Catholic Students Rally in Prayer Against Philippine Corruption
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| Catholic students held prayer rally against corruption in Philippines/SCAQ |
By Sr. Charito A. Quinones, OP
In response to the growing corruption issues in the country, Catholic students across the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, Pangasinan, Philippines, held a synchronized prayer rally against corruption entitled “ALDCS Prayer and Action Against Corruption, Hope for the Nation” on September 19, 2025.
The rally was conducted in their respected school grounds and gathered around 10,000 students united in prayer and action against corruption.
The Corruption Scandal in the Philippines
The Philippines is currently facing a major scandal involving flood control funds. Billions of pesos allocated for flood control and mitigation projects were allegedly misused, wasted, or pocketed instead of benefiting the public. Some projects were declared completed but did not exist at all “ghost projects”, while others were poorly built or left unfinished, rendering them useless against flooding.As a result, communities remain exposed to devastating floods because the promised infrastructure is either weak or missing. Billions of pesos — which could have funded genuine disaster prevention — are lost, further weakening public trust in the government.
The Filipino people are deeply distressed by this alarming corruption scandal, especially after disclosures revealed that numerous politicians were allegedly involved, receiving shares of about 20–25% of the project cost as kickbacks.
The Stand of the Catholic Church
Church leaders have taken a strong stand to denounce corruption in the country and to demand honesty, justice, and integrity in leadership. Bishops from different dioceses issued pastoral letters addressing this issue, which were circulated in churches and on social media. In his pastoral letter, Archbishop Socrates Villegas wrote:“It is not enough to investigate the corruption of the flood control projects. Kulang pa! We must abolish the pork barrel of lawmakers that makes stealing easy to do. We need a revolt, a revolt not just against a corrupt system, but a revolt against the corrupt hearts and souls within us that enable the corrupt to prosper. We all have contributed to the system. The system cannot change if we do not change from the soul. To get angry and to protest is good. Kulang pa. We must be angry at the corruption within us, otherwise the rally will be ‘Tama na! Kami naman!’”
Archbishop Villegas further encouraged students to hold prayer rallies in schools and parishes to raise awareness of the anomaly and to pray for honesty and integrity in the nation.
The Simple Yet Profound Actions of the Students
Early in the morning, students from grades 4-12 of St. Vincent Catholic School of Bayambang gathered to pray for honesty, transparency, justice, and integrity in the country, and to denounce corruption. |
| Young Filipino Catholics pray for honesty in a nation prone to corruption//SCAQ. |
The prayer rally culminated with the praying of the Rosary, during which intentions for the country were offered in every mystery. Fifty-three candles were lit to commemorate the 53 years since the proclamation of Martial Law.
The lighting of 53 candles was a moving act of remembrance, marking 53 years since the declaration of Martial Law — a painful reminder of how corruption and abuse of power can darken a nation. Yet in the hands of the students, those flames became more than memory; they became symbols of hope.
As young bearers of light, the students showed that their generation can keep the nation vigilant, break the cycle of injustice, and guide the Philippines toward a future founded on truth and integrity. In their prayerful stand, the Catholic students declared that change begins in every Filipino heart — and that the future of the nation must be built on truth and integrity.
