This was the overall message of Jaro (Iloilo) Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), for the New Year.

"Our dream of becoming better persons, our dream of a transforming and transformed nation should challenge us," Lagdameo said, adding that "to do this, one must first learn to change his perspective, mindset, and even his frame of reference."

"The formula is to break one’s old selfish ways of thinking and behaving, the causes of conflict and crises of sorts,’’ the prelate said.

"National transformation," he said, cannot be imposed on people, saying it is something that every concerned Filipino must use as a uniting force among divided leaders and people.

"Let there be co-responsibility and partnership in providing the multitude of under-privileged with the basic necessities of life - food, shelter, employment, education, and health benefits,’’ he said.

"This is reconciliation in its concrete form, especially with the poor. This is the way to experience the New Year,’’ the archbishop said.

Meanwhile, Lingayen- Dagupan (Pangasinan) Archbishop Oscar Cruz said that although Christians are reminded of the virtue of forgiveness this Christmas season, some people might find this difficult to fulfill, especially when the one being forgiven repeatedly commits the same mistakes.

"Forgiveness is much more complicated than what a good number of people think. To forgive is the easiest thing to do even if only for the peace of mind of the forgiver. But the biggest question is how one forgives,’’ Cruz said.

While all offenses, he said, are forgivable, not all offenders deserve forgiveness, nor is every offended person competent to really forgive.

He said there are offenders who do not deserve forgiveness when they keep on committing the same mistake.

"They continue offending, they keep denying the offense, and they don’t make amends for the offense done. This is the case of someone who lied, deceived, and stole; yet continues to lie, deceive, and steal,’’ Cruz said. (Leslie Ann G. Aquino)