[bg|pro_life_rally_032511|4|110|random|12|#FFF|1|Filipinos Unite Under God for Life – March 25, Quirino Grandstand]
(Updated as of March 26, 4:30 p.m.) – HUNDREDS of thousands of pro-life supporters – including
a delegation of priests, administrators, faculty members, and students from the
University of Santo Tomas – gathered for a prayer rally and Mass to oppose the
passage of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill yesterday at the Quirino
Grandstand.
Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales led the
concelebrated Mass to and called for the junking of the RH bill.
He reiterated the Church’s stance against proposals such
as the state-funded distribution of contraceptives and abortifacients, sex
education as early as Grade 5, and penalties for “malicious disinformation”
against coercive RH policies.
There was still time to avoid a “moral tragedy,” he said.
“Baguhin ang mga panukalang ‘yan, o ibagsak ang kanyang
kabuuan na siyang pugad ng walang paggalang sa buhay, pagkawala ng
responsibilidad at disiplina na siyang tunay na kailangan ngayon ng tao at
bayan,” Rosales said in his homily.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, in
a message read by Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, said the Church was
not indifferent in “difficult” moments concerning life as “she believes that
life is sacred, a gift from God who calls man to cooperate with Him, aided by a
deep sense of responsibility.”
“I encourage you and all who value the human person to be
firm in your commitment to honor God and, by doing so, to manifest a deep love
for life and for its protection at this time,” Bertone said.
The prayer rally, which coincided with the Feast of the
Annunciation and the Day of the Unborn, was attended by bishops, priests,
delegates from parishes and shrines of the Metropolitan See of Manila, as well
as Catholic organizations, pro-life groups, catechists, students, the youth,
and “urban poor.”
Present were Cardinal Jose T. Sanchez, Manila Mayor
Alfredo Lim, former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, and former senators Francisco
Tatad and Aquilino Pimentel. There were also representatives from the Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and other faiths.
Personalities such as Christine Jacob-Sandejas and Bo
Sanchez spoke against the RH bill, while boxer and Sarangani Rep. Manny
Pacquiao delivered a video message.
Early estimates placed the crowd at 40,000 but Radyo
Veritas said the crowd swelled to between 200,000 to 300,000 in the evening. Brylle
Tabora, Charmaine M. Parado and Rommel Marvin C. Rio
According to GMA News, there are ONLY about 40,000 attendees. This is very far from your claim of “hundreds of thousands”. Either one of you have your figures wrong, or this is just another classic case of Pinoy Pride: exaggeration at its finest
Kindly read the entire article, especially the last paragraph: “Early estimates placed the crowd at 40,000 but Radyo Veritas said the crowd swelled to between 200,000 to 300,000 in the evening.”
The Varsitarian cited a source–Radyo Veritas. Moreover, the estimate of GMA News is probably just one of the “Early estimates” mentioned in the article. They may have estimated the crowd in the afternoon, but not in the evening.
GMA News and Public Affairs is one of the well-respected news organizations in the country. However, that doesn’t mean they are free from errata.
and according to Radyo Veritas, the attendees ballooned from 200,000 to 300,000. You only rely on one source. and what you are exercising is “journalism misconduct” at its finest! you gullible little being. did you attend the prayer rally? It’s impossible that a meager 40,000 attendees could fill up the field!
binasa mo ba yung buong article? nakalagay nga sa baba diba early estimate was 40,000! hindi ba pwedeng lumaki yun? baka naman nireport yan ng GMA nagsisimula pa lang yung event. ano ka ba? ganyan talaga ang mga Pinoy, assuming!
Clearly, you don’t know how to read. Why don’t you try to ask someone to read the last sentence.
Since I’m there, I can attest that its more than 40,000 attendees. Its not exaggeration since the 40,000 headcount is just the “early” estimation. In every event, you can never expect the outcome of attendees. So, I believe that no one is exaggerating in the figures
Kindly read the whole article, especially the last paragraph: “Early estimates placed the crowd at 40,000 but Radyo Veritas said the crowd swelled to between 200,000 to 300,000 in the evening.” The report cited a source–Radyo Veritas.
GMA News and Public Affairs is one of the largest and well respected news organizations in the country, but it doesn’t follow that it is free from errata. The “40,000” it referred to may be the afternoon estimate. GMA may not have estimated the crowd in the evening.
The figures presented in this report are definitely not “exaggeration at its finest,” as you have said. I was present in the prayer rally until 9 p.m., and I can say that “40,000” is a small estimate for such a huge crowd. A lot of people left, though, after the Mass.