Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David on Easter Sunday warned of a growing blindness among Filipinos to truth, hope, and real leadership.
He attributed this to widespread reliance on government aid, the influence of propaganda, and the deepening anger that clouds discernment.
In his homily during the Easter Sunday Mass, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said modern-day distractions and moral confusion have left many unable to see the light of the Resurrection.
“How can we recognize leaders who genuinely care for our people, when we allow our eyes to be blinded by ayuda (relief aid)?” he said.
“When we mistake propaganda and viral posts on social media for truth? When our hearts are full of resentment and anger, how can we see hope? When we allow bitterness to fester, how can light break in?” he added.
Cardinal David connected the message of Easter to the Filipino pre-dawn tradition of Salubong, a symbolic reenactment of the Risen Christ’s encounter with the Sorrowful Mother.
He said the ritual reflects the need to actively seek and welcome the light, especially when grief or fear prevents people from seeing clearly.
“That veil represents not only her mourning, but also the darkness that clouds our vision when our hearts are heavy and broken,” he said, referring to the black veil draped over the image of Mary during the Salubong.
“When our hearts are covered in darkness, we cannot see the light—even if it’s already standing right in front of us,” he said.
The Kalookan prelate urged the faithful to take the first step in faith—just as Mary Magdalene went to the tomb—emphasizing that encountering the Risen Lord demands effort and openness.
“If you truly wish to meet the Risen Lord, you have to step out. You have to come out of hiding. You have to walk into the light,” he said.
He likened today’s political and social climate to people arriving at the wrong airport or missing signs of welcome: “Sometimes we need help finding our way. We need to be guided by signs—markers that lead us back to truth.”
Cardinal David recalled how yellow ribbons became symbols of hope during the 1986 People Power Revolution, describing that moment as a collective pagsalubong—a “meeting, seeking, and welcoming” of truth and freedom.
As Easter symbolizes new beginnings, he reminded the faithful of the “greatest pasalubong (homecoming gift)” the disciples received at Pentecost: the Holy Spirit. “He is the happy ending to our stories—no matter how dark, painful, or tragic.”
The cardinal proposed a new Filipino Easter greeting to capture the depth of the Resurrection experience: “Maligayang Pagsalubong” or “Joyful Encounter.”
