This was the request of Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan to the devotees of Nuestra Señora de Regla (Our Lady of Rule), during the fiesta in honor of the city’s patroness on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022.
Chan gave his message after the pontifical mass at the Nuestra Señora de Regla-Parish National Shrine in Barangay Poblacion.
The city’s economy, he said, has been recovering from the effects of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic and devastation of Typhoon Odette (Rai), and another calamity would just erase the progress the city has made.
The mayor also urged the faithful to also pray that Russia’s war in Ukraine will end soon.
“Mga kaigsuonan, unta atong iapil sa atong mga pag-ampo nga mahunong na unta ang gubat sa Ukraine ug Russia kay kitang tanan apektado sa maong gubat,” Chan said.
(Brothers and sisters, let us also include in our prayers that the war between Ukraine and Russia will end because all of us are affected by the armed conflict.)
Meanwhile, Lapu-Lapu City Police Office Director Elmer Lim said in a press conference Monday, that there were no untoward incidents that occurred in all activities related to the fiesta.
Chan described the 287th fiesta as successful due to the return of in-person religious and cultural activities after the two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Hapsay ra. Maayo nga nisanong ang atong mga kaigsuonan nga dili magpunsisok, dili magduot-duot,” said Chan, who also thanked the Philippine National Police and other agencies who played big roles in the success of the fiesta activities.
(The fiesta has been smooth. It was good that the fiesta-goers heeded the call not to crowd in one place and not push each other.)
Lapu-Lapu City Rep. Ma. Cynthia King-Chan, for her part, said she hopes that there will be more activities in the next fiesta in the city, including socio-cultural events. (MKG)