Find hope in the resurrection of Christ – bishops

An official of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said those experiencing difficulty in life should find hope in the resurrection of Christ.

"No matter how difficult our circumstances in life, we should not give up," Father Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the CBCP Public Affairs Committee, said.

"The resurrection of Christ offers us hope. When

human capacity cannot anymore accomplish things or overcome the odds, be brave and be confident. Let us turn to the risen Lord and allow Him to make things happen for us. Hope tells us not to put a limit to what God can do," added Secillano.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said Easter reminds us that we too can overcome evil.

"Jesus has shown us the way. We are assured that love will triumph, no matter how bitter is the hatred; truth will shine forth, no matter how sinister are the lies; righteousness will prevail, no matter how prevalent injustice is," he said.

"This is good news, for it seems at the moment that lies, violence, and hatred on the one hand, and apathy, indifference and skepticism on the other hand, seem to prevail. But this is not so! The power of the resurrection is operative among us Easter people! Jesus is risen!" added Pabillo.

Caceres Archbishop Rolando Tirona said Christ's resurrection is an assurance of hope and healing in a world of despair and brokenness.

"Let us embrace anew this tremendous mystery of our Lord’s Ressurection by a renewed Christian life anchored in the person of Jesus and His teachings," he said in his Easter message.

"Confronted by a secular environment often inimical to our Catholic faith let us be fearless like the early Christians in proclaiming and living out the Good News of Jesus!" added Tirona.

'Generally peaceful’ Holy Week

A number of drowning and vehicular accidents, and an explosion at a police station were recorded nationwide during the Lenten season this year but the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced on Easter Sunday that the observance of the Holy Week has been "generally peaceful and orderly."

Police Colonel Bernard Banac, PNP spokesman, appealed to the traveling public to observe safety practices as the traditional exodus to the provinces winds down and people start to return to their areas of residence or work.

He cited the case of a tragic vehicular accident in Tabuk City, Kalinga on Black Friday when a dump truck fell into a ravine that resulted in the death of at least seven persons and wounding of 15 others.

The PNP said at least 51 vehicular accidents have already been reported to the police nationwide since April 5.

At least 30 deaths due to drowning incidents have already been recorded as of April 20. Most of the fatalities were in Calabarzon (Region 4A) with eight; Central Luzon (Region 3) with seven; and Central Visayas (Region 7) with six. Ilocos Region (Region 1) has at least three deaths due to drowning incidents; Cagayan Valley has two; while National Capital Region (NCR), Mimaropa (Region 4B), Northern Mindanao (Region 10), and Caraga (Region 13) has one apiece.

Metro Manila and Mindanao remain on full alert status while other regions are on heightened alert status.

Banac said this will be maintained leading to the May 13 midterm elections.

Duterte: Be instruments of peace, choose what is good

President Duterte called on the public to be instruments of peace, and choose what is good and uplifting as Filipinos in the Christian faith, celebrate Christ's resurrection.

In his Easter Sunday message, Duterte said the commemoration is an occasion of hope and inspiration

as people remember the narrative of the Savior's sacrifice on the cross and how He restored humans to the "fullness of life."

"May this time of new beginnings inspire us to always choose what is good and uplifting," the President said.

"Let us strive to be instruments of peace in our families and communities and foster greater harmony and understanding wherever and whenever it is most needed," he added.

Duterte is also confident that the season of Easter will be a blessed time for everyone to rekindle their shared commitment in nation-building, especially in the upcoming May 2019 midterm polls.

"May it become an exercise of integrity and reflect the true will of the people," he said.

Defend freedom – VP

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday called on Filipinos to continue defending their freedom in the face of threats to democracy as they celebrate Easter which commemorates Jesus’ resurrection.

Robredo said the people must be guided by the message of the Risen Christ to stand together and remember those who had made sacrifices to fight for freedom.

In her Easter message, the Vice President also hoped that the commemoration of Christ’s resurrection may serve as a “reminder to us to continuously value and strengthen our beliefs, faith, and soul as a nation.”

Exodus to Metro Manila

Millions of vacationers have started to troop back to Metro Manila on Sunday after the Lenten Season break as traffic flow started to turn heavy with areas near bus terminals, airports and seaports becoming congested.

Traffic authorities said that traffic congestion will likely remain today as more vacationers return to Metro Manila after the Lenten

season break.

With the crowded bus terminals, Joselito Cabungcal chief of the Quezon City Engineering Department (QCED) said his men and the cleaning brigades of the city’s affected barangays had retrieved tons of discards and wastes disposed by the passengers.

With the exodus of travelers to Metro Manila, the QCED had conducted road clearing operations to ensure the smooth and comfortable travel of the returning motorists.

Cabungcal said that his office

has concentrated on the road clearing works on the Balintawak section of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) where traffic congestion is expected to be at its worst since it leads to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and to the Monumento area in Caloocan City.

Aside from the Balintawak area, Cabungcal said that that the QCED has also prioritized road clearing works on Quirino Highway, Tandang Sora, Himlayang Road, portions of A. Bonifacio, Katipunan Avenue and Aurora Blvd.