MANILA, Philippines - Contrary to popular belief, noise during New Year celebrations does not drive away bad spirits but attracts them, a Catholic archbishop said yesterday.
Lipa, Batangas Archbishop Ramon Arguelles urged the public to welcome 2012 in silent prayer, instead of using the traditional fireworks that may even cause injuries and fires.
“At midnight, all must pray before the Blessed Sacrament,” he said.
“Noise does not drive the devil away. The devil thrives in noise… God, on the other hand, speaks and acts in silence,” he added.
He also said that saying a silent prayer during the New Year’s celebration would also be a demonstration of the Filipinos’ sympathy to their brothers in Northern Mindanao who were affected by tropical storm “Sendong.”
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Public Affairs Committee chairman Kalookan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez, meanwhile, urged the people to try alternative noise such as clapping of hands or singing, a favorite pastime of many Filipinos, in welcoming the New Year.
For his part, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas urged the public to seize the first day of the year because “it is a good occasion for us to make a pilgrimage into our hearts in order to truly meet our God.”
“If we cannot find God in our hearts, we will not be able to find him anywhere,” he said in his ponderings for the New Year.
“Unless you allow Jesus to renew your heart, this year will just be like the old year,” he said.
Peace
The military, on the other hand, yesterday promised to continue working with civilians to win peace and to beef up its disaster preparedness efforts in the coming year.
In his New Year message, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lt. Gen. Jessie Dellosa said he sees a stronger partnership between the military and civilians who aspire for development.
“As we approach the New Year, I expect greater cooperation and unity between the armed forces and the people towards peace and development as well as the straight path,” Dellosa said in Filipino.– With Eva Visperas, Alexis Romero