Vice President Sara Duterte graces the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry's 50th Philippine Business Conference and Expo in Pasay City on October 22, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday invited Filipinos to reflect on the core values of unity, faith, and concern for others during this year’s Holy Week. 

The Holy Week is an important chance for Filipinos to look at Jesus Christ’s passion and death to save us from our sins, the Vice President said in her Lenten message.

“Habang dumaranas ang bayan ng matinding pagsubok at lalong lumalalim ang pagkawatak-watak, ang Kuwaresma ay paanyaya para sa panahon ng paghilom, pagbabalik-loob, at pagbabalik-tanaw sa mga pinahahalagahan nating Pilipino: malasakit, pananampalataya, at pagkakaisa,” she said.

“Magsilbi sanang ilaw sa atin ang sakripisyo ni Hesus at patatagin natin ang ating pananampalataya sa mga panahong tayo ay nagiging mahina, nawawalan ng pag-asa, o punong-puno ng pasanin, galit, at mga hangaring laban sa ating kapwa,” she said.

“Tularan sana natin ang pagmamahal ni Hesus sa atin — ituro ito, palaganapin ito, at gamitin ito sa ating pagsusulong at pagpapalakas ng mga komunidad na nanampalataya, nagsisilbi sa kapwa at sa bayan,” she added. 

“Manalig tayo. Magkaisa tayo. Malalampasan natin ang dilim.”

‘Resilient and optimistic’: Marcos Jr. urges Filipinos to reflect on Jesus Christ’s life

Before the Holy Week, Duterte returned from her nearly-month-long stay in the Netherlands to tend to her detained father — former President Rodrigo Duterte — who was arrested and brought before the International Criminal Court for charges of crimes against humanity.

The arrest of the Vice President’s father has driven a bigger wedge between the Duterte and the Marcos family, after the second-in-command blamed the administration for the alleged illegal arrest of her father.

Duterte’s camp argued that the ICC no longer has jurisdiction over the Philippines after the country withdrew from the Rome Statute that created the tribunal in 2019.