MANILA (UCAN): On August 31, Catholics in the Philippines commemorated what would have been the 94th birthday of the late Archbishop of Manila and People Power icon, Jaime Cardinal Sin, who died in 2005.
Parishioners of the EDSA Shrine in Manila recalled the contribution the late cardinal made to restoring democracy following years of martial law.
The shrine was built in memory of the 1986 People Power Revolution that ousted former dictator, Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.
“Cardinal Sin once stood on this hallowed ground to call for the people to restore democracy. The cardinal’s biggest legacy was his efforts to bring back democracy and good governance,” one parishioner, Gilbert dela Cruz, observed. He also hailed the cardinal’s patriotism and his integrity for not giving in to bribes allegedly offered by Marcos allies.
“He was not afraid despite the many death threats he faced. He felt it was part of his role as our [Filipino] shepherd to speak for justice and truth,” Dela Cruz added.
Another parishioner, Dennis Oliveros, said he participated in two people power revolutions spearheaded by the late cardinal.
“I was there in 1986 and 2001 in protests that toppled former presidents Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. and Joseph Estrada. I heeded the call of the cardinal because it was the call of a shepherd to his flock,” Oliveros said.
Two bishops, however, lamented that despite the sacrifices Cardinal Sin made for the country, Filipinos seemed to have forgotten his legacy.
I was there in 1986 and 2001 in protests that toppled former presidents Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. and Joseph Estrada. I heeded the call of the cardinal because it was the call of a shepherd to his flock,
Dennis Oliveros
Bishop Arturo Bastes, remarked, “Filipino people have very poor memories and the poor are attracted by Marcos money which bribed and bought them.”
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He also said that the former dictator’s son and current president, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. took advantage of the ignorance of the poor by portraying himself as a pro-poor politician.
“Marcos plays on the poverty and ignorance of the Filipino masses. Terrible indeed! The work of the devil,” Bishop Bastes added.
Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, former secretary to Cardinal Sin, lamented on Facebook, “We have not broken the cycle of sin. We have not broken the cycle of scandal. We have not broken the cycle of evil.”
Archbishop Villegas also thanked the cardinal on the occasion of his 21st anniversary as a bishop on 31 August 2001—the cardinal’s birthday.
“Your Eminence, it is impossible to tell the story of my episcopate without you in it. Twenty years as a bishop taught me that the world is indeed in the hands of God,” Archbishop Villegas said.
“Whenever I was with you, I told myself: God is good all the time! I saw God and so much of His goodness in you! Everything is worth it. Happy birthday,” Archbishop Villegas said.
