“Ang pakikilahok sa eleksyon ay kasama sa ating misyon bilang Simbahan.”
This is the message of Manila Archbishop Jose F. Cardinal Advincula to the faithful on a post-election video message posted on the archdiocese’s social media page.
Maka-Diyos kaya maka-bayan. Tayo ay nagiging mabuting Kristiyano sa ating pagiging mabuting mamamayan,” said Cardinal Advincula.
In his message, the Cardinal cited the eagerness and participation of the Filipinos in the election despite its flaws including the long queue and the defective Voting Counting Machines (VCM) that delayed the election process in some parts of the country.
The Cardinal also recognized the efforts of those who belong to the electoral board including the teachers and staff in the polling centers. He as well thanked the volunteers of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) for the time they spent to make sure the integrity of the election.
In acknowledging the active participation of the young people who are mostly first-time voters, the Archbishop of Manila encouraged them to continue to love the country and to stand up for what is right.
“Sa ating mga kabataan, lalo na ang mga bumoto sa unang pagkakataon, maraming salamat sa nakakahawa ninyong pagmamahal sa ating bayan. Huwag kayong hihinto na mangarap, tumaya at magbigay ng sarili para sa ating Inang Bayan,” he said.
Reminding the youth of their important role in the country, Cardinal Advincula quoted Pope Francis by saying, “Mga minamahal na kabataan, sabi ni Pope Francis, hindi lang kayo ang kinabukasan, kayo ang kasalukuyan – ang ngayon ng simbahan at ng lipunan”.
A week after the national and local elections, Cardinal Advincula appealed to the people to remain calm and urged them to be in solidarity with each other.
“Sa panahong ito, makabubuti sa lahat na manatiling mahinahon ang bawat isa at magtiwala sa proseso ng demokrasya. At patuloy nating mahalin, pagmalasakitan, at ipanalangin ang ating bayang Pilipinas,” he said.
Some members of the Philippine Bishops have called on the Filipinos who were divided because of their preferences in leaders to respect the outcome of the election because that is how democracy works. They as well urged them to promote reconciliation. Last May 9, 2022, more than 65 million registered Filipinos cast their vote for the new leaders in the government. In the partial and unofficial count of COMELEC and PPCRV, former senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Davao Mayor Sarah Duterte take the lead in the presidential and vice-presidential races respectively. (Jheng Prado/RCAM-AOC)
