Vancouver, Sept 22, 2024.– St.Mary the Virgin South Hill – Anglican Church located on the eastside of Vancouver joined the many churches, public places, and organizations in the Philippines and in Canada to remember martial law , its many victims, its lessons and legacy with the lighting of candles, prayers, exhibits, storytelling, and other events. This remains a dark chapter in our history where the people’s rights and freedoms were stripped away and tens of thousands were hit by the iron hand of the dictator.
Rev. Expedito Farinas, the parish rector, gathered the congregation around the memorial altar at the end of the service to light the candles, say the prayers to honour the defenders of people’s rights, those who have died, killed, abducted, and missing during the dark years of martial law in the Philippines, including workers and peasants, youth and women, indigenous people, professionals and many church people. The names of the many church workers (priests and pastors, lay leaders and church members) who died from the dark days of martial law and beyond were read out loud, for in reading their names, they are not forgotten in the people’s minds and hearts.
At the fellowship at the Hall, Migrante BC, a community partner of the church in its Migrants Ministry, had prepared a table display of photos of some of the men and women from different sectors of Philippine society who defended the people’s rights.
Below is the prayer read at the Fellowship to Never Forget Martial Law! and to remember that we will not allow it to happen, Never Again!
PRAYER*
Be with us O Lord our God, as we pray with the Filipino people in this time of recollection, of remembering and honouring the hundreds of thousands of victims of human rights violations of martial law in the Philippines 52 years ago.
As we remember them, we also pray for those who continue to be killed, arrested and tortured, disappeared, charged with make-believe cases and other forms of human rights violations, a continuing story of persecution of a people who assert their rights to live and work decently, the right to eat and not be hungry, right to be safe from fear, the right to say what is true and practise their human and collective rights.Something is indeed terribly wrong when pastors and church workers are killed, arrested and detained or go missing while they are teaching people to know, defend and fight for their rights,” these were the words of The Rev. Rex Reyes, a bishop of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines and a member of the World Council of Churches Central committee.
Yes, O Lord, human rights violations did not stop, even after Marcos Sr. was ousted from Malacanang.
Because human rights violations, the attacks by those in power against the people persist, as it was under martial law and in all post-Marcos Sr governments, including that of his son Marcos, Jr. The disregard for human life, and for human rights cuts across all sectors – workers and peasants, youth and students, Indigenous peoples, land defenders, lawyers, journalists, artists, women, urban poor, fisherfolk, even overseas Filipinos.
Be with us O Lord our God, as we pray with the Filipino people in this time of deep division, uncertainty and pain. You know how desperately Your peace and justice is needed, for there can be no peace without justice.
Be with us O Lord and give us the strength, the courage to “come to the defense of the vulnerable and/or those made vulnerable” and in the words of Bishop Rex Reyes, because to do so is “not only a pastoral responsibility but also a prophetic task. Christian praxis in the Philippines raises the question of grinding poverty in a land so rich in natural resources, of the concentration of wealth and power to so few, the imposition of global policies that puts profit and capital at the expense of people’s human dignity, and of the tendency of the government to vilify, malign and oppress those who uphold and defend human rights.
Lord, teach us to rise above personal and political loyalties, redirecting our efforts towards the common good and celebration of the gift of diversity in life.
We pray for those who peacefully challenge state laws and practices undermining Your intentions for all creation. Give them strength and courage to stand their ground for truth and justice. Protect their lives from those who seek to harm them when they voice their dissent.
May we be guided by your Spirit to respond with mercy and compassion for those in need, the persecuted and the most vulnerable members of our societies. Churches used to be a place of refuge. Churches, especially during the martial law regime, advocated for the respect of human rights, exposed human rights violations, and stood in solidarity with the victims. We can still be that place of refuge.
May the crises brought about by political differences everywhere bring about conversion and a change of heart in all. For we know that what we do for others in need, we do for you. In your Holy name, we pray. Amen.
*Excerpts taken from the Anglican Call to Prayer for the Philippines.
