The prayer also coincided with the “people power” revolution that catapulted former Vice President Gloria Arroyo to the presidency in 2001.
But a presidential spokesman, Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., said the date of the prayer and the anniversary of EDSA-2 are coincidental.
“Malinaw na wala talagang kinalaman sa pagtatakda sa araw ng panalangin. Nagkataon na yan ang petsang napili sa okasyon (Clearly, there is no connection between the day of prayer and EDSA-2. The date of the prayer was purely coincidental),” Coloma said in an interview over the state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
President Benigno Aquino led the nation in offering prayers for the victims of calamities last year and these included the failed Zamboanga City siege in September, the magnitude-7.2 quake in Central Visayas in October, and super typhoon Haiyan in November.
Coloma said different religious groups as well as victims of the three tragedies were represented at the prayer held at the Presidential Palace. He said the event sought divine intervention for the Philippines.
In the southern region of Mindanao, the military also joined the national prayer dubbed as “Isang Bansa, Isang Panalangin.”
The Eastern Mindanao Command in Davao City, Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao Chaplain Major Cerilo Bermudez and Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III led the unity prayer and candle lighting with the soldiers and civilian employees.
“We should bear the same degree of dedication and enthusiasm in the achievement of our objectives. Let us continue to pray that our country will always surpass whatever challenges that may come. Despite all the disasters and difficulties, there are still many things we need to be grateful for as we aspire for a better 2014,” Cruz said.
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