Religious and academic leaders in Pangasinan gathered in a Virtual Interfaith COVID-19 Vaccine Orientation on June 18 initiated by the Dagupan City Health Office (DCHO) in partnership with the Urdaneta Coordinating Council of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
With the theme “We Heal As One Nation,” DCHO Vaccination Team Leader Dr. Dalvie A Casilang emphasized the city's mass inoculation program. He underscored the importance of mobilizing community-wide vaccination to achieve herd immunity against the virus. He said, "Vaccination is a blessing from God for us to overcome the challenge of the COVID-19 health crisis."
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Armie Carbonell, a DCHO nurse, shared her vaccination experience. She said,”Huwag kayo matakot magpabakuna! Personally [nagpabukana ako and] feeling ko mas lumakas pa ako. (Don’t be afraid of getting vaccinated! I have been vaccinated and I feel stronger than before.)”
Dagupan City Mayor Marc Brian C. Lim also encouraged the attending religious and academic leaders to inspire their respective groups to complement the government's effort in promoting adherence to public safety protocols and other proactive measures especially securing vaccines for oneself.
In response to the invitation of Mayor Lim, Church Area Authority Seventy, Elder Eduardo Argana invited fellow leaders to encourage vaccinations among their members. Having received his first vaccination dose, he said, “As proclaimed by the Church in its Twelfth Article of Faith, 'We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.' As citizens of our respective [communities, we are helping our fellow citizens] by obeying the instructions coming from our local government."
After the webinar, results from a poll conducted before and after the event showed participants’ confidence in the vaccination program had increased from 75% to 93%.
Among the 139 participants who attended the event were religious and faith-based groups from the Cathedral of Faith Philippines, Central Pangasinan Association of Southern Baptist Church, Church of Jesus Christ, El Shaddai, First United Methodist Church, Full Life Baptist Fellowship, Hsing Ru Divine Temple, and Open Door Baptist Church. Academic leaders from the Pangasinan State University Bayambang and San Carlos campuses were also in attendance.
Pastor Israel Tarlit of Full Life Baptist Fellowship and Pastor John Jalique of the Cathedral of Faith offered the invocation and benediction, respectively. Ms. Lelia Chua Sy of the Hsing Ru Divine Temple introduced Dr. Casilang as the resource speaker.
The Church, through its humanitarian arm, Latter-Day Saints Charities (LDSC), continues to underpin COVID-19 responses around the world. It has donated USD 20 million to the COVAX facility—making the Church the biggest single private donor to the cause.
LDSC is an application of the admonition of Jesus Christ to help others in need. Jesus Christ taught His followers to give meat to the hungry and drink to those who thirst. Assistance is rendered without regard to race, religious affiliation, or nationality and is based on the core principles of personal responsibility, community support, self-reliance, and sustainability.