Palma hopeful of Duterte’s attendance

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma hopes that President Rodrigo Duterte would have a change of heart and decide to attend the Church’s celebration of the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the country in 2021.

Palma made the remarks after the President announced earlier that he has no plans of joining the clergy in the quincentenary celebration, saying that doing so means “subjugation” and yielding to “imperialism.”

“Ako, I have (not known) the President personally. Ang akong point lagi kay the President sometimes says one thing, then he says another thing after. He would change his mind. I don’t know, no one knows the time comes basin mauna pa siya abot (sa program),” Palma told reporters on the sidelines of the unveiling of the new design to renovate the Patria de Cebu building on Monday.

In a report published by the Philippine STAR, Duterte was quoted as saying that he was okay with the Spaniards bringing their religion to the Philippines. However, he said it’s a different story if Filipinos are subjected to suppression.

“They brought religion, fine. But you didn’t have to subjugate my country and made my brothers and sisters under the yoke of imperialism for 400 years,” Duterte said.

“Their thinking remains the same. If you think that Padre Damaso is gone, you are mistaken. Padre Damaso is alive and kicking,” he added, referring to one of the villains in national hero Jose Rizal’s novel “Noli me Tangere.”

While saying he respects the President’s views, Palma remains hopeful that he could still join the celebration.

“We always respect whatever the President says; it is his prerogative… This is a free country. If he wishes to attend, well and good. If not, this is his freedom. I’m sure the Catholics would say we respect the President, but our Catholicity does not depend on the President; it depends on the Lord,” Palma said.

“We will celebrate whether the President is present or not. As good people and as good Christians, we are always exhorted to pray for our leaders and were doing that always,” he added. — Zesusita C. Belarmino (FREEMAN)