Had Congress not stopped the canvassing of the votes, by Friday, Benigno Noynoy Aquino III would have been confirmed as the clear winner of the presidential race. In fact, with just some 2 million votes remaining, Noynoy is the next President of the Philippines, outdistancing Erap Estrada by a huge undeniable lead.
The Filipino people have spoken. All throughout the Philippines, the young, the old, the men and women, even our overseas kababayans have all loudly and clearly cast their votes behind Noynoy. Will Congress listen?
Noynoy is now taking a much-needed break before he assumes the position his father Ninoy had aspired for but did not get. Like his mother Cory, Noynoy was a reluctant candidate but like Cory, he emerged as the Filipino people’s choice.
What awaits him from here on is a continuing path of faith and complete trust in the Lord whose will Ninoy, Cory, and now Noynoy obeyed when they heard His call for them to serve Him.
While everyone awaits his proclamation, we hope that Noynoy prioritizes calling the nation to join him in a period of prayer. There is much to pray for.
First, Noynoy can ask all Filipinos to offer thanksgiving to the Lord for the opportunity to break away from the insufferable past and to start anew.
With the people, Noynoy can ask the Lord to bless our nation and our people with the much-needed basic grace enough for a day as well as for continuing blessings for more days and years to come.
Prayers for unity can also be part of the national petitions to be lifted to the Lord: That despite differences and diversities, Filipinos will rally to lift our nation towards a brighter, hopeful, more virtuous tomorrow.
Peace is also a continuing prayer we must remember to ask from the Lord, that He touches those with hardened hearts so that they will give up their own selfish agenda and take up the practice of genuine service for God and people.
Reconciliation and forgiveness can also be requested from the Lord but at the same time, supplications of genuine justice as well be rendered to those who have committed grave acts against God and our people.
Let us also pray that all of us, individually and collectively, contribute our share to genuine nation-building. Let us once again show ourselves that we are capable of remaking our destiny and building a very strong stable society where food and jobs abound, but more importantly, where God and His grace and blessings are evident all throughout.
Noynoy, in an ecumenical manner, hopefully will call on everyone to accompany him in fervent continuing prayer before, at the start, during, and till the end of his term as President.
Rebuilding a nation is not the responsibility alone of the elected but is a shared task and service that each Filipino should be willing to take on from now on.
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Email: cherryb_thefreeman@yahoo.com