By Zeus Legaspi
The official online poster for Lasallian Community Development Center’s (LCDC) voter education webinar titled “Ang Politika ay Bokasyon: Sinong Pupusuan, Anong Batayan?.” Photo from LCDC’s official Facebook page.
In light of recent incidents where the Catholic Church was criticized for “meddling” in politics, a De La Salle Brother defended the church’s involvement in political discussions.
In a voters’ education webinar held on Friday, April 22, Br. Aikee Esmeli, FSC, explained that it is the church’s duty to ensure that humans are given what they are due as per God’s will.
“Ang pinagbabasehan na po natin ay Genesis. Kung hindi po kami (simbahan) makikilahok sa [diskusyon] tungkol sa paghahati-hati ng mga gawa ng Panginoon, wala na po kaming rason para maging isang simbahan,” he answered when asked to give his message to Filipinos who urge the church to stay out of politics.
Br. Esmeli’s talk tackled the problem of being apolitical among Filipinos, which he said is due to people thinking that they are unaffected by political actions.
But the De La Salle Brother noted that there are some things upon which the regular citizen has no control over such as taxation and quality of life, among other things.
“Kaya importante ang halalan kasi [dito] may control tayo kung sino ang mananalo,” he said.
He explained that Filipinos must help each other to discern who is worthy to take a seat in the government.
Ang boto mo ay hindi lamang para sa sarili mong pangarap, kundi para rin sa pangarap ng iba“,” he added.
In a separate event, Br. Arian Lopez, FSC, clarified that the church is not endorsing a candidate, but is only encouraging people to vote for those who reflect the social teachings of the church.
The Philippines will be holding its national elections on May 9.
