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Vol. 10 No. 13
The
October Mangyans
9, 2006
Mindoro
of Tips on Why we have a
Self-Revealing God
Catechism on the Church
and Politics
Charity: Soul of the
Mission
1
www.cbcponline.net/cbcpmonitor cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net

Bishop Condemns Priest Calls for

Return of ‘Jueteng’
ILAGAN Bishop Sergio Utleg de-
nounced the resurgence of jueteng in
several Isabela towns and vowed to
persist their campaign against it.
Speaking to reporters, Utleg
noted the return of the illegal num-
bers game is linked with the 2007 polls.
“We are worried with the return
of jueteng. And of course it’s because
Bishop Condemn / P4
CBCP Monitor
Boycott of Petron
MSGR. Melito Oso, the Social Action
Director of the Archdiocese of Jaro in
Iloilo, has called on the people to stop
patronizing Petron so that it could
force them to hasten the recovery of
bunker oil at the caverns of the ill-
Protagonist of Truth, Promoter of Peace fated tanker.
He said the move is not a com-
plete ban, but an attempt to clamp
October 9, 2006 Vol. 10 No. 13 Php 16. 00 Priest Calls / P4

CBCP Express Concern Over

Killing of Aglipayan Bishop
By Roy Lagarde
CATHOLIC bishops expressed var-
ied reactions over the death of an
Aglipayan bishop on October 3;
some conveyed sympathy while oth-
ers condemned the government’s
inability to resolve the series of kill-
ings in the country.
“We express our sympathy to
the Supreme Council of Bishops of
the Philippine Independent Church
over the death of Bishop Alberto
Ramento,” said Abp. Angel
Lagdameo, president of the Catholic
Bishops Conference of the Philip-
pines (CBCP).
He said that what is “alarming
and shocking” are the circumstances
surrounding Ramento’s murder.
The Aglipayan leader was found
dead at his rectory in Tarlac City early
morning of October 3.
Initial police report revealed
Ramento was found dead at his rec-
Church to Observe
World Day Against
Death Penalty
THE CBCP-Episcopal Commission
on Prison Pastoral Care (ECPPC) to-
gether with the Coalition against
Death Penalty (CADP) will hold a
General Assembly on October 10,
2006 in observance of the World Day
against Death Penalty at the Our
Lady of Remedies Parish in Malate.
The theme is “Healing and Re-
NO DANCING TO CHA-CHA: Flanked by leaders of
storing Hope and Dignity to the
various indigeneous peoples groups, Isabela Bishop Community.” The group will focus
Sergio L. Utleg, chairman of CBCP’s Episcopal Com- on the issue of criminal justice re-
mission on Ingeneous Peoples (ECIP), presides at a
press conference held during the celebration of IP form and the campaign for restor-
Sunday last October 8 at the Our Mother of Perpetual ative justice.
Help Shrine, Baclaran, Parañaque City.
Church to Observe / P4

IPs Buck Cha-cha Over Tribal Welfare

tory in Tarlac City with three stab
wounds in his body. He also sus-
tained superficial wounds that indi-
cated he may have put up a fight.
Militant groups and other
Church organizations immediately
condemned the killing saying it was
politically motivated.
Tarlac police, however, set aside
politics as the motive behind the kill-
ing saying that robbers might have
killed Ramento.
CBCP Express / P4
VARIOUS national alliances advo-
cating indigenous peoples’ (IP)
rights issues voiced their hard-line
stance against the government’s
decision to pursue constitutional
reforms.
In the face of poverty, uncer-
tainty of abode, and other concerns,
tribal Filipinos celebrated the “Indig-
enous Peoples’ Sunday” on Octo-
ber 8 at the Our Mother of Perpetual
Help Shrine, Baclaran, Parañaque
City.
Facilitated by the Episcopal
Commission on Indigenous Peoples
(ECIP) of the Catholic Bishops’ Con-
ference of the Philippines (CBCP), the
celebration was aimed to draw atten-
tion to the hapless state of members
of over 100 ethnolinguistic tribes liv-
ing on the country today.
IP organizations and advocates
led by the Justice and Peace and In-
tegrity of Creation (JPIC) signed a
statement of unity and expressed
their fear that a Malacañang-backed
Charter amendment would imperil
provisions guaranteeing indigenous
Filipinos’ right and their ancestral
resources.
“We condemn the Arroyo
government’s incessant campaign
for a Charter change (Cha-cha), as if
its agenda to further liberalize Phil-
ippine key industries like large-scale
mining will strengthen the country’s
already chronic economic downfall,”
their statement reads.
“On the contrary, we believe
that any Charter change under an ex-
ploitative and oppressive govern-
ment like the Arroyo administration
will facilitate the further plunder of
the country’s natural resources and
pave the way for the further disfran-
chisement of our people to our an-
cestral lands,” they said.
Ms Arroyo has been pushing
for Cha-cha as part of her reforms to
achieve progress in line with her
administration’s Medium-Term Phil-
ippine Development Plan for 2005-
2010.
Despite the setback suffered by
the proponents of the people’s ini-
tiative at the hands of the Commis-
sion on Elections (Comelec), which
rejected the petition and tossed it to
the Supreme Court for lack of juris-
diction, Malacañang remain unfazed.
Press secretary Ignacio Bunye,
however, defended the government
saying that instead of mudslinging
IPs Buck / P4

Benedict XVI Prays for
Bishops-Ulama Urges
Resumption of Peace Talks Filipino Children Pray for Peace
FOLLOWING their meeting
in Davao City on September
they failed to resolve the im-
passe over territory. THE yearly nationwide rosary rally led by the

“Milenyo” Victims 27, the Bishops-Ulama Con-

POPE Benedict XVI expressed
“deep sadness” over the damages
of properties and loss of many lives
caused by typhoon “Milenyo” that
hit the Philippines.
The number of fatalities from
last week’s storm has reached al-
most 200, as rescue workers dis-
cover more victims in remote areas
where the disaster caused flash
floods and landslides.
The Pope’s expression of sym-
pathy was contained in an Octo-
ber 3 letter signed by Vatican Sec-
retary of State Cardinal Tarcisio
Bertone sent to Manila Archbishop
Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales.
“Having learned with deep
sadness of the serious damage in-
flicted by typhoon Xangsane/
Benedict XVI / P4
ference has called for imme-
diate resumption of peace
talks between the govern-
ment and the Moro-Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF)
through peaceful and re-
spectful dialogue.
In a statement, the BUC
said they are dismayed and
concerned that the peace
process ceased due to an
“unresolved bone of conten-
tion.”
“We respectfully ap-
peal to both peace panels to
return as soon as possible to
the negotiating table and re-
sume talks through peace and
respectful dialogue,” the
statement said.
The recent meeting of
both panels in Malaysia has
been in deadlock because
The MILF has de-
manded 1,000 parcel of lands
to be included in the
Bangsamoro juridical entity.
The government said
any expansion of the pro-
posed area should be within
the bounds of the Constitu-
tion and that the decision still
lies with the people of
Mindanao through referen-
dum.
Earlier reports indicated
that the government asked to
be given until September 30
to present a new formula to
the MILF through Malaysia,
the talk’s facilitator, but failed
to meet its deadline and
sought for an extension, un-
til October 31.
“We and our people
have waited with interest the
Bishops-Ulama / P4
Children’s Rosary Movement (CRM) was held
October 6 with thousands of children from
different archdioceses simultaneously pray-
ing for peace and love.
Principal participants were children ages
7 to 13 from various Gawad Kalinga (GK)
SIBOL schools gathered together and prayed
the rosary, followed by a Mass and the Act of
Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
As in previous years, the rallies took
place simultaneously in various dioceses
throughout the country, where children con-
vened with their bishops, priests, parents,
teachers and other parishioners in designated
churches and shrines to pray the rosary.
In the Archdiocese of Manila, the rally
was held at the Shrine of Jesus, the Way, the
Truth and the Life in Pasay City led by Manila
Auxiliary Bishop Bernardino Cortez with more
than 600 hundred children who graced the
occasion.
The event was covered live by the ABS-
CBN News Channel 21.
The Children’s Rosary Movement was
launched by then Cardinal Sin October 1998
as a means of preparing children for the Great
Jubilee of the Year 2000, “to bring Jesus to the
children and the children to Jesus”.
On that occasion, the Cardinal declared,
“We will raise a generation of rosary-praying
children through prayer and action. We will
bring back the rosary into every Filipino
home.”
The Children’s Rosary Movement has
initiated catechism in various areas in the
country, which involves teaching children
how to pray the Rosary and telling them about
Jesus Christ and Mary. (CBCP News)

2 World News
October: Month
of the Rosary
and Missions
VAT I C A N C I T Y, O C T 1,
2006—The Rosary and the
missions, two characteristics
of the month of October, were
the themes of Benedict XVI’s
reflections, in the last Ange-
lus prayer by the Pope from
the Apostolic Palace in
Castelgandolfo, before re-
turning to Rome.
The Pope said: “Next Sat-
urday, October 7, we will cel-
ebrate the feast day of the
Blessed Virgin of the Rosary,
and it is as if, every year, the
Virgin invites us to rediscover
the beauty of this prayer, so
simple and so deep”. After
saying this, he reminded that
John Paul II was a “great
apostle of the Rosary” and
mentioned the Apostolic Let-
t e r “R o s a r i u m Vi r g i n i s
Mariae”, dedicated to this
prayer.
Tourism Must Promote Human and
Social Development
VATICAN CITY,
SEP 26, 2006—
Made public to-
day was a Mes-
sage from the
Pope—dated
September 8
and signed by
Francesco Frangialli C a r d i n a l
A n g e l o
Sodano, then secretary of State—
to Francesco Frangialli, secretary
general of the World Tourism Or-
ganization (WTO), for the 27th
World Tourism Day, which is due
to be celebrated on September 27.
The Message has been published
in various languages including
English.
Cardinal Sodano passes on the
“cordial greetings of His Holiness
Pope Benedict XVI,” to the orga-
nizers of World Tourism Day, the
theme of which this year is: “Tour-
ism enriches.” And he observes
how this subject “offers the oppor-
tunity to reflect on how further to
qualify a culture of travel and hu-
man mobility such as exists in the
different types of contemporary
tourism.”
“Tourism is an undisputed
source of well-being,” writes the
cardinal, “because it helps to drive
the economies of nations. ... Fur-
thermore, in the diverse sectors
connected with tourist activity mil-
Belgian Bishops Cite Poor Organization
of Lourdes Pilgrimages
BELGIUM, Oct. 06, 2006—Bel-
gian Catholic bishops have
complained to their counter-
parts in France about severe or-
ganizational difficulties with
pilgrimages to Lourdes, the
Belgian KerkNet news service
reports.
Writing on behalf of the
Belgian bishops, Cardinal
Godfried Danneels of Brussels
asked the French bishops’ con-
ference and Bishop Jacques
Jean Perrier of Tarbes-Lourdes
to look into the “painful situa-
tion” encountered by Belgian
pilgrims—particularly those
who are sick or handicapped—
in traveling to Lourdes.
He continued: “The Ro-
sary is a contemplative and
Christo-centric prayer, in-
separable from the Holy
Scriptures. It is the prayer of
the Christian advancing in his
pilgrimage of faith, in the fol-
lowing of Jesus, preceded by
Mary”. The Pope invited all to
recite the Rosary during this
month “in the family, in the
community and in the par-
ishes for the Pope’s inten-
tions, for the mission of the
Church and for world
peace”.(VIS)
lions of persons are employed,”
and “in the reciprocal welcome be-
tween visitor and host one can re-
alize that exchange of the goods of
the earth and of culture which ren-
ders human life more fraternal and
united.”
Cardinal Sodano continues by
recalling how the WTO “has on
numerous occasions recalled that
tourism is above all an affair of
human beings. The enrichment that
it can produce must not, therefore,
be simply economic or material,”
rather it must “promote an authen-
tic human and social development
thanks to the growing opportunity
that it offers for a sharing of goods,
for rich cultural exchanges, for con-
templating natural or artistic
beauty, for a comparison between
different mentalities, traditions and
religions.”
In order for this to be possible,
it is necessary that all individuals
and groups active in the tourism
sector “encourage the formation of
specific competencies and then of-
fer dynamic guarantees for the wel-
coming of tourists.”
“Only thus will the ‘new Areopa-
gus’ of tourism and leisure become a
resource for true human enrichment
for all, without excluding those who
come from underprivileged condi-
tions on account of their natural or
socio-cultural origins.” (VIS)
The Bel-
gian bishops
said that de-
lays, uncer-
tainties in
schedules, in-
adequate ac-
commodations,
and poor ser-
Cardinal Godfried Danneels vice have cre-
ated a situation that is “humanly
unacceptable”— particularly in
light of the high costs paid by pil-
grims who often have only lim-
ited means. The Belgian bishops
urged French Church leaders to
press tour organizers to halt the
“progressive deterioration” of
services. (CWNews)
British Prelates Angered by BBC Attack on Pope
LONDON, Oct. 02, 2006—Church of-
ficials in Great Britain have sharply
criticized a BBC program on clerical
abuse.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-
O’Connor has lodged a formal pro-
test against a “Panomara” presenta-
tion that suggested Pope Benedict
XVI had been involved in covering
up evidence of sexual abuse by
priests. Archbishop Vincent Nichols
of Birmingham also issued a rebut-
tal, arguing that the Church has pur-
sued sex-abuse complaints with “ab-
solute thoroughness and scruple.”
The Vatican, however, has not
commented on the BCC program.
The focus of the BBC presenta-
tion was Crimen Sollicitationis, a
Vatican document that was promul-
gated in 1962. The Panorama pro-
gram described that document as
Children and the Media: A Challenge for Education
Archbishop John Foley poses with Bishop Romulo de la Cruz and Msgr. Pedro
Quitorio during the KC Supreme Convention in Orlando, Florida, August 1-4,
2006.
Synod Called by Pontiff for October 2008
VATICAN, Oct. 06, 2006—Pope
Benedict XVI has called a meeting
of the Synod of Bishops for October
2008, to discuss the theme: “The
Word of God in the Life and Mission
of the Church.”
The 12th ordinary assembly of
the worldwide Synod will be held
October 5-26, 2008. This will be the
second meeting of the Synod dur-
ing this pontificate; Pope Benedict
presided at the October 2006 meet-
ing of the Synod, dedicated to the
discussion of the Eucharist. (That
Synod had originally been called by
Pope John Paul II ; Pope Benedict
confirmed the plans shotly after his
election.) The Pontiff’s apostolic ex-
hortation on the Eucharist, summa-
rizing and concluding the work of the
2006 Synod, is expected soon.
Meeting early in June, the coun-
cil for the Synod of Bishops finished
a final draft document on the Eucha-
rist, which was submitted to the Pope
as the basis for his apostolic exhor-
tation. At the same time the council
proposed three possible themes for
the next full meeting of the Synod.
The Pope chose the theme on the
Sisters of Mother Teresa Under State Control
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, Octo-
ber 5, 2006– The Uzbek Justice
Ministry is conducting a planned
check of possible irregularities in
the Missionaries of Charity’s
presence in the country, a source
in the Uzbek Justice Ministry
told Interfax. “The ministry will
examine the representative
office’s compliance with Uzbek
law and the goals set in the char-
ter,” he said.
The Order of the Missionaries
of Charity was founded by Mother
M. Teresa in Kolkata, India, and
now has houses in most parts of
the world. Their work is universally
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 10 No. 13
October 9, 2006
“secret,” and claims credit for expos-
ing it, although the full text of Cri-
by suggesting
that the Vatican
men Sollicitationis was published
in 2001 and covered extensively by
was protecting
predatory
Catholic publications in 2002.
Crimen Sollicitationis covers
priests. The re-
quirement of se-
canonical discipline for priests ac- crecy, they
cused of the sexual misconduct— pointed out, ap-
including, but not limited to, the plied only to ca-
sexual abuse of minors. In 2001, Pope Cardinal Cormac nonical proceed-
Murphy-O’Connor
John Paul II gave the Congregation ings, not to evi-
for the Doctrine of the Faith the ex- dence that may have been submit-
clusive jurisdiction for handling ted to secular prosecutors.
these disciplinary matters. Because “As a public service broad-
the document emphasizes the confi- caster, the BBC should be ashamed
dentiality of canonical trials, the BBC of the standard of the journalism
report suggested that the Vatican used to create this unwarranted at-
policy, and its enforcement by then- tack on Pope Benedict XVI,” wrote
Cardinal Ratzinger, was an effort to Archbishop Nichols in his angry re-
conceal evidence of abuse. sponse to the program. The attack
Church officials in Great Britain on the Pope, he said, was “false and
said that BBC had distorted the facts entirely misleading.” (CWNews)
VATICAN CITY, SEP 30, 2006—Archbishop John Foley,
President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communi-
cations, announced the theme chosen by Benedict XVI
for the 41st World Communication Day: “Children and
the Media: A Challenge for Education”.
Archbishop Foley said that the theme “underlines
the need for parents and educators to realize the impor-
tant formative influence of the media in the lives of chil-
dren”.
The “World Communications Day, the only world-
wide celebration called for by the Second Vatican Coun-
cil”, as can be found in the document “Inter Mirifica”,
1963, is marked in most countries, on the recommenda-
tion of the bishops of the world, on the Sunday before
Pentecost”, which will fall on May 20 in 2007.
“The Holy Father’s message for World Communi-
cations Day is traditionally published in conjunction with
the Memorial of St. Francis de Sales, patron of writers,
on January 24, to allow bishops’ conferences, diocesan
offices and communications organizations sufficient time
to prepare audiovisual and other materials for national
and local celebrations”.(VIS)
Word of God. were 6 meetings of the ordinary as-
At their next meeting, the mem- sembly, devoted to discussions of the
bers of the Synod council will begin family (1980), reconciliation and pen-
preparations for the October 2008 ance (1983), the laity (1987), priestly
meeting. The first major task is to formation (1990), consecrated life
compose the lineamenta: the prelimi- (1994), and the duties of bishops
nary document sketching the main (2001). The October 2008 session will
lines of discussion for the meeting. be the 12th ordinary assembly, but
The lineamenta is then circulated the 22nd Synod meeting since 1965.
among the world’s bishops for com- In 1969, Pope Paul VI called a special
ments and suggestions, and the session of the Synod to discuss the
Synod council then prepares the role of episcopal conferences. Pope
instrumentum laboris that is the John Paul II convened an extraordi-
working document for the Synod dis- nary synods in 1985 to review the 20
cussions. years since Vatican II. He also called
Pope Paul VI established the 8 extraordinary synods to discuss the
Synod as a “permanent council of work of the Church in particular coun-
bishops for the universal Church,” tries or regions: the Netherlands
with his motu proprio Apostolica (1980), Europe (1985 and again in
Sollicitudo in September 1965. The 1999), Africa (1994), Lebanon (1995),
first general assembly of the Synod, the Americas (1997), Asia (1998), and
meeting in 1967, drew 197 bishops to Oceania (also 1998).
discuss the preservation and teach- Before his death, Pope John Paul
ing of the Catholic faith. Subsequent indicated that he planned to convene
meetings of the ordinary assembly a second extraordinary Synod for Af-
during the pontificate of Paul VI were rica. In June 2005, Pope Benedict
devoted to the priesthood and social confirmed that plan, and prepara-
justice (1971), evangelization (1974),
and catechesis (1977). During the
tions for that meeting are underway,
although a date for the assembly has
long pontificate of John Paul II there not yet been fixed. (CWNews)
praised for its complete devotion and Chris-
to the “poorest of the poor”. t i a n
The organisation has operated proselytising.
in Uzbekistan since 1995, and the F o r
Uzbek Justice Ministry re-registered some ana-
the representative office in March lysts, the
2004. true objec-
For several months Uzbek au- tive is to shut
thorities, following the lead of their down foreign NGOs to stop any
Russian counterparts, have pur- possible influence of western cul-
sued a more restrictive policy vis- ture on the Uzbek population.
à-vis foreign non-governmental In Uzbekistan, 90 per cent of
organisations. the population is Muslim and vio-
In July for instance, the US- lations of religious freedom are
based Central Asia Free Exchange commonplace. The government’s
(CAFE) was unjustly closed ac- aim is to control every aspect of
cused of “illegal religious activities” society. (AsiaNews)
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 10 No. 13
October 9, 2006
‘Story of Jesus’ in Asia Tops Agenda
for Asian Mission Congress
By Malou Mahilum-Acebedo
ALL SET and minute details of prepa-
rations done, it’s all-systems-go for the
upcoming Asian Mission Congress as
delegates and participants from all over
Asia will soon start trekking their way
to the Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Hotel,
the Congress’ venue, in Changmai,
Thailand on October 18-22.
Organized jointly by the Office of
Evangelization of the Federation of
Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC)
along with other FABC offices and
Pontifical Mission Societies in Asia, the
Mission Congress, the second ever to
be held in Asia (the first was in held in
Cebu, Philippines On September 27 –
October 1, 2000), is expected to draw a
good number of over 1,000 delegates
and participants—bishops, priests, re-
ligious and lay leaders, catechists,
young people, mission animators and
decision-makers, and other men and
women committed to the mission work
of the church—from all over Asia.
Sources from the FABC office in
Manila reported that Pope Benedict
XVI has appointed Cardinal Crecenzio
Sepe, the 63-year old archbishop of
Naples (Italy) and former prefect of
Vatican’s Congregation for the Evan-
gelization of Peoples, as his special
envoy to the Congress. No less too,
FABC sources said, Cardinal Ivan Dias,
current prefect of the Vatican Congre-
gation, will also be present during the
Mission Congress.
With its general theme, “The Story
of Jesus: A Celebration of Life and
Faith”, FABC reports said that the Mis-
sion Congress has four-fold objectives,
namely—(1) “to share the joy and en-
thusiasm of our faith in Jesus Christ”;
(2) “to celebrate Asian ways of mission
through witness in the midst of life re-
alities”; (3) “to raise awareness in the
Asian Churches about renewed under-
standings of mission Ad Gentes dur-
ing and since the second Vatican Coun-
cil”; and (4) “to note priorities for a re-
newed mission animation”.
The four-day Mission Congress,
according to FABC sources, will not
be “an academic or scholarly confer-
ence but is supposed to be an experi-
ence of Faith in Community”. High-
lighting the activities are workshops
on sharing of faith experiences in the
Asian context by the participants ac-
cording four thematic topics—”The
Story of Jesus in the Peoples or Asia,
especially the young and old” on Oc-
tober 19; “The Story of Jesus in the
Religions of Asia” on October 20;
“The Story of Jesus in the Cultures of
Asia, old and modern” on October 21;
and “The Story of Jesus in the Life of
the Church in Asia, especially the Fam-
ily, and local Christian Communities”
on October 22, the last day of the Con-
gress which is Mission Sunday.
A special prayer for the said Con-
gress has been formulated and which
was earlier approved by the heads of
the Congress’ organizing committees.
The prayer starts with the “mission of
News Feature 3
The Mangyans of Mindoro
By Sr. Lilia J. Frondoza, MIC
THE Mangyans are natu- ary Sisters of the Im- men are now skilled farm- phasing out of the MIC
rally peace-loving maculate Concepcion ers. They have also presence and assistance,
people. But the influx of (MIC Sisters) came upon adopted natural pest emphasis of the said for-
migrants, and the invitation of Bishop control and multi-crop- mation and development
landgrabbers have forced Vicente Manuel to work ping, which have become is on building basic
Jesus as willed by the Father” and re- them to isolate them- in the Mangyan mission common practices for ecclesial communities
fers to the fact that Jesus was born in selves and live in the re- in Sta. Cruz, Occidental them. Most of the tribal and enhancing commu-
Asia. The situation of Christianity in mote areas of the island. Mindoro, particularly in members could now write nity competence, capa-
Asia is described as a “little flock in Most of them still cling the sitios of Siapo and their names. They have bilities, knowledge and
this vast continent”. Christians are to their traditional way of Balogo. also become aware of skills.
called for “loving service to all” espe- life and culture. They The group of their rights and respon- Currently, the
cially the “least among our brothers congregate and interact Mangyans the Sisters sibilities as Filipino citi- Mangyan Scholarship
and sisters”. as tribal communities that found when they first zens. Indeed, two leaders Project assists 4 highs
The prayer continues with its in- they live at subsistence came to Siapo was a have been consistently school students and 35
vocation of the Holy Spirit to “em- level. Occasionally, they newly settled nomadic leading a federation of pupils, from Grades 1 to
power us in telling the story of Jesus resort to the kaingin tribe. They had their own Mangyan tribes in Occi- VI. In particular, the
in Asia” and let us discover the vari- (slash and burn) system tribal religion which made dental Mindoro. Under scholarship project ren-
ous modes of His presence. “The or swidden agriculture to them sensitive to the Sis- their leadership, the fed- ders these services: feed-
Spirit of the Risen Lord should speed produce rice for con- ters’ religious lifestyle. eration has been unre- ing of the pupils and stu-
our steps in encouraging our broth- sumption. During the Most of them were mal- lenting in claiming their dents three times a day
ers and sisters of other faiths and cul- lean months of July to nourished, infected with ancestral domain. during the lean months,
tural traditions through a dialogue of October, they hunt wild skin diseases and intes- The four-pronged providing them with
life and faith,” the prayer says. animals and gather root tinal parasites, and suf- program of the MIC school supplies and uni-
Finally, the prayer asks Mary, the crops in the forests as fered recurrent malarial at- Mangyan apostolate has forms, training them to
Mother of the Church in Asia, to “lead their ancestors did for tacks. Some had upper begun this school year, work in the fields during
Christians to her Son and stimulate centuries. In time of want respiratory tract infec- focusing its operations the planting and harvest
their passion for the will of God”. and plenty, they always tions and tuberculosis. and financial assistance seasons, helping them
Moreover, FABC reported, the share available food None of the tribe members on the education of the maintain vegetable gar-
theme song for the Mission Congress among themselves. knew how to read and Mangyan children. The dens, and assisting them
was composed by a Thai seminarian, The modern-day write or handle a plow and objectives are to educate in hog and poultry rais-
Booncharat Suksawang, from Lux concept of private prop- a carabao. This state of the upcoming tribal ing for their own subsis-
Mundi National Major Seminary in erty is alien to the affairs gave birth to the youth and to give the tence.
Thailand. Based on some scriptural Mangyans who consid- four-pronged program of trained Mangyan leaders The Mangyan MIC
passages—the Magnificat (Lk 1:47) and ered land a gift from God, the MIC Mangyan and farmers opportuni- apostolate is a crusade
the Call of theApostles (Jn. 1:43-49)— hence, to be shared by all. Apostolate with these ties to think for them- the MIC Sisters have em-
some of the song’s lines, among oth- Ownership of a piece of components: health and selves and to solve their braced to help the
ers, thus run: “My heart fills with joy…I land is normally assigned sanitation, livelihood, own problems. In addi- Mangyans achieve total
will tell my friends…Go and tell the to an individual by the adult literacy, and evan- tion, the formation and development and
world, Asia’s people, that God is always Council of Elders elected gelization. development of upliftment from poverty,
here. Share his love, everyone in unity by the male members of Today, the fruits of Mangyan adults is focus- disease and illiteracy.
with Jesus Christ our Lord.” This Thai their tribal community. A the program are clearly ing on these areas: lead- Their approach to the to-
song was selected from among the vari- habitual troublemaker in visible. The sitio’s ership training, health tal development of the
ous entries submitted from some Asian the community could be makeshit chapel is full of and sanitation, reforesta- Mangyans as individuals
countries, including the Philippines. banished. Consequently, worshippers on Sunday. tion, ancestral domain and as a people is in-
The plan to hold the 2nd Asian the land assigned to him The Siapo environment advocacy, and organiza- spired by the Church’s
Mission Congress was introduced by could also be confiscated. has become cleaner and tion of cooperatives. In vision of integral evange-
Cardinal Sepe, prefect of Vatican’s In 1989, the Mission- greener. The Mangyan view of the inevitable lization of cultures.
Congregation for the Evangelization
of Peoples, during his address to the
Central Committee of the Federation
of Asian Bishops’ Conferences
(FABC) in their meeting held Septem-
Radio Veritas opens Marian exhibit on October 22
ber 27, 2002 in Bangkok, Thailand. DEVOTION to the Virgin Mary as mother of God and Caritas Manila Executive Director said that
And, rightly so, Msgr. Gilbert will be portrayed in a unique exhibit of life proceeds from the event will benefit the ty-
Garcera, national director of the Pon- size images from different parts of the Na- phoon “Milenyo” victims.
tifical Mission Society in the Philip- tional Capital Region (NCR) on Octo- The exhibit also shows various
pines, cites three main reasons—or ber 22 to 28 at the 4th Floor of SM Marian pilgrim images in the Philip-
“points of departure”, he says—that Megamall, Mandaluyong City. pines among them, Virgen Delos
have precipitated the upcoming Mis- In this occasion as part of the Remedios of the Archdiocese of
sion Congress in Thailand. First, the Radio Veritas’ celebration of the San Fernando, Nuestra Señora
Congress in a concrete response to the Marian season, the late Jaime Dela Merced of Candaba,
late Pope John Paul II’s call for the “The Cardinal Sin’s treasured image Pampagga, Nuestra Señora
Eucharist: The Principle and Plan of of Our Lady of Miraculous De Turumba of Pakil, La-
Mission.” In Mane Nobiscum Domine, Medal will be shown. Rosa- guna, Birhen Sang Barangay
the Pope wrote: “The ‘culture of the ries blessed by Manila Arch- of Bacolod and La Virgen
Eucharist’ promotes a culture of dia- bishop Gaudencio Cardinal Dela Verdad, Justicia y
logue which here finds strength and Rosales will be given to the Santidad (Our Lady of
nourishment” (no. 26). The second rea- first 1, 000 pilgrims. Truth, Justice and Holiness)
son or “point of departure”, Garcera More than a hundred im- among others.
cited, is the 500th anniversary of the birth ages of Jesus Christ and the Expected to grace the
of St. Francis Xavier, patron of mission saints from four major mys- occasions are former Presi-
and missionaries. This is “a providen- teries of the Holy rosary will dent Cory Aquino, Mrs.
tial signal to focus Asia’s attention on also be displayed. Felicidad Tan Sy, former Am-
a mode of ad gentes mission,” said Dubbed as “Marian Radio bassador Henrietta De Villa and
Garcera. Third, Garcera added, is taken Pilgrimage,” the Marian exhibit Dra. Luz Espiritu.
from local considerations as 2006 is the was conceptualized to encourage Overall organizer of the exhibit
300th anniversary (1706-2006) of the ap- more people to pray the rosary “which is the Religious Affairs Department of
proval of the Oratory of Blessed Jo- has always been the call of Blessed Virgin Mary.” Radio Veritas headed by Remie Dillena. (Radio
seph Vas, the first indigenous “Society Father Anton Pascual, Radio Veritas president Veritas News)
of apostolic Life” in Asia.

4 News
Diocese Launches Appeal for Typhoon Victims
THE Diocese of Sorsogon has ap-
pealed for live-saving assistance to
hundreds who were left homeless by
typhoon “Milenyo” that hit the coun-
try last week with Sorsogon as the
“hardest hit” province.
The raging typhoon left 57,969
displaced families and at 362,030 in-
dividuals affected in seven towns
and the city of Sorsogon, the south-
Priest Calls / from p1
down on what he sees as discourag-
ing development.
“The urgent call of retrieving or
recovering the oil seems to have
fallen on deaf ear. The nuclear bomb
is still lying there under the sea,” said
Oso.
While he lauded the filing of
case by the local government of
Nueva Ecija against Petron, the priest
is still not convinced it would spur
the oil company to fast track the re-
trieval operation.
“I do not believe that bringing
them to court would make them hear
the urgent call to do recovery mis-
sion,” he said.
“Boycott! Perhaps the court
cases together with our personal
contribution to boycott Petron will
drive home the message,” he said.
“If we give them zero sales, perhaps,
they will be forced to do recovery
mission.”
Not just a threat
Oso officially made the call in a
press conference held at the Jaro
Archbishops’ residence recently and
through his column in a local news-
paper.
IPs Buck / from p1
over the issue of Cha-cha, “we should
let the process take its constitutional
course.
“If critics of Charter change are
confident that their arguments would
be upheld by the people, then there
is no reason why they should refuse
to put it to a test,” said Bunye in a
statement posted at the
government’s website.
Isabela Bishop Sergio Utleg,
ECIP Chairman, said the Church con-
tinue to protect tribal rights and wel-
fare and support their actions in
fighting development aggression.
Bendict XVI / from p1
Milenyo in the Philippines, the Holy
Father offers fervent prayers for the
dead, for those who are still missing,
and for all who have lost their homes,”
Bertone wrote.
The Holy Father, he said, hopes
that the relief effort “will be swift and
generous” in its response and that
normality may soon be restored.
His letter also stated that “with
prayer for the victims, (the Pope) cor-
dially imparts his Apostolic Blessing
as a pledge of strength and peace in
the Lord.”
Milenyo also blacked out Luzon
and left with 43 million without electric
ernmost tip of Luzon, about 600 kilo-
meters from Manila.
The Diocesan Social Action
Center (DSAC) said many people got
injured and several families lost their
loved ones and others remain miss-
ing to date.
Out of the 14 municipalities of
the province, nine of them were
heavily devastated by the calamity
He said they are tired of waiting
but it seems that the responsible of
the oil spill are not doing anything.
“Our call is not a threat, it’s a prom-
ise,” he said.
The MT Solar sank off the
southern coast of Guimaras on Au-
gust 11 with 2.1 million liters of bun-
ker oil fuel owned by Petron Corp.
Environmentalists urged the
authorities to remove as soon as
possible the remaining bunker fuel
from the sunken vessel.
They also raised concern over
the use of dispersants who fear that
it may cause more harm to marine life.
Personal opinion
The priest, however, clarified the
call for boycott is his personal stand
with support from other civil society
groups and does not reflect yet the
position of other local Church officials.
Jaro Archbishop Angel
Lagdameo said that they have not
talked on the matter yet. “It’s his own
call and opinion,” he said.
But Lagdameo strongly recom-
mended that the tanker be removed
from the sea saying it’s like a “tick-
ing bomb” waiting to explode.
“They are the poorest of the
poor and it’s part of the Church’s
mission to help the poor,” he said.
The groups stated their full sup-
port on the call of the Catholic bish-
ops for unity in action against de-
velopment aggression and violations
of basic human rights.
“We are one with the Church
calling for a scrap of the Mining Act
of 1995, and we strongly assert our
opposition to a Charter change that
is essentially pro-elite and against
the welfare of the indigenous
peoples,” they said.
power for three to five days. As press
time Meralco announced that close to
100 percent of its circuits in regions 3, 4,
5, 6, 8 and Metro Manila have been re-
stored. Other power suppliers declared,
however, that electric supply inAlbay,
Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and
Masbate were only “partially restored.”
The storm, the toughest to hit
Metro Manila in a decade, displaced
1.33 million people and destroyed hun-
dreds of houses and thousands of
hectares of farmland in Bicol and some
parts of Southern Tagalog.
For those who survived, the
agony is not yet over. Many of them
including Sorsogon City wherein
three coastal barangays were totally
wiped out by flash floods.
Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes
said that out of the 291 barangays,
274 of them were greatly devastated
by the typhoon or 94 percent of the
total barangays of the affected towns.
Food, clothing and medicine are
the top priorities because most of the
victims left homeless and lost their
livelihood.
The money, Bastes said, would
provide emergency relief and also help
fight disease amid fears of epidemics
ravaging the already battered area.
“The aftermath is far worse be-
cause people become homeless with
not enough food and medicine. Even
clothing to keep them warm is totally
lacking,” said Bastes.
“Their economic means for sub-
sistence were destroyed by the ty-
phoon. Such situation will further
result to the destitution of the people
and eventually death,” the prelate
also said.
The worst affected towns—
Juban, Casiguran, Gubat, Prieto Diaz,
Barcelona, Sorsogon City, Castilla,
Pilar and Donsol—are some of the
poorest in Bicol region. (CBCP News)
“We do not know how it will re-
act if it will stay under the sea for a
long time,” said Lagdameo, who also
heads the Catholic Bishops’ Confer-
ence of the Philippines (CBCP).
The International Oil Pollution
Compensation Funds (IOPC) is yet
to study a proposal in their meeting
on October 23 in London to siphon
out the remaining bunker oil set to
start in December.
‘Donation fatigue’
Lagdameo underscored that re-
moving the tanker is the crucial and
a long-term relief for the victims of
the oil spill and the environment.
All the other solutions that they
will give like feeding the poor and
giving alternative livelihood to the
fishermen, he said, are all but tempo-
rary.
“There will also be a donation
fatigue or a compassion fatigue,” he
pointed out. “We are grateful for
people that had extended help to
Guimaras but we cannot all the time
be gathering people to donate.”
Some permanent measures, he
added, must be established. (Roy
Lagarde)
The groups said ancestral lands
are under threat because of the entry
of destructive projects posing immi-
nent danger in the IPs territories.
From the eyes of our people,
they said, these pseudo-develop-
ment projects cause irreparable dam-
age to the country’s natural re-
sources, our livelihood and ulti-
mately, our lives.
They also called on the people to
help the indigenous Filipinos in their
struggle against “corporate greed
vesting unpromising development”
for the tribal Filipinos. (CBCP News)
do not have food to eat and clothing.
Some don’t even have evacuation
centers.
The CBCP National Secretariat for
Social Action-Justice and Peace
(NASSA) and Caritas Manila has al-
ready stepped up its national cam-
paign for a joint support in the relief
and rehabilitation of typhoon victims.
“It will be a while before they can
recover from the devastation,” the
NASSA said in a statement.
The appeal aims to provide food,
clothing and medicine and other as-
sistance to the neediest people. (CBCP
News)
CBCP Express / from p1
Ramento was a known peace
advocate and had been active in
criticizing the Arroyo administra-
tion for the disappearances and
extra-judicial killings of militants
and other human rights abuses.
As the “Obispo Maximo” of
his church, he was nominated as
an independent observer in the
Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC)
of the Comprehensive Agreement
on Respect for Human Rights and
International Humanitarian Law
(CARHRIHL) in September 1998.
Tarlac Catholic Bishop
Florentino Cinense said he had
known Ramento as a good man and
an active supporter of the Hacienda
Luisita workers in fighting for their
labor rights.
“What is alarming is that so
far the actions that have been taken
do not yet satisfy the demands of
justice especially for the victims and
their relatives,” said Lagdameo.
“Will the case of Bishop
Ramento be another reason for us
to say that this country is no longer
safe for those who announce the
truth and denounce immorality?”
he asked.
For his part, Lingayen-
Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz
said Ramento was pro-humanity
Bishops-Ulama / from p1
results of the peace negotiations since
they started,” the BUC said. “It is our
firm belief that dialogue however long
and tedious is the only humane way of
resolving human issues and problems.”
The statement was signed by
Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla,
BUC co-convenor, Dr. Mahid Mutilan,
president of the Ulama League of the
Philippines, and Bishop Emeritus Hilario
Gomez of the United Church of Christ in
the Philippines.
“We also believe that these mat-
ters can be resolved within the moral
and spiritual framework—not just within
the legal one. The urgent needs of our
people, including those of the peace ne-
gotiators, whether social, economic, po-
litical and cultural, are underpinned by
moral and spiritual values,” the BUC
said.
The BUC believed that peace pan-
els could find a “breakthrough” towards
a mutually agreed solution by examin-
ing the “bone of contention,” that is the
reasons for the impasse. (CBCP News)
Bishop Condemns / from p1
the election is near and politicians
need money,” he said.
The bishop accused some gov-
ernment officials and even the po-
lice as behind the resumption of
jueteng operations.
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop
Oscar Cruz has earlier said he is cer-
tain jueteng has resurfaced to help
finance the campaign of some politi-
cians.
“Not far from now is the envi-
sioned 2007 elections,” said Cruz. “It
is not surprising at all that jueteng is
once again back in business.”
Utleg also hit the government’s
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 10 No. 13
October 9, 2006
and a man of the poor and the op-
pressed.
“A man who denounced the
many and continuous killings in the
country has himself become a vic-
tim of shameless killing,” he said.
He said Ramento’s death will
surely “water the seeds” of many
people who will fight for the
bishop’s unfinished cause.
The country, Cruz said, is be-
coming more and more drenched
with the blood of many individuals
who are just fighting for what is
right and just.
“This has become an
upardonable crime in this country.
In the same way, to tell the truth is
forbidden by the present govern-
ment under pain of abduction, im-
prisonment or death,” he claimed.
Caloocan Bishop Deogracias
Iñiguez, meanwhile, delivered a
stronger message saying, “no citi-
zen in this country is safe anymore
and the state is no longer capable
of protecting its own citizens.”
“His death is the birth of a
quickened determination to sweep
away the paragons of hypocrisy
and the harbingers of misery and
human deprivation in this country,”
said Iñiguez, also co-chairman of
the Ecumenical Bishops Forum.
Church to Observe / from p1
“While we welcome the aboli-
tion of death penalty in our statutes,
we still need to work for restorative
interventions in addressing the prob-
lem of criminality,” said by Mr. Rudy
Diamante, executive secretary of
CBCP-ECPPC in his letter of invita-
tion for this gathering.
Restorative justice is a value-
based approach to criminal justice
with a balanced focus on the of-
fender, the victim and the commu-
nity. The foundation of this is to de-
termine the harm resulting from
crime, what needs to be done to re-
pair the harm and who is responsible
for repairing the harm.
Mr. Diamante will introduce the
Restorative Justice on their general
assembly, while Restorative Justice
and Peace: The Kalinga Experience
will be discussed by Professor Mary
Constancy Barrameda, a retired UP
Anthropology Professor and Resi-
dent Researcher St. Louis College,
Kalinga. (Ma. Lourdes Ebilane)
Small Town Lottery (STL) because
“jueteng operators can use STL for
their illegal gambling activities.”
Described by critics as a front
and legal version of jueteng, the STL
has been greatly denounced by
Church leaders.
San Fernando Archbishop
Paciano Aniceto, Bishops Socrates
Villegas of Bataan, Sofronio Bancud
of Cabanatuan, Mylo Huber Vergara
of San Jose, Gabriel Reyes of Antipolo
and Jose Oliveros of Malolos, also
issued statements saying they didn’t
want the numbers game in their juris-
dictions. (CBCP News)
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 10 No. 13
October 9, 2006
“By contemplating the pierced side of Christ we discover
the path along which His life and love move.”
By Most Rev. Guillermo V. Afable, D.D.
CHARITY: Soul of the Missions is the
theme of our annual celebration of
Mission Sunday this year. Pope
Benedict XVI reminds us in his mes-
sage for this occasion that, “if mis-
sion is not animated by charity, i.e. if
it does not flow from a profound act
of divine love, it risks, being reduced
to a mere philanthropic and social
action.”
Mission is making God known,
the God who is love. Everything
about him is love—his words, his
thoughts and especially his deeds.
His Creation and re-Creation or the
Redemption of all creation, are all acts
of love. Everything is love and thus,
everything turns into good.
This is most completely revealed
in Jesus Christ, His Son our Lord. Par-
AS I reflect on the theme. “Charity:
Source and Criterion of Mission” on
the occasion of the celebration of World
Mission Sunday on October 22, 2006,
what comes to my mind is the Prelature
of Isabela, Basilan. Without Charity, I
don’t know if there will be missionaries
who would evangelize this place.
The area is rebel-infested and
very few Catholics are found because
70% of the population is Muslim.As I
minister the people here in Basilan, I
begin to understand deeper the es-
sence of Charity which involves three
points: 1. Availability; 2. Fidelity; 3.
Commitment.
First, Charity involves availability,
even to lay down one’s life for the
people. It is in this context that mission
becomes authentic and sincere. Avail-
ability means readiness to share what
we have with those in need. This re-
minds me of an incident in August of
2001. A mother and a child came to my
office. I was already emotionally drained
because of the news that eleven Catho-
lics were beheaded in Balobo, Lamitan.
They came to me to ask for materials
like nipa and nails for the reconstruc-
tion of their hut which was burned by
the Abu Sayyaf. I did not promise to
help them, but I was moved when the
child said: “Mama, where shall we sleep
this evening? We have no more house.”
I was speechless and remembered the
passage in Mt. 25:45 “Whatsoever you
did not do for your brothers you did
not do it to me.”
With that thought and out of char-
ity, I extended help to the mother and
child. In the words of Pope Benedict
XVI in his message for World Mission
Sunday, he says: If mission is not ani-
mated by charity, i.e. if it does not flow
from a profound act of divine love, it
risks, being reduced to a mere philan-
thropic and social action.” Charity as
expressed in our availability to share
makes the work of mission, authentic
and credible.
Secondly, Charity involves fidel-
ity to God and to the flock entrusted
Feature
© Jim Vecchi/Corbis
ticularly, this God who is love is most
fully manifested by Jesus in the cru-
cifixion. Here is the God, bending
down as it were, and emptying him-
self, renouncing himself, for the
greater Glory of God and the good of
all creation. This is the self-sacrific-
ing act of love of God, for all. Selfless
love, this is the true nature of love,
the nature of God.
From the pierced side of Jesus
blood and water came out. The
Church has understood the blood and
water to mean Baptism and the Eu-
charist. From the pierced side of
Christ, came forth forgiveness and
new life. This indicates for us then
the fruit of selfless love in every time,
place and circumstance—healing and
reconciling what was broken and
“Charity:
Source and Criterion on Mission”
By Most Rev. Martin S. Jumoad, D.D.
to his care. Whether you are religious
or family man or woman, your Charity
must be concretized in the expression
of fidelity.
This means you endure and per-
severe in doing the mission entrusted
to you no matter what the pains and
sufferings are encountered. This re-
minds me of early missionaries who
out of divine love persevered to stay
in mission territories. I admire the
Claretian Missionaries and Franciscan
Friars who continue to stay in the rebel-
infested areas in Basilan without the
luxury of modern technology. I am
touched of their fidelity in mission.
Lastly, Charity must be expressed
in the commitment to do mission. The
Gospel of Mk. 10:35-45 tells us that
James and John ask Jesus to allow
them to sit on His right and left in His
kingdom. Then Jesus asks them if they
are ready to drink the cup that He is
separated by sin and evil. Peace and
unity are the fruit of this love.
What seemed as the sign of weak-
ness, loss, and failure, that is the
pierced side of Christ, is in fact the
power of God’s love that conquers all.
The Mission of Christ, of the
Church, of every Christian commu-
nity, of every Christian, indeed of EV-
ERYONE, is to witness to divine love,
acting to bring peace and unity in
the world.
Now, we can understand that the
heart of every missionary and of ev-
ery missionary activity is God’s love.
This is the love of God received and
shared. The love of God that impels
them to see and think and feel and act
as Christ did. This is why there are so
many priests, religious and laity in all
the five continents, witnessing to this
selfless love for God and fellowmen,
even to the extreme witness of mar-
tyrdom.
This love makes possible mission
without frontiers. It reaches out to all
peoples. It involves all the small and
big things done. It includes those that
are part of everyday existence. The
good and bad, success and failure,
life and death. Nothing, therefore, is
excluded from being loved by God
and loving God. The mission is being
fulfilled in every time, place and cir-
cumstance.
Let us then, one and all, continue
to fulfill our mission of love in the
world. Let us commend to God the
Father, all those who work in the
frontlines of evangelization and thank
him for all their good works. Let us all
continue to cooperate with one an-
other, through sharing of time, talent
and treasure, in this great work en-
trusted to us all by Christ.
about to drink, and both answer “yes”!
In the olden times, king had ser-
vants whose main work is to taste first
the food prepared to ensure no poi-
son is placed in it. If there were, then
the servants would die first. These
food tasters are committed to preserve
the life of the king. They are willing to
offer their life for the sake of the wel-
fare of the king. In like manner, when
James and John answered that they
too can drink the cup of Jesus, they
must have the idea of the food tasters
who are willing to die for their Master.
James and John possess true Charity
expressed in their commitment to die
for Jesus. My brothers and sisters,
Charity is the source and criterion of
mission. Without Charity, mission will
not grow and endure. And today, we
remember that Charity is best ex-
pressed in our availability, fidelity and
commitment to go for the mission.
7 QUESTIONS for Abp. JOSE S. PALMA, DD
Erstwhile Bishop of Calbayog, Archbishop Jose Palma has
since been in the forefront, among the bishops of Samar,
critically engaging on the issues of mining and logging in
the island of Samar. Installed as the new archbishop of Palo
(Leyte) last May, Archbishop Palma recently talked to CBCP
Monitor about Palo archdiocese’s clergy, lay apostolate and
family life programs, the Church’s social concern agenda,
and his perception of the secular media.
AS the new archbishop of Palo,
how is the clergy in the archdio-
cese?
First, I would like to reiterate
my appreciation to my predeces-
sor, archbishop emeritus Pedro
Dian, for his successful program
regarding the formation of the
clergy. We have at present around
150 priests in the archdiocese. Re-
ally, the former archbishop had
great concern for the formation of
the clergy such that in the past
years, numerous priests were sent
for further studies locally and in-
ternationally. I also thank God that
our vocation program in the arch-
diocese has been going well.
Lately I had the opportunity of
celebrating the Mass of the Holy
Spirit in our archdiocesan semi-
nary and I emphasized the forma-
tion of seminarians. And also in my
last meeting with the clergy, I once
7
more emphasized like-
wise the importance of
our ministry as servant
leaders and, of course, of
the challenge to become
not just priests but zeal-
ous, holy, and dedicated
priests who, as good
shepherds, are after the
welfare and concerns es- QUESTIONS
pecially of the poor and
the needy in our society.
The Second Plenary Council of
the Philippines (PCP II) has de-
fined the greater role of the laity
in the Church. How are you imple-
menting this in your area?
I am very happy that before
Archbishop Emeritus Dian left, he
called an assembly of the clergy
and he emphasized that we should
work out in establishing the BECs.
To me, establishing the BECs is a
recognition of the empowerment of
the laity. I fully agree, 100%, with
the late Holy Father, Pope John
Paul II, of happy memory, when he
mentioned that the challenge for
the 3rd millennium is the empower-
ment of the laity or, in his words,
“apostolate of the laity”, which I
am fully aware of and I pledge like-
wise to work out with. Definitely,
we will implement such program of
empowering the laity through the
BECs, the various associations and
movements, the faith communities
and through many ways we rec-
ognize the call of lay people—the
call to holiness, to mission and to
their being active members of the
Church.
Up to what level or degree do you
think should be the participation
of the laity especially in terms of
decision making in the local
church?
5
© Denz Dayao / CBCP Media
At the moment, we have em-
phasized, first of all, the establish-
ment of the parish pastoral council
which is a must and the same
should be active in every parish.
To that effect, it is an encourage-
ment that lay people should be-
come part of both the planning and
implementation of the programs of
the parishes. Likewise, in the es-
tablishment of the archdiocesan
pastoral council, there are lay
people who are and should be in-
volved so that their voice could be
heard. To me, then, the laity should
take active participation as mem-
bers of the Church as a commu-
nity or “people of God”, particu-
larly in the implementation of pas-
toral programs.
What about your family life pro-
gram in the archdiocese?
I am very happy to note that
the archdiocese of Palo
has one of the more ac-
tive and organized com-
mission on family life
with the likes, for in-
stance, of Dr. Ligaya
Acosta, the former top-
ranking official of East-
ern Visayas’ Regional
Office but who is now ac-
tively spearheading our
family life advocacies and cam-
paigns. Truly, family life commis-
sion is doing a zealous ministry in
the area of family life apostolate.
We are aware of the many chal-
lenges being faced by this particu-
lar apostolate like, for example, the
government’s population control-
driven family planning program or
agenda that tends to erode the tra-
ditional family life and values.
That’s why, this is particularly an
area where, through a continuing
dialogue with the many stakehold-
ers concerned, the Church’s time-
honored or unchanging truths or
values—of life, marriage, fidelity,
children being raised up as decent
Christians—should be even more
pushed.
Let’s move on to the subject of the
Church’s social concern agenda.
How is this being realized in your
archdiocese?
First of all, I’m happy that the
Church has but timely came up
with the thrust of social concern
for this year. Even the Pope him-
self has made it clear that the love
we have received from the Lord
should be made manifest and con-
crete in our love for the flock, es-
pecially the poor. Well, being the
new archbishop of Palo, I have yet
to coordinate with our priest-in
charge of our social concern pro-
7 Questions / P13
 CBCP Monitor
6 Opinion Vol. 10 No. 13
October 9, 2006

Editorial
The Endangered IPs
FOR indigenous peoples, the right to life is inherently con-
nected to their ancestral domain. It is the material, if meta-
physical, foundation of their very existence. Without their
land, the indigenous peoples will have no way to live their
distinct culture, spirituality and collective ways of living.
Beginning with colonial assimilation centuries ago, then
with the militarization some decades back until the present
development aggression, the indigenous peoples have con-
stantly been violated. But there is nothing as devastating to
their very survival as the violation of their territorial right
which is the wellspring of all their other rights.
The enactment of Republic Act 8371 or the Indigenous
Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) in 1997 was a relief, or so every-
body thought. But 9 years after, the IPRA law—as in other
beautiful laws of this country—has never been seriously
implemented. Today the very government that vowed to
protect the IP right to ancestral domain is the very same gov-
ernment that has granted mining concessions to mining com-
panies right at the very heart of ancestral lands.
Last Sunday, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines celebrated the Indigenous Peoples Sunday. But
it looks like the reasons for meaningful celebration are getting
scarce in the face of endangered indigenous Filipinos.

Solicitation
ANY universal church law is a norm that is for strict obser-
vance by all the Christian faithful. In the four corners of the
globe all universal church laws are written down in the Code
of Canon Law. The Code of Canon Law is faithfully translated
in all major languages in the world and is available in all coun-
tries where the church is established. Abp. Angel N. Lagdameo, DD
Anybody and everybody can have and handle, read
and know any and all universal church laws. All universal
Church laws are immune to secrecy or confidentiality. They In and Out of Season Credibility
are precisely written in black and white for everybody in the
world to know. They are open and clear for all peoples to be
aware of, irrespective of their colors, races and creed. THE behavioral manifestation of a through on his commitments and prom- A credible leader helps develop the
Universal Church law categorically provides: “whether person’s credibility is that he does ises. leader in everyone to be responsible
in the act of or on the occasion or under the pretext of confes- what he says he will do. The supreme The leader and the people he too for guiding the community or or-
sion, a priest who solicits a penitent to sin against the sixth icon of credibility is God who can nei- leads, like the shepherd and his flock, ganization to its future.
commandment of the Decalogue, is to be punished with sus- ther deceive nor be deceived, who must be on the same path, if he wants A credible leader is the first to do
pension, prohibitions and deprivations in accord with the does what he says he will do. to take them to places they have never what has been agreed upon, holding
seriousness of the offense; and in more serious cases, he is Credibility is about consistency or been before. Leader and people must himself accountable to the same stan-
to be dismissed from the clerical state.” (Canon 1387 CIC). congruence between one’s words and be harmonious in their aims and aspi- dards as everyone else.
This is a heap of all the known grave canonical penalties or deeds. People judge a person as cred- rations. A credible leader develops the ca-
sanctions. ible when his word and deeds are con- A credible leader does not dictate pacity of others to teach him; he learns
Questions: How could such a universal canonical provi- sonant. If he is a teacher or preacher, his will and desire on the people he to stop making all the decisions and
sion be a “secret”? How would such a specific universal he practices what he preaches or he leads, but rather seeks to discover the talking all the time at meetings.
penal norm in the church be a “shelter” to a guilty priest? follows what he teaches. genuine hopes and dreams of the people. A credible leader takes time to
How could such an expressed and public church law serve to In leadership, however, doing A credible leader has the charac- openly listen and learn from his con-
“silence” the victim? what one says he will do, although nec- ter, competence and confidence to re- stituents and to hear also the bad news
The truth is that the priest confessor is placed at a great essary, is not sufficient. As a leader, late according to principle-centered rather than shoot the messenger with
disadvantage by the above cited canon or church law. While one must know that his constituents leadership. bad news.
anyone and everyone could loudly accuse him of the crime of have needs and interests, visions and A credible leader does not look af- A credible leader seeks not so
solicitation in the confessional, before anybody and every- values, problems and concerns. To be ter his own agenda, advancement and much “to be consoled as to console,
body, the priest confessor remains specifically bound to be a credible leader, one must also do what well-being, but rather the people’s to be understood as to understand, to
strictly quiet by another universal church law on the “seal of his people say they will do, and follow agenda, advancement and welfare. be loved as to love.”
confession”—under another severe penalty for its violation
(Canon 1388 CIC).
The church has her own serious reasons for being that
severe to priest confessors, viz., to safeguard the dignity of The Absolute Ambassador Henrietta T. de Villa
the sacrament of reconciliation and to protect the good name
of the penitents. Let the Good Lord protect his own priests! Basic—JESUS Faith and F ir
Fir
iree
Linking Pope Benedict XVI to “Child abuse cover-up”—
as the foreign media did of late—in the “crimen sollicitationis”
viz., the crime of solicitation as concretely understood by the TYPHOON Milenyo—high noon of School. This switched on my mental re- should not cheat. But teacher
church for centuries, is in truth abusive of the messenger Thursday 28 September—downed al- call to fly back to Rome, circa 2000. A told us at the end of the exams
bringing an abusive message. most all of the old majestic trees that have conference was convened by the today that she knows someone
lined our Gilmore Avenue for three gen- Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Laity copied from her seatmates but
erations. Almost all of the entire New (PCF) to discuss the vanishing Christian it’s okay because everyone does
Manila area was suddenly converted into presence in universities. That the CEAP it anyway.” What do you tell
ISSN 1908-2940 a huge chaotic forest of fallen trees, torn is asking its schools how Catholic they your daughter when the Princi-
branches and leaves dangerously en- are, and the Vatican worrying about the pal tells you in front of her that

CBCP Monitor tangled with live electric wires. Milenyo’s disappearing Christian presence in uni- she will not punish a girl who is
blasting fury of close to 200 kph gusts of versities can only mean that, locally and at fault because she comes from
wind blacked out Metro Manila. Deadly universally, the Church is alarmed that a rich family?
P r o ta g o n i s t of T ruth, Promoter of Peace for me, it blacked out my computer. For her mission in these places of learning is I had the happy opportunity to sit in
the first time I’ll miss the deadline for my losing ground. What is the yardstick for another CEAP event two weeks ago. This
CBCP Monitor column—sorry, Msgr. such alarm? time it was the National Assembly of Su-
Pedro C. Quitorio Pinky Barrientos, FSP Pepe Quitorio. In that Vatican PCF conference, Prof. perintendents. It was clear the CEAP
Editor-in-Chief Production Manager
A horrible fear flashed as I was pray- Mary Ann Glendon of Harvard Law superintendents had a grip on the awe-
Baltazar R. Acebedo Marcelo T. Dalanon ing by a flickering candle—the squatter School, now President of the Pontifical some task in front of them. To give the
Managing Editor Circulation Manager
families living under and around Academy of Sciences, talked about the Catholic schools they were supervising
Lambingan Bridge half a kilometer away, failure to teach children “the basic rules the power of direction so that young Fili-
Dennis B. Dayao Ma. Lourdes G. Ebilane those alongside creeks in Araneta Av- of social life, the customs that are the pinos in their care may be re-created, and
On-Line Editor Marketing Supervisor enue a kilometer away, and two kilome- treasures of a people, and the Christian moved away from their media-showbiz
ters from our home a giant billboard in life that has been the matrix of diverse base and “culture of modernity” influ-
Roy Q. Lagarde Leah Cariaso Makati falling like a guillotine on an FX civilizations.” ence. Fr. Percy Bacani of the Missionar-
News Editor Comptroller taxi driver. Rise up, O Lord, and come to In a study made by the FABC-OSC ies of Jesus and Superintendent of
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCP
our aid. (Federation of Asian Bishops Confer- Baguio was impelling as he urged his co-
Communications Development Foundation, Inc., with Next day, still no electricity. Best to ences-Office of Social Communication) superintendents to propel Catholic
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editorial and business offices at 470 Gen. Luna St., go back to the basics—write my column on the E-Generation, a distraught parent schools to be in the forefront of creating
Intramuros, Manila. P.O. Box 3601, 1076 MCPO. Edito- long hand… asked: “a different future” for the Church, the
rial: (063) 404-2182. Business: (063)404-1612. Recently in a meeting of the NCR What do you tell a child who nation, most especially the Filipino
Email: cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net Website: Catholic Educational Association of the comes home and says, “Dad, you youth. Sr. Teresita Bravo, SFIC, was im-
www.cbcpworld.net/cbcpmonitor Philippines (CEAP), one of the talks listed old me not to cheat in class, that passioned in her plea for CEAP to pro-
in the program was: How Catholic Is Your you did not mind if I failed but I Text and Context / P11
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 10 No. 13
October 9, 2006
Jose B. Lugay
Laik
Laikoo Lampstand
FORMER President Fidel Ramos, in his
latest Manila Bulletin column of Octo-
ber 1, 2006, talked about “One Hun-
dred Years of the Filipino Diaspora”.
At the invitation of businesswoman,
Loida Nicolas-Lewis, he gave the key-
note speech for the commemoration of
the Centennial of the Filipino
Diaspora in Honolulu last September
26. We can say that this is the start of
the migration of Filipino laborers to do
work in other countries. Specifically,
this group of laborers were contracted
to work as pineapple plantation work-
ers since the Japanese workers were
no longer enough for the expanded op-
erations of the plantation.
This initial migration has expanded
to millions of workers, which today has
reached a level of eight million Filipi-
nos in about 150 countries and increas-
ing at the rate of 3,100 workers a day
or one million per year. If we assume
that 50% of these migrants are fathers
or mothers who leave their families be-
hind, we count not less than 500,000
solo parent families added to the mul-
titude of families of overseas workers
in the Philippines every year. We shall
Pitiful Country
WHAT is happening to this country?
What is the present administration do-
ing? When will people be united in say-
ing enough to government corruption,
injustice and deceit? How long will the
nation bear wanton political killings and
summary executions?
The killing of Churchmen is the sum-
mit of socio-political errancy. The murder
of a bishop cries to heaven for vengeance.
Those who executed him as well as those
in tenure of power and might behind them,
cannot be spared from the wrath of God.
If human authority with all its multi-billion
fund for intelligence and for judicial work
are basically non-functional, divine provi-
dence eventually takes over.
Melo M. Acuna
Issues and Concerns
TO date, government authorities reported
110 persons dead, 88 injured and 79 oth-
ers missing as Milenyo brought havoc
into Southern Luzon and Metro Manila.
It has been quite sometime since the last
howler sent thousands to evacuation
centers as winds of over 100 kilometer
per hour blew galvanized roofing and
destroyed billboards. The rich had their
generator sets while some settled in 5-
star hotels. Most of us stayed home and
spent quite moments and candle-lit din-
ners. Some others were forced into
cramped evacuation centers found in
fairly-built barangay halls and public
school buildings.
Almost all communication facilities
went down leaving mobile phone sub-
scribers at a loss how to touch base with
superiors, employees and families. As in
previous strong typhoons, electric posts
were the first to go. In some areas, elec-
tricity has yet to be restored leaving com-
munities without power and water.
In an interview with Health Secre-
tary Francisco Duque III, he said they
receive reports in trickles as they still have
to restore communication facilities in their
respective field units. These field units
were former regional offices prior to the
famed decentralization. Even Social Wel-
fare and Development Secretary
Esperanza Cabral said they receive re-
ports a bit later than media accounts.
Given such accounts, there is a very
strong possibility that reports furnished
Opinion
Families of Overseas
Workers
identify them as dysfunctional families
with a few exceptions. My view is that
this is the primary cause of the “shock-
ing” change in the beliefs and values
of our youth as statistically proven by
the recent survey of Mckann Ericcson..
It is time to raise alarm to the Filipino
families, to the educational institu-
tions, to Church workers when one
reads these findings of Mckann
Erickson: Fifty percent of the 16.5 mil-
lion youths, the teen population, are
apt to consider these acts as “not
wrong”: premarital sex, taking some-
thing without paying, use of violence,
drugs, drunk driving, suicide, mari-
tal infidelity, casual sex, porn and
sexually explicit language.
Some observers attribute this
growing problem to three major factors;
1) the influence of media in changing
the values of the youth, 2) the increas-
ing number of solo parent families
caused by migration, and 3) the global
effect of technology—the internet, the
cellphone—resulting in a to handle these situation; probably
“technocentric” lifestyle. While there
is not much a family can do to change
its “technocentric” environment, par-
Oscar V. Cruz, DD
V ie ws and P
iews
What would this government get
from having Bishop Ramento killed? He
was a peace advocate. He was pro-hu-
manity. He was a man of the poor and the
oppressed.
How could Bishop Ramento be
killed by mere robbers? He was a poor
man himself. He led a simple life. He lived
in a dilapidated house. He even took pub-
lic buses to commute from one place to
another.
Why was Bishop Ramento receiv-
ing many death threats prior to his actual
murder in cold blood? He hurt no one,
offended nobody—except perhaps those
who are known for their greed of power
and wealth, those who violated human
Milenyo ‘06
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo are
all partial reports thereby resulting into
less accurate decisions. If media practi-
tioners could report to their respective
offices in Metro Manila, there is simply
no reason for field units not to report to
their respective main offices at the soon-
est possible time.
President Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo’s decision to visit the disaster
areas proves several important points:
that government is never remiss in its
duties, that “everything is under control,”
and the national government and its ex-
ecutives are on their toes to respond to
the people’s needs. In fact, the country’s
broadsheets showed the chief executive
in various calamity-stricken areas in
Southern Tagalog, Bicol and National
Capital Regions.
Whoever thought of placing a pool
table at Malacañang and getting the chief
executive do a ceremonial “break” with
topnotch billiards masters Efren “Bata”
Reyes and “Django” Bustamante did her
and her office disservice. Plaques of Appre-
ciation or medallions conferred on the cham-
pions could have been enough. She’s no
Nero busy fiddling while Rome was on fire.
While noodles, rice and some
canned goods along with used clothing
would prove useful, both the government
and the private sector, the Catholic
Church included ought to go beyond
these relief commodities and focus their
attention into rehabilitation and getting
ents can still make a lot of influence in
the formation of values of their chil-
dren when they are in their formative
years. Hence the father and mother’s
role—nurturing of love for each other
is irreplaceable. Absence of one of the
parents can never teach the youth the
proper roles that man and woman play
in the formation of family values for
good Christian living. Growing up in a
Filipino environment of warmth and
care for each member of the family, fac-
ing economic, social and psychologi-
cal problems invariably turns to a cri-
sis situation when one of the parents
is absent to share in the decision mak-
ing.
Families of overseas workers,
where the father or the mother is left
alone to care for the family while the
better half take charge of earning pre-
cious dollars to maintain the family’s
needs for schooling, health care and
day-to-day needs has to have a sup-
port system—organized group trained
entrusted to a person that they can talk
to in times of need.. The support is
Laiko Lampstand / P13
oints
Points
rights with impunity and nonchalance.
A man who denounced the many and
continuous killings in the country has him-
self become a victim of shameless killing.
His blood will certainly water the seeds of
many more men and women like him who
will continue his unfinished cause.
The country is becoming more and
more drenched with the blood of many
individuals whose only fault was seek
what is right and just. This has become
an upardonable crime in this country. In
the same way, to tell the truth is forbid-
den by the present government under
pain of abduction, imprisonment or death.
How long would this socio-political
atrocity last?
the severely affected people back on
their feet. They did it in Aurora and
Infanta, Quezon and Guinsaugon, St.
Bernard, Southern Leyte.
All sectors, especially those from
the local government units, should seri-
ously consider reasons why people risk
their lives in Metro Manila esteros and
flood-prone areas instead of availing
themselves reasonably priced housing or
probably getting into the community
mortgage program.
Milenyo also opened another con-
troversy, the safety or the lack of it in our
sprawling billboards which according to
government estimates is a P 2 billion in-
dustry. Yes, there ought to be regulations
and strict standards to assure everyone
of safe travel along the country’s thor-
oughfares. However, government officials
ought to compare the design with the
damaged structure as some “substitu-
tions” may have been made by contrac-
tors. They should also check whether the
steel used in the construction failed to meet
specific standards allowed by the Depart-
ment of Trade and Industry. They should
also look into the possibility these materi-
als reached the market through smugglers.
Surely some heads ought to roll. It’s
never too late to learn from the harsh les-
sons brought by Milenyo.
Thanks to oriepm1958@aol.com for
being optimistic about governance.
Views and opinions are most welcome
through acunamelo@yahoo.com.
7
Bp. Leonardo Y. Medroso, JCD, DD
Tidbits
Raising the Image
of the Parish
IT is rather unusual, but definitely significant, that the
Pontifical Council for the Laity took a serious look on
the parish, that ultimate unit of the institutional structure
of the Church. This occurred just recently when at the
instance of the Council a good number of Cardinals,
bishops, priests and lay people gathered together in
Castel Gandolfo. For three days, from September 20,
2006 to September 24, it discussed the theme: “To Redis-
cover the Parish: Paths of Renewal.”
As it is the Pontifical Council of the Laity is not
directly involved with the affairs of the parish. The rea-
son for its existence is after all the “promotion and coor-
dination of the apostolate of the laity and, generally, in
those matters respecting the Christian life of lay people”
(Pastor Bonus, 131). It is due to this entrusted mission
that they took the initiative to call together the ecclesial
communities and faith movements to Rome to confer with
the Holy Father regarding the place of the charisms in
the Church, invited archbishops and bishops for confer-
ence in the City for consultation on the charismatic phe-
nomena and their proper locus in the institution of the
Church, patiently encouraged and steadily guided these
communities, reviewed their statutes, set standards for
lay formation, took the lead in the preparation for the
World Youth Day Celebrations, and all such activities.
Hence to veer its attention to the parish life is strange, if
not interesting.
For sure it is not to intervene in the affairs of the
local Church. It is rather to revisit the parish to see its
potential as the proper locus for the gestation, growth
and missionary activities of these charismatic communi-
ties and lay movements. Concretely it was to discuss
how the parishes respond to the needs of the lay faith-
ful, the clergy and the faith movements. The Holy Father,
who was invited to the conference, appreciated the ini-
tiative of the Council in taking interest in the parish which
he believed plays a central role in Catholic life. After all,
he said, “the parish should be understood as a family of
Christian families” And then, he added: “A new face of
the parish is possible and that is a task for everyone:
priests and laymen together” (CWNews, September, 2006).
Needless to say a similar topic was already discussed
by the same Council sometime in November 2004. It was
on this occasion that Cuzman Carriquiry, the
undersecretary of the Pontifical Council, declared: “More
and more, the field of action for the laity passes through
their concrete participation in parish life.” His reason for
saying this is his observation that Catholic families to-
day are mobile, constantly moving in and out of par-
ishes. “To meet these new pastoral challenges,” he con-
tinued, “it is very useful for the parish to be acquainted
with the various lay associations active in the area”
(CWNews, Nov. 2004).
With this development the local Church, particu-
larly the parish, should take another hard look into itself
and appreciate the treasures that it possesses. Come to
think of it, the parish by design plays the fundamental
role in the spiritual life of the faithful, for it is linked to the
sacramental structure of the Church, the permanent core
in which Christ acts through the Holy Spirit. As John
Paul II succinctly put it: “The parish is the ultimate pres-
ence of the Church in a territory.”
Before him Vatican II described this unit of the faith-
ful in this way: “This Church of Christ is really present in
all legitimately organized groups of the faithful, which, in
so far as they are united to their pastors, are also appro-
priately called Churches in the New Testament” (LG 26).
In short, the parish possesses all the elements for salva-
tion, that is, the baptismal font, the table of the Holy
Eucharist and all the other sacraments that were estab-
lished by Christ in order to gestate, give birth, nurture to
full stature the sons and daughters of the Church.
To uplift the parish life, however, the pastor should
not just be contented with having the sacraments and
dispensing them to the faithful. The preaching of the
Word of God, constant catechesis, missionary activities
within the parish, pastoral plans and organizational set-
up are needed for the parish to be alive and participative.
It is on this level that the parish priest should realize that
he cannot do it all. He has to look around, discover the
charisms of the lay faithful, the lay movements and faith
communities that are sprouting in the locality. They are
not activated by Holy Spirit for nothing. They are there
ready to be availed of as agents and close collaborators
in the pastoral endeavor of the parish. In his talk to the
priests of the Diocese of Albano, the Holy Father said:
“The parish priest cannot do it all! It is impossible! He
cannot be a ‘soloist’; he cannot do everything but needs
other pastoral workers. It seems to me that today, both
in the movements and in Catholic Action, in the new
Tidbits / P13

8 CBCP Commissions
Episcopal Commission on
Prison Pastoral Care (ECPPC)
ON March 25, 1975, the Catholic
Bishop’s Conference of the Philip-
pines received a petition letter from
the inmates of the New Bilibid Prison
in Muntinlupa, Metro Manila. In that
letter, they enumerated their prob-
lems and sorry condition and ex-
pressed their desire to improve the
plight of their fellow prisoners
throughout the country, including
their families.
It was a plea for help.
In response, the CBCP formed
that year the Episcopal Commission
on Prison Pastoral Care. And hence-
forth it became the agency of the
CBCP charged to promote that total
development of the members of the
prison society.
The ECPPC pursues this objec-
tive through the organization of Vol-
unteers In Prison Service that imple-
ments the Integrated Pastoral Pro-
gram for the Rehabilitation of the
Prison Society.
The Commission’s main objec-
tive is the total development, in faith
and capability, of persons in
prison—the prisoners themselves,
ex-prisoners and their families, pro-
bationers, parolees and correctional
employees, in the light of Christ’s
Gospel.
Current Major Thrusts:
• Promotion and Organization of Vol-
unteers in Prison Service in vari-
ous arch/dioceses to deliver the
Integrated Pastoral Program for the
Rehabilitation of the members of
the Prison Society i.e. Worship,
Formation, Advocacy/ Networking
and Service Program;
• Continuing Advocacy of Enlight-
ened Legislations that promote and
serve Christian values and atti-
tudes towards the members of the
prison community;
• Establishment of Linkages and Part-
nerships with groups, agencies and
organizations involved in prison
service;
• Sustained Program for ECPPC Staff
and Volunteers towards deepening
of their commitments and under-
standing of the prison ministry to
better deliver services needed by
the members of the prison commu-
nity;
• Special Projects in relation to the
ECPPC regular program;
• Direct Services like para-legal and
educational assistance of children
of ex-prisoners and prisoners.
1. Volunteers in Prison Service
(VIPS): Promotion and Strengthen-
ing
To deliver basic services to the
members of the prison community (In-
tegrated Prison Pastoral Care Program
i.e. Formation, Worship, Service, Ad-
vocacy and Linkages, Temporalities),
the ECPPC has made as its priority
the organization of Volunteer in
Prison Service (VIPS) units in the dif-
ferent dioceses and archdioceses.
The commission does this by con-
ducting Orientation Seminars that
aim to provide the volunteers an un-
derstanding of the ministry. As of to-
day we have about 72 volunteer units.
The commission also:
• Publish VIPS Update quarterly to
establish communication and pro-
vide information among each unit.
• Follow-up the units through our
pastoral program officer and na-
tional coordinator of VIPS.
• Conducts General Assembly of VIPS
and Chaplains every two years
2. Advocacy, Networking and Link-
ages for Enlightened Legislation
A. Linkages and Networking.
The CBCP-ECPPC is an active mem-
ber of the following coalitions and or-
ganizations:
• Coalition Against Death Penalty
(CADP). The coalition, which is a
non-stock, non-profit organization,
aims to abolish the death penalty.
It is composed of 18 non-govern-
mental organizations. It meets once
a month. The ECPPC acts as the
Secretariat of the coalition.
• Philippine Action for Youthful Of-
fenders (PAYO). The organization
has 18 member organizations from
non-governmental org. and gov-
ernment org that aims to address
concerns affecting children in con-
flict with the law. It meets once a
month. The ECPPC also acts as the
Secretariat.
• Integrated Correctional Association
of the Philippines (ICAP). It is a
non-stock, non-profit organization
whose goal is to seek reforms and
changes in the correctional field. It
meets once a month. The ECPPC
is the office of the association.
• Pope John Paul II Foundation for
Prisoners Welfare (FOPRIW). It is
a non-stock, non-profit religious
organizations establish by ECPPC
with the sole purpose of raising
funds to finance the program of the
ECPPC. It holds office in the
ECPPC.
• International Prison Chaplains As-
sociation (IPCA). It is an interna-
tional organization of different de-
nominational group involved in
prison work. It seeks to establish
linkages among the prison work-
ers and to support each other. It
holds conference every 5 years.
The office is in Ottawa, Canada.
• International Commission of Catho-
lic Prison Pastoral Care (ICCPPC).
It is an international group of catho-
lic chaplains that seek to institute
reforms in the penal system and
establish strong relationships
among catholic prison workers. It
holds conference every 3 years. Its
office is in Netherlands.
B. Advocacy. The CBCP-ECPPC
is advocating and lobbying for the
following:
• Adoption and advancement of re-
storative interventions in our jus-
tice system;
• Juvenile Justice bill reform;
• Passage of the Pre-trial Release Pro-
gram;
• Creation of the Department of Cor-
rections.
3. Special Projects
• Annual Prison Awareness Sunday
Celebration every last Sunday of
October. The commission spear-
heads every last week of October
to awaken the public on the plight
of the prisoners. This coincides
with the celebration by the govern-
ment of the National Correctional
Consciousness Week. Each VIPS
unit prepares their activities. The
highlight of the celebration is the
granting of Gawad Paglilingkod
Award to individuals and groups
who have shown outstanding ser-
vice in the prison ministry.
• Paralegal Training Seminars are
given to volunteers who would
provide paralegal assistance to in-
mates.
• Summit for Life Conferences are
held to promote the value of life
and to provide the people informa-
tion regarding the issue of death
penalty. This is in support of the
campaign to abolish the death pen-
alty.
• Service Consciousness Seminars
are conducted to the correctional
employees to inculcate the value
of service and to imbibe among them
the gospel values
• Seminar Workshop on Restorative
Justice-Justice That Heals are
held to promote and advance the
adoption of restorative justice para-
digm in addressing the problem of
criminality. It promotes the kind of
justice that heals the wounds
caused by crime.
4. Sustained Program for ECPPC
Staff and Volunteers
The commission holds reflection
seminars for the staff to deepen their
commitment and understanding of the
prison ministry to better deliver ser-
vices needed to promote the interests
of the prison society.
The following activities are held:
• Advent and Lenten Retreat
• Evaluation and Planning every 6
months
• Study and Reflection Day every first
Friday
• Theological and Pastoral Updating
every summer
• Fellowship every summer and
Christmas
• Staff Meeting and Faith sharing ses-
sion once a month
5. Direct Services of the ECPPC
• Para-legal Assistance. The commis-
sion gives para-legal assistance
mostly to convicted prisoners by
way of interceding for executive
clemency and parole.
• Educational Assistance. The com-
mission provides educational sup-
port to children of prisoners and
ex-prisoners. It comes in various
forms such as tuition fee support,
monthly allowance, and supplies
assistance. As of today there are
12 scholars.
• Livelihood and Loan Assistance.
The commission also provides live-
lihood support to prisoners and ex-
prisoners on occasional basis. A
maximum amount of P10,000 is al-
lowed.
• Medical Assistance. The commis-
sion also gives medical assistance
to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their
families whenever the need arises.
• Catechetical Training. The commis-
sion gives catechetical training to
inmates of National Bilibid Prisons
and Manila City Jail.
• Other assistance. The commission
also grants transportation assis-
tance to released inmates, funeral
assistance and counseling ser-
vices.
The ECCPPC through the years
Trouble and danger, brought
about by an apparent lack of focused
attention to look after the welfare and
interest of prison inmates, prompted
the creation of an agency that would
plan and administer the proposed
Prison Ministry program of the Catho-
lic Church.
The inmates of the New Bilibid
Prison Maximum Compound were
restless then and staged trouble
among themselves which, like those
that came before it, claimed lives.
This was the era of prison gang wars
and they started to occur in alarm-
ing frequency since the early 1950s
when regional prisoners coming from
Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao
grouped among themselves for com-
mon protection and survival in
prison. Manila’s Sigue-Sigue Gang
and Visayas and Mindanao’s OXO
Gang stood out as notorious ex-
amples and the two engaged in
countless riots that ended in heavy
casualties on both sides. Splinter
groups developed from the two war-
ring factions and the new groups
took a more regional character. There
was one for the Ilocanos, another for
the Bicolanos, and still others for the
Cebuanos, the Warays, and the
Mindanaons. And they all took part
in bloody melees. The most violent
of prison riots occurred in 1958, the
last of the bloodiest in 1975. That
was the time when, finally, a cursillo
group inside the prison walls gath-
ered and sought help.
In the midst of prison riots, the
Inmate Cursillo secretariat met at the
prison chaplain’s office of the New
Bilibid Prison and agreed to seek as-
sistance from the Catholic bishops.
They drafted a letter, dated 25 March
1975, that proposed the creation of a
religious body under the Catholic
Bishops Conference of the Philip-
pines. The vision and goals of the
proposed body were presented. The
signatories—11 inmates, 3 prison
guards, a lay adviser, and 2 prison
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 10 No. 13
October 9, 2006
chaplains—promised to serve the
prison society through this body.
The prison society consisted of in-
mates, released prisoners and their
families as well as prison workers and
their families, chaplains, and volun-
teers in prison work.
The Church responded. The
CBCP created in April 1975 an ad hoc
Committee for the Welfare of Prison-
ers that conducted studies, met, and
presented reports towards the cre-
ation of a permanent body. In July
1975, during the CBCP’s annual meet-
ing held in Baguio City, the Episco-
pal Commission on Prisoners’ Wel-
fare or ECOPRIW was created. It was
composed of three Bishop members,
three auxiliary members, and two sec-
retaries. Immediately, an Integrated
Pastoral Program for the Rehabilita-
tion of the Prison Society was drawn
up and the slogan, “Prison is
People!” was adopted as its battle
cry.
The implementation of the
Church’s prison ministry was not left
solely to the officials and secretariat
of the newly-formed agency; in fact,
volunteer prison workers had to be
recruited and they eventually did
much of the work. Nonetheless, the
implementing structure had to be ar-
ranged within the Church itself,
through the dioceses. Prison
apostolate work, therefore was done
through the dioceses, the prison
chaplains under the payroll of the
Department of Justice, and the vol-
unteers in prison work.
The dioceses were mobilized to
look after prison welfare. Awareness
of prison life and conditions were
raised in the local and regional lev-
els, or more appropriately in the par-
ishes. Chaplains were encouraged to
draw up their own programs and
plans for prison rehabilitation in their
respective turfs. Volunteer prison
workers were recruited from among
interested private individuals and
they were organized into working
corps collectively known as the Vol-
unteers in Prison Service or VIPS.
Originally, seven such corps were
formed primarily for the seven na-
tional prisons and largely for the New
Bilibid Prison.
The mobilization of whichever
group necessitated organizational
spadework. Consultation confer-
ences were held with prison chap-
lains. Thus the NACOPA or the Na-
tional Conference on Prison
Apostolate in 1978 and the
LUPRIMCO or Luzon Prison Minis-
try Consultation in 1988 and the
VIMIPRIMCO or the Visayas-
Mindanao Prison Ministry in 1990.
Resolutions and petitions addressed
to pertinent government bodies and
agencies were drawn at the end of
the conferences to consolidate and
integrate efforts towards a more effi-
cient and humane penal administra-
tion and progressive prison reforms.
Petitions to appropriate government
agencies for improved services were
also a main preoccupation of these
conferences.
Meanwhile, the organization of
VIPS chapters was preceded by a
seminar on the Philippine criminal
justice system, penal administration,
and prison and jail conditions all over
the country. ECOPRIW facilitators
appealed to the potential recruits’
sense of idealism and perhaps awak-
ening of the sense of social justice.
From 20 volunteers in 1975, the ranks
of VIPS rose to 2,000 today and VIPS
chapters, 60 on last count, have been
established all over the country, from
Northern Luzon to the Visayas and
Mindanao. The First General Assem-
bly of VIPS was held in 1994. VIPS
local chapters report directly to their
respective dioceses but they raise
their own funds, making their self-
imposed dedication doubly admi-
rable. At the moment, there are more
VIPS in detention centers than in
prisons or penal colonies where the
chaplains are concentrated.
ECPPC / P10
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 10 No. 13
October 9, 2006
By Rev. Fr. Nemesio Quiloña
THE Diocese of Borongan lies in the
eastern part of the island of Samar,
and confined within the geographi-
cal limits of the political province of
Eastern Samar. It is bounded on the
east by the Philippine sea, which is
part of the Pacific Ocean; on the west
lies the province of Samar, on the
north, Northern Samar; and on the
south is Leyte Gulf that merges with
Surigao Strait down south. It has 23
municipalities, all of them are parishes,
and their average distance from the
provincial capital, Borongan, which
is 550 air-kilometers southeast of Ma-
nila, is 74.8 kilometers. The estimated
land area of the province in 1997 is
4,174 sq. km.
History
The historical beginnings of the
diocese can be traced to as far back
as 1603 when the villages on the east-
ern littorals of Samar island, then
called Ibabao, were evangelized by
the Jesuits from their residence at
Catubig, and later, at Palapag, in north-
ern Samar. Those who live in the
southern part of the island were
brought to the faith by the Jesuits
from the Dagami residence who set
foot on the island as early as 1595. In
spreading the faith to these parts of
the island, the missionaries initiated
the reduccion of the population, edu-
cated the inhabitants in the faith,
raised stone churches and
conventos, and protected them from
the Moro raids. The major settlements
at that time were Bacod (now part of
the Dolores river bed), Tubig (Taft),
Sulat, Libas (transferred to San
Julian), Borongan, Guiuan and
Balangiga. Saved for the last two
towns, which were administered from
residencia in Dagami, Leyte, all of
these were taken cared of by the Je-
suits residing in Palapag. The Jesu-
its, however, had a major setback when
in 1651, rebellion engulfed a number
of Jesuit missions, which spread to
almost the entire island, in reaction to
the corvee labor. When the
Franciscans came in 1768, the year
the Jesuits moved out as a result of
the suppression of the order, a parish
life has already evolved. The island
was divided into two vicariates of the
diocese of Cebu, and what is now the
diocese of Borongan was the Vicari-
ate of the Oriental Coast of Samar.
Nevertheless, the problems the
Franciscans faced that made evange-
lization difficult were still the same:
population dispersion, Muslim raids,
and cholera epidemic, among others.
The Franciscans continued to serve
the parishes until a few years after
the Second World War.
On April 10, 1910, Pius X sepa-
rated Samar from Leyte from the dio-
cese of Cebu, and formed them into
one diocese, with Calbayog as the
Episcopal See. A seminary which of-
fered complete courses in humanities,
His Excellency
MOST REV. LEONARDO
YUZON. MEDROSO, D.D.
Diocese
philosophy and theology was estab-
lished, and its best known alumnus
was the late Cardinal Julio Rosales.
Then, John XXIII, on October 22, 1960,
erected the diocese of Borongan out
of the southern half of Samar island,
and the Most Rev. Vicente P. Reyes,
DD, auxiliary bishop of Manila, was
installed as the first residential
bishop. One of his major initiatives
was the establishment of the high
school seminary, Seminario de Jesus
Nazareno. He also initiated the con-
struction of the Borongan Cathedral.
Meanwhile, the province of East-
ern Samar was born on June 19, 1965,
when Republic Act No. 4221 was
passed by the national legislature.
And the Diocese of Borongan was
reduced to the geographical limits of
this province when Paul VI, one
March 11, 1975, erected the diocese
of Catarman. Thus, the island was
eventually divided into three dio-
ceses, corresponding to the political
division: Calbayog (Samar), Catarman
(Northern Samar) and Borongan
(Eastern Samar). Four residential bish-
ops succeeded Bishop Reyes. The
Most Rev. Godofredo Pedernal (1968-
1976), who initiated the construction
of the new Bishop’s Residence; the
Most Rev. Sincero B. Lucero (1976-
1979), of happy memory; the Most
Rev. Nestor Carino (1980-1986), who
continued the project of Bp Pedernal,
and established the Medical Plan for
the Priests; and the Most Rev.
Leonardo Medroso (1987-present),
who saw and encouraged the growth
of various faith communities, and es-
tablished the College Seminary, and
held the First Diocesan Synod.
The First Diocesan Synod
The greatest ecclesial event
since the founding of the Diocese,
the First Diocesan Synod of
Borongan was held on November 7-
14, 1997, with the theme “Radicati et
superaedificati in Christo”. Its pur-
pose was not only to assist the Bishop
in the fulfillment of his legislative func-
tion, but also to serve as a forum for
planning2, setting strategies and es-
tablishing a unified diocesan vision
and mission, and as a means by which
the faithful can exercise some of their
rights and fulfill some of their obliga-
tions as members of the Church. Its
preparation began as early as Febru-
ary 15, 1994. Significant in the prepa-
ratory stages were the discussion in
all the parishes of the various work-
ing papers (instrumentum laboris)
and the catechesis, which involved a
number of parishioners, and were
held for a number of months. Treated
for discussion were some 27 areas of
concern in the life and mission of the
Diocese: spirituality, worship, evan-
gelization and formation, ecumenism,
fundamentalism and the Iglesia ni
Kristo, prisoners, inculturation,
youth, Church and politics, family and
life, temporalities, arancel and tithing,
media and communication, Catho-
lic schools, Basic Ecclesial Com-
munities (BECs), catechists, for-
mation and other centers, parish
pastoral council, peace and so-
cial justice, economic develop-
ment, ecology, women and semi-
narians, religious, religious organi-
zations and movements, and lay
evangelizers.
During the actual celebra-
tion, there were a total of 198
official delegates. Summoned
to the synod were the vicar
general, episcopal vicars, ju-
dicial vicar, members of the
council of priests, rectors of
the seminaries, vicars forane,
all the parish priests, and all
other priests in the diocese,
men and women religious,
and lay delegates. All in all,
there were 51 diocesan and
religious priests, 12 women
religious who represented
Diocese of Borongan:
“Radicati et
Superaedificati in
Christo”
each religious house, 132 lay women
and men, and 2 invitati. Under the
presidency of the Bishop, Most Rev
Leonardo Medroso, they deliberated
on the vision and mission of the Dio-
cese and the general orientation of the
proposed decrees, as well as discussed
and voted on 240 resolutions that give
direction and orientation to the dioc-
esan pastoral life and mission. These
resolutions were clustered into five
items: the Church in itself (66 resolu-
tions), the inner life of the Church (63
resolutions), the Church in its mission
(33 resolutions), the Church in its in-
stitutions (67 resolutions), the vision,
mission, general orientation and imple-
mentation decrees (11 resolutions).
On February 28, 1998, the Bishop
solemnly promulgated the 235 De-
crees of the First Diocesan Synod of
Borongan during a Eucharistic cel-
ebration at the Cathedral of the Na-
tivity of Our Lady, exactly 104 days
after the 198 official delegates delib-
erated and voted on each of the 240
resolutions. These decrees are now
part of the laws that regulate, direct
and orientate the life and mission of
the local Church of Borongan.
General Diocesan Pastoral
Plan and Priorities
As a direct result of the First Di-
ocesan synod, the Diocese is now
engaged in the making of a general
pastoral plan in order to translate into
objectives and activities the various
decrees of the synod concerning di-
ocesan and parochial life and mission.
Of course, the synod itself, being a
concrete offshoot of the Second Ple-
nary Council of the Philippines (PCP
II), has for its principal thrust the es-
tablishment, growth and nurturing of
basic ecclesial communities (Decree
#2), since it views these communities
as the way by which the Church could
be renewed in the light of the Second
Vatican Council. According to PCP
II, “our vision of the Church as com-
munion, participation and mission,
about the Church as a priestly, pro-
phetic and kingly people and as a
Church of the poor—a Church that is
renewed—is today finding expression
in one ecclesial movement. That is the
movement to foster Basic Ecclesial
Communities.” Consequently, the
Bishop then invited the Daughters of
Charity (DC) and the Redemptorist
Mission Team to help in the estab-
lishment of BECs—and the results
have been encouraging. For one
thing, the BECs answer the people’s
9
vide the faithful an opportunity to
learn and ask questions about the
faith, by forming a roving formation
team that gives lectures in parishes.
In order to achieve (2) renewal
of the clergy, the Diocese aims to (a)
help establish smooth personal rela-
tionships among priests by drafting
guidelines on relationships in the spirit
of fraternity, equality, collegiality and
co-responsibility; and by setting up
yearly program that promote common
activities and enhance fellowship; and
(b) provide basic orientation to and
immersion in basic ecclesial commu-
nities and faith communities.
Finally, in the (3) building up of
participatory communities, the Dio-
cese seeks to (a) promote Christian
family values, family spirituality and
responsible parenthood based on the
Gospel and revered Tradition of the
Church, by formulating a catechetical
program on family and life; And by
drawing up a program for broken
homes, abused spouses and batered
children; (b) offer opportunities of
on-going formation to faith commu-
nities and movements, by establish-
ing a theologico-pastoral institute;
© Denz Dayao / CBCP Media
and (c) create awareness among faith
communities of their being part of the
bigger community that is the parish,
by drawing up a catechesis on the
parish and the place of communities
in the life and mission of the parish;
and by asking the various communi-
ties to formulate their program and
align them with the vision and mis-
thirst for the Word of God, and they sion of the Diocese.
are now able to connect the Eucha-
rist with everyday life—a sign of their
A Vibrant Faith
integration of faith and life. It creates
a sense of belongingness and of re-
Indeed, as can be seen from the
sponsibility for one another. They are various descriptions of the many as-
enabled to deepen their understand- pects of the diocesan life and work,
ing of faith, and work toward solidar-
the religious vitality gives evidence to
ity in action on behalf of the commu- the vibrancy of the faith of Christ’s
nity, especially in relation to justice faithful in the Diocese of Borongan.
and peace. The phenomenon of birth and growth
of various faith communities in the
On-going Pastoral Objectives Diocese is giving shape to what it
and Priorities means to be a Church in the Diocese,
especially with the holding of the Sec-
The more concrete pastoral ob- ond Plenary Council in the Philippines,
jectives of the Diocese and their pro- and with the convocation of the First
posed means to achieve them, as out- Diocesan Synod of Borongan in 1997.
lined in the decrees of the diocesan A Church of communion is emerging
synod, are as follows. As regards (1) in the Diocese, and the faithful are be-
integral faith formation, it seeks to ginning to shift in their understanding
(a) provide formal training in theol- of the Church. The faithful are more
ogy and other ecclesiastical disci- conscious than ever of their being part
plines by establishing a diocesan of the Church and their role in its life
theologico-pastoral institute; (b) and mission. There are various signs
strengthen the catechetical program of the vitality of the Church in the dio-
of the whole diocese by formulating cese, and among them are: a thirst for
a long-ranged catechetical program, the Word of God, eagerness of the
by setting up regional catechetical faithful to exercise various ministries,
offices, and by establishing availability of people to serve the par-
catechetical fund for each parish; (c) ishes and the diocese in various ways
make the Bible the center of life and according to their individual capaci-
activities of all, by encouraging the ties; more appreciation of the impor-
faithful own and read the Bible and tance of homilies; vitality of small com-
by promoting Bible study groups, munities and movements, and the pro-
biblical apologetics, and biblical spiri- liferation of basic ecclesial communi-
tuality; (d) provide spiritual assistance ties.
and formation to non-sectarian stu- All these, no denying about it,
dents, by setting up campus minis- invariably point to the truth that the
tries; (e) have a uniform pre-sacramen- Diocese has indeed come a long way
tal catechesis by drafting a catechesis in faithfully being “rooted and built
on baptism, confirmation, anointing up in Christ”—radicati et
of the sick and matrimony; and (f) pro- superaedificati in Christo.
IMPORTANT FACTS
Name: Dioecesis Boronganensis Educational Centers
Suffragan of Palo Colleges 2
Population: 362,020 Vocational 1
Catholics: 349,717 High School:
Area: 4,339.6 sq. kms. Diocesan 2
Bishop: 1 Religious 7
Priests: Elementary:
Diocesan 68 Religious 3
Religious 6 Pre-School:
Sisters: 58 Diocesan 7
Seminaries: (Diocesan) Religious 5
High School 1
College 1 Institutions
Diocesan Divisions: Clinic 2
Regions 3 Bible Center 1
Vicariates 6 Catechetical Center 1
Parishes Youth Center 1
With resident pastor 29 House for the Aged 1
Entrusted to diocesan clergy 28 House for Children 1
Entrusted to religious 1 Internet Center 1
Quasi-Parishes 3 Printing Press 1
Basic Ecclesial Communities 91 Orphanage 1
Visitas 420 Newsletter 1
 CBCP Monitor
10 Feature Vol. 10 No. 13
October 9, 2006

It is summed up in a four-letter

© Denz Dayao / CBCP Media

immigrant, the US embassy de-
word that impels revealing self manded proof that they really had a

Some Tips
to share life relationship and not just having a
marriage by convenience. What they
I met a girl named Tosha. She did put to rest the embassy
was one year old at that time. I asked personnel’s doubts. They brought
her why she was named Tosha. She with them boxes of their love letters
said, “Siklet, Padel.” I got to know since the late 80s till 1995. They be-
that she got that name from her fa-
ther Tony and her mother Sharon.
A name used to reveal some-
thing about the person’s character;
now a name is simply a word or group
on Why came my family when I was in New
York City; they have always treated
me like a long lost brother.
But whenever we speak about
their story, I’m always fascinated by
the many memories they have of their

We Have
of words to call a person by. When
God revealed himself it was because love relationship, a great part of
of a four-letter word: love. It’s in the which are also written in the love let-
nature of love to share with the one ters they exchanged. I think those
loved secrets about oneself and memories are like what we consider
one’s very life. This is what the Dog- ‘Sacred Tradition’ and their love let-

a Self-
matic Constitution on Divine Rev- ters could be compared to the ‘Sa-
elation Dei Verbum, no. 2 says: “It cred Scriptures’. They form, for my
pleased God, in his goodness and friends, one love story but with two
wisdom, to reveal himself and to make branches, one is told orally in con-
versations or chats and the other is
known the mystery of his will (cf. Eph
1:9). His will was that men should written in the love letters.

Revealing
The document on Divine Rev-
have access to the Father, through
elation makes a similar point. “Sacred
Christ, the Word made flesh, in the Tradition and sacred Scripture, then,
Holy Spirit, and thus become sharers are bound closely together, and com-
in the divine nature (cf Eph 2:18; 2 municate one with the other. For both
Pet 1:4). By this revelation, then, the of them, flowing out from the same

God
invisible God (cf Col 1:15; 1 Tim 1:17), divine well-spring, come together in
from the fullness of his love, ad- some fashion to form one thing, and
dresses men as his friends (cf Ex move towards the same goal. Sacred
33:11; Jn 15:14-15), and moves among Scripture is the speech of God as it
them (cf. Bar 3:38), in order to invite is put down in writing under the
and receive them into his company.”
(From Vatican II’s Decree on Divine breath of the Holy Spirit. And Tradi-
tion transmits in its entirety the Word
God’s self-revelation enters
human history: Abraham,
Revelation) of God which has been entrusted to
the apostles by Christ the Lord and
Moses, the Prophets and cul- the Holy Spirit. It transmits it to the
minates in the sending of his successors of the apostles so that,
Son by Rev. Fr. Eutiquio ‘Euly’ B. Belizar, Jr., SThD
enlightened by the Spirit of truth,
they may faithfully preserve, ex-
I once watched a movie about a Faith as response to the God ner the prayers and novenas were for all (cf Jude 3). In this way the pound and spread it abroad by their
boy who saw a girl from afar and fell who reveals himself done; then later on, everything be- Church, in her doctrine, life and wor- preaching. Thus it comes about that
in love with her. He would look at came even firmer when they received ship, perpetuates and transmits to the Church does not draw her cer-
her for hours when she didn’t know In the love story I told you the a written novena. I said to the ladies every generation all that she herself tainty about all revealed truths from
it. Then one day he decided to talk girl responded to the boy’s revela- that the gozos were not the words of is, all the she believes” (DV 8). the Scriptures alone. Hence, both
to her and introduce himself. It tion of his love at first by hesitation, God and do not have the same value Scripture and Tradition must be ac-
turned out they were childhood then by accepting the boy’s words as the Scriptural prayers, like the Our Sacred Tradition and Sacred cepted and honored with equal feel-
friends and had a crush on each and eventually by consenting to be Father or the Hail Mary. Scriptures form only one de- ings of devotion and reverence” (DV
other. If the boy didn’t approach the his woman and wife. What is our re- It is the Word of the Lord that posit of faith 9).
girl and talk to her, she wouldn’t have sponse to God’s self-revelation that we can’t change on a whim. Our prin- Just as the orally told memories
known of how he felt for her. He had culminated in Jesus Christ? DV 5 cipal task is to hand it to others. DV I know a married couple very and the love letters of my friends
to enter into her history and reveal says: “ ‘The obedience of faith’ (Rom 7 describes how this happened when well. I wouldn’t tell you their names. constitute just one loves story, so
himself by the word of his mouth and 16:26; cf Rom 1:5; 2 Cor 10:5-6) must “Christ the Lord, in whom the entire But I have always been fascinated Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scrip-
his pleasant manners. be given to God as he reveals him- Revelation of the most high God is by their love story. He started as a ture form one deposit of Divine Rev-
As a matter of fact, God did that self.” But how do we do that, we ask. summed up (cf 2 Cor 1:20; 3:16-4:6) friend who would advise her about elation. “Sacred Tradition and sacred
with us by entering into the history What is faith? As though anticipat- commanded the apostles to preach many things as he is older. Then, as Scripture make up a single sacred
of Israel through her forebears. God ing our question the document the Gospel, which had been prom- Tagalogs would put it, deposit of the Word of God, which
did not just watch mankind with the states: “By faith man freely commits ised beforehand by the prophets, “magkaibigan na nagkaibigan is entrusted to the Church. By ad-
look of love but has shown it by his his entire self to God, making ‘the and which he fulfilled in his own per- (friends who turned lovers)”. It hering to it the entire holy people,
self-revealing gestures. Says DV 3: full submission of his intellect and son and promulgated with his own started with a joke she said when united to its pastors, remains always
“For he wishes to give eternal life to will to God who reveals’, and will- lips. they met in his village. She asked, faithful to the teaching of the
all those who seek salvation by pa- ingly assenting to the Revelation In preaching the Gospel they “Why don’t you be my permanent apostles, to the brotherhood, to the
tience in well-doing (cf Rom 2:6-7). given by him” (ibid.). were to communicate the gifts of God adviser?” That started a long, long breaking of bread and prayers (cf
In his own time God called Abraham, Since faith so defined seems so to all men. This Gospel was to be the period of communication by phone Acts 2:42 Greek)” (DV 10).
and made him into a great nation (cf easy, the document again makes an source of all saving truth and moral or by letter writing. Then when they By the way, that’s God’s love
Gen 12:2). After the era of the patri- important reminder. “Before faith can discipline (Mt 2*;19-20; Mk 16:15). got married, since she was a U.S. story with you and me.
archs, he taught this nation, by be exercised, man must have the This was faithfully done: it was done
Moses and the prophets, to recog- grace of God to move and assist him; by the apostles who handed, by the ECPPC / from p8
nize him as the only living and true he must have the interior helps of spoken word of their preaching, by
the Holy Spirit, who moves the heart the example they gave, by the insti- In 1991, the ECOPRIW (which sion of Catholic Prison Pastoral Care
God, as a provident Father and just
and converts it to God, who opens tutions they established, what they eventually came to be known as the (ICCPPC), in Switzerland, whose ob-
judge. He taught them, too, to look Episcopal Commission for Prison Pas- jective is to bring to the worldwide
for the promised Savior. And so, the eyes of the mind and ‘makes it themselves had received—whether
easy for all to accept and believe the from the lips of Christ, from his way toral Care or ECPPC starting in 1998) Church a greater awareness and sen-
throughout the ages, he prepared the led in organizing a conference that sitivity to the exercise of Prison Pasto-
way for the Gospel.” truth’ [Second Council of Orange, of life and his works, or whether they
can 7: Denz. 180 (377)]. The same had learned it at the prompting of gathered all government, non-govern- ral Care and to contribute to the re-
In the movie I watched the cul- ment, and church agencies involved form and revision of the penal system
mination of the young man’s self- Holy Spirit constantly perfects faith the Holy Spirit; it was done by those
by his gifts, so that Revelation may apostles and other men associated in prison work to talk about common throughout the world.
revelation was when he finally told issues and problems and come up with Notwithstanding its successful
be more and more profoundly under- with the apostles who, under the in-
the girl he loved her. That consisted stood” (ibid.). spiration of the same Holy Spirit, consolidated efforts toward enlight- advocacy campaign against the death
in making clear his deepest feelings committed the message of salvation ened prison reforms. The agencies later penalty, pursued with unrelenting pas-
for her. In God’s self-revelation the to writing (Council of Trent, Session coalesced into the Integrated Correc- sion and conviction, the Commission
The various ways of transmit-
culmination was the giving of his ting the Word of God IV, Decree On the Canonical Scrip- tional Association of the Philippines continue to campaign for the adoption
Son. “After God has spoken many tures: Denz. 783 (1501))” (DV 7). (ICAP) in 1995, one of ECPPC’s grand of a restorative criminal justice system
times and in various ways through The writing of what the apostles alliances and linkages. All together, that heals the effects of crime for the
I was talking to a group of eld-
the prophets, ‘in these last days he erly ladies who were discussing their handed on was a special and crucial the agencies observed the National welfare not only of the prison society
has spoken to us by a Son’ (Heb 1:1- San Isidro celebration last May. One stage. This makes it clear to us that Correctional Consciousness Week but of the whole national community
2). For he sent his Son, the eternal complained that the songs were too there was first an awesome and rich starting October 1995. of this country.
Word who enlightens all men, to long, especially the ‘gozos’ or verses, Tradition of the Christian faith and Linkages are imperative to _____________________
dwell among men and to tell them and that they don’t fit today’s fast life before anything was committed strengthen advocacy and networking
about the inner life of God….As a towards meaningful change in the Members of the Episcopal Commission
life. One other lady said that they to writing. In fact, the document on Prison and Pastoral Care are:
result, he himself—to see whom is couldn’t simply change the singing points to two ways that seemed to criminal justice system in the country.
to see the Father (cf Is 14:9)—com- of the ‘gozos’ because that was the have crystallized the modes of trans- Locally, aside from the ICAP, ECPPC Chairman:
pleted and perfected Revelation and way their parents, grandparents and mitting the Word of the Lord. is an active founding member of the Bp. Pedro Arigo
confirmed it with divine guarantees. PAYO (Philippine Action for Youth Vice-Chairman:
their forebears did it. Majority of the “Hence, the apostles, in handing on Bp. Francisco San Diego
He did this by the total fact of his ladies agreed. I was struck by their what they themselves had received, Offenders) and the CADP (Coalition
presence and self-manifestation— sense of tradition. What struck me warn the faithful to maintain the tra- Against Death Penalty). On the inter- Members:
by words and works, signs and what that they couldn’t agree to ditions which they had learned ei- national front, the ECPPC has started Bp. Artemio Rillera, SVD
miracles, but above all by his death to join hands with the inter-denomina- Bp. Romulo Valles
change or shorten the gozos because ther by word of mouth or by letter Bp. Manuel Sobreviñas
and glorious resurrection from the their forebears handed them as such. (cf 2 Thes 2:15); and they warn them tional International Prisons Chaplains
dead, and finally by sending the I suspect that the handing on was in to fight had for the faith that had Association (IPCA) which is based in Executive Secretary:
Spirit of truth” (DV 4). the form of oral instruction, the man- been handed on to them once and Canada; and the International Commis- Mr. Rodolfo Diamante
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 10 No. 13
October 9, 2006
Part I: General Concepts
What is politics?
Politics in the widest sense is the
dynamic organization of society for the
common good. As such it calls for the
responsible active participation of all
citizens (cf. Congregation for Religious
and Secular Institutes, Religious Life
and Human Promotion, 1980, no. 12).
Politics may be described as the
art of government and public service.
Vatican II describes politics as a “diffi-
cult and noble art” (GS, 75). Its aim is
to realize the purpose of the State.
Politics is also used for partisan
politics, the competition to win or re-
tain positions of governmental power.
In this last sense clerics and religious
are forbidden by church law to be in-
volved in (partisan) politics.
What is the purpose of the State?
Social Concern 11
What is social justice?
Social justice is sometimes called (Editor’s Note: The CBCP’s declaration of
2006 as Year of Social Concerns has
the justice of the common good. It veritably brought to fore once again the
demands proportionate share in the burning question of the Church’s engage-
fruits of economic cooperation and ment in politics as being part of the
Church’s social concern agenda. CBCP
equitable distribution of the wealth of Monitor is serializing the following docu-
a nation among different social classes. ment issued by the CBCP in 1998 with
It also imposes obligations of mutual such end of providing a catechetical per-
spective to the continuing discourse.)
relation on different social groups, e.g.,
the better to assist the poor so that
they can live in a manner worthy of
human beings. Social justice con-
demns such situations as “excessive
economic and social disparity between
individuals and peoples” (GS, 29), the
concentration of wealth in the hands
of the few, and excessive profits.
What principles are the basis for the
development of the social order?
The social order and its develop-
ment “must be founded in truth, built
on justice, and enlivened by love: it

© Denz Dayao / CBCP Media

The purpose of the State is the
protection and promotion of the com-
mon good. In general this purpose
is accomplished through three tasks:
(1) legislation and administration of
justice, (2) promotion of the socio-
economic welfare and health, and (3)
care for cultural and moral concerns
should grow in freedom towards a more
humane equilibrium” (GS, loc. cit.).
This means that individuals and groups
should practice not just private moral-
ity but also social morality which gov-
erns the relationships between indi-
viduals and society. Some examples of
the exercise of social morality would

CATECHISM ON THE CHURCH AND POLITICS

or the fostering of good morals (see
Karl H. Peschke, S.V.D., Christian
Ethics: Moral Theology in the light
of Vatican II, vol. II, Special Moral
Theology, 1987, pp. 267-71).
What is the common good?
The common good is “the sum
total of social conditions which al-
low people, either as groups or as
individuals, to reach their fulfillment
more fully and easily” (GS, 26).
It consists of three essential el-
ements: (a) it presupposes respect
for the fundamental rights of the
human person and the natural free-
doms necessary for the development
of the human vocation; (b) it requires
the social well being and develop-
ment of the group itself, i.e., what-
ever is needed to lead a truly human
life such as food, clothing, health,
work, education, and culture should
be accessible to each one; (c) it re-
quires peace, i.e., the stability and
security of a just order (cf. CCC, 1907-
09). These social conditions are ob-
tained through social justice.
Text and Context / from p6
mote “a culture with a soul.” And
Msgr. Gerry Santos, Chief Superin-
tendent, exhorted all to “share the
secret” (the Social Doctrine) of the
Church on Justice, Peace, Integrity
of Creation, that do not go down to
the multitudes. The curriculum, he
averred, is ever in process, in need
of fine-tuning leading to transforma-
tional education. In process—just
like all of us, pilgrims ever on the
move on our way to the Kingdom.
But how do you entice your stu-
dents from the culture of modernity
that causes young people “to project
an indifference towards the
Church”? How can Catholic schools
outrun outlandish showbiz values in
communicating to the Filipino youth
the wonderment of Christ, and the
long term happiness his gospel val-
ues offer? Technoloy-wise and lo-
gistics-wise, Catholic schools and
universities are the underdogs in the
battle for the hearts and minds of the
Filipino youth. So do we throw in
the towel?
A week ago the Pondo ng Pinoy
education committee had a meeting
in the Nazarene Catholic School a.k.a.
Quiapo Catholic school from 8:00 to
11:00 a.m. I was awash with colds
and cough, backlash of a stubborn
flu. But after gulping down
Augmentin and Neozep, I went any-
way because we had to finalize the
long overdue catechetical modules
in E-format. The moment I entered
Nazarene Catholic School at 7:45 a.m.,
some boys (students) near the door
greeted me: Good morning, ma’am.
When I went up the stairs, a student
(girl this time) ahead of me turned
be the just payment of taxes, integrity
and accountability in public office, re-
jection of graft and corruption, the care
of the environment.
What is the political community?
The political community con-
sists of persons, social groups and
organizations, their institutions and
structures that are necessary for di-
recting or ordering society towards
the common good. The common
good is the full justification, mean-
ing, and source of the political
community’s specific and basic right
to exist (GS, 74). Within the political
community is public or political au-
thority which “must be exercised
within the limits of the moral order and
directed toward the common good.”
What moral and religious principles
guide politics?
The Bishops of the Philippines
enumerated the following truths to
guide politics (see PEPP, pp. 34-38):
(a) human dignity and solidarity as the
first principle of politics; (b) the com-
around and said: Good morning,
ma’am. I asked her where the chapel
was because Msgr. Gerry Santos,
president of NCS and head of PnP
education, will be saying Mass for
Grade 5 students before our meet-
ing. The student good-naturedly
replied: It’s straight ahead but I’ll
bring you there, ma’am. I told her no
need, thanks, I’ll find my way since
she might be late for her classes. She
insisted smiling: It’s alright ma’am, I
don’t want you to get lost.
As I entered the chapel, I no-
ticed a lot of shoes neatly lined up
near the door. Inside the chapel some
40 boys and girls, stockinged-feet,
were seated waiting for the Mass to
begin. They were quiet—not just
audibly, but physically. No little
whispers or nods, no shifting or shuf-
fling motions. Quite remarkable for
boys and girls their age—especially
for boys. They were all in reverent
attention looking in front at the altar.
Then Msgr. Gerry came in and
greeted them: Good morning, chil-
dren. And they responded cheer-
fully: Good morning, Msgr. Gerry.
Before beginning the Mass, he told
them: My dear children, you are
Grade 5, yes? What is your section?
They answered: San Fernando de
Dilao, Msgr. Gerry. He said: Yes, it is
good for you to know that our school
belongs to the Archdiocese of Ma-
nila, that your section is named after
the vicariate where we belong—San
Fernando de Dilao. This is also the
name of the parish in Paco where
there is a Catholic school like ours.
So you and the students there, we
Text and Context / P12
mon good as the goal of political ac-
tivity; (c) authority and power as a di-
vine trust for service; (d) autonomy
and mutual collaboration between the
Church and the political community.
Part II: The Relationship Be-
tween Church, State and Poli-
tics
What is the basis for the Church’s
mission in politics?
The main reasons why the
Church has a mission in politics are
the following:
First, because politics has a moral
dimension. Politics is a human activ-
ity. It may hurt or benefit people. It can
lead to grace or to sin.
Second, because the Gospel and
the Kingdom of God call the Church
to political involvement. To proclaim
the gospel to all creation necessarily
includes evangelizing the political
world. Moreover, at the center of
Jesus’ mission is the proclaiming of
the Kingdom of God. But the King-
dom of God calls us to repentance and
renewal (Mk. 1:15). This call to renewal
is addressed likewise to the political
field.
Third, because the mission of the
Church of integral salvation involves
the political sphere. Integral salvation
is the salvation of the total person,
soul and body, spiritual and temporal.
THE Church’s social Magisterium
sees an expression of the relation-
ship between labour and capital
also in the institution of private
property, in the right to and the
use of private property. The right
to private property is subordi-
nated to the principle of the uni-
versal destination of goods and
must not constitute a reason for
impeding the work or develop-
ment of others. Property, which
This is why Jesus not only forgave
sins but also healed people from sick-
ness. The Church must likewise bring
the healing grace of salvation to the
temporal, including political, sphere.
Are there other reasons why the
Church must be involved in politics?
Yes, there are. Another reason is
because salvation of the human per-
son is from personal and social sin.
We know that in the political field, so-
cial sins unfortunately abound, such
as graft and corruption, “dirty politics”
of “guns, goons, and gold”, deceit and
unprincipled compromises, “politics of
greed”. In the mind of the Church, sys-
tems where such social sins have been
imbedded through constant practice
are “structures of sin or structures of
injustice.”
Still another reason is because the
Church has an Option for the Poor. In
the Philippines, politics is heavily tilted
against the poor. The poor often be-
come in a real sense voiceless and
powerless. Laws are often passed that
merely support vested interests rather
than promote the common good of all.
Finally, because John Paul II said
that the concrete human being living
in history is “the way for the Church”
(RH, 14; CA, 53-54). The temporal and
spiritual development of the total hu-
man person is the way by which the
Church accomplishes the mission to
The Relationship
Between Labor and
Private Property
(Excerpted from the Compendium of the
Social Doctrine of the Church, # 282-283)
is acquired in the first place through
work, must be placed at the service
of work. This is particularly true re-
garding the possession of the means
of production, but the same principle
also concerns the goods proper to
the world of finance, technology,
knowledge, and personnel.
The means of production “can-
not be possessed against labour,
they cannot even be possessed for
possession’s sake”. It becomes ille-
proclaim the Gospel. We know very
well that politics can dehumanize the
human person and entrap the person
in sinful behavior or structures.
In short, politics cannot claim to
be above or outside the natural law
and the moral law. Politics has moral
and religious dimensions. Therefore,
the Church has to be involved in the
political world.
Is not the Church’s involvement in
politics “political interference”?
“Political interference” takes place
when the Church involves itself in
politics in a way that is not justified by
her mission or when such involvement
is against the Constitution. But the
mission of the Church requires her, for
instance, to denounce political atti-
tudes, behavior and structures that run
counter to the Gospel and to the Reign
of God or that militate against the com-
mon good and the integral salvation
of the human person, especially of the
poor. Also in accord with her mission
is for the Church to issue moral guide-
lines regarding the qualifications of po-
litical candidates. It would be “politi-
cal interference” if the Church were to
be involved in way that is not in keep-
ing with her mission to evangelize, or
if the Church were to violate the Con-
stitutional mandate of “separation of
Church and State.”
(To be continued next issue)
What does “separation of Church and
gitimate to possess them when
property “is not utilized or when
it serves to impede the work of
others, in an effort to gain a profit
which is not the result of the over-
all expansion of work and the
wealth of society, but rather is the
result of curbing them or of illicit
exploitation, speculation or the
breaking of solidarity among
working people”.
Private and public property,
as well as the various mechanisms
of the economic system, must be
oriented to an economy of ser-
vice to mankind, so that they con-
tribute to putting into effect the
principle of the universal desti-
The Relationship / P12
 CBCP Monitor
12 Message Vol. 10 No. 13
October 9, 2006

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

1. World Mission Sunday, which
Message of His Holiness Benedict XVI for the 80th World Mission Sunday 2006 ies means loving God with all one’s
heart, even to the point, if necessary,

“Charity: Soul of the Mission”

we will be celebrating on Sunday, 22
October, is an opportunity to reflect
this year on the theme: “Charity:
soul of the mission”.
Unless the mission is oriented
by charity, that is, unless it springs
from a profound act of divine love, it
risks being reduced to mere philan-
thropic and social activity. In fact,
God’s love for every person consti-
tutes the heart of the experience and
proclamation of the Gospel, and
those who welcome it in turn become
its witnesses.
God’s love, which gives life to
the world, is the love that was given
to us in Jesus, the Word of salva-
tion, perfect icon of the Heavenly
Father’s mercy.
The saving message can be
summed up well, therefore, in the
words of John the Evangelist: “In
this the love of God was made mani-
fest among us, that God sent his only
Son into the world, so that we might
live through him” (I Jn 4: 9).
It was after his Resurrection
that Jesus gave the Apostles the
mandate to proclaim the news of this
love, and the Apostles, inwardly
transformed by the power of the Holy
Spirit on the day of Pentecost, be-
gan to bear witness to the Lord who
had died and was risen. Ever since,
the Church has continued this same
mission, which is an indispensable
and ongoing commitment for all be-
lievers.
2. Every Christian community is
therefore called to make known God
who is Love. In my Encyclical Deus
Caritas Est, I wanted to pause and
reflect on this fundamental mystery
of our faith. God imbues the entire
creation and human history with his
love.
In the beginning, man came from
the Creator ’s hands as the fruit of an
initiative of love. Later, sin obscured
the impression of the divine within
him.
Deceived by the Evil One, Adam
and Eve, our first parents, failed to
live up to the relationship of trust
with their Lord, succumbing to the
temptation of the Evil One who in-
stilled in them the suspicion that the
Lord was a rival and wanted to limit
their freedom.
So it was that they preferred
themselves to divine love freely
given, convinced that in this way
they were asserting their own free
will. They consequently ended by
losing their original happiness and
(Get a good picture of the pope, extending
his hands to people)
they tasted the bitter sorrow of sin love in its most radical form.... It is
and death. there that this truth can be contem-
However, God did not abandon plated. It is from there that our defi-
them. He promised salvation to them nition of love must begin. In this
and to their descendents, announc- contemplation the Christian discov-
ing in advance that he would send ers the path along which his life and
his Only-begotten Son, Jesus, who love must move” (n. 12).
in the fullness of time was to reveal 3. On the eve of his Passion,
his love as Father, a love capable of Jesus bequeathed as a testament to
redeeming every human creature his disciples, who had gathered in
from the slavery of evil and death. the Upper Room to celebrate the
In Christ, therefore, immortal life Passover, the “new commandment of
was communicated to us, the very love—”mandatum novum”: “This I
life of the Trinity. command you, to love one another”
Thanks to Christ, the Good (Jn 15: 17). The brotherly love that
Shepherd who did not abandon the the Lord asked of his “friends” origi-
lost sheep, human beings of all time nates in the fatherly love of God.
were granted the possibility of en- The Apostle John noted: “He
tering into communion with God, the who loves is born of God and knows
Merciful Father who was prepared God” (I Jn 4: 7). Therefore, to love
to welcome home the Prodigal Son. according to God it is necessary to
An astonishing sign of this love live in him and of him: God is the
is the Cross. Christ’s death on the first “home” of human beings, and
Cross, I wrote in the Encyclical Deus only by dwelling in God do men and
Caritas Est, is “the culmination of women burn with a flame of divine
that turning of God against himself love that can set the world “on fire”.
in which he gives himself in order to It is not difficult, then, to under-
raise man up and save him.... This is stand that authentic missionary con-
cern, the priority commitment of the
Ecclesial Community, is linked to
faithfulness to divine love, and this
is true for every individual Christian,
for every local community, for the
particular Churches and for the en-
tire People of God.
The generous readiness of dis-
ciples of Christ to undertake works
of human and spiritual advancement
draws vigor literally from the aware-
ness of this common mission. These
works, as the beloved John Paul II
wrote in the Encyclical Redemptoris
Missio, witness to “the soul of all
missionary activity: love, which has
been and remains the driving force
of mission, and is also “the sole cri-
terion for judging what is to be done
or not done, changed or not
changed. It is the principle which
must direct every action, and the end
to which that action must be di-
rected. When we act with a view to
charity, or are inspired by charity,
nothing is unseemly and everything
is good’” (n. 60).
Consequently, being missionar-
of dying for him. How many priests,
men and women Religious and lay
people, have borne the supreme wit-
ness of love with martyrdom even in
our times!
Being missionaries means
stooping down to the needs of all,
like the Good Samaritan, especially
those of the poorest and most desti-
tute people, because those who love
with Christ’s Heart do not seek their
own interests but the glory of the
Father and the good of their neigh-
bor alone.
Here lies the secret of the apos-
tolic fruitfulness of missionary ac-
tion that crosses frontiers and cul-
tures, reaches peoples and spreads
to the extreme boundaries of the
world.
4. Dear brothers and sisters,
may the World Missionary Day be a
useful opportunity to understand
ever better that the witness of love,
the soul of the mission, concerns ev-
eryone. Indeed, serving the Gospel
should not be considered a solitary
adventure but a commitment to be
shared by every community.
As well as those who are in the
front line on the frontiers of evange-
lization—and I am thinking here with
gratitude of the men and women mis-
sionaries—many others, children,
young people and adults, with their
prayers and cooperation, contribute
in various ways to spreading the
Kingdom of God on earth. It is to be
hoped that this participation will
continue to grow, thanks to the con-
tribution of one and all.
I willingly take this opportunity
to express my gratitude to the Con-
gregation for the Evangelization of
Peoples and to the Pontifical Mis-
sion Societies (PMS), which are dedi-
cated to coordinating the efforts
made in every part of the world to
support the activity of those on the
front lines on the missionary fron-
tiers.
May the Virgin Mary, who col-
laborated actively in the beginning
of the Church’s mission with her pres-
ence beneath the Cross and her
prayers in the Upper Room, sustain
their action and help believers in
Christ to be ever more capable of true
love, so that they become sources of
living water in a spiritually thirsting
world. I wish this with all my heart, as
I impart my Blessing to you all.
From the Vatican, 29 April 2006
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

Text and Context / from p11 The Relationship / from p11

all belong to one family. To-
day we are celebrating the
feast of a great saint, St.
Vincent the Paul, the friend of
the poor. Let us pray that we
may be like him in loving the
poor. And he began the Mass.
The homily of Msgr.
Gerry was like a catechism
class. He told them about
love, about sharing. He asked
them what they thought about
love, about sharing. Their
answers were bits of wisdom.
And I remembered what Jesus
said in the Bible: I praise you
Father, Lord of heaven and
earth, for although you have
kept these things from the
learned and the wise, you re-
vealed them to little children.
Msgr. Gerry went on to
tell his Grade 5 boys and girls
about Jesus, about his love,
about how he shared this—
all like a story, simple but fas-
cinating. At this point I felt
the onrush of a coughing fit
so I quietly left the chapel to
let my cough run free at the
end of the hall. A student
passing by came near me and
solicitously said: Good morn-
ing ma’am, are you alright?
And I remembered Prof. Mary
Ann Glendon’s basic rules of
social life, customs as trea-
sures of a people, Christian life
as matrix of civilization—
WOW ! These are being prac-
ticed here in Nazarene Catho-
lic School.
After the meeting on my
way to the office, all I could
think of was: it works. It still
works. Give the young people
the Absolute Basic—JESUS.
Tell and re-tell his story to
them, from the time they first
come to school to learn how
to read and write, how to add
and subtract, how to multiply
and divide. Tell them the Ab-
solute Truth on which all les-
sons are grounded. Abba,
Father—God who is Love—
who made them in his image
and likeness, and gave them
the whole of his creation to
take care of and multiply so
that there will be enough for
everyone’s fullness of life.
Tell them about the Son of
God, Jesus Christ, who out of
love for his Father became like
us, to show us how to have
fullness of life and, out of love
for us, gave up his own life to
ensure that this fullness of life
may be ours forever. Tell them
about the Holy Spirit, God
given to us, to be our power
to be more for others, our
power to make Jesus the first
of many brothers and sisters.
Then use all the power of in-
formation, communication,
technology, sciences and the
arts to creatively format this
Absolute Truth as the iden-
tity of Catholic schools and
universities. The identity that
cuts across everything—from
learning modules to the cur-
riculum, from formators, teach-
ers, superintendents and ad-
ministrators to the students.
The Catholic schools and uni-
versities in the forefront shap-
ing a different future, intro-
ducing a culture with a soul,
and re-creating the Filipino
youth as a new creature.
The Holy Father, the
great Pope John Paul II who
was the Pope of the Youth,
always believed this can hap-
pen. When the young people
in the XII World Youth Day
in Paris, August 1997, asked
him where they will turn to,
where they will find love,
where they will find life—he
told them:
Dear young people,
like the first disciples,
follow Jesus! Do not
be afraid to draw near
to Him, to cross the
threshold of His
dwelling, to speak to
Him face to face as
you talk to a friend.
He himself will make
it possible for you to
receive that life and
practice it with the
help of His grace and
the gift of the Holy
Spirit.
For CEAP, for the
Vatican’s PCF, for the FABC-
OSC, for all of us, amidst ty-
phoons and sunshine, dark-
ness and light—the answer to
all our joys and hopes, our
grief and anguish is JESUS.
“Only from Christ can there be
answers that do not deceive
or disappoint.” (PJPII. WYD
1997)
Msgr. Gerry Santos is
using this answer in Nazarene
Catholic School and with
promising results. Why not
start using this, too, in our
homes, in our offices, in all our
relationships.
What joy . . . with so many
JESUS around!
nation of goods. The issue of
ownership and use of new
technologies and knowl-
edge—which in our day con-
stitute a particular form of
property that is no less impor-
tant than ownership of land
or capital—becomes signifi-
cant in this perspective. These
resources, like all goods, have
a universal destination; they
too must be placed in a con-
text of legal norms and social
rules that guarantee that they
will be used according to the
Si Erika / from p14
si nanay lang, wala nang iba.
Hindi naman sinasabing hindi na
tayo dapat magnilay sa kahapon
para matuto sa kasaysayan. Hindi
naman sinasabing hindi na tayo
maghahanda para bukas. Basta
ngayon. Basta si Hesus lang ang
Diyos ko, Hindi ang kung sinu-
sinong diyos na nagbabawal
maglibing kung lunes, bawal
magpakasal kung biyernes, bawal
ang itim na pusa... basta si Hesus
lang ang Diyos sa buhay ko, hindi
ang diyos ng papuri, ang diyos
ng salapi, ang diyos na laging
pumapansin, at kung sinu-sino
pang diyos ng lipunang Pilipino.
Basta magkakasama tayo
criteria of justice, equity, and
respect of human rights. The
new discoveries and tech-
nologies, thanks to their enor-
mous potential, can make a
decisive contribution to the
promotion of social progress;
but if they remain concen-
trated in the wealthier coun-
tries or in the hands of a small
number of powerful groups,
they risk becoming sources of
unemployment and increasing
the gap between developed
and underdeveloped areas.
ngayon, pahalagahan ang mga
sandaling ito kasi hindi na ito
maibabalik pa: pahalagahan mo
ang pagiging pari: hindi na
mauulit ito; pahalagahan mo ang
pagiging ina ngayon, bukas,
malalaki na sila, hindi mo na
madadala sa isang tingin lang;
pahalagahan mo ang pagiging
ama ngayon, bukas, lolo ka na;
pahalagahan mo ang pagiging
layko ngayon, bukas, iba na
naman ang mga karansan....
pahalagahan mo ang ngayon at
dito ng buhay mo.
May matututunan tayo sa
mga bata. Kung hindi, hindi ka
makakapiling ni Hesus.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 10 No. 13
October 9, 2006
Pastoral Letter to the Reverend Members of the Clergy,
Women Religious and Laity of the Archdiocese of San
Fernando, Pampanga
LAST month, Pope Benedict
XVI visited his Catholic Bavar-
ian homeland in Germany. He
used this historic visit to empha-
size the key message of his pon-
tificate to a Western world that
had become deaf to the voice of
God: “Listen!” he said preach-
ing of a God who liberates and
loves us: “The world needs
God! We need God”.
This was at the heart of his speeches and homi-
lies in Germany: that it was vital that Catholics pro-
claim clearly that the God we believe in is a God who
has a human face, a face of love for all men and
women.
That is why great was his shock and sorrow
that a few passing passages in his academic lecture
in the University of Regensburg were taken out of
context, not properly translated and thus removed
from the overall context of his university address to
professors and students.
We, the People of God in the Archdiocese of
San Fernando, Pampanga feel this sorrow of our Holy
Father. We can best express our unity with His Ho-
liness by understanding the true meaning of his
Regensburg address so that we might not be con-
fused by biased media reports which only serve to
Statements 13
(
o
a
Then, the Secretary of State reviews the clear
position of Pope Benedict XVI in favor of interreli-
gious and intercultural dialogue. Meeting with rep-
resentatives of Muslim communities in Cologne, Ger-
many on August 20, 2006, he said that dialogue be-
tween Christians and Muslims “cannot be reduced
to an optional extra” adding: “The lessons of the
past must help us to avoid repeating the same mis-
takes. We must seek paths of reconciliation and
learn to live with respect for each other’s identity.”
As for the quotation of the opinion of the Byz-
antine emperor which he quoted, the Pope made it
clear that he does not mean to make that opinion in
any way his own since a careful and complete read-
ing of his lecture will show that this main them was
“a clear and radical rejection of the religious motiva-
tion for violence, from whatever side it might come.”
In conclusion, the Pope himself underlined the
true meaning of his Regensburg address, which was
“an invitation to frank and sincere dialogue, with
great mutual respect.”
It is an invitation that is mutual for it is not only
Christians who invite Muslims to dialogue but Mus-
lims also who invite Christians to a dialogue which
respects each other ’s identity. We are happy to note
that in the Philippines there is this mutual dialogue
going on for many years now between Christians
and Muslims especially in Mindanao as promoted

© bayan.ph
fan unreasonable reactions by some sectors. by the Bishops-Ulama Conference.
And the best explanation we can go to is con- Finally, we address our prayers to Mary, whom
tained in the Declaration of September 16, 2006 made Muslims likewise honor as the virgin Mother of
by the new Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Jesus, to help all men and women of goodwill to
Bertone.
First, he states that official position of the
Catholic church concerning Islam as expressed in
the conciliar document Nostra Aetate: “The Church
understand the correct meaning of the Pope’s ad-
dress so that together Christians and Muslims may
promote social justice and pace in our times. Sympathy and
regards with esteem also the Muslims. They adore
the one God, living and subsisting in himself; merci-
ful and all-powerful…”
+PACIANO B. ANICETO, DD
Archbishop of San Fernando, Pampanga
October 1, 2006
Alarm
IN the spirit of Ecumenism, we express and their relatives. As is usually
7 Questions / from p5 our sympathy to the Supreme Coun- said: “Justice delayed is justice de-
cil of Bishops of the Philippine Inde- nied.”
gram. But, definitely, as I strong conviction that fined precisely by the friends and as co-workers pendent Church over the death of Will the case of Bishop
have mentioned during politics is an area where CBCP in its exhortation on in evangelization. I have Bishop Alberto Ramento. What is Ramento be another reason for us
our last clergy assembly, the Church could really politics. In this sense, no doubts that media saddening and shocking are the cir- to say that this country is no longer
we’ll make the social con- come in, not in a sense of people are enlightened as people are also motivated cumstances surrounding his killing. safe for those who announce the
cerns year a year when our supporting or competing to the importance of this by being able to share Our Conference of Bishops in truth and denounce immorality? The
people would truly feel the with a particular politician, aspect of our life and, of what could inspire, what several pastoral statements has al- command of God in the Bible is simple
implementation of the but in giving direction of course, as to the best we could provide develop- ready denounced the increasing and straightforward “Thou shall not
Church’s social concern moral guidelines. I have a can exercise our political ment or progress, or what number of extra-judicial killings of kill!”
agenda in the spirit of the strong conviction that rights. could help people live a journalists, activists and militants
Church’s social doctrines politics is an important as- good and enjoyable life. over the years. What is alarming is +Angel N. Lagdameo
and teachings. pect of our life if only to Lastly, what’s your take Hence, it would then just that so far the actions that have been Archbishop of Jaro
be left completely to the on the secular media? be a matter of continuing taken do not yet satisfy the demands President, CBCP
What about the Church’s politicians. Meaning to Even as before, I al- dialogue, of sharing, work- of justice especially for the victims October 4, 2006
engagement in politics. Is say, all of us should get ready believed that the ing out, and collaborating
this part of the Church’s involved in it, including media people are our col- with them. Basically I be-
social concern agenda? the Church—not in terms laborators or partners. I’d lieve in the goodness of
Very much so. You of partisan politicking, but like to mention that even people, and I believe me-
know, even long before as
a formator in Iloilo semi-
in terms of providing moral
principles and guidelines.
as bishop of Calbayog be-
fore, we have had such a
dia people have that also
in mind. For me, there is a Visit us online at
nary, then as auxiliary Expect then that, time and wonderful working rela- desire among media
bishop of Cebu, and even again, the Church will al- tionship with the media people to bring about • www.cbcponline.net/cbcpmonitor
as bishop of Calbayog, it ways come out with state- people in general. To me, I good ends in what they are
has always been my ments or guidelines as de- consider media people as doing.

Laiko Lampstand / from p7 Tidbits / from p7

equally as important as catechesis
and family evangelization programs.
This is an area of advocacy for the
laity.
I recently talked to Mrs. Sony
Sison, widow of Sito Sison, past presi-
dent couple of the Christian Family
Movement (CFM), also the pioneer for
the advocacy—Families of Overseas
Workers on what CFM has planned
as outreach for the Filipino Diaspora
families. She expressed that counsel-
ing solo parents has been effectively
programmed by the Solo Parent group
of CFM. They passed on this training
program to CFM groups in the Philip-
pines. However, the need for more
people to help in this family evangeli-
zation program is so great that it needs
the help of the dioceses to include
the Families for Overseas program in
their Family Life Apostolate. Before
an overseas worker parent leaves the
country, he/she enrolls in the evan-
gelization program for the Families of
Overseas Workers. CFM will prepare
specific activities to include spiritual
enrichment exercises as well as psy-
chological help. Managing of fi-
nances may also be a necessary train-
ing input for specific families.
I remember the remark of the late
Cardinal Jaime Sin, who commented
that our overseas workers are mis-
sionaries for the re-Christianization
of first world countries whose fami-
lies have stopped going to Church.
It is a fact that when one goes to Eu-
ropean countries and hear mass on
Sundays, invariably most of the
Church-goers are Filipinos. Hurray
for the Filipino Overseas Worker!
The Christian Family Movement
which is now celebrating its 50th an-
niversary, must seriously undertake
the family apostolate, Families of
Overseas Workers. I am sure that with
many talented couples of the Chris-
tian Family Movement who in the
past successfully introduced the
Marriage Encounter and the Family
Encounter in the Philippines, this
work of love, the apostolate for the
Families of Overseas Worker, will
surely succeed. What it needs is the
full support of the priests in all the
parishes where solo-parent families
abound.
communities that exist,
we have agents who must
be collaborators in the
parish if we are to have
‘integrated’ pastoral
care” (ZE06092401).
However, to call
these charismatic move-
ments and communities
to work in the parish, in-
tegrating them into the
program and work of the
parish, demands from the
pastor and the faith com-
munities much pru-
dence, wisdom and pa-
tience. As John Paul II
exhorted the bishops in a
meeting in Rome in 1999:
“Your first task, in fact,
is to open the eyes of your
heart and mind to recog-
nize the multiple ways the
Spirit is present in the
Church, to reflect on
these and to lead them to
unity in truth and char-
ity” ( ZENIT990620).
The first task of the
pastor is to recognize the
specific charism of each
group and respect it for
what it is. It is this charism
of the founder that re-
newed the parishioners
to the faith, sustained
them to this new found
spirituality. Ecclesial
movements and faith
communities have there-
fore their own unique way
of expressing the faith.
That has to be respected;
their uniqueness to be
upheld at all times.
For their part, the lay
movements and faith
communities must be
aware that their faith is not
somewhere in the air, but
exists in the concrete re-
ality called the local
Church, nay, the parish.
Any movement is a con-
crete ecclesial reality, the
reason for its existence is
in its communion with the
Church. This is a com-
munion that has to be
lived in relation not only
to the Roman Pontiff, but
most especially to the lo-
cal Church where the ini-
tial discernment of the
charism has been done.
The Pontifical recognition
is indeed an honor, but
not at all a license for the
community to declare in-
dependence from the par-
ish life and structures.
Rather, it is a constant re-
minder to the community
to integrate itself deeper
into the parish life. As the
document Christifideles
Laici wisely admonished
the charismatic communi-
ties: “No charism dis-
penses a person from ref-
erence and submission to
the Pastor of the Church”
(n. 24). Hence, communi-
ties have to listen to the
invitation of the parish
priest to be integrated to
the existing parish struc-
tures. Sensitive issues
have to be ironed out, fric-
tions doused off through
constant dialogue, child-
ish jealousies sloughed
off.
To rediscover there-
fore the parish is a two-
fold task. It is the task of
the members of the faith
communities and lay
movements to discover
their true identity, that is,
they are not just members
of renewal groups, but
they are first and fore-
most sons and daughters
of the parish. Secondly,
it is the task of the parish
priest to discover within
his own parish the vast
wealth of pastoral and
spiritual opportunities
deeply hidden by the
Holy Spirit in the heart of
the members of these lay
movements, ready to be
tapped for the renewal of
his parish.
 CBCP Monitor
14 Reflections Vol. 10 No. 13
October 9, 2006

It can also be in maintain-

Heroism in the Ordinary
by Fr. Roy Cimagala
LAST October 6 was the fourth
anniversary of the canonization
of a holy priest who made a
quiet but effective revolution in
the world of spirituality. His
name—St. Josemaria Escriva,
founder of Opus Dei.
The first time I read his
books many years ago, what im-
mediately struck me
was the forcefulness and
practical sense his words pos-
sessed. While always educated
and refined, they transmitted a
lot of common sense, of affec-
tion and of being street-smart.
He seemed able to open
people’s consciences, to read
and understand them with what
later on I learned to be Chris-
tian compassion and charity. He
did not present theories. He just
talked in a language the heart
could easily assimilate.
Right now, theologians are
studying his thoughts and ar-
guments, and are drawing pre-
cious lessons, indicating the
richness of his spiritual and
pastoral legacy.
As far as I was concerned,
it did not take long for me to
realize that he was talking about
a sanctity that was not lost in
sophisticated theories and
elaborate practices.
There was the quality of
immediacy, of the here and now,
about the kind of
holiness he was preaching
about. I understood that holi-
ness cannot and should not be
some remote ideal to pursue. It
has to be lived now, no matter
how imperfectly.
I understood from
him that the drama of
sanctification
takes place in
one’s heart,
and is played
out mainly in
the small, or-
dinary things
of our life,
and seldom, if
ever, in the
public stages
of extraordi-
nary events.
It’s the drama
of to whom you give
your heart—to God or to
oneself. And this choice is al-
ways at the center of our life,
our thoughts, words and ac-
tions. It’s the choice that we al-
ways have to make and that ul-
timately defines us.
The drama can have its
difficult moments, but St.
Josemaria practically screamed
his reassurance that God is our
Father who loves us even to the
point of sending the Son to us,
and the Son finally offering his
life for us.
When I started the practice
of reading the gospels, I then met
divine words that explain these
convictions St. Josemaria was so
full of. “Where sin abounded,
grace abounded even
more,” St. Paul said
(Rom 5,20). And in
another letter,
“For this is God’s
will, your sanc-
tification.” (1
Thes 4,3)
For most
of us, our
sanctity is in
the heroism of
our self-giving
to God and to
others in the ordi-
nary circumstances
of our life. It’s in the
effort to try to understand
an annoying companion, or in
putting the finishing touches to
one’s household chores.
It’s in the smile we try to
evoke in spite of contrary feel-
ings, or in the hidden and per-
severing effort to study and
work. It can be in the faithful
and generous living out of
one’s commitments, big and
small, public and private.
anu-ano pang “pasaway” na tugtog. O baka
ing both human and Christian
integrity in one’s business and
politics, even if the environment
is filled with structures of sin.
The expressions of sanc-
tity can be endless because the
love that propels it never says
enough. They remain constant
whatever the circumstances,
converting ordinary circum-
stances into paths to love God
and others.
There is nothing mushy
nor showy in his idea of sancti-
fication, but it can generate
tons of tender feelings, of exu-
berance, and of apostolic zeal.
It finds thrill in the routine of
every day, joy and peace in ev-
ery moment.
And the more I got to
know about St. Josemaria, the
more I got convinced of the
consistency between his
words and his deeds. And yes,
he can easily throw a spell on
you, the kind that leads you to
conversion and self-giving.
When I read St. Paul’s “We
speak not in the learned words
of human wisdom, but in the
doctrine of the Spirit, compar-
ing spiritual things with spiri-
tual.” (1 Cor 2,12), I think of how
St. Josemaria entered my life
and affected it.
The greatest lesson I
learned from him is that loving
and achieving sanctity is just a
matter of decision of the heart
that can and should be made at
any time and in any place. On
the part of God, his grace never
lacks. It’s our call.
Up High
by Nov. John Jay C. Magpusao, OSC
I LOVE to ride an airplane.
It gives me a kind of “high”
feeling up there.
It is not often that I am
able to ride this awesome
craft made by the brilliant
minds of the gifted inven-
tors and scientists our world
ever had. Looking at these
air vessels with amazement,
what an intelligence and
skills is all that I scream to
myself. With this, I consider
each ride a blessing, such a
rare opportunity for me.
The number of times I
rode an airplane can still be
counted by the fingers on
my hands. I had one inter-
national flight and couples
of domestic flights. My first
flight was when I was in
Grade V, Davao-Cebu with
my Mama. My latest, well,
just this summer, Davao-Ma-
nila.
The “high” feeling I
had when I was thousands
of feet above sea level was
brought about by the spec-
tacular view of the vast seas
and oceans, small and big
islands below. It’s moreover
incredible to think that the
wide roads, big infrastruc-
tures, and tall buildings, plus
the trees, forests, and moun-
tains, that surely dwarf me,
can be viewed as miniatures
But a vacation grande, it is
not, though… (Master Rey
told us!)
I’m now in my Novitiate
Formation here in Baguio
City. What a “high” feeling
touching down here!
Cool breeze.. Fog…
Rain… Warm sunshine…
Pine trees… Chirping of the
birds… White butterflies in
the garden… Silent days
and nights… Lots of
prayers…
‘Tis no longer my first
time to be here in Baguio but
like my other Novice broth-
ers, excitement ran through
my nerve endings as we
climbed up here.
New life… New experi-
ences… New challenges…
With God.
I’m so thankful for this
stage of my life, for this stage
of my formation, and for this
vocation.
As always been said
by the priests and the reli-
gious, the life I am having
right now is a gift. A gift from
God. A wonderful gift that
also needs my participation
in nurturing it, in making it
rooted and grow, and nour-
ishing it. And so I’ll be able
to effectively share my life,
this gift, to the vineyard of
God, most especially to the

SI ERIKA, at iba pa...

from the top, just like the poor and the sick.
sila na ang mga ipinanganak na magiging
Lego my Aunt Mely gave When I stepped on the
politikong magpapabago sa mukha ng ating me when I was a kid. And
lipunan, o magbibigay ng pag-asa sa ground of the St. Camillus
oh, the levitational sensa- Novitiate last 7 o’clock in the
kapuwa....
by Fr. Jhun Villanueva Ano ba ang nasa isang bata na dapat
tion I felt every time the air- evening of the 31st day of
plane glided and suddenly May, 2006, I was (and still at
matutunan nating matatanda? Marami. Pero descended to defy the press time) looking for-
ANG taon ay 1995. Isang Linggo, kapistahan babaeng nagpakilalang labandera na ayaw nais kong magbigay lamang ng isa: ang
noon ng Sto. Niño, ako ay nakadestino pa sabihin ang pangalan. Kinabahan ako. Sa airpockets! ward to a fruitful, enriching,
kakayahan ng mga bata na pahalagahan ang My neck almost stiff- and intimate relationship
sa Balanga noon. Sa lumang kumbento na itsura ng bata, babae nga siya. Humigit ngayon, ang kasalukuyan. Tayong
ang hagdan paakyat ay parang “hanging kumulang 4 na pulgada ang haba, maitim o ened every trip because I with the Lord throughout the
matatanda, hindi na mapakali sa ngayon at made it a point that I should one whole year of Novitiate
bridge”, isang tanghali, ay nakita kong dark violet ang kulay. Siya pala si Erika. dito ng buhay natin. Oo nga, ang relo natin
paakyat ang isang babaeng parang Nanay Ang sanggol na si Erika. be comfortably positioning Formation. It is my prayer
at kalendaryo ay para sa oras at araw na ito, myself in the window seat. that may the coolness of
ko na sa edad. Dahan-dahan ang kanyang Hindi na mawala sa isip ko si Erika. pero ang diwa ay para sa bukas: ano kaya
pag-akyat, sinalubong ko at inalalayan. Masyadong ironic. Masyadong The request I always say to Baguio be the source of
ang daratnan ko? Babatiin kaya ako ni ganito the officer when checking- warmth, comfort, and inspi-
Pinaupo sa kawayang upuan na hanggang malungkot. Matapos kong magmisa ng 4 at ganoon? Okay kaya ang bagong pari?
ngayon ay buhay pa sa bagong kumbento, noong Linggong iyon, ang mukha ni Erika in at the airport. ration from God for us 11
Papasa kaya siya sa panlasa ni kuwan at By being in the window new Novices.
ang babae ay nagpakilalang labandera sa ang pumasok sa isip ko at kanyang higaang ganoon? At kung anu-ano pang abalahin
isang restawran sa may kalsadang kahon ng katol. Matapos kong maipahayag seat, it was possible for me As I sat down in front
ng bukas. O pwede ring nasa nakaraan pa to see what’s beneath. I also of the computer encoding
papuntang Tuyo. Hindi lang daw restawran ang Salita ni Hesus na “Ingatan ninyo na ang diwa natin. Na stroke si Tisya kasi galit
ito. Pag gabi, may mga patay-sinding ilaw at huwag hamakin ang isa sa maliliit na ito. enjoyed watching the me- this reflection, I was having
na galit siya nang makita si Weng na chanical movements of the another “high” feeling. I
mga babaeng may pinta ang mukha, sabi Sinasabi ko sa inyo: sa langit, ang nakasagutan niya noong isang taon sa may
niya. kanilang mga anghel ay laging nasa plane’s wing (of course, I can was not riding an airplane,
palengke. Nanginginig sa galit si Petra kasi only see one side) when it neither was I in the clouds,
Sa kamay ng babaeng ito ay isang harapan ng aking Ama.”, dumating ang hindi siya napagbigyan sa kanyang request
kahon ng katol. “Pababasbasan ko po, Fa- isang kagaya ni Erika, at marami pang hindi adjusted to changes of wind but we just had our morning
na magbakasyon noong isang buwan.... velocity. prayer and meditation at the
ther”, sabi niya. “Hindi po nanay na nabasbasan, at marami pang naihulog sa Ang bata ay walang pakialam sa
binabasbasan ang katol”, sabi ko. “Hindi toilet bowls, at marami pang itinapon na But more than them, veranda earlier. So heavenly
kahapon at sa bukas. Paluin mo siya. Bukas, the “high” feeling was de- was the feeling to just sit
po katol ito, Father. Ang laman nito ay si lamang sa kung saan. Ang sabi ni babalik siya sa iyo. Hindi man niya iniiisip
Erika”. May halong pagkamangha at Hesus...”Ingatan ninyo na huwag hamakin lightfully offered to me by back, relax, close my eyes,
kung ang mga loyalista ni FPJ ay mag-aalsa. the beautiful clouds up and feel the morning cool
pagkalito, kinuha ko ang kahon ng katol, ang isa sa maliliit na ito...” Ewan ko lang Ang mahalaga sa kanya ay ito: yakap siya
binuksan, at nakita ko si Erika. Isang batang kung ilan pa ang susunod kina Erika. Sana there. Minus the plane, I breeze of Baguio, mixed with
ng kanyang ina, kinakantahan ng kahi’t na could possibly be in the the warmth spelled on my
patay—inabort daw ng ina sa restawran, ay natuto na siyang sumayaw ng otso-otso sintunadong “Bulaklak” ng SexBomb, basta
inihulog sa toilet bowl, at napulot ng ngayon o kaya ay “Totoy Bibo” at kung clouds! Sparkling white tre- face and skin by the morn-
Si Erika / P12 mendously big cottons or ing sunshine, and the sweet
comfy pillows so inviting to music of the chirping of the
hug and sleep on. birds flying and hopping
Bo Sanchez bacy. A friend of mine tells Seeing these clouds, I from one pine tree to another.
He gave me the gift of mar- me that searching for the will can’t help but hold on to my And as I opened my eyes at
Know Your Deepest Desires riage instead.
(Mom, don’t cry too
of God “out there” is a big
boo-boo. Because His will
childish concept of heaven.
That it is up there in the
the end of the morning com-
munion, white butterflies
much. My son may be a for us is in the depths of our clouds… That up there in accented the beautiful flow-
bishop.) hearts. We’ll discover His the clouds is the Golden Gate ers in the garden below.
WHEN I was getting mar- been reading the stuff I wrote a In this whole discernment plan for our lives in our and there is Jesus Christ With inner peace and
ried, I cried “Heeeeeeeelp!” few years back, you’d probably process about my future, I re- DEEPEST DESIRES. (Still, waiting for me with a smile joy, I could loudly hear in my
I wanted to call the Fire Bri- recall these lines from me: alized two important things it’ll take prayer and time to and a warm sweet embrace brain my heart singing a line
gade. The Marines! The “My friends, I want to re- about me. find out what they are!) (of course, I project heaven from the danceable beat of
SWAT team. Power Rang- main celibate for life. Will He 1) I love being a lay When God made us, He im- as my final destination!). Gloria Estefan’s song,
ers! Batman and Robin. Lois give me the grace to remain so? preacher. I love it too much to planted within us a burning Thanks be to God that “…heaven’s what I feel
and Clark! Jacky Chan. I’m giving myself two years to give it up for a roman collar and desire for His will. He’ll with all my trips, I touched when I’m with YOU…”
Anybody! pray for the blessing of celibacy. velvet stole and church altar. never twist our arm and say, down safe and sound.
Why? If I find it, and I really hope I Preaching as a normal human “Be a priest!” or “Be a nun!” Nov. John Jay C. Magpusao,
When the plane OSC, is now in Baguio City
Because I felt incred- do, I’ll make a more permanent being works too well for me. or “Get married!” or “Be the touched down at the Ninoy for his one whole year of
ibly awkward. decision at that time...” 2) My heart longs for a fe- Tom Cruise of the Philip- Aquino International Air- Novitiate Formation in the
To say “I was getting Well, that was written in male companion too much, too pines.” port in my latest travel in the Order of St. Camillus, a con-
married,” was like as saying, December of 1995. often, too strongly. What can He won’t force. air, it signaled the start of the gregation of religious
“I’m blonde” or “I’m from And I didn’t find the I say? I’m made for luv. (Oh Because we’ll simply priests and brothers who
new journey of my life. That dedicate their life in the ser-
Pluto” or “My nose is gor- grace. Sniffle. no. I’m watching too many desire His will. touch down eventually led vice to the sick. Please visit
geous.” Because if you’ve I prayed for the gift of celi- Meg Ryan movies.) Period. me here in the City of Pines. www.orderofsaintcamillus.org.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 10 No. 13
October 9, 2006
Title: TALLADEGA NIGHTS
Running Time: 70 mins
Lead Cast: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly,
Leslie Bibb, Amy Adams, Michael
Clarke Duncan, Sacha Baron
Cohen, Greg Germann, Gary Cole
Director: Adam McKay
Producers: Judd Apatow, Jimmy Miller
Screenwriter: Will Ferrell, Adam McKay
Music: Alex Wurman
Editors: Brent White
Genre: Action / Comedy
Cinematography: Oliver Wood
Distributor: Sony Films
Location: Southern USA
Technical Assessment:
Moral Assessment: ½ mination to rebuild his life and rise
CINEMA Rating: For viewers 14 and
above
Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) grew up in
speed following his father's principle
"If you're not first, you're last". As
an adult he works as a technical team
of a NASCAR racer until he gets a
break to prove his fiery velocity in
the racetracks. He is transformed into
a hero and most sought after endorser.
Too much too soon transforms him
and family into a bratty monster with
no manners. However, his career is
threatened when his manager brings
in Jean Gerard (Sacha Baron Cohen),
a French Formula One racer with
enough sophistication and technique
to dislodge Bobby in his place. Bobby
fights back and in an aggressive
speed race meets an accident that fur-
ther damages his career as racer. He
becomes a psychosomatic, imagining
himself on fire or paralyzed and fre-
Mattie Webber (Kristen Bell)
checks on her boyfriend Josh
(Jonathan Tucker) who appears
disturbed to her. They talk and yet
within the short span together, he
manages to slip into another room
and hangs himself. Shocked by
the suicide, nevertheless, she no-
tices frantic messages on her com-
puter coming from Josh: about
something terrible happening and
what to do about it. She looks for
Josh's computer and finds it with
the buyer Dexter McCarthy (Ian
Somerhalder), who has not
plugged it in nor used it since its
purchase. Dexter looks for an an-
s w e r, going through Josh's
computer's hard drive, where he
finds disturbing information. He
and Mattie learn that Josh caused
the opening of a passageway into
another dimension. He wants them
to close it.
This horror-suspense story
does not succeed in being scary.
It is a takeoff of a Japanese horror
movie Kairo shown in 2001, writ-
ten and directed by Kiyoshi
Kurosawa. Pulse centers on a mis-
take committed on the computer
leading to the opening of an ac-
cess between this world and an-
other dimension, resulting in a
chaotic takeover of a town. The
sequences have a lackluster pac-
ing. There are no really suspense-
ful moments. The story is run
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CINEMA Reviews
quently turning himself into the
town's laughing stock. As his career
plummets, so do his finances and his
family. He loses his wife to his best
friend Cal (John C. Reilly). He is taken
in by his mother and is forced to bond
with his long time absentee father,
Reese Bobby (Gary Cole) in an effort
to regain his career and find himself.
The film is decently done with
high-speed races pulsating every
other minute. The editing and cam-
era works are crisp and interesting
creating a fast paced drama inter-
jected with comic relief now and then.
Not only does McKay display a
strong grip on his actors and the
camera, he also gets the grit, heat
and feel of NASCAR racetracks with
a near-documentary sensibility. This
is perhaps the film's most surprising
Title: PULSE
Running Time: 80 mins
Lead Cast: Kristen Bell, Ian
Somerhalder, Christina Milian, Rick
Gonzalez, Jonathan Tucker,
Shamm Levine, Ron Rofkincil, Kel
Oneill
Director: Jim Sonzero
Producers: Anant Singh, Brian Cox,
Michael Leaky, Joel Soisson
Screenwriter: Wes Craven
Music: Elia C. Miral
Editors: Bob Mori, Robert Lawbert, Kirk
Morri
Genre: Horror/Suspense
Cinematography: Mark Plummer
Distributor: Dimension Films/Sky Films
Location: Romania
Technical Assessment:
Moral Assessment: ½ of it: only Captain Queenan
CINEMA Rating: For viewers 14 and above
through a poorly lighted back-
ground. Most of the time the
"ghost invaders", except those
who take on human forms, are seen
as shadowy images. Not much act-
ing is called for since the movie
relies more heavily on the CGI ef-
fects and not on the handful of
main, little known players.
At its worst, Pulse shows
technology as a means for "oth-
ers" to invade, take over earth,
and the "invaders" sucking the
life out of human beings. And this
could happen through human er-
ror or by accident, connecting our
world to "theirs" by--in this case-
-the flick of a mouse. For a multi-
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dimension, aided by Oliver Wood's
ace wide screen lensing, and CG race-
track and car crash effects. The ac-
tors have enough chemistry and rap-
port to pull off emotional and hilari-
ous situations. However, the produc-
ers' attempt to make it into a satire
fall short as some of the scenes are
just cheap comedy.
What is good about the movie
is how it demonstrates that life is not
about speed but really about cau-
tion. The protagonist earns audience
affection by showing how a man is
humbled and his efforts and deter-
above his personal and situational
crises. However, the treatment of the
film borders on the offensive with a
lot of rudeness from children, cheap
comedy, and in showing how tacky
and absurd some societies prefer to
live. Majority of the characters are
presented as funny personalities
with varying degrees of bad atti-
tudes. Violence, crude humor and
sex are presented in the light of com-
edy. Although the producers may not
have intended malice in the comedy
of some scenes, a more sensitive au-
dience might be rubbed the wrong
way by things such as children talk-
ing back to grandparents, sexual un-
dertones, recklessness, substance
abuse, etc. The movie might illicit a
few good laughs but it is better that
a responsible and mature adult ac-
company their teenagers when
watching this movie.
tude of sinister beings to descend
upon a whole town simply by en-
tering a personal computer's sys-
tem like a virus seems far from
happening. On the human level,
however, the benefits and disad-
vantages of technology depends
on how it is used and for what
purpose. It could bring the world
together or create distances be-
tween people. It could be the
source of destruction or edifica-
tion. Though highly improbable,
the story shows the "invader
ghosts" taking over the town,
most of the inhabitants dead, and
about six survivors escaping to
begin life somewhere else.
(Given Name) (Middle Name)
______________________
Signature
Title: THE DEPARTED
Running Time: 190 mins
Lead Cast: Leonardo Di Carpio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson,
Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray W instone, Vera Farmiga,
Alec Baldwin
Director: Martin Scorsese
Producers: Roy Lee, Doug Davison, Gianni Nunnari, G.
MacBrown, Kristin Hahn
Screenwriter: William Monahan
Music: Howard Shore
Editor: Thelma Schoonmaker
Genre: Suspense/Drama
Cinematography: Michael Ballhaus
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Location: U.S.A.
Technical Assessment: ½
Moral Assessment:
CINEMA Rating: For mature viewers 18 and above
Gangster Frank Costello (Jack
Nicholson) lords it over Boston
's Irish American community,
outdoing all other mobsters in
drug dealing and other crimes
related to it. In the same com-
munity, William Costigan
(Leonardo DiCaprio) and Colin
Sullivan (Matt Damon) grow up
along rough parallel paths
which diverge when they reach
adolescence. Costigan aspires
to become a state trooper and
enrolls in the police academy;
Sullivan becomes Costello's
right-hand man and joins the
police force as the gangster's
mole. They are cops in the same
community but neither is aware
(Martin Sheen) and Sgt. Dignam
(Mark Wahlberg) know, as they
have handpicked Costigan to do
undercover work?infiltrating
Costello's inner circle. Intrigues
and tensions rise in the cat-and-
mouse game as Costigan feeds
the police information about
Costello's schemes and where-
abouts while Sullivan leaks to
Costello police plans to ensnare
the hoodlum. Both Sullivan and
Costigan take their jobs dead
seriously, knowing there are
leaks, but the truth about the
other's position in the force is
hidden to both of them. Soon
Capt. Queenan and Sgt. Dignam
appoints Sullivan as head of the
team assigned to discover
who's Costello's mole among
the cops. Costello smells a rat
in his team but hardly suspects
Costigan.
The Departed is a remake
of Infernal Affairs, a second-
rate crime movie from Hong
Kong , but under the direction
of Martin Scorsese it turns out
far superior to its original ver-
sion. Credit it to the acting of
the stellar cast led by the four
15
men (DiCaprio, Nicholson,
Damon and Wahlberg) who
even physically look like
they've come out of the same
cast: gritty, hard-boiled, self-
contained, human islands.
Damon plays his character like
the topnotch betrayer it is
meant to be. A mature DiCaprio
delivers a riveting performance
that could be the best in his
entire career. Wahlberg playing
the foul-mouthed cop at times
even threatens to overshadow
DiCaprio. And no one is better
at being bad than Nicholson
whose sinister snicker can ren-
der the script superfluous. Vera
Farmiga as Madeleine, the psy-
chiatrist caught in a triangle
between Costigan and Sullivan,
executes her role with just the
right blend of vulnerability and
sensuality. The scrupulously
and cleverly edited The De-
parted scores high in keeping
the viewer at the edge of his
seat with its clear plot and story
development.
The amount of profanity in
the movie may offend the audi-
tory nerves of viewers accus-
tomed to polite conversations,
but just like the blood and the
violence, four letter words are
endemic in a cops-and-goons
environment, in the same way
that a story on priests or nuns
and other consecrated persons
would be incomplete without
"otherworldly" talk or dialogue
that shines with virtue. The De-
parted offers a window through
which its audience may view
family, loyalty, betrayal, and the
fate that results from the
choices one makes in life. Due
to its topic--the dark secrets re-
siding in the bowels of orga-
nized crime-- The Departed is
better confined to adult
viewership.

16
Youth Missionaries Responding to Change
The Pontifical Missionary Societies
of the Philippines on the occasion
of its 75th foundation anniversary
had a two day (September 30 - Octo-
ber 1, 2006) “National Mission Youth
Camp,” held at St. Michael Retreat
House, Antipolo City. Msgr. Gilbert
Garcera, the National director and Ex-
ecutive Secretary of the Commission
on Mission, initiated this youth re-
flection sessions in response to the
4th Asian Youth Day held in
Hongkong from July 30 to August 5
and in preparation for the 1st Asian
Mission Congress, October 2006.
In coordination with the Epis-
copal Commission on Mission and
Youth, there were 3 bishops and 25
youth leaders coming from selected
dioceses, national youth organiza-
tions and institutions, who attended
the youth sessions.
Recalling the 4th Asian Youth
Day (July 30 to August 5, Hongkong)
which urged the young participants
to be missionaries of hope in their
continent, Msgr. Garcera thought of
convening selected youth leaders to
reflect on the results of the national
youth survey and the phenomenon
Int’l Authors in Town to Celebrate
Claretian Publications’ 25 th Anniversary
WORLD-CLASS authors Megan
McKenna and Joyce Rupp are in
town for a series of talks and recol-
lections slated in this month of Octo-
ber in celebration of the 25th anniver-
sary of Claretian Publications on Oc-
tober 24.
Megan McKenna, a lay theolo-
gian and biblical scholar from the
United States gave a series of work-
shop-seminars from October 5 to 7 at
the Institute for Consecrated Life in
Asia and the Immaculate Heart of
Mary Parish in U.P. Village, both in
Quezon City. She also lectured at the
East Asian Pastoral Institute.
McKenna is an internationally
sought-after speaker, lecturer, retreat
leader, and spiritual director. She has
traveled extensively all over the world
and has visited many countries in
South-East Asia.
She is also the writer of the Gos-
pel reflections found in the 2007 edi-
tion of the Bible Diary and the Daily
Gospel, both published by Claretian
Publications.
Entitled Scriptures, Stories, and
Life, the series of talks revealed the
master storyteller that Megan is. She
coupled this with the proclamation of,
and reflections on select Scriptural
passages, touching on the issues and
challenges that the Church and the
Philippine society face today.
Joyce Rupp, popularly known for
her book Praying Our Goodbyes,
which deals about loss and how God
and spirituality can bring about heal-
ing and the strength; is directing a
three-day retreat at the BarCie Inter-
national Center in Malolos, Bulacan
from October 12–14. Bearing the
theme, “The Liberated Heart,” the re-
treat focused on the challenge toward
personal conversion and daily spiri-
tual growth.
People, Facts & Places
on globalization.
Fr. Andrew Recepcion, Mis-
sion director of Caceres, explaining
the globalization issue, said that
“our situation brings us to a con-
sciousness that the world is chang-
ing… that little by little ‘the world
village mentality’ creeps in the door-
steps of our self. In this “Mcworld”
experience, Fr. Recepcion chal-
lenged the young people “to think
globally, act locally and live virtu-
ously.”
Further, Fr. Conegundo
Garganta, executive secretary of the
Commission, reporting on the sur-
vey conducted by the Episcopal
Commission, expressed his high
hopes for the Filipino youth.
The participants of the mission
youth camp resolved a) to design a
formation module on globalization,
b) to synergize personnel, program
and formation resources, c) to pri-
oritize integral faith formation as
dictated in the National Pastoral
Consultation for Church Renewal
(NPCCR) and, d) to establish a
youth-mission electronic group.
(Msgr. Gilbert A. Garcera, HP)
A recollection is slated for Reli-
gious on October 15, where Rupp will
talk about “Listening to God”, invit-
ing participants to enter fully into the
spiritual dimension of daily living.
On October 17, she will speak to
pastoral workers and lay leaders
about “Igniting the Sacred Fire in
Ministry”— a growth-oriented and
comforting sojourn towards spiritual
transformation. Both speaking en-
gagements will be held at St. Paul
University of Quezon City.
Rupp will deliver the keynote
address at the 2nd National Conven-
tion of Campus Ministry at the Hotel
Philippine Plaza on October 19 to 21.
She will expound on “The Spirituality
of a Servant Leader” encouraging
campus ministers all over the coun-
try to be leaders who serve and put
the Gospel and the welfare of the
people they lead ahead of their own
personal agenda.
Claretian Publications is the
publishing arm of the Claretian Mis-
sionaries in the Philippines. It was
first established by Fr. Alberto Rossa,
CMF in 1981 with the vision of
spreading God’s word and making
available to the Philippine and Asian
markets good quality books and in-
teresting titles particularly in the ar-
eas of theology, pastoral ministry, lit-
urgy, prayer, and spirituality.
Some of their more popular books
include the Christian Community
Bible (Catholic Pastoral Edition)
which has been translated in more than
twelve languages and with more than
57 million copies distributed worldwide.
They also publish every year the
popular collection of the Bible Diary,
Daily Gospel, Pandesal, and Pan sa
Kinabuhi which are daily compan-
ions containing Bible readings and
reflections. (Ian Shelley P. Alabanza)
Markings
CONFERRED. Rev. Msgr.
Juanito Seidel Figura, PC,
49; Papal Honorary Title of
Chaplain of His Holiness
Pope Benedict XVI. Figura
is currently the Secretary
General of the Catholic Bish-
ops’ Conference of the Phil-
ippines. Ordained priest in
1981, Figura’s previous as-
signments include, namely:
as Dean of Studies and Pro-
fessor in Moral Theology at the St. Joseph Regional
Seminary in Jaro, Iloilo City from 1984 to 1990; as
Parochial Vicar of the parishes of Our Lady of Peace
and Good Voyage and Holy Name of Jesus, both in
Iloilo City, respectively; and as Parish Priest of San
Jose Obrero Parish, also in Iloilo City. Figura ob-
tained his Bachelor and Licentiate in Sacred Theol-
ogy (STB and STL) degrees from the University of
Santo Tomas Central Seminary, Manila and his Doc-
torate in Sacred Theology (SThD) degree from the
Athenaeum Romanum Sanctae Crucis in Rome.
Figura’s solemn investiture rites will be held on Oc-
tober 30, 2006, 10:00 AM, at the Sto. Tomas de
Villanueva Parish Church in Miagao, Iloilo.
CELEBRATED. St. Michael the Archangel Parish
(Jagna, Bohol), 375th founding anniversary as a par-
ish; September 28-29. Based on the historical ac-
count of the Augustinian Recollect priest Father
Ambrosio Iturriaga, author of Libro de Cosas No-
tables de Este Ministerio de Jagna, the historical
inception of St. Michael the Archangel parish dates
back to 1631 when the missionaries of Society of
Jesus (SJ) “erected the mission of Jagna under the
invocation of Saint Michael Archangel” and that
September 29 has been the fiesta of the parish of
San Miguel de Jagna since then. Jagna is a now a
progressive 4 th class town in the southeastern part
of Bohol, 63 kilometers from the capital city of
Tagbilaran. Marking the parish’s 375th jubilee cel-
ebration was a Pontifical Mass presided by Cebu
Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and attended by
the bishops of Sorsogon, Surigao, and Talibon
(Bohol) as well as by some 100 diocesan and reli-
gious priests, including representatives of the reli-
gious congregations of the Society of Jesus(SJ)-
Philippine Province and the Order of the Augustin-
ian Recollects(OAR)-Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno.
The local history of the parish and the town of Jagna,
Bohol has been written by the University of the Phil-
ippines-Diliman professor and Church historian
Emmanuel Luis A. Romanillos.
CELEBRATED. Daughters of Saint Paul (FSP),
Naga City Community, 50th foundation anniversary;
October 2, 2006. An Italian congregation by origin
whose apostolate is evangelization through media,
the first Daughters of St. Paul sisters came to the
Philippines in 1938. They first settled in Lipa City
and came to Manila in 1954 where the Provincial
and Central houses are now located. From Manila
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 10 No. 13
October 9, 2006
the congregation branched out to different regions
in the country. Prior to founding a community in
Naga City, two Sisters used to go to Bicol to con-
duct book diffusion among the local families. On
October 2, 1956, the FSP community of Naga was
formally opened. The Sisters who composed the first
community were Sr. Elena Roallos, Sr. Ma. Pia Faller,
Sr. Ma. Eulalia Bravo and Postulant Consuelo (Sr.
Ma. Gesualda) Sebumpan. Then Nueva Caceres
archbishop Pedro P. Santos welcomed the Sisters
and had a small convent built for them at the back of
the Cathedral. At present, the convent still stands
in the same location but has been renovated into a
two-story building. Among the various apostolic
initiatives the FSP-Naga community is currently in-
volved in include the media center, hosting live ra-
dio programs, teaching communication courses in
the seminary and other pastoral involvements in the
diocese. Now, FSP-Naga community is a flourishing
branch house of the Philippine-Malaysian-Papua
New Guinean-Thai province. The Sisters find closer
collaboration from two of the ten institutes founded
by Blessed James Alberione: the Institute of Our
Lady of the Annunciation (IOLA) and the Associa-
tion of the Pauline Cooperators (APC). To date, there
are 43 Sisters (eight of whom have already crossed
the Great Beyond), one postulant, 2 pre-postulants,
and one aspirant who hail from the Bicol provinces
among the 192 professed members of the Daughters
of St. Paul in the Philippines.
CELEBRATING. Society of
the Oblates of Notre Dame
(OND), 50th foundation an-
niversary; May 1-November
10, 2006. The OND, a
Cotabato(Southern Philip-
pines)-born religious soci-
ety for women, traces its be-
ginnings to November 10,
1956 when then Cotabato archbishop Gerard
Mongeau and Fr. George Dion (later as Bishop Dion),
both from the religious congregation of the Oblates
of Mary Immaculate (OMI), founded the society
with Sr. Ma. Estrella P. Adre, OND and Sr. Mary Rose
B. Quijano, OND as its first and second members
respectively. On May 25, 1987 , the OND was ap-
proved as a Religious Institute of Pontifical Right
dedicated to the works of the apostolate. At present
the congregation has 168 professed members scat-
tered through its various local and international mis-
sion and formation houses and all actively engag-
ing in diocesan and parochial ministry and social
services, school and youth ministry, and indigenous
peoples’ apostolate or ministry.
CELEBRATED. Religious
Sisters of the Holy Face of
Jesus (HFJ), 20th founda-
tion anniversary as a reli-
gious congregation; Octo-
ber 1. The HFJ congrega-
tion, officially known as
Holy Face of Jesus Sisters
of Perpetual Adoration,
was founded on October 1, 1986 by the late Mo.
Mary Therese L. Vicente, HFJ, a former Carmelite
nun, based on such charism of “contemplation of
the Holy Face of Jesus and of His presence in the
Holy Eucharist”. With the approval of then Manila
archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin through the recom-
mendation of Bishop Reginald Arliss, CP, then
Manila’s Vicar for Religious, the HFJ was born thus.
The Institute was approved as an apostolic Union
of Women in the Archdiocese of Manila on February
27, 1990, with the complementary efforts of Msgr.
Josefino Ramirez, then Manila archdiocese’s vicar
general. At present, the
congregation has mission
houses in Mexico,
Pampanga and Alaminos,
Pangasinan. The HFJ sis-
ters also work in San
Roque de Manila Parish,
Sta. Cruz, Manila and at the
Catholic Bishops Confer-
ence of the Philippines,
Intramuros, Manila.
From L-R: Ms. Cynthia Banta,
President of Mission Appeal
for Seminary Support (MASS);
Bishop Oscar Solis, first Fil-
Am bishop of Archdiocese of
Los Angeles; and Dr. Zenaida
Rotea, MD, executive Secre-
tary of CBCP Office on
Women.