THE SANGGUNIAN, the Council of Organizations of the Ateneo (COA), and Task Force SIKHAY organized a prayer vigil for life and human dignity against the death penalty on Tuesday, January 31, at 5:00 PM.

In an interview with The GUIDON, Task Force SIKHAY Coordinator Luis Enriquez stated that SIKHAY, along with the Sanggunian and COA, felt it was necessary for the Atenean community to have the opportunity to see that “they’re not alone, especially in their belief that the death penalty shouldn’t be reinstalled.”

Sanggunian Vice President Koko Quilatan also stated in an interview that the vigil “affirmed the stance” of the Atenean community against the death penalty phenomenon and culture.

“Mabuti rin na naging prayer vigil din siya, kasi it affirms our community in Ateneo. It’s [a] very peaceful and solemn way of voicing out our opposition to it (It’s also a good thing that we decided to hold a prayer vigil, because it affirms our community in Ateneo. It’s a very peaceful and solemn way of voicing out our opposition to it),” Quilatan said.

The prayer vigil began at Zen Garden, with opening remarks by Sanggunian President Carmela Vinzon. She stated that Filipinos have the duty of taking care of the country and of each other, which includes valuing the lives of fellow countrymen.

“Hindi parusang kamatayan ang solusyon upang lunasin ang sakit ng krimen sa Pilipinas (Death penalty is not the solution to cure the ills of crime in the Philippines),” she said.

Vinzon also mentioned the presence of a separate Ateneo contingent outside the Batasang Pambansa Complex, where a second reading of the death penalty bill was part of the day’s agenda.

Students, priests, and faculty then moved to Gate 2.5 while reciting the rosary, and later said a prayer against the death penalty from the Archdiocese of Manila. They were led by political science senior Selina Miranda and Roberto Guevara, PhD of the theology department.

Datu Amir Wagas, a legal management junior, also recited an Islamic prayer from the Quran, indicating that the prayer vigil was not only limited to the Catholic faith.

Candles were then lit along Katipunan Avenue, as the vigil ended with the reciting of the Panatang Makabayan.

With reports from Janelle H. Paris