Standing
for Peace
Guingona Leads Anti-War Prayer Rally
Plaza
Miranda, site of student demonstrations and other political gatherings before
and during martial rule, once again became the site of an important activity
after being renovated by the city government and held off-limits to
demonstrators. Led by Vice President Teofisto Guingona, the historic Plaza
Miranda hosted on Jan. 31 the “Stand for Peace” prayer rally against the
United States’ (U.S.) impending war on Iraq.
BY
RONALYN OLEA
Bulatlat.com
 
(Clockwise
from above) Last Friday's prayer-rally against the US war on Iraq ends with
torches held by Vice President Teofisto Guingona, third from right , who is
flanked by former Sen. Wigberto Tañada and other rally speakers in Plaza
Miranda. A bishop from Mosul, Iraq reads his speech during the prayer-rally
while part of the rally crowd listen to a speaker. Photos by
Aubrey Makilan
Endorsed
by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and the Protestant
National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), about 5,000 persons of
different faiths, including Muslims, and organizations responded to Guingona’s
call for a day of prayer for peace. Most
of the participants wore white to dramatize their appeal for peace.
“In
the wake of preparations for a great armada in the Middle East—war seems
imminent. Yet, prayer and Your
Divine Response can soften hearts, enlighten minds and open windows of
change,” uttered the vice president in prayer.
“We
have almost a million Filipino workers in the Middle East.
We pray for their safety and the security of those who may fall in the
night should this conflagration come,” Guingona added.
The
peaceful assembly was a strong opposition to Malacañang’s official position
to U.S.’ war on Iraq. The U.S. government, through its ambassador in the country,
has asked for “general support” from the Macapagal-Arroyo government.
Fr.
Joe Dizon of Kairos Philippines meanwhile said,
“Mabuti na lamang at may matining na tinig sa Malacañang na
tumututol sa pagsuporta sa gera ng Amerika sa Iraq. Kaisa ni Bise Presidente
Guingona ang lahat ng mamamayang Pilipinong nagmamahal sa kapayapaan” (It
is fortunate there is a small voice in Malacañang that opposes any support for
the U.S’ war on Iraq. The
peace-loving Filipinos stand with Vice President Guingona.
Strongly
disagrees with Bush
Furthermore,
U.S. citizen and Maryknoll sister Mary Grenough, also convenor of Justice Not
War Coalition, said she strongly disagrees with her president George W. Bush and
she is humbled and grateful to commit and pray for peace.
Teddy
Casiño, secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) said it is the
U.S. that has the most number of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.
“Let us choose peace and reject U.S. war of aggression,” said Casiño.
Fr.
Allan Arcibuche of the Promotion for Church Peoples’ Response urged the
Macapagal-Arroyo government to withdraw support and instead oppose the U.S. war
on Iraq.
Earlier,
Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, urged Ms. Macapagal-Arroyo to follow Pope
John Paul II, not U.S. President George Bush.
“We are not anti-American, we are anti-war,” said Sin in a statement.
The Pope has appealed for peace in Iraq.
Dizon
said the prayer rally is just the beginning of protest actions against the U.S.
war on Iraq. He said more actions
will be launched on Feb. 5, scheduled meeting of the United Nations Security
Council and on Feb. 15, an international day of action against U.S. war.
Meanwhile,
youth and students under the Anti-Imperialist Movement of the Youth (AIM of the
Youth) and Kabataan Laban sa Agresyon at Giyera (KALASAG) marched to the U.S.
Embassy after the program at the Plaza Miranda.
They were joined by members of the Kilusang Mayo Uno, Alliance of
Concerned Teachers and Artists for Peace. Bulatlat.com
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