THOMASIANS MUST uplift individuals who were denied of their rights, a Dominican priest said, as the fight against injustices persists 52 years since Martial Law was declared in the country.
In his homily during the commemoration of Martial Law’s 52nd anniversary on Saturday, Sept. 21, Faculty of Arts and Letters Regent Fr. George Phe Mang, O.P. said the right to freedom and dignity are intrinsic in God’s creation and are not mere political concepts.
“As Christians, the call to protect and uphold human rights is inseparable from our faith. The right to life, freedom, dignity and participation in society are not mere political concepts; they are rooted in every nation of God’s creation,” Phe Mang said.
“Human rights, therefore, are not the creation of governments or societies, but are intrinsic to the natural order of things—a reflection of the divine will that governs everything,” he added.
According to the AB regent, receiving love and respect should not be subject to a person’s background and status because no one is less important than the other in God’s eyes.
He cited St. Matthew, a tax collector who was called by Jesus Christ to spread his teachings despite being deemed a “traitor” and accused of conforming with Roman oppressors.
“[E]very person created in the image of God carries a sacred word that demands our respect and protection. So, Jesus’ example in the gospel of Matthew is clear—we must go to the world of the marginalized,” the Dominican priest said.
The pursuit of mercy and justice, Phe Mang said, would contribute to the building of a God-centric society.
“Everyone, no matter who they are, where they come from, all their status is made in the likeness and image of God and deserves respect, dignity, and love… And our treatment of one another must reflect His divine will,” he said.
“[L]et us continue to pray for the grace created in such a way that our lives reflect God’s call to justice and mercy so that the rights and dignity of every human being are upheld, so that we may contribute to the building of a society where the glory of God is reflected in the way we treat one another in love and service.”
In 1972, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. placed the Philippines under Martial Law, a period marked by human rights violations and suppression of freedoms.
Some 70,000 people were imprisoned, 34,000 were tortured and more than 3,200 were killed during the military rule, according to human rights watchdog Amnesty International.
The mass held at the Santisimo Rosario Parish church was followed by a candle-lighting ceremony in memory of the victims of the dictatorship that lasted for almost a decade.
Phe Mang also noted the event coincided with the Francisco de Vitoria, O.P. Human Rights Week, feast of St. Matthew and National Day of Peace, all of which promote peace and the protection of human rights. F – Rachelle Anne Mirasol
