Churchmen call for character change before Charter change

Catholic bishops on Sunday challenged the country’s political leaders to undergo character change first before venturing into Charter change as tens of thousands of Filipinos of all political colors gathered at a somber prayer rally at the Luneta in Manila to declare their collective opposition to constitutional amendments. "More than a political Cha-cha (Charter change), we need first and foremost an educative and a moral Cha-cha," Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said at the opening of the prayer rally. "[And] that means if our Charter change is not preceded, accompanied and productive of character change then Charter change would be useless," he said. Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales Rosales led a Mass that capped the inter-religious rally. In his homily at a Church-led prayer rally for the nation, Rosales said politicians and leaders in particular must give up their ambitions to achieve such unity. He also called for reforms in the election system for clean polls. "We need the gift of unity but that unity cannot be had except only through sacrificing of ambitions... The only valid equation is to sacrifice for the good of everyone especially the poor in our midst," he said. Lagdameo said Sunday’s gathering was dedicated to Philippine democracy which had survived many challenges. "Ito pong ating ginagawa ngayon ay pasasalamat sa Diyos sapagkat iniligtas niya tayo sa maraming kapahamakan, sa maraming problema ng ating bansa (We are gathered here today to thank God because He saved us from many trials and difficulties)," Lagdameo said. The CBCP president reminded Filipinos to seek God in times national crisis. "In this thanksgiving prayer rally we must avoid any feeling of triumphalism even of anger, even of hatred and bitterness because we know we can’t achieve anything in this world of religion, politics, business and social life without the blessing of God," he said. Lagdameo said the country must deepen its relationship with God to achieve growth and change. "We need more importantly, more urgently this educative and moral character change. Call it repentance from sin, call it reform of morals, call it renewal of values--all of it we need and our nation will rise up with hope, with right vision and with confidence in God," Lagdameo said. The prayer rally followed a series of events that started on December 6 when lawmakers loyal to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo endorsed the creation of a constituent assembly to modify the Charter without Senate participation. On December 8, Lagdameo issued a harsh pastoral letter calling for "prayer rally." He said this the way the Church could respond collectively to the social problems of the country and to the prospect of a crisis that could be prompted by a hasty tampering with the Charter. According to a radio dzBB report, the crowd at the Luneta was estimated at 15,000. The CBCP earlier made a statement that 500,000 people will attend the prayer rally. In deference to the bishops decision to ban political statements and banners on stage, the rallyists held separate pre-rallies en route to the site. Only one, huge streamer adorned the stage, that has also been declared off-limits to politicians. The streamer read "Watch and Pray: Pagtitipon para ipakita ang sentimiyento ng bayan. (A gathering to express the people's sentiments)." The militants of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan carried red streamers emblazoned with "Junk cha-cha, junk Gloria (Arroyo)!" slogans at Liwasang Bonifacio. Loyal followers of ousted President Joseph Estrada wore white and orange, and chanted "Gloria, resign!" at Plaza Salamanca on T.M. Kalaw avenue. Members of the civil society group Black and White movement organized a motorcade from Alabang, Makati and Quezon City, clad in black, white and black-and-white shirts. At about 3:30 pm, former President Corazon Aquino and politicians belong to opposition parties arrived in a stream at the rally site. DzBB reported Sunday that Mrs Aquino was accompanied by her only son, Tarlac Rep. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III. She wore her signature golden yellow color, and used a farmer's hat as shield from the sun. Also at the rally were Senators Franklin Drilon, Ramon Magsaysay and Jamby Madrigal, Bukidnon Rep. Nereus Acosta, and Batanes Rep. Hermina Abad and husband, former Education Sec. Florencio Abad. By Sunday dawn, men of the Presidential Security Group had placed Malacanang Palace under heavy guard, and ringed its perimeters with barbed wire and metal bar fences. In an interview, Magsaysay said amendments to the Constitution should be made after the term of President Gloria Arroyo. Drilon for his part said the prayer rally will serve as a warning to the administration that the people are watching them in any attempt to alter the Constitution. But while organizers made clear they will enforce the ban on polilical statements and banners at the grandstand, various groups circumvented the rule by wearing shirts proclaiming their political color and party slogans. "It is for our security and identification," Ronald Lumbao, head of the pro-Estrada People's Movement Against Poverty told dzBB radio when asked about his group's "accessories." The Christmas break has started for most students but those schoolsbeing run by Catholic nuns and priests wore their uniforms. They were ferried to the site in air-conditioned school buses, but had to endure the sweltering afternoon heat at the open-air grandstand. Only journalists from accredited media agencies were allowed at the stage area. -GMANews.TV