Lakbay Buhay pilgrims welcomed at Manila
Patrick Narciso and Cloie Sioson
Enduring a 21-day caravan dubbed Lakbay Buhay, pilgrims finally reached Metro Manila last May 19.
The caravan started in Cagayan de Oro on May 4, 2017. It aimed to speak out against reimposing the death penalty bill, that is “anti-poor, immoral, and illegal,” in the country.
All 14 pilgrims were welcomed by the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU), along with Luzon-based church and non-sectarian organizations including UP Student Catholic Action and UP Campus Ministry Office (CMO).
AdMU president Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ said that death penalty is an issue of national concern. “Hindi lang naman ito issue ng mayayaman o ng mga elitista. Issue ‘to ng buong bayang Pilipino,” he said in an interview with Handuhay.
Villarin said he is happy to see the youth’s presence to share their advocacy.
“Nasisiyahan ako kasi akala ko matatanda lang [ang nandito]. Pero [maraming] kabataan. So merong tumutuloy [sa paglaban],” he said.
CMO youth volunteer Joshua Anthony Gapay told Handuhay that every human person is a brother or sister whom we are responsible for.
“Tinuturing nating kapatid ang bawat isa at tayo’y may pananagutan sa kapwa. Bawat buhay ng tao ay mahalaga at may dignidad. Naniniwala ako na ang pagkitil ng buhay ay hindi sagot sa kriminalidad at karahasan,” CMO youth volunteer Joshua Anthony Gapay told Handuhay.
“May mga mas malalim na problema na kailangan nating ayusin gaya ng kahirapan, terorismo, pagpapaunlad ng ekonomiya at pagbibigay hanapbuhay sa ating mga kababayan,” Gapay added.
Likewise, in his homily at the Church of the Gesu later that day, Villarin stressed the grave effects of death penalty to society and reiterated the sanctity of life and human dignity.
“Ang nais ay katahimikan, kapayapaan, kapanatagan sa ating lipunan. Matatamo ba natin ang mga ito sa pamamagitan ng [death penalty]? Ang buhay ay sagrado… wala tayong karapatan na sabihin na walang kwenta ang ating buhay,” he said.
Moreover, Villarin said that death penalty is a systemic issue, not only about economic differences among people. “Ang buhay ay buhay. Mahirap ka man o mayaman,” he said.
On May 21, the pilgrims were joined by the crowd in University of Santo Tomas for a mass. On May 24, they trooped to the Senate to rally against the revival of capital punishment.
In 1987, the death penalty was first abolished in the Philippines. It was then reinstated under Ramos administration, but abolished again under Arroyo presidency.
The death penalty bill is set to be heard at Senate after it has passed the Congress’ lower
