President Marcos: Spread kindness, selflessness this Holy Week

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos joined Filipino Catholics in marking the beginning of the Holy Week on Palm Sunday, reminding the faithful not to forget the essence of the religious occasion by spreading kindness and selflessness.

“In this solemn occasion, let us not only seek to unravel the mysteries of our faith, but also to illuminate the path for others through acts of kindness and selflessness,” Marcos said in his Holy Week message.

Catholics yesterday observed Palm Sunday, the final Sunday of Lent and the beginning of Holy Week in the Christian calendar.

More than 85 million Filipinos are Roman Catholic, representing 78.8 percent of the over 108 million people counted in the 2020 Census of Population and Housing by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Travelers

Immigration officials are warning the public against scammers and online scams operating fake websites with charging fees for eTravel registration.

“We advise the traveling public to be cautious and register exclusively on the official government website, or through the eGovPH application. The eTravel registration process is absolutely free of charge,” said Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco.

The eTravel system launched earlier this year serves as a single data collection platform for arriving and departing passengers, integrating border control, health surveillance and economic data analysis.

Passengers have reportedly been duped by fake eTravel websites charging them between P3,000 to P5,000.

The official web address is etravel.gov.ph.

Fraudulent websites or entities demanding online payments must be reported immediately to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, Tansingco said.

There are eTravel kiosks deployed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and major international airports.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) yesterday placed 44 airports under its management on heightened alert as part of the Department of Transportation’s “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Semana Santa 2024.”

Service chiefs and airport managers have been directed to implement round-the-clock operations such as direct communication lines.

A “no leave policy” was observed to ensure passenger safety and comfort.

Malasakit help desks have also been set up in all airports, with medical teams on standby for emergencies.

Departing passengers received snacks and bottled water while waiting for flights, according to Roxas City Airport manager Monico Basallote.

The Iloilo International Airport and other airports are expected to follow suit.

CAAP and local authorities from the Philippine National Police - Aviation Security Unit, Office of Transportation Security, the Department of Tourism, the Civil Aeronautics Board and airlines have coordinated for efficient processing of passengers, especially at check-in counters.

Based on data from the Aerodrome Development and Management Service, CAAP recorded 3.1 million passengers from March to April 2022 while air travelers reached 4.4 million in the same period in 2023.

This year, CAAP expects an increase of seven to 10 percent in passenger movement during the Holy Week.

Road safety

Oil companies have been urged to assist motorists along national highways, major roads and tollways during Holy Week.

They could partner with car manufacturing companies for road safety campaigns and offer support in traffic management by providing information on road conditions, alternate routes and emergency contacts, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).

Pump prices are estimated to increase by P1.90 to P2.10 per liter for gasoline, P1.35 to P1.50 per liter for diesel and P1.40 to P1.50 per liter for kerosene next week, based on The STAR’s earlier report.

“We can compensate them with efficient services by ensuring that service stations are well-stocked and the staff can handle the increased volume of cars, including offering extended hours, if necessary,” said DOE-Oil Industry Management Bureau assistant director Rodela Romero.

Households leaving for the Holy Week are urged to inspect electrical outlets, cords and extension cords for damage to prevent electrical hazards such as short circuits and fires.

Repentance

The Holy Week is a special time for Catholics to return to Jesus Christ, cry for repentance and live a renewed life, Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula said in his homily at the Manila Cathedral on Palm Sunday.

“Let us admit where we have gone wrong and decide to follow Jesus again,” he said.

As for Catholics posting content on social media, Archdiocese of Manila vice general Fr. Reginald Malicdem said there is no problem as long as they dedicate time for prayer.

“It is a joy to see that even up to now, almost everyone goes out to visit churches. With the age of social media, we can see that there are people vlogging or people posting the places where they have been. It serves as proof that they really visited a particular church,” he said.

“Instead of going against social media, we could use it to promote, to encourage people, on what religious activities they could do during Holy Week,” he added. — Rudy Santos, Patrick Miguel, Evelyn Macairan