•A3 Catholic Church must

renew its efforts to

•B1 ‘We should have a longing
and a passion to illumine •C1 The CROSS
A Supplement Publication of KCFAPI
all peoples with the Light
evangelize, Pope says of Christ’ and the Order of the Knights of Columbus

Bishop condemns killing PPCRV pins hope on new

of priest in N. Samar Comelec commissioner
BISHOP Emmanuel Trance of Catarman has A CHURCH-BACKED election watchdog is
condemned the murder of Fr. Cecilio Lucero pinning hope on the new Commission on Elec-
and is demanding that authorities “investigate tions’ commissioner to help restore the integrity
and bring to swift and due justice” those behind and trust in the institution.
the crime. The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible
In a telephone interview with CBCPNews, Voting called on Atty. Gregorio Larrazabal to
the bishop expressed his indignation over the have the decisiveness in ensuring a credible
killing of Fr. Lucero, who he said was active 2010 elections.
in the fight against human rights violations in President Arroyo appointed on Sept. 2
Northern Samar. Comelec regional director Larrazabal as the
Fr. Lucero, rector of St. Joseph the Worker seventh commissioner of the poll body replac-
Parish in Catubig town, was killed in an ambush ing Leonardo Leonida.
Killing / A6
September 14 - 27, 2009 Vol. 13 No. 19 Php 20.00 Comelec / A6

CBCP raises fears over RH bill ‘railroad’

By Roy Lagarde
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) called on law-
makers not to hasten the passage of a controversial family planning bill and
give a healthy debate on the matter a chance.
While time is running out for its proponents because of the upcoming elections, Church leaders
revealed the alleged plan to “railroad” the passage of the Reproductive Health bill.
Outgoing CBCP President Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said it appears the Congress even plans to
“shorten” the discussion in order to have the measure passed before the end of October.
“We hope that the normal process of discussion and interpellation be observed, that the congress-
men who have signified the interpellation on the RH bill be honored and given the opportunity to
interpellate,” he said.
“To shorten the period of interpellation would give the impression that the passage of RH bill is
“lutong macaw”, not judiciously and sufficiently discussed,” Lagdameo added.
For Fr. Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the CBCP’s Commission on Family and Life, the more
time for legislators and the people to study the bill, the “great chances” for them to oppose it.
“In fact our pro-life legislators are telling us that they’re not afraid to debate. But the problem is some
lawmakers are planning to cut the discussion short,” he said.
According to the priest, such a sensible issue should be given enough time for deliberation by all
parties concerned.
‘Railroad’ / A6

© Tom Falcon
© Tom Falcon

VIVA, LA VIRGEN! Caceres Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legaspi, OP blesses the crowd during the traslacion procession of Our Lady of Peñafrancia. On September 11, the image of the Virgin was carried in procession from the Shrine to the Metropolitan
Cathedral where a pontifical concelebrated Mass was held in honor of Our Lady. The traditional fluvial procession will be held on September 20, the feast day of Our Lady of Peñafrancia.

Be responsible creation stewards: Bishop

AS local mining industry players gathered recently, a Catholic bishop
has challenged the people of faith to be concerned about taking care
of the one that we have now.
The Catholic hierarchy believes it’s an imperative for the faithful
to help maintain the planet for social, resource-management and
even spiritual reasons.
That’s why government leaders, said Manila Auxiliary Bishop
Broderick Pabillo, should address environmental issues with
guts, and that humanity is called to be responsible stewards of
the earth.
He said the government’s aggression towards mining, for instance,
is a sign that creation is under threat, and it is everyone’s duty to
protect it.
In a statement, he reiterated the call of the Catholic Bishops’ Con-
ference of the Philippines (CBCP) for the government to repeal the
Mining Act of 1995.
The law, he said, has given foreign and local mining firms
more economic and political rights and privileges in the form of
mining permits.
“Allowing the interests of big mining corporations to prevail over
people’s right to these sources amounts to violating their right to
life,” said Pabillo, who also chairs the CBCP’s National Secretariat
for Social Action-Justice and Peace.
He added that “mining threatens people’s health and environ-
mental safety through wanton dumping of waste and tailings in
rivers and seas.”
Mining conference
Last Sept. 15 to 17, local mining industry players gathered for the
Mining Philippines 2009 Conference at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza
Hotel in Pasay City.
The three-day meeting discussed developments in the mining sec-
tor not only in the Philippines, but also in other Asian countries.
The mining conference was organized with the support of the
Minerals Development Council under the Office of the President,
as well as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources,
and Mines and Geosciences Bureau.
The country’s proven mineral reserves have revitalized global
interest in the extractive industries in the country.
Responsible / A7

Bishops urge voters to study Cruz retires, Villegas takes over

candidates’ political record
A DAY after Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino
III declared his presidential bid, Catholic bishops
urged the public to study the proposals offered
by those running for the presidency.
Despite their neutrality, the prelates called
on the faithful to look at candidates’ political
record as well as how they have pursued the
common good.
Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, chairman of the
Public Affairs Committee of the Catholic Bish-
ops’ Conference of the Philippines, said voters
must choose the candidates who will promote
the welfare of the people.
“Let’s not be carried away by our emotions or
by the bandwagon mentality,” said the bishop
of Diocese of Kalookan.
“Whoever enters the arena, we have to study
them. Let’s examine their programs. It’s not
because he is an Aquino that we will vote for
him,” he said.
Aquino has announced his decision on Sept.
9, to accept the challenge as the standard bearer
of the Liberal Party in the 2010 presidential
elections.
Various groups said Aquino is the best person
to carry on the legacy of democracy fought for
by his parents, the late former senator Benigno
“Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and the late former President
Corazon “Cory” Aquino.
Meanwhile, Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco
advised the senator to follow the example set by
his mother in upholding a righteous but compe-
tent campaign.
The Church official said having competent
men and Divine guidance would compensate
whatever shortcomings a candidate may have.
“I believe we can never get a perfect candidate.
What is important for Senator Aquino is to get a
good circle of advisers. His openness is necessary
but firmness should be exercised. Like his mother
he should be prayerful to be a person of faith in
confronting the world,” said Ongtioco.
Pampanga Auxiliary Bishop Pablo David and
Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez also separately
expressed their hopes that Aquino’s promise of
change would become a reality. (Roy Lagarde)
THE Vatican said Pope Benedict XVI
had agreed to Archbishop Oscar Cruz’s
retirement as archbishop of Lingayen-
Dagupan.
An outspoken advocate of democracy,
the archbishop has been a vocal cham-
pion of human rights and social justice.
During his tenure, the 74-year old
prelate criticized the Arroyo govern-
ment for alleged cases of graft and cor-
ruption and for failing to curb “jueteng”,
an illegal numbers game.
The archbishop will be succeeded Archbishop Oscar Cruz Bishop Socrates Villegas
by Balanga Bishop Socrates Villegas,
former auxiliary bishop to the charismatic Manila The Catholic Church’s Code of Canon Law sets
Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin. the age for retirement of bishops at 75 and the prel-
At 48, Bishop Villegas will soon become the ate is about to reach that age on November 17.
country’s youngest archbishop. Local media earlier quoted him as saying he
Archbishop Cruz’s retirement and the appoint- planned to concentrate on his advocacies and also as
ment of Bishop Villegas as successor were an- head of matrimonial tribunal of the Catholic Bishops’
nounced in Vatican on Sept. 8. Conference of the Philippines after his retirement.
Early resignation ‘Thank the Virgin Mary’
Archbishop Cruz first tendered his resignation Archbishop Cruz said “the first thought that
in March 2007. He previously said that that he came to my mind upon knowing of the change
already filed his resignation despite the fact that of my ecclesiastical status is to thank the Most
he was only turning 73 that year. Take over / A7

Groups hold rally vs proposed Mindanao coal-fired power plant

ANTI-COAL groups in General Santos
City led by Bishop Dinualdo Gutier-
rez and other diocesan priests held a
prayer rally to declare their unwavering
opposition to the proposed Southern
Mindanao 200MW coal fired power
plant in Maasim.
The Maasim Peoples Coalition on Cli-
mate Change (MP3C), a local anti-coal
plant alliance gathered thousands of lo-
cal residents and support groups to the
"Inter-cultural, Inter-religious Prayer
Service" of the Tri-Peoples (Christians,
Islam and Indigenous Religions), Sept.
14 at the Municipal Plaza of Maasim,
Sarangani Province. The plant will be
erected in Sitio Tampuan, Barangay
Kamanga.
MP3C chairperson Dra. Winifreda
Olbes said that the prayer-rally was a
manifestation of their commitment to
preserve God’s creation and to show
their vehement opposition to the coal
plant project which will eventually de-
stroy the environment and people.
MP3C is composed of various groups
and organizations including the Cath-
olic-based Santa Cruz Parish Against
Pollution (SCPAP), the Iglesia Filipina
Independiente (IFI), the Muslim com-
munity, the Church of Christ and the
Sovereign Grace Church International,
the academe led by the Notre Dame of
Maasim, farmers and fisherfolks and
the youth sector.
MP3C is spearheading a covenant
signing entitled “Kasabutan tali sa
Ginoo ug sa Katawhan sa Maasim
(Covenant between God and the people
of Maasim) to protect the environment
and oppose the construction of the coal
plant.
“Majority of the people of Maasim closing all and not
oppose the project” said Fr. Emerardo building new coal
Maningo, CSsR of MP3C. fired power plants to
Fr. Romeo Catedral, Social Action reduce greenhouse
Director of the diocese said the cam- gasses emissions is a
paign for environmental protection and must to mitigate cli-
defense of future generation is part of mate change” said
the Church’s mission. SOCSKSARGEN
“The Bishop’s presence last Sep- CAN spokesper-
tember 14 was not just to preside the son Sr. Susan Bo-
patronal fiesta mass but becoming a part lanio, OND.
as well in the holy covenant activities to (Mark S.
show that the diocese is serious in its Ventura)
environmental protection mission.”
SOCSKSARGEN CAN (Climate Ac-
tion Now), a multisectoral coalition of
various groups in the region opposed to
the coal plant project will also mobilize
its members to the rally.
“The devastating effect of climate
change should be addressed now, and Illustration by Bladimer Usi
 World News
CBCP Monitor
A2 Vol. 13 No. 19
September 14 - 27, 2009

Pontiff ordains 5 bishops The fifth newly ordained prelate, Bishop Giorgio Corbellini, who served for some time as the vice
secretary-general of the Governor’s Office for Vatican City State, was appointed in July as president of
the Central Labor Office of the Holy See.

Priestly essence
In the homily of the ordination Mass, the Holy Father underlined the role of the bishop, and all
priests, as “servant.”
It is the “most profound nucleus of Jesus Christ’s mission” and the “true essence of his priesthood,”
he said, to serve and “give yourselves” for God.
Benedict XVI pointed out that Christ has “made the term ‘servant’ his highest title of honor,” thereby
giving us “a new image of God and of man.”
The Pope urged the bishops to be servants who exemplify three characteristics: fidelity, prudence
and goodness.
Regarding the first of these, the Pontiff explained that the servant “is entrusted with a great good
that does not belong to him.”
He continued: “The Church is not ‘our’ Church, but his Church, God’s Church.
“The servant must give an account of the way that he has taken care of the goods that have been
entrusted to him. We do not bind men to us; we do not seek power, prestige, esteem for ourselves.
“We lead men to Jesus Christ and so to the living God.”
“Fidelity is not fear,” the Holy Father clarified, “but it is inspired by love and its dynamism.”

Truly reasonable

© www.daylife.com
Pope Benedict XVI with newly ordained bishops from (L-R) Giogio Corbellini, Pietro Parolin, Gabriele Giordano Caccia, Franco
Coppola and Raffaello Martinelli during the ordination ceremony in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on September 12, 2009.
VATICAN CITY, Sept. 13, 2009—Benedict XVI has ordained five Italian bishops in St. Peter’s Basilica,
and urged them to be servants that exemplify fidelity, prudence and goodness.
The Pope had been working with three of the new prelates in the Secretariat of State, and now will
be sending them as his representatives to various countries.
Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia was appointed apostolic nuncio to Lebanon in July. Archbishop
Franco Coppola will represent the Pontiff in Burundi, and Archbishop Pietro Parolin will be nuncio
in Venezuela.
Bishop Raffaello Martinelli, a close collaborator with Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in the Congregation for
the Doctrine of the Faith, was ordained by the Pontiff to lead the Diocese of Frascati, close to Rome.
Speaking about the second characteristic, Benedict XVI explained, “Prudence means engaging in the
pursuit of truth and acting in a way that conforms to it.”
He exhorted his listeners to become “truly reasonable men, who judge on the basis of the whole and
not according to accidental details.”
“We do not let ourselves be guided by the little window of our personal cleverness,” the Pope af-
firmed, “but by the big window that Christ has opened up to the whole truth for us.” In this way “we
look upon the world and men” and from this perspective “see what truly counts in life.”
The third characteristic that Jesus lauds in a servant, the Pontiff stated, is goodness.
He affirmed that God “is the Good, the Good par excellence, Goodness in person.”
The Holy Father continued: “In a creature—in man—being good is therefore necessarily based on a
deep interior orientation to God. Goodness grows with interior unification with the living God.”
This was the second episcopal ordination celebrated by Benedict XVI, the first having taken place
on Sept. 29, 2007.
The Pope’s secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, also took part in the ordination, along with the
prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal William Joseph Levada. (Zenit)

Benedict XVI encourages int’l literacy day

VATICAN CITY, Sept. 11, 2009—Benedict XVI has given his sup-
port to U.N. efforts to promote literacy, noting that along with
hunger, poverty and disease, illiteracy is one of the major obstacles
to development.
The Pope affirmed this in a note sent through his secretary of
state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, to the director-general of UNESCO,
Koichiro Matsuura, on the occasion of International Literacy Day,
celebrated Sept. 8.
The statement expresses the Holy Father's "encouragement for all
people who work for literacy with UNESCO," since, "like hunger,
poverty and endemic disease, illiteracy is one of the major obstacles
to development."
The Pontiff called literacy "one of the most important springboards
for the integral development of the person, making them more
capable of self-orientation and able to participate more actively in
public life."
As he mentioned in his encyclical "Caritas in Veritate," Bene-
dict XVI expressed his wish that literacy can help bring about an
evolution toward "better instructed and more solidary societies,"
consolidating a "democratic life capable of ensuring peace and
freedom" (cf. No. 21).
The Pope asked "disciples of Christ to commit themselves with
particular concern to this fount of humanization that should also
allow people to more freely approach sacred Scripture." And he
affirmed that the "reading and meditation of Scripture reveals the
'eminent science of Jesus Christ.'"
The papal message concluded with the promise of a special bless-
ing for UNESCO collaborators.
According to UNESCO, one in five adults is still not literate and
two-thirds of them are women. (Zenit)

U.S. bishops’ officials welcome president’s Catholics bury a much-loved bishop

NAM DINH, Vietnam,

apparent pro-life accommodation

WASHINGTON D.C., Sept. 12, 2009—Of-
ficials of the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops have welcomed President Barack
Obama’s September 9 address on health care
reform, singling out for praise his statements
regarding help for the uninsured and the
prevention of federal funds for abortion.
During his Wednesday address on health
care reform, the president said he wanted to
clear up a “misunderstanding.”
“Under our plan, no federal dollars will
be used to fund abortions, and federal
conscience laws will remain in place,”
he stated.
Two officials with the U.S. Conference
of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) responded
to the speech in a Thursday press re-
lease.
"We especially welcome the President's
commitment to exclude federal fund-
ing of abortion, and to maintain existing
federal laws protecting conscience rights
in health care,” said Richard Doerflinger,
Associate Director of Pro-Life Activities at
the USCCB.
He said that incorporating “essential and
longstanding” federal laws on such issues
will strengthen support for health care
reform. Doerflinger also pledged that the
USCCB will work with Congress and the
administration to ensure the protections are
“clearly reflected” in new legislation so that
it does not require anyone to pay for abortion
Sept. 11, 2009—Cath-
olics have laid to rest
Auxiliary Bishop Paul
Le Dac Trong of Ha Noi,
or to take part in one. Kathy Saile, Director of Domestic Social who died on Sept. 7.
Speaking to CNA via e-mail on Thursday, Development at the USCCB, expressed agree- Some 10,000 Catholics
Doerflinger said that current health care re- ment with the president’s comment “no one wearing white mourn-
form bills such as H.R. 3200 will “fund and should go broke because they get sick.” ing bands on their heads
mandate” abortion coverage. In his view, the “That's why the U.S. Bishops have worked packed the church in
president is preparing for decades for decent health care for all,” Nam Dinh city on Sept. 9
to intro- duce she added, according to the USCCB press to pay their last respects
release. “The Catholic Church provides at a funeral Mass.
health care for millions, purchases health Joseph Nguyen Duc
care, picks up the pieces of a failing health Thang, a Nam Dinh pa-
system, and has a long tradition of teaching rishioner, was seen wip-
on ethics in health care.” ing tears from his eyes
She said health care reform that re- after the service.
spects “the life and dignity of all” is a “Bishop Trong’s death
“moral imperative” and an “urgent” is a great loss to us. We lost a devoted father, a faith educator,
national priority. who served us until his death.”
“We agree with the President that there Thang, a father of three, said the 6,000 local parishioners
are details that need to be ironed out," “highly respected and loved” the departed prelate who served
Saile continued. "And with his address them for 60 years.
last night, we see the opportunity to work Bishop Trong was ordained a priest in 1948 and started to serve
towards a truly universal health policy with the Nam Dinh parish near Ha Noi the following year.
respect for human life and dignity, access for He was one of the few Catholics to remain in Ha Noi after the
all with a special concern for the poor, and exodus of Catholics in 1954 following the defeat of the French
inclusion of legal immigrants.” by Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minh guerrillas. The late bishop was to
a new bill She added that the USCCB believes it is witness great persecution of the Church and the Catholics who
which will not fund possible to preserve freedom of conscience remained under the Communist regime.
abortions. while restraining health care costs and ap- Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet of Ha Noi presided at the
"We have to wait and see what is actually plying them equitably. requiem Mass for the much-loved bishop, concelebrated by 15
in the bill before judging whether we agree. In his Thursday CNA interview, Doerfling- bishops and 200 priests.
We are willing to work with him and Con- er reiterated that there is cause for pro-lifers’
gress to help make sure this commitment concern about health care reform proposals
is reflected in the actual bill," Doerflinger and called for the forthcoming legislation to
added. be scrutinized “very carefully”. (CNA)

Inquiry into beatification of Cardinal Otunga

begins in Nairobi
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept. 13,
2009—The investigation into
the possible beatification of the
widely loved former Archbishop
of Nairobi, Cardinal Maurice
Michael Otunga, has begun with
the appointment of the postula-
tor of his cause.
Cardinal John Njue, the pres-
ent Archbishop of Nairobi, has
appointed Fr. Anthony Bellag-
amba as postulator. A Consolata
Missionary, Fr. Bellagamba is
as a man who possessed “a great “Suppose someone comes
sense of the Divine” and a great and says his experience of the
sense of the supernatural. Cardinal was very negative, say
“His prayer life was excep- he was a selfish person,” the
a former profes- tional. His gentleness, kindness, priest said. “Then we have to go
sor of pastoral was very, very attractive. He into it and be able to show that
would take time to talk to you,” either the person is biased or In his homily, Auxiliary Bishop Laurence Chu Van Minh of Ha
theology at the
Fr. Bellagamba said, according the person has some ill feelings Noi said the late bishop was dedicated to a life of service.
Catholic Univer-
to CISA. “He was so simple— against the cardinal for whatever Bishop Minh, 65, who is from the parish, said Bishop Trong
sity of Eastern
not simplistic, because he was reason (he didn’t accept his son taught catechism to local children, youths and adults and orga-
Africa (CUEA).
shrewd—but he was simple in or daughter in one of the Catho- nized Catholic associations for them.
His appointment
the sense that he was not double- lic schools, etc). If we are able to The late bishop also translated many Church books into Viet-
coincided with
faced. What he believed, what he demonstrate that the deposition namese and secretly delivered copies to Catholics, priests and
the sixth anniver-
thought, he said.” is biased, the process continues; bishops from the neighboring dioceses of Bui Chu, Phat Diem
sary of Cardinal
As postulator, Fr. Bellagamba if not, you have to do more and Thai Binh.
Otunga’s death,
will coordinate the beatification research and really resolve that He taught at Saint Joseph Major Seminary in Ha Noi and
the Catholic In-
investigation and will lead a issue before you continue.” trained many lay leaders, priests and bishops, noted Bishop
formation Service
commission of church experts If the postulator’s investiga- Minh, who received spiritual support from the late bishop.
for Africa (CISA)
who collect all information from tion results are sent to Rome, He also established a Catholic high school in 1950 and served
reports.
written and oral testimonies they will again be scrutinized to as principal. The school was confiscated by the government and
Fr. Bellagamba was born in
about the candidate’s life. If the see if negative depositions have is now used a public school.
central Italy and first worked
archbishop of Nairobi thinks been properly resolved. Investi- Bishop Minh praised the late bishop as a brave pastor in war
in Kenya from 1958 to 1963. He
the results are suitable, they will gators at Rome will also have to time. He celebrated daily Mass at the parish church for years
came to know Cardinal Otunga
be presented to the Congrega- ascertain that someone has ex- although the parish house was ruined by US bombs.
from 1984 to 1994 while teaching
tion for the Causes of Saints in perienced a miracle through the When the church was destroyed and a local priest died from
at CUEA, where the cardinal was
Rome. intercession of the candidate. bomb attacks, the bishop was pulled from the wreckage and
chancellor.
“The purpose is to collect in- Fr. Bellagamba told CISA forced to move to another place. He later returned to rebuild the
The priest, a former Vice Gen-
formation, any type of informa- he could not say how long the present parish facilities, Bishop Minh said.
eral Superior of the Conso-
tion, that would prove whether entire process might take, but Parishioner Marie Nguyen Thi Toan told UCA News: “We
lata Missionaries in Rome, now
he practiced the evangelical he reported that the diocesan learnt many moral and faith values from his life. So we will teach
works at Allamno House, the
virtues in a heroic way or not,” level investigation takes “several these same values to our children.”
Consolata seminary in Nairobi.
he explained. years.” (CNA) Bishop Trong was buried near the church altar. (UCAN)
He described Cardinal Otunga
 News Features
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 19
September 14 - 27, 2009
A3

Catholic Church must renew its

efforts to evangelize, Pope says
VATICAN CITY, Sept. 7, 2009─Pope Benedict's message for the 83rd the proclamation of the Gospel of love. ...With this message I renew
World Mission Day was made public on Saturday, September 5. The my invitation to all the members and institutions of the Church to
Holy Father reminds Catholics in his message that evangelization participate in this mission and this service."
is the essential mission of the Church and that they should do all "It is therefore necessary to renew our commitment to proclaim-
that they can to support the missions. ing the Gospel which is a leaven of freedom and progress, brother-
World Mission Day will be celebrated this year on Sunday, Oc- hood, unity and peace. I would 'confirm once more that the task
tober 18, with the theme: “The nations will walk in its light.” The of evangelizing all people constitutes the essential mission of the
message, published in six languages, bears the date of June 29, Church', a duty and a mission which the widespread and profound
Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles. changes in present-day society render ever more urgent. At stake
Excerpts from the English-language version are given below: is the eternal salvation of persons, the goal and the fulfillment of
"The goal of the Church's mission is to illumine all peoples with human history and the universe."
the light of the Gospel as they journey through history towards God, "On this day dedicated to the missions, I recall in prayer those
so that in Him they may reach their full potential and fulfillment. who have consecrated their lives exclusively to the work of evan-
...It is in this perspective that the disciples of Christ throughout gelization. I mention especially the local Churches and the mis-
the world work, struggle and groan under the burden of suffer- sionaries who bear witness to and spread the Kingdom of God in
ing, even offering up their own lives. I strongly reiterate what was situations of persecution, subjected to forms of oppression ranging
so frequently affirmed by my venerable predecessors: the Church from social discrimination to prison, torture and death. Even today,
works not to extend her power or assert her dominion, but to lead many are put to death for the sake of His Name."
all people to Christ, the salvation of the world. We seek only to place "The Church walks the same path and suffers the same destiny
ourselves at the service of all humanity, especially the suffering and as Christ, since she acts not on the basis of any human logic or
the marginalized, because we believe that 'the effort to proclaim the relying on her own strength, but rather following the way of the
Gospel to the people of today... is a service rendered to the Christian Cross, becoming, in filial obedience to the Father, a witness and a
community and also to the whole of humanity.'" traveling companion for all humanity.
"In truth, the whole of humanity has the radical vocation to re- "I remind Churches of ancient foundation and those that are

turn to its source, to return to God, since in Him alone can it find
fulfillment through the restoration of all things in Christ. ...This new
beginning can already be seen in the resurrection and exaltation
of Christ, Who draws all things to Himself, renewing them and
enabling them to share in the eternal joy of God. ...The Church's
mission is to spread hope 'contagiously' among all peoples. This is why Christ calls, justifies, sanctifies
and sends His disciples to proclaim the Kingdom of God, so that all nations may become the People
of God."
"The universal Church, which knows neither borders nor frontiers, is aware of her responsibility to
proclaim the Gospel to entire peoples. ...The measure of her mission and service is not limited to material
needs, or even to spiritual needs confined to the sphere of temporal existence; rather, it is transcendent
salvation, fulfilled in the Kingdom of God. This Kingdom, although ultimately eschatological and not
of this world, is also in this world and within its history a force for justice and peace, for true freedom
and respect for the dignity of every human person. The Church wishes to transform the world through
© www.topnews.in
more recent that the Lord has sent them to be the salt of the earth
and the light of the world, and He has called them to spread Christ,
the Light of the nations, to the far corners of the earth. They must
make the 'Missio ad gentes' a pastoral priority.
"I am grateful to the Pontifical Mission Societies and I encour-
age them in their indispensable service of promoting missionary animation and formation, as well as
channeling material help to young Churches."
"Missionary zeal has always been a sign of the vitality of our Churches. ... I therefore ask all Catholics
to pray to the Holy Spirit for an increase in the Church's passion for her mission to spread the Kingdom
of God and to support missionaries and Christian communities involved in mission, on the front line,
often in situations of hostility and persecution.
"At the same time I ask everyone, as a credible sign of communion among Churches, to offer financial
assistance, especially in these times of crisis affecting all humanity, to enable the young local Churches
to illuminate the nations with the Gospel of charity." (CNA)

Vatican encourages strong content Take time out daily

in religious education classes for silent prayer to
VATICAN CITY, Sept. 9, 2009─In a letter to bishops' conferences
around the world, the Vatican said true religious education in
schools is at risk of being replaced with a more "neutral" teaching
about religious ethics and culture.
The result is confusion and indifference among students, whose
faith can sometimes be put in danger, said the letter, issued by the
Congregation for Catholic Education.
"A form of education that ignores or marginalizes the moral and
religious dimension of the person is a hindrance to full education,"
it said.
Dated May 5, the letter was posted on the congregation's Web site
Sept. 9, just as most schools in Europe prepared to reopen. The text
immediately ignited a debate in Italy over the proper balance be-
tween religious content and the secular nature of public schools.
The letter addressed the issue of the Catholic identity of church-
run schools, but much of its attention was focused on religion
classes in public schools. It said the nature and role of religious
education in schools has become the object of debate.
"In some cases, it is now the object of new civil regulations,
which tend to replace religious education with teaching about the
religious phenomenon in a multidenominational sense, or about
religious ethics and culture ─ even in a way that contrasts with the
choices and educational aims that parents and the church intend
for the formation of young people," it said.
The letter warned that religious content in such classes can be
downgraded to the point that students are led into error.
"Moreover, if religious education is limited to a presentation of the
different religions, in a comparative and 'neutral' way, it creates con-
fusion or generates religious relativism or indifferentism," it said.
The letter quoted from a 1984 speech of Pope John Paul II, who
strongly defended the rights of Catholics to religious education in
all schools, whether Catholic or state-run.
"The families of believers have the right to such education; they
must have the guarantee that the state school ─ precisely because
it is open to all ─ not only will not put their children's faith in peril,
but will rather complete their integral formation with appropriate
religious education," the late pope said.
The letter said it was the church's role to "establish the authentic
contents of Catholic religious education in schools," regardless of
the nature of the schools, in order to guarantee that the education
presented as Catholic is indeed authentic.
"The Catholic religious instruction and education which are impart-
ed in any school are subject to the authority of the church," it said.
It insisted that religious instruction have an equal place in the
scholastic programs of schools.
"It must present the Christian message and the Christian event
with the same seriousness and the same depth with which other
disciplines present their knowledge. It should not be an accessory
alongside of these disciplines," it said.
The letter said religious education fits into the evangelizing mis-
sion of the church, although it is different from and complementary
to catechesis on a parish or personal level.
The text did not explain in detail how, in a pluralistic society,
public schools could satisfy its vision of authentic religious instruc-
tion. One informed Vatican source told Catholic News Service
that the faith identity of teachers was an important aspect of the
congregation's concern.
"To be authentic, religious instruction on any faith needs to be
taught by someone who lives it. It is true that the teacher in this
situation does not aim to lead people to the faith, but in order to
present the faith in its fullness he needs to be in harmony with
what he is teaching," he said.
"Content specific to the Catholic faith, such as a dogma like the
Resurrection, must be explained by a believer; otherwise it could
be presented as a myth," he said.
In the United States, public schools can teach about religion as
long as they do not provide religious training. A U.S. Supreme
Court ruling in 1963 distinguished between teaching about reli-
gion, which it said was permissible, and state-sponsored religious
indoctrination, which it prohibited. (CNS)
hear God's voice,
says pope
VATICAN CITY, Sept. 9, 2009─People need to carve time out of
their busy day to dedicate to silent prayer or meditation in order to
hear what God has to say, said Pope Benedict XVI.
The faithful also have to remember not to become completely
caught up in their daily activities and concerns, forgetting that Je-
sus should be the focus of their lives, he said at his weekly general
audience Sept. 9.
Continuing a series of audience talks about influential Christian
writers from the Middle Ages, the pope focused his catechesis on
the life of St. Peter Damian, an 11th-century monk, cardinal and
doctor of the church.
Living an austere, secluded life in a cloister, St. Peter Damian
determined that "the hermetic life was the apex of Christian life"
because it allowed one to be free from the ego and from worldly
concerns, said the pope.
Monastic life offers an important lesson to all Christians ─ that
it is important to learn how to achieve an inner silence in order to
listen to God's voice, he said.
The faithful must take time out of their day to seek out a quiet place,
"a sort of sitting parlor, where God can speak to us," he said.
One can learn God's word and the right path to take in life through
quiet prayer and meditation, he said.
St. Peter Damian taught that Christ must be at the center of mo-
nastic life; Christ must be heard in one's voice, be served in one's
life and felt in one's heart, said the pope.
All Christians, not just contemplative religious, must cultivate this
intimate union with Christ, Pope Benedict said.
"We shouldn't let ourselves be completely absorbed by our daily
activities, problems and worries, forgetting that Jesus must truly be
at the center of our lives," he said.
The pope flew to the Vatican by helicopter from Castel Gandolfo,

Corruption entrenched in many areas of life: CBCP head south of Rome, to lead
the general audience in
the Paul VI hall before
ILOILO CITY, Sept. 8, He underscored such “Our country remains poor because of about 8,000 pilgrims from
2009─CBCP President dishonesty is not only projects that are substandard and because around the world.
and Jaro Archbishop An- against the government of overpricing of collectibles that are due,” The pope greeted vis-
gel Lagdameo denounced “but also against God, he said, adding, that because of such practice iting bishops and well-
the practice of graft and because it offends a fel- “the common good is sacrificed.” wishers with his right
corruption in government low human being.” He commended Pavia residents for the hand, showing he was
agencies, saying it is a Lagdameo said those timely posters that promote honesty and recovering greater use
“sin that cries to heaven who commit graft and decry corruption: “Help fight grant and cor- of his wrist, which he
especially if it is commit- corrupt practices against ruption. Be honest. Do not lie. Do not steal. had broken in a fall
ted against poor people, the government and tax- Do not make promises you cannot fulfill.” July 17. The cast and
like poor drivers.” payers are harming the Quoting the book of Proverbs, Lagdameo wires used to stabilize
Addressing a congrega- common good and the said, “Be honest… even if others are not, the break had been re-
tion of local taxi drivers trust that people should even if others will not, even if others cannot. moved Aug. 21.
gathered for the Mass on have for them. He who walks honestly, walks securely.” At the end of the gen-
September 3, Lagdameo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo He then called on the He said the Church-based Brotherhood eral audience, the pope
noted how the evil of graft and corruption Catholic faithful to continue to pray and call of Christian Businessmen and Professions flew back to the papal
has embedded its tentacles in “many levels for their conversion and change of attitude. has this virtue of honesty as their vision and summer residence in
© godzdogz.op.org

and areas of life.” The prelate assured the congregation motto in their business. Castel Gandolfo, where
The local taxi drivers has asked the arch- of the support of the archdiocese for the “Only good and honest business can he was spending the
bishop for support in protest of a controver- citizens’ advocacy, especially the drivers, be God’s business,” the prelate stressed. final weeks of his vaca-
sial official of the Land Transportation Fran- for honesty in business. (CBCPNews) tion. (CNS)
chising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) based
in the city who was purportedly extorting
money from those applying for franchise.
The Association of Taxi Operators in
Opposition vs aerial spraying gains global backing Paul Connett and cit-
izen science advocate
Dr. Joseph Parrish
tal epidemiologist
Rico Euripidou of
South Africa, and
Panay (ATOP) led by its president Perfecto MANILA, Sept. 7, cerned citizens from ter addressed to we state our solidar- their inherent right of USA, 2009 Gold- environmental jus-
Yap has earlier asked for the removal of one 2009─The outpour- 44 countries gave the president, the ity with the wom- not to be harmed man Environmental tice advocate Jeffer
Atty. Rommel Duron, chief of the LTFRB’s ing of concern and their all out sup- concerned citizens en and men of the by aerial pesticide Prize winner Yuyun Castelo Branco of
Technical and Evaluation Division amidst support from the port against aerial asked President Mamamayan Ayaw operations,” the pe- Ismawati of Indone- Brazil.
accusations of extorting money from taxi international com- pesticide operations Gloria Macapagal- sa Aerial Spraying titioners said. sia, pesticide activ- The group
franchise applicants. The clamor was also munity has boost- by petitioning the Arroyo to issue an (Citizens Against Among those who ist Sarojeni Rengam lauded the rural
supported by the Alliance of Panay Taxi ed up the fight of Philippine govern- Executive Order that Aerial Spraying) and signed the petition of Malaysia, endo- communities for
Operators and Drivers Association, accord- rural poor commu- ment to put a stop will protect the rural many other people’s were noted public in- sulfan ban crusader banding together
ing to earlier news reports. nities in Mindanao on the harmful aer- communities from organizations from terest scientists and Jayakumar Chela- and asserting their
The prelate said that increasing the franchise affected by aerial ial spraying of agro the toxic effects of the various banana- advocates, including ton of India, anti- rights to live in a
fee from P810.00 to some P35,000.00, as some spraying of banana chemicals in banana aerial spraying. growing provinces in professor emeritus of DDT health expert healthy and safe
papers reported, “[if true], is an act of cheating plantations. plantations. “In the spirit of southern Philippines chemistry and zero Dr. Paul Saoke of environment.
and dishonesty, by whoever it is committed At least 200 con- In an open let- global citizenship, who are asserting waste champion Dr. Kenya, environmen- Spraying / A6
and against whomever it is committed.”
A4
EDITORIAL
The killing of a priest
THE government or its instrumentalities may not have any hand in
the killing of Fr. Cecilio Lucero of late, but common sentiments ride
on the perception that it is most likely so. In fact, some progressive
journalists fed on the report that no less than the commander-in-chief
herself, on her recent visit to Northern Samar, allegedly tagged the
priest as a communist—which is very unlikely—thereby giving a
seemingly tacit order for eventualities.
At this point in time, any finger pointing would be coming from
merely speculative sources until a credible investigation takes
place—if such a thing is miraculously ever possible at all. It
could be a vendetta of some sorts by a local leader who had been
reportedly getting a beating in some of the priest’s “homilies”.
Or it could have been motivated by something else that maybe as
good as anybody’s guess.
Reports, however, say that the conduct of the execution was precise
and professional which again fuel the speculation that only the likes
of a professional operative as the military—that, of course, does
not have the monopoly of the professional or otherwise—could
have launched such an ambush of a subject who had been routinely
guarded by the police until his death because of an imminent threat
to his life.
As if tactically or habitually so, the military has always denied any
involvement in the spate of killings and disappearances that count
almost a thousand now since the assumption of the incumbent
leadership—contrary to the findings of U.N. Special Rapporteur
Prof. Philip Alston that formally tagged military operatives as party
to many of these deplorable incidents.
Be that as it may, but when the present dispensation declared
war against the communist rebels some years back and released
considerable budget for the program, it was hinged on the firm
belief that the military is the only solution to this overstaying
problem that has been dragging along for decades now together
with this same overstaying military solution.
By simple arithmetic, decades of failure in dealing with this
insurgency problem, not to mention the lessons of political history,
would have already given enough conclusions that would substantiate
the pursuit of other options. Any alternative solution would now
be more doable with communism becoming anachronistic and
unpopular, indeed a burden even to the proletariat.
Neither war nor murder will solve any insurgency. Insurgency being
deep-seated and ideologically bred, is better waged in the minds
and hearts of people—not through the raw violence of a barrel of
a gun that only escalates into dialectical conflicts, and, therefore,
fuelling all the more the very cause for which the rebellion has
been born in the first place.
The Situation of Human Rights Today
WE appear to have progressed significantly regarding civil and
political rights since the days of Martial Law. Yet when we survey
our country today we are gravely disturbed and dismayed by
seemingly unending violations of human rights. It is a long litany
of injustice against civil, political, economic, social, and cultural
rights, including the right to development.
We name some major violations: kidnappings, disappearances,
deep-seated and rampant corruption, electoral frauds, de facto
disenfranchisement of voters, arbitrary arrests, detention in secret
places, torture and other inhuman treatment, extra-judicial killings
by both government and rebel forces, abuses of CAFGU (Civilian
Armed Forces Geographical Units) and other armed groups. In
the judicial sphere, there are demoralizing judicial inaction and
delays, denial of fair public trial due to personal and professional
relationships between judges, individuals and corporations,
withdrawal of key witnesses because of threats, resort to “amicable
settlements” when justice could have been vigorously pursued.
Despite a negotiated cease-fire, government and MILF forces
trade accusations of human rights violations. On the other hand,
civilians, politicians, policemen, former members and leaders of
the NPA are condemned without due process by insurgents before
so-called “people’s courts” and executed. And today more than
10,000 victims of human rights abuses during the Marcos regime
continue to wait for long-delayed indemnification.
Hundreds of families see their homes demolished because of
economic projects and are not provided with substitute housing.
Sexual harassment, rape of women and domestic violence are very
serious recurring problems, aggravated by a “macho culture” and by
a sense of shame to report incidents. When perpetrators are powerful,
justice for the victims is dim. We also consider government policies
regarding population control and their manner of implementation
as highly objectionable in light of religious freedom and freedom
of conscience. Family rights are violated as well as the rights of
unborn children.
Poverty hinders thousands of children from going to school
and forces many of them to work, thus inhibiting their proper
development. Indigenous peoples face the loss of their ancestral
lands and the destruction of their cultures, as projects of development
aggressively attack their traditional environment. Their rights to
meaningful participation and development are often ignored. They
suffer greatly from lack of basic services, health, and education.
The above situation of human rights today calls for our strong moral
denunciation. We call upon our government to do everything that
it can legally do to bring to justice those who violate human rights,
to correct the social structures that allow human rights violations to
be perpetrated especially against the poor, the indigenous peoples,
women and children, and to make sure that violations are not
committed by our own security forces.
www.cbcpmonitor.com
cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net
Pedro C. Quitorio
Editor-in-Chief
Pinky Barrientos, FSP Kris P. Bayos
Associate Editor Feature Editor
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Roy Q. Lagarde Ernani M. Ramos
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The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCP Com-
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business offices at 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila.
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ISSN 1908-2940
Opinion CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 19
September 14 - 27, 2009
Illustration by Bladimer Usi
Bp. Leonardo Y. Medroso, JCD, DD
Pastor faces Ecclesial
Tidbits Movements
SOME months ago roving catechists of the Neo-Catechumenal Way been following intently the evolution of the Way, made this remark
were knocking at my door, requesting me that they be given that to the members of the Catechumenal Way: “Your apostolic action
opportunity to serve the Church of Tagbilaran through its charism. intends to take place in the heart of the Church, in total harmony
May they be allowed to proclaim the Kerygma to the faithful, form with her directives and in communion with the particular Churches
communities, and thereby establish the presence of the Catechume- in which you are going to work, making the most of the richness of
nal communities here in Bohol? the charisms that the Lord has awakened through the Initiators of the
I personally know the Neo-Catechumenal Way. Through the years
of its existence it has realized more and more that it is a genuine
Way” (Teaching of Benedict XVI II, 1, 2006). Due to the orthodoxy
of doctrine and the precious contributions that the Way has consis-
charism within the Body of Christ. It therefore is not just a movement tently manifested in the ecclesial work of the new evangelization,
for itself or for its members. It has a purpose and a mission in the the Pontifical Council of the Laity officially approved the Statute of
universal Church and the particular Churches. It is there to serve the Neo-Catechumenal Way on 11th May 2008.
and to help build up the Body of Christ. Its reason for existing is to Vis-a-vis this unselfish offer for the opening of the New Evangeliza-
live for and in unity of the Church. tion, the priests of the Diocese of Tagbilaran made a momentary pause.
Founded in 1964 in Madrid, the Holy Father himself has been They needed time to reflect. Is the new movement not a threat to the
aware of its existence and its contribution to the building up of organizational set-up decreed by the Diocesan Synod? Does it not do
the particular Churches where they have inserted themselves. Its havoc to the parish organizations, programs and activities that have
catechesis founded heavily on the tripod ‘Word of God-Liturgy- been assiduously put into place and for so many years have served
Community’ has through the 40 years of its existence formed people well the community? Will it not create a parallel Church, a group of
into communities and led its members to mature faith. John Paul people, that is, that would follow more the dictates of the Way than
II on many occasions and in different ways, observed closely and the provision of the Diocesan Statute? Or, in time of conflict, do lead-
spoke highly of the fruits of the missionary drive and the evangeli- ers of the group insist more on following the catechumenal mode of
cal radicalism of the Catechumenal Way, and expressly stated that doing things than abiding with the policies laid down by the universal
it is “an itinerary of Catholic formation, valid for our society and Church? In the midst of the diocesan thrust for the building up of the
for our times” (AAS 82, 1990). For his part, Benedict XVI, who have Tidbits / A6
Sr. Mary Pilar Verzosa, RGS
The roots of violence against
women and children Love Life
BASED on findings, the incidence of child Incidentally, abusing their children is part ed by the population/birth control advocates
abuse has increased dramatically for the of the Post Abortion Syndrome of women targeting 8-12 years olds seriously disturb
last 20 years. This vicious phenomenon is who had had abortion. the latency period in the psycho-sexual
attributed to the contraceptive mentality, George Gilder, a sociologist, provides a development of our children. During this
the seed of which were sown in media and similar explanation. He says that violence stage, sexual energy should be directed for
the school curricula around three decades against women and children flows from the the development of compassionate feelings
ago. Most men and women who grew in collective consciousness of men who are are destroyed during the latency period are
that milieu imbibed the anti-life or anti-natal retaliating from society’s rejection of their frequently devoid of this emotion. Without
spirit. They are mothers who refuse to bear maleness – their capacity to sire off springs compassion, the youth plunge in surges of
children, who use contraception, who abort (as in contraception), and their giving up violent behavior. Thus pornography devel-
and neglect their children. These are fathers their role as a provider and protector of the ops potential criminals.
who abuse their own children, who abandon weak and defenseless (as in abortion). They Society is like a parabola where values form
their families, who regard women as com- then retaliate by performing “male” acts to a fixed locus extend like lines reaching every
modities, who regard children as property. prove their superiority, for instance, sexual point. When from the central point emanates
Dr. Philip Ney, A Canadian child-psychia- abuse and brutality to those whom they philosophies that shape people’s values and
trist, claims that abortion and contraception perceive as weak. culture towards annihilation of life, there
remove the guilt for killing innocent lives. No Another factor contributing to violence is follows a separation of the human experience
less than Judge Noonan of the American Jury pornography. Two generations of Filipinos from the Divine. Let us not be surprised if our
considers the rise in the incidence of child already have been exposed to such material society is prone to exploitation and brutality.
abuse as one of the adverse consequences through cinema, television, tabloids and As Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta has
of the Roe v. Wade Decision that legalized magazines, comedy bars, internet, videos, said, “The greatest destroyer of peace in the
abortion in the USA. In that country, there and lately, the mobile phones. world today is abortion. If we allow a mother
is widespread child abuse and wife batter- Finally, the values-free type of sex educa- to destroy her unborn child, what is there to
ing despite the strong feminist movement. tion (reproductive rights, “safe sex”) promot- stop you and me from killing each other?”
Rev. Euly B. Belizar, SThD
The Cross we often
By the Roadside would rather avoid
FOR me September is not only the month when summer is practi- pardon, I never promised you a rose garden along with the sunshine.
cally gone. It’s also the month when the Feasts of the Exaltation of There’s got to be a little rain sometimes.” It reminds us of the voice
the Cross and of Our Lady of Sorrows come knocking on our fun- of God through the prophets and, most of all, through his Son. My
engrossed vacations with somber reminders. One, it’s not pleasure former pastor at St. Barnabas Church, Msgr. Francis Xavier Toner,
that is the center of our universe as Christians; two, it’s the cross of who himself went through a lot of pain (he had a type of aneurysm)
Jesus Christ. Three, pleasure doesn’t necessarily spell joy; four, nor before going ‘home’ to the Lord, was known for a signature saying
does the cross necessarily exclude it. In fact, the Christian faith makes when referring to life itself and particularly to Christian life: “It’s
us aware of how the cross brought us the joy of salvation. not easy!” For him the cross isn’t simply the center of worship; it’s
A few summers ago I was a subway- and bus-rider in NYC not the very stuff of life that we must embrace. But its meaning lies in
only because the parish I was assigned to had no extra car for a Christ Crucified.
guest priest like me but also because I found public transportation This is exactly what our human nature rebels against. We want
the easiest way to get around the Big Apple. It could be, pardon the everything easy: from the way we’re served food (“fast food”) to
pun, a cross too. And here’s the irony: It’s in the subway trains and the way we’ll receive salvation (“instant, struggle-free salvation”).
the buses of NYC that I’ve realized with the force of visual clarity This last has particularly made some Christian evangelizers make
how far the cross has come. From being a symbol of crime and an compromises. They tell you straight on television, “Just believe
object of shame in the time of Jesus when Rome crucified criminals in Jesus Christ and confess in your heart that he is your personal
and rebels the cross has become an object of fashion I often see worn Lord and Savior and, presto, you’re saved!” I find this personally
on necks, ears, wrists etc. of other subway- and bus-riders. I don’t confounding because it contains a truth that is so constantly ham-
know, though, how far our understanding of it has gone. mered on and made to appear it’s the only truth about the Christian
Our world has always been opposed to what the cross stands for. life. But to that I often would want to say, “Is that right? And what
That’s a given that stares us full in the face. We live in a world that about the hard saying of Jesus that if anyone wants to follow him,
worships convenience, comfort and quick satisfaction of wants, more he must deny his very self, take up his cross and come and follow
than of needs. If science and technology could, we’d all be freed from him, that’s the staple of the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke?”
any pain or suffering. But I always remember how sobering sounded The kind of Christianity we often want is founded on what the late
the words of an old song (that I rarely hear these days): “I beg your Roadside / A6
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 19
September 14 - 27, 2009
Opinion A5
Fr. Roy Cimagala Bp. Guillermo V. Afable, DD

Candidly Speaking
THE role of religion in school is fast becoming a controversial topic
these days. To me, this is one more sign of the bleeding secularist
mentality that’s emanating from many so-called developed, but
actually troubled, countries like the US and those in Europe.
What’s a secularist mentality? That’s a mindset that has driven
away God and anything related to him, the spiritual and supernatu-
ral truths, from their man-made world. Not only, driven away. Some
have gone berserk in their hostility toward God.
Obviously, this is a sociological assertion at best, a generalized
view that admits of a lot of exceptions, some small, but others can
be qualified as significant.
So we should approach this topic with a grain of salt. We should
never be too negative and pessimistic about the problem. There’s
always hope. We just have to continue supplying reasons for our
beliefs, and to keep the channels of healthy dialogue with different
parties open and active.
Truth is there are expanding sectors that, for example, would not
like to have any kind of prayer done in public or religious figures
displayed. Obama, for example, had the crucifix covered when he
gave a speech in Notre Dame U.
That, to them in their so-called enlightened logic, would already
constitute a breach of freedom and human rights. It certainly is an
issue worth pursuing in a cordial dialogue.
This disturbing development has led the Vatican, particularly its
Congregation for Catholic Education, to recently send a circular letter
to Bishops and those involved in education all over the world.
In it, basic principles about the nature, character, function and
purpose of Catholic education or, in short, the role of religion in
school, are reiterated.
It might be good to go over them, also because in our midst, though
we still can brand ourselves as a religious and pious country, there
are indications of neglect, confusion, even outright error, in this
delicate area of concern.
There are four main parts of the letter, each of them quite self-
explanatory but worthwhile re-articulating, since with all the infor-
mation overdrive we have, we tend to have only partial, incomplete
and unsystematic grasp of the issue.
These parts are: (1) the role of schools in the Catholic forma-
tion of new generations; (2) nature and identity of the Catholic
The journey is the
Religion in school
school—the right to a Catholic education for families and pupils;
subsidiarity and educational collaboration; (3) religious education
in schools; and (4) educational freedom, religious freedom and
Catholic education.
Perhaps to put these four parts in a more organic whole, we can
say that while schools are needed for the Catholic education of
children, Catholic schools, mainly established by parents who are
the primary educators, have a right to exist.
These Catholic schools should not be subjected to undue pres-
sures. Quite the contrary, they should be not only welcomed but
encouraged by the civil authorities who also have a right to check
on them for some basic civil requirements.
This parental right is not meant to contravene other initiatives orig-
inating from the state or special groupings that may wish to put up
schools. It’s just a basic right that needs to be recognized, respected
and where possible fostered and assisted by higher entities.
These schools highlight the crucial role of religion in the educa-
tion of children. While they respect those with different views, those
behind these schools believe religion is indispensable in forming
children to be mature, responsible citizens and believers.
Thus, these schools should not treat religion as a marginal subject,
but should rather treat it as the queen of all the sciences taught there.
That might sound too big to say, but it has real basis. It just needs
to be reiterated, renewed and constantly revalidated, especially by
the life-witness of those involved.
This has to be said because there are now so-called Catholic schools
that are increasingly diminishing the importance of religion in their
educational efforts. Their Catholic identity is wavering, as if gripped
in fear or shame.
It also has to be said that these schools are a result of educational
and religious freedom. But it’s a freedom that is not of the anything-
goes type, but recognizes the authority of the Church that has the
duty to set standards.
There are questionable ideas of academic freedom that need to be
corrected. Sadly, they can sometimes dominate in some big Catholic
centers of learning.
In short, there are many things to be taken care of to see that the
nature, rights and duties of Catholic schools in teaching religion in
schools are respected.
Fr. Carmelo O. Diola, SSL
DADITAMA
CiDE
DADITAMA diocesan pastoral workers—bishops, priests, reli-
gious and lay, were convened once again by Bishop Patricio Alo
of Mati for their third quarterly assembly in 2009 in Mati, Davao
Oriental at the Jam Bay Resort, September 2-3, 2009.
The assembly’s focus was on the continuing engagement
of the Church in Evangelizing Philippine politics. The Dilaab
Foundation team headed by Fr. Carmelo Diola with Ms. Tess
Tejero and Ms. Gladys Ceniza gave the participants an orienta-
tion on the Circles of Discernment for elections (CiDE). It is, as
explained to us a way for faith engagement of politics beyond
the usual “neutral” non-partisan way. Beyond the usual political
education of the faithful, CiDE’s focus is on the “emergence of
evangelical formation and pastoral accompaniment of candi-
dates and elected officials.”
Using the CiDE approach of the “nominal group technique”
(NGT), a local community can choose to identify their very own
prioritized list of good qualities, that they expect from their local
politicians – barangay, municipal, city and provincial, congres-
sional officials. Then, they can search around the community for
those who somehow have these qualities, and would therefore,
be worth encouraging to run for office and / or worth support-
ing, and voting for. This would be an ideal and real process
of people’s free and principled participation in the electoral
process which would avoid the often unfortunate situation of
the mere “choice of the lesser evil.” Indeed, this would be radi-
cal change from the usual dynamics of the selection process of
traditional politics, which is personality centered, and fueled
by patronage.
The challenge here is how to motivate and encourage the faith-
ful and the citizenry as a whole, to believe that they can do this,
that they should do this, that our faith impels us to move towards
this kind of CHANGE. This is where the evangelical formation
comes in. This is the church’s contribution to the development
of authentic faith impelled People Power. The teaching of the
Church’s social teaching would have to be in the forefront of
this endeavor. This must not be based on political ideology or
strategy but on sound spirituality.
The other aspect of the CiDE focus which would be more
challenging on the part of the Church is the pastoral accompani-
ment of candidates and elected officials. Since, we are trying to

destination
A FEW years ago, an international airline had
this as their marketing strategy: “The Journey
is the Destination.” How aptly this describes
our journey towards faith-impelled social
transformation. The journey towards integ-
rity for the common good already reveals the
contours of a transformed Filipino nation.
The past three months have seen a lot of
journeys for two Dilaab teams, one sharing
before the clergy of different local churches;
another facilitating the CiDE (circle of dis-
cernment for elections) seminar-workshop
known as the Mabolo seminar (after the local-
ity of the parish in Cebu that first tried it).
The Mabolo seminar did not just appear
out of nowhere. In 2008, Dilaab organized
and facilitated nine circles of discernment
of various groups in Cebu and Manila. Pope
Benedict XVI’s insight provides much im-
petus: “I confirm the necessity and urgency
of the evangelical formation and pastoral
accompaniment of a new generation of
Catholics working in politics.” This calls
for beyond-the-usual engagement during
elections, a call echoed by the expression
“principled partisan politics” Two national
consultations in April and June this year
validated certain insights. A seminar was
now ready to be shared.
The one-day Mabolo seminar has since
journeyed to other local churches. The latest
one was last 7 August in Bontoc-Lagawe. The
journey is worth recalling.
Our Dilaab team had been invited to give
the Mabolo seminar to BEC representatives
to the yearly “Tongtongan” (Ifugao for “Dia-
logue”) of the Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe.
The theme was: “Nation Building Through
the Basic Ecclesial Communities.” We left
Thursday afternoon 6 August from San Jose
Seminary at the Ateneo de Manila, a little
behind schedule.
Nicolo F. Bernardo
There are two routes going to Bontoc from
Manila. One is by way of Nueva Viscaya,
the other through Baguio. The former takes
9 hours; the latter around 14 hours. We, of
course, decided on the shorter route with
Richard, our highly skilled, taciturn Igorot
driver at the steering wheel. Typhoon Kiko,
however, had other plans.
After a hearty supper at San Jose, Nueva
Ecija, our vehicle encountered a problem at
Caranglan, Nueva Ecija. Traffic had stopped
due to a landslide. We quickly made a decision
since the alternate route going to Baguio would
take time. A text from a PNP contact revealed
that the route would not be cleared any time
soon. We were on to Baguio around 10 pm. A
9-hour trip eventually takes 17 hours.
Our driver steadfastly refused offers to
substitute for him at certain stretches so
he could rest. As we near the Mountain
Province, a thick fog envelopes us. Only
reflections from the cat’s eye embedded on
the road and the arrowhead signals gives us
directions, as the fog and the deep darkness
prevents our seeing the sheer cliff, now to
our left, then to our right. A concrete high-
way is actually under construction.
At such moments one realizes the beauty
of certain prayers: “Lead Kindly Light amidst
th encircling gloom. The night is dark and I
am far from home…I do not ask to see the
distant scene; one step enough for me…”
Around 5:15 am, we came to a complete
halt. An uprooted tree was blocking our
way. Just before it, a buckhoe stands idle.
We reversed directions and come upon the
driver having early morning coffee inside a
makeshift shelter with his co-workers. Felix
accedes to our request and removes the
stumbling block.
Several kilometers later, a bigger landslide
prevents movement. Suddenly a payloader
Spaces of Hope
appears and removes the barrier. Further
on, another payloader is trying to define the
road. The morning sun now reveals the cliffs.
Rain continues to pour.
It was around 8:45 am that we finally made
it to Bontoc-Lagawe where around 300 par-
ticipants from 21 mission stations gathered.
The group is very appreciative and respon-
sive and there is much laughter and insight.
The seminar has several modules: one for
developing empathy for those in politics;
another for articulating a spirituality; a third
for brainstorming and consensus-building;
and lastly, a planning module.
It is worth all the effort. The air is pristine
and we saw sections of the world-famous rice
terraces. No wonder the Jews believed that
mountains where special places of encounter
with God. We were in God’s abode!
Bishop Rudy Beltran and Fr. John Ha-
bawel, our contact person, made sure our
stay was comfortable and meaningful. The
following day began with another special af-
fair: the 40th Episcopal anniversary of Bishop
Francisco Claver, SJ. The man is a living
legend in many ways, although, I suspect,
he would cringe at the designation.
We participated in a Mass with prayers
and songs in the Bontoc tongue. During the
offertory, we got a glimpse of the Igorot way
of giving thanks and offering their produce
to God, as local people in their native dress
processed with their farm produce. The red
sticky rice food wrapped in banana leaves
(“patupat”) is a supreme culinary delight.
We returned to Manila Friday evening via
Nueva Viscaya. The storm has abated. There
are still surprises though along the way. But
that’s for another column.
Truly, the journey is the destination.
(For comments please email: frmelodiola@
dilaab.net).
combat the culture of patronage politics which is the character
trade mark of traditional politics there is need to provide an
alternative. It would not be enough just to encourage persons
who are God fearing, of integrity, and of competence, then leave
them to themselves and hope and pray they do everything for
us. In an enveloping culture of patronage politics, chances are
they too will be corrupted and co-opted in time by dirty politics.
There are enough well meaning persons and persons of integ-
rity and probity in the political arena now. Even those who by
personal choice or circumstance now engaged in dirty politics,
still have the opportunity to cross over and become part of
this emerging change. But they would all have to unite behind
this common cause, consolidate their strengths, permeate the
political landscapes with their alternative political culture and
together renew the face of Philippine politics. And you, who
also believe in this kind of change, must rally behind them and
call on everyone to do likewise.
The pastoral accompaniment, according to the experience of
some, include a framework of seven elements, namely, a refuge
sanctuary or space where people come together, a journey of
faith hope and love, towards integrity and the common good,
a trust relationship, everyone’s responsibility, involving disci-
pline, and special skills. Local churches would have to organize
and actualize the how’s of this pastoral accompaniment.
We are very thankful for the initiatives of Dilaab Foundation
and their availability to share with us a new “unabashedly” cath-
olic approach to pastoral engagement of Philippine politics.
Catholic Principles in choosing a Candidate
In the same Daditama Pastoral assembly, Fr. Juan Macalisang
of the Diocese of Digos, who was tasked to prepare a simple
catechism in cebuano, on the principles of voting, presented
and explained to the assembly the catechism itself. It contains
seven questions and answers which shed light on the social
teachings of the Church as applied to the process of discerning
which candidate to vote for and not to vote for.
Fr. Macalisang was successful in crafting such a clear and
concise presentation of the social teachings and their implica-
tion in the electoral process. The different dioceses afterwards
planned how they can maximize the use of this material for
their continuing political education activities towards the elec-
tion of 2010.
Mindanao Region Catechetical Ministry
Daditama, particularly the Archdiocese of Davao, hosted
the 2nd Mindanao Catechists’ Convention last August 25-27,
2009 at the Charles Borromeo Retreat House in Matina Aplaya.
Around 150 delegates that include several bishops and priests,

And their eyes were and religious women attended the said convention, representing
21 ecclesiastical jurisdictions, including the farthest Apostolic

Lifeguard
IS reality what we can see? How if one is “gifted” to see what oth-
ers could not?
Third eye, sixth sense, extrasensory perception (ESP), psychic
powers, gifts of vision. You may have encountered these catch-all
terms on mysterious or extraordinary human experiences. Reports
of ESP include telepathy (mind-to-mind communication), clairvoy-
ance (distance viewing), precognition (perceiving future events), and
telekinesis (mentally moving an object).
Recall that in Scholastic philosophy, St. Thomas Aquinas taught
that knowledge could only begin from physical sensation. Yet he
also entertained the possibility of “intuition.”
Precisely because ESPs are out of ordinary that they invite both
attention and disbelief, awe and contempt. They are in Ripley’s
Believe It or Not, to Harry Potter’s wizardry, to science fictions on
psychic mutation as the next evolution. Interestingly, the two pillars
of truth: faith and reason/science, have much to say.
The Scriptures speak of two “eye openings” that led to a knowl-
edge of a different realm. One ended in corruption, another to
enlightenment. The difference lies in the beholder.
The first story was Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit: “their
eyes were opened,” “like the gods who know.” (Gen. 3: 5-7) In the
beginning, it is said that humans used to have preternatural gifts
which are the ESPs. But man, in his desire to know more than he is
ready and able, fell into the devil’s trap and lost it all.
“One of these preternatural gifts that our first parents had was the
fully functioning sixth sense,” writes Fr. Jose Francisco Syquia, an
official exorcist of the Catholic Church, in his Exorcism: Encounters
with the Paranormal and the Occult. “We therefore find among us
persons whom we now call ‘psychic;’ they have some vestibule
remnant of this preternatural gift.”
Now the other story was in Jesus’ ministry. On the road to Em-
maus, two disciples of Jesus were blessed by the Lord, and “with
that their eyes were opened” that they recognized the risen Jesus
opened
who then vanished from their sight. (Lk 24: 31). It was an experience
of the beatitude, to have a spiritual sight of the divine. “Blessed are
the clean of heart,” as Jesus promised, “for they will see God.” (Mt
5: 1-8).
As Syquia and other exorcists note, psychic ability can be revived
in four ways: to a certain extent by parapsychological (scientific)
techniques and meditation, then by intervention of the spirit world—
either by charismatic growth through the Holy Spirit and the work
of angels (as must be the experience of the disciples and the saints)
or the practice of the occult (recall Adam and Eve’s seemingly in-
nocent pact with the devil).
What scientific analyses would say on ESP phenomena is therefore
important. Not only because they can remove a great deal of skepti-
cism and misunderstanding, they can also offer answers on usual
questions in “demonology,” miracle investigation, and exorcism—
up to what extent can one’s ESP be “human” and “healthy?” Where
does the “human” end and the spiritism, superstition or genuine
miracle begins?
In the image of God
In philosophy there is what you call “Ockam’s Razor,” meaning,
don’t proceed to a complicated or supernatural explanation when
a simple, natural explanation would be sufficient. This principle
can be applied in evaluating certain ESP manifestations. As the
New Catholic Encyclopedia says, “psychiatry has shown that the
working of the subconscious may explain many, if not most, of
the abnormal activities that earlier generations had attributed to
diabolical activity.”
The study of ESPs—parapsychology—is a legitimate science
recognized by the American Association for the Advancement of
Science since 1969. Ivy League universities in the US offer degrees
on parapsychology. In Eastern European countries like Poland
and Russia, this science is called Bioenergetics, or Biophysics, or
Vicariate of Jolo.
The keynote speaker, Msgr. Gerry Santos of the Episcopal
Commission on Catechetics and Catholic Education (ECCCE)
developed the theme of the convention—the Relevance of Cat-
echesis in Social Transformation. Two other lay speakers spoke
of their experiences of integrating Social Action ministry and
catechesis and engagement in formation for peace building as
an expression of religious formation.
The convention also featured the experience of delegates being
hosted by families in several parishes in the city. This afforded
the delegates the new experience of the warmth of Christian
family hospitality. The host parishes were also elated to have
been given the chance to express their solidarity with the unsung
heroes of the catechetical ministry in Mindanao.
As bishop in-charge of this ministry in Mindanao, I would like
to express our deepest thanks to all Mindanao bishops who were
all supportive of this affair. Special thanks to the Archbishop of
Davao, Fernando R. Capalla, for hosting this second convention
of catechists, and particularly the John XXIII Catechetical Center
Administration and staff headed by Msgr. Paul Cuizon.
Psychotronics.
Of note, Pope John Paul II himself believed in psi research. After
a conference on Alternative Healing in Milan in 1986, the pope,
during an audience at the Vatican, commended “those who conduct
psychotronic research. For they are also doing their part to help
humanity.”
And the pope must be right. In criminology, psychics are being
employed by the NBI and the CIA to help solve crimes, also to locate
nuclear warheads (Nature magazine 285:191). In business, oil and
mineral companies have been hiring psychics like Uri Geller for
exploration spots (Forbes, May 1984). In astronomy, the sixth man
to walk on the moon, astronaut Edgar Mitchell, founded the Institute
of Noetic (another term for psychic) Sciences to expand conscious-
ness of the universe. By 1998, the Princeton Engineering Anomalies
Research (PEAR) program was able to patent a mind-operated elec-
Lifeguard / A7
 Local News
CBCP Monitor
A6 Vol. 13 No. 19
September 14 - 27, 2009

Catholic bishops support

workers’ rights
METROPOLITAN bishops led by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio B.
Cardinal Rosales vowed for support to workers in ensuring decent
work amidst the worsening global financial crisis. They took this
stand at a meeting held last Sept. 1 at the Residencia del Arzobispo
in Intramuros, Manila.
“We have given workers the opportunity to meet the bishops and
air their grievances,” said the prelate.
The Permanent Council of the Catholic Bishops Conference of
the Philippines, according to Cardinal Rosales, asked Metropolitan
bishops to meet with the workers first, as most of the labor groups
are based in the National Capital Region and nearby provinces.
During the meeting with b ishops, the Federation of Free Workers
(FFW) reported the second wave of mass dismissal of union leaders
at the Cirtek Electronic Corporation at an economic zone in Biñan,
Laguna, where eight union leaders— from the acting president to
union board members were laid-off allegedly due to the economic re-
cession, while the company is teeming with contractual workers.
Earlier, the Cirtek Electronics Labor Union-FFW (CELU-FFW)
filed a notice of strike (NoS) before the National Conciliation and
‘Railroad’ / A1
Proposed bill to regulate
mining activities in RP,
Mediation Board (NCMB) Office in Region IV, alleging that Cirtek
management is in blatant violation of the right to self-organization, if passed
a clear unfair labor practice act in the form of union busting.
“In mockery of the constitutional rights to security of tenure and A PROPOSED mining bill currently pending in Congress, if
to self-organization, Cirtek management is illegally laying-off and passed, will write off the controversial Mining Act of 1995 and
terminating union leaders and active union members and engaging introduce a new policy that will regulate the mining activities
in prohibited labor-only contracting,” opined lawyer Sonny Matula, in the country.
FFW Vice President. The proposed bill seeks “to regulate the rational exploration,
The meeting was attended by Bishops Deogracias Iñiguez of development and utilization of mineral resources onshore (as
Kalookan, Antonio Tobias of Novaliches, Jose Oliveros of Malolos, well as quarry resources, sand and gravel, guano, and gemstones)
Francisco San Diego of Pasig, Leo Drona of San Pablo, Pedro Arigo of and ensure the equitable sharing of benefits for the State, indig-
Puerto Princesa and Auxiliary Bishops Broderick Pabillo of Manila, enous peoples and local communities and for other purposes.”
Francisco De Leon of Antipolo and Infanta Bishop-Emeritus Julio
Xavier Labayen.
Other labor groups represented in the meeting were Partido ng
Manggagawa, Alliance of Progressive Labor, National Union of Bank
Employees, Laborem, Association of Major Religious Superiors,
Philippine Employer-Labor Social Partnership and the Archdiocesan
Ministry for Labor Concerns. (Julius H. Cainglet)
current stand on the issue.
“Like other candidates, he really has to

Photo courtesy of CBCP-NASSA

explicitly state his stand about these values
and issues and we will encourage voters to
vote based on their positions,” Castro said.
Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal
earlier said he is now considering whether
Aquino should be included in the Church’s
list of politicians who should not be voted.
He said he was disappointed to learn that
the senator is a member of the Philippine At least more than 80 anti-mining and civil society organiza-
Legislators Committee on Population and tions, have together expressed support on the proposed mining
Development, an organization pushing for policy, also known as House Bill 6342 (Philippines Mineral Re-
population control. sources Act of 2009) or Alternative Mining Bill (AMB).
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

The bill was filed in Congress on May 13, 2009 by Represen-

Bloc voting tatives Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, Erin Tañada, Walden Bello,
Castro also said the Church’s family and Rufus Rodriguez, and Carlos Padilla.
life ministry with its affiliate groups nation- An anti-mining advocacy group, Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), in
wide might resort to bloc voting in the 2010 a press release said the alternative mining bill puts forward the
elections to ensure the defeat of “anti-life” needs of the mining-affected communities as opposed to current
politicians. Mining Act that favors mining companies.
CBCP President Archbishop Angel Lagdameo reiterates the stand of the Church against RH bill during a press Bloc voting, the priest said, means urging “Upon careful review of HB 6342, ATM strongly believes that
conference, Sept. 16. Also in the photo are Butuan Bishop Juan De Dios Pueblos and Fr. Melvin Castro of the the Catholic faithful to go for candidates sup- the proposed bill puts forward some policy reforms that are
CBCP Commission on Family and Life porting the Church’s position on RH bill. reflective of the genuine needs of mining-affected communi-
Aquino hit withdraw his authorship of and support for the One of the provisions of the measure is ties, and that the bill will respond to the regulatory framework
Church leaders also issued a forceful ap- Senate consolidated RH bill filed last March. the use of contraceptives in family planning necessary to implement large-scale mining without sacrificing
peal to Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III “He might able to get the support of the which is fiercely opposed by the Church. social and other costs associated with the extractive industry,
to reconsider his stance on a controversial bishops if he will oppose the passage of the Some bishops warn that the church’s of- which the Mining Act of 1995, after more than a decade liberal
family planning bill. RH bill,” said Bagaforo. ficial backing in the next year’s elections will interpretation and implementation failed to address”, said ATM
The Church officials said that the faithful only be given to those who oppose the bill national coordinator Jaybee Garganera.
should support candidates who are opposed ‘Worried’ on maternal health care. Garganera said HB 6342 “has a clear declaration of state policy
to the passage of the Reproductive Health Fr. Castro called on Aquino, who has rated At present, the government leaves family that adheres to total human development and sustainable devel-
bill, a position that could affect Aquino’s strongly in a recent survey of presidential planning issues to local governments and few opment principles.”
candidacy. contenders, to “clarify” his position and take of them advocate artificial contraception. He reiterated the advocacy group’s support of the clear policy
Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin a “more open view.” The Church advocates abstinence to con- standpoints that are articulated in HB 6342.
Bagaforo urged the presidential aspirant to He said they are “worried” over Aquino’s trol population. Garganera likewise said that the House Committee on Natural
Tidbits / A4 Resources has also deliberated on two House Resolutions (HR)
related to mining.
Basic Ecclesial Communities and the clusters, for deepening the faith of In his address to the German bishops in 2006, Benedict XVI said:
“HR 25, ‘Urging the Department of Environment and Natural
members, and awakening them more and more to the realities of their “Approach with great love the movements and new communities...
Resources to uphold its notice of cancellation or termination of
given rights and obligations as people of God, does the Catechumenal in order to gain an adequate understanding of their reality, without
Aglubang Mining Corporation’s mineral production sharing
Way help or obstruct it? What will be its role? Uneasiness, apprehen- superficial impressions or reductionist judgments... The ecclesial
agreement No. 167-2000-IV’, and HR 360, ‘Investigation into
sion, fear... feelings all that, in a nutshell, are expressed in this query: movements and the new communities are not a problem or an extra
the effects of large-scale mining activities on the environment
shall we accept the offer or not? risk, added to our already weighty responsibilities. No! They are a
and people’s livelihood in Oriental Mindoro’; these covers the
As the Bishop of the Diocese, I came in to allay these feelings of gift from the Lord, a precious resource to enrich with their charism as
provinces that serve as our nation’s food basket threatened by
unease. After all, when we come into it, there is actually no conflict the entire Christian community... Difficulties or misunderstandings
mining operations,” he said.
between the institutional and the charismatic aspects of the Church. on particular issues do not bring the right of isolation” (AsiaNews.
Garganera said the anti-mining advocates are hopeful Congress
What is needed is the right attitude. On the one hand the bishop and It, Vatican City, 05/17/2008 15:47).
will urgently address the industry's unjust practices which is ag-
the parish priests must have a deep paternal attitude towards such He further stated: “What might be feared is a journey along paral-
gravated by a flawed mineral policy. (Pinky Barrientos, FSP)
new movements. On the other hand, these charismatic movements lel lines, each for himself, the bishops on one side, the movements
must have that readiness for discernment. on the other. This would mean an impoverishing of both.” Thus
To establish this right relationship, basic principles have to be Benedict XVI exhorts the pastors to “a service of discernment” and Killing / A1
invoked. The section of the Code that specifically treats on pri- to “correction” of the values of the movements, and at the same time last Sept. 6 while on his way to Catarman.
vate associations (Canons 312-329) recognizes and guarantees the to resist “the temptation of making uniform what the Holy Spirit “Masakit ang nangyari at marami ng killings dito sa amin at tulad
continued existence of these faith movements in the Church. They wants to be multiform, to contribute to the building and growth ng aming mga sinabi noon, kinokondena naming ang mga pagpaslang
have a right to exist in accordance with their particular charisms. As of the one Body of Christ, which the Spirit himself makes firm in na ito,” (What happened is painful. We condemned this dastardly act
such the whole Church, pastors and the rest of the faithful, should unity”. (cf. Ibid.). as well other extrajudicial killings in the past.) Trance said.
respect this right. On the other hand, these movements have “grave With that, I came out with the decision to welcome the offer of the “As in other killings, I join everyone in asking government officials
obligation to let themselves be known as they are in daily life. To Neo-Catechumenal Community to the Diocese of Tagbilaran, with to get to the bottom of this extrajudicial killing which has claimed
offer a partial vision implies to falsify their identity and impede the the provision, however, that the catechists, before starting any activ- the life of one of our priests,” he added.
ecclesiastical authorities from being able make a declaration accord- ity towards evangelization, must first approach the parish priests Around 30 men ambushed the priest’s vehicle at Barangay Layu-
ing to the truth of the ecclesiaslity of the reality”(cf. Luis Navarro, and discuss the charisms with them. In any activity after all there is han in San Jose town.
ROME, NOV. 13, 2008 Zenit.org). no substitute to a wholesome meeting of minds. The priest was shot in the head and died on the spot. His compan-
ions, a policeman and a civilian were also wounded in the ambush
Roadside / A4 and now undergoing treatment at a local hospital.
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen called “the cross- of separating from God. Which is what sin our source of life and salvation. According to Bishop Trance, the priest was in charge of the Hu-
less Christ” because we often see in life only is all about; it’s not God who punishes but A priest that I know once surprised his man Rights desk and has helped victims seek justice by coordinating
the “Christ-less cross”. But the real Christ is the consequences of our rebellion because congregation one morning of Sept. the 15th. with appropriate agencies.
the Crucified One; the only glorified cross they spell what separation from Life itself While giving his homily he asked them to He said there have been many unsolved killings in Northern Sa-
has Christ on it. is. But it was a bronze serpent that saved stand to commemorate a most poignant mo- mar where professionals, politicians and even media practitioners
Israel, too, thought life would be easy the afflicted Israelites when, as instructed ment in the drama of salvation: Mary “stand- have been killed.
after Egypt. But when the Israelites were by Moses, they looked up to it from their ing by” at the foot of the cross (Jn 19:25). To He added that there were some concerns about Fr. Lucero’s having
tested in the desert by hunger, thirst and the agony (Num 21:8-9). Jesus himself relates stand by is to be in a state of readiness. Mary police escorts before the incident.
harshness of the terms of the covenant—we it to his cross, its most profound meaning. was always in a state of readiness for her “Fr. Lucero said he had police escorts because he also feared for
were never alone in struggling with the Ten “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent Son but, especially like him, for the Father’s his personal safety,” the prelate explained.
Commandments, for example—they started in the desert, so must the Son of Man be will. The sequence after the first reading He added that since December last year, extrajudicial killings have
longing for the fleshpots of Egypt. Better to lifted up, so that everyone who believes in on the Feast of our Lady of Sorrows says it been going on in the Diocese of Catarman.
be slaves wallowing in satisfaction, they col- him may have eternal life” (Jn 3:14). In the poetically: “At the cross her station keeping “If they could do this to a priest, this incident will instill fear among
lectively thought, than liberated but agoniz- desert God provided Israel a remedy from stood his mournful Mother weeping, close ordinary people,” he further said.
ing in the pains of living up to the expecta- the very source of its affliction. That points to Jesus to the last…” “The Social Action Center has documented 18 killings during the
tions of Yahweh. The deadly saraph serpents to the irony of the cross too: the symbol of That tells us the place where we, too, past six months,” he said. The prelate said the extrajudicial killings
reminded them of the terrible consequences death and shame became transformed into should be. have gone on and on even after then Army’s 8th Division Com-
mander Brig. General Jovito Palparan has already left the island.
Spraying / A3 The body of the priest was transported to the Cathedral of Our
“We laud them for coming spoken, we respectfully urge ing the following recommenda- aerial spraying of pesticides in Lady of the Annunciation for a traditional wake. (Melo M. Acuna)
together to halt a clear and you to issue without delay an tions as contained in a DOH- the light of the precautionary
present assault against their Executive Order banning the commissioned study that was principle espoused by the Rio Comelec / A1
individual and collective rights agricultural practice of aerial undertaken by experts from the Declaration to which the Philip- Larazzabal, 37, was regional election director for Region 8 or East-
not to be subjected to chemical spraying that will reflect and Philippine Society of Clinical and pines is a signatory; and 5) Shift ern Visayas, which covers Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Western
exposure. We support them in strengthen the position of the Occupational Toxicology and the to organic farming techniques Samar, Leyte, and Southern Leyte, at the time of his appointment.
their just quest to keep harm- DOH Executive Committee,” the University of the Philippines - to prevent harm to health and PPCRV national chairperson Henrietta de Villa said she is hoping
ful chemicals away from their petition read. National Poison Management the environment that can result the new Comelec official will have the guts to help usher genuine
bodies, homes and farms,” the “We further urge you to use and Control Center: 1) Establish from acute and chronic pesticide reforms in the Comelec.
petitioners stated. the power of your office to direct a health surveillance system to exposures. “You have this rare chance of proving that Comelec can be trusted
The concerned global citizens the banana industry to honor detect effects of chronic pesticide They said “such a policy based to conduct clean, honest, accurate, meaningful and peaceful elec-
asked Pres. Arroyo to ban the their corporate social respon- exposures; 2) Perform systematic on prevention and precaution tions,” De Villa said in her “unsolicited advice” to Larrazabal.
agricultural practice of aerial sibility and cooperate towards and periodic monitoring of pes- will surely contribute to the The new Comelec commissioner, she added, must help prove that
spraying citing earlier recom- achieving the recommendations ticide residues and metabolites national implementation of the “Filipinos can be proud of the 2010 automated elections and that
mendations of Health Secretary set out by the DOH in the greater in the environment and do re- Strategic Approach to Interna- there are still good men who can’t be corrupted.”
Francisco Duque III and DOH interest of public health,” the mediation where necessary; 3) tional Chemicals Management Larrazabal is currently the chairman of the Comelec Regional
Executive Committee to stop the group said. Develop and strengthen guide- (SAICM) that aims to minimize Election Directors Organization.
harmful pesticide operations. The petitioners commended lines for protecting communities and eliminate the harms caused He also served as provincial election supervisor of Bulacan, Ca-
“Now that the country’s num- Duque and the department’s from pesticide contamination by exposure to toxic substances.” marines Sur, and Basilan, and as regional election director of Bicol.
ber one public health agency has Executive Committee for adopt- from plantations; 4) Stop the (CBCPNews) (Roy Lagarde)
 Diocesan News
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 19
September 14 - 27, 2009
A7

Briefing
Ecumenical group to hold forum on peace talks
Prelate says it’s time
to listen to hopes,
DAVAO CITY—The Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform, a
network of church groups that push peace process as a way of
addressing issues of conflict and social justice will hold a forum
on peace talks on Sept. 19. To be held at the Assumption College
of Davao, the forum will discuss initiatives on achieving just
and enduring peace between the government and the National

dreams of children
Democratic Front. (Mark Ventura)

Cursillos to hold two big confab in Davao

DAVAO CITY—The Cursillos in Christianity of the Archdiocese
of Davao will be hosting the 19th National Encounter of Cursil-
listas and 2nd National Encounter of Priests on Sept. 18-20 here.
The event intends to gather lay cursillistas, archbishops and
bishops, the clergy and some religious for three days of prayer
and reflection on the culture and methodology of the Cursillo
Movement. (Mark S. Ventura)
Iligan diocese in solidarity with Ramadan
OZAMIZ CITY—Iligan Diocese has expressed solidarity with
the Muslim communities on the occasion of the celebration of the
holy month of Ramadan. In a statement, Bishop Elenito Galido
said: “In praise and thanksgiving to almighty and merciful God,
we would like to convey our heartfelt solidarity with you on
this holy month of Ramadan.” (Wendell Talibong)
Bishop urges Aboitiz to pay victims of Super Ferry 9
tragedy
DAGUPAN CITY—Retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz has called on
the owner of the ill-fated Super Ferry 9 to fulfil its financial obliga-
tions to the victims. He said the Aboitiz Transport System Corp.
(ATSC) must extend all the help due to the victims of the Super
Ferry 9 vessel that sank off the coast of Zamboanga Peninsula last
Sept. 6, killing nine people. More than 900 passengers and crew
members were rescued from the tragedy. (CBCPNews)
Bro. Eddie not giving way to Aquino
MANILA—Evangelist Bro. Eddie Villanueva of the Jesus is Lord
Movement is not dropping his renewed quest for the presidency
to support Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. Bro. Eddie
vowed to pursue his presidential bid for the 2010 elections as
Bangon Pilipinas’ standard bearer. (CBCPNews)
Think-tank assails PGMA’s gross neglect on social
services
QUEZON CITY— Independent policy think-tank, Ibon Founda-
tion, Inc. has assailed the gross neglect of the Macapagal-Arroyo
administration to social services as reflected in its 2010 proposed
national budget now pending in Congress. “The single item
that eats up bulk of the proposed P1.54 trillion-national budget
for 2010 is still debt servicing, bumping off spending for social,
economic and public services,” it said. (Noel Sales Barcelona)
Novaliches Legionnaires’ organize Marian pilgrimage
NOVALICHES─As part of their program for deepening spiritu-
ality and renewed appreciation of Marian Churches during the
month of September, the Legionnaries of Novaliches Diocese
went on a Marian Pilgrimage last Sept. 12 and visited La Sallete
Shrine in Silang, Cavite, Balayan Catholic Church in Batangas,
and the Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay in Taal, Batangas.
Around 300 Legionnaries from various Praesidium of different
parishes joined the said Lakbay-Dalangin led by Fr. Gerry
DAVAO CITY— It’s high time for the church leaders and the people
to listen to the hopes and dreams of children in Mindanao, said a
Catholic bishop.
Prelature of Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad said that with the
various attacks, tensions and conflicts affecting the island, it is the
children who are mostly affected.
Jumoad mentioned various shadows of problem that affect the
children like social injustices, ancestral rivalries and conflicts, politi-
cal rivalries as well as the militant approach of the Moro people.
“The children suffer so much in their flesh and bones…What have
we done when children were kidnapped or used as human shield?
As a Church, have we sent solidarity letters to the church being
victimized?” asked Jumoad.
“I asked these questions because (in 2001, and) when the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) attacked Mahayahay on Nov. 27,
2008, in Bagueñao on Dec. 3, 2008 and Cabobo on December 6, 2008,
again when MILF attacked Tairan on Holy Monday, April 6, 2009
and Arco on April 10, 2009, I was alone with the victims carrying
the pains,” he said.
He added, “I thought that outside leaders…being Catholic would
send solidarity message to empathize our pain and thus decrease
the hurts experienced especially for the children.”
However, Jumoad shared that in January 2009, Zamboanga
Archbishop Romulo Valles, Fr. Jim Ferry, M.M. and Sto. Niño de
Paz community-Makati were the people and organization that em-
pathized the pains experienced by them.
“I have seen many people who shed tears due to the death and
beheading of their loved ones. I have encountered many worried
faces because they have to leave their places and sell their lands to
the Moro people to avoid conflicts and tensions,” he said.
“Often, I ask, what can the Church do for these people? It is not
enough to give them food when they are displaced…I hope all weap-
ons would be silenced on both sides and dialogue resume so that
our children would
again be able to play
freely and cherish
every moment hav-
ing enjoyed as chil-
dren of God,” the
bishop also said.
Jumoad added
that it is his prayer
to see one day that
all children in Mind-
anao can go to school
and have something
to eat, can sleep at
home and would not
be bothered to sleep
anywhere like in
children continue to experience the blunders of war.
He said children usually suffer instability, psychological wounds,
erosion of basic trust, disoriented values, loneliness and sadness.
“The children are transferred from one school to another, they
are emotionally affected because of the transfer, restless and can-
not focus and had a hard time adapting their new environment,”
Jumoad said.
He also said that the experience of children in war is very traumatic
and most of them were victims of kidnapping particularly that of
last March 20, 2000 with the late Fr. Rhoel Gallardo; and many of
them have not moved on.
“Most of them are already 18 years old and became out-of-school
youth. They are into drugs and alcohol dependents. These children
harbor lots of anger and usually irritated when things are being asked
again,” said Jumoad, who lived in Basilan since 1983.
“When you visit a community being attacked by lawless group,
Jumoad continued, the children are scared to see you…They become
suspicious and they could not trust you immediately.”
“The past experiences brought them into a wait-and-see attitude
and too hard-to-cooperate,” he added.
Jumoad is also saddened by the fact that most children possess
disoriented values. “You can see that most children in Basilan [have]
their inner selves shaken, values are distorted, prone to violence and
easy to tell a lie,” he said.
Worse, he added, “the child character in the victim was stolen. They’re
supposed to play and enjoy the beauty of creation but the captivity has
arrested the growth and the individual becomes lonely and sad. The
child is afraid to go to school and he escapes in public areas.”
Dreams of children
Jumoad said that children are also dreaming of peace in Mindanao,
they want to live normal lives, experience normal schooling, and
normal environment, normal sleeping hours, normal eating time
and normal time to
play.
“The children
want to diminish
fear. They want that
there is friendship
and acceptance of
one another be it
Muslims or Chris-
tians,” he said, add-
ing:
“If you look into
their eyes, it speaks
of that desire that
one day there’s re-
spect, no more bias
with one another and
© pintakasitripeople.blogspot.com

R. Tapiador, Rector and Parish Priest of the Shrine of the Good shanties and evacu- all can tolerate each
Shepherd, Fairview, Quezon City. (Fr. Albert Mecaydor) ation centers. others’ culture.”
Jumoad gave a talk
Concert to raise youth’s awareness on social, moral Effects on children on “Children caught
issues Jumoad continued in the conflict and
DAVAO CITY—A concert aimed to raise the youth’s aware- that since the war Violence in Mind-
ness on the spiritual, moral and social issues of the day will be broke in Mindanao anao,” last Sept. 2.
staged on Sept. 26 at the CAP Auditorium, here. The concert decades past, the (Mark S. Ventura)
benefit marathon and dance tour dubbed as “Sail On… the

NGO asks presidentiables to carry

Excelsis Tour I,” is the 12th inspirational concert produced by
Hypernova Productions in association with the Society of Holy
Face of Jesus. (Mark S. Ventura)

Responsible / A1
Geological studies show that up to 7.1 billion tons of metals could
still be extracted and another 51 billion tons of non-metallic miner-
als can be mined.
peace, dev’t agenda for Mindanao
As of last year, more than half a million hectares of Philippine land DAVAO CITY ─ Barely seven months to go prived for decades urge them to further their aoans’ definition of a genuine peace and sus-
have been turned over to the control of mining companies. before the May 2010 elections, a Davao-based struggle for ownership over their ancestral tainable development is beyond the common
non-government research and advocacy in- domains including their right to be in charge notion of merely economic development or
Church call ignored stitution asked presidentiables to seriously of their resources,” said Alano. an absence of war; but rather, a development
The CBCP advocated strongly for issues such as the country’s include the peace and development agenda In the Mindanao-wide consultations that encompasses the different aspects of hu-
current mining policy. for Mindanao even as they expressed ap- conducted by AFRIM, various Bangsamoro man development –cultural, social, political,
But the prelate said many of their earlier recommendations have prehension over the national politicians’ and indigenous peoples groups, women, economic and spiritual,” he added.
been ignored while the government’s broken promises have multi- superficial understanding of the Mindanao religious leaders, academe, farmers, and She also said that it should be guided by the
plied which included “claimed investments, revenues, jobs, and the problem. farm workers asserted that a people-centered elements of good governance, recognition of
promise of development.” Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao peace and development for Mindanao can be each people’s identity, socio-economic well-
In 1998, the bishops’ collegial body issued a statement of concern (AFRIM), Inc., executive director Maria Lisa attained through an indigenous, participa- being, and peace constituency. Furthermore,
on the Mining Act of 1995, stating that the “adverse social impact Alano said that most presidentiables’ view tory and inclusive process wherein all sectors these elements must be founded on human
on the affected communities will far outweigh the gains promised indicate that they perceive the Mindanao of society, particularly the grassroots—and rights, justice, gender responsiveness and
by mining.” conflict situation as merely a consequence not only the leaders—must be involved in the integrity of all creation.
The statement further stated that “the implementation of the Min- of lack of economic development. defining their problems as well as the needed “Indeed, the solution to the Mindanao
ing Act will certainly destroy both the environment and people and “Such perspective suggests that the Mind- solutions. problem entails addressing the holistic
lead to national unrest.” anao problem has not been fully understood “It should also be based on mutual respect, development of the Mindanao populace.
In January 2006, when the CBCP released a second official State- from its historical context,” added Alano. understanding and genuine concern for the The forthcoming 2010 national elections
ment on Mining Concerns affirming that an “increasing number of She said national leaders should under- welfare of the community. Likewise, they must challenge every Mindanaoan to cast
mining affected communities, Christians and non-Christians alike, are stand that the Mindanao conflict is mainly affirmed that sustainability of development votes for leaders who truly understand
subjected to human rights violations and economic deprivations.” an issue of access and control over resources efforts are better ensured when targeted proj- the context of the Mindanao problem, who
Quoting from the CBCP’s statement in 2005, Pabillo said the which could not be addressed by economic ect beneficiaries and communities have de- sincerely uphold the marginalized people’s
fears have come true in just three years as “mining has given the development programs alone. veloped sense of ownership,” said Alano. aspirations and carry on a genuine peace and
Philippines a scarring experience: mine tailings flooding villages “The growing consciousness of Mindan- “Presidential candidates and national development agenda for the island,” Alano
and killing individuals, depletion of natural resources, ill effects on aoans who have been marginalized and de- leaders should recognize that the Mindan- said. (Mark S. Ventura)
health and fabricated social acceptability.” Lifeguard / A5
He also called on religious leaders to support the conduct of
tronic switch! Such that in the dye) and Kirlian photography. is, under the alpha brain wave the deaf, blind, and mute Helen
studies on the evil effects of mining in their dioceses and support
near future, appliances would The second scientific explana- (relaxed, meditating, prayerful Keller, who can “perceive” col-
all economic activities that are life-enhancing and poverty alleviat-
be switched on and off by use of tion is the quantum theory of state); down to the Theta brain ors just by touching objects.
ing. (Melo Acuna)
the mind alone. “entangled minds.” Ordinarily wave (trance-like state); and the Conditions ideal to ESP in-
Take over / A1 Unbelievable? Two scientific we see things and ourselves as Delta (asleep, dreamy) brain clude peaceful living, concen-
Blessed Virgin Mary.” theories on “mind over matter” particles, in perfect causality. But wave in those who report “pro- tration, healthy diet, breathing
“The reason is it’s her birthday anniversary today,” he said. provide explanations: particles also behave like waves phetic” messages. and relaxation techniques, and
Church official said he is most grateful to the clergy, the religious First is about brain vibrations irrespective of space and time. Combining meditation and sense of being. Without these
and the laity in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, “for being or neurotic fluid. All our cells, Things and events reverberate prayer, Trappist monk Thomas “humanized” conditions, ESP
very patient with me and understanding.” especially our brain neurons, as ripples, and the brain is like Keating popularized “Center- phenomena may suggest a con-
He said the clergy, religious and laity “were able to bear with me generate electricity with energy a “cork,” a sensitive pattern ing Prayer” in the 70s. In 1999, nection with spiritual realms
for about two decades and that is to their credit.” levels to influence objects or recognizer, that responds to a group of nuns practicing this (devils, angels, saints, departed
people. (Lesson: Be careful what these ripples. Interestingly, psi is prayer had been subjected to souls, or the Holy Spirit). The
‘A man of integrity’ you think! Be wary what you more evident among the “sheep” brain-scan, revealing neurologi- problem with some ESP enthusi-
“If I were to be asked what other immediate things come to my wish!) (believers)—as proponent Dean cal changes such as decreased asts is that they want power but
mind: first, I am very proud of my clergy and second, I am very Via AMI machine, it has also Radin would call them—from activity in the parietal lobe of not the discipline, and thus their
happy with my forthcoming successor Archbishop Socrates Villegas been proven by Dr. Hiroshima the “goats” (unbelievers). This the brain, resulting in a sense “shortcut” process of dabbling
whom I know to be a man of integrity and competence,” he said. Motoyama that the energy of the “mind circuitry” is also stronger of timelessness and spaceless- with spirits.
Bishop Villegas was born on September 28, 1960 in Manila and was human body is not concentrated among family members, thus the ness. (Newberg and Waldman, Like any latent talent, ESP
ordained to the priesthood on October 5, 1985. He was appointed on the brain alone, but on differ- frequent “gut feel” on the state How God Changes Your Brain, abilities, whether opened by
bishop in July 25, 2001. ent endocrines (called chakras of one’s loved one. 2009). natural or supernatural activity,
He was ordained Bishop in August 31, 2001 and became Auxiliary in Eastern mysticism) and acu- How are ESPs developed? Those who are “naturally are gifts that could either be used
Bishop of Manila and Rector of Mary Queen of Peace, Our Lady of puncture points. The “aura” or One is through meditation and gifted” seem to have developed for evil—to control, manipulate,
EDSA Shrine from December 8, 1989 to May 2004. energy field of the body can be altered states of consciousness. ESP as a compensation-reaction display, and “be like God”; or for
He was later appointed Bishop of Balanga in May 3, 2004 and was verified via Kilner screen (glass Most ESP phenomena occur from the dysfunction of their good—to serve humanity and
installed July 3, 2004. (Melo M. Acuna) screens tainted with dicyanin when the mind is “quiet,” that other senses. A case in point is “to see” the marvels of God.
 A8 People, Facts & Places CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 19
September 14 - 27, 2009

Bishops lead Marian

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

pilgrimage to Carmel SENIOR Catholic bishops led hundreds of devotees in Lipa City on Septem-
ber 12 for the pilgrimage on the 6th National Day of Prayer and Sanctifica-
tion of the Clergy.
Archbishops Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales of Manila, Ricardo Cardinal
Vidal of Cebu and Angel Lagdameo of Jaro joined Lipa Archbishop
Ramon Arguelles in officiating the Mass held at the Carmel
Monastery.
During the Mass, Cardinal Vidal presided the crown-
ing of the image of the Our Lady of Mediatrix of
All Grace.
The pilgrimage to Lipa is set on Sept.
12 not only because it is the feast of the
Holy Name of Mary but also because
it was on the said day in 1948, when
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
where she appeared. On Sept. 26, she declared
that she was "Mary Mediatrix of All Grace."
After the Mass, Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-
Recto led the recitation of the Prayer for Con-
secration to Jesus through Mary.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also
led the consecration of the country to the Sa-
cred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart
of Mary while Archbishop Lagdameo recited
the prayer for the sanctification of priests.
The pilgrimage also became more meaningful as
it also marked the first day of the four-day First Asia
Oceania Mariological Conference with noted Marian
theologians Dr. Mark Miravalle, STD, and Msgr. Dr.

the Blessed Mother reportedly ap-
peared in the said place for the
first time to Sr. Teresing Castillo,
a Carmelite postulant.
Sr. Teresing also said that on
Sept. 16, 1948, the Blessed Mother
told her that a statue be placed
Outgoing CBCP president and Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo kneels to pray for the sanctification of priests during the
6th National Pilgrimage to Lipa, Sept. 12.
Arthur Calkins, STD, giving their lectures on the proposed
5th Marian dogma.
The speakers are at the forefront of the popular worldwide
clamor to have Mary declared as “Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix
of All Grace and Advocate, to be added to the four existing Marian
dogmas, “Mother of God” in 431, “Virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary” in 649,
“Immaculate Conception” in 1854 and the “Assumption of Mary” in 1950.
This year’s theme is “Pueblo Amante de Maria, Mediatrix of all Grace, Called to Proclaim the Good
News to Fellow Asians.” (CBCPNews)

Paulines evaluate
Photo courtesy of Reajoy San Luis, FSP

Imus Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle speaks on the socio-economic, cultural and ecclesial realities of
Asia-Oceania during the conference on Sept. 13.
AROUND 36 major superiors, councilors and translators of the
Daughters of St. Paul (FSP) in Asia and Oceania have gathered for a
10-day continental meeting to discuss the congregation’s missionary
presence in the region.
Themed “Where the Lord is Leading Us”, the continental meeting
which began on September 10 and ends on September 20, aimed to
revitalize the Pauline religious life in all its various aspects as well as
to see some possible geographical reorganization of the institute.
The congregation’s Mother General, Sr. Antonieta Bruscato said
the various dimensions of Pauline life that will be looked into and
discussed during the meeting will include spirituality, pastoral work
for vocations, formation, mission, sharing of charism with the laity
and economy.
Sr. Bruscato, together with her Council, preside the ongoing
assembly, which have delegates coming from Rome, Philippines,
Australia, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, India, Pakistan, Hongkong/Macau,
Singapore, and Vietnam.
The delegates presented a report on the situation of their respective
countries in its socio-cultural and ecclesial milieu providing others
a grasp of the reality of Asia and Australia today.
One of the speakers, Imus Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle, gave a talk
on Sept. 13, highlighting the realities of Asia-Oceania in its socio-
economic, political and ecclesial context. Other speakers, Dr. Maurice
Teo, and Fr. Joni Astanto, MSC spoke on the situation in China and
Indonesia, respectively.
“During these days, we will consider the possibility of our pres-
ence in China, and also to consolidate our presence in Indonesia,”
Sr. Bruscato said.
The congregation has yet to establish a foundation in China, but
congregation’s missionary
presence in Asia
already has a professed member coming from the mainland. In In-
donesia, two sisters from the Philippine province are currently doing
pastoral work under the auspices of the bishop, laying the ground-
work for a future foundation of a community in the archipelago.
The lack of vocations, a reality that has impacted consecrated life,
leads many congregations to redesign their presences. In Europe,
where there are many older congregations, majority of these insti-
tutes have started to re-dimension their existence to become more
responsive to the needs of the times.
For their part, the Daughters of St. Paul have embarked on a
worldwide re-designing project that covers the five continents where
the congregation is present.
“The process of redesigning is not a process of death but a process
of new life,” said the FSP Mother General.
Meanwhile, FSP Philippines provincial Sr. Yolanda Dionisio said
she is happy to have the assembly held in the country since it pro-
vided an opportunity to share with the delegates “the richness [of]
culture and faith of the Filipino people.”
“Our sisters [abroad] will understand better our reality, and our
way of doing mission in the Philippines,” she said.
The continental assembly is being held at the Alberione Home of
the Daughters of St. Paul in Pasay City.
The meeting opened with a Eucharistic celebration on September
9, presided by Fr. Ruben Areño, SSP, provincial of the Society of
St. Paul.
Founded in 1915 by Blessed James Alberione, the Daughters of St.
Paul, which carries the work of evangelization through the means of
social communication, is spread in more than 50 countries through-
out the world. (CBCPNews)
Markings
ELECTED. The Board of Consultors of Ka-
libo diocese named Fr. Ulysses Dalida, as
Diocesan Administrator of Kalibo Diocese
in an election held last September 2 at the
Bishop’s Residence in Kalibo, Aklan. A mem-
ber of the Diocesan Board of Consultors, Fr.
Dalida was elected Diocesan Administrator
following the provisions laid down by Canon
Law for the Vacant See and the proceedings
of the election of the Diocesan administrator.
He will fill in the position vacated by Bishop
Jose Romeo Lazo who was appointed head of
the Diocese of San Jose de Antique. Dalida vowed
to lead the diocese in the interim period until a new bishop is appointed.
Born on July 10, 1974, Dalida was ordained priest on October 15, 2002
by Bishop Gabriel Reyes at the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Most
Holy Rosary in New Washington, Aklan.
ERECTED. Our Lady of the Annunciation Parish, the archdiocese’s 77th
parish; on August 22, 2009. Caceres Archbishop Leonardo Legaspi led the
Solemn Canonical Erection and the Rite of Installation of Fr. Ryan Fenis,
its first parish priest. The solemn rites took place during the feast of the
Queenship of Mary, at the patio of Barangay Casuray Chapel, Magarao,
Camarines Sur. Barangay Casuray is the seat of this new parish which
is composed of eight barangays from the municipalities of Magarao and

AYD aims to connect Church

Canaman. Casuray is a barangay of the mother parish, St. Anne, Magarao,
which according to the studies of the Bicol historian, Prof. Danilo Gerona,
became an independent parish in 1750. Magarao was a former visita of
Canaman which began as a rustic mission outpost (a Franciscan doctrina)

with youth, says bishop

in 1583. According to the archdiocese, it took around 160 years before
Magarao separated from Canaman. It took another 260 years more before
St. Anne Parish, Magarao, gave birth to a new parish.

LAUNCHED. A Filipinized icon of Jesus

THE upcoming Asian Youth Day is a gather-
ing that intends to connect the Church with
the young people, a Catholic bishop said.
Infanta Bishop Rolando Tirona said that
the regional assembly is a venue where
the Church can impress upon the young
people the meaning of relationship.
“The Church wants to relate with the
youth according to culture and context,”
said the bishop, who currently sits as chair
of Office of Laity of the Federation of Asian
Bishops Conferences (FABC-OL).
The Asian Youth Day which is slated
on November 20-30, 2009 in the Diocese
of Imus is under the auspices of the Youth
Desk of FABC Office of Laity.
According to Imus Bishop Luis Antonio
Tagle, the diocese took the risk when they
have decided to accept the duty to be the
host diocese of AYD.
“The diocese took the risk. It is not an easy
task but every effort is worth it. The future of
this youth is paramount,” the bishop said.
He also said that hosting the regional as-
sembly is their offering for the Philippine
Church and for the youth of Asia.
Tagle added that the diocese is also offer-
ing this big event for the Golden Jubilee of
the diocese’s existence in 2011.
He emphasized that the regional assembly
also aims to build peace in the world for
peace is possible.
AYD is an assembly of young delegates
from the member conferences of the FABC
from East Asia: Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea,
Japan, Macau and China.
There are also youth delegates from SE Asia
namely: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar,
Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Bru-
nei, East Timor and Singapore as well as from
South Asia: Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
Central Asia region such as Mongolia and
Turkmenistan; and Australia and Germany
are also participating in the event.
This assembly aims to renew one’s faith
in and love for the Word of God and the
Eucharist; celebrate youthfully the Word and
the Eucharist in Asian context, cultures and
communities and become agents of transfor-
mation by living out the Word and Eucharist
in the realities of Asia. (Kate Laceda)
especially created for the Year of Priests
was officially unveiled and blessed dur-
ing a community Mass in the Cathedral
of Bacolod on August 25. Leading the
rites together with Recoletos priests was
Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra who
stressed in his homily the importance of
witnessing by priests as “living testament
of Christ’s priesthood,” emphasizing that
“a priest is a man for all seasons.” The
icon titled “Hesus Manghigput” (Jesus
Celebrator) was created by Bro. Tagoy
Jakosalem, OAR and painted by his
brother, Agustin Jakosalem, a Negros-
born artist whose works are based on
socio-realist themes. The artwork has
the central image of Jesus the Priest holding a chalice and a host, two
meaningful Eucharistic symbols. Jesus is flanked by minor images of
Melchizedek the High Priest and St. John Mary Vianney, representing the
“priesthood” of Biblical Tradition and of the Catholic Ministry. Jakosalem
said the artwork was based in an original painting he did in 1999. He was
inspired to make an icon for the celebration of the Year for Priests when he
saw the icon of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

Devotees assured of solemn Peñafrancia festivities
DEVOTEES can expect a more
solemn observance of Peñafran-
cia feast on Sept. 20 after local
church leaders and government
officials joined hands to keep dis-
tractions away from the religious
festivities.
Archbishop Leonardo Z.
Legazpi and Naga City Mayor
Jesse Robredo agreed to focus on
the spiritual side of the celebra-
© Jose Locsin, Jr.
tion in preparation for its 300th
year of devotion next year.
The celebration of Peñafrancia
in previous years had street par-
ties, beauty contests and other
festivals competing with the
religious ceremonies honoring
the region’s revered icons, the
Divino Rostro and the image of
Our Lady of Peñafrancia.
Legazpi reminded devotees
to keep in mind the origin of
the devotion and its enduring
significance in their lives.
The Divino Rostro pilgrimages
which will end on Friday, Sept.
11, will have participants from the
various parishes of this city and
pilgrims from the towns of Caro-
lina, Gainza, Milaor, Canaman
and Camaligan. The pilgrimages
will be done by way of penitential
processions every 4:00 a.m.
The traslacion procession will
have its original route, from the
Peñafrancia Shrine to the Met-
ropolitan Cathedral on Sept. 11
and has been adjusted to give
more time for students and re-
ligious organizations to join the
procession.
A Mass for traslacion partici-
pants will be held at the Peña-
francia Shrine patio at exactly
8:00 a.m. The procession will
begin at 9:00 a.m. as religious
congregations and associations
will assemble at Liboton Road.
Another Traslacion Mass will
be held at the Peñafrancia Shrine
at 12:30 p.m. The image of the
Divino Rostro leaves the Pe-
ñafrancia Shrine at 1:30 p.m.
while the image of Our Lady of
Peñafrancia leaves the shrine at
2:00 p.m.
The traslacion is expected
Jakosalem has earlier given full copyright of the artwork to the CBCP Com-
munications Development Foundation in time for the celebration of the Year
for Priests. The icon has been uploaded in all CBCP websites.
LAUNCHED. A book on the life of Fr.
Jesus Reynaldo Roda, OMI, by the
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immacu-
late (OMI) at the Notre Dame Univer-
sity (NDU) in Cotabato City, August 14,
2009. Roda was the third OMI priest
killed while on mission in the Vicariate of
Jolo in Southern Mindanao after Bishop
Benjamin de Jesus and Fr. Benjamin
Inocencio. The book highlights the
priest’s journey with the weak, the poor
and the marginalized people. Fr. Eliseo
Mercado, one of the book’s authors
said, that reading the book is like meeting the martyr priest. Fr. Eduardo
Tanutanud, OMI, NDU President, acknowledged the plain lifestyle of
Roda and his boldness to minister in a remote island of Tabawan in the
Sulu Archipelago.
DIED. Fr. Ramon “Mon” Velasco, SVD,
50, of cerebral hemorrhage on August
24, 2009. Velasco was an alumnus of
Divine Word Seminary. He was ordained
priest in 1990.
DIED. Fr. Aquilino S. Tabamo, 54, of
cardiac arrest, August 25, 2009. Tabamo
was once a missionary to Papua New
Guinea. He was elected member of the
MSP General Council for two times,

and served twice as parish priest of the

to end at 6:00 p.m. with a Pon- Blessed Sacrament Parish in Cebu City.
tifical Concelebrated Mass at He served the Diocese of Kyoto prior to
the Cathedral grounds. (Melo his death.
M. Acuna)
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 19
September 14 - 27, 2009
‘We should have a longing and
a passion to illumine all peoples
with the Light of Christ’
Message of Pope Benedict XVI for the 83rd World Mission Sunday
that will be celebrated on October 18.
“The nations will walk in its light” (Rev 21:24)
ON this Sunday, dedicated to
the missions, I turn first of all to
you,mybrothersintheepiscopal
and the priestly ministry, and
then to you, my brothers and
sisters, the whole People of
God, to encourage in each one
of you a deeper awareness of
Christ’s missionary mandate to
“make disciples of all peoples”
(Mt 28:19), in the footsteps of
Saint Paul, the Apostle of the
nations.
Pastoral Concerns
“The nations will walk in its light” (Rev
21:24). The goal of the Church’s mission
is to illumine all peoples with the light of
the Gospel as they journey through history
towards God, so that in Him they may reach
their full potential and fulfillment. We should
have a longing and a passion to illumine all
peoples with the light of Christ that shines
on the face of the Church, so that all may be
gathered into the one human family, under
God’s loving fatherhood.
It is in this perspective that the disciples of
Christ spread throughout the world work,
struggle and groan under the burden of
suffering, offering their very lives. I strongly
reiterate what was so frequently affirmed
by my venerable Predecessors: the Church
works not to extend her power or assert her
dominion, but to lead all people to Christ,
B1
www.blog.purposedriven.com
the salvation of the world. We seek only to
place ourselves at the service of all humanity,
especially the suffering and the excluded,
because we believe that “the effort to proclaim
the Gospel to the people of today... is a service
rendered to the Christian community and
also to the whole of humanity” (Evangelii
Nuntiandi, 1), which “has experienced
marvelous achievements but which seems to
have lost its sense of ultimate realities and of
existence itself” (Redemptoris Missio, 2).
All Peoples are called to salvation
In truth, the whole of humanity has the
radical vocation to return to its source, to
return to God, since in Him alone can it find
fulfillment through the restoration of all
things in Christ. Dispersion, multiplicity,
We should / B2
‘Hesus Manghigput’: A filipinized
icon of Jesus the Priest
By Pinky Barrientos, FSP
THE universal Church’s celebration of the “Year for Priests” has
brought the entire ecclesial community into a serious consideration
of the role of priests in the Church today.
Pope Benedict XVI, in proclaiming the “Year for Priests”, said
the celebration is “meant to deepen the commitment of all priests
to interior renewal for the sake of a stronger and more incisive
witness to the Gospel in today’s world.”
The ecclesial event is also aimed to bring the Catholic faithful
together to pray, reflect, celebrate and honor the clergy.
Icon for ‘Year for Priests’
Profoundly moved by the Church’s celebration of the “Year for
Priests”, and its significance in the life of the faithful, a religious
brother got inspired to produce an icon that would somehow
convey the meaning of priesthood.
The icon has the title of “Hesus Manghigput” (Jesus Celebrator)
written on alibata script (an ancient Filipino alphabet) to convey
a “filipino” idea. The term “manghigput” refers to priests in the
animistic tradition of Central and Southern Philippines.
The artwork has the central image of Jesus the Priest holding
a chalice and a host, two meaningful Eucharistic symbols. Jesus
is flanked by minor images of Melchizedek the High Priest and
St. John Mary Vianney, representing the “priesthood” of biblical
www.msp.org.ph
tradition and of the catholic ministry.
“The essential theme that I wanted to convey in the “Hesus
Hesus / B7
 B2 Updates CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 19
September 14 - 27, 2009

The supreme authority in the Church (Part II)

By Fr. Jaime B. Achacoso,
J.C.D.
IN the previous issue, we had
an overview of the nature of
the supreme authority of the
Church, personified in the
Petrine Office. Not in vain did our
Lord pronounce those solemn
words to Peter in Caesarea
Philippi, after the latter had made
his equally solemn profession
of faith: “Thou art Peter (Rock)
and upon this rock I shall build
my Church…Whatever thou
shall bind on earth shall be
bound in Heaven, and whatever
though shall loose on earth
shall be loosed in Heaven.” In
this issue we will tackle the
more practical questions of the
acquisition, exercise and loss of
such power.
a. Acquisition and Loss of
Papal Power
1) Acquisition—The Roman
Pontiff obtains full and
supreme power in the Church
by means of legitimate election
accepted by him together with
episcopal consecration (c.332,
§1 in principio). Thus, two
elements must concur for the full
constitution of papal power:
a) Legitimate election followed
by acceptance by him. Because
there is no one superior to the
Pope who could confer the
office or confirm his election to
it, he takes office canonically by
accepting legitimate election
during the so-called conclave
by the Cardinal electors of the
Catholic Church.
b) Episcopal consecration
of the elected pope; therefore,
one who is already a bishop
obtains this same power from the
moment he accepts his election
to the pontificate, but if the one
elected lacks episcopal character,
he is to be ordained a bishop
immediately (c.332, §1 in fine).
In other words, the Law provides
for the possibility of a non-bishop
being elected to the papacy
(historically this indeed had
happened), although with the
present system of the Cardinal
electors choosing from among
their ranks, this provision finds
very little applicability.
2) Loss of Papal Power. The
papal office, in principle, is for
life; thus it can be lost only in
two ways:
a) Death—This is the most
common and is so obvious that
the CIC does not even mention
it.
b) Resignation —This is the
only case considered by c.332, §2,
for which the following are the
requirements for validity:
1º that he makes the resignation
freely— therefore, like any
juridic act, the resignation must
be free and not have any of the
defects that invalidate such act
(cf. cc.124-128; 187-189).
2º that it be duly manifested
— For the necessary juridic
certainty, the Code requires that
the will to resign be formally
manifested. However, the
resignation need not be accepted
by anyone, a consequence of the
principle that Romanus Pontifex
a nemine iudicatur.
b. The Juridical Government
of the universal Church during
a sede vacante or sede prorsus
impedita
WhathappenswhentheRoman
Pontiff dies or legitimately
resigns? The Code is taxative:
Can.335 — When the Roman
See is vacant or entirely impeded
nothing is to be innovated in
the governance of the universal
Church; however, special laws
enacted for these circumstances
are to be observed.
In the first place, c.335 lays
down the general principle: Sede
vacante nihil innovetur—which
is applicable also to the dioceses
and particular Churches (c.428,
§1). In the second place, it remits
to special laws the regulation of
the juridical government of the
universal Church during the two
situations mentioned:
1) Sede vacante — This is
the situation that results when
papal power is lost either by
death or valid and legitimate
resignation of the Roman Pontiff
as previously described. The
special law for this situation is the
Apost. Const. Romano Pontifici
eligendo (RPE), promulgated by
Paul VI in 1.X.1975. The juridical
government of the universal
Church during this period,
regulated in the five chapters
comprising the first part of this
document, can be summarized
as follows:
a) The government of the
universal Church is entrusted
to the College of Cardinals, but
only for ordinary and urgent
matters, while preparing what
is necessary for the election of a
new Pope.
b) The key administrator
for the day-to-day affairs of
the universal Church is the
Camerlengo or Chamberlain,
assisted by three other cardinals;
while the administration of the
diocese of Rome falls on the Vicar
for the Diocese of Rome.
c) Specific applications of the
general principle: sede vacante
nihil innovetur.
2) Entirely impeded —No
canonical characterization is
given separately for the Roman
See, but the norm given for all
episcopal see in general can
be applied servatis de iure
servandis:
c.412—An episcopal see is
understood to be impeded if by
reason of captivity, banishment,
exile or incapacity, the diocesan
bishop is wholly prevented from
fulfilling his pastoral function
in the diocese, and cannot
communicate with the people of
his diocese even by letter.
No special provision for the
juridical government of the
universal Church in this situation
exists either; hence, what is laid
down by the RPE for the case
of sede vacante can be applied,
servatis de iure servandis.
c. Extension and Limits of
Papal Power
To speak of extension and
limitation of the exercise of papal
power is tantamount to speaking
about primacy and hierarchical
communion, and these notions
are regulated in c.333, §§1 and 2
respectively.
1) The Primacy — This term
refers to a complex relationship
that exists between the Petrine
Office, Pastor of the universal
Church, and the individual
Bishops who are also Pastors of
the particular Churches.
Can.333, §1 — The Roman
Pontiff, by virtue of his office, not
only has power in the universal
Church but also possesses a
primacy of ordinary power
over all particular Churches
and groupings of churches by
which the proper, ordinary and
immediate power which bishops
possess in the particular churches
entrusted to their care is both
strengthened and safeguarded.
This paragraph of c.333
establishes the two important
aspects regarding the extension
of papal power:
a) The Primacy of the Roman
Pontiff extends not only over the
universal Church in its totality,
but also to each and every one
of the particular Churches and
groupings thereof. This is really
nothing else but a manifestation
Can.334 — In exercising his
of the immediate character of the
power that corresponds to the office the Roman Pontiff is
Pope by virtue of his office. assisted by the bishops who aid
b) Such Primacy does not him in various ways and among
undermine the equally ordinary, these is the synod of bishops;
proper and immediate power of moreover the cardinals assist him
the Bishops in their respective as do other persons and other
particular Churches (c.381, §1). institutes according to the needs
On the contrary, the latter is both of the times; all these persons and
strengthened and safeguarded institutes, in his name and by
(c.333, §1; cf. LG, n.27). his authority, carry out the task
2) Hierarchical Communion — committed to them for the good
If the extension of the papal power of all the churches, according to
is best expressed by the notion the norms defined by law.
of papal primacy (in the context 1) Nature of the Assistance.
of the communio ecclesiarum), Before going deeper into the
the limits of the exercise of such specific institutions that help the
power is best expressed by the Roman Pontiff, it is important to
notion of communio hierarchica, make some clarifications.
as laid down in the next paragraph a) Personal exercise of Primacy.
of c.333. During the redaction of the
Can.333, §2 — The Roman canon, it was made clear that
the canon was dealing with
the personal—not collegial—
exercise of the supreme power.
Thus, here we are dealing with
collaborators of the Pope in his
own government of the universal
Church.
b) Wide latitude of possibilities.
Aside from the synod of Bishops,
which is mentioned specifically,
the canon does not concretize the
way this collaboration is to be
made, giving the Pope a wide
latitude of possibilities as far as
calling to his assistance other
persons and other institutes
according to the needs of the
times.
2) Vicariate power of
jurisdiction. The canon states that
all these persons and institutes
carry out the task committed to
them by the Pope in his name and
by his authority (...) according to
the norms defined by law. Thus
we are dealing with vicariate
(in the strict sense) power of
jurisdiction.
e. Specific Forms of
Collaboration
Even if c.334 does not mention
www.crossroadsinitiative.com anyspecificformsofcollaboration,
aside from the synod of bishops,
the following Chapters of the
same Section I (Supreme Church
Authority) deal with specific
institutions:
1) The Synod of Bishops—dealt
with in Chapter II (cc.342-348).
2) The Cardinals of the Holy
Pontiff, in fulfilling the office of Roman Church—dealt with in
the supreme pastor of the Church, Chapter III (cc.349-359).
is always united in communion 3) The Roman Curia—dealt
with the other bishops and with with in Chapter IV (cc.360-361).
the universal Church; however, 4) The Legates of the Roman
he has the right, according to the Pontiff—dealt with in Chapter
needs of the Church, to determine V (cc.362-367).
the manner, either personal Without getting into the
or collegial, of exercising this details, suffice it to say at this
function. point that all these forms of
What this paragraph establishes collaboration—e.g., the Vatican
is that the exercise of the primacy dicasteries or congregations,
of power is not exempted from the the papal nuncios—act in the
communion in the Church, and name and authority of the
that the Pope—as Head of the Pope. Of special mention are the
Church—cannot separate himself congregations of the Holy See,
from the body of the Bishops or which—in most cases—issue
from the body of the universal documents (e.g., instructions
Church. and decrees) which have the full
d. Assistance in Exercising the force of something issued by the
Papal Primacy Pope himself.

We should / B1

conflict and enmity will be healed and
reconciled through the blood of the
Cross and led back to unity.
This new beginning can already be
seen in the resurrection and exaltation of
Christ, who draws all things to himself,
renewing them and enabling them to
share in the eternal joy of God. The future
of the new creation is already shining in
our world and, despite contradictions
and suffering, it enkindles hope for new
life. The Church’s mission is to spread
hope “contagiously” among all peoples.
This is why Christ calls, justifies,
sanctifies and sends his disciples to
proclaim the Kingdom of God, so that
all nations may become the People of
God. It is only in this mission that the
true journey of humanity is understood
and attested. The universal mission
should become a fundamental constant
in the life of the Church. Proclamation
of the Gospel must be for us, as it was
for the Apostle Paul, a primary and
unavoidable duty.
The Pilgrim Church
The universal Church, which knows
neither borders nor frontiers, is aware
of her responsibility to proclaim the
Gospel to entire peoples (cf. Evangelii
Nuntiandi, 53). It is the duty of the
Church, called to be a seed of hope, to
continue Christ’s service in the world.
The measure of her mission and service
is not material or even spiritual needs
limited to the sphere of temporal
existence, but instead, it is transcendent
salvation, fulfilled in the Kingdom
of God (cf. Evangelii Nuntiandi, 27).
This Kingdom, although ultimately
eschatological and not of this world
(cfr Jn 18:36), is also in this world and
within its history a force for justice and
peace, for true freedom and respect for
the dignity of every human person.
The Church wishes to transform the
world through the proclamation of visited by the apostles of today (cfr Acts able to live the Gospel in the midst of well as channeling material help to young
the Gospel of love, “that can always 18:10). In fact “the promise is to you and hostility and persecution, often to the Churches. Through these Pontifical
illuminate a world grown dim and to your children and to all that are far point of the supreme test of shedding Institutions, communion among the
give us the courage needed to keep off, every one whom the Lord our God their blood” (Novo Millennio Ineunte, Churches is admirably achieved via the
living and working … and in this way calls to him” (Acts 2:39). 41). exchange of gifts, reciprocal concern and
… cause the light of God to enter into The whole Church must be committed Participation in the mission of Christ shared missionary endeavors.
the world” (Deus Caritas Est, 39). With to the missio ad gentes, until the is also granted to those who preach the
this message I renew my invitation to salvific sovereignty of Christ is fully Gospel, for whom is reserved the same Conclusion
all the members and institutions of the accomplished: “At present, it is true, we destiny as their Master. “Remember Missionary zeal has always been a
Church to participate in this mission are not able to see that all things are in the words I said to you: A servant is sign of the vitality of our Churches (cf.
and this service. subjection to him” (Heb 2:8). not greater than his master. If they Redemptoris Missio, 2). Nevertheless it
persecuted me, they will persecute you must be reaffirmed that evangelization
Missio ad gentes Called to evangelize even through too” (Jn 15:20). The Church walks the is primarily the work of the Spirit;
The mission of the Church, therefore, martyrdom same path and suffers the same destiny before being action, it is witness and
is to call all peoples to the salvation On this day dedicated to the missions, as Christ, since she acts not on the basis irradiation of the light of Christ (cf.
accomplished by God through his I recall in prayer those who have of any human logic or relying on her Redemptoris Missio, 26) on the part
incarnate Son. It is therefore necessary to consecrated their lives exclusively to own strength, but instead she follows of the local Church, which sends men
and women beyond her frontiers as
Participation in the mission of Christ is also granted to those who missionaries. I therefore ask all Catholics
to pray to the Holy Spirit for an increase
preach the Gospel, for whom is reserved the same destiny as their in the Church’s passion for her mission
Master. “Remember the words I said to you: A servant is not greater to spread the Kingdom of God and to
than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too” support missionaries and Christian
communities involved in mission, in the
(Jn 15:20). The Church walks the same path and suffers the same front line, often in situations of hostility
destiny as Christ, since she acts not on the basis of any human logic and persecution.
or relying on her own strength, but instead she follows the way of the At the same time I ask everyone, as a
credible sign of communion among the
Cross, becoming, in filial obedience to the Father, a witness and a Churches, to offer financial assistance,
travelling companion for all humanity. especially in these times of crisis affecting
all humanity, to enable the young local
renew our commitment to proclaiming the work of evangelization. I mention the way of the Cross, becoming, in Churches to illuminate the nations with
the Gospel which is a leaven of freedom especially the local Churches and the filial obedience to the Father, a witness the Gospel of charity.
and progress, brotherhood, unity men and women missionaries who bear and a travelling companion for all May we be guided in our missionary
and peace (cf. Ad Gentes, 8). I would witness to and spread the Kingdom humanity. activity by the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star
“confirm once more that the task of of God in situations of persecution, I remind Churches of ancient of New Evangelization, who brought
evangelizing all people constitutes subjected to forms of oppression ranging foundation and those that are more Christ into the world to be the light of
the essential mission of the Church” from social discrimination to prison, recent that the Lord has sent them to be the nations and to carry salvation “to the
(Evangelii Nuntiandi, 14), a duty and torture and death. Even today, not a the salt of the earth and the light of the ends of the earth” (Acts 13:47).
a mission which the widespread and few are put to death for the sake of his world, and he has called them to spread To all I impart my Blessing.
profound changes in present-day society “Name”. The words of my venerable Christ, the Light of the nations, to the far
render ever more urgent. At stake is the Predecessor, Pope John Paul II, continue corners of the earth. They must make the From the Vatican, 29 June 2009
eternal salvation of persons, the goal and to speak powerfully to us: “The Jubilee Missio ad gentes a pastoral priority. BENEDICTUS PP. XVI
the fulfillment of human history and the remembrance has presented us with a I am grateful to the Pontifical Mission
universe. Animated and inspired by the surprising vista, showing us that our Societies and I encourage them in their (Dated June 29, feast of Sts. Peter and
Apostle of the nations, we must realize own time is particularly prolific in indispensable service of promoting Paul, this message was published September
that God has many people in all the cities witnesses, who in different ways were missionary animation and formation, as 5, 2009, in six languages)
 Diocese
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 19
September 14 - 27, 2009
B3

By Fr. Carlito de la Paz
Negros Island
Negros is an island of the Philippines
located in the Visayas. It is the 4th
largest island in the country, with a land
area of 12,706 square km (4,905 square
mi.). People on the island are called
Negrenses.
Politically and culturally, Negros is
divided into two provinces: Negros
Oriental in the Central Visayas region,
and Negros Occidental, part of the
Western Visayas region. This division
of the island, which roughly follows
the mountain range at the center of
the island, corresponds to the two
ethnolinguistic groups on this part of the
country. The western part (Occidental)
is where the Ilonggo or Hiligaynon-
speaking Negrenses are located and the
eastern portion (Oriental) is home to the
Cebuano-speaking population.
The chief cities on the island are
Bacolod City in Negros Occidental and
Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental.
Negros is noted for being the country’s
prime producer of sugar. Sugar cane
plantations abound in the agricultural
areas of the island.
then Diocese of Jaro when this was
created in 1868. Negros stayed under
the jurisdiction of the Jaro diocese until
1933. When the Diocese of Bacolod was
created, the entire island of Negros was
placed under its jurisdiction. Dumaguete
was separated from Bacolod when it was
created a diocese in 1955.
Thus, Negros Island was split into two
dioceses: the Diocese of Bacolod and the
Diocese of Dumaguete. Although the
creation of the Diocese of Dumaguete
unburdened the Diocese of Bacolod
of some of its responsibilities, the area
and the terrain still made pastoral
work and management of the dioceses
difficult. But despite this, evangelization
progressed.
Thirty-two years later, to ease the
pastoral responsibilities required for
guiding the two dioceses, the Dioceses
of Bacolod and Dumaguete were further
split into two other dioceses: the Diocese
of Kabankalan and the Diocese of San
Carlos. The whole of the Diocese of
Kabankalan was taken from the southern
part of the Diocese of Bacolod while the
Diocese of San Carlos was a merger of
areas taken from the Diocese of Bacolod
and the Diocese of Dumaguete. The
uniqueness of the new Diocese of San
The areas taken from the Diocese of
Bacolod were dominantly Ilonggo with
the northernmost town, Sagay (now
Sagay City) being a melting pot of both
Ilonggo and Cebuano cultures. (The
residents of Brgy. Vito of the Parish of
St. Vincent Ferrer spoke Cebuano but
had their liturgy in Ilonggo.) The areas
taken from the Diocese of Dumaguete
from Escalante (now Escalante City)
to La Libertad were predominantly
Cebuano. (Brgy. Codcod in the Parish
of the Holy Child with its center in Brgy.
Quezon, San Carlos City and some areas
in Canlaon City, Parish of St. Joseph
along the Negros Oriental and Negros
Occidental boundary used Ilonggo
as their language but the liturgical
celebrations were in Cebuano.)
Creation of the Diocese of San Carlos
On March 30, 1987, the Papal Bull
of Erection creating the Diocese of San
Carlos was issued by Pope John Paul
II. The creation of the Diocese of San
Carlos saw the Dioceses of Bacolod and
Dumaguete with reduced geographical
territories; the new Diocese of San Carlos
became the melting pot not only of two
cultural groups (Ilonggo and Cebuano)
but also of ecclesiastical cultures and
dioceses (which had been merged into
the Diocese of San Carlos) met for the
first time on July 27, 1987 in San Carlos
City in preparation for the erection of the
diocese and installation of its first bishop.
Rome, as of then, had not made any
announcements as to the appointment
of a bishop for the Diocese of San Carlos.
There were unspoken apprehensions
during the meeting: cultural adjustments
had to be made and ecclesiology and
pastoral thrusts had to be considered. resulting speech impediment, Bishop
The clergy from the Diocese of Bacolod
had come from a church which had
actively denounced the Marcos Regime
and had also taken the side of the poor
sugarcane fieldworkers in their human
rights battles. Those from the Diocese of
Dumaguete had come from the milieu
of a more mellow understanding of
church involvement in socio-economic
and political issues.
On November 21, 1987, the Apostolic
Nunciature in Manila announced the
appointment of Most Rev. Nicolas M.
Mondejar, D.D. as Bishop of the Diocese
of San Carlos.
Nicolas M. Mondejar, DD
The new bishop became a symbol of
unity. His Excellency, the Most Rev.
spiritual driving force behind the new
diocese. At the time of his appointment
as Bishop of San Carlos, he had been a
priest for thirty four years and a bishop
for seventeen. As bishop, he had served
as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese
of Cebu and later as Bishop of Romblon.
He had served Romblon for over 12
years when he suffered a stroke which
affected his speech. Despite his recent
illness, and not fully recovered from the
Mondejar immersed himself in the
pastoral care and management of his
new diocese with the drive of one who
could only be energized by the Spirit of
Charity—Caritas Christi Urget Nos.
A few days after his installation,
Bishop Mondejar convened the First
Clergy Meeting of the Diocese of San
Carlos on February 15, 1988 and the
organizational structure of the new
diocese was clarified with the formation
of the Diocesan Curia and the definition
of the territories of the new vicariates.
Having been formed from areas
belonging to two mother dioceses (and
two ethno-linguistic cultural groups),
the bishop with the clergy and faithful of
the Diocese of San Carlos were now vis-
à-vis the situation of having a common

Diocese of San Carlos

Way back during the Spanish era, Carlos was that it was a diocese with two folk religiosity. Nicolas M. Mondejar with his motto, understanding of its mission and goal as
the island of Negros was part of the cultures: Cebuano and Ilonggo. The clergy from the areas of the two Caritas Christi Urget Nos became the San Carlos / B7

IMPORTANT FACTS
Bishop ………………………………………..….......…… 3
Diocesan Priests …………………………......………... 59
Religious …………………………………….......……... 14
Deacons …………………………………….......………. 2
Vicariates ……………………………….......………….. 7
Parishes ………………………………......……………. 21
Quasi-parishes …………………….....……………….. 7
Mission Stations ……………………......……………… 2
Mission Schools …………………......………………… 2
Population ……………………………......……… 962,315
Catholics ……………………………......………. 854,852
Area ………………………………......…… 3,041 sq. km.

TOPMOST (L-R): The facade of St.John Mary Vianney Seminary, and the seal of Bishop Jose F. Advincula, Jr., DD.
ON BACKGROUND: The San Carlos Borromeo Cathedral.
 Features
CBCP Monitor
B4 Vol. 13 No. 19
September 14 - 27, 2009

Preparatory activities for Taize

‘pilgrimage of trust’ launched
By Pinky Barrientos, FSP
THE final preparation for
the “pilgrimage of trust”, an
international meeting of young
people slated in Manila early next
year was launched August 29
marked with prayers, singing and
reflection on the word of God.
Held at San Carlos Seminary
complex in Makati City, the event
assembled hundreds of young
people representing 150 groups
from eight dioceses and various
Catholic youth organizations.
Representatives also came from
members of the Philippine
Independent Church, Methodist
Church, the Anglican Church
and United Church of Christ.
The Taize brothers, who
organized the gathering in
coordination with the Episcopal
Commission on Youth of the
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
the Philippines (ECY) said the
number of participants who came
exceeded their expectations.
“Some of the participants
traveled 5 hours, like a group of
seminarians from the Philippine
Independent Church,” said Bro.
Andreas. “It is Jesus who brings
us together in this diversity, He
is the one who walks with us
on our personal pilgrimage,”
he added.
A group of Taize brothers, Bro.
Andreas among them, have been
in and out of the country since
early last year laying down the
groundwork for the upcoming
international meeting in February
2010. They have been going
around dioceses nationwide,
meeting and facilitating retreats
with young people.
Bro. Andreas said they
have visited many parishes,
youth groups, institutions and
congregations since May this
year to invite young people to
participate in the local preparation
for the pilgrimage of trust.
The program started at
2:30 p.m. with hundreds of
participants assembled in the
seminary gym decorated with
icons, candles, and plants.
Prayerful atmosphere
Oblivious of the noisy traffic of
EDSA nearby, the young people
entered into an atmosphere of
silence through meditative songs
and scripture readings.
“…Young people were praying
in silence, singing “Diyos ay
pag-ibig”, God is Love, God is
Forgiveness. Some were [moved]
to tears while experiencing this
way of praying for the first time,”
said Bro. Andreas.
One of the brothers gave a
biblical reflection on the topic of
trust, followed by small group
sharing among participants.
Bro. Andreas said the reflection
will continue in local youth
Young people entered into an
atmosphere of prayer, singing and
reflecting on the Word of God during
the launching of Taize “Pilgrimage of
Trust” at the San Carlos Seminary
last Aug. 29.
groups in parishes.
All the participants were given
handouts and reflection guide
for each month to be used for
sharing and prayer in local youth
groups in parishes to prepare
themselves.
The reflection guide has a
proposed theme for each month
coupled with biblical texts,
writings from Taize and some
questionnaires.
Preparation on the local level
Otherpracticalaspectswerealso
raised up during the gathering.
The brothers discussed how
each one can participate fully in
the pilgrimage, the next steps of
preparation on the local level,
on how to find foster families for
thousands of pilgrims coming
around the country and abroad,
and preparation of the liturgy
and other activities during the
pilgrimage.
Bro. Andreas said the word
START not only summarized
the activities of the day but also
convey the essential things to do
in the coming months. He said,
“S [is] for Spiritual preparation
and experience. The meeting
and its preparation is rooted in
the Gospel and the Church. T
[is] for Trust. We want to renew
trust, in God, in others, in oneself,
making the church a place of
trust. A [is] for Announce. We
want to announce the meeting
to others, going beyond existing
borders, inviting youth and
finding foster families. R [is] for
Relationship with Christ, the one
who accompanies us always,
who calls us to follow him. T [is]
for Testimony of hope. We want
to share our hope with all those
who will attend the meeting.
There is hope, even if there are
many challenges.”
Many of those who participated
in the launching activity were
young Filipinos who have been to
Taize during the last ten years and
stayed with the community for
three months, the brother said.
He was impressed by the
youth’s openness to participate
in the prayerful activity.
“Others knew the songs from
prayers in their local parish or
they heard about the Pilgrimage
of trust quite a time ago. But there
were also young people who never
experienced Taizé before, who
were not used to times of silence
today. We experience division
among us in many ways but
during prayer and the meditative this should not hinder us to
way of singing,” he said. be united in Christ. This is the
time for us to awaken our sense
Solidarity message of responsibility in the life of
A solidarity message sent by others. Let us go beyond all that
three young Filipinos currently in keeps us apart; let us strengthen
Taize was read to the participants our faith and take the step to
at the end of the meeting. make our dream “Communion
of Communities” a reality. We
“Dear fellow Filipino youth, journey together as Christian
Greetings of peace! family and pray for peace and
We are very privileged to unity in our country and the
whole world.
Let us not forget that Christ
is present in us. He goes before
us always and through this
pilgrimage He visits us and begins
to work in each one of us.
Let us then open the doors
of our hearts to Him and let
Him love in us so that we may
experience inner solidarity.
We keep burning in our hearts
the challenge of our Christian
mission.
With you in prayers, Janice,
Glen and Jetrix”
More challenges ahead
Brother Andreas said the
participants were now aware
of the enormous challenges
awaiting them “but as it is said
in the letter ‘Christ goes before
us always and through this
pilgrimage He visits us and
begins to work in each one of us.’
Wherever we are.”
He disclosed that more brothers
will be joining them soon to open
a Secretariat for the “Pilgrimage
of Trust 2010” and to coordinate
Photo courtesy of Taize Community
the ongoing preparation.
Other groups helping the
secretariat are the Sisters of the
Congregation of the Little Sisters
of Jesus, a group of volunteers
coming from different Asian and
European countries who will
start to visit youth in the parishes
starting this October, youth
host the Pilgrimage of trust on ministers and the ECY Staff.
earth next year. As we launch “Experiencing the joy and the
this great event in the history commitment of all those who
of young people in our country, were with us is a great source
here is our simple message to of trust. So many are willing
everyone. The Pilgrimage of to help, to give their time, to
trust is a means for us to embrace share their talents, to join in this
others amidst the differences of Pilgrimage. It happened during
culture and religion. It leads us the time of preparation and
to be aware that unity is possible surely will continue until the
in spite of the indifference and meeting itself in February,” Bro.
the challenges of our society Andreas said.

Filipino chaplains tackle migrants’ concerns in regional assembly

FILIPINO chaplains and pastoral
workers deployed in Europe and
the Middle East held their 8th
consultative meeting in Israel, August
27-30, to discuss concerns affecting
migrants in various chaplaincies
overseas.
Themed “Finding and sharing
strength in the faith and company
of Filipino migrants in the midst of
global financial crisis”, participants
coming from Berlin, Zurich, Rome,
Athens, Manchester, Beirut and
Jerusalem reflected and shared on
their pastoral experiences during the
three-day assembly.
Bishop Precioso Cantillas, chairman
of the Episcopal Commission for the
Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant
People (ECMI) of the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
facilitated the meeting.
Chaplains’ reports noted that
Filipinos overseas have not escaped
the effects of global economic
paid tribute to Filipinos acknowledging Church for sending Filipino priests to community’s place of worship. city to another.
that the presence of 35,000 Filipinos accompany overseas Filipinos including The two priests working among the He is grateful however to the
in the Holy Land had increased mass those in Israel where he is currently the Filipino communities in Israel are also generous support extended by
attendance in Catholic churches in Nuncio. working full time in other ministries. the Filipino community where
Israel, Jordan and Cyprus. In a later meeting with Bp. Cantillas, Franciscan friar Angelo Ison is a full they could afford to rent a limited
He said he observes the presence of Fr. Corros and Filipino chaplains time pilgrim guide of his congregation space in Tel Aviv where masses are
fear among Filipino migrant workers of Jerusalem, Archbishop Franco while Salesian priest Fr. Fernando is celebrated regularly on Saturdays
in Holy land. articulated his desire that more Filipino a full time Canon Law professor of a and Sundays.
There is a fear of unemployment, priests be sent to the Holy Land. theological seminary in Jerusalem.
he said, brought Realities of OFWs in Holy Land
about by the global The participants’ exposure to
economic recession, the consultation meeting held in
fear of deportation Jerusalem has allowed chaplains
when they are caught from Europe and Lebanon to learn
being undocumented, more of the realities of overseas
and fear of family Filipinos based in Israel.
breakdown for having The delegates agreed to hold the
been separated from 9th Consultation Meeting in 2011 in
their loved ones and Switzerland.
fear of the unknown. ECMI and the chaplaincy of
“In this Land of Switzerland had promised to
Promise, where work harder to campaign for more
promises are rarely participants to the next consultative
fulfilled, it is not easy meeting of chaplains in the region.
to be an undocumented Despite the failure of a good
Photo courtesy of Fr. Edwin Corros

crisis. But it also pointed out the
resourcefulness of OFWs in coping
with difficulties such as placing
special attention on savings and
exercising the spirit of “bayanihan”
among them.
While stressing the Commission’s
support on the various chaplaincies,
Bp Cantillas however, pointed out
that the local Church which hosts
the Filipino chaplaincy has direct
responsibility to care for the migrants
and their families.
The local ordinary hosting the
Filipino chaplaincy has direct
responsibility on the issues and
concerns closely affecting the Filipino
community in his jurisdiction.
Warm welcome
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
His Beatitude Fouad Twal, warmly
welcomed the participants at a
Eucharistic celebration also attended
by several overseas Filipino workers.
In his homily, the Latin Patriarch
worker,” he said, number of European chaplains
adding: to attend, the consultation was
“Certainly, there is considered a great success.
no place in the world, Many chaplains at the last minute
where all the Christian has cancelled their participation due
faiths congregate as to economic recession and perceived
in Jerusalem. What security situation existing between
appears here are not Israel and Lebanon.
only our divisions, The gathering of the chaplains
but the depth of what Filipino chaplains working in Europe and Middle East with ECMI chairman Bishop Precioso Cantillas (center) and ECMI in Europe and the Middle East
unites us. It gives us a Executive Secretary Fr. Edwin Corros (extreme left) during their Consultative Meeting held in Israel last Aug. 27-30. organized by ECMI every two
special mission to be a years is made possible through
vanguard of ecumenism. This land is He said there are currently an Both have to divide their free time the funding contribution of the
indeed a fertile ground for ecumenism approximate 35,000 Filipinos working to look after the spiritual and religious individual Filipino chaplaincy in
and inter-religious dialogue, and I pray in the Holy Land. needs of the Filipino migrants scattered the region.
that the rich variety of religious witness The nuncio said he wanted to in various places of Israel. The regional assembly is a
in the region will bear fruit in a growing build a church in Tel Aviv saying it Two Filipino nuns from St. Paul response of the Philippine Church
mutual understanding and respect.” is unfortunate that there is no church of Chartes are also full time pastoral through ECMI to look after the
in the city where many Catholics workers to the Filipino community. migrants’ concerns following the
Need for more Filipino chaplains live including those members of the Some Benedictine nuns, the Teresianas instruction provided by Erga
Archbishop Antonio Franco, former diplomatic corps. and a Passionist priest lend their Migrantes Caritas Christi stating
Apostolic nuncio to the Philippines also Salesian priest Fr. Ric Fernando, one generous hands to the two very hard- that both the sending and receiving
celebrated Mass for the participants at of the two full time Filipino chaplains working chaplains of Jerusalem. Churches have to cooperate and
the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre. working among Filipino communities in Fr. Fernando claimed it is normal for collaborate in order to serve the
In his homily, he expressed his Israel has rented a place close to the train him to celebrate so many migrants better. (CBCPNews/Fr.
appreciation to the Philippine Catholic and bus station in Tel Aviv as the Filipino masses on Sundays going from one Edwin Corros)
 Statements
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 19
September 14 - 27, 2009
B5

Reiterating CBCP Position on Family

WITH the introduction of the
Reproductive Health Bill 5043, a.k.a.
Reproductive Health Bill, in Congress,
truth and morality, the value and dignity
of life, family and marriage are sadly
made to depend on hum an laws. That
is what is implied in the Reproductive
Health (RH) Bill presently under
discussion in Congress.
It appears that Congress even plans
to shorten the discussion in order to
have the R.H. Bill passed before the end
of October. We hope that the normal
process of discussion and interpellation
be observed, that the Congressmen
who have signified to interpellate on
the R.H. Bill be honored and given the
opportunity to interpellate. To shorten
the period of interpellation would give
the impression that the passage of RH
Bill is “lutong makaw”, not judiciously
Be responsible creation stewards
recommendation. It puts the State above
the family. The natural right of couples
to have as many or as few children as
possible, pursuant to their understanding
of responsible parenthood, is in our view
already protected by Section 12, Art. 2 of A Reiteration of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Pastoral
the Constitution, which recognizes the Statements against large-scale mining in the Philippines
“sanctity of family life” and protects the
life of the mother and of the unborn.
5. The Bill states that those who
“maliciously engage in disinformation
about the intent of provisions of the bill”
shall be punished with imprisonment
and/or fine of P10,000 to P50,000. This
includes those who will teach contrary
to the bill (after it is passed) and speak
about its immoral provisions. Such
provision is a clear violation of the
freedom of speech and of the right to
religious conviction. Only totalitarian
states have such policies.

Photo courtesy of Rodne Galicha/ATM

and sufficiently discussed.
As Catholics and Christians we are
against the passage of the RH Bill 5043
of Congress for reasons we have already
enunciated and I now summarize:
1. The Bill dilutes and negates Section
III (1) Article XV of the Constitution
which provides “The State shall
defend the right of spouses to found
a family in accordance with their
religious conviction and the demands
of responsible parenthood.”
2. The Bill seeks to legalize surgical
procedures that the Catholic Church
has denounced as immoral, except for
serious health reasons: tubal ligation,
vasectomy and abortion.
3. The Bill requires mandatory
reproductive health education from Grade
V to Fourth Year High School without
consideration of their sensitivity and
moral innocence. The moral law and the
Constitution recognize the right of parents to
be the primary educators of their children.
4. The Bill recommends having
two children only per family as the
supposedly ideal family size. There
is no moral or scientific basis for this
We thus reiterate our categorical and
unequivocal opposition to any attempt
at controlling the exercise of the God-
given rights of human persons to enter
into married life, procreate and raise
families according to the provisions
of the Constitution and their religious
convictions.
We appreciate and are grateful to the
members of the Legislature who seek
to understand the will of the Supreme
Lawgiver whose laws are beyond our
limited human competence to repeal or
amend. We recognize and likewise thank
the individuals and groups who support
our pro-life, pro-women, pro-marriage
and pro-family advocacy. We raise in
prayer all their efforts for continued
guidance and strength from the Lord
and Giver of Life.
For the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
the Philippines:
+ANGEL N. LAGDAMEO, D.D.
Archbishop of Jaro 1995, asking for the repeal of Republic
President, CBCP
September 16, 2009
IN January 1988 the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
issued the Pastoral Letter on Ecology,
“What is Happening to our Beautiful
Land”, where we shared our anxiety over
the “attack being made on the natural
world” which was “endangering its
fruitfulness for future generations.”
On the tenth anniversary of that
Letter, the CBCP released a “Statement
of Concern on the Mining Act of 1995”
to underline how concerned we were
at the rapid expansion of mining
operations arising from the said Act of
Act 7942 known as the Philippine Mining
Act of 1995.
In March 2005, NASSA and the
CBCP Episcopal Commission on
With the current speed and scale that
mining is being aggressively promoted
in the Philippines, the vast deleterious
impacts to our already fragile ecology is
quickly becoming a bitter reality.
We remember the fears that were
outlined by CBCP ECSA-JP in 2005,
that “Mining has given the Philippines
a scarring experience: mine tailings
flooding villages and killing individuals,
depletion of natural resources, ill
effects on health, fabricated social
acceptability, polarization among
locals, unjust labor practices, delays in
or non-payment of taxes due the local
government, abandoned mines that
continue to harm the environment and
inhabitants long after operations have
ceased, displacement of indigenous
stop the 24 Priority Mining Projects
of the government, and the closure of
large-scale mining projects, for example,
the Rapu-rapu Polymetallic Project in
Albay, HPP Project in Palawan, Didippio
Gold-Copper Project in Nueva Vizcaya,
Tampakan Copper-gold Project in
South Cotabato, Canatuan Gold Project
in Zamboanga del Norte, and the San
Antonio Copper Project in Marinduque,
among others;
3. To support the conduct of studies on
the evil effects of mining in dioceses;
4. To support all economic activities
that are life-enhancing and poverty-
alleviating.
Given the many unresolved issues
and concerns about large-scale mining,
it is clear that the present Mining Law

For good or evil,

Social Action-Justice & Peace issued communities, unfulfilled promises of (Republic Act 7942) does not regulate
“Nature is Groaning: A Statement on community development, militarization, the rational exploration, development
the Revitalization of Mining in the intimidation and threats.” It seems that and utilization of mineral resources,
Philippines”, and observed that the

for better or worse

continuing enforcement of an oppressive
law is blighting our ecology.
In January 2006 the CBCP re-affirmed
our stand for the repeal of the Mining Act
THE issue of good and evil in governance starts with responsible and of 1995, contained in “A Statement on
irresponsible citizenship. Leadership in governance starts with leaders as Mining Issues and Concerns”, believing
citizens. Responsible citizens produce good leaders, good leaders produce that the said mining law destroys life.
good citizens. Leaders and citizens are linked to each other; they influence The right to life of people is inseparable
each other for good or evil, for better or for worse. from their right to sources of food and
Leaders and citizens must work jointly for the common good. Sadly, livelihood. Allowing the interests of
however, the common good is very often being subordinated to private good, big mining corporations to prevail
to the good of one’s own self, party or family. over people’s right to these sources
While it is true that we cannot be blind to the evil or wrong around us, we amounts to violating their right to life.
must have the wisdom and fortitude to correct it. Furthermore, mining threatens people’s
We need to exercise our social conscience by owning our social evils and health and environmental safety through
wrongs and by owning as well the tasks of fighting these, and of pursuing the the wanton dumping of waste and
common good, individually or collectively. Before condemning others, let us first tailings in rivers and seas.
look at ourselves, because we may be guilty of the same or similar. No person Today we are saddened to see many
is completely evil that there is nothing we can do to correct him or her. of our recommendations have been
Corruption, we have said many times before, is the greatest shame and ignored and the broken promises have
problem of our country. Our government has not eradicated it, because it continued to multiply, including the
is involved in corruption itself. Corruption is what keeps our country from claimed investments, revenues, jobs and
the evils of graft and corruption. the promise of development.
our fears have come true only after three
years.We reiterate the recommendations
of the 1998 CBCP Statement wherein, i)
we asked for the “repeal of Republic Act
7942 known as the Philippine Mining Act
of 1995”, ii) the “recall of all approved
Financial or Technical Assistance
Agreements (FTAAs) and other mineral
agreements, and to disapprove the
pending ones”, and iii) we expressed
“support for the petitions of some sectors
to close down several mining operations
in various communities that confronted
this extractive industry.”
These calls were again highlighted in
2006, wherein we called all our religious
leaders:
1. To support, unify and strengthen the
struggle of the local Churches and their
constituency against all mining projects,
and raise the anti-mining campaign at
the national level;
2. To support the call of various sectors,
especially the Indigenous Peoples, to
and fails to ensure the equitable sharing
of benefits for the State, Indigenous
Peoples (IPs) and local communities.
As we have said in our 1998 statement,
“even our best efforts will come to
nothing without the help of God, our
Creator. We invoke upon you the grace
of the Holy Spirit who renews the face of
the earth. With gratitude in our hearts we
ask the intercession of Mary, the Mother
of Jesus and our Mother, to obtain for us
a renewed land and a converted people.
“At the cross her station keeping, stood
the mournful Mother weeping, close to
Jesus to the last.”
For the Episcopal Commission on Social
Action, Justice and Peace (ECSA-JP)
and The National Secretariat for Social
Action-Justice and Peace (NASSA),
+BRODERICK S. PABILLO, D.D.
National Director
September 8, 2009

Statement against the slaying of Fr. Cecilio Lucero

To help pursue the good and fight evil, the CBCP has recommended and
undertaken “communal actions,” we “pray together, reason together, decide
together, act together towards a more vigorous work for good governance
and a more active promotion of responsible citizenship in our society.” May
I repeat here that in view of the national elections next year, “we call upon
those who are competent, persons of integrity and committed to change to THE CBCP-National Secretariat for Social Fr. Lucero’s family and parishioners. those responsible for this cowardly
get involved directly in partisan politics and become candidates for political Action–Justice and Peace condemns in This is a terrible moment for them, crime to justice. NASSA calls on the
election, aware that the common good is above the good of vested interests. the strongest terms the brutal murder in which their worst fears about the government and its law enforcement
We remind the laity that it is within their right as their duty to campaign for of Fr. Cecilio Lucero, human rights threats to Fr. Lucero’s life have been agencies to ensure a thorough, prompt
candidates they believe to be competent, honest and public-service minded activist, of the Diocese of Catarman, confirmed. We offer them our deepest and impartial investigation, and to leave
in order to reform our country.” Northern Samar. condolences. Fr. Lucero is a well-known no stone unturned in the hunt for his
Our question that needs to be posed to all those aspiring for the presidency The murder of Fr. Lucero comes peace and human rights advocate who killers. The time for political statements
and other government elective positions is: how are you going to eradicate in the wake of a series of unresolved served as parish priest in Catubig town, and assurances has passed; only the
graft and corruption in your level of governance? We, citizens, are urged to extrajudicial killings and attacks on and Chairman of the Human Rights swift delivery of justice will lend any
examine their plans, and in conscience choose and support those who will human rights defenders, journalists Committee of the diocese. He was a credence to the authorities’ supposed
lead us to the good, onward to the better. and NGO activists. These senseless acts tireless crusader for the rights and commitment to justice.
of violence represent the antithesis of a dignity of all individuals. He understood
+ ARCHBISHOP ANGEL N. LAGDAMEO, DD people of life. The Filipino people, who the danger of his work, but refused to For the Social Action Network,
Archbishop of Jaro peacefully pray and work every day be intimidated. Fr. Lucero’s remarkable
President, CBCP for the protection of all human life, are courage and dedication are sources of + BRODERICK S. PABILLO, D.D
September 16, 2009 rightfully aggrieved by this news. inspiration; he will be truly missed. National Director
Our immediate thoughts are with We fully support every effort to bring 9 September 2009

Quo usque tandem abutere, Gloria, patientia nostra?
Statement on the Killing of Fr. Cecilio Lucero by the National Ecumenical Forum for Filipino Concerns
We, of the National Ecumenical
Forum for Filipino Concerns
(NEFFCON), an alliance of
Church-based individuals and
groups in the United States of
America, condemn the killing
of Fr. Cecilio Lucero as an evil
deed by an evil regime in the
Philippines. With our fraternal
organization in the National
Alliance for Filipino Concerns in
the US (NAFCON), the SanDiwa
National Alliance of Fil-Am
Youth, we express our vehement
moral indignation at the murder
of Fr. Lucero.
What has Fr. Lucero done so
as to provoke the vile regime of
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to aim
its guns, reportedly held by some
thirty people in ambush, on an
early Sunday morning, against
a priest-minister of God and
servant-minister of the people?
Fr. Cecilio Lucero was a Roman
Catholic priest, and pastor of
St. Joseph the Worker Parish
of Catubig, Samar in Eastern
Visayas. His life and work
mirrored his deep convictions
as Minister of God, disciple
of Jesus and servant of the
people! As a justice and peace
and human rights advocate, he
headed the Catarman Diocesan
Human Rights and Social Action
Desk, chaired the Committee
on Human Rights and the Task
Force Peace and Order of the
Diocese of Catarman. Fr. Lucero
was also an outstanding member
of the Promotion of Church
People’s Response (PCPR), an
ecumenical national organization
of church people dedicated to the
promotion and defense of justice,
peace, human rights and integrity
of creation. PCPR itself is listed
as a legal front of the Communist
Party of the Philippines in the
Trinity of War, Book III, of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines
and as “one of the enemies of the
State” in the Order of Battle of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines
in its Oplan Bantay Laya II
counter-insurgency campaigns.
According to reports, Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo herself was
engaged in anti-communist
witch-hunting when she labeled
Fr. Lucero as ‘that communist
priest’ before a civilian crowd and
in front of her military officers at
the inauguration of the Catubig
Bridge last June 16, 2009. By that
act, the so-called President of the
Philippines and Commander
In-Chief of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines sealed the death
sentence of Fr. Lucero.
The brutal ambush of Fr.
Lucero once again speaks of the
wanton violations of human
rights committed with impunity
in the Philippines. Backed by
the record of more than 1,100
extra-judicial killings under
the GMA regime, Fr. Lucero’s
killing should by now convince
the Bishops and the Christian
churches in the Philippines to
openly withdraw their support
to the GMA regime. Fr. Lucero’s
inhuman death should by now
prick the conscience of this
priest-ideologue and his partner
in the defense department of the
GMA regime that their moral
interpretation to justify GMA’s
anti-communist war has shed
the blood of a civilian fellow-
priest.
We of NEFFCON and SanDiwa,
with our fraternal organizations
in NAFCON, remember the
heroism of Fr. Lucero and his
dedicated service to the poor
and the victims of human rights
abuses. His martyrdom adds
one more candle to the Light
that is guiding the struggle of
the Filipino people for Jobs and
Justice, Food and Freedom, Land
and Liberation. With Fr. Lucero’s
interment on September 14, Feast
of the Exaltation of the Cross in the
Quo / B7
Why do we kill prophets and persecute them?
“Woe to you, for you build the tombs of the
prophets—the very prophets your leaders have
killed” (cfr. Luke 11:47)
THE atrocious killing of Fr. Cecilio is his way of living the prophetic
Lucero and the wounding of his witness he has received as a
companions in a daring early mandate from Jesus and the
Sunday morning ambush carried Church.
out by around 30 heavily armed The death that Fr. Lucero was
persons show the vicious nature meted out with is the example of
and the loathsome impunity our how much evil has incarnated in
present dispensation regard people our midst. His life and death is an
with cause-oriented commitments inspiration to all of us that justice
and defenders of human rights. is an eternal calling – a task that
We condemn this utterly must be constantly acted upon
reprehensible act and lament the and a gift that must be fervently
lengths human rights violators cherished.
would pursue in order to quell We want justice to be served
the people’s aspirations for a full for Fr. Cecilio Lucero. This is a
and abundant life. clarion call for us to stand up
As priests, they lead the ministry and side with the people who
to proclaim and establish the reign pine for justice and peace. The
of God amidst his people—a reign death of Fr. Lucero should not
where justice is a reality and peace go in vain.
is the fruit of our labors. This is
a prophetic ministry that priests National Clergy Discernment Group
share with all the faithful. Fr. Jose P. Dizon
The life that Fr. Lucero chose Convenor
 Ref lections
CBCP Monitor
B6 Vol. 13 No. 19
September 14 - 27, 2009

Tolerance and openness in the Christian community

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B (Mark 9:38-43; 47-48) September 27, 2009
By Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo,
SThD
IF one looks back to what happened
in the former Soviet Union in the
early 1990s, one may probably
assert quite convincingly that at
the root of the upheaval in the
Soviets was the search for a way
of life that would give comfort,
contentment and security to the
people. Is there a single formula to
achieve it? This is a question that
has not been sufficiently answered
even to date. Of course, under the
regime of Lenin and Stalin who
rejected anything that has to do
with capitalism, the answer did not
surprise anyone: there was only a
formula: the Communist formula.
But after the collapse of the union,
each of the republics seemed to
have had a different idea on just
what kind of system would give the
people the kind of life they longed
for. For some, like Kazakhstan,
some form of union with Moscow
was necessary. But for others, like
the Baltics, there was no substitute
for complete independence.
To be sure, what Lithuania did
could have invited the intervention
of Moscow, were it done 25 years
before. One easily recalls the
tanks that rolled when Yugoslavia
attempted in the 50s to break away
from the union. But in this decade,
the slogan of Gorbachev’s Moscow
is glasnost, openness, tolerance.
Can this be said of Christianity?
Though some people would wish
that uniformity be observed in
everything that has to do with
religion, the 1st Reading and the
Gospel share the view that we
should have tolerance and openness
to those who differ with us. Our
relationship with others, which
www.flickr.com
the spirit on the gathered seventy
elders who began to prophesy.
But Eldad and Meldad, who were
not in the gathering but had been
left in the camp, likewise spoke in
enraptured enthusiasm.
Having known this, Joshua
asked Moses to stop the two
from prophesying, but the latter
answered, “Are you jealous for my
sake? Would that all the people
were prophets! Would that the Lord
might bestow his spirit on them all!”
(Num 11:29). In the Gospel, John
and other disciples tried to exclude
a non-member from exercising the
ministry of healing and exorcism
in the name of Jesus. But Jesus did
not stop the strange exorcist. On the
contrary, he warned the disciples
against arrogance, jealousy and
intolerance and challenged them
to open to others, for God rewards
those who show even the small
courtesies to those who teach in
Jesus’ name (Mark 9:38-41).
What do these stories signify?
Reading the first Genesis account
on creation (Gen 1:1-2:4), we notice
that all that is good comes from God.
In effect, we cannot limit, nor claim
to know, the many ways by which
God shares his goodness with the
rest of humanity. What is obvious is
that where there is goodness, God is
at work, whether we like it or not. It
would be presumptuous of us were
we to claim that God communicates
his goodness only through us, or
through our Christian community.
We must admit that God is free
to share his goodness with other
than us. Regrettably, various sects
claiming to be rooted in Christ keep
attacking each other, as if they had
the monopoly of God’s truth or his
goodness. Yet, we find that in Num
22:28, God can make an ass talk. In
Isa 6:5, we read that the prophet had
unclean lips, unworthy of being
that God is even at work among
atheists. That is why we should be
tolerant of those who are not part
of our Christian community, those
who do not share our views, and
those who disagree with us. What
is decisive is that their good words
and deeds come from God (see 1
John 4:1), that is to say, they manifest
God’s goodness. Indeed, within the
Christian community, there has to
be room for openness and tolerance.
And this is said not as a suggestion.
For tolerance and openness should
in fact characterize the community.
Of course, differences always arise.
In Paul, there are two things that are
important in Christian relationship,
when it comes to differences within
the church. First, whatever is said
or done is a witness to Christ; it
proclaims the risen Lord. If it is
consistent with Christ, we can be
sure that its inspiration comes from
the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:3).
Second, whatever is said or done,
far from creating violence, division,
quarrel or friction, contributes to the
unity of the community (1 Cor 12:7).
Most things are to be subordinated
to these, and have to be tolerated
and accepted. For we must not
become obstacles to the saving
power of God, we must not allow
ourselves to stand between Christ
and other people when it comes
to the work of salvation. Doing so
would be scandalous, and as the
Markan Jesus puts it, “it would be
better if anyone who leads astray
one of these simple believers to
be plunged in the sea with a great
millstone fastened around his neck”
(Mark 9:42).
That is why, even in terms
of belief, we cannot lord it over
others on the presumption that we
have the monopoly of truth and
goodness, we cannot be oppressive
or cynical of others who are not with

arises from our relationship with

God, is to be informed by openness God’s messenger, and yet God us. Jesus himself said that “anyone
and tolerance. In the first reading used him to proclaim his message. who is not against us is with us”
we are told that Moses bestowed Indeed, it is not incorrect to say (Mark 9:40).

Bo Sanchez

There never was a good

Learn to say no sometimes
“CAN you bring a tiny package to my
family in Manila?”
“No problem!” I said to the petite
Filipina in front of me.
This happened many years ago in a
preaching trip in Europe when I still
didn’t know about the Balikbayan
Phrase Dictionary. In it, the term “tiny
package” means “any object in the
created universe whose size range falls
between a peanut to a planet”.
When I arrived at the airport, her tiny
package was waiting for me: a suitcase that
was a little bit smaller than the airport itself.
“Sorry Bo,” she said sheepishly,
stepping out of her suitcase’s shadow, “I
thought it was tiny. But it kept growing
bigger and bigger and bigger…”
“Wow. It’s miraculous.”
She then handed me an envelope “just
in case you have excess baggage” and left
me as quickly as a woman running away
from a rapist. I opened it and discovered
10 dollars in it. I hollered back at her,
“Will this multiply miraculously too?”
When I checked-in her suitcase, true
enough, the ticketing guy told me I
needed to pay excess baggage. Holding
the ten dollars with trembling fingers, I
asked how much it would cost. When he
showed the astronomical figure to me, I
had a paranormal experience right there
and then: I felt my soul leave my body
for a few seconds.
When I came about, I inquired as
calmly as I could, “Does this price also
include the purchase of the plane? Or
do I get the plane and own all the pilots
and stewardesses as well?”
The guy laughed and asked if I had
a credit card.
I told him I had a priceless soul and
wondered if I could sell that to him.
That experience taught me a very
important lesson in life: Learn to say
no sometimes.
Like yesterday, I received ten
invitations to preach. These invitations
come daily through email and snail mail
and phone calls.
As much as this pains me, I say no to
90 percent of these invitations.
Oh, how I love to preach! Everyday,
if possible. But if I say yes to all of
these invitations, I won’t be able to
see my wife and child anymore! Or I
won’t be able to write for KERYGMA.
Or visit ANAWIM. Or teach my little
Community, Light of Jesus.
I learned a very important principle:
Saying “no” is really saying a bigger
“yes” to what God wants me to do.
Hey, there’re a million things you
can do.
But what does God want for your
life? If you don’t learn how to say “no”
to all the myriad of options life offers
you, you’ll not be able to focus on His
specific mission for your life.
Question: Do you have excess baggage
in your life?
Be careful. You may end up paying
for it with your priceless soul.
Learn to say no sometimes.
Your yes depends on it.
war or a bad peace
By Bishop Pat Alo
THIS statement by Benjamin Franklin has some deeper truth in it when we
consider the point of Jesus who said: “What will a man gain if he wins the whole
world and ruin his life? What has a man to offer in exchange for his life?” (Mt.
16:26). You cannot pay for the value of one life; even for the misery caused to
families who are forced to evacuate their homes to avoid loss of lives...
That’s the reason why Jesus was favoring a solution through humble dialogue
and friendly confrontation. That is what he meant by the texts, if you read
between the lines, as in the gospel of Matthew, chapter 5, verses 38-48:
“You have heard that it was said: An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I tell you this: do not oppose evil with evil; if someone slaps you on the
right cheek, turn and offer him the other. If someone forces you to go one
mile, go two miles with him. Give when asked and do not turn your back
on anyone who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said
Love your fellowman and hate your enemy. But this I tell you: Love your
enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons
and daughters of your Father in Heaven. For he makes his sun rise on both
bad and good, and he gives rain to both the just and the unjust.
“If you love those who love you, what is special about that? Do even tax collectors
not do as much as that? And if you are friendly only to your brethren, what is so
exceptional about that? Do not even the pagans do as much? For your part you shall
be righteous and perfect in the way your heavenly Father is righteous and perfect.”

Fr. Francis Ongkingco

‘What’s wrong with animal rights?’

CLYDE’S face was covered with tears as
he watched the neighborhood gardener
digging a small hole in their backyard.
The boy was gently cradling in his
hands his pet hamster ‘Lilpigmy’ that
unexpectedly died.
“It’s okay, Clyde,” his father comforted
him. “We’ll buy you another one.”
“But Lilpigmy was really cute n’ smat
[SOB, SOB, SNIFFLE]. I don’t shink
[SNIFF] we’ll find anosher one like him,”
he said having difficulty talking without
his newly pulled out front teeth.
“Don’t worry,” I said, “you can always
train a new one to behave like Lilpigmy.”
I was amused to learn later that the name
was short for ‘My Little Pig’.
“You can now put him in the hole,” the
gardener said. Clyde slowly lowered the
rodent and said, “Don’t coveh it till aftuh
I close my eyes.” He gave it a long last
look and then covered his eyes with his
small hands. The gardener couldn’t help
but smile at this child’s simplicity. With
one sweep of his huge palm, the animal
disappeared beneath the ground.
***
All of us, one time or another, have
gone through Clyde’s experience of
having to part ways with a beloved
pet dog, cat or goldfish. I also recall
how teary-eyed I was as I slowly dug a
‘grave’ for my two pet dachshunds that
unexpectedly succumbed to heartworm.
I solemnly marked the grim spot with
flowers and a decent piece of cardboard
with their names on it.
Today, however, some people are
treating animals in a rather special
way. They claim that animals have
“rights” like people and therefore must
be protected and respected even to
the extreme that livestock and poultry
should not be killed for man’s basic
consumption. But do animals have
rights at all? If ever, to what extent
can we understand such ‘rights’? Are
they the same as the rights we humans
have?
Fr. Joseph de Torre, in his book on
Christian Philosophy, says that the
ultimate basis of rights is not subjective,
that is, originating from the person
himself. Neither are they based on an
obligation towards him. Rights are
founded on an external good or end
which is given to the person as a gift.
And our true good and perfection
consists in reaching the end intended
for us by God’s Fatherly design. Thus,
our rights are only rights insofar as they
are oriented towards this right end or
good.
Moreover, he emphasizes that the
“most important thing to note is that
every right is a right to something good,
since right is based on duty, duty is based
on need, and need is ordained to the good
or perfection of being. This excludes the
so-called “right to die” of euthanasia or
suicide. And no one has the “obligation”
to do anything bad.”
De Torre thus concludes: “Every
human being has certain natural rights
emanating from his due ordination to
the good. No one can remove them
from him or her (“inalienable”), and he
or she has them from the very moment
of his or her conception (i.e. the right
to life, to education, to use the means
to reach God, to choose one’s state in
life, to work, to possess material goods,
to reputation, to associate oneself with
others, to be told the truth, etc.” (Joseph
M. de Torre, Christian Philosophy, Vera-
Reyes Inc., p. 265)
On this same idea, Catechism of the
Catholic Church teaches: “Each creature
possesses its own particular goodness
and perfection. (…) Each of the various
creatures, willed in its own being,
reflects in its own way a ray of God’s
infinite wisdom and goodness. Man
must therefore respect the particular
goodness of every creature, to avoid
any disordered use of things which
would be in contempt of the Creator and
would bring disastrous consequences for
human beings and their environment.
(Catechism of the Catholic Church no.
339)
God made man the administrator
of creation. Because man is the only
creature who has the God-given gifts
of intellect and will which allow him
to perceive something higher than his
material existence. He is to “subdue
created things” not in the sense of
abusing and exhausting them, but to
respect their natural states of perfection
to serve God and other men. (Cf.
Catechism, no. 377)
This natural state of good is the right
that the rest of creatures possess. Man
cannot change this condition, but he can
raise a creature’s natural state to an even
higher form. A tree, for example, that
is used to make furniture or a house or
when animals are reasonably used for
experimentation allows these creatures
to give more glory to God and good
for man.
Therefore, to clamor for “rights”
that are not within the confines of
the divinely instituted perfections of
creatures would only be a disorder on
the part of man. This occurs when he
makes use of means (e.g. protesting by
posing naked in public) that only strips
the person of his own inviolable natural
human rights (i.e. intimacy, privacy and
personal integrity).
The ends never justify means that are
only degrading of man’s sacred identity
as God’s most valued creature. What is
worse is that such unreasonable ‘signs
of protests’ make the person less than
the very creatures he claims to protect
when he lowers himself to a point
that even animals cannot themselves
achieve, that is, to go against what God
preordained them for. Sadly, only man
can turn against his own dignity and
integrity.
***
Back at the house, I asked Clyde’s
father, “So Ed, how did you say the
hamster died?”
“Oh, Father, it’s quite simple.
Clyde affectionately overfed the little
rodent!”
 Social Concerns
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 19
September 14 - 27, 2009
B7

Let’s make our votes truly meaningful in 2010

By Nandy Pacheco
IN the coming elections, we, voters,
should measure all candidates, policies,
parties and their platform by how
they protect or undermine life, and
the dignity and rights of the human
person—whether they protect the
poor and vulnerable, and advance the
common good. This is a central point
of the Passport to a New Philippines
published by Ang Kapatiran Party
(AKP).
Elections are not simply a matter of
voting for candidates who have good
moral character and competence who
can lead us out of the political doldrums.
Elections are much more than that. In
essence they are also a means of setting
the moral compass of our country,
what kind of society do we want to
become and how are we to achieve
that society?
Our Constitution provides that
“sovereignty resides in the people and
all government authority emanates from
them.” When can we, the sovereign
people, make this mandate a reality? I
submit that that day is on May 10, 2010
when votes will be cast hopefully, free
are relative and up to the individual to
decide what is of greater importance.
When we VOTE FOR AKP candidates,
we are at the same time VOTING IN
the aspirations for the country and the
country we wish to see for ourselves, our
children and our children’s children, and
VOTING OUT the status quo.
When we VOTE FOR AKP candidates,
we are at the same time VOTING IN a
responsible and accountable political
party and a platform-based politics
with clear and specific objectives—all
aimed at enhancing the common good,
and VOTING OUT dirty politics and its
practitioners, the structures that glorify
violence, pornography, gambling, vice,
pork barrel, political family dynasties,
politics of personality, celebrity politics,
big money politics, guns and goons,
hypocrisy, political patronage, pay-off,
immoral compromises, unliquidated
cash advances, dishonesty, and other
political shenanigans.
When we VOTE FOR AKP candidates,
we are at the same time VOTING IN
a prophetic politics of personal and
social transformation, and VOTING
OUT irresponsible political parties and
their irresponsible candidates especially
those who cannot move around without

from vote-buying, fraud, cheating, guns,
goons and gold, electoral chicanery, to
elect national and local officials. It’s
on election day that the master (the
sovereign voter) gives the prospective
public servants a “laundry list”, so
to speak, of what to do and what
not to do for the common good. The
“laundry list” may be seen from the
platform of a political party, like “Ang
Kapatiran”, to which all its candidates
are committed.
Thus, when we VOTE FOR AKP
candidates, we are at the same time
VOTING IN God and His teaching
at the center of politics and VOTING
OUT what Pope John Paul II called
“the idols of today namely, materialism
and selfishness and their consequences:
sensualism, hedonism, violence and
corruption” and what Pope Benedict
XVI calls the “dictatorship of moral
relativism,” which teaches that all things
armed bodyguards, who spend more
than what they will earn, elected officials
who played truant during legislative
sessions; elected and appointed public
officials who write regular columns,
act in movies and television shows, act
as commentators or anchorpersons on
radio and television, and appear on
TV and radio commercials and print
advertisements, posters and billboards,
and those who set up billboards
or similar media in public places
with pictures of the public officials
responsible for the project or for any
other purpose.
When we VOTE FOR AKP candidates,
we are at the same time VOTING IN
continuing education, discipline, the
politics of virtue, the politics of duty,
the politics of transparency and public
accountability, and the politics of good
citizenship and stewardship, and
VOTING OUT what Mohandas Gandhi
called the seven social sins: “politics
without principle, wealth without work,
commerce without morality, pleasure
without conscience, education without
character, science without humanity,
and worship without sacrifice.”
When we VOTE FOR AKP candidates,
we are VOTING IN the culture of life
and peace, active nonviolence, justice,
reconciliation, gun control in public
places, and progressive disarmament,
and VOTING OUT the culture of death
and violence, torture, hazing, sports
whose main purpose is to inflict harm
and violence on the opponent.
When we VOTE FOR AKP candidates,
we are VOTING IN our priority projects
and programs for the underprivileged,
the indigenous peoples, the prisoners,
the disabled, the senior citizens, the
veterans and the youth and support
for non-government organizations or
communities whose projects directly
benefit the poor, and VOTING OUT
dirty, corrupt and unproductive
political practices.
When we VOTE FOR AKP candidates,
we are VOTING IN “respect life”
attitude in society as a precondition for
a consistent ethic of life, and VOTING
OUT anything that violates the integrity
of life.
In our system of government, laws
are passed or repealed by majority
rule, or in special cases by a required
number of votes. For instance, to
make things happen and to meet the
voters’ objectives, we need a Kapatiran
President, a Kapatiran Senate, a
Kapatiran House of Representatives,
www.pcij.org
and a Kapatiran local government.
Before the voter can wisely vote
for, vote in and vote out something,
he or she must check on the character
and competence of all the candidates,
and fully comprehend the principles
and platforms of the political parties.
This is the only way to find out if our
aspirations and dreams are reflected in
any of the political parties’ principles
and platforms.
A wise man looks before he leaps. A
wise voter critically examines the choices
before him or her, and votes with great
care. So much depends on our choice.
History—and future generations of
Filipinos—will be our judge.
(Nandy Pacheco is the founder of Ang
Kapatiran Party)

San Carlos / B3 Hesus / B1

a diocese. It was later agreed that
the formulation of the Diocesan
Mission Statement would be
done during the Clergy Annual
Retreat which was scheduled
for November 14-18, 1988. Rev.
Fr. Salvador Cruz, OCD acted
as retreat master and facilitator
for the retreat held in SCALA
Retreat House in Bacolod during
which the Mission Statement
was formulated. It was during
this discernment period that the
Bishop with the diocesan clergy
and religious (after consulting the
lay people in the parishes) agreed
that the programs of the diocese
were to be classified as belonging
to the apostolate defined by the
acronym WESTY (Worship,
Education, Service, Temporalities
and Youth. WESTY was later
changed to WESTOY to include
the work of the Organizing
Commission.) The thrust would
be the building of Basic Ecclesial/
Christian communities.
The new diocese had to struggle
for financial survival. As a new
diocese, its coffers were empty
but for the financial subsidies
given by its mother-dioceses.
During the early years since its
erection, the donations from
the mother-dioceses would be a
valuable source of income which
would help the fledgling diocese
cope with its financial burdens.
The bishop and clergy had to
devise a way to make the new
diocese financially stable and at
the same time boost the pastoral
involvement of the people.
Bishop Mondejar had started a
Tithing Program in the Diocese of
Romblon, his previous diocesan
assignment. In a later clergy
meeting he brought this up with
the clergy and plans were made to
implement the Tithing Program
in the Diocese of San Carlos.
One of Bishop Mondejar’s
major concerns ever since the
erection of the diocese was the
need for a house of formation.
A diocese would not be able
to survive without priests. The
preparation of young men with
vocations to the priesthood was
necessary. They would be the
future shepherds of the flock in
the Diocese of San Carlos.
St. John Mary Vianney
Seminary started off as St.
John Mary Vianney Formation
House with only six pre-college
seminarians. (St. John Mary
Vianney Seminary today has
more than 80 seminarians and
has produced eight priests as of
September 2009).
Under the guidance of Bishop
Mondejar, the Diocese of San
Carlos found a direction but the
time came for him to retire as
bishop in 2001.
Jose F. Advincula, Jr., DD
On September 8, 2001, Msgr.
Jose F. Advincula Jr., former
Rector of St. Pius X Seminary
and Parish Priest of St. Thomas
de Villanueva Parish in Dao,
Capiz was ordained bishop and
assigned as successor of Bishop
Mondejar as Bishop of San
Carlos. On September 11, 2001 he
was installed as the new bishop
of the diocese.
Under the guidance of Bishop
Advincula, the diocese began to
see new horizons. Aside from
the thrust of building BEC’s in
the parishes and supporting
the programs started by his
predecessor, the new prelate
had a desire to improve the
circumstances of the diocesan
clergy. Foremost in his mind
was better education for both the
clergyandthelaity.Thusseminary
facilities were improved, the
clergy were encouraged to earn
post-graduate degrees and two
mission schools were established
for the poor in the mountain areas
of San Carlos City.
In order to bring new zeal to
evangelization,BishopAdvincula
also established new mission
stations in the remote areas of
the diocese and encouraged
various religious congregations
to work actively in the Diocese of
San Carlos. The bishop initiated
the SLA (Standardized Living
Allowance) for the benefit of the
clergy especially those assigned
to the poorer parishes and those
who were sick or retired.
With his ability to listen, he
saw the need later to consult
the clergy and lay people of the
diocese regarding the issues and
concerns in the parishes through
the First Diocesan Synod of the
Diocese of San Carlos which was
convened on March 2008.
We go on with our share of the
work in building the Kingdom
of God today and as we do so as
a church community we know
that what we do will lay the
groundwork for the church of
the future.
Manghigput” icon is the centrality
of the priestly duty of celebrating the
Eucharist,”saidBro.TagoyJakosalem,
OAR, creator of the icon.
A Recollect friar, Jakosalem is
currently assigned as Property
administrator of the University
of Negros Occidental-Recoletos
(UNO-R). He is a multi-media
artist, and teaches photography
in UNO-R’s College of Mass
Communications.
The Recoletos brother comes
from a family of artist. In fact,
the icon “Hesus Manghigput” is
a collaborative project between
him and his brother Agustin, a
realist painter currently based in
Calatrava, Negros Occidental.
Trained as a photographer and
in the area of sculpture, Jakosalem’s
fascination in art dates back
since his early childhood when
he would hang around with
the local photographers of their
hometown.
“I developed my art in the
seminary, where I designed books
and magazines for publications,”
he disclosed.
His art is usually about
socio-religious themes, political
commentaries, and environmental
preservation. Some of his artworks
are uploaded in his own website
(http://www.pinoyrekoleto.
com/tagoy.html).
“I already made an icon of
“Hesus Manghigput” during my
formation year in theology in 1999,
done in watercolor; it was made as
a stampita design,” he said.
The original artwork was his
signature one-eyed Jesus and the
alibata script which spells out the
words“Hesus”and“Manghigput”
(Jesus the Celebrator).
The inspiration to create an icon
for the Year for Priests came when
he saw the icon of the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops
(USCCB) done by iconographer
Marek Czarnecki.
Improving on his original work,
he decided to adapt the images of
Melchizedek and St. John Vianney
from Czarnecki’s icon, while
retaining the alibata script. He
tapped his equally talented brother
Agustin, a self-taught painter, to
work with him on the icon.
Making people aware
“Aware of the celebration of the
‘Year for Priests,’ I simply wanted
to make an artwork for our oratory
in the university for our students
to be aware [of] and make them
participate for the celebration,”
he said.
Jakosalem said the icon serves
as a means to deepen the students’
understanding of the “priest” in Jesus.
“In this case, Jesus as the
‘manghigput’ is explained as the
gatherer and celebrator of the
community,” he said.
The Recoletos brother said the
icon is just one of the many means
they intend to utilize to make
students and the rest of the faithful
understand more profoundly the
significance of the celebration.
On Sept. 11, the university
staged a dance documentary
titled ‘Hesus Manghigput.’ The
documentary featured the Filipino
‘babaylan’ as an early experience
and awareness of Filipinos of what
is ‘priesthood’—manghigput in
that case
“We are not only catechizing
them with the icon, we [are]
also [using] the language of
theater, dance and multi-media to
make them understand about the
celebration,” Jakosalem said.
Aside from multi-media
presentations, other plans are
afoot to create deeper awareness
of the event.
“My plan is to make this artwork
nearer to the hearts of priests, and
the hearts of all the members of the
Church through pilgrimage in all
our churches,” he said.
Launched
Last August 25, the icon was
officially unveiled and blessed
during a community Mass led by
Bishop Vicente Navarra, together
with the Recoletos priests in the
cathedral of Bacolod.
In his concluding message
during the launching, Jakosalem
stressed the threefold function
of the Priesthood: that of being
ministers of the Word and of the
Eucharist to the world; of being
prophets in modern times steeped
in corruption and injustices; and
of being kings or leaders whose
lives are characterized by service
and sacrifice.
In wanting to share his gift to
the Church, Jakosalem has earlier
given full copyright of the artwork
to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference
of the Philippines (CBCP) through
the CBCP Communications
Development Foundation in time
for the celebration of the Year for
Priests. The icon has since been
uploaded in all CBCP websites.

Quo / B5

Catholic Tradition, we celebrate cries out from the depth of the

his 22nd sacerdotal anniversary earth: How long will you, Gloria

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Signed:
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B8 Entertainment CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 19
September 14 - 27, 2009

Moral Assessment Technical Assessment

 Abhorrent  Poor
 Disturbing  Below average

 Acceptable  Average

 Wholesome  Above average

 Exemplary  E
xcellent

Title: I love you Beth Cooper
Cast: Hayden Panettiere, Paul
Rust, Jack T. Carpenter,
Lauren London, Alan Ruck,
Cynthia Stevenson
Director: Chris Columbus
Producers: Chris Columbus,
Mark Radcliffe, Michael
Barnathan
Screenwriter: Larry Doyle
Music: Christophe Beck
Editor: Peter Honess
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Cinematography: Phil Abraham
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Location: USA
Running Time: 102 min.
Technical Assessment: 
Moral Assessment: 
CINEMA Rating: For viewers 14
and above
Denis Cooverman (Paul Rust)
is graduating from high school
and he delivers his valedictory
speech. Unfortunately, he uses
this oration to profess his secret
love for head cheerleader Beth
Cooper (Hayden Panettiere).
His confession as well as other
things he says does not sit well
with Beth’s cocaine-sniffing
ROTC boyfriend Kevin (Shawn
Roberts). Meanwhile, charmed
and flattered Beth decides to
attend Denis’ party, together
with friends Cammy and Treece,
and gives him the night of his
life. Denis and Rich, the only
other guest of the party, try
hard to entertain the girls but
end up running away from a
vindictive Kevin. On the run,
Denis discovers that Beth isn’t
the girl he thought she was.
On the one hand, I Love You
Beth Cooper includes a strong
and charming cast who embodies
high school’s hormones quite
well. There is some believable
chemistry between he leads and
support that you can almost
sympathize with their sentiments
and motives. Almost... because it
gets there but never moves any
further. On the other hand, the
movie is flat and tedious. The
script is senseless and fails to
get the right tone and struggles
between being gross comedy and
sugary sweet teen romance. The
scenes are tedious and boring and
develops poorly.
I Love You Beth Cooper starts
off as another teen-inspired
romance but dangerously moves
to show freewheeling sexual
attitudes and choices that even
adults will be repulsed. The
line of morality seems to have
shifted too far as characters
ignore values and engage in
offensive behaviours, willingly,
Even parents of the characters
cannot be role models. The
heroes of the movie get drunk,
trivialize drug addiction, engage
in pre-marital sex, “threesomes”,
nudity (though shot off screen),
homosexuality, violence and
bad behaviours. The theme of
teen romance is overshadowed
by toilet humor and sex jokes.
Language is vulgar and crass.
The movie is not worth one’s hard
earned money and time.

MAC en COLET Ni Bladimer Usi

Buhay Parokya
Si Messina (Eula Title: Ang Manghuhula
Valdez) ay nagmula Cast: Eula Valdez, Glaiza de Castro, Look for the three items:
sa pamilya ng Emilio Garcia, Chanda Romero, Images of St. Bernadette,
manghuhula. Kilalang Pinky Amador, Bella Flores, Apostle James, and a Chalice.
manghuhula ang Adreinne Babiera (Illustration by Bladimer Usi)
kanyang ina (Chanda Director: Paolo Herras
Romero) sa kanilang Producers: Marc Licaros, Joseph
lugar na kung David Santos
s a a n p a n g h u h u l a Screenwriters: Paolo Herras, Mar-
ang pangunahing lon Rivera
i k i n a b u b u h a y n g Music: Isha
mga tao. Tinakasan Editor: Dempster Samarista
n i M e s s i n a a n g Genre: Drama
kanilang lugar dahil Cinematography: Rodolfo Aves, Jr.,
binansagan siyang Marissa Floirendo
salot nang minsang Distributor: Alessandro Productions
mahulaan niya ang Location: Manila
isang kamatayan at ito Running Time: 105 min.
ay nagkatotoo. Iniwan
niya ang kanyang Technical Assessment: 
anak na si Claire Moral Assessment:  ½
(Glaiza de Castro) CINEMA Rating: For viewers 14
dahil hindi niya ito and above
maisama. Magbabalik
si Messina sa kanilang
lugar nang malaman
niya na namatay ang
kanyang ina sa hindi pa
alam na kadahilanan.
Kasabay ng pag-aalam
ni Messina ng dahilan
ng kamatayan ng
kanyang ina ay pilit
naman niyang itatakas
si Claire sa mundo
ng panghuhula na
kanilang kinagisnan.
Ngunit hindi sila
papayagan ng
sindikato ni Jacob
(Emilio Garcia) na
siyang nagpapatakbo
sa negosyo ng
panghuhula. Marami
raw iniwang utang ang
ina ni Messina at dapat
itong pagbayaran ni
Claire sa pamamagitan rin ng panghuhula. Magawa pa kayang
itakas ni Messina si Claire gayong nahumaling na rin ito sa
mundo ng panghuhula?
Isang naiibang kuwento ang pelikula na tumatalakay
sa isang mundong bihira o hindi pa masyadong alam ng
nakararami. Hindi pangkaraniwan ang paksang nais talakayin
ng Ang Manghuhula kung kaya’t sa kabuuan ng pelikula’y
mas maraming tanong kaysa sagot ang mananatili sa isip ng
manonood. Palaisipan kung paanong naging isang sindikato
ang dapat sana’y di pangkaraniwang kakayahan ng panghuhula
na hindi pa rin batid kung biyaya o sumpa. Hindi gaanong
malinaw ang takbo ng kuwento at hindi rin malinaw kung saan
ito patutungo. Hanggang sa huli’y hindi masabi kung narating
ba ng pelikula ang nais nitong marating. Mahusay naman ang
mga nagsiganap sa pangunguna ni Valdez ngunit pawang
maraming butas at kulang sa pelikula na hindi napunan ng
husay ng mga tauhan. Bagama’t maliwanag ang nais makuha
ng pangunahing tauhan, hindi naman malinaw kung ano ba
talaga ang problema at ang ugat na pinanggagalingan nito.
Sayang at pawang maraming nais sabihin ang pelikula ngunit
nanatili ang lahat sa isipan ng may likha nito at hindi nagamit
ang biswal na midyum ng pelikula.
Maituturing nga bang biyaya o sumpa ang kakayahang
malaman ang hinaharap? Maliwanag ang turo ng simbahan
ukol dito na bagama’t sa simula pa lamang ng kasaysayan ay
may mga propeta nang nagpapahayag ng hinaharap, hindi
pa rin nararapat isa-alang-alang ng tao ang kanyang buhay
sa manghuhula. Ang gawin itong isang negosyo ay mas higit
na masama lalo pa’t nauuwi ito sa panloloko. Ito naman ay
naipakita ng pelikula at hindi nito kinukunsinte ang mga
maling gawa. Nakakabahala nga lang kung paanong ituring
ng anak na si Claire ang kanyang ina na halos pawang wala
na siyang paggalang dito. Nakakalito rin kung paano at bakit
pilit na inaako ni Claire ang papel ng isang manghuhula
gayong alam naman niya ang kapahamakang idudulot nito
sa kanya. Ang pinakanakakabahala sa lahat ay kung paanong
binigyang kapangyarihan ng pelikula ang mga barahang
gamit sa panghuhula na halos maging instrumento ito ng
kaguluhan at patayan sa kanilang lugar. Nakakabahala rin ang
madalas na pagpapakita ng mga imahe at santo na simbolo
ng pananampalatayang katoliko na pawang nais ipahiwatig
ang pagiging paganong Katoliko ng mga Plilipino. Dahil sa
mabigat nitong tema, nararapat lamang ang pelikula sa mga
manonood na may edad 14 pataas.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 19
September 14 - 27, 2009
C1

The Cross
A Supplement Publication of KCFAPI
and the Order of the Knights of
Columbus

KCFAPI celebrates 51st

founding anniversary
By Kate Laceda
THE Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the Philippines, Inc. (KC-
FAPI) has celebrated its 51st founding anniversary last September 9.
Established in 1958, the Association was founded by Fr. George J. Willmann, S.J., the father of the
Knights of Columbus in the Philippines.
The institution was initiated to provide mutual assistance to KC members and their beneficiaries for
losses and damages from the injuries and/or losses of lives and properties.
Through its foundations, which are the KC Philippines Foundation and Fr. George J. Willmann
Charities, Inc., KCFAPI performs its social responsibility through constantly helping the nation and
the Church, especially in the formation of priests.
As part of its commemoration, KCFAPI together with the Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost)
launched its Golden Jubilee stamp last September 9 at the Fr. George J. Willmann, S.J. Center in Intra-
muros, Manila.
KCFAPI President Antonio B. Borromeo and Executive Vice-President Ma. Theresa G. Curia as well as
PhilPost officials, namely, Elizabeth C. Tunggol, Assistant Postmaster General for Finance, and Conrado
Legaspi, Assistant Postmaster General for Information Technology graced the occasion.
Meanwhile, a voter’s education forum that intends to provide information on poll automation and
the proper usage of the new voting system also coincided with the celebration.
Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Commissioner Rene V. Sarmiento, being the lecturer of the fo-
rum, discussed on the concept and significance of poll automation to the forthcoming 2010 elections.
Sarmiento is one of the four COMELEC commissioners who are active KC members.
Other active KC members include SK Lucenito N. Tagle; SK Nicodemo T. Ferrer and SK Armando
Velasco.
Miguel Abila, representative of the Smartmatic-Total Information Management Corp. (TIM), dem-
onstrated on the proper handling of the machine.
The said forum focused on the theme “Neighbors helping neighbors understand poll automation.”

KCFAPI Golden Jubilee stamp launched

THE launching of the Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the
Philippines, Inc. (KCFAPI) Golden Jubilee Stamp was held last Septem-
ber 9 at the Fr. George J. Willmann, S.J. Center in Intramuros, Manila.
KCFAPI President Antonio B. Borromeo and Executive Vice
President Ma. Theresa G. Curia led the unveiling and presentation
of the commemorative stamp.
Elizabeth C. Tunggol, Assistant Postmaster General for Finance
and Conrado Legaspi, Assistant Postmaster General for Information
Technology of the Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost) led the
ceremonial turnover of the stamp to KCFAPI.
Part of the turnover was the ceremonial cancellation and signing
of the First Day Cover which were also conducted by the PhilPost
and KCFAPI officials.
PhilPost has produced a minimum of 500 pieces of the said cover
as a standard practice and they were distributed to all those who
attended the event as souvenir.
The launching of the commemorative stamp of KCFAPI aims to
uphold the value of fraternal service and to commemorate KCFAPI’s KCFAPI President Antonio B. Borromeo and Executive Vice President Ma. Theresa
G. Curia with PHILPOST Assistant Postmaster General for Finance Elizabeth C.
50 years of service. Tunggol and Assistant Postmaster General for Information Technology Conrado KCFAPI President Antonio B. Borromeo and PHILPOST Assistant Postmaster
This said activity was organized by the KCFAPI in collaboration Legaspi during the unveiling of the commemorative stamp last September 9 held General for Finance Elizabeth C. Tunggol signing the First Day Cover during the
with PhilPost. (KCFAPI News) at KCFAPI home office in Intramuros, Manila. recent launching of KCFAPI Golden Jubilee stamp.

COMELEC Commissioner KCFAPI recognizes its service awardees

lectures on voter’s education
THE Knights of Columbus Fraternal Associa- ness the occasion were Msgr. Joselito Asis and
tion of the Philippines, Inc. (KCFAPI) presented employees of KCFAPI and its subsidiaries. (April
certificates of recognition to this year’s service Basilio)
awardees.
A Service award is
given to recognize the
length of service or
loyalty of an employee
to the Association.
The awarding was
held last September
9 on the occasion of
its 51st Anniversary
Celebration held at
KCFAPI home of-
fice in Intramuros,
Manila.
This year’s service
awardees were: Mr.
Enrique V. Mangona,
for his 30 years of ser- KCFAPI President Antonio Borromeo, KCFAPI Executive Vice President Ma. Theresa Curia and
COMELEC Commissioner Rene V. Sarmiento led the voter’s education forum held last September 9 at the Fr. George J.
Willmann S.J. Center in Intramuros, Manila.
vice and Ms. Ma. Luisa Msgr. Joselito Asis with service awardee Mr. Enrique Mangona during the awarding of certificate
P. Manuel, for her 20 of recognition for Mr. Mangona’s 30 years of service with the Association.
COMMISSION on Elections (COMELEC) Commis- be given to aspiring candidates and its parties to years of service.
sioner Rene V. Sarmiento recently conducted a vot- give them detailed information on the automated Mr. Enrique V. Man-
er’s education forum at the Fr. George J. Willmann election system. gona is an IT Assistant
S.J. Center in Intramuros, Manila last Sept. 9, 2009. “The source code contains the readable instruc- for the Management
It was organized by the Knights of Columbus tions on how the machine will operate. This will Information System
Luzon Jurisdiction and facilitated by the Knights be made available for political parties for them to and has been with the
of Columbus Fraternal Association of the Philip- justify that no markings has been made yet in the Association since Oc-
pines, Inc. (KCFAPI). machine,” the COMELEC commissioner stated. tober 1979. While Ms.
According to Sarmiento, the concept of poll He added that the primary role of the COMELEC Ma. Luisa P. Manuel is
automation is a product of joint congressional is to conduct elections regardless of several barriers an Underwriting Staff
initiative. that block its implementation. for the Underwriting
“This is the suggestion of non-governmental “COMELEC resolved to hold elections for 2010 Department and has
organizations and electoral reform groups because despite the tendency of House Bill 1109. This is a been with the Associa-
for the first time the NGOs were consulted by the serious concern by the speaker of the house ad- tion since May 1989.
Congress,” he said. vocating for constitution amendment for charter Certificates were
“That is why we have the adversary counsel the change and the opposition are saying that this is awarded by KCFAPI
same counsel that advised us to adopt the Precinct a quota course to leave the term of the incumbent President Mr. Antonio
Count Optical Scan (PCOS). This counsel is com- President,” Sarmiento said. Borromeo and Execu-
posed of the public and private organizations and Sarmiento, who is a very active member of the tive Vice President Ms.
individuals,” he added. Knights of Columbus, has also acknowledged his Ma. Theresa Curia. KCFAPI President Antonio Borromeo and Executive Vice President Ma. Theresa Curia with
service awardee Ms. Ma. Luisa Manuel during the awarding of certificate of recognition for Ms.
He also disclosed that source code reviews will Comelec / C3 Also present to wit- Manuel’s 20 years of service with the Association.
 The Cross
CBCP Monitor
C2 Vol. 13 No. 19
September 14 - 27, 2009

Chairman’s
Message
Patrocinio R. Bacay
FIFTY one years of fulfilling the dream of Fr. George J. Willmann, S.J., our founder, is cer-
tainly an audacity for KCFAPI to venture on. It has endeavored with fraternal dedication
to continuously serve our brother knights and their families to face a brighter future.
More and more, our brother knights have realized and appreciated the vision and mission
of KCFAPI through the years. As God allows it, this fraternal institution will search for more
and better plans to afford, more benefit to our brother knights and their families.
We have accomplished it for 51years and promised to do better in the next 49 years with
the blessing and guidance from above.
To the KCFAPI family, congratulations and we all look forward to a better year and more
fruitful life.
President’s
Message
Antonio B. Borromeo
AS we celebrate our 51 years as a Mutual Benefit Association this
September 9, 2009, we are reminded of the more than 55,000 brother
knights and 24,000 family members whom we serve. In this economi-
cally difficult and spiritually troubled time, we look forward to con-
tinue serving our Benefit Certificate Holders and their beneficiaries
in the next 49 years of our corporate life. We have grown from a seed
money of only P32,000 to almost P3.0 B in resources and we expect to strengthen further our portfolio to be
able to make good our promises to our stakeholders.
We will always be grateful to all our brother knights who have been part of and are still part of KCFAPI.
To our energetic sales force who link KCFAPI to the Order through the fraternal service they provide, to the
employees, who are our most valued resource, and to the Board members who guide us and support our en-
deavors, thank you.
Saving the best for last, to the Almighty Father, who is our beacon in our day-to-day operations, we give it
back to him for His greater glory.

KCFAPI – Cagayan de Oro Service Office

CAGAYAN de Oro City is popularly known as the “City of Golden
Friendship”. It is the center of trade, commerce, finance and educa-
tion in Northern Mindanao. The City is also known as the Gateway
of Northern Mindanao since it is the arrival point for around 80%
of visitors in the region.
The name Cagayan de Oro was derived from the word “KAGAY-
AN” which means “the place where gold is panned” owing to the
rich tributaries that abound with gold. The name was later changed
to “Cagayan” upon the arrival of the Spaniards. The phrase “DE
ORO” was added when gold was found in the river traversing the
village.
Cagayan de Oro is geographically located along the central coast
of Northern Mindanao. It is bounded by two municipalities, Mis-
amis Oriental – Tagoloan and Opol. Its strategic location and its
considerable coastline have made it the principal commercial center
of Northern Mindanao.
The City represents 14 percent of the entire province of Misamis
Oriental and is considered to be the most densely populated area
in the region. This is indicative of bustling economic activity in
the area.
The Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the Philippines,
Inc. (KCFAPI) started its operations in the city in 1988, serving the
provinces of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del
Norte, Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del
Sur, Surigao del Norte, some parts of Zamboanga del Norte and
Zamboanga del Sur and its component cities. It is located in the
heart of the City in our own Knights of Columbus Building located
at Capt. V. Roa Extension, a walking distance from Jesus Nazareno
Church and Gaisano Mall.
Since its establishment, it has always been the thrust of the Service
Office to give the optimum customer service, fraternal benefits to
our Brother Knights and their families and unceasing support to the
Order of Knights of Columbus and its Social Dimension.
Fraternal Benefits Associate Renante Rio Bragat and Service Office
Assistant Mary Ann San Juan currently man the Cagayan de Oro
Service Office.
With the Fraternal Counselors from Northern Mindanao headed
by Bro. Cres C. Dal, East Central Mindanao headed by Bro. Jojo S.
Amoroso and North Western Mindano headed by Bro. Cris T. Lagare,
the aspirations of the founder of Knights of Columbus, Fr. Michael
J. McGivney were being continued through KCFAPI. (Renante Rio Fraternal Benefits Associate Renante Rio Bragat and Service Office Assistant Mary
M. Bragat) Ann San Juan of KCFAPI – Cagayan de Oro Service Office.

NL Gold Miners District M-22 launches KCFAPI month

to rev up sales
THE District M-22 of Calumpit, Bula-
can launched the Knights of Columbus
Fraternal Association in the Philippines
(KCFAPI) month last September 12,
Insurance Protection Program of the schedules of the degree exemplification,
members and their families. the various district programs and the
The said program is being achieved council accomplishment report.
through the KCFAPI Programs such The Manager of the Fraternal Benefits

performance
THE fraternal counselors of the North-
ern Luzon (NL), also known as Gold
Miners, have given their assurance to
revive their negative variance produc-
tion on their sales performance.
“The FCs of Northern Luzon prom-
ised to cope with their negative variance
production,” said Fraternal Benefits
Service Manager Gari San Sebastian in
an interview.
The group has also affirmed that Gold
Miners will have a representative in
the forthcoming 2009 Annual Family
Service Awards along with their sales
improvement.
“(They) will (also) try their best to join
in the upcoming Annual Awards,” San
Sebastian stated. This statement was
made by the group during the produc-
tion orientation seminar and refresher
course program that was conducted by
the Fraternal Benefits Group (FBG) last
2009 at the meeting hall of San Isidro as the C.A.R.E.S. Plans and the S.P.E.K Services, Gari San Sebastian, was the
Labrador, Council #6105 in Pulilan, Plans. guest speaker for the event.
Bulacan. Topics that were tackled during This activity, which marked its 6th
This activity was through the ini- the launch were the status of the said year last September 12, was first con-
tiative of SK Rodolfo Y. Manumbas, district for the quarter, KCFAPI events ducted by Council 6613. In 2003, it was
PFN, District Deputy of M-22, while namely, TOKCA and the Council adapted as a district wide program.
August 28-29, 2009.
SK Lauro L. Evangelista, FC/DGK, of Honors Award, and KC Luzon’s According to San Sebastian, the
Held in La Trinidad, Benguet, San
Fraternal Counselor of 2008 and the forthcoming 10th Luzon State Con- launching was scheduled on the month
Sebastian has facilitated the activity.
District Chairman for the Fraternal vention at the Palacio ng Maynila on of September since it is the anniversary
He discussed the Basic Product Lines
Protection Program, led the launching October 10. of the KC association and the death an-
such as the Gold Series Plan, KC Dollar
ceremony. Other matters taken up were the new niversary of the Father of the Knights of
Supreme Plan and the Special Plan for
The launching aimed to raise aware- membership quota for Councils titled Columbus in the Philippines, Fr. George
the Elderly Knights (SPEK) and the Ba-
ness and intensify the campaign for the as, “Council Insurance Quota”, the J. Willmann. (KCFAPI News)
sic Computation of Contributions.
Initial steps in selling and other pro-
cesses of sales were also tackled.
The event was attended by 20 fra-
ternal counselors from the Northern
Luzon region.
Meanwhile, one of the Benefit Certifi-
cate (BC) holders, Judge Adolfo Malin-
gan, from the said region has recently
received his early maturity from the
Return of Contribution of his Ordinary
Line Coverage.
Malingan then said that he plans to
reinvest part of its proceeds to KCFAPI
Gold Series Plan. (Kate Laceda)

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eastern side of Bagong Diwa St., Barangay
Poblacion, Makati City, 100 meters from J. P.
Rizal, 500 meters away from Makati City Hall
and approximately 1 kilometer away from the
LAYOUT BY LAURENCE JOHN R. MORALES

intersection of Sen. Gil J. Puyat and Makati

Avenues. CARTAGENA SUITES is accessible
to Makati Business District either through
Makati or Kalayaan Avenue.

FOR INQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT OR CALL KEYS REALTY FOR DETAILS (527-22-21, 527-22-38).
HURRY, PLEASE MAKE YOUR RESERVATION NOW.
 The Cross
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 19
September 14 - 27, 2009
C3

The message of Our Lady

The Catholic Hemisphere
By Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson

of Guadalupe unites the American

continent in a common bond of faith
SUPPORTING a sports team No other place on earth has as many practicing Catholics as the
has the ability to unify a city. Americas. While some continents have never been Christian, and
But in every game, the fans of while many European churches are nearly empty, ours are still full.
one team are pitted against the Here, the Church faces a bright future. Here, we are indeed fortu-
fans of another. nate to be citizens of the Catholic hemisphere, a continent of baptized
As I participated in the Christians, unified by the Gospel message of Christ.
Order’s Guadalupe Festival For if we who live on the American continent have a shared past,
in Phoenix, Aug. 8 —at an we have a shared future as well: a future of unity in faith.
arena where sporting events What unites us as a Christian family is far greater than anything
are usually held — I observed that divides us. Our Lady of Guadalupe is the mother of each of
how our faith has the power us, regardless of where we are from or what language we speak.
to unite us, but without the This is a unity that joins us as Knights, that joins us to the Church
necessity of pitting us against and to our fellow Christians on this continent.
“another team.” But we cannot rest easy viewing this history of unity as a settled
At the festival, nearly 20,000 matter; we must protect it going forward. It is up to us—in our lives,
people from a variety of back- in our homes and in our families—to put our faith into practice.
grounds joined together, uni- From Canada to Argentina, all of us who live in the Americas
fied in their celebration of are called, like St. Juan Diego, to bridge the divide of cultures. We
Christ’s mother and her son’s are called to communicate the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
message, which she brought to mother of the civilization of love.
our continent centuries ago. It is up to us to make that unity real by living exemplary family
We shared an arena with and professional lives, and by supporting the faith of Catholic im-
people of every conceivable migrants today so that they become the Catholic parents of tomor-
ethnic background. And as row. If we do these things, our legacy will be a Catholic hemisphere
we prayed the rosary in 26 that remains Catholic.
languages from Europe, Asia, Vivat Iesus!
Africa and North America, I
realized that the force that uni- Comelec / C1
fied those in the arena is that appreciation for the KC association who has been an advocate in
which can and does unify all educating people on poll automation.
of us in this hemisphere: the “KCFAPI is in front line in educating our people on poll automa-
Christian faith. tion. Isn’t that historic? Isn’t that divine? Isn’t that an obligation? And
Our continent is one drawn we are holding it on the 51st anniversary of KCFAPI,” he stated.
together by shared history. Miguel Abila, representative of the Smartmatic-Total Informa-
On a historical level, all of its tion Management Corp. (TIM), has demonstrated how the machine
countries— to some degree— are nations of immigrants and Native It is no surprise that Pope Pius XII later proclaimed Our Lady of works. He also discussed on the necessary guidelines for trouble-
Americans. On a spiritual level, all of these countries share a common Guadalupe “Empress of the Americas.” shooting problems.
heritage of Christianity. And on a personal level, every person on Our Lady of Guadalupe points us to her son, and she also points Meanwhile, an audio-visual presentation was also shown. It
this continent shares a mother: Our Lady of Guadalupe. us to unity in her son. For Catholics, this unity must transcend bor- presented on the milestones of KCFAPI and highlighted events for
Of course, Our Lady of Guadalupe has been unifying this hemi- ders. In this spirit of unity—the second principle of our Order— it the year 2009.
sphere for nearly 500 years. In the 1700s, Pope Benedict XIV said of took only a few years after our foundation for the Knights to spread KCFAPI Executive Vice-President Ma. Theresa G. Curia extended
her: “To no other nation has such a wonder been done.” And at the throughout the Christian hemisphere—to Canada (1897), to Mexico her gratitude to the attendees as she delivered her opening speech
time he said this, that nation stretched from Seattle to the Southern (1905), to Panama and Cuba (1909), and to many other countries in while President Antonio B. Borromeo gave his concluding message.
tip of Argentina. this hemisphere since. (KCFAPI News)

Fraternal Benefits Group

10th Luzon State Convention Schedule of Activities

slated in October
September 14, 2009
Fr. George J. Willmann’s Death Anniversary

September 18-20, 2009

Fraternal Service Training
THE Knights of Columbus Luzon Jurisdiction Php1,500.00 - September 10 All paid delegates are entitled to convention kit (North Eastern Luzon)
will be holding the 10th Luzon State Convention Php1,600.00 - September 11 to 30 which includes: one Convention bag, Identification Santiago, Isabela
on October 10 (Saturday) from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 Php1,700.00 - October 1 to 3 Card, Certificate of Attendance, Meals Stubs (a.m.
p.m. at Palacio De Maynila, M.H Del Pilar St. snacks, lunch, p.m. snacks and state dinner) and September 23-24, 2009
Malate, Manila, near the Diamond Hotel. This We advise brother knights to register early. also one raffle stub for the door prize. Fraternal Service Training
year’s theme is, “Neighbors Helping Neighbors We will close the registration as soon as we reach Council resolutions should be forwarded to (Manila)
in Service Together”, which speaks of true vol- 500 paid delegates. Ten percent discount will be KC Luzon Office using the form attached to the
unteerism. given for every group of 10 delegates registered circular sent to all Grand Knights. September 25, 2009
Following are the registration fees if you pay on up to September 30, 2009. This additional incen- We look forward to see you at the 10th Luzon Joint Meeting and Mini Sports fest
the corresponding dates. tive is only applicable to councils and districts. Convention. (Bonifacio B. Martinez)
Yo u m a y
contact
KCFAPI
through
our TEXT
CONNECT IN-
F O R M AT I O N
SYSTEM (TEXT
BILIS)
Send to: 0917-825-
KOFC or 0917-825-
5632

To register
KCREG<space>FCCODE<space>PI
NCODE<space>CONFIRM CODE
Example: KCREG 00000 123456
123456

To inquire allowance
ALLW<space>FCCODE
<space>PINCODE
Example: ALLW 00000 123456

To inquire for Submitted, Released

& Paid BCs
SRP<space>FCCODE
<space>MMYYYY
Example: SRP 00000 012008

To inquire for the status of Benefit

Certificate
BCINQ<space>ACCOUNT#<space>
BIRTHDATE
Example: BCINQ 1002840
01061971

To text a particular Department

DEPTCODE<space>Your
Name<space>Your Message
Example: To text Underwriting Depart-
ment for follow-up
UND Juan Dela Cruz Follow-up ap-
plication of Bro. Joel Garcia

DEPTCODE:
UND - for Underwriting
FBG - for FBG
FMAS - for FC’s Account
SERVICE - for BC Services
CORPSRV - for FADB
FGJWF - for Foundations
 The Cross
CBCP Monitor
C4 Vol. 13 No. 19
September 14 - 27, 2009

KCFAPI joins opening of 127th

Columbus Day Celebration

UC-Banilad Nursing students supervised by FBA Floralin Bohol are seen rendering
their services at the KCFAPI booth during the opening of the 127th Columbus Day
Celebration at Mandaue Sports Complex last August 16.
THE Knights of Columbus Visayas Juris-
diction, Province of Cebu opens the 127th
Columbus Day Celebration with the theme,
“The Year of the Volunteer” held at Mandaue
City Sports Complex and Cultural Center in
Mandaue City last August 16
The event was hosted by Justice Sotero
Cabahug of Council No. 6160 and headed by
the Overall Chairman, Atty. Allan Nicolas C.
Ouano, Past Grand Knight of the host council
and incumbent Visayas Secretary.
First Degree Exemplification was con-
ducted simultaneously during the opening
at the KC Center of the host council.
The affair opened with a parade of con-
spicuous delegations coming from 26 coun-
cils of Cebu Province which started from
Colegio dela Immaculada Concepcion (CIC)
Tipolo, Mandaue and ended at Mandaue
City Sports Complex and Cultural Center.
This was followed by a Fraternal Mass offici-
ated by Rev. Fr. Vincent Barrio, OAD.
SO Assistant Cyrus Lao at the KCFAPI booth as brother knights accomplish the
Member Information Sheet (MIS).
One of the highlights of the affair was the
donation of books to the City of Mandaue
by the host council. The donation was grate-
fully acknowledged by the City Mayor of
Mandaue, Honorable Jonas C. Cortes who
was also the guest speaker.
The Fraternal Counselors (FC) of the
Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association
of the Philippines, Inc. (KCFAPI) adhered to
the Opening of the Columbus Day Celebra-
tion. A KCFAPI Booth was set up inside
the complex. CARES, SPEK and Dollar
Supreme brochures were displayed. FCs
entertained queries from brother knights
regarding Council Mortuary Benefit Plan
(CMBP) and Free Fraternal Accidental
Benefit (FADB). Some brother knights filled
up the Member Information Sheet (MIS)
form on the spot, taking the opportunity
while their respective Grand Knights were
around. The booth also offered Blood
Pressure monitoring courtesy of Nursing
(L-R) Bro. Joel Flordelis (Team Leader-CVA), Sis. Floralin Bohol (FBA), Bro.
Romualdo Montemayor, Dr. Teodoro Ando and Bro. Alfredo Aranas during the
Opening of the 127th Columbus Day Celebration. Also in the photo are the Nursing
students from the University of Cebu (UC)- students from UC-Banilad.
Banilad Campus.
These activities were organized by the
Fraternal Benefits Associate (FBA) Floralin
Bohol and Cebu Service Office Assistant
Cyrus Lao with the vigorous support from
the following Fraternal Counselors: Bros.
Joel Flordelis (Team Leader-CVA); Dennis
Cañares (Team Leader-CVE); Romualdo
Montemayor; Antonio Valle; Albert Qui-
ñanola; Teodoro Ando; Alfredo Aranas;
Ramon Aguilar and Bibliano Liston.
The Culmination Day will be on October
24, 2009 with the following line up of activi-
ties: a) Thanksgiving Mass at National Shrine
of St. Joseph Parish, Mandaue City at 8:00
a.m.; b) Squires Investiture – Provincewide
at Mabolo KC Center, Cebu City at 9:00 a.m.;
c) Fourth Degree Exemplification at Sacred
Members of the host council Justice Sotero Cabahug No. 6160 headed by the
Heart Center, Cebu City at 1:00 p.m.; and d) Overall Chairman Atty. Allan Nicolas Ouano welcome delegates to the opening of
Culmination Night at Sacred Heart Center, the 127th Columbus Day Celebration at Mandaue Sports Complex and Cultural
Cebu City, at 6:00 p.m. (Floralin Bohol) Center, Mandaue City last August 16.

KC Luzon joins SVD Centennial rites KC Luzon spearheads

THE Knights of Columbus Luzon
Jurisdiction took part in the Centen-
nial Celebration of the Society of the
Divine Word (SVD) last August 21-
22, 2009 in Bangued, Abra.
Headed by Luzon Deputy Alonso
L. Tan, other Brother Knights who at-
tended were State Secretary Arsenio
Isidro Yap and State Treasurer Joven
Joaquin.
A courtesy call to Bangued Bishop
Leopoldo C. Jaucian, SVD was im-
mediately conducted before the big
celebration.
Jo sefino Val en ci a, R e g i on 1
Membership Chairman, past and
present district deputies and sev-
eral grand knights also attended
the courtesy call.
The main agenda of the meeting
was the participation of the KC Order
on the SVD Centennial celebration.
Souvenir items were handed out by
Bishop Jaucian who expressed his grati-
tude to the KC Order for having actively
participated in the important milestone
of the congregation.
Another meeting was held, this time
for the Bangued-based Knights. This
meeting aimed to know the situation of
the other Brother Knights in Abra.
Matters discussed were the strength-
ening of the recruitment campaign, new
re-districting program, financial status
of the jurisdiction, importance of settling
for the State Deputy’s assessment, and
benefits of being a member of the Vener-
able Fr. Michael J. McGivney Guild as
well as being a Fr. Willmann fellow.
Tan, facilitator of the meeting, un-
derscored the importance of the Luzon
Convention that is scheduled on Octo-
ber 10 at the Palacio de Maynila. He
then called on the Bangued-based
Knights to attend the affair.
Bro. Josefino Valencia and his wife
hosted a “merienda cena” with native
delicacies prior to the formal recep-
tion of the Centennial celebration.
On their second day, the Knights
of Columbus delegation attended
the Eucharistic celebration at the
Cathedral of St. James the Elder in
Bangued.
President Gloria Macapagal-Ar-
royo and Archbishop Edward Joseph
Adams, Apostolic Nuncio to the
Philippines, graced the event.
The celebration was capped by
the participation of more than 300
priests and bishops. Many of the
songs were in the native dialect.
(Arsenio Isidro Yap)
clean-up drive
THE Knights of Columbus Luzon Juris-
diction will be spearheading a clean-up
drive on September 19 to celebrate inter-
national coastal clean-up day.
Luzon Deputy Alonso L. Tan will lead
his officers in the activity, along the Las
Piñas habitat critical area.
District P23 headed by District Dep-
uty Nicanor Jimenez, will be the host
district for this project.
Following the clean-up drive is a tree
planting activity which is aimed to help
address the present problem on global
warming.
State Community Director Bro. Ra-
moncito A. Ocampo and State Ecology
Chairman Bro. Carlos Gubat will orga-
nize the event in commemoration of the
32nd Death Anniversary of Fr. George
J. Willmann, S.J. and as part of the pre-
convention activities.
Expected to join the group to dip in the
muddy coastal area are the entire State Of-
ficers, State Secretary Bro. Arsenio Isidro G.
Yap, State Treasurer Bro. Jack B. Joaquin,
State Advocate Justice Jose C. Reyes Jr.
and State Warden Bro. Pasky C. Carbero.
Other state officers who will join us are Bro.
Bobby G. Lorenzo, Bro Vicente V. Ortega,
Bro. Alejandro V. Alvaira, Bro. Elmer
Erolesa, and Bro. Conrado S. Dator Jr.
The participation of District Deputies
and Grand Knights of councils 3713,
5688, 5697, 6167 and 6181 will ensure
the success of the project. (Bonifacio
B. Martinez)

KCFAPI Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the The Knights of Colum-

employee Philippines, Inc., bus Fraternal Associa-

tion of the Philippines
An established Mutual Benefits Association is currently looking for: Inc., is an established and
receives Marketing Staff
progressive Mutual Ben-
efits Association operating

Professional Accounting Staff

for 51 years, has been high-
ly committed to provide
mutual aid and assistance
designation Underwriting Staff to its members and their
immediate families.
Accounting Supervisor
from LOMA Auditor
KC Fraternal firmly
believes that the continued
progress and success of the
association depends to a
If you are dedicated, service-oriented, and have the promising potential to great extent on its human
join us in our continuous drive to provide mutual aid, assistance and excel- capital
lent service to our members. Kindly send your comprehensive resume’ thru KC Fraternal also be-
fax number 527-2244 or hand-carry resume’ with a 2x2 photo and transcript lieves that through training
and a host of other benefits
of records to: if coupled with hard work,
will help employees and
the association attain their
goals and objectives.
Ms. Evangelina Dawal - recipient of the
Professional Customer Service designation In our continuous drive
LIFE Office Management Association to provide excellent ser-
(LOMA) recently awarded Ms. Evange- vice to our members, we
lina F. Dawal, an employee of Knights of are currently on the look-
Columbus Fraternal Association of the out for individuals with
Philippines, Inc. (KCFAPI), a designa- promising potentials. He
tion for completing the Professional,
must be dedicated, service
Customer Service (PCS) Program. The
awarding of the certificate was held at KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FRATERNAL oriented, and willing to
KCFAPI Home Office in Intramuros,
Manila.
ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES INC. undergo training
Ms. Dawal is a Customer Relations
Assistant for the Actuarial and Cus-
Gen. Luna cor. Sta. Potenciana Sts., Our compensation and
tomer Relations Group. Aside from her Intramuros Manila employee benefits are
comparable, if not better
PCS designation, she is also a Fellow in
Life Management Institute (FLMI) of the than most companies of
Life Office Management Association. You may also call 527 – 2223 local 202 for queries and look for Ms. Kris- our same size and nature
Congratulations and continue to be of business
an inspiration to others! – From your tianne or Ms. April of HRCC or visit our official website: www.kofc.org.ph
KCFAPI Family. (April B. Basilio)