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Pope Benedict describes how beautiful art can lead to God

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Be what you must be

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Ugnayan
The News Supplement of Couples for Christ

Church assesses growth of BECs

FIFTY years after the Second Vatican Council, Church leaders are looking back on how the basic ecclesial communities in Asia have been faithful to the vision that brought them to their very existence. BEC practitioners from India, Sri Lanka, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, China and the Philippines gathered at the One World Community Service Center in Taipei from September 2 to 5 for the Asian Continental BEC Meeting to report on the state and development of BECs in their respective countries.
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September 12 - 25, 2011

Vol. 15 No. 19

Php 20.00

Abortion stats may or may not be true, admits pro-RH senator

THE supposed 570,000 abortions per year which Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago claims happens in the country is based on mere extrapolations and are therefore not necessarily accurate. During the September 6 floor debates on Senate Bill 2865 or An Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health and Population and Development, Santiago, a sponsor of the bill, revealed that the figure came from 2008 extrapolations by the Guttmacher Institute and the UP Population Institute. The New York-based Guttmacher Institute is the former research arm of Planned Parenthood, the largest provider of abortion services in the United States and whose clinics have been under heavy investigation in recent months due to mounting evidence of cover-ups involving sexual offenders and trafficking of underage girls, discoveries of improper disposal of fetal remains and of multiple botched abortions. To arrive at the total number of abortions in a year, Santiago said the Guttmacher methodology simply multiplies the number of women hospitalized for complications due to abortion by a factor of 6 or 7. She did not explain how the so-called multiplier was derived. In other words this may or may not be true, said Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile who was interpellating Santiago, to which the latter replied in the affirmative. An estimated 3.371 million pregnancies in 2008 supposedly led to 573,000 abortions (or 17% of the number of pregnancies), based on the Guttmacher paper in question. Guttmacher claimed that based on hospital records, there were 90,000 admissions in 2008, which means the multiplier used by Guttmacher was between 6 and 7 to produce an inflated figure of 573,000 induced abortions easily half of abortions in the United States, where abortion is legal. During the debates, Enrile pointed out that Guttmacher made the extrapolation based on data from the year 2000more than a decade agowithout examining 2008 hospital records. The extrapolation methodology states: Numbers of induced abortions by region, 2008: We applied the regional number of induced abortions per 1,000 women aged 1549 in 2000 (the most recent data available) to the numbers of women aged 1549 in 2008. The 2000 data is contained in the older study The Incidence of Induced Abortion in the Philippines: Current Level and Recent Trends, also by Guttmacher and UP. That study, published in 2005, claimed 78,901 women were hospitalized due to abortion complicaAbortion / A6

Church cant stay neutral in the face of injusticebishop

By Pinky Barrientos, FSP

ECHOING the words of Pope Benedict XVI, Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo stressed the role of the Church as the voice of the poor in the face of injustice and oppressive societal structures.
[The Church] cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice, Lagdameo said, quoting a line from Pope Benedict XVIs celebrated encyclical, Deus Caritas Est. Speaking on September 13 before participants of the National Conference of Church People and Workers in Cebu Citys Mariners Court, Lagdameo quoted extensively from Church social documents highlighting the Churchs position on the dignity of labor and rights of workers. He explained to 800 church people and workers gathered at the plenary hall, the development of the Church social documents from Pope Leo XIIIs
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Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma (2nd from left) assures workers of Churchs active involvement on labor issues during a press conference at the opening of a national conference of Church PeopleWorkers Solidarity in Cebu City, 13 September 2011. Also in the panel are, from left, Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, Jaro Auxiliary Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, and Protestant Bishop Nathanael Lazaro, President of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP).

RH bill sponsors questioned Church, workers urge govt to create on birth control supplies as just labor policies essential medicines
IF contraceptives are only meant for birth control, then why are they tagged as essential medicines under the RH bill? Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile asked this and other questions as the Senate resumed the period of interpellation for the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill on Sept. 13. Enrile cited Section 9 of Senate Bill No. 2865 titled An Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health and Population and Development, which orders the inclusion of hormonal contraceptives, intrauterine devices, injectables, and other safe, legal and effective family planning products and supplies in the National Drug Formulary. These products and supplies shall also be included in the regular purchase of essential medicines and supplies of all national and local hospitals, provincial, city, and municipal health offices, including rural health units, the Senate version of the RH bill states. The section is titled Family Planning Supplies as Essential Medicines. Interpellating one of the RH bill sponsors, Sen. Pia Cayetano, Enrile noted that condoms do not cure anything while pills, injectables, and intrauterine devices work to prevent fertilization. Enrile reiterated his belief that the RH bill is a population control measure disguised as a health measure, since You cannot reduce the size of the family without reducing the population of the country. There is no coercion but the result is population control, he said. Aiding Cayetano, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, also an RH sponsor, said birth control, the supposed aim of the bill, was different from population control. The former allows women to control the number of children while in the latter, the State uses its power to reduce the population, particularly those of the unfit. Enrile, however, pointed out that the RH bill is particularly aimed at the poor. This is a law where the state itself intervenes in the size of the family. It is cleverly devised and disguised as a health measure. It is not health, its reproductive health, a very specific kind of health, he said. He asked: Why zero in on reproductive health? How many people
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CHURCH people and workers called on government to put an end to exploitative working conditions and create just labor policies that give workers their right to security and decent living. In a conference held by church people and workers in Cebu City on Sept. 12-15, participants threshed out, through a series of testimonies and workshops the three main issues plaguing Filipino workers today contractualization, unjust wages, and the violation of the workers right to organize. Ignoring its inherent immorality, the legalization of contractualization allows capital to violate the workers
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Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

Church and labor leaders discuss priority concerns of Filipino workers during workshops at the four-day national conference of Church people and workers in Cebu City.

Santiagos theology faulty, says Dominican priest

THEOLOGY should not be used to advance ones personal advocacy, especially when it runs contrary to Church teaching, according to the dean of the theology school of the University of Santo Tomas (UST). Reacting to Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiagos speech sponsoring the reproductive health (RH) bill last month, Fr. Rodel Aligan, O.P. said the phrase follow your own conscience has long been abused. Aligan said a person cannot just invoke his or her conscience without studying the Churchs teachings as well as a careful scrutiny of ones self before God. This is because ones conscience, while certain, can be wrong. A conscience may be right and certain or erroneous and certain. Generally, a certain conscience comes from right conscience, the Dominican priest said in an interview with The Varsitarian, USTs newspaper. [A person] has the right to follow [his or her] own conTheology / A7

Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media lustration by Bladimer Usi

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World News

CBCP Monitor
September 12 - 25, 2011

Vol. 15 No. 19

NY archbishop hopes US can recover post-9/11 unity

WASHINGTON D.C., Sept. 11, 2011New York Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan hopes the United States can overcome social, economic, and religious troubles by recovering the spirit of unity that prevailed after the Sept. 11 attacks 10 years ago. Ten years ago we came together across religious, political, social and ethnic lines to stand as one people to heal wounds and defend against terrorism, wrote Archbishop Dolan, who currently serves as president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, in a Sept. 8 statement released by the conference. As we face todays challenges of people out of work, families struggling, and the continuing dangers of wars and terrorism, let us summon the 9/11 spirit of unity to confront our challenges. Archbishop Dolan described the 10th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and United Flight 93 as a time for remembrance, resolve and renewal. In a special way, he wrote, we recall the selfless first responders firefighters, police, chaplains, emergency workers, and other brave personswho risked, and many times lost, their lives in their courageous efforts to save others. The archbishop urged Americans to look for renewal through prayer and service, as many did after the attacks. We turned to prayer, and then turned to one another to offer help and support, the archbishop recalled. Hands were folded in prayer and opened in service to those who had lost so much. He observed that compassionate faith is the greatest resource we have in the struggle to reject hatred and resist terrorism. The U.S. bishops, Archbishop Dolan said, are committed to rejecting extreme ideologies that perversely misuse religion, while embracing persons of all religions, including our Muslim neighbors. With regard to Islamic extremism, he said, the bishops steadfastly refrain from blaming the many for the actions of a few. The New York archbishop recalled those whom the terrorists killed on 9/11, particularly the selfless first responders firefighters, police, chaplains, emergency workers, and other brave persons who risked, and many times lost, their lives in their courageous efforts to save others. He also called to mind the continuing sacrifices of who have died in the wars that resulted directly or indirectly from 9/11, and called for a responsible end to the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Let us pray that the lasting legacy of 9/11 is not fear, but rather hope for a world renewed, Archbishop Dolan stated. He encouraged the Church to embrace Pope Benedict XVIs words during his 2008 visit to Ground Zero, when the Pope prayed at what he called the scene of incredible violence and pain. During that visit, the Pope prayed that those whose lives were spared, may live so that the lives lost here may not have been lost in vain. Pope Benedict also asked God, on that occasion, to grant the wisdom and courage to work tirelessly for a world where true peace and love reign, among nations and in the hearts of all. (CNA)

Archbishop Timothy Dolan

Swiss bishops support maternity, nursing benefits

BERN, Switzerland, Sept. 8, 2011The Swiss Episcopal Conference is supporting the ratification of the International Labor Organizations Convention 183, on maternity leave and breastfeeding. The bishops Justice and Peace Commission released a statement supporting the convention because it stresses the well-being of the working mother and the child. The commission noted that the protection afforded by the convention contributes not only to the well-being of the family, but also to a society that is a promoter of life. Thus, the protection of maternity constitutes one of the pillars of family policy. The commission also spoke out about the modification of federal law on pay for time used for breastfeeding. In Swiss legislation, the time necessary for nursing is recognized as time of work, but its remuneration is not regulated, the statement noted. The commission pointed out the numerous advantages of nursing for the health of the child and the mother, and recalled the World Health Organization recommendation: exclusive maternal nursing until the child is six months old. Despite WHOs recommendation, only 14% of women in Switzerland still maintain maternal nursing at six months, according to a national study of 2003, the commission indicated. For many women, the return to work after the 14 weeks of maternity leave is a reason to stop or diminish maternal nursing. Measures such as remunerated leave for nursing and making the necessary infrastructure available for nursing, for expressing milk and preserving it are very important to promote the continuation of maternal nursing, the commission affirmed. The Justice and Peace Commission also pointed out that according to the Christian image of the human being, every man and every woman has the same dignity. And human dignity must be taken into account in the work place, especially if it is a question of particularly vulnerable dependents. In this connection, the text added, by ratifying Convention 183, Switzerland could be given the opportunity to promote the protection of maternity both in the national as well as the international realm, thus confirming its commitment to human rights. (Zenit)

Caritas to aid state education goals

DHAKA, Bangladesh, Sept. 9, 2011Caritas Bangladesh yesterday joined government officials in endorsing the goal of total literacy in the country by 2014 during an event marking International Literacy Day in the capital. Afsarul Amin, primary and mass education minister, told a gathering of educators, government officials and NGO staff members at Osmani memorial auditorium that education was vital to the countrys development. Without absolute literacy no nation can progress. The government is working hard to attain that goal by 2014, he said. This year almost a hundred percent of children have enrolled in school. I especially thank those NGOs who helped make that happen. He added that literacy was also an integral part of achieving and maintaining peace. Shishir Rozario, education project coordinator for Caritas who attended the event, said the group is one of the leading NGOs in the country focused on education issues, and that it will continue to assist the government in reaching its goal of complete literacy. Weve been working to eradicate il-

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Vatican Briefing
With charity comes responsibility, says Pope
Photo courtesy of Caritas Education Program

literacy since 1983 to help the government. Currently we run 463 schools in various areas of the country that benefit 27,780 poor students. The state-run NonFormal Education Bureau estimates that the countrys current literacy rate stands at 53 percent, with an estimated 37.3 million people qualifying as comChildren study at a Caritas-run school in rural Bangladesh pletely illiterate. Supti Biswas, a teacher in Dhaka, said He added that Caritas schools also provide poverty remains a challenge to achieving additional curricula, including music and art, target education goals. for the intellectual growth of students. Poor parents are reluctant to send their Most Caritas schools are located in exkids to school. Moreover, they are not aware tremely poor and remote areas where govof the bad effects of illiteracy. ernment facilities have yet to reach. She added that some parents consider subWere keen to make schooling a pleasing jects such as music or art as useless or a waste experience for the kids. So we try to do it in of time. a way they love, Rozario said. (UCAN)

Benedict XVI underlined the importance of fraternal correction in the life of the Church on Sunday, Sept. 4 in his weekly address before praying the midday Angelus. Addressing the crowds that gathered in the courtyard at Castel Gandolfo, the Pope reflected on the Gospel for the day, which centered on the theme of fraternal charity, which he said has its source in the communion of the Trinity. The Pope notes that in the Gospel text, taken from Matthew 18, it states that brotherly love also includes reciprocal responsibility, on account of which, if my brother sins against me, I must be charitable to him and, first of all, speak with him personally, showing him that that what he said or did is not good.
Pope to youth: Dont let routine swallow prayer

Benedict XVI is inviting young people to protect their prayer time as vacation ends and usual activities return. The Pope said this Sept. 7 at the end of the general audience, which was held again in St. Peters Square, after the several-week break during which the audiences were given from Castel Gandolfo. The Holy Fathers traditional greeting to youth, sick and newlyweds focused on prayer, which is the theme of his current catechesis series. Dear young people, returning after vacation to the usual activities, may you know how to find time each day for conversation with God, and may you radiate his light and his peace to all those around you, he said. (Zenit)
Ireland stands by criticism of Vatican in Cloyne report

Archbishop reopens 50 year old church

Potokota of Ende after being renovated three times. The reconstruction of the 1,500 sq m Church of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clara has cost 2.3 billion rupiah (about US$270,600). This fund came f r om 6 , 0 3 8 p a r i s h i on e r s whose main livelihood are farming and fishingand from donors. In his homily during the blessing ceremony the prelate said that a church building must be physically and technically sound. Whatever we build, it must be built on a strong foundation, he maintained. He believed that the parishioners had worked hard to build the church in order to make it easier for them to build the real temple of God, which is our life as Gods followers. The blessing ritual included the slaughter of a buffalo done symbolically by Archbishop Potokota. Traditionally, such slaughter is led by a custom leader and aims to thank the ancestors for being able to finish the construction of a traditional house. Since it was a church, the slaughter was done symbolically by the archbishop, Martinus Mada, secretary of the parish council, said. (UCAN)

The government of Ireland has thanked the Vatican for its response to the Cloyne report, but stands by its criticism of a 1997 letter that Ireland says gave some clergy a pretext for covering-up sexual abuse accusations. In a brief statement issued today, the government of Ireland said it welcomes the statement in the response that the Holy See is sorry and ashamed for the terrible sufferings which the victims of abuse and their families have endured. The 400-page Cloyne report, published in July, found that Bishop John Magee of Coyne, who resigned in 2010, ignored the 1996 child protection guidelines set down by the Irish Catholic Bishops Conference and failed to report to the police at least nine of 15 sexual abuse allegations in that period. (Zenit)
Benedict XVI praises us for resilience after 9/11

Archbishop Vincentius Sensi Potokoa of Ende holds a machete normally used by ethnic leaders

NGADA, Indonesia, Sept. 9, 2011A 50-year-old church building in Aimere, Ngada

district in East Nusa Tenggara, was reopened yesterday by Archbishop Vincentius Sensi

WYD congratulates Fukushima heroes for winning humanitarian award

MADRID, Spain, Sept. 8, 2011The organizers of World Youth Day 2011, who were finalists for this years Prince of Asturias Award in Spain, have congratulated the winners of the prize, the Heroes of Fukushima. World Youth Day organizers said Sept. 7 that the Heroes of Fukushima are examples of what Benedict XVI was speaking about in Madrid when he said, Our society, in which the inestimable dignity of life, of each life, is too often questioned, needs you: you make a decisive contribution to building the civilization of love. The Prince of Asturias Award recognizes initiatives that contribute in an exemplary and relevant way to understanding and to peaceful coexistence among mankind. Auxiliary Bishop Cesar Franco, the general coordinator of World Youth Day 2011, expressed gratitude for the more than 10,000 votes to award the Prince of Asturias Prize to the youth event. To have been nominated for an award that exemplifies the best values of humanity was an honor. That World Youth Day Madrid was considered is itself an award, he said. The Heroes of Fukushima are the group of men and women who worked to mitigate the nuclear catastrophe caused by the 9.0 earthquake and the tsunami that stuck Japan on March 11. This group of people represents the highest the values of humanity in their efforts to prevent the spreading of the devastating effects of the nuclear disaster caused by the tsunami that struck Japan, by setting aside the grave consequences that this decision would have upon their lives, the jury for the prize said. (CNA)

Benedict XVI is praising the people of the United States for their resilience in moving forward after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, which left some 3,000 dead. In a letter sent to Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Pope expressed his prayerful support as the United States marks the 10th anniversary of the attacks on the Twin Towers in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and on a plane that crashed in Pennsylvania. The note, dated Sept. 11, 2011, states: On this day my thoughts turn to the somber events of September 11, 2001, when so many innocent lives were lost in the brutal assault on the twin towers of the World Trade Center and the further attacks in Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania. (Zenit)
Vatican phone numbers not revealed in WikiLeaks cable dump

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A WikiLeaks release of leaked State Department cables has drawn criticism for exposing sensitive diplomatic information. However, the massive release did not reveal confidential Vatican phone numbers but contained information already available in the city states public directory. A December 27, 2004 unclassified cable from the U.S. Embassy at the Vatican contained contact information for figures in the Vatican government. It included numbers for the papal office and residence and for the residence of then-Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano. The number for the papal office reaches the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household, the office which maintains the Apostolic Palace and organizes events such as the general audiences. The phone number listed for the papal residence is in fact a direct line only to the Vaticans telephone operators, who are religious sisters. (CNA)

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Vol. 15 No. 19
September 12 - 25, 2011

News Features

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Pope Benedict describes how beautiful art can lead to God

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, Aug. 31, 2011Artistic beauty can lead the human heart to God, said Pope Benedict XVI at his Aug. 31 general audience. Art is capable of making visible our need to go beyond what we see and it reveals our thirst for infinite beauty, for God, the Pope said to over 5,000 pilgrims at his summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, 15 miles to the south of Rome. Dear friends, I invite you to be open to beauty and to allow it to move you to prayer and praise of the Lord. The Pope explained how this path of beauty can be an open door on the infinite and is something experienced by all people, not merely by those who regard themselves as cultured. He observed that when people stand before a sculpture or painting, read a few verses poetry or even listen to a song, everyone has experienced deep within us an intimate emotion, a sense of joy. This sensation, he said, is an interior recognition that says that was is being seen or heard is not only mere matter but something bigger, something that speaks, capable of touching the heart, of communicating a message; of elevating the soul, and leading people, ultimately, to God. Pope Benedict also noted that there are artistic expressions that are true paths to God, the supreme Beauty, and that these works can help nurture our relationship with Him in prayer. These are works that are born of faith and express faith. The Pope then illustrated his point using his own personal experience. He recalled attending a performance of the works of J.S. Bach, conducted by Leonard Bernstein, in Munich. After the last piece of music, one of the Cantate, I felt, not by reasoning, but in my heart, that what I heard had conveyed to me truth, something of the truth of the great composers faith and this pressed me to praise and thank the Lord. The Pope said he was so moved by the experience that the turned to the Lutheran Bishop of Munich sitting next to him and exclaimed, Hearing this we understand: it is true, true faith is so strong, and the beauty of it irresistibly expresses the presence of Gods truth. The Pope also described how various artists themselves had observed the same in their own artwork. He recalled how the 20th century expressionist artist, Marc Chagall, once wrote that for centuries painters have dipped their paintbrush in that colored alphabet that is the Bible. This is why forms, colors and light that are the fruits of the faith of the art-

ist, such as painting or frescoes, ca n d i r e ct ou r thoughts to God and nourish in us the desire to draw from the source of all beauty, said the Pope. One dramatic example Pope Benedict offered was the life of 19th century French poet and playwright Paul Claudel. An anti-clericalist, he had attended Christmas Mass at the Basilica of Notre Dame in Paris in The Disputation of the Sacrament painting by Raphael at the Vatican Museum. 1886 in search of arguments against Christians. Instead, express the faith and remind us of our us, that almost wounds us in our Claudel was instantly converted to Ca- relationship with God. inner selves and invites us to rise tholicism by the beauty of the basilica He said that visiting churches, art towards God. choirs as they sang the Magnificat. galleries and museums is not only an Appropriately, the Popes comments The Pope described this moment as the occasion for cultural enrichment but can come hours ahead of a classical concert grace of God working in his heart. also be a moment of grace, an encour- being hosted in his honor at Castel Pope Benedict concluded by inviting agement to strengthen our relationship Gandolfo. Various compositions by everybody to rediscover the impor- and our dialogue with the Lord. Cardinal Domenico Bartolucci, the Ditance of this path for prayer, for our It is where we can to stop and rector of the Sistine Chapel Choir, will living relationship with God, pointing contemplate, in the transition from be performed by a combination of voout that most towns and cities across simple external reality to a deeper cal soloists, choir and orchestra. (CNA/ the world preserve works of art that reality, the ray of beauty that strikes EWTN News)

Pope urges Catholic-Orthodox cooperation on new evangelization

VATICAN City, Sept. 2, 2011 Pope Benedict XVI is encouraging Catholic and Orthodox Christians to work together in re-evangelizing traditionally Christian countries. For a renewed proclamation of the Gospel in the modern world we need evangelizers animated by the same apostolic zeal of (Saint) Paul, the Pope said in a letter to mark the close of the twelfth Inter-Christian Symposium. Over the past four days, the symposium has brought together both Catholic and Orthodox scholars in the Greek city of Thessaloniki to discuss the topic of The witness of the Church in the Modern World. The Pope described the theme as very timely and central to his concerns and prayers for a new evangelization of traditionally Christian countries where the practice of the Christian faith has declined in recent times. Pope Benedict noted that although the Church has never ceased to proclaim the salvific mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the regions in need of re-evangelization are currently experiencing the effects of a secularization capable of impoverishing the most profound aspects of man. People living in these regions seem to give a contradictory response to the Christian Gospel, the Pope said. On the one hand, there is widespread disinterest, even a lack of sensibility towards transcendent things, and on the other hand, there seems to be a profound nostalgia for God that persists in the hearts of many, expressing itself in various ways. Christianity was brought to the city of Thessaloniki by St. Paul in the first century. The Pope asked for his intercession that the talks between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches encourage a climate of fraternal charity, and observed that the mutual understanding of our traditions and true friendship are already in themselves a contribution to the cause of Christian unity. Pope Benedict also pointed out that the current cultural, social and economic environment presents the same challenges to both Catholics and Orthodox. Instead of divisions, these challenges should call forth a Christian evangelizers who are mature in faith and capable of finding a meeting point beyond the real tensions, he said, quoting Pope Paul VI. The Inter-Christian Symposium is co-organized by the Franciscan Institute of Spirituality at Romes Pontifical Antonianum University and the Orthodox faculty of theology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The initiative hopes to help heal the rift between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches which has persisted since the 11th century. (CNA/ EWTN News)

Collegio Filippino starts getting subsidy from CBCP

MANILA, Sept. 8, 2011Archdioceses and dioceses in the Philippines started remitting monetary subsidy to sustain the operation of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino (PCF), the home of Filipino priests pursuing higher studies in Italy. This after the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) approved the request of former PCF rector and Balanga, Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos for annual subsidy from the Church in the Philippines to help maintain and operate PCF, which is strategically located near Vatican City and various ecclesiastical centers in Rome. During the CBCPs 101st plenary assembly in July 2011, the bishops unanimously agreed to oblige all archdioceses and dioceses in the Philippines to remit monetary contribution to help support the PCF. According to CBCP assistant Secretary General Msgr. Joselito Asis, the ecclesiastical territories have started remitting their subsidies this year, in time for the PCFs 50th anniversary. Based on the decision of the bishops, the subsidy to be remitted by each territory is prorated according to its capacity to contribute. The subsidy will be remitted every three years to the Commission on the PCF, Asis said. In the past, the PCF maintains its operations only through payments from certain archdioceses and dioceses that send their priests to study in Rome and to stay at the Collegio. The Collegio can accommodate at least 50 resident-priests but according to incumbent PCF rector Fr. Gregory Gaston, only 18

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Filipino priests and eight foreign priests are currently staying at the PCF. Gaston said the declining The community of Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome. number of PCFs resident-priests puts to risk the is also going to affect the quality of the next Collegios operation and maintenance given generation of Filipino priests. the scarce funds. For every priest you send to study in We are under-populated right now and any Rome, there is a multiplying effect because help to the PCF would be useful, Gaston said. our alumni usually become professors and As per PCFs estimate, each resident-priest formators in the seminary. Conversely, the is to spend a minimum of 10,000 Euros an- decline will definitely affect the quality of nually for their tuition, board and lodging our seminarians, who will eventually beexpenses at the PCF. Although the price come our priests, he said. of studying in Rome and staying in the Gaston added that the great return of inCollegio is expensive, Gaston said it is rela- vestment made in sending priests to study tively cheaper than sending priests to other in Rome will be evident in terms of the countries and paying 15,000 US dollars per quality of priests that our alumni will help semester for tuition alone. educate and in terms of the spiritual formaWe are trying to encourage our bishops tion of the laity. to send their priests to study in Rome. We The PCF is currently celebrating its yearare trying to convince them that solicitations long jubilee celebration this year. A series of from lay people within their dioceses can activities, including a private audience with fund their priests schooling if their archdio- Pope Benedict XVI last February, was plotted ceses or dioceses cant afford it, he said. since last October 7 for the celebration. Gaston warned that not only is the declinCollegio alumni are expected to come ing number of Filipino priests studying in home on October 4 to 10 for a culminating Rome threatening the operation of PCF, it activity set on October 7. (Kris Bayos)

Filipino Chaplains abroad reject RH Bill

MANILA, Sept. 7, 2011Filipino chaplains across Europe, Middle East and Africa have rejected the reproductive health bill declaring the proposed law as unfit for passage and vow to mobilize their constituents to oppose the anti-life measure. In a statement, the chaplains said enacting RH Bill 4244 into law is the last thing migrant workers would want to happen as it will further undermine the authority of parents and guardians of the children left behind in the Philippines by the OFWs. We, shepherds to the Filipino faithful, declare the Reproductive Health Bill 4244 unfit for passage, and with the fullness of conviction we are determined to inform, educate and mobilize our constituents in Europe, the Middle East and Africa to uphold our cherished values through the rejection of this bill, the statement partly read. The chaplains said migrant workers reject the idea of using taxpayers money to fund contraceptives. They would rather see their monetary gains allotted for programs that improve life for families in the Philippines, like better livelihood prospects and educational opportunities for their children, and for measures that assist OFWs in times of emergencies abroad, the statement said. OFWs are regarded as modern day missionaries because of the God-centered and family-oriented Filipino values they witness wherever they go. A law on RH bill will only lead to the decay of the moral foundation underpinning these life-giving values, the chaplains asserted. We want the best for our children and their children, and so we protect our right as parents to be the primary molders of their values, particularly those relating to the purpose of human sexuality. Thus we reject RH Bill 4244 which aims to legislate the blatant violation of our Constitutional right and our conscience as Catholics, the statement further read. The statement was released during the Filipino chaplains IX Regional Consultation Meeting for the Filipino Ministry in Europe held last August 25-28, 2011 in Adliswil, Zurich, Switzerland. Fr. Edwin Corros, CS, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People, said 17 chaplains discussed various concerns in their respective areas, including the RH bill. According to him, the communities have seen the need to develop vocations from among the Filipino families who have opted to settle abroad because the Catholic Church in the Philippines may no longer be capable of attending to the spiritual needs of Filipino communities in other countries. The chaplains have come to realize that Filipino migrants are continuously growing in number and the need to have seminarians from the migrants families [to] help the local chaplaincies, he said. The chaplains have also expressed concern on the practice of some Filipino communities who invite priests from the Philippines to officiate Masses and administer sacraments without informing the local chaplaincies. Corros said the chaplains have called for coordination among the chaplains and priests being invited to foreign countries. (CBCPNews/ Melo M. Acuna)
FILE PHOTO

US govt behind population control in PH for 40 years

MANILA, Sept. 8, 2011Washington has been behind a population-control drive in the Philippines for the past 40 years, a leaked State Department cable from whistleblower website Wikileaks revealed. The leaked cable, authored by former US ambassador Kristie Kenney, offers direct proof for the first time of Washingtons long-armed, behind-the-scenes intervention to force developing countries like the Philippines to limit their populations. Kenneys July 31, 2008 cable welcomed draft legislation promoting artificial contraceptives, referring to the reproductive health (RH) bill, as well as Congress decision to allocate $3.38 million and $27 million in 2007 and 2008 for contraceptive supplies in the wake of the United States Agency for International Developments (USAID) decision to phase down support for condoms, pills, injectable contraceptives and intra-uterine devices. Landmark appropriations and draft legislation reflect increasing commitment within the Philippine Government to further expand and sustain programs started forty years ago with U.S. Governments assistance through USAID, Kenney said. The U.S. Government continues to be the largest donor in the Philippine population sector supporting efforts to improve local government service delivery and increase private sector contributions to family health outcomes, she added. Kenney noted that USAIDs funding for population and family planning in the Philippines had gone up to $15 million annually. The U.S. Government continues to be a leader in population assistance to the Philippines, she said. USAID was also helping manufacturers lower the prices of contraceptives, she said. In parallel, within the private sector, USAID technical assistance enables pharmaceutical companies to launch lowerpriced contraceptive products, and to expand choices among consumers with more brands on the market, Kenney said. Echoing Henry Kissingers infamous National Security Study Memorandum (NSSM) 200, Kenneys cable noted that the Philippines is already the twelfth most populous country in the world, and is expected to double its population size by 2044. NSSM 200 or the so-called Kissinger Reportthe declassified document that uncovered Washingtons coercive population control policies identified the Philippines among several highpopulation-growth countries that should be subjected to depopulation to protect US commercial interests. Kissinger, who served as Secretary of State, had warned that population growth in less-developed countries could hamper US access to natural resources. NSSM 200 recommended a) the legalization of abortion; b) financial incentives for countries to increase their abortion, sterilization and contraception-use rates; c) indoctrination of children; and d) mandatory population control, and coercion of other forms, such as withholding disaster and food aid unless a less-developed country implements population control programs. During Mondays Senate debate on the RH bill pro-RH Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago admitted that the RH bill still needs to be cleaned up of all references to population control. Acknowledging the existence of the Kissinger Report, Santiago said a United States-dictated policy on population control was anathema to herself and the other RH bill sponsor, Sen. Pia Cayetano. Kenney has drawn the ire of the Aquino administration for another cable in which she described the late president Corazon Aquino as a tarnished and weak icon of democracy. In response, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said Kenney, who is now assigned to Bangkok, was a dismal failure in the Philippines. (Dominic Francisco)

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EDITORIAL

Opinion
The pro-RH lie

CBCP Monitor
September 12 - 25, 2011

Vol. 15 No. 19

IN last weeks senate hearing a Pro-RH Senator finally admitted that the heavily hyped eleven maternal deaths per day in the Philippines is a public relations phrase used by NGOs to drive home a point. The doctoring of statistics is certainly a case of intellectual dishonesty that can never be whitewashed by any intention no matter how good. In this case, the intention is even doubly dubious in the sense that it is now obviously deceiving some tax payers into believing that there is an urgent need for a legislation that will cut down on maternal deaths. But of course more frightening is the fact that this deception has found its way into text books of schools to teach young minds and ultimately trigger a perspective and behavior that will look at pregnancy as death-causing and therefore should be avoided like a disease. And look at how the pro-RH diehards are trying to convince legislators and the public that birth control pills are essential medicines. The driving home a point alibi is not actually as comfortable and slight as it seems; it is actually a lot more penetrating that will sadly cause a long term effect in education and mores, like it is now happening in the West and in most European countries. Naivet aside, the scheme is sinister, the program is global. The same maybe said of the gigantic figures of abortion incidence in the country that Senator Santiago has raised to 570,000 annually which, if true, is easily half the number of abortions in the United States where abortion is legal and where the population is roughly four times more than the Philippines. Reportedly, she has based her claim on the 2008 extrapolations by the Guttmacher Institute and the UP Population Institutewhich analogically is like asking thieves about the incidence of robberies in the country. The New York-based Guttmacher Institute is the former research arm of the pro-abortion group Planned Parenthood, the largest provider of abortion services in the US. Of course these abortion figures are, to borrow Santiagos term, taken from thin air. The Guttmacher statistics were mere extrapolations of a projected 90,000 or so admissions in hospitals across the country in 2008 due to abortion complications and then multiplying it by a factor of 6 or 7. At the Senate Hearing last week, this prompted Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to say: In other words this may or may not be true, referring to the half billion alleged cases of abortion in the country annually, to which Santiago replied in the affirmative. But one thing good with the RH Bill debates is that cans of worms are getting opened and more lies are being exposed. Another one is, in all debates conducted by television networks that are mostly pro-RH, the numbers are slowly but surely favoring where the truth is.

Bp. Leonardo Y. Medroso, JCD, DD

Tidbits
AUGUST 27, 2011 marked the 19th anniversary of the founding of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) in Tagbilaran. It was a day to celebrate, to relish and to reflect on how Christ and the gospel values have made a difference in the lives of many of our business men and professionals. I was very much honored to be invited into the occasion for it gave me the opportunity to keep in touch with persons of deep and variegated influences in society and to see how Christ and the Bible message of honesty and integrity through nineteen years of journey by the group have shaped their lives in the privacy of their consciences, their homes, and in their chosen works and profession, dealing with other persons in the marketplace and offices. I had wanted to hear testimonies of how the law of the marketplace has given way to the priorities of Gods Kingdom in doing business. The message of Christ who once

Honesty in business according to BCBP

it comes to dealing with their own kind (Mt 16:8). To make profit is not bad. It sure is part of business. But essential as it is in business, it is not the only factor that determines the cost of the items for transaction. One has to consider the real value of the sales, their quality, their cost of production, reasonable mark-up, and other added values. Herein comes to play the inner character of the businessmen, their honesty, their fair play that may not assure them of a captured market. But these human if not Christian qualities do instill the trust in the heart of the buying public. Morality does pay off in the long haul, not only in terms of pleasing God, of doing business with conscience. These activities create inner peace of mind, business stability, and consistency. Contemporary books on leadership such as Warren Bennis On Becoming a Leader, John Maxwells DevelTidbits/ A6

The mission scenario

THE Holy Father and the Asian Bishops tell us that this moment of history presents us with this amazing reality: about two-thirds of humanity today, i.e. some four billion people, make up the vast portion of the world which the Special Synod of Asia in 1998 included. Here live four billions of people, in an intricate mosaic of many cultures, languages, beliefs and traditions. Christians make up only about three percent of this truly immense mass of humankind, only some 125 millions. We could say that, roughly speaking, 97% of Asia has not yet come to the knowledge of Christ and His Gospel of Gods love and grace. Thus the task of the Church in Asia, as she crosses the threshold of the new millennium, is to proclaim Gods Word to Asian peoples, to tell the world of His love. That is, to make known to our brothers and sisters in Asia, to share with them as gifts we have received, the person of Jesus, the grace of His Spirit, His good news of unbounded compassion and love for sinful humanity, of communion in Gods own life, in truth and freedom, in solidarity and peace. Of the 125 million Christians in Asia, some 70 millions are Filipinos, that is, more than one-half are from our country. It is clear that the challenge of proclaiming Christ in Asia is a summons addressed first of all to us, to share the gift of faith that we ourselves received. It is a challenge we cannot refuse: surely at this moment of history the Lord is calling us. The harvest is great, the laborers are few. Come with me to the golden fields of harvest. The hour of that challenge is now. Now is the kairos, the hour of the Lords call. And the grace of the hour is now. We believe that, surely, there was a divine providence at work in our turbulent history, leading our people through centuries of struggle and suffering to the present hour. Through this, Filipinos kept their Faith alive, enduring and even joyful, devoted to the Jesus of Bethlehem, Calvary and Easter morning, in love with our Mother Mary (pueblo amante de Maria). With deep gratitude we wish to cite the labors of the foreign missionaries who were Gods instruments in planting the seed of the Faith among our people. So that now, as the 21 stcentury begins, despite all the forces that have tried to destroy the Faith we have received and made our own, we can yet clearly hear the summons which the Lord of history and the Church address to us, showing us the immensity of Asian multitudes, and bidding us to tell the world of His love. Mission and the Church in the Philippines, 2000

said: Seek first his kingship over you, his way of holiness, and all these things will be given you besides (Mt 6: 33), has this made some positive changes among members of the BCBP, shaping them into Christians, gentlemen of character, who do not park their precious faith in the Church on Sunday but live it through thick and thin seven days a week? It is not easy to bring Christ and his message to ones daily professional and business ventures. A person of integrity, just, honest, and God-fearing in secular dealings is not necessarily assured of monetary profits nor of promotion in the office. In the world of reality the smart guy unscrupulous in financial dealings often gets the substantial profit. The shrewder one is in business enterprise the more profit he makes. Jesus himself had seen this irony in life when he once made this comment: Because the worldly take more initiative than the other worldly when

There are no innocent bystanders

IN our struggle to ensure that the Reproductive Health Bill (or Responsible Parenting Bill as President Pnoy proposes to call it), we experience a lot of disappointments and frustrations when we feel that many people do not participate in our lobby and mass actions. We think of various ways of reaching out to them seminars, distribution of information materials, radio and TV interviews, rallies, prayer services, texting brigade or internet. Still, we cannot understand why we come across persons whom we presume to be intelligent and media aware but show that they are NOT aware of the facts and implications the Bill will bring if passed into law. There is a lot of complaining and whining going on increasing number of hungry families, jobless fathers, distraught mothers, out-of-school children, teens in drugs, alcohol and sex, undisciplined public vehicle drivers, corrupt government workers, indifferent professionals and businessmen. The list is endless. But the verbal complaints, some finding their way into the social networking sites, often end up just as complaints. Dr. Philip Ney, a Canadian child psychiatrist, who researched extensively on the problems arising from aborting babies and abusing children, explains the dynamics in the tragic triangle of abusethe perpetrator or abuser, the victim or survivor, and the observer. He warns us that unless we admit that often, we are mere observers in tragedies that are constantly passing in front of our eyes from day to day, we will never own the responsibility to act to prevent more abuses or help solve the problems in our society.

Sr. Mary Pilar Verzosa, RGS

Love Life
We are tightly bound together in the bundle of life. It is not possible to benefit at the expense of another. When we hurt somebody we harm ourselves. When we contribute to anothers death, something of our humanity dies. When we love others, we are loving ourselves. Although humans assume that they are immune to any destructive force which might threaten the human species, it is evident that the human species is endangered. There are many ways to show this. For example, the birth rate is dropping in most countries of the world. The declining population is adversely affecting the economy of these countries. The sensitive balance that maintains the relationship between mother and father and between parents and children is being distorted in such a way that people have considerably less concern for one another, especially for the weak and poor, thus costs of social services and medical care increase. (Philip Ney, Deeply Damaged, p. 10) There are no innocent bystanders. Our nightly examination of conscience should not only include our sins of omissions as well, which might be the greater number! Lobby to stop the passage of the RH Bill is urgent. Let us budget our time and resources so that we can participate in whatever way we can. Dr. Philip Ney sends us this message that the Philippines is giving away their greatest asset and advantage in world markets if they allow freely available abortion and contraception. Science has proven that these have no benefit to
Love Life / A5

Fr. James H. Kroeger, MM

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Living Mission
IN writing the Acts of the Apostles, the evangelist Luke often describes the mission of the Church, like the mission of Jesus, as the work of the Spirit. After the Resurrection, the disciples experienced the transforming event of Pentecost, as promised by Jesus at the Ascension: you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Pentecost fills the disciples with courage; it urges them to announce their experience of Jesus with great hope and enthusiasm. The Spirit gives them the ability to bear witness to Jesus with boldness. The Greek word for boldness is parrhesia. It can also mean enthusiasm, energy, or courage. In the Acts of the Apostles Luke uses this word twelve times to characterize the dynamism and fearless witness of the transformed apostles. For example, the members of the Jewish Sanhedrin were astonished by the

Boldness: Essential for Effective Mission Witness

through the media are often, in fact, in stark contrast to the Kingdom values of Jesus. A series of adverbs characterize the manner in which a dedicated Christian will speak: openly, publicly, plainly, straightforwardly, and confidently. Jesus disciples are inspired by what Paul boldly says: I am not ashamed of the Good News (Rom. 1:16). This bold witnessing to Jesus is not done in an obnoxious or offensive manner. We must always speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15); we seek honest dialogue and a meeting of minds. However, we do not hide or water down the truth of Jesus message. We do not remain closet Christians, even though we would often prefer to remain silent. Jesus message is often an inconvenient truth, both for us and for others. We ourselves need the enlightening guidance of the Spirit to be bold-yet-gentle, strong-but-compassionate, and firm-and-loving witnesses for Jesus. Indeed, parrhesia (boldness) is simply that virtue which enables us to continue our
Living Mission / A5

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Editor-in-Chief

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Associate Editor

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Marketing Supervisor

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News Editor

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Features Editor

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Comptroller

The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCP Communications Development Foundation, Inc., with editorial and business offices at 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila. P.O. Box 3601, 1076 MCPO. Editorial: (063) 404-2182. Business: (063)404-1612.; ISSN 1908-2940

boldness shown by Peter and John, considering they were uneducated laymen, and they recognized them as associates of Jesus (Acts 4:13). The Spirit-given virtue of boldness remains an essential dimension of missionary witness today. The advice of Saint Paul to his mission collaborator Timothy captures the essence of this virtue. Fan into flame the gift that God gave you when I laid my hands on you. Gods gift was not a spirit of timidity [cowardice], but a spirit of power and love and self-discipline (2Tim. 1:6-7). Later, Paul tells Timothy: I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message, be persistent, whether the time is favorable or unfavorable [in season or out of season]; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with utmost patience in teaching (2Tim 4:1-2). Christians today frequently find themselves in a society that is often indifferent (sometimes hostile) to the message of Jesus. While there may not be open resistance to the Gospel, secular values promoted

lustration by Bladimer Usi

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 15 No. 19
September 12 - 25, 2011

Opinion
Jaime Cardinal Sin
much more than what appeared, read much more that what were written. Fooling was not easy. The propensity he had to pray. He prayed in the chapel and prayed in the car going somewhere. He prayed anytime he had the time. In todays language, he was a 24/7 praying man. The tenacity in his convictions. He received contradicting information. He welcomed different opinions. He listened to opposing advisories. But when he became convinced of something, that was it. The comfort he had when meeting with the mighty and when in the company of the weak. He was at home in the presence of powerful individuals. And he was also at ease when finding himself among the poor. The charismatic leadership he held. He not only spoke but also acted accordingly. Truth to tell, he was leadership incarnate in the hearts and minds of ordinary mortals, bishops and archbishops included. No. This is not a campaign for his sainthood. This is not even a drive to make him a hero of one kind or another. This is simply to tell truth about a special man God then gave to His people.

A5
Fr. Carmelo O. Diola

Oscar V. Cruz, DD

Views and Points

TIME and again, a name comes to mind. And the man behind the name becomes alive in the memory of all those who came to know him. The simplicity of his life and the profundity of his understanding. The plain statements he made and the great influence he wielded. The little jokes he cracked and the national impact he had. These are some of the thoughts his name evokes, his person awakens, his deeds inspire. Result: Jaime L. Cardinal Sin is a glorious part of Philippine History. As there is now a Jaime Cardinal Sin Street in Metro-Manila, it would be interesting to reveal some simple yet distinct realities about him that many might not know, nor has history recordedsuch as: The paucity of his needs. The clothes he wore were clean but usually old. His house was big but his room was small. When there were no visitors, he ate left-over food. The lightness of his heart. He received visitors with delight. After meeting with him, they left with smiles, clear faces. He loved saying Yes to many requests. He said No with a heavy heart. The profundity of his insights. While remaining a mortal, an ordinary man he was not. He saw

Spaces of Hope One step at a time

I AM sorry, Father, but I find it hard to appreciate this prayer, one of my companions protested during evening prayer using the breviary. I must confess feeling an initial discomfort hearing Ret. Gen. Samson Tucays admission about praying the liturgy of the hours. After all, we were just starting our second week with Takbo Maharlika and I thought our team was making progress with regards integrating a prayer rhythm into our journey. Or so I thought. The inspiration to begin a prayer rhythm using the liturgy of the hours had taken root in my heart ever since I decided to join Takbo Maharlika, an 8-month run through the Maharlika Highway, from Laoag City to Zamboanga City. This inspiration found support when a friend of mine promised to provide our team with six one-volume breviaries. So at 3:45 am of Monday 8 August, just before the first 10 km run in Laoag City starting at km 480, our team began using the breviary. The prayer experience turned out to be a battle of the nerves as my attempt to make it a meaningful one ate up our time. When we arrived at the starting point, the 300-strong contingent of runners, mostly police personnel, was assembling and we had just made it in the nick of time. ***** It was PDir. Arturo Cacdac, head of the strategic PNP PMO (Program Management Office), who came up with the idea of the police running the equivalent distance of the Maharlika Highway to ignite a sustainable fitness program for each member of the PNP. This was around September of last year and Sam, his classmate in the PMA, raised it one notch further: Let us make it more realistic. Let me run the Maharlika Highway. By December 2011, a rough plan had been conceptualized and approved by the PNP hierarchy. When I first heard of the plan, I prayed about it and was ready to bid good wishes to my friend. But soon I asked myself: Why not accompany him? I had never thought and I still dont of myself as a running priest but then why not a companion to a retired, but still engaged, public servant who happens to run? I told Sam about my inclination but told him to also pray about it. ***** Exodus comes from two Greek words literally meaning: out (on/of) the road. Hence, Exodus means departure or a going out. The name refers particularly to the first 15 chapters of the book which narrates the slavery of the Israelites in Egypt, the call of Moses, the 10 plagues, the departure of the Israelites, and the parting of the sea. This journey defines the former slaves as Gods chosen people. One scholar aptly puts it: Here rather than in the history of the patriarchs Israel saw the roots of its nationality and its religion and its great historical motive for belief in the power and will of Yahweh to save. Although much less dramatic and without claiming any exaggerated significance, a run through the Maharlika Highway could also be an exodus of sorts for two unlikely friends, discovering themselves and each other, and discovering the beauty of their land of birth and its people. Even from the perspective of a going out of oneself out of ones established daily routine and familiar landscapes the run can lead to a deeper self knowledge and, hopefully, to a deeper sense of God. As Augustine beautifully puts it: Oh God, ever the same, let me know myself, let me know You! But how does one prepare for Takbo Maharlika? One step at a time, it seems. ***** Gen. Sam has been running for 37 years, starting as a plebe. I used to run in college but only took up running again less than three years ago. Sams fit self resulting from a disciplined fitness routine is who we can be if we keep at it; I show people that it is never too late to begin a fitness routine. But the key is one step at a time. We first consulted experts to determine if we should even start the venture. We were given a go-signal by a cardiologist, sportsmedicine doctor, and an executive panel and stress test showed that there were no major impediments. A nutritionist even designed a diet for us. By Gods grace it was a go, medically speaking. By April 2011, my local ordinary, Archbishop Jose Palma, gave me permission to participate in the run. Meanwhile, Sam had some explaining to do with his family who had anticipated a more domestic life for the retired head of the family. My teaching load in the seminary was adjusted to become modular and I took the option of finishing early in the semester. Systems were established so that my work at the Dilaab office would make more room for the virtual. ***** Journeys make one return to the essentials of life. While our running paraphernalia took center stage, other clothing items took back stage. Since we were ready to expect the worst and hope for the best, we made sure we had cooking paraphernalia and brought basic sleeping gears if we needed to make our vehicles our room for the night. I felt early on that the Holy Eucharist must form the spiritual center of the run, even while being sensitive to the religious sensibilities of other Christians. A furniture exporter from Cebu crafted a portable altar designed by a deeply-religious architect. Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal blessed the altar and I deposited a first-class relic of two Ugandan martyrs, St. Charles Lwanga and a companion, which was given to me by the Archbishop of Kampala in 1992 during a journey through Uganda. So with a portable altar and breviaries in hand, we were ready. Or so I thought. ***** After a brief period of awkward silence, I turned to the team and asked them if they wanted to pray individually instead of praying the breviary together at 4 am and 8:30 pm. Kuya Sam, however, reiterated the need for communal prayer. Then it slowly dawned on me that in our coming together at Takbo Maharlika, we were bringing our own worlds and that a merging of our horizons was needed to bring about personal and social change, one step at a time. At the kick-off stage in Laoag City, for instance, we ran two 10-kilometer legs without breaking them down into more manageable distances. On the third day, we had decided to walk one kilometer, then run five kilometers, then walk for another mile before a final three kilometer run, before cooling down with a one-kilometer walk. Takbo Maharlika, after all, is meant to make running accessible to as many people as possible. The run is not a macho thing. When the team started celebrating mass and praying the breviary, two worlds stood in rough juxtaposition: the clerical and the lay. A wide chasm separates the two, even if unintended. Much of the spiritual riches of the Church still remain inaccessible to even the most well-meaninged lay person. I felt I needed to do some basic catechesis and formation of conscience. Turning to the team, I proposed we pray slowly, and with attention given to the words, only one of the three psalms in the morning or evening prayer. Non multa, sed multum (not many but much). The approach seems to be working. Yes, one step at a time

Laiko celebrates National Laity Week

EVERY year, the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas (Laiko, formerly Council of the Laity of the Philippines), the association of Archdiocesan/Diocesan Councils of the Laity and Catholic lay organizations and ecclesial communities in the country, spearheads the celebration of the National Laity Week during the week of the Feast of the Patron Saint of the Laity, San Lorenzo Ruiz. This year, the Laity Week celebration is from September 25 to October 1, 2011 with the theme Standing Firm on the Faith: listening, journeying and evangelizing with the Youth. The theme focuses on the youth in support of the Year of the Youth launched by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines on December 16, 2010, dedicating the year 2011 to youth ministries. Laiko is coordinating this years celebration with the Episcopal Commission on the Youth and the Federation of National Youth Organizations to promote the forthcoming National Youth Day which will be held from November 14-19, 2011. Laiko National Spiritual Director Most Rev. Jesse Mercado, Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on the Laity and Bishop of Paraaque, together with the Laiko President Edgardo Tria Tirona and National Laity Week 2011Chairperson Bro. Vic Lahoz, request parishioners who would like to open their homes to be foster homes for youth delegates (especially those from the provinces) during the National Youth Day. Parishes may help by giving the list of names, addresses, and contact details of these foster homes via email to the Laiko

Atty. Aurora A. Santiago

Duc in Altum
in the Advisory Board of the Catholic San Francisco newspaper; she introduced the Simbang Gabi (Dawn Mass) tradition in San Francisco in 2008. Bro. Titus was a resident of Fresno, California who has 17 years of dedicated service as choir director, Finance Council member and coordinator of fund raising projects at St. Mary the Queen of Apostles Parish. The Benemerenti award is a Pontifical decoration begun by Pope Gregory XVI in 1852 and conferred in recognition of distinguished service in the military. In 1925, the award started being given to persons, both civil and military, lay and clergy alike who exhibited long and exceptional service to the Catholic Church at the local level and the community. The next higher award is the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice. *** September is one of the most celebrated in our family; five members were born in this month: our eldest sister Ate Violeta Lita Rosales and her eldest son Marc Glenn, our youngest sister Flordeliza Isa Imperial and her eldest son Roberto Enrico, and Paulo Roberto Santiago who is the eldest son of my youngest brother Roberto Bobby. May our Lord Almighty give you many more birthdays to celebrate with us together. Happy Birthday and Happy Sacerdotal Anniversary to Rev. Fr. Jun Erlano of San Roque Cathedral Parish, Caloocan City; also Happy Birthday to Rev. Fr. Nestor Fajardo of Sacred Heart Tugatog Parish, Malabon City and Ms. Rona Marie Apellanes of the Chancery Office of Kalookan Diocese.

office, c/o Joseph Jesalva at email address laiko_phils@yahoo.com.ph or by fax at (02) 527-3124. The Laiko office telephone number is (02) 527-5388. Archdioceses, Dioceses and Parishes are also requested to promote the theme of the Laity Week through homilies in the daily masses during the week by reflecting on the life of the saint for each day. They may likewise organize half-day round table forum, seminar or prayer meeting on the theme of the Laity Week attended by the diocesan youth councils, parish youth organizations and movements, diocesan laity councils and lay leaders so that they can get to know each other and work together to deepen the participation of the youth in the parishes and in the arch/dioceses and integrate them into the basic ecclesial communities. Likewise, to support the ministry on the laity some dioceses hold second collection during the Saturday and Sunday Masses of the Laity Week. *** Congratulations to our Filipino-Americans fellow Papal Awardees from the Archdiocese of San Francisco, California. His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has conferred the Benemerenti Award on Nellie Hizon and Titus Verzosa. The former was a former parishioner of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Concepcion, Malabon City who was very active in parish projects before her family emigrated to the U.S. Lady Nellie is Vice Chairman of the pastoral council of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, member of the Board of Regents of St. Patrick Seminary and

Fr. Roy Cimagala

Candidly Speaking
THE Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church dedicates a big section to this topic of morality and the economy precisely because it in itself is important and essential in our life, and also because it is often forgotten or taken for granted, if not wantonly violated. In one point of the Compendium, it is said that the relation between morality and economics is necessary, indeed intrinsic: economic activity and moral behavior are intimately joined one to the other. (331) We have to remember that economics is not only a science but also a human activity, involving not only individuals but also whole societies. It cannot help but assume moral requirements that we have to pursue and fulfill, develop, protect and defend. Economics should not be done in a purely materialistic way, expressed in terms of money alone, or profit. That would be an inhuman economics that would sooner or later convert us into objects or targets, and not anymore as persons, and much less as children of God. We have to be wary of the subtle pressuressocial and politicalthat lead us to forget about morality in economics. Some political leaders, for example, in their effort to gain
Love Life / A4

Morality and the economy

have to realize that they stem from a bigger problem that needs to be resolved adequately and quickly. The Compendium further clarifies that the necessary distinction between morality and the economy does not entail the separation of these two spheres but, on the contrary, an important reciprocity. This doctrine is very relevant these days since there is a big tendency for us not only to separate the two but also to put them in conflict. Very often we are forced to make a choice between the two. We are made to believe they cannot be together. Everyone of us, in the different levels and aspects of life, from the individual to all degrees of collectivity that we get involved in, should realize that we need to be well grounded in the correct delineation of the link between morality and spirituality, on the one hand, and the economy, on the other hand. We cannot remain nave in this regard. We cannot anymore afford to stay primitive in this concern. Those involved more in the promotion of morality priests and teachersshould be mindful of the objective needs of economics and should foster rather than obstruct their fulfillment. So they should try their best also to know more and more about economicsits laws and different doctrinesso they could attune their teaching and counsels to concrete conditions of the people, and not remain only in theories that hardly have any impact on real situations. We are now into an interdisciplinary way of life. We should continue our education and formation, updating ourselves with the endless flow of developments that are now also monitored more closely by our new technologies. Those working more directly in the economyemployees and employers, businessmen, investors, etc.should also be mindful of the requirements of morality. They just cannot remain in the level of practicality and profitability. They have to know the deeper needs of men and learn to adapt their economic plans to such needs. The crises we are witnessing in the world at present are caused to a great extent by our not integrating morality and spirituality with our economics, business and politics. This is the challenge we are facing these days. Lets hope the bigger entitieschurches, government, schools, familiescan help in tackling this challenge, developing programs for this particular concern.

political advantage, can just pursue economic plans that produce quick political favors but sacrifice some moral and spiritual requirements. We can refer to the phenomena of workaholism and professionalitis that afflict many people and that erode family life as well as spiritual life of personal prayer and the fulfillment of religious obligations. We also have the culture of indiscriminate dole-outs and bail-outs, and other forms of questionable entitlements and privileges that spoil people, making them overly dependent on others and the government. There are other forms of inequalities and injustice: hiring of minors, pressuring women to work at the expense of caring for the family, unhealthy working conditions like young people asked to work overtime and at grave-yard shifts for long periods of time, children used in cybersex, etc. The bad effects are unmistakable and are growingphysical, mental and spiritual deterioration, alcoholism, marital infidelities, family break-ups, cultural impoverishment, growing materialism, greed and envy. We cannot anymore treat these problems independently of the organic relationship between morality and economics. We

patients or to society. The growing evidence, easily produced by many studies, show that women are harmed 99.98% of the time. If women are harmed, so is
Living Mission / A4

the family. If the family is harmed, so is the nation. It is abundantly clear that no country can run a free market economy on a declining population. This fact has

to be shouted now. To participate in lobby activities against the RH Bill, contact Pro-life office at 733-7027, life@prolife.org.ph

mission and to effectively bring it to its proper fulfillment. What are some sources of this pivotal virtue for mission in the world today? True boldness will come from our constant reading of the Word of God. It will be received from prayer and partici-

pation in the Eucharist. We are strengthened from mutual support of the Christian community. Authentic boldness is built upon solid knowledge of the Christian faith and from our daily attempt to live a Christian life-style. Gods message needs to be

spoken and given witness within all strata of daily life (personal, social, political, economic, artistic, educational, etc.). We make our own the prayer of Acts 4:29: Help your servants to proclaim your message with all boldness (parrhesia). We pray that the

closing words of Acts, which were spoken of Saint Paul, will be true of each one of us: He proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught the truth about the Lord Jesus with complete freedom and without hindrance from anyone (Acts 28:31).

A6

Local News

CBCP Monitor
September 12 - 25, 2011

Vol. 15 No. 19

Bishop: Women, ecology issues inadequately addressed in Church teachings

A CATHOLIC bishop expressed hopes that other significant social issues in contemporary society would be addressed in the Catholic Churchs canon of social teachings. Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo stated that he hopes other vital issues such as the status of women and environmental concerns will be included in the future in the list of Church social doctrines. The role and status of women in society and in the church has not been addressed adequately and remains a significant limitation of catholic social doctrine, Lagdameo noted. He said that despite the importance of catholic social teaching in the light of the contemporary church, still some other matters which report further development are yet to be included in the Churchs canon of teaching. An encyclical on the environment has not yet come out ever, is overdue even though some move has been made in this direction by the current Pope Benedict XVI, he said. Lagdameo stated that the main purpose of the Catholic social doctrine has been anthropocentric and not environmental. And yet, he said, we have actually been created by the environment and we create our environment. The former CBCP president was the keynote speaker on September 13, during the opening plenary session of the national conference of church people and workers held at the Mariners Court in Cebu City. He affirmed before 800 participants of church people and workers that it is part of the Church role to be the voice of the poor in the face of injustice and oppressive structures. Lagdameo quoted extensively from Church social documents highlighting the Churchs position on the dignity of labor and rights of workers. He explained the development of the Church social documents from Pope Leo XIIIs Rerum Novarum published in 1891, up to Pope John Paul IIs Laborem Exercens, published in 1981. Lagdameo said, what is now known as catholic social teachings develop organically. Thats the reason why I tried to enumerate some of the magisterial statements because you have to look at the social doctrine organically. Each document drew upon and affirmed what precede it but also added to and develop the teaching. Given this it is important to point to consistent values and principles within this tradition, he said. (CBCPNews)
Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

Archbishop Angel Lagdameo

Intl Catholic military associations on first Asian meet

A CATHOLIC group that brings together military associations and organizations across the globe gathered in Manila for its general assembly and conference until September 16. The Apostolat Militaire International (AMI) or International military apostolate, is a Catholic association which brings together military associations and organizations from Europe, North and South America, Africa and Asian Countries, committed to serving the members concerns and transmitting their views to their contemporaries, the general public and higher authorities so that Christian ethics may influence policy-making in the local, national
Abortion / A1

and international affairs. The conference, the first time in Asia is being hosted by AMI-Philippines together with the Philippine Air Force. The groups assembly, which began September 10 until September 16, is being held at the Sulu Riviera Hotel in Quezon City. Philippine Air Force Commanding General Oscar H. Rabena, who heads the events Philippine delegation, said the conference is well in line with the Air Forces core values. The theme of the conference is Military Ordinariate of the Philippines at 25: A Graceful Past Renewing Towards a Peaceful Future. Military Ordinary Leopoldo S. Tumulak serves as Spiri-

tual Adviser of the event. Some 100 delegates from local and international communities are participating in the assembly. The conference aims to underscore the groups constant theme which requires the Catholic members to reflect upon their service and shape it in line with the Christian faith and support their service for peace and justice in the Church and in the public. This is especially so now that peace, freedom, justice, human dignity and rights are often called in question, threatened and even attacked, so all members and member countries of the AMI should join forces and create an

atmosphere which correspondents to the Christian concepts of the world and mankind, General Rabena said. AMI President BGen Reinhard Kloss explained that for more than 46 years, the AMI has performed its self-chosen tasks of clarifying and explaining the moral standards and values of Christian service members and representing them at national and international level to promote international understanding and cooperation. This serves, he said, as AMIs contribution in keeping peace throughout the world by jointly taking up the social, spiritual, ethical and moral challenges in the military in the light

of the Gospel and the teachings of the Church. Aside from the Philippines, other members include Austria, Belgium, Colombia, Croatia, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Kenya and Nigeria among others. Its associate members are Argentina, Chile, Latvia, Ukraine, United States of America, Poland and Peru and several other countries. Countries where previous AMI Conferences were held include Germany in 2001, Spain in 2002, Slovenia in 2003, Slovakia in 2004, Lithuania in 2005, Kenya in 2006, Switzerland in 2007, Netherlands in 2008, Austria in 2009 and Germany in 2010. (Melo M. Acua)

tions across all regions in the country. Multiplying it by a factor of 6 inflates the figure to 473,408 the supposed level of induced abortions in 2000. Anecdotal evidence, indirect estimates The older study, however, admits having limited information on the prevalence of abortion, as it relied on anecdotal evidence and a 2006
Injustice / A1

survey of health workers which merely suggested that about one in four women with abortion complications needed to be hospitalized, or a multiplier of 5. To account for improvements in the safety of abortion over the years, Guttmacher and UP simply adjusted the inflation factor to between 5 and 7. Even the figure attributed to hospital records is extrapolated

or merely based on indirect estimates, it turns out. A total of 2,039 hospitals were identified, but usable reports were obtained for only 1,658. For 1,180 hospitals, the study merely assumed that the number of women admitted for abortion complications was half the number of patients admitted for the 10th leading cause of admission. Nearly 400 hospitals did not even have data at all, but were nevertheless assigned 6,000 sup-

posed hospitalizations. Guttmachers 2008 methodology, meanwhile did not consider factors known to reduce maternal mortality or even attempt to get more reliable counts. Santiago defended Guttmacher, saying: Apparently they have a track record of reasonable accuracy. 11 maternal deaths a day for PR purposes During the same floor delib-

erations, Rep. Pia Cayetano, the bills co-sponsor, blasted the reliability of the oft-repeated 11 maternal deaths a day statistic, saying that 11 mothers die everyday is a phrase used by NGOs to drive home the point. The statistic, discovered to be based on old data, is still being used by RH lobbyists as a basis for the urgency of passing the legislative measure as a solution to maternal

mortality. The World Health Organization (WHO) placed maternal deaths in 2008 at just 5.75 a day. Enrile appealed to the pro-RH lobby not to take him to task for questioning the data used to push for the RH bill, saying that he simply wants to make sure that statistical numbers used for the possible passage of this bill are beyond doubt. (CBCP for Life)

Tidbits / A4

Rerum Novarum that dates back to 1891, a seminal encyclical on Labor and Capital; up to Pope John Paul IIs Laborem Exercens, published in 1981. The social encyclicals, beginning from Rerum Novarum have underlined the Churchs preferential option for the poor, the primacy of labor over capital, and the task of the Church to fight injustice as an essential part of evangelization. Workers look up at Church for support Positively pleased by Lagdameos address, Sr. Emelina Villegas, ICM, Board President of labor NGO, Center for Trade Union and Human Rights, noted that the Church has indeed been adapting to the changing issues of society. I am glad because the Archbishop presented the history of the encyclicals in a developmental mannerhow the Church is adapting and responding to the changing issues that confront society. Although still reactive, the Church is somehow able to cope with our changing reality. With this, my hopes are renewed and I can see that concrete action will result from this [conference], she said. For his part, Kilusang Mayo Uno National Chairperson, Elmer Labog said the Church must not stay neutral when there is injustice because the workers can only depend on the Church for help and support when faced with discrimination. In these times when connivance between capitalists and the government is ever inflicting more suffering to workers and the poor, there is no room for neutrality [for the Church]. Because if the Church will be neutral, then the workers have no one else to run to and the Church might be more easily swayed by reactionary forces. Valid calls for just remuneration Meanwhile, Former Anakpawis Partylist Representative Joel Maglunsod who also attended the conference said that the Church teachings put Anakpawis in a high moral ground and only affirmed their calls and legislative agenda for just remuneration, security of tenure, and protection of workers rights and freedoms. The teachings of the Church only validates that the proposed bills of Anakpawis are just and legitimate in the same way that these bills were aligned with International Covenants and the 1986 Constitution, he said. Why only now? The conference came at the time of the

Churchs commemoration of the 30th year of anniversary of Blessed John Paul IIs encyclical Laborem Exercens. The conference, organizers said, is very timely amid alarming conditions of the Filipino workers not just in the country but also those working abroad. They cited for instance the globalization policies such as outsourcing and the labor export policy which have widened the gap between the rich and the poor. Voicing out what perhaps many of the workers have been wanting to ask the Church for a long time, Lagdameo asked amid wild applause of participants: What we are doing nowa national conferencewhy only now? After 90 years of social teachings of the church, why only now? After 30 years of Laborem Exercens, why only now? And until when? We are not lacking in the tradition of the social teachings, what is lacking in us is to fill it up, he stressed. Lagdameo expressed hopes that the Church continue to live up to the tradition of the social teachings, which evolved in 1891, into this new century and continue to push the boundaries of faith to incorporate the big issues to the future. The Catholic social teaching has been referred to oftentimes as the Catholic Churchs best kept secret. It is Church teaching that is rarely preached about in our pulpits, rarely written about and rarely spoken about in Church circles. Consequently, it rarely informs decision making and action, at least explicitly, he said. Now is a good time to reclaim this tradition and to allow it to become a benchmark for the seeding out of the powerplay in todays world, Lagdameo furthered. Welcome development Reacting to Lagdameos question, on why it is only now that the Church has organized a conference to address labor issues, Labog said that it is always better late than never and the move of the Church to reach out to the workers is still a welcome development. We hope that this conference will result to concrete steps that will truly help the workers in organizing and forming unions. Forming church people-worker groups in economic zones in Mactan, Cavite, Mindanao and some parts of Central Luzon will be of utmost help as workers in these areas experience severe exploitation

and oppression, he said. At least 33 dioceses and archdioceses and around 200 union and association of workers nationwide have sent delegates to participate in the historic dialogue. Church involvement on labor issues Archbishop Guiseppe Pinto, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, in a message to participants has stressed that primary to Churchs mission is for its leaders to be involved actively in social transformation. He encouraged an active Church involvement in protecting and advancing the rights and welfare of the Filipino workers. Since charity is at the heart of the Churchs social doctrine and action, it is my prayer that the proceedings of this conference may truly be inspired by the Gospel of love and be enacted accordingly, Archbishop Pinto said. Archbishop Dr. Werner Thissen, chairman of the German Bishops Conference for MISEREOR and other international labor and Church organizations have also expressed solidarity to the conference. In view of the difficult situation in which Filipino workers find themselves both at home and abroad and in view of threat to and persecution to trade union members in the Philippines, the Church must show solidarity, Thissen said in his letter. Labor desks creation in dioceses Lagdameo has suggested the establishment of labor desks in dioceses, amid the growing challenges that workers are facing, during a press conference on September 13. According to him present labor issues entail the urgent need for a workable system in the Church that would attend to the concerns of the workers. It will be good that our social action centers start to think about putting up a labor desk so that our workers will have a group to address their concerns, Lagdameo said. Jaro Auxiliary Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, for his part, said the purpose of the conference is to generate responses from the labor sector about the pressing labor issues like the problem on contractualization and low wages. We dont want to preempt the workshop process but definitely as we continue to discuss the present situation, we will try to come out with an action plan, said Alminaza, the prime mover of the CPWS conference.

It will also be submitted to the CBCP and the different dioceses for consideration, he said. Participants coming from the workers and other marginalized groups expressed their hope to gain concrete support from the Church on pertinent national and local issues confronting them. Cebu-based union president Arley Tigle of the CENAPRO Employees Union hopes the Church will influence CENAPRO owner in order to prevent the termination of 19 union officers and members who recently received a notice of termination. President of Visayas Electric Company Employees Union Casmero Mahilum who was illegally terminated said he hopes the Church will continuously support their union. Mahilum was allegedly terminated in a move of VECEU management to crush the union. He was also charged with libel. He claimed the management also violated the terms and conditions of the collective bargaining agreement between the VECEU and the union. Workers of palm oil plantation in Mindanao, meanwhile, wail of unjust wages. Eleazar Abaja, CWS convenor and president of Palm Oil Plantation Workers Union in Agusan said I hope that the Church will help us in our struggle for just wages. According to Abaja, palm oil workers only receive an average of P90 a day for harvesting 30 pieces of fruit bunch. When sold by management, it earns a gross income of P7,200 for the 30 pieces of fruit bunch. Steve Ranjo, convenor of the CWS and National President of PISTON, said that he hopes that the conference will make resolutions that will concretely address the problem of unabated oil price hikes. Oil companies enjoy more profit with the unabated oil price hikes while workers, drivers, and our families suffer from higher cost of gas, transportation and basic commodities, Ranjo said. Thats the reason why I tried to enumerate some of the magisterial statements because you have to look at the social doctrine organically. Each document drew upon and affirmed what preceded it but also added to and develop the teaching. Given this, it is important to point to consistent values and principles within this tradition, he said. (With reports from Roy Lagarde)

oping the Leader Within You, and Stephen Covey s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, are one in underlining the importance of the persons character in financial enterprise, that those business leaders who highly respect their customers, deal fairly with employees, stockholders and partners, will outlive other business undertakings, will remain stable, and will be reasonably profitable in the long run. In time they surely will get back not only their investment but a reasonable profit, not counting the high respect that they earned from the community. In a real sense, good ethics is good business. It pays to Be honest, even if others are not; even if others will not; even if others cannot. Of course, the nineteen years of existence of the BCBP have not been that smooth. The road less traveled is always a lonely and rugged path to traverse. To be ethical and moral in business transactions and in dealings in the profession is wrought with tensionsone has to contend with the wiles of the world, the temptation of quick return on investments, the pressure of society that has become materialistic and secular in its view of life. Even among the members of BCBP has filtered a morality that has been watered down by some schools of thought, such as the schools of consequentialism, situation ethics, and proportionalism. The doctrine proposed by these schools are very alluring indeed. They contend that all human acts are good or indifferent, that their morality depends upon the intention of the agent and the proportionate consequences of the effected acts. The Church looks at askance at this doctrine. It leads to moral relativism, a teaching that denies moral absolutes, that is, those acts that are always right or wrong, acts that are prohibited because they are always evil. But, the members of the BCBP go on as faithful followers of the Church. For deep down in their souls are solidly embedded the Christian values and the ideals of the Christian Brotherhood. The nineteen years of stay in the BCBP with all their personal and shared experiences have convinced them that Christ is still relevant today in the marketplace; that honesty is the best policy; that ethics is good business.

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 15 No. 19
September 12 - 25, 2011

Diocesan News

A7
generation can evangelize through this technology although other religious are [still] unaware or [even] neglecting the impact of the media on themselves. Msgr. Aguilos said that the secular culture portrayed in mass media has a powerful influence on the consumers of media. As religious involved in the education of the young, you are being challenged into living among the medias appealing techniques and resisting error of their doctrines, he told the Sisters during the assembly. Challenging further the nuns, he added that unless we act forcefully to challenge mass media influences around us, we may be engulfed in a generation of young people who curse, laugh at double meanings in jokes, divorce quickly, jest indifferently about the sexual matters, and scoff [at hope] as unrealistically nave. And if indeed this will be the kind of young people, then , will they have the natural disposition for religious and consecrated life? he asked. (Sr. Gemma Ria de la Cruz, FSP)

Nuns dared to be critical in their use of media

PALO, LeyteA priest from the Archdiocese of Palo dared the association of religious women in the archdiocese to be critical in their use of media. Msgr. Ramon C. Aguilos, STD, a member of the Board of Consultors of Palo archdiocese and Archdiocesan Superintendent of the Catholic Schools has challenged the religious sisters working in the archdiocese to be judicious in their media consumption. He told members of the Women Religious Association of the Archdiocese of Palo (WRAAP) gathered during their annual assembly on August 28 to be aware of the inherent power of the media of social communications as well as the subtle temptations used by media entities to squeeze profit from their attractions. But Msgr. Aguilos also stressed the positive use of the media especially the internet, saying that Internet gained public face with its growing interest for swift communications, email became a common place in sending messages regardless of the distance, revolutionized marketing, commerce, social communiCONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Msgr. Ramon Aguilos, Archdiocesan Superintendent of Catholic Schools in Palo archdiocese challenges Religious sisters gathered during their annual assembly to exercise critical thinking in using media so as to become effective educators of the young.

Pro-life leaders discuss vital issues on family life ministries at two-day summit

cations and interconnectedness among individuals and groups worldwide. He admitted that with the advent of computer he thought there was non plus ultranothing was beyond it anymore, but when internet dawned varied effects both good and bad enveloped the users. Themed The Impact of Mass Media on the Religious, the assembly was

held at the Bishop Gonzaga Hall in Holy Infant College, Tacloban City and attended by 95 Religious Sisters belonging to 20 Congregations. When asked why the group chose the theme on media for their gathering, Sr. Marian Ladrera, a nun from the Religious Sisters of Mercy and current president of WRAAP, said even Religious ourselves

are being confronted and affected by the globalization of technology. What are we going to do now as Religious so we can use the media [responsibly]? Mga madre nanonood ng tv, no more critical thinking, only just to entertain themselves, she remarked. She, however, expressed her gratitude that the Religious Sisters of this

Evangelization, antidote to heinous crimesBishop

Lay leaders from Northern Luzon gathered for two days in Baguio to discuss vital issues on family life ministries.

BAGUIO City Close to a hundred key pro-life leaders held a two-day summit in Baguio to discuss vital issues in family and life ministries. Participating lay leaders came from the Archdioceses of Lingayen-Dagupan and Nueva Segovia, Dioceses of Bayombong, Baguio, Ilagan, Tarlac, Balanga, Laoag, Malolos and Bangued, and Prelature of Tabuk. The two-day event held on August 26 and 27 at the MaryPolicies / A1

heights Diocesan Formation Center in Baguio City was particularly significant as it brought togetherthe first time in many years key leaders of different Family and Life ministries to bond, share experiences and discuss the vital issues at hand. After having reported on the current status of their pro-life and pro-family programs, participants listened to inputs from three speakers: Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer, Country Director of

Human Life International (HLI) Pilipinas and the event organizer; Atty. Jo Aurea Imbong, Executive Secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Legal Office; and Bro. Johma Villahermosa of the Kilusang Kabataan Kay Kristo. The second day of the gathering was devoted to intensive planning, which focused on the short-term and mid-term Strategic Plan of Action or SPA to con-

cretize the participants efforts in neutralizing the anti-life agenda in the Northern Luzon area, particularly on how to effectively combat the Reproductive Health (RH) Bills now pending in both chambers of Congress. The event was organized by HLI Pilipinas with the all-out support of the Episcopal Commission on Family & Life (ECFL) through its Executive Secretary, Rev. Fr. Melvin Castro. (John Luke Evangelista)

SAN PABLO City Lagunas highest Catholic leader has called for a renewed evangelization as an effective means to arrest the increasing crime incidents in the province and uphold respect for life and human dignity. San Pablo Bishop Leo Drona sounded the call during a multisectoral conference of the Diocesan Pastoral Council, held August 30, at the newly constructed multipurpose building of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Luisiana. The conference was attended by select lay leaders, commission and ministry directors involved in pastoral work. What can we do to prevent heinous crimes being committed in our midst, Bishop Drona asked council members, even as he urged for a renewed proclamation of the Gospel and greater respect for life. Though not citing any specific cases, the Bishop expressed alarm on the reports that Laguna has a high incidence of heinous crimes.

He said it is a challenge to the Church and the faithful to improve and widen the reach of renewed evangelization. The more people we evangelize, the more chances are there for people not to commit crimes; and there will be greater respect for life and dignity of the person created in the image of God, Drona stressed. The bishop assured everyone that all priests of the Diocese are against the Reproductive Health bill and that they will continue the campaign against its passage. He made the assurance when informed that there may be priests who are even supporting the RH bill. He said all external manifestations of the individual clergy do not indicate any one in favor of the bill. If there is any priest in the Diocese who has a contrary stand, this clergy, if any, has not externally manifested it, he said. The diocesan pastoral council is headed by the bishop and its director is Fr. Rolando Abarca. (George Dee)

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Briefing
CFC Davao Oriental launches ANCOP

basic right to security. Regular employees are now terminated summarily and then coerced to re-apply as contractual laborers together with new applicants, in total disregard of their many years of service, partly read the conference statement which participants formulated at the end of the four-day convention. The statement was highlighted with excerpts from the Catholic Churchs social teachings, stressing the primacy of labor over capital and the right of workers to organize. The group decried the practice of contractualization which deprives workers of the benefits of tenure and prevents them from organizing themselves into legitimate labor unions. They said the system is identical to a modern version of slavery, with contracting agencies simply replacing the slave traders of old.
BECs / A1

The statement also denounced the practice of certain companies to ask workers to sign vouchers certifying that they are paid the minimum legal wage, when in fact, they have received less, under the threat of termination. It also criticized the present governments anti-labor policies citing its pro-capital stance as in the case of PAL vs. PALEA labor dispute. The statement likewise noted that both past and incumbent administrations have done nothing much but to encourage more the continuous outflow of migrant workers because of lack of domestic opportunities. Focused on increasing the remittances to prop up a failing economy, the government has put in place exploitative labor policies to avoid facing up to the basic need of generating employment for its citizens. The social cost of forced migration to Philippine society

is equally staggering, it further read. Among other things, the statement also recommended for the establishment of Church People and Workers Solidarity as a permanent organization to serve as an instrument to assist workers in their struggle for dignity and rightful recognition as partners in the pursuit of peace and progress in the country; to task current convenors to serve as the transitional leadership body charged with defining and establishing the needed organizational structures for the new group; and to mandate the transitional leadership group to formulate and develop programs and services that the CWS would undertake in behalf of workers. The statement was read during the closing Eucharistic celebration at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral on Sept. 15, the 30th anniversary of Pope John Paul IIs encyclical on Human Work (Laborem Exercens). (CBCPNews) in Africa and North America will also be held soon, he said. The continental conferences and that which is slated in Germany next year are meant to identify the challenges to the BECs in Asia and throughout the world in the light of the recent social, economic, and cultural developments, especially globalization and post or late modernity. (CBCPNews)

MATI, Davao OrientalAnswering the Cry of the Poor (ANCOP) is the current battlecry of the Couples for Christ (CFC) Global Group in the diocese of Mati, province of Davao Oriental. CFC launched ANCOP at the Provincial Capitol Gym in Mati last August 20-21 simultaneous with their 17th foundation anniversary in Davao Oriental and the CFCs 30th anniversary in the Philippines. Around 900 CFC members couples, singles, handmaids, servants and kids came to celebrate the two-day gathering. (Sr. Marietta Alo)
Vigan celebrates election of Benedictine Nuns 5th Abbess

Fr. Amado Picardal of the Episcopal Commission on Basic Ecclesial Communities of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines reported on the state of the BECs in the Philippines. Each (of us) gave a report on the state of the BECs in (our) country and how the BECs have realized the vision of a renewed Church of Vatican II and the challenges that (we) face at presTheology / A1

ent, Picardal said. I am just amazed about the growth of BECs not just in the Philippines but also other countries in Asia. This is a sign of hope of the vitality of the Church in this region, the priest added. According to Picardal, the conference, themed BECs in Asia 50 years after Vatican II, was held in preparation for the anniversary of the

Second Vatican Council next year, when a separate conference for BEC practitioners all over the world will be held in Germany. This meeting was [a] preparation [for] the intercontinental gathering on BECs which will be held in Tubingen, Germany next year. The Latin American BEC continental conference has already been held. The other continental conferences

VIGAN CityThe Benedictine Nuns of the Eucharistic King celebrated the abbatial blessing of Mo. Abbess Maria Cielo Cortez, OSB at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Abbey, on August 30. Adorned with simplicity, the occasion of abbatial blessing was led by Nueva Segovia Archbishop Ernesto Salgado, who is known to be an oblate of said monastery, with other bishops, priests and nuns. Salgado stressed to Mother Cielo that being an Abbess places her in the authority of her community and that this authority means serving her sisters. Mother Cielo then received the Rule of Saint Benedict as her guide in her monastic duty, the ring which serves as a bond to her commitment, and the shepherds staff which symbolizes her pastoral duties to her community. (Mark Vertido)
Malacaang urged to clarify policy on blood money

viction provided that he or she remains sincerely disposed to continue his or her inquiry [about the teachings of God], he added. The Varsitarian report quoted Aligan as saying Santiagos speech, The Reproductive Health Act, Part 1: Primacy of Conscience in Catholic Theology, contained little knowledge and was perilous to its audience. Santiago studied theology at the Maryhill School of Theology, a proponent of liberation theologythe Marxist elements of which had been strongly condemned by Cardinal
Supplies / A1

Joseph Ratzinger, the former head of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith who is now Pope Benedict XVI. In her speech, Santiago said: If, after proper study, reflection, and prayer, a person is convinced that his or her conscience is correct, in spite of a conflict with the moral teachings of the Church, the person not only may but must follow the dictates of conscience, rather than the teachings of the Church. But Aligan, quoting the late Pope John Paul II, said Catholics have the duty to know whether their consciences are right or not.

Another theologian, Fr. Joel Jason, dean of studies of San Carlos Seminary emphasized, that one should not commit an act that is wrong even with a good intention. Kahit na maganda yung intention mo (Even if your intention is good), you cannot do something that is evil in order to get something good. Kasi if you do something evil, it will be tantamount to committing sin, Jason said in the Varsitarian article. Jason said the Church will remain faithful to the teachings of Christ, however unpopular they are. (Dominic Francisco)

ANTIPOLO CityMigrante-Middle East urged Malacaang to disclose its policy on blood money (diyya) as part of the efforts of saving the lives of Filipino workers in death row. Migrante-ME regional coordinator John Monterona said, it has been two months since the Palace had created a technical working group to study the policy about giving out diyya but until now, there are no reports being publicized. It was Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, on July 21st, who had announced the formation of the said technical working group. We believe it is time to hear from the Malacaang-formed TWG about the policy proposals in regards to finding sources for the blood money of OFWs on death row, Monterona said. (Noel Sales Barcelona)
Palace urged to provide fisherfolks 50% discount on oil

have died of dengue, malaria, cancer of the breast, cancer of the cervix, cancer of the uterus, hypertension, stroke,

tuberculosis, cholera, typhoid, dysentery? Explaining why the poor was being targeted by the RH bill, Cay-

etano claimed they are being discriminated against when it comes to access to contraceptives. Families should be allowed to

space births, she said, as pregnancy is a burden, a physical, emotional, financial burden. (Dominic Francisco)

ANTIPOLO CityWith the soaring pump prices, the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) urged the government and the big oil companies to provide small fishermen with 50 per cent discount in petroleum products. Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said that many fisherfolks in the country has zero income due to unabated increase in the prices of diesel and gasoline. The 50 percent oil discount for small fisherfolk users will reduce fuel cost by an average of P20 (US$0.47) per liter to P25 ($0.58) per liter or between P22 ($0.517) per liter for diesel and P27 ($0.63) per liter for gasoline. This would be a great help to fisherfolks whose majority of income goes only to fueling their motorized bancas, he said. (Noel Sales Barcelona)

A8

People, Facts & Places

CBCP Monitor

September 12 - 25, 2011

Vol. 15 No. 19

400-year old Church in N. Samar now a historical landmark

THE government has recently declared a 400 hundred-year old Catholic Church in Northern Samar as historical landmark. Joining the list of the countrys historical sites was the Fuerza de Capul Parish Church in Capul town upon the approval of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). The Capul Church is the fourth in Samar Island to gain the declaration. The others include the churches in the towns of Guiuan in Eastern Samar, and Catubig and Palapag in Northern Samar. The Church is also in the tentative list of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) world heritage. UNESCO seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. Capul church was built during the Spanish Colonial period, dedicated to St. Ignatius of Loyola and is surrounded by a square fort with bulwarks of dissimilar designs. The present structure was actually the third that was built on the site. It was in 1606 when the original structure, made of hard wood and nipa roofs, was constructed. However, it was destroyed when Moro pirates plundered the island in 1615. That same year, a church made of stone was erected with walls to fortify the island from Moro raids. In 1781, Fr. Mariano Valero, a Spanish architect-priest, led the restoration of the church and built the stonewall fortress similar to that in Intramuros, Manila. History tells that the name of this island was a shortened Acapulco, according to the Philippine Information Office Northern Samar. In the late 16th century the San Bernardino Strait along the northern coast of Samar island was an important part of the Galleon trade route. Acapulco Island (now called Capul Island) was the last stop of the galleon ships from Manila before they head out to Acapulco, Mexico. The location and proximity of the island to the Pacific Ocean were found to be practically useful during the Galleon Trade. Boats that are about to leave the Philippines (from Manila and Butuan City) would only start the long voyage when the current was flowing outward through the San Bernardino Strait. The Manila-Acapulco Trade flourished, especially when the Spanish, Mexican and Peruvian households kept a high demand for the abaca, beeswax and agricultural produce from the Philippines. Although Capul is an island municipality of Northern Samar, it has a distinct language from the rest of the province and Eastern Visayas. The native language is called Inabaknon. (CBCPNews)

Built during the Spanish colonial period, the Fuerza de Capul Parish church was dedicated to St. Ignatius de Loyola.

Priest appeals for help in finding abducted Dumagat

A FRANCISCAN missionary has appealed for information to help find a Dumagat (indigenous people) teenager, who was recently abducted in Quezon province. Father Pete Montallana knew about the Demer Moradas disappearance only last Aug. 29 when he visited the Dumagat community in a remote village of Burdeos town and decided to conduct their own initial probe. Morada helped his parents in their day to day living but has not been seen or heard from since Aug. 24 when he failed to return home in Burdeos towns Bonifacio village. Montallana said witnesses told him that six armed men, alleged to be members of the military, were behind Moradas disappearance. Morada was last seen in Pegitna at 2:00 am of August 24 wearing yellow green sleeveless shirt, cream corduroy short pants and blue rubber sandals when he was taken to a boat by the armed men. Montallana, who have been working with the Agtas for 18 years already, is now appealing for information and help and on Sept. 7 made a direct appeal for Moradas release. In a statement, the priest said: Demers case calls on me personally to become more vigilant and to ask people to be more vigilant. We cannot allow those who use our taxes to violate our rights. No genuine change will happen until the poor and the oppressed are conscienticized, he added. He also appealed to the authorities for a thorough and independent investigation in the enforced disappearance of Morada and to ensure security and assistance to the victims family. Moradas family and relatives, according to him, are poor and uninformed of their rights. They do not even have a picture of Morada which the media has been asking them to produce. If not for their connection with the Church through the Indigenous Peoples Apostolate of the Diocese of Infanta and the Franciscans, Demers abduction would just be simply be forgotten, said Montallana. (CBCPNews)

Cardinal Vidal warns vs ploy to railroad RH bill

A SENIOR Catholic prelate has called for vigilance amid claims that the United Nations (UN) is defunding the governments population program. Retired Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal said the report may be just a ploy for lawmakers to hasten the passage of the reproductive health (RH) bill which the Church opposes. How are we sure because that was already sometime ago, why it is only now that they have to tell that? It is because somebody was asking whether it is a foreign funding? Vidal told Church-run Radyo Veritas. It was confirmed to us during our legislators conversation with the CBCP (Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines) that they confirm that there was (funding), he said. The prelate added, We have to be careful. We have to continue our fight until they have put it down (and) not only because of this. There might have an arrangement before. Vidal made the statement after some bishops were elated over the report which according to them would weaken the lobby of the RH bill in the country. That is good, happy news, was how retired Novaliches Bishop Teodoro Bacani Jr. said it. Lipa Batangas Archbishop Ramon Arguelles had also alleged that it was an indication that some supporters of the birth control measure was only after the money. He said some legislators were receiving payments from international funding institutions to promote the use of contraceptives, but now that the UN would no longer be giving out money, where will they get the money except in the government funds. This is precisely why the public, we the taxpayers, should be more vigilant and strongly object to the passage of the RH bill since they would source the funds for the RH bill from our taxes, Arguelles said. (CBCPNews)

www.panoramio.com

OFWs choose Church help than embassies

TROUBLED Filipino workers abroad would normally ask help from the Church and not in embassies which are tasked to do the job for them, a labor group said. Church-People Workers Solidarity (CWS) spokesman Gary Martinez said many beleaguered overseas Filipino workers (OFW) have already lost their trust on official government representatives. The sad thing here is that they are supposed to be the alter ego of the government but they are the ones lowering the morals of our OFWs, he said. So Filipinos are supposed to choose, they will go first to the Church and to the non-government organizations, said Martinez, who also chairs the Migrante International, a migrants watchdog. For instance, he cited one incident, where a Filipina reported to the embassy that she was raped but was instead chided by Filipino officials. He said he, himself, was a recipient of a rude treatment from Philippine embassy officials. According to Martinez, embassies are hesitant to side with the Filipinos to avoid problems in the diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the host countries. First, is because of the labor export policy of our government. They are afraid the host country might stop hiring workers, he said. (CBCPNews)
Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

Cardinal Ricardo Vidal

Forum to address dangers of internet on children

THE Pro-life Philippines Foundation will hold a forum to address the dangers of unregulated exposure to the internet on children. The forum seeks to educate the public on the upshots of a developing tech savvy culture in the country. With their easy access to the internet, children become exposed to questionable values peddled online and child predators lurking in cyberspace. Titled Crimes against Children and Online Safety, the forum will have Mr. Daniel Wartenweiler, Director of Onesimo Bulilit Foundation, Inc. as resource speaker. His talk will dwell mainly on how to keep

children safe on the internet. The seminar targets to reach

parents, guardians, teachers, catechists, Church and lay leaders,

Mandaluyong street named after Cardinal Sin

A STREET in Mandaluyong City got a new name in honor of the late Cardinal Sin of Manila. The street, formerly E. Rodriguez was renamed Jaime Cardinal Sin Street in formal ceremonies on August 31, 2011, the 83rd birth anniversary of the late Archbishop of Manila. Church officials led by two of Cardinal Sins former secretaries Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan and Bishop Gabriel Reyes of Antipolo joined Mandaluyong officials in the renaming rites. Jaime Cardinal Sin street intersects the main thoroughfare Shaw Boulevard, where Villa San Miguel, Cardinal Sins residence for the duration of his term as Manila Archbishop is located. The idea to rename the street was put forward soon after the death of the charismatic Church leader, one of the main heroes of the EDSA People Power Revolution. The main highlight of the ceremonies was the unveiling and blessing of the street signs: Shaw Blvd/Sin St; Pascual/ Sin Streets; De La Paz/Sin Streets and V. Victorino/Sin Streets.

social workers, counsellors/life coaches, youth group advisers and others who have direct contact with children and youth in their line of work. Slated on September 24, the forum will be from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon at the St. Joseph Retreat House in Bustillos, Sampaloc. A registration of P300 will be asked from participants. The fee will cover one seminar kit, one snack and a certificate of participation signed by organizers. Anyone interested may call up for additional information 733-7027; 7349425, text through mobile# 0919-2337783; or email life@ prolife.org.ph. (CBCPNews)
Dennis Dayao / CBCP Media

Markings
INSTALLED. The Diocese of Masbates third bishop, the Most Rev. Jose Salmorin Bantolo, was installed September 6 at the St. Anthony of Padua Cathedral by Caceres Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legazpi, OP, assisted by Legazpi Bishop Joel Z. Baylon and Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes, SVD. The Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Guiseppe Pinto witnessed the installation rites while Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma delivered the homily. Msgr. Bantolo was vicar general of the Diocese of San Jose de Antique before his elevation to the episcopacy. Bishop Bantolo took over the reins from Msgr. Claro Caluya who served as Apostolic Administrator of the diocese after Bishop Baylon was appointed Bishop of Legazpi in 2009. Bishop Baylon served the Diocese of Masbate from February 14, 1998 until October 1, 2009. Masbates first bishop was Most Rev. Porfirio R. Iligan who served the diocese from June 16, 1968 until his retirement on February 14, 1998. The Diocese of Masbate has a population of 685,201 as of 2004 with 92.2% Catholics with 53 priests and 38 female religious serving its 28 parishes. ORDAINED. Three new priests were ordained for the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro on August 4 and 8, respectively. Reverend Noel Carbayas and Reverend Lino Macatol were ordained on August 4 at St. Augustine Cathedral while Reverend Erdman Pandero was ordained on August 8 at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ led the ordination rites. Reverend Father Lino Macatol is now assigned at San Roque, Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental while Reverend Father Noel Carbayas goes to Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Parish, Jasaan, Misamis Oriental. Reverend Father Erdman Pandero meanwhile will stay at the Bishops House to help in the preparation of the archdiocesan Synod that will take place in the near future. ORDAINED. Rev. Jovani Tubiona, OAR was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons at the Our Lady of Consolation Parish Church on September 10, 2011. The ordination rite was officiated by Most Rev. Teodoro Bacani, DD. Twenty-six OAR priests from the different communities attended the occasion. ORDAINED. Noel Y. Bava, S.J., Roberto M. Boholst, S.J., Braulio M. Dahunan, S.J., Edward Joseph T. Magtoto, S.J., Jose Mari V. Manzano, S.J., Jordan J. Orbe, S.J. and Michael C. Porcia, S.J., to the Sacred Order of Deacons, September 10, 2011. Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, Auxiliary Bishop of San Fernando, Pampanga presided the ordination rites in the Oratory of St. Ignatius, Loyola House of Studies, at Loyola Heights, Quezon City.

A Mandaluyong City official, Church official, a Mandaluyong parish priest and a relative of Cardinal Sin officiated at each unveiling and blessing. The blessing was also a way of consecrating the neighborhood where a revered man of the Church once resided. Aside from Archbishop Villegas and Bishop Reyes, the other bishops at the ceremonies were Bishop Francisco San Diego, Bishop Emeritus of Pasig, Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara of Pasig, Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao, Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga and Manila Auxiliary Bishop Bernardino Cortez. An exhibit was also put up featuring photos and memorabilia of Cardinal Sin at Villa San Miguel, and a vestment which had been worn by Blessed John Paul II and Cardinal Sin. An entertainment followed the unveiling and blessing of the street signs. The program featured a magician in remembrance of the occasions when Cardinal Sin would gather children in his residence to watch clowns and magicians. (Peachy Yamsuan)

Noli Yamsuan

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 15 No. 19
September 12 - 25, 2011

Pastoral Concerns

B1

(Talk delivered by His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales at the First Saturday MAGPAS (Manila Archdiocesan Pastoral Assembly) catechism on August 6, 2011, at the Paco Catholic School)
A WISE man was once asked what is most important in life, and he replied, Become that person w.ho always wants to be (Number) One. Buong buong nagiisa. To know less than one would leave the world with nothing(one minus one is zero); more than one would leave the world in pieces. (Dalawa na. So the integrity of the person is very, very important.) There is only one real person that you must be. (ISA KA LANG! And you must pay attention as to what kind of person you must be.) Become that one person! And how important is that one person? He is the only explanation to how s/he should be in the next life. (What you are now that will you be in the next life.) No other individual can influence the making of the future of each one other than ones own self. In the end there is going to be no blaming (wala kang dapat sisihin.) When the final reckoning is reached, you cannot blame anyone. Anyone will be judged according to the way in which he or she has lived (Acts 20:13). (Thats very clear from the Books of Acts. Ang nagtatala, ang scorer sa ating buhay ang siyang magsasabi kung saan ka patutungo.) Thus the task of every person is to be what s/he, in the plan of God is destined to be! Fortunately, it is not the person who chooses what s/he should become, despite the fact that personally one may decide to be an engineer, a doctor, a lawyer, a philosopher, a businessperson, a politician, and a religious, not even becoming a priest. (So what if I am a priest? So what if I am a businessperson or a cardinal? Hindi yan ang mahalaga. You know what? I will not be judged by God as a cardinal. Would you be judged as a mother? Or a teacher? Or a lawyer? Or a businessman? You will be judged by God by the way you were called to live. To become a certain kind of professional is very much the persons choice, but to become a human in the mind of the Creator, God, while imitating Gods goodness and holiness, is a task imposed on every human being from the moment of creation. All of us are given a universal vocation (a call) as human beings, and we are called to repeat, to mirror the goodness and love of God as human persons, living in this temporary abode called the planet Earth. (Upang ulitin, salaminin ang kabaitan ng Diyos.) God created humans in the image of Himself, in the image of God He created him, male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27). The earth is mans temporary home; it is the place where we live and have our own livelihood (dito po tayo naghahanapbuhay. Dito tayo nabubuhay.) It is the place where we prove to the Almighty God that we can be trusted with something more, and He can continue loving us, as He did from the very beginning (Ephesians 1:4). Pansamantala lang tayo dito at hindi dito ang tunay na hantugan ng tao.) To become instruments that will, as living symbols, of a compassionate God be bringing goodness and love among humans, the person needs to be open to the Divine Transcendent, through prayer, through reading, through study. No one earns the intimacy and friendship of another without frequenting or spending more time in the relationship with him or her. There is the accompanying intimacy with persons who mutually need each other, between persons, and also between God and human beings. (You want to be a friend of God? Frequent the presence of God. You want to listen to God? Makinig sa gustong sabihin ng Diyos.) I call you friends because I have made to you everything that I have learned from my Father (John 15:15). Between friends there are revelations and sharing of knowledge, joys and sorrows. Thus the person that lives the mission to be Gods human agent of goodness and love needs to be close to God, so greatly trusted by Him in order that without any hesitation (pag kaibigan ka ng Diyos walang takot) or fear s/he may be able to speak of divine goodness and love to another and live with similar holiness and kindness. Skills in Making Friends Young people are skilled in making initial acquaintances even with near strangers and thus they are ready to share with relative ease whatever grace of kindness they learned from the Master, Lord Jesus Christ. The child, innocently, openly and without hesitation, will go even to a stranger. So, in other words, the property, the trait, the description of an open person would be the child. The question, Master where do you live? (Ginoo saan kayo nakatira? Inosenteng tanong ng batang lalaki). It is a question that conveys a message of initial search for friendship. (Dalawang disipulo, si Juan ang isa na ito. Panginoon saan kayo nakatira?) And that question was rewarded with a life-times love and disciples commitment. The young disciples John and Andrew were once asked that familiarizing question along the river Jordan, Master where do you live? and the whole world was never the same after that question. (Hindi lang yung daigdig ni Juan at ni Andres, nung sabihin nila, Saan kayo nakatira? at sumagot si Hesus, Halikayo tingnan niyo.) And the world was never the same. It only takes a little effort to express the tiniest quest and the result can be long lasting. Simple questions can sometimes become prying inquiries. What is your name, where do you work? And the answers are given that can become introductions to a grace-filled future opening to more graces that can only recall both the icons of God and the presence of God Himself. (Maraming ganun. Kung minsan sa jeepney. Kung minsan din mapapahamak ka. Ano, kumusta... pautang nga? Saan kayo nakatira... puede ba pari makautang naman... Ganun yun.) Great friendships and much love were born of questions that turned out to be quests. Are you happy this way? (Masaya ka ba sa buhay mo? Uy, sa iyo ba ito?). These are questions that led to many vocations. Priests and consecrated persons, women who became nuns, young men who became priests, found their way into the consecrated state in this fashion. And, of course, many happy marriages also found their way to the altar through innocent questions that opened the quest for greater friendship. (Yung skills of making friends sa kabataan iyan.) Relationship is the key to what people need to become the man or woman that God wants them to be. God Himself is three personsFather, Son and Holy Spirit. Lover, Beloved and Love. Giver, Receiver and Gift. Dont you notice that these are three different roles. (Tatlong papel. Tatlong pakikitungo. Tatlong persona. Ang tanong ko ngayon...) Where do you find yourself now? Are you the GIFT today? Are you the GIVER today? If you are, then what have you given? Relationship is important because it alone defines ones role and identity in friendship, in love, in community, in family, even in worship. Before God, I am only a creature who needs to represent Him in all my community and doings. In the family one person may only be a child, or a parent, or a sibling. Relationship defines my task and responsibility. The Need to Become Communicators Important as relationship is, relating is only possible if there is communication between people because communication unites people in union and binds them in communions sharing. In this manner the person in any society, in any congregation or family, needs both the skills and openness of a communicator because without basic communication, relationship is not possible. Communication. (Makitungo ka. Makipagkaisa ka.) Many could have noticed how dialogue has strengthened relationship (Makipag dialogo ka. Makipag-usap ka sa kanya. Makipagkwentuhan ka. Masama ang loob, galit sa akin. Try to communicate.) Dialogue is the practice not only of exchanging ideas, but of sharing of interests and experiences. (Sa dialogo, magkukwentuhan.) In a mutual exchange a clear harmony is slowly identified binding the two individuals in the bond of common interests. An outgoing person easily makes friends and discovers relatives and acquaintances. However, a reticent person is a personality that dilly-dallies and loses many opportunities to make friends. A communicative person makes a lot of friends. Yung bukas kang makipagkwentuhan. Iba kasi bukas sa pakikipagkwentuhan kaysa daldalera. Hindi iyan ang katangiang hinahanap natin kundi yung katangiang bukas magpa-alam, yung bukas na magbahagi, yung bukas na makinig. Eto po ang katangian ng communicator. These are the competencies that we are looking for. Competency in communication. Competency in relationship. Competency in opening to others. Eto po ang ugat ng ating sinasabi. Pag sarado ka hanggang doon ka lang. Kasama mo puro marurunong lang. Alam niyo limitado masyado ang kanyang daigdig. Kaya, in a sense, yung bukas ang kalooban, eto po and magaling maki-relate. Kaya ang ating modelo rito ay para ring Ang Santisima Trinidad. Bukas ang Ama sa sinasabi ng Anak. Bukas ang Anak sa ibinibigay ng Ama. At ang spiritung pinagkakaisa sila. Ang modelo talaga ng buhay natin ay ang tatlong persona sa iisang Diyos. Lahat ay nakikinig sa isa. Hindi nalalamangan ng Anak ang Ama ay hindi nalalamangan ng Ama ang Anak, ang spiritung pinagkakaisa sila. Ang modelo talaga ng buhay natin ay ang tatlong persona sa iisang Diyos. Eto po ang competency na sinasabi natin. Dapat maalam ang nagsasalita tungkol kay Kristo, maalam siya, marunong makisama, makibahagi, relating and communicating. One foreign missionary who for many years worked in our part of Mindanao is known to be estoryador kaayo ... na nag-mission dun sa amin. At talagang istoryador. Isang araw siya ay nagpunta sa bahay at balita na talaga ito na walang tigil na kakakwento. Sabi niya, Ill pass the night with you, Bishop. Okay. Naku, eto na nga. After dinner, alassiyete po ang aming hapunan dun sa Mindanao. Alam niyo nailigpit na lahat ang pagkain, nalinis na nung katulong. Alam niyo hanggang ala-una ng umaga nagkukuwentuhan kami dun sa lamesa. Talagang istoryador. Hindi ako nilubayan ng taong ito. But the friends he left behind had phenomenal memories of that missionarys ministry. He knew what simple but sincere communication is and thereby he left behind living memories of his friendship. The Need for Character The person God chooses to exist and thus capable of imaging His goodness and holiness is a person who in his own self and person possesses moral excellence and an adherence to what is right. (Yung tao palang di karakter ay yung merong moral excellence. Nakatataas ang kanyang pagpapakilala na kilala niyat niyayakap ang mabuti at iwinawaksi ang masama. Mataas na antas ito para maging karakter.) This challenge or rightfully called the mission of man, but there are some who distinguished themselves in this role of being excellent persons and moral examples of life. (Yung mga taong napakataas ang pagpapahalaga sa kabutihan at pagwaksi ng kasamaan, ito pala ho ay mataas ang antas bilang tao.) Our Lord Jesus Christ cited on one occasion the kind of person who was closest to Him, John the Baptizer. (At ano ang kanyang description sa ganitong taong may moral excellence?) I-quote natin sa salita ng Panginoon. What did you go out into the desert to see? (Ano ang inyong pinagmironan dun sa disyerto?A reed shaken by the wind? (Tambong hinahampas ng hangin? May laman ang sinasabi ni Jesus. Ano bang klaseng tao itong si Juan. Ito ba ay
Rosales / B2

Be what you must be

Noli Yamsuan / RCAM

B2

Updates

CBCP Monitor
September 12 - 25, 2011

Vol. 15 No. 19

The More Serious Crimes in Church Law (Part I)

Canonizations and infallibility
(Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university, answers the following query:) Q: When the Pope presides over an ordinary public consistory regarding the cause of canonization of three blesseds, as Benedict XVI did last February in the Vatican Apostolic Palace for Guido Maria Conforti, Luigi Guanella and Bonifacia Rodrguez de Castro, is the proclamation made at the consistorythat the blesseds are saintsan infallible proclamation? R.J., Villanova, Pennsylvania A: The short answer is no, or at least not yet. The reason is that the decisions emanating from the consistory are juridical and not theological in nature. A public consistory is a gathering of cardinals convoked by the Holy Father for a specific purpose. Some others, such as apostolic protonotaries, the auditors of the Roman Rota, and other prelates, may also attend a public consistory. The purpose is usually either to elevate new cardinals or, at least technically, to seek the cardinals opinion regarding the canonization of blessed. By technically I mean that the cardinals have usually already given their opinion and the canonization has already been decided. Thus, nowadays the consistory is a kind of legal fiction in which everybody ceremoniously votes yes. At the end of the consistory the Holy Father accepts the opinion of the cardinals and announces the date or dates on which the canonizations will take place. The juridical nature of the consistory can be seen from one of Blessed John Paul IIs final acts as Pope. In February 2005 he wrote to his secretary of state regarding a consistory he was unable to attend. He said: I had convoked the Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops living in Rome for the celebration of an Ordinary Public Consistory, for today, 24 February, in view of the conclusion of the process of the Causes of Canonization of some Blesseds. I have been advised, for the sake of prudence, to follow this event from my apartment via television link-up. Consequently, I entrust to you, Venerable Cardinal, the duty to preside at this reunion, giving you the authority to conduct in my name the scheduled events. Therefore, I wish to announce that, following the favorable opinion that has already been submitted in writing by the Venerable Cardinals throughout the world and by the

Delicta Graviora

By Fr. Jaime Blanco Achacoso, J.C.D.

About a year ago, the Bishop of our diocese called a special meeting of the clergy in order to read to us what seemed to be new guidelines from the Holy See for the handling of cases of sexual improprieties of priests. At that time, the scandal of the abuse of minors in Irelandnot to mention similar scandals that continue to surface in the United Stateswas still very much in the media. As happens with such indications, without the benefit of the text for closer study and reference, I left the gathering a bit confused regarding the different provisions, albeit quite clear about the gravity of the matter. Can you please tackle this question in a more structured way, understandable to a non-canon lawyer like me? THE new guidelines mentioned are the Norms on Delicta Graviora, approved by the Holy Father on 21 May 2010. The immediate precedent of those Norms was the Motu Proprio Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela, promulgated by Pope John Paul II on 30 April 2001. In fact, that documentas its title impliestackled far more

important matter than the crimes related to sexual misconduct by clerics. Since this matter has been hugging the limelight in the secular media since the Boston scandal a decade ago, perhaps it is good to tackle the issue a bit more thoroughly, such that we do not only understand the recent guidelines, but perhaps even more importantly grasp the context in which they were given. In the process, we shall understand why the Church procedures for the handling of such cases are the way they are, and why the charges of secrecy and whitewashing leveled against the local Churches and against the Holy See for such cases in the past are not exactly accurate. For this we shall quote extensively from a Historical Introduction, prepared by the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith on the occasion of the publication of the new guidelines published in May 2010.1 1. The Instruction Crimen Sollicitationis (1922) A few years after the promulgation of the 1917 Code, the Holy Office (renamed in 1965 to the present Congregation

Canonizations / B4

for the Doctrine of the Faith) issued an Instruction, Crimen Sollicitationis (1922), which gave detailed instruction to local dioceses and tribunals on the procedures to be adopted when dealing with the canonical crime of solicitation. This most grave crime concerned the abuse of the sanctity and dignity of the Sacrament of Penance by a Catholic priest who solicited the penitent to sin against the sixth commandment, either with the confessor himself, or with a third party. The norms issued in 1922 were an update, in light of the Code of Canon Law of 1917, of the Apostolic Constitution Sacramentorum Poenitentiae promulgated by Pope Benedict XIV in 1741. A number of concerns had to be addressed, underlining the specificity of the legislation (with implications which are less relevant from the perspective of civil penal law): the respect of the dignity of the sacrament, the inviolable seal of the confessional, the dignity of the penitent and the fact that in most cases the accused priest could not be interrogated fully on what occurred without putting the seal of confession in danger. Herein lies the reason

for the seeming secrecy of which the Church has been accused by the secular press and even public authorities in relation to the Boston scandals. This special procedure was based, therefore, on an indirect method of achieving the moral certitude necessary for a definitive decision in the case. This indirect method included investigating the credibility of the person accusing the priest and the life and behavior of the accused priest. The accusation itself was considered the most serious accusation one could bring against a Roman Catholic priest. Therefore, the procedure took care to ensure that a priest who could be a victim of a false or calumnious accusation would be protected from infamy until proven guilty. This was achieved through a strict code of confidentiality which was meant to protect all persons concerned from undue publicity until the definitive decision of the ecclesiastic tribunal. The Instruction Crimen sollicitationis was, therefore, never intended to represent the entirety of the policy of the Catholic Church regarding
Delicta / B4

Rosales / B1

www.zimbio.com

parang tambo na kung saan umihip ang hangin ay dun? He is describing a man of character. Kung saan ang takbo ng pulitika doon? Kung saan ang takbo ng negosyo doon? Dont be imprisoned by the words that you say. What kind of a person?) A man dressed in fine clothes? A man living luxuriously in royal courts? A prophet? (Sabi niya mas higit pa sa propeta! At sinabi niya, pinakamataas siya sa uri ng mga propeta). He is more than a prophet! (Luke 7:25-26) Character is defined by ones moral excellence and total adherence to what is morally right, not so much for what he says but for what he is. Character is not caught in the air. (Ah, may character yang taong iyan para bang tape na ilalapat mo sa kanya. You give him a tag.) A person grows into the stature of moral excellence (dahandahan lumalaki iyan sa kanyang stature, antas) How? By laboriously cultivating healthy thoughts and ideas and doing so, the ideas rightly ripens into an act. Yung iniisip niya magiging gawa.The person knows that the repeated good acts mature into a habit (ulit-ulitin mo yang ginagawa mong mabuti, magiging ugali iyan, at ang ugali ripens into virtue; virtue will eventually be crowned by Character, and ultimately possessed by destiny). As the saying goes, Plant a thought, reap an act. Plant an act, reap a habit. Plant a habit, reap a character. Plant a character, reap a destiny. Pag may character ka ikaw ang yayakapin ng iyong destino. Thats why you will ultimately be possessed by destiny. A strong character earns steadfastness because of the assurance that what is right it seeks, and what is wrong it rejects. For the man of character there is not any middle way between right and wrong, neither even when there is the promising compromise of some gain. (Hindi maaaring mapagitna ang taong may karakter). Its either right or wrong. What is right is right; what is wrong is wrong. All you need to say, Jesus Christ said, is yes, if you mean Yes, No, if you mean no; anything more than this comes from the Evil One (Matthew 5:37).

Also an important part of building and sustaining a strong personal character is the regular practice of self-denial. (Hindi pala ito maaari na hagilapin mo siya sa hangin. Hindi. Dapat pala sinasanay ang sarili sa pagpigil, sa sakripisyo. Self denial). Many times young people are satisfied with simply doing ones best in helping others, forgetting the role of selfsacrifice and the practice of discipline of self and ones desires. (Kung minsan ang kabataan... ah, nagawa ko na ito, eh. Ummm, no. Sinunod ko na ang sinabi ni teacher. No. Sabi ni Nanay ganun. No. Sabi ng pari, No. Dapat may pagsalungat sa sarili. Dapat may practice ng selfsacrifice. Dapat mayroong disiplina. Kita niyo ngayon, ang hamon sa atin, higit pa sa ibinabalita sa dyaryo.) Remember the remark of the disciples to the Lord Jesus that they were not able to repel the evil spirits away: and Jesus replied that some spirits can only be driven out by the discipline of prayer (Mark 9:29). Hindi sapat ang bendisyon. Sabayan mo ng disiplina ng panalangin. Konsensiya ang sabi dito but I am putting it in another way. Modeling Gods Goodness, One looks at God. But if you are witnessing to Gods holiness, the person listens to God. It is obvious that no one can image God without looking at and experiencing the goodness that a loving God is in my personal life, in my family life and in my friends. To witness to this God of love who is love Himself, one must listen to God first. (Pakinggan mo ang Diyos. Saan mo mapapakinggan ang Diyos?) Listen to His Word (Salita ng Diyos). Study His revelations. Ill tell you what. Ito personal ko... 20 years ago. I was making a months retreat with my companions in Malaysia. Mga 30 pari kami duon coming from different countries. Nagkaroon kami ng tinatawag na desert day. Its a one day of going around, wala kaming pagkain maghapon kundi tinapay, tubig, saging. And we go back in the evening. Napadpad ako sa isang gubat. At nakaupo at nagbasa. Humahangin. Alam niyo yung bang mga dahon

gumagalaw. Talagang nagsasayaw sa harap mo. Yun lamang mga dahon na iyon... Siguradong nandito ang Diyos! Sabi ko, Diyos ko huwag kang magtago diyan, magpakita ka nga sa akin! Hindi nagpakita ang Diyos ngunit nagparamdam sa akin. Yung bawat kibot ng halaman... Diyos ko nandiyan ka, alam ko! Nagtatago ka, pero damang dama ko. This is what I mean. You want to be intimate with God, listen, mention, witness, observe, take Him, in the way He shows himself, hiding in creation.Pag hindi mo nadama iyan, anong klaseng Diyos ang kilala mo? Kundi yung nakasulat, nakatitik lang sa... Ito ba ang Diyos mo? Na diyan mo lang makikita, sa bibliya? Ay angaw angaw pang panahon, hindi pa natutong sumulat ang mga tao, ang Diyos ay nagpapakita na sa atin, sa pamamagitan ng kalikasan. And then you say you want to be a witness of God? Why wait for this paper? Gayong madidinig at madarama natin ang Diyos sa ating kapaligiran. Later, then you can study God in the Bible. Mas matagal na ang panahon na walang Bibliya, kaysa sa panahong nagkaroon ng Bibliya. At huwag mong sasabihin sa akin na ang Diyos ay hindi nagpapakilala nung wala pang Bibliya? No way! Ang Diyos ay dapat makilala sa ating kapaligiran. Sa biyaya at maging sa mga nahihintay katulad ng mga payak na tao, yung mga naghihirap na mga tao, mga nagugutom na mga tao, mga pobre. God is there.) Above all, the Christian believer needs to listen to Jesus, ngayon may Hesus na, ang salitang nagkatawang tao, the Incarnate Word of God. In so doing, any person can be that much sensitive that s/he may detect Gods presence in this world and life. God is present in His creation. The person of any belief or even without any acknowledged belief, hears and listens to God at any moment that He communicates with any human person. For God acquaints every person to the goodness or lack of goodness related to the behavior and conduct of each person. How close can a human person come

to God in ones conscience is shown in the episode when Adam after having disobeyed God hid from Him. Even in the moment of escape and hiding, God was pursuing the fallen man. Gaano kalapit ang Diyos sa tao. Kapatid babanggitin natin. Parating katabi natin ang Diyos, kahit sa mga sandaling tayo ay lumalayo sa kanya. Iyan ang ganda ng konsensiya. Where are you Adam?, sigaw ng Diyos dun sa Paraiso. Ano ang sagot ni Adan. I heard the sound of you in the garden ... I was afraid... I was naked ... I hid. Takot ako. Hubad ako. Nagtago ako. And Yahweh answered, Who told you that you are naked? ... You must have disobeyed!(Genesis 3:1-13). (Yung paguusap na iyon nagpapatala sa atin na may konsensiya na bumabagabag kay Adan. Nagtatago. Natatakot.) This is the reason why people who do not look up to Jesus, the love and the pardon of a loving Father, do such foolish things and violent acts after committing a fall like harming themselves (suicide) or hurting others (murder). Man is always with the reach of Gods voice, which is older than the Bible. The teaching of the Church on the matter remains a beautiful and kind reminder to all in ones personal, social and public life. And now I am going to quote straight, word for word, from Gaudium Et Spes, ang turo ng simbahan bagay sa konsensiya ninyo, konsensiya ko, konsensiya ng lahat. I am not going to add, or comment in anyway. No more. Wala nang komentaryo. Babasahin ko lamang ang turo na simbahan. Deep within his conscience man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey. Its voice, ever calling him to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, tells him inwardly at the right moment: do this, shun that, avoid that. For man has in his heart a law inscribed by God. His dignity lies in observing this law, and by it he will be judged. His conscience is mans most secret core and his sanctuary. There he is along with God whose voice echoes in his depths. By conscience, in a wonderful way, that law is made known which is fulfilled in the love of God and

ones neighbor (G.S. 16). Walang makatatakas. Ito daw ang kaloob-looban ng puso ng tao. Konsensiya. Conscience reaffirms what Jesus taught that the highest form of imaging the goodness and holiness of God is through the witnessing to a life lived in love and lived for the love of God and for others. Young and old people who volunteer to serve in the missions, people who serve the very poor, people who teach, people who promote the goodness that can be shared with sick and the helpless are people who best reflect the image of a loving God. What more do we think that people who love God can still offer to God and others? One of the most inspiring stories of people who image the compassion of a merciful God was told by Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. (Dito ko po wawakasan ang pakikipagbahaginan ko ngayon.) Our friend Punjabi girl is in terrible pain, when I saw her she was crying loudly. I left when her mother came. Let us pray much for her. I wish I could suffer more spiritually if this would give her relief. (Isang mayamang babae nag-iiyak.) What a contrast between the rich and the poor. My people in Kaligat are living martyrs and yet not a word. A young boy suffered horrible pain. At last he said he was sorry to die because he had just learned to suffer for love of God? (Blessed Mother Teresa, COME, BE MY LIGHT, p. 180). Naintindihan niyo? Tatagalugin ko. Dun daw sa Punjabi, mayamang lugar may isang babaeng dalagitang grabeng sakit. Sa sakit nagsisisigaw. Nandun si Mother Teresa, dumating na at umalis at magdarasal kung ang dasal ay makakatulong. Samantala dun sa Kaligat naman, isang lugar na napakadukha ay mayroon din isang binatilyo naman, pobreng pobre, mamamatay. At ang sabi nung bata ay, hindi sumisigaw pero ang sabi, pinagtapat kay Mother Teresa, alam kong ako ay mamamatay. Ako ay nagsisisi, nalulungkot na ako ay mamatay. Bakit? Sapagkat bago ko po lamang natutunan ang magtiis ng sakit at nadamang magmahal sa Diyos.

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CBCP Monitor
Vol. 15 No. 19
September 12 - 25, 2011

Features

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Youth are catalysts of change in societyCBCP official

AN official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines cited the role of youth in nation building and in effecting change in society. Executive Secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Youth Fr. Conegundo Garganta said todays youth are the catalysts of change in the society because they readily respond to challenges that come their way. Garganta made the observation during a roundtable discussion on Renewable Energy held at the Ramon Magsaysay Center in Roxas Boulevard on September 1. The youth are the catalysts of change in our society. Catalysts of change because when they respond seriously to challenges that confronts them, the youth easily rise up [to the occasion]. By rising up, they set a new tone, a new quality of how life is lived and change becomes a reality, change happens, he said. He added that the youth consist 60% of the population in the country and are the biggest consumer, but are not aware of this renewable energy and always look up to adults who are experts in this field. We heralded the passage of the RE law in 2008 only to be stifled by so-called threats of higher electricity rates. For many years, we have been paying for electricity we did not even use and for other items in our electric bills many of us do not even understand. Today, we get the chance to make real investment for our future and we hesitate. How can investing in clean energy be wrong, and paying for electricity we did not even use be right? Garganta asked. The ECY secretary was one of the panelists in the discussion that tackled the role of the youth in helping the society become aware of the need to use renewable energy. Garganta said that young people are catalysts of change although they look up for guidance from the people in office. He further said that adults must acknowledge the ability of young people [to initiate] change [and to help] the adults to see the future with new hope and new vigor. Dubbed as RE Leadership Roundtable: Taking the High Road the discussion featured two of the Ramon Magsaysay awardees, Harish Hande (India) and Tri Mumpuni (Indonesia), who shared their views on the need for government to come up with concrete policies and actions on renewable energy. Garganta emphasized the collaboration of the Church and the government on issues such as this, explaining that renewable energy will help lessen the burden on the people on issues concerning energy. He assured advocates of the Youth Commissions commitment as young people are always there willing to contribute in their respective areas. Representative of other young people The World Youth Alliance group was also represented in the meeting through its director, Ms. Emily Dy. We do not have the same expertise as the people here in this table have so we will leave a lot of the major development work with them, and well take the lead from them but the youth as I said, we are the ones who will take over the industry, take over the government when its our turn, when we
Catalysts / B7

THE executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Youth, Fr. Conegundo Garganta lauded youth participants in the nationwide tree-planting activity, saying their involvement in caring for the environment augurs hope for the country. Extending his gratitude in behalf of the Commission, Garganta reiterated his appreciation on the participation of the youth in the 1 million trees planting activity on September 8, the feast of the Nativity of Our Lady. The activity was done simultaneously in many dioceses as part of the 25th anniversary celebration of the Episcopal Commission on Youth. Garganta said the youths active participation in the activity signaled a renewed hope, and a blessing to be grateful for, together with the Churchs celebration of the birthday of Our Lady. He expressed hope that other youth throughout the country will continue to plant to protect the environment for future generations. The youth today is not only the hope of the country but also of the Church, he said. As members of the Church we are called to be stewards of our environment. We have the responsibility to care for the earth that God has entrusted to us, he added. Extolling the youth, Garganta urged them to make tree-planting an ongoing activity saying that is it part of our responsibility to take care of the earth. The 1 million trees project of the Youth Commission is part of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines celebration of 2011 as Year of the Youth. The tree-planting project will end on December 2011. Garganta said the tree-planting activity hopes to create awareness among young people of their responsibility towards society and the environment. He said that more will be planted than the expected 1 million quotas at the end of the celebration of YOTY. Garganta also shared that their aim is not just to plant trees but also to take care of it. The seedlings planted will be monitored closely for some time to make sure they survived. A total of 45,000 seedlings were
Participants / B7

CBCP Exec lauds youth participants in tree-planting activity

Bond with the trees you plant, prelate encourages youth

A CHURCH official has reminded the youth to care for the seedlings they planted on September 8 during the simultaneous planting of one million trees nationwide, which is a project of the Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) for this years CBCP Year of the Youth. ECY chairman and Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon urged the youth in the parishes and dioceses who participated in the tree-planting activity to take care of the seedlings they planted and make sure that it survive. I just hope that this activity is not just a tree-planting activity in its literal form. I hope that it will be a tree-planting, tree-caring and tree-growing work of our youth, he said. The prelate reminded the participants that they should not stop at tree-planting because such will only lead to futile efforts when the seedlings will not grow. It is important that we see to it that the trees will grow beyond the two weeks that we will monitor them. So let us make sure that what you plant will grow and it takes up to three years before a tree can survive on its own, he added. Baylon encouraged the youth to plant hard wood or fruit-bearing trees on locations that are not susceptible to excavation. He said growing the trees in ones backyard is better than planting it along the major thoroughfares, which are prone to road-widening. If each and every young person can plant a single tree he can call his own, take care and bond with it, then our activity will be successful. It is not much on how many we have planted but more on how many have survived from those seedlings we planted that determine our activitys success rate, he said. The prelate also emphasized that the
Bond / B7

CBCP Youth Commission kicks off national tree planting day

A TOTAL of 50 youth participants from the diocese of Antipolo, Care Foundation, YouthPinoy and the Episcopal Commission on Youth of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines planted trees on a mountainous area of Brgy. San Jose, Antipolo City, September 8. Some 300 seedlings were planted by participants from the parish youth ministry of St. John the Baptist Parish in Taytay, Rizal, students of Nuestra Seora de Aranzazu Parochial School in San Mateo Rizal, some staff from ECY-NSYA, and Care foundation on the selected area. The activity kicked off the observance of the National Tree-planting day as part of the celebration of the CBCP Year of the Youth. ECY executive secretary Fr. Conegundo Garganta organized a simple sharing of experiences after climbing the mountain going to the site. Fr. Alfredo Albor, Director of Care Foundation has also given participants an orientation on how to plant, why to plant and what the activity is for. The planting site is near the tip of a mountain in Antipolo City. Although participants were not thoroughly informed that they will climb a mountain before arriving at the site, the youth nonetheless made it to the location. Some 500 seedlings were prepared for planting but the youth were only able to plant 300 that day. But Albor said that even though the intended number of seedlings to be planted was not met, what was accomplished was already a great contribution for the preservation of the environment. Albor said that there is still hope from young people in this generation. There is quality participation among the youth who participated, he said. He also noted the consciousness of the youth on the importance of the activity and how it emphasized the faith dimension of their life. Albor said that as a whole the youth has been open and ready to make a contribution in caring for the environment. When asked about some negative feedbacks from some participants because of the unexpected mountainous climb, Albor said the feedbacks were not really negative as what they seemed. He said it is natural to experience the difficulties of climbing the mountain, but he noted that it didnt stop the youth from pursuing and finishing the trail. These young people looked at each step they made going up the mountain as a challenge to move on, Albor said. (Jandel Posion)

Pinoy delegates share WYD experiences to fellow youth

PINOY delegates who attended the World Youth Day celebration in Madrid last August 16-21 will share and re-echo their experiences to fellow young people in their schools, parishes, and diocese. Delegates from the Diocese of Antipolo will re-echo the activities in their upcoming Diocesan Youth Day in December. Jovik Masaquel and Ivy Marero, both from Antipolo diocese, said they have a lot to share from what they learned from their sojourn in Madrid, especially in standing firm in the faith. The youth of today are very blessed and because of this, we should always be planted and built up in Jesus Christ and always stand firm in the faith for we are the future of the Church, Masaquel said. For her part, Marero said the experience was so overwhelming that she cant find enough words to express what she feels. Basically, I feel overwhelmed and blessed that I was able to come and attend this WYD in Madrid. What shocked me most in this World Youth Day celebration is the overwhelming joy and encountering different young people from around the world, she said. Marero added that sharing what they have learned from the WYD is their way of paying forward their benefactors and fellow youth whom they are serving. Meanwhile, two delegates from St. Pedro Poveda College said their group is planning to put up a photo and video exhibit as their way of sharing with fellow students their stories and experiences of WYD. Jacquelyn Ramirez de Arellano, a sixteen year old, 4th year student from Poveda College said

her experience really showed her how good and loving God really is. God is really good and you will believe it. During times that we are scared, when we pray to Him, He gives us the light. Actually it was about the incident when a strong wind passed by during the overnight vigil, we thought that the big screen will fall down on us. We were scared, so we prayed the rosary and miraculously, the wind stopped, Arellano shared. For her part, Denise Gaston, a 3rd year high school from the same school said the WYD pilgrimage was a blessing to her as it taught her to be more focused on God and fellow young people. Pilgrimage has lots of walking but I was reminded that we are pilgrims not tourists, according to a Bishop in one catechesis that I attended, she said.

God has made my companions here as His instrument of peace. I can see the suffering of my friends (referring to long walks) but God has given me the strength to help them in their needs, she added. Gaston also said that God walks [with his people] in so many ways, that is what she learned. She shared that her most unforgettable experience is the bond or the friendship she made with her companions who were not her friends in the Philippines. She is also thankful for the blessings that God had given her during the whole WYD celebration. The youth added that sharing their experiences will help their fellow students understand the importance of World Youth Day to young people and the knowledge and wisdom a youth can acquire from the celebration. (Jandel Posion)

WHILE a good number of Filipinos seriously participated in the activities of the last World Youth Day (WYD) in Spain, some delegates have prioritized tourism over the pilgrimage. Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon admitted that a number of Filipino WYD delegates have went shopping or visiting tourist spots in Madrid while others were attending Catechetical sessions, hearing Masses and going to confessions. In general, a good number of our delegates have participated in the WYD whole-heartedly and endured

Prelate reminds WYD delegates: Pilgrimage first before tourism

Jandel Posion / CBCP Media

Bishop Joel Baylon

the hectic schedule of the pilgrimage. But admittedly, there are some who chose to be comfortable rather than to sacrifice, Baylon said. The chairman of the Episcopal Commission on

Pilgrimage / B7

FILE PHOTO

Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

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Features

CBCP Monitor
September 12 - 25, 2011

Vol. 15 No. 19

World Youth Day 2011

By Kris Bayos
FOR Filipinos who flew to Spain last month to participate in the 26th World Youth Day (WYD), going there was not merely to meet and befriend young Catholics from other countries who share their faith; it was more of a gesture of paying a debt of gratitude to the very nation that planted the seed of Christianity in the Philippines. IfFilipinosCatholicfaithpainstakingly stood the test of time centuries after Spain had colonized and eventually left the Philippines, the Spanish strict observance of Christianity is now a thing of the pastwith the legalization of abortion, prostitution, same-sex marriage and liberalization of the youths mindset about sex and marriage disintegrating right from their moral foundation. Eric Sanchez, a Filipino overseas worker in Madrid, even commented that Spain may boast of centuries-old churches from nearly every other block in their cities and far flung towns, but come Sunday, these places of worship are mere structures to young Spaniards, who can skip hearing the Mass but not dare miss watching a football game. Here in Spain, you will rarely see young Spaniards hearing Mass. It is often the Filipinos, who work or reside here, that fill most, if not all, pews of the churches during Sundays, he said. Filipinos had the taste of the reality in Spain when they first attended Spanish Mass at their host parishes during the Days in the Diocese (DID), a week-long pre-WYD tradition where pilgrims get to live and interact with the people of the host country and learn about the hosts rich culture and tradition. Most of the churchgoers in Spain are the old and the youth are seldom seen hearing the Mass or singing in the choir, a scenario which is utterly the opposite in the Philippineswhere church administrators need to remind parents to attend to their children to prevent them from making noise and disturbing the Mass. Even during the Mass held for the feast of San Lorenzo of Mata de Alcantara, a parish under the diocese of Coria Caceres, which hosted at least 400 Filipino pilgrims during their DID, only a small fraction of the towns population attended the Eucharistic celebration, too small that it wasnt enough to fill their small church. Most of the youth were only involved in the other events of the feast, like their traditional bull fight, dancing and socializing, and the communal eating of the meat from the bulls that participated in the bull fight. But there were still others, albeit a few, who attended Mass and even joined their parents in welcoming and mingling with WYD pilgrims during their DID. They even helped Filipinos communicate their thoughts by translating English words to Spanish to help other town natives understand them. According to Fr. Angelito Santiago
Delicta / B2

Bringing Christianity back to Spain

from the Diocese of Malolos, Bulacan, language barrier was a problem for Filipino WYD pilgrims like him and his group of six. They had to convey their thoughts to somebody who can understand English but since they are rare, a Spanish-English translator had been a God-sent to their group. At first, it was very difficult to converse and relate to our host but we eventually learned to understand each other not merely on words but more on gestures. The common faith that we share was enough to compensate for the hurdles that we encountered because of the difference in our language, he said. Experiencing a Spanish feast is not the only novel activity that the Filipino pilgrims were able to experience in the town of Mata de Alcantara. Every day was a feast for them as parishioners took turns feeding them with local delicacies and touring them to different tourist and religious sites in the town. There was even a time when the Filipino pilgrims were brought to Alcantara, a major town of the diocese of Coria Caceres, to watch a theatre presentation to appreciate Spanish literary culture. We miss our family and friends back home but because of our hosts hospitality and generosity, we felt that we belong and are at home in their community, said Whilssy Candelaria, a youth minister from Santiagos group. Just before Santiagos group left Mata de Alcantara for the start of WYD in Madrid, the parish priest celebrated a thanksgiving Mass in one of the towns celebrated chapel. It was a formal despedida as they sent the delegation off to their journey to the capital. After the Mass, the parishioners prepared a smorgasbord of local delicacies, sweets and fruits and fed the pilgrims. As a way of thanksgiving, the Filipino group prepared a song and dance number, and had the lyrics translated to Spanish so their audience could appreciate. They also gave the parishioners mementos from the Philippines as simple remembrance of the friendships they have forged. Kabayan, komusta? In Madrid, the 427 Filipino pilgrims under the delegation of the Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) joined some 1,500 more from other groups representing different schools, parishes, dioceses and youth groups from across the country under the delegation from the Philippines. But lo and behold, there were 1,000 other Filipinos who attended the WYD together with delegates of other countries. According to the Philippine Embassy to Spain, these pilgrims are missionary workers, overseas Filipino workers and their children, and priests and nuns serving Filipino communities abroad. It was a reunion of sorts for Rosalyn Villanueva, an OFW based in Milan, Italy, when she met her Cabalens from San Fernando, Pampanga during the WYD Opening Mass last August 16. Villanueva attended the WYD under the Peregrinos de Filipinas (Pilgrims of the Philippines) aboard public buses and trains to herald their identity. But aside from noisily cheering for their country, pilgrims from all around the world chant praise songs in their languages, sung the Spanish WYD theme song Firmes en la fe (Firm in the faith), and cheer for Pope Benedict XVI who graced the WYD in Madrid despite the holding of protest of young people calling themselves anti-pope and the momentary disruption of the papal vigil because of rains and strong winds during the eve of the WYDs closing ceremonies at Cuatro Vientos Airspace last August 20. even more. Since respect leads to peace, I think participating in the WYD will help solve the problem of misunderstanding between the Muslims and the Catholics, he said. Meanwhile, Ma. Reinisa Cabual from the College of the Immaculate Conception of Cabanatuan City said her experience of sitting near Pope Benedict during the vigil was enough to convince her that she was also chosen to be a missionary. Seeing the successor of Peter and the Blessed Sacrament few meters away was a privilege I was unworthy of. But hearing the Popes words made me realize that God wants me to spread His word and to be a missionary, she said. Like Paglas and Cabual, other WYD pilgrims were encouraged to share their experiences and learning to their peers who were unable to attend the event due to lack of either time or money. Diocese of Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon said it is the WYD delegates obligation to share the blessings they received from the WYD to their fellow youth in the parish, community and schools and even to their families. When our pilgrims return, they bring the grace and blessing of the WYD home. This blessing is intended to be share to their parishes, communities and schools, he added. The chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY), Baylon said woe to those that will miss the point of experiencing sore feet because of complaining about long walks, aching bodies because of heavy luggages, uncomfortable sleep on floors of classrooms, gyms and sports centers, and uneasy bathing on communal showers. It is important for our pilgrims to realize what their experience is for and what it is teaching them, Baylon said. The pilgrims journey is tiring and expensive but I reminded them that the WYD is a part of a very important journey that the Lord wanted our young people to experience. Part of Gods gift is the journey itself, he said while presiding over the Closing Mass that capped the activities of the ECYPhilippines delegation in Spain. The prelate also encouraged the Filipino youth to attend the next WYD slated in 2013 at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He said those who will attend the event should not only prepare materially for the pilgrimage but more importantly, be spiritually fit to be sensitive to Gods encounter with the youth. I am encouraging young Filipinos to join the next WYD in Brazil. I would only remind them that spiritual preparedness is most essential than physical and financial preparedness. In WYD, you will receive an important gift and you have to prepare well for it, he added. As the Filipinos left Madrid after the WYD, they offered a special prayer for the race that helped them grow as a nation that is built up in Christ and firm in the faith.

delegation of Santo Mazo parish of Milan while the San Fernando, Pampanga group was part of the ECY-Philippines delegation. Kabayan, komusta? and Anong balita sa Pilipinas? were the common greetings between Villanuevas group, which represents the Filipino community in Milan. When asked how she felt seeing her Cabalens in Madrid for the WYD, Villanueva said she missed going back to the Philippines. Im very happy to see them here, Villanueva said of her Cabalens. Seeing my Kabayans here at WYD made me long to return home all the more. Villanueva and other Filipinos who attended the WYD under foreign delegations join the Filipino delegates who cheer whenever the organizers mention the Philippines. They also carry with them the Philippine flag during official assemblies of the delegates and while on transit using mass transportation systems. From almost every street of Madrid, the Filipino delegates and their flag can be easily spotted. From a sea of 500,000 pilgrims from around the world, the Filipinos were seen sleeping at the floors of gymnasiums, sports centers, and schools together with delegates from other continents and chanting

Chosen Pope Benedict XVIs presence before thousands of Catholic youth during the WYD has been a faith experience for all delegates, including Yussef Paglas, the lone Muslim from the Philippines who attended the event with Catholic pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Davao. Paglas said he was moved by the Popes presence during the vigil since he was one of the three chosen Filipinos to sit near the Supreme Pontiff during the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Even if I am a Muslim, I felt how the people felt when the Pope arrived for the vigil. I saw them cheering for the Pope and it moved me, said Paglas, who was educated in a Catholic school since his primary years. The 17-year-old lad said his WYD experience made him understand the Catholic people better and helped him deepen his faith in Islam because of the challenges posed by the WYD activities in his observance of Ramadan. He even said he would encourage his fellow Muslims to attend the WYD so they too would understand that Muslims and Catholics are bound to one Creator, who they only call with different names. By participating in the WYD, I learned to respect the Catholic faith
Canonizations / B2

sexual improprieties on the part of the clergy. Rather, its sole purpose was to establish a procedure that responded to the singularly delicate situation that is a sacramental confession, in which the duty of complete confidentiality on the part of the priest corresponds, according to divine law, to the complete openness of the intimate life of the soul on the part of the penitent. Over time and only analogously, these norms were extended to some cases of immoral conduct of priests. The idea that there should be comprehensive legislation that treats the sexual conduct of persons entrusted with the educational responsibility is very recent; therefore, attempting to judge the canonical norms of the past century from this perspective is gravely anachronistic. 2. The Reforms of Vatican Council II The reforms proposed by the Second Vatican Council required a reform of the 1917 Code of Canon Law and of the Roman Curia. The period between 1965 and 1983 (the year when the new Latin Code of Canon Law appeared) was marked by differing trends in canonical scholarship as to the scope of canonical penal law and the need for a de-centralized approach to cases with emphasis on the authority and discretion of the local bishops. A pastoral attitude to misconduct was preferred and canonical processes were thought by some to be anachronistic. A therapeutic model often prevailed in dealing

with clerical misconduct. The bishop was expected to heal rather than punish. An overoptimistic idea of the benefits of psychological therapy guided many decisions concerning diocesan or religious personnel, sometimes without adequate regard for the possibility of recidivism. Cases concerning the dignity of the Sacrament of Penance remained with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith after the Council, and the Instruction Crimen Sollicitationis was still used for such cases until the new norms established by the motu proprio Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela in 2001. A small number of cases concerning sexual misconduct of clergy with minors was referred to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith after the Second Vatican Council. Some of these cases were linked with the abuse of the sacrament of Penance, while a number may have been referred as requests for dispensations from the obligations of priesthood, including celibacy (sometimes referred to as laicization) which were dealt with by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith until 1989 (From 1989 to 2005 the competence in these dispensation cases was transferred to the Congregation for Sacraments and Divine Worship; from 2005 to the present the same cases have been treated by the Congregation for the Clergy). 3. Updated Norms in the Code of Canon Law of 1983 The Code of Canon Law

promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 1983 updated the whole discipline in can.1395, 2: A cleric who in another way has committed an offense against the sixth commandment of the Decalogue, if the delict was committed by force or threats or publicly or with a minor below the age of sixteen years, is to be punished with just penalties, not excluding dismissal from the clerical state if the case so warrants. According to the 1983 Code of Canon Law canonical trials are held in the dioceses. Appeals from judicial sentences may be presented to the Roman Rota, whereas administrative recourses against penal decrees are presented to the Congregation for the Clergy. 4.The Motu Proprio Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela (2001) In 1994 the Holy See granted an indult to the Bishops of the United States, raising the age for the canonical crime of sexual abuse of a minor to 18. At the same time, prescription (canonical term for Statute of Limitations) was extended to a period of 10 years from the 18th birthday of the victim. Bishops were reminded to conduct canonical trials in their dioceses. Appeals were to be heard by the Roman Rota. Administrative Recourses were to be heard by the Congregation for the Clergy. During this period (1994-2001) no reference was made to the previous competence of the Holy Office over such cases. The 1994 Indult for the US was

extended to Ireland in 1996. In the meantime the question of special procedures for sexual abuse cases was under discussion in the Roman Curia. Finally Pope John Paul II decided to include the sexual abuse of a minor under 18 by a cleric, among the new list of canonical crimes reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Prescription for these cases was of ten (10) years from the 18th birthday of the victim. This new law was promulgated in the motu proprio Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela on 30 April 2001. A letter signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, respectively Prefect and Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, was sent to all the Roman Catholic Bishops on 18 May 2001. This letter informed the bishops of the new law and the new procedures which replaced the Instruction Crimen Sollicitationis. The acts that constitute the most grave delicts reserved to the Congregation were specified in this letter, both those against morality and those committed in the celebration of the Sacraments. Also given were special procedural norms to be followed in cases concerning these grave delicts, including those norms regarding the determination and imposition of canonical sanctions. (To be continued.)
FOOTNOTE:
1 Ref. www.vatican.va/resources/resources_introd-storica_en.html.

Archbishops and Bishops who live in Rome, I intend to set Sunday, 23 October 2005, as the date for the Canonization of the following five Blesseds: Bl. Jzef Bilczewski, Bishop; Bl. Gaetano Catanoso, priest, Founder of the Congregation of the Daughters of Veronica, Missionaries of the Holy Face; Bl. Zygmunt Gorazdowski, priest, Founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph; Bl. Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga, priest of the Society of Jesus; Bl. Felix of Nicosia (in the world: Filippo Giacomo Amoroso), Religious of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin . United in prayer to the participants in the Ordinary Public Consistory, I ask you, Venerable Cardinal, to preside at the celebration of the Hour of Sext, as I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing to all. As we know, it was Benedict XVI who would eventually canonize these saints during the concluding Mass of the Synod on the Eucharist. Therefore it is clear that the consistory does not imply an exercise of infallibility. On the one hand, the Holy Father delegated the declaration to a cardinal; second, it consisted in the proclamation of a date of canonizationand not in the canonization itself. The exercise of infallibility comes only when the pope himself proclaims a person a saint. The proclamation is made in a Latin formula of which we offer an approximate translation: In honor of the Holy Trinity,

Kris Bayos / CBCP Media

for the exaltation of the Catholic faith and the increase of the Christian life, with the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul and of Our Own, after long reflection, having invoked divine assistance many times and listened to the opinion of many of our Brothers in the Episcopate, We declare and define as Saint Blessed N. and inscribe his/her name in the list of the saints and establish that throughout the Church they be devoutly honored among the saints. In the case above, Benedict XVI proceeded as planned with the canonization on the date determined by John Paul II. In theory at least, he could have postponed, brought forward or even canceled the canonization ceremony. In such a hypothetical and unlikely case, I would say that since the process of canonization had already been concluded, a future pope could simply set a new date for the canonization. However, until the actual rite of canonization is performed, the blessed cannot be accorded the title and liturgical honors of a saint. Although beatification does not imply the same degree of commitment by the Church, it is notable that Benedict XVI did postpone indefinitely a beatification whose date had already been set by John Paul II. This was because certain new information on the candidate had surfaced in the meantime which Benedict XVI believed required clarification before proceeding with the beatification.

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 15 No. 19
September 12 - 25, 2011

Statements

B5

Statement of Chaplains to Filipinos in Europe and the Middle East in Support of the CBCPs Position on the RH Bill
Statement from the Prelature of Infanta
POPE Paul VI proclaimed that dialogue was at the heart of the Churchs programme for renewal: dialogue within the Church, with other Christian churches, other religions, and, the entire world. (Ecclesiam Suam, 1964) The motivations for such dialogue are to overcome divisions, foster friendly relations, achieve mutual understanding and to work creatively for peace, liberty, social justice and moral values. (Nostra Aetate 3) We the clergy of the Prelature of Infanta are deeply saddened and enraged by the grave and malicious accusations made publicly by a prominent leader of our country, Senator Edgardo Angara in his August 19, 2011 speech at the 402nd anniversary of Baler, Aurora at the Baler municipal plaza. Senator Angara ridiculed and maligned the integrity of the Prelature of Infanta. He accused us of land grabbing and falsifying documents leading to the transfer of the land titles of the San Luis Obispo Parish and the Mt. Carmel College in 1980 to the Prelature of Infanta. Properties, which Senator Angara says, were originally titled to the Baler Parish and the Municipal Government in 1929. The Senator further accused the clergy of the Prelature of Infanta of stealing priceless and valuable historical religious relics like the 400-year old church bell, 24-karat gold lined tabernacle, chalices, chandeliers, donated by various philanthropists including the former First Lady Doa Aurora Aragon-Quezon. Senator Angaras tirade against the Prelature of Infanta did not spare Infanta Bishop Rolando Tria Tirona who the good Senator calls an absentee bishop and who as such should therefore be immediately replaced by a more competent bishop by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. He said a homegrown leader is needed to run the affairs of the Baler Church. We from Baler should protect the interests of our Church, not people from other places who have no genuine concern for the local parish. (Philippine Star) While we can answer all his accusations and defend the legality and transparency of all our actions, the burden of proof lies with the good Senator. The Prelature of Infanta has always been true to its vision to journey with the people as a Church of the Poor. We denounce all accusations by the senator as false and full of malice against the Prelature of Infanta, to the presbyterium of the Prelature of Infanta and Mount Carmel College. Doa Aurora Aragon Quezon invited the Carmelite Fathers who were challenged by the situation of the people in this part of the Diocese of Lipa. They have asked then Bishop Alfredo Versoza that they shall be given the opportunity to serve the hardest to reach and poorest part of the diocese. It was then that they were given the Northern part of Quezon, the Polillo islands and the whole province of Aurora in 1947. The Prelature of Infanta which was established in 1950 was started and administered by the Carmelite Fathers and it is inappropriate to accuse the Prelature of Infanta of land grabbing of church and school lot. We believed that it is with disrespect to the effort of the Carmelite Fathers the false accusations made by the senator. We cannot admit nor allow what the senator was saying against the presbyterium of the Prelature of Infanta of stealing priceless and valuable historical religious relics of the church. We have concern for the church not because of its historical significance but it is in this church that we meet God, praying and receive his peace. We cannot accept the senator saying that Mount Carmel College is a rotten institution and doesnt have any good facilities and his dire demand to transfer the school. Mount Carmel College has provided good education to many people of Aurora. We believe that the senator doesnt have knowledge on the church structures on appointing the bishop in particular diocese or prelature when he said that Bishop Tirona should be replaced by CBCP by other more competent bishop preferably from among the local clergy. He doesnt know the dynamics of the church that does not focus only on structures but on the lives of people and community of Jesus. The accusations of the senator were serious against the Prelature of Infanta because the church as an institution is the biggest stumbling block on their interest in Aurora especially their project APECO. We dont believe that while exercising ones power you have to force other people by using money, influence, position, harassment, or use the poor, but on the Christian way of humility, truth, and dialogue. This is our response to the good Senator: we will persevere in our mission to proclaim justice, to fight exploitation and discord with greater love and compassion, to counter false accusations with quiet fortitude, transparency and integrity. We, the Prelature of Infanta will continue to walk with the poor, the hungry, the landless, the oppressed, abused and accused. We will continue to walk in truth. We will continue to dialogue with life and all that is lifegiving. The CLeRGY OF The PReLaTURe OF INFaNTa San Luis Obispo Parish Baler, Aurora 28 August 2011 We demand the speedy resolution of the case and bring all accountable into the bar of justice. We strongly encourage the faith community to continue journey with the victims and their families of extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances and other forms of human rights violations in the search for justice. We implore the church leadership to give flesh its prophetic role in defense of life and dignity as prophet Micah (6:8) reminds us to act justly and to love mercifully and to walk humbly with your God. MR. NaRDY SaBINO Secretary General Promotion of Church Peoples Response

THE Chaplains of Philippine Catholic Mission, present in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and tending to the needs of Filipino migrants, oppose the passage of the Reproductive Health Bill (RH Bill 4244) on the following grounds: * RH Bill 4244 promotes a contraceptive mentality which directly contradicts the teachings of the Catholic Church about the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family. * RH Bill 4244 makes a mockery of Art. II, Sec. 10 of the Philippine Constitution which says The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception * Migrant workers brave immense difficulties in foreign lands in order to have a better life for their families. The approval of the RH Bill will further undermine the authority of parents and guardians of the children left behind in the Philippines by these OFWs. * Often hailed as the modern day heroes by our government owing to their great

contribution to the countrys economy, migrant workers reject the idea of taxpayers money being spent on contraceptive products, devices and services. They would rather see their monetary gains allotted for programs that improve life for families in the Philippines, like better livelihood prospects and educational opportunities for their children, and for measures that assist OFWs in times of emergencies abroad. * Filipino migrants are regarded by the Church as modern day missionaries due to the God-centered and family-oriented Filipino values they witness to wherever they happen to be, often becoming a positive influence in the receiving countries they live and work in. The contraceptive mentality that passing the RH Bill will advance is foreseengiven mans predilection for pleasure and easy solutionsto lead to the decay of the moral foundation underpinning these life-giving values. * We want the best for our children and their children, and so we protect our right as parents to be the primary molders of their values, particularly those relating to the purpose of human sexuality. Thus we

reject RH Bill 4244 which aims to legislate the blatant violation of our Constitutional right and our conscience as Catholics. (Art. II, Sec. 11-12, Philippine Constitution; Art. 26-1 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights and Art. 29-c of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child.) Avowing loyalty to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, in support of the stand of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, and in collaboration with the Episcopal Commission of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples (ECMI), we, shepherds to the Filipino faithful, declare the Reproductive Health Bill 4244 unfit for passage, and with the fullness of conviction we are determined to inform, educate and mobilize our constituents in Europe, the Middle East and Africa to uphold our cherished values through the rejection of this bill. Signed during the 9th Consultation Meeting of Chaplains to Filipinos in Europe, Middle East and Africa Zurich, Switzerland August 25-28, 2011

THE Philippine Stars Manny Galvez wrote (August 21) on the ranting and ravings of the Senator Angara against the Prelature of Infanta, its bishop and clergy during the town fiesta of Baler last August 19. The senator called on the CBCP to replace the Bishop of Infanta and attacked the integrity of the clergy. He accused the Prelature of Infanta of land grabbing having supposedly transferred the land title of the Baler parish and the Mt. Carmel College (MCC) grounds to the name of the Prelature of Infanta during the time of Bishop Emeritus Julio Xavier Labayen, OCD in 1980. Evidently losing his cool, he maligned the American Carmelite Missionaries who established the Mt. Carmel College of Baler, its many distinguished alumni, the present administration, faculty, students and their parents by

Ranting of a desperate senator

saying, yang bulok na building na iyan. He says the MCC has no library! Incidentally, the Aurora Provincial Capitol has awarded MCC as the cleanest and greenest College in Aurora! This undignified raving and ranting of Senator Angara against the Mt. Carmel College of Baler and the Prelature of Infanta/Aurora shocked the people of Baler, exposed him to ridicule for his ignorance and lies, and drew the anger of many of the teachers, parents, youth and alumni of Mt. Carmel College. Everybody knows Sen. Angaras ridiculous statements are his tactics to divert from the real issue that has been plaguing the Aurora Province for two years now: the Angara pet project APECO (Aurora Pacific Eco Zone) of which he and his sister, Gov. Bella Angara-Castillo and son, Congressman Sonny Angara, are allegedly members of the board of directors. APECO is now having a hard time getting its budgetary needs, being under the close scrutiny of the new walang (no) corrupt, walang mahirap( no poor) Aquino administration. Sen. Angara is hurting because his project has been delayed, is under Senate hearing, and he can no longer easily get what he wants due to the vehement objections of church groups, CBCP NASSA, NGOs, indigenous peoples and especially the poor farmers and fishermen affected by the APECO project. All these things cause Senator Angara to go ballistic! Sen. Angara may use his power and money, and influence some media, but the people of Aurora especially Baler cannot be fooled by the real issue affecting their province. They know the difference between development for the province and, what seems to be, development for family gain and political dynasty. They value Mt. Carmel College which has graduated distinguished professionals with strong morals, and Sen. Angara, it seems, is not one of them. Instead of attacking the Church, with the very recent encounter between the NPAs and the military in Brgy. Diteki close to Baler and Brgy. Dipikanisan, the Angaras should better focus in solving the insurgency problem, unemployment, and rising incidence of holdups and criminality in Aurora province, especially in Baler. +ROLaNDO J. TRIa TIRONa, OCD Bishop of Infanta

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Where is Justice for Fr. Cecilio Lucero?

TWO years after the killing of Fr. Cecilio Pelito Lucero of the Catarman Diocese, justice has become more elusive. Though a self confessed killer surfaced and implicated a number of influential people, prosecutors dismissed the murder case as it allegedly failed to offer substantial evidence. The case of Fr. Lucero adds up to the thousands of unresolved killings underscoring the climate of impunity besetting our land. There is a suspected killer but no masterminds. There is a police investigation but no probable cause established. Is the case filed designed to fail and cover the real intent of the killing? Is it part of the devils game? It must be remembered that Fr. Cecilio Lucero was ambushed by 4-5 bonnet-wearing heavily armed men along Maharlika National Hi-way in Layuhan, San Jose, Northern Samar in broad daylight and in front of number of people working at the cemetery on September 6, 2009. At the time he was killed, he serves as the head of the Diocesan Human Rights Desk and a member of the Promotion of Church Peoples Response. As pastor of the people, he was a dedicated human rights advocate. In fact, he led series of fact-finding missions on human rights violations involving state security forces in various towns of the province. In fact, the National Fact Finding Mission (NFFM) held a month after the brutal killing disclosed that three days prior to his death, Fr. Lucero was confronted by elements of the 63rd Infantry Battalion when he raised concerns regarding soldiers involvement in the killings of farmers in Lope de Vega, Northern Samar. Further, the NFFM disclosed that Fr. Lucero was vilified as member of the NPA and has been included in the Order of Battle List of the 803rd Brigade of the Philippine Army based in Camp Sumuroy, Northern Samar. The NFFM also uncovered the series of human rights violations committed by elements of the state security forces in other parts of the province. Unfortunately, PNPs Task Force Lucero has limited its investigation and report on the personal motive and disregard any possibility that Fr. Lucero was a victim of extra-judicial killings

under the counter-insurgency plan Bantay Laya. After two years of judicial struggle, the case of Fr. Lucero seems to fall similar to that of Bp. Alberto Ramentos, an IFI, who was stabbed to death and ruled out by local police as a case of theft and robbery disregarding vital evidences pointing to an otherwise political motive. The search for truth and justice remains at far. The ruthless killing of Fr. Lucero and the pervasive culture of impunity in the country are signs of an undemocratic and tyrannical government. We challenge the Aquino administration to render justice to Fr. Lucero and all victims of human rights violations and to put an end to impunity.

Photo Courtesy of Teresa Tunay

B6

Ref lections
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A (Matt 20:1-16) Sept. 18, 2011

CBCP Monitor
September 12 - 25, 2011

Vol. 15 No. 19

Exceptionally Generous Is God to Us!

By Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo, SThD
SERIALIZED on GMA-7, Sana Ikaw Na Nga was a prime-time soap that told the story of the love between Carlos Miguel and Cecilia. In one of its episodes, there was a scene in which the family of Don Juan Salvador was gathered to listen to the lawyer read the last will and testament of the old man. One of his sons, Leroy, was to inherit part of the wealth, but with the stipulation that he had to finish his schooling first. His brother, Gilbert, who was legally married to Cecilia, was given an even greater inheritance, and without condition. But the surprise of the last will and testament was the wealth to be inherited by the young Juan Salvador, the legal son of Gilbert and Cecilia, although televiewers very well know that the baby was not Gilbertshe was Carlos Miguelshis inheritance simply boggles the mind, it was fabulously enormous. One could always sympathize with Leroy; he was after all a legal son, and yet he could not even have his inheritance, since conditions were attached. On the other hand, the young Salvador, who did not even have the blood of his father, bagged the biggest part of their family wealth! If one looks at the last will and testament through the eyes of Leroy, he can easily see some injustice in the distribution of wealth. But one can always argue that their father was simply generous to his grandchildthe young Juan Salvador! Almost exactly the same point is being stressed in todays parable popularly known as the Parable of the Laborers of the Vineyard. It tells the story of a vineyard owner who hired from a labor pool at various hours of the day. When evening drew on, all the hired men, including those who were hired at five in the afternoon, received the same Linked with the parable, this Isaianic saying merely indicates that God does not deal with men in the same way that men deal with their fellow men. To curb greed and inequality, men like to appeal to justicegive each one his due, they say! But one wonders whether justice is enough. Law brings justice, but one can easily recognize that something is lackingit lacks compassion, magnanimity and similar values! Dura lex sed lex, the law may be harsh, but it is the law! Obviously, the world cannot be ruled by law alone, and it would be unfortunately to leave the world only to lawyers or justices! Love is to be added, for it is love that enables us to share with those who are marginal and abandoned members of the community. The Lord is good to all, and compassionate towards his work (Ps 145:9), says the Responsorial Psalm, but that is because God is first of all love. Equality may express justice, but it does not convey the compassion and love of God. It may be difficult to fathom, but one can understand why Gods thought is unlike human thought. But if God does not deal with us in the way men do, it is because if he does, no one would probably survive: If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand? But with you is forgiveness, that you may be revered (Ps 130:3-4). Since no one can stand if God deals with us like we do, he deals with us in his mercy and forgiveness. God remains good to humans, even if the latter are not good to him. He deals with us in his generosity. God is good to us not because we are good, but because he is good. This is the way the parable answers the murmuring of the Pharisees. When Jesus accepted the prostitutes, tax collectors and sinners to table fellowship, the Pharisees complained that he was thereby making

Learning from God A Test of Discipleship: to be magnanimous Words Backed Up by Deeds Reflections on the 25th Sunday in
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A (Matt 21:28-35) Sept. 25, 2011
boggling: NBN-ZTE scandal, Hello Garci scandal, P738M fertilizer scam, P532M overprice of Macapagal Blvd, Nani Perez Power Plant deal, P1.38 poll automation contract, Northrail project, Garcia and other AFP Generals scandal, the results of the 2007 Mindanao elections, Mindanao Massacre, and many others. One hopes that the new President will succeed in pursuit of the matuwid na landas (right path)! And yet, early this year, an SWS survey showed that his net satisfaction rating plummeted. This could be an indication that in the perception of those surveyed, the President has yet to show tangible results. Sen. Francis Pangilinan himself said that the Palace should match campaign promises with concrete accomplishments. Those words have to be substantiatedthis is the main point of todays parable of the two sons. The story is extremely short. When their father asked them to go and work in his vineyard, the first one objected, but eventually changed his mind and obeyed. The second one said yes but never went. To the question of Jesus, who of the two did the fathers will? the answer of course is the first son. There are various ways of understanding

payment. If one looks at the parable in terms of labor relations, he can always sympathize with those who labored all day, beginning at nine in the morning, but nonetheless received a wage that was exactly the same as those who came at five in the afternoon. It is not difficult to see the injustice done to them, if by justice is meant the giving of what is due to everyone. Obviously, it is a gross injustice for the estate owner to give the same wage to those who came to work early in the day and those who came late in the afternoon. That would be a case of unfair labor practice. But the parable is not about labor relations. For the focus of the story is not on the laborers who came to the vineyard, but on the owner who was extremely gracious to

those who came lasthe was extremely generous! In trying to understand the lesson of the parable, it may be helpful to point out that at Jesus time, the market place was some kind of a labor exchange. Men went there in the morning and waited for an employer to come along. And in the normal course of things, any employer would always hire the skilled or the competent workers. Consequently, if there were any workers standing idle in the marketplace from morning to afternoon, they were certainly the leftovers whom no one hired. The lesson of the parable lies here, for it is in connection with these leftovers that the extreme generosity of the owner is shown. For one thing, in spite of the fact

that they were unskilled, the owner was generous enough to take them in. For another, he gave each of them a wage that was more than commensurate with their work. One wonders, of course, whether this could be practiced in a business corporation. It is easy to imagine a company eventually folding up because of the extreme generosity of the owner being exceptionally gracious would send the company into bankruptcy! But that is how human thinking goes. Nonetheless, the first reading reminds us: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts (Isaiah 55:5-6).

www.walkinjerusalem.blogspot.com

Generous / B7

By Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo, SThD

IF Noynoy Aquino was catapulted into the Presidency, it was not so much because of what his party had done; rather, it was because people had had enough of the litany of the alleged corruptions under the previous administration. For many, his election slogan, Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap accurately described the state of the nation. The immorality and the amount of money involved in various allegations were simply mind-

Ordinary Time (A) Sept. 18, 2011

the parable, depending on the level of interpretation one wants to focus on. As told by Jesus, the story seems to have been originally linked with the question of who was a true Israelite. The first son portrays the tax collectors and sinners. Because they were unable to follow the law, they were treated as outside the pale of the true Israelite community. The second represents the scribes and the Pharisees, those who know the law. They claimed to represent the true Israelite community because they were faithful in its observance. Because of their

By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB

THE workers of the first hour had been praiseworthy, available, hardworking, laboring the whole day in the scorching heat. Really, they had done their best to earn their wages. But their complaining at paytime tarnishes their image, for it reveals their weakness: they are envious. In spite of all our efforts to sympathize with their concern for a fair retribution, the truth of the matter is that they do not know how to appreciate the magnanimity of their Master. They feel envious when they see that others are offered a better deal. Their jealousy clouds their vision. They would be right if everything in life were to be reduced to proportional retributionso much compensation for so much done or produced. But if this were the

Test / B7

Fr. Francis Ongkingco

WHATEVER

Strike while sorrow is hot

JAKE came out of the confessional and ran to his mother. Well, what did the priest tell you, honey? He said, that I should strike while sorrow is hot. Jake replied with a huge smile. Thats the first time Ive heard that expression, his mother said. Isnt it supposed to be strike while the iron is hot? she adjusted her sons collar. I guess so. The priest said that I should do something about my sins right away, the boy said. What did he mean by that? That I shouldnt let my sorrow grow cold but fire it up to bring up new love after having offended Jesus. *** To strike while sorrow is hot signifies that the person should not to delay amending the consequences of sin in himself or others. Very often one gives in to making excuses even through common and valid expressions such as: No one is perfect, Im only human and To err is human? Although these reasons are certainly true, they can be comfortable alibis for not immediately struggling to correct ones defects and vices. The person can also fall into a false sentimentality that confuses sorrow with emotionally feeling bad. This eventually delays the indispensable grace of God, Who alone can forgive our sins from converting us. When man sins his conscience naturally awakens his heart with guilt or sorrow. There is no man, no matter how callous his conscience may be, who is not exempt from the awareness of either the goodness or evilness of his actions. Sorrow for ones sins and the desire to make up for them is called contrition. Genuine contrition is not something to be loosely confused with something felt. Benedict Baur says: Genuine contrition does not consist merely in saying I should like not to have done it. Nor is it a sensation, an emotional feeling of sorrow, something felt in the senses. No, contrition need not necessarily be felt in the senses at all. It is in the will. It is a purely spiritual thing, a determination of the willwhich may or may not be accompanied by feelings of sorrow. (Frequent Confession) This determination of the will differs from one person to another. Thus, we can say that the quicker one reacts to ones faults, the easier will it be for Gods grace to forge his love in our intellects and wills that are, so to speak, softened and made vulnerable for a new conversion. Ponder on this unthinkable example: If I now slap your mother whom you love dearly, when do you expect me to apologize for such an outrageous act? (a) Right this very moment; (b) Three days from now because Im still busy, (c) Three weeks/months/years from now since you will most likely forgive me anyway. Everyone I presented with this example naturally chose the first answer: Right away! Ones immediate response to undo ones wrongs naturally demonstrates a genuine intention to change. Something similar happens with ones contrition. Our contrition is more genuine and converting of us when we are quick to respond to the awareness that we have done an injustice to God, neighbor and let us not forget our very own selves. Any delay out of fear, feelings of unpreparedness or unfounded reasons that one cannot be forgiven are simply excuses. This delay makes our contrition grow cold, the gap between our sorrow and the moment of sin widens, and our will loses another opportunity for conversion. How do we keep the fire of sorrow burning within our souls? To constantly seek Gods presence in our life. This is especially nurtured with prayer and constantly bringing the portrait of sorrow and love seen in our Lords Passion and Death. Aside from prayer or meditation, we must strive to meet our Lord in other occasions throughout the day e.g. in work, rest, sickness and social engagements, etc. Not to wait for occasions of sin to arise. One ought to set and seek occasions of love and virtue, through concrete daily resolutions. If one unfortunately falls he must resolve to immediately seek Gods forgiveness through Sacrament of Penance as soon as possible. In the case of sins which may not be grave, to make many acts of love, contrition, and reparation instead of wasting his time mulling over the fact of having fallen. Finally, to do a refined and sincere daily examination of conscience, striving to feed the fire of our sorrow with concrete resolutions of love and amendment. *** Dont forget that Sorrow is the touchstone of Love. (The Way, no. 439)

only rule in life, no one would have time and attention (and money!) for those who do not produce the weak, the sick, the disabled, the babies, the aged . . . . Even the strongest among us would have had a very short life. For all of us, in fact, there was a time when we were weak, when we did not produce anything at all, and were totally dependent on the generous love of our parents and other people. We live on borrowed life! We all are the fruit of Gods generosity, not of Gods retribution. And He keeps being generous with us, even when we positively deserve His just punishment. Why react negatively, then, at His exceptional generosity toward some of our brothers and sisters when we know that everyone will have to account in proportion to what one has received? Why be saddened by
Magnanimous / B7

Wanted: consistency of words and deeds

Reflections on the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) Sept. 25, 2011
By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB
MANY of us, whenever we read the story of the two sons featured in todays Gospel passage, may either dismiss it as irrelevant to our situation, or remain puzzled by the apparent praise received by the second son. He definitely did better than the first, but his behavior was far from being perfect, for he dared to say an arrogant No! to his father before doing what he had been asked to do. We somehow feel that there must be a better way of relating to ones father and especially to God, our heavenly Father . . . . This better way is: Saying YES and Doing YES. That is the way of Jesus, the perfect YES! to the Father. The whole Gospel is about this wonderful parable that teaches us how Jesusthe third Sonalways responded Yes! to the Father, both in words and actions. Such should be the way of all Christians. It is not enough to be verbal Christians, (being Christians only in words). It is not enough either to be occasional practical Christians (people who sometimes behave well, though refusing to make a clear profession of faith in Jesus.) What we need is consistency. All of us must be consistent Christians, i. e., people who live by the faith we profess. Indeed, the test of our worth as Christians lies in honoring our commitment to God, in doing the good we have promised to do (by obeying the commandments!), and in avoiding what we promised to avoid (by rejecting the devils
Consistency / B7

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 15 No. 19
September 12 - 25, 2011

By Fr. Shay Cullen

Any cover-up of child abuse is a crime

criminal of their nature and any silence is a form of consent to the crime. Thats why the revelations in Ireland recently in the Cloyne report are so shocking. The government has protested strongly to the Vatican for allegedly advising or pressuring for a cover up to protect the church institution rather than saving the child and bringing the abuser to justice. The failure to report such crimes committed by clergy or anyone against children to the police is indefensible. Its high time that Catholics who blindly overlook just criticism of the institutional church realize that they may be victims of centuries of mental conditioning and misguided persuasion that a good catholic is an unquestioning docile follower of the institutional church. That is not what Christian faith is about. True Christian faith is in Jesus of Nazareth and his gospel of justice, truth, redemption, equality, unity and love. His kingdom is a spiritual way of life that is based on the great virtues, values and the unselfish service to others, just in case we have forgotten what to strive for. We ought to be humble washers-offeet not princes and power players. We Christians, lay people and priests and ministers alike are to be defenders of the childrens rights and called to work for justice and truth. We must never shrink away in fear from our duty and our faith. We have a prophetic calling as Christians and believers in Jesus to speak out as he did without fear or favor to the authorities, religious or civil. He challenged and chided them,

Social Concerns

B7

THE sale of children and women for sexual abuse is modern day slavery and it still goes on today. The cover-up of this and sex crimes against children is a crime in itself. It is found in Ireland and UK at shockingly high frequency. The international pedophiles flock to Asia where there is poverty and many children are vulnerable and abused. Many run away from abusive and broken homes and are picked up by pimps and sold to brothels. Others are sold to recruiters and are offered high paying jobs but end up as domestics and are prostituted. In the Philippines local politicians issue permits and licenses to the foreign operated clubs and overlook the trafficking and abuse. President Aquino promised with all his heart to fight the child abuse and trafficking. Saving children from abuse is now much more frequent but so many are also victims of their own relatives especially their own fathers and their live-in partners. More and more people are becoming aware of child abuse and are overcoming their reluctance and fear of reporting it. Thanks to an Irish Aid project with the PREDA Foundation, dozens of municipalities are ending the secret settlement system whereby a local official negotiates a payment from the pedophile to the parents of a child victim. He takes a percentage. Such payments and settlements for silence and subsequent cover-up are
Catalysts / B3

called them to account, to repent and when they refused and continued to play with pomp and power like corrupt despots then he named and shamed them as whitened sepulchers and a brood of vipers. Faced with a similar situation in the mission in the Philippines many years ago I decided that it was best to follow Jesus of Nazareth and fulfill the mission through an independent organization to protect human rights and abused children, Then the sex industry was

more rampant than it is today. So against much opposition in the church and under a martial law regime where human rights were violated daily, I set up the PREDA Foundation. The work of PREDA Foundation is all about winning freedom for the children enslaved in brothels, the kids behind bars for crimes they did not commit or for minor offenses in most cases. We fight for the rights and the freedom of the small children from 4 years old to 16 from the clutches of their sexual
Pilgrimage / B3

abusers, the pedophiles, even their abusive parents or whoever they are crying to be freed from. We have a hot line where they can call or text for help. It is given immediately without delay. A rescue team is immediately sent, the child is saved and the abuser is jailed and brought to trial. The child is safely cared for in a protective home and return to happiness through therapy, education, recovery and eventual reintegration. They can now stand up with dignity and hope in finding justice.

age, Dy said in an interview. She stated that the young peoples role now is to form themselves, to be educated on the issue, to learn from the mistakes of previous generation and start practicing better habits, a better lifestyle, better purchase decisions and it can be as simple as mentioned in renewable energy. When asked for some tips on how to help the society on matters of energy, Dy mentioned that young people can help by doing simple tasks. You must turn off the lights when you leave the room, when you pick a new television to buy, remind your parents to pick one that is more energy efficient. These are the things that are easy for young people to do, Dy added. She also shared stories heard
Test / B6

from parents that it is actually their children who are teaching them on how to do these kinds of things, because some parents grew up without being conscious on the issue. The youth are the ones who adapt easier, its our opportunity, said Dy. a youth perspective But Kiboy Tabada, a member of the UP Campus Ministry expressed the lack of knowledge that young people have on issues like renewable energy. Yun reality is, tayong mga kabataan ang sasalo ng mga issues na ito sa pagtanda natin. Dapat ngayon pinaghandaan na nila tayo, iniintroduce na nila ang mga issues na ito. Siguro as a matter of policy for government, sana kasama

na tayong mga youth sa mga usapin, conferences, at gumawa na sila ng mga activities para maexpose ang youth sa realities about energy dito sa Pilipinas, Tabada pointed out. Tabada also added that there are many aspects that should be done on the energy issue, such as research and development. Research and development, dapat ang government should invest in it so that yun youth ngayon, they would learn how to find sources of energy in our country na hindi na tayo magrerely sa market, especially outside of the country. Kasi kung may giyera sa pinagkukunan natin ng oil, nagiging mahal ito at sobra tayong apektado. Tapping the youth, and what can they do, if you really wanted the youth to be involved, let them [get]

involved now, he said. Otherpanelistsinthediscussion include Rep. Henedina Abad, Chairperson on Committee on Energy,HouseofRepresentatives; Usec. Josefina Magpale-Asirit of the Department of Energy; Mark Dia, Regional Director of Greenpeace; and Archimedes Amarra of Biomass Alliance. The collaboration between ECY and other organizations in advocating renewable energy started last 2008 during the Earth Hour advocacy. Since then, ECY and RE advocates gather yearly for discussions to develop keen understanding on RE and encourage people to commit themselves to a kind of lifestyle that observes the use of renewable energy for the countrys progress. (Jandel Posion)

Youth (ECY) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Baylon reminded the deviant Filipino delegates of their primary reason for attending the WYD. The WYD is not the time for tourism. The delegates should find time for touring around, shopping and socializing with other delegates only after the WYD, he said. I hope that our delegates will seriously participate in the next WYD and see their sacrifices as part of the blessings of the pilgrimage. After all, the WYD is a time which calls for self sacrifice, he added. According to the ECY, at least 2,000 Filipinos attended the WYD in Madrid from August 16 to 21. Of this number, 427 are under the ECY-Philippines delegation. This statistics does not include Filipino
Participants / B3

pilgrims residing overseas who joined foreign delegations. Baylon earlier encouraged the Filipinos who attended the WYD in Madrid and others who missed it to also attend the next WYD slated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil come 2013. But the prelate said those who intend to attend the next WYD should not only prepare materially for the pilgrimage but more importantly, be spiritually fit to be sensitive to Gods encounter with the youth. I am encouraging young Filipinos to join the next WYD in Brazil. I would only remind them that spiritual preparedness is most essential than physical and financial preparedness. In WYD, you will receive an important gift and you have to prepare well for it, he added. (YouthPinoy)
Bond / B3

claim, they became so secure in their position that when God revealed himself not through the law but through a person named Jesus, he refused to respond to him. That is why they are compared with the second son because they said yes to God, but in actual fact, they did not obey his word spoken through Jesus. On the other hand, the tax collectors and sinners, who were regarded as transgressors of the law, now said yes to the revelation in Jesus. Hence, they are identified with the first son. It is even possible that the parable was applied first not to the ministry of Jesus but to that of John the Baptist. In his case, the poor who did not know the law accepted his teaching, but the religious establishment did not. But at the level of Christian life, the parable is about discipleship. In particular, it has to do with the importance of practical response to Gods invitation in Jesus. No doubt, the first son is held up as an example of discipleship. It does not matter whether one was born to a pagan family, or to morally questionable parents; what matters is that, in the ultimate analysis, one accepts Gods offer of salvation in Jesus Christ through repentance and faith. Just as the tax collectors and sinners repented and believed in Jesus (Matt 21:32), so any person, whatever might be the beginnings of his life, has only to respond to the offer of discipleship by changing his life and putting on the life of Christ. Such

a person is Gods son, Jesuss disciple, heir to the kingdom of God: Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is brother and sister and mother to me (Matt 12:30). One of the bitterest criticisms of Jesus against the Pharisees precisely consisted in thisthat they merely talk, but their deeds are scarce: Do not follow their [the Pharisees] example. Their words are bold, but their deeds are few (Matt 23:3). They are like the second son who said yes to his father, but failed him. Discipleship is thus a matter of deeds. In much the same way that the real test of kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap is whether the current administration has made tangible results in its war against corruption, so the real test of discipleship is whether the words are backed up by deeds. Because discipleship is what makes one a child of the kingdom, Jesus could say: None of those who cry out, Lord, lord, will enter the kingdom of God but only the one who does the will of my father in heaven (Matt 7:21). On the basis of this, one can only be amused that peripatetic preachers and born-again Christian could be so zealous in their attack against the Catholic Church, convinced as they are they have the truth, but are intolerant of those who happen to disagree with them. How often they forget that they have to love in deed and in truth (1 John 3:18). The final test that one is a disciple is not the ability to quote the appropriate biblical text to prove that ones argument is

rooted in the Bible, but the fleshing out of that belief in love. The parable is a big challenge to us, Catholics. The center of our lives is the Eucharist, where we proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes (1 Cor 11:26). In Christian life, to borrow the words of the Second Vatican Council, it is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; at the same time it is the fountain from which all her power flows. For the goal of apostolic works is that all who are made sons of God by faith and baptism should come together to praise God in the midst of his Church, to take part in her sacrifice and to eat the Lords Supper(Sacrosanctum concilium, 10). But there looms the danger that the Eucharistic celebration may be reduced to a mere ritual celebration, divorced from our daily life. It could happen that though we are faithful in celebrating it, we do not make an effort to live the life patterned after Jesus, which is a life of self-giving (Phil 2:9; Second Reading). In that sense, we could be like the Pharisees whose words are bold, but whose deeds are few and far between. To make the Eucharist the real center of our life, it must also affect our very lifeall our thoughts and actions come from it and lead toward it. For a Eucharistic celebration that does not lead to action on behalf of others is simply empty; it does not exhibit a response to the offer of Gods grace in Jesus Christ.

planted simultaneously throughout the country by representatives from various dioceses, religious organizations and government agency for the Sept. 8 planting. The Archdioceses of Jaro and Cagayan de Oro; Dioceses of Balanga, San Jose, Nueva Ecija, Bangued, Borongan, Laoag, Iligan, Urdaneta, Surigao, Malaybalay and Cabanatuan; Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, a parish in Danao City, Cebu, and the organizations CFC-Singles for Christ (SFC) and the National Youth Commission (NYC) participated in the national tree-planting campaign. (Jandel Posion)
Generous / B6

trees the youth will plant in their lifetime will outlive them and will serve the next generation. We can plant a million of trees but if none of them grow after five years, our efforts will be in vain. The next generation of youth will just do what we did. So it is important to keep in mind that we are planting trees not only for ourselves but also for the next generation, Baylon added. Different diocesan youth commissions facilitated the treeplanting activity in their regions on September 8. Youth ministers from the parishes, dioceses and organizations accompanied the young participants during the activity. (YouthPinoy)

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sinners on par with them who were perfect observers of the law. For the Pharisees, they stand above transgressors of the law, and they deserve a reward that was much higher than sinners. But Jesus answered that that God is extremely generous that he could even give equal pay for unequal work. What counts, in other words, is the mercy of God, not our own merits! What does this imply for the community? This means that since all are recipients of
Magnanimous / B6

his mercy, members should rejoice whenever they receive gifts from God. Gifts are not earned; they are simply given! There is therefore no reason to be envious, when someone receives more than the others. The Christian community has no room for people who cannot bear to see others surpass them in gifts or talents. On the contrary, all have to rejoice in that, despite their unworthiness, God remains generous to them with his gifts!
Consistency / B6

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Gods generosity toward others, and forget that we too, and more than once, have been the beneficiaries of His wonderful liberality? Envy is a terrible woodworm. It devours us from within. If left unchecked, it can destroy so much good in us and around us. Envy over the good fortune or achievements of our neighbor is like a plague that makes everybodys life miserable. Instead, we should learn from God, who is ever so generous, ever so good. We should learn to rejoice at His liberality toward all His creatures. We should learn to imitate Him, in our little way, by using His very gifts to do good to others.

temptations). Being a real Christian entails also taking responsibility for our failings and faults, rather than trying to put the blame on others, as the Israelites did during their exile. (See todays First Reading.) Genuine Christians know that they are not perfect. They know they can fail and they are ready to admit that they did fail. This honest and humble admission is the basis for a real and lasting conversion the basis for resuming with determination saying YES! to God in words and deeds, following the example of all saints, the best imitators of Jesus.

CONTRIBuTEd PHOTO

B8
MASAYAN G n am u m u h a y sa probinsya ang pamilya ni Thelma Molino (Maja Salvador). Kahit papaano ay nairaraos ng kanyang mga magulang mula sa paghahabi at pagsasaka ang simpleng buhay at pagpapalaki sa kanilang dalawang magkapatid. Sa edad nya na dalagita ay may mga tipikal na ugaling kapilyahan si Thelma katulad ng panguumit ng paborito nilang miryenda na empanada kung saan kapansin-pansin ang kang bilis sa pagtakbo kasama ng kapatid kapag hinahabol sila ng mga pulis. Hindi masigasig sa pag-aaral si Thelma subalit mayroon din siyang pangarap na umasenso. Matiwasay naman sana ang kanilang buhay hanggang sa dumating ang dagok ng maaksidente ang nakababata niyang kapatid at tuluyang di makalakad dahil wala silang pera upang mai-byahe at maipagamot sa Maynila. Kiinailangan tumigil ni Thelma sa pag-aaral upang alalayan ang kapatid tumulong sa gawaing bahay upang matutukan ng ina ang paghahabi. Dahil sa awa sa kapatid ay hinangad ni Thelma na maibsan ang hirap nito kahit papaano kaya ng malaman niya na may marathon sa kabilang bayan ay di siya nagdalawangisip na sumali dahil mabilis siyang tumakbo. Nagwagi nga si Thelma sa marathon at nakamit ang perang papremyo na agad niyang pinambili ng second-hand na wheelchair upang magamit ng kapatid. Suportado naman ng kanyang mga magulang ang kanyang ginawa lalo pat dati rin palang miyembro ng track and field team ang ina na nahinto ang karera sa pagtakbo ng maagang makapag-asawa. Ang unang panalo ni Thelma ay naging daan upang mapansin ang taglay niyang kakayahan sa pagtakbo. Dahil dito ay

Entertainment
nakabalik siya sa pag-aaral bilang iskolar at patuloy na nagwagi sa ibat ibang antas ng paligsahan. Inspirado ng totoong buhay ng isang sikat na mananakbo ang kwento ng pelikulang Thelma. Malikhain ang paglalagay ng cinematic effect na sa bandang huli ay magkakaroon ng sariling pagkakakilanlan ang kuwento at masasabing hindi simpleng paghalaw sa tunay na buhay ng isang sikat na tao. Magaling and direksyon sa paghahatid ng pagiging natural ng lahat. May epektong 3D dating na tila nakamasid ang manonood sa aktuwal na kaganapan ng buhay. Malinaw ang paghahatid ng teknik sa pagsasanay ng pagtakbo at paghahanda sa paligsahan. Epektibo ang pagganap ni Maja Salvador bilang pangunahing tauhan gayundin ang lahat ng kasamahang aktor. Mahusay na nai-transform ni Salvador ang ibat ibang yugto sa buhay ng karakter ni Thelma Molino. Nakakaaliw pakinggan ang palitan ng dialect na ilocano. Naipakita ng sinematograpiya ang magandang angulo ng lugar lalo na ang mga windmills kung saan kilala ang lalawigan ng Ilocos. Akma ang mga inilapat na musika at tunog sa mga emosyon na nais ipakita sa bawat eksena. Sa kabuuan ay kahanga-hanga ang aspetong teknikal ng pelikula. Ang lahat ng tao ay may pangarap at ang lahat ng pangarap ay dapat pagsikapang abutin at pagtagumpayan. Hindi dapat maging hadlang ang kahirapan ng buhay at ibang pang uri ng balakid upang maabot ang inaasam na pangarap sa buhay. Gayundin ang lahat ng tao ay may taglay na kakayahan na dapat pagyamanin sa sarili upang maging kapaki-pakinabang na mamamayan ng bansa at maipagmamalaking miyembro
TITLE: Thelma CAST: Maja Salvador (Thelma), John Arcilla (Thelmas father), Tetsie Agbayani (Thelmas mother), Eliza Pineda (Hannah, Thelmas sister), Alma Muros (Thelmas trainer), Jason Abalos (Thelmas boyfriend) DIRECTOR: Paul Soriano PRODUCER: Time Horizon, Abracadabra and Underground Logic GENRE:Drama DISTRIBUTOR: Star Cinema LOCATION: Philippines RUNNING TIME: 100 minutes Technical Assessment: 4 Moral Assessment: 4 Cinema Rating: For viewers Age 13 and below with parental guidance
Moral Assessment

CBCP Monitor

September 12 - 25, 2011

Vol. 15 No. 19

Technical Assessment

Abhorrent disturbing Acceptable Wholesome Exemplary

Poor Below average Average Above average Excellent

ng pamilya. Hindi sapat ang pisikal na kakayanan, kailangan magtiyaga sa pagsasanay upang mai-kondisyon ang isipan at damdam sa pagtahak sa napiling larangan ng may disiplina. Binigyan-diin ng pelikula ang kahalagahan ng pagsisikap at katatagan. Ang paghugot ng inspirasyon sa pamilya at mga kaibigan na nagtitiwala sa kakayahan ay mahalaga upang makapag-patuloy sa kabila ng hirap. Itinampok sa pelikula ang pamilyang may pagmamahalan at paggalang -- mga magulang na masikap at kumakastigo sa pagkakamali ng anak, mga anak na magalang at nagbibigayan. Ang mga kaibigan ay naghihikayat sa mabuting landas at totoong masaya sa tagumpay ng kapwa. Puno ng magagandang pagpapahalaga at aral ang pelikulang Thelma. Mainam na mapanood ng lahat, subalit dahil sa eksena ng pang-uumit at pamamalo bilang paraan ng pagdisiplina at mga eksena ng pangungulila sa pamilya, ang mga batang edad 13 pababa ay kailangan ng paggabay ng nakatatanda.

MAC en COLET
KASALUKUYANG namumrublema si TITLE: Wedding Tayo Precy (Eugene Domingo) sa kanyang Wedding Hindi asawang si Ben (Wendell Ramos) ng CAST: Eugene Domingo,Toni bumalik ang pinsang si Belay a.k.a Maribel Gonzaga,Zanjoe (Toni Gonzaga) mula sa tatlong taon na Marudo,Wendell pamamalagi sa Japan. Sinalubong si Belay Ramos ng kanyang pamilya sa airport kasama si Precy at ang kasintahan niyang si Oca WRITER&DIRECTOR: Jose Javier Reyes (Zanjoe Marudo). Kasabay ng pananabik GENRE: Comedy/Romance kay Belay ay nagulat ang mga sumalubong RUNNING TIME: sa kanya dahil sa malaking ipinagbago ng 115Minutes hitsura at pananalita nito. Mula sa simple Technical Assessment: 3.5 at malumanay ay naging sopistikada Moral Assessment: 3.5 at kabaklaan ang naging lenggwahe CINEMA Rating: For viewers age 14 and ni Belay. Ikinabahala ni Oca ang mga above pagbabagong ito kay Belay dahil inaalala niya na di maiibigan ng konserbatiba at relihiyosa niyang ina ang bagong pagkatao ni Belay na nakatakda niyang pakasalan sa pagbabalik nito. Gayunpaman ay sinimulan ang paghahanda sa itinakdang kasal kung saan samut saring argumento ang nangyayari tungkol sa maliliit na detalye ng paghahanda na madalas ay kinasasangkutan ng magkabilang partido. Samantala, tuluyang nilayasan ni Precy ang kanyang pamilya dahil di na niya matiis ang kalagayan niya sa piling ng asawa at biyenan na babae. Mabait naman sana si Ben pero mahina ito dumiskarte at nakadepende lagi sa ina na di siya kailanman nagustuhan. Isa sa ikinapundi ni Precy ay ang pagwaldas ni Ben sa inipon niyang pera ng di ipinagbibigay-alam sa kanya at tuluyan itong maubos dahil sa di magandang investment. Kumunsulta si Precy sa abogado upang mapawalang bisa ang kanyang kasal. Sa tuwing magkikita ang magpinsan ay napapalitan sila ng kuro-kuro, payo at mungkahi tungkol sa kani-kanilang sitwasyon --- ang masalimuot na paghahanda sa kasal ni Belay kay Oca at ang napipintong tuluyang pagwawakas ng 18 taong kasal ni Precy kay Ben. May pagkakapareho ang sitwasyon ng dalawa ---- parehong mga mahihina at maka-ina ang mga lalaking natutunan nilang ibigin at parehong biyuda na may kasungitan ang mga babaeng ito sa buhay nila. Simple pero makabuluhan ang kwento ng pelikulang Wedding tayo, Wedding hindi. Seryoso ang mensahe na nilagyan ng komedya upang maaliw ang mga manonood. May pagkakataon na eksaherada ang ilang eksena pero binabawi ng mga hirit na patawa. Mahusay ang direksyon at nailabas ng mga nagsiganap ang mga kinailangan emosyon upang maipahatid ang mensahe ng pelikula. Epektibo sina Eugene, Zanjoe at Wendell sa kanilang pagganap. Medyo typecast naman si Toni sa maingay na pagdeliver ng mga linya at nadagdagan pa ng lengguwaheng kabaklaan sa pelikula. May pagkabulgar ang karamihan sa mga salita na medyo alanganin sa setting ng below middle class families at ng may teaching profession background. Hindi masyadong gumamit ng teknik sa camera, sa halip ay puro malapitan ang kuha kaya kitang-kitang and detalye ng mga subjects. Maingat ang pagpasok ng mga flashback scenes at nakatulong sa maayos na daloy ng istorya. Tama lamang ang mga inilapat na musika at tunog, gayundin ang ilaw. Nakakasakal ang pakikialam ng mga taong nakapaligid katulad sa tipikal na relasyon ng manugang at biyenan sa kulturang Filipino. Kahit sino na may sapat na gulang at kaisipan na may kakayahang magpasya para sa sarili at sa pamilya ay di mapipigilan na pagsawaan ang ganitong sitwasyon. Gayunpaman, nakakabahala na ipinakita sa pelikula na pwedeng basta na lamang layasan ang pamilya dahil sa nawalang pera na di naman talaga ginamit sa masama. Samantala, anumang suliranin na kinakaharap sa pamilya ay nakakatulong kung mayroon tayong napaghihingahan ng saloobin. Ipinakita sa pelikulang Wedding Tayo, Wedding Hindi ang kahalagahan na ang mga taong nilalapitan ay may malasakit at hahangarin ang mabuting kahihinatnan ng sitwasyon para sa iyo katulad ng mga ginampanang karakter nina Eugene at Toni. Sinuportahan nila ang pagiging totoo ng isat isa sa kanilang mga damdamin pero hindi hinahayaan na manaig ang emosyon upang sang-ayunan ang anumang pagpapasya. Tinitiyak na mayroong pakikinig, pag-unawa, pagpapaalala at malayang pagpapasya na pinagisipan para sa mabuting kapakanan ng lahat. Gayundin naman, ang kasal ay higit pa sa isang araw na okasyon. Ang preparasyon ay hindi lamang nakasentro sa mga material na bagay sa halip ay sa kahandaan ng mga nagkasundong magpakasal. Mahalagang yugto ito sa buhay ng mga ikakasal kaya ang mga magulang ay magsilbi sanang gabay at suporta hindi hayagang nakikialam. Tumbok naman ang kahinaan ng mga lalaki sa pelikula na sa bandang huli ay naisalba ng matanto nila ang kahalagahan na dapat silang manindigan para sa kanilang mga asawa at pamilya. Sa kabuuan ay may aral ang pelikula na maaaring pagnilayan ng mga manonood --- magulang bilang biyenan, manugang, mga anak at kaibigan.

Ni Bladimer Usi

Buhay Parokya

Find images of Archangel Gabriel, Immaculate Heart of Mary and Mother Teresa.

Vol. 15 No. 19

CBCP Monitor

September 12 - 25, 2011

C1

The News Supplement of Couples for Christ

By Aiza Garnica

Thousands Join Global Walk for Scholars

government units, government offices like the Department of Foreign Affairs, PhilHealth, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the academe (Far Eastern University, Samson Institute of Technology) and many others. The AnCOP Global Walk brought together people who had a single goal to help the poor. The Walk also became an occasion to enjoy fellowship with friends and family, who enjoyed the exercise together with their pets, who prayed while walking, who sang for fun and who challenged one another to achieve greater physical benefits from the walk. Physically challenged individuals did not allow their disabilities to hinder them from joining the great mass of people who filled the MOA area. Among them was Mahlon Balitos, a CFC member from San Juan (Metro Manila Central A Sector), who used to be a copra farmer from Western Sama until 1999,when a coconut fell on him, damaging his spinal cord and paralyzing him completely The walk at the MOA was replicated in many parts of the Philippines. More than 50 provinces responded to the challenge to gather not just CFC members but corporate sponsors and individuals to walk for the poor. Abroad, Australia reported a large attendance at the walk along the famous Bondi Beach. nigeria, Canada, USA and some countries in the Middle East organized their own versions of the walk, with CFC members in UAE holding a small prayer procession. AnCOP Chairman Joe Yamamoto termed the exercise a huge success and announced that next year, the Global Walk will be on August 12. He said, This has shown us that people, whether CFC or non-CFC, can and will get together if the common purpose is good. The event drew many corporate sponsors, including media outfits such as GMA 7 for the Manila Walk and ABS-CBn for Iloilo. Other media sponsors were The Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star, Summit Media, Radyo Veritas 846, and the Manila Broadcasting Corporation (Yes FM 101.9, 96.3 Easy Rock and RHTV). Corporate sponsors included Banco de Oro, China Bank, Maynilad, Pocari Sweat, Petron, Yamaha, Tricom Dynamics and The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association of the Phlippines (CTFAP). Like all CFC and AnCOP spearheaded events, the AnCOP Global Walk was capped by the celebration of the Mass by Bp. Jesse Mercado, Bishop of Paraaque. The Mass was concelebrated by CFC Spiritual Adviser Msgr. Allen Aganon and Fr. Rico Ayo, assistant to Bp.

On August 21, 2011, an estimated 50,000 people from all walks of life and from the different parts of Manila and the neighboring cities, gathered at the grounds of one of the largest malls in the world, the SM Mall of Asia, for the AnCOP Global Walk. Started five years ago in the United States and Canada as AnCOP Walk, the annual event aims to raise awareness and funds for Couples for Christs work with the poor programs. This year, AnCOP Walk went global (several AnCOP Global Walks were also organized in the major Philippine provinces and key cities in the world) with the intention of promoting and raising more funds for the Child Sponsorship Program. The Manila Walk started at 5:30 AM after opening remarks from Ricky Cuenca, CFC Chairman and exhortations from CFC Executive Director Melo Villaroman and AnCOP Chairman Joe Yamamoto. Aside from members of CFC and its Family Ministries, the walk was attended by sponsors, local

Mercado. Truly, the AnCOP Global Walk was a success not only because of the people who worked hard to make it possible and the walkers who unselfishly gave of their time and treasure, but more importantly, because it now makes possible free education for thousands of poor children, not just here but in other countries. For more photos, please turn to page 7.

By Aiza Garnica

Celebrating Generosity at the CFC Gideons Night

man, Ricky Cuenca, thanked each of the Metro Manila Sectors and the provinces of Laguna, Pampanga, Batangas, Tarlac, and Quezon, for their generous support to the community. Also honored were the team behind the Build My House Project headed by Mon and Penny De Leon, with members Jimmy and Lorna Ilagan, George and Cynthia Campos, Eric and Evelyn Ylagan, Charly and Mel Laiz, Cristy Balilo and Linda Pangilinan. Special thanks went to the construction team who worked hard to actually build the Home Office, headed by contractors Romy Alfaro, Art del Rio, Eric Bostre and Lito Maling. Special tokens were also given to the biggest contributors, Rudy Lubis of CFC Batangas, and Cholo and Cristy Labog, sector head of CFC East A. Senen and Marie Reyes, sector head of CFC north B, shared that they received blessings upon blessings when they gave their donation. We dont think of it as a loss, because by the grace of God, we actually gained more than a hundredfold of what we have given. The Build My House Story: The Vision In his exhortation, Joe Yamamoto traced the history of the Build My House project. For 29 long years, Couples for Christ didnt have its own office, renting first, a house on P. Guevara St. in Mandaluyong, then space in the Strata in Ortigas Center, then a property along Ortigas Avenue. After facing the biggest challenge in the community in 2007, the leaders were eager to look for some good news. According to Joe: Faith taught us to believe that everything happens for a reason and that even in the darkest nights, there is always a glimmer of light. We just have to patiently and diligently search for it. And so on February 2008, during the Mindanao Leaders Conference, the leaders, through the guidance and the promptings of the Holy Spirit, asked themselves a question that would change the community forever. Why dont we build our own home? And from there they envisioned a CFC Home Office a global headquarters - which will shelter all the family and social ministries of the community. The vision was so grand but as Joe Yamamoto said, God and Mama Mary had been joining the community in its journey. That knowledge was enough for the leaders to believe that the vision is possible. From that moment, CFC members began to share the treasures that God has entrusted to them. The initiative of these leaders inspired many others to give even the little that they have with a trusting heart and firm belief that God can never be outdone in generosity. Two years after that fateful conference, the vision became closer to reality when the property in Cubao was found and negotiations began in earnest, culminating in the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between CFC and the buildings owners in September 2010. Finally, on May 5, 2011, after months of repainting, renovation and active fund generation, the building was ready. Bishop HonestoOngtioco of the Archdiocese of Cubao led the blessing of the new home of Couples for Christ. His homily summarizes it all: Generosity. That is what built your new home. Who Are The Gideons? Inspired by Gideon and the 300 men (Judges 7) who defeated the Midianites and freed the Israelites, the CFC Gideons are those who selflessly gave a minimum donation of P50,000 for the Build My House Project. In Metro Manila alone, there are 214 courageous men and women of CFC whose combined donations amounted to P10,700,000.

On the Feast of the nativity of Mary on September 8, Couples for Christ (CFC) gathered at the Christ the King Parish Church to celebrate and honor the generosity of some of its members who have contributed the most for the fulfillment of a long-time dream of the community to have its very own home. Those who contributed P50,000 or more each toward the purchase of the new CFC Building, aptly called Gideons because they exemplified the courage and conviction of the Biblical Gideon, were honored during a night of celebration, affirmation, and thanksgiving, as Joe Yamamoto, AnCOP Chairman and the Council Overseer of Build My House, put it. Joe emphasized that It is not enough to say thank you. We wanted to give them something more as a show of appreciation for what they have done for the community. And indeed it was a festive night! After the mass at the main church, the guests proceeded to the Parish Hall where they were welcomed with beautiful music from the 29 AD Musicionaries. After the cocktails, Jimmy Ilagan, CFC Central A Sector Head and member of the Build My House Team, led everyone in a short but stirring worship. Jimmy reminded everyone, in keeping with the solemnity of the feast, that The alliance of Mama Mary is the fulfillment of Gods plan. Thus, we continue to ask for Mama Marys intercession for the success of the work that were doing. Jimmy further stressed that the victory is Christs, not ours and we are just merely workers for His kingdom. After a brief video showing of the Build My House Project, and updates from Joe Yamamoto on the status of the fund, the Gideons were awarded their certificates. The new CFC Chair-

IC members Joe Yamamoto, Ricky Cuenca and Jun Uriarte with South B Gideons led by sector head Mon de Leon.

To date, the total global donations have already reached P40,490,487. Build My House is an ongoing project, even if the building is complete and most of CFCs workers are already holding office there. Much remains to be funded, including the balance of the purchase cost and the cost of the renovations. Included in the vision is the erection of a building at the back of the property that will house the rest of the CFC ministries and programs, such as Tekton, AnCOP and the Co-ops for Christ. Aside from the Fund Scheme (see below), members can also contribute through the specially designed brick envelopes distributed to the sectors earlier. As the Build My House philosophy states, no one is too poor that he is unable to give. For more information on how you can help, contact your sector heads and full time workers or visit the new CFC Home Office (20th Ave., Cubao, Quezon City)).

Bricks Columns Beams Gideon

Fund Scheme (CFC / HOLD / SOLD)

P 100 P 999 P 1,000 P 9,999 P 10,000 P 49,999 P 50,000 ++

Bricks Columns Beams Young Gideon

Fund Scheme (SFC)

P 100 P 999 P 1,000 P 2,499 P 2,500 P 4,999 P 5,000

Bricks Columns Beams Junior Gideon

Fund Scheme (YFC/ KFC)

P 30 P 100 P 200 P 300

Source: http://mp3-mania.com/cfc/?page_id=498

C2

Ugnayan

CBCP Monitor
September 12 - 25, 2011

Vol. 15 No. 19

By Tina Rodriguez

CFC Sends Official World Youth Day Delegation

Jereza; YFC members Ayana Ibrahim, CJ Asiddao, Cienna Eder, Karla Ravida, Kat Viacrusis and Leslie Pulanco; plus SFC members Erick Abad, Irvin Bautista, Mitch dela Cruz, Shirley Paynor, and Tina Matanguihan. There were also hundreds of other YFC and SFC members attending the Madrid World Youth Day, registered separately under their respective parishes and dioceses from all over the Philippines. The CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY), which launched a special website dedicated to the WYD (www.wydpinoy.com), helped provide regular updates about each day in Spain through their official documentation team, which included CFC fulltime missionaries Sky Ortigas (Church Integration Office) and Madel Solijon (YFC). Former fulltime worker nirva dela Cruz, who is now serving under the ECY, was also part of the team. Despite the fact that the WYD in Madrid has officially ended, CFC continues to join the entire Church community in prayer and support of our youth, especially those who were privileged to attend the event.

THE World Youth Day (WYD), held every two years, is a momentous event in the Catholic Church, as pilgrims from all over the world gather together for one purpose: to celebrate the youth as the future of the Church. Beginning on August 16, and ending on August 21, this years WYD was held in Madrid, Spain with the events theme taken from St. Pauls letter to the Colossians: Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith. (Col 2:7). An estimated 1.5 million people participated in the WYD, including an official delegation from Couples for Christ, headed by Youth for Christ fulltime missionary Goi Villegas. Joining him were other fulltime missionaries Sherryl de Leon, Dessie Brazil and Blair

By Sky Ortigas

CFC Missionaries join CBCPs YouthPinoy! team at World Youth Day

continually update the youthpinoy. com and wydpinoy.com websites for our Filipino brothers and sisters. The WYD experience was a great blessing for us. As part of the ac-

ADAMS QUEST: A Battle Won in Qatar

IT was a great privilege for us (Madel Solijon of YFC, nirva Delacruz of SFC and me, from the CFC Church Integration Office) to be part of the first Media Team of CBCPs Media and Episcopal Commission on Youth for the Jornada Mundial de la Juventud (World Youth Day) 2011 in Madrid, Spain. We were part of the team tasked to cover the ECYPhilippines delegation for the duration of the event. It was our first time to attend the World Youth Day celebrations. We did not know what to expect. All we had was our passion to deliver news updates, get photos, prepare videos and

credited press for the entire event, we saw places we never imagined we would visit. We enjoyed unlimited access to the Media Center, being part of the media convoy and other media privileges in covering specific events. We got to meet other media personalities from big networks around the world. But the biggest blessing we received was seeing the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, up close. Being able to hear his words and pray with him during the Eucharistic Adoration and Mass was a wonderful experience. Truly, this World Youth Day experience will always remain in our hearts as a treasure to be nurtured for the rest of our lives.

CFC joins reception at Nunciature

By Clarke Nebrao
THE Apostolic nunciature in the Philippines tendered a reception last August 18, 2011 at 12:30 PM at the nunciature in Taft Avenue, Manila to commemorate three milestones: the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and

By Angel Molina
QATAR CFC Servants of the Lord, together with the CFC husbands, experienced the Lords victory at their national Conference held last August 12, 2011. The event ran from 7:00 AM to 9:30 PM at the Seraphic Hall of our Lady of the Rosary in Qatar, and saw the active participation of 236 attendees from SOLD/CFC/SFC. Manila-based fulltime pastoral worker and SOLD International Council member Joemar Salumbides discussed how God created Adam and Eve through Talk 1, entitled, In the Beginning. He also gave the final talk on how the old Adam was transformed to a better individual in Talk 4: new Adam. CFC fulltime pastoral worker Willie Padida, also a SOLD Council member based in Manila, led the crowd to participate actively, especially in the

group discussions, during Talk 2: Adams Quest and Talk 3: Four Pillars. The attendees were also able to listen to inspiring sharings from Dado de Guzman and noli Fernandez after the discussion of the first talk. Talk 3 gave CFC Middle East community members Freddie Corporal, Mandy Ortega, Art Bargo, and Arthur Santos opportunities to share their many experiences, especially about their battles in life. Likewise, the fourth talk was given more emphasis and impact through the transformation stories of Dong Pepito and Marlon Dizon. The presence of the Holy Spirit was clearly felt throughout the conference, and all present, service team and participants alike, were renewed in their zeal to become like Jesus, the new Adam. The entire event marked another victory and battle won by our Adams in the community. Salute!

Top photo shows the new papal nuncio with Joe Tale and Rouquel Ponte (at extreme right) while lower photo shows Joe Yamamoto flanked by the papal nuncio, left and Msgr. Pinter of the nunciature.

the Philippines, the 6th year of the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI as well as the 60th year of his priesthood. It was also an occasion to welcome the new papal nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto. The Couples for Christ was the largest delegation invited. Present at the affair were International Council members Joe Tale, Joe Yamamoto and Rouquel Ponte, former International Council member Joey Arguelles, and Clarke and Cynch nebrao of the Church Integration Office.

CFC Central B Meets With New Bishop of Pasig

By Clarke Nebrao
On August 17, 2011, the Sector Governance Team of CFC Metro Manila Central B headed by Omy and Fe Santos, had an official meeting with Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara, the newly-appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Pasig. Also present were CFC Chairman Ricky Cuenca, CFC International Council Overseer for the Church Integration Office (CIO) Joe Tale, Clarke nebrao, CIO Coordinator, Sonny and nita Lizardo, Felix and Offie Angeles, nanding and Tess Cecilio, Binggoy Lorenzana, noli Medalla and nick Sebastian. The group met with Bishop Vergara to discuss the ways CFC could strengthen its service in the Diocese of Pasig under the Family Life and Laity Commission. Bishop Vergara discussed the following areas where CFC can truly help the diocese: 1) Assist in a vocation campaign for the diocese especially by strengthening the Singles for Christ ministry and promoting priestly vocations. 2) Assist the catechists of the diocese to bring Christ to the families. At the same time, CFC members are to be official catechists of the diocese. 3) Be integrated and promote active lay involvement in all the parishes of the Diocese of Pasig Bishop Vergara also said that he would continue to support CFC in the diocese as he used to when he was still parish priest in Santa Rita de Cascia Parish, Philamlife Homes, Quezon City (between 2001 and 2004) and as Bishop of San Jose, nueva Ecija (between 2005 and 2011). (with contribution by Bingoy Lorenzana)

Joemar Salumbides, front extreme left, and Willie Padida, second from left, back row, with the SOLD Qatar Group.

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 15 No. 19
September 12 - 25, 2011

Ugnayan

C3

Mary - Gentle Warrior, Mother of All

By Alma Alvarez
THE Blessed Mother Mary is most often depicted in artworks as a composed, quiet woman, not a knot on her brows nor drooping corners on her mouth. She is also always pictured as young and delicate, perhaps because she was very young (only a teenager) when she carried the Child Jesus in her womb. By todays standards, she would also have been young (not even 50 years old) when she saw her Son suffer on the Cross and when she cradled him in her arms in death. Hence, it is a challenge to imagine our Lady as a courageous, albeit gentle, warrior. But it is Mama Mary as a gentle warrior that around 1,200 members and leaders of CFC HOLD reflected on during the 2011 Marian Conference of the CFC Handmaids of the Lord last August 13, at the Meralco Theater. Bel Liboro opened the conference proper with a spirited and vibrant worship. In the first session, Bernie Cuevas described how crucial Marys role was in the fulfillment of her Son Jesus earthly mission. Even in these modern times, Mary continues to play an important part in the lives of the faithful, particularly in battling evil. With the world threatened by different kinds of war today, Bernie reminded every one that Mary, the gentle warrior, is in the battlefront. As a warrior, Mary likewise wears her armor. Her belt of truth, the black cord tied around her waist when she appeared to Juan Diego in Mexico, pointed to her pregnancy with JesusGod who became man for the sake of humankind. Her shield of faith is Christ Himself, whom she carried in her arms, always near her heart, while He was still a child. Marys breastplate of righteousness is her Immaculate Heart. Likewise we are called to a life of purity and righteousness in order to protect us from temptation and sin. The twelve stars, symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel, is Marys helmet of salvation. These 12 tribes are a crucial part of mans salvation history. They are a people set apart, as Mary had been set apart in the fulfillment of Gods promise of salvation. Her countless apparitions worldwide exhibit her feet being shod in the sandals of the readiness to proclaim the gospel of peace. In these apparitions, Mary has two major messages: repentance, and conversion of sinners. Finally, Marys sword of the spiritthe Word of Godis depicted in the mysteries of the Holy Rosary. Like in the Battle of Lepanto, praying the Rosary is both an offensive and defensive weaponprotecting from the works of the enemy, strengthening against temptations and sins, and spreading Gods Word and winning more souls for the King. In the next session, entitled Under the Mantle of Mary, Didi Galsim talked about how Mother Mary concretely protects and defends her children. An image of Our Lady showing her motherly shielding is the icon of the Our Mother of Perpetual Help. In the face of fear and anxiety, devotees turn to Our Lady for every kind of help. Whether for faith amidst trials, protection against evil, security

By Emmanuel Asunto

YFC Timor Leste: Ready For The Win!

homily, Bishop Ricardo encouraged the youth to embrace the cross of Christ if they truly want to go for the win. Since this was the first time that the bishop accepted our invitation, he was amazed to see thousands of youth gathered for the activity. He expressed the wish that CFC will continue to support the Church in shepherding the young. The Vice Prime Minister of Timor Leste, Jose Luis Guterres, was also present. He welcomed the youth and shared his hope that the youth will work for a better future for Timor Leste. In the five years that YFC Timor Leste has been holding this conference, this is by far the biggest. Ainaro, the newest area to open for YFC, sent the biggest delegation -- 123 new YFCs. Watulari and Oecusse had 110 delegates each. The national Conference, an echo of the YFC ILC recently held in Cagayan de Oro, had the same theme: For The Win: Armed and Ready or in Tetun: Ba Manan: Armadu no Prontu. In the first session, Made To Win, local full time pastoral worker Aleixu Pereira exhorted the YFC to be ready for Gods work because in the past five years, God has been preparing YFC Timor Leste for the fullness of His plans. Aleixu said that the youth have to strive hard to win because God Himself wants us to share in His victory! The second talk, Counter Strike, was given by Karen dela Cerna, outgoing International Missionary for East Timor. She outlined the many ways the enemy uses to render us vulnerable to sin and how to be on guard to resist Satans deception. The third talk, given by Ruel Aguirre, spoke of the individual armor that God wants us to wear as we go about our daily lives and how to identify which of these armor we need to use in our everyday struggles.

of home and family, or building up of others, Mother Mary offers herself to the faithful as a mantle, ready to cover each one with her love as the mother of all. Before the end of the session, brown scapulars were distributed to the conference participants, after which the scapulars were blessed by Msgr. Allen Aganon. The scapular is the Blessed Mothers gift, her very own garment with which she clothes her children and protects them from eternal damnation. It

is not an amulet, Didi reminded the Handmaids, but a symbol of Our Lady of Mt. Carmels promise that she would swiftly deliver from purgatory a soul who has been faithful to the Brown Scapular devotion during her lifetime. It is also a symbol of the wearers consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a sign that she walks under Marys mantle of love and protection. The Conference culminated in the celebration of the Holy Mass officiated by Msgr. Allen.

YFC Timor Leste is Armed and Ready! More than 1,000 youths adopted this battlecry after a very successful national Conference held in Colegio Paulo VI in Dili last August 12-14. One of the highlights of the national conference was the high mass celebrated by Bishop Dom Alberto Ricardo Da Silva of Dili. During his

The last session was given by nelson da Costa, Mission Volunteer and Head of YFC Timor Leste. nelson exhorted all YFCs to be armed and ready for God, armed and ready for Life, armed and ready for the Family and armed and ready for the Poor. The conference also featured sports and creative competitions as well as

four workshops designed to equip them to make them ready to wear Gods full armor. Holy Masses were an important feature of each of the conference days. It was indeed a gathering filled with the Holy Spirit which brought inspiration to the YFC of Timor Leste to continue to be strong in the Lord and rely on His mighty power!

YFCs Gear Up During 2011 World GAT

By Kristine Fuentes
On August 3, 2011, fifteen Youth for Christ members from the Middle East region and Canada gathered at the CFC Home Office in Cubao, Quezon City to start the World Great Adventure Tour (WGAT), with this years theme: Gear Up!. The WGAT is a nine-day activity wherein YFC members from around the world come to of the armor of God, i.e. Belt of Truth, Breastplate of Righteousness, Boots of Readiness, Helmet of Salvation, Shield of Faith and the Sword of the Spirit. Other activities incorporated into the WGAT were a five-day stay at Camarines Sur, interaction with the YFC Campusbased communities of UST and UP Manila, and immersion at the AnCOP Canada Village in Visayas Ave.

Hoorah! SFC Canada Gears Up For Operation True north

By Lissa Untalan
MORE than 300 Singles for Christ delegates from all across Canada, and Bermuda, gathered atop Whistler Mountain, in British Columbia, one of the worlds prime vacation spots from August (26-28), for the annual SFC leaders conference. Themed in monochrome, modern military style, with a custom emblem based on Mary, Jesus and Canada, OP:TRU/TH (wordplay on Operation: True north) highlighted the truth of Gods victory in the war between good and evil. With rosary prayers and Holy Mass, Friday began on a high. Fr. Dave Sadjak, a Salesian priest and the YFC and SFC Vancouver Spiritual Director, began the weekend with a reflection on the anchor passage of Ephesians 6:10-18. His homily helped shape the mindset of the delegates as they prepared their hearts for the weekend. After an exciting Olympic-style Praise Parade, the pre-judged competitions in Dance, Band, and Documentary Short Film, named Soldiers Showcase, kept the crowd hyped up. An orientation session, aptly called the Commanders Address, was given by SFC Fulltime Pastoral Worker, Efren Baria. A solemn time for adoration started off Saturday morning, segueing into Holy Mass, celebrated by Monsignor Jerry Desmond, parish priest of Our Lady of the Mountains in the Kamloops diocese, which encompasses Whistler Mountain. His reflection touched upon St. Monica, whose feast day it was, the different issues most people deal with: pain from a break-up, father issues, a mothers neglect, and disappointment with God. This was to set-up the sessions focus on weak spots which are the devils gateway to ruining our lives. Fr. Dave Sadjak delivered strong points on Satans subtleties, and on the not-soobvious addictions we have, and how we can combat them. Once more, discussion groups met and prayed together, well the beauty of Whistler. Three sisters from the Theresian Carmelite Missionary Order each took a workshop as well, and offered their services for personal consultation to anyone who needed it. To close the afternoon sessions, everyone gathered back to the main hall for the Soldiers Rally. YFC Fulltime Pastoral Worker Angelo Saludo exhorted the crowd to stand for Christ. Four sharers, four core values, four conviction statements: from addiction to erotica and masturbation to a healthy self-love and the quest for purity; from the chaos of a cheating father to the peace and reuniting of family; from personal poverty to utter generosity to the poor; from indifference and worldly comfort to a life lived fully for God. This was a very honest moment for many singles, hearing the voice of God speak so truthfully through their peers. Sunday was send-off day, beginning with rosary prayers and Holy Mass. The third session, Operation True north, was presented by Efren Baria, who challenged SFC to take on the full armor of God to not wait for God to put it on us, but to take courage and step in faith.

the Philippines to experience its culture and see its sights, and also to witness to the Lords goodness. Inspired by the anchor verse Ephesians 6:10-18, the entire events pastoral goal was to equip each participant with the full armor of God. The actual WGAT sessions, spaced out in nine days, talked about the various components

The activity was truly a time for deepening faith and forming friendships among the participants as well as the service team. The participants ended the WGAT on August 11 on a high note, empowered by all their experiences and ready to share what they had learned in the Philippines with the youth of their respective countries.

and her deep devotion to pray for St. Augustine. He emphasized that prayer will always be the key to staying faithful in the journey. The first session, entitled The Worthy War was presented by Ouel Gardon, CFC Family Ministries Coordinator for Canada. He emphasized that God is the one who fights the war, and that we simply follow His orders The second session, Stronghold, opened with a four-person spoken word piece showcasing

into lunch. Afterwards, three two-hour workshops ran simultaneously: Prayer, Spiritual Gifts, and Team Obstacle Course. The first two were conducted by Clayton Imoo, and Gerard Garcia, respectively. They are coordinators for the Office of the Youth & Young Adult Ministries for the Archdiocese of Vancouver. The last workshop was conducted outdoors, by Eric Cruz and Stephanie Cadiz (SFC Vancouver leaders), utilizing nature and

C4
By Ricky Cuenca, CFC Chairman

Ugnayan

CBCP Monitor
September 12 - 25, 2011

Vol. 15 No. 19

Our Blessed Virgin Mother in CFC

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011 TODAY is the feast day of our Blessed Virgin Mother. As I write this article in celebration of her birthday, I am reminded of the presence of our Mother Mary in many CFC events that were successful because of her strength and inspiration. The most recent is the AnCOP Global Walk (Answering the Cry of the Poor), our social development arm in CFC to help the plight of our poor brothers and sisters. Fifty thousand of Christs army walked in the early morning dawn of August 21st at the Mall of Asia to share their love for the poor. Whole families - mothers, fathers, children, youth, grandmas and grandpas neighbors, relatives, co-workers, high school and college students in various schools, religious organizations and associations, and even dogs joined forces with CFC members to complete the 5-kilometer walk. It was inspiring to experience the solidarity of CFC members and partners as they walked and offered their time, talent and treasure for the AnCOP Child Sponsorship Program. The launching of AnCOP at the Mall of Asia in December 2009 as the official work with the poor of CFC was through the inspiration of Our Lady of Banneux of Belgium, mother of the poor. Members of the International Council who visited the pilgrim site of Our Lady of Banneux experienced the presence of Mother Mary urging CFC to continue its work with the poor through AnCOP. Thus, the launching of AnCOP to build the church of the poor in December 2009 was to honor Our Lady of Banneux of Belgium. Another recent event was the International Council retreat last August at Horseshoe Village in Quezon City where the IC and their wives gathered to renew themselves and to discern their individual functions and roles in CFC. We started the retreat with a rosary in honor of our Lady of Banneux and throughout the three-day exercise, prayed the rosary to begin each session and the Angelus as part of our reflection exercise. Intercessory prayers with recitation of the holy rosary were also conducted by CFC members outside the retreat. The result? The retreat was peaceful, meaningful and transformative with each IC member made aware of himself and each others individual talents, skills and charisms that can best contribute and enhance the delivery of CFCs vision and mission. IC members identified their specific functions and roles and a consensus was built and agreed upon. Balancing self and work for love of God and neighbor was achieved through the inspiration of Mother Mary, the role model for submission to the will of God. Indeed, it was the intercession of Our Blessed Virgin Mother that helped renew our will to do only the will of God and His purposes for each of us. After this retreat, the IC will undergo a Strategic Planning Process at the end of September to set directions for 2012. Renewed by the experiences of the past year, we will set a common direction for 2012 to transform people and communities in our continuing vision of Families in the Holy Spirit renewing the face of the earth and our mission to build the church of the home and the church of the poor. I am very sure our dearest Mother will again accompany us in achieving balance and integration of our functions and roles in delivering effective programs and services. In the International Council, we act with love and respect for each others roles and functions. Fraternal love and self-emptying towards a unified thrust is a result of honest, open, and trusting communication, regular consultation and information sharing. It is always a challenge to practice unity in diversity, participatory democracy in consensus building and self expression purified by Divine will. We pray to Our Blessed Virgin Mother to intercede for the fruitful outcome of the IC strategic planning process. And I would request for your prayers, dear members and partners, to seek the intercession of Mama Mary to help us sustain our union as one body in Christ for Christ in 2012 and the years ahead. In CFC, Ancop and Family Ministries General Assemblies, Mission Core Gatherings, national and Regional conferences, Christian Life Programs and even in the smallest household meetings, it is our practice to place the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mother together with the Crucifix in the altar table. We want to start our activities, including the household meetings, with the recitation of the Holy Rosary. I know now why the presence of Our Mother Mary is instrumental in helping us cross our bridges and in surmounting our trials. It is because CFC is dear to Mother Mary and she is dear to us. As we celebrate the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mother, I realize how we are strong with the values of fortitude, obedience and humility in submitting to the will of God. All through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mother! Happy Birthday, Mama Mary!

By Melo Villaroman, CFC Executive Director

3 AM Calls Worth Your Wake-Up

THE people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Upon those who dwell in the land of gloom, a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing!-- From ISAIAH 9, First Reading of the day after the 21 August 2011 CFC GLOBAL AnCOP WALK Three oclock in the morning is not anyones favorite wake-up time. It is, on the contrary, the toughest time to jump out of bed the R.E.M (Rapid Eye Movement) period, when dreams are most vivid and rest most deep. You can most likely count on your fingers the very few things that have shaken you out of your sleep at 3 AM, excluding of course that unscheduled, inescapable bladder break. As for myself, I can recall only four occasions in my life where I have deliberately risen and jumped out of bed at 3 AM to choose to do something purposeful, at this deadest and darkest time of the morning when most people in our hemisphere are still slumbered in silent quiescence or simply snoring: (1) As a kid, my most joyous 3 AM alarm bell occurred every 16th of December each year in our novaliches home. I would wake up to the clang and beckon of our village church bell, followed by the sudden yet cheerful intro of Ray Conniffs Jolly Old St. nicholas blaring from our living room, complete with cracks and pops of stereophonic needle traversing 33rpm vinyl. Then my kulambo (mosquito net) would veil up from prayer that I first sensed the very same into my personal shortlist of compelthe outside, and moms gentle and message the Lord would assure nini ling reasons to wake up at 3 AM. happy face would be there, showing up with, each and every morning of her 0ur youngest son Samuel woke nini like sunlight at 3 AM. She would kiss 40 days in the desert ordeal: DO and me at 3 AM that morning. Papa, my forehead together with a Good nOT BE AFRAID. I AM WITH YOU! I Mama, today is Global CFC AnCOP Walk and we in the morning and Hapdocumentation team py Birthday, anak! need to be there by 4 Then off we would AM sharp! Sam utters walk to the first-day these a few times into Simbang Gabi, and my ear with the excitethe start of my birthment and urgency of day morning! an I-Phone on snooze (2) March 11, alarm, till I finally 1989, when I was snap out of my slum26, was another ber. I, nini, and Sam big 3 AM wake-up (our eldest son Dave event for me. It was is in the U.S.) don our my girlfriend ninis family uniform that birthday, and we day - same-colored were to meet at the CFC AnCOP shirts Cathedral to swing boldly declaring, I its doors open at 7 WILL WALK FOR A AM, so that we can SCHOLAR. WALK get married after WITH ME! Then we six years of knowset off for the MOA ing each other. Who grounds. would not jump out This photo was taken by our son Sam as the sun was coming up in the horizon. As we would, those of bed at any time to embrace the promise of love that will praise God for healing nini completely! who arrived at the MOA grounds 21st August 2011 ahead of the sun found never die, from the most beautiful girl She is now 48, and I, 47. in the world? (4) These days, we help wake each out they were not alone nor were (3) At 43 years old, I would rise again other up at 3 AM a number of times they at all few. 50,000 showed up one 3 AM morning to pray and plead, in the year to catch the earliest and men, women, kids, youth -- joyful yet till the sun rose, for the betterment of cheapest flight to the provinces or to staunch as they walked in darkness, my wifes health. This was the morning other countries for CFC mission, some- anticipating the light that would soon I would drive nini to St. Lukes for the thing we intend and hope we will be and surely rise and shine upon the face very first day of her difficult 40-day able to do together to the fullness of of the earth. They walked not just to raise funds, radiation treatment to battle a serious our years. kind of cancer. It was during that dusk Sunday, 21 August last month gets else it would have been easier to mail their cheque and stay longer in bed that Sunday. Parents woke up and strode with their family because walking and sacrificing for needful ANCOP youth was a good example that would open and bless the hearts of their very own children. You woke up and walked because you knew, by your own personal experience with education, how a scholars changed life can bless his or her future children and generations beyond. Most of all, we woke up very early because our hearts knew Christ was already there at the MOA before us, and the CFC AnCOP walk was not simply the collective walk of 50,000, but our personal walk with Him. Our loving God who holds our hand, walks with us, and lifts us up every day, is the same loving God who lifts up the lowly and answers the cry of the poor with His very own life, everyday! My most memorable segment of the walk was when we passed the giant MOA globe to our right, and the sun started to rise behind it, and shine its golden light upon it. As I said my morning prayers, this was what I strongly sensed from the Father: My sons and daughters, as long as there are faithful servants like you who wake up each morning with the purpose of offering their lives to continue the work of my Son, I tell you, the rest of the earth will wake up to a brighter day! Brothers and sisters, let us wake up each morning to continue to walk in the purpose of the Lord the most important purpose of all! God bless you.

By Josie Pangilinan

23 Years of Love and Service

thinking, its ok, were only one of many and our absence wont make a difference anyway. This year, however, without prior consultation with each other, we made an almost simultaneous decision to attend. It was as if we were pulled into it. God really moves in mysterious ways. We had been experiencing spiritual

Homily of Bishop Porteous (ExCERPTS)

COUPLES for Christ owes its inner dynamism to the Holy Spirit which has been poured out and the good that has occurred as Couples for Christ has grown and spread is the fruit of the presence of the Holy Spirit in its midst. This is not a work of man, but a work of God. Indeed, we can humbly admit that our human weaknesses have sometimes inhibited all that God has wanted to do. Even when we have made mistakes or caused some division among the brethren, still God has been faithful and not withdrawn His Spirit. Today we can also thank God for His mercy in continuing to pour out His grace despite our own deficiencies. Couples for Christ began as an effort to renew and strengthen marriage and family life under the Lordship of Christ and by the power of the Spirit. Certainly we can rejoice in all that Couples for Christ has been able to do to assist and build up marriage and family life. These are the vital cells of

AUG. 27, 28, 2011 Bossley Park High School Auditorium, Sydney. CFC Australia celebrated 23 years of joyful evangelization and family renewal on the weekend of August 27 and 28. Echoing CFCs theme for the year Put on the full armor of God the affair was specifically held for those who were not able to join the weekend retreat held for CFC Oceania members in Manila last June. Joe Tale, member of the CFC International Council and Social Ministries Director, flew in from Manila to attend the event. Also attending was Bishop Julian Porteous of Sydney who celebrated the thanksgiving mass. Sylvia and Dave McGee of Blacktown chapter summed up the jubilation and excitement of the weekend: Over the years, we had somehow lost interest in attending big CFC gatherings

dryness before this weekend, but it turns out God wanted us here because He wanted to talk to us through the speakers. Ganni Rael, CFC Sydney Cluster head also was upbeat about the weekend: Truly this weekend showed that we can be a very powerful army of God if we

put our hearts, body and mind to whatever goal we set. nothing is impossible if we are united and Christ centered always in our purpose. Everyone contributed no matter how small for the success of the events. I walked out of that venue feeling so good being in a community. Bishop Julians homily was uplifting to the CFC community. He said, I would like to acknowledge the great contribution of Couples for Christ to the parishes. You have much to rejoice in today. Let the joy of evangelisation flow. I unite myself with your joy. I thank God for you and for the manifestation of His grace in CFC. May you continue to flourish in the life of the Spirit and in service to the church. At the end of the weekend, it was announced that the AnCOP Global Walk in Australia had raise around $23,000 that will help educate the poor youth in Solomon Islands, Papua new Guinea and Philippines.

Christian living and the key to the health of both the Church and society. At this time in history when marriage and family are suffering from so many assaults, the Lord has raised up an instrument to strengthen them. Couples for Christ recognizes also that families are a vital instrument in evangelization. I have noticed over the years that couples united in Christ have generously devoted themselves to enabling others to come to know Jesus Christ. Couples have worked as couples. This is a special feature of the charism of Couples for Christ. I commend you for this. I want to also acknowledge the great contribution of Couples for Christ to parishes. Couples for Christ has willingly stood with the Church at the local parish life. The parish will always remain the fundamental cell of Catholic life. I salute your contribution in engaging in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, in assisting in the music ministry and in contributing in all sorts of works that are necessary for the parish to operate well. I commend you for the dedication you have made to the

youth and the ways in which couples have supported the young people in their own journey of faith. Certainly the Church in Sydney is greatly blessed and significantly enriched by the young people associated with Couples for Christ. St. Paul says. offer your living bodies as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to God. In other words, we must constantly offer our lives in all their aspects to the Lord. Once we begin to pull back and restrict our openness to the Lord, then the spiritual vigor can decline. So make a daily offering of yourself for the Lord. Be willing to continue to generously sacBishop / C5

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 15 No. 19
September 12 - 25, 2011

Ugnayan

C5

By Joe Yamamoto

The Pilgrims Journey Continues

(Eds Note: This is the second in a series of articles tracing the route of the Holy Land Pilgrimage that Joe and Mila Yamamoto trekked last year. This is the same route that will be followed by the 200 pilgrims who have already signed up to join the CFC Pearlgrimage from November 20 to december 2, 2011.) From Mt. nebo, the CFC pilgrims will proceed to the lost city of Petra in southern Jordan, an ancient monument and building carved out of rose-colored limestone. To gain access to Petra, the pilgrims will travel on foot through al Siq, a narrow gorge that winds its way for about a mile into the ancient ruins of the city. This trip will take the whole day. Petra was declared a UnESCO World Heritage site in 1985 and named as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. It is located in southwestern Jordan, along the slopes of Mount Hor, the mountain where Aaron, the brother of Moses, was buried. Likewise, Petra was the land of the Edomites, descendants of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob. The Bible tells us that Jacob, in disguise, deceitfully stole the birthright and blessing that properly belonged to Esau as the firstborn of Isaac, enough reason for the feud between the descendants of the two brothers. Genesis eventually narrates that the two tribes eventually effect a reconciliation after a lengthy period of fraternal enmity. The journey to the ancient land of Israel follows a border crossing at Allenby Bridge, named after the famous British Army Field Marshal Edmund Henry Allenby who served with distinction during the conquest of Palestine and Syria at the time of the First World War. Allenby also won the Battle of Megiddo over the Turks in 1918. Megiddo is the vast IMMERSED In PERSOnAL plain in Israel where the Bible THOUGHTS During Milas and my own describes Armageddon, the last great battle between the forces of pilgrimage last year, I remember being deep in personal thought good and evil in the future. The bridge crossing into Israel as our tour group crossed the runs across the Jordan River and border. Setting foot on the land connects Jericho in the West where Jesus himself walked was Bank to the kingdom of Jordan. a dream come true. Crossing The significance of crossing the the Jordan nowadays via the historic Jordan River should not Allenby bridge, in the airconditioned comfort of a tour bus, is be lost on the pilgrims. Significant events associated no big deal. For the Israelites in with the Jordan River are em- ancient times, however, fording phasized in Biblical history as the the Jordan was always a matstruggles for survival of Gods people. After the death of Moses, the Israelites led by Joshua proceeded to cross the river. The Ark of the Covenant, carried by the priests, went ahead of the Israelites and as soon as their feet touched the edge of the waters of the River Jordan, it dried up allowing the people to cross over to Canaan on firm ground (Joshua 3:14-17). Much later in the Bible timeline (2 Kings 2:8), the prophet Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up and struck the water, which divided, Joe and Mila under the legendary sycamore tree and both Elijah and Elisha crossed over on dry ground. Soon after that crossing, ter of survival. Life and death Elisha asked Elijah for a double weighed heavily on Gods Choportion of your spirit. not long sen people as they crossed this after that conversation, Elijah natural barrier. For modern day was taken up to heaven in a Palestinians, engaged as they flaming chariot in a whirlwind are in the lingering enmity with (2 Kings 2:9-11). In these two Israel, there remains the obstacle momentous events, the River of hurdling restrictive policies Jordan miraculously dried up on governing their free passage into and out of Israel. account of divine intervention. Once one gets past the imIn the new Testament events surrounding Jesus, the River migration formalities, Filipino Jordan features prominently pilgrims will feel a genuine once again. The river is the site warm welcome and friendship of His baptism (Matt.3:13-17; from the people of the modern Mark 1: 9-11; Luke 3:21-22 and state of Israel. Modern day Jews remember how the Philippine John 1:29-34). government supported them in the fragile early days of their existence by being one of the first nations to cast a vote in favor of a free and independent Jewish nation. At the time of the Jewish pogroms in Europe during the harsh days of anti-Semitism in the 1930s while the dark clouds of World War II were forming, our country was also one of the very few that courageously provided asylum to many displaced, unwanted and persecuted Jewish families. Thus, today, visiting Filipinos do not need a visa to enter a grateful Israel. Remembering the selfless acts of Filipino leaders of a bygone era, I felt a tinge of pride in my heritage. JERICHO BECKOnS After a simple border crossing, the pilgrim will set foot in the ancient city of Jericho, Israel, to the west of the Jordan River. It is ironic that no Jew should enter, much less reside, in the ancient historic city of Jericho - it is now Palestinian territory! One recalls that Jericho was the very piece of land that God handed over miraculously to Joshua. This is one of the modern paradoxes of the Middle East. There are recognized areas in an independent Israel that are not open to the entry of Jews; places where only Palestinian Arabs can live and dwell. I remember purposely telling myself not to dwell on the politics of it all, if I were to derive the most meaning from the pilgrimage. Similarly categorized areas are very important Christian pilgrim sites - Bethlehem, nazareth, Bethany, nablus, and even the Temple mount in Jerusalem. In a small town park well inside Jericho is a lone, towering and ancient sycamore tree, the one that tradition associates with Zaccheus, the tax collector of short stature and beloved of Jesus. The call of Jesus for Zaccheus to come down from the branches of the Sycamore was a manifestation of Gods unconditional love for a repentant sinner. It felt good to pause for a few moments under that old sycamore tree and to reflect on that encounter between sinner and Redeemer. As I came close to the trunk of that tree and savored the gentle breeze that made the leaves and small branches sway, it was just as easy to feel the kind of inner peace that Zaccheus must have felt when he met the Lord. Just outside the limits of old Jericho is the Mountain of Temptation, an almost barren mountain that rises 350 meters above sea level. This was where Jesus allowed the devil to tempt him during His forty days and nights of fasting. The mountain, which from early Christian times has been called the Mount of Temptation, was referred to as Mons Quarantana by the Crusaders in the first half of the 12th century, and is locally known as Quruntul (from Quaranta meaning forty, the number of days in the Gospel account of Christs fast). next stop is Mount Tabor, the mountain of the Transfiguration, the revelation of Jesuss divine glory that was witnessed by the apostles Peter, James, and John. The Transfiguration took place after Jesuss discourse in response to Peters declaration and confession at Caesarea Philippi that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus face shone brilliantly like the sun, and his clothing appeared white as light. Moses and Elijah appeared as witnesses representing the Law and the Prophets testifying to the reality of Jesus as the Messiah. A bright cloud then overshadowed them all and a voice was heard declaring, This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him! (Luke 9:35). Every moment of our stay in Israel somehow felt very special and refreshing. Far beyond the novelty and excitement of going to a new country, I felt a sense of awe and wonder that cannot be explained by mere traveling to a historic place. It was really like getting connected to a lifeline, to what is the source of my own faith. From moment to moment, there was a new discovery; a fresh insight over something overlooked or taken for granted. The actual rebirth of the modern state of Israel in 1948 is a prophecy come true. For many centuries, exiled Jewish diaspora across the globe longed to go back to the land of their ancestors, back to the land promised by God to Abraham, Isaac , Jacob and the descendants of the twelve tribes of Israel. In mid-twentieth century, against all odds, Israel was reborn. It is the only modern country that revived its original name, its original language, alphabet and religion. There is something uniquely unfathomable and captivating in the charm as well as the timelessness of Israel. The allure that this ancient land confers upon a pilgrim is a particular kinship and spiritual bond that only its being the spiritual birthplace of our Christian faith can ever give. Walking about the narrow streets, or trekking in the hills that are barren in some but blooming with produce in others, one cannot miss out on the breadth and contrast of varying impressions on the land that allowed the birth and growth of the worlds three greatest monotheistic religions. In my case, the pilgrimage was a great opportunity to deepen my appreciation for the roots of our faith.

By Jun Uriarte

You will have your faith shaken

A STORY is told that St. Alphonsus Liguori, the founder of the Redemptorist Order, was capable of being seen in multiple locations at the same time, for instance, hearing confessions in one location and preaching in another. In a well-known case, he was seen sitting in a chair for an entire day in plain view of many people but he was also at the bedside of the dying Pope Clement XIV in another location. The Redemptorist Congregation officially began on 9 November 1732 with four members including Alphonsus. Several more followers joined shortly thereafter. But dissensions immediately arose. Alphonsus close friend and main companion, Vincent Mannarini, opposed him at every turn. In just five months, all his companions left to form a separate group called the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. Only one lay brother, Vitus Curtius, stayed with Alphonsus. But the greatest test of faith was to come many more years later when the congregation had already grown in number. This happened in 1780 when Alphonsus was 83 years old. At that time, the King of naples had not yet recognized the Redemptorists although Pope Benedict XIV had given his approval many years earlier. Thinking that the time had come to finally resolve this problem, he tasked a group headed by Fr. Majone to resolve it. Since the king wanted them to be secular priests rather than belong to a religious order, the group of Fr. Majone decided to make drastic changes in the Rules. The three vows of poverty, chastity and obeBishop / B4

dience were removed and the authority of superiors greatly diminished thus ending all notions of a common life and destroying the essence of the Redemptorists way of life. This new Rule was brought to Alphonsus for his signature. Already suffering from many serious afflictions, crippled, deaf and almost blind, Alphonsus was not in a position to carefully study the new Rule. Instead he had to trust and depend on his friends and subordinates. But he was betrayed at every turn. His friend the Grand Almoner betrayed him. His subordinates Fr. Majone and Fr. Cimino betrayed him. Even his confessor and vicar-general in the government of his Order, Fr. Villani, joined in the conspiracy of assuring Alphonsus that nothing substantial had been changed in the new Rule. And thus the unsuspecting Alphonsus was induced to put his signature. The issuance of the new Rule resulted in a split in the Congregation. Those located in the Papal States continued to live according to the original Rule approved by the Pope while those in naples began to live under the new Rule approved by the King of naples. As a result, Alphonsus was cut off from the Redemptorist Order by the Pope and was forced to live outside the Congregation that he founded until his death on 1 August 1787. He died believing that the Order had been irreversibly divided and destroyed. It was not until 1793 when Naples finally recognized the original Rule that the Congregation was reunited under one head. The history of salvation is replete with stories of betrayal. Jesus himself

was betrayed by his closest friends and companions. And as they reclined at table and were eating, Jesus said, Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me. Then Jesus said to them, All of you will have your faith shaken, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be dispersed. But after I have been raised up, I shall go before you to Galilee. Peter said to him, Even though all should have their faith shaken, mine will not be. Then Jesus said to him, Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times. But he vehemently replied, Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you. And they all spoke similarly (Mk 14:18,27-31). We all know the rest of the story. Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, became remorseful, and killed himself. Peter denied Jesus three times, became repentant, and served him till death. When Jesus was arrested, all the disciples fled. Only John and the women disciples were present at the foot of the cross. Our community too has experienced division and betrayal. In a short span of thirty years, we experienced three separations. First we separated from our founding community mainly to enable us to pursue rapid, massive and global evangelization. Then a group separated from us largely due to personal differences among the top leaders on how to pursue the mission and vision of the community. Finally, we let go of another group primarily because it focused more on nation building rather than on building Gods

kingdom, on addressing poverty as an end rather than as a means to express Gods love, on making heroes rather than forming saints. Our faith is tested when the community experiences betrayal and division. But as we continue to travel in this earthly pilgrimage, there will be other ways by which our faith will be shaken. We need to be aware that the words of Jesus are also addressed to us: All of you will have your faith shaken. Thus at the personal level, we will all experience trials that will shake our faith. For some these trials will come early in life. For others, they will come much later. As our community begins its journey from pearl to gold, having withstood, by the grace of God, betrayals and separations, and as the leadership in the community passes on to others, there will be more and more couples who, after serving the community for years leading chapters, clusters, sectors, areas, and various ministries, will find themselves seemingly unwanted with no assigned service. A few of them may even feel betrayed, particularly those who find themselves without even a lower household to lead and pastor. This will be an experience that may test their faith. There are also a number of couples in our community who had experienced success in their careers and earned generous salaries that enabled them not only to send their children to the best schools, travel on vacation regularly, wear designer clothes and live comfortable lives, but more importantly to serve in the community

willingly, faithfully and generously leading communities, organizing conferences, going on missions to teach, giving retreats and establishing new communities in various parts of the world using their own financial resources. But as they look forward to comfortable years of retirement while continuing to serve in the community, they may find that they do not have enough savings to continue to support their service in the community and the rest of their retired life. This may be caused by unforeseen events children who already have their own families losing their jobs, and/or children and siblings making bad investments, and/ or children and siblings needing costly medical treatments and other interventions that make unplanned demands on their savings. These couples find themselves needing a source of income but discover that employment is no longer an option. They may put up a business but find that projects do not come easy. Having served the community for many years, they worry not so much about how to support themselves but how to continue serving God in the community using their own financial resources. Like St. Alphonsus and the early disciples, we will all be tested and our faith shaken. Some may even feel betrayed. But this is no reason to slacken in service. Faith is a gift from God. Therefore the only way to pass the test and serve even more is to hold on to God, to focus on Jesus. And then God will provide. God will restore us. If not during our earthly pilgrimage then certainly in the heavenly life that awaits us.

rifice yourself for the work of the Lord. The theme you have for this year, Put on the armor of God, is very appropriate in this matter. We are to be people of the Spirit. We are aware that there is a spiritual battle that each of us is engaged in. The devil prowls

around looking for whom he may devour. We know we need to be protected spiritually. Our faith, our attentiveness to the Word of God in Holy Scripture, our life of prayer, our sacramental life, are the tools that will ensure that we continue to remain spiritually strong. Stay

strong in the Spirit! It is from a strong interior life in the Spirit that we find joy in evangelization. not so much in sending missionaries to foreign countries though this is still important but rather in being evangelizers within our own society. We are being called

upon to devote our efforts to the new Evangelization. This is the great mission in our time as the cancer of secularism spreads in our nation and across the world. More and more people have lost a sense of God and live their lives as though God does not exist. We are to be the instruments

by which Christ is proclaimed afresh and with new spiritual vigor so that people living in the shadows can come out into the light. Christ is the light! You know this. You understand this. You are doing this. In engaging in the new Evangelization you are at the heart of the

Church and in loyal communion with the Holy Father. Today I unite myself with you in joy. I thank God for you and for the manifestation of His grace in Couples for Christ. May you continue to flourish in the life of the Spirit and in service to the Church.

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Ugnayan
BONG ARJONILLO Central C
Central C covers Makati, Pasay, parts of Manila and part of Taguig. Bong is a member of the Board of Elders, Regional Coordinator of the Greater Mekong Area (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar) and Provincial Area Head (PAH) of Iloilo. Bong and Carol were married in 1985, joined CFC in 1994, and are blessed with four sons: Francis Dominic (24), John Benedict (21), Rabboni Jr (18), and John Christopher (12). Bong, 52, is a Senior Vice President and the Chief Risk Officer of China Bank. Ours is not a perfect family, but we have been brought to a greater appreciation of our dependence on God in all aspects of our family life through our prayer life in the community. We see this as a huge benefit for our family and this is what makes CFC so indispensable for us. CFC has brought to life the service aspect of my relationship with God in my Christian purpose of knowing him, loving him and serving him. My time, talent and treasure are at Gods disposal, knowing and trusting fully that God will take care of me and my family as He cannot be outdone in generosity. I am motivated in my service in the community by my gratitude for Gods goodness to me and my family. I aim to give back even if it is a mere pittance compared to Gods overflowing generosity. For me, it is akin to depositing in my spiritual bank account with God.

CBCP Monitor
September 12 - 25, 2011

Vol. 15 No. 19

Know Your Metro Manila Sector Heads

JORGE ALONZO East B
East B covers Antipolo, Marikina, San Mateo, Montalban. Jorge and Marmi were married in 1981, joined CFC in 1993 and have three children: Paul Patrick (27), Mara Carmela (24), and Paul Vincent (19). Jorge, 59, is a Consultant. I love being in CFC because the community is one big family where I am able to feel the manifestation of Gods presence through loving relationships with brothers and sisters. In community, opportunities to serve are never wanting, and these include serving in the parish. I view the capability of the community to weather the severe storms experienced in recent years as a clear affirmation of Gods grace and favor for CFC. This moves me to be more steadfast in my commitment to God and the community.

BOYET RAFAEL West A

West A covers Caloocan, Malabon, navotas, Tondo and Valenzuela. Boyet and Ditas were married in1988 and joined CFC in 1993. Boyet, 50, is in the food business. What I love most about being in CFC are the opportunities to serve God and His people, the fact that God has adequately filled up the emptiness in our married life (we have no children), and the wonderful reality that CFC is our second family. The love of God, and the way our faith and trust in Him are strengthened through the challenges we encounter while serving, keep us going in our service.

ERNIE BALARBAR North B

north B covers the following areas in Quezon City: Projects 2&3, Kamias District, Pinyahan, Sikatuna, UP Teachers Village, La Vista, Loyola Heights, UP Balara, Commonwealth, Brgy Holy Spirit, BF Homes, Fairview, Batasan, and Payatas Area. Ernie and Cathy married in 1984, joined CFC in 1987 and have three (3) children: Justin Karl (25), Charleen Ann (19), Colleen Mae (19). Ernie is a Technical Consultant. There are many things I love in CFC. The most important one, however, is that CFC is a way that has made it easier for me to actively live out my Christian life. CFC is a blessing to me and my family. My motivation in service comes from my belief that in this small way, I am able to thank the Lord for all His blessings for me and my family.

ARNEL SANTOS West B

West B covers portions of Manila and Quezon City. Arnel is a member of the Board of Elders and is concurrently the PAH of Apayao. Arnel and Bing were married in 1997, joined CFC in 1998 and have two children: Emilio (13) and Psalma (5). Arnel, 44, is a lawyer. The journey to God that is filled with joy, love and meaning, under any circumstance, is the one thing I love most about CFC. The hunger for Gods grace is what motivates me in my service because I know that everything and every service flows from and is the result of Gods grace.

OMY SANTOS Central B

Central B covers Pasig, Pateros and most of Taguig City. Also the PAH of Tarlac, Omy married Fe in 1979. They joined CFC in 1990 and have two children: Julius (30) and Janice (26), and three grandchildren. Omy, 57, is a retired bank employee. One thing I love most in CFC is the love and care of brethren that I experienced, and continue to experience, in the community. Even with so many challenges, oppressions and pains, I am compelled to move on with my service because I know that God is always with me, protecting me and making me feel His love in so many ways. It is through CFC that I have discovered that there can be joy in service.

STEVE MANINGAT West C

West C sector covers the following areas in Quezon City: Tandang Sora, Project 6, Project 8, Baesa and novaliches. Steve and Minnie have been married since 1983, joined CFC in 1990 and have four children: Paolo (27), Tonico (23), Pacholo (18), and Luis (11) and one grandchild. Steve is a businessman. We joined Couples for Christ because of one thing - FAMILY. We desired that our marriage and family life have to be in accordance with the plan of God. CFC provided the Christian growth environment for our children through the family ministries. We have also experienced strong support for our marriage through our household as we prayed and shared our lives with them. Gods faithfulness to His promise that He will take care of my family when I serve keeps me very much motivated in my service.

SENEN REYES North A

north A sector covers areas in Caloocan City, Quezon City and some parts of Bulacan. Senen and Marie were married in 1986, joined CFC in 1988, and have three (3) children: Kae (24), niko (22) and Mia (13). Senen, 51, is a Senior Management Specialist/ Researcher/Instructor. Being able to live out Christian teachings and to share God with my family and others is the one thing that I really love most about CFC. Whenever I see the changed lives of our less fortunate brethren, and realize that the community provides the venue by which people can have a renewed personal relationship with Jesus Christ, I am all the more motivated to serve Him and His people.

MON DE LEON South B

South B sector covers Paranaque City, Muntinglupa City and parts of Pasay City, Taguig and Las Pinas. Mon is current Moderator of the CFC Board of Elders and the PAH of CFC Laguna. Mon and Penny were married in 1974, joined CFC in 1990 and have four children: Anthony (35), Regina (32), Joseph (26), and Camille (18). Mon, 60, is the Vice President for Human Resources, Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP). There are many things I love about CFC -- First and foremost, the presence of the Lord in everything I do- from my morning prayer to my sleeping time. Second is what I call the WE and the US. Penny and I are always together serving, giving and sharing, but with enough independence, such that Penny can share her God-given talent in marketing (as in her role in Build My House project). It is always a we even in the leadership of the community within the sector, region or province that are assigned to us. But there is also the us because the journey is not mine alone but with other leaders and members journeying towards the promised land of salvation. One of my motivations in serving is all about the trust in the Lord and the strength of Spirit which He has promised (Ezekiel 37; Jer 29:11-14). A further motivation is the Holy Eucharist. It is CFC that brought me back to the Holy Mother Church - from being a nominal Catholic for so long a time. Thus together with my CFC service is my love for serving in our parish of St James the Great, as well as the Diocese of Paranaque, as head of the Commission on the Family, my involvement in the parishs Basic Ecclesial Community, and as an Extraordinary Minister of the Holy Communion. CFC has the capability to touch lives where each life we help transforms back to the Lord.

GEORGE CAMPOS East A

East A covers Cainta, Taytay, portions of Antipolo, and portions of Pasig. George is also PAH of nueva Vizcaya and Country Coordinator of Vietnam. George and Cynthia were married in September 1987, joined CFC in 1990, and have four children: Patrick (23), Therese (21), Catherine (17), and Christen (9). George, 48, is a retired Meralco executive and a Power and Energy Consultant. Finding peace and fulfillment is the one thing I love and am most grateful for about being in CFC. Peace, because I realized, once I had developed a deeper relationship with God, that the clutter in my life was due to my priorities being wrong. Fulfillment, because the happiness I gained in serving God through CFC can never be replaced. The joys of service have a lingering effect that permeates every aspect of my being. Challenges, trials, failures and frustrations have always been a part of the service in the 21 years we have been in CFC. For me, these are all but a small price to pay for the kind of joy and fulfillment that service brings. But most of all what keeps me really motivated is the promise from Mt 25:21 Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.

JIMMY ILAGAN Central A

Central A covers Mandaluyong, San Juan and Sta. Mesa (Manila). Jimmy and Lorna were married in 1983, joined CFC in 1989 and have three children: Jamiel (27), JL (25) and Lemuel (20). Jimmy, 49, is a Consultant on Compliance and Business Development. I love being in CFC because it is like a true family. In CFC, I have seen the love and caring that brethren give to one another. I served as provincial area head at one time and for me, it was like being only an overseer because in the province, there is a passionate and dedicated Area Governance Team. Being a sector head is a different story. It is far more challenging perhaps because Metro Manila is in the very center of the global mission. Also brethren in the city are very busy with their work or business compared to other areas. The centrality of evangelization in the mission of CFC motivates me to go beyond my limits. Transforming lives and moving people closer to God is a dream for me, for my sector, and, most especially, for my family. This is why we persevere in doing the mission that the Lord wants us to do.

ROMY ALFARO South A

South A covers Las Pinas. Romy is also the PAH of Zambales and the Regional Head of Central Luzon. Romy and Edit were married in 1983, joined CFC in 1992 and have four children: Thea (26), norman (24), Regine (22), and Rocky (18). Romy, 55, is in the construction business. What I treasure most about CFC are the household meetings and prayer assemblies that continuously nourish us as individuals, as a family and as a community. The small and big victories in transforming lives and in bringing peace and unity in the families under my pastoral care are enough inspiration for Edit and me to go on with the work given and entrusted to us. I acknowledge that Gods faithfulness in providing all our spiritual and physical needs is immeasurable and that serving God is always a privilege.

The Role of Mary In A Christian Community

By Arnel Santos
COnSISTEnT with what former CFC Chairman Joe Tale has described as CFCs journey towards making more concrete its devotion to the Holy Mother, the leaders of CFC reflected on The Role of Mary in a Christian Community during the MCGT held on August 16, 2011, at Christ the King Parish in Greenmeadows, Quezon City. The session was facilitated by Monsignor Sabino Vengco, Jr., STD, who enjoined CFC leaders to follow Pope Benedict XVIs exhortation that, any reflection on Mary must be biblical or rooted in Gods revelation in the Scripture. He focused on Mary as recounted in the Gospel of John which mentioned Mary only twice, but that is enough. Msgr. Vengco first centered on the wedding feast at Cana (John 2:1-12). He explained that this scriptural passage has opposing interpretations. For Protestants this passage is proof na tama lamang na si Maria ay di gaanong bigyan ng pansin. Jesus words that Woman, ano sa akin ang pinagkakaabalahan mo? indicate that tila malayo ang loob ni Kristo kay Maria. For some Catholics, the fact that Jesus himself could not refuse his mother proves that Mary is our intercessor, in other words, the no. 1 fixer. All of these, according to Msgr. Vengco, are unworthy interpretation of the Word of God. He explained that the scene is actually Christological-- it is about Jesus Christ, not Mary. Johns Gospel is the Book of Signs. Seven major signs have been recounted by the writer, and the first took place in Cana. The intent of the writer, according to Msgr. Vengco, is to show that this was the beginning of the signs performed by Jesus; this first sign revealed the glory of Jesus; and the purpose of the sign is so that witnesses could find faith in Jesus. It was meant to introduce and identify our God, and to answer the question: Who is this Jesus? It is a pivotal projection of His identity. The meaning of who Jesus is lies in the miracle. With this as basic perspective, Msgr. Vengco proceeded to discuss the role of Mary in a Christian community. They have no wine. Msgr. Vengco called attention to Marys first words: They have no wine. He related that the word wine is synonymous with celebration and happiness. Wine flows when God fulfills the promises to Israel. It is eschatological. Happiness all around is symbolized by the wine. Marys first sentence, therefore, is a curtain call: an evaluation of the Jewish religion of old. Msgr. Vengco said that Mary is drawing the line. Judaism does not provide the happiness or joy in their lives. It was an assessment of its barrenness and it was Mary who declared this failure. The answer for the lack of joy, Msgr. Vengco explained, is our Lord. Jesus Christ came and through Him and by Him, wine will flow in abundance. Jesus Christ gives abundant wine. He is the bringer of joy. Woman Msgr. Vengco directed the CFC leaders attention to the fact that Marys name was not the new Man. The two of them will now go into a partnership characterized by a joint obedience to God. Thus, the reference to Woman. Msgr. Vengco clarified that the wedding is actually the wedding between God and Humanity. A new relationship takes place for Heaven and Earth, initially at Cana, where Man and Woman will come out very strongly. My Hour has not yet come Msgr. Vengco pointed out Jesus answer to Mary: Ano sa akin ang pinagkakaabalahan mo? He said that this is not a correct translation. It must be: Ano ito sa akin at sa iyo? or Ano ang kahulugan nito sa atin? Jesus asked Mary this question because the answer was foundational: My hour has not yet come. Msgr. Vengco referred to this as the theology of the Hour. This means the paschal mystery, the fulfillment of the will of the Father; the supreme moment of obedience which is the very opposite of Adam and Eve. It refers to Jesus Christ there on the cross. The hour means I am determined by the will of God. The hour is of paramount importance to me. I cannot contradict the hour. In other words, Jesus Christ is laying out the program of his whole life. According to Msgr. Vengco, when Jesus said This is not the hour, Jesus is highlighting that the mission and vision is defined by the hour. Mary understood this. There was no rejection. That is a shallow interpretation. Do whatever He tells you. When Mary stated, Do whatever He tells you, Mary was restating that Jesus was the boss, and no one else. Msgr. Vengco explained that Mary is now playing out the role of partner of Jesus Christ. Marys lips are now the lips of a mother to others. Because of her special relationship with Jesus, her relationship with others becomes communal. Msgr. Vengco then stressed: In community, in the pursuit of fulfilling the will of God, we go by Marys instructions Do whatever He tells you. Mary then is the first and the perfect disciple of Jesus. The way to fulfill Gods will is to listen to Him. The first role of Christian disciples in any community of faith, Msgr. Vengco said, is loyalty to Christ, as manifested
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even mentioned by John, who referred to her only as the mother of Jesus. When Mary brought the problem to Jesus, He answered by addressing Mary as Woman, and this was intentional and explicit. The intent is to emphasize that the Gospel of John was written with the perspective of presenting to us the new creation. The first creation failed. Hence, Jesus is now the first born of the new creation and the new Adam. And just as in the first creation-- where God gave the Man a suitable partner,-Jesus Christ, the logos, is given Mary, the Woman partner of

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Vol. 15 No. 19
September 12 - 25, 2011

Ugnayan

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A Miracle called the ANCOP Global Walk

On the dawn of August 21, 2011, CFC members, their families, friends and ANCOP supporters, got up to gather in different parts of the Philippines and the world to raise awareness as well as funds for the ANCOP Child Sponsorship Program via the first ANCOP Global Walk. The miracle and victory of the ANCOP Global Walk is evidence that indeed, God loves His poor.

Calisthenics at 4:30 AM, SM MOA

CFC Chair Ricky Cuenca welcoming Metro Manila walkers

And theyre off! An estimated crowd of 50,000 Metro Manila walkers

Not even his disability can stop this brother from helping the scholars

Department of Foreign Affairs with their mascot Agusan del Sur

Even mans bestfriend walked!

Antique Baguio-Benguet Lamitan, Basilan

Bohol Bacolod Sta. Rosa, Laguna Bataan

Lanao del Norte Ormoc Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat Doha, Qatar

New Jersey, USA

Nnewi, Nigeria Manitoba, Canada

Singapore

CFC Davao Oriental Launches ANCOP

By Sr. Marietta Alo
Florida, USA

Australia North Carolina, USA

By Roger Santos

ANCOP CSP Florida Coordinators Visit ANCOP USA Scholars

Mary Graces father is an invalid due to a vehicular accident, while her mother sells barbecue and other street food. Their average daily income is Php300. Mary Grace and all her seven siblings go to school. Eunice Chua of Buhay at Yaman ni San Martin de Porres was also present during the visit, and she committed to refer Mary Graces father to an orthopaedic doctor, so he could be operated on and hopefully find work again. The Reyes family is grateful for the assistance, and for all the support, prayers and financial help they receive through AnCOPs Child Sponsorship Program. Through AnCOP, Mary Grace hopes to achieve her dream of becoming a nurse or social worker someday.

AnCOP Child Sponsorship Program (CSP) coordinators and sponsors Rich and Tina Jensen, visited their sponsored scholar Mary Grace Reyes in Binondo, Manila on August 22, 2011. The Jensens visited Mary Grace and her family at their home. The family of ten (father, mother and 8 children) share a 10 square meter home with a common toilet. Their home is located in a typical shanty in Delpan, Binondo, where the houses are made of light materials, susceptible to fire. Due to congestion, the air is quite humid.

MATI, Davao Oriental, August 23, 2011 Answering the Cry of the Poor (AnCOP) is the current battlecry of the Couples for Christ in the diocese of Mati, province of Davao Oriental. CFC launched AnCOP at the Provincial Capitol Gym in Mati last August 20-21 simultaneous with their 17th foundation anniversary in Davao Oriental and the CFCs 30th anniversary in the Philippines. Around 900 CFC memberscouples, singles, handmaids, servants and kids - came to celebrate the two-day gathering. The event was climaxed by the AnCOP Global Walk-for-a-scholar from the Bay-walk site to the Provincial Capitol at 5:00-7:00 am on the second day. Adult participants contributed Php300 per person while high school students from the Mati and Matiao Public High Schools, the Lupon Vocational School, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy, donated Php20 per person. The celebration opened in the early afternoon of Saturday, August 20th, with the arrival/ registration of delegates, formal opening ceremonies, the celebration of the Mass at 4:00 pm, followed by talks, dinner, and Bagani or Mandayan warrior night. Baganis dressed in colorful costumes from the Matiao national High School presented intermission numbers throughout the 2-day activities to give fuller physical meaning to the theme Put on the Full Armor of God. Bishop Patricio H. Alo presided over the Sunday Eucharistic Celebration on the second day at the Capitol gym. He stressed the great

importance of the family, particularly the responsibility of the parents, in safeguarding the sacredness of human life, and in forming good citizens of the world, future citizens of heaven, meantime responding to the call of Christ to preach the good news to the whole world; led by the Holy Spirit and fidelity to living out the Word of God or the Holy Bible intended for every home. Before the closing praise festival at noon of the 2nd day, anniversary messages were further delivered by two provincial area heads on this years theme from Eph. 6:11. Dionisio Catubig from Mati City, Davao Oriental and Bonifacio Licayan from Tagum City, Davao del norte, explained the purpose or global vision of CFCs efforts in BRInGInG CHRISTS TRAnSFORMInG LOVE TO THE POOR and BUILDInG THE CHURCH OF THE POOR as the Armor of God conquering the worlds misleading trends and values of materialism, individualism, greed, and violence or un-peace. They underlined education of the poor child and the family as keys to restore hope and faith towards transformation of the whole community and renewal in Christ, grounded in Christian values and practices.

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Ugnayan
By Maolen Olalia-Tolentino

CBCP Monitor

September 12 - 25, 2011

Vol. 15 No. 19

CFC Vietnam: Going Strong at 13

By Ed Ubaldo
COUPLES for Christ Vietnam held a three-day celebration from August 19 to 21 to commemorate its 13 years as a community in this vibrant city of Ho Chi Minh. Joe Tale, CFC International Council member and Director for Social Ministries and the Church Integration Office, shared a short yet vivid and profound reflection of how it is to be a salt of the earth and a servant in Couples for Christ during the August 19 gathering. In the afternoon of Saturday, 20th August, Joe and the CFC Vietnam governance team paid a courtesy call on Cardinal Pham Minh Man. The Cardinal expressed his gratitude that two cultures are merging in spreading the good news. The good Cardinal also reiterated his support and endorsement of CFC and its Family Ministries. In the evening, all roads led to the new building of the Pink Church, Hai Ba Trung, HCMC. Because CFC Vietnam is now officially a teen, the members went hip hop, donning cool baseball caps, baggy shirts, and of course, studded bling bling. Just like an active and excited teenager, each Family Ministry showcased their creativity and talent through a variety of presentations, involving hip hop performances, a musical skit, and a traditional love song presented by our very own Vietnamese brethren. not to be outdone, Joe Tale, George and Cynthia Campos revealed their own talents, with an impromptu song and upbeat dance moves. To conclude the festivities, CFCVietnam took part in the AnCOP Global Walk on Sunday, 21st August, held at the grounds of the Ton Duc Thang Pastoral Centre. After the walk, Holy Mass was celebrated by Fr. Christian Limbaring, a former YFC leader in Iligan. Short exhortations were delivered by Renan Danganan (CFC- Vietnam Country Head), Antit Macatol (CFC- Vietnam Mission and Evangelization Head) and George Campos and his wife, Cynthia (CFC- Vietnam Country Coordinator).

Central B Full Armor Echo Conference

over the world to echo the message of the Biblical verse. A total of 495 THE theme for the year of Couples for Christ Put on the full armor of God provided the anchor for the Echo Conference of Central B at the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) in Tagaytay last Aug 13-14, 2011. The sectors conference is just one of similar conferences being held all

delegates attended the echo conference and went home, with the conviction that everyone needs to take a stand in the battle against evil.

By JM Yupangco

Laos Rekindled
from Singapore, namely: Delfin Juan and Myra Alvarez from Singles for Christ, Mervin Arellano of Servants of the Lord, and from CFC: Alvin and Michelle Hernandez, Jojo and Alexis Sibayan, Caesar and Lorna Chiu, and Edo and Chona Del Mundo, the Assistant Team Leader. They formed and named their team Malakh (Malakh is a messenger of God or an angel), with their slogan I commit to be a mes-

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A team of eleven (11) from CFC Manila and an equal number from CFC/SFC/SOLD Singapore conducted a mega-CLP at the Sacred Heart Parish in Vientiane, Laos last July 16-17, 2011. It was dj vu, for after a few years of absence, CFC is now back in Laos. The Laos Peoples Democratic Republic (PDR) is a country bounded by Myanmar, Cambodia, China, Thailand, and Vietnam. With a population of only around 7 million (as of 2010), the communist state country has an estimated 67% Buddhist and a mere 1.5% Christian population. There are approximately around 500 Filipinos in Laos with about 200 of them residing in Vientiane. The CLP team from Manila was headed by CFC Greater Mekong Area (GMA) Regional Coordinator Bong and Carol Arjonillo. Bong is also sector head in Metro Manila Central B and Provincial Area Head for Iloilo province. His team was composed of Siquijor Area Head Bobby and Malou Mercado, Alex and Bess Escucha, Central Visayas Regional Head Reggie and Janet Ragojos, Myanmar Country Coordinator Mel Serrano, and newly appointed Laos Country Coordinator Jose Mari and Emilie Yupangco, the CLP Team Leader. Completing the team were brethren

senger of God and to become salt and light of the earth. They were joined by members stationed in Laos Philippine Ambassador to Laos Marilyn Alarilla, Ronald and May Villanueva, and Sarah Erer. The Laos team also included the parish priest of Sacred Heart Parish, Fr. Beck Inthirath (who graciously accepted to be the new CFC Spiritual Director for CFC Laos), Jesse Encio, DC (one of three Filipina nuns assigned at the parish), Fr. Doroteo (Dorot) B. Reyes, OMI (the Filipino priest from Thailand who visits the parish monthly), Filipino expats and new CFC members Rey and Lyn Feria, SOLD member Mike Reyes, and Oliver (Toto) and Angel Malazarte, Parish Music Ministry

In-Charge. Instantly, the three (3) teams bonded like family. We were all truly excited in serving the Lord in ways that are unimaginable to us, and in a country where none of us has ever been to. The excitement kept growing especially since the CLP started with only six participants in the morning but slowly, the participants came trickling in until finally, by lunch time, the CLP counted 30 participants. Gods plan was unfolding beautifully. But then the news came that our session for the day could not go beyond 8 PMpm. We had to cut short the activities by three hours! The Holy Spirits presence empowered the team to split resources. We ended up conducting two concurrent CLPs! Two venues! Two speakers speaking in separate rooms! Two sets of music ministries and prayer warriors! Despite the many challenges and concerns, the CLP was a success and was blessed with 45 CLP graduates: 10 CFC couples, composed of 5 Lao couples, one Singapore/Filipino couple and 4 Filipino couples; 17 HOLD, one of which is Lao, and 4 SOLD. Immediately after the CLP, the CFC Laos Core Coordinating Group (LCCG) was created composed mostly of the Vientiane, Laos members. The LCCG will be monitoring activities of CFC / SFC / HOLD / SOLD during its infancy stage in Vientiane. Forthcoming visits to Laos are now being planned by CFC GMA in coordination with CFC Singapore team.

by attentiveness to His word and answering with obedience and fidelity. The joy, happiness and fulfillment go hand in hand with our own obedience to the Almighty. The role of Mary Msgr. Vengco further explained that our teacher to fulfill our role as disciples is the Woman, the new partner of the new human kind. Thus, you are being challenged to have a special devotion to Mary, who is first to declare they have no wine. Mary today will say there is no justice to those who suffer injustice. Mary is the one who identifies what else is required, what is lacking. Until we can say that there is no wine, we are not ready to be Christs disciples. And as Mary knows the problem, she is also first to tell us that the next step is do it the way of Christ. Do what He tells you. Behold your mother The second mention of Mary in the Gospel of John is in Calvary. Msgr. Vengco focused on John 19:25-27, when Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, and said to his mother, Woman, behold,

your son. Then he said to the disciple, Behold, your mother. And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. Commenting on the passage, Msgr. Vengco said: On top of Calvary, the Church was born. On top of Calvary, Jesus constituted the eklesia. Mary, the biological mother of Jesus, became a mother the second time. Calvary becomes the second Bethlehem, the cross-- the second crib, from where the mystical body of Christ was born: the Church. Msgr. Vengco concluded that a spiritual mother was assigned to give birth to the mystical body of Christ. It is as if Jesus was saying to Mary: In your role as Woman, whoever I love, you will love, whoever I need, you will give. In sum, Mary belongs to the community of faith, caring, loving, guarding, reprimanding. Mary should be loved as our own mother and anyone who does not love Mary rejects the word of God --- Son, Behold Thy Mother. Msgr. Vengco ended his discussion lamenting the fact that si Maria ay isang ina na hindi kilala ng kanyang mga anak. (Mary is a mother who is not known by her own children.)

CFCleaders worship before the talk of Msgr. Vengco

Archbishop Angel Lagdameo on Prayer and Evangelization

By Leni Prado
CEnTRAL C Sector, headed by sector head Bong Arjonillo, invited Archbishop Angel Lagdameo as their speaker for their teaching night last August 25, 2011. Held at the Lay Force Chapel in Guadalupe, the teaching night began with the Mass celebrated by the bishop himself. The Archbishop spoke about The Relationship between Prayer and the Work of Evangelization or the relationship of prayer and apostolate. Starting off with Matthew 9:37-38: The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few, so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest, the archbishop noted that his talk can be summarized in three parts, namely: 1.) Prayer prepares the Apostle; 2.) Prayer accompanies the Apostle; and 3.) Prayer perfects the Apostle. Prayer prepares the apostle. Bishop Lagdameo said that weakness in prayer translates to weakness in harvesting because apostolic men must be men of prayer. He emphasized that even Jesus formulated strategies and fortified himself with prayer before embarking on the work of the Father. Bishop Angel stressed that for the three years of apostolate work of Jesus, he offered 40 days of prayers as preparation. Bishop Angel explained that Jesus often went into the desert to pray, particularly when he had to make important decisions. He prayed the whole night before choosing the 12 apostles, knowing that the success of his apostolate depended on his choice of the people who would work with him. Even then, one of them, Judas, betrayed him, and Peter denied him. Bishop Lagdameo asked the audience, how much more if Jesus did not pray? Before Bishop Lagdameos ordination, he shared to the audience that he fasted and prayed the whole night. He further said that prayer must prepare contemporary apostles. Bishop lauded that in Couples for Christ (CFC), a Christian Life Program is a double call, first, it is a call to go, and second, it is a call to proclaim the word and to pray. Bishop Angel pointed out that weekly prayer gatherings make couples intact and reinforces the fact that CFC is a movement of the spirit. Prayer accompanies the apostle. Bishop Lagdameo intimated that some seminarians and sisters were praying for the attendees that particular teaching night and for himself as he delivered his talk. He reminded the congregation to not limit prayer only in the beginning of the apostolic work because prayer must permeate every aspect of our lives. Even meals can be converted into prayer, Prayer must be the soul of the apostolate, and the breath of the evangelization. On a regular basis, Jesus would disappear and seek to pray in a deserted place and mountain. Jesus was convinced that he needed more than human strength to do the work. Mark 1:35 says: rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted edges that everything comes from God but we need to work as well. A good example of this is when we are given a task that we know we cannot do, given our own limitations. What we can do is to pray, knowing that God will not deny us our prayer if we ask His help. Thus, we are lowed them to do the work they were tasked to do. They believed completely that WORK and PRAYER GO together. Moses negotiated for the protection of humankind by humbling himself and pleading that Sodom and Gomorra be saved. Moses, on the other hand, mediated between God and the Israelites who were brought out of Egypt, arguing that good bad, the Israelites were Gods people. Both men were so completely submitted that they felt safe in freely expressing to God their thoughts. Prayer perfects the apostle. Bishop Lagdameo read the passage from Hebrew 5:7-10. He said that new methods of evangelization cannot succeed without effort, struggle, sacrifice, and pain. He opined that the storms that hit CFC would not have been hurdled without the pain and sacrifice, and more importantly, the prayers that our leaders offered. Jesus underwent this same pain when he shed tears in Gethsemane, knowing fully well that before the day was over, he would be betrayed by Judas and denied by Peter. Knowing that, still he prayed for them.

place, where he prayed. Jesus believed that praying together and having a personal prayer life results in perseverance. Jesus healed the sick, liberated the possessed and performed other miracles because he was intimate with God. As a young seminarian, the Bishop said that he prayed as if everything depended on God and he worked as if everything depended on him. He acknowl-

able to work with confidence. Bishop Lagdameo stressed that when we pray, we should not pray to change His decision but rather so that we will be able to follow His decision. According to the bishop, Abraham and Moses were men of prayer. They were so familiar with God that they could even remonstrate with Him. At the same time, they knew that it was only the hand of God that al-

The audience even became attentive and had a good laugh when Bishop Angel heartily shared that there are three great surprises when we get to heaven, to wit: 1. The people you expect to be in heaven are not there; 2. The people you do not expect to be there are there; and 3. You are there! Bishop Lagdameo emphasized that the Lord understands even the most distracted prayer. He emphasized that whenever we make a decision to pray, anywhere and at any time, Jesus will be there because there is only one person who does not like us to pray. Bishop Lagdameo encouraged the community to persevere in prayer; no matter how distracted we are, no matter how inadequate we feel. noting that there are distractions everywhere, the bishop enjoined CFC to persevere in prayer nevertheless and to choose a special place where the distractions would be minimal. He said even a distracted prayer is still blessed; it is still prayer and it is still acceptable to the Lord. In conclusion, Bishop Angel pointed out that the work of the apostle is not yet finished. One must seek solitude in the silence of the hills, in the garden of Gethsemane, and in other quiet places. A perfect evangelizer is an intercessor. This is the reason too why more intercessors are needed to pray for more apostolic workers and evangelizers. The greater the need for workers in the vineyard, the more need for intercessors. The TASK is TO PRAY for evangelizers to stand before God and the people to deliver Gods message.