In all sincerity and candor, I am writing you this letter with two things in mind: First, we you elders ask for your forgiveness. Second, we your elders also give yo a challenge.

We ask for your forgiveness. We have failed you in many ways. We took you for granted. WE gave bad examples. We forgot you were watching us.

We did not take national and local issues seriously. We considered dishonesty and corruption as a way of life. We allowed drugs to destroy you. We made gambling an industry. We desensitized you to violence and bloodshed. We did not mind immorality. We made indecency our entertainment. WE made a big joke of marital fidelity and family life.

And when we realized in conscience, when we felt deep in our hearts that these were all wrong, we acted as if we knew nothing. So we said nothing. We did nothing. Please forgive us. We hope and intend to do better.

And now, we give you a challenge. You are strong and full of life. You are idealistic and courageous (1 John 2:12-14). You have so much in stake as sons and daughters of the church and as citizens of this nation.

Pray much and act accordingly to make a signal difference in our society that is in continuous search for men and women of integrity and honesty, in urgent need of upright, able and credible leaders in government, business and industry.

Prepare yourselves to inherit and lead the future of your community, of your country. Learn and live the standing truth that what is wrong before God, cannot be made right by anybody else, in anyway, at anytime. Man's wrong doing is his own undoing. Commit yourselves to righteousness so that we your elders could be assured that the future of the one and only country we have, is in good hands.

God continue to bless, guide and protect you!

Very sincerely yours in the Good Lord,
 

(SGD.) +OSCAR V. CRUZ, DD
               Archbishop
               27 October 2000
               On the occasion of the Youth Eucharistic Celebration

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Mga minamahal kong kabataan:

Ang liham na ito ya naisulat ko ng buong katapatan at may dalawang bagay na isinaisipan ko: Una, kaming mga inyong mga nakatatanda ay humingi ng inyong kapatawaran. Pangalawa, kaming inyong nakatatanda ay nagbibigay sa inyo ng isang hamon.

Humihingi kami ng kapatawaran.

Binigo namin kayo sa maraming paraan. Binalewala namin kayo. Binigyan namin kayo ng mga masasamang ehemplo. Nakalimutan namin na tumitingala kayo sa amin.

Hindi namin sineryoso ang mga nasyonal at lokal na mga isyu. Tinanggp namin ang pandaraya at korapsyon bilang isang pamumuhay. Pinahintulutan namin ang droga na sumira sa inyo. Ginawa naming mapagkukunan ng pera ang sugal. Ipinamulat namin kayo sa bayolenten at sa pagdananl ng dugo. Hindi namin binigyan ng pansin ang imooralidad. Ang mga disenteng bagay ay ginawa naming aliwan. Ginawa naming isang malaking kalokohan agn katapatan sa pag-aasawa at pamumuhay-pamilya.

At nang kami'y ginisang ng mga konsensya, nang aming naramdaman sa kaibuturan ng amingpuso na ang lahat ng ito'y malu, kami'y kumikilos nang parang wala kaming alam. Kaya wala kaming sinabi. Wala kaming ginawa. Kami'y nakikiusap, patawarn ninyo kami. Umaasa kami at hangad naming gumawa ng mas maganda.

At ngayonm hinahamon namin kayo.

Kayo ay malalakas at punong-puno ng buhay. Kayo ay matatapang (1 Jn 2:12-14). malaki ang itinataya ninyo bilang mga anak ng simbahan at bilang mga mamamayan ng bansang ito.

Magdasal kayong mabuti at kumilos sa naayon upang gumawa ng kakaibang marka sa ating lipunan na tuluyang naghahanap ng mga kalalakihan at kababaihan na may integridad at katapatan, nangangailangan ng matuwid, marapat at mapagkakatiwalaan na mga lider sa gobiyerno, kalakalan at industriya.

Ihanda ang inyong mga sarili na ipamana at ipamuno ang kinabukasan ng inyong komunidad, ng ating bansa. Matuto at isabuhay ang tumatayong katotohanan na kung ano ang mali sa harap ng Diyos, hindi maaring maituwid ng kaninuman, sa kahit anong pamaraan, sa kahit anong oras. Ang maling ginagawa ng tao ay siya ring itutuwid ng tao. Maging matapat  sa inyong mga sarili at makatuwiran upang kaming inyong mga nakakatanda ay mabigyang katiyakan na ang kinabukasan ng ating kaisa-isang bansa ay nasa mabuting kamay.

Patuluyang bendisyon, patnubayan at aipagtanggol kayo ng ating Diyos!

Sumasainyo sa ating mahal na Panginoon,

(SGD.) +OSCAR V. CRUZ, DD.
                Arsobispo
                27 Oktubre 2000
                Sa okasyon ng "Youth Eucharistic Celebration"