Some 300,000 workers, businessmen, students and leaders of various religious denominations – including Muslim groups, the El Shaddai and the Iglesia ni Cristo – gathered at the Prayer for Peace rally, organized by the Bangon Pilipino Movement, at the Quirino Grandstand for over an hour to ask God to enlighten President Arroyo and guide her in protecting the economy.
As thousands of doves were set loose to dramatize their desire for peace, sectoral leaders joined hands and sang Let There Be Peace on Earth with Mrs. Arroyo, who arrived at the rally at 5:20 p.m.
Mrs. Arroyo prayed in Tagalog that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein follow the example set by deceased Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping by disarming his country and surrendering Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction to UN arms inspectors, so that doubts about Iraq’s suspected intent to use these weapons will be put to rest.
She also prayed that Saddam would be guided by God to allow representation for other sectors of Iraqi society.
Mrs. Arroyo prayed for Saddam to join hands with other Arab countries, particularly Kuwait and Iran, in order to open the Iraqi economy. She prayed that Saddam would turn Iraq into an example of a country of peace and progress.
The President also prayed for the Philippines to grow into a strong republic in which all sectors of society are represented, including her political rivals, and that the country will be united in building a strong economy. – With Paolo Romero