MANILA — Amid the country’s battle against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), President Rodrigo Duterte on Easter Sunday enjoined his fellow Filipinos to “find solace and strength” in the narrative of Christ’s resurrection.
Duterte, in his Easter message, said the triumph of the risen Christ signifies that there is always “hope of better and new beginnings” despite the adversities that come along the way.
“May this occasion fill us with gladness and enable us to find solace and strength in the narrative of the Resurrection,” he said on Sunday.
Duterte gave the message as he joined the entire Christian world in celebrating a “joyful and meaningful” Easter Sunday.
Christians celebrate Easter Sunday as the day of Jesus Christ’s resurrection from death, which is written in the New Testament of the Bible.
Duterte said the occasion reminds every one of the “selfless love that is able to transcend diverse cultures, faith, backgrounds and even circumstances.”
“Let this day brings us all profound happiness and purpose as we join hands in shaping a better and brighter future for the entire nation,” he said.
He also expressed optimism that his countrymen would continue to be kind and thoughtful to everyone, especially to the needy people.
“I trust that its message of forgiveness will inspire us to live our days with gratitude and humility, with further acts of kindness and charity to our families, friends and to those who are most in need,” Duterte said.
Duterte spent the Holy Week at Malacañan’s Bahay Pagbabago, his official residence in Manila, to monitor the government’s response to Covid-19 pandemic.
The Philippines now has 4,428 confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 247 fatalities and 157 recoveries.
Duterte earlier placed the entire island of Luzon under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until April 30 to arrest the spread of Covid-19.
Other local government units in some parts of Visayas and Mindanao also imposed an ECQ in their respective localities to address the contagion.