Senator Alan Peter “Compañero” S. Cayetano on Monday encouraged Christians to consistently preach against gambling, saying barring such activities from the country – as his home city of Taguig has done – is key to progress.
Speaking to a large audience of worship ministers at the “Laging Magwoworship” convention at the Cuneta Astrodome on June 12, Cayetano said he believes national transformation can be ushered in through the regular preaching of God’s Word and the faithful living of believers.
He said he and his wife, City of Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, have begun doing this in their home city but added that it can be a constant struggle.
“Kaming mag-asawa, minsan po nagpe-preach at nagtatrabaho, tapos makikita namin may change. Tapos lumingat lang kami, halimbawa nawala lang si Lani, bumalik na naman. Minsan tinuturuan din kami ni Lord,” Cayetano said.
But the independent senator, who won a seat in the Senate last year on a platform of faith-based and values-oriented leadership, said the leadership of his city persevered in regularly preaching God’s Word especially as it applied against all forms gambling.
“Wala pong sugal sa Taguig. Pinagbawal po namin ang casino pagdating ni Lani. May gusto rin magtayo ng sabungan at nagdonate pa ng lupa. Pero sabi namin isasauli na lamang namin ‘yung lupa,” he said.
Their stand for God paid off, however, when the donor decided to give the land even if they were not allowed to put up a cockfighting arena.
“Awa ng Diyos, sabi kahit hindi itayo ang sabungan, ituloy namin ang paggamit ng lupa. Kaya
magkakaroon kami ng bagong ospital doon sa lupa na ibinigay,” Cayetano said.
The senator said it was actually when Taguig decided not to allow casinos that God began to bless the city. “N’ung hindi rin po namin pinayagan ang pagtayo ng casino, doon po umusbong ang Fort Bonifacio kung saan ngayon ay central business district na siya ng ating bansa,” he said.
Cayetano, however, said the work is not done because while the city was not looking, online cockfighting began to flourish.
“May nakalimutan kami. Dahil wala pong sugal sa Taguig, hindi na po kami nagpreach against gambling. Pero nagkaroon ng e-sabong. Ang daming tumaya dahil hindi nila narinig ang salita ng Diyos,” he said.
Cayetano then encouraged the hundreds of worship leaders in the conference to become “good soil” and be receptive to God’s Word so they can humbly receive it and share it with others.
He added that this is also where the importance of worship leading comes in.
“Worship sets the mood to hear God’s word,” he said. “It allows people to hear the message so that it bears fruit.”
“Where do you hear the word of God? Hindi ba by reading and hearing? Kaya kayo pong worship leaders, you are doing a very important job for believers in setting the mood to hear God’s Word,” he said.
