THOMASIANS joined Vice-President Teofisto Guingona and other Metro Manila colleges and universities in a day of prayer for peace at Plaza Miranda last Jan. 31 to oppose the United States’ “pre-emptive” war on Iraq.
Guingona earlier invited all Metro Manila colleges and universities to participate in a series of prayer rallies to urge President Macapagal-Arroyo not to support American President George Bush’s plan of war.
Guingona together with Christian and Muslim leaders led the prayer rally.
“So the war had begun,” Guingona said. “We have no other resort but to look at the Lord for strength and guidance. We have almost a million Filipino workers in the Middle East. We pray for their safety and security. Help us maintain peace not only in the Middle East but also in our own land.”
Meanwhile, student activist group Alliance of Concerned Thomasians (ACT-NOW) joined the march from España Blvd. to Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila.
ACT-NOW spokes-person Romulo Yumul said they support peace.
“ACT-NOW believes that the reasons of the US to wage war on Iraq are insufficient,” he said in Filipino. ACT-NOW is planning to form a coalition composed of UST organi-zations and faculty members to oppose the war.
Meanwhile, Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin sent a letter that was read during the prayer rally advising the President not to support the war and instead promote peace.
“The point of issue here is war prevention, not preventive war. I, therefore, strongly appeal to President Macapagal-Arroyo not to support the unjust war being imposed by the US. Be a peace maker, President Macapagal. Show the world that we, Filipinos, are promoters and defenders of peace,” he said.
After waging war on Afghanistan, where terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden is believed to be hiding, the US is now pointing its guns at Iraq for allegedly hiding weapons of mass destruction despite a United Nation’s resolution to dismantle them. However, Iraqi officials have repeatedly denied concealing such weapons.
Iraqi national Akm Shwaikh told the Varsitarian that the war would greatly affect overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East.
“There are 1.5 million Filipino workers in the Middle East. If the war breaks out, they will lose their jobs, which would be bad for the Philippine economy,” he said.
Meanwhile, UST Institute of Religion professor Aguedo Jalin, who also joined the rally, said the presence of a big number of Thomasians during the rally reflects the University’s heightened social awareness.
“Ipinapakita ng Unibersidad na meron na siyang kamalayan. Hindi na tayo katulad ng dati na nasa classroom lang at nagdarasal. Ang sektor ng kabataan ay gising na gising at yung kamalayan na kanilang pinag-aaralan ay umabot na sa labas ng apat na sulok ng paaralan,” Jalin said.
