Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan released a pastoral letter on 16 March 2025, calling on Filipinos to practice sobriety and unity in the face of deepening political and social division throughout the nation.

In his letter, titled “Sandali Lang… Mag-Isip at Makinig!” (“Pause… Reflect and Listen!”), Archbishop Villegas referenced the recent arrest of a former Philippine president by the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a critical turning point in national history — one that risks further fracturing an already divided society.

“We are a people in a constant state of crisis,” Villegas wrote. “Living with crisis after crisis can make us fatigued and depressed, but it can also make us more resilient and heroic if we are rooted in God.”

Villegas underscored how division — spurred by political, economic, religious, and social strife — has eroded the country’s moral foundation. He warned that discord benefits only the forces of evil, urging Filipinos to resist hatred and misinformation.

“It is not the will of God for us to be divided. The devil wants us disunited and splintered,” Villegas stated, adding that society has been poisoned by fake news, blind sentimentalism, and mob rule.

The Archbishop pressed for both vigilance and self-restraint, stressing that truth, rationality, and repentance should guide the nation. “Let us lower our bows and arrows of legalese; lay down the guns of our tongues and remember that we are one nation, one humanity,” he appealed.

He then called for a “new patriotism” rooted in faith, above any political ideology or faction. Urging personal accountability, Villegas invited the faithful to seek Christ in all words, deeds, and thoughts.

“Let us not allow the Prince of Lies and Division to rejoice. Instead, let us hear the word from the transfiguration mountain: ‘Listen to my Son.’”

The pastoral letter, issued from the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist in Dagupan City, arrives as tensions persist over political disputes and moral crises nationwide.