A bishop called on Filipinos to pursue “truth, justice, and peace” amid mounting public frustration over corruption, unresolved national controversies, and economic hardships facing the country.
In a pastoral message made public on May 18, Bishop Ruperto Santos of Antipolo Diocese, Metro Manila, acknowledged what he described as the anger, exhaustion, and disappointment felt by many Filipinos amid political tensions and governance issues.
“Many Filipinos today are not only anxious; they are furious,” he said, pointing to corruption, failures in public service, and what it described as the erosion of integrity among leaders.
The message cited several issues confronting the country, including unresolved flood control problems, unstable power supply, rotating brownouts and rising oil prices.
“These are not mere headlines; they are wounds in our national soul,” Bishop Santos said.
The statement framed public anger not as hatred but as a response to betrayal of public trust and the common good.
“The righteous anger of our people is not born of hatred, but of betrayal,” he said.
At the same time, the bishop warned against allowing political conflict and division to overshadow deeper social issues affecting ordinary Filipinos.
“And yet, amid all this, political noise dominates the public square,” Bishop Santos said. “Arguments, accusations, and divisions drown out the more urgent cries of our people.”
The bishop also emphasized moral accountability, saying that while some public officials may appear untouched by legal or political consequences, no person ultimately escapes divine judgment.
“God is the ultimate Judge of all things, and no one escapes His justice,” he said.
The message ended with a call for national renewal grounded in “conversion, responsibility, and renewed commitment to the common good.”
Alongside the statement was a prayer asking for healing, integrity among leaders, justice for the oppressed, and unity among Filipinos amid social and political tensions.
The prayer appealed for wisdom “amid anger, courage" amid frustration,” and light “amid darkness,” while entrusting the nation to “Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage.”
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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