“Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate …” (Amos 5:15, ESV) In biblical times the place of dispensing legal justice was the city gate, again and

As a significant portion of our country starts the traditional “simbang gabi” to mark the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, we appeal to the people to continue to pray and work for peace. Let us usher in a new dawning of peace – a peace that is not for the silencing of critical voices but a peace that addresses the root causes of dissent. We call on the government to re-focus its efforts and funds for medical and socio-economic solutions to heal the nation rather than spending for counter-insurgency and all-out war. We also call on both parties to silence their guns during this season of hope and open their hearts to peace so that as the year ends, “…by the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1: 78-79).

“The defense of human rights is at the very core of our faith because of our belief in the sanctity of life and the need to protect human dignity that God bestowed on each of us…”

“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely[b] on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward