ARCHBISHOP Socrates Villegas, officially installed as the new head of the Lingayen-Dagupan Archdiocese on Wednesday, called on the people in his mission to be the “salt of the earth”.

Using the Filipino word for salt, asin, from which the name Pangasinan (pang-asin) originated, he exhorted his flock, the Catholic laity and clergy, and the politicians, to be like “salt” in the context of the Gospel.

He urged local government officials to particularly “be the salt of livelihood and honest public service”.

“Spare the people from salty words of anger and malicious conduct that kill and destroy. Serve the people with honesty. Serve the people well. We can work together for the people,” he added.

Villegas also introduced “ASIN” an acronym for his advocacy for social transformation: Apostolic action nurtured by prayer, Sanctified and sanctifying community of disciples, Integration of faith and life, and New and intensive evangelization.

The installation ceremony was attended by an estimated crowd of more than 4,000, including members of the laity, priests, nuns, seminarians, about 80 bishops from around the country, Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales.

Prominent personalities in politics were also present, including Senator Noynoy Aquino and his three sisters, Kris, Ballsy, Viel and Pinky; Senator Manny Villar, Gov. Amado Espino Jr., Vice Gov. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, Pangasinan congressmen Victor Agbayani, Rachel Arenas and Jose de Venecia Jr. and several mayors led by Dagupan City Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. who was with Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez; and the provincial board members.

Villegas replaces Archbishop Oscar Cruz, who has recently been granted retirement.

Espino welcomed the new archbishop, saying, “Nagpapasalamat kami at siya ang dumating dito sa atin. He will fit very very well dito sa Pangasinan.”

“I think si Bishop Cruz at Bishop Villegas who were once known na kasakasama ni Cardinal Sin, they, more or less, have the same principles regarding running of the church,” he added.

Espino, often criticized by Cruz, had this to say about the retired bishop: “Tama naman lahat yung mga critiques sa atin ni Bishop Cruz. And in fact we appreciated yung mga critiques niya sa atin.”

“He praises us if there is a need to praise us. We will miss him very well. Maganda naman ang pagsasama namin,” he said.

De Venecia said he is certain that Villegas will carry on with the Cruz’s resolute crusade against the illegal numbers game jueteng.

Villegas said of Cruz: “He was my first rector at the San Carlos Seminary. I will try to continue using my very limited talents, great works that he has left behind in the Archdiocese.”.

So now it’s a warning to the crooked politicians and crooked gambling lords and jueteng lords,” De Venecia said.

Villegas, a protégé of Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, said his priesthood was born at the dawn of the EDSA people power revolution in 1986.  Prior to his new post, Villegas served as a bishop in Bataan.#

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