Tagle: Philippines 'blessed' for even having elections

MANILA, Philippines – Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said the Philippines is blessed for having elections.

“We are blessed that elections could even be held in our country,” Tagle said during a Mass attended by some presidential and senatorial candidates on Monday morning.

The Mass was held prior to the candidates’ signing of the covenant for Truthful, Responsible, Upright, Transparent and Honest elections (T.R.U.T.H.). It was attended by two presidential candidates, Manuel “Mar” Roxas and Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay and 15 other senatorial candidates from the Liberal Party, United Nationalist Alliance, Partido Galing at Puso, and independent bets.

In his homily, Tagle noted that although there are fears and worries enveloping the election, Filipino voters are lucky to be able to exercise their right to suffrage. He urged the faithful to overlook these worries and consider the elections a “blessing.”

Tagle cited that in his job as a priest, he witnessed citizens of other countries who were deprived of their rights to vote due to social classes, gender and racial discrimination.

“Totoong may mga panganib pero tingnan din natin na ang eleksyon ay pagkakatoon ng biyaya. Biyaya sa ating bansa na bahagi ng demokrasya,” Tagle said.

“Mapalad ka na pwede kang makiiisa. Sa pamamagitan ng boto meron kang bahagi sa kinabukasan ng ating bansa,” he added.

The high-ranking Catholic official also reminded the public that voting is not just a right but also a responsibility. He said the voters must be well-informed and must use their values in choosing the leaders they want for the country.

Tagle stressed that the Catholic leadership does not want to endorse any candidate or influence them with their choice as they want the Filipinos to participate in the elections “rationally” and “with conscience.”

“Ang pagboto ay isang tungkulin na di lamang makabayan kundi maka-Diyos… We participate through our votes and we are forging the destiny of our country, what a blessing,” Tagle said.

“Hindi kami mag-iimpose ng ito ang iboto niyong kandidato kasi may sariling pag-iisip at konsensya ang bawat mamamayan… We participate by choosing the people who will want to send our dreams, our desires our destinies,” he added.

Likewise, Tagle said the candidates seeking for office are also blessed because they are given the privilege to promote the common good, represent the Filipinos and be gifted the public’s trust.

Tagle stressed that the public’s role for the country does not end in elections as it is he said “participation in democracy is a daily event.”

“Manalo man ang binoto mo o hindi, hindi natatapos ang ating participation,” Tagle said.