The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) marks its 30th anniversary this year as the country observes the 500 Years of Christianity.
PPCRV Founding Chairperson Former Ambassador to the Vatican Henrietta de Villa said the observance of the 30th anniversary of PPCRV this year is more significant as it coincides with the 500 Years of Christianity and the anniversary of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines.
“It is a huge blessing that the 30th anniversary of PPCRV is within the embrace of the 500 anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines and the anniversary of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines PCP-II, where the PPCRV originated,” De Villa said over Radio Veritas.
The PCP-II, the former ambassador, stressed the importance of the common good in the political process as well as the promotion of freedom and the welfare of every citizen.
“PCP-II emphasized that politics is good. It must be good because politics is to serve the common good, promote the country’s freedom and the welfare of every Filipino, particularly the neglected and the poor. However, we also realized during the PCP-II that the practice of politics in the country was the greatest hindrance and obstacle to a good Christian life and to a renewed Philippine society. It was what was happening then and even now. It has even gotten worse,” De Villa said.
After the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines called for electoral reforms, the PPVRV was launched in October 1991 as an independent, non-profit and non-partisan organization as an election watchdog of the Catholic Church. Former CBCP president Archbishop Leonardo Legazpi formally endorsed the PPCRV as a nationwide movement in November 1991 after which archdioceses and dioceses around the country began setting up PPCRV chapters in their areas.