Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan cautioned Filipinos against electing candidates in this year’s national elections who act like kings instead of being servant leaders.
“Napakahalagang itanong sa darating na Mayo …. Sino sa pagpipilian ang magiging tipong bosing, at sino ang magiging tipong katulong, hindi mahihiyang maghugas ng paa?” said Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on April 14, Holy Thursday.
“’Delikado talaga ang malagay sa mga puwesto ng kapangyarihan. Pwedeng malasing ang tao, o mahibang. Sila ang mga tipong napaglalaruan ni Satanas, nagiging bagong klase ng alipin. Nahuhumaling, nagugumon sa kapangyarihan,” he added.
The washing of the feet is traditionally performed by the Catholic Church during Holy Thursday, the start of the Pascal Triduum, the three days of the Holy Week leading to Easter. It mirrors Jesus’ washing of the feet of his 12 disciples during the Last Supper.
“Ang pamumuno ay dapat gawin sa diwa ng pagiging alipin, pagiging lingkod. Dahil ang Panginoon mismo ay naparito hindi upang paglingkuran kundi upang maglingkod,” Bishop David said.
The bishop reminded the faithful to not forget the past like how the Jews remember the Passover every year.
“Mahalaga kasi para sa mga Hudyo ang pagsasariwa ng kasaysayan upang hindi sila maligaw ng landas bilang isang bayan. Di ba may kasabihan, “Kapag nilimot natin ang kasaysayan, uulitin natin ito,” he said.
“Iyan ang mangyayari kapag nawala na sa alaala natin ang ‘GOMBURZA’ at napalitan na ito ng MAJOHA,” he said, referring to the viral video of teenagers in a reality show who failed to recall the acronym of the three Filipino priests — Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora — who were executed by the Spaniards during the colonial time.
Bishop David expressed hoped that Filipino Catholics would follow the example of the Jews of remembering history.
“Tandang-tanda ko pa noong lumaya ang bansa natin sa mahaba at madilim na panahon ng pagkawala ng demokrasya. Kapag kinalimutan natin ang kasaysayan, baka ang maging direksyon ng ating mga paa ay patungo sa bangin ng pagkapariwara,” he said.
In 1986, Filipinos staged what was later known as the “people power revolution” that ended the two-decade rule of former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
After more than three decades, the dictator’s son and namesake, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, is running for president in the coming May elections.
