TRUTH should not be optional, but instead become a “way of life,” a Dominican priest stressed during a Mass for the Thomasian contingent to the “Trillion Peso March against Corruption” on Sunday, Nov. 30.
Fr. Felix de los Reyes, O.P., master of students of the Dominican Province of the Philippines, said Filipinos must always stand up against corruption.
“We are rooted in truth kaya humihingi rin tayo ng katotohanan. We are rooted in truth, kaya naninindigan tayo para sa marami. We are rooted in truth, kaya hindi natin binabalewala kapag mali ang nangyayari,” he said in his homily at the Santisimo Rosario Parish Church.
“If you want to radiate hope, we need to wake up and walk in the light for only those who are rooted in truth can truly radiate hope. The world does not need more noise, it needs more light,” de los Reyes added.
While the flood control scandal has uncovered the truth about massive corruption in the government, those who did no wrong have nothing to fear, he said.
“Napag-uusapan natin ngayon ang baha … sa baha, lumalabas ang katotohanan. Kapag ginagawa natin ang tama, wala naman tayong dapat ikatakot. Pero kapag gumagawa tayo ng mali, matatakot talaga tayo dahil lalabas at lalabas din ang totoo,” he said.
After the Eucharistic celebration, the Thomasian contingent moved to the EDSA People Power Monument in Quezon City to join the protest.
The Thomasian attendees were organized by the Office of the Vice Rector for Religious Affairs and the UST Simbahayan Community Development Office, in coordination with the Dominican Family for Justice, Peace, and Care for Creation – Philippines.
The Nov. 30 protests held in Quezon City and the “Baha sa Luneta 2.0” in Manila were bigger than the demonstrations on Sept. 21.
Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, earlier called on the public to participate in the protests against corruption.
