Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio to grace Laity Week in Iloilo
Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio will be the guest speaker during the highlight of the celebration of the National Laity Week, September 29-October 1, in Iloilo City.
The priest-turned politician will speak on the celebration's theme that focuses on honesty, integrity and good governance, on September 30, at the Punta Villa Resort, Arevalo, Iloilo City.
Lay Organizations and Marian Associations President Tony Galarga said the event will gather more than 500 lay leaders in the region, besides the bishops, priests and religious who will also be coming togive importance to lay vocation.
National Council of the Laity President Linda Tacorda, said the celebration also coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Magna Carta for Lay people.
Galaraga said the choice of Panlilio as speaker is acknowledging the latter's crusade for good governance, and he is expected to share his experience of the reality of corruption and graft in the country and challenge the laity to do their share of the responsibility of transformation.
Galaraga also said that lay people, who themselves are lay leaders, compose a very high percentage of people in government, hence, there is great achievement if the 99 percent of these people can experience a change of heart.
"Why do we have to blame only our politicians for corruption in government, when we, the lay people, put them there in the first place?" Galaraga said.
This year's National Laity Week celebration starts today, September 22, and the last three days, September 29-October 1 will be in Iloilo City, by virtue of the fact that for the first time in many years, the national president, Linda Tacorda, comes from Iloilo.
Other speakers will include Fr. Albert Alejo, Rector of the Ateneo de Davao, anchor of the program "Ehem!" and CBCP President Archbishop Angel Lagdameo. (PIA6/ESS)