Lipa bishop encourages simple living

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March 24, 2026 | 12:00am

Amid rising cost of fuel, goods

MANILA, Philippines — Lipa, Batangas Archbishop Gilbert Garcera yesterday urged parishioners to practice simple living and extend assistance to those most affected by the rising cost of fuel and other commodities.

Garcera, who also chairs the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said in a two-page circular that parishes should respond not only with prayers but with concrete acts of solidarity, as the continuing conflict in the Middle East caused prices of basic commodities to soar.

“In these days, our hearts are burdened by the continuing conflict in the Middle East. The images of suffering, displacement and loss of life remind us once again of the tragic cost of war and the deep wounds it inflicts upon humanity,” the circular read.

“As people of faith, we cannot remain indifferent to the cries of our brothers and sisters who long for safety, justice and peace. We are called to be instruments of peace in a world that is often marked by division and conflict,” Garcera said.

He added that although the Middle East is geographically distant from the country, the war’s tangible effects have reached the Philippines and affected its economy – “a reminder that we are deeply interconnected as one human family.”