to the skies cannot hide the millions of slums, cardboard houses, cart homes and the misery of the great majority,” he said.
He emphasized that the government should also provide honest service to ease the need of many people. He also urged them to attract new investors so they would be able to create more jobs.
However, he expressed hope that in the effort of creating more jobs, they would not sacrifice the protection of the workers’ dignity and support for their families.
Meanwhile, the CBCP and Radio Veritas came out with a 13-point advocacy, which they proposed to President Aquino.
They proposed that the government implement land reform through the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program with Extension and Reform (CARPER).
They proposed not to legalize the Reproductive Health (RH) bill, same sex union, abortion, divorce, euthanasia and contraceptives and objected to demolition without relocation of urban poor families.
They pushed for the stoppage of human trafficking of children and women, the protection of the environment by stopping large-scale mining and illegal logging, and the stoppage of corruption and prosecution of the people involved in graft and corruption.
They also gave their opposition to nepotism and political dynasty in Philippine politics; the upholding of human rights of all accused; educating the poor by improving the education system and giving them access to quality education.
In terms of peace and security, the religious group pushed for negotiation with the rebels with public consultations with all stakeholders.
They also pushed to stop illegal gambling by arresting and prosecuting gambling lords; alleviate poverty by improving the living conditions of the marginalized, under-represented and oppressed people; and food security by eliminating structures that hinder the growth and development of those in the agricultural sector.