MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo called on the nation to love one another and “risk our all for the truth,” as God commanded.
In her Easter message delivered from Pattaya, Thailand yesterday where she was attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, the President joined Christians around the world in celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
“On this day 2,000 years ago, our Savior, by His resurrection, proved the truth of His love for us,” the President said.
“In our lives as Christians, we too must prove our love for the truth in His life and His teachings. We must love each other and risk our all for the truth, because God commands us so and Christ did no less for us and expected no less from us,” she added.
Quoting the Gospel according to St. Paul, the President said, “The fruit of the light is in all goodness and justice and truth.”
Since Mrs. Arroyo assumed the presidency in 2001, she has always spent the Holy Week with her family in Baguio City. Her activities were limited to the inspection of some projects in Baguio or its nearby towns, cities and provinces.
This year, the President had to deviate from her usual schedule during the Lenten break because the ASEAN Summit was scheduled on Good Friday and Black Saturday in the seaside town of Pattaya in Thailand.
Mrs. Arroyo, who was still grieving the death of eight aides in a helicopter crash near Benguet last Tuesday, flew to Pattaya to attend the gathering. However, Thai anti-government protesters stormed the convention center where the ASEAN leaders were to meet yesterday, prompting the Thai government to cancel the summit and declare a state of emergency in Pattaya.