CBCP
Page 3Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 2
In China,
January Obedience
22, 2007 Isn’t a
Virtue Anymore
Bishop Seeks Result of
Erap’s Plunder Case
A Catholic bishop has viewed this
year’s anniversary of the People Power
II in a different light.
Manila Auxiliary bishop
Broderick Pabillo said Edsa II should
serve as a challenge to the slow-paced
justice system in the country.
He cited the case of deposed presi-
dent Joseph Estrada whose plunder
Bishop Seeks / P4
Contraception Upped Adultery, Pre-
marital Sex and Homosexual Activity
“AUTHENTIC progress, which promotes the dignity of the human person from contraception until natural death, is a fundamental
concern which the Catholic church shares with all of humanity,” thus opened the press conference led by Abp. Angel Lagdameo at the
International Conference on Bioethics and the Family, January 9-10, 2007.
Caceres Holds 1st National Mission Congress for Seminarians
THE Archdiocese of Caceres hosted
the First National Mission Congress
for seminarians and priest-formators
of the Philippines last January 17-21,
2007 in celebration of the 75th Anni-
versary of the Pontifical Mission So-
cieties in the Philippines.
The Congress was spearheaded
by the Commissions on Mission and
Seminaries of the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines.
Around to give the keynote talk was
Secretary General of the Pontifical
Fr. Peter Malone, MSC, with the members of the Catholic Initiative for Enlight-
ened Movie Appreciation (CINEMA).
Known Film Critic Lauds CINEMA
FATHER Peter Malone, MSC, an
internationally known film critic
was in town recently to conduct a
seminar on Film and Faith at the
Communications Foundations in
Asia (CFA) which were attended
by priests, religious, educators,
and lay, working with media evan-
gelization. Among the 110 partici-
pants in the seminar were the ex-
ecutive secretary of the CBCP
Office on Women, Dr. Zenaida
Page 5
The Family is Where
Human Values Begin
www.cbcponline.net/cbcpmonitor
Protagonist of Truth, Promoter of Peace
January 22, 2007
Society of St. Peter the Apostle, Fr.
Jan Dumon, who came all the way
from Rome. Around 350 participants,
including bishops, priests and semi-
narians, participated in the 4-day
congress.
The event, dubbed as the Na-
tional Congress on Saint Peter the
Apostle had the theme, “Integrating
Mission in Seminary Formation.”
The congress’ main objective
was to provide a forum for seminar-
ians and seminary formators, as well
Rotea, and movie reviewers of
Catholic Initiative for Enlightened
Movie Appreciation (CINEMA).
Malone, a consultant to the
Pontifical Council of Social Com-
munications and former president
of the International Organization
for the Cinema (OCIC), and SIGNIS,
was instrumental in the formation
of movie reviewers and assessors
which comprise the present group
Known Film / P16
Page 11 Page 12
Tech-Savvy Priest Turns
Parish Into E-Community
Message of Benedict XVI for
the 15th World Day of the Sick
cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net
Prelate Exhorts Faithful
ANTI-GAMBLING advocate and
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Os-
car Cruz urged the faithful on Friday
not to vote politicians who are jueteng
protectors.
Crusade Against Gambling, said his
Vol. 11 No. 2 Php 16. 00
By Roy Lagarde
CONTRACEPTION has stimulated
sharp increase in adultery, pre-mari-
tal sex and homosexual activity said
the CBCP 2007 International Confer-
ence on Bioethics and Family held in
Manila, January 9-10, 2007.
“With contraception,” says the
conference statement, “the abomi-
nable crime of abortion has been
condoned and even considered right
while the loss of respect and care for
human life at its beginning has led to
Photo credit: Dennis Dayao
the loss of respect and care at its
natural end as in the evils of eutha-
nasia and abandonment of the eld-
erly and the handicapped.”
The Conference also noted the
global phenomenon of an alarming
decline in population.
Experts said the normal popula-
tion rate is 2.1, which means that
couples should have at least two
as to reflect together on the impor- Almoneda, bishop of Daet; Most
tance of mission in seminary forma-
tion, and, to discover possible ways
Rev. Edwin A. de la Pena, MSP,
prelate bishop of Marawi and Chair-
of integrating mission in the as-
pects of seminary life. The con-
man of the Episcopal Commission
on Mission; Most Rev. Jose R.
gress was held in the context of the
75th anniversary of Pontifical Mis-
Rojas, auxiliary bishop of Caceres,
who spoke on Formation and Mis-
sion Societies (PMS) and its contri- sion in the Experience of the Local
bution to the seminaries in the Phil- Church; and Most Rev. Mylo
ippines. Hubert C. Vergara, bishop of San
Resource persons included Jose, Nueva Ecija, and chairman of
members of the hierarchy. Among the Episcopal Commission on Semi-
them were Most Rev. Benjamin J. Caceres Holds / P4
‘Fast Wednesday’ Faithful Urged to
Campaign to be Consider Integrity,
Launched Feb.21
Capacity of Poll Bets
HEEDING the call of the Roman Catho- CATHOLIC voters should make their
lic Bishops’ Conference of the Philip- political judgments based on the in-
pines that Character change should tegrity and capacity of the candi-
precede Charter change, a non-gov- dates.
ernment organization is launching a Lingayen-Dagupan Arch-
period of prayer starting Ash Wednes- bishop Oscar Cruz said the people
day on February 21. should make sure a candidate has
Dubbed as “Fast Wednesday”, integrity and enough capacity and
Kubol Pagasa said the campaign would the welfare of the people at heart.
also serve as a moment of fasting and Integrity and capacity, he said,
discernment that will continue every can be seen in a person’s married life.
Wednesday for the whole year. “Integrity can be measured if a
“One day a week prayer and fast- person is faithful to his or her part-
ing can be a source of both strength ner,” he said. “Capacity is when
and enlightenment as the Church and they’re able to raise their children
other groups conduct various ‘vot- well.”
ers’ education programs which should The head of the Catholic Bish-
not neglect the dangers of Charter ops’ Conference of the Philippines
change attempts, political dynasties, (CBCP), meanwhile, urged the vot-
cheating, patronage and personality ers to be vigilant and to be wary of
politics,” it said in a statement. politicians who only rely on rigging
The group lamented the stub- the electoral process.
born persistence of the old problems “People should be watchful and
of corruption, abuse of power, vio- vigilant. There should be more dis-
lence, poverty and the entrenched cernment,” said Jaro Archbishop
culture and system of traditional poli- Angel Lagdameo, CBCP president.
Fast Wednesday / P4 Faithful Urged / P4
1
Not to Vote Jueteng
Protectors
Cruz, head of the of the People’s
Prelate Urge / P4
children to keep the balance of the
population in the world.
To date, the number of replace-
ment in the country is at 2.3, appar-
ently higher than .2 percent from the
ideal rate.
European countries’ fertility rate
has been under replacement rate for
many years and is reportedly suffer-
ing severe population loss.
Declining fertility is an issue that
affects many other nations besides
Europe resulting particularly in the
dropping number of labor force to
support a growing elderly population.
“We are not saying that couples
should just keep on having babies as
many as they can,” said Jaro Arch-
bishop Angel Lagdameo, Catholic
Bishops’ Conference of the Philip-
pines (CBCP).
Contraception / P4
PPCRV Issues
Guidelines on
Choosing
Candidates
WITH the national elections
barely four months away, it’s
a good time to remind voters of
their responsibilities.
The Parish Pastoral Coun-
cil for Responsible Voting
(PPCRV), an organization ini-
tiated by lay faithful for re-
sponsible electoral process,
has joined efforts to ensure
clean, honest and peaceful
May 14 elections.
The group has issued
guidelines for voters dubbed
as the “10 Commandments”
that will be used in its educa-
tion campaign.
PPCRV chair Henrietta de
Villa said the guidelines will be
used by the clergy, lay leaders
and volunteers to facilitate the
information program for elec-
toral education.
“The kind of government
we get is the fruit of the votes
we cast,” she said.
The commandments, in
order, are as follows:
1. Thou shalt vote according
to the dictate of your con-
science.
2. Thou shalt respect the deci-
sion of others in choosing
their candidates.
3. Thou shalt seek to know the
moral integrity, capabilities,
and other personal qualities
of the candidates you will
vote for.
PPCRV / P4
 CBCP Monitor
2 World News Vol. 11 No. 2
January 22, 2007

Latin American Bishops Conferences to Meet in Brazil

3.2 Million Visited Pope in 2006
VATICAN CITY, January 9,
2007—More than 3.2 million
faithful and pilgrims attended
public meetings in 2006 with
Benedict XVI in the Vatican or
the papal summer residence.
The Prefecture of the Pon-
tifical Household reported this
figure, which does not include
those who attended meetings
with the Pope during his ap-
ostolic visits within and out-
side of Italy.
The number of faithful
and pilgrims includes partici-
pants in the Wednesday gen-
eral audiences, special audi-
ences, liturgical celebrations
Benedict XVI Reacts in
Wake of Bolivian Violence
VATICAN
CITY, Janu-
ary 14,
2 0 0 7 —
Benedict
XVI ap-
pealed for
“frank and
respectful
dialogue” in Bolivia following
the outbreak of violence in the
city of Cochabamba.
The Holy Father made his
appeal in a telegram sent in his
name by Cardinal Tarcisio
Bertone, Vatican secretary of
state, to Cardinal Julio
Terrazas, archbishop of Santa
Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.
Coca growers in
Cochabamba have taken to the
streets to call for the resigna-
tion of their provincial gover-
nor, Manfred Reyes, after he
proposed a referendum that
would give his state greater
autonomy from the leftist gov-
Pope to Meet
Communist
Leader
VATICAN CITY, January 18,
2007—The Holy See con-
firmed that Benedict XVI will
receive Prime Minister
Nguyen Tan Dung of Vietnam
in a Jan. 25 audience.
Jesuit Father Federico
Lombardi, director of the
Vatican press office, con-
firmed the news verbally to
journalists, which was an-
nounced shortly before by a
communiqué from Hanoi’s
Foreign Ministry.
and the recitation of the An-
gelus.
Last year, 45 general au-
diences were held, attended
by a total of 1,031,500 visitors.
Special audiences gath-
ered 357,120 visitors.
Crowds were the largest
in April with 196,000 individu-
als attending celebrations.
In addition, 1,295,000
people took part in the recita-
tion of the Angelus.
In 2005, when Benedict
XVI began his pontificate,
some 2.85 million people at-
tended public meetings with
the Pope. (Zenit)
ernment of President Evo
Morales.
These protests turned
violent Thursday when the
governor organized a counter
demonstration, and the two
groups clashed. The conflict
left two dead and hundreds
wounded.
In the telegram, Benedict
XVI expressed his sadness
over the incidents “as well as
his special closeness to the
pastors and all those making
efforts to maintain the
citizenry’s harmony and
peaceful coexistence, by en-
gaging in frank and respectful
dialogue to resolve eventual
discrepancies.”
The Holy Father prayed
that the Lord will “give all a
heart full of fraternity and sim-
plicity so that violence is trans-
formed into cooperation and
the common good is truly pro-
moted.” (Zenit)
The Holy
See and Viet-
nam do not
maintain dip-
Prime Minister
lomatic rela-
tions. Both
the Pope and
Nguyen Tan Dung Secretary of
State Cardinal Tarcisio
Bertone have publicly ex-
pressed the desire that the
Holy See establish relations
with those countries that do
not yet have an ambassador
to the Vatican.
The Catholic community
of Vietnam is, after the Philip-
pines, the second most nu-
merous of Southeast Asia,
with some 6 million faithful,
7% of the population. (Zenit)
VATICAN CITY, January 12,
2007—In the Holy See Press
Office at midday today, Fr.
David Gutierrez, director of the
press office of the Latin Ameri-
can Episcopal Council
(CELAM), briefed journalists
on the forthcoming Fifth Gen-
eral Conference of the Episco-
pate of Latin America and the
Caribbean. The meeting will
be held in Aparecida, Brazil
from May 13 to 31.
Fr. Gutierrez affirmed that
the conference—which will
have as its theme “Disciples
and missionaries in Jesus
Christ, that in Him our peoples
may have life (‘I am the way
and the truth and the life’)”—
will be inaugurated by
Benedict XVI on May 13. The
Pope will preside at a Mass,
Chaldean Catholic Bishop
Fears Splintering Iraq
Archbishop Louis Sako
KIRKUK, Chaldea, January
16, 2007—Iraq is rushing head-
long toward a break-up of the
country, the Chaldean Catho-
lic Archbishop of Kirkuk has
told the AsiaNews service. The
prospect of national divisions
causes new concerns for the
Christian minority, he adds.
Internet sites and papers
are already publishing the new
political maps with the
Kurdish north, the Shia south,
and the Sunni center, Arch-
bishop Louis Sako told
AsiaNews. The execution of
Saddam Hussein and the in-
fluence of Iran have aggra-
vated tensions between Shia
and Sunnis, he reported, while
in the north Kurdish interests
lean toward independence.
Vatican Officials to Discuss
Church in China
ROME, January 18, 2007—
Members of various Vatican
dicasteries are gathered to be-
gin discussing the situation of
the Church in China, AsiaNews
reported.
The meeting will begin
Friday, and include discus-
sions on the illicit ordination of
bishops, the unity of the offi-
cial and underground Church
and the Patriotic Association,
reported today the news
agency of the Pontifical Insti-
tute for Foreign Missions.
The Chinese government
allows religious practice in the
country only with recognized
personnel and in places regis-
tered with the Religious Af-
fairs Office and under the con-
concelebrated with represen-
tatives of all Latin American
bishops, and will pronounce
an address during the open-
ing session.
A group of experts is cur-
rently selecting the themes
from proposals being put for-
ward by the various episcopal
conferences. They will pre-
pare a summary and, at the
end of February, publish a pre-
paratory document for the
conference.
The presidents of the 22
episcopal conferences of
CELAM will attend the
Aparecida meeting, as will
groups representing the prel-
ates in each episcopal confer-
ence, for a total of 176, also
including bishops from
Canada, U.S.A., Spain and
For Christians, Arch-
bishop Sako said, the pros-
pect of a splintering in the
national government would
raise new questions about
religious freedom in each of
the sections. Some Church
leaders have suggested that
members of the Christian mi-
nority should move into one
location, on the Nineveh plain,
the archbishop said, have
called. There, the proponents
of the move suggest, the Chris-
tians could find safety in num-
bers, and their community
would “serve as a useful and
undefended buffer zone be-
tween Arabs and Kurds.”
Archbishop Sako argued,
however, that it would be more
prudent for Christians to seek
constitutional protection in a
unified country, so that the
central government would
“guarantee religious freedom
and equal rights for believers
of all faiths throughout the
land, including Christians who
can be found everywhere.”
(AsiaNews)
trol of the Patriotic Associa-
tion.
Various members of the
Secretariat of State and the
Congregation for the Evange-
lization of Peoples will take part,
as well as Cardinal Joseph Zen,
of Hong Kong, and other Asian
cardinals and bishops.
AsiaNews sources say
that the meeting is not so much
about the longtime impasse
on diplomatic relations, but
the situation caused by the
three illicit episcopal ordina-
tions which took place during
2006.
AsiaNews also reported
that a permanent commission
will be created to deal with the
issue. (Zenit)
Portugal. Also
present will be 24
priests, 23 male and
female religious, and
17 lay people, as well
as six ecumenical
representatives.
The novelty of
this conference with
respect to the previ-
ous four held in
1955, 1968, 1979 and
titude of nearly 5,000 meters
1992, said Fr. Gutierrez; is that
on the closing day, when the and there were fears this might
affect the health of the del-
final document is published, a
egates, particularly the more
“great continental mission”
will begin. elderly. Benedict XVI had then
asked for the meeting to be
Fr. Gutierrez also explained
that the original intention had celebrated at a Marian shrine,
and Aparecida was chosen, a
been to hold the meeting in
the Ecuadorian capital, Quito, site that can hold 35,000 faith-
ful and is visited annually by
but the idea was abandoned
because the city lies at an al- eight million pilgrims. (VIS)
Venezuela’s Chavez Rips
Prelate for Criticism
CARACAS, Venezuela, Janu-
ary 19, 2007—Venezuela’s
President Hugo Chavez has
renewed his feud with the
country’s Catholic bishops,
the German-language
Kath.net news service re-
ports.
Responding angrily to
criticism by Archbishop
Roberto Luckert of Coro, the
vice-president of the Venezu-
elan bishops’ conference,
Chavez burst out: “Arch-
bishop Luckert will be wait- President Hugo Chavez
ing in hell for me; he isn’t
going to go to heaven.” the Venezuelan hierarchy, in-
Archbishop Luckert had sisted that he had no desire
drawn the wrath of the mercu- to prolong the disagreements,
rial Chavez by criticizing the in spite of his angry words.
president’s style of leader- “The state respects the
ship. The archbishop was Church,” he said, “and the
reacting to public statements Church should also respect
in which Chavez had said that the state.”
he was leading Venezuela on “I don’t want to go back
an “irreversible march to so- to the times of confrontation
cialism,” and added that Jesus with the bishops,” Chavez
Christ was “one of the great added, “but that is not my
socialists of history.” decision; the decision is up
President Chavez, who to the bishops of Venezuela.”
has quarreled frequently with (CWNews)
Bicycling UK Seminarians
Raise Funds for Cuba
LONDON, January 21, 2007—
Seminarians from the United
ceives an annual grant from
Aid to the Church in Need.
Kingdom decided to help the
Church in Cuba with a bicycle
The charity reports that it has
made Cuba a priority for aid in
ride fundraiser.
Some 270 kilometers (167
miles) later, they had raised
Latin America, especially as
tension mounts with President
Fidel Castro’s failing health.
€23,500 ($30,465). The charity’s director of
Six seminarians and the the Cuban project, Xavier
vice rector from St. Mary’s Legorreta, visited the English
College, near Birmingham, seminary in December to pick
England, wanted to help the up the check for the seminar-
77 seminarians studying at ians’ Cuban counterparts.
the seminary of Sts. Charles “I was very astonished
and Ambrose in Havana, by the seminarians’ suc-
Cuba. cess,” he said. “It came as
The Cuban seminarians big, big surprise. It just shows
rely entirely on donations for how really important things
everything from food to their can be achieved by such
teachers’ salaries. simple and very practical ini-
The Havana seminary re- tiatives.” (Zenit)

Boy Dies in Hindu-Muslim Clash met in Bangalore to celebrate

BANGALORE, India, January
22, 2007—Police are patrol-
ling the streets of Bangalore,
in the southern Indian state of
Karnataka, after sectarian vio-
lence broke out a few days
ago in which a boy was killed.
Security forces remain in high
alert to prevent any further
clash between local Muslims
and Hindus.
The violence began last
Friday when some 10,000
Muslims gathered to protest
against the execution of
Saddam Hussein and US for-
eign policy. Ruling Congress
Party politicians like Jaffar
Sharief and Dharam Singh
were present.
When police tried to stop
some hooligans it used tear
gas and truncheons to dis-
perse the demonstrators who
reacted throwing rocks at cars
and store windows of Hindu-
owned businesses. Eventu-
ally, some 50 people needed
medical help.
Two days later, the
Rashtriya Swayamsevak
Sangh or RSS (National Vol-
unteers’ Union, A Hindu na-
tionalist paramilitary group)
the one hundred years since
the birth of one its founding
leaders, Madhawa
Sadashivarao Golwalkar.
Members of the two com-
munities eventually came into
contact and started throwing
insults at each other. Soon
words were followed by sec-
tarian violence.
When the police inter-
vened they shot into the crowd
and killed a 12-year-old boy.
They also arrested about 150
people and now have the city
under control. However, the
danger of new clashes still
looms over the city.
Bangalore is India’s IT
capital. Some 1,500 IT compa-
nies and call centres are lo-
cated in the city and its imme-
diate region and serve almost
the entire Western world.
(AsiaNews)
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 2
January 22, 2007 News Feature 3
In China,
ROMA, January 19, 2007—Begin- bishop of Hengshui, attended the
ning today, a “sub secreto” meeting rite but did not participate. The sec-
is taking place in the Vatican on the ond, Li Liangui, bishop of Cangzhou,
subject of the Church in China. Par- was able to get away without being

Obedience Isn’t a
ticipants include key members of the recaptured before the end of the cer-
secretariat of state and of the con- emony, which was shunned by much
gregation for the evangelization of of the faithful.
peoples, but also personalities from As a comment on the illicit ordina-

outside the curia: the bishop of Hong
Kong, cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun;
cardinal Paul Shan Kuo-shi, of Tai-
wan; the bishop of Macao, José Lai
Hung-seng; and professor Anthony
Lam, from the Holy Spirit Study Cen-
tre in Hong Kong.
At the center of attention is a
question evoked by Benedict XVI in
the Angelus of December 26, 2006.
After recalling the protomartyr Saint
Stephen and all those who today
“are persecuted and suffering in vari-
ous ways for their witness and ser-
vice to the Gospel,” Benedict XVI
continued:
“I think of those Catholics who
maintain their fidelity to the See of
Peter without ceding to compro-
mises, sometimes at the price of grave
sufferings. The whole Church ad-
mires their example and prays that
they have the strength to persevere,
knowing that their tribulations are
the font of victory, even if at that
moment they can seem a failure.”
The news from China in recent
weeks confirms this rift between the
Christians who bow to the commands
of the communist authorities, and
those who resist them; between the
official Church created by the regime
in opposition to Rome, and the one
that is united with the pope and not
officially recognized by the state.
Virtue Anymore
by Sandro Magister
Pope Benedict XVI and Cardinal Zen Ze-Kiun
A GROWING number of bishops, priests, and faithful of the official Church are refusing to submit to the
communist authorities. The pope and cardinal Zen are encouraging them: “Enough with the compromises.”
And a book breaks the silence on the Catholic martyrs during the Mao years
But the same news shows the the official Church are already doing,
divisions and developments even tending to withdraw increasingly
within the official Church. Eight out from the submission to the regime.
of ten official bishops have sought ***
and received approval from Rome. The illicit episcopal ordination
And now they find themselves in an carried out on November 30, in the
uncomfortable situation of twofold city of Xuzhou in the Jiangsu prov-
obedience: to the universal Church, ince in west-central China, is the
and to the anti-Roman politics of the latest episode showing this situa-
communist authorities. tion in motion.
Cardinal Zen, a leading expo- Any episcopal ordination not
nent of the Vatican’s new politics approved by the pope is illicit. This
with China, comments: is punished with the automatic ex-
“This compromise cannot last communication of those who carry it
forever. To be in communion with out by their own free will, without
the Holy Father and at the same time coercion. In former decades, the
remain in a Church that calls itself Chinese communist regime had many
independent is a contradiction. The dozens of bishops ordained illegiti-
Holy See generously tolerates this. mately. Before last November 30, the
But the time has come to abandon last two ordinations of this kind were
this contradiction.” carried out on April 28 and May 3,
This is what some bishops of 2006, followed by harsh protest from
the Holy See. After this, in June, a
Vatican delegation went to Beijing to
ask that this be stopped. They re-
ceived assurances, which were later
confounded by the facts.
But the communist authorities
took greater pains than usual to or-
ganize the ceremony held on No-
vember 30. For the concelebration of
the illegitimate ordination, the au-
thorities wanted to place beside the
pro-government bishop of Xuzhou,
94-year-old Qian Yurong, other bish-
ops also from the official Church, but
reconciled with Rome. But to get
them there, they had to compel them
by force. They placed two bishops in
isolation and “treated” them for sev-
eral days before the ceremony. Two
others they literally kidnapped, but
without getting what they wanted.
One of the two, Peter Feng Xinmao,
tion, the Holy See released a note of
protest on December 2, emphasizing
the state of coercion in which both the
consecrating bishops and the newly
ordained bishop, 34-year-old John
Wang Reniei, had to operate.
The day after Christmas,
Benedict XVI pointed out as an ex-
ample the Christians who accept
“tribulations” instead of “giving way
to compromises.”
But a few hours later, the com-
munist authorities struck again. On
December 27, nine priests from Hebei
who belong to the unofficial Church
were arrested. Hebei is the region in
China with the highest concentra-
tion of Catholics, at around a million
and a half. And it is also where Catho-
lics are persecuted the most, pre-
cisely because so many of the bish-
ops, priests, and faithful refuse to
register with the Chinese Patriotic
Catholic Association, the organism
through which the communist party
exercises control over the official
Church.
In Hebei, six bishops have van-
ished without a trace over the past
ten years. These include the bishop
of the diocese of Baoding, James Su
Zhimin, who was arrested in 1996.
Practically all of the bishops now
over fifty years old—even among
In China / P10

Malaybalay: Where the Poor and the Affluent Are Benefactors
By Fr. Virgilio Delfin
changed the im- in Musuan on March 13, 2005; Our
age of BENE- Lady of Mt. Carmel Chapter in Busco
FACTORS from on March 13, 2005; Our Lady of
those who have Lourdes Chapter in Camp Philips on
lands and prop- September 13, 2005; Immaculate Con-
erties, who are ception Chapter in Manolo Fortich
considered rich, on November 20, 2005; Sto. Nino
who are hold- Chapter in Dangcagan on January 7,
ing high posi- 2006; and St. Vincent Ferrer Chapter
tions in govern- in Kalilangan on January 21, 2006.
Kadingilan Chapter Members during their orientation day ment or in the Indeed, the poor and the afflu-
private sector; ent are so inspired by the Holy Spirit.
I FIRST reported to my mission as to every family who has the desire They receive ongoing formation
Deacon of our diocese in Malaybalay, to support the Seminary Formation through their regular meetings, mass
Bukidnon on March 29, 2000 after re- Program of the diocese without put- sponsorships, recollections and an-
ceiving the gift of diaconal ordination ting his or her material affluence as a nual gatherings. They get to meet
through the laying on of hands of the requirement. We agreed that a fam- their prayer partner-seminarians dur-
late Jaime Cardinal Sin at the Manila ily who desires to support the Semi- ing their yearly get-together.
Cathedral on March 17, 2000. I was nary Formation Program of the dio- Six years into its operations, the
immediately assigned to the Chan- cese of Malaybalay has to commit Seminary Benefactors Association
cery. One of the areas that my bishop to the following: a) help pray for of the Diocese of Malaybalay, cer-
asked me to look into was the finan- the perseverance of a seminarian tainly plays a very significant role in
cial need of our seminary, the heart of every school year who will also pray our Seminary Formation Program
our diocese. I started reflecting on for his/her family; b) attend forma- both in prayer and in material sup-
how this area of our diocesan opera- tion programs such as recollections port. For school year 2005-2006
tions be sustained considering the ne- in order to deepen their faith; c) give alone, out of the total seminary for-
cessity of forming young men to be- material support from their farm har- mation expenses of P 2,424,000, the
Holy See to Host Meet on Women Issues
VATICAN CITY, January 13,
2007—On February 27, Arch-
bishop Celestino Migliore, Holy
See permanent observer to the
United Nations in New York, to-
gether with the Path to Peace Foun-
dation and the Vincentian Center
for Church and Society of St. John’s
University in New York, will host
an event within the framework of a
meeting of the United Nations Com-
mission on the Status of Women,
entitled “The Human Dignity of
Women in Contemporary Society:
Addressing Violence against
Women.”
According to a communique
made public today, the event “will
identify the key contemporary so-
cial economic and legal issues that
violence has upon women; discuss
these issues through the prism of
the dignity of the human person;
describe current best practices and
the applied ethics approach to the
issue of violence and its preven-
tion; and provide a forum for the
exchange of experience across na-
tions and enhanced communication
among panelists and participants.”
The meeting, which will be
moderated by Marilyn Martone,
associate professor of theology at
St. John’s University, will consider
such questions as: Domestic Vio-
lence: Service and Policy Issues;
Sexual Exploitation of Women and
Girls: Trafficking, Prostitution and
Weapons of War; and Gender-
Based Violence: International Hu-
man Rights and Family Reunifica-
tion Policy. (VIS)
© Denz Dayao / CBCP Media

come priests not only for our diocese vests or from their businesses or SBA contributed a total of P 658,000.
but for local and foreign missions vis- work; d) help solicit additional funds It is heartwarming to hear that mem-
à-vis‘ our lack of funds to sustain such to further answer the needs of the bers who are vendors, farmers and
need. seminary formation program. farm workers, employees in both
I started seeking help from With the support of Fr. Felix government and private sectors pray
people outside our diocese espe- Abadies, then Rector of the Pope for their prayer partner-seminarians,
cially in Manila. One of the benefac- John XXIII College Seminary and Fr. and set aside a part of their budget
tors challenged me to tap our parish- Bernard Saburao, then Director of the mostly for food just to support our
ioners because they must know their Pope John XXIII Pre-College Semi- Seminary Formation Program. Some
responsibility in terms of forming nary, we started the necessary prepa-
men to become priests. At first I was rations for the establishment of pa-
give rice while others give veg-
etables or any harvest from their
Crisis in Governance Tops
hesitant because I saw how poor our rochial chapters of the association
people are, but after a prayerful con- based on the above guidelines. The
farms. Many members share their
encounter with God through this Bishops’ Seminar
sideration, I made some research. In following chapters were organized association and the message of St.
the course of my reflection and re- with the support of their parish Luke is truly experienced by the MEMBERS of the Catholic Bish- tion of Priests, Religious and Lay
search, I came across the descrip- priests. San Isidro Cathedral Chap- people which states, “give and gifts ops’ Conference of the Philip- in Addressing Crises in Gover-
tion in the Second Plenary Council ter in Malaybalay was established will be given to you; a good mea- pines (CBCP) will convene a nance”.
of the Philippines’ vision for the Phil- in July 15, 2000, Our Lady of the Holy sure, packed together, shaken down, three-day seminar, preparatory CBCP Secretary general
ippine Church as “church of the Rosary Chapter in Damulog was or- and overflowing, will be poured into to their 94th plenary assembly Msgr Juanito Figura said the
poor” which states, “a church where ganized in September 16, 2000; San your lap.” (Luke 6:38). January 23, 2007. theme draws inspiration from this
no one is so poor as to have nothing Isidro Labrador Chapter in The association was officially reg- The bishops plenary assem- month’s culminating activities of
to give, and no one is so rich as to Kadingilan on October 7, 2000; San istered with Securities and Exchange bly, to be held on January 26 to Year of Social Concerns 2006 and
have nothing to receive.” (PCP II- Andres Chapter in Maramag on No- Commission on December 8, 2005. 28 at the Pope Pius XII Catholic the CBCP-National Secretariat
XCVII). vember 12, 2001; Immaculate Con- Our mission is to organize all the Center in Paco, Manila, will fol- for Social Action- Justice and
From this premise, I formulated ception Chapter in Kibawe on Feb- parishes in our diocese into SBA low the seminar. Peace’s (NASSA) 40th year anni-
the guidelines for the creation of the ruary 14, 2002; St. Michael the Arch- chapters. After all, the task of form- The bishops’ seminar has versary.
Seminary Benefactors Association angel Chapter in Linabo on March 5, ing men to become clerics is for the adopted the theme: “Collabora- Crisis / P12
of the Diocese of Malaybalay. We 2005; San Isidro Labrador Chapter Malaybalay / P10

4 News
World Day of the Sick on February 10
MANILA Archbishop
Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales
will lead the faithful in celebrat-
ing the 15th World Day of the
Sick.
Rosales will preside at the
Healing Mass for the Sick on
February 10, Feast of Our Lady
of Lourdes at the Holy Spirit
Parish in Tayuman, Manila on
February 10 at 9 a.m.
The theme for this year’s
celebration is “The Spiritual
and Pastoral Care of the Pa-
tients with Incurable Illness.”
The archdiocese invites
the faithful, especially those
who have loved ones who are
sick, to come and join the Mass
to be able to receive the bless-
CICM Congregation Marks 100th Anniversary
THE Congregation of the Mission-
aries of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
(CICM), is celebrating 100 years of
missionary work in the Philip-
pines.
The centennial celebra-
tion will last a whole year from
November 28, 2006 to No-
vember 28, 2007 with a huge
gathering in Pasay City of
all the missionaries in
country and from abroad.
The celebration will
carry the theme: “100
years of CICM Mission-
ary Presence in the
Philippines: Remembrance
and Revitalization.”
The yearlong celebration aims
to increase the people’s awareness
of CICM past and present engage-
CBCP Media Office Launches Radio Program
THE Catholic Bishops’ Conference
of the Philippines (CBCP) Media Of-
fice has launched a new radio pro-
gram entitled “Ang Tinig ng Pastol”
(The Voice of the Shepherd).
The one-hour live program fo-
cuses on relevant issues that affect
Church and society.
“Ang Tinig ng Pastol” is aired
live every Sunday, 10 to 11am at
Radyo Veritas 846 and hosted by
CBCP spokesman Msgr Pedro
Quitorio and Sr Pinky Barrientos,
FSP.
The program is radio magazine
that features phone-ins, interviews
with bishops and priests and discus-
sions on various social issues.
But why “Tinig ng Pastol”?
More Devotees Flock to the Black Nazarene
THOUSANDS of Filipino devotees,
young and old, converged in Quiapo
yesterday to commemorate the Feast
of the Black Nazarene.
As early as Jan.8, devotees al-
ready gathered in Luneta where a
replica of the statue was brought for
an overnight vigil and also to high-
light the 400th anniversary of the
Filipino’s devotion to the Black
Nazarene.
Many of the devotees wore t-
shirts printed with an image of Christ
as others forced their way in to grab
a piece of the rope used to pull the
carroza or threw towels at marshals,
Fast Wednesday / from p1
tics eroding the people’s morale and
hope for change.
“Our efforts at both genuine char-
acter and societal change should be
relentless and go on beyond the 2007
elections,” it said.
At press time, Kubol Pagasa mem-
bers are still planning where to hold the
every Wednesday activity and are
inviting all those concerned for our
country to join. (CBCP News)
ing and anointing of Holy Oil.
Anointing of the sick is
healing in a special sense as it
reminds of Jesus Christ’s com-
passionate healing of those suf-
fering, according to the “Cat-
echism for Filipino Catholics.”
On May 13 1992, His Holi-
ness Pope John Paul II insti-
tuted “World Day of the Sick”
to be celebrated on the month
of February every year.
The Archdiocesan Mass
for the Sick is in coordination
with the Ministry of Health Care
of the Archdiocese of Manila
headed by Fr. Prudencio T.
Solomon, Jr. and the Philippine
Association Sovereign Military
Order of Malta. (CBCP News)
ments as well as to express gratitude
to people and communities for the
opportunity to do its mission.
The centennial is also
a time to revitalize mis-
sionary spirituality
among CICM confreres
and mission partners; to
intensify and renew mis-
sion and vocation ani-
mation and to shape a
dynamic future direc-
tion of CICM in the
Philippines.
Other celebra-
tions, involving
CICM communities nation-
wide will include meetings in
schools, rallies to celebrate, to re-
member and revitalize missionary
endeavor. (CBCP News)
Barrientos said the clergy is our
shepherd and their voice echoes the
teachings of the Good Shepherd,
Jesus himself.
“The relevant topics that they
will discuss through the program will
help the listeners understand issues
that confront our Church and soci-
ety today,” she said.
She stressed that the new radio
program will serve as a venue for the
prelates to talk on various social con-
cerns that directly affect the faithful.
“And we can also amplify the
pastoral concerns that the CBCP is
doing, which most of the time are not
given media mileage or simply misin-
terpreted by the mainstream media,”
said Barrientos. (Roy Lagarde)
asking them to wipe them on the statue.
Msgr. Josefino Ramirez, Quiapo
parish priest, said the rope and hands
in the logo of the Black Nazarene
indicates the spirit of caring, unity
and cooperation of devotees in the
procession.
Manila Archbishop Gaudencio
Cardinal Rosales has declared May
31, 2006, to June 1, 2007, as a Jubilee
Year for the Fourth Centenary of the
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno.
He said the Archdiocese of Ma-
nila has petitioned Pope Benedict XVI
for the “canonical celebration” of the
400-year-old image. (CBCP News)
Faithful Urged / from p1
He called on the faithful to moti-
vate public discussion that would
examine into the qualifications and
platforms of the candidates and would
help voters in making decisions.
“There should be discernment,
discussions in the BECs (Basic
Ecclesial Communities) on the candi-
dates that the people want for the
good of the country,” said Lagdameo.
(Roy Lagarde)
Bishop Urges Participation of Lay Faithful in Politics, Society
CATHOLIC lay faithful, more than any
other people, must be at the forefront
in the battle against political and social
problems in the country, a senior prel-
ate said.
Novaliches Bishop-Emeritus
Teodoro Bacani said a field in which
lay people are called to play a major role
is the campaign against corruption in
the government.
He said the faithful have great
relevance in the pastoral activity of the
Church and its mission to carry Chris-
tian values to the fields of politics and
social action.
“Bishops should help the coun-
try fight corruption by educating
people in moral values but I urge the
PBS Joins Poll Education Drive
ANOTHER Christian group has come
out with a guideline for the faithful on
responsible voting in view of the forth-
coming mid-term elections.
The Philippine Bible Society
(PBS), an inter-faith group devoted to
the study and propagation of the Scrip-
ture, packaged certain passages from
the Bible as voters’ guide.
The guide is non-partisan, but
unequivocally moral and full with wis-
dom.
It reminds the faithful of the charac-
teristics of worthy candidates for seats
in the Senate, the House of Representa-
Contraception / from p1
But Lagdameo said the govern-
ment should also not dictate couples
of cutting back the number of chil-
dren they want to raise.
The bishops agree that although
the burgeoning population is some-
thing that needs attention, the govern-
ment should not force population con-
trol measures on the Filipino people.
The Church also rejected
government’s campaign to control
the population growth through the
use of contraception like condoms,
IUD and pills.
Some government officials are
in the firm belief that rapid popula-
tion growth would negate the mod-
Caceres Holds / from p1
naries; who gave the talk on Mis-
sion Formation in the Revised Phil-
ippine Program of Formation.
Other speakers included Fr.
James H. Kroeger, MM, professor
of theology at Loyola School of
Theology and Mother of Life
Catechetical Institute, at the same
time president of the Philippine
Association of Catholic
Missiologist, and Mission Consult-
ant of the Federation of Asian
Bishop’s Conferences as well as
executive secretary of the Asian
Missionary Societies of Apostolic
Life; Fr. Andrew G. Recepcion, pro-
fessor at the Holy Rosary Major
Seminary in Naga City and Dioc-
esan Mission Director of the Arch-
diocese of Caceres; Msgr. Gilbert
Bishop Seeks / from p1
case remain unsolved six years after
his ouster on allegations of massive
corruption.
“It’s been six years already and
the people are still waiting for the
result of the case if he really commit-
ted a crime or not,” said Pabillo.
The prelate insists the case must
be resolved the soonest.
Estrada was ousted in January
20, 2001 through the popular second
revolt and catapulted Ms Arroyo to
power.
Estrada was impeached on alle-
gations that he received kickbacks
from “jueteng,” an illegal numbers
game, and from the tobacco excise tax.
His criminal cases including
perjury and illegal use of alias remain
pending before the Sandiganbayan
anti-graft court. (Miami Ebilane)
people to join and lead the fight against
this scourge,” said Bacani.
The church cannot be directly
involved in political battle but the
prelate underscored that fighting
social sins is also the role of ordinary
people.
“Let us not wait for bishops to
expose government anomalies be-
cause that is the duty of everyone. If
you discovered something anomalous
in some government projects, you
should expose it,” urged the bishop.
As a nation, he said, people must
stand together in fighting for change
in the daily lives of many people and
against bad governance.
The prelate stressed that without
tives and local government posts.
It will be made available to the
public via national campaign, mail
shots, e-mails and handouts.
Entitled “Sino Ang Dapat Iboto
sa Halalan2007?,” the guide outlined
the following characters of a good
leader:
1. God-fearing (2 Samuel 23: 3-4);
2. Displays genuine concern and love
for our nation Deuteronomy 17:15);
3. Has leadership abilities (Genesis
41:37-41);
4. Manages his own family well (1 Timo-
thy 3:4);
est strides in the economy.
But Lagdameo said the real cul-
prit on poverty is the fact that eco-
nomic progress and government pro-
grams are not reaching the
grassroots.
“People are not enjoying the
fruits of progress. There’s still no
food on the table and many people
still can’t find jobs,” he stressed.
Instead of trying to force popu-
lation control measures down the
throat of many couples, the govern-
ment, the prelate said, should en-
courage policies promoting natural
family planning and the education of
women and men rather than coercive
A. Garcera, H.P., national director of
the Pontifical Mission Societies and
executive secretary of the Episco-
pal Commission on Mission, who
spoke on The Pontifical Society of
St. Peter the Apostle and Seminary
Formation; Msgr. Jose Antonio S.
Galvez, parish priest of the Immacu-
late Conception of Malolos, and
PMS Diocesan Mission Director;
Fr. William J. LaRouse, MM, profes-
sor at St. Francis Xavier Regional
Seminary of Davao and president of
the International Association of
Catholic Missiologist and execu-
tive secretary of the Philippine
Catholic Mission Council; who
spoke on Rethinking Mission For-
mation in the Philippine Seminar-
ies. (Pinky Barrientos, FSP)
Prelate Exhorts / from p1
group is set to visit different areas in
Luzon and Visayas to know candi-
dates who are anti-jueteng or anti-
gambling.
He said they are going to let
candidates sign a covenant stating
their full commitment against what
he called a “social cancer” and will be
supported by his crusade.
“We are going to support them
in the sense that if they are anti-
gambling, there is a presumption of
honesty and integrity of life,” said
Cruz.
Although being anti-gambling
is not just the qualification that’s
needed, he said, “it’s also a sign of
integrity.” “Integrity is one that we
need so much in the political commu-
nity,” he said.
Cruz, however, clarified they are
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 2
January 22, 2007
a concerted and united war against the
demons of corruption, the country will
not achieve the aimed transformation
of the lives of many people.
“We just need brave
whistleblowers,” he said.
He cited the extortion issue
against former Justice Secretary
Hernando Perez saying had no one
requested the Ombudsman to pros-
ecute it, “we will never know it.”
Fortunately, he stressed, we have
fearless journalists and other people
who are so concerned for our nation.
“We bishops should be at the
background and the people should
really be at the forefront in these fight,”
he said. (Roy Lagarde)
5. Has integrity (Deuteronomy 16:18-19);
6. Industrious Romans (12:11);
7. Righteous (Song of Songs 89:14);
8. Generous (Proverbs 29:4);
9. True to his words (Proverbs 25:14); and
10. Impartial (Proverbs 31:8-9).
“We are going to use the power of
the voters to put the kind of leaders
who will provide good governance,”
said Nora Lucero, PBS secretary gen-
eral. “But they are free to make their
own decision. This is a democratic
country.”
“The PBS campaign is not politi-
cal. We only want to help Filipino
voters in making their choices,” she
added. (CBCP News)
measures of population control that
violate moral norms.
The Church stands for respon-
sible parenthood and freedom of the
couples to choose the size of the
family.
Senator Aquilino Pimentel who
participated in the conference, voiced
support for the Church saying it was
wrong to blame population—which
seemed to be widespread in the Phil-
ippines—as the cause of poverty.
“It’s important that we turn our-
selves into the government’s poli-
cies to insure people are being served
well and to stop graft and corrup-
tion,” he said.
PPCRV / from p1
4. Thou shalt strive to understand
the issues, platform, and programs
of candidates and parties seeking
your vote.
5. Thou shalt not sell your vote.
6. Thou shalt not vote for candi-
dates using guns, goons and
gold.
7. Thou shalt not vote for candidates
with records of graft and corrup-
tion.
8. Thou shalt not vote for candidates
just because of debt of gratitude,
popularity, or camaraderie.
9. Thou shalt not vote for candidates
living an immoral life.
10. Thou shalt put the welfare of the
country above all else in choos-
ing the candidates you will vote
for. (CBCP News)
not going to identify who the pro-
jueteng candidates are.
“We are just going to let the
people know the candidates who are
anti-gambling that needs support,”
he said.
“We will not name those who
are pro-jueteng or pro-gambling be-
cause it’s not fair also to them and we
might commit mistake.”
Cruz also expressed concern on
the possibility of money from jueteng
be again used this elections.
“Jueteng money bribes some
election officials, pays for campaign
expenses and buys votes,” he said.
“It takes away votes from honest
and upright candidates and credit
votes in favor of corrupt and cor-
rupting pretenders for public office.”
(CBCP News)
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 2
January 22, 2007
7 QUESTIONS for
Abp. FERNANDO R. CAPALLA
Most Rev. Fernando Capalla,
D.D., archbishop of Davao and
who preceded Abp. Angel
Lagdameo as president of the
Catholic Bishops’ Conference
of the Philippines, talks to
CBCP Monitor about Davao
archdiocese’s social concern
programs, priestly vocations
and clergy formation, family
life program as well as his
perception of the mainstream
or secular media.
How is the Church’s social
concern agenda being
implemented in your dio-
cese?
Well, one is that we have a
housing project for the poor
that is being funded by a group.
Then also, at the squatter ar-
eas, we try to help people whose
houses are demolished with-
out proper relocation. The
housing law says that you can-
not demolish unless there is
already a place for relocation.
Another also, which is some-
thing personal for me, is about
those personalities who were
accused of rebellion—there are
8 of them, aside from the so-
called ‘Batasan 5’. I wrote to
President Arroyo that they
should be given due process.
Another one, which is also
close to my heart, is that we are
helping the coconut planters in
our diocese claim or regain the
Coco Levy Fund. After four
years of helping them, we are
now at the last stages of the
process, forging unity between
coconut farmers, the coco levy,
and the land owners.
7
Do you think the
Church’s involve-
ment in politics is
part of the social
concern agenda?
It depends. For
the Church, the arena
of politics in general
could be a highest
QUESTIONS
form of service to the
people, particularly in
forming Christian moral con-
science. But the Church should
not engage in partisan politics.
We should not participate in
political activities. It is not our
role. It is not allowed in the
Canon Law.
Moving on to the subject of
priestly vocations. What is
the situation in your arch-
diocese?
Oh, yes. Our seminaries are
full. Though admittedly the
number of our priests may not
be really that enough vis-à-vis
the number of people or popu-
lation we are serving, we have
enough seminarians to care for.
The problem actually is not the
number of vocations but the
quality of the formation pro-
gram that is being given to them.
How would you assess the
quality of vocations in your
area?
You see, 95% of vocations
in Mindanao are coming from
our BECs, or from the lower
class families. This in itself is
already a problem among our
candidates—seminarians or
sisters—because seemingly
one stumbling block in their
vocation is equally their desire
to help financially their fami-
lies. So that, sometimes when
they are ordained priests, they
are tempted to mishandle or mis-
manage the funds in order to
help their families. Second, in
most of our seminaries, though
80-90% of the young formators
have academic degrees earned
from abroad, they lack in terms
of real pastoral experience. But
having a degree does not readily
qualify you to become a
formator or as an excellent role
model to young seminarians.
Third, materialistic values have
become so strong that they
seem to have eroded the spiri-
tuality even of our seminarians
and priests.
Do you have programs in
your archdiocese that en-
sure the continuing forma-
tion of the clergy?
Yes, we have our
monthly presbyterial
meeting, followed by
the monthly recollec-
tion. We also have our
annual retreat. Aside
from that, we have also
our fraternity meeting
every three months.
How about the fam-
ily life program in
your archdiocese?
It’s very active. We have
two volunteer doctors in our
staff, and they regularly meet
at the bishop’s house every
month. They are updated about
the bills related to family life
pending in Congress. One of
the urgent problems in our place
regarding family life is that I
have noticed that a lot of our
priests are asking me for facul-
ties to absolve abortion. It is
reported that abortion is ram-
pant, being done in broad day-
light, especially in Bangkerohan
district (Davao City).
What is your perception of
the mainstream or secular
media?
About the secular media, I
have my thumbs down. But I am
for having a very good media
office or media program. For
me, however, what is more im-
portant is the education of
people on social communica-
tions than having an expert on
media in the office.
Feature
Value and Life
IN the matter of values, the best
gauge is to examine what one holds
as dear. But it goes without saying
that there will be set of values for
every agreed interest. This could
easily include the value tied to an
effort, an object or a person. The
value holder could be a group or the
individual person. When profes-
sional concerns are considered, the
teacher will naturally hold on to a
different set of values from that of a
businessman.
However, there are values that
are highest in the scale, and they are
common to all, what ever the interest
may be involved. Values that are
directly linked to life will always be
great values.
The closer the interest to the
Divine plan, the easier can a person
appreciate its value or worth of self.
Evangelization, for example, as the
proclamation of the Kingdom of God
is so important “that, by compari-
son, everything else become ‘the
rest’, which is ‘given in addition’.
Only the kingdom therefore is abso-
lute and it makes everything else
relative”. (Evagelii Nuntiandi, 8).
Since the kingdom of God admits
that in it (in the kingdom) God has no
rival, no equal, and no competitor
and that the love that reigns in it has
freed humans, in and through Christ,
from everything that has enslaved
them, including liberation from sin
and the Evil one, it (the kingdom of
God) cannot, therefore, be subject to
anything higher than itself. Simply
put, there is nothing higher than the
Transcendent. But the measure of
worth, indisputable to anyone, is in
relation only to God.
Basis of Human Values
What if the question is about
humans? What scale of values
should be offered to him? No less
our Lord Jesus Christ presented the
question rooted in fundamental hu-
man values, when He asked, “What,
then, will anyone gain by winning
the whole world and forfeiting his
life? Or what can anyone offer in
exchange for his life?” (Matthew
16.26). For humans, then, the high-
est value is life. It is in their human
life where men and women resemble
God. “Let us make humans in our
image, in the likeness of ourselves…”
God said. (Genesis 1:26). In the old
Covenant Yahweh demanded an
accounting of life when he said, “Of
man as regards his fellow men, I shall
demand account for human life. He
who sheds the blood of man by man
shall his blood be shed, for in the
image of God was man created”.
(Genesis 9:5-6).
Again the reminder is directed
to us when the late Pope John Paul II,
in the Document Evangelium Vitae,
said, “Human life is sacred because
from its beginning it involved the
‘creative action of God’, and it re-
mains forever in a special relation-
ship with the Creator, who is its sole
end. God alone is the Lord of life from
its beginning until its end; no one
can, in any circumstance, claim for
himself the right to destroy directly
an innocent human being”. (EV, 53)
The value attached to life is a
value given to the entire life of the
human being. The critical defense of
the yet unborn life and compassion-
ate care of the elderly does not at all
mean that our commitment to guard
and assure the more human exist-
ence of the poor, the sick, the igno-
rant, the marginalized by the grow-
ing culture of uncaring wealth and
consumerism, those victimized by
power and vice—has waned and
become only secondary concerns to
the first.
It is obvious that in our reckon-
ing any valuation that could be linked
with life, or is posited next to life or
equated with life must be of great
value. The closer to life, the greater
The Family is
Where Human
Values Begin
by Gaudencio Cardinal B. Rosales
the value. Equated with life, the
greatest value.
Family: Where Values are
Nurtured
Value-worth is linked necessar-
ily with life. The family then which is
the cradle of human life necessarily
becomes the nurturing ground for
correct values. Life is first shared
and is continuously sustained in the
family. But it is also in the family that
relationships are born; and when a
person, young or matured, becomes
aware of relationship, correlation and
dependency, then she learns what a
person or thing, is worth (to him/
her).
Does he or she create the val-
ues?
Kinship plays a great role in the
development of values. It is no small
wonder that the young are endeared
to persons who loved and cared for
and smiled at them in childhood.
Much appreciation and worth were
stored up form the experience of
every person’s childhood within the
family. For this reason the family is
rightly called “a kind of school of
deeper humanity. … if it is to achieve
the full flowering of its life and mis-
sion, it needs the kindly communion
of minds and the joint deliberation of
spouses, as well as the painstaking
cooperation of parents in the educa-
tion of their children”. (GS, 52). The
family is a domestic school for hu-
man enrichment for it is here where
under the tutelage of parents and
elders the individual person is en-
couraged, helped and accompanied
to freely and responsibly practice
whatever is good.
A Potential for Good in every
person
There is then in every person
the potential for good. When this
potential, with the encouragement
and guidance of parent and elders, is
developed and becomes a habitual
and firm disposition for good, dis-
posing the intellect and the will which
guides one’s conduct according to
reason and faith, it is called virtue.
(CCC, 1833, 1834). In the task of
training the person to goodness, it is
next to impossible to replace the role
of parents who, beyond affection,
looks at the young as flesh of their
5
© Bloomimage/Corbis
flesh, blood from their blood. Of
parents and family this is what
Vatican II states, “As it is the parents
who have given life to their children,
on them lies the gravest obligation of
educating their family. They must
therefore be recognized as being
primarily and principally responsible
for their education. The role of par-
ents in education is of such great
importance that it is almost impos-
sible to provide an adequate substi-
tute”. (GE, 3).
In the education to virtue and
value the best paternal teaching tool
is good example. When there is an
abundance of good example in the
home, hardly is there a need for pro-
longed and wordy reminders. On the
power of good example Our Lord
Jesus Christ has this to say, “In the
same way your light must shine in
people’s sight, so that, seeing your
good works, they may give praise to
your Father in Heaven”. (Matthew
4:16). Examples in the home linger
longer than the echoes of repeated
counsels. It was the Chinese sage
who once said, “From the loving
example of a family, a whole nation
may become loving and compassion-
ate; from the ambition and lust of one
man, the whole country may be
thrown into rebellion. Such is the
nature of good example”.
(Confucius). How true the saying is
that example speaks louder than
words. (The saying of Francis of
Assisi).
Freedom enhanced by Mas-
tery of Self
Training a strong will, further
reinforced by discipline, comes in
next in the list of tools parents may
use to instil values among the young.
Repeated acts lead to virtue; but
values are defended by restraint and
discipline. Here is where the experi-
ence of parents comes in as inspira-
tion to the children. Or as the Book
of Proverbs reminds, “… the precept
is a lamp, the teaching is a light;
correction and discipline are the way
of life”. (Proverbs 6:23). Elders re-
mind the young of the need for mas-
tery over self, because there is no
such thing as absolute freedom be-
fore a choice between good and bad,
between God and what is evil. “The
more one does good, the freer one
becomes. There is no true freedom
The Family / P10
 CBCP Monitor
6 Opinion Vol. 11 No. 2
January 22, 2007

Editorial

The Family Barometer

THERE was a time when political pundits would single
out efficiency as the most important qualification of a
candidate, downplaying other attributes, or liabilities if
you may, as secondary if not outright negligible. They
would banner Clinton whose merry-making with Monica
did not distract a bit the job of governance—initially, at
least.
At first blush this looks valid, because why bother
about mistresses here and there when one can propel
the country into becoming a tiger economy and build
skyways and hundreds of hectares of reclamation
areas? But in a situation where the issues are massive
corruption, cheating and name-it-you-have-it, then the
efficiency issue is simply beside the point. Like the
bishops have been crooning of late, it is really a matter
of character. Yes, Virginia, it’s all about morality.
Traditional or not, but a good barometer is the
family. A bishop places it succinctly “make sure that a
political candidate has integrity and enough capacity.
Integrity can be measured if a person is faithful to his/her
partner; capacity is when they are able to raise their
children well.”
Isn’t it stupid to vote for a candidate whose family
is in shambles? Or whose family members are in both
houses of Congress?

The Reel and The Real

“PINOYS enjoying boom, they just don’t know it.”
Thus reads the headline in a broadsheet (PDI 21 Oscar V. Cruz, DD
Trading Partners
January 2007). It conveys the substance of a speech of
the national leadership about the triumphant Philippine
economic gains leading the nation to a “first world” Vie ws and P
iews oints
Points
country.
It would not be fair to say that the national IT was with great pride and sheer plea- tically all big malls and markets in the Second: the Philippines has cheap
leadership is deliberately lying in its own perception and sure that the present Administration country carry predictable Chinese prod- services vis-à-vis high cost of produc-
affirmation of its illustrious economic achievement. But announced that the Philippines and ucts selling at strangely low prices. tion. The peso is becoming dearer but
it is an objectively strange way of looking at the real China are henceforth trading partners. Thereafter comes the upsetting con- continues to buy lesser. Its productive
economic standing of the state of the nation—especially In a moment of glory, one is much im- viction that there must be something economy is singularly very much smaller
as far as the millions of poor starving and sick Filipinos pressed and elated. It is like a huge gi- fundamentally wrong with the much cel- and costlier. Filipinos themselves pur-
are concerned. ant conceding to be an equal of a tiny ebrated trade agreement—even but con- chase local products only in the absence
And this is precisely the big problem with the dwarf. What an amazing grace! sidering the three following national of very cheap Chinese duly imported or
national leadership. It sees what does not exist. It After such fleeting glorious feel- open secrets of this country: simply smuggled items.
confirms what is not present. It perceives what is not ing, doubt begins to gradually creep First: the Philippines is basically a Third: the Philippines primarily de-
real. in. How could such a magnanimous consumer society. From clothing to food, pend on people as its export. The OFWs
How sad but true. Someone is lying basically saying concession come about? Where would from house decors to holy images—not remittances are what keep the country
the opposite of what the person really knows. But to be such a super generosity be an actual- to mention Christmas lights and tin- economically afloat. OFWs keep their
convinced of something as a glowing truth when it is in ity? It’s too good to be true, too neat sels—all these are imported. And most Filipino families fed, clothed and
fact a miserable falsehood, this is a big problem. to be real. of them are “made in China”. There are housed. Records show that there are
This is exactly the big danger poised by the national Then a disturbing question starts even imported “bagoong” and tooth- some 2,800 Filipinos and Filipinas who
leadership—it sees abundance when there is poverty. It to form. China is such a vast land hav- picks. The recent scandal of “hot” pork become OFWs every day of the year.
claims development in the face of misery. There must ing massive production at minimal cost smuggled from China has been one long What has the Administration to
and a pursuant enormous export. Prac- big bad news in the country. trade with China?
be something definitely wrong in this ominous contradic-
tion.

Candles in the Rev. Euly B. Belizar, SThD

It is no wonder that to the miserable poor and
depressed millions of Filipinos, the country is in effect
going nowhere. What the national leadership has is all
By the Roadside
Roadside
wrong. But everything is just right for its avid allies and
blind followers who have been having all the goodies and Windstorm
the fun. The rest of the people let them take care of
themselves if they could. BEING from, and residing in, Eastern pared in the sight of every people, a light according to the Lord’s instructions in-
Again, when someone sees something big when Samar is both a boon and a bane. My to reveal you to the nations and the glory dicated they were of God and to be
there is actually nothing or claims great achievements province is probably one of the few is- of your people Israel (Lk 2:30-32).” The spared. That is why every first-born male
when such is really non-existent, this is something to lands in the archipelago that still have candles remind us of the Light who is in humans and in animals within Israel
worry about—a lot! some lush forests, a relatively fresher air, Jesus Christ, our Savior from all sin and had to be consecrated to the Lord and
a number of not-too-polluted rivers and from death, the two horns of darkness, bought back from him. Moses’ words
seas. Our soil is fertile though largely not the archetypal blackouts of our lives, but offer a rather raw explanation: “If your
as productive as it should be, owing which he has overcome. son should ask you later on, ‘What does
ISSN 1908-2940 partly to our farmers’ outdated methods But what was the Presentation all this mean?’ you shall tell him, ‘With a
of farming, a perennial state of bad roads about? In the book of Exodus it is pro- strong hand the Lord brought us out of

CBCP Monitor
and a long history of inefficient gover- vided that every “first-born male child” Egypt, that place of slavery. When Pha-
nance. But, to add more misery to our of Israelites and their animals are to be raoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the
woes, we can’t seem to shake the early “consecrated to the Lord” (Ex 13:2). That Lord killed every first born in the land of
nineties’ phenomenon—brownouts. is to say, the first-born male animals have Egypt, every first-born of man and of
P r o ta g o n i s t of T ruth, Promoter of Peace
We Eastern Samareños are used to, to be sacrificed and the first-born male beast. That is why I sacrifice to the Lord
but do not relish, the brownouts. They child of Israelites has to be presented to everything of the male sex that opens the
Pedro C. Quitorio Pinky Barrientos, FSP seem as predictable as the rising of the the temple and ‘redeemed’ or bought back womb, and why I redeem every first-born
Editor-in-Chief Production Manager sun. No matter what protest or complaint from the Lord. To buy back a first-born of my sons’” (Ex 13:14-16).
we make, they come, and they come be- son of a poor couple it was enough to Unknown to most, known only to
Baltazar R. Acebedo Marcelo T. Dalanon cause our source of power is just too far offer a pair of turtledoves or two young some selected people like Simeon and
Managing Editor Circulation Manager from us. In the distance just a single tree pigeons (Lk 2:24). Being poor, Mary and Anna, Jesus, a first-born male, was him-
Dennis B. Dayao or branch falling could trigger power out- Joseph had to make do with those pre- self the Messiah, the Lamb of God by
Ma. Lourdes G. Ebilane
On-Line Editor Marketing Supervisor age. cisely. whose blood the sins of the world would
February’s Feast of the Presentation Now why the presentation of the be forgiven, by whose blood we are con-
Roy Q. Lagarde Hernani Ramos reminds me of how the electric brown- first-born male? Basically it was to recall tinuously being freed from the darkness
News Editor Comptroller outs we loath in my province are nothing God’s saving act for Israel in Egypt when of sin and death (Jn 1:29). In effect, his
compared to the brown-outs or even he made their release from slavery pos- coming, his presence is good news to us
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCP blackouts inside our souls because of sible by the deaths of the Egyptian first- who are among the “people walking in
Communications Development Foundation, Inc., with sin. Which is why traditionally we bring born males in both humans and animals. the darkness” but now “have seen a great
Layout by Denz Dayao

editorial and business offices at 470 Gen. Luna St.,

Intramuros, Manila. P.O. Box 3601, 1076 MCPO. Edito- candles to the church whenever we cel- But God spared the Israelites’ first-born light” (Is 9:1).
rial: (063) 404-2182. Business: (063)404-1612. ebrate the feast because we want to re- males in humans and in animals because It’s an experience you and I have.
Email: cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net Website: mind ourselves of what Simeon says of the angel of death ‘passed over’ them. Darkness is what we see when there’s
www.cbcpworld.net/cbcpmonitor Jesus in Luke’s gospel: “My eyes have Why? Because the blood of male lambs trouble, problem, danger, wrongdoing or
seen the salvation which you have pre- splashed on doors of Israelites’ houses Roadside / P12
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 2
January 22, 2007
Jose B. Lugay
Laik
Laikoo Lampstand
NANDY Pacheco, better known as a
staunch advocate of the gun ban, was a
delegate to PCP-II when I first met him.
He, together with other lay leaders orga-
nized the Ang Kapatiran Party. The Party
Platform dimensions come straight from
PCP-II Acts and Decrees on social trans-
formation and the renewal of the Church.
Nandy approached me while attend-
ing the Sangguniang Laiko’s National
Conference on Social Transformation
held at the PICC, May 17-18, 2003. His
invitation was a call for the organized la-
ity to join in partisan politics, fielding
candidates having values of servant lead-
ers. The invitation could not be accepted
right there and then since involvement
of the organized laity needed the ex-
pressed permission of the Church hierar-
chy.
To dwell on this issue and to resolve
it once and for all, the Council of the La-
ity in its 14th Biennial Convention of Oc-
tober 29–30, 2005, invited distinguished
canon lawyers of the Church to give their
inputs on the theme, “Lay Empowerment
According to Vatican II and the Code of
Canon Law.” Bishop Leonardo
Medroso, Bishop Nereo Odchimar, Rev.
Fr. Jaime B. Achacoso and Fr. Agustin
The Party’s Over
THE country recently hosted the 12 th
ASEAN Leaders Summit in Cebu without
a major hitch. Security officers were
quoted saying they had almost 10,000
men and women from the Philippine Na-
tional Police and the Armed Forces of the
Philippines. It was learned the country
spent almost a billion pesos for the sched-
uled leaders’ summit last December (it was
cancelled allegedly due to the typhoon
tracked to hit Cebu and its environs al-
though some said it was more of a secu-
rity issue) and rescheduled this month.
Major landmark agreements were forged
with special emphasis on biofuel.
The occasion provided the appropri-
ate venue for the regional group to dis-
cuss more issues with its dialogue part-
ners, notably China, India, Japan and
Korea. It has been said Vietnam, after being
ravaged by bitter fighting for decades has
finally caught up with the Philippines and
now on its way to better days. Malaysia,
Thailand and Singapore have all passed
us by. Some even dare say we’ve become
the region’s basket case.
China is acknowledged for its remark-
able economic performance, guzzling al-
Bp. Leonardo Y. Medroso, JCD, DD
Tidbits
ONCE there was an aging king who, af-
ter long years of leadership, wished to
hand over his kingship to his son, the
only heir to his kingdom. The problem
was that his son was far from being pre-
pared for the huge responsibility. He
was imprudent, rash, and decadent. He
had so much to learn to be a true leader
and a good servant. Yearning his son
to be a good king, the old king thought
of a way to teach his son the lesson he
needed. And so one day he asked his
son to spend some days in the forest.
The son, although mystified by his
father’s order, immediately consented
to the demand because he dreamed to
be a king right away.
After two days in the forest, the
impatient son went back home. The
king excitedly asked his son what he
had learned.
The lad answered, “I saw how
beautiful the trees are, how dark and
dangerous the forest is, how cool the
stream waters, how fresh the morning
dew, how freezing the night in the for-
Opinion
The May Elections—Partisan
Politics for the Laity?
Opalalic had one common answer—the
Church can not get involved in partisan
politics. The Council of the Laity which
reports directly to the Episcopal Commis-
sion on Lay Apostolate, is classified as a
public association, hence, it can not get
involved in partisan politics. The case is
closed and the organized laity, in peace,
continued its work on the lay apostolate.
Recent political events however el-
evated the blood pressure of the dedi-
cated LAIKO members—the
Administration’s attempts to push
through charter change, first through
peoples’ initiative which was debunked
by the Supreme Court; next, the Con-Ass
disregarding the vote of the Senators.
This obvious desire of incumbents in
Congress to prolong their stay even by
foul means incited the people to pursue
a people power movement. The CBCP’s
call for a prayer rally on Sunday, Decem-
ber 17, 2006, tempered the mood of the
faithful who settled down to listen to the
call of CBCP President, Archbishop An-
gel Lagdameo, for a character change in-
stead of a charter change.
Now that the May election is com-
ing, the voices of the people rise in cre-
scendo. This desperation is expressed in
Melo M. Acuna
Issues and Concerns
most all raw materials from all over the
world to feed its industries. Come to think
of it, it’s system is quite different from what
the Americans taught us at the turn of the
century, described as evil and godless by
some, yet achieved gains in trade and com-
merce. China has spent an enormous
amount of money for education, health and
other basic services. India, known for its
libertarian form of government, now has
over a billion citizens yet became an influ-
ential member of the international commu-
nity. Sheer hard work and its adherence
to democratic principles made India what
it is today, capable to communicate with
the world in English.
Japan is known for its frugal lifestyle
and industry. After being “burned” to the
ground, no thanks to the twin atomic bomb-
ings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki prior to
the close of World War II, it rose to be-
come the region’s economic power. Ko-
rea, too, suffered from bitter conflict with
its northern neighbor yet developed its
industries to compete with the United
States and Europe. South Koreans are
also known to patronize their products
above imported and branded goods.
Learn From the
Forest
est.”
“In that case you have learned
nothing,” the king desperately said.
“Go back to the forest and let the for-
est teach you what you need to learn,”
the king commanded.
Puzzled and dismayed, the lad
went back to the woods. He could in
no wise understand what he had to
learn from the forest and how to learn
it. As he wondered and pondered, the
mystery and marvel of the forest en-
chanted him. And for six months he
stayed deep in the forest. After six long
lonely months he went back to his fa-
ther.
The king was delighted to hear
what his son had to say. “What have
you learned?” he asked.
The son humbly explained, “I am
not sure of what I have really learned. I
just realized that everything in the for-
est bears a subtle shade of meaning to
each other. I saw the mystical nuances
of things as I enjoyed the music of the
gushing stream and the singing crick-
the Readers’ Views and Opinions of a
daily newspaper. We quote a few:
“More and more Filipinos are slid-
ing into the poverty line and starving
because, like a broken record … this
goes on – unabated graft and corrup-
tion, smuggling and tax evasion whose
annual total runs into hundreds of bil-
lions of losses to the government.” —
Elpidio Que, Vigan.
“A flawed political system, corrup-
tion, overpopulation have made the Fili-
pinos poor. Add to this the greed for
money and power of politicians.” — Jim
Veneracion, Naga City.
A political scientist, Clarita Carlos of
U.P. says, “The people are physically
and emotionally tired of politicians …
hence the low turnout on CBCP’s rally
against Charter Change last Decem-
ber.”
In the din of all these, the LAIKO
board met with the ECLA bishops last
January 22—Bishop Gabriel Reyes of the
Diocese of Antipolo, Bishop Honesto
Pacana of the Diocese of Malaybalay,
Bishop Guillermo Afable of the Diocese
of Digos—to discuss once more the same
issue: Can Laiko get involved in parti-
Laiko / P8
The Philippines? Well, ours is still a
“promised land” with a host of leaders
promising to bring the country and its
people to the land of prosperity. In a mat-
ter of weeks, we’ll get to hear all these
recycled promises as the campaign sea-
son gets into high gear.
Yes, the party’s over. We ought to
learn from the lessons of life and gover-
nance from our neighbors and dialogue
partners. As we begin returning to our
daily lives after the pomp and historical
discussions at the Queen City of the
South, we ought to begin anew. It’s never
too late for us to get our acts together. Let
our leaders lead, respecting the provisions
of law, providing good examples to the
citizens and in touch with the ordinary
folks on how best to serve them.
An old Jesuit inspirational goes this
way: “If we only have the humility and
the courage to walk with the poor, we will
learn from them on what they have to
teach us how to help them.”
We simply can’t expect our neighbors
or dialogue partners to care enough for
country and people. We have to believe
in ourselves and do everything right.
ets. As I discovered how vulnerable the
beasts could get when afraid, and how
they wail when wounded. As I saw how
splendid the sun is as its rays pierce
through the leaves and break through
the darkness and depth of the forest.
As I noticed how lovely the insects be-
have and how painful they sting. As I
observed how the birds find their rest-
ing place in the twilight and how cold
and dark the night can be. As I discov-
ered when the leaves shall fall, and how
and why they fall. Until suddenly I felt
that I belong to the forest. I am one
with the forest. I found out that some-
thing greater than me connects every-
thing in the forest and makes sense of
everything. I may not know how the
forest really works but I think the for-
est is one big paradise where every-
thing is one—a rhapsody that does
make sense.”
Finally the king said, “My son, you
are now ready to be a true good king.”
I may not know how Borongan re-
Tidbits / P8
7
Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS
…and tha
thatt ’s the tr uth!
truth!
Signs of the
Times
FOR a change from New Year’s Resolutions that
never seem to resolve anything anyway, let’s be-
gin 2007’s truth-telling in a lighthearted mood.
Travel not only broadens your horizons and
expands your waistline—it also brings you funny
moments at the most unexpected times and places,
especially when you count on signs to find your
way around. I for one find some signs so amusing
or downright hilarious that I collect them, either
jotting them down in a memo pad or photograph-
ing them whenever possible. Friends who know
of my unusual “collection” contribute to it, too;
so, enjoy what I have to show after 30 years of
periodic globetrotting. (A word of caution, though:
many of the signs here are Strictly For Adults
Only).
Let’s start in Paris, where a cozy hotel reminds
guests to: PLEASE LEAVE YOUR VALUES AT THE
FRONT DESK.
A rather apologetic sign at a hotel lobby in
Bucharest says with all good intentions: THE LIFT
IS BEING FIXED FOR THE NEXT DAY. DURING
THAT TIME WE REGRET THAT YOU WILL BE
UNBEARABLE.
Across from a Russian Orthodox monastery in
Moscow, a hotel welcomes tourists with this sign
in the lobby: YOU ARE WELCOME TO VISIT THE
CEMETERY WHERE FAMOUS RUSSIAN AND SO-
VIET COMPOSERS, ARTISTS, AND WRITERS ARE
BURIED DAILY EXCEPT THURSDAY.
Very politely, a hotel in Tokyo has this sign in
its rooms: GUESTS ARE REQUESTED NOT TO
SMOKE OR DO OTHER DISGUSTING
BEHAVIOURS IN BED.
Elsewhere in Japan, a hotel’s Instruction Sheet
for using the air conditioner says: COOLES AND
HEATES: IF YOU WANT CONDITION OF WARM
AIR IN YOUR ROOM, PLEASE CONTROL YOUR-
SELF.
And speaking of self-control, see this re-
minder in the rooms of a Zurich hotel: BECAUSE
OF THE IMPROPRIETY OF ENTERTAINING
GUESTS OF THE OPPOSITE SEX IN THE BED-
ROOM, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE LOBBY BE
USED FOR THIS PURPOSE.
So as not to tire guests having to iron their
own clothing, a hotel in Yugoslavia tacks this warm
reminder on the rooms’ door: THE FLATTENING
OF UNDERWEAR WITH PLEASURE IS THE JOB
OF THE CHAMBERMAID.
With the same concern for guests, a hotel in
Japan posts this in the rooms: YOU ARE INVITED
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHAMBERMAID.
In case a chambermaid is unavailable, and the
guests’ lack of care in ironing their clothes results
in fire, this hotel in Vienna shows foresight with
this sign: IN CASE OF FIRE, DO YOUR UTMOST
TO ALARM THE HOTEL PORTER.
Mindful of its guests’ safety, a notice in the
rooms of a Chiang-Mai hotel in Thailand cautions:
PLEASE DO NOT BRING SOLICITORS INTO
YOUR ROOM.
Solicitors invading the rooms may not be a
problem for a hotel catering to skiers in Austria,
but some of its rowdy guests might be, thus the
warning: NOT TO PERAMBULATE THE CORRI-
DORS IN THE HOURS OF REPOSE IN THE BOOTS
OF ASCENSION.
Sightseeing is made more enjoyable when
you’re also “sign-seeing”. Look at this one posted
in Germany’s Black Forest: IT IS STRICTLY FOR-
BIDDEN ON OUR BLACK FOREST CAMPING
SITE THAT PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT SEX, FOR IN-
STANCE, MEN AND WOMEN, LIVE TOGETHER
IN ONE TENT UNLESS THEY ARE MARRIED
WITH EACH OTHER FOR THIS PURPOSE.
A zoo in Budapest advises enthusiastic tour-
ists with this sign: PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE
ANIMALS. IF YOU HAVE ANY SUITABLE FOOD,
GIVE IT TO THE GUARD ON DUTY.
This one in a Third World cemetery is well
meaning, but still manages to tickle the imagina-
tion: PERSONS ARE PROHIBITED FROM PICK-
ING FLOWERS FROM ANY BUT THEIR OWN
GRAVES.
A sign at a Bangkok temple wags its finger at
insensitive tourists: IT IS FORBIDDEN TO EN-
TER A WOMAN EVEN A FOREIGNER IF DRESSED
AS A MAN.
Bars and restaurants offer their share of funny
The Truth / P12

8 Commissions
Permanent Committee for the
Cultural Heritage of the Church
(PCCHH)
By Fr. Ted Torralba
Beginnings
THE Permanent Committee for the
Cultural Heritage of the Church was
created by the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines
(CBCP) on 8 July 1996 during its 73rd
Plenary Assembly, in Tagaytay City,
Cavite, as a separate entity from the
Episcopal Commission on Culture.
The CBCP had discerned rightly
that due to the emerging concerns
in this particular pastoral field and
in view of the many issues sur-
rounding the conservation inter-
ventions applied to many heritage
churches in the country, a distinct
pastoral arm in the Conference
would be given the task to focus its
efforts of monitoring the preserva-
tion and advocating the promotion
of the cultural heritage of the Catho-
lic Church in the Philippines.
Mandate
The mandate of the Permanent
Committee for the Cultural Heritage
of the Church is derived from the
common will of the CBCP. This man-
date is enshrined in the CBCP Stat-
utes that articulate the finality of the
Permanent Committee, which are: (1)
to promote the cultural heritage of
the Church in the Philippines as an
invaluable aid to evangelization and
catechesis; (2) to foment research
on and understanding of the eccle-
siastical cultural heritage; (3) to
serve as a consultative body on the
scientific conservation of cultural
ecclesiastical goods; (4) to initiate
and sustain collaboration between
Laiko / from p7
san politics? Anticipating the orga-
nized laity’s question on involve-
ment during this May election,
Bishop Reyes brought the feedback
from these 3 eminent canon lawyers
on the laity’s participation in parti-
san politics—Fr. Luis Navarro, pro-
fessor of Canon Law, Universidad di
Santa Croce in Rome; Rev. Fr. Jaime
Achacoso, Secretary of Canon Law
Society of the Philippines and Rev.
Fr. Javier Gonzales, O.P., Dean of
Faculty of Canon Law, U.S.T. Semi-
nary.
Their answers are basically the
same: “These associations, public
or private, have to follow the same
rule—The Church should not be
involved in partisan politics or
should not be directly involved in
politics; but she has the right to
preach morality in politics or, as
‘Gaudium et Spes 76,’ states, she
also has the right to pass moral
judgments, even on matters touch-
the Permanent Committee and simi-
lar Government and/or civic agen-
cies involved in the care, conserva-
tion and appreciation of the cultural
heritage of the Church; (5) to act as
official liaison with the pontifical
Commission for the Cultural Heri-
tage of the Church, in the Apostolic
See; and, (6) to undertake projects
in different Dioceses or Prelatures
upon invitation or authorization of
and collaboration with the local Or-
dinaries concerned.
Clearly, therefore, the Perma-
nent Committee, contrary to not a
few expectations, does not pos-
sess an entitlement to bring into
contestation heritage issues and
concerns. On these matters, the
Permanent Committee works by
moral suasion fortified, as it were,
by heritage laws that find their
fundamentation in Church
Magisterium, as well as those laws
enacted that imbibed international
and national standards of heritage
conservation.
Senior Staff
At the beginning when it was
created, the CBCP elected as the Per-
manent Committee’s first chairman
the Most Rev. Leopoldo S.
Tumulak, then Bishop of Tagbilaran
(1993-2005; apostolic administrator
of Tagbilaran, 2005-2006; now the
Bishop of the Philippine Military
Ordinariate) whose Diocesan Com-
mission for the Cultural Heritage of
the Church was making significant
stride in heritage conservation and
awareness among Philippine dio-
ing the political order whenever
basic personal rights or the salva-
tion of souls make such judgments
necessary.”
Bishop G. Afable, chose the elu-
cidation of the same guideline by Fr.
Javier Gonzalez which states,
“While the lay faithful—as individu-
als, not as members of associa-
tions—are urged to engage in po-
litical activity, and can, with full free-
dom, participate in partisan politics,
pastors can teach moral principles
and issue moral guidelines regard-
ing political activity but cannot en-
gage in partisan politics. The same
prohibition applies to all associa-
tions of Christ’s faithful in the
Church, whether public or private,
clerical or lay, especially the “pub-
lic” ones since they act in the name
of the Church. This is the general
rule. It is not, however, an absolute
rule. When the judgment of compe-
tent authority, moral and gospel
ceses. In May 2000, he became con-
sultor to the Holy See’s Pontifical
Commission for the Cultural Heri-
tage of the Church.
Bishop Tumulak then secured
the collaboration of Fr. Milan Ted
D. Torralba, Tagbilaran diocesan
chancellor (1999-2005), to serve as
the Permanent Committee’s execu-
tive secretary. Fr. Torralba, a canon
lawyer, was also the Tagbilaran
church cultural heritage commis-
sion chairman from 1995-2005, and
chair of the Bohol Arts and Cul-
tural Heritage Council, of the Prov-
ince of Bohol, from 2002-2005. At
one time, from 1997 to 2004, he was
executive council member and vice-
head of the National Committee on
Monuments and Sites, of the Na-
tional Commission for Culture and
the Arts (NCCA), Manila.
Bishop Tumulak served the
Permanent Committee in his capac-
ity as its chairman for five terms
(1996-2005) as allowed by the
CBCP Statutes. On 1 December
2005, he was succeeded by the
Most Rev. Julito B. Cortes, Auxil-
iary Bishop of Cebu. Bishop Cortes
is assisted in this episcopal work
by Bishop Tumulak, vice-chair, and
Bishop Leonardo Y. Medroso,
Bishop of Tagbilaran, Bishop
Christian Vicente F. Noel, Bishop
of Talibon, and Archbishop
Romulo G. Valles, Archbishop of
Zamboanga, as members of this
Permanent Committee.
Secretariat
Aside from Fr. Torralba, the Per-
manent Committee has a national
coordinator in the person of Prof.
Regalado Trota Jose, multi-awarded
author, researcher, anthropologist,
and professional heritage worker.
Prof. Jose also teaches cultural heri-
tage subjects at the Graduate
School of the University of Santo
Tomas (UST), and is consultant of
the U.S.T. Center for the Conserva-
tion of Cultural Properties and En-
vironment in the Tropics (CCCPET).
Fr. Roy M. Rosales, Diocese
of Pasig chancellor and chair of the
Pasig Diocesan Commission for the
Cultural Heritage of the Church,
serves as the Permanent
Committee’s oeconomus, while Fr.
Gaspar R. Sigaya, O.P., President
of the Society of Ecclesiastical Ar-
chivists of the Philippines (SEAP),
is the archivist.
Highlighted Activities
Aside from the diverse activi-
ties initiated by the Permanent
Committee and by its members and
the secretariat, this Permanent
Committee organizes once every
two years the Biennial National
Convention of Church Cultural
values are at stake, the prohibition
against the clergy (and associa-
tions?) involvement in partisan
politics may yield to the necessity
of upholding the rights of the
Church, the common good and the
cause of human dignity and peace.”
With these pronouncements
from our canon lawyers, will the May
election considering the political situ-
ation today, merit the support of ev-
eryone, i.e., the lay faithful, the
People of God, in the same way that
Pope John Paul II exhorted the people
of Poland to vote against the Com-
munist Party?
I suppose Nandy Pacheco is on
the right track but will he ever win
without the endorsement of our Bish-
ops? Another alternative is to fol-
low Archbishop Cruz’s call not to
vote for politicians who are engaged
in jueteng, that is, to black list un-
desirable and corrupt candidates
and campaign against them.
Heritage Workers, an important
ecclesial gathering of all those who
are working in this specific field.
The convention is meant to be an
occasion for heritage workers to
strengthen ecclesial bonds by the
exchange of insights and experi-
ences through mutual discernment
and respectful discourse. It is also
the moment for an informal cul-
tural heritage education as is char-
acteristic of conferences, seminars,
and conventions. The idea of vis-
iting the sub-regions and particu-
lar Churches is to encourage in a
more direct and intimate way fledg-
ling diocesan commissions for
church heritage in their work of car-
ing for the patrimonial goods of
their particular Church.
The venues of the biennial na-
tional conventions have been de-
signed such that the major sub-re-
gions of the country and particular
ecclesiastical circumscriptions are
alternately visited in a span of time.
The first biennial was fittingly held
in the Diocese of Tagbilaran, Bohol
(Central Visayas), on 2-5 February
1999. There followed the other bi-
ennial conventions in the Diocese
of Butuan, Agusan del Norte
(Northeastern Mindanao) in 17-20
September 2001; in the Archdio-
cese of San Fernando, Pampanga
(Central Luzon) in 29 September-1
October 2003; and, in the Archdio-
cese of Jaro, Iloilo (Western
Visayas) in 18-21 April 2005. This
year, the 5th Biennial National Con-
vention of Church Cultural Heritage
Workers will be celebrated on 23-
26 April in the Archdiocese of
Ozamiz, Misamis Occidental
(Northwestern Mindanao).
The Permanent Committee
also conducts another gathering,
but of a more focused scale. The
Regional Ordinary Fora on the
Church Cultural Heritage gathers
periodically the diocesan Bishop’s
direct collaborators in cultural heri-
tage conservation and awareness
at the level of the particular
Churches. Venues have also been
considered so that the Permanent
Committee senior staff can directly
meet with the chairpersons, direc-
tors, and point persons of the arch/
diocesan commissions for the cul-
tural heritage of the Church.
In these fora, reports from each
diocesan commission are pre-
sented to serve as subjects for the
forum proper. It is during these in-
stances when more detailed issues
and concerned are evoked and
problematized. These offer for the
delegates present the context in
which ecclesiastical cultural heri-
tage is fleshed out in its many fea-
tures and typology. As of the
present, there had been two Re-
gional Ordinary Fora already con-
ducted. The first was held in July
Tidbits / from p7
ally works but I was able to learn
that it is one big wonderful rhap-
sody where everything makes
sense. And I thank God that He
has given me many wonderful
years so I could be with the people
and be one with the people—and
so to be able to listen to them, to
live with them, and to love them
and be loved by them. Borongan
taught me a lot for over nineteen
years. The connections and nu-
ances of so many things. The
subtle shadows of meaning in the
smiles and sorrows of real people
and in their silent joys and simple
hopes. In their pains and
struggles. In their faith and in their
love. Having learned so much from
Borongan, I asked myself: Have I
become a better servant-leader?
That I cannot tell. What I can
only tell is that, like the king, God
always wants us to learn more and
beyond—because there is always
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 2
January 22, 2007
2002 in Manila (Luzon region),
Cebu City (Visayas), and
Malaybalay City (Mindanao), while
the second fora was conducted in
October 2005 in Legazpi City
(Luzon region), Cebu City
(Visayas), and Surigao City
(Mindanao).
Agreements and Mutual Ac-
cords
In 2000, the Permanent Com-
mittee initiated and endorsed the
Memorandum of Agreement en-
tered into, by, and between the
CBCP and the NCCA to govern the
relationship between the two par-
ties regarding the care of some 26
identified churches throughout the
country that were declared by the
National Museum as National Cul-
tural Treasures pursuant to Presi-
dential Decree 374, as amended.
Recently, since 2003, the Per-
manent Committee has been instru-
mental in the drafting and process-
ing of the International Bilateral
Agreement that is to be entered
into, by, and between the Holy See
and the Republic of the Philippines
on the care of the cultural heritage
of the Catholic Church in the Phil-
ippines. Once the two Parties sign
the Agreement and the accord
comes into force, a joint committee
constituted of the National Gov-
ernment cultural agencies and the
CBCP, together with the Apostolic
Nunciature, will be formed to ar-
ticulate in a National Agreement
the provisions of the Holy See-Phil-
ippines Bilateral Agreement.
These binding instruments are
meant to eloquently enunciate the
concerns of the local Church in the
Philippines, and that of all the
church cultural heritage workers, on
the proper estimation and valuation
of the Church’s and the Nation’s
common patrimony as witnesses of
our religious experiences, as mo-
ments of the transitus Dei, and also
as privileged means of the renewed
evangelization.
Final Word
The care of the cultural heritage
of the Church is not a priority of the
last instance. Although it is an emer-
gent pastoral interest, it is a prime
and essential component of the
apostolate of the Church. The Ven-
erable Servant of God, Pope John
Paul II, on 25th of March 1993, in his
motu proprio apostolic letter Inde a
Pontificatus Nostri, succinctly de-
clares it so: “Indeed, by its very na-
ture, faith tends to express itself in
artistic forms and historical testi-
mony having an intrinsic evangeliz-
ing power and cultural value, to
which the Church is called to pay
the greatest attention.”
something more to learn. God can
lead us even to where we don’t
expect to be if only to teach us
what it means to love and how to
love better. For over nineteen
years, Borongan has been teach-
ing me a lot … until now. “Until
now” … because starting today I
will learn from Tagbilaran. I took
the purifying pain of letting go
and leaving the place and people
who taught me a lot about life and
love that is Borongan.
Now I am here with you, hop-
ing to learn how to love better
and how to walk better with God
and closer to God … with all of
you, my dear people of
Tagbilaran.
(This piece was one of the
talks delivered by Bishop
Leonardo Medroso at his instal-
lation as the new bishop of the
Diocese of Tagbilaran, December
14, 2006)
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 2
January 22, 2007
PALAWAN... known the world over
as the Philippines last ecological fron-
tier. It is where one is brought to vast
tracts of rain forests and marine wil-
derness. It is 1,489,655 hectares and
has a total of 1,780 islands and islets.
It is subdivided into twenty three
municipalities, twelve of which are
in the mainland and the rest are is-
land municipalities, four hundred
twenty barangays and one city. It
is the largest province in the country
with fifty-two dialects. Tagalog is
used by the majority. Cuyonin,
Agutaynen, Cagayanen, Tagbanua,
Bataks, Ken-uys and Palawan are
some of the native tongues.
The people of Palawan share a
rich heritage of history. It takes its
roots from earliest known people as
proven by the discovery of fossils at
Tabon Cave. This discovery has
earned Palawan the title the “Cradle
of Philippine Civilization”. The
Church of Palawan continues to
grow, sustain and nourish by the
spirit of God. As one looks back, one
cannot deny that the people of
Palawan is blessed by the creative
hands of God and guided by the
same Spirit. The Christian faith hav-
ing taken root centuries ago, it’s full
blossoming fortified by the sacri-
fices and blood of the early mission-
aries who were martyred in defend-
ing the native from Moro invaders.
Despite this bloody struggle, “the
Christian majority population of this
province has been living in peaceful
co-existence with their Muslim broth-
ers of today”.
The particular Church has its
own beginning. Interplaying the
historical events are the people who
played important roles to achieve
the ends of the mission.
The Early Beginnings of Evan-
gelization Work in Palawan
In 1622, Msgr. Pedro de Arce,
the Augustinian Bishop of Cebu
committed to the Augustinian Rec-
ollects the difficult task of evangeliz-
ing the group of islands called
Calamianes, Cuyo and Palawan. The
first evangelizers commissioned to
evangelize were Fr. Francisco de San
Nicolas, Fr. Diego de Sta. Ana, Fr.
Juan de Sto. Tomas and the lay
brother Francisco de la Madre de
Dios.
In Cuyo (Batong Cuyo), where
the valiant missionaries first landed,
they saw the first fruit of their mis-
sionary labor: a thousand of the na-
tives were baptized and the Catholic
Church in the region was con-
structed. “De Palawan al cielo”
from Palawan to Heaven—was the
motto of the early evangelizers.
The Strategy of the Recollect
Missions in the Evangelization
The missionaries started their
mission by searching for scattered
native settlement, followed by the
Important Facts
Population …………...…… 596,018
Catholics ………....……… 417,834
Area ……………… 909,827 has
Personnel:
Bishop …………….........……... 1
Priests:(at present)
Diocesan ….................…… 43
Religious ……...................… 7
AFP Chaplains ….................. 3
Sisters …….................…… 44
Seminaries:
High School ……….......………. 1
Pre-College .....…….………….. 1
College ….......…………………. 1
Diocesan Division:
Districts
Parishes ...…………………… 25
with resident Pastor ….......… 25
The Apostolic Vicariate of
Puerto Princesa
Sr. Eufemia A. Pama, MSLT
establishment of towns, building of
the Church, building of the mission
school and building of the priest’s
residence. Only after these phases
would they administer the sacra-
ments.
Due to courage, zeal and dedi-
cation of the Recollect missionaries
the natives readily embraced the
teachings of the Christian Religion.
The natives by this time were living
under the yoke of the Muslims who
continually persecuted them. The
missionaries become their protec-
tors from the tyrannical rule of the
Muslims in the South.
The Recollect Superior was
compelled to order the abandonment
of the Region in 1659. Due to contin-
ued attacks of the Muslims, the mis-
sionaries were forced to live in the
mountains.
In 1670, the Recollects returned
to Palawan and decided to construct
forts in Cuyo, Agutaya and Culion.
Other forts were also constructed in
Linapacan, Taytay, Dumaran and
Cagayancillo. These forts were built
to protect the population from the
Moro attacks.
In 1871, the politico-military
government of Puerto Princesa was
founded, officially sealing, as it were,
Spanish hegemony in the Palawan
area. After the request of Gov. De
Izquierdo for priests to minister to
the spiritual needs of the settlers and
natives, then Recollect Provincial,
Fr. Mariano Del Pilar, assured the
general of the deployment of one or
two priests for the ministry. On Feb-
ruary 19, 1872, more than six years
after Jaro was erected a diocese and
under whose jurisdiction belonged
Palawan, the first Bishop of Jaro,
Msgr. Mariano Cuartero y Medina
issued the title and faculties of Mili-
entrusted to Diocesan ….... 22
entrusted to Religious …...... 4
Quasi-Parish ……..………………. 5
with resident Pastor …............. 5
Mission Territory …....................... 2
Entrusted to Religious ...........… 2
Educational Centers:
Colleges:
Directed by Religious …........ 3
Enrollment …………….. 2,616
High Schools:
Diocesan ……….......……… 1
Enrollment ………......…… 216
Directed by Religious ........... 3
Enrollment ……...……… 1,599
Elementary Schools: ................ 4
Directed by religious …....…. 2
Enrollment ……………….. 502
Kindergarten & Nurseries:
Diocesan …………...………. 5
Enrollment ……………….. 393
Directed by religious …....…. 3
Enrollment …………...……. 59
Diocese
tary Chaplain of the colony of Puerto
Princesa to Fr. Ezequiel Moreno.
Fr. Ezequiel Moreno (who lately
has been canonized a saint) with his
assistant Fr. Antonio Muro arrived
in Palawan soil on March 4, 1872 and
celebrated their first mass on Sun-
day, March 10, 1872 in a makeshift
altar upon which was placed an im-
age of Our Lady of Montserrat. It
was on the 8 th of December that the
Church was inaugurated and Our
Lady of the Immaculate Conception
was proclaimed Patroness of the
Colony. The church remains to this
day a living proof of St. Ezequiel’s
fervent devotion to the Blessed
Mother.
The venerable Fr. Moreno
worked untiringly for the pagan
Tagbanuas who willingly embraced
the Catholic faith. In his ministry he
has contracted the famous Palawan
fever, Malaria. On August 19, 1906,
“fundador y primer misionero de
Puerto Princesa, muerto en olor de
santidad”, in Monteagudo. Now a
Saint, he left Palaweños with a mi-
raculous “Balon-Pari” whose divine
intercession made many healed and
blessed by drinking or washing from
the miraculous well. Fr. Antonio
Muro, his assistant succeeded him.
Fr. Agustin Perez arrived in Puerto
Princesa on the 6th of July to help Fr.
Muro continue the mission with the
Tagbanuas.
In 1896, the Katipuneros rose
up in arms against the Spanish gov-
ernment, which claimed the lives of
fourteen Religious of the Order, so
then the Superior decided to pull out
their missionaries. It was in the year
1899, when Fr. Domingo de Pablo,
the last missionary, left Palawan.
Since the time he left, “Christians did
not see any priest for almost four-
teen years”. Yet in 1901, there were
missionaries who were sent back by
the Superiors of the Recollects for
the reinstallation of the work. Pasto-
ral work was limited to baptisms,
confessions, weddings and religious
instructions due to lack of mission-
aries. Despite tremendous hard-
ships, the Church moved onward
with the guidance of the Spirit.
Palawan as Apostolic Prefec-
ture
The advent years of missionary
labors paved the way for Pope Pius
X to establish Palawan as an Apos-
tolic Prefecture. The erection of the
Prefecture was widely known and
appropriately celebrated on April 10,
1910. The bull of erection entitled
“Novas Erigere Diocese”, specifi-
cally mentioned the Apostolic Pre-
fecture of Palawan aside from other
elevated Dioceses. This Apostolic
Prefecture, the first in the Philippines,
was entrusted to the Recollect Fa-
thers.
Fr. Fernando Hernandez was
named Prefect Apostolic of Palawan
but he soon declined after he was
informed due to old age and chronic
heart ailment which was readily ac-
cepted by competent authority. Fr.
Victoriano Roman de San Jose was
named to take his place. It was the
feast of St. Augustine, the Patron
Saint of Cuyo, when Fr. Roman took
possession of the Prefecture. In
August 28, 1911, Cuyo was “des-
tined” to be the Prefect’s Residence
at the same time the seat of the Pre-
fecture until 1926. The main concern
of the Prefect were “visitas”, con-
struction of churches, establishment
of schools, intensification of lay as-
sociations, administration of the sac-
raments and other devotional prac-
tices.
In 1938, Fr. Roman turned over
the administration of the mission to
a new leader, Fr. Leandro Nieto, as
Prefect Apostolic. It was during the
term of Fr Nieto when war broke out.
In 1937, being then Vicar Del-
egate, Fr. Nieto founded the
Seminario de San Jose. The estab-
lishment of the seminary in Palawan
was a concrete step towards
progress of evangelization work. The
Seminary formally opened during the
solemn mass
of the Holy
Spirit on No-
vember 14,
1937, cel-
ebrated by Fr.
Leandro Nieto
and assisted
by Fr. Federico
T e r r a d i l l o s His Excellency
and Fr. Paulino MOST REV. PEDRO D.
Lerena. ARIGO, D.D.
Palawan as Apostolic Vicari-
ate of Palawan
It was on July 3, 1955 when the
Holy See elevated the Prefecture into
an Apostolic Vicariate through the
bull of erection entitled “Ad Christi
Regnum” issued by Pope Pius XII,
Msgr. Gregorio Espiga y Infante,
OAR took possession of the Apos-
tolic Vicariate on September 18, 1955.
The followings have been the
Vicars Apostolic since its elevation
to the status of Apostolic Vicariate:
1) Most Rev. Gregorio Espiga Y
Infante, OAR (1953-1987); 2) Most
Rev. Francisco C. San Diego, DD
(1987-1995); 3) Most Rev. Pedro D.
Arigo, DD, (1996 to the present).
Inscribed in his coat of arms of
the present Apostolic Vicar are the
words “Suprema Lex Dilectio” Love
is the Supreme Law. This reflects his
simplicity, uprightness and integ-
rity. It is an invitation to “love me as
9
I have loved you first.” Love alone
is the fulfillment of God’s command.
Even the loftiest gifts of faith, preach-
ing prophesies and self-sacrifice
amount to nothing without love (1
Cor 13). As Bishop Arigo faces his
ministry, he fervently prays that all
his endeavors in the service of com-
munity of Disciples in Palawan be
animated and permeated by love.
True to his motto, he came to Palawan
to fulfill the greatest commandment
of love. His pasturing will imbue and
perfect his sheep in love.
First Pastoral Assembly of the
Apostolic Vicariate of Palawan
1996 – 1997
The First Pastoral Assembly of
the Apostolic Vicariate of Palawan
was held at Seminario de San Jose on
1-15 August 1997 headed by the
Apostolic Vicar, Most Rev. Pedro D.
Arigo, with 200 participants: Clergy,
Religious and the laity from 34 par-
ishes of the whole Apostolic Vicari-
ate. They all where one in their aims
in the assessment of the pastoral
situation of the particular Church,
confront pastoral problems, come
up with solutions and pastoral de-
crees to assist the Bishop in his
administration of the Vicariate so
that from the past till forever, “GOD
MAY BE ALL IN ALL” (1Cor. 15:28).
The local church defines its vi-
sion as a community of disciples,
renewed and with the concern for the
poor and the environment, respond-
ing to the signs of the times, one with
the Father, animated by Christ guided
by the Holy Spirit and nourished by
the sacraments.
The important thrust of the min-
istry of the Church of Palawan is its
Social Apostolate. Highlight of the
social apostolate of the Vicariate is
the Indigenous People Apostolate
aimed to provide services to tribal
groups considered to be
marginalized. The Augustinian Mis-
sionaries in the Philippines and the
Marist Brothers live with tribal com-
munities and minister to them. Part of
the program is literacy and numeracy
aimed to empower the tribal commu-
nities and allowing them to defend
their rights. Community-based health
programs, biodiversity conservation
network sustainable agriculture
projects, ancestral domain process-
ing, ecology program, rural water
supplies are some of programs under
the Commission on Social Action of
the Vicariate.
The Indigenous Peoples
Apostolate
The beginnings of Tribal Fili-
pino Apostolate can be traced back
as early as 1985. However, the con-
crete programs were first imple-
mented in the year 1988 after series of
community visitations to indigenous
peoples’ communities, consulta-
tions, conceptualization and final-
ization of project proposals.
The first program implemented
by the apostolate was a three-year
Literacy and Numeracy Program for
selected indigenous peoples com-
munities in the year 1988. This is in
view of the fact that there is no mean-
ingful and expedient intervention for
the IPs than education. As Rev. Fr.
Armando R. Limsa, the pioneering
Executive Director of Tribal Filipino
Apostolate says, “illiteracy is a hu-
man killer… it dehumanizes human
person”.
One worth mentioning is the
organization and strengthening of
the federation of indigenous peoples
in the province of Palawan, which
has now more or less 70 indigenous
people organization (IPO) member
province wide. Today, the said fed-
eration which is popularly known as
Nagkakaisang mga Tribu ng Palawan
(NATRIPAL) or United Tribes in
Palawan, is a recognized provincial
Puerto Princesa / P12
 CBCP Monitor
10 Liturgy Vol. 11 No. 2
January 22, 2007

Letter of Pope Benedict XVI’s to Cardinal

Arinze on the Occasion of the 43rd Anniversary
Explaining the Mass During Mass
of “Sacrosanctum Comcilium” (Father Edward McNamara, Professor of Liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum Uni-
versity, answers a question posted at Zenit.org by M.F. of Singapore)

TO my Venerable Brother, Cardinal
Francis Arinze, Prefect of the Congre-
gation for Divine Worship and the
Discipline of the Sacraments, I am
pleased to offer my cordial greeting to
you and to those taking part in the
Study Day organized by this
Dicastery on the anniversary of the
promulgation of the Constitution
“Sacrosanctum Concilium.” After re-
flecting in the past on the Roman
Martyrology and on Sacred Music,
you are now preparing to examine in
depth the theme: “Sunday Mass for
the sanctification of the Christian
People”. Because of its spiritual and
pastoral implications, this is a very
timely topic.
The Second Vatican Council
teaches that “the Church celebrates
the Paschal Mystery every seventh
day, which day is appropriately called
the “Lord’s Day’ or “Sunday’”
(“Sacrosanctum Concilium,” n. 106).
Sunday remains the fertile foun-
dation and at the same time the funda-
mental nucleus of the liturgical year
which originated in Christ’s Resur-
rection, thanks to which the features
of eternity were impressed on time.
Thus, Sunday is, so to speak, a
fragment of time imbued with eter-
nity, for its dawn saw the Crucified
and Risen Christ enter victorious into
eternal life.
With the event of the Resurrec-
tion, creation and redemption reach
their fulfillment. On the “first day after
Saturday”, the women and then the
Disciples, meeting the Risen One,
understood that this was “the day
which the Lord has made” (Ps
118[117]:24), “his” day, the “Dies
Domini.” In fact, this is what the
liturgy sings: “O first and last day,
radiant and shining with Christ’s tri-
umph”.
From the very outset, this has
been a stable element in the percep-
tion of the mystery of Sunday: “The
Word”, Origen affirms, “has moved
the feast of the Sabbath to the day on
which the light was produced and has
given us as an image of true repose,
Sunday, the day of salvation, the first
day of the light in which the Savior of
the world, after completing all his
work with men and after conquering
death, crossed the threshold of
Heaven, surpassing the creation of
the six days and receiving the blessed
Sabbath and rest in God” (Comment
on Psalm 91).
Inspired by knowledge of this, St
Ignatius of Antioch asserted: “We
are no longer keeping the Sabbath,
but the Lord’s Day” (Ad Magn. 9, 1).
For the first Christians, partici-
pation in the Sunday celebrations
was the natural expression of their
belonging to Christ, of communion
with his Mystical Body, in the joyful
expectation of his glorious return.
This belonging was expressed
heroically in what happened to the
martyrs of Abitene, who faced death
exclaiming, “Sine dominico non pos-
sumus”: without gathering together
on Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist,
we cannot live.
How much more necessary it is
today to reaffirm the sacredness of
the Lord’s Day and the need to take
part in Sunday Mass!
The cultural context in which we
live, often marked by religious indif-
ference and secularism that blot out
the horizon of the transcendent, must
not let us forget that the People of
God, born from “Christ’s Passover,
Sunday”, should return to it as to an
inexhaustible source, in order to un-
derstand better and better the fea-
tures of their own identity and the
reasons for their existence.
The Second Vatican Council,
after pointing out the origin of Sun-
day, continued: “On this day Christ’s
faithful are bound to come together
into one place. They should listen to
the Word of God and take part in the
Eucharist, thus calling to mind the
Passion, Resurrection and Glory of
the Lord Jesus and giving thanks to
God who “has begotten them again,
through the Resurrection of Christ
from the dead, unto a living hope’”
(“Sacrosanctum Concilium,” n. 106).
Sunday was not chosen by the
Christian community but by the
Apostles, and indeed by Christ him-
self, who on that day, “the first day of
the week”, rose and appeared to the
disciples (cf. Mt 28:1; Mk 16: 9; Lk
24:1; Jn 20:1,19; Acts 20:7; I Cor 16: 2),
and appeared to them again “eight
days later” (Jn 20:26).
Sunday is the day on which the
Risen Lord makes himself present
among his followers, invites them to
his banquet and shares himself with
them so that they too, united and
configured to him, may worship God
properly.
Therefore, as I encourage people
to give ever greater importance to the
“Lord’s Day”, I am eager to highlight
the central place of the Eucharist as a
fundamental pillar of Sunday and of
all ecclesial life. Indeed, at every Sun-
day Eucharistic celebration, the sanc-
tification of the Christian people takes
place as it will take place until the
Sunday that never sets, the day of the
definitive encounter of God with his
creatures.
In this perspective, I express the
hope that the Study Day promoted by
this Dicastery on such a timely theme
will contribute to the recovery of the
Christian meaning of Sunday in the
context of pastoral care and in every
believer’s life.
May the “Day of the Lord” that
could well be called “the lord of days”
regain all its importance and be per-
ceived and lived to the full in the
celebration of the Eucharist, from
which the Christian community grows
authentically and on which it depends
(cf. “Presbyterorum Ordinis,” n. 6).
As I assure you of my remem-
brance in prayer and invoke upon
each one the motherly protection of
Mary Most Holy, I warmly impart a
special Apostolic Blessing to you,
Venerable Brother, to your collabora-
tors and to all the participants in this
important meeting.
From the Vatican, 27 November 2006.
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI
Q: Are there possibilities for
the celebrant to share more insights
about what is taking place at differ-
ent stages of the Mass, to facilitate
better participation from the con-
gregation? I pose this question
because most times I observe that
people seem to “go through the
motions” during the Mass and
many don’t seem to “be connected”
with what’s happening during the
different parts of the Eucharistic
celebration. — M.F., Singapore
A: This point is covered by the
General Instruction of the Roman
Missal (GIRM), No. 31:
“It is also up to the priest, in
the exercise of his office of presid-
ing over the gathered assembly, to
offer certain explanations that are
foreseen in the rite itself. Where it
is indicated in the rubrics, the cel-
ebrant is permitted to adapt them
somewhat in order that they re-
spond to the understanding of
those participating. However, he
should always take care to keep to
the sense of the text given in the
Missal and to express them suc-
cinctly. The presiding priest is also
to direct the word of God and to
impart the final blessing. In addi-
tion, he may give the faithful a very
brief introduction to the Mass of
the day (after the initial Greeting
and before the Act of Penitence),
to the Liturgy of the Word (before
the readings), and to the Eucharis-
tic Prayer (before the Preface),
though never during the Eucha-
ristic Prayer itself; he may also
make concluding comments to the
entire sacred action before the dis-
missal.”
The GIRM thus suggests four
moments when brief explanations
or comments may be profitably in-
serted: at the beginning, before the
readings, before the preface, and
before the dismissal.
Ideally, explanations of the
Mass would be best imparted
through programs for the continual
Christian formation of adults. But
this is not feasible in most cases as
relatively few Catholics have both
the commitment and the time to
avail of these programs.
Some priests, realizing that
many of the rites and prayers were
lost on the faithful, have sought to
remedy the situation with brief ex-
planations carried out on a cyclical
basis.
For example, a priest who ha-
bitually celebrates Mass at the same
time for basically the same congre-
gation announces that besides his
usual homily (perhaps shaving it
by a couple of minutes), he will
dedicate a few minutes each week
to explain one or two particular
points of the Mass.
Following this he uses one of
the suggested moments to explain
the meaning of the rite and the
spiritual fruits that the Church de-
sires us to harvest through active
participation in its celebration and
a deeper understanding of the exer-
cise of the royal or common priest-
hood of the faithful.
Some longer rites and prayers
may be explained piecemeal. For
example, before the preface the
priest could invite the people to be
attentive to the different moments
of the Eucharistic Prayer (preface,
transitions, epiclesis, consecration,
anamnesis, intercessions, etc.) and
then explain one of these parts each
week. A fairly complete explana-
tion of the Mass can be given over
two or three months, allowing for
interruptions such as feasts and
the celebration of sacraments dur-
ing Mass.
Once completed, another cycle
can be preached every few years as
deemed pastorally necessary.
Although these explanations
must necessarily be brief, several
priests who have applied this
method have commented that most
parishioners responded positively
and affirmed that it has helped them
to understand and live the Mass in
a deeper way.

In China / from p3 Malaybalay / from p3

those who belong to the offi-
cial Church—have spent
some time in prison or in the
concentration camps. Last
January 7 the oldest of them
died: Joseph Meng Ziwen, the
unofficial bishop of Nanning
in Guagxi. He was 103 years
old, and until recently said
Mass every Sunday in three
different parishes. He had
spent more than twenty years
in forced labor. The regime
never recognized him as a
bishop.
Today the persecutions
against Christians continue in
China, although these don’t
compare to those of the years
of Mao Zedong and the Cul-
tural Revolution. But little by
little, the witnesses of the great
martyrdom are disappearing.
Their accounts remain.
Very little has been published
about these—even outside of
China, even in free countries,
even in the rest of the Catholic
Church, at least until very re-
cently.
This silence was to a large
extent motivated by reasons
of politics, and of ecclesiasti-
cal politics. “But to continue
along the way of silence to-
day would be an incompre-
hensible and unforgivable er-
ror,” writes cardinal Zen.
He writes this in a preface
to a book published this win-
ter in Italy—edited by the Pon-
tifical Institute for Foreign
Missions, in Milan—which,
for the first time, collects and
offers to the general public
the accounts of some of the
Chinese Catholics persecuted
or killed from 1940 to 1983.
The first two of the texts
that make up this volume are
the diaries written in prison
and in a forced labor camp—
lasting thirty and twenty-five
years respectively—by the
priests Francis Tan Tiande
and John Huang, the first of
whom is still alive.
The third document is
the life of another priest, Fr. Li
Chang, who died in 1981. It
was written by his cousin Li
Daoming, who is also a priest.
This is followed by the
autobiography of a young
Catholic, Gertrude Li, written
in longhand on little scraps of
paper that arrived in the West
hidden in the shoes of a mis-
sionary, Fr. Giovanni Carbone
of the Pontifical Institute for
Foreign Missions, who was
expelled from China in 1952.
The collection closes
with the account of the mar-
tyrdom of thirty-three
Cistercian Monks of the Strict
Observance from the monas-
tery of Yangjiaping, killed at
the end of a “way of the cross”
of torments in 1947.
whole people of God. True to
our commitment, there are
priests from our diocese who
are serving in both the local
and foreign missions. Though
there is still a great lack in terms
of number of priests for our
diocese, our bishop does not
wait for us to satisfy com-
pletely our need of priests be-
fore sharing some of us to other
dioceses. Generosity is not
giving because there is an ex-
cess, rather it is giving because
others need most of what we
have.

The Family / from p5

except in the service of what is
good and just. The choice to
disobey and do evil is an abuse
of freedom and leads to the
slavery of sin”, so the teach-
ing of the Church says. (CCC,
1733). And thus, the parents
will teach their children.
It is true that humans are
free, but their freedom must
stop before the moral law given
by God. Law must not be seen
as in conflict with or restrict-
ing freedom, nor freedom
ought to be considered as
forever grappling with the law.
The truth is that “human free-
dom finds its authentic and
complete fulfilment precisely
in the acceptance of that law…
God’s law does not reduce,
much less do away with hu-
man freedom; rather, it pro-
tects and promotes that free-
dom. (SV, 35)
In the family young
people are taught to appreci-
ate restraint and are encour-
aged to practice self-disci-
pline. If parents can talk of
making personal sacrifice for
the needs of the family, or
doing difficult things because
of concern for others, then
they also can and must el-
evate motivation and include
the love of God when mastery
of self is also called for.
No matter how true it is
that values begin in the fam-
ily, still the family does not
create values. Truth and good-
ness, love, honesty and com-
passion: these are not made in
the home. Not even one’s
wish or freedom can create
values. (SV, 35). Like gold
that is discovered, mined (dug
from the bowels of the earth)
and then purified through fire,
truth and goodness, love hon-
esty and compassion, simplic-
ity and humility and the rest of
the virtues are discovered,
discerned, enhanced and en-
couragingly practiced in the
family. In Christian families,
values are encouraged to sur-
face, to develop and to be
lived by members mutually
supporting each other.
Conversations, stories
and experiences are interest-
ingly exchanged and shared
in the home making possible
personal and family commit-
ment of virtues. This is the
reason why we say that val-
ues rightly begin to be dis-
covered primarily and only in
the family, because in the fam-
ily admonitions and remind-
ers, examples and models,
weaknesses and strength,
sadness and joy, failure and
success are perceived to
complement each other.
The Family must suc-
ceed: No Other Choice
The Fourth World Meet-
ing of Families, held in Manila,
January 2003, reiterated in its
Concluding Statement that the
natural place for the educa-
tion of the young is the Fam-
ily. It is in the family, the
community of life and love,
that the young are formed as
members of Christ’s Church.
It is in the family, where, while
honouring and loving their
parents, they can enrich the
lives of all members of the
wider family.
As the family goes, so
goes society. “The family is
the original cell of social life. It
is the natural society in which
husband and wife are called to
give themselves in love and in
the gift of life. Authority, sta-
bility, and a life of relation-
ships within the family consti-
tute the foundations for free-
dom, security and fraternity
within society. The family is
the community in which, from
childhood, one can learn moral
values, begin to honour God,
make good use of freedom.
Family life is an initiation into
life in society”. So we believe
and so we teach and live un-
der the guidance of the
Church. (CCC, 2207).
This is how important the
family is to society in the
teaching of the Church. The
same truth is expressed in the
old saying “Any success in
the world cannot compensate
for failure in the family”. In
effect, we declare that we are
trying to solve the ills of soci-
ety by first saving the family.
(This piece was delivered by His
Eminence, Gaudencio Cardinal B.
Rosales at the CBCP 2007 Interna-
tional Conference on Bioethics and
the Family, January 8-9, 2007, Ma-
nila).
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 2
January 22, 2007 Social Concern 11
Tech-Savvy
parishes. They will be selling this deliver, internet connectivity is es-
(detergent) and they will be earning sential to fast track the system.
from 15,000 to 20,000 a month.” Beltran hopes the program will

Priest Turns
One of the commodities being spread not only within the archdio-
sold is a detergent repacked on the cese of Manila but throughout the
vicariate’s own label called Veritas. different ecclesiastical territories in
Beltran goes on to explain how the country. This early he is already

Order taking and delivery officers (OTDO) of the parish
with His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and par-
ish priest, Fr. Benigno Beltran, SVD.
By Pinky Barrientos, FSP
SMOKEY Mountain parish priest,
Fr. Benigno Beltran talks animatedly
of narrowing the digital divide be-
tween the tech-savvy middle class
and his poor community through e-
learning and e-trading. Indeed, in the
parish of the Risen Christ in Smokey
Mountain, mothers are taught basic
computer literacy, while children use
interactive CDs to enhance their
learning.
The parish boasts of having the
most advanced computer center in
the whole archdiocese of Manila.
Soon it will also showcase the
first environment-friendly and elec-
tronic church in the world. The
planned church building (which will
be wi-fi capable and composed of
four floors) will have a basement for
livelihood program and two floors
for e-learning program. A terrace
deck will serve as a vegetable gar-
den, while solar panels will be fitted
Parish Into
E-Community
high school using the content of
the modules prepared by the De-
partment of Education (DepEd). Stu-
dents are asked to take the equiva-
lency exam from the DepEd to ob-
tain a high school diploma when
they have completed all the required
modules.
The women, meanwhile, are en-
gaged into an enterprise Beltran calls
e-trading. Selected women from BECs
are mobilized as order takers and
delivery officers of goods.
Families in need of basic com-
modities such as rice, fish and dry
goods, use their mobile phones to
text their orders. The order takers
bargain for the lowest price of goods
among wholesalers around Manila
and nearby provinces.
The system, which, Beltran con-
ceptualized work two ways. The resi-
dents get to buy their goods at a
much lower price, while the order
Risen Christ, San Rafael, San Jose
Manggagawa, St. Joseph
Gagalangin, San Roque Blumentritt,
Espiritu Santo, Immaculate Concep-
tion and Sta. Monica put up a multi-
purpose cooperative involving 800
women elected by the BECs in the
vicariate as order takers and delivery
officers.
Beltran explained that the women
will be considered owners of the
cooperative since they have to pay
a membership fee of P500 each, and
will have voting power.
Beltran believes that e-trading
on the vicariate level will set free
thousands of women from poverty
and ignorance. However, his vision
goes further. “We would like (to in-
volve) the whole archdiocese. The e-
trading network plans 10,000 women
to be uplifted from poverty in the 92
the system works. With a list of com- planning to concentrate on e-trad-
modities on hand, the order takers e- ing and e-learning programs when
mail the orders to the different manu- the construction of the Church is
facturers, whom Beltran calls strate- finished.
gic partners. Since the goods are Palawan bishop Pedro Arigo,
intended for twenty thousand fami- Taytay apostolic vicar Edgardo
lies, these will amount to millions of Juanich, San Jose Mindoro apos-
pesos. This gives the Coop a better tolic vicar Antonio Palang, and
leverage in its buying power. The Calapan vicar apostolic Warlito
purchased goods are then repacked Cajandig, have visited the parish;
and delivered at once to families. and were impressed by the e-trading
The idea, according to Beltran, program.
is like a “mall without walls.” The Beltran sees the possibility of
production or repacking of goods is having this kind of trade operational
based on actual needs. As soon as in various dioceses. “It will happen.”
goods are packed they are delivered Confidently, he adds, “It is just a
at once to consumers. matter of time.”
“That’s why, we
need to be connected
to the internet,” says
Beltran. There are cur-
rently three computer
centers in the vicariate.
Plans are afoot to equip
each parish with four
computers each to fa-
cilitate orders and de-
liveries of goods. With
the increase of com-
modities (they are tar-
geting 20 kinds of com-
modities this year) to The proposed Shrine of Hope, Parish of the Risen Christ.

NASSA’s Relief & Rehabilitation Efforts

on the roof to convert sunlight into
electricity.
A Divine Word missionary
(SVD), Beltran started working
among the scavengers of Smokey
Mountain in the late 70’s. When
Smokey Mountain was erected as a
parish in 1989, he stayed as its pas-
tor.
Twenty-one medium-rise build-
ings now stood on what once a moun-
tain of garbage. The buildings which
have four floors each, house 2,000
families who were previously living
on the dumpsite.
Intent on liberating the commu-
nity from their scavenging mental-
ity, Beltran established basic ecclesial
communities (BEC) and spearheaded
various livelihood programs.
“We cannot organize BEC if
there is no livelihood component,”
opines Beltran; stressing that a per-
son with a hungry stomach cannot
listen.
But getting the trust and coop-
eration of the community to change
their lifestyle and mindset did not
come easy for the priest.
“You have to be involved with
them,” says Beltran. “They will not
accept your vision until you are
friends with them.”
And befriending them he did.
For the past 28 years, Beltran labored
to win the trust and cooperation of
the community. He talks of the spiri-
tuality of kenosis as a way of de-
scribing his life of service, that, of
suffering with the community he is
currently serving, and being “bro-
ken” in the process.
“Here, a grenade had been
thrown at me. I had been and still am
a victim of slander from certain groups
of people,” Beltran discloses.
The parish’s livelihood pro-
grams include construction, bakery,
garment, handicrafts and bags, which
are made out of old newspapers. The
women are involved in e-trading, the
men provide manpower services,
while children and out-of-school
youth are into e-learning program.
The parish is helping its non-
schooled young people aged 15-24
to become competitive by training
them in computer literacy. They avail
of non-formal education being spear-
headed by the parish for its out-of-
school youth through e-learning
program.
The parish has developed in-
teractive CDs for elementary and
takers obtain a modest commission
out of their efforts.
The women drawn in the liveli-
hood programs are mostly mothers,
who have much time in their hands
once the kids are off in school. They
go to the parish computer center to
learn Microsoft excel and entrepre-
neurship on a small scale.
“There are cultural values in
Philippine culture that resists entre-
preneurship,” says Beltran. “Afraid
to risk, conservatism, resignation,
incapacity to plan,” he rattles off. He
is confident that teaching women to
be computer literate will help them
overcome that kind of mentality. “It
will change their thinking,” Beltran
asserts.
The parish community is in-
volved not only in livelihood pro-
grams but also in other aspects of
social concerns like housing, clean
water, health, education, environ-
ment and advocacy. Having lived in
the midst of an environmental disas-
ter as Smokey Mountain, the present
community is acutely aware of the
catastrophic effects an environment
not properly cared for can bring.
The parish has organized a dance
troupe composed of 60 children,
dubbed Mga Anak ni Inang Daigdig
that call attention to global warming
through their indigenous dances.
“They are officially designated
as the ambassadors for peace and
environment,” says Beltran, not with-
out a tinge of pride in his voice.
In the community the families
are taught to segregate their gar-
bage. The parish has a bio-reactor
that process food waste. This gener-
ates two tanks of organic compost a
day which are then sold to farmers as
fertilizers.
“Five thousand tanks (of gar-
bage) were dumped (here) and there
were 25,000 people there,” Beltran
says retrospectively. “So as a par-
ish, we were very conscious about
how to take care of (our) garbage.
We (also) have to take care of air
pollution.”
The idea of building an environ-
ment-friendly church came from the
people, according to Beltran. “Let’s
build a Church to remind everyone in
this planet not to dump their garbage
everywhere, take care of global warm-
ing.”
Beltran’s vision for Smokey
Mountain is now being piloted in the
vicariate level. The eight parishes—
Highlight Social Concerns Year
By Bob R. Acebedo
FOR the casual observer at the
CBCP headquarters in
Intramuros, Manila, the volumi-
nous heaps of bundled sacks,
each filled to the brim and are
stacked all over the corridors and
grounds, are not an unusual
sight.
With donations continu-
ously pouring in, these copious
heaps of packed goods –of food
and non-food items—are regu-
larly sent as relief assistance to
the areas or provinces in the
Bicol region devastated by Ty-
phoon Reming in November of
last year. Spearheading in the
relief and rehabilitation campaign
is the National Secretariat for
Social Action (NASSA) of the
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
the Philippines.
Apparently for NASSA, two
months after Typhoon Reming
wrought destruction in Bicol and
with two other typhoons,
Milenyo and Paeng, which ear-
lier shortly ravaged the coun-
try—and not to mention too the
killer landslides in Southern
Leyte and Quezon provinces that
struck even earlier on—the cel-
ebration of Social Concerns Year
of 2006, declared by the CBCP,
has been largely defined or pre-
occupied by relief and rehabilita-
tion efforts in response to the disas-
trous effects wrought by natural
calamities.
Even until to date, NASSA’s
Relief and Rehabilitation unit is yet
on its second cycle of relentless
distribution of relief goods—con-
sisting of rice, dried fish, medicines,
sheltering materials like personal hy-
giene items, kitchen utensils, blan-
kets, mosquito nets, mats, etc.—to
the victims of the recent killer ty-
phoon, Particularly in the dioceses
of Legaspi and Libmanan, Virac, and
Boac. These areas were hardest hit
by Typhoon Reming which, accord-
ing to official figures, has affected
over 1 million individuals and some
200,000 families.
Elvira Manalansan, coordina-
tor of NASSA’s Relief and Rehabili-
tation (R&R) Program, disclosed
that by far, to date, NASSA has
already released an ample number
of sacks of relief items to the af-
fected areas—3,000 sacks for the
diocese of Legaspi, 1,000 for the
prelature of Libmanan, and 500 for
Boac diocese in Marinduque.
With NASSA’s unabated cam-
paign of local and international ap-
peals for help, there’s no letting up
still in the on-going relief opera-
tions in the affected areas,
Manalansan said.
Manalansan also revealed
that NASSA is already currently
initiating another level of inter-
vention for the displaced fami-
lies—the rehabilitation program
which aims to provide shelters,
and subsequently livelihood op-
portunities, to the victims. With
an earmarked cost of around P119
million, Manalansan said that the
Shelter Program is expected to
benefit some 875 displaced fami-
lies in the dioceses of Legaspi,
Libmanan, Boac, and Virac.
In a related development,
NASSA’s 2006 annual report re-
vealed that even earlier as of
June last year, NASSA’s relief
and rehabilitation efforts have
benefited 14,767 famailies and
750 individuals nationwide. Like-
wise, the same report added that
as of mid-2006, NASSA was able
to raise P79.3 million for housing
projects and P1.9 million for emer-
gency or relief assistance for the
flashfloods and landslides vic-
tims in Aurora, Quezon and
Southern Leyte provinces.
Ostensibly so, for most ob-
servers, NASSA’s continuing re-
lief and rehabilitation efforts may
just be the fitting highlight mark-
ing the culmination of the Social
Concerns Year of 2006 as well as
NASSA’s 40th foundation anni-
versary.
Created by the CBCP in 1966
under its Episcopal Commission
on Social Action-Justice and
Peace (ECSA-JP) as the social
development arm of the Philip-
pine Catholic Church, the Na-
tional Secretariat for Social Ac-
tion (NASSA) provides a host of
programs and services which,
aside from Relief and Rehabilita-
tion program, include—BEC
Based Integral Evangelization
Program; Thematic programs on
Sustainable Agriculture, Ecol-
ogy, Children and Women,
Peacebuilding and Alay Kapwa;
and Advocacy Research and
Communications Program.
In the wake, however, of
hundreds of extrajudicial killings
plaguing the country today, the
Episcopal Commission on Social
Action—Justice and Peace still
has to see some systems to ad-
dress this very serious concern.
 CBCP Monitor
12 Message Vol. 11 No. 2
January 22, 2007

Dear Brothers and Sisters, age you to contemplate the suffer-

ings of Christ crucified, and, in union
On 11 February 2007, when the Church
keeps the liturgical memorial of Our Message of His Holiness Benedict XVI for the with him, to turn to the Father with
complete trust that all life, and your

Fifteenth World Day of the Sick

Lady of Lourdes, the Fifteenth World
Day of the Sick will be celebrated in
Seoul, Korea. A number of meetings,
conferences, pastoral gatherings and
liturgical celebrations will take place
with representatives of the Church in
Korea, health care personnel, the sick
and their families. Once again the
Church turns her eyes to those who
suffer and calls attention to the incur-
ably ill, many of whom are dying from
terminal diseases. They are found on
every continent, particularly in places
where poverty and hardship cause
immense misery and grief. Conscious
of these sufferings, I will be spiritually
present at the World Day of the Sick,
united with those meeting to discuss
the plight of the incurably ill in our
world and encouraging the efforts of
Christian communities in their wit-
ness to the Lord’s tenderness and
mercy.
Sickness inevitably brings with
it a moment of crisis and sober con-
frontation with one’s own personal
situation. Advances in the health
sciences often provide the means
necessary to meet this challenge, at
least with regard to its physical as-
pects. Human life, however, has in-
trinsic limitations, and sooner or later
it ends in death. This is an experience
to which each human being is called,
and one for which he or she must be
prepared. Despite the advances of
science, a cure cannot be found for
every illness, and thus, in hospitals,
hospices and homes throughout the
world we encounter the sufferings of
our many brothers and sisters who
are incurably and often terminally ill.
In addition, many millions of people
in our world still experience unsani-
tary living conditions and lack access
to much-needed medical resources,
often of the most basic kind, with the
result that the number of human be-
ings considered “incurable” is greatly
increased.
The Church wishes to support
the incurably and terminally ill by
calling for just social policies which
can help to eliminate the causes of
many diseases and by urging im-
proved care for the dying and those
for whom no medical remedy is avail-
able. There is a need to promote poli-
cies which create conditions where
human beings can bear even incur-
able illnesses and death in a dignified
manner. Here it is necessary to stress
once again the need for more pallia-
tive care centres which provide inte-
gral care, offering the sick the human
assistance and spiritual accompani-
ment they need. This is a right be-
longing to every human being, one
which we must all be committed to
defend.
Here I would like to encourage
the efforts of those who work daily to
ensure that the incurably and termi-
nally ill, together with their families,
receive adequate and loving care. The
Church, following the example of the
Good Samaritan, has always shown
particular concern for the infirm.
Through her individual members and
institutions, she continues to stand
alongside the suffering and to attend
the dying, striving to preserve their
dignity at these significant moments
of human existence. Many such indi-
viduals—health care professionals,
pastoral agents and volunteers—and
institutions throughout the world are
tirelessly serving the sick, in hospi-
tals and in palliative care units, on city
streets, in housing projects and par-
ishes.
I now turn to you, my dear broth-
ers and sisters suffering from incur-
able and terminal diseases. I encour-
lives in particular, are in his hands.
Trust that your sufferings, united to
those of Christ, will prove fruitful for
the needs of the Church and the
world. I ask the Lord to strengthen
your faith in his love, especially dur-
ing these trials that you are experienc-
ing. It is my hope that, wherever you
are, you will always find the spiritual
encouragement and strength needed
to nourish your faith and bring you
closer to the Father of Life. Through
her priests and pastoral workers, the
Church wishes to assist you and
stand at your side, helping you in
your hour of need, and thus making
present Christ’s own loving mercy
towards those who suffer.
In conclusion, I ask ecclesial
communities throughout the world,
and particularly those dedicated to
the service of the infirm, to continue,
with the help of Mary, Salus
Infirmorum, to bear effective witness
to the loving concern of God our
Father. May the Blessed Virgin, our
Mother, comfort those who are ill and
sustain all who have devoted their
lives, as Good Samaritans, to healing
the physical and spiritual wounds of
those who suffer. United to each of
you in thought and prayer, I cordially
impart my Apostolic Blessing as a
pledge of strength and peace in the
Lord.
From the Vatican, 8 December 2006
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

Roadside / from p6 The Truth / from p7

sin. Any rescue would bring
us light. Jesus is that Light, the
son born on Christmas Day.
This makes it easy therefore to
see Jesus with Simeon’s eyes
as the “light to reveal you to
the nations and the glory of
your people Israel” (Lk 2:32).
Around this time Catho-
lics in places where there is
winter may experience snow
storms. Sometimes there could
be power failures too. In the
middle of the storms it’s been
customary for Catholics to
light their presentation candles
blessed on the feast day. No, it
Puerto Princesa / from p9
federation with its own office,
staff, programs and registered
with the Securities and Ex-
change Commission (SEC),
working hand in hand with
CSSC in reaching the commu-
nities of IPs in far flung areas
of the province.
The Particular Church as
Apostolic Vicariate of
Puerto Princesa
His Holiness Pope John
Paul II officially announced
on May 13, 2002 the division
of the Apostolic Vicariate of
Palawan into two Vicariates.
The Apostolic Vicariate of
Taytay was canonically
erected covering the sixteen
(16) parishes of Northern
Palawan with Most Rev.
Edgardo S. Juanich, D.D. as
their shepherd. The remain-
ing territory was subsequently
named Apostolic Vicariate of
Puerto Princesa, under the ju-
risdiction of Most Rev. Pedro
D. Arigo, D.D.
The Apostolic Vicariate
of Puerto Princesa, having the
same seat of the Apostolic
Vicariate of Palawan, contin-
ues the legacy of the Particu-
lar Church of Palawan. It cov-
ers the city of Puerto Princesa
and the mainland municipali-
ties of Southern Palawan;
Aborlan, Narra, Quezon,
Rizal, Española, Brooke’s
has nothing to do with super-
stition. It’s simply to express
the faith of Catholics that in the
middle of the storms of life
when darkness reigns; Jesus,
our light, is with us and does
not abandon us, no matter
what happens.
We Pinoy Catholics are
no strangers to storms and
super typhoons, both literal
and figurative ones. In so
many of these we, I speak es-
pecially of Eastern Samarnons
like myself, experience
people—sometimes family or
friends, very often politicians
Point, Bataraza and the is-
land – municipalities of
Balabac and Cagayancillo.
AVPP Golden Jubilee
1955-2005
On 03 July 2005, the Local
Church of Puerto Princesa has
celebrated the 50th Anniver-
sary of its elevation from Ap-
ostolic Prefecture in 1955.
On the very special occa-
sion, the following were given
priority attention: 1. integral
faith formation; 2. renewal of
the clergy and the religious; 3.
people empowerment; and, 4.
the re-enkindling of the mis-
sionary zeal in every member
of the Church.
Present Realities
At present the Apostolic
Vicariate of Puerto Princesa
has forty three Diocesan
Clergy; Six Religious from the
SVD; A Priest and a Brother
from the OAR; Two Marist
Brothers; an Amigonian
Brother and forty four Reli-
gious Sisters who administer
the Spiritual and Pastoral
needs of 417,834 Catholics in
twenty-two parishes, three
prison-chaplaincies, two mis-
sion territories and five quasi-
parishes.
Certainly there is no
and/or the government—de-
serting us. The good news is:
Jesus does not. A James
Ingram song expresses the
message: “No need to say
goodbye. I’ll see again tomor-
row. No matter how life turns
around, I’ll always be there.”
The un-withdrawn hand of
the never-absent Jesus is a
fact. It’s also our command.
Are our hands just as un-
withdrawn and our presence
freely given to people who
need us? (For feedbacks
please write to:
frebbjr@yahoo.com)
shortage of pastoral difficul-
ties or spiritual or physical
exhaustion caused by over-
work or a lack of that balance
which recommends healthy
periods of physical rest and
spiritual renewal. Yet, despite
of these realities, majority of
our priests face the difficul-
ties of the present positively,
supported by the solicitude
of the Bishop joyfully living
their generous pastoral com-
mitment and their priestly
identity to the full.
As we move towards the
growth of the Church of
Palawan, we are faced with
many challenges. Yet we face
this with trust and faith that
God in His providence will
sustain his Church, that God
in his wisdom will touch the
hearts of the people to be part
of the missionary work en-
trusted to everyone.
The local Church of
Palawan will always be in
gratitude to all who has been
part of this missionary task.
We are encouraged by the
hope and light of Christ to its
final destiny and of great con-
solation that the Mother of
our Redeemer, Our Lady of
the Immaculate Conception,
Patroness of our Vicariate is
always close to us guiding
her sons and daughters in the
way to Christ “Ad Iesum per
Mariam.”
bone ticklers. Here’s a
nutty one from a Tokyo
bar: SPECIAL COCKTAILS
FOR THE LADIES WITH
NUTS.
A cocktail lounge in
Norway, meanwhile, shows
such care in protecting the
innocent: LADIES ARE RE-
QUESTED NOT TO HAVE
CHILDREN IN THE BAR.
In a restaurant in Rome,
this sign implies there are
521 days a year: OPEN
SEVEN DAYS A WEEK,
AND WEEKENDS TOO.
A Nairobi restaurant
notice matter-of-factly
states: CUSTOMERS
WHO FIND OUR WAIT-
RESSES RUDE OUGHT TO
SEE THE MANAGER.
Restaurant menus also
offer humor besides nour-
ishment: Note this one
from a Swiss restaurant in
Fribourg: OUR WINES
LEAVE YOU NOTHING TO
HOPE FOR.
And from a quaint res-
taurant in Poland’s coun-
tryside: SALAD A FIRM’S
OWN MAKE; LIMPID
RED BEET SOUP WITH
CHEESY DUMPLINGS IN
THE FORM OF A FINGER;
ROASTED DUCK LET
LOOSE; BEEF RASHERS
BEATEN IN THE COUN-
TRY PEOPLE’S FASHION.
A new type of omelet
seems a specialty in a road-
side restaurant in Luxor,
Egypt: WE SERVE OM-
ELETTE WITH EGGS.
Roadside reminders are
another source of travel
fun. Right here at home, a
sign cautions motorists in
Tagaytay: PLEASE DRIVE
SLOWLY. 6 PEOPLE DIED
HERE BY ACCIDENT.
To wake up sleepy lo-
cal tourists on the road to
Malolos, a billboard adver-
tising chicken feed boasts:
PALAKIHAN NG ITLOG.
While you fill up at a
gasoline station in Tarlac,
an invitation painted on its
The
wall says: DROP IN. THIS
IS A GOOD PLACE TO
TAKE A LEAK.
Travel agencies do
CBCPWorld
their part in making your Network
trip mishap-free—as this
one from Czechoslovakia :
TA K E O N E O F O U R A network of Dio-
HORSE-DRIVEN CITY ceses, Parishes, Catho-
TOURS. WE GUARANTEE lic Schools and reli-
NO MISCARRIAGES. gious groups. Today,
Sometimes travel over a hundred of them
agents’ enthusiasm leads to nationwide. Pursuing
ambivalence, like this long- one mission, linked
winding claim noted at a under one nationwide
tourist bureau in Padova, satellite system. Con-
Italy: THIS HOTEL IS RE- nected together with
NOWNED FOR ITS PEACE the same passion for
AND SOLITUDE. IN FACT, the Gospel.
CROWDS FROM ALL
OVER THE WORLD FLOCK Our Broadband Con-
HERE TO ENJOY ITS SOLI- nectivity is deliv-
TUDE. ered to our network
Sometimes, too, airline members through a
ticket offices may not be VSAT system on a
the most helpful of places; C-band or through a
see this sign in wireless IP system
Copenhagen: WE TAKE on a microwave plat-
YOUR BAGS AND SEND form, originating
THEM IN ALL DIREC- from our network op-
TIONS. erations center in
The Japanese country- Clark Special Eco-
side is so beautiful even its nomic Zone in Ange-
travel tips can get to be po- les City.
etic, as this one found in a Our Content Depart-
car rental brochure in To- ment aims at saturat-
kyo: WHEN PASSENGER ing the cyberspace
OF FOOT H E AVE IN with wholesome
S I G H T, TOOTLE THE contents that are
HORN. TRUMPET HIM faith-related, educa-
MELODIOUSLY AT FIRST, tional and social-ad-
BUT IF HE STILL OB- vocacy oriented. Its
STACLES YOUR PASSAGE services are: web de-
THEN TOOTLE HIM WITH signing, web mainte-
VIGOUR. nance, web hosting,
There’s more on the content sourcing
list, really, but I guess this and editing, and
is enough gasser for the video production.
day, lest some extra-sensi- Our Traning Depart-
tive reader ask, “What’s a ment conducts the
column like that doing in an following trainings:
august, dignified paper for EdTech, IT Aware-
bishops?” Well, as any ness, WebArt,
honest-to-goodness SysAd Training.
church person can tell you,
bishops wouldn’t be able
to endure being bishops if www.cbcpworld.com
they didn’t know how to be training@cbcpworld.net
+632 4041612, 4042182
human and laugh once in a
while. And that’s the truth.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 2
January 22, 2007
ECMI’s Statement of Support to
DOLE’s Upgrade of Policies Covering
the Filipino Household Workers to
be Deployed Overseas
FOR over two decades now of
sending our Filipino women over-
seas to work as household work-
ers, their situation has never re-
ally improved. Many advocates
for migrants in the Catholic
Church had been appealing for
the protection of their rights and
promotion of their welfare as they
Statements 13
A Conference Statement of the CBCP 2007 International
Conference on Bioethics and the Family
January 9-10, 2007
EDSA Shangri-La Hote
Ortigas Center, Metro Manila
most natural thing if employers
would like to hire skilled house-
hold workers as described by the
new policy. There are countries
that could well afford to hire house-
hold workers at US$400. The Phil-
ippines should only allow coun-
tries willing to pay the set wage.
No Placement Fee Policy. The

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

are considered the most vulner-
able workers considering their
specific working environment.
We recognized that while there
were many attempts in the past to
safeguard their situations, those
systems however had always
been abused by many exploit-
ative recruiting agencies and sev-
eral employers. We believed that
the recently declared policy re-
forms covering the household
workers will not necessarily re-
solve all the problems surround-
ing their deployment. Neverthe-
less these would improve their
worsening condition, such as the
case of those OFWs working in
Lebanon, or somehow would lead
the Philippines to graduate from
sending household workers who
are less skilled, in protecting and
preserving their rights. The re-
forms are not that all perfect but
we wish to praise those parts that
deserve commendation. The
abuse to the system would most
likely to happen again, but we
could only hope that the new
reforms would empower our
women household workers from
now on.
We commend the governing
board of the Philippine Overseas
Employment Administration
(POEA) under your department
for the resolutions made specifi-
cally affecting the following:
Age requirement of 25 years
old. Having raised the minimum
age requirement to 25 years old,
our household workers to be de-
ployed overseas would have bet-
ter psycho-emotional and physi-
cal preparation for the work.
Minimum wage of US$400.
Having raised their minimum
monthly salary to US$400 is the
prohibition to collect placement
fee from the household workers
prior or during their employment
has been what we were advocat-
ing for the longest time. We hope
that this would apply as well to
other OFWs. The employer
should pay for the placement fee
of their workers if that is neces-
sary.
Pre-Qualification Certificate.
The requirement of Pre-Qualifica-
tion Certificate could thwart
abuse and exploitation when
implemented well. This could pro-
vide household workers a better
view of what is in store for them.
We observed that while we
could have good policy bills for
our workers, the lack of monitor-
ing work is where most of our
workers fall victims from the ex-
ploitation of abusive employers
and agents. We recommend to
our government to strengthen the
aspect of monitoring in the site
and in the country. We think the
Filipino communities overseas
and our network of pastoral work-
ers and chaplains are most willing
to be of help on this aspect of
monitoring when our government
officials would consistently show
sincerity and dedication in their
assistance to our distressed work-
ers at the site.
On behalf of Bishop Precioso
Cantillas, SDB, DD
Chairman, Episcopal Commission
for the Pastoral Care
Of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples
of CBCP
Fr. Edwin D. Corros, CS
Executive Secretary
CBCP-ECMI
January 22, 2007
Recent developments in modern bio-
medical science are proceeding at a
dizzying pace, presenting untold op-
portunities and problems for the in-
dividual, the family, and society.
Authentic progress, which promotes
the dignity of the human person from
conception until one’s natural death,
is a fundamental concern which the
Catholic Church shares with all of
humanity. It requires that every hu-
man activity, including and most spe-
cially those related to science, con-
form to the universal and timeless
principles and norms of ethics, and
that every human achievement con-
firm these principles and standards.
Determined to make sure that all
progress in genetic engineering and
biotechnology adhere strictly to this
principle, the Catholic Bishops’ Con-
ference of the Philippines felt it has
the duty and the opportunity to con-
tribute to the proper dissemination,
processing and utilization of infor-
mation and data that could help pro-
mote the correct public policies and
private response of individuals and
families to the wide range of issues in
biomedicine and biotechnology.
For this reason, the CBCP de-
cided to organize the 2007 Interna-
tional Conference on Bioethics and
the Family, drawing on the knowl-
edge of experts from the Holy See,
the United States, Europe and the
Philippines, from whose presenta-
tion we have drawn the following
conclusions:
1. The human embryo is a human
person, composed of body and
soul, from the moment of his/her
conception, endowed with all the
potentialities, proper identity, in-
dividuality, and uniqueness, and
hence has an inherent dignity
that must be respected and pro-
tected throughout his/her entire
life.
2. Created in the image of God, the
human embryo has God-given
inviolable rights and is destined
to eternal life.
3. The human family founded on
the institution of marriage (which
includes fatherhood, mother-
hood and childhood) is the natu-
ral and fundamental group unit
of society. Its rights as a social
unit, and not merely of its mem-
bers as individuals, have to be
respected and promoted.
4. We acknowledge the contribu-
tions of science to provide cure
and alleviate human suffering.
However, ethics and social mo-
rality set limits for what is per-
missible in scientific discovery
and the application of scientific
knowledge.
5. The claim by some scientists
that human embryonic stem cells
can be used for treating adult
tissue is false, and hence must
be debunked. Only adult stem
cells have this ability.
6. There is a need to be genuinely
discerning and critical of organi-
zations and systems—national
and international—that seek to
abrogate the country’s sover-
eign constitutional protection of
the family, parents’ rights, and
the right to life.
7. Contraception which gave rise
to what Pope John Paul II re-
ferred to as the “culture of death”
has stimulated sharp increases
in adultery, pre-marital sex and
homosexual activity. With it, the
abominable crime of abortion has
been condoned and even con-
sidered a right. This loss of re-
spect and care for human life at
its beginning has led to the loss
of respect and care at its natural
end, as in the evils of euthanasia
and abandonment of the elderly
and the handicapped.
8. Various faiths and cultures, at
the national and international
levels, must mutually cooperate
to promote, strengthen and pro-
tect human life and the family.
9. The government, particularly
the legislators, has also the moral
obligation to promote and pro-
tect human life from its begin-
ning, as well as the dignity of
marriage and the family.
10. Invoking the God of Life, may
our families be inspired,
strengthened and challenged by
the example of the Holy Family,
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, in re-
sponding to our vocation to
serve the Church and society by
caring for human life and serving
the family, the basic unit of soci-
ety.

Crisis / from p3
In celebrating the social con-
cerns year, the prelates emphasized
its call for action from a moral stand-
point.
The CBCP committed itself to a
program of pastoral action involv-
ing the building of character, capac-
ity and community.
It also called on the faithful and
institutions to promote a “civiliza-
tion of love” through anticorrup-
tion and livelihood programs, train-
ing sessions on good governance
and good citizenship, election moni-
toring and voters’ education, among
other projects.
Figura said the speakers and
facilitators for the bishops’ seminar
are some public officials, lay leaders
and high-ranking prelates.
On the first day of the seminar,
the session topics and their respec-
tive speakers are: for today, “Leader
and Citizens as Partners in Social
Transformation: the Marikina Ex-
perience” by Marikina Mayor
Marides Fernando, and “Electoral
Processes as a Tool for Social
Transformation: the Isabela Prov-
ince Experience” by Isabela gover-
nor Grace Padaca.
On the second day, talks will
include: the “Consistent Crusade
Against Gambling” by Lingayen-
Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz,
“Citizens Movements: the Ipil
Prelature Experience” by Cagayan
de Oro Archbishop Antonio
Ledesma, and “Evangelizing Poli-
tics” by Nandy Pacheco of Ang
Kapatiran.
On the third day, the last day of
the seminar, there will be a talk on
“The Role of Bishops as Leaders in
Addressing Crises in Governance”
by CBCP president and Jaro Arch-
bishop Angel Lagdameo.
The assembly, meanwhile, will
end January 28 with possibly an-
other pastoral statement on the cur-
rent political situation and other so-
cial issues.
CBCP spokesman Msgr Pedro
Quitorio said the bishops might also
tackle issues related to the upcom-
ing elections during the plenary.
“We might also issue guide-
lines or statements on the elections
as what we did in the past, particu-
larly on what the people should do,
and what their attitude should be in
the coming elections,” he added.
Different commissions of the
CBCP are also expected to report on
their achievements last year and
plans for this year. (Roy Lagarde)
MACE offers all new
comprehensive protection
program exclusively designed
for KC members and family
Health and accident insurance
• Insuring yourself and your family from immi-
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Fax: 527-2256
 CBCP Monitor
14 Reflections Vol. 11 No. 2
January 22, 2007

Bo Sanchez

Have Fun When You Can

7:00 AM
One Saturday morn-
ing, I kidnap our ANAWIM
orphans and kids, all fifteen
of them, and squeeze them
into my car for a day of fun.
Along the way, the kids are
to teach the small ones how
to balance on a two-wheeler—
and wondering whether the
big kids left the park and were
now biking up Canon road to
Baguio City.
11:30 AM
covery expedition, to a
place that they’ve never
been to. I escort them to a
public toilet. Naturally,
they are flushed with ex-
citement. After that, it was
“swings and slides” time

© Bryan Allen/Corbis
As I try to catch my in the park. Life’s plea-

Hunting for the Best

singing, dancing, scream-
ing, and vomiting on each breath, wipe my sweat, and sures are free indeed.
other. No wonder my car’s remove the new designs off 5:00 PM
air freshener isn’t working my shirt and pants (i.e. bike- I’m driving home with
well. And where are we tracks), I begin to wonder why my tired crew. I’m ex-
By Bp. Jose R. Manguiran going? Not to those ex- I ever got into this thing of hausted, yes, but peeking
pensive amusement parks putting up an orphanage. through my rear-view mir-
IN the course of doing our assignment ing in his life-time. where people pay P400 per Perhaps I should shift careers ror, I catch a glimpse of the
we want to do it well, and the best of To believe that our work is the best head. Multiply that by fif- now. I begin to imagine enter- kids sleeping soundly, and
course. As you are the first deployed is to be closed to other possibilities for teen, and I’ll be poorer than ing into Showbiz, and making my heart skips a beat.
mission team, you earnestly want to set the better, even to be proud that no one a presidential aspirant who a movie with Cameron Diaz. I love them so much.
the best of everything. can do it better than we do. has just lost the elections. 12:00 NOON One girl was still
Later on you will come to realize that What is important is the reason which Instead, I decide to go to a After failing to catch awake. She sides up to me
the best we have put up is not at all the motivates us to be doing and not the do- place that suits my per- them with a lasso, or with in- and whispers, “Kuya Bo,
best because we discover another way ing itself. What matters most is, “Thy will sonal tastes and cultural genious pits that I dig and masayang masaya ako
better than before. be done,” and not what we have done. preferences and artistic ori- cover with leaves—I give up ngayon.” So I wonder if it
Therefore, the right attitude is to be- What is important is to “whom shall I go,” entation: a place with no and softly whisper to myself, was the bike ride, or the
lieve that what we are doing now is not and not where shall I go. entrance fee. “Kakain na ako. Kung ayaw swing, or the ice drop, or
really the best; the best is elusive, it is With this perspective in mind, the 9:00 AM niyong kumain, di huwag.” the public toilet. I ask why.
forever to be hunted. “rest will be added unto you” and then I drive them to a free Immediately, all fifteen are be- She gives me a tight
Hunting for the best is what makes you are on the path to the BEST. Without park (Quezon Circle in hind me, little angels in a row. hug. “Kasi, kasama ka
life thrilling and missionary. The thrill of this perspective, you will become the Quezon City), rent old 1:00 PM namin.”
hunting ends when the hunter is trapped BEAST. bikes—that cost me only After budget meals, plus I try to drive carefully.
by death. Only at that moment can the Keep on chasing the best to tame the P400 for everyone! I spend ice drops—two pesos each— My tears are getting in the
hunter grasp the best he had been chas- “beast” in us! the whole morning trying for dessert, I decide on a dis- way.

Church and Elections Political Dynasty FROM THE

NOW that we are in the Year of Social
Concerns, and also that we will be
having elections this year, it seems
but proper that we make some proac-
tive, not reactive, effort to both hu-
manize and Christianize this political
exercise.
Sad to say, our elections have
gone to the dogs, consistently being
accompanied by ugly cohorts like
cheating, bribing, killing, violence,
etc., leading us to a black hole of
hideous social ills.
We still fail to break the vicious
cycle of poverty, injustice, violence,
etc. on the one hand, and all sorts of
political shenanigans, on the other.
Is this task impossible? Difficult, defi-
nitely. But impossible?
This is, of course, an enormous
challenge, requiring heroic efforts
and sacrifices and gargantuan re-
sources, but we can always start
now and build on what we have
accomplished so far as we move along
in our national life.
We should try to avoid hasty,
shallow and dangerous improvisa-
tions, amateurism, and ad hocism
that should not sit well with us after
so many years of nightmarish expe-
riences regarding elections.
The Church hierarchy and clergy
should not just confine themselves
to ceremonial acts and post-mortem
complaining and lamenting. In terms
of the pertinent catechesis alone, a
lot need to be done. And there are
many other things that can and ought
to be done, before, during and after
the elections.
For example, what to tell or re-
mind our politicians and candidates
with respect to the conduct of the
campaign and election; what to tell
the electorate, the public officials
involved in the exercise, etc., etc.,
should be very interesting and nec-
essary.
What issues to address, what
platforms and programs of govern-
ment would be appropriate, can be
discussed, ventilated and debated
upon by the different sectors with
some guidelines given by Church
authorities.
Our Church leaders should think
of a comprehensive plan to tackle
By Fr. Roy Cimagala
this important social concern, and
spark to life the appropriate machin-
ery and network to carry out this
indispensable ministry. This should
be an affair.
This is, of course, not a show of
power on the part of the Church, nor
to compromise the true nature and
purpose of the Church, which is re-
ligious, and as such is predominantly
spiritual and supernatural in charac-
ter. This is not to come out with
supposedly exclusive Catholic posi-
tions in political issues.
This is rather to make sure that
our earthly and temporal affairs con-
form to our proper religious end,
inspiring them with true Christian
spirit and doing so by carefully re-
specting the legitimate autonomy
which these human affairs by their
nature possess, and the plurality of
moral positions they can spawn.
Thus, it can be immediately seen
that the main protagonists of this
exercise would be the lay faithful
insofar as they are also responsible
citizens of the country. The clergy
take more on the guiding and inspir-
ing role, which is no trivial matter.
Care should be taken to avoid
falling into clericalism, a monstrous
mongrel, bastard and hybrid between
religion and politics, the Church and
state. Thus, everyone—clergy, reli-
gious and lay—should be taught
about what he or she can do and not
do with respect to the election and to
anything political.
In this regard, not only the dioc-
esan and parochial offices can be
used, but also the mass media. These
offer greater reach and scope. Pope
John Paul II called them the modern
Areopagus, precisely for this rea-
son.
Over the years, many initiatives
in this direction have already been
made. On the whole, they are good
and useful. But some clarifications,
corrections and polishing need to be
done. And, certainly, further devel-
opment.
It cannot be denied that there
had been irregularities, outright mis-
takes and frontal violations to the
authentic nature and purpose of the
Church. Meddling by Church offi-
cials in political affairs had unfortu-
nately happened.
The elections can be a wonder-
ful occasion for all of us to go deep
and deeper into the social doctrine of
the Church, which is becoming more
relevant as we grow as nation. In
fact, it’s a crying need today!
Am a concerned Pilipino in New
York and I would join you in the
prayer rally if I am in the Philip-
pines.
I believe that something
good can be achieved in the show
of another people’s power. The
People must now command our
politicians to pass ANTI-POLITI-
CAL DYNASTY LAW which is
already provided for in the Con-
stitution.
The problems in the Philip-
pines can be summed up into 2
major ones: 1/3 Graft and Corrup-
tion and 2/3 Political Dynasty. If
the enabling law can be passed
to enforce the Anti-Political Dy-
nasty, then 2/3 of our problems
can be solved and it would lead
to the minimization of graft and
corruption.
But considering that our
Congressman and politicians will
not take the action, then the ini-
tiative should be coming from the
people to compel our leaders to
pass the law that will implement
the will of the Filipino—a more
progressive and peaceful life in
the Philippines—without the
graft and corruption, with the
more capable ordinary citizens
having the chance to truly serve
our people.
I believe that NOW is the
time to order our political leaders
to heed the people’s command,
while the politicians are still feel-
ing the heat of anger by their con-
stituents.
Can I suggest that the pas-
sage of the Anti Political Dynasty
be given more emphasis with
those attending the rally exhorted
to continue pressing their lead-
ers to act on this very important
piece of legislation. I am sure
there are still some decent con-
gressman and senators who will
be willing to sponsor a bill for this
matter, especially if the People will
put more pressure.
Thank you for reading and
considering this proposal.
Modesto B.
INBOX
The Choir and
English Mass
We are grateful for your wise, just
and satisfying spiritual guidance
to the Catholic community.
My friends and I are proud
to strive to be good Catholics.
But we have some concerns
which we know you can fairly re-
solve. Our Parish Priests always
encourage us to participate in the
celebration of mass especially on
Sundays. We try to and we buy
the monthly missalette. However,
it is difficult for us to participate
because the choir usually devi-
ates from the songs indicated in
the missalette. To enable us to
actively participate, it would be
helpful if the choir is instructed
to sing the songs as indicated in
the missalette.
Another concern is that all
masses in our area are usually in
Tagalog. Is it possible for the
parish to conduct at least one
mass in English on Sundays?
There are a lot of visitors and for-
eigners married to Filipinos who
desire to attend Sunday Services.
Since they can not comprehend
what is going on, they get dis-
couraged from attending Sunday
mass. It happened recently when
our folks abroad came home to
attend the 50th wedding anniver-
sary of my sister. When they
found out masses are in Tagalog,
they just were disappointed.
Especially this time when En-
glish is being encouraged to hone
proficiency, masses in English is
an excellent medium of learning.
Filipinos then were admired for
their ability to communicate in
English fluently.
Lizbeth O.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 2
January 22, 2007
Title: AGENT X44
Running Time: 95 mins
Lead Cast: Vhong Navarro, Mariel
Rodriguez, Cassandra Ponti,
Pokwang, Juliana Palermo,
Mura, Tony Ferrer
Director: Joyce Bernal
Producers: Charo Santos Concio,
Malou Santos
Screenwriter: Mel Mendoza del
Rosario
Music: Charles "Chukie" Dreyfus
Editor: Renewin Alano
Genre: Comedy
Distributor: Star CINEMA
Location: Manila, Philippines
Technical Assessment: ½
Moral Assessment:
CINEMA Rating: For viewers 13
and below with parental
guidance
Nagsasanay si King a.k.a Agent
X43 (Vhong Navarro) upang maging
isang ganap na agent detective
katulad ng kanyang Ninong na si
Agent X44 (Tony Ferrer). Kasabay
ni King sa pagsasanay ang kanyang
sidekick na si Junior a.k.a. Bro (Mura)
at kaibigan na si Mary Grace a.k.a.
Agent 609 (Mariel Rodriguez). Sa
pagtatapos ng training ay itinalaga
bilang mga ganap na agent ang mga
kapwa nila trainees kabilang si Mary
Jigsaw / John (Tobin Bell)
returns for the 3rd installment of
the Saw Trilogy as bedridden
cancer patient now in the brink of
death. He needs to stay alive until
his newest victim Jeff (Agnus
Macfayden), a father mourning
for the loss of his 8 year old son
completes his game wherein he
meets people who contributed to
the death of his son and he is
made to choose to forgive and
save them or watch them die
slowly and painfully. His
prot?g?e, Amanda (Shawnee
Smith), the junkie he saved in the
previous sequel, continues his
torture legacy and kidnaps Dr.
Lynn Denlon (Bahar Soomkh) so
he can ensure he stays alive to
see Jeff finish his game and re-
ceive punishment fir committing
adultory. Amanda designs an in-
tricate collar bomb that will ex-
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CINEMA Reviews
Grace maliban kina King at Junior na
sa halip ay itinalaga bilang mga
tagalinis o Janitor. Ikinalungkot ito
ni King at ni Agent X44 dahil kapwa
pala sila umaasa na magkakaroon ng
bagong X44 sa katauhan ni King at
makapagpahinga bilang senior citi-
zen ang kanyang Ninong. Hanggang
isang kaso ng nawawalang artifacts
sa museo ang kailangan solusyunan
na may kinalaman pala sa mga unang
kaso na napagtagumpayan ni Agent
X44 tatlong dekada na ang
nakararaan. Naging hamon ito kay
King upang maisalba ang naunsyami
niyang career bilang agent, kaya
ginawa niya ang lahat ng paraan sa
tulong ni Junior upang maibigay sa
kanya ang kaso. Naibigay naman ito
sa kanya na kaakibat ang mga
kondisyon kasama ang maayos na
pagsasama nila sa trabaho ng
kaibigan na si Mary Grace na nagbalik
matapos ang ibayo pang pagsasanay
sa ibang bansa. Magtagumpay
naman kaya si King sa kasong ito at
maging ganap na Agent X44?
Halata na pilit lang nilagyan ng
istorya ang pelikula dahil mas
nangibabaw ang mga agaw eksenang
patawa (pati eksaheradang
Title: SAW III
Running Time: 83 mins
Lead Cast: Tobin Bell, Bahar
Soomkh, Angus Macfadyen,
Dina Meyer, Shawnee Smith
Director: Darren Lynn Bausman
Producers: Greg Hoffman, Mark
Burg
Screenwriter: Leigh Whannel
Music: Charlie Clouser
Genre: Horror
Cinematography: David
Armstrong
Location: USA
Technical Assessment:
Moral Assessment:
CINEMA Rating: For mature
viewers 18 and above
plode the moment John flatlines or
she walks to far from the man. Unfor-
tunately, Jigsaw/John takes fancy of
Lynn which angers Amanda after
giving him her loyalty.
Considering the development
of movies of this genre, one would be
surprised at the dullness of the pro-
duction. It is neither terrifying nor
thrilling. For horror, it relies a lot on
gore and blood spills and how much
one can stomach as it merely moves
from one torture scene to the next
interspersed with a weak story line.
Although this sequel ties all loose
ends of the previous two; it is a little
confusing as it tries to take an in-
depth look at the relationship of John
and Amanda; masters and prot?g?e,
love, father and daughter and wal-
lows in detailing subplots of other
characters in the present and previ-
ous films. The script is flat and bland
while the production design com-
Name ___________________________________________
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Or e-mail this at cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.com
pagbigkas ng mga wikang banyaga)
at misteryosong labanan na wala
namang saysay. Walang sentro ang
kwento kaya hirap masundan ang
daloy nito kahit na ang karakter ni
King ay nakakalito dahil sa tila likas
niyang pagkakomedyante at kahit
papaano ay nagging interesante ang
pagbuhay sa katauhan ng maalamat
na Agent X44 lalo na ang aktuwal na
pagganap ng unang binansagan nito
tatlong dekada na ang nakararaan na
si Tony Ferrer. Sa mga umaasa ng
mga kamangha-manghang eksenang
detektib at mga kakaibang gatgets
ay mabibigo sa pelikulang ito.
Bagama't my effort na magpakita ng
mga tagpo na may animated com-
puter program parang wala naman
itong dating at halos di napansin.
Halos di naman makilala ang mga
karakter dahil sa disenyo ng
produksyon at nakakalitong dub-
bing. Hilaw ang musika at tunog na
inilapat. Sa kabuuan ng aspetong
teknikal ay walang masydong
maihahain ng pelikula.
Hindi mailap ang tagumpay sa
taong nagsisikap at may mithiin sa
buhay. Kahit papaano ay ipinakita
ito ng pelikula sa kabila ng magulong
pletes the entire mood of scenes
? rusty, gloomy and dark. Cin-
ematography and editing are de-
cent and tight and the scoring is
substantially chilling.
It is surprising how one per-
son can champion values such as
forgiveness, faithfulness and
appreciation of one's life be so
violent, cold blooded and sadis-
tic at the same time. Can a noble
intention such as teaching a per-
son forgiveness or matrimonial
faithfulness justify the mutilation
of a wrongdoer? Society most of
the time applauds vigilantes and
rude heroes who use force and
violence to punish the corrupt,
the immoral and the abusive. At
some point we cry "death by le-
thal injection or gas chamber" --
probably these are "more hu-
mane" and less gruesome than
the devises and contraptions of
Jigsaw -- but doesn't it follow the
same principle? Hate the sin and
love the sinner is a very basic
Christian value that needs to be
emphasized these days, vis-?-vis
we give importance to the con-
version of the heart and soul and
rectification of attitude as oppose
to judgment and punishment of
an offender. After all, didn't we
commit a mistake or fault at some
point in our lives? The movie fails
to bring its underlying philoso-
phy and concentrated on spilling
liters of blood, body parts and
other vomit-inducing elements
and is definitely not suitable for
young and sensitive audience.
(Middle Name)
______________________
Signature
15
takbo ng istorya.
Naniniwala at
naninindigan si
King sa kanyang
k a k a y a h a n
bagama't gumamit
siya ng pananakot
bilang huwad na
multo para makamit
niya ang
minimithing kaso
u p a n g
mapatunayan na
karapat-dapat
siyang maging
ganap na ahente ng
imbestigasyon. Sa
pag-ako naman ng
responsibilidad ay
kailangan bantayan
ang kahinaan upang
wag mahulog sa
bitag katulad ng
pagkabighani sa seksing babae. bayani na katulad ni Lapu-lapu at sa
Maraming eksenang patawa ang mga bagay na direktang iniuugnay
pelikula na gumamit ng istilong pag- sa kanya katulad ng kanyang tabak
aalipusta at pagwawalang halaga sa na naging subject ng obsession ng
kapwa lalo na sa babae. Sa kabuuan iba't ibang karakter sa pelikula! Dahil
ay bitin ang paghahatid ng sa di umano ay mahiwagang
magandang aral sa manonood. Dapat kakayahan nito na makagawa ng
ring maging maingat sa paggamit sa langis at mapagyaman sa sinuman
marangal na pangalan ng kilalang na magmamay-ari nito.
Title: NIGHT AT THE
MUSEUM
Running Time: 95 mins
Lead Cast: Ben Stiller,
Carla Gugino, Dick
Van Dyke, Mickey
Rooney, Bill Cobbs,
Jake Cherry, Ricky
Gervais, Rrobin
Williams, Owen
Wilson
Director: Shawn Levy
Producers: Michael
Barnathan, Chris
Columbus
Screenwriters: Robert
Ben Garant,
Thomas Lennon
Music: Alan Silvestru
Editor: Don Zimmerman
Cinematography:
Guillermo Navarro
Distributor: 20th
Century Fox
Location: USA
Technical Assessment:
Moral Assessment:
CINEMA Rating: For viewers age 13 and below with parental
guidance
Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) is a amusing and entertaining to see a
newly divorced father?jobless, T-rex skeleton, for instance, be-
rudderless, and struggling to get having like an overeager puppy
a job to be able to support his son and wanting to play "fetch" with
Nick (Jake Cherry). So as not to a stunned Stiller. The Lilliputian
have to move to Queens, which diorama figurines tying Stiller
will disappoint Nick, Larry takes down with his head on the rail-
the only job that he can, as a road tracks while their equally
security guard on graveyard shift tiny trains rams his head without
at New York's Museum of Natural as much as messing his hair is
History. He inherits the museum's also comical. Stiller is his usual
only copy of the instruction bumbling self here; his looks are
manual from the three guards perfect for the funny part, but can
about to retire, Cecil (Dick Van turn earnest when needed. The
Dyke), Reginald (Bill Cobbs) and two screen veterans (Van Dyke
Gus (Mickey Rooney), along with and Cobbs) play their roles gamely
a mysterious piece of advice: and well, while the third veteran
"After dark, don't let anyone in-- (Rooney), looking like a resur-
-or out." Larry soon sees why--- rected museum item himself, steals
on his first night he discovers the scene from both Stiller and the
that once the doors are locked capuchin monkey.
and the sun goes down, all hell
practically breaks loose. The Tyr- More sophisticated audi-
annosaurus rex skeleton reani- ences might fall asleep from either
mates, as do the lions and all the exhaustion or boredom halfway
African mammals, the Egyptian through the nigh at the museum
statues, Attila the Hun, Theodore for there are no witty gags or
Roosevelt, the little figurines in smart double-talk in this movie.
the dioramas, even the miniature But as long as viewers know what
trains. But alas, Dexter, the capu- to expect, it could be an enjoyable
chin monkey, tears the instruc- family movie: entertaining
tion manual to piece. enough, clean enough, and very
well-made technically, plus
It may not be the most origi- there's that worthy message of
nal father-son bonding story ever providing oneself against all
told, nor the funniest comedy- odds. Even young children may
fantasy ever filmed, but Night at watch this, but ready when they
the Museum wins hands down in ask things like "How can the giant
the CGI department. It's both skeleton drink?

16 People, Facts & Places
Parish of St. Therese in Batangas Declared Shrine
THE shrine of St. Therese
of the Child Jesus and the
Holy Face in Batangas
was declared an
Archdiocesan Shrine last
January 2, 2007, on the
134th birthday of the saint.
The Archdiocesan
Chancellor, Rev. Father
Gerard Jonas Palmares,
read the Decree in front of
the heavily packed devo-
tees including the
hermanidad and benefac-
tors.
The Eucharistic cel-
ebration was presided by
the Archbishop of Lipa,
Most Reverend Ramon
C. Arguelles, DD. The sol-
emn event was also
graced with the presence
of the Auxiliary Bishop-
Emeritus of Lipa, Most
Rev. Salvador Q. Quizon, DD; the Bishop of
Gumaca, Most Rev. Ben Famadico, DD; and the
Bishop-Emeritus of Lucena, Most Rev. Ruben
T. Profugo, DD, and several priests and reli-
gious.
The Marker of the Shrine and the belfry
were blessed prior to the celebration of the
Mass.
The newly declared Shrine of St. Therese is
the fourth Archdiocesan Shrine in Lipa. The
first declared Archdiocesan Shrine is the fa-
mous and well revered Our Lady of Caysasay in
Labac, Taal, Batangas. The present rector of the
Shrine is Fr. Bong Panganiban.
The second is the Shrine of St. Vincent
Ferrer in Banay-Banay, Lipa City. It is currently
under the supervision of Fr. Jojo Mendoza as
Rector.
The third one which is administered by Fr.
Charlie Argente, an Oblate of St. Joseph Priest,
Fr. Théophile Verbist Founded the CICM in
Brussels, Belgium
THE CICM missionaries arrived in the Philip-
pines in 1907. Since then, for 100 years now, the
CICM missionaries have been in the works of
evangelization in many parts of the country.
This year the Congregation of the Mis-
sionaries of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
(CICM), is celebrating 100 years of missionary
work in the country.
Today, 100 members of CICM are of Fili-
pino nationality including Bishop Carlito
Cenzon of the diocese of Baguio, and Bishop
Prudencio Andaya Apostolic Vicar of Tabuk.
Many are in Africa, America or Asia, like
Bishop Wenceslao Padilla, Apostolic Prefect
of Ulaanbaatar, in Mongolia.
Prominent CICM missionaries include Fr
Known Film / from p1
of CINEMA reviewers from the CBCP Office on
Women.
According to CBCP Office on Women,
executive secretary Dr. Zenaida Rotea, it was
out of the initial 4-day seminar conducted by
Malone in Manila on January 12-15, 2000, that
“CINEMA was formed, and competent movie
reviewers and assessors were trained and ap-
pointed.” This preliminary seminar was fol-
lowed by a six-month intensive workshop. In
July 2000, CINEMA was launched.
Malone had been in the country a few
times, but it was his third time to come and visit
CINEMA at the Office on Women. Rotea said
that CINEMA makes it always a point to invite
Malone whenever he is in the Philippines to give
him an update on what the group is doing.
In his meeting with the group last January
18, Malone praised CINEMA for what it had
accomplished since its beginning. He com-
mended the group for being able to sustain this
kind of work. Malone also expressed his wish
that every Episcopal Conference in the world
will have a body of movie reviewers as sustain-
able as CINEMA.
Visit us online at
• www.cbcponline.net/cbcpmonitor
is the Shrine of St. Jo-
seph, The Patriarch.
The latest which
is under the steward-
ship of Fr. Bert R.
Cabrera, as Parish
Priest, is the Shrine of
St. Therese of the
Child Jesus and of the
Holy Face.
The shrine of St.
Therese used to be the
parochial Church of
Sta. Teresita Munici-
pality. It is located
along national high-
way in the midwestern
part of the province of
Batangas. The Sta.
Teresita- Poblacion is
the former Brgy.
Sambat of Taal,
Batangas.
The Parish
Church was declared a Shrine for the Archdio-
cese of Lipa to acknowledge the widespread of
devotion to the Saint of the New Millennium.
St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy
Face, the Saint of the Little Way and the Patron-
ess of Foreign Missions is also the 34th Doctor
of the Church.
Roses are commonly associated with St.
Therese. They became commonly known as
signs of granted petitions through the interces-
sion of the saint. During the declaration event,
Most Rev. Ramon C. Arguelles, DD, and Fr. Bert
R. Cabrera blessed the roses brought by the
congregation.
St. Therese uttered before she breathed her
last that she will spend her heaven by doing
good on earth. She was true to her promise.
Many devotees attributed the favors they have
received through the intercession of St. Therese.
(by Elvie Reyes & Arlene de Villa)
Francis Lambrecht who evangelized the people
of Ifugao and became Vicar Apostolic of Mon-
tana province and Msgr. William Brasseur
who came in 1931 to work among the Benguet
people.
The congregation works of evangeliza-
tion have also challenged and inspired many
Filipinos to give themselves to serve the mis-
sions worldwide.
CICM missionaries, priests and brothers
are serving in Belgium, Netherlands, France,
Italy, D.R. Congo, Angola, Cameroon, Chad,
Zambia, Senegal, Philippines, Indonesia, Tai-
wan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Mongolia, Ja-
pan, USA, Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, Domini-
can Republic and Haiti. (CBCP News)
In the past six years, CINEMA had con-
ducted eleven seminars on “Film Review and
Classification which had an over all total of 187
participants. It also conducted two seminars on
TV advocacy against pornography. The review
body has had 45 assessors and 16 writers who
had reviewed 636 movies.
“CINEMA provides a great service by its
perceptive reviews, mediating the film to the
public of believers and those who do not share
our faith,” said Malone.
Malone is a member of the Missionaries of
the Sacred Heart. He is a native of Australia but
currently resides in London and works for SIGNIS
film desk. Having finished his term as president
of SIGNIS, Malone said he is freer now to go
around and do things that he loved most; that,
of “being a bridge between the Church and the
professional world of cinema—
by review, by juries at festivals, those kinds
of interactions.” He noted that there are a lot of
opportunities that can be explored, “[whether]
publishing books, whether it be expanding the
juries, whether it be seminars or dialogues, all
those kinds of things.” (PinkyBarrientos, FSP)
The Ayala Heights Village QC ladies Association led by Maricor Castillo and Friends staged a Christmas
musicale last December 16, 2006 to raise funds for the victims of typhoons “Reming and Seniang.” Featured
choral groups were the Kilyawan and Children’s Joy Foundation choral ensemble. The money raised
(PHP106,300.00), was presented to Msgr. Juanito Figura, CBCP Secretary General.
Markings
CELEBRATED. St.
Mary’s College,
Meycauayan
(Bulacan), 90th foun-
dation anniversary;
December, 2006. St.
Mary’s College was
called Escuela de Maycauayan when
founded in 1916 as a parochial school offer-
ing primary education with Catechism as its
core subject. It was and is still managed and
administered by the Religious of the Virgin
Mary (RVM), the first Filipino Congrega-
tion founded in 1648 by a Filipino, Mother
Ignacia del Espiritu Santo. The school was
torn down completely by fire on April 4,
1949. In 1954, a two-storey semi-concrete
structure was completed. Eleven years
later, the kindergarten course was recog-
nized. In 1981, the school opened its sec-
ondary or high school offering. Shortly
thereafter, in keeping with the demands of
the congregations’ education apostolate,
the Sisters opened the doors of the school
to students in the tertiary level. The college
goal is to produce dynamic leaders imbued
with Christian orientation who will contrib-
ute to the development of the Maycauayan
and the whole country as well.visibly expe-
rienced and felt.
CELEBRATED.
Black Nazarene of
Quiapo (Church),
400th anniversary in
the Philippines. In
1606, Señor Nuestro
Padre Jesus
Nazareno, known as
the Black Nazarene,
arrived at Luneta in
Manila. In 1767, the
image of the Black
Nazarene was brought to Intramuros by the
Recollect Fathers during the incumbency
of archbishop Basilio Sancho. There is no
definite account as to the origin of the
image. Entrusted to an unknown Recollect
priest, the image was brought across the
Pacific Ocean aboard a galleon that arrived
in Manila at an undetermined date. As the
first group of Recollect Friars came in the
year 1606, it has been assumed that the
image also arrived on that year. Rev. Fr.
Leonardo G. Agcaoile, Vice Chairman, His-
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 2
January 22, 2007
torical Research Committee, Archdiocese
of Manila, stated in the 1964 Souvenir Pro-
gram of the Quiapo Fiesta, “The Nuestro
Padre Jesus Nazareno was blessed by Arch-
bishop Basilio Sancho in the 18th Century
and by Pope Pius VII in the 19th century.
The Nazarene has since then towered above
the altar of the Quiapo Church.”
CELEBRATED.
Most Rev. Ernesto
Salgado, DD, 71,
archbishop of
Nueva Segovia,
20th episcopal or-
dination anniver-
sary; January 15,
2006. Ordained
bishop on January
15, 1987 at St.
Paul’s Cathedral in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Abp.
Salgado was born in Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur
on November 22, 1936. He spent his high
school education at the Immaculate Con-
ception Minor Seminary, then took his A.B.
Philosophy degree at the Immaculate Con-
ception Major Seminary, also in Vigan, from
1950-1955. Thereafter, he obtained his Bach-
elor and Licentiate in Sacred Theology de-
grees (STB and STL) from the University of
Santo Tomas Central Seminary in Manila.
He later took his Doctor of Sacred Theology
(STD) degree at the Pontifical Gregorian
University in Rome, Italy.
C E L -
EBRATED. St.
Ildephonse
P a r i s h
(Guiguinto,
Bulacan), 400th
foundation an-
niversary. The
Catalogo of 1591 already speaks of
Guiguinto convent as a visita of Caruya
(later known as Bigaa and now as Balagtas),
with St. Ildephonse as its Patron Saint.
According to Fray Gaspar de San Agustin,
OSA, during the 1600’s, Guiguinto had two
chapels, one was on the hills of Malis in
honor of St. Bernabe while the other was in
Matungao, Bulacan under the patronage of
St. Nicholas of Tolentino. On October 31,
1607, the Augustinians accepted the town
of Guiguinto as a visita of Caruya.
Caceres H