Progressive groups join Luneta parade for Pope; salute Pope’s pro-poor stance

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Hours before the mass held in Quirino Grandstand, members of Gabriela, Kadamay and other progressive groups assembled at Liwasang Bonifacio to join the long queue of people in Luneta gearing to see the Pope and ask him to join the struggle for peace and social justice in our country.

During the march, these groups held placards hailing the Pope for standing against corruption and heeding the call of Filipinos for genuine peace and justice.

“We are joining this historic parade today because we join fellow poor Filipino people to thank the Pope. thank him for his solidarity with the underprivileged and for reminding fellow church leaders that the poor should be the center of the church,” said Ina Fadriquela, secretary general of Gabriela Metro Manila.

 

photo by Tudla Productions
photo by Tudla Productions

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Metro Manila, an alliance of national democratic mass organizations, participated ‘Misang Bayan’ to welcome Pope Francis and joined the long queue of pilgrims in Luneta, Manila. 

“We deeply appreciate his deep concern for the Filipino people, for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda in Eastern Visayas. We are joining millions who are welcoming him today because we laud him for his steadfast commitment for justice and peace. We agree with him in his critique on globalization that continues to put profits above the people. We hope he may see the real situation of the Filipino people. Our situation is similar to those that take place in Latin America,” Bayan Metro Manila Secretary General Mark Louie Aquino said.

[quote_center]We hope he may see the real situation of the Filipino people. Our situation is similar to those that take place in Latin America – Mark Lui Aquino of Bayan Metro Manila[/quote_center]

Kadamay Metro Manila, an urban poor organization, also expressed their call for the Pope and church workers also to join their struggle for just wage, decent homes, and livelihood.

“More than 12 million Filipinos are displaced and evicted of our livelihood and communities. One in every four residents in Metro Manila is tagged as informal settler. We are striving to do a living in selling foods, garbage collection and as construction workers, we hope that you may join us in our plight in exposing and fighting neoliberal policies. We are one with you in your struggle for social justice and peace, “ said Maritess Bacolod, Chairperson of Kadamay Metro Manila.

 

Manila Today file photo
Manila Today file photo

Fr. Ben Alforque, member of People’s Welcome Committee, also praised Pope’s rejection to economy of exclusion, to the idolatry of money.

“In his speech, he says no to economy of exclusion and push fellow priests to serve the poor,” Fr. Alfoque said.

People’s Welcome is an alliance of marginalized sectors’ groups that organized activities leading up to the visit of the Pope. They sponsored gatherings of the poor to echo the plight of the people during the High Pontiff’s visit to the Philippines.

“Therefore, it is our plea to the ruling class, to hear the message of the Lord, and heed the cry of the poor which is brought to them by the Pope, if they really want to change, hear us. Because according to Pope Francis, the agents of change are the poor and the deprived and therefore church workers, government officials, must go to them. We also urge fellow Filipinos to stand with us for justice and peace, be a convergence of those who are searching for meaning and direction in their lives. Lastly, we also hope that Pope Francis may see the realities in our country beyond the grand festivities prepared for him, beyond the dances and songs. Although these are real, the people are not there.”

 

 

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