•A3 Pope pleads for peace •B1 ‘New Technologies, New

Relationships. Promoting a •C1 The CROSS

A Supplement Publication of KCFAPI
in the Holy Land Culture of Respect, Dialogue
and Friendship.’ and the Order of the Knights of Columbus

CBCP issues pastoral

exhortation on Swine flu
pandemic
OBSERVING precautionary health measures,
coupled with prayers, is the best response
towards the outbreak of the “Swine Flu” pan-
demic.
Thus says Jaro, Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lag-
dameo in his recent pastoral exhortation, where-
in he urged the Filipino faithful to pray for the
countries affected by the infamous influenza
virus strain that has become a global pandemic
since its outbreak in Mexico last month.
Swine Flu / A6
May 11 - 24, 2009 Vol. 13 No. 10 Php 20.00

Bishop calls on GMA to fulfill

promise to extend CARP
By Roy Lagarde
AS the life of the Compre-
hensive Agrarian Reform
Program (CARP) nears end, a
church leader urged govern-
ment officials to fulfill their
promises of extending the
program free from any ‘killer
amendments’.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick
Pabillo said even President Gloria Ar-
royo has vowed for support for CARP
but from the perspective of the farmers,
nothing significant development took
place as yet.
Pabillo said some lawmakers, both
from the Senate and the lower House,
have succeeded in delaying the ap-
proval of bills seeking to extend CARP
implementation with reforms.
These coming weeks, he said, they
expect a deluge of killer amendments so
that even if the program is extended, the
already weak law would be rendered
inutile with more loopholes.
“President Arroyo promised us to
support CARP. We ask her now to
implement it without the killer amend-
ments,” he said.
“Placing some killer amendments
into the program is not according to
CARP / A6
Cagayan
leads moves
for alternative
mining bill
THE Archdiocese of Cagayan the Oro is
at the forefront of an initiative pushing
for an alternative mining bill (AMB).
A forum titled “Discussion on Alter-
native Mining Bill” was convened by
the Archdiocesan Social Action Center
on May 13 at the Archbishop Patrick
Cronin Hall of St. Augustine Metro-
politan Cathedral in collaboration with
the Legal Rights and Natural Resources
Center-Kasama sa Kalikasan/Friends
of the Earth Philippines (LRC-KSK/
FoEP).
The discussion was a parallel activity
to the official filing of the Alternative
Mining Bill on May 13 at the House
of Representatives by Rep. Lorenzo
“Erin” R. Tañada III (Liberal Party,
4th District, Quezon) and AKBAYAN
CHURCH-LABOR DIALOGUE. Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales (center) reads the contents of a position paper brought by representatives representative, Congresswoman Riza
of various labor unions including Federation of Free Workers, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, LABOREM, ZOTO, and Alliance of Progressive Hontiveros.
Labor, Kanlungan Center Foundation and AMLC. The meeting, held at the Residencia de Arzobispo recently, secured a commitment from the Prelate
of Manila for a more aggressive church intervention for labor protection and labor rights. (Contributed Photo) Social Action director Rev. Fr. Jose
A. Cabantan called on the House of
Representatives to support the passage

Cardinal Rosales meets labor leaders

THE Church of Manila has responded to the need
for the protection of ordinary workers amid the eco-
nomic downturn and growing fears of job losses.
Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales
yesterday met with union leaders and vowed to ad-
vocate for worker’s welfare with organized labor.
Rosales is all out for the establishment of un-
employment insurance which he proposed to call
“Pondo ng Pinoy para sa mga Manggagawa.”
He said the fund to be generated from the pro-
gram “could be used to provide direct services to
workers like providing free legal assistance.”
Rosales is the brainchild of the successful Pondo
ng Pinoy which the Catholic has used to fund feed-
ing programs for poor families, among others.
But the church leader expressed apprehension
over how the program will be implemented.
“I’m wary that the social security contributions
of workers who avail of the insurance scheme will
be wiped out,” he said.
The cardinal then asked the workers to present
their proposal to him and other Catholic bishops for
unemployment insurance.
Rosales said he will seek the attention of the Catho-
lic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to
include in their next meeting an audience with the
labor groups.
“Labor is very happy with the support the cardinal
is giving to workers,” said Julius Cainglet, Media Of-
ficer of the Federation of Free Workers (FFW).
“The invitation to the CBCP meeting is a clear indi-
cation of the commitment of the Cardinal to prioritize
workers, especially since the global financial crisis is
already taking its toll on labor,” Cainglet added.
The FFW has historical ties with the church, having
been established by a Jesuit priest almost 59 years ago.
The cardinal reached out to the workers through the
Archdiocesan Ministry for Labor Concerns (AMLC)
headed by Fr. Erik Adoviso.
This was the second time that Manila archbishop
met with labor leaders. Last month, he also met
with a handful of union leaders and asked them to
“concretize” their demands so he could generate
support for the proposals easily.
Workers are also asking for a moratorium on
demolitions, evictions and foreclosures of unpaid
housing loans. They also want to put a stop on the
increase of tuition and other fees.
Union leaders also sought the help of the church
in making sure that companies do not make the
crisis an excuse to violate core labor standards on
job security, wages and working conditions.
Other groups joining the Church-Labor Con-
ference are the Urban Missionaries, Partido ng
Manggagawa, Alliance of Progressive, Bukluran
ng Manggagawang Pilipino, Labor’s Advocacy
for Reform Movement (LABOREM), Zone One
Tondo Organization (ZOTO), Kanlungan Center
Foundation and the Archdiocesan Ministry for
Labor Concerns. (CBCPNews)
of the AMB, saying “it is now time to
scrap the RA 7942.”
“The AMB aims to bring back the
exploration, development and utiliza-
tion of mineral resources within the
framework of national development,
the right of peoples to self determina-
tion, and respect for human rights and
the environment,” Cabantan said.
Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma,
S.J., D.D. also joined Cabantan’s call,
stressing that after fourteen years of
the implementation of the Mining Act
of 1995, no solid proof of progress espe-
cially in the sites of struggles (SOS, the
term used to refer to communities in the
mining areas) is evidenced.
“Fourteen years of the implementa-
tion of the Mining Act of 1995 had
brought about the physical and eco-
nomic dislocation of many indigenous
peoples and other upland rural com-
Mining Bill / A6

CFC lets go of GK control

PRO-POOR housing advocate to let go of GK as one of its
Bishop scoffs at Pacquiao’s DOJ roles
A CATHOLIC bishop scoffed at the appointment ing to be an intelligence agent should have been
of Manny Pacquiao as the Department of Justice’s appointed.
Gawad Kalinga Community ministry is not tantamount to special assistant on “intelligence matters.” Pabillo also said that the pound-for-pound
Development Foundation Inc. the group’s neglect of its pro- Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo king could be better utilized if he is ap-
(GK) will soon have a leader- poor ministry. said the boxing champ was tapped by the pointed in a field where his
ship board and corporate “CFC members who are DOJ as its new aide not because of his ex- skills are beyond doubt, such
identity independent from the currently involved in GK are pertise but due to his popularity. as in sports.
Couples for Christ Interna- enjoined to continue their pres- “They are just using his popularity, not his DOJ Secretary Raul Gonzalez
tional Council (CFC-IC). ence and work in the GK com- expertise,” he said. yesterday named Pacquiao
This transpired as CFC ex- munities. CFC and GK, while Pabillo questioned the capability as his special assistant, in an
ecutive director Joe Tale an- with distinct governance and of Pacquiao to fulfill his role, saying “honorary status”, and can now
nounced the major decision corporate structure, will con- that his expertise clearly lies in the perform functions as assigned
of the CFC-IC “to let go of tinue to collaborate in the GK sport of boxing. by the former and the National
the governance and corporate villages. This is because of “His clout is on boxing. One’s Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
structure of GK” so the latter CFC Executive Director Joe Tale CFC’s solidarity with and com- expertise in one field cannot just The DOJ chief said Pacquiao
can focus on its expanding work within and out- mitment to the poor,” he said, adding that CFC will be transferred to others,” he and his vast influence, especial-
side the country as a non-religious organization. focus on their work in the Prison Ministry, Feed My added. ly in Mindanao, could be used
Tale justified the decision in saying that as GK Sheep and the Migrant Workers Program. Instead of Pacquiao, according in gathering vital intelligence
grew and upscaled in the recent years, the “CFC Since CFC will cease to have institutional author- to the bishop, a person deserv- Illustration by Bladimer Usi information. (CBCPNews)
Mission” and the “GK Way” evolved distinctly, ity over GK, Tale will cease to be the GK Board
highlighting fundamental and deepening diversity Chairman and Melo Villaroman, Jr. will step down

Poll watchdogs’ summit urged

in approach and implementation. as GK President as the CFC-IC members will tran- The former envoy to the
“While CFC is pursuing the fullness of the mis- sition out of the 12-man GK Board. Holy See added that having
sion, GK is focused on nation building and poverty “The vacancies will be filled by new board such a convention would
alleviation, which necessitate that it mainstreams members, some of whom may possibly be CFC A CHURCH-BASED election PPCRV chairperson Hen- show that many people are
and partners with all sectors of society. It is even members. Of the five remaining GK board mem- watchdog is open to the idea rietta de Villa said a national willing to sacrifice for genu-
poised to enter non-Christian countries (such as bers, four are CFC members; Ateneo de Manila of holding a “national sum- summit could facilitate the ine change in the govern-
India, Indonesia and the Middle East) as a non- University President Fr. Ben Nebres, S.J. is the fifth mit” for all non-government setting of common direction ment.
religious organization,” Tale said. member,” Tale said. organizations involved in for all groups also looking for Commission on Elections
“[As such], there has been honest divergence of For his part, GK executive director Antonio the campaign for credible change in the country’s politi- (Comelec) Commissioner
opinions [from] these fundamental differences. We “Tony” Meloto only said that the consequences 2010 polls. cal system. Rene Sarmiento agreed with
have tried to resolve these differences in various of the decision and “the spirit of the proposal was The head of the Pastoral “That’s a good idea so that De Villa in saying it would
ways especially in the last two years, including for greater empowerment of both CFC and GK, to Council for Responsible Vot- we will have common direc- be good to unite efforts all
the attempt to strengthen oneness of leadership remove confusion and to restore relationships.” ing (PPCRV) made the state- tion... but without sacrificing aiming for a clean, honest
through the changes in the organizational struc- “We believe that the work with the poor should ment May 11 amid the mush- the individual identities of each and credible elections.
ture. However, despite our common best efforts not suffer because of our differences. We believe rooming of several groups group,” said De Villa who also “That is a good proposal to
and intentions, unity continues to be elusive under that allowing GK to operate independently of the all seeking for change in the chairs the National Movement bring together the forces of
the present structure,” he added. authority of the IC is the right step to take for CFC, country’s electoral system. for Free Elections. Watchdogs / A6
Tale, however, clarified that the decision of CFC GK and the poor,” he added. (Kris Bayos)
 World News
CBCP Monitor
A2 Vol. 13 No. 10
May 11 - 24, 2009

Benedict XVI reiterates church’s

link to Jews Papal pilgrimage begins overlooking the

wandering in the desert.

Promised Land
the Promised Land after 40 years of
“It is appropriate that my pilgrim-
age should begin on this mountain,
where Moses contemplated the Prom-
ised Land from afar,” the Pontiff said.
“Moses gazed upon the Promised
Land from afar, at the end of his
earthly pilgrimage. His example re-
minds us that we too are part of the
ageless pilgrimage of God’s people
through history.”
“From the earliest times,” the Holy
Father continued, “Christians have
© www.catholicnewsagency.com
from the dead.”
“The ancient tradition of pilgrim-
age to the holy places also reminds us
of the inseparable bond between the
Church and the Jewish people,” the
Pontiff explained. “From the begin-
ning, the Church in these lands has
commemorated in her liturgy the great
figures of the Patriarchs and Prophets,
as a sign of her profound appreciation
of the unity of the two Testaments.”
“May our encounter today,” the
Pope concluded, “inspire in us a re-
newed love for the canon of sacred
pany you, or rather follow you, just
as once the people of Israel followed
Moses and were led by him.”
“Today,” he continued, “we still
feel as though we are in the desert
and we need someone who leads us
to the Lord, someone who helps us
get to know him as a provident and
compassionate Father, as Our Lord
Jesus Christ revealed him to us.”
“Your Holiness, we entrust our-
selves to you on this pilgrimage,” the
Franciscan priest declared. “Take our
pleas to the Lord and address us again

AMMAN, Jordan, May 9, 2009—Bene-
dict XVI is affirming the continued
unity of Christians and Jews in the
ancient practice of pilgrimage to the
Holy Land.
come on pilgrimage to the sites linked
to the history of the Chosen People,
the events of Christ’s life and the na-
scent Church.”
“This great tradition,” he added,
“which my present pilgrimage is
meant to continue and confirm, is
grounded in the desire to see, to
The Pope visited the Basilica of the touch, and to savor in prayer and
Moses Memorial at Mount Nebo to- contemplation the places blessed by
day, commencing his weeklong Holy the physical presence of our Savior,
Land pilgrimage. Tradition holds that his Blessed Mother, the apostles and
it was here that God showed Moses the first disciples who saw him risen
Scripture and a desire to overcome
all obstacles to the reconciliation of
Christians and Jews in mutual respect
and cooperation in the service of that
peace to which the word of God calls
us!”
New Moses
Father José Rodrígez Carballo, Gen-
eral Minister of the Franciscans living
in the Holy Land, who welcomed the
Holy Father, said, “You are not alone
on this journey. We want to accom-
with that Word, which is the only one
that can give us salvation.”
In his remarks, the Holy Father
thanked in particular Father Carballo
and the Franciscan friars who minister
to the Holy Land pilgrims for “their
age-old presence in these lands, their
joyful fidelity to the charism of St.
Francis, and their generous concern
for the spiritual and material welfare
of the local Christian communities and
the countless pilgrims who visit the
Holy Land each year.” (Zenit)

English-speaking priests called to Rome Sichuan earthquake: quake

for ‘Year for the Priests’ seminar
HARRISBURG, Pa., May 10, 2009—In honor of
the 223rd birthday of St. John Vianney, two of the
largest English-speaking associations for parish
priests and deacons have announced a joint confer-
ence in Rome to encourage the ongoing formation
of clergy.
Pope Benedict has designated 2010 as the Year of
Priests and has invoked the patronage of the Curé
of Ars, St. John Vianney. Vianney, the patron saint
of parish priests, who was born on May 8, 1786 and
ministered in France. He became so well-known
victims mark anniversary
organized a special seminar in Rome to “promote
ongoing formation of the clergy in a fraternal
with silent protests
setting.” The seminar is in response to the call BEIJING, China, May 11, 2009—Dozens of families who lost
of the Second Vatican Council and supported by children in the 12 May 2008 Sichuan earthquake will take
Cannon Law. part in a sit-in and go on a hunger strike to protest against the
Speakers will be selected based upon their provincial government’s unwillingness to investigate why so
“orthodoxy and loyalty to the Magisterium.” All many schools collapsed.
priests and deacons from English speaking coun- Some parents said that they will stand in silent protest as
tries are invited to attend the event regardless of President Hu Jintao and United Nations Secretary General Ban
their membership to either the ACCC or CCC. Ki-moon take part in a ceremony commemorating the deaths of
National Chairman, Rev. Michael Kennedy, PP, 1,400 high school students in the city of Beichuan.
© www.laprocure.com

for his spiritual direction that pilgrims would come
from distant places to speak with him.
The Australian Confraternity of Catholic Clergy
and the American Confraternity of Catholic
Clergy have responded to the Year of Priests and
(Australia) and President, Rev. John Trigilio, Jr, According to official figures, some 5,335 students were killed
PhD, (U.S.A.) have urged their members to “honor (other sources put the actual number at more than 7,000) under
Pope Benedict’s Year for the Priests by coming to the rubble of their schools as if they had been built with tofu
Rome in January 2010 to spend time in prayer, whilst adjacent buildings withstood the quake.
study, and sacerdotal fraternity.” (CNA) Provincial authorities reassured the public right after the
event, saying that investigations would quickly follow, only to

Obama is both ‘Angel and Demon’ at the

reject demands by parents to know how schools were built.
Recently provincial construction director Yang Hongbo said
there was limited evidence of poor construction.

Vatican, Magister says

VATICAN CITY, May 8, 2009—
In an article published this
morning, Italian Vatican ana-
lyst Sandro Magister notes that,
while L’Osservatore Romano
has praised Barack Obama for
his “moderation,” two scholars
from the Pontifical Academy
for Social Sciences have harshly
criticized the U.S. President for
his position on life issues.
In his article titled “Angel or
Demon? At the Vatican, Obama
is both,” Magister explains that
the divide between the “olympic
calmness” of the Vatican news-
paper in evaluating Obama’s
first 100 days and the “growing
number of critics among lay
people and bishops” in the U.S.,
has created a “stupor” in some
Vatican dicasteries.
Unlike some U.S. analysts,
who claim that there is no sign of
animosity toward Obama in the
Roman Curia, Magister says that,
following the pro-Obama article
of L’Osservatore Romano, the
plenary meeting of the Pontifical
Academy of Social Sciences has
US President Barack Obama and Vatican Analyst Sandro Magister
been a venue for sharp criticism
against the U.S. President.
The meeting was held at the
Vatican, May 1 – 5.
Magister recalls that the Presi-
dent of the Pontifical Academy is
none other than Professor Mary
Ann Glendon, who recovered
her position after leaving her
However, the authorities insisted that the power of the quake
The Vatican expert reveals
was to blame for the scale of human losses, this despite the fact
that French Archbishop Roland
that China’s National Audit Office determined that schools
Minnerath and Belgian priest
were forced to operate on 55 per cent of their budget with the
and scholar Michel Schooyans
rest embezzled.
coordinated their conferences
Parents are warning that they are not going to give up or ac-
to deliver a harsh criticism on
cept compromises. Many of them lost their only child and are
the “messianic” mentality of
now set to dedicate the rest of their life to justice.
both President Obama and Tony
“I feel I have no future, nothing,” said Lin Changhen who
Blair.
lost her only daughter.
Before reproducing the second
For her the 60,000 yuan the government gave her in compen-
part of Schooyans’ conference,
sation is “dirty.”
Magister notes that Archbishop
“We don’t necessarily want compensation or trials, but we
Minnerath, 62, is “well known”
want a fair, just answer,” said Zheng Chenglong, whose son
by Pope Benedict XVI, who ap-
Zheng Jiajie died in a collapsed school.
pointed him special secretary to
By contrast, the government is more interested in helping the
the Synod of Bishops of 2005.
local economy recover in an area the size of Germany with a
Schooyans, on his part, is one
population of 87 million people, and this despite the huge dam-
of the top scholars on interna-
ages inflicted by the quake: 3,340 schools damaged or destroyed,
tional policies related to life
more than 300 kilometers of highways and 1,700 kilometers of
issues.
local roads in need of repair.
The second part of Schooyans’
Following the quake the government invested heavily in
post as the U.S. Ambassador to conference, titled “Obama and
reconstruction. Despite five million homeless people, public
the Holy See. Blair Messianism Reinterpreted,”
money raised the local GDP by 9.5 per cent over the previous
Professor Glendon recently in which the Belgian scholar claims
year. In the third quarter of 2008 the provincial economy actu-
rejected the Laetare Medal from that abortion worldwide will dra-
ally grew by 10.1 per cent.
the University of Notre Dame matically grow as a consequence
However, many businesses in the petrochemical, machinery,
in protest for the university’s of Obama’s anti-life policies, is
electricity and food industries are still reeling from the impact
decision to bestow an honorary fully reproduced by Magister at:
of the quake, so are many residents, still feeling the effects of
degree to President Obama on http://chiesa.espresso.repub-
huge human losses. (AsiaNews/Agencies)
May 17. blica.it/?eng=y. (CNA)

Neocatechumenal Way founder awarded doctorate

ROME, May 8, 2009—The Pontifical John Paul II
Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family is
awarding an honorary doctorate to Kiko Argüello,
one of the initiators of the Neocatechumenal
Way.
The institute, situated at Rome’s Lateran Uni-
versity with other locations around the world,
announced that on May 13 it will invest as doc-
tors “Honoris Causa” both the Spanish founder,
Francisco (Kiko) Argüello, and an Italian sociology
professor, Pierpaolo Donati.
A statement from the institute notes that the
contributions of both men to the field of family
studies are valued as “authoritative references for
© fermo.chiesainrete.it
It also pointed out the value of the lay group’s
“promotion, together with other ecclesiastical or-
ganizations, of major initiatives in support of the
family,” especially the “Family Day in Italy and the
2007 Feast of the Holy Family in Madrid.”
Donati, the other doctorate recipient, is a profes-
sor from the University of Bologna, and was named
by the institute as “one of the top experts in the
world of family sociology.”
The institute stated that Donati has made a
valuable contribution to building “a humanistic
sociology that distances itself from all forms of
scientific reductionism and cultural relativism,”
with a particular criticism of the functionalist and

its own teaching and research work.” Marxist approaches.

The institute underlined “the strong commit-
ment of the Neocatechumenal Way on family
issues” by its emphasis on “the experience of the
‘domestic celebration’ with which it sends families
Founder Francisco Argüello on a mission.”
It added, “From this [arises] the idea of relational
sociology,” Donati’s “original and fruitful creation:
from this perspective, the family is not a simple
sum of individuals or an organic body, but a set Pro-life buses to operate in
51 cities in Spain until June
of vital relations.” (Zenit)

Pro-life ‘Imagine’ adoption ad approved to run during ‘American Idol
WASHINGTON D.C., May 11, 2009—A new
pro-life video listing famous people who
have been adopted has received initial ac-
ceptance for broadcast on the closing episode
of “American Idol.”
The ad, produced by CatholicVote.org as
part of its “Imagine the Potential” series,
shows people such as John Lennon, Nelson
Mandela, Babe Ruth, Nancy Reagan, Bill
Clinton, J.R.R. Tolkien, Sarah McLachlan,
Steve Jobs, and Jesse Jackson.
Asking what such different people have
in common, the ad answers that they were
all adopted.
It closes with the tagline “Life: Imagine
the Potential” and shows the website of
CatholicVote.org.
The previous entry in the series featured
an ultrasound of a baby in the womb. The
ad said the baby will grow up in a broken
home but despite hardships will become
the first African-American president. A
picture of President Barack Obama was then
displayed.
The first ad was initially accepted to run
the 2009 Super Bowl but was later rejected
by NBC officials on the grounds it involved
political candidates or issues. The ad ran
on Black Entertainment Television during
its January 21 coverage of President Barack
Obama’s inauguration.
It was viewed more than 1.8 million times
on YouTube.
Speaking at the National Catholic Prayer
Breakfast on Friday, EWTN host Raymond
Arroyo announced that the video received
“initial acceptance” to be broadcast on the
closing episode of the Fox Network’s singing
competition “American Idol.” (CNA)
MADRID, Spain, May 4, 2009—Right to Life in Spain announced
on May 1 that it is launching a “Tour for Life,” consisting of
three buses that will travel through 51 Spanish cities between
May 1 and June 15, 2009. The buses will feature information on
abortion and alert people to the government’s plan to liberalize
the country’s law on the issue.
The three buses left Madrid’s Compultense University on May
1 after a commissioning ceremony.
“The Right to Life buses will travel three separate routes
through Spain. They will remain in each city for two to three
days, informing residents about abortion and the plan to modify
the law, distributing pamphlets and products from the Right to
Life campaign,” organizers said. (CNA)

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 10
May 11 - 24, 2009
Pope pleads for peace in the Holy Land
JERUSALEM, Israel, May 11,
Jerusalem City from Mt. Olives
2009—”Even though the name
Jerusalem means ‘city of peace,’
it is all too evident that, for
decades, peace has tragically
eluded the inhabitants of this
holy land,” Pope Benedict said
in Israel, as he called for “every
possible avenue” to be pursued
to find peace.
The Pope was welcomed to Is-
rael at Ben Gurion International
Airport by a military honor
guard, a cadre of religious and
civil officials and Israel’s presi-
dent, Shimon Peres on Monday
morning.
Benedict XVI delivered a
speech in which he first noted
that he stands “in a long line
of Christian pilgrims to these
shores, a line that stretches
back to the earliest centuries
of the Church’s history ... I
come, like so many others be-
fore me, to pray at the holy
places, to pray especially for
peace—peace here in the Holy
Land, and peace throughout
the world.”
Pointing to the shared belief
in every person’s human dig-
nity, the Pope said, “Christians,
Muslims and Jews alike believe dation for a proper understand-
to be created by a loving God ing of inalienable human rights
and destined for eternal life. is placed in jeopardy.”
When the religious dimension This reflection on human
of the human person is denied dignity led the Holy Father to
or marginalized, the very foun- condemn anti-Semitism, which
Pope Benedict praises
‘prophetic role of women’
at Jordanian Mass
AMMAN, Jordan, May 10, 2009─On Sunday
morning 20,000 faithful attended the Papal Mass
celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI at Jordan’s Inter-
national Stadium of Amman, where in 2000 John
Paul II also celebrated Mass. Pope Benedict in his
homily stressed the “prophetic role” of women in
God’s plans.
In the only public Papal Mass in Jordan, which
conceded a holiday to the country’s 100,000 Chris-
tians today, the Holy Father reminded Christians,
including groups from Lebanon and Iraqi refugees,
that the Church in the Holy Land has dedicated
this year to the family, speaking of the “strong
Christian families of these lands.”
“How much the Church in these lands owes to
the patient, loving and faithful witness of countless
Christian mothers, religious Sisters, teachers, doc-
tors and nurses!” he explained. “How much your
society owes to all those women who in different
and at times courageous ways have devoted their
lives to building peace and fostering love!”
“From the very first pages of the Bible,” he con-
tinued, “we see how man and woman, created in
the image of God, are meant to complement one
another as stewards of God’s gifts and partners in
communicating his gift of life, both physical and
spiritual, to our world.”
Pope Benedict lamented that this God-given
dignity and role of women has not always been
sufficiently understood and esteemed.
“The Church, and society as a whole,” he added,
“has come to realize how urgently we need what
the late Pope John Paul II called the ‘prophetic
charism’ of women as bearers of love, teachers of
mercy and artisans of peace, bringing warmth and
humanity to a world that all too often judges the
value of a person by the cold criteria of usefulness
and profit.”
“By its public witness of respect for women, and
its defense of the innate dignity of every human
person, the Church in the Holy Land can make
an important contribution to the advancement of
a culture of true humanity and the building of the
civilization of love,” he explained.
The Pontiff concluded by telling Catholics that
he came to encourage them to persevere in faith,
hope and love, in fidelity to the ancient traditions
and the distinguished history of Christian witness
that they trace back to the age of the Apostles.
“The Catholic community here,” he explained,
“is deeply touched by the difficulties and uncer-
tainties which affect all the people of the Middle
East.” He added, “May you never forget the
great dignity which derives from your Christian
heritage.”
“May the courage of Christ our shepherd,” he
continued, “inspire and sustain you daily in your
efforts to bear witness to the Christian faith and
to maintain the Church’s presence in the changing
social fabric of these ancient lands.”
The Holy Father added: “Fidelity to your Chris-
tian roots, fidelity to the Church’s mission in the
Holy Land, demands of each of you a particular
kind of courage: the courage of conviction, born
of personal faith, not mere social convention or
family tradition; the courage to engage in dialogue
and to work side by side with other Christians in
the service of the Gospel and solidarity with the
poor, the displaced, and the victims of profound
human tragedies; the courage to build new bridges
to enable a fruitful encounter of people of differ-
ent religions and cultures, and thus to enrich the
fabric of society.”
Two hundred children received their first Holy
Communion at the Papal Mass, including 40 Iraqi
children who are refugees in Jordan. Some of them
received the Sacrament from Benedict XVI.
In attendance at Sunday’s Mass was Prince
Ghazi Bin Mohammad, the King of Jordan’s chief
advisor on religious affairs and one of the chief
signatories of a letter by 138 Muslim scholars. It
was he who accompanied Benedict XVI during
his visit to the al-Hussein bin-Talal Mosque in
Amman, Jordan. (CNA)
News Features
A3
Saying that the “eyes of the
world are upon the peoples
of this region as they struggle
to achieve a just and lasting
solution to conflicts that have
caused so much suffering,”
Pope Benedict emphasized that
the future of many depends on
“the outcome of negotiations
for peace between Israelis and
Palestinians.”
“In union with people of good
will everywhere, I plead with
all those responsible to explore
every possible avenue in the
search for a just resolution of
the outstanding difficulties, so
that both peoples may live in
peace in a homeland of their
own, within secure and inter-
nationally recognized borders.
In this regard, I hope and pray
that a climate of greater trust
can soon be created that will
enable the parties to make real
progress along the road to peace
and stability.”
The Holy Father also offered a
© www.wikimedia.org
special greeting to the Catholics
present. Pointing out that he
will join in the closing ceremony
for the Year of the Family in
Nazareth, the Pope stressed the
he said “continues to rear its wherever it is found, and to pro- that “Even though the name important role of the family in
ugly head in many parts of the mote respect and esteem for the Jerusalem means ‘city of peace,’ contributing to peace.
world.” members of every people, tribe, it is all too evident that, for Later this afternoon the Pope
“This is totally unacceptable,” language and nation across the decades, peace has tragically will visit the Holocaust Memo-
he stated. “Every effort must be globe.” eluded the inhabitants of this rial at the Yad Vashem Museum.
made to combat anti-Semitism He also underscored the fact holy land.” (CNA)
German pope at the Holocaust Memorial
Message takes on greater significance, suggests Aide
JERUSALEM, Israel, May 11, 2009— the Pope is visiting this country, it
Benedict XVI’s visit to Jerusalem’s is appropriate to say that all of us
Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial have the mission that the Holy Father
today represents a strong message presented in his discourse: to work
for the entire Church, according so that these tragedies do not happen
to a Vatican aide accompanying again in the history of humanity.”
the Holy Father on his weeklong Furthermore, Father Atuire contin-
pilgrimage. ued, “the Pope is German, the nation
Father Caesar Atuire, the delegate to which belonged the Nazis who
administrator of Opera Romana Pel- organized the Holocaust.”
legrinaggi, spoke with ZENIT about His national origin, the priest sug-
the Pope’s arrival today in Israel gested, gives even greater weight to
and the events on the Holy Father’s his message and his pilgrimage to
schedule during this, the third full the holy places.
day of his Holy Land pilgrimage. His words are particularly elo-
The Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi quent when he says, “we do not want
© www.footstepministries.org
is the Vatican institution whose these things to be repeated, and faced
mission is to evangelize through with the horror of what happened,
pastoral tourism and the ministry we have to learn to do everything we
of pilgrimage. can so that this world can be a better
Father Atuire said he considered world,” Father Atuire proposed.
choosing the Yad Vashem as one of In this context, the priest con-
the first stops in Israel to be a coura- tended that the first leg of the Pope’s
Yad Vashem Hall of Names
geous move. pilgrimage in Jordan was a good
In a moving address focused on the importance What is to become of him or her? Who could have example of this message.
of a name, Benedict XVI said at the memorial, imagined that they would be condemned to such “Jordan is a country where Christians, Muslims
“Gazing upon the faces reflected in the pool that a deplorable fate!” and the other religions coexist in peace,” he said,
lies in stillness within this memorial, one cannot Father Atuire declared that the Pope’s words noting that “in that nation, though the Christians
help but recall how each of them bears a name. I were not merely his personal reflections, but de- are a tiny minority, they have an important role
can only imagine the joyful expectation of their livered as the head of the Church. from the perspective of works of charity and also
parents as they anxiously awaited the birth of “The Catholic Church rejects all that is violence,” from the perspective of education and culture.”
their children. What name shall we give this child? he said, “and I think that, in this moment in which (Mercedes de la Torre/Zenit)
Vote for politicians who ACIM-Asia warns on condom promotion
DAVAO CITY, May 7, 2009—The Catholic Association of Doctors,
emulate Rizal’s leadership, Nurses and Health Professionals in Asia (ACIM-Asia) warned that
condom promotion is a questionable enterprise that will only end up
in a dangerous proposition.
Lagdameo tells youth Yolly Eileen Gamutan, RN, secretary of ACIM-Asia–Philippines
said that by promoting condom it is also encouraging the practice of
premarital sex or free sex.
MANILA, May 8, 2009— “Condom is really dangerous. If we are promoting truthful public
Almost a year before the information then tell the people that using condom is dangerous.
2010 national polls, the Thailand’s experience clearly says that using condom is not safe sex,”
head of the Catholic said Gamutan.
Bishops’ Conference “(See,) there is no right way to do a wrong thing,” Gamutan
of the Philippines has added.
called on voters to re- Meanwhile, in a statement issued by ACIM–Asia, it said, “members
flect on Dr. Jose Rizal’s of the Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Develop-
leadership example in ment (PLCPD) are vehemently opposed to the Catholic Church and the
choosing the politicians pro-life cause, and financially backed by European Union Legislators,
worthy to be elected for seek to force the Philippine Government to jack up the family planning
public office. budget from P180 million to P2 billion, to be spent on promoting and
Jaro, Iloilo Archbish- distributing contraceptives like condoms and pills, on the pretext of
Archbishop Angel Lagdameo
op Angel Lagdameo sustainable development and economic progress.”
specifically urged the youth, the biggest sector comprising the voting popu- Gamutan said that because PLCPD is encountering a strong resis-
lace, to use their right to suffrage wisely for the sake of political renewal tance in the national level, it is then pushing for policy changes in the
and moral reform. countryside.
“If we want our country to experience political renewal and moral reform, “PLCPD defends the condom companies against condom ad bans,
both elected officials and civil society must accept the challenge for such a insisting that condom companies have the right to free expression
change. There must be some models for it: not only some saints canonized and that the people have the right to make informed choices,” said
by the Church, but more importantly, some of our Filipino heroes. And Na- Gamutan, adding:
poleon Almonte offers us one model of political and moral leader—Rizal,” “PLCPD lobbies for informed choice but choose not to tell the public
Lagdameo said in endorsing Almonte’s book titled “Rizal is my President: about the established fact in that in Thailand–Philippine experience,
40 Leadership Tips from Jose Rizal.” condom campaign has been proven to be a dangerous proposition.”
The prelate even said the book suggests a voter’s checklist in measuring Record shows that in 1984, the first HIV case was detected in both
the qualifications of politicians vying for national and local positions. Thailand and the Philippines. By 1987, Thailand had 112 cases of Ac-
“The 40 tips are Almonte’s personal reflections from his reading of the quired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and the Philippines had
letters and communications of Rizal with other heroes. His theory-proposal 135 cases. In 1991, the World Health Organization (WHO) predicted
is that anyone who aspires for leadership, such as the Presidency, must have that by 1999, Thailand could have 70,000 deaths from the disease, and
the leadership values and virtues which the national hero wrote about in his the Philippines would have 85,000 deaths.
letters,” he added. In 1991, both nations took concrete and comprehensive measure
Meanwhile, the Episcopal Commission on Youth has also expressed its against the spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) but both
favorable endorsement of the theatrical adaptation of Almonte’s book. directed their efforts in completely different directions. Thailand had
Directed by Raffy Tejada of the Philippine Educational Theater Association, “100% condom use program.”
the play titled “Rizal is my President: A Musical Satire” is now showing at In the Philippines, Dr. Rene Bullecer of Human Life International
the Henry Lee Irwin, SJ Theatre, Ateneo Loyola Heights until May 10; St. established the organization AIDS-Free Philippines to combat HIV/
Cecilia’s Hall, St. Scholastica’s College, Manila from May 29 to 31; Far Eastern AIDS nationwide, as authorized by the Catholic Bishops Conference
University Auditorium, Morayta from June 19 to 21; and the AFP Theater, of the Philippines. The government also signed on to this effort.
Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City from June 27 to 28. However, by the end of 2003, records show that for two countries,
According to organizers, tickets prices are pegged at P200, P300, and P500 Thailand got the highest percentage of HIV/AIDS cases with 570,000
each. Proceeds will go for the youth and teacher training of the Rizal Youth Condom / A6
Leadership Institute. (Kris Bayos)
A4
EDITORIAL
Filipino resiliency
IT would be unrealistic to claim that there was ever a time
when the Philippines wallowed in opulence or abundance,
when the Filipinos had all that progress and development
could give. The truth rather is, this country and its people
are usually wanting in life and challenged in living. It
has always been a question of more or less resources, a
matter of more or less possibilities—never much. This
is why simply for political correctness, instead of an
underdeveloped nation, the Philippines is among those
qualified as a “developing” one.
History is a witness that there are some particular similarities
between the Japanese occupation and the rule of the present
administration concretely in conjunction with the matter
of depressing national economy. Presence of hunger and
sickness, absence of work or employment, craving for
education, revulsion at criminality, reign of corruption,
rarity of honesty and integrity in government—all these
socio-moral liabilities are then and now realities in this
country. Specifically as to a regime of corruption that
contributes much to the national financial crisis, it is
tops during the regime of the incumbent administration.
According to the World Bank, about a whopping 235 billion
pesos yearly are lost to corruption in the Philippines.
There are even signs that the above cited concrete indicators
of a practically bankrupt national economy are now much
worse than before. Otherwise, it would be difficult to
explain the phenomenon of OFW, i.e. million of Filipinos
trying their best to leave the country for them to make a
living for themselves and their families, and at the same
time willing to face all odds and dangers in foreign soil. In
effect, such is their sad plight and pitiful lot that recently
one haughty and triumphant character categorized the
Philippines as a “Nation of servants”.
But the good news over and above such financial crisis
in the Philippines is the Filipino resiliency. Not really
used to plenty and bounty, Filipinos will and do usually
find a way to be able to bear it, seek means to survive it.
Take away his chair, he will lie on the floor. Take away
the floor, and he will just build another. Not really used
to an easy life, it is precisely in difficult times that the
Filipinos demonstrate their “fighting spirit”, i.e. use his
creativity, show his ingenuity, prove his flexibility. It is
not altogether a pun to say that the song “I will survive”
fits well as a great attribute of Filipino soul.
As the Filipinos survived the Japanese regime and all the
economic woes that went with it, they too will definitely
survive the present economic crisis plus the present
administration that is has sadly become their burden and
misfortune for all the past nine years—and counting.
God’s call to mission on politics
ANY serious believer in God cannot allow the state of our
national politics as to persist. And in fact there is a duty for
the Christian Catholic to transform politics by the Gospel.
The Church, God’s people, must evangelize politics. God’s
call to the Church is to preach the integral Gospel, the
Gospel with all its social dimensions. The Gospel must
influence every phase of life, every stratum of society, and
“restore all things under Christ” (Eph. 1:10).
Strangely, there are not a few people, even within the
Church, who do not believe that to renew politics is part
of the Church’s mission. When Church officials praise
government policies, government officials welcome
such support warmly and are only too happy. But when
Church officials criticize and denounce government
policies, the same people immediately cry out: “Violation
of the separation of Church and State! Church meddling
in politics! Let the Church stick to religion!” They cite
the words of Christ: “Render to Caesar the things that
are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mt.
22:21). They say that the Church should have nothing
to do with politics because Christ said to Pilate: “My
kingdom is not of this earth!” (Jn. 18:36). They therefore
conclude that the Church should not say anything about
politics and politicians.
How wrongly they interpret Scriptures and the doctrine
of separation of Church and State! Quite unjustly they
selectively level this charge of interference in politics
against the Catholic Church, even while some other sects
may be loudly intervening in the political process especially
during elections.
Pastoral Exhortation on Philippine Politics, 1997
www.cbcpmonitor.com
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Pedro C. Quitorio
Editor-in-Chief
Pinky Barrientos, FSP Kris P. Bayos
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The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCP Com-
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P.O. Box 3601, 1076 MCPO.
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ISSN 1908-2940
Opinion CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 10
May 11 - 24, 2009
Illustration by Bladimer Usi
Jose B. Lugay
Reform—
Laiko Lampstand the cry of the day
THE headlines of the recent months would seem to indicate that on them considering that Congress has provided additional P11.3
nothing is right in this country. It has gotten into the consciousness billion budget for the automation process alone.
of all the Pacquiao followers that we Filipinos need a redeeming A World Bank report—a case study of India’s Power Sector, which
act of God to lift the bad image of this country from being the most needed reform, states:
corrupt in Asia, a notoriety doubly emphasized by the Philippines “Reform programs all over the world often come to grief because
being the most Catholic nation in this part of the world! The 2-round of the lack of sustained political will.”
spectacle of a prayerful Filipino, Manny Pacquiao, beating an over- “The ultimate success of any reform program requires that there
bearing humbug Briton, Ricky Hatton with a left hook was what the be an explicit melding of the “political” with the “technical”. If
“nation of servants” needed to catapult us once again to our long these two tracks are not joined together, the proposed reforms are
lost Rizal identity—the pride of the Malay race! not likely to succeed.”
The World War II and the Japanese occupation dissipated what- On that note, the capability of the present COMELEC to handle
ever finesse in political governance our congressmen and senators the complex technical process of a full automation system in our
practiced. The two-party system has now degraded into multi-parties 2010 electoral process is a big question. COMELEC in an earlier
boggling the mind of the voters on “what parties are for?” The report by Ateneo G-Watch on its budgetary system, an entry point
“masa” have chosen voting for popularity instead of parties. After to the study of Good Governance, did not have the basic operating
all whatever platform they support will surely not be followed. manual for systems and procedures that would be operational in
Politicians today, once elected are there to make a living in a grand all their offices throughout the country.
style like the encomienderos of the past supported by their faith- While the news headlines in recent days show the meticulous
ful farmhands. This way of life must be sustained for the coming implementation of the technical process of procurement, in fact
generations, hence once the three-termer politician ends his reign, disqualifying all 7 bidders for the automation equipment, the rest of
the “hanap-buhay” should be passed on to the next of kin or to the the processes of technical training for the operators of the machines,
wife, whoever is most acceptable to the local electorate. of ballot printing, education of the voters, handling complaints
What has been their source of funds to maintain this lifestyle? at the local voting units must also be given equal importance in
Obviously, funds come from taxpayers’ money. How are they able COMELEC’s management planning. These are potential causes of
to do it? Through pork barrel mis-allocation, through contractors failures in the coming 2010 elections.
of infrastructure projects (about 30% of overpriced bids), through About 40 organizations convened for the Good Governance Sum-
lobby groups of vested interests, and through party funds, and good mit held last April 29 at the Ateneo, Rockwell, Makati. It opened the
connections with the Administration who at the same time are the discussion on the present state of governance and how the citizens
protectors of the wrong-doer. Jocjoc Bolante is the prime example. together can implement a reform. The capability of the present in-
This is one for the books—Joc-joc Bolante recently had, reportedly, adequacy of the present COMELEC was discussed in the context of
the guts to announce that he will run for governor of Capiz in the good governance. The reform for governance must start first with the
coming elections! election of reform-minded individuals who have to be identified by a
Filipinos are patient people but there is a limit to their patience selection process. Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, the CBCP President
(“may hangganan ang pasyensiya”) as evidenced by the People was the keynote speaker. Having attended Dilaab Foundation’s ses-
Power revolution. People’s movements have started to be orga- sion in Cebu which focused on determining the criteria for political
nized long before the Hyatt 10 group seceded from Malacanang. candidates that Catholics should know, he stressed that the Ateneo
The impeachment attempts due to the Hello Garci scandal was an Good Governance Summit is an initiative to increase awareness
indication of a rising uneasiness and distrust of our political system that we have to be united in our effort for political reform. We do
The Supreme Court’s decision that COMELEC did not follow the hope that COMELEC will be up to the challenge. Failure in election
procurement law in the purchase of automation equipment for the reform due to incompetence in the technical aspects of governance
previous election, has made COMELEC extra careful this time in the may become the cornerstone that the builder’s rejected which will
purchase of automation equipment for 2010 elections. All eyes are cause the collapse of the whole institution.
Sr. Mary Pilar Verzosa, RGS
‘Deeply Damaged’
Love Life
“IF only someone had told me to go on with I get very upset each time a woman comes girls and women admitted for bleeding and
my pregnancy, not to have an abortion, she to me after an abortion, knowing that she incomplete abortion claim they have been
will find help for me…I would not have need not have undergone such devastation instructed to insert the tablet in their vagina,
aborted”. Mimi sobbed as she related to me if she had only received some support dur- besides swallowing several tablets at a time.
how the tragic death of her parents a couple ing the time that she was desperate. And I Hospital admissions for induced abortion are
of years ago drove her to go into a live-in wonder why our churches and organizations only a small percentage of the women who
relationship—in depression, in loneliness, in cannot give that support to those who go aborted. Many have not gone to the hospitals
anger, in vengeance against things she could to them. because they have not suffered physical side-
not even identify due to her confusion. This is a call then for all parishes to put effects such as profuse bleeding, ruptured
The relationship of course led to a preg- a poster or announcement in their bulletin uterus or infections. We have no data on
nancy. When her “lover” told her to get rid boards or directory the hotline numbers number of these women.
of the baby, she sought help from a nearby that people can call when they need our as- Any Pregnancy loss such as a miscar-
parish, only to be told by the parish staff sistance. We realize that not all parish staff riage or still birth, but especially induced
worker that there was no one there who will be able to attend to them but the least abortion have intensive, extensive, deep,
could talk to her. Desperate, she then had they can do if the parish priest is not avail- and widespread ramifications. There are
a suction abortion that afternoon. Her boy- able is to listen to them and give them our approximately 25,000 abortions a year in
friend paid the “doctor” P6,000 for killing numbers. A few minutes of their time could the Philippines. There are about 60 million
their baby. save not only the life of the baby but of the abortions a year in the world.
Mimi was referred to me for post-abortion mother herself. Please copy this and post in After 25 years of Pro-life in the Philip-
counseling by some nuns in that province. a public place—“PREGNANT? Need help? pines, the question that bothers those who
She remembers that people commented how Text 0919-233-7783 or call (02) 851-5770. have devoted so much of their time and ef-
pale she was. She had been bleeding for two There are people who care.” Print it in your fort in the “stop abortion” campaign is why
weeks. They had her treated in a hospital own dialect if necessary. the continuous increase in abortion rates.
where she was prescribed antibiotics and Upon the request of Pro-life Philippines, Various answers are offered for the sake of
medicine to stop the bleeding. data gathered from five hospitals in Manila knowing what could be better strategies.
Mimi confessed that she decided to sepa- revealed an increase in induced abortions The task seems insurmountable when the
rate from her partner after a year and a half over the past ten years. Most significant are answers proposed are: materialism, hedo-
as she could no longer take his battering (he the statistics submitted by Fabella Maternity nism, contraceptive and anti-life mentalities,
uses drugs and drinks a lot). She began to Hospital showing a 50% increase, that is, pornography and prostitution, convenience
hate him after the abortion. She had not been from 469 cases in 1990 to 976 cases in year and deliberate withholding of truth from
sleeping for days, often crying and hearing 2000. In majority of the cases, Cytotec (miso- those with vested interests.
babies crying. protol) was used. We recall that Cytotec was Preventive measures never seem to catch up
What she was experiencing is what we not as rampantly sold in the early 90’s as they with the healing and reconciliation that have
call post-abortion syndrome. We pro-life are being distributed now through the black to be offered to the thousands of post-aborted
counselors know that it is so much easier to market. Even if they are sold at P150 to P200 women in distress, to the children whom we
counsel a pregnant girl not to abort than to a tablet, people bent on having the abortion now call as the abortion-survivors, to abor-
help in the healing of the trauma and guilt would still buy fifteen or twenty tablets as tion providers (health professionals, vendors,
of a woman after an abortion. prescribed by the vendors themselves. The Love Life / A6
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 10
May 11 - 24, 2009
Opinion A5
Oscar V. Cruz, DD Rev. Euly B. Belizar, SThD

‘Global Filipino’
Views and Points By the Roadside
SOMEONE has finally and rightfully achieved In the event that the now world famous honesty and integrity to ruling politicians.

the eminent title of “Global Filipino”. The at-
tribution is definitely not something claimed
by a merely personal caprice of the title holder
but legitimately conferred on him by both
official and popular acclamation. Determina-
tion, sacrifice and sweat plus faith are truly
a formidable combination. And this recipe
for success has been long since observed and
lived by the world boxing champion several
times over. Result: he does not only enjoy
fame but also has built a fortune.
The only key let-down in this living history
is that the same global figure seems to aspire
at being a district politician. From being a
uniting person in the country, there seems
to be a strong temptation for him to instead
become a disuniting character in the land
precisely by throwing his hat into the political
arena—with the probably honest intention
of “helping the people” which has been long
since the tired and tiring excuse of practically
all reigning and wannabe politicians.
and admired Filipino succumb to the
whisperings of devious politicians plus the
questionable promptings of certain money
salivating individuals, this would be not sim-
ply a big pity but also a veritable whammy.
In other words, for him to in effect register
himself as a political candidate even with a
proper political party—this would be noth-
ing less than his shameful entrapment into
eroding his now much cheered and idolized
and well loved and admired person.
In this country and during these particu-
lar times, politicians by and large are not
exactly admired, much less respected indi-
viduals. True or false, a very big majority
of politicians from the local to the national
levels are likewise identified with local
and national graft and corrupt practices,
are looked upon as infamous incarnations
of greed and deceit. There is the pervasive
sense in Philippine society that it is down-
right hypocrisy to append the virtues of
Fr. Francis B. Ongkingco
Rightly or wrongly, there is this persistent
perception that having a political office is
antithetical to living an upright life.
Furthermore, in the here and now of this
country, there is that strong and distinct con-
sciousness that politicians and self-interest,
self-promotion plus consequent self-service
are the one and the same composite reality.
This is exactly why “helping the people”
and being a politician does not exactly go
hand-in-hand in the real world of Philip-
pine politics. With his stature and fame and
resources, the World Champ should rather
put up Foundations for food production, for
education and for other worthy causes—with
the collaboration of other international and
national Foundations with the same avowed
generous and genuine objectives.
Wherefore, why would someone who
practically have the world in his hands, even
but think of going down to the perceived
dirty world of local politics?
‘Reshuffling’
THAT is the local lingo among some of us diocesan priests when
we talk of changes, which often mean transfers, in our (parish
or other) assignments. This is where we are now in my home
diocese. I was probably absent during the priest’s assembly in
which the word was adopted and soon gained fame or notoriety
among priests. Webster explains the word ‘reshuffling’ in terms
of ‘redistribution’ or ‘restructuring’ of various elements within
a system, as when a prime minister ‘reshuffles’ his cabinet. I
ask myself if our almost natural penchant for the word could
indicate our having allowed some invasion by the political into
the realm of the sacred. But then again I realize how naïve I
could be for asking the question in the first place.
But what does ‘reshuffling’ mean in concrete? I look at the
books, sheets of paper, letters, notes, envelopes, cards, cds,
DVDs and just plain trash all about my room that I am trying
to sort out so I could pack up those I will be bringing home or
to my next assignment. It is then that I receive an urgent mes-
sage about an article I need to submit pronto, to which I could
only utter, “Oh, Mother most compassionate…” Still, I leave
the chaos in my room aside and begin to type away my grief
and joy at the thought of leaving my present assignment and

Flunking to love God of arriving at a new one.

“CONGRATULATIONS, James!” I shook the hand of the brilliant
new high school graduate.
“You’re welcome, Father,” he said. He took out a handful of shiny
gold medals from his pocket and asked, “Oh, Father. I was wondering
if you can bless my medals.”
“Sure!” I was also happy that besides being their school’s valedic-
torian he also received numerous leadership awards. “In the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit…,” I blessed his
medals.
“Thanks, Father,” he smiled while pocketing the medals.
“Strange,” I said, “shouldn’t you be wearing them instead of hiding
them in your pocket?”
“You’re right, Father,” the medals jingled as he slowly pulled
them out again. “But you see, Father, I didn’t get our school’s high-
est award.”
“What would it be then?” I asked.
“It’s called the Most Distinguished Student Award,” he said while
staring blankly at the medals.
“So how’s that supposed to be more special than being valedicto-
rian?” I said shrugging my shoulders.
“It’s supposed to be for the student who has never flunked any
subject during his entire high school. So even if you average highest,
but had some failing marks then you can no longer deserve such a
much coveted award.”
I was trying to figure out in my mind what subject it could have
been that James could have failed. The boy was a born winner, except
that –it dawned upon me– he wasn’t much into sports. So I asked,
“Was it P.E.?”
“That was back in first year when there was no other sport ‘cept
basketball,” he gave me a smile expressing that it was something
obvious.
“That’s alright dude. Guess you’re dad would have said that…,”
“You can’t have everything,” he completed exactly what I was
about to say.
“You got me there, James,” I chuckled.
“Mom and dad understand and are very proud with what I’ve
Fr. Russell Bantiles
Whatever
already achieved. Dad just told me to learn from my failures or
limitations.”
“You know James?” I said.
“Yeah?” he noticed I was speaking in a more serious tone.
“There’s nothing wrong with flunking in the many good things of
life, but we have to know how to flunk out of the bad ones.”
“I don’t get you there, Father,” he frowned at me.
“Let’s say, you expected to get a good grade for a project you re-
ally invested a lot of time for. But then in the end you get a low grade
because you may have overlooked something. You shouldn’t really
worry about this, especially when you’ve done the best you could.”
“Okay, so what?”
“Where you and I should learn and be ready to flunk would be in
the things that separate us from God. Since we’re all ‘experts in sin-
ning,’ we ought to aim for getting ‘Fs’ in pride, vanity, anger, greed
and lust.”
“Isn’t this approach a bit negative, Father?”
“It may seem like that at first, but flunking out of these vices actually
means struggling to get A’s in the virtue oppose to them. It would be
wrong to over focus on what one does wrong or what one ought to
avoid. It would be more positive and fruitful to consider what good
one can concretize each day out of love for God and fellowmen.”
“How about the occasions when our weaknesses do come up once
in a while, Father?”
“Well, even though they may seem like failures, they are actually
only apparent failures. This is true if the person resolves to immedi-
ately go back to God with the humility like that of the Prodigal Son.
And he manages to even learn from his mistakes and his conversion
becomes more firm and sincere.”
“You mean to say, Father… that…,” he smiled as he came upon a
realization.
“Yes, James! That one can really never fail in the spiritual life as
long as he struggles with the sincere resolve to begin again, use the
supernatural means and to find—like St. Paul—strength and joy in
his own weaknesses. In this way, he no longer struggles alone, but
always in and with the grace and love of God.”
In the first place, ‘reshuffling’ means putting on a smile to
hide a disappointment over a dreaded, unexpected and difficult
(which explains the first two adjectives) assignment. It means,
sometimes, feigning ignorance of how some parishioners are
relieved you will be ministering somewhere else (any pastor
knows this part only too well). But it also means genuinely
trying to find ways to console parishioners who think, wrongly
of course, that you need to be rewarded for your hard work
through an extension of your term. “Do we need to write the
bishop a petition?” a lay leader asked me. “Please don’t do that,”
I answered, embarrassed. But, for the life of me, I couldn’t tell
him, “Please, if you think I have to be rewarded for my hard
work (a word which could be debatable in the parish context,
not to say in my own conscience), how could a reward take the
form of an extension of hard work?”
It is then that I have recourse to my next act. I tell people—and
frankly I have become convinced how Spirit-inspired the idea
is—that the diocese needs to go through the ‘reshuffling’ of its
clergy to remind us collectively of three things.
One, priests cannot become good shepherds if they do not
have the Good Shepherd’s mindset. And just what is that, you
may ask. I find the Good Shepherd’s words instructive: “I have
other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I have also to lead
them and they shall hear my voice” (Jn 10:16). The priest is not
in a position to object. He is transferred because, in doing so, he
manifests the Lord’s concern for the flock other than the ones
he is ministering. ‘Reshuffling’ is our concrete statement of the
universality of the call of salvation.
Two, God’s love is everlasting. What has this truth got to do
with priests’ transfers? It is stark to me. When a pastor leaves,
another takes his place. In a word, pastors are human instru-
ments that come and go but the One who uses them to express
his love for his people always walks with them. I remember a
groom who requested a singer friend to sing for him to his bride
the words of a song that say: “Tomorrow morning when you
wake up and the sun does not appear, I will be there”. Being
there for those one loves is a quality only God can really do (I’ll
take objections to this but won’t back down). And, truly, he is
always there for his people in particular through his priests and
pastors. Isn’t this what exactly happens when, as one pastor
leaves, another pastor takes his place to continue ministering
to God’s people? In fact, ‘reshuffling’ is a living testament to

Cogito
WHY are grapes pruned? In the Philippines,
where seldom we have viticulture, pruning
grapes could strike us as mysterious. All we
know is that it is necessary. Proper pruning of
grapevines is essential to maintain vine size,
shape, and yield of the grapes. If vines are
not pruned, they will become unruly, tangled
messes. Fruit ripeness will suffer. Overpro-
duction of the vine may lead to premature
death.
Jesus, in last Sunday’s Gospel, makes use
of this image to teach us one essential aspect
of our Christian life. “I am the true vine, and
my Father is the vine grower. He takes away
every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and every one that does he prunes so that it
bears more fruit.”
Are we “branches of the True Vine that bear
fruit”? Or are we the barren ones? In both
cases, we need to be pruned in order to yield
much fruit. And the pruning process could be
painful and enduring.
***
Recently, I received an alarming e-mail
which goes: “It is urgent that we all please take
cognizance of and review (Barack) Obama’s
pronouncements in the last two or three weeks.
These are signs of where he wants to drag the
whole world and all of mankind. In a manner
of speaking he is ‘writing on the wall’ the
scenario he intends to follow to fulfill his vow
that before his term of office closes ‘EVERY
COUNTRY OF THE WORLD WILL HAVE
A VIBRANT REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
PROGRAM!’”
Whether it is just a black propaganda
or not, we don’t need to have a lot of wild
imagination or paranoia in order to take
notice of a very obvious movement in the
world of what Pope John Paul II called “the
culture of death”. This culture takes various
forms and under the noble guise of curbing
population explosion but through abomi-
nable means like birth control, abortion and
even euthanasia.
The “culture of death” is creeping into
our society. And it is gaining grounds!
Our continued indifference and passivity
is its force. Here in Spain, there is a move
now to modify the law on abortion. It
comes after the successful modification
of the definition of “matrimony” in the
Constitution and the legalization of same-
sex marriage.
That the Lord allows this “painful prun-
ing” in His Church is comprehensible
through Jesus’ words. But how should we,
Christians, respond to this trial?
Melo M. Acuña
Pruning
***
Many would call it a “fight” and, I think
they’re right. I would like to call it an “oc-
casion”, and I think I owe them an explana-
tion.
In the history of Church, whenever the
“Boat of Peter” traverses stormy seas, a lot
of good things come out. In the era of great
heresies, we have excellent Doctors of the
Church. During the dark ages when the so-
ciety was somehow plunged into deep moral
degradation, there arose a great number of
saints.
Could it be that God is preparing us once
more—through the seeming darkness of the
“culture of death”—to receive great gifts from
Him? It could be. But He is challenging us to
remain steadfast till the end of this trial.
***
True enough, “God can write straight with
crooked lines”. But crooked lines are un-
necessary for Him in order to write straight.
He can do without them. However, man at
times does “need” them. Mejor dicho, man
needs to experience his own “crookedness”
in order to come across with God’s mercy.
Cogito / A6
the words of Jesus, “Behold, I am with you always until the end
of time” (Mt 28:20). Priests and pastors who willingly, freely
and lovingly submit to this sacrifice become instruments to the
Lord’s faithfulness to this promise.
Three, everything is temporary and passing in our pilgrimage
on earth. I remember being with a group of priests and we were
on our way to the rice terraces of Banaue when we stopped by a
church under the care of a Belgian missionary priest. He asked us
where we were going. The most elderly priest among us almost
immediately answered, “Father, we are just passing through.” I
was kind of expecting the missionary priest to retort, “So am I.”
He simply nodded with a knowing smile. That, for me, is what
best describes not only the human condition but also the human
aspect of all ministries, including that of ministerial priests. I
find the grief of some parishioners, not excluding the priests
themselves, over priests’ transfers not unlike the grief of the
bereaved. In fact, a few days ago I saw some parishioners behave
like their pastor who is being transferred to another parish has
just died. There is an analogy of dying in priests’ ‘reshuffling’.
But that is also where its positive note lies. I believe both priests
and parishioners could take tremendous comfort from the words
of the Lord himself: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Have
faith in God and have faith in me. In my Father’s house there
are many mansions. Otherwise how could have I told you that
I was preparing a place for you? I am indeed going to prepare
a place for you and then I shall come back to take you with me
that where I am you also may be” (Jn 14:1-4).
I must confess that I’m often tempted to tell the parishioners
of my next parish that we should work together so as to make
the rectory I’ll be residing in become a good ‘anticipation’ of
those beautiful ‘mansions’ the Lord talks about. But then they
might petition the bishop to bring their former pastor back. So,
up until this writing, I have prudently chosen to keep my lips
safely shut.
Those who grieve over priests’ ‘reshuffling’ say: “The trouble
with hello is goodbye”. But, with those who choose the upside
of ‘reshuffling’, I answer back: “The good thing with goodbye
is hello.”

Some disturbing signs DADITAMA / A6

AS the country’s able-bodied men and women hope to find well-pay-
ing jobs abroad, our very own “King of the Ring” Manny Pacquiao
was tapped by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales to be his “special
assistant” on “intelligence matters.” Though Mr. Gonzales said the
position was “honorary” and would not receive compensation, one
can’t help but think why Manny was given such designation.
Earlier, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo named Pacman as the
country’s “Ambassador for Peace and Understanding.” Quite a feat
indeed for the man who brought honor to the country continuously
searching for role models in the face of its being the most corrupt
in Asia as well as being touted as one of the most dangerous place
for journalists.
Pacman was also named “head” of DENR’s “Task Force Ka-
likasan.” Mr. Gonzales was quoted saying “There’s nothing wrong
with that.” Some are indeed smarter than others.
Going back to reality, the country’s exports fell by 30.0% in March
because shipments of electronic products and garments continued
Issues and Concerns
to slump as the world faced its serious downturn. It’s the sixth suc-
cessive month of declines though there was an improvement on the
39% decline posted in February.
Foreign remittances continue to help the country’s economy
though there have been projections of decline this year because some
48% of $16 B or so remittances last year that came from the United
States of America. It would be interesting to find out that 8.5% of
these remittances have come from Saudi Arabia while Filipinos in
Canada contributed at least 8% of the total amount. Still, Filipinos
in the United Kingdom contributed 4.8% while those in Italy sent
4.2% which is still significant.
However, reports from the government’s Philippine Overseas
Employment Administration noted the deployment of newly-hired
land-based overseas Filipino workers fell by nearly 30% in 2008
compared to 2007. Only 216,803 newly-hired land-based workers
were deployed in 2008 compared to 306,383 in 2007. The agency’s
full report on OFW deployment for 2008 has yet to be released.
ILO’s Tethis Mangahas said a third of the world’s migrants come
from Asia and one half of the world’s victims are also from Asia.
They have noted the continuous flow of Burmese, Cambodians and
Laotians into Thailand while Indonesians and Filipinos continue
to find their way to Malaysia. They also look for employment in
Taiwan, South Korea and Japan.
It is during these times exploitation and trafficking have become
more often. The preparatory conditions happen in the country of
origin. We have heard of undocumented workers who leave the
country as tourists, taking the risk of getting themselves into the
flesh trade. Recruitment and deception occur in the country of origin
while actual exploitation takes place in the country of destination.
What is disturbing is the fact it behooves upon government to
provide jobs to its qualified workers. The sad part is other Asian
countries seem to walk way ahead of the Philippines. Take the case
of Vietnam, ravaged by war for decades now have good infrastruc-
tures and world-class telecom facilities. With the kind of education
they give their school children, they would be way ahead of the
Philippines in five years.
The harsh realities may be too difficult for a hundred Manny
Pacquiaos to overcome.
 Local News
CBCP Monitor
A6 Vol. 13 No. 10
May 11 - 24, 2009

Cash rewards won’t cut political

killings, bishop says
THE Arroyo administration’s strategy to end politi- National Police (PNP).
Konsult Mindanaw complements
peace consultation with drama series
“The public is paying for their salaries and THE Konsult Mindanaw, a flagship program of the Bishops
cal killings will not work, a Catholic bishop said.
it’s their obligation to investigate, make arrests Ulama Conference (BUC) that leads the on-going peace consul-
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo
and bring to court those who are behind these tation across the island has produced a drama series broadcast
said the P25 million fund to reward informants
extrajudicial killings,” he said. on radio starting May to June 2009.
who could help solve political killings will never
President Arroyo announced on Tuesday the The drama series dubbed as “Radyo Kalinaw” is a 10-part
have much impact.
establishment of the hefty fund to pay informants Tagalog drama translated into Cebuano aims to complement the
Pabillo, who heads the Episcopal Commission
in an attempt to curb political killings that have on-going community peace consultations in Mindanao and is
on Social Action, Justice and Peace of the Catholic
victimized activists, rights lawyers and govern- produced by the BUC and aired through Bombo Radyo Network
Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP),
ment officials. and the Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation.
said cash reward is not an effective way to reduce
The fund would go to those “who provide Konsult Mindanaw Team Leader Jesuit Priest Fr. Albert Alejo
or cut crimes.
information that foils political assassination at- said the drama series is in keeping with the belief that effective
“The government has got the wrong strategy.
tempts or leads to their solution, especially the communication lies at the heart of any effort to consult mean-
Political will and not money is more needed to
identification of their masterminds,” she said. ingfully with the people.
solve the wave of political killings in the coun-
Arroyo has been criticized for the series of kill- The radio program narrates the trials and triumphs of Chris-
try,” he said.
ings, for which she has been blamed for either tian, Muslim, and Lumad families in Mindanao where their
The bishop said allocating special fund
condoning the attack or not doing enough to stop fears and hopes are chronicled in classic radio drama, stuffed
for such campaign is irrelevant because
them. (Roy Lagarde) with the sounds of battle and the lingering melody of the project
the duty, primarily, falls on the Philippine Bishop Broderick Pabillo
musical theme, “Isang Paanyaya.”

Nat’l summit of barefoot doctors slated

The drama series is composed of various peace episodes and
each episode runs for 20 minutes, and will be aired at least three
times a week.
BUC co-convenor and Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla
A SUMMIT of Tribal Community ers, to share their experiences nity Health Workers (Barefoot of the poor and underprivileged also gave his full support to the project.
health workers organized by the and achieve possible opportuni- Doctors) Development Program people in the Philippines. Capalla is optimistic that through the concerted efforts of the
Foundation of Our Lady of Peace ties for education and livelihood organized by the Our Lady of Misereor Ihr Hilfswerk is people the dream for peace in Mindanao will come true.
Mission Inc. in cooperation with through linkages with govern- Peace Mission, Inc. a German Catholic Bishops’ Ronie Flores, Bombo Radyo Davao division head, expressed
Misereor Ihr Hilfswerk will be ment and non-government or- The convention’s theme is organization for development optimism that the program “will make a significant impact on
held on May 20-21at the SMX ganizations. “Indigenous Peoples: Partners cooperation which promotes the people’s perceptions on peace,” noting his station’s “exten-
Convention Center, Pasay City. Two-hundred twenty-nine in Health and Wellness.” justice, freedom, peace and rec- sive and reliable coverage.”
Dubbed as the 1st Indigenous Tribal Barefoot Doctors in the The Foundation Of Our Lady onciliation in the world, fights Konsult Mindanaw is also coming up with Kalinaw Komiks
Barefoot Doctor National Sum- country will participate in the Of Peace Mission Inc. is a be- worldwide poverty, exercises with a slug “Abot –Tanaw ang Kapayapaan…Tatlong mag-
mit, the meeting will gather the convention. The tribal health nevolent, non-political, non- unity with the poor and the vic- anak ng Mindanao na pinagtagpo ng kasaysayan. Sundan ang
barefoot doctors, better known workers graduated from the profit, non-stock organization timized and helps create “One kanilang kuwento ng paglalakbay…”
as the community health work- Indigenous Peoples Commu- committed to the improvement World.” (CBCPNews) For those who are interested you can place your orders at
Konsult Mindanaw/ Project Management Office, San Pablo
CARP / A1 Parish Compound, Juna Subdivision, Matina, Davao City or
social justice asked by our farmers,” the tation of CARP law because of the slated sine door dialogue last March 16 with some CBCP call telephone number (082) 298 -5854 or e-mail at konsultmin-
bishop added. die adjournment of Congress on June 5. representatives, other church groups and danaw@yahoo.com. (Mark S. Ventura)
Pabillo chairs the Episcopal Commission “There are, I think, 3 weeks to go or nongovernmental organizations.
on Social Action, Justice and Peace of the about 9 session days remaining and noth- The Congress, in a recent dialogue be-
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philip-
pines (CBCP).
ing significant happened in Congress so
far. We are really worried about this,”
tween the bishops and lawmakers led by
Speaker Prospero Nograles, also pledged Congress on Catechesis,
He said it is now important for the govern-
ment officials to exert effort to show sincerity
to protect the rights of the farmers, one of the
Pabillo said.
In case the killer amendments would be
approved, Pabillo said the CARP law will
to extend CARP before it goes on sine die
adjournment.
Nograles assured that the compulsory
Christian Formation slated
country’s most vulnerable sectors. be virtually dead because the landlords land acquisition and distribution (LAD) A CONGRESS which will focus on Catechesis and Christian
will push for the exemption of their huge component of the law would be reinstated Formation aiming to share the experiences and knowledge of
Killer amendments agricultural lands. covering all private agricultural lands. the participants with public and private schools is slated for
Pabillo said bishops are bothered about the The restoration of the compulsory LAD, May 20-22.
killer amendments that are being inserted Assurance of Arroyo and Legislators which was removed when Congress ap- The assembly which is dubbed “Pope Benedict XVI Congress”
by several legislators because they would Last March, Arroyo has personally assured proved Joint Resolution 19 in December, will be held at the Yuchengco Hall, De La Salle University in
destroy some provisions which are central Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Ro- extending the agrarian reform program for Taft Avenue, Manila.
to CARP. sales and Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal another six months, is one of the bishops’ This is convened by CEAP, Association of Catechetical Cen-
Pabillo also called on Senators and Con- Vidal she would approve CARP extension main concerns. ters and Colleges with Religious Education (ACCCRE) and the
gressmen to unite in opposing the killer with reforms. Meanwhile, Bishop Pabillo urged farmers Catechetical Foundation of the Archdiocese of Manila (CFAM)
provisions of some lawmakers owning vast Arroyo, however, agreed with the cardi- not to resort to violence if the government in collaboration with the Theology and Religious Education
agricultural lands to weaken CARP. nals that they should talk with the senators fails to extend the program. Department and Lasallian Catechetical Center of DLSU.
The bishop said both legislating bodies and congressmen, conceding that Congress According to the Department of Agrarian Expected participants of the said gathering are the Catechists,
must work together to approve the renewed was the battleground for getting CARP Reform (DAR), 1.6 million hectares of land Christian Living Educators, Volunteer Catechists, Campus Min-
provisions of CARP. He said the final version extended—which the bishops did. still have to be covered by CARP. Of the isters, and Catechetical Directors and Directress from various
must be ratified the soonest for the approval Senators assured leaders of the Catholic 1.6 million hectares, one million are private catechetical centers in the Philippines.
of the President. Church in their recent meeting that they agricultural lands and nearly 600,000 are Organizers added that the output made by the participants
would approve a measure extending CARP public lands. in the workshop can also be a material during their catechesis
Pressed for time for another five years. The DAR has estimated that CARP still and religious instruction.
Church officials are worried of the limited The senators vowed to pass the measure needs at least P160 billion for a 10-year Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales will be
time in order to finally extend the implemen- before CARP expires in June during a closed- implementation of CARP beyond 2008. the presider for the opening of the first day session of the
assembly.
Mining Bill / A1 The Eucharistic celebration on May 21 will be presided by
munities, as well as aggravated the already dire situation of our the masses and the local government units to bear the brunt of such Most Reverend Pablo Virgilio David, DD, Auxiliary Bishop of
environment—by handing over our lands and mineral resources for impacts; (3) It prioritizes exploration, development and utilization San Fernando, Pampanga.
corporate exploitation. All these, in exchange for a grossly disadvan- of resources over and above food security and environmental con- Resource speakers of the meeting are prelates from various
tageous amount from mining revenues,” Ledesma said. servation; (4) It grants too much power for decision-making to the diocese and religious institutions.
The AMB, according to LRC team leader for Cagayan de Oro City President, when resources are the only heritage of the Filipino peo- Malaybalay Bishop Honesto Pacana, DD will give a talk on
Carl Cesar C. Rebuta, is the product of years of consultations by the ple, meanwhile disempowering local communities through lack of the topic “Spirituality of Catechists and Religion Teachers on
Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center-Kasama sa Kalikasan/ participatory mechanisms; (5) The law is not consistent with sustain- May 20.
Friends of the Earth Philippines (LRC-KSK/FoEP) and its partners able development; (6) It grants too many incentives for investments, The topic “Synod of Bishops: The Word of God in the Life
in the Alternative law Groups (ALG) with different sectors of society including confidentiality of information, return of investments, and Mind of the Church” on May 21 will be facilitated by Most
in response to the damages wrought and posed by The Mining Act tax-breaks, etc.; (7) It lacks systems that would ensure payment and Reverend Broderick Pabillo, Auxiliary Bishop of Manila and
of 1995 (RA 7942). compensation of affected communities and local government units; the Chairman of the National Secretariat for Social Action
“The Alternative Mining Bill is dedicated to countless women and (8) It fails to provide for punishment and accountability on social (NASSA) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philip-
men who have risked, and those continuing to risk, their lives for impacts, including human rights violations; (9) It fails to provide a pines (CBCP).
genuine freedoms,” he said. rational and comprehensive benefit-sharing among the stakeholders; Msgr. Gerardo Santos, President of the Catholic Educational
According to Rebuta, “the time for change has come” and that the (10) It fails to consider the physical characteristics of the Philippines Association of the Philippines (CEAP), will discuss the “Strategic
1995 Mining Act must be repealed because of its many flaws such as that is not conducive to industries like these, despite claims that the Directions on Integral Faith Formation”.
(1) It promotes the exportation of raw minerals without maximizing Philippines has a rich mineral resource, when the country in fact is Meanwhile, Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC, President of the De La
the benefits of such resources for the Filipino people; (2) It fails to also a rich agricultural country; and (11) It allows 100% ownership Salle University (DLSU) will welcome the participants of the
take into consideration externalities or negative impacts, thus leaving and control of natural resources to foreigners. (Bong D. Fabe) congress.
Love Life / A4
Culminating the event is a Eucharistic Celebration which will
be presided by Balanga Bishop Socrates Villegas, DD, Chairman
or family and friends who led the women to men who contribute to the termination of interferes with immune function and their of the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic
abort) who need conversion and forgiveness. one of their children, are greatly conflicted by general health. This explains the high rate of Education (ECCCE). (Kate Laceda)
Dr, Philip Ney, a Canadian psychiatrist, guilt and unresolved grief, fears, and anger. repeated abortions. And the high number of
describes how women who suffered child These men and women have difficulty resolv- women and men drifting through life, unable
abuse or neglect or rejected are more prone ing the conflicts. Unresolved conflicts result to bond or be responsible individuals, citizens Condom / A3
to abort because they themselves have been in pathological signs and symptoms known or parents.” These are persons who are within adults and children living with HIV as compared to 9,000 in the
dehumanized. Women who have been as Post-Abortion Syndrome (PAS). Our evi- your parish and neighborhood! Philippines; 58,000 AIDS deaths in 2003 for Thailand while only
abused or neglected as children have great dence shows abortion results in deeper and If you feel you are called to be generous 500 are recorded in the Philippines.
anxiety about having children. They fear more damaging conflicts than almost any with your time and energy to reach out to And in terms of HIV infection rates per million, Thailand got
they will mistreat their children as they had other trauma because it cuts at the roots of these men and women needing God’s com- 9,072 compared to 113 in the Philippines.
themselves been mistreated, and thus ratio- humanity. Post aborted people are more likely passion and healing, join the Pro-life Volun- “This only shows that the 100% condom use program in Thailand
nalize that is it better to abort than to abuse to have pathological, incomplete grief, and teer Services. There are different programs is not effective. Even if all brothels were required to have supplies
a child they may have. therefore become depressed and alienated. you can be assigned to: Project Veronica or of condoms, and condom vending machines were installed in all
There is an urgent need for pro-life volun- This depression 1) interferes with the bonding Project Rachel, Project Michael or Project supermarkets, bars, restaurants, and other public gathering places
teers in order to stop the cycle of killing. of parents to the other children, 2) diminishes Gabriel. Curious? Check our website at still it did not deter the widespread of HIV/AIDS,” ended Gamu-
Dr. Ney, in his book “Deeply Damaged” their ability to respond to their infant’s cry, www.prolife.org.ph or contact Sr. Pilar at tan. (Mark S. Ventura)
says, “Women who have an abortion, and 3) disrupts their parenting ability and 4) 0920-945-5494.
Watchdogs / A1
Swine Flu / A1 Cogito / A5
“Prayer may be as powerful as or even may be more powerful Only afterwards, man may “bear much fruit”. good and I hope it will push through,” Sarmiento said.
than anti-biotic or anti-virus pills which may not be accessible to The process is called “pruning”, by which a person has to live But according to De Villa, politicians should not be allowed to
many very poor people. The combination of prayer and prescribed through his own “nothingness”, emptiness, misery and wickedness join in the summit in order to maintain the non-partisan status
medical precaution would be a proactive response to the present in order to realize his great need for God. Man needs to be “pruned” of the various groups.
concern,” said the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of like the branches of the vine—to appear dry and barren for a time— Over the past few weeks, several groups have been launched
the Philippines. with almost same goals to initiate changes in politics, including the
in order to embrace the truth of Jesus’ words: “Without me you can
Although the N1H1 influenza virus has not yet reached the coun- Task Force 2010, which is composed of first-time voters; Supreme
do nothing”.
try’s boundaries, Lagdameo called on all local Church organizations Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno’s Moral Force Movement; and
Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said: “God cannot fill you
to include a prayer addressed to the Divine Healer, the Sacred Heart the Transparent Elections Movement.
of himself until you recognize your nothingness, your emptiness.” On May 10, former Department of Social Welfare and Develop-
of Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
“We exhort the people to pray for our country as well as for the ment Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman led the launching of
countries already affected by the ‘swine flu:’ that it may be effectively *** Change Politics Movement seeking to get rid of vote-buying in
controlled. Earnest and humble prayer addressed to the Divine the country.
Healer, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of The message is clear:“For us, brothers, it is always a time for pruning” A new group called “10@10 for 2010” was launched Monday
Mary, is the need of the hour,” he added. (St. Bernard). But the Lord has given us His word: “You are already calling on everyone for a ten-minute daily prayer for the inten-
Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales also ordered the pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I tion of 2010 polls.
praying of “Oratio Imperata on Swine Flu” after communion in all remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it But unlike the “Change Politics Movement” the “10@10 for 2010”
churches under the Archdiocese of Manila since May 3. (Kris Bayos) remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.” said it will not endorse anyone in particular. (Roy Lagarde)
 Diocesan News
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 10
May 11 - 24, 2009
News Briefs
Bishop says to seek truth is a fundamental option
MATI CITY—For Catholics, the desire to seek the truth is a
fundamental option, said Bishop Patricio Alo who explained
that craving for the truth is not seasonal but by daily living.
He said that amid the crevices and complexities of this earthly
life, Catholics must have the craving for the truth. (Mark S.
Ventura)
Lumad scholar is cum laude graduate
DAVAO CITY—Best things in life are free and this goes true
for Jun Mark Amban, a Lumad scholar who finished his college
education cum laude in Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU)
last March. Amban is a BS Secondary Education scholar sup-
ported by the Davao Light Power Company (DLPC) through
the Mindanawon Initiatives for Cultural Dialogue. (Mark S.
Ventura)
Pangasinan holds youth day
DAGUPAN CITY—Thousands of youth from Archdiocese of
Lingayen-Dagupan joined the Archdiocesan Youth Day on April
21-24 at the Holy Cross Parish in Laoac, Pangasinan. Organized
by the archdiocese’s Youth Apostolate, the event was intended
A7
Rapu-Rapu probe on marine
pollution starts anew
LEGAZPI CITY—Environmentalists has
launched another fact-finding mission, aim-
ing to uncover new threats on the coastal
waters of Rapu-Rapu Island in Albay, as
the controversial Lafayette Mining Limited
starts operating again.
Rapu-Rapu is considered as a haven for
marine biologists and diving enthusiasts
alike for its rich marine resources.
A three-day International Solidarity Mis-
sion (ISM), which has started last May 10,
was organized by the Kalikasan People’s
Network for the Environment (Kalikasan
PNE) and the Center for Environmental
Concerns Philippines (CEC Phils) along
with international and local delegates from
the church, health professionals, scientists,

Photo courtesy of CBCP-NASSA

to assemble young people and learn and live their youthful lives
as Christians. (Kate Laceda)
Prelate sees ‘goodness’ among drug dependents
DAVAO CITY—Is there good in being a drug addict, pusher and
lord? Archbishop Fernando Capalla believes so—like anybody
else who are born with such goodness. He said that “there is
goodness in drug addicts, drug pushers and drug lords and
it cannot be cancelled out by evil deeds like sin and crime.”
(Mark S. Ventura)
Men usually caught in trouble than women, says nun
MALABANG, Lanao del Sur—A nun said it is usually men
who are caught in trouble as compared to women, in a place
where there is the prevalence of masochistic (male dominance)
character like here. Sr. Cecilia Fonacier, MA, said that Christian
men here are already afraid to be seen publicly participating
in community formation for fear of being caught in trouble.
(Mark S. Ventura)
Construction of interfaith prayer houses kicks off
Silsilah’s 25th year
SINUNUC, Zamboanga—Zamboanga Archbishop Romulo
Valles, along with Ustadz Abdullah Ibrahim, led the ground-
breaking ceremony for the construction of a Christian and a
Muslim prayer house here in time for the 25th foundation anni-
versary of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement (SDM) on May 9. The
construction of two prayer houses inside the Silsilah Harmony
Village, Pitogo, Sinunuc is a part of SDM’s Tulay 5 Project, which
promotes interfaith dialogue and cooperation among different
religious sectors in Mindanao. (Kris Bayos)
Hedcor’s ECC issuance done in haste due to PGMA’s visit
DAVAO CITY—Environmental groups said that the issuance by
youth and members of the media.
“The case of Rapu-Rapu is one of the most
popular and dynamic of the mining struggles
in the Philippines. The relentless campaign
of the local organizations and residents with
their supporters from local, national and inter-
national organizations has led to a bittersweet
victory when the previous major shareholder
of the project Lafayette Philippines, Inc. (LPI)
with its wholly foreign-owned joint venture
company Lafayette Mining Limited (Aus-
tralia) caved in to the protests of the people
and declared bankruptcy in December 2008,”
says Clemente “Enteng” Bautista Jr., national
coordinator of the Kalikasan-PNE in a state-
ment sent to CBCPNews.
While the protests temporarily halted
Lafayette’s operations, the threat against
the environment is there again as Koreans
had resurrected the already dead company,
Baustista said.
Rapu-Rapu mining project is one of the
63 priority large-scale mining projects of the
Philippine government and the pet project of
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
It opened in 2005 and incurred two mas-
sive mine tailings spills five months after
starting operations in this typhoon-stricken
and small island.
Previously owned by Australian junior
firm Lafayette Mining Limited, the project’s
ownership was transferred to a consortium
between Korea Resources Corporation, LG
International, and Malaysia Smelting Opera-
tions in early 2008 after Lafayette declared
bankruptcy.
Community residents continue to oppose
the project, which resumed operations anew
last year.
“These new developments in the anti-
mining struggle in Rapu-Rapu are the
primary focus of the ISM. New information
coming from the communities related to
the environmental impacts of continued
large-scale mining need to be verified. Also,
documenting social issues that confront the
residents of the island, including possible
violation of human rights need to be looked
into,” said Bautista.
A toxic marine pollution cover-up
The ISM is also to probe the alleged direct
dumping of toxic wastes to Rapu-Rapu bay
which maybe the reason why the tailing
dam is not overflowing notwithstanding
heavy rains.
Said Tony Casitas of the Sagip Isla, Sagip
Kapwa, their group has been receiving re-
ports that a ship was seen getting the tailings
from the dam which was suspected to be
dumped in the Pacific Ocean.
“This is probably the reason why the tailings
dam doesn’t overflow even if it has been rain-
ing often for the past six months,” he said.
DENR: adding insult to injury
Environmentalists and scientist-delegates
to the ISM assailed the Department of En-
vironment and Natural Resources (DENR)
for allowing the sale of the mining project
to Korean investors, despite the damage it
has already incurred to the soils and waters
of Rapu-Rapu.
“Lafayette has run off with millions of
profits without paying for its crimes against
the local community and the Filipino people.
Adding insult to injury, the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR), backed up by Pres. Gloria Macapa-
gal Arroyo sold the project to Korean inves-
tors. The new Korean owners, which were
immediately allowed to resume operations,
are feared to continue the destructive and
pollution-inducing operation of open-pit
mining in the island,” said Bautista. (Noel
Sales Barcelona)

Bishop leads protest vs Surigao mining

the Environmental Management Bureau of the Environmental
Compliance Certificate to Hedcor Aboitiz was done in “haste”
and preceded by President Arroyo’s recent visit. The EMB
granted the ECC to Hedcor on the basis of the latter’s Initial
Environmental Evaluation, “a very shallow and cursory look
at the project,” said the Interface Development Interventions,
Inc. (IDIS). (Mark S. Ventura)
Bishop warns people on too much desire for wealth
MATI CITY—Bishop Patricio Alo has cautioned the people of
the possible dangerous effect if they desire too much wealth
thus forgetting their faith in God. Alo said that if one aspires
for more wealth then it could be a dangerous state of mind and
will lead the person to a materialist tendency like Judas Iscariot
who betrayed Christ. (Mark S. Ventura)
Ateneo sees low turn-out in college enrollment rate
DAVAO CITY—Ateneo de Davao University foresees a lower
turnout this coming school year due to a drastic decrease of
67% in its enrollees this recent school year. In a report posted
April 27 in the school’s website, the actual number of enrollees
never reached the estimated 2,000 mark for 2008-2009. In order
to reach the number target, an increase in numbers of about 654
is needed in order to reach the projection. (Mark S. Ventura)
Cebu opens jubilee year
CEBU CITY—In an elaborate yet solemn ceremony at the Cebu
Metropolitan Cathedral, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo J. Cardinal
Vidal opened the year-long celebration of the Diamond Jubilee
of the establishment of the Archdiocese of Cebu last April 28.
With President Gloria Arroyo, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio
Cardinal Rosales, and Papal Nuncio Archbishop Joseph Edward
Adams and among other dignitaries in attendance, Cardinal
Vidal opened the jubilee door of the cathedral at 4:30 p.m. to
mark the beginning of the holy year. (Fr. Marnel Mejia)
CANTILAN, Surigao Del Sur—Over 1,000 residents from various
towns and sectors of Surigao del Sur recently joined a three-kilometer
march to condemn mining operations here.
CBCP Vice President and Tandag bishop Nereo Odchimar led
the march and presided over the concelebrated mass held after the
street protest.
Demonstrators claimed the mining operations have threatened
watersheds providing critical support to the province’s irrigation
system, water supply and Cantilan’s proposed mini-hydro power
project.
To top it all, they said, the proposed mining sites infringe upon
the indigenous peoples’ ancestral lands.
The protest march was convened by the CarCanMadCarLan Bay-
watch Foundation, Inc. (CBFI), Surigao del Sur Irrigators’ Federation,
Inc. (SURIF), Cantilan Irrigation System Federation of Irrigators As-
sociation, Diocese of Tandag Social Action Center, Philippine Eagle
Foundation, Immaculate Conception Parish (Cantilan), Parish Youth
Apostolate, CAHAYAG and Lovers of Nature, Inc.
The groups are supported by Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), Legal
rights and Natural Resource Center-Kasama sa Kalikasan/ Friends
of the Earth-Philippines (LRC-KSK/FOE-Phils.), and BALAOD
MINDANAW.
Expressing his disappointment with the government, Odchimar
said that he “felt betrayed upon learning that the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had already issued
Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs) to Marcventures
Mining and Development Corporation (MMDC) and Carac-an
CBCP Communications Development Foundation, Inc. (CBCP Media Office)
Schedules of Training Seminars for 2009
1. Web design – Beginners’ course
Development Corporation (CDC) two months prior of having been
assured of ‘looking deeply’ into the watershed proclamation vis-à-
vis mining in a dialogue with Sec. Lito Atienza.”
Cantilan Mayor Tomasa Guardo in unity with her Sangguniang
Bayan members also issued an ordinance against mining.
“As long as I am the mayor, no mining will ever be approved in
this municipality,” said Guardo.
Emma Hotchkiss, president of CBFI, read Presidential Proclama-
tion 1747, declaring the portion of the public domain of Alamyo,
Buyaan, Paniki Rivers and Sipangpang Falls situated in the Munici-
palities of Carascal, Cantilan and Madrid, Province of Surigao del
Sur and in the Municipalities of Jabonga, Santiago and Cabadbaran,
Province of Agusan del Norte as critical watershed forest reserves.
“We shall take a unified action and urge the government to cancel
the Mineral Production Sharing Agreements (MPSAs) of MMDC and
CDC and not only depend on the protection of the said presidential
proclamation,” Hotchkiss said.
Rodne R. Galicha, ATM Sites of Struggle officer, presented the
national mining situation and strongly stated that “real progress is
to live sustainably, in accordance with the processes of nature and
should not abuse the rights of those who live at present and of the
coming generations.”
The gathering ended with the symbolic signing of the petition
by sectoral representatives and stakeholders for the cancellation of
the MPSAs of the two aforementioned companies. They are legally
supported by BALAOD Mindanaw’s lawyer Pilipinas Palma. (Tinty
Iriberri)
4. Information Technology Awareness

Concerted efforts needed

(Learn how to conceptualize, design and maintain websites. This (This seminar is an introduction to information technology. Participants
module is tailored for catechists, pastoral workers and youth groups are taught the basic knowledge and skills in computer, internet and
interested in harnessing websites as a new avenue for catechesis multimedia. This is best for school administrators, nuns, priests and

vs. prostitution
and evangelization.) bishops.)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Archbishop Antonio Ledesma has
called on for concerted efforts from all sectors of the society to pre-
vent women, especially the youth, from engaging in flesh trade.
The Cagayan de Oro archbishop said this is the challenge now
facing modern civilized society.
Ledesma made the statement after police recently raided a cy-
bersex den here and nabbed its operators, two Swedish nationals
identified as Stefan Sederholms and Emil Andreas Solemo. Eighteen
young girls were also questioned.
The 66-year-old Jesuit prelate said efforts to stop young people
from engaging in the flesh trade must be done by all sectors of society
aside from the government and Church.
There must be a sincere campaign against commercial sex trade
by the government, multi-sectoral group, the Church, parents, youth
and private sector organizations.
“And this campaign must start with the parents as it is their re-
sponsibility to teach values to their children,” he said.
Ledesma said the arrest of Sederholms and Solemo is not enough
to stop the youth from engaging in prostitution. The schools, he said,
must also do their part in diverting the youth from such activities.
“It is a challenge to the parents as well. Our schools must have
a balanced presentation of information on human sexuality,” he
said.
The discovery and eventual busting of a cybersex den in the city
raised concerns of the present values of the youth.
According to Rep. Teofisto Guingona III of the 3rd District of
Bukidnon, the discovery of the cybersex den in the city “could just
be a tip of the iceberg of human trafficking in Mindanao.”
“There could be other dens and other forms of human trafficking
operating in other key cities of the island,” he said.
The cybersex den which victimized young women using the latest
computer technology has been operating in a respectable residen-
tial area in the city since last year as a strategy to escape detection.
(Bong D. Fabe)
May 25-29 (Monday – Friday) - 1:00-5:00 p.m.
Minimum of 10 and maximum of 15 participants
Registration fee: P800 (inclusive of snacks)
Venue: CBCPWorld Training Room, 3rd Flr., 470 Gen. Luna St.
Intramuros, Manila
(Note: This seminar-workshop is scheduled from May until August.
June-August seminar dates will be made available later.)
2. Web design 2
(Participants should have basic knowledge of MSQL and PHP)
September 21-25 (Monday-Friday)
1:00-5:00 p.m.
Minimum of 10 and maximum of 15 participants
Registration fee: P800 (inclusive of snacks)
Venue: CBCPWorld Training Room, 3rd Flr., 470 Gen. Luna St.
Intramuros, Manila
3. System Administration (SysAd) (for CBCPWorld clients only)
(A highly technical training course for Systems and Network Adminis-
trators, this program is offered especially to those administering local
area networks of Catholic schools. The training features bandwidth
and server management on a Linux platform.)
May 4-5 (tentative)
Participants: Laguna cluster
Venue: Laguna
May 11-12 (tentative)
Participants: Manila cluster
Venue: CBCPWorld Training Room, CBCP Building, Intramuros (This seminar-workshop features writing news stories from a distinc-
October, November 2009
Most of these training programs are conducted for free, especially to institutions that are members of the CBCPWorld Network. Trainings are
held either at the CBCPWorld Training Center in Intramuros, Manila or at local dioceses. Interested party may contact CBCP Media Office at
tel/fax 5274139 / CBCPWorld at tels. 404-2182; 404-1612.
No date yet (Thursday – Friday) - 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Maximum of 15 participants
Registration fee: P500.00 (inclusive of lunch and snacks)
Venue: CBCPWorld Training Room, 3rd Flr., 470 Gen. Luna St.
Intramuros, Manila
Watch for the schedule dates of the following:
5. Educational Technology (Ed Tech)
(This training module is intended for teachers of Catholic schools.
It teaches how to integrate computer/internet applications into the
academic subject/curriculum.)
July, August, September (or depending on the availability of cli-
ents)
Venue: On site
6. Multimedia for Catechists
(An introductory course to the amazing world of multimedia which
includes videography, video editing and online sharing. This is
best for catechists and pastoral workers.)
October 2009 (tentative)
7. PC Assembly/Hardware/Software Troubleshooting
(Intended for computer technicians, this training module teaches basic
skills in network management which includes hardware configurations,
IP addressing and network structuring.)
8. Newswriting
tively catholic perspective which CBCPNews calls “Catholic Journal-
ism.” This is especially intended for those involved in print media or
those contemplating on putting up one.)
 A8 People, Facts & Places
Cardinal holds special mass for
disabled
THE struggles and gifts of people with disabilities received
another special attention from the head of Manila’s Catholic
archdiocese.
Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales held a special service
at the Santo Niño Parish in Tondo, Manila last May 9 for anyone
with mental disabilities, as well as their family members.
The event was part of the “sharing day” organized by the
Faith and Light Community, a global ecumenical and spiritual
movement among persons with intellectual disabilities, their
families, and friends.
The Mass which was concelebrated by several priests started
at 1 p.m.
The gathering also introduced Faith and Light to the com-
munity, encouraging people to learn more about its mission to
promote friendship and growth with and among persons with
intellectual disabilities.
Faith and Light was founded by Jean Vanier and Marie Helene
Matthieu following a pilgrimage in Lourdes, France, to meet
the needs of families of persons with intellectual disability.
There are now 1,500 such communities in 76 countries on five
continents.
In the Philippines, Jean Vanier, while visiting the Little Sisters
of Jesus in 1984 inspired a prayer group to start the first Faith
and Light community in the country.
Today, Faith and Light is found in 12 parishes in Metro Ma-
nila. The group meets regularly for fellowship, celebration and
prayer. (Roy Lagarde)
Foundress of Little Sisters of
the Poor to be canonized soon
© www.over-blog.com
THE foundress of a religious congregation
for women who worked for the elderly poor
is set to be canonized in a solemn ceremony
on October 11, 2009 in Rome.
Jeanne Jugan, a Frenchwoman who
founded a congregation called Little Sisters
of the Poor will be elevated to sainthood
together with four other blesseds including
Fr. Damien, the leper of Molokai.
The Little Sisters of the Poor has two com-
munities here in the Philippines, one is Pasay
and another in Bolinao, Pangasinan where
the novitiate is located.
“We are very happy. It is an affirmation
Prisoners take part in int’l art contest
THE Catholic Bishops’ Conference
of the Philippines-Episcopal Com-
mission on Prison Pastoral Care
(CBCP-ECPPC) has collaborated in
the 2nd International Art Contest
for prisoners which was primar-
ily organized by the International
Commission on Prison Pastoral
Care (ICPPC)
Rodolfo Diamante, Executive
Secretary of ECPPC, said the con-
test aimed to showcase the creative
talents of prisoners and to bring
their life, struggles and hopes to
the attention of the public.
Various Dioceses in Parañaque,
Nueva Segovia, San Fernando
(Pampanga), Legaspi (Albay), Balanga (Bataan), Capiz, Boac,
Calbayog, Baguio, Iligan, Davao, San Fernando (La Union), San
Jose, Nueva Ecija, Dumaguete, Dipolog, Cubao, Pasig, Cagayan
De Oro, Palo, Tugegarao, Bacolod, Maasin and Cebu joined the
said contest.
This year’s theme was “Signs of Life.”
The judging of the drawings, paintings, and/or graphic arts
was held at the CBCP main office in Intramuros, Manila where 20
Philippine Church Canon lawyers gathered in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur last April 21-22 for the 17th National Convention of
the Canon Law Society of the Philippines (CLSP). Fr. Jaime Achacoso (5th from right, first row), Executive Secretary of
CBCP Episcopal Commission on Canon Law (ECCL) spoke on “Shepherding an Itinerant Flock: A Survey of Possible
Organizational and Jurisdictional Structures.” Also in photo are ECCL Chairman, Bishop Leonardo Medroso of Tagbilaran
(6th from right) and Archbishop Ernesto Salgado of Nueva Segovia, (7th from right). (Contributed Photo)
Children with mental disabilities received special blessings from Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales after a Mass celebrated for them and their families at the Sto. Niño
Parish, Tondo last May 9.
of our vocation, of our work, of the way [to
holiness which] our foundress ha[d] shown
us. And also we are happy for the elderly
people in the world, because she is a saint for
the elderly, a special patroness,” said Mother
Imelda Primosh, the superior of San Lorenzo
Ruiz Home in Lancaster St., Pasay City.
Primosh, an American, said a delegation
from the Philippines will go to Rome in Oc-
tober to witness the canonization.
“There will be two from each community
of Pasay and Bolinao, one postulant, one
novice, three volunteers, and maybe two
priest-friends,” she said.
The nun said more than a thousand are
expected to participate in the event from all
their communities all over the world.
“We heard that India will send more than
a hundred in delegation. Surely, countries
that are closer [to Rome] will send more,”
she said.
A local celebration is slated on October
24 with a thanksgiving mass at the Manila
Cathedral to be led by Cardinal Gaudencio
Rosales. The Papal Nuncio is also expected
to grace the event as well as other bishops
and priests.
On October 25, birthday of Jeanne Jugan,
the Sisters will open their convent to friends
and benefactors for a day-long festivities and
thanksgiving for the grace received.
Caring for the elderly poor
Of French origin, the congregation was
founded in 1839 to care for the elderly poor
who have nothing to eat and nowhere to
go. The Little Sisters are now spread in 32
countries in five continents. In the Philip-
and to plan ongoing training courses, study, information and
meetings for the prison pastoral agents and for the members of
the commission.
The initial art contest established by ICPPC awarded the first
prize to a woman prisoner detained in Guayaquil City, Ecuador.
She received the first prize of US $1,000 and a certificate.
In the Philippines, eight detainees had won the international art
contest in 2006. (Kate Laceda)
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 10
May 11 - 24, 2009
© Noli Yamsuan
Markings
CELEBRATED. Nues-
tra Señora Virgen del
pines the first community, the San Lorenzo Rosario, 50th anniver-
Ruiz Home for the Elderly, was established sary of canonical coro-
in Pasay in January 2004. It currently houses nation, April 18, 2009.
43 elderly residents. The 400 year-old mi-
raculous image of the
A second that can accommodate 60 resi- Blessed Virgin Mary
dents was built in Pangasinan in 2008. A for- was crowned in 1959
mation house for novices and postulants was and enthroned at the
also built in the same site. The community altar of Orani Church in
Bataan which in 1714
now has three novices and three postulants. was an independent
Although the congregation is new in the mission post under the Dominicans. The Dominican friars constructed the
country, it has already a large number of church and became their residence in Bataan. The statue was believed
Filipino Sisters. to have been made in 1581 and was brought to the Philippines by the
Primosh said their Filipino vocations were Dominicans in 1588. The Church of Samal, second oldest church in Bataan,
was said to be the first place where the image was housed. It could not
either migrants or overseas Filipino workers be explained why the image was found in the Church of Orani, where the
who entered abroad. statue is now permanently placed.
Sr. Ofelia Ripasa, one of the two Filipinas
who are currently assigned at San Lorenzo C E L E B R AT E D . L a
Virgen Divina Pastora
Home said she met the sisters while working 45th anniversary of
in Hong Kong.
canonical coronation
“I was a volunteer to the Home of the Sis- and 23rd anniversary of
ters. I saw the work they were doing. That’s the Declaration of Her
National Shrine, April
how I was encouraged in my vocation,” she 26, 2009. The Shrine
explained. is at Three Kings Par-
“Those who have entered abroad are ish in the Diocese of
mostly working there. There are a few who Cabanatuan. Most Rev.
Sofronio Bancud, SSS
are migrants, but many of them were over- presided the concel-
seas workers,” Primosh added. ebrated Mass at 2 p.m. The image of La Virgen Divina Pastora is about
“We have the export quality,” Ripasa one and a half feet tall. The church has been publicized as the biggest
quipped. “Our Filipino vocations are not and most respected neo-classic or Byzantine structure of the eighteenth
century in Central Luzon. Augustinian friars built the church in 1856 under
rooted here,” she added. the patronage of Fathers Francisco Loredo, Antonio Cornejo, and Leandro
The six sisters in San Lorenzo Home are Llanera from 1856-1872. The church was built through forced labor during
a mixture of five nationalities: two Filipinas the Spanish regime. The workers had to line up between the source of
who entered abroad, one American, one Sri materials and place of construction and had to pass the bricks from one
Lankan, one British and one Singaporean. hand to another. The miracles of the Divine Shepherdess has enthralled
church authorities that on April 26, 1964, she was crowned the Queen at
But with their patroness in heaven and a the church plaza creating Gapan as an official pilgrimage city like that of
formation house in place, the community is the Virgin of Good Voyage in Antipolo City. The declaration of the church
hopeful local vocations will come. (Pinky as the National Shrine of La Virgen Divina Pastora was promulgated on
Barrientos, FSP) January 26, 1986 by His Eminence Cardinal Ricardo Vidal.
CELEBRATED. Sacred Heart College,
Lucena City, 125th founding anniversary;
April 27, 2009. Established in April 27,
1884, the college is said to be the oldest
Catholic institution for men and women
in Quezon Province. The school begun
participants from 24 dioceses in the through the vision of a simple and saintly
Philippines won. woman named Hermana Fausta Labrador.
Judges of the art contest were She was 26 years old when she initiated a
Charity school to develop the youth in ac-
Manny Galang and Ed Instrella cordance to the principles of the Catholic
who are both resource persons of faith. Hermana Fausta received her faith
the ECPPC, and Menchu Arandilla, formation from the nuns, having studied at
Jun Martinez and Dave Tan from the Colegio de Santa Rosa under the Daughters of Charity. In August 14,
1937, at the twilight of her life, she entrusted her school to the Daughters of
the Tuesday Group of the Group Charity. In 1939, the school was operating the complete primary, intermedi-
of Visual Artists. ate and high school courses. True to their Vincentian spirit and in keeping
ICPPC was established at an with the legacy of Hermana Fausta, the Sisters worked and prayed hard to
© Kate Laceda / CBCP Media
international assembly in Rome shape young people into becoming well rounded individuals. The school
continues to improve itself, living up to its commitment of providing integral
during the Holy Year in 1950 by the spiritual formation and quality education to its thousands of students who
Secretary of State which included have crossed its portals through the years. The school seal symbolizes
the Pope Paul VI. the mission on which it has been founded—a heart that beats, bleeds and
This commission aspires to burns for the poor and the less privileged, of the whole humanity.
stimulate Episcopal Conferences ORDAINED. Rev. Jovane T. Cañete to the Order of priesthood, at San
to establish prison pastoral care Isidro Labrador Parish, Tudela, Misamis Occidental, by Archbishop Jesus
Dosado, CM, April 21, 2009. Cañete took his minor seminary formation at
Mother of Life Seminary in Iligan City and finished his Theology at Saint
Mary Theologate Seminary, Gango, Ozamiz City. He was ordained deacon
on October 7, 2008. The rise of the number of vocations in the Archdiocese
can be attributed to the influence of the Columban missionaries and the
strong foundation of faith developed at the Basic Ecclesial Communities
and from catholic teachers, according to Cañete. The priestly ordination
of Cañete coincided with the 33rd sacerdotal anniversary of Ozamiz Vicar
General Msgr. Emie Bienes and Fr. Boy Toledo who were ordained at San
Isidro Labrador Parish, Tudela 33 years ago.
Assembly for priests focused on catechism
CATECHESIS as principal program of the Church echetical encyclicals including Redemptoris Missio
in the Philippines was the area of interest in the and Deus Caritas Est.
recent summer catechetical institute held at the Sta. Fr. Joel Jason from the Theology Department of
Catalina Spirituality Center in Marcos Highway, the San Carlos Seminary explained the catechesis
Baguio City. on family, life and love.
Organized by the Episcopal Commission on A review on the prospects and challenges
Catechesis and Catholic Education (ECCCE) of the of the National Catechetical Directory for the
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Philippines (NCDP) 2007 was presented by
(CBCP), the theme of the assembly was “Signs and Msgr. Gerardo Santos, Executive Secretary of
Settings of Hope: Catechesis for Family and Basic ECCCE.
Ecclesial Communities (BEC).” BEC and Catechesis were discussed by Most
Dubbed as the 2nd Summer Catechetical Insti- Reverend Francisco Claver, SJ, former Vicar Ap-
tute for Priests, the meeting gathered 86 priests ostolic of Bontoc-Lagawe.
from 54 dioceses in the Philippines. Organizers said the assembly achieved its objec-
Several lectures were organized to clearly pres- tives of gathering priests in the spirit of communio-
ent the subject matter to the participants. in-missio, review the framework of the NCDP and
Fr. Antonio Rosales, OFM of the Santuario De its challenges, and present a working Family and
San Antonio Parish tackled the summary of cat- BEC Catechesis. (CBCPNews)
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 10
May 11 - 24, 2009 Pastoral Concerns B1

‘New Technologies,
New Relationships.
Promoting a Culture
of Respect, Dialogue
and Friendship.’

Message of the Holy Father, Benedict XVI, for the 43rd
World Day of Communications, May 24, 2009
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
In anticipation of the forthcoming
World Communications Day, I
would like to address to you some
reflections on the theme chosen for
this year - New Technologies, New
Relationships: Promoting a culture of
Respect, Dialogue and Friendship. The
new digital technologies are, indeed,
bringing about fundamental shifts
in patterns of communication and
human relationships. These changes
are particularly evident among those
young people who have grown up with
the new technologies and are at home
in a digital world that often seems quite
foreign to those of us who, as adults,
have had to learn to understand and
appreciate the opportunities it has
to offer for communications. In this
year’s message, I am conscious of those
who constitute the so-called digital
generation and I would like to share
with them, in particular, some ideas
concerning the extraordinary potential
of the new technologies, if they are
used to promote human understanding
and solidarity. These technologies are
truly a gift to humanity and we must
endeavor to ensure that the benefits they
to relate to each other. This desire for
communication and friendship is rooted
in our very nature as human beings and
cannot be adequately understood as a
response to technical innovations. In the
light of the biblical message, it should
be seen primarily as a reflection of our
participation in the communicative
and unifying Love of God, who desires
to make of all humanity one family.
When we find ourselves drawn towards
other people, when we want to know
more about them and make ourselves
known to them, we are responding
to God’s call—a call that is imprinted
in our nature as beings created in the
image and likeness of God, the God of
communication and communion.
The desire for connectedness and the
instinct for communication that are so
obvious in contemporary culture are best
understood as modern manifestations
of the basic and enduring propensity
of humans to reach beyond themselves
and to seek communion with others.
In reality, when we open ourselves to
others, we are fulfilling our deepest need
and becoming more fully human. Loving
is, in fact, what we are designed for by
our Creator. Naturally, I am not talking
www.corbis.com
people from different countries, cultures
and religions. The new digital arena,
the so-called cyberspace, allows them
to encounter and to know each other’s
traditions and values. Such encounters,
if they are to be fruitful, require honest
and appropriate forms of expression
together with attentive and respectful
listening. The dialogue must be rooted in
a genuine and mutual searching for truth
if it is to realize its potential to promote
growth in understanding and tolerance.
Life is not just a succession of events or
experiences: it is a search for the true, the
good and the beautiful. It is to this end
that we make our choices; it is for this that
we exercise our freedom; it is in this - in
truth, in goodness, and in beauty - that
we find happiness and joy. We must not
allow ourselves to be deceived by those
who see us merely as consumers in a
market of undifferentiated possibilities,
where choice itself becomes the good,
novelty usurps beauty, and subjective
experience displaces truth.
The concept of friendship has enjoyed
a renewed prominence in the vocabulary
of the new digital social networks that
have emerged in the last few years.
The concept is one of the noblest
www.flickr.com

offer are put at the service of all human
individuals and communities, especially
those who are most disadvantaged and
vulnerable.
The accessibility of mobile telephones
and computers, combined with the
global reach and penetration of the
internet, has opened up a range of
means of communication that permit the
almost instantaneous communication
of words and images across enormous
distances and to some of the most
isolated corners of the world; something
that would have been unthinkable for
previous generations. Young people, in
particular, have grasped the enormous
capacity of the new media to foster
connectedness, communication and
understanding between individuals
and communities, and they are turning
to them as means of communicating
with existing friends, of meeting new
friends, of forming communities and
networks, of seeking information and
news, and of sharing their ideas and
opinions. Many benefits flow from this
new culture of communication: families
are able to maintain contact across great
distances; students and researchers
have more immediate and easier access
to documents, sources and scientific
discoveries, hence they can work
collaboratively from different locations;
moreover, the interactive nature of
many of the new media facilitates
more dynamic forms of learning and
communication, thereby contributing
to social progress.
While the speed with which the new
technologies have evolved in terms of
their efficiency and reliability is rightly
a source of wonder, their popularity
with users should not surprise us,
as they respond to a fundamental
desire of people to communicate and
about fleeting, shallow relationships, I achievements of human culture. It is
am talking about the real love that is at in and through our friendships that
the very heart of Jesus’ moral teaching: we grow and develop as humans. For
“You must love the Lord your God with this reason, true friendship has always respect for human life and the good of of communications and information
all your heart, with all your soul, with all been seen as one of the greatest goods creation. These networks can facilitate technology the values on which you
your mind, and with all your strength” any human person can experience. We forms of co-operation between people have built your lives. In the early life of
and “You must love your neighbor as should be careful, therefore, never to from different geographical and cultural the Church, the great Apostles and their
disciples brought the Good News of
It is gratifying to note the emergence of new digital networks that Jesus to the Greek and Roman world. Just
seek to promote human solidarity, peace and justice, human rights as, at that time, a fruitful evangelization
and respect for human life and the good of creation. These networks required that careful attention be given to
understanding the culture and customs
can facilitate forms of co-operation between people from different of those pagan peoples so that the truth of
geographical and cultural contexts that enable them to deepen their the gospel would touch their hearts and
common humanity and their sense of shared responsibility for the good minds, so also today, the proclamation of
Christ in the world of new technologies
of all. We must, therefore, strive to ensure that the digital world, where requires a profound knowledge of
such networks can be established, is a world that is truly open to all. this world if the technologies are to
serve our mission adequately. It falls,
yourself” (cf. Mk 12:30-31). In this light, trivialize the concept or the experience contexts that enable them to deepen their in particular, to young people, who
reflecting on the significance of the new of friendship. It would be sad if our common humanity and their sense of have an almost spontaneous affinity
technologies, it is important to focus desire to sustain and develop on-line shared responsibility for the good of all. for the new means of communication,
not just on their undoubted capacity to friendships were to be at the cost of our We must, therefore, strive to ensure that to take on the responsibility for the
foster contact between people, but on availability to engage with our families, the digital world, where such networks evangelization of this “digital continent”.
the quality of the content that is put into our neighbors and those we meet in can be established, is a world that is Be sure to announce the Gospel to your
circulation using these means. I would the daily reality of our places of work, truly open to all. It would be a tragedy contemporaries with enthusiasm. You
encourage all people of good will who education and recreation. If the desire for the future of humanity if the new know their fears and their hopes, their
are active in the emerging environment for virtual connectedness becomes instruments of communication, which aspirations and their disappointments:
of digital communication to commit obsessive, it may in fact function to permit the sharing of knowledge and the greatest gift you can give to them is
themselves to promoting a culture of isolate individuals from real social information in a more rapid and effective to share with them the “Good News” of
respect, dialogue and friendship. interaction while also disrupting the manner, were not made accessible to a God who became man, who suffered,
Those who are active in the production patterns of rest, silence and reflection those who are already economically died and rose again to save all people.
and dissemination of new media content, that are necessary for healthy human and socially marginalized, or if it Human hearts are yearning for a world
therefore, should strive to respect the development. should contribute only to increasing where love endures, where gifts are
dignity and worth of the human person. Friendship is a great human good, the gap separating the poor from the shared, where unity is built, where
If the new technologies are to serve the but it would be emptied of its ultimate new networks that are developing at freedom finds meaning in truth, and
good of individuals and of society, all value if it were to be understood as an the service of human socialization and where identity is found in respectful
users will avoid the sharing of words end in itself. Friends should support and information. communion. Our faith can respond to
and images that are degrading of encourage each other in developing their I would like to conclude this message these expectations: may you become its
human beings, that promote hatred and gifts and talents and in putting them at by addressing myself, in particular, to heralds! The Pope accompanies you with
intolerance, that debase the goodness the service of the human community. young Catholic believers: to encourage his prayers and his blessing.
and intimacy of human sexuality or that In this context, it is gratifying to note them to bring the witness of their faith
exploit the weak and vulnerable. the emergence of new digital networks to the digital world. Dear Brothers From the Vatican, 24 January 2009, Feast
The new technologies have also that seek to promote human solidarity, and Sisters, I ask you to introduce into of Saint Francis de Sales.
opened the way for dialogue between peace and justice, human rights and the culture of this new environment BENEDICTUS XVI
 B2 Updates CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 10
May 11 - 24, 2009

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

A Survey of Current Institutions and Jurisdictional Structures for
the Pastoral Care of Filipino Migrant Workers1 Lighting the
Easter Candle
Shepherding an
Itinerant Flock (Part I)
(Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina
Apostolorum university, answers the following query:)

Q: Quick question on the paschal candle: When in the

sanctuary during Eastertide, is it to be lit during exposition of
the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction? As an altar boy some
By Fr. Jaime B. Achacoso, J.C.D. may succeed in accompanying them in their provided by the particular Churches through 30 or so years ago I remember the Easter candle being solemnly
place of oversees employment. the territorial parishes in the Philippines. Thus, extinguished at the end of vespers and before adoration and
In this article, I would like to focus on the
I would like to limit this discussion to the care solemn Benediction. Is this still correct liturgical practice? Was
Prologomena possible solutions to the pastoral problems of the OFWs themselves in their respective it ever?—A.B., Palm Beach, Florida
Even Church documents recognize that posed by the aforementioned phenomenon of countries of deployment.
today’s migration makes up the vastest Philippine labor migration. In the process, I Finally, the canonico-pastoral orientations A: There is very little in the way of present rules regarding
movement of people of all times. “In these hope to go beyond simply solving the problem and norms applicable to the case of OFWs the use of the Easter candle. Of the few precise norms, there
last decades—the latest major document posed by the Filipino migrant workers, in their countries of deployment can be is No. 99 of “Paschales Solemnitatis,” a circular letter from the
affirms—the phenomenon, now involving and—following the lines of the familiar SWOT divided into two kinds: (1) those addressed Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments on the
about two hundred million individuals analysis in management—to look at how to to the host Church (ad quam) if and where Easter celebrations. To wit:
worldwide, has turned into a structural reality convert an erstwhile weakness into a veritable such ecclesiastical hierarchy exists; (2) those “The paschal candle has its proper place either by the ambo
of contemporary society. It is becoming an opportunity, an ecclesial problem into a factoraddressed to the Church of origin (a qua)—i.e., or by the altar and should be lit at least in all the more solemn
increasingly complex problem from the social, for evangelization. the Catholic Church in the Philippines. Now liturgical celebrations of the season until Pentecost Sunday,
cultural, political, religious, economic and In short, making a sneak preview of the then, since—realistically and practically whether at Mass or at Morning and Evening Prayer. After the
pastoral points of view.” conclusion of this article, and very much in speaking—there is little we can really do Easter season, the candle should be kept with honor in the
line with this year’s 2000th Anniversary of as regards the Churches ad quam, I would baptistery, so that in the celebration of baptism, the candles
The Philippine Culture of Migration and the St. Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, I would like to focus this discussion on what the of the baptized may be lit from them. In the celebration of
Ecclesial Response like to explore the possibilities offered by Church Hierarchy in the Philippines—either funerals the paschal candle should be placed near the coffin
Closer to our topic, since the 1970s the Canon Law to squarely face the challenge of as individual dioceses or as the Catholic to indicate that the death of a Christian is his own Passover.
Philippines has supplied all kinds of skilled adequately shepherding the itinerant flock Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines The paschal candle should not otherwise be lit nor placed in
and low-skilled workers to the world’s more of OFWs, so as to convert them into effective collectively—can do in order to better take the sanctuary outside the Easter season.”
developed regions. As of December 2004, an agents of evangelization—in much the same care of the OFWs. The expression that it should be lit “at least in all the more
estimated 8.1 million Filipinos—nearly 10% way that St. Paul and the early Christians, A final distinction is in order. On the one solemn liturgical celebrations of the season” would seem to
of the country’s 85 million people—were forced into the diaspora by the persecution hand are those Overseas Filipinos (OFs) allow for a certain degree of flexibility. For example, a parish
working and/or residing in close to 200 of the Jews in Palestine, became the intrepid who are stably migrated—i.e., mostly with with numerous baptisms and funerals during the year might
countries and territories. As one expert on sowers of the seeds of the Gospel throughout resident visas or even dual citizenships, opt to light it only on Sundays and solemnities so that it
Filipino migration would affirm: lasts the whole year long. A religious community with few
“In the last 30 years, a culture While the positive economic effects presently numbering around 3.7
million—and are therefore already celebrations outside of Eastertide might prefer to light it for
of migration has emerged, with of the millions of OFWs— religiously incorporated to the particular all paschal liturgies.
millions of Filipinos eager to remitting their hard-earned foreign Churches (host Churches) where The present norms don’t mention anything regarding lighting
the Easter candle during exposition. But if we may be guided
work abroad, despite the risks and they are. On the other hand are the
vulnerabilities they are likely to currency to their families at so-called overseas contract workers by the norms applicable to the extraordinary form, these would
face.” home—are undeniable, it is equally (OCWs)—presently numbering indicate that in general it would not be done.
On one hand, this same expert undeniable that many of these souls 4.1 million—usually on two-year According to the collection “Decreta Authentica” of the then
Congregation of Rites, the Easter candle could not be lit only for
continues, “the development contracts, albeit renewable but also
of a culture of migration in the are oftentimes in quite precarious rescindable at a moment’s notice exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (Decree 3479,3). It would
Philippines has been greatly aided situations. While the Philippine for a host of reasons, including the be lit, however, if vespers were celebrated before the Blessed
by migration’s institutionalization. Government has taken important steps unstable political situation in their Sacrament exposed, or Benediction followed immediately after
The government facilitates vespers (Decree 4383,1-2). The principle behind these decrees
migration, regulates the operations towards institutionalizing Philippine areas of deployment. Given that
the latest official records place the would appear to be that lighting the Easter candle is reserved
of the recruitment agencies, and labor migration—to the point that number of Overseas Filipinos at 8.7 for liturgical acts celebrated with some degree of solemnity.
looks out for the rights of its migrant the Philippines has been cited as an million, the unaccounted balance All the same, it is not incompatible with exposition of the
Blessed Sacrament if a liturgical celebration is held during
workers. More importantly, of 900 thousand would have to
the remittances workers send international model for best practices be comprised of what have been adoration.
homes have become a pillar of the in migration policy—the ecclesiastical referred to as illegals. It is this group Likewise, although the earlier decrees spoke only of vespers,
country’s economy.” response to the OFW phenomenon of 4.1 million OCWs and 0.9 million the present norms include lauds and could perhaps be extended
to other hours of the Liturgy of the Hours if celebrated with
On the other hand, the illegals who I would henceforth
phenomenon of Filipino migrant leaves much to be desired. refer as OFWs, since one and the some solemnity.
workers—more commonly referred to as the Roman Empire. other are all Filipinos, overseas and working
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)—does one way or another. These are the 5 million
not seem to be something temporary. On the Limiting the Discussion unstably migrated Filipinos, who are in dire
contrary, if at all it seems to be a phenomenon Before proceeding further, I would like to need of pastoral care.
which is on the rise and destined to become limit the scope of the discussion not only to
more significant in the near and middle- a more manageable level, but to what in my
term future. As such, it is something that the mind is the more relevant aspect as far as the I. A Brief Historical Review of the Ecclesial
Philippine hierarchy cannot fail to attend to, OFWs are concerned. Response
especially since majority of the OFWs, as is the In effect, Church documents on the subject to the Phenomenon of Human Mobility
Philippine population at large, are faithful of of the pastoral care of migrants and itinerant
the Catholic Church. people have always made a distinction A. Early Attempts at Pastoral Care of
The ecclesial dimension of this phenomenon between the Church of origin (ecclesia a Migrants: Pius XII’s Exsul Familia (1952)
is a veritable challenge to the Philippine qua) and the host Church (ecclesia ad quam). The efforts of the Church to take care of the
hierarchy. In effect, while the positive economic Insofar as the Philippines is basically a spiritual needs of Catholic migrants in the past
effects of the millions of OFWs— religiously labor exporting country, rather than a host 150 years have been concretized in various
remitting their hard-earned foreign currency country for migrants (whether workers or initiatives on the part of the common faithful,
to their families at home—are undeniable, it is otherwise), the canonico-pastoral criteria and of religious institutes and of the Hierarchy
equally undeniable that many of these souls norms regarding host countries are of limited itself. Initially, members of the clergy had
are oftentimes in quite precarious situations. application. accompanied groups setting off abroad to
While the Philippine Government has taken Thus, the canonico-pastoral issue connected colonize new lands, but from the middle of
important steps towards institutionalizing with the OFWs can be conveniently pared the 19th Century onwards, the pastoral care
Philippine labor migration—to the point down to two: (1) the care of the Filipino of migrants was entrusted more frequently to
that the Philippines has been cited as an migrant workers themselves in their respective missionary Congregations.
international model for best practices in countries of deployment; (2) the care of the More at the hierarchical-jurisdictional level,
www.henllan.com

migration policy—the ecclesiastical response families that the Filipino migrant workers the first initiatives addressed immediate
to the OFW phenomenon leaves much to be leave behind in the Philippines. With respect needs. For instance, in 1914 Pope Pius X erected
desired. Many OFWs, especially in those to the latter, I am of the opinion that their a seminary for the formation of priests destined
countries of Catholic minority or where there pastoral needs do not really present any for the pastoral care of Italian immigrants,
is no Catholic hierarchy, are literally like significant complications as to warrant a although it was not inaugurated until 1920 due
sheep without shepherds, relying solely on separate canonico-pastoral treatment—i.e., to the outbreak of World War I. This same year,
the isolated missionaries or chaplains who distinct from the cura ordinaria animarum Shepherding / B7

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 10
May 11 - 24, 2009
ON BACKGROUND: Archbishop of Davao, Most Rev. Fernando R. Capalla, (3rd from left) 2nd bishop of Iligan, led the concelebrated Jubilee Mass in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the erection of Iligan as a diocese in November 2008. Other
bishops who joined the occasion were: (From left) Bishop Emilio L. Bataclan, 3rd bishop of Iligan, now assigned as Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu; Bishop Emmanuel T. Cabajar, Bishop of Pagadian; Bishop Elenito D. Galido, now the 4th bishop of Iligan
Diocese; Archbishop Jesus A. Dosado, Archbishop of Ozamiz; and Bishop Edwin A. De La Peña, Bishop of the Prelature of Marawi. INSET: Maria Cristina Falls. BELOW: Cathedral of St. Micheal the Archangel.
By Fr. Rodrigo Maata
Historical Back ground
Diocese of
The province of Lanao del
Norte, of which Iligan is the
capital, lies in the northern
part of Mindanao, where the
Zamboanga Peninsula joins
with the mainland of Mindanao
between Yllana and Iligan
Bays.
The two Lanaos formed just
one province before, and as such
was home to the Maranaos, a
native tribe of the region, a fierce
and proud people who resisted
colonization by the Spaniards
and later by the Americans. The
old province of Lanao was never
really subjugated. The Maranaos
continued to wage their bloody
wars of resistance. Fortresses
in Iligan today are mute relics
of those bloody encounters. In
1913 they were finally subdued
by the Americans. In 1914 the
province of Lanao was formally
organized.
With new stability in the
region, migrants from islands
north of Mindanao poured in
the northern part of the province.
Because of the large numbers of
Christian migrants that settled
there, as Muslims also settled
in the south, the division of
Lanao into two provinces
was deemed necessary. This
division finally took place in
1959, and since then Lanao
del Norte has become more
Christian, while Lanao del
Sur has become more
Muslim.
Iligan City today is a
boom town, with more
migrants coming in.
Recent years have
seen a sprouting of
stores, streets and
schools. This growth
is attributed to the
power generated by
the Agus River which
begins at Lake Lanao,
traverses Lanao del
Norte, and provides
IMPORTANT FACTS
Bishop ………………………………………
Priests:
Diocesan ………………………………….. 36
Religious ………………………………….. 14
Seminaries ………………………………….
Seminarians:
Theology …………………………………..
Philosophy ………………………………… 32
SFY ………………………………………..
Diocesan Division:
Vicariates ………………………………….
Parishes …………………………………… 24
Educational Centers:
College …………………………………….
High Schools:
Diocesan …………………………………. 12
Religious ………………………………….
Elementary Schools:
Diocesan ………………………………….
Religious ………………………………….
Kindergarten:
Diocesan …………………………………
Religious ………………………………….
Population ……………………………. 1,400,488
Catholics ……………………………... 918.418
Area ………………………………. 3,092 sq. kms
electric power for the province.
Heavy-powered industries have
made Iligan their home base,
industries such as steel plants,
fertilizer plants, ferro-alloy
plants, flour mills and cement
plants.
Ecclesiastically, all of
Mindanao and Sulu came under
the jurisdiction of the Diocese of
Cebu during the Spanish era.
When the Diocese of Zamboanga
was created in 1910, it had
jurisdiction over the whole of
Mindanao. In 1933 the Diocese of
Cagayan de Oro was separated
from that of Zamboanga and got
When the Most Rev. Bienvenido Tudtud assumed jurisdiction of the newly
created Prelature of Iligan in 1971, he saw chaos and violence all over the
place. It was a period that saw the boldness of the Muslim rebel group
“barracuda”, the fearlessness of the Christian vigilante “Ilaga” and the bloody
intervention of the Philippine military.
jurisdiction over Surigao, both
Misamises, Bukidnon, and part
of the old Lanao, presumably the
northern part nearer to it.
Iligan has started as a parish
named after the Archangel, St.
Michael by the Augustinian
Recollects (OAR) in 1834. In 1913,
the last of the OAR priests left the
parish and the returning Jesuit
missionaries took over. They
served through World War
II and even
established
a n o t h e r
parish in the town
of Kolambugan, about
50 kms west of Iligan.
In 1948 a new group
of missionaries,
mostly Irish, the
1
3
2
3
5
1
2
6
2
5
2
Diocese
Society of St. Columban (SSC)
assumed administration of
the two parishes and worked
tirelessly in opening up new
parishes, establishing parochial
schools and welcoming other
Iligan
religious congregations in Iligan.
Around this time, all parishes
of Iligan and Lanao were ceded
to the newly created Diocese of
Ozamiz separating them from
the Dioceses of Cagayan de Oro
and Zamboanga.
In 1971, Iligan became a
prelature nullius and suffragan
of the Archdiocese of Cagayan
de Oro.
Prelature of Iligan
On February 17, 1971 Pope
Paul VI issued the papal bull
“Qui in Apostolica” creating the
Prelature of Iligan and appointed
the Most Rev. Bienvenido Tudtud
as its first Prelate Ordinary.
On November 15, 1982, the
Vatican elevated the Prelature
of Iligan to a Diocese with the
Most Rev. Fernando R. Capalla
as its first diocesan bishop,
having earlier replaced Bishop
Bienvenido Tudtud in 1976 as
the latter moved to the newly
created Prelature of St. Mary in
Marawi.
Very Rev. Leo E. Labiste served
as Diocesan Administrator from
August 22, 1994 to July 18, 1995
when then Bishop Capalla was
appointed Co-adjutor bishop of
Davao. On his election, Msgr.
Labiste was the Vicar General
of the Diocese of Iligan. In
1995, Bishop Emilio Bataclan
was appointed third Bishop
of Iligan, taking over the post
vacated by Bishop Capalla.
Msgr. Ramon O. Fruto, CSsR
became Apostolic Administrator
of Iligan from June 22, 2004
to September 18, 2006, to fill
up the post vacated by Bishop
Bataclan who was assigned in
the Archdiocese of Cebu.
4th Local Ordinary
On September 18, 2006, Bishop
Elenito D. Galido was installed
as the 4th local ordinary of
the diocese after having been
appointed by Pope Benedict XVI
on March 25 of the same year.
He replaced Bishop Bataclan
who in 2004 returned to the
Archdiocese of Cebu for health
reasons. Bishop Galido, on
a study-leave in New York,
USA when appointed, hailed
from Malaybalay, Bukidnon
and spent most of his
priestly life in that diocese.
During his installation
he promised to serve
the faithful of Iligan
Diocese with sincerity
and compassion guided
by the motto inscribed
in his Coat of Arms, “Prayer,
Service and Peace.”
Diocesan
Programs
Thrusts and
Peace Building
When the Most Rev.
Bienvenido Tudtud assumed
jurisdiction of the newly created
Prelature of Iligan in 1971, he
saw chaos and violence all over
the place. It was a period that
saw the boldness of the Muslim
rebel group “barracuda”, the
fearlessness of the Christian
vigilante “Ilaga” and the bloody
B3
intervention of the Philippine
military.
As it was then and in-between,
so it is now. The months of
August to December 2008
brought back the horrible
memories of the past, for those
who still care to remember ─
mayhem, bloodshed, destruction
of properties, lingering hatred
and innocent civilians being
victimized and displaced.
Thus the primordial current
thrust of the diocese is as old
as the conflict itself. After the
attacks of MILF rebels in August
and bombings in December
last year, the commission on
the Interreligious Dialogue of
the Diocese is again having
its hands full pursuing peace
initiatives and raising awareness
of its importance through
different activities, including
symposiums, dialogue and
concentrating on the same theme
and aspiration ─ “that although
we are a people of different faiths
and cultures, we come from the
same Creator, we have common
hopes and dreams and that it is
always possible to live and
co-exist in the same
land in harmony
and peace”.
Alongside these
activities are the
relentless efforts
of the Disaster
and Social Action
Apostolate in
coordinating
and dispensing
basic help to the
victims.
Basic Ecclesial
Communities
Another
thrust that the
Diocese is
currently
Iligan / B5
St. Michael Cathedral
 Features
B4
“Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.”
Cardinal Ratzinger: “Every image of Christ must contain these three essential
aspects of the mystery of Christ and in this sense, must be an image of Easter.”
The Paschal Mystery in Art
and an Abueva Crucifix
By Fr. Catalino G. Arevalo, SJ
“We adore you, O Christ and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed
the world!”
THIS prayer, often attributed to St Francis of Assisi, is recited by the faithful as they
come to each of the Stations of the Cross. This devotion of the via crucis, which is
practiced by many Catholic families in our country during the Lenten season and
specially in Holy week, goes back to the Middle Ages in Europe, probably toward
the end of the 13th century. The prayer, then, originated at a time when devotion
to the Lord and his sacred passion focused with strong emotion on the historical
crucifixion of Jesus. The Stations of the Cross—fourteen in number—which are
even today found in all our churches, terminate with the burial of Jesus in the
tomb. The Resurrection of Jesus was not, until our own time, made part of these
stations.
Both in the imaging and in the mind of so many of the faithful, the death of
Jesus was (and is?) the center and the term of Holy Week. Easter was an epilogue;
it was not really part of Holy Week. This, for most, was so, despite the fact that
the Church’s official rites of worship, the so-called Sacred Triduum, culminate
in the Easter Vigil. Holy Week celebrations find their high point in the renewed
proclamation of the Resurrection of Jesus:
Christ yesterday and today,
the beginning and the end,
Alpha and Omega
all time belongs to him,
and all ages.
To him be glory and power
through every age and forever!
Alleluia. Alleluia! Alleluia!
And so it has been suggested that the prayer at
each station of the Cross begin instead with one of the responses we give at every
Mass, after the presider’s invitation, “Let us proclaim the mystery of faith!”
Lord, by your Cross and Resurrection,
you have set us free.
You are the Savior of the world!
The “mystery of faith” (mysterium fidei) is the Cross and Resurrection seen
as one total mystery, truly understood as one. This is the Paschal Mystery.
It is the centerpiece of the entire Christian faith, of Christian worship and
theology, of all of the Christian life. Cross and Resurrection are “linked from
within” as both revelation and reality. The Cross finds its God-planned, God-
willed term in the Resurrection; the Cross loses its meaning, cut off from the
Resurrection.
Did not Jesus himself say, in the words of John’s Gospel: “This is why the Father
loves me: that I lay down my life, so that I may take it up again. [The Greek text’s
“so that, in order that” is clear.] No one takes it from me; I lay it down of myself.
I have the power to lay it down, and the power to take it up again. This is the
charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10, 17-18).
We must keep the same words in mind when we turn to the Cross and to
representations of Jesus on the Cross.
The Crucifix: A Brief History
The author of a rather exhaustive history of the cross and the crucifix and their
presence in Christian art (in the Catholic Encyclopedia, 1967/USA) writes that
most of the early depictions of the cross (from the 6th century onward), and of the
crucifix (from the 8th or 9th century, it would seem), showed Christ alive, with
eyes open, standing upright, with two nails fixing his feet in place, in an attitude
of serene victory and triumph. “Regnavit a ligno Deus” – “God has reigned
from the tree of the cross.” Jesus on the cross is the orans, he who prays for us
and gathers us into his saving victory. Often enough he wears the colobium, a
tunic without sleeves, or (later) a full robe denoting majesty, kingly authority or
priestly sacredness.
But from the 13th century, more and more this changes. In Italy, specially,
the representation of “the historical crucifixion” becomes less symbolic, more
representational, and more visually dramatic. In much Rhenish art of the time
too, “Christ’s suffering is strikingly shown, in his emaciated body, with wounds
covering it, Jesus’ face distorted by pain and anguish.” Or perhaps some artists
show a Christ “in the calm of death, but with the crown of thorns a heavy weight
upon his head.”
This is not the time or place to go more deeply into the history of the cross and
crucifix. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, wrote a superb book,
The Spirit of the Liturgy, published in 2000, only a few years before his election
to the papacy. We will try to pick up some of his points on the portrayal of the
Paschal Mystery, from his chapter on images and their place in worship.
Ratzinger points out that in most Christian art in both East and West, prior to
the Gothic period in European art, “it is always the risen Christ, even on the Cross,
to whom the community looks as the true Oriens.” Christian art is still primarily
ordered to the mystery which becomes present in the liturgy, that mystery which
we proclaim still every day at the Mass.
But as the age of the Gothic emerges, slowly the central image changes; from
orans and oriens, from victorious Lord and Pantocrator—“the Lord of all who leads
us to the eighth day,” the consummation of cosmos and history. We turn instead
to the image of the crucified Lord in the agony of his passion and death. In a true
sense, popular piety takes over from the church’s liturgy, the “official worship
rites”. (Did the Franciscan movement have some role in this shift?) Religious art
now turns chiefly to “the meditation on the mysteries of the earthly life of Jesus.
A devotion to the Cross of a more historicizing kind replaces orientation to the
Risen Lord who has gone ahead of us.”
Here Ratzinger refers to the moving and masterly altarpiece—the so-called
Isenheim altarpiece—of Matthias Grunewald, which “takes the realism of the
Passion to a radical extreme.” Even if in fact it was meant to be a source of strength
and consolation to plague victims and others afflicted with disfiguring diseases,
who could see in the “terrible crucifix” God’s own Son, making his own all their
brokenness, pain and misery.
The crucifix on the altar of the Our Lady of
Pentecost (OLPP) Parish Church in Loyola
Heights, Quezon City depicts a strong, strik-
ing figure of Jesus, standing “in the power of
his Resurrection.” With arms wide open, the
burial cloths wrapped around him in the tomb
are shown as falling away from his body. He is
risen, and rising upwards, surges toward his
Father. (Photo courtesy of Noli Yamsuan)
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 10
May 11 - 24, 2009
“There is a decisive turn to what is human, historical, in Christ, but it is animated
by a sense that these human afflictions belong to the mystery. The images are
consoling, because they make visible the overcoming of our anguish in the incarnate
God’s sharing in our suffering, and so they bear within them the implicit image
of the Resurrection.”
To jump several centuries, we have Pope Benedict bringing us to our present
time. A strong, even radical reaction, “a kind of new iconoclasm” has tried to
destroy or eliminate religious images—above all in the West. (This reaction
goes back to the 1920s, Ratzinger believes.) After the Second Vatican Council
much kitsch and unworthy art were rightly eliminated, “but ultimately this
left behind a void, the emptiness and wretchedness of which we are now
experiencing.”
We are now massively surrounded with images created by advertising, often
huge and cheap, with which Metro-Manila is inundated, really with incredible
ugliness. A recent visitor remarked how defaced the city has become.
The “Essential Crucifix”
Pope Benedict asks, regarding the present situation, what are we called to do?
His fuller answer, which we cannot develop here, is: that we go back to the roots
and principles of true Christian art that we return to its deepest and truest source
in faith, in prayer and contemplation; to genuine Christian understanding, feeling
and life. We must renew again, receive from grace again, “the eye of faith which
sees.”
To make a long story short, how does this affect the crucifix in our churches?
Let me cite Joseph Ratzinger at some length here.
[Religious images] point to presence; they are essentially connected with what
happens in the liturgy. Now history becomes sacrament in Christ, who is the
source of the sacraments. Therefore, the icon of Christ is the center of sacred
iconography. The center of the icon of Christ is the Paschal Mystery:
Christ is presented as the
Crucified, the
risen Lord, the One who will come again and who here now hiddenly reigns
over all. Every image of Christ must contain these three essential aspects of the
mystery of Christ and, in this sense, must be an image of Easter. At the same
time, it goes without saying that different emphases are possible. The image may
give more prominence to the Cross, the Passion, and in the Passion to the anguish
of our own life today, or again it may bring the resurrection or the Second
Coming to the fore. But whatever happens, one aspect can never be completely
isolated from another, and in the different emphases the Paschal Mystery as a
whole must be plainly evident. An image of the Crucifixion no longer transparent
to Easter would be just as deficient as an Easter image forgetful of the wounds
and the suffering of the present moment. And, centered as it is on the Paschal
Mystery, the image of Christ is always an icon of the Eucharist, that is, it points
to the sacramental presence of the Easter mystery. (Spirit of the Liturgy, 132-133;
italics mine)
An Abueva Crucifix
Thus far, Pope Benedict XVI. Here I would like to turn our attention to a remarkable
crucifix which our national artist Dean Napoleon Abueva crafted, only a few years
back, for the new parish church of Our Lady of Pentecost (OLPP). (The church is
on Fabian de la Rosa St., Loyola Heights, very near the Ateneo de Manila.) The
crucifix dominates the altar-space and the nave of the really superb church, designed
by architect Veepee Pinpin, for the pastor Fr. Steven Zabala and the wonderfully
participative parish community. (Fr. José Tupino is now pastor.)
If, following Pope Benedict’s norms, the image of Jesus on the Cross must
somehow include the entire Paschal Mystery,
Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again,
then every artist carving a cross for an altar faces a daunting challenge.
Dr. Abueva’s Jesus is a strong, striking figure, standing before us “in the power of
his Resurrection.” His arms are wide open, as the orans, ever living and interceding
for us, the high priest of the Letter to the Hebrews (cc. 4, 5 ff.). The burial cloths
wrapped around him in the tomb are shown as falling away from his body. He is
risen, and rising upwards, surges toward his Father.
Again, in an enigmatic turn, Jesus’ hands are still nailed to the wood of the Cross,
but they are seen pulling away from the crossbeam, pulling the nails with them.
This says clearly that he was crucified and truly died. The lance-wound on Jesus’
side is starkly highlighted. In much of his writing, Joseph Ratzinger has insisted
on the ‘real-symbolism’ of this lance-wound. Seen through John 19, 37’s citation,
“They shall look on him whom they have pierced,” in a true sense it distills “all of
Christian faith and spirituality.” It proclaims that Jesus is the new Adam, eschatos
Adam, and the Church the new Eve is born from his opened side.
The “great cross in the sky” is there also, massively behind him. In Christian
art, that cross is “the sign in the sky”, symbol of Christ’s return. Thus the Abueva
crucifix gathers all the three dimensions of the Paschal Mystery: Jesus’ death, his
real burial, his rising again in power, and his awaited return in glory.
More than fifty years ago, as a young artist at the University of the Philippines,
Abueva was chosen by Fr. John P. Delaney to craft an unusual two-sided altar
cross: Christ dying, on one side; Christ risen, on the other. Decades later, the
new OLPP altar cross combines both death and resurrection into one image,
one crucifix.
Pope Benedict would approve. And Father Delaney? From where he is now,
he surely blesses this remarkable new depiction of the mysterium fidei which the
Eucharist proclaims.
Joseph Ratzinger’s Spirit of the Liturgy ends its chapter on images with the
point that true art cannot be just “produced”. It is “grace-given” to the artist. “It
is always a gift.” The inspiration is given as gift, and received as gift. That gift,
the Holy Father says, is “a faith that sees.” And, he adds, “Wherever that exists,
art finds its proper expression.”
From the beginning we have spoken of the understanding of the total Paschal
Mystery as central to our worship, central to our theology as well as to the whole
of our Christian life. May we learn to understand it ever better, and live it more
fully in our lives and our deeds. May we receive as gift, ever more truly, “the
faith that sees.”
 Statements
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 10
May 11 - 24, 2009
B5

Pastoral Exhortation on
the ‘Swine Flu’ pandemic
The alarming news of the outbreak of “swine flu” or “influenza A” in several
countries, after Mexico, behooves us to take some health precautions as
may be coming from our Doctors of Medicine or the Department of Health.
There is no news yet of the flu having reached our shore. Panic would
not be the correct response. Let us rather be guided by the precautionary
measures which health practitioners may give.
Alongside with this counsel, we exhort the people to pray for our country as well as for the countries
already affected by the “swine flu”: that it may be effectively controlled. Earnest and humble prayer
addressed to the Divine Healer, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, is
the need of the hour. Prayer may be as powerful as or even may be more powerful than anti-biotic or
anti-virus pills which may not be accessible to many very poor people. The combination of prayer and
prescribed medical precaution would be a proactive response to the present concern.
Let us pray that the rise of “swine flu” cases in other countries may be put under control. We call

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

upon the Apostleship of Prayer, the Charismatic Movements, all Church organizations to include this
intention in their prayer, as individuals, as families and communities.

+ANGEL N. LAGDAMEO, D.D.

Archbishop of Jaro and
CBCP President
May 2, 2009

‘Natural Law Is a Universal Guide Recognizable to Everyone’

Papal address to the members of the Social Sciences Academy, May 4, 2009
Dear Brothers in the Episcopate and the In the middle of the last century, after the “natural law”, which is nothing other than a
Priesthood, vast suffering caused by two terrible world participation in the eternal law: “unde...lex
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, wars and the unspeakable crimes perpetrated naturalis nihil aliud est quam participatio legis
As you gather for the fifteenth Plenary Session by totalitarian ideologies, the international aeternae in rationali creatura” (St. Thomas
of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, I community acquired a new system of Aquinas, ST I-II, 91, 2). The natural law is a
am pleased to have this occasion to meet with international law based on human rights. In universal guide recognizable to everyone, on
you and to express my encouragement for this, it appears to have acted in conformity with the basis of which all people can reciprocally
your mission of expounding and furthering the message that my predecessor Benedict XV understand and love each other. Human
the Church’s social doctrine in the areas of proclaimed when he called on the belligerents rights, therefore, are ultimately rooted in a
law, economy, politics and the various other of the First World War to “transform the participation of God, who has created each
social sciences. Thanking Professor Mary Ann material force of arms into the moral force of human person with intelligence and freedom.
Glendon for her cordial words of greeting, I law” (“Note to the Heads of the Belligerent If this solid ethical and political basis is ignored,
assure you of my prayers that the fruit of your Peoples”, 1 August 1917). human rights remain fragile since they are
deliberations will continue to attest to the Human rights became the reference point of deprived of their sound foundation.
enduring pertinence of Catholic social teaching a shared universal ethos - at least at the level The Church’s action in promoting human
in a rapidly changing world. of aspiration—for most of humankind. These rights is therefore supported by rational
After studying work, democracy, rights have been ratified by almost every State reflection, in such a way that these rights
globalization, solidarity and subsidiarity in in the world. The Second Vatican Council, in can be presented to all people of good will,
relation to the social teaching of independently of any religious
the Church, your Academy has The Church’s action in promoting affiliation they may have.
chosen to return to the central Nevertheless, as I have observed
question of the dignity of the human
human rights is therefore supported in my Encyclicals, on the one
person and human rights, a point by rational reflection, in such a way hand, human reason must undergo
of encounter between the doctrine that these rights can be presented to constant purification by faith,
of the Church and contemporary
society.
all people of good will, independently insofar as it is always in danger of a
certain ethical blindness caused by
The world’s great religions and of any religious affiliation they disordered passions and sin; and,
philosophies have illuminated may have. Nevertheless, as I have on the other hand, insofar as human
some aspects of these human rights, rights need to be re-appropriated
which are concisely expressed
observed in my Encyclicals, human by every generation and by each
in “the golden rule” found in reason must undergo constant individual, and insofar as human
the Gospel: “Do to others as you purification by faith, insofar as it is freedom - which proceeds by a
would have them do to you” (Lk
6:31; cf. Mt 7:12). The Church has
always in danger of a certain ethical succession of free choices - is always
fragile, the human person needs the
always affirmed that fundamental blindness caused by disordered unconditional hope and love that
rights, above and beyond the passions and sin; and insofar can only be found in God and that
different ways in which they lead to participation in the justice
are formulated and the different
as human rights need to be re- and generosity of God towards
degrees of importance they may appropriated by every generation and others (cf. Deus Caritas Est, 18, and
have in various cultural contexts,
are to be upheld and accorded
universal recognition because they
by each individual, and insofar as
human freedom - which proceeds by a to This
are inherent in the very nature of succession of free choices - is always problems of recent decades, such
Spe Salvi, 24).
perspective draws attention
some of the most critical social Labor Day
man, who is created in the image
and likeness of God. If all human
beings are created in the image and
likeness of God, then they share a
fragile, the human person needs the as the growing awareness—which
unconditional hope and love that can has
only be found in God and that lead
in part arisen with globalization
and the present economic crisis—of
a flagrant contrast between the
Message
common nature that binds them to participation in the justice and equal attribution of rights and
WE celebrate Labor Day today when the working person
together and calls for universal the unequal access to the means
respect. The Church, assimilating
generosity of God towards others. of attaining those rights. For is threatened with the loss of work and the ever thinning
the teaching of Christ, considers the person as the Declaration Dignitatis Humanae, as well Christians who regularly ask God to “give compensation for work. The present financial crisis has
“the worthiest of nature” (St. Thomas Aquinas, as my predecessors Paul VI and John Paul II, us this day our daily bread”, it is a shameful brought to our country the loss of much work together with
De potentia, 9, 3) and has taught that the ethical forcefully referred to the right to life and the tragedy that one-fifth of humanity still goes less pay for the worker. Trained observers and analysts agree
and political order that governs relationships right to freedom of conscience and religion as hungry. Assuring an adequate food supply, in many ways as to the cause of the problem; and they say
between persons finds its origin in the very being at the centre of those rights that spring like the protection of vital resources such as that the culprit basically is an aberration in values, more
structure of man’s being. The discovery of from human nature itself. water and energy, requires all international spiritual than material.
America and the ensuing anthropological Strictly speaking, these human rights leaders to collaborate in showing a readiness to There has to be a cap to the human lust for profit. Humans
debate in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century are not truths of faith, even though they work in good faith, respecting the natural law cannot forever go for more, and still manage to get some more.
Europe led to a heightened awareness of human are discoverable—and indeed come to full and promoting solidarity and subsidiarity with Although human desires are limitless, there is, however, a
rights as such and of their universality (ius light—in the message of Christ who “reveals the weakest regions and peoples of the planet limit as to what s/he can have and use. To go beyond that
gentium). The modern period helped shape man to man himself” (Gaudium et Spes, 22). as the most effective strategy for eliminating limit is to reinforce one’s self-seeking which is destructive of
the idea that the message of Christ - because They receive further confirmation from faith. social inequalities between countries and the society a person lives in. We are reminded by the Church’s
it proclaims that God loves every man and Yet it stands to reason that, living and acting in societies and for increasing global security. teaching that “selfishness is the most insidious enemy of an
woman and that every human being is called to the physical world as spiritual beings, men and Dearfriends,dearAcademicians,inexhorting ordered society. History shows how hearts are devastated
love God freely - demonstrates that everyone, women ascertain the pervading presence of a you in your research and deliberations to be when men and women are incapable of recognizing other
independently of his or her social and cultural logos which enables them to distinguish not credible and consistent witnesses to the defense values or other effective realities apart from material goods,
condition, by nature deserves freedom. At the only between true and false, but also good and and promotion of these non-negotiable human the obsessive quest for which suffocates and blocks their
same time, we must always remember that evil, better and worse, and justice and injustice. rights which are founded in divine law, I ability to give themselves.” (CSDC, 581)
“freedom itself needs to be set free. It is Christ This ability to discern - this radical agency - most willingly impart to you my Apostolic Management and Production need to balance their
who sets it free” (Veritatis Splendor, 86). renders every person capable of grasping the Blessing. programs for profit with that of the welfare of Labor. For
sheer survival—and this we learn from what is happening in
the financial and economic world today—there are positions
Iligan / B3 that study how to factor the welfare of workers and that of
society into the equation of production. We encourage such
pursuing with renewed focus EducationoftheLaityandContinuing these initiatives will be able life and dignity and care for the efforts that lead to the security and welfare of all involved in
and effort is the organization of Formation of the Clergy to help address the issues and integrity of creation; c) Sustain the process of production.
BEC’s or GSK’s. To date almost During the Diocesan Pastoral enhance the cooperation and peace through the dialogue of But for the State, it is not just a matter of providing work
four thousand families all over Assembly held last year, only the collaboration between the clergy life, faith and culture among the for our fast growing working population. The State inspires
the diocese have already been 3rd since 1971, most participants, and the faithful. Lumads, Muslims and Christian; and helps (to) legislate laws through which the needs of the
introduced to or organized clergy and laity alike, voiced and d) Discern and respond to workers and their families have already been factored in
according to the concept of BEC. out two important issues ─ Vision the challenges and signs of the production. A healthy balance is constantly sought whereby
Again this is not something the laity’s hunger for more Empowered by the Holy times. the welfare of the worker and that of the community cannot
new to the Diocese of Iligan, knowledge and formation and Spirit, We, as disciples of Jesus The Diocese of Iligan can still compromise the survival of the company, but neither can the
since the diocese was one of the the clergy’s personal and pastoral Christ, envision ourselves as fully be considered a very young profit factor be allowed to threaten the welfare of the workers.
few pioneering communities in shortcomings. The diocese is transformed community, living juridical ecclesiastical entity, Moreover, in the economic world, neither politics nor trade
Mindanao which worked on this now organizing groups and the values. as it had only turned 25 years unions are given the capacity to destroy the interest of these
model of being church in the 70’s. putting up plans to address old in November last year. Yet, two important factors of business and industry.
But now it is carrying it out with these two distinct but related Mission the seed of faith of the diocese For the healthy Filipino working class we pray for God’s
more clarity of purpose and in issues. A group has recently Through the intercession of goes back to the early 17th blessings that as the workers are protected, the country is
a more orderly and organized been organized to deal with the the Blessed Virgin Mary and century—planted and nurtured also thereby secured.
approach. The dream is to have first and the diocese has already St. Michael, the Archangel, our by God’s grace—through the
the BEC spirit animating all coordinated and networked Patron, we commit ourselves to: faith and hard toil of the early +GAUDENCIO B. CARDINAL ROSALES, D.D.
groups and organizations in the with some existing renewal a) Witness to the truth, justice, missionaries who zealously, Archbishop of Manila
Diocese in their life and journey programs for the clergy to deal peace and love for the poor; b) through the years, made it grow 01 May 2009
as a church in the near future. with the second. Hopefully, Promote and respect human and bear fruit.
 Ref lections
CBCP Monitor
B6 Vol. 13 No. 10
May 11 - 24, 2009

The Church as vine and branches

By Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo
WHEN some people think of a church,
they usually associate it with an
organization, governed by laws that define
the relationship among the members. In
their view, it is a society as visible as the
political set-up, hierarchically structured,
that mediates salvation to all its members
by means of the preaching of the Word,
prayer, and the administration of the
sacraments. And as in any organization,
what unites the members is law that
regulates the life of the church. Law, in
other words, is the principle that binds
the members to one another. This Sunday,
however, John provides us an alternative
view of its principle of unity.
Admittedly, today’s Gospel (John
15:1-8) is not primarily about the Church.
It is obviously about Jesus who, in
contrast with Israel of old, came to fulfill
the calling to be fruitful for God. In the
Old Testament, the image of the vine is
used to describe Israel (Hos 10:1; Ezek
15:1-6; 17:5-11; 19:10-14; Jer 2:21). Despite
Yahweh’s lavish care for her, Israel bore
bitter or non-existent fruits. Now in the
gospel, Jesus claims to be the true vine.
But in portraying himself as the vine, Jesus
describes the relationship that ought to
exist between him and the disciples, that is
to say, between the head of the Church and
its members. For this reason, the parable
can be applied to the Church. In a passage
Fifth Sunday of Easter - B (John 15:1-8) May 10, 2009
Unlike in the government where people
are bound to their head by virtue of law,
the members of the Church are linked
to Christ in virtue of the fact that Christ
himself calls each one and sustains them.
The members, on the other hand, are to be
committed to him in person. The Church,
therefore, is a relationship of persons,
and the principle of unity, the one that
binds the head and the members, is the
person of Jesus himself. A comparison
is probably in order. In the government,
one need not be sustained by President
Estrada or believe in his slogan Erap
para sa Mahirap to be a functionary. As
long as one believes in the class struggle
and the revolution, one can be called a
communist without having to follow
the footsteps of Karl Marx, the founder
of communism. But in Christianity, it is
entirely different. To be called a Christian
is not a matter of following a law or a
principle. In Christianity, the central place
is not given to the law, or even the Ten
Commandments. There is only one who
grafts a person to the Church—Christ,
who binds all the members in unity, and
all of them are personally bound to him.
This is why St. Paul can even say that it is
Christ who makes us grow and joins each
member to the body: “Through [Christ] the
whole body grows, and with the proper
functioning of the members joined firmly
together by each supporting ligament,
builds itself in love” (Eph 4:16).
Since the principle of unity in the Church
faith. His existence is always in relation to
Christ, both as a purpose and as a norm.
It is too obvious to note that one cannot
be a Christian apart from Christ. Just as
a branch that is severed from the vine
dies, so it is with a Christian in relation
to Christ. For it is Christ who nourishes
the Christian, and once he no longer
lives on in him, the Christian dies. “A
man who does not live in me is like a
withered, rejected branch, picked up to be
thrown in the fire and burnt” (John 15:6).
This means, of course, that the personal
relationship is mutual. Christ must remain
in the Christian, just as the Christian must
abide in Christ. Both are aspects forming
one reality, which is the unity of persons
in the Church.
Obviously, we have here a different
perspective of what unity in the Church
is all about. Law, of course, has a place
in the Church. As a hierarchical body, it
shares the nature of human organizations
that need laws to put order to human
relations. But to make law the sole
principle to regulate the relationship
between the head and the members, and
among the members, and to unite them
into one body is certainly inadequate.
What the Gospel today emphasizes is that
personal relationship between Jesus and
the disciples has a central place in the unity
of the Church. The Acts of the Apostles
expresses the unity in quite similar
language: “The community of believers
was of one heart and one soul” (Acts

that has ecclesiological overtones, Jesus
says: “Live on in me and I do in you… I
am the vine, you are the branches” (John
15:4a-5a). And one way of looking at this
text is to interpret it in terms of what binds
the members of the community to their
head and their fellow members.
is Christ, binding each member to himself
and to one another, it is obvious that for
one to be a part of the Church, he has to
live or abide in Christ. As the Johannine
Jesus declares, “Live on in me, as I do
in you” (John 15:4a). One then has to be
faithful, and make a constant decision for
www.swansonvineyards.com
4:32). Christianity, after all, is a religion
of a person, not of law. Being Christian is
not about laws to be fulfilled, but about
life—the life of Christ—to be lived in the
body of relationships: the vine sustaining
the branches, and the branches remaining
in the vine.

The Church as a community of lovers Bo Sanchez

Sixth Sunday of Easter - B (John 15:9-17); May 17, 2009

You create
your own
By Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo 15:9-10.17).
his passport.” The evidence that one is a
But we should take a special note about this
lawyer is his membership in the Integrated
love. This love is not our feeling for Jesus, or
Bar of the Philippines. But what is one to
IN last Sunday’s Gospel (John 15:1-8), we our good disposition toward other members
show that he is a Christian? Time was when

destiny
draw an ecclesiological implication of the of the Church. It is not even our effort,
one can easily distinguish a Catholic from a
parable on the vine and the branches, namely, however heroic, to serve the community.
Protestant, since the latter was identified with
the principle of unity. We noted that in the Rather, this love results from chain of loving
the Bible, whereas the latter was associated
Church, the one that binds the members that begins with God the Father himself.
with the Rosary or devotion to Mary. But
to the head and to one another First of all, the Father loves Jesus; LET me tell you a story.
is a person—Christ himself,
unlike in government and other
Take a special note about love. This then Jesus loves the disciple; and Three construction workers were on top of their half-
finally, the community members finished skyscraper. “Rrrrrrrrrng!” the lunch bell sounded,
organizations where law and love is not our feeling for Jesus, or our love one another. It is not, then, and the three men sat on a steel beam of the 56th floor with
authority gather the members into good disposition toward other members a question of our own love. It is their lunch boxes in hand.
one. In the Church, he dwells in
the members, even as the members
of the Church. It is not even our effort to rather about divine love itself. We The first guy opens his and groans in exasperation, “Tuyo!
love the brothers with the love There is not a day that I don’t get tuyo for lunch!” He turns
dwell in him; there is a mutual serve the community. Rather, this love that, through his resurrection, to his buddies and announces, “Mark my words. If I still
indwelling: “Live on in me, as I results from chain of loving that begins we share with the Lord, whose get tuyo tomorrow, I’m going to throw myself from this
do in you… I am the vine, you are
the branches… A man who does
with God the Father himself. love comes from the Father. And building.”
the greatest love one can exhibit The second guy opens his lunch box and moans, “Tinapa.
not live in me is like a withered, rejected neither the Bible nor the devotion to Mary in the community is love unto death. This Everyday, I get this for lunch.” He looks at his friends and
branch, picked up to be thrown in the fire and gives testimony to one’s being Christian, is the love which Jesus had for us, and we declares, “Believe me when I say this. If I get tinapa tomorrow,
burnt” (John 15:4a.5a.6). From today’s Gospel even though to be one, he ultimately has to are to imitate this love in the community of I’m going to jump from here and kill myself.”
(John 15:9-17), one may draw a theme that have both. According to the Gospel reading, brothers. “This is my commandment: love The third guy opens his lunch box and it was his turn to
continues the ecclesiological implication of our abiding in Christ is validated by love. one another, as I have loved you. There is despair, “Galunggong. All I get is galunggong!” He looks
last Sunday’s. It could be taken as answering “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved no greater love than this: to lay down one’s to his co-workers and says, “I’m telling you, if I still get
the question: how do we know that we remain you. Live on in my love. You will live in my life for one’s friends” (John 15:12-13). John galunggong tomorrow, I’m going to jump from this building
or live on in Christ? love if you keep my commandments, even expresses this different in his letter: “The and die.”
If we ask the question, “what is the evidence as I have kept my Father’s commandments, way we come to understand love was that The next day, the lunch bell rings and all three men are
that one is an Israeli?” probably one will and live in his love,… The command I give he laid down his life for us; we too must lay again seated on the 56th floor.
say, “his citizenship, which is printed in you is this, that you love one another” (John Church / B7 The first guy opens his lunch box and starts crying,
“Tuyoooooo!” And so in front of his shocked companions,
Fr. Roy Cimagala he jumps off the building and crashes on the ground.
The second guy opens his lunch box and wails loudly,
“Tinapaaaaaa!” And before his remaining friend, he jumps

Seed, leaven, remnant If we don’t like our jobs, if

ONLY 10 percent of Catholics
go to Sunday Mass in the
Philippines? This was what
a bishop claimed recently. It
obviously is not a good piece
of news. But neither should it
surprise us.
For sure, we need to improve
the statistics. Christ came to save
all. He wants everyone to have
life to the full. And if we go by
what our faith teaches us about
the Holy Eucharist, somehow
fullness of Christian life here on
earth must involve our active
participation in the Holy Mass.
But that’s something we have
to work on. It will be work in
progress always, with its ups and
downs, twists and turns, gains and
losses, etc. Thus, we have to expect
problems. And we just have to try
to solve them.
In fact there are many other
depressing news to contend with
these days. In the US now, there
is this report that Christianity has
declined drastically. It should be
an interesting study to know the
causes and factors of this decline.
Besides,itseemsthatdevelopments
in the world, especially in politics
which in turn reflects the state of
socio-cultural life in the people, have
largely been secularized, that is, all
but purged of anything related to
faith, religion, God.
I suppose Christians will
have to tussle with this kind
of developments. A saint once
said that Christianity is not so
much the glory of Mt. Tabor as
it is the suffering and pain of Mt.
Calvary.
Christianity certainly has its
triumph, but it’s never the empty
or illusory triumphalism common
in this world. In this life, it is always
organically connected with the
cross. It is the victory over nothing
less than sin and death, not just
some earthly enemy.
Christian life works differently.
It has always been associated with
Christianity certainly has its triumph,
but it’s never the empty or illusory
triumphalism common in this world.
In this life, it is always organically
connected with the cross. It is the
victory over nothing less than sin and
death, not just some earthly enemy.
small things like seed, leaven
and remnant. Recall the many
parables comparing the kingdom
of heaven with the seed and the
leaven. Though hardly anything,
they contain the germ of life and
transformation.
These and that directive given
by our Lord for us to enter always
by the narrow gate only show how
Christianity is averse to anything
that is pompous and showy. These
latter ways cut our link with God,
from whom we all come.
Christianity will always take
the way of the lowly, the hidden,
the few. It goes directly to the
substance and essence of things,
not the icing and the bubbles. It’s
interested in souls and hearts, not
in numbers and appearance.
Remember what St. Paul said in
his first Letter to the Corinthians.
God chooses the foolish, the weak
and the base to confound the wise,
the strong and the proud, lest man
gets spoiled in his self-glory. (cfr.
1, 27-29)
And in Church life, both in its
pre-history and its history proper
up to now, it has always been
characterized by the strategic role of
acertainremnantofpeoplethathave
managed to preserve their integrity
and fidelity in spite of all odds. There
will always be a remnant, even in
the worst scenario.
No, we should not worry
too much about statistics. Any
unfavorable number should
just spur us to be more faithful,
more apostolic, more holy. Christ
assured us through St. Peter that
the gates of hell shall not prevail
against the Church.
We should just focus more on
how to strengthen the true inner
life of the Church. The numbers
will just come as a consequence.
And in this regard, a lot of things
need yet to be done.
Among them is the clarification
of the role of clergy in our temporal
affairs. Many people tell me how
discouraged they get when they see
priests and even bishops getting
badly mixed up in politics.
Some, according to them, have
even gone to the extent of calling
politicians names, and of branding
them as if they can never do
anything good. These clerics have
obviously gone partisan.
No matter how right these priests
and bishops are in their views,
they said, if they use foul language
and bad manners, they will only
succeed in alienating people.
Other clerics, again according to
them, seem to be more skillful in
commercializing their services, or
ministry, than in putting spiritual
and supernatural zeal and content
into them.
These are some concerns that
need to be ironed out urgently,
if the Church has to thrive in our
confusing times.
we don’t like the state of our
relationships, if we don’t like
what’s happening to our spiritual
lives—we have no one to blame
but ourselves; because God has
given us free will.
off the building and hits the ground and dies.
The third guy opens his lunch box and screams,
“Galunggonggggg!” And so he too jumps off the building
and dies.
Days later, during the funeral of the three men, their three
wives embrace and began to weep together.
The first wife cries out, “I didn’t know my husband didn’t
like tuyo anymore! Why didn’t he tell me? If only he told
me, I would have prepared something else!”
The second wife echoed her statement, “Yes! If only I knew,
I would have cooked something else, not tinapa!”
The third wife, between sobs, spoke up, “I don’t know
why my husband killed himself.” The two wives looked at
her curiously. “Why?”
She went on, “Because… my husband prepares his own
lunch everyday.”
I love this crazy story because it presents a very important
truth: all of us prepare our own lunch. If we don’t like our
jobs, if we don’t like the state of our relationships, if we don’t
like what’s happening to our spiritual lives—we have no one
to blame but ourselves.
Because God has given us free will.
He has given us the power to prepare our own lunch.
If we want to put more joy in our marriages, if we want to
grow in our relationship with God, if we want to earn more
and be free from debt—then go back to your kitchen and
prepare yourself another dish.
Because you design your own future.
You create your own destiny.
Ask yourself? What kind of future do you want to
have?
What kind of millennium?
You decide.
 Social Concerns
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 10
May 11 - 24, 2009
B7

Protecting whose agenda?

By Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo “I shudder at the thought of unfair
competition for land between
I RECENTLY visited the lobby of the House Filipinos, citizens of this country
of Representatives session hall. I immediately who have made land productive and
noticed the newly renovated walls bearing foreign entities with nothing but
pictures of significant events in Congress’s abundant financial resource to offer.
history. Among those pictures pertaining to the I am jolted by the terrible scenario of
present Congress was a photo of a booklet with Filipinos becoming squatters in their
the following words printed on its cover: own land.”

“Sustaining the Growth, Spreading the Benefits: to be used for food production, help protect the rights of my
there is also a risk that most of fellow Filipinos, here and in
A Legislative Reform Agenda for the House of the the produce of our lands will the countryside, who remain
People.” be exported and yet we will no landless. I am challenged to
– House Speaker Prospero Nograles longer have a say on the matter. continue pushing for laws which
This will be an attack not only on will protect the rights of the
our food security but also to our marginalized Filipino, laws such
This made me ponder for a clearly excluded. integrity as a people as well. as the Comprehensive Agrarian
while. Amidst all the seemingly Under HR 737, the State will do With the threat of enabling Reform Program Extension
unsound and doubtful legislative away entirely with the restriction foreign corporations and (CARPER) with Reforms. I feel
proposals and policies cropping on foreign ownership. The associations to hold, acquire, challenged but I remain hopeful
up in Congress these days, I could proponents of this Resolution and be granted the right to and vigilant. I am hopeful
not help but wonder. Whose seek to amend the constitution possess, own, utilize and develop because I see that there are still
growth are our national leaders and open our land to foreigners, land in our country, what will those leaders in government who
trying to sustain? Are the laws with the haste and neglect be left for the Filipinos? As we work with us, their constituency,
churned out by this body upon unbecoming of any honorable all know, the agrarian reform to make sure that the government
which we, as a people, have national leader. program is still underway, and works for national interest

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

entrusted our wisdom really for
the benefit of the Filipino? There
is one House measure which
has piqued my concern at the
moment. I came across this House
Resolution (HR) No. 737 which,
essentially, proposes to grant
ownership of Philippine land to
foreigners.
Under the proposal, alienable
lands of the public domain—
which are agricultural lands—
with a maximum area of one
thousand hectares, can now be
leased to foreign corporations for
a maximum of fifty years. And
disturbingly, ownership, not
just lease, of agricultural lands
measuring up to twenty-five
hectares is granted to foreign
corporations. This proposal
seeks to change the proviso in
the 1987 Constitution which
restricts ownership of Philippine
lands to Filipinos and Filipino
corporations.
Under Section 2, Article XII
of the 1987 Constitution, the
ownership-in-trust of natural
resources is vested with the
State and the State may sell,
lease, or otherwise alienate the
rights to these resources through
contracts to Filipinos and Filipino
corporations only. Thus, foreign
individuals or corporations are
This Resolution is actually
another try to resuscitate the
failed Cha-Cha attempt by the
solons. It becomes apparent
that, despite the claim of limiting
amendments only to economic
provisions (foreign ownership
of lands) which will help gear
up development, productivity,
and efficiency in the country,
this pursuit for Charter Change
may become a vehicle for
other unwanted changes in
government—a vehicle highly
vulnerable to derailment. This
Resolution, dangerous in itself
substantially, may also usher
in procedural irregularities in
amending the Constitution.
There is a danger, real as it is
grave, that this measure could
be used to influence answers to
questions of good governance
and accountability.
I tried hard to weigh the
possible benefits of this Resolution
for the Filipino people vis-à-
vis the obvious dangers that
would come with it. Assuming
that HR 737 is indeed merely
an economic proposal, would
foreign ownership of lands really
result in economic development
of the country? And if it will,
will this economic development
trickle down to the people
CBCP-Nassa chairman and Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo talks with law-
makers led by Speaker Prospero Nograles in Congress in Quezon City . Pabillo, along
with other bishops, spent a day meeting with solons to lobby for CARP extension.
who have remained poor even
during times when ownership
of land access to land and other
natural resources were ensured
to Filipinos only?
I shudder at the thought of unfair
competition for land between
Filipinos, citizens of this country
who have made land productive
and foreign entities with nothing
but abundant financial resource
to offer. I am jolted by the terrible
scenario of Filipinos becoming
squatters in their own land. I
remember that God told us that the
earth and all its bounty is for us to
share, maybe this measure is not
bad after all. But then I realize that
the Filipinos who have been gifted
with stewardship of this country
have not even had their rightful
share and yet they will have to give
way to those who have the might
and wealth to take part of more
than they need. Surely, it must
thousands of farmers still await
emancipation from the land they
have tilled for generations. Over
one million hectares of land await
distribution. Our government
cannot feed its own people, and
yet we open up all our resources
for non-Filipinos, as if without
regard for our own people whom
it is supposed to serve.
It is said that only fifteen
not have been God’s intention to million hectares of alienable and
encourage excesses when there are disposable agriculture lands
those who lack not only as regards are available to answer for the
land but also dignity. food security of Filipinos. HR
As it is, the Government 737 does not help improve this
already has designated millions situation. HR 737 poses grave
of hectares of our lands for the danger to our national security
benefit of foreign corporations, and sustainability. It is also
without consideration for the unjust, considering that there
farmers, indigenous peoples, are millions of Filipino peasants
and other members of the still not owning the lands their
communities affected by these families have tilled for decades. It
government exploration and is unjust that our resources should
biofuel contracts. be used primarily for the benefit
I believe that the Constitutional of foreigners, and not those who
restriction on foreign ownership do not have a stake in domestic
of land obviously involves a development and peace.
national security issue. I have As I take in the implications and
been informed that there is no consequences of this measure, I
cap to the total area allowable for find myself challenged and
foreign ownership. If this is true, hopeful at the same time. Though
there might come a time that we I am saddened by the apparent
will run out of agricultural lands prioritization of this bill by the
which serve as food sources. House of Representatives, I
And even if these lands continue feel challenged as a Filipino to
instead of the interest of the
privilege few.
Together with people from
the peasant sector, among
others, I remain vigilant and
urge Congress to fast track the
enactment of socially just bills
such as the CARPER bill and call
on them to disapprove oppressive
and unfair bills like House
Resolution No. 737. I am hopeful
that amidst underhanded efforts
to go against the wisdom of the
Constitution, to further deprive
the marginalized Filipinos of their
basic rights, and to evade laws on
accountability, we Filipinos will
prevail if we work together and
fight with the guidance of our
righteous God.
I also find comfort in the pockets
of brilliance and statesmanship
found in the history of Philippine
Congress. I am praying fervently
that our national leaders will,
true to their promise, Sustain
the Growth and Spread the
Benefits for the Filipino people.
I urge every Filipino to act
with vigilance in ensuring that
government agenda will reflect
that of the people, in calling for
accountability in governance and
in seeking the just distribution
of Philippine land and natural
resources.

Shepherding / B2

a proper Prelate was constituted for the
Italian immigrants. Meanwhile in 1918,
a sole Ordinary had also been constituted
for the Catholic refugees (mostly from
eastern Europe) in Italy.
At the normative level, the growing
concern of the Holy See was concretized in
1914 when the Consistorial Congregation
(later to become the Congregation for
Bishops) issued the decree Etnographica
studia, which laid down the praxis to
be followed by the clergy dedicated
to the pastoral care of immigrants and
underscored the responsibility of the host
Church (ecclesia ad quam) of providing
pastoral care to the faithful from other
nations.
The Pontificate of Pius XII witnessed an
upsurge in human migration, occasioned
by World War II and its aftermath, and
consequently also a marked development
in the pastoral care of migrants. A
landmark document was the Apostolic
Constitution Exsul Familia, of 1.VIII.1952,
generally regarded as the Magna Carta
for the pastoral activity of the Church in
favor of people on the move. It was the
first document of the Holy See to delineate
the pastoral care of migrants globally and
systematically, from both the historical
and canonical points of view. In that
document, Pius XII tried to mitigate the
territorial principle rigidly in place in
the Pio-Benedictine Code, by giving a
series of competencies to the Consistorial
Congregation and establishing a series
of offices—both at the national and local
levels—thus laying the groundwork for
a pastoral organization—still partially in
force today—to provide people on the
move the spiritual care more fitting to
their circumstances. For example, in 1952
he established the Higher Council for
Emigration within the aforementioned
Sacred Congregation. In the same year,
the Apostolatus Maris was established on
behalf of seafarers in the same dicastery.
Finally, in 1958 he gave the same dicastery
the responsibility for providing spiritual
assistance to the faithful with specific
duties and activities on board planes
as well as to passengers travelling by
air, establishing what was called the
Apostolatus Coeli or Aëris.
B. The Era of Vatican II: Paul VI’s Erga
migratorum cura and the Instruction
Nemo est (1969)
The Second Vatican Council brought
great innovations as regards the pastoral
principles in favor of migrants: (1) by
explicitly declaring the responsibility of
the pastors towards those faithful who
may have difficulty in receiving the
ordinary pastoral care provided by the
local churches; (2) by introducing new
criteria for ecclesiastical organization,
other than the strictly territorial one; and
(3) by offering a new vision of the People
of God and the constitutional situation
of its members, more specifically the so-
called fundamental rights and duties of
the faithful. We shall deal more at length
with this matter further on.
In 1969, Pope Paul VI issued the Motu
Proprio Pastoralis migratorum cura and
authorized the subsequent Instruction De
pastorali migratorum cura (sometimes
cited by its opening words Nemo est),
aimed at adapting the dispositions of
the Pius XII’s Exsul Familia to the new
ecclesiological principles of Vatican II.
Cf. Paul VI, Motu Proprio Pastoralis
migratorum cura, 15.VIII.1969, in AAS, 61
(1969), pp.601-603; and S.C, for Bishops,
Instruction De pastorali migratorum
cura, 22.VIII.1969, in AAS, 61 (1969),
pp. 614-643.
On 19 March 1970, with the Motu
Proprio Apostolicae Caritatis, Pope Paul
VI established the Pontifical Commission
for the Pastoral Care of Migrants
and Itinerant People, with the task of
studying and providing pastoral care to
“people on the move” such as: migrants,
exiles, refugees, displaced people,
fishermen and seafarers, air travellers,
road transport workers, nomads, circus
people, fairground workers, pilgrims
and tourists, as well as those categories
of people who, for various reasons, are
involved in human mobility, such as
students abroad, and operators and
technicians engaged in large projects or
scientific research at the international
level who are obliged to move from one
country to another.
C. Pastoral Care of Migrants in the
Third Millennium: The Instruction Erga
migrantes (2004)
Such concern grew during the
pontificate of John Paul II, as shown
by the creation of a separate dicastery
for the pastoral care of migrants and
itinerant people, the Pope’s discourses
in the World Day of Migrants, the new
regulation for the apostolate of the sea
and other documents.
Taking into consideration the new
migration flows and their characteristics,
the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral
Care of Migrants and Itinerant People
issued on 3.V.2004 the Instruction Erga
migrantes caritas Christi, which aimed
to update the ecclesiastical doctrine
and praxis regarding the pastoral care
of migration, thirty-five years after the
publication of Pope Paul VI’s Motu
Proprio Pastoralis migratorum cura and
the Congregation for Bishops’ related
Instruction De pastorali migratorum cura
(Nemo est). It can very well be considered
as the new magna carta for the pastoral
care of migrants and itinerant people in
the Third Millennium.
1 Based on a lecture given at the 17th National
Convention of the Canon Law Society of the Philip-
pines, on the theme The Filipino Migrant Worker:
A Canonico-Pastoral Challenge to the Philippine
Church, in Vigan City, 20-23 April 2009.
2 Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of
Migrants and Itinerant People, Instruction Erga
migrantes caristas Christi, 3.V.2004.[Henceforth
referred to as Erga migrantes.]
3 Maruja Asis, The Philippines’ Culture of Migra-
tion, Scalabrini Migration Center-Philippines,
January 2006.
4 In AAS, 44 (1952), pp.649-704.
5 Cf. Decr. Christus Dominus, n.18.
6 Cf. Paul VI, Motu Proprio Pastoralis migratorum
cura, 15.VIII.1969, in AAS, 61 (1969), pp.601-603;
and S.C, for Bishops, Instruction De pastorali
migratorum cura, 22.VIII.1969, in AAS, 61 (1969),
pp. 614-643.
7 Cf. John Paul II, Apost. Const. Pastor Bonus,
28.VI.1988, in AAS, 80 (1988), pp.841-912, §§149-
151.
8 Cf. John Paul II, Motu Proprio Stella Maris,
31.I.1997, in AAS, 89 (1997), pp. 209-216.

Church / B6

down our lives for our brothers” Gospel reading today, John adds
(1 John 3:16). a precisely description of that

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B8 Entertainment CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 10
May 11 - 24, 2009

SIGNIS STATEMENT
Angels and Demons; 11th May 2009
Just what everyone has been waiting for: a film of a Dan Brown novel!
However, with the report of a review in L’Osservatore Romano after
the film’s premiere in Rome saying that the film was commercial and en-
tertaining and that Ron Howard had made an effective thriller (although
the review also suggested a mind game while watching the film, to pick the
inaccuracies!), it means that a lot of the heat should have gone out of any
controversy. SIGNIS Cinema Desk would certainly endorse the reviewer’s
conclusion that the film is ‘two hours of harmless entertainment’ and not
a danger to the church.
Had there been no Da Vinci Code novel, film or controversy, then Angels
and Demons would have probably been reviewed as a blockbuster dooms-
day, murder mystery thriller with a Vatican setting (looking rather authentic),
discussions about the church and science with the Catholic Church treated
quite respectfully. (References to persecution of scientists in the 16th and
17th centuries was sometimes inquisitorial – and is documented; prison
was not easy for Galileo.) There are speculations about the secret society
of scientists, The Illuminati, who seem to be a Masonic equivalent.
Angels and Demons was written some years before The Da Vinci Code
and is a better written book though it is an ‘airport novel’, a page-turner.
As with many historical novels (and Shakespeare himself was not above
creating ‘historical’ scenarios that were inventive rather than factual), the
author takes imaginative license with characters, events, and hypotheses:
what if...? But Angels and Demons has a character who seems to do a
180 degree turn in character and behaviour which makes the psychologi-
cal realism of the book rather absurd. In the film, there is less depth of
explaining this character and so the revelation tends to be a cinema twist
which, however preposterous, is somewhat more credible, at least in terms
of the far-fetched plot itself.
While Ron Howard did not have permissions to film in the Vatican, the
sets of the Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s interiors, the Vatican Archives look
quite convincing and were commented on favourably by the L’Osservatore
Romano reviewer.
The scenes of the CERNS reactor are very impressive.
The key point about Angels and Demons is its church subject: church
and science, past conflicts, the present challenge, a feature of recent Vati-
can discussions about evolution and creationism, the meeting of science
and religion rather than antagonism. Not a difficult subject when one thinks
MAC en COLET Ni Bladimer Usi of Galileo and Pope John Paul’s apology in 2000. Which means that the
central issues are not as threatening or offensive as the hypothesis of The
Da Vinci Code with its relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene
and their descendants.
The day before the preview of Angels and Demons in London,
channel 5 screened The Body which came and went several years ago
without too much angst or even discussion. Antonio Banderas portrayed
a Jesuit from Rome going to Jerusalem to examine bones discovered in
what might have been Jesus’ tomb and which would threaten a traditional
understanding of the resurrection. There are plenty of novels and films
which raise such issues by way of interest and entertainment but are not
put forward as theology.
The controversy about The Da Vinci Code, book and film, certainly
got people going all around the world, given the number of books sold and
the multi-millions of readers. The Opus Dei connection also contributed
to some of the furore.
However, this time, with only science and the church (and issues of
anti-matter and its potential for mass destruction in the wrong hands) and
the Vatican itself calling in Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) to solve the prob-
lems, the potential for argument is limited. As with the screenplay for The
Da Vinci Code, lines have been inserted more favourable to the church.
Langdon reminds the Vatican that, despite the previous controversy, they
have called him in this time. There are respectful lines concerning faith and
non-belief – and a final request to Langdon from Cardinal Strauss that he

Buhay Parokya
Find the images of St.
Gregory VII and Archangel
Gabriel, and a candle.
Illustration by Bladimer Usi
write gently about the church!
One of the issues facing the conclave in the film is the ‘Church in the
Modern World’ vis-a-vis science, with the dialogue for the meeting of ideas
of science and theology or extremist attitudes towards religion capitulating
to science and so destroying the church – the point being that this kind of
fanatic stance can become a cause, righteously crusading with violence
against those who hold more moderate views – leading to what could be
labelled ‘ecclesiastical terrorism’.
A key issue prior to the release of the film has been the raising of
controversy about the film, sight unseen, a protest that undermines the
protesters’ credibility.
Any controversy and protest about a film is a challenge for the church to
look at how it responds. The Vatican comments from Fr Federico Lombardi
deflected some heat with offhand humour (that he would say something
if the film-makers took out 1000 10 year subscriptions to L’Osservatore!).
However, several Italian papers began making comments about Vatican
officials possibly criticising the film some months earlier. This made headlines
in the media that the Vatican would object or was objecting. And publicists
must have been offering prayers of thanksgiving that these rumours were
doing some of their job for them.
But, in the Catholic world, the main protest has come from William
Donohue, president of the Catholic League in the United States. As he did
with The Da Vinci Code and The Golden Compass, he issued lists of errors
in the book and said that they were to insult the church. It was alleged that
he had a Canadian priest contact, not wearing clerical dress, on the set of
Angels and Demons who reported that director Ron Howard and members
of the production were verbally anti-Catholic. On the basis of this, spurred
by an Indian journalist who is linked with the Catholic League, processions
of protest were held in India and Taiwan. Many of the errors and alleged
insults to the church in the Catholic League list are not in the film.
Ron Howard’s publicist (or Howard himself) came up with some smart
repartee, that William Donohue must be a man of faith because ‘he believes
without seeing’. And that Donohue and himself were in agreement – that
Angels and Demons was fiction. There were some acrid comments reported
from the producers about the Vatican prohibiting filming in the Vatican and
parts of Rome but there were also many quotes from Tom Hanks and Ron
Howard that the film was not anti-Catholic and that the Vatican would enjoy
it (as has seemed to be the case from the review). The Donohue one-liner
was that Howard was ‘delusional’
This kind of thing (which may not go much further because of the
L’Osservatore favourable comments) indicates that there is a profound
difference in responding to a film, or anything that is challenging, from an
‘education’ point of view which leads to dialogue rather than a ‘crusading’
point of view which leads to two-sided polemic with antagonists rather en-
joying the experience of battle in crusade. Dialogue can lead somewhere.
Polemic leads nowhere but simply confirms antagonists in their positions
and stances and introduces the hurling of invective which in no way mirrors
the charity and peace of Christ.
The (good) news is that Dan Brown has completed another conspiracy
novel, The Lost Code, due for publication and optioned for filming!

ANGELS AND DEMONS: A REVIEW

May to August in the northern hemisphere spring and summer is a
time for almost weekly release of blockbusters with huge budgets, action
and effects and potential for high grosses at the box office. 2009 has seen
Wolverine, Star Trek, followed by Angels and Demons, with Night at the
Museum 2, Transformers 2 and Terminator Salvation in the offing.
Here is a doomsday plot, murder mystery, action thriller with a cast
led by Tom Hanks as symbologist Robert Langdon and Ewan McGregor
as the Vatican Camerlengo and an international cast portraying scientists,
police, bishops and cardinals.
Angels and Demons, unlike the film of The Da Vinci Code, is fast-paced,
the L’Osservatore Romano review referring to Ron Howard’s dynamic
direction. It also used the word ‘commercial’ as well as noting that it was
‘harmless entertainment’ and not a danger to the Church.
In fact, the film treats the church quite interestingly, scenes behind a
conclave and inside the conclave, fine sets of the Sistine Chapel, the interiors
of St Peter’s, Castel San Angelo, the Vatican Necropolis, the Swiss Guards
centre, the Vatican archives and several churches with art by Bernini. The
film won’t harm tourism to Rome or to the Vatican. Probably, the contrary.
The issue is science and religion. There are some very impressive
scenes of CERN in Switzerland where the Big Bang was re-created in 2008.
Dan Brown, writing years earlier, posited this explosion and the formation
of anti-matter which is then used as a terrorist threat in Rome. Arguments
are put forward about the church’s record in persecuting scientists in past
centuries, especially Galileo (true) with some inquisitorial interrogations
and tortures. The material about the Illuminati, the underground society of
scientists has some foundation but was not as extensive as speculated on
here – a kind of Masonic brotherhood of scientists. (They appeared in the
first Lara Croft film without anybody taking to controversy.)
One of the issues facing the conclave in the film is the Church in the
Modern World vis-a-vis science, with the dialogue for the meeting of ideas
of science and theology or extremist attitudes towards religion capitulating
to science and so destroying the church – the point being that this kind of
fanatic stance can become a cause, righteously crusading with violence
against those who hold more moderate views – leading to what could be
labelled ‘ecclesiastical terrorism’.
Oh, the tale has so many plot-holes (with the action moving so fast
you don’t quite have time to follow through on them) that they don’t bear
thinking about – so, either one sits irritated at the inaccuracies about dates
and historical figures and driven up the wall by the lack of coherence in the
course of events or, as one does, offer a willing suspension of disbelief and
enjoy the action for what it is, a lavishly-mounted, pot-boiling thriller.
 CBCP Monitor
March
May
Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 10
5
112- -24,
15,2009
2009
The Cross
A Supplement Publication of KCFAPI
C1

and the Order of the Knights of

Columbus

Fraternal Counselors from FC of the Year, Runner-Ups and Fr. Willmann Knights of the Round Table (WKRT), their spouses and Area Managers with KCFAPI Officers in Hong Kong along the Avenue of Stars.

Asian Trip for KCFAPI’s Sales Force

By Bro. Gari San Sebastian
LAST April 27 – 30, 2009, KC-
FAPI’s FBG (Finest and the Best
Group) Salesforce were off for an
adventure, leisure and pleasure!
So far, the latest Asian trip del-
egation was the biggest totaling
to twenty-two participants.
Nine Fraternal Counselors
from FC of the Year, Runner-Ups
and Fr. Willmann Knights of the
Round Table (WKRT) qualified
for the trip. They were accompa-
nied by their spouses.
The FCs were Bro. Larry and
Sis. Cecile Evangelista, (CLBe-
lievers); Bro. Ray and Sis. Chato
Segismundo, (NWL Thunders);
Bro. Boni and Sis. Mila Morales,
(CLBelievers); Bro. Ven and Sis.
Alice Capiral, (SLakers); Bro.
Danny and Nora Tullao, (NEL
Cavaliers); Sis. Rosa Hernan-
dez, (MMChancellors); Sis. Tes
and Bro. Edmund De la Mota,
(WV Bulls); Bro. Dong Miranda,
(CLDiamonds); and Bro. Jun
Castillo, (MMDragons).
Seven Area Managers who
met more than one-hundred
Wow in Macau, Live Long in Hong Kong!
twenty five percent of their as-
signed target in 2008 also joined
the tour. These were Bro. Efren
Casupanan, (CLBelievers); Bro.
Noni Ayon, (SWL Stars); Bro. Vic
Pulangco, (CLDiamonds); Bro.
Joe Valencia, (NWL Thunders);
Bro. Well Naldoza, (CLCon-
querors); Bro. Demy Hernandez,
(MMChancellors); and Bro. Jun
Dator, (SLakers).
Two Home Office personnel,
Sis. Bong Ruiz (Underwriting
Manager) and this writer com-
pleted the Asian tour group.
Wow Macau!
From Hong Kong airport, the
participants were immediately
transferred to Macau by ferry.
There we saw the three grand
span bridges (approximately 10
kms. long) that connect the pen-
insula to major islands Coloane
and Taipa (where we stayed
overnight). Tagged as the new
Las Vegas of Asia, everyone was
amazed by the dashing colorful
neon lights of what Macau can
offer. Strolling in the city at night
can truly give you a glittery mo-
ment! The blinking and running
lights that adorned every edifice
welcomed all our participants as
we witnessed the “City in China
that never sleeps.”
A former Portuguese colony,
the place still enjoys the culture
from its colonizers, a mixture of
the European architecture and
Chinese accents, imagine seeing
an Italian inspired building with
a Dragon engraved on the doors.
Among all the resort-hotels that
we visited, the Venetian caught
our attention, not because of its
casino but with its spectacular
showcase of what fame, glamour
and sparkle were all about. It has
a mini-lagoon on the third floor
with a gondola ride (similar to
the mode of transportation in
Venice) that moved around to
shops and restaurants.
Aside from the night-outs, the
city also offers a local version of
Western-inspired theme parks
like the Rocks, Roman amphi-
theater, structure of the Xian
City, and a man-made volcano.
The Macau city tour was done
on the second day of sightsee-
ing, starting from the Ruins of
St. Paul, to the shopping spree
in Senado square. They bought
one of Macau’s favorite almond
cookies and some thinly sliced
cold cuts. It was truly a memo-
rable and fascinating experience
all of us had in the beautiful and
historic city of Macau.
Live-long in Hong Kong!
After a very tiring yet fulfilling
trip in Macau, our Asian awardees
were ferried back to Hong Kong
(Kowloon side) where they spent
a night full of shopping and din-
ing. The hotel was situated at the
heart of the Kowloon known as
Yau Ma Tei, which is very near
Mong Kok or the shopping bar-
gain capital in Hong Kong.
Day three of the trip was en-
chanting and magical. First stop
was a souvenir group shot of
Hong Kong along the Avenue of
Stars (similar to Walk of Fame in
Hollywood); then to the jewelry
factory where we were hypno-
tized by the finest masterpieces
of China.
The last stop was the half-day
long tour in Hong Kong Disney-
land. Both the young ones and
young once really enjoyed this
magical journey from the parade
of characters led by Mickey and
Minnie in Main Street to Disney’s
trademark Princess’ castle. Oth-
ers went for a ride, they proved
that they were all young at heart
and the child in us was still very
much alive. Some preferred to
eat, shopped for souvenirs or
simply spent time seeing other
park-goers and strolled in the
park. The Fantasyland was a
fairy tale experience, from the lo-
comotive that toured us around
to the flying elephant, known as
Dumbo ride. Jungle adventure
gave us a thrilling boat ride (with
some surprise attractions) while
Tomorrowland were mostly
space age features.
What made us proud to be
Filipinos was when we met a lot
of Disneyland’s Filipino cast like
the parade dancers, musicians,
park attendants, entertainers and
we were just waiting for mascots
like Mickey to say “Kumusta na
kayo mga kababayan?” The day
ended with a sumptuous dinner
sponsored by KCFAPI to all who
made it last 2008.
On the final stretch of the
four-day, three night tour this
year, we carried nothing but the
good memories, moments of
bonding, shared laughters and
beautiful experiences and all
looked forward to be part of next
year’s Asian trip! We promise
to spread the virus known as
the Awardees virus – see you in
Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur
or Ho Chi Minh City.

For Brother Knights by Brother Knights

KCFAPI sponsors The KCFAPI holds Benefits Convention for

Outstanding Knights
of Columbus Awards
Fraternal Counselors
(TOKCA)
By Joseph Teodoro
THE Knights of Columbus Fraternal As-
sociation of Philippines Inc. (KCFAPI),
the second-to-none insurance provider
of KC members, is embarking to reach
a new milestone as it sponsors the
prestigious The Outstanding Knights
of Columbus Award (TOKCA) for
members.
The TOKCA Awards aims to recog-
nize the outstanding achievements of
members in their respective professions KCFAPI Officers, Area Managers and Fraternal Counselors at the Luzon Fraternal Benefits Convention:
D.R.I.V.E. 110 on April 24 and 25 at Monte Vista Conference Center, Pansol Calamba, Laguna.
worthy of emulation, to project a strong
public knowledge of the Mission of THE Knights of Columbus Fraternal as salesforce for KCFAPI which offers Mr. Joseph P. Teodoro, Vice-President warming message before the conference
the Order of the Knights of Columbus Association of the Philippines, Inc (KC- insurance solely to the members of the of the Fraternal Benefits Group, tackled proper started while Mr. Antonio B.
as a tool to attract new members, to FAPI) held a Fraternal Benefits Conven- Knights of Columbus in the Philip- selling process and techniques. Borromeo, KCFAPI President provided
spur KCFAPI’s quest for its relevance tion for Luzon Fraternal Counselors last pines. The topic titled, “Launching of KC an inspirational message to all the con-
not only to the Order of the Knights of April 24-25 at the Monte Vista Confer- It was also intended to hone the skills website and technology as a selling vention delegates.
Columbus but to the nation as well and ence Center in Los Baños, Laguna. of fraternal counselors particularly in tool,” was explained by the Senior IT The convention started with an open-
to provide inspiration, to all members The sales convention for qualified promoting KCFAPI to the members of Manager, Mr. Ronulfo G. Infante. ing prayer led by Mr. Gari San Sebas-
to live up to the cardinal principles of fraternal counselors in Luzon discussed the Knights of Columbus in the three The Manager of the Underwriting tian, manager of the Fraternal Benefits
CHARITY, UNITY, FRATERNITY & various selling techniques, underwrit- Philippine jurisdictions. Department, Ms. Carmelita S. Ruiz, ex- Services and later acted as facilitator of
PATRIOTISM. ing updates, importance of technology Different officials from KCFAPI plained the underwriting processes. the program.
in selling. were the resource speakers of the KCFAPI Executive Vice-President A fellowship and group meeting
Who May Qualify It also aimed to enhance their skills convention. Ms. Ma. Theresa Curia gave a heart- ended the convention. (Kate Laceda)
K of C members who are current in

KC holds national gathering of priests-scholars

his council dues and nominated by his
council may qualify and earn a chance
to win the coveted title. The nomination
must be endorsed by the parish priest
of his council. He may qualify to any of
following professions or fields of en-
deavor: a) Government Service; b) Ac-
countancy and Business; c) Engineering,
Science and Technology; d) Academe;
e) Medical and health care services; f)
Law and judiciary; g) Sports and enter-
tainment; h) Journalism and media; i)
Agriculture; j) Youth and Community
development; k) Arts and literature, and
l) Entrepreneurship.
KCFAPI reserves the right to consider
a limited number of categories even if
there are nominees in all and the above
categories.
The following are not eligible to be
nominated in the SEARCH for TOKCA:
1) Incumbent members of KCFAPI
TOKCA / C2
THE Knight of Columbus (KC) Priests
Scholars Association held its 6th Na-
tional Annual Fellowship/Retreat last
April 15-17, 2009 at the Villa Escudero
in Tiaong, Quezon Province.
Organizers said that among the
items taken up was the review of the
formation manual of the Knights of
Columbus used during exemplification
of members from the first to the fourth
degrees.
The retreat also discussed the life
and work and the advancement of the
cause of Fr. George Willmann, SJ, who
is attributed to have popularized the
Knights of Columbus in the Philip-
pines.
Msgr. Joselito Asis, assistant secretary
general of the Catholic Bishops’ Con-
ference of the Philippines, discussed Antonio Tagle, Virac Bishop Manolo de III, Msgr. Joselito Asis, Msgr. Gaspar
the topic, “Spirituality of Stewardship: los Santos, Bontoc-Lagawe Bishop Ro- Balerite, and Fr. Rene Sapungan, the
Disciples’ Response” during the second dolfo Beltran, Msgr. Pedro C. Quitorio Association’s president. (Kate Laceda)
day of the retreat.
Bishop Rodolfo Beltran of Bontoc-
Lagawe also shared on the spirituality
of stewardship.
This year’s theme is “KC Priests:
Called to Witness the Spirituality of
Stewardship.”
A Eucharistic celebration culminated
the retreat which was presided by
Bishop Beltran with thirty KC priests
concelebrating.
There are now 107 KC priests, three
of whom have become bishops, who
graduated from the scholarship of-
fered by KC Fr. Willmann Charities,
Inc. Among them are Imus Bishop Luis KC Priests-Scholars held their National Gathering at Villa Escudero, Tiaong, Quezon last April 15-17.
 The Cross
CBCP Monitor
C2 Vol. 13 No. 10
May 11 - 24, 2009

Chairman’s President’s Message

Antonio B. Borromeo
Message 1977, when in
celebration of
the 80th birth-
selected qualified young
men who will “delight in
the law of the Lord” and
coverage, the earnings
from invested contribu-
tions of BC Holders, and
Foundations. Kindly get in
touch with us so we may
facilitate your donations

Patrocinio R. Bacay
day of Rev. Fr. experience the three secrets operating expenses. The to the beneficiaries of the
George J. Will- of true lasting happiness bottom line is simply that benevolent activities of the
mann, S.J., the (intimacy with the Three KCFAPI’s BC Holders are Foundations. (KC Philip-
I WISH to acknowledged Divine Persons, inner joy the direct contributors to pines Foundation, Inc. and
welcome leader of the and peace, and loving sen- the financial support given KC Fr. George J. Willmann
home our FOR the past 30 years, founders of KCFAPI, the sitivity toward one’s broth- to seminarians and priest Charities, Inc. with Tel. No.
awardees, every 4th Sunday of Eas- Fr. Willmann SJ Fund for ers and sisters) in their own scholars. 527-22-23 loc. 230)
fraternal ter of each Columbian Seminarians was estab- lives, and, then go out and Therefore, we enjoin all Allow me to remind all
counselors Year, we, Knights of Co- lished. Then in August 6, share it with others. We brother knights and family true Knights of the obli-
and area lumbus members and our 1996, the KC Fr. George need more good priests members to participate, gation and commitment,
managers respective families com- J. Willmann Charities, – more witnesses – more in whatever amount you emphasized during our
with their memorate, Order-wide, the Inc. (FGJWCI) was es- shepherds! can afford, in our Order’s initiation to the First De-
families. World Day of Prayer for tablished as a charitable During its regular Board unique family protection gree of Knighthood – “so
Truly you Vocations. Last month, we and religious institution of Trustees monthly meet- and savings programs. that widows and orphans
deserve the rejoiced at the first anniver- whose primary objective ing last April 3, 2009, the In the Philippines these of dearly departed brother
exciting sary of the proclamation of is to provide scholarship amount of PhP1,530,085.64 programs are made avail- knights may not find them-
time with our beloved founder, Rev. assistance to poor but was donated by KCFAPI able by KCFAPI. We have selves in dire financial
your loved Fr. Michael J. McGivney, as deserving diocesan semi- to the FGJWCI from the programs that are specially straits.” KCFAPI helps
ones in Hong Kong. This goes with the wish that Venerable Servant of God narians and priests, and, earnings of its 2008 op- designed and tailor-fit to and provides the avenue
our special KCFAPI supporters will aim higher in by Pope Benedict XVI last to render assistance to erations. The major portion provide adequately for in fulfilling our obligation
performing even much better than they have ever Palm Sunday 2008. Church programs. of the yearly earnings of every possible financial as Knights. Not only do we
done before. May you never tire out of serving St. Vincent de Paul says: In the corporate struc- the FGJWCI goes to pro- need in the future at very provide a secure financial
the Lord thus helping brother knights in sharing “In truth nothing is more ture of KCFAPI, FGJWCI viding financial support affordable contribution future for our families, we
a brighter tomorrow not only to their families but acceptable to God, and is one of the two Founda- for seminarian and priest rates not available else- also are active contributors
also to the wider beneficiaries of KCFAPI. More more profitable to souls tions listed as subsidiaries. scholars. where, and, that may be to the continued vibrant
than ever in this difficult time in our nation, KC- than the precious gift of a The other is the Knights The amount of yearly acquired through the ser- success of the Order’s pro-
FAPI has to reach out much more to alleviate the holy priest.” of Columbus Foundation donations is directly pro- vices of brother knights grams, especially on Priest
suffering of a very big portion of the marginalized I am very pleased and of the Philippines, Inc., portional to the amount and family members who Vocations.
population. With your dedication and determina- honored to report that (KCFPI). By reasons of of the Excess of Revenues are accredited KCFAPI Do something – NOW!
tion, God and His Blessed Mother will always be the Knights of Columbus their respective objectives, Over Expenses After De- Fraternal Counsellors, or, Enjoin everyone to support
there to provide you with the strength and will Fraternal Association of they are the centerpieces duction of Participation of through the Home Office Priestly vocations, semi-
power to be of greatest help to the Order particu- the Philippines, Inc. (KC- of the KCFAPI’s corpo- KCFAPI’s Benefit Certifi- in Intramuros, Manila, or, narian, and our clergy! Vo-
larly KCFAPI. FAPI), the fraternal insur- rate social responsibility cate Holders. The amount, through the six Service cations are EVERYBODY’S
We are in the month of May which seems to be a ance provider of brother (CSR) thrusts in putting in turn, is influenced by the Offices spread throughout business. Solid Priestly vo-
favorite month of our Blessed Mother. This gives us knights and KC families into concrete realization new acquisition of fraternal the country. cations are built on the rock
the opportune time to celebrate her motherhood by in the Philippines, has the favorite theme of the life insurance products by Lastly, we would like of Jesus Christ. By standing
giving support to the many ways that our people been actively supporting Knights of Columbus – brother knights and fam- to invite and enjoin those with our seminarians and
have been used to in honoring her. Knowing she this worthy program of Faith In Action. ily members, the faithful who have been generously priests today, we are join-
holds the strongest link to Christ, we can perhaps the Order for 32 years KCFAPI, through the remittances of contribu- blessed by our Lord and ing the work of tomorrow’s
hope and ask her for a better world for all our this coming June 29, 2009. FGJWCI, is continually tions by Benefit Certificate who would like to share salvation.
brother knights through KCFAPI. It all started in June 29, searching and supporting Holders for their insurance their blessings through the Vivat Jesus!

Atty. Rizal V. Katalbas, Jr. KC Fraternal Cebu Service

Legal Manager
“JUN” as he is fondly called among his peers is the
incumbent Assistant Corporate Secretary of KCFAPI
and its subsidiaries (Keys Realty & Development
Corporation, Mace Insurance Agency, Inc. KC
Philippines Foundation, Inc. and KC Fr. George J.
Willmann Charities, Inc.) He was also the former
Corporate Secretary of Anchor Savings Bank, a
subsidiary of KCFAPI, before the bank was sold
to Equicom Manila Holdings, Inc. in January 2008.
Presently, he holds the position of Legal Manager
of KCFAPI.
Jun attained his degree in Bachelor in Laws at
San Sebastian College – Manila and was admitted to the Bar in 1997. His vast ex-
perience in the field of legal practice includes, among others, heading the Legal
Department of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) before joining KCFAPI
in February 2006. A third degree member of K of C Holy Family Parish Council
6238, in Almanza, BF Homes, Las Pińas, Jun was exemplified into the Order in
October 2007 as a first degree knight.
Jun hails from his native hometown in Old Sagay, Sagay City, Negros Occidental
and is happily married to Eveny Galicia – Katalbas, a dentist by profession. He is
a father to five loving children.
Aside from attending his regular office work, Jun was assigned to head the Spiri-
tual Committee of KCFAPI. He is also an active member of the Brotherhood for
Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) – Greenhills Chapter, a Catholic-
led charismatic organization. (Gregorio E. Asis)
Office
THE Cebu Service Office is located at the core of the city’s business hub, the Cebu Business Park where Ayala
Center is found. The place is similarly and recognized as “Little Makati” because of its high rise commercial
buildings.
The exact address is 2nd Floor, Knights of Columbus Square, #36 Archbishop Reyes Avenue cor. Molave Sts.,
Lahug, Cebu City with telephone numbers #(032) 2328560 and (032) 2323045 (telefax). The Knights of Columbus
Visayas Jurisdiction occupies the ground floor of the same building.
When I started working with the Knights of Columbus as Secretary to the first Visayas Territorial Deputy, the
late Angel C. Veloso, Sr. in July 1988, Cebu Service Office was already established. I have witnessed KCFAPI
celebrating “Pearl Anniversary”, Fortified at Forty” and the recent “Golden Jubilee” celebration held at Manila
Hotel last September 13, 2008. A clear manifestation and reality of the long existence of our office in Cebu.
The purpose of having a Service Office in different regions is to bring KCFAPI Home office closer to our brother
knights and their families in line with the mission of our Association which is to provide optimum fraternal
benefits. Cebu Service Office caters the needs and services of Central Visayas, consisting the whole province
of Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor, likewise the entire Eastern Visayas. Our office has spacious con-
ference room where we hold meetings and conferences. We also extend the use of conference room with the
approval from Home Office for the different functions of the Knights of Columbus Visayas Jurisdiction like;
Officers, District Deputies and Grand Knights meeting. We are also inspired and motivated by the support of
the Chairman of the Board, Engr. Patrocinio R. Bacay who is holding office in Cebu.
The success of Cebu Service is achieved through the unending support and guidance from the Officers and
Staff of Home Office.
Daghang salamat sa inyong pagbulig. VIVAT JESUS. (Sis. Allen C. Bohol)

Founders Members Committee (FMC)

Creation and Composition and 8) any of the State Secretaries or
THE Knights of Columbus Fraternal State Treasurers of the three Philip-
Association of the Philippines, Inc. (KC- pine jurisdictions, serving alternately,
FAPI) was incorporated in September the said original deed of trust a Founder during the meeting of the FMC on 06 the Philippines (CBCP); 3) the Father not concurrently. The execution of
1958 when 64 founder members and Membership Committee (FMC) was cre- July 2007, the Committee finally agreed Provincial of the Society of Jesus in the this Deed was duly attested by the
councils of the Knights of Columbus in ated composed of eight members. to further amend the amended Deed of Philippines; 4) the Luzon Deputy; 5) Immediate Past and Past Deputies
the Philippines put an initial capital of During the past years, a series of Trust by executing the “Deed Reiterat- the Visayas Deputy; 6) the Mindanao of the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao
P32,000.00. Later, 55 out of 64 founder amendments to the deed were made ing the Principles of Original Deed of Deputy; 7) the Vice Supreme Master of jurisdictions.
members transferred to Fr. George J. increasing its membership by including Trust Creating the Founder Members KC, provided that if he is concurrently During the annual meeting of the
Willmann, S.J., then Philippine Deputy the immediate past and past deputies Committee” to restore the member- the Deputy for Luzon or for the Visayas Founder Members held on the first
of the KC in the Philippines, their mem- for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao ju- ship of the FMC to eight members or for Mindanao, he shall be replaced Friday of July, the Founder Members
bership certificates in KCFAPI through risdictions. It was found out however, composed only of the following mem- by the Master of the Fourth Degree in are being represented by the Founder
a deed of trust entitled “Assignment of after a careful deliberation, to be not in bers, namely: 1) the Roman Catholic any of the three Philippine jurisdictions Members Committee who has vested
Transfer of Founder Membership Cer- accordance with the provision of the Archbishop of Manila; 2) the President of KC with the highest percentage of control in KCFAPI. (Atty. Rizal V.
tificates of the KCFAPI”. By virtue of original deed of trust. Accordingly, of the Catholic Bishops Conference of insured members in his jurisdiction; Katalbas, Jr.)
TOKCA / C1
Board of Trustees/Directors of subsidiaries; 2) c) Membership in KCFAPI - Max 20pts 4. All nomination forms, endorsements and at- ing:
Employees of KCFAPI and Subsidiaries, KCFAPI Total of 100 pts tachments shall become the property of KCFAPI a) Trophy or plaque to be awarded during
Area Managers and their immediate families (fa- or may be returned to the nominee if it deems the 2010 Tri-state convention to be held in Cebu
thers, husbands and sons); 3) Five State Officers, Search and Nomination Procedures necessary. City.
the State Program and Membership Directors and 1. Nomination and endorsements must be in 5. Evaluation. The Search Committee will assign b) Round-trip airplane fare (as appropriate)
their immediate families, and 4) Members of the the hands of KCFAPI Search Committee by Sep- points and prepare a short list of nominees which and hotel accommodation for two (himself and
Board of Jurors. tember 15, 2009 for initial screening. This should will be forwarded to the Board of Jurors for selec- wife). This item is non-cash convertible and not
include all original attachments in support of the tion of winners not later than January 15, 2010. The transferrable.
Awards Criteria nomination. points earned shall merely serve as guide for the c) Cash allowance of P20,000.00 which will
The nominee must accept his nomination in 2. Validation. The search committee together Board of Jurors in selecting the winners. include other transportation expenses other than
the prescribed form not later than December 15, with the sub-committee on validation will conduct 6. Search Committee. This Search Committee plane fare and meals outside of the hotel package.
2009. verification of statements made on the nominations will be composed of KCFAPI officers headed by The travel booking and hotel accommodation shall
The nominee must have engaged in his field of including endorsements and supporting docu- its President as Chairman. be arranged by KCFAPI.
endeavor with documented proof within the past ments submitted. The validation period will end 7. The Board of Jurors. The Board of Jurors shall d) Attend as official delegate to the Tri-state
five (5) years subject to validation by the Board of until November 15, 2009. be composed of the Spiritual Director, The Chair- convention.
Jurors and the Search Committee. 3. The qualified nominees will be informed in man of KCFAPI, the President, the 3 State Deputies 10. KCFAPI will donate in the name of awardee
writing for their acceptance. The list of qualifiers and another member to be selected by the Board. P10,000.00 to his parish and P10,000.00 to his
Points System will be announced officially through KCFAPI’s 8. The Board of Jurors will choose the winners council.
a) Professional Excellence - Max 50pts; chosen publications and circulars. Acceptance of not later than March 1, 2010 and notify them of For the complete awards information, you may
b) Participation in Council, Parish and Com- nominations must be received by the search com- their selection. contact KCFAPI Home Office at (02) 527 – 2223.
munity - Max 30pts mittee on or before December 15, 2009. 9. The winners will be entitled to the follow- (See below for TOCKA forms)
LAYOUT BY LAURENCE JOHN R. MORALES
 The Cross
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 10
May 11 - 24, 2009
C3

United for Life

By Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson
Being a Catholic means accepting the Church in its en-
tirety, especially in respecting the lives of all.
IN HIS 1968 book Introduction to Christianity
(Ignatius), Pope Benedict XVI— then Father Joseph
Ratzinger—takes up a question that he describes
as a “basic stumbling-block” to the Christian faith.
He puts the issue this way: “It irritates us that God
should have to be passed on to us through outward
forms: through Church, sacrament, dogma…. All
this provokes the question, Does God dwell in
institutions, events or words? As the eternal Be-
ing, does he not make contact with each of us from
within? … God needs no intermediary channels by
which to enter the soul of the individual…nothing
can reach more intimately and deeply into man
than he” (p. 183).
We have all heard these concerns before. Prot-
estants sometime object to what they regard as the
manmade structure of the Catholic Church and
defend the lack of similar structure in their own
faith communities. We also hear from those who do
not belong to any church because they see no need
for organized religion; they are quite content with
their own personal relationship with God.
Both these arguments seem to resonate well in
societies with a long Protestant tradition and also
where increasing secularism finds little place for
strong Church institutions.
Interestingly, Pope Benedict agrees with the
fundamental insights of both questions: God does
not dwell in manmade institutions and he has no
need of anything, including intermediary chan-
nels. But Benedict insists there is a further truth
to consider.
He writes, “precisely at this point we must
also add the further statement: Christian faith is
not based on the atomized individual but comes
from the knowledge that there is no such thing as
the mere individual, that on the contrary man is
himself only when he is fitted into the whole.” He
later adds, “Being a Christian means essentially
changing over from being for oneself to being for
one another” (p. 190).
In other words, to be a Christian is to be
brought into a community and into a tradition.
As Christians we find a new unity, and no one
can really speak or act as a Christian simply on
his own. Msgr. Joseph Murphy, author of Christ
Our Joy: The Theological Vision of Pope Benedict
XVI (Ignatius, 2008) and an official at the Vatican
Secretariat of State, puts it this way: “To speak or
act as a Christian means that one is never simply
an isolated self. To become a Christian entails ac-
cepting the Church in her entirety into oneself or,
more precisely, it means allowing oneself to be
interiorly accepted into her.”
This observation has deep meaning for the
Knights of Columbus, committed as we are to the
principles of charity, unity and fraternity. It gives
rise to our strong tradition of solidarity with our
priests, bishops and popes, and explains why we
work so hard to help build up our parishes. It is
also why, following Pope Benedict’s trip to the
United States last April 2008, we seek more strong-
ly to follow him in building up our Church.
It also has great meaning as we continue to strive
to be what Pope John Paul II called us to be: a peo-
ple of life and a people for life—united as Catholics
in the great cause of defending life, especially at its
most vulnerable stages. Unfortunately, being pro-
life remains a “stumbling-block” for some Catho-
lics. On this issue they have isolated themselves
from the Catholic tradition. As Knights, our duty
is always to promote unity within the Church. We
must increase our efforts to help every Catholic see
more clearly that being Catholic means accepting
the Church in its entirety, especially in respecting
the lives of all. Building up the culture of life is the
task of every Catholic.
Vivat Jesus!

Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Update KC seminarian-scholar

By Dr. Jaime Talag

SWINE Influenza (swine flu) is a

highly contagious acute respira-
tory disease of pigs caused by
type A influenza viruses most
commonly of the H1N1 sub-
type. Outbreaks in pigs occur
year round. The virus is spread
among pigs by aerosols, direct
and indirect contact, and asymp-
tomatic carrier pigs. Although
swine influenza viruses are nor-
mally species specific and only
infect pigs, they do sometimes
cross the species barrier to cause
disease in humans. In late March
and early April 2009, cases of hu-
man infection were first reported
in Southern California and near
San Antonio, Texas. Reported
cases of swine flu infection in
humans have been reported
internationally as well.
Swine influenza has not been
shown to be transmissible to
people through eating properly
handled and prepared pork and
pork products. Cooking pork
to an internal temperature of
160◦F kills the swine flu virus.
Human infection with flu vi-
ruses from pigs are most likely
to occur when people are in
close proximity to infected pigs.
The main mode of transmis-
sion from human to human is
through droplets, by coughing
or sneezing of an infected per-
son. Infected people may be able
to infect others beginning a day
before symptoms develop and
up to 7 or more days after be-
coming sick. Generally, clinical
symptoms are similar to regular
human flu and include fever,
cough, sore throat, body aches,
headaches, chills, lack of ap-
petite and fatigue. Some people
have reported diarrhea, runny
nose, sore throat and vomiting.
In the past, severe illness (pneu-
monia and respiratory failure)
and deaths have been reported.
It may also cause a worsening
of underlying chronic medical
conditions.
There are no vaccines that con-
tain the current swine influenza
virus causing illness in humans.
It is not known whether current
human seasonal influenza vac-
cines can provide any protection.
Influenza viruses change very
quickly. It is important to develop
a vaccine against the currently
circulating virus strain for it to
provide maximum protection to
the vaccinated people. For treat-
ment, there are two classes of
such medicines, 1) adamantanes
(amantadine and remantadine),
and 2) inhibitors of influenza
neuraminidase (oseltamivir and
zanamivir). Some influenza vi-
ruses develop resistance to the
antiviral medicines, limiting the
effectiveness of treatment. The
viruses obtained from the recent
human cases in the United States
are sensitive to oseltamivir and
zanamivir but resistant to aman-
tadine and remantadine. These
drugs should only be taken upon
the advice of health providers.
The general preventive mea-
sures for influenza are: avoid
close contact with people who
appear unwell and who have
fever and cough, wash your
hands with soap and water
frequently and thoroughly, and
practice good health habits in-
cluding adequate sleep, eating
nutritious food, and keeping
physically active. If you have re-
cently traveled to countries with
known swine influenza cases
and are experiencing signs and
symptoms of the disease, please
proceed to any of the DOH-
graduates with honors
Sem. Longasa is shown being congratulated by Rev. Fr. Rodel E.
Aligan, OP, Dean of the Faculty of Theology, University of Santo
Tomas Central Seminary, during his graduation.
accredited facilities (Research
Institute for Tropical Medicine,
San Lazaro Hospital, and Lung
Center of the Philippines) for
further evaluation.
Following the 2009 revision of
SEMINARIAN Joseph Basilla Longasa of the
Diocese of Legazpi recently finished his Theo-
logical studies as Magna Cum Laude at the Uni-
versity of Santo Tomas Central Seminary. He
completed his Philosophical Studies at Mater
Salutis College Seminary in Daraga, Albay
with the rating Cum Laude and Summa Cum
Laude in Oral Comprehensive Examination in
Philosophy.
Aside from maintaining good academic
performance, Sem. Longasa was also active in
all seminary activities. He was the Editor of
BENAVIDES, the official newsletter of the UST
Central Seminary, for 2007-2008 and the Buk-
luran Games. His proud parents are Mr. Victor
Longasa, Jr. and Mrs. Concepcion Longasa of
Bacacay, Albay.
Sem. Longasa has been a scholar of the KC
Fr. George J. Willmann Charities, Inc. for two
school years: 2006-2007 and 2008-2009. He is set
to undergo a year of Spiritual Pastoral Forma-
tion beginning June. Sem. Longasa was one of
the seven seminarian-scholars who graduated
this school year. (Denise Solina)
the phase descriptions, the cur- strong signal that a pandemic is
rent WHO phase of pandemic imminent and that the time to
alert is 5. This is characterized finalize the organization, com-
by human to human spread of munication, and implementa-
virus into at least two countries tion of the planned mitigation
in one WHO region. There is a measures is short.

Contact KCFAPI through our TEXT CONNECT To inquire for the status of Benefit Certificate:
INFORMATION SYSTEM (TEXT BILIS) BCINQ <space> ACCOUNT# <space>
Send to: 0917-825-KOFC or 0917-825- BIRTHDATE
5632 Example: BCINQ 1002840 01061971

To register: To text a particular Department:

KCREG <space> FCCODE <space> PINCODE
<space> CONFIRM CODE
Example: KCREG 00000 123456 123456
To inquire allowance
ALLW <space> FCCODE <space> PINCODE
Example: ALLW 00000 123456
To inquire for Submitted, Released & Paid
BCs:
SRP <space> FCCODE <space>
MMYYYY
Example: SRP 00000 012008
DEPTCODE<space>Your Name <space>
Your Message
Example: To text Underwriting Department
for follow-up UND Juan Dela Cruz Follow-
up application of Bro. Joel Garcia
DEPTCODE:
UND - for Underwriting
FBG - for FBG
FMAS - for FC’s Account
SERVICE - for BC Services
CORPSRV - for FADB
FGJWF - for Foundations
 The Cross
CBCP Monitor
C4 Vol. 13 No. 10
May 11 - 24, 2009

Knights join Archdiocese

of Cebu’s Diamond Jubilee WHEN Cebu Archbishop Ricardo J.
Cardinal Vidal invited the Knights of
Columbus to join the Archdiocese’s
75th anniversary celebration at the
Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, over a
hundred knights were mobilized by
Visayas Deputy SK Dionisio R. Esteban,
Jr. and District VIII Master of the Fourth
Degree SK Loreto Pablo, to take part as
honor guards during the solemn bless-
ing of the Holy Door and the Pontifical
Concelebrated Mass.
The afternoon rain on April 28, 2009
failed to dampen the enthusiasm of
brother knights to represent the Order
of the Knights of Columbus as the
Archdiocese celebrated its historic
Diamond Jubilee amidst the backdrop
of the grandeur of the newly renovated
Cathedral.
Even with rain soaked regalia, brother
knights performed their duty to the
Church with dignity and pride, befit-
ting true knights, in the presence of
thousands of Cebuano Catholic faithful
who literally filled the Cathedral and
its grounds.
Among church dignitaries in atten-
dance aside from Cardinal Vidal were
Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales of the
Archdiocese of Manila, Papal Nuncio
Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams,
Archbishop Angel Lagdameo of Jaro,
Iloilo who is also the current President
of the Catholic Bishops Conference of
the Philippines (CBCP), and many other
archbishops and bishops from all over
the Philippines.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
and other national and local officials
were also present.
After the ceremonies at the Cathedral,
the Archdiocese tendered a dinner show
depicting the rich history of the “Sug-
buanong Simbahan” (Cebuano Church)
at the Cebu International Convention
Center.
Again, the Knights of Columbus took
center stage during the show featuring
costumes of the different church lay
organizations existing in Cebu dubbed
as “Vestidas Para Confradias”. Visayas
Deputy Esteban wowed the audience
when he modeled the Knights of Co-
lumbus regalia.
The Cebu Archdiocese’s theme: “At
75, Growing Together In Grace As The
Body of Christ”, has struck a sentimen-
tal chord of affection in every well-
meaning Cebuano and Visayan knight.
It was at the K of C Cebu Metropolitan
Cathedral Council No. 3106 on Febru-
ary 22, 1948 who began the Knights of
Columbus in the Visayas. They GREW
TOGETHER IN GRACE to become
more than five hundred councils and
fifty thousand knights all throughout
the Visayas today… and still growing!
(Bro. Junjie Navales Cruz)

KC holds first national Columbian Squires Jamboree

THE Knights of Columbus in the Philippines con-
vened the largest gathering of Columbian Squires
in the country last April 22-25, 2009 at the Bataan
Technology Park, Inc. (BTPI) in Morong, Bataan.
Dubbed as the 1st Columbian Squires Philippine
National Jamboree, it was attended by over seven
hundred squires and counselors that came mostly
from the Luzon State jurisdiction.
With the theme, “Columbian Squires in the Phil-
ippines: Dynamic Youth of Today, United in Help-
ing Build up the Ecclesial Community,” the gather-
ing consisted of spiritual activities with the daily
Eucharistic celebrations and the Taize prayers,
jamboree activities, and thematic lectures.
Facilitators of the said convention were Miguel
T. Yu, State Ways and Means Chairman and Camp
Director; Conrado S. Dator, Jr., State Youth Direc-
tor, Amado A. Sanglay, District Deputy of the 131
and BTPI Administrator; Bonifacio B. Martinez,
State Program Director; Eduardo G. Laczi, Direc-
tor for Philippine Affairs; Msgr. Pedro Quitorio
III, Luzon Assistant State Chaplain and Squires
State Father Prior; Morong Mayor Cynthia Linao
Estanislao; Alonso L. Tan, Luzon Deputy; Arsenio
Isidro G. Yap, Luzon State Secretary; Joven B.
Joaquin, State Treasurer and Jose F. Cuaresma,
State Columbian Squires Chairman.
Different dignitaries and officials handled vari- In order to inspire the Columbian Squires, the Kenneth De Belen, Marvin Ronquillo, Robert Jay
ous conferences and meetings organized in the said awarding ceremony for the Squire Advancement Ramos.
jamboree. Program of the Supreme Council was held at last To date, there are eight awardees of the afore-
SK Laczi, SK Yap and SK Martinez gave lectures day of the jamboree. mentioned program where six of them came from
during the KC State Officers Night. The five Columbian Squires who achieved the Luzon and two are from the United States of
At the Government and Business Night, talks rank of the “Squires of the Body of Christ” are America. (CBCPNews)
were given by SK Sanglay, together with Comelec Jimwell Sales, Gamaliel Marion Sampedro, Alden
Commissioner Rene Sarmiento and Justice Jose
Reyes.
Morong Parish Priest, Fr. Fernando Loreto and
Msgr. Quitorio led the Clergy Night while the
Counselors Meeting was prepared by Cuaresma
and the Squires Key Officers Meeting by Raymund
Gubat, Luzon Squires Deputy Chair for Education
and Romeo Navoa, Luzon Chief Squires.
Meanwhile, Rodolfo Manumbas gave a talk on
Squires Advancement Program.
This Advancement Program began in 2006
which requires a squire to accomplish activities
in four categories on each of the five levels of de-
velopment which are the “Page,” “Shield Bearer,”
Swordman,” “Lancer,” and the highest “ Squire of
the Body of Christ.”
According to this program, a squire must com-
plete a total of at least 96 activities within 1½ years
that incorporates service activities on behalf of the
Four of the five Columbian Squires who have achieved the rank of the Body of Christ were recognized during the closing of the Columbian
Church organization. Squires tri-state convention last April 25.

13th Mindanao Jurisdiction Convention, a tremendous success!

Mindanao Jurisdiction Secretary-SK Jose D. Bacalanmo, Mace Insurance President-SK Antonio T. Yulo, KCFAPI President-SK Antonio B. Borromeo, Supreme Office’s
Director for Philippine Affairs-SK Eduardo G. Laczi, Archbishop of Zamboanga City-Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, DD, Mindanao Jurisdiction Deputy-SK Sofronio R.
Cruz, KCFAPI EVP-Sis. Ma. Theresa G. Curia, Visayas Jurisdiction Deputy-SK Dionisio R. Esteban, Jr., and Past Mindanao Deputy-SK Pedro M. Rodriguez, Jr.
THE Mindanao Knights of Columbus
convened its 13th Mindanao Jurisdic-
tion Convention of the Knights last May
1-3 at Zamboanga City. Hosted by the
Caballeros de Colon de Zamboanga
(Knights of Columbus of Zamboanga)
the convention was held at the Astoria
Regency Convention Center, Paso-
nanca, with the theme: “Building a
Civilization of Love through Charity,
Unity and Fraternity.”
More than 700 knights from all over
Mindanao flocked to the City of Zam-
boanga despite news of kidnapping
and abductions, which Zamboanga had
become famous for.
Participants did not only want to
savor the experience of being part of
the largest Fraternal Organization in
the world but also to see for themselves
what the Zamboangenos had to offer
for visiting strangers. Surely, they did
not regret coming to Zamboanga City,
the only Latin City in Asia, as the Cha-
vacanos called their city.
The Convention officially opened
with a Mass in the afternoon of May 1,
presided by no less than Rt. Rev. David
Alonzo of St. Joseph Parish, Zamboanga
City.
The welcome address of the City
Mayor of Zamboanga, Hon. Celso L.
Lobregat, was read by his Representa-
tive. The Mayor was out of town during
the Convention.
The afternoon session was high-
lighted by the “State of the Jurisdiction
Address” (SOJA) given in a power point
presentation by the Mindanao Deputy,
SK Sofronio R. Cruz. It was indeed,
one of the most complete and compre-
hensive report given by the Mindanao
Deputy.
The State Dinner in the evening of
May 1 was sponsored by no less than the
City Mayor. Hon. Celso Lobregat. It was
an evening to remember, with cultural
and social presentations rendered by
students from various schools and col-
leges of Zamboanga City.
After the State Dinner, Mindanao
Deputy Sofronio R. Cruz, presided a
meeting attended by the State Officers,
District Deputies, Regional and Pro-
vincial Secretaries to trace problems
in Membership Recruitment, Reacti-
vation and the need to act as team to
accomplish goals set by the Supreme
Office.
The Mindanao Deputy also informed
those present regarding the restruc-
turing of the Regions comprising the
Jurisdiction to be more responsive to
their needs. A lively discussion took
place and the meeting ended with
everybody exhibiting confidence that
they will meet their respective goals
with success.
The ladies had fun visiting tourist
spots in the city, like the Lady of Port
Pilar and the Barter Trade in Canelar.
The men attended the plenary ses-
sions on the second day which started
with a mass officiated by Msgr. Peter
B. Garces, Parish Priest of Our Lady of
Purification, Sta. Maria, Zamboanga
City. Guest Speaker during the morning
plenary session was no other than the
Archbishop of Zamboanga, Most Rev.
Romulo G. Valles.
The written message of the State
Membership Director SK Hernando
Jordan about membership and retention
was read before the delegates by SK Jose
D. Bacalanmo, the State Secretary.
The Election and induction of Board
of Trustees of Mindanao Columbian
Knights Fraternal Foundation Inc.
(MCKFFI) was also conducted during
the day.
An open Forum followed with lively
discussions on various matters. Re-
source persons were the Director for
Philippine Affairs, Fraternal Services,
Eduardo G. Laczi, Mindanao Deputy
Sofronio R. Cruz. State Secretary Jose
D. Bacalanmo, Jr. and SK Antonio R.
Borromeo, KCFAPI President.
Various resolutions were presented
State officers with Mayor Cynthia Linao Estanislao of Morong during the opening of the 1st Columbian Squires Philippine National Jamboree held at Bataan
Technopark last April 22.
Regional Conventions in Visayas
IT is time for the Regional Conventions in Visayas.
Last April 21, 2009, brother knights from Central Visayas (Cebu, Bohol,
Siquijor and Oriental Negros) gathered at the Cebu Business Hotel for the
4th Central Visayas Regional Convention, reflecting on the theme, “Building
A Civilization of Love through Charity, Unity and Fraternity”.
Dignitaries in attendance were Bro. Patrocinio R. Bacay – Chairman of the
Board of the Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the Philippines,
Inc. (KCFAPI), Bro. Alberto P. Solis Sr. – Supreme Director, Bro. Panfilo O.
Pacubas, Sr. – Vice Supreme Master of the Fourth Degree and Bro. Eduardo
G. Laczi – Director for Philippine Affairs based in New Haven, Connecticut,
U.S.A.
The convention featured the video greetings of Supreme Knight Carl A.
Anderson who made a report of the Order’s achievements. For his part,
Visayas Deputy Bro. Dionisio R. Esteban, Jr. reported that the Visayas Juris-
diction is faring well in terms of membership growth and service programs
vis-à-vis the goals set way back in July 2008.
Similar gatherings will be held in Iloilo City on May 16, 2009 for Western
Visayas (knights from Panay Island and Negros Occidental) and on May 24,
2009 for Eastern Visayas (knights from Samar-Leyte).
The regional conventions are under the care of Bro. Pete Guyos – Western
Visayas Regional Deputy, Bro. Gaspar Sudario – Central Visayas Regional
Deputy and Bro. Dalmacio Grafil – Eastern Visayas Regional Deputy. (Bro.
Junjie Navales Cruz)
on the last day of the Convention. Pre- only because they were given the op-
siding for the Resolutions Committee portunity to experience for themselves
was Regional Secretary Atty. Emiliano the hospitality of the Chavacanos but
Deleverio from Pagadian City. also enjoyed the experience of attending
Raffle draws followed with two win- the convention in a land where kidnap-
ners from Gen. Santos City and Iligan ping and abductions are the news of
both bagging the first prize, with P100, the day.
000 each. Also present during the Conven-
The Convention was officially closed tion was Former Mindanao Deputies,
by SK Sofronio Cruz at around 11:30 Alfredo Taruc, Ernesto San Juan and
a.m. on Sunday, May 3. his Lady Buena and Alberto Solis, now
The delegates went home happy, not Supreme Director.