"...the twenty-second day of July might well be known as Erano Manalo Day, both a secular and a religious public holiday."
"We
will explain to our progeny that it is a day specifically set aside for
the nation to acknowledge the great gift of a nationalistic religious
sect, which in the nick of time saved millions of poverty-stricken
Filipinos from cruel, lingering death at the hands of the multinational
oil companies in partnership with a foreign creditors-owned
administration."
"We will tell future generations, moreover, that July 22, 1991
was when this nation's most Catholic leadership to date was brought to
its knees by a threatened mass action of more than two million Iglesia
ni Cristo members and sympathizers, thus confirming that denomination's
extraordinary hold on our economic, social and political affairs." (Rodolfo E. Dula, "Erano Manalo Day", Malaya, July 22, 1991)
"By
the same token, we should credit Mister Manalo and the other leaders of
the Iglesia for their willingness to listen, their understanding of the
government's financial predicament and their flexibility on the few
centavos that separated what the government was willing to give from
what they demanded." ("A victory for all", Editorial, Manila Standard, July 19, 1991)
"Their
backing off from today's protest rally was the right move. It shows
that no matter their disagreement with various issues of the present
administration, the INC leadership are still concerned about the welfare
of the majority of Filipinos." (Ma. Dulce Reyes, "Women Talk", People's Journal, July 22,1991)
"...the INC had proven its point: that in unity there is strength; that if the followers of the INC can be united and disciplined under one head, why not the entire nation?"
"Also,
the INC had served notice to the government and the country's leaders
that public service and welfare could be properly dispensed without
exorbitant cost and that graft could be weeded out in any institution.
The hope for change for the Filipino people can be galvanized and
realized if the national and local leaders would emulate the social
commitment and institutionalized discipline of the Church of Christ." (Cesar T. Mella, "Church Militant", Philippine Graphic, August 5, 1991)
"What
perhaps served as a safety net for the administration was the decision
of the three million strong Iglesia ni Cristo to call off its planned
rally. As the group's leader noted, the fuel price cut--an average of P1
per liter--which the administration endorsed,was enough. To be sure,
the INC has its own experts, equipped with the right information and
data, to arrive at such a conclusion. In the process, the INC was able
to maintain its reputation as a group of law abiding, peaceful citizens.
God-fearing, reasonable,dependable, hardworking citizens." ("Walking a tight rope", Editorial, The Philippine Star, July 20, 1991)
"There's
a lesson somewhere on the triumph of the Iglesia ni Cristo on the issue
of oil prices reduction. The INC position was simply stated: the church
wanted a 'reasonable' reduction of oil prices. When it was met, INC
Executive Minister Erano Manalo called off its mammoth rally. And after
that, total silence. No breast-beating,. No post mortem analysis... The
INC knows when to talk, and knows when to stop." (Carlos Monteverde, "Scanner", People's Journal, july 25, 1991)
"The
Iglesia rally is simply an endorsement of an almost universal clamor
for the rollback of oil prices to the pre-december 1990 level, which
means reduction of not less than P7 per liter of gasoline. Manalo
believes that his church has a duty not only to secure a better life for
his flock, but also to heed the popular clamor for an oil price
rollback to give the masses some economic relief in the face of
skyrocketing prices of commodities." (Emil P. Jurado, Manila Standard, July 19, 1991)
"Symbolically,
the dentist who pulled out the rotten tooth from the nation's sore
mouth is the Iglesia ni Cristo, which has proven the biggest and the
strongest homegrown religious sect since its organizer, Felix Manalo
preached his apocalyptic vision on the Isla de Punta Sta. Ana in 1914." (Cesar T. Mella, "Church Militant", Philippine Graphic, August 5, 1991)
___________________________________________
"The
Church decided to stage a mammoth rally at the Liwasang Bonifacio,
Manila, on July 22, 1991, to appeal to the government to listen to the
nationwide clamor for the rollback of the prices of petroleum products
and other commodities."
"Numerous organizations from various
sectors pledged their support and proposed their participation to the
mass action to be led by the church."
"Thus, four days before the
mass action, the government reached by presenting a proposal for price
reduction. The church then called off its planned rally."
"Executive
Minister Erano Manalo 'accepted as reasonable by the government
position of oil prices reduction which included substantial reduction of
premium and regular gasoline, kerosene, diesel, and fuel oil.' He also
stressed that the planned rally was called off 'because the INC
understands the financial predicament of the government.'" Editorial
source: Pasugo issue July-August 1991