DAVAO CITY, Philippines — In a stirring display of faith and moral conviction, more than 10,000 faithful — many of them youth from across the Archdiocese of Davao — filled the streets on Saturday, October 25, for the Archdiocesan Penitential Walk and Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, carrying the powerful call to “Make Corruption Shameful Again.”
The candlelit procession, which began at various points including the Coastal Road and converged at San Pedro Square, brought together parishioners, clergy, and students from the vicariates of San Pablo, Sto. Rosario, La Purisima, and the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, as well as members of the Davao Association of Catholic Schools (DACS) and the Archdiocesan Commission on the Laity in Ministry (ACLAIM).
Wearing white shirts as symbols of purity and unity, the participants prayed the Holy Rosary as they walked, reflecting on the deep wounds caused by corruption and the urgent need for repentance, integrity, and social renewal.
The event, led by Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., Archbishop of Davao, together with Most Rev. George B. Rimando, Auxiliary Bishop of Davao, was held in response to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) call for a National Day of Prayer and Public Repentance — a nationwide movement urging Filipinos to stand against systemic corruption and moral decay.
“Ang wala pagpakabana ug pagpakahilom sa mga tawong matarong, sama ra nga imong gitugotan ang mga tawong daotan sa ilang sayop nga binuhatan,”
(“The silence of the righteous allows evil to prevail.”)
— Message shared during the event, echoing the call for moral courage.
At the culmination of the walk, a solemn Mass was celebrated at San Pedro Square, where thousands lifted their candles in prayer for a nation freed from greed and deceit. Archbishop Valles reminded the faithful that corruption is not merely a political issue but a spiritual sickness that weakens the soul of the nation.
“To make corruption shameful again is to reclaim our conscience as a people,” he said. “Faith must move us to act — to reject dishonesty, to demand accountability, and to live with integrity.”
Security forces from the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and other peacekeeping units ensured the safety of the massive crowd, reporting that the event remained peaceful despite its size.
For many young participants, the walk was not just a religious act but a declaration of their generation’s hope for a cleaner and more just Philippines.
“We walk not only to pray but to proclaim that corruption must no longer be tolerated — not in our government, not in our communities, and not in our hearts,” said one youth leader from the La Purisima Vicariate.
With candles illuminating the night, chants of “Make Corruption Shameful Again” echoed through Davao’s streets — a reminder that while corruption thrives in silence, faith and conscience can once again awaken a nation’s moral strength.