Tagle urges public: Save lives, welcome the needy

MANILA, Philippines - Whatever happened to Filipino hospitality?

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle called on the public yesterday to continue to live up to what the Filipinos have been known for all along – as hospitable people.

“We Filipinos claim that hospitality is second nature to us. We make strangers or guests feel at home in our company. Our home becomes their home. Hospitality enables us to expand our home so that no one could say there was no room for them,” Tagle said.

This Christmas, Tagle said in a message that it would be the best time to reflect and make room for the more important things like valuing life and helping the needy and the poor.

“Why is there room for destroying lives but minute space for saving them? What has happened to hospitality? Without hospitality, how could humanity survive?” Tagle asked.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz also said nothing in this world could be more precious and priceless than the gift of life.

“Christmas is a reminder of hospitality denied by people but reversed by the merciful hospitality offered by God. I pray that our Christmas may make us more hospitable or welcoming to others, especially the poor and needy. Will we make room for them?” Tagle said.

Tagle said as one “human family,” Filipinos should ask themselves these questions: “Why is there room for a new television set or the latest gadget but not for another child in the family? 

“How can people afford to buy solvents such as ‘rugby’ and vices, but could not afford nutritious food and education, respectively? Why is there ample room for hatred and revenge but too little for compassion and forgiveness?

“Why is there no room for hope for those who have gone astray but much space for condemnation by the self-righteous? Why is there room for profit but little empathy for victims of human trafficking, unfair labor practices, abuse and violence? Why is there room for hostile despair but little for tender hope?”

Tagle said Christmas was about Jesus being born to save humanity and he expressed hope Filipinos would allow Him to enter their hearts through various forms.

“Let us welcome Jesus in the hungry, thirsty, homeless, sick, naked and prisoners so that one day we may enjoy the hospitality of God,” Tagle said.

In his Christmas message posted on his blogspot, Cruz, also former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, stressed the importance of life and birthdays, noting that these “are occasions to treasure and celebrate, to rejoice and cheer.” 

“Reason: they are the incarnate gifts of God through the loving conjugal relationship of the parents concerned. So it is that birthdays are the supreme manifestations of an infinitely loving God whose likewise supreme gift is life,” he said.

“Happy birthday, Jesus! This is the truth and the spirit, the event and the reality behind every 25th day of December every year – since no less than (2,015) years ago,” Cruz said. 

Second parents

Meanwhile, Archdiocese of Manila-Commission on Liturgy assistant commissioner Carmelo Arada Jr. reminded godparents to share the responsibility of guiding their godchildren and in turning them into good Christians and citizens, aside from giving toys and money on Christmas Day.

“The godparents, they are the second parents to their godchildren. The real role and the real… and lasting gift to their godchildren is guiding them in their lives. Up to now, there are still a lot of godchildren who go to their ninong and ninang to ask for advice. That is the best gift that they could give,” Arada said. – With Eva Visperas