More than 500 people gathered at the mass held at the St. William’s Church last March 7. With the theme “Seek the Truth, Combat Corruption and Restore Integrity,” people from the different sectors of the Ilocos Region came together to show their unity in the face of the political, economic, and moral crisis that is happening in our country today.

BY ZOFIA LEAL
Bulatlat
Vol. VIII, No. 6, March 9-15, 2008

LAOAG, Ilocos Norte (487 kms north of Manila) – More than 500 people gathered at the mass held at the St. William’s Church last March 7. With the theme “Seek the Truth, Combat Corruption and Restore Integrity,” people from the different sectors of the Ilocos Region came together to show their unity in the face of the political, economic, and moral crisis that is happening in our country today.

After the mass, the people marched toward the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI or Philippine Independent Church) where an ecumenical service also took place.

The opening prayer, led by Rev. Esther Padre of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) implored, “As we wrestle together with issues confronting our people today, may we be one with the poor and the lowly.” The prayer seemed to set the mood for the statements that would be given by the different church groups and sectors present at the assembly.

Scriptures were then read by the different church leaders with the last scripture saying, “The truth will set you free”.

The representative from the Roman Catholic Church read the statement of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) wherein a call for communal action and prayer and soul-searching for all sectors to collectively work for moral renewal to fight the age-old scourge of corruption in our political system was made.

The Statement for Truth and Moral Transformation of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer read, “We would rather prefer a government that is true even with low development as long as it truly benefit the poor than a government that is full of lies with a high development but which only benefits the wealthy and the powerful.”

From the youth sector, the Ilocos Youth for Accountability and Truth Now (Ilocos Youth Act Now!) explained how what is happening in the schools mirror the corruption in the government and that they would not stop until Gloria Macapagacal- Arroyo has been ousted from office.

Cultural presentations were also showcased depicting the plight of the different sectors of society, specifically the urban poor, peasants and women.

The mass and ecumenical service was headed by the Church Leaders Ecumenical Fellowship- Ilocos Norte whose members include the Roman Catholic Church, the IFI, the UCCP, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), and the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. Members of mass organizations such as Stop the Exploitation against Peasants of Ilocos (STOP Ex), Ilocos Youth Act Now!, GABRIELA and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) also attended the mobilization.(Bulatlat.com)

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