Catholics From The Philippines

"Our baptism makes us heralds of the Good News, leads us to witness our faith in Jesus and to make this testimony tangible in our activities and various services in society. Good politics is at the service of peace and the common good."

"The church in Asia today is facing a very big challenge. While there is a growing number of young people who are giving their time, talents and some even their treasure to the mission of the Church in Asia, this same Church is being pushed to the sidelines of people's lives. And there are a variety of factors that influence this - political, economic, religious, even cultural."

"The agreement between local elites and multinational companies is detrimental to the people, having as its sole objective the exploitation of natural and human resources. We try to contribute to the organization of local communities: we need a common effort, an educational path."

"Faith-based groups in various churches have always been close to the poorest. During this pandemic, churches have combined efforts and resources to help those in need. The health crisis caused by the Covid-19 outbreak challenges all Christians and churches to find ways to act and make a contribution to dealing with humanitarian crises."

"Seek an opportunity to spread understanding and peace. I call on all the faithful to remain vigilant and to refuse any opportunity for these negative elements to sow division and hatred among us."

"The road to full recovery is still long, but with faith, compassion, and united action, we believe God will lead us from the rubble to renewal. The Archdiocese of Cebu remains faithful to its mission of bringing hope, rebuilding lives, and restoring dignity to all earthquake survivors, proving once again that the Church is not just a building, but a family of faith that stands firm even amidst the rubble."

"It is an act of charity that truly makes God's love tangible."

"I see in the Church and among Christians a constant effort to evangelize the people at different levels of society, and this is a positive sign. On the other hand, the mission must be adapted to cultural changes: the advent of social media and the great influence of mass media can also be seen as an obstacle to the mission. The immediate availability of diverse information, in fact, tends to marginalize the Christian vision of life and Christian teachings. This dynamic is most evident in urban areas and less in rural areas. However, the Philippine population still gives much importance to Christian values and strongly participates in the life of the Church."

"The conflict in Mindanao is very complex, full of variables and dense in social, economic, cultural, and religious phenomena that are intertwined with one another. What is certain is that the ordinary people want peace, and must start afresh from here. Interreligious dialogue can help overcome the social and ethnic fragmentation of Mindanao."

"The Word of God translated into a local language can be better understood by people. The ultimate goal of translating the Bible into an indigenous language like Cuyonon arises from an innate desire to relate more deeply to God. The Lord speaks to each one of us through his Word. By listening to it in our mother tongue, it will now be easier for us to understand his will, follow him and be his disciples."

"This beautiful work of creation is one of the few marine paradises we have left, and we should protect it from any threat, especially the threat of coal, which should have been eliminated long ago because of its serious impact on people’s lives and the environment."

"Peace is non-negotiable. We urge our local government not to become a political hostage to these oppressive policies. Christmas must inspire and encourage us to promote a peaceful city, a peaceful island and a peaceful country free from senseless attacks."

"In the Philippines today there is a crisis in credibility. The country needs new leaders. We have difficulty trusting other people, difficulty in believing our national leaders. When a political leader says one thing and does another this is a blow to credibility. If we lose our young people, we lose our hope and our future."

"It is important to elect leaders who understand the situation in which we find ourselves and who adopt clear policies in favor of the protection of the common home, to address the climate crisis, for the good of future generations."

"In the present social context, dominated by globalization, young people are facing the challenge of a market which, taken to extremes, leads to a spiritual and moral lack, emotional discomfort, and even suicide. Thus, there is an increasing urgency that requires a youth ministry adequate to meet the needs of contemporary youth."

"Corruption is still a big problem in the country because corrupt politicians continue to be elected. If we continue to vote for candidates who are known to be corrupt, we cannot expect our lives to improve. If we allow ourselves to be involved in corrupt practices like this nothing will change in the country. Follow your conscience. And let us follow all that God tells us to do."

"This happened just before the feast of Mary: we ask her for help. To her who is the help of Christians, we ask for the salvation of our faithful. Only she can come to our rescue. We also appeal to Pope Francis to pray for us and to ask the terrorists to release the hostages in the name of our common humanity. Violence and hatred lead only to destruction: we ask the faithful all over the world to pray together with us for peace."

"Most of them if not all, exist because of a great sense of mission to contribute in the formation of young minds, to give a prosperous future to the nation. Both the private and public sectors need to work together. Saving our schools is saving our children, and ensuring the future of our nation"

"There is a need for dialogue between the government, the criminal group which rages in the area, sowing violence and destruction, the churches and the people in general on how to restore peace and order to Alotau. "Differences should be resolved peacefully and respect for the rights and dignity of every person should be restored. Above all, we need to pray and implore God's help and forgiveness. There is hope for a better tomorrow if we all act together."

"The Bible is the Word of God. It leads people to a blessed and serene life, because put in God's hands."

"A culture of impunity has, indeed, grown through the years. Elections have not and will not change this situation... We need to change from the bottom-up, from individuals to families, from families to communities. We need to learn new values that will transform our cultures from within."

"Presidential candidates should be clear on the issues that concern the respect for life and family. If they call themselves Catholics, there can be no dichotomy between the faith and the public service to which they are called."

"We must help the Ati in prayer, encourage them, pay tribute to them, support them financially and legally."

"Give them a chance and to discern how God works or how God's calling is manifested in every seminarian."

"Our political choice reflects our values. The vote reveals who I am. The votes cast by people are a reflection of this. Our vote is an expression and affirmation of our human dignity, a fundamental principle of Catholic social doctrine. It is a gift from God to people and the way we use it is our gift to our country. It is the fulfillment of one's own responsibility to participate in the social and political life of our country and to influence it."

"The Ati people have been stewards of the land for generations. They have made it cultivated and productive. Their right to land is linked to the rights of indigenous peoples: we call on all parties to respect them."

"Who am I to have this miracle of the priesthood? Who am I to become a bishop? Yet, when I see you here, I am now convinced, I am a bishop."

"This episcopacy is not about me, in the first place. It is about the mercy of God on me his unworthy servant. The Lord expects me not to be successful but to be faithful in keeping pure and teaching pure and teaching in word and in deed the faith contained in the Sacred Word of God, written or handed on, and the teachings and discipline of the Church as well."

"Passing anti-life policies is not good for the nation. We Bishops are united on this position and currently we do not see room for mediation."

"The quality and sustainability of a vocation rests not solely on the Pope's shoulders, but rather those of the entire community. We must encourage our priests and strongly support the work that they do, pray for more vocations as a community, and speak about vocations in schools and our homes so that it comes to the fore of our minds."

"Vocation is a process by which a seed needs to be nurtured to maturity. Training to be a leader in the Church requires following the seminary programme of discipline, being loyal to Church teaching and loving the Holy Father. It means listening to the voice of the Lord, discerning His call and making daily sacrifices as one goes along in this path of formation that is human, spiritual and intellectual."

"I wish the government would give priority to rehabilitation programs and treat drug addiction more as a sickness rather than a crime."

"Due to extensive tourism marketing, these tribal people, who were the first settlers of the island are threatened, abused, deprived of their rights. Their land is occupied and the goal is to expel them altogether. As a Church we are close to the natives through apostolic groups, pastoral care and social action in the Diocese of Kalibo. We try to defend their rights and their lives. They are our brothers and sisters, innocent people and helpless in the face of abuse."

"There are some continuing biases against Muslims. Even by our political leaders in society, thus we must form them, we must equip them... so that there could be true dialogue by eliminating biases in the pursuit of peace. It makes me afraid because my responsibility is now bigger. Zamboanga has faced many challenges."

"Listen not only in our ears but also in our hearts. Listening in this synodal process is to listen to the marginalized, even to the non-Christian community."

"I am honoured to receive this charge from the Holy Father. Of course I have no pastoral plan for the archdiocese of Manila. I will elaborate it with all the components of the local Church once I have taken possession. But the overall plan is always the same: to render present the Kingdom of God, give space to evangelisation and also to personal reflection and works of charity."

"For them, I shall continue to pray that the light of Christ´s love will someday touch them so that we will become friends once more."

"Martial law was a completely new experience for the Church and the CBCP. The human rights violations and the black propaganda of the military that the Church was infiltrated by communism made many bishops weary and even frightened. We may discuss, we may debate, we may even have wanted to strangle each other, but when it came to writing a joint pastoral letter it was always on target."

"God's calling is easier to hear when it is made or heard in the context of a family that has faith. Faith in the community is also very important. It makes easier for people especially today to appreciate the whispering of the Holy Spirit."

"Protecting the environment is a calling not just for laypeople but also for bishops and priests. Please, I beg you, our environment is our real wealth. Let us not destroy it."

"Call me any time, day or night, if you need me or have a problem. I am home and I am yours. After a long sacrificial journey, I am home and I want to grow in love, hope and dignity with you."

"My hope is that the Youth Day brings and allows to meet young people from different places in order to become aware and to say to the Church and to the world how beautiful, precious and vital our youth is. Young people participate with the desire to know God better and become pilgrims to share with others the relationship with him"

"Service must be rooted in compassion because it connects our good works to the fabric of our soul."

"Being in the borderland is a wonderful thing. There's so much opportunity for ministries here."

"I have to abide and follow because I want to be happy but most of all I want God to be happy."

"To live life to the full - this is what every young person seeks. To explore life, to experience and enjoy all that it has to offer. Unfortunately in their eager search for joy, they often knock at the wrong doors and end up losing life itself."

"I am thankful for the lights and shadows, which I encountered as bishop of Baguio. They were learning experiences for me and I treasure them. I bring them to my new assignment."

"Bridging the digital gender divide is crucial to achieving gender equality and promoting economic growth. Through policies, programs, and initiatives that prioritize digital inclusion and gender equality, the Philippine government is committed to ensuring that no one is left behind, that every individual, regardless of gender, has access to and can fully participate in the digital economy"

"Prior to World War II, our rail transportation spanned 1,100 kilometers. The Philippine National Railways (PNR) used to run from La Union to Bicol, linking the north and south provinces of Luzon. In 2016, however, we only had about 77 kilometers of rail routes left. What was left would oftentimes be a bane rather than a boon due to frequent technical glitches and other service interruptions. As Asian megacities were developing their rail systems, ours was on the decline"

"Many will try to discredit the accomplishments of 6.5 million construction workers. They will say that what we have completed is not enough, that there could have been many things that we could have done still, or that we never really worked at all. Allow me to say — if you are reading this, and you’re part of the Build, Build, Build team - without you, we wouldn’t have been able to build 29,264 kilometers of roads, 5,950 bridges, 11,340 flood control projects, 222 evacuation centers, 150,149 classrooms, 214 airport projects, and 451 seaport projects. Philippines is in a much better place because of your skill, work, and sacrifices."