The crowd, coming from Metro Manila and different provinces, began massing as early as 2 p.m. at the Quirino Grandstand for the prayer-for-life rally organized by the country’s Roman Catholic Church.

In a statement read at the rally by Manila Auxiliary Bishop
Broderick Pabillo, Vatican Secretary of State Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, S.D.B., urged Filipinos to firm up in their commitment to defend life and the family against attempts to devalue them.

Bertone acknowledged that Filipinos were “passing through a difficult period in all that concerns life and its defense.”

“The Church is not indifferent in such moments because She believes that life is sacred, a gift from God who calls man to cooperate with Him, aided by a deep sense of responsibility for his actions,” Bertone said.

He cited Pope Benedict XVI’s commendation of the Church in the Philippines for its “defense of the integrity of marriage and the family.”

Bertone concluded: “Strengthened by this clear message, I again encourage you and all who value the human person to be firm in your commitment to honor God and, by doing so, to manifest a deep love for life and for its protection at this time.”

God’s greatest gift

Opponents of the RH bill have said that the measure would propagate the use of artificial contraceptives and promote abortion in the largely Catholic Philippines.

In his homily during Mass, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales stressed the sanctity of life as God’s greatest gift to man.

He said: “If life is not given value at any stage, whether as an infant, fetus, elderly, weak or strong, nobody would respect life. Once life loses importance and respect, man will be cheated, abused, lied to and robbed with impunity.”

Rosales reiterated the sacredness of marriage and sex.

“What they should teach is the purity of conscience, cleanliness of the heart, discipline and self-restraint and respect for money that is not theirs,” the Manila archbishop also said.

At its peak, Manila Police Director Chief Supt. Roberto Rongavilla estimated the crowd at 40,000.

“Obey God’s will. No to RH bill,” the crowd chanted. They also prayed the rosary.

Rhodora Emping, 56, of Binangonan, Rizal, a member of a contingent from her diocese, said she was against the RH bill because government funds that could be used to uplift the economy by addressing poverty would be used to buy contraceptives.

“The RH bill does not go by the Lord’s teachings. The funds to be allocated for that should be used for providing jobs to the poor. It will also breed immorality,” she told the Inquirer.

Maricris Celorio, 47, of Makati City, said she took part in the rally not only to register her protest against the bill but to pray for the disaster-stricken people in Japan as well as the three overseas Filipino workers facing execution in China on March 30.

Celorio said the RH bill was unnecessary and stressed that the youth’s curiosity in sex would only be aroused.

She said she had been married for five years and only bore one child without using contraceptives.

“That should be proof that it can be done through self-control,” Celorio said.

Time to confess, too

While others joined the rally, a few went to confession before two priests inside a nearby tent.

Fr. Charlie Aldema, of the diocese of Novaliches, noted that the rally coincided with the Feast of the Annunciation and Incarnation, and said that most of those who attended the demonstration did not have time to go to Church to make their confession.

“While people are waiting for the Mass, they could come here and confess,” Aldema said.

“We need healing and forgiveness of our sins as a reparation for the unborn children and the destruction of life,” he said.

“It is a beautiful day,” he said, adding: “The spirit really here now is of life.”

Jeanette Andrade, Phil. Daily Inquirer