As the pandemic-affected Filipino nation welcomes 2021, Manila Archdiocese’s Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo has asked all Filipinos, especially the Catholic faithful to hold on to hope for a “transparent and equitable cure" to the COVID-19, for a “no-nonsense response to the climate emergency", and "for respect to human rights and human life for everyone.”

He said aside from the pandemic crisis, everyone should equally give due attention to the preservation and protection of environment, and of human rights and human life. 

“Let our attention not only be focused on the coronavirus and its various strains. The climate emergency is still upon us. The new lifestyle that the new situation calls us to reject unbridled commercialism and the throw away culture. It should be more caring for the earth,” Pabillo said in his New Year’s message. 

“Human right should also not be set aside. There cannot be a better future if human rights and human life are not respected and valued,” he added. 

The Catholic Church leader even took a swipe at the supposed non-transparent use of COVID-19 vaccines by some Cabinet offices and presidential guards.

“There are glimmers of hope for 2021 in the horizon. Everybody is speaking of the vaccine and how it can be effectively delivered to all, first and foremost, to the frontrunners and the vulnerable. Unfortunately, the news of government people already getting the vaccine surreptitiously and without undergoing the transparent process does not abode of a good beginning,” he said.