Church bells rang out across most of the 94 parishes in the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga, between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, as the Catholic Church joined growing calls for transparency and an end to corruption. - PDI/ANN
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO: Church bells rang out in nearly all 94 parishes in the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga, between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday (Sept 17), as the Catholic Church joined mounting calls for transparency and an end to corruption.
The symbolic protest was endorsed by Archbishop Florentino Lavarias, calling it “our pastoral support [to] the current clamour for transparency, accountability and justice regarding the graft and corruption surrounding flood control projects and other plunder cases,” according to Circular Letter No. 36-2025.
The circular, addressed to clergy and laity, was also posted on the Archdiocese’s official Facebook page.
Lavarias called on the faithful to pursue “discernment of the Spirit, for justice to prevail and peaceful protest assemblies.”
Parishes in the towns of Bacolor, Guagua, Minalin, Santo Tomas, and in the City of San Fernando sent in video clips showing their church bells tolling from five to 20 minutes.
The ringing coincided with a noise barrage organised by the group Concerned Citizens of Pampanga, held on Wednesday night.
The group has not yet released a full report on turnout, but the protest came on the eve of an anti-corruption rally in San Fernando, the capital of Pampanga. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
