Prayer law pushed
COUNCILOR Edgar Avila is pushing to bring back a 6pm prayer habit.
In a proposed law, the alderman hopes to revive the six o’clock habit of prayer and reverence and intends to bring back the tradition though times however changed acknowledging the convergence of various religious beliefs in the city.
“The siren still sounds at six o’clock every evening but we now ask for a pause for all, Catholic, Moslem, Christians to pray,” said Avila.
Applying the siren and the pause for all enhances the provisions of Art. III, Sec. 5 of the 1987 Constitution which provides “the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed.”
Avila said all religions and sects know and appreciate the value of prayer be it directed to God or Allah and all other supreme beings that each and everyone have faith on.
“These are values we cherish for ourselves which we intend to pass to the younger
generation,” added Avila.
The proposed law dubbed ‘Prayer Ordinance has passed it first reading and if passed, will compel motorists and traffic in the city to come to a halt every six o’clock in the evening resuming a minute there after, except for emergency vehicles of the police, ambulances and fire trucks.
“The tradition of sunset prayer may be part of Filipinos’ culture, but it is not a tradition of all Filipinos, and culture changes, it does not remain static, it is constantly made and remade and influenced by time, people, technology and a host of other factors,” Avila said.
The alderman said the habit was one of the most memorable practices old Baguio residents which defined the Summer Capital as a character city.
“When the siren sounds, everyone would stand still whispering a prayer for a minute as the City speakers blurted out the Angelus,” recalled Avila.