Also yesterday, President Arroyo urged the people to follow her lead in heeding the call of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for renewal this Christmas season.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Malacañang would refrain from politicking during the holidays as he appealed to the opposition camp to do the same in deference to the country’s celebration of the Christmas season.

Ermita appealed for a "political ceasefire" to provide the public with a respite from divisive issues, like the moves to change the Constitution, which continue to hound the nation even as Christmas draws near.

"All Filipinos should be able to enjoy the season without any bickering. It’s a season of peace and love," Ermita said.

Ermita noted that there would be enough time for politicians to engage in politicking after the holiday season and during the campaign period for the congressional and local elections in May.

Earlier, Malacañang sought a moratorium during the Christmas season on divisive debates over efforts to change the Constitution, and appealed to the various political factions in the country to focus instead on helping the poor.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Arroyo called on the people to strive for a better life in the coming year through values formation and character change.

In a round-table discussion with members of the Presidential Council on Values Formation, Mrs. Arroyo affirmed her resolve to heed the call of the CBCP to put priority on "character change" in the government instead of on efforts for Charter change.

"What we need is renewal, because the bishops said hindi lamang pagbabago ng political system, kundi ang pagbabago ng kalooban ang kailangan," Mrs. Arroyo said.

"So this Christmas season — pag-asa, magandang asal, pamilya, matapat na trabaho — sana lahat nang ito ay maging gawain natin sa Pasko at sa darating na taon," she said.

Meanwhile, national and local leaders, along with non-government organizations and other groups, pushed yesterday for a long holiday truce on political bickering to give the people a much-needed respite from politics in this season of Advent.

They said after almost a year-long political skirmishes over such explosive issues as People’s Initiative (PI) and Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass), the people deserve to have a peaceful and meaningful Christmas and New Year holidays.

"If a truce between the government soldiers and the rebels during the season of Advent could work meaningfully, there is no reason why a truce on political bickering that is tearing the nation apart could not be possible," the leaders said.

The leaders include Rep. Annie Rosa L. Susano of the second district of Quezon City, Sultan Kudarat Governor and his son Rep. Suharto Teng Mangudadatu, Muslim party-list Rep. Acmade M. Tomawis, Pateros Mayor Rosendo T. Capco, Unisan, Quezon Mayor Nonato E. Puache, Quezon City Majority Leader Ariel Enrile Inton and Minority Leader Rommel R. Abesamis, Quezon City Councilor Dante M. De Guzman, and Councilor and Law Professor Cesar B. Brillantes of San Juan, Ilocos Sur.

NGO leaders who joined the call for a truce on political bickering were former Governor Pete S. Principe of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Central Luzon, lawyer Francisco B. Sibayan, former IBP Governor Jose P. Icaonapo Jr. of Metro Manila, former World Health Organization consultant Dr. Jose R. Relacion, Dr. Cesar S. Cordova of the Knights of Columbus Council 8183, CPA-Lawyer Sixto S. Brillantes Jr., Raul A. Casipit of Sibayan & Assocates, banker Ali B. Sangki, lawyer Ernesto S. Dinopol, and Datu Blo Umpar Adiong, president of Buad Agri School in Lanao del Sur.

They said this truce could pave the way for the attainment of national unity and genuine reconciliation now that the explosive issues on PI and Con-Ass have been archived. (E. T. Suarez)