Socrates Calamba Mesiona

"The Word of God translated into a local language can be better understood by people. The ultimate goal of translating the Bible into an indigenous language like Cuyonon arises from an innate desire to relate more deeply to God. The Lord speaks to each one of us through his Word. By listening to it in our mother tongue, it will now be easier for us to understand his will, follow him and be his disciples."

"I see in the Church and among Christians a constant effort to evangelize the people at different levels of society, and this is a positive sign. On the other hand, the mission must be adapted to cultural changes: the advent of social media and the great influence of mass media can also be seen as an obstacle to the mission. The immediate availability of diverse information, in fact, tends to marginalize the Christian vision of life and Christian teachings. This dynamic is most evident in urban areas and less in rural areas. However, the Philippine population still gives much importance to Christian values and strongly participates in the life of the Church."

"The conflict in Mindanao is very complex, full of variables and dense in social, economic, cultural, and religious phenomena that are intertwined with one another. What is certain is that the ordinary people want peace, and must start afresh from here. Interreligious dialogue can help overcome the social and ethnic fragmentation of Mindanao."