Philippine president says arrival of Christians kicked off 400 years of imperialism Duterte sees no factor to mark 500 years of Christianity.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte goes over the proposed 500th anniversary event of the arrival of Christianity in the country throughout his guesting on the program “Give Us This Day” hosted by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name, Inc.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says he is not keen on commemorating the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines in 2021.
The president, who repeatedly scolds Catholic Church leaders, said there is absolutely nothing unique about the “subjugation” of the nation by Spanish colonizers.
” Five hundred years of Christianity? Really? What’s so special?” Duterte stated in a tv interview hosted by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who claims to be the “Selected Boy of God.”
Quiboloy, a good friend of Duterte from the southern city of Davao, is founder and leader of a “cult” called the “Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name, Inc.”
” I’ll celebrate the start of the subjugation of my nation for 400 years? You must be joking. I celebrate the day when the heroes of my country were slaughtered?” Duterte asked.
Spain brought Christianity to the Philippines in 1521 with the arrival of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in Cebu.
The archipelago, which was called after King Philip II, became a nest of Spain till 1898.
” Now the priests are asking what’s the plan. I have no plans. Why should I commemorate the coming of imperialism to my nation?” said Duterte.
” They brought faith? Fine. However you didn’t have to subjugate my country and location my fellow brothers and sisters under the yolk of imperialism for 400 years,” he included.
The president said Catholics are totally free to commemorate the arrival of Christianity if they wish to, even as he slammed them for their disparity.
He said that while Filipinos celebrate independence from Spain,” [they] will go to church and kneel down … to pray and pay tribute.”
” Filipinos never find out. Whatever the priest says, then we revere also. We revere the conquistadores. Not me,” stated Duterte.
” We do not celebrate anything. Coming of Christianity? That started our travails and pain and sorrow,” he stated.
Catholic bishops, however, shrugged off the president’s declaration, stating the Church is not imposing the celebration on people.
” Anybody is welcome to celebrate with us,” stated Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga, adding that the celebration is an event to thank God for His protection for the past 500 years.
” Christianity is God’s gift to us. It is His true blessing and we are blessed. And we have to be grateful to God,” stated Bishop Santos.
Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao said Duterte deserves to express himself. “Our faith is beyond what people say and how they react,” stated the prelate.
Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon stated Filipino Catholics will commemorate the event even without Duterte. “We do not require the opinion of Duterte. We will celebrate it without him,” he said.
Given that his election in 2016, Duterte has taken swipes at the Catholic Church and its leaders for slamming his administration’s “war” versus narcotics.
The president stated that priests are welcome to slam him but said they need to not utilize the pulpit because it opens the religious beliefs to criticism.
He stated he has his own God “who is all-knowing … God who does not produce hell, does not develop paradise. He did not produce human beings simply to be thrown to hell or to delight in paradise.”
