Manila (AsiaNews) – Dedicate Lenten fasting to millions of malnourished children in the Philippines: this was the invitation made to the faithful by Cardinal Gaudencio B. Rosales, archbishop of Manila. He explained that “fasting is an opportunity to identify with the hungry poor” of the country. The cardinal urged Filipino Catholics to fast as a sign of solidarity with the poor, especially undernourished children. “In these days, let us keep in mind that for every morsel of food that we do not eat, there is a child who rummages garbage cans to fill his empty stomach.”
Data from the Food and Nutrition Research and Institute reveals that three out of 10 children aged up to five years old in the
The cardinal said: “In order to make our fasting and sacrifices meaningful in this season of Lent, I enjoin everyone to make an offering to help the Integrated Nutrition Programme save the lives of malnourished children.” Under the programme, 65,000 poor children in 37 dioceses in the country with over 300 participating parishes are fed. It aims to feed 120,000 more children in 2007. The cardinal ended by expressing the hope that “our fasting will extend well beyond the Lenten season” because “the poor are always among us and we should lead a more modest life and offer more to those in need.”
The president of the bishops’ conference of the Philippines, Mgr Angel Lagdameo, also urged people to “look at the needs of other people, especially those who are suffering from poverty, hunger and thirst” during Lent, bearing in mind that what was important was not “how much you give but how generous you are”.
The archbishop said it was important that while preparing for Easter, a “renewal” among individuals should take place, without which “society will not be renewed”.
Philippines suffer from chronic malnutrition and are underweight and stunted in growth. This translates to 7.5 million children aged 10 years and younger.