Philippines’ annual Walk for
Life for “upholding the dignity of life”
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| A Walk for Life2020 poster |
The Catholic Church of the Philippines is urging their
faithful to stand up and show their commitment to defend life by joining a
nationwide Walk for Life scheduled for Saturday, February 15.
By Robin Gomes
The annual Walk for Life, organized each year by the Council
of the Laity of the Philippines, in collaboration with the Episcopal Commission
on the Laity of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP),
aims to demonstrate “solidarity in upholding the dignity of life," from
conception to natural death.
Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao, president of the Catholic
Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), expressed hope that Filipinos
would show interest and commitment to "respecting life."
"We hope and pray that many of us will be there to show
our interest, our commitment, our heart for advocacy in love and respect for
life," he told Radio Veritas846. In a video promoting the Walk For
Life 2020, the church-run radio featured several bishops encouraging their
faithful to commit themselves to safeguard life.
Albert Loteyro, vice president of the Council of the Laity
of the Philippines, said that during the walk that will be held simultaneously
in different parts of the country from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m., prayers will be also
be offered “for protection against the COVID-19 [corononavirus], for it to stop
from further spreading, and for the virus to already be controlled”.
Loteyro encouraged participants to the event to wear white
shirts or the shirt of their organization and to bring their banners, candles,
and a rosary as well as umbrellas, extra shirts, water, and face masks.
Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan said,
"all of us should stand up, pray, and defend life given to us by
God."
"It's very important that we join in this
advocacy," said Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan. "If we truly
believe that life should be defended, walk for life in all its stages."
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, chairman of the
Episcopal Commission on the Laity, called on Filipino families to join the
campaign, “especially at this time when we are faced with different issues such
as divorce and death penalty.”
“Let us show to everyone that we are united and that we have
force in numbers,” said the bishop who has taken charge of Manila Archdiocese
as Apostolic Administrator after its archbishop, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle
left for the Vatican to head the Congregation for the Evangelization of
Peoples.
Last year, thousands of Catholics took to the streets of
major cities across the Philippines to voice concerns over threats to life,
including drug-related killings, attacks on places of worship and a proposal to
revive capital punishment.
This year, similar events will be held simultaneously in the
provinces of Pangasinan, Tarlac and Cebu, and in the cities of Cagayan de Oro,
Palo and Manila.
In the Philippine capital, Manila, the event will take place
at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City at 4 a.m. Bishop Pabillo
will preside over a concelebrated Mass with several bishops and some 30
priests. (Source: UCANEWS)
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