LIPA CITY, December 12, 2009—No less than Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles led hundreds of students from Lipa’s schools and laity from the Parish of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage and about a hundred seminarians and priests to the Lipa City Hall premises where he led the recitation of the Holy Rosary and presided over a concelebrated Mass to pray for “a clean and healthy Lipa City and Batangas province.”

“Please do not think we are doing this to condemn the local government or even the owners and operators of the lodges,” the prelate said in his homily Friday.

“We are here to also acknowledge our failure.” If we allow these places of sin to exist, it is because we have not been faithful to our families, to our spouses and even to our children,” he further said.

The rally was the second Arguelles led over the past two months. He expressed thanks to the owner of New Paradise Lodge, whose relocation to Barangay Lodlod is being questioned by the parish priest Msgr. Alberto Boongaling.

The prelate said his campaign against the lodges has fallen on deaf ears. Though the local engineering executives have ordered a halt to the construction of one of the lodges in the city, construction is being done at night.

Among the prominent church leaders seen at the prayer rally and Mass were Lipa Vicar General Msgr. Ruben Dimaculangan, Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage parish priest Msgr. Alberto Boongaling, Cathedral pastor Fr. Ernesto Mandanas, Jr., St. Vincent Ferrer pastor Fr. Joseph Mendoza. Sto. Nino Parish pastor Fr. Edgar Villostas, Sto. Nino Parish of Marawoy pastor Fr. Eric Arada, Lipa Chancellor Fr. Oscar Andal, Divine Mercy Archdiocesan Apostolate Coordinator Fr. Romy Mendoza and seminary professors Rev. Frs. Manny Lucero, Richard Hernandez, Joeden Tenorio, Toter Resuello, Bobot Hernandes, Quinn Magpantay and Junjun Ramos.
Norberto “Kit” De Ocampo, a former manager of Anito motel chain delivered a message after the thanksgiving prayer. He underscored the dangers of these motels to families, to women and OFWs.

While he admitted the motel business was a lucrative one, 97% of their patrons were having illicit relations.

He said the owners agonized for 15 years before shifting to a cleaner type of business, “realizing the havoc these places of sin brought to the Filipino society at large.” De Ocampo is now with Pinoy Pamilya Foundation, an NGO. (Fr. Nonie Dolor)