27/10/2025
๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐'๐ ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ป๐ด, ๐ก๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ, ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด
Saint Maryโs University (SMU) of Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya has always been at the forefront of Christian education with its history spanning almost 100 years now serving hundreds of thousands of students and graduates. SMU makes every moment an opportunity to be formed, informed, and transformed Christian disciples.
Today, we express and echo our intense alarm about what is happening in our country and in our province.
CORRUPTION IS EVIL IN EVERY SHAPE OR MANNER, be it political, bureaucratic, systemic or institutional. Corruption destroys public trust and weakens government institutions by undermining public offices, causing them to serve personal or political interests rather than the people. As a result, both Filipinos and foreigners lose faith in leaders, the justice system, and even in the possibility of change, creating a culture of cynicism and hopelessness.
Any hint of corruption goes against the grain of what we espouse about Christโs mission, communion, excellence, innovation, and social responsibility.
ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE: CORRUPTION AT ITS DEEPEST ROOT. Corruption of the environment leads to the misappropriation of natural resources, mining, and pollution; such practices invade upon the ancestral domains and rights of indigenous communities that have long been stewards of the environment, the Watershed Haven of Cagayan Valley, our Beloved Nueva Vizcaya.
As we work towards healthy learning environment, effective integral human development, the care of mother earth, and the promotion of life, we renew our ecological commitments which stem from our convictions (Laudato siโ, 64); after all, โGod looked at everything he had made, and found it very goodโ (Genesis 1:31).
In Communion with the Diocese of Bayombong, the Board of Trustees, the Administration, the Employees, the Student Body, and the Alumni of Saint Maryโs University:
1. actively denounce and reject corruption unequivocally, viewing it as a core evil that perpetuates injustice and ruins the natural world;
2. reject destructive mining in Nueva Vizcaya because it causes massive excavation, land instability, and exploits local communities;
3. engage government leaders and communities in ecological education (Laudato siโ, 210) to foster ethical governance; and
4. commit to implement sustainable practices to achieve transparent governance, safeguard human rights, and secure long-term stewardship.
May Mary, Seat of Wisdom, Our Lady of Good Harvest, and Queen of all Creation keep us under the mantle of her maternal protection, as we keep on building vibrant Christian communities and a faith-filled family of nations where love, justice and peace abound.
27 October 2025 in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
Photo credits: (The Marian, SMU Student Central Council)
