Thousands of lay faithful joined the dawn Walk for Life 2018 on February 24 to express their support for the upholding and defense of life. Now on its second year, Walk for Life is spearheaded by the Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo, D.D, Chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on the Laity  (Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas).

For the first time, the event took place simultaneously in Metro Manila, Tarlac, Laguna, Metro Cebu and Cagayan de Oro. Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, in his homily, urged the faithful to look at life as a gift received, and not as commodity.

“Kailangan po nating ibalik ang pananaw atappreciation sa regalo, sa buhay bilang handog at regalo ng Diyos,”the Cardinal said.

“Ang regalo, pinasasalamatan. Ang regalo, hindi binabalewala. Ang regalo, inaalagaan kasi ‘yan ay bunga ng pagmamahal ng nagbigay. Ang regalo hindi inaalipusta,”he added.

Tagle also reminded the congregation that there are so many gifts from God around us, “Ang bukang-liwayway, ang sikat ng araw, ang bawa’t bahid ng damo, ang bawa’t puno na nandito, ang bawa’t tao, bawa’t ngiti—regalo.”

He expressed hope that despite differences, no one will treat people as useless objects that can easily be discarded. He reminded the lay faithful of the call to bring back the value of life.

“Hindi kami gamit. Hindi kami bagay, kami ay tao— may buhay. At kahit warak-warak, kahit sugatan, kahit marupok, regalo ng Diyos. At ang regalo hindi sinasayang, hindi itinatapon,” he added.

Cardinal Tagle added, “Huwag po kayong maniniwala kapag sinasabi ng mundong materialistiko at pragmatiko na dahil sa inyong kinatatayuan, kayo ay pabigat at wala ng silbi. Kayo po ay regalo ng Diyos at si Hesus mismo ang nagsabi, ‘Ang ginawa ninyo sa mga maliliit ninyong kapatid, ginagawa ninyo sa Akin.” (Andrelene Veloso)