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 “If
my people … shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my presence, and
turn from their evil ways, I will forgive them their sins, and I will revive
their land.” 2 Chr 7:14
We,
the members of the ASSOCIATION OF MAJOR RELIGIOUS SUPERIORS IN THE PHILIPPINES,
join the whole nation in celebrating the 32nd Anniversary of the 1986 EDSA
Revolution. From the dark years of martial law until the fall of the
dictatorship, the Church had played an important role. Throughout the years,
the Church has had an undeniable influence in shaping the Philippines’ history.
The
birth of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines
(AMRSP) in the early 70s, in particular, was a reaction and an answer to the
realities during those turbulent years. This year, in celebration of the
anniversary of People Power I, the AMRSP also rekindle that fire of hope in a
miracle that a peaceful revolution is indeed possible.
To
dream the impossible dream – At EDSA we fulfilled a seemingly impossible dream.
A united people toppled a dictatorship after 14 long years of tyranny and
darkness. At EDSA, we shouted NEVER AGAIN! The aftermath of EDSA I saw in the
Filipino nation a genuine sense of hope. Our bishops in those times saw the
events of February 1986 as having renewed the Filipinos’ faith in each other,
the faith in their nation, and deeper still, our faith in God who writes our
history.
To
fight the unbeatable foe – Fourteen long years of struggle and resistance paid
for our history.
To
fight the unbeatable foe – Fourteen long years of struggle and resistance paid
for by blood, sweat and tears of our martyrs and heroes paved the way for the
EDSA uprising. The unsung, faceless and nameless heroes and martyrs of the
resistance paid with their lives so that we may taste freedom and democracy. We
showed the world that dictatorship can be toppled. Tyranny can collapse in the
face of a united and determined people rising up to change their lot.
To
bear with unbearable sorrow – More than 100,000 victims of human rights
violations and their descendants still bear the sorrow of a disappeared kin, a
salvaged son or daughter, a tortured freedom fighter and the years of
separation because of imprisonment.
To
run where the brave dare not go. – AMRSP cast its lot with the poor, deprived,
oppressed but struggling sectors of our society. True to its prophetic
tradition it members immersed themselves in factories, slums, haciendas, in the
lupang ninuno of the IPs and lumads, in the mountains even. And these they all
did, our forebears, to “right the unrightable wrong”, “to love pure and chaste”
not from afar but totally immersed in the daily life-struggles of the workers,
peasants, indigenous peoples, urban poor, women and youth.
At EDSA we reached that unreachable star!
 Today
we are once again called to continue to dream and to toil in the vineyard to
realize that dream. The struggle to emancipate our people from poverty and want
remains an “unbeatable foe”. Dynasties and elitism remain an “unrightable
wrong”. Tyranny and the insatiable lust for wealth and power remain the bane of
our leaders. Hate and divisions reign in our politics, culture and social life!
Indeed there is a pressing need to change ourselves and our society!
This
year, the Philippine Church celebrates the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated
Persons.
These
same people stood side by side with other Filipinos and faced the danger of
being killed; men and women armed with rosaries, flowers and prayers. The
legacy of EDSA I and the lessons that we learn from it bid us to assert and
fight for the following ideals:
Never
Again to tyranny and dictatorship!
Yes
to rule of law and justice!
Yes
to an equitable distribution of our wealth and resources!
No
to political dynasties!
Yes
to people empowerment and a government for, of and by the people!
|Today
we say NO to a charter change that will further entrench political dynasties,
extend terms of office and surrender our sovereignty!
Today
we march for our rights, our freedoms and our dreams for a better life for our
people!
Today
we light a candle for peace and justice, for all of Creation. Today we light a
candle in hope that we may be led to the path of righteousness and a land
flowing with milk and honey.
For the AMRSP:
Fr.
Cielito Almazan, OFM
Sr. Regina Kuizon, RGS
Co-chairpersons
Fr. Eduardo Apungan, CMF
Sr. Julie Saguibo, SFIC
Vice Co-Chairpersons
Fr.
Anthony Paul Bicomong, SDB
Fr.
Copernicus Perez Jr., CSsR
Fr.
Joseph Matitu, SSS
Br.
Jose Mari Jimenez, FSC
Fr.
Aaron Bamba, OC
Sr.
Niceta Vargas, OSA
Sr.
Marife Leslie Luna, LGC
Sr.
Gertrude Neri, TDM
Sr.
Josephine Mata, FAS
Sr.
Sofia Taguinod, OP
Fr.
Eugenio Juanilo Lopez, OFMCap
Board Members
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The Religious of the Good Shepherd joined other congregations during the February 24 Mass organized by the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP) to mark the 32nd anniversary of the People Power revolution.
