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Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez and some 220 other House of Representatives members attended a Thanksgiving Mass late Sunday afternoon, July 27 in Intramuros, Manila ahead of the convening of the 20th Congress.
The mass was held at the Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Intramuros, Manila, and was principally officiated by Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila (RCAM).
Romualdez, president of the dominant Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), is expected to be elected House Speaker for a second time on Monday, July 28, when House holds its first plenary session in the current 20th Congress.
He also served as Speaker during the 19th Congress.
If anything, being accompanied by 200-plus solons in the mass could be interpreted as a sign of his inevitable election, since the figure is already over a third of the House membership.
Headlining the list of his companions was Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos, the eldest son of President Marcos.
Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre said the Mass was also an expression of hope for a better and stronger Philippines. He added that the gathering was not just a tradition, but a statement of faith.
“This Thanksgiving Mass is more than tradition—it’s a moment of reflection and unity as we begin the 20th Congress. We seek guidance to serve with integrity, wisdom, and a heart for the Filipino people,” Acidre said.
“As we open a new chapter in Congress, we anchor ourselves in faith—asking for strength, clarity, and compassion in the laws we craft and the decisions we make for our nation,” he added.
Bishops Antonio Tobias, Oscar Jaime Florencio, and Elias Ayuban Jr. were among the concelebrants. They were joined by Msgr. Bernie Pantin, Secretary-General of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), along with other high-ranking officials of the Catholic Church.
Among those in attendance were Reps. Leila De Lima, David “Jay-Jay” Suarez, Democrito Mendoza, Rodge Gutierrez, Joel Chua, Terry Ridon, Perci Cendaña, Rufus Rodriguez, Jam Baronda, and former Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales II.
