Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia Sunday, April 4, wished their constituents a Happy Easter and stressed the need for discipline to protect lives as Covid-19 cases continue to rise.
Leonardia also thanked Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon and the clergy for responding positively to the appeal for stricter adherence to fundamental health protocols during the observance of the Holy Week.
He said while Bacolod City remains under Modified General Community Quarantine in April, mainly because of a much lower number of COVID-19 cases for most of March, “the situation now has drastically changed with more positive cases coming up every day over the last two weeks, causing us great alarm.”
This dangerous situation was understood by the bishop and the Bacolod clergy, Leonardia said, and “we salute them for agreeing to make big changes and adjustments in their already scheduled ceremonies and religious activities to answer the call of the times. They even cancelled the traditional Good Friday procession which is, undoubtedly, considered among the major highlights of the Holy Week.”
“We have seen their deep sense of care for the health and welfare of the faithful. All these have made our Lenten Season more meaningful and significant,” Leonardia said.
Lacson said this the second Easter that we are in this pandemic, and the entire world continues to struggle.
“Yet, the message of Easter is clear: the resurrection of our Savior Lord Jesus Christ. The triumph of Christ is the light in our darkness and the hope in our difficulty,” he said.
“As recipients of Christ’s redemption, let us honor his passion, death, and resurrection by showing more compassion to one another and by being more mindful and disciplined, to protect our lives and that of others,” he said.*