CEBU Archbishop Jose Palma encouraged the public Sunday not to be afraid of natural disasters, crisis, poverty, graft and corruption, saying Jesus Christ's resurrection brings new hope and new life.
"Ang pagkabanhaw ni Kristo nagpasalig... ayaw kahadlok. Usa sa Iyang mga mensahe: salig ka sa Diyos, duol ka sa Diyos. Siya sa Iyang pagkabanhaw ang nagdala og bag-ong paglaum, bag-ong kinabuhi (Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead assures us that there's nothing we should be afraid of. One of his messages is to believe in the Lord and be near Him. He brings new hope, new life in His resurrection)," he said in his Easter message Sunday.
Palma also thanked the people who braved the rains Sunday just to attend the Easter mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.
He said even with the heavy downpour brought by Tropical Depression Crising, some people still joined the celebration of Jesus Christ's resurrection, and "that was what made us Easter people."
Crising weakened into a low pressure area after making landfall in Samar Sunday morning.
But the heavy rains Sunday dawn cancelled the religious procession and prompted organizers of the "Sugat sa Kabanhawan," a reenactment of the rising of Jesus Christ from the dead, to have the activity performed inside the Cathedral.
Only few people attended the mass. (SunStar Philippines)