INTRODUCTION
Binabati ko ang lahat ng ating mga kababayang kristiyano ng isang napakaligayang Pasko ng Pagkabuhay.

Sa ating pagdiriwang ngayon ng muling pagkabuhay ng ating Panginoong Hesus, pag-isipan nating mabuti ang kahalagahan ng buhay sa mundong ito at ang pagpapakasakit ni Hesus upang ang lahat ng naniniwala sa kanya ay magkakaroon ng panibagong pag-asa.

Once again, I join our countrymen in celebrating the triumphant return of our Lord Jesus Christ into our midst. This morning, in that greatest of all miracles, Christ emerges anew to bring proof of a truly eternal life — a glorious life that can be shared by those who possess and who profess the faith that is his enduring legacy to all mankind.

Sa muling pagkabuhay ng ating Panginoong Hesukristo, lahat tayo’y muli ring nagkaroon ng panibagong pagkakataong bumangon — bumangon mula sa ating mga takot at pag-aalangan, mula sa ating kahinaan ng loob at kawalang-kaya.

Christ’s rebirth makes our own rebirth possible — our emergence from the darkness of our own despair, our fears and doubts, our timidity, our incapacity.

And this, in turn, was made possible by his sacrifice on the cross — by the humanly heroic courage to endure indescribable pain and to look at cold death with fortitude.

Christ’s resurrection, in other words, was not an easy and therefore insubstantial victory over suffering and death. Rather, it was all the more remarkable and meaningful because it was achieved under the most seemingly desperate circumstances.
UPHOLDING THE VALUE OF LIFE
As we ponder the relevance of that first easter to our lives, we might do well to ponder the value of life itself — this life that is, at once, our Calvary and yet also our pathway to God’s joyful kingdom.

We know that life is a precious gift. Science tells us that nature has taken a long, long time to develop it. For us Christians, it comes as a gift from God, with human life as its crowning glory. For this reason, life has to be valued, developed, and enhanced to its highest quality.

There are, however, forces in our society that seek to nullify life. These forces assume many and various forms. They include disorder, disease, crime, evil, poverty and sin — psychological and moral forces that repress life, socio-economic conditions and political powers that enslave it. Most certainly, pervasive poverty stifles and stunts life.

There are many forces of death in our own society and culture. Therefore, if we value life, we must fight against these forces of death.
NO PAIN, NO GAIN
Jesus had to die on the cross so that mankind may realize the extent of God’s love through the sacrifice of his son’s life. Jesus had to suffer so that man may learn the lessons of the Cross.

Indeed, there is much to be learned from Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice. First is that god’s love is the ultimate, all-encompassing love. As the Holy Scriptures says: (John 3:16) “for god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, so that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The second message of the Cross is that suffering is a prelude to glory. “For Christ died for sins once and for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in spirit” (1 Peter 3:18).

Glory may be had only if man is able to deal with his suffering and draw strength from Jesus’ example, for, as Christ says (Luke 9:23): “… If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” the apostle Paul expounded on this further in his letter to the people of Corinthus thus (2 cor. 1:7) “and our hope of you is steadfast, knowing that as ye are partakers of sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.”

Jesus has shown us that there is no gain without pain, that suffering leads to man’s eventual salvation, just as he had to suffer on the cross to bring to us his message of love and deliverance.

Third, his death and subsequent resurrection shows that death is not the ultimate end of man’s destiny, but the passageway to eternal life with God through Christ. As Jesus himself said (John 14: 6): “I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh unto the father but by me.”
CHURCH AND STATE TOGETHER
The resurrection is the Christian answer in the fight against the forces of death. It affirms life, enhances its quality and transforms it to eternal life. Jesus healed, forgave, liberated and opened new horizons for life’s fuller development. The resurrection is the final overcoming of the forces of death.

To participate in the healing, liberating and enhancing of life is to participate in the life-force of resurrection. And treasuring life means more than its idle keeping; to treasure life is to enrich and to ennoble it as much as possible.

In this respect, the aim of the state and the purpose of the church are one and indivisible: to uphold the value of life and to enhance its quality, so that we may become better and worthier servants of God and fellow man and woman.

All of us Filipinos — and all of us who count ourselves among God’s people — can become agents of life and of resurrection. We have always been a deeply religious people. But we cannot afford to profess a static faith.

The best proof of faith is positive human action. We must offer proof to one another of a Christianity that delivers on our pledge to love one another, to serve one another, and to bear one another’s burdens.
TOWARDS A GOD-CENTERED GOVERNANCE
This is what the Ramos administration has sought to do, by initiating programs that seek to promote life in all its social, economic, cultural and political dimensions.

We in government strive to live by these teachings. This government’s hope for the Filipino people is no different from Jesus’ hopes for mankind. For we in government desire to render meaningful service to our country and countrymen, that each one of us may live in god’s grace and experience better opportunities to fulfill our potentials here on earth.

We have expressed this vision not once nor twice but very often. And we have — not once nor twice but often enough — pledged that ours should be a government devoted not only to the principles of good governance but to the higher objective of governing with God and people at its center. We embrace the concept of Pamathalaan — pamamahalang kasama ang Bathala.

We in government must always find God in our hearts because we are ultimately answerable to him for every action we must take for the Filipino nation. In God, government will find the strength to fulfill its obligations. In God, too, the Filipino people will find the courage to overcome their tribulations and transcend whatever sufferings must be undergone to receive salvation.
CLOSING
As we welcome Jesus back into our hearts and homes on this easter morning, let us renew that commitment with the joy, the pride, and the confidence of a Christian people worthy of his presence.

Salubungin po natin ang Panginoon ng ating maalab, masaya at taimtim na panatang mahalin at paglingkuran ang isa’t isa. Sa gayon, mananatiling buhay si Hesus sa puso’t diwa ng bawat Pilipino, hindi lamang ngayon, kundi sa buong taon.

Let us refuse to be consumed by the cynicism of others, nor to be represented as a whole by the failures of a few. Rather, let us rediscover and share the goodness and the talent inherent in each of us.

Huwag po tayong manlumo, sapagkat narito na si Kristo sa ating pagitan, at inaanyayahan niya tayong makisalo at makipagdiwang sa kaniyang muling pagkabuhay.

Tahakin natin ang kaniyang landas, tungo sa maaliwalas na kinabukasan nating lahat!

A glorious Easter to all!

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Salamat sa inyong lahat.