WOWBatangas.com Your Source of Great News and Stories from the Province of Batangas, Philippines
Related Articles
February 7, 2010 was one important day for Batanguenos when the election candidates gathered for a significant event – the signing of the Covenant. The Covenant contains the ‘promises’ of the election candidates to observe a peaceful, honest, and clean election for Batangas and its people.
The Lipa Cathedral seemed to be divided into two. But in front of the members of the Archdiocese of Lipa, they were one, at least for this day. Governor Vilma Santos-Recto, former Senator Ralph Recto, and Vice Governor Mark Leviste led the Liberal Party and on the other side were Arman Sanchez and Erwin Ermita with the rest of the members of the Nacionalista Party.
Here is the content of the Covenant:
WE, MEN AND WOMEN, FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUND AND VARIOUS WALKS OF LIFE, CALLED BY THE GRACE OF ALMIGHTY GOD TO SERVE OUR PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE PROVINCE OF BATANGAS,
GATHERED AT CATHEDRAL OF ST. SEBASTIAN, LIPA CITY THIS 7TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2010, IN THE YEAR OF PRAYER AND WORK FOR PEACE-BUILDING AND LAY PARTICIPATION ON SOCIAL CHANGE (JUNE 2009 – JUNE 2010).
HAVING REFLECTED ON THE WORDS OF THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS AND RESPONDING TO THE MOUNTING CALL FOR “MORAL REGENERATION” IN OUR COUNTRY, WE TAKE THE CHALLENGE TO TAKE THE LEAD IN THE TASK OF MORAL RENEWAL TOWARDS A DEEPER AND MORE LASTING CHANGE IN THE PHILIPPINE SOCIETY.
DESIRING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE TOTAL WELFARE OF OUR BELOVED COUNTRY, THE PHILIPPINES, STARTING WITH OUR VERY OWN PROVINCE OF BATANGAS, WE TAKE THE CHALLENGE OF THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS TO THE CATHOLIC LAY PEOPLE INVOLVED IN POLITICS TO RENOUNCE CORRUPTION AND BOND TOGETHER IN THE TASK OF EVANGELIZING POLITICS FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE AND THE PURSUIT OF COMMON GOOD.
BEFORE THE SAME ALMIGHTY FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,
COLLECTIVELY MAKE THIS SOLEMN PLEDGE:*THAT WE SHALL EXERT OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS TO ENSURE A PEACEFUL, CLEAN, ORDERLY, HONEST AND CREDIBLE ELECTIONS IN THE WHOLE PROVINCE OF BATANGAS, ON MAY 10, 2010 AND ALL THE ENSUING ELECTORAL EXERCISES;
*THAT WE SHALL PRESERVE THE SANCTITY OF THE BALLOT;
*THAT WE AND OUR SUPPORTERS SHALL NOT RESORT TO ANY FORMS OF CHEATING AND VOTE BUYING BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER ELECTION;
*THAT WE SHALL SEEK TO SERVE OUR PEOPLE, FAITHFULLY AND COMPLETELY PERFORMING OUR DUTIES BEARING IN MIND THE “CHURCH’S PREFERENTIAL OPTION FOR THE POOR” IN OUR PROVINCE;
*THAT WE SHALL REFRAIN FROM CORRUPTING OUR PEOPLE AND AVOID BEING CORRUPTED BY “DIRTY MONEY” OR “DIRTY TRICKS” OFFERED TO TEMPT US FROM DOING OUR DUTIES WITH SELFLESSNESS AND INTEGRITY;
*THAT WE SHALL RESPECT AND UPHOLD THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS OF OUR PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE RIGHT TO VOTE, THUS REFRAINING FROM USING FORCE TO INTIMIDATE, ESPECIALLY THE INNOCENT, AND RENOUNCING VIOLENCE AS A MEANS TO ACHIEVE EVEN THE MOST NOBLE ENDS;
*THAT WE SHALL CONSCIENTIOUSLY UPHOLD THE LAW AND THE COMMON GOOD OF THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY OF THIS PROVINCE, NEVER PUTTING THE LAW IN OUR OWN HANDS, BUT EVER READY TO DIALOGUE AND, SEEK AND EXHAUST ALL LEGAL AND PEACEFUL MEANS AVAILABLE;
*THAT WE SHALL JOIN AND ACTIVELY SUPPORT OTHER WELL-MEANING INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS, AND INITIATIVES THAT WORK FOR THE TOTAL WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE OF BATANGAS;
*THAT WE SHALL OPPOSE ALL IMMORAL AND ILLICIT VICES IN THE PROVINCE OF BATANGAS AND NEVER ALLOW OUR HONOR AND INTEGRITY TO BE SULLIED BY GRAFT AND CORRUPTION , UNDUE INFLUENCE AND ABUSE OF AUTHORITY, USE OF MONEY, ESPECIALLY THAT DERIVED FROM EVIL SOURCES, AND OFFERED BY PROMOTERS OF ALL ACTIVITIES THAT BRING HARM TO OUR FELLOMEN AND WOMEN;
*THAT WE RENEW OUR COMMITMENT TO PROMOTE AND ENHANCE THE INTEGRITY OF CREATION AND TO PROTECT AND SAFEGUARD THE ENVIRONMENT OF OUR BELOVED COUNTRY, THE PHILIPPINES, ESPECIALLY OF OUR RICH PROVINCE OF BATANGAS.
IN ALL THESE, BEFORE GOD AND BEFORE GOD’S PEOPLE, WE PLEDGE TO WORK TO ENSURE PEACE, HARMONY AND TRUE PROGRESS FOR BATANGAS AND THE WHOLE NATION.
MAY JESUS, THE SOURCE OF DIVINE MERCY, AND HIS MOTHER, MARY, AND ST. JOSEPH, PATRON OF THE ARCHDIOCESE, ACCOMPANY US IN OUR WORK OF PEACE-BUILDING, AND SOCIAL AND MORAL REGENERATION.
SO HELP US GOD!
Video Highlights of the Covenant Signing
