In “Mi Ultimo Adios” Jose Rizal once described the Philippine islands as the “Pearl of the Orient Sea”. However, years of corruption and the people’s disenchantment with the government, as well as paralyzing poverty for many have tarnished this lustrous pearl.

Recently, Maria “Emmaus” Voce, elected successor of Chiara Lubich, foundress of the Focolare Movement, came to visit the Philippines.

She spoke to thousands throughout her two week stay. Beyond the country’s many intractable problems, Emmaus experienced a vibrant Christianity, and witnessed the freshness and zeal of Filipinos living the Christian faith. She saw the Philippines as Rizal himself saw it–the “Pearl of the Orient.” She even compared our islands to a necklace of pearls––a living necklace held together by warm relationships, which Filipinos are capable of by nature.

Since her election as president, Emmaus has always emphasized the priority of relationships within the Focolare. It is a good norm to follow for living our faith as Christians. And yet, even in the Church, we may easily be swallowed up by structures that sidestep human relationships. How much more in politics or in civil society? The key lies in looking at each person with the eyes of God, and treating each human being as God sees that person, thus enabling him or her to shine out as the true pearl that God intended them to be.

Emmaus admired the Filipinos’ childlike faith as they believe in the love of God and are sensitive to God’s plan. At the same time, she encouraged us to go beyond the traditional religious practice of veneration of statues and icons to the living presence of Jesus, of Jesus himself present in the midst of two or more persons, united in his name—for it is his presence that makes for a vibrant community.

With the heart of a mother, Emmaus invited everyone to work together without closing their eyes to the big difficulties plaguing society and without worrying too much. For in unity, problems can be shared and burdens divided.

Joys and successes are likewise multiplied a hundredfold. Through mutual love and support for one another, an authentic unity can be built, in which a force greater than us all is generated: Jesus himself, whose presence among us is what gives profound meaning to our relationships and binds us together.

We have seen this happen before in many shining moments of our history. In our present crises, the ideal of unity offers a glimmer of hope that we cannot afford to lose if we want to restore the luster to our nations’ tarnished pearls, and transform our islands into the real “Pearl of the Orient,” just as Rizal envisioned them.