•A3 humility

Confession teaches
to priests and
•B1 “Pahalagahan
ang buhay”
•C1UgnayanThe News Supplement for
penitents, Pope says Couples for Christ

Advocates urge priests to Study shows annulment

use pulpit vs RH bill
SOME anti-reproductive health bill advocates
called on Catholic priests to use the pulpit in
the campaign against the measure.
According to them, priests should be more
aggressive in preaching the people about the
church’s stand against the bill.
Since the church’s stand don’t get much
media attention, they said, it’s about time for
church officials to use the pulpits in delivering
sermons about the bill during Masses.
Advocates / A6
cases in PH rising
THE number of annulment of marriages in the
Philippines rose by more than 40% over the
past ten years, according to the Office of the
Solicitor General.
From 2001, the country had 4,520 cases and
8,282 in 2010. This brings a daily average of at
least 22 cases filed every day.
Common grounds for legal separation or
declaration of nullity is psychological incapac-
ity, according to a document sent to CBCP-
March 28 - April 10, 2011 Vol. 15 No. 7 Php 20.00 Annulment / A6

Pope urges faithful not

to give up fight vs RH
By Roy Lagarde

POPE Benedict XVI called on

Catholics to strengthen their
resolve and not give up the fight
against any “attacks” to life and
the family.
In a statement read during a prayer rally
on March 25 against the reproductive health
(RH) bill, the pope urged Filipinos to respect
and protect every human life.
The pontiff’s message was relayed by
Vatican Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone
in a letter to the Filipino cardinals.
“His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI recom-
mended the defense of these values which
remain vital to the whole of Filipino soci-
ety,” said Bertone.
“I again encourage you and all who value
the human person to be firm in your com-
mitment to honor God and, by doing so,
to manifest a deep love for life and for its
protection at this time,” he said.
Aimed at promoting the use of contracep-
tives, Bertone said that the bill is again put-
ting the Filipino society in a “difficult period
in all that concerns life and its defense.”
“The Church is not indifferent in such

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

moments because she believes that life is
sacred, a gift from God who calls man to
cooperate with Him, aided by a deep sense
of responsibility for his actions,” the Vatican
Pope / A6 Filipinos trooped to the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta March 25, Feast of the Annunciation and Day of the Unborn; to protest against “attacks” on the sanctity of life and integrity of
the family. Organized by the Archdiocese of Manila, the interfaith rally drew an estimated 200,000 people coming from different religious denominations.

Bishops mourn executed Phivolcs Chief to

Pinoy drug mules Church officials:
Check stability of
CATHOLIC bishops are mourning the death I also wish to extend my deep condolences “We already know that there are laws in

of three Filipino drug mules who were ex-
ecuted in China on March 30.
At the same time, the prelates said it
should serve as lesson for overseas Filipino
workers (OFWs) to be extra careful abroad.
Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo said
OFWs should make sure they know the laws of
the country they are in to avoid trouble.
“We cannot control the administration of
justice in other countries,” said Quevedo,
former president of the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines.
to the families of those executed and I pray
for the eternal repose of their souls,” he said.
“I also pray for all those OFWs who are un-
der great suffering at this time.”
Kidapawan Bishop Romulo dela Cruz also
said he is saddened by what happened and
expressed condolences over the death of the
three Filipinos.
“I’m sorry for the families who are bereav-
ing now. I hope that this will also serve as a
lesson for the future that our OFWs should
be more careful,” he said.
old churches
each country about drugs… this is a lesson
for all to be careful and to respect the laws of
other nations also,” dela Cruz added.
Ramon Credo, 42, Elizabeth Batain, 38,
and Sally Villanueva, 32, were executed
by lethal injection on Wednesday morning
after they were found guilty of illegal drug
trafficking.
The execution took place despite earnest
appeal from the Aquino administration to
have their death sentence commuted to life.
(CBCPNews)

ARMM postponement
disappoints bishop
A CATHOLIC bishop is disap-
pointed over President Aquino’s
call to defer elections in the
Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM).
scheduled to solve the present
problems in his province.
“First and foremost I am
frustrated (with the planned
postponement of the ARMM
“They have the power of au-
thority so let’s hope for [the] best
because that’s what the President
has promised that he will clean
the government,” he said.
FILE PHOTO

The ARMM polls are
set on August 11 but the
administration’s allies in
Congress are determined to
have it postponed.
FILE PHOTO
elections),” Jumoad said over
Catholic Church-run Radyo
Veritas.
But the Mindanao prelate said
he will respect the decision of
“I hope it will materialize… I
am a law abiding citizen and I
San Agustin Church
respect the decision of the gov-
ernment,” Jumoad added.
On March 22, the House of DIRECTOR of Philippine es are also point of interest

Basilan Bishop Martin Ju-
moad maintains that the elec-
Bishop Martin Jumoad
tions should push through as
the government and will remain Representatives approved a Institute of Volcanology and among tourists, he added.
hopeful that it will bring good to bill seeking to synchronize the Seismology (Phivolcs) Dr. Re- He said concern from church
their region. ARMM / A6 nato Solidum urged Church authorities is a manifestation
officials to ensure the stability of its social responsibility.

2 bishops urge pork barrel cut for OFWs

of church structures against
earthquakes.
The Phivolcs chief said
church officials should so-
AT least two Catholic bishops urged law- licit professional help from
makers to use their pork barrel funds in the civil and structural engineers
repatriation of overseas Filipino workers to check on the strength of
caught in armed conflicts abroad. church edifices in the light
The prelates said the lawmakers should of recent earthquakes that
help finance repatriation of thousands of devastated neighboring coun-
OFWs in Libya, Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen and tries.
even in the quake-ravaged Japan. Solidum said a significant
Maasin Bishop Precioso Cantillas said con- number of people regularly
gressmen and senators should allocate a portion flock to churches. Old church-
Illustration by Bladimer Usi
Cut / A6
The Philippines had records
of destructive earthquakes
and most of these are found
in Manila, specifically in In-
tramuros, the first established
city.
The most destructive earth-
quake to hit the Philippines
was the one that originated
from the Philippine Fault
Zone in 1880.
He said many churches in
Manila and Infanta, Quezon
Philvocs / A6

www.cbcponlineradio.com www.visitaiglesia.net www.cbcpmedia.com

 World News
CBCP Monitor
A2 Vol. 15 No. 7
March 28 - April 10, 2011

US bishops question use of force in Libya

Stress moral responsibility, principles of justice
Vatican Briefing
Prefect promotes adoration for vocations, holy clergy
The prefect of the Congregation for Clergy says the value
of Eucharistic adoration cannot be overestimated, and he is
recommending that every diocese have an adoration chapel
or shrine dedicated to the intentions of consecrated vocations
and the sanctification of the clergy. Cardinal Mauro Piacenza
affirmed this in a March 4 note to Bishop Dominique Rey of
Frejus-Toulon, France. The bishop is promoting an international
conference on Eucharistic adoration, to be held June 20-24 in
Rome at the Salesianum. “We cannot overestimate the im-
portance of adoring the Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament,
knowing that worship is the highest act of the People of God,”
the cardinal wrote. (Zenit)

Vatican urges support of Holy Land collection

The Congregation for Eastern Churches is urging Catholics
worldwide to support the Good Friday collection for the
Church in the Holy Land. Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, pre-
fect of that dicastery, sent a letter with an appeal to recall
this “commitment that dates back to apostolic times.” He
affirmed that “the Holy Land expects the brotherhood of
the universal Church and desires to reciprocate it in shar-
ing the experience of grace and suffering that marks her
journey.” (Zenit)

Church needs courageous apostles to fight religious

indifference—Pope
Pope Benedict said at his general audience that the modern
world needs “zealous” disciples of Christ, who will fight reli-
gious indifference with the “light and beauty” of the Gospel.

WASHINGTON, D.C., March
28, 2011—The U.S. bishops are
urging government leaders to
examine the use of military force
in Libya according to principles
of moral responsibility and the
protection of human life.
Bishop Howard Hubbard of
Albany, New York, chairman of
the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops Committee on
International Justice and Peace,
wrote a letter last Thursday
to National Security Advisor
Thomas Donilon emphasizing
these points.
The prelate acknowledged,
“Recently our nation in coali-
tion with others embarked on
an internationally-sanctioned
military mission to protect ci-
vilians in Libya from their own
government.”
In the wake of reports of
“massacres” of Libyan protes-
tors and bombings of rebel
forces by Muammar Gaddafi,
the country’s leader for 42 years,
the U.N. Security Council passed
Resolution 1973. This resolution
authorized the international
community to establish a no-fly
zone, and to allow for the use
of “all means necessary” for the
protection of Libyan civilians.
On March 19, several countries
launched bombing attacks on
the Libyan military systems in
Tripoli and elsewhere.
Underlining Catholic teach-
ing, that “the use of force must
always be a last resort that serves
a just cause,” the bishop affirmed,
“The just cause articulated in
U.N. Security Council Resolution
1973 to demand ‘a ceasefire and
a complete end to violence and
all attacks against, and abuses
of, civilians’ appears to meet this
criterion in our judgment.”
He added, “Since the protec-
tion of civilians is paramount,
a key question is: Will the coali-
tion actions stay focused on this
limited goal and mission?”
“In recent years,” Bishop Hub-
bard observed, “the Holy See
has emphasized the role of in-
ternational bodies in authorizing
humanitarian interventions into
sovereign nations.”
Careful monitoring
He added, “The United Na-
tions Security Council needs to
continue to monitor carefully
the mission and the use of force
in Libya.”
The prelate outlined “impor-
tant questions” in this regard,
including: “How is the use of
force protecting the civilian
www.abc.net.au
The Pope dedicated his teaching at the Vatican on March 23
to St. Lawrence of Brindisi, who was born in Italy in 1559 and
was named one of the Doctors of the Church for his expertise
in preaching Catholic doctrine and Sacred Scripture. St. Law-
population of Libya? Is the force rence is known for his “clear and tranquil” explanations of the
employed proportionate to the Christian faith to his surrounding culture, the pontiff noted,
goal of protecting civilians? Is it particularly to those who had left the Church in the wake of
producing evils graver than the the Reformation. (CNA)
evil it hopes to address?
“What are the implications of New book features in-flight interviews with John Paul
the use of force for the future II
welfare of the Libyan people and Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi recently announced
the stability of the region?” the release of the book, “Traveling Companions, In-flight Inter-
He pointed out that “the jus- views with John Paul II.” The book, which features a selection
tice of a cause does not lessen the of in-flight interviews the late Pope John Paul II gave to journal-
moral responsibility to comply ists, was released March 23 at the offices of Vatican Radio. Fr.
with the norms of civilian im- Lombardi explained that Vatican Radio preserved recordings
munity and proportionality.” of the interviews given by John Paul II during the first years
In this regard, the bishop of his pontificate. The organization then made them available
raised other questions, such as: to journalist Angela Ambrogetti, author of the new book. The
“Is force being used in ways that book was published by Libreria Editrice Vaticana, the Vatican
protect civilian lives? publishing house. (CNA)
“Are civilian casualties being
avoided? Is the destruction of Pope Benedict prays for peace in Libya
lives and property proportionate Responding to the widening military conflict, Pope Benedict
to the good being achieved in XVI has prayed for a “horizon of peace and harmony” to arise
terms of saving civilian lives?” in Libya. He also assured the people of Libya of his “heartfelt
(Zenit) closeness.” “The disturbing news coming from Libya has

US bishops reiterate commitment

awakened in me fear and trepidation,” Pope Benedict told
the faithful in St. Peter’s Square after the traditional Sunday
Angelus prayers. He reported that he had offered a “special
prayer” about the state of affairs in Libya during his Lenten

to fighting clerical abuse

spiritual exercises recently. (CNA)

Atheists and Catholics in Paris examine question of God

WASHINGTON D.C., March 25, 2011―Arch-
bishop Timothy M. Dolan, the head of the
U.S. bishops’ conference, reiterated the bish-
ops’ resolve to swiftly remove priests guilty
of sex abuse from active ministry.
Archbishop Dolan released a March 22
statement—just ahead of National Child
Abuse Prevention Month in April—saying
that the occasion provides an opportunity
“to unite with all Americans in a renewed
resolve to halt the scourge of sexual abuse
of youth in our society.”
Archbishop Dolan also cited “recent dis-
closures” about the Church’s response to the
clerical sexual abuse of minors as a primary
reason for his statement.
Earlier this month, Cardinal Justin Rigali
placed 21 Philadelphia priests on admin-
istrative leave following an investigation
into a grand jury report that said there were
credible abuse allegations against the clergy
members, who were in active ministry.
Archbishop Dolan emphasized that the
Church will continue to enforce a zero-tol-
erance policy, referencing the bishops’ 2002
Charter for the Protection of Children and
Young People, which was drafted in the wake
of the first revelations of sex abuse by clergy.
“Over the past nine years, we have con-
stantly reviewed the high promises and
rigorous mandates of the Charter, as we
continually try to make it even more effec-
tive,” he said.
“We want to learn from our mistakes and
we welcome constructive criticism,” the
archbishop said, adding that the U.S. bishops
“remain especially firm in our commitment
to remove permanently from public ministry
any priest who committed such an intoler-
able offense.”
The conference president said that “this
painful issue continues to receive our care-
ful attention” and that “the protection of
our children and young people is of highest
priority.”
Archbishop Dolan also expressed his
thanks to the conference’s National Review
Board—an initiative that works to prevent
sexual abuse of minors within the Church—
as well as “Catholic parents, professionals,
the victim-survivor community, law enforce-
ment officials, and our diocesan victim-
assistance coordinators.”
The archbishop noted that annual outside
audits by forensic experts will continue,
“checking that we remain faithful to the pro-
cesses in place to protect our young people,
promote healing of victims survivors and
restore trust.”
“In short, the progress made must contin-
ue and cannot be derailed,” he said, adding
that “we want to strengthen it even more.”
“We can never stop working at it, because
each child and young person must always
be safe, loved and cherished in the Church.”
(CNA/EWTN News)
Pope Benedict XVI called for a greater sense of brotherhood
in the world as the first official modern forum for dialogue
between believers and non-believers was inaugurated last
week in Paris. “Religions cannot be afraid of a just secularism,
a secularism that is open and allows individuals to live accord-
ing to what they believe in their own consciences,” he said. “If
we are to build a world of freedom, equality and fraternity,
believers and non-believers should feel themselves to be free,
with equal rights to live their individual and community lives
in accordance with their own convictions; and they must be
brothers to one another.” (CNA)
Pope picks Augustinian nun to write Good Friday
meditations
Pope Benedict XVI chose an Augustinian nun to author the
texts for this year’s Way of the Cross procession on Good
Friday, the Vatican announced March 25. Mother Maria Rita
Piccione, a contemplative nun who leads the Federation of
Augustinian Nuns, wrote the texts that will be read at each
of the 14 stations, the Vatican statement said. Each year, the
pope selects a different person to author the texts that mark
the steps in the solemn, candlelight ceremony that begins at
Rome’s Colosseum and leads toward the nearby Forum and
Palatine Hill. (CNS)

Catholic youth create videos for internet contest

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky, March Malaysian govt to release 35,000
27, 2011―Young Catholic film-
makers have produced inspi-
rational YouTube videos with
Bibles seized over ‘Allah’ dispute
Catholic themes as part of a KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Muslim context was an affront to
contest to help evangelize others March 17, 2011—Government Muslims. Islam is both the state
about the faith. officials in Malaysia agreed to religion and the largest faith in
The Kentucky-based Catholic release 35,000 Bibles that were the country.
youth media group Goodness seized in the country as it con- According to Vatican Radio,
Reigns is running the contest, tinues a heated dispute over on March 16 another govern-
whose entrants include youth non-Muslims being allowed to ment minister attempted to
groups and individuals aged 14 use the word “Allah” for God. reimpose a block on 5,000 of the
and older from all skill levels. The decision on March 15 by Bibles in the Malaysian city of
They have submitted short films the Muslim-majority government Port Klang.
www.catholicnewsagency.com

on Church teachings, the sacra-
ments, Church history, the lives
of the saints and examples of the
contemporary mission spirit.
Goodness Reigns’ People’s
Choice Award promises a $1,000
cash prize to the winner of an
internet vote.
Entrants are also competing
in the “Share the Story” short
film contest. On April 1 contest
organizers will announce win-
ners, who may choose either
video equipment packages or
all-inclusive travel packages to
World Youth Day 2011 in Ma-
drid, Spain.
The entries come from 25 U.S.
states and Canada, India, Mexico
and Pakistan.
As of Friday afternoon, the
People’s Choice vote leader was
a video titled “The Sacrament of
Divine Mercy.” It retells a story
from the life of St. John Bosco in
which Satan tries to demoralize
a priest and his congregation
about the effectiveness of con-
fession.
Another leading video, “The
Ten Plagues,” reinterpets the
biblical plagues in a high school
setting. The video “Finding John
Doe” involves a troubled girl
contemplating suicide, while
another, “Morning Star Family
Holy Hour,” describes the Holy
Hour at a children’ prayer group
in New York state.
The contest will help create
a repository of short films for
catechists and the general public,
organizers said.
Gabriel Castillo, director of
is being considered a significant
move to quell frustration among
Malaysian Christians, as a court
case continues on whether non-
Muslims have the constitutional
right to use the word.
The Herald, Malaysia’s sole
Catholic publication, was pros-
evangelization at St. Theresa’s ecuted last year by the Malaysian
Church in Sugarland, Texas, Home Ministry and threatened
praised the contest. with the loss of its printing
“Now youth groups and license for its use of “Allah” in
teachers will have a safe place describing the Christian God in
to send their students and peers its Malay-language section.
to get solid Catholic information The Herald argued that use
presented in creative ways,” she of the term follows a centu-
said. ries-old tradition within the
The website for the People’s Arabic language that pre-dates
Choice vote is http://www.good- Islam, while the Home Ministry
nessreigns.com/vote. (CNA) claimed that its usage outside the
“In Selangor—where Port
Klang is—there is a state enact-
ment that prohibits the use of the
word ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims,”
editor of The Herald Fr. Lawrence
Andrew told Vatican Radio.
The enactment, however,
“goes against the federal consti-
tution,” he underscored.
Fr. Andrew also said there
is an internal security act that
allows for use of the Bible by
Christians as long as they have
been stamped with the words
“For Christians Only.”
“So legally we Christians can
have the Bible, but they are now
putting restrictions because of
the fear that this will confuse
Muslims,” he said. (CNA)
 News Features
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 15 No. 7
March 28 - April 10, 2011
A3

Confession teaches humility to

priests and penitents, Pope says
VATICAN City, March 25, 2011—
Confession teaches both priests and
penitents to be humble and aware of
God’s forgiveness, Pope Benedict XVI
said March 25.
“By administering the aSacrament
of Penance we can receive profound
lessons of humility and faith,” he told
a gathering of priests at the Vatican.
“For each priest, this is a powerful call
to an awareness of his own identity.
Never could we hear the confessions of
our brothers and sisters merely on the
strength of our own humanity.”
“If they come to us it is only because
we are priests, configured to Christ,
the Supreme and Eternal Priest, and
granted the capacity of acting in His
Name and Person, so as to make pres-
ent the God Who forgives, renews and
transforms,” the Pope said.
His remarks addressed participants
in an annual course organized by the
Apostolic Penitentiary, the Vatican tri-
bunal in charge of granting indulgences,
resolving sins reserved to the Pope,
and resolving matters of conscience
forwarded to the Holy See.
The course concerned the “internal fo-
poverty of his person. It also nourishes
in him an awareness of his sacramental
identity.
He also pointed out that individual
freedom and self-awareness are ex-
pressed “particularly clearly” in the
sacrament.
“It is perhaps for this reason too that,
in an age of relativism and of the con-
sequent reduced awareness of self, the
practice of this Sacrament should also
have diminished.”
The pontiff then touched on the
practice known as an examination of
conscience, which involves a review of
one’s sins and failings. This practice, he
said, teaches Catholics to compare their
lives with “the truth of the Gospel.”
Comparing one’s life with the Com-
mandments, the Beatitudes and “above
all” the commandment to love repre-
sents a great “school of penance,” Pope
Benedict told the priests. An “integral
confession” helps penitents recognize
their own fragility, achieve an aware-
ness of the need for God’s forgiveness,
and achieve the belief that divine grace
can transform life.
“Do not fail to give appropriate

rum,” a technical term for the personal
area of conscience and judgment in the
priest-penitent relationship.
Pope Benedict told the priests that
the sacrament of Penance teaches the
priest about his faith and the truth and
www.olivyaz.blogspot.com
space to exercising the ministry of
penance in the confessional. To be
welcomed and heard is also a human
sign of God’s welcome and goodness
towards His children,” he said. (CNA/
EWTN News)

Vatican welcomes European court

decision on classroom crucifixes
VATICAN City, March 18,
2011—Crucifixes displayed
publicly in Italy, including in
classrooms, are a sign of Chris-
tianity’s key contribution to Eu-
ropean culture and civilization,
said Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi,
president of the Pontifical Coun-
cil for Culture.
Christianity is a “founding
element” of Western civiliza-
tion and “even if someone does
www.nationalpostcomment.files.wordpress.com
lated her children’s freedom of
conscience.
A lower chamber of the Euro-
pean court had ruled in 2009 that
the classroom crucifixes violated
the religious freedom clauses
of the European Convention of
Human Rights.
Jesuit Father Federico Lom-
bardi, Vatican spokesman, said
the Vatican welcomed the Grand
Chamber ruling, which recog-
Lombardi said.
A lack of respect, he said,
would lead to a situation in
which, “in the name of religious
liberty, paradoxically one would
limit or even deny this freedom,
ending up excluding every ex-
pression of it from the public
sphere.”
Speaking to reporters at a
news conference about a Vatican
project to promote dialogue with
may need to explain what a reli-
gious symbol means, but it isn’t
right to have to take down your
symbols simply to avoid offend-
ing someone,” the cardinal said.
Similarly, he said, “when you
go to a Muslim city, you aren’t
concerned when you see golden
crescent moons” lit at night and
dotting the skyline.
During his news conference,
the cardinal presented the pro-

not want to recognize it, it is an
objective fact that the Christian
presence is absolutely relevant,
decisive,” the cardinal told re-
porters March 18.
Cardinal Ravasi spoke just
a few hours before the Grand
Chamber of the European Court
of Human Rights ruled in favor
of Italy in a case where a mother
claimed crucifixes in Italian
public-school classrooms vio-
nizes that “human rights must
not be placed in opposition to
the religious foundations of Eu-
ropean civilization.”
The decision is an affirma-
tion of the respect owed to each
country of the European Union
for “the religious symbols of its
cultural history and national
identity” and for national deci-
sions on how the symbols can
and should be displayed, Father
atheists and other nonbelievers,
Cardinal Ravasi had said that
while a crucifix is a religious sym-
bol to believers, it also is “a sign of
civilization” in the West.
In every culture, he said, peo-
ple find symbols that express
their identity and, in losing those
symbols, “we run the great risk
of losing our identity.”
“Having white walls leads to
a void, to cultural fragility. You
gram for his office’s “Courtyard
of the Gentiles” project, which
aims to promote discussions
between Christians and atheists
or nonbelievers.
The cardinal said the “Court-
yard of the Gentiles” project
tentatively is scheduled to hold
sessions in other cities around
the world, including in Quebec
in 2012 and in Chicago and
Washington in 2013. (CNS)

Vatican says church philosophy studies Study on coal-fired power plant,

must combat suspicion of truth
VATICAN City, March 22, 2011—When
training priests and educating students in
philosophy, the Catholic Church must com-
bat a widespread sensation that there really
is no such thing as permanent, objective
truths, a new Vatican document said.
Because so many students are influenced
by the cultural suspicion of truth, the Vatican
said it will require an extra year of study be-
fore a student can earn a church-recognized
bachelor’s degree in philosophy.
The “Decree on the Reform of Ecclesiasti-
cal Studies of Philosophy,” released March
needed primarily because of a shift in the cul- touch, it said.
health hazards link pushed
tural understanding of “the concept of truth. The new document sets a minimum of
In fact, there is often mistrust in the capacity three years of philosophy studies ― instead
of human intelligence to arrive at objective of two ― for an ecclesiastical bachelor’s
and universal truth―a truth by which people degree in philosophy. The second degree,
can give direction to their lives.” a license that allows a graduate to teach
The document said people must realize in a seminary, continues to be a two-year
that unless there is such a thing as truth, program after the bachelor’s, and a doctoral
there is no such thing as real charity or program must include at least three years of
love. additional research, it said.
The study of philosophy helps people The decree also included a broad outline
recognize the importance of human reason of what must be taught in the bachelor’s pro-
and helps them hone the ability to reason gram; a brief explanation of the philosophy
www.steag-statepower.com

22 at the Vatican, updated norms issued in
1979. The decree was signed and presented
by Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect of
the Congregation for Catholic Education.
The decree’s introduction said the reform is
in order to discern the truth, the document study needed before studying theology; and
said. At the same time, philosophy studies requirements such as the number of profes-
prepare them for the study of theology by sors a department must have before the
helping them see that knowledge and truth Vatican will recognize it as an ecclesiastical
are not limited to what they can see and faculty of philosophy. (CNS)

Fil-Ams unite to help Japan calamity victims MANILA, March 17,

MANILA, March 26, 2011—Fil-
ipino-Americans in the United
States are once again united in
helping their kababayans who
have been affected by the earth-
quake, tsunami and radiation
leaks in Japan.
Filipino communities, espe-
cially those who have been en-
gaged in the religious service,
had launched their own help
campaign drive for Filipinos
severely affected by the catastro-
phe. Dubbed as Help for Filipino
Migrants in Japan (HFMJ), it aims
to collect money and other forms
of assistance to give the victims.
In a statement, Nerissa N. Alle-
gretti, secretary of the HFMJ and
a coordinator for Lay Scalabrin-
ian Missionary Movement-US
Nucleus, said they are targeting
to gather enough aids in order
to immediately help the 20,000
Filipinos living in northern Ja-
pan, particularly in the Sendai
coasts, who are heavily affected
by the disaster.
“The HFMJ coordinating com-
2011―Local officials must
take a cue from the coal-fired
coal-fired power plant in the
city’s Binugao village as the
key solution power shortage
mittee is partnering with SAGIP- should not surprise us, or cause sasters instead, let us pray to our power plant operations in in the southern Mindanao.
MIGRANTE Japan to assist us to doubt GOD’s faithfulness. LORD that whatever happens, Misamis Oriental whether or The firm said the short-
migrant Filipinos as well as other Rather, we should actually be we love and praise Him and we not to allow a similar project age was merely because
migrant groups affected by this glad for them. GOD sometimes need His mercy for whatever in Davao City, a Catholic the hydro-electric plants in
tragedy. We are soliciting your sends trials not to punish us but sufferings we have since March archbishop said. Marawi and Budkidnon can
financial donation,” reads the to strengthen our trust in Him so 11. I am praying for all of us,” “The consumer groups and no longer provide sufficient
letter of appeal posted by the that our faith will not fail. Our she said in her message. the city government should supply of energy to the needs
HFMJ in the social networking trials keep us trusting; they burn Meanwhile, the National Al- see and observe the coal plant of the locality.
site, Facebook. away our self confidence and liance for Filipino Concerns in Misamis Oriental before The project, which divides
Aside from financial help, the draw us near and close to Him.” (Nafcon), a multi-sector alliance coming to action,” said Davao local officials of Davao, also
group has also joined hands with In addition, in a private message in the United States assailed the Archbishop Fernando Capalla. aimed at providing cheaper
other organizations and indi- to this reporter, Okawa extends her “slowness” of the Benigno C. And if the plan is approved, power to the region.
viduals who have been praying deepest sympathies to the victims Aquino III’s administration in he said that safety measures Davao del Sur Governor
for Japan. A three o’clock daily of the tremor and tsunami. helping Filipinos in Japan. with the use of modern tech- Douglas Cagas and Davao
habit was launched for the fast “To my kababayans who were “The Aquino administration nology and monitoring sys- City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Du-
recovery of Japan, where every affected in Sendai and Miyagi so far has failed to effectively tem must be in place. terte support the project but
Catholics and other Christian de- Prefecture: My heartfelt sym- assist Filipinos in Japan. The “If they agree to the estab- Mayor Sara Duterte is against
nominations are asked to pray, in pathy and condolences to your President should use all avail- lishment of the new plant, it although she would go with
silence, three (3) Our Fathers or friends and loved ones who died able resources to ensure the they should see to it that the decision of the people.
compose their own prayers. and still missing. To all survi- refuge and safe return of our some knowledgeable citi- In a petition, residents of
Famous Filipino-Japanese vors, trials and hardships will kababayans. Up to now no emer- zens from civil society and Binugao village are also op-
model, Mayo Okawa, who is make you closer to our Savior. gency money has been allocated religious groups should also posed to it and asked the city
based in Nagoya-shi, also ap- With your faith in Him, you can for relief and the administration monitor the monitoring plan government to reject the pro-
pealed for help. make it, we can make it! Don’t has proposed only a single C-130 of Aboitiz and Department posed coal-fired power plant.
Trying to inspire and comfort lose hope, GOD is in control. I military plane to fly our dis- of Environment and Natural Capalla admitted to have met
her compatriots in Japan and else- just wanted to announce that tressed Filipinos home,” said Fr. Resources,” he said. with Aboitiz officials and got a
where, who have been affected this is not God’s plan. GOD is Benjamin Alforque, president of The Aboitiz Corp. pro- briefing on the project at least
by tragedies and war, she wrote love, He is merciful. We should the Nafcon, in a statement sent to posed to put a 300-megawat three times. (CBCPNews)
on her Facebook wall: “Trials not blame GOD for natural di- media. (Noel Sales Barcelona)
 A4 Opinion CBCP Monitor
Vol. 15 No. 7
March 28 - April 10, 2011

EDITORIAL

Spirituality in the defense of life

IMUS Bishop Chito Tagle in his homily at the Thanksgiving

Mass for Life held at the Manila Cathedral last March 23,
2011, called for developing “spirituality towards the defense
of life”. That was not only superb; it was very opportune at this
point in time when working relentlessly for the passage of the
Reproductive Health Bill seems to be the main obsession of
some legislators, and, therefore, also of the Catholic Church
and other religious denominations that see the senselessness
of rushing a legislative measure that is not really urgent, if not
utterly useless.
Saying that there are many forces against life, the good bishop
saw the necessity of a spirituality surging from those who are
working in the ministry of life and the family. The first questions
he posed were “Are we coming from a deep commitment to
God? Or are we coming from other agenda which in the end
might prove to be counter to life? What makes someone a
prophet of life and a prophet for life?
Bishop Tagle took the cue from the readings of that day and used
the biblical figure of prophet Jeremiah in the first reading and Jesus
in the Gospel as the icons of the spirituality in the defense of life.
Paradoxically, the way towards defending life is through sacrifice
and even death. He says: “For it is only in life given in service
that this life is promoted. Two figures—Jeremiah and Jesus. Life
threatened but they took the threat and transformed the threat into

Illustration by Bladimer Usi

love, service. And life is not threatened anymore. Life remains a
gift given to others and others live because of Jesus.”
This kind of spirituality is the presence of Christ in one’s heart.
And since “ex abundantia cordis os loquitur” (from the abundance
of the heart the mouth speaks), this spirituality manifests itself
in one’s thoughts, words and actions. For sure, those seemingly
rabid and angry pro-lifers that mouth dirty expletives in emails
and social networks are not at bosom-length with this way of
life. Some have comfortably called their very own bishops as
“tanga” and their pro-life co-workers as “satanic”; an allusion
perhaps to those who accused Christ as driving out demons
by the power of Beelzebul. And neither are they too close,
those who are pro-life in intention but pro-death in vocation
and behavior. Of course, the Lord has exhorted his disciples to
be cunning as snakes yet innocent as doves—but this does not
include unchristian conduct that, at the end of the day, betrays
the very intention we are working for.
At the end of the homily, the bishop admonished “We hope that
our defense of life will go to that deep part of ourselves, where
Jesus has the Holy Spirit transforming us into true prophet of
life, patterned after Jesus Himself.”
Development Models
ECONOMIC recovery will be slow and more painful than
is yet popularly perceived. Not only is this a currency and
banking crisis or a property bubble that must be weathered.
More profoundly, the present economic situation, replicated
in many other parts of Asia, has raised serious questions about
the viability of development models. Already in 1995 questions
were raised in Malaysia about a so-called “Asian” development
model that has as core elements high economic growth sustained
indefinitely, managed and/or guided by omnipresent government
officials, financed by foreign debt and implemented by cheap
labor. Moreover, Westerners denounced “Asian” values that they
associate today with crony capitalism, widespread corruption,
banking irregularities, and lack of transparency.
On the other hand, the dominant “Western” model emphasizes free
trade and encourages competition, especially under the umbrella
of globalization. The idea is to produce higher and better quality
returns than one’s competitors, to be open to foreign investments,
protect property rights, liberalize regulations, privatize government
business corporations and have minimal government intervention.
Unfortunately, those countries that had rushed to embrace this
model have suffered most in the crisis.
Yet it is clear that the best examples of the Asian model, Hong
Kong and Singapore, topped the world in the 1997 Index of
Economic Freedom by the Heritage Foundation and Wall Street.
There is indeed an “East Asian miracle” which got the “basics”
right. These include low inflation, high levels of domestic
saving, heavy investment in education and openness to foreign
technology. Experts tell us that East Asian economies have been
mixing the formula of Asian values and market capitalism and
have been reaping considerable success.
Still, many economists claim that development models be they
Western or Asian, with their variants and combinations, tend to
produce the same inequality of income, growth disproportionately
against the poor, persistence of poverty and increased possibilities
of social conflict. “Trickle down economics”, another name for
“growth economics” inevitably creates inequality of income and
wealth. We have yet to see a version of what some economists
call “trickle up economics” where the fruits of economic growth
are universally and equally shared. In the final analysis present
development models are based on a vision of society that remains
materialistic if not consumerist.
Pastoral Exhortation on the Philippine Economy, 1998
Abp. Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ
An audience with Pope
Pastoral Companion Benedict XVI
AS part of the bishops’ ad limina and a Guidebook for Training of ops), I told him that our program relations in the south. I de-
visit to Rome, I was given the op- NFP Counsellors. As he was pag- was receiving increasing interest scribed to him our ongoing
portunity to have a personal au- ing over the publications, I gave because it offers information on all dialogue efforts through the
dience with the Holy Father. This the Holy Father an over-all view of modern scientific NFP methods, Bishops-Ulama Conference and
took place on 25 February 2011 in our All-NFP program which over including the simplified ones. The the Mindanao Week of Peace.
the Pope’s reception room. We the past four years has covered Holy Father’s immediate response As Chairman of the Episcopal
started the fifteen–minute audi- nearly all our parishes. Moreover, was highly reassuring to me, and I Commission on Interreligious
ence with Pope Benedict himself our NFP training team has been am sure to all our NFP co-workers: Dialogue, I told him our plans
checking out the location of invited to share our program with “Yes, simplified methods are good later this year for a Mindanao-
Cagayan de Oro on an atlas map a growing number of dioceses in for simple people.” wide consultation of peace and
spread out on his table. Mindanao and other parts of the We next dwelt on peace- IRD centers connected with the
Then I presented to him two country. building efforts in Mindanao. Catholic Church. This year in
publications on the archdiocese’s As a positive response to the Pope Benedict was particularly October would be the 25th anni-
Natural Family Planning program: Reproductive Health bill issues interested to know more about versary of the first Day of Prayer
a collection of articles, titled “NFP (which the Holy Father had al- our activities in interreligious for Peace convened by Pope
– Values, Issues, and Practices,” ready heard about from other bish- dialogue and Muslim-Christian Pastoral Companion / A7
Fr. James H. Kroeger, MM
Saint Joseph: Model for
mission Living Mission
THE Liturgy of the Church designates two Joseph faithful to the Jewish law and also frustrating circumstances.
feasts in honor of Saint Joseph. The solemnity protects Mary (by law she could be stoned to Joseph dutifully raised Jesus into man-
of Joseph, Husband of Mary, is celebrated death). Joseph plans a “middle course.” He hood; however, he most probably died before
on March 19; the feast of Joseph the Worker does the “right thing,” assuring that no one Jesus began his public ministry. In short, one
is on May 1. will suffer; Joseph is truly the “just” man. notes that Joseph did not see the fruits of his
Historical knowledge about Joseph is Mission inevitably faces challenges and crises; labors. Joseph faithfully served and gave all
limited. In fact, his role is described in detail thus, great discernment is demanded. Mission to God; he did not seek for recognition. He
only in the infancy narratives of Matthew always seeks everyone’s welfare; no one will allowed events to happen on “God’s time.”
and Luke. His name appears in a few other be harmed by decisions or actions taken. Mission demands the same humility and
places, where Jesus is identified as “Joseph’s Just when Joseph seems to have everything self-effacing service. When and how one’s
son” and as “the carpenter’s son.” This lack in place, God intervenes in an unexpected efforts in mission will bear fruit is to be left
of detailed biographical data reminds us that way, in a dream. Joseph is commanded to in God’s hands.
the Gospels are primarily “faith summaries,” change his personal plans: Take Mary as your As one reflects on the birth of Jesus, one
written to engender a faith commitment. In wife! Alter your course of action. Place radi- realizes that it was Joseph who first held the
this context, one asks: is it valid to assert that cal trust in God. Do not be afraid! Believe in newly born child in his hands; he is the first
Joseph is a model for mission? God—in spite of everything to the contrary. human to hold Jesus—even before giving him
Joseph, according to Gospel accounts, was Yes, all evangelizers need to have faith, to to Mary. What a unique privilege! But, Joseph
a village carpenter; he was also a descendant believe. “Mission is an issue of faith” (RM 11). also desired to share Jesus with others, the
of King David. Joseph’s life in Nazareth was Missioners believe that God always brings shepherds, the magi. Mission demands both
that of a quiet, humble, consistent worker. good out of difficult situations. “holding” and “sharing” Jesus. Like Joseph,
His village life-style was simple and settled. Joseph remained committed to Mary— evangelizers make their home with Jesus and
He was betrothed to Mary according to even though it entailed living through many Mary; from this intimacy they share Jesus
traditional Jewish custom. Joseph, like all difficulties. There were suspicions and prob- with others.
evangelizers and missioners, sought to faith- ably even gossip around Nazareth. Joseph The meaning of the name Joseph is “let God
fully and humbly serve the Lord in the many took the pregnant Mary on the perilous, add.” Joseph, a model for mission, allowed
daily, routine tasks of life. Mission demands lengthy journey to Bethlehem. They faced God to add and increase, to fill his life with
faith and humble service. rejection, and in a crude, dirty, foul-smelling marvelous and unexpected gifts. Friends,
A tremendous crisis disrupts Joseph’s life- stable Mary gave birth. They fled as refugees through baptism we all are missionary; we
plans: Mary is pregnant. Joseph faces a great into Egypt and for years lived as foreigners look to Joseph as our model for living mission.
dilemma: What does he do in this confusing in a strange land. Only later did they return Saint Joseph was declared patron of the univer-
situation? He formulates a simple plan: a to Nazareth. Mission demands fidelity to sal Church in 1870; we see him as a model for
“quiet divorce.” This way of proceeding has one’s commitments—in the midst of trying, living the missionary identity of the Church.

Melo M. Acuña
Willie, ‘Jan-Jan’ and
Issues and Concerns the crowd
www.cbcpmonitor.com
cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net

UNDER the mango tree where
my friends converge after a
round or two at the Veterans Me-
morial Medical Center grounds
early in the morning, a lively
Pedro C. Quitorio conversation ensued between
Editor a retired prosecutor, a doctor, a
former government employee
Pinky Barrientos, FSP Gloria Fernando and a cycling enthusiast. The
Associate Editor Marketing Supervisor issue may not be as simple as it
PUBLICATION LAYOUT BY KRIS BAYOS
The boy said he was accompanied
by his aunt who seemed delighted
to see her nephew with the fa-
mous television host.
It turned a bit different when
Willie asked where Jan-Jan’s fa-
ther works and when the young
boy said he was in a parlor. Willie
then asked what Jan-Jan’s father
was doing and the boy said he’s
ple with “same sex attraction.”
One of the senior citizens in our
group said the dancing was “pure
entertainment.” It was fun and it
was worthwhile because the boy
earned P10,000 just for the ten-
minute exposure to klieg lights.
“Nobody earns P 10,000 just
like that,” he said. However, the
doctor in our group said it appears
quested him to dance again. This
was when tears rolled down his
eyes. The young boy didn’t like
what he’s going through despite
the chants from the audience.
During the ten-minute span
that I saw on YouTube, I can
understand the pain and trauma
“Jan-Jan” went through. Though
it’s been said the parents ap-

seemed because it may be de-
Roy Q. Lagarde Ernani M. Ramos scribed as what today’s young
News Editor Circulation Manager professionals would depict as
Kris Bayos “complicated.”
Marcelita Dominguez
Features Editor Comptroller The issue revolved around Wil-
lie Revillame’s “exploitation” of a
young six-year old boy known as
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCP Communica-
“Jan-Jan” over his “Wiling Willie”
tions Development Foundation, Inc., with editorial and business offices last March 12.
at 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila. P.O. Box 3601, 1076 MCPO. The usual Willie interviewed
Editorial: (063) 404-2182. Business: (063)404-1612.; ISSN 1908-2940 the boy, asked him who accompa-
nied him to the station and where
his parents were during the show.
cutting hair. Asked of his mother,
Jan-Jan said she was at home
because she just gave birth. One
could see what used to be a run-
of-the-mill interview turned to be
complicated when Willie asked
the boy who taught him how to
dance. He said it was his father.
The boy reluctantly gyrated and
danced the way macho dancers
danced in some dimly-lit honky-
tonk bars frequented by what Fr.
David Clay would describe as peo-
the show caters to the poor who at
least hopes to bring home some-
thing after the program. The bike
enthusiast said one man’s delight
may be one man’s pain.
Listening to their brilliant ex-
change, I pictured a scene from
“Gladiator” when the Romans
were lustily cheering slaves-
turned-killing machines who
fought each other to death.
When Willie handed over
P10,000 to “Jan-Jan,” he soon re-
proved of what the little boy did,
the incident simply calls on us to
reflect.
Is it always a matter of money?
Listening to the senior citizens in
our group, they all said the situa-
tion indeed is quite bad with the
prices of gasoline and prime com-
modities soaring with no relief in
sight. They said more and more
people will troop to programs
that give out cash and gifts worth
thousands of pesos.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 15 No. 7
March 28 - April 10, 2011
Opinion A5
Oscar. V. Cruz, DD Fr. Russell Bantiles

Views and Points
CONSIDERING the nature of
such government corporations
as the PAGCOR promoting all
conceivable forms of gambling
plus the PCSO that is another
official gambling provider in
different modalities with differ-
ent names, and add thereto the
continuous proliferation of a
good number of both “legal” and
“illegal” gambling syndicates in
the country, it is definitely not
mere poetry to call the Philip-
pines a “Gambling Republic”.
This is not because Filipinos
are born gamblers as gambling
providers avidly claim—but
rather because the government
provides and encourages them
to gamble. Truth to tell, there are
rather very few countries where
the government is a downright
gambler itself. This is anything
but a national pride.
Never mind the poverty that
is pulsating and threatening the
peace and order in all the re-
gions of the country. And forget
about the graft and corruption
still alive and kicking in many
departments of government.
Forgot as well the dejection of
big number of people eagerly
and continuously seeking work
but in fact remain workless, de-
sirous of having their children
educated but become more and
more ignorant in the course of
time. To all this big social prob-
lem, the government appears to
be loudly and repeatedly saying
“Go and gamble!”
Gambling republic
It bears saying that gambling
is a vice. It promotes addiction,
encourages indolence and there-
by discourages industry. It feeds
on human dependence on luck
as it thereby demeans human
dignity. This is why both legal
and illegal gambling providers
and operators do not frequent
well lighted places. Much less
are they proud in identifying
themselves openly in public. It
may be strange but true that the
said individuals do not gamble
as a rule. Reason: They eventu-
ally become losers. The same is
true with those making illegal
drugs their capital and source
of income. As a rule, they do
not take such drugs. Reason:
They also emerge as losers in the
Atty. Aurora A. Santiago
course of time.
Considering that gambling is
both corrupt and corrupting, it is
not only disturbing but also dis-
gusting that a government that
proclaims itself as the incarnate
enemy of corruption not simply
provides and promotes “legal”
gambling but also openly toler-
ates “illegal” gambling such as
Jueteng! As often said there is
neither rhyme nor reason in such
a gambling posture vis-à-vis its
“Daan matuwid” loud and clear
pre-election rhapsody.
Gambling Republic! And this
is not even about competence
or will-power but merely about
plain honesty and simple decen-
cy. Nothing more—and nothing
less too.
Cogito
Why should I watch
‘There be dragons’?
“I THINK it was Oscar Wilde who said: ‘Every saint has a past;
every sinner has a future’.”
Thus runs the opening lines of the recent movie “There Be
Dragons”, written, directed and produced (among others) by
one of today’s most famous English directors, Roland Joffé
(The Mission, The Killing Fields, The City of Joy). It deals on how
two different personalities confront life’s “dragons” or, in Joffé’s
words, “the dilemmas or turning points in our lives where we’re
faced with potent choices that are going to affect our future”.
“There Be Dragons” is about “the very different choices that
people take at those turning-points – temptations, if you like –
and how hard it is, and yet how necessary, to escape cycles of
hatred and resentment and violence”, the director said.
The film presents two different personalities – one histori-
cal, Saint Josemaria Escrivá de Balaguer (Charlie Cox), the
founder of Opus Dei, whose life runs parallel with another
fictional character, Manolo Torres (Wes Bentley), who has
been the former’s childhood friend and seminary classmate.
How both personalities confronted the Spanish Civil War and

Now is the time to act!

A VERY successful Interfaith Prayer Rally
with the theme “Filipinos Unite Under
God for Life” was held last March 25 at the
Quirino Grandstand in Luneta. Hundreds of
thousands of faithful listened to the call of
His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales
to join the gathering. It was providential
that the event happened during the Feast
of Annunciation and the Day of the Unborn
Children.
Members of different religions led by their
religious leaders joined the rally and voiced
their objection to the RH Bill. The intention
of the assembly was to pray for those who
attack our valued culture of life and family. It
was also an opportunity to inform those who
do not know what RH Bill is all about. The
Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas (Council
of the Laity of the Philippines) and Pro-Life
Philippines distributed flyers why RH Bill
should be rejected.
The Manila Police placed a crowd es-
timate of 200,000 before the Mass which
was presided by Cardinal Rosales, but as
evening falls, the crowd grew bigger. Radio
Veritas President Rev. Anton C. T. Pascual
placed the crowd at 500,000 when the Mass
started.
His Excellency Bishop Broderick Pabillo
read the statement issued by His Holiness
Pope Benedict XVI. The Holy Father said:
“I commend the Church in the Philippines
for seeking today its part in support of hu-
man life from conception until natural death
and in defense of the integrity of marriage
and family.”
Speaking in Pilipino, Cardinal Rosales’s
Homily was interrupted with rounds of ap-
plause several times. He enjoined everyone
to value life, the best gift that the Lord has
given us. He said “Kahit maghirap o mag-
dusa, ang buhay ay dakila na dapat nating
alagaan, ipagtanggol at itaguyod. Banal ang
buhay mag-asawa. Salamat may Simbahan
Fr. Roy Cimagala
Duc in Altum
na nagpapa-alaala sa mga turo at magan- the Bill, stood; he suggested amendments
dang asal. (Even in sufferings and sacrifices, to the Bill. Immediately thereafter, Cong.
life is great that we should nurture, defend, Garin closed the period of interpellation.
and promote. Married life is sacred. Thanks How can a co-author stood for interpel-
that there is the Church that reminds us of lation? Second, why did Cong. Garin not
the teachings and good manners.)” allow the anti-RH legislators to take part
Simultaneous prayer rallies were also in the interpellation? The Pro-RH legisla-
held in different parts of Luzon, Visayas tors “played out their theatrical act before
and Mindanao. The Diocese of San Pablo a national audience.”
and Balanga held their Anti-RH Rally last As the Pro-Lifers were saying, the next
March 26. The Archdiocese of San Fernando, weeks are critical. They are now requesting
Pampanga held its Pro-life Prayer Rally with everyone to watch over their congressmen
the theme, “Crusada ng Penitensiya Para sa and make sure that they are pro-life when
Buhay at Kapayapaan,” on March 27, 2011 congress resumes session on May 9.
at Villa del Sol Quadrangle in San Fernando
City. It coincided with the 50th death anni- ***
versary of Bishop Cesar Ma. Guerero, D.D., This column would like to thank the Pro-
who protected life and peace. His Excellency life lawmakers who attended the March 23
Archbishop Paciano B. Aniceto stated that Concelebrated Mass at the Manila Cathedral
it is an opportunity for the local Church upon the invitation of Cardinal Rosales, the
to guide its flock regarding the different Main Celebrant. This space is not enough to
signs of the times that are endangering the mention their names but our Lord knows
basic gift of God to us, the value of life. Bro. them. The Concelebrants were the Papal
Banjo Serrano, President of the Archdiocese’s Nuncio, Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams,
Council of the Laity, led the laity in making Bishops who are members of the CBCP Per-
the prayer rally a success. manent Council, other bishops and priests. It
is a thanksgiving for all the efforts in defend-
*** ing life and campaigning for the rejection
It is very disturbing to note that the Pro- of RH Bill.
RH Bill legislators are trying to railroad its
passage. Early on, there was the gentlemen’s ***
agreement among the Pro-RH and Pro-Life Earth Hour was observed on March 26
legislators that discussion of the Bill in the from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. when everyone put
plenary will be taken up in May, after the off lights in the homes, offices, malls, restau-
Holy Week recess. rants. Last year, the Philippines was number
After a series of caucuses, the Pro-RH one among the countries which participated
lawmakers finally dropped the bomb on the in the Earth Hour; we hope we maintain it.
last day of Congress. In a clear desperate
move, ignoring the palabra de honor and ***
the Parliamentary Rules and Procedure, Congratulations to my niece Raiza Impe-
Cong. Garin acting as the Majority Floor rial who graduated Salutatorian of her High
Leader “for the Day”, opened the period of School Batch in the School of Holy Spirit
interpellation on RH Bill. As per the Pro-RH of Quezon City. It is also her birthday on
script, Cong. Antonio Tinio, a co-author of March 28.
Law, yes; legalism, no
how their lives took dramatically different paths were unfold
through Robert Torres (Dougray Scott), Manolo’s estranged
son and a journalist who was tasked to write a book about
the priest, Josemaría, on the occasion of the latter’s imminent
beatification. The film also brings together the father and son
as the terrible truth about the past is revealed.
Set in the context of the Spanish Civil War (July 17, 1936-April
1, 1939), the movie wishes to transmit that the real setting of our
fight against our own “dragons” are the wars of our everyday
lives. Joffé notes that “Civil wars are most appalling because
they pit brother against brother, family against family. By the
end of the Spanish Civil War, half a million people had died. A
civil war is a powerful metaphor for a family. As in civil wars,
family members take sides and split up; old resentments become
sources of hatred. We don’t forgive our aunt for doing this, we
don’t speak to our father because he left our mother, we don’t
speak to our mother because she went off with a man, or we
don’t speak to our son because he chose a different profession
than what we expected. Those are the civil wars of our everyday
lives. ‘There Be Dragons’ is about both kinds of civil war”.
The title itself is very significant. The director explains that
medieval maps labeled unknown territory with the words
“Hic sunt dragones” – “Here there be dragons” – to signify
that in these places, one doesn’t really know what awaits him.
“Because I didn’t really know what was coming next when
I started, researching and writing this screenplay, or how it
would quite end, ‘There Be Dragons’ seems like a very apt title
– I was going a little off my map into unchartered territory,
into themes of what saintliness might be, themes of religion
and twentieth century politics and into the past of another
country”, said Joffé. Indeed, it is very interesting to note that a
self-confessed agnostic and several times divorced man would
treat on themes like saintliness, redemption and religion.
One wonders why the director has chosen to make a biopic
of Saint Josemaría when with the message and the theme he
wishes to convey, he could have chosen other historical more
prominent figures. Nothing happens by mere chance. He said:
“I was struck by Josemaría’s statement that God is found in
‘everyday life’, and that everyday life, in his case, was the Span-
ish Civil War. I wondered: How could one find the divine in war?
But then the same question can be asked of all the fundamental
challenges in life, and how we face them: How we respond to
hatred and rejection, or the desire for revenge and justice – all those
dilemmas are heightened in wartime”.
“There Be Dragons” is a story of making a free choice in life
between forgiveness and resentment or jealousy; between love
and hatred; between hope and despair.
Is forgiveness possible? One most heartbreaking scene is that
of Fr. Josemaría arguing with his spiritual sons, convincing
them to reject hatred and resentment after having witnessed
the brutal assassination on the street of a Catholic priest-friend
of theirs at the height of the war. “But what they did is utmost
inhumane, Father”, said one of them, to which, the priest re-
plied: “Yet, they are still human beings. They may have enjoyed
killing other people, but they are still humans like us”. It really

Candidly Speaking
A SIDELIGHT in the RH Bill the law of God?
issue that is gaining public So, some of our legal minds are
interest is that ordinance of held captive by what is known as
the Ayala Alabang Village that legal positivism. That’s purely
seeks to regulate the availability human law with God having
of contraceptive materials. It so no place in it. Unfortunately, in
happens that the same ordinance some so-called developed coun-
is now being copied by other tries and among some of our
barangays in Luzon, and so, the bright minds, this narcissistic
controversy thickens. anomaly reigns supreme.
The brouhaha actually sur- There are also people who
faces a more important aspect of may not openly profess atheism
life, and that is none other than and agnosticism, but put God in
the interplay between legality brackets when they pursue their
and morality, man’s laws and temporal affairs, like making laws
God’s laws. This is an area prone and ordinances. They consider
to a lot of problems. God a drag, a bother or an embar-
For one, there is an emerg- rassment in law-making. At best,
ing attitude of considering any they give him only some formalis-
reference to God in the making tic references, but no more.
of our laws as completely out of This is actually a common
place. How this mindset came problem. While we need to have
to be is quite a mystery to me, law and a whole legal and judicial
since as far as I can see, the ul- system to regulate our life in soci-
timate basis of our laws should ety, what we don’t need is legal-
be God’s laws. ism, or the distortion and abuse of
Of course, we are now in some our man-made legal system.
secularized and Godless world, We are, of course, vulnerable
and thus, we should not be all to this predicament, since man’s
too surprised when we meet intelligence and free will can take
anomalies like this not only in tortuous turns that in the end are
the streets, but also in our law- determined by how our heart
making congresses worldwide. tilts—either toward God or is it
Some would ask, how would we just stuck with our own selves?
ever know that such and such is Apropos of this point is what
St. Paul once said about free-
dom: “You have been called
unto freedom. Only do not
make freedom an occasion to
the flesh, but by charity of the
spirit, serve one another.” (Gal
5, 13) St. Peter said something
similar when he said we should
not make freedom a cloak for
malice. (cfr 1 Pt 2, 16)
That´s why Christ told us to be
most faithful to his word. ¨”Who-
ever relaxes one of the least of
these commandments and teaches
men so, shall be called least in the
kingdom of heaven; but he who
does them and teaches them shall
be called great in the kingdom of
heaven.” (Mt 5, 19)
When our freedom is not
acknowledged as coming from
God and therefore, for God,
when it is not lived in charity
for the others as God wants it,
then we can make laws and or-
dinances that cater to our own
ideas, and not anymore God’s, of
who we are and of how we are
supposed to behave, etc.
We can abuse our freedom and
use it to pursue what we want,
even to the point of disobeying
God. This abuse of freedom and
of the other gifts of God to us is
rampant these days. That’s why
we have many brilliant people
entangled in their own web of
conceit and pride.
In this RH Bill-related Ayala
Alabang ordinance, for example,
it is claimed that some sector of
the Catholic Church is impos-
ing their option on others, and
therefore, unconstitutional.
How that conclusion was ar-
rived at is again a mystery to me.
I suppose we can look at things
in different ways and through
different lenses. If one is not
clear about the intrinsic evil of
contraception, not to mention
abortion to which the RH Bill
is bound to approve one day, if
experience of other countries is
to be considered, then anything
that regulates or restrains the
use of contraceptives would be
viewed negatively.
Some so-called legal luminar-
ies are questioning this ordi-
nance when in fact other RH-
related ordinances that favor
contraceptives not only regulate
and promote but rather impose
the use of contraceptives.
In this RH Bill issue, we are
not mainly concerned about the
legalistic intricacies involved.
We are more concerned about
the morality of such bill.
takes supernatural grace to see evil with the eyes of God.
“So many horrible, horrendous acts between people seem
unforgivable, unredeemable, impossible to move beyond”, says
Joffé, “But forgiveness is possible! The inexhaustible possibility
of forgiveness is what offers room for hope – even in the most
painful, tragic and appalling circumstances, where hope seems
impossible. But the price is high: It takes a deep sense of what
it is to be fully human, a deep feeling for compassion – and a
firm, individual, and yes, heroic resolve not to be caught up in
prevailing hatreds, but to fight them with unremitting love”.
“Essentially we’ve all got to choose whether to hang on to
our resentments or find a way of conquering them. Life can be
seen as a series of injustices, of rejections and hurts, or as full of
opportunities, of chances to conquer those dragons through the
overwhelming desire to replace hatred with love and connec-
tion. Many people have it in them to make that heroic choice.
They realize that they can make a choice to be free. They have
the strength of character to understand that hate is a prison.
No one who hates can be free”, says Joffé.
He adds: “Forgiveness unlocks what’s been frozen. It touches
everything human inside the one who is forgiven as it touches every-
thing human in the one who forgives. You think you can’t forgive?
Well, you won’t know if you can forgive until you’ve done it”.
“And how do you forgive?”, asks Joffé. “You forgive by
empathizing. You forgive by being that other person. By
abandoning demonization, by not saying, ‘I’m better than that
person, I could never do that’, but by looking at that person
and saying, ‘That could be me’.”
Indeed, “this is very much a movie about love, about the
strength of its presence and the arid and terrifying world that
we inhabit in its absence. When people choose to love, the
impartial observer can feel it in them – the sense of freedom,
of compassion, of giving”.
Finally, we all face this choice. Saint Josemaría chose the path
of love. Manolo tread the road of hatred and jealousy. “Even
Robert, the agnostic and materialist, is asked to choose between
love and hate”, observes Joffé, “in a sense, to fight the world
with love, or as Aline, a mysterious lady who conversed with
Josemaría during his refuge in a mental hospital, puts it, “to
fight God with love”.
The film’s last words run: “Saint Josemaría founded the Opus
Dei, which teaches that work and the circumstances of everyday life
are occasions for growing closer to God, for serving others, and for
improving society, while Manolo Torres remains in each of us, trying
to conquer the dragons that reside within us!”
The movie appeals to everyone to make a choice especially
in these times of spiritual and moral turmoil in our society. On
our response rests our happiness and the ultimate meaning of
our existence. Isn’t this enough motivation to watch the film
and reflect on it?
 Local News
CBCP Monitor
A6 Vol. 15 No. 7
March 28 - April 10, 2011

Ex-SC chief justice Davide slams RH bill ad

Ending culture of impunity will
end journalists’ murders—CEGP
THE College Editors’ Guild
of the Philippines-National
Capital Region (CEGP-NCR)
said that ending the culture
of impunity in the country
will stop all extrajudicial
killings, especially of media
persons critical on the issues
of corruption in the govern-
to end the assassinations
[against journalists], then the
murders would stop. How-
ever, if this kind of brutality
would continue, more and
more media practitioners
will agree with the need of
having journalists armed,”
Perdigon said.

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

Retired Justice Hilario Davide is flanked by MACE president Mr. Antonio Yulo and KCFAPI president Alonso Tan during Mass at the San Agustin Church, prior to
KC “Walk for Life”, March 26.
RETIRED Chief Justice Hilario
Davide has criticized a new
television ad on the controversial
reproductive health (RH) bill.
The ad showed former Ak-
bayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros-
Baranquel presented the bill as
“a chance” for families to have a
better future.
Davide admitted he was dis-
appointed by the content of
the ad in a statement read by
Court of Appeals (CA) Justice
Jose Reyes Jr. during a “Walk
for Life” in Manila on March
26 organized by the Knights of
Columbus Philippines – Luzon
Jurisdiction.
The former Supreme Court
chief and Reyes are senior of-
ficials of the K of C who led
the protest march to raise their
strong objection against the
measure.
Davide said he was “deep-
ly saddened, discouraged and
troubled” by the advertisement
shown on a commercial television
reportedly sponsored by the RH
bill lobby group Philippine Leg-
islators Committee on Population
and Development (PLCPD).
“In short, she (Baraquel) says
that the RH bill provides the
chance for a better future of a
family or of a child, for a better
health of the child, of the mother,
etc.” Davide said.
“I asked myself: Have we lost
our faith and trust in God that
we now would leave our future
to chance,” he said.
At least 7,000 K of C members
and their families participated
in the rally carrying anti-RH bill
placards and streamers from
Intramuros to Rajah Sulayman
Park in Malate where a program
was also held.
A Mass was held first at the
San Agustin Church where Da-
vide was present but failed to
join the march and the program
because he had to attend his
grandchild’s graduation.
Davide also pointed that if the
bill is passed, it would violate
the first and most fundamental
human right which the right
to life.
“The right to life begins with
the right to life of the unborn and
human mystery of Creation,”
he said.
Meanwhile, K of C Luzon
spokesperson Arsenio Isidro
Yap said that if the RH bill
passes Congress, they might
question its constitutionality
before the SC.
“We see it as unconstitutional
because for Congress life begins
at implementation. While in the
Constitution, life begins at con-
ception,” Yap said.
ment.
The statement was issued
by media groups pressuring
Malacañang to allow journal-
ists to carry guns in order to
defend themselves against
media murderers. But the
Palace’s Communications
“So there is a violation there… Operations Group said there
If they want to uphold that, they is no need to arm the media,
should change the Constitution stating that the only way to
first and define when life be- stop media killings is the
gins,” he said. swift police action to bring
Davide, meanwhile, called on the perpetrators to justice.
his fellow “Knights” to exert all However, CEGP-NCR
possible means to defeat “the president Antonino C. Per-
forces that threaten the right to digon Jr. said that police
itself, especially the right of the action is not enough but
unborn.” there’s a need to reassess
“At no other time than now how the justice system in the
must we walk, stand, fight, work country works, especially on
and pray unceasingly with the the cases of summary execu-
courage, resources and might tions of journalists. The latest
we could give and muster, for victim was the dzME anchor,
life,” he said. Marlina Perez-Somera, who
Also present in the rally was was shot dead by unknown
Mayor Alfredo Lim and Alonso assassins last March 24. The
Tan, K of C Luzon State Deputy. motive of the killing is said
The Knights of Columbus is to be connected with land
a militant anti-abortion group dispute.
composed of more than 280,000 “If the government would
members nationwide. (CBCP- have the political power
News)
“We urge President Aqui-
no to have sincerity in end-
ing these assassinations.
His promise to make the
past regime accountable [on
the past political killings]
and to make the present,
spotless [with crimes] is not
even close to coming true.
What more promises will he
make? What the people need
is a visible act in pursuing
those responsible for these
political killings. These kill-
ings need justice not pseu-
do-statements of support,”
Perdigon added.
On the other hand, Mala-
cañang is positive that the
Somera case would be solved
immediately.
In a news report pub-
lished on the dzME’s
website (http://www.
dzme1530.com/index.
php?option=com_conten
t&view=article&id=195..
.), President Aquino said
that he is confident that the
police would get the kill-
ers in no time. (Noel Sales
Barcelona)

Coal power plants must be
shut off—environmentalists
THE Kalikasan People’s Network for the
Environment (KPNE) insists that there is
a need to shut off coal-fired power plants
in the country as they contribute to the
bulk of carbon dioxide (CO2), which has
caused climate change.
Along with the global advocacy of
mitigating the effects of climate change
through the annual observance of Earth
Hour on March 26, so should the Phil-
ippines reassess its policies towards
coal-fired power plants, said Clemente
Bautista Jr., national coordinator of
KPNE, in a statement.
“Coal-fired power plants have been
identified as among the largest emitters
of carbon dioxide. President Aquino
should enforce a moratorium on new
coal plants to contribute in the global
campaign to lower the level of carbon
Annulment / A1
News, signed by Solicitor General Jose
Anselmo I. Cadiz, the Assistant Solicitor
General Karl B. Miranda and one Attor-
ney Christer James Ray A. Gudiano,
Psychological incapacity can be
found in Article 36 of the Family Code
and can be cited as a ground for legal
separation or nullity of marriage.
Other grounds include lack of author-
ity of the solemnizing officer, bigamous
or polygamous marriages and marriag-
es where one or both parties were below
the marrying age allowed by law.
It was learned that those who filed
for annulment, 61% of the petitioners
were women with 90% have filed cases
in their twenties, while only 4% filed in
their thirties.
The same study revealed only 39% of
men initiated the filing of the complaint
with 70% of them in their twenties. It
was also found that 25% of men in their
30’s or 40’s filed for annulment. The
number of cases filed was lesser for both
genders who are in their 40’s or 50’s.
Some 35% of married couples filed
their annulment case within the first five
years of their marriage. The OSG report
said marriages that lasted for five years
or more, only 26% ended in an annul-
ment suit while marriages that lasted for
more than ten years, only 17% opted to
have their union annulled.
“The study noted the longer the par-
ties are married, the lesser chances of
them seeking annulment of their mar-
riage,” the OSG document surmised.
The sad part in the surge of annul-
ment cases, as usual, is that more and
more children are affected. The data
from the OSG showed 82% of those who
filed these cases have children and out
of this 82% who filed these cases, 59%
have at least one or two children, 22%
ARMM / A1
ARMM polls with the May 2013 mid-
term elections.
By a vote, 191-47-2, the lawmakers
approved on second and third reading
House Bill 4146, the measure certified
as urgent by Aquino.
The measure also gives the President
dioxide in the atmosphere from the
current 390ppm to 350ppm,” he said,
citing Dr. James Hansen, a well-known
climatologist, who said that 350ppm is
the safe upper limit of carbon dioxide
in the atmosphere if run away climate
change is to be prevented.
However, what worries KPNE more
is the government’s Philippine Energy
Plan that focuses on the privatization of
the country’s energy resources.
This move by the State, said Clemente,
will increase the country’s dependency
on dirty fossil fuels such as coal.
The environmental conservation
advocate also said that despite local op-
position, coal-fired power plants such
as Toledo coal plant in Cebu and Iloilo
coal plant were built and is now ready
to operate. (Noel Sales Barcelona)
have three to four children and 1% has
five to six children.
“The children of these marriages
are likely to be affected by the separa-
tion of their parents,” the same study
revealed.
Annulment and nullity, not the same
Meanwhile, Archbishop Emeritus
Oscar V. Cruz, head of the CBCP Na-
tional Matrimonial Tribunal said, the
Office of the Solicitor General at times
“talked of ‘annulment’ and ‘nullity’ as if
said actions on de facto marriages were
somehow the same.”
He explained nullity is about ab initio
void marriages while annulment is re-
garding ab initio valid but invalidated
marriages.
The 76-year old prelate noted that OSG
is said to intervene before the respective
trial and appellate courts to “ensure that
the interest of the State in the sanctity of
marriage is protected” but the interven-
tion is however not mandatory because
the OSG is simply “authorized to inter-
vene” and is even allowed to signify not
only is “opposition” but also its “agree-
ment” to a nullity/annulment decision.
He sadly noted the OSG is not even
mandated to appeal the decision.
“That the fact remains, that nullity/
annulment decisions are not contested by
the Office of the Solicitor General while
collusion therein by the partes in causa is
practically the norm,” Cruz explained.
He added when the OSG was before
mandated to interview, said marriage
cases did not prosper when contested
before the Supreme Court specifically
under the nullity ground of “psychologi-
cal incapacity” because the said Court
observed Church jurisprudence in its de-
cisions in marriage cases. (CBCPNews)
power to appoint officers-in-charge in
the ARMM government until new of-
ficials are elected.
Aquino lauded the approval of
the bill by the Lower House and
hoped the Senate would do the same.
(CBCPNews)
Pope / A1
official said.
During the recent Ad Limina Visit of
the bishops in Rome, the pope lauded
them for their efforts to protect human
life from conception until natural death,
and for defending the integrity of mar-
riage and the family.
Teaching the wrong values
According to Radyo Veritas, more
than 200,000 people trooped to the
Quirino Grandstand in Manila as
early as 4 p.m. to raise their opposition
against the controversial RH bill.
In his homily during the 7 p.m. Mass,
Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal
Rosales chided proponents of the RH
bill for teaching the Filipino people the
wrong values.
“What kind of law is this RH bill that
when it becomes a law… those who
would (violate) may be asked to pay
fines or face imprisonment?” he said.
“Marriage is holy. Having sex is sa-
cred because it is connected to life which
came from God. Condom is not a game
that should be taught to children so they
would not be infected with diseases.
Why should we teach these games to
these children?” he asked.
“Elders should teach children the
importance of life, the holiness of self-
restraint which is called discipline…to
have discipline and respect and for the
person to have character. Now what
they are teaching the children is use
condom and play. This is how they
make life cheap,” added Rosales.
The church-organized rally coincided
with the observance of the Day of the Un-
born and the Feast of the Annunciation.
All afternoon masses in Manila had
been cancelled to enable priests to
accompany their flock to the prayer
rally and for them to concelebrate in
the Mass.
Cut / A1
of their pork barrel fund for the OFWs.
“It would be a big help… hope they
will realize that,” Cantillas said over the
Manila archdiocese-run Radyo Veritas.
Cantillas is the chairman of the
Commission for the Pastoral Care of
Migrants and Itinerant People of the
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines.
He said that although the fund is
intended for development projects, it
would be good if the legislators would
use it for OFWs who want to go home.
“The amount that would be gathered
from the pork barrel of lawmakers could
also help in providing jobs for the re-
turning OFWs,” he said.
Advocates / A1
Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal,
a known pro-life advocate, appealed
to priests to often discuss with their
parishioners why the church is against
the bill.
“I am appealing to our priests to al-
ways include in their homilies the issue
on the RH bill,” Macalintal said.
The lawyer noted that some priests
are not comfortable discussing the is-
sue with their flock or some don’t even
know how to explain it.
But priests, he said, can also get lay
leaders and experts to talk about the
In Quirino Grandstand, priests also
heard confessions from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
to highlight the call for conversion in
the Season of Lent.
The gathering included the recitation
of the Holy Rosary, the Station of the
Cross, Inter-Faith Prayer and Declara-
tion of Opposition to the RH bill.
Simultaneous Mindanao rallies
Simultaneous rallies against the RH
bill were also held in different key cit-
ies across Mindanao, gathering at least
50,000 concerned Catholics and repre-
sentatives from various faiths.
Zamboanga Archbishop Romulo
Valles said they had a huge attendance
during their mass action dubbed as
“March for Life – Mass for Life” where
the participants assembled at the Met-
ropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate
Conception as early as 5:00 p.m.
“We marched to the Shrine of Nuestra
Señora la Virgen del Pilar, more than a
kilometer away, for the celebration of
the Holy Eucharist,” the Zamboanga
prelate said.
He said the message was loud and
clear: “Those who believe in the gospel
of Jesus, in front of the possibility of the
RH bill becoming a law in our land must
choose between the Culture of Life or
the Culture of Death.”
Valles said the big open area of the
highly popular shrine of Nuestra Se-
ñora la Virgen del Pilar was filled with
people.
“It had no roof and it was a fiesta
atmosphere that prevailed during the
activity,” he further said.
Meanwhile, at the Oval Plaza at the
heart of General Santos City, about 4,000
Catholic faithful gathered for their anti-
RH bill rally.
Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez
said more than 4,000 people represent-
The bishop said he is convinced that the
government is doing everything it can to
help the Filipino workers abroad.
“We see that effort being made by the
government despite the lack of funds,”
Cantillas said.
Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes also
made the same challenge to the lawmak-
ers for the sake of the OFWs.
“It is the best time for them that all those
congressmen must give their pork barrel
to protect our OFW,” Bastes said.
“I am challenging them that all their
pork barrel will be put in a common
fund so that our OFWs whose lives are
in danger would be able to come back,”
he said. (CBCPNews)
bill.
“Without the support of our priests,
the lawmakers will not feel our strong
opposition to the RH bill,” Macalintal
said.
“I think the fight against the RH bill
will be stronger if priests will discuss it
in their homilies so that people would
understand,” he said.
Former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza,
chairman emeritus of Pro-Life Philip-
pines, also echoed Macalintal’s con-
cern saying priests should speak more
against the bill. (CBCPNews)
ing various parishes of the diocese
joined some 40 priests and religious
women for their protest rally.
“We thanked God for the fine weath-
er that brought parish representatives
to our activity,” Bishop Gutierrez told
CBCPNews.
A protracted pro-life campaign
CBCP president and Tandag Bishop
Nereo P. Odchimar had earlier said that
the Church is all set for a protracted
campaign across the country to further
promote its pro-life stand.
The prelate made the statement on
March 23, after a concelebrated Mass
at the Manila Cathedral attended by
pro-life supporters and the country’s
lawmakers.
Odchimar expressed his appreciation
for the group of legislators who have
“manifested their support and did not
give in to pressures and lobby for the
RH bill.”
Support from lawmakers
Congressman Fernando Gonzales of
Albay’s third Congressional District,
who was among those who attended
the thanksgiving Mass, believed it is
right for most lawmakers to support
the Catholic Church’s position which
is definitely pro-life.
“I think this is strictly important to
the lives of the people and we fully
believe that the Church is correct in
making its stand on this matter, ensur-
ing life would go on,” the Albayano
lawmaker said.
Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto, Pan-
gasinan Congresswoman Gina Vera-
Perez De Venecia, Manila Congressman
Amado Bagatsing and about twenty
other lawmakers participated in the
Eucharistic celebration. (with reports
from Melo Acuna)
Philvocs / A1
were destroyed by the 7.5 magnitude
quake.
Even if churches were made of lime,
rocks and egg-white, still, the solidity
of the structures will depend on where
these are constructed, he said.
Need for Community Preparedness
“While there may be earthquakes in
the Philippines in the near future, these
are not related to the devastating earth-
quakes which brought havoc to Japan
and New Zealand,” Solidum said.
But he added Filipinos should be able
to prepare and focus on community
preparedness which was manifested
in northeastern Japan. He said the level
of community preparedness is very
important.
Had the Japanese not been prepared,
more people would have died from the
catastrophe, Solidum said.
Volcanic quakes cause little damage to
public and private properties. However,
Solidum said there have been instances
when a very strong tectonic earthquake
would “wake a volcano’s magma” as in
the case of Mt. Pinatubo.
He recalled a pretty strong earth-
quake with its epicenter in Central
Luzon hit the region in July 16, 1990. Mt.
Pinatubo erupted about eleven months
after. (CBCPNews)
 Diocesan News
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 15 No. 7
March 28 - April 10, 2011
Laguna declared pro-life and family friendly zone
SAN PABLO City—A multi-
sectoral rally for life organized
by the Diocese of San Pablo and
the Knights of Columbus have
declared Laguna a prolife and
family-friendly zone.
Around 7,000 young and old
Laguna folks who joined in the
“Walk for Life 2011” on March
26 have committed to favor and
protect the integrity of life and
family, while urging local gov-
ernment leaders to do the same.
The Coalition for Life and
Family of Laguna composed of
individual parishioners, civic
and religious organizations
signed a resolution that read in
part: “We, the citizens of Laguna
and of the Cities of San Pablo,
Calamba, Santa Rosa and Biñan
gathered today as a Coalition for
Life and Family of Laguna com-
posed of the individual parish-
ioners and civic and religious
organizations now assembled,
declare and affirm: our commit-
ment to uphold and protect the
dignity of the human person,
the value of life from concep-
tion to natural death and the
sacredness of the family founded
Photo courtesy of Fr. Romulo Ponte
CALAMBA, ARLENE ARCIL-
LAS of SANTA ROSA and LEN
LEN ALONTE-NAGUIAT of
BINAN to declare the Province
of Laguna and their respective
Cities as ZONES FOR LIFE AND
FAMILY.”
San Pablo Bishop Leo M.
Drona said they are in the pro-
cess of making representations
with Laguna lawmakers and
Local Government Units (LGUs)
to also make their commitments
clear about the controversial
issue of the RH Bill pending in
Congress.
He said he is pleased that
presently, three out of the four
Congressmen in Laguna had
signified their intentions to reject
the said bill in Congress.
The lawmakers are Congress-
man Edgardo San Luis of District
4; Congresswoman Ivy Arago,
District 3; and Congressman Dan
Fernandez, District 1.
The prelate said, they are still
praying and waiting for the final
words from District 2 Congress-
man Justin Timmy Chipeco who
has not yet made any positive or
negative commitment in relation
Liceo de San Pablo Gymnasium.
Concelebrated by the Reli-
gious and Diocesan Clergy, the
Mass was followed by a short
program with Parañaque Con-
gressman Roilo Golez as Guest
speaker.
Golez said, the Filipino popu-
lation is not the cause of poverty
nor are they a liability, but as-
sets. For instance, he stressed,
the majority of the OFWs who
remit millions of pesos and dol-
lars in the country are members
of poor families that have sev-
eral children. He said, the fight
against the RH Bill is not only for
the people in the Church, rather
it is a fight by every legitimate
citizen, private individuals, pro-
fessionals, parents, civic group,
media, other religions, main-
stream leaders of government,
the general public who believe
in the dignity and sanctity of hu-
man life from conception until
its natural death.
Drona in his homily said
among others, that life is a
gift from God. “Let us fight
against the culture of death. It
is an abomination to say that
A7
it, is laced with vital moral issues
which are being violated or being
subjected into distortions.
He said the declaration to
make Laguna a prolife and fam-
ily friendly province is their com-
mitment to continue fighting to
defend the gift of life from God
and to preserve the family.
After the program, the bishop
spearheaded the signing of the
resolution followed by priests,
leaders of every delegation, of-
ficers, civic groups, youths and
others.
Rally participants walked
through the main streets bear-
ing placards and streamers with
anti RH Bill slogans like “Buhay
Biyaya ng Diyos,” “Abort RH
bill,” and “Abortion and Con-
traception are Fruits of the same
tree-evil.”
Meanwhile, more than 1,000
parishioners from the vicariate
of Calamba also conducted their
separate protest march along
major thoroughfares of the city
against the RH Bill morning of
the same day.
The march culminated at the
St. John Parish Church for a Holy

on the indissoluble union of to the RH Bill. it is a person’s human right to Mass and message from parish
man and woman, THUS, We The walk for Life spearheaded kill a child inside the mother’s priest and vicar forane Fr. Rene
urge and request our good by the Knights of Columbus womb,” he said. Eriga.
Governor JEORGE E.R. EJER- Laguna Chapter in coordination He said the church is against Eriga is also the Social Action
CITO ESTREGAN, the HON- with the Family Life Ministry the RH Bill not because it wants Director of the Diocese. He was
ORABLE MAYORS VICENTE and supervised by Bishop Drona to meddle in political affairs but assisted by members of the cler-
AMANTE OF SAN PABLO started with the celebration of the because the measure, although gy in the vicariate. (Fr. Romulo
CITY, JOAQUIN CHIPECO of Holy Mass at about 7 a.m. at the there are some positive points in O. Ponte)

Isabela prelature lights candles, Briefing

rallies against RH bill
ISABELA City, Basilan—The prelature of
Basilan held its protest against the reproduc-
tive health bill by lighting candles and doing
the way of the cross.
Coinciding with the grand anti-
RH bill rally in Manila on March 25,
the Solemnity of the Annunciation,
PNoy bats for public-private partnership to address
Basilan also organized a rally dubbed Immediately after the Mass, the Catholic Mindanao power woes
“Walk for Life through the Way of the faithful started their “Walk for Life Through CAGAYAN DE ORO City— President Aquino batted for the
Cross.” the Way of the Cross” along the streets of public-private partnership in order to address the impending
Bishop Martin Jumoad presided over a the city. power crisis in Mindanao. This, as he also warned people,
concelebrated Mass with four other priests People lighted candles after the final bless- during the joint Philippine Economic Briefing and Regional
with hundreds of parishioners in atten- ing and proceeded to the kissing of the Holy Development Council meeting here on March 23 of a high
dance. Cross. (Fr. Arnel A. Lagman) electricity rates next year when the exemption to privatize
government-owned power plants in the island ends. RA 9136

Tuguegarao holds Bible Congress exempts Napocor power plants in Mindanao from privatiza-
tion, which Aquino said has led to a situation where the gov’t
subsidized power rates in Mindanao. (Bong D. Fabe)
SOLANA, Cagayan―More than tired in living and spreading the
Misamis Oriental awarded for innovative health care
200 parishioners from the Arch- Word of God.
diocese of Tuguegarao and suf- Talamayan emphasized that program
fragan dioceses of Ilagan and faith comes from what is heard CAGAYAN DE ORO City— Misamis Oriental is one of this
Bayombong and the vicariate of and what is heard of is from year’s awardees in the Galing Pook Awards for its excellent
Tabuk participated in a two-day God. innovations in addressing the problems on hospital services
Bible Congress here, vowing to “For man to become what he and facilities faced by the province. The Galing Pook award
live and help spread the Word of hears, he has to proclaim what he capped Governor Oscar Moreno’s outstanding performance
God in their respective areas. hears. And so, man has to listen as provincial local chief executive as it recognized his achieve-
The parishioners, in their and grasp the word that shapes ments especially in steering the province to greater heights in
statement of commitment to his life,” the archbishop said. his three terms of office. (Bong D. Fabe)
spread God’s Word, promised In spreading the word of God
to undertake the continuous even in these trying times, it Bishop seeks fair trial for Ombudsman
formation and study of the is necessary that everyone fol- Caloocan City— Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez urged
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Word and the proclamation of
the unchanging message of God
in a changing time.
They have also committed
to establish linkages and col-
laboration with other dioceses,
commissions and pool resource
persons in order to further the
apostolate of spreading the
Word of God in the mission of
‘changing the face of the earth’
through the power of the Holy
Spirit.
Resource persons include
Lingayen-Dagupan Auxiliary
Bishop Renato Mayugba and
lows the precepts of justice and senators to properly handle the impeachment case of Ombuds-
fairness, and of love to win the man Merceditas Gutierrez. Iñiguez said the lawmakers should
hearts and minds of the people properly deal with the issue after the Congress approved on
and be under the graces of God, March 22 the articles of impeachment to bring Gutierrez to
he added. trial at the Senate. The prelate called on the lawmakers to
It is important that in all the maintain objectivity and impartiality in handling the case of
parishes and dioceses, adults the embattled of anti-graft chief. (CBCPNews)
ECBA executive secretary Fr. Life Apostolate of Tuguegarao and children are catechized, he
Oscar Alunday who spoke on on The Role of the Word of God said. Pamalakaya demands P7.50 rollback in petrol
Verbum Domini; Fr. Fredel Ag- in the Vision, Mission and Goal The congress was the first MANILA—The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamala-
atep on The Evangelization of the of the Archdiocese of Tugue- Bible Congress conducted by the kaya ng Pilipinas demands from the big three oil companies
Metropolitan See of Tuguegarao: garao. Metropolitan See of Tuguegarao a rollback of P7.50 on the price of petroleum products, not a
Historical Perspective; Msgr. Tuguegarao Archbishop Dios- through the leadership of Msgr. measly P1.00. Pamalakaya spokesperson Salvador France said
Gerard Ariston Perez, vicar dado Talamayan and Auxiliary Danny Ulep, archdiocesan direc- Caltex, Petron and Shell had been overpricing in petroleum
forane of the Itawes Vicariate Bishop Ricardo Baccay urged tor of the Biblical Apostolate. products since December 2010. “ We insist oil companies to
and chairman of the Family and everyone to continue and not get (Purita Licas/CBCPNews) rollback the prices of petroleum products by P7.50 per liter and
not P1 per liter and the oil cartel should resign from exacting

PNoy to pursue ARMM polls postponement monopoly pricing, price manipulation and overpricing,” he
said. (CBCPNews)

national and local elections in May 2013. Urban poor leader shot dead
CAGAYAN DE ORO City, March 26, “The Organic Act of the ARMM spe-
2011—The Aquino administration is keen Aquino said that synchronization would cifically states that the President only has NAVOTAS City—A leader of a Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahi-
in pushing for the postponement of the elec- eliminate “command votes” and would supervisory powers over ARMM and not hirap here was shot dead by unknown assassins, March 16. The
tions in the Autonomous Region in Muslim lead to clearer mandate by the people in the control. And the President’s appointment of victim was identified as Antonio “Nono” Homo, 47, a resident
Mindanao (ARMM). autonomous region. OICs in the region is a clear violation of this of Kadiwa, Brgy. San Roque, and currently the president of the
This was stressed by President Benigno He said that this so-called “command Act,” he stressed. Nagkakaisang Samahan sa Kadiwa, an urban poor organization
Aquino III during his visit here when he votes” is the reason for the under-develop- “The Constitution and the Organic Act affiliated with Kadamay. The victim was reported chatting with
faced local and national media in a brief ment of the ARMM. clearly stipulate that the President’s power one of his neighbors when he was shot by unknown suspects.
Q&A forum. Aquino said there really is a need for the na- over the ARMM is limited to general supervi- Kadamay-Navotas spokesperson Arthur Cadungon connects
Aquino said that he expects intense debate tional government to intervene in the ARMM sion,” he added. the killing to the escalating campaign of NASAKA against the
in the Senate now that House Bill 4146 mus- to be able to put in place institutional reforms Rodriguez also said that HB 4146 is an planned demolition of shanties in the area to give way to the
tered enough in the Lower House just hours that are badly needed and the only way to do amendment to the Organic Act, which city government’s road widening and housing projects. (Noel
before congressmen went on a month-long this is to postpone the August 2011 elections should be done through a plebiscite. Sales Barcelona)
Lenten recess. and synchronized it with the 2013 elections. As provided in the Organic Act, any
The Lower House passed on March 23 But Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of this city’s amendment to it must be approved by two- Civil society urges PNoy to formally appoint Robredo,
HB 4146, which gave the President blanket second legislative district said Aquino’s pro- thirds of the members of the Lower House Acosta
authority to appoint loyal subordinates nouncements smacked of double-talk since and Senate, voting separately. Then a plebi- CAGAYAN DE ORO City— Leaders of Civil Society Organiza-
as officers-in-charge of the ARMM. It also Aquino had promised the Filipino nation of scite to ratify the decision of the House and tions (CSOs) in Northern Mindanao urged President Aquino
synchronized the ARMM elections with the reform and good governance. Senate, he pointed out. (Bong D. Fabe) to formally and permanently appoint a Bicolano and someone
from Bukidnon to his Cabinet. “We would like to express our
Pastoral Companion / A4 support on the formal and permanent appointment of Mr.
Jessie Robredo as secretary of the Department of Interior and
John Paul II in Assisi. I assured ation of the archdiocese. Pope our formation of Basic Ecclesial blessing – for myself and all our Local Government. We believe in his honesty and dedication
the Holy Father that we would Benedict asked about the num- Communities. co-workers in Cagayan de Oro to authentic service,” they said in a statement read during the
also commemorate this anni- ber of our priests and seminar- Noting that I am a Jesuit bish- Archdiocese. Regional Consultation Forum with Civil Society Organizations
versary with a similar gathering ians, our catechetical program, op, the Holy Father inquired Postcript: In a letter dated 5 in Region 10 on March 23. (Bong D. Fabe)
of religious leaders praying for and the formation of parents about the presence of the Soci- March 2011, Archbishop Fer-
peace at the local level. and families as the first line for ety of Jesus in the Philippines. nando Filoni from the Vatican’s PNoy urges business leaders to support impeachment
In this connection, we briefly catechesis. I mentioned to him I mentioned to him that we Secretariat of State conveyed of ombudsman
discussed the unfolding events that the archdiocese has been have Xavier University as the this message: “The Holy Father CAGAYAN DE ORO City— President Aquino urged the lead-
in North Africa and the Middle blessed with more than a hun- leading university in Northern has asked me to thank you for ers of the business community in Northern Mindanao, as well as
East. Coincidentally, in the Phil- dred priests but that this is not Mindanano. He was also glad the Natural Family Planning local political leaders, to support the impeachment proceedings
ippines, I told the Pope, we were yet sufficient for attending to the to hear that there are five Jesuit manuals which you gave to him. of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. While highlighting the
commemorating the 25th anniver- needs of a million Catholics. We universities in the country. He appreciates the sentiments economic gains of his 8-month administration, Aquino reiter-
sary of the EDSA People Power are also in the process of evalu- We ended the audience with which prompted this gesture. ated that he will pursue his campaign promises of a government
Revolution on this very day of my ating and strengthening our the Holy Father giving me some His Holiness prays that you will of reform and of ending corruption for the betterment of the
papal audience with him. Catechetical Program, our Fam- pasalubong in the form of rosaries be sustained in your episcopal ordinary Filipinos. (Bong D. Fabe)
The last topic of our discussion ily and Life Apostolate (which and stampitas. Before leaving, ministry and filled with grace
was the general pastoral situ- includes the NFP Program), and I also asked for his apostolic and peace.”
 A8 People, Facts & Places CBCP Monitor
Vol. 15 No. 7
March 28 - April 10, 2011

Nuncio bids farewell to CBCP

OUTGOING Papal nuncio to the Odchimar also lauded Ad-
Philippines Archbishop Edward ams for his “solicitude” for the
Joseph Adams bid farewell to Church and the hierarchy, add-
the Filipino prelates March 22 ing: “We truly felt the sincerity
preparatory to assuming his new of his friendship.”
position in Greece. “We will treasure the memory
Adams said he enjoyed his almost we have with you,” the CBCP
three-year stay in the Philippines head said.
and urged the Filipino bishops to In attendance were the three
continue the church’s mission of cardinals of the Philippines:
“truth, kindness and charity.” Manila Archbishop Gaudencio
“Being a human being is to Cardinal Rosales, retired Cebu
dialogue… being with others, to Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal
listen to them, to talk to them, to Vidal and Jose Cardinal Sanchez
understand them, to be under- who is prefect emeritus of the
stood by them, to love them and Congregation for the Clergy in
to be loved by them,” he said. Vatican.
“This should be the definition CBCP Vice President and
of a bishop… to be in the com- Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma
pany of God, to participate in and more than 50 other prelates
and to facilitate great conversa- also attended the gathering.
tion…,” said Adams. “As you move on to greater
Adams made the statement challenges in your new assign-
during a “despedida dinner” ment, we accompany you [with]
hosted by the Catholic Bishops’ our prayers,” Vidal told Adams.
Conference of the Philippines at “Your work in the Philippines
its headquarters in Intramuros, will bear much fruit… it is a
Manila. legacy that we will cherish and
Bishop Nereo Odchimar, CBCP remember,” he said.
President, noted Adams’ “fa- On Feb. 22, Pope Benedict XVI
therly” figure and was always im- has appointed Adams as Apostolic

© Roy Lagarde / CBCPMedia

pressed about his naturalness. nuncio to Greece, with about 50,000
“I would like to consider Catholics or about 0.5 percent of the
myself fortunate to have such a country’s total population.
special person like you… that we The 66-year-old American
learned to care to so much about prelate is set to leave the Philip-
and this makes saying goodbye pines for Greece after the Holy
hard,” he said. Week. (CBCPNews)

Clergy mulls prophetic role in national assembly

NEARLY 200 priests from various dio-
ceses across the country gathered for
the second national clergy discernment
to reflect on their respective roles as
prophets “of the Church of the poor”.
Comprising 111 priests from 42 dio-
ceses, including the Military Ordinariate
and 56 others from 34 religious congre-
gations, the national assembly aimed to
re-visit the Second Plenary Council of
the Philippines (PCP-II), two decades
since it took place by reflecting on the
priests’ prophetic roles given “the new
faces of the Church of the Poor”.
The national gathering was a follow-
up of the first assembly of diocesan and
religious priests held in October 2009,
in response to the CBCP’s call to “form
circles of discernment” in order to ex-
amine if Philippine priests have been
prophetic so that integral evangeliza-
tion could further realize the vision of
being “Church of the Poor.”
Jaro Archbishop Angel N. Lag-
dameo’s gave the keynote speech
titled “PCP II Perspective on Church
of the Poor and the Priest’s Prophetic
Mission”.
Msgr. Manny Gabriel, one of the
convenors, divided the assembly into 12
workshops, in what he termed as “pas-
toral circle”, where participants shared
their experiences, analyzed and came
up with pastoral actions on the “varying
faces of poverty and marginalization in
the ministries and lives of priests.”
Aside from Msgr. Manny Gabriel, Fr.
Roberto Rivera, SJ also guided the par-
ticipants in using “social analysis”. Ma-
nila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo
provided the Scriptural foundations,
Living Tradition and Social teachings
of the Church.
The group came up with pastoral
action on the last day of assembly. A
team headed by Jaro Auxiliary Bishop
Gerardo Alminaza came up with a
statement.
Iba Bishop Florentino Lavarias,
chairman of the commission on clergy
of the CBCP, presided over the closing
liturgy with the participants dedicating
themselves to the Blessed Mother in the
mission of being prophets in the Church
of the Poor.
Novaliches Bishop-emeritus Teodoro
Bacani, Cabanatuan Bishop Sofronio
Bancud, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Ber-
nardino Cortez, Imus Bishop Luis Anto-
nio Tagle, Kalookan Bishop Deogracias
Contributed Photo
Iñiguez, and Taytay Bishop Edgardo
Juanich expressed solidarity with the
clergy during their brief visits.
Other activities, like a forum on the
situation at Middle East and North
Africa, pleas for signatures to help stop
mining at Palawan, signatures for a
letter to be sent to President Benigno
Simeon C. Aquino III on the labor prob-
lem in Cebu’s VECO, were also included
during the four-day gathering.
The national assembly was held at the
Lay Formation Center (LayForce) of San
Carlos Pastoral Complex from March
14-17. (Fr. Nonie Dolor/CBCPNews)

Priest to run, walk for peace, life

Markings CELEBRATED. Davao Archbishop Fernando
R. Capalla, 50th anniversary of sacerdotal
ordination, March 18, 2011 at the San Pedro
Cathedral, Davao City. The solemn celebra-
tion was graced with the presence of brother
bishops that include Ricardo Cardinal Vidal,
CBCP President and Tandag Bishop Nereo
Odchimar, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma,
“BIKING priest” Fr. Amado
Picardal is set to take his
“journey of a lifetime” by
running and walking across
the Philippines for “peace
and life.”
ran from Davao to Pagudpud
in 2005.
But what makes Picardal’s
unique is because he is older
and will do it alone, without
any companion, support ve-
Picardal said he will start hicle or crew, carrying what
the round-the-country pil- he need in his backpack.
grimage on April 1 from “I will also mix running and
Davao City in Southern Phil- walking (Galloway method)
ippines to Aparri, the north- which I believe will be more
ern tip of the country. relaxing and sustainable for
www.amadopicardal.blogspot.com

Zamboanga Sibugay Bishop Julius Tonel,
Mati Bishop Patricio Alo and Malolos Bishop
Jose Oliveros. Born on November 1, 1934 in
Leon, Iloilo, Capalla was ordained priest on
March 18, 1961 at St. Elizabeth’s Cathedral
in Jaro, Iloilo. In 1975, he was appointed
Auxiliary Bishop of Davao by Pope Paul VI.
In 1977, he was named Bishop of the Diocese
of Iligan. In 1994, he was transferred again
to Davao where he served as Co-Adjustor
Bishop before he was finally appointed as
its archbishop in 1996. Capalla headed
the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines from 2003 to 2005. He was also
chairman of the Episcopal Commission on
Interreligious Dialogue from 1990-2002 and
was vice-chair of the same commission from
2002-2003. A peacemaker, Capalla was a
convenor of the Bishops-Ulama Conference.
He was also vice-chair of the National Unification Commission from 1992-1993 and a member
of the National Peace Forum from 1999-2000 and of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious
Dialogue from 1998 to the present. He has received numerous awards and citations for be-
ing a peacemaker. In 1989, he was conferred an honorary degree of Doctor of Humanities
by the Ateneo de Davao University. He was a national awardee for St. Lorenzo Ruiz Award
for Peace and Unity in 1991. Ateneo de Manila University awarded him a Public Service
Award for Peace in 1998; and in 2000 he received the Aurora Aragon Quezon Peace Award
for Peace Advocacy and Peace Building. On March 14, 2011, the City of Davao conferred
on him its highest award, the Datu Bago Award, for his untiring efforts in the promotion of
interreligious dialogue, ecumenism and the peace process in Mindanao.
In his around 2,000 km
journey to promote peace
and the protection of the
sanctity of life, he expects
to be away from home for
58 days, and plans to take at
least 42 kms a day of walking
and running.
“This will symbolize my
life as [a] continuing journey
and pilgrimage for life and
peace,” Picardal said.
He went on: “I will even
do fasting and will only eat at
night. I’m very serious about
this advocacy.”
Picardal said it will be a
“walking or running prayer
of appeal” for the success of
the peace process between
the government and the com-
munist insurgents and with
the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF).
“I also pray that the GRP
and the MILF will likewise
come up with a final peace
agreement. I will pray for a
widespread grassroots sup-
port for the peace process,”
the Redemptorist priest
said.
“Also, these threats to life
are ongoing like mining and
logging... the extrajudicial kill-
me,” he said.
The priest will travel
through North-Eastern Min-
danao and Eastern Visayas
on the first leg his journey.
After that, he will take
Southern Luzon, Central Lu-
zon, Cordillera and Northern
Luzon.
ings especially the reproduc- “I will follow a different
tive health bill... my appeal is
path, especially in the last leg
to stop these,” he said. when I will trek across the
Running across the coun- Cordillera mountain range,”
try is not new. Picardal will Picardal said.
be following the footsteps Picardal is confident he
of four ultra-runners: Cesar will enjoy the experience:
Guarin who ran from Paga- “I’m used to this. I’m not very
dian to Baguio in 1980; Fr. particular about the fruits but
Robert Reyes who ran in it’s about doing it. For me it’s
Mindanao (1996), Visayas the journey and hopefully it
(1997), and Luzon (1998); Jay will inspire people.” (CBCP-
Roxas and Mat Macabe who News)

CELEBRATED. Ordination to the Sacred Order of Deacons of Rev. Ferdinand C. Delatado, Rev.
Mark Anthony S. Naval, Rev. Glenn William Z. Relucio and Rev. Rev. Moises D. Villamayor of the
Diocese of Antipolo; Rev. Edric S. Bedural, Rev. Herbert John B. Camacho and Rev. Kristoffer H.
UST confers highest award to UNESCO chief
Habal of the Archdiocese of Manila; Rev. Robert I. Dulnuan, Jr. of the Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe; THE University of Santo Tomas (UST) the arts, humanities and the sciences. ing poverty.
and Rev. Mark Andrew S. Simbul of the Archdiocese of San Fernando; March 19, 2011, Solemnity
of St. Joseph. The solemn occasion was presided by Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo
has conferred the Quadricenten- Fontanilla said it is also given to “This will highlight the Philippines’
at the San Carlos Seminary Chapel, EDSA, Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City. nial Gold Cross, its highest award, individuals who “have distinguished initiatives and achievements in UNES-
to UNESCO Director General Irina themselves by their total commitment CO’s fields of competence, specifically
CELEBRATED. Perpetual profession of vows of Sr. Maria Edesa C. Alibuca, Sr. Maria Bokova. to the service of humankind.” in education and culture, and in view
Mae M. Anacaya, Sr. Maria Ursula Nogo L. Bataona, Sr. Maria Imakulata L. Farnesi, Sr.
Maria Petronela M. Herin, Sr. Maria Selviana N. Kune, Sr. Maria Hildegardis T. Meme,
The Asia’s oldest Catholic university, Bokova also met Education Secretary of UNESCO’s leadership in the promo-
Sr. Maria Agnes M. Suwati, and Sr. Maria Valentina T. Taneo among the Religious of the on the occasion of its 400th year of foun- Br. Armin Luistro at 12:00 noon. A tion of culture of peace, the Philippines’
Virgin Mary (RVM), March 25, 2011. The solemn occasion was presided by Most Rev. dation, gave the award on the UNESCO high-level dialogue with her was hosted leadership in interfaith initiatives,”
Honesto F. Ongtioco, DD, Bishop of Cubao, at the Our Lady of the Assumption Chapel head in a ceremony at 9 a.m. at the UST by the DepEd and attended by senior Fontanilla said.
at the RVM Generalate House in N. Domingo St., Cubao, Quezon City. Medicine Auditorium on March 25. officials of CHED, TESDA, DOST and Bokova took part in bilateral meet-
CELEBRATED. The Diocese of Legazpi marked on March 17, 2011 the sacerdotal anniver- UST Office of Public Affairs Director DFA followed. ings with senior government officials
saries of Msgr. Juan Binlayo and Fr. Jose Bañares, 50th anniversary of presbyteral ordination; Giovanna Fontanilla said the Gold Cross The theme of the dialogue was cen- on March 25 to 26 to discuss UNESCO’s
Fr. Eduardo Bellen and Fr. Diogenes Barja, 25th anniversary of presbyteral ordination. is the highest award granted by UST for tered on interfaith dialogue, education, present and future cooperation with the
persons who excel in the promotion of and building a culture of peace in fight- Philippines. (CBCPNews)

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 15 No. 7
March 28 - April 10, 2011
Pahalagahan ang buhay
(Homily delivered by His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales during the 7 p.m.
Mass at the Prayer Rally “Filipinos! Unite Under God” at the Quirino Grandstand,
Luneta, on March 25, 2011, Feast of the Annunciation and Day of the Unborn Child)
NAGSALITA ang Panginoong Diyos kay Moises at sa mga sumasampalataya sa kanya nang ganito:
“Tatawagin ko ang langit at lupa na sumaksi laban sa inyo. ‘Ihahain ko sa inyo ay buhay o kama-
tayan, ang pagpapala o ang sumpa. Piliin na ninyo ang buhay, nang sa gayo’y kayo at ang inyong
salin-lahi ay mabuhay sa pag-ibig ng Panginoong inyong Diyos, tumatalima at nananatili sa Kanya.”
(Deuteronomio 30:19).
Simulan natin ang pagninilay
sa prinsipyo na ang buhay ay
ang pinakamahalagang biyaya
na kaloob ng Panginoong Di-
yos sa sinumang tao. Ito ang
matinding paniniwala at turo
ng Simbahang Katoliko na ang
buhay ng tao, kahima’t mahina
or nagdurusa ay palaging isang
pinakamalaking biyaya ng ka-
butihan ng Diyos (Familiaris
Consortio, n. 30).
Kapag hindi ninyo pinahala-
gahan ang buhay na iyan sa
alinman o saan mang yugto ng
buhay ng tao (sanggol, foetus,
matanda, malakas o mahina),
hinding-hindi igagalang ang
buhay ng sinuman—at diyan
kapag wala ng halaga o walang
pagpapahalaga, wala ng mag-
tatanggol sa buhay, dadayain
ang buhay na yan, aapihin,
kikidnapin na, pagsisinungalin-
gan na, pagnanakawan na ang
buhay na ‘yan ng tao!
Kanya napaka-ganda ang
pagtuturo ng Simbahan—ala-
gaan, ipagtanggol at itaguyod
ang buhay. Huwag hahad-
langan ng anuman sandata o
anumang artipisyal na paraan
ang buhay. Ang paglalapastan-
gan sa buhay na iyan, malakas
man o mahina, na ating laging,
pinapahalagahan ay labag sa
kulturang Pilipino tungkol sa
buhay ng tao. (Pastoral Letter,
CBCP, 30 January 2011).
Ang kahirapan ng tao o
kaya’y ang pagdami ng tao ay
likas na merong solusyon at
ang kasagutan dito ay aral na
rin ng Panginoong Hesukristo.
Una, ang yaman ng daigdig or
kaya’y ang pinagsikapan ng tao
ay sapat na at sobra pa upang
pagsaluhan ng lahat. “Magma-
halan kayo” at magdamayan sa
ngalan ng pag-ibig. Ikalawa,
mayroong paraan na inilagay
ang Panginoong Diyos sa ka-
likasan ng katawan ng lalaki at
babae, na ito ay marapat alamin
o pag-aralan upang matiyak ang
mga araw kung kalian maaaring
madulot ng panibagong buhay
sa pagtatalik ang binhi ng lalaki
at babae. Sa bawa’t pagtatalik
ang mag-asawa ay maaaring
maging katuwang ng Pangi-
Pastoral Concerns
B1
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
Spirituality
towards the
defense of Life
noong Diyos sa paglikha ng panahon ng hinog na binhi Diyos. At ang tapat na mag-
panibagong buhay. (Humanae (ng buhay) para magsilang ng asawa ay hindi pinababayaan
Vitae, n. 11). bagong buhay ng tao, lalang, ng Panginoon.
Banal ang buhay ng mag-asa- at sa kawangis at kalarawan ng Banal ang pag-aasawa; banal
wa at sapagkat ito ay banal ito Diyos. (Henesis 1:27). ang pagtatalik sapagka’t ito
ay ginagantihan ng Panginoong Sa pag-aaral ng paraan para ay kalakip ng pagbibigay ng (Homily delivered by Most Rev. Luis
Diyos ng tuwa at ligaya ang tiyakin ang mahalaga at banal buhay na galing sa Panginoong Antonio Tagle, Bishop of Imus, during
bawa’t pagsasama ng sinuman na mga sandaling ang nahihi- Diyos. Hindi ito laru-laruan na
magasawa, sapagka’t habang nog na binhi ng buhay, mala- ituturo sa mga bata sa paggamit the Thanksgiving Mass for Life held at the
buhay nilang ipag-papatuloy laman ng sinuman ang mga ng goma, lobo o condom, para Manila Cathedral, March 23, 2011)
ang masidhing pangangalaga banal na sandaling iyan—at iwasan daw ang sakit? Bakit
hanggang sa ang mga anak kailangan naman sa mga tiyak mga bata ang tuturuan ng
ay akayin sa kabutihang asal, na sandali at araw na iyan ang ganitong laro? Hindi po ba ang
banal ring pamumuhay na pagtitimpi, pagpigil sa sarili tamang ituro sa kabataan ay
mayroong pagdamay at pag- (pagpigil sa pang-gigigil). Yan ang magandang halimbawa ng
galang sa kapwa hanggang sa ang sakripisyo ng tao. Alalaon matatanda at ang kahalagahan
katandaan. baga ay kailangan ang mga ng buhay, ang kabanalan ng
pagpipigil sa sarili na ang tawag
Banal ang pag-aasawa; banal ang ay disiplina? Ang tawag po
noong una ay kapag may pag-
pagtatalik sapagka’t ito ay kalakip pipigil, mayroong disiplina at
ng pagbibigay ng buhay na galing sa paggalang at magkakaroon din
Panginoong Diyos. Hindi ito laru-laruan ng Karakter ang tao. Ngayon
na ituturo sa mga bata sa paggamit ang gustong ipamulat sa ka-
bataan ay ito: gamitin ang goma,
ng goma, lobo o condom, para iwasan maglaro kayo! Ganyan kabarato
daw ang sakit? Bakit mga bata ang ang buhay ng tao ngayon.
tuturuan ng ganitong laro? Hindi po ba Salamat at mayroong Sim-
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
ang tamang ituro sa kabataan ay ang bahan at salamat at mayroong
magandang halimbawa ng matatanda Pananampalataya na nagpapaa-
laala pa (kahit mayroong ilang
at ang kahalagahan ng buhay, ang mga mambabatas o matatanda
kabanalan ng pagpipigil sa sarili na ang na kakaiba ang isip na hindi
tawag ay disiplina? Ang tawag po noong na mabuting makapangaral,
una ay kapag may pagpipigil, mayroong hindi na kayang makapagturo
ng magandang asal at batas na
disiplina at paggalang at magkakaroon magpapabalik pa sa dahan- YOUR Eminences, Your Excellencies, our beloved priests
din ng Karakter ang tao. Ngayon ang dahang nawawala at nanghihi- and religious, our Honorable members of the House of
gustong ipamulat sa kabataan ay ito: nang magandang hiyas na ating Representatives and the Senate, our beloved lay people, the
gamitin ang goma, maglaro kayo! Ganyan kabihasnang Pilipino. valiant lay people.
At bakit bata pa ay tinuturuan We are gathered for this Eucharistic celebration in thanksgiving
kabarato ang buhay ng tao ngayon. na ang mga anak ng ilang mga to God for the gift of life and for the energy that has been given
matatanda at mambabatas sa to us to promote and defend life.
Mayroon naming natural sandali ng disiplina. Kapag pag-iwas sa responsibilidad We also want to pray, we have to pray because the forces against
na paraan sa paghahanda sa may disiplina sa kama, tiyak at ang pagwawalang bahala life are always present. Let us not delude ourselves that we have
mahalagang buhay na iyan. na magkakaroon ng disiplina sa katuwiran at kalinisan? (Sa only one enemy, that life has only one enemy. There are many
At iyan ang tinatawag na sa kalsada, maging sa pitaka pangalan daw ng sanidad at faces of those that are against life, so we have to pray. And in this
NATURAL FAMILY PLAN- (karta moneda). Dito mapapa- kalusugan). Puro maalwang thanksgiving mass, we want to strengthen our resolve to work
NING. At ito ay kaloob ng halagahan natin ang “values” palusot ang gustong ituro sa together to defend God’s precious gift of life. And since it is Lent,
Panginoong Diyos sa kalikasan na itinuturo ng Simbahan. kabataan ng ilang mambaba- a holy season when we are invited to reflect on the meaning of
ng bawat tao, lalaki or babae. Banal po mga kapatid ang tas—kanya ganiyan ang magig- the life, Jesus has won for us, through His Paschal Mystery, let
Alam ng makapangyarihang gawain ng mag-asawa, kaya ing bukas ng Pilipinas—mga us allow the readings for today to help us develop a spirituality.
Panginoong Diyos na darating naman ginagantihan ng Buti- mamamayan na puro palusot, I repeat, a spirituality towards the defense of life.
ang araw na dapat lalung pag- hing Diyos ng ligaya at tuwa lahat ng padulas ang alam. That is one contribution that Christians should make in this
aralan at may pananagutang ang mag-asawa hindi lamang May peligrong mawawala ang whole debate and I’m challenging all of us here to check ourselves,
balakin ang dakilang paghah- sa pagtatalik, kung hindi hang- halaga (value) ng kristiyano at to repossess the right spirit in our defense of life. Are we coming
anda sa buhay na iyan. Kung gang sa mapalaki sa kabuti- tunay na Filipino. Ang dapat from a deep commitment to God? Or are we coming from other
kaya’t inilagay ng Panginoong hang asal, kabaitan at akayin ituro sa kabataan ay kalinisan agenda which in the end might prove to be counter life. Humanda
Diyos sa kalikasan ng katawan sa kabanalan ang kanilang ng budhi, kalinisan ng puso, po tayong lahat, maganda ang sasabihin ng mga pagbasa, at
ng tao—lalaki at babae—ang mga anak. Kasama diyan ng disiplina at pagpipigil sa sarili Spirituality / B2
wasto at tiyak na paraan at mag-asawa ang Panginoong Buhay / B7
B2 Updates CBCP Monitor
Vol. 15 No. 7
March 28 - April 10, 2011

The Re-marriage of Fallen-away Catholics:

‘Sunday Mass’ on
Mondays A Review of the Motu
Proprio Omnium in
(Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina
Apostolorum university, answers the following queries:)

Q: My parish has a Hispanic “Sunday Mass” on Monday

evenings. They celebrate the Mass of the previous Sunday, and I

mentem
believe the implication is that it fulfills their Sunday obligation.
Is this licit?—M.M., Biloxi, Mississippi

A: If it is true that the implication is that this Mass fulfills the

Sunday obligation, it is not licit. The Sunday obligation is just
that, Sunday. The obligation may be fulfilled at any Mass on
Saturday evening but may not be transferred to a weekday.
Another possibility exists, however. On another occasion
we explained how in some Arabian countries it is permissible
to celebrate the Sunday liturgy on a Friday, the Muslim day
of prayer. In these countries Sunday is a regular working day,
and many Christian immigrants find it impossible to attend
Mass.
In this case it is the Sunday liturgy that is anticipated, not
the Sunday obligation. Any Christian in these countries who
can attend Mass on Saturday evening or Sunday retains the
obligation of doing so. Praying a second, Sunday liturgy on a
weekday holiday is a pastoral provision so that the large number
of Christians who attend Mass on Friday may benefit from the
richer selection of readings and prayers found on a Sunday.
There is no obligation to attend Mass on such a Friday
celebration, and it is necessary to explain that Sunday is not
transferred.
It is possible that the repetition of the Sunday liturgy on
Monday obeys a similar motivation. In the United States large
numbers of Spanish speakers work in service industries that
frequently require weekend work. If the number is significant
in a particular parish, then it is possible that the necessary
permission could be sought to repeat the Sunday liturgy so as to
provide a continuous catechesis in line with the liturgical year.
But to repeat: Clear catechesis is necessary to explain that using
the Sunday liturgy for pastoral purposes is not synonymous
with fulfilling the Sunday obligation.
Celebrating the Mass in Spanish would not in itself be a
sufficient motivation for this transfer. In this case it could
encourage some Spanish speakers to neglect their Sunday

© Roy Lagarde / CBCPMedia

obligation in the false belief that they can do so attending the
Monday Mass. If a Sunday Mass in Spanish is needed in the
parish, then it must be celebrated either on Saturday evening
or Sunday proper.

Stamping the faithful with ashes A Catholic man, a well-known personality,
became a Born-again Christian and married a
Baptist woman without securing the required
dispensation from the Catholic authorities. After a
few years, they break up and get a civil annulment
from a Philippine court. Now he wishes to remarry
in the Catholic Church with a Catholic woman.
Can he do it?
The Canon Law on Mixed Marriages and
the so-called Disparity of Cult
There are two phenomena regulated by
Canon Law which oftentimes are confused:
© Roy Lagarde / CBCPMedia
Failure to follow these norms by itself does
not invalidate the canonical marriage thus
contracted, but it renders it illicit─i.e., if done
with full knowledge and consent, it would be
gravely sinful for all involved (starting with
the witnessing priest of course who should
know better).
Quite a different matter is the so-called
impediment of disparity of cult established
by c.1086, which stipulates:
§1. Marriages between two persons, one
of whom is baptized in the Catholic Church
or has been received into it and the other of
the Local Ordinary for a mixed marriage),
a phrase which limited the scope of the
Catholic party to one who “was baptized in
the Catholic Church or received into it and
has not by a formal act defected from it.” Thus,
in the new redaction of the aforementioned
canons, the phrase “and has not by a formal
act defected from it” has been deleted.
The crux of the matter is that many
problems arise as regards the separation
of the faithful from the Church. The papal
document explains it:
“First, in individual cases the definition

mixed marriages and disparity of cult. whom is non-baptized, is invalid. and practical configuration of such a formal
A mixed marriage is one contracted §2. This impediment is not to be dispensed act of separation from the Church has proved
between two baptized persons, one of unless the conditions mentioned in cc.1125 difficult to establish, from both a theological
whom was baptized in the Catholic Church and 1126 [i.e., the cautions for mixed and a canonical standpoint. In addition, many
or received into it, and another who is a marriages] are fulfilled. difficulties have surfaced both in pastoral
member of a Church or ecclesial community In other words, whereas in the case activity and the practice of tribunals. Indeed,
which is not in full communion with the of an unauthorized mixed marriage is the new law appeared, at least indirectly, to
Catholic Church. According to c.1124 of the only illicit but valid, the presence of the facilitate and even in some way to encourage
Code of Canon Law, such a marriage cannot impediment of disparity of cult─unless apostasy in places where the Catholic faithful
Q: In my parish on Ash Wednesday, the priests and laypeople be celebrated without the express permission of
use this “stamp,” shaped in the form of a Jerusalem cross. After lawfully dispensed─renders the marriage are not numerous or where unjust marriage
the competent authority. Canon Law further invalid from the start. laws discriminate between citizens on the
dipping it in the ashes, they stamp the people, one by one, as if stipulates that such permission can be granted
they were branding a cow or something. Is not the meaning of basis of religion. The new law also made
by the Local Ordinary if there is a just and The Motu Proprio Omnium in mentem difficult the return of baptized persons who
Ash Wednesday the act of making the sign of the cross on one’s reasonable cause, but only if the following
forehead with the finger? Is not the stamp a cold and uncaring The Apostolic Letter “Motu Proprio” greatly desired to contract a new canonical
requirements (called cautions) are met: (1) the Omnium in mentem, issued 26.X.2009, dealt marriage following the failure of a preceding
act toward the congregation? Is this form of distributing ashes Catholic party declares that he/she is prepared to
acceptable?—P.G., New York with two unrelated matters: a clarification of marriage. Finally, among other things,
remove dangers of falling away from the faith and the ministerial function of deacons, and the many of these marriages in effect became,
makes a sincere promise to do all in his/her power obligation of the canonical form of marriage as far as the Church is concerned, clandestine
A: I have never heard or seen this particular practice except to have all the children baptized and brought up
in some places in the U.S., and effectively I would be of the for those faithful who have left the Church marriages.”
in the Catholic Church; (2) the other party is in a formal way. Saving the first matter for a In sum, what the motu proprio has
opinion that its mechanical nature effectively detracts from the informed at an appropriate time of these promises
sense of ashes being imposed upon our heads. future article, let us focus now on the second established is that even if a Catholic separates
which the Catholic party has to make, so that it clarification. from the Church, he/she is still under Church
The rubrics for the distribution of ashes state that the priest, is clear that the other party is truly aware of the
on concluding, washes his hands, logically implying that he has The Motu Proprio dealt with the obligation Law, even if he disregards it. If he/she marries
promise and obligation of the Catholic party; (3) of the faithful who have left the Church a person who is not validly baptized without
physically handled the ashes and not just used a stamp. both parties are instructed on the essential ends
Historically, the use of ashes as a sign of penance is already in a formal way─e.g., the typical fallen- due dispensation (from the impediment of
and properties of marriage, which are not to be away Catholic who joins the Born again disparity of cult) from the Local Ordinary,
found in the Old Testament, and even Jesus speaks of the necessity excluded by either party (c.1125).
of some sinners to do penance in sackcloth and ashes (Matthew movement─to follow the ecclesiastical laws that marriage would be invalid.
Can.1126 further establishes that the regarding the canonical form of marriage, the
11:21). Tertullian, saints Cyprian, Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine, conference of bishops is to establish the way in
and many other Church Fathers make frequent reference to this required dispensation from the impediment Conclusion
which these declarations and promises, which of disparity of cult and the need for permission Since our Catholic personality married
practice, especially in relationship with the practice of beginning are always required, are to be made, what
a period of public penance for grave sins. in the case of mixed marriages. the Baptist woman (invalid baptism)
proof of them there should be the external It did this by taking away from the previous without dispensation from the impediment
Apart from the relatively few public penitents, many other forum and how they are to be brought to
devout Christians confessed at the beginning of Lent so as to be redaction of cc.1086, §1 (establishing the of disparity of cult, that first marriage
the attention of the non-Catholic party. In impediment of disparity of cult), c.1117 was invalid. Thus, after securing a civil
able to receive daily Communion during this season and asked to practice, many dioceses in the Philippines
be covered with ashes as a sign of humility after having received (requiring the canonical form if at least one of annulment, he is free to marry (not re-marry)
now require the non-Catholic party to sign the parties of marriage is a baptized Catholic) in the Catholic Church with a Catholic
absolution. In the year 1091 Pope Urban II recommended this a simple document to this effect.
practice to both clergy and laity. Subsequently the rite of blessing and c.1124 (requiring permission from woman.
and imposing the ashes became generalized and swiftly assumed
considerable importance in the liturgical life of the faithful. At Spirituality / B1
first, the rite was separate from Mass but eventually entered
into the Mass itself around the 12th century. sana maging bukas tayong lahat He breaks into a prayer. He turns to speak to God on behalf of the to runaway, I feel your word
Initially, men received ashes sprinkled upon the crown of the para magpasuri sa mga pagbasa to God, the God who calls him people, so that God’s wrath may like a fire burning within me. A
head, while the ashes were imposed upon women by making tungkol sa hinahanap ng Salita ng and his prayer in the whole book, be turned away from the people. fire flaming my bones, I cannot
a sign of the cross on the forehead. This difference probably Diyos sa mga nagiging propeta you may want to look the book The prayer of Jeremiah, so open run away. I maybe subjected to
stems from the simple fact that women were obliged to keep para sa buhay. Prophets of life, of Jeremiah. The prayer of the to God, and in his prayer his role suffering but I’m committed to
their heads covered in church. prophets for life, how do we prophet Jeremiah is simple, very gets clarified for him. your word. Your word is in me.
Today, the mode of imposing ashes varies from country distinguish them? What makes open, you can see the humility If we go to chapters later, the Your word is in my bones. I cannot
to country according to custom. In most English-speaking someone a prophet of life and a of this prophet, he talks to God 20th chapter, you see Jeremiah in escape your word. This is the
countries water is added to the ashes to form a paste which is prophet for life? openly. He tells God, heed O Lord his prayer again, struggling with commitment that every person
imposed by making a sign of the cross on the forehead. Many In the first reading, from the and listen to what my adversaries God. I don’t know how many of who defends life must have and
Catholics leave the mark of the ashes unwashed during the prophet Jeremiah, we see the say. Should good be repaid with us pray to God this way. Jeremiah it has a clear source, not any self
day as an outward testimony of their faith. sorry state, the miserable state evil? Sa tagalog maganda. Diyos, even said, God you fooled me. seeking, not any agenda for my
In much of Italy and in some other Roman-language countries, of a prophet, he goes around ano ba? Naririnig mo ba yung And in exasperation he said, and sake. Jeremiah the prophet only
water is not added to the ashes. Rather, the ashes are imposed proclaiming God’s word, and kanilang pinagbubulong-bulungan? I allowed myself to be fooled by had one reason, I am consumed
by making a sign of the cross above the crown of the head as what does he get? The people Nagbubulung-bulungan sila sa you. Because you were stronger by the flame of the Word of God,
the ashes fall upon the hair. This mode has the advantage of of Judah and the citizens of kanilang mga caucus, naririnig mo than I was, and looked at what has burning in my bones even before
capturing better the idea of ashes as dust but does not leave Jerusalem were conniving against ba O Diyos? Hindi nila pinaririnig happened to me, because I spoke the adversaries could burn them.
a visible sign that can last during the day, except upon those him, they were plotting against sa amin, naririnig mo ba O Diyos? your word, he even cursed the day He was already burning within
who happen to be bald. him. They were carefully noting Naririnig ng Diyos. that he was born because of the him with the fire of the word
The use of the stamp mentioned by our reader would appear his words. They wanted to And Jeremiah reminds God in suffering that he undergoes for of God. That type of prophet is
to be motivated by a desire to favor the duration of the sign eliminate him, the destiny of every his prayer. Remember, I stood the sake of the Word of God and unassailable, that type of prophet
during the day, even though this is merely an incidental, albeit prophet. And Jeremiah knows it. before you, to speak in their for the sake of the people. And he is beyond all compromises and
positive, aspect of one particular mode of imposition. The danger He knows the evil forces that were behalf, to turn away your wrath tells God openly, I want to retreat, pride because the source of fire is
is that this process could detract from what is essential to the plotting against him. The one sent from them. Jeremiah was very I want to give up. No more. Ayaw burning within spirituality.
ritual gesture, the act of receiving the imposition of ashes as a by God, the God of life, the God clear about his role, he was not ko na. But then he says, when I So I’m inviting all of us to turn to
sign of personal penance and conversion. who wants to restore life. And there only to speak to people discovered your word, I devoured Jeremiah, to turn to his sufferings
what is the response of Jeremiah? on behalf of God, he was there your word, and whenever I try Spirituality / B5
 Features
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 15 No. 7
March 28 - April 10, 2011
B3

Why I Am against the RH

By Dr. Jesus P. Estanislao
OVER these past several months,
I have often been asked for the
reasons behind my stance regarding
the proposed Reproductive Health
(RH) bill.
Many have long known I am
against the bill in its present “con-
solidated” form. They guess that
since the Bishops are unanimously
against it, then I must also be against
the RH bill.
When it comes to matters of faith
and morals, Bishops provide guid-
ance; they have spoken clearly and
authoritatively in accord with their
Pastoral responsibilities.
Nonetheless, as an ordinary
person, while I listen to the moral
guidance of our Bishops, I also put
forward my own reasons, based on
my professional background, for my
stance on the RH bill.
As I make clear in [this article],
being against the RH bill in its
“consolidated” form is being for:
transparency; the value of human
life; enjoyment of freedom with
corresponding responsibility; a bal-
anced approach to development; the
dignity of every person, including
each person’s sexuality; putting
tive health. In fact, by its aim, most pressing development growth rates. It fails to give due key governance principle of by threatening jail and other
it is dangerous not only to the issues now confronting Japan importance to the key determi- leaving to individuals, institu- punishments to those who re-
health, but even the life, of and a few other countries as nants of development, which tions, and other lower bodies fuse to promote and observe its
unborn babies. It can also be well, including many European include the following top five those decisions and duties that anti-life orientation and propa-
dangerous to the health—both countries and soon also South factors: “good governance; they can and should take up gation of artificial methods of
physical and psychological—of Korea and China. Ageing of the openness to knowledge; stable on their own. It disregards the birth prevention.
women. population, arising from too few finances; allocation of goods and maxim that governments govern 9. The bill offends the basic
2. The bill aims at fewer babies being born, is bringing services principally by markets; best by refraining from over- dignity of human sexuality so
babies being reach. essential for strong families as the
born in our 7. The bill foundation of a strong society.
land, under proposes to While proposing to improve the
the premise spend tax condition of families, it can easily
that the fewer money on lead to a fools’ paradise, charac-
they are, the population terized by “more premarital sex,
better off the control pro- more fatherless children, less
P h i l i ppi n e s grams, featur- domesticated men, more crimes,
would be: ing artificial more social pathology, more
fewer mouths methods of single mothers, and therefore
to feed, fewer family plan- more poverty”, as has actually
children to ning, which occurred in some countries that
educate, few- many citizens have taken the path the bill pro-
er people to find offensive poses (George Akerlof).
care for. This to their con- 10. The bill promotes a mind-
premise looks science and set that weakens the ethical
at children— objectionable fiber of our people. It devalues
indeed at peo- on the basis human life. It fosters short-term
ple—as mere of the con- enjoyment of “freedom” without
liabilities. It stitutional instilling a deep sense of duty
turns a blind protection of to take on its corresponding
eye on the oth- the unborn. long-term responsibilities. It
er side, that Indeed, many views personal relationships and
they can be— citizens are social processes from a narrowly
indeed often asking: what pragmatic, materialistic perspec-
tive without giving due consid-

© Roy Lagarde / CBCPMedia

proper limits on the role of govern-
ment; respect for the primary right
of parents to educate and bring up
their children in an atmosphere that
respects and promotes high moral
standards; respect for the right of
conscientious objection; and secur-
ing the foundations of our long-term,
sustained progress as a people.
Why I Am Against the RH
1. THE bill, in its present
“consolidated form”, dissimu-
lates. It is far from transparent:
it purports to be for reproduc-
are—great net business does
assets. the govern- eration to ethical and spiritual
3. The bill ment have values, the bedrock foundations
claims to make dispensing for the genuine development of
the road to contracep- our people.
development tives and
much easier: condoms (Dr. Estanislao holds a Ph.D.
the fewer ba- and spend- from Harvard University, where
bies we have to provide for, the about a demographic winter, high rates of savings and invest- ing public funds on items that he was also a Teaching Fellow and
more resources we free up for which considerably darkens ments” (Michael Spence). are supposed to be a matter of Research Fellow. He was Finance
investments, particularly for the long-term prospects of the 6. The bill expands the role individual “choice”? Secretary during Pres. Corazon
infrastructure. It forgets that the economies concerned. of government considerably, 8. The bill is not only in- Aquino’s administration. Cur-
best investment we can make is 5. The bill is simplistic in its expanding it into areas that are trusive; it is also coercive. It rently, Dr. Jesus Estanislao is head
on people, on a big natural base view of development: one shaped best left to individual choices tramples upon the right of con- of Institute of Corporate Directors
of human resources. and determined mainly by low- and responsible decisions of scientious objection on the part and the Institute for Solidarity of
4. The bill ignores one of the ering birth rates and population married couples. It violates the of individuals and institutions Asia.)

The Philippines Under Fire

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

By Steven W. Mosher
AS I write, there is a battle royal
underway in the Philippine Congress.
On the one side are the Planned
Parenthood types, backed by well-
funded international organizations, who
are attempting to ram through legislation
that would cripple the Filipino birth
rate. On the other side stand those who
believe that the most precious resource
of the Philippines is its people, and
who object to the use of what some
call “human pesticides” to control the
Filipino population.
As you might suspect, the U.S. foreign
aid establishment, emboldened by the
anti-people mentality of the Obama
administration, is on the wrong side of
this crucial battle for Life.
The legislation in question is
called “The Responsible Parenthood,
Reproductive Health And Population
And Development Act Of 2011”—a title
which manages the remarkable feat of
encapsulating three lies of the abortion/
population control movement in the
short span of a dozen words.
“Responsible Parenthood’ is shorthand
for the wrongheaded notion that couples
are somehow doing the world a favor
by having few or no children. In fact,
the opposite is true: Children are the
only future a nation has. Those who are
willing to provide for the future in the
most fundamental way—by providing
the future generation—are a national
treasure. They should be praised and
encouraged, not condemned and
sterilized.
“Reproductive Health,” another
favorite of the anti-life movement, is
equally misleading. Such programs are
not intended to produce health at all,
but sterility. Lest you think I exaggerate,
consider how the “reproductive health”
of a population is defined: It is the
percentage of women of childbearing
age who have been sterilized or who
are using so-called “modern methods
of contraception.” The higher this
percentage (of women who have been
chemically or surgically sterilized), the
greater the supposed “reproductive
health” of the population is said to be.
This leads to the absolutely bizarre
conclusion that a population enjoying
perfect “reproductive health” would
not be able to reproduce at all! Why?
Because every last female reproductive
system would have been disabled. We
should not be surprised that the same
people who define pregnancy as a
disease, define “reproductive health”
as sterility.
Finally, the implication of “Population
and Development” is that population
growth constitutes an intolerable burden
on the economy. But while it is true
that growing populations do produce
temporary scarcities of goods and
services, in a free market entrepreneurs
respond by innovating; they devise
more efficient means of production,
for example, or they find substitutes for
scarce materials. At the end of the day
a larger population not only produces
more goods and services, they do so at a
lower price. Economists have a name for
this: It’s called economies of scale.
The language of the Philippine
Reproductive Health Bill, as it is called
for short, is just as dangerous as its
name suggests. Section 20, which fixes
the “ideal” family size at two children,
undermines the God-given right of
couples to decide for themselves the
number and spacing of their children.
It will give further impetus to social
engineering projects, already underway
in the Philippine Department of Health
and other government departments, to
reduce family size. In our experience
at PRI, any time a government sets
population targets of any kind, it leads
to human rights abuses.
But this is only the beginning of the
mischief. Consider Section 13, which
imposes on local government officials
the obligation to enforce the provisions
of the Act and “give priority to family
planning work”. To this China hand,
this sounds an awful lot like the PRC,
where local officials are under constant
pressure to reduce the birth rate, and do
so by resorting to forced sterilizations,
forced contraceptions and, all too often,
forced abortions.
Another provision which could have
been taken from Beijing’s playbook is
Section 15, which sets up a so-called
“Mobile Health Care Service,” and
details how it will operate around the
country. Apparently, as is the case in
China, mobile sterilization teams will
be brought in to do the dirty work of
population control that local physicians,
nearly all Catholic, find morally
objectionable.
Incredibly, the proposed law even
attempts to stifle dissent by Catholics and
others by prohibiting the dissemination
of “malicious disinformation about
the intent and provisions of this Act.”
The “malicious disinformation” that
the framers of the bill had in mind
would presumably include—aside
from my criticisms above—pointing
out the simple truth that life begins at
conception.
Now I know that you may find this
hard to believe, but the “reproductive
health” enthusiasts who support the bill
deny that a woman who has conceived a
child is actually pregnant. It is not until
five to seven days after conception, when
the developing embryo imp lants in the
lining of the uterus, that they are finally
willing to admit its existence.
In claiming that human life does not
begin at conception, but at implantation,
they violate not only science but
common sense. But it is important to
understand that they are not fools. They
do not engage in this obvious subterfuge
lightly, but because they believe that the
very success of their population control
agenda demands it.
You see, if they admit that life truly
does begin at conception, then they
would also have to admit that every
last one of their hormonal concoctions—
from pills and hormonally laced IUDs
to implants and injectables—cause
early-term abortions. All hormonal
contraception works, at least part of
the time, by preventing an already
conceived baby from implanting in the
uterus.
The backers of the Reproductive
Health Bill lie about this, too, of course,
because they know that few women
would take a supposed “contraceptive”
knowing that it would actually cause
them to abort.
This second lie is especially important
to their efforts in the Philippines, where
the Constitution, in Article II Section
12, provides that “the State shall
equally protect the life of … the unborn
from conception.” The Philippine
Congress, wanting to leave no doubt
about its intentions and no room for
misinterpretation, defined the word
conception in medical terms, as the
fertilization of the ovum. Implantation
goes unmentioned
This puts the Reproductive Health
Bill, which indiscriminately promotes
all types of abortifacient contraceptive
devices and services, on a collision course
with the Philippine Constitution.
The bill’s backers, supported by
foreign “experts” and driven by their
anti-people agenda, hotly deny that
contraceptives are human pesticides,
and that their massive distribution in
the Philippines will exterminate large
numbers of innocent Filipino babies. But
there is little doubt that, if the bill passes,
and “reproductive health” becomes the
order of the day in the archipelago, that
millions will die.
So far, the Philippines has resisted the
population control juggernaut that has
crushed the populations of other Asian
countries like China and Indonesia. Zoe
Vidal, a Philippine bioethicist, rightly
observes that in this sense the Philippines
is “the last country standing.”
Let us pray, for the sake of generations
of Filipino babies as yet unborn, that
they shall stand fast.
(Steven W. Mosher, an internationally
recognized authority on China and
population issues, is the president of
Population Research Institute, a research
group founded by Fr. Paul Marx, OSB)
 Features
CBCP Monitor
B4 Vol. 15 No. 7
March 28 - April 10, 2011

Alay Kapwa 2011 Our neighbors and environment, our responsibility

CLIMATE change is now in the
mouth of everyone, because now
it is being experience by all. We
experience untimely and extreme
weather conditions. More and more
people are attributing human activity
as a factor in these climate changes. We
have neglected due care that is to be
given to the environment. For a long
time we have regarded the environment
as an inexhaustible source of raw
materials and as a passive receptor of all
our wastes. Only now do we realize that
there is a limit to what the environment
can take and to what it can give.
Since the inception of the Alay Kapwa
program of the Philippine church in
1975, we have drummed up the idea
that no man is an island, that we have
a responsibility to our brothers and
sisters who are in need, that we cannot
love God without responding to the
needs of our brethren. We still do this
in our Alay Kapwa program. In fact
the need is greater now, what with the
catastrophes brought about by climate
change. In 2010 alone around 1.5 million
Filipinos have been uprooted by extreme
weather conditions. The amount that we
get from the Alay Kapwa program is
set aside to respond to these calamities.
But we should also be more proactive.
Thus, trainings are given on disaster
contribute and aggravate to the effects of
climate change. This means taking our
responsibility to care for creation. Hence
the program of Alay Kapwa this year is
not simply to ask people to contribute
for the relief and rehabilitation fund of
our Church in the Philippines, but also
to educate our people towards good
stewardship of the earth. In fact, if we
take care of the environment we are
doing good to our brothers and sisters.
We have now to realize that it is not
enough to take care of our fellow human
beings. We also have, as Christians, to
take care of our fellow creatures, that is,
all of creation!
In our situation now, we cannot afford
to remain in the “business-as-usual”
mode. Our usual way of behaving, of
speaking, of living has contributed to
our sorry state. Business, government
and church have to heed the call to
change to start reversing our destructive
situation. May this season of Lent
by a season of conversion to all of
us—conversion towards greater love
for our brethren and greater care of the
earth. Let us be generous in our effort
to curb our wasteful ways and generous
to contribute to the needy and to our
stewardship of Mother Earth!
Most Rev. Broderick Pabillo,

File photo
preparedness to vulnerable areas. D.D.
Being proactive, however, also means Chair, ECSA-JP
that we avoid the human factors that National Director, NASSA

An open letter to President Benigno Aquino III

Dear Mr. President,
We are the National Clergy
Discernment Group, a national
gathering of Roman Catholic
bishops and clergy from Luzon,
Visayas and Mindanao. Twenty
years after the Second Plenary
Council of the Philippines (PCP-
II), we are reflecting on our role
as socially—committed prophets
in building up the Church of
the Poor.
Mr. President, last May 2010
elections you called on the
Filipinos, “Iiwan na natin ang
daang baluktot… Ang daang
matuwid ang tanging daan tungo
sa pagbabago.” In keeping with
this, we would like to present
to you and the Department
of Labor and Employment
(DOLE) Secretary Rosalinda
Baldoz, something strange that
is happening with the DOLE
Region 7.
There is a labor-management
conflict in Cebu City between
the Visayan Electric Company
(VECO) and the Visayan Electric
by the participants of the Second National Clergy Discernment
Company Employees Union
(VECEU). DOLE assumed ju-
risdiction over the problem on
November 10, 2010. One of its
orders was the following, “that
neither management nor labor
should do anything that would
worsen the situation.” Labor
obeyed.
The management, however,
continued to engage in alleged
illegal union busting activities
such as: declaring that the union
president is still terminated
converting the status of some
union members to “confidential
employees” (part of manage-
ment), which automatically
cancelled their union member-
ship―actually, they remained as
tellers, lines men (rank-and-file),
contracting out regular work to
other labor contractors, inter-
rogating and harassing union
members, pressuring them to
shift loyalty from the union to the
management; discouraging new
regular VECO workers who are
automatic union members from
actively participating in union
activities.
These violations of DOLE’s le-
gal order were reported through
a formal letter to DOLE-Region
7 by the labor union on Decem-
ber 3, 2010. DOLE-7, however,
did not even have the decency
to respond to the formal letter.
Moreover, DOLE did nothing
about the violations of its legal
order. What is going on here?
May this be investigated?
In addition, our reflection
brought us to the realization that
one of the causes of the mistreat-
ment of labor is that it is treated
as a commodity, a thing to be
bought as cheaply as possible.
We would like to remind
the President and DOLE of the
Church Teaching that human
labor has dignity because the
worker shares in the divine at-
tribute as God’s co-creator. “It
remains a major point of refer-
ence for us all as we give thanks
to God for the meaning with
which God has endowed work as
a reflection of the dignity of every
worker, a ‘co-creator’ with God in
this world of human endeavor.”
(USCCB, September 7, 2009)
As such, human labor shares
EQUALLY the dignity of the
management and the owners of
capital. Therefore, we humbly
suggest the following:
* That labor is made a CO-
EQUAL PARTNER of capital
and government as our country
crafts any economic develop-
mental plan.
* That you UNEQUIVO-
CALLY REVOKE the UNWRIT-
TEN incentive for foreign and
local investments to come in our
country because labor unions are
discouraged. In fact, since 1974,
the Mactan Export Processing
Zone (MEPZ) boasts of having
absolutely no existing labor
union.
* That violation of the right
to organize labor unions, guar-
anteed by the U.N. Declaration
of Human Rights, the 1987 Phil-
ippine Constitution, and the
consistent official teaching of the
Church, will be made a CRIME by
your government. Moreover, that
it also a crime to harass existing
labor unions.
* That the right to security of
tenure of the workers be pro-
tected and the various ways
management employ to circum-
vent the law against contractu-
alization of workers be stopped
immediately.
Pope Benedict in Caritas in
Veritate says, “I would like to
remind everyone, especially
governments… that the primary
capital to be safeguarded and valued
is man, the human person in his or
her integrity: ‘Man is the source,
the focus and the aim of all eco-
nomic and social life’.” (CV, 25)
This means that in the economic
realm, the life and dignity of all
must be protected, work and
the rights of workers must be
respected, and a genuine com-
mitment to the common good
must be upheld.
We believe that an enlightened
labor force, co-equally with an
enlightened capital/manage-
ment, can together, enthusias-
tically forge a developmental
thrust that is for the benefit of
the common good, not just for
a few.
We would very much appre-
ciate it if, Your Excellency, can
spare some of your precious
time to meet with some of our
representatives to discuss these
matters with you.
May we always heed what God
wants us to do, as we endeavor to
follow the straight path of love,
justice, and peace.
In Christ, the Good Shepherd
and in Behalf of the Participants
to the Second National Clergy
Discernment,
Bishop Gerardo A. Almi-
naza, D.D.
Auxiliary Bishop
Archdiocese of Jaro
March 15, 2011

May They Be One Dirty Bibles, Cleaner Lifestyle Members of the MTBO
Advisory Committee:

Bible Campaign
Help Put a Bible in Every Filipino Home
Fr. Riolito Ramos, with members of the San Jose Parish in Dumingag, Pagadian
I
n Dumingag town, Pagadian, parishioners from one barrio would borrow a Bishop Broderick S. Pa-
Bible from the closest barrio that had a Bible. Due to the scarcity of the printed billo, DD, Ambassador
Henrietta T. de Villa,
text, some parishioners would simply copy portions of Scripture by hand.
Others would even borrow from other religious groups such as the Adventists Mr. Rod G. Cornejo, Mr.
or the Protestants. Fr. Riolito Ramos, San Jose Parish priest, said that anyone Rene E. Cristobal Sr.,
who would see their Bibles may not be able to recognize the copies because Dr. Philip C. Flores, Mr.
the edges have become dirty and worn from use. Even plastic covers could not Dante M. Lanorio, Fr.
spare the Bibles from dirt due to frequent use, reading, handling and borrowing.
Fr. Ramos said the wear and tear attested to the people’s thirst for the Word of Oscar A. Alunday, Fr.
God. The thirstier the people were, the dirtier their Bibles became. Antonio B. Navarrete,
In 2009, three Bible distributions were held under the May They Be One Bible Fr. Art B. Orense and
campaign, bringing in 600 additional Bibles to the parish. People got their Bibles Mr. Albert S. Tanlimco.
and read straight away. Some of these Bibles were worn out quickly from read-
ing. Fr. Ramos believes it was because these Bibles were being lent to other
barangays who did not have their own copies.
Ironically, the dirty Bibles resulted in a cleaner lifestyle for many. According to Praise God that His
Fr. Ramos, reading the Bible has opened the eyes of a group of parishioners Spirit is actively at work
to the importance of maintaining ecological balance. As a result, they began in the hearts of our
lobbying against unscrupulous mining practices. Fr. Ramos further added that countrymen, causing
morally, a number of philandering husbands were transformed by the Word,
and decided to end adulterous relationships. Personally witnessing the power a great hunger for His
of the Living Word, Fr. Ramos’ expressed desire is to have more May They Be Word.
One Bibles to distribute in his cash-strapped parish.
Pray that May They Be
Statistical update One Bible campaign will
No. of Dioceses participating in the Bible Campaign – 80 out of 86 Dioceses be able to raise the P60
Bibles Distributed (Jan. 1, 2011 – Mar. 21, 2011): 45,011 cps
Bibles Distributed by Languages - Tagalog (16,481cps.), Cebuano (9,000 cps.) English Million peso goal this
(7,458 cps.), Ilocano (4,273 cps.), Hiligaynon (3,341 cps.), Bicol (1,995), Pangasinan (13
cps.), Pampango (937cps.), Samarenyo (1,513 cps.)
year to be able to dis-
Parishes/Communities served: 66 tribute 400,000 Bibles
Total Bible Distribution: (Jan 2009- March 21, 2011): 346,045 cps to poor Filipino homes
Target No. of Bibles for Distribution for 2011: 400,000 cps.
Total Funds Needed for Printing and Transport of Bibles in 2011: P60M for 2011.

Visita Iglesia: A lenten offering of the Media Office of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. Launching
April 1, 2011. www.visitaiglesia.net “Discover an online experience of the Lenten season through Easter”
 Statements
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 15 No. 7
March 28 - April 10, 2011
B5

Message from Pope Benedict XVI

read right after the opening prayer at the Holy Mass on March 25, 2011 at the Quirino Grandstand Interfaith Rally for Life
My dear Brother Cardinals,
Not for the first time, Filipino
society is passing through
a difficult period in all that
concerns life and its defense.
The Church is not indifferent
in such moments, because she
believes that life is sacred, a
gift from God who calls man to
cooperate with Him, aided by a
deep sense of responsibility for
his actions.
On the occasion of their recent
Ad Limina visits, the Filipino
Bishops were unanimous in
demonstrating their sensitivity
to the attacks being made upon
life and upon the family. His
Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
recommended the defense of
these values which remain vital
to the whole of Filipino society.
Speaking on 29 November 2010
death, and in defense of the
integrity of marriage and the
family. In these areas you are
promoting truths about the
human person and about society
with arise not only from divine
revelation but also from natural
law, an order which is accessible
to human reason and thus
provides a basis for dialogue and
deeper discernment on the part
of all people of good will.
Strengthened by this clear
message, I again encourage
you and all who value the
human person to be firm in your
commitment to honor God and,
by doing so, to manifest a deep
love for life and for its protection
at this time.
With my prayerful good
wishes in this delicate moment,

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

to the Bishops from Manila and I remain
the north of the country, the Holy
Father said: Yours sincerely in Christ,
I commend the Church in the
Philippines for seeking to play +TARCISIO CARDINAL
its part in support of human life BERTONE
from conception until natural Secretary of State

‘Towards Justice That Moves Statement of Appeal

Beyond Punishment’ for Japan
BROTHERS and Sisters,

Declaration of the 8th General Assembly of Chaplains We express our sincerest sympathies and condolences to the
citizens of Japan who have recently been devastated following

and Volunteers in Prison Service

February 3 - 6, 2011 Carmelite Missionaries Center of Spirituality, Tagaytay City
THE declaration comes from 55 Arch/dioceses
and 7 Non-government Organizations with
167 lay Volunteers in Prison Service, 33
Jail and Prison Chaplains, 16 religious
women, and two bishops from the CBCP-
Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral
Care who met from February 3-6, 2011 at the
Carmelite Missionaries Center of Spirituality
in Tagaytay City. The theme of the assembly
is “Towards Justice That Moves Beyond
Punishment”.
The declaration is addressed to the
stakeholders in the criminal justice
system.
After sharing and learning from our
experiences, listening to experts in the various
fields and discipline in the area criminal
justice and discerning the will of the Loving
and Merciful Father as one member of the
Christian Community,
We affirm
* That scripture’s teaching on justice is
centered on restitution and restoration, not
vengeance and punishment. Restitution
was seen as a way of setting things right.
That justice should be based on principles of
forgiveness and reconciliation; that retaliation
plays no part.
* Our faith teaches us to place distinctions
between wrongdoers and the virtuous, and
to see ourselves as brothers and sisters with
varying strengths and weaknesses.
* That crime that is inevitable in our world
is not only the responsibility of a few evil
individuals within the society. When the law
is broken, there is corporate responsibility.
* That we need to relearn how to practice
compassion and mercy in our dealings with
one another;
* That the current criminal justice system
that is punitive is just another form of
violence and as such has little potential for
healing broken relationships and restoring
the sense of community among those affected
by crime;
* That we need a system that gives a better
deal to victims, that promotes apology,
healing, understanding, accountability,
personal and collective responsibility,
forgiveness and even reconciliation.
* That we should develop a new philosophy
of justice that will move from PUNISHMENT
to RECONCILIATION; from VENGEANCE to
HEALING OF VICTIMS AND OFFENDERS;
from ALIENATION and HARSHNESS to
COMMUNITY WHOLENESS or SHALOM;
from NEGATIVITY and DESTRUCTIVENESS
to HEALING and FORGIVENESS AND
MERCY.
* That restorative justice is the paradigm
of justice that will provide the opportunity
to enhance the dignity of the stakeholders
of crime.
We are deeply concerned with:
a) The current justice system that is punitive
and retributive
b) The non-observance and non-
implementation of laws both international
and local that protect the dignity of the
persons deprived of liberty
c) The lack of holistic programs for the
victims, offenders, ex-offenders and their
families.
d) The plight of children in conflict of the
law despite the passage of the Juvenile Justice
Welfare Act of 2006
e) The lack of facilities and program
for prisoners with special needs like the
handicapped, the old, the sick and mentally
challenged
f) The congested, outdated and dilapidated
facilities for persons deprived of liberty
g) The cruel, degrading treatment and
the experience of torture perpetrated by the
keepers and the inmates as well.
h) The slow disposition of cases.
i) The problem of graft and corruption.
In view of the aforementioned we call on
the following sectors to act on the following
recommendations:
I. For the Executive Department:
1. That it observes and enforce its
commitment to international laws,
agreements, and treaties to which the
Philippine is a signatory that promote the
interest and welfare of the stakeholders in
the criminal justice system.
2. That it recruits qualified personnel that
will take care of the persons deprived of
liberty and that it disciplines the same when
they found violating the prisoners’ rights.
3. That it comes out with after-care
program for the victims of crime as well as
to ex-offenders.
4. That it addresses the slow disposition
of cases by appointing more qualified and
competent members of the court i.e., judges,
court personnel, prosecutors and public
attorneys.
5. That it comes out with centralized
information data based records of the persons
deprived of liberty.
6. That it considers a community based
treatment of those in conflict with the law.
7. That it revises the guidelines in the
granting of executive clemency by making
it more rehabilitation and treatment
based.
8. That it initiates the training and
education of the agencies concerned with
persons deprived of liberty especially the law
enforcers and the correctional employees on
field of human rights.
II. For the Legislative:
1. That it makes bills that will provide
more restorative justice interventions and
alternatives to imprisonment like diversion,
work furlough, study furlough, treatment
centers and community based program.
2. That it works for the immediate passage
of the bills on Recognizance or pre-trial
release and the integration of jail and
prison administration under one agency or
government unit.
3. That it considers revising the penal and
prison laws that dates back during the turn
of the century and consider archaic and
outdated.
4. That it decriminalizes some of the offense
that might be unacceptable behavior but not
criminal acts like prostitution, gambling,
vagrancy.
III. For the Judiciary:
1. That it creates a monitoring system to
trace the development and movement of
cases in courts to promote speedy trials.
2. That it strictly implements the rules
governing the handling of cases and impose
sanctions on judges who are very slow in the
disposition of cases.
3. That it immediately fills up the vacancy
in the courts.
4. That it considers revising the rules of
court that were patterned after the US that
has a jury system.
IV. For the Different Dioceses and
Archdioceses
1. That our bishops integrate into the arch/
diocese structure the prison ministry as part
of its pastoral ministry.
2. That our bishops designate priests,
religious and lay association to engage in
the restorative justice ministry and assign
person/s within the diocese to regularly
attend to the concerns and advocacies of
the ministry.
V. For Volunteers in Jails and Prison
1. That we hold regular assembly, training
and fellowship for pastoral and theological
enrichment.
2. That we device a three year integrated
program for prison reform and rehabilitation
in consonance with the philosophy, principles
and basic tenets of biblical justice.
3. That we work for a more vigorous and
sustained advocacy and lobbying for the
enhancement of the rights of the victims and
the persons deprived of their liberty.
4. That we come out with concrete
evangelization program for the members of
the criminal justice system specifically the
members of the correctional pillar.
5. That we establish linkages with agencies
and groups working in the criminal justice
system especially in the field of correction.
6. That we minister to the victims and
their families.
7. That we continuously raise funds
to finance our program for the prison
ministry.
8. That we monitor the observance of the
local and international laws governing the
persons deprive of liberty like the acts of
torture of inmates not only by prison guards
but among each other as well.
VI. For the CBCP-ECPPC
1. That the commission continues to lead
in the advocacy and lobbying in enhancing
the dignity of the stakeholders in the criminal
justice system and work for justice that will
be in consonance with the Gospel values and
teachings of the church.
2. That the commission continues to
provide pastoral and theological updating
among its units and network members.
3. That the commission continues to act as
the resource center for materials on prison
ministry and its advocacies and concerns,
specifically on Restorative Justice and
alternatives to imprisonment.
4. That the commissions continue acting
as a clearing house and coordinating center
for programs and activities among its
members.
That the commission continue the
collaborative partnerships with other faith
and government agencies both locally and
internationally.
Closing statement
We conclude the assembly with gratitude
in our hearts and renewed hope for more
zealous effort in our prison ministry. Inspired
by the insights through the sharing of our
experiences in prison and the expert in the
field of criminal justice system, we will carry
with our hearts the value of cooperation,
acceptance and humility as volunteers in
prison service.
We end with trust in God’s providence and
guidance as we fulfill our mission in being a
light to others as we work for “Justice That
Moves Beyond Punishment”
an 8.9-magnitude earthquake, triggering tsunamis on Japan’s
eastern coast and sparked radiation threats due to damaged
nuclear plants, forcing thousands out of their homes.
The earthquake was the strongest recorded in Japan’s history
and the fifth largest quake worldwide. The phenomenon,
considered to be the worst disaster since World War II, vastly
impinged on the country’s infrastructure, private properties
and industries. It has also caused thousands of families to
be homeless and took the lives of their loved ones. Many
areas experienced blackouts as quake and tsunami damage
has forced power plants to shut down putting a strain on
electrical supplies
Along with the extent of the damage to life and property
by the earthquake and tsunami, Japanese authorities are even
more concerned with a possible meltdown of three nuclear
reactors located at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility.
A meltdown is said to be caused by a catastrophic failure of
the reactor core, with a potential for widespread radiation
release.
In this light, we call upon our Caritas partners and all
concerned citizens to extend prayers and support to our fellow
Japanese brothers and sisters. Our donations will buy food,
water and shelter, and rebuild homes and schools.
Although Japan is a world power, Christian charity bids us
to be one with those who suffer. The Philippines and other
nations have also received support from Japan in times of
need.
Let us pray for the speedy recovery of the entire country and
lift up to God those who lost their lives in this disaster.
NASSA–Caritas Filipinas welcomes donations from friends
and partners which will be forwarded to Caritas Japan, our
partner.
PHILTRUST BANK
Account Name: CBCP CARITAS FILIPINAS FOUNDATION,
INC.
PESO Account No. 00320 – 013976 – 5
US$ Account No. 0034 – 00013827
EURO Account No. 0035 – 00000031
Thank you very much! May God bless your compassionate
and generous hearts.
BRODERICK S. PABILLO, D.D
National Director
NASSA-Caritas Filipinas
Spirituality / B2
and to marvel at how such a person life. Life as a gift should continue
stepped in ridicule and adversity being a gift.
could sustain his prophetic role The moment life is taken away,
in the purity of his commitment we destroy the very nature of
to the word of God. life as gift. And Jesus says so,
This is fulfilled in the prophet even His dying in the Gospel of
who is much greater than John, he says, no one takes my
Jeremiah, because He is the Son life away from me, I lay it down
of God, Jesus. In the Gospel, freely. I give my life as a gift and
Jesus plainly tells His disciples no one should take it away. There
of His destiny. They were going is only one interpretation on the
to Jerusalem where we would death of Christ that matters to
be handed over to the chief us according to the Gospel. His
priests and the scribes who were death has been faced by Jesus as
condemned Him to death. the ultimate giving of Himself in
He would be handed over to the form of service. Again, this is
the Gentiles. He will be mocked, part of our spirituality. We will
he will be scourged, he will be be offering our lives for life; we
crucified. But on the third day, will be offering our lives for the
he will rise from the dead. But sanctity of life. But let it be fueled
Jesus interprets the meaning of by the spirit of Christ, just like
his sufferings at the end of this Jeremiah, only one motive, loving
passage. He says the Son of Man service. That makes the fight for
came not to be served but to serve life redemptive. Loving service, if
and to give His life as a ransom I do not give my life out of service,
for the many. then I am actually claiming the
The death of Jesus was not a case lives of others, misusing the
of other people claiming His life. lives of others. It is only in that
For Jesus, His death was really an purity of intention that we find
act of service. He will serve even in Jeremiah and in Jesus were life
if it means giving “My whole life. is truly served.
My last breath will be my last act But my dear brothers and
of service.” And so nobody takes sisters, we have to be warned
his life away from him. I give my because in the middle of the
life as a ransom for the many. Gospel for today, we find the
Life is always a gift. God gives sons of Zebedee, James and John.
life and no one should take away Spirituality / B7
 Ref lections
CBCP Monitor
B6 Vol. 15 No. 7
March 28 - April 10, 2011

The Christian community as a people that walks in the light

4th Sunday of Lent – Year A (John 9:1-41) April 3, 2011
By Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo,
SThD
DURING the presidency of
Arroyo, a power outage hit the
entire Luzon amid loud blasts,
fueling rumors of coup d’etat.
But National Power Corporation
(Napocor) officials were quick
to explain that the blackout
was due to a short circuit that
occurred when an overhead
groundwire in a Tayabas
substation snapped. According
to Jo Maglina, Napocor corporate
communication manager, when
the groundwire fell, it hit the
conductors connecting the 230
kilovolt Tayabas-Kalayaan
line with the 500-kv Tayabas-
Dasmariñas line, both of which
bring power from generation
plants in southern Luzon to the
rest of the island. The general
blackout not only resurrected
fears for destabilization plots that
the military immediately sought
to allay. It also put businesses
to a standstill and paralyzed
the operation of many plants.
Life in Luzon almost came to a
www.cruciality.files.wordpress.com
considered an evidence of the
coming of the Kingdom of God.
But far from taking it as a miracle,
John simply calls this particular
act of power as sign, and in the
entire Gospel, this is the sixth of
the seven signs. As a sign, it points
to a greater and deeper reality. It
gives the recipient, and those who
witness the wondrous deed an
anticipation and foretaste of what
Jesus can give when his hour,
that is, the hour of his passion,
death and resurrection, comes to
pass. From a material sign, one
is led to a spiritual reality. In last
Sunday’s Gospel, for example, the
water from the well of Jacob is a
sign of the supernatural water,
God’s wisdom that Jesus, after his
resurrection, gives to those who
believe in him. In today’s Gospel,
the physical blindness of the man
is meant to teach us about our
spiritual blindness, and the sign of
the healing of the man born blind
is intended to lead us to spiritual
light that shines in darkness.
In the Old Testament, the
light that shines on in darkness
is none other than the word of
God inscribed in the Law. The
of the world, this implies that
people who live apart from him
dwell in darkness. And in John’s
theology, darkness represents
the kingdom of wickedness
and evil; it is the realm of sin,
and one who lives in darkness
lives in sin and wickedness.
“Men love darkness rather than
light because their deeds were
wicked. Everyone who practices
evil hates the light; he does not
come near it for fear his deeds
will be exposed” (John 3:19b-20).
Hence, if one lives outside the
Christian environment, he is like
the physically blind who lives
in darkness; he lives a life of sin
and wickedness. Just like Manila
when it experienced the Luzon-
wide power outage, people like
him are blind, scared, unable to
move for lack of a guiding light.
They are removed from the joys
of living with electricity; that is
to say, they do not live authentic
life. They simply exist, but they
do not have real life.
This raises the question: how
does one acquire real or authentic
life? In the present narrative,
the blind man was given sight

halt. At night, people lived in
darkness, and some could only
move because improvised light
guided them. Many might have
felt they were living the life of
the blind―scared, threatened,
immobile or almost, and removed
from the joys of normal living.
We recall this power outage
because today’s Gospel is a story
about a man born blind whose
physical impairment Jesus cured
(John 9:1-41). If this narrative
www.ratcliffefamily.org
Law regulates a form of life that
a Jew must live if he is to attain
salvation. Hence, the Psalmist
sings: “A lamp to my feet is your
word, a light to my path” (Ps
119:105). In the New Testament,
however, the light that shines on
in darkness is none other than the
Word made flesh. That is why,
if John tells us about the story
of the healing of the man born
blind, it is his way of asserting
that the true light is not the law
because Jesus smeared mud on
his eyes and commanded him to
wash at the pool of Siloam (John
9:6-7). In John’s symbolism,
this curing of the blind man by
washing and the use of spittle is
a symbol of baptism. In other
words, for John, true light, which
is the real or authentic life, is
communicated to the believer
through Christian baptism.
Notice that we say “believer”—
for the story assumes that the

occurred in the synoptic gospels
(Matthew, Mark and Luke), this
would have been treated as a
miracle story, and the wondrous
cure by Jesus would have been
but Jesus himself. Says Jesus:
“I am the light of the world”
(John 9:5b); and John claims that
Jesus is the light that gives light
(John 1:4). But if he is the light
blind man has an initial faith
in Jesus. Strictly speaking, John
asserts that one who lives in sin
wickedness receives the light of
Community / B7

To be a Christian is to be a man for others Bishop Pat Alo

5th Sunday of Lent – Year A (John 11:1-45) April 10, 2011
By Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo, SThD one reads the story, he gradually notices that
it leaves much to be desired. For example,
after Jesus raised him from the dead, did
WHEN some major TV networks featured Lazarus live a normal life? Did he die again?
an Abu Sayaf footage a few years ago, there Why is it that we do not hear about him in
was much outrage and furor—as well as the subsequent events in the Gospel? Truth
ENCOUNTERS
to have life in himself” (John 5:26). Jesus has
it from the Father: “Just as the Father who
has life sent me, and I have life because of the
Father…” (John 6:57). Life is therefore the
fellowship of the Father and the Son, and this
fellowship cannot be destroyed: “Whoever

Stand of the Church

approval. The TV footage showed machete-
wielding Abu Sayaf rebels interrogating
captured soldiers before chopping off their
heads in an undetermined location at the
Basilan jungles. There was much criticism
on Malacañang’s decision to release the
tapes to the TV networks. People were
terribly upset, calling Malacañang insensitive
and manipulative in gathering support to
the holding of the Balikatan 02-1. Others,
however, favored the airing of the footage,
saying that it embodies the truth about the
Abu Sayaf atrocities. Former President
Arroyo herself, defending the decision to
release the gory footage, declared that the
people have the right to know. But amid
the mounting outrage as well as increasing
support, a person who called himself “Jun”
claimed that the machete-wielding man
seen on TV was not an Abu, but he himself
who was forced to do it, because if he did
not, the Abu Sayafs would have beheaded
him instead. He killed others so that he
might live.
Today’s Gospel is about Jesus who is the
exact opposite of “Jun”—Jesus died so that
others may live. But that is going ahead of the
point of the narrative. At first blush, it would
seem that the story is about Lazarus. But as
is, these questions are irrelevant, because the
story is not about Lazarus, but about Jesus.
In the previous Sundays, we noticed that
Jesus performed signs—he performed acts of
power that brings the reader who has faith to
spiritual realities. The water of Jacob’s well
was a sign of the water of life, and the cure
of the blind man was a sign of Jesus as giver
of light. In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus once
again performs a sign—the seventh—to bring
the mind and faith of the believer to another
spiritual reality: Jesus is the giver of life.
But what is life, in the first place? Does
it simply mean a power that animates
something or someone? It may be noticed
that the word “life” occurs 36 times in the
Gospel of John, 13 in the Johannine Letters,
and 17 in Revelation. Since it is found 107
times in the Johannine writings and 135 times
in the entire New Testament, the concept is
therefore relatively important. But what does
the term signify? Of course, there are various
meanings of the word. Metaphorically
speaking, for example, one might say that
Jennifer is his life, or money is his life, or
teaching is his life. In the Johannine usage,
however, life is what God himself and Jesus
possess: “Indeed, just as the Father possesses
life in himself, so has he granted it to his Son
believes in me, though he should die, will
come to life, and whoever is alive and believes
in me will never die” (John 11:26). If we may
attempt at a short description, we say that life
is the experience of God in our lives, and this
life is one of wholeness that is shared with
others. In this life there is integrity of body
and soul, and there is fullness of joy. In the
letters of Paul, this seems to be akin to the
indwelling of the Spirit: “You are not in the
flesh, you are in the spirit, since the Spirit of
God dwells in you” (Rom 8:9).
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says that anyone
who believes in him will live (John 11:26).
This means that a person, even here on
earth, can already share or possess this life
of fellowship with God if he puts his faith in
Jesus (1 John 1:3). And the seventh sign—the
story of Lazarus—is meant to illustrate this
teaching. If Lazarus is Jesus’ close friend, he
represents the Christian who believes in Jesus
and, like Lazarus and his sisters, is loved by
him. But who does Jesus love? According
to John, he who keeps the commandments of
love: “He who obeys the commandments he
has from me is the man who loves me; and
he who loves me will be loved by my Father.
I, too, will love him and reveal himself to
Christian / B7
(What is good for Filipinos?)
THE hotly contested issue of the RH Bill being discussed
in Congress is actually intent on seeking what really is for
our own good. Which stand: that of the Church or of certain
legislators?
There are many money offers from all sides that make the
whole point cloudy from the very start. Money, you know,
is corrupting. Look back into history. People sold, betrayed,
back downed because of disreputable money offers or its
equivalent in other worldly advantages.
We are seeking the good of the Philippines with concepts
open to the transmission of life so as to have a future of society
alive through the cooperation and contribution of the young,
duly formed and educated to assume leadership roles in the
midst of a vibrant society facing diverse challenges in a world
undergoing the normal pains of growth and change. As the
saints have expressed: “The glory of God is man fully alive,
but the life of man comes from God.”
That depends now upon your understanding and respect
for life, as God truly intends. “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the
earth and conquer it” (Gen. 1:28). We want a moving and
young society, truly alive and obedient to God’s designs, in a
love that will reach the eternity of bliss in heaven, after being
true to God, to oneself and to one another.

Fr. Francis Ongkingco

WHATEVER

Getting ahead of technology

“MY phone is sooo cool!” Gerald
flashed his cell at Benson.
“Oh, yeah? Mine is cooooler!”
Benson retaliated.
“Bet it doesn’t have games like
mine has,” Gerald started clicking
on his gadget.
“It does and I don’t even have to
click like you. I just tap the icon,”
Benson began showing off his
device’s features.
“But yours doesn’t have a voice
thingy!” challenged the other.
“What’s a voice thingy?” Benson
asked.
“I don’t have to even touch the
phone. I just say, ‘daddy’, and it calls
up my dad,” Gerald stuck his tongue
out at Benson.
“Oh, that one! I have that too,”
Benson retaliated.
“What about you Alec?” Gerald
noticed their silent but observant
companion.
“Yeah, how do you call your dad to
pick you up?” Benson added.
“I don’t have a cell,” Alec said to have and what they have. This is we have to give the pure lesson of these additional features won’t really
the surprise of his two friends. further complicated when other good example of not succumbing to be maximized nor radically change
people may have similar but better the lure of ‘novel’ things or becoming the way we function. Define what you
*** or newer things. This insecurity too dependent to them to the point really need something for. Remember
It may be not too long before can become a breeding ground for of sacrificing family life, friendship, you can’t have everything in one go.
children lose their much-coveted vicious sentiments like envy, vanity dialogue and the gift of listening to For example, a phone is mainly for
innocence and simplicity because and sometimes stealing. others. making calls and sending texts. If this
of the way they are being heavily Pope Benedict XVI observes a) Of Needs and Wants. This is principal need is achieved, then your
exposed to and are becoming the advantages of technological perhaps the first thing to stress and cell is as cool as any other.
dependent upon technological progress, but he also laments its clarify. If one doesn’t know how c) Faster isn’t sometimes fast
devices or gadgets. If this is how they negative effects. “We have seen it to distinguish his needs from his enough. Speed in gadgets is one
already are now, imagine what they ourselves: progress has increased our wants, then it will be easy to give in crucial factor that truly defines
will be—unless they are properly capabilities, but not our moral and to different forms of immoderation, advantage. Again, you will have
oriented— human stature and capacity. We have greed, and envy. A need is something to determine what you need speed
when they become adults? to regain an internal balance, and essential--physical, professional, for. Buying things that have faster
Children’s materialistic outlook we also need spiritual growth. This moral and spiritual--to the person’s features (i.e. processor speed) means
is further reinforced when they is something that the tribulations of integral perfection. A want is having to spend more but lesser
observed how overly dependent our time are increasingly teaching us something dispensable and often battery life. When one’s main purpose
and indulgent their parents and to recognize.” (Benedict XVI, Light only auxiliary to man’s development. would be texting, making calls and
siblings are with material things. of the World: A Conversation with The problem is that we are now writing a note, speed isn’t really that
This gradually shapes their attitudes Peter Seewald) forgetting that things don’t change essential.
both in their personal and social Here are some ideas that parents a person as much as a person can d) Bigger isn’t always more. Again,
development. and mentors may find useful to change himself. like speed, size matters when it comes
For example, insecurity may transmit to their children or mentees. b) Newer isn’t always better. If to what a gadget can hold in terms of
arise when they end up comparing It is not enough to simply impart better means that a gadget has more movies, songs and applications. But
themselves with the things others these ideas. As parents and guides, features, then think again. Most likely Technology / B7

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 15 No. 7
March 28 - April 10, 2011
Water mismanagement in PH endangers water supply
By Noel Sales Barcelona
WATER is for the people, not for
profit. This was the statement
of the environmental advocate
group, Kalikasan People’s
Network for the Environment
(KPNE) during the global
celebration of World Water Day
on March 22.
“Despite of our vast water
resource potential, the
Philippines is among the lowest
in terms of water availability in
Southeast Asia. Only one out of
every two Filipinos has piped
water in their house. Only a
third of the rivers in the country
can be used for water supply.
This is because majority of our
rivers have varying levels of
pollution and degradation.
Pasig River, Parañaque River,
Bocaue River, and Meycauayan
River are among the most
polluted rivers in the country
and also in the world,” said
Clemente “Enteng” Bautista
Jr., national coordinator of the
KPNE.
KPNE has assailed the
Social Concerns
B7
There’s a need to overhaul water policies, environmentalists say
companies are the ones who these illnesses and deaths from Manila Bay as one of the “water
are raking massive profits, water pollution. The urban poor pollution hotspots” in Southeast
while leaving the majority of sector bears the brunt of the Asia. While Manila Bay is
the people in the Philippines, negative health and economic supporting the livelihood of
waterless. Bautista refers to the impacts of the pollution since about 23 million people, it is
privatization of the Metropolitan they live in high risk areas,” under threat as pollution in the
Waterworks and Sewerage Bautista furthered. waters increases each year.
System (MWSS) in 1997. Laguna de Bai and Manila “The sustainability of the
The water-as-a-right alliance, Bay: great examples of water Bay and its diverse ecosystem
Water for the People Network- resource mismanagement is however continually
Philippines (WPN), seems to He made the Laguna Lake threatened by a variety of land
support KPNE’s claims. an example of how poorly and sea-based human activities,
In a statement, the WPN said the previous and current which contribute to the decline
that “The privatization of public governments have managed of its environmental quality.
water utilities has worsened the the water sources in the Overexploitation of resources,
people’s access to water, adding country. illegal and destructive fishing,
that 16 out of 100 families in Laguna Lake (also known habitat destruction, pollution,
all income classes do not have as the Laguna de Bai) is the siltation and sedimentation,
access to safe water. In Metro largest body of freshwater in the uncontrolled development and
Manila, water rates have also country, and third in Southeast the conflicting use of limited
continued to increase since the Asia, covering 949 square available resources cause
privatization of the MWSS, with kilometers (or equivalent of pressures on the bay,” the
the two private firms increasing 98,000 hectares). It is surrounded WEPA states in its website.
their basic charges by 449% by the Rizal province on the While there are several laws
(Maynilad) and 845% (Manila north, Laguna province on the being implemented to protect
Water). south, and Metropolitan Manila the Manila Bay, it seems that
WPN also stated that less than on its western shores. these laws are insufficient.
60% of Maynilad’s service area It is the home of 23 fresh water “However, with the
in the west zone has 24-hour fishes and the 10 salt water fish increasing complexity of the
water service, while Manila species and the 26 types of lake- problem there is a need for
Water claims 99% water supply water based plants that provide multi-agency and cross-sectoral
coverage in the east zone but the 100,000 fishing families in management program,” WEPA

© Pinky Barrientos, FSP / CBCP Media

government for its alleged
inaction to the water problem
in the Philippines.
“The Aquino administration
has neither reviewed
nor changed the bankrupt
economic policy and poor
water management of the
past administrations. Water
resources and facilities are still
being privatized. For example,
water supply and sewerage
services remain a private
venture. The government has
relegated its responsibility of
providing effective and safe
water supply and sanitation
services in Metro Manila to
private companies,” he said.
He also said that the water
does not distinguish areas with
direct household connection
from those serviced by private
water suppliers.
Philippines manages its water
resources poorly—study
In terms of water management,
Bautista said that the Philippines
is one of the top ranking
countries in the world that
manages its water sources
poorly as only five per cent (5%)
of its 90 million population have
a sewer network connection,
citing the latest World Bank (WB)
study. Citing that same study,
Bautista said that 95 per cent of
the households in the country
are dumping its wastewater
directly to groundwater or to
canals, which are connected to
larger bodies of water such as
rivers, lakes or seas.
“In Metro Manila, only 15%
of the population is connected
to the sewerage system. The
study also shows that 58% of the
groundwater is contaminated
because of pollution coming
Laguna Lake, their livelihood.
While it seems to be teeming
with life, the lake is slowly dying
because of pollution.
In 1997, the Department
of Environment and Natural
Resources reported that 8.5
million people residing around
the lake are dumping their
domestic and other wastes
from domestic and industrial directly to Laguna de Bai.
wastewater,” the environmental Industries and the agriculture
advocate stated. sectors also contribute to the
Bautista also disclosed that polluting of the lake, as they
1/6 of the recorded disease cases constitute 30 and 40 per cent
in the country and about 6,000 of the wastes found in water,
premature deaths are related to respectively.
contaminated drinking water. Meanwhile, the Water
“Around US$134 million or P6 Environment Partnership in
billion is lost yearly because of Asia (WEPA) has identified
explained.
On the other hand, KPNE
said that in order to reverse the
negative effects of the water
sources’ mismanagement and
the extensive water pollution
in the country, the government
should craft laws and implement
programs that will re-orient the
utilization and management of
our water resources.
“The water industry should
be working, primarily for public
service and needs, and not for
private profit. At the same time
the people must struggle to
establish a government that will
genuinely uphold their interest
and not of the corporate world,”
Clemente said.

Spirituality / B5 Buhay / B1

Jesus has three closest friends among the
twelve—Peter, James and John. And in the
Gospel, we find the mother, the mother of
James and John, approaching Jesus with
a request, “command that these two sons
of mine will seat one at your right and the
other at your left in your kingdom.” They
missed the point, and this is the warning
to all of us. We might miss the point.
Katatapos pa lang ng napaka-dramatic
na pagpapaliwanag ni Jesus, wa effect.
At mga kaibigan pa, mga kaibigan, the
closest, pati naman yung nanay naki-
alam pa. Yung nanay ni John and James,
expert sa lobby, mahusay maglobby.
Pero yung mga nagla-lobby na yan,
sometimes they think they know what
Christian / B6
him” (John 14:21). John categorically
states that Jesus loves Lazarus (John
11:3), and therefore one can assume that
Lazarus, while he was living, obeyed
the commandments of love. For this
reason, Jesus gives him life. Because
life has not been taken away from him,
though he died, Lazarus’ death is only a
form of sleeping (John 11:43-44). In this
narrative, therefore, the physical death
of Lazarus is simply meant to signify a
spiritual reality. It is a sign of who Jesus
is—he is a giver of life. At the same time,
it is a sign of what he can do to those
who believe in him—one does not die
if he possesses the life of Jesus.
The story of Lazarus is narrated to
challenge the hearer to believe in Jesus
(John 11:26), and to believe in him is to
love, for it is in love that faith is shown:
“His commandment is this: that we
are to believe in the name of his Son,
Jesus Christ, and we are to love one
another as he commanded us” (1 John
3:23). By believing in him and loving
him in the community of believers, the
they are talking about, but they miss the
point. They could not understand this
new kingdom, this kingdom of life that
will come when life is given as a gift. In
their minds, life is preserved only through
prestige, power, positions, and for that life
they will sacrifice other lives. This is the
history of humanity which Christianity
wants to counter. The end to sacrificing
lives is by the spirituality of life given as
gift and service. And so Jesus, patiently
turned to them, ask them, “can you drink
of the cup that I will drink of and can
you be baptized in the baptism that I
will undergo?” Meaning, are you ready
to undergo my life-giving death. For it
is only in life given in service that this
believer receives life from him. But if
he rejects Jesus and even hates him, one
dies. But if one receives life because
he believes and loves, he is no longer
in the realm of death, but even here on
earth, he receives divine life: “That we
have passed from death to life we know,
because we love the brothers” (1 John
3:14b). For John, this is the only kind
of life that endures—others perish with
death. Life of wealth will go bankrupt,
life of beauty will fade, life of popularity
and fame wanes. If there is anything that
persists even after death has occurred,
this is our fellowship with God. And
because this assumes that one loves his
brothers, one cannot follow the example
of a certain “Jun” who, if his story is true,
blindly obeyed the Abu Sayaf to chop off
the head of the soldiers, in order to have
life. Such life would end soon in death.
If Christ is able to give life because he
died, so is a Christian: he must offer his
life for others so that others may live,
and in that way, he will surely receive
a hundredfold life.
life is promoted. Two figures—Jeremiah,
Jesus. Life threatened but they took the
threat and transformed the threat into
love, service. And life is not threatened
anymore. Life remains a gift given to
others and others live because of Jesus.
We hope that our defense of life will go
to that deep part of ourselves, where
Jesus has the Holy Spirit transforming us
into true prophet of life, patterned after
Jesus Himself.
Let us pause and enter into our hearts and
allow the face of Jesus to challenge us to ask
us deep and disturbing questions about the
spirituality of our commitment to life.
(This transcript is courtesy of Radyo Veritas)
Technology / B6
let’s get real here! After installing
all these apps, copying giga-loads
of songs and videos, surely one can’t
indulge in all of these together. More
often than not, we only access a few
items here and there, and often just
to ‘show off’ what these digital ‘toys’
can now do more than what they’re
really useful for.
e) Connect to people, not things.
In the end, we ought to stress that we
must be able to give more importance
to people over things. If the things we
have only lead to isolating us from
family, friends and God, then it’s high
time to begin reflecting on how to get
ahead of technology by controlling it
to work in our advantage rather than
making it to control us.
***
“Then how will your dad know
when to pick you up?” Gerard
asked.
“Simple, he promised to pick me up
here every day at 5 o’clock sharp.”
at paggalang sa hindi sariling pera. building) na nagtataglay ng sakripisyo,
Anong klaseng panukalang batas disiplina at paggalang sa dangal ng
itong RH Bill na kung maging batas asawa. Kung wala kang sakripisyo,
na, at ang itinuro o ipaliwanag ng hindi ka makakabuo ng karakter.
Simbahan at mga naglilingkod dito Ang sinumang tao ay tagapangasiwa
ay ang katwiran na galing sa Bibliya, lamang ng kanyang katawan. Ang pa-
Pananampalataya at konsensiya ng nanagutan sa ating katawan ay dapat
Kristiyano tungkol sa Buhay at Kalin- umalinsunod sa kalooban ng Diyos na
isan, sa halip na ang turo ay ang RH nangungusap sa atin sa pamamagitan
law, ay maaaring papag-multahin o ng konsensiya (budhi). Kapag hindi
ibilanggo ang mga ito? Paparusahan pinakinggan at iginalang ang tinig na
pa ang sumusunod sa konsensiya ‘yan ng Diyos (sa konsensiya), yayani-
at Pananampalataya. Hindi ito ang gin at lilindulin, hindi ang bundok at
Pilipinas! Hindi na tayo babanggit ng dagat, kung hindi ang budhing ‘yan
anumang bansa, pero hindi ito ang ng sinumang tao.
Pilipinas na minahal at pinag-alayan Aming paninindigan na sa mga
ng buhay ng mga bayani, sampo ng pagpili kaugnay ng RH Bill, ang budhi
tatlong Pari—Padre Mariano Gomez, (konsensiya) ay hindi lamang sapat
Padre Jose Burgos, at Padre Jacinto na kabatiran kung hindi higit sa lahat
Zamora. Sa El Filibusterismo, ang ay ginagabayan ng mga itinuturo ng
unang pahina ay inihandog ni Jose kanyang pananampalataya.
Rizal sa tatlong pari na iyan. (At ang Naniniwala kami sa kalayaan sa
gusto pang alalahanin ng ilan ay si relihiyon at sa karapatan ng pagtutol
DAMASO na ito naman ay hindi ayon sa budhi (konsensiya) sa mga
Pilipino!) bagay na labag sa sariling pananam-
Ito ang paninindigan ng Simba- palataya. Ang nakapataw at parusa sa
han: napapaloob sa minumungkahing RH
Ang pagmamalasakit sa katatayuan Bill ay dahilan para sa aming pagtutol
ng maraming mahihirap, lalo na ang dito. (Pastoral Letter, CBCP, 30 Janu-
mga nagdurusang kababaihan na nag- ary 2011).
susumikap upang gumanda ang buhay May panahon pa upang maiwasan
at kailangan pang mangibang bayan ang trahedya moral na idudulot ng
upang kamtin ito o kailangan pang RH Bill.
pumasok sa isang hindi disenteng Baguhin ang mga panukalang ‘yan,
paghahanap-buhay. Nababagabag ang o ibagsak ang kayang kabuuan ng si-
Simbahan diyan. yang pugad ng walang paggalang sa
Ang Simbahang Katoliko ay para buhay, pagkawala ng responsibilidad
sa buhay at dapat ipagsanggalang at disiplina na siyang tunay na kailan-
ang buhay ng tao mula sa sandali na gan ngayon ng tao at bayan.
ito ay ipaglihi o mabuo hanggang sa Kung ang mga bata ay natuturuan
natural na katapusan nito. pa ng Simbahan, ang mambabatas
Naniniwala ang Simbahan sa mapa- ay amin rin pinapaalalahanan. Lahat
nagutang (responsible) pagsasaayos kayo, ngayon at bukas, ay kasama sa
ng bilang at panahon ng pagsisilang aming dalangin.
sa pamamagitan ng Natural Family Pagpalain kayong lahat at ang Bayan
Planning. Dito kailangan ang pagbuo ng Poong Maykapal! Mahal tayo ng
ng matatag na kalooban (character Diyos at alaga ng Ina ni Hesus!

Community / B6

life through faith and baptism. believes in me from remaining in

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B8 Entertainment CBCP Monitor
Vol. 15 No. 7
March 28 - April 10, 2011

Valerie (Amanda Seyfried)
is in love with the brooding
Moral Assessment Technical Assessment
but passionate Peter (Shiloh
Fernandez) but her parents
 Abhorrent  Poor
want her to marry nice village
 Disturbing  Below average
boy Henry instead to help the
 Acceptable  Average
family financially. Neither man
 Wholesome  Above average
is bad looking, and Valerie
 Exemplary  E
xcellent who likes Henry but is more
attracted to Peter, agrees to
elope with Peter. But their
situation gets more complicated
when Valerie’s sister is killed by
a werewolf that strikes every
full moon night. This terrifies
the whole village: why would
the werewolf kill a human being
despite the village’s monthly
animal sacrifice to keep the
creature satisfied? So they call
in famous werewolf hunter
Father Solomon (Gary Oldman)
who arrives in the village with
a retinue of black bodyguards
and a huge metal elephant.
Soon, during another full moon
attack, Valerie discovers she has
a connection with the killer wolf
but she keeps the discovery a
secret. Father Solomon tells the
villagers the werewolf takes
human form by day, thus it
could be one of them. Valerie
suspects the werewolf could
be someone she loves or who
loves her.
Any screen character
portrayed by Seyfried seems
to automatically elicit sympathy
from the audience, thanks to
her wide-eyed look that lends
her face childlike innocence.
The trailer of Red Riding
Hood apparently implies evil
lurking behind those can’t-
do-anything-bad eyes, but the
movie would soon belie that
sneaking suspicion. Obviously
she’s not the werewolf but you
nonetheless hang on to find out
what ultimately happens. That,
dear viewer, shows you how a
bias for certain actors gets you
hooked on the story despite
the presence of some elements
you would otherwise consider
ridiculous or irrelevant. Here,
they are the metal elephant that
turns out to be torture chamber
for suspected werewolves and
witches, and the color of Valerie’s
hood which contributes nothing
to the story but which makes
a great frame against a snow-
covered landscape. The title
itself makes you wonder, why
“red riding hood” when Valerie
never rides; doesn’t she only
walk to her grandmother’s
cottage and run away from
the wolf? Some film critics
would rip Red Riding Hood
apart on account of its bearing
vestiges of Twilight—this thing
about werewolves, virginal
heroines falling for bad boys
yet spared from wolf attacks,
but whatever, it’s an engaging
story from beginning to end.
Of course, it’s a sin to kill
a human being. But when a
werewolf kills, it is not quite
TITLE: Red Riding Hood
CAST: Amanda Seyfried, Gary
Oldman, Billy Burke,
Lukas Haas,Shiloh Fer-
nandez, Michael Shanks,
Julie Christie, Virginia
Madsen, Max Irons, Dar-
ren Shahlavi
DIRECTOR: Catherine Hard-
wicke
GENRE: Drama
RUNNING TIME: 100 min.
Technical Assessment: 3
Moral Assessment: 2.5
CINEMA Rating: Viewers 14
and above
human, so is the act of killing
then outside the scope of
human morality? Aah, that’s
a gray area in red riding hood
country! How could CINEMA
pass judgment on a werewolf’s
trespasses, or is it worth the
bother at all? We cannot do
that without spoilers, so you
might as well see for yourself
why we’re giving it a 2.5 score
in the moral arena. This teaser
might help you, though: Why
did the carnivorous werewolf
who used to be satisfied by the
villagers’ animal sacrifices kill
a woman but did not eat her? a)
the werewolf was scared away
by the woman’s screaming; b)
the werewolf was allergic to the
fabric of the woman’s dress; c)
the werewolf wasn’t hungry.
Enjoy the ride.

MAC en COLET Ni Bladimer Usi

Buhay Parokya
Look for the images of the
Last Supper, cord and veil and
chalice. (Illustration by Bladimer
Usi)
TITLE: Limitless
CAST: Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Anna Friel, Johnny
Whitworth
DIRECTOR: Neil Burger
SCREENPLAY: Leslie Dixon
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Jo Willems
EDITOR: Naomi Geraghty
MUSIC: Paul Leonard Morgan and Nico Muhly
PRODUCERS: Leslie Dixon, Scott Kroopf, and Ryan Ka-
vanaugh
EXECUTIVE PRODUDER: Tucker Tooley
PRODUCTION DESIGNER: Patrizia Von Brandenstein
GENRE: Action thriller
RUNNING TIME: 105 minutes
Technical Assessment: 4
Moral Assessment: 2
CINEMA Rating: Audience Age 18 and above

Struggling writer
Eddie Morra (Bradley
Cooper) is at a low
point of his life ---
career, relationship
and finances, when
he accidentally meets
his former brother-in-
law Vernon ((Johnny
Whitworth) while
walking in the street.
Realizing his present
state during a brief
catch up, Vernon
offers Morra a mind-
stimulating pill called
NZT that allows him
to access 100 percent
brain intelligence function and enables him to step up in his life.
Cynical at the beginning, but on discovery of immediate amazing
effect on his first try, he knows what to do next. He asks Vernon
to give him more pills. But before Morra gets his share, Vernon
is murdered. Morra manages to find a bag of pills. As expected,
he suddenly gains back the lost glory as a writer, his girlfriend,
and the liberty to enjoy the benefits of overflowing knowledge.
His services become in demand in the business community
where he had the opportunity to work with a business wallstreet
tycoon Carl Van Loon (Robert De Niro).
The film “Limitless” has an interesting plot to start with.
However, as the story builds up, it somehow struggles to sustain
the interesting momentum. The scenes become predictable
and has the tendency to prolong unnecessarily. The chasing
scenes, for example, are not clearly established whether there is
paranoia, real life and death situation, or just obsessions to the
pills. For any reason, why death scenes have to be very violent.
The director may also have overestimated the use of voice over
for this film, because often the narration causes destruction. It
already has a good casting coup that fits the requirements of
the characters in the film. Acting wise, both Cooper and De
Niro did well in their respective roles. If not of the good special
effects, the film can be dragging at some points. Lighting is
good and it helps in establishing emotions as required by the
scenes. The cinematography is well complimented by special
effects. Overall, the film goes with good technical qualities.
The film shows that accessing 100 percent utilization of brain
function can bring amazing effects to the person, the economy
and society in general. The problem is, the film disregards
the natural process for it and instead promotes cheating and
so called “instant” culture. It is simply drug addiction that
is harmful to the body. The film shows how it makes people
greed for instant success, money, fame, and power. The main
technology is the human mind that people can use to bring
out their full potentials with due respects to natural process.
But the film ends with an alarming conclusion that it is okay
to continue with an experimental drug for as long as it is taken
“responsibly” with a right dosage and for a good purpose.
The film also shows that sex is an easy trade off for a service
of ‘smart’ person. The death scenes are too violent and absurd
(such as sipping human blood). The film requires a mature
audience who can understand the whole saga of this wonder
drug and the accompanying circumstances.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 15 No. 7
March 28 - April 10, 2011
C1

The News Supplement of

Couples for Christ

God’s Army On The Cross!

By Bobbee Mella
MORE than 400 true men of
God committed themselves to
put on the full armor of God in
defense of His Gospel during the
10th SOLD Men’s International
Conference in Pilar, Bataan, on
the last weekend of March11-
13, 2011. The commitment was
made at the foot of the Cross of
Valor in Mt. Samat.
It was truly another experi-
ence of a lifetime for the SOLD
delegates who came all the way
from as far as Southern Mind-
anao, as well as China and the
USA. For them, this was their
mission statement: the SOLD
Ministry is really the ministry
of men (and women) praying,
adoring, revering, devoting and
surrendering to God.
As the Pilar Convention Hall
started to fill to capacity on the
first day, Bishop Ruperto Santos of
the Diocese of Balanga, Bataan fit-
tingly opened the conference with
the celebration of the Holy Eu-
charist. His homily exhorted the
ministry to merge faith and action
in leading the flock. Joe Tale then
formally opened the 10th SOLD
Men’s Icon. Friday evening was
capped with the Cadence March
competition among the different
provinces in attendance.
The morning of Saturday saw
the delegates being grouped
into different companies and
given “mission orders’ as they
trekked up the scenic “Dambana
ng Kagitingan” in Mt. Samat. To
achieve the mission, they had
but one slogan: Let no man be
left behind. In spite of the heat
of the sun and the ascending
14-flight zigzagging footpaths
to the shrine, all the companies
were able to achieve their mis-
sion orders.
After the afternoon praise,
the first talk entitled, “The Sol-
dier” was delivered by Jude
Abenoja, Area Head of Southern
Leyte. The talk dwelt on the
servant of the Lord
as a Christ-centered
soldier wearing the
seven elements of the
armor of God, ready
to sacrifice and give
his all in defense of the
Gospel. Jojo Cuyugan
of Davao shared how
a true soldier responds
amidst the adversities
one encounters, shar-
ing his own story of
overcoming the death
of his wife and being
left with the care of
four autistic children.
In the second talk,
“The Art of War,” Bob-
bee Mella, CFC USA
National Council mem-
ber and SOLD National
Coordinator, expounded
on how to stand firm
and fight the enemy
by knowing one’s self
and the enemy, know-
ing one’s strengths and
weaknesses, getting out
of the comfort zone, and
forming a strategy in
attacking the enemy. In
proclaiming God’s king-
dom, he emphasized
that the way to success is
by making it both a goal
and a mission.
Tong Bonifacio of
West-C Sector aptly
shared how he was able tion of the Holy Eucharist. The fi- was transformed into victory.
to combat the comfort zones nal talk, “The Full Armor of God” After the commissioning of all
of his Christian life while Eric delivered by Joemar Salumbides, the leaders, the conference ended
Oliveros of Quezon shared how SOLD International Coordinator, with a rousing praisefest led by
he firmly stood ground amidst gave each and everyone marching Joemar with everyone proclaim-
the attacks of the worldly life. A orders on how to keep the faith ing, continuing and claiming the
Lord’s Day led by Melo Villaro- – by holding his ground, being legacy of God’s victorious battle
man capped the afternoon ses- firm and unwavering in God’s against the enemy.
sions in preparation for the fel- calling and purpose, and never Indeed, all these indefatigable
lowship night where delegates taking off God’s armor until the true men (and women) of God
showed their vocal talents in a battle is finished. Mon Verdejo of have started the road trail on-
magic-sing competition. Albay gave a heart-rending story ward to the 11th SOLD Men’s
Msgr. Allen Aganon started the of how his life, filled with misfor- Icon in Cebu in full armor to
final day with a moving celebra- tunes and family controversies, regain God’s kingdom!

Experiencing A Bountiful
Feast and Celebration
The Mindanao “CFC Armor of God”
Leaders Conference
By Layle Ancheta
TANGUB City is known as the Christ-
mas Capital of Mindanao for its beau-
tiful display of Christmas lights and
symbols. This year, it was also the
venue for the CFC Mindanao “Armor
of God” Leaders Conference held last
March 11, 12 and 13, 2011.
More than 4,500 CFC leaders from the
25 provinces in Mindanao gathered in
the Tangub City Gymnasium to expe-
rience God’s marching orders through
our CFC theme for the year, “Put on
the Full Armor of God” taken from
Ephesians 6: 7-11.
The grand preparations of this event,
considered the biggest in the history of
the city, was led by City Mayor Philip
Tan and his wife, Jenny, also members
of Couples for Christ in the province.
The Tangub City gymnasium, which
has existed for the past 15 years, was
renovated and fully air-conditioned
just in time for the CFC weekend. The
whole city graciously welcomed their
guests with festivities, food fiestas and
late night parties and band concerts in
the plaza from Friday night till Saturday
night. The highlight of the weekend’s
activities was the thanksgiving street
dancing of the Tangub Tribu Sinandu-
loy, who danced on the streets wearing
their colorful and festive costumes with
the theme of a bountiful harvest and
Called To Nurture,
Defend and Protect Life
celebration. The Sinanduloy dancers are
the defending champions in the street
dancing, Sinulog-based category in the
Philippines for the past years.
With such a warm welcome, everyone
was truly excited as the talks and shar-
ings unfolded God’s message for every-
one that weekend. Rene Breva opened
the conference with a prologue. The first
session was led by Rommel Ancheta as
speaker and wife Layle as sharer, while
Session 2 was led by Boie Sescon, with
wife Angging as sharer. CFC Chair-
man Joe Tale led the third session and
wife Babylou took the stage to give her
testimony. This was followed by Session
4 with Joe Yamamoto as speaker and
Dodong Banaynal as sharer. The final
talk and praisefest was led by Michael
“Shok” Ariola with sharers, Ruel and
Maan Aguirre.
The conference was rendered more
Spirit-filled by worship leaders Rue-
bert Dechos, Francis Kaamino, Cesar By Tina Rodriguez defend and protect life in all forms, from One of them was Ms. Mae Bel-
Advincula, James Solano. Lending conception to natural death. gica, a woman who used to be an
spice to the program were the Session CFC was privileged to host the live active contraceptive user, who
On Friday, March 25, 2011, Couples streaming video broadcast of the Rally, bravely shared that when artificial
News Anchors: Pempe Deguilmo, Boy
for Christ was privileged to be part and our very own CFC Church Inte- contraceptives failed her and she
Gonzales, IC member Joey Arguelles,
of the Filipinos Unite Under God gration Office Missionary, Sk Ortigas, got pregnant, she had an abortion,
Philip Tan and Caloy Subang.
For Life Rally held at the Luneta was interviewed on GMA 7’s 24 Oras not just once, but several times. By
Indeed, it was a powerful weekend
Grandstand. Along with thousands because of it. God’s grace, she realized the error
for the CFC leaders of Mindanao. As
of other Filipinos of different beliefs The program, which had Fr. Joel Jason of her ways, repented, changed, and
they all left the warm city of Tangub,
and faiths, CFC came together to and Ms. Gaines Rosario as the emcees, eventually bore her first child at the
they carried with them a stronger and
show that we stand for LIFE. Two started with the recitation of the Holy age of 42. Her sharing was a power-
bolder conviction to continue to serve in
busloads of staff and fulltime work- Rosary, followed by the Stations of the ful testimony to the dangers of the
one of the most challenging and exciting
ers from the CFC Home Office joined Cross for Life. Afterwards there was an “contraceptive mentality” and how
group of islands in the Philippines.
CFC brethren from all over Metro inter-faith prayer and Declaration of laws like the RH Bill, which do not
Manila and the nearby provinces to Opposition, including testimonies from legalize abortion but “only” contra-
declare our commitment to nurture, people from all walk of life. ception, are inherently dangerous.
Mae’s sharing was followed
by a rousing declaration of op-
position to the RH Bill by Con-
gresswoman Aliah Dimaporo of
Lanao Del Norte. Coming from a
background that included work-
ing overseas, she emphasized that
the main asset of the Philippines
was, and continues to be, the
Filipino. Our human resources are
the number one quality “export”
of the country, and many foreign
employers she had encountered
usually indicated their preference
for Filipino workers. Listening to
Called / C4
 C2 Ugnayan CBCP Monitor
Vol. 15 No. 7
March 28 - April 10, 2011

Joe Tale, CFC Chairman

Commencement Exercises
March and April are graduation
months. While graduation programs
are culminating activities not only for
schools but more for the graduating
students themselves, they are interest-
ingly, and aptly, called Commence-
ment Exercises. For indeed, while a
chapter in the lives of graduates have
ended, a new one has begun. Endings
are really beginnings, too. Students,
upon their graduation, should focus
on the road ahead, to commence yet
another phase of their life journey.
I was honored to be invited by my
alma mater in Dumaguete City - Foun-
dation University High School - to be
the Commencement Speaker during
their Graduation Ceremonies last
March 26, 2011.
I would like to share with you the
insights I shared with the graduating
students, their parents and teachers.
Somehow they seem as appropriate to
them who are embarking on a new life
chapter as to us as we prepare to close
the third decade of our community life
and look forward to another.
To the audience: “To the graduates,
this is your day, a signal achieve-
ment in your journey through life. I
am sure there are mixed emotions, of
gratitude, that finally, at least for this
phase of your education, you are over
the challenges of exams, recitations,
projects, and other requirements; but
also of sad goodbyes to classmates,
friends, teachers and staff, some of
whom you might not be seeing again
for a long time. Add to these - feelings
of uncertainty, and perhaps anxiety, of
what lies ahead. Where does my road
lead from here?
“It is likewise a day for your parents
and family, they who labor and sacri-
fice to provide you with an education
that will help you live a better life, for
the most part, a wish for a better life
than they ever had. Let us honor the
parents and family of our graduates.
This day belongs to them, too.
“Today, as well, is a day for your
university officials and teachers, they
who patiently teach and form you,
develop your skills and potential, and
prepare you for the next phase of your
educational development. Educators
do not just work for pay, although
that is important, too, but more than
that, I know that they work with their
heart, they give of themselves, with a
vocation to make this world a better
place, starting with you, by making
you a better person.”
On their theme: “The Graduate: A
Partner Towards A Transformed So-
ciety” -- “As we look at our society
today, Philippine society specifically,
we immediately understand and see
the urgent need for transformation.
Not cosmetic change, but deep trans-
formation. Not tomorrow, but begin-
ning today.
“And you have an important role
to play in the transformation of this
nation. More and more, we have be-
come a nation of young people, where
the young constitute a majority of the
population. Thus, we do not have
to wait for the future for you to be a
force for societal change. You can be
that force now. You can start making
a difference now.
“It is instructive though, to recall
an anecdote: A young graduate,
full of idealism, goes forth raring to
change the world. After 10 years, not
succeeding in changing the world, he
downsizes his goal and now just seeks
to change his country. After another
10 years, he still is unsuccessful in
changing his country, so he once
again lowers his sights and just seeks
to change the city where he resides.
After another 10 years, he is now re-
ally disappointed that he cannot even
change his city, and thus settles for
seeking to transform his family. But,
with his children already grownups, it
has become difficult to transform even
his family. So, feeling frustrated, not
having changed the world, not hav-
ing changed his country, nor his city,
not even his own family, he focused
on changing the only thing left– his
own self.
“So what is the moral of the story? Is
it, to forget about idealism, and just be
realistic. Is it to forget about dreaming
big, and just be pragmatic and content
with small things? No!
“For we should not lose our ideal-
ism. The capacity to dream is what
keeps the youth in us, no matter
our age. The author Samuel Ullman
writes: Nobody grows old by merely
living a number of years; people grow
old by deserting their ideals.”
“The moral of the story is this: if
you want to change the world, change
yourself first. In other words, the
young graduate should have done the
last thing first, and the first thing last.
He should have focused on transform-
ing himself first, before attempting to
change the world.
“Mahatma Gandhi puts it well: “Be
the change you want to see in the
world.”
“Again, be the change you want to
see in the world. Do not point at oth-
ers. Do not blame others. Start with
yourself.”
On the state of society that we seek
to transform: “What do we see around
us? Media is crowded with news on
crime, violence, immorality, wide-
spread poverty, injustice, graft and
corruption, illegal drugs.”
“While these are real problems,
these are really but manifestations of
something deeper. At the root of all of
these, is an underlying breakdown of
moral values.”
“Against this backdrop, some
would like to transform society by
reforming the structures. While
this will help, it is not enough un-
less we go to the fundamentals. A
former high government official in
the US, Charles Colson, who served
as Special Counsel to President
Richard Nixon, was imprisoned due
to charges related to Watergate. In
prison, he encountered the Lord in
a special way, in a similar way that
Ninoy Aquino did, also in prison.
In a book he wrote, “Against the
Night,” Charles Colson writes:
“I spent the first half of my profes-
sional life in politics and public
service. When I was in the White
House, I was a complete secularist.
..
I really believed that people could
be changed by government being
changed.
But when I became a Christian, I
gained a new perspective on the ac-
tual influence political structures have
over the course of history. I began to
see that societies are changed only
when people are changed, not the
other way around.
The crisis is not political; it is moral
and spiritual.”
“Thus if we want to transform soci-
ety, we need to hit the root of the prob-
lem. Since the core of the problem is
moral, then let us strike there. Other-
wise, we will only keep jabbing away
at the surface manifestations without
landing the knockout punch.
“How do we respond? I propose
the following guide:
1. Know your identity -- You are
created in the image and likeness of
God. You are meant for something
greater. Don’t let anyone tell you
otherwise.
2. Acknowledge your weaknesses
and repent -- Repentance, acknowl-
edgement of our own sins and short-
comings, and resolving to change
is an important step. Repentance is
from the Greek root word “Metanoia”
which means a turning away from or
a turning away to.
3. Walk your talk -- Integrity or con-
sistency of word and action is a goal
we all should aspire to because this is
the linchpin of character.
4. Get involved -- Be salt of the
earth. Immerse in the situation, there
should be no fence sitters; know that
only a pinch will go a long way, you
need not be many to make a differ-
ence; don’t work for recognition, just
have the satisfaction that you have
helped.
5. Persevere -- Galatians 6:9 says
it well:
a. This is not a sprint, but a marathon
Closing Thoughts
“The theme of social transforma-
tion is actually a very challenging
one. We can get lost in the maze or
get overwhelmed by the complexity
of it all. We may not even know how
to begin.
I suggest we start with small things.
Let’s start doing good to others. Do-
ing something good to others always
inspires, and in some intangible but
real way, transforms both the doer
and the recipient. Let us start with
doing something good today. Not
tomorrow, but today.”

Joe Yamamoto, CFC Director

Cast A Giant Shadow

Cast a Giant Shadow was the
title of a 1966 movie based on
the experiences of a Jewish-
American military officer, Col.
David ‘Mickey’ Marcus ( played
by actor Kirk Douglas ) who
commanded units of the fledg-
ling Israeli Defense Force dur-
ing the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
Marcus was an officer who saw
action in the Second World War.
He was attached to a US Army
unit that helped organize the
relief operation for the first Nazi
concentration camp liberated by
the American troops.
His military and leadership
career continued into the 1948
Middle East conflict when he
was asked by the leaders of the
Jewish Resistance, the Haganah,
to assist in preparing Israeli
troops for the defence of the
newly declared state of Israel
against its hostile neighbours.
In addition to training and pre-
paring the poorly equipped but
highly spirited and determined
Jewish soldiers, Marcus was
instrumental in constructing the
Burma Road that brought food
and relief goods to the besieged
and nearly starving populace of
Jerusalem. Despite the nearly
insurmountable difficulties
and hurdles, Marcus made a
lasting impact and contribution
by virtue of his character and
leadership.
People who step into the
shoes of leaders will eventually
leave a lasting impression based
on the impact they have made
in the course of their lifetime of
contribution and influence, be
it in the spiritual or the tempo-
ral dimensions. As the leaders
grow in their own maturity and
influence, the people whom
they lead and serve eventually
come under their ‘shadow’ and
recognize the contribution to
the life of the group or organi-
zation.
Undoubtedly, one of the
greatest, if not the greatest, of
the spiritual giants of the Old
Testament was Moses. After
serving the Lord through a
long and fulfilled life, Moses
stood on the slopes of Mount
Nebo in the present day king-
dom of Jordan, beholding the
beauty and promised bounty
of Canaan, the Promised Land.
With eyes grown dim with
age, he longingly scanned the
mountains and valleys of the
Promised Land knowing that
he would not be able to ever
set foot on the land that was
foretold and promised to the Is-
raelites since time immemorial
as proof of God’s covenant with
His people. The role played
by Moses was unique because
he was raised specially by the
Lord to liberate his people from
400 years of slavery and bond-
age in Egypt under extremely
difficult circumstances. As the
chosen prophet, he received the
two tablets of the law and was
conferred the extraordinary
privilege of speaking directly
to God regularly during their
desert sojourn. All throughout
the desert wanderings, Moses
was the link between God and
the Israelites. His exploits and
achievements, as recorded in
the Holy Book, were phenom-
enal and extraordinary among
men then and since. But what
stands out in his story is that the
Lord was able to fully use him
according to His divine plan
because Moses was a paragon
of humility and obedience.
The Jews revered and held
him in high regard as God’s ex-
traordinary prophet. Such was
the pivotal role of Moses that
even today, with the daily read-
ing of the Torah, Jews of all ages
and all generations continue to
be reminded of his special role.
Whenever the Ten Command-
ments are recited, Jews and
Christians alike come under the
giant shadow of Moses.
Aspiring leaders must rec-
ognize the necessity of being
led by others across the full
spectrum of their journey that
begins with their recruitment.
In the spiritual field, that initial
encounter starts with the Call.
The great Patriarchs of the Bible
experienced the call of the Lord,
and for each of them, the call
was unique. The circumstances
were never routinary nor cir-
cumstantial but rather followed
a particular pathway that was
specifically suited for each one
called. Abraham, Isaac, and Ja-
cob went through the call under
different circumstances. The
same uniqueness can be said
about the call of Moses, Joshua,
Isaiah, Exequiel, Daniel, David,
the Apostles, and Paul. Nothing
is the same, except that all those
mentioned were called for a
particular time, for a particular
purpose.
Once called, the leader will be
judged or remembered accord-
ing to the other requirements
– Character, Competence and
Consequences (or results). For
those called to spiritual leader-
ship, there is the paramount
importance of the belief that
God will empower, equip and
provide. Since a leader will be
appreciated or valued according
to his impact or contribution to
the organization, community,
church or movement, it is safe
to state that he must learn to
cast his shadow, the larger or
longer, the better. One impor-
tant caveat for spiritual leaders
is that their shadows must come
under the even greater shadow
of God. They must not walk
alone. They cannot risk being
isolated from the light of the
Lord and guidance of the Holy
Spirit. A leader who walks with
and in the Lord must learn to
walk in God’s shadow and his
continued journey must come
under His authentication.
To gain a better understand-
ing of the divine authentication
or affirmation or anointing, if
you will, one needs to read a
long quote from the book “Spiri-
tual Leadership” by Henry and
Richard Blackaby:
“It is imperative for spiritual
leaders to evaluate their lives
to determine whether God is
confirming their leadership.
There should be ample evi-
dence of God’s affirmation. For
one thing, God will fulfill His
promises to the leader and the
leader’s organization. Leaders
who continually present new
ideas and visions for the future
but who never see those dreams
come to fruition are clearly pre-
senting their own visions and
not God’s.
Second, when God affirms a
leader, God will vindicate that
person’s reputation over time.
All leaders suffer criticism dur-
ing the course of their work.
Criticism is not necessarily a
sign of poor leadership. It may
stem from people resisting God
rather than rejecting the leader.
The way to tell the difference
is that God will ultimately ex-
culpate those who are led by
the Spirit.
A third sign of God’s pres-
ence in a leader is changed
lives. When someone leads in
the Spirit’s power, lives are
changed.People are moved to
experience God in a new dimen-
sion. Leaders may entertain
people, or impress people, or
even motivate people but if
there is no spiritual advance-
ment in the people they lead,
their leadership originates from
the leader’s talent, but not nec-
essarily from God.
A fourth characteristic of
God-inspired leadership is that
others recognize God is the
driving force behind the lead-
er’s agenda. When God chooses
a leader who is willing to sub-
mit to His will and trust Him
to do what He promises, God
is pleased to work powerfully
through that leader. If nothing
unusual or divine is happening
under a person’s leadership,
the leader may be operating in
his own strength rather by the
power of the Holy Spirit. Lead-
ers who are led by God will be
willing to lead their people to
accept God-sized assignments.
Leaders who walk by sight,
however, will never see God
perform miracles as leaders who
walk by faith.
Finally, the unmistakable
mark of leaders who are au-
thenticated by God is that they
are like Christ. They function in
a Christlike manner and those
who follow them become more
like Christ. The success of a spir-
itual leader is not measured in
dollars, percentages, numbers
or attendance. A person is truly
a spiritual leader when others
are moved to be like Christ.
How does one attain God’s
authentication? The key lies
not in the leader, but in God.
There is nothing a leader can
do that will guarantee God’s af-
firmation. All a leader can do is
submit. Some spiritual leaders
try to be more committed. What
they need to do is to be more
submitted. There is a significant
difference between a personal
determination to try harder and
a complete abandonment of
one’s self to God’s purposes. The
former lies on people and their
commitment; the latter relies on
God and His sufficiency. The
biographies of history’s great-
est spiritual leaders reveal spe-
cific divine encounters wherein
these men and women yielded
themselves to God at the deeper
levels of their lives. All spiritual
leaders have a point in their lives
when they yield to Christ as their
Lord and Savior, but the greatest
leaders have their subsequent
encounters with Christ, in which
they fervently, unconditionally
yield every aspect of their lives
to Him. The more these people
come to know God, the more
they come to recognize their
limitations and the more they are
compelled to yield to God.”
The life and times of St. Paul
provide the classic example of
yielding fully to Christ and sub-
sequently, the world has come
to experience the impact and
contribution of that changed
life. From being tormentor of
early Christians to becoming the
most ardent apostle of Christ is
the salutary example of God’s
transforming and empower-
ing love, and a life journey of
a leader who continues to cast
a giant shadow in the world
today.
A shadow cast need not be gi-
ant but everyone who aspires to
be a spiritual leader must learn
to walk in the shadow of Christ
if he expects to be used accord-
ing to God’s purpose. That
purpose may be grand or even
simple yet even the day to day
experiences can amply demon-
strate the shadow of a leader’s
life. Challenging circumstances
and occasions provide even
better opportunities to demon-
strate a leader’s character.
Chiune Sugihara was a 40-
year old Consul General serv-
ing in the Japanese consulate in
Kaunas, Lithuania. In July 1940,
Jewish refugees trying to escape
the Nazi atrocities fled from Po-
land and sought exit visas from
the consulate. Word had gotten
out that the only way to safety
was to exit Lithuania to the
Soviet Union and then through
Japan and finally the Caribbean.
The desperation of the Jews
grew every hour as the Nazis
were rapidly advancing.
Being a faithful diplomat,
Sugihara wired Tokyo for per-
mission to issue the visas. His
government refused to give the
authorization. Chiune wired
back two more times and two
more times, he was refused per-
mission. He was even advised to
stop inquiring.
The situation posed a big
dilemma to Sugihara; as a tra-
ditional Japanese, he was taught
obedience to authority from
birth. If he disregarded his or-
ders, he and his family would
be disgraced and had to suffer
the severe consequences. On
the other hand, he was from a
Samurai clan, inculcated with
the values of helping those in
need, especially if oppressed. In
a deeper sense, as a Christian,
he was to follow Christ and
His cross.
The choice was clear, because
for the next 29 days, he and his
wife Yukiko issued transit visas
as quickly as they physically
could. They worked nonstop,
barely having time for food or
sleep.
On August 28, 1940, Sugihara
was finally ordered to close the
consulate and leave for Tokyo.
Still, he kept writing and issuing
visas up to the last moment. As
the train pulled out of the sta-
tion, he threw the visa stamp
out of the window in a last at-
tempt for refugees to pick it up
and use after his departure.
Sugihara’s diplomatic career
suffered, and after dismissal
from service, he went into ob-
scure existence. His deeds cast
a giant shadow in the lives of
the more than six thousand
Jews saved from certain death in
the Nazi concentration camps.
His heroic Christian act saved
thousands. It was the second
largest group of Jews rescued
from Nazi extermination.
In 1985, Israel conferred their
nation’s highest award to Sugi-
hara, “Righteous among the
Nations”
The shadow that a spiri-
tual leader casts might not be as
great. However, it only becomes
a giant shadow when it is led
under the shadow of Christ.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 15 No. 7
March 28 - April 10, 2011
Ugnayan C3

Living Up To CFC’s Prophetic Role

Taking on GOD’S ARMOR: The BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
CFC Metro Manila Leaders gath-
ered at the Christ the King Parish
Church in Greenmeadows, Que-
zon City last March 15, 2011 for
the monthly MCG (Mission Core
Group) Teaching Night.
The gathering started with
an inspiring evening worship
led by Cholo Labog, the Sec-
tor Head of CFC Metro Manila
East A. In his exhortation, he
reminded everyone that as we
face trials and tribulations in
this battle called life, our main
focus should always be on God.
He also emphasized the impor-
tance of being prepared for the
battle by always putting on the
full armor of God.
The topic for the evening’s
assembly was entitled “LIV-
ING UP TO CFC’S PROPHETIC
ROLE, given by Joe Tale, CFC
Chairman. He opened the ses-
sion by asking the assembly
to pause for a while and pray
for the people of Japan, who
are recovering from the recent
earthquake and tsunami. He
especially lifted up our CFC
brethren who are there in Japan
now, helping and serving in the
rescue operations in Sendai.
CFC is a GIFT to the WORLD.
Joe Tale cited some of the high-
lights and victories of the CFC
community all over the world
since the beginning of this year:
the opening of new CLPs in
Virginia with 54 Caucasian par-
ticipants; the opening of CLPs
in Puerto Rico and Hongkong;
the recent visit of our CFC In-
ternational Council members,
Joe Yamamoto and Rouquel
Ponte, to the Vatican, where
they met with the Pontifical
Councils on Family, on Laity
and on Migrants; the values for-
mation of our migrant workers
in Hongkong; the Laiko Lecture
series led by CFC on the Papal
encyclicals starting this month;
the new partnership with the
Department on Education to
bring the program of Ancop and
CFC to public schools; and the
well-attended CFC and Fam-
ily Ministries Conferences and
Echo Conferences.
“All these achievements just
show that CFC truly has a pro-
phetic role to play in sharing
God’s love and goodness to the
rest of the world. As a commu-
nity we are called to be light to
the world and to
give hope to those
who need hope,”
Joe Tale said.
Yet, Joe Tale
stressed, as we rec-
ognize this great
and vast work to
spread the Good
News through these
many opportuni-
ties, we are called
to be responsible
and accountable in
our dealings. He
quoted the words
of John F. Kennedy
(The Uncommon
Wisdom of JFK: A
Portrait in His Own
Words): “To those
whom much is given, much is
expected.”
Taking on the ARMOR OF
GOD- The BREASTPLATE OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS
We continue to recognize
our shortcomings and weak-
nesses believing that amidst
all of these, God will use and
equip us to accomplish our
mission, individually and as a
community. For this reason,
we ought to take to heart the
armor of God especially His
breastplate of righteousness. Joe
Tale stated that this armor is the
most visible piece in the armor
of God. He added that it is about
the consistency between what
we say and do, for it is by our
actions that we draw people
to the Lord, thus fulfilling our
prophetic roles.
they do, for they do not practice Joe led the assembly to reflect
WHAT WE SHOULD NOT BE: what they preach. (Matthew) on how we as CFC leaders can
Matthew allow the breastplate of righ-
Joe Tale cited the whole chap- WHAT WE SHOULD BE: THE teousness to shine in our lives.
ter of Matthew as the most fitting BEATITUDES (MATTHEW He said that this season of Lent
passage to reflect on in taking on 5: 3-10) is truly very timely for CFC
the breastplate of righteousness. leaders to reflect deeply on how
He also cited the Seven Woes on Joe also explained that the we can live out the beatitudes as
the Teachers of the Law and the best way to live wearing the our way of life.
Pharisees (Matthew) as concrete breastplate of righteousness is The evening ended with Joe
examples of what we should through the eight Beatitudes encouraging all CFC Leaders
not be as leaders in CFC and as that Jesus gave in the Sermon to continue to strive to be true
servants of God. on the Mount. “BEATITUDE” Couples “FOR CHRIST”, not
Then Jesus said to the crowds actually means “supreme hap- just in our words, but more
and to his disciples: “The teach- piness.” These beatitudes are importantly in our actions. It is
ers of the law and the Pharisees given to us by God so that we only through our faithfulness
sit in Moses’ seat. So you must may live a righteous and up- as followers of Jesus that the
be careful to do everything they right life that will truly please prophetic role of CFC can be
tell you. But do not do what Jesus. realized.

Discovering The Law of SFC as Voluntourists

the Harvest
“MABALOS.” This expression of
gratitude means more than just
“Thank You” to Bicolanos because
translated, it actually means “I will
return the favor.”
On two occasions, over a hundred
The evening was capped by a talk
on “Making Friends with the Poor.”
The speaker, Fr. Alarcon, said that
“we’ve been talking about the poor
but we seldom talk to them.” He also
reminded everyone about the say-

Metro Manila Central C Teaching Night

By Layle Ancheta
HOW can you harvest more blessings?
This was the main topic at the Central
C Sector Teaching Night last March 3,
2011.
Over 1000 CFC and SFC members
of the sector filled the Lay Formation
Chapel in Guadalupe to listen to well-
known guest speaker, Bo Sanchez of the
Light of Jesus Community.
The Sector Governance Team, headed
by Sector Head Bong Arjonillo and wife
Carol, and Central C2A Chapter headed
by JM Yupangco, invited Bo Sanchez to
speak to the assembly on the “Law of
the Harvest.” Bo Sanchez admitted that
because of his numerous ministries, he
has stopped giving speeches and talks,
except through his regular Sunday Feast
event. Thus the Central C sector felt
very blessed that he was able to grace
the gathering.
Bo’s talk stressed that Jesus should
always be at the center of our lives
and the main operating system of the
universe. He stressed how important
it is for every person to focus on Jesus
in order for one to fully experience the
blessings and abundance of life.
Bo said that the “Law of the Harvest”
goes like this: What you plant, you har-
vest. What you don’t plant, you don’t
harvest. The more you plant, the more
you harvest. The less you plant, the less
you harvest.
These principles reminded everyone
that blessings from God are truly abun-
dant and overflowing only if we know
how to plant the blessings of love, hope
and joy in our family, our workplace,
our service and in our personal journey
with the Lord.
The many insightful stories Bo shared
highlighted the realization that in order
to have a joyful life, one must be secure
in the love, blessings and abundance
that come only from God. This will then
be radiated and reflected in the life we
live and in the relationships we continue
to create and nourish with the people
around us, especially with our spouses
and children.
The night ended with Bo saying a
special prayer of abundance and em-
powerment, and leading everyone to
a commitment to always cling to God
and rely on His mighty power and
blessings.
Singles for Christ members were
given the opportunity to say “Thank
You” to the Lord and to share His
blessings to others through the SFC
Voluntourism program.
The Voluntourism program (a play
on the words volunteer and tourism)
focuses on volunteer work and tour-
ing the area of service, which in this
case was Naga City.
February 16:
Participants were grouped into six
teams symbolized by the different
components of
the armor of
God. After a
talk on Servant
Evangelism,
everyone re-
ceived march-
ing orders to
make Naga
City feel the
love of God.
To make
things more
exciting, the so-
called task was incorporated into an
Amazing Tour activity which included
a trip to the Cathedral, the Cathedral
museum which housed various ar-
tifacts, a liturgical and archeological
excursion. But for everyone involved,
the highlight of the activity was find-
ing ways to help others and share
Christ’s love with them.
Most of the groups found them-
selves in one of the Central Plazas.
Since it was mid-afternoon, many of
the SFC Voluntourists opted to help
those work-
ing within the
vicinity and
to reach out
to those who
ing, “Nobody is so poor as to have
nothing to give and nobody is so rich
as to have no need.” He challenged
all present to turn their ears, eyes,
hearts and minds to the poor.
His talk was the right motivation
for all the participants to prepare
well for their volunteer work the
next day.
February 17:
Bursting with hearts for service,
everyone headed to their respective
volunteer work areas.
Taking to
heart what Fr.
Alarcon had
said, a group
of SFCs talked
and listened
to prisoners
of BJMP Naga
about their
ordeals. Oth-
ers interacted
with the stu-
dents of Sta.
Rafaela and
communicated with the deaf kids
of Gualandi through lip-reading.
Those in Villa Marilac became doting
grandchildren to the elderly for a few
hours while Sibol volunteers became
Ates and Kuyas to the kids.
The generosity and creativity of
everyone was apparent in all the
volunteer sites. Aside from the gifts
shared, like school supplies for the
kids and toiletries for the prisoners,
SFCs also presented a fun program
filled with games and song and dance
numbers.
Coming
out of the
volunteer
places,

CFC Visits Australian Bishop had made the

plaza their
home.
each one
had
unique ex-
a

By Josie Pangilinan To a pass- perience

erby, it may
have seemed
LAST March 9, 2011, CFC International Council odd that the
member and Country Coordinator for Australia men clean-
Lito Tayag visited Sydney Auxiliary Bishop Julian ing the Plaza
Porteous at his office in Abbotsford Rd, Homebush. ground were
He was accompanied by Dandy and Susan Calvez young and
from CFC Manila, CFC Australia Council member well-dressed. Also unlikely was
Dom Pangilinan, and YFC Australia leaders Noel the presence of lovely ladies sell-
Custodio and Marissa Caspe. ing candles at the church across the
The bishop expressed particular interest in the plaza. And it was definitely out of
YFC Oceania Conference in July which will be character to have tricycle barkers
attended by many young people from all over with melodious voices.
the Oceania Region, even proposing that the What was most striking to see
venue for the closing activity of the conference though, at least maybe to a secu-
should be more open such as Tumbalong Park at lar person, were the small groups
Darling Harbour. He praised CFC and YFC for formed after the whole activity. It
being bold in expressing their Catholic faith. was definitely heart-warming to see
Lito Tayag reiterated an earlier invitation to SFCs share the gift of prayer with
the bishop to grace the 30th Anniversary of CFC people whom they had just met.
which will be held in Manila in June.
to tell but
everyone
felt truly
blessed
and in-
spired by
their Jesus-
encounters through the poor.
The “tourism” aspect of the pro-
gram was equally enjoyable. SFCs
had their fill of the delicious Kinalas
at downtown Naga after the Servant
Evangelism activity and the fellow-
ship at the Panicuason Hot Spring
after the volunteer work. All in all,
it was a good treat for a job well
done.
To those who enriched the lives of
the SFC Voluntourism participants:
“Mabalos”! Thank you very much!
 C4 Ugnayan CBCP Monitor
Vol. 15 No. 7
March 28 - April 10, 2011

CFC Holds Breakfast Forum

to Launch Pro-Life Advocacy
By Joy Katigbak
WHAT is Theology of the Body
and what does it have to do
with the pro-life advocacy?
Mark Wassmer, the execu-
tive producer of Theology of
the Body events and confer-
ences, was in Manila recently
to answer these questions.
He was the main speaker at
a Breakfast Forum hosted by
Couples for Christ last March 5,
2011 in North Greenhills. CFC
organized the breakfast forum
in preparation for the confer-
ence in June entitled “Freedom
to Love,” to be conducted by
Christopher West, one of the
most sought-after speakers in
the Church today on Pope John
Paul II’s Theology of the Body
(or TOB for short).
The forum brought together
several pro-life groups and lay
communities, and focused on
the topic: “Bridging Connec-
tions and the Role of Theology
of the Body in our Pro-Life Ad-
vocacy.” Wassmer presented
some of the key messages of
Theology of the Body, a series
of 129 talks given by Pope John
Paul II during the early part of
his pontificate. The Theology
of the Body addresses the two
most fundamental and univer-
sal questions of what it means
to be human and how we can
live life in a way that brings
true happiness and fulfillment.
Hailed as the “new sexual revo-
lution” the Theology of the
Body is the answer to today’s
questions on the real meaning
and the sacredness of life and
human sexuality.
Wassmer stressed that the
TOB provides us with the
“why’s” of everything we be-
lieve in with regard to the
meaning and sacredness of life
and human sexuality. It reveals
the deeper meaning and the
higher purpose of our pro-life
advocacy.
Many of the participants of
the forum were grateful for the
gathering that brought together
groups with a common pur-
pose: to protect and defend life
and the family in light of God’s
design and plan for human-
ity. Many expressed eagerness
to listen to Christopher West
preach more on Theology of the
Body at the “Freedom to Love
Conference.” This will be held
on June 25, 2011, Saturday, at
the ULTRA. For ticket reserva-
tions and inquiries about the
Freedom to Love Conference,
please contact Joy Katigbak at
0917-8362539 or e-mail joykatig-
bak@gmail.com

CFC Rizal Holds ANCOP LEAD KIDS: Molding

Songwriting Contest And
“Free To Dance” Concert Christ-like Leaders
By Raymond Rimando

ARMED with the vision-mission

ON the evening of March 19, 2011, CFC
Rizal hosted two back-to-back events:
the provincial contest for the entry to
the ANCOP Songwriting Contest and
the “Free to Dance” Post-Valentine’s
Concert. These were held at the Casi-
miro Ynares Sr. Memorial Gymnasium
in Binangonan, Rizal.
The activity kicked off with the
celebration of the Holy Eucharist, fol-
lowed by an opening prayer rendered
through a dance interpretation of “The
Prayer.” Dennis Arcilla, provincial AN-
COP head, gave a short description of
ANCOP. The contest proper followed
afterwards, wherein four entries were
performed. To close the songwriting
portion, Gretchen Yaoyao of the 29 AD
band captivated the audience with her
performance of “Angels Brought Me
Here.”
The “Free to Dance” portion was
opened by a presentation of the Kids
for Christ Rizal. This concert was also
a contest for CFC Rizal’s three clusters,
each of them presenting in three “cat-
egories”: CFC-HOLD dance, SFC-YFC
dance, and duet. It was inspiring to
see the clusters cheer on their young
and not-so-young dancers, and then to
slow dance their way onto the floor as
the duet entries were performed. The
contest was capped with a dance from
HOLD Rizal.
The event ended with a praisefest led
by Charlie Imbang, a SFC chapter head,
after which came the announcement
of winners. Kevin Esguerra of the SFC
won the ANCOP Song-Writing Contest,
while Cluster A (comprising the areas
of Taytay and Angono) won the “Free
to Dance” contest.
of molding Christ-like leaders, 862
CFC Kids for Christ coordinators
gathered together for the 1st KFC
National Couple Coordinators
Conference (NCCC) on 11-13 February
2011 in Marikina.
“You are not only helping the kids,
but the entire CFC family. As you evan-
gelize kids, you enrich the community
and renew the society. As you renew the
society, you can change the world,” said
Joe Tale, CFC Chairman, in his exhorta-
tion to the conference participants.
The coordinators shared their own
family journeys as they struggle to
serve the Lord through the CFC Kids
for Christ.
The Buenaagua family, based in
Australia, knew it was not easy for the family as well as tour and visit relatives serving the Lord through the CFC Kids
parents to serve the Lord because it in Malaysia. for Christ. As one family, they attend
means sacrificing time with the children. Lala Garcia shared the blessing of out of town conferences and go beyond
Through the CFC Kids for Christ, how- belonging to a global CFC family, par- borders as missionaries, praying and
ever, they were able to serve the Lord ticularly when her husband had a stroke serving the Lord.
as a family. and through prayers and donations Chin-chin Lizardo, daughter of Voltz
Flor Cabaluna of Surigao del Norte, from the global CFC family, was able to Lizardo, CFC Kids for Christ Leader-
on the other hand, talked about the undergo a successful brain surgery. ship Enhancement and Development
blessing of experiencing great joy in Melo Villaroman, CFC Family Min- (LEAD) Coordinator, shared her expe-
serving the Lord. She sells deep fried istry Head, gave a new meaning to rience of growing up as part of the CFC
bananas to support her family. When the word BRAVE: B-believe in faith; Kids for Christ family.
she learned that the CFC Kids for Christ R-respond or recommit by giving Aside from inspiring sessions, there
will hold its 13th International Kids Vil- 100% to the Lord; A-armor of God, to were interactive workshops on self-
lage (IKV) in Singapore, she dreamed put on every day; V-victory, to expect assessment and communication and
of attending the event with her family. and claim the Lord’s victory; and E- people skills. Fr. Soc Mesiona and Fr.
Although she has no regular income, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Jimmy Padilla also reminded couple
she hit on a formula for success: tithes Being brave was precisely the right coordinators to trust the Lord, while
plus service equals abundant blessings. prescription for Art Malabanan, a Nic Escalona, Jr., CFC Kids for Christ
With God’s grace and plenty of sacrifice, former police officer, as he faced the International Coordinator presented
she was able to go to Singapore with her challenge of raising 10 children while the 2011 directions.

Called / C1

the congresswoman truly made

those present feel proud to be
Pinoy.
Other powerful testimonies
and declarations came from:
* Ansel Beluso, who shared
about his former gay lifestyle
and God’s transformation of
his life when he joined a com-
munity. Ansel has been happily
married for almost ten years to
a woman he met in community
with whom he has three chil-
dren. He exhorted everyone to
continue the fight for life, and
fight the RH Bill, which also
indirectly encourages the homo-
sexual lifestyle.
* Celebrity mom of five and TV
host Christine Jacob-Sandejas,
who deplored the RH Bill’s
policy on sex education for chil-
dren from Grade 4 to fourth year
high school, saying that this was
too long a period, and reminded
those present that parents have
the sole and moral responsibil-
ity to teach their children about
sex.
* Renowned Catholic lay
preacher Bo Sanchez, who led
everyone in a prayer for the
Philippines, and exhorted all
present to believe that the Fili-
pino people are a blessing to the
world, and not a problem.
* Parañaque Representative
Roilo Golez who does not believe
that the bill will stop the cycle
of poverty in the Philippines,
because it is only focused efforts
on education and training that
will. Quoting from GMA News,
Rep. Golez said: “They want to
spend P3 billion for condoms and
contraceptives that will prevent the
birth of 200,000 babies. If you were
to ask me, I’d use the P3 billion for
the training of 200,000 young Fili-
pinos so that they will excel.”
One of the most well-received
testimonies was from the Peo-
ple’s Champion himself, boxing
legend and Sarangani province
representative Manny Pacquiao,
who sent a video-recorded mes-
sage, where he said that the RH
bill will prevent “blessings” from
being born. He even said that if
his father and mother had used
a condom, then there wouldn’t
be a Manny Pacquaio. He also
slammed the RH Bill, saying that
it would cause the degradation
of the Filipino youth’s morality,
and that the solution to poverty
is fighting corruption, not con-
trolling the population through
contraceptives.
Sister Pilar Versoza of Pro-
Life Philippines led the crowd
to pray the Angelus and Prayer
for the Unborn, which was fol-
lowed by inspirational songs
from the El Shaddai Chorale,
and creative presentations from
our very own Singles for Christ,
who also led the crowd in the “I
Stand” chant. There was also a
Live Pure Movement presenta-
tion by our young brothers and
sisters from Youth for Family
and Life.
Representatives from different
sectors of society tore copies of
the RH Bill as a sign of protest,
reminiscent of the tearing of
cedulas by Filipino freedom
fighters in the 1800s led by na-
tional hero Andres Bonifacio.
The Holy Mass was then
celebrated, presided by His
Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal
Rosales, who was accompanied
by Cardinal Ricardo Vidal and
Cardinal Jose Sanchez, and other
Bishops and priests. During the
Mass, a message from the Vati-
can about the Protection of Life
was read.
In his homily, Cardinal Rosa-
les stated that:
* The sanctity of life is God’s
greatest gift to man. “If life is not
given value at any stage, whether
as an infant, fetus, elderly, weak
or strong, nobody would respect
life. Once life loses importance
and respect, man will be cheated,
abused, lied to and robbed with
impunity.”
* Instead of promoting the use
of contraceptives, we should
honor the role of the husband
and wife in the conception
of human life, and promote
natural family planning, which
teaches discipline, self-control
and respect for the other. “Ka-
pag may disiplina sa kama, may
disiplina sa kalsada. Kapag may
disiplina sa kalsada, may disiplina
sa pitaka.”
S.E.A.L. - Strong and
* Instead of teaching children
“games” in the form of contra-
Empowered Army for the Lord
ceptives, we should teach “the SFC Strengthens and Empowers the Army of Leaders
purity of conscience, cleanliness
of the heart, discipline and self- LAST March 19-20, 2011, around 60 SFC Leaders from Nueva
restraint and respect for money Ecija, Bulacan, Aurora and Tarlac gathered in Cabanatuan,
that is not theirs.” Nueva Ecija for a weekend of training, strengthening and em-
* The RH Bill is anti-Filipino, powerment. Taking off from the recent ICON where all SFCs
and those accusing the Church of declared to STAND, SFC is now seeing to it that its leaders will
being like Father Damaso fail to not only take a stand but also inspire other people, especially
remember that Damaso was not
their members, to take a stand. Through the S.E.A.L weekend,
a Filipino, and all that he was ac-
SFC leaders were reminded not just of their calling but of the
cused of doing is not part of the
Filipino culture and lifestyle. God who called them. They also received training in their areas
Before the final blessing, Car- of influence. The weekend ended with every leader in the previ-
dinal Rosales led the Prayer of ously-mentioned areas ready to give all and do all for God.
the Consecration of the Philip-
pines to the Sacred Heart of
Jesus and the Immaculate Heart
of Mary. After the Mass, Mike
Velarde of the El Shaddai com-
munity shared some inspiring
words as a segue to their com-
munity’s prayer meeting.
All in all, it was a fitting way to
celebrate the Feast of the Annun-
ciation and the Day for Unborn
Children, and was also an apt
venue for the Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines to The SFC S.E.A.L Weekend is for the formation of all leaders
thank those who promote “true and aims to help them believe in their anointing, and build them
welfare” for Filipinos, including as household heads, unit heads, chapter heads, cluster heads,
the unborn. sector heads and provincial couple coordinators by commission-
CFC, together with our fel- ing and empowering them to go “make every single man and
low Filipinos and brothers and woman all over the world experience Christ.” The SFC S.E.A.L
sisters in the Catholic Church, Weekend in Cabanatuan was the first of many weekends which
are proud to be one in saying: are scheduled to take place in the different provinces of Luzon,
“Obey God’s Will, NO TO RH Visayas and Mindanao between March and May of this year.
BILL!”