May 18, 2026 — The Municipal Government, led by Mayor Bernard S. Waclin, through the Municipal Health Services Office headed by Dr. Oliver P. Guadaña, offered prayers in observance of the 2026 International AIDS Candlelight Memorial.
2026 International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Prayer for Cordillera Administrative Region
Heavenly Creator, in the quiet stillness of our beloved Cordillera, where the mountains stand like silent witnesses, and the trees carry the whispers of our people, we come before You today with hearts that ache, yet still dare to hope. As these candles flicker in the cold air, they carry the names, the faces, the laughter, and the stories of those we have lost, our brothers, our sisters, our friends, our loved ones. Each flame is a memory. Each light is a life that mattered, a life that loved, a life taken too soon. Lord, we hold them before You now, with tears we have hidden and grief we have carried in silence; embrace them in Your eternal peace, where pain cannot follow and stigma no longer wounds.
And for those who remain, those living each day with HIV in our communities, in our barangays, in our homes, draw near to them, O God. You know the quiet battles they fight, the fear of rejection, the loneliness that can feel heavier than the mountains themselves. In moments when the world turns away, remind them that they are not forgotten, that they are worthy, that they are deeply loved. Let hope rise within them like the morning mist over our highlands, gentle, persistent, and unbreakable.
Lord, soften our hearts. Break the chains of stigma, indifference, and tear that divide us. Forgive us for the times we chose silence instead of courage, judgment instead of compassion, distance instead of understanding. Teach us to see one another not with prejudice, but with humanity; not with fear, but with love. Make us a people who draw closer to those who suffer, who listen without judgment, and who embrace without hesitation.
Bind us together, O Lord, as one Cordilleran family, beyond differences, beyond labels, beyond fear. In these trying times, awaken in us a deep sense of unity, that we may stand side by side, protecting the dignity of every life. Let no one among us feel alone or unseen again. May our communities become spaces of acceptance, safety, and healing.
And we lift to You our leaders, those in government, in health, in our communities, and in every sector of society. Stir within them the courage to lead with compassion, the Wisdom to act with justice, and the humility to serve those most in need. May they rise above stigma and discrimination, and become champions of truth, dignity, and equitable care. Let their leadership bring light where there is darkness, and hope where there is despair.
Bless as well the hands and hearts of our health workers, advocates, and partners who continue this mission with dedication and sacrifice. Strengthen them when they grow weary, protect them in their service, and remind them that their work brings life, dignity, and hope to so many.
As we hold these candles, let their fragile light awaken something powerful within us, a deeper compassion, a stronger courage, a shared responsibility to care for one another. Because this day is not only about remembering those we have lost, but about choosing how we will stand for those who are still here.
Make us instruments of Your love. Let our voices speak against stigma, our hands reach out in kindness, and our lives reflect the compassion we seek in the world. And like the mountains of the Cordillera, unyielding and steadfast, may our unity be strong, our leadership be just, and our commitment to end HIV and AIDS never falter.
We offer all of this to You, with hearts united in remembrance, in hope, and in love.
Amen.
