MANILA, Philippines - Bangon Pilipinas standard bearer Bro. Eddie Villanueva today called for a day of prayer following the possibility that a tsunami may damage the country after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake hit Chile yesterday.

“For today, Sunday, let us make it a day of prayer for deliverance from nature’s wrath. Let us continue to pray the tsunami does not hit any part of our country,” Villanueva said.

He also called for prayers “for relief from the effects of the El Nino phenomenon” which is now ravaging the country.

Reports said the effects of El Nino on the country’s agriculture could reach P10 billion by June.

Villanueva also urged all churches to “fast and pray for rains” as he underscored the direct vulnerability of the poor to the threats and ills caused by the abnormal weather condition.

He had already included prayers for the deliverance of the country from the El Nino phenomenon in the Bangon Pilipinas celebration of the EDSA Revolution anniversary at the People Power Monument and in Plaza Miranda Saturday.

A Pacific Ocean-wide tsunami alert was raised in the last 24 hours after a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck Chile Saturday. The earthquake killed over 200 people.