CBCP president on Eleksyon 2022: Side with truth even if unpopular

The president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on on Wednesday urged voters to support candidates who have the necessary skills and experience, asking Filipinos “not to gamble the country’s future.”

In the “Solidarity Mass for the Moral Choice” at Baclaran Church, Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said it was not the time to be complacent as Eleksyon 2022 was drawing near.

“Labanan natin ang pagsasawalang bahala, magmalasakit tayo lalo na sa kapakanan ng kapwa at bayan," David said in his homily.

"Baka meron sa atin.. ang hindi gagalaw hanggat hindi sila naapektuhan, naghihintay lamang kung ano ang kahihinatnan ng halalan. Umaasa lang sa survey, iboboto lang yung popular. Nasaan ang malasakit sa ganyang attitude?” he added.

(Let us fight indifference, let us care especially for the welfare of the people and our country. Maybe some of us... will not move until they are affected, just waiting to see what the outcome of the election will be, just relying on surveys, and vote for the popular. Where is the concern with such an attitude?)

“Kung mananatiling mababa ang pagtingin at pagkilos natin sa pulitika hindi pagunlad ang ibubunga nito, huwag sana natin isugal ang kinabukasan ng ating bansa,” David said.

(Our low regard and inaction in our politics will not bring development. Let us not gamble the future of our country.)

The CBCP president also asked voters not to be swayed by disinformation particularly on social media sites.

“Maari tayong bulagin ng kasinungalingan at panlilinlang, maari nitong patulugin ang konsensya at patigasin tayong parang mga bato,” David said.

(We can be blinded by lies and deception. It can put the conscience to sleep and can harden us like rocks.)

He asked Filipinos “to always side with the truth even if it is unpopular and even if it hurts.”

“Kung minsan kasi kapag mahapdi o masakit na ang dating ng katotohanan na parang kalamansi sa sugat, parang ayaw na nating tumingin at makinig," David said.

"Sa ating konteksto ng ating pakikilakbay sa landas ni Kristo, huwag tayong matakot na lumakad sa apoy ng katotohanan,” he added.

(Sometimes when the truth seems as painful as lime on a wound, it's like we no longer want to look and listen. In the context of our journey in the path of Christ, let us not be afraid to walk in the fire of truth.)

David said Christians were called to vote rightly and according to their conscience.

“Bilang mabuting Kristiyano, pananagutan natin sa Diyos ang bumoto ng tama at naayon sa konsensya. Tayo ay boboto para sa kandidatong tunay na maka-Diyos, maka-tao, maka-bayan, maka-kalikasan, at maka-buhay,” David said.

(As good Christians, it is our responsibility to God to vote correctly and in accordance with conscience. We will vote for the candidate who is truly for God, humane, patriotic, environmental, and pro-life.)

“Mag-ambag po tayo sa pamamagitan ng pagtupad ng ating tungkulin, hindi natin maitataguyod ang kinabukasan na hindi tayo kasali, huwag natin iaasa ito sa iba kailangan kabahagi tayo, baguhin natin kahit paunti-unti lamang ang kulturang pampulitika,” he added.  

(Let us contribute by fulfilling our duty, we cannot build a better future without our participation, let us not rely on others, we must participate, let us change even little by little the political culture.) —NB, GMA News