Siete Palabras gets new twist from lay speakers

CEBU, Philippines - The Archdiocese of Cebu this year made some exceptions in the traditional interpretation of the Siete Palabras, or the Seven Last Words of Jesus, held during Good Friday by having three speakers from the laity instead of the ranks of the ordained priests.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma earlier said the deviation from tradition is meant to emphasize the celebration of the Year of the Laity.

The first non-ordained sharer was former Visayas ombudsman Virginia Palanca-Santiago. She was tasked to reflect on the second Last Words that, based from the reading of St. Luke 23:43, says “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus addressed the words to one of two thieves crucified with Him.

As a retired public servant and lawyer, Santiago related the words to public service, citing Article 2, Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution that states that “Public office is a public trust.”  She stressed the need for accountability and responsibility, among others, with those in office, especially now that public service is hounded by corruption controversies.

“Si Hesus ang ensaktong ehemplo sa mga empleyado sa gobyerno. Sa sinugdanan siguro maingon ini ang hunahuna ug intensyon sa usa ka public servant pero mausab ug maimpluwensyahan na sa paglabay sa panahon (Jesus was the perfect example of a government worker.  Maybe all public servant start like him at first; but they change after being influenced through the years),” Santiago said.

She said that serving the government earned her and her family threats aside from the constant temptation to ignore her principles.

“Pero tungod sa gahum sa Dios, makabalibad kita (But because of the power of God, we managed to turn them all down,” she added.

She ended her reflection on by stressing that erring might be human but not acknowledging one’s fault and asking for forgiveness are already sinning.

“God never tires of forgiving us. It is us who gets tired of asking for forgiveness,” Santiago said.

The second non-priest speaker was Department of Education Central Visayas Regional Director Carmelita Dulangon, who shared the important role of women and mothers in rearing good Christian children.  She took on the words “Dear woman, here is your son,” taken from John 19:26.

Dulangon especially mentioned the noble acts of retired teachers who still work as catechists in their respective parishes; she encouraged them all to continue what they are doing, as this contributes to molding better children.

The third lay sharer was Manolito Ardimer, head of the Archdiocesan Basic Ecclessial Community (BEC) or the “Gagmayng Kristohanong Katilingban.”

Ardimer tackled “It is finished,” the sixth last words taken from John 19:30.

The pastoral worker enumerated the programs and activities of the Catholic Church that has been completed, and added that the work does not end there as much remains to be done.

In particular, Ardimer said that while the BEC was introduced about three decades ago, the catechetical program of the Church still has a lot to improve on.

“Wala pa matapos ang implementasyon ug wala pa makabwelo ang BEC (Implementation remains unfinished and the BEC has yet to really take off),” Ardimer said.  (FREEMAN)