Beyond Valentine's Day: Archbishop Uy Calls for National Healing on EDSA Anniversary
Love is often celebrated as the most precious thing in the world, especially during Valentine's Day or festive weekends. However, beyond our personal circles of loved ones, there exists a broader application of love—one that extends to the country itself. What does genuine love of country truly look like in practice?
The True Meaning of Patriotism
We frequently speak of love for the Philippines or Cebu with ease, whether in government press conferences, political speeches, election campaigns, or Independence Day displays. Yet, authentic love must drive us to choose what is right, even when profitable shortcuts are tempting and simpler.
Consider flood control projects designed to protect communities from rising waters. Is it patriotic to cut corners, use inferior materials on life-saving infrastructure, or illegally earn commissions from such transactions? Love of country is not about posing for photos or ribbon-cutting ceremonies. It is not a press interview where integrity is professed while secretly taking cuts from infrastructure budgets. It is not a social media post adorned with flag emojis.
For private individuals, it does not involve jacking up prices to exploit calamity victims, rigging systems to outpace competition, or ignoring traffic rules for faster travel. Instead, love of country manifests in an engineer who refuses to certify substandard work, a contractor who delivers agreed-upon quality rather than the cheapest option, and a public official who honestly discloses assets and welcomes scrutiny without hesitation.
It is a citizen who pays taxes, follows safety regulations, and demands transparency. It requires the discipline to reject easy profits when they come at others' expense or risk. Ultimately, love of country is reflected in how honestly we build, govern, and live our daily lives.
Archbishop Uy's Call for National Healing
Cebu Archbishop Alberto Uy has announced the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution through a gathering focused not on reminiscing about the past, but on praying for national healing. Church and civil society groups will also hold the third Trillion Peso March at the EDSA Shrine on that same day.
In a briefing, Caritas executive director Fr. Tito Caluag noted that the recent flood control scandal has "awakened again" the public's "sense of civil responsibility." The EDSA Shrine event will commence with a prayer march, symbolizing a collective call for renewal.
In Cebu, Bishop Uy emphasized that on February 25, "we call on three essential things for the genuine healing of our nation." These include:
- Justice: Upholding the rule of law and ensuring accountability, regardless of status or power.
- Return of Stolen Wealth: Restoring what was taken from the people, as it represents lost opportunities such as unbuilt schools, unequipped hospitals, and unprotected livelihoods, thereby repairing harm done to the nation.
- Admission of Guilt by Those Responsible: Acknowledging that true reconciliation cannot occur without truth.
Details of the February 25 program are forthcoming, marking a pivotal moment for reflection and action in the pursuit of a more honest and patriotic society.
