BORONGAN CITY, July 31, 219–The diocese and the city government of Borongan have agreed to stop gambling in carnivals or “peryahan”, a constant fixture in town fiestas.
Bishop Crispin Varquez of Borongan said that gambling opposes and defeats the purpose of fiestas as celebrations focused on matters of faith.
“The holding of peryahan contradicts the primary goals of fiestas as celebrations primarily focused on matters of faith and the promotion of Christian values,” Varquez said.
The bishop’s statement was contained in a letter he wrote to Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda on July 19, as the parish gears for the feast of its patroness, the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on Sept. 8.
Echoing the sentiments of Bishop Varquez against gambling, Mayor Agda assured that he will not allow gambling in the “peryahan” to operate.
“I definitely assure you that our administration will not let any kinds of activities that may lead to any form of gambling to happen,” said Agda, who is serving his first term as mayor.
The bishop warned that “peryahan” create a “major distraction from authentic spiritual focus” especially among the young people.
He also said that “peryas” are sources of “great temptation for gambling— a vice which is clearly opposed to our Catholic morals and even to our natural sensibilities”. CBCPNEWS
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