Pro-life group to hold mock SONA

Manila, Philippines - A group opposing the passage of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill will hold a mock State of the Nation Address (SONA) tomorrow morning called the State Of the Soul of the Nation Address (SSONA).

CBCPNews, the news service provider of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said the SSONA will be held not only to coincide with President Aquino’s SONA tomorrow, but also to commemorate the 43rd anniversary of Humanae Vitae (Latin for Human Life) issued by Pope Paul VI.

The event is organized by the Pro-Life Philippines Foundation. Religious leaders from Muslim and Christian churches are expected to attend the event.

“It is in these momentous events that we deem it necessary to hold an activity that calls for the restoration of moral integrity in our country especially on issues that largely affect the family and the sanctity of human life,” said Pro-Life Philippines president Eric Manalang. 

Before the rally, a Mass will be held by Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo with healing priest Fr. Fernando Suarez at the Santuario de San Jose Parish Church in Greenhills, San Juan at 9 a.m.

After the Mass, a short program will be held at the Club Filipino.

“A consolidated statement written by both religious and political leaders addressing the need to unite Filipinos in rekindling the deteriorating status of morality in governance will be read and will be conveyed to President Aquino himself during the activities,” Manalang said.

The CBCP earlier announced that it would strengthen its campaign against the RH bill through sermons in parishes, demonstrations, and advertisements.

National hero Jose Rizal will be featured in one of the anti-RH advertisements, saying, “Nasa kabataan ang pagasa ng bayan. Papatayin mo ba ang pagasa ng bayan, ang kabataan? (The future of the nation is in the youth. Would you kill the future of the nation, the youth?)”            

The country recently marked Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary this year.

The advertisement would be shown before Masses in parishes.