3 presidential bets urged to keep campaign ‘dignified’

Pres. Noynoy Aquino (P-Noy) flashes the faces of the top three would-be presidential candidates for 2016: VP Jojo Binay, Sen. Grace Poe, and Interior Sec. Mar Roxas, during his last SONA. (screenshot courtesy of PCI live stream via RTVM)

MANILA — Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) national chairperson Henrietta de Villa said the prayer service attended by the three leading possible presidential bets in the May 2016 polls had an atmosphere of friendship.

“It was an atmosphere of friendship. The cardinal (Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle) reminded them that we hope even when the rigors of the campaign reached fever pitch that kind of atmosphere, that kind of interaction among the three of them will remain so that the level of the campaign would be elevated, people also look for something like this. Ang sabi ng cardinal bigyan natin bagong dangal ang pag kampanya,” she said in an interview

De Villa said that Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Grace Poe, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas and two other PPCRV officials, and the Cardinal all prayed together.

“We prayed together. How nice. You are familiar with the prayer of the church. Liturgy of the hour… ordinary evening prayer. Reading of the psalm. The one who led us in the prayer was the deacon hindi si cardinal. Cardinal was one reading with us. We were only few. We were only about 8,” she said.

The PPCRV head added, “There was no sharing of platforms, what type of government they will offer. No, it was just plain moment of providing them of some kind of spiritual rest so they could also focus their service to on the readings of the cardinal. To be a servant, you must serve first, washing of the feet and all of that.”

Asked on what they talked about, she said, “Traffic na mukha bumuti-buti na mga things na ganun. Nothing earthshaking or anything about politics.”

The prayer services was held inside a room at the Archdiocese of Manila.

“It’s a rectangular shaped table. Wala namili sa upuan. Yun 2 girls, I was on the left of cardinal. Grace on the right. Sec. Mar beside Grace. VP was beside me…” she added.

De Villa said that invitations were sent to the three politicians weeks ago, adding that they might hold another prayer service with other candidates soon.

“We might. We would think about it. The cardinal is leaving for Rome synod of family. He would be gone for the whole October, so after na lang we will see,” she added.