CHRISTMAS signifies peace, hope, joy, prosperity and the promise of new life. The message of Christmas has become more urgent for our people–after the series of calamities in 2013 that tested the strength and resilience of the Filipino spirit.
We are one with our fellow countrymen and women in the belief that better days are ahead, and we join in the call for peace throughout the country, a peace that will allow everyone—rebels and non-rebels alike—to celebrate the holidays free from fear and uncertainty.
Many Filipinos have risen to the challenge of providing meaningful help to fellow citizens who have been hit by killer storms, a killer earthquake and a three-week armed siege on a southern city. We challenge those who carry arms in the name of the people to become instruments of peace in this Advent season.
We call on the Communist Party of the Philippines to be faithful to the spirit and letter of the ceasefire that they have declared and to respect the prolonged ceasefire declared by our Government. As well, we echo the public clamor for a just and lasting peace.
We need peace to nourish and live with diversity; we need peace to be able to imagine a better future; we need peace to turn our people’s hopes into reality. In this season of Christmas, let us seek to end meaningless and destructive violence and commence the healing and rehabilitation of our land and our people.
May everyone enjoy the holidays in peace, and a fruitful New Year to us all!
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