Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon of Caceres called on the faithful Oct. 1 to continue the fight for justice, the common good, and love of country.
The prelate expressed that the love for the nation and for God cannot be separated from the true essence of faith, according to a report by Veritas 846.
Alarcon, who also serves as chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines–Episcopal Commission on Youth, delivered his message during the local version of the Trillion Peso March organized by the Archdiocese of Caceres in solidarity with the nationwide call against systemic corruption and for good governance.
Archbishop Alarcon underscored that devotion to the Blessed Mother of Peñafrancia must be accompanied by concrete service to the country.
“It is our prayer, and that is what we repeatedly say in our devotion: as we draw near to Our Lady, as we kiss her, as we touch her mantle, so too do we anoint our Motherland and our brothers and sisters with our sacrifices. We show, and we want to show, our devotion through our service, through fulfilling our duty, and through offering ourselves so that our nation may grow in transformation,” said Archbishop Alarcon.
He added that it is vital for Filipinos to remain united in prayer and action to awaken compassion for the nation.
The prelate outlined three key reasons behind the gathering: to show seriousness about the country’s condition, to sustain the struggle against corruption, and to commit to positive change.
“First, because we want to declare that we are indeed serious about this. We are not just playing around, we are not merely observing. We are already bleeding, and we want to be serious about this,” he said.
The prelate added, “Second, we are here because we want to sustain. The rally in Manila and other places is over, but we did not allow ourselves to miss the chance to also express what we feel. We want to sustain. We want to continue. The battle will be long. And third, I believe, because we want to commit ourselves.”
He compared the state of the Filipino people to the image of the Divino Rostro, describing the nation as bloodied and wounded by injustice and corruption. Like Lazarus in the Gospel whose sores were licked by dogs, many Filipinos, he noted, are suffering deeply.
This painful reality, he emphasized, has compelled people to gather in unity—not only to voice their disappointment, anger, and sorrow, but also to lift their struggles in prayer.
Archbishop Alarcon also highlighted the role of young people in building a more humane and just society. He expressed gratitude to all participants, especially the youth, for their commitment.
“I am very grateful to you all, especially our young people. I see many young people. You are here today because you care,” he said.
The local protest, dubbed “Trillion Peso March sa Kabikolan: Aldaw Nin Pamibi Ki Ina,” was held at the Peñafrancia Basilica Minore Grounds in Naga City.
It gathered young people, Catholic school students, parishioners from different sectors of society, and church workers.
The nationwide “National Day of Protest and Indignation Against Corruption” was originally set for September 25, but was postponed in the Bicol region due to Typhoon Opong.
It also coincided with the September 21 feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, the patroness of Bicol.
