Manila – Thousands of faithful Catholics participated in the annual peaceful gathering called Walk for Life last February 18 from 4:00 AM to 8:00 AM. Its theme for this year was “SANAOL (Synodality, Accompaniment and Nearness) Let’s All Walk Together for Life”. 

Photo courtesy of Nona Cammayo

The Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles John Brown promoted the event saying, “This very important gathering is an opportunity for you personally to show your conviction that human life is sacred and the threats to the right to life of all human beings from the moment of conception until natural death should be resisted”. Every year, Walk for Life aims to highlight the solidarity of different Catholic pro-life groups and individuals in upholding the dignity of life” from conception to natural death. Led and organized by the Catholic Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas in partnership with the with the Episcopal Commission on the Laity of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, the pro-life event first took place in 2017.

This year’s march started from Welcome Rotonda, Quezon City and ended at the University of Santo Tomas Grandstand. Participants were praying the different mysteries of the Holy Rosary as offering for the fight against the culture of death. The program proper started in the UST Grandstands with its hosts from the Ligaya ng Panginoon community. It included some performances from different groups and a short session from keynote speakers.

The whole program culminated with the celebration of the Holy Mass which was led by Msgr. Bernardo Pantin, secretary general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.