CUBAO Bishop Elias Ayuban Jr. called on officials involved in massive corruption to return the money they stole from the people, as he urged Marian devotees on Oct. 12 not to remain silent in the face of evil and wrongdoings.
Ayuban said Catholics should also remain steadfast amid natural calamities, such as typhoons and earthquakes, as well as man-made problems such as those rooted in corruption.
“Ang tunay na anak ni Maria ay hindi nananahimik sa harap ng kasamaan. Ngunit sa halip na manghusga, ako’y nag-aanyaya sa inyo at sa lahat ng mga sangkot ng korapsyon na magbalik-loob at magsauli sa ninakaw sa kaban ng bayan,” Ayuban said in his homily for the Mass for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Rosary of La Naval de Manila.
It was the first La Naval fiesta Mass of Ayuban, the former Claretian provincial who was installed as the second bishop of Cubao in December 2024.
Echoing the recent circular of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, Ayuban said he was thankful that some devotees chose to wear white to Mass to express their call for a transparent and accountable government.
“Ito ay panawagan hindi lamang sa araw na ito, kundi sa buong buwan ng Oktubre at Nobyembre, bawat linggo po tayo ay magsuot ng puti. Pwede rin magsabit ng ribbon at hinihikayat ko ang buong Diocese of Cubao na magtali ng white ribbons sa ating mga tahanan at sa ating mga simbahan,” he said.
The bishop stressed that true Catholics who abide by the lessons of the Gospel “cannot remain indifferent to the pain, injustice and corruption” around them.
Ayuban said he felt “troubled” at first when he learned that he would be assigned to the Diocese of Cubao.
“Sabi ko sa sarili ko, how could this be when I barely know Cubao? Pero noong nalaman ko na Cubao is a very Marian diocese napanatag ang loob ko,” the Cotabato-born prelate said.
Ayuban called on the laity to intensify the habit of praying the Rosary, which he said is part of Filipino identity.
“To be Filipino is to be Marian… the rosary has been our people’s faithful companion in every struggle,” the prelate said.
Celebrated every second Sunday of October, the fiesta of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of La Naval de Manila commemorates the victory of Filipino and Spanish troops over the invading Dutch forces in 1646, which was credited to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary through the rosary.
