INFANTA, Pangasinan — Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas on Tuesday called on the government to stand firm in defending the rights of the country's small fishermen.

"Gobyerno ng Pilipinas, panindigan sana niyo ang pagtatanggol sa mga dukhang mangingisda (Government of the Philippines, stand firm in defending our small fishermen)," said Villegas in his homily during a concelebrated mass held at the coastal village of Cato here.

Villegas and Alaminos Bishop Napoleon Sipalay Jr. presided over the mass before the start of a fluvial procession to pray for peace in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). This is the first time in recent years that two of the three Catholic dioceses in Pangasinan had a joint activity to pray for peace at the WPS.

Villegas, former president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, is the archbishop of the Lingayen-Dagupan archdiocese covering central Pangasinan towns and cities. Sipalay, on the other hand, heads the Alaminos Diocese consisting of Alaminos City and western Pangasinan towns. The third diocese in Pangasinan is the Urdaneta Diocese based in Urdaneta City, which covers eastern Pangasinan towns.

"Mga pinuno ng pamahalaan, pigilan po ninyo ang pagkasira ng yamang dagat (Heads of government, stop the destruction of our sea resources), Villegas said.

"Hindi atin ang dagat, hindi atin ang kalikasan. Ang kalikasan ay kapatid na dapat alagaan, hindi ari-ariang pwedeng waldasin ng mga mandarambong The sea is not ours (The natural resources are not ours. Nature is our brother that we should take care of, not treasures that could be plundered by thieves)."

At least 1,000 Catholic residents here attended the Mass that started at 6 a.m. This was followed by a fluvial rosary procession of around 100 fishing boats, which circled on the waters off the village, the jump off point to the WPS.

Villegas also called on China not to be a bully, saying that Filipinos and Chinese people have many similarities.

For instance, he said, the patron of Pangasinan province and Shanghai, China's biggest city, is Mary Help of Christians.

"The conflicts of governments, the war of ideologies and the battle of politics can be won by the brotherhood of peoples. Before there was a government, there were only loving patriotic citizens. We are the peace that we dream for the world," said Villegas.

He also called on authorities to listen to ordinary people.

"Kabaliwan ang giyera. Huwag bully at huwag magpa-bully (War is madness. Don't bully and don't allow yourself to be bullied)," he said.

"Bago magkaroon ng China, bago magkaroon ng Pilipinas, bago magkaroon ng mapa ang mga bansa at paghiwa-hiwalayin tayo ng pagkakaiba-iba natin, ang lahat ay likha ng Diyos (Before there was China, before there was a Philippines, before there was a map that separated us due to our differences, we were all God's creations)."

He said that countries will not exist forever, adding that in the end, everyone will return to God, the true owner.

"Honorable leaders in government, you're in office by God's design and by people's will. Give us the competence of statesmen. Not a student council government that made vulgar men models, that glorified treason," Villegas said.

"Bring the groans and pains and anguish of our countrymen to the international institutions of justice and order. Give us a government with a sense of urgency in this time of emergency because we are standing by the precipice of continental Asian conflict," he added.

Villegas said that a dialogue between equals and a diplomacy that is respectful of laws and based on truth should be the path, not war.

"Our true ally is the truth. Our true defense is our dignity as God's children. The peace of the Philippines will not come from the hands of super powers, but from the heart of God and the hand of the Immaculate Mother," Villegas said.

"We pray for our country, but we also pray for brother China.

Yes, brother China, sister China. It has thousands of years of civilization in the vast continent of Asia. May it use its civilization to preserve peace and harmony among nations, according to the ancient teachings of Chinese wise men," he added.

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