PNoy gathers leaders of different faiths to pray for calamity victims

(Updated 6:33 p.m.) President Benigno Aquino III on Monday led various religious groups and government officials in praying for the victims of the calamities that hit the Philippines in the past year.

In his opening message at the event held on Malacañang grounds, the President asked all Filipinos to join the prayer for the victims of calamities in 2013.

Survivors of several calamities first offered their prayers, followed by religious leaders including Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle; Isaias Samson, Jr. of the Iglesia Ni Cristo; Datu Cosme Lambayon of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples; Imam Ebra Moxsir; and Bishop Jonel Milan of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches - Hope of Glory Christian Church.

After them, Aquino offered his own prayer in which he recounted how the Philippines faced one calamity after another, among them the Zamboanga crisis, the Bohol earthquake, Typhoon Yolanda, and the ongoing flooding in Mindanao.

"Sinuman po sa aming mga kababayan, mapapabuntong-hininga  na lang kapag naisip ang mga dinaanan naming hamon," he said, adding that Filipinos never gave up hope.

"Mapaluhod man ng trahedya, hindi natitinag ang Pilipino. Hinangaan ng buong mundo ang pambihirang tatag ng loob, tibay ng pagkakaisa, at lalim ng aming pananampalataya," he said.

He thanked God for guiding the Filipino people during the calamities.

"Sa kabila ng patong-patong na trahedyang hinarap ng bansa nitong nagdaang taon, nagpapasalamat po kami sa mga nakamit na tagumpay at patuloy na pagsulong ng aming bansa," he said.

"Patuloy naman po naming ipinagdarasal ang kaligtasan ng aming kapwa, ang pagbangon ng mga pamilyang pansamantalang pinaluhod ng kalamidad, lalo na ang mga naulila ng kanilang mga mahal sa buhay," he added.

Also present during Monday's event were Vice President Jejomar Binay, Cabinet officials, and members of the legislative branch. — BM, GMA News