MANILA (UCAN): San Beda University, where Rodrigo Duterte, the incumbent Philippine president studied law, showed its support for presidential candidate, Leni Robredo, by lighting its buildings in pink on December 1.
“The San Beda community is one in support of VP Leni’s presidential bid, believing that she embodies the Benedictine ideals of pax, ora et labora [peace, prayer and work] and the genuine servant-leadership qualities that the Filipino nation is yearning for, especially during this troubled time,” the university’s vice president for administration, Benedictine Father Aeldred Nilo, said on Facebook.
Robredo, the incumbent vice president, is running in the 2022 election and is expected to go toe to toe with Duterte’s soon-to-be-anointed candidate, after ally and friend, lawmaker, Christopher “Bong” Go, withdrew his candidacy citing unpreparedness to run as the nation’s leader.
This is the first time the Benedictine-run university has taken a definite political posture against Duterte after giving him an award for being the first graduate of the university to become president of the country.
Alumni of the university were enthusiastic after learning the news that their alma mater had supported a well-known Duterte critic.
“This is one of my proudest moments as a graduate of San Beda. Finally, [after] all this time, I thought the monks and the administrators were isolated from sociopolitical events. Now they have spoken. I am a proud Bedan because my school has taken a stance in politics—and it is for truth and justice,” Marjorie Torrecampo said in a Facebook post.
Torrecampo recalled the times when the university was labelled conservative for not getting into any political issue.
“Before we thought San Beda didn’t care about politics. In fact, many of Duterte’s fellow alumni from the university were appointed by him [to] government and [to] the court,” Torrecampo said.
“But now the tide is different. I am so proud to hear this news. Hail to our alma mater for standing up for truth and justice,” she said.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
Pink has been used by Robredo supporters to symbolise change in leadership in the Philippines.
Several Catholic universities like the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University, Vincentian-run Adamson University and De La Salle University recently illuniated their façades with pink lighting.
The Society of Divine Word has also filled its formation house with pink lanterns made by the families of the victims of Duterte’s war on drugs.
Parishioners said they felt secure that clergymen were reminding them of what good leadership meant.
“They [priests] don’t need to name names. Pink symbolises a corruption-free country. Thank you, dear Fathers, for speaking and telling us the qualities we should be looking for in our next set of leaders,” one Manila parishioner, Glen Virgie Tanase, said.
