“In being candidates, you need to know that it is a blessing that comes with a responsibility,” Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle told candidates at the Manila Cathedral. “If you win, it means you must represent the people’s dreams and common good.”
The cardinal made the statement in his homily in a Mass during the signing of the covenant for “Truthful, Responsible, Upright, Transparent and Honest” (Truth) elections on May 9.
Tagle said should they win, candidates should to do everything in their power to live up to their responsibilities.
“The candidates also need to study,” Tagle added. “Study what are the real needs of the people that voted for him. That will go beyond party politics because we are already talking about common good.”
Of the five candidates for president, only Vice President Jejomar Binay and administration bet Mar Roxas were present.
No vice presidential candidates attended, although Liberal Party bet Leni Robredo sent a representative.
Senatorial aspirants present included Rep. Martin Romualdez, Rep. Roman Romulo, Sen. Tito Sotto, Susan Ople.
“We would have preferred their physical presence as this would show their solidarity with the moral position of the Church for this coming election,” said Radio Veritas president Fr. Anton Pascual.
He said all candidates had been sent invitations.
New OSA provincial
Fr. Andres Rivera, OSA, has been elected the new prior provincial of the Province of Santo Niño de Cebu of the Filipino Augustinians. He will replace Fr. Eusebio Berdon, OSA.
Caritas Manila graduates
Caritas Manila’s Youth Servant Leadership and Education Program (YSLEP) produced 574 graduates this year with many receiving academic honors and leadership awards.
Graduates, referred to as “servant leaders,” come from the poorest regions: 472 from Luzon, 51 from the Visayas and 51 from Mindanao.
Of these, 178 obtained degrees in agriculture, social work, public administration, psychology and social sciences; 118 in education; 110 in business administration; 94 in information technology; 50 in vocational technology; and 24 in engineering.
School dropout rate in the Philippines due to poverty is 86 per cent. Caritas Manila wishes to alleviate this problem through YSLEP, which accepts 5,000 youths yearly with over 500 graduating per year.
Caritas Manila executive director Fr. Anton C.T. Pascual said YSLEP helps young people “reach their full potential by giving them the access to higher education and molding them to become servant leaders of this country.”
Last year, YSLEP alumni donated P1.4 million to Caritas Manila.
Caritas Manila is the Archdiocese of Manila’s lead social services and development ministry. It also runs All is Well Health Program, Restorative Justice Ministry, Caritas Damayan, and social entrepreneurship programs Caritas Margins and Segunda Mana.
Visit www.caritas.org.ph. Call 5639311, 5639308, 563-9298. E-mail veritas846pr@ gmail.com. Listen to Radio Veritas 846 in the AM band or on www.veritas846.ph.
Novena to St. Dominic
In connection with the 800th anniversary of the Dominican order, the Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City is holding every Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., the perpetual novena to Santo Dominic de Guzman, founder of the Order of Preachers (OP). Everyone is invited.
E-mail announcements to lzulueta @inquirer.com.ph or [email protected].
