ANGELES CITY- Pres. Arroyo remains convinced that the country, despite exports slowdown and rising layoffs, remains outside the scope of global recession.
In her short talk after a concelebrated Mass last Wednesday at the Our Lady of Lourdes church here, the President expressed “hope” that the Philippines would not be seriously affected by the recession now seriously affecting other countries.
The President arrived here upon the invitation of Fr. Jun Mercado, parish priest of Barangay Lourdes Sur which had its fiesta yesterday to commemorate the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. Mercado said the Mass yesterday was also to mark the “World Day of the Sick” which was instituted by Pope John Paul II in 1992.
“Let’s hope this crisis will not land in this country,” the President said during the Mass whose main celebrant was San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto.
But she acknowledged the economic threat to the country as she also asked her fellow “cabalens” in Pampanga to pray for her amid the global economic crisis.
During a meeting with Lakas-CMD party leaders at Clark Freeport last Jan. 30, the President also insisted the country has remained outside the sphere of the worldwide financial turmoil, attributing this to her administration’ policies, including unpopular ones.
“Despite the recession in two-thirds of the world, nine out of 10 or 92 out of 100 Filipinos look forward with hope to this new year,” she said in her speech then, noting that “two-thirds of the world is in recession but we should all be proud that our country is growing at six percent GNP (gross national product) and 4.6 percent GDP (gross domestic product) in 2008.”
She said, however, that her administration had to resort to hard and unpopular decisions that she now credits for the country’s coping with the global crisis. The government’s economic managers earlier announced a P330-billion stimulus package consisting of infrastructure spending and expansion of social services.
At last Wednesday’s Mass, the President also recalled that Feb. 11 was the date she received her first Holy Communion as a child. The remark impressed her audience, particularly Mercado who noted that “most people don’t remember dates that way.”
Mercado, who is also the episcopal vicar for eucharistic ministers in the Archdiocese of San Fernando, was among the priests belonging to a group identified as having supported the recall petition against Gov. Eddie Panlilio.
But he was quick to deny any political motive in the Mass attended by the President.
“My invitation was personal and the intent was for the President to attend our fiesta and for her to also witness the anointing of the sick in commemoration of the World Day of the Sick,” he said.
He said that when he personally extended the invitation, he told the President that her presence at the Mass for the anointing of the sick would be appropriate since “you care for the sick” and that she is “a caring president”.
He stressed that according to tradition, San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto acted as main celebrant during the Mass.
Mercado said eucharistic minister coordinators from 99 parishes from all over Pampanga brought along at least one sick person to the Mass for the anointing ceremonies after Aniceto’s homily.
Pope John Paul II instituted the World Day of the Sick in 1992 and set aside Feb. 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, for its annual celebration. He then encouraged to reflect on the Christian meaning of suffering.
In her short talk after a concelebrated Mass last Wednesday at the Our Lady of Lourdes church here, the President expressed “hope” that the Philippines would not be seriously affected by the recession now seriously affecting other countries.
The President arrived here upon the invitation of Fr. Jun Mercado, parish priest of Barangay Lourdes Sur which had its fiesta yesterday to commemorate the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. Mercado said the Mass yesterday was also to mark the “World Day of the Sick” which was instituted by Pope John Paul II in 1992.
“Let’s hope this crisis will not land in this country,” the President said during the Mass whose main celebrant was San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto.
But she acknowledged the economic threat to the country as she also asked her fellow “cabalens” in Pampanga to pray for her amid the global economic crisis.
During a meeting with Lakas-CMD party leaders at Clark Freeport last Jan. 30, the President also insisted the country has remained outside the sphere of the worldwide financial turmoil, attributing this to her administration’ policies, including unpopular ones.
“Despite the recession in two-thirds of the world, nine out of 10 or 92 out of 100 Filipinos look forward with hope to this new year,” she said in her speech then, noting that “two-thirds of the world is in recession but we should all be proud that our country is growing at six percent GNP (gross national product) and 4.6 percent GDP (gross domestic product) in 2008.”
She said, however, that her administration had to resort to hard and unpopular decisions that she now credits for the country’s coping with the global crisis. The government’s economic managers earlier announced a P330-billion stimulus package consisting of infrastructure spending and expansion of social services.
At last Wednesday’s Mass, the President also recalled that Feb. 11 was the date she received her first Holy Communion as a child. The remark impressed her audience, particularly Mercado who noted that “most people don’t remember dates that way.”
Mercado, who is also the episcopal vicar for eucharistic ministers in the Archdiocese of San Fernando, was among the priests belonging to a group identified as having supported the recall petition against Gov. Eddie Panlilio.
But he was quick to deny any political motive in the Mass attended by the President.
“My invitation was personal and the intent was for the President to attend our fiesta and for her to also witness the anointing of the sick in commemoration of the World Day of the Sick,” he said.
He said that when he personally extended the invitation, he told the President that her presence at the Mass for the anointing of the sick would be appropriate since “you care for the sick” and that she is “a caring president”.
He stressed that according to tradition, San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto acted as main celebrant during the Mass.
Mercado said eucharistic minister coordinators from 99 parishes from all over Pampanga brought along at least one sick person to the Mass for the anointing ceremonies after Aniceto’s homily.
Pope John Paul II instituted the World Day of the Sick in 1992 and set aside Feb. 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, for its annual celebration. He then encouraged to reflect on the Christian meaning of suffering.
