Cebu archbishop Abet Uy asks followers to wake up amid corruption, disasters

CEBU, Philippines – Filipinos need to wake up in a time of corruption and disasters, Cebu Archbishop Alberto “Abet” Uy said during the November 30 rally for peace in Cebu City on Sunday.

This was the archbishop’s key message in a homily and speech delivered to more than 10,000 Cebuanos who joined the “SuPaKK: Sinugbuanong Pakigbisog Kontra Kurapsyon” peace rally led by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu and the Cebu Anti-Corruption Coalition.

Uy was a central figure in the peace march from the Pilgrim Center of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu to the Fuente Osmeña Circle where the main rally program was held. With the archbishop were participants from over 150 parishes in Cebu, including Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro, and leaders of community-led organizations, universities and activists.

“Sa ikaduhang Pagbasa, si San Pablo nag ingon, ‘Wake up. pagmata na!’ Sa Ebanghelyo si Hesus miingon, ‘Stay awake.’ Pagbantay kanunay. Advent is God’s way of waking us up from our sleep,” Uy said during the homily.

(In the second reading, Saint Paul said, ‘Wake up. Awaken!’ In the Gospel, Jesus said, ‘Stay awake.’ Always be vigilant. Advent is God’s way of waking us up from our sleep.)

“Niining panahona, ang Pilipinas nanginahanglan gyud ug adbiyento. Nanginahanglan gyud ug pagpukaw (In this time, the Philippines needs an advent. It really needs awakening),” Uy stressed.

The greater challenge

For Jaime Paglinawan, chairperson of Bagong Alyansa Makabayan Central Visayas, the archbishop’s call to “awaken” the Cebuanos is a heavy challenge for the church and for civil society organizations.

Paglinawan, who has led several rallies in the past, shared that what the church is up against are powerful individuals who have denied their involvement in the corruption of taxpayer funds, despite evidence proving otherwise, yet still remain in office.

The activist said that while this may be the case, their group would make the archbishop’s words “a guiding call to the Cebuano people.”

“Aron mas daghan gyud nga maningil sa accountability ug naay gyud makasohan, mapreso ilabina kadtong nakakuha sa dakong bahin sa kawat, ug mauli ang bilyon bilyon ka pesong kinawat,” Paglinawan told Rappler.

(So that more people will demand accountability and someone will face charges, to imprison especially those who received a large portion of the theft, and to return the billions of stolen pesos.)

TAAS KAMAO. Cebu Archbishop Alberto Uy raises his fist in unity with Cebuanos fighting corruption during the “Sugbuanong Pakigbisog Kontra Kurapsyon” peace rally in Cebu City on November 30, 2025. Photo by Jacqueline Hernandez/Rappler

For Jon Neil Perfecio, a moral theology doctoral candidate of Saint Alphonsus Theological Mission Institute (SATMI), the greater challenge lies in how the church can sustain the push against corruption after the November 30 rally.

“An even greater challenge now begins: how to sustain this kind of atmosphere — one where Cebuanos continue to engage in deeper conversations about the state of the country, with the hope that such awareness and critical reflection will influence the 2028 elections,” Perfecio told Rappler.

According to Perfecio, Uy’s participation in the rally showed that the Archdiocese of Cebu had been in need of a leadership that was resolute in its fight against corruption.

“Indeed, kining gebuhat karon sa talahurong obispo, nagpukaw gyud sa mga katawhan, ako panghinaut nga kining napukaw na nga katawhan dili na unta mahikatulog og balik,” he added.

(What the venerable bishop is doing now is really awakening the people. I hope that this awakened people will never fall asleep again)

Do you still have God?

During the program conducted in the Fuente Osmeña Circle, the archbishop delivered a message directed at individuals who have been accused of corruption.

“When was the last time you cried for your people? Duna pa ba mo’y kasingkasing? Duna pa ba moy konsensya? Duna paba moy Ginoo?” the archbishop asked.

(When was the last time you cried for your people? Do you still have a heart? Do you still have a conscience? Do you still have God?)

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The archbishop’s words echoed the sentiments carried by the thousands of Cebuanos who attended the event wearing white — representing their resistance — calling for the arrest of corrupt officials.

KULANG PA BA? Catholic devotees, students, workers and rights advocates march from the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu to Fuente Osmeña Circle in Cebu City to show an act of solidarity, humility and hope, during the ‘SuPaKK: Sugboanong Pakigbisog Kontra Korapsyon,’ as they call for genuine accountability and systemic reforms to address corruption and injustice, on November 30, 2025. Photo by Jacqueline Hernandez/Rappler

“Ako karon, mangaliyupo ninyo (I now ask of you). In the name of God, I beg you, Repent. Face the truth, take responsibility, and return what is not yours,” Uy said. – Rappler.com