Church bells simultaneously rung on Monday evening to signal the launch a new inter-religious campaign, which aims to raise awareness on the importance of faith during novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
“Instead of just focusing on the usual health standards and protocols, this advocacy aims to promote positive mindset that will give flesh to the values of love, compassion, prudence and patience and a call to action that is cultivated by holiness and heroism,” Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) acting president Pablo Virgilio S. David said in launching the Yakapin ang Bagong Bukas (Embrace the New Tomorrow) campaign.
Aside from the CBCP, the initiative is supported by faith-based leaders from the Lighhouse Bible Baptist Church; Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints; Indigenous People Traditional Worship in Cotabato, Mindanao; Imam Council of the Philippines; and the Fo Guan Shan Mabuhay Temple.
The participants prayed for the spiritual healing of the county amid the Covid-19 crisis.
During the event, which coincided with the celebration of National Heroes Day, an audio-visual presentation (AVP) for the Yakapin ang Bagong Bukas, which was produced by CBCP and its partner private organizations, Unilab, Inc. and RiteMed Philippines Inc., was also launched to inspire hope to people during the pandemic.
Opportunity for change
In his speech, David also highlighted the important contribution of frontliners, which he considers as modern day heroes, during the Covid-19 crisis, which left disastrous consequences for many people.
And yet the same crisis, he said, is an opportunity for the faithful to emulate the example of frontliners to selflessly help those in need.
Manila Archdiocese Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo issued a similar sentiment during his mass for the National Heroes Day.
“Let us give attention not only to our personal good but also for the common good…what will be good for the nation,” Pabillo said.
He lamented, how the government’s lack of a comprehensive plan to control the pandemic become additional burden to the said frontliners.
“Let us pray for our modern day heroes because they are now going through a lot of hardship,” the prelate said.