MANILA, Philippines – Amid widespread government corruption and growing public frustration over the country’s situation, a Catholic priest challenged Filipinos to reject cynicism, hold on to their faith, and become a source of hope for the Philippines.
“Despite all that is happening in government, in our society, sana hindi tayo kagaya ng mga taong nagsasabing wala nang pag-asa. Sana tayo pa ang pagmulan ng bagong pag-asa ng ating mahal na Pilipinas [let’s not be like those who say it’s hopeless. Let’s dare to be a source of new hope for our beloved Philippines],” said Fr. Christian Angelo Limbaring, OAD, of the Diocese of Daet.
He delivered this message to an estimated 25,000 participants during the ANCOP Global Walk (AGW) 2026 at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on October 18.
Fr. Limbaring shared that his message was inspired by a conversation with some of his religious studies students at a Catholic school. He had asked them whether they still believed there was hope for the Philippines despite the country’s challenging situation.
“Ang sagot nila, ‘Ay, Father, wala nang pag-asa ang Pilipinas. Sobrang laki na ng sistema ng corruption.’ Of course, it is a very saddening answer from a student studying in a Catholic school,” said the priest, who was once a member of CFC – Youth for Christ.
Faith in God: A Source of Hope for the Philippines
According to Fr. Limbaring, a person’s sense of hope is closely connected to their relationship with God. Losing hope, he explained, can also affect the spiritual journey and the efforts to grow closer to Him.
“Kasi kung mawawala na ang pag-asa sa atin, wala na, checkmate. Saan na napunta ang ating pagsisikap na mapalapit pa sa Diyos? [Because if we lose hope, that’s the end of it, checkmate. What will become of all our striving to draw closer to God?],” he added.
The priest emphasized that Christians are called to remain hopeful because true hope ultimately comes from God. Recognizing His blessings allows people not only to find hope in their own lives but also to share it with others.
“I know we are here because [of] hope, laging meron tayong ganyan. Pag-asa, meron tayo kasi nakikita natin ang maraming biyayang binibigay sa atin ng Diyos, and hope, kaya tayo nandito kasi gusto natin i-share, ibahagi ang pag-asang natanggap din natin mula sa Diyos [we always have that. We have hope because we see the many blessings God gives us, and that’s why we are here, because we want to share the hope we’ve also received from God],” he explained.
ANCOP Global Walk 2026: One Mission, One Walk
The Holy Mass, celebrated by Fr. Limbaring, served as a fitting conclusion to ANCOP Global Walk 2026, which carried the theme “One Mission, One Walk.”
The annual event brought together thousands of Filipinos united by a common mission: to bring hope to underprivileged families through education, housing, community development, and livelihood programs.
Beyond the physical walk, the gathering served as a reminder that faith and hope should translate into concrete acts of love and service, especially for those who need them most.
As of November 6, 2026, recorded remittances from ANCOP Global Walk 2026 had reached Php 43 million, an increase of Php 10 million compared with the remittances recorded during the same period last year.
Through the generosity of donors and participants, ANCOP continues its mission of transforming lives and bringing hope to Filipino families in need.
