Church communities influence nation, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said on Sunday as he emphasized their role in shaping moral values and driving national change.

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Sunday emphasized that church communities have the strongest influence in setting moral standards and driving national change.

“The greatest influence is community… Naghahanap po tayo ng pagbabago… We want the culture of heaven. Ang problema, ang culture is also dictated by the community,” Cayetano said during the ‘40 Days of Prayer and Fasting’ event at Taguig Lakeshore on January 11, 2026.

He said transforming the nation requires reshaping community cultures — specifically the struggle between the “culture of heaven” (integrity, faithfulness) and the “culture of hell” (corruption, dishonesty). For him, there should be no gray areas in between.

Cayetano cited a December Pulse Asia survey to illustrate how Filipinos clearly view corruption in projects like flood control, but may not see tax evasion in the same light.

“Merong Pulse Asia survey noong December. Basically, ang sinasabi niya, y’ung katulad ng mga flood control, klaro sa Pilipino na corruption iyon. Pero let’s say pandaraya sa taxes, not necessarily,” he explained. 

“Again, (there’s value in) community and community standards. Iba kasi y’ung malinaw, malinaw na good and bad. Iba y’ung strategy ng demonyo na gagawing relative,” he said.

Cayetano urged Filipinos to examine national issues through a spiritual lens. He called on the church to help the nation confront its “spiritual sickness” and cultural addictions such as corruption and gambling, and to replace harmful systems with righteous ones.

He also encouraged church communities to take a strategic role in rebuilding the nation, highlighting the Philippines’ vast potential.

Cayetano also emphasized that the ongoing 40-day fast should serve as a strategy for transformation, ensuring that future generations inherit a nation aligned with its divine calling.

“Our prayer is not just for the church, not just for your family, not just for Taguig — it’s for the nation,” he said.

Text and photographs by Henrylito D. Tacio