By Ritche T. Salgado, O.Carm. | Photos by Br. Petronilo M. Flores, O.Carm.
The Order of Carmelites in the Philippines joined the protest action marking the 49th anniversary of the declaration of martial law by the tyrant dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
Philippine Carmelite (O.Carm.) prior provincial, the Very Rev. Fr. Rico Ponce, O.Carm. said that joining the multi-sectoral protest action affirms its commitment to serve the anawim of Christ.
“As a church of the poor, we are one with the oppressed members of our society in their struggle for a better life,” said Fr. Ponce.
“This is what it means to proclaim God’s kingdom to the poor and in helping build His kingdom in this world,” he said.
The Carmelites in the Philippines also remembers its martial law martyrs: the Escalante massacre victims (William Alegre, Michael Dayanan, Rodney Demegilio, Rovena Franco, Juvelyn Jaravello, Alex Labatos, Angelina Lape, Norberto Locanilao, Rodolfo Mahinay, Rogelio Megallen Jr., Claro Monares, Maria Luz Mondejar, Rodolfo Montealto, Aniano Ornopia, Nenita Orot, Edgardo Salili, Ronilo Santa Ana, Juanito Suarez Jr., Manuel Tan, Caesar Tejones); Br. Isagani Valle, O.Carm. who was killed by the military during an immersion with the farmers in Buenavista, Agusan del Sur; Fr. Engelbert van Vilsteren who was murdered by cult members while trying to fetch the body of a murdered teacher in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur; Fr. Jan Westendorp who was one of the many religious who died in the MV Cassandra tragedy on their way to a gathering of rural missionaries in Cebu City; and many other lay and religious partners.
Fr. Ponce reiterated that it is the prophetic call of all Christians to denounce the evils of society and that includes calling for an end to an administration that not only tolerates corruption but allows the culture of impunity to thrive, normalizing extra-judicial killings and the harassment and threat against critical voices especially journalists, activists, and the opposition.
“We remember the atrocities of Martial Law because by remembering we are able to prevent such tyranny to happen again,” Fr. Ponce said.