•A3 The Transfiguration shows

that Jesus alone guides us,

•B1 ‘The Priest’s Mission is to
be a Mediator, a Bridge
•C1 UGNAYAN
The News Supplement
of Couples for Christ
Pope Benedict teaches that Connects’

Filipinos turn to God to 2 bishops endorse ‘JC’ for

pray for rain president
TEMPERATURE is high. The rains are still to SEEMINGLY setting the stage for collision
come. More and more Filipinos are turning to of religion and politics, some Catholic bish-
God to solve the nation’s water crisis. ops will use their pulpits to deliver political
Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Ro- sermons or endorse candidates—defying the
sales has summoned his flocks to a prayer start- church’s long-time non-partisan stance.
ing last Feb. 26 to ask for rain to come and help At least two senior prelates came out in the
ease the impending water and power crisis. open Thursday expressing their full support for
The church leader has also come up with Ang Kapatiran’s standard bearer John Carlos
an Oratio Imperata Ad Petendam Pluviam “JC” De Los Reyes.
(Obligatory Prayer to Request for Rain) to be Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra and Lipa
inserted into the daily and Sunday Prayers of Archbishop said they will firmly stand for what
the Faithful of the Mass. they believe is “right” and “necessary”.
Rain / A6
March 1 - 14, 2010 Vol. 14 No. 5 Php 20.00 ‘JC’ / A7

Cardinal hits ‘narrow-

minded’ response to AIDS By Roy Lagarde
THE head of Manila’s Catholic Church said condoms are not the answer
to the country’s fight against HIV and described as “narrow-minded”
the government’s response to it.
Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said condoms will never solve the AIDS epidemic and could
make the problem even worse.
Rosales assailed the Department of Health (DOH), saying they are being instrumental to
the deterioration of the morals of the society, especially the youth.
“The DOH is teaching something wrong. Such mentality is pitiful,” he said.
The cardinal said providing accurate information and respecting moral values will AIDS
be effectively controlled.
He added that a responsible and moral attitude toward sex would help fight the dreaded
disease.
Meanwhile, the Catholic bishops’ leadership called on the government to make more fund-
ing on the basic needs of the people instead of buying contraceptives.
Another senior prelate urged the authorities to look into widespread and covert prostitution
as one of the HIV “transmission realities”.
The DOH reported that it has recorded 3,515 HIV/AIDS cases since 1984 or an 84 percent
increase since that year.

Moral issue
Rosales said it is just unfortunate for today’s generation that they have experienced having
such types of government leaders.
“If we have leaders like in the DOH, I pity the Philippines for having leaders like them,”
said the Cardinal.

Fidelity, abstinence
“I have the feeling that it has something to do with that big private construction company cornering the CDF (countrywide development
fund) projects,” Archbishop Oscar Cruz told the media after the CBCPNews/CMN forum where he disclosed that Wilfredo “Boy” Mayor
This is the first time that Cardinal Rosales made a strong attack on the government’s con-
visited him four days before he was ambushed—to seek his help on a forthcoming exposé of about a construction business scam. Mayor tinuing promotion of condom use, but his position is not new.
was one of the whistle-blowers in the 2005 Senate inquiry on jueteng where Cruz figured as an anti-gambling crusader. AIDS / A6

‘Zombie voters’ just tip of iceberg—PPCRV

THE multiple registrants found in the voters’ lists in Davao province
is just the tip of the iceberg, a Catholic Church-backed poll watchdog
has warned.
The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) said
they are expecting more similar problems in other provinces in the
coming days.
PPCRV lawyer Atty. Howard Calleja said they also uncovered
similar problem in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao
(ARMM), touted as the country’s cheating capital during elections.
“Davao is just one case and there are other areas with similar
problem,” he said. “What we’ve found in Davao City and Davao
del Sur is only the tip of the iceberg.”
He said that they will report all the areas with questionable voters’
list once their volunteers from various provinces submit their report.
“We have information of similar problem in the Visayas and even
in Luzon. So we are going to look at it,” the lawyer said.
Calleja filed a manifestation at the Commission on Elections urging
Atty. Howard Calleja (right) and PPCRV chair Henrietta De Villa (center) during
a demonstration on how to use the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machine
that will be used for the May 10 automated elections.
the poll body to fix all the voters’ list in the country, with only two
months to go before the local and national elections.
This after poll watchdog found some 40,000 “double and multiple
registrants” in the said two areas.
The hefty number also includes “zombie voters” or deceased
people still listed as active voters in the posted computerized voters’
list (PCVL) in Davao.
At the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila, PPCRV lawyer
called on the Comelec to come out with a “clean and true” list of
active voters.
“The irregularities of poll cheating starts in the voters’ list and if they will
not fix it, how can we have a clean and honest election,” said Calleja.
According to him, the poll body still has an ample time to clean
the voters’ list if they will only be serious about it.
“At this stage, we still have few weeks more to go until March 26
wherein they will close the book of voters. There’s still enough time
to fix it,” Calleja said. (CBCPNews)

Bishops opt power summit over emergency rule New DENR

SOME Catholic bishops re-
sorted to favoring the holding
be used as a basis for declar-
ing emergency rule.
head alarms
of a ‘power summit’ than pro-
viding emergency powers to
“It is not reasonable to
give emergency powers to environmental
groups
President Arroyo in order to someone who precisely has
address the energy crisis. already too much power,”
Kalookan Bishop Deogra- Cruz also said.
cias Iñiguez said the situation Last week, Cagayan de
will reach a critical state if the Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez INDIGENOUS People and Environmental ad-
government and the people asked Congress to authorize vocates have expressed concern over President
will not act fast and find solu- Arroyo to resort to emer- Arroyo’s appointment of the Mines and Geosci-
tions to the power crisis. Archbishop Oscar Cruz Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez gency powers to address an ences Bureau director as acting secretary of the
“A power summit is neces- “actual” power shortage in Department of Environment and Natural Re-
sary to deal with the power crisis,” said Iñiguez He said it would be a bad idea to grant such mas- the country. sources (DENR).
who also chairs the Committee on Public Affairs sive power to someone already perceived to be over- To recall, the National Grid Corp. of the Philip- Arroyo appointed MGB head Horacio Ramos
of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philip- staying in power but is still wanting for more. pines (NGCP) had already said that the El Niño after the resignation last December of former
pines. “The easy granting of emergency powers to the phenomenon is expected to cause an energy short- DENR Secretary Jose “Lito” Atienza Jr. in prepa-
Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez added: “I’m incumbent president could make her used to it age of some 144 megawatts resulting to two to ration for his campaign as mayoral candidate in
in favor of the power summit provided that the such that it would be easy for her to claim it and three hours of rotating brownouts in Mindanao. the city of Manila.
government will implement the decisions.” declare it whenever it is convenient,” Cruz said. The NGCP noted that Luzon already has
Retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz, for his part, “It could be a bad precedent as she could just enough powers to supply the region and has the
questioned the motive behind the proposal to grant create a situation in the future where she can claim capability to export some to Visayas, which was
emergency powers to the President months before such emergency powers,” he said. also threatened earlier of a rotating brownout.
the elections in May. According to Cruz, the power crisis should not (CBCPNews)

AMRSP says ‘EDSA 1 dreams remained dreams’ EDSA gave the people the opportu-
nity to look back that led people to
rise against the dominant powers of
DESPITE gious Superiors of the Philippines the 1980s.
all the com- believe “the people are facing the The factors that brought people
memora- very same enemy that they toppled together were the curtailment of
tive pro- in EDSA during those great days of freedom and democracy and the op-
grams and February 1986.” pression committed by the conjugal A militant flashes a thumb down sign during a protest rally against
y e l l o w In a statement, the ARMSP said the dictatorship. the appointment of Horacio Ramos as the new DENR secretary.
buntings dreams that EDSA promised never “The abuses brought about The SOCSKARGEN CAN (South Cotabato,
and ribbons materialized “for the atrocities that by the long arms of the dictator Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani Province and General
across the the people of 1986 denounced, hap- reached that point where the coun- Santos—Climate Action Network) fears that
country in pened again and in fact are gaining try could no longer bear it and so Ramos’ appointment could lead to more issu-
time for the greater momentum now compared to the people raised their voices in ances of environmental permits on large-scale
24th Anni- what was happening then.” discontent and swore that never mining and agro-industrial plantations in the
Illustration by Bladimer Usi

versary of The joint statement, signed by Sr. again would evil prevail in our said areas.
EDSA Peo- Mary John Mananzan, OSB and Fr. land,” they said. “We fear that under his administration, envi-
ple Power Jesus Malit, SSS said the struggles The association said the Catholic ronmental impact assessments (EIA) and issuance
I, the As- and victories of EDSA were all short Church was greatly instrumental in of environmental clearance certificates (ECC) will
sociation of lived. the fall of the dictatorship, and have be done in haste, undermining community and
Major Reli- Looking back, the ARMSP said Dreams / A6 DENR / A6
 World News
CBCP Monitor
A2 Vol. 14 No. 5
March 1 - 14, 2010

Pontiff praying for quake-

stricken Chile
VATICAN CITY, Feb. 28, 2010—Benedict XVI is praying for Chile, which was hit Saturday with a 8.8-
magnitude earthquake.
“My thought goes out to Chile and the populations affected by the earthquake, which caused nu-
merous losses of human life and much damage,” the Pope said today after praying the Angelus with
those gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
The latest death toll climbed to 708, and authorities said some 1.5 million Chileans were affected and
500,000 homes severely damaged.
“I pray for the victims and am spiritually near to the persons tried by so grave a calamity; for them I
implore from God relief from suffering and courage in these adversities,” the Holy Father said. “I am
certain that they will not lack the solidarity of many, especially of ecclesial organizations.” (Zenit)

Pope Benedict calls for end to

anti-Christian violence in Iraq

© www.life.com
VATICAN CITY, Feb. 28, 2010—After the Angelus on Sunday, the The Holy Father said that he
Holy Father exhorted the international community to do “everything is "affectionately close" to the
possible” to give Iraqis a future of “reconciliation and justice." His Christian community in Iraq
words against anti-Christian violence in Iraq were well received by and urged them to continue to be a positive force "for the nation to group of Iraqis who advocated their cause in the presence of the
Iraqi demonstrators in St. Peter's Square. which, for centuries, you rightfully belong." Pope on Sunday.
Pope Benedict XVI related the "profound sadness" he felt upon While calling for Iraqi civil authorities to make “every effort to He said that the purpose of the Iraqi presence in St. Peter’s
learning of the killings of Christians in Mosul last week. He added return security to the population and, in particular, to the most Square today was to provide "another call to the conscience of the
that he has followed the violent events perpetrated against unarmed vulnerable religious minorities," he also expressed his hope that international community to be able to intervene, to protect and
victims with "great preoccupation." the authorities would not give in to the temptation "to make the really defend the rights of man that... has a right to life which is a
The pontiff said that during the "intense meditation" of the spiritual temporary interests of a few prevail over the safety and fundamental gift from God."
exercises of the last week he prayed rights of every citizen." "We want to put an end, through the international community
often for the victims. He closed by greeting a group of to these discriminations, these persecutions against the Christian
"Today, I wish to unite myself Iraqis demonstrating in St. Peter's communities in Iraq and the Middle East, especially the Middle
spiritually to the prayer for peace Square, saying: East, and we want a peaceful life," Bishop Najim added.
and for the restoration of security, "I exhort the international com- Iraqi priests studying and working in Rome turned out for the
promoted by the Council of Bishops munity to do everything possible Angelus with flags and banners in hand. "Liberty, Equality, Peace"
of Nineveh," he added. to give the Iraqis a future of recon- read one of their banners, black letters on a white background. "Iraqi
The bishops of the Syro-Catho- ciliation and justice, while I invoke Christians need an urgent International Intervention" read another.
lic, Syro-Orthodox and Chaldean with trust in God omnipotent the Peaceful protests were held in Christian-populated cities across
Churches in Mosul made a plea for precious gift of peace." the Plain of Nineveh on Sunday. These cities and villages have
government protection for Chris- CNA spoke with Bishop Phil- received a number of refugees in recent days, fleeing the violence
tians and religious minorities in a ip Najim, representative of the in Mosul.
letter to the Iraqi Prime Minister Chaldean Patriarchate to the Holy Another protest has been organized for Monday by the Iraqi
this week. See, who joined the formidable community of Paris. (CNA)

Two years after World Youth Day, Sydney sees Nuncio in Haiti reports needs
upsurge in vocations and ordinations
SYDNEY, Australia, Feb. 28, 2010—A record
number of men are entering seminary for the
Archdiocese of Sydney and up to six men
will be ordained to the priesthood this com-
ing June, a rise that observers partly attribute
to the influence of World Youth Day 2008.
On June 11, between four and six men
of country's seminarians
will be ordained priests by the Archbishop
of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell. This is
the largest number of men ordained into
the Archdiocese of Sydney since 1988, the
archdiocese reports.
Two Uganda-born men who studied at the
Seminary of the Good Shepherd in Home-
bush, Australia will be ordained in
their home country and will return
to serve in Australian parishes.
“While Australia has been bat-
tling against a shortage of priests
since the late 1980s, it now looks as
if interest in the priesthood and men
seeking priestly vocations is once
more on the rise,” the archdiocese
said on Friday.
In February, 10 men were ac-
cepted as candidates for the priest-
hood by the Seminary of the Good
Shepherd, and they have since
begun their first year of study.
"There is no doubt there has
been an upsurge in interest in a
priestly vocation," said seminary rector Fr.
Anthony Percy.
Fr. Percy attributed the trend to World
Youth Day 2008 but also to past World Youth
Day Events and to the Year for Priests, pro-
claimed by Pope Benedict XVI in June 2009.
Another sign of vigor in Catholic Austra-
lia is Sydney’s Theology on Tap program,
which attracts between seven and eight
hundred people to P.J. Gallagher’s Irish
Pub in Parramatta on the first Monday of
each month. They drink, socialize and hear
speakers on theology, faith, the Church and
life in general.
"Today many young people are seeking
deeper meaning to their lives and not just
looking for a career but for a vocation which
can answer the big questions of life," Fr. Percy
added. "In this post modern culture there are
no values, no standards and no foundations on
which to build minds. But young people really
want these things and in a world of dysfunc-
tional families and society generally, they are
looking to the Church for stability." (CNA)
ROME, Italy, Feb. 26,
2010—The Apostolic
Nuncio to Haiti, Arch-
bishop Bernardito
Auza, sent a report to
the Pontifical Mission
Societies this week de-
scribing the situation
facing seminarians in
the devastated country.
He explained that the
Archbishop Bernardito Auza seminarians have “lost
everything," adding that "putting them back to ‘normal’ life is
a priority.”
According to the Fides News Agency, the archbishop said that,
“The greatest needs of the seminarians are clothing, toiletries,
[and] tents to sleep in. Many of the seminarians have been sent
back to their dioceses, but their dioceses are also extremely poor
and in great need of assistance.
The archbishop went on to note that although some books
from the library were saved, “We need to purchase Bibles and
fundamental texts (Vatican II, Catechism of the Catholic Church
etc.) The ones they had were all lost in the rubble.”
“The easiest, most flexible and fastest way to help these un-
fortunate seminarians is through financial aid that we can use
according to the most urgent needs of the moment,” he added.

Youths reach out to poor children during Lent

JAKARTA, Indonesia, March 1,
2010—Young Catholic workers
yesterday [Feb. 28] distributed
school and household necessities
to children from poor families in
northern Jakarta, inspired by a
Church Lenten message.
Members of the Young Cath-
olic Workers Group (KKMK)
of St. Jacob Parish of Kelapa
Gading in North Jakarta, to-
gether with youths from other
parishes in the Jakarta archdio-
cese, visited 30 poor children
at Rumah Kerang (House of
Scallops).
The facility is managed by
the Daughters of Charity of St.
Vincent de Paul in the coastal
district of Cilincing.
Most of the poor children there
eke out a living shelling scallops
for less than US$1 a day.
During the four-hour visit,
the Catholic youths distributed
books and schoolbags as well
as rice, cooking oil, sugar, salt,
milk, instant noodles, soap and
secondhand clothes. They also
made a cash donation to Sister
Fransiska Hermin, head of the
convent.
“This … is in re-
sponse to the arch-
diocese of Jakarta’s
Lenten message on
poverty. This is what
inspired us,” Ermel-
inda Tara, KKMK’s
coordinator, told UCA
News.
Young Catholics
should be called upon
to care for those in
need, she said.
“We chose this place
because we wanted
to help children from
poor families. We wanted to give
them something which they re-
ally needed,” she said.
Tara said the group sent out
emails, contacted people on
Internet social networking sites
and made an announcement in
the parish’s weekly bulletin.
“Thank you also for your efforts in favor of our traumatized
seminarians. We believe that putting the seminarians back to
'normal' life is a priority."
Fides reports that 15 seminarians, one professor and some staff
She wants to see young Catho-
members were killed by the January 12 earthquake. (CNA)
lic workers providing “a ‘hook’
instead of a ‘fish’ in order to
encourage people to help them-
selves.” German bishops set up office
to deal with abuse cases
Sister Hermin thanked the
youths for the visit and their
contributions.
“It is good that young FREIBURG, Germany, Feb. 26, 2010—The German Catholic Bish-
people have such a ops' Conference has chosen one of its own to lead investigations
spirit. It helps them into the cases of abuse in the German Church in the 70s and 80s.
understand the lives The news was announced at the conclusion of the plenary as-
of poor children here,” sembly of German bishops on Thursday by conference president
she told UCA News. Archbishop Robert Zollitsch.
Faisal, a 9-year-old Vatican Radio reported that the bishops' statement read, "We
Muslim boy, expressed German bishops accept our responsibility and condemn the
his gratitude. “I am crimes committed by religious, priests and lay collaborators in
happy to get a new our dioceses."
schoolbag. It was also "Mortified and shocked," they asked the pardon and forgive-
good to play with the ness of "all victims of these horrible acts."
young Catholics here Vatican Radio also reported that the secretary of the episcopal
in the nuns’ house,” conference has opened an office in Bonn to coordinate activities
he told UCA News. and collaborate in legal proceedings. They are planning a "phone-
(UCAN) a-friend" program that will soon be in place to provide further

Indian bishops respond to image of Jesus smoking and drinking

GUWAHATI, India, Feb.
26, 2010—Bishops in India
have responded to the
publication of an image
of Christ in a children’s
textbook that shows Je-
sus holding a beer in one
hand, a cigarette in the
other, and the word “Idol”
beneath. Although “deep-
ly offended,” the bishops
said they are against seek-
ing an “anti-blasphemy
law” in the country.
A statement from the
Indian bishops, who are
holding a bishops’ confer-
ence meeting in Guwahiti
until March 3, was issued
on Thursday.
“We are deeply offend-
ed by the blasphemous
image of Christ used
on school books and on
posters,” they said in the
statement published by
Fides. “We feel sad and
indignant for this act of
sacrilege. We support
the legal actions taken
by the government in
the states of Meghalaya
and Punjab, towards the
perpetrators. “
The image was original-
ly found in textbooks in
the city of Shillong, which
is located in the state of
Meghalaya. Protests and
unrest resulted from the
posting of enlarged imag-
es in the streets of several
Punjabi cities. The state
of Meghalaya is prepar-
ing a lawsuit against the
publisher, Skyline Publi-
cations, while the state of
Punjab looks to prosecute
the groups responsible for
the printing and distribu-
tion of posters.
In their statement the
bishops took their appeal
to a higher level, asking
assistance to victims.
Bishop Stephan Ackermann of Trier is now in charge of the
operation. He is also the President of the episcopal conference's
Commission for Justice and Peace.
the central government possibility of an “anti- About 120 victims have come forward to date. The Washington
to “promote, protect, blasphemy law” in Post reported on Thursday that, in the first legal action since
and defend respect for Meghalaya, the Indian news of the abuses came to light, prosecutors have now begun
religious symbols of all Church stated its op- investigations into allegations at two German Catholic schools.
communities of believers position. Such an article The Washington Post also reported that Abbot Barnabas Boe-
throughout India.” already exists in the coun- gle, head of the Ettal Monastery which oversees one of the two
An apology issued last try’s penal code which schools, stepped down Wednesday after eight former students
week by the publisher establishes penalties alleged abuses there by priests.
claimed that the photo for those who “hurt the By August, Church guidelines governing cases of child sex
was included in text- religious sentiments of abuse will be revised and updated. "We want everything to be
books due to “human people,” they noted. clarified loyally, without false restraints," said Archbishop Zol-
error.” The bishops ac- The bishops added that litsch. "The victims have a right to that." The current norms have
knowledged the apology a new anti-blasphemy been in place since 2002.
and said they hope such law could possibly be To work towards "full prevention," the archbishop also
an error would never exploited by fundamen- mentioned the need for a more attentive culture within schools
repeat itself in any pub- talists against Christians, and pastoral ministries, as well as proper formation for future
lication in India. as has occurred in neigh- priests. (CNA)
Commenting on the boring Pakistan. (CNA)
 News Features
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 5
March 1 - 14, 2010
A3

The Transfiguration shows

that Jesus alone guides us,
Pope Benedict teaches
VATICAN CITY, Feb. 28, 2010—Before the Angelus on the second Sunday
of Lent, the Holy Father spoke about the Transfiguration. He explained that
through the lessons in Sunday's readings we are taught that Jesus alone
guides us.
Migrants’ Sunday
Speaking from his apartment window high above St. Peter's Square, Pope
Benedict XVI pointed out that while Luke does not refer to the occasion spe-
cifically as a "transfiguration," he describes the events and notes the changes
observance highlights
in Jesus and the radiance of his garments. At the event, Moses and Elijah
accompanied Jesus as symbols of the Law and the Prophets.
Peter, James and John fought off sleep during the event, which the pontiff said
Church’s concern for OFW’s
exhibited their lack of comprehension. But when they woke, Moses and Elijah MANILA, Feb. 19, 2010─The Catholic Church
parted from Jesus' side and were covered by a cloud while Peter spoke. paid tribute to overseas Filipino workers
This cloud "reveals the glory of God," said the Holy Father, adding this (OFWs) on Feb. 21, the national celebration of
had also happened to the Hebrew pilgrims in the desert. Migrants Sunday, in an effort to make society
"The eyes can no longer see, but the ears can hear the voice that comes from understand and appreciate more the sacrifices
the cloud: 'This is my beloved son. Listen to him!'" OFWs endured to provide their families a
At this point in the Gospel, noted the Holy Father, everything returned to decent life.
normal and the three apostles found themselves before Jesus alone. The 24th National Migrants Sunday (NMS)
"Jesus is alone before his Father, while he prays, but, at the same time, 'Jesus celebration which carried the theme “Sus-
alone' is everything that is given to the disciples and to the Church of all time: tainable Economic Development: Key to an
and that which must be enough on the path," said Pope Benedict. Effective Migrant Family Reunification” was
"He is the only voice to listen to, the only one to follow," said the Pope, also an occasion for people to realize how the
"he that, going up towards Jerusalem, will give his life and one day 'will Church responds to the growing concern of

© www.fotopedia.com
transfigure our lowly body to conform with his glorified body.'" labor migration.
The pontiff explained that in Peter's words, "Master, it is good that we are
here," is seen a similarity to our own desire for consolation from the Lord. Poor economic policy promotes migration
But, he added, "the Transfiguration reminds us that the joys spread by God According to the Episcopal Commission on
through our lives are not starting points, but lights that He gives us in the Migrant and Itinerant People (ECMI) of the
earthly pilgrimage, so that 'Jesus alone' might be our Law and his Word might loving it so it might guide their lives and form their thought. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
be the criterion that guides our existence." After the Angelus the Holy Father remembered the victims of violence in (CBCP), the decline of socio-economic and
The Holy Father closed his words before the Angelus inviting all people Iraq and called for authorities to protect religious minorities in the country. political environment at home had encouraged
to meditate on the Gospel. He also expressed his wish that all "in this Year He also prayed for "relief from suffering” and courage for those hit by an Filipinos to leave the country and seek better
for Priests Pastors are truly penetrated by the Word of God," knowing it and earthquake in Chile on Saturday. (CNA) paying jobs abroad.
Many Filipinos, especially the poor are quick

Family unity essential to child

to consider migration as the only option to com-
bat economic poverty and social injustice.
But the government, even after four decades
of labor migration, has shown insufficient eco-

formation, says Cardinal Antonelli

VATICAN CITY, Feb. 26, 2010—Speaking to a
group of Catholic business people from Italy
in Rome this week, Cardinal Ennio Antonelli,
president of the Pontifical Council for the Family,
highlighted the importance of a united family for
raising children. He also touched on issues that
affect the family today.
Under the theme of "Family and Business, Vital
Cells of Society," Cardinal Antonelli spoke about
the effects of the composition of the family on the
© Pinky Barrientos, FSP / CBCP Media
future of children. The Vatican's L'Osservatore
Romano reported that Cardinal Antonelli put
particular emphasis on the effects of a missing
father figure on children.
The president of the Council for the Family cited
statistics from the U.S., which he said illustrate a
trend in many parts of the Western world. Ninety
percent of homeless people, 72 percent of adoles-
cent suicides, 60 percent of rapists and 85 percent
of youth in jail grew up without a father present,
he said.
The cardinal also listed a number
of other negative effects on children
whose parents don't remain together.
These children are particularly sus-
ceptible, he stated, citing statistics that
show these kids suffer from double
the average number of pyschological,
scholastic, social and work problems.
brought on by the ideology that says one can
personally choose his or her gender, regardless of
their biological sex. He also warned that the asser-
tion of a "right" to gay marriage and the adoption
of children by homosexual couples would lead to
complications.
The traditional family, he said, is even being
considered oppressive injustice, and matrimony
and maternity are viewed as things from which a
woman must liberate herself.
The population debate was also touched on by
Cardinal Antonelli, who called for market reform
and demographic equilibrium through respon-
sible procreation as alternatives to methods such
as abortion and contraception that are meant to
decrease fertility, reduce population and increase
economic wealth.
In countries that are deemed to be overpopu-
lated, he offered that ethically honest and natural
nomic development for its own people.
Many OFWs observed that a lot depends
on good governance to create a sustainable
economic environment that would entice
investments.
“Job creation that would not only afford
their basic daily needs but offers hope to
upgrade the ordinary people’s economic and
social standards are key elements that would
discourage them to abandon the homeland,”
an accountant who had been working in the
Middle East has opined.
Election
The migrants sector regards the upcoming
election as a critical time to assess the stance of
political candidates on the issue of migration.
According to ECMI, the OFWs have ex-
pressed their opinions that the next set of
political leaders should seriously address the
plight of migrants.
Both Church and migrants’ sector believe
that a strong political will is needed for good
governance to take effect in the country’s

Among the major causes of this situ-
ation is the fact that both parents work
outside of the home, he observed. "The
self-realization sought by the woman
in a job, in a career, in social success
has as a cost the renouncement of the
marriage and children."
Cardinal Antonelli expressed his
concern for additional complications
methods can be used to limit the birth rate. But,
in countries where population is aging due to a
lack of fertility, he said that there must be a re-
evaluation of paternity and maternity, assisted by
economic support.
To start a family, he stated, "you need reason-
able economic security," and this climate should
be provided for through "mechanisms of protec-
tion." (CNA)
leadership.
NMS celebration in Dioceses
Several dioceses that have active migrants’
ministry honored the unsung heroes in their
areas with program of activities during the
migrants’ celebration.
Seven parishes at the Archdiocese of Cagayan
de Oro City joined the first diocesan celebration
of NMS with a Eucharistic celebration presided
by Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, SJ. He was

International convention Sibuyan island communities assisted by Msgr. Tex Legitimas, according to
Sr. Alice Arreglo, DC of the Apostleship of the
Sea-CDO.

marking Year for Priests decry midnight mine deal

In Davao, Archbishop Fernando Capalla
led the migrants and their families in a mass
and fellowship in Davao City, together with

open to all faithful

MANILA, Feb. 19, 2010—Commu-
nities of Sibuyan Island in Romblon
province have criticized the gov-
VATICAN CITY, Feb. 23, 2010—To mark the end of the Year for Priests ernment for granting a license to a
in June of this year an international convention will be held in Rome. Canada-based firm to mine in the
Events are open to priests and anyone else who feels called to "prayer for island.
the spiritual support and sanctification of Clergy." The Department of Environment
The convention, titled "Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of the Priest," and Natural Re-
will take place from June 9 - 11, 2010. Four major events at various sites sources (DENR) has
around the Eternal City are planned to mark the occasion. granted the Canada-
On the first day, the theme of "Conversion and Mission" will be de- based Altai Resourc-
veloped at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-walls, where the remains es through its Phil-
of St. Paul lie entombed under the altar. Archbishop Joachim Meisner of ippine subsidiary
Cologne will lead the reflection and Cardinal Claudio Hummes, prefect Altai Philippines
of the Congregation for the Clergy, will preside at Mass. Mining Corporation
The next day, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Archbishop of Quebec, will give (APMC) a permit
a conference on "The Cenacle: the invocation of the Holy Spirit in union to mine nickel on
January 8 this year, when it was
announced in Australia by Pelican
Resources Ltd., parent company of
Sunshine Gold Pty., Ltd, which has
a stake at Sibuyan Nickel Proper-
ties Development Corporation
(SNPDC), a company owned by
© sgp.undp.org
his newly-appointed diocesan minister for
migrants.
The Diocese of Tagbilaran hosted the major
celebration of NMS in the Visayas. Bishop
Leonardo Medroso led about 1,500 migrants
and their families at the Eucharistic celebration
celebrated at Wisdom School Gym, according
to Gerry Gonzales, ECMI-Visayas Coordinator.
Similar activities were also held in the diocese
of Maasin, Jaro and Bacolod.
Bayombong diocese hosted the biggest cel-
ebration of the NMS in Luzon at the Nueva
Viscaya State University (NVSU). Bishop
Ramon Villena presided a mass to be attended
by a large number of vacationing OFWs and
their families.
At St. William Cathedral in San Fernando,
La Union, Bishop Artemio Rillera held a fel-

with Mary and in fraternal communion” at the Basilica of St. Mary Major. 1,822 hectares in the
Cardinal Ouellet's presentation will be followed by a Mass celebrated by island.
Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone. DENR secretary
On the evening of the same day, June 10, a vigil will take place in St. Lito Atienza signed
Peter's Square, featuring testimonies, musical interludes, dialogue with the accord last December 23, 2009,
the Holy Father Benedict XVI, Adoration and the Eucharistic blessing. five days before he quit the post on
Benedict will preside over Mass at St. Peter Basilica in the Vatican. December 28.
According to a communique from the Congregation for Clergy announc- Anti-mining groups censured the
ing the events, the convention is meant to be a "true and real 'spiritual government’s deal with the mining
itinerary.'" companies saying the agreement
The schedule will guide participants from the "the conversion of St. Paul will destroy the island’s diverse
and his missionary zeal" to "the experience of divine intimacy, root and ecosystem.
foundation of every apostulate, in the Cenacle with the Blessed Virgin “Sibuyan folks are disgusted and
Mary and invoking the Spirit." annoyed with this kind of develop-
The conclusion of the event offers an occasion for "renewal of the faith ment. We were not even informed
and the priestly promises, around the Successor of Peter" in the encounter about the approval and no news
with the Pope for Mass at the Vatican. whatsoever. We just knew about it
According to the Congregation, the occasion is "obviously" open to "all when a statement was published on
faithful who, sincerely and with authentic evangelical spirit, perceive the the internet,” said Domingo Marin,
particular importance of prayer for the spiritual support and sanctification president of Sibuyanons Against
of the Clergy, as well as the consecrated souls that live the dimension of Mining (SAM) a Sibuyan-based ad-
spiritual maternity, in communion and under the example of the Blessed vocacy group.
Virgin Mary." (CNA) Sibuyan communities got hold
of news of the mining agreement
APMC.
The agreement between the
government and mining company
was confirmed in a letter sent by
Engr. Roland de Jesus of the Mines
and Geosciences Bureau Region
IV-B to the Sibuyan Island Senti-
nels League for Environment Inc.
(Sibuyan ISLE).
“This is a clear disrespect to Sibuy-
anons, the government through the
DENR has proven again itself as an
agent of destruction,” said Rodne
Galicha, Sibuyan ISLE executive
director.
Galicha lamented that the island’s
environment is already being endan-
gered because of destruction brought
by natural and man-made calamities.
Sibuyan / A6
lowship for OFW families after the Eucharis-
tic celebration where members of La Union
Inter-Agency for Migrants Council (LUIMCO)
participated.
In Pampanga, Archbishop Paciano Aniceto
and Bishop Pablo David will led the Kapam-
pangans in celebrating the Eucharist at the
Holy Rosary Parish in Angeles City.
In Southern Luzon, Archbishop Ramon Ar-
guelles also led the mass and fellowship with
OFW families at St. Francis Major Seminary in
Lipa City. At St. Gregory Academy in Indang,
Cavite, Bishop Antonio Tagle presided over the
Eucharist, followed by the Sons and Daughters
of Overseas Filipinos (SDO) assembly.
In Manila, Antipolo Auxiliary Bishop Francis
de Leon led the celebration of the mass at 9:00
a.m. at the Nuestra Señora de Guia in Ermita
organized by the archdiocesan migrant minis-
ter Fr. Tem Fabros.
Meanwhile, Bishop Gabriel Reyes also pre-
sided a 9:00 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of Our
Migrants’ Sunday / A6
A4 Opinion CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 5
March 1 - 14, 2010

EDITORIAL

Moral Reflection on AIDS

IT is clear that the situation demands the pastoral care of the Church.
For the Church must continue the mission of Jesus. In announcing
the Good News of salvation, in healing the sick, in forgiving sinners,
in being compassionate with the multitudes, Jesus showed what the
Church must do. God’s people must be at the side of those who suffer.
Especially for the needy and the suffering of today, the Church must
be the compassion of Jesus.
Our ministry of compassion for the afflicted must overcome fears and
prejudices. Jesus has shown us the way, through the manner in which
he dealt with lepers, the ostracized and “untouchables” of his time.
“Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and
said to him, ‘I do will it. Be made clean” (Mk. 1:41).
For us, an encounter with people infected with HIV-AIDS should be a
moment of grace—an opportunity for us to be Christ’s compassionate
presence to them as well as to experience His presence in them.
1. Our first attitude must be to serve and minister. Those who contract
HIV-AIDS, whether by accident or by consequence of their own actions,
carry with them a heavy burden: social stigmatization, ostracism, and
condemnation. Let us reach out to them, welcome them, serve them,
as Jesus did the sick of his time. To attend to their pain is to attend to
the whole Mystical Body, to attend to Christ Himself who is the Head.
If there has been any moral responsibility, we must be ready to say, as
Jesus to the sinner: “Neither do I condemn you. Go, from now on
do not sin anymore” (Jn. 8:11).
2. To help stem the spread of this dread disease, we as a Church must
collaborate with other social agencies in providing factual education
about HIV-AIDS. So extensive is the popular ignorance about the
disease as to encourage an irresponsible, cavalier and casual attitude

Illustration by Bladimer Usi

to sexual relationships. And too many are the myths surrounding it
as to prevent effective pastoral care for those afflicted.
3. Most of all, we need to recognize the moral dimension of the disease.
Though medically the cause of the disease can be identified as a
virus, our faith tells us that its cause and solution go beyond the
physical. We cannot ignore the possibility that through this pandemic
the loving Lord may be calling us, his children, to profound renewal
and conversion: “for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he
scourges every son he acknowledges” (Heb. 12:6; cf. 1 Cor. 11:32;
Prov. 3:11-12). HIV-AIDS and other calamities that visit us are
not necessarily the punishment of a loving and forgiving God for our
personal or collective sins. But we know that Nature itself has often its
own unremitting laws of reward and retribution with regard to actions
we take, freely or not.
4. The moral dimension of the problem of HIV-AIDS urges us to take
a sharply negative view of the condom-distribution approach to the
problem. We believe that this approach is simplistic and evasive. It
leads to a false sense of complacency on the part of the State, creating
an impression that an adequate solution has been arrived at. On the
contrary, it simply evades and neglects the heart of the solution, namely,
the formation of authentic sexual values.
5. Moreover, it seeks to escape the consequences of immoral behavior
without intending to change the questionable behavior itself. The
“safe-sex” proposal would be tantamount to condoning promiscuity
and sexual permissiveness and to fostering indifference to the moral
demand as long as negative social and pathological consequences can
be avoided.
Furthermore, given the trend of the government’s family planning
program, we have a well-founded anxiety that the drive to promote
the acceptability of condom use for the prevention of HIV-AIDS
infection is part of the drive to promote the acceptability of condom
use for the contraception.
For the above reasons we strongly reprobate media advertisements that
lure people with the idea of so-called safe-sex, through condom-use.
As in contraception, so also in preventing HIV-AIDS infection
condom use is not a failsafe approach.
6. We cannot emphasize enough the necessity of holding on to our moral
beliefs regarding love and human sexuality and faithfully putting them
into practice. All these, in order to prevent the spread of the disease
and to provide the foundations for effective and compassionate pastoral
care for those afflicted.
Among these moral beliefs is the beauty, mystery and sacredness of
God’s gift of human love. It reflects the very love of God, faithful, and
life-giving. This marvelous gift is also a tremendous responsibility. For
sexual love must be faithful, not promiscuous. It must be committed, open
to life, life-long and not casual. This is why the full sexual expression
of human love is reserved to husband and wife within marriage.
Monogamous fidelity and chastity within marriage—these are ethical
demands, flowing from human love as gift and responsibility for the
married.
As for all those who are not married, we will not cease enjoining
fidelity to the same moral beliefs. Our secularistic era may scoff at
them as old-fashioned. But modernity and its worldly values do not
abolish the continuing validity of St. Paul’s words—”Your life is
hidden with Christ in God... Put to death then, the parts of you that
are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed
that is idolatry” (Col. 3:3-5).
When one lives by faith, as all followers of Christ must, one is convinced
that chastity and the refusal to engage in extra-marital sexual activity
are the best protection against HIV-AIDS.
To our beloved Priests, Religious and other Faithful who have committed
themselves to a life of celibacy, we say: You are a sign for others that
chastity lived for the Kingdom of God and a well integrated and
ordered sexualities are not only possible but are actually being lived.
7. In the face of the rapidly spreading scourge of HIV-AIDS, we
cannot overstate the need for a profound moral renewal of our people.
This was the call of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines for
the transformation of our society (PCP-II Acts and Decrees, e.g. no.
32). This, too, is our call for the radical prevention of the HIV-AIDS
disease. Nothing short of this can effectively respond to the deep-rooted
moral cause of the problem. It is at depth a moral issue. We must
not, therefore, forget the absolute imperative of moral renewal, while
continuing to search for the medical solution.
In the Compassion of Jesus, A CBCP Pastoral Letter on AIDS, 1993
Oscar V. Cruz, DD
‘Separation of
Views and Points Church and State’
IT is both funny and strange when the standard battle cry of “Sepa- realities: The continuous operation of many prostitution houses all
ration of Church and State” is fervently and loudly invoked when over the country—catering to people of different socio-economic
certain individuals in tenure of a public office feel frustrated in their standings. The rising number of motels famous for their “short-time”
ethically questionable options or meet rejection of their morally rates—sprouting out specially in urban areas. The blatant exhibition
bankrupt projects. of gross sexual materials through the internet nationwide—with
This is exactly the sentiment and the counter-offensive of someone proper instructions where to go for the “real thing”. The official local
who should know better what the Philippine Constitution really porno IT sites—“by the way” buying and selling downright raw sex.
provides and means. The real problem of such government officials is The hiring of women and young girls found roaming around many
their futile wish for the bishops, priests and religious to act as if they streets—as “pick-up” businesses. “Escort” services. Sex “tours”.
know nothing, see nothing, and say nothing even when said public “Adult only” Sex clubs. And other means for truly efficacious dis-
officials engage in unethical and/or immoral plans, programs and semination of sexual diseases.
projects. There appears to be the vivid desire to be exempted from By the way, the constitutional provision invoked does not even
the Commandments in the order of nature, to be over and above say such an esoteric and arcane phrase “separation of church and
solid ethical norms and sound moral principles. state”. Instead, the Fundamental Law of the Land rightly provides
Recently, there was the loud and public lamentation made by the that the State shall not have an official religion, viz., shall not adopt
head of a government agency concerned, that sounded something any Church as its official faith. This basic law of the land is not only
like this: The CBCP has the blame in the spread of sexually-trans- right and just, but also proper and prudent. Reason: There are so
mitted diseases in the Philippines when its free condom gimmick many “Churches”, creeds and sects in practically all the corners
during the last Valentine’s Day was censured by some bishops. of the streets in the country that for the State to choose anyone of
Perhaps, just perhaps, the otherwise illustrious public official, does them as its official religion, ultimately means interminable religious
not know that condoms are not only supposedly anti-aids and squabbles—not to mention the possibility of scandalous and danger-
contra-population items—but also, and specially so, gadgets that are ous “religious wars”.
pro-promiscuity, pro-infidelity, pro-immorality, pro-irresponsibility Hence, when a priest himself is a governor, when no less than a
and other unsound value systems. religious leader is campaigning for the Office of the President, when
Incidentally, the same personality appears curiously blind and bishops become members of government commissions and the like,
silent about the following AIDS/HIV highly effective transmission the so called “Separation of Church and State” is not even invoked.
Sr. Mary Pilar Verzosa, RGS
Candle-light for the
unborn Love Life
ON March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation candidates to pursue their pro-life stand. the consequences of their poor choice, while
and Incarnation of Jesus in the womb of Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, D.D., Chair the men involved, the parents, friends, and
Mary, we will be celebrating once again the abortion providers seem to get away with
of the Episcopal Commission on Family and
National Day of the Unborn Babies. In 2005, Life, endorsed the activity and instructed the burden of their sin. While we use the
pro-life groups were able to secure from that it should be a “Silent Prayer” for Life. Memorials to call attention to the humanity
President Gloria M. Arroyo the Executive Or- The political candidates then will not be of the unborn and to stop abortion, much
der declaring March 25 as the National Day of asked to speak but will just join the silent has to be done to prevent abortions in the
the Unborn, just as this is being celebrated in lighting of the candles. first place: value-oriented human sexuality
many other countries around the world. Since many parishes have a memorial or and fertility education programs, responsible
A reminder has been sent to all Dioceses monument of the unborn in their church parenthood and parenting, and maternal and
to encourage their parishes to hold the Eu- yard, lighting the candles in front of those infant health services.
charistic Celebration followed by a Candle- memorials will make the activity more signif- Condom and contraceptive pills promo-
lighting Ceremony on March 25. A special icant. I feel bad whenever I visit parishes and tion has intensified lately, on the excuse of
feature this year is for the organizers to invite I see some memorials neglected and ignored. stopping HIV-AIDS. Instead of confronting
political candidates who have declared them- those campaigns with our own pro-life ral-
Those monuments could be very good edu-
selves to be pro-life to join the activity. cational tools to promote the value of life and lies, we believe that prayer and fasting dur-
The ceremony will have a three-fold stop abortion. Post-aborted women could be ing this time of Lent will be more effective in
purpose: to make the public aware of the led to those memorials to offer candles or accomplishing the will of God in our promo-
thousands of innocent lives lost in abortion, flowers in order to finish their grief over the tion of the value and respect for Life.
to pray for the babies in the womb who are loss of their baby and help in their healing. I Do join our mission. Call Pro-life office at
in danger of abortion because their moms 733-7027/ 0919-233-7783 or email at life@
have much compassion for women who had
are not ready for that pregnancy, and to abortion because of fear, abandoned, given prolife.org.ph for more information and
strengthen the commitment of the political the wrong advice, then left alone to suffer materials for your own campaign.
Fr. Melvin P. Castro

www.cbcpmonitor.com
cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net Speaking of Mary
LAST February 12, though already a little bit late in the evening, we took
some time off to visit the Carmelite nuns gathered together at the Mater
Carmeli Monastery in Sta. Ignacia (Tarlac).  They represented the nine
Carmelite monasteries belonging to the Federation of Stella Maris—
contemplative nuns belonging to the ancient Order of Carmel.
Pedro C. Quitorio It was a sight to behold the happy, and I should say, angelic faces
Editor-in-Chief of the Carmelite nuns.  I feel extremely happy that there are still
young women willing to sacrifice all and be a part of a contempla-
Pinky Barrientos, FSP Kris P. Bayos tive congregation.
Associate Editor Feature Editor I always recall with sentimentality that during the dying days of
my mother, she asked me to write a letter to her Carmelite friend in
Melo M. Acuña Laarni Bergado the Carmel of the Holy Family in Guiguinto (Bulacan) to ask her for
Managing Editor Marketing Supervisor prayers.  We did not receive any letter-response then.  But a decade
letter, I would just be surprised by the Lord and by Our Lady, that
Roy Q. Lagarde Ernani M. Ramos
News Editor Circulation Manager a Carmelite Monastery would be built in our Diocese in Tarlac and
the Foundress-Prioress turned out to be my mother’s friend to whom
Laurence John R. Morales Marcelita Dominguez we wrote a decade ago.
Layout Artist and Online Editor Comptroller A solace and a refuge, that is how I will describe Carmel.  When the
International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima came over
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCP Com- in 2003/04, we were able to visit a number of Carmelite Monasteries
munications Development Foundation, Inc., with editorial and
both belonging to the Order of Carmel (O.Carm.) and to the Order
business offices at 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila.
P.O. Box 3601, 1076 MCPO. of Carmelite Discalced (OCD). We went as far as Laoag Carmel,
Editorial: (063) 404-2182. Business: (063)404-1612. Baguio Carmel, Burgos Carmel, Sta. Ignacia (Tarlac) Carmel, Subic
ISSN 1908-2940 Carmel, Lipa Carmel, Zamboanga Carmel. And I was personally
able to visit Jaro Carmel and Guiguinto Carmel.
Carmel
And both my retreats in preparation for the diaconal and pres-
byteral ordinations were done in the Tertiary House of Carmel in
New Manila.
I have yet to see a Carmelite Monastery in which there is no one
silently kneeling and praying or someone offering a votive candle.
I have come to equate Carmel to peace and tranquility, no, not a
place to run away from the world and seek a momentary peace.  It is
a place to encounter God and Our Lady, to find strength to face and
confront, and change, the world. It is not fuga mundi, to run away
from the world, but to face the world with the strength of God and
the joy of Our Lady.  This is Carmel.
For some, perhaps, monasteries are vestiges of the past, relics of
the medieval times, artifacts of history.  I just wish that somewhere,
sometime in their life, they would try to sit or kneel or just be silent
in monastery, and there in that silence, to encounter God and to
know their true selves.
For sure, within the monastery walls, there will be struggles as
well.  No one is exempted from that. Yet the prayer and silence of
Carmel or of any other monastery assures us we are not alone in
struggling for sanctity.
It has been often said that monasteries are like the powerhouses
of the Church.  That the silent prayers and sacrifices of the con-
templatives sustain the Church and all her apostolates.  And this
is very, very true.
Mary / A5
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 5
March 1 - 14, 2010
Opinion
Fr. Roy Cimagala
Dra. Cabral´s condoms
Candidly Speaking
YOU would know summer is here when all of a sudden you see been considered passé.
the bougainvilleas around bloom in exploding profusion and color.
Seeing them makes you forget the inconveniences of summer. It tells
She said she´s for the ABC method—abstinence, be faithful, and
if these fail, then condoms. So you see it´s really not that bad. She´s
you summer has its own blessings, its own fun and beauty. You just just being practical. If the moral fails, then why not the immoral,
have to know how to make use of them. that is still short of aborting and killing. She has a point. Right or
I was reminded of this bougainvillea-in-summer image as I re- wrong, we´ll see. Anyway, who cares about morality nowadays?
viewed all this issue about the new Secretary of Health distributing
condoms to the public last Valentine´s Day and, as latest news would
That’s really our problem today.
Then she also said she has to distribute condoms because our
have it, up to when she ends her term. population is just too much or too many. We cannot cope with the
Her act offers a precious opportunity—to clarify things. Like the people´s needs. In her calculus, condoms will solve the problem or
bougainvillea, this task of clarifying may have thorns, but it also has at least give some significant relief.
those beautiful flowers. And by the way, powerful groups like the EU, the US, and others
Frankly, I was amused by all the antics surrounding the contro- are giving generous grants in Euros and dollars to promote the con-
versy. No, I was not irritated or disturbed. Just that, amused. doms. We do not know anymore if this open season against morality
As a doctor, she is free to prescribe anything she thinks is good for is driven by conviction or by economic considerations. Knowing our
the patient. Of course, that is not infallible. Many doctors have given politicians, we have basis to wonder.
wrong prescriptions after making wrong diagnoses too. Besides, I What can give a window of hope is that these interfering blocs,
still have to convince myself that human fertility is a disease to be already morally bankrupt for some time, are starting to bankrupt
cured by some drug or gadget. themselves financially with the current global economic crisis. Let’s
But as a public official with zeal to serve the people, she must have wait a little for how this development unfolds.
felt she has to go beyond simply prescribing. She has to go out to In the meantime, other relevant elements spring up. Robin
the streets, walk her talk, and give away condoms. That´s where she Padilla—I pray for him—obviously paid, is now going around
starts to get some reactions. promoting Godless family planning. In the blogosphere—you have
Some bishops called for her resignation, an understandable re- to be extremely careful and game there—an orgy of pro-immoral-
action given our democratic system. She answered by calling the family-planning sentiments explodes, dripping with mockery,
Church ¨vicious,¨ lectured professorially on the standard bull about insults and name-calling.
Church-state separation, and instantly attracted the usual following Imagine, Church and spiritual leaders who appeal for a moral
who praised her to high heavens for having balls. sense in this issue are now called Talibans, holdouts of the dark
I hope she’ll have the bigger balls to admit that in all this condom ages, rigid, dense, detached from reality, etc.
business, she also has to input the indispensable moral elements. The only consolation is that that kind of reaction will just fizzle
Morality is not optional. It is not a religious peculiarity. It is a uni- out shortly. It’s like a showy firework only. It cannot stand the test
versal, natural need. Its nature is not defined only by practicality. of reason. It cannot cope with the demands of truth and justice.
It’s by the very dignity of a human person. We are still in Lent. Perhaps, this thorny issue is meant to purify
Her first excuse was that she has to do something to curb the us further. We need to see this whole affair within the context of our
rise of HIV-AIDS, and what better way than to spread prophy- faith and beliefs, using it to nourish our ascetical life and sharpen
lactics. Children got hold of them too and promptly made them our sense of duty to evangelize forcefully but always in truth and
into balloons. Talking about scandals nowadays has already charity.
Melo M. Acuña
The good news
according to the admin Issues and Concerns
OF late some papers carried Ganito Tayo postings abroad. who among those charged have been
Noon, Ganito Tayo Ngayon spread in two On peace and order, the government convicted.
colored whole-page comparison of how we claimed a significant reduction in the CPP/ On the other hand, the Asian Develop-
performed over the years our Economist- NPA/NDF manpower strength from 11,260 ment Bank released its book titled Poverty
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led the in 2001 to 5,021 in 2009 along with the reduc- in the Philippines, Causes, Constraints and
country. The advertisement obviously came tion of the dreaded Abu Sayyaf Group from Opportunities last December 10, 2009. ADB
from the administration’s coffers unlike the 1,269 in 2000 to 407 in May 2009. However, said economic growth did not translate into
presidential, vice-presidential and senatorial the publication was silent on the expected poverty reduction in recent years. The same
aspirants whose television and radio com- reduction of private armed groups across article said that though the country experi-
mercials and tarpaulins have all been paid the country. Whatever happened to the enced moderate economic growth in recent
for by their friends. promise to rid the country of PAGs every years, poverty reduction has been slow.
There maybe some truth to what has been election time since 2001? I bet they increased “Inequality remained high.”
published but there are certain items that in number and firepower. Poverty, according to ADB, remains a
should not have seen print. I see no reason Has the government “cracked” the known mainly rural phenomenon, though urban
why the government should take pride in illegal gambling syndicates across the coun- poverty is on the rise. It also confirmed
the increase in remittances from our over- try? What about the proliferation of illegal our worst fears that many Filipino house-
seas Filipino workers because it only goes gambling activities from jueteng to lucky holds remain vulnerable to shocks and
to show our economy is reliant on Filipinos two, suertres and “small town lotteries” risks.
who ironically have to go abroad because owned and operated by known gambling Governance and institutional constraints
the local economy cannot provide them lords? remain, according to the ADBP study. Our
decent jobs. The government advertisement could presidential candidates should be able to
There must have been an increase in tour- have featured its successes in its campaign explain in clear-cut terms what they intend
ist arrivals but government data should have against graft and corruption, including to do to improve the Filipinos’ lot. Noynoy,
been more specific as to where these tourists the amount it saved from petty graft and Manny, Gibo, Erap, Dick, Bro. Eddie, Nicky,
came from. There are talks most of these corrupt practices in local and national JC and Jamby should be able to tell us how
“tourists” were OFWs returning from their government offices. It could have reported they’ll do it.
Rev. Euly B. Belizar, SThD
Silence, Listening,
By the Roadside Action
I ONCE had a dream. I found myself having a conversation with he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a
Donald Trump the multi-billionaire (who someone I know said “is cross” (Phil 2:6-8). Jesus dispossessed himself of his divine glory (in-
just outrageously wealthy”), the one with the famous quip: “You’re ner silence) before he was even born in a manger (external silence).
fired!” I heard myself saying, “Mr. Trump, you have so much wealth. We are told by the gospels that Jesus could spend nights in prayer
Perhaps you could use some of that not only to build casinos, tow- (cf. Lk 6:13) which required a huge amount of external silence. But
ers and golf courses but also to put up really great shelters for the that was because, as he says in Jn, “my food is to do the will of him
homeless and big feeding centers for the hungry around the world.” who sent me” (Jn 4:34) which means he had an equally enormous
With eyebrows meeting and eyes squinting he said to me, “Excuse amount of inner silence. From the start he let go of his own plans,
me? What did you say, er-Sir?” I repeated my words. But he shouted, perspectives, desires and focused on that of the Father. Because of
“I’m sorry. I really can’t hear you. It’s so noisy where I am.” With this inner silence Jesus was able to go through the external humilia-
a sigh I said, “In that case, Mr. Trump—” He almost screamed, “In tion and suffering of the cross. His resurrection is the Father’s proof
that case what?” I said, “In that case, Mr. Trump, you’re fired!” End that both the inner and external silence of Jesus has truly allowed
of the dream. the God of Life to fully reveal himself. This isn’t unlike the inner
I couldn’t believe I fired Mr. Trump in a dream (in reality he can be and external silence of the death of winter giving way to the explo-
anything but). I rewound that conversation in my mind. I wondered sion of life in spring and summer. Indeed April showers bring in
why he said he couldn’t hear me in the noise where he was. Then May flowers.
it occurred to me that our attachment to possessions can dispossess
us first of silence and the ability to listen to others and, especially, ***
to God. By possessions I mean not simply hard cash or money in
the bank, jewelry, real estate, cars etc. My ideas, my perspectives, After Jesus there is Mary. For me our Lady is like the moon to
my plans, my desires are also my possessions. And they can create Jesus who is like the sun. The moon’s light reflects that of the sun.
as much (if not greater) noise in me as my material possessions can So does Mary reflect Jesus. This is so true especially in the matter
cloud my mind. As loud music shatters a conversation, lack of silence of Mary’s silence. The silence of Mary is first of all inner because
and listening keeps us from the right action. from the start she made a decision: “I am the maidservant of the
Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38), as
*** she said surrendering herself to the Lord’s plan announced to her
by the Archangel Gabriel. Because of that inner silence should we
The silence that a disciple of Jesus Christ needs is not only external wonder why in the pages of the gospel we seldom hear Mary utter a
silence but especially inner silence. Jesus himself models this silence word? In fact, in the whole New Testament it’s only in the first two
for us. “Though he was in the form of God,” says St. Paul in his letter chapters of St. Luke and the second chapter of St. John that Mary
to the Philippians, “he did not deem equality with God something speaks. In Mary inner silence flows right into external silence. Even
to be grasped at. Rather he emptied himself and took the form of a at the foot of the cross, grieving, Mary stands silent. This reminds
slave coming in human likeness; and found in human appearance, me of a woman who said, “I love my mom not only for what she
has taught me but especially for the moments in which she simply
Mary / A4 kept quiet.” Chiara Lubich, the founder of the Focolare Movement
I often envy the contemplatives, their smiles, their gentle words, has, to my mind, the best way of putting it: “Mary is the silence
their gentle gestures, betray what really is within, it is not superficial through which the Word of God speaks”. If the drama of salvation
non-noisiness, it is the silence of God. were to be staged Mary would be the backdrop through which the
Before leaving Mater Carmeli Monastery that evening, we also Star breaks into light. By her silence she is able to receive Jesus in
paid our respects to the prioresses of the Federation, two of whom her womb as well as in her heart and mind. She pondered the Word
were Spanish old nuns but with gleaming smiles and shining eyes in silence, treasuring that Word in her heart. Then she translated
of young women.  The nuns seem not to age.  I guess love defies what she heard by her obedience. “Blessed are those who hear the
aging. Word of God and keep it” (Lk 11:28) is really Jesus’ tribute to Mary.
From Mater Carmeli that evening we travelled to Lipa Carmel.  No wonder she is the foremost disciple of the Lord. She did not
That’s another story and another journey.  Suffice it to say, we all stop at receiving Jesus the Word. She also enabled the Word to be
have to find our own Carmel—where the human and  divine meet, brought to fulfillment and was first to share it with others; thus,
where men and women encounter God, the God of love, the God in the language of PCP II, Mary, “the first to be evangelized”, was
of peace, the God of silence. May this Lenten Season lead you to also “the first evangelizer”.
Carmel. Ave Maria! After Jesus and Mary could there be you and me?
A5
Jose B. Lugay
Laiko Lampstand
On local governance
and social
transformation
THE headlines, now that the campaign period for the May 2010
elections has started, are replete with the ranking of presiden-
tial candidates—changing in favor of those who sponsored
the surveys. Whether the results are credible or not, they are
newsworthy and influences future voters’ selection process for
president and vice president.
Another decision-making tool for selecting a presidential can-
didate is the holding of the presidential forum. The first salvo
to educate the electorate about the strengths and weaknesses
of the candidates for the position of president was the forum
of eight invited presidentiables sponsored by ANC conducted
at the University of Santo Tomas auditorium. This gave the
university students and TV audiences a chance to look at the
candidates microscopically using whatever rating scheme they
choose to employ.
This first exposure led to more groups inviting the candidates
for President, including business groups like the Makati Business
Club, the Foreign Correspondents of the Philippines and others.
In addition, this presidential campaign now uses the internet
extensively. It has exploded into a new phenomena—personal
campaigning by means of e-mail, facebook, twitter, blogs and
all types of social communication. Filipinos, who monitored
the American campaign and the subsequent victory of Barrack
Obama as the first U.S. black president, hope that using social
communication technology will give the same results, that is,
election of the favorite candidate of the technically proficient
crowd, as President.
Whether it is the candidate of the Liberal Party, the Lakas-
Kampi-CMD, or the Nacionalita Party who will eventually
win, people will demand much from the winning candidates,
especially the President-elect. In a short time, within a period of
one year, at the most, complaints will be heard especially from
the poor segment of the population and the party-list represen-
tatives of Congress representing the minority interests that the
newly elected president has failed in his promises of change for
the better.
The disappointment is expected if one believes that social
transformation can be effected at once with electing a new
President and his ruling party. This is far from reality. The
fact is that it is effective local governance represented by the
mayors and governors of each province, guided by the policies
of the new administration, which is the direct critical success
factor for effective social transformation. While the political
exercise of campaigning is necessary for a democracy like
the Philippines, what differentiates us from other countries
is that most of the voters are Catholics. Social transformation
starts with the person’s conversion to do good. Hence the
burden of blame if social transformation is not attained rests
on the Church—the People of God—the clergy, the religious
and the 99% laity.
To achieve social transformation in local governance, the
political administration of municipalities and provinces must
be manned by people of moral integrity with concern for the
common good. The major success factors that must be devel-
oped are:
Understanding the culture of the people including the one
who governs and the governed—their values , beliefs and
practices ;
Eliciting from the community its vision and mission and sup-
porting these with goals, objectives and action plans. There can
be no measurable achievement if there are no clear goals and
directions from the start.
Establishing a working system within the local government—
methods, procedures and processes to guide workers to do their
tasks within the constitutional and legal framework.
Providing the means and resources- the allocation of
funds, facilities and manpower to approved local govern-
ment projects.
Archbishop Oscar Cruz during a National Conference on Social
Transformation held by the Sangguninang Laiko ng Pilipinas,
made this comment to the frustration of advocates on the slow
change towards Christian Social Transformation: “This must be
due to the fact that Christian Social Transformation is a socio-
spiritual reality based on socio-temporal elements.” In short, he
concludes, “In addition to spiritual renewal, there must also be
renewal in the temporal world.” This means that the advocates
of social transformation should first know and understand the
Role of the Laity.
This specific role—doing the specific social-temporal ele-
ment—relate to the third of the three missions of Jesus Christ:
the kingly mission/ministry. While the priestly role relates to
participation in the celebration of the sacraments and the pro-
phetic role relates to the spreading of the Word of God through
evangelization with action in the world, the kingly role is the
role to govern.
This is the greatest challenge to the laity because one must not
only be practicing Christian virtues leading to holiness but he
must at the same time be able to practice situational leadership
as well as implementing management systems and methods.
In short, the leader-disciple must move straddling between
the realm of the spiritual and the corporate world. With this
in view, we realize now that the challenge to local governance
is balancing between two worlds—the world of the spirit and
the temporal world.
The first move of the lay person in his progress towards
Christian social transformation is his “witnessing” in his specific
field of endeavor. The second move is for him to be together
with like-minded individuals to form a small community,
learning from each other and working together as a team on
a specific project. Then comes the critical move—the choice of
a leader for local governance. In short, there is a real need to
institutionalize the selection process for community leaders
whether they be for the barangay tanod, the local councilor,
the mayor and governor.
This is an activity which local lay leaders involved in church
work find to be a dangerous ground to tread. This is reflected in
our spiritual formation exercises where examples cited for sin
and greed are the politicians which have very high visibility.
The word politics has become mud to the devoted laity’s ears!
But if the Catholic Church wants to improve local governance
for eventual social transformation, we must start with the selec-
tion of the right people to run for local positions during the 2010
election.
If one has not heard of it yet, the process for selection of wor-
thy candidates for this coming election, the CiDE process, has
been given to diocesan representatives in Luzon, Visayas and
Mindanao by Dilaab Foundation. For those interested and want
further details, please contact Fr. Carmelo Diola, Dilaab Founda-
tion, Archdiocese of Cebu.
 Local News
CBCP Monitor
A6 Vol. 14 No. 5
March 1 - 14, 2010

Prelate tells electorates never

to believe on endorsements
A MEMBER of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines Executive Director Fr. Francis Lucas asked if the general public
(CBCP) told electorates not to easily believe on political candidates could go after celebrities who endorsed candidates in the event the
being endorsed by celebrities or other prominent personalities.
San Jose de Nueva Ecija Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara said that the
candidates they endorsed failed to deliver as promised.
He said celebrities are free to endorse candidates but they’re also
PPCRV urges Comelec
people should think twice about these propaganda materials before “public figures and somehow owned by the public.”
choosing those candidates. “They are supported by the public so they have to be careful
Vergara added that he still has to know whether the celebrities’ about their actuations, words, deeds and endorsements. They
to neutralize ‘Garci boys’
services have been paid for by the candidates themselves or some should not use their airtime in their programs to campaign for THE Parish Pastoral Council
sponsoring groups. particular candidates,” the veteran rural broadcaster from the for Responsible Voting (PP-
“I don’t know about recent Commission on Elections pronounce- Prelature of Infanta said. CRV) is urging the Commis-
ments but as far as I know, the celebrities become responsible for He suggested there should be “some guarantee” from people who sion on Elections (Comelec) to
marketing a product or a person but the details and quality of the endorse candidates. neutralize the so-called “Garci
product (or person) is the responsibility of the company or the spe- “Bishops and priests are public figures and that’s why the Catholic boys” who were involved in
cific candidate,” he said. Bishops Conference of the Philippines has the alleged fraud operations
He added that the celebrities become part not endorsed anybody,” he concluded. in the past elections.
of the campaign commercial strategy. Sto. Niño de Tondo parish priest Fr. Erick Henrietta de Villa, PPCRV
However, Vergara said he wouldn’t know Santos finds nothing wrong in celebrities chairperson, decried poll of-
whether the celebrities’ endorsements make endorsing candidates. ficials who are conniving with
them partisan to specific candidates they “What is important is they believe in some politicians to manipulate
endorse. what the particular candidate stands for or the result of the election.
Association of Major Religious Superiors talagang naniniwala sila sa kanilang ini- The Comelec has recently
in the Philippines (AMRSP) co-chairperson endorse,” he added. dismissed former Maguin-
Sr. Mary John Mananzan, OSB said she is not Asked if these personalities could be held danao election supervisor
affected by endorsements because she knows liable if and when their candidates fail to Lintang Bedol and barred him
whom she’ll vote for. deliver, Santos said the general public can from government service to
“Scripted yan and these celebrities do not only “blame” them. Henrietta de Villa
prevent him from resurfacing
necessarily believe in what they’re saying It is an accepted practice in the Philip- in the upcoming May polls.
because bayad sila at trabaho lang iyon,” the pines for movie, stage, radio and television In a 12-page resolution, the poll body said Bedol had failed to
street parliamentarian said. personalities to be tapped to endorse candi- perform his duties after refusing to comply with the orders given
The CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on dates for local and national positions. (Melo by the Comelec regarding the all-important election documents
Social Communications and Mass Media Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara M. Acuña) in the May 2007 polls in Maguindanao.
De Villa is certain there are other field Comelec officials that
AIDS / A1 should be sacked with regards to the controversial 2004 and 2007
The Church rejects the use of condoms as ing the third component of our program, over the country” as one major culprits in national elections.
part of its overall teaching against artificial which is to encourage the use of condoms,” the HIV transmission. She said many of them remained unpunished and some have
contraception. It also has advocated fidelity said Cabral. Instead of blaming the Church, Cruz said even been promoted to higher positions.
in marriage and abstinence from premarital She noted that the health department has the DOH chief must do something in the “I’m sure there are others and we will leave it to the Comelec
sex as key weapons in the battle against an “ABC program” to combat HIV/AIDS. rising number of motels famous for their to act on,” she said, adding that PPCRV is prepared to help by
AIDS. The acronym stands for A is for “abstinence “short-time” rates—sprouting out especially putting the commission’s attention the information they have.
In a statement, the Catholic Bishops’ Con- from sex”; B for “be faithful to your partner”; in urban areas. The PPCRV has served as poll watchers in the past elections
ference of the Philippines (CBCP) said the and C for “condom use”. The church leader also called on the and currently the accredited citizens’ arm of the Comelec in the
funding for contraceptives should rather be The health chief said that while they agree government to create laws against pornog- May 10 polls.
used to fight diseases that afflict millions of that the only fool-proof strategy versus HIV/ raphy in the internet, which can adversely Despite being three years in the making, de Villa still welcomed
Filipinos such as diarrhea, bronchitis, pneu- AIDS is to avoid multiple partners, condom affect people’s sexual behavior and attitude the Comelec ruling against Bedol.
monia, tuberculosis, cancer, hypertension use would still lower the risks. about sex. “That’s very good news. It has been a long-time coming. It also
and influenza. “Condoms are not 100 percent foolproof augurs very well as it shows that the Comelec is now showing
“Available resources should instead be but they help lower the risk,” stressed. Warning that they want to do a straight count in this year’s elections,”
channeled to provide basic needs such as Cabral. Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles urged she said.
food, medicines, education and work,” read the government to set government warning Aside from punishing the “Garci boys”, she said she is also
the statement signed by CBCP President and Ban prostitution in condoms akin to that of cigarettes. looking forward to the announced re-shuffling of Comelec field
Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar. For his part, Retired Archbishop Oscar “If cigarettes have a government warn- personnel to other regions in time for this year’s polls.
“Furthermore, it is unjust that the taxes Cruz of Lingayen-Dagupan has demanded ing so should the packaging of condoms,” The PPCRV chief said the reshuffle is very necessary in order to
of the people including Catholics be used that prostitution be banned if only to stop he said. avoid having election officers being “too familiar” with the place
for purposes against their moral beliefs,” the spread of sexually transmitted diseases Arguelles thinks this will protect the and its people, including the candidates. (CBCPNews)
it added. and not by pushing condom use. consumers of condom from the Acquired
“Condoms are gadgets that are pro- Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Sibuyan / A3
Outrage promiscuity, pro-infidelity, pro-immorality, In a statement, Arguelles joined those
The timing of Cardinal Rosales’ remarks, pro-irresponsibility and other unsound who strongly condemned the Valentine’s “There were typhoons Frank, Nina and Feria coupled with three
however, outraged health agencies trying value systems,” he said. Day campaign of the Department of Health months of food shortage brought by endosulfan scare. Pending
to halt the increasing cases of AIDS in the Cruz called on the government to tackle (DoH), “Ingat Lagi, My Valentine.” cutting of 70,000 trees, illegal logging, illegal mining, illegal fish-
country. the root causes of the health problem instead Arguelles also said that the consumers ing, name it we have it,” he said, adding: “the DENR cannot even
DOH Secretary Esperanza Cabral fought of merely relying on condom promotion. have the right to be informed on the ill-effects address these issues.”
back against Rosales as she blamed the According to him, Cabral must go deeper of condoms. “Now, large-scale mining? Whether pro-mining or anti-mining
Catholic Church for the country’s rising and address the root causes of the problem. The prelate said the warning should be [we] are all victims here, we are being stabbed behind our backs,”
cases of AIDS. Incidentally, Cruz said, Cabral appeared noted in this manner, “Condoms may fail he further said.
“I can say our program to prevent HIV- “curiously silent” about the “continuous to protect you from AIDS.” (With reports Marin said Atienza’s action was reminiscent of his predecessor
AIDS has failed because the Church is block- operation of many prostitution houses all from Kate Laceda) former DENR Secretary Angelo Reyes who approved the cutting
of 70,000 trees before he was transferred to the Department of
Dreams / A1
Energy.
“Is this the kind of justice they want to give to my son, to my fellow
allowed the rise of another power hungry leader that has brought They condemned the lack of closure on the NBN-ZTE expose Sibuyanons, to our children’s children?” Marin asked.
about a situation which they described as “that smacks of martial due to the manipulations of people in power. They observed more Marin was the father of anti-mining Sibuyan councilor Armin
law.” could have been exposed had the present administration not suc- Rios-Marin who was killed by SNPDC security.
“Hence, the situation has not changed for the better,” they said. ceeded in hiding its corrupt practices under the mantle of executive Anti-mining advocacy group Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) also de-
The statement went on to say the country’s and the people’s situa- privilege. nounced the MPSA approval, saying it will imperil the livelihood
tion have not changed for the better as the poor remained poor and “But the time of reckoning will come because divine justice shall and biodiversity on the island.
helpless and have increased as days have gone by. prevail,” they added. The island, dubbed as Galapagos of Asia by international scientists
They described the workers’ conditions have remained unjust and because of its rich and diverse marine ecosystem is also home to rare
have been treated shabbily along with farmers who have remained Call to Action species of flora and fauna.
landless. The major religious superiors said they are tired of deceit, corrup- “Sibuyan island is an important bird and biodiversity area (IBA),
“Filipinos are forced out of the country in desperation and hope- tion and betrayal of people’s interest and they cannot allow these the flora and fauna are so unique and diverse, the fact that the is-
lessness,” they observed. to rule and dominate the country’s landscape “especially now that land has been separated from any other islands since ice-age,” said
we are again hearing sweet promises of hope coming from those Blas Tabaranza, executive director of HARIBON, an environmental
The challenge aspiring to be leaders of this country.” group.
The ARMSP said the Church and its people are challenged to They said the people must learn from history and remain vigi- Environmentalists furthered argued the island’s geographical
take on the burden of denouncing the excesses of the present lant. make-up, being isolated from other islands, is not ideal for mining
dispensation. They noted that time has come to “make our voices The religious superiors called on the people to be united in guard- activity.
heard” because they have witnessed the blatant disregard of the ing the country’s future and not be swayed by the promises of people Ronald Gregorio, an official of Legal Rights and Natural Resources
rule of law. who claim to be poor or poor in origin. Centre-Kasama sa Kalikasan/Friends of the Earth Philippines (LRC-
“We simply must not sit idly in one corner looking at another “Let us be very vigilant never to trust those people wearing a KsK/FoE Phils) said Sibuyan is similar to Bicol region’s Rapu-rapu
conjugal dictatorship stealing the wealth of our people and con- lamb’s mask, yet inside, they are wolves out to devour our people island in geographical landscape.
tinually disregarding the tenets of justice and righteousness which and our children’s future,” they further said. In 2006, Rapu-rapu landed in the news when mine spill from Lafay-
we, as Church, are supposed to protect and defend,” the ARMSP They called on the people to reclaim the hope that EDSA gave to ette Mining Corporation caused massive fish kill and environmental
further said. every Filipino. (Melo M. Acuña) destruction on the island and environs.
“This experience shows that small islands cannot hold the pres-
DENR / A1 sure of massive earth moving activities like mining,” Gregorio said,
indigenous peoples’ rights and jeopardizing free prior and informed consent (FPIC) of for the empowerment of the marginalized in- adding: “it’s like punching a hole into a floating life raft.” (Pinky
our environment” said Sr. Susan Bolanio of communities, and processing of mining digenous peoples and rural communities. Barrientos, FSP)
SOCSKARGEN CAN. applications notwithstanding protests or “With the appointment of Horacio
Among those major projects that are opposition. Ramos as DENR secretary, the mining Rain / A1
presently undergoing EIA processes are IP advocates on the other hand said that companies will have more say than the Government authorities have earlier warned that the country is
SMI-Xtrata’s Tampakan Copper and Gold Ramos is out to fully comply with mining communities. They will definitely have facing drought and shortage of water because of the El Niño phe-
Project in the tri-boundary of South Cota- liberalization program to cater to local and more rights than the indigenous people,” nomenon.
bato, Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat and foreign corporate interests. added Ferraris. “Our relief will come from nature. And so we implore the
coal mining projects in Ned, Lake Sebu, “Ramos, a mining aficionado, has been in Horacio Ramos joined the Bureau of Master of all creation, God, our Father, at whose command the
South Cotabato. SMI’s TCGP was recently the mines bureau most of his life, and was Mines and Geosciences as a mining engi- winds and the seas obey, to send us rain and ease drought,”
declared by the Regional Development in fact at the forefront of the government’s neer in May 1969, and has served with the Rosales said.
Council (RDC) and Regional Mineral De- effort to revitalize the mining industry when Government since then. He worked his way “Let us together storm heavens with our supplication, that God’s
velopment Council (RMDC) as the region’s he became the MGB director in 1996 until his up until he was promoted to become MGB mercy be upon us and send us the rain we need,” he added.
flagship project. appointment as DENR secretary” said Jean Director 1996. The Oratio Imperata, the cardinal said, is to be prayed after Com-
“We oppose these projects because they lie Marie Ferraris of the Legal Rights and Natu- “It is alarming because few days before munion before the Post Communion Prayer.
within watershed areas and we believe that ral Resources Center-Kasama sa Kalikasan/ his appointment, Ramos made a fearless Cardinal Rosales is among the prelates who issued an Oratio
the proponents should not be given ECCs,” Friends of the Earth Philippines (LRC-KsK/ forecast that mining investments will rise. Imperata this year, following Ricardo Cardinal Vidal of Cebu and
asserted Bolanio, questioning even the ECC FoE-Phils). Definitely it will under his stint being a top Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad.
issued to Conal Holdings Corporation’s LRC-KsK/FoE-Phils is a policy and legal mining bureaucrat this government has ever Archbishop Socrates Villegas also released his own obligatory
200MW Coal Fired Power Plant project in research and advocacy institution working had,” Ferraris said. (CBCPNews) prayer for his flocks to pray for rain.
Maasim, Sarangani. “February 28, 2010 is the Second Sunday of Lent and we start
Migrants’ Sunday / A3
According to Bolanio the coal fired power with these prayers on this day, the day of our intensified journey
project threatens the Sarangani Protected Lady of Good Voyage in Antipolo, a favorite destination of OFW pilgrims before going of Lent,” Rosales said.
Seascape. abroad. The mass was immediately followed by a fellowship organized by Fr. Joey Bautista, The Manila archdiocese defines Oratio Imperata as a special
Ramos was also being criticized by the diocesan minister for migrants. prayer for a special intention, besides the ones prescribed by
various environmental rights groups as Kalookan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez will preside over a mass at the Sacred Heart Parish rituals, that the Pope or the bishop may require to be recited
an architect for the fast tracking of the in Malabon for a diocesan post migrants’ celebration on February 28. during Masses.
issuance of mining permits with moves Other dioceses that also conducted various activities for migrants and their families are In May last year, Rosales also issued an Oratio Imperata
such as reducing the processing time of Abra, Vigan, Baguio, Ilagan, Cabanatuan, San Jose-Nueva Ecija, Novaliches, Palo, Cebu, to end the threat posed by the H1N1 virus across the globe.
mining applications, diluting the right to Bacolod, and Malaybalay. (CBCPNews) (CBCPNews)
 Diocesan News
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 5
March 1 - 14, 2010
A7

Briefing
ACE holds Friendship Games in Balingao
Bishop cries lack of
assistance to farmers
OZAMIZ CITY—With the theme, “Celebrating Oneness,” the
Archdiocese of Ozamiz held the Archdiocesan Commission
on Education Friendship Games, Feb. 25-26 in Baliangao,
Misamis Occidental. The activity also highlighted the various
contributions of Catholic schools throughout the archdiocese.
Different games were held and more than 400 athletes from
16 Catholic schools competed in the friendly game. (Wendell
Talibong)
Peace group, poll watchdog to hold forum with
presidentiables
DAVAO CITY—Ending the conflict in Mindanao. This is the
gist of the Mindanao Leaders Forum with the 2010 presidential
aspirants slated on March 16, here. Organized by the Mind-
anao Peoples Caucus and the Citizen’s Coalition on ARMM
Electoral Reform, the event will bring in multi-sectoral groups,
especially the bakwits from Maguindanao and Lanao, face to
face with the standard bearers of ten official political parties.
(Rick R. Flores)
Caceres clergy, laity move to promote social justice
NAGA CITY—Expect the Archdiocese of Caceres to be more
engaged in its prophetic function for social change. Caceres
URDANETA, Pangasinan—A Catholic bishop said that achieving
food security would continue to be an illusion if the country fails to
offer the required financial and technical assistance needed by the
small-scale farmers.
Urdaneta Bishop Jacinto Jose said small-scale farmers continue
to dominate the country’s agricultural sector and providing with
systematic assistance could bring the desired increase in food pro-
duction.
The bishop cited the case in eastern Pangasinan wherein the lack
of credit facilities have continuously sent farmers to agriculture or
farm-based businessmen who extend loans to farmers in need of
farm inputs in exchange of rice and vegetables.
“While the Diocesan Social Action Center tries to assist farmers
and their families through microfinance projects, the amount is not
enough,” Jose said.
According to him, the Diocese of Urdaneta will have to prepare
and organize people for projects that involve loans.
He noted that farmers are left with no other choice but accept the
terms and conditions set forth by “compradors” who release the
needed fertilizers and pesticides in exchange for rice and vegetable
crops at a much lower price.
Jose called on the government to make sure credit is accessible
to farmers in need of high-yielding seeds, fertilizers and pesticides
from government agencies otherwise the farmers will always be at
the mercy of local businessmen.
“There are people who believe the assistance we give is similar
to what the government gives,” he added. He said farmers in his
diocese have begun to think the assistance is a dole out.
The prelate said he hopes the Basic Ecclesial Communities would
transform itself from an organization into a way of life to create more
responsible citizenry.
The Diocese of Urdaneta serves the eastern portion of Pangasinan
whose residents earn their keep through rice and vegetable farming.
(Melo M. Acuna)

Sinnott back to Pagadian

Archbishop Leonardo Legaspi called on the clergy and the
laity for active engagement in people empowerment and
social justice. He said that building God’s kingdom—the
mission of every Christian – is the inspiration and fulfill-
ment of efforts for people empowerment and social justice.
(Fr. Louie Occiano) OZAMIZ CITY—The 80-year old Irish priest
Fr. Michael Sinnott has quietly returned and
Palace pushes building of more power plants to solve resumed his missionary work under the
power crisis Hangop Kabataan Foundation, Inc. (HKFI)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Malacanañg has proposed the – an NGO for children with physical dis-
construction of additional power generating facilities in Mind- abilities and hearing-challenged minors with
anao to solve the power crisis now being felt by major cities in learning disabilities that he started some 12
the island. Presidential Deputy Spokesman Gary Olivar said the years ago in Pagadian City.
private sector should take the lead in initiating this long-term In an interview over Ozamis-based
solution to the power crisis that has hampered business and DxDDNews recently, Fr. Mick, as called
trade in some parts of the country, especially in the southern by his closest friends, said he returned to
Philippines. (Bong D. Fabe) his home, the local church of Pagadian and
resumed work with his fellow workers and
Bishop: Reject overspending candidates
special children beneficiaries of Hangop
KALOOKAN CITY—Another Catholic bishop warned the vot- Kabataan Foundation.
ers against candidates who spend so much on their campaign The interview took place at a commercial
ads to ensure victory in the elections. Caloocan Bishop Deogra- establishment here while the missionary was
cias Iñiguez said the voters should turn down candidates who on a private visit.
are guilty of overspending instead of using their money to help “I went home to Ireland shortly after my
the less privileged. “We should not vote for these candidates released in November last year and now I
because it’s a sign that they are not worthy of the people’s trust,” went back to Hangop Kabataan Foundation
Iñiguez said. (CBCPNews) in Pagadian City,” Fr. Mick said.
The Irish priest was kidnapped last Oct.
11, 2009 by still unidentified gunmen who
Church leaders cites ‘urgency’ to resume gov’t, NDF
barged into the MSSC compound in Gatas stayed with his family until the New Year. Kabataan Foundation.
talks District, Pagadian City while on an after- He returned to Manila last Jan. 15, 2010. The amount was originally marked for in-
DAVAO CITY— Communist rebels and the Arroyo adminis- dinner stroll. Meanwhile, Hangop Kabataan Founda- formants who can give sufficient information
tration must act with a sense of “urgency” and resume peace He was freed by the kidnappers last Nov. tion, Inc. (HKFI) received cash donations in for the safe release of the Irish missionary.
talks, Christian leaders said. Leaders from various Christian 12 in an isolated village in Zamboanga City the amount of P400,000 from the Pagadian Because Fr. Mick was safely released
Churches composing the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform and was turned over to government Peace City Government and the Zamboanga del reportedly through the efforts of the Moro
(PEPP) met recently here for its first national convention. The Panel Chairman Rafael Seguis in Barangay Sur Provincial Government. Islamic Liberation Front, the city govern-
religious officials said the government and National Demo- Sangali, 25 kilometers east of this city. Governor Aurora Cerilles and Mayor ment, upon approval of the Crisis Manage-
cratic Front must summon the will to break the deadlock that He and Fr. Patrick O’Donoghue, the Samuel Co personally handed the financial ment Committee, opted to donate the reward
has trapped decades of endless cycle of conflict and suffering. Columbans’ Regional Director, left for Ire- assistance to HKFI during the welcome money to Fr. Mick’s pet projects under the
(CBCPNews) land last Dec. 2, 2009. Upon arrival in Ireland, program for Fr. Michael “Mick” Sinnott last auspices of Hangop Kabataan Foundation,
Fr. Mick met with government officials and February 2, 2010 at the grounds of Hangop Inc. (Wendell Talibong)
‘JC’ / A1

Dagupan prelate reflects on ‘hands of the priest’

“I guess it’s time for us to come out,” Navarra said. “It’s really a
matter of conscience this time. That is what my conscience is telling
me so I will stand for what I believe is right.”
DAGUPAN CITY—Lingayen- have beautiful hands. This is at the Stadia, Dagupan City last Adoration presided by Cabanat-
Church’s teachings Dagupan Archbishop Socrates because they have been made February 15, 2010. uan Bishop Sofronio Bancud.
The prelate said he is endorsing De Los Reyes and other Ang Ka- Villegas gave a reflection on the beautiful by God,” the prelate Hundreds of priests from Villegas then gave the reflec-
patiran bets because of their commitment to the Catholic Church’s “mystery of our priesthood” by said. the metropolitan of Lingayen- tion during the Exposition of the
social teachings. meditating on the hands of the Meanwhile, Villegas also re- Dagupan came together for this Blessed Sacrament.
Navarra said he is engaging in partisan politics this time to be priests. minded the priests that “the first-ever clergy day. Lingayen-Auxiliary Bishop
“consistent” with his advocacy for good governance and eradication Villegas said, the priest’s first duty of a priest is to be a The participants were from Renato P. Mayugba was the
of graft and corruption. hands touched the floor of giving-priest.” the Archdiocese of Lingayen- main celebrant of the Eucharistic
“They’re the ones with clear sincerity in bringing political change the altar as a sign of humility; “Our hands that were made Dagupan and its suffragan dio- celebration concelebrated by San
to our country. They also stood up to the principles supported by clasped the Bishop’s hands as sacred by God are meant to ceses of Alaminos, Urdaneta, San Jose (Nueva Ecija) Bishop Mylo
the Church,” he said. a sign of his respect and obedi- give. Do not just give blessings Fernando (La Union), San Jose Vegara.
Arguelles, however, admitted that De Los Reyes’ winnability in ence to his successor and prom- but give also from your pocket,” and Cabanatuan (Nueva Ecija). Alaminos Bishop Marlo Per-
the presidential race, as surveys show, is “slim” but said he would ised rapport between the Bishop he stated. The celebration commenced alta and the Alaminos Bishop
still support him. and priest. This was the reflection of Vil- with the praying of the rosary Emeritus Jesus Cabrera were
“There’s no vote that is wasted on a candidate you believe could “The beauty of the priest’s legas during the First Metropoli- led by La Union Bishop Artemio also present during the celebra-
bring real change, whether he wins or not,” he said. hands is a gift of God. All priests tan Clergy Day which was held Rillera followed by a Eucharistic tion. (Kate Laceda)

Non-partisan
The two bishops’ decision to engage in partisan politics is yet to
cause reactions from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philip-
pines (CBCP).
There is no particular law that stops bishops and priests from en-
dorsing candidates but the Catholic hierarchy has long maintained
a non-partisan position.
The general position of the CBCP is that instead of endorsing
candidates, the church would rather engage in political education
of the people.
The choosing of candidates, CBCP officials said, should still be left
to the wisdom and conscience of the mature Christian voters.
Canon law expert Archbishop Oscar Cruz said the two bishops
did not violate any church law “but strictly speaking, it could be
pastorally imprudent as of the moment.”
It seems, however, that no one could stop Navarra and Ar-
guelles.
“We will stand by our position. We really have to do something
now and be sincere to what is happening in our country. We will
stand by our position,” said Arguelles. (CBCPNews)
Run for a Bible
CLOSE to one thousand four hundred (1,400) young people and some
family members stretched their muscles and showed their love on
Valentine’s Day in a Fun Run in Batangas. The event, dubbed “Run
For One” (meaning Run for One Bible) was organized by the Youth
for Christ Batangas Chapter, working
under the pastoral leadership of Rev.
Fr. Ferdinand Javod, Most Holy Rosary
Parish, Archdiocese of Lipa. The “early
bird” runners started off at Rosario town
at 5:30am and concluded the race in the
next town of Padre Garcia where a half
day worship, mass and program was
held at the town’s gymnasium.
Proceeds of the Fun Run will be used
to buy five hundred (500) May They Be
One Bibles for distribution. The group
aims to double the number of Bibles to
distribute by the end of the year to one
thousand (1000). The event follows a
milestone launch of partnership between
the Couples for Christ (YFC’s mother organization), the Episcopal
Commission for the Biblical Apostolate (ECBA) and the Philippine
Bible Society at a CFC national leadership seminar held at the Araneta
Coliseum in January.
ECBA Executive Secretary Fr. Oscar Alunday, one of the keynote
speakers at the Fun Run program, told the crowd that six out of ten
people in the country do not own a Bible and so he commended
Groups lead youth in wading through murky waters that is RP polls
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The hodge- president, said lodged in politi-
podge of personal interests, party affiliations that the work- cal parties often
and political agenda are blurring Philippine shop on the times alien to
politics as a whole and are stunting the politi- “Centrist Reform the traditional
cal growth reflected in the festering problems Agenda” aimed separations in
of governance. at exploring the a political spec-
In order to clarify the role of political par- social market trum.”
ties in the continuing political education and economy (SME) “The conven-
to strengthen democratic institutions and the as an “impor- tional delinea-
rule of law, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung tant component tion of political
(KAS), Technical Assistance Centre for the of the centrist set thoughts brand-
Development of Rural and Urban Poor of principles.” ing and situat-
(TACDRUP) and the Centrist Democratic The confer- ing the parties
Movement (CDM) held a conference-work- ence-workshop along the spec-
shop in this city February 19-20. tackled the prin- trum, accepted
Lito Monico C. Lorenzana, TACDRUP ciple of subsid- and practiced
iarity with the in most demo-
end in view of cratic nations, is
them for doing their part in helping reduce the Bible gap. Fr. Oscar
congratulated the Youth for Christ Batangas for being the first ever the eventual es- blurred within
YFC group to respond to the MTBO Bible challenge. But he also gently tablishment of a the Philippine
reminded the group that Bible distribution is not complete without the truly decentral- context,” the for-
accompanying lifestyle of Reading, Studying, Praying and Loving the ized system of mer secretary of
Bible. He explained that such a Biblical life-style and practice brings regional gover- the Local Gov-
a person to the embrace of the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit. Fr. Oscar nance. ernment department said.
then led the youthful audience to the CDM’s Lorenzana, who is also KAS con- “Adding to the widespread confusion is
declaration of the MTBO prayer. He en- sultant, said that while the May 10, 2010 the “mixture of self-styled leftists running for
couraged them to say the MTBO prayer elections will be an “important exercise positions in an ostensible conservative party
thrice daily – every 6 a.m., 12 noon and of our civic rights,” the electorate is in a and professed liberal democrats in a party
6 p.m., along with the Angelus. quandary because of numerous problems of unknown political lineage. And we see
A Gawad Kalinga family, represent-
ing the varied groups of MTBO Bible facing them. a phenomenon of elected leaders jumping
recipients under the YFC Batangas First among these is the automated elec- from one party to another,” he added.
Chapter program, was called onstage tion which is casting a very long shadow The same scenario repeats itself every
to symbolically receive an MTBO Bible of doubt about an orderly process as this is election season.
in behalf of the program’s recipients. Mr. the first time that this will be implemented “This widespread confusion which re-
and Mrs. Rodolfo Manalo, Couples For in the country. peats itself every election season stunts the
Christ Provincial Couple Coordinator,
Batangas said the Bible beneficiaries The failure of numerous testings of the political growth of both the leaders and the
will include, among others, the Prison ministry, poor families and PCOS machines added more to the dilemma of governed. This immaturity is reflected in the
Gawad Kalinga itself. Meantime another family drew warm applause the voters, the candidates and the Comelec. festering problems of good governance in
from the crowd after being declared winner of the Fun Run contest, Lorenzana, who is also chairman of the our democratic institutions,” he stressed.
family category. The 5-member family contingent of Mr. Fernan Runio Charter Change Advocacy Commission, And successfully wading through the murky
was the first family unit to cross the finish line – demonstrating physi- said that the electorate is being faced “with water that is the Philippine election is a tough
cal fitness, unity as a family and its solid commitment to Run for One
so that the Bible will find its home among the poor Filipino family. a formidable set of presidential candidates order which the KAS, TACDRUP and CDM are
whose platforms and pronouncements are willing to wage a bet on. (Bong D. Fabe)
 A8 People, Facts & Places CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 5
March 1 - 14, 2010

Bishop urges Taize pilgrims

to keep flame burning
A WEEK after the Taize pilgrimage that gathered thousands of young people across the globe at Don
Bosco, Makati ended, Chairman of Episcopal Commission on Youth and Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon
called on the youth pilgrims to carry on the spirit of the pilgrimage of trust in their lives.
In a letter he wrote to group contact persons of the Philippines, the bishop encouraged the co-pilgrims
to keep the flame of love burning in their hearts as they continue “to search for life in fullness” and
seek “to transform the world” amid challenges.
“One week has almost passed since we have ended our encounter in Makati, but we hope that,
together with you, we will keep the flame burning: rooted in and guided by the Gospel, we continue
in our search for life in fullness, we hasten to respond to the call to transform the world,” Baylon
wrote.
He encouraged the young pilgrims to meet in groups and plan some concrete actions to respond
effectively to urgent concerns facing Church and society, especially the upcoming May elections.
Baylon also exhorted them to keep on “living in the spirit of the pilgrimage: in simplicity, com-
munion, serene joy and trust.”
He likewise advised them to pray for the devastated country of Haiti every 12th of the month as
requested by a youth from Haiti.
On February 27, the Taize brothers met again the young people from the local preparation groups,
foster families and other volunteers for sharing, prayers and thanksgiving. (Pinky Barrientos, FSP)

2 archdiocesan shrines Markings

elevated to national status
TWO well-known shrines in the archdiocese of Manila have recently
been elevated as national shrines through a decree of establishment
issued by the CBCP President and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar.
The elevation of the status of the Shrines of Our Lady of Guadal-
upe and St. Jude Thaddeus into national shrines was unanimously
approved by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines
(CBCP) during its 100th plenary assembly on January 23.
The parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Guadalupe, Makati
City was proclaimed Archdiocesan Shrine by Cardinal Jaime Sin
in 2001.
The increase of devotion to the Lady of Guadalupe especially by
Pro-Life groups against the onslaught of anti-life values encouraged
the devotees to launch a petition for a national shrine of Our Lady
of Guadalupe citing the urgency to promote Pro-Life values under
the patronage of Our Lady.
Meanwhile, St. Jude’s Shrine in San Miguel, Manila is frequented
by numerous pilgrims and devotees asking the intercession of the
APPOINTED. Fr. Jose A. Cabantan as new
Bishop of Malaybalay, by Pope Benedict XVI,
February 18, 2010. The appointment was re-
saint for various needs. leased by the Vatican on the same date it was
“Through the years, the Shrine has been providing solace to the announced in Manila by Archbishop Edward
destitute, the downtrodden, the marginalized, the desperate, and Joseph Adams, apostolic nuncio to the Philip-
the lonely,” the petition read. pines. Born in in Lagonglong town in 1957.
Cabantan was ordained to the priesthood in
“Even without asking for special favors or after obtaining their 1990. He is currently pastor of the Miraculous
answered prayers, they maintain their personal relationship with St. Medal Parish and Social Action Center Direc-
Jude Thaddeus as a source of inspiration, guidance, and strength in tor of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro. A
their daily lives,” the petition further said. Chemical Engineer by profession, Cabantan
worked in a mining company in Surigao City
Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales endorsed both prior his entering the priesthood. He took his seminary training at the
petitions to the CBCP giving assurance “that all canonical and litur- San Jose De Mindanao Seminary in Cagayan de Oro City. After finishing
gical requirements for the elevation to the status of being a National Philosophy, he became part of the pioneer batch of seminarians at the St.
Shrine have been complied with.” John Vianney Major Seminary. The bishop-elect succeeds Bishop Hon-
esto Pacana, whose resignation was accepted by the pontiff, upon having
Current rector of Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine is Fr. Edwin reached the age limit of 75.
Mercado, while St. Jude Shrine is under the leadership of Fr. Roland
Aquino, SVD. (CBCPNews) ELECTED. Friar Mariel M. Santos,
OFMConv as the fifth Provincial

International Bamboo Organ Festival opens

Custos during the first part of the
sixth Ordinary Custodial Chapter
held on February 15-19, 2010 at La
Verna House of Prayer, Tagaytay
City. The Provincial Custos heads
THE 35th International Bamboo Organ Countertenor Mark Anthony Carpio; Tenor the Philippine Custody of the Im-
Festival organized by the Bamboo Organ Ervin Lumauag and Bass Noel Azcona. maculate Conception and Blessed
Bonaventure of Potenza. A native
Foundation, Inc. opened Feb. 18, with a Gala Singing Priests from Aklan, the Morriz of Hagonoy, Bulacan, Fra Santos
concert at the St. Joseph Church in Las Piñas Wind Orchestra and Maricris Garcia, GMA was born on March 24, 1971. He
City highlighting JS Bach’s Cantata no. 130 7 Pinoy Pop Superstar Grand Champion made his first profession of vows on March 19, 1994 and solemn vows on
and John Rutter’s Mass of the Children. showcased their talents on February 20. September 17, 1999. He was ordained on October 20, 2001. The Custodial
Definitors were also elected during the chapter. Fra Alfonsus was elected
The festival aimed to preserve the tradition A duet from Jarek Malanowicz from the Custodial Vicar, Fra Pascual Fidel was elected Custodial Secretary, Fra
that has made Las Piñas Bamboo Organ one Czech Republic and Robert de Pano, a Fili- Dennis and Fra Francis as Definitors. The second part of the sixth Ordinary
of the Philippine’s National Treasures. pino trumpet player highlighted February Custodial Chapter will be held on March 22-24, 2010.
The event has been organized to finan- 21’s performance.
ORDAINED. Fr. Wesley Jay Mallillin Taguibao to the sacred order of priest-
cially support the parish’s cultural, religious The week-long celebration culminated hood, February 6, 2010, at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Tuguegarao
and charitable activities as well as develop with a duet from Rutter and Malanowicz City. He is the first Rogationist priest from the city. Tuguegarao Archbishop
and advance the spiritual, educational, social on February 24. Diosdado Talamayan was the ordaining prelate. Taguibao’s ordination was
and economic well-being of the people of In 1972, the organ had its thorough resto- attended by various Rogationist communities, religious congregations,
members of the Union of Prayer for Vocations, family, relatives, benefac-
Las Piñas City. ration by Johannes Klais Orgelbau in Bonn, tors, and friends.
The concert featured local and internation- Germany.
© www.flickr.com/photos/cliff2

al artists such as Guy Bovet, an organist from The bamboo organ is well in operation and
Switzerland; Las Piñas Choir; Alejandro being played again at liturgical celebrations
Consolacion II, a Filipino organist, and the in the Parish of St. Joseph after its restoration
UP Singing Ambassadors. on May 5, 1975.
Also performed during the concert were To preserve the high standard of quality
the Festival Orchestra headed by conductor and dependability, the Bamboo Organ went
Eudenice Palaruan; Soprano Karina Liggayu; through another overhaul from September
2003 to November 2004.
The work was done locally by
the Diego Cera Organbuilders, Inc.,
Europe-trained organ builders that
were also commissioned to restore
the Manila Cathedral’s pipe organ
few years ago. (CBCPNews)
CELEBRATED. First Met-
ropolitan Clergy Day of the
Archdiocese of Lingayen-
Dagupan and suffragan dio-
ceses, Alaminos, Urdaneta,
San Fernando (La Union), San
Jose and Cabanatuan (Nueva
Ecija); February 15, 2010. The
day-long celebration started
with the praying of the Rosary
led by Bishop Artemio Rillera of
the Diocese of San Fernando, La Union, followed by a Eucharistic adoration
led by Bishop Sofronio Bancud of Cabanatuan diocese. Lingayen-Dagupan
Archbishop Socrates Villegas gave the reflection during the Holy hour.
Main presider during the Eucharistic celebration was Lingayen-Dagupan
Auxiliary Bishop Renato Mayugba while San Jose Bishop Mylo Vergara
gave the homily.

2 Filipino deacons ordained in Pamplona

TWO new deacons from the Archdio-
cese of Cebu received the Sacrament of
Holy Orders through the imposition
of hands by Auxiliary Bishop Julito
Cortes of Cebu, last February 13, 2010,
at San Andrés Parish Church, here in
Pamplona, Navarra.
Rev. Jan Thomas Limchua and Rev.
Abel Villarojo both received their
priestly formation at the BIDASOA
International Seminary in Barañain,
Navarre and are presently finishing
their theological studies at the Fac-
ulty of Theology of the University of
Navarre.
In his homily, Bishop Cortes ex-
pressed his gratitude and appreciation, (From left) Opus Dei Vicar, Fr. Jose Manuel Martinez, Rev. Jan Limchua,
Bishop Cortes, Rev Abel Villarojo and BIDASOA Seminary Rector, Fr.
in behalf of His Eminence Ricardo J. Miguel Angel Marco.
Cardinal Vidal, the Archbishop of Cebu,
to the Prelature of Opus Dei “for having formed a the two deacons, a dozen Filipino priests study-
number of our seminarians” all these years. ing in Pamplona, seminarians and some seminary
Stressing on what he calls “the threefold move- benefactors.
ment” of functions of deacons, the auxiliary bishop The BIDASOA International Ecclesiastical
addressed the ordinandi saying: “Receive the Gos- College, erected by the Holy See in 1988, is an
pel of Christ. Read what you receive, preach what International Seminary under the direction of
you read, and practice what you preach”. the Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei. It
Delivering his homily before a jam-packed parish provides seminary formation to candidates for the
church, Bishop Cortes said that the core of every vo- priesthood sent by their bishops to prepare them-
cation is discipleship, and that unless one loves God selves for the service of their respective dioceses.
above all things, one cannot be a real disciple. The philosophical and theological studies are
“If in your embrace of the ordained ministry, carried out in the Faculties of Ecclesiastical Phi-
you still have at the center of your concerns your losophy and Sacred Theology of the University of
own self and your own desires, then you may not Navarra, in accordance with the prevailing norms
have enough motivation to sustain you through the on priestly formation.
challenges of the priesthood”, he added. On April 24 this year, 17 seminarians of different
Present in the ordination were Opus Dei’s Vicar nationalities – three of whom are Filipinos – will
to Pamplona, Fr. José Manuel Martínez, the Parish be ordained deacons at the San Nicholas Parish
Priest of San Andrés, Fr. José Luís Morrás, BIDA- Church here in Pamplona. The ordaining bishop
SOA Seminary Rector, Fr. Miguel Angel Marco and will be the Archbishop of Pamplona-Tudela, Msgr.
other seminary formators, the priest-professors of Francisco Pérez. (Fr. Russell Bantiles)
 Pastoral Concerns
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 5
March 1 - 14, 2010
‘The Priest’s Mission is to
be a Mediator, a Bridge
that Connects’
(Excerpt of the talk of Pope Benedict XVI on “Lectio Divina” delivered to the parish priests of Rome last February 18, 2010)
IT is always a very joyful as well as an
important tradition for me to be able to
begin Lent with my Presbyterium, the
Priests of Rome. Thus, as the local Church
of Rome but also as the universal Church,
we can start out on this essential journey
with the Lord towards the Passion,
towards the Cross, the Easter journey.
Let us meditate this year on the passages from
the Letter to the Hebrews that have just been read.
The Author of this Letter introduced a new way of
understanding the Old Testament as a Book that
speaks of Christ. The previous tradition had seen
Christ above all, essentially, in the key of the Davidic
promise, the promise of the true David, of the true
Solomon, of the true King of Israel, the true King
since he was both man and God.
And the inscription on the Cross truly proclaimed
this reality to the world: now there is the true King
of Israel, who is King of the world, the King of the
Jews hangs on the Cross. It is a proclamation of the
kingship of Jesus, of the fulfilment of the messianic
expectation of the Old Testament which, at the
bottom of their hearts, is shared by all men and
women who await the true King who will bring
justice, love and brotherhood.
However, the Author of the Letter to the Hebrews
discovered a citation which until then had gone
unnoticed: Psalm 110 [109]: 4 “You are a priest for
ever after the order of Melchizedek”. This means
that not only does Jesus fulfil the Davidic promise,
the expectation of the true King of Israel and of the
world, but he also makes the promise of the real
Priest come true. In a part of the Old Testament
and especially in Qumran there are two separate
lines of expectation: of the King and of the Priest.
In discovering this verse, the Author of the Letter
to the Hebrews realized that the two promises are
united in Christ: Christ is the true King, the Son of
God in accordance with Psalm 2:7, from which he
quotes but he is also the true Priest.
Thus the whole of the religious world, the whole
reality of sacrifices, of the priesthood that is in
search of the true priesthood, the true sacrifice,
finds in Christ its key, its fulfillment. And with this
key it can reinterpret the Old Testament and show
precisely that also the religious law abolished after
the destruction of the Temple was actually moving
towards Christ. Hence it was not really abolished
but renewed, transformed, so that in Christ all things
might find their meaning. The priesthood thus
appears in its purity and in its profound depth.
In this way the Letter to the Hebrews presents
the theme of the priesthood of Christ, of Christ the
priest, at three levels: the priesthood of Aaron, that
of the Temple; Melchizedek; and Christ himself as
the true priest.
Indeed, the priesthood of Aaron, in spite of being
different from Christ’s priesthood, in spite of being,
so to speak, solely a quest, a journey in the direction
of Christ, is nevertheless a “journey” towards Christ
and in this priesthood the essential elements are
already outlined. Then Melchizedek we shall return
to this point who is a pagan.
Let us now look at the individual elements
concerning the priesthood as best we can. We learn
two things from the Law, from the priesthood of
Aaron, the Author of the Letter to the Hebrews says:
If he is truly to be a mediator between God and man,
a priest must be man. This is fundamental and the
Son of God was made man precisely in order to be
a priest, to be able to fulfill the priest’s mission.
He must be man: We shall come back to this
point, but he is unable, on his own, to make
himself a mediator for God. The priest needs divine
authorization, institution, and only by belonging to
both spheres the divine and the human can he be a
mediator, can he be a “bridge”.
This is the priest’s mission: to combine, to link
these two realities that appear to be so separate, that
is, the world of God far from us, often unknown to
the human being and our human world. The priest’s
mission is to be a mediator, a bridge that connects,
and thereby to bring human beings to God, to his
redemption, to his true light, to his true life.
As the first point, therefore, the priest must be
on God’s side. Only in Christ is this need, this
prerequisite of mediation fully brought about. This
Mystery was therefore necessary: the Son of God is
made man so that he may be the true bridge for us,
the true mediation. Others must have at least an
authorization from God, or in the Church’s case,
the Sacrament, that is they must introduce our being
into the being of Christ, into divine being.
Only with the Sacrament, this divine act that
makes us priests in communion with Christ, can
we accomplish our mission.
And this seems to me a first point for our
meditation: the importance of the Sacrament. No
one can become a priest by himself; God alone can
attract me, can authorize me, can introduce me into
participation in Christ’s mystery; God alone can
enter my life and take me by the hand.
Let us also make this reality a practical factor in
our life: if this is how it is, a priest must really be a
man of God, he must know God intimately and know
him in communion with Christ and so we must live
this communion; and the celebration of Holy Mass,
the prayer of the Breviary, all our personal prayers
are elements of being with God, of being men of
God. Our being, our life and our heart must be fixed
in God, in this point from which we must not stir.
This is achieved and reinforced day after day with
short prayers in which we reconnect with God and
become, increasingly, men of God who live in his
communion and can thus speak of God and lead
people to God.
The other element is that the priest must be
man, human in all senses. That is, he must live true
humanity, true humanism; he must be educated,
have a human formation, human virtues; he must
develop his intelligence, his will, his sentiments, his
affections; he must be a true man, a man according
to the will of the Creator, of the Redeemer, for we
know that the human being is wounded and the
question of “what man is” is obscured by the event
of sin that hurt human nature even to the quick.
To be man: the Letter to the Hebrews stresses our
humanity; we find this surprising for it says: “He
can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward,
since he himself is beset with weakness” (5:2). And
then even more forcefully “In the days of his flesh,
Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with
loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save
him from death, and he was heard for his godly
fear” (5:7).
For the Letter to the Hebrews, the essential
element of our being human is being compassionate,
suffering with others: this is true humanity. It is not
sin because sin is never solidarity but always tears
solidarity apart, it is living life for oneself instead
of giving it.
True humanity is real participation in the suffering
of human beings. It means being a compassionate
person metriopathèin, the Greek text says that is,
being at the core of human passion, really bearing
with others the burden of their suffering, the
temptation of our time: “God, where are you in
this world?”.
The humanity of the priest does not correspond to
the Platonic or Aristotelian ideal which claims that
the true man is the one who lives in contemplation
of the truth alone and so is blessed happy because
B1
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
he only has friendship with beautiful things, with
divine beauty, while “the work” is left to others.
This is a hypothesis; whereas here it is implied
that the priest enter, like Christ, into human
wretchedness, carry it with him, visit those who
are suffering and look after them and, not only
outwardly but also inwardly, take upon himself,
recapitulate in himself the “passion” of his time, of
his parish, of the people entrusted to his care.
This is how Christ showed his true humanity. Of
course, his Heart was always fixed on God, he always
saw God, he was always in intimate conversation
with him. Yet at the same time he bore the whole
being, the whole of human suffering entered the
Passion.
In speaking, in seeing people who were lowly, who
had no pastor, he suffered with them. Moreover, we
priests cannot withdraw to an Elysium. Let us rather
be immersed in the passion of this world and with
Christ’s help and in communion with him, we must
seek to transform it, to bring it to God.
Jesus weeps with loud cries. We know from the
Gospels that Jesus cried out from the Cross: “My
God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mk
15:34; cf. Mt 27:46) and cried out once again at
the end. And this cry responds to a fundamental
dimension of the Psalm: in the terrible moments
of human life many Psalms are a loud cry to God:
“Help us, hear us!”
On this very day, in the Breviary, we prayed
like this: God, where are you? “You have made us
like sheep for slaughter” (Ps 44[43]: 11 [rsv]). A cry
of suffering humanity! And Jesus, who is the true
subject of the Psalms, truly bears this cry of humanity
to God, to God’s ears: “help us and hear us!” He
transforms the whole of suffering humanity, taking
it to himself in a cry to God to hear him.
Thus we see that in this very way he brings about
the priesthood, the function of mediator, bearing
in himself, taking on in himself the sufferings and
passion of the world, transforming it into a cry to
God, bringing it before the eyes and to the hands
of God and thus truly bringing it to the moment of
redemption.
We say, rightly, that Jesus did not offer God
something. Rather, he offered himself and made this
offering of himself with the very compassion that
transforms the suffering of the world into prayer
and into a cry to the Father. Nor, in this sense, is
our own priesthood limited to the religious act of
Holy Mass in which everything is placed in Christ’s
Mission / B7
 B2 Updates CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 5
March 1 - 14, 2010

By Fr. Jaime B. Achacoso,

J.C.D.
WE have a problem in my archdiocese
with a priest who said that priests can
campaign for the upcoming elections
as long as they don’t do it from the
pulpit. People are confused because
the statement came out in the local
papers. Is there anything in Canon
Law on this?
In a previous issue, we had
dedicated this column to the
question of Catholic Associations
and Partisan Politics. The
questioner then had taken for
granted that the Hierarchy
should not be involved in
partisan politics. Now, it seems,
this criterion is not very obvious
to everyone.
The Role of the Priest in Political
Life
By virtue of the service that he
must render to individuals and
society, the priest is interested in all
those questions relative to public
administration, which inevitably
entail an ethical dimension. The
correct notion of the distinction of
Church and State does not mean
that the hierarchy and the political
community should live oblivious
of each other. It means rather that
each has its own proper sphere
of responsibility: the hierarchy
towards the eternal common good,
and the government towards the
temporal common good.
But since the temporal
common good necessarily
dovetails—since it ends up in
the same final destination of the
human person—with the eternal
common good, the proper role
of the hierarchy towards the
Priests and politics
Limits to the Priest’s
Participation in the Political
Exercise
The aforementioned right—
like any other right—is obviously
not an unlimited one. The
external manifestation of a
priest’s political preferences may
be reasonably restricted by the
demands of his ministry, which
seeks to embrace everyone, to
fully proclaim the Gospel and
to be a valid sign of unity among
all people.
Thus, c.287, §2 of the Code of
Canon Law explicitly limits the
Gospels completely, adequately
or perennially.” John Paul II,
following the same line of
thought, would add that “a
political party can never be
identi¬fied with the truth of
the Gospel, nor could it ever be,
therefore, the object of absolute
allegiance, unlike what happens
with the Gospel.” John Paul
II concludes that the priest
should not forget the relative
character of political activities
“even when citizens of Christian
faith create, in a plausible way,
parties inspired ex¬pressly in
of the laity consists precisely
in respecting their rightful
autonomy in political choices,
without their being unduly
coerced—whether intentionally
or otherwise—through a false
reverential fear of displeasing
their pastor who expresses a
political preference different
from theirs.
The problem lies in the fact that
when a priest (more so a bishop)
speaks of his political preferences,
it is difficult for the faithful to
distinguish—especially in a
country with a tradition of deep
of management or direction of
such parties, but also to any
electoral candidate.
4. Possible exception: To
membership in such parties, the defend the rights of the Church
knowledge of which may trigger and the common good. The canon
an alienation of those faithful of obviates any danger of laxity in the
a different political leaning—an interpretation of this exception,
alienation which the canonical by precisely stipulating that such
prohibition precisely seeks to an exception must be according to
avoid. the judgment of the ecclesiastical
2. Active participation in the authority. Thus, no individual
direction of labor unions. The priest may determine by himself
treatment of the participation the existence of sufficient reason
of clerics in union associations is to make an exception to the
something very different. What general prohibition, but must
is forbidden in this hypothetical rather depend on the judgment
situation is, strictly speaking, of the competent authority—i.e.,
the Local Ordinary.
Conclusion
The Directory on the Ministry
and Life of Priests, issued by the
Congregation for the Clergy on
31.I.1994, summarizes all these in
the following terms (ref. n.3):
— “The priest, as servant of
the universal Church, cannot
tie himself to any historical
contingency, and therefore must
be above any political party.
He cannot take an active role in
political parties or labor unions,
unless according to the judgment
of the ecclesiastical authority,
the rights of the Church and
the defense of common good
require it.”
— “In fact, even if these
[political parties and labor
unions] are good things in
themselves, they are nevertheless
foreign to the clerical state, since
they can constitute a grave
danger of division in the ecclesial
communion.”
— “Like Jesus (cf. Jn 6, 15
ff.), the priest ought to refrain
from actively engaging himself
in politics, as it often happens,
in order to be a central point

temporal common good is one of
magisterium and guidance: it is
the role of the hierarchy in general
and of priests in particular to
form all men of good will (but
especially the lay faithful) to have
the right criteria to exercise their
political options with freedom
and responsibility.
The priest, in addition,
preserves the right to have a
personal political opinion and
to exercise his right to vote,
according to his conscience.
“In those circumstances in
which diverse political, social
or economic choices legitimately
present themselves—pointed
out the Synod of Bishops in
1971—priests, like all citizens,
have the right to make their own
choices.”
participation of clerics in the
political exercise in the following
terms: Clerics are not to have an
active role in political parties and
in the direction of labor unions,
unless the need to protect the
rights of the Church or to promote
the common good requires it in
the judgment of the competent
ecclesiastical authority.
The rationale behind this
prohibition is as follows:
1) To avoid any semblance
of dogmatism. As the Synod
of Bishops of 1971 pointed out,
“political choices are contingent
by nature and do not express the
the Gospels, and he should not
cease to strive to make the light of
Christ also shine on other parties
and social groups” (General
Audience, 28.VII.1993).
2) To avoid any semblance
clericalism. As John Paul II also
pointed out in the aforementioned
audience “within the framework
of the Christian community,
[priestly ministry] should have
respect for the maturity of the
laity and, what is more, should
strive to assist them to achieve
this, through the formation of
con¬science.” In other words, the
correct sense of empowerment
respect for the clergy—when he
is proclaiming Gospel truth and
when he is merely speaking of his
preferences or opinions. In other
words, it is difficult for a priest
to claim that he is only speaking
as a private citizen expressing
his political leanings, without
the Catholic faithful perceiving
it as an authoritative moral
determination.
Scope of the Prohibition
1. Active participation in
political parties. The juridical
norm extends the prohibition not
only to the exercise of functions
Courtesy of CFC
of spiritual fraternity. All the
faithful, therefore, must be
able to approach the priest
without feeling inhibited for any
reason.”
participation on an active — “The Priest will remember
basis in maintaining those that it does not fall on the
organiza¬tions—i.e., to have shoulders of the Pastors of the
positions of government and Church to intervene directly in
direction in such unions. political activities and in social
3. Militancy in favor of a given organizations. This task, in fact,
person or party. As a logical forms part of the lay faithful’s
consequence, the same Synod vocation, in which they work
of Bishops of 1971 declares that by their own initiative together
“the priest, witness of future with their fellow citizens.
things, should keep a certain Nevertheless, he will not be
distance from any political absent in the effort to form in
position or effort.” It is difficult them an upright conscience.”
to argue that this statement
does not refer precisely to the (Note: This article originally
priests actively campaigning appeared in CBCP Monitor, March
for a certain political party or 2007.)

(Father Edward McNamara, seen just as the obligatory means of

professor of liturgy at the Regina being shriven of mortal sin but as one
Apostolorum university answers the of the habitual and even necessary
following query:) means of spiritual progress.
The Compendium to the Catechism
Q: Many priests recommend also makes no mention of the need
the faithful to have confession at for serious sin. Thus, No. 432.2
least once year, as in the second formulates the precept as: “To
precept of the Church (Catechism confess one’s sins, receiving the
No. 2042, “You shall confess your sacrament of Reconciliation at least
sins at least once a year”). But I once each year.”
heard a priest say that this is not By doing this, both the Catechism
necessary unless there are grave and its Compendium descend from
sins, as in Canon 989, “All the the ethereal spheres of canonical
faithful who have reached the age theory to the reality of the Christian
of discretion are bound faithfully life.
to confess their grave sins at least The idea that the annual canonical
once a year.” Theoretically, one obligation to confess obliges only
consequence of this assertion is in the case of serious sins is fine on
that after first confession (before paper, but the experience of many
first Communion), there would directors of souls is that it is rare
be no more need to receive this for someone to avoid any serious
sacrament unless there are grave sin over a period of one or more
sins. Practically, some faithful years.
do not receive this sacrament Indeed, when serious sin is avoided
for many years because “they over the course of years, it almost
did not commit any grave sins.” always occurs in souls who regularly
www.dominicanfriars.org

Catechism No. 1457 also refers to and frequently confess their venial
the above canon (“after having sins and make use of the sacrament
attained the age of discretion, of reconciliation in order to grow
each of the faithful is bound by in their delicacy of conscience and
an obligation faithfully to confess love for God. Such souls are also
serious sins at least once a year”). likely to practice other means of
Here, it points out that confession spiritual progress such as regular

Need for annual Confession

is obligatory only for grave sins.
As you know, Canon 989 has a
juridical obligation. However,
Catechism No. 2041 points out
the obligatory character of the
five precepts of the Church too.
My personal interpretation is
that there is no contradiction if
we can distinguish a “juridical”
obligation of the Canon 989, and a
“pastoral” obligation of the second
precept. I completely support the
urging of regular and frequent
confessions. But strictly speaking,
is the second precept obligatory
only if there are grave sins?—G.M.,
Hong Kong
A: I believe that this conundrum
can be resolved by looking at the
contexts. First of all, Canon 989
builds directly upon the previous
canon 988:
“Can. 988 §1. A member of the
Christian faithful is obliged to confess
in kind and number all grave sins
committed after baptism and not yet
remitted directly through the keys
of the Church nor acknowledged in
individual confession, of which the
person has knowledge after diligent
examination of conscience.
Ҥ2. It is recommended to the
Christian faithful that they also confess
venial sins.”
Thus, Canon 989 indicates that
the maximum time for fulfilling the
obligation of 988.1 is a year. For this
reason, several expert commentators
on canon law hold that, effectively,
Canon 989’s strict obligation of
confessing once a year regards serious
sins. On the supposition that a person
has not committed any serious sins, this
canon would not apply to them.
In this light, Catechism No. 1457
quotes Canon 989 because it is dealing
with the need to confess ones serious
sins before receiving Communion.
Catechism No. 2042, even though
it refers to Canon 989 in the footnote,
deals with its topic under the title
prayer, frequent Communion, and
charitable service.
We also need to remember that
the obligation does not fall upon
those who are unable to fulfill it
due to age, infirmity or some other
good reason.
of man’s vocation and his life in the Perhaps the difficulty stems
Spirit. As our correspondent points from having diluted the concept of
out, the Catechism considers fulfilling mortal or serious sin, so that it is
the second precept as a minimum no longer perceived. At times, sin
requirement of spiritual growth. is reduced to violations of the Sixth
Because of this, the second precept Commandment. We pastors need to
does not mention “serious or mortal remind our faithful, and ourselves,
sin” and obliges whether serious sin is that the deadly sins are seven (pride,
present or not. By doing so, Catechism avarice, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony
No. 2042 says that the annual confession and sloth) and that each poisons the
“ensures preparation for the Eucharist soul in its own way.
by the reception of the sacrament Finally, the obligation to annual
of reconciliation, which continues confession aids us in combating the
Baptism’s work of conversion and sin of presumption before God’s
forgiveness.” Here, reconciliation is not judgment.

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 5
March 1 - 14, 2010
The Philippine delegation together with the Philippine Embassy charge d’ affaires (7th from right).
The Pakistan Visit of Bishops-
Ulama Conference
By Archbishop Fernando R. Capalla
Background and Objective
Sometime in December 2008, Pakistani
President Alih Salip Zardari and
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
were discussing common concerns in
the Asian region. One of them is the
UN Resolution of December 2007 on
the promotion of interreligious and
intercultural dialogue, understanding
and cooperation for peace. Our
president mentioned the Bishops-Ulama
Conference (BUC) which is composed
of Catholic and Protestant bishops and
Muslim Ulama. President Zardari was
interested in the group, which has been
in existence for 14 years, and how it
helped in the peace process. Both agreed
for the visit of the BUC to Pakistan.
They both hoped that this visit and
future mutual cooperation would help
Pakistan’s desire for observer status in
the ASEAN and the Philippines’ same
desire in the OIC.
Philippine Delegation
The Philippine Department of Foreign
Affairs and the embassy in Islamabad
begun to exchange messages with the
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Pakistan Federal Ministry for Minorities.
BUC was informed of the invitation and
was requested to reply if a delegation can
be formed to share the BUC interreligious
experiences in Mindanao. The BUC
Tripartite Commission or the governing
board composed of four Catholics, four
Muslims and four Protestants accepted
the invitation and prepared for the visit. It
was originally planned for October 2009,
then postponed to November, and finally
carried out in January 13-17, 2010.
The Philippine delegation consisted
of 14 persons from the BUC’s Tripartite
Commission and three from the
government’s Presidential Council on
Interfaith Initiatives (PCII), Office of
the Presidential Adviser on the Peace
Process (OPAPP), and the Office of the
Presidential Assistant for Mindanao
(OPAMIN).
TheBUCgroupconsistedofArchbishop
Fernando R. Capalla, Archbishop
Antonio Ledesma, and Bishop Edwin
de la Peña of the Conference’s Catholic
sector, Dr. Hamid Barra, Judge Abocali
Ali, Prof. Salipada Tamano, Prof.
Shariff Mohsin Julabbi, and Alim Elias
Macarandas of the Ulama sector, Bishop
Emeritus Hilario Gomez, Jr, Bishop
Danilo Bustamante, Mark Anthony
Gomez, and Pastor Purita Bahande of
the Protestant sector. BUC Sister Lou
Q. Solijon (Catholic) and Alandoni Pala
(Muslim) served as secretaries.
Accompanying the BUC were Maria
IsabelTobiasofthePCII,RomeoMontenegro
of OPAMIN, and Edsel Mijares of OPAPP.
Since it was an official delegation from the
Philippine Government, the entire group
of 17 Filipinos was headed by Maria Isabel
Tobias who is the PCII Secretary General.
Activities in Islamabad
The Philippine delegation arrived in
Islamabad, capital City of Pakistan, in
early dawn of January 14 after an 8-hour
stop-over in Dubai. We were received by
officials of government and our embassy
people, and billeted at the Islamabad
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Hotel. We had police escort throughout
the visit. Our first activity was a visit
to the office of Federal Minister for
Minorities, Shabhaz Bhatti who is a
Catholic. After posing for a photo with
him and his staff, we were brought to a
conference room where we watched a
powerpoint presentation of the projects
and activities of the Ministry. Before the
presentation Minister Bhatti introduced
himself and his staff, followed by our
own individual self introduction.
From the presentation we learned
that the minorities in Pakistan are the
non-Muslims, that is, the Catholics,
Protestants, Hindus, Bahai, and tribal
Features
B3
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
communities. There are two persons signed by Minister Bhatti and Secretary- greetings on behalf of our delegations in the same building and his assistant.
representing them in Parliament and General Ma. Isabel Tobias. (The text is and our people. I was interviewed by They are two young parliamentarians
by law they are given 5% of the quota of at the end of this report.) a media man and was asked about my who explained the representations of
services from the government. One big After the dialogue with the Ulama comment on the issue of the Muslim the minorities in the Parliament.
difference between them and us is they and minority leaders we had a press minority in Switzerland. We posed for Our last encounter that morning was a
are not yet organized as a group. We also conference. We were asked how we photos with many Ulama after dinner. short time visit to the Prime Minister who
asked questions and clarifications. When organized and how we were able to The two Catholic bishops Lobo and also confirmed the need for interfaith
queried about the blasphemy law which promote tolerance and understanding Anthony were also present with several dialogue and harmony for peace. He was
has caused death of several Christians, in Mindanao. One media question was Catholic priests and religious sisters. quite in a hurry but we appreciated his
their answer was the law is being our comment on anti-Islamic cartoon in The next day, January 15, was spent for giving us some moments. After this we
reviewed which is the common thinking the Netherlands. Dr. Barra said that the brief visits to different VIP personages had a late lunch with Minister Bhatti and
of many in government because it has anti-Islamic cartoons do not represent in Government. Before the official his staff at the Marriott Hotel.
visits, the three We had a good rest in the late
of us Catholic afternoon. It was winter in Pakistan, and
b i s h o p s the temperature was 4 degree Celsius. In
accepted the the evening the Philippine officials and
invitation of personnel treated us to a buffet dinner
Archbishop at the Serena Hotel, a beautiful building
Adolfo Yllana, made of brown coloured marble.
Papal Nuncio Our last day, January 16, began with
to Pakistan, a visit to King Faisal Mosque, said to be
for Mass and one of the largest in the Middle East. A
breakfast. He guide shared with us the history of the
gave us some huge edifice, the years it took to build,
information on the cost and the capacity. We had to
the situation of take off our shoes and it was a sacrifice
Catholics in because of the freezing temperature. But
the country. we managed on bare feet.
First we were Our last encounter with government
r e c e i v e d officials was with the Ministry for
by Foreign Religious Affairs under Syed Hamid Saeed
M i n i s t e r Kazmi. With him also was the President
Makhdoom of the State University of Islamabad. In
ShahMahmood the course of our dialogue Alim Elias
Qureshi and Macarandas asked if help can be extended
The Philippine delegation with Farooq Naek, chairman of Pakistani Parliament. his staff. He to Muslim Filipinos in Pakistan who
spoke beautiful need visa to Mecca. The answer was for
been misused Filipinos to get it in the Philippines. Dr.
by extremist. Barra acknowledged the leadership of
When proven Pakistan in the intellectual development
guilty of of Muslims and proposed some kind of
defiling the mutual collaboration. I asked about the
Qurán and relationship between Sunni and Shia
blasphemy Muslims in the country. Kazmi said the
against Allah conflict started only 25 years ago but in
and the the beginning there was peace.
Prophet one is From here we motored to Rawalpindi,
condemned to a 45-minute drive out of Islamabad, to
death. visit the Catholic Cathedral and Bishop
In the Lobo. Before lunch with Bishop Anthony
afternoon and the Daughters of St. Paul, the sisters
around two and a youth group sang for us and
o’çlock, a group showed us a power point presentation
of Pakistan of the sisters’ apostolate. After lunch
ulama and we visited Bishop Lobo who was very
minority sick. After supper and a good rest, we
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
g r o u p s were brought to the airport to prepare
including for our flight at past midnight to Dubai
a Catholic and Manila. We were asleep when the
coadjutor Emirate aircraft landed at Dubai around
bishop of The Philippine delegation with members of Pakistan Parliament representing Minorities. 2 a.m. of January 17, 2010.
Islamabad,
English and The Joint Declaration
shared with us We were generally impressed by the
his belief in peace interest of the Pakistani government
and harmony officials in our group and in the
t h r o u g h promotion of interfaith harmony as
dialogue. When expressed in the following declaration
asked about a which I read for the media:
possible return “We, the representatives of the
visit of Pakistani Bishops-Ulama Conference, the Republic
Ulama to the of the Philippines and the Ministry of
Philippines, he Minorities, have reached the following
enthusiastically decisions after a day of long consultation
agreed and even on the issues of interfaith harmony and
promised to conditions of Minorities in Pakistan and
accompany the the Philippines:
delegation. He 1. We will continue to share the ideas of
also confirmed harmonizing the society and inculcating
the need of peaceful co-existence in our countries.
reviewing the 2. We will share information to
blasphemy cooperate further for inter-religious
law. Personally inter-active planning.
he is against 3. We will also arrange exchange
the suicide of delegation to know each other’s
The Philippine delegation during a dialogue with Minister Bhatti and staff. bombings by experiences for creating a tolerant and
extremists. peaceful society.
Bishop Anthony joined us for another the thinking of the majority Christians Next stop was at the Office of the 4. We will encourage the study and
dialogue and exchange of views on in Europe just as the anti-Christian Chairman of the Parliament who is replication of successful programs for
harmony and peace. We were told sentiments of Muslim do not represent a lawyer, Farooq H. Naek. He also inter-religious fraternity and harmonizing
later that several came from all over the entire Muslim world. confirmed the need of revising the the society for peace, love and tolerance,
Pakistan. Some Ulama spoke in Urdu The day was capped by a formal blasphemy law and expressed his which is the essence of all faiths.
with a translator, others were good in dinner in our honor at the Marriott Hotel conviction on the need for interfaith 5. We appreciate the efforts of the
English. We also found out that most of tendered by the Ministry. In attendance harmony and dialogue. Government of Pakistan for fighting
the officials in government have studied were more than 200 persons mostly From the Office of the parliament extremism and terrorism through
in Christian schools. After this we agreed Ulama, minority leaders, and leaders Chair we were assured with the Office of strengthening the institutions for
to make a joint declaration which was of Parliament. I conveyed the words of the Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi interfaith harmony”.
 Features
CBCP Monitor
B4 Vol. 14 No. 5
March 1 - 14, 2010

The Predicament of the Philippine Media

The Water of Lourdes

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

(Second of Two Parts)
and act on achieving the good values, vested interests.
concluded the Youth’s Manifesto. Three, Information & Education.
Speaking of Ethics in media, Abe Media is supposed to inform the
Rosenthal, the venerable senior truth, educate or communicate values,
By Bishop Jose C. Sorra, DD columnist of the New York Times, rather than simply cater to what is
wrote to advise the media people: sensational and excite popular passions
Journalists often have to hurt people on controversial issues. Often, the press
IN the preceding first part of just by reporting facts. But they do caters more to what the readers want
this article, several veteran not have to cause unnecessary cruelty. rather than what they need.
and responsible journalists When you finish the story, read it…then Most often, the values communicated
substitute your name for the person are distorted. In many cases, because
By Ma. Luisa M. Lacson of the print media bluntly or subjects in your story. And then of profit-driven objectives or
wrote about the state of the ask yourself if it would make you feel wrongly-premised public policies,
media in our country in the miserable, or your wife, or your teenage paid advertisements or promotional
LAST year I wrote, “A DAY AT MONTSERRAT” and it is so comforting daughter blush in shame…if so, then campaigns through media resort to
that some visited the place even through that article. Many among our
past couple of decades. Their
you’re violating the foundation of press downright deception—like, for instance,
readers expressed the wish that someday they might reach MONTSERRAT, final consensus on whether reporting – fairness. the DOH’s aggressive campaign for the
SPAIN. the Philippine Media was The other side of fairness is use of condom for safe-sex or against
While a day was spent touring Montserrat, we, in the Lasallian Pilgrimage responsible and professional gratuitousness, meanness, or just the spread of AIDS/HIV; similarly, the
headed by Bro. Rolando R. Dizon, FSC, then President of DE LA SALLE
UNIVERSITY, MANILA, who organized the 78-member team of Lasallians
was: “Unfortunately, it was plain disrespect for Truth, the whole pro-choice legislators’ use of the mass
truth, and not just the half-truth, or media, as pro-lifers say, to idiotize the
from the different La Salle Schools in the Philippines, had a grand time of not,” citing several factors truth colored by political or financial majority of the uneducated, uninformed
three days (out of 21 days in Europe) of deep spiritual activities in Lourdes. showing why it was not. lies or dishonesty. In our Philippine and misinformed poor women and
We experienced healings in many aspects of our lives that we treasure and Then, they concluded that the media, there is an “electrical acronym” families through backdoor-campaign
LIVE as long as we serve the Lord. confused atmosphere created for irresponsible media practitioners: with “envelopmental” pressure, as
“COME TO THE SPRING, DRINK AND WASH YOURSELF THERE,” AC-DC (Attack & Collect, Defend & well as through patronized surveys to
says the big poster at the entrance of the prayerful grounds of Lourdes. The by the media breeds and Collect). You’ll know them when you show the acceptability of the RH Bill
moment we entered the super silent place visited by thousands of pilgrims, continues to breed creeping read them. It becomes worse, though, by an alleged “overwhelming number”
we paused for some moments, especially us who were those among first chaos in the country. if and when the editor or publisher is among the women population.
timers. We were aware that NO ONE was talking out loud. There was
perfect silence!
Our eyes wandered and we began to read signs, our lead to all destinations.
You come to the baths at Lourdes to bathe in the water of the Spring that
lay under the earth on the left side of the Rock as you face the Grotto, the
Spring Mary made known to Bernadette.
Remember, it was on the 25th of February 1858, during the 9th Apparition,
that Bernadette heard the Lady say: “Would you mind going down on your
knees... kissing the ground... eating the grass that is there... FOR SINNERS:
GO DRINK AT THE SPRING AND WASH YOURSELF THERE.”
Bernadette carried out those actions but with difficulty, for the ground
was dirty, the grass bitter and the water repugnant. The onlookers who,
up to that day, had been enthusiastic, were now shocked, scandalized and
disgusted. Bernadette was slapped, insulted and led before the Public
Prosecutor...
On that dramatic day, which reminds us of Good Friday, Bernadette
calmly explained that she had done all these things FOR SINNERS.
And from that day onwards, a prayer full of serious concern and
compassion characterized her life. She had discovered this world of “the
poor sinners, our brothers” whom the Blessed Virgin had pointed to her,
saying: “PENANCE, PRAY FOR THE CONVERSION OF SINNERS.”
Mary had been so sad that day that Bernadette wept.
The Gospel of the Mass on that particular day carried the story of Jesus
crucified, pierced by the soldier’s lance, and from which flowed “BLOOD
and WATER.”
Hence it is from this perspective that we are given the deeper meaning
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

of the symbolism of the LOURDES’ WATER:

* WATER is a sign of the Love of Christ who gives his life “for
sinners.”
* WATER is a sign of Baptism that has given us life as children of God.
* WATER is the sign of the Sacrament of Penance, in which God offers
us forgiveness, purification, reconciliation.
It is because of our need to be reborn, forgiven, purified, reconciled... that
we come to this WATER. We come in memory of what Jesus said:
“IF ANYONE IS THIRSTY, LET HIM COME TO ME AND DRINK.” Media is said to be an invisible in cahoots. Media is indeed a most powerful
“The water that I shall give you will become a spring welling up to eternal government, often referred to as the There is no gainsaying the fact that instrument of educating or miseducating
life”. “Fourth State.” It could become a some five decades ago or so, the greatest entire population, especially the youth.
In these words Jesus hinted at the Spirit that those who believed in Him dictatorial government if the reading influence on the young people were: “We must therefore scrupulously avoid
would receive (see Jn 4 and 7). public is not vigilant. And it thrives first, the family and second, the school. power without responsibility,” once
Let us reflect on this in prayer. best and lords it over the minds of its But, today, sad to say, it is the media, wrote Stanly Baldwin, “which is the
readership, particularly in a democracy meaning the tri-media: TV, radio and prerogative of the harlot throughout
Good Lord, where no laws can be passed to abridge the press, plus the super-media up the ages.”
in calmness, with faith, humility, charity and trust, the freedom of the press. Thus, they out there in the cyberspace. Thus, the Pope Benedict XVI, in his Message
we will grasp the deeper meaning of the water freely decide on what to print and say. powerful media has now become the to the 42nd Communications Day
and will have no need to attribute other powers to it. What they say seems to be final—no ifs most effective and most influential on 4 May 2008, asked whether we
Oh God, and no buts. Accordingly, more often school in itself for all walks of life. should allow the instruments of social
give us your grace freely, out of LOVE. than not, their news or reports reflect What then should be the ethical communication to be exploited for
their own set of biases. responsibilities of the Mass Media? I’d indiscriminate “self promotion” or
We do not think that performing a great number of religious acts gives But the most pervasive and most love to believe that mostly, if not all, to end up in the hands of those who
us rights over God. He freely offers us peace of heart, and if he judges it to subversive of public morals and decency media practitioners know or are aware use them to manipulate consciences.
be good for us, the easing of our sufferings. are the movies and television. In an open of their ethical Do’s and Don’ts. He decried that media today seems
Let us think of others, the seriously ill. If we find the waiting too long, Manifesto of the Youth issued at the Don To cite at least three basic professional increasingly to claim not simply to
then let us give them priority. At the grounds of Lourdes, we observed this Bosco Technical College, Mandaluyong, ethics in Journalism: represent reality but to determine it
when we allowed the seriously ill ahead of us in the long line, especially on January 23, 1993, among their pleas One, the Objective Truth. Responsible … It has been used not for the proper
at the baths. to the Mass Media, particularly the film media should report fully, truly, purpose of disseminating information,
We had a wonderful pilgrimage by the act of drinking, partaking in the industry, were as follows: accurately and openly objective but “to create” events.
bath and Way of the Cross. We also had the chance to visit NEVERS, where We believe that your power is God- facts; this implies the people’s right He then appealed to the media not
the incorrupt body of Bernadette is found. given … but you must use this not only to receiving precise, complete and to be the spokesmen for economic
The deep meaning of THE WATER OF LOURDES is inscribed above the to entertain but to educate as well … We transparent information. Accordingly, materialism and ethical relativism,
place where the taps are located: “WASH YOUR FACE AND ASK GOD know, however, that you can abuse your this objectivity imposes upon the media true scourges of our time. Instead, they
TO PURIFY YOUR HEART.” power to manipulate us, the young … as the use of diverse sources of information can and must contribute to making
To complete our Pilgrimage to LOURDES, FRANCE we prayed: villains are made to look like heroes and and the verification of the facts and known the truth about huma-nity, and
sex-stripping stars are made to appear context in which they occur. defending it against those who tend to
God our Father, like saints, making us feel that there Two, Personal and Professional deny or destroy it.
It is through Mary, the most pure Virgin, are hardly any role models to respect, Integrity. The social role and If media is used properly and respon-
that your Son has come to us, admire and imitate. responsibility of the journalist demands sibly with all its vast possibi-lities,
the Source of Living Water. We, however, commit ourselves to high standards of integrity. In all honesty, wrote Pope John Paul II (of happy
Help us to answer His call, sharpen your moral conscience, raise the he or she must write in accordance with memory), it could become a powerful
in coming to purify ourselves and ask forgiveness level of our media education, patronize his or her well-informed and formed tool or means of evangelization, by
at the Source of grace pouring from his heart, local but value-oriented movies, and clear conscience. This will enable him/ which the Christian Message or Good
and of which this WATER is a sign and reminder, boycott movies that draw young people her to stand the high moral ground in the News of Salvation for each man and
so that there may live in us the new creature, to idolize sex kittens and violent brats. face of temptations or all forms of direct woman might be more present in the
that we became in Baptism. AMEN! Responsible media are not only to report or indirect illicit remuneration, immoral world” ( 29th World Communication
and expose the evil but also to extol political pressure, or the promotion of Day, 1995).
 Statements
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 5
March 1 - 14, 2010
B5

CBCP Statement
On the Government’s Revitalized
Promotion of Condoms
THE Church, like the Good Shepherd, has always
shown love and compassion towards those who
suffer any form of affliction. Consistent with
the truth and meaning of human sexuality, and
God’s plan for the family, the Church reiterates
that formation in authentic sexual values, more
concretely expressed in premarital chastity and
fidelity to spouse, is the only effective way to
curb the spread of AIDS.
Given its high failure rate, the condom
cannot really put a stop to AIDS. Moreover, by
creating a false sense of security, it condones and
encourages promiscuity outside of marriage,
and hence contributes to the further spread of
AIDS. Given their medical, social and moral
implications, questions related with condom
promotion and failure have to be seriously
studied by the public, including:
a. The funding and effort involved in
promoting condoms should rather be used to
fight diseases that afflict millions of people in our
country each year, such as diarrhea, bronchitis,
pneumonia, tuberculosis, cancer, hypertension and
influenza. Available resources should instead be
channeled to provide basic needs such as food,
medicines, education and work. Furthermore, it
is unjust that the taxes of the people including
Catholics be used for purposes against their moral
beliefs.
b. The condom business is a multi-million
dollar industry that heavily targets the adolescent
market, at the expense of morality and family life.
Condom advertisements should be banned in
television, radio, movies, newspapers, magazines,
and public places, as they desensitize the youth’s
delicate conscience and weaken their moral fibers
as future parents.
c. Rich countries with ageing and imminently
dwindling populations spend huge amounts to
encourage their citizens to have more children.
Why should they be allowed to also spend huge
amounts to discourage Filipinos capable of having
more children from doing so?
d. In the same way that the government
requires warnings for certain substances (“Cigarette
smoking is dangerous for your health” for tobacco,
“Drink moderately” for alcoholic beverages, and
“No therapeutic claims” for herbal medicines)
the Department of Health should also require a
Government Warning that states, “CONDOMS
MAY FAIL TO PROTECT FROM AIDS AND
OTHER SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES.”
Consumer groups should insist on the right to
know the real characteristics of products they use,
and that corresponding labels be conspicuously
displayed in packaging.
As explained in the CBCP’s document, In the
Compassion of Jesus. A Pastoral Letter on AIDS,
dated January 23, 1993, the Church spares no effort
to help prevent the spread of AIDS. She serves and
ministers to AIDS patients, and helps protect them
from stigmatization, ostracism and condemnation. She
educates the public on the prevention of the disease.
We urge parents, professional associations, civil
society, youth organizations, the government, and
the mass media, to be vigilant and take positive
steps in guarding the total health and welfare of
our people, and to form families in real loving
and responsible relationships. This we should
all do not only out of a religious concern, but in
obedience to the Constitution as well. Parents in
particular should stand for their Constitutional
right to rear their children according to
their values, and not allow any ideological,
commercial, political or international strategic
interest to stand in their way.
For the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines
+NEREO P. ODCHIMAR, DD
Bishop of Tandag
President, CBCP
March 2, 2010

Hope and wait with perseverance

A Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legaspi on the Forthcoming Philippine Elections 2010
“…if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance, we wait eagerly for it.” (Rom 8,25)
Introduction
As we celebrate the
motherhood of Mary, we
reflect on her faith and how she
cooperated with God’s plan.
As the Mother of God, she is
our hope and refuge. Ina, Our
Lady of Penafrancia, is the hope
of every Bikolano and every
devotee.
This year, the national and local
electionssignalnewhope.Theautomation
gives us reason to be optimistic that the
election will reflect the people’s true
will. We are hopeful that through the
automation, fraud in the counting of
votes will be eliminated.
By their vote, the people express their
hope for a better future. But this hope
needs to be coupled with a commitment
to vote for leaders who will promote
common good. To vote is not only a duty
as citizens but as believers of Christ.
Time and again, the Church has called
upon the faithful to follow their conscience,
so they may cast a meaningful vote.
But following one’s conscience requires
an enlightened conscience. It must be
attended by a pursuit of truth, and a
discernment of God’s message in concrete
circumstances. It is therefore crucial for
every faithful citizen to truly understand
the political situation of our country.
The Political Landscape in the
Philippines
In Rerum Novarum issued in 1891, the
Church has denounced the concentration
of power upon a small number of very
rich men who “lay upon the laboring poor
a yoke a little better than that of slavery
itself.” (RN, 3) Sadly, this situation
persists in our country and hinders
democracy to mature and permeate in
and winnability and not on principles.
Quid Pro Quo Politics. What binds or
unbinds our political leaders is quid pro
quo politics which means “something
for something.” Political leaders enter
into arrangements with other politicians
that benefit both of them. Also called
transactional politics, this exchange of
favors is self-serving and is detrimental
to common good.
Extrajudicial Killings. Extrajudicial
killings include “disappearances” where
people are abducted, never heard from
again and a body is never located. The
killings’ desired impact is fear, paralysis
and the breakdown of organizations that
are vocal in its opposition and efficient
in mobilizing public protest.
Power Hoarding. Many politicians
seek to perpetuate themselves in power.
Upon reaching term limits, incumbent
politicians endorse bench warmers so
out that there can only be democracy
where the majority comes from the
middle class. The wide gap between the
rich and the poor obstructs authentic
democracy because a master and slave
relationship reigns between the leaders
and the citizens.
With a vast number of Filipinos,
generation after generation, living under
massive poverty and with the handful
elite running the country, we must admit
in humility that there is no genuine
democracy. There is an urgent need to
confront this truth so we can hope for
the right kind of change.
To hope for democracy is to hope for
the creation of a middle class; and the
middle class can only be created when
there is genuine people empowerment.
The middle class, as poetically described
by PCP II, “is neither so poor that they
have nothing to give nor so rich that they
essence of social justice. be not motivated by patronage and
When we are concerned only about our subservience to any political leader in
family’s welfare, when we accumulate the building of human and personal
material possessions excessively even if kingdoms, but must be impelled by
through legal means, when our lives are the mission to build God’s kingdom
measured by the income and properties on earth.
we acquire, we create greater inequality God invites us to His Kingdom,
between rich and poor. To be socially just, not only as a future reward but as a
we must break the apathy and indifference, present reality. All our efforts for people
and begin looking at ourselves as members empowerment, all our struggles for social
of our community. justice find fullness and meaning when
The founding of the Kapatiran Party they lead us to the kingdom of God.
is evidence that there are among our lay When our sight is not set on seeking
faithful who are committed to their role the Kingdom of God, all our labours are
as members of the Church in the society. designed upon our own individual self-
In the Kapatiran Party, we find a deep centered will. Thus, the marginalized
concern to promote a sense of community will continue to be disadvantaged, the
among our people and restore integrity poor will only become poorer and the
in politics. Its participation in the 2010 oppressed will never find justice.
elections may be an uphill battle but it When we hope for a better future, for a
is a concrete sign that the hope for social better society, we hope for the kingdom of
justice is alive. God. To establish His Kingdom, we must
fully engage in investing on moral treasure
and not material treasure, in restoring a
social order that respects the primacy of
human dignity and in building the moral
well-being of our country.
Conclusion
The coming elections can be a fresh
start in our hope for a better future.
But in order for the election to mark
a new beginning, we must accord it
with sincerity and understanding that
the change of leaders does not mean a
change of systems. Electing new leaders
does not guarantee an end to the scams
and corruption. We must hope for the
right change so real transformation can
take place.
We need to create and strengthen
the middle class before we can witness
genuine democracy. However, we can
only empower the people if we develop
the virtue of social justice. And the
creation of the middle class finds true
motive, inspiration and fulfillment in
building God’s kingdom on earth.
© Dennis Dayao / CBCP Media

our society. Oligarchy, the rule of elite

families, negates democracy.
Philippine politics has all the
characteristics of an oligarchy. The
national and local governments are run
by elite families of around 300 in the
entire country. According to the latest
Social System survey, only 1% of the
total Philippine population belong to the
ruling class that craft the social, political
and economic life of the country. On the
other hand, only 9% belong to the middle
class while the great majority, 90% of the
population belong to the lower class.
The ruling class enjoys more than
half of the country’s wealth. They rule
the country by provinces, congressional
districts, cities and municipalities.
Behold some features of oligarchic
politics in our country:
Election Fraud and Violence. Illegal
voter registration, intimidation and
undue pressure of voters, vote buying
and vote rigging (dagdag-bawas) are
prevalent. Election-related violence
such as killings and kidnappings are
widespread. On November 23, 2009, in
Maguindanao, the world witnessed the
worst election-related violence.
Costly Campaigns. Campaigns
become more expensive when
competition becomes intense, when
economic stakes are high and when
the electorate continues to expand. Tri-
media advertisements are used long
before the campaign period.
Political Turncoatism. Turncoatism
or the switching from one party is
commonplace due to the absence
of marked differences in ideology,
platforms and programs. Shifting
allegiances are based on party resources
People empowerment and social
justice is not a work of one man, or
even one administration. It is the work
of one people—the people of God—that
are in different human institutions and
sectors of society: in the family, the
Church, the schools, the business sector,
non-government, civic and people’s
The coming elections can be a fresh start in our hope for a better future. organizations, and government.
But in order for the election to mark a new beginning, we must accord it By our baptism, we received a
with sincerity and understanding that the change of leaders does not mean prophetic mission: to see, judge and act.
We must be vigilant at all times. We need
a change of systems. Electing new leaders does not guarantee an end to see and understand the long-standing
to the scams and corruption. We must hope for the right change so real suffering of our people. We must make
transformation can take place. judgments, not only opinions. We need
to discern and identify the evil that
they can easily reclaim their posts after have nothing to need.” But more than Social justice as a virtue can be has caused our society to continuously
three years. Others simply shift from income and resources, the middle class expressed in many ways. When we bring suffer. Lastly, we must make a move. We
the executive branch to the legislative is identified by their attitude towards to the public forum the condemnation of need to denounce the evil by making the
branch such as from governor to and participation in society. The middle prostitution, jueteng, illegal logging and kingdom of God present in our lives and
congressman or mayor to congressman class can be self-reliant and can break quarrying; when we hold our political in our institutions.
and vice-versa. away from mendicancy or dependence leaders accountable for graft and corrupt A keen understanding of the causes
from the ruling elite. practices, lavish lifestyles and abuse of of our misery and a conviction to rise
Hope in these troubled times Therefore, I invite you to reflect power; when we organize ourselves to above it will equip us to bring about the
The seemingly insurmountable together as ecclesial communities protect religious rights, the integrity of transformation that we truly need and
issues of our political landscape have how you can contribute to people families and the life of the unborn, every deserve as a Filipino nation.
caused many Filipinos to focus on empowerment and the creation of time we exercise our civil and political In Mary’s Magnificat, Ina echoes
personal godliness and to distance from the middle class through education, rights to promote the common good, we God’s promise of His Kingdom. It is the
communal responsibility. Hopelessness capital and ownership in the light of practice social justice. Kingdom where the poor are no longer
has crept in and has weakened the the Church’s social teachings. powerless. It is the Kingdom where: “He
Filipino spirit. Hope for the Kingdom of God has cast down the mighty from their
In Spe Salvi, Pope Benedict XVI said Hope for Social Justice When Pope Pius XI instituted the thrones and has lifted up the lowly.”
that to have faith is to hope. To continue While people empowerment is an feast of Christ the King in 1925, he (Luke 1:52) Her Magnificat moves us to
to hope for peace, justice and equality essential requisite for democracy, the virtue called upon Christians to recognize be a constituency of the kingdom of God
of human dignity is faithfulness to the required to create and nourish democracy only one King and one Kingdom: Christ and not of the kingdom of man.
Father’s will. is social justice. The equal dignity of human and God’s Kingdom. To mature in Upon all I impart my New Year’s
persons requires the effort to reduce our faith, we must clearly distinguish blessing.
Hope for People Empowerment. excessive social and economic inequalities. between the kingdom of man and
Aristotle, in his book Politics, Bridging the gap between the rich and the kingdom of God. The exercise of +LEONARDO Z. LEGASPI, O.P. D.D.
called democracy as the best form of poor, the powerful and the marginalized, rights, the lay faithful’s participation in Archbishop of Caceres
government. However, he pointed the elite and the lower class—this is the the public square and in politics must January 1, 2010
 Ref lections
CBCP Monitor
B6 Vol. 14 No. 5
March 1 - 14, 2010

Joining God in forgiveness and celebrating His love

4th Sunday of Lent (Lk 15:1-3, 11-32); March 14, 2010
By Fr. Joseph Pellegrino
THE Son repents.
The Father forgives.
The brother misses the meal.
My guess is that most of us could recite
the parable of today’s gospel almost
word for word. When we think of God’s
forgiveness, the picture of the Father
looking out across the fields, longing
and waiting for his son to return, enters
our minds. We see God giving us a hug,
embracing us, calling out to the servants
to put a ring on our finger and get the
finest cloak. We know that God is not
concerned with the hurt He feels when
we reject Him. He is concerned only
about us, how we are hurting ourselves.
When we think of our own sinfulness,
and picture the son who offended his
father, we remember how sin puts us
in the mud with the pigs. We remember
how we’ve hurt ourselves, as well as
others. We know that we can have the
courage to get out of the mud, turn back
home and say I’m sorry. The Loving
Father will forgive us before we even
tell our sad story. For years the focus of
the parable was on the offending son.
In fact, this has always been called the
parable of the prodigal son.
www.cruciality.files.wordpress.com
God loves the penitent and how forgiveness
is an expression of love.
There is a third character in the parable
for this Sunday, a character that with
whom we all tend to identify and with
whom we are tempted to agree. That
is the elder son. The elder son is angry
because even though his brother had
committed horrible offences, the ingrate
was being given a party on his return.
“I’ve struggled for you for years,” the
elder son says to the Father, “You never
had a party for me.” We all have the
inclination to say that this son is right.
In his mercy for the prodigal, the Father
did not treat the elder son justly.
Or did he?
Let’s look at the parable closely. The
younger son was a real selfish brat. The
sons of farmers were expected to work the
farm for their fathers until their father’s
death. This was ancient social security.
The prodigal son wasn’t about to do this.
He shirked his responsibility to his father
by selling his portion of the property.
Furthermore, to the ancient Jews, property
was sacred, their family’s portion of the
chosen land. “God forbid,” Nabaoth tells
King Ahab in 1 Kings 21, “God forbid that
I sell the vineyard the Lord has given my
family”, Nabaoth is pious. The Prodigal
Son couldn’t care about anyone or anything
us angrier than when a loved one of ours
is offended. The elder son has cause to be
angry with his brother. But he himself
errs by letting this anger control him.
A banquet is thrown, but the elder son
refuses to enter. The Father who was
offended has forgiven the Prodigal, the
elder son refuses to forgive. In scripture
a banquet is a way of expressing the
intimate sharing of God’s life. God will
love his people so much that he will set
a banquet for them, bring them into his
intimacy, the Old Testament says. The
Elder Son separates himself from the
intimacy of his Father’s love because
he refuses to forgive his brother. We
separate ourselves from the intimacy
of God’s love when we refuse to forgive
others who have sinned.
We all have battle stories. We have
all had people who have consciously
and callously tried to hurt us. I’ve been
offended and so have you. But if we don’t
forgive those who have hurt us, we will
be keeping ourselves out of the banquet
of God’s intimacy. If we want to receive
God’s forgiveness, we have to give God’s
forgiveness. If we don’t, then do you
know what we do, we stand outside
the banquet griping and grousing, but
separating ourselves from God’s love. At
the conclusion of the parable, only the

More recently the focus of the parable has
been on the forgiveness of God. The parable
is now often referred to as the Parable of the
Forgiving Father. Having come from an age
when God was hammered into us as the
terrible judge, this was a valid and needed
insight into the parable. In confession we
priests most often emphasize how much
except himself. He has insulted his father,
his God, and his whole family.
The elder son has cause to be upset. He
did the right thing in his life. He worked
his portion of the inheritance, his two
thirds of the property, for his father. He
suffered through his brother’s insulting
of the father. There is nothing that gets
Elder Son is excluded from the banquet.
And he does this to himself.
Today we pray that we might be like
the forgiving Father, not like the Elder
Son. We pray that we may live the words
we pray when we recite the Our Father:
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those
who sin against us.

Fr. Francis Ongkingco

WHATEVER Bishop Pat Alo

“I REALLY don’t like Lent, Father,” the
young fellow manifested distaste as his face
wrinkled up like a prune.
“Why don’t you?” I tried to be more
encouraging. “It’s supposed to prepare us for
the most important events of history and our
faith. Christ saved us by dying on the Cross
and resurrecting on the third day.”
“Yeah, I kinda know that stuff,” his facial
wrinkles got more pronounced as his eyes
disappeared in thin lined squints. “It’s the
abstinence and fasting things that I’m not
easy with. I don’t like veggies!”
It was only after further explaining to him
that he gradually got his original face back.
A few more minutes managed to make his
caterpillar eyebrows shrink back to their
normal size. “…so, we don’t suffer for
suffering’s sake. We do all these in order to
help our body pray since it was also made
by God for Heaven.”
***
As we enter into the full season of Lent,
we shouldn’t be surprised when we too react
like this student. Our nature is naturally not
inclined to experience pain and suffering. It
has, however, mysteriously become a path of
purification and holiness when our Lord took
it upon Himself –through His magnanimous
Passion– to save us. It was only in this way that
God converted the trials, pains and burdens
of man’s life as a means for conversion: man’s
entire body, soul, thoughts and his actions.
Thus the Church has always encouraged
us not to shun this invitation to pass
through the narrow gate of self-surrender
and abnegation. Lent is a concrete way, as a
preparation for Easter, to follow an itinerary
of identification with our Lord’s suffering.
Bo Sanchez
ENCOUNTERS
Alms and giving
The Church focuses on the traditional acts often hurtful for the other person. (...) You
of Lent: prayer, almsgiving and fasting. To must give more than this. You must come
these are also intimately linked the corporal yourselves; you must give of yourselves; and
and spiritual works of mercy. It is through you must help, so that the material gifts you
these spiritual acts that Lent occasions for us
another chance for conversion.
Pope Benedict XVI says: “Therefore, Lent
bring are used appropriately, so that they are
not just something you pull out of a bag in
order to buy your way out of the difficulty we
The sinful part
(RH controversies)
is an opportunity to be Christians again, represent, the problem we are for you.”
through a constant process of interior change He then illustrates the nature of giving
and of progress in knowledge and love of ourselves not only materially to our
Christ. Conversion never takes place once and neighbor’s needs:
for all, but is a process, an interior journey “There is a lovely story told by Rilke. The
of our whole life. Certainly this journey of poet tells how, in Paris, he used always to pass
WITHOUT pointing accusing fingers at others,
evangelical conversion cannot be limited to a woman into whose hat someone had thrown it would be good to be sincere with ourselves in
a particular period of the year: It is a journey a coin. The beggar woman was always quite really searching for the truth in the contraceptive
of every day which must embrace our whole unmoved by this, as if she had no feelings issue of the RH Bill which certain legislators
existence, every day of our lives.” (God at all. One day, Rilke gives her a rose. And are proposing. What is the moral truth behind,
Is Love and His Love Is the Secret of Our in that moment her face glows. He sees for
Happiness, Gen. Audience 21-II-2007) the first time that she does have feelings. She seeing that the Catholic Church is opposing
This conversion, however, has its main smiles, and then for a week she is no longer it.
effects when we learn through such there begging, because someone has given The Catholic Church teaches that sexual
penitential acts to give the true gift of self her something that is more than money. relations outside of legitimate marriage is a grave
to God. In an interview Benedict XVI (then “I think that is such a lovely little incident,
Cardinal Ratzinger) commented on the in which you can see that sometimes a rose, a sin, in fact part of the messages of Fatima were
following statement: little act of giving, of affection, of acceptance attesting that many souls go into Hell precisely
Erich Fromm says that the most important of the other person, can be more than many because of sins of impurity. It would be a
sphere of giving is not that of material things. coins or other material gifts.” (God and the disgraceful thing if we would come to know why
A person is giving most to another when World, Believing and Living in Our Time,
he gives of himself, that is to say, the most A Conversation with Peter Seewald, 2000
this Bill is being proposed by some legislators
precious thing he possesses, his own life. He DeutscheVerlags-Anstalt, Stuttgart, Munich) because of the money being offered, under the
gives his joy, his interest, his understanding, table. As you know, the contraceptives would
his knowledge, and of course likewise his *** entice people to sex, without the possibility of
humor and his sadness—in short, everything
that is in him. May these words of the Holy Father inspire
bringing in the concomitant responsibilities of
us never to be satisfied with simply giving unintended pregnancy. Even marital infidelities
To this statement the Pope replies: ourselves to God and neighbor materially may be concealed this way, thus providing
“Giving can never mean primarily giving and mechanically. It is only in this way temptation to worse and continuing sins of
money; that goes without saying. Of course that we truly “gain ourselves” by “losing
money is also often most necessary. But when ourselves” when we give without conditions,
the flesh.
money is the only thing that is given, that is calculations and complications. The anti-life (culture of death) groups argue
that no life is being violated by the contraceptives,
only the union of sperm and ovum is being
blocked. That is a very cunning style of arguing

SOULFOOD
since the natural potential life is being blocked.
Moreover, many of these contraceptive devices
are abortifacient, thus killing a newly conceived

Receive his love in the most
unlikely places
BLACKISH water reaches my
knees. I smell the putrid stench of
stagnant canals burn my nostrils.
I walk on creaking planks, many
of them rotten with age.
I walk carefully, not only
to avoid breaking them, but
also so that I don’t bump into
rats the size of cats, squeaking,
darting, running on these same
dilapidated boards.
I ask myself: Can any place on
the planet be worse than this?
You see, I’m in a shantytown,
or what we call a “squatters” area
in the Philippines.
In the shack that will be my
home for two weeks, there’s no
toilet. Instead, I share one muddy
toilet with five other families—
consisting of 40 plus persons.
Are you freaking out? Then
freak out some more, because
in this dark hole of the universe,
I felt the shining and brilliant
love of God in a way I’ll never
forget.
You see, I came here to preach,
to teach, to heal, to give love!
Well, I was wrong.
Overpowering love was going
to be given to me.
Because one morning, I knock
at this tiny shanty the size of a
chest freezer.
An old woman opens the
door.
She is totally blind.
Behind her are two shy kids,
hiding behind her dress, both
younger than five.
I learn that her only son
abandoned his kids to her. I
also learn that he visits her once
a week to steal her money—
whatever little money she gets
from begging.
Because it is lunch time, she
fetus. This is against the first right of man:
life, from which proceeds all others. Don’t we
understand that proliferating the contraceptive
devices is tantamount to blocking future births
of humans. Can you imagine the earth almost
entirely depopulated?
invites me, “Kain tayo.” She akong isipin. Kainin ninyo na “Perhaps you think that we are again
opens an old tin can and brings lang ito.” apologizing; but no: we speak in Christ and
out a tiny bowl of lugao. She gently protests. “Samahan before God, and I do this for you, dear friends,
I survey it and am shocked. The mo kami. Kain ka rin.”
lugao has more water than rice. I see the happiness in her smile,
to build you up. I fear that if I go and see you, I
She also fishes out from the tin and I know she will be hurt if I might not find you as I would wish, and you in
can a half piece of bread, wrapped say no. turn, might not find me to your liking. I might
in a napkin. I notice that she holds So I take the half piece of old see rivalries, envy, grudges, disputes, slanders,
it reverently, as though she was bread. I take a bite.
holding precious gold. It’s dry. It’s hard. It’s
gossip, conceit, disorder. Let it not be that in
I also notice that there is tasteless. coming again to you, God humble me because
nothing left in the tin can. But at this moment, there of you and I have to grieve over so many of you
The two eager kids wait with is nothing more delicious. who live in sin, on seeing that they have not yet
anticipation. Their grandmother Funny, it’s as though I’m taking given up an impure way of living, their wicked
places the lugao before them, and communion! Not because it’s
says, “Ito ang sa atin.” holy or consecrated or anything conduct and the vices they formerly practiced”
Quickly, their tiny dirty hands like that. But because like God, (2 Cor. 12:19-21).
scoop it up into their hungry the old blind woman is giving “Nothing unclean will enter it (the holy city
mouths. The old woman then everything she has to me. Jerusalem), or anyone who does what is evil and
gives me the gold in her hand— My host is blind. She does not
the most prized possession she see the tears rolling down my false but only those whose names are written in
has—this halfpiece of bread cheeks. the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Rev. 21:27).
wrapped in a white napkin. She does not see that I will never
I decline. “Lola, huwag ninyo be the same person again.
 Social Concerns
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 5
March 1 - 14, 2010
B7

www.lantaw.blogspot.com

Defending Ancestral Domain
By Fr. Shay Cullen
IT was a happy day and a happier event for
hundreds of the descendants of the original
inhabitants of the Philippines. They were
gathered in the covered basketball court of
Botolan, Zambales, to be recognized as the
rightful inhabitants and owners of 15,000 square
kilometers of ancestral domain.
Many of them had walked thirty or forty
kilometers from the edge of their ancestral domain,
Mount Pinatubo, the volcanic mountain sacred to
these peaceful people who first inhabited these
islands thousands of years ago before land bridges
from the Asian mainland submerged leaving only
the islands.
The guests began to arrive, government officials,
NGO lawyers and social workers, all who helped
made it possible. We took our places behind the
long table on the high stage, with huge banner, with
a photograph of the mountain and the message
declaring that it was their right and the rights of
all indigenous people to occupy what is rightfully
theirs without interference. It stated the obvious
of course, but in the Philippines the obvious is not
much recognized, not where there is vast mineral
wealth beneath the lands.
The speeches were made, some long, especially
those of the politicians running for office and some
were short. My speech was very short, a message to
the officials to more or less read the message on the
big banner. I said the government was not giving
them anything that was not already theirs by natural
law and the law of the land. The government was
merely recognizing their rights.
The indigenous leaders understood it and nodded
in understanding but the officials were bowed, as
one would think in prayer, not so, they were just
busy checking their emails or text messages, but
the people applauded and waved.
Such declarations of rights are very necessary
these days when land grabbers, miners invade,
and loggers climb the highest peaks to cut the
remaining trees, defying law and common sense.
The people are not ignorant, illiterate tribal
dwellers. Nowadays, indigenous people are wise
to the ways of the lowlanders, the exploiters, the
loggers and the politicians. They have sent their
children to school and college. Back in the village,
these educated young people can give you an eye-
opening presentation with charts on how climate
change is destroying their ancestral environment
and threatening their lives and lands. Equally
outspoken are the leaders and council of elders
when it comes to the encroachments of mining
corporations on their ancestral lands.
On the adjacent mountain in Maporac village,
Cabangan, last August 29, 09, a local engineer
Alfredo Bartido, an employee of the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
allegedly entered the ancestral lands of Maporac
with a group carrying surveying equipment and
began to survey. The people of the village gathered
and protested and told the group that they were
trespassing in ancestral domain and need to get out.
www.lantaw.blogspot.com
They kept the surveying equipment as evidence of
the alleged illegal activity and trespassing.
Previous to this, bulldozers had entered the land
and began open pit mining until the people called
in the authorities and stopped it. So it was clear to
the people that the survey could be used to make
a claim on the land and get some kind of official
approval for mining to resume.
Engineer Alfredo Bartido immediately filed
charges of robbery in the provincial capitol in
Iba, Zambales against the people. He is claiming
almost one thousand dollars in damages to the
equipment and a loss of income. The people have
counter-charged and the battle goes on.
This is just one incident of thousands nationwide
that get the people agitated and disturbed. Much
more has to be done to support the indigenous
people and help them protect the environment
and stop the illegal logging and mining. They
are the protectors of the remaining forests. It’s all
we have left for future generations. [shaycullen@
gmail.com]

Mission / B1

hands but all of our compassion
to the suffering of this world so
remote from God is a priestly act,
it is prosphèrein, it is offering up.
In this regard, in my opinion,
we must understand and learn
how to accept more profoundly
the sufferings of pastoral life,
because priestly action is exactly
this, it is mediation, it is entering
into the mystery of Christ, it
is communication with the
mystery of Christ, very real and
essential, existential and then
sacramental.
A second term in this context
is important. It is said that by
means of this obedience Christ is
made perfect, in Greek teleiothèis
(cf. Heb 5: 8-9). We know that
throughout the Torah, that is,
in all religious legislation, the
word tèleion, used here, means
priestly ordination. In other
words the Letter to the Hebrews
tells us that precisely by doing
this Jesus was made a priest, and
his priesthood was fulfilled. Our
sacramental priestly ordination
should be brought about and
achieved existentially but also
Insteadoftheword“obedience”,
as an anthropological keyword we
would like the term “freedom”.
Yet, on considering this problem
closely, we see that these two
things go together: Christ’s
obedience is the conformity of his
will with the will of the Father; it
is bringing the human will to the
divine will, to the conformation of
our will with God’s will.
In his interpretation of the
Mount of Olives, of the anguish
expressed precisely in Jesus’
prayer, “not my will but your
will”, St. Maximus Confessor
described this process that Christ
carries in himself as a true man,
together with the human nature
and will; in this act “not my will
being human in himself and with
himself, in conformity with God,
in perfect obedience, that is, in
the perfect conformation between
the two wills, has redeemed us
and redemption is always this
process of leading the human
will to communion with the
divine will.
Harnack, a liberal theologian,
therefore wrote: “Here a not is
missing”, it must be written “He
was not heard”, and Bultmann
accepted this interpretation. Yet
this is a solution that is not an
exegesis but rather a betrayal of
the text. “Not” does not appear
in any of the manuscripts but “he
was heard”; so we must learn to
understand what “being heard”
burden and so he was heard. Yet
to me it seems that this answer is
not quite enough.
Being heard, in the fullest sense
Fr. Vanhoye emphasized this
would mean “he was redeemed
from death”, however not for
the moment, for that moment,
but for ever, in the Resurrection:
God’s true response to the prayer
to be saved from death is the
Resurrection and humanity is
saved from death precisely in
the Resurrection which is the true
healing of our suffering and of the
terrible mystery of death.
Already present here is a third
level of understanding: Jesus’
Resurrection is not only a personal
event. I think it would be helpful
[your name]. And God answers: “I by the lamb sent by God; and
have glorified it, and I will glorify Melchizedek, High Priest of God
it again” (cf. Jn 12: 28). This is the Most High who brings out bread
response, it is God hearing him: and wine.
I will glorify the Cross; it is the This means that Christ is the
presence of divine glory because it absolute newness of God and at
is the supreme act of love. On the the same time is present in the
Cross Jesus is raised above all the whole of history, through history,
earth and attracts the earth to him; and history goes to encounter
on the Cross the “Kabod” now Christ. And not only the history
appears, the true divine glory of of the Chosen People, which is
God who loves even to the Cross the true preparation desired by
and thus transforms death and God, in which is revealed the
creates the Resurrection. mystery of Christ, but also in
Jesus’ prayer was heard in the paganism the mystery of Christ
sense that his death truly becomes is prepared, paths lead from it
life, it becomes the place where he toward Christ who carries all
redeems the human being, where things within him.
he attracts the human being to This seems to me important in
himself. the celebration of the Eucharist:
here is gathered together all
human prayer, all human desire,
all true human devotion, the true
search for God that is fulfilled at
last in Christ. Lastly. it should
be said that the Heavens are
now open, worship is no longer
enigmatic, in relative signs, but
true. For Heaven is open and
people do not offer something,
rather, the human being becomes
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

Christologically, and through one with God and this is true

precisely this, should bring the
world with Christ and to Christ
and, with Christ, to God: thus we
really become priests, teleiothèis.
Therefore the priest is not a thing
for a few hours but is fulfilled
precisely in pastoral life, in his
sufferings and his weaknesses,
in his sorrows and also in his
joys, of course. In this way we
increasingly become priests in
communion with Christ.
Finally the Letter to the Hebrews
sums up all this compassion in the
word hypakoèn, obedience: it is
all obedience. This is an unpopular
word in our day. Obedience
appears as an alienation, a servile
attitude. One does not enjoy one’s
own freedom, one’s freedom
is subjected to another’s will,
hence one is no longer free but
determined by another, whereas
self-determination, emancipation,
would be true human existence.
but your will” Jesus recapitulates
the whole process of his life, of
leading, that is, natural human
life to divine life and thereby
transforming the human being. It
is the divinization of the human
being, hence the redemption of
the human being, because God’s
will is not a tyrannical will, is
not a will outside our being but
is the creative will itself; it is the
very place where we find our true
identity.
Indeed, obedience, namely,
conformity to God, the truth
of our being, is true freedom,
because it is divinization. Jesus,
in bearing the human being,
means, in spite of the Cross.
I see three levels on which to
understand these words. At a
first level the Greek text may be
translated as: “He was redeemed
from his anguish”, and in this
sense Jesus is heard. This would
therefore be a hint of what St Luke
tells us: An angel strengthened
him (cf. Lk 22: 43), in such a way
that after the moment of anguish
he was able to go, straight away
and fearlessly towards his hour,
as the Gospels describe it to us,
especially that of John.
This would be being heard in
the sense that God gives him the
strength to bear the whole of this
to keep in mind the brief text in
which St John, in chapter 12 of his
Gospel, presents and recounts, in
a very concise manner, the event
on the Mount of Olives.
Jesus says: “Now is my soul
troubled” (Jn 12: 27) and, in all the
anguish of the Mount of Olives,
what shall I say? “Father, save me
from this hour... Father glorify
your name” (cf. Jn 12: 27-28).
This is the same prayer that
we find in the Synoptic Gospels:
“all things are possible to you...
your will be done (cf. Mt 26: 42;
Mk 14: 36; Lk 22: 42) which in
Johannine language appears:
either as “save me” or “glorify”
worship.
This is what the Letter to the
Hebrews says: “Our priest... is
seated at the right hand of the
throne... in the sanctuary, the true
tent which is set up... by the Lord”
(cf. 8: 1-2).
If the divine response in John Let us return to the point that
says: “I will glorify” you, it Melchizedek is King of Salem. The
means that this glory transcends whole Davidic tradition refers to
and passes through the whole this, saying: “Here is the place,
of history over and over again: Jerusalem is the place of the true
from your Cross, present in the worship, the concentration of
Eucharist, it transforms death worship in Jerusalem dates back to
into glory. This is the great the times of Abraham, Jerusalem
promise that is brought about is the true place for the proper
in the Blessed Eucharist which veneration of God”.
ever anew opens the heavens. Let us take another step: the
Being a servant of the Eucharist is, true Jerusalem, God’s Salem, is
therefore, a depth of the priestly the Body of Christ, the Eucharist
mystery. is God’s peace with humankind.
Another brief word, at least We know that in his Prologue, St
about Melchizedek. He is a John calls the humanity of Jesus
mysterious figure who enters the tent of God, eskènosen en
Sacred History in Genesis 14. hemìn (cf. Jn 1: 14). It was here
After Abraham’s victory over that God himself pitched his
several kings, Melchizedek, King tent in the world, and this tent,
of Salem, of Jerusalem, appears this new, true Jerusalem is at the
and brings out bread and wine. same time on earth and in Heaven

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It is not mentioned here that
the High Priest of the Most High
God, King of Peace, worships
because this Sacrament, this
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God, Creator of Heaven and earth arrives at the throne of Grace, at
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In the Roman canon after us pray the Lord that he grant us
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supra quae that mentions certain better, that he make us live this
PLEASE SEND TO: prefigurations of Christ, his mystery ever better and thus to
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 B8
Si Allan (John Lloyd Cruz) ay
nagta-trabaho bilang account
executive sa isang bangko na
pag-aari ng mga magulang ng
kasintahan niyang si Daphne
(Maricar Reyes). Sa kabila ng
pagkakaroon ng halos lahat
ng bagay sa buhay, tila may
hinahanap-hanap pa rin siya.
Magbabago ang lahat nang
makilala niya si Mia (Bea
Alonzo) sa isang kakatwang
eksena sa Pasig Ferry. Sapagkat
simple at masayahin si Mia,
pawang may kakaiba agad na
mararamdaman si Allan dito.
Isang araw ay muling magku-
krus ang kanilang landas
at sila ay magkakausap at
magkakasama nang matagal.
Lalong mahuhulog ang
loob nila sa isa’t-isa. Ngunit
mayroong problema sa parte ni
Allan, hindi magawang iwan ni
Allan si Daphne dahil kaakibat
rin nito ang pagtalikod sa
magandang buhay na kanyang
matagal na pinagsumikapan at
pinangarap. Nang hindi piliin
ni Allan si Mia, ay bumalik
ang huli sa Malaysia kung
saan siya nagtatrabaho bilang
hotel receptionist. Makalipas
ang ilang taon ay hahanapin
at susundan ni Allan si Mia
sa Malaysia ngunit si Mia ay
may iba ng mahal at malapit
na ring ikasal sa isang Malay.
Magkatuluyan pa kaya silang
dalawa?
Maganda ang daloy ng
kuwento ng Miss You Like
Crazy. Kahit pa sabihing
alam na ng manonood
ang kahahantungan ng
MAC en COLET
Buhay Parokya
Entertainment
Moral Assessment
 Abhorrent
 Disturbing
 Acceptable
 Wholesome
 Exemplary
kuwento, nagawa pa rin
nitong papaniwaling ilihis
sa inaasahan at pahirapan
ang dalawang pangunahing
tauhan na magkatuluyan.
Iyon nga lang, sadyang may
mga elemento sa pelikula
na nagbibgay-dahilan para
asahan na nang manonood
ang katapusan nito. Sa kabila
pa rin nito’y matagumpay
ang pelikula sa pagbibigay
ng bagong-bihis sa isang
kuwentong pag-ibig ng
dalawang taong nagkahiwalay,
kapwa nabigo at kapwa
nahirapan sa pagpili at sa
bandang huli’y tadhana pa
rin ang nagpasiya sa kanilang
kapalaran. Hindi matatawaran
ang husay sa pag-arte nila Cruz
at Alonzo. Maging si Reyes ay
lutang ang kahusayan kahit
pa kung tutuusin, siya’y
baguhan sa larangan ng
pag-arte. Maganda ang kuha
ng kamera na nagpakita at
nagdala sa manonood sa ilang
magandang lugar sa Malyasia.
Marami ring makabuluhang
linyang magpapa-isip at
magpapakilig sa manonood.
Patungkol sa isang wagas na
pagmamahalang nagkatagpo
sa isang maling panahon
ang pelikula. Ipinakita kung
paanong ang tunay na pag-ibig
ay nahihirapang gumawa ng
desisyon dahil sa takot nilang
makasakit ng damdamnin ng
iba. Ang dalisay na pag-ibig
nga naman ay nagsasakripisyo
at nagpaparaya. Ipinakita
sa kuwento na maaring
magmahalan ang dalawang
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 5
March 1 - 14, 2010
Technical Assessment
 Poor
 Below average
 Average
 Above average
 E
xcellent
Title: I Miss You Like Crazy
Cast: John Lloyd Cruz, Bea
Alonzo, Maricar Reyes,
Noel Trinidad, Tirso Cruz III
Director: Cathy Garcia-Molina
Producer/ Distributor: Star
Cinema
Running Time: 125 minutes
Location: Manila, Malaysia
Genre: Drama, Romance
tao kahit pa hindi pa sila
gaanong magkakilala. Hindi
ito gaanong makatotohanan at
maaring magbigay ng maling
pananaw sa manonood ukol sa
pag-ibig. Lumutang nang husto
ang konsepto ng mabilisang
pagmamahalan at pag-asa
sa t a dh a n a a n g k u w e n t o.
Mga mahika sa pag-ibig na
maaring totoo lamang sa iilan.
Higit na nakababahala rin ang
pagpapakita ng relasyong
sekswal ng mga tauhan sa
labas ng kasal. Pawang ang
mga ito’y katanggap-tanggap
na sa lipunan at hindi na
pinagtatalunan kung tama o
mali. Nakababala ang pelikula
sa aspetong ito. Pero ilan
sa mga mabubuting aral sa
pelikula ay ang pagpapakitang
ang tunay na pagmamahal ay
matiyagang naghihintay at sa
pag-aasawa, ang kinakailangan
ay parehas ang pagmamahal
at respeto ng dalawang tao
sa isa’t-isa. Ipinakita rin sa
pelikula ang pagrespeto sa
relihiyon at paniniwala ng
isang tao. Gayunpaman, dahil
sa ilang maseselang tema sa
pelikula, nararapat lamang ito
sa manonood na may gulang
14 pataas.
Ni Bladimer Usi
Title: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
Cast: Logan Lerman, Kevin McKidd, Steve Coogan, Cath-
erine Keener, Maria Olsen
Director: Chris Columbus
Screenplay: Joe Stillman, Rick Riordan
Producer/ Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Running Time: 125 minutes
Location: USA
Genre: Fantasy
Technical Assessment: 
Moral Assessment: 
Rating: For viewers ages 13 and below with parental guidance
Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman) is a young man dealing
with various issues at home and school. He and his mother
(Catherine Keener) live with an abusive stepfather. Percy’s
Dyslexia and ADHD make schooling even harder for him.
Look for the images of In one field trip to a Greek history museum, Percy is
Adam and Eve, Chalice attacked by his substitute teacher (Maria Olsen) who turns
and Confessional Booth. into a monstrous winged creature. Shocked and confused,
(Illustration by Bladimer Usi) his real identity is then revealed to him – that he is the son
of a Greek god Poseidon and is accused of stealing Zeus’
lightning bolt so his uncle Hades (rival of his father), and
his mignons are after him. Upon learning this, Percy is
sent off to a safe retreat in the woods to meet and train
with other children who are also offspring of a Greek
god and human parent. While training swordsmanship
and other skills for future battle, Percy finds out that his
uncle Hades is holding his mother in the underworld.
Percy sneaks out of the camp together with Annabeth
(Melina Kanakaredes), daughter of Athena and Grover
(Brandon T. Jackson), his protector, to rescue his mother
and at the same time prove his innocence that he did not
steal the lightning bolt that must be returned to Zeus to
prevent the brewing war among the Olympians which
poses imminent threat and danger to both the mortal and
immortal worlds.
Another film adaptation of a novel, Percy Jackson and
the Lightning Thief reminds the audience of the Harry
Potter series. Sadly though, the film pales in comparison in
terms of depth and magnitude. Although the film has its
strengths that rely heavily on the Greek mythology accent
in storytelling, it falls short in terms of cohesiveness and
characterization. It will not also help if an audience is not
knowledgeable of the Greek history and literature. But
then, the visual effects are a spectacle and a real delight
especially for young viewers. The script is apparently
shallow but perhaps, it is the film’s way of reaching
out to its audience. There is drama, humor and youth
sensibilities combined that make the feature an effective
venue for teen entertainment.
Greek gods and goddesses represent people’s aspiration
for fame, fortune and power. For the longest time, the
Greek mythology is believed to have inspired and influence
many in terms of having concrete images and portrayals
of God. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief is able to
provide these images on a positive tone. The offspring
of a Greek god and human parent are born good and the
voice of conscience they hear are actually the voice of their
parent gods. This portrayal metaphorically represents
God, whose voice we often hear but most of the time, fail
to recognize. The said voice leads the main characters
towards the right path and corrects decisions. The world
of casino depicted in the film represents the hell of the
worldly society. Alluring, enticing and without any trace
of suffering, but all these are nothing but superficial
traps leading to misery. Hell is seen as the destruction
of human kind where despair, hopelessness and sin
prevail. The antagonist in the story wants the destruction
of Olympians so that he would be heir to the throne and
rule the universe. Such hunger and greed for power,
and disrespect of authorities never succeed. Ultimately,
in the battle between good and evil, the former remains
victorious. And this is possible only because, the good took
action, recognized his innate power and goodness, and
never allowed evil to succeed. There is a certain degree
of violence and sexual innuendos in the film, although in
context, that makes it appropriate only to audiences 13
years old and below with parental guidance.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 5
March 1 - 14, 2010
C1

The News Supplement of

Couples for Christ

Singles for Christ: Live!

By Martha Vinzons
LIVE! That summed up the message of the 17th
Singles for Christ International Conference held
last February 19 to 21, 2010 at the Riverfront Cor-
porate City, Davao City.
The straight-forward call to live is anchored on Colossians 2:6-7
which says, “Since you have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, live in
union with him, build your lives on him, and become stronger in
faith, as you were taught. And be filled with thanksgiving.”
Five thousand single men and women from all over the Philip-
pines, as well as delegates from other countries, trekked to Davao
City to experience what a life of fullness in Christ means.
The immersion into a full life started on Wednesday, February
18th, during the pre-conference activities consisting of mini-talks
and visits to Gawad Kalinga villages and an orphanage, mangrove
planting and coastal cleaning, and various nature experiences.
The visit to the Gawad Kalinga villages and an orphanage in Sa-
mal Island gave us a glimpse of how it is to be content and joyful.
The residents and children may be in need of material things, but
we did not see deprivation in their faces, only bliss. We did not see
frustration or despair but only joy in the genuine smiles that they
greeted us with.
Our interaction with
these families and chil-
dren equipped us to
understand the mes-
sage of the first session
entitled, “The Feast.’
Fulltime pastoral worker
Jef Arong explained that
God has an open invita-
tion to each one of us to
partake of a life that is
filled and full regard-
less of our life situation.
The feast that God has
prepared is there wait-
ing, with Jesus eager to
receive an RSVP from us.
This message was further
strengthened through
the joyful praisefest led
by YFC fulltime pastoral
worker Philip Aquino,
who reminded all of Our
Lord’s intense desire to
share the feast with us.
The second talk, “The
Fool and the Full,” given
by SFC fulltime pastoral
worker MK Guaño, ex-
pounded on how we can often ignore God’s invitation and seek
instead the “counter-feasts, ” namely sin, desire for material pos-
sessions, power and fame. We mistakenly think that these counter-
feasts can satisfy our hunger and longing. The men and women who
testified confirmed one thing -- that only a relationship in Christ
made them full and no longer wanting.
Keeping a relationship at its prime all the time is a challenge all
of us deal with. So as not to compromise, even worse to sacrifice,
the relationship we’ve built with Jesus, it is important to connect
with Him all the time. This was the message from Nestle Jeturian,
SFC leader from Makati, during the third session, “Fighting for the
Fullness.” He spoke of the concrete steps to take to achieve this
fullness of life. This made it clear to all that the path to fullness is
not an easy one but one worth fighting for, made possible for us by
the power of the Cross.
The conference gave us a head start on how it is to stay connected
with Jesus. The daily masses that were celebrated reminded us that
Jesus is really and truly present in the Holy Eucharist. The different
workshops we had on Saturday also served as refreshers on how
our relationship with Jesus can flourish even more with prayer and
service. Priests, nuns and other experts were on hand to conduct
several workshops on growing downward (focusing on fullness of
life in community) and growing upward (focusing on fullness of
mission) and to encourage the SFC members to seek God and be in
His presence in whatever we are pursuing.
A full life in Christ does not end in one’s personal experience of
the Lord. In the final session entitled, “SFC Live!” SFC Council mem-
ber Bob Lasala reminded us of our vision: “Every single man and
woman all over the world experiencing Christ.” Being full of Christ,
we are to actively live out this vision so that everyone we interact
with will have a feel of God’s love. He also shared the advocacies
that the community is taking on this year: One Nation (Patriotism).
One Life (Pro-Life). One Earth (Environmental Protection), One Hope
(Poverty Alleviation). This was capped by a powerful praisefest led
by Dom Apuan, reminding all of the greater things yet to come for
SFC as a ministry and for each one as individuals.
Fullness of life is not merely a promise, it is available to everyone
and can be experienced by anyone. Having been shown what a full
life in Jesus can be and how we can share it with others, the Singles
for Christ are now back in their respective localities and countries
living and loving fully.

ANCOP Gears Up for Massive Work Ahead

ANCOP, Couples for Christ’s expanded
work with the poor, has lined up several
projects, ranging from the building of
homes to livelihood and education.
ANCOP, which stands for “Answer-
ing the Cry of the Poor,” aims to go
beyond the building of structures. The
provision of sustainable livelihood
and education for the youth hopes to
provide a more concrete solution to the
plight of our poor people.
Last January 27, Couples for Christ
signed a Memorandum of Agreement
with ANCOP USA and ANCOP Canada
for the disposition of funds that will be
generated in these two countries. The
MOA covers the building of homes
for the poor and the implementation
of programs on education, health and
livelihood.
Several areas have already responded
to the call to move forward in the work
with the poor by implementing various
ANCOP projects.
Lipa, Batangas
CFC in the Archdiocese of Lipa and
the local government unit of Lipa City
headed by Mayor Oca L. Gozos, have
sealed a partnership to build ANCOP
homes along the old PNR railways in
Lipa City. The project will involve the
construction of 1,527 houses in the ten
barangays of Lipa City, namely: Brgy.
CFC Exec. Director Joe Yamamoto leads other officials in the groundbreaking ceremonies.
Balintawak, Brgy. Bugtong, Brgy.
Inosluban, Brgy. Marawoy, Brgy. San
Carlos, Brgy. Banay-banay, Brgy.
Mataas na Lupa, Brgy. Pangao, Brgy.
Sico, Brgy. Tambo, Lipa City.
The groundbreaking ceremonies
were held last February 3 at Marawoy
Covered Court, and on February 4,
2010 at Banay-Banay Chapel, Lipa
City. The ceremonies were attended
by local public officials headed by the
Provincial Governor, Vilma Santos
Recto, Vice-Governor Mark Leviste,
Lipa City Mayor Oscar L. Gozos, Vice
Mayor Lydio Lopez, the City Council
and the barangay captains of the ten
barangays. Also in attendance were
members of the CFC International
Council as well as top leaders of CFC
– Archdiocese of Lipa.
The groundbreaking ceremonies
kicked off with Holy Mass presided
by Fr. Eric Arada in Marawoy and Fr.
Joseph Mendoza in Banay-Banay.
Rudy Lubis, Batangas ANCOP Head,
explained the overall view of the
ANCOP project while members of
the International Council, namely Joe
Yamomoto, Lito Tayag, Melo Villaro-
man, Joey Arguelles and Manny Garcia,
expressed the support of the CFC com-
munity in the work of ANCOP.
Mayor Oca Gozos and Vice Mayor
Lydio Lopez Jr., together with the Sang-
guniang Panglungsod of Lipa, appro-
priated P5M for the construction of the
first 100 houses. The Mayor of Lipa clari-
fied that the project is not the project of
the City Government but the program
of Couples for Christ with the city gov-
ernment being a partner. The Mayor,
the Vice-Mayor and the ten councilors
of the city pledged to give one house
each. Rudy Lubis also donated two
houses. According to Governor Vilma,
she and her husband, ex-Senator Ralph
Recto, will give two houses for the said
project. She also pledged P5M from the
provincial fund of Batangas, to be given
within this year.
A Memorandum of Agreement be-
tween CFC and the local government
unit was signed prior to the ground-
breaking rites in selected sites in the
ten barangays.
Villa Monique, Las Pinas
Last January 23, 2010,Villa Monique
Homes was formally launched as a
CFC-ANCOP project in Las Pinas City.
Villa Monique is a 1,319 sq m. parcel of
land situated in Pamplona Dos, Las Pi-
nas City, currently home to 53 families,
all of them longing for decent lodgings.
Now, with CFC ANCOP, and with the
generous sponsorship of CFC Ottawa,
Canada, they can finally realize their
dream.
A ceremonial ground-breaking was
held at the site, attended by leaders and
members of CFC Las Pinas, particularly
South Sector A, Cluster 5 (covering two
parishes: Parish of the Last Supper and
Parish of Our Lady of Fatima, both in
Pamplona, Las Pinas City) under cluster
head Dan and Dorie Cayabyab. South
A Sector Governance Team (SGT) mem-
bers Manny and Benny Simon and Ed
and Jean Crisostomo welcomed leaders
from ANCOP Canada headed by its
Chairman Ricky Cuenca and President
Temy Pangilinan, CFC National Direc-
tor for Canada Nick Borja and his wife
Norma, International Council member
Lito Tayag and wife Linda.
Prior to the formal launching and
groundbreaking, Rev. Fr. August Pu-
lido from the Parish of the Last Supper
celebrated the Holy Mass. After the
mass, the guests and the homeown-
ers were treated to a simple breakfast
prepared by CFC brethren led by Fidel
and Tess Parco.
Batangas governor Vilma Santos-Recto, Lipa City officials and CFC IC members witness the signing
of a MOA covering the building of ANCOP homes in Lipa.
ANCOP Education
As early as 2003, Couples for Christ
(CFC) through its social ministry arm,
ANCOP Foundation International Inc.,
has been sponsoring marginalized and
disadvantaged children and youth in
education. ANCOP USA and ANCOP
Canada both continue to sponsor chil-
dren of poor families ensuring that the
poor are provided access to education
in order to obtain a better chance for the
future. Currently, this is known as the
Educational Assistance Program (EAP)
under CFC ANCOP Tekton Foundation
which provides not only support for
education but also health and nutrition
care, value formation interventions for
assisted children and youth as well as
parent involvement/partnership,
At least 2,500 children and youth have
been sponsored by the ANCOP network
of donor partners in various levels from
pre- school, elementary, high school,
vocational/technical courses up to col-
lege. As of December, 2009, there were
1,654 children being sponsored by vari-
ous donor partners from Canada, USA,
Australia, Austria, France and Norway.
Most of the sponsored children are from
Bagong Silang resettlement in Caloocan,
where the work with the poor of AN-
COP all started.
Performance of children in school is
monitored through consultation with
and visits to schools by implementing
teams. A significant feature of the edu-
cational assistance program is the build-
ing of relationship between the sponsors
and their beneficiaries – sponsors on
visit to the Philippines can personally
meet the children and their family. This
is aside from the standard communica-
tion maintained between sponsored
beneficiaries and donor partners.
A number of sponsored children in
the college level have already gradu-
ated and are gainfully employed as
teachers, computer science specialists,
accountants and employees in private
corporations. One of these graduates
is a biologist and another one, a police
officer. Some are full time workers in
CFC’s social ministries.
For the school year June 2010 to
March 2011, CFC ANCOP envisions to
sponsor at least 2,500 poor children and
youth in its supported communities and
sectors including children of migrant
blue collar workers, children of prison-
ers, children of poor CFC members and
some physically challenged children.
Applicants will be considered based
on the following criteria: at least six (6)
years old, coming from a poor family
with combined monthly family income
of not more than P10,000 and with par-
ents who have two children or more. Solo
or only child will be considered if parent
is single parent, widowed or separated.
Parent/s of qualified children and youth
should signify cooperation and compli-
ance to program guidelines in writing.
Each qualified family shall be limited to
only one sponsored child. (Contributed
by Ethel Balenton, Dan Cayabyab, Efren
Tompong and Ped Suministrado)
 C2
Fullness of Life in Christ
(Excerpts from the homily of Bishop Pablo
Virgilio David during the “Fullness in Christ”
weekend of the CFC Mission Core at the Subic
Exhibition and Convention Center last January
29-31.)
“FULLNESS of life in Christ.” What a beautiful
theme you have adopted for this assembly, this
coming together, this retreat. How can you not be
full of life if you live in Christ? To live in Christ
is to enjoy fullness of life. It reminds me of the
message of the angel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin
Mary at the Annunciation – “Hail, full of grace, the
Lord is with you…” How can you not be full of
grace if the Lord is with you? To be full of grace
is to be with the Lord. It is to live a life in which
the Lord is with us.
We read from the continuation of that beautiful
passage in the Gospel of St. Luke, chapter 4, which
is usually called the programmatic introduction
to the Gospel of Luke. This is the continuation
of last week’s reading about Jesus standing there
in the synagogue of Nazareth and being asked to
share his own reflection on the book of the prophet
Isaiah. He shares a very short homily, in fact, the
shortest homily ever delivered. Jesus read a long
passage from Isaiah chapter 61: “The Spirit of the
Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to
bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty
to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, release
to prisoners, and a year of favor to the Lord.” Then
rolling down the scroll, Jesus looked at them, gave
the scroll to the attendant, and then he gave a very,
very short homily. He said, “Today, this Scripture
passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
I’d like to share basically three things. The first
one is about the message, or the homily, the second
is about the reaction of the people to the message
and the third is the response of Jesus to the reaction
of the people to his message. And hopefully, our
reflection will lead us more deeply into the mean-
ing of living a full life in Jesus Christ.
Let’s start with the message. The message is
simple: Today, now, while you’re hearing it,
this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.
Jesus did not say, “Tomorrow it will be fulfilled.”
We’re always looking forward to a fulfillment,
the fulfillment of the kingdom of God in the fu-
ture. But take note of the message of Jesus. He
did not say “tomorrow.” He said “Today!” Jesus
is a Today person. Jesus is a Now person. He
challenges us to take the here and now seriously.
Because one of our big problems in this world is
when we either develop into Yesterday people or
Tomorrow people.
Who are the Yesterday people? The yesterday
people are people who get stuck in the past. I
know that the past is not negative. It should be
positive. It is important to look back to the past.
It is but unfortunate that some people, because of
some blunders or mistakes or failures or traumatic
experiences of the past, cannot move on anymore.
They’re paralyzed. Those are the yesterday people.
It’s like life stopped yesterday. But Jesus chal-
lenges the yesterday people to move on “Carpe
diem,” as they say in Latin. Seize the moment!
Seize the day! Jesus took very seriously the pres-
ent moment. That’s the summary of his message.
Today. Now.
Let’s move now to the reaction.
The people were impressed. They were amazed
because grace was overflowing from him. “All
spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gra-
cious words that came from his mouth.”
His words were gracious because this human
being (he looked every bit a human being to
them because he was a real human being), when
he opened his mouth, gracious words came out of
him because they heard God. A human being was
By Joe Yamamoto, CFC Director
ONE CFC COMMUNITY,
ONE MISSION, ONE ARMY
While going about the business of engaging
the leaders and members of Couples for Christ
everywhere, the top leadership of the community
found the appropriate opportunity - the January
Global Leaders summit -- to affirm and re-
emphasize the Oneness that must characterize the
life and mission of CFC. As we await the prospects,
opportunities and challenges that the new year
has in store for us, there is need to keep the global
CFC family abreast and in step with everyone
else. In addition to the theme of Fullness of Life in
Christ, the summit gave weight to “One CFC, One
Mission, One Global Army” declaration.
Our beloved Couples for Christ community
has been through a lot of difficulties in the past
three years. With God’s grace, not only has the
community survived but has given indications of
resiliency and greater capacity to grow. Likewise,
we rejoice because we have seen how we have
faced our trials, how we have been guided and
protected by the Lord, how we have survived
and even triumphed. This is our story. This is our
journey of collective victory.
The key to celebrating our communal journey is
in recognizing and working through the challenges
with One United Leadership, A community with
One Heart and Mind and responding to a Single
Chain of Command. Any deviation from this
prevailing realization is to put the community, as
well as everything it stands for, at risk.
In the midst of it all, the significant factor that
clarified a lot of the confusion and disinformation
was the members’ understanding of our identity.
Our sense of belongingness is not only deepened
because of membership in an organization, but
above all because of community life that gave each
one of us a way of life. As a way of life, this sense
Ugnayan
before them, and spoke to them, but they heard
God. Remember? He is God made man, and so
they’re amazed. And in their amazement, they
say, “Who is this man? Isn’t he the son of Joseph?
Don’t we know who his family is?” That’s a typi-
cal human reaction.
And so they challenge him. And they say, “If
your words are really powerful, if you’re really
gracious, prove it! Prove it right here, where you
are. You are from Nazareth, you are a Jew.” I love
my own. That’s a typical reaction – I love my own.
People tend to be very exclusive.
You know what it means to be Catholic? To be
Catholic means to be inclusive! To be Catholic is
to be open-minded. To be Catholic is to be ready
to embrace, not just those we are fond of, not just
those we are related to by blood.
Let’s continue with the reaction.
The Lord was challenging the exclusive men-
tality of the Israelite people – “I love my own.”
They thought of themselves as the chosen people,
the clean people. Everybody else is unclean. But
they were wrong! And that is why the Lord God
our Father sent his Son and when he came to us,
he was not seen in the company of the rich and the
mighty, and the clean and the beautiful. He was
always frequenting the company, he was seen in
the company of people in the margins of society.
And his message was that “God loves them too.”
He went out and invited as many people as pos-
sible, including people who were so hard to love.
So if we want to enjoy fullness of life in Christ, we
have to learn to love like Christ. Do you remember
our opening reading? It said, “Lord our God, help
us to love you with all our hearts and to love our
neighbor as you love them.” Jesus summarized the
Ten Commandments into two. “Love God above
all. And love your neighbor as yourself.” That’s
all you need to know, He says.
And sometimes even the two are so difficult for
some people to remember. And so in the Gospel
of John, he summarized the two into one: “Love
one another as I have loved you.”
Jesus did not just say, “Love one another.” He
said “Love one another as I have loved you.” And
how does Jesus love us? “How do I love thee?” as
Elizabeth Barrett Browning asked. “Let me count
Bishop Pablo David takes time to pose for photos with CFC members after the Mass.
of belongingness, this love of community, is not
easily dispelled by negative pronouncements or
outside events because it has become an inherent
part of our day to day existence.
We have come through it all because we know
who we are. We have come to understand why we
are here in community and what we are expected
to do. From day one of our household meetings, the
breeding ground for future leaders, everyone has
repeatedly learned that our belonging to CFC is not
by accident but somehow because of God’s plan
for each one of us. And from that particular and
unique call, we have come to appreciate our roles
as disciples who are sent to share the good news.
Thus, the proper attitude and response is to evolve
into becoming evangelizers, specifically family
evangelizers. We evangelize families through
families who serve together as families.
Our vision and mission have been refined and
redefined, and now after a span of three years, our
members fully subscribe to it and embrace it. Our
CFC members deeply appreciate our unequivocal
declaration of being “Moved by the Holy Spirit,
One with the Catholic Church, blessed to witness
to Christ’s love and service. Couples for Christ is
a united, global community of family evangelizers
that sets the world on fire with the fullness of
God’s transforming love.” The vision helps in
strengthening our identity.
As leaders, we cannot afford to be fence sitters
only. The higher one’s level of service, the more
the leader is expected to embrace the fullness of
our two-fold mission. One cannot be selective and
express preference of one mission over the other.
It has to be both.
As members belonging to an evangelizing
community, it is likewise incumbent upon us to
the ways.” But how do you love and how can you
say that you are already growing in the love of
Christ? That is what it means to live in the fullness
of life in Christ -- to love like Christ. Teach us to
love all people as you, Lord, love them.
How do we love? We love like those people who
reacted to Jesus in the Gospel. We say, “If you’re
going to do miracles, do it right here, right now and
for us!” What was Jesus” reply? He spoke of the
Old Testament reading during the time of Elijah,
when of all the widows in Israel, the one who saw
the miracle was the widow of Sarepta, a pagan,
a Gentile, she was not even Israelite. And do you
remember in the time of Elisha, of all the lepers in
Israel, the one who was cured was Naaman the
Syrian. He was also pagan! He was not a Jew, he
was not an Israelite, and yet they also enjoyed the
grace of God. Do not forget, the grace of God is not
only for Catholics. It is for all. FOR ALL!
Did you know that other sects also have social
action? But usually, when they dispense the
charity, they ask for an identity card. Are you a
cardholder? I’m sorry, if you’re not a cardholder,
you will not enjoy our social benefits. That’s not
Catholic. To be Catholic is to say, God loves all
people.
This is what it means to be Catholic and Jesus
challenged the exclusivity of Israel, the so-called
“Chosen People.” That is why they reacted an-
grily, vehemently, because they supposedly knew
how to love. “I love my own.”
And so we move to the response of Jesus to the
reaction.
Well, his response is: he looks at them, he looks
through them and he sees into them and instead
of running away from their anger – they were very
angry, they were going to kill him – instead of
running away, he faced them and walked through
them. This is supposed to mean something very
profound. He walked THROUGH them. I do
not think it was just a physical walking through
them so that he could escape them. I think Jesus
gradually walked INTO them. They were still
reacting and projecting themselves because what
they knew was conditional love. That’s our typical
way of loving – I love my own.
Did you know that in the Gospels, there are
live out our four core values- Pro-God, Pro-Family,
Pro-Life and Pro-poor. Appreciation of these core
values is an integral part of our way of life.
As we face the future, we have also come to
realize that the huge task ahead of us can be
made manageable as long as we ourselves are
individually equipped. The sum total of prepared,
equipped and empowered members make the case
for an equipped community. We are committed
to strengthen the basics of our community life
and to continue to strive for personal holiness.
The journey toward personal holiness is the very
primordial need of everyone because everything
stems from it. We need to be prepared for the fight
by putting on the armor of God.
For a start, the Philippine Mission has embarked
on a program of self-evaluation, a soul-searching
to determine whether hearts and minds are fully
attuned to the vision and mission. On a deeper
plane, all CFC members must appreciate the
reality that the “heart of the mission is the heart
of Jesus.”
The recent conflicts from within and outside the
community have also shown us the need and the
importance of a single chain of leadership. After
all, even the statutes, as approved by the Vatican,
recognize and emphasize the source of authority
and governance. Anyone who insists on another
line of authority brings about confusion and
encourages divisiveness.
The fullness of our mission, the fullness of life
that awaits us can happen if we – leader and
member – take fully to heart our two-fold mission
of Building the Church of the Home and Building
the Church of the Poor. The two-fold nature of the
mission defines the full scope of the work ahead.
As we face 2010, the Lord has given us the
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 5
March 1 - 14, 2010
many vocabularies for “love?” The passionate
love is called “eros.” The romantic love is called
“philia.” But there is a greater kind of love which
is called “agape.” Jesus was teaching us to love
in the way of agape. We heard that in the Second
Reading, in the first letter of Paul to the Corinthi-
ans, chapter 13, and the word that Paul is using is
not “eros,” not “philia” but “agape.”
What’s the difference? Husbands here present,
do you love your wife? Good! Very good! And I
know, and I hope, you love your wife in the sense
of eros. You love your wife also in the sense of
philia. But do you already love your wife in the
sense of agape?
It can also be asked the other way around.
Wives, how do you love your husband? How do
you know that your love is moving towards agape
and that it is no longer eros or philia? This is the
sign… If in spite of his treachery, in spite of his
faults and shortcomings, in spite of his mistakes,
you still love him,,, that is agape! You know the
Latin word for that. The Latin word for that is
“caritas.” In English, charity!
But kidding aside, it is sad that the word “char-
ity” has taken on a different meaning for us. I do
not know how it happened – that the word “char-
ity” has come to mean a token act of generosity
to the poor.
But believe you me, dear brothers and sisters, if
our love must grow into the love of Christ, it must
become charity, in the genuine sense of the word,
because charity is the capacity to love even those
who do not love you back. The Gospel of Luke says
“If you love only those who love you, what good is
there in that? Even the sinners do as much. And
if you can do good only to those who can do good
to you, what merit do you get in that? Love your
enemies, do good to those who hate you, pray for
those who persecute you.”
You can choose to love by understanding, you
can choose to love by accepting, you can choose
to love by forgiving. That is all love. The begin-
ning of humanity is love. The seed of humanity
is love. The only reason why we must come into
being is love.
But love must grow. And this is now the re-
sponse of Jesus to them. Jesus does not expect us
to know how to love like him. He does not expect
us to know how to love like God immediately. He
knows that much of our love begins from the small-
est, the lowest level of loving. But that’s okay. It
can grow. And if we want to live in the fullness of
life in Christ, we must, day in and day out, day by
day, ask ourselves, “Are we growing in love?”
And I advise you to take home with you the first
letter of Paul to the Corinthians. There you have
all the indicators if you are growing indeed in the
love of Christ. He said “Love is patient. Love is
kind. Love is not jealous. It is not arrogant. It is
not inflated. It is not rude. It is not self-seeking. It
is not quick-tempered. It does not brood over the
wrong; rather it rejoices over the right. Love can
bear all things, believe all things, hope all things
and do all things.”
Do we love like that already? Well, we’re trying.
That is what matters most. The important thing
is to believe that we can love in Jesus Christ. Let
me stress that as my conclusion. If you love only
in yourself, you will see that you will keep falling
back to eros, falling back to imperfect love, fall-
ing back to conditional love, because that is what
we are as human beings. But the good news is,
as Paul says in his letter to the Romans, “there is
now no condemnation for those who live in Christ
Jesus because the spirit, the spirit of that new life
in Christ Jesus, has already surpassed the old law
of sin and death.” Now we can love, but love
in Christ. To love in Christ is to love in the way
Fullness / C3
wisdom as well as the sense of the directions we
are to take. Fullness of life in Him is His promise
and the journey of the community must eventually
lead to it. As Bishop Pablo David, Auxiliary Bishop
of San Fernando, Pampanga, aptly puts it, fullness
of life is not something that will be given. It is
something that we can attain if, and only if, we
learn to work for it through loving and our giving
of self.
We are called to be one community, one army,
one united body moving towards one single goal,
focused only on Jesus. To achieve these directions,
we need to go out of our comfort zones but mindful
that we stay within our zones of strength. Like Peter,
we need to get out of the boat, but confident that Jesus
will be there to catch us, to keep us afloat.
Our tasks are clear:
1. Evangelization and Mission – This is our core
competency. We have been raised as a community
to draw others to Christ, to give witness to the
wonders that the Lord has wrought in our lives,
to proclaim God’s mercy and goodness to all. We
will continue exploiting our strength in this area,
mindful that there are still many areas untapped,
many souls unreached.
LAYOUT BY LAURENCE JOHN R. MORALES
2. Pastoral Formation – Teachings and formation
courses are a major part of our community life.
These strengthen us and give us the means to
step forward in confidence so we can share our
knowledge with others.
3. Family Life Renewal – Our womb-to-
tomb approach has been widely effective. Our
focus on renewing family life has set the norm
for others and has defined us as a community.
Our Family Ministries have become models of
CFC community / C3
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 5
March 1 - 14, 2010
Ugnayan C3

Raising the Tide of Philippine Politics ready-made nation. Nation-building

By Arnel Santos
requires a labor of love, brick by brick.
MY heart is filled with good expecta- It emerges from a politics of patience
tions for our country,” declared Rev. Fr. and hope, which demands love.”
Carmelo Diola, SSL, while addressing They key, according to Fr, Diola, is
the Mission Core Group of Couples for Pastoral Accompaniment and Evan-
Christ in a lecture held at Xavier Gym- gelical Formation. “We must infuse
nasium on February 16, 2010. spirituality, morality and Christian
Fr. Diola noted the growing interest of values into our electoral process.” As
the people in Church-initiated activities long as we relegate politics to the realm
for the forming of practical conscience. of “dirty,” we lose by default. It is
It is through this process, he said, that indeed dirty because it has been made
one would realize that patronage poli- so by individuals, but as Christians we
tics during elections is “the original sin can and should do something about it.
of graft and corruption.” We must remember that “politics is not
In the Philippines, most of the can- beyond God’s reach.”
didates are of the perspective that they “We must raise the tide of Philippine
should “win at all cost, even at the ex- politics.” This is done, said Fr. Diola,
pense of moral and ethical boundaries.” “when we monitor the standards in
Some even look at the electoral process selecting the candidates.” The core
as a “business investment.” standard is that of being “God-fear-
On the part of the electorate, they ing”. This standard connects to other
have been numbed by the “lesser evil qualities like that of being service-
mentality,” reducing the elections as oriented, and having proven integrity
a choice of the “lesser evil”. This is and competence.
wrong, said Fr. Diola, because “there The other tests involve inquiring
is no moral theology which teaches that into the candidates’ lifestyle, actions,
we must choose the lesser evil.” platform of government, specific ad-
As early as 1997, the CBCP had al- vocacies, election conduct, and reputa-
ready identified Philippine politics as tion.
the “most hurtful to the people, the big- Fr. Diola shared the experiences all
gest bane in our life as a nation, and the over the country of the emergence of
most pernicious obstacle to our achiev- the conscience bloc through the Circles
ing of full human development.” of Discernment.
“Fortunately”, said Fr. Diola, “there He cited that in the Sinulog Novena
is a ray of hope, with the formation Mass, the final exhortation was: “Go in
and rise of “the conscience bloc.” This peace and remember that a good Chris-
is evidenced by a 2007 SWS survey in which 79% answered yes to the question, “Will you vote for a tian makes for a better citizen,” instead of the usual, “Go in peace and proclaim the Good News.”
candidate if he will benefit most people but will not benefit you?” He also recounted how a priest in Cebu was able to reduce the incidence of vote-buying through a
“Conscience is the most underutilized resource of the Church,” said Fr. Diola, quoting Bishop Arturo homily, educating the faithful on the evils of vote-buying.
M. Bastes, SVD, DD. “Practical conscience,” in turn, urges the people to do “a particular good.” He noted how after giving recollection to candidates, they referred to each other no longer as “op-
Translated to politics, formation of “practical conscience” starts with asking specific questions and ponents” but “co-candidates.”
looking for answers in a “deliberate, pro-active, methodical, communal and God-filled manner.” At the open forum, Fr Diola was asked: “Why not just tell us who to vote for?” His answer: “We
The best examples are the workshops being done by the Circles of Discernment where participants won’t, because first, priests do make mistakes; second, that is too much power being accorded to
ask: “(1) Ganito na lang ba tayo? (2) Ano ang dapat gawin para makamit ang ating pangarap and (3) the Church; and third, we would not go the route of religious institutions openly endorsing their
Anong uri ng lider ang kailangan natin para makamit ang ating pangarap?” candidates, because the lay people should take up the cudgels for this. That is how much we
Fr. Diola emphasized that in choosing who to vote for, we must avoid short cuts. “There is no respect you.”

Working Toward Good Governance their monthly assembly.

By Emmanuel Catabas
THE St. Thomas More and Associates (STMA), a social ministry
of Couples for Christ that advocates political renewal, continues
to do its advocacy work, mainly focused on renewing the face of
Philippine governance and politics.
If the hearts and attitudes of employees and leaders of Quedancor
are any indication, then it would seem that STMA is successful in
its advocacy. Quedancor is a government- owned and controlled
corporation under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture.
Its main function is to ensure and guarantee that credit facilities are
made available to the agricultural and fisheries sector.
As part of STMA’s strategic evangelization effort, Christian Life
Programs are held in government offices, effort that is meant not
just for the individual employee’s spiritual upliftment but also for
the upscaling of moral values and work ethics in the organization.
Quedancor is one of the many government organizations where
CFC has managed to leave a mark.
Manny Patayon, the head of the Quedancor chapter, invited me
and Robert Ardiente, country head for Israel and CFC fulltime
worker, to their monthly assembly in February. We came away
moved by the experience, beginning from the very intense worship
and prayer to the First Fruit offering that was the main feature of
The First Fruit Offering, a solemn ceremony in
CFC at the start of every new year, symbolizes the
offering to the Lord of the first harvest of every man’s
labor. What was touching was the generosity of the
brethren in Quedancor in the face of the uncertainty
of their employment future, since their office is about
to implement a nationwide rationalization plan, or to
put it more simply, the company has to downsize and
retrench employees.
Federico Espiritu, president and CEO, and himself
a member of CFC Servants of the Lord (SOLD), sadly
confirmed that about 800 employees nationwide, with
about 100 of them CFC members, will lose their jobs
once the plan is implemented. It is a testament to
the transformation wrought by a renewed spiritual
life that the leaders and employees of Quedancor are
one in their compassion and love for those who will
be affected.
This transformation among some of our government
workers is solid proof of the work initiated by the
STMA ever since they have committed themselves to CFC employees of Quedancor, led by its President and CEO Federico Espiritu, recently visited the
a covenant of good governance. female inmates of the Manila City Jail.

COMELEC Visits CFC New International Leaders Named IN line with the reorganization that is usually Jimmy Santiago (Indonesia)
done at the beginning of every year, the Inter- Eric Bostre (Cambodia)
national Missions Director, Rouquel Ponte, an- Mon Villareal (Bangladesh)
nounced the following regional appointments: Ernie Uson (Lebanon)
Noli Manuel (Saudi Arabia)
Lito Tayag as Continental Coordinator for Ricky Cuenca (Sierra Leone)
Oceania Bal Quiambao (Eritrea)
Nick Leyson (Ethiopia)
Bob Uyquiengco as Regional Coordinator for
Kidwell Nduku (Zambia)
North Asia
DIRECTOR Sonia Tiongson of the Commission on Elections recently visited CFC to instruct the Michael Ariola (South Africa)
fulltime workers and staff on the rationale for automated voting and the mechanics of voting using Bong Bernardo as Regional Coordinator for Nolet Ladrido (Switzerland)
automation. Polynesia Boie Sescon (Turkey)
It was an interesting session, since Director Tiongson had brought with her a sample unit called Pre-
cinct Count Optical Scan or PCOS. The employees had a great time learning how to use the machine The following brothers were also appointed as The appointments became effective on Feb-
and professed themselves thoroughly enlightened not just about the machine but about their moral country coordinators: ruary 10.
and social responsibility to use their vote wisely in the coming May national elections.
Fullness / C2
that is described by St. Paul. And you know the and I reasoned like a child.” And that is what most gifts that the Holy Spirit has bestowed on each of summary: First, Take the here and now seriously.
word for that love in Christ? In the vocabulary of of us here were, long time ago, when we were not us at Baptism. But you know, all our lesser gifts are The Scriptures must be fulfilled not tomorrow, not
St. Paul, that love in Christ is the Holy Spirit, the yet serious about our Christian formation. But insignificant if the greater gifts are not there. And yesterday, NOW. Second, let us not be afraid of re-
gift of all gifts. We must believe in the power of as you grow in formation, you also grow in love. the greater gifts, for St. Paul, are FAITH, HOPE actions. People will not always agree with us. We
the gift that we received at Baptism because the Again St. Paul said: “At present we see vaguely, AND LOVE. But the greatest of them all is LOVE. will meet a lot of resistance. But don’t you worry,
Holy Spirit that you received at Baptism is the indistinctly, as in a mirror, but soon we shall see I may lose my faith, you may lose your faith for all love them nevertheless. Love even those who are
personal love between the Father and the Son. face to face.” And the other translations would I care but just don’t lose love. You may lose hope difficult to love. Love even those who cannot love
And that Spirit alone can empower you to love in have, “Soon we shall see as God sees us.” We shall for all I care, but don’t you lose love because if you us back. Love like Jesus. And third, in response,
Christ and to gradually grow in the fullness of life see as we are seen by God Himself. lose love, you lose God. Because John says God let us accompany each other in growth, because
in Christ. The Holy Spirit is the evidence of that That is the evidence. St. Paul, in summary, said: is love. And the only evidence that we’re Godly fullness of life in Jesus Christ is about gradually
growth in love. “These three, these are the greater gifts.” people is if we’re capable of loving as Jesus Christ growing in love. It doesn’t happen overnight.
So don’t despair… because we all start as chil- We are all aspiring for gifts, right? That is what has loved us. Like the parable, it’s like a seed that must fall to
dren. St. Paul concludes that passage with “When I is means to be charismatic, by the way. You are There you are – the fullness of life in Jesus Christ. the ground and die, and must gradually grow in
was a child, I spoke like a child, I acted like a child aiming for the charisms, the empowerment of the Let us not forget the message. The message is, in order to bear much fruit. Amen.
One CFC community/ C2
evangelization and have invaded all we embrace one leadership, we shall to be built up and fortified. Each and The CFC leader must therefore lead the past year, we have begun to nurture
sectors of society. see a community ready and equipped every member has to be conscious of his from the front, leading by example, a dream – to see rising in the horizon
4. Work with the Poor – Our work to be truly God’s army, going beyond or her personal responsibility to sustain providing the best witness of His love, our very own CFC home. We dream of
with the poor is now called ANCOP, not local and cultural contexts, going global. the mission, to ensure that future being the loudest proclaimer of God’s finally being able to say that we have
exclusively Philippine-centric and even Incumbent also is the need to strengthen generations of leaders are properly power and majesty from the proverbial built the Lord a home worthy of Him.
more expansive than before. ANCOP and widen our logistics with which to trained and equipped for the fight. mountaintops. But as leader, he must But this dream will not come to pass if
continues to be a work in progress and achieve the mission. realize that he cannot do everything the entire army is not enrolled, if only a
we are excited about where the Lord CFC envisions the establishment Facing the Threat himself. He must enroll his troops, few are dreamers. Let us all look upon
will lead us, what heights He will allow of offices or institutes that will train The threats to our community are enlisting their obedience through firm this home as our offering to God, as our
us to reach in this work. the army. A Pastoral Institute will real. We have faced and survived and loving authority as well as clarity of response to His faithfulness.
5. Governance – As a community rise which will take care of bringing threats to our unity. We continue to vision. Most of all, he must lead with truth And since we are on the subject
of Christ followers, we are called to down CFC teachings, of training face threats to our family life and to the that leaves the right impression., a truth of dreaming, why not dream big?
instruct, to inform, to communicate, to leaders on how to disseminate these values we hold dear, as the evil one’s that is founded on the truth of Christ. Why not our very own CFC Renewal
disseminate. teachings. Plans are also afoot to set up plan for the world unfolds. But God’s Center where our weekend retreats, our
a Leadership Training Institute where plan is greater. We face the future with A Future Full of Hope recollections, can be held?
Preparing the Global Army leadership potential and ability will be confidence, relying on His strength and By 2011, CFC would be celebrating With God, all things are possible.
Exciting times are ahead for CFC. As honed, refined and enhanced. wisdom to see us through and on His 30 years of community life. We look Isn’t this a comfort, knowing that God
we are focused on one mission, and as The logistics for the mission will have love and mercy to sustain us. forward to this grand celebration. In inhabits even our dreams?
 C4 Ugnayan CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 5
March 1 - 14, 2010

Isabela Medical Mission

By Eric Ylagan
CFC Give Kare Foundation and UST Medical Association of the USA spent three days in Cordon,
Isabela, from Feb. 11 to 13, on a mission of mercy for the poor and the sick in the area. Led by CFC
Executive Director Joe Yamamoto, himself a doctor, the medical mission, most of whom were doctors
and medical practitioners from the United States, treated an endless stream of patients at the Jabonillo
General Hospital in Cordon.
The medical mission, which extended medical and surgical as well as dental services, benefited more
than 500 patients. A significant number of the patients underwent major operations.
The medical mission was organized by GKare in partnership with Dr. Primo Andres, a successful
Fil-Am medical practitioner in the USA, and was a follow-up of the first medical mission sponsored
by the same group two years ago.
On Friday, February 12, about 200 members of CFC Isabela, including the members of the Isabela
Provincial Council, gathered to hear Joe Yamamoto talk about the “Heart of a Leader.” Dr. Yamamoto
spelled out the attributes of leaders who are called to follow God’s heart, viz:
H - humble, happy and honest
O - obedient
P - prayerful
L - loving and loyal
I - embodies integrity and inspiring
T - teachable
E - lives with empathy

An open forum ensued, wherein many were clarified about CFC’s work with the poor under ANCOP.
There are three GK (CFC managed) sites and one Ancop village in Echague, Isabela.

Bloodletting at North B
By Noe Babilonia, MD
A FEW years ago, Cluster 5 in our sector, North B, had difficulty
getting the interest and cooperation of some of our chapters in pro-
Dr. Noe shows the way by donating blood.
line themselves.
The coronation night for Ms. Blood Olympics was supposed to
be a purely GKare event that would also serve as fundraising for its
programs and services. But it would conflict with a Handmaids of
the Lord’s own fundraising activity, so the Sector decided to fuse
moting Voluntary Blood Donation. So we came up with a program the two events into one – the coronation night and a Handmaids’
which entailed pitting each chapter competitively with each other Musical. The highlight of the joint affair was a raffle as well as the
in registering the most blood donations throughout a year, and performance by the Four Bars, a group of singing lawyers composed
giving awards to the deserving chapter at the end of that year. This of CFC Chairman Joe Tale, Justice Jose Reyes, Nides Respicio, Nonoy
improved the performance of the whole cluster in this advocacy Dalman and Art Valdellon.
and we were able to sustain the program with most of our leaders Jane Castillo of North B Cluster 5 was proclaimed Ms. Blood
cooperating. Olympics and crowned on that night.
In 2009, we tried to adopt the same strategy for the whole sector The affair was so successful that it was decided to hold the same
and so the competition became inter-cluster starting in September of program for 2010, with the culmination in September.
that year. But the enthusiasm of the members, manifested by a good
turn-out during the launching, suddenly waned in the second outing
in October, when hosting was relegated to the individual clusters.
It was then that the idea of selecting a Ms Blood Olympics from
among muses of each of the clusters came up, was approved and
immediately started in November, also in the same year. This time
there was better turn out and in three months, the usual yearly aver-
age of the cluster, which was 500 donations, had been surpassed.
The search for Ms Blood Olympics has improved the involvement
of the previously “anemic” clusters, because they have to support
their own muse. And the members who were previously hard to
invite during regular bloodletting, now come in droves to watch
their cluster perform in the mandatory talent competition. And
since they happen to observe the bloodletting process, and seeing
that it is basically painless, are now queueing up in the donating Ms. Blood Olympics Jane Castillo with friends from her cluster.

CFC and UST – Partners in Progress

COUPLES for Christ is one of the four major
partners of the University of Santo Tomas in its
project called Simbahayan 400: Tomasino Para
sa Simbahan, Tahanan at Bayan. This is the
centerpiece project of UST’s quadricentennial
celebrations.
Simbahayan is a holistic community devel-
opment project that is meant to symbolize
the university’s activities for the past 400
years, activities geared for the building of the
Church, the home and the nation. The prime
movers and participants in this project are
Thomasian alumni.
The project’s objectives are all designed to
intensify and crystallize the University’s com-
mitment to follow the call of the Church to
serve the poor. Thus, all Thomasian alumni
are tasked to contribute their talents for this
work of serving the poor, building the Church
and building a Philippine society anchored on
Christian values.
The University has committed to address the
following “areas of intervention” in 400 communi-
ties and villages all over the country that will be
selected as participants in this project:
• Karunungan/Pagpapahalaga (education and
values formation in the school and at home)
• Kanlungan/Kalikasan (housing, site planning
and ecological management)
• Kalusugan (health care)
• Kabuhayan (livelihood)
• Kapayapaan (formation for peace)
The project depends greatly on the participation of
thousands of Thomasian alumni who, depending on
their field of specialization or vocation, may suggest
a community or village within the country that will
receive the intervention of Simbahayan 400. They
may also choose the area of intervention where
their talents and expertise can be better applied.
The University has also issued a call to all
Thomasian bishops and priests to help identify
communities within their parish or diocese that
may be benefited by this project.
The other major partners of the University
are Gawad Kalinga, ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc.
and Focolare.

CFC Missionaries Go On Recollection CFC Cambodia’s

By Matthew Vergara
FR. Manoling Francisco, S.J., the re- Ex Dono Show A
Big Success
nowned composer-priest, conducted
the annual recollection of the CFC
International Missions. Missionaries
assigned to countries such as South
Asia, Kenya, Vietnam, Thailand,
Papua New Guinea, Canada, USA,
By Nahlyn Bandalan
Middle East, Timor Leste, Seychelles “WHOEVER speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God;
and South Africa attended the recol- whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies;
lection held at the Ugnayan Hall of so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to
the CFC Home Office. whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
The recollection was a re-tracing Saint Peter’s words in 1 Peter 4:11 became a reality once again
of basic truths about our faith and in Cambodia through the CFC community’s dinner and show last
re-discovering of how God loves February 6, 2010. This yearly event, a traditional effort in Phnom
us. Fr. Manoling expounded on Penh since 2004 to raise funds for our Khmer brothers and sisters,
the story of the Prodigal Son, trac- showcased the talents of the members of the community.
ing its relationship and relevance The preparation for this event was a concerted effort of several
to our lives today, particularly to Fr. Manoling Francisco is shown with the international missionaries after the recollection. committees and individuals. Spearheaded by the director/choreog-
the wonderful truth that God is ready to his wayward son. the Calf, meaning communal celebration. rapher couple, Ray and Carina Kirit, the program consisted of three
forgive even before we ever feel guilt. Like Fr. Manoling focused on the significance Today, those four items are still being sets of live music accompanied by group dances. The ANCOP GK
the Prodigal Son, often times, our motive is of the items asked by the father in the story given to us by Our Father, particularly to Rafaela kids, led by Bong Gonzaga, also did a special number.
not necessarily to seek forgiveness but to fill to be given to his son. According to him, us who were lost and are now found. Our Makisig Morales, a member of the Kids for Christ and a rising star
our personal motives. As Fr. Manoling ex- these items connote the realities of our time: wealth, stature, authority as God’s children in the entertainment field in the Philippines, graciously consented to
plained it, our Father knows our true inten- the Robe, referring to wealth and stature, the are given back to us, but most of all He come to Cambodia to participate in the concert. Together with the
tions but He welcomes us back anyway, just Ring, referring to authority in the household, restores our dignity as His children, as a assistance and support of our dear clergy and the global CFC Family,
as the father warmly and lovingly welcomed the Shoes, implying restoration of dignity, and human being, as heirs of eternal life. the show generated more than enough funds to help facilitate the
completion of our ANCOP GK Rafaella Village Daycare Center.

Ondoy donations
Indeed, the Lord has once again showed His greatness in Cambo-
dia making Ex Dono: Live a reality and a success.

CFC workers and volunteers preparing the goods for sorting.
keep coming
Couples for Christ has continued to receive donations
for the victims of the twin destructive typhoons - Ondoy
and Pepeng. The most substantial donation has come
from abroad, most particularly from the government of
Malta who specified that their donations be coursed to
none other than CFC.
The Malta donations came in two large containers and
contained food, water, infant formula and clothes. The
sheer volume of the donations has prompted CFC to hire
workers from a CFC-managed GK site to sort, do the
inventory, repack and organize the packages according
to beneficiary-groups.
The International Council has issued memos to all
sector and provincial leaders to submit a more detailed
list of typhoon victims so that the donations may be
distributed more equitably and promptly. Makisig Morales, in white coat, poses with CFC Cambodia members.