•A3 forPontiff calls

solution to
•B1 Agrarian Reform
A measure for social justice
•C1 UGNAYAN
The News Supplement
unemployment crisis and social transformation of Couples for Christ

Widening rich-poor gap www.cbcpnews.com cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net

‘regrettable’
THE country’s wealth being controlled by a
few greedy, rich families is a situation that is
definitely “regrettable,” a church leader said.
In a phone interview, Kalookan Bishop
Deogracias Iñiguez reacted on the pronounce-
ment given earlier by the Moral Force Move-
ment.
“If this is indeed true, as being manifested
by the several surveys showing the growing
number of poor Filipinos, this is really a very
Protagonist of Truth, Promoter of Peace
regrettable situation we are in,” he said.
What is more disappointing, the bishop
Regrettable / A6
May 25 - June 7, 2009 Vol. 13 No. 11 Php 20.00

Police hoses down bishop, nuns at CARP rally

POLICE fired water cannons
on protesters led by a local
bishop as they marched outside
Batasan Pambansa in Quezon
City on May 25 to press for the
passage of an agrarian reform
bill.
About 2,000 held a prayer ser-
vice at a nearby Catholic church
and were headed to the gate of
the Congress when a phalanx
of anti-riot police pushed them
© Dondi Tawatao
Program (CARP).
The water hit Manila Auxiliary
Bishop Broderick Pabillo, priests
and several nuns who were with
the farmers.
“We didn’t expect this. We just
wanted to listen to the plenary
debates,” Pabillo said.
Pabillo was later allowed in-
side the Complex to attend the
plenary session, but he opted
to stay with the farmers for fear
“I condemn such an actuation
on the part of the police because
they are not the ones supposed
to respond to the advocacy of
the farmers but the congress-
men,” said Archbishop Angel
Lagdameo.
The CBCP head also called on
the lawmakers to start a dialogue
with the farmers “who are just
fighting for their rights.”
Instead of dispersing the pro-
He said they were just holding
a “peaceful assembly” to press
the lawmakers to approve a
measure that would ensure the
farmers’ rights over the lands
they till.
The prelate also joined farmers
in a hunger strike last year when
CARP was about to expire. It
was extended for six months but
without the compulsory land ac-
quisition component. This upset

back with shields before turning
on the water jets.
The protesters wanted to get
inside the plenary for the de-
CBCP National Secretariat for Social Action-Justice and Peace chairman and
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo along with some farmers run from police
liberations on House Bill 4077,
water cannon as they are being hosed down while holding rally outside Congress which seeks to extend the Com-
gate in Quezon City. prehensive Agrarian Reform
that they will be hosed down
again.
The head of the Catholic Bish-
ops’ Conference of the Philip-
pines (CBCP) immediately con-
demned the use of force against
the demonstrators.
testers, he said, the lawmakers
should have instead discourse
with the farmers and work on
their demands.
Bishop Pabillo said he did not
see any reason for them to be
treated that way.
the farmers’ groups.
The House of Representatives
has started its marathon ses-
sion on May 25 to pass priority
bills before Congress goes on
mandatory recess on June 5.
(CBCPNews)

RH bill: A choice between

‘angels and demons’
By Roy Lagarde
A CONSERVATIVE Catholic
Church leader said there is no
room for neutrality in the fight
against a measure promoting
birth control.
Fr. Melvin Castro, Episcopal Com-
mission on Family and Life (ECFL)
executive secretary of the Catholic
Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
(CBCP) called on the legislators to back
up their call with optimum support
and action.
He said lawmakers must make a de-
cision: either they are with the good or
evil. “It’s like a choice between angels
and demons,” Castro said.
The RH bill is both a moral and ethi-
cal issue, he said, and its backers make
a mistake when they consider it solely
a matter freedom of choice especially
among women. © Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
The priest stressed that the church has
always insisted that the struggle to de-
fend family and life is “part and parcel of
the spiritual warfare that we are into”.
Clearly, Castro also said, defending
family and life is to be in the side of
light.
Anything that weakens it becomes NO TO OIL DEPOT. Catholics held placards during a protest march from Santa Cruz Parish Church to Bonifacio Shrine in Manila on May 27. They took part in the church-organized demonstration
highlighting the potential risk to public health posed by the retention of the controversial Pandacan Oil Depot.
part the forces of darkness. We beg our
legislators to be in the side of light, of
family and life,” he added. Group dismayed over Comelec’s failure to meet deadline technology,” he said
Deliberation A LOCAL policy group is disappointed over the Com-
The bill on maternal health care, mission on Election’s failure to meet the deadline ear- Comelec Special Bids and Awards Committee
now pending in Congress, requires the lier set for the full automation of the 2010 elections. (SBAC) chairman Atty. Ferdinand Rafanan earlier
government to promote artificial family In the weekly church-organized forum, the Center admitted that they are already behind the original
planning if it becomes a law. for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPeg) timeline the poll body had set for the adoption of the
The measure also will include sex said the Comelec must blame no one but itself in the Precinct Counting Optical Scan (PCOS) system.
education for students and advice on ar- problem their group seen as early as February. The bidding for the automated elections system
tificial contraception, which the church CenPeg Director Prof. Bobby Tuazon, said the problem (AES) project was set to end by May 21 when the
considers immoral. should have been avoided had the poll body listened to awarding of the P11.3 billion contract will be made
Contributed photo

The church is set firmly against
the health measure but independent
surveys show that over 80 percent of
Filipinos, mostly Catholics, support
artificial family planning.
Some bishops have said they will re-
fuse communion and other sacraments
to politicians who support the bill, set to
Choice / A6
calls for a wider consultation on what system should be
used in automating the country’s electorate.
“Democratic consultations with a wider and broader
constituency, not only among a few experts and ad-
vocates, as well as feasibility and comparative studies
on election technologies most suited to Philippine
conditions should have been done much earlier to
avoid invoking time constraint and lapses in knowl-
edge as it prepares for the complexities of its chosen
PPCRV head Henrietta de Villa is flanked by officials of the
Philippine Computer Society (PCS) during the 13th Information
and Communications Technology Professionals Congress in
Makati City on May 21, 2009. The group of about 5, 000 ICT
professionals has teamed up with the PPCRV for the accurate
monitoring of the planned 2010 automated elections.
but is now seen to come by the middle of June.
Tuazon said the choice of PCOS as the system to
be used in automation was not approved by the lo-
cal information technology (IT) community and the
computer academe.
He added that had the Comelec consulted the local
IT community, they would have suggested a differ-
ent system.
Comelec / A7

Speaker’s wife frowns on irresponsible Church leads rally vs Pandacan oil depot Cardinal urges
media ad waste-free polls HUNDREDS of people joined a silent rally in Manila on May 27 to raise their
strong objection to the Pandacan oil depot’s continued operation.
The prayer rally was held as they await the final decision of Manila Mayor
AS the Church commemo- Alfredo Lim whether or not to approve an ordinance reversing a 2001 rezon- A RANKING church leader has joined a
rated the World Commu- ing order. crusade for waste-free elections to avert
nication Day, the wife of The final approval would allow all existing heavy industries in the area, the anticipated avalanche of campaign
House Speaker Prospero including the oil depot, to continue operating. trash that will likely end up in the hor-
Nograles also made a timely Catholic believers from various parishes in Manila were mobilized to par- rendous dumps scattered all over the
appeal for responsible usage of ticipate in the church-led movement. country.
mass media and reporting. Fr. Benito Tuazon, Ecology Desk director of Manila archdiocese, said the Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Car-
Mrs. Rhodora B. Nograles, wife prayer rally was intended to pressure Lim to veto the ordinance. dinal Rosales called on the electorate to
of Congressman Nograles said The Mayor has until May 28 only to sign the proposed measure into law take proactive measures that will check
that men and women working in or veto it. and curb waste in campaign activities.
media should be keen in promot- “...But his recent commissioned team to inspect the oil depot facilities ap- “As the countdown to the May 2010
ing responsible reporting, adver- peared to have very positive result,” Tuazon lamented. elections begins, I urge Filipinos to be
tisements and programming. “Unfortunately, the team is composed of purely local government agen- vigilant in minimizing the adverse im-
Mrs. Nograles, also the chair of cies,” he added. pacts to the environment and climate
the Congressional Spouses Foun- si Lim earlier said the “Big 3” oil players—Petron, Pilipinas Shell., and Chev- that the election campaign and the ac-
er U
dation, Inc., in a statement sent to ladim ron Philippines, have provided safety measure to address the concerns for tual voting day can bring,” he said.
n by B
CBCPNews criticized what she Illus
tratio accidents. “Our exercise of democracy should
termed as “an irresponsible advertise- The rally started with a Mass presided by Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick not inflict harm on Mother Earth and
ment” promoted by Optical Media Board Pabillo at the Sta. Cruz Parish Church. It was followed with a march towards her capacity to feed, house and sustain
Chair Edu Manzano for LBC. the Bonifacio Shrine, near the Manila City Hall. all creation. Genuine democracy up-
“…the advertisement irresponsibly confuses, particularly the school children, holds the sanctity of life and promotes
about the concept of right and wrong,” said Nograles, adding: Signature drive environmental health and justice at all
“The ad, which used the spelling bee concept, directly conveyed that LBC is the Rosales, along with other bishops, priests, and the religious, are currently times,” Rosales said.
correct spelling of the word “remittance.” To say [that] what is wrong is “tumpak” leading a signature campaign to pressure Lim to veto the retention of the He also urged all poll stakeholders,
(correct) is fundamentally wrong and it is worse to propagate it using the mass Pandacan oil depot. including the Commission on Elections
media.” He urged Lim to fulfill his promise to reject the continued stay of oil depots and related government offices, political
The speaker’s wife already sent a letter of complaint to the Advertising Board Pandacan / A7 parties and candidates to “commit to a
Media Ad / A6 Polls / A6
 World News
CBCP Monitor
A2 Vol. 13 No. 11
May 25 - June 7, 2009

World Jewish Congress

lauds Pope’s Holy Land visit
ROME, May 22, 2009—The executive
representatives of the World Jewish
Congress visited the Vatican today to
thank Benedict XVI for his Holy Land
pilgrimage last week.
Ronald Lauder, president of the
international organization, which
represents 100 Jewish communities
worldwide, expressed his apprecia-
tion for the Pope's May 8-15 trip in an
audience with the Pontiff's secretary of
state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.
A statement from the congress ex-
plained, "Despite being a complicated
trip, its outcome had been positive and
was a milestone for strengthening mu-
tual understanding between Christians
and Jews."
sensitive issue of the Holocaust had to
be made with great care."
The communiqué reported Cardi-
nal Bertone's response to the Jewish
leaders, affirming that the Church
recognizes the "unique nature" of the
Holocaust.
He also stated clearly that there is "no
place in the institutions of the church
for Holocaust deniers such as Bishop
Williamson," the congress noted.
Benedict XVI was criticized last Janu-
ary after the lifting of excommunication
of four bishops of the Society of St. Pius
X, including Bishop Richard William-
son, who was seen in an interview for
Swedish television denying the gas-
sing of six million Jews at about the
the archives of Pope Pius XII, and he
assured them that the Vatican is pro-
gressing in the aim to make Pontiff's
papers from 1939-1945 available to
historians. The Vatican is cataloguing
the documents from the pontificate,
which number about 16 million.
Cardinal Bertone assured congress
members of the Holy See's desire to
strengthen ties with Judaism, while
Lauder affirmed the need for interfaith
dialogue.
The president stated, "We must strive
together to ensure that freedom of re-
ligion is respected everywhere in the
world and religion not used to justify
extremism and terror."
The World Jewish Congress was

In the face of criticism that the Holy
Father did not adequately denounce the
Shoah during his trip, Lauder affirmed
that any statement "touching upon the
same time that his excommunication
was lifted.
The cardinal invited the congress
leaders to cooperate in examining
© www.abc.net.au
founded in 1936 to unite the Jewish
people and address their needs, and
represents communities in more than
80 countries. (Zenit)

Cardinal George sees bit of hope in Obama speech

Welcomes president’s reference to conscience protection
CHICAGO, May 22, 2009—The strengthen our health care sys-

Bible and Mel Gibson’s

president of the U.S. episcopal
conference welcomed one of the
statements made by President
Barack Obama in his controver-
sial speech at Notre Dame last
Sunday.
In a statement today, Cardinal
Francis George, archbishop of
Chicago, expressed gratitude
for the president’s statement
that “we should all ‘honor the
conscience of those who disagree
tem and enhance many patients’
access to necessary life-affirming
care.”
Cardinal George added: “A
government that wants to reduce
the tragic number of abortions
‘The Passion of the
in our society will also work to
ensure that no one is forced to
support or participate in abor-
Christ’ banned in Uzbek
tion, whether through directly
providing or referring for abor-
tions or being forced to subsidize
region of Karakalpakstan
© www.boston.com

with abortion,’ and his support
for conscience clauses advancing
this goal.”
The cardinal noted that “Cath-
olic providers, in particular,
make a large and essential con-
tribution to health care in our
society. Essential steps to pro-
tect these conscience rights will
them with their tax dollars.”
The University of Notre
Dame’s honored President
Obama at last Sunday’s com-
mencement ceremony.
To date, 83 prelates have pub-
licly denounced the decision as
going against 2004 guidelines
set by the U.S. bishops’ confer-
ence for Catholic institutions of
higher education, which state
that schools should not bestow
honors on individuals who “act
in defiance” of the Church’s fun-
damental teachings. (Zenit)
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 22, 2009—Officials in Karakal-
pakstan (north-western Uzbekistan) announced that religious
materials that include a hymn book, a Bible Encyclopaedia, a
Bible dictionary, and a children’s Bible, are “banned for import,
distribution or use in teaching.”
Uzbekistan’s secret police has been after religious literature
for quite some time, whether in private homes or just for per-
sonal use.
Nurulla Zhamolov, the senior religious affairs official in Kara-
kalpakstan Region, issued the ban after “expert analyses” were

Vatican newspaper finally reports on U.S.

filed at a court hearing, the Forum 18 agency reported. But no
explanation was given for the decision.
Mel Gibson’s 2004 ‘The Passion of the Christ’ was also included
in the list of banned materials, a decision especially odd since

bishops’ criticism of Obama, Notre Dame
VATICAN CITY, May 22, 2009─The Vatican daily newspaper
L’Osservatore Romano, which has faced criticism from many pro-
life U.S. Catholics for its positive assessment of Barack Obama’s
presidency, finally reported today on the objection of U.S. bishops
to both Obama’s pro-abortion record as well as to Notre Dame’s
decision to invite him to its commencement speech.
In the article titled “U.S. Bishops and ethical questions,”
L’Osservatore quotes the strongly-worded statement from the Arch-
bishop of Denver, Charles J. Chaput which comments on Father John
Jenkins’ commencement speech that justified his decision to invite
the President of the U.S. to Notre Dame.
The Vatican newspaper does not mention that Chaput’s words
were addressed to Fr. Jenkins, but quotes the Denver Archbishop
saying that “the most vital thing faithful Catholics can do now is to
insist – by their words, actions and financial support – that institu-
the feature film was shown throughout the country attracting
large crowds.
Karakalpakstan covers a third of Uzbek territory but is home
to only five per cent of the population. Only Islam is allowed in
the region; only exception is Russian Orthodoxy which is allowed
in the regional capital of Nukus.
All other religious groups are outlawed. Even religious gather-
ings in private homes are not allowed without prior authoriza-
tion. If caught, violators can be fined or even jailed.
On 16 April, a court in Takhiatash fined a Protestant, Valeri
Adamia, 560,800 Sums (US$ 380), which is twenty times the
minimum monthly wage, after he was convicted of having in
his possession Bibles and other religious books. He claimed that
they were for his personal use only. (AsiaNews)

Pope plans to reach youth with

tions claiming to be ‘Catholic’ actually live the faith with courage
and consistency.”
L’Osservatore then explains that Archbishop Chaput “criticized

Facebook profile and website

the decision of the University of Notre Dame to honor someone who
has demonstrated the willingness” to uphold Roe v. Wade.
“Other U.S. bishops recently,” the Vatican newspaper continues,
“have recalled the non-negotiable terms in which (Catholics) must
confront ethical issues such as abortion, embryonic stem cell research
and the right to conscientious objection of health workers.”
L’Osservatore still seemed to defend Obama by saying that the
President promised during the commencement speech at Notre
© www.repubblica.it

Dame that “such a right must be defended,” but concluded with

the article quoting the Bishop of Kansas City - St. Joseph, Robert W.
Finn, saying that “Obama has closed any door to dialogue, affirming
that he will not change his position on abortion.” (CNA)

Aide notes danger of wasting time with technology

© www.pope2you.net

Discusses pope’s message for World Day of Social Communication

VATICAN CITY, May 24, 2009—The
Church’s challenge in the era of Facebook
and Twitter consists in presenting the pro-
found message of Jesus without being side-
tracked by technology’s superficial aspects,
says the Vatican spokesperson.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director
of the Vatican press office, affirmed this to-
day on the most recent episode of his weekly
television program “Octava Dies.”
In his remarks the priest referred to the
“very beautiful message of the Pope for the
World Day of Social Communications this
year” that “touches a strategic and crucial
point in the reality of the world of communi-
cation in rapid development: ‘New technolo-
gies, new relationships: Promoting a culture
of respect, of dialogue, of friendship.’”
“Benedict XVI—or better, BXVI, as he is
often called in this particular world—is first
of all addressing young people, the so-called
‘digital generation,’” Father Lombardi ex-
plained, “challenging them to live their hu-
man and spiritual growth and commitment
also in the communicative dimension of the
new technologies, which has such a big place
in the course of their days.”
He added, “Here too, in fact, the Chris-
ROME, Italy, May 20, 2009─The president of the Pontifical
tian faith must be ‘inculturated,’ present
Council for Social Communications, Archbishop Claudio Maria
as a proclamation and lifestyle and style of
Celli, announced on Thursday the launching of a new website,
relationships.”
pope2you.net, to reach out to young people and bring them into
“But it is not easy,” the spokesperson
contact with Pope Benedict XVI.
added. “The dangers of limiting oneself to
The archbishop told L’Osservatore Romano that the initiative
play, of wasting time, of flight from reality
is part of the activities surrounding World Communications Day,
and remaining on the surface of things, are
which will be celebrated on Sunday, May 24 under the theme,
there.”
“New Technologies, New Relationships.”
He continued: “For his part BXVI, when
The idea behind this website, the archbishop said, “is that in
he speaks to young people, for example at
order to be able to enter into a fruitful, rich dialogue character-
the World Youth Days, insists on wanting
ized by respect and friendship, we wanted to use the digital
to communicate solid, consistent and ar-
world, that is, the instrument most friendly to young people,

Vatican debates genetically modified veggies

ticulated content to them, which demands a
through which they encounter each other daily and often with-
commitment to be assimilated before it can
out meeting each other in person.”
be translated into life.
Commenting on Pope Benedict XVI's call to young people to
VATICAN CITY, May 21, 2009—The Pontifical Academy of Sciences hosted a week “So transmitting the substantial through
use the internet to evangelize, Archbishop Celli said the Holy
of study to consider the various issues related to the debate surrounding genetically the virtual is a wonderful challenge. Will
Father was encouraging them to participate in online social net-
modified organisms. we succeed with our young people? Will
works and “bear witness to the love of God for all mankind.”
The May 15-19 event in the Vatican brought together 41 scientists from some 15 na- we succeed in accompanying them in this
The archbishop also said the new site would be directly linked
tions, including China, Mexico, Australia, Kenya and Great Britain. adventure?”
to Facebook from which users will be able to send pictures of the
The experts discussed a range of themes, including elements of social doctrine, eco- “Let us hope so,” the priest affirmed.
Pontiff and excerpts from his discourses to their friends.
nomics and international relations. He added, “But we must not be victims
“The presence of the Pope on Facebook is limited to this, to
For example, they considered if the use of genetically modified organisms only ben- of the fascination with the extraordinary
the possibility of sending a picture of him with an excerpt from
efits multinational organizations while penalizing small farmers, or if these organisms technological successes, we must continue
his teaching,” Archbishop Celli noted.
could be the secret to bringing Africa to a green revolution, or if the seeds of these plants to distinguish possibilities and limits, and at
The new website will be in five languages: Italian, Spanish,
could become part of aid programs assisting in development. the same time continue to seek in profundity
English, French and German. Young people will be able to ac-
In the final session, the experts debated how to improve international regulations on that solid soil of the vital relationship with
cess “not only all news referring to the Pope and his activities,
this issue and how to ensure that the poor benefit from the innovations in vegetable God and others, [a place] to really build a
but also they will be able to enter into contact with the person
biotechnology. (Zenit) culture of respect, of dialogue and of friend-
of Benedict XVI through his words,” he said. (CNA)
ship.” (Zenit)
 News Features
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 11
May 25 - June 7, 2009
A3

Pontiff calls for solution

to unemployment crisis
CASSINO, Italy, MAY 24, 2009—Bene-
dict XVI is calling for solutions to the
unemployment crisis, for the creation of
jobs to help and protect families who are
facing critical economic situations.
The Pope stated this May 24 in his
homily during a Mass celebrated in
Cassino's Miranda Plaza, the square that
will be renamed after him, in the town
east of the Monte Cassino Abbey.
The Holy Father explained the pur-
pose of his visit, to "encourage you
constantly to build, found and rebuild"
the diocesan community on Christ,
following the example of St. Benedict,
who recommended in his Rule to "put
nothing before Christ."
He underlined the saint's call to "keep
our hearts fixed on Christ and put
nothing before him," by the evangeli-
cal program found in the Benedictine
motto: "ora et labora et lege"—"prayer,
work, culture."
"Prayer," the Pope said, "to which
grave peals of the bell of St. Benedict
calls the monks every morning, is the
silent path that leads us directly to the
heart of God; it is the breath of the soul
that gives us peace again in the storms
been laid off."
He called on "the entrepreneurs
and those who are able, to seek, with
everyone's help, valid solutions to the
employment crisis, creating new places
of work to safeguard families."
The Pontiff added: "In this respect,
how can we not recall that today the
family has an urgent need to be better
protected, since it is gravely threatened
in its very institutional roots?
"I think also of the young people who
have difficulty finding a dignified job
that allows them to build a family.
"To them I would like to say: Do
not be discouraged, dear friends, the
Church will not abandon you!"
He recalled the more than 25 young
people from the diocese who partici-
pated in World Youth Day in Sydney,
and urged them to use that "extraordi-
nary spiritual experience" to be leaven
among their friends, and to "be the
new missionaries in this land of St.
Benedict!"
Addressing the world of culture, the
third part of Benedictine spirituality,
the Holy Father noted the testimony
archived by the Monte Cassino monas-

of life."
Critical situation
Speaking next about work, he noted
that "humanizing the world of work is
typical of the soul of monasticism."
Benedict XVI continued: "I know how
critical the situation of many workers is.
I express my solidarity with those who
live in a troubling precariousness, with
those workers who are on unemploy-
ment assistance and those who have
© www.trabahophilippines.com
tery, that "European culture has been
constituted by the search for God and
availability to listen to him."
"In today's cultural effort aimed at
creating a new humanism," he said,
"faithful to the Benedictine tradition you
rightly intend to stress attention to the
fragility, weakness of man, to disabled
persons and immigrants." migrants, "where a culture attentive to Monte Cassino. take Jesus away from the first place; the
Benedict XVI expressed his gratitude life will be built with deeds." The project He encouraged his listeners to live the mission to build, in Christ's name, a new
for the possibility of "inaugurating the is being carried out in a former hospital spirit of St. Benedict, to "proclaim that humanity to teach hospitality and help
'House of Charity,'" for homeless im- under the sponsorship of the abbot of in your life no one and nothing must of the weakest." (Zenit)

Official: No easy way to stop human trafficking Multi-sectoral

Archbishop considers roots of problem rally stops mining
ROME, May 22, 2009─Though trafficking in hu-
man beings is a "tremendous offense to dignity,"
The prelate affirmed that this effort should also
promote victims' integration in their new societies,
project in Mindoro
there is no easy solution to this multifaceted and "especially those who collaborate with authorities MANILA, May 16, 2009─In a display
international problem, says a Vatican official. against traffickers." of solidarity with local government
Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, secretary of At the same time, the Vatican official suggested officials, environmentalists and clergy
the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travel- that a possible return to the nations of origin should joined hands and led thousands of
ers, considered the gravity of human trafficking be considered, a return that "can be accompanied rallyists from Oriental and Occidental
during an address Wednesday at a conference with the proposal of a microcredit or loans, thereby Mindoro against a mining company on
organized by the Association of the Pope John ensuring that victims do not return to the same March 14.
XXIII Community. environment of dangers without resources." A public hearing on the proposed
The prelate called trafficking "one of the most He further proposed a system of reimburse- mining project of Intex Resources
shameful [phenomena] of our epoch." He recog- ment to be financed with assets confiscated from Philippines, Inc. was aborted in Pola,
© www.catholicnewsagency.com

nized that "poverty and the lack of opportunities the traffickers. Oriental Mindoro when thousands of
and social cohesion" are at the root of this tragedy, people showed up to protest.
since these causes "bring people to seek a better Multifaceted Police estimated a caravan of about
future despite risks." Trafficking in human persons, Archbishop 200 vehicles and 7,000 people in at-
And trafficking in human beings continues to Marchetto stated, is a "multifaceted problem, tendance.
spread, in part because of "an absence of specific often linked to immigration, which goes beyond Fr. Edwin Gariguez of Oriental Min-
norms in some countries, victims' ignorance of the sex industry and also includes the forced labor doro’s Mangyan Mission assailed Intex
their rights, the sociocultural structure and armed Archbishop Agostino Marchetto of men, women and children in various industrial Resources for pushing with the mining
conflicts," Archbishop Marchetto contended. sectors, including construction, renovation and tourism, agriculture and domestic project despite a provincial ordinance
He also mentioned the "current restrictions that emigrants find in legally going services." disallowing mining activities in the
to developed countries." "Even if a part of forced labor is linked to discrimination and poverty, to local province for 25 years.
customs, to the victims' lack of a home and illiteracy, another part is related to the “The corporate irresponsibility of
What to do flexible and cheap labor, that often facilitates low prices for the consumer, which Intex Resources is clearly obvious. They
Archbishop Marchetto lamented that "there are no easy solutions," and affirmed makes it attractive for the employers," he explained. wanted to push their project with our
that a "coherent and integral approach" is needed to stop this particular form of And the prelate lamented that victims are often only protected during the course fragile forest ecosystem, our critical
abuse. of investigations against traffickers; they are then repatriated, with or without a watershed, and ancestral domain of the
"Not only the need of the victims [should be considered]," he said, "but also the "packet" of support to help them restart their lives. Mangyan indigenous peoples despite
just punishment for those who benefit from this activity and the implementation "Only in a few countries are their measures to guarantee the protection of these the strong opposition of the people,”
of preventive measures, in the first place to increase awareness and sensitivity, victims," he said, "offering them the possibility of staying in the society that received Gariguez said.
and also to take on the causes of this phenomenon." them and integrating themselves, at least with certain conditions." (Zenit) Local officials led by Vice Governor
Estela Aceron, Provincial Legal Officer

Pope calls for Internet evangelists

VATICAN CITY, May 20, 2009—Pope Benedict XVI
is calling upon young people to evangelize using the
Internet as the Church prepares to celebrate the World
Day for Social Communications. solidarity that can contribute to a better world.
At the end of his Wednesday general audience,
the Holy Father launched an appeal asking that
cyberspace be a place that promotes a "culture of
respect, dialogue and authentic friendship where
the values of truth, harmony and understanding
can flourish."
Speaking in English, the Holy Father recalled how
in his message for this year's celebrations, "I am invit-
ing all those who make use of the new technologies of
Atty. Lorebelle Tanyag, and Mayors
Alfredo Ortega of Victoria, Oriental
Mindoro, and Godofredo Mintu of
Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, served
communication, especially the young, to utilize them a Cease and Desist Order (CDO) imple-
in a positive way and to realize the great potential menting the mining moratorium of the
of these means to build up bonds of friendship and province.
“We are ready to go at all cause to
"Young people in particular, I appeal to you: bear implement and enforce our mora-
witness to your faith through the digital world!" the torium ordinance against mining,”
Pope urged. Vice-Governor Aceron was quoted as
"Employ these new technologies to make the Gospel saying.
known, so that the Good News of God’s infinite love Both Mindoro provinces have or-
for all people will resound in new ways across our dinances that ban large-scale mining
increasingly technological world!" operations in the island.
The World Day for Social Communications was held Meanwhile, anti-mining advocates
on Sunday, May 24 this year. (CNA) praised the strong solidarity and sense
of community of the people from Ori-

CBCP chief prays for lawmakers’ compassion for farmers

ental and Occidental Mindoro in their
opposition to the mining project.
“Today, 7,000 strong Mindoreños
MANILA, May 14, 2009—A top church into heeding the cries of the rural poor, erased the line that separates Oriental
leader said he is praying that all law- in accordance to the dictates of moral and Occidental Mindoro as they dis-
makers will strive to work for the wel- and social justice,” he said. played solidarity and a strong sense of
fare of the farmers, one of the country’s The CBCP head made the statement community against Intex Resources’
most vulnerable sectors. amid fears that “some killer amend- almost ten years of attempts to sway
In his Farmers’ Day message, Catholic ments” are being pushed by some local communities in their favor,” Jay-
Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines lawmakers owning vast agricultural bee Garganera, Coordinator of Alyansa
president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo lands into a bill seeking for CARP ex- Tigil Mina, an anti-mining advocacy
said farmers must be rewarded for their tension. group, said in a statement.
efforts to provide the people’s basic “As our legislators go about the very He praised the courage of the local of-
needs. important task of passing an agrarian ficials in asserting their local autonomy
© Photo courtesy of Gemma Rita Marin

Lagdameo is hoping that legislators reform law, I pray that they draw in- and in protecting the ‘general welfare’
will dedicate themselves to provide spiration from St. Isidore, who, despite of the people.
the needs of the farmers, like the de- being very poor himself, gave up what “With the poor track record of large-
sired extension of the Comprehensive little he had to those who were poorer,” scale mining companies in the country
Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) with said Lagdameo. and a weak national policy on environ-
reforms. “May his generosity reminds our mental and social safeguards, we need
“Instead of working for their own elected officials that life is not to be a the initiatives of local government and
interests, I pray that the Holy Spirit will selfish quest for profit, but an opportu- communities to come together and fight
move our Senators and Congressmen Farmers / A6 Mindoro / A7
A4
EDITORIAL
Suffer the farmers
THE farmers have been generally peaceful. They walk for hundreds
of kilometers, as what those from Sumilao did, and even go as far
as do hunger strikes, like what happened in December last year, to
peacefully press for the land that justifiably belongs to them.
But the police, and, by command responsibility, this administration
have been intolerant and narrow-minded whenever there are rallies
conducted by farmers. Last May 25 about two thousand farmers
together with Manila auxiliary bishop Broderick Pabillo in tow,
were hosed down violently with water cannons while holding a
peaceful rally outside the gates of Batasang Pambansa in Quezon
City with no other purpose but to ask lawmakers to legislate
the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program
(CARP) which, anyway, is mandated by the Constitution.
Section 4, Art. XIII of the 1987 Constitution requires the State
to “undertake an agrarian reform program founded on the right
of farmers and regular farmworkers who are landless, to own
directly or collectively the lands they till or, in the case of other
farmworkers, to receive a just share of the fruits thereof.”
As if it were not enough, Art II, Sec 21 of the same Constitution
explicitly identifies agrarian reform as a State policy that must be
given flesh by promulgating enabling laws to make it work and
beneficial not only to the farmers but to the whole country that
till now, albeit unwillingly, is still agricultural.
Yet, more than the law of the land dictates, agrarian reform is
an instrument of social justice and an act of political wisdom, or
so says the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace (1997). The
social teachings of the Church condemn the concentration and
misappropriation of land as intrinsically immoral.
But seemingly the country’s lawmakers are so much keen neither
about the law nor morals. What weigh down really are the
landowners that in this country are, more or less, equated with
legislators. That equation was the fundamental cause of the failure
of the CARP the first 20 years it was around. The same forebodes
for the upcoming 5 years should it be extended with reforms.
Disputably, though, such reforms will come as deceptively as
the “perfecting amendments” being inserted into the extended
agrarian reform law, but in fact are realistically called “killer
amendments” in that they will emasculate and, therefore, doom
it to failure—like it was in the original CARP of 1988 that was
systematically riddled with loopholes and financially constrained.
While landowners dominated the Congress that passed the original
CARP, the same landowners still exercise dominion today.
But suffer the little farmers to come unto our midst, because
such is the path to real social transformation—if to paraphrase
the good Book.
Exploitation of Children
THE abuse of children is a grave and serious concern for all, but
most especially for us in the Church. Our voices cannot be loud
enough, our words strong enough to condemn this evil among us.
The cries of abused children reach up to the God of justice in a
call for vengeance. We know that their lament invokes compassion
from the God of love. In an invitation of love, our Lord Jesus says
“whoever welcomes a child for my sake welcomes me” (Mt. 18:5).
And to those who inflict pain and wound the innocent, our Lord
has harsh words: “It would be better for anyone who leads astray
one of these little ones who believe in me, to be drowned by a
millstone around his neck in the depths of the sea” (Mt. 18:6).
Children are so precious in the eyes of Jesus that for him, they and
those like them comprise the Kingdom of God. Whoever serves
as a stumbling block to them deserves reproach and equally just
punishment.
Clearly the exploitation of children is a morally deplorable
and criminal act because of the immense damage, oftentimes
irreparable, it brings to children. Exploitation robs children the
dignity of life, the enjoyment of life that is their inherent right
It deprives them of education that could secure for them a stable
future. Children who have been sexually abused suffer the pain and
trauma of their experience throughout their lives and are vulnerable
to more abusive behavior and relationships later on in life.
As a social phenomenon, the exploitation of children in the
Philippine context can be traced mainly to poverty. In the film
documentary “Minsan Lang Sila Bata” which was co-produced by
the Archdiocese of Manila Labor Center, this poverty was starkly
portrayed: squalid homes, meager food, sickness. In this film, we
see children as young as seven to 10 years old doing strenuous
manual work in abattoirs, cargo boats and sugar cane fields. The
children in the film spoke poignantly of how they wished to be
in school. They expressed their desire to help their families and
bring them out of the cycle of poverty.
This condition of poverty has emboldened unprincipled employers
and moneyed foreign pedophiles to use children. Incest and rape,
on the other hand, have been known to breed most in environments
marked by unemployment, alcohol and drug abuse, and the lack
of proper and decent housing. These pressing concerns demand
immediate attention and concerted response from all sectors, if
the problem of sexual abuse of children is to be addressed in a
comprehensive manner.
-- “Welcoming the Children for my sake”,
Pastoral Letter on the Exploitation of Children, 1988
www.cbcpmonitor.com
cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net
Pedro C. Quitorio
Editor-in-Chief
Pinky Barrientos, FSP Kris P. Bayos
Associate Editor Feature Editor
Melo M. Acuña Laarni Bergado
Managing Editor Marketing Supervisor
Roy Q. Lagarde Ernani M. Ramos
News Editor Circulation Manager
Laurence John R. Morales Marcelita Dominguez
Layout Artist and Online Editor Comptroller
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCP Com-
munications Development Foundation, Inc., with editorial and
business offices at 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila.
P.O. Box 3601, 1076 MCPO.
Editorial: (063) 404-2182. Business: (063)404-1612.
ISSN 1908-2940
Opinion CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 11
May 25 - June 7, 2009
Illustration by Bladimer Usi
Oscar V. Cruz, DD
Credibility
Views and Points
THERE are really some people who are rather unkind for a reason, to make and few little achievements to magnify. There must be more
who are cruel for a cause. When they are convinced, for example, lies to defend as well as more realities to deny. There must be much
that there is someone whom they may no longer trust, in whom public funds to spend for the promotion of the personal desires and
they have altogether lost their confidence, they speak their mind— designs of the public figure concerned—meantime, let the poor, the
saying what mean and meaning what they say. In this particular hungry and the sick fend for themselves.
situation, more than those who simply voice out the painful truth Needless to say, a little study could be made to find out who are
they are certain about someone, it is the latter who really is the those great, illustrious and distinguished national leaders in the
loser although definitely not a victim—but in reality, the victimizer. whole wide world who in these particular times, amazingly have
This is exactly the case when lately there were reports validated six official spokespersons! The immediate thought comes to mind
by official sources that the holder of the highest office in the land, that these six formal mouthpieces can be compared to gatekeepers.
now has no less than six spokespersons! They are many probably because there are so many gates to keep
In other words, the public official concerned felt it either necessary and so many gatecrashers to drive away.
or convenient or both, that the impressive number of six mouthpieces If the truth and the whole truth has to be said and duly noted,
is in order—in the assumption that there is so much to say about the basic problem of Malacañang has been and still is its distinctly
the person, competence and achievements, concerning the plans, poor if not practically zero credibility before the general public.
programs and actions of the office holder concerned. When this And who is really to blame for this lamentable popular conviction
supposedly great news reached some no nonsense individuals, their if not Malacañang itself. This is pursuant to the maxim “What you
being “unkind” and even “cruel” came to fore—especially through sow is what you reap.” It all began with the expressed and formal
radio talk programs accepting call-in listeners. commitment that someone was not running for office—only for the
The reactions to the unexpected news about the unexpected num- same to claim that God spoke to the opposite. And such incredible
ber of Malacañang spokesperson can be thus summarized by way allegation was thereafter followed by a litany of consonant gross
of conclusions: There must be too many criticisms to counteract, too misdeeds. And Philippine History is still in the making—specially
much popular ill-will to neutralize. There must be much propaganda so as 2010 fast approaches.
Sr. Mary Pilar Verzosa, RGS
Into her Golden Years Love Life
WHEN people ask me how I started the as organizing pro-life seminars in Maria The nurses and midwives assigned to the
pro-life movement in the Philippines, my Reina Hospital which is run by the St. Paul OB Wards happily include among their tasks
memory goes back to 1974 when a group de Chartres Sisters. the teaching of breastfeeding and the NFP
of us nuns from different congregations in- She relates how she encourages the LAM or Lactational Amenorrheaic Method.
volved in the Technical Committee on Health married hospital staff, both the male and Researches have shown that fully breastfeed-
of the AMWRSP, invited Fr. Paul Marx, OSB female to be responsible parents and plan ing mothers delay the onset of their fertility
and founder of Human Life International, to their families accordingly. She now has to eight months or even up to a year, thus
talk to various audiences in our country. We 20 employees successfully practicing the they can space the next pregnancy to two or
were all nurses belonging to that committee Billings Ovulation Method or the Standard three years before the next baby is born.
and we did have lots of significant experi- Days Method, depending on their choice or It is with mixed feelings that Sr. Cornelie
ences together ─ organizing conferences on whatever is appropriated for their natural informed me that she will be assigned to
community-based health programs, herbal cycles. These “practitioners” are now teach- their retirement home in Iloilo by June. She
medicine, care of the dying, and bioethics. ing the other employees, their neighbors said she will surely miss her mission here in
Eventually, we moved on to our primary or relatives. She said the Standard Days Mindanao, the fourteen years in CdO which
interests and congregation assignments. I Method, which is approved in the Diocese was preceded by ten years in their hospital
pursued the pro-life mission and developed of Cagayan de Oro, is easy to teach and in Maramag, Bukidnon.
it to what it is today: Pro-life Philippines is learned easily by the couples. But she And to think that Sr. Cornelie is living a
Foundation - a SEC-registered, education claims that she makes sure they strictly second lease on life. She has fully recovered
and advocacy NGO. follow the guidelines, gives them enough from four months of coma after a tragic
Among those who remained very sup- information so they do not use condoms car accident in Quezon City in 1989. She
portive of the pro-life cause is Sr. Cornelie or other contraceptives, and she does not bravely and persistently struggled through
Sarmiento, SPC. I had the opportunity to teach them the methods without first giving her physical and speech therapies. A few
visit her last week while I was in Cagayan value-formation sessions on the meaning of months after the accident, I visited her. She
de Oro giving workshops on setting up marriage, sexuality, fertility, and value of was sitting then and able to take care of her
women’s crisis centers. I was so happy to human life. She wants to make sure they daily needs. “My memory… my memory.
see that Sr. Cornelie, now 77 years old and remove any contraceptive mentality in their …that is all that I beg God to restore to me”,
will be celebrating her Golden Jubilee in mind and life-style before she even teaches she cried. Her prayer has been answered a
July, is still very active in counseling and them any of the Natural Family Planning million times over. Congratulations on your
teaching Natural Family Planning as well Methods. Golden Anniversary, Sister!
Fr. Francis B. Ongkingco
‘Jesus’ defects’
Whatever
NOTHING is more beautiful, consoling and uplifting than our Chris- be filled with faith and love for Jesus’ teachings and examples.
tian faith and life. This is not because it contains a body of humanly In the Gospels we relive His birth, the hidden and intense years of
reasonable and dynamic ideals, but because it is continuously vivified common life, we walk with Him through the hills and plains of Pal-
by the living person of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit. Chris- estine, wiping the sweat from our brows and washing the dust and
tianity’s hidden attraction is the authentic invitation to an encounter dirt from our faces and feet. Through this, we share His thirst, hunger,
of love and communion with Someone divine who can be embraced tears and sorrow. There is nothing, with the exception of sin, that our
in and through His humanity. Lord has not experienced about our nature.
This closeness of God is made possible when Jesus took upon our Despite this proximity of Jesus to every person’s life, there are still
nature. This doesn’t only establish some sort of emotional bridge, but a some who feel that God is still a distant figure. Our Lord’s life, they say,
true and firm way to understand the richness of our human condition is too difficult to imitate and the experience of their personal defects
that God has chosen to truly ‘live’ in order to reveal how we ought prevent them from relating with our Lord’s “perfect life.”
to live our lives as men. St. Augustine wonderfully summarizes this Valid as their arguments are, the person of our Lord cannot allow
when he said, “The Son of God became man, so that man may be a the slightest stain of defect because He is both Perfect God and Perfect
son of God.” Man. Moreover, our ability to relate with someone based on his defects
Our Lord became man not to only redeem us from sin. Jesus, for or limitations may not be the best of possible ways to solve our prob-
some mysterious reason, loved our human nature. He took the risk of lems. Such an attitude may also be a form of seeking ourselves and
love by assuming our humanity in order to reveal our dignity of being thus prevent us from acquiring an authentic conversion.
God’s image and likeness. Our Lord’s humanity thus becomes a vital We could, however, point out some of our Lord’s “defects” as the
template of the truth about every man and woman. It is a clear way late Bishop Francis Xavier Nguyên Van Thuân referred to in a retreat
that leads to eternal life. When one sincerely opens his life to our Lord’s he once preached to the Great John Paul II and the Roman Curia. He
humanity which vibrantly portrayed in the Gospels, he cannot help but Whatever / A6
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 11
May 25 - June 7, 2009
Francisco F. Claver, SJ
Afterthoughts
THE Alagad (lay ministers) program of the
diocese of Malaybalay is as old as the dio-
cese itself, starting as it did forty years ago
shortly after the province of Bukidnon was
carved out of the Archdiocese of Cagayan
and made an independent Prelature Nullius.
Their training process was for the work they
would be doing as leaders of basic ecclesial
communities (BECs) in their respective bar-
rios, centering mainly on their conducting of
the Sunday (priest-less) worshiping of the
community, bible sharing and pastoral plan-
ning especially. But there were other areas
covered too, like Christian family life, the
Church’s social doctrine, community organiz-
ing, spirituality, etc.
But starting this year, the program may
well have to include a crash course on how to
be a Christian public servant. A politician, in
other words. For up to now, the one condition
imposed on men wanting to serve as Alagads
was that if ever they ran for public office, they
would have to stop acting as Church minis-
ters. The reason behind the prohibition was to
forestall the entry of people who would take
advantage of their position in the religious
community to build themselves up for a
political career later. Wrongly or rightly, that
was what we judged best for our fledgling
program from our understanding of Philip-
pine political culture. Recently however, the
Opinion
Church people in
politics I
diocese decided to lift that long-standing
prohibition and allow Alagads to remain in
their ministry even as elected government
officials if they ran and won.
The reason for the change is the admis-
sion that the nation’s politics has sunk
down to terribly low levels. Good men and
women, principled public servants—these
are clearly the desperate need of our times
and not harnessing such potential good
leaders for the good of the country does
not seem to be the right way to go. It’s a
prudential judgment of a Church that seeks
to be relevant to its people’s life as it is be-
ing lived now, in the same way that the
previous prohibition was also a prudential
judgment that was deemed to be fitted to
conditions then.
A proviso for the change has been made
and accepted, namely, that Alagads-turned-
politicians must religiously attend the usual
Alagad meetings and continuing education
seminars. They are also asked to be open to
fraternal correction by their peers should
they stray from the straight and narrow and
behave like ordinary “trapos”, conscious
that their reputation as a body rises or falls
with the probity or lack of it of their politi-
cian members.
One other factor of relevance to the con-
templated change is the sense—something
Ambassador Henrietta T. de Villa
that has grown in our consciousness with our
experience of BECs—that perhaps it is time
now to look for the reform of our political
culture not from the top but from the bottom
of our highly stratified society. What the Left
kept hammering away at in martial law times
to get us to support their armed struggle op-
tion was that people in power do not easily,
if ever, give up power: they had to be elimi-
nated, by violent force if necessary. And at the
time they were unrelenting in saying it was
necessary. We accept their negative reading
of people in power but not their suggested
method of change! Our rural folk who are
always at the short end of the stick in the
nation’s evils are helpless before the corrup-
tion of the big people up there in the highest
reaches of Philippine society. But down there
at their level, they see they have a handle on
the corruption of their barrio officials. If they
cannot get at the sophisticated thieves at the
top, they can at the petty ones at the bottom,
and they understand all too clearly the inter-
twined web of corruption of one level with
another, barrio with municipal, municipal
in turn with provincial and national and so
on in our marvelous system of patronage
and kick-backs. It is at the barrio level they
can come to grips with that system. And if
it is true that the larger problem is our easy
Afterthoughts / A7
A5
Jose B. Lugay
Laiko Lampstand
Getting involved
in change—for the
country of the future
MEDIA today has been on 24 hours/7days blaring the sensa-
tional sex video scandal of Dr. Hayden Kho and Katrina Halili,
also dragging the famous beauty expert, Dr. Vicky Belo in the
investigation. Days without end before that, the exchange of
heated arguments occurred between two presidentiables, Sena-
tor Panfilo Lacson and former Senator Manny Villar. Senator
Jamby Madrigal charged Senator Villar of double insertion
of P200 million in the 2009 budget for the road that will pass
through his Las Piñas and Sta. Rosa real estate projects. Senator
Villar is convinced that the charge against him is a counter-move
to his announcement that he would run for president in the 2010
elections. The Senate Ethics Committee even without Senator
Villar’s presence, voted for the formal investigation of his case
by the Senate, considering that the data furnished them need
further verification. These are two media exposures represent-
ing degradation of morals—negative values that the Filipino
nation has sunk into!
In between these two affairs, was media’s exploitation of the
popularity of Manny Paquiao’s mother, Aling Dionisia, who
celebrated a debut during her 60th birthday and attended by
400 guests, capped with ballroom dancing. This was a gift from
his loving son. Now a celebrity, every move of hers is newswor-
thy. Aling Dionisia was offered to have her life story made into
a movie and for her to model for a product commercial. This
is an indication of extreme interest by the majority of the poor

Outlook and challenges Filipinos who can relate with the Cinderella change of their
ka-baro. And the media feasted on it for several days together

for automated elections Faith and Fire

WHY are we automating our elections in the first place? Why the
need as far back as 1997 for R.A. 8436, the Election Law authoriz-
ing Comelec to implement the automation of the 2001 elections?
But this didn’t happen. Again in 2006 R.A. 9369 amending R.A.
8436, authorized Comelec to implement the AES (Automated
Election System) “using appropriate technology which has been
demonstrated in the voting, counting, consolidating, canvassing,
and transmission of election results, and other electoral processes”
(Sec.2.1), and that “the system procured must have demonstrated
capability and been successfully used in a prior electoral exercise
here or abroad.” (Sec.12).
Because elections done manually as far back as I can remember
spawned progressive cheating, invented so many anomalies like
dagdag-bawas, and definitely reduced the value and the dignity of
Philippine elections as a numbers game, worse inculcated in our
culture that election is a business transaction – vote buying and
vote selling. Now vote buying and vote selling are no longer just by
hundreds of pesos, or thousands, but hundreds of thousands, even
in six digit amounts, especially on the national level.
But then we are a people of faith ...believing there is always the
possibility of change. For me personally, since I covered the 2008
election in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or ARMM
which was fully automated—using even two technologies: the DRE
Direct Recording Electronic system and the OMR Optical Mark
Reader, the possibility of changing our electoral process from bad to
good is now at hand. I don’t say that the AES suddenly transformed
the ARMM from being the cheating capital of elections in the Philip-
pines into an exemplar of clean and credible elections.
What was good about the 2008 ARMM AES experience was that
the system worked. And it showed the key areas needing improve-
ments. The time for the public to know the election results was
dramatically shortened. Hence, the space for manipulating election
results was diminished, and election related violence and nuisance
pre-proclamation protests did not take on gargantuan proportions.
So that with tighter security measures, longer space for voters’
education and exposing the machines to the voting public and
Fr. Russell Bantiles
the BEIs for familiarization (ARMM barely had two months), with
certification by an internationally accredited entity, as well as more
opportunities for Comelec to upgrade its risk management of the
AES, all these plus factors can now move fear of automation to fervor
(or enthusiasm) for this new method that could free our elections
from the bondage of corruption.
AES is not a 100 percent guarantee to do so. In the end, machines
or technology no matter how high tech cannot give us fraud-free
elections. There could be other systems, like the OES, that might
have worthwhile features. But whatever system we consider must
conform to the requirements of R.A. 9369. The technology the
Comelec Advisory Council recommended for the 2010 elections—
PCOS or Precinct Count Optical Scan—conforms to the requirements
of R.A. 9369 and the Terms of Reference (TOR) inputs the learnings
in the ARMM plus other features reinforcing security, acceptability
and election management.
AES could be a path to political maturity of our people, like Japan
or some European countries where manual elections can be trusted
to count the vote correctly, swiftly, and where there is the mature
acceptance of the electorate that in any contest there is a winner
and a loser.
It would still be values, mindsets and attitude of each and all
Filipinos that will spell success of any system for our elections. To
continue fomenting divides and distrust, or to expand ourselves
and go beyond borders of the I, ME, MINE, Is our choice. This is
not to say that we go by blind faith and be reduced to resigned or
indifferent acceptance. No, AES should be a dynamic for participa-
tion, for enlightened engagement. AES for 2010 is what the law has
mandated. But more than this, we could make it a common project
of the citizenry—wherein we pool our talents, our time and our
vigilance together—vigilance is always necessary for any system.
So that fears about hacking, about systems failure, about election
failure and all sorts of fear of the unknown, we may overcome, and
overcome together. It could also be a chance for the Filipinos to once
more show to the world, and to ourselves the marvelous things we
can accomplish when we live our faith.
Proclaim the
with Manny’s plan to run in the local Saranggani elections. This
two reported incidents focused on the Filipino’s never-ending
hope for a better life. There are 40 million poor voters who
could identify themselves with the Pacquiao mother and son—a
dream situation to be in. The crux is, so long as our nation is not
governed by honest, cultured and learned politicians, this will
remain just that—wishful thinking to millions of Filipinos! Yes,
we need change. Foremost of all is change in those governing
this country.
There is much hope for this change in media’s daily reporting
of the progress of the bidding of the automation equipment of
COMELEC. All are hopeful that once the 2010 results come in us-
ing the automated election system, the era of dagdag bawas will
have gone away forever. Wait until you hear the recent March
2009 report that Germany has just declared unconstitutional, the
further use of automated election for the simple reason that it is
not transparent to the voters each step of the election process.
That the source code to compare the program actually used is
kept secret by the manufacturer of the electronic equipment for
the simple reason that it is an Intellectual Property Right that
can not be shared publicly. We will wait for the completion of
COMELEC’s bidding outcome since they have alternative plans
if the present bidding fails.
Timed during the Pacquio fight, the showing of the AKO MIS-
MO advertisement, created a sensation as if a miracle happened.
Deep patriotic sentiments from the viewing public triggered an
advocacy movement. During the sensational Pacquiao-Hatton
fight, all Filipinos here and abroad rooted for Manny to win.
All viewers were emotionally charged and in six minutes it was
over. Our countrymen, hearts bursting with pride, realized that
the Filipino and the Philippines could be world class, thanks to
Manny. If Manny could do something for our country, why can’t
every Filipino viewer do something for the country himself?
Thus the DDB Group serendipitously timed the showing of the
AKO MISMO advertisement during the Pacquiao-Hatton fight.
A conglomerate of prominent and ordinary citizens showing the
simple AKO MISMO tag conceptualized by the DDB Group,
supported by several organizations and funded by PLDT/Smart
Foundation the advertisement advocated change ─ first within
the person himself. A gem of well-timed triggering mechanism,
the AKO MISMO advertisement brought in, in six days time
about 73,000 commitments, 1.l million page views, and 700,000
search results, with numbers growing by the minute. There was
also a rush to buy the AKO MISMO tags. The first objective
of change is inculcating in the Filipino his love of country ─ a

Cogito
JESUS and Amparo, a Spanish couple from
Alicante, were like our parents during our
seminary days in BIDASOA. When we were
still deacons in 2005, Fr. Eugene Hechanova
and I stayed in their house for three days,
before going back to the Philippines. It was
a gesture of deep gratitude towards this
generous couple for the support – not only
economic but especially spiritual – that they
have extended – not only to us both, but to
the entire BIDASOA International Seminary
– even until the present.
Just recently, they attended the ordination
of 14 new deacons (only one from the Philip-
pines) of BIDASOA last April 25. During their
stay in Pamplona, Fr. Eugene and I had the
opportunity to accompany them and relive
the old times together. Both are pharmacists,
who used to own and manage a pharmacy
in Alicante.
We’ve learned that a few years ago, they
have decided to close the pharmacy. The
motive? Every year, they receive complaints
from clients and suffer a lot from court battles.
The reason? Quite easy to understand: the cli-
ents complain simply because the pharmacy does
not sell contraceptives (like condoms, “morning-
after” pills, etc.). And the law requires that
pharmacies should include these products
in their list.
As good Catholics, trying to live coherently
their faith, Jesús and Amparo decided to fol-
low their conscience, a clear echo of what St.
Peter said to the Sanhedrin: “It is better for
us to follow God than to obey men.” And in
doing so, they simply fulfill Jesus’ exhortation
in this Sunday’s Gospel: “Go to the whole
world and proclaim the Gospel.” In other
words, they become living witnesses of the
Gospel of life.
***
How many Jesuses and Amparos could we
find in our neighborhood right now? In our
parish, in our archdiocese, in our beloved
City of Davao, can we still find Christians and
Gospel of Life
Catholics who would prefer to have their
pharmacies closed rather than help propa-
gate an anti-life mentality by selling anti-
life products? (Effectively, “contraception”
is a contraction of two words: “contra”—
against—and “conception”—engender life;
hence, against life).
Speaking of anti-life mentality, one day,
a Spanish friend of mine, nicknamed “K-
sus” (real name is Jesús), asked me candidly
why the natural method of family planning
that involves doing the marital act during
infertile periods if the couple does not want
to have a baby, could not be considered an
anti-life mentality. Simple, I said.
It cannot involve an anti-life mentality,
although the couple does not want a baby,
because, in the first place, it’s the natural law
itself (as expressed in the fertility cycle of the
woman) that does not grant the possibility
of engendering life. Since God’s will is made
manifest in the natural law, we can say that
during infertile periods, it is God’s will that
no life yet could bloom. And the couple’s
desire not to have a baby is only secondary
to God’s will. They simply cooperate in
God’s design, so to speak.
***
In the use of contraceptives, this coopera-
tion in the will of God cannot be found. Why?
Because there’s no decisive consideration of
the natural law (the woman’s fertility cycle).
What is decisive, instead, is not reason but
the sexual appetite that tends to dominate
the couple, robbing them of the opportunity
to exercise their will through self-control. In
the use of natural method, a person exercises
his reason and will. In doing so, he becomes
truly human and rises above and has domin-
ion over his animal instincts. In the use of
artificial method, a person is dominated by
his lower appetites; thus, is more likened to
animals than to humans. What makes man
truly human is the exercise of his higher
faculties (reason and will).
It does not mean suppression of the lower
faculties (like sexual appetites) but dominion
over them, thereby integrating them into
the person’s own good. The irrational exer-
cise of man’s sexual appetites, for instance,
contributes to his dehumanisation. When I
say “irrational exercise”, I mean, the use of
sexual faculties for mere pleasure, without
considering its two inseparable objectives—
expression of love (unitive) and procreation
(procreative), and its fundamental context:
marriage. All sexual acts done outside these
parameters are simply “irrational exercise”
of one’s sexual faculties, hence, degrading
to the person.
***
My friend, K-sus, once again insisted with
his question: “Are we not separating the uni-
tive and procreative dimensions, in the case
of a couple who does not want a baby yet,
and performs the marital act during infertile
periods?” Of course not, for a very simple
reason: they don’t have an anti-life mentality.
As we can see, what the Catholic Church
teaches is not simply a set of prohibitions—a
list of DO’s and DON’T’s—but a pro-life
mentality. I cannot understand why some
people—especially those who promote con-
traception to curb the population, those who
support the RH bill and even those who want
to establish RH clinics in Davao—would
prefer an anti-life than a pro-life mentality.
I cannot understand WHY THESE PEOPLE
PREFER DEATH TO LIFE.
“Choose life and not death”, Moses said to
the Israelites before they set out to the prom-
ise land. The Church is now exhorting us
in the same manner: She is proclaiming the
Gospel of salvation, promoting a “culture of
life”, and condemning an “anti-life mental-
ity”. She does this to fulfill the command of
Jesus: “Go to the whole world and proclaim
the Gospel.” Catholics and non-Catholics
alike—if we prefer life to death—why not
join Her voice?
change that must start from within one’s self.
Will this initial Filipino enthusiasm, that is the love to support
our country’s change for the better, be sustained? Although
there are those who derisively predict that the Ako Mismo ad-
vertisement is PLDT Chairman Manny Pangilinan’s entry into
the political arena, in spite of his immediate denial, there were
still doubting Thomases who say—ano na naman ito? Ganito
na lang ba tayo? Good in planning and gimmicks? NATO pa
rin? (NO ACTION TALK ONLY)? This continuing disbelief and
negative note must stop. Those who follow the moves of Advo-
cacy Groups believe that change for the future is coming. The
coming election has triggered the activation of many movements
and advocacy groups. To name a few—
a) Silent Society Group calling on voters not to reveal the
candidates of their choice for the coming election—to reflect in
silence. The rationale is to thwart survey results that are used
by politicians to pour in more money to buy votes.
b) Education Nation, a business group that advocates for
the election of leaders who can improve the educational sys-
tem which they have identified as the first line of attack for the
country to move forward towards first world category.
c) Youth Vote Philippines, the youth group mainly from
schools and universities, searching for leaders, honest and
knowledgeable in good governance, who can support their
dream of a better Philippines;
d) Change Politics Movement—a 2000-member group led
by former DSWD Secretary, Dinky Soliman, for the eradication
of graft and corruption in government resulting from defective
systems of governance;
e) Kaya Natin Movement—A group of successful governors
and local leaders giving sessions in different schools that there is
still hope for this country to move forward – as shown by their
success in governance as elected politicians.
f) Dilaab Foundation, Inc.—Cebu’s leading agent of change
in the Diocese – exposing graft and corruption; establishing
circles of discernment to select prospective candidates who have
unblemished record of service to the community especially those
now serving parish communities. And many more—the BEC’s,
Parish Pastoral Council Social, Action Units, Lay Apostolates
and Movements.
In answer to the query, Quo Vadis Philippines? I answer.
There is hope for my grandchildren to see the Philippines as the
“Land of the morning, child of the sun returning, With fervor
burning, Thee do our souls adore!— the first two lines of the
lyrics of the Pambasang Awit by Camilo Osias. School children
sang this during Monday flag ceremonies during the 1940s when
Lupang Hinirang was not yet written. Paging Martin Nievera—
You’re OK. Never mind what they say about your singing. It is
what you felt about our country when you sang that during the
celebrated Pacquiao victory over Hatton that matters.
 Local News
CBCP Monitor
A6 Vol. 13 No. 11
May 25 - June 7, 2009

Gov’t job generation effort

not enough—Eiler pronouncement about the latest independent
CBCP reiterates stand on Chacha
AN official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines
(CBCP) said that bishops are firm on their position not to favor
the amendment of the Constitution.
Changing the Charter is not necessary in order to institute
reforms in the country today.
labor survey, saying it’s a “mere percep-
“I am just reiterating the stand of the bishops on this issue, that
tion”. She also assailed legislators who call
ChaCha is not needed to bring about changes in the country and
the survey, “less scientific” compared to
people,” said Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, Media Director of CBCP.
government data.
Quitorio added that if amending the Constitution is really
The Labor Department, through the Bu-
necessary it must not be through the Constituent Assembly (Con-
reau of Labor and Employment Statistics,
Ass) but through Constitutional Convention (Con-Con).
registered an unemployment figure pegged
“Amending the Constitution should be done by those who are
at 7.7 percent, 26 percent short of the figure
chosen by people, those whom they trust, that is why a consti-
from the SWS survey
tutional convention is more favorable,” he said.
“The extent of joblessness in the country
Meanwhile, Quitorio explained that pursuing the constitu-
has been sugarcoated since the government,
tional change must be timely.
in April 2005, decided to revise the definition
“Amending the Constitution at this time can really fuel all
of unemployment through Resolution No.
kinds of speculations from the people,” he declared.
15 of the National Statistical Coordination
He added that people cannot but speculate about some ques-
Board signed in October 2004,” explained
tionable motives by those who is presently holding power if
Escresa-Colina.
changing the constitution is done at this point in time.
“Through the said resolution, the NSO
© www.pia.gov.ph

The Constitution presents three forms of amending the Con-

THE government’s job-generating efforts
100,000 from the repair of classrooms of pub-
used the International Labor Organization
stitution which is through the organization of a Constituent
(ILO) concept of unemployment as those
Assembly, formation of a Constitutional Convention and the
without work, seeking work and available
People’s Initiative. (Kate Laceda)
for work. Prior to this, the National Statis-
tics Office defined the unemployed as those

Panlilio, Padaca to announce

are not enough to accommodate thousands lic schools and 27,000 for the Out of School without work and seeking work, as well as
of Filipinos going out of work. Youth Serving Towards Economic Recovery those without work and “not looking for
This was the observation of the labor (OYSTER) program. work because of the belief that no work was

2010 plans soon

think-tank, Ecumenical Institute for Labor
Education and Research (Eiler), Inc. as 84
companies in Central Luzon get rid of their
15,000 workers.
Eiler Deputy Executive Director Anna
Leah Escresa-Colina said in a statement the
emergency employment opportunities, as
stated in a Communiqué released by the Pal-
ace last February 9, is not enough to solve the
problem of joblessness and massive layoffs
“Apart from being short-term, the num-
ber of jobs created is not enough to provide
employment to jobless individuals, even if
we add up the 100,000 jobs in the business
process outsourcing industry and the 400,000
job offerings overseas for the number of job-
less adults in the Philippines now reach 14
million,” she said.
Based on the First Quarter 2009 survey of
the Social Weather Station (SWS), unemploy-
available, or because of temporary illness/
disability, bad weather, pending job applica-
tion or waiting for job interview,” she said.
She added, even if the government set
new parameters to define unemployment,
it cannot be denied that more Filipinos have
lost their jobs as an offshoot of the financial
crisis.
“As the financial crisis set in early this
year, unemployment figures shot up notches

© Kate Laceda / CBCP Media

in the country. ment rate rose to 34.2 percent this year. higher from the same period last year,
The said Communiqué directs all agen- In addition, 12 percent of the unemployed with layoffs mostly coming from sectors
cies concerned to create 824,555 emergency were reportedly retrenched from work while severely affected such as electronics and
jobs, including the 506,082 jobs from the 13 percent “voluntarily” left their jobs. semiconductors,” she further said. (Noel
Department of Public Works and Highways, The labor expert assailed Malacañang’s Sales Barcelona)
Choice / A1
deliberated on the floor anytime before they adjourn on June 5. after the government’s suspension of more active population control
Governor Grace Padaca of Isabela assured the media during a weekly forum that
Others warn that the church’s crucial backing in the 2010 national programs due the pressure of the Catholic Church. hers and Gov. Panlilio’s political plans will be made known to the public soon.
elections will only be given to those who oppose the bill. Aniceto said billions of pesos have been committed and earmarked
Reports said lawmakers will want to vote on the RH bill too before for release in the coming months, whereby funds will continue to GOVERNORS Ed Panlilio of Pampanga and Grace Padaca of
they go on their mandatory recess. be channeled to local government units and NGOs. Isabela will announce their political plans for 2010 this month.
The bill will then go to the Senate and will be sent to President At “The Forum,” a church-organized media discussion, Padaca
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo if passed by both houses. ‘Intermediate level fertility’ said she and Panlilio will meet to discuss whether or not to heed
At a UN meeting on population decline, the Philippines was listed the clamor for them to join in the national elections.
Foreign backers among 74 countries as “intermediate-level fertility.” The meeting He said there is pressure from various groups for them to
International agencies and economists have called for the enact- noted that if current trends persisted, those countries were expected make a public answer to many questions along that line. So the
ment of RH bill in the Philippines where population now stands at to reach below replacement fertility levels. decision, she said, could be public not later than May.
around 90 million, with an annual growth rate of 2.04 percent, one The prelate said developments will threaten economic security in “We will have a very important meeting tonight so that we
of the highest in Asia. such countries with the first impact being felt in health and welfare could assess the situation and we have to make our final deci-
But the CBCP is taking offense over foreign intervention and ac- systems. sion,” said Padaca.
cused them of unethical behavior for supporting the passage of RH He lamented that hefty funding which should be spent for au- Those attending the meeting, she said, are Naga Mayor Jessie
bill in Congress. thentic maternal, infant and child care, basic hygienic systems and Robredo and members of the Kaya Natin Movement.
ECFL chairman Archbishop Paciano Aniceto earlier said inter- measures are instead poured into contraceptives and birth control Padaca, however, refused to reveal where their meeting will
national funding agencies such as US-AID, the European Com- devices. “Is this good for economic development?” asked Aniceto. take place.
mission, Australia’s Agency for International Development and Foreign funding agencies claimed they are concerned with the A group strongly supporting the candidacy of Panlilio, a sus-
even Agencia Espańola de Cooperacion Internacional of Spain fast growth rate of the Philippine population. pended Catholic priest, and Padaca in the 2010 presidential race
are pressuring lawmakers to pass the RH bill by linking increased With this scenario, funding agencies believe it will be difficult was launched last March.
aid to its passage. for the government to address poverty and achieve sustainable Panlilio-Padaca para sa Pagbabago Movement (PPP Move-
The funding goes to the maternal health and population manage- economic growth unless an effective population management pro- ment) claimed that only Panlilio and Padaca, if elected president
ment program, a multilateral-funded program in several decades gram is implemented. and vice-president, respectively, can deliver the needed change
in the country.
Media Ad / A1 PPP Movement is led by various organizations namely Kaya
of the Philippines (AdBoard) and the Movie self-regulation, to raise the matter to the colorful and words may convey more than Natin! Movement, Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang
and Television Review and Classification advertiser, and remind other advertisers as the literal meaning,” Laguardia said. Magsasaka and the Philippine Alliance of Ex-Seminarians. (Roy
Board (MTRCB) regarding the new televi- well, on everyone’s responsibility especially Laguardia also urged the Kapisanan ng Lagarde)
sion advertisement of “LBC Remittance to the youth. mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas to immediately
Service” which presented Manzano as the Meanwhile, on the same statement sent issue a cease and desist order against the ad-
Regrettable / A1
featured host. to CBCPNews, MTRCB chair Ma. Con- vertiser or order the immediate withdrawal
While she recognizes the business sector’s soliza P. Laguardia asked the Ad Stan- or recall from public exhibition of the adver- claimed, is the government’s failure to do its job for the common
need to market its products and employ dards Council, Inc., to investigate the LBC tisement until its propriety or compliance welfare.
strategies to increase sales and patronage, advertisement. with the Broadcast Code of the Philippines “We certainly hope that our government will realize what the real
Mrs. Nograles said, “there are other respon- “The advertisement is a distortion of and P.D. 1986 is resolved. essence of being public servants is and do what is really needed by
sible and more creative ways of achieving truth on the proper spelling of the word Laguardia cited a Supreme Court decision the people and not of selfish interests,” Iñiguez said.
such objectives than using educational sce- ‘remittance.” To the young minds, without (Soriano vs. Laguardia) which authorita- Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno, on May 15, lamented
nario in an advertisement which conveys a the guidance of an adult, such distortion of tively declared that “the welfare of children the continued control of “oligarchs” over the country and that it
message that is contrary to the educational truth presents an instructional digression,” and the State’s mandate to protect and care appears that the government is beholden to the rich and the pow-
essence of teaching what is right.” said Laguardia. for them, as parens patria, constitute a sub- erful.
Mrs. Nograles also wanted the AdBoard, “The average child may not have the stantial and compelling government interest The said predicament, according to the movement pushing for the
the agency primarily concerned with the adult’s grasp of figures of speech, and may in regulating petitioner’s utterances in TV nation’s moral recovery, further increases the problem of unequal
development of the ad industry through lack the understanding that language may be broadcast.” (Mark S. Ventura w/PR) distribution of wealth and widening gap between the rich and the
poor.
Whatever / A4 According to Iñiguez, oligarchy, by itself, is not a bad form of gov-
used this as a catechetical tool to explain to his left everything for him, he does not guarantee highlighting what God lacks in fact show ernance but only if it leads to the well-being of the whole country.
communist captors “why he left everything to food or lodging, but only a share in his own what man is incapable of giving and sacrific- This, however, does not pose the same result in the country because
follow Jesus because of His defects.”[1] way of life. (…) The Gospel passage of the ing because of his selfishness and calculating of the increasing poverty rate, the bishop noted. (CBCPNews)
a) Jesus has a terrible memory: On the cross, Beatitudes, the true “self-por¬trait” of Jesus attitude towards God and neighbor. Our Lord
during his agony, Jesus heard the voice of the the risk-taker for the love of the Father and of is only more than willing to carrying with on Farmers / A3
thief crucified on his right, “Jesus, remember humanity, is a paradox from beginning to end, these “defects” so that we may be humbled nity for service,” he added.
me when you come into your kingdom”. If even for us who have become used to hearing and converted as we return to His unfailing Five key issues
I had been Jesus, I would have told him, “I it: Blessed are the poor in spirit.... Blessed are mercy and love. In his statement, the Jaro archbishop pressed the legislators on five
certainly will not forget you, but your crimes the afflicted.... Blessed those who are perse- Note: key issues that need to be incorporated in the CARP law.
have to be expiated with at least twenty years cuted for righteousness’ sake.... Blessed are These are: 1) Five-year implementation period including Com-
[1] Taken from “Testimony of Hope”, Bishop Francis
of purgatory.” Instead, Jesus tells him, “Today you when people revile you and persecute you Xavier Nguyên Van Thuân, pp. 14-18. pulsory Acquisition, and without the proposed phasing of distri-
you will be with me in paradise”. He forgets and utter all kinds of evil against you on my bution; 2) Collateral free credit and increased support services to
all the man’s sins. (…) Jesus does not have a account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward Polls / A1 farmers; 3) Creation of an oversight committee with the inclusion
memory like mine. He not only pardons, and is great in heaven. low carbon and low waste campaign.” of private sector representatives to monitor the implementation of
pardons every person, he even forgets that he e) Jesus doesn’t understand finances or “Let us bring to bear God’s gift of democ- agrarian reform; 4) Recognition of the farmers’ legal standing and
has pardoned. economics: Recall the parable of the workers racy and respond to the call for ecological non-cancellation of Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA)
b) Jesus doesn’t know math: If Jesus would in the vineyard. (…) How can anyone pay stewardship and citizenship so that nothing on lands already distributed to and developed by the farmers; 5)
have had to take a mathematics exam, he someone who began work¬ing at 5:00 p.m. is wasted,” the acclaimed environmental Increased penalty for obstruction of CARP implementation.
might have failed. He indicates this in the the very same wage paid to the person who champion said.
parable of the lost sheep. A shepherd has one has been working since early morning? Is The EcoWaste Coalition and the Miss Farmers’ day
hundred sheep. (…) For Jesus, one is equal to this merely an oversight? Is Jesus’ account- Earth Foundation recently launched their May 15 is a national day of celebration and homage of the Philip-
ninety-nine—and perhaps more! Who could ing wrong? No! He does it on purpose, as year-long campaign to green the polls. pine Catholic Church to the farmers that started in 2002. This day
ever accept this? But his mercy reaches from he explains, “Can I not do what I want with The groups vowed to reach out to con- is also the feast of St. Isidore the Worker, the patron saint of the
generation to generation.... what is mine? Or are you jealous because I cerned members of the society to curb waste- farmers.
c) Jesus isn’t logical: A woman who has ten am generous?” fulness in the 2010 polls and promote respect Local celebrations were usually held simultaneously in various
silver pieces loses one of them and she lights a f) Jesus is a bad teacher: As a teacher, Jesus and compliance to the country’s electoral and dioceses across the country spearheaded by their respective social
lamp to search for it. This is truly illogical—to would certainly be dismissed by the Depart- environmental laws. action centers.
disturb your friends over one silver piece and ment of Education for already revealing They particularly exhorted likeminded While honoring the farmers for their contribution to national
then to plan a feast to celebrate the find! Even the content of the final exam that should be citizens’ movements at the national and local development, the CBCP’s National Secretariat for Social Action
more, by inviting her friends, she is bound to kept secret. More than that, he describes the levels to include campaign waste prevention deplores the conditions confronting them.
spend more than the one silver piece. Not even unfolding of the exam. “But when the Son of and reduction in their advocacies to reform “The feast of St. Isidore, the Farmers’ Day on May 15 is an occasion
ten silver pieces would be enough to cover all man comes in His glory…all the nations will the electoral processes. for us Filipinos to recall and acknowledge the important roles our
the expenses. be gathered before Him, and He will separate “Let us all strive to safeguard not only the own farmers play in nation-building,” Lagdameo said.
d) Jesus takes unreasonable risks: Jesus them from each other, the way a shepherd sanctity of the ballot, but also the integrity of “They are the co-creators of God; the representatives of society
promises trials and persecutions for those separates the sheep from the goats.” the environment and the triumph of the com- entrusted with the noble task of making the earth fruitful,” he added.
who fol¬low him. To his disciples who have These six “defects” of Jesus, more than mon good,” the groups said. (CBCPNews) (Roy Lagarde)
 Diocesan News
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 11
May 25 - June 7, 2009
A7
News Briefs
People first before politics, says civil group
DAVAO CITY—A civil society group urged political leaders
Prelate urges media
to promote
to stop too much politicking and focus first on fulfilling their
promises to the Filipino people. Leonor Briones of Social Watch
Philippines said it would be great if political leaders would fast
track the improvement of the lives of the Filipino people who are
suffering in dire poverty instead of making early campaigning.
(Mark S. Ventura)

Cagayan urges speedy passage of CARPER

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The Archdiocesan Center of Con-
cern, Empowerment and Social Services of the Archdiocese of
Cagayan de Oro has urged the various church ministries and
communities to exert all efforts in pushing Congress to pass
the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program with extension
and reform (CARPER). It said that abandoning the agricultural
sector will not only threaten farmers but imperil food security
itself. (Bong D. Fabe)
‘Wedding capital’ of Legazpi marks 10th year
LEGAZPI CITY—Our Lady of Fatima Church known as Nuestra
Señora de la Fatima, has etched a unique moniker “The Wedding
Capital” in the diocese, following its decade of foundation where
Thanksgiving Mass was offered May 14, after a novenario and
procession of the Blessed Virgin Mother held at Tahao Road,
here. Msgr. Noe Thomas, the mass presider and once a parish
priest of the ten-year old church, has inspired the parishioners in
his homily by reflecting of the events that took place which ac-
cording to him “the fan-shaped structure of the church is unique
and conducive to community participation”. (Elmer Bandol)
Health dep’t recommends ban of aerial spray
DAVAO CITY—The Department of Health in the region has is-
sued a stern warning for the complete ban of aerial spray practices
following the result of their study, “Health and Environmental
Assessment of Sitio Camocaan in Hagonoy, Davao del Sur.” “The
aerial spraying of pesticides should be stopped and a shift to
organic farming techniques should be considered,” the health de-
partment pointed out in a commissioned study conducted in 2006
but was only presented to public recently. (Mark S. Ventura)
Prelate notes significance of Marian devotion
DAVAO CITY—Archbishop Fernando Capalla said that the filial
devotion of Filipinos to the Blessed Virgin is the reason why the
country has afforded Mary very special dates for celebrations
like Flores de Mayo. He added that part of this beautiful filial
attachment to Mary is the orders, congregations, societies of men
and women who devote themselves to live a life inspired by
positive values
Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Archbishop
Antonio Ledesma, SJ, urged members of the
communications media to always promote
positive values to help steer people towards
God.
In his homily during the mass at the Daugh-
ters of St. Paul‘s Fatima Chapel in celebration
of the 43rd World Communications Day,
Ledesma summarized Pope Benedict XVI’s
message on the theme “New Technologies,
New Relationships, Promoting a Culture of
Respect, Dialogue and Friendship.”
“Media persons are also called to promote
the culture of respect, dialogue and friend-
ship,” he said.
“To promote the culture of respect is to
respect the dignity of every human person…
especially in how they are portrayed through
the mass media,” the 66-year-old Jesuit
archbishop said.
Ledesma, who also maintains a blog in
cyberspace, called on media persons to
always side with the light and truth and pro-
mote positive values to counter the work of
darkness in using modern communications
media in the promotion of pornographic
values and falsifying what is actually hap-
pening in the world.
Respect for the human dignity of every
person is a “value that we will always protect
in the mass media,” he said.
Ledesma also urged media persons to pro-
mote the culture of dialogue, which he said
means “to promote the interchange of ideas
especially of people of different cultures and
different faith.”
Using as example his beloved Mindanao,
the Iloilo City-born prelate encouraged all
persons using modern communications
media to always foster dialogue and respect
for one another, especially in regard to “our
Muslim brothers and sisters.”
He said the promotion of the culture of
dialogue is best translated in how we treat
one another, especially people of different
cultures and religions. And the way we treat
one another shows our love of God, he said.
“It is also heartwarming to appreciate that
our Muslim brothers and sisters actually
have the same values as we have of love of
God and love of neighbors,” he added.
Ledesma, the 4th archbishop of the Arch-
diocese of Cagayan de Oro also exhorted
media persons to also promote the culture
of friendship.
“To promote the culture of friendship also
means that we are not only able to listen
carefully to each other but also we respect
the human dignity of each other and enter
into dialogue, into solidarity, into oneness
despite our cultural and religious differ-
ences,” he stressed.
He acknowledged that given our pro-
pensity for evil, this is not an easy task to
do, which is why he recommended that
we always think of the fact that “we share
a common humanity, we share a common
vocation to be sons and daughters of God”
to make this task easier.
“And it is where the advocacy for peace
and justice, the advocacy for human rights is
also an advocacy of people in media to help
promote justice and peace in our community,
in our country and throughout the world,”
Ledesma said.
Meanwhile, Fr. Albert “Abet” Uy, profes-
sor on bioethics at the St. John Vianney Theo-
logical Seminary here, advised the media
to always be on the “light” side in the use
and promotion of modern communications
equipment and gadgets.
According to Uy modern technological
advancements especially in the commu-
nications media has two sides—light and
shadow—and that media persons must learn
to navigate away from the “shadow” into the
“light” in their work.
Uy advised media persons to always put
their tasks in the crucible of the following two
questions: “Will our action be good for the
totality of the wellbeing of the human person?
Will our action be for the common good?”
In this way, Uy said, “we become true
Christians in our work.” (Bong D. Fabe)

Muslims to have Shari’a Courts in

Mary, like the Marists, Marianists, Oblates of Mary, Religious of
the Virgin Mary, Teresian Daughters of Mary (TDM), and many
others. (Mark Ventura)

ARMM, urban areas, if approved

Speaker assures Church of 2010 polls
DAVAO CITY—Speaker Prospero Nograles has assured Church
leaders, concerned groups and other no election (No-el) believers
that the election in 2010 will push through. He even challenged
those who are peddling this intrigue to publicly declare that they
would reject any government position or withdraw from running
in any elective post if the election will proceed as scheduled next
year. (Mark Ventura)
Seamen’s group to church: Tackle MLC in parishes,
dioceses
QUEZON CITY—The International Seafarers’ Action Center
Philippines Foundation, Inc. appealed to the Catholic Church
to include on their socio-pastoral dialogues the issue of the
2006 Maritime Labor Convention (MLC ’06) ratification for it
is instrumental in the advancement, development and protec-
tion of seafarers’ rights and welfare. The appeal was made
after the first ever migrant workers’ summit in Mindanao was
held recently. Mindanao is one of the major senders of Filipino
migrant workers, seconded by Visayas and then Luzon. (Noel
Sales Barcelona)
DAVAO CITY–To help Filipino Muslims resolve their legal conflicts
in relation to their distinct personal and family laws, a lawmaker
from the 1st District of Sultan Kudarat is urging for the passage of a
measure seeking to create shari’a courts in the Autonomous Region
in Muslims Mindanao (ARMM) and areas outside of it.
Cong. Datu Pax S. Mangudadatu, author of House Bill 6337 said
that the bill aims to strengthen the shari’a district court system by
establishing shari’a courts in areas where there are countless Filipino
Muslims.
Mangudadatu added that establishing shari’a courts in the
country is mandated under Presidential Decree 1083, although at
present shari’a courts are only in limited areas of Mindanao and
the ARMM.
He added that due to the limited access of Muslims to shari’a courts
the situation also becomes inconvenient and difficult especially in
solving personal legal problems.
“There are Muslims’ communities all over the country especially
in urban centers. That is why the limited access to shari’a courts
make it more difficult for them to avail,” he said.
Under the proposed bill, five judicial districts with one shari’a
district court and one judge each shall be created in the provinces of
Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan and Isabela City in Lanao del Sur, Marawi
City in Maguindanao and Cotabato City.
Apart from that, six special judicial districts, each to have one
shari’a district court, shall be established in the provinces of Lanao
del Norte, Iligan City, North Cotabato, South Cotabato and General
Santos City and the ninth shari’a district in Metro Manila among
others.
The measure also provides that permanent stations or offices of
shari’a district courts shall be created in the ARMM particularly in
the first district of Jolo, Bongao, Isabela City, Marawi and Cotabato
City. Those permanent offices outside the ARMM shall be put up
in Zamboanga City, General Santos City, Metro Manila and Cebu.
(Mark Ventura)

Church, grassroots support AMB passage

DAVAO CITY─ Church leaders and grassroots ing Bill as we demand the immediate scrapping of Secretary General of the House of
communities in Southern and Central Mindanao RA 7942. We believe that the alternative bill will Representatives. In 1997, La Bu-
also signified their strong support for the passage ensure that benefits from mining will go not only gal filed a petition in the Supreme
of the Alternative Mining Bill (AMB) or House to the community but will surely improve Philip- Court questioning the validity of
Bill 6342. pine economy” Catedral said. the Mining Act.
The bill which aims to scrap the old Mining Act The proposed bill will raise government share “Ang AMB naghatag ug
of 1995 takes into consideration the decades-long from mining to at least 10 percent apart from dakung respeto sa among ka-
issues, experiences and analyses of different indi- the direct share of the Local Government Units tungod isip katawhang lumad ug
viduals, organizations, and communities affected (LGUs). sa among yutang kabilin tungod
by mining in the Philippines. Also, leaders of the Columbio Multi-Sectoral kay ginaila niini nga kami ang
Fr. Romeo Catedral, the Social Action Director Ecology Movement (CMEM), an alliance of nanag-iya bisan sa mga miner-
of the Diocese of Marbel said that it is about time grassroots organizations in the Municipality of als nga anaa nasulod sa among
to give more emphasis on environmental protec- Columbio, ultan Kudarat recently passed a resolu- teritoryo” (The AMB greatly
tion, respect to the indigenous communities and tion urging their district representative to support respects our rights as Indigenous
the need for food security of the people. the enactment of the bill. Peoples and our ancestral domains because it ac- “The final bill was a product of years of consulta-
“The alternative mining bill clearly acknowl- “AMB reflects our position that the mining knowledges that we own even the minerals found tions with various sectors and even economic and
edges the importance of environmental protec- industry should be “needs–based,” should bring underneath our territories), Labuayan said. environmental experts to ensure that it reflects
tion as well as food security and shows authentic development to the local communities and does On March 2009, leaders of Luwas Kinaiyahan, the interest of the indigenous peoples and local
respect to the communities. We hope our law- not favor foreign interests” said Audie Itable, a multi-sectoral environmental alliance in Davao communities, their rights and the environment
makers will show real concern by supporting chairperson of CMEM, adding: Oriental were also upbeat of the alternative min- are protected, food security is prioritized and that
the passage of the bill,” Catedral said in a state- “What is more promising in the bill is that it ing bill. the government will largely benefit from it” said
ment sent to CBCPNews by the Legal Rights and ensures that the benefits from mining operations The group committed to influence their district Atty. Rhia Muhi of the Legal Rights and Natural
Natural Resources Center Kasama sa Kalikasan should outweigh the anticipated impacts to the representative to support the bill through the Resources Center - Kasama sa Kalikasan/Friends
-Friends of the Earth Philippines (LRC/KsK-FoE community and the environment.” signatures they will gather from their respective of the Earth Philippines (LRC/KsK-FoE Phils).
Phils) group. Itable also reiterated their group’s call to scrap communities. The bill was authored by Rep. Riza Hontiveros-
Catedral said the Catholic Church is not against RA 7942 otherwise known as the Mining Act of “Hopefully, Mt. Hamiguitan and Pujada bay will Baraquel Rep. Walden Bello, Rep. Lorenzo “Erin”
development and mineral utilization only if it 1995. be finally spared from mining activities with the Tanada III, Rep. Carlos Padilla and Rep. Rufus Ro-
promotes authentic improvement in the Philippine The La Bugal-B’laaan Tribal Association, passage of the AMB since these two are protected driguez. The filing was attended by various sectors
economy and lives of the people. through its chairperson Quentol Labuayan, was areas” said Lilia Paglinawan, Luwas Kinaiyahan including representatives from mining affected
“Our diocese fully supports the Alternative Min- present in the filing of the bill at the Office of the convenor. communities in Mindanao. (Mark S. Ventura)
Afterthoughts / A5 Pandacan / A1
condoning of political corruption as the perquisite of office of elected as standard political practice in our nation today—as the bishops and other major industries in the city.
officials, then it is one that has to do with a general over-hauling of have been repeating over and over each time election year comes “We trust that you will remain true to your word that will veto
our values as a people. That radical change can take place when whole around. With little success. So it’s a tall order, yes, but necessary ordinance 7177,” the petition read.
communities band together as one, as in the BECs, to combat the evil and obligatory for all of us who profess to be men and women of “Having been senator and secretary of the republic, we believe
in a concerted manner. That banding together in common cause is religion to try one more time. that you will take the health and safety of the people as your number
what we call people power, the moral force that, contrary to current one priority. Please don’t fail us,” it added.
despair, is still very much alive in functioning BECs. Comelec / A1 Other bishops who signed the petition are Manila Auxiliary
Will it work? A desperate measure from all appearances, a last “The poll body has a problem with time management... it reflects Bishops Bernardino Cortez and Broderick Pabillo and Novaliches
ditch effort, as it were, to break our slide as a Catholic people into its lack of an operations manual and unavailable internal IT infra- Bishop-Emeritus Teodoro Bacani.
destructive despair. We have reason to hope it will if BECs follow structure and expertise,” CenPEG said. The Mayor earlier vowed to oppose the proposed ordinance, say-
through as the vehicles of change and self-correction in the way they The group said it would have been better if the Comelec selected ing that health and public safety would be his primary concerns than
have so far been proving themselves to be. to bid for an open election system (OES) since it would better fit the the fate of the city’s major industries. (Roy Lagarde)
One misgiving, however, occurs to me at the change of directions logistical capabilities of the poll body.
of the Alagads of Bukidnon: Will the about-face in their tradition CenPEG added that the OES would better promote the impor- Mindoro / A3
inevitably lead to the formation of Catholic political parties? Or at tant policy of “secret voting and public counting” in the holding of against a highly centralized government and flawed national policy
least of a Catholic vote, the possibility even of block-voting similar national elections. on mining that retards efforts to attain sustainable development,”
to the practice of the Iglesia ni Kristo? Under the OES, only the canvassing and transmission would be Garganera said.
I trust not. For that is not a consummation to be desired or aspired automated while the process of voting and counting would remain In a related development, a public hearing in Victoria, Oriental
for. Politicized religion is not what we should be ending up with in manual. Mindoro was also cancelled on May 15 when a crowd of 3,000 people
our attempts to make our faith effective in the reform of our political The same system is being pushed by some members of the Catholic gathered outside the Municipal hall to protest.
order and culture. If there is going to be an authentic Catholic vote, Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). Opposition to the project of Intex Resources is led by the multi-
it will be along the lines of voters exercising their suffrage franchise CenPEG is a public policy group that was established in early sectoral movement called Alyansa Laban sa Mina (ALAMIN) and
in principled ways: not buying or selling votes, not cheating, not 2004 to advocate the democratic representation of the people in the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan together with other national and
destroying others by untruths and slanders, not doing what passes governance. (CBCPNews) international anti-mining advocates. (Pinky Barrientos, FSP)
 A8 People, Facts & Places CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 11
May 25 - June 7, 2009

CBCP holds recollection

on stewardship
THE Episcopal Commissions of the
Catholic Bishops Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP) have deepened
their knowledge on the Spirituality of
Stewardship during their recollection
held last May 14 at the CBCP-BEC
Training and Development Center in
Tagaytay City.
The recollection encouraged the
CBCP employees to reflect on their
roles as stewards of the creation of
God, as workers of the Church, and as
persons.
Resource speakers of the said recol-
lection were Executive Secretaries from
two commissions.
Fr. Conegundo Garganta of the Epis-
copal Commission on Youth (ECY)
gave an extensive discussion on stew-
ardship.
“Stewardship is a lifestyle which in-
volves a deeper understanding of our
relationship to God, to ourselves, and to
others,” he defined stewardship.
Garganta also stressed the chal-
lenge to respond to God’s call as
Relations between Bishops and Reli-
gious (ECMR) expounded on the topic
“Living the Spirituality of Stewardship
in the Context of the CBCP Episcopal
Commissions.”
“The spirituality of Stewardship”
should permeate every work in the
Church and of the Church, therefore,
it should be exercise by every Church
worker, and particularly today, we,
the CBCP personnel and staff,” she
declared.
She discussed that as stewards one
must witness God’s love in the blessings
a person has received.
Otacan also stressed that a person
must live life with respect and gratitude
for the Lord.
Otacan, moreover, defined “Buhay

Photo courtesy of CBCP-ECMR

Christian stewards through the use
and development of our time, talent
and treasure.
“Any talents we possess that will
allow us to achieve success are bless-
ings from the Lord. Any treasure we
may reap as a result of those talents is
also considered a blessing from God,”
he said.
He also provided ways on how to
share the time, talent and treasure given
by God as a thanksgiving to the One
who made everything on earth.
Sr. Eleonora Otacan, DSA from the
Episcopal Commission on Mutual
Katiwala” or stewardship as the way
of life of a steward, of the disciple of
Christ, of a Christian who dedicated to
live the principles and the standards
of God.
She also shared on the perspective of
Manila Auxiliary Broderick Pabillo on
stewardship.
CBCP employees shared their insights with one another during a recollection on the spirituality of stewardship held in Tagaytay last May 14.
“The life of a steward is an ongoing
process of integration as we relate our sessed on earth not our private posses- The aforementioned recollection was nated day-long recollection.
whole person to the whole action of sion but God’s. facilitated by Dr. Linda Tacorda, Execu- The gathering intended not only to
God,” she said quoting Pabillo. Otacan explained that as children of tive Secretary of the Episcopal Commis- learn and develop Christian values
She also stressed that as stewards of God, each of us is responsible for every sion on the Laity (ECLA). but also to establish camaraderie
God’s creation, we are called to respect person on earth most especially to those An excursion at the Vitug Resort, in among other CBCP employees. (Kate
His creation making the things we pos- in need. Nasugbu, Batangas last May 15 culmi- Laceda)

National assembly for indigenous doctors held

De Oro Archbishop Antonio
Ledesma.
Resource Speakers were
doctors who had knowledge
on Western and the so-called
“Complementary” medicines.
Dr. Jessica Cueto-De Leon
from the Department of
Health (DOH) gave a lecture
on “Indigenous Healers and
© Kate Laceda / CBCP Media
and a tribute presentation for the 93rd birthday of
Fr. James Reuter, Chairman of the FOLPMI Board
of Trustees.
The summit was launched through the efforts of
the Foundation of Our Lady of Peace Mission Inc.
(FOLPMI) and the Misereor Ihr Hilfswerk.
The FOLPMI is a non-stock organization com-
mitted to the improvement of the poor and under-
privileged people in the Philippines.
Misereor Ihr Hilfswerk is a German Catholic
and the victimized.
Meanwhile, Sr. Eva Fidela Maamo, SPC, MD,
President of the Our Lady of Peace Mission, con-
veyed her gratitude to all those who are helping
the mission.
“As they launch into their mission to care for
their sick brothers and sisters in their particular
tribes, we also turn the limelight of our appre-
ciation and gratitude to the FOLPMI staff, our
benefactors and friends who have inspired us to

Community Health Workers Bishops’ organization that advocates fighting carry out God’s mission of healing to the most
as Barefoot Doctors.” poverty globally and promotes unity with the poor deprived,” she said. (Kate Laceda)
De Leon reported that the

Manila priests to teach catechism in public schools

first barefoot doctors was in-
stitutionalized in the republic
of China in 1965 while the
Primary Health Care (PHC) IN the recent meeting of the Manila Archdiocese confessional.” Pope said. “(He is) a true example
Batch 7 of the Barefoot Doctors demonstrated the different healing process through was first initiated on 1981 in Presbyteral Council, the Clergy of Manila were of a pastor at the service of Christ’s flock.”
a skit. The doctor gave an herbal medicine to the patient experiencing chills. asked to teach Catechesis at least once a week in Rosales added that the Year of Priests may help
the Philippines were Barefoot
THE 229 Tribal Barefoot Doctors in the Philippines health Workers (BHWs) were trained. the public schools nearest to their parishes. for a deeper reflection on the role of the priest in
who graduated from the Indigenous Peoples Com- The talk on “Integrative Medicine: Ang Pinag- “It is a most fitting way to begin our celebra- the Church and how priesthood functions within
munity Health Workers (IP CHWs) Development sanib na Medisina at kalusugan” was contributed tion of the Year of Priests and to conclude the the whole community of the People of God.
Program gathered last May 20-21, 2009 at the SMX by Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, Professor of UP College Year of St. Paul,” Manila Archbishop Gaudencio “We affirm the great contribution of the
Convention Center in Pasay City for the 1st Indig- of Medicine and the Head of the Traditional; and Cardinal Rosales stated in his letter given to the Clergy in the life and mission of the Church,
enous Barefoot Doctors’ National Summit. Integrative Medicine, UP-PGH. Manila clergy. particularly in their threefold exercise of the
The summit allowed the IP CHWs to share Kalookan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez and the June 2009-2010 has been announced by Pope office of Jesus as prophet, priest and shepherd,”
their experiences and best practices with other CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Health Care Benedict XVI as the Year of the Priests. said Rosales.
participants. (ECHC) attended the event. Rosales then quoted a statement from Pope “The 2007 National Catechetical Directory
It also promoted IP awareness and culture and Various non-government organizations advocat- Benedict XVI that presented St. John Vianney of the Philippines stated that catechesis is the
established relationship with institutions to help ing the skills of the indigenous people on healing as a model of priests today. most basic area of renewal in the Philippines
the IPs with their needs and concerns. also graced the summit. “He was present to his people; he visited and should receive first priority,” Rosales high-
A Eucharistic Celebration opened the na- The event culminated with an open forum and them, taught them and reconciled them in the lighted. (CBCPNews)
tional gathering which was presided by Cagayan small group discussion on IPs’ needs and concerns

Lobby for passage

of anti-child porn
bill slated
AKAP Bata–Anti-Child Pornog-
raphy Alliance, composed of
different socio-civic and religious
groups will pursue its gains on
education and social mobilization
advocacy against child pornogra-
phy and the commercial sexual
exploitation of children.
Ariane Brosas, Akap Bata exec-
utive director said the Anti-Child
Pornography Bill in the Senate has
been approved almost two years
ago while the congress version
is presently with the Committee
on Appropriations and up for
second reading before its recess
next month.
“To dramatize and under-
score the urgency,” Brosas said
UNICEF has organized a 10-day
Rally from May 27 to June 3. A
launching dubbed as “Santacru-
zan for the Immediate Passage of
the Anti-Child Pornography at
the Lower House” is scheduled
from Sandiganbayan complex to
the House of Representatives fol-
lowed by a program and a press
conference.
Other activities include a Fun-
Run organized by Microsoft and
a Photo Exhibit launching on
June 2, Children’s Serenade and
Children’s Face and Body Paint-
CBCP holds farmers’ conference
FARMERS and program officers from all over the country finished their three-day training on May
20 at the CBCP-NASSA National Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Farm and Training Center
at Misereor Village, Barangay Balaring, General Natividad, Nueva Ecija.
Sr. Rosanne Mallillin, SPC, NASSA executive secretary, said the 65 participants were deeply involved
Markings
CELEBRATED. Sr. Regina “Inday” Bernad, SSC, 50 years anniversary
in sustainable agriculture practices across the country. of religious profession, among the Sisters of St. Columban. Archbishop
“There were eight Social Action Center directors who joined the training,” Sr. Rosanne said in an Jesus Dosado led the concelebrated thanksgiving Mass held at San
interview with CBCPNews. Lorenzo Ruiz Church, in Ozamiz City last May 2, 2009. Bernad finished
her elementary education at Misamis Central School in 1932 graduat-
Among the resource persons were Department of Agriculture’s Social and Water Management ing second in her class then went on to study at St. Paul’s College in
Director Silvino Tejada, R. U. Foundry President Ramon Uy, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Move- Dumaguete and graduated salutatorian. She took her BSE at Sto. Tomas
ment President Isagani Serrano, SVD Missionary Pio Eugenio and Mapecon Green Charcoal Chief University in Manila and graduated cum laude in 1940. Bernad taught at
Operations Officer Bianca Atienza. Misamis Occidental High School in Oroquieta City. Shortly after the war,
There were lectures on sustainable agriculture and climate change, technical updates on organic she went to teach in Immaculate Conception College, Ozamiz City which
is now is La Salle University. Following the steps of her younger sister
farming, and Korean technology on hog-raising as well as field demonstrations. Teresita who entered the Columban Sisters congregation, she also entered
Highlight of the training program was their visit to Philippine Rice Research Institute at Muñoz, and took her novitiate in Massachussettes, USA. She later went on for
Nueva Ecija. (Melo M. Acuna) further studies in America and Rome. In 1975, she was appointed novice
mistress of the congregation’s first Philippine novitiate. In 1980, she was
tasked to take charge of the formation of lay leaders and Basic Ecclesial
Communities of the Diocese of Alaminos.
CELEBRATED. Sr. Ma. Elneliza Decaymat, first
profession of vows; Sr. Marissa Remojo and Sr.
Ma. Helen Zurbano, final profession of vows
among the Missionary Catechists of St. Therese
last May 10, 2009 at the Alfredo Ma. Obviar Hall,
MCST Compound, Tayabas, Quezon. Decaymat
hails from Cabanatuan City, while Remojo is
a native of Sariaya, Quezon and Zurbano of
Lopez, Quezon.
PROFESSED. Jaime C. Mallo,
Jr., Alvin Vicente C. Barretto
and Monimar F. Panizales
made their first profession of
religious vows as Oblates of
Mary Immaculate on May 9,
2009 at the De Mazenod Au-
ditorium, Our Lady of Lourdes
Grotto, Tamontak, Datu Odin
Sinsuat, Maguindanao within
the Eucharistic celebration presided by Fr. Ramon Ma. G. Bernabe, OMI.
Mallo took his Philosophy at Christ the King Seminary in Quezon City
before proceeding to the Novitiate. Barretto had a degree on Business
Administration at Notre Dame University before entering the religious life
© Photo courtesy of CBCP-ECMR

ing with the Artists at the House
of Representatives.
Among the expected guest
speakers during the Photo Exhibit
launching are Representatives
Del De Guzman and Darlene
Antonino Custodio, Kalookan
Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez and
Ambassador Henrietta T. De
Villa, Chair of CBCP Ad-Hoc
Committee Against Child Por-
nography. (Melo M. Acuna)
while Panizales obtained his Accountancy degree from the University of
San Agustin in Iloilo City also prior to his joining the OMI. Mallo will take
up his Theology at the Loyola School of Theology at the Ateneo de Manila
while Barretto and Panizales will go at Christ the King Seminary, Quezon
City to study Philosophy.
DIED. Fr. Pedro “Pete” Pacuribot, MSP, aged 77, April 27, 2009. Born on
June 2, 1931, Fr. Pacuribot was one of the pioneers of the Mission Society
of the Philippines (MSP). He joined the institute during its establishment in
1965. Pacuribot spent his last years in retirement in Tayud, Cebu.
The staff of various Episcopal Commissions of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) took time
off on May 14 for a one-day recollection on the topic “Spirituality of Stewardship” at the CBCP-BEC Training Center, DIED. Sr. Ma Luz del Mundo, RVM, aged 94, May 4, 2009; and Sr. Ma.
Tagaytay City. Carmelita Abiera, RVM, aged 82, May 7, 2009.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 11
May 25 - June 7, 2009 Pastoral Concerns
Agrarian Reform
A measure for social justice and
social transformation
By Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ
AT the Second National Rural Congress
convened by the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines in 2007-08,
the small farmer sector voiced out their key
issues and concerns. These were expressed
through a year-long series of consultations
at the diocesan, subregional, regional and
national levels. Among these concerns were
the following1:
* Rural poverty and landlessness are
widespread.
* Small farmers and indigenous people
communities are displaced from their lands
because of land conversion, agribusiness
expansion as well as logging and mining
operations.
* Human rights abuses are rampant because
of militarization and the presence of armed
groups in the countryside.
* Many farmer leaders have been killed in
the process of their agrarian reform struggles
and justice is still to be served to their families
and communities.
* Local farmers’ products are being edged
out from the market by imports from other
countries.
* There is a lack of rural infrastructure and
government support for farm production
and marketing.
* There is corruption at various levels
of government agencies tasked with the
implementation of the agrarian reform
program.
* There are also positive experiences
in agrarian reform and agricultural
development, with several success stories
being documented.
In general, although the rural population has
declined from 75 percent to 52 percent since the
first National Rural Congress in 1967, poverty
continues to be pervasive in the countryside and
has merely spread to the cities in terms of rural-
urban migration. As an answer to their plight,
many farmer delegates called for the extension
of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Program (CARP) with reforms. On the other
hand, another group called for the termination
of CARP and the passage instead of a Genuine
Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB). Both groups
converge on a common aspiration for an effective
and meaningful agrarian reform program based
on the land-to-the-tiller principle.
How then does the Church view the plight of
the rural poor? What is the message of the Bible
and the Church’s social teachings on ownership
of land and agricultural development?
Message of the Bible
The first book of the Bible gives an account of
God’s creation of the world and its culmination
in the creation of the first man and woman.
Solemn words accompany the task given to
them by Yahweh: “Be fruitful and multiply,
and fill the earth and subdue it; and have
dominion over the fish of the sea and over the
birds of the air and over every living thing that
moves upon the earth” (Genesis 1:28).
The terms, “subdue” and “have dominion,”
in biblical language refer to the rule of a
wise king who looks after the welfare of
his subjects. These words can also refer to
the administration of a wise steward who
has to give an accounting to his master, the
only absolute lord of the universe. The first
parents are also placed in a garden to become
stewards of a habitat meant for all. This vision
of God’s providence and man’s stewardship
role in caring for creation is a powerful
critique of the wanton destruction of the
environment that we are witnessing today
and the unregulated appropriation of land
resources as absolute private property.
The vision of God’s lordship is carried further
onto the social and economic plane by the ancient
Hebrew institution of the Jubilee year – i.e., the
year following the sabbath of Sabbath years, or
the 50th year. In observing the Jubilee year as
a holy year affirming God’s lordship over the
whole of creation, the Hebrews acknowledged
three kinds of liberation. Fields and houses
reverted back to their original owners; debts
were cancelled; and the land itself was allowed
to lie fallow. Thus, no one could own the land
in perpetuity; debt peonage was curtailed; and
only God was acknowledged as the master of
all creation and agricultural produce: “for the
land is mine; for you are strangers and sojourners
with me” (Leviticus 25:23).
Social Teachings of the Church
Following the lines of the Biblical message,
the Church’s social teachings have enunciated
as a key principle the universal destination of
goods: “God destined the earth and all it contains
for all men and all peoples so that all created
things would be shared fairly by all mankind
under the guidance of justice tempered by
charityii.” The right to the use of earthly goods
is a natural right, inherent in human nature,
and “has priority with regard to any human
intervention concerning goodsiii.”
As a secondary and complementary
principle, the Church also recognizes the
natural right to private property. This is based
on the special nature of human work and
provides a protection of human dignity, the
exercise of personal and family autonomy,
and a safeguard for civil liberty.
On the other hand, Christian tradition
has never recognized the right to private
property as absolute and unconditional: “On
the contrary, it has always understood the
right within the broader context of the right
common to all to use the goods of the whole
of creation: the right to private property is
subordinated to the right of common use, to the
fact that goods are meant for everyoneiv.”
In this light, agrarian reform is a measure
that calls not for the abolition, but for the
wider distribution of private property. The
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace notes:
“Whatever concrete forms private property
may take as a result of varying institutional
and juridical approaches, it is basically an
instrument to implement the principle of the
universal destination of material goods, and
hence a means and not an endv.”
In the Philippine context, the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program
has included within its scope various types
of peasant groups—e.g., share tenants
demanding their rightful percentage share
of the harvest; leaseholders subject to a
fixed rental; agricultural workers, regular or
seasonal, on feudal-type haciendas or capital-
intensive plantations; and at the lowest rung
of the socio-economic ladder, landless rural
workers without regular employment nor
security of tenure.
While these various peasant groups are
deprived of the ownership of the lands they
till, another phenomenon persists—i.e., the
misappropriation of land by large landholders,
including multinational corporations, which
marginalizes small farmers as well as
indigenous people communities.
The resulting “perverse inequalities in the
distribution of common goods and in each
person’s opportunities for developmentvi” go
counter to another key principle of Catholic
social teaching: solidarity. As a social principle
and a moral virtue, “there exists an intimate
bond between solidarity and the common
good, between solidarity and the universal
destination of goods, between solidarity and
equality among men and peoples, between
solidarity and peace in the worldvii.” Sadly,
the persistence of rural poverty and agrarian
unrest in the Philippine countryside attests to
the “shameful lack of human solidarity, striking
the weakest and future generationsviii.”
If implemented with political will and with
the appropriate support services, agrarian
reform can indeed help restore and build
this solidarity among stakeholders, as it has
been done in neighboring Asian countries.
Agrarian reform is a measure for social
justice—and social transformation.
(Most Rev. Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ, is the
Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro. A former Vice-
President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
the Philippines (CBCP), he is currently a member
of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace)
Notes:
1
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines,
Dialogue with the Rural Poor, Manila, CBCP, 2009,
pp. 39-43.
ii Vatican II Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution
on the Church in the Modern World, 1965. No. 69.
iii Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Compen-
dium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, Vatican City,
Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2004. No. 172.
iv Pope John Paul II, Laborem Exercens, 1991. No.
14.
v Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Towards a
Better Distribution of Land: The Challenge of Agrar-
ian Reform, Vatican City, Libreria Editrice Vaticana,
1997. No. 30.
vi Ibid, No. 27.
vii PCJP, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the
Church, op. cit. Nos. 193-194.
viii PCJP, Towards a Better Distribution of Land, op.
cit. No. 33.
B1
© CBCP Media
Holding up
CARPER
By Gemma Rita R. Marin
It is disturbing to know that while billions of pesos have been
allotted for the implementation of the comprehensive agrarian
reform program (CARP) all these years, vast tracts of land that
are subject to CARP mostly privately-owned remain undistributed.
The exclusion of compulsory acquisition as a mode for distribution
under Joint Resolution no.19 issued by Congress last December
does not speak well of the government’s sincerity in meaningfully
implementing CARP. Those lands which have been awarded years
back are either bereft of the necessary support services to sustain
the productivity of the land or disputed to this day by the previous
landowners. We have been witness to endless rallies and mobiliza-
tion activities, hunger strikes and long arduous walks by awarded
farmer-owners, if only to reclaim the lands that have already been
properly transferred to their name.
In a forum held for the DAR Budget Monitoring Project
(DARBM) last March, the Philippine Partnership for the Development
of Human Resources in the Rural Areas or PhilDHRRA shared its
preliminary findings on the utilization of the DAR budget in imple-
menting CARP for the year 2007. The project’s goal is to make the
budget of the Department of Agrarian Reform more transparent
and open for monitoring by civil society organizations and people’s
organizations whose members are the primary beneficiaries of the
agrarian reform program. Similar monitoring efforts on budgets of
other government agencies have been conducted by assigned
institutions under a ten-month National Budget Monitoring Project
funded by USAID. CODE-NGO, for instance, was tasked to monitor
the budget of the Department of Agriculture; Partnership of Philippine
Support Services Agencies, Inc. or PhilSSA looked at the budget
of the housing agencies; and the Ateneo School of Government
examined the budget of the Commission on Elections.
There are three sources of the DAR budget: the General Fund
(Fund 101), Foreign-Assisted Project Funds (Fund 102) and the
Agrarian Reform Fund (Fund 158). Of the line agencies receiving
funds for CARP implementation, which include the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources, Land Bank of the Philippines
and DA-National Irrigation Authority, DAR (understandably) obtained
the lion’s share of the CARP budget in 2007 at PhP9.77 billion or
65 per cent of total budget. Its many activities span from land dis-
tribution to provision of support services while the other agencies
help out in capacity building and a few infrastructure projects. As
the disbursing agency for paying landowners, LBP was second at
PhP4.26 billion or 28 per cent.
In its review of the CARP allotment from 2000 to 2007,
PhilDHRRA found out that the allotment shot up by 139% from
PhP7.4 billion in 2003 to PhP17.7 billion in 2004, and another sig-
nificant increase of 54% to PhP16.4 billion was registered in 2007.
Obligations were also higher in the same years at PhP13.3 billion
in 2004 and PhP14.1 billion in 2007. The allotment for 2004 and
2007 (which happened to be election years) particularly exceeded
obligation. For 2009, DAR continues to enjoy a sizable budget of
PhP13.1 billion apparently to enable the agency to render more as-
sistance in support services and to support the department’s overall
operations. This amount, however, will not fund the acquisition of
new lands since DAR is first expected to settle all pending cases
and backlogs in distribution.
It was good that the Senate initiated talks with the Lower
House about resolving the issue on compulsory acquisition under
Joint Resolution no.19 pertaining to extending CARP with reforms
or CARPER. But the results of the said meeting of the Senate
and House leaders last March were not all that rosy with the killer
amendments continually being put forward by solons like Reps.
Pablo Garcia and Luis Villafuerte. Exemption from compulsory ac-
quisition of sugar and coconut plantation lands, for instance, is still
being pushed. Allowing CARP lands as collateral for loans is also
supported. This provision can easily revert ownership of the land to
the landlord once the farmer is unable to settle his obligations.
If it were not for the conscientious stance and persistence
of legislators like Reps. Riza Hontiveros-Baraquel and Edcel Lag-
man, the CARPER bill is unlikely to see the light of day. The many
farmers and their families, advocates and supporters, including the
non-government and private sectors which are increasingly becom-
ing aware and interested in extending help to the marginalized,
will remember these different personalities in Congress and their
respective positions on such pressing issues as agrarian reform
come Election Day.
 B2
A Survey of Current Institutions and Jurisdictional Structures for
the Pastoral Care of Filipino Migrant Workers1
Shepherding an
Itinerant Flock (Part II)
By Fr. Jaime B. Achacoso,
J.C.D.
IN the first part of this article, we
defined the problem we wish to
address—i.e., the pastoral care of
the 5 million OFWs—and made
a brief historical background
of the ecclesial response to the
phenomenon of migrants in
general. Now we shall focus
on the adequate pastoral care
of migrants. In the third and
final part of this article, we shall
focus on the possible structures
for the adequate pastoral care
of OFWs.
II. Principles that should inform
the Pastoral Care of Migrants
A. Ecclesiological Principles.
In order to arrive at an adequate
proposal for the pastoral care of
the OFWs, it is important to
begin with some ecclesiological
principles.
1. Principle of Equality. As
c.208 of the Code succinctly
states: In virtue of their rebirth in
Christ there exists among all the
Christian faithful a true equality
with regard to dignity and the
activity whereby all cooperate
in the building up of the Body of
Christ in accord with each one’s
own condition and function.
Without overly dwelling on
this well-known doctrine of
Vatican II, it is important to
point out its incidence on the
organization of the pastoral work
with migrants in general and
with the OFW in particular. In
effect, what this principle affirms
is that in the Church “there are no
inequalities by reason of race or
nationality2.” More particularly,
in relation to the universal call
to holiness, this doctrine would
require a maximalist approach
when determining the measure
or extent of the pastoral means
that must be offered to the
faithful.
More direct to the point, what
this principle implies is that the
OFW should not receive any
less pastoral care than either his
other Catholic countrymen in the
Philippines, or the other Catholic
faithful in the host Church where
he finds himself.
Furthermore, the principle of
equality also underscores that
all the faithful are called to take
an active part in the building
up of the Church. Applied to
the Catholic OFWs, this means
that they should not be viewed
as mere passive subjects for the
pastoral activity of the Church,
but rather as active agents of
evangelization. This implies that
they have the right to receive
not only the means of salvation
necessary for their own holiness,
but also those which capacitate
them to carry out an effective
apostolate in their peculiar
environment.
2. The Principle of Territoriality
vs. the Catholicity of the Particular
Church and the Universality of the
Priesthood. As previously stated,
the principle of territoriality
had always been a lynchpin in
the ecclesiastical organization,
even if Vatican II had introduced
personal criteria as a way of
determining ecclesiastical
circumscriptions, which had
later found their way into the
new Code of Canon Law.
As some canonists have pointed
out, the conceptual category of
territory cannot be understood in
an exclusive, hermetically-sealed
way. In fact, the Code does not
use this criterion in such a strict
manner. The reason for this is
not only due to the practicality
of admitting non-territorial—
i.e., personal—criteria for
determining ecclesiastical
circumscriptions, but also to
the need of understanding the
criterion of territoriality from
the point of view of communion.
The territorial delimitation
of the power of jurisdiction
should admit a wider vision of
pastoral responsibility, which
tends to benefit all the faithful
in need and which fosters
the collaboration between
the different ecclesiastical
circumscriptions.
Ultimately then, the criteria
for delimiting ecclesiastical
jurisdiction—whether territorial
or personal—should be
interpreted in the light of a higher
theological principle, which is the
universality of the episcopate3
and the priesthood4.
The application of this doctrine
to the specific case of the pastoral
care of migrants is far-reaching.
Among other consequences,
we can underscore the pastoral
responsibility of the Church of
origin. In effect, overemphasizing
territoriality would tend to
concentrate responsibility on
the host Church—which would
have to receive, accommodate
and attend to the immigrants—
without saying much of the
responsibility of the Church
of origin. In contrast, if one
starts with the principle of the
universality of the priesthood and
the catholicity of the Particular
Church, one immediately
realizes that the Church of
origin cannot be indifferent
towards the faithful who
emigrate, whether temporarily
or permanently. Again applying
this to our case, the Philippine
Catholic hierarchy—whether
individually or collectively—
cannot really disregard their
primary responsibility to provide
adequate pastoral care to the OFWs
wherever they are deployed.
Updates
3. The Juridic Obligatority of
the Pastoral Care for Migrants.
The Second Vatican Council
exhorted the bishops to have “a
special concern for those faithful,
who—due to their condition of
life—cannot adequately enjoy
the ordinary pastoral care of the
pastors or may be totally deprived
of it, like many emigrants, exiles
and refugees, seafarers and
flyers, nomads, etc. Let them
foster fitting pastoral methods
in order to help the spiritual
life of those who temporarily
transfer to other places during
vacations5.”
It is important to dwell a bit
more on this passage of Vatican
II, which constitutes the very
foundation and key towards
a correct understanding of the
pastoral organization for the
OFWs. In effect, the literal tenor
of the above-quoted text might
suggest that the so-called “special
concern” for migrants is due
to an obligation of charity but
not of justice. One might even
think, based on a superficial
understanding of the principle of
equality, that the migrants—as a
distinct group—should not have
any claim to a “special” pastoral
care, different from the other
faithful who are their equals.
Pius XII, in Exsul Familia,
already laid down the foundation
for the juridic obligation of
offering a peculiar pastoral
attention to the emigrants6. Now
Erga migrantes makes this more
explicit:
Ҥ1. To the right of the faithful
to receive the help that derives
from the spiritual wealth of the
Church, especially the Word of
God and the sacraments (CIC,
c.213; CCEO, c.16), there is a
corresponding duty on the part
of the pastors to provide such
help, in particular to migrants, in
view of their particular condition
of life.
Ҥ3. Moreover, especially
when groups of immigrants are
numerous, the Churches of their
origin have the responsibility of
cooperating with the Churches of
arrival to facilitate efficacious and
suitable pastoral assistance7.”
In effect, all the faithful have
the right to receive spiritual
assistance from the sacred
Pastors to the extent that these
can reasonably administer them.
Hence, those who—through
no fault of theirs, or simply
because they exercise the Church-
recognized human right to
emigrate8—find themselves in
a situation such that, in order
to receive the same spiritual
help that the other faithful in
the territory receive, the Pastors
would need to act in a special
way, have a strict right that the
Hierarchy makes the necessary
arrangements, different from
what is ordinary, so as to provide
them the means of salvation that
befits them.
In brief, the OFWs enjoy the
same right as the other faithful to
the salvific means of the Church—
i.e., the Word of God and the
Sacraments. What is peculiar
is the way that these would be
delivered to them. Hence, the
special pastoral care due to the
OFWs does not constitute a
work of mercy corresponding
to a situation of need, but rather
constitutes a specific modality
of the fundamental right of the
baptized to receive the means
of salvation from the sacred
Pastors.
4. The Nature of Ecclesiastical
Pastoral Care. Before going into
the very core of this discussion,
we need to make one more
precision which might appear
superfluous but nevertheless
should not be taken for granted:
the nature of what we have been
referring to as pastoral care. We
cannot forget that the pastoral
function of the Church consists
essentially in the exercise of the
tria munera Christi—which in
practice is translated principally
in the delivery of the means of
salvation, especially the Word
of God and the Sacraments.
In effect, it would be a serious
impoverishment of the figure
of the priest and of the Church
itself were their mission to be
reduced to assuring the physical
well-being of the faithful.
This in no way denies either
the convenience or usefulness of
some works for the material well-
being of OFWs and their families,
carried out by ecclesiastical
organizations with the support
of the Hierarchy. In some cases,
these may even be necessary
in order to make up for the
failure of the civil authorities.
However, there is a danger
that the urgency of the material
needs of the OFWs might lead
towards a tendency—already
observed, unfortunately—of
substituting on the one hand
the genuine pastoral care with
social works of beneficence, and
on the other hand confusing the
priestly mission of the clergy
with what is incumbent upon
the laity as such—e.g., works of
charity and mercy towards their
fellowmen.
B. Organizational Parameters
Keeping in mind the
aforementioned ecclesiological
principles, we can zero in on
the organization of the pastoral
care of the OFWs. But before
that, we can briefly discuss
the desired characteristics of
such a pastoral care. We can
follow the formula proposed
by Sanchís: (1) specialization,
(2) ministerial availability,
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 11
May 25 - June 7, 2009
© www.immigrationsolution.net
Gregorian
Masses
(Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina
Apostolorum university, answers the following query:)
Q: I understand a Gregorian Mass to consist of 30 Masses
said with unbroken succession. Recently an elderly priest told
me that if it is interrupted even for one day, one has to begin
the Masses all over. I have also met an elderly religious who
was catechizing the lay faithful in the same line. Here then
are my questions: 1) Has this Gregorian Mass (or Masses) any
liturgical or canonical foundation? 2) Does the effectiveness of
the Masses depend on celebrating them without interruption?
3) If this is so (as it is widely held), are we not coming close to
superstition or what St. John of the Cross referred to as lack of
simplicity of faith? According to him, “These people attribute
so much efficacy to methods of carrying out their devotions and
prayers and so trust in them that they believe that if one point
is missing or certain limits have been exceeded their prayer will
be profitless and go unanswered. As a result they put more trust
in these methods than they do in the living prayer, not without
great disrespect and offense toward God.”—P.C., Rome
A: The practice of Gregorian Masses goes back to a tradition
hailing from Pope St. Gregory the Great (540-604). According
to legend, a deceased monk appeared and requested 30 Masses
to be celebrated for the release of his soul from purgatory.
On completion of the stipulated days he appeared once more
radiant in heavenly glory.
From this legend the practice of celebrating 30 consecutive
Masses for one and the same person with the intention of
procuring release from purgatory became an established
custom which has been regulated in various ways over the
centuries.
Present regulation stems from a declaration published by the
Sacred Congregation of Divine Worship on Feb. 24, 1967, which
mitigated some of the restrictions mentioned by our reader and
of which the elderly priest is apparently unaware.
According to the aforementioned declaration, maintaining the
tradition that the Gregorian Mass is a series of 30 consecutive
celebrations, it is not required that the same priest celebrate all
the Masses nor that they be celebrated on the same altar. Thus,
if a priest who has accepted the obligation of celebrating the
series finds himself impeded on any particular day, he may
request another priest to take the intention for him.
Likewise, it could happen that the priest cannot find a
substitute and the series is interrupted because of an unforeseen
impediment (for example, an illness), or for a reasonable cause
(the celebration of a funeral or a wedding). In this case the
Church has disposed that the fruits of suffrage (which, until
that moment, Church practice and the piety of the faithful have
attributed to this series) are maintained. The priest retains the
obligation to complete the 30 Masses as soon as possible but
need not begin the series anew.
I do not believe that this pious custom induces superstition
or reflects a magical concept. It presumes that the soul is in
purgatory and thus recognizes the reality that few people are
immediately ready for heaven after death. It is also an act of
faith and confidence in the infinite intercessory power of the
Mass with respect to souls undergoing purgation. As such, the
request for such a series of Masses is a spiritual act of mercy akin
to obtaining plenary indulgences on behalf of the deceased.
The Just Judge is also infinitely merciful and can be as
generous to those who have toiled but an hour as he is toward
those who bore the brunt of labor all day long.
(3) personal jurisdiction, (4) all the efforts to organize the
organizational elasticity, and pastoral care of migrants. As
(5) service9. In fact, the different can be expected—as Exsul
measures provided for in the Familia already pointed out and
Instruction Erga migrantes various authors consequently
respond to these principles. reiterated—the best pastoral
Perhaps we can just add a novel specialization consists in
contribution of this Instruction to entrusting groups of migrants to
the aforementioned formula: (6) priests of the same nationality10.
empowerment of the laity. Applied to the OFWs, this
1. Specialization. It is common simply means entrusting them
in the magisterial and legislative to Filipino priests.
documents of the Church and 2. Ministerial Availability. The
among canonist to qualify the aforementioned manifestation of
pastoral care for migrants as specialization implies another
specialized, to contrast it with the desirable characteristic for the
ordinary pastoral care provided organization of the pastoral care
by the secular jurisdictional of migrants—i.e., availability on
structures. the part of the sacred ministers
The need for specialization for such pastoral assignments.
is at the very foundation of Shepherding / B4

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 11
May 25 - June 7, 2009
By Bishop Jose Rojas
A New Local Church Comes into
Being
Libmanan could have been just
another ordinary town in the province
of Camarines Sur as it has been that way
for a long, long time. Apart from being
known as the hometown of the second
Bicolano Bishop, Santiago Sancho, there
was nothing else of importance within
the purview of ecclesiastical history that
might be said about this otherwise quiet
town. But in 1989, something happened
that changed its image and its significance
to the Bicol Church.
On January 12, 1989, Leonardo Legaspi,
the Dominican Archbishop of Caceres
since 1984, sent a petition to the Holy
Father, Pope John Paul II, asking for
the creation of a prelature out of his
vast territory that covered the entire
province of Camarines Sur. His territory,
the Archdiocese of Caceres, at the time
the petition was made, had 1.30 million
inhabitants, out of which 1.13 million
were Catholics. Legaspi argued that such
a “large area of ecclesiastical territory”
with such a “great number of people to be
served” justified the creation of another
ecclesiastical territory. The situation
was aggravated by the perception
that, five years into Legaspi’s term, the
demand was growing for more efficient
administration. As Legaspi saw it, this
was made even much more difficult
to provide due to the lack of roads and
means of communication. He thereby
saw a strong case for the dismemberment
of Caceres to give way to the creation of
a new ecclesiastical jurisdiction.
After diligent study and upon
consultation with his suffragan bishops
in the Bicol Region, Legaspi designated
the northern part of his territory, that
is, all nine municipalities of the first
district, including one municipality in
the second district, all of Camarines
Sur, as the area most suited to constitute
the new ecclesiastical territory. He also
chose Libmanan, arguably the biggest
municipality in the area in terms of land
size and population, as the seat of the new
territory. It was to be called the Prelature
of Libmanan.
The Prelature of Libmanan
The Holy See, on December 9, 1989,
issued the Bull, Philippinis in insulis,
creating the Prelature of Libmanan,
making it the sixth suffragan territory
of the Metropolitan See of Caceres, and
the seventh ecclesiastical jurisdiction
in the Bicol Region. The new territory
covered all nine municipalities in the
first district of Camarines Sur that
included Del Gallego, Ragay, Lupi,
Sipocot, Cabusao, Libmanan, Pamplona,
Pasacao, San Fernando, Minalabac and
one municipality in the second district,
Milaor, just a little Southwest of Naga
City. Geographically, the Prelature
is bounded in the North by Basud,
Camarines Norte (Diocese of Daet), in
the East by San Miguel Bay, in the West
by Ragay Gulf and Quezon Province
(Diocese of Gumaca), and in the South by
Naga City (Archdiocese of Caceres).
In another Bull, on the same date,
the Holy See appointed Prospero Nale
Arellano of Bombon, Camarines Sur and
erstwhile Parish Priest of St. Raphael the
Archangel Parish (Pili, Camarines Sur),
as the First Bishop-Prelate of Libmanan.
The Bishop-Elect had been for a number
of years, Rector and Professor at both
the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary and
the Holy Rosary Major Seminary in the
mother Archdiocese of Caceres, and
Parish Priest of Our Lady of Fatima Parish
in San Isidro, Iriga City, before he moved
to St. Raphael Parish in Pili.
The Prelature was canonically erected
in solemn rites on March 19, 1990, taking
St. Joseph as its Principal Patron. At
the same time, Arellano was ordained
bishop by then Apostolic Nuncio Bruno
Torpigliani and installed as the First
Bishop-Prelate of the new local Church
and See of Libmanan.
The First Pastoral Assembly of Libmanan
(PAPL I)
Almost one year after its canonical
erection, the Prelature found a new source
of impetus for a new beginning, the
Second Plenary Council of the Philippines
(PCP II), held in Manila from January 20
to February 17, 1991, and convened by the
Archbishop of Caceres and then CBCP
President, Leonardo Legaspi.
The holding of the Plenary Council
gave the Prelature the occasion to conduct
its own consultations and conferences
in the parishes aimed at obtaining an
adequate picture of the situation of
the local Church, something that the
Prelature’s delegates needed to know
before proceeding to the Council.
Already at this point, both the clergy
and the lay faithful realized that a different
situation was evolving in the Prelature,
with its own peculiar needs and problems
that were quite distinct from those of the
metropolitan Church. This realization,
coupled with the fresh insights that the
Council would later on provide, would
help determine the future agenda in the
life and mission of the Prelature. Of
particular importance, for instance, was
how the council participants defined
what to them should be the image of
the Church in the Philippines, that is,
as a “Community of Disciples” and a
“Church of the Poor”, where leadership is
exercised in the context of servanthood—
thus, defining the identity of the priest
as “servant-leader” as well.
In any case, PCP II served as an
inspiration to many dioceses in the
Philippines. On September 6-10, 1992,
Bishop Arellano called for a “pastoral
consultation” that was convened around
the theme, “A Living Faith for a Renewed
Church”. This gathering of all priests
and lay representatives of the Prelature
held at Betania Retreat House in Iriga
City, evolved into what is now called the
“First Pastoral Assembly of the Prelature
of Libmanan” (PAPL I).
The discussions of PAPL I proceeded
in three stages. First, existing pastoral
programs and structures, both in the
Prelature as a whole and in the individual
parishes, were examined and evaluated.
The evaluation was done according
to different areas of concern that were
labeled in terms of such operational
concepts as kerygma (the proclamation
of the gospel), liturgia (the sacraments
and sacramentals), koinonia (the building
of the community of disciples), diakonia
(internal service), and martyria (external
service). The evaluation of these areas of
concern yielded results that were in turn
categorized qualitatively into either crisis
(limitations and difficulties) or kairos
(strengths, assets and potentials).
Thus, in the area of kerygma, it was
observed that many Catholics knew
The journey that was
Prelature of Libmanan
1989-2008
Cathedral of St. Joseph the Patriarch
IMPORTANT FACTS
Bishop ………………………………....................……...
Priests:
Diocesan …………………………...................………. 47
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Sisters …………………………...................…………..
Seminarians:
Theology ……………………………...................…….
Philosophy ……………………......................……...... 19
Pre-College ……………………......................……….
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District ………………………...................…….………
Parishes ………………………..................……...…...
Population …………………...................……..…
Catholics ……………...................………..……..
Area ……………………..................….... 1,862.28 sq.kms.
very little about their faith and therefore
also lacked proper understanding
thereof, mainly because of the scarcity of
evangelizers as the work of evangelization
was too priest-dependent (crisis). Yet the
situation was not completely without
hope since efforts were also being
expended to train catechists and lay
leaders on an ongoing basis (kairos).
Sadly, the kerygmatic crisis as it were
also had unfortunate consequences
in the area of liturgia, in that people’s
participation in the liturgy was generally
lukewarm, again because of the lack of
pre-sacramental catechesis, subsequently
preventing the faithful from internalizing
the meaning and value of the sacraments,
and leaving unchecked their beliefs
that bordered on superstition (crisis).
On the other hand, the intensification
of formation for the various liturgical
ministries was also undeniable, and
masses were becoming more available
to the faithful as these were now being
celebrated even in the villages (kairos).
Moving on further to the area of
koinonia, the social and political condition
prevailing in the Prelature, as it did in
the whole country, was one that bred
not fellowship and communion but
rather division and conflict among the
people, the ordinary citizens having to
live under constant threat to their peace,
security and well-being (crisis). In spite
Diocese
of this, initiatives were also being taken
to empower the laity in lay movements,
organizations and in pastoral councils
(kairos).
The same pattern is noticeable in the
area of diaconia. Volunteers to carry on
the social apostolate were scarce and
funds were insufficient to sustain other
Church-related services. This situation
was exacerbated by pastoral programs
that were rather limited and lacking in
integration (crisis). Nonetheless, this
was offset by the efforts of some sectors
of society, mainly non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), to provide much-
needed social services especially to the
urban poor and to those in the rural areas
(kairos).
Finally, in the area of martyria, it was
observed that other religious sects and
denominations did not escape being
the object of Catholic bias and prejudice
(crisis). But this did not mean that steps
were not being taken, as indeed there
were continuous efforts, to engage in
ecumenical dialogue (kairos).
Besides having to deal with this
dialectical tension between crisis and
kairos, one other concern (problem) that
the local of Church had to confront was
the widespread dehumanizing poverty
of her people. There was difficulty in
1 of all agents of renewal
4
12
13
6 work of all agents of
3 bishop, to the priests
27
579,491
479,322
Bishop Jose Rojas, DD
implementing some, if not most of the
existing pastoral programs because they
frequently had no bearing on this real
situation of poverty and accordingly did
not correspond to the needs of the people.
Irrelevant, therefore, as these programs
had become, there obviously was need
to redirect their goals and orientation
in a way that would make them more
responsive to the burdens that people
had to carry because of their situation.
All these insights provided the
backdrop from where the discussions
further moved into the second stage,
that is, the formulation of the Prelature’s
vision and mission. For the first time in
its existence, the Prelature was able to
define its own identity around a vision
of its being a local Church and sought to
fulfill this vision in its mission statement
as follows:
We, the local Church of the Prelature
of Libmanan, though young yet rich
in heritage, beset with diversified
conflicts, extreme poverty, countless
injustices and crisis in faith, aware of
our role as Sacrament of Salvation,
envision a renewed Church characterized
by an evangelized and evangelizing
Community of Disciples, after the
image of the Holy Trinity, journeying
with Christ in the Poor, for the total
transformation of creation.
To realize this vision, with the
inspiration of Mary, our Ina and model in
faith, we commit ourselves to: wholistic,
integral and inculturated evangelization;
participative ministry to witnessing small
faith communities; and the responsible
stewardship of creation.
PAPL II: A Defining Moment
On March 15-18, 1994, barely a year and
a half after the First Pastoral Assembly,
Bishop Arellano convened the Second
Pastoral Assembly of the Prelature of
Libmanan (PAPL II), determined to
follow up the implementation of the
recommendations of the First Pastoral
Assembly of 1992.
The point of departure for the PAPL
II discussions was a review as it were of
the situation of the Prelature “then and
now” (situationer). This was an essential
step in moving the discussions to the
presentation of the general framework
and orientational principles that would
be followed in the assembly and meant to
serve as guide in the workshop sessions
that dwelt on three main agenda, namely,
a) Renewed Integral Evangelization
(RIE), b) Renewed Integral Social
Ministry and Ecology (RISME), and
c) Renewed Agents of Change (RAC).
Along these three main agenda and
based on the situationer and orientational
principles, the assembly participants
produced 109 recommendations that
were subsequently promulgated into
decrees by the bishop at the conclusion
of the assembly on March 18, 1994.
Again, though short of being a
diocesan synod, PAPL II proved to be
another significant breakthrough in
the history of the Prelature. Its decrees
paved the way for the formulation of
the five-year Comprehensive Pastoral
Development Program (CPDP) in June
of 1994. Once again, the CPDP reflected
the eleven themes covered by the three
general headings (which may now be
conveniently called major thematic
programs of the CPDP) under which the
various decrees of PAPL II were listed
down, namely, the Renewed Integral
Evangelization (RIE), the Renewed
Integral Social Ministry and Ecology
(RISME), and the Renewed Agents of
Change (RAC).
As can be gleaned from these decrees,
it was the consensus of the assembly
participants that the Prelature must
always project the image of a Renewed
Church in its mission, and that all efforts
in this Renewed Church to provide service
to the people, especially the poor, should
be undertaken within the ambit of these
three major thematic programs. Most
significantly, the assembly participants
expressed the desire of having as end
B3
product of all these efforts and the
implementation of these three major
programs, the formation of small
Christian communities in all the parishes
of the Prelature, what was going to
be called henceforth as the Saradit na
Kristianong Komunidad (SKK).
Clearly, the main contribution of PAPL
II was not only the fact that it provided
the basis for the formulation of the CPDP
in general, but more so for establishing
the ground and rationale for adopting as
a major pastoral strategy the building of
small Christian communities, the SKKs,
in all parishes of the Prelature. Slowly
and gradually, the SKK shall give “face”
to the Church in the Prelature. From
now on, the SKK shall give flesh to the
identity of a “Renewed Church” that
the Prelature had always been aspiring
to become. At last, the “Community of
Disciples” and the “Church of the Poor”
which PCP II had so frequently talked
about, were to find concrete expression
in the SKK. To such great measure then,
PAPL II had become a defining moment
in the life of the Prelature of Libmanan
as a local Church.
PAPL III: Renewing the Church in the
Third Millennium
Much has happened then since
PAPL II. Quite fittingly, within the
celebration of the Great Jubilee Year of
2000, on the 10th year of the Prelature’s
existence, and after five years since
the implementation of the CPDP, on
September 4-7, 2000, Bishop Arellano
convened another pastoral assembly, the
PAPL III. The theme of the convocation
was nothing but truly appropriate:
“Basic Ecclesial Communities: Life and
Hope for a Renewed Church in the
New Millennium”. Prior to the actual
convocation, consultation was made
on several points, like the alternative
financial system and the scenario in the
parish if it were to be an SKK-oriented
parish. But given the time-frame within
which the CPDP was designed to be
implemented, it was most logical that
the assembly’s discussions had for
their starting point the evaluation of
the CPDP’s implementation, to see if
progress has been made in realizing
its goals and pastoral objectives. Once
again, the bishop, priests and parish lay
representatives, together as a community
and in the spirit of prayer, gathered to
look back at the past five years since
1995 of pastoral initiatives, to see where
they have moved forward and where
they have not.
At the assembly, some participants
lamented that the 109 decrees of PAPL II
were not specific enough to suit the local
situation as they simply reflected the
general decrees of PCP II. While progress
has been made to some extent, the main
obstacles were the lack of commitment
on the part of the people involved,
notably that of the parish priest, and the
lack of congruence between the actual
situation in the parish and that which
was presupposed by the CPDP and the
PAPL II decrees.
The negative evaluation led the
assembly to draft a new set of 48 decrees
(articles) that are more realistic, feasible
andrelevanttothelocalsituation,which
a Special Commission formed
from among the assembly
participants, further refined
and which the bishop
finally promulgated on
December 3, 2000.
The 48 decrees
called for profound
conversion on the part
in the local Church.
But one other thing
that these decrees had
tried to emphasize was
that the task of building
communities was the
renewal. From the
and lay leaders—all
are called in concerted
effort to build small
Christian communities (SKK)
to give face to the renewed Church
that the local of Church of Libmanan
was being called to become in the new
millennium.
PAPL III sparked renewed hope that
things would move forward towards
the realization of this vision of the
local Church of Libmanan of becoming
precisely a renewed Church. Several
training seminars were organized
within the span of three years. Those
who took part in them, members of the
Barangay Pastoral Councils and pastoral
workers, were chosen to constitute the
Parish Formators’ Team (PFT). The task
of the PFT was indispensable in SKK-
building as it was charged in turn with
the responsibility of conducting and
facilitating a series of formation seminars
for SKK cluster leaders.
The implementation of the PAPL
III decrees and the renewed vigor in
building SKKs brought to the fore two
important realizations that changed the
face of the local Church of Libmanan.
First, SKK was to be “a new way of being
Church” as well as a way of renewing
the local Church of Libmanan. Second,
SKK was to be the raison d’être of the
Prelature of Libmanan precisely because
SKK-building was what was envisioned
in its vision-mission statement.
The whole process of SKK-building
had to follow a certain strategy and
framework, one that begins with
Libmanan / B6
 Features
CBCP Monitor
B4 Vol. 13 No. 11
May 25 - June 7, 2009

Why the bleak prospects for extending the

Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program
By Belinda Formanes food importation (including smuggling)
instead of food sufficiency as the means
to meet the people’s food requirements.
UNLESS a miracle happens, Congress There is also the absence of good
will be writing finis to an unfinished governance as illustrated by the multi-
reform program in less than ten working million fertilizer scandal under DA
session days this June. The unfinished Undersecretary Joc-Joc Bolante. And
program is the Comprehensive Agrarian lastly, there is policy incoherence
Reform Program (CARP), which still has as reflected in the Administration’s
1.3 million hectares of land, mostly big public declaration of support for
estates, to be covered and distributed. small farmer development even as
Also, CARP still has to fulfill the the government’s own Medium-Term
triple mandates laid down by the l987 Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP
Constitution—as a weapon of social 2004-2010) is targeting not less than
justice (partly met), as an instrument two million hectares for agribusiness
for balanced rural development (barely development by big corporate players
met) and as a platform for rural-based like Danding Cojuangco.
industrialization (hardly met). The bias of the Administration for
Why then the bleak prospect for big agribusiness is also reflected in the
the passage of the “CARP extension cha-cha proposal of Speaker Prospero
with reforms” bill (house bill 4077) Nograles and the NEDA’s MTPDP.
which unanimously already passed the The justification being used for cha-
committee level? cha is primarily for the “Pandora’s
Despite its strong endorsement by box” of the presidential term extension
the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the maneuver and for more economic
Philippines (CBCP), many in the House liberalization, this time, the opening
of Representatives have openly been up of land ownership to foreigners and

Photo courtesy of Balaod Mindanaw

seeking the termination of CARP, with
no less than the Congressman son of
the First Couple and the Congressman
Brother of the First Gentleman taking
the lead. Further, the Speaker of the
House and the well-known leaders
of the President’s political party,
KAMMPI, have also introduced “killer
amendments” whose objective effect
would not only reduce the scope of
CARP but would dangerously open
the possibility of reform reversal in
areas where land had already been
transferred to rightful farm beneficiaries.
For example, one killer amendment is
the exemption of “plantations which
are under labor administration and
cultivated and developed for exports”.
If approved, this amendment will
virtually bring the scope of CARP to the
original land reform target set in l972 by
President Ferdinand Marcos, as if the
country did not undergo EDSA I and
II. This amendment is also likely to fuel
more conflicts in the countryside as there
will be organized efforts by a powerful
few to displace the banana, sugar and
other farmer-worker cooperatives from
the lands already covered by their
respective collective land ownership
awards or CLOAs.
As it is, the countryside is once again
restive, with the awakened peasantry,
from Cagayan Valley in the north
to the Davao provinces in the south,
anxious over the delays in CARP
implementation and the Congressional
dilly-dallying on the needed support
for CARP’s completion. Many farmers’
organizations cannot also understand
why the Department of Agriculture
(DA), Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) and the
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)
have been quick to make a commitment
to identify one million hectares of
public and private land, which Eduardo
Cojuangco and the Kuok family of
Singapore-Malaysia can develop as
agribusiness farms—when CARP itself
has not been completed and there is a
growing colony of landless rural poor
nationwide!
The bigger picture, of course, is
that the entire agricultural sector is in
shambles. The rice crisis which made
the headlines in March-June of this
year shows that the Philippines is now
the easing of the equity requirements
before foreigners can manage businesses
related to mining, gas exploration, mass
media, advertising, education and
public utilities, including transport.
Such a cha-cha initiative is like a
proposal for the re-colonization of the
Philippines—except that the initiative is
coming from government officials bereft
of any sense of economic nationalism
a major agriculture-importing country, and who have no faith on the capacity
with an annual net agricultural trade of the Filipino to excel.
deficit of over $1 billion. This is due to Verily, the counsel of Archbishop
falling investments associated with the Angel Lagdameo for bold communal
uncertainties generated by an unfinished action to push for reforms is wise and
CARP and the failure of DAR to upgrade timely. Only the collective unity of
the capacity of unlettered farmer an awakened citizenry can eliminate
beneficiaries to become modern farmers, corruption and abuse in governance,
on one hand, and to nudge former goad Congress to take CARP seriously,
landowners to invest on agricultural pass HB 4077, stop the anti-people cha-
processing and non-farm activities, on cha locomotive on its tracks, and engage
the other. This is also due to the overall Malacañang to serve the Filipino people,
neglect of the sector under the World not a favored few.
Bank’s “agricultural deregulation”
policy and the WTO’s “agricultural (Belinda Formanes is the Executive
trade liberalization”, which promoted Director of PARDDS)

Blessed Elena Guerra: Apostle of the Holy Spirit Elena Guerra was born on June 23, 1835, to strive, by some means or other, to
in Lucca where she grew up in a family that spread the devotion to the Holy

Nuns mark jubilee of was profoundly religious.

During a long illness, she gave herself
to meditating the Word of God and to
Spirit in the Church. For this
reason, she secretly wrote a
number of times to Pope

foundress’ beatification studying the Fathers of the Church, which

led her on the path of the interior life and
of the apostolate: first, in the “Association
Leo XIII exhorting him to
invite “modern Christians”
to discover the “life
THE Sisters Oblates of the Holy Spirit in the Philippines of Spiritual Friends”, which she founded according to the Spirit.”
marked the 50th anniversary of Blessed Elena’s beatification and organized to promote friendship in a The Pope, amiably
on April 26 through a solemn Eucharistic celebration presided Christian sense among the young; and, later, urged by the mystic
by Fr. Rene Manubag, Provincial Superior of the Claretians. in the “Daughters of Mary.” of Lucca, addressed
A life size statue of the foundress was unveiled at the main In April of 1870 Elena with her father to the Church
lobby of Blessed Elena Academy in Pasay City for the occasion. Antonio came to Rome on an Easter some documents
The event, which kicked off the year-long celebration was pilgrimage. She visited, among other places, which can also be
attended by friends, benefactors and lay collaborators of the the tombs of the Martyrs in the Catacombs, considered as the
institute. The Sisters have lined up the following activities which made her determine to embrace the initiation of a “return
for the year in honor of their foundress: consecrated life. She assisted at St. Peter’s to the Holy Spirit” of
* Vocation Camp held last May 1-3 at the Sisters Oblates on April 24, at the third public session of these times. These
of the Holy Spirit Novitiate House in Tagaytay City with the 1st Vatican Council, during which the documents are:
the theme: “Pagsunod sa mga yapak ni Blessed Elena tungo Constitution Dei Filius on the Faith was the Brief Provida
kay Kristo” promulgated. The sight of the Holy Father, Matris Charitate in
* Blessing of the 3 ft. tall statues of Blessed Elena on May 23, Pope Pius X, moved her so much that after 1895; the Encyclical
liturgical feast of Blessed Elena. The statues were distributed some weeks, on her return to Lucca, she Divinum illud
to the 13 houses of the OSS in the Philippines. A Mass was consecrated herself to God (June 23) as a munus in 1897; the
also celebrated at the Cenacle House at Apo Street, Quezon sacrificial victim for the Pope. Letter to the Bishops
City. In 1871, after a long dark night followed Ad fovendum in
* Pentecost Novena Mass at the National Shrine of Our by mystic graces, Elena with a group of christiano populo
Lady of Lourdes Parish Church from May 22-30 at 5:15 p.m. “Spiritual Friends” and “Daughters of Mary” in 1902.
and Pentecost Novena Prayer at Sta. Teresita Parish Church began a new experience of religious life in a On October 18,
at 6:30 a.m. community that led in 1882 to the foundation 1897, Leo XIII, in
* Holy Spirit Congress, which will be held on places of of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Zita, a special audience
apostolate of the OSS. for the cultural and religious education of the granted to her,
* Talk about Blessed Elena as a “Great Educator”, November youth. It was in this period that St. Gemma encouraged her to
5, 2009 at Blessed Elena Academy Auditorium. Galgani became her “beloved pupil.” proceed with her
Towards the year 1886 Elena became apostolate for the
aware for the first time of an interior call Blessed / B7

Shepherding / B2
Definitely this does not imply a juridic
duty of the sacred minister (in the
sense that the priest can be obliged to
emigrate), but it rather implies a certain
attitude on the part of the ecclesiastical
authorities in the Church of origin (since
they share in the responsibility to care
for the emigrants) which fosters this
availability, together with the obligation
of facilitating matters for those priests
who are disposed to accompany the
emigrants.
Again, applying this to the OFWs,
this simply means that the different
dioceses in the Philippines should be
needs of the migrants is the principle
of personality (vs. territoriality) in the
determination of jurisdiction. Aside from
the aforementioned need to properly
understand the territorial criterion,
we have to take into account as well
that it might be sometimes necessary
to delineate pastoral jurisdiction along
personal criteria—e.g., of tongue or
nationality. We shall deal with this
more later.
4. Organizational Elasticity. There are
no unique pastoral solutions or absolute
panaceas for the organization of the
pastoral care of emigrants. Everything
principle, which gives the ministerial
priesthood its name: service. In effect,
the clear consciousness of this principle
by the Pastors—following the Good
Shepherd, who had declared non veni
ministrari sed ministrare—is what
should enable them to effectively put
into practice the other principles, in order
to fully satisfy the fundamental rights
of the emigrants. It is neither a matter
of mere moral value, nor much less of
pure rhetoric; on the contrary, stemming
from the foundational will of Christ,
this principle has important juridic
consequences. In fact, it can be said that
the example of Christian life.” Then Philippine Church, in Vigan City, 20-23 April
2009.
Ҥ2. The lay faithful who are culturally
better prepared and spiritually more 2
Vatican Council II, Dogmatic Const. Lumen
gentium, n.32.
available should furthermore be urged
and trained to take on a specific service 3
Cf. Vatican Council II, Lumen Gentium, n. 23.
as pastoral workers in close collaboration 4
Cf. Vatican Council II, Decr. Presbyterorum
with the chaplains/missionaries 13.” ordinis, n. 10.
This indeed is a novelty in the whole 5
Vatican Council II, Decr. Christus Dominus,
doctrine and canonical regulation of this n.18.
phenomenon, in that for the first time, 6
“Ut alieniginis, sive advenis sive peregrinis,
there is a call to the real empowerment spiritualem possit praebere adsistentiam neces-
of the lay migrants—to “be urged and sitatibus haud imparem nec minorem, qua ceteri
trained”—to take an active part in the fideles in sua dioecesi perfruuntur” (Pius XII,
Exsul Familia, Title I, III).
pastoral care of migrants.
The application of this principle to Erga migrantes, Juridical Pastoral Regulations,
7

generous in allowing those members
of their respective clergy, who may feel
themselves so inclined, to minister to
the pastoral needs of the OFWs in their
respective places of deployment.
Definitely, the actual canonical norms
regarding the mobility of the clergy,
their freedom to opt for adscription in
a given ecclesiastical circumscription
(other than that of their incardination),
and even the possibility of changing their
incardination all facilitate the practical
application of this principle11.
3. Personal Jurisdiction. Closely
related to the need of fitting the
pastoral structures to the spiritual
will depend on the concrete needs and
actual resources available. In this regard,
the principle of organizational elasticity
should be kept in mind. Perhaps it was
this that Paul VI alluded to when he
affirmed that to the present (human)
mobility should respond the pastoral
mobility of the Church12. In any case,
this principle in no way proposes a
specific solution; on the contrary what it
militates against is the exclusion of any
possibility, adjusting it to the pastoral
necessities.
5. Principle of Service. Underpinning
all the aforementioned principles is
of course the most basic of pastoral
this principle constitutes a hermeneutic
key for the proper understanding of
all the other principles present in the
doctrinal and normative texts regarding
the pastoral care of migrants.
6. Empowerment of the Laity. Finally,
as a unique contribution of the recent
Erga migrantes, we can point out the
recognition of the active role that the
laity is called to take in the pastoral
care of migrants. Thus, in Art.2 of
Chapter 1: The Lay Faithful, it states:
Ҥ1.The faithful who decide to live
with another people should strive to
(…) contribute to its common good
and to spread the faith especially by
Art.1.
the case of the OFWs can lead to quite
interesting consequences, especially 8
“Man has the right to leave his country of origin
for different reasons—as well as to return to it—
when we bear in mind the unique and to seek better conditions of life in another
situation of the Philippine Church where country” (John Paul II, Enc. Laborem excercens,
quite a high percentage of the laity are n.23).
in fact involved in many lay movements 9
Cf. J. Sanchis, La pastorale dovuta ai migranti
and covenanted communities (e.g., ed agli itineranti (aspetti giuridici fondamentali),
Couples for Christ, Christian Family in Fidelium Iura, 3 (1993), pp.468-480.
Movement and El Shaddai to name a 10
Cf. Apost. Const. Exsul Familia, Title II, Chap.
few). IV, n.33.
11
Cf. CIC, cc.265-272.
NOTES 12
Paul VI, Address to the European Congress on
the Pastoral Care of Emigrants, 17.X.1973, in AAS,
Based on a lecture given at the 17th National
1
Convention of the Canon Law Society of the
65 (1973), p.591.
Philippines, on the theme The Filipino Migrant 13
Erga migrantes, Part II: Juridical Pastoral
Worker:A Canonico-Pastoral Challenge to the Regulations.

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 11
May 25 - June 7, 2009
A Pastoral Statement on the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program
‘Agrarian Reform is an instrument of social
justice and an act of political wisdom’
AGRARIAN Reform is the centerpiece program of the 1987 Constitution. It pronounces in definitive
terms that the law of the land upholds the protection of the rights of the poor in keeping with the
principles of social justice. Despite the trails of failures in its implementation and the rising agrarian-
related violations in the countryside, the farmers and the Church acknowledge that for the most
part, agrarian reform has had a positive impact on poverty reduction.
Even before the funding for
the Comprehensive Agrarian
Reform Program (CARP)
expired last December 2008,
several well-meaning legislators
passed bills that extend and
reform the flawed provisions of
the old agrarian law. The Church
commends these initiatives and
we throw our full support to the
consolidated Senate and House
Bills, SB 2666 and HB 4077, now
up for Senate’s and Congress’
deliberation and approval.
Unfortunately, time is running
out as there are only nine session
days left for Congress to enact
this essential law.
Correspondingly, we oppose
in the strongest terms, the
threat of “killer amendments”
being inserted by some senators
and congressmen that will
effectively emasculate the
objectives and gains of the CARP
with Extension and Reform
(CARPER) Bill for the poor
farmers. These amendments are
called “perfecting” amendments
by their proponents, which
in reality would dilute, slow
down, and reverse the gains
of the program and reduce the
resources available for it.
Invoking guidance and
inspirations from both the
Philippine Constitution and the
social doctrines of the Church,
we find the proposals below to be
unacceptable and antithetical to
laws that govern the moral and
social structures of our society.
* The phasing of land
acquisition and distribution,
which targets first those
landholding measuring 50
hectares and above without
prejudice to the coverage of
lands below 50 hectares, after
an accomplishment trigger of
90% by the respective provinces.
This is unconstitutional in
that our Constitution does not
distinguish on whatever basis the
agricultural lands to be covered
under CARP. On the contrary,
it mandates the coverage of
all lands without qualification
on the basis of size or even
crop type. Allowing the State
to distinguish between lands
below 50 hectares and those
measuring 50 and above would
be discriminatory against, and
would disenfranchise a huge
percentage of potential farmer-
beneficiaries, considering that
the bulk of undistributed private
agricultural lands is comprised
of lands less than 50 hectares.
Putting the 90% trigger as
condition for resumption for
coverage of smaller landholdings
may actually result in most of
the remaining landholdings
being left uncovered or
undistributed.
* Reconsolidation of
agricultural lands by previous
landowners after the 10-
year retention period, and/
or the reduction of the 10-
year prohibition on sale of
awarded land to three years.
These provisions clearly favor
(Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, 1997)
former landowners and could
defeat the purpose of the
program because it will allow
them to reacquire foreclosed
lands, thus reconsolidate their
landholdings.
* Allowing leaseback
arrangements of awarded
lands between farmers and
landowners/corporations. We
findthisproposaltobeinequitable
and contradictory to the ultimate
goal of agrarian reform, which is
to grant ownership and control
over the land and its resources
to the tillers. CARP does not
intend to protect whoever has
the capacity to buy and operate
big plantations, at the expense
of the small farmers.
* Institutionalization of
Commercial Farm Plantations
in CARP. This proposal is
objectionable as it expressly
seeks the transfer of control of
lands from farmer-beneficiaries
to the landowner or any other
agribusiness venture “partner”.
It is contrary to studies which
show that small-scale rice
and corn farms by owner-
cultivators are more productive
than large scale farms. It is
also discriminatory against
rice and corn farmers. More
importantly, this amendment
is a contravention to the basic
principle of agrarian reform
which seeks to secure access,
ownership, and control over
Even before the funding for the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Program (CARP) expired last
December 2008, several well-meaning
legislators passed bills that extend
and reform the flawed provisions
of the old agrarian law. The Church
commends these initiatives and
we throw our full support to the
consolidated Senate and House Bills,
SB 2666 and HB 4077, now up for
Senate’s and Congress’ deliberation
and approval. Unfortunately, time is
running out as there are only nine
session days left for Congress to
enact this essential law.
land and its resources to the
poor farmers.
* Increasing the compensation
to landowners and increasing
the downpayment from the
present 25%-30% to 50%. This
proposal, which is based on
case-specific decisions of the
Supreme Court, would result in
a reduction of funds available for
land acquisition and distribution
and support services and
would effectively prevent the
program from being completed.
Increasing just compensation for
landowners is welcome as long
as the corresponding increase
will be matched by an increase
in the allotted P147 Billion
budget.
* Transfer of jurisdiction
Statements
over agrarian cases from the
Department of Agrarian Reform
Adjudication Board (DARAB) to
the regular courts. We believe
that the resolution of agrarian
cases entails the expertise of
DAR on agrarian reform. This
is sufficient and more equitable
to the farmers because they
are allowed to participate and
represent themselves in the
process, which are not bound
by technical rules of procedure
and evidence. We fear that the
transfer of jurisdiction will
only serve to marginalize the
farmers, who could be subjected
to a more adversarial and costly
processes.
* Legislating the
disqualification of “habitual
squatters” from becoming CARP
beneficiaries and making them
criminally liable and punishable
with specific penalties under
the law. The Church, together
with the farmers’ groups,
registers strong opposition to
this provision and we are one
in calling for its deletion from
the final version of CARP.
There is an alarming likelihood
that this will be used as an
instrument to harass legitimate
farmer-beneficiaries, who are
typically branded as “squatters”
by landowners. Legislating this
provision will allow landowners
to threaten farmers with criminal
cases.
The social teachings of
the church equally condemn
the concentration and
misappropriation of land as
intrinsically immoral. Gaudium
et Spes states that “God destined
the earth and all it contains for
all men and all peoples so that all
created things would be shared
fairly by all mankind under the
guidance of justice, tempered
by charity” (69). Similarly,
Vatican’s Pontifical Council for
Justice and Peace’s paper on
“Towards a better distribution
of land” quotes the prophet
Isaiah as saying, “Woe to those
who join house to house, who
add field to field!” (5:8)
The same document also
quotes the late Pope John
Paul II’s dramatic address to
members of the government
and landowners in Mexico: “…
leaders of the people, powerful
classes which sometimes keep
unproductive lands that hide
the bread that so many families
lack, human conscience, the
conscience of the peoples, the
cry of the destitute, and above
all, the voice of God, the voice of
the Church, repeat to you with
me: It is not just, it is not human,
it is not Christian to continue
with certain situations that are
clearly unjust. It is necessary
to carry out real, effective
measures—at the local, national
and international levels… it
is clear that those who must
collaborate most in this are
those who can do the most.”
© Denvie Balidoy
Thus, it is with great
sorrow and foreboding that
we, the Catholic Bishops of
the Philippines, witness some
legislators willfully neglecting
a vital sector that contributes to
the country’s economic growth.
Abandoning the agricultural
sector will not only threaten
farmers but imperil food security
itself. Conversely, distributing
lands to small farmers will
provide equitable economic
opportunities in the rural
areas and eventually reduce
poverty and unrests, which are
major deterrents to democratic
development.
Acquiescence to the evils
of self-interest has serious
negative effects in the social
and economic well-being of the
country and jeopardizes our
collective pursuit of the common
good. We appeal to our political
leaders to make a serious
examination of conscience and
focus their attention on the
swift resolution of the mounting
forms of injustice and violation
of fundamental human rights of
the rural poor.
The small farmers deserve our
attention and espousal of their
cause. They continue bringing
hope to society, and nurture
life from season to season. No
man of upright conscience much
more that of a principled leader,
can allow the Filipino farmer to
be laid bare and vulnerable to
the claws of globalization and
continuous hopelessness.
Let us all pray for justice and
peace to reign in our country,
through an authentic agrarian
reform, carried out in the
spirit of distributive justice and
solidarity with the rural poor.
We pray for the Holy Spirit to
lead us away from sin, enlighten
our minds, and purify our
intentions. And may the love of
Christ impel us in our quest for a
morally reformed society.
For the Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines,
+ANGEL N. LAGDAMEO, DD May 20, 2009
Archbishop of Jaro
President, CBCP
18 May 2009
B5
In Our Nation’s
Best Interest
A RESURGENT foreign donor working group of international
funding agencies recently touted support for the passage of
a reproductive health law in the country. These include the
US-AID, the European Commission, AustralianAID and even
Agencia Espańola de Cooperacion Internacional of Spain.
Unmindful of the already sharply decreasing rate of
population growth in the Philippines after 39 years of unrelenting
and well funded population control programmes, still these
international birth control groups foist upon our country their
agenda for population reduction to a level that courts national
peril. Billions in funding have been committed and earmarked
for release in the coming months, whereby funds will continue
to be channeled to 540 or more local government units and
their decision makers, to identified business groups, NGOs
and interest groups, including unsuspecting youth leaders and
their membership around the country.
How this can be freely done to a sovereign country like the
Philippines by foreign governments, foreign billionaire donors, and
alien interests in the face of a constitutional framework that places
national interest and self-determination as a primary paradigm in
public policy and legislation defies reasonable explanation.
At a UN meeting on population decline, the Philippines was
listed among 74 countries as “intermediate-level fertility.” The
meeting noted that if current trends persisted, those countries
were expected to reach below replacement fertility levels. Such
developments will threaten economic security in such countries
with the first impact being felt in health and welfare systems.
Tremendous funding which should be spent for authentic
maternal, infant and child care, basic hygienic systems and
measures are instead poured into contraceptives and birth
control devices. This is good for economic development?
Why would wealthy donors and a country’s own population
commission be suggesting population control when that
may hurt the country in the long term? Thirty nine years of
population control in the Philippines has not solved poverty.
Whereas the population programme launched in the 70’s was
meant to increase “the share of each Filipino in the fruits of
economic progress”, today, Filipino family size has significantly
and alarmingly decreased—and poverty remains a pandemic.
And there are insidious methods at work of trying to subvert
At a UN meeting on population
decline, the Philippines was
listed among 74 countries as
“intermediate-level fertility.” The
meeting noted that if current
trends persisted, those countries
were expected to reach below
replacement fertility levels.
Tremendous funding which should
be spent for authentic maternal,
infant and child care, basic
hygienic systems and measures are
instead poured into contraceptives
and birth control devices. This is
good for economic development?
our self-determination by using [population control] funds as
subtle leverage for assistance programmes. The 1974 National
Security Study Memorandum (NSSM200) encourages such
subtle coercion which today is still in use.
Apart from these unethical, unlawful, and unconscionable
interventions, incidents are rife of the extraordinary damage
inflicted upon the people especially women, and cultures
of developing countries by these funded population control
programmes. Today, a more subtle intervention is unleashed
in our midst with a veiled malevolence in so-called “IEC”
programmes—Information, Education and Communication—
tools meant to undermine the traditional values and cultural
norms in our strongly family-oriented society. After all, to the
targeted countries like the Philippines, the 1994 ICPD Programme
of Action declared that the goals of population control would
involve “changes in lifestyles [and] social norms or government
policies that can be largely brought about and sustained through
greater citizen action and political leadership.”
And while paying lip service to the Philippine Constitution’s
protection of the unborn from fertilization, and conceding
that international documents “do not explicitly assert a
woman’s right to abortion,” alien movements tell us that these
international documents can be “broadly interpreted and
skillfully argued” in order “to expand access to safe abortion.”
Speaking through influenced NGO’s, this powerful bloc has
openly rued what it describes as “outdated legal and regulatory
barriers” in Philippine law and the consistent opposition of
the Catholic hierarchy and organized groups of the Faithful,
as barriers and stumbling blocs to the institutionalization of
so-called ‘reproductive rights’ in the country.
The hype of “reproductive rights” and “choice” have
unleashed their folly. Unrelenting moves to change our
culture, our collective attitudes, and even our fundamental
rootings about life and family values have all but corrupted
us and has left in its wake a nation of disordered liberties and
broken communities.
Enough already. “Law is aspirational. It expresses something
about what kind of people we are and what kind of society
we are in the process of creating.”1 We know what we are,
and we know what we want to be—a great people journeying
together to our collective good as a nation. Our constitutional
heritage attests to our love for life, for family, for progeny. Our
basic law also thunders to the rest of the world our sovereign
power to determine for ourselves what will be in our best
interest as a nation.
+PACIANO B. ANICETO, DD
Archbishop of San Fernando
Chair, CBCP Commission on Family and Life
1
Former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Prof. Mary Ann Glendon.
 Ref lections
CBCP Monitor
B6 Vol. 13 No. 11
May 25 - June 7, 2009

The Church as Israel renewed

by the Holy Spirit
Pentecost Sunday - B (John 20:19-23); May 31, 2009
By Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo

ORIGINALLY, Pentecost was an agricultural feast, during which the first fruits the land
produced were offered (Exod 34:22), and was later associated with the giving of the
Covenant, fifty days after the celebration of the Passover at the departure of Israel from
Egypt (Exod 19:1-16). In the Christian dispensation, however, it is not, strictly speaking, a
commemoration of the birthday of the Church, but rather celebrates the giving of the gift
of the Spirit to the renewed Israel, which is the Church, fifty days after the resurrection of
Jesus. It marks the giving of a new life—the life of the Spirit—to the community which
Jesus began to establish through his life, ministry, but especially his passion, death and
resurrection. That is why, in the Gospel read for this feast, we are given a Johannine
account of the giving of the Spirit: “Then he breathed on them and said: ‘Receive the
Holy Spirit.’” (John 20:22).
The giving of a new life has for its (Ezek 37:1-10). The vision is not really God. It is your sins that make him
background the Genesis account and about the individual resurrection of hide his face so that he will not hear
Ezekiel’s vision of the dry bones. The the dead, but a visionary description you” (Isa 59:1-2). Because of sin, Israel
action of Jesus first of all recalls the of the new life that was to begin for the became a divided nation, was scattered
story of God forming man out of the people of Israel. But what is important all over the world, and it became a
clay of the ground and blowing into his for us is the point that both stories land of violence, evil judgment, lies,
nostrils the breath of life, on account emphasize—God gives a new life to adulteries, usury, disregards for rights
of which man became a living being his people. and other sins which created a social
(Gen 2:7). Under the influence of Greek And Pentecost precisely has that disorder. Such social disorder is aptly
© angel532008.wordpress.com

philosophy, this has been taken in the
past to mean the creation of the soul.
But to the Hebrew mind, this simply
means that it is Yahweh who gives
life, and on whom human life directly
depends. In Ezekiel’s vision of the dry
bones, God instructed the prophet to
prophesy to the dead bones so that
a new spirit would revive the bones
significance: the giving of a life—the
life of the Spirit—to the renewed
Israel, which is the Church. It may
be recalled that because of sin, of
turning away from God, misfortune
fell on Israel: “Lo, the hand of the
Lord is not too short to save, nor his
ear too dull to hear. Rather, it is your
crimes that separate you from your
prefigured in the story of the tower
of Babel. Because of man’s proud
idolatry, of his arrogance in trying
to build a tower, God chastised him;
among others, he confused mankind.
For the biblical writer, the diversity of
languages was a consequence of sin,
and it conveys the message that our
The Church / B7

Fr. Roy Cimagala

Bo Sanchez

Purpose of communication
POPE Benedict has just given becomes an island with no sense people know this basic truth and It’s like a tapestry, containing
his message for this year’s of archipelagic solidarity. how much they are applying it in so many different threads, but
World Day of Communication, I was struck when the Pope said their communications. What can with a beautiful and harmonious

Complicate your life

celebrated on May 24. It is in one of his opening lines that easily be gathered is that most design.
titled, “New Technologies, New “this desire for communication people communicate merely for Thus, we have to understand
Relationships—Promoting a and friendship is rooted in very personal reasons. that our communication, in
Culture of Respect, Dialogue and our very nature as human If not personal, then it’s done whatever form it takes, should
Friendship.” beings and cannot be adequately more to pursue purely human always be a way of participating MY title sounds shocking, especially coming from someone
It’s a call for all of us to make understood as a response to needs in the areas of professional, in the eternal communication who’s known by everyone as Mr. Simple—a guy who doesn’t
use of the advantages these new technical innovations.” social, cultural life. There’s God has within himself and with even comb his hair and doesn’t wear a watch and who dons
technologies of communication— That fine distinction is, I think, actually nothing wrong here as the rest of creation. It cannot be a 70’s outfit not because its faddish but because he’s trapped
the mobile phone, computers, worth reiterating. We tend to long as everything is rooted and any other way. in that era.
Internet, etc.—can give us. The be so captivated by the novelty focused on God’s will and design. This is a tremendous challenge But you see, I don’t believe that simplicity is the greatest
obvious alternate corollary is that offered by these new technologies This basic truth is, sadly, often for us to attain this abiding sense thing in the world.
we avoid their dangers and other that we forget that this need for set aside. of the nature and purpose of Take my life for example. I’ve deliberately complicated it
disadvantages. They too can turn communication comes from our Often, we make our our communication. It surely these past few years.
traitors, if we are not careful. nature that has objective laws and communication a purely human would require the cooperation I remember a few years back, I wrote these articles with nary
Of course, it presumes that requirements to be followed and affair. It’s with this kind of of everyone, according to his a distraction—except perhaps for the few stray mosquitoes
we know well the peculiarities respected. mentality that distorts our possibilities, and massive underneath my computer table.
of this new development. That’s It’s easy for us to fly into communication, resulting in resources. Today, the mosquitoes don’t bother me at all. It’s the one-
why, it’s good of the Pope to purely subjective ideas of why discord and enmity among Given our human condition, year-old thief in diapers underneath my table, grabbing my
remind us of basic realities that we communicate. We tend to ourselves. The Pope appeals with our need to be subjective, to computer keyboard and typing in tongues.
rule our lifelong business of make that task to serve narrow, to all to see to it that our pass through several stages, not When I was a single man some time ago, I didn’t even
communication. selfish ends. We do not make any communications promote to mention, our weaknesses and know what “savings” meant. Today, I have to deal with
They tend to be forgotten, effort to attune it to serve God and respect, dialogue and friendship limitations, and the temptations educational plans, health insurance, and sound investments.
or at least taken for granted, the common good. If the latter among ourselves. around, we need to be patient and And even if the thief-in-diapers is still toothless as of this
with obvious dismal effects and are served, it often is a result of In fact, our communications focused in this task of educating writing, I’m seriously saving for his teeth braces, which I
consequences. In the frenzy and accident, not by intention. should foster communion first ourselves about communication. hear, costs more than my car.
excitement that often accompany Quite clearly, the Pope spelled of all with God and then among We have to be quick to detect During my single days, I recall sauntering off by myself to
these new technologies, we can out the nature and purpose of ourselves. It’s a communion that and heal both the human and a lonely mountain to pray for a day or two—whenever I so
easily forget the real and ultimate communication. “In the light of welcomes diversity of opinions in devious tricks that can poison desired. I’d bring a guitar, a bible, and a tiny picnic basket.
purpose of communication. the biblical message,” he said, things precisely open to opinion, the original nature of our All by my quiet self.
Ironically, instead of “it should be seen primarily as a without compromising the communication. That will never happen again in my present life. Because
strengthening our unity with reflection of our participation in absolute truths. The Pope also encouraged all, now, I’d have to bring a guitar, a bible, a picnic basket, my
everyone, they can become the communicative and unifying It’s not one to straitjacket especially the young, to make use wife, my baby, his diaper bag, his toy bag, his food bag, his
clever tools of division that can Love of God who desires to make us. Rather it enhances, if not of these new technologies for the clothes bag, his bottle bag, his carriage, his car seat…
isolate people in the world of of all humanity one family.” perfects our freedom in all its purpose of evangelization. In the And in that mountain, I can only pray as long as the thief-
their own making. Each one Now I don’t know how many rich but unified possibilities. end, that’s what they are for. in-diapers is napping. And the moment I play the guitar,
he instantly wakes up and strums it for me—ushering the
Libmanan / B3 end of my quiet prayer time, and signaling the start of my
model building according to which a fully developed BEC model going, making decisions that involved the health insurance of the clergy, distracted, noisy, harassed prayer time.
that is responsive to the culture and situation of the local Church liturgical reform, administrative appointments, and the establishment of There are days when a thought crosses my mind: Why on
is designed. Part of this step is the preparation of culturally rooted St. Benedict Seminary in San Fernando, Camarines Sur. earth did I get married? What insanity came over me? Why
activities as initial venues for gathering people and for sustaining the did I complicate my very simple, happy, single life?
same gatherings. Then the process continues on to capacity building. Towards Becoming a Diocese But immediately, the answer comes forcefully when I see
That is, through trainings, the ability of the agents of renewal for The Prelature of Libmanan has been in existence already for eighteen my loving wife playing with our smiling baby in her arms.
sustainable SKK implementation is developed and enhanced (human years. In 2010, it shall celebrate the 20th anniversary of its canonical Peace overflows my heart as I realize that I’ve exchanged
resource development). Thus, not only are cluster leaders to be erection. All these years, the Prelature had gone a long way. For sure, my very simple, happy single life for a very complicated,
obliged to undergo training in order to increase their capacity for SKK there have been setbacks and these were many. For one thing, resources happy married life.
implementation, but priests themselves as well have to undergo the remain scarce. For many years, in fact, this has been the Prelature’s Why have I complicated my life?
same experience. The final step of this process is institution building, main predicament. It does not have adequate funds to support its Because I have decided to love.
according to which policies on the environment, structures, systems programs, much less the logistics to procure facilities for its apostolates And here’s the lesson I’ve learned: As long as you complicate
and strategies consistent with the vision-mission of the SKK are and to build infrastructure support. But in many ways more than one, your life because of love, then it’s glorious.
well defined. An outcome in this stage of SKK-building is structural the Prelature has become truly rich in its own way. Congratulate yourself.
reorganization and the parish clustering of families. Indeed, the Prelature of Libmanan is a poor Church. But as Because simplicity isn’t the greatest thing in the world,
All these, one might say, were the accomplishment of PAPL III and envisioned by PCP II, it is not only a “poor Church”. It has also but love.
such was its impact on the local Church of Libmanan. Every parish become a Church “for” the Poor and more so a Church “of” the Let me give you two other examples:
in the Prelature is now SKK-saturated, with clusters of communities Poor. Paradoxically, however, such poverty has also become its If you’re going to join a Catholic group, believe me when I
reaching 3,765 in 2007, and the numbers continue to grow to this day. fountain of wealth, giving concrete expression as it were to the Lord’s say this: your life will get complicated. (Take it from one who’s
Finally, an SKK-culture is beginning to be felt everywhere. In fact, one discourse at the mount—“Blessed are the Poor”! For in many ways, been part of community for twenty years.) Why complicate
cannot talk about the Prelature of Libmanan without being drawn to the Prelature has also become rich in faith, and it has been made your life with weekly meetings, heavy responsibilities, tiring
the SKK-atmosphere that now prevails in the whole Prelature. even much richer by the thriving and flourishing of small Christian ministries, and queer personalities? Why get into relationships
communities (SKKs), built around this faith. These communities are that will disillusion you in the end? Why follow leaders that
The Dawning of a New Administration the Prelature’s treasure, its pearl of great price. It is on account of you know will disappoint you one day?
After eighteen years in office, Bishop Arellano was relieved of his this “treasure” that the Prelature has quite progressed and is slowly A more basic example:
responsibility as Ordinary of the Prelature after the Holy Father accepted moving forward towards maturity as a local Church. Sheer numbers Why will you commit your entire life to God? I mean, won’t
his resignation due to ill health. In his stead Bishop Jose Rojas, Auxiliary for sure would not be enough to serve as indicators of this movement. it be easier just to be a nominal Catholic? All you have to
bishop of Caceres has been appointed as Bishop-prelate of Libmanan. Time will tell if indeed the Prelature has moved in this direction of do is go to Mass on Sundays and presto—you’re guilt-free.
On July 2, 2008, in solemn rites presided over by Archbishop growth, but recent developments must have already borne this out. You can do what you want to do the rest of the week. You
Leonardo Legaspi, Metropolitan Archbishop of Caceres, and witnessed Indeed, the moment is not far, as it has become opportune, for the don’t have to think about pleasing Him every moment of
by the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Edward Joseph local Church of Libmanan to obtain the crown it can now claim to your life. You don’t have to love Him in your every word,
Adams, and some bishops from Bicol and elsewhere in the country, be its own, the status and the dignity befitting a diocese. thought, and deed. That’s just too complicated!
the new Bishop was installed and took canonical possession of the Ipsi gloria in saecula! Make your life simple.
Prelature of Libmanan. (Last March 25, 2009, Feast of the Annunciation, the Holy Father Pope Simply meaningless.
As soon as he assumed office, the new bishop moved quickly to get things Benedict XVI elevated the Prelature of Libmanan to a Diocese)
 Social Concerns
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 11
May 25 - June 7, 2009
B7

Appeal to the senators for We know that the Law

the passage of CARPER sans is on the Farmer’s side

killer amendments
JOINT Resolution No. 19, which extends the Comprehensive
Agrarian Reform Program but without providing for
compulsory acquisition, expires on June 30. On June 5, however,
the second regular session of Congress will end, resuming
only on the first week of July. This means that despite months
of campaigning and lobbying for a struggle that has spanned
decades, and because of the indifference or neglect of our
representatives in Congress, we are again in the eleventh hour,
with only nine session days left to pass a law that is not only
constitutionality mandated, but is required by basic notions of
equity and social justice.
The implementation of an agrarian reform program is a
Constitutional mandate which the State may not avoid by
legislative inaction. Section 4, Art. XIII of the 1987 Constitution
requires the State to “undertake an agrarian reform program
founded on the right of farmers and regular farmworkers
who are landless, to own directly or collectively the lands
they till or, in the case of other farmworkers, to receive a just
share of the fruits thereof.” As it is, Joint Resolution No. 19 is

Photo courtesy of Balaod Mindanaw

unconstitutional for being contrary to the very spirit of agrarian
reform. If Congress again fails to pass an agrarian reform law
by June 5, it will be nothing short of a dereliction of a duty
reposed on the legislative body by our Constitution.
The CARP has been in existence for 20 years, but the fruits of
authentic agrarian reform in the country have yet to be reaped.
Eighty percent of privately-owned agricultural lands remain
undistributed. Eighteen percent of CARP beneficiaries have not
received titles to the lands that they till and should rightfully
own. Sixty-five percent of CARP beneficiaries have no access to
WE, the farmers, U n d e r t h e m o s t r e ce n t year moratorium on transfers of the many proposals raised by government support services that should be available in agrarian
proposal on phasing, lands over awarded land. This is antithetical members of the Senate. We
advocates of Agrarian 50 hectares and above will be to the objective of CARP because remain vigilant and will continue
reform areas. Rural poverty still accounts for seventy percent of
the country’s poor. If we are to attain social justice eloquently
Reform, the bishops prioritized. The acquisition and this would result in nullifying to watch Senate processes, and defined by Justice Jose P. Laurel in Calalang vs. Williams as “…the
and the religious, distribution will be done on a the gains of the program in the call on our Senators to perform humanization of laws and the equalization of social and economic
province to province basis. And, past 20 years. In fact, 2.8 million their duty to the Filipino people
appreciate the efforts an accomplishment rate of 90% hectares of lands covered under and to abide by the Constitutional
forces by the State…” then agrarian reform is a measure that must
not only be continued, but must be among those prioritized.
of the Senate in fast- per province will set as a trigger. CARP for ten years will be Mandate of undertaking an The Philippine’s agrarian reform program needs to be given
tracking the passage This tight and complicated vulnerable to reconsolidation effective and equitable agrarian more time to fully attain the goals it was created to accomplish.
phasing of acquisition and under this proposal. This would reform program. We appeal
of Senate Bill 2666. distribution almost ensures that then take away lands already to the moral principles and
Twenty years of unsatisfactory implementation clearly leaves
much room for improvement and reform. House Bill 4077 and
We have witnessed many provinces in the country rendered productive by the conviction of our national leaders Senate Bill 2666, or the CARP Extension with Reforms Bill,
the interpellations by will end up not being covered farmer-beneficiaries whose rights and ask the Honorable Senators reflect the needed changes to address the shortcomings that have
under the program. will be disregarded systematically to help us guard against any
Senators and were We aim to find a just and by legislation. proposal which will water down
prevented the law’s noble purpose from coming into fruition.
We, who study the law, know that laws are there for a reason.
also able to talk with equitable meeting point. We We are also concerned about the CARP, and take away from Agrarian reform is explicitly identified as a fundamental State
some members of the propose that that 90% trigger of a proposal to remove agrarian the gains of this program which policy in Art II Sec 21 of the Constitution. Thus, we ask that our
accomplishment for the 50 hectares cases from the jurisdiction of is among the essential vehicles
Senate who generously and above landholdings be the Department of Agrarian for food security, peace in the
lawmakers breathe life into this policy by enacting laws that
set in motion and ensure actual and speedy results.
promised support for removed. Instead, landholdings of Reform Adjudication Board countryside, and social justice. We, who study the law, know that while the actual provisions
this essential social all sizes should be simultaneously (DARAB) and putting these We remain confident that are drafted by the members of Congress, laws are ultimately
targeted for acquisition and under the jurisdiction of the the Honorable Senators will
justice program. distribution, with those bigger regular courts. This proposal be guided by discernment in
articulations of the people’s will and expressions of the power
inherent in them as citizens of a free country. Thus, we remind
landholdings as priority. The disregards the unique nature of finalizing this legislation and our lawmakers that their mandate emanates from the people,
We were assured time and Senate may also study and come agrarian cases and the particular in protecting the rights of the
again of the early passage of the and their duty is to address their constituents’ needs, even
up with other equitable alternative need for experience and expertise Filipino farmers. if it means sacrificing their own interests. We reiterate that
CARP Extension with Reforms phasing or prioritization systems. of the administrative agency “For I was hungry and
bill. We would also like to express by eliminating compulsory acquisition, the agrarian reform
For instance, we appeal that mandated to implement agrarian You gave me food.” (USCCB, program is reduced to no more than an empty promise. Without
gratitude to Senator Honasan who your committee give priority reform laws. This also poses the November 12, 2003)
gave us assurances that ‘killer’ it, there is no reform, only more of the same.
for all lands over ten hectares. danger of further oppression “The Lord gave us mind and We, who study the law, are no strangers to policies that look
amendments will not find their That is an equitable compromise to farmer beneficiaries whose conscience; we cannot hide from
way into the bill. This makes us resolute on paper, but are torn apart and rendered useless by the
for the legitimate small farmers legal personality is usually not ourselves.” (Proverbs 20.27) selfsame provisions, where motherhood statements mask gaps,
glad but we continuously plead owning 5-10 hectares (covering recognized in regular courts and
with the Honorable Senators to loopholes and false pretenses. Thus, we demand that Congress
a total area of about 186,000 has). poses the risk of further isolating (Sgd.) + BRODERICK S. deliver an agrarian reform program that is responsive, sincere
ensure that amendments that Otherwise, we foresee stalling these indigent farmers from court PABILLO, D.D.
could water down the CARP and faithful to the principles of social justice.
of compulsory acquisition after processes in the very likely event Chair, Episcopal Commission The second regular session of Congress ends in less than a
and would defeat the purpose coverage of 136,000 hectares (of that they will not be able to avail on
of the agrarian reform program month. Too much has been lost, too much sacrificed and there is
lands measuring over 50 has.), of counsel’s services. We agree, Social Action, Justice and Peace too much at stake for our legislature to fail us now. We take up
shall not be included in the final especially in contentious areas however, that the DARAB and the Auxiliary Bishop of Manila
version of the bill. In particular, this cause because we, who study the law, owe it to this country.
like Negros which would render DAR, in general, should address We owe it to the farmers who walked thousands of miles, and
we are disturbed about the CARP meaningless for thousands loopholes in implementation (Sgd.) ATTY. CHRISTIAN S.
possibility that there will be an spent weeks in hunger strikes, asking to be heard. We owe it to
of farmers. and arrest problems in Agrarian MONSOD the blood shed and lives lost. We owe it to the law that we study
introduction of an inequitable There is also a proposal on the Justice Delivery. PARFUND
phasing of the Land Acquisition and pledge to serve. Because if the law cannot be used to protect
reconsolidation of agricultural These are the provisions we those who need it the most, then it betrays its own purpose.
and Distribution component of lands after the expiration of the 10- found objectionable among May 12, 2009
the program. TIME IS RUNNING OUT! PASS THE CARPER BILLS (HB
4077 and SB 2666) NOW!
Blessed / B4
Student Council
cause of the Holy Spirit and also authorized there, “seated at the right hand of the Father”, community of the Cenacle after the descent Ateneo Law School
her to give to the Sisters of her congregation that He sent the Holy Spirit on the newly- of the Holy Spirit. These considerations led Makati City, Metro Manila
the new name that describes better their born Church. Elena Guerra to conceive and initiate the
charism in the Church, “Oblates of the Now all this is the Paschal Mystery that “Universal Cenacle”, a movement of prayer Supreme Law Council
Holy Spirit.” is continually taking place and at the same to the Holy Spirit. College of Law
Elena considered the exhortation of the time is always in the process of becoming, Elena died on Holy Saturday of April 11, Silliman University
Pope to go on with the apostolate as an but which the Church will bring to fulfillment 1914, with the desire remaining in her heart Dumaguete City, Oriental Negros
order and so she dedicated herself with when the Christ will come. like an “unfinished symphony”, to see the
greater diligence to the cause of the Holy The Church is tending towards the “modern Christians” become aware of the Student Council
Spirit, thus deepening for herself and for fulfillment of the Mysteries of the Cenacle, presence and of the action of the Holy Spirit College of Law
others the real sense of a “return to the permanent mysteries, the Paschal Mystery. In in their souls, an indispensable condition for University of Baguio
Spirit;” this would also be the mandate for this sense, the Church is the prolongation of a real “renewal of the face of the earth.” Baguio City, Benguet
her Congregation in the world. the Cenacle and is analogous to the Spiritual Rightly therefore did Pope John XXIII,
In her meditations on the World of God, Permanent Cenacle. raising Elena Guerra to the honors of the Civil Law Student Council
Elena was profoundly impressed and It is in this Cenacle of the Paschal Mystery altar (she was the first proclaimed Blessed College of Law
moved by the historical event that happened that the priestly, kingly and prophetic during his pontificate), defined her as the University of Santo Tomas
in the Cenacle of the early Church. In fact, it community gathers around the Risen “Apostle of the Holy Spirit” of modern Manila City, Metro Manila
was there that Jesus offered Himself to God Christ. Everyone of us, every believer, by times just as St. Mary Magdalene was
as the Victim of expiation for the salvation the action of the Holy Spirit in Baptism and the “Apostle of the Resurrection” and St. Law Student Government
of men; it was there that He instituted the Confirmation is grafted into the Mystical Margaret Mary Alacoque the “Apostle of College of Law
Sacrament of love, the Eucharist; and there Body and rendered capable of participating the Sacred Heart.” University of the Philippines
He repeatedly appeared to His disciples actively in the Eucharistic Mass which is an Elena Guerra was beatified on April Quezon City, Metro Manila
after the resurrection. And, finally, it was assembly of the confirmed, similar to the first 26, 1959.

The Church / B6

economic, political, religious and cultural divisions and quarrels,

our scrambling for power, intrigues, competition and envy result

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from our arrogance and proud idolatry.
In depicting the Spirit as being poured out at Pentecost, Luke
wishes to affirm that the event overcame the division among men.
The Holy Spirit inaugurated the reconstitution of Israel, fulfilling
Ezekiel’s prophecy that God would gather again his people into
one (Ezek 37:23). Pentecost signifies that Israel is now renewed.
The people of the renewed Israel gather around the Lord who
makes his dwelling among them (Ezek 37:28). The confusion at
Babel (Gen 11:1-9) is replaced with unity at Pentecost (Acts 2:6).
The nature of that renewed community is echoed by Paul: “All of
you who have been baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves
with him. There does not exist among you Jew or Greek, slave or
freeman, male or female. All are one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:26-
28). Luke pictures the unity in this fashion: “The community of
believers were of one heart and one mind. None of them ever
claimed anything as his own; rather, everything was held in
common” (Acts 4:32). There may be diversity in the community,
but it remains as one body (cf 1 Cor 12:12-13). However, the
effect of Pentecost is not limited to the renewed Israel. Indeed,
tomorrow, all the nations of the earth will experience this unity.
This is why the Holy Spirit appears on the apostles in tongues of
fire so that the gospel will be understood in the language of all
the nations (Acts 2:6-12). The messianic community extends to all
peoples. This is concretely manifested in the so-called “Pentecost
of the pagans” (Acts 10:44-48).
B8 Entertainment CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 11
May 25 - June 7, 2009

Title: Star Trek
Running Time: 126 min
Moral Assessment Technical Assessment
Cast: Chris Pine, Zachary
Quinto, Leonard Nimoy, Eric
 Abhorrent  Poor Bana, Bruce Greenwood
 Disturbing  Below average
Director: J.J. Abrams
Producers: J.J. Abrams, Damon
 Acceptable  Average
Lindelof
 Wholesome  Above average
Screenwriters: Roberto Orci,
 Exemplary  E
xcellent Alex Kurtzman
Music: Michael Giacchino
Editor: Maryann Brandon, Mary
Jo Markey
Cinematography: Daniel Mindel
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Location: Bakersfield, Califor-
nia, USA
Technical Assessment: 
Moral Assessment: 
CINEMA Rating: For viewers 14
and above
It’s the 23rd century. The
spaceship helmed by Capt.
Christopher Pike (Bruce
Greenwood) is under attack
by the formidable Narada
spaceship under Capt. Nero
(Eric Bana). Pike’s son, James
Tiberius Kirk (Chris Pine)
is about to be born as his
mother is being evacuated
from the besieged ship. As
a young boy, Kirk is shown
maniacally driving (without
license, of course) a car to the
Grand Canyon, outspeeding a
flying traffic cop and almost
plunging to his death. He
climbs up the ledge, hardly
unnerved. He is suspended by
the Academy for a few years
and in due time smuggled
into the starship Enterprise.
Here he continues to swagger
around, gets the hots for the
sultry but sensible Uhura
(Zoe Saldana), and soon after
appoints himself as Captain
after his nearly fatal encounter
with Spock (Zachary Quinto).
Kirk gets the ship, but Spock
wins his woman, so who’s
the real winner? That is not
resolved until Kirk and Spock
put their heads together to
save their ship from Nero the
destroyer.
This 27-year old Star Trek
series has many fans younger
than itself. That’s because its
producers have learned to
adapt so that Star Trek may
evolve and keep up with the
times. You’ll like this 11th
Start Trek movie, too, if you’re
young at heart, which means
even as a Senior Citizen card
holder you’re still open to such
things as warps, starships,
time travel and black hole
idiosyncracies. You’re also
young at heart if you think
movies are fun and do not
bleed yourself dry looking
for logic at every turn. Star
Trek tries to strike a balance
between then and now, old and
new, courtly and cool. Pine as
Kirk the hero is reminiscent
of the 50s’ James Dean, a
rabble-rouser without a cause;
Quinto as Spock the other hero
resurrects the refined and
principled gentleman that girls
fall for. Star Trek supports its
story with a nifty script and
good character development,
and tries to inject a little
naughtiness and humor in
order to be more palatable at
the box office.
What lessons may be learned
from a movie with characters
evocative of Noah’s Ark but
using starships? One, Star
Trek science is not to be taken
as plausible—you’ll flunk
Science class if you believe
in it . Two, r ecog niz e t he
implausible and the impossible
as entertainment—for instance,
enjoy the sight of the spaceship
Narada emerging from the
Black Hole looking like a
mutated cockroach magnified
a quintillion times—harmless
in spite of its size. Three, to win
a woman, it’s better for a man
to have gentle manners than
cockiness and a strong libido.
Four, no matter where humans
find themselves in time and
space, man-woman love will
live on in the human heart, as
the song “As Time Goes By”
says, “You must remember
this, a kiss is still a kiss…”
Five, in times of danger,
even spacewalkers still call
on God—as when Capt. Pike
utters upon seeing the the
“giant cockroach” Narada
threatening his spaceship: “Oh
my God….!”

MAC en COLET Ni Bladimer Usi

Buhay Parokya
Look for the three items:
Images of the Holy Water,
Maria Magdalena and the Holy
Cross.(Illustration by Bladimer
Usi)

The film opens in Title: Duplicity

slow motion as two Running Time: 125 min.
corporate honchos Cast: Clive Owen, Julia Roberts,
brawl in the tarmac Tom Wilkinson, Paul Giamatti,
Dan Daily
after they descend from
Director: Tony Gilroy
their respective private Producers: Laura Bickford, Jennifer
jets with their staff Fox, Kerry Orent
watching in horror. Screenwriter: Tony Gilroy
Then we return to 2003, Music: James Newton Howard
when smooth-talking Editor: John Gilroy
M15 agent charmer Genre: Drama/ Romance
R a y K o v a l ( C l i v e Cinematography: Robert Elswit
Owen) meets sassy Distributor: Universal Pictures
CIA operative Claire Location: several North America
and Europe
Stenwick (Julia Roberts)
in a consulate party Technical Assessment:
in Dubai. Instantly Moral Assessment: 
attracted, they begin CINEMA Rating: For mature view-
ers 18 and above
flirting with each other
until they share a passionate night. However, the next morning
Claire drugs Ray and steals the Egyptian documents they were
both assigned to look for. Fast forward 5 years after in the US,
the two, this time working for the same multinational company
as intelligence operatives, cross paths and are teamed together
for an assignment much to Claire’s disgust. Or is it so? After
a series of flashbacks and flash forwards, as the audience is
taken to a jet setting tour around the world, we realize that
Claire and Owen have been meeting for years and are now
planning a scheme to double cross their employers, steal the
secret formula and make a few millions before leaving the spy
game. But first, they have to overcome their trust issue before
learning to work together.
The biggest achievement of the movie is overcoming the
difficulty of non-linear story telling which is both confusing
and hard to follow while being clever and amusing. Duplicity
relies on cerebral work instead of muscle power. Needless to say,
the violence of the film is in the script and words rather than in
actual fighting and blood shedding. The cinematography and
production design are dramatic as they transform and gloss every
single scene regardless if it is in an Italian hotel suite or dingy spy
headquarters or the bland corporate office. Owen and Roberts
deliver powerful performances but do not quite achieve an intense
chemistry to make their long standing love affair believable. The
witty complicated plot is washed down by a pathetic and weak
ending. Over-all the movie is entertaining and worthwhile albeit
a little problematical with the story telling.
Duplicity raises the issue of trust and loyalty. Self-interest
and greed seem to be the main motivation of the characters that
it becomes hard to have faith in the very person they love.
Again, pre-marital sex is tolerated and glamorized.
But the most disturbing issue with Duplicity is the glorification
of crime and presentation of criminals as funny, charming, loveable
characters you root for. As it lessens the impact of the misdeed, it
may deliver the wrong message especially to young viewers.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 11
May 25 - June 7, 2009
C1

The News Supplement of

Couples for Christ

KFC Dreams Big for a Big God

By Kirby Llaban
WEEPING with joy. These words seemed to exemplify God’s mood
just days leading up to the 12th International Kids’ Village (IKV).
And in a fashion befitting the King of the Universe, He cried up a
storm. Up till a day before the actual IKV, the sky was overcast and
the grounds at the Sta. Cruz Sports Complex in Laguna were not
just drenched but were starting to resemble rice paddies. Being the
true, heavenly Father that He is, He probably couldn’t help but get
all choked up by the thought of almost 10,400 of his children from
five countries gathering to show their love for Him. Kids from all
the provinces of the Philippines and from as far as Malaysia, China,
Brunei and the Middle East trooped to Laguna to be part of this
gathering of God’s most beloved ones -- to worship, dance, learn
and have fun!
True to form, once the event got underway, God gifted His chil-
dren with amazing weather, from start to finish. The rain abruptly
stopped and the skies were just cloudy enough to shield the kids
from the harsh rays of the sun.
This year’s IKV urged the kids to “Dream Big” for God, by offering
the best of their service to Him and daring to do great things for His
kingdom. He showed everyone, in a very concrete manner, that to
‘Dream Big’ indeed honors Him because He is a Big God.
Aside from the Special Competitions, the kids got to explore the
different Dream Villages, each one focusing on a distinct manner of
dreaming big – by learning how to Love, Learn, and Lead. It was a
sight to see thousands of kids and yes, even parents and YFC ates and
kuyas, moving as one to Eagle’s Peak, the Dream Village that inspired
kids to be leaders, to Antopia, Annie the Ant’s territory, which showed
the KFCs different ways of showing love and to Elephantasia, where
kids got to choose from all sorts of workshops from music to arts.
The workshops and exhibits encouraged the kids to have a big
heart, to be grateful for the talents and treasures God has given
them, to love their family and their country, to love the poor and to
answer the call of becoming Christ-like leaders of the future.
Friday night featured the many talents of KFC with the Kids’
Praise Parade.
The highlight of the IKV was undoubtedly the remarkably origi-
nal play about a Dream World and its main characters: the Dream
7 and of course, Dream Master who created Dream World. It was
a lively bonanza of colors and music that even the adults enjoyed.
The play expressed the essence of how it is to dream big for the
world by loving the earth. The play emphasized that we should all
be good stewards of God’s creation and that we should all strive to
be the best we can be through, in the case of the kids, their studies
and their relationships. By the end of the play, everyone was sing-
ing and dancing to the Dream World theme, “Dream Big! God is on
our side…Dream Big!”
This year’s IKV was also an undeniable ground-breaker in several
ways. Aside from being the first IKV to hold a Bayani Challenge: Kids
Edition, which was a Gawad Kalinga Build held a few days before
the actual IKV, the IKV also conducted the first ever Kids Ambas-
sadors Global Summit on the afternoon of the first day, a meaningful
event of shared fun despite a diversity of cultures. It was also the
first IKV to pioneer a especially produced ‘Dream Big’ DVD about
the IKV highlights that was released on the last day.
The IKV held an unprecedented reunion of KFCs who have since
moved on to Youth for Christ or
even Singles for Christ. The KFC
Alumni Conference was held
on the last day, at the same time
that the parents also had their
Parents’ Conference. Jimmy Leo-
mas of Family Life International
talked to the parents about “The
Effects of Media and Modern
Technology on Our Children.”
As if this wasn’t enough, the
surprise to end all surprises was
announced just before the IKV’s
closing – 2010 will be the year
that sees KFC having three sepa-
rate Kids’ Villages for Luzon,
Visayas and Mindanao respec- definitely true to its name. It dreamed up and achieved the nearly
tively and, get this, the first IKV impossible for the kids – on a truly grand scale. And if God had
to be held abroad, in Singapore seemed to be weeping for joy before the IKV, He shone His full,
in December! scorching smile through the summer-hot weather on the last day.
The ‘Dream Big’ IKV was He really does have a soft spot for kids!

CFC Moves Forward and Lets Go

By Zeny Gimenez need love and care. Starting out as a program
for the youth in Bagong Silang, GK rapidly ex-

I
n an unprecedented move, the Couples for
Christ International Council announced last
April 30, 2009 that it was relinquishing the
governance and corporate structure of Gawad
Kalinga, the flagship program for the poor that
it established more than a decade ago.
Citing GK’s need for greater freedom so it can
expand more rapidly and interact with more
people, Executive Director Joe Tale, speaking
for the entire International Council, called the
move a “letting go.” He also assuaged the ap-
prehensions of some people by categorically
stating that CFC is not abandoning GK or the
work with the poor, but rather allowing both
CFC and GK to pursue the work according to
each other’s calling and charism.
He emphasized that CFC members who are
actively involved in GK projects and sites must
remain where they are and continue the good
work they are doing. He asked the CFC com-
munity to remember that the welfare of the poor
is the top priority and that nothing should stand
in the way of programs aimed to better the lives
of the least among us.
CFC often refers to GK as the “concrete
expression of our love for God and for our
neighbor,” and that it grew out of the then
growing desire of the community to respond
to God’s love by reaching out to those who
CFC leaders listen as Joe Tale makes the announcement on CFC and GK at the Mission Core Gathering on
Sunday, May 3.
panded into a community-building program.
It was not long before many sectors of society
took notice of the work of GK. Thus, from being
purely a CFC effort (with funds coming from
the pockets of the members themselves), GK
grew into an organization with local and foreign
partners eager to help in the work of community
development.
In 2003, GK was sufficiently expanded to ven-
ture into a heroic goal – GK777 – which aimed to
build 700,000 homes in 7,000 sites in 7 years. It was
also sufficiently well known such that it was one
of the first to be harnessed (in terms of donors and
personnel) in disaster relief and rehabilitation. GK
is also present in other countries in Asia – Papua
New Guinea, Cambodia and Indonesia.
ANCOP is CFC’s work with the poor
The announcement was met with general ac-
ceptance by CFC leaders and members, albeit with
some anxiety and some initial confusion as to how
CFC will now address or implement its own work
with the poor. The IC issued a set of Questions and
Answers and a set of basic guidelines to further
explain the decision.
At the Mission Core teaching night last May
19, Tuesday, Joe Tale made another announce-
ment – CFC’s work with the poor will be known
as ANCOP. This acronym, which originally stood
Executive Director Joe Tale and IC members Joey Arguelles, Lito Tayag, Ernie Maipid, and Rouquel Ponte during
the press conference on Friday, May 22.
for “A Network of the Church of the Poor,” was
the name given to the work with the poor of CFC
before GK was established. As Joe Tale explained
during a meeting with the provincial area heads
and the Metro Manila sectors heads last May 20,
ANCOP will be the umbrella under which all the
components of CFC’s work with the poor will
operate – the work of the Social Ministries which
includes prisons, education, livelihood, health,
migrant workers, and of course Gawad Kalinga
which, Joe Tale states, “continues to be the major
component of the work with the poor of CFC, now
known as ANCOP.”
At the same meeting with the area heads, Joe
Yamamoto, Philippine Missions Director, also
clarified that, contrary to what media has re-
ported, there is no “split” between CFC and GK.
He explained that while CFC has “let go of the
corporate structure, the foundation, the organiza-
tional presence of the CFC IC in GK, as well as the
movement and the ministry, it is not really a split
because we are speaking only about independent,
distinct entities with separate governance, struc-
tures and functions..” He further explained that
the basic guidelines call for greater collaboration
and cooperation between the two groups, with
pastoral cover for CFC members working in GK
still coming from CFC.
IC holds press conference
In a press conference called last Friday, May
22, IC members Joe Tale, Joey Arguelles, Lito
Tayag, Ernie Maipid and Rouquel Ponte fielded
questions from media.
In response to a question on how CFC will
respond to the bishops’ concerns about how
GK in their respective dioceses will be handled
henceforth, Joe Tale explained that in keeping
with CFC’s being one with the Catholic Church,
CFC recognizes and respects the position ad-
opted by the bishops in their respective dioceses.
However, CFC stands ready to clarify more
fully the implications of the announcement and
towards that end, the IC will dialogue with the
bishops, as appropriate.
The IC also clarified that the decision to let go
of GK’s governance and corporate structure was
arrived at after much discussion, consultation
and prayers.
Joe Tale announced that two members of the
IC, Ernie Maipid and Lito Tayag, have agreed to
remain in the GK Board in the interim, in order
to ensure that the GK Board can continue to
officially transact business, until such time that
the replacements for the IC on the GK Board
have been duly designated. (Please see related
stories on page 2 and 3.)
 C2 Ugnayan CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 11
May 25 - June 7, 2009

By Joe Tale, CFC Executive Director

When Letting Go
Means Letting Grow
THE International Council’s statement of April 30 – “Moving
Forward and Letting Go” – is another milestone in the history of
Couples for Christ.
In that statement, the International Council (IC) announced that we
have decided to “let go” of the governance and corporate structure
of Gawad Kalinga. This meant that the IC would no longer have
any institutional authority or supervision over GK, invested in it
by virtue of all seven members of the IC being members of the GK
Board. Thus, the IC members’ first action was to resign from the GK
Board, although in the interest of good order, to ensure that there is
still a quorum, Lito Tayag and Ernie Maipid have decided to stay in
the Board in the interim, until our replacements are named.
So what does letting go really mean?
First, letting go does not mean limiting the scope of the work –
rather it is meant to expand it further. In making this decision, we
look beyond the needs of today to the greater mission ahead. GK is
a wonderful gift of God to CFC and we have shared it with others.
But we also believe it should be shared with many more.
As we allow GK greater freedom to do its work, CFC commits to
expanding our own work with the poor.
In a sense of déjà vu, we call this work
ANCOP, the name we gave to our initial
response to the work with the poor, even
before GK. This acronym originally
stood for “A Network of the Church of
the Poor.” With this name, we look for-
ward to CFC doing what we believe the
Lord meant for us to do – a work with
the poor that will be grounded on faith,
with Christ proclaimed in word and ac-
tion, and in oneness with the Church.
Second, letting go does not at all mean
letting be. CFC will continue to be in-
volved in GK work, especially since we
believe that our own work with the poor,
which we shall now call ANCOP, should
include GK as a major component.
Third, letting go indeed means letting
grow. One insight that I have received
over these many weeks of discernment
and prayer and discussion, is that we
do not own the work with the poor. It
is the Lord who owns it. We are grateful
for the gift of GK to CFC and of being
allowed to govern it. But the deeper
gift of the Lord to CFC is the work with
the poor, which was originally ANCOP
when we first started this work, and
which eventually evolved into Gawad
Kalinga. We are now being led to looking at the work in the scope
and reach the Lord originally meant us to take – to include the other
components embodied in the Social Ministries that we established
before we even began GK.
I would like us to look deeper into this insight – no one among
us owns the work with the poor. And since we do not own it, we
must be open to share it with others, indeed with the world, as GK
can now freely do.
Thus we look to our Social Ministries as the engine which will
be re-fueled. We intend to revisit each of the Social Ministries to
make it more attuned to the greater work ahead. We will target a
wider scope of beneficiaries, especially those in prisons (the poor-
est of the poor indeed) and their families and migrant workers and
their families. More important, we do not intend to neglect the poor
among the CFC brethren who need our help the most.
In the matter of jobs and livelihood, Tekton has done a lot of initia-
tives in delivering easy credit to jumpstart livelihood opportunities
through its microfinance program, in encouraging the growth of
cooperatives through Coops for Christ, and in making job opportu-
nities available through TekWork.
In education, our earlier work was focused on the pre-school and
on Sibol and Sagip programs and on Siga (the out-of-school youth)
in the GK sites. We will revisit our response in this area so that we
can make a greater impact in helping provide education and moral
values for the young generation.
In the area of health, CFC has made major inroads in the delivery
of health care, particularly to the poor. The Medical Mission Minis-
try has gone on countless medical and surgical missions to outlying
areas that are underserved by medical practitioners and has given
hope to many of our poor brethren who could not afford to seek help
for their ailments. But we feel that the greater benefit lies in early
detection and prevention, rather than in curing, diseases. We shall
therefore pursue a health program that is focused more on early
detection and prevention.
Feeding the hungry is a major work. We are grateful to Selecta
and particularly to Mr. John Concepcion who has made it his per-
sonal and corporate mission to help the poor put food on their tables
through the BayanAnihan program. We remain committed to the
BayanAnihan program, not just to help the poor in the GK sites but
those in non-GK areas as well.
CFC will be pursuing all of these
ministries with greater vigor and zeal
under the umbrella of ANCOP. Gawad
Kalinga remains a major activity of our
work with the poor and will be the major
component in ANCOP. I cannot repeat
this often enough – CFC is not abandon-
ing GK! And so we urge all those in CFC
working in GK sites to continue to do so.
The poor need all the help they can get
and your heroic efforts on their behalf
need to be pursued with even greater
determination than ever.
There may now be two distinct
organizations and governance - CFC
and GK – but both are in solidarity in
working together and collaborating in
our common love for the least among
our brethren.
We rejoice that both CFC ANCOP and
GK are now free to expand in the work
of caring for the poor and of letting the
poor know of the goodness and mercy
of God. We rejoice that more people
will now benefit from our expanded
work. We pray that many more will be
called to serve and be moved to walk
along this journey of discovery and joy
in Building the Church of the Poor. To
God be the Glory!

by Joe Yamamoto, Philippine Missions Director, International Council Member

The Prize of God’s
Upward Call
JUST one thing: forgetting what lies behind
but straining forward to what lies ahead. I
continue my pursuit toward the goal, the
prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ
Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)
In the drudgery of our day to day
life, facing challenges and trials almost
on a regular basis, do we ask ourselves
the right questions? Do we challenge
ourselves with the basic questions that
we need to keep us on the right track,
with the same determined focus, mov-
ing towards the goals we have set for
ourselves? As Couples for Christ, do
we continually ask ourselves if we are
indeed pressing on with the mission
that has been entrusted to us?
What gives us the push to get up on
a Monday morning, especially when
we know that the week ahead promises
to be a particularly trying one? What
and where is the source of energy that
inspires and nurtures us to go on, regard-
less of the circumstances? What fuels our
life, our work, our career and service?
Earthly life is a marathon and a pe-
rennial race and unless we are firmly
grounded and rooted in the values Jesus
taught us, it is difficult to comprehend
how we can triumph and even be sus-
tained.
St. Paul gave us many useful tips on
how to run this marathon of life:
1. He kept his eye on the prize (Phil
3:13-14)
2. He exercised himself into godliness
(1 Tim 4:7) vs. pride, poverty, and lack
of self-control
3. He ran the race with endurance
(Heb. 12:1)
According to Paul, why run a race
unless you’re running to win? No true
competitor wants to finish second. We
train hard for a race because of the
reward of winning. No one puts so
much effort on the preparations before
a race unless he has the motivation to
excel, and in thus excelling, winning
the race.
But there are many among us who
join races just for the fun of it – the so
called “fun runs” – where the objective
is simply to finish the race, even if we
come in last, taking our pleasure along
the way, stopping for many rests, for
coffee. But the real pleasure is in being
able to hold our hand up in victory!
Are we running the correct race? Are
we running the right race for the right rea-
sons? Or are we indeed running intently
and with the motivation to win, and yet
we are in the wrong race? And with the
wrong company? Or worse, even as we
are excellently conditioned for the race,
are we running in circles – quick at the
start but with nowhere to go?
Many Christians, just like Paul,
started by fighting the wrong fight and
running the wrong race. Paul thought
that hauling Christians in chains to
Jerusalem was the correct expression
of his spirituality. Nowadays, many
Christians manifest split level Christian
life – Christians on Sundays and pagans
the rest of the week. There is a term for
that, if you are a soldier- WEEKEND
WARRIOR
For Paul, the highest calling is to pre-
pare and run the race. His goal- eternity
with Christ in Heaven. His method of
preparation – to forget the burden of the
past and simply to strain toward one
goal and one prize.
The purpose of our life is to lead a
life that ultimately brings us to God.
Catechism teaches us “ to know, love
and serve God.” It is completed by add-
ing the phrase “to finally be with God
in heaven.” We were created for that
Godly-purpose.
Knowing our purpose is important.
It will allow us to experience the fol-
lowing:
1. TO GIVE MEANING TO OUR
LIFE. Dr. Bernie Siegel, an eminent psy-
chologist, who made an observational
study on the survival of cancer patients,
noted that those who responded posi-
tively to the question “Who wants to
live to be a hundred?” have higher
survival rates.
2. TO GIVE FOCUS TO OUR LIFE.
bombs. Having lost their rudders, they
were doomed to run only in circles,
making escape impossible.
The Bible gives us a good example
of aimless wandering – the Israelites
spent 40 years in the desert, so near
to their goal and yet unable to reach it
because of their rebellious nature and
their faithlessness.
As CFC, what is our focus? It is simple
and straightforward -- authentic life in
Christ in CFC is when we live out our
call to be Families in the Holy Spirit,
Renewing the Face of the Earth.
3. TO SIMPLIFY OUR LIFE. Sim-
plifying things defines one’s priorities.
It likewise provides the foundational
basis of our decisions. As Proverbs 13:7
tellls us – “ A pretentious, showy life is
an empty life; a plain and simple life
is a full life. Once achieved, simplicity
brings with it peace of mind.”
4. TO MOTIVATE OUR LIFE. When
we know our life’s purpose, we are
motivated to reach for it with passion.
Once discovered, our life’s purpose has
the net effect of being an energizer.
5. TO PREPARE US FOR ETERNI-
TY. People who start to live in the light
of eternity find that their values have
changed. “More than that, I even con-
sider everything as a loss because of the
supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus
my Lord. For his sake I have accepted
the loss of all things and I consider
them so much rubbish, that I may gain
Christ.”(Phil 3:8)
What is it going to be like in eternity
with God? Unfortunately no one can
answer this question. Human brain can-
not handle the wonder and greatness of
heaven, much less even closely fathom
its magnitude.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 says: “God has...
CFC to
emulate
Olympic
grandeur
in its 28th
anniversary
CFC’s 28th anniversary on June 27
at the Quirino Grandstand in Lu-
neta will have an Olympic motif,
an appropriate representation of
this year’s “Forward in Christ”
theme.
The theme, taken from Philip-
pians 3:13-14, speaks of running
towards the prize which is Jesus
Christ. Thus, this year’s anniver-
sary celebration theme - “Forward
in Christ, Winning the Race” - will
see CFC Metro Manila’s big sec-
tors and their counterpart provin-
cial areas celebrating at the Luneta
in their race outfits.
Big North together with Mind-
anao will sport swimming outfits.
Big East, Eastern Vizayas and
Southern Tagalog will be wear-
ing rowing outfits, all set to steer
their Dragon Boats while Big
West and North Luzon will be in
cycling attires. The group of Big
Central, Central Luzon and Cen-
tral Vizayas will wear regatta/
sailboat race uniforms while Big
South, Western Visayas, Bicol and
CFC International will parade in
their Motocross outfits.
The different groups will also
design their own “villages” ac-
cording to their assigned race
themes.
CFC’s 28th year anniversary
celebration will show how the
Lord accompanied CFC in moving
forward last year to winning the
LAYOUT BY LAURENCE JOHN R. MORALES

race this year.

Phil 3:15 states: “... let us keep focused
on that goal, those of us who want ev-
erything God has for us.”
Without focus, one is bound to drift
towards aimless distraction. This is a
situation very similar to a gyroscope
spinning rather quickly but without go-
ing anywhere. Or consider the mighty
warships of the Second World War
which were destroyed and sunk after
their rudders were hit by gunfire and
planted eternity in the human heart.”
One who accepts this reality also
reaches a conclusion that life on earth
is just a dress rehearsal before the real
production – our journey to Heaven.
Life on earth is a TEST, a TRUST, and
a TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT. We
just need to realize this in order to see
that nothing we do or achieve here on
earth can ever compare to what awaits
us in heaven.
Last year’s anniversary celebra-
tion was awesome in its bigness
-- 50,000 coming together in love
and hope for the longest parade
in CFC history and the biggest
Lord’s Day celebration ever.
This year’s anniversary festivities
promises to be bigger and grander
still.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 11
May 25 - June 7, 2009
Ugnayan C3

CFC-IC names CFC work for

the poor as ANCOP
By Fernando M. Academia Jr.
COUPLES for Christ International Council (CFC-IC) has announced
that the CFC work for the poor will be referred to as ANCOP. The
announcement was made last May 19, 2009 during the Mission Core
Teaching Night at Xavier School.
In making the announcement, CFC Executive Director Joe Tale
said that “...the totality of our work with the poor, in response to
our mission of building the church of the poor, will now be referred
to as ANCOP.” He also said that ANCOP, the first name given by
CFC to the work with the poor that was started more than a decade
earlier, will also be used to refer to the “umbrella” work with the
poor of CFC - its Social Ministries.
Joe Tale explained that Gawad Kalinga is a major component
of CFC’s work with the poor but that there are other components.
These include E-Pinoy, BayanAnihan, the Prison Ministry, and the
Migrant Workers Program, among others. He further emphasized
that while CFC’s work with the poor will now embrace a wider
area, this does not mean that CFC will be “withdrawing from the
blessed work of GK.”
He also clarified to the Mission Core that “kung community building
ang pag-uusapan, sa ating work with the poor, ‘yang component na ‘yan
ay GK,” and that “by continuing our involvement in GK, those who
are involved in GK should continue to be involved there...”
Another Transition
Joe Tale started his talk by reminiscing about the periods of tran-
sitions the community underwent through the past 27 years of its
existence.
He explained the evolution of CFC’s vision statement, from
“Families in the Holy Spirit Renewing the Face of the Earth” which
involved being “rapid, massive, urgent and global” and “Bringing
glad tidings to the poor” in the year 2000 to the ex-
panded statement that we have now which involves
that twin mission of “Building the Church of the Home
and Building the Church of the Poor.” increase in the minimum wage law.
Moreover, he announced some changes in the cor-
porate life of CFC, namely: the setting of term limits Letting Go
to three consecutive terms of two years each for those Joe Tale also dwelt on the IC statement dated April 30, which an-
who will serve in the International Council and the nounced that CFC is letting go of the governance and organizational
change in the nomination process which means that structure of GK, allowing it to stand on its own, with its own GK
nominations will now come from the whole Elders Board and detached from under the direction of the CFC-IC. Thus,
Assembly rather than from just the IC and the Board henceforth CFC and GK will be independent of each other in terms
of Elders. of organizational and leadership structure and yet interdependent
In addition to cementing good relationships with in terms of helping each other alleviate poverty and care for the
the clergy (largely because of the Bishop, Clergy and poor.
Lay congresses that have been held in some parts of Joe Tale expressed the hope that the letting go of GK would
the country) Joe Tale reminded everyone that CFC encourage the CFC members to embark on other ministries the
can be proud of the fact that the community readily community has for the poor, namely: the Prison Ministry and the
solved its P20 million debt and that the community Migrant Workers Program.
is in a sound financial situation now. He thanked the “We praise God for the gift that is the work with the poor to us.
full-time workers for their continuous unwavering We are blessed simply by having the opportunity in very concrete
service even if there has been no increase in salaries terms to observe and pursue the commandment of our God to be
for the past two years except for the legal mandatory able to care to the least of our brethren.” Joe Tale said.

CFC Rizal celebrates its 22nd Anniversary

By Jed Juntereal
THE CFC community in Rizal
province celebrated its 22nd an-
niversary last May 16-17, 2009,
with the theme “Forward and
Beyond 22.”
The weekend activity was
held in two venues: at the An-
gono Elementary School on
May 16 (Saturday) and at the
Binangonan, Rizal gymnasium
on May 17 (Sunday).
With a town fiesta as motif,
the clusters and ministries of
CFC Rizal constructed booths at
the Angono Elementary School,
showcasing games and other
forms of entertainment. Other
activities were held, such as a
medical/dental mission, two
film screenings, first aid work-
shop, and even a workshop
on milkfish (bangus) deboning.
Many Kids For Christ (KFC),
Youth For Christ (YFC), Singles
For Christ (SFC), and Handmaids
of the Lord (HOLD) members all leaders and members par- sary celebration was a joyful
participated in the elimination ticipated in three festival shows: manifestation of love as well
round of the “CFC Got Talent” Panagbenga, Masskara, and as a show of the community’s
contest, based on the popular Kadyawan. continuing evangelization of
“Britain’s Got Talent” contest, CFC Rizal’s 22nd anniver- souls for God.
finishing with four finalists.
The culminating activity was
held on Sunday afternoon at the
Binangonan gymnasium starting
with a Eucharistic celebration by
Fr. Jun Tena, from the nearby
town of Taytay, Rizal. HOLD
members showcased glamor in
a glittering Santacruzan proces-
sion. CFC Northwestern Luzon
Region Head Willy Padida deliv-
ered the exhortation, speaking of
how CFC should move forward,
to strain toward what lies ahead
in seeking the glory and majesty
of God. Amidst the
Financial Crisis
It was indeed a glittering
event, with the four finalists of
the “CFC Got Talents” contest
showing the talents that made
them win, and the Philippine By Loiue Tecson, CFC Tennessee (Memphis), USA
Festivals Presentation where
Ed’s Note: This sharing seems especially apt during these tough

CFC Quirino gets new spiritual director

times. No matter what trials we are all experiencing right now, the
insights this brother gained applies to all of us.

I REALIZED that I have a moral obligation to share with you

By Cynthia Campos lization thrust of the church as well as in its involvement in various
parish activities. He also committed to further his knowledge about
CFC Quirino marked its 13th year anniversary last April 18, 2009 CFC so he could be more efficient in guiding and supporting the
with good news -- th.ey now have a spiritual director in the person community.
of Fr. Quezon Juan, parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, The celebration continued with team building activities, song and
Aglipay Quirino. His appointment covers CFC in the dioceses of dance presentations as well as volleyball games. The community
Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino. was honored by the presence of Joey Arguelles, the first IC member
The anniversary celebration commenced with a motorcade fol- to ever attend their anniversary. Inspirational messages were also
lowed by the given by Ding Aguinaldo, Regional Head for North Eastern Luzon
celebration of as well as George and Cynthia Campos, Provincial Area Head for
the Holy Mass the province.
at the Capitol The heavy downpour did not dampen the festive mood of the
Gymnasium, crowd. A distinct trait of the community, which can be attributed
Cabarroguis, to the leaders and members of CFC Quirino, is their capacity to re-
Quirino Prov- main undeterred, honed after thirteen years of experiencing God’s
ince. Fr Que- steadfast love. This community emerged from just three couples who
zon, in his graduated from the first Christian life Program held in Cabarroguis
homily ac- in 1996 to its present group numbering around 500.
knowledged Indeed, the work may sometimes seem daunting, but the brethren
the work being realize with much certainty that each one walks along side Christ
George Campos, PAH of Quirino with other area leaders done by CFC whose grace keeps them moving forward, as they complete their
and Fr. Quezon in the evange- mission as families in the Holy Spirit renewing the face of the earth.
things that currently shake and test my faith in the Lord. Last
April 3, FedEx terminated over 500 salaried employees in the
Memphis corporate offices alone. Unfortunately, I was one of
the 500. The lay-off came as a big shock because I knew I was
doing a good job but somehow, I continued on, and in fact,
none of the members of our household noticed anything amiss
during our meeting that same night. The only thing that shook
me was when Jane, one of our members, told Bing, my wife,
that she had a strange dream on Thursday where she saw me
inexplicably begging for money. But I took that to mean that
all of us in CFC are connected through Him.
I would like to share with everyone my prayer reflection,
following this lay-off:
Dear Jesus,
I thank you for using me and my family as instruments for
preparing the way for your re-entry to the lives of our brothers
and sisters in the CFC. I welcome you to my heart with arms
wide open proclaiming you as my Savior. The day I professed
you as my Messiah, I knew that I had to pick up my own cross
to follow you. I knew that I will never get to Easter Sunday
without going through a Good Friday. Thank you so much,
dear Lord, for being there always. I may not understand now
the things going on in my life. But I know everything happens

CFC Zamboanga City is 15 for a reason. Whatever that reason may be, I feel safe knowing
that you will never abandon me.
As I journey with you in these tough times, please help me
By Vic Lauro remember that during those times when my burden seemed
light, it was because you helped me carry my cross. During
COUPLES For Christ (CFC) Zamboanga City celebrated its 15th those times when I seemed to stand up quickly after stumbling,
anniversary last May 9-10, 2009 at Ateneo de Zamboanga Blebeuf it was because you were lifting me up each time I fell. Give me
Gym, with the theme “Forward in Christ, CFC Zamboanga! One in the patience, Lord Jesus, to see each day pass in accordance to
Christ! your will and not to see things through my own eyes. Give
The celebration began with a reflection on the community’s past 15 me the wisdom, Lord Jesus, to understand the purpose of car-
years, aided by song and dance presentations showing the transition rying my cross and not to rely on my puny understanding of
in the CFC Family Ministries. CFC Zamboanga City Provincial Area things. Give me the strength, Lord Jesus, to follow you until
Director, Vic Lauro, led the first session entitled “Reminiscing 15 years the end just as you endured walking the road of Calvary until
of life and service in CFC.” Nonoy Dalman, CFC Zamboanga City you breathed your last to save me from my sins.
Area Head, delivered the second session entitled “Moving Forward Lastly, Lord Jesus, I thank you for sending me my brothers
and Letting Go.” and sisters in Couples for Christ. Just as you allowed Simon
A celebration of the Holy Eucharist opened the festive afternoon followed by a parade of mouthwatering local delicacies as a thanksgiv- of Cyrene to help you carry your cross, I believe that you’ve
ing for the abundant blessings that the Lord has showered CFC Zamboanga City since they started in 1994. The first day ended with a sent CFC to help me weather this storm. Their life experiences,
Praise Party and a showcase of God-given talents with performances from CFC sectors and Family Ministries. personal struggles, good counsel and more importantly their
The celebration continued the next day with a motorcade from the city proper to GK Tulungatung, the site which became one of the fervent prayers and their deep devotion to you have made
two venues of the recently concluded GK Bayani Challenge 2009. The local CFC Area Council delivered their messages followed by an me become the person you want me to be. I will be forever
anniversary message from Nonoy Dalman. grateful for without this loving community, I would have
Sibol children welcomed everyone with their rendition of the GK song followed by a dance from the Kids for Christ members and a probably abandoned my cross and taken a different journey
native dance by one of the first batch who started CFC in the city, Bert Lim. The celebration ended on a high note, with high hopes for a without you.
more fruitful and aggressive evangelization throughout the city and the region.
 C4 Ugnayan CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 11
May 25 - June 7, 2009

CFC International News

1st CFC Youth Camp in Belize

By Francis “Kiko” Manlunas,
BELIZE was humbling, inspiring, and amazing
all at the same time. Fulltime worker Kiesha
Middleton and I were invited by Sonny Aguiling
and Mickey Santiago (CFC New Jersey) to go on a
mission trip to Belize City, Belize from April 13-21.
I was honored to say yes to the call.
Coming from Miami, we were used to warm
weather, yet the heat in Belize was even more
sweltering and more humid. From the time we
set foot in Belize, I knew this would be quite an
experience.
Keisha and I were met by CFC Belize Country
Coordinators Carlos and Veronica Serafina Ross.
We were treated to a meal at the restaurant owned
by Jason de Ocampo, the lone Filipino CFC mem-
ber in Belize. Jason is a well-known chef in Belize
who has won numerous country awards for his
culinary talents. Later, at the fellowship with the
household of the Rosses, it was also a pleasure to
play guitar with CFC Music Ministry Head, former
country leader of the Solomon Islands AND Belize
Supreme Court Justice John Muria!
The youth camp was a wonderful experience.
The Ross family has an excellent relationship with
the clergy throughout
the entire country and
they were able to gather
interest from youth all
throughout Belize. We
conducted an orientation,
a household leaders train-
ing, and a camp training
for the youth moderators
of the respective parishes
leading up to the youth
camp itself. The mod-
erators consisted of young
professionals and a few
young married couples
who are very active with
the youth in their par-
ishes and they were very
excited regarding our programs and formation The level of faith shown by the youth in spite of
tracks. A few of the married couples are also in- all the adversity they deal with was very inspiring
terested in joining CFC in the near future! Kiesha and humbling. Despite fighting a tough cough
and I thought we would be doing the heavy stuff throughout the weekend, God willed me through,
ourselves but God blessed us with resources and thanks to the prayers of the entire community. On
a service team via the youth moderators for this Saturday night we were even blessed to worship
camp. Praise God! with the youth Carribean style, as one of the youth
This was no ordinary camp venue, nor anything accompanied my guitar playing with a steel pan!
like I was used to in the US. Electricity was run Before we left we were also able to conduct a
solely on generators, so we only had access to follow up meeting with the Ross family and the
power for a few hours during the evening time, newly appointed YFC couple coordinators, Kernel
putting a strain on our voices. While the girls had and Nicolyn Parks. We left them all the follow up
cabins, the boys either slept in tents, or simply out resources necessary to build on the momentum
in the wild. 43 youth participants were able to of this youth camp and they are very eager and
make it to this camp. The group discussions and excited for the challenge. They’ve pushed the
the one-on-one dialogues that I conducted were envelope even further making it a goal to conduct
some of the most fruitful discussions I’ve ever another youth camp before the end of 2009 with
had in the 10+ years I’ve spent in this community. hopefully over 100 participants

CFC Singapore One More for Jesus....

Moves on By Pilar Dimaculangan
“ONE more for Jesus, Forward
in Christ” were the words that
By Iris Suministrado echoed in the main hall of
Grand Baccus Banquet Centre
536 CFC, SFC, HOLD and SOLD members all over Singapore and Johor Bahru,
in Scarborough as Jun Clarito,
Malaysia gathered inside the Spring Auditorium in Bukit Merah, Singapore
CFC Ontario Regional Head,
to reflect on CFC’s theme this year – Forward in Christ.
led an overflowing crowd of
Ben Lam, CFC Singapore Family Ministries Head opened the event with a
more than 1,000 members of
worship. CFC Southeast Asia Regional Head Jun Uriarte gave the first ses-
Couples for Christ (CFC) and
sion – ONE THING. CFC International Director Joe Tale gave the second and
its Family Ministries during the
fourth sessions – FORGETTING WHAT LIES BEHIND and FORWARD IN
2009 Evangelization Rally held
HOPE. CFC International Missions Coordinator Clarke Nebrao led the third
on Sunday, February 22, 2009.
and fifth sessions – STRAINING and PRIZE IN JESUS CHRIST. Members of
Ed Hilario, CFC Flame Min-
the community shared about how they experienced all these in the different
istry Area Coordinator, opened
moments of their lives. It was a day of remembering experiences, celebrating
the rally through a spirit-filled
the Lord’s love and goodness and believing in the God who made everything
worship, followed by artistic
happen. The day ended with a powerful praisefest led by Jeff Yabut.
chants performed by the differ-
Truly it was a day that inspired the CFC Singapore community as they
ent family ministries.
got to know Paul and the God who gave him the grace to say – “Just one
This was followed by Jun
thing- forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead,
Clarito’s talk on Evangelization
I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling,
where he emphasized the three
in Christ Jesus.”
ways to evangelize, namely:

1. Focused/Strategic Evangelization
2. Integrated Evangelization
3. Pocket Evangelization
Several members delivered testimo-
nies of their lives, among them Ricky
Cuenca, President of ANCOP USA and
CFC Country Coordinator for USA,
and Junnie Arreza, who shared about
focused/strategic evangelization.
Andrew and Rosalie Paz, CFC Bramp-
ton chapter leaders, shared about
integrated evangelization. They spoke
about using the play Prince of Egypt to
evangelize the parents of the YFCs and
parishioners in their area. They moved
the crowd with their message of hope
and perseverance, and concluded their
light of Christ with others namely:
• Develop a foundation of prayer;
• Be thankful for the gifts of God and
generously share it with our neighbors
(stewardship);
• Engage everyone to active disciple-
ship in our parishes – involve all groups
(i.e., young, middle aged, old people)
for the glory of God through service;
• Pray for and encourage specific
vocations for consecrated service to the
church as we are all a parish family;
• Know more about our faith, includ-
ing the Catechism of the Catholic church
(adult/faith formation);
• Support a deep and strengthened
family life;
Catholic Mission); Rev. Mark Villan-
ueva of St. Josephine Bakhita Parish;
Rev. Roselle R. Azares of St. Boniface
Parish, (CFC Toronto Spiritual Adviser);
and Rev. Dominic Barber, Vice Rector,
St. Augustine’s Seminary.
Immediately after the mass, Efren
Baria, SFC Canada National Coordina-
tor, led the crowd in a spirit-filled and
dynamic praise fest.
In the words of His Grace, Arch-
bishop Collins, “Our life is like an ar-
row. As evangelizers, we have to live
our life fully engaged. We are richly
blessed with tradition to catch the fire
of Christ and to share the light of Christ
with others.”

sharing with a powerful statement: “We
think as one. We work as one. We move
as one. Forgetting what lies behind, we
move forward in Christ.”
CFC Paris
• Evangelize through culture – reach
out to our society through music, dance,
creativity and art to praise the Lord.

is Now a
Joe and Babylou Tale (standing, 2nd and 3rd from left) and Jun Uriarte (extreme left, Nick Borja, CFC National Director, The rally concluded with a concel-
standing) pose with Singapore leaders shared about pocket evangelization and ebrated mass by His Grace, Archbishop
the CFC work for the migrant workers Collins and eight other priests and the

Mission
in Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Deacon of St. Josephine Bakhita Parish,

Uganda News
Alberta. Mr. Barry Wood. The priests were:Rev.
One of the highlights of the 2009 Xavier de Pinto of St. Norbert Parish;
Evangelization Rally was the talk Rev. Joseph Lourdusamy of St. Philip

BISHOP Paul Ssemogerere, Bishop of the Diocese of Kasana-Luwero in

Uganda, celebrates the final graduation mass of the 2nd CLP in his diocese
given by His Grace, Archbishop Thomas
Christopher Collins of the Archdio-
cese of Toronto on the topic Families
as Evangelizers in the Archdiocese of
Neri Parish; Rev. Luigi Accossato,
I.M.C.of St. Andrew Parish; Rev. Dan-
iel Mentessana, I.V.E.of St. Augustine
of Canterbury Parish; Rev. Ben Ebcas
Center
with 29 couples graduating last April 26. Bishop Paul encouraged everyone Toronto. He also gave the community of Our Lady of Assumption (also the By Chastine Rodriguez
to strengthen their marriages through fully living out their being Couples Seven Goals that can help CFC share the Mission Director, Archdiocesan Filipino
for Christ He pledged to fully support the life and mission of Couples for CFC Paris has become the new Mis-
Christ in his diocese. As concrete proof of his support, the diocese is sending sion Center of Couples for Christ
Fr. Mathias Ssenyange, Head of the Family Life Desk of the Diocese, to the Europe. This was announced by
upcoming CFC anniversary in Manila this June. Joe Yamamoto, CFC European
Coordinator, on the occasion of
his visit to Geneva from 6-9 April
2009.
Paris has a vibrant and growing
CFC community. It was in this city
that CFC Europe started about 14
years ago, following the first Chris-
tian Life Program spearheaded by
Mon and Gandie Carpio, assisted
by Teddy and Evelyn San Juan and
Dandy and Susan Calvez. The har-
vest from that CLP was a total of
91 CFC pioneers, composed of 13
couples, 7 servants, 32 handmaids
and 26 singles.
CFC Paris joins the ranks of two
other mission centers, CFC Geneva
and CFC Vienna, which are tasked
with the important mission of
bringing Christ’s Good News mes-
sage to Europe.
Archbishop Thomas Christopher Collins