A3 Monitor

CBCP • A7 B3 B7
Vol.Growing
11 No. 11 Unrest Shows
One-Child Policy in
May 28 - June 10, 2007
Church Is Not Homophobic,
Affirms Prelate
The Juridic Concept of Parish
Priest
A Mall Without Walls A1
Tatters

Bishop dela Peña: Our www.cbcponline.net/cbcpmonitor cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net

Volunteers were very
frustrated
THE special elections in the Prelature of
Marawi proved to be “a very frustrating ex-
perience” for Catholic church-based volun-
teers. This was how Bishop Edwin dela Peña,
MSP, described the latest political exercise
where professionals and youth volunteers
gathered under the aegis of Parish Pastoral
Council for Responsible Voting, NASSA-
NAMFREL and LENTE.
Bishop / A6
Cheating may affect Peace
Process, Says bishop
A RANKING official of the influential Catho-
lic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said
the reported poll fraud in Maguindanao
should be viewed with utmost gravity as he
called for a deeper investigation into allega-
tions.
CBCP Vice President and Cagayan de Oro
Protagonist of Truth, Promoter of Peace Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, S.J. said he
hears reports of massive cheating that may
affect the peace process in Mindanao.
May 28 - June 10, 2007 Vol. 11 No. 11 Php 20.00
Cheating / A6

“To Poll Winners, Please Deliver,”

Balanga Bishop Appeals
By Roy Lagarde
BALANGA (Bataan) Bishop Socrates D. Villegas ap-
pealed to national and local midterm election winners
not to “disappoint” the people and urged them to pur-
sue the common good.
In a statement, Bishop Villegas said elected public of-
ficials need to create an inclusive and accessible soci-
ety, especially for the poor.
“Please do not disappoint us. Help us realize our
dreams,” Villegas said.
A close confidant of the late Manila Archbishop Jaime
L. Sin, Villegas urged winners to remember voters who
believed and trusted them with their future.
“A new breed of leaders would help remove the Phil-
ippines from the list of the world’s most corrupt coun-
tries,” he further said.
He emphasized “serving the common good also
means serving the Lord.”
He appealed to the losers to accept defeat honorably
as “there are many ways of serving the poor aside from
getting elected into public office.”
“By the very fact you are born in the Philippines, you
are called to serve the Filipinos with or without any
position in government,” the 46 year-old prelate added.
He urged everyone to move forward and “forget di-
visive politics, corrupt politics and let us give the kind
of politics that gives life, that lives to progress and that’s
God-centered,” Villegas said.
On the same appeal, CBCP Philippines President and
Jaro Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo asked Filipinos to
watch winners during the past elections deliver their
campaign promises.
Speaking in Tagalog over Catholic-run Veritas 846, PENTECOST SUNDAY. The church was made manifest to the world on the day of Pentecost by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit -- celebrated on the 50th day after Easter Sunday. Most Reverend
Lagdameo further said volunteers from PPCRV, Broderick Pabillo, DD, presides over the celebration of Pentecost Sunday in the Archdiocese of Manila with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Ministry and the Federation of Transparochial Communities;
May 27, 2007 in Intramuros, Manila.
To Poll / A6

Bishop Leads RP Team to Interfaith
Meet in New Zealand
CBCP National Secretariat for
Social Action, Justice and Peace
Chair and Marbel Bishop
Dinualdo Gutierrez led the 13-
man Philippine delegation to
the 3 rd Asia Pacific Interfaith
Dialogue at Waitangi Bay of Is-
lands in New Zealand.
With the theme “Building
Bridges,” the three-day event
which begins Tuesday, May 29,
is a follow-up to the 2nd Asia
Pacific Interfaith Dialogue held
last year in Mactan, Cebu. The
first meeting was held in
Yogyakarta, Indonesia in 2004.
CBCP Commission on Inter-
religious Dialogue and
Cagayan de Oro Archbishop
Antonio Ledesma, S.J. also
joined Bishop Gutierrez along
with representatives from the
Philippine Council of Evangeli-
cal Churches with Bishops
Ephraim Tindero and Cesar
Punzalan and Philippine Is-
lamic Council President Com-
missioner Taj Basman, all active
officers of the Interfaith Com-
mission.
Other delegates came from
Miriam College’s Center for
Peace Education, Interfaith
Center for a Culture of Non-
Violence, the Peacemakers
Circle Foundation, Inc. and the
Bishops-Ulama Council’s secre-
tariat.
Government officials from
the Department of Foreign Af-
fairs, Presidential Council on
Values Formation and Office of
the Presidential Adviser on the
Peace Process also joined the
delegation.
The Philippines is home to
more than 80% Roman Catho-
lics, 5% Muslims, and 2% each
from the Evangelicals,
Aglipayans and Inglesia ni
Cristo, according to religious
diversity profile for the
Waitangi Dialogue.
(CBCPNews)
Ledesma: Asian Religions, Key to Peace Building
INTERRELIGOUS dialogue is a must to
achieve peace and unity in the world’s
most populous region, thus said CBCP
Vice President and Cagayan de Oro Arch-
bishop Antonio Ledesma, S.J.
In a radio interview, Archbishop
Ledesma, CBCP Chairman of the Episco-
pal Commission on Interreligious Dialogue
and head of secretariat of the Bishops-
Ulama Conference, spoke before regional
leaders of the Asian Concerence on Reli-
gions for Peace (ACRP) on the Bishop-
Ulama dialogue and its programs to pro-
mote peace and understanding between
Christians and Muslims.
ACRP is the Asian network of the World
Conference on Religions for Peace (WCRP)
and had its assembly at the Pius XII Catho-
lic Center last Thursday, May 24 to plan
Abortion Cases in Baguio Alarming
MSGR. Andres Cosalan, Vicar
General of the Diocese of Baguio
expressed alarm over the increas-
ing number of abortion cases
over the past few months.
In his remarks during the 5th
Joint Biennial National Conven-
tion of the World Apostolate of
for the forthcoming general assembly
scheduled to be held in Manila in October
2008.
ACRP Secretary-General Dr. Sunggon
Kin said the group is closely coordinating
with the Catholic community, especially
with the bishops who they plan to invite
for the coming assembly.
“Roman Catholic is the major religious
community in the Philippines so we expect
the assistance of the country’s Catholic
community,” Kim said.
Dr. Lilian Dizon, ACRP Philippine Chap-
ter Secretary-General said next year’s as-
sembly will be in partnership with the
CBCP and the country’s pontifical univer-
sity, the University of Santo Tomas.
Other religious groups in the Philippines
include Muslims, Protestant groups, Bud-
Fire Guts Pasay Church
a sad reality for Baguio City and OUR Lady of Sorrows Par-
its faithful will be considered “a ish church along F. B.
challenge” for those involved in Harrison St. in Pasay City,
Family and Life Apostolate. where the late Senator
He added the Church and its Benigno and former Presi-
leaders will have to double its dent Corazon Aquino ex-
efforts in espousing everyone’s changed marital vows, will
moral responsibilities but still remain closed for several
dhists, Hindus and Sikhs.
Now on its 30th year, the Asian Confer-
ence on Religions for Peace’s general as-
sembly is held every five years which tack-
les important issues that concern the re-
gions of over two billion people.
ACRP Secretary General Kim said their
three-pronged approach to the region’s
pressing concerns include the exchange of
religious people for peace and understand-
ing, second, peace, education and compli-
mentary researches and third, service and
helping people in need.
Positive action should follow sincere dia-
logues, Kim said.
For next year’s general assembly, the theme
is Peacemaking in Asia with five sub-commit-
tees to work on five sub-themes which in-
Ledesma / A6
vestigators said the fire be-
gun at around 4:00 A.M. at
the altar boys’ quarters. Bu-
reau of Fire Protection per-
sonnel are still trying to de-
termine what caused the fire.
Damage was placed at
over half a million pesos. No

Responsible Fatima of the Philippines last

May 24, Msgr. Cosalan said he is
very disturbed by the fact that
needs the support of local politi-
cal leaders to strictly go against
abortion.
weeks after it was hit by fire
early Sunday morning.
The fire lasted for two
one was reported injured in
the fire. The church was ca-
nonically erected and inau-

Media Baguio City placed second na-

tionwide.
He said the Church will re-
He called on the participants
to be involved in the youth
apostolate, especially through its
hours and severely damaged
the interior of the church. In-
gurated on October 5, 1941.
(CBCPNews)

Practitioners main firm in its stand against

abortion and will not, in any way,
change its position.
campus ministries.
“We have to guide these young
people who are probably far from

Needed He said the facts which picture Abortion / A6

Bp. Bernardino Cortez, DD
CBCP Commission on Social
Communications and Mass
Media Chair and Manila Aux-
iliary Bishop Bernardino Cortez
said in an era where almost ev-
eryone has access to various
forms of media, its practitioners
ought to be reminded of their
crucial responsibilities.
While he did not specify
which medium should be given
prime importance, Bishop
Cortez said he is concerned
about the internet, the print and
broadcast media.
He said violence, disruptive
behavior and vulgar sexual
content in the media will re-
main unacceptable to the
Church and the general public.
In a statement released on the
occasion of the 41st World Com-
munications Day, Bishop
Cortez said the Church’s teach-
ings on human relationships
should be given prominence.
He said the media is another
source of value formation
which is becoming “stronger”
than the family, school and the
Church.
Responsible / A6
Fund Drive to Support Poll Heroes
THE Parish Pastoral Council for
Responsible Voting (PPCRV)
opened a fund drive to assist its
volunteers who may have been
injured and assist the nearest of
kin of those who died while serv-
ing as poll watchers during the
May 14 midterm elections.
The “Heroes Fund” has been
established following the
public’s response to the series of
violent incidents recently. “Un-
sung heroes” will be given due
recognition as they braved
“guns, goons and gold” to pre-
serve the ideals of suffrage and
democracy.
During a simple ceremony
held in Makati City last Tuesday,
May 22, the government’s socio-
economic planning agency, Na-
tional Economic and Develop-
ment Authority, turned over to
PPCRV officials P740,000.00 do-
nation, raised from contributions
of concerned businessmen.
“This is our way of showing
sympathy and support for those
who were killed or hurt in the
line of duty,” NEDA Secretary
Romulo Neri said.
Under the arrangements, a
Rev. Fr. Antonio Navarrette, parish priest of San Juan Nepomuceno Parish in Malibay,
wounded volunteer will receive Pasay City recieves rolls of used tarpaulins from MacGraphics Carranz, intended for
Fund / A6 livelihood projects of the poor.

A2 World News
John Paul II Credited with 60,000 Pray at Pasadena’s Rosary Bowl
the Revival of Vocations in
England and Wales
LONDON, May 21—The
Catholic Church of England
and Wales has seen an increase
in the number of men who
have entered the seminary to
study for the priesthood since
the death of Pope John Paul II
in 2005.
Fr. Paul Embery, director of
the National Office for Voca-
tions of the Bishops’ Confer-
ence of England and Wales, ex-
plained in an interview with
SIR that the death of John Paul
II generated a lot of interest in
the Catholic Church.
“The young saw the fidelity
that the Pope had for his voca-
tion and were attracted by his
faith,” he said. The number of
vocations is higher today than
it was three years ago, he
added.
The average age of candi-
dates has risen. Fr. Embery
said the typical candidate to
the priesthood today is a 30-
year-old graduate, English or
Welsh. Very few are from non-
white ethnic minorities.
“In 2003 the low point was
reached with only 24 new en-
trants into seminaries. Last
year, by contrast, there were 44
new priests, an increase that is
a strong sign of hope,” said Fr.
Embery.
Still, the number of candi-
dates to the priesthood is very
low compared with the 1950s
and 1960s, and there are fewer
priests that are ordained each
year than the number who die
or retire.
“In a typical diocese, two to
three priests retire or die each
Atheist Gives $22.5 Million to
Catholic Education
Edward Cardinal Egan
Attack Plan to Air “Sex Crimes and Latin, a Language to Build Europe’s Identity
the Vatican”
ROME, May 22, 2007—Plans
by Italy’s RAI television net-
work to air a BBC program on
sexual abuse have been con-
demned by Italian Church
leaders. However, the pro-
gram is not certain to air be-
cause Mario Landolfi, who
heads RAI’s parliamentary
oversight committee, has re-
quested a ban on its broadcast.
According to Landolfi, the
program unfairly attacks the
Church.
An editorial in the daily
Avvenire, published by the
Italian bishops’ conference,
accused the bloggers who
posted the video of “calumny
against the Church and the
Pope.” The Italian version of
Google has also posted the
documentary which has be-
come the most viewed video
on the site, according to the
Guardian.
The BBC program, “Sex
Crimes and the Vatican,”
aired in England last October,
drawing bitter protests from
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-
O’Connor, the Archbishop of
Westminster.
The firestorm of criticism
began when RAI made plans
to purchase the program from
the BBC and broadcast it on its
“Year Zero,” popular current
affairs show hosted by
Michele Santoro.
The focus of the BBC pre-
year and only one
new one is or-
dained,” he said.
“Last year, 20
priests were or-
dained in England
and Wales, a num-
ber insufficient to
replace those who
died.”
Fr. Embery said
there is currently
one priest for every
800 faithful in the
country. He calls
this a “very gener-
ous ratio for these
times” compared
with the ratio in
other European or
Latin American
countries. “In Latin
America,” he said,
“there is only one
priest for every
9,000 inhabitants.”
The priest attributes the de-
cline in vocations to the drop
in church attendance and reli-
gious practice. As well, he said,
there is very little in terms of
Catholic outreach to young
people past the age of 18 and
those in university.
“In Great Britain, the Catho-
lic movements are not so
strong and young university
students must be highly moti-
vated if they want to continue
to go to church,” he said. On
the plus side, this also trans-
lates into vocations to the
priesthood that are also more
highly motivated than before
“because aspirant priests must
be very conscious of the rea-
NEW YORK, May 25, 2007—
The Archdiocese of New York
received a record-breaking gift
of $22.5 million from self-styled
atheist Robert Wilson to pro-
vide educational scholarships
for inner-city children.
Wilson, a philanthropist and
former Wall Street investor,
gave the money to the
Cardinal’s Scholarship Pro-
gram, started in 2005, to aid dis-
advantaged students.
Cardinal Edward Egan, arch-
bishop of New York, has ex-
pressed his gratitude for the
“historic and far-sighted sup-
port from Mr. Wilson for the
education and future well-be-
ing of our neediest children in
the archdiocese.”
sentation is
C r i m e n
Sollicitationis,
a Vatican
document
that was
promul-
gated in
1962. The
program
described
that docu-
ment as “se-
cret,” and
c l a i m s
credit for
exposing it, although the full
text of Crimen Sollicitationis
was published in 2001 and
covered extensively by Catho-
lic publications in 2002.
The U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops responded to
these allegations back in 2003
stating, “the document is be-
ing taken out of context, that
it’s a church law that deals
only with religious crimes and
sins. And that the secrecy is
meant to protect the faithful
from scandal.”
Crimen Sollicitationis cov-
ers canonical discipline for
priests accused of the sexual
misconduct—including, but
not limited to, the sexual
abuse of minors. Because the
document emphasizes the
confidentiality of canonical
trials, the BBC report sug-
gested that the Vatican policy,
sons that motivate their work
and be able to justify it to non-
believers,” he said.
The National Office for Vo-
cations has attempted to reach
younger age groups with their
vocations campaign by using
Japanese Manga cartoons.
“Many priests and religious
confirm they had thought of
their own vocation for the first
time when they were little
more than 10 years old, some-
times even earlier,” said Fr.
Embery. “So we thought these
cartoons, which speak of real
vocations, were the best way to
communicate with children
who aspire to become priests.”
(CNA)
Wilson, 80, told Bloomberg
News, that, although an athe-
ist, he has no problem giving
money to fund Catholic
schools.
“Let’s face it, without the
Roman Catholic Church, there
would be no Western civiliza-
tion,” Wilson said. “Shunning
religious organizations would
be abhorrent.”
Wilson added, “It was a
chance for a very modest
amount of money to get kids
out of a lousy school system
and into a good school sys-
tem.”
Another anonymous donor,
after learning of Wilson’s gift,
gave an additional $4.5 million
to the program. (Zenit)
and its enforcement by then-
Cardinal Ratzinger, was an
effort to conceal evidence of
abuse.
According to Avvenire, the
BBC report missed the crucial
distinction between canonical
and civil trials, and noted that
the Vatican document did not
require victims of abuse to re-
main silent. On the contrary,
paragraph 15 of the document
“obliged anyone knowledge-
able of sexual abuse commit-
ted in the confessional to tell
authorities or they would be
excommunicated.”
The BBC program distorts
the facts of the case, Avvenire
said, in order to raise “accu-
sations against Joseph
Ratzinger of being the indi-
vidual responsible for cover-
ing up the crime of pedophilia
by priests.” (CNA)
PASADENA, California, May
25, 2007—The Virgin Mary was
honored at a Rosary Bowl that
gathered a crowd of 60,000 and
featured speakers as diverse as
Cardinal Roger Mahony and
Miss Mexico.
The event, held last Saturday,
was hosted by Holy Cross Fam-
ily Ministries and the Archdio-
cese of Los Angeles, at the Rose
Bowl in Pasadena.
The Supreme Knight of the
Knights of Columbus, who
Benedict XVI recently ap-
pointed a member of the Pon-
tifical Council for the Family,
invited the audience to unity
that crosses frontiers.
Law Center Defends Catholic Teaching on
Homosexual Adoption
ANN ARBOR, May 22, 2007—
A bill is being proposed in the
Michigan house that would le-
galize adoptions by homo-
sexual partners. Supporters of
the bill point to the lack of op-
position from the Michigan
Catholic Conference as their
reason for hoping the bill will
pass.
Detroit Free Press Columnist
Brian Dickerson recently wrote,
“The Church’s neutrality un-
derlines the fact that adoption
and gay marriage are separate
issues, practically as well as le-
gally.”
To counter this false impres-
sion, the Thomas More Law
Center revealed today that it
has sent a letter to over one
hundred members of the Michi-
gan state House of Representa-
tives informing them of the
Catholic Church’s unequivocal
opposition to adoptions by ho-
mosexual partners.
The Thomas More Law Cen-
ter is a national Christian legal
advocacy group based in Ann
Arbor, Michigan.
Media Must Transmit the Truth, Say Bishops
Gathered for CELAM Meeting
APARECIDA, May 21, 2007—
In a message for World Com-
munications Day, celebrated
on May 20, the Communica-
tions Committee of the 5th
General Conference of the
Latin American Bishops’
Council sent greetings to those
who work in the media and re-
minded them that they are
called to “transmit the truth.
“We send our cordial greet-
ings to members of the media
that have been with us both
during the first visit to Latin
America of His Holiness
Benedict XVI and the celebra-
tion of the 5th Conference,” the
bishops said in their message.
VATICAN CITY, May 24,
2007—”Latin Future: the lan-
guage for building the identity
of Europe” is the theme of an
international congress to be
held in Rome and the Vatican
from May 25 to 26.
The event is being promoted
by the Italian National Research
Council (CNR) and the Pontifi-
cal Committee for Historical
Sciences.
Professors, senators, writers
and journalists from various
countries, the majority Italian,
are due to participate in the
Code of Conduct to Control Bloggers
BEIJING, China, May 22,
2007—China’s internet admin-
istrators have released a draft
voluntary code of conduct for
bloggers and service providers
after months of preparation that
involved input from popular
portals like MSN, Sina.com,
Sohu.com and People.com.cn.
Their goal is to tighten the au-
thorities’ grip on the
mainland’s 20 million bloggers.
The draft code of conduct
was posted yesterday on the
website of the semi-official
Internet Society of China for a
week of feedback.
The society said that the code
is “aimed to enhance regulation
of the responsibilities and obli-
gations of bloggers and blog
service providers through in-
dustry self-regulation and an
“The rosary and Our Lady,
especially under her title of Our
Lady of Guadalupe, must be
seen as the common bond of
our Catholic hemisphere,” Carl
Anderson said. “Our Lady of
Guadalupe points us to her Son,
but she also points us to unity
in her Son and for Catholics this
unity must transcend borders.”
The Rosary Bowl included
adoration and the recitation of
the glorious mysteries of the
rosary.
Speakers included Cardinal
Mahony, archbishop of Los
Angeles; Bishop Oscar Solis,
vicar for ethnic ministries of the
archdiocese; Immaculée
The Law Center’s letter ex-
tensively quotes from a 2003
document issued by the Con-
gregation for the Doctrine of
Faith headed by then Cardinal
Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict
XVI. The document entitled,
“Considerations regarding Pro-
posals to Give Legal Recogni-
tion to unions Between Homo-
sexual Persons,” was intended
to give direction to Catholic
politicians and all persons com-
mitted to defending the com-
mon good of society.
The document states: “Al-
lowing children to be adopted
by persons in such [homo-
sexual] unions would actually
mean doing violence to these
children, in the sense that their
condition of dependency
would be used to place them in
an environment that is not con-
ducive to their full human de-
velopment.”
Richard Thompson, Presi-
dent and Chief Counsel of the
Law Center commented, “Not
only does this House Bill vio-
late Catholic doctrine, but it is
“Children are the greatest
thermometer for measuring
the capacity to critically and
actively form the new genera-
tions,” they said. “Do not
abandon this beautiful service
that makes you sowers of free-
dom, identity and community.
Receive our blessing and spe-
cial prayers to Our Lady of
Aparecida on this day,” the
statement said in conclusion.
Earlier during the same
press conference, the director
of communications for
CELAM, Father David
Gutierrez provided some sta-
tistics on the press’ coverage of
past papal visits and the
congress.
On the first day Friday, May
25, discussions will focus on the
question of “the role of Latin in
the formation of Europe” and
on the “modernity and signifi-
cance of Latin for scientific and
cultural progress.”
Among those present on Sat-
urday, May 26, to consider the
question of “policies to follow
in order to support the study of
Latin” will be Jan Figel, Euro-
pean Commissioner for Educa-
tion, Training, and Culture, and
Wang Huansheng, a member of
agreed format.”
It also claimed the code
would ensure “continuous and
healthy development of China’s
internet” since “some people
are using blogs to spread un-
healthy information, seriously
disturb social order and public
interests, and pollute the
internet environment.”
Under the code, bloggers
would have to sign an agree-
ment saying they will not
spread unhealthy, illegal, por-
nographic, defamatory or false
information that might infringe
on others’ legal rights. They
would also have to promptly
delete illegal or unhealthy re-
sponses to postings.
Service providers would
have to insist that users live up
to obligations, and could refuse
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 11
May 28 - June 10, 2007
Ilibagiza, a Rwandan genocide
survivor; actor Eduardo
Verástegui, of “Bella”; and
Jacky Bracamontes, Miss
Mexico 2000.
Anderson added: “While
many continents have never
been Christian, and while
Europe’s churches are nearly
empty, ours are still full. It is
here that the Church faces a
bright future.
“No other place on earth has
as many practicing Catholics as
the Americas. It is up to us—in
our lives, in our homes, and in
our families — to put our faith
into practice.” (Zenit)
a disguised effort to do an end-
run around the state constitu-
tional ban on same–sex mar-
riages overwhelmingly passed
by Michigan voters in 2004. Ev-
ery citizen concerned with the
common good of the commu-
nity and our vulnerable chil-
dren should oppose this Bill.”
The Law Center’s letter also
expressed concern that if HB
4259 passed, it would cause
Christian adoption agencies to
withdraw from adoptions alto-
gether rather than violate their
religious principles. Typically,
these Christian adoption agen-
cies handle the hardest to place
children.
Thompson added, “Al-
though the Catholic Church
teaches respect for homosexual
persons, the Church is em-
phatic that that respect ‘cannot
lead in any way to approval of
homosexual behavior or to le-
gal recognition of homosexual
unions.’ Allowing homosexual
partners to adopt children
would be giving them such rec-
ognition.” (CNA)
CELAM conferences. He said
that during the visit of John
Paul II, some 1,500 journalists
covered the papal trip, but that
the number decreased to 300
for the General Conferences of
Puebla and Santo Domingo
that followed the pope’s de-
parture.
During Benedict XVI’s trav-
els outside Italy, 2,700 journal-
ists covered his visit to Turkey
and 4,500 his visit to Germany.
For this most recent trip to Bra-
zil, some 3,700 journalists were
accredited to attend. 500 have
remained to cover the 5th Gen-
eral Conference at Aparecida.
(CNA)
the Academy of Social Sciences
of Beijing, China.
Before the closing address,
due to be delivered by Msgr.
Walter Brandmuller, president
of the Pontifical Committee for
Historical Sciences, the winner
of the “ad Fontes” journalism
prize will be announced.
The prize, now in its second
edition, is awarded for the pub-
lication of articles on subjects
associated with the importance
of Classical languages in edu-
cation and scientific and cul-
tural development. (VIS)
to provide services to anybody
who did not sign.
The code also deals with the
issue of real-name blogger reg-
istration, which has generated
considerable opposition from
bloggers for its effect on free-
dom of speech.
For two years the society has
been working with Ministry of
Information Industry to imple-
ment real-name registration but
has run into widespread con-
cerns over reduced freedom of
speech on the internet.
A marketing manager of
Zol.com.cn backed the require-
ment arguing that porno-
graphic content on the website
came mainly from posts by
anonymous users and was hard
to regulate. (AsiaNews/Agen-
cies)
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 11
May 28 - June 10, 2007
Growing Unrest Shows One-
Child Policy in Tatters
BEIJING, China, May 25,
2007—Recent unrest in
Guangxi is a sign that China’s
population is less and less will-
ing to put up with the one-child
policy so much so that it is
ready to take to the streets.
Many voices in the country’s
scholarly community are also
calling for a policy overhaul for
the sake of society and the
economy.
Riots broke out in several
towns in Bobai County last
weekend when thousands of
people stormed a local govern-
ment office, smashing furniture
and destroying vehicles. Some
even tried to set the building
alight. All of them are fed up
with government officials and
police trying to enforce the one-
child policy, reportedly using
violence in some cases.
Many families were hit with
arbitrary fines for violating the
policy. Those who could not
pay had their homes ransacked
Russia Marks Fatima Anniversary
MOSCOW, May 25, 2007—
The message from Mary’s
appearances in Fatima is
still relevant after 90 years,
because it is linked to the
transformation of the hu-
man person, said Arch-
bishop Tadeusz
Kondrusiewicz.
The anniversary of the ap-
paritions was marked on
May 13. The leader of the
Archdiocese of the Mother
of God said that the 1917
appearances are reason for
hope.
ZENIT asked him what
the 90th anniversary should
mean for young people.
“In the first place young
people must understand
that Our Lady of Fatima
gave us hope in 1917,” he
said. “She warned of up-
coming dangers for which
we needed to pray.
“She predicted the devel-
opment of the history of
Russia and the world, but at
the same time she gave us
hope and offered her Im-
maculate Heart as the ideal
or symbol for us to follow
to have a pure heart: ‘My
Immaculate Heart will tri-
umph and Russia will be
converted.’
“This is the hope she gave
to Russia and the entire
world.”
The archbishop said that
perhaps young people don’t
News Features
by officers. The residents also
accused the authorities of forc-
ing women to have abortions in
order to fulfill the annual
newly-born quotas the central
government has set for each
city. Last April 61 women were
forced to have an abortion in
Youjiang County (Guangxi),
two in the ninth month of preg-
nancy.
Such is the situation that the
government has been forced to
station police units to protect
the hospital where abortions
were performed.
Last September legal scholar
Teng Biao and blind human
rights activist Chen
Guangcheng slammed the au-
thorities in Linyi (Shandong)
for using violence against fami-
lies with “illegal” children.
In Gaoping (Hunan) in the
last four years, officials took
away 12 children from their
families in order to get them to
pay the fine because they failed
remember this, “but her appa-
ritions are relevant today be-
cause the call to repentance is
always present: the call for
man’s heart to be pure.”
He continued: “The words of
Our Lady were a warning to
carry out the will of God—to
respect her Immaculate Heart—
because only in this way can we
have a pure world; if not, many
difficulties arise.
“Today we see in various
parts of the world new prob-
lems like war, euthanasia, fam-
ily problems… because man
does not observe the Ten Com-
mandments.
“It is because of this that the
apparitions of Our Lady of
Fatima are still relevant after 90
years and are looked upon with
interest because they are linked,
above all, to the transformation
of the person.”
The 61-year-old archbishop
further affirmed that Mary’s
message was significant for
Russia also in an ecumenical
sense.
He said: “Our Lady of Fatima
spoke of the conversion of Rus-
sia to God, she didn’t say that it
had to be exclusively Catholic.
“As the Catholic Church, we
help our Orthodox brethren
and we work together to con-
tinue and develop dialogue be-
tween us.
“Mary is just as present in the
Orthodox Church as she is in
the Catholic Church and, I
to respect quotas.
Also in Hunan province, the
authorities forced unmarried
women to undergo “pregnancy
checks” making the test com-
pulsory for any woman seeking
a share of community land-sale
revenues and voting rights.
The one-child policy is likely
to fuel further social unrest as
human rights activists have
pointed out. Increasingly
people are unwilling to accept
the unfairness of a system that
allows rich people—for ex-
ample, actors, landowners and
business men—to have more
than one child because they can
afford the fine whilst others
cannot. The one-child policy is
thus feeding into the debate
over the growing gap between
rich and poor and the rising
corruption scandal among rank
and file party officials, too
ready to turn a blind eye on ex-
tra children in order to collect
taxes and money.
would say, much more in
Russia. Her image is a fig-
ure that is always pure for
every Catholic and Ortho-
dox for whom, without a
doubt, her apparitions have
ecumenical significance.”
Martyrs’ blood
According to Julio
Loredo, the coordinator of
the Apostles of Fatima for
the Light Over the East or-
ganization, the faith in Rus-
sia is vibrant.
In Russia, “I saw a faith
that was much stronger that
that of many people in the
West because it is watered
in blood,” he told ZENIT.
“Blood is strong, it hurts,
but what is bathed in blood
will grow. In Russia, I see
the fruit of the blood of mar-
tyrs which was shed for
many years, and the faith
seems strong and very en-
thusiastic,” he added.
Loredo said he considers
Mary’s reference to Russia
in the third part of Fatima’s
“secrets” as providential:
“Why the focus on Russia?
[…] The apostolate in Rus-
sia is in a sense providential
and prophetic because we
are touching the mystery of
Fatima which says that this
age of crisis will end and it
will be the triumph of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
(Zenit)
Officials at the State Family
Planning Office are the first to
become aware of the danger of
unrest since they are caught be-
tween the government’s de-
mands and threats against their
job and the increasingly dissatis-
fied and belligerent population.
China’s one-child policy
came into being in the late 1970s
as part of a strategy to put the
country on a path of economic
growth. However, it runs
against the grain of Chinese
mentality, which considers gen-
erational ties and ancestor wor-
ship the bases of the family unit.
Ye Tingfang, a professor at
the Chinese Academy of Social
Sciences (CASS), said that only
about 35 per cent of the popu-
lation has observed the policy,
and that it is increasingly criti-
cized because of its many social
and economic side effects like
an ageing population and gen-
der imbalance.
Another CASS member, Prof
Zhang Yi from the Institute of
Population and Labour Eco-
nomics, said that the country is
ageing faster than expected and
that the situation will worsen as
the number of retired workers
grows and the pool of people
paying into pension funds
shrinks.
As fewer rural workers
stream into the cities, labor
shortages are starting to appear
in booming coastal regions. “In
the beginning, it was believed
that our big population would
be a hindrance to our economic
development. But over the past
decades, experience has told us
otherwise,” said Professor Ye.
“Japan, for instance, has little in
the way of resources and boasts
one of the highest population
densities in the world, but it is
a thriving economy and one of
the richest nations. Labor is the
most important source of
wealth.” (AsiaNews)
Antipolo Diocese Celebrates 13th Vocation Festival
By Fr. Joel Francis S. Victorino and Cherry Lou Y. Geronimo
YOUNG people from all over
the province of Rizal and neigh-
boring Marikina City gathered
last April 27-28, 2007 for an
overnight jamboree celebrating
the culture of vocations at the
gymnasium of La Salle College
in Antipolo City.
The Vocation Ministry of the
Diocese of Antipolo, through its
Antipolo Diocesan Vocations
Office (ADVOC) organized the
event in celebration of Diocesan
Vocation Festival, already in its
13th year.
This year’s vocation festival
was hosted by the Parish of San
Isidro Labrador.
Around 2,000 young people
from the different parishes of
the diocese and from various
youth organizations and
ecclesial movements partici-
pated in the festival. Also par-
ticipating were a big number of
priests, seminarians, religious
men and women, and lay vo-
cation promoters coming from
the Diocese of Antipolo and
other places in Metro Manila
and Cebu.
The theme of the festival,
“Iba’t Iba...Iisang Pagtawag” ech-
oed Pope Benedict XVI’s mes-
sage for the 44th World Day of
Prayer for Vocations on April
29, 2007: “The Vocation to the
Service of the Church as Com-
munion.” The festival sought to
highlight the call to a change of
mentality among the people of
today—from a consumerist and
individualistic mindset to a life
of self-giving, sacrifice and ser-
vice “for” and “in” God in the
spirit of a common call.
The program started early in
the afternoon of April 27 with
various religious communities
setting up vocation exhibits to
present to the participants their
different charisms and way of
life. The youth trooped to the
exhibit area where the priests,
seminarians and nuns pre-
sented their lives through infor-
mal conversations and sharing.
The festival formally started
with the celebration of the Holy
Mass. After supper, a festive
welcome for the delegates en-
sued with a string of lively
songs led by a hundred youth
animators. The opening pro-
gram also included a produc-
tion number from the diocesan
Participants and Speakers of Training Seminar for Women’s Desk with
Bishop Leonardo Y. Medroso, DD.
CBCP Office on Women Trains
Diocesan Coordinators
by Pinky Barrientos, FSP
THE CBCP Office on
Women (CBCP-OW) held a
one-day training program
for prospective desk coordi-
nators on April 28 at the
Holy Spirit School Multi-
Media Center in Tagbilaran
City.
Fifty lay leaders from dif-
ferent parishes and represen-
tatives of different organiza-
tions such as the Council of
the Laity of Tagbilaran,
Catholic Women’s League,
Family Life Apostolate Pro-
Life Movement, HNU Guid-
ance Center, and Brother-
hood of Christian Business-
men and Professionals par-
ticipated in the training
seminar.
Organized by Tagbilaran
bishop, Most Rev. Leonardo
Medroso, and the Diocesan
coordinators, the seminar
was conducted to prepare
desk coordinators for the
task of assisting women/
children in crisis situation by
equipping them with neces-
sary knowledge and skills on
basic counseling, network-
ing and netbonding.
CBCP-OW executive sec-
retary Dr. Zenaida Rotea and
Pro-Life Philippines founder
Sr. Pilar Versoza, RGS led
the panel of speakers coming
from various government
clergy of Antipolo.
Fr. Jason Laguerta, National
Coordinator of the Directors of
Vocations in the Philippines
(DVP), gave a lively but chal-
lenging talk to the participants.
Through his personal experi-
ences, insights and videos, he
challenged everyone to live
a life of self-giving
and real service to
God through
others by let-
ting go of
selfish mo-
tives and
desires.
He ex-
horted
them to
heed God
by making
His voice
their personal
choice in life.
A moment of re-
flection and small group
sharing followed with religious
men and women, and lay vo-
cation promoters acting as fa-
cilitators. Towards midnight, a
Holy Hour was held. The youth
lifted to God all their prayers
and intentions in discerning
their life commitment.
The early morning program
was dubbed as a “youth festi-
val of vocations.” The youth
remained awake with songs
and dances that lifted their spir-
its. Seminarians and religious
women from different congre-
gations danced to modern and
ethnic tunes to the delight of the
crowd. Vocation stories and in-
sights were shared in between
presentations which resonated
the call to discern particular
vocations in life. It was interest-
ing to hear testimonies shared
by a priest, a nun and the
mother of a seminarian.
Towards the end of the festi-
val, a candlelit procession was
held around the athletic oval of
the school. It was a beautiful
sight seeing hundreds of
candles encircling the oval
while participants were pray-
ing the “rosary for vocations.”
The closing ceremony of the
festival saw participants mak-
ing concrete commitments to
live a culture of vocations in
their families and communities.
This was symbolically done as
A3
agencies who were also in-
vited as resource persons.
Issues tackled during the
seminar included Women
and Child concerns, domes-
tic violence in all its forms,
poverty, ignorance, and mi-
gration.
The participants were also
trained on the area of coun-
seling principally in specific
cases like domestic violence,
pre-marital sex and un-
wanted pregnancy, post-
abortion, marital crisis and
sexual abuse.
The training program con-
cluded with participants and
trainors mapping out strate-
gies on how to address the
various concerns of women
and children as discussed
during the seminar. The ba-
sic guidelines for setting up
a diocesan/parish desk were
also laid out.
The Office on Women is
conducting the seminar in
various parts of the country
as part of its ongoing pro-
gram of empowering
women and helping them
regain their dignity. The of-
fice has so far covered 48 dio-
ceses.
Recently, the diocese of
San Jose in Antique
launched its own diocesan
commission on women.
each participant tied multi-col-
ored strips of paper they were
holding with one another to the
strains of the festival theme
song, “Iisa.”
Pope John Paul II’s “Prayer
for Vocations” was prayed
aloud by all those present. The
image of Mary, Mother of
Vocations was turned
over to the youth
of St. Anthony
of Padua Par-
ish in
Taytay,
R i z a l ,
where the
next dioc-
esan voca-
tion festi-
val will be
held in the
summer of
2009. The festi-
val ended with
all the participants
jamming as they sang and
danced.
For thirteen years, the voca-
tion festival has been held with
an overwhelming response
from the youth who continues
to seek not only fun-filled ex-
periences but a serious discern-
ment of God’s call for them. It
has been noted that the Diocese
of Antipolo has been encoun-
tering a shortage of candidates
to the priesthood and religious
life. Thus, the event has become
a venue for the young people
to experience initial stirrings to
particular vocations in life.
The celebration was said to be
a success not only because of
the large number of partici-
pants. The young people talked
about forming new friendships
and renewing their zeal as
youth leaders of the Church.
Many feedbacks also came from
participants who told stories of
serious discernment to particu-
lar calling like the priesthood
and religious life.
The festival also set the tone
where a number of youth made
concrete steps to journey to-
gether seeking God’s will for
them!
Those who participated in the
13th Antipolo Diocesan Voca-
tion Festival are invited to con-
tinue their links with one an-
other by being part of
<one_call@yahoogroups.com>.
 CBCP Monitor
A4 Opinion Vol. 11 No. 11
May 28 - June 10, 2007

EDITORIAL

Politics is Divisive
LAST May 13, the spokesman for the 5th General
Conference of the Bishops of Latin America, Most Rev.
Hector Pabon, said in no uncertain words that priests
who get involved in politics “immediately break the
unity and mission they were entrusted with.” Bishop
Pabon said that some priests and their communities want
to take advantage of the leadership and organization
skills of the priests themselves—eventually turning them
into partisan politicians.
The same bishop spokesman said that as soon as a priest
becomes “political”, the human community and fraternal
Layout by Denz Dayao

communion committed to his pastoral care in terms of

making the gospel known to all people without regard for
their social class or political beliefs are effectively
disturbed and fractured. In other words, politics proper
is necessarily partisan and consequently have divisive
effects on people who would otherwise remain one and
undivided in their catholic faith and pursuant multilateral
Christian relationships.
That is why priests and bishops for that matter may and
should even dutifully address the socio-moral maladies
brought about by politics per se adversely affecting their
respective communities and/or countries according to
the social doctrine of the Church. But they are expressly
and definitely enjoined not to engage in politics proper
which cannot but be partisan and wherefore necessarily
divisive of people.
The social teachings of the Church such as on the
primacy of truth, justice and consequent peace, the
inherent value of human dignity and pursuant human
rights, the common good and human welfare of all
citizens, the integral human development and substantive
party of socio-economic progress for all people
irrespective of their race, color and creed, and many
other realities in the order of nature—all these key
Church social teachings are apolitical in nature and are
wherefore the concern of priests and bishops alike.
Said pivotal social teachings of the Church are mandated
not only by the light of faith but also by force of reason. Abp. Angel N. Lagdameo, DD
Priests and bishops have to preach and teach these truths
relevant to life here and now—not only speak about
In and Out of Season Priesthood or Politics
grace, the angels, heaven and teachings pertinent to the
hereafter and beyond.
The signal question is if a priest by becoming merely What Fr. Ed might be able to do can certainly
FATHER “Among Ed” Panlilio is starting The new governor is challenged to
“political” is already a divisive figure in the Church, a new history in Pampanga. With a very project a new politics—one that is first of be done by some good layperson and even
what more if a priest in fact becomes a politician? And slim edge over his closest rival, he becomes all God-centered and based on moral val- better. The suspension from priestly functions
this is precisely the actual major issue that has immediate the first Catholic priest elected to public ues, not tainted by graft and corruption. which his Archbishop gave him is to ensure
relevance to the priest recently turned politician by office not of course without a very big sac- For some time he will be in focus: friends that there be no confusion between priest-
becoming a governor. Could he be instead the uniting rifice of his priestly functions. Priests are and enemies, people in the political divide hood and politics, thus respecting the sepa-
figure of the Catholic community in the province “chosen by God” for pastoral service of the will be looking at him. He will be the ob- ration of Church and State. I would be one
people. Politicians are elected by the people ject of praise and criticism. for discouraging or persuading any priest
concerned—and thereby prove no less than the from running for public office.
for political service. To “Among Gov” and all the winners of
spokesperson of the 5th Assembly of the whole conference My congratulations with sympathy go to the recent election, as proclaimed or will be The priesthood as such is already a pub-
of the Latin American Bishops as pitifully all wrong? Fr. Ed whom his folks in Pampanga will proclaimed by COMELEC, now is the time lic, a pastoral office with peculiar burden
learn to call “Among Gov.” My congratu- to prove the promises they made during the and function for the sanctification and sal-
lation is mixed with sympathy because he campaign period. We hope and pray that vation of the people.
is facing a new playing field for which he they will be true and faithful to their prom- What happens with Father Panlilio is a
Cultural Heritage of the was not trained in the seminary—a politi-
cal field, with all its embedded, ingrained
ises. People must remind the winners in this
recent election about their political promises!
call and a challenge to raise among the la-
ity a new breed of political leaders. What
Church and systematic political problems, many of
which are even closely knit with gambling
What happens with Fr. Panlilio in
Pampanga is an exception, very exceptional
he is responding to is something that the
laity must be challenged to respond to as
or jueteng. indeed, and we want to keep it that way. their proper field of involvement.
WHILE everybody was busy preparing for the elections,
the Holy See and the Philippine Government signed an
agreement on the preservation of the cultural heritage of
Sr. Mary Pilar Verzosa, RGS
We Are All Adopted
the Catholic Church in the Philippines. The historic
signing was held at the Department of Foreign Affairs
Office in Manila on April 17, 2007.
But already in 1997 or thereabouts the Catholic Bishops’ Children of the Father Lo
Lovve Lif
Lifee
Conference of the Philippines already inked a
memorandum of agreement with the National
Commission for Cultural and the Arts (NCCA) in pursuit “IF ever I meet my birth mother, I will and women. While many people think the testimonies of the young women
of the same end. An office, in fact, was established at the thank her for two things—for giving that all unwed mothers admitted to the that have been helped to go on with life
birth to me and not aborting me, and Home automatically have their babies in spite of so much devastation, lone-
CBCP building that made the provisions of the agreement for placing me for adoption”, Grace adopted, there were only 1,903 given liness and helplessness, and the cute
operative. This came shortly after the establishment by candidly declared during a live talk for adoption. 992 were placed in local photos of babies with their moms or
the CBCP of a Committee for the Cultural Heritage of the show on television. Grace was 14 years Filipinos homes while 911 were with their adopting families. The video
Church headed then by Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak. old when her adopting mother listened adopted by foreign families. More that also showed the new ministries that
anxiously to what her daughter would 50% were adopted in the USA, the next Heart of Mary Villa has expanded to—
“The Holy See, having this at heart, desires that the be revealing during that show—an in- most popular country is Australia with the community development center
ecclesiastical cultural heritage be preserved and cared terview of adopted children. over 100 babies growing up there, and giving educational assistance to hun-
for with very single-minded attention, for it is an Grace added, “I am very happy with the rest in Europe, and Canada. dreds of children from nearby de-
expression of faith, cultural and art,” said Apostolic my present family and I know that her Legal adoption is always coursed pressed areas in Malabon as well as
Nuncio Fernando Filoni in his address at the signing of decision to place me for adoption was through the DSWD (Department of So- providing livelihood projects to
the best for both of us given her situa- cial Welfare and Development). Pro- women.
aforementioned agreement. tion at that time.” She was actually cessing is confidential. Applicants are Whenever people ask me why I
With this latest accord, the challenge to safeguard the speaking for thousands of children not allowed to just walk into the nurs- founded Pro-life here in the Philip-
who have been successfully adopted by ery and point out the baby of their pines, I always refer to my mission in
cultural heritage of the Church becomes doubly important
Filipinos as well as foreign families. choice! Careful investigation is done Heart of Mary Villa thirty years ago—
especially for parish priests who are at the forefront. Grace was born in Heart of Mary to ensure that each baby is matched to when I had the vision of extending our
Villa, the Maternity Home run by the the most appropriate family. This is the services not only to sheltering the preg-
Good Shepherd Sisters. She was only commitment of the nuns to the single nant girls, but also to embarking on the
four months when she was adopted. moms, knowing the agony they go abortion-prevention campaign through
ISSN 1908-2940 She finished medicine at UST where through and the tremendous courage value-oriented sexuality teaching pro-
her adopting father also graduated it takes to have others raise the child grams to our youth and to setting up

CBCP Monitor
Medicine and was a leading pediatri- that they have sheltered in their womb the hotline counseling services.
cian. Grace is now practicing Derma- for nine months. I will end this article with the words
tology in California where she lives The adopting couples are also en- of Pope John Paul II from his encycli-
with her husband and three-year old couraged by the nuns to reveal to the cal Evangelium vitae—”A particularly
Protagonist of Tr u t h , Promoter of Peace
son. By the way, her adopting mother, child as early as possible, even before significant expression of solidarity be-
Dolly, is my cousin and I was the he enters prep or kindergarten, that tween families is a willingness to adopt
Pedro C. Quitorio Pinky Barrientos, FSP bridesmaid in their wedding. he/she is adopted. This removes the or take in children abandoned by their
Editor-in-Chief Production Manager Some years later, still childless, they stigma of adoption and strengthens the parents or in situations of serious hard-
applied for adoption. I was then in child from other kids’ name-calling— ship.” This is an invitation for each of
Melo M. Acuña Rowena T. Dalanon charge of the nursery where I accepted ”ampon ka lang” etc. I heard a five-year you to get involved in this special kind
Managing Editor Marketing Supervisor Grace from her teary-eyed birth mother old adopted boy express proudly, “I of pro-life work. If you cannot adopt
a couple of weeks after delivery. We, have two mommies—I came from the or foster care a child, please speak
Dennis B. Dayao Ernani M. Ramos nuns, certainly cry with the mom when tummy of one but I came from the heart positively about adoption. When you
On-Line Editor Circulation Manager
she makes that final move to place the of this one (clinging to his mom). come to think of it, all of us are
Roy Q. Lagarde Marcelita Dominguez baby for adoption before she leaves the Mommy, I love you!” Research has adopted… children of a Loving Father
News Editor Comptroller Maternity Home, almost dead sure that proven that the child who knows the in Heaven, with Jesus Christ as our
she will never see her darling baby ever truth about his/her adoption present Brother.
again. However, we cannot help but re- less psychological insecurity especially For more information on adoption
joice whenever a couple comes to fetch during the teen years of identity crisis. and foster homes, call our pro-life of-
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCP Com-
munications Development Foundation, Inc., with editorial and a son or a daughter that they have been I attended the Golden Jubilee Cel- fice at 911-2911 or contact me at 0920-
business offices at 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila. P.O. longing for to complete their marriage. ebration of Heart of Mary Villa with 945-5494. We can refer you to the many
Box 3601, 1076 MCPO. Editorial: (063) 404-2182. Business: Heart of Mary Villa celebrated its 50 th Bishop Iñiguez and twelve other other child-caring institutions, adop-
(063)404-1612. Email: cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net Website: Anniversary last May 2. Founded by priests concelebrating the Eucharist. I tions agencies, and to the Adoptive
www.cbcpworld.net/cbcpmonitor the Good Shepherd Sisters in 1953, it watched with fond memories the video Families Foundation – a support group
has served over 5,000 pregnant girls presentation on the history of the place, for families who have adopted children.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 11
May 28 - June 10, 2007
Oscar V. Cruz, DD
Vie ws and P
iews oints
Points
AFTER the clouds have returned up to the
heavens and the dust have settled down on
the soil, there are certain objective policy
concerns begging for attention and resolu-
tion. They are basically about the signifi-
cance and implications brought about by
the recent fact of a priest-governor or a gov-
ernor-priest-elect—or whatever.
There is the question of the separation
of Church and State in the country. Both
the State and the Church have their respec-
tive version of the mandatory provision.
For the State, the Constitution forbids its
adoption of an official religion for the Re-
public. For the Church on the other hand,
no less than the universal Canon Law pro-
hibits any cleric—deacon, priest and
bishop—from assuming any public office
that partakes of the exercise of civil power.
In the case of a priest taking over the ex-
ercise of the gubernatorial office of a prov-
ince—or any higher or lower public office
for that matter—there is evidently no vio-
The Special Polls and
Communist Threats
BISHOP Edwin dela Peña of the Prelature
of Marawi said it all. In an interview early
Monday morning, Bishop dela Peña said
PPCRV, NAMFREL and NASSA volunteers
were “very frustrated” with what transpired
over the weekend in Lanao del Sur. News-
paper reports and television footages were
too vivid to describe the seemingly differ-
ent culture among politicians and their sup-
porters in Southern Philippines where spe-
cial elections were held.
Even former Philippine Ambassador to
the Vatican and PPCRV Chairperson
Henrietta T. de Villa was reported to have
found envelops with cash from certain can-
didates in some parts of Mindanao over the
weekend.
Some years ago, I witnessed a meeting
between a ranking government official and
a host of provincial and municipal execu-
tives before a regional political exercise. The
cabinet official asked whether elections
should push through or be postponed and
the local officials were unanimous in say-
ing it should go on as scheduled for any
postponement would mean additional ex-
penses on the part of the government.
“Lumabas na yung pera, gagastos na naman
Jose B. Lugay
Laiko Lampstand
Laiko
WITH no money and no political ma-
chinery, Fr. Ed Panlilio, the parish
priest of Betis, Pampanga achieved a
miracle, a “people-powered” miracle!
Winning a 6-cornered race against op-
ponents with campaign money sourced
from quarry taxes and jueteng income,
columnist Adrian Cristobal opines, “If
Governor Ed Panlilio’s victory is a
miracle, it is more a miracle of the
people’s faith in their capacity to change
the system. The revolution has just be-
gun.” How he is going to fare in a sys-
tem still dominated by money and
power is the burning question.
Fr. Ed, born in Minalin, should be fa-
miliar with the corruption cases which
caused the downfall of his 2 major op-
ponents. The re-elected Vice-Governor
Joseller Guiao filed a complaint last
March against then incumbent governor
Mark Lapid and provincial treasurer
Vergel Yabut for their alleged failure to
collect between P673.2 million and P1
billion from quarry taxes since 2004.
Fighting corruption should be one of
the first in the new governor’s agenda
for good governance in Pampanga. Fr.
Ed, lovingly called by the supporters as
Of love and cloud-
watching
ONCE upon a time, a little girl aged five
was looking out the window watching
cloud formations.
Cloud-watching was a game her mother
had taught her earlier on; their house, situ-
ated on the highest point of the street, af-
forded them a good view of the town and
the city beyond, and, of course, of the huge
expanse of the skies above. Mother and
daughter would—on late afternoons before
sunset—scan the skies for cloud formations
that resembled creatures on earth. Her
mother would say, “Look for an elephant!”
and the little girl who had never been to a
zoo would look for the animal as she had
seen it in a coloring book. Happy that the
girl would quickly find the elephant, the
mother would snap, “Very good! Now,
look for the bear!” and the little girl would
find it fast, too, for she had seen a bear in
the flash cards of her teacher-aunt.
Opinion
Priest-Governor
lation of the pertinent constitutional pro-
vision. But in the same case, there is clearly
an infraction of the Universal Church Law.
That is why a priest guilty of the offense
is sanctioned with the penalty of suspen-
sion. This is the sad reality of a priest di-
vested precisely of all his priestly minis-
try. At the same time, however, a sus-
pended priest retains all major priestly ob-
ligations—such as complying with his
commitment to continence, praying the
breviary several times a day, and keeping
his oath of obedience to his bishop who is
however not his political superior.
Then there is the question of precedence.
In the event that the priest and governor
at the same time, decide to resign for what-
ever reason, or to quit politics at the end
of his term, there would be no issue if
during his incumbency or at the end
thereof, the priest eventually decides to
ask for a dispensation from his obligations
arising from the reception of sacred order.
Melo M. Acuña
Issues and Concerns
kayo,” they said.
The same official asked whether the ad-
ministration-backed candidate would win
and the answer was unanimous: the candi-
date would win because it is so desired by
the national government. “Kahit ‘di namin
kilala yang kandidato ninyo, mananalo dahil
suportado ninyo.”
True enough the candidate won but never
got elected to a higher position a few years
later. One couldn’t easily tell whether it’s
simply cultural, where their elders’ decision
would be synonymous with the so-called
command votes. One may venture to ask
whether their decisions are based on “con-
vincing costs and causes” from a particular
block, preferably from the administration.
You may have noticed in areas where
command votes are that “influential,”
progress is still far behind. It is in these ar-
eas where poverty is at its worst. It is also
found in areas where political dynasties ex-
ist. It is also in these areas where insurgents
have gained some foothold.
I am disturbed by reports that communists
are slowly creeping into the metropolitan
area. No less than the AFP Chief of Staff
General Hermogenes Esperon was quoted
Priest in the Laity’s
World of Politics
Among Gov said he would exercise a
new kind of leadership that is consul-
tative, participative, transparent and
God-centered.
While the organized laity months be-
fore the election were trying to get in-
volved actively in the electoral cam-
paign, the Church’s Canon Law prohib-
ited them from delving into partisan
politics. His penalty, if we may call it
that, is not being allowed to minister the
sacraments so long as he serves his
mandate in the laity’s world of work—
in politics and governance in particu-
lar. I would say however, that the laity
did not sit idly by. Without the voters’
education and poll watching by PPCRV
and the quick count by NAMFREL, the
vigilance of the BECs, and the
volunteerism of members of the lay or-
ganizations as legal watchdogs to any
anomalous attempts during the count-
ing and canvassing of votes, the miracle
in Pampanga would not have been
achieved.
Before the new governor can start ef-
fective work, there is the acclimatiza-
tion period—knowing the system,
knowing the people who hold power
Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS
…and tha
thatt’s the truth!
Now, that particular afternoon she was
cloud-watching alone, the clouds were
sparse and the sky was a beautiful blue.
There were no “animals” but still, the little
girl saw in it a sea, as the clouds looked
like foamy waves coming up the shore. She
hoped, though, that clouds would thicken
and swell so that even a few rabbits would
appear, but they did not. Her eyes were
getting tired and her eyelids heavy from
the long wait, but the little girl did not give
up. Then, she noticed images slowly form-
ing from nothing and then moving in the
blue sky, as though a movie was playing
before her. One of two images was herself,
the five-year old girl, wearing a long white
tunic, sitting on the lap of Jesus, playing
with his beard!
The little girl could identify Jesus from
the many stampitas her grandmother kept
as markers in her bible, and from the cal-
But there is a big problem if he not only
wants to resume his priestly ministry but
his bishop actually accepts him back as
once again a priest in full standing before
the Church.
This is definitely setting not only a local
but even a national precedence—to say the
least. The big query is if the readmission
of former priest-politician is acceptable to
the bishop concerned—such that a priest
may just leave the priestly ministry at will
and at will also be simply admitted once
more to the full exercise of his priesthood.
If so: What would other priests think and
do? How would other bishops decide and
act? What would seminarians in the coun-
try feel and envision? And what would
Catholics say and do about the often re-
peated official pronouncements of the
Church that politics is the arena proper of
lay persons?
These questions are begging for answers
and these better be right.
saying the communists have found their
way into school campuses and urban poor
areas. This is disturbing for this was the
same lime used by strongman Ferdinand E.
Marcos’s Martial Law declaration in 1972,
where he “saved” the republic from the com-
munists.
Had progress been real in urban poor ar-
eas and state colleges and universities have
been extended their rightful dues in terms
of budget and incentives and highly-quali-
fied executives, no amount of convincing or
coercion from the so-called communists
would succeed. Had the government been
successful in its agrarian reform program
and that half of the so-called “pork barrel”
been utilized properly then progress would
have reached the countryside.
Felix Green was often quoted asking:
Why is it that in a country that is so rich the
people are so poor? From Brazil’s Dom
Helder Camara: “When I gave food to the
poor, they called me a saint. When I asked
why the poor were hungry, they called me
a communist.”
Comments and suggestions are most wel-
come. Please send them to
acunamelo@yahoo.com Thank you.
within the system, knowing the ways
corruption beats the system, knowing
the basics of problem solving, knowing
the difference between compassion to
the sinners and the value of implement-
ing discipline. Probably Fr. Ed can
learn much from Fr. Francisco Silva of
Toledo Cebu. He was appointed by
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to
head the National Electrification Ad-
ministration because of his track record
to eradicate graft and corruption and
poor governance in the management of
rural electric cooperatives to earn
money for continuous operation. He
now runs a conference center in Toledo,
Cebu to teach local executives on good
governance with stress on ethical prac-
tice in management within a govern-
ment system.
Yes it can be done successfully—the
clergy practicing the priestly, prophetic
and kingly mission of Christ—in desper-
ate conditions, even in the world of the
laity. As an old Pampanga voter said,
“PARI YONG HARI” We pray for your
success Fr. Ed! If you need any help from
Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas just e mail
joselugay@yahoo.com. God Bless You!
truth!
endars from the lumber company tacked
ubiquitously on the walls of their house.
This Jesus moving in the sky was the one
whose heart was exposed, but his heart was
as big as a dinner plate, and the little girl
was playfully sticking her finger in it. She
noticed that it felt and looked like a pin
cushion, being soft and made of red satin.
“Why is your heart very big?” she asked
Jesus. Came his reply, “Because it has to
have room for everyone.” The little girl,
still touching and exploring Jesus’ heart,
remarked, “It is very soft…” Then, Jesus
hugged her tight and she hugged him, too,
although she wanted to complain that he
was too big for her arms to hug tight.
When Jesus let go, the little girl noticed that
her own heart was outside of her chest, too,
though it was a regular heart, not as big as
Jesus’. She was surprised, however, that it was
The Truth / A6
A5
Bp. Leonardo Y. Medroso, JCD, DD
Tidbits
The Cultural
Heritage of the
Catholic Church
THE Agreement (Accordo) made between the Holy See
and the Republic of the Philippines last April 21, 2007
on the cultural treasures of the Roman Catholic Church
in the Philippines hardly stirred any ripple of excite-
ment in Philippine society as a whole. This is a tragic
occurrence for this reflects a state of a soul that is ane-
mic to a Filipino culture that is elevated to works of art
and to a faith that is expressed in images, arts and lines.
As it is the affair seems to be of no serious import. It
seems that many of us are still in the mental mold that
considers the cultural patrimony of the Church as be-
longing to the historical past whose proper place is the
moldy archive or remodeled museums.
It has nothing to do with the current buzz and mod-
ern ways of our life with its up-tempo technology, its
fast dizzying pace, articulated in music, arts and letters
that are attune to the uneasy soul of the modern man. If
at all, its usefulness may be confined to its power of
attracting some artists who have the eye for the fine
things in life or of drawing some tourists of sound cul-
tural background who still marvel and appreciate the
works of art that have incredibly withstood the rough
nature of time that relegates everything along its path
into the limbo of forgotten things.
And yet the cultural patrimony of the Church is such
a priceless legacy that the Holy See and the Republic of
the Philippines took the effort to put together their au-
thority to preserve, restore, catalogue, protect and care
for them. Each within its own competence and within
its own way of appraising the values of these cultural
goods entered into this agreement with the common
purpose of protecting these works of art. They know
that cultural goods reveal the creative capacity of art-
ists and craftsmen who have been able to draw artistic
lines on what is visible with the religious experience
and the prayer life of the Christian community of Fili-
pinos.
The Republic of the Philippines has seen in the cul-
tural heritage of the Church a priceless stock of the aes-
thetic ingenuity and human wisdom of the Filipino art-
ists and craftsmen. For the State this heritage makes up
a composite of the creative works of its sons and daugh-
ters, geniuses who have been able to express in artistic
lines, images and letters the deep Filipino sentiments
towards the Transcendent. As such they have human
values and, therefore, secular worth. As such they fall
within the State’s domain to care and to protect.
For the Church the value of the cultural patrimony is
its faith content. After all, works of art in the Church
are not purely secular. Church art is a human product,
but it participates with what is sacred. For in the tradi-
tion of the Church, real work of art breathes its life from
the theology of the Word made flesh. The sacred can be
expressed in art because the Sacred, who is God Him-
self, has taken a human flesh and blood. As Christoph
Schonborn concludes his investigation on “God’s Hu-
man Face”: “There exists an intimate connection be-
tween the whole concept of the arts and the concept of
the mystery of Christ as God and man. The Incarnation
not only transformed our knowledge of God, it also
changed man’s view of the world, of himself, and of his
activity in the world” (p. 238).
It is because of this theology of the incarnation that
Church art has down through the ages been used ex-
tensively for catechesis and liturgy. Using the variegated
work forms of art, such as painting, sculpture, archi-
tecture, music, literature, mosaic, the artists in the
Church have been able to convey the message that tran-
scends earthly reality. They greatly help the soul in its
search for the divine. Hence, art in its various forms is
in the Church not just for decorative purposes, but is
there to help its members to keep in touch with God, to
adore Him, to worship Him. As Jesus Christ, the “im-
age of the invisible God” (Col 1:15), brought man back
to God, so works of art that are enlivened by spiritual
inspiration have that uncanny power to assist the soul
find His God. As expressions of the human spirit, these
works of art bring man closer to his Creator.
It is therefore not surprising that the Church has al-
ways held in high esteem the ministry of arts, safeguard-
ing the artistic treasures belonging to it. As the Sacred
Congregation for the Clergy puts it: “The Church has
always held the ministry of the arts in the highest es-
teem and has striven to see that all things set apart for
use in divine worship are truly worthy, becoming, and
beautiful, signs and symbols of the supernatural world”
(“Opera Artis,” Circular Letter on the care of the
Church’s Historical and Artistic Heritage, 11 April
1971).
Such is the worth of the cultural heritage of the Church
in the Philippines that the Holy See and the Republic of
the Philippines, each within its competence, converged
“for the conservation, appreciation and proper use of
the cultural heritage” (Agreement, Art. III). For this
Agreement to take effect in the concrete, it spells out
two important provisions, namely, 1) the Holy See will
work through the Apostolic Nunciature and the Catho-
lic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines while the
Republic of the Philippines will work through the Na-
tional Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA); 2)
in the conservation, appreciation, and proper use of the
cultural heritage of artistic and historical significance
owned by the ecclesiastical institutions and organiza-
tions, the designated parties of the Holy See and the
Republic of the Philippines shall see to it that the imple-
mentation of the Philippine legislation regarding the
cultural heritage of the nation shall be harmonized with
the norms of Canon Law and the exigencies of the pas-
toral activity of the Church (cf. Agreement, Art. IV).
The Holy See and the Republic of the Philippines have
taken the initiative to safeguard the cultural treasures of
the Church in the Philippines. It is hoped that the eccle-
siastical authorities should be stirred up by this act and
take up the chore of treasuring the cultural patrimony
within their domain. As the Congregation for the Clergy
underlined it: “In our own times as well, bishops, no
matter how hard pressed by their responsibilities, must
take seriously the care of places of worship and sacred
objects. They bear singular witness to the reverence of
the people toward God and deserve such care also be-
cause of their historic and artistic value” (ibid.).
 CBCP Monitor
A6 Local News Vol. 11 No. 11
May 28 - June 10, 2007

Manila: Inter-faith Pastoral
Work Among Inmates
MANILA, May 23, 2007—More
than 300 volunteers from differ-
ent religious backgrounds have
come together as a group to
work with inmates in Manila
prisons. With the Inter-Dioc-
esan Restorative Justice Minis-
try playing a coordinating role,
the group provides prisoners
from all religions pastoral care
as well as legal counseling and
primary education.
Sr Zenaida C. Cabrera, one of
the 332 volunteers, told
AsiaNews that the fruit of link-
ing people of different faiths
lies in achieving unity through
pluralism.
“God’s grace is really work-
ing,” she said. “Volunteers treat
each other like one family. And
everyone feels with a smile and
they say that they long to see
From the Inbox • From the Inbox • From the Inbox •
FROM THE INBOX
each other
Political Office Not Expression of Priesthood
and work WITH the recent election of a priest in is breaking the vow of obedience and it has
together in Pampanga, it is timely and important for the the smell of Liberation Theology. The people
the jails.” Church to inform the people that priests and of Pampanga do not need a priest to run for
Volun- religious are not supposed to run for public governor to save them. Christ is our one true
teers meet office. Canon 285, B3 states it clearly and our Liberator.
on weekly late Holy Father made this clear in 1980. The CBCP needs to fulfill its role as shep-
basis to im- What has happened in Pampanga is what herds of the people and guide them back to
prove ser- our catechism refers to as a scandal in that it an understanding of what is right. Even if that
vices in leads others into serious errors and sows con- means informing them that a priest is in the
prison and fusion amongst the faithful. Take the quote wrong and disobedient to the vows he took
assess vis- from Fr. Ed in today’s paper. “It is out of this at ordination. It would be a scandal indeed if
its and plan love that I heeded the call to a more concrete the leadership of the Church here in the Phil-
for the fu- expression of my priestly vocation—of serv- ippines became a copy of our political sys-
ture. ing as a shepherd to God’s people, especially tem where rules and laws are not clear or
Services the poorest of the poor,” he said in a state- clearly followed. People all over this country
offered by each volunteer ence among the inmates so as ment, “Catholics clamored for a third candi- are confused about this. The sad thing about
group is incorporated to en- to make their life behind bars date”. it is that Canon Law and Holy Father are very
hance the lives of prisoners, and their understanding of the Running for elective office is not a concrete clear, the statement has been made clearly that
said Fr Bart Sagadal, one of the world better, said Mrs Soccoro expression of the priestly vocation! Religious the laity are the protagonists of direct politi-
chaplains in the group. Valerie, a volunteer leader from men and women do not take a “leave of ab- cal action, not the clergy.
Many efforts have also been Caritas Manila. (Santosh Digal sence” from their vows to run for office and
made to promote better coexist- /AsiaNews) then reassume their vows whenever their Roberto Moya
term ends. They do not simply go back to Negros Occidental
doing whatever they did before. At worst, this May 20, 2007

Church in Philippines Helps Appeal to CBCP

Decrease Election Violence
QUEZON CITY, May 17,
2007—Church groups worked
with local citizens to decrease
violence during this year’s elec-
tions in the Philippines, held
May 14.
In a May 15 press statement,
National Police Chief Oscar
Calderon said the number of
violent incidents during the
2007 election totaled 217; there
were 249 incidents in 2004 and
269 in 2001.
Bishop Joel Baylon of
Masbate told UCA News that
he was “grateful” politically
motivated killings in Masbate
province were “not as bad” as
in the 2004 national elections.
The province, comprising a
few small islands southeast of
Manila, recorded 15 fatalities
during this year’s election pe-
riod, compared with 24 in 2004.
Bishop Baylon said his dio-
cese continues to condemn the
“culture of violence in the prov-
ince” and will intensify its ef-
forts to help educate the people.
The bishop believes peace
and order during the election
period have improved, credit-
ing two external factors and one
internal factor: voting in
Masbate was placed directly
under the control of the Com-
mission on Elections and the
mass media kept close watch.
Bishop Baylon cited the local
Christian people as the internal
factor.
“I think people here have also
already started to manifest that
they don’t like [violence] and
have started to become more
vigilant,” he said. The people,
he said, were armed with the
powerful weapon of truth and
the “light of Christ.”
As well, the Parish Pastoral
Council for Responsible Voters
recruited more than 1,000 vol-
unteers in the province to assist
in a variety of ways with the
election process. Most were
young people, who ran errands,
such as bringing food to poll-
ing places.
Msgr. Vera Cruz is vicar gen-
eral of Iligan Diocese, which
covers the Lanao del Norte. He
described the overall conduct of
the election there as “orderly,”
in that no one was killed by
gunfire or other violence.
Still, he called the election
“scandalously shameful” be-
cause of rampant vote-buying
before and during the polls,
with votes selling for between
2,000 and 3,000 pesos ($42 – $63
USD). (CNA)
I AM a resident of Pasay City and I would
like to email you because I am VERY CON-
CERNED with the events pertaining to the
national elections. Even though, at the very
least, some claims of electoral fraud were not
backed by solid evidence, I still feel that this
whole political scenario is worth devoting
time to, not just by the politicians and their
supporters but also of the Catholic Church. I
understand that there should be a separation
of the Church and the state. But if the moral-
ity, the integrity, basically the values of the
people (both the leaders and the populace)
are already being questioned, then the Church
leaders ought to be vocal about it. With all
Overpopulation: a 20th-century Myth
IF the majority buys the radical birth control
initiative, does that make it right?
The initiative called for by population con-
trol agencies like the Philippine Legislators’
Committee on Population and Development
(PLCPD), based on the Pulse Asia survey on
family planning, is argumentum ad
populorum—a bandwagon argument.
The survey results should be expected, af-
ter all, loaded terms like “family planning”
and “modern family planning” were associ-
due respect, as a voter, as a citizen of this
country, I am deeply saddened. As a Catho-
lic, I am VERY disappointed with all these
events.
In a good light, I am happy with the vigi-
lance and political will the PPCRV and the
NAMFREL have been showing. Thank God
for bodies such as those two.
I appeal to the CBCP, please, help the laity.
Help us, your brothers and sisters in Christ.
We need you.
Genevieve Carlos
Pasay City
May 24, 2007
results, but that the Church is supposedly
against birth control itself, whereas Catholic
teachings on sex (and also Stoic and Hindu),
follows a procreative economics: no sex out-
side marriage, no divorce and remarriage, and
responsible parenthood eliminates many un-
desirable births.
But, of course, what population controllers
like PLCPD want is birth control by all means,
including the use of abortifacient hormonal
contraceptives and IUDs, based on the belief

Caritas Manila to Educate 10,000

ated with artificial contraceptives like that there is overpopulation—again a flawed
condoms, IUDs and sterilization. Could Pulse argument.
Asia’s team of analysts, “authorities” on The New York Times’ millennial edition de-
population control like Mercedes Abad, clared overpopulation as “one of the myths

Poor Students for Free
MANILA, May 24, 2007—
Caritas Manila, the social ser-
vice agency of the Archdiocese
of Manila, wants to educate
10,000 poor students by 2010 as
part of an ambitious plan to
help 300,000 families in the
Filipino capital.
Fr Anton C.T. Pascual, ex-
ecutive director of Caritas Ma-
nila, said that the plan covers
the whole of Metro Manila—
the Archdiocese of Manila it-
self plus the suffragan dioceses
of Cubao, Kalookan,
Novaliches, Paranaque and
Pasig—and includes education
at every level: elementary, high
school, college, and vocational
training.
“We need to catch up if we
really want to make a major ef-
fect against poverty here in the
city,” said Analyn Julian, an
officer with the Education As-
sistance Programme.
But while the plan needs 32
million pesos, only 12 million
have been raised so far. Yet this
has not discouraged those in-
volved.
“Work hard, pray, and have
faith; God will provide,” said
Sheila Conti, a resource mobi-
lization officer, but “we cer-
tainly need help,” she ac-
knowledged.
For this reason, “we are call-
ing on companies, organiza-
tions, institutions, and indi-
viduals who want to help. We
can partner with them for their
corporate social responsibility
programs where they can
maximize the help they will be
extending,” she stressed.
According to the 2002 An-
nual Poverty Indicators Survey
by the National Statistics Of-
fice, there are more than
830,000 out-of-school youths in
Metro Manila alone. Poverty is
identified as the main reason
for children not being able to
go to school or finish their edu-
cation. (Santosh Digal /
AsiaNews)
Arsenio Balicasan and Zelda Zablan, have in
any way influenced the gathering of data to
their interpretation?
The survey respondents were not asked
whether they were aware of modern natural
birth control based on fertility awareness, like
the Billings, Standard Days, Breast-feeding
and Basal Body methods, and whether the
government educated them about these other
methods they already knew. The respondents
were not asked whether they were aware of
the side effects of the contraceptives they were
using, an issue which is central to a real de-
bate on reproductive health.
The problem is that the so-called pro-choice
groups like PLCPD, funded by contraceptive
grants, curtail the advance of natural family
planning, the knowledge of and access to
which are supposed to make judgments in-
formed and “fair.”
What was news were not really the survey
of the 20th century.” The world’s leading
economists—including Nobel laureates in
Economics like Simon Kuznets (1971), Gary
Becker (1992), Amartya Sen (1998) and George
Akerlof (2001)—say that a large population,
if educated, employed and made productive,
is a self-sustaining human capital. Singapore
and many other Western countries used to
draconian population control programs are
now paying couples to have children. Is
PLCPD promising any better?
Instead, we should oust PLCPD, a private
entity pretending to be a government organi-
zation, from the House of Representatives,
where it is lodging without legal authoriza-
tion from Congress. This NGO, which lives
on questionable polls and population myths,
has no mandate to use public property.
Nicolo F. Bernardo
UST, The Varsitarian

To Poll / A1 Fund / A1 Bishop / A1 The Truth / A5

NAMFREL/NASSA and other
watchdogs deserve all the praise
and recognition for doing their
best to keep the polls’ integrity. He
specially mentioned the heroism
of the late Nellie Banaag and two
others who perished in the inten-
tional burning of a public school
in Taysan, Batangas.
“We praise all our volunteers,
we may call them heroes for do-
ing their best,” Lagdameo said.
He called on the Filipino faith-
ful to keep track of the promises
made by the successful candi-
dates and remind them of the
need to deliver and make a dif-
ference in their constituency.
“Dapat silang paalalahanan ng
kanilang mga ipinangako sapagkat
ito ang dahilan kaya sila ibinoto ng
mga mamamayan,” he further
said. (With reports from Melo
Acuña)
Ledesma / A1
clude Human Rights, Commu-
nity Building, Healing the Past,
Building the Future and Conflict
Transformation. Two pre-assem-
blies on Youth and Women will
be held in Mindanao.
Ledesma said the theme Peace-
making in Asia is also a challenge
for all how to make use of reli-
gious traditions to build peace.
There are 16 ACRP national
chapters from Asia and the Pa-
cific representing the Roman
Catholics, Protestants, Islam,
Hindus, Buddhists among oth-
ers. (Pinky Barrientos, FSP)
hospital assistance of up to
P30,000.00 and a scholarship fund
of up to P50,000.00 for six months
to one year of studies.
Those killed while on poll du-
ties will receive burial assistance
of up to P50,000.00 and scholar-
ship of up to P50,000.00 for any
member of his family.
Nearly half a million volunteers
reported to monitor election pro-
ceedings in more than 300,000
polling precincts nationwide.
PPCRV Chair and former Phil-
ippine Ambassador to the Holy
See Henrietta T. de Villa said the
fund drive was a simple recogni-
tion for the volunteers’ invaluable
service. (CBCP News)
Responsible / A1
He called on media institutions
to do away with values contrary
to common good.
“All these come from God and
they’re intended to serve the com-
mon good and for total human de-
velopment,” Bishop Cortez said.
He called on media moguls and
practitioners to safeguard and pro-
mote common good and protect
human dignity.
“Not everything that glitters is
gold,” he added as he called on
everyone to “please listen to your
heart and your conscience.”
“God gave you the talents and
please make use of your profession
not to divide and not to cultivate
violence but bring unity, integrity
and raise humanity to its fullest,”
Bishop Cortez concluded.
(CBCPNews)
Speaking over Catholic-run
Radio Veritas 846, Bishop dela
Peña, 53 and a native of San
Juan, Siquijor, said their volun-
teers really wanted to monitor
the events at the municipal can-
vassing but “they were given a
run around that night.”
He said even PPCRV Chair-
person de Villa failed to person-
ally see Commissioner Rene
Sarmiento regarding the ac-
creditation of volunteers will-
ing to watch the canvassing.
“Our people tried to negoti-
ate but they were not allowed
inside,” Bishop dela Pena said.
Some volunteers were allowed
inside the tabulation area early
Sunday morning.
Bishop dela Pena said he
fears what they worked for may
end into naught as he expressed
fears of anomalous activities
such as ballot switching can be
made to favor certain candi-
dates and political parties.
Bishop dela Peña said
Maranaos volunteered to keep
the polls honest and clean. “We
are thankful to them, the ideal-
istic ones who joined hands
with us,” dela Peña said.
Asked whether he fears for
his personal safety as he con-
demned political machinations
in Marawi, Bishop dela Peña
said “There is a price to pay for
vigilance as we sent out people
to monitor, watch and keep this
ideal (of good governance).”
(Melo Acuña)
bleeding although she felt no pain. Jesus read her like foamy waves, had not shifted at all! But the
mind and said, “When you hugged me, your heart little girl had no doubt that the movie-like story she
was pressed against mine and got wounded by the saw was real, not a dream. However, she did not
thorns around my heart.” The little girl looked at feel a need to tell anyone about it.
Jesus ’ heart which was no longer a big pin cushion Many many many years later, when the little girl
but already a real heart outside of his chest, ringed had grown into a woman who was to go through a
with thorns and bleeding, like the one she saw in lot in life, the picture of this heart episode wormed
stampitas and calendars. She glanced at her heart, its way into her consciousness. Just as the heart has
too, and noticed that the blood was coming from its own memory, it also has its own reason beyond
two little wounds. A smiling Jesus continued, “Now reason, and now, the woman whose heart as a little
you see why you are wounded but you do not feel girl received two wounds from His Heart knows
the pain because I am the one bearing all the pain— and believes: Jesus is wounded by both those who
because I love you.” love Him and those who do not love Him. Know-
The images slowly faded away and the little girl’s ing He is wounded causes her heart to bleed, too,
attention returned to her cloud-watching. Did she but He spares her from the pain because in her im-
fall asleep?, she wondered, for what transpired was perfect love for Him, feeling that pain herself would
similar to dreaming No, she was merely watching, cripple her in her efforts to love others. Jesus ’ love
and in fact she noticed that everything seemed to is such that He wants her heart to have room for
happen in a wink. In fact, the clouds that looked everyone, too! Behold the Heart that loves all of us!
Abortion / A1 Cheating / A1
home for the very first time,” “Even among Muslim com- ministration ticket bagged a 12-0
Cosalan said. munities, they would not find lead in at least 17 towns of
Abortion, he said, including the that the election was credible,” he Maguindanao province.
proliferation and the use of con- said. While the Commission on
traceptives by the youth will have Ledesma added an impartial Elections decided not to set aside
to be considered threats to society. investigation is imperative as results from Maguindanao prov-
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference there are “serious allegations” ince, due to almost the same
of the Philippines earlier reiterated that may affect the senatorial handwriting in the area’s official
its stand against birth control in re- race. He further said he already ballots, PPCRV Chair and former
action to the so-called growing received reports “indirectly” Philippine Ambassador to the
clamor for family planning. through other people who had Holy See Henrietta de Villa said
“The widespread use of contra- access to witnesses to cheating. the Comelec should not just snub
ceptives—even with government “I think the poll body fraud complaints. (CBCPNews)
support—and the great number of (COMELEC) should be pro-ac-
abortions committed daily do not tive here,” Ledesma quipped. He
change the objective moral law on also supported the call from sev-
birth control,” CBCP President eral poll watchdog groups for the Visit us online at
and Jaro (Iloilo) Archbishop An- Commission on Elections to set
gel N. Lagdameo said. aside the certificates of canvass • www.cbcponline.net/
He said the Church still sees ar- from Maguindanao. cbcpmonitor
tificial methods of family planning Allegations for fraud began to
as “a wrong thing.” (Roy Lagarde) reach Church leaders as the Ad-
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 11
May 28 - June 10, 2007
Vatican Commits Fight
Vs HIV/AIDS
VATICAN CITY, May 23,
2007—Yesterday, Archbishop
Celestino Migliore, permanent
observer of the Holy See to the
United Nations in New York,
delivered an address to the 61st
session of the UN General As-
sembly which is meeting to
consider the theme: “Imple-
mentation of the Declaration of
Commitment on HIV/AIDS.”
Speaking in English, Arch-
bishop Migliore referred to the
“detailed and comprehensive
report of the secretary general”
which “lists the greatest chal-
lenges: caring for the 39.5 mil-
lion people presently living
with HIV; reducing the number
of people dying annually from
AIDS, which in 2006 was 2.9
million; preventing new infec-
tions, which currently run at
some 4 million per year; and
taking special care of young
people, who accounted for 40
percent of new infections last
year.”
“The Holy See,” he went on,
“seizes this occasion to re-af-
U.S. Bishops Cautious of
Immigration Proposal
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 18,
2007—The U.S. bishops ex-
pressed reservations about an
immigration reform bill to be
debated in the Senate next
week, but added that they are
in favor of continuing the leg-
islative process.
Bishop Gerald Barnes of San
Bernardino, chairman of the
U.S. bishops’ Committee on
Migration, released a statement
today on the compromise im-
migration proposal that was
unveiled Thursday in Washing-
ton, D.C.
If adopted, the bill would
grant legal status to the some 12
million immigrants now living
illegally in the United States,
while allowing them to apply
for residency visas, and even-
tually citizenship. However,
those working in the United
States legally with temporary
worker visas would have to
leave the country in two years.
The proposed legislation
Pope Issues Message for
Anniversary of Rwanda
Genocide
VATICAN CITY, May 21,
2007—Made public today was
a Message, dated April 3, from
the Holy Father to Paul
Kagame, president of the Re-
public of Rwanda, for that
country’s annual day of na-
tional mourning to mark the
beginning of the 1994 genocide.
The anniversary day fell on
April 7, Easter Saturday.
“I wish to participate,” writes
the Pope in his Message, “in the
national mourning and espe-
cially in the prayers for all the
victims of that horrendous
bloodbath, without distinction
of creed, ethnicity or political
opinion.”
The Holy Father also ex-
presses his hope “that all
Rwandans, guided by their civil
and religious authorities, com-
mit themselves with greater
generosity and effectiveness in
favor of national reconciliation
and the building of a new coun-
try, in truth and justice, in fra-
Irish Priest Sidelined after
Internet Scandal
KILLALOE, Ireland, May. 23,
2007—An Irish Catholic priest
has received a leave of absence
from his parish assignment in
the Killaloe diocese after a tab-
loid newspaper revealed that
he had been active on a homo-
sexual internet site.
Father Michael Hogan issued
a statement saying that he was
“deeply ashamed” by the rev-
elations about his “indiscre-
tions in relation to my vow of
celibacy.” “I acknowledge that
these are serious matters that
affect me on a personal level
and in my vocation and minis-
try,” the priest said. “I am im-
mediately requesting my
bishop to grant me time away
firm its commitment to inten-
sify its response to this disease,
through its ongoing support for
a world-wide network of some
1,600 hospitals, 6,000 clinics,
and 12,000 initiatives of a chari-
table and social nature in devel-
oping countries.”
The Holy See, said the per-
manent observer, “believes that
providing information and op-
portunities for an education re-
spectful of naturally based val-
ues is essential both in the de-
velopment of scientific ad-
vancement and for personal
prevention.”
Archbishop Migliore con-
cluded by encouraging all
States “to be more forthcoming
in providing accurate numbers
with respect to monitoring and
evaluation, however difficult
this may be. A factual under-
standing as to where the world
community stands on this mat-
ter will serve us well as we at-
tempt to address all the prob-
lems associated with HIV/
AIDS and to care for all.” (VIS)
would also give skilled, edu-
cated workers priority consid-
eration for residency visas, as
opposed to the current system
which gives precedence to fam-
ily members of U.S. citizens.
Bishop Barnes said: “Con-
gress should ensure that any fi-
nal legislation contains a legal-
ization program which is work-
able and includes family unity
and a fair and realistic path to
citizenship, a new worker pro-
gram which provides partici-
pants a meaningful opportu-
nity to obtain permanent resi-
dency and the preservation of
family unity as an integral part
of the U.S. immigration system.
“We intend to pursue changes
in these important areas.”
He added, “We look forward
to working with our elected of-
ficials in Congress to enact a
law which both protects the
basic human rights and dignity
of persons and serves our na-
tional interest.” (Zenit)
ternal unity and peace.”
“Religious motivations,
which are the foundation of
Catholics’ commitment to fam-
ily and social life, and the moral
principles that derive therefrom,
represent a point of encounter
for Christians and for all men
and women of good will.”
Benedict XVI concludes his
message by affirming that “the
Christian faith, which is shared
by the majority of Rwandans, if
lived coherently and fully, is a
real help in overcoming a past
of errors and death, the culmi-
nating point of which was the
1994 genocide.
At the same time, such faith
stimulates trust in the possibil-
ity offered to all Rwandans, rec-
onciled to one another, to build
a better future together, redis-
covering the novelty of love
which is the only power that
can lead to personal and social
perfection and orient history
towards good.” (VIS)
from my ministry so that I
might deal for myself with
these issues.”
Killaloe’s Bishop Willie Walsh
also issued his own statement on
May 23, saying: “Father Michael
has asked me for a period of
time out, from his ministry, in
order to reflect on his position. I
have accepted his request.”
“We, as priests, are commit-
ted to living celibate lives,”
Bishop Walsh said. “We are not,
however, immune from
struggles in many areas of our
lives including our sexuality.
We take consolation that Jesus,
while condemning the sin, did
not stand in judgment on the
sinner.” (CWNews)
Features
Church Is Not Homophobic, Affirms Prelate
VATICAN CITY, May 22,
2007—Accusations that the
Church is homophobic are
“simply ideological and false,”
says Archbishop Angelo
Bagnasco.
Archbishop Bagnasco, presi-
dent of the Italian bishops’ con-
ference, made this statement
Monday during the inaugura-
tion of the 57th Assembly of
Italian bishops in Rome, being
held in the Vatican through Fri-
day. The archbishop has re-
cently received threats for up-
holding the definition of mar-
riage as a relationship between
a man and a woman.
Franciscans Convene 199th
General Chapter
ASSISI, Italy, May 16, 2007—
The Order of Friars Minor Con-
ventual convened their 199th
general chapter, which will in-
clude a visit from Benedict XVI
for a Mass marking the anniver-
sary of St. Francis’ conversion.
About 100 friars from 34
countries will meet together
until June 20.
During the assembly, held
every six years, the Conventual
Franciscans will discuss their
way of life and pastoral work
in light of the challenges of
today’s world. They will also
elect the 119th minister-general
of the order.
Benedict XVI will join the fri-
ars in Assisi on June 17.
In an Aug. 31 dialogue with
priests from the Diocese of
Tony Blair to Visit Pope Before
Leaving Office
London, May 24, 2007—Brit-
ish Prime Minister Tony Blair
will visit Pope Benedict XVI at
the Vatican before he leaves
office in June.
A spokesman for the British
leader confirmed that Blair
plans to speak with the Pope
about “interfaith” issues be-
fore he steps down, and men-
tions that Blair will also visit
Italian Prime Minister
Romano Prodi during his visit
Book Shows Pius XII Wasn’t Silent
ROME, May 22, 2007—The
black legend about Pope Pius
XII is so widespread that many
consider it to be more true than
the actual historical facts, says
papal biographer Andrea
Tornielli.
Tornielli’s latest book, “Pio
XII, Un Uomo Sul Trono di
Pietro” (Pius XII: A Man on the
Throne of Peter),” hit the book-
shelves in Italy today. Tornielli
is a noted Vatican journalist
with the Milan-based newspa-
per Il Giornale.
Speaking with ZENIT,
Tornielli denounced “the arbi-
trary diminishment of the fig-
ure of Pius XII.”
That Pope has been “crushed
under criticisms about the Ho-
locaust and his ‘silence,’”
Tornielli said.
The 661-page book is a biog-
raphy of the Roman-born Pope,
and is based on never before
seen documentation from the
private archives of the Pacelli
family, and eyewitness ac-
counts recorded in the acts of
his beatification cause.
Contrary to the Pius XII pre-
sented by his opponents as the
Archbishop Bagnasco said:
“It is certainly unpleasant that
accusations of homophobia are
sometimes hurled at the
Church and its members.
“We calmly say that this criti-
cism is simply ideological and
false, and contrary to the spirit
and practice of total acceptance
of all people.”
Archbishop Bagnasco, re-
sponding to criticism directed
at Benedict XVI, said: “I would
like to express to the Pope the
heartfelt closeness of the Italian
bishops’ conference for the su-
perficial slanders made against
him.”
Albano, Italy, the Pope said:
“Francis was not just an envi-
ronmentalist or a pacifist. He
was, above all, a converted
man.
“Before his conversion,
Francis was a sort of playboy.
Then he felt that this was not
enough. He heard the Lord’s
voice: ‘Rebuild my house.’ He
slowly came to realize what the
Lord meant by ‘build the house
of the Lord.’”
The Franciscan’s minister-
general, Father Joachim
Giermek, echoed the Pope’s
words. The Conventual
Franciscan superior’s letter con-
voking the general chapter said:
“The entire order feels called to
conversion and to rediscover
the vitality of its roots.” (Zenit)
to Rome.
Nevertheless the plans for
the trip are sure to spark fur-
ther speculation about the
possibility that Blair will en-
ter the Catholic Church after
his resignation.
Informed sources in Rome
report that the Pope will re-
ceive Blair in a private audi-
ence on June 2. The Vatican
has not officially confirmed
the visit. (CWNews)
“Pope of silence,” a different
Pius XII emerges from the
pages of Tornielli’s book.
“One of the major sources of
my work,” Tornielli explained,
“was the letters Pacelli wrote to
his family, in particular to his
brother Francesco. While he was
the nuncio in Germany, Pacelli
collaborated with Pope Pius XI
to create the Lateran Pacts.
“From these never before
seen papers we can see Pius
XII’s concern about the birth of
Nazism and about its strong
anti-Christian nationalism.”
“But other aspects also
emerge—much more personal
ones—like his desire not to be-
come a cardinal so he could
dedicate himself fully to pasto-
ral ministry,” he continued.
“Here we see that Pacelli, as
nuncio, cardinal and then Pope,
was always a priest at heart, a
true priest.”
“The campaign against Pius
XII was started in the Soviet
Union and was then sustained
in Catholic environments,”
Tornielli concluded. “Slowly
the truth is emerging about the
accusations of silence.” (Zenit)
Serving joy
Archbishop Bagnasco, serving
as chairman of the bishops’ meet-
ing for the first time, explained
the mission of the conference: “It
is Christ and his Gospel that
urges us on, nothing else.
“We proclaim him as the mea-
sure of our humanity, not to re-
veal weaknesses or underline de-
feats, but to show obedience.
That is essential, first and fore-
most, for us as bishops and pro-
moters of true freedom for all.”
“When we appeal to con-
sciences,” continued Archbishop
Bagnasco, “it is not in order to
be intrusive, but to call people
Expert Says Pope Opened
Way for Women
APARECIDA, Brazil, May 16,
2007 Benedict XVI’s inaugural
address at the bishops’ general
conference in Aparecida
opened the door for a discus-
sion on the role of women in the
Church and society, says an ex-
pert.
Sandra Ferreira Ribero, who
is attending the 5th General
Conference of the Episcopate of
Latin America and the Carib-
bean as an expert, pointed to
the Pope’s comments on chau-
vinism in Latin American soci-
eties.
The Pope said, “In some
families in Latin America there
still unfortunately persists a
chauvinist mentality that ig-
nores the ‘newness’ of Chris-
tianity, in which the equal dig-
nity and responsibility of
women relative to men is ac-
knowledged and affirmed.”
Ferreira Ribero, a specialist in
physics, theology and the soci-
ology of religion, and the na-
tional coordinator of the
Focolare movement in Brazil,
said that she believes the Holy
Father mentioned chauvinism
and its relation to women as an
invitation for further discussion
at the conference.
Bolivian Bishops Pledge to Speak
Out Despite President’s Criticism
LA PAZ, Bolivia, May. 25,
2007—The bishops’ conference
of Bolivia issued a statement
this week saying, “The Church
cannot cease from speaking
about social problems,” or “re-
nounce human promotion be-
cause it is an essential part of
her mission.”
“The Church cannot cease to
speak out on social problems,”
the bishops said, after Bolivian
president Evo Morales said the
Church should choose between
“prayer and politics.”
“One of the essential charac-
teristics of democratic life is
freedom of expression, prac-
ticed with responsibility, at the
BBC Report on Clerical Abuse to Air
in Italy May 31
ROME, May. 24, 2007—A con-
troversial BBC documentary on
sexual abuse and the Vatican
will be broadcast by the Italian
state television network RAI on
May 31, broadcast executives
have announced.
The BBC program, which at-
tempts to demonstrate that a
1961 Vatican document sought
to cover up evidence of clerical
A7
back to those things without
which each person would lose
their bearings, especially for
those less fortunate.”
“Our words contain no hidden
meanings,” underlined the arch-
bishop. “With the utmost transpar-
ency we are at the service of joy.”
“We do not see a sad people,
hollowed out by nihilism and
tempted by decadence. We see a
people who are alive, capable of
renewing themselves through
their own resources and disci-
pline, able to lead their young
people, able to speak credibly in
an international assembly.”
(Zenit)
“It is true that the Holy Fa-
ther underlined this aspect in
speaking about the family, but
obviously, this goes beyond just
the family,” Ferreira Ribero
said. “Pope John Paul II high-
lighted what he called the femi-
nine genius. And because the
Church is a vast reality, one can
look at this from many differ-
ent points of view.”
The conference expert also
highlight that the Marian ele-
ment of the Church—being
equally important to the
Petrine-Apostolic element—
”has not been, historically
speaking, sufficiently dis-
cussed, and this is a challenge
for us today.”
“Mary is the Queen of
Apostles without claiming to
have apostolic powers. One
thinks immediately of female
priesthood, but that is not it,”
Ferreira Ribero explained, add-
ing that there is “a much greater
mission open to women.”
“The role of a woman is, prac-
tically speaking, the role of
Mary in the Church and in so-
ciety,” she said. “Mary is the lay
woman par excellence, and
therefore the disciple of Christ
par excellence.” (Zenit)
right time, and for the common
good,” said Bishop Jesús Juárez
Párraga, secretary general of
the bishops’ conference.
He said that the bishops will
continue to exercise their right to
speak out on social issues, as it is
the task of the hierarchy to “teach
and interpret authentically the
moral principles that must be fol-
lowed in temporal affairs.”
According to the statement
by the bishops, the political
community and the Catholic
Church “are independent and
autonomous although both are
at the service of the personal
and social vocation of man.”
(CNA/CWNews)
misconduct, has drawn intense
criticism from Church leaders
and sympathetic lawmakers in
Italy.
RAI’s director general,
Claudio Cappon, announced
on May 23 that the program
would be aired in conjunction
with a rebuttal, giving Church
leaders an opportunity to cor-
rect distortions. (CWNews)
 CBCP Monitor
A8 People, Facts & Places Vol. 11 No. 11
May 28 - June 10, 2007

Markings
ENDORSED. MOST REV. JOSE S.
PALMA, DD, archbishop of Palo, by
CBCP Permanent Council, March 15,
2007; to be the Spiritual Director for the
Charismatic Renewal Movement in the
country through the National Service
Committee. Abp. Palma replaces Apb.
Arguelles who was the spiritual direc-
tor of Charismatic Renewal Movement
until his appointment as archbishop of Lipa.

CELEBRATED. MSGR. LUIS JONIE AGUIRRE, HP, 25th

anniversary to sacerdotal ordination; May 30, 2007. Msgr.
Aguirre, 49, is currently the parish priest of St. Anthony of
Padua Parish in Iriga City, Camarines Sur. Born on August
26, 1957, he finished his training for the priesthood at the
Holy Rosary Major Seminary in Naga City, where he earned
a degree in Sacred Theology; and was ordained priest at
the age of 24. In his early years as priest, he also served as
rector of the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary, also in Naga
City.

CELEBRATED. Silver Jubilee of the fol-

Members of Catholic Women’s League with Bishop Leonardo Y. Medroso, DD, during their annual meeting in Tagbilaran, April 29-May 1, 2007.
lowing Sisters of Jesus the Good Shep-
herd (Shepherdess Sisters), at Mt. Carmel

CWL Holds National Assembly

THE Catholic Women’s League
(CWL) of the Philippines held
its National Assembly at the
scenic resort of Bohol Island last
April 30-May 1, 2007. Around
450 officers and members of
CWL participated in the two-
day event. There were repre-
sentatives from the CWL of Ko-
rea led by Theresa Duck Choo,
WUCWO (World Union of
Catholic Women’s Organiza-
tion) Regional Vice President
for Asia Pacific.
The main objective of the as-
sembly was to make a mid-term
assessment of its National Ac-
tion Program for 2006-2008
based on the theme “Living the
Eucharist in the Ministry of the
CWL”. It also aimed to iden-
tify the strengths and weak-
nesses of the program as a
guide to further achieve its goal
for 2008.
The most significant gain of
the organization was in the area
of spiritual formation where
majority of the members now
pray the liturgy of the hours.
Our strength, we believe, is on
the power of prayer, the bed-
rock and well-spring of our
apostolate in its quest for jus-
tice and peace. Other accom-
plishments were the heightened
awareness and promotion of
the dignity of women, more
women’s desk for counseling
were organized, continuing
skills and training programs to
prepare women for better job
opportunities.
The global warming issue
was also seriously discussed by
the members as it will affect our
communities living along the
coastal area of our 7,100 islands.
Simple measures to adopt were
discussed on how the members
can help minimize the adverse
affects of the phenomenon.
In the area of advocacy, the
CWL is part of the group that
strongly supports the Church’s
stand against abortion, same
sex marriage, and divorce. The
weakness of the organization as
reflected during the discussion
was the need for more young
members to take over from the
aging CWL members, the need
for logistical support for
projects and the commitment of
sustaining the gains earned
throughout the years.
The two-day assembly
ended with a friendship night
capped with a spiritual dance
“Our Father” by our Korean
guests led by Theresa who left
for home with memories high-
lighted by their social visit and
blessings from the Bishop of
Tagbilaran, Bohol, His Excel-
lency, Most Rev, Leonardo Y.
Medroso and the Archbishop
of Manila, His Eminence,
Gaudencio B. Cardinal
Rosales. (Dr. Zeny Rotea)
Shrine Parish, Quezon City, May 30, 2007;
Sr. Carmelita Ababa, presently involved
in the Family Life Ministry of the Apos-
tolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa,
Palawan; Sr. Carmelita Gamulo, in-
charge of the administration of the Jesus
Good Shepherd School Canteen and Christian formation
of its Canteen personnel; and Sr. Aida Virtudez, involved
in the Apostolate of the Sea (AOS) and Pastoral Care of the
Migrants’ (OFWs) and their Families. Rev. Fr. Mat Sanchez,
SJ, presided the 9 AM Thanksgiving Mass.
CELEBRATED. Sr. Lucilla Baldado
and Sr. Ma. Nilda Masirag, 25th anni-
versary of Religious Consecration
among the Sisters of St. Paul de
Chartres. Apostolic Nuncio, Arch-
bishop Fernando Filoni presided the
concelebrated 9 Am Mass on May 5 at
Our Lady of Chartres Convent in
Antipolo City. Sr. Lucilla is currently
the president of St. Paul University, Quezon City while Sr.
Ma. Nilda is the president of St. Paul University in
Dumaguete City.

PASSED TO ETERNAL REWARD. Fr. John Paylado,

Archdiocese of Palo, Leyte, May 18, 2007.

Minor Seminary to Open in Antipolo

THE Diocese of Antipolo is set to open this
coming June 2007 the John Paul II Minor
Seminary. Now on its final stages of
completion, the high school seminary sits
on a two hectare land along Maguey Road
in Barangay San Luis, Antipolo City.
By the first week of June, about fifty high
school freshmen will enter the newly con-
structed seminary. The young boys com-
ing from different parishes of the Diocese
of Antipolo will compose the first batch of
seminarians in this house of formation
named after the late Pope John Paul II.
The Bishop of Antipolo, Most Rev.
Gabriel V. Reyes, D.D., thought of opening
a high school seminary upon seeing the
need for a steady supply of candidates to
the priesthood in the diocese. Not being
discouraged by the thought that a number
of high school seminarians might not even-
tually become priests, Bishop Reyes says
that at least, the Church can do its part of
forming young men to be good Christians
in a world where unChristian mentalities
are present and a lot of ‘disvalues’ are
prevalent.
Although it has around 74 diocesan
priests, the Diocese of Antipolo is short of
priests needed to minister to 2.7 million
people in the province of Rizal and the city
of Marikina, which comprises the whole
diocese.
At present, there are 54 parishes in the
diocese with well-established diocesan
ministries and commissions in its structure.
With the Diocese celebrating its Silver
Most Reverend Angel N. Lagdameo, DD, Archbishop of Jaro and CBCP President, gave a talk on “Spirituality of Stewarship with Mary as its Model” on the occaision of the 5th
Biennial National Convention of World Apostolate of Fatima held on May 24-27, 2007 in Baguio City.
Most Reverend Gabriel Reyes, DD, bishop of Antipolo, blesses the Minor Seminary site.
Jubilee (25th Year of Canonical Erection as
a Diocese) in 2008, the local Church has
focused its attention in helping build its
clergy and promoting more vocations to the
diocesan priesthood in the midst of con-
sumerist and self-serving lifestyles among
the young people today.
Bishop Reyes assigned Rev. Fr. Mabini
Cabildo as the seminary rector and Rev. Fr.
Jose Bautista as spiritual director.
A fund raising concert for the benefit of
the John Paul II Minor Seminary will be
held in August, 2007 at the Yñares Center
in Antipolo City. Performing in this con-
cert is the diocesan clergy of Antipolo. (Fr.
Joel Victorino)
Collegio Filippino
Celebrates Annual Fiesta
PONTIFICIO Collegio Filippino
(PCF) kicked off its annual fiesta
celebration on May 6, with a
triduum of masses attended by
Filipino dignitaries, business-
men, migrant workers, priests,
nuns and seminarians.
The triduum of masses had
Apostolic Nuncio to Pakistan
Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana
as main celebrant and preacher
on the first day. Fr. Mel Braga,
a Licentiate Student-priest pre-
sided the Eucharistic celebra-
tion on the second day with
Msgr. Ruperto Santos as
preacher. The last day of the
triduum was celebrated with
Fr. Bong Fuentes, a Licentiate
Student in Dogmatic Theology
as presider and Fr. Samuel
Galias, a first year student in
Biblicum, as preacher.
His Eminence Ricardo Cardi-
nal Vidal led the Eucharistic cel-
ebration on May 6 which was at-
tended by Filipino communities
and friends of PCF. Cardinal
Gaudencio Rosales gave the
homily. 50 Filipino and Italian
priests concelebrated. The big
crowd that came filled up the
main chapel and lobby. Moni-
tors were put up at the lobby to
allow people outside to partici-
pate and see what was going on
inside the chapel.
The image of Our Lady of
Antipolo and Good Voyage, pa-
troness of PCF, was brought in
procession around the com-
pound accompanied by 8-12
year olds sagalas.
Filipino communities that par-
ticipated in the Collegio Day set
up their own tents the day be-
fore the fiesta. Fifty Filipino com-
munities, 6 of which are outside
Rome—Lecce, Bari, Caserta,
Pissa, Terni, and Ferenzi at-
tended. Fourteen Filipino estab-
lishments, mostly banks promot-
ing their services were also
around.
The program was conceptual-
ized by Fr. Lito Jopson, a Licen-
tiate Student of Social Commu-
nication at the University of Santa
Croce.
Aiming to project what is truly
Filipino, the fiesta really made
everyone felt as if they were in-
deed back home.
The barrio fiesta showcased a
competition for best cook in Fili-
pino dishes in different catego-
ries: meat, fish, chicken, barbecue,
rice cake, etc. Migrant workers
participated in the event.
Various Filipino communities
representing Sacre Cuore, El
Shaddai-Rome chapter, Our
Lady of Peñafrancia and San
Raffaela participated in the Reli-
gious-Cultural Dance, which had
San Raffaela Community emerg-
ing as winner of the contest.
The Palarong Pinoy, consisting
of indigenous games intended for
children, was facilitated by the
Filipino communities.
Besides the Philippine cardi-
nals and bishops who came for
the celebration, other notable
guests were ambassador to Italy
Philippe Luillier and ambassador
to Vatican Leonida de Vera, em-
bassies’ staff, and Professors of
different Pontifical Universities.
The Collegio Day is a celebra-
tion of the fiesta of Our Lady of
Peace and Good Voyage, patron-
ess of PCF. The event started in
May 1962, seven months after
PCF was inaugurated by Pope
John XXIII in October 7, 1961.
The annual celebration draws
together the Filipino communi-
ties in Rome and nearby places,
especially those parishes which
are served every Sundays by stu-
dent-priests for this school year
2006-2007.
This year’s celebration had the
theme, “Pilipino sa Mundo, Sugo
ng Ebanghelyo.”
Current PCF residents repre-
sent 24 dioceses in the Philip-
pines, 15 from Luzon dioceses, 8
from Visayas, and 3 from
Mindanao. One student-priest
comes from Kenya and another
one from Nigeria. (Pinky
Barrientos, FSP)
 B2 Updates
The Juridic Concept of
B3 Features
The Diocese of Baguio
B4 Commissions
Episcopal Commission on
B
Vol. 11 No. 11 • May 28-June 10, 2007 Parish Priest Youth

Pastoral Concerns
B5 Statements
7 Questions for Archbishop
Ramon Arguelles

B6 Reflections
Michaela Fudolig

B7 Social Concerns
A Mall without Walls

ECMI Eyes Cooperative Employment for Migrant Families

By Dyz Pumarada
ABOUT thirty job seekers hurried to
the Parish of Immaculate Heart of Mary
(PIHM) in Taktak, Diocese of Antipolo
on May 12, 2007 to take advantage of
possible employment offered by the
Staff Search Asia Cooperative (SSA)
headed by Ms. Lanie Pascua, HR Out-
sourcing Assistant.
SSA is a personnel-outsourc-
ing cooperative that provides client
companies with solution that enhances
operational efficiency and improves
productivity. This activity is part of
CBCP’s Episcopal Commission for the
Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant
People or ECMI’s exploratory partner-
ship with the SSA in line with its Re-
integration Program for the migrants
and their family. The program specifi-
cally provides venues for possible local
employment as alternative to overseas
employment.
As an offshoot of the training
dubbed as Mentoring for Work con-
ducted last April at the Lay Formation
Institute, the migrant’s desk leaders
in different parishes of Antipolo dio-
cese who attended the seminar were
inspired by this new challenge of
providing work through cooperative
membership.
With the permission of her
parish priest, PIHM parish migrant
leader Glo Mia, organized a Job Quest
Activity within the parish. Through a
series of announcements at masses, she
was able to gather around 30 young job
seekers who submitted their resume,
and underwent brief orientation about
the activity, and SSA as job placement
cooperative.
SSA gave a qualifying exami-
nation to the applicants. Afterwards,
the papers were checked and the appli-
cants went through the initial interview
by the SSA representatives. Out of the
thirty applicants, 24 passed the qualify-
ing examination. They were instructed
to visit the SSA office in Makati City for
final interview and eventual endorse-
ment to their possible employers.
Once accepted to the Staff
Search Asia, the applicant will become
an associate member of the SSA Coop-
erative even before one is deployed to
possible employer. The applicant im-
mediately becomes a part owner of the
SSA who will also benefit to the revenue
of the SSA Cooperative.
If proven effective, this part-
nership program of ECMI and SSA will
continue to be replicated at the different
parishes and dioceses that are open to
such possible employment generation
as an alternative to overseas jobs that
are basically attractive to fresh gradu-
ates.
Besides employment, SSA
also provides the applicant with a
possible business by becoming one of
the owners of the SSA Cooperative.
Unlike overseas jobs that require ex-
One of the applicants taking the qualifying
orbitant placement fees before, during
or after deployment, local employment exams. INSET: SSA representatives with
through SSA does not oblige prospec- CBCP-ECMI staff Dyz Pumarada.
tive applicant any placement fees.

Breaking Cultural Boundaries

Bringing the Bible The Life of a Lay Missionary

Closer to the People
By Brian Tayag
“All the Christian faithful have the right to evangelize the nations” (Canon 211)
THE Columban Lay Missionaries from studying, they also go into cul- [my] family; there is always an urge or
By Dominiano Esta (CLM) are lay persons who respond to tural exposure to learn more about the a desire for me to help, and to do some-
the call of mission by crossing boundar- culture of the country and its people. thing good for the family so that they
THE diocesan biblical apostolate of Malaybalay diocese held a Basic ies of culture, gender, creed and race. Rowena shared that coming from a will be out of poverty,” said Rowena.
Bible Seminar last March 16-18, 2007 at the Santo Niňo Parish, Don As missionaries, they work on urban country with a population of 80 million, Rowena shared how she was helped
Carlos, Bukidnon. Diocesan Bible Team Coordinator Dominiano Esta poor apostolate, pastoral outreach, cat- and suddenly being transplanted into by email messages she received, one
conducted the three-day seminar which was attended by the parish echetical programs, family life, health a nation with a population of only 800 from Bishop Angelito Lampon of Sulu
biblical core group and ecology programs, promotion of thousand, can indeed create a big shock and, another from Sister David Andaya
Five couples and 19 lay leaders (lectors and BEC formators) actively justice and peace, inter-faith dialogue, on the missionary. of the Carmelite Sisters of Our Lady, in
participated in the seminar. The module used for the seminar was and other apostolate. So biglang nag-shrink ang mundo, making the right decision. Both emails
“Batakang Pagtuon sa Bibliya: Unang Ang-ang Pasiuna sa Bibliya” by Fr. The Lay Missionary Program of the yung shrink talaga ang mundo (The brought home one important message
Marcelo E. Cattaneo, SVD Coordinator. This module had five topics: Ang Columban Fathers was formally es- world suddenly became smaller),” according to Rowena—which is, put-
Bibliya, Pulong sa Dios (The Bible God’s Word); Ang Bibliya sa Kinabuhi tablished in the 1980’s. It was the fruit she said. ting her trust in the providence of God
sa Katilingban (The Bible in the Life of the Community); Ang Pagpuyo of the two General assemblies of the Rowena added that coming from a and not on her own resources.
sa Pulong sa Dios (Living God’s Word); Ang Pagpakli sa Bibliya (Bible Columban Fathers, first in 1970 stating, big Catholic country like the Philip- “I have to learn how to trust in the
Scanning); and Ang Bibliya sa Iyang Panahon (The Bible in History). “Lay missionary may well be the be- pines and going to a country that is generosity of God,” said Rowena.
Bibliodrama dances, video presentation of the song Power to Unite ginning of some- Although faced with many chal-
along with documentation were integrated in the Bible Seminar. The short thing bigger that lenges and trials, Arlene and Rowena
documentary movie Armed with Hope was also shown for the participants we dream of; we decided to continue their missionary
to reflect on, and should be espe- activities. Their generous decision to
point toward the cially ready to live a missionary life comes from the
realization that as Help build and strengthen see the finger of
God in such a
joy of knowing themselves and their
relationship with God.
Bible Facilitators,
they should be Basic Ecclesial Communities movement.” The When assailed with doubts as regards
second assem- to their missionary vocation, what they
men and women through God’s Word in the bly took in 1976 do is go back to their initial experience
of hope, and be
able to give hope Bible with a clear vi- of the call. Everything starts with a call
to people. sion proposing, and ends with a call. Rowena shared
Parish Bible co- “That the society that sometimes she doubted her own
ordinator, Mario initiate an ex- calling, knowing her frailties, but she
Balite made en- periment which also said that “God sometimes writes
couraging efforts would encour- in crooked lines.”
to reorganize age qualified la- Being a missionary in a diverse cul-
the Parish Bible ity to participate ture, where Muslims, Hindus and Bud-
Apostolate which in our mission- dhists live in peace despite differences
has been inactive ary work.” in belief, Arlene said they experience
for the past five Presently the CLM is present in vari- Arlene signing an agreement with the Co- God through their interaction with one
lumban Lay Missionaries in August 2005.
years. ous countries like Pakistan, Korea, Brit- another. When
The seminar ain, Ireland, Philippines, Fiji Island and
others. In the Philippines they have two
When assailed with doubts as regards they find good-
ness in the per-
was culminated
with the Holy missionary houses, one in Quezon City their missionary vocation, what they do son, they believe
and the other in Ozamiz City. Arlene God is good.
Sacrifice of the
Mass p re sided Villahermosa and Rowena Conico, are is go back to their initial experience of “And even
by Fr. Art Bal- two Columban Lay Missionaries who
at present reside in their missionary
the call. Everything starts with a call when we talked
about our belief,
nawi, the Parish
Administrator; house in Quezon City. and ends with a call. the Muslims be-
Arlene is currently the coordinator lieve in God, the
© Rick Barrentine/Corbis

during which the

participants made of the CLM. Before being assigned as
their commitment coordinator, she was into a mission in
to be active in the Korea where she was part of the Inter-
Bible Apostolate. national Migrant Ministry.
Meanwhile, the diocese was represented at the recent Regional Quiz “It has opened my eyes. It broadened
competitions of the National Catholic Family Bible Quiz (NCFBQ) by my understanding of mission, and also
Emmanuel Yap and Family who came out third place winner. The dio- [my] experience of God, that He is not
cese of Malaybalay was awarded as the Most Responsive Diocese and only present in my own concept of who
the Most Organized Diocese in the preparation and actual competition God is,” Arlene said of her missionary
of the 2nd National Catholic Family Bible Quiz. experience.
After the 2nd NCFBQ Regional Competitions, the Yap family com- Meanwhile, Rowena is a Filipino
mitted themselves to be active members of the Diocesan Bible Team. missionary from Fiji Island. She is here
Thus, with their presence, faith sharing, testimonies, and use of their on vacation, and also to take short-term
LCD projector, the Diocesan Team is able to promote the Bible more studies. She was in Fiji for six years.
effectively. Arlene related that the first difficulty
The Yap family participated at a retreat facilitated by ECBA executive being in the mission is the language
secretary Fr. Oscar Alunday, SVD at SVD Retreat House in Tagaytay barrier. Arlene said, “Kasi mahirap pag
on April 12–15, 2007. hindi namin masabi yung gustong sabi-
The biblical apostolate of the diocese of Malaybalay actively promotes hin o hindi namin sila maintindihan no,
the reading of the word of God among families. As stated in the dioc- (It’s very difficult if we cannot express
esan biblical apostolate mission, it is very important to bring the Sacred ourselves well, or if we cannot under-
Scriptures closer to the people, “so that its saving message may animate stand what they are saying). That’s the
their lives, give them spiritual nourishment, strength and consolation first difficulty, the language. Side by
and bring about a deeper intimacy with Jesus Christ.” side with it is the culture itself, the way
The biblical apostolate has also committed itself to “help build and people do things; their practices which
strengthen Basic Ecclesial Communities through God’s Word in the are very different from ours.”
Bible.” To solve the language problem, the
CLM study in language school. Aside
multi-faith, could [also] be challeng-
ing.
“I have learned how to live with
Muslims, Hindus, Methodists, and
being a minority in Fiji. The Catholic
population there is only 10 percent of
the total population. The biggest chal-
lenge for me as a missionary, working
in the community is to really be aware
of celebrating their experience of God,”
opined Rowena. She said it is important
to become aware of the reality where
these people are coming from.
“For example, the indigenous cul-
ture, it is tribal, very patriarchal, very
hierarchical, their cultural practices are
[intertwined] with religious practices,”
said Rowena.
Aside from the challenges and prob-
lems faced in the mission area, there is
also the problem of supporting one’s
family. The decision to join the CLM
was not an easy one to make according
to Rowena. She was supporting her
family financially, her parents were
getting older and detachment was
very hard.
“[I have this] messianic complex for
Buddhist believed in power greater,
so for me even if we have a different
name for that supreme [being], that is
how I experience God in them,” Arlene
added.
Both missionaries observed the great
need in the Church for people to serve.
Rowena explained that being a mission-
ary does not necessarily mean going
out of the country. Getting ourselves
involved even in a small way, in our
own parish, in our faith communities,
in our own renewal movements is a
missionary work done in the name of
the Church.
The CLM missionaries around the
world call for openness to one’s call-
ing. Missionary activities are not just
for priests, sisters, and brothers of
missionary congregations. The laity
has also the responsibility to answer
the call of God through the Church.
Arlene and Rowena are both living
testimonies that a person does not have
to be a consecrated religious to become
a missionary. Their lives have been
transformed by their generous response
to God’s call.
 CBCP Monitor
B Updates Vol. 11 No. 11
May 28-June 10, 2007

Blessings Without a Stole

(Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university on the question of blessing without a stole.)

Q: I was told that a priest’s blessing
over a person or object, given with-
out wearing his stole, is one given by
himself as a man, whereas a blessing
given while wearing his stole has more
power in that it comes with the power
and protection of the charisms given
him as a vicar of Christ. Is this true?
Should we ask them to wear their
stole when they give a blessing? When
children approach our pastor for a
blessing with their arms crossed over
their chest during Communion, he taps
them on the head with the back of his
hand and says: “God bless you.” Is the
back of the hand appropriate? Is this a
blessing? Isn’t he retaining the blessing
rather?—E.S., Mississauga, Ontario
A: Certain liturgical blessings, such
as the blessing of holy water, naturally
demand the use of a stole due to fidelity
to the rite. In such cases both the proper
vesture and the correct liturgical for-
mulas should be used without cutting
corners out of expediency.
The use of the stole for other blessings
is an eloquent symbol of the priestly
condition and ministry and is thus to be
commended whenever practical.
The use of the stole, however, is
not required for the validity of these
sacramentals. Nor can it be said that
a priest’s blessing is “more powerful”
when he wears the liturgical garb, since
his ability to impart these blessings de-
using them to touch the children. This
is probably the priest’s personal deci-
sion and does not correspond to any
particular liturgical norms.
It is highly doubtful that he desires to
retain the blessing, and his words are
enough to convey his intention.
Even where this blessing of non-com-
municants has been specifically ap-
proved (and some dioceses specifically
discourage or forbid it), the question of
the proper gestures is as yet unclear. For
motives of respect toward the Eucharist
I would suggest that it is preferable to
impart this blessing without touching
the person being blessed.
***
Agnus Dei, Beyond the Norms
Q: It has always been my under-
standing that the Agnus Dei was a set
part of the Mass, consisting in singing
twice “Lamb of God, You take away the
sins of the world, have mercy on us”;
and concluding with “Lamb of God,
You take away the sins of the world,
grant us peace.” However, at the Mass
which I attend in my parish, it is used as
an opportunity for creative expression,
with the cantor singing such phrases as
“Prince of Peace,” “Lord of Lords,” and
other expressions to the refrain from
the congregation of “Have mercy on
us” until the end of the Communion
procession, at which time it will segue
pacem’ (grant us peace).”
Therefore, as a rule, the invocations
may be repeated if the rite of fraction
is prolonged. But there is no mention
of inserting new invocations or of pro-
longing the Agnus Dei as a Commu-
nion song. Thus the invocation “Grant
us peace” should be said at the end of
the fraction and no extra invocations
introduced.
That said, the melody used in the
Agnus Dei may be taken up again after
the “Lord, I am not worthy” and used
as a Communion song. In this case there
is no obstacle to introducing adequate
new invocations as described above.
This can be a way of using certain
classical polyphonic versions which
would be too long for the present rite. A
system similar to the one described by
our reader is long-established custom
in some European cathedrals.
The then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger
considered this practice legitimate in a
conference given at Regensburg on the
occasion of his older brother’s retire-
ment as music director of that city’s
cathedral.
Q. “During the Easter season, our
parish is using a sung version of the
‘Lord, I Am Not Worthy.’ However,
the words in the setting are changed to,
‘Lord, we are not worthy to receive you
into our hearts, but only say the word
and we shall be healed of our sins.’

rives from his ordination and not from
any external vesture.
The Holy Father frequently imparts
the apostolic blessing without a stole
during the weekly recitation of the
Angelus. Priests are also frequently
called upon to bless people or objects
of devotion on the spur of the moment
with no possibility of donning a stole. In
all such cases the effects of the blessing
is the same regardless of vesture.
With respect to the second question,
I believe that the priest’s gesture prob-
ably stems from respect toward the
Eucharist and toward the communi-
cants. Since he touches the hosts with
his fingers he probably wishes to avoid
(unannounced) into “grant us peace.”
While this can be very edifying and
pleasing, it does not seem to me to
meet the requirements of the liturgical
norms.—C.C., Dallas, Texas
A: The norms regarding the sing-
ing on the Agnus Dei are found in the
General Instruction of the Roman Mis-
sal, No. 83: “…The supplication Agnus
Dei, is, as a rule, sung by the choir or
cantor with the congregation respond-
ing; or it is, at least, recited aloud. This
invocation accompanies the fraction
and, for this reason, may be repeated
as many times as necessary until the
rite has reached its conclusion, the last
time ending with the words ‘dona nobis
Although the music is moving, it does
not seem appropriate to alter the words
of the liturgy, particularly the change
of ‘I’ to ‘we.’”—Pittsburgh
A. Effectively, this altered musical
version could possibly be used as a
Communion song inspired by the lit-
urgy. But it is not correct to alter the
approved liturgical text, especially as
in this case the words are based on
the Bible.
The Latin text of this acclamation is
taken literally from the Latin Vulgate
version of Matthew 8:8: “But the cen-
turion answered him, ‘Lord, I am not
worthy to have you come under my
roof; but only say the word, and my ser-
vant will be healed,’” changing only the
word puer (servant) to anima (soul).
The current English version departs
somewhat from the biblical text al-
though it appears that the upcoming
new translation will be closer to the
Latin.
Furthermore, substituting “I” for
“we” also tends to eliminate the per-
sonal element of Communion. Receiv-
ing Communion is a personal, not a
community, act even though the com-
© Pascal Deloche/Godong/Corbis
munity is certainly involved.
It is true that none of us is worthy
to receive Communion, but the proc-
lamation of such unworthiness is a
personal acknowledgment. We are not
authorized to publicly proclaim the
unworthiness of our neighbors.
As mentioned above, this adapted
version could still be used as a Com-
munion song. And it is quite possible
that the music was originally composed
with this purpose in mind.

The Juridic
Concept of
Parish Priest
By Fr. Jaime B. Achacoso, J.C.D.

WE HAVE had our parish priest with us for two years now. He is
something of an eccentric, very inconsistent. It’s okay with us, if
that’s the way he is, but what bothers those of us who work closely
with him in the parish is that at times he disappears for days without
telling us where to reach him in case he is needed. He has a couple
of friends, guest priests, who take over when he is away, but they
are there only for the sacraments. They can not decide or guide us
in making decisions that have to be made when our parish priest
happens to be absent. It can be very frustrating. What does Canon
Law say about the availability of the parish priest? Do we as par-
ish workers have the right to demand it, if not transparency of our
priest? We do not want a blow-by-blow account of his whereabouts,
but at least the basic information of where to reach him in case of
dire need.

The Juridic Concept of Parish
Priest
To properly understand the
rights and duties of a parish
priest, technically referred to in
the Code of Canon Law as the
pastor (a poor equivocal Eng-
lish translation of the original
parochus in Latin and parroco in
Spanish), we first of all need to
understand the juridic (or legal)
concept of parish priest (pastor),
which is defined by canon 519 of
the Code of Canon Law:
Can.519 The parish priest is the
proper shepherd of the parish en-
trusted to him, exercising pastoral
care in the community entrusted
to him under the authority of the
diocesan bishop in whose ministry
of Christ he has been called to share;
in accord with the norm of law he
carries out for his community the
duties of teaching, sanctifying and
governing, with the cooperation of
other presbyters or deacons and the
assistance of lay members of the
Christian faithful.
We can limit ourselves to the
three most significant elements
in this definition from the juridic
point of view: (1) The parish
priest is the proper pastor (shep-
herd) of the parish entrusted to
him; (2) he exercises the pastoral
care of that community, (3) un-
der the authority of the diocesan
Bishop. Let us briefly go over
these elements:
The Parish Priest is the Proper
Pastor (shepherd) of the Par-
ish.
To the parish priest corre-
sponds, in an immediate way,
the pastoral care of the faithful in
the parish community, a task that care is expressed in c.528: well as to a knowing and active 2. The pastor is to acknowledge church and the imparting of solemn
he exercises under the authority Can. 528 1. The pastor is obliged participation in the sacred liturgy, and promote the proper role which blessings outside the church;
of the diocesan bishop. The ad- to see to it that the word of God in which the pastor must supervise in the lay members of the Christian 7. The more solemn celebration of
jective proper (coming from the its entirety is announced to those his parish under the authority of the faithful have in the Church’s mis- the Eucharist on Sundays and holy
same Latin root as property and living in the parish; for this reason diocesan bishop, being vigilant lest sion by fostering their associations days of obligation.
propriety) means that a one-on- he is to see to it that the lay Christian any abuses creep in. for religious purposes; he is to
one relationship exists between faithful are instructed in the truths If the previous canon seems cooperate with his own bishop and The Good Shepherd lays down
the parish community and the of the faith, especially through the lofty in its aspiration, the next with the presbyterate of the diocese his life for his sheep
parish priest: the parish priest homily which is to be given on canon is no less demanding in in working hard so that the faithful The aforementioned functions
is for his parish community and Sundays and holy days of obliga- the methodology for the attain- be concerned for parochial com- constitute real obligations of the
the parish community recog- tion and through the catechetical ment of such aspiration. munion and that they realize that parish priest, to which corre-
nizes him as their own. If juridi- formation which he is to give; he is Can. 529 2. In order to fulfill his they are members both of the diocese spond real rights of the Catholic
cally this reality presents such to foster works by which the spirit of office in earnest, the pastor should and of the universal Church and parishioners. Should the parish
interesting depth, theologically the gospel, including issues involv- strive to come to know the faithful participate in and support efforts to priest fail in the fulfillment of
it is nothing promote such com- such functions and duties, the
less than touch- munion. faithful have the right to demand
ing, evocative
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his Finally, the Code redress: first by speaking to the
of our Lord’s sheep. But the hireling, who is not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, enumerates seven parish priest about it.  Should
doctrine of the functions especial- the parish priest continue to ne-
Good Shepherd: sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees. And the wolf snatches ly entrusted to the glect his duty, they may raise the
“The sheep hear and scatters the sheep; but the hireling flees because he is a hireling, and has parish priest i.e., matter to the proper forum i.e.,
his voice, and functions which in to the diocesan Bishop, who is
he calls his own no concern for the sheep.” (Jn 10, 11-13). principle he cannot duty-bound to resolve it through
sheep by name delegate to another an administrative process or a
and leads them forth. And when ing social justice, is promoted; he is who have been entrusted to his care; without guaranteeing their ful- judicial process.
he has let out his own sheep, he to take special care for the Catholic therefore he is to visit families, shar- fillment. Reserving the resolution of
goes before them; and the sheep education of children and of young ing the cares, worries, and especially Can. 530 The following func- the specific question of the duty
follow him because they know adults; he is to make every effort the griefs of the faithful, strengthen- tions are especially entrusted to of residence for the next issue
his voice. But a stranger they with the aid of the Christian faithful, ing them in the Lord, and correcting the pastor: of CBCP Monitor, we can end
will not follow, but will flee from to bring the gospel message also to them prudently if they are wanting 1. The administration of bap- this first part with yet another
him, because they do not know those who have ceased practicing in certain areas; with a generous tism; quotation from our Lord that
the voice of strangers” (Jn. 10, their religion or who do not profess love he is to help the sick, particu- 2. The administration of the sac- really is at the heart of any ques-
3-5). Thus, the task of the parish the true faith. larly those close to death, refreshing rament of confirmation to those who tion regarding the duties of the
priest is in principle non-trans- 1. The pastor is to see to it that them solicitously with the sacra- are in danger of death (…); parish priest:
ferable: strictly speaking he can- the Most Holy Eucharist is the ments and commending their souls 3. The administration of Viati- “I am the good shepherd.
not entrust it to others, because it center of the parish assembly of the to God; he is to make a special effort cum and the anointing of the sick The good shepherd lays down
has been entrusted by the bishop faithful; he is to work to see to it that to seek out the poor, the afflicted, the (…), as well as the imparting of the his life for his sheep. But the
specifically to him. the Christian faithful are nourished lonely, those exiled from their own apostolic blessing; hireling, who is not a shepherd,
through a devout celebration of the land, and similarly those weighed 4. The assistance at marriage whose own the sheep are not,
The Parish Priest exercises Pas- sacraments and especially that they down with special difficulties; he and the imparting of the nuptial sees the wolf coming and leaves
toral Care over the Parish Com- frequently approach the sacrament is also to labor diligently so that blessing; the sheep and flees. And the wolf
munity. of the Most Holy Eucharist and the spouses and parents are supported 5. The performing of funerals; snatches and scatters the sheep;
Such pastoral care is clearly sacrament of penance; he is likewise in fulfilling their proper duties, and 6. The blessing of the baptismal but the hireling flees because he
enunciated in canons 528-530. In to endeavor that they are brought he is to foster growth in the Chris- font during the Easter season, the is a hireling, and has no concern
broad strokes, the scope of such to the practice of family prayer as tian life within the family. leading of processions outside the for the sheep” (Jn 10, 11-13).
 CBCP
CBCP Monitor
Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 11
May 28-June 10, 2007 Diocese B
THE diocese of Baguio is located in
Northern Luzon. It belongs to the
Cordillera Administrative Region Diocese of Baguio IMPORTANT FACTS

‘Duc in altum’
(CAR), which comprises the province Bishop ……………….........................…1
of Benguet and the city of Baguio, Priests:
known as the summer capital of the Diocesan …………......................... 39
Philippines. Religious …….........................……. 5
Brothers:
The CICM Missionaries Filipino ……….........................……... 2
Foreigners ……................................ 4
In 1907, the CICM Fathers and the
ICM Sisters started missionary work
By Fr. David Ganggangan Jr. and Fr. Juvelarde Cabading Diocesan Seminaries:
Orientation Year …........................... 1
in the Mountain Provinces. This year College (regional) ..............................1
2007, therefore, is a great jubilee for the Seminarians:
Diocese of Baguio for the 100 years of Pre-college ….........................….... 22
the great missionary zeal and fruitful Philosophy …….............................. 30
Theology ……........................….... 15
presence of the CICM fathers and the Diocesan Division:
ICM sisters in the Philippines, particu- Vicariates …….........................……. 2
larly in the Mountain Provinces. Parishes …........................…….... 26
In the beginning the apostolate With resident pastors …................ 26
consisted mainly of preaching the Entrusted to diocesan clergy ……. 21
Good News, making converts out of Chapels and shrines …............…….. 151
Institutions:
the indigenous peoples of the Cordil- Homes and dormitories …................ 9
leras; and the administration of the Retreat Houses ……………............ 16
sacraments. The initial yet successful Hospitals …………………............... 1
efforts of the new missionaries led to Population ………………............ 716,493
the establishment of several mission Catholics ……………….............. 465,720
stations and parochial schools. As Area ……………………. 2,655.4 sq. kms.
more and more CICM Missionaries
came to the Philippines, the work of
evangelization continued to flour-
ish, starting in Baguio and in Bontoc,
(Mountain Province) expanding to
the different towns of Benguet, then
Ifugao, Kalinga, and Apayao. These
mountain provinces including the City
of Baguio later composed the Prefec-
ture of the Montañosa.
After 25 years of fruitful missionary
endeavors, the Congregation for the
Propagation of the Faith separated the
missionary territory of the Montañosa
or Mountain Provinces, in a decree
issued on July 15, 1931, from the Eccle-
siastical jurisdiction of the Diocese of
Nueva Segovia (Vigan, Ilocos Sur).
The new Ecclesiastical Territory was
named the Apostolic Prefecture of
the Montañosa and was entrusted to
the Congregation of the Immaculate
Heart of Mary (CICM). In July 23, Above: Atop a hill in the City of Baguio lies the Our Lady of the Atonement Cathedral. BELOW: Photos taken inside and outside the cathedral and Bishop Carlito J.
1933, Rome appointed Rev. Fr. Oktaaf Cenzon, CICM, DD. Photos courtesy of www.cityofpines.comcom

Vandewalle as the first Apostolic Pre-

fect of the Montañosa, comprising the second Apostolic Vicar on December Apostolic Vicariate and the birth of new Ernesto Salgado, D.D., Vicariate of Bon-  To determine how the Vicariate
provinces of Kalinga, Apayao, Ifugao, 5, 1981 when Bishop William Brasseur ideas from the Plenary Council of the toc–Lagawe headed by Bishop Brigido can strengthen/intensify its journey
Mountain Province, Benguet, and the retired due to sickness. Then Bishop Philippines (PCP-II). Galasgas, D.D. and Vicariate of Tabuk moving towards becoming a commu-
City of Baguio. Ernesto Salgado, who was ordained The assembly affirmed that the Basic headed by Bishop Carlito Cenzon, nity of disciples, the new way of being
The CICM Missionaries, with the Bishop on January 15, 1987, took over as Ecclesial Communities was the main CICM, D.D. Church;
help of the Canonesses of St. Augus- the 3rd Apostolic Vicar of Montañosa. goal and thrust of the new Vicariate. Second Vicariate Pastoral Assembly  To renew the commitment to build
tine, known as the Belgian Sisters, now The pastoral Program that would direct The Second Vicariate Pastoral As- Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs), as
ICM Sisters, untiringly continued the First Vicariate Pastoral Assembly and implement all efforts towards BEC sembly followed in January 1999 with the concrete expression of being com-
Propagation of the faith, opening new The first Vicariate Pastoral Assembly would be Renewed Integral evange- the theme, “Rekindling the Fire for the munity of disciples.
Mission Stations and establishing mis- took place in the second year of the lization (RIE) with its components of Journey.” It was a moment to pause, On March 14, 2002 Bishop Carlito
sion schools and dormitories to serve stewardship of Bishop Ernesto Salgado Liturgy, Formation, and Social Action to rekindle the fire that glowed at the Cenzon was installed as 2nd Apostolic
even the non-Christian peoples of the in 1988. The pastoral thrust of building (LIFORSA). commencement of her journey. It was Vicar of Baguio-Benguet. He initi-
Mountain Provinces. Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) for an opportunity to be re-energized, re- ated the Self-Sufficiency Program in
inspired and refreshed once again at 2003. The Self-Sufficiency Program
Apostolic Vicariate the whole perspective of is a response to the call of a renewed
of the Montañosa the journey. Church. In particular, it focuses on the
The missionary restructuring of financial sys-
endeavors continued tem of the Church as
to prosper and more the Vicariate expe-
Mission Stations were riences difficulties
founded, such that by in the pursuit of
June 27, 1948, Rome its goals especially
elevated the Apostolic the implementation
Prefecture into an Ap- of its pastoral and
ostolic Vicariate of the administrative pro-
Montañosa. On August grams due to finan-
24, 1948, Bishop William cial constraints.
Brasseur, CICM, was The concept of self-
consecrated as the first sustaining, self-nour-
Apostolic Vicar of the ishing and self-govern-
Montañosa. From 1948 ing Church will make
onwards, the missionary the faithful aware and
activities continued to realize the community’s
bear fruit. From merely financial obligation not
seven Mission Stations in only as an expression of
1910, there were already the “sense of belonging”
23 Mission Stations by but the “sense of being
1948, and more Catholic Church.” Vicariate BEC
Schools were established. exchange was held in 2004
Vocations to the Di- refocusing on strengthen-
ocesan Priesthood grew ing this Vicariate pastoral
since the ordination of program.
the first diocesan
priest in 1940, by Baguio Becomes a Diocese
the name of Fr. Al- On July 10, 2004 Pope John
berto Duggom, a na- Paul II issued the Papal Bull,
tive of the province ‘Diligenter Adlabore’ elevat-
of Kalinga. From ing the Apostolic Vicariate
1940 to 1971, there of Baguio to the status of a
were 21 natives who Diocese and named it Diocese
were ordained to the of Baguio. This Diocese com-
priesthood. Two of prises the City of Baguio and
them became bish- the Province of Benguet. On
ops. They are Bishop July 26, 2004, the Papal Nuncio
Emiliano Madangeng announced to the CBCP that Rome
and Bishop Sebastian elevated the Apostolic Vicariate of
Dalis. Baguio-Benguet into the status of a
On July 21, 1971, Diocese. Later, Archbishop Antonio
Rev. Fr. Emiliano Franco set November 17, 2004 for the
Madangeng was or- official inauguration of the Diocese of
dained Bishop and Baguio, at the same time the installa-
became the co-adjutor tion of Bishop Carlito Cenzon, CICM,
Bishop to Bishop Wil- D.D. as the first Bishop of the Diocese
liam Brasseur. By this of Baguio.
time there were 47 Mis- The former Vicariate of Baguio-
sion Stations and more, Benguet was composed of three dis-
growing all over the tricts, namely: the District of Baguio,
Montañosa Vicariate. the District of Northern Benguet and
The 2nd Vatican Coun- the District of Southern Benguet. In
cil had just spoken about the monthly meeting of the clergy of
the Church as people of God and the diocese held last September 2006,
opened the possibilities for lay par- the presbyterium agreed to turn these
ticipation. This had influenced new districts into Vicariates. The District
development in the Church of the of Baguio comprising the parishes of
Montañosa in the 1970’s. Several Baguio City is now the Vicariate of
priests and lay faithful went into dis- the enhancement of Christian life and as With the Vicariate Program now Like the faithful pilgrim, the Vicariate Our Lady of Atonement. The Northern
cussion and reflection on a new pas- a new way of being Church surfaced from clearly defined, the Bishop is convinced of Baguio-Benguet continues to journey parishes of Benguet now compose the
toral approach called Basic Christian this Assembly. The same remains even that the renewal of the facets of Chris- with her people and with her God. Vicariate of San Jose, and the Southern
Community—Community Organiz- with the creation of Baguio-Benguet as tian life will make for the “Church With her fire rekindled, she moves on parishes of Benguet now the Vicariate
ing (BCC-CO). The rediscovery of the a new Vicariate. Renewed” envisioned by PCP-II and journeying with expectant hope. The of Santo Niño.
Church as People of God and the recog- However, another Vicariate Pastoral inspired by Vatican II with its idea of following objectives were formulated At present the Diocese of Baguio has
nition of the right of the lay faithful to Assembly was called for in February “Participatory Church.” in the pastoral assembly: 26 Parishes, 9 in the city of Baguio and
participate was an admirable insight. 1994, which was the first Vicariate Pas- On August 6, 1992, the feast of the  To know where the Vicariate of 17 in the province of Benguet. There
It inspired the Vicariate to initiate toral of Baguio-Benguet as a separate Transfiguration of our Lord, Rome an- Baguio-Benguet is since 1994 Vicariate are 40 diocesan Priests (two of whom
further training and formation of her Apostolic Vicariate. The main purposes nounced the division of the Vicariate Pastoral Assembly. Specifically, this are retired), 5 CICM Priests and one
lay pastoral workers, namely, the lay of this assembly were two ecclesiasti- of Montañosa into 3 separate Apos- will involve evaluation of the LIFORSA Missionaries of Jesus (MJ), with 5
leaders and catechists. cal events: the creation of Baguio and tolic Vicariates namely: the Vicariate Program adopted during the 1994 pas- Guest Priests serving in the Diocese
Bishop Madangeng took over as the the civil province of Benguet as a new of Baguio-Benguet headed by Bishop toral gathering of the Vicariate; of Baguio.
 CBCP Monitor
B Commissions Vol. 11 No. 11
May 28-June 10, 2007

The Episcopal Commission

on Youth (ECY)
By National Secretariat for Youth Apostolate

YOUNG people compose the biggest
majority of the population of the coun-
try and of the Church. It is to them that
a particular ecclesial ministry is di-
rected: youth ministry. Youth ministry
is the specific “branch” of the Church’s
mission, directed to and involving the
young in general. Youth ministry indeed
flows from the selfsame overall ministry
of the Church, but is carried out as a
concrete expression addressed to the
young in their everyday situation.
To initiate and sustain it, youth
ministry needs to be organized and
coordinated at all levels: in the national
and regional levels, in the diocesan and
parish levels, and in the various levels
and units of youth organizations and
movements. This is in view of youth
ministry embracing all youth, regard-
less of background and situation.
The convergence of all youth min-
istry efforts in the Philippine Church
comes under the Episcopal Commis-
sion on Youth (ECY), an office under
the Department for Lay Formation of
the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP).
Short History
The ECY was initially a committee
under the Episcopal Commission on
Lay Apostolate (ECLA) during the pe-
riod 1976-1985. This period marked the
rise of national youth organizations and
movements and the creation of youth
ministry structures within the dioceses.
Diocesan youth directors, coordinators,
and leaders head these structures. Dur-
ing the National Conference of Youth
Ministers in January 1986 in Tagaytay
City, the delegates, composed of youth
directors, coordinators, and leaders,
proposed for the creation of a separate
commission specifically for the youth,
for the following reasons:
• That majority of the population in
the Philippines belongs to the youth
• That the ECLA, dominated by lay
adults with their own unique needs
and concerns, cannot adequately meet
the particular demands of ministering
to the young
• That the youth and youth minis-
try exhibit unique needs and aspira-
tions—calling for a corresponding
response that is concrete, adequate, and
complete
• That the youth deserve fuller and
more direct representation and partici-
pation in the Philippine Church
The bishops acknowledged the need
for a commission that addresses all
youth ministry concerns distinctly.
During the CBCP Plenary Assembly in
June 1986, they unanimously approved
the creation of the ECY.
Identity, Tasks, and Functions
The ECY is the office of the CBCP
that addresses the concerns and needs
of the youth, and of the ministry among
them. As a separate commission under
the CBCP, it is tasked to:
• Undertake studies and periodic
research on the situation (needs, aspi-
rations, problems, etc.) of the Filipino
youth;
• Draw up policies and propose
formation and pastoral programs that
are relevant to the needs of the youth
and the youth ministers of the regions,
ecclesiastical territories, and youth
organizations;
• Facilitate an exchange of formation
materials among the dioceses and youth
organizations;
• Provide youth ministers opportu-
nities to grow in the faith, to inspire
and challenge them, and to make them
capable and efficient leaders in the
Church;
• Establish and maintain the Na-
tional Secretariat for Youth Apostolate
(NSYA), headed by a National Direc-
tor;
• Establish relationship and collabora-
tion with its youth counterpart in other
countries, such as the Federation of
Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC)
and the Pontifical Council for the Laity
(PCL), among others, through an ex-
change of information, documentations,
“We shall engage in dialogue with the youth, strive to enter their
world and journey with them towards Christian maturity.”
[from the Message of the National Pastoral Consultation on
Church Renewal]
programs, and invitation to interna-
tional youth conventions or forums;
As a CBCP commission, the ECY has
the responsibility and authority for re-
viewing and making recommendations
and objectives, plans, programs and
policies for the youth sector, for ap-
proval by the CBCP Plenary Assembly
or by the CBCP Permanent Council. It
also oversees and evaluates the imple-
mentation of such programs and poli-
cies. It is also open to duties which the
CBCP President may assign, aside from
those duties already existent.
The ECY also prepares and submits
Youth Ministers and NSYA staff after a
successful Regional run of Unang Hakbang
to the CBCP Permanent Council a
report of its activities together with its
recommendations. The council may
require the ECY to submit an earlier
report of a particular matter entrusted
to it, when the situation so demands.
With the creation of the ECY, other
structures of youth ministry were also
officially established and recognized.
From the regional to the local levels,
these structures enjoy sufficient flex-
ibility of organization in order to
respond to the realities and needs of
their own youth and youth ministry.
Youth ministry efforts within the
dioceses are coordinated through their
respective diocesan youth ministry
offices, while youth organizations
in the national level come together
through the Federation of National
Youth Organizations (FNYO). It is left
to them to identify their effective style
of operation, possibly using the recom-
mendations stipulated in Ka-Lakbay:
Directory for Catholic Youth Ministry
in the Philippines.
The ECY and Ka-Lakbay
At present, the ECY, along with the
Officers of the Episcopal Commission on Youth
Chairman: Most Rev. Joel Z. Baylon, DD
Vice-Chairman: Most Rev. Patricio A. Buzon, SDB, DD
Member: Most Rev. Jacinto A. Jose, DD
Member: Most Rev. Elenito R. Galido, DD
Member: Most Rev. Rolando J. Tria-Tirona, OCD, DD
Member: Msgr. Juanito S. Figura
Executive Secretary: Rev. Fr. Conegundo B. Garganta
rest of the Philippine Catholic youth hopes to realize the vision of God and
ministry structure, is guided in its of the Church for the young (The Vision
endeavors by Ka-Lakbay. This Church of God and of the Church for the Youth)
document, prepared by the ECY to- through youth ministry by targeting
gether with the youth ministries of three goals:
the dioceses and youth organizations, 1. To establish and strengthen the
“defines” Catholic youth ministry in youth’s relationship with Christ
the Philippines, in the sense that it lays 2. To provide opportunities for per-
down the necessary elements (guide- sonal growth
lines and directions) to give guidance 3. To encourage community involve-
and efficacy to it. It is intended to be a ment (Goals)
practical instrument which can be used Along with the other levels of youth
by Filipino Catholic youth ministers ministry, the ECY aims to ensure that
(i.e. anyone working among young youth ministry is carried out:
• Strongly founded on the person of
Jesus (Foundations and Rationales) and
faithful to the task of evangelization
(Task)
• Respecting the developmental
phases of the youth’s faith (Phases)
• In its distinct characteristics (Char-
acteristics)
• Wherever the young are (Settings)
• Following the progressive ministry
people) at all times as they undertake stages (Stages) and addressing its main
their projects and activities. As such, it components (Components and Strate-
provides a common language for the gies)
ongoing dialogue in Filipino Catholic • Targeting all young people, ac-
youth ministry. cording to their needs in the ministry
Ka-Lakbay begins with the situation (Potential Audience)
of young people (Ka-Lakbay, The Filipino • By everyone in the Church, accord-
Catholic Youth) and of the youth minis- ing to one’s role and capacity (Agents
try (The Filipino Catholic Youth Ministry): and Skills)
The former, through the National Fili- • Systematically, in and through
pino Catholic Youth Survey 2002, also the various ministry structures (Struc-
spearheaded by the ECY; the latter, tures)
through consultations and discussions • Effectively, through various re-
with youth ministers. Coming from and sources: structural, financial, and hu-
rooted in these realities, the commission man (Resources)

The National
Secretariat for Youth
Apostolate (NSYA)
SINCE its creation, the ECY established and
maintains the National Secretariat for Youth
Apostolate (NSYA) as its implementing arm
and liaison. It is managed by a Director, who is
also the Executive Secretary of the ECY. A team
of full-time staff and a pool of volunteers who
are all youth ministers assist him/her.
Vision and Mission
The NSYA is a community of youth min-
isters, joyfully living out their faith in Jesus
Christ, at the service of the ECY, implementing
the ECY’s directives, and to foster an open and
collaborative ministry with its fellow youth
ministers in the ecclesiastical territories and
national youth organizations.
Functions
1. Communications. The NSYA functions as
a conduit of information on youth ministry.
It maintains communication with the youth
ministry offices of the dioceses and national
youth organizations. It transmits initiatives
of the ECY to these offices. It also brings the
needs and concerns of these entities to the at-
tention of the ECY.
Likewise, it establishes and strengthens
linkages with government and non-govern-
ment offices and other local and international
entities, thus ensuring exchange of informa-
tion.
2. Liaison and Representation. The NSYA
serves as link of the ECY with the youth min-
istry offices of the dioceses and national youth
organizations, and also with other bodies
related to youth. In connection to this, it sends
official representatives to events, meetings,
and gatherings concerning youth and youth
ministry. It also attends and participates in
any event, meeting or gathering which is of
interest to the ECY.
3. Coordination and Networking. Part of
the functions of the NSYA is to coordinate the
projects of the ECY with the youth ministry
offices of the dioceses and national youth or-
ganizations. It strengthens networking with
the various CBCP commissions and offices,
and again with other GOs and NGOs.
4. Monitoring. The NSYA follows up the
progress and ensures completion of the ini-
tiatives, programs, and projects of the ECY in
the youth ministries of the dioceses, national
youth organizations, and other concerned
structures.
5. Animation. The NSYA launches the ini-
tiatives of the ECY in the areas of formation,
organization, and mobilization of the young.
It sensitizes the diocesan youth ministries and
national youth organizations regarding the
urgency of ministering to the youth.
6. Implementation. This is its main function:
to implement initiatives, programs and proj-
ects of the ECY, and to perform other similar
functions as delegated by the ECY.
7. Research and Documentation. The NSYA
also undertakes periodic studies and research
about the Filipino youth: their current situa- Bishop Joel Baylon with the delegates of Asian Youth Day 4 held in Hongkong
tion, needs and aspirations, among others. It
maintains documentation of pertinent data
and information on youth ministry, includ-
ing news clippings, articles, books, and other
literature and resources. The NSYA also docu-
The National Youth Coordinating
ments national, regional, and diocesan youth
events, especially those under the auspices of
the ECY. It also requests for and maintains a
Council (NYCC)
file of yearly youth ministry reports from the THE National Youth Coordinat- goals of Catholic youth ministry istry Offices of the dioceses and
dioceses and national youth organizations ing Council (NYCC) assists the in the Philippines, are: national youth organizations to
ECY in the performance of its Goal 1: To establish and discern, make a stand, and act on
Staff functions. The annual meeting strengthen the youth’s rela- current social issues confronting
The full-time staff members of the NSYA of Regional Youth Directors, tionship with Christ. That the families, communities and the
are professionals who underwent appropriate Coordinators, and Leaders, and individual bishops include and country, and—if need be—the
training for their duties and responsibilities, representatives of the FNYO prioritize the Youth Ministry ECY provide statements and/or
thus well equipped for the functions attached Coordinating Council serves to concerns and initiatives as part guidelines in this regard.
to the NSYA as an office. They continue to take promote adequate representa- of the agenda in the regular That the ECY endorse the
further personal, professional, and ministerial tion and collaboration of youth diocesan clergy meetings, in Military Ordinariate and the
formation and enhancement during their stay ministers. When convened, the order for the Youth Ministry Federation of National Youth
in the NSYA. They are regarded as employees NYCC functions as the advisory to gain wider support from all Organizations (FNYO) to the
who have security of tenure. body of the ECY, and serves the clergy, especially the parish different dioceses for their
as a clearinghouse of all youth priests and the chaplains. proper recognition and active
Present Composition and youth ministry activities, Goal 2: To provide opportuni- involvement in these
programs, and resources. ties for personal growth. That Aside from these resolutions,
National Director: The NYCC meeting for 2006, the Episcopal Commission on the council also came up with
Rev. Fr. Conegundo B. Garganta postponed to the first quarter Youth (ECY) create a body to proposals and action plans
Senior Staff: of 2007, gathered youth min- study the phenomenon of ho- covering different areas of con-
Ms. Maria Victoria A. Tacderas ister-participants from the ten mosexuality in the light of the cern in youth ministry, such as
Junior Staff: regional youth ministries in Church’s teaching on human the upcoming 2007 Elections, a
Mr. Stephen G. Borja order to study and discuss cur- sexuality, and come up with stronger and more regular com-
Cashier: rent youth ministry concerns. As recommendations that would munication, youth in the family
Ms. Amelea F. Pactanac-Vergara advisory body to the ECY, the be of pastoral use to the Youth context, formation for youth
Volunteer staff members: council has created resolutions Ministry. ministers and the youth, a chap-
Ms. Lucia Bernadette S. Felix for the study and approval/ Goal 3: To encourage com- lain for the FNYO, collaboration
Ms. Ali Mayeen M. Tirazona disapproval of the commission. munity involvement. That the with other commissions, as well
These resolutions, targeting the ECY encourage the Youth Min- as other recommendations.
 CBCP
CBCP Monitor
Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 11
May 28-June 10, 2007 Statements B
“Never Distance Yourself From Intimacy With Your Heavenly Spouse”
Address of His Holiness Benedict XVI to the International Union of Superiors General Hall of Blessings last May 7, 2007

Your Eminence,
Venerable Brothers in the Epis-
copate and in the Priesthood,
Dear Sisters,
I AM pleased to meet you on the
occasion of the Plenary Assem-
bly of the International Union of
Superiors General. I greet and
thank Cardinal Franc Rodé,
Prefect of the Congregation for
the Institutes of Consecrated
Life and Societies of Apostolic
Life, for the cordial words ad-
dressed to me.
I extend my thanks to the
President of your Union, Sr.
Therezinha Rasera, who has
been the interpreter not only
of your affectionate sentiments
but also of the women religious
of the entire world.
Then, I greet each one of you,
dear Superiors General, who
represent 794 female religious
families working in 85 countries
on the five continents. And
I thank you for the immense
army of witnesses of Christ’s
love, who work on the frontiers
of evangelization, education
and social charity.
As your President recalled,
the theme of the Plenary As-
sembly, which is being held in
these days, is particularly inter-
esting: “Called to weave a new
spirituality that generates hope
and life for all of humanity”.
The topic you have chosen is the
fruit of an ample reflection on
the following question: “In con-
templating our world, listening
to its cries, its needs, its thirst
and its aspirations, what thread
are we Religious, responsible
for our Congregations, called to
weave in this moment in order
to become prophetic and mystic
“weavers of God’?”.
The careful analysis of the
responses received have helped
your Union’s Executive Council
to understand that the chosen
symbol of “weaving” is a typi-
cally feminine image used in
all cultures, and it responds
to what the Superiors General
felt to be a spiritual and ap-
ostolic urgency of the present
moment.
In the same responses some
“threads” have been empha-
sized—the woman, migrants,
the earth and its sacredness, la-
ity, dialogue with the religions
of the world—that you deem
useful in order to “weave”
in this, our age, a renewed
spirituality of Consecrated Life
and to launch an apostolic ap-
proach that corresponds more
to people’s longings. And it is
exactly on these themes that you
have been reflecting during the
work of your Plenary.
You are aware that each Su-
perior General is called to be an
animator and promoter, as your
President opportunely empha-
sized, of a “mystic and prophet-
ic” Consecrated Life, strongly
committed to the realization of
the Kingdom of God.
These are the “threads” with
which the Lord urges you to-
day, dear women Religious, to
“weave” the living fabric of a
useful service to the Church and
to an eloquent Gospel witness,
“ever ancient and ever new” in
its fidelity to the radicalness of
the Gospel and courageously
incarnated in contemporary
reality, especially where there
is greater human and spiritual
poverty.
Certainly, the social, eco-
nomic and religious challenges
that Consecrated Life in our day
must face are not few! The five
pastoral areas that you empha-
sized constitute other “threads”
to be woven and inserted into
the complex web of daily life,
interpersonal relationships and
apostolate.
Often, it means taking unex-
plored missionary and spiritual
paths, yet always maintaining
solid interior relations with
Christ. In fact, only from this
union with God, can that “pro-
phetic” role of your mission
flow and be nourished, which
consists of “proclaiming the
Kingdom of heaven”, an in-
dispensable announcement in
every age and in every society.
Never cede, therefore, to the
temptation to distance yourself
from intimacy with your Heav-
enly Spouse by allowing your-
selves to be overly attracted by
the interests and problems of
daily life.
The Founders and Found-
resses of your Institutes have
been “prophetic pioneers” in
the Church because they never
lost the acute awareness of be-
ing in the world, but not of the
world, according to the clear
teaching of Jesus (cf. John 17:14).
Following his example they
tried to communicate God’s
love with words and concrete
gestures through the total gift
of themselves, always keeping
their gaze and their heart fixed
on him.
Dear Religious Sisters, if you
want to walk faithfully in the
footsteps of your Founders and
Foundresses to help your own
Sisters to follow their examples,
cultivate the “mystical” dimen-
sion of Consecrated Life, that
is, always keeping your soul
united to God through contem-
plation.
As the Scriptures teach, the
“prophet” first listens and con-
templates, then speaks, al-
lowing himself to be totally
permeated by that love for God
which fears nothing and is even
stronger than death.
The authentic prophet, there-
fore, is not concerned so much
to accomplish works, which
undoubtedly are important
but never essential. Above
all, he tries to be a witness
of God’s love, seeking to live
it among the realities of the
world, even if his presence can
sometimes be “uncomfortable”
because he offers and incar-
nates alternative values.
May it be your prime con-
cern, therefore, to help
your own Sisters to seek
Christ above all else and
to place themselves gen-
erously at the service of
the Gospel. Never tire
of taking every pos-
sible care in the human,
cultural and spiritual
formation of the per-
sons entrusted to you,
so that they are able
to respond to today’s
cultural and social chal-
lenges.
Be the first to set an
example by fleeing
commodities, comforts,
convenience in order
to bring your mission
to fulfilment. Share the
richness of your charisms with the first to be responsible for women who went to the tomb,
those who are committed to evangelization in the particular found it empty and had the gift
the one mission of the Church, Churches. of meeting the Risen Christ.
which is to build the King- Dear Sisters, your General Happily, then, they ran to give
dom. Assembly is taking place during the news to the Apostles.
For this purpose establish a the Easter Season, when the lit- May Mary, Queen of Virgins,
serene and cordial collabora- urgy invites us to proclaim with and your Saints and blessed
tion with priests, the lay faith- constant exultance: “This is the Founders and Foundresses
ful and especially families in day that the Lord has made, let watch over you and your re-
order to meet the suffering, the us rejoice and be glad!” spective Religious Families.
needs, the material and above May the joy and peace of Eas- In entrusting yourselves to
all the spiritual poverty of ter accompany you and always their intercession, I assure you
many of our contemporaries. dwell in you and in each of your from my heart of a prayerful
In addition, cultivate a sin- communities. remembrance and willingly
cere communion and a genuine In every circumstance be mes- impart to all a special Apostolic
collaboration with Bishops, sengers of this Easter joy like the Blessing.

‘Show Flexibility and 7 Questions

Social Farsightedness’
Address of Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Holy See’s permanent observer to the
United Nations, to the 6th session of the permanent forum on indigenous issues of the
U.N. Economic and Social Council on the special theme: Territories, lands and natural
resources.
Madam Chair, sightedness with a view to reaching an
FIRST of all, my delegation would like agreement during the present session of
to congratulate you and all the officers the General Assembly. My delegation
elected this year and to wish you well believes that such a political gesture
in the important task of maintaining would not only profit the poorest and
the forward momentum in favor of most excluded citizens in both rich and
indigenous peoples already achieved poor countries of the world, but would
by this permanent forum since the start also enhance peace among peoples and
of this century. foster the just and equitable enjoyment
From the time the forum met last of human rights by all.
year, much has happened regarding To judge by events in the Third Com-
steps to improve the exercise of the mittee last autumn, there appear to exist
rights of indigenous peoples at the genuine concerns that the DRIP could
national and international levels, par- lead to demands that might break the
ticularly in light of the forum’s special fragile links forged at great cost among
theme this year of territories, lands and disparate tribal groups born as states
natural resources. within the last 50 or so years. Some also
The postponement of the adoption of seem to fear that the declaration may
the draft Declaration on the Rights of become a threat to sovereignty or to
Indigenous Peoples (DRIP) marked a state revenues from natural resources.
disappointing moment. After 24 years’ Such concerns however should not mar-
discussion in a working group of the ginalize the best interest of the poorest
Commission on Human Rights, the peoples in such resource-rich territories;
draft declaration was taken up at the nor should states be oblivious to the
first session of the Human Rights Coun- economic progress for all that could
Archbishop Ramon C. Arguelles, DD
MOST Rev. Ramon C. Arguelles, DD, was appointed as archbishop of the archdiocese of Lipa
on May 14, 2004. Erected as a diocese in 1910, Lipa will soon celebrate its centenary as a local
Church. In this issue of CBCP Monitor, Archbishop Arguelles talks about the ongoing prepa-
rations of the archdiocese for its centenary celebration in 2010. He also shares his thoughts on
other issues such as the archdiocese’s continuing agenda for social concern, the quantity and
quality of vocations entering the seminary, the effect of migration on family life, the threat
of materialism in our lifestyle, the evangelization work of the diocesan media, and the secular
media’s treatment of Church issues in the news.
What are your plans for the grand jubilee of the Arch- been consistently growing each year. The rate of persever-
diocese of Lipa? ance does not however show yet significant results. But
The late Pope John-Paul II called for the celebration of we anticipate remarkable increase in vocations and rate of
the Great Jubilee Year 2000, inviting everyone to spend perseverance in the years ahead. Vocation animation is a
three years of spiritual preparation. The Archdiocese of priority in the over-all pastoral thrust of the Archdiocese
Lipa does something similar. The Great Jubilee Year was of Lipa. We envisage a time when the Archdiocese will be
to augur “a new springtime of faith and a renewed thrust able to share its personnel with other Churches within and
in Evangelization”. The year 2010 for the archdiocese outside the Philippines. We intend to send first class mis-
looks forward to deeper consecration to the Blessed Trin- sionaries who will remain and will rejoin the Lipa clergy.
ity and more real transformation into the Holy Family. The Quality is certainly a must. We want to produce morally,
first year of spiritual preparation is centered on Jesus the intellectually, spiritually and personally excellent priests
Son of God. The year 2007 should be a striving for more for the Archdiocese and wherever the Lipa clergy will
profound conversion which turns all into agents of evan- have the opportunity to serve. At present we are aware
gelization. The main event this year is the Archdiocesan that many Batangueños already serve as priests, religious
Mission Congress in October. The year 2008 will be the and lay missionaries overseas. We are very confident we
year with Mary and the Holy Spirit. It will be a year of con- will see in the days ahead more Batangueños becoming
templation which leads to a more profound spirituality. missionaries.
The main event in 2008 will be the Archdiocesan Marian
Congress scheduled to take place sometime before May. How is out-migration affecting families and vocations
Finally 2009 is the year with Joseph, finest figure of God in your area?

7
cil and, after a be achieved the Father. It will be a year of communion, most obviously God is so wise that He can turn unfortunate situations
recorded vote, by a greater conveyed in a life of solidarity. The main into occasions of grace. Indeed migration
was duly sent regard for the event in 2009 will be the National Congress has affected families. Difficulties arise. The
to the General particular ge- on St. Joseph. On April 10, 2009, the Jubilee Archdiocese of Lipa has a very strong min-
Assembly for nius of indig- Cross of the Archdiocese of Lipa, depicting istry to families of migrants. Due to this
adoption as enous peoples on one side the Heavenly Communion, the many young people are given the right
part of the first and what they Holy Trinity; and the Earthly Communion, values. Some of them enter the seminary.
Report of the may be willing the Holy Family, will be moved from par- A good number of young and dedicated
Human Rights to contribute ish to parish until its final installation on priests are children of migrants. Surpris-
Council. when their Trinity Sunday 2010 in the Archdiocesan ingly, they prefer to remain in the country
My delega- good will, not Shrine of the Holy Trinity in Pallocan, instead of joining their relatives who are
tion would like
to express its
just their free,
prior and in-
Batangas City.
QUESTIONS permanent migrants.

regret that the formed con-
adoption of the Archbishop Celestino Migliore sent, is sought
draft declara- and received.
tion was postponed. In this regard, The rush to exploit resources which
we would like to draw attention to the we are witnessing in many places not
benefits which the existence of such a only puts the natural habitat under
human rights instrument would entail stress; there is sometimes little evidence
especially for the very poorest living in of any good in political, social or eco-
rural areas, often of indigenous origin nomic terms, in favor of the peoples
and often marginalized by the modern where such resources are found. Given
world, and those who could be em- the universal destination of the world’s
powered to contribute much more to goods, it is hardly surprising when peo-
the political and economic life where ples react to the departure of resources
they live. from their lands, while they see little
Various objections have been raised coming back to those lands in return.
against the draft Declaration as it cur- Madam Chair, this is why the Holy
rently stands. Some say that the DRIP See believes that we should all work
contradicts national constitutions and toward a consensus adoption of the dec-
that self-determination only concerns laration; but even the absence of such
those who used to live under colonial a consensus should not be a pretext for
rule. Others suggest that the DRIP is un- delaying the vindication of the legiti-
clear on what constitutes “indigenous mate concerns of indigenous peoples.
people,” while still claiming to support States have legitimate concerns regard-
the declaration, in spite of substantive ing sovereignty, citizenship, equality
concerns. and the sane and equitable exploitation
While respecting the motivations be- of natural resources, but these ques-
hind each position, the Holy See wishes tions should not allow progress on
to reiterate the particular importance it indigenous peoples’ equally legitimate
attaches to the instrument under consid- rights and concerns to be postponed
eration and encourages U.N. member “sine die.”
states to show flexibility and social far- Thank you, Madam Chair.
How is the continuing agenda for social
concern being realized in your archdiocese?
A priority commitment of the Archdiocese of Lipa to
the Social Concern Agenda is Pondong Batangan, the
brainchild of Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and precur-
sor of Pondong Pinoy. This has given rise to Botikang
Batangan, Tindahang Batangan, Dunong Batangan (re-
spectively providing affordable medicine and foodstuff
for the poor and scholarship for students who otherwise
cannot avail of education). Pondong Batangan and other
sources enable the Archdiocese to give emergency as-
sistance to the needy. The micro-finance projects also
abound. The Lipa Archdiocese Social Action Commission
(LASAC) is fully involved in the PPCRV in implementing
the CBCP’s mandate to cooperate in the holding of free,
honest, peaceful and credible elections. The Archdiocese
is likewise deep in its involvement in protecting the rights
of farmers and fishermen who are being marginalized
because of so-called “development” projects which de-
liberately disregard their rights and welfare. In addition
the Archdiocese very visibly and very firmly, upholds
ecological conservation.
How is the work for more vocations in your Archdiocese
going?
The Archdiocese of Lipa has a complete seminary for-
mation. That means, from the High School Seminary, the
Pre-College Seminary through the College Seminary and
on to the School of Theology, all seminary levels dedicated
to Saint Francis de Sales. The number of applicants has
What are your thoughts on the changing
lifestyle brought about by such phenomenon as global-
ization and materialism?
Materialism has indeed affected adversely the life of
everyone. It has weakened priestly dedication and cer-
tainly changed the attitudes of almost everyone. While
the situation is alarming, it must be treated more as a
challenge. The Church had faced many crises before to
which she seems not very well prepared. Yesterday it was
Industrial Revolution, now it is globalization. Prophets
are needed at every period of Church history. God does
not fail to send such extraordinary people. He sends
prophets to meet the modern challenges of materialism
and globalization.
How do your Archdiocesan media (broadcast and print)
counteract the negative values being peddled by the
secular media?
For your information, the Archdiocesan media (both
broadcast and print) have become the benchmark, a sort
of standard, among the very few radio stations and com-
munity newspapers here in Batangas. In other words,
the secular media and their personnel looked up to our
radio station and our newspaper for leadership and good
example.
When we lost our AM radio in 2003 due to our anti-
quated equipment, most of our newscasters and announc-
ers were hired by a new AM radio station. Hence, the
secular media has been “penetrated” by media persons
7 Questions / B7
 CBCP Monitor
B Reflections Vol. 11 No. 11
May 28-June 10, 2007

Michaela Fudolig

Of Youth, Innocence, Fidelity and Freedom

Christ with the Doctors
in the Temple
© Historical Picture Archive/CORBIS

By Fr. Roberto P. Reyes

AFTER four years of academic peace
and anonymity suddenly 16 year old
Michaela Fudolig is a celebrity. Gradu-
ating after having completed the course
requirements for a BS Physics degree
with a weighted average of 1.099 is no
mean feat. But graduating from college
at the tender and innocent age of sixteen
is truly a wonder. The young Fudolig
not only graduated with the highest
honors but she also is the Valedictorian
of UP batch 2007. She was given the
honor and privilege of addressing the
entire range of graduates from pre to
post graduate levels, whose ages would
probably range from 20 to 60 or older.
Michaela reminds me of a scene
in the life of Jesus when his parents
thought he got lost when in fact he
wandered into the temple and started
talking to learned men there. We have
seen various pictures of the child Jesus
confidently addressing a crowd of older
men struck with awe and wonder at
such prodigious intelligence. Those
pictures carry a wealth of meanings
which the adult world needs
to ponder and better, apply Michaela addressing the crowd of
to their lives.
Michaela addressing the University officials, professors, guests
crowd of University officials,
professors, guests of honor,
of honor, graduates from AB, BS to MA
graduates from AB, BS to and PhD levels recreates the fascinat-
MA and PhD levels recre-
ates the fascinating picture ing picture of the young Jesus talking to
of the young Jesus talking to
learned men.
Michaela’s picture on the front pages
of newspapers shone with the grace,
beauty and innocence of a young lady.
As I contemplated the picture, I saw
something more than this exemplary
and gifted individual. I looked at her
eyes and saw the eyes of other Filipino
youth, innocent, wholesome, full of
eagerness and full of promise.
Interestingly, the two institutions that
were involved with Michaela’s educa-
tion, Quezon City Science High School
and the University of the Philippines
agreed to shield the young lady from
media. For four years her existence was
secret and perhaps even sacrosanct.
Even her classmates seemingly cooper-
ated and supported the plan.
What was Michaela shielded from?
Media? What ultimately does this
mean? Media is not only the usual
tri-Media of radio, TV and print or
the omni-present IT. Media stands for
the adult men and women of a world
driven by values not all too friendly
and helpful to youth.
The young Jesus fascinated the elder-
ly scholars not only with his wisdom
and eloquence. There must have been
something more, something behind the
face, the words, the diminutive build
and even perhaps a rather squeaky
voice. There must have been the invit-
ing and fascinating power of innocence,
the almost total absence of guile. Jesus
spoke and discussed unaffected by
the usual materialist, consumerist and
pragmatic values expressed by the ad-
age, “Time is Gold.”
learned men.
Jesus spoke freely. He spoke for free.
Jesus spoke in a language devoid of
political underpinnings and ma-
nipulation. Jesus was no one’s
candidate or prodigy. He was
neither a business nor political
pawn. He was powerful pre-
cisely because he was free. Last-
ly, Jesus was no child sensation.
He did not have a talent scout
who scheduled his appearances
and decided which contracts to
accept or reject. Jesus’ brilliance
was neither staged nor contrived. It was
innate and flowed from a mysterious
source deep within.
Michaela and Jesus have something
more in common. Both have good par-
ents. Michaela’s parents Tony Fudolig
and Lyn Dimaano made sure that their
gifted daughter enjoyed a healthy and
balanced life. While Michaela was
already enrolled in Grade One at four
years old, her mother brought her to
nursery class every afternoon. Regular
family trips to parks and a house full
of friends provided the necessary sup-
port to a life that
could have
easily been
eaten up
by aca-
demic
rigor.
Later in the day, Joseph and To this Jesus seemed to give a strange
Mary found Jesus. Mary com- answer, “Why do you search for me?
plained, “Son we have Am I not supposed to do my Father’s
search for you the business?”
whole day. While Tony and Lyn as well as thou-
W h y sands of parents listened to Michaela, I
d i d wonder whether they too may have seen
y o u her and their children and understood
leave her and their words in a deeper light? I
u s am certain that Michaela’s speech echoes
with- Jesus’ own words. I am sure Michaela
o u t and her fellow youth sense and wish to
tell- obey an inner voice that pushes them
ing us beyond home, family, country, friends
where and even self. I pray for the Filipino
y o u Youth…for fidelity, courage and the
would freedom to live out what they deeply
go?” hear and what they truly are.
© www.inquirer.net

Mission Reflection
Fr. Roy Cimagala

Pinoy Pilgrim By Fr. Jose Rembert G. Rivera (Mission Director, Kabankalan)

IT’S nice to read the special issue of the Missions Newsletter sonal or social survival, which may be the reason, why mission
(Vol. 46. No. 1), “The Story of Jesus in Asia: A Celebration of is their least priority in life. One even boasted that by doing
Faith and Life!” kasal, binyag and libing he was still a missionary.
THAT’S the title of a book written by a friend of mine. It’s subtitled, “In
The articles are in depth, straightforward and full of hope 3. In our rural setting, the clergy and the bishop are not
search of Filipino identity,” and is a personal testimony of what he thinks
with the mission reflections of some prominent mind and very much conscious with sharing their personal resources for
is our national character and the rich potentials that character possesses.
people in the world of missiology. the mission. But they seem already burdened with so many
He believes this national character ought to be developed further, purify-
Now, coming from a rural setting with rich experienc- collections: Alay Kapwa, Bible Sunday, Migrants Day, and
ing it of some negative traits while highlighting the many positive elements
es of numerous people who many more.
it contains. He is convinced ours is a true blessing from God, endowed
with a special mission.
live their religious vocation to Coming from a rural setting with 4. Mission, of course, is not
The testimony is based on the author’s insights and the many lessons he
spread the good news ad gentes
I feel not at home and ready for
rich experiences of numerous people only about financial collection.
But it constitutes a very impor-
learned from his family, his priceless work experiences, travels, encounters
with people high and low. He’s a product of the school of hard knocks.
a full pledge word as a Mis- who live their religious vocation to tant part of it. It somehow con-
sion Director in our Diocese of cretizes one’s personal desire to
He says all these in an anecdotal style, homey, funny, engaging, much
Kabankalan. spread the good news ad gentes I feel get involved in the missionary
like how the writer is in real life. He’s now in his 70s, at least a generation
ahead of me, kind of retired but still available to serve anyone who wants
Allow me to cite some
points.
not at home and ready for a full pledge work of the Church.
So here are my thoughts on
to take him. Actually, the book also left me teary eyed in some delicate
moments.
1. Early on, I thought that word as a Mission Director in our increasing the mission collec-
I first met Manoling de Leon when I started my first job after college in
religious priests and sisters are
more learned, expert and have
Diocese of Kabankalan. tion: a) work for the increase of
awareness about mission in the
Manila. In my early 20s, I was selling condominiums which at the height
lots of money compared to the diocesan clergy who always diocesan—even among priests and bishops; and use all forms
of the Martial Law years in the mid-70s were selling like hot cakes.
survive on people’s generosity. So instead of sharing with of tactics to convince them that mission should be given fullest
I remember we finished selling our project along Roxas Boulevard in
time, talent, and finances, I always think that it was enough attention in the local Church; b) place the mission work in the
Manila, a 100-unit affair, in one month. And there was no building yet. We
that mission territories are helped by the religious congrega- diocesan or parish program of activities in view of orchestrat-
were only show- ing drawings
tions themselves. ing the mission collection come July or October; c) evaluate
to our custom-
my first time to
Each man’s life here ers. That was
join a killing.
2. You cannot give what you do not have. In my formation project proposals sent to the Pontifical Mission Societies. The
Those were on earth is a journey dangerously
days we never study, experience or know anything better
about the missions except the annual collection of money in
problem is many are sourcing funds from Rome without the
Mission Director knowing them.
intoxicating days
man like me at toward our definitive for a young
that time, but
July and October. It was only when I was tasked as mission
director that I noticed the great task ahead. Many of our clergy,
We need more encouragement from the staff of the PMS. I
do hope that Bishop Gilbert Garcera will make his diocese of
I managed, with
guardian angels,
homeland in heaven. the help of my
to remain so-
especially the younger ones, are preoccupied with their per- Daet number one in mission collection for 2008.
ber and focused. Whether we are aware I thank God I
of it or not, we have
Your Primary Gifts Will
survived. I man- aged to sift out
the poison that usually went
with the perks a relation with God. of a successful

Lead You to Your Sacred

business.
Manoling Would that we be struck me as
a very likeable
cheerful and all.
more aware of it so as uncle, friendly,
He was not a
regular staff of to actively develop it! the office, but Bo Sanchez
rather a con- sultant to our
president, or as he likes to say, an intellectual entrepreneur, paid only to I’VE always been a communicator ever But at age thirteen, I gave my first talk That’s how God made me.
think and advise. since I can remember. in a small prayer meeting—and I’ve not And I need to be true to my pri-
At that time, I did not know what he contributed to our office. He was As a small kid, I used to have a collec- stopped preaching since. mary gift—for there, lies my sacred
so unassuming that it is only now after reading his book that I realize he tion of humor books. Like I remember At fourteen, I began writing worship mission.
brought a real wealth of experience and expertise to our young outfit. ripping out the pages of “Laughter songs. I don’t know what your first gift
He was the groundbreaker of the condominium business that caused a sea the Best Medicine” of all the issues of Years later, I found myself publishing is, but you’ll find in it the handwrit-
of change to the economy at that time. That’s what he is good at—creating Readers Digest, and compiling them magazines, writing books, preaching ing of God. It’ll point you to your
very sellable innovative ideas, making money almost out of nowhere. into a single fat book. I’d memorize through radio, TV, and teaching tapes. life-project, your assigned-purpose,
But he is much more than this. He was a construction and gas station these jokes and retell them to my fam- And having enormous fun! your God-ordained mission.
manager, advertising and marketing executive, and consultant to tycoons ily. (There came a time when I told and Deep within, I realized that God has By the way, it will also point you
and Philippine Presidents. Even without a college degree, he gave lectures retold my jokes so often that everyone made me His communicator. to your happiness.
to MBA students. memorized them as well. So in order Because, I love proclaiming truth in Recently, I’ve unloaded most of
The story of his life is very inspiring, to say the least. The 9th of 15 to save time, we just assigned each of a simple, understandable way. my “non-communicating” work.
children, he had to struggle for survival early in life. Good Catholics, his these jokes a number. For Like managing organiza-
parents instilled sense and virtues to the children in spite of tremendous
difficulties they had.
example, I’d scream, “Joke At age thirteen, I gave my first talk in tions and communities,
#28!” and everyone would and holding endless meet-
Manoling learned quickly how to fend for himself and to care for the break out laughing.) a small prayer meeting—and I’ve not ings and planning sessions!
whole family. At age 16, after the war, when things were difficult, he went
to work in Guam, a young OFW, his baptism of fire. In the process, he knew
And as a ten-year-old boy,
I drew my own comic books.
stopped preaching since. I was doing stuff like that
for years, because we were
what his strengths and weaknesses were. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, I love telling stories that inspire, that pioneering. But after praying and
One day, his mother asked him to sell “maruya” in school to augment and a slew of Japanese Robots came give life, that empower. searching hard, God has raised up
the family income. He could not sell a single “maruya” to his classmates, to life at the back pages of my Science, I love the feel of an old Bible in my others—those whose primary gift
but he managed to dispose the product by selling to a rich neighbor with a Social Studies, and Math notebooks. hand, as I sit in front of my desk or is management. I realize now that
large family. Lesson: he was bad at direct selling, but good at bulk sales. Until I made my own super-hero (me), squat under a tree—praying, thinking, I thwart God’s over-all plan if I
From then on, he was always trying to know more about himself, and saving the world from vicious aliens and creating a talk that’ll give hope to insist on taking work that isn’t my
to observe very keenly the things around him. He also read, studied and (my sisters). those who’ll hear. primary gift. Because, the enemy of
prayed. That’s the secret of his fertile mind. Some time later, as an early teen, I I also love the sight of an empty com- the best is the second best.
The title of the book, Pinoy Pilgrim, refers to his belief that each man’s tried writing my own fiction novel. I puter screen. I feel a rush of excitement I’ve made a decision. I’m focus-
life here on earth is a journey toward our definitive homeland in heaven. only reached chapter two and everyone in my veins the moment my fingers ing on what I do best.
Whether we are aware of it or not, we have a relation with God. Would who read it didn’t understand a thing touch the keyboard, poised for action, Let me ask you now: What is your
that we be more aware of it so as to actively develop it! I wrote—but hey, at least I could claim ready to give birth to an article that will primary gift?
I was a budding novelist. bless many. Live it to the max.
 CBCP
CBCP Monitor
Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 11
May 28-June 10, 2007
A Mall Without Walls
By Brian Tayag
“KAGANAPAN ng Buhay” is a phrase
lifted from the vision-mission set by the
Archdiocese of Manila. From this phrase
the cooperative of the Risen Christ par-
ish in Smokey Mountain begun its es-
tablishment. The vision-mission points
directly to the integral formation of the
human person, physically, economical-
ly, intellectually and spiritually. How
can you preach to a hungry stomach?
This had been a question faced by many,
especially the Church.
The closing of the dump site in the
1990’s prompted the people to think
about their situation, and their future.
The residents got together and pooled
the little money they saved out of scav-
enging scraps and funded the establish-
ment of a cooperative. The cooperative
have now ventured into bakery, paper
bag making, MRRF (Material Recourse
Recovery Facility) and the newly estab-
lished e-trading.
E-trading works on the principle of
lowering the prices of basic commodi-
ties. Basic goods such as rice, sugar, and
soap are bought wholesale from manu-
facturers. These are repacked by mem-
bers of the coop and sold to families in
the parish at a much lower price.
As a business endeavour e-trading
works two ways. It provides extra in-
come to the coop members, while at the
same time help parishioners cope with
high cost of living through lower prices
of basic commodities. The use of cell
phones and other electronic devices in
taking orders from customers pave the
way for the name, e-trading.
“It is a mall without walls” said
Brother Ferdinand Bajao, an SVD semi-
narian who is on apostolic exposure in
the parish. “Meaning you will not find
any physical structure,” he added.
Spearheaded by the parish priest of
Risen Christ Parish, Fr. Benigno Beltran
SVD, e-trading was established in 2004.
Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales and all
the priests of the vicariate of the Holy
Spirit in the archdiocese support the
venture.
What e-trading does is a parish-to-
home or home-to-home base system.
The management of e-trading get their
goods directly from producers or facto-
ries in bulk, hence, at a much lower cost.
E-trading is like a repackaging industry.
With the assistance of the cooperative,
the staff of e-trading repacked the prod-
uct they have bought wholesale from
the factories. After repacking they wait
for an order in the parish or within the
vicariate of the Holy Spirit. The ordering
is made through the use of cell phones
or a land phone.
“[For] every repackaged [goods] the
person gets a four-peso income,” said
Sr. Genevieve, a nun who works in the
parish.
“[The] people living here, most of
them if not all have cell phones. Even
though they live in this area, their cell
phones are even sassier than ours,”
opined Joyet Castor, manager of the
cooperative.
Bro. Ferdinand observed that parish-
ioners who owned cell phones would
rather spend their money for card and
accessories than food for their stom-
ach. What e-trading does is empower
people. Using their cell phones can be
both beneficial for owners and also for
e- trading. They could be one of the one
hundred OTDO (Order Taker Delivery
Officer), which the parish is trying to
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Social Concern
Like any other cooperative projects, success is
measured when the values they need in their
daily life are instilled in the members. For
as long as they have the mentality of being a
mendicant, no one will move on.
mobilize. These OTDO’s take orders
from a client and deliver the product or
merchandise ordered back to the client.
Aside from being an OTDO’s they are
the arm of the e-trading in spreading
and building a wider range of network,
according to Joyet.
E-trading supports families eco-
nomically. The entire community is
under the umbrella of basic ecclesial
communities (BEC). The community
where they belong helps each other in
terms of spiritual life, with Fr. Beltran
as their spiritual director. These small
communities of five families each make
sure each and everyone in the family is
being assisted in matters of faith, rela-
tion to family members, and relation to
other people.
“BEC’s have been instrumental in
their growth as a human person. It is
also where they get strength and sup-
© www.total.com
port in times of trials and difficulties,”
said Minda Salcedo, parish coordina-
tor.
The families involved in the BEC pro-
gram are paving the way for the growth
of e-trading. From this standpoint, join-
ing in e-trading requires being in the
BEC. In a sense, e-trading is hitting two
birds with one stone.
Intellectual formation is needed in
this kind of endeavour. Fr. Beltran set
up Sangdiwa Learning Center which
provides adult education classes for
those who want to become a member
of e-trading. The center is affiliated with
the Department of Education (DepEd).
Leticia Reyes, one of the many who
graduated from the center shared her
gratitude for the transformation that
(Family Name) (Given Name)
(Payable to: CBCP Communications Development Foundation Inc.)
© www.marcschlossman.com
happened in her life. The three-times-
married Leticia lost two husbands and
children from previous marriages. Now
married again with four children, her
husband encouraged her to avail of the
continuing education offered by the
parish. Through the center she was able
to finish a computer secretarial course.
Now she is working at the cooperative.
Fr. Beltran always mentions her as a
living testimony of what the coopera-
tive offers, according to Bro. Ferdinand.
Not only that she could support her
own family, she was also able to give a
helping hand to her sisters and brothers
who are in need.
The e-trading is trying to expand
its product and reach. As of now, it
only sells the Veritas Laundry Powder
Soap but the management is working
with Uniliver Philippines for possible
expansion of products. If both parties
reach consensus, not only laundry soap
will e-trading sell but also other basic
commodities needed by the families.
They are also targeting a wider range
of network, not only in the vicariate but
also the whole Philippines.
Joyet said the success of their project
will also depend on whether the agree-
ment they are trying to reach with a gi-
ant telecommunication firm for a wider
and easy access will push through.
E-trading is an alternative way of
assisting our poor brothers and sisters
economically and alleviating the suf-
ferings they experience. Catechism for
Filipino Catholics (CFC) 1187 states,
“They are also bearer of God’s word,
evangelizers…” That is why the BEC
and the Sangdiwa Learning Center
equip the person both spiritually and
intellectually.
Like any other cooperative projects,
success is measured when the values
they need in their daily life are instilled
in the members. For as long as they have
the mentality of being a mendicant, no
one will move on. Teach them how to
fish. Empower them; what they need
is only a little push, a little encourage-
ment.
“Even if three archbishops are in-
stalled here, if the people will always
have the mentality of a mendicant, I
think it’s a failure on both sides,” said
Bro. Ferdinand.
Indeed, it is a failure when in the end
people have not gained the values for
human formation in achieving “Kaga-
napan ng Buhay”.
(Middle Name)
________________________
Signature
B
Towards an
Indigenous Way
of Healing
By Cynthia Saulog
WE are a part of the universe, of the earth, living in consonance with the
environment’s balances and imbalances. Nature cures when given the
opportunity. Plants have been valued and cultivated as medicines as well
as food since the dawn of human civilization. When one looks back in the
early beginnings of western medicines, it appears that many of our drugs
are derived from plants and herbal derivatives. Even as industrialization
established the importance of synthetic medicines, medicinal plants and
its derivatives significantly play a vital role in the delivery of health care
services around the world. Today, herbal medicine is a combination of
traditional and modern medicine and is determinedly scientific and strictly
regulated in many countries.
However, in this age and time, numerous medical doctors are still indif-
ferent and non-supportive of herbal medicines believing that these are a
step backward and a return toward primitive medicine. Sad to say, many
scientists and health professionals are pre-occupied with the question of
“chemical constituent” or “active ingredient” of medicinal plants rather than
the evaluation of safety and efficacy of the herbal medicine as a whole. The
government spends long period of time and millions of dollars on research
studies to determine which are useful as effective therapeutic herb or those
with many toxic/adverse effects based on previous usage experiences.
At present, it is about the realities of affordability, efficacy, safety and
availability of these herbal drugs that makes the difference. It is a health
care plan that is acceptable, effective, and comprehensive enough to cover
from preventive to curative. We may wonder why many consumers are
mesmerized by western medicines which are synthetic, has side effects,
and expensive; and are continuously misled by deceptive promotions and
advertisements of such products. For now, support for the traditional and
alternative health care is such a small backward step to take, but a big leap
forward towards a holistic approach and health care for all Filipinos.
In the Philippines, the national inventory of plant species is about 12,000
but it is not clear how many of these are considered medicinal. But we have
around 1,500 medicinal plants actively being utilized by traditional heal-
ers. There are still more to be identified and harnessed for the benefit of
mankind. Unfortunately, medicinal
plant resources are seriously being
threatened.
What we truly need to develop at
present is a people-based, self-reliant
and relevant program on medicinal
plant research, development and uti-
© Simon Marcus/Corbis
lization. There is an intense need to
arouse, organize and mobilize differ-
ent sectors towards a truly Filipino
pharmaceutical industry.
Thus, the Archdiocese of Manila
Ecology Desk (AMED) offered a
Training Seminar on Herbal Medicine Preparation for different parishes
and neighboring dioceses. The first part of the two day program included
sessions on the New Story of Creation, Biodiversity, Genetically Modified
Organism, and Waste Management. The second day dealt fully on Iden-
tification of Herbal Plants, Propagation and Utilization of Herbal Plants.
The participants were also taught herbal medicine preparation in various
forms such as herbal soap, ointment, tea, syrup, and liniment to cure com-
mon illnesses.
Although the participants learned the skills immediately, the training
required a return demonstration to help them practice the principles learned.
They were back for a series of re-training.
The 103 parish volunteers who participated in the training seminar fin-
ished the workshop on April 23. Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo
presided the Eucharistic celebration, and the blessing of the Ecology Center
with Fr. Benito Tuazon, director of the Archdiocese of Manila Ecology Desk,
Fr. John Leydon of Our Lady of Remedies Parish, and Fr. Martin Guarin of
St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Malabon.
AMED also envisions that indigenous herbal plants with medicinal val-
ues be ready for use as the medicinal need arises. Admittedly, limitation
in terms of space is a problem in the metropolis, so an alternative recourse
is the use of pots at home.
The next step is a plan to establish a church cooperative where they could
put into good use their newly learned skill and have a means of livelihood.
The plan is to cater to the needs of the vicariate clinics. As of now everyone
adheres to the principle “think big, start small, act now.” With this in mind,
they have already found the answer to the essential needs of the Filipino
people. Why not go for the indigenous, which is acceptable to our culture,
less toxic, very cheap and almost free, always ready, and easy to prepare
and store, using very simple technology? Suffice it to say, the greatness of
it all is that everyone becomes responsible stewards of God’s creation.
7 Questions / from B5
that were trained in the Catholic radio tertiary school has already signified its
station. Our present FM station, which bulk order (incorporating the students’
has only a mere 15% religious program- subscription in their miscellaneous
ming (the rest being music programs) fees) due to what they reported as “the
has topped the KBP Radio Research educational and religious values” that
Council surveys for the past eight years Ulat Batangan has been publishing,
of our FM’s existence, beating even the while at the same time adding that they
mighty Manila-based networks. learn of what’s going on in the different
We air value and moral spots. We parishes and the commissions in the
really believe that being No. 1 in the Archdiocese.
surveys, whatever negative values
being peddled by the other two FM What is your take on the secular
stations in the province are being media’s treatment of Church issues
counteracted effectively. In fact, the in the news?
program that is most listened to is our Again, let me stress that it is in the
Monday to Saturday religious program national media that we are encounter-
about the Gospel Reading of the Day. ing problems. Our local media persons
It is called “Mabuting Balita”. But our are very friendly to us. Most of them
live broadcast of the Sunday Mass rates are devout and committed Catholics,
higher than this. members of different religious orga-
Our relatively young monthly news- nizations.
paper (only in 2005), Ulat Batangan, It is ironic that quite a number of
can compete in terms of credibility and media persons, especially the print
circulation with the secular community journalists who are supposed to be edu-
newspapers. Batangas has about four
other community papers which are all
published monthly. There are no daily
cated and well-informed, have shown
little knowledge of, for example, the
ecclesiastical terms. We often read of a
local papers in the province. Bishop being addressed as Archbishop,
We avoid sensationalism, crime sto- or an archdiocese being relegated to
ries and personality news. We leave it a diocese. The Archbishops are often
to the other papers to report the police addressed as ‘Your Eminence’. While
blotters and political news. We empha- this may be trivial, we find the local
size on the positive human interests, media persons more knowledgeable
Church (local and universal) teachings and at home with things like these. For
and report on the accomplishments and instance, they know who are the Monsi-
programs of the different Archdiocesan gnori and the simple “Rev. Fathers”.
commission, committees, organizations Maybe because of our Church me-
or bodies. dia leaders being close to their secular
We concentrate on our students, es- counterparts, negative stories about the
pecially our Catholic students, and lay clergy or the Church in general seldom
leaders for our readership. We tried to appear in our local papers. Our parish
stress the pastoral concerns of the local priests can easily persuade local media
Church and how to effectively convey persons to dialogue instead of bringing
the gospel message in words that the lay up the issue in the media. It is in the
persons can readily understand. national media that we believe we are
Next school year, a non-sectarian getting the raw deal.

B
The dying King Harold (voiced by
John Cleese) reveals to Shrek (voiced
by Mike Myers) that he is next in line
to the throne in the Land of Far, Far
Away and the other heir is Arthur,
the cousin of his wife Fiona (voiced by
Cameron Diaz). Shrek and Fiona are
unhappy with the royal lifestyle and
would rather return to a simple life in
the swamp. Shrek goes on a voyage ac-
companied by Puss in Boots (voiced by
Antonio Banderas) and a talking Don-
key (voiced by Eddie Murphy) in search
of Arthur. Prince Charming (voiced
by Rupert Everett) takes advantage
of Shrek’s absence, installs himself as
king, and imprisons Fiona, her friends,
and her mother Queen Lillian (voiced
by Julie Andrews). The villains of
myths and fairy tales – Captain Hook,
Rumpelstiltskin, Cyclops, walking
trees and witches rally behind Prince
Charming while Cinderella, Sleeping
Beauty, Snow White, Rapunzel, and
Doris, the Ugly Stepsister are loyal to
Fiona and Queen Lillian. Shrek finds
and persuades Arthur (voiced by Justin
Timberlake) to return with him to the
kingdom. But on their arrival, both are
attacked and arrested by the minions of
Prince Charming How can the reign of
evil end and the Land of Far, Far Away
be restored to its rightful heir?
Title: Fracture
Running Time 112 minutes
Lead Cast: Anthony Hopkins,
Ryan Gosling, David
Strathairn, Rosamund Pike,
Billy Burke
Director: Gregory Hobbit
Screenplay: Daniel Pyne,
Glenn Gers
Story: Daniel Pyne
Editor: David Rosenbloom
Cinematography: Kramer Mor-
genthau
Producers: Charles Weinstock
Music: Mychael Dnna, Jeff
Danna
Location: Los Angeles, Cali-
fornia
Genre: Thriller-Drama
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Technical Assessment: ● ● ●
Moral Assessment: 
Cinema Rating: V-18
Ted Crawford (Anthony Hopkins) is a
highly regarded and successful avia-
tion engineer. However, his younger
wife Jennifer (Embeth Davidtz) is un-
happy and is carrying on an affair with
a hostage negotiator, Rob (Billy Burke).
She manages to conceal her identity
from her lover but unfortunately not
her adultery from her husband. One
day, Ted arrives home early, casually
confronts his wife and calmly shoots
her in the head. Cops arrive and Rob
is surprised and devastated to discover
the body of his lover. Ted willingly
confesses to shooting Jennifer, waives
his right to an attorney and insists on a
speedy trial. Meanwhile, hot shot city
prosecutor Willy Beachum (Ryan Gos-
ling), whose one foot is out the public
office about to step into the luxury of
the corporate world haphazardly ac-
cepts the case convinced that this is
already a done deal. However, Willy
soon realizes that underneath the clue-
less and seeming craziness of Ted is
Entertainment
A sequel to Shrek where the ogre
and Fiona met, fell in love, and got
married, Shrek 2 where they hurdled
relationship problems and complica-
tions , Shrek 3 extends the story to
building a family and returning to a
simple lifestyle. Popular songs and
tunes such as “I’ve never been to me”,
“That’s what friends are for”, “Live
and let die” are appropriately blended
in this well-edited, computer animated
film which is also visually appealing.
Shrek 3 ia a wholesome narrative with
good dialogues which are either witty,
funny, or thought provoking.
The film deviates from fairy tales
portraying damsels in distress wait-
ing to be rescued by a valiant prince.
The feminist stamp is symbolized by
the burning of a bra as Queen Lillian,
Fiona, and their allies marched to the
palace to rescue Shrek and his friends.
The story gives a twist to the theme of
conflict between good and evil when
Arthur, the reluctant king, told the
traditional villains in myths and fairy
tales that they need not remain villains
just because they are labeled or treated
as such. Shrek 3 also deals with values
of courage, loyalty, and friendship. In
the delineation of Arthur’s role and per-
sonality, the film also teaches lessons on
freedom and responsibility.
a perfectly planned murder. With no
murder weapon, no witnesses and no
evidence directly linking Ted with the
attempted murder, he then realizes that
he needs to make choices and act smart,
or else a cold blooded murderer is going
to walk a free man.
Fracture is a decent film with great
camerawork capturing the burnt orange
sunsets of Los Angeles, tight editing
and suspense, with witty delivery of
lines by Hopkins and Gosling. The
movie develops interestingly; with the
audience fully aware of who the culprit
is and becomes torn between rooting
for the sly and calculating Crawford
or the arrogant and cocky Beachum.
The screenplay is acceptable and could
have benefited more by shaving the
Beachum-Gardner (Rosamund Pike)
subplot. The film is meticulously done
with plenty of laudable points resulting
in a smoothly polished crime thriller
without much bloodshed. However,
the ending is a little of a giveaway and
Title: Shrek 3
Running Time: 93
min
Cast: Mike Myers,
Eddie Murphy,
Cameron Diaz,
Antonio Ban-
deras, John
Cleese, Julie
Andrews, Rupert
Everett, Justin Tim-
berlake
Director: Chris Miller
Producers: Jeffrey Katzenberg
and Aron Warner
Screenwriters: Jon Zack, Jeffrey
Price & Peter S. Seaman (based
on the book by William Steig)
Music: Harry Gregson-Williams
Editor: Michael Andrews
Genre: Fantasy, Comedy
Cinematography: Guillaume Aretos
Distributor: Solar Entertainment Corp.
Location: Land of Far, Far Away
Technical Assessment: ●●●●
Moral Assessment: 
CINEMA Rating: For viewers of all ages
it falls dull and flat.
“If you look close enough, you’ll find
everyone has a weak spot”- (Crawford
to Beachum on their first meeting) – and
truly the opponent who is so full of
himself will at one point drop guard and
become complacent, sloppy and vulner-
able. Pride and ego, has time immemo-
rial become the downfall of people.
Needless to say, when success gets in
one’s head to make one believe that
the world revolves around him, then
failure is imminent - Beachum’s mistake
was to think that he was undefeatable;
Crawford’s downfall was to believe his
was the perfect murder plan – but in the
end, justice, truth and righteousness
will make one triumphant. The movie
gives a quick take on making conscien-
tious choices in one’s career: will luxury
and power prevail over public service
and justice? However, due to some
delicate issues and scenes, the movie is
preferably recommended for the older
and more mature audience.
Title: WHISPER causing disputes, fights and deaths.
Running Time: 95 min.
Cast: Josh Holloway, Sarah Wayne
Callies, Blake Woodruff , Joel
Edgerton, John Kapelos, Dull Hile,
Michael Rooker
Director: Stewart Hendler
Producers: Paul Brooks, Damon Lee,
Walter Hamada
Screenwriter: Christopher Borrelli the kidnapping or the lack of some
Music: Jeff Rone
Editor: Armen Minarian
Genre: Horror
Cinematography: Dean Cundey
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Location: Canada
Technical Assessment: ● ● ●
Moral Assessment: 
CINEMA Rating: For viewers 14 and
above
Max Trueman (Josh Holloway) has
served his prison term for manslaugh-
ter. Now wishing to start a new life
with fiancée Roxane (Sarah Wayne
Callies), he applies for a fifty thousand
bank loan to start a business. But
given his criminal record, his request
is denied. As a last alternative, he
teams up with three former associates
who have been hired by an unknown
contact to kidnap a boy of a wealthy
family. Max abducts eight year old
David Sandborn (Blake Woodruff) and
meet up with the team – with Roxane
along – at a deserted summer camp in
a deep forest. As the negotiations and
arrangements with the mastermind
take place, the unafraid, cool and
observant David causes antagonism
and conflicts between the gangmates,
including Roxane. Past disloyalties
and hidden wrongs committed against
each other come out into the open,
apparently manipulated by the boy,
ANSWER TO THE
LAST ISSUE:
MATHEMATICS,
RIGHTLY VIEWED,
POSSES NOT
ONLY TRUTH,
BUT SUPREME
BEAUTY - A
BEAUTY COLD
AND AUSTERE,
LIKE THAT OF
SCULPTURE.
QUOTES IN QUIZ
Booklets available at
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CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 11
May 28-June 10, 2007
Moral Assessment
 Abhorrent
 Disturbing
 Acceptable
 Wholesome
 Exemplary
Technical Assessment
 Poor
 Below average
 Average
 Above average
 Excellent
CINEMA Rating Guide
VA - For viewers of all ages
V13 - For viewers age 13
and below with parental
guidance
V14 - For viewers 14 and
above
V18 - For mature viewers 18
and above
NP - Not for public viewing
Whisper is presented as a super-
natural horror film with unusual
twists to the story. There are some
loose connections between certain
episodes, like not showing the nature
of the relationship between mother
and son to strengthen the reason for
teaser-indications of Sam’s character.
Still the movie is sufficiently engaging,
because of the unusual role of Blake
and his ability to act as Sam consis-
tently. The audience could keep on
wondering who is he really, what will
he do, what is going to happen to him.
Josh Holloway was up to handling the
lead role as Max Trueman.
With an introductory voice-over,
that says something like Satan could
“masquerade himself as an angel of
light” the movie presents an other-
worldly looking Sam, who does not
behave like an ordinary boy especially
when kidnapped. He is calm, well-
behaved and capable of taking care of
himself. He could appear malevolent,
able to cause harm and death. There
is usually a black dog, and black birds
around him which indicate some dark
forces around. He does not tolerate
wrongdoers. But he spared Max and
Roxane who were protective of him:
Max refused to kill him when his
mother (the kidnap-brain) wanted
the boy dead. She shot herself instead,
fearing her son would come after her.
Roxane was kind to the child; she sees
him as an angel. Sam is characterized
by the movie in such a way that he ap-
pears to have two personalities. This
matter and the movie need viewers
with some maturity to “read” and
evaluate the story.