CBCPMonitor vol10-n16

CBCP MonitorCBCP Monitor

1Vol. 10 No. 16November 20, 2006

Page 3

CICM: 100 Years ofMissionary Presence in the

Philippines

Page 9

NYD 2006: Taking aStand for Life… for Love

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Catechism on theChurch and Politics

Page 12

Message from Youth,to Youth

Southville / P4

[email protected]/cbcpmonitor

Bishop Sued for Libel AfterBishop Sued for Libel AfterBishop Sued for Libel AfterBishop Sued for Libel AfterBishop Sued for Libel AfterExposing Mining AnomaliesExposing Mining AnomaliesExposing Mining AnomaliesExposing Mining AnomaliesExposing Mining Anomalies

Guimaras / P4

Guimaras: ResidentsStart Returning Home

after Ecological DisasterILOILO City —The mayor of Iloilosaid around 300 people have re-turned to their villages on the is-lands, which were stricken threemonths ago by an oil spill. An-other 600 residents are still inevacuation centres.

Southville: from‘Danger Zone’ to

‘‘Death Zone”CHURCH officials have expressedfrustration with the pace of actionsbeing undertaken by authorities andurged them to accelerate efforts tosolve problems faced by residents atthe Southville relocation site inCabuyao, Laguna.

Bishop Sued / P4

Caritas Turns OverHousing Project

for LandslideVictims in S. Leyte

THE Caritas Internationalis turned overits housing project to the landslide vic-tims in a ceremony held in Liloan, South-ern Leyte on November 13.

Maasin Bishop Precioso Cantillaswas present as Caritas Internationalisrepresentative Micheal Franks andEngr. Emmanuel Silvestre, project co-ordinator of the proponents of CRS-America, handed the symbolic key tothe housing recipients.

Southern Leyte representativeRoger Mercado lauded the effortsmade by Cantillas who spearheadedin seeking assistance from the Caritasfor the Calingangan residents whowere then isolated by landslides thatstruck last February 12 before theGuinsaugon tragedy.

The 929 total population of saidvillage were all relocated to Brgy. Catigwith the construction of the 86 housesor 43 duplex units donated by theCaritas through the Maasin DiocesanSocial Action Center and the NationalSecretariat for Social Action (NASSA)of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferenceof the Philippines (CBCP).

“This is the fruit of teamwork, fruitof our wishes”, Cong. Mercado saidduring his message. “The housingassistance given from benevolent do-nors should be taken care of, maintainits beauty and give our share to makeour community better,” said Mercado.

Caritas Turns / P4

Antipolo Diocese Protests Casino ProjectTWO months after a letter ofprotest was sent to President Ar-royo that remain unanswered,Catholic faithful haven’t puttheir opposition to Casino onthe back burner.

The clergies of Antipolo ledby its bishop Gabriel Reyes,civic and academic groupsstaged a prayer rally last Novem-ber 9 in Cainta town in Rizal

province to voice their opposition.The Casino Filipino VIP Club,

to be housed at the currentSoundstage building beside Sta.Lucia East Mall, is reportedly sched-uled to open within this month tohandle bets on slot machines.

Information reaching Reyes re-vealed that gaming tables will alsobe added by January 2007.

Opponents of the casino in-

clude Rizal politicians led by Gov.Casimiro Ynares who are con-cerned about its potential impacton an area that is near big com-mercial establishments includingtwo tertiary schools.

Protesters also included stu-dents and youth organizationsthat carried placards during therally, some of which read “No to

New Apostles Anchored in Christ UrgentlyNeeded, Pope Tells Filipino Youth

by Santosh Digal

DAVAO, November 10, 2006—In theworld, there is the “urgent need for anew generation of apostles” whowould “build their life in Christ, accept-ing the Word with joy and putting theteachings of the Bible into practice”.

This was the thrust of a messagesent by Benedict XVI to youth of thePhilippines as they mark the 10th Na-tional Youth Day under way in Davaoin the south of the country.

In a message read by ArchbishopFernando Filoni, Apostolic Nuncio, to10,000 young people who gathered tocelebrate the event, the pope recalled“the urgent need for the emergence ofa new generation of apostles anchoredfirmly in the Word of Christ, capable ofresponding to the challenges of ourtimes and prepared to spread the Gos-pel far and wide.”

The pontiff urged young people to“testify to the light of Christ, the shining

beacon for our life’s journey.” He alsoinvited them to “become familiar with theBible, one’s compass pointing out theroad to follow”, adding: “By reading it,one will know Christ. Reading, studyingand meditation of the Word should thenflow into a life of consistent fidelity toChrist and his teachings.”

The theme of the National YouthDay meeting, which is being held from8 to 12 November, is “Your word is alamp to my feet and a light to my path”(cf. Psalm 119, 105).

On the first day, Davao Arch-bishop Mgr Fernando Capalla urgeddelegates “to strengthen the fibers ofFilipino society with moral and spiri-tual ties that keep their church andcommunities united.”

He told the participants that theaim of the gathering is not just to havefun, but also to become an avenue formoral recovery and spiritual experience.“The purpose of this event is to be-

By Roy Lagarde

SOME Catholic bishops deplored thefiling of a string of defamation suitsby a Canadian mining companyagainst a bishop and a priest, say-ing that such action is meant to ma-liciously muzzle the exposes madeby environment advocates.

The prelates and clergies of theArchdiocese of Ozamis denouncedthe criminal libel charges againstDipolog bishop Jose Maguiran andFr. Albert Bael after exposing allegedanomalies and irregularities commit-ted by the TVI Resource Develop-ment Philippines.

The archdiocese covers thesuffragan dioceses of Dipolog,Pagadian, Iligan and the Prelature ofMarawi (DOPIM) located in theNorthwest and Central part ofMindanao.

Supporters of the defendantscharge that the complaint is the be-ginning of an orchestrated effort toharass and intimidate opposition tomining operations.

As a result of the libel suit, theDOPIM bishops and priests releaseda statement of support for thosecharged, whom they described as“defenders of the environment andrights of the oppressed.”

Also charged for libel were somelay workers of the DOPIM Commit-tee on Mining Issues.

Pope Names VallesArchbishop of Zamboanga,Utleg New Bishop of LaoagTHE bishop of the Diocese ofKidapawan in North Cotabato,Most Rev. Romulo Valles, hasbeen appointed by Pope BenedictXVI to head the Archdiocese ofZamboanga.

Valles, 55, replaces Arch-bishop Carmelo Morelos whoseresignation was accepted by theHoly Father.

Morelos celebrated his 75th

birthday on December 11, 2005.According to Church Law, bish-ops should resign at the age of75. But the resignation is not ef-fective until Pope accepts it.

Valles is a Boholano born inMaribojoc town. He was ordainedpriest at the age of 25 and was ap-pointed bishop of Kidapawan whenhe was 46. He has been the bishopof Kidapawan for the last nine years.

The Archdiocese ofZamboanga was created in 1910,and elevated to an Archdiocesein 1958. As a metropolitan, it com-prises the city of Zamboanga; thePrelature of Ipil and Isabela,

Antipolo Diocese / P4

Pope Names / P4New Apostles / P4

Famous Belgian Organist to Perform atManila Cathedral Organ Festival

WORLD-ACCLAIMEDBelgian organist LucPonet will be up in townfor the pipe organ festi-val organized by the Ma-nila Cathedral-Basilica onDecember 1-10, 2006.

His visit is pur-posely in line with the fullrestoration of the histori-cal Manila Cathedral’spipe organ, touted as thebiggest in Asia.

The musical instrument, whichhad been in a state of disrepair forthe past 15 years, was first con-structed in 1958 by a Flemish com-pany called Pels and was erectedby Jose Loinaz of Manila and P.Andriessen of Holland.

Msgr. Nestor Cerbo, ManilaCathedral rector, said the festival,which also highlights thecathedral’s 25th year as a basilica,will be joined by renowned local

organists like Amador Salarza andJose Flores Jr.

The Manila Symphony Orches-tra, Coro Sanctuario de San Anto-nio, UST Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble,Tiples de Sto. Domingo, SerenataVocal Youth Choir, Carlos OptimiChoir are also part of the ensemble.

With 70 stops, four manuals,and pedal, the pipe organ has al-most 6, 000 pipes (flutes and trum-

Famous Belgian / P4

Protagonist of Truth, Promoter of Peace

Vol. 10 No. 16November 20, 2006 Php 16.00

vol10-n16.pmd 11/24/2006, 9:06 PM1

Vol. 10 No. 16November 20, 2006


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attack was not explained.According to the

AGI news story, an attackwas launched on Novem-ber 9, but thwarted by se-curity measures on theVatican site. A similar ef-fort to disrupt the Vaticaninternet site was made inOctober— again withoutany significant effect.

The Vatican website—one of the busieston the internet—hastight security measuresin place, informedsources say. And Vaticancomputer-security per-sonnel had ample warn-ing of the Islamic hack-ers’ plans. (CWNews)

VATICAN, November 10,2006—For the secondtime in as many months,computer hackers affili-ated with a radical Islamicgroup tried and failed topenetrate the Vaticanweb site, the Italian AGInews service reports.

Islamic militants whoidentified themselves as“leaders of the electronicjihad” announced on theirown internet sites that theywould launch a “large-scale battle” against theVatican site this week, inresponse to what theysaw as insults against Is-lam by Pope BenedictXVI. The exact form of the

World NewsNeocatechumenal Way meets to discuss

evangelisation in AsiaPope Has Hopes for ’08

Quebec Eucharistic Congress

Islamic hackers again failto disrupt Vatican web site

VATICAN CITY, NOV. 9,2006—Benedict XVIhopes that the next Inter-national Eucharistic Con-gress, to be held in Que-bec City in June 2008, willrelaunch adoration ofJesus present in theBlessed Sacrament.

The Pope himselfannounced that thepreparation of that worldevent in Canada will bebenefited by the publica-tion of the postsynodalexhortation dedicated tothe sacrament of the Eu-charist.

In that document hehimself will bring togetherthe suggestions thatarose at the Synod ofBishops, held at theVatican in October 2005.

The Pontiff was in-formed on preparationsfor the Eucharistic Con-gress when he met thismorning with the partici-pants in the plenary as-

sembly of the PontificalCommittee for Interna-tional Eucharistic Con-gresses.

The meeting was at-tended by Cardinal JozefTomko, president of thecommittee, and CardinalMarc Ouellet, archbishopof Quebec, who is prepar-ing the congress.

“Eucharistic Con-gresses,” the Pope toldhis visitors today, “whichare held in differentplaces and continents,are always a source ofspiritual renewal, a rea-son to make the mostholy Eucharist betterknown, which is the mostprecious treasure thatJesus left us.”

These congresses,the Holy Father added,“are also an encourage-ment for the Church tospread and bear witnessunhesitatingly to the loveof Christ in all realms of

society.”“What need human-

ity of today has to redis-cover in the Eucharisticsacrament the source ofits hope!” Benedict XVIcontinued.

“I thank the Lord be-cause many parishes,along with devoted cel-ebration of the holy Mass,are educating the faithfulin Eucharistic adorationand I hope that, in prepa-ration of the InternationalEucharistic Congress, thispractice will be ever morewidespread,” he added.

Announcing theforthcoming publicationof the postsynodal exhor-tation dedicated to theEucharist, the Holy Fathersaid: “I am certain that thisdocument will also helpthe Church to celebratewith interior participationthe Eucharistic Congressthat will take place in June2008.” (Zenit)

Pope Prays for ChiaraLubich’s Recovery

VATICAN CITY, NOV. 8,2006—Benedict XVI im-parted his blessing toChiara Lubich, 86, founderand president of theFocolare Movement, whohas been hospitalized inRome.

Informed personallyabout her state of healthby Cardinal TarcisioBertone, Vatican secretaryof state, the Holy Fatherwished to express his“human and spiritualcloseness,” stated a com-muniqué issued by theFocolare movement.

The note explainedthat “the condition of thefounder of the Focolarini isstabilizing progressively.”

Lubich was hospi-talized Nov. 2 in theAgostino Gemelli Poly-clinic of Rome, and was

Vatican Urges Israel to Bar “Gay Parade” in JerusalemCalls It a “Grave Affront” to Religious Sentiments

of the city of Jerusalemand request that theirconviction be respected.”

Jewish and Muslimleaders have expressedtheir opposition to theparade. Shlomo Amar, theGrand Sephardic Rabbi ofIsrael, sent a letter toBenedict XVI, requestinga gesture of support.

The note mentionsthe teaching of the Cat-echism of the CatholicChurch in No. 2358, inwhich it requeststhat “every sign ofunjust discrimi-nation” againsthomosexuals “beavoided.”

No. 2358 states:“The number ofmen and womenwho have deep-seated homosexualtendencies is not negli-gible. This inclination,

VATICAN CITY, NOV. 9,2006—The Holy See ap-pealed to Israeli authori-ties to cancel a “Gay Pa-rade” scheduled for thisFriday in Jerusalem, con-sidering it an offense toChristians, Jews andMuslims.

A note published bythe Vatican press officeexplains that “consider-ing that on previous oc-casions religious valueshave been systematicallyoffended, the Holy Seecherishes the hope thatthe question will be re-considered.”

The communiquéexpresses “profound dis-approval of this initiativeas it constitutes a graveaffront to the sentimentsof millions of Jewish,Muslim and Christian be-lievers, who recognize theparticular sacred character

which is objectively dis-ordered, constitutes formost of them a trial. Theymust be accepted withrespect, compassion, andsensitivity. Every sign ofunjust discrimination intheir regard should beavoided. These personsare called to fulfill God’swill in their lives and, ifthey are Christians, tounite to the sacrifice ofthe Lord’s Cross the dif-ficulties they may en-

counter from their condi-tion.” (Zenit)

the NeocatechumenalWay that opened todayat International CenterDomus Galilaeae inKorazim in the Holy Land.

The meeting pro-

moted by the founders ofthe “Way” Kiko Argüello,Carmen Hernandez andFr Mario Pezzi hasbrought together cardi-nals and bishops fromtwo continents. About150 prelates from India,Pakistan, Bangladesh,Nepal, Vietnam, Taiwan,South Korea, Indonesia,Singapore, Japan, thePhilippines and Australiahave come, as well aspriests, traveling teamsand family in mission onthe NeocatechumenalWay operating in thesecountries.

Mgr Michel Sabbah,the Latin Patriarch of

Jerusalem, is scheduledto speak tomorrow. OnThursday the prelatesare to travel to Jerusa-lem to visit the HolySites and meet Mgr An-tonio Franco, the Pon-tifical representative toIsrael and Palestine,and Fr PierbattistaPizzaballa, custodian ofthe Holy Land.

During the con-ference issues relatingto Christian initiation,the missio ad gentesand the challenge ofsecularization in Asiaand Oceania will bed i s c u s s e d .(AsiaNews)

ing the lead-up to YouthDay 2008.

The live-in coursewill be held in the Sydneysuburb of Bringelly.

Auxiliary BishopAnthony Fisher, WorldYouth Day coordinator,said the course will offerspecific skills training andexperience in implement-ing WYD programs inyouth ministries at localchurches.

“It’s our intentionthat this course will fur-ther Christian growthand leadership, not onlyamong course participantsbut also in the communi-ties to which they return,”he added.

Bishop Fisher con-firmed that Australianbishops, theologians,philosophers, priests,youth ministers, artists,reporters and politi-cians—”all passionateabout guiding youthleaders on the path toWYD08"—will take partin the course.

“The course is part ofthe long-term investmentand legacy we are plan-ning for World Youth Dayin 2008,” he said.

For information onthe course, see the “Aus-tralian Parishes andSchools” section of theofficial Youth Day Webpage, www.wyd2008.org.Applications will beaccepted until Jan. 31.(Zenit)

’08 Preparation IncludesFormation of Young Leaders

ROME, November 15,2006—The three “holycities” of Jerusalem,Rome and Santiago deCompostela, Spain, haveformed an alliance to pro-mote the development andvalue of their rich artisticand cultural heritage.

The agreement “HolyCities: a Common Projectfor the Future” was pre-sented in Rome today.

“The collaborationagreement between thethree municipalities,signed last year, is begin-ning to take its firststeps,” explained the mu-nicipalities of the three cit-ies in a joint communiqué.

Their new Internethome page,www.holycities.info, hasinformation on the initia-tives the three cities willundertake jointly.

The mayors of thethree cities signed an

3 “Holy Cities” Teaming UpAlliance to Promote Art,

Culture and Tourism

of homosexual Catholicscan undergo baptismand receive other sacra-ments in most cases ifthey are being raised inthe faith.

On Monday, thebishops voted unani-mously to release $335,000of the $1 million they ear-marked last year for re-search on the causes andcontext of sexual abuse byclergy.

The money will un-derwrite the first threesegments of the research,which is being under-taken by the John Jay

Guidelines OK’d on Outreach to Homosexuals

JERUSALEM, No-vember 20, 2006—Evange-lisation inAsia and Australiais the topic of a con-ference organised by

suffering from “respira-tory insufficiency causedby a pulmonary infection... The medical treatmentcontinues,” added thecommuniqué.

Chiara Lubich, bornin Trento, Italy, in 1920,founded the FocolareMovement—”Mary’sWork”—in 1943 in hernative city. The move-ment is active in 182countries. (Zenit)

agreementlast Dec. 13,marking thestart of theproject.

The ob-jective is tojoin forces topromote theartistic andcultural heri-

tage of the three citieswhich hold UNESCO’s titleof Patrimony of Humanity.

Among the jointprojects is a program toevaluate the cities’ policyon the conservation andvaluation of their artisticheritage.

The evaluation willserve to study a plan oftourist and urban develop-ment with numerous ob-jectives, including theprotection of historicalcenters; the improvementof residents’ quality of life;the extension of the aver-age stay of tourists; andthe reduction of pollution.

Also under study isa new tourist circuit to in-tegrate visits to the threecities in one package. Thenew tour will be promotedin Europe as well as incountries such as Japan,the United States, Braziland China. (Zenit)

SYDNEY, Australia,November 9, 2006—AYouth Leaders FormationCourse will help preparefor World Youth Day2008—and possibly be itskey legacy.

The course is beingconvoked by the organiz-ers of the event and, as itsname indicates, will aim toform young leaders.

Applications arealready being accepted.Eligible are 18- to 30-year-olds who want to serve inlocal and national WorldYouth Day preparationsand be active in the futurelife of the Church.

The July 15-20, 2008,event in Sydney is ex-pected to attract up to500,000 pilgrims, includingas many as 125,000 fromoverseas. Benedict XVI isscheduled to attend theevent.

For three months—from March to June ofnext year—the formationcourse will offer intensivetraining to prospectiveyoung leaders to helpthem prepare others dur-

BALTIMORE, Maryland,November 14, 2006—U.S.bishops at their fall meet-ing approved new guide-lines on pastoral out-reach to homosexuals,while affirming theChurch’s position thatsame-sex relationshipsare “disordered.”

The statement, “Min-istry to Persons with aHomosexual Inclination,”upholds the Church’sopposition to same-sex“marriage” and adoptionby homosexual couples.

The bishops, how-ever, held that children

College of Criminal Jus-tice, at the City Univer-sity of New York.

Last November thebishops accepted a pro-posal from John Jay forthe study of the Causesand Context of SexualAbuse of Children andYoung People by Catho-lic Clergy in the UnitedStates, as called for bythe bishops’ Charterfor the Protection ofChildren and YoungPeople.

The entire study isscheduled for comple-tion in 2009. (Zenit)

VATICAN CITY, Novem-ber 15, 2006—Today, No-vember 15, the liturgicalfeast of St. Albert theGreat, Dominican bishopand doctor of the Church,a ceremony took place tomark the opening of theacademic year at Rome’sPontifical University ofSt. Thomas Aquinas, the“Angelicum,” of whichSt. Albert is co-patron.

Following a brief ad-dress from Fr. JosephAgius O.P., rector of theuniversity, ArchbishopAngelo Amato S.D.B.,secretary of the Congre-gation for the Doctrine ofthe Faith, delivered a talkon the subject of: “Theecclesiology of commun-ion and the Letter‘Communionis notio’ onsome aspects of the

Church understood ascommunion.”

The central themesof that document, pub-lished by the Congrega-tion for the Doctrine of theFaith in 1992 are: the Uni-versal Church and par-ticular Churches, thecommunion of Churches,Eucharist and episcopate,ecclesial communion, andecumenism. (VIS)

Archbishop Amato Opens Academic Year at “Angelicum”

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CICM100 100 100 100 100 YYYYYearearearearears ofs ofs ofs ofs of Missionar Missionar Missionar Missionar Missionary Pry Pry Pry Pry Presenceesenceesenceesenceesencein the Philippinesin the Philippinesin the Philippinesin the Philippinesin the Philippines

By Pinky B. Barrientos, FSP

News Feature

A Jubilee is a momentousoccasion to celebrate withjoy and thanksgiving. It isa time for remembering, oflooking back with grati-tude for what has been. Itis also a time of renais-sance, a call to renewal ofthe profound missionaryspirituality that spurredthe congregation to re-spond with vitality to thechallenges of evangeliza-tion.

The missionary con-gregation of the Immacu-late Heart of Mary orCongregatio ImmaculatiCordis Mariae (CICM) islaunching the centennialcelebration of its mission-ary presence in the coun-try on November 28 withthe theme Remembranceand Revitalization. In hisletter to friends of theCICM announcing thetheme and objectives ofthe centennial celebra-tion, CICM Provincial Su-perior, Fr. Romeo Nimez,says: “The jubilee is avery important occasionfor remembrance and revi-talization of a religiousfamily like ours. Indeed wecannot take lightly thatmomentous event in No-vember of 1907, when thepioneers set foot for thefirst time, and inauguratedthe missionary presenceof the CICM in this archi-pelago. From that time on,and across a span of al-most 100 years now, wesee how the story ofCICM has been inextrica-bly linked with the historyand evolution of theChurch in the Philippines,

especially being a “lightin the north.” There is somuch to thank God for,and so much to take aschallenges for the fu-ture.”

A Glimpse into the PastThe congregation’s

journey into the heart ofthe Philippine Churchstarted as a response tothe urgent request ofMsgr. Ambrosius Agius,then Apostolic Delegateto the Philippines; ask-ing the CICM SuperiorGeneral, Fr. Adolf VanHecke, for missionaries,to work especially in thenorthern part of the coun-try.

The year was 1906.The religious climatethen was one of extremeconcern on the part ofthe Philippine Church.The Spanish occupationhad just ended, and allSpanish missionaries ex-pelled. The Americangovernment took over,and American Bishopswere appointed to takethe place of the SpanishBishops. With theAmericanization of thecountry also came theinflux of the Protestantmissionaries. On the lo-cal front, the religiousmovement started by Fr.Gregorio Aglipayevolved into a PhilippineIndependent Churchthat did not recognizethe authority of Rome.The founding of the Phil-ippine IndependentChurch left many par-ishes without a priest.

This became a source ofgreat concern thatprompted Rome to call formissionaries to fill up par-ishes left vacant by Span-ish friars and the Filipinoclergy who followedAglipay.

The exigency of thesituation was reflected ina letter sent by the Apos-tolic Delegate to theCICM Superior General:“The Superior of the MillHill Fathers suggestedthat I write to you be-cause you could provideseveral vigorous andzealous missionariessince you are looking fornew mission territories.Please, good Father,come to our aid and do itwithout further delay.”

The first group ofCICM missionaries sentinto the country washeaded by Fr. PeterDierickx who became thefirst superior of the com-munity. They stayed ini-tially with theAgustinians inIntramuros while await-ing word from BishopDennis Dougherty, whowas the Ordinary of thediocese of NuevaSegovia, which coveredthe whole northern partof Luzon. Although themissionaries wanted tostay together inCervantes for a year tolearn the languages, theyhad to let go of it in def-erence to the bishop’swish to go at once toBaguio. Three priestswere appointed forBaguio while the other

Religious Brothers holdRegional Assemblies

By Br. Amado S. Ancla, CFA

missionary work in themountains of Luzon forseventeen years, evan-gelizing the Ifugaopeople while learningtheir language and tradi-tions. He did researcheson the Ifugao Epic Sagaswhich became one of hismany enduring contribu-tions in the field of an-thropology. He sharedhis passion for anthro-pology among his stu-dents at Maryhurst Semi-nary, St. Louis Universityand Baguio Colleges.

“A Light in the North”The arrival of fresh

groups of CICM priestsinto the country after thefirst world war led to thesteady growth of missionstations of the CICM inthe Mountain Province,among them, La Trinidad,

Bokod near the Spanishmission of Daklan,Kapangan, Daluperip,Kayan, Sabangan, Barlig,B u r n a y - L a g a w e ,Lubuagan branching outto Naneng ang Salegseg.The priests also workedin the Lepanto-Amburayan territory, partof the Diocese of Vigan,with parishes inCervantes, Tagudin,Concepcion, Angaki,Tubao, and Pugo.

Various livelihoodprojects were introducedby the missionaries in or-der to improve the situa-

tion of people living in themission areas. Fr. Con-stant Jurgens, who laterbecame bishop ofTuguegarao was a mis-sionary in Bontoc formany years. To help up-lift the economic condi-tions of the people, Fr.Jurgens tried to intro-duce silk-worm culture inthe area. The project didnot take off because ofopposition from the gov-ernor of the place. Otherprojects, however, suc-ceeded, such as weav-ing, lace-making, silver-smithing and broomweaving. More ambi-tious projects followedlater, such as roads, irri-gation, farming coopera-tives, credit unions,piggeries, dispensaries,mission hospitals andclinics.

Another tirelessmissionary who workedvigorously in the devel-opment of the MountainProvinces was BishopWilliam Brasseur whowas appointed Vicar Ap-ostolic of the MountainProvince in 1948. BishopBrasseur was theepitome of a true shep-herd who lovingly caredfor his flock. He had adream for the people ofthe Mountain Provincewhich he was able to putinto reality. It was underhis administration thateight rural hospitals and

twenty dispensarieswere built. He estab-lished a Catholic schoolsystem that now in-cludes thirty-six highschools, twenty-four pri-mary schools, three col-leges and two universi-ties. He also founded alocal religious congrega-tion of women to minis-ter to the people ofMountain Province.

Contribution to Semi-nary Formation

Aside from mission-ary work among the in-digenous people, theCICM also dedicatedtheir energies and talentsin the formation of localclergy. After many yearsof patiently building upthe faith of the people inthe Mountain Province,the CICM started the

first minor seminary inBaguio in 1942. For themissionaries, the semi-nary was the preciousfruit of the many years ofloving labor in the placethat has become a part oftheir lives; at the sametime, “the flower of thegenerous faith of somany young families thatformed a budding Chris-tian community.”

In the followingyears more seminaries willbe entrusted in the ca-pable hands of the CICM.Among the various semi-

five went to Cervantes,the old capital of themountains.

The missionaries setthemselves to study thenative dialects and cus-toms of the people. Theirpainstaking study of thelocal language and indig-enous customs bur-geoned into a valuabletreasure-house of linguis-tics and anthropology,thus preserving a greatdeal the cultural wealth ofthe people for the suc-

ceeding generations tovalue and learn from.Among the many excep-tional CICM missionariesin the country who havemade valuable contribu-tions in the field of lin-guistics and anthropol-ogy were Fathers MoriceVanoverbergh, AlfonsClaerhoudt, FrancisLambrecht and FrancisBilliet.

A noted anthropolo-gist whose work havebeen published in scien-tific journals of severaluniversities abroad,Lambrech (1895-1978) did

THE three member associations ofthe National Federation of ReligiousBrothers in the Philippines (NFRBP)under the auspices of the Associa-tion of Major Religious Superiors ofMen in the Philippines (AMRSMP)each held their annual regional assem-blies in October 2006. These were theLuzon Association of Religious Broth-ers (LARB), the Visayas Associationof Religious Brothers (VARB) and theAssociation of Mindanao-Sulu Reli-gious Brothers (AMSRB).

Mindanao-Sulu

The first to hold their assemblywere the Brothers of Mindanao-Sulu,

on October 20-22, 2006 at the RivierRetreat House in Davao City. Forty-three Brothers from 14 congregationsparticipated, with at least two Con-gregations participating for the firsttime. Their theme was “PropheticShepherding: Challenge to the Broth-ers Today.” It was expounded anddeepened by Davao’s AuxiliaryBishop Most Rev. George Rimando,DD, who was especially chosen askeynote speaker because his episco-pal motto is “I am the Good Shep-herd.” The Brothers broke up intosmall groups to share among them-selves, and later in plenary, their an-swers to Bishop Rimando’s chal-lenges.

In place of the usual city tour, theBrothers opted to visit and appreci-ate the ministries of the Salesians ofDon Bosco, who run the Boys Townin Ma-a, Davao City, and of theMarianist Fathers and Brothers, whorun Balay Pasilungan, which caters tothe street children of Davao City. Fr.Gene Taqueban, SDB and Br. RichardJoyal, SM, of Boys Town and BalayPasilungan, gave the Brothers a tourof their facilities.

The Brothers were treated withtwo nights of entertainment by a mini-concert of “Koro,” a choir of our Ladyof Fatima Parish and of “Kaliwat Col-lective,” who rendered culturaldances and songs peppered with so-

cial and environmentalconcern messages. Nextyear, the Mindanao-Sulu Brothers will gatherin General Santos City.

The officers of theAssociation ofMindanao-Sulu Reli-gious Brothers for 2005-2008 are Br. Amado S.Ancla, CFA (Chairman),Br. Erwin Sayson, SC

CICM/ P10

Religious / P11

ZAMBOANGA, November 14,2006—Understanding the“Spirituality of Christianityand of Islam” I order to drawsome important lessons for the“dialogue between cultures”are among the main goals of anational inter-faith symposiumbetween Christians and Mus-lims that will start tomorrow inZamboanga, southern Philip-pines, and last till the 19.

The meeting is takingplace through the joint effortsof the Silsilah Dialogue Move-ment, led by Fr SebastianoD’Ambra from the PontificalInstitute for Foreign Missions,the Islamic Institute of the Uni-versity of the Philippines–Diliman and the Institute ofSpirituality in Asia.

In the five-day conferencemajor experts on religion fromthe Philippines and abroad willdiscuss how peace and spiritu-ality are the only paths towardspeace and development. Studygroups and the screening of‘Bagong Buwan’, a movie bydirector and Silsilah’s memberMarilou Diaz-Abaya’s are alsoon the menu. The conferencewill end with a ‘Night of Soli-darity’ during which the late

Rediscovering the Spirituality of Islamand Christianity in Zamboanga

Bishop Bienvenido S. Tudtud,a pioneer in inter-faith dialogue,will be remembered.

Fr D’Ambra told AsiaNewsthat “dialogue presupposes aculture that respects others.This respect implies a willing-ness to accept outside influ-ences that can enrich oneself,words that belong to the lateBishop Bienvenido S. Tudtud,who was among the first towork in favour of inter-faith dia-logue between Christians andMuslims”.

“Dialogue, in an atmo-sphere of respect and open-ness,” the missionary said, “notonly produces peace but canalso reinforce people’s faithand enrich one another’s cul-ture. Understanding this shouldbe encouraged not only at a hu-man but also at the academicand theological levels as a spiri-tual experience”.

Rediscovering/ P10

vol10-n16.pmd 11/24/2006, 9:06 PM3



4 News

World War III.• Transportation costs for com-

merce and industry will becomeprohibitive and the powerneeded to generate electricity—to heat the homes during winteror to cool during summer, willbe scarce and may no longer beaccessible to millions of poorhouseholds.

How will these potential prob-lems be addressed by the freeworld? By the Philippines in par-ticular? An immediate doable an-swer is to reduce our dependenceon fossil fuel and to develop ourown renewable sources of energy.Aside from harnessing more solarand wind power, in order to pro-vide security for our future energyneeds, we have to use plant-basedsources of energy, mainly for pro-ducing biodiesel and ethanol. Thecorollary effect is reducing green-house emissions directly mitigat-ing the harmful effects of radicalclimate change.

What is biodiesel? The fol-lowing terminologies are used tomean the same – coco-diesel, coco-biodiesel, coco-methyl ester(CME). It is a product obtained bythe chemical reaction between co-conut oil and wood alcohol ormethanol. Although not known tomost of us, the airline industry’saviation lubricant is derived fromcoconut oil which until now hasno better substitute.

The proposed Biofuels Actmandates the mixing of 1 % CMEto diesel fuel for the first 2 yearsstarting from the effectivity of thelaw and 2% CME thereafter. In thecase of gasoline, the Act mandatesaddition of 5% ethanol in the firsttwo years and 10% thereafter. Thetechnology of manufacture ofthese biofuels is well-knownthroughout the world. Philippinescientists completed their study inmanufacturing ethanol from molas-ses sometime in 1976 during thefirst oil crisis at the same time thatBrazil scientists started their re-search on ethanol production. Af-ter 30 years Brazil manufactures 16billion liters of ethanol yearly sup-plying 20% of the world’s require-ment. The Philippine scientistswere not given support by thegovernment hence the studystopped. (Even today the DOSThas the lowest budget allocationgiven by Congress—only 0.3% ofthe 2007 budget).

While the technical aspect ofproducing these fuels is not a prob-lem, the use of our food crops like

coconut, corn, cassava and sugarcane for biofuel production is apotential problem which is nowbeing deliberated upon by the Bi-cameral Committee. The mandated1% addition of biodiesel to dieselfuel will require 70 million liters ofbiodiesel. To produce this, copraand coco food applications willhave to be reduced from the presentyearly harvest by 224 million coco-nuts, the needed quantity to pro-duce 70 million liters of CME; i.e.,1% of our yearly consumption of70 billion liters of diesel oil. Twoyears from now, the 10% additionof ethanol to gasoline will require105,000 hectares to plant the quan-tity of sugar cane needed to pro-duce 340 million liters of ethanol.As of last census, there were only380,115 hectares planted to sugarcane in the Philippines.

The discovery that the lowlytuba-tuba (jethropa) fruit-bearingshrub, as a source of oil forbiodiesel production will somehowease the need for coconuts for theproduction of biodiesel. Jethropaplanting will utilize lands that areidle, barren and unproductive forplanting corn, cassava or sugarcane. There are 2 million hectaresin Northern Mindanao eyed forplanting jethropa (tuba-tuba). Threekilos of tuba-tuba seeds will pro-duce one liter of crude unprocessedoil. This will be a boon to poor farm-ers whose lands are unproductivefor planting food crops.

The framers of the Biofuel Actrealize the need to separate the plan-tation for commercial sugar produc-tion and that for ethanol produc-tion. As the need for more ethanolincreases while the supply is lim-ited, specially considering that Ja-pan is the biggest market in thisregion, the sugar cane farmers forbiofuel production may earn moreper hectare of land while the farm-ers devoted to planting sugar canefor confectioner’s and table sugarmay not earn as much. Conversionof sugar cane lands forconfectioner’s sugar to that forethanol production may again in-cite tenant uprising in Sugarlandia.

This potential volatile situa-tion will affect our small communi-ties in the parishes, the BEC’s. Itbehooves all lay leaders and theChurch as a whole to study andmonitor these fuel change scenarioaffecting our agricultural man-power in the same way that we arenow addressing the effects of the1995 Mining Law on our Indig-enous People.

Laiko / from p7

New Apostles / from p1come good and to do good, a time achange, to renew, transform, to be bornagain and to have a new life,” he said.

He also encouraged delegates tointernalize the prayers, reflections, lec-tures and interaction from the event.The four days of the meeting will in-clude hymns, times of prayer, Eucha-ristic celebrations and conferences.

The Bishops’ Conference of thePhilippines started celebrating Na-tional Youth Day back in 1986 as a wayof implementing its preferentialapostolate for children and youth.From 1987 to 1990, the annual encoun-ter was held in Manila. Since 1991,however, National Youth Day has beencelebrated in different dioceses of thecountry. (AsiaNews, with reportsfrom Neela Duallo)

In the statement, Drona said:“They came from danger zone for wefully know what is life in ‘home alongda riles’ but their life in the relocationsite in Southville may become a ‘deathzone’ if not properly and adequatelyattended to.”

He urged Vice-President Noli deCastro who is concurrent chair of theHousing and Urban Development Co-ordinating Council, to immediately acton the basic requirements of potablewater, electricity, waste disposal and ahealth center in the relocation site.

Similarly, the Urban Poor Associ-ates (UPA) is also upset with the waythings are going on, adding that therecent dengue outbreak in Southvillethat claimed at least six lives could havebeen prevented had the authoritiesbothered to respond to calls for medi-cal and sanitation teams.

UPA said at least 17 non-govern-ment groups wrote to Health Sec. Fran-

“The government’s action is in asnail pace. We hope that they will ac-celerate the pace of work,” said Fr.Rene Eriga, the social action directorof the Diocese of San Pablo.

The government has been askedto respond to the basic needs of therelocatees in their “dismal conditions”that had dragged on for many weekswith insufficient progress.

It is not the first time that priestsand bishops have expressed displea-sure over the performance of the au-thorities and sought fixing of respon-sibility for various lapses.

Even during earlier statements, SanPablo bishop Leo Drona had warnedthat if problems are left unsolved, it hasthe potential to put the health condi-tions of other people at risk.

The pace of action remained tardyand the same old excuses continuedto be extended for the delays in imple-mentation.

cisco Duque last September 8 to take aserious attention into the water, drain-age, electricity and indoor pollutionissues Southville.

The letter called for medical andenvironmental teams “in light of thereported occurrence of skin diseases,diarrhea and other ailments amongsome of the relocated railway dwellerspurportedly due to the poor environ-mental health conditions in the area.”

UPA said at least six children havealready succumbed to dengue butsome 20 children were confirmed in-fected but survived the disease.

As early as September, after onechild died of dengue, UPA tried sev-eral times to bring the issue of increas-ing number of dengue cases to the at-tention NHA.

Southville residents complainedof manholes filled with stagnant waterteeming with mosquito larvae. (MiamiEbilane)

Southville / from p1

Residents of Guimaras Islandwho were forced to flee after a mas-sive oil spill, have started return-ing home after nearly three months.The spill contaminated coastal vil-lages and poisoned local flora andfauna.

Around 300 persons leftevacuation centres in NuevaValencia and went home, said themayor of Iloilo, Diosdado Gonzaga.

The disaster happened on 11August when an oil tanker cap-sized off Guimaras Island: around10% of the ship’s cargo of two mil-lion litres of oil leaked, affecting a200km coastal stretch.

Gonzaga said that followingthe disaster, the evacuees foundrefuge in provisional shelters in thecity of Nueva Valencia, where an-

other 600 people remain. The latterwill be able to return home onlywhen all areas stricken by the oilspill have been cleared of toxicity.

Shortly after the spill, Manila’shealth department sent several medi-cal teams to the island to treat 329people who complained of healthproblems. Among the symptoms:skin irritations, respiratory prob-lems, stomach aches and nausea.

Guimaras residents are cur-rently seeking to limit the environ-mental damage caused by the spill.The Filipino Coast Guard has ap-pealed for “for chicken feathersand human hair” to soak it up. Thetanker, said to be resting on theseabed, has been described as “anecological time bomb” by environ-mentalists. (AsiaNews)

Guimaras / from p1Basilan; and the Apostolic Vicariateof Jolo.

Benedict XVI has also trans-ferred Bishop Sergio Utleg, until nowbishop of Ilagan in Isabela, to theDiocese of Laoag in Ilocos Sur.

Utleg, 63, was ordained priest atthe age of 24 and appointed Bishopof Ilagan, when he was 53.

The last ordinary of Laoag wasBishop Ernesto Salgado, who became theArchbishop of Vigan in February of 2005.

There was no bishop appointedfor Kidapawan and Ilagan. Thismeans that the two dioceses remain“Sede vacante” until new appoint-ments are made.

No date has been set either forthe installation of Valles as Arch-bishop of Zamboanga, or for the in-stallation of bishop Utleg as Bishopof Laoag. (CBCP News)

Pope Names / from p1

gambling. Don’t teach youngpeople to gamble.”

Reyes said a casino will surelybring great harm to the people.

“Businesses have collapsedbecause of casino gambling. Jobshave been lost. Families have beenbroken. Graft and corruption havebeen committed in offices due tolosses in gambling. And in somecases, deaths and suicides have re-sulted,” he said.

The casino is a venture of theCreative Pacific Corporation (CPC)and will be operated by the Philip-pine Amusement and Gaming Cor-poration (Pagcor).

Casino’s opponents have alsoasked the local government officialsof Cainta to withdraw the permit it

granted to the CPC believing thatsaid business “will contribute to thevast development” of their town.

“Our message is clear that weare against it. If they will not listento these people, I think their days(in their positions) are numbered,”said Ynarez.

With almost 3,000 people whojoined the protest, the governorsaid, Cainta officials should thinkagain with their decision.

But because Pagcor is underthe authority of the President,Reyes said the ace is still in Arroyo’shands.

The bishop said they are stillhoping Arroyo will heed their callto stop the casino operations.(CBCPNews)

Antipolo Diocese / from p1

pets) placed on seven major chestsand supplied by 12 bellows andfour electric blowers.

The instrument was con-tracted to the Las Piñas-based Di-ego Cera Organbuilders, Inc. forfull restoration to its original formand function.

“With the instrument now re-built, we bring back the sounds ofwonderful splendor and revive therich musical tradition of this pre-mier church of Manila as we lift ourminds to God and higher things,”said Cerbo.

With the material cost spent inthe restoration project, Cerbo saidthe lure to make its launching as afund raising opportunity is strongbut their decision to make theevent open free to the public is inline with enabling the poor to havea chance to witness and enjoy theperformances.

“As much as possible, everyactivity that the cathedral-basilicaholds this year, I want the poor al-ways favored, this being a year ofsocial concern,” says Cerbo. (CBCPNews)

Famous Belgian / from p1

“This situation is not far fromthe experiences of our fellow coun-trymen who are subjected to differ-ent harassments just to silence themwhile advancing their aggressive,destructive and exploitative miningoperation of transnational compa-nies,” the statement reads.

“We condemn the curtailment offreedom to express what we believeto be the truth.”

They also called on President

Arroyo to “listen to the cries” of themarginalized and to “stop curtail-ments” of the rights of the people tospeak for the truth.

Many of our people would cometo us instead, they said, to seek re-dress for their grievances as a resultof the destructive effects of the min-ing activities operating in their lo-calities.

“In coming to their aid, webrought their grievances to the lime-

Bishop Sued / from p1light of public opinion and for thiswe are accused to have spread liesto the public,” the statement said.

TVI is currently operating a goldmine inside a 500-hectare area inCanatuan Mountain in Siocon townin Zamboanga del Norte province.

The company is also set to ex-pand its current operation in thesouthern Philippines and has begunexploration projects in Bayog town,in Zamboanga del Sur.

Catig has a total land area of 1,583sq. meters while Brgy. Caligangan has2,955 sq. meters.

Also in attendance during theturnover ceremony were Maasin Gov.Rosette Lerias, Caritas Filipinas Foun-dation representative Sr. RosanneMallillin, SPC, Diocesan Social ActionCenter (DSAC) of Maasin representedby Fr. Eufemio Gohetia, and other lo-cal government officials of Maasin.(CBCP News)

Caritas Turns / from p1

Poverty Blamed for Dropping VocationsPOVERTY may be one of the causesof the falling number of priests andnew vocations in his jurisdiction,Bishop John Du said.

“There has been a diminishingof vocations. I think poverty is onecause of the problem,” said Du.

But he argued that the problemcan be prevented if people will berescued from the clutches of the eco-nomic crisis.

Apart from poverty, anotherproblem is the “lack of promotion ofthe priesthood in his diocese.

Although there are people in thediocese assigned to this particularwork, he said, still the effort is notenough and the problem continuesto linger.

In his diocese to date, only six semi-narians are in the Theologate while 39are in college and there are only 81priests to attend to the needs of aboutnine hundred thousand Catholics.

Despite the figures, Du said:“The perception of the people aboutthe Church is generally positive.”(CBCP News)

vol10-n16.pmd 11/24/2006, 9:06 PM4



7Q U E S T I O N S

Feature

Your Eminences,Venerable Brothers in the Episcopateand in the Priesthood,

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

YOUR visit gives me great plea-sure and I greet you all with affec-tion. In the first place, I greet Cardi-nal Jozef Tomko, whom I thank forexpressing your common sentimentsand for telling me about your Ple-nary Assembly, which has been tak-ing place in the past few days.

I cordially greet the Members ofthe Pontifical Committee for Interna-tional Eucharistic Congresses andthe National Delegates who havetaken part in this Meeting in order toprepare together for the upcoming49th International Eucharistic Con-gress. It is scheduled to take placein Quebec in June 2008.

I next greet the representativesof the Local Preparatory Committeeof this great ecclesial event, as wellas the small but significant group ofAdorers of the Eucharist.

You come from various parts ofthe world and the purpose of yourMeeting is to prepare for this Inter-national Eucharistic Congress: a cel-ebration of special importance to thewhole of the Church. As CardinalJozef Tomko has just recalled, it con-stitutes a unanimous response of thePeople of God to the Lord’s love,supremely manifested in the Mys-tery of the Eucharist.

It is true! The Eucharistic Con-gresses that take place from time totime in different places and on dif-ferent continents are always a sourceof spiritual renewal, an opportunityto become better acquainted withthe Blessed Eucharist, which is themost precious treasure Christ has

Well, one is that we are help-ing the indigenous peoples in ourarea in their struggle for their an-cestral domain. Another, we haveour Botika sa Parokya, of course,with the intention of helpingthose who cannot afford to buyhigh-priced medicines. We alsotry to look into the problem ofchild labor. There are a lot of re-ports about child labor in variouscompanies particularly those op-erating the banana or pineappleplantations. It may not be veryvisible to the public eye, but thereare reports about this problem be-cause a lot of families cannot af-ford to send their children toschool but instead let them workin the plantations. Lastly, we arealso continually firming up onother programs which we alreadyhave like our literacy programamong the tribal communities inthe hinterlands.

Is it not that the Church’s en-gagement in politics is also partof the social concern agenda?What do you think?

Yes, I do believe it is part ofthe Church’s social concern. ThePeople’s Initiative, for example,

is a political issue butat the same time we areinvolved in it simply be-cause the mannerwhich they have col-lected the signatures, tosome extent, is rathernot in line with theChurch’s teaching. TheChurch’s teaching isthat the freedom of manshould be respected. In

the case of the People’s Initia-tive, they collected signatureseven if people were not given ad-equate information, or thatpeople’s freedom were not re-spected in the sense that it wasaccompanied with a hidden threatlike saying ‘if you will not sign,something will happen’, or alsowith some promises like ‘if yousign, things will become better foryou’. In a sense, there is a moraldimension in such an issue, andwe try to address the moral di-mension. If people must partici-pate, they must have the freedomto sign or not to sign on the basisof adequate information, not justsketchy information, and withoutcoercion or threats. That isagainst human dignity. So, in ourpart, as much as we can, we edu-cate our people in the dioceseabout it even if this thing of col-lecting signatures has been donetoo fast and too soon. In thiscase, hence, the Church’s socialconcern mandate of morally en-gaging in politics should come toplay.

How is your program on evange-lization and catechesis?

Well, we have an Institute ofCatechesis that serves the wholediocese. Volunteer catechists gothere for their initial training andcontinuing formation. This is theInstitute that takes care of thecatechetical program of the dio-

MOST Rev. Honesto C. Pacana, installedin 1994 as the third bishop of Malaybalay(Bukidnon), recently spoke to CBCP Moni-tor about his diocese’s current pastoralstrides in such areas of evangelization andcatechesis, priestly vocations and forma-tion, lay participation or empowerment, so-cial concern programs, and media evangelization.

The declining number of priestlyvocations has been generallynoted in some dioceses. Is thistrue in your area?

Well, no. Certainly, inMalaybalay diocese, the problemis not concerning vocations to thepriesthood and the religious life.In terms of the number of candi-dates, there are really a goodnumber who enter the seminary.Our problem rather is on the train-ing or formation stage because alot of them do not persevere.Maybe out of 20, only about 7 ofthem make it to ordination. Butyou know, for me, even if theydon’t make it to the ordination, Idon’t look at it as a waste ofmoney because, for sure, theseindividuals have already imbibedthe lofty ideals or values fromtheir seminary formation, whichthey can use in the future as fam-ily men. If they will work in thegovernment or be involved inbusiness, at least they can usethe values they have acquiredfrom their seminary formation.

On the subject of lay empower-ment or participation in theChurch, how is it being realizedin your diocese?

Oh yes, we have avery strong lay leader-ship program, which wecall Alagad program.We train new recruitstwice a year. They areempowered to do para-liturgical work or minis-try in the absence of apriest in different bar-rios, sitios and localchapels. Some of them go intodevelopmental type of work likegiving lectures on sustainable ag-riculture and some are even serv-ing as a kagawad in the barrio.So, while being a lay leader in theirparish, they also put their valuesin their work as kagawad. Re-ally, this is one area where we em-power our laity.

Do you think the laity wouldrather be more effective in evan-gelizing in their secular field orarena?

Definitely. They should bemore involved in areas where theyare probably prepared more. Forexample, in politics. It is really aplace for lay people. But many ofour church’s lay leaders, who arenot only professionally but alsomorally qualified, do not want torun for political positions becausethey think it is dirty…there is lotof corruption. But I think this isthe place where they should bemore involved in order to evan-gelize. You see, there are evengood people like members of faithcommunities who could easily runfor mayors, but they do not liketo, maybe because they are afraidthat if they run they will not winconsidering the kind of politicswe have.

What about the Philippinechurch’s social concern agenda?How is the status of yourdiocese’s social concern pro-gram and activities?

Address of His Holiness Benedict XVI to the Participantsin the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Committee

for the International EucharisticClementine Hall9 November 2006

bequeathed to us. They are also anencouragement to the Church tospread Christ’s love in every socialmilieu and to witness to itunhesitatingly.

Moreover, ever since yourpraiseworthy Pontifical Committeewas established, its proposed goalis “to make ever better known, lovedand served Our Lord Jesus Christ inhis Eucharistic Mystery, the centreof the Church’s life and of her mis-sion for the world’s salvation”.

Each one of these EucharisticCongresses therefore represents aprovidential opportunity to solemnlyshow to humanity: “The Eucharist,a gift of God for the life of the world”,as the basic text for the upcomingCongress says.

This Document was presentedduring your Meeting by CardinalMarc Ouellet, Archbishop of Que-bec, to whom I address a specialgreeting. Not only those who havethe opportunity to take part in per-son but also the various Christiancommunities who are invited to joinit in spirit will be able to benefit fromthe special graces that the Lord willdispense at the International Eucha-ristic Congress.

In those days, the Catholicworld will keep the eyes of its hearton the supreme mystery of the Eu-charist in order to draw from it a newapostolic and missionary impetus.This is why it is important to prepareoneself well and I thank you, dearbrothers and sisters, for the workyou are carrying out to help thefaithful on every continent to under-stand ever better the value and im-portance of the Eucharist in our lives.

Furthermore, the presenceamong you of several representa-tives of the Adorers of the Eucharist

and the mention that you made, Car-dinal Tomko, to the “FederaciónMundial de la AdoraciónNocturna”, enables me to recall howhelpful the rediscovery of Eucharis-tic Adoration is for many Christians.

In this regard, I am pleased tothink back to my experience last yearwith the young people in Cologneon the occasion of World Youth Day,and in St Peter’s Square with the chil-dren preparing for their First Com-munion accompanied by their fami-lies and catechists.

How great is humanity’s need to-day to rediscover the source of itshope in the Sacrament of the Eucha-rist! I thank the Lord because manyparishes, as well as celebrating HolyMass devoutly, are educating the faith-ful in Eucharistic Adoration, and Ihope also in view of the upcoming In-ternational Eucharistic Congress thatthis practice will continue to spread.

Dear brothers and sisters, asyou well know, the next Post-Synodal Exhortation will be dedi-cated to the Eucharist. It will presentthe suggestions that were made atthe last Synod of Bishops, dedicatedprecisely to the Eucharistic Mystery,and I am sure that this Document willalso help the Church to prepare andto celebrate with interior participa-tion the Eucharistic Congress thatwill be taking place in June 2008.

From this moment, I entrust it tothe Virgin Mary, the first and incom-parable adorer of Christ in the Eucha-rist. May Our Lady protect and ac-company each one of you and yourcommunities and make the work youare doing fruitful, with a view to theimportant ecclesial event in Quebec.

For my part, I assure you of myremembrance in prayer and warmlybless you all.

provides inspiration, guidance, mo-tivation and power for a life of totalcommitment to God and service toone’s neighbor. Stewardship fits invery well with human relationship. Asteward is not an isolated individual.He is a member of a household, a fam-ily, a community, a political group, abusiness institution. He is a genuinemember of the community to the ex-tent that he responds to his duty bothwithin and outside the community.Stewardship includes related values,such as, cooperation, co-responsibil-ity, partnership, collaboration, interde-pendence, solidarity and subsidiarity.

This is how we would like to mea-

In andOut / from p6tributed to three stewards (Mt. 25/14-30), the dishonest manager (Lk. 16/1-13), the rich man and Lazarus (Lk. 16/19-31). St. Paul sums up his under-standing of stewardship: “What doyou have that was not given to you?And if it was given, how can youboast as though it were not?” (I Cor.4/7). A good steward is characterizedby his faithfulness and loyalty to themaster and owner, by his businessacumen and personal discipline, byhis productivity and resourceful-ness, and by his being accountableto both the master and to the peoplehe has been put in charge over.

In our life today, stewardship

sure our public officials, and thosewho would like to be in the positionof governance in our country. Wehave not gotten rid of injustice, cheat-ing, dishonesty, graft and corruptionin our culture of election and gover-nance. No act of Congress, no deci-sion of the Supreme Court can fullymake any one “a good steward.” Trueand genuine stewardship can takeplace only when a person has a “senseof God” and thus makes his personalcovenant with him as his Master, andhas a “sense of altruism” and thusmakes a personal commitment to hisneighbors as truly his brothers andsisters.

© E

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7 Questions / P13

7 QUESTIONS for

Bp. Honesto C. Pacana, SJ, DD

vol10-n16.pmd 11/24/2006, 9:06 PM5



6 Opinion

Pedro C. QuitorioEditor-in-Chief

Baltazar R. AcebedoManaging Editor

Dennis B. DayaoOn-Line Editor

Roy Q. LagardeNews Editor

The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCPCommunications Development Foundation, Inc., witheditorial and business offices at 470 Gen. Luna St.,Intramuros, Manila. P.O. Box 3601, 1076 MCPO. Edito-rial: (063) 404-2182. Business: (063)404-1612.Email: [email protected] Website:www.cbcpworld.net/cbcpmonitor

Editorial

Pinky Barrientos, FSPProduction Manager

Marcelo T. DalanonCirculation Manager

Ma. Lourdes G. EbilaneMarketing Supervisor

Leah CariasoComptroller

CBCP MonitorProtagonist of Truth, Promoter of Peace

ISSN 1908-2940

Stewardship

stewardship. Theologically, everything aman has primarily belongs to God on atriple title of creation, redemption andsanctification. Not only possessionswhich include money, but life itself, par-enthood, grace, as well as mental, manualand artistic talents must be received hum-bly and gratefully from the Lord of Cre-ation. They must be used and applied ina way that recognizes God’s ownership.

Vatican II’s Decree on the Laity,Apostolicam Actuositatem, identifies theapostolate of the laity in the Church andin Society with the biblical word “stew-ard” or “stewardship,” when it states:“For the exercise of the apostolate Godgives the faithful special gifts besides,‘allotting them to each one as he wills’ (ICor. 12/7), so that each and all, putting atthe service of others the grace receivedmay be ‘as good stewards of God’s var-ied gifts,’ (I Pt. 4/10), for the building ofthe whole body in charity (cf. Eph. 4/16).From the reception of these charisms,even the most ordinary ones, there arisesfor each of the faithful the right and theduty of exercising them in the Church andin the world for the good of men and thedevelopment of the church….” (no. 3).

In the Old Testament, relationshipwith God is expressed and interpreted in

THE Second Plenary Council of the Phil-ippines (PCP-II) has one decree whichmandates the development of a compre-hensive theology of stewardship. Itreads: “The Church, through the initia-tives of the CBCP, should develop a com-prehensive theology of stewardship and,in the light of theology, should make ecol-ogy a special concern of the social ac-tion apostolate down to the parochiallevel, with the end in view of making ev-eryone a true steward of God’s creation.An ecology desk must be set up in socialaction centers” (Art. 31, sec. 1 and 2).

What is stewardship? In what doesit consist? Stewardship is the practicalacknowledgment that one is neither theabsolute owner and master both of him-self and his possessions, nor of the worldof nature (ecology) and of grace. He hasreceived them as a gift and a trust. Andtherefore, he must use them as a grateful,accountable and responsible person, inaccordance with the intention or plan ofthe Divine Owner, to promote the goodof all and to establish the reign of God inthe hearts of men.

“Renewed Evangelization” and“Renewal of Christian Life” which PCP-II lengthily talks about necessarily in-volves the promotion of a life-style of In and Out/ P5

Abp. Angel N. Lagdameo, DD

In and Out of SeasonIn and Out of SeasonIn and Out of SeasonIn and Out of SeasonIn and Out of Season

terms of stewardship. It is applied notonly to individuals (like Cain and Abel,Abraham, Moses, Joseph, the Judgesand the Prophets), but also to the wholeof Israel. The call of God to individualpersonages is a call to be steward ofGod’s message of salvation. The Biblerecounts stories of how individual Isra-elites and the Chosen People fulfilled thisduty of stewardship concerning themighty gifts of God. But many times, too,the Israelites, both individually and col-lectively, failed against their duty of stew-ardship: they broke God’s command-ments and turned to idolatry. The un-faithful stewards, who were leaders of thepeople, were called “false shepherds” (Ez.34). The Bible, however, also contains thestory of God’s patient efforts to call themto a new relationship with him, to a re-turn to stewardship.

In the New Testament, Jesus is pre-sented as God’s steward par excellenceby the very fact that He is the Son ofGod, sent into the world for His Father’sbusiness. Jesus delivered many of His sub-lime teachings in the form of parables. Hefrequently made reference to the practiceof stewardship: for example, the parable ofthe rich fool (Lk. 12/13-21), the talents dis-

Pursuing the LostSheep

PROMOTING respect, care and value oflife through pro-life seminars haveopened the doors to all sectors of soci-ety who care to listen and realize that lifeis for everyone.

Lina and Celia were scheduled to de-part immediately for Japan as dancers whenboth discovered they were pregnant. Hav-ing attended the seminars, they soughtcounseling before they went to an abortionistwhom Lina contracted to perform a D & C.

Their being able to express theirfears and worries gave way to new ideasand options. Exploring possibilities andsolutions with the counselor led to a dia-logue with the manager to work out anagreement with the employer to postponethe contract until the baby is born.

Lina, decided to continue with herpregnancy—uncertain but trusting thatGod’s promise to “Seek first His kingdom

and His righteousness and everythingwill be added unto you” will hold trueand God’s miracle will happen.

Celia, on the other hand, decided toabort her baby due to extreme fear thather family would reject her. She knew inher heart that she wanted her baby. Shewas torn between what is right (to keepher baby) and what is practical (to earn aliving in Japan). Her decision made herdepressed to near despair. More so whenshe realized that her abortion was incom-plete and her bleeding would not stop.She had to undergo another D & C andpay another P 6,500.00 for the procedure.She was not able to leave for Japan.

But, true to His word, God performedmiracles when He was sought. By God’sgrace, the manager was able to arrangefor a better deal with the Japanese em-ployer. Lina was allowed to leave for Ja-

pan even if she was pregnant. She didnot have to work as a dancer.

God’s ways are not our ways. Butwith God all things are possible and Hisways are creative and inexhaustible. Hewill never abandon the lost sheep. Thismuch a Pro-lifer knows and experiences,for every person touched by God’s gracethrough Pro-life services, the hand of Godis revealed and the eyes of the blind areopened.

Pro-life needs volunteers to help inour counseling centers, our speakersbureau and our fund-raising projects.We can also help you set up pro-life ac-tivities in your parish, school or orga-nization. Please call the pro-life office ifyou feel that God is calling you to thisministry – Tel 911-2911, telefax 421-7147, email [email protected] or textme at 0919-2030-637.

“Lord, make me a channel of your peace... where there is hatred,let me bring your love... where there is injury, your pardon.”

Sr. Mary Pilar Verzosa, RGS

Love LifeLove LifeLove LifeLove LifeLove Life

Gambling Operation isExploitation

The exploitation of people is one of the worstsocial evils especially so in countries that areeconomically depressed and bleak. Talk aboutthe Philippines and how serious the evil of gamblingis in this country.

Be it legal or illegal, gambling in this nation isdownright exploitation of people. Legal gamblingexploits the wealthy, the corrupt and/or the greedy.Illegal gambling on the other hand exploits thepoor, the gullible and the helpless.

The rich who indulge in legal gambling have noright to waste their resources in the face of thebasic needs of the poor who are teeming inmillions. The poor who patronize illegal gamblingshould know by now that they are eventuallyrendered even poorer by gambling operatorscheating them.

This is why it is a big hypocrisy to claim that legalgambling is giving revenues to the government tohelp the poor, while illegal gambling is giving workto the poor. Strange but true: the welfare of thepoor in this country is the perpetual excuse—fromrunning in the elections and putting up dummycharitable foundations to promoting and toleratinglegal and illegal gambling operations.

If only such numerous and continuous claims weretrue, there would be no poor in this country. Itcan be asked, in addition to helping the poor everynow and then, what else does legal gambling reallydo with its multi-billion yearly takes? Other thangiving work to the kubradores, what else doesillegal gambling do to favor certain crookednational and local officials in government?

It is not too hard to understand that gamblingespecially in a poor country like the Philippines isbecoming a yearly social calamity. It is muchworse than the material devastation brought aboutby periodic typhoons and other natural disasters.Gambling is a vice—as evil as the vicious practicesof drug peddling and consequent addiction, thepromotion and patronage of prostitution especiallyof women and children.

There is no social adversity like the erosion ofelementary values of industry, integrity andhonesty. Gambling promotes and inculcates thevices of indolence, greed and corruption. Duringthe time of martial law everybody was denouncingto the teeth the regime for exploitation andinjustice and oppression. Happily or sadly, todaynobody does.

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7Vol. 10 No. 16November 20, 2006 Opinion

Tidbits / P12

ing pad for its “liberation” forces. Restand recreation was either at Subic orAngeles City in Pampanga. It was inApril 1975 that the Americans opted toleave Saigon giving the North Vietnam-ese leaders and troopers what’s left ofSouth Vietnam. It was in 1986 when theylaunched their “Renewal” program andstarted the ball rolling. A couple of monthsafter President Corazon Aquino assumedpower, we were buying rice from Vietnam.

All is not lost. We’re a bit ahead ofThailand and Chinese Taipei, accordingto APEC statistics. We’re lagging be-hind Singapore and Russia and Korea,Malaysia and Indonesia. Who wouldever think Vietnam would overtake ourvery own country, touted to be America’sclosest ally in Asia for the past 60 years?

Maybe had the Americans left us onour own, we could have prospered ear-lier. Yes, the Americans are back in Viet-nam, not as Green Beret soldiers but ea-ger businessmen. Well, we’re still hoststo American troopers in never-endingmilitary exercises geared to what has beensaid as “inter-operationability.”

What’s wrong with us? Will some-one please take time to clearly explainwhere we are? Don’t you find theVietnamese proverb a probable key tosuccess?

Bp. Leonardo Y. Medroso, JCD, DD

TidbitsTidbitsTidbitsTidbitsTidbits

The People of Godand the Bishop

IT is amazing how simple events as the announcement of atransfer of assignments could trigger a series of realizations.This happened to me some time last October 17, 2006, whenthe Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines called me up byphone relaying to me the decision of the Holy Father totransfer me to the Diocese of Tagbilaran. Drilled for so long inthe value of obedience, I acceded to the Holy Father’s orderwithout comprehending at that moment the full impact of myready consent. But not for long. It soon dawned on me.

Left alone after the call, I started seeing the implicationsof the transfer unfolding before my gaze its stark reality. Ibegan to realize the full import of what a diocese is. In law itis objectively and therefore coldly described as a portion ofthe people of God constituted as a particular Church or acommunity of the Christ’s faithful entrusted to a Pastor in adefinite locality. As such parting would not be that heavy.But the Church of Christ in the Eastern part of Samar is notjust a cold organizational system or a group of baptizedChristians welded together through the Gospel and the HolyEucharist; organized to respond effectively to the divine callto holiness. The Diocese of Borongan is first and foremostthe “waray-waray” people in Eastern Samar who throughthe sacrament of baptism and the celebration of the HolyEucharist were called together to a pilgrimage, to a spiritualjourney that has to be undertaken in the province where therising sun is first seen.

This is a portion of the people of God, men of flesh andblood, of deep emotions and sensitive feelings, persons whoare capable of forming their own spiritual vision and spin-ning out social dreams backed up with their own assumedmission and self-induced commitments, group of individu-als who are proud of their own language, customs, culture,way of life. For nineteen years I have journeyed with thispeople; I have been happy with them, comfortable with theirbehavior and way of living, one with them in their dreams,their frustrations and disappointments, in their prayers andhope for a better tomorrow in Christ. Now, with the impend-ing transfer I realize that I am leaving the people whom Ihave learned to love and cherish.

The people of God concept is introduced by the Sec-ond Vatican Council to describe the Church, for it conveysthe foundational structure of the Church as a social struc-ture. It points out the nature of the members that composeit, defining, that is, their radical equality. Baptism is thesource of this equality, endowing to all the same dignity, thesame rights and duties, the same means of salvation and thesame faith, conscious at the same time of their responsibilityfor the common purpose of the entire Church on the spirituallevel. All are Christ’s faithful.

To gestate, nurture and look after the constant growthand maturity of this people of God, Christ instituted thesacrament of ordination, by virtue of which those who arecalled and properly formed are configured to Christ the headof the Church, endowing in them the power to perform Histhreefold functions for the sanctification and governance ofthe Church. Through this configuration of service, the prin-ciple of equality among the members is not eroded. Rather,the principle of variety is established. It is true that by virtueof the sacrament of order the ordained ministers are config-ured as essentially, and not just in degree, different fromthose who are not ordained. They have acquired the three-fold ministerial functions of Christ, participating in Hispriestly, kingly and prophetic offices. Their configuration toChrist is a configuration to act in the name, and sometimes inthe person, of Christ the head of the Church. But they re-main of the same dignity with the rest of Christ’s faithful.

At this juncture, it is helpful to emphasize the harmoni-ous conjoining of these two principles. The principle ofequality needs the principle of variety for the people of Godwill not grow to full maturity without the close pastoral care ofthe Bishop and his priests. On the other hand, the principle ofvariety needs complete acceptance of the concept of radicalequality, for the reason that its existence is precisely to be ofservice to the priestly, kingly and prophetic people of God.

Hence, as the people of God can only grow and developproperly when it is entrusted to its proper Pastor; so thePastor can only grow and properly develop when it is faith-fully extending its priestly ministry to the particular peopleof God entrusted to his care. It is within this concept thatCanon 369 defined the diocese as: “a portion of the peopleof God, which is entrusted to a Bishop to be nurtured byhim, with the cooperation of the presbyterium, in such a waythat, remaining close to its pastor and gathered by himthrough the Gospel and the Eucharist in the Holy Spirit, itconstitutes a particular Church. In this Church, the one,holy, catholic and apostolic Church of Christ truly exists andfunctions.”

When the Diocese of Borongan, Eastern Samar, wasentrusted to me as its Bishop some nineteen years ago, Iwas conscious of my task in inserting myself to the life,

Oscar V. Cruz, DD

VVVVVieieieieiews and Pws and Pws and Pws and Pws and PointsointsointsointsointsGraft and Corruption

Again and AgainGRAFT and Corruption seem to havebecome an expertise of the present Ad-ministration. This observation becomesmore evident and eminent especially be-fore, during and even long after elections.In effect, there is no day nor occasion inthe country that is not accompanied bysuspicions and talks of graft and corrup-tion especially so when the governmenthas a hand therein. Rightly or wrongly,there already seems to be a popular ten-dency of identifying the present Admin-istration with graft and corruption.

The truth is that even the nationalleadership itself repeatedly and publiclyacknowledges the big curse of graft andcorruption in government. For this rea-son, at its own initiative even, the presentAdministration came up with the brilliantidea of setting aside the amount of noless than two billion pesos to lessen ifnot totally eradicate graft and corruption

in the public sector. The serious and dedi-cated cleansing work in the governmentwas said to have immediately began inearnest with coordinated efforts of dif-ferent government agencies.

But surprise, surprise! Or is it? TheTransparency International just recentlycame up with the finding that there is nowin fact even more graft and corruption inPhilippine Government. In effect, in itslatest report, the country as a whole sunklower in ranking as far as honesty andintegrity in government transactions areconcerned. Translation: graft and corrup-tion accompany government dealings allover the land even more during thesetimes!

Question: Where are the 2 billionanti-graft and corruption funds? How issuch a big funding allocation being spentunder the baton of the national leader-ship itself? Why is there now even more

graft and corruption in the government?Is the amount in fact used by the Admin-istration as an excuse precisely to fundits many and different graft and corrup-tion practices? In the event that there isan iota of truth in the alleged malversa-tion of the fund, this would be the heightof hypocrisy, the summit of deception.

The people are poor. Many of themare starving. Some of them die for lack ofmedicine. Millions leave the country tofind a living. Women are violated andchildren are exploited. There are thosewho even sell their kidneys.

Where have all the money gone?Who pocket much of the direct and indi-rect taxes paid by the rich and poor alike?Why is graft and corruption still muchalive and thriving well in this country?Where is honest and upright governance?When shall this sunny nation eventuallysee the sun of hope and promise rise?

Biofuels and OurFuture

ponent of the Clean Air Act, Engineer RafaelDiaz, President of the Philippine BiodieselAssociation, Mr. Ernesto Ellis, Jr., COCAPTrustee, Mr. Fernando Corpus of the SugarRegulatory Commission and Mr. MarioMarasigan, Director of the Department ofEnergy were the experts who propoundedon the cause and effect of too much de-pendence on fossil fuels and the benefitsof now using renewable energy resources.The discussion included all sources offeedstock for the production of biodiesel,namely, coconut oil, palm oil, oil from seedsof jethropa (tuba-tuba), hanga-hanga, rapeseed (canola), even from used cooking oil.Corn, cassava, sugar cane and sweet sor-ghum were identified as the main feedstockfor the manufacture of ethanol.

These were the facts highlighted bythe speakers which everybody shouldknow since this will affect our way of life inthe next two decades:• The continued use of fossil fuel will accu-

mulate greenhouse emissions. Togetherwith deforestation, these two activitiesof modern man directly increase globalwarming. As a consequence, the NorthPole icecap melts, the glaciers inGreenland and Europe shrivels, and thepermafrost in Siberia recedes.

THE Biofuels Act, a consolidation of HouseBill 4629 and Senate Bill 2226 is scheduledfor the Congressional Bicameral Commit-tee meeting this November. The new lawwill be signed by the President in the fol-lowing weeks. After the ImplementingRules and Regulations will be completed in3 month’s time the mandate to mix biofuelsin this ratio: 1% cocodiesel to diesel fueland 5% ethanol to gasoline, will start. Ineffect, there will be less fossil fuels burnedto run our transport vehicles.

What is the significance of this law?How does it affect the economy? The sugarindustry? The corn, coconut and cassavafarmers? What are the potential problemsfacing these farmers? To answer all thesequestions, the Concerned Citizens AgainstPollution led by its founding chairperson,Ester Perez de Tagle held a symposium atthe Ateneo University, Institute of SocialOrder last November 4. Due to the porten-tous effect of the burning of fossil fuels toman’s future in this planet, many environ-mentalists came to attend the symposium,namely, key representatives of the NGOs,the Academe, the government sector,priests and religious, and the business sec-tor.

Congressman Nereus Acosta, the pro- Laiko / P4

• The sea level will rise by 30 feet and willsubmerge many of the 7032 islands ofthe Philippines.

• The climate change has made the phe-nomena of El Niño and La Niña appear inpredictable patterns resulting in moredestructive typhoons on one hand anddesertification of fertile lands, on theother hand.

• The supply of fossil fuel and its products,diesel and gasoline, will dwindle at amuch faster rate. This is attributed to thefuel demands of industries in the UnitedStates, Europe and the new industrializ-ing countries notably India and China .Regrettably, no country has fulfilled theirpromised target to reduce greenhouseemissions in accordance with the KyotoProtocol.

• The supply of fossil fuel is finite and notrenewable.

• The time will come when the main suppli-ers of oil in the Middle East—Iraq, Iran,Saudi Arabia will control world economicsecurity. This is termed by Thomas Fried-man of Herald Tribune as Petro-Authoritarianism. Coupled with Islamicradicalism this becomes a greater threatto world peace—conceivably leading to

ScorecardsÃN có nhai, nói có ngh)´ is a Vietnam-ese proverb which simply says “Thinktoday and speak tomorrow.”

Government drumbeaters are at itagain. The country’s economic growthcan no longer be ignored as internationalrating agencies have upgraded thecountry’s status from a sorry statussome months ago to what some peopledescribed as highly acceptable. Inter-ests charged from foreign borrowings willnow be reduced.

It has also been said it will take some-time for ordinary people to benefit from amuch better economy as it takes time forthe “fruits” to trickle down to the greatermajority. I’ve heard this line since I joinedVeritas in 1994 when the administrationthen boasted of the country was slowlybut surely achieving a “Tiger economicstatus.” And all we heard was a purr andnothing more.

Still, the government hopes to getmore foreign investors into the country.However, it is sad to know internationalbusinessmen are seriously consideringVietnam after China. Pro cha-cha groupswould say we really have to amend theconstitution to make us more attractiveto businessmen. Again, it’s the peoplethat matters and not the system.

Against this backdrop, Filipinos

leaving for abroad reached to a high ofalmost 3,000 a day. According to Philip-pine Overseas Employment Administra-tion figures, this is simply 8% more thanthat of previous year’s average. It ap-pears most of our workers wish to earnmore at the shortest possible time.

Vietnam, which happens to be ourneighbor, ravaged by bitter fighting fordecades will open its doors to foreign lead-ers as host to APEC leaders this 18th and19th of November and the World TradeOrganization as its 150th member country.

It is interesting to note Vietnam(8.4%) is second to China (10.2%) interms of economic growth last year com-pared with our very own 5.0% accordingto the real GDP growth in APEC membereconomies. Its growth in agriculture hassignificantly changed the economic en-vironment in what was formerly part ofFrench Indochina, along with its beinghost to modern industries. However,Intel got into the picture along withHonda motorcycles which hopes toproduce a million bikes next yearsimply for their domestic market. In thePhilippines, we are now satisfied with thehand-me-downs from Subic and otherfreeports.

The Philippines during the height tothe Vietnam War was America’s launch-

Melo M. Acuna

Issues and ConcernsIssues and ConcernsIssues and ConcernsIssues and ConcernsIssues and Concerns

Jose B. Lugay

LaikLaikLaikLaikLaiko Lampstando Lampstando Lampstando Lampstando Lampstand

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8 Vol. 10 No. 16November 20, 2006

the youth that was evident as theyoung people spontaneously ap-plauded his words of challenge andencouragement, gave him standingovations and came to him to kiss hisring, shake his hand and have theirpictures taken with him. In his hom-ily at the Mass in Csite3, as he ex-pounded on the theme, he encour-aged the youth to be strong in theirfaith and be constant in their hopesthat must be deeply anchored in theirfaith in Jesus Christ. He challengedthe delegates to bring the NYD spiritto their respective places of origin,to become living witnesses of theGospel.

The afternoon of Day 2 saw thedelegates breaking into four or fivesmaller groups per Csite to participatein tracks and conferences on varioustopics: Ecumenism and InterreligiousDialogue, Youth in the Culture of Ab-sence, Music Ministry, Call to Holi-ness, Pro-Life, Servant Leadership,Christian Sexuality, Youth Ministry,Corruption, Child in the Media, Youthin the Basic Ecclesial Community,Justice and Peace and Integrity ofCreation, Creative Gospel Sharingand Dance Ministry.

Speakers for the catecheses,tracks and conferences consisted offour bishops from Mindanao, sevenpriests, two religious sisters, fivelaymen and a team from the danceministry.

Some youth leaders were pro-vided exposure to initiatives on in-terreligious dialogue and some con-tributed work in the Gawad KalingaProject.

The afternoon of Day 3 gath-ered the delegates in their respec-tive Csites to watch, reflect and shareon the following:• Servant Leadership. A Ford Acad-

emy of the Arts play, “Goyong”,on the life of the young heroGregorio del Pilar.

• Tri-people of Mindanao Issues. APerformance of the Kaliwat The-ater Collective, a play within a playtitled Mindasilang depicting thetri-people issues of Mindanao.

• Understanding the Differently-abled. A Down Syndrome Foun-dation, Inc. performance by per-sons with Down Syndrome.

The evenings of the NYD werealso a mix of experiences for the del-egates. The Youth Festival was cel-ebrated in each of the three Csites inthe evening of Day 2 with the theme,

“Best of the Islands: Flaunt…Color… Evangelize…”, each eccle-siastical region prepared a presenta-tion that celebrated the cultural di-versity of the country’s islands.

The evening of November 10(Day 3) started solemnly as the del-egates returned to their respectivehosting parish churches for the HolyHour. The evening ended with theParish Night, each parish celebrat-ing and honoring the delegates andtheir foster families in its unique way.Paying homage to the Sto. Nino, theEternal Youth …

NYD 2006 was launched onJanuary 15, 2006, the feastday of theSto. Niño and as Providence willedit, NYD culminated at His Shrine onNovember 11 (Day 4). So off the del-egates went for the 2.5 – 3 kilometerPilgrim Walk to the Shrine, each witha partner for an Emmaus experience.They have come from the plain, walk-ing via busy thoroughfares, amidstmalls and varied sights and sounds.As they began the trek uphill to theShrine, the pace slowed down,breathlessness discouraged con-versing with companions, a canopyof trees provided a refreshing cool-ness . . . a palpable invitation to lis-ten to that inner Voice.

The Shrine was a refreshingsight to weary pilgrims with its roll-ing terrain of green grass, mangotrees, quaint chapels and the viewof majestic Mt. Apo at a distance.

The delegates ended their Pil-grim Walk with a prayer with theirco-journeyer in an Emmaus experi-ence. As the last set of delegates en-tered the Shrine, confetti was show-ered on the delegates as a gesture ofwelcome to the Shrine from the CityGovernment of Davao.

It was with this disposition thatthe Closing Liturgy was celebrated.Archbishop Capalla was the presiderwith nine (9) other bishops and morethan a hundred priestsconcelebrating. The heart ofArchbishop’s homily was the invi-tation for the young people to de-sire for holiness of life which couldonly be achieved if Jesus would beNumero Uno in their life.

NYD was not only for the del-egates to have a good time but alsoa time to do good and become good.He shared the story of the HolyFather’s visit to the United States ofAmerica where the Pope met Rafael

THE well–attended NationalYouth Day (NYD) held in DavaoCity last Nov. 8-12, 2006 left theArchdiocese of Davao in highspirits, jovial and fulfilled, know-ing it has given its utmost to en-sure a meaningful experience forthe young delegates and theiryouth ministers. More so, amongthe organizing committees,hearts are still burning with asense of assurance that Godblessed their efforts significantlyand granted abounding gracesto make sure the event was asuccess in ways that matteredmost.

One week after the NYD,many are still talking how muchthey have been moved spiritually.Between volunteers, speakers,delegates, foster families, andparish workers, text messages ofgratitude, praise and affection arestill exchanged. All these, testify-ing to the excitement, the con-quered challenges, the faith-shar-ing, the memorable encounters,the deep insights and the freshhope brought about by the 5-dayyouth gathering.

During the said dates, morethan seven thousand (7,000) del-egates and volunteers were seenaround the parishes for assem-blies, masses and holy hour, inthe Catholic schools for thecatechesis and programs, in the

city streets for the pilgrim walk to-wards the Shrine of the Infant Jesusof Prague and in the tourist spots,restaurants and malls on the last dayfor the “suroy-suroy” or“pasyalan” with the foster families.To the bystander, who witnessedthese batches of young people intheir colorful body bags and T-shirts,the NYD may have appeared to bejust a grand youth festival or a na-tionwide jamboree. It was actuallyall that and more. It was definitely aspiritual assembly characterized byjoyous praise, cheering, dancing, in-ter-action and also solemn praying.It was probably a foretaste of an evenmore glorious, vibrant, dynamicChurch in the future.

The NYD in Davao even hadMuslim brothers and sisters asguests. Almost two hundred of thedelegates joined exposures in differ-ent local communities. Some had thechance to experience helping buildhomes for the less fortunate with theYouth for Christ volunteers throughthe Gawad-Kalinga program, whilemany had their first taste of Inter-

religious Dialogue and spent timewith Muslim families in their homesfor an afternoon. These and the otherunique features of this year’s NYD,including the well applauded visit ofthe Papal Nuncio, experiencing theLectio Divina, Lectures and Work-shops on Social issues and differentChurch ministries for the young defi-nitely left a durable dent in manyminds and hearts. These words arewhat some of them have to say...

“I felt that God touched my heartduring the NYD through the reflec-tions with my faith-sharing group. It

helped me realize my wrongdoings,it also encouraged me to change andto be a better person.” Daryl, 13 yrsold, Davao.

“I felt the love and acceptanceof my foster family and other del-egates, they were generous and wel-coming. God is inviting me to do thesame.” Yani, Marbel, Cotabato

“Experiencing NYD was anawakening on my part… in the lec-tures, and sharing… I see some simi-larities in my Islam faith to the faithof the Christians, with this I havelearned to understand them.” Suwaib

C. Mala, 18, Maranao Muslim.“The inter-religious dialogue

cancelled out my negative atti-tudes towards all Muslims. I wantto convince my Bishop to havethe same program in our dio-cese.” Ace, 23, Imus, Cavite.

“I was particularly struck inthe sharing of the second day. Iheard of similar stories from mycompanions, and my fellowpriests. It made me reflect on thecontext of brokenness youngpeople are in and so, challenging aminister like me how to be an in-strument of wholeness and heal-ing.” Fr. Ipe Enriquez, CICM,Butuan.

“I was touched with how theDavaoenos shared and partici-pated in the NYD, from the simpleto the most challenging tasks.Their presence, and ways ofdoing things, are truly manifesta-tions of God’s love and care forthe young members of our Churchand society.” Sr. Jane, 32, (Medi-cal Mission Sisters) Bukidnon.

“Thanks for the NYD experi-ence. Nag-iipon na po ako for thenext NYD. I have learned that Icould be an apostle for Christ inmy own way, di ko pinagsisihanat fullfilled po ako.” Pulo Te ,College student.

“The NYD taught me to un-derstand more my being Catho-

Spirit-filled NYD 2006 Touches LivesBy Michelle Porras

NYD 2006sa Davao . . .By Maria Riza A. Melliza

reflect on the theme, “Your word is alamp to my feet and a light to mypath.” (Psalm 119:105).

On November 8 (Day 1), the del-egates from all over the country werewarmly welcomed in the 19 hostingparishes by their foster families. Laterin the afternoon, the Opening Liturgywas celebrated in 19 parish churcheswith 19 Mindanao Bishops presid-ing. Bishops Ongtioco, Dela Cruzand Baylon, Chairperson of the Epis-copal Commission on Youth (ECY),were also present. The Opening Lit-urgy was followed by the OpeningProgram which was organized byeach parish. It was this gesture ofwelcome that Davao’s ArchbishopFernando R. Capalla envisioned asMindanao hosted NYD for the firsttime. The delegates’ attention wasdrawn to the warmth generated bysmall Christian communities, charac-teristic and ubiquitous of the Churchin Mindanao.

November 9 (Day 2) brought thedelegates to their respectiveCatechetical Sites. Hosting parishesto the north had the University ofthe Immaculate Conception—Bajada

Campus as their Catechetical Site(Csite1 with color code, red); parishesin the poblacion had the Holy Crossof Davao College—Sta. Ana Campusas their Catechetical Site (Csite2 withcolor code, yellow); and parishes tothe south had the Ateneo de DavaoUniversitY—Matina Campus as theirCatechetical Site (Csite3 with colorcode, blue).

Catecheses were held in themornings of Days 2 - 4 using theLectio Divina as an approach on thefollowing topics: Day 2 – God, theFather: the Source of True Light; Day3 – Jesus, the Son of God: the Eter-nal Light; Day 4 – God, the HolySpirit: the Source of Truth.

Inputs from the invited speak-ers were followed by individual re-flection and group sharing. Eachgroup of 10 delegates had a faithsharing facilitator who assisted themin their needs.

Day 2 was graced with the pres-ence of the Papal Nuncio, Arch-bishop Fernando Filoni who visitedall three Catechetical Sites and talkedto the delegates. He exuded so muchpositive disposition and regard for

THE culmination of the Pilgrim Walkon November 11, 2006 (Day 4) at theShrine of the Holy Infant Jesus ofPrague (or simply Shrine for the lo-cals) was reminiscent of part of theverse in Rev. 7:9 which states, “Af-ter this I saw before me a huge crowdwhich no one could count from ev-ery nation and race, people andtongue…” as the delegates from eachof the three (3) Catechetical Sitesstarted streaming in after goingthrough busy thoroughfares and ne-gotiating the steep slopes of ShrineHill. Indeed, it was breathtaking tosee all 6,000+ delegates in their red,yellow and blue backpacks proudlydisplaying their delegation bannersindicating representations from allover the Philippines. Including the2,000+ volunteers, the Shrine thatday was “lighted” by 10,000 watts ofyouthful energy. The Shrine wasspectacular with the presence of theyouth and complemented with ban-ners all around the venue featuringsaints who are models for the youth.The week that was . . .

They all came to the NationalYouth Day (NYD) 2006 in Davao to

Spirit-filled / P9

NYD 2006 / P14

JaM na!JaM na!JaM na!JaM na!JaM na!

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CBCP MonitorCBCP MonitorVol. 10 No. 16November 20, 2006 National Youth Day 2006

FROM 8-12 November, the Archdio-cese of Davao served as a home tomore than 7,000 young people fromall over the Philippines for the na-tional celebration of National YouthDay (NYD) 2006. Since 1986, theChurch in the Philippines has beenannually celebrating the NYD,whether in the local churches only ortogether with a national gathering ina host-diocese, as one of her concreteexpressions of love for the young.

Traditionally, the Scrip-ture verse which the HolyFather offers as the WorldYouth Day theme also be-comes the NYD theme.This year, our young par-ticipants reflected on “Yourword is a lamp unto my feetand light unto my path” [Ps119:105]. This NYD 2006,the first in Mindanao,aimed to gather Catholicyouth from all over the Phil-ippines, to deepen their faithgrounded on God’s word,and to re-affirm that theChurch cares for them. TheArchdiocese of Davao,through the kind leadership of Arch-bishop Fernando Capalla, DD, pre-pared a program of activities gearedtowards the realization of these ob-jectives.

Participants started arriving asearly as Nov. 6 from various pointsof entry: the airport, seaport, and busterminals. They were welcomed andaccommodated in parishes and fos-ter-families which served as theirsecond homes. In the afternoon ofNov. 8, simultaneous Opening Litur-gies presided by a Mindanao bishopand Welcome Programs were orga-nized by the nineteen (19) respec-tive host-parishes for their guests.

The mornings of the succeed-ing days (Nov. 9, 10 and 11) werespent in catechesis. The delegationswere distributed into threeCatechetical Sites: University of theImmaculate Conception, Bajada;Holy Cross of Davao College, SantaAna; and Ateneo de Davao Univer-sity, Matina. In these respectivesites, a catechetical program wasdone using the “Lectio Divina” ap-proach. Each morning, a specifictopic was developed: Nov. 9—Godthe Father, Source of True Light,Nov. 10—Jesus, the Son of God, Eter-nal Light, and Nov. 11—God the HolySpirit, Source of Truth. Main speak-ers were bishops, priests and laypersons. The morning of Nov. 9 and10 culminated with the celebrationof the Holy Eucharist. Thesecatechetical sites were also visitedby the Apostolic Nuncio to the Phil-ippines, Archbishop FernandoFiloni, DD, where he shared wordsof inspiration to the delegates.

FOR the first time in the Philippines,the National Youth Day was held inMindanao —in the Archdiocese ofDavao, from November 8 to 12,2006, with the theme: “Your Wordis a lamp to my feet and a light tomy path.”

Only 8,000 of the expected10,000 youths from all over thecountry came as the delegationsfrom disaster-stricken dioceses hadto cancel their reservations due tofund shortage. Others who wereapprehensive about the peace andorder situation as reported in me-dia also backed out, but those whocame gratefully left Davao a lotricher from the NYD experience.

The delegates experienced along and invigorating weekend thatbegun and ended with the Eucha-rist and filled all throughout withactivities patterned after the WorldYouth Day’s: home stays with fos-ter families; catechesis in variousparishes; cultural festivals; youthjams; encounters with Church el-ders particularly the Apostolic Nun-cio, Archbishop Fernando Filoni;etc. The youth listened and werelistened to, they sang, they danced,they prayed, they celebrated friend-ship with one another and savoredunion with Jesus.

A most welcome feature wasthe “suroy-suroy”—the fun-filledNYD “fringe benefit” where fosterfamilies would treat the delegatesto the attractions of the place, whichDavao is so blessed with.

But why Mindanao, one mightask. The past NYDs (since its in-ception 1986) have been held bien-nially in Luzon and Visayas—thelast one in 2004 in Bacolod . WhyMindanao when there are othersafe places elsewhere? That’s pre-cisely it—the answer is envelopedin many of the talks the youth heard:the youth, Rizal’s “hope of the Fa-therland”, is also the hope of theChurch, and it is hoped that, guidedby The Word, the youth can in timeeffect national peace, healing andunity. Strife-torn Mindanao whereChristians are a minority in manyplaces is the most logical place atthe moment to open the eyes of theChristian youth to the realities oftheir mission as baptized Christians.

Although held in what is billedby surveys as “the most livable cityin the Philippines”, NYD 2006 none-theless offered the youth glimpsesof living in proximity to danger, andalso slices of Mindanao culturethrough the Youth Festival. Clearlyone of the most enjoyable high-lights of the whole event, the YouthFestival showcased cultural offer-ings from different regions in thePhilippines, presented by the del-egates themselves. Here, in oneevening, the stage was transformedinto a veritable “Inang-bayangPilipinas”— a motherland landdear to all the youth regardless ofreligious, socio-economic or ethnicpersuasions. The delegates over-flowed with goodwill as they be-held a mosaic of the Filipino soulreflected in music, dance, drama,worship, art.

Among the numbers pre-sented were: dances fromPangasinan (Our Lady of Manaoagparish), Antipolo Diocese, and theNational Capital Region (a danceoffering for Sto. Nino de Tondo).The delegation from Infanta trained

the limelight on their luscious agri-cultural harvest—an achievementand a blessing considering the di-saster that not so long ago devas-tated their land. Virac and Legaspidelegates wowed the audience withsong and a pantomime-dance show-ing traditional courtship practicesin the region.

Rising from the ruins of disas-ter was the message of the numberfrom Central and Eastern Visayaswhich presented their Pinya Festi-val with dancers—”survivors”from Ormoc, Leyte—disguised asgiant pineapples. Not to be up-staged by the “survivors”, the “war-riors” from Western Visayas (Iloiloand Antique), wearing hats andblack garments, rocked the stagewith their “Hala Bira” specialty.

Coming to the “Land of Prom-ise “, Mindanao , the program haddelegates from CABUSTAM(Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, Surigao,Tango and Malaybalay) showing theKaamulan Festival with their tower-ing bamboo poles and red and whitekerchiefs. A Muslim “cultural dance”number was presented next by theDOPIM region (Dipolog, Ozamis,Pagadian, Iligan, Marawi), highlight-ing different aspects of their lifestyle.The KIDMACO (Kidapawan,Makilala, Cotabato) delegates pro-moted the Tuna Festival of GeneralSantos City and the Tinalac of Marbelin their presentation.

A highly colorful performancewas given by the ZAMBASULIgroup (Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu,Ipil) which let the audience in onthe elaborate rituals surroundingtraditional betrothal in their region,from the parents’ agreement downto the wedding feast.

Delegates from Luzon andVisayas, especially, were impressedby the cultural wealth laid beforethem, and for many of them, afterhaving beheld such wealth, thePhilippines and its people will neverbe the same. Indeed, that night ofthe Youth Festival, the youth’s en-thusiasm and the atmosphere ofbrotherhood and harmony auguredwell for the Philippine nation.

But is that all? What happensafter feeling good for three days?The National Youth Day is not amere show—it is a challenge. It isup to the delegates to take up thechallenge of NYD 2006, to serve aslight-bearers not only in the Philip-pines but in the whole world. Re-calling World Youth Day 1995where Pope John Paul II exhortedthe youth to “…be a sign of hopefor the Church, for your countriesand for all humanity”, the Nuncio,Archbishop Filoni, urged the del-egates to the NYD 2006 to “graspthe spiritual torch being passed onto you… and pass it on… to thefuture young people…” The chal-lenge, said Abp. Filoni, is for theyoung to “journey along the pathof righteousness and holiness oflife…” That challenge is to be metby “taking to heart whatever is ex-perienced and learned in this mo-ment of grace and putting it intopractice,” Davao ArchbishopFernando Capalla told the youth atthe concluding rites, “If we wantThe Word to transform us, we mustbe detached. To follow Jesus wemust be free. You may find it diffi-cult to follow Jesus… but with God,nothing is impossible.”

More ThanAnythingElse, AChallengeBy Teresa R. Tunay

In the afternoon of Nov. 9, del-egates attended 14 simultaneoustracks and conferences facilitated re-spectively by a bishop, priests, sis-ters, and lay people, on topics suchas music ministry, servant-leader-ship, corruption, creative Gospelsharing, and others that are relevantto the world of the young. Therewere also two special tracks: Inter-Religious Dialogue exposure andGawad Kalinga. Each delegation sent

a delegate each to these two tracks.The afternoon of Nov. 10 was spentin deepening the tracks and confer-ences of the previous day. Eachcatechetical site tackled this programdistinctly: through group sharings,through a musical followed by shar-ing and through creative presenta-tions by differently-abled children.

A festive mood permeated theevening of Nov. 9, with the “YouthFestival: Flaunt… Color… Evange-lize”. This festival showcased thecultural presentations of the youngpeople of Davao and of the delega-tions. The evening of the followingday was devoted to a Holy Hour inthe host-parishes, affording the del-egates a time for reflection and spiri-tual deepening of their experiences.

At noontime of Nov. 11, del-egates from the three Catechetical

Sites came together for the PilgrimWalk towards the venue for the Clos-ing Ceremonies, which is the Shrineof the Infant Jesus of Prague in ShrineHills, Matina. Along the way, theyengaged in group sharing and prayer.

Archbishop Capalla presidedover the Closing Mass, together withbishops and priests, and all the NYD2006 delegates. Foster families andguests were also present to join inthe thanksgiving. At the conclusion

of the Mass, Bishop JoelBaylon, DD, the Chairmanof the CBCP-EpiscopalCommission on Youth,challenged the delegatesto allow this NYD 2006 ex-perience to bear fruit notjust in their personal lives,but in the communitiesand groups where theylive, through their uniqueand youthful “diskarte”.He also announced thatthe next national celebra-tion of the NYD will be inLuzon.

The evening un-folded with the “Youth

Jam”, a festive program of songs anddances especially prepared by theyoung people of Davao for their fel-low youth from all over the Philip-pines. The following day, Nov. 12,was spent by the delegates withtheir foster families in going aroundand enjoying Davao City.

All in all, the NYD 2006 was anexperience brimming with the vi-brancy and joy of the young. De-spite problems and inconveniences,young people are capable of givingthemselves into the experience, asmanifested in their dancing, in theirsharing and listening, and in theirpraying. As the NYD 2006 themesong goes, may these young partici-pants truly “take a stand for life…for love” and “build the world anew”,with Jesus, “the lamp unto our feetand the light to our path”.

NYD 2006:

Taking a Stand for Life… for LoveBy Steven Borja

lic. It has deepened my sense offaith.” Lalaine Mae G. Dacobor,17, Ifi-Catholic.

“I belong to a broken family,my Mom has vices and my Dadleft us to live with his mistress. Ihated them but after my NYD ex-perience parang nawala anggalit ko sa kanila.” Roco, youngCatholic.

“My participation in theNYD was enriching as a Muslimdelegate, there was a realizationto build more my relationshipwith the almighty Allah, with

people and with myself. I found asecond family, a Christian one butthey considered me as part of theirown family.” Ahmad Alawaddin, 30,Muslim Tausug, Zamboanga City.

“God loves me and gave me atrue family far from home and truefriends who have shown me concernand kindness. They were instru-ments for me to feel God’s love.”Sheila Bagadiong, Jaro,Iloilo.

“I was struck with the conceptof Church. We all put up with theinconveniences and imperfections ofthe preparations and logistics evenwhen it was beyond our responsi-bility. The generosity of the

Davaoenos is so overwhelming.As a whole we just moved as onefor the Lord!” Julie Bajo, volun-teer and foster sister.

“Ang ganda ng ginawanyo... there was so much energyand zeal among the young, it wasan honor to be part of the NYD.”Elenita Cruz , Metro Manila,Speaker, Dance Ministry track.

“I enjoyed having 26 del-egates for merienda in my homeon the last day of the NYD, hear-ing their stories on how inspiredthey were ... Some shed tears ofjoy.” Dalisay Soriano, Business-woman, mother of a volunteer.

Spirit-filled/ from p8

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10 CBCP Commissions

naries where the congregation hasleft its mark, were the Major Semi-nary of Lipa, San Carlos Major Semi-nary in Manila, the Guadalupe Mi-nor Seminary, St. Joseph’s Seminaryof Dumaguete, and St. Peter’s Semi-nary in Butuan.

The CICM established its owntheological school. Maryhill Schoolof Theology (MST) remains thecongregation’s notable contributionin the theological formation of semi-narians not only those who belongto CICM but also diocesan andreligious congregations, as well aslay persons. With objectives that aresolidly grounded on inculturationand the theology of mission, MSTtrains its students to integrate re-flection with action. Says Fr. LodeWostyn, CICM, “Students are madeto see the reality of our present-dayworld [not only] with its riches incultures and religions, but also withits strife, injustice and violence.They have to learn how to discernthe Christian message by setting upa dialogue between their experiencesin this present-day world and theJudeo-Christian Tradition.” Wostyn

CICM / from p3

THE growth of the Commissionstarted with the leadership of Car-dinal Ricardo Vidal who providedthe inspiration and direction for theCommission to take during thepreparation and duration of the PCPII. With Fr. Paul Bernier as the Ex-ecutive Secretary and Fr. CatalinoArevalo, SJ as the main theologian,the Commission came up with thePaper on the Clergy of the Philip-pines. A series of national consul-tation was convened by the Cardi-nal in his archdiocese in Cebu inorder to get the total picture andsituation of the Philippine clergy atthat time. From these consultationsthe Commission was able to pro-vide the needed realities andsituationer of the needs and aspira-tions of the Filipino Clergy.

It was after the PCP II experi-ence of renewal in the PhilippineChurch that the Commission beganto spearhead its priority program forthe Clergy: The RENEWAL Pro-gram of Priests. This was furtherenhanced with the coming of thegreat encyclical of Pope John PaulII, Pastores Dabo Vobis on March25, 1992. Amidst the different scan-dals and issues of priests happen-ing in the Church, the Holy Father’sresponse was the urgency of on-going formation of the clergy. Fr.Paul Bernier resigned as the Execu-tive Secretary of the Commissionand Cardinal Vidal appointed Msgr.Jose (Chito) Bernardo as his replace-ment (who was then the Director ofthe Bahay Pari of the Archdiocese

of Manila; appointed by CardinalJaime Sin as in charge of the Renewalof the Clergy of Manila.)

Renewal Programs for ClergyAnother major breakthrough

came about in the ministry of theCommission with the coming to thePhilippines of a religious congrega-tion in the United States called SER-VANTS of the PARACLETE in theperson of Fr. Peter Lechner. The maincharism of their founder is to takecare of priests especially in their“woundedness”. Their major con-tribution to the ministry of the Com-mission was the establishment of theASSIST ministry to intensify andprovide another aspect to the re-newal program of the priests in thePhilippines. The main philosophy ofthe ASSIST ministry is that priestsare shepherds/caregivers of God’sflock—they minister to God’s peopleevery day and in every situation.But who will minister to them, whowill take care of them? Primarily it isthe bishop of the diocese who is themain shepherd of his priests; butwith so many other concerns heneeds to be helped in this importantministry of caring for priests. Andso the Commission on Clergy pro-posed the ASSIST ministry to thePlenary of the CBCP and it was unani-mously endorsed by the Bishops.

The ASSIST ministry took ondifferent stages of development andcame up with different programs thatwill suit the needs of the priests. Butthe major obstacle to it was from the

priests themselves who at that timehad a “negative view” about renewaland assist; that it is only for priestswith “problems” and would not ac-cept that fact that they need help intheir struggles to remain faithful intheir priestly life and ministry. But indue time and with the support com-ing from the Bishops and the priestswho have undergone the differentprograms of the Commission, the re-sistance was minimized.

There is no doubt that somepriests will go through some majorcrisis and misconduct in the minis-try. This requires more than just re-newal and ongoing formation. TheCommission came up with the pro-gram AIR for Priests, a 3-month pro-gram of community life, praying theHoly Hour everyday and celebrat-ing the Eucharist together; with aprogram of counseling, therapy, spiri-tual direction and group counseling.The staff of this program has beentrained for this purpose and theywork with lay professionals and Re-ligious. It is offered once a year onlybut it is hoped the Commission canoffer it three times a year—one inLuzon, one in Visayas and one inMindanao.

Another program that has beenin existence for 12 years is the “In-tensive Renewal Program for Priests(IRPP)—a 5 week lived-in program ofupdating and renewal for priests whohave reached 10 years in the ministryand above, given at Bahay Pari.

And lastly the Commission hasoffered and will still offer the differ-

ent Renewal Programs for the differ-ent Age Bracket of priests: The Resi-dency Program for the Young Clergy(1-5 yrs in the ministry); Value-Clari-fication for the Junior Clergy (6-10yrs in the ministry) and for the Se-nior Clergy “A Second Look at thePriesthood.”

First National Congress of theClergy

The biggest event/grace thatthe Commission has witnessed andgiven to the Philippine Church wasthe historical FIRST NATIONALCONGRESS OF THE CLERGY in July2004. Under the leadership and in-spiration of Cardinal GaudencioRosales, and Ambassador Tita deVilla who helped extensively in thepreparation leading to the events,the congress went through verysmoothly and successfully. Calledas the “New Pentecost” in the Phil-ippine Church, the event gatheredalmost 5,000 priests and Bishops atthe World Trade Center for 5 daysand prayed together for the gift ofrenewal for the Filipino clergy. It washere that the Clergy of the Philip-pines committed themselves to theirongoing formation.

The Commission now hopesthat the different Metropolitans willdo a follow up of the National Con-gress by convening their own Met-ropolitan Regional Congress and tocome up with their own program forongoing formation in the Diocesanand Metropolitan level. The Com-mission has also re-organized thedifferent Diocesan Commission onClergy for better linkages and com-munication.

Future Direction/PlansThe major plan/project of the

Commission is the construction ofthe Renewal Center for the Priestsof the Philippines. With the able andinspired leadership of the presentChairman of the Commission, Cardi-nal Rosales, this project is underway.A three-storey building with 52rooms is now being constructed inTagaytay City. It is aptly calledJOHN MARY VIANNEY GALILEEDEVELOPMENT AND RETREATCENTER FOR PRIESTS. The Re-newal Center is targeted to be fin-ished by August 2007.

Another plan of the Commis-sion is to link withthe Commissionon Seminariesunder the leader-ship of BishopMylo Vergaraand to providethe Seminary Fa-thers with the ba-

sic experience of the ASSIST minis-try geared for the Formators. In al-most all the programs that the Com-mission on Clergy have given, it isthe importance of Human Formationthat has surfaced and been identi-fied as a need that must be addressedin the seminary formation. This par-ticular need to be formed in the dy-namics of human formation was ex-pressed by the 250 seminary Fatherswho gathered in the Institute forSeminary Fathers last 2005. Linkingup with the Commission on Seminar-ies is, therefore, a meaningful under-taking that can facilitate more under-standing of the realities of the prieststhat can be properly addressed dur-ing seminary formation.

The last concern of the Com-mission is to conduct another train-ing program for more priests-staffwho can facilitate the AIR for Priestsprogram and other programs for therenewal of priests. We are also plan-ning to provide the basic trainingmodule for Spiritual Directors in theDioceses so as to answer the urgentneed expressed by priests who needspiritual accompaniment in order toavoid more serious problems.

ConclusionThe Commission on Clergy has

gone a long way since the PCP IIexperience in the Philippine Church.The task ahead is still big and chal-lenging. But there have been tre-mendous “breakthroughs” that aresignificant in the life and ministry ofthe Philippine Clergy. We now havethe Pastoral Guidelines or the Proto-col in responding to the misconductof the clergy which the Bishops canuse to help them minister to theirpriests. We also have in place thedifferent programs of renewal as thepositive approach to the needs ofthe clergy. In the near future, ourown Renewal Center will provide thepriests of the Philippines their ownplace of rest and spiritual/physicalstrengthening.

THE OFFICERS OF THECOMMISION

Chairman:Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales

Vice-Chairman:Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal

Members:Bp. Romulo T. de la CruzBp. Florentino G. LavariasAbp. Angel N. Lagdameo

Executive Secretary:Msgr. Jose Bernardo

Episcopal Commissionon Clergy (ECC)

By Msgr. Jose Bernardo

continues, “Students are encouragedto participate in pastoral and devel-opmental programs in parishes andNGO’s to arrive at a message whichtransforms the mind, heart and handsof people.”

Contribution to EducationThe education apostolate has

always been considered by theCICM as a special means of accom-plishing the congregation’s mission.The St. Louis School system whichis now spread out in Northern Luzonstarted out of a one-room elemen-tary school which Fr. SeraphinDevesse, CICM, in 1911, built inBaguio to accommodate ten localboys. To date, the CICM schoolscontinue to excel in the field ofeducation. Three of its five schoolshave earned university status andbecame centers of excellence: St.Louis University of Baguio, St.Mary’s University of Bayombong,and University of St. Louis ofTuguegarao. These universities,together with St. Louis College ofSan Fernando, La Union andSt. Louis School of Mandaue in

Cebu, remain a significant facet ofthe CICM commitment in the forma-tion of Christian communities,particularly the youth, throughCatholic education.

“From a Receiving Church to aSending Church”

There are more than a hundredFilipino CICM’s at present, severalof whom hold position of leader-ship in the Church, (Most ReverendCarlito Cenzon is the currentBishop of Baguio while MostReverend Prudencio Andaya isthe Apostolic Vicar of Tabuk); inthe administration of the provinceand in the formation of youngermembers.

The exodus of Filipino CICMmissionaries to mission lands beganin the 1950’s. To date, more than60 Filipino CICM’s are working inmissions abroad. They are all spreadout in Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, theDemocratic Republic of Congo, theDominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti,Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico,Mongolia, Senegal, Singapore,Taiwan, the USA and Zambia.

“The first wave of Filipinoconfreres who left for the foreignmissions towards the end of the1960’s transformed CICM-Philip-pines into a sending province,”says Bishop Andaya. “To this day,one may find CICM Filipinos inalmost all the territories where ourCongregation offers its humble con-tribution in mission… continuingto be witnesses of the universal loveof God who calls all peoples to livein His friendship.”

Greatest AchievementThe CICM takes pride in being

able to contribute in keeping aliveand burning the missionary spiritof the Philippine Church which in asense “is the greatest achievementof the CICM story in the Philippines.”In gratefully remembering thecongregation’s numerous contribu-tions in the missionary work of theChurch, they also recall the manyother ministries that were left unmen-tioned, which their confreres haverendered and still rendering to theChurch, unknown to many but toGod for whom they work.

For Father D’Ambra, “thereare more and more conflicts thatworry people who do not turntheir thoughts towards the ele-ments of peace that lead to God.We must understand again at adeeper level because we mustwork together for peace. Under-standing better God’s mysteriousplan for humanity and the spiri-tuality of each others’ religion isessential to any process of per-sonal and social transformation”.

“With this symposium,” heexplained, there is “an opportu-nity for mutual enrichmentthrough the ‘exchange of trea-sures’ from both religious tradi-tions”.

“I hope that participants willgive their humble but truthful con-tribution, through their reflec-tions, against the background ofa world affected by violence andmaterialism, where the more ego-istic features of globalization areendangering the spiritual valuesof humanity and their religioustraditions.” (AsiaNews)

Rediscovering/ from p3

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11Vol. 10 No. 16November 20, 2006 Social Concern

What is meant by the “politics ofpersonalities”?

This is a system where thepopularity of political candidatesrather than issues count more thanknowledge and competence. Thepopularity of personalities and the“connection” of personalities to thepowers that be are more often thannot the main criteria for judging whoshould be elected. Thus, candidatesfor political office who are popularin movies, sports, or are connectedto powerful political families have asignificant headstart in elections.Coupled with Filipino values of fam-ily-centeredness, family connectionshave resulted in family political dy-nasties. Moreover, the politics ofpersonalities has made it possible forfrequent changes in political partyaffiliation or political “turn-coatism”.Parties do not have political ideolo-gies that present voters with clearcut alternatives on key social issuessuch as environmental protection,globalization, trade liberalization,etc. PCP-II observed that peoplethemselves “seem to care more forthe projects and gifts and less forthe substantive issues on whichtheir elected political representa-tives should take a stand” (PCP-II,pp. 279-80).

What is meant by a “politics of pay-off”?

It is a system of politics wherepolitical advantage is the reason thata politician takes one position overanother with regard to issues. Thepolitical debate depends on answersto such questions as “What will youdo for me if I support you on thisissue”? Pay-off can be in terms offinancial “commissions”, politicalappointments, or of better politicalleverage. This is sadly the belief ofwhat goes on in the halls of Con-gress. It is not rare that decisionsare based not on principles but on“horse trading”, vested interestsand on so called “party loyalty.”Many people, therefore, believe thatdecisions on the government yearlybudget depend very much on ques-tions of the “pork barrel” fund. Themore generous the “pork barrel” theeasier other items of the budget areapproved. “Politics of pay-off” alsoincludes vote-buying.Is the mentality of many politicianspart of this political culture?

Yes. Undoubtedly there are manypoliticians who truly strive for the com-mon good. They consider themselvespublic servants in the real sense andtruly act as such. Unfortunately, thereare also many who give politics a dirtyname because of their mentality. Theylook at politics as a means of enrich-ment and a source of influence andpower for self and family-interests.Thus, politics becomes a cause ofgreed. Principles are sacrificed. One canvery well ask why so many would wantto spend so much money and evencheat in order to be elected to politicalpositions that pay relatively little.

Do the terms “traditional politics”and “traditional politicians” referto the negative features mentioned?

Yes. In themselves the terms arenot derogatory. But in recent years,to highlight the need of a new kindof politics and of a new breed of poli-ticians, the terms “traditional poli-tics” and “traditional politicians”have increasingly been understoodto describe the negative features ofthe world of politics. This is the back-ground of the word trapo.

Is this why the Bishops say that ourpolitical culture is negative?

Yes, the bishops, said that thepolitical “system is shot through andthrough with opportunities for cor-ruption, influence-peddling, and theindiscriminate use of public funds forpartisan or personal purposes”(PEPP, p. 29). They also said: “If weare what we are today - a countrywith a very great number of poor andpowerless people? one reason is theway we have allowed politics to bedebased and prostituted to the lowlevel it is now” (PEPP, p. 10). In factafter analyzing the very negative fea-tures of the election process, theBishops lamented that: “The primevalues of our faith? Charity, justice,honesty, truth? These are of little orno consequence at all when it comesto our practice of politics in or out ofelection time.” (PEPP, p. 21).

Why? What is wrong about our elec-tion process?

The Bishops mention the fol-lowing evils that are happening be-fore elections:• switching party affiliations for the

sake of political ambition;• getting media exposure by any

means, including bribing willingjournalists;

• using public funds for political ad-vertisements;

• using government bureaucracy forcampaigning;

• being “wined, dined, andwomened” at convention time in or-der to win votes;

• spending enormous amounts offunds, accountable and unac-countable, before and during thecampaign period;

• making campaigns more of an en-tertainment circus for people andof black propaganda rather thandiscussion of issues;

• people in turn ask for countlessdonations from candidates;

• people registering more than oncein different precincts.

What are the evil activities doneon election day itself?• using “flying voters”;• intimidating voters; using vio-

lence and even murdering politi-cal rivals or their supporters;

• scaring voters away by threats ofviolence; deliberately making vot-ing paraphernalia unavailable, andprecincts inaccessible;

• bribing election officials, includ-ing teachers who count the votes;

• tampering with ballots; deliber-ately miscounting votes; chang-ing election results;

• delaying or slowing down the

CATECHISM ON THE

CHURCH AND POLITICS

(Editor’s Note: The CBCP’s declaration of 2006 as Year of Social Concerns has veritably brought to fore once again the burningquestion of the Church’s engagement in politics as being part of the Church’s social concern agenda. CBCP Monitor isserializing the following document issued by the CBCP in 1998 with such end of providing a catechetical perspective to thecontinuing discourse. A continuation from last issue)

(Vice-Chair), Br. Briccio Baynosa,FMS (Secretary), and Br. RodolfoSazon, OCD (Treasurer).

The Brothers of Luzon and ofthe Visayas simultaneously heldtheir assemblies on Oct. 27-29,2006, in the cities of Legaspi andBacolod, respectively.

Luzon

The Luzon Brothers gatheredat the Bethlehem Pastoral and Hu-man Resource Development Cen-ter of the Diocese of Legaspi.Eighty-one Brothers from 21 Con-gregations attended the said As-sembly. Their theme was “The Pas-sion to Be Brothers Today.”

The Assembly started its pro-ceedings on the first day with therevision of the By-Laws to makeLARB more responsive to contem-porary times. On the second day,the Brothers tackled the themethrough big and small group shar-ing and activities. The Brothers ar-ticulated their own dreams asBrothers starting with their ownvocation stories. These dreamswere shared and listened to in thecontext of their being Brothers to-day. The sharing created an oppor-tunity to celebrate with one an-other the person who is the driv-ing force for Brothers to be in a fra-ternal relationship with humanity:

Christ our brother. The assemblyconcluded its proceedings with theEucharistic celebration presided byBishop Lucilo Quiambao, DD, whoaffirmed the vocation of being aBrother in the Philippine Church. Onthe third day, the Brothers enjoyedthe sights and sounds ofBicolandia.

The LARB officers for 2005-2008 are Br. Raymond D. Callo, SDB(Chairman), Br. Gabriel Pestano, SJ(Vice-Chairman), Br. Ricky Laguda,FSC (Treasurer), and Br. StephenTan, OSA (Secretary). LARB isnoted for its common apostolate,the Kuya Center, which has beenserving street children for 16 years.

Visayas

The assembly of the VisayasAssociation of Religous Brothers(VARB) was a special one becauseit was dubbed as a “resuscitation”of the organization which in recentyears has been fledgling. Under theleadership of Br. Romualdo Abulad,SVD (Chairman), Br. Carlo Bacalla,SDB (Vice Chairman), Br. RolandPontevedra, SVD (Secretary), andBr. Jose Bart Cancio, OSJ (Trea-surer), twenty-seven Brothers from13 Congregations gathered at BalayKalinungan, University of St. LaSalle, Bacolod City. National Chair-man Br. Amado Ancla, CFA, joined

the Visayas assembly to lend hissupport. The La Salle Brotherssponsored the use of BalayKalinungan.

Two bishops graced theVisayas assembly. CBCP Presidentand Jaro Archbishop AngelLagdameo, DD, delivered the key-note speech where he gave a briefhistory of the religious lay broth-erhood. He quoted from PCP II,Perfectae Caritatis and VitaConsecrata . ArchbishopLagdameo ended with a challenge:“In the light of Vatican II…are younow better able to assess your pro-phetic impact or prophetic re-sponse? Our people are challeng-ing you to be prophetic witnessesby your ‘being religious’, by whoyou are and not simply by whatyou do or say.” The other bishopwas Most Rev. Patrick A. Buzon,SDB, D.D., Bishop of the Dioceseof Kabankalan. He celebrated theconcluding Eucharist. The Broth-ers watched a video clip whereImus Bishop Luis Antonio Taglespoke of the essential place of reli-gious experience in the beginning,the sustenance and the fruition ofany vocation. This made BishopTagle the “third” bishop to gracethe Visayas assembly.

Reorganization was the mainagenda of the Visayas assembly.And due to the many islands in the

Religious / from p3

tabulation of final results in orderto create opportunities for chang-ing the results.

After the elections, what question-able or even reprehensible actionsdo we observe?• protesting the final results as tabu-

lated;• slowness of deciding on election

protests such that election win-ners hardly have any time left toserve their tenure;

• using political office in order to payelection debts, recoup election ex-penses, make fat profits, and per-petuate the officeholder in power;

• nepotism in political appoint-ments; kickbacks in approvingand awarding projects.

cese. The professional catechists,who have obtained their BSE de-gree major in religious education,become religion teachers or cat-echists in the elementary schools.We must admit however thatwe’re yet lacking in the numberof catechists—who at present aremostly elderly ladies—comparedto the number of elementaryschools in our parishes.

What about your media evangeli-zation program? And what is yourperception about the secular me-dia?

We have our radio station inthe diocese. It has a very goodsignal. It’s the only link theChurch has with the peoples orcommunities in the mountains.Our broadcast programming is re-ally good, it’s fully laden with val-ues and formative programs. Re-garding the secular media…well,we don’t have any competition atall with them. We have very goodrelationship. But I think some-times they are not accurate in re-porting the news, particularlythose that concern the Church.Not perhaps because they haveany bias against the Church butmaybe simply because of lack ofconscientiousness or profession-alism in their work.

Visayas where the Brothers arepresent, the Visayas Brothersdeemed it best to divide themselvesinto three sub-regions, namely,Negros, Panay and Cebu. TheBrothers also shared about theircongregations’ practices and chal-lenges in vocation promotion andformation.

National Federation

The National Federation ofReligious Brothers in the Philip-pines (NFRBP) will celebrate itsSilver Jubilee in 2010. It will be heldat its place of origin, the Holy Fam-ily Retreat House in Cebu City. Thenewly re-organized Visayas Broth-ers will be the host of this nationalgathering. Before 2010, however,the Religious Brothers will stillhave a national convention to beheld in Davao City in 2008.

The other officers of theNFRBP are Br. Raymond Callo, SDB(Vice Chairman), Br. Erwin Sayson,SC (Secretary), and Br. RickyLaguda, FSC (Treasurer). Theywere elected during the nationalconvention in 2005 at the CapuchinRetreat House, Lipa City, Batangas.That convention was participatedin by 161 Brothers representing 35congregations. (with reports fromBr. Raymond Callo, SDB and Br.Romualdo Abulad, SVD)

7 Questions / from p5

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12 Message

WE came together in Assisi,called from nearly 30 nationsand representing 13 religioustraditions, to commemoratethe 20th anniversary of thehistoric Day of Prayer forWorld Peace in 1986. Invitedby the Pontifical Council forInterreligious Dialogue andsent by our religious commu-nities and organizations, weyoung people came here tocarry forward the flame ofpeace ignited by our spiritualleaders 20 years ago in thesesame sacred spaces.

We encountered one an-other with honesty and sin-cerity to build up the bondsof fraternity that unite us allas brothers and sisters in ourhumanity, fashioned by and inGod. From our commonly helddesires for happiness, justiceand truth, we entered intogenuine dialogue.

We shared and learnedabout each other’s culturesand beliefs, not to minimize orignore our differences, but togrow in mutual respect, es-teem and understanding.Though we do not share thesame religious convictions, wehave all inherited the same

Message from Youth, to YouthInterreligious Youth Meeting, Nov. 4-8, 2006, Assisi, Italy

earth and share a common re-sponsibility to be faithful citi-zens of society and to be goodstewards of creation.

We prayed according toour respective religious tradi-tions, imploring from God theprecious gift of peace. Whileour prayers were offered indifferent places, languagesand ways, we were united in asingle purpose: praying forpeace. In this way, we testi-fied to the truth that “prayerdoes not divide but unites andis a decisive element for aneffective pedagogy of peace,hinged on friendship, recipro-cal acceptance and dialoguebetween different cultures andreligions” as Pope BenedictXVI wrote in his message forthe 20th anniversary of thefirst Assisi meeting.

We walked as pilgrims tothe site of St. Francis ofAssisi’s conversion 800 yearsago, when God called out toFrancis “Go, rebuild myhouse.” Likewise today, in thespirit of our respective reli-gions, we young people hearthe call to “Go, rebuild ourworld,” which is too oftenbroken by violence and war.

We appeal to all peoplethat peace is not somethingonly to be sought in halls ofgovernment, but also in thehalls of our synagogues, ourchurches, our mosques, ourtemples, our pagodas, our gu-rudwaras, our atash berhrams,our schools, our workplaces,our homes and most impor-tantly in our hearts.

We will strive to follow thepath to peace, guided by theprecepts of our respective reli-gious traditions. In the “spiritof Assisi” and with a unitedvoice, we echo the words ofthat great ambassador of peace,the Servant of God Pope JohnPaul II, as we cry out:

Violence never again! Warnever again! Terrorism neveragain! In the name of God, mayevery religion bring uponthe earth Justice and Peace,Forgiveness and Life, Love!

We young people repre-sent a new generation and anew hope. We resolve to re-turn to our families and com-munities, to be advocates forinterreligious and interculturalunderstanding and respect.We accept the responsibility ofcontinuing the dialogue begunhere in Assisi and we fully com-mit ourselves to working forjustice and to be instrumentsof peace in our homelands andin every corner of the earth.

Statement10th Asian Liturgy Forum-Southeast Asian Region

FROM October 22-26, 2006,we, the delegates to the 10th

Asian Liturgy Forum, met inChang Mai, Thailand underthe generous auspices of theCommission on Liturgy ofthe Bishop’s Conference ofThailand. The delegatesrepresented Thailand, Viet-nam, Cambodia, Laos,Myanmar, Malaysia,Singapore, Philippines, Indo-nesia and Taiwan.

Taking inspiration fromthe words of John Paul II inEcclesia in Asia, namely thatthe liturgy is “a decisivemeans of evangelization, es-pecially in Asia, where thefollowers of different reli-gions are so drawn to wor-ship, religious festivals andpopular devotions” (n.22)and in the wake of the AsianMission Congress held inChiang Mai, we discussedthe role the liturgy plays inthe missionary life of theChurch. We now share thefruits of our discussions.1. We affirm that the mis-

sion of Jesus Christ en-dures in the Church in theform of martyria (life ofwitnessing), leiturgia(life of worship, anddiakonia ( life of service).Among these, leiturgia,being the summit andsource of the life and ac-tivities of the Church (cf.SC 10), rightly holds pre-eminence.

2. The liturgy is a powerfulmoment of encounterwith Jesus in which hisstory comes alive throughthe readings of Scripture,preaching, and the cel-ebrations of the Sacra-ments and liturgicalfeasts. Hence, the lan-guage and symbols of theliturgy should be acces-sible to the assembly thatcelebrates it.

3. Since the mission of theChurch is to welcome allto Christ’s embrace, theliturgy—which is prima-

rily a celebration of thefaithful—should never-theless embody elementsof hospitality across thedifferences in race, culture,religion, language, socialand bodily condition, andpolitical affiliation.

4. The persuasive characterof the liturgy should chal-lenge the faithful to be in-volved in social concernsthat afflict many parts ofAsia like poverty, injustice,war, violence of humanrights, and recurring natu-ral disasters.

5. The liturgical catechesisand celebrations in Catho-lic Schools, seminaries,and houses of formationshould instill among thestudents a strong mission-ary spirit.

6. The liturgical celebrationshould not end in theChurch but should con-tinue in the parish and inits basic ecclesial commu-nities through martyriaand the diakonia of all thefaithful especially the cat-echists, lay liturgical min-isters, and lay professionalvolunteers.

7. From the sharing of oursisters and brothers fromChurches that have suf-fered persecution we havecome to the realization thatthe celebration of the lit-urgy especially the Eucha-rist is able to sustain andstrengthen the faith andoffer spiritual comfort tothe faithful.

With deep gratitude weacknowledge the work of mis-sionaries in this part of Asiawho, inspired by the HolySpirit, heeded the call of Christto “Go and preach the GoodNews to all nations.” Underthe guidance of the same Spiritwe commit ourselves to con-tinue the work they have be-gun in the name of Jesus.

That in all things Godmay be glorified.

IT is with hopeful anticipationthat we learned of the initia-tive of the Canadian Govern-ment and various national so-cial sectors to reflect on thesocial responsibility of Cana-dian mining companies oper-ating overseas. We trust thatthis initiative will translate intomeasures and policies that willlead to a greater regulation ofthe latter in order to guaran-tee our people full enjoymentof their rights to a healthy en-vironment, environmentalsustainability in the compa-nies’ operations and a signifi-cant contribution to develop-ment for our peoples.

In this context, the accel-erated environmental degra-dation and depletion of nonrenewable natural resources,compelling nations to debatethe existing tension betweenenvironment and the expan-sion of trade, need to be ad-dressed. Behind the efforts ofthe WTO and other initiativesare a number of questions:Can natural resources be con-sidered tradable goods?Should natural resources betraded in the same way as anyother commodity? Do all natu-ral resources have a hierarchi-cal value in function of theiruses and their contribution tothe fulfillment of humanneeds? Can we consider ethi-cal the extraction and exploi-tation of mineral resources, atthe expense of other re-sources, such as fresh water

and forests? In short, shouldpolitical and commercial endsbe at the centre of and the driv-ing force of human relations?

The above dilemma is notan economic one, nor an envi-ronmental one, it is eminentlyethical, as it brings us face toface with the need to reviewnot only the rules and prac-tices of trade in the natural re-sources sector, but also to re-view the level of stewardshipand responsibility with whichwe care for natural resourceswhen considering this ques-tion through a lens of socialand international solidarity.

We must also evaluatewhether the commodities pro-duced through the exploitationof natural resources, in particu-lar those of a limited and non-renewable nature, justify theeconomic, environmental andsocial costs that are generallyborne by the communities andnations who produce thesecommodities, and who, para-doxically, nearly always live inconditions of greater povertyand vulnerability than thosecommunities and nations forwhom they are produced.

In recent years, this di-lemma has been more in evi-dence in the context of the ex-ploitation of precious mineralresources, such as gold andsilver, through modern tech-niques that lower extractioncosts, while causing signifi-cant environmental impactsand risks that are not alwayspossible to mitigate or neutral-ize throughout the exploita-tion period by the companiesengaged in these activities.

The increasingly fre-quent conflicts in differentparts of the world betweenmining companies and af-fected communities, as well asthe growing efforts of civil

society organizations to de-mand stricter regulation, morerigorous monitoring, more re-sponsible and transparentpractices, are a sign that we canno longer continue to adheresolely to the logic of the busi-ness market that operates onthe principle of “the less in-vested, the greater the profits.”

We must move towardsa vision of Corporate SocialResponsibility, which cannotbe reduced to corporatevoluntarism alone but must becomplemented by a social re-sponsibility regulated by thestate and international orga-nizations.

Such a redefinition is ur-gent, as the depletion of natu-ral resources has been sub-stantially accelerated partlybecause of the growing de-mand for precious minerals.

The investigation anddevelopment of new tech-nologies for the exploitationof mineral resources which arealso compatible with conser-vation and preservation of thebalance of eco systems is in-creasingly urgent.

No less vital is the pro-motion and adoption of ethi-cal norms in trade and aid re-lations between countries ofthe North and South.

Trade treaties must beaccompanied by ethicalagreements and codes in or-der to resolve the current con-tradictions that occur whenon the one hand, world or re-gional summits adopt policiesof environmental protectionand conservation, that arelater made operational by aidprograms, while at the sametime, high tech industries thatgenerate or increase levels ofsocial and environmental vul-nerability are promoted. Thesesame industries, taking ad-

vantage of the weak legisla-tion in our countries, behavein an unethical and irrespon-sible manner that fuels corrup-tion, environmental degrada-tion, pollution of our naturalresources, and social divi-sions in our communities.

We cannot continue withambivalent policies wherewhat we build with one hand,we destroy immediately withthe other. It is time to reviewmarket and trade rules and tocomplement them with valuesof solidarity, justice, sub-sidiarity, and shared respon-sibility in our actions and inthe future of humanity.

It is also necessary toadopt regulatory mechanismsthat guarantee that these in-dustries are made responsiblefor their actions and behaviornot only in the countrieswhere they operate, but alsoin their countries of origin andin the corresponding interna-tional bodies.

Today, the message of theLatin American Bishops at theFourth Episcopal Meeting inSanto Domingo, has a particu-lar relevance: ̈ There can be nomarket economy that is inno-vative and at the same timesocially just, without a solidcommitment from the whole ofsociety and all its players tosolidarity through a judicialframework that guaranteesthe value of the human per-son, honor, respect for life,just distribution of the earth’sresources, and a real concernfor the poorest.¨ (SantoDomingo, Conclusions 195.)

Respectfully,OSCAR ANDRES,CARDINAL RODRIGUEZ,MARADIAGA, S.D.BArchbishop of Tegucigalpa,Honduras, Central America

Message from His Eminence, Cardinal Oscar Andres RodríguezMaradiaga to the Participants in the Roundtables on the Social

Responsibility of Canadian Mining Companies Overseas

Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga

ways of living, behavior, lan-guage and custom of theEstehanon. It is only by be-ing opened to them, vulner-able and totally transparentto them can I fully fulfill thecommitment of shepherdingthem. At the start of my mis-sion with them I have triedto nurture them with theWord of life and the HolyEucharist, the sacramentsand the prayers of theChurch as demanded of meby my office. But, I soonfound out and discoveredthat the words of God andthe sacraments can only beeffectively passed to thepeople when their realities tosave have first to passthrough the weak flesh ofthe Pastor; that people canonly be nourished by theWord and the sacraments, ifthe Bishop himself is effec-tively nourished by them.Conversion, journey to-wards holiness of life is notjust the journey of thepeople of God apart from the

Bishop; nor is it just thejourney of the Bishop apartfrom the people of God. Ithas to be the joint journeyof the Estehanon and myselftheir Bishop. With thiscritical realization I wasgradually inserted into therhythm of the life of theEstehanon. I have beenjourneying jointly with them.

And then, without mysuspecting it, the request ofthe Holy Father came loudand clear: go to the Dioceseof Tagbilaran. That defi-nitely cuts my pastorshipwith the Diocese ofBorongan, my pilgrimagewith the Estehanon. Soon, Ihave to be inserted into thelife and faith of the people ofGod in the Diocese ofTagbilaran. It would beanother journey of faith,10sanother promise to keep,further miles to go. Hence-forth my faith life dependson my being inserted into thepeople of God in the Dioceseof Tagbilaran.

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13Vol. 10 No. 16November 20, 2006 Statements

Witchcraft is Anti-God and Anti-Christian:

A Pastoral Letter on the Third Aswang FestivalBELOVED Faithful of Christ:

Greetings of hope and love in the Lord!On October 16, 2005 the Catholic Church

in Capiz issued the second Pastoral Letterexpressing strong opposition to the holdingof the so-called “ASWANG FESTIVAL”slated on October 28-30, 2005. It was the sec-ond year the said festival was celebrated forreasons ranging from tourism through chang-ing “the negative notion of Capiz being anaswang haven and turn it into an advantage”into eclipsing “the aswang impression withthe world class-quality of Capiz’ seafoodproducts and warm captivating hospitality ofthe Capiceños.” These remarkable ends ofthe Aswang Festival could not fully justifythe shaming of the Capiceño identity and dig-nity in the face of national imagery.

On the one hand, much as the organiz-ers of the festival would wish to erase theaswang image impressed on the Capiceños,the festival itself, on the other hand, has be-come an occasion of constant ridicules andjokes on the dignified personality ofCapiceños. Through the years, Capiz has pro-duced distinguished luminaries in differentfields of works and endeavors. They werehardworking Capiceños who carved namesfor themselves and made Capiz proud of hersons and daughters. It deeply hurts to knowthat some Capiceños nowadays deny theirprovince of origin and birth because of a nega-tive perception boosted by a festival. They sim-ply want to avoid becoming a laughing stockin cities and provinces, here and abroad.

It has been observed that the AswangFestival presents the evil characters in cun-ning ways. By giving new looks through fan-tastic and colorful costumes to evil charac-ters like the “tikbalang,” “amamanhig,”“sigbin,” “tik-tik” or “kapre,” they appearcool and innocent. Yet, these mythical fig-ures can become dangerous once they enterinto the psyche of the Capiceños and interi-orly form part of the culture of Capiz. Theycan sink deep into the social consciousnessof many Capiceños as well as non-Capiceñoswith devastating and lasting effects. Sinceculture crisscrosses practically every aspectof life in society and is verbalized and ritual-ized through religion, further negative effectsof the aswang image can enter into the rebel-lious psyche of many Capiceños. Culture andreligion are closely connected. Evil imagesare perceived through cultural beliefs as vari-ous faces of the devil who needs to be ex-pelled through prayers and blessings.

Nowadays, evil characters have becomefashionable and invade the world of com-merce. Their outfits can be very expensive.During the Aswang Festival, the participantsas well as by standers are sometimes merelyfascinated and amused by the spectacles ofevil characters unmindful of the negative im-plications. Many are convinced these sightsare just for fun. But are these not cover upsof evils with appealing wrappers? Will thesenot contribute to the mentality that witch-craft is no longer scary and dangerous? Dothey not present the message that after all,witchcraft is harmless, not anti-God and notanti-Christian? The manner of presentationgreatly helps the increasing appeal and fla-vor of witchcraft to many people today.

Going back to the Bible, witchcraft is in-volved in the power of darkness. The oldsTestament warns: “Let there not be among youanyone who immolates his son or daughter inthe fire, nor a fortune-teller, soothsayer,charmer, diviner or caster of spells, nor one whoconsults abomination to the Lord” (Dt. 18:10-11).St. Paul writes: “It is obvious what proceeds fromthe flesh…idolatry, sorcery, hostilities…selfishrivalries, dissensions, factions, I warn you,those who do such things will not inherit theKingdom of God” (Gal. 519-21).

While witchcraft entices people to some-thing horrible and to the kingdom of dark-ness, this is a far notion from the celebrationof the All Saint’s Day (November 1) and AllSouls’ Day (November 2) which, downthrough the centuries, celebrate the hope ofresurrection and the joy of the faithful whocentered their lives on the beatitudes. All thefaithful departed are on the way to the king-dom of light—the Holy City—where the im-mense multitude of Saints, sanctified by theLord, awaits them. This is the festival of God’s

Holy City, the heavenly Jerusalem, where theSaints praise God forever. Since the origin ofAll Saints’ Day in the East in the fourth cen-tury and in the West in the eight century, thisSolemnity has nothing to do with witches andwitchcraft. The Responsorial Psalm of AllSaints’ Day: “Lord, this is the people thatlongs to see your face,” speaks about ourdesire to meet, neither somebody nor some-thing evil, but rather God who is all Good.

God’s goodness is reflected in JesusChrist who became incarnate to ennoble eachone of us. Jesus Christ identified himself withevery person, including the very least, to giveus life and not to show death. Jesus says: “Icame that they may have life and have it tothe full” (Jn. 10:10). And so to every race, toevery citizen, to every faithful, to everyCapiceño for that matter, God has given aneternal dignity with definite rights and duties.The COMPENDIUM OF THE SOCIAL DOC-TRINE OF THE CHURCH states that “the fieldof human rights has expanded to include therights of peoples and nations: in fact, what istrue for the individual is also true for thepeoples” (n.157).

As the Philippine Church celebrates thisYEAR OF SOCIAL CONCERNS, the Churchcannot neglect to voice out about the rightsof people and their relation to the commongood. While some members of the politicalcommunity in Capiz uphold the rights of theorganizers of the Aswang Festival, the samemembers of the political community shouldalso respect the rights of other Capiceños whoare against the Aswang Festival, as justicedemands. And this is a delicate task for publicauthority. The CATHECHISM OF THECATHOLIC CHURCH states that “to ensurethe common good, the government of eachcountry has the specific duty to harmonizethe different sectoral interests with the require-ments of justice” (n. 1908). The Philippine Bish-ops, in their Pastoral Exhortation: BUILDINGA CIVILIZATION OF LOVE exhort us to fos-ter “a sense of patriotism and of being respon-sible for our country.” Applying this principleto our province, should we not be respon-sible for Capiz? While the clergy should takethe responsibility morally, the laity should leadsocially and politically in the social transfor-mation of our province. We acknowledge andthank the members of the Catholic Church andother people of goodwill who express oppo-sition to the Aswang festival through othercreative and counteractive activities. Surely,their initiatives and works have values.

However, the clergy and the laity togetherwith the religious sisters can join together inprayer for the common good of our province.We exhort then the Catholic faithful throughthe BECS, the different religious organizationsand movements, the various religious com-munities in catholic Schools and convents,the youth communities, the different liturgi-cal ministries and the seminarians to organizePRAYER VIGILS in all parishes and chaplain-cies in the Archdiocese in side the parishchurch or community chapel, and expositionthe Blessed Sacrament for few hours on Oc-tober 27 and 28, 2006 the same day when theAswang Festival will be held in Roxas City.We likewise exhort the Catholic faithful whocould not come to the parochial church forthe PRAYER VIGILS to pray the holy rosary(the joyful, sorrowful, glorious, luminous mys-teries) in their respective barrio chapels onthe same day mentioned above. We do be-lieve in the power of prayer. Through prayer,we express once again our strong oppositionto the Aswang Festival in a peaceful but sin-cere manner for transformation of hearts. TheCOMPENDIUM OF THE SOCIAL DOCTRINEOF THE CHURCH says: “Prayer opens theheart not only to a deep relationship with Godbut also to an encounter with others markedby respect, understanding, esteem and love.Prayer instills courage and lends support toall true friends of peace” (n.519).

May the Blessed Virgin Mary whom wehonor during this month of the Holy Rosaryintercede for us in our concern for justice anddignity! St. Therese of Avila, a woman of re-form, pray for us!

RT. REV. MSGR. VICENTE F. HILATA, P.A.Vicar General, Archdiocese of CapizOctober 10, 2006

(A Pastoral Statement to urge concerned au-thorities to respond to the HUMAN NEEDS ofThe Southville Housing Project Relocatees atCabuyao and the People of god of the Dioceseof San Pablo to be aware of such situations)

THE Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Phil-ippines declared this year as the “YEAR OFSOCIAL CONCERNS.”

DEUS CARITAS EST, the first Encyclicalletter of Pope Benedict XVI serves as a litmustest for our church in the field of her SocialApostolate. Indeed, the church must not closeher eyes to the social realities of our time—wemust see God in our neighbor and how can wesee Him? Pope Benedict XVI states “No onehas ever seen God and love cannot be com-manded, if anyone says I love God and hateshis brother, he is a liar, for he who does notlove his brother whom he has seen, cannot loveGod whom he has not seen. The unbreakablebond between love of God and love of neighboris so closely connected to the other that to saythat we love God becomes a lie, if we are closedto our neighbor or hate him altogether. Love ofneighbor is a path that leads to the encounterwith God and that closing our eyes to our neigh-bor also blinds us to God.” (DCE # 16)

It is in this spirit that I, as pastor of ourdiocese, will never be renege on our pastoralduties about inhumane conditions of theSouthville Housing Project Relocatees inCabuyao. They are our brothers and sistersaffected by the rehabilitation of the North railand South rail Linkage Project. They are theurban poor settlers living along the railwaysof Tondo, Paco, Makati, Muntinlupa andCabuyao. They came from the “DANGERZONE” for we fully know what is a life living ina “HOME ALONG DA RILES” but their life in

PRESS STATEMENTDiocese of San Pablo

“From Danger Zone toDeath Zone”

the relocation site in Southville, Cabuyao maybecome a “DEATH ZONE”, if not properly andadequately attended to. As of today, there areover 7,500 marginalized families relocated, suf-fering from the following dismal conditions:1. In close proximity to their residential

houses is a six-hectare mixed waste dumpseparated by mere barbed wire fencing.“Relocatees have to bear the nauseatingfoul smell coming from the eight year olddump. They complain of breathing prob-lems and respiratory ailments, which mightbe traced to the airborne pollution emanat-ing from the dump. They also fear that harm-ful bacteria and chemicals from the leachateand surface run-off are being dispersedthroughout the neighborhood, via flood-waters, due to poor drainage.”

The Social Action office which I com-missioned to look after the condition ofrelocatees based on the interview of peoplefrom Makati at Block 17, alleged that sixchildren had already died because of thiscondition. Living near dumps and landfillsis kin to trashing their hope for a humaneand secured future. “Studies in Canada andUSA have shown an increase incidence ofcancer, including lung, bladder, liver, stom-ach, breast, cervix, and prostate cancersfor those who are living in the aforesaidconditions. Women living near disposalsites showed increase risk of infants withbirth defects such as eye/ear anomalies,chromosome abnormalities, heart and neu-tral tube defects.”

2. The P50,000.00 allocated to each family canonly buy materials for the roof and wall ofthe house.

3. Many from the Cabuyao railway area werenot relocated at Southville.

WE the Clergies of the Archdiocese of Ozamiz,Dioceses of Dipolog, Pagadian, Iligan and thePrelature of Marawi located in the North-Westand Central part of Mindanao holding its 31st

gathering at Naomis Botanical Garden, OzamizCity from November 13-16, 2006 are worriedabout the plight of the indigenouscommunities whose ancestral domain isencroached by big-scale mining operations.

As soon as their domain is being devastatedby open-pit mining method the indigenouspeople are being deprived of their cultural rights.

Our country has suffered two envi-ronmental disasters due to large-scale mining:the one of Marcopper Mining in Marinduque,and that of Rapu-Rapu Mining at Albay. Untilnow, no foreign mining firm operating in thePhilippines employing open-pit method canguarantee protection to our environment andto the cultural rights of the tribal-Filipinos.

Recently, the TVI Resource DevelopmentPhilippines, a Canadian Mining Firm based inCalgary, employed a heartless, shamelessdemolition of the house of Mr./Mrs Floro/Manolita Galves in Mount Canatuan, Tabayo,Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte. Employingarmed men called SCAA (Special Citizen ArmedGeographical Unit Active Auxiliary); the TVIordered the demolition of the Galves house atabout 11:30 midnight. The Galveses said theTVI had no court order for the demolition oftheir residence.

The lot, on which the Galves house stood,is a portion of the ancestral domain title(CADT) of the Subanon tribe. The holder ofthe CADT is the ancestral leader by the name ofTimuay Jose “Boy” Anoy who allowed theGalves family to put their house on the said lot.

Many of our people would choose to turnto us instead, to seek redress for theirgrievances as a result of the destructive effectsof the mining activities of transnational miningcompanies operating in their localities. In comingto their aid, we brought their grievances to thelimelight of public opinion and for this we are

accused to have spread lies to the public.Now, Bishop Jose R. Manguiran of the

Diocese of Dipolog (also DCMI Bishop-in-charge) together with Fr. Albert K. Bael andsome of the workers of the DIOPIM Committeeon Mining Issues are currently facing a libel suitfor exposing the alleged anomalies andirregularities committed by the TVI ResourceDevelopment Philippines against mining toaffected communities of Canatuan, Tabayo,Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte. The libel suitagainst the nine respondents were initiated by thecamp of the Canadian mining firm who have beenaccused by the Subanon people for currentlyoperating their sacred ground against their wishes.

This situation is not far from the experiencesof our fellow countrymen all over the countrywho are subjected to different harassments justto silence them while advancing their aggressive,destructive, and exploitative mining operationof transnational companies. We condemn thecurtailment of freedom to express what webelieve to be the truth.

We stand by and support the efforts of theDIOPIM Committee on Mining Issues headedby Bishop Jose R. Manguiran in denouncingthe excesses of these mining companies andfighting for the rights of the oppressed.

We call on the administration of PresidentGloria Macapagal Arroyo to listen to the criesof our marginalized and oppressedcountrymen; to give them redress to theirgrievances; and to stop curtailments of therights of the people to speak for the truth.

In solidarity with the Subanon people andtheir support groups who were harassed bythe libel suit filed by TVI Canadian Miningfirm we affixed our signatures below.In the name of the Lord Jesus,

+BISHOP MANNY CABAJAR of the Dioceseof Pagadian and 108 priests from theArchdiocese of Ozamiz, Dioceses of Dipolog,Pagadian, Iligan and the Prelature of MarawiNovember 14, 2006

PRESS STATEMENT

DOPIM Bishops and Clergy PositionAgainst the Libel Suit to DOPIM Committee on Mining Issues (DCMI)

From Danger / P15

vol10-n16.pmd 11/24/2006, 9:06 PM13



14

Avoid Potholes by TakingHumps

Reflections

THEY tell me that the aver-age speed of a car in Ma-nila is 25 kph. That’s cata-strophically slow. That’sjust the speed of a turtleinjected with steroids.

Aside from traffic,there are two other thingsthat make vehicles go slow:Humps and potholes.

Between these two,I’d rather choose humps.

Especially those thatare painted bright yellowand smooth on the curves,with nice signs to tell usthey’re coming.

But I don’t like pot-holes, period.

They come in all sizes:tiny Mickey Mouse holesto nuclear bomb testingcraters.

And they never comeannounced. They just ap-pear when you’re one inchaway, and kabloom. Andkablagblagblag...

Life’s like that.When God wants you

to slow down, He’ll sendyou potholes. But He cannever give you humps, be-cause that’s something thatyou should deliberatelymake for yourself. (More onthis later.)

Potholes are the smalland big problems of yourlife.

When you have ableeding hangnail, an ex-pensive Italian shoe isn’tvery beautiful. When yourdoctor tells you that youhave malignant cancer,your Mercedes or BMWsuddenly lacks oomph.And when you discoverthat your teen-age son is

on drugs, your jewelrydoesn’t shine as brilliantlyas before.

Like potholes, prob-lems come suddenly. Noone warns you they’recoming. And your wholelife goes kabloom andkablagblagblag...

But because of thesekablooms, you’re forced tostop and think. You askfundamental questions,like, “What’s life all about?Where am I going?” Over-night, your hierarchy of val-ues changes. The most im-portant things in life—suchas your soul, your family,your God—become pain-fully obvious. And whatused to be so pressing andinsistent and noisy, revealthemselves to be cheap.

Humps, on the otherhand, are deliberatelymade.

By you.You plan them out.

(And fight for them withyour life.)

A quiet time for prayereach day.

Or Mass during lunchhour.

Perhaps a weeklyprayer meeting.

A personal retreat ev-ery year.

Humps are specialtimes when you’ll ask thevery same fundamentalquestions: “What’s life allabout? Where am I go-ing?” But this time, notbecause you’re forced to,but because you want to.

Take a lot of humps.Perhaps potholes

won’t come as often.

to be deeply grounded on thedoctrine of our faith. We haveto study our catechism, as-similate and master it.

And since we always livein society, we need to help oneanother in this regard. There’sso much religious ignoranceand doctrinal confusion thatwe have to overcome. Thechallenge is truly daunting,but not impossible.

Nowadays, we need to bemore precise in our under-standing of the articles of ourfaith. There’s this disturbingtalk about invincible igno-rance, in the face of which thesuggested action to take isjust to let the parties con-cerned be.

These doctrines of ourfaith are not simply ideas. Weneed them to immerse our-selves in the very life andmystery of God, in his mercyand justice. We need them totake part in Christ’s salvificwork. We have to be carefulwith our tendency to simply“intellectualize” them.

Let’s hope that we can bemore aware of this grave re-sponsibility to study our doc-trines seriously. Even more,that we be truly adept in ful-

ArArArArAre Ye Ye Ye Ye You Wou Wou Wou Wou Worororororried?ried?ried?ried?ried?(Lk 12:22-34)

by Bp. Jose Manguiran, DD

November Blues?By Fr. Roy CimagalaWITH its overshadowingcommemoration of the dead,November may evoke sombernotes. My friends in business,especially store owners, alsotell me November is a deadmonth, business-wise.

But I must say that likeany month, it should connotejoy. Memory, let’s remember,has better modes other thansentimental nostalgia andfoggy melancholy. Of course,for this we have to widen ourperspective.

Reasons to be happyabound. For one, let’s not for-get that it begins with the So-lemnity of All Saints, a vividreminder of what the Churchteaches as the communion ofsaints. We all are called to it.We all truly belong to it. We areGod’s people, God’s family.

This means that we havea very glorious beginning,because we come from thehands of God. And we aremeant for an even more glori-ous end, because we are des-tined to share the very life ofGod. This is God’s will, beforeit becomes our own.

This thought shouldabide in us permanently, form-ing our basic attitudes and

outlook in life. This should notjust be an intellectual thing.It’s a fundamental truth meantto infuse every pore of our being.

Let’s not worry too muchabout the means to achievethis. We are told that what Godbegins, he ends, what hestarts, he completes and per-fects. Of course, all this willrequire our cooperation.

Yes, we know all too wellthat we are sinners. Still wecannot deny that it’s God’swill that we be holy like him,since we are his children, notjust any creature. “Be holy asyour heavenly Father is holy.”

We need to expand ourmind and heart to conformourselves more fully to thisreality. That’s the challengewe have. We tend to have avery narrow and shallow viewof things, which we have tocorrect.

With weak faith, we invitedoubts and fears. We wouldlive in a world of uncertain-ties. We then become vulner-able to skepticism, even cyni-cism. The slide to worsethings, even faith’s loss, be-comes inevitable.

To strengthen our faith,we need among other things

filling it, putting all sorts ofinitiatives our loving creativ-ity could occasion.

Catechesis should be acontinuing activity especiallyat homes. More than inschools and parishes, it’s inhomes, the domestic church,where the teaching and deep-ening in Christian doctrineshould be carried out.

Parents especially shouldtake active part in this task.Theirs is not simply a matterof feeding and clothing theirchildren, sheltering them,sending them to schools. Par-enthood means a lot more thanthese.

Participating in the cre-ativity of God, parents do notonly beget children. They edu-cate and form them not onlyto be their children but alsoGod’s children.

Educating childrenshould not be limited to themerely human aspects. It hasto go all the way to the spiri-tual and supernatural dimen-sions of our life, to its religiousaspect. This is the core of edu-cation.

This is one way of effec-tively blowing the so-calledNovember blues away!

FROM THE INBOX

Proposals for All Saints / Souls DayObservancePERHAPS parishes in-charge of particular cemeteriescould include the following in their plans before Octo-ber 31 of each year:

Confessions: it would be good to have many priestswith portable confessional boxes to hear the confes-sions of people who are visiting their dead.

Holy Masses: Perhaps, more Masses could alsobe scheduled in the chapels on Oct. 31 and Nov. 2aside from just Nov.1, if possible.

Blessing of tombs: Priests and deacons could beavailable for blessing tombs on all 3 days.

Vigils with appropriate prayers including the HolyRosary. Reading of related doctrine of the CatholicChurch (e.g. last things, indulgences, value of the sac-raments, etc.): This will enable the people to live mean-ingfully the observance of All Souls’ Day and obtain themaximum suffrages for the faithful departed.

Film viewing (Our Lady of Fatima, ChristmasCarol—where the past, present and future of Scrooge’slife is shown to him by his friend Marley, who is in pur-gatory, or other related catechetical films): This will bean effective means of catechesis and a way to makegood use of time in the cemetery.

Instrumental music of Mass songs that are of con-templative mood: Such music could be interspersedwith the other scheduled activities in the cemetery.

Strategically located, sufficient and efficient soundsystem and screens for film viewing: It would be goodto install such type of sound system in the cemeteryground for the benefit of all the people, particularly theCatholics scattered in the area. Announcements, re-minders and reflections could be aired through thesound system while films could be projected onscreens.

Donors could be tapped from parishes for the ma-terials to be used. — Ms. Evelyn C. Mijares

Melendez who did not havehands but rendered a beauti-ful song while playing the gui-tar using his legs and feet.The challenge of the storywas for each one present touse for God’s glory what Godhas given and from the read-ings for the day, to practiceself-disciple and as the latePope John Paul II exhorted inWYD 1995, “be able to com-mit to the highest ideals, readyto change radically the falsevalues which have enslavedso many young people andadults.”

After the post-commun-ion prayer, Bishop Joel “Bong”Z. Baylon, Chairman, Episco-pal Commission on Youth ad-dressed the delegates picking-up from Archbishop Capalla’shomily on NYD as a time to doand become good and not justto have a good time. He shareda discomforting but funny-in-the-end story whose lessonwas on “diskarte” (a wordcommon among the youngloosely meaning “strategy”).Young people use so much“diskarte” to get along with life.The challenge is to use the

same skill at “diskarte” to sharethe fruits of the NYD experi-ence to other young people.Bishop Baylon also acknowl-edged and welcomed the ar-rival of the popular City Mayorof Davao, Rodrigo R. Duterteas he approached the altar topersonally welcome the del-egates to Davao City and todeliver his message assuringthe delegates of his supportand their well-being while inDavao City. ArchbishopCapalla expressed his gratitudefor the generosity and full sup-port provided by MayorDuterte for NYD, from security,traffic order, cleanliness… tofood. Bishop Baylon went onto further acknowledge andthank those who made NYD2006 a reality and announcedthat the next national celebra-tion of NYD will be in Luzon.

The evening ended withthe Youth JaM (JaM dubbedas Jesus and Mary) which fea-tured the NYD 2006 Csite ani-mators, local talents (amongthem, Mr. Popong Landero),and the Singles for Christ bandas NYD 2006 paid tribute to thepresence of Jesus and Mary in

the journey, to the Archdio-cese of Davao, the City ofDavao, to sponsors, fosterparents, delegates, and thevolunteers. A praise and wor-ship segment capped the cel-ebration.Welcoming a young person isa blessing …

November 12 (Day 5) wasdubbed “Suroy-suroy saDabaw” but it was not just tosee the sights and enjoy theamenities but more of to bewith the family in going toMass, visiting significant sitesand eating a meal together tocomplete the Davao experiencebefore bringing the foster chil-dren to the areas of conver-gence with their respectivedelegations for a tearful hugand farewell.

Thousands of familiesand communities welcomedtwo or more delegates for theduration of NYD. The experi-ence of welcoming and beingwelcomed has showeredDavao with so much positivethoughts, words and actionsthat will linger for a long time.To many, this is among thehighlights of NYD. They have

experienced being warmly wel-comed and considered part ofnot only a family but also of aChristian community (i.e. par-ishes, districts, zones, chapels,GKK/BEC), truly Mindanaoan.

The response of familiesand communities with the lead-ership of their respective par-ish priests was overwhelming.The response of volunteersunder the leadership of Mr.Dennis Villegas, NYD 2006Steering Committee Chairman,was equally overwhelming asDavao mobilized for NYD. In-deed given the opportunity tocontribute and do somethinggood, the whole Christiancommunity comes together.This is our Church and theyoung are so blessed. They,too, have blessed us by theirvisit (the delegates) and theirwitness of service and commit-ment (the volunteers).

They said: “ Amen! Praiseand glory, wisdom and thanks-giving and honor, power andmight, to our God forever andever. Amen!” (Rev. 7:12)(Maria Riza A. Melliza, is theChairperson, NYD 2006 Pro-gram Committee)

NYD 2006/ from p8

SOME are worried having no eye-glasses; but others have no eyes. Someare worried having no handbag; but oth-ers don’t have arms. Some are worriedhaving no new pair of shoes; but othershave no feet.

Some are worrying getting fat; theyget anxious, dying to get trimmed; butothers simply don’t have food; they gethungry thinning to die.

Some are worried having lost theircomb, having no shampoo; but othershave no hair at all; his bald head is ex-

posed to weather harassment.Some are worried not to own a new

ring; but others have no fingers; in factthey make rings as business; they alsomake one for the nose; they have onlyholes (in the leprosarium).

Some are worried that their cheek,once pinkish with youthfulness are nowaccumulating furrows of shadows; butothers have no cheek, only bones.

Why do some people—maybemany—invest their time, effort, money,even their life to worrying about their skin,

about the covering, about the wrappings,about the tag, about the color, about thepaint, about the hairdo, about how theysmell—about the non-essentials that dono touch the core of self?

I admire those who do not have theessentials—without eyes, without limbs,without arms, without feet and yet theydo not worry to death but instead theydare to cross the border of nothingnessand enter into as a new world of creativ-ity. What spirit transpires them into thatnew world? They have the spirit of faiththat transcends reason; they have thelove that overcomes hatred; they havethe hope that penetrates the dark.

They are the brave. They are inspir-ers of the hopeless. They have no medal;they have no ranks of major and general,but anyhow, they are the undeclared he-roes.

Bo Sanchez

vol10-n16.pmd 11/24/2006, 9:06 PM14


15Vol. 10 No. 16November 20, 2006 CINEMA Reviews

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CBCPMonitor

Title: THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSERunning Time: 93 min.Cast: Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell, Eric Lloyd, Martin ShorDirector: Michel LembeckProducers: Tim Allen, Robert

NewmyerScreenwriter: Ed Deeter, John J.

StraussMusic: George ClintonEditor: David Finfer Genre: FantasyCinematography: Robbie Greenberg

Distributor: Columbia PicturesLocation: North PoleTechnical Assessment: Moral Assessment: CINEMA Rating: For viewers 13and below with parental guidance

shift set. The story is told in asimple and straightforward way sothe audience gets to enjoy themovie effortlessly. Not much isasked from the performers to de-liver their roles but overall theywere fairly convincing. MartinShort is excellent as a schemingcold-hearted Frost.

The beauty of the movie is thatalthough its main characters are leg-endary figures aimed nowadays tocommercialize certain holidays, it isable to deliver a powerful messageabout family and valuing your rolefor society. Very obvious is howClause tries hard to make his rela-tionship work with his wife, in-laws,son, ex-wife and even the daughterof his ex-wife. He values family andtreats every child he gives a presentto as his own. In the end he beauti-fully summarizes his realization, “Wedon’t have to be a perfect family, wejust have to be together.” The moviealso talks about “social responsi-bility”. Santa was called from hisnormal life to become Father Christ-mas and live a secret and stressfullifestyle round-the-clock. The pres-sures are tremendous that one canstop and ask if it’s worth it. But real-izing the joys, love and hope thatare lost if he ceases to perform hisSanta duties, Santa realized no sac-rifice is too great so the world canhave a Merry Christmas. It is advis-able that mature adults accompanythe young impressionable audi-ences to stress that the happinessChristmas brings does not comefrom the ho-ho of Santa but fromthe story of hope in the managerand the love we give each other.

CHRISTMAS is nearing and SantaClause (Tim Allen) is swamped withstress issues; a delay in the pro-duction line, Mrs. Clause’s (Eliza-beth Mitchell) pregnancy tantrumsand depression, his visiting in-lawsand the mischievous Jack Frost(Martin Short) who secretly wantsto take over his job. Forced to bringin his in-laws to please his expect-ant wife and take in Jack Frost asan apprentice after he was almostsuspended from the LegendaryFigures association, Santa facesseemingly minor glitches andbreakdown in his workshop andhome. This compromises his al-ready bitter relationship with his in-laws who are displeased that theirdaughter was yanked out of theirlives and Santa tries hard to pro-tect his secret and pretends theyare in Canada. Unknown to him,Jack Frost is behind all these as heschemes to make Santa regret hetook the job so he can take over.Frost manages to trick Santa intosaying “I wish I was never Santa atall” and everything is reversed withFrost taking over the North Pole.Now, Christmas is an unhappy holi-day. For Frost decided to stop toyproduction and turn the North Poleinto a Theme Park for the public.Santa realizes the value of what hewas doing for the children and theChristmas, so he teams up Lucywith (Liliana Mumy) to make Frostunwish his being Santa and every-thing can be the way it was.

The movie is neatly done withdecent visual effects and a magnifi-cent production design that doesnot make you feel you are in a make-

Title: HUWAG KANG LILINGONRunning Time: 96 min.Cast: Ann Curtis, Kristine Hermosa, Marvin

Agustin, Cherry Pie Picache, CelineLim, Raymond Bagatsing

Director: Jerry Lopez Sineneng,QuarkHenares

Producers: Vic del Rosario Jr., Veroniquedel Rosario-Corpus, Charo SantosCancio, Malou Santos

Screenwriter: Ricky LeeMusic: Carmina Robles-CuyanEditor: Marya Ignacio Genre:Cinematography: Chris Manjares, Lyle

SacrisDistributor: Viva Films, Star CINEMALocation: ProvinceTechnical Assessment: ½Moral Assessment: CINEMA Rating: For viewers 14 and above

(Celine Lim) moving into a huge man-sion, uninhabited for a long time. An-gel is the sole breadwinner becausethey were abandoned by the father andthe mother is sickly. Hard-up andejected from their former residence,they are glad the rental is very low.Discovering a mirror in the basement,the two daughters light a candle infront of it during a full moon at mid-night, concentrating on a wish to seethe images of their future mates in themirror. They did not see anything butthe house turns out to be haunted

Huwag Kang Lilingon is a wellcrafted film that delivers the suspense,thrills and shocks that horror film fansexpect. The well chosen milieus exude

Huwag Kang Lilingon has two parts.Part I, Uyayi (Lullaby), is about Mel-issa (Ann Curtis) a nurse at the Angelof Mercy Hospital, who came backfrom the U.S.A a year earlier. She hasbeen telling her boy friend James(Marvin Agustin) about mysteriousdeaths at the hospital. There are ru-mors of ghosts. However, she thinksthe doctor has something to do withthe deaths as he is unpopular, un-friendly and keeps to himself. Being awriter, James wants to have a scoop.He pretends he is sick so he can beconfined. Part II, Salamin (Mirror),shows Aling Rosing (Cherry PiePicache) and her two daughters An-gel (Kristine Hermosa) and Mina

an eeriness that puts the viewer in astate of anxious expectation. Then thevisuals, sound effects and music en-velope the film in an atmosphere offear and impending doom. However,some scenes that are too gory andgross may turn off some viewers. Thejoining at the end of two seeminglyseparate stories is cleverly done andputs all the pieces of the two storiestogether. Good editing is evident in thejuxtaposition of light moments with thedark events. The acting of the cast isvery good especially that of the leadsAnn Curtis, Marvin Agustin, CherryPie Picache, Kristine Hermosa andnewcomer Celine Lim.

Some positive values in the filmare evident in the closeness of the fam-ily shown through their love, and con-cern for each other (2nd story) and in aperson’s willingness to work hard tobenefit others. Huwag Kang Lilingonshows that childhood experiences,particularly those that encroach uponforbidden realms—like invoking spir-its, communication with the dead,etc.—can leave lasting and damagingimpressions on the human psyche.The seemingly normal but terrifyinglife of Melissa attests to this. Not onlyis it dangerous to invite spirits or to beopen to them as shown in the movie. Itis also forbidden as stated in the Bible.The Church teaches faith in the LivingGod overcomes fear of the spirits ofthe dead. Prayer is the best recoursewhen we want or need something.

4. There is discrimination among set-tlers from Tondo, Makati, and Paco.

5. Patrols in the area of Southvilleharass private vehicles that trans-port workers once a week to Makati.

6. The promised market area is tillonly at the map.

7. There is not enough supply ofpotable water. Dirty water (mire)is pumped from water wells.

8. Installation of electric services isa very slow pace.

9. Frequent trouble among settlers,with no authorities to pacify.

10. Hold-up, bag and cell phonesnatching, drug addiction andprostitution are rampant.

11. The area becomes the hide-outof “hoodlums” from other places.

12. Serious crimes happen, i.e. onenight a couple riding their motor-cycle was stopped by a residentof Southville and raped the wife atknifepoint in front of her husband.Based on the above mentioned

finding my fervent prayers to the con-cerned authorities are the following.1. Complete rehabilitation of the

dumpsite and the enforcement ofvital pollution prevention mea-sures to minimize its adverse im-pacts on public health and the en-vironment.

2. We say No to further expansionsof the Southville RelocationProject.

3. Delist Laguna as further reloca-tion area.

4. We urge the national and localgovernment specifically, the

Housing and Urban DevelopmentCoordinating Council Secretaryand Vice-President Noli de Castroto address immediately the basicneeds of the relocatees; i.e. po-table water, electricity, provisionsfor proper disposal of waste andhealth centers, among others.

“Love of neighbor is thus shownto be possible in the way proclaimedby the Bible, by Jesus. It consists inthe very fact that, in God and withGod, I love even the person whom Ido not like or even know. This canonly take place on the basis of anintimate encounter with God, an en-counter which has become a com-munion of will, even affecting my feel-ings. Then I learn to look on this otherperson not simply with my eyes andmy feelings, but from the perspec-tive of Jesus Christ. His friend is myfriend. Seeing with the eyes of Christ,I can give to others much more thantheir outward necessities; I can givethem the look of love which theycrave” (DCE # 18).

May Mary, the Mother andModel of the Poor, be our intercessorin our quest to be in unity with ourleast fortunate brothers and sisters.

For the whole Diocese of SanPablo, on the occasion of the BlessedVirgin Mary’s Birth Anniversary, 8th

September, 2006.

In Christ,Most Rev. Leo M. Drona, SDB. D.D.Bishop of San Pablo

From Danger/ from p13

Title: Maging Akin MuliRunning Time: 100 minutesCast: Marvin Agustin, Noel Trinidad, Sandy

Andolong, Ronnie Lazaro, MissyMaramara, Pen Medina, Jaime Fabregas

Director: Marilou Diaz AbayaProducers: Jesuit CommunicationsScreenwriter: Marilou Diaz AbayaMusic: Nonong BuencaminoGenre: DramaLocation: Guagua, PampangaTechnical Assessment: Moral Assessment: ½CINEMA Rating: For viewers 14 and above

Ang Maging Akin Muli ay salaysaytungkol sa bagong ordinang diyakono,ang 26-taong gulang na si ReverendJunjun (Marvin Agustin). Pumasoksiya sa semi-naryo noong 12-taong-gulang pa lamang siya subali’t masayadin naman ang kanyang dinaanangpagbibinata, at katunayan ay palihimpang nagkaroon ng dalawang girl-friends. Matataas ang kanyang mgagrado sa eskuwela, at bagama’t walasiyang pag-aalinglangan sa kanyangbokasyon, pinag-iisipan pa rin niyakung paano ito isasaka-tuparan sahindi karaniwang paraan. Ang unangassignment ni Rev. Junjun ay bilangassistant ng konserbatibong kuraparokong si Fr. Salvador Bautista(Noel Trinidad), sa Parokya ngSantiago Apostol. Sa kanyangtrabaho makikilala ni Rev. Junjun angmga masalimuot na takbo ng buhayng mga parokyano, kasama na angisang bilanggong takdang bitayin(Ronnie Lazaro), ang isang matulunginsubalit mapaghanap na benefactor ngsimbahan (Jaime Fabregas) at ang

kanyang dating kasintahang ngayo’ynabuntis ng isang may-asawa atisinisisi ang kanyang kapalaran sakanilang pagkakahiwalay ni Rev.Junjun. Hahamunin ng mga pang-yayari ang bokasyon ni Rev. Junjun,at susubukin nito ang kanyangpagnanais na magpakabanal atmagpaangkin nang tangi sa Diyos.

Hindi na bago ang Maging AkinMuli, kung kaya marahil nangpanoorin namin ito ay walang lamanang sinehan kundi dadalawang tao.Ito’y isang pelikulang ginawa ng Je-suit Communications para satelebisyon, at unang inilabas ito noongDisyembre 2005 upang makatulong sapagninilay-nilay ng mga tao tungkolsa kahulugan ng pag-asa sa panahonng kapaskuhan. Bagama’t luma na,minarapat pa rin ng CINEMA na suriinang Maging Akin Muli sapagka’t isaito sa mga nagtamo ng nakaraangpaligsahan ng CMMA (Catholic MassMedia Awards). Si Marilou Diaz Abayaang sumulat ng kuwento at nagdiriheng Maging Akin Muli, at sapagkat

nagtambal sila ng talino ng mgaHesuwita, makakaasa kayong tumpakat makabuluhan ang men-saheng hatidnito. Lapat naman angsinematograpiya at musika sa istorya,at sadyang maganda ang simbahangginamit sa pelikula. Isa lamang bagayang hindi “swak” o tugma sa buonglarawan ng pelikula, at iyon ay angpagganap ng mga artista. Kulang salalim, maikli sa damdamin, at salat sakaluluwa ang pagganap. Sapagkatnapakalalim ng tema ng Maging AkinMuli—ang bokasyon o ang tawag ngPanginoon sa isang magpapari—angtagos-sa-butong pagganap lamangang makapagtatawid ng pahatidnitong mga isipin. At ito’y hindimaaaring “i-arte” lamang sa harap ngkamera; hindi ito puwedeng “i-peke”,ika nga. Marahil magiging higit nakapani-paniwala ang pelikula kungtotoong pari, diyakono at ina ngdiyakono ang mga ginamit ditongartista, sapagkat ang mga katagangmamumutawi sa kanilang mga labi atang damdaming masasalamin sakanilang mga kilos ay magmumula samalalim na balon ng karanasan satunay na buhay.

Sa kabila ng kakulangan ngpelikula, makabubuting panoorin angMaging Akin Muli ng mga pamilya lalona kung may nadaramang bokasyonang mga anak nito. Maganda ringpanoorin, suriin at pag-usapan ito ngmga pari at seminarista, ng mga “taongsimbahan” (halimbawa, ng mga parishworkers), upang matulungan silangmapalawak ang kanilang pananawtungkol sa pagpapakabanal.

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16 Vol. 10 No. 13People, Facts & PlacesBible Quiz Wins Award for Excellence

UST Installs New Rector

AN initiative to spread the GoodNews in the country has been rec-ognized with a prestigious public re-lations award in the country today.

The National Catholic FamilyBible Quiz (NCFBQ) has won an An-vil Award for its efforts, which re-sulted in the better understandingof the Bible among many families.

The award is described as the“Oscar” of the public relations in-dustry and given to outstanding pro-grams that have lasting and effec-tive impact and value.

The prize was presented in rec-ognition to the “Excellence in Insti-tutional and Corporate Programs” ofthe Bible quiz and was received byElvira Go, the NCFBQ secretariatchairman.

Anvil ward embodies the high-est level of excellence in public rela-tions that reflect and promote public

interest, good values, and genuineservice to the community and soci-ety.

The NCFBQ was also concep-tualized by Go and held in commemo-ration of the National Eucharistic andMarian Year.

NCFBQ secretariat said: “Thetask of creating a nationwide com-petition would have scared lesserpeople, but the Secretariat, the rep-resentatives of the CBCP commis-sions and the numerous volunteersall came together to fulfill the dream.”

The special event was madepossible with the help of Cebu Arch-bishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal andthe CBCP Permanent Committee onInternational Eucharistic Con-gresses, Episcopal Commission onBiblical Apostolate and EpiscopalCommission on Family and Life.(CBCP News)

THE new rector of the University ofSanto Tomas (UST), Fr ErnestoArceo, OSP, has been officially in-stalled to office at a ceremony insideUST chapel on November 9.

Leading the solemn rites wasManila Archbishop Gaudencio Car-dinal Rosales who said that Arceo’sappointment means serving as the“conscience and guide” of the uni-versity.

“The Catholic educator mustteach, encourage, motivate and guidein the formation of right and trueChristian conscience necessary toharness morality, honesty and de-cency,” said Rosales.

During the ceremony, Arceo—a 50-year-old Dominican philoso-pher—was given the ceremonialrector’s robes and was greeted bymembers of the academic staff andstudents before giving his rector’saddress.

Arceo underscored, in hisspeech, the significance of develop-

ing “morally upright” students asidefrom making them adept in their cho-sen field.

“The best mentor developspositive values by showing good ex-ample,” he said.

Arceo, the 94th rector of the uni-versity, is expected to continueUST’s tradition of orthodoxy andloyalty to the Church.

Established in 1611, UST is theoldest university in Asia

A prior provincial of the Philip-pine Dominican Province and rectorof the UST Central Seminary, the newrector has a licentiate in Sacred The-ology and a Masters and Doctoratein Philosophy from UST.

He also studied at St. Louis Uni-versity in Missouri, USA, and Gali-lee College in Israel.

Arceo’s four-year term will seehim lead the bulk of preparations forthe university’s 400th founding anni-versary celebration in 2011. (CBCPNews)

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales led a mass at the Malate Church for Our Lady of Remedies fiestacelebration on November 19. To intensify the fulfillment of Mary’s role in the Church, the parish set up last yeara ministry for children, an educational assistance program for 250 students, a strong prison ministry and avicariate Remedies Health Training Center.

Leo Reinier (left to right), Msgr. Nestor Cerbo, Zenas Lozadas, Cealwyn Tagle, and Atty. Jose Flores in a pressconference held at the Manila Cathdral last November 10 to formally announce the restoration of the Cathedral’spipe organ and the holding of the first pipe organ festival on December 1 to 10.

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WILL CELEBRATE. Bp.Cirilo Almario, 50th

Priestly Ordination, No-vember 30, 2006. He was or-dained to the priesthood onNovember 30, 1956 in Ma-nila, and ordained bishopon October 18, 1973 in LipaCity Cathedral. He was theCBCP Secretary Generalfrom 1976 to 1981. He wasonce the Chairman of theCBCP Public Affairs Committee and CBCP Commis-sion on Biblical Apostolate. He studied elementaryat St. Helen’s Academy, San Pablo City, 1943; HighSchool at St. Francis Seminary, Lipa City, 1950; Phi-losophy, UST Central Seminary, 1952 Also obtainedhis Bachelor and Licentiate in Theology in 1955 and1957 respectively at UST Central Seminary. He alsobecame a member of CBCP Commission on theCollegio-Filippino in Rome.

CELEBRATED. Paco CatholicSchool, 94th Anniversary, No-vember 10-11, 2006. PacoCatholic School (PCS), consid-ered as the largest parochialschool in the world celebratedtheir 94th foundation anniver-sary last November 10-11 with

the theme “Telling and Retelling the Story of JesusToday.” PCS was established and founded in year1912 by Fr. Godfried or Godofredo Aldenhujsen, popu-larly known as Padre Godo. In June 1913, followingan increase in enrolment, Fr. Godofredo asked theBelgian Mothers (CMSA now ICM) from St. Theresa’sCollege to help in running the school. Thereafter, en-rolment steadily increased by one grade level everyyear until the primary course (Grades 1-4) was com-pleted. Finally in 1916, the grade school was fullyrecognized by the government. Fr. Carlos VanOoteghem, the last CICM parish priest to serve PCSmanaged the school from 1980-1984. He stayed on ascoadjutor in the parish until his health prevented himfrom continuing his ministry. It was during his termwhen the Karel Hall, Covered Court, Fr. Godofredoand P.A.(Practical Arts) Bldgs. were constructed.After 72 years of dedicated service to the ministryand education, the CICM missionaries (CongregatioImmaculati Cordis Mariae/Congregation of the Im-maculate Heart of Mary) turned over the manage-ment of the school to the Archdiocese of Manila in1984. Bp. Teodoro Bacani was the first Filipino totake over the parish and school after the Belgian CICMmissionaries. The population in PCS continued to in-crease especially when Kindergarten 1 was introducedin 1995. The start of Nursery Level was noted a yearlater. In 1996, Monsignor Domingo A. Cirilos Jr. re-placed Bp. Bacani as parish priest and director of theinstitution. Bishop Teodoro Bacani, presided the an-niversary mass on November 10, 2006. Joining himwere former Paco parochial vicars led by MAPSAPresident, Msgr. Gerardo Santos, and Rev. Fr. RoyBellen, the newly ordained alumnus priest. The PCSmotto is “Noblesse Oblige”—Nobility Obligates—which means that because your nobility and dignityis great, so is your responsibility.

APPOINTED. Bp. RomuloValles, 55, as Archbishopof Zamboanga, by PopeBenedict XVI, November13, 2006. Valles who hasbeen Bishop of Kidapawansince 1997, replaced Arch-bishop Carmelo Moreloswhose resignation uponreaching age 75, based onthe Church Law, was ac-cepted by the Holy Father. A native of Bohol, BishopValles was ordained as bishop on August 28, 1997.He took up A.B. Philosophy and Theology at St.Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary, DavaoCity, 1968-1972 and 1972-1976 respectively. Heearned his Licentiate in Sacred Liturgy at PontificioAteneo Sant’ Anselmo in Rome, Italy, 1985-1990 andMA in Religious Education Ignatian Institute forReligious Education at Ateneo de Davao Univer-sity in 1997. Among his Pastoral Ministries were in1976-1978 he became the Asst. Parish Priest, Christthe King Cathedral Parish, Tagum, Davao then Par-ish Priest, San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish, Mati,Davao Oriental; 1982-1984, Parish Priest, Christ theKing Cathedral Parish, Tagum, Davao and Vicar Gen-eral, Diocese of Tagum; 1983, Teaching Scripture,Queen of Apostles College Seminary, Tagum, Davao;1990 Fundamental Liturgy, Sacramental Theologyand Coordinator, Spiritual Formation Year at St.Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary, DavaoCity; 1992-1993, Vice-Rector and in 1993- Rector, St.Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary, DavaoCity. At present he is also the chairman of CBCP’sCommission on Liturgy.

APPOINTED. Bp. SergioUtleg, 63, as Bishop ofLaoag, by Pope BenedictXVI, November 13, 2006.Before being transferred asBishop of Laoag, he was theBishop of Ilagan, Isabela.Bp. Utleg was ordained as apriest at the age of 24 onMarch 30, 1968. He earnedhis Bachelor in Philosophy

at UST Central Seminary in 1963; Licentiate in Phi-losophy also in UST Central Seminary in 1964; Bach-elor in Theology at Gregorian University in Rome,1966; Licentiate in Sacred Theology Gregorian Uni-versity Rome, 1968 and MA in Sociology at FordhamUniversity, New York, 1967. He was appointed asCoadjutor Bishop: February 10, 1997 and ordainedas Bishop on March 17, 1007 and became Bishop ofIlagan on July 26, 1999. Before becoming a Bishop,his assignments includes in 1971, Procurator, SanJacinto Seminary, Cagayan; 1971-1982, Social Ac-tion Director, Archdiocese of Tuguegarao; 1973, Pa-rochial Vicar, St. Peter’s Cathedral Parish; 1973-1987,Parish Priest, Cordova, Amulung; 1977-1997, Chair-man, Commission on Social Action; 1987, ParishPriest, St. Philomene’s Parish, Alcala, Cagayan; 1993,Pastor, St. Peter Thelmo Parish, Aparri and Episco-pal Vicar, Vicariate of Aparri. As of now, Bp. Utleg isthe Chairman of CBCP’s Commission on IndigenousPeople.

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