By Mario Casayuran
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Saturday expressed his support for a proposed proclamation to hold a National Week of Prayer on the fourth week of March as coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to spread.
Go, chairman of the Senate health and demography committee, said the proposal outlines that the National Week of Prayer would hopefully unite all Filipinos, regardless of religion, to pray for all medical professionals, frontliners, the sick, and COVID-19-stricken Filipinos, as well as the rest of the country.
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (MALACAÑANG PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Marami na tayong pinagdaanang pagsubok. Pagputok ng bulkan, lindol, pagkaroon ng iba’t ibang kalamidad, at lagi nating nalalampasan ang mga ito dahil sa ating pananalig sa Diyos para sa mga kababayan nating Kristiyano, Allah para sa ating mga kababayang Muslim,” Go said. (We have undergone many trials. We have been able to overcome volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and other calamities because of our faith as Christians in God and as Muslims in Allah).
‘’Now more than ever, Filipinos need to pray,’’ he said.
He added that this is one of the ways to encourage and promote unity among Filipinos to achieve a common purpose.
“Ang National Week of Prayer ay isinusulong para magkaisa tayong lahat, kahit iba man ang ating mga relihiyon. Ang panalangin na iaalay natin ay para sa ating mga doctor, nurses, at iba pang health professional, mga frontliners, military, pulisya, mga kababayan nating elderly, at persons with disabilities, at mga maysakit at mga naapektuhan ng COVID-19, at higit sa lahat, bawat isang Pilipino na sana’y malampasan na natin ang problemang ito sa lalong madaling panahon,” Go added. (Although he have different religions, we should support the proposed Week of Prayer. Our prayers will be for our doctors, nurses and other health professionals, our frontliners, the military, police and our elderly and persons with disabilities (PWDs) and the sick and those infected by COVID-19 and all our countrymen. May we be able to surpass this problem as soon as possible.)
In the proposed proclamation, the National Week of Prayer will underscore the commitment and sacrifices of all health workers and medical professionals who are at the forefront of the response, police, the military and the government, and “all Filipinos who work tirelessly to protect the community.”
It will also enjoin people of all faiths, religious traditions, and background to offer prayers to overcome the COVID-19 situation in the country.
As of March 20, 230 confirmed cases have already been reported by the Department of Health, with 18 deaths and eight recoveries. As the country faces uncertain times with the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon and the state of calamity nationwide, Go suggested a week of prayer can be a useful weapon to fight the epidemic.
With the quarantine measures in place, Go also reminded Filipinos to follow protocols, such as staying at home as much as possible and washing their hands frequently. In addition, Go has encouraged public officials to help their constituents by providing assistance and other needed necessities to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
Go, former special assistant to President Duterte, also assured the public that the government is working tirelessly, exhausting all efforts to stop the outbreak as soon as possible.