MANILA (UCAN) -- Thousands in major Philippine cities joined the Knights of Columbus (KC) to protest the promotion of contraceptives in a special “Walks for Life” program. The largest Catholic organization of men in the country rallied in Manila, Baguio, Bayombong, Tuguegerao, Tarlac, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao and San Fernando, Pampanga province, last Saturday. In Manila, the rally began with a 6 a.m. Mass at San Augustin Church in the Intramuros, downtown Manila, presided by Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao. Monsignor Pedro Quitorio III, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines media director, in his rally speech, questioned Department of Health (DOH) figures on people infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. “Where are they? Where are these thousands [of victims] that the DOH cited?,” the priest asked, claiming that the Department of Health’s “hyped-up figures” were intended to “panic” people. “They are telling us that there are already thousands of victims of this HIV virus here in the Philippines. The next thing is they [people] will buy condoms so as to stop its spread and I’m sure it [money] will be in millions of dollars,” Monsignor Quitorio said. He called for vigilance. “If we don’t study and talk, we’ll lose in this fight” against companies and organizations making a business out of contraceptives, he added.