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Monday, April 09, 2007
Cardinal's Easter message: Watch your votes
By Jovy S. Taghoy
CEBU CITY -- Leading a mass in celebration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal challenged the faithful Sunday to continue praying and doing “divine deeds.”
One way, he said, is by keeping the elections peaceful, voting for candidates according to one’s conscience and being watchful during the counting of votes.
Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 Coverage
“Tinguhaon nato ug paningkamutan gayod ang tinuoray nga kalinaw niining panahon sa pagpangampanya. Tinguhaon nato og paningkamutan gayud ang tinuoray nga kagawasan unya sa akto sa pagbutar. Tinguhaon nato og paningkamutan gayud ang tinuoray nga kahusay ug kahapsay sa pag-ihap sa mga balota (Aspire for and strive to vote freely and have genuine peace during the campaign period and the counting of ballots),” he said.
In doing these, he said, the people should unite in prayer by reciting the Oratio Imperata, which the archdiocese prepared for the coming electoral exercise.
“Let us pray that candidates find joy in truly working for the Filipino people’s better future; and that voters derive happiness from having a clear and clean conscience before, during, and after the May 14 elections,” the prelate said in Cebuano.
Cardinal Vidal will not be in Cebu to vote because he is celebrating a mass during the May 15 observance of Barangay Mogpog, Marinduque’s 200th year as his parish.
Cardinal Vidal was born in Marinduque, although he has served in Cebu for decades.
In an interview with reporters after the dawn concelebrated mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, he said this is not the first time he would not be able to cast his vote.
When Joseph Estrada ran for and won the presidency, Cardinal Vidal was in Rome on election day.
“In time for the elections, I will be in Marinduque. If I come here (to vote), I cannot anymore go to Marinduque,” the cardinal said. He returns to Cebu on May 22 yet.
He, however, is confident that despite his absence, there will be peaceful and clean elections in Cebu.
“Cebuanos are very good people and intelligent voters,” he said, citing the peaceful Holy Week celebration as an example.
He said that while he worried about security concerns during the Holy Week because thousands of people were expected to gather in religious sites and churches, nothing untoward happened because of measures that authorities implemented.
And he is certain all will turn out well with the Citizens’ Involvement and Maturation in People’s Empowerment and Liberation (C-Cimpel) acting as election watchdog, which it has been doing since the early 1990s.
The cardinal is C-Cimpel’s chairman.
Also, he reminded the people not to turn their backs on those who are in need.
“Manghilabot gayud kita sa atong isig kaingon ug makiglambigit gayud kita sa Ginoo ug sa isig katawo bisan og diha nalang sa mga buhat sa kalooy, bisan ngadto nalang sa labing ubos nga igsuon ni Kristo (We should involve ourselves with our fellowmen and with God in doing acts of mercy, especially for our lowliest brethren),” he said. (Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila.
(April 9, 2007 issue)
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