Vol. 15 No. 17August 15 - 28, 2011 Php 20.00

Bishop questions ‘sub-state’ plan

A CATHOLIC bishop based in Basilan prov-ince has expressed apprehension over the proposed establishment of a Bangsamoro sub-state in Mindanao

Bishop Martin Jumoad said he is wary upon learning that the proposal is within the context of the memorandum on ancestral domain (MOA-AD) which Supreme Court declared as unconstitutional in 2008.

“If the provisions and components of the ‘sub-state’ are that of the MOA-AD, then, there are reasons to be apprehensive on this

Substate / A7

Penance / A7

A ROMAN Catholic priest has criticized the authorities over the rampant sale of “cytotec” or abortion pills in Quiapo area.

Monsignor Clemente Ignacio, parish priest of Quiapo Church, claimed that the authorities are not doing enough to stop the cytotec trade.

Police recently arrested two cytotec vendors in Quiapo but the priest said they must get those suppliers of the abortion pills if they want to stop such trade.

“They need to capture all dis-tributors, all suppliers, and close all abortion clinics in Quiapo,” Ignacio said.

On Friday, he said, they will hold a rally outside the Manila City Hall to condemn the con-tinued sale of abortion pills in Quiapo.

“Our Quiapo Church parish-ioners and devotees are angry about the cytotec trade in Qui-apo,” Ignacio said.

He said the demonstration

also aims to protest the authori-ties’ weak campaign to stop cy-totec trade.

“It’s the first time in the his-tory of Quiapo Church that large tarpaulins [are] hung on walls of the church and a march to be done to the Mayor’s Office,” Ignacio said. (CBCPNews)

KC / A6

WYD / A6

Poleteismo / A6

•A3 Young People: Stand firm in Christ!

Pope eagerly anticipating meeting

world’s youth in Madrid

•B1 •C1 UgnayanThe News Supplement of Couples for

Christ

CCP controversy spurs Church to declare ‘Day of Penance’

GAUDENCIO Cardinal Rosales has declared August 26 as a “Day of Penance” for the ‘sinful’ art exhibit at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

In a circular, Rosales also en-couraged the faithful to perform sacrifice on the date such as fasting or other forms of mor-tification, “as an expression of remorse for the sins committed against God’s majesty.”

Despite CCP’s defense for allowing Mideo Cruz’s “repul-sive” art installation, the cardinal maintained that it was a “sacri-lege and blasphemy.”

“For us Catholics and Chris-

tians, the offense goes beyond visual senses; it strikes into our souls,” said Rosales. “It is a sin.”

Like the many other critics, the prelate agrees that the work over-reached the boundaries of freedom of expression.

Most say, according to him, it is offensive and a great affront to Catholics and Christians, and to all people who value decency. “To them the work is ‘trash.’ And we agree,” said Rosales.

Cardinal Rosales also directed that a “prayer of reparation” be recited in all Masses from Au-

KCs’ collaboration boosts Church’s pro-life advocacy―CBCP

Bishops express reservations over Charter Change

‘Poleteismo’ not art, says national artist

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Half a million pilgrims attend WYD opening Mass

THE Catholic leadership has lauded the staunch support of a worldwide lay organization of men in the Church’s ongoing fight against the reproductive health bill being pushed in Congress.

Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) presi-

AT least three Catholic bishops expressed their reservations on the proposed amend-ment of the 1987 Constitution.

In a radio interview, the prelates said there is not enough reason laid out by those calling for Charter Change.

Tagbilaran Bishop Leonardo Medroso and Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pa-billo both believe that revising the Charter is not the key in addressing the country’s pressing problems.

“At this stage, Cha-Cha is not needed. We have so many, many good laws. What is needed is its implementation. Political

will is what the government needs to implement these laws,” Medroso said.

“Charter Change will not address our problem. Even the Constitution is not be-ing implemented. It should be enforced first before amending it,” Pabillo said.

For his part, Cotabato auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo believes that changes may be needed but not a complete over-haul of the Constitution.

“I don’t think it should be the total over-haul of the whole constitution. It should be identified,” said Bagaforo.

Medroso also backed the said idea

saying lawmakers should just course it through the regular process.

“Of course, there are some that has to be changed at that is no longer suitable with the present situation but that can be done through amendments,” said the Tagbilaran prelate.

The House of Representatives’ Commit-tee on Constitutional Amendments has already started conducting hearings for the amendment of the 1987 Constitution earlier in the week.

The solons, though, clarified that they

dent and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar said the presence of the Knights of Columbus in the country’s dioceses is a big boost in the Catholic Church’s pro-life advocacy.

“The Knights of Columbus is a big deal to the Church in the

Quiapo priest hits police over growing cytotec trade

MIDEO Cruz’s “Poleteismo”, a hodgepodge of picture clippings where a wooden phallus is attached to the image of Jesus Christ, cannot be considered as a work of art, a national artist said.

Francisco Sionil Jose, a National Artist for Literature, criticized Cruz’s work which was exhibited at the Cultural Center of the Philip-pines (CCP) as nothing but “immature” and “juvenile.”

He claimed that the real issue should not be about freedom of expression but whether or not Cruz’s work is art or not.

“I saw the pictures, which too many people object and I said this is not art. These pictures illustrate that the artist is immature and juvenile in his attempt to express his views,” Jose told senators

at a hearing. “This artist is not all that good because we

do it when we were kids, where you put a

Charter / A6

By Pinky B. Barrientos, FSP

MORE than half a million pilgrims coming from vari-ous countries across the world packed Madrid’s Plaza de Cibeles as the celebrations of 26th World Youth Day of-ficially opened with a Mass on August 16.

The archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela, presided the inaugural Mass, concelebrated by bishops and priests participating in the WYD, while Vatican’s Pontifical Coun-cil for the Laity president Cardinal Stan-islaw Rylko welcomed the delegates.

The pilgrims, hundreds of thousands of whom arrived a week earlier to participate in the Days in the Diocese (DID) events across Spain, are housed in various schools, parishes and public facilities in the city of Madrid.

Of the more than half a million delegates participating at the WYD celebrations in Madrid around 3,000 are Filipinos, according to www.madrid11.com, the official website of WYD 2011.

But the official delegation of the Phil-ippines, registered under the name of ECY-Philippines of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ Episco-pal Commission on Youth, has only 425 delegates under its care.

Religious and lay people demonstrated outside the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) for allowing a controversial art exhibit defaced religious images, August 10, 2011.

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Catholics join a reparation rite outside the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), where a contro-versial art exhibit by Mideo Cruz titled “Poleteismo” was held, August 14, 2011. ©

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A2 Vol. 15 No. 16August 15 - 28, 2011

CBCP MonitorWorld News

Catholic bookstores working hard to compete with online sellers Vatican Briefing

Vatican ‘astonished’ by Croatian gov’t blocking monastery transferThe Vatican says it is astonished that Croatia’s government has blocked Pope Benedict’s decision to hand back owner-ship of a Croatian monastery to the Italian Benedictines. This “raises astonishment, both for the extraordinary decision and also because the Croatian Prime Minister had expressed her intention to address the problem in a spirit of collaboration,” Vatican spokesman, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., said. The disagreement centers on the monastery of Dajla, in northwest Croatia. It is situated in an area that was confiscated from Italy by communist Yugoslavia following the Second World War. The monastery is currently in the control of the local Croatian diocese of Porec and Pula. (CNA)

Vatican aims to regain trust of U.S. religious women, official saysIn the final stage of the apostolic visitation of U.S. women’s religious communities, the Vatican congregation overseeing the study not only is facing mountains of paper, but must try to rebuild a relationship of trust with the women, said the congregation’s secretary. U.S.-born Archbishop Joseph Tobin, secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, said, “I believe a visitation has to have a dialogical aspect, but the way this was structured at the beginning didn’t really favor that.” He said the congrega-tion hoped its review of the visitation reports and its responses to the participating religious communities would be marked by dialogue and would be a step toward healing. (CNS)

Maltese archbishop apologizes for delayed abuse investigationThe day after two religious order priests were found guilty of sexually abusing children in Malta, the country’s archbishop apologized to the victims and for the church’s delay in inves-tigating the allegations. The Missionary Society of St. Paul, the order to which the convicted priests belong, said the Vatican had removed one of the men from the priesthood and was studying the case of the other. Charles Pulis, the dismissed priest, was sentenced to six years in prison and Father Godwin Scerri was sentenced to five years in prison by a Malta court Aug. 2. The men were accused of sexually abusing children at a home for boys. (CNS)

Pope urges Syrian gov’t to respect its citizens Pope Benedict XVI used his Sunday Angelus address to call for peace in Syria and to urge the government there to respect “the legitimate aspirations” of its citizens. “I renew an urgent appeal to the Syrian Authority and population, for peaceful coexistence to be restored as soon as possible and for an ad-equate response to the legitimate aspirations of the citizens, respecting their dignity and for the benefit of regional stabil-ity,” the Pope told pilgrims gathered at his summer residence of Castel Gandolfo near Rome August 7. The Pope’s comments come on the day that reports suggest at least 38 people were killed in a dawn raid by the Syrian army upon the eastern city of Deir al-Zour. (CNA)

Bishop warns against overemphasizing sexual aspects of Theology of Human Love Bishop Jean Laffitte is warning against focusing too intently on the sexual aspect of Blessed John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, which he says runs the risk of eliminating the depth and “mystery” involved in human and divine love. “The problem is, if you focus only on sexuality you can’t develop beyond that, and you don’t see that this beauty is a gift given by the Creator but in a much wider context,” said Bishop Laffitte, secretary of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Family. In an Aug. 3 interview with CNA, Bishop Laffitte weighed in on the current debate on how best to interpret the late pontiff’s teachings, saying it is essential to first understand God’s design in creating man and woman. (CNA)

Over 130,000 youth enjoy Days in the Diocese across Spain

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MADRID, Spain, August 15, 2011—Madrid is hosting World Youth Day but all of Spain is joining in the celebration. More than 130,000 young people from across the world are in Spain’s 65 dioceses, before the international gathering begins on Aug. 16.

“The Days in the Dioceses are a great way to prepare for WYD,” said program organizer Javier Igea on August 11.

The young pilgrims from 137 countries are being offered free accommodation by each dio-cese in either schools, parishes, sports centers or homes. Each day the pilgrims meet with young local Catholics for prayer and worship at the shrines and religious sites held dear by each region.

So while French pilgrims in the north-eastern Diocese of Oviede are making a pilgrim-age to the shrine of La Virgen de Covadogna, Italian pilgrims

Rio de Janeiro to host World Youth Day 2013

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., August 10, 2011—Like most small- and medium-size bookstores, shops specializing in Catholic religious books have been hit by the ubiquity of such online giants as Amazon.

“We rely on hard work and God’s grace,” said Helen Dorin of Boric Religious Supply in St. John, Ind., which is going into its third generation as a family-operated book and religious articles store.

“It has hurt us,” she said about Internet book sales. “Customers will come in and browse our books, and then go and order online.”

Booksellers are less sure of the effect that relatively new elec-tronic books are going to have on their market.

Neil McCaffrey III, author of “The Intelligent Catholic’s Guide to Operating a Catholic Book-store” and a publishing veteran, notes that “as rapidly as e-books are moving, they’re moving fic-tion rather than nonfiction” and most Catholic book titles are nonfiction. E-books represent a small segment of the Catholic book market.

Nevertheless, several of the publishers’ representatives in-terviewed by Catholic News Service at the annual trade show of the Catholic Marketing Net-work in King of Prussia, said their companies were moving into the e-book market.

Chris Veneklase of Ignatius Press said all their titles being published now and in the future will be offered as e-books, and

Ignatius is gradually putting its existing booklist into an e-format. E-books are sold online and not through conventional bookstores; some major Catholic publishers offer downloadable e-books and even phone applica-tions on their sites.

Robb Holzrichter of Liguori Publications said Liguori is start-ing to publish e-books but will always have traditional books as well. “Kindle or not,” he’s convinced there will always be people “who want the touch and feel of paper.”

Sister Mary Mark, publisher of Pauline Books and Media, said her order, the Daughters of St. Paul, currently offer more than 50 titles in e-books although they have many, many more in print. “Little by little we’re working our way into that format,” she said.

The Daughters of St. Paul op-erate 13 book centers in the U.S. and one in Canada, all staffed at least part of the time by religious of the community. She said it’s hard to tell what effect online bookselling has had “because of the economic slump all over the country.

“People are more thoughtful in making their choices,” she said, and the dollar amount per purchase might be smaller than before. For example, she said, a mother coming in with children might still allow each child to choose a book, but it will be a $3.95 or $4.95 book, not one for $23.95.

Several of the bookstore own-ers spoke of having staff able to

New Syrian defense minister is Christian: a difficult role

Canadian bishops launch website on new Roman Missal translation

OTTAWA, Canada, August 13, 2011—The Canadian bishops’ conference announced the launch of a new website aimed at edu-cating the country’s faithful on changes to the Roman Missal.

The National Liturgy Office for the Canadian bishops said organizers are “pleased” to announce the online resource, www.romanmissal.ca, to “help parishes, missions and institutions across Canada in understanding the contents of this new

in nearby Galicia are visiting the tomb of the Apostle St. James in Santiago de Compostela.

Meanwhile, the city of Avila, famed for its connection to the 16th century St. Teresa of Jesus, hosted a retreat titled “Teresa of Jesus: Rooted and built up in Christ.” The retreat culminated in a sound and light show on the evening of Aug. 13.

The visiting pilgrims are also being offered historical tours, non-religious cultural activities as well as free time to them-selves.

“We participated in WYD at Rome in 2000 and lived the Days in the Dioceses, welcomed by families in the city of Imola,” said Patricia and George, a young married couple from Gua-dalajara, near Madrid. They are currently hosting three pilgrims from California.

“This WYD in Madrid is an opportunity for us to give back

what we received 10 years ago and for the pilgrims who will come to have a chance to live the experience of living with a host family.”

Organizers say they are insis-tent that cost not be a barrier to

ROME, Italy, August 15, 2011—The Brazilian city of Rio de Janei-ro will host the next international celebration of World Youth Day, which will take place in 2013.

The announcement was con-firmed by Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi, who said the date for the event was set a year early in order to avoid logistical conflicts with the World Cup, which Brazil will host in 2014.

Traditionally, Pope Benedict would have announced the site of the 2013 World Youth Day while in Madrid this week, how-ever the confirmation was likely made early due to comments by Brazilian officials that the city had been chosen.

The governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Sergio Cabral, and the city’s mayor, Eduardo Pase are planning to be in Ma-drid this week to attend the youth event.

Some 14,000 young people from Brazil will also attend World Youth Day 2011. (CNA/Europa Press)

book.”Copies of the new missal are scheduled

to be shipped to Canadian parishes on Nov. 10, with the official implementation date to be held on Nov. 27, the first day of Advent this year.

Organizers said local Church leaders have been working around the clock to prepare the clergy of the country for the new edition of the Roman Missal by hold-ing seminars from coast to coast.

“It is our hope that the local clergy and diocesan offices will take a prominent role in the implementation process in our churches and schools,” the website reads.

The new site includes materials for parish bulletins and workshops as well as links to Roman Missal-related materi-als from the Publications Service of the Canadian bishops’ conference, which is helping produce the book.

Viewers can also find links to Roman Missal implementation sites from the nu-merous English-speaking bishops’ confer-ences including, the U.S., Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Organizers announced that the pref-aces and other prayers for the Sundays of Advent edition will soon be posted “to facilitate the efforts of Priests in preparing to proclaim these new translations.”

The site also has resources for musicians, such as links to recordings of the three settings for the Ordinary of the Mass that were composed specifically for Canada.

The latest version of the Roman Missal incorporates the most significant changes in the liturgy since 1974. While the es-sentials of the Mass have not changed, the new translation is considered a richer way to explain and proclaim the Catholic faith. (CNA)

help customers as key.The Daughters of St. Paul do

that as an important part of their ministry. Dorin said her Indiana bookstore is 40 miles from the Chicago Loop and serves cus-tomers who drive as far as 20 to 40 minutes to it as a “destination store.” People come on a mis-sion, she said, and it’s important to have knowledgeable and sym-pathetic salespeople available.

“Often they’re scared to admit they’ve never read the Bible,” she said as an example, and for such readers she’ll sometimes recommend a youth Bible that has helpful notes.

“Others are serious Bible stu-dents,” and for them she needs to stock Bibles with footnotes and Bible commentaries, she explained. That means “a lot of money tied up in inventory,” and in recent years she’s found herself trying to spread out her purchases, so that she may have single copies of a variety of

books rather than a dozen copies of the latest release by a popular author.

“You do a little bit of minis-try,” agreed Patty Broesamle of the Paulist Book Center in Costa Mesa, Calif. “You have to be very cautious about people’s feelings,” she added, as some come into the store looking for a book that will help with a dif-ficult situation.

Bookstore operators agreed that e-books are not currently as big a threat to bookstores as are the online booksellers. “I’ve worked here for a really long time,” Broesamle said, and she believes books are going to be in demand as long as there are people “who want the written word and want to look at it and hold it.”

Carrying religious articles ranging from art to crucifixes to rosary beads help many re-ligious stores keep their heads above water. (CNS)

participation. That means that 230 Haitian pilgrims are being financially supported in their visit to the historic region of La Mancha, just 40 minutes south of Madrid.

The “Days in the Dioceses”

initiative was begun in 1997 at World Youth Day in Paris as a way of allowing all of France to participate in the event. It has since been replicated at each subsequent World Youth Day. (CNA/EWTN News)

DAMASCUS, Syria, August 8, 2011—For the first time in the history of the Syrian regime’s the new defence minister—till now a post reserved for members of the Alawite minority—is a Christian. General Daud Rajhi, who was appointed on August 8, is in fact greek-orthodox (a fact

scarcely reported in the interna-tional press), on good terms with his Patriarchate, and especially with the auxiliary bishop Luqa Khoury, organizer of a recent ecumenical gathering in favor of the regime. He is the third Chris-tian present current government, there are two Catholic ministers

(who, however, do not have a personal relationship with the Church).

This appointment, which in other circumstances would be considered by all as a historical turning point, is evaluated in different ways within the Syrian Christian world. Some, particu-larly those who prefer not to talk politics, say it is “a good thing.” Others, even among those who want President Bashar al-Assad to remain, say: “It is no good thing that one of ours is in the front line in these times and in such circumstances.”

In other words it does not seem a great honour that a Chris-tian has been called to direct the military crackdown against the protesting population. In fact, the propaganda of the Baathist regime has not failed to point out that the appointment of General Rajhi shows that the view that

the Alawite group governs the country is false, as is the belief that the Alawite minority mo-nopolizes the armed forces.

As we know, the President is of Alawite origin, but officially he is a Sunni Muslim, as required by the Constitution with regard to the Syrian head of state, be-cause the Sunnis are the largest religious denomination in the country. Hafez al-Assad, father of the president, was born Ala-wite but became a Sunni to take over the presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic.

The new minister was born in Damascus in 1947, and has been a general since 1998. He was promoted to deputy chief of staff in 2004 and then appointed Chief of the Army June 4, 2009. As minister he takes over from General Ali Habib, an Alawite, who has resigned due to serious health reasons. (AsiaNews)

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A3Vol. 15 No. 17August 15 - 28, 2011

CBCP Monitor News Features

Pope eagerly anticipating meeting world’s youth in Madrid

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VATICAN City, August 12, 2011—Pope Benedict XVI is eager to meet the vast crowds of young people who are gathering in Madrid and is looking forward to the “wonderfully spiritual” moments that will occur during the four-day international event.

“The Pope is very happy and very much looking forward to meeting a million young people next week,” said papal spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., in Aug. 12 re-marks to CNA.

“It will obviously be a very demanding trip for him because it is a four-day visit. But he knows from his previous World Youth Days in Cologne and Sydney that these are great occasions with great enthu-siasm and he wants to give young people a witness to faith and encouragement to live lives of hope and charity.”

Fr. Lombardi gave his final briefing in Rome this morning ahead of World Youth Day’s launch next Tuesday, August 16.

Pope Benedict will arrive on the evening of Thursday, August 18. He will then pre-side at a total of nine events with young people over the next four days, culminat-ing in Sunday morning Mass at the city’s Cuatro Vientos airport.

Fr. Lombardi revealed today that over 800 bishops plan to attend that Mass.

“Obviously the Eucharist on Sunday is the most important moment of the four days for the Pope, but he’s also looking for-

ward to other very significant moments that will be wonderfully spiritual occasions,” said Fr. Lombardi.

He highlighted the Pope’s leading of the Way of the Cross through the streets of Madrid on the Friday—prayed with “the intensity of the Spanish spiritual tradition” - as one such moment.

The spokesman also said the Pope is looking forward to meeting with several young people and giving them the sacra-ment of Reconciliation at the city’s Jardines del Buen Retiro the next day.

“Also Mass with the seminarians on Sat-urday will be a wonderful reminder of the spirituality of the priesthood on, this, the 60th anniversary of the Pope’s ordination,” noted Fr. Lombardi. For Pope Benedict cel-ebrating “the Mass of Jesus Christ, eternal high priest, will be great.”

Fr. Lombardi also explained that Pope John Paul II will be a significant figure at World Youth Day. The recently beatified pontiff was declared one of the patrons of the event ear-lier this year. He confirmed that the event’s inaugural Mass on Tuesday evening will be the “Mass of Blessed Pope John Paul II.”

It was also confirmed today that the Pope will make time next week to visit the King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia of Spain, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and opposition leader Mariano Rajoy. (CNA/EWTN News)

Vatican announces indulgences for World Youth DayVATICAN City, August 11, 2011—To help encourage prayers for a spiritually fruitful World Youth Day in Madrid, the Vatican announced Aug. 11 that Pope Benedict XVI had authorized a special indulgence for anyone who, “with a contrite spirit,” raises a “prayer to God, the Holy Spirit, so that young people are drawn to charity and given the strength to proclaim the Gospel with their life,” a Vatican decree said.

The decree included the offer of a plenary, or full, indulgence to all the young people who will gather with the pope in Madrid. World Youth Day runs Aug. 16-21 in the Spanish capital; the pope arrives Aug. 18.

An indulgence is a remission of the temporal punishment a person is due for sins that have

been forgiven. The conditions necessary for receiving a ple-nary indulgence include having recently gone to confession, receiving the Eucharist and of-fering prayers for the intentions of the pope.

Pope Benedict decreed that World Youth Day participants can receive a plenary indulgence if they participate with prayerful devotion in any sacred event or “pious exercise” as well as attend the closing Mass, receive the sac-raments of reconciliation and the Eucharist and offer prayers for the pope’s intentions.

The decree, signed by Car-dinal Fortunato Baldelli, head of the Vatican office that deals with indulgences, said a partial indulgence also is available to all Catholics who are contrite for their sins and offer their prayers with

the pope for young Catholics.The cardinal also asked priests

around the world to make them-selves available to hear the confessions of those who want the indulgence and to encourage public prayers for the success of

World Youth Day.In central Madrid’s Buen Re-

tiro Park, 200 portable confes-sionals will be set up for confes-sions that begin Aug. 14. The pope will hear confessions at the park Aug. 20. (CNS)

Fukushima children promise Pope they will persevere through nuclear tragedyR O M E , I t a l y , A u g u s t 4 , 2011—Twenty elementary school children from northeast Japan promised Pope Benedict “they would never give up” in the face of adversity.

The children traveled from the Japanese city of Ofunato, to Italy and greeted the Pope at the conclusion of this week’s Wednesday General Audi-ence, reports L’Osservatore Romano.

Ofunato is a coastal city which was impacted by radiation from the Fukushima nuclear plant damaged in the March 11 earth-quake and tsunami.

They told the Pope of their

will to “live and be reborn” and of their effort to “rebuild our still-beautiful city.” They also pledged to “never lose their smiles, which are a source of hope.”

To symbolize this hope, the mayor of the Japanese city of Hokuto, Masashi Shirakura, pre-sented the Pope with a branch of cherry tree blossoms.

This will to be reborn, he said, “is the same that lifted up Na-gasaki after the nuclear blast of August 9, 1945. The flowers were the first to blossom just 30 days after the disaster, to the surprise of all. They became of symbol of hope,” the mayor said. (CNA)

SC asked to issue injunction on mining operations in ZamboangaMANILA, August 10, 2011―A group of indigenous people has filed a peti-tion asking the Supreme Court to issue an injunction on mining operations in Zamboanga Peninsula.

In time for the observance of the In-ternational Day of Indigenous Peoples on August 9, the Subanen people have asked the SC to issue the Writ of Ka-likasan to end all mining activities in Zamboanga Peninsula.

Mario Catanes, Chairman of TU-PUSIMI, an organization of Subanen people, said they will never allow any form of mining to destroy their ancestral lands.

“As a Subanen, we do not want that our ancestral domain which is the source of everything that we need will be destroyed. Our ancestral domain supplies us with everything that we need. It provides us with fresh air, medicines, clean water and healthy food. And all of these, along with our culture will be lost because of mining,” he said.

Catanes led other concerned groups

and individuals from Midsalip, Zam-boanga del Sur and other parts of Zamboanga Peninsula in filing the petition.

The Writ of Kalikasan is a Special Civil Action provided under the Rules of Procedure of Environmental Cases promulgated by the Supreme Court in April 2010 to achieve a quick and effective resolution of environmental cases.

The court order protects the right of any individual, organization or any public interest groups “to a bal-anced and healthful ecology” that is being violated, or threatened with violation that could bring environ-mental damage prejudicial to life and property.

Jesus S. Catamco Jr. Vice-Chairman of the Alliance for the Integrity of Na-ture (ASIN) and one of the petitioners, disclosed that application for mining permits in the area has been unabated since 1997.

“Since 1997 until now, mining companies did not stop on applying

for mining permits despite our strong opposition to their entries to protect and defend our homes, livelihood and food base,” he said.

“We are here in the Supreme Court today to do so, Subanen, Moro and Christian tribes in unity for this cause,” he added.

Various government agencies like the DENR (Department of Environ-ment and Natural Resources), MGB (Mines and Geosciences Bureau), PAWB (Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau), NCIP (National Commission for Indigenous People) and several mining companies were named as re-spondents in the petition.

The petition alleged that, “by al-lowing mineral extraction in almost all the upland areas of Zamboanga peninsula,” the government agen-cies named as respondents, “ have callously impaired or threatened to impair petitioners’ right to ecology. Because of their wholesale mining grants, mountaintops will definitely be ultimately scraped or bored hollow,

valleys will be filled with quarried earth and raised, rivers and creeks that supply water into downhill communi-ties for their domestic, agricultural and industrial uses will be polluted or will run dry.”

The petition further stated that a 2008 data from the MGB showed that the total land area subject to and opened for mining in Zamboanga Peninsula was 703,595.33 hectares, accounting for 45.25% of its total land area. However as of March 2011, one hundred and seventy (170) min-ing tenements already entertained or otherwise approved involving a total of 808,269.09 hectares, which is about 51% of peninsula’s land mass, the threat to the environment has become very real rather than merely apparent.

Zamboanga peninsula is com-prised of the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga-Sibugay. It also includes the cities of Dipolog and Dapitan of Zamboanga del Norte and Pagadian

City of Zamboanga del Sur.The petitioners also asked the court

to issue a Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) to stop the DENR and MGB from processing, granting and issuing mining permits in any part of the country and to halt mining operations in the peninsula until all environmental concerns raised in the petition have been sufficiently dealt with.

The peninsula’s rich bio-diversity, including Mt. Pinukis, Mt. Mediau and other mountains is being threatened by large-scale mining, according to the group.

Earth Justice Center Inc. (PEJC) and Alliance to Save the Integrity of Na-ture, Inc. (ASIN), as well as individuals like Bishop Jose Recare Manguiran of Dipolog Diocese, Sultan Maguid A. Maruhom and Jerry S. Espinas, member of the Sangguniang Bayan of Sindangan. They were represented by Atty. Benjamin A. Cabrido, Jr., a Cebu-based environmental lawyer from PEJC. (CBCPNews)

Medical expert leads panel of speakers in RH symposium

MANILA, August 11, 2011—The doctor who led the 1990s investi-gation of a vaccination program that secretly administered the anti-pregnancy chemical HCG to thousands of Filipino women of reproductive age, was among the speakers from Filipinos for Life in a symposium on House Bill 4244 or the Reproductive Health (RH) bill held in a Manila parish.

Reynaldo J. Echavez, M.D., FPCC, provided the medical perspective in the three-hour activity which tack-led the various aspects of the bill for

the parishioners of the Holy Face of Jesus Shrine in Quiapo, Manila.

Speaking to some 100 members of the Crusaders of the Holy Face of Je-sus, the cardiologist shed more light on the side effects of contraceptives, showing studies that establish the link between heart disease, cancer and other serious—and sometimes fatal—physical conditions, and con-traceptive use, specifically the Pill.

The P3-billion RH bill seeks to mandate taxpayer-funded pro-curement and distribution of the “full range” of birth control drugs,

devices and services, among other provisions, generating widespread opposition from family advocates, child development experts and faith-based groups nationwide.

Echavez also pointed out the dubi-ous nature of the legislative measure, citing the absence of the principle of ethics in the bill’s text.

Jose Descallar, Buhay Party-list pro-life advocacy staff, gave the participants an overview of the process undergone by a proposed legislative measure in the Lower House.

When asked by a participant, “Ano po ang magagawa namin ngayon na alam na namin ang ka-halagahan ng labanan ang RH Bill,” Descallar urged them to make their presence felt and join pro-lifers in filling the halls of Congress’s ple-nary hall during deliberations.

Anthony James Perez, Filipinos for Life founder, delved on popula-tion issues, showing the repercus-sions of a reproductive health law on demographics.

The symposium ended with a Mass celebrated by Fr. Hans D. Magduralang, who emphasized that now is the time to protect life. (Raymond Bandril)

HK gov’t should respect FDWs’ right to abode—groupMANILA, August 8, 2011—The Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body (AMCB) pressed the Hong Kong (HK) govern-ment to recognize the foreign domestic workers’(FDW) right to abode, especially those who had lived in former British ter-ritory for more than seven years.

Eni Lestari, spokesperson of the AMCB in a statement said that the HK govern-ment should not fear FDWs, but rather uphold their rights as human beings and as workers who have much contribution with the continuous growth of the HK economy.

“The core issue here is about the right of FDWs against discrimination. If qualified FDWs wish to apply for right of abode, they should be allowed to do so as the Basic Law does not exclude FDWs and international agreements that are used as standards for human rights also guard against discrimi-nation. Human rights should be upheld and never feared,” said Lestari.

Lestari issued such statement as some HK politicians are creating “dooms day” scenarios in order to gather support for their cause of disallowing FDWs to get

permanent status in HK. Lestari also dis-closed that there are some moves in the HK parliament to pass a legislation that would impose a three-year cap for FDW contracts in order to prevent them to stay there for seven years.

“Instead of thinking of ways to uphold the rights of migrants, the Hong Kong government is choosing more regressive measures that have been criticized in other countries already. For the HK government, it is better to sow an atmosphere of fear and discrimination rather than create a condi-tion to prevent discrimination,” she said.

The lady migrant leader also forewarned about the dangers of too much discrimina-tion against FDWs as it would breed hate crimes as well as other tragedies.

“Anti-migrant ideas breed hate crimes against migrants and immigrants. The same picture painted by these narrow-minded politicians is the reason why we have tragedies such as the recent killings in Norway. Is this the kind of thinking that we should allow to rule in Hong Kong?” the migrant leader said. (Noel Sales Bar-celona)

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Opinion

Living Mission / A5

Sick and sickening

Copy all right

Dialogue: An Imperative of Contemporary Mission

Sr. Mary Pilar Verzosa, RGS

Love Life

Pedro C. QuitorioEditor-in-Chief

Pinky Barrientos, FSPAssociate Editor

Roy Q. LagardeNews Editor

Kris BayosFeatures Editor

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

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www.cbcpmonitor.comcbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net

ROMY Santos does not claim to be a writer. But he is a reader―a faithful reader of pro-life publi-cations and belongs to the pro-life coalition egroup. And he has been copying some articles from Pro-life newsletters and submitting them to the local town newspaper every week. The editor, who used to have a pro-birth control stance, is now a pro-lifer.

Dr. Angie Aguirre, in spite of her busy schedule as a cardiolo-gist, still finds time to write let-ters to the editor or to companies when she comes across adver-tisements that are sexually sug-gestive or contrary to Christian values. She says it is always a joy when she receives an answer. Whether it is from someone who

agrees or disagrees with her, the fact is, she got the attention of the reader.

What about you? Are you annoyed every time you hear on TV, radio or even inside the LRT the blaring commercials for condoms and contraceptives injections? Are you scandalized by films that glorify lesbianism and pornography?

Are you angered at the thought that the RH Bill, if passed into law, will force teachers to give pro-contraceptive sex education to grade school children up to high school so that they end up being “sexperts”? Do you know that some of those modules teach that masturbation and sexual fantasizing are ways to prevent AIDS? Do you want to con-

gratulate a government worker, Church personnel, or NGO rep-resentative whenever he or she speaks out for our cause?

Then write. Speak up. The old saying “The pen is mightier than the sword” still holds true, And if you feel you cannot yet put the words in place, choose an article that you feel will respond to the issue on hand, type it out as is or rewrite it (be sure to put the source) and mail it immediately to the editor or company man-ager, to a TV or radio announcer, to friends or relatives.

But do it today. Because we have to give information, to cor-rect misconceptions, to clarify a misunderstanding, to answer an important question, to commend or congratulate, to criticize or

to motivate, to encourage and to PRAY.

Keep a directory of the people you want to write to. Classify them according to ally or adver-sary so that you will know at once what to write about.

Write. People need to know what you think and feel. You cannot afford to be silent espe-cially when LIFE is at stake. Si-lence helps the oppressor, never the oppressed.

Speak out. Write.For more information and ma-

terials on pro-life issues, sched-ule of activities and counseling, call the Pro-life Philippines Resource Center 733-7027, 0919-233-7783; email life@prolife.org.ph or visit website, www.prolife.org.ph

THE Church celebrates two major feasts during the month of August. The Chris-tological feast is the Transfiguration of the Lord (August 6); the Marian feast is the As-sumption (August 15). One can recall that the Transfiguration was a special day for Pope Paul VI (1963-1978), one of the popes who guided the Church during the Second Vatican Council. Paul VI purposely took the name Paul to indicate that his pontificate would focus on a renewed worldwide mis-sion to spread the message of Christ.

Paul VI chose the feast of the Transfigu-ration in 1964 to issue his first encyclical, Ecclesiam Suam, referred to in English as Paths of the Church. It is often noted that a pope’s first encyclical captures the program and emphases that the pope will promote during his pontificate. In God’s design, Paul VI died in 1978 on the feast of the Transfiguration.

Although most interesting, one may ask: Why recall these events that transpired nearly 50 years ago? The key reason is that Paul VI introduced a pivotal idea in Eccle-siam Suam. Over one-half of the encyclical is devoted to the topic of dialogue. Paul VI saw that a necessary pathway that the

Church needs to walk in the fulfillment of her mission of evangelization is the path of dialogue. How does the Church interact with the many forms of “otherness” pres-ent in the contemporary world? For Paul VI and for Vatican II, the Church, faithful to her mission, has to be a “community of dialogue,” a people in constant dialogue with others.

Paul VI notes that “the noble origin of dia-logue [is] in the mind of God himself.” The Judaeo-Christian God is not a solitary being. In a particular way, “God the Father initi-ated and established with us through Christ in the Holy Spirit … a very real and personal dialogue.” God took the initiative to reach out to humanity and to send the Son as its re-deemer. Thus, to engage others in dialogue is in imitation of God’s own initiative. The Church, as Jesus’ community of disciples, must constantly reach out to others—if she is to be faithful to her mission.

Again, Paul VI states that this interaction is actually a “dialogue of salvation.” In a word, God is working out his loving plan of salvation in and through this process. “God himself took the initiative in the dialogue of salvation. ‘He has first loved us’ (I Jn 4:10).

We, therefore, must be the first to ask for dialogue with people, without waiting to be summoned to it by others.” In short, a distinctive pattern of mission today will be the path of dialogue, indeed, often a very difficult road.

In Ecclesiam Suam Paul VI envisioned dialogue in terms of four concentric circles. The first dialogue must take place within the Catholic Church itself; Catholics from all walks of life and persuasions must genu-inely communicate with each other. This is a challenge to the more liberal and more traditional; it is a challenge to all—no matter where one finds oneself on various matters of public policy or social transformation. Paul VI calls all to “remember and strive to put into practice the example and precept of Christ” (cf. Jn. 13:14-17, 34-35).

A second circle is the dialogue with other Christians; this is known as ecumenism. It is based on our mutual faith in Jesus. A third dialogue is with the followers of other liv-ing faiths (e.g. Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, etc.); this is most important in Asia where less than 3% of the population is Christian. The fourth and final dialogue is with all

AN image of Jesus Christ with an at-tached wooden replica of a male genital protruding directly over His Face. The genital is draped with a Holy Rosary, hanging by the base and the tip of the replica. Is this art?

A Crucifix and Cross draped with a pink stretched condom. Is this art?

To a Crucifix is attached a red male organ. Is this art?

“Yes, oh yes!” So says in substance a group of so-called “artists” exhibiting the above consummate sacrilege! So es-sentially implies nothing less than the “Pontifical” and “Royal” University of “Santo Tomas” indulging the group whose products they are and who engage in the big blasphemy! So basically claims the Cultural Center of the Philippines displaying the radical vulgarity instead at nurturing and promoting Filipino positive cultural values as defined by its

Mission Statement.If the futile defense and vain rational-

ization of the open display of such lewd and gross “artistic productions” is the freedom of expression, then it is worth asking: What if genital and condom were stuck on the faces of the “artists”? What if the genital and condom were plastered on the face of Jose Rizal whose 150th Death Anniversary seemed to have oc-casioned the exhibit? What if the genital and the condom were attached to the face of any if not all the CCP directors? And what if the genital and condom were affixed to the face of St. Thomas of Aquinas? What then?

There is freedom of expression to say and /or do what is right, proper and just—not what is vulgar and despicable, highly profane and gravely offensive to even but to good manners and right conduct. Art is meant to uplift the human

spirit—not to trample on its nobility, neither to demean its aspirations, nor to place it at a garbage pile. Those who at-tempt to claim and defend the contrary do not belong to civilized humanity, to decent society.

God is forgiving but also just. God is kind but also righteous. God is lenient but also principled. Otherwise, there would be but heaven, supernatural bliss and eternal happiness—not their con-tradictions. These fundamental truths however still admit exceptions: Those mentally impaired. Those emotionally disturbed. Those psychologically inca-pacitated. God very well knows who these are.

Sick and Sickening. This is what’s wrong with the exhibit that is radically insensitive to natural decency, offensive to ethical standards, hideous to moral norms.

Mending a broken worldNOW they are starting to admit it. The world is broken and it needs mending badly. At least, that’s how political leaders and commentators are saying about the riots and looting that erupted in London recently. British Prime Minister David Cameron blamed the ugly incident to a “slow-motion moral collapse” of a good number of his constituents, especially the young.

American columnist Peggy Noonan had a similar take. She said: “The British press, left, right and center, was largely united in a refusal to make political excuses for the violence. Almost all agreed on the cause and nature of what happened. The cause was not injustice; this was not a revolt of the downtrodden masses, breaking into stores looking for food. The causes were greed, selfishness, a respect and even lust for violence, and a lack of moral grounding. Conscienceless predators preyed upon the weak. The weak were anyone who happened to be passing by, and those, many of them immigrants, who tried to defend their shops and neighborhoods...”

This is a developed country that is suffering from this calamity. If it were a lesser nation, it would have been more understandable. But this is one of the leading countries of the world, not only in terms of economics and but also in culture and civilization.

What has happened?

Surely, there will be many views and opinions about this, all with their valid points. It’s worthwhile to look into them because they certainly will shed light on the incident. But most likely the analyses will stop short of considering the role of God, of faith and religion in maintaining true peace and order, genuine harmony in any given society. And that would guarantee that the disaster will continue.

The British Prime Minister promised to undertake a “root and branch review” of all government policies to tackle the problem. But would that comprehensive effort include God, religion, faith that are supposed to give spirit and life to morality.

If morality is understood only as a matter of what is politically or socially correct, of what is culturally acceptable and the like, of how big a police force should be to deter such unrests, then forget it. The moral collapse in Britain as in any other country will continue to fester.

Truth to tell, the morality of our human acts is based on God, on religion, on faith. It just cannot be grounded on a political or social ideology, or guided only by the criteria of practicality, popular consensus, etc., much less by instigating fear or getting into coercion. That would be to miss the mark by a mile.

The problem that besets the world today is the bias that in politics and government affairs, God and religion should as much as possible be set aside. While it’s true that the distinction between faith and politics should be made and their autonomy respected, it’s also true that their innate organic link should be respected.

The big question is how to resuscitate a society suffering from moral collapse? That, obviously, is the challenge of this generation.

Fr. James H. Kroeger, MM

Living Mission

Oscar V. Cruz, DD

Views and Points

Catechesis on creationTHE Church has a major contribution to make by presenting and explaining the grandeur and beauty of the Christian vision of creation. The New Catechism of the Catholic Church treats of the importance of catechesis on creation. It is clear that without belief “in the Creator of heaven and earth” the other articles of the Creed lack any foundation.

The laity do not expect their priests to be experts in economics, political science, sociology or ecology. They do expect, however, to hear solid teaching on the Christian meaning of life, on the meaning of creation, and why as Catholics when they get involved in environmental activities they are doing God’s work. They need to be inspired and enlightened about their role in the secular arena. As the only Catholic country in Asia, the Philippines has to bear witness to Christ and one area where we can do this is in our concern for the environment. If, as a people, we allow our faith to guide our conduct, then we will soon experience the renewal of our environment.

The philosopher, Etienne Gilson, talking about the meaning of being catholic, said that we should be: “Not indeed Catholics, who would wear their faith as a feather in their cap, but Catholics who would make Catholicism so enter into our daily lives that the unbelieving would come to wonder what secret force animated that work and that life, and that having discovered it, they would say to themselves: he is a very good man, and now I know why: it is because he is a Catholic.” iii People ought to be able to look at the Philippines and come to the same conclusion.

Our social action centers and directors can play an important role by teaching people how to respond to the many environmental programs being introduced to communities. Sometimes the implications of these programs are not understood, or conflict with one another, or need much better coordination. When people are unsure or afraid, they tend to say, “No.” In a world that is becoming more complex, a more nuanced and thought out response might better serve their interests. Our social action centers can help people assess and evaluate these programs and react to them in a manner that unites the community.

The Church has another great resource in the millions of dedicated members of “mandated organizations” and Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs). They must begin to be more deeply involved in the solving of ecological problems at their level of the community.

Water is Life, 2000

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Candidly SpeakingFoul!

Atty. Aurora A. Santiago

Duc in AltumThe Diocese of Kalookan @ 8!

Catholic Morality and the RH Bill

NO structure to life, no moral values, no father, little or no ability to read and write, a passion for consumer goods fuelled by an upbringing focused on the fulfillment of immediate needs—all this plus physical strength, ferocious anger, and commitment to a strong gang—it all makes rioting a good way to spend a summer evening.

And the main things that have blighted the lives of the young thugs and thieves who have been burning shops and stealing goods in Britain’s towns and cities and suburbs have been strongly promoted by official policies in recent decades.

Promotion of fatherless families has become the politically-correct stance in social policy. Even to suggest that children flourish when they have a father and mother married to one another and committed to family life, has been to be the object of sneering and denigration. It has been impossible for a social worker or teacher to promote marriage as beneficial: to do so would be to court reprimands and face a blocked career or even possible dismissal.

The facts on the collapse of family life are widely available, and they are frightening: Since the 1960s, the percentage of children born out of marriage has risen from 5 per cent to over 40 per cent. While many of these children are now born to cohabiting couples, those relationships are typically unstable and break down at a much higher rate than marriages.

An analysis of official figures by the Bristol Community Fam-ily Trust (BCFT) and the Centre for Social Justice published last year showed that nearly one in two children born in Britain today will suffer family breakdown by the age of 16. Some London boroughs have upwards of 50 percent of lone parent headed households.

It really won’t do to pretend that all of this is has nothing to do with the boys and girls who have been setting fire to shops and homes, and gleefully grabbing consumer goods from shelves and gloating over their thieving. It was pathetic—genuinely, tragically pathetic—to hear calls for the children’s parents to take charge. Parents? Some were busy joining in the thieving and rioting themselves. Others, when contacted, revealed that they had zero control over their children’s lives. And the plural “parents” does not apply in most cases—too often there’s only mum, who over recent months and years has shared her home with various boyfriends.

The acceptance, and effective promotion, of casual sexual activity has been a staple of school sex-education schemes for some while now, and of course it is a message fuelled by TV soaps, teen celebrity magazines, the rock culture, and more. Marriage, faithfulness, commitment, a shared family heritage—all of this is utterly marginalized not only in the sub-culture fostered by those promoting teenage consumerism but also by officialdom.

If we want to try to rebuild a sane society, where burning shops and attacking people in the street is not considered a fun way to spend a summer evening, we must start by a tacit acceptance that social policies have got to change. It would be nice to have a “sorry” from those promoting the smashing of marriage and denigration of fatherhood—but we are unlikely to get that. A period of silence from them is the next preferred option. And while that’s happening, those who do understand the social realities of life must get on with the rebuilding.

Promote male-female lifelong marriage. Support those who teach it. Allow schools to discipline children effectively. Promote schemes offering good male role models in youth groups. Encourage and fund youth work that offers structure, neighborly service, discipline, friendships across racial groups, strong moral values and a sense of history, community and tradition.

This is a matter of public policy. There must be a cessation of the pretence that it is acceptable to impose the idea that mar-riage should be regarded as merely an optional extra. It isn’t. It’s the basis on which a community is based and in which a neighborly society can flourish.

It would be good to think that this summer’s ghastly riots in Britain have been a wake-up call that will result in massive changes in social policy. But don’t hold your breath. Too many people have committed themselves wholly to a passionate op-position to anything that smacked of traditional moral, cultural and spiritual values—they won’t give in easily to the grinding reality of the evidence of the harm they have caused. The only hope is that there might be sufficient men and women in public life who are prepared to be realistic and offer a better hope for the future, to work for sane policies and to be courageous in trying to get them implemented.

Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour’s Ed Mili-band have both talked about responsibility and parenting as issues to be addressed. The BBC’s political editor Nick Robinson noted yesterday, “how Mr Miliband develops that theme will reveal a great deal about the direction he is taking his party.” Mr Cameron has also mentioned poor discipline in schools and a general lack of morals, ethics and values.

But, as Robinson said, “The prize will be great for the politi-cian who can convince the electorate that in the face of what we have seen this week they are not merely impotent.”

(Joanna Bogle writes from London. This piece is published here under special arrangement with MercatorNet)

ONE positive offshoot of the on-going debate between the RH Bill and the Roman Catholic Church is the deliberate intro-spection and deeper study of morality that it has prodded. For quite a time the Church has taken for granted the study of morality in general, and in particular, of the morality of sexuality. The study on morality of sexuality has not been given that needed time to delve ever deeper into the richness of hu-man acts and the realities of sex, into the spirituality of human behavior and habits, into the meaning of what human life really is from the perspective of man as a whole, his dignity, his ontological orientation, his relation with self and others, his acts befitting an embodied person whose expressions with the world outside him includes his sexuality.

Hence, it is a joy for me to again hear a Catholic writer on spirituality who came up with an insightful statement that ap-proximates poetry on family life and sexuality, thus: “Perhaps there is nothing in this world as powerful to break selfishness

as is the simple act of looking at our own children. In our love for them we are given a privileged avenue to feel as God feels—to burst in unselfishness, in joy, in delight, and in the desire to let another’s life be more real and important than our own” (Ron-ald Rolheiser, ‘How Children Raise their Parents,’ Western Catholic Reporter, 27 March 1995).

It has to be admitted that Catholic morality then was more focused on the ‘acts we have done’ instead of empha-sizing on ‘what kind of person are we becoming’ by virtue of those acts. At first blush it may be the right way. After all what is wrong with the daily exami-nation of conscience that has become our revered exercise, meticulously weighing up the acts that we have done? On closer look, however, if we fo-cus our moral evaluation only on our acts, our tendency is to strive only for the minimum. We become minimalist. An example is the attitude: ‘how far should I go before I commit a mortal sin?’ Or ‘how many venial sins will add up into a

mortal sin? This attitude shows that we

tend to worry only about mortal sins and we tend not to care for those we conveniently label as small-time sins or, as we are used to say, venial. Moreover, we take notice of our ‘sins of commission’ but hardly do we give attention ‘for those we have failed to do’ or ‘sins of omission’. By intently looking so much on the possible violations of our acts we become too individualistic, measuring, that is, its harmful effects only on how it affects us and seldom on how it impacts on other people. The sum total of all these is mediocre Christians ― a state that once earned the ire of Christ who said: “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth” (Rev 3:15).

Thanks to modern sciences on human behavior we now know that small and seemingly insignificant but repetitive ac-tions can cement into a deep seated attitude and habit, which will later on induce someone to

commit big decisions of mortal consequences for one self and others. Thanks also to psycho-spirituality we now know that the good ‘we have failed to do’ are, in the long run, as destruc-tive as the wrong ‘we have done’. In other words, we become what we do!

A husband’s adulterous en-counter, for example, is not the authorship of Satan. Rather he has been conditioned by his small but increasingly becoming frequent flirtatious side glances, double-meaning jokes, and dubious gestures to younger officemates, small instances of neglect to his wife, and white lies when confronted about them. In other words, our ve-nial sins cannot just be simply dismissed as insignificant for they might have a bearing on the kind of person that we are becoming.

It is along this context that we are hoping that in the face of the RH Bill controversy Catholic mo-rality would return to the draw-ing board, strongly emphasizing therein ‘what type of person are we becoming in view of every single act that we effect.

HAPPY 8th Anniversary to my beloved Diocese of Kalookan! Happy Feast of San Roque, the Diocese’s Patron Saint!

On June 28, 2003, on the 25th year of his Pontificate, Blessed John Paul II issued the Papal Bull disjoining from the Archdiocese of Manila the Kalookan City-South and the Municipalities of Malabon and Navotas (now cities), establishing the new Diocese of Kalookan.

The Papal Bull established the Parish Church of San Roque in Kalookan and el-evated it to the level and dignity of a Cathe-dral Church, granted it all the distinctions, privileges and honor which all Cathedral Churches in the Catholic world enjoy.

On August 22, 2003, in the solemn Rites of Liturgical Reception and Canonical Posses-sion, His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin, D.D., installed Bishop Deogracias S. Iňiguez, Jr., D.D., as the First Bishop of the new Diocese, in the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, the Archbishops and Bish-ops of the Roman Catholic, the Bishops of Protestant Churches, the Clergy, Religious and Catholic faithful.

The Diocese observes its Anniversary on the Feast of San Roque, August 16. This year, it was celebrated on August 13, which was also the culmination of the Basic Ecclesial Community (or BEC) Week, with the theme “Bagong Mukha ng Simbahan tungo sa Buhay na Ganap” (The New Face of the Church towards the Fullness of Life). In his Hom-ily, Bishop Deo considered a Church active when its parishioners hear Mass, receive the sacraments, and the community dynamically participates in ministries and movements, particularly the BEC, which was approved 20 years ago during the 2nd Plenary Council of the Philippines.

The Diocese’s motto “Duc in Altum” (Lk: 5:4)—“put out into the deep”, adopted as

THAT firestorm caused by the blasphemous “Kulo” exhibit at the CCP showed among other things that even artists in the exercise of their freedom of expression and creativity can commit a foul that can merit a red card. They can overstep their limits.

They should be most careful in their work. Since their work is often pioneering, since it is often breaking new frontiers, artists have to expect to raise eyebrows, to be open to misunderstanding among ordinary mortals, and be ready for it.

Obviously, they can do a lot of good since with their artistry which is a great gift, dubbed in the Catechism as “a freely given superabundance of the human be-ing’s inner riches,” they can offer glimpses of sublime truth, good-ness and beauty to the rest of hu-manity who are otherwise stuck in the banalities of daily life.

Artists often provide alterna-tive beautiful ways of conveying truth and beauty that otherwise cannot be captured in words. They have the gift to enter into people’s mind and heart in ways that go beyond logic and rhetoric.

They therefore have to be

title of this column and approved by our bishop – words given by the Master of the apostles, as they gathered themselves before Jesus, and later expounded by Blessed John Paul II in his apostolic letter, Novo Millennio Ineunte. The motto captures the spirit and direction of the Diocese. “Powered by the love of Jesus and the grace of the Holy Spirit, the Diocese of Kalookan sails forth with faith and courage accompanied by Mary to cast its net so that a bountiful harvest may be reaped for the glory of God and the salvation of the souls.”

Some of Bishop Deo’s projects are: es-tablishment of Caritas Kalookan; Bp. Deo’s Scholarship Trust Fund; Project Deo Feeding Program; continuous formation of catechists; supervision of Catholic education through appointment of School Superintendent; health, hospitalization, retirement plan and standardization of the Clergy; development of La Loma Cemetery.

On its 7th year, the Diocese finished its Diocesan Pastoral Plan, crafted through the efforts of priests, religious men and women and the laity, under the guidance of the Pastoral Team. Bishop Deo stated that “A fundamental step now is for all of us x x x to know the Diocesan Pastoral Plan, to un-derstand it, to own it and to lend our share in its implementation.”

Bishop Deo is celebrating his 26th Episco-pal Anniversary on August 22, the Feast of the Queenship of Virgin Mary. We wish you good health, success in all your projects and endeavors, and God’s blessings!

***Congratulations to the Philippine Dragon

Boat Team for winning 5 gold medals and 2 silver medals in the dragon boat interna-tional competition held in Tampa, Florida. Columnist Manuel L. Caballero of Filipino

Reporter (a fair, fearless and factual Filipino-American newspaper in the East Coast) stated: “Despite limited resources, these Fili-pinos raised the flag of the native country. x x x we are proud of our kababayans in Florida for their kindness, generosity and hospitality to the Filipino boatsmen and women.”

Filipinos, here and abroad, gave their full support to the dragon boat team; on the contrary, the officials of the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission refused to acknowl-edge it. President Noynoy personally gave Presidential Citation to the team. That is a big slap on the face of the sports officials; they ought to resign.

***The Nunciature will tender the Welcome

Reception to the new Apostolic Nuncio, Most Rev. Archbishop Guiseppe Pinto. We have the honor and privilege to be invited to the occasion. His Welcome Mass is on August 19 at the Manila Cathedral. Welcome Your Excellency! As President of the Kalookan Diocese Papal Family and members of the Papal Household, we assure you of our sup-port and cooperation.

***Happy Birthday to the following: the

much-loved Most Rev. Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, former Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, now assigned in Greece; His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales; our family friends Rev. Fr. Jun Embile, SJ of Naga City and Seminarian Rene Richard Bernardo of St. Joseph Formation House.

Happy First Wedding Anniversary to Mary Gretchen Rosales and Charlemagne Castro, my niece and nephew-in-law, who were married at the St. Vincent de Paul, Manila on August 28, 2010.

aware of their privileged posi-tion in society and of the delicate responsibility attached to it. The first thing they have to realize is that their artistry and creativity are a gift of God. These have to be acknowledged as such, and not just a human or natural phenomenon with no deeper foundation.

Failing in that fundamental duty would lead artists to drift to nowhere. They would open themselves to the slavery of their passions and prejudices, and to mere external factors—fads and popular practices and customs, etc. These can pull subtle strings that can deceive us with their supposed advantages while hid-ing their dangers.

That’s why we can have such exhibit as “Kulo” that was pack-aged as a way to question and to enter into dialogue and debate about faith and religion. I was just wondering that if that was the purpose, then why would those behind it start that dia-logue by offending the sensibili-ties of their supposed target au-dience? And why bring it to the general public and not to some controlled environment yet?

It’s amazing that many artists think that they can only be most

expressive and creative when they do not have to think about God. This is a very dangerous situation, since they deny the truth that God is the source of creativity. Their creativity is, in fact, always a sharing of the creativity of God.

They fail to realize that their talent is always a gift, something given and received, and that therefore it is not completely theirs. It is not self-generated, nor something that once giv-en entitles them to forget the giver.

Obviously this incident is a manifestation of a world gone secularized, where God is ban-ished away. Many people are just depending on their own ideas to know what is good or bad, right or wrong.

I was mortified the other day, for example, while in taxi and the driver was listening to a radio commentary on some political issue. The commentator, who was supposed to be a prominent media man, was dripping with self-righteousness, speaking as if all his pronouncements are dog-mas that cannot be questioned by anyone.

He sounded as if he had the monopoly of truth and justice,

the exclusive owner if not the very creator of what true and good in this world. With very weak basis for his statements, he flew into a rage, making below-the-belt blows to his target poli-tician at that time. It was a clear case of character assassination.

It made me think that with the way some journalists are, killing them would come as no surprise. Of course, it is not good. It should never be done. But with the way they comment, done with the air of impunity, I believe that they can invite their own assassination.

This is what happens when God is not at the center of our lives and of our affairs. This is what happens when we would just depend on ourselves. We would just be left to our own devices. We could not see the big picture nor listen and consider the positions of others. And we easily could degenerate to chaos.

This was what some observ-ers said about the violent riots that erupted in London recently. They said it is not so much about politics and economics as it is about Godless people who have abandoned God and taken the law into their hands.

We have to shout, “Foul!”

humanity (even those who may deny or oppose religious faith). In the mind of Paul VI, dialogue “must be readily conducted with all people of good will both in-side and outside the Church.”

Paul VI challenged the “trans-figured,” “transformed,” “re-newed” Church to be a genuine

“community of dialogue.” Only in this manner will the Church today be seen as credible and thus be able to accomplish her mission of integral evangeliza-tion. Indeed, what Paul VI wrote over four decades ago in Eccle-siam Suam remains eminently relevant today.

Living Mission / A4

OpinionBp. Leonardo Y. Medroso, JCD, DD

TidbitsCommentaryJoanna Bogle

Will the mayhem in British cities this week finally convince doubters that family

structure matters?

Fatherless youths run riot

Read daily church news at www.cbcpnews.com

A6 Vol. 15 No. 16August 15 - 28, 2011

CBCP Monitor

Philippines,” he told hundreds of participants during the 129th Su-preme Convention of the Knights of Columbus in Denver, Colorado on August 5.

He appealed for collaboration even as he acknowledged the fi-nancial support of the KC to the Church so as to aggressively push its fight against the reproductive health bill.

With so many foreign lobby groups allegedly financing the legis-lation of the RH measure, Odchimar said the Bishop’s conference has only one international institution it could rely on for help.

And that is, the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus, he said.

The Knights of Columbus have been at the forefront in the fight against measures that threaten the sanctity of life and family.

Church’s greatest challengeOdchimar conceded that the issue

of RH bill has placed the Philippine Church on a crossroads.

“Perhaps never before in the his-tory of our faith in our country that we have been confronted with a greater challenge than today when the Reproductive Bill and Divorce Bill are vigorously pushed in the halls of Congress and the Senate to be enacted into laws,” he told Con-vention participants.

The issue on the RH bill has di-vided the country’s predominantly Catholic population and pitted the Catholic Church against the government that is pushing for its legislation.

He noted that the recent attacks made on the person of some bishops were perceived to have been made “in view of discrediting them and pulling down their moral promi-nence in their crusade against the legislation of the RH Bill.”

“We stand as the last bastion that still holds on to the respect for the culture of life and the unity and indissolubility of marriage in our na-tional legislation,” Odchimar said.

Proponents of the RH measure have also revived lately the discus-sion on Divorce law after Malta, a Catholic nation, approved in a ref-erendum the legislation of divorce, leaving the Philippines outside of Vatican, as the only country without divorce.

“There has been no time in the Philippines Church history when the Catholic Church has been so much challenged, attacked and even maligned than today,” he said.

The bill has been introduced in Congress off and on for the past 15 years but has not gained much support from any sitting president, until now.

Due to this, the Church has been pro-active in the campaign against this anti-life legislation, Odchimar said.

Odchimar explained that the fi-nancial assistance the CBCP acquired from the KC Supreme Council in the fight against RH bill is being used for education, lobby, mobilizations and media.

Support Church various advoca-cies

In the country’s 85 ecclesiastical territories the over 260,000 member knights are active in their pro-life advocacies and promotion of the parish’s pastoral programs.

The Knights of Columbus Frater-nal Association of the Philippines, Inc. (KCFAPI), KC’s insurance arm; and two charitable foundations, KC Philippines and Fr. Willmann Chari-ties, are committed in fulfilling its so-cial responsibilities through various works of charity, relief distribution, building houses for the poor, and providing scholarships for priests, seminarians and lay students.

Aside from the three states of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, the CBCP has always been grateful to the assistance rendered by the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus, Odchimar said.

He noted that the CBCP has been a recipient of financial assistance from KCFAPI through a P10M Seed of Hope Fund aimed to finance priority projects of the bishops’ conference.

And this year, he said, the or-ganization has also partnered with the CBCP in the project of evaluating the implementation of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines.

He also acknowledged the finan-cial support given by the Supreme Council to the CBCP Office on Women for its Women Advocacy program and to CBCPNews, the official news agency of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philip-pines. (CBCPNews)

mustache in people… what is that?” he said.

What is more disappointing, he said, is that CCP officials failed to recognize that Cruz’s installation was not art.

Although he urged CCP officials to be more discerning which artwork they should exhibit, Jose said the con-troversy doesn’t warrant the board’s resignation.

National Artist for Visual Arts Abdul-mari Asia Imao also criticized Cruz for putting a phallic symbol on the face of Christ’s image.

“The use of penis at the front of Jesus

Other Filipino delegates attending the WYD are registered in the name of their respective groups outside of ECY-Philippines.

Reports also said that many Filipino youth living abroad who are attending the WYD, may have registered Philip-pines as their country of origin, which consequently has added to the number of delegates listed under Philippines.

Immersion Filipino pilgrims under ECY-Philip-

pines had arrived in Spain as early as August 10 to participate for the five-day immersion in Coria-Caceres for the “Days in the Diocese” events that ran from Au-gust 11-15.

Together with pilgrims from USA, France, Germany, Brazil and Austra-lia, Filipino delegates were distributed in groups and housed in various host families in parishes within the diocese of Coria-Caceres.

The pilgrims were introduced to the richness of the Spanish culture during their stay through cultural activities, his-torical tours and celebration of prayer and worship together with the local people.

In Alcantara, where delegates from the Dioceses of Bulacan and Pampanga stayed, the pilgrims got to visit the chapel of San Pedro de Alcantara, an important religious personality who was from this town. The site of the chapel is where San Pedro’s house once stood. Adjacent to it are his parent’s house and the parish church of the Our Lady of Almocovar, where he was baptized.

Pinoy delegates from the Diocese of Bacolod assigned in Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion parish in Aliseda spent an hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament followed by small group sharing reflecting on their experience of Spanish culture, as part of their spiritual activity.

Emotional send-off

Their five-day immersion in the dio-cese of Coria-Caceres finished, Filipino delegates left for Madrid August 15 for the start of WYD main celebrations, after an emotional send off from their host families.

Fr. Angelito Santiago, said their group’s DID activities in Mata de Alcantara, which includes hearing Mass in Spanish, watch-ing a bull fight, eating Spanish meal, and many more, is unforgettable on its own, apart from the WYD celebration.

“At first, Filipinos and our host were not able to understand each other be-cause of language barrier but we turn out to relate to each other the one reason for this occasion, that the grace of Christ should be shared with each other,” San-tiago said.

The Spanish locals gave delegates post cards, t-shirts, jewelries and a flag of Spain for souvenirs. In turn, the delegates presented a dance number to the tune of Charice Pempengco’s “Telephone” and two song numbers featuring “The Prayer” and “Thanks to You.”

“We offered a song and dance number to be able to return the goodness and hospitality that showed us. Despite the language barrier and cultural differences, we are able to break the walls and relate to each other,” said Whilssy Candelaria, one of the delegates.

During their last song number, where the Filipino pilgrims gave out small gifts to the parishioners, Spanish locals shed tears and returned the gesture with warm hugs and kisses.

“Words cannot express how I feel right now. Truly we cannot undermine the grace of the Lord,” Candelaria added.

Barry Antonio of Malolos diocese said their host family’s show of hospitality and kindness made them emotional.

“In spite na nawalan kami ng bagahe, naramdaman namin na parang di kami umalis sa Pilipinas dahil ‘yun ugali ng mga Pilipino, yun kagandahan ng ugali ay namana natin sa mga Espanyol. Binigyan nila kami ng damit, for three days kasi wala kaming gamit dahil nga naiwanan ng airline,” Antonio said.

“Nakakamiss yun araw-araw na na-kikita mo sila. Pag-gising mo, andoon sila, pagkain mo andoon sila, pati yun pagtulog mo andoon din sila na nag-aasikaso sa mga pangangailangan namin, kaya umiyak kami nung paalis na dahil sa walang katapusang pamamaalam,” he further said.

WYD celebrationsIn the capital, WYD pilgrims were given

their official WYD backpack that contains the week’s schedule of activities, official ID, map of the city, a pilgrim’s guide, Bible, catechesis book “YouCat”, food stubs, transportation passes and some WYD memorabilia like WYD official beer, t-shirt, hat and fan.

Aside from the main WYD events that include catechesis sessions, welcoming the pope, and other spiritual exercises, the week-long celebration also offers WYD pilgrims the chance to participate in cultural programs that include watch-ing plays, visit to museums and touring historical sights in Madrid.

The celebration will culminate with an overnight vigil with the Pope at Cuatro Vientos Aerodrome on August 20 and an early morning Mass on August 21.

Year of the youthFor the Filipino youth participating in

the WYD celebrations, the event is pro-foundly meaningful as it coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Episcopal Commission on Youth and the procla-mation of 2011 as the “CBCP Year of the Youth” by the Catholic Bishops Confer-ence of the Philippines (CBCP).

Bishop Nereo Odchimar, in a pastoral letter addressed to the young people lauded the ECY on the great progress it has made in youth ministry even as he acknowledged that there is still much to be done, especially in reaching out to those who are “still out-side the reach of the Church.”

He urged for integral formation for those involved in youth ministry as well as to pursue programs that would address various issues related to spiritual, moral and social development.

Odchimar lauded the youth’s involve-ment in the various mission of the Church saying that through their God-given tal-ents young people can make a difference in society and in the world.

He also appealed on various sectors in the Church and society to make this year of the youth significant to the young by providing them a “meaningful and fruit-ful” existence. (with reports from Kris Bayos and Jandel Posion)

Christ is a grave matter. I am a Muslim (yet) I know my religious parameters,” Imao said.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), through its vice president Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, said there is a limit to freedom of expression.

“We hold that no human freedom is absolute. Human freedom is a gift of God and has corresponding responsi-bilities to the moral law of God; to the rights of others; and to the common good,” said Palma.

The Church official also called on legislators to craft a law on the freedom

of expression and its moral limits. “We respectfully suggest that craft-

ing of a law that covers freedom of expression through art include the corresponding responsibilities for the exercise of human freedom,” he said.

Palma also clarified that it is only Cruz’s Poleteismo that the Church is condemning and not the artist.

“In the same way that we condemn sinful acts but do not condemn the sinner, we condemn such artistic por-trayal as objectively immoral; but we do not necessarily condemn the person or the artist who may not be aware of

the objective immorality of his action,” he said.

The art installation that showed de-faced Catholic religious images has set off an uproar not just among Catholics but even from other Christian denomi-nations.

Cruz’s work is part of a group ex-hibit titled ‘Kulo” that was launched last July 17 and featured the works of 32 artists.

Critics said it was only Cruz’s instal-lation that they found offensive but the CCP decided to closed down the entire exhibit last August 9.

The Senate education, arts, and

culture committee’s inquiry into the controversy was aimed to determine whether the CCP violated any law for allowing the exhibit.

Present during the hearing were of-ficials of the CCP led by its chairman Emily Abrera and president Raul Su-nico, who were asked by some senators to resign amid the controversy.

Also present were national artist for visual arts Dr. Abdulmari Asia Mao, and UP College of Law dean Raul Pan-galangan.

The senate committee said an invitation was sent to Cruz to attend the hearing but he was a no-show. (CBCPNews)

Local News Archbishop Antonio Ledesma

CBCP official urges faithful to stand up for lifeA RANKING Catholic Church official urged the faithful to de-fend the sanctity of human life now that the reproductive health bill is one of the Aquino adminis-tration’s priority measures.

Filipinos must oppose mea-sures that go against the basic values of life and marriage, said Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, vice president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Phil-ippines (CBCP).

“I personally would like to exhort the many people who be-lieve in the cause of the Lord, the values that the Gospel preaches, and the stand that we have been defending through these months to rally to this cause,” he said.

The people, especially if they are Catholics, he said, must strongly fight the bill “if indeed

they believe that this is what Christianity asks of us and to believe that our efforts would be rewarded.”

President Benigno Aquino III asked lawmakers to give priority to the passage of the RH bill and 12 other measures in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) Tuesday.

During the first LEDAC meet-ing this year, the controversial birth control measure was not included in the agenda causing dismay among the pro-RH bill lobby groups.

The Catholic hierarchy op-poses the RH bill which requires government to guarantee wide access to reproductive health care services, methods, devices, and supplies to the people.

UST slams artist Mideo Cruz

Poleteismo / A1

KC / A1

WYD / A1

The bill also pushes the use of “modern” methods of family planning, including condoms, birth control pills, intra-uterine devices (IUDs), and injectables.

The Church only accepts natu-ral methods of family planning.

“I am saddened upon learning that RH bill is one of the priori-ties submitted in Congress,” said Palma. “However, I trust our congressmen especially from Cebu that they will be there to defend our stand for life, for God and of course for the sanctity of marriage.”

“We believe that this is a long battle and we trust that with people of goodwill and with God blessing our efforts, the sanctity of human life and mar-riage would prevail,” he said. (CBCPNews)

Welcome Mass for new nuncio set on August 19THE traditional Mass welcoming new Papal nuncio Archbishop Guiseppe Pinto to the country will be at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros on August 19.

The 6:00 p.m. liturgical celebration will be attended by members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines led by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and several priests.

Guiseppe arrived in Manila last July 15 to formally assume his post replac-ing Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams who has been moved to Greece.

A native of Bari, Italy, Pinto was born on May 26, 1952. He was ordained priest on April 1, 1978. He has a doctorate in Canon Law and is fluent in Italian, French, English and Spanish.

The papal envoy entered the Diplo-matic Service of the Holy See on May 1, 1984, and has served successively in Papua New Guinea, Argentina and the Secretariat of State in Vatican City.

He also served as apostolic nuncio to Senegal, Cape Verde, Mali and Guinea-Bissau and was assigned Apostolic Del-egate to Mauritania. Before coming to the Philippines he was apostolic nuncio in Chile since 2007. (CBCPNews)

THE University of Santo Tomas (UST) has disowned controversial artist Mideo Cruz as an alumnus of the Catholic institution.

UST vice rector Pablo Tiong criticized Cruz for dragging the university into the controversy as triggered by his art installation of religious symbols and phallic objects.

Cruz is among the 32 artists “from the UST” whose works are featured in the art exhibit titled “Kulo” at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

“It’s been confirmed that Mideo Cruz is an undergraduate of UST. That’s why we cannot sanction him,” Tiong told Catholic Church-run Radyo Veritas.

The UST official also condemned Cruz’s pieces and described him as an “unprofessional artist.”

“The University as an academic community and as a Catholic institu-tion would also like to express that it is denouncing the sacrilegious or religious offensive art works included in the exhibit and all other artwork of similar

nature,” Tiong said.“Moreover the said sacrilegious or reli-

giously offensive artworks are nothing but a kind of artworks expected and or produced by unprofessional artist,” he added.

Tiong said that the UST community is also supportive of filing a charges or complaint against Cruz.

“Yes, the UST supports the filing of a case,” he said. “As of now, we cannot sanction Cruz. We will have our own move but we will be waiting for the right time.” (CBCPNews)

Charter / A1

will focus only on the economic provisions and not the political aspect of the Constitution.

In the past, the Catholic bishops’ leadership had repeatedly rejected Charter Change moves saying it is best done after the 2010 elections so as to remove doubts that then elected officials wanted to extend their term and/or perpetuate themselves in power.

The bishops had also long-preferred the use of Constitutional Convention over other methods such as Congress acting as a Constituent Assembly. (CBCPNews)

© R

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Archbishop Jose Palma

A7Vol. 15 No. 17August 15 - 28, 2011

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issue,” said Jumoad.On Thursday, former North

Cotabato Gov. Emmanuel Piñol questioned the Aquino adminis-tration’s act of negotiating with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front regarding the creation of a “sub-state”.

This was after MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal ad-mitted that the establishment of a Bangsamoro sub-state was a “re-frame” of the MOA-AD.

Piñol said it is unacceptable how a controversial agreement is now being used to pave the way for a new peace pact with the MILF.

Jumoad, then, called on the Aquino government and the MILF to avoid a repeat of the problems that surrounded the MOA-AD.

The public and all the stake-holders, he said, should not be left in the dark on the would-be negotiations between the two parties.

“This issue must be dis-cussed and brought to the village-level. Consultations must be exhaustive. It should not be done in a hurry as a small mistake may result in a life-long regret,” said Jumoad. (CBCPNews)

gust 21 to 28 in the Archdiocese of Manila.

“As Church we will kneel be-fore our loving God to pray and seek reparation for this public sin,” he said.

The CCP has since closed down the gallery where the ex-hibit was featured following the protests from various Christian groups.

Catholic lay organizations, meanwhile, opposed calls made by the faculty members of the University of the Philippines (UP) for the CCP to re-open to the public Cruz’s art installation.

Atty. Jo Imbong of St. Thomas

More Society said they do not agree to claims that the CCP should maintain autonomy by continuing to showcase the con-troversial “Kulo” exhibit.

“CCP is not autonomous. Its mandate is prescribed by law. Therefore, it has a mandate under the law, which is to foster positive cultural values. It’s a government agency,” she said.

“If that would be abused… they are accountable to the Fili-pino people,” said Imbong, the lawyer of Christian groups who recently sued Cruz and CCP. (CBCPNews)

Diocesan News

Briefing

Cebu prelate holds dialogue with urban poor

Cebu passes anti-RH bill resolution

CEBU City—The Cebu Provin-cial Board unanimously passed on August 8 a resolution oppos-ing the Reproductive Health (RH) bill pending in Congress after being briefed on the pros and cons of the controversial piece of legislation.

The resolution was introduced by Board Member Sergio Res-tauro, chairman of the Provin-cial Board (PB) Committee on Health, but co-sponsored by all members on a 16-0 vote.

The PB action supported the stand of Cebu Governor Gwen-dolyn Garcia and the nine Ce-buano solons who are against the proposed bill.

Restauro cited economic, health and legal perspectives in explaining why there is neither wisdom nor legal support for the RH bill.

He said the government will be spending billions of pesos through the years in procuring condoms and other contracep-tives instead of allocating the money for more essential and suitable projects, such as hous-

ing, medicines and education, if such measure were to be enacted into law.

A five percent failure rate means that five percent of the couples using a particular con-traceptive method will be preg-nant at the end of the year, Restauro said.

He added that birth control drugs and devices also give a false sense of security, leading to risky sexual behavior and there-by resulting in more unplanned pregnancies and, inadvertently, more abortions.

Restauro explained that im-proved access to basic health care, nutrition, medicines and technology—not contracep-tives—are the key to reducing and eliminating maternal mor-tality and morbidity.

The bill will result in the death of thousands of Filipino babies from abortifacient contracep-tives and pave the way for the acceptance of other methods of abortion, he added.

“The RH Bill contains provi-sions which are contrary to the

teachings of the Church on faith and morals and even of pertinent provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution,” he pointed out.

Restauro also cited that the measure violates most of the Ten Commandments because it promotes greed and lust.

The PB earlier invited speakers who explained to the members both sides of the issue before coming out with an official stand.

Two weeks ago, during its regular session, the Board in-vited two speakers to present opposing views on the contro-versial bill. The group Catholics 4RH, which also filled the ses-sion gallery with its supporters, presented its views.

On the anti-RH side, the sole presentor was Dr. Rene Josef Bul-lecer, Country Director of Human Life International (HLI) Pilipinas, who made a thorough discussion especially on the history of the RH bill, the population control agenda, and the untold evils of the legislative measure. (John Luke Evangelista)

CEBU City―Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma held a dialogue recently with the urban poor and other marginalized sec-tors at Pasil Sports Complex, this city.

Urban poor leaders brought to Palma’s attention the plight of workers, tricycle drivers and families threatened by de-molition.

Prior to the dialogue, Palma visited the creek side of Pasil where families are threatened of eviction.

Socrates Rota, President of Panaghug-pong- Kadamay Cebu, shared during the dialogue that many urban poor commu-nities in Cebu threatened by demolitions were not given proper relocation sites.

Jerito Pristin, whose family will be affected by the demolition, lamented

that “sa panahon sa eleksyon, humot kaayo mi; sa panahon sa demolisyon, baho kaayo mi (during elections, we are praised but during demolitions, we are ridiculed).

Asking the archbishop for help, he said they have nowhere to go if their house is demolished, because they were not given a site where to relocate.

Angelie Maranga, a resident of Pasil, said that they will stay and remain in the area, if not given a proper reloca-tion site.

Palma responded that the dialogue between the Church and the urban poor should continue to be able to see the dif-ferent aspects of the problem and find a solution.

He said it is the right of those whose houses will be demolished to be given a proper relocation site.

Ritchie Gutierrez, a representative from the Tagunol Creek Side Association (TACSUPO), disclosed that their houses were “demolished without the Mayor’s order, financial assistance and proper re-location site.” He said they were evicted without given due process by the Cebu government.

For his part, Simon Baruc, Jr. of Prog-ress said that workers who support the company’s union are “terminated and suspended without proper proce-dures”.

Regarding the problem of the work-ers, Palma said that “it’s about time for

a conference of church people, business, and labor.”

Marcelino Omo, the president of PACTODA-Mandaue, an association of tricycle drivers, revealed that about 10,000 tricycle drivers from Mandaue will be out of jobs when the government will phase out the tricycles.

He also disclosed that most of the tricycle drivers were given “fake fran-chises” that resulted to the impounding of their vehicles, and left them without work.

Belinda Allere, chairperson of Cebu Urban Poor Women’s League, requested the archbishop to assign priests to assist each local organization.

Palma responded positively to the

request since the priests are under his authority in the Church.

The archbishop assured the urban poor that their concerns will be brought for discussion during the meeting of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines this week.

Palma, who celebrated a Mass prior to the dialogue, told the faithful in his homily “to accept the reality that this is an imperfect world”, like the big waves which crashed the boat of Jesus and the twelve apostles at sea.

He said that the “Church should con-tinue the works of Christ” even as he assured the faithful that the message of the Sunday Gospel is “Do not fear” since “God is with us”. (CBCPNews)

Mati diocese hosts DADITAMA Divine Mercy conventionMATI City―Around 2,500 delegates attended the 4th DA-DITAMA Divine Mercy Convention held at the Shrine and Parish Church of the Divine Mercy last August 6, in Madang, this city. With the theme “Witnessing to the Divine Mercy Devotion and Redefining our Commitment,” the event was highlighted by prayers and lectures by various speakers like Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla. (Sr. Marietta Alo)

CFC-FFL top leader warns of new threats to family, lifeSAN PABLO City―Frank Padilla, Servant-General of the Couple for Christ Foundation for Family and Life, has warned of new threats to the solidarity of family in the face of spreading secularism in society and increasing moral relativism. He mentioned relativistic mindset and neo-atheism as present-day threats to family and life apart from the reproductive health bill, homosexuality, same sex partnerships, divorce and radical feminism. In a gathering on August 5 in Calamba City, he told top leaders of the family renewal group of Laguna to conduct a more vigor-ous evangelization program and stronger orientation to the teachings of the Church and fidelity to the Magisterium. (George Dee)

Cory’s failure on land reform should not be repeated—farmworkers MANILA—The Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) in a statement, urged President Benigno C. Aquino III not to commit the same mistakes that his mother, Corazon C. Aquino had committed in connection with the Hacienda Luisita dispute. The 6,453 hectare sugar estate owned and operated by the Cojuangcos in Tarlac, had been the subject of controversy as the family of the current chief executive had failed to act on the dispute involving the Hacienda Luisita, Inc. management (headed by Cory Aquino’s brother, Jose Jr.) and the 6000 farm-workers who have tilled the lands for the Cojuangcos for more than half a century. (Noel Sales Barcelona)

Quality education will improve lives of IPs, MuslimsMALAYBALAY City—Access to quality education for the indigenous peoples and Muslims in the Southern Philippines, coupled with a strong faith in God, will bring peace to con-flict ridden Mindanao. Datu Mitocur Macabando, director of National Commission on Muslim Filipinos-Caraga Region (NCMF-13) said that only through quality education can Muslims and IPs, especially in Mindanao, uplift their lives and live as equals with others. He made the statement dur-ing the launching on June 22 of the Philippines’ Response to Indigenous Peoples and Muslim Education (PRIME) Program-Region X. (Bong D. Fabe)

Godly values can avert contraceptive mentality among couples―NFP trainorSAN PABLO City―Right values and proper disposition to accept the teachings of the Church on the regulation of birth are sure ways to make the natural family planning method to succeed, a pioneer NFP trainor said. “Nay” Feling Por-suelo warned that a contraceptive mentality is possible even when the couple is using natural methods if there is no cor-rect and proper disposition to embrace the core teaching of Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul Vl’s trailblazing and encyclical on the Regulation of Birth. But a family planning rooted in the Godly values imbued by marital intimacy which accept that every child is a divine gift will avert any contraceptive mentality, she said. (George Dee)

Bishop, parishioners, plant trees on Mt. Apo

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Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer, Country Director of Human Life International (HLI) Pilipinas, discusses during a session of the Cebu Provincial Board the popula-tion control agenda behind the RH Bill.

DIGOS, Davao del Sur― Parish-ioners of three parishes in Digos diocese planted around 500 trees on the slopes of Mt. Apo recently to mark the closing of the diocese’s tree planting activ-ity for 2011.

On July 27, some 48 parishio-ners of Our Lady of Mary Media-trix, San Isidro and Kapatagan, Davao del Sur braved the cold morning air, took the long trek up the slopes of the country’s highest peak and brought plant-ing tools and materials for the planting activity.

The tree planting was also a follow-through of the Tree-Growing Program that began last February 9. The February event saw the s imultane-ous planting of 5,000 tree seedlings by the diocese’s 20 parishes.

The events were in consonance with the Alay Kapwa theme for 2011 that spoke of mutual love for fellowmen and all of God’s creation.

Sixty-year old Digos Bishop Guillermo dela Vega Afable planted the first seedling during

the day-long event.Fr. Allan Joie Nunez, Social

Action Center director led the prayers while lay leader Zacarias Aweng briefed the participants on the importance of their tree planting activities and its rel-evance to mitigating the effects of climate change.

Frs. Rex Tapales, Nestie Alerta and Tony Sila of Our Lady of Mt. Apo, San Isidro parishes and the Chancellor’s Office of the Diocese acted as group leaders. Several reli-gious women, church workers

and youth leaders joined the activity.

The diocese targets to plant more than 5,000 seedlings. Or-ganizers said they will not just plant trees but will take care of the seedlings and nurture them for the next three years.

The Basic Ecclesial Commu-nities in each parish will work closely with the Program Doc-umentation and Monitoring section of the Diocesan Social Action Center for the program’s success. (Sr. Lucilyn Castillano/Melo M. Acuna)

Don Bosco priest seeks reforms for Mindanao vocational schoolsMATI, Davao Oriental―A priest of Don Bosco has asked government leaders to standardize the budget allocation for govern-ment technical school and other private vo-cational institutions in Mindanao to further the educational opportunities of the poor sectors of society.

Fr. Leonides “Onie” Baclay, director of the Don Bosco Training Center (DBTC) in Mati City, recommended to lawmakers and President Benigno Aquino to “regularize the budget allocation for TESDA and voctech institutions for the poor and the less-privi-leged” during a recent development summit held in General Santos City.

According to the priest youth work-ers should be paid just compensation for their work as a matter of instilling honesty.

Baclay stressed a link between peace and the giving of a reasonable wage to able youth workers as a justly paid worker will refrain from stealing or committing crimes.

He underscored the importance of value

formation for the youth to mold them into becoming law-abiding and trustworthy citizens.

“We are continuing the vision of our founder, St. John Bosco by focusing on the best quality possible of techvoc education and training, including the modern internet hand in hand with human-christian values in order to form youth that are God-fearing and honest citizens,” he said.

Because of the high quality training and formation they received from school, Don Bosco graduates are preferred by business companies and institutions.

Baclay represented the Davao Oriental Private Technical Institutions Association (DOPTIA) and Davao Oriental during the 19th Human Resource Skills Development Summit jointly organized by the Technical Education and Skills Development Author-ity (TESDA) and the Mindanao Techni-cal Vocational Education and Training (MinTVET) Association at the KCC Mall in Catolico Ave., General Santos City last

July 20-22.Mr. Ariel Hernandez, executive direc-

tor of the Katilingbanong Pamahandi sa Mindanao Foundation, also spoke during the summit about the Role of Technical Vocational Institutions in Building Peace in Mindanao and discussed specific concerns such as employment guide for college and voctech students, availability of jobs, and skills mismatch.

Themed “Technopreneurship: New Ap-proaches, New Technologies, Creating Jobs, Improving Lives”, the three-day meeting sought to introduce reforms to make TVET more relevant, more efficient and more ac-cessible to the youth.

A total of 470 participants from Mindanao region attended the summit.

SOCCKSARGEN had the largest del-egation with 151. Davao Oriental had 75 participants, Zamboanga peninsula, 75; Northern Mindanao had 70; Caraga 59; and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), 39. (CBCPNews)

Vol. 15 No. 17August 15 - 28, 2011

CBCP MonitorA8 People, Facts & Places

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Church leaders, workers confab to advance labor rights

MarkingsCELEBRATED. Silver jubilee of religious profession of vows of Sr. Nora O. Alialy, Sr. Vivian S. dela Cruz, Sr. Victoria D. Dichoso, Sr. Aurelia D. Fernandez, Sr. Madeline L. Mangui, Sr. Marieta D. Palmero, Sr. Aida E. Pangilinan, Sr. Teodora F. Porciuncula, Sr. Ma. Crispina L. Roda and Sr. Ma. Lourdes R. Salamat; among the Congregation of the Missionary Catechists of St. Therese of the Infant Jesus. His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu led the Eucharistic Celebra-tion on August 12, 2011 at the Alfredo Obviar Hall, MCST compound, Tayabas, Quezon.

LAUNCHED. The Vincentians have published a supplementary reading material on the life of and works of St. Vincent the Paul in comic form. The reading material, titled “Enteng” is the first-ever Tagalog comics on the life of the universal patron saint of all charitable works and institutions. It tells of the stories of four youngsters who were inspired by the missionary zeal of the Vincentian priests and brothers who followed the footsteps of their founder, St. Vincent. Fr. Frank Vargas, president of St. Vincent de Paul Foundation (SVPF) said the comic book is an inspiring read not only for the young but even for adults. The comic book is authored by Renato C. Vibiesca, an award-winning story-

writer for several publications, including the popular Gospel Comics Philippines, and illustrated by Almar Denso, also a known cartoonist of GASI comics fleet. Produced by St. Vincent de Paul Foundation (SVPF), the 34-page comics is approved by the Adamson University’s Textbook Committee as a complementary reading material for all high school and college students. Proceeds of the comics sales would go to the formation of deserving seminarians in three Vincentian seminaries in the country—De Paul House Seminary and St. Vincent Seminary in Tandang Sora, Quezon City; Vincentian Novitiate House in Trece Martires, Cavite.

DIED. Fr. Adonis Narcelles, Jr., a mis-sionary from the Society of the Divine Word in Berlin, died of pancreatic cancer last July 29, 2011. The 40 year-old missionary was parish priest for the past eight years at the Heilig Geist Church in Bayarnalle, a local church frequented by Filipino Catho-lics in Berlin. His Sunday Masses, celebrated in engaging mix of Filipino, English, and German, were popular among Filipinos, Germans and other nationals, according to the Philippine Embassy in Berlin. Fr. Jerry Orbos, director of the SVD Mission Office in the Philippines, said the priest was a talented writer and artist “who did much work for our fellow Filipinos in Germany.” On July 30, Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Cleofe Natividad and other officials joined the Filipino community in bidding farewell to Narcelles in a Mass at the Bayernallee Church. Natividad recalled the close cooperation extended by Narcelles to the Philippine Embassy in Berlin, and his “outstanding” contributions and efforts to unite the Filipino community in Germany. She said the missionary also ably shepherded the pastoral council of his parish and worked closely with the Embassy in its vari-ous projects for Filipinos there. Narcelles, a native of Pozorrubio town in Pangasinan, studied his Theology at the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay and was ordained in Germany in 2003. He was also a news contributor to the CBCPNews.com, the news service of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

CHURCH leaders and labor groups will gather in a national conference in Cebu City next month to advance the needs and welfare of the country’s workers.

Dubbed as Church People-Workers’ Solidarity (CWS), it aims to deepen the church people’s understanding of the workers’ plight, to forge stronger unity, and make concrete action in advancing workers’ rights.

The conference, to be held on Septem-ber 12-15, is also in celebration of the 30th anniversary of Blessed John Paul II’s encyclical Laborem Exercens (Oh Human Work).

The document, published on Septem-ber 14, 1981, declared that the Church is committed to be in solidarity with the workers, to become truly a church of the poor.

It also affirms the dignity of work, the priority of labor over capital, and the pro-motion of workers’ rights over profit.

CWS convenors include labor leaders, faith leaders such as Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, Jaro Auxiliary Bishop Gerar-do Alminaza, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo and ecumenical lead-ers such as Iglesia Filipina Independiente Supreme Bishop Ephraim Fajutagana.

Palma is the incoming president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines while Pabillo chairs the

Guinness cites UST human cross as world’s largest

Center for the handicapped marks 17th anniversary

Dumagat teens join youth forum

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THE human cross formed by 13,266 participants from the Thomasian community on March 9, 2011 has been offi-cially certified by the Guinness World Records as the largest in the world.

Guinness has sent confirma-tion to the University of Sto. Tomas’ Office of Public Affairs (OPA) that the university has indeed won the title for “Largest Human Cross”.

“We are pleased to confirm that you have successfully set the new Guinness World Records title for ‘Largest Human Cross’. Guinness World Records con-gratulates you on your achieve-ment,” Guinness said in its letter dated August 8, 2011.

An official GWR certificate confirming the title was sent by Guinness to UST on August 10.

“The largest human cross was achieved by 13,266 participants at an event organised by the Uni-versity of Santo Tomas (Philip-pines) in Manila, Philippines, on 9 March 2011,” stated the GWR certificate.

Details of the university’s achievement have been entered in the Guinness’ Records Database.

The official announcement is posted at GWR website www.guinnessworldrecords.com. The UST human cross is tagged un-der “Amazing Feats” and “Mass Participation” categories.

The human cross event was held last Ash Wednesday at the university grandstand to emphasize the penitential sig-

nificance of the Lenten season. It was also meant to convey to the world the university’s pro-life stand amidst controversy brought by the reproductive health bill issue.

Dressed in black and white and with crosses on their foreheads, students, faculty members and employees formed a human

cross and stood still in prayerful silence for 15 minutes.

The black and white cross is a symbol of the University’s Cath-olic and Dominican identity.

Norway previously held the record for the world’s largest hu-man cross with 935 participants at the Oslo Opera House on May 2010. (CBCPNews)

THE Handicapped Center Lourdes cel-ebrated its 17th anniversary on August 6, at Caritas Compound in Pandacan, with the blessing of an expanded wing intended for housing male patients.

The celebration started with a Holy Mass and was followed by the blessings of the newly constructed Francis Home and the renewed rehabilitation area led by His Emi-nence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales and Fr. Luke Moortgat, CICM Ph.D., founder and Executive Director of the center.

Francis Home, an expansion of the Handi-capped Center Lourdes, was made possible through the donations of the people from the

City of Hasselt, the Province of Limburg and other private donors in Belgium.

The name “Francis” was derived from Francis Leyssens, who is a strong and com-mitted supporter of the advocacy.

His Excellency Josef Naudts of the Em-bassy of Belgium was present during the celebration representing the sponsors.

Francis Home is the wing designated for male patients. The center has a residential component for the multiple handicapped who were abandoned.

The Day Care is for the multiple handi-capped living with their parents. It also has a physical therapy area for the same people

as well as for poor elderly and people with physical disabilities.

All patients are given free services. They come mainly from the surrounding parishes of San Fernando de Dilao, Sto. Niño Parish, St. Maria Goretti, Sts. Peter and Paul and Our Lady Peñafrancia.

The Lourdes center was founded by Fr. Moortgat on February 11, 1993 upon the request of the late Jaime Cardinal Sin of Manila. The goal is for the multiple handi-capped to receive a minimum of standard of living, an appropriate education and mainly a welcoming home. (Ronalyn R. Regino)

CBCP’s National Secretariat for Social Action—Justice and Peace (Nassa).

CWS aims to propagate the social

teachings of the Church on labor, busi-ness and the economy and contribute in the quest for the improvement of

workers’ conditions.“God’s supreme commandment is

to love God and our neighbor. Thus,

uniting with our marginalized broth-ers and sisters is a Gospel imperative,” Alminaza said.

Garry Martinez of Migrante, a migrant workers’ watchdog, said that the conference is timely amid “worsening conditions of the Filipino workers.”

“Globalization policies such as flexi-bilization of labor, outsourcing and the labor export policy, have widened the gap between the rich and poor,” said Martinez.

“The government has pegged wages at very minimal rate, causing hunger and deepened the misery of the mar-ginalized sectors,” he added.

Other CWS convenors are Associa-tion of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP) Co-Chairs Fr. Quirico Pedregosa Jr. and Sr. Mary John Mananzan; National Council of Churches in the Philip-pines; Fr. Jose Dizon of the Workers Assistance Center; Msgr. Rommel Kintanar of the Visayas Clergy Discernment Group and Msgr. Rey Manuel Monsanto of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro.

CWS is also convened by union lead-ers, workers’ organizations and other groups advocating for workers’ rights. (CBCPNews)

THREE Dumagat youth were among the young people who attended the Love Rocks! Youth Forum last July 23 at the KB Gym in Malolos, Bulacan.

Delio De Guzman, Girlie Ra-pada and Alberto Doroteo of a Dumagat tribe living in Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan were among the 650 youth who participated the youth forum.

Unlike most of the crowd who are active in the diocesan youth ministry or in their organization, it was the first time the three teenagers experienced being with many young people their age in a setting other than the school set-up.

The Love Rocks! Forum is one of the activities of the CBCP Year of the Youth (CBCP-YOTY), which aims to “provide oppor-tunities for personal growth” to all young Filipinos, regardless of religious beliefs or class.

This is also the reason why the diocesan youth ministry of Malolos took special efforts to invite youth from the indigenous peoples of Central Luzon.

It can also be noted that the Aetas are helping the diocesan

youth of Cabanatuan plant trees for the CBCP -YOTY’s 1 Million Trees Project.

Catholic school ‘dream’

When asked, the three youth said that they joined the youth forum to be able to establish friendship and to understand other young people from other walks of life.

De Guzman, the ‘kuya’ of the group, said that they were sur-prised it was such a big event with hundreds of youth attending. They originally thought it would

be a small group activity.De Guzman explained that

since they are studying in a Catholic school, they were eager to attend the event.

“Hindi ko po alam talaga kung paano na-introduce sa amin ang Catholicism pero pangarap kong makapag-aral sa isang Catholic school,” he shared.

De Guzman said that when Fr. Egai De Jesus of the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish gave him the opportunity to be a scholar in a Catholic school, he grabbed it right away.

20 Dumagat scholarsDe Guzman, Rapada and

Doroteo have been scholars at the St. Bernadette Parochial School since 2003. At present, they belong to the 3rd batch of 20 Dumagat scholars. The Dumagats who are taking up their undergraduate stud-ies are enrolled in education courses so that they can be-come teachers.

De Guzman shared that if he had not been given the chance to study he would probably still be too shy to talk to other people and would not be of help to his tribesmen.

All the Dumagat scholars wanted to join the Love Rocks! Youth forum, but some of them had classes during the event. Transportation was also diffi-cult. In the end, only three were chosen to represent the scholars. But De Guzman, Rapada and Doroteo promised to share their experiences to the rest who were unable to attend.

The next Love Rocks! Youth forum will be hosted by the diocese of Naval on October 29. (Jandel Posion)

Religious group holds orientation course on IP ministryTHE Indigenous Peoples Desk of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Phil-ippines (AMRSP–IP) has con-ducted a short course for church workers involved with indig-enous communities.

This is in response to the clam-or of the Religious Church work-ers for an orientation course on IP work.

The course was held on July 11-21 at the Benedictine Retreat House in Davao City, but an earlier roll-out was conducted in Luzon on May 16-26 in the con-vent of the Mission Congrega-tion of the Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS), in Quezon City.

Participated in by a total of 41 participants from 15 congrega-tions, the ten-day course aimed to provide religious church

workers assigned in IP areas with basic knowledge and skills on IP work to become effective partners of IP communities.

The event was in partnership with the Mission Congregation of the Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) and Mindanawon Initia-tives for Cultural Dialogue, and with financial support from the Assisi Development Founda-tion.

A newly-installed desk of the AMRSP, the Indigenous Peoples Desk was established in 2009.

It will hold its 4th Annual As-sembly on September 10-12, 2011 in Naujan, Mindoro Oriental.

Religious workers in various parts of the country working in IP communities will be par-ticipating in this gathering. (Kate Laceda)

B1Vol. 15 No. 17August 15 - 28, 2011

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Pastoral Concerns

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Dear People of God in the Philippines,most especially the youth,

“God has given me the grace of pas-sionately loving the youth”1

With the desire to make these words of Blessed John Paul II our own, we, your Bishops, cordially greet you in this CBCP Year of the Youth! May God’s love, ever fresh, ever young, be with you all, in this special time of grace and blessing!2

Through this pastoral letter, we want to reach out to you, the Filipino youth, and communicate to you our thoughts and sentiments regarding this most blessed opportunity, this grace-filled time. Perhaps the one thing which some of you cannot seem to get enough of, is TIME—you being always in a hurry and on the go, multi-tasking left and right, doing a lot of things, and yet feeling as if you never have enough time in your hands. God, instead, is the One beyond time: Eternal, timeless, unchanging. But He entered into our time, thereby sanctifying it. In God, chronos3 thus becomes kairos4. As the CBCP Year of the Youth, the year 2011 becomes indeed a special time, a time of grace. Fortuitously and fortunately, the year 2011 is also the 25th Anniversary of the Episcopal Commis-sion on Youth (ECY)5, the commission in our Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) directly attending to you and your concerns; its silver jubilee served as a primary motivation for us to declare this year as Year of the Youth. Like more than a decade ago with the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, this year also promises abundant blessings for you, dear young people. But before we go on any further, may we also call out to all other agents and sectors in our church and nation: Parents (first and foremost), govern-ment officials, educators, those in civil society and media, and other leaders and stakeholders in the welfare of the youth6. Join us in this CBCP Year of the Youth! Link up with us as we reach out to our young people and make this year relevant and meaningful to them and for them. More importantly, let us help the young make their lives meaningful and fruitful not only for tomorrow, but even in the here and now7. For what they can do or contribute to make a better tomorrow, they can very well do and contribute to make a better today!

A threefold objective The fundamental objectives of the CBCP Year of the Youth are to raise awareness about young people, and to promote a pastoral ministry to, with, for and by them. These we hope to achieve with the help of this “triple gaze”— First, to look back at the past (paglin-gon): We want to review and assess the Church’s role as sower, nurturer and harvester of the faith to the young8. At the same time, we want to revisit the history of our youth ministry9, through the eyes of the ECY and its relationship with the youth ministries of the regions, dioceses and the member-organizations of the Federation of National Youth Organizations (FNYO). Secondly, to focus on the present (pagdiriwang): We want to appreci-ate our young people as a gift to the Church, celebrating their protagonism, their boundless creativity and youthful enthusiasm. We want to give them prior-ity and preference in our ecclesial life10,

recognizing the unique contribution of youth ministry to the Church. We also want to affirm the document we have, KA-LAKBAY: the Directory for Catholic Youth Ministry in the Philippines, for the contribution it is making to various levels of our youth ministry. And lastly, to gaze into the future (pagtanaw): We aim at “putting out into the deep”11 of youth ministry as envisioned by KA-LAKBAY, while em-powering and accompanying the young to become more responsibly involved in the transformation of the Church and society, in the protection of life and the whole of creation, and in the mission-ary activity12 as leading characters in evangelization13. With this “triple gaze”, we hope to cover the many different concerns and needs in the lives of our youth. At the same time, we commit ourselves to spearhead a youth ministry that is truly alive and pro-active. But do we give a particular emphasis on the young and on youth ministry simply because it is their special year this 2011? Where do we draw the reason for such a special gaze on the young? Underlying all this is our outlook on the young people themselves, after the manner of God’s preferential love for them.

God’s love and attention for the young The loving attention given to youth is but right and proper. More than just an interest in what we can do or contribute, we see something more in this “preferential option for youth”14. We realize that it is actually a Godlike predilection for the “little ones”, a spe-cial love for them who occupy a special place in His heart, something that has been consistently affirmed ever since by the history of our forebears in the faith, starting from the Old Testament. There we observe an unbroken pat-tern of God’s loving preference for the younger one, who more often than not is also the weaker, the disadvantaged one: Abel, Isaac, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, Josiah, Jeremiah, Ruth, Judith, Esther, the seven Maccabean brothers, and many others. All these stories attain their marvelous climax in God’s radical option of choosing Mary to be the mother of His Only-Begotten Son Jesus. And in response, she, who in the eyes of her society was doubly disadvantaged for being a woman and for being young, nevertheless heroically offered her lov-ing and generous “Fiat”15. For us today, this preferential option for the young translates into what has been enshrined in the Decrees of the Sec-ond Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II): That “youth ministry should be assured of the fullest attention and

highest priority in every way by all in the Church”16. We reiterate this commit-ment with even greater conviction; now as before, we do not want it to remain merely on paper; we renew it, in fact, with greater dedication and commit-ment. Even as we humbly acknowledge that we have failed in living up to this commitment, we nevertheless trust that this CBCP Year of the Youth will provide a new impetus and grace from above to pursue our desire as one Church, in our ecclesial life and through our various ministries17, to give a preferential option for our young people.

A sense of urgency—the example of Jesus There is urgency behind this commit-ment to the young. There is no denying the existence of sinister forces out there to exploit our youth18. The forces of evil are working double time, as it were, to compete for the souls of the young, to corrupt and abuse them. To such un-scrupulous, malicious individuals and groups, let these very words of our Lord Jesus Christ himself be a warning: “[I]t would be better for anyone who leads astray one of these little ones who believe in me, to be drowned by a millstone around his neck, in the depths of the

sea”19. However, it might have also hap-pened that, having taken for granted and forgotten the example of our Lord, and having lost sight of him in our mission to the young, we might have also—although perhaps inadvertently (hindi sinasadya)—allowed ourselves to be co-opted by evil in the corruption of the young and the little ones. And we humbly repent of our shortcomings and failures, and ask for forgiveness, resolv-ing as we do to purify our motives and embark on a renewed ministry for and with the young. We add in this resolve to repudiate any form of abuse that may have hurt these little ones. In the same vein, we strongly reject the convenient apathy paralyzing us into thinking that all is well in the youth ministry and with our young people when in fact it is hardly true20. Let us bear in mind that the same Lord who condemned those who “cause one of these little ones… to sin” also lovingly welcomed the little children21 and cast a loving gaze upon the rich young man22. He will sustain us with his grace, every day and always. For the youth ministry we carry out is difficult and challeng-ing. Just like any other ministry in the Church, it has its attendant difficulties and problems, but it is also not without strength, for it is “[t]he love of Christ [that] impels us”23. Thus, we need to focus on our Lord, for “[u]nless the Lord

build the house, they labor in vain who build it”24.

Integral, inter-generational, commu-nitarian youth ministry Here is precisely where we realize the decisive importance of youth ministry, this “branch” of the Church’s overall mission. Convinced of its ever-valid significance and relevance, we consider this all-important service of the Church as the locus for our renewal and com-mitment. We wish to take advantage of it in our efforts and endeavors during this CBCP Year of the Youth. In fact, with the great strides made thus far by the ECY as far as organized structures, programs and activities are concerned, we have several possibilities. We are thankful that we have the mecha-nisms and agencies basically in place25, along with the fundamental awareness in most of us about youth and youth ministry. Thus, many of the countless needs of our young people are met and addressed through this episcopal com-mission. Since its inception way back in 1986, various programs and activities have been carried out under its auspices. More recently the Commission, in coor-dination with the CBCP Media Office, has launched the website YouthPinoy!

(www.youthpinoy.com) as a forum for Catholic youth in the internet. This is an acknowledgment of the important influence that the digital world has on the young today, and a response to the invitation of our recent popes—Blessed John Paul II and Benedict XVI26—to proclaim the Gospel by using these new forms of communication and, as it were, to win the world through the Word27. Grateful too to the youth ministries es-tablished in the dioceses, parishes and other settings around the country, young people in general are aware of, involved in, and dedicated to the mission of the Church—including the necessary com-mitment to the larger realms of society and nation, community and world. But without doubt there is still much room for improvement. The large number of youth still outside the reach of the Church—those who are unaware or have grown indifferent to the faith—remain a deep concern for us28. As regards youth ministry, there is the ever-present danger of reducing it into mere activities and events29. The integral formation of our young people30, including those from the grassroots and the marginalized, is of prime importance in the objectives of our youth ministry. We acknowledge that youth ministry alone cannot do this; hence, the need for an integral and comprehensive ministry, with a developmental forma-tion program for the youth culminating

unto servant-leadership31. Moreover, our youth ministry should necessarily include various programs and efforts to combat ignorance and dishonesty, to generate opportunities for education and employment, to advocate for victims of abuse and exploitation, and to pro-mote care of the environment and active participation in public governance. The person, functions, and tasks of the youth minister should also increasingly gain acceptance and recognition as that of a truly professional ministry. This means that youth ministers should have a mandate from the community32, and that they be continuously empowered by the necessary formation, professional qualification and adequate financial compensation proper to their work33. It is in our youth ministry therefore where various people—the volunteer and the professional, the clergy and the laity, the adult mentors and the young people themselves, the parents and their children, and finally the different genera-tions of persons—all happily meet and merge. The result is a communitarian34, inter-generational35 and integrated36

youth ministry—never the elite turf of a few people left on their own, but always a community of disciples in communion and mission.

Guided by Ka-lakbay and open to the larger context For all this, we consider the 2004 publication of KA-LAKBAY, the Direc-tory for Catholic Youth Ministry in the Philippines, as a landmark event in our communal journey. We continue to heed the principles and directions it has set for us. In particular, we wholeheartedly share the vision it has charted for our dis-tinctly Filipino Catholic youth ministry. Acknowledging that there is still much to be done and carried out, we commit to continue in our study and use of this most helpful Church document, and to be guided by its recommendations. We further look forward to the “YouCat” (Youth Catechesis) which Pope Benedict XVI will give to all the World Youth Day 2011 pilgrims in Madrid. This docu-ment, derived from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, but with a “youthful” slant, so to speak, will certainly be a great help in the young people’s growth in their knowledge, love and following of Jesus Christ. Moreover, we also wish to go beyond our own circles, to “think out of the box” and reach out to other youth who may not necessarily be within the usual net-work of the ECY37. While acknowledging present efforts of special ministries, often involving other episcopal commissions for which we are grateful to these offices, such as those for children of overseas workers, youths in areas of conflict and war, or minors in conflict with the law, there certainly remains much more to be done. Strengthening inter-ministerial collaboration38, whether on the national or on the diocesan and parish levels, becomes an imperative not only because it is needed but also more importantly since we are one Church. We also need to team up with government and non-government youth organizations; after all, more often than not, we share the same goals and objectives with them. Finally, ecumenical and inter-faith dia-logue should also be actively pursued in our youth ministry. It is in this spirit of unity and soli-darity, of openness and collaboration, and of networking and synergy, that we envision even greater strides in our

Young People: Stand firm in Christ!

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By Fr. Jaime Blanco Acha-coso, J.C.D.

I have heard that the Church is engaged in an information cam-paign—catechesis was the word our Parish Priest used—to prepare for the introduction of a new English translation of the Roman Missal. I cannot help but wonder at all the excitement about the Roman Missal. In a larger context, why so much fuss about the liturgy? Is it really that important?

AFTER a brief explanation of what the liturgy is and the exis-tence of a liturgical law properly speaking, let us now delve into the contents of that law. In the second of this three-part article, let us look at the principles un-derlying the whole liturgical law of the Church.

As previously stated, liturgical actions are not private actions but are celebrations of the whole Church—i.e., the People of God united and ordered under the guidance of the bishops. This public character of liturgical actions, as well as their intimate connection with the principles of the Faith, constitute the ratio legis on which is based the exclusive competence of the ecclesiastical authority in the regulation of all matters regarding the liturgy.

1. Principle of Substantial Uni-ty

This principle is premised on the distinction between changeable and unchangeable (immutable) elements of the liturgy: immutable elements are those which depend on the foundational will of Christ—e.g., the substance of the sacra-ments and whatever is more di-rectly related to that substance; changeable elements are those which do not belong or are not directly related to the substance of the sacraments.

The principle is enunciated as follows: “By virtue of its pastoral authority, [the Church] can or-dain what may be useful for the good of the faithful, according to the circumstances, times and places. But it does not have any power to change what pertains to the will of Christ, which is what constitutes the immutable part of the Liturgy.”1 The basis of this principle is three-fold:

1º The liturgy belongs to the pub-lic patrimony of the entire Church, and should therefore be subject to the regulation only of the capital offices. Thus, the Council had categorically declared that “no other person, not even a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority” (SC).

2º The liturgy is the principal fac-tor for ecclesial communion. Thus, any arbitrariness in its celebration implies a rupture of this ecclesial communion and must therefore be avoided. In this regard, there is a lot to be desired in the way that the Holy Mass—as an example—is being celebrated in some par-ishes and, worse, in some reduced gatherings (e.g., closed retreats, marriage encounters).

3º Lex orandi, lex credendi. The liturgy is closely linked to the deposit of faith. Hence, any lax-ity in liturgical discipline is at the same time effect and cause of important dogmatic errors. By way of example, the laxity in the handling of the sacred spe-cies would necessarily lead to an erosion of the faith in the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.

2. Principle of Centralization This reinforces the previous

principle, and is contained in c.838:

—§1. The supervision of the sacred liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, which resides in the Apostolic See and, in accord with the law, the diocesan bishop (c.838, §1).

—§2. It is for the Apostolic See to order the sacred liturgy of the univer-sal Church, to publish the liturgical books, to review their translations into the vernacular languages and to see that liturgical ordinances are faithfully observed everywhere.

Thus, the following are re-served to the Holy See:

1º All that refers to the validity of the sacraments (c.841).

2º All that refers to the licitud of the sacraments, the regulation of which the Holy See has not decentralized to the Episcopal Conferences and to the diocesan Bishops.

3º The edition of liturgical books (c.383, 2).

4º Recognition of versions of liturgical books in the vernacular (c.383, 2).

5º Vigilance over the fulfill-ment of the universal liturgical norms everywhere (c.383, 2).

Hence the long delay in the new English translation of the Roman Missal, since it necessarily had to be subjected to a rigorous review by the Holy See, which on the other hand had rejected several prior attempts by the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL), the official body in charge of making such translations.

3. Principle of Liturgical Elastic-ity: Inculturation

A complementary principle underlies the fact that the rituals in force do not impose uniformity, but rather permits the use of different forms for celebrating, which are expressions of the rich-ness of the liturgy of the Church. They are at the service of the pastoral function of the liturgy of stimulating and increasing the

sense of Christ among the faithful (cf. IGMR, n.313).

A particular application of this principle is what has come to be known as inculturation—i.e., the incidence of the different cultures of peoples in whatever is fitting to better express the inexhaustible riches of Christ, provided that it is compatible with the Gospel and does not contradict ecclesial communion.

A different matter is the exaggerated adaptation of the liturgical norms to more spe-cific and even simply personal circumstances—e.g., not to wear all the vestments for Mass on a warm day—under the guise of a misunderstood principle of contextualization. The Holy See has outlawed such “experimenta-tion, unless it counts with the expressed authorization of the Holy See”. 2

4. Principle of Decentralization The ecclesiology of Vatican II,

which re-emphasized the particu-lar Churches and the dignity of the diocesan Bishops, opened a wide margin for Particular Law in the matter of liturgy. Thus, after establishing the aforementioned principles, the rest of c.838 enu-merates the different competen-cies, corresponding to the need for a certain plurality of liturgical forms, in accordance with the dif-ferent mentalities and traditions of different peoples (cf. SC, 37-39). This is channeled through:

The Canonical Imperatives of Sacred Liturgy (Part II)

a) Primarily the Episcopal Con-ferences: It pertains to the conferences of bishops to prepare translations of the liturgical books into the vernacu-lar languages, with the appropriate adaptations within the limits defined in the liturgical books themselves, and to publish them with the prior review by the Holy See (c.838, §3). The Instruction Varietates legiti-mae gave further indications on the ambit of this power of the Episcopal Conference and the procedure for its exercise (nn.55 & 66-67).

b) Secondarily the Diocesan Bishop: It pertains to the diocesan bishop in the church entrusted to him, within the limits of his competence, to issue liturgical norms by which all are bound.(c.838, §4).

5. Principle of Full and Active Participation of the Faithful

Of less juridic impact than the foregoing principles is one which is latent in the whole liturgical renewal ushered in by Vatican II, and that is the desire for the full and active participation of all the faithful in the liturgy, each one according to his state and condition.

We need to emphasize that the participation in the liturgy is qualified as “each one according to his state and condition”—i.e., the sacred ministers as celebrants or concelebrants, and the faithful as congregation or lay ministers or servers. In this regard, an im-portant document is the Instruction

Ecclesia de Mysterio (15.VIII.1997) on the Collaboration of the Lay Faithful in the Pastoral Ministry of Priests. Art.6 of this document focused on Liturgical Celebra-tions and made the following juridically binding indications:

1. Liturgical actions must always clearly manifest the unity of the People of God as a structured com-munion (89). Thus there exists a close link between the ordered exercise of liturgical action and the reflec-tion in the liturgy of the Church’s structured nature. This happens when all participants, with faith and devotion, discharge those roles proper to them.

2. To promote the proper identity (of various roles) in this area, those abuses which are contrary to the provisions of c.9073 are to be eradi-cated. In eucharistic celebrations deacons and non-ordained members of the faithful may not pronounce prayers─e.g. especially the eucha-ristic prayer, with its concluding doxology─or any other parts of the liturgy reserved to the celebrant priest. Neither may deacons or non-ordained members of the faithful use gestures or actions which are proper to the same priest celebrant. It is a grave abuse for any member of the non-ordained faithful to “quasi preside” at the Mass while leaving only that minimal participation to the priest which is necessary to secure validity.

In the same way, the use of sacred vestments which are reserved to priests or deacons (stoles, chasubles or dalmatics) at liturgical ceremonies by non-ordained members of the faithful is clearly unlawful. Every effort must be made to avoid even the appearance of confusion which can spring from anomalous li-turgical practices. As the sacred ministers are obliged to wear all of the prescribed liturgical vest-ments so too the non-ordained faithful may not assume that which is not proper to them.

To avoid any confusion be-tween sacramental liturgical acts presided over by a priest or deacon, and other acts which the non-ordained faithful may lead, it is always necessary to use clearly distinct ceremonials, especially for the latter. [To be concluded.]

NOTES

1SCDW, Instruction Varietates legitimae, 25.I.1994, n.26. 2SCDW, Instruction Varietates legitimae, 25.I.1994, n.66. 3Can.907 ─ In the celebration of the Eucharist it is not licit for deacons and lay persons to say prayers, in particular the Eucharistic prayer, or to perform actions which are proper to the celebrat-ing priest.

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Q: My pastor has followed the practice of fasting one hour before the beginning of the celebration of the Mass while teach-ing the faithful that they must only fast one hour before communion. Is there a separate standard for the priest? His fel-low priests follow the norm for the laity, fasting only one hour before communion. He intends to continue his practice, but I would appreciate knowing if there is a separate standard and in which document it is located. I did not find anything in canon law.—L.R., Shelbyville, Indiana

A: The current norm regarding fasting before communion is Canon No. 919:

“1. One who is to receive the Most Holy Eucharist is to abstain from any food or drink, with the exception only of water and medicine, for at least the period of one hour before Holy Communion.

“2. A priest who celebrates the Most Holy Eucharist two or three times on the same day may take something before the second or third celebration even if the period of one hour does not intervene.

“3. Those who are advanced in age or who suffer from any infirmity, as well as those who take care of them, can receive the Most Holy Eucharist even if they have taken something during the previous hour.”

Therefore, the only distinction that the law makes between priest and lay person is to mitigate the fast for the priest who has to celebrate multiple Masses.

As mentioned by our reader, the fast is before communion and not before Mass. However, if out of a sense of reverence and devotion a priest or layperson desires to extend the fast beyond the minimum re-quired, this is a praiseworthy custom.

The hour’s fast is from all edible food and drink other than water, taken by mouth and swallowed. Chewing gum as such would not break the fast but swallowing the juices and flavors released by the chewing process would

Fasting before Mass(Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university, answers the

following query:)do so.

Since the food must be received by mouth, a sick person being fed by a tube does not violate the fast. Not does any medicine.

The discipline of fasting before com-munion has a long history, as Pope Pius XII states in his 1953 apostolic constitu-tion, “Christus Dominus”:

“From the very earliest time the cus-tom was observed of administering the Eucharist to the faithful who were fasting. Toward the end of the fourth century fasting was prescribed by many Councils for those who were going to celebrate the Eucharistic Sacrifice. So it was that the Council of Hippo in the year 393 issued this decree: ‘The Sacrament of the altar shall be offered only by those who are fasting.’ Shortly afterward, in the year 397, the Third Council of Carthage is-sued this same command, using the very same words. At the beginning of the fifth century this custom can be called quite common and immemorial. Hence St. Au-gustine affirms that the Holy Eucharist is always received by people who are fasting and likewise that this custom is observed throughout the entire world.

“Doubtless this way of doing things was based upon very serious reasons, among which there can be mentioned first of all the one the Apostle of the Gentiles deplores when he is dealing with the brotherly love-feast of the Christians. Abstinence from food and drink is in accord with that supreme reverence we owe to the supreme maj-esty of Jesus Christ when we are going to receive Him hidden under the veils of the Eucharist. And moreover, when we receive His precious Body and Blood before we take any food, we show clearly that this is the first and loftiest nourish-ment by which our soul is fed and its holiness increased. Hence the same St. Augustine gives this warning: ‘It has

pleased the Holy Ghost that, to honor so great a Sacrament, the Lord’s Body should enter the mouth of the Christian before other food.’

“Not only does the Eucharistic fast pay due honor to our Divine Redeemer, it fosters piety also; and hence it can help to increase in us those most salutary fruits of holiness which Christ, the Source and Author of all good, wishes us who are enriched by His Grace to bring forth.”

Before the time of Pius XII the Eucha-ristic fast was from midnight onward and included water. This also meant that Masses were only celebrated in the morning.

In the above-mentioned constitution the Pope, while stressing the importance of the fast, affirmed: “It should neverthe-less be noted that the times in which we live and their peculiar conditions have brought many modifications in the habits of society and in the activities of common life. Out of these there may arise seri-ous difficulties which could keep men from partaking of the divine mysteries if the law of the Eucharistic fast is to be observed in the way in which it had to be observed up to the present time.”

Pius XII mentions some of the difficul-ties preventing many from receiving Com-munion. Among them are the shortage of clergy, especially in mission lands, and the pace of modern life in factories and offices which include night shifts. He also desired to open up the possibility of celebrating Mass in the evening on important feasts so that more people could attend.

Thus, among other things he estab-lished that water and medicine would no longer break the fast. He also mitigated the fast under certain circumstances. In 1957, with the document “Sacram Com-munionem,” he changed the law again, to require only a three-hour fast.

Pope Paul VI brought in the present discipline in November 1964, and this forms the basis of Canon No. 919.

youth ministry during this CBCP Year of the Youth—and yes, beyond!

Conclusion Therefore, to conclude, we continue to implore the help of and be guided by the Holy Spirit in a joyful, commit-ted celebration of this special time of grace. The ECY has a list of activities to be carried out in the calendar, and we shall highlight our successes and milestones through the years, recogniz-ing and paying tribute to those youth ministers, especially, who have loyally accompanied young people in many different ways. But more importantly, let us—brother-bishops, priests and deacons, parents, teachers, government officials, religious women and men, and anyone who has a heart for the youth, and above all, you young people—let us all dedicate ourselves to conversion and renewal39 for the sake of a more relevant, responsive and effective youth ministry. Let us deepen our commitment to assist young people appreciate their persons and their God-given talents, and make use of these for the good of the Church40, society and the whole world. Let us, in our own personal and different ways but always united in the Spirit of the Lord who makes us one, give of ourselves to the young in our midst and in our lives—our children, students, siblings, friends, etc.—in order to make them feel that this CBCP Year of the Youth is truly their year. This we will continue doing in fidelity to our Lord’s life and example, as we recognize them for who they are, make them feel loved and re-spected, and encourage them to make a contribution, in great and simple ways, to our life as a Church41 and the progress of the country42 and the world. Dear young people, we need you. The Church needs you. Echoing the loving words of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, who today will be celebrating the Closing Mass of World Youth Day 2011 with about half a million young people in Madrid, Spain, we affirm “your lively

faith, your creative charity and the en-ergy of your hope. Your presence renews, rejuvenates and gives new energy to the Church.”43 In turn, believing in your desire for good things, for great things44, we promise to continue bringing Christ to you through our ministry among you: engaging in dialogue with you, striving to enter your world and journeying with you towards Christian maturity45, indeed towards fullness of life in Christ46. With the words of St. Paul who exhorted the Christians of Corinth, a melting pot of trade and cultures and where the nascent Christian community was undergoing trials and difficulties, we exhort you too: “Stand firm in the faith… Do all your work in love”47. That is exactly what we desire for all of us to do in this CBCP Year of the Youth. Offering all these efforts to Him Who is the source of our strength, we pray, through the loving intercession of Mary our mother, woman of faith and mother of fair love, that our Lord and God, the “eternally young… the Companion and Friend of youth”48, may “give success to the work of our hands”49.

Sincerely yours in the Lordon behalf of the Bishops and Archbishops of the Philippines,

+ NEREO P. ODCHIMAR, DDBishop of TandagPresident of the Catholic Bishops’ Con-ference in the Philippines21 August 2011

NOTES1Lifted from a translation of the French original: “God gave me the grace - as to so many bishops and priests - to love passionately the youth, certainly different from one country to another, but so similar in their enthusiasm and their disappointments, their aspirations and their generosity!” (John Paul II, Message to the French Youth, 01 June 1980).2Cf. Lk 4:19.3Clock time, the time measured by impersonal forces of matter moving through space.4Time measured by purposes and goods.5The Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY)

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B3Vol. 15 No. 17August 15 - 28, 2011

CBCP Monitor Year of the Youth

Fatima shrine visit highlights WYD pilgrims’ stay in Coria-Caceres diocese

‘Journey with each other’ – Bishop tells WYD

delegates

Muslim minor joins WYD despite Ramadan

3 Pinoys to sit near the Pope on WYD vigil

THE ECY-Philippines delega-tion’s stay in the diocese of Coria-Caceres was highlighted by a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal.

Pilgrims from the Philippines together with other young people from WYD participating coun-tries visited the Marian shrine in Portugal during their stay in Coria-Caceres.

Aside from the Philippines, the diocese hosted USA, France, Germany, Brazil and Australia.

The “Days in the Diocese” event set on August 11-15, has im-mersed pilgrims into a profound spiritual and cultural experience with fellow youth in the host diocese, prior to the proper cel-ebration of World Youth Day.

The diocese in an invitation sent to ECY, said that all the pil-grims of the DID together with the youth and host families will make a pilgrimage to Fatima to offer Mother Mary the spiritual fruits of WYD.

“It will be an intense day of prayer and testimony of Marian

experiences,” it added. Each pilgrim spent 12 euros for

the trip to Fatima while the host family (foster family) provided the meal for the day.

Maria Lea Dasigan, a staff of ECY-NSYA, said the pilgrims of this particular WYD are very lucky because there is a nearest Marian Shrine.

“Because of the location, the organizers of the days in the diocese have included a visit to a Marian Shrine,” she added.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Fa-tima is just a few hours away from the diocese of Coria-Caceres.

The Our Lady of Fatima also called the Our Lady of the Rosary or Our Lady of the Rosary of Fa-tima (Nossa Senhora do Rosário de Fátima in Portuguese) was the title given to Blessed Virgin Mary during Her apparition to three shepherd children in the year 1917 at Fatima in Portugal.

The delegation from ECY-Phil-ippines arrived in Spain on August 9 and 10 in time for their immersion in the diocese. (Jandel Posion)

A MEMBER-bishop of the Epis-copal Commission on Youth told WYD 2011 delegates during the second day of the WYD prepara-tory session in Manila “to journey with each other” during the WYD in Madrid.

Bangued Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian, a member-bishop of the ECY told delegates to journey with the community. “Hindi ka nag-iisa, mayroon tayong mga kasama,” Jaucian said, addressing the 427 del-egates who will represent the Philippines to the 26th WYD in Madrid, Spain.

The bishop explained that the delegates were going to Spain not as individual pilgrims but as a community of one Church, representing the Philippines.

Also, during his session called “On our intentions as a delegation”, Jaucian challenged the delegates to look back on the journey of faith that the Philip-pine Church has been, starting with the coming of the faith to the country through the Spanish conquistadors.

Jaucian added that represent-ing the root of the journey is Jesus, as the vine, and with us as the

branches. “The gospel of St. John…

Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. We re-root or connect ourselves with the life of Jesus [as] He is our sustaining power,” the bishop shared.

The second session was centered on the roots of the cel-ebration of WYD and the start of Christianity here in the country, highlighting through an audio visual presentation the WYD history and the highlights of the development of the Catholic faith here in the Philippines. (CBCP-News)

RELIGIOUS difference with his fellow pilgrims did not hinder a young Muslim from Davao City from attending the 26th World Youth Day (WYD) under the official Catholic del-egation of the Philippines.

In fact, even the on-going observance of Ramadan among Muslims did not stop Yussef Paglas, 17, from immersing himself with young people from a religion different from his.

Paglas was with other 426 WYD pilgrims under the delegation of the Episcopal Commission on Youth Philip-pines (ECY-Philippines) who attended the first day of their preparatory session at St. Pedro Poveda College. He was going to Spain with a group of Catho-lic youth from the Archdiocese of Davao.

When asked why he wanted to experience the WYD, Paglas, who is being groomed as a poli-tician like his father, said he was looking for an opportunity to understand deeper the Catholic faith so that he can also help his Catholic constituents.

“To become a better leader, it is not good to be biased to only one religion. You need to know the belief of others so that you can understand their situation and know how to help them,” Paglas said.

Intimidated Paglas admitted feeling

out-of-place for being with huge Catholic group but said he can still relate with them for having educated in a Catholic school since kindergarten and having Catholic friends in his circle.

“I don’t see myself differ-ently from the rest just because

of my religion. For me, we only have one God, who we see in different ways,” he said.

Despite the coincidence of the WYD celebration with the Ramadan observance, Paglas said he will still practice fast-ing and consistent prayers even while participating in the activities during Days in the Diocese (DID) at Coria Caceres from August 11 to 15 and the WYD in Madrid from August 16 to 21.

“I’ll take it as a challenge to observing Ramadan while participating at the WYD. I will recite my prayers and bring the Quoran to read passages even during the WYD. I will observe our practices as much as I can,” he said.

Chosen According to ECY executive

secretary Fr. Conegundo Gar-ganta, Paglas is the first Muslim to join the ECY-Philippines delegation, which usually sends the biggest group to past WYDs.

But Garganta clarified that Muslims and people from other faith groups are not barred

from participating in the WYD. In fact, young Muslims have been sent to past WYDs by episcopal conferences of coun-tries with dominant Muslim population.

Garganta said the ECY-Phil-ippines delegation welcomed Paglas to the group primarily to “show how welcoming the Catholic Church is with other faith groups.”

Aside from breaking the record, Garganta disclosed that Paglas was chosen to be one of the three Filipino youth who will be seated very near Pope Benedict XVI during the Vigil with the Pope.

“At the Vigil, Paglas will be seated with selected represen-tatives of countries participat-ing in the WYD.

He will be one of the three Filipino youth chosen to expe-rience this rare opportunity,” Garganta added.

Paglas and the rest of the Filipino pilgrims under the ECY-Philippines delegation started leaving for Spain from August 8 to 11 for the DID. Others flew later just in time for the WYD. (YouthPinoy)

THE WYD Secretariat of the Episcopal Com-mission on Youth has already named the three young Filipinos who will sit near the Pope during the youth vigil.

Young people from three main islands of the Philippines (Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) will represent the country for the vigil with the Holy Father, Benedict XVI.

Joana Pauline Manalo from Assumption Antipolo will represent Luzon, Ma. Reinisa Cabual from CIC Cabanatuan for Visayas and Yussef Ababakar Paglas from the Archdiocese of Davao in Mindanao.

Reactions Joana Pauline Manalo, 16 years old from As-

sumption Antipolo said she was shocked when her name was mentioned to be one of the three Filipinos to sit near the Pope.

“Hindi ko po akalain na ako pala ang isa sa mga napili kasi may napili na nga sabi dun sa news. Pero nung namention na that may isang napili from Assumption Antipolo, sinasabi ko sa sarili ko, sana ako yun. Kaya nagulat din ako, kasi ako talaga,” Manalo said.

From the Visayas, Ma. Reinisa Cabual said that she did not expect to be chosen.

“Wala talaga ako idea kasi napanood ko sa news na may napili nang tatlong kabataang Pilipino mula sa Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Nagulat ako kasi di ko ine-expect na out of 400 young people, from our group manggagaling ang isa at ako yun,” Cabual added.

Yussef Paglas, who is the only Muslim delegate under ECY-Philippines, was also surprised.

“Among the 427 pilgrims from our delega-tion, why did they choose me?” Paglas asked himself.

Paglas shared that until now, he is still in shock about the news and a bit worried on how he will feel comfortable sitting near the Pope.

Expectations Manalo wants to speak to the Pope if there

will be an opportunity for her. But she also said that, “pero basta makita ko lang ang Pope, okay na s’akin ‘yun. The Pope kasi represents the essence of what we Catholics believe in.”

Cabual on the other hand is excited to be touched by the blessings of the Pope.

“Blessed po ako kasi makikita ko na ang Pope at masaya ang event na ‘yun. Madaming bless-ings ang matatanggap ko sa nasabing event,” Cabual added.

Still astonished for being chosen, Paglas is yet unaware of what he will do during the overnight vigil where he has the opportunity to sit near the Pope.

According to ECY executive secretary Fr. Conegundo Garganta, the three young Filipinos together with other young people who were chosen by their country’s bishops’ conference will sit near the Pope during the vigil in a big stage fronting the Blessed Sacra-ment.

Garganta added that young people who were chosen to fill the slots are open to the spirit of World Youth Day.

The overnight vigil will take place on Au-gust 20-21 at the Cuatro Vientos Aerodrome. (CBCPNews)

Prelate warns Pinoys against overstaying in Europe after WYD

LEGAZPI Bishop Joel Baylon warned Filipino WYD pilgrims from illegally overstaying in Europe, saying any defection will only taint the Philippines’ im-age in the international Catholic community.

According to Baylon, who chairs the Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Phil-ippines (CBCP), a number of Filipino delegates to the WYD 2000 in Rome, Italy violated the prescribed number of days in their Schengen Visas and de-fected to other Schengen States to look for work.

Baylon said that experience prompted ECY to impose strin-gent evaluation of WYD applica-tions to prevent delegates with ill intention to take advantage of the event to pursue their plans. Baylon heads the ECY-Philippines delegation, whose pilgrims are gathered at the St. Pedro Poveda College for the last day of their preparatory session.

“Don’t even think about it,” was Baylon’s brief but strong warning to WYD delegates against illegally migrating to any Schengen States in Europe.

“We don’t want a repeat of what happened in 2000 because it will only taint our image with future WYD organizers,” he added.

Baylon said banning Filipino participation to the WYD is not remote, citing the case of the Catholic bishops of Myanmar who decided against sending delegation to future WYDs af-ter a number of their delegates defected to Sydney, Australia in 2008.

The prelate said illegal over-staying of Filipinos in WYD host countries could lead to the banning of the Philippines in future WYDs so he called on the delegates to stick to their itinerar-ies and go back home after their trips.

“Do not rob young people with legitimate motives of the opportunity to participate in the

next WYDs. Stick to your itinerar-ies and don’t overstay,” Baylon said.

He added that the ECY, which heads the official Philippine del-egates to the WYD, will safekeep the passports of its 400 delegates to help curb the incident of illegal defection from the group.

“We will keep the passports of all delegates under ECY-Phil-ippines to keep the temptation away from them. We will only return the passports during the re-entry session on August 22 for our delegates or when they are bound to fly back to the Philip-pines,” he said.

The WYD will officially start on August 16 in Madrid and will culminate with a vigil with the Pope at the Cuatro Vientos Aerodrome on August 21.

While some delegates will re-turn to the Philippines right after the WYD in Madrid, others have expressed intention to make post-WYD tour of European countries covered by their Schengen Visas. (YouthPinoy)

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B4 Vol. 15 No. 17August 15 - 28, 2011

CBCP MonitorFeatures

ImplEmEntInG GuIdElInEs

God entrusted to us the sacred gift of life, which we failed to nurture. Now, a “culture of death,” rooted in selfishness and indiffer-ence, seems to prevail. There is an urgent call for everyone, especially the youth, to become the new generation of stewards working towards healing and fullness of life in man and in the world.

RAtIOnAlE:Among the meaningful activities to

celebrate the CBCP Year of the Youth, there is the 1M TREE PLANTING PROJECT that aims to concretize the youth’s love for the God-given gift of the environment. The project aims to involve young people in schools, parishes and communities from 16 December 2010 un-til 16 December 2011. This is a response of the Church through the Youth Ministries to the need to care for and nurture our ailing Mother Earth. It is a commitment to protect the environment, embracing our role as stewards and not masters of God’s creation (cf. Gen 1:26).

Furthermore, it is an opportunity to synergize efforts with different agen-cies and sectors of society through a simultaneous, nationwide tree-planting activity on 08 September 2011, together with the dioceses and FNYO member organizations efforts to facilitate tree-planting within the year.

1m in the “1M Tree Planting Project” means three things: (1) One Million – the number of trees the project aims to plant and monitor; (2) One Mother Earth – we only have one planet, one environment that we need to protect and preserve for the next generations; and (3) One Mother – each of us has a mother, and as a people, we find a common mother in Mary, our model of discipleship and obedience to the will of God. Her example of compassion is our model of stewardship for the world God the Father has given us.

OBJECtIVEs:A. To educate the minds and form the hearts of young people towards “care for Mother Earth”B. To deepen faith by embracing the commitment to become stewards of God’s creationC. To translate the tree-planting activ-ity to a lifestyle that cares for Mother Earth concretely expressed in daily life through protecting and preserving the environment

pARtICIpAnts And lInKAGEs:

A. The main participants of the project are the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)-Episcopal Com-mission on Youth (ECY), the diocesan youth ministry offices and member-organizations of the Federation of the National Youth Organizations (FNYO), youth ministers and leaders, and youth in general.

B. The efforts will be coordinated and networked with government and private agencies, with the intent to involve as many youth as possible, specifically:

1. The President of the Republic of the Philippines, who was requested to proclaim 08 September, starting this year, as national tree-planting day.

2. The Department of Education (DepEd), through its Department Sec-retary, which was requested to issue an Inter-Office Memorandum requiring all pupils in Grades V and VI and all secondary school students (at all year

levels) in both private and public schools all over the country to participate in the simultaneous tree-planting activities the National Tree Planting Day.

3. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Agriculture (DA), through their Provincial and Munici-pal Offices, which was requested shall provide planting materials and assist in the technical aspects of the tree-planting efforts at the diocesan and parish lev-els.

4. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), through its Provincial, Municipal and Barangay Councils and the Sangguniang Ka-bataan, which was requested to assist in facilitating the nationwide simultane-ous tree-planting. The National Youth Commission will also be tapped for the same purpose.

5. The CARE Foundation, which is an agency that helps in the protection and preservation of the environment, is an important partner of the ECY, particu-larly with regard to the training of the speakers’ bureau that will be tasked to raise awareness about the project in schools, universities and organizations. The formation of a speakers’ bureau is the prerogative of the diocese/FNYO member organization.

6. Corporate Partners, which are private institutions that support the campaign and its long-term goal of environmental protection and preserva-tion, will be asked to serve as sponsors and donors.

C. Roles and Functions:

1. The Regional Youth Coordinating Councils (RYCCs), Federation of na-tional Youth Organizations (FnYO), and diocesan youth ministry offices are expected to:

a. Assist the component dioceses / organizations in the planning, mobiliz-ing, sourcing and data gathering for the year-long tree-planting and the targeted simultaneous nationwide tree-planting on 08 September

b. Communicate with the National Secretariat for Youth Apostolate (NSYA) of the Create linkages and coordinate with identified concerned agencies at the local level

c. CBCP-ECY and YouthPinoy! for documentation and monitoring

d. Link with, between and among the dioceses / organizations and the national office/s

2. The dEnR through its Field Of-fices and the CARE Foundation are expected to:

a. Orient the Diocesan Teams on the necessary information and preparations before, during and after planting

b. Recommend both the appropriate seedlings and the appropriate site/s for planting

c. Provide technical knowledge and training if necessary, before the actual planting

d. Provide suitable variety of seed-lings with specifications, i.e. exotic varieties like Gmelina, Mahogany are not encouraged (DA for fruit-bearing trees)

e. If possible, assist in the mainte-nance and protection phase of the trees planted

3. The Youthpinoy! is expected to:a. Promote the 1M Tree Planting

Projectb. Document and publish informa-

tion about the project regularly on its

websitec. Monitor development and progress

of the Project

phase 1: pRE-plAntInG

A. The Diocesan Youth Ministry Office thru the Diocesan Youth Director and/or the Diocesan Youth Coordinator shall take charge of the planning for the tree-planting activities.

B. The planning shall include the fol-lowing:

1. site, date and program. The Of-fice of the President was requested to declare 08 September 2011 as National Day for Tree Planting. A short program should also be prepared to animate the 08 September 2011 planting. Since the Phil-ippines has different planting seasons depending on the region, the planting schedule will vary depending on the location. However, the tree-planting activity is not limited to this date only. Thus, diocesan youth ministry offices and FNYO member organizations must determine the best schedule or schedules to plant trees.

2. procedure. For effective implemen-tation of the project, the diocesan youth ministry offices and FNYO member organizations shall:

tECHnICAl pREpARAtIOna. Establish contact and coordination

within the diocesan youth ministry / organization (e.g. Diocesan Youth Direc-tor and/or Coordinator meets with the leaders of the parish youth councils)

b. Plan the needed specific steps of action (Timeline, Point Persons, Materi-als and Equipment, Budget, etc.)

c. Identify a strategic site (proximity, space, security, fertile soil) for the project. Recommended Planting Site (as directed by the DENR CM 2011-01): Forest land; mangrove areas and protected areas; an-cestral domains; urban areas identified by the LGU’s such as urban parks and open spaces, highways and road sides; church, schools and office compounds; inactive and abandoned mining sites; riverbanks; streams; and other suitable public lands.

d. Consult with their respective So-cial Action, Justice and Peace Commis-sions (SAC-JPC) through their Ecology Desks, if there is any available nursery within their own diocese. They may also consider putting up a nursery in homes, schools, and within parish communi-ties.

EDUCATION AND FORMATION COMPONENTS

e. Study the 1M Formation Module, and train facilitators who will run the sessions for the participants of the tree-planting. The CARE Foundation, through Rev. Fr. Alfredo Albor (with contact details: mobile +639213734745 / landline +6324667312 / email care_foundation_inc@yahoo.com) may be contacted to train facilitators and speakers who will speak about the project to other youth and prospective collaborators.

f. Conduct the formation sessions as part of the preparation for tree-planting

3. Coordination and networking. For facilitated and collaborative efforts,

a. Coordinate with the Provincial/Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO/MENRO) through its field offices for the pro-curement of seedlings, the number of available endemic Philippine forest tree

species. Ask for technical assistance to ensure proper handling, planting and care.

b. Coordinate with the Provincial/Municipal Agricultural Office (PAO/MAO) for the procurement of fruit bear-ing trees.

4. preparation for plantinga. Consider the plant species in se-

lecting the area for planting. EXOTIC SPECIES are highly DISCOURAGED; Gmelina and Mahogany are examples of such species. If you are not certain about it, ask assistance from the techni-cal person from the DA and/or DENR field offices.

b. Prepare the planting site at least three (3) days before the planting activ-ity.

c. Ensure proper handling and trans-porting of the seedlings to the planting site.

5. Projected number of seedlings to be Planted

a. (Table of Estimation) 1,000,000 seedlings ÷ 86 dioceses = 11,628 (round-ed-off)

Region Component Diocese

Estimated No. of Seedlings

Northern Luzon

14 dioceses 162, 792

Central Luzon

7 dioceses 81, 396

National Capital

10 dioceses 116, 280

Southern Tagalog

8 dioceses 93, 024

Bicol 7 dioceses 81, 396

Central-Eastern Visayas

10 dioceses 116, 280

Western Visayas

8 dioceses 93, 024

MSPC 21 dioceses 244, 188

FNYO 25 Organizations

290, 700

Military Ordinariate

7 camps 81, 396

Projected Total:

1, 360, 476

b. With a target of 1,000,000 trees, more seedlings (probably 2,000,000) should be planted because not all seed-lings planted may grow into trees.

c. Hence, dioceses which have more areas for planting are highly encouraged to plant as many seedlings as possible to supplement the dioceses that have limited areas for planting.

6. dwellers and settlers living close to the Planting Site. The dwellers or settlers living close to the planting site must be involved in the project. They are usually knowledgeable about agro-forestry; thus, they can be helpful in the maintenance and protection of the seedlings. This can also be a source of livelihood for the dwellers.

phase 2: plAntInG

After all the necessary steps men-tioned in Phase 1 are completed, and when the group, the planting site and the seedlings are ready, the following shall be done:

A. Prepare a Short Program where education and formation about the environment, especially regarding the 1M Tree Planting Project, can be shared

and discussed before the actual planting (Refer to the 1M Trees Project modules provided by the ECY).

B. The said program must be held in the area where electricity or power connection is available. Needed facilities for multimedia presenta-tions like computer, LCD Projector, and a sound system must be made available. A megaphone may also be helpful.

C. The following elements are sug-gested for a meaningful program before the planting:

1. Opening prayer – A ritual that will ground the participants on nature, making them aware of God’s creation, the beauty and importance of the envi-ronment

2. Orientation about 1m tree plant-ing project (including the rationale and objectives linked with the CBCP Year of the Youth and 25th Anniversary of the ECY)

3. Animation: “Make A Stand” (can be at the start, at the end, or at every break)

4. session on Environment (litera-ture of Fr. Albor relating Pope Benedict XVI’s Papal Message on Caring for the Earth, “10 Commandments of the Earth”, etc.)

5. technical Input from the dEnR Field Office Representative (the proper way of planting, maintaining and pro-tecting the seedlings)

6. payer Before the planting (see attachment: Rite Before the Planting)

7. Actual planting (seedlings can be labeled; Taizé songs can be chanted; the rosary may be recited; etc.)

8. Closing prayer – Another ritual making a personal commitment to protect and preserve Mother Earth can be made as a closing prayer (Sample: “I solemnly pledge to be a steward of God’s creation. I will protect and de-fend Mother Earth. May the tree I just planted be a symbol of my commitment to preserve the Earth for the next genera-tion.”)

phase 3: mOnItORInG And pREs-ERVAtIOn

A. Inputs given by the DENR Field Office representative on the mainte-nance and protection of the environ-ment, especially the seedlings, shall be taken into consideration in undertaking this Monitoring and Preservation Phase. The diocesan youth ministry office or FNYO member organization must commission a team of informed and committed youth ministers and leaders who can do the task.

B. A schedule of regular visits to the site must be set and observed. This ensures proper care and inventory of planted seedlings. The bringing of extra seedlings is suggested during visits to replace previously planted ones that are not able to survive.

C. Recording and documentation are vital and crucial parts of the Monitoring Phase. Hence, a systematic, accurate and honest documentation of all the phases of the tree-planting is required.

D. Regular visits to the planting site must be coupled with an on-going and continuous formation program to en-sure both the growing of the trees and the deepening of the awareness of the youth ministers and leaders involved in the project.

CBCP Year of the Youth 1M Tree Planting Project

Stand firm in the faith… Do all your work in love. [1 Cor 16:13-14]

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B5Vol. 15 No. 17August 15 - 28, 2011

CBCP Monitor Statements

IN recent times, Popes such as Paul VI, Blessed John Paul II and Benedict XVI recognized the significant role of artists in culture, religion and society. Blessed John Paul II has high regards for artists by claiming that they “mirror the image of God the Creator” while Benedict XVI called the artists as “custodians of beauty.” We Filipinos have become the recipients for cen-turies of the constructive partnership between the art and the Church as evident in our Filipino way of life. The numerous historic churches and religious artifacts attracted countless people. These works of art truly reflect beauty and creativity that motivates and encourages us Filipinos to experience joy despite our poverty and to find hope during dark times while these same works of art brought joy and high spirits in times of celebrations and victories. However, during the past weeks, our Christian na-tion is shocked by an exhibit of ‘artworks’ made by Mideo Cruz in the Cultural Center of the Philippines. As your bishop, together with the clergy of Bacolod, we find this exhibit highly offensive and grossly insensi-tive to the cultural sensibilities of Filipinos. Adding insult to injury, this deplorable exhibit is displayed in an institution which claimed that it “nurtures and promotes artistic excellence, Filipino aesthetics and identity.” Certainly, this kind of exhibit does not reflect our Filipino identity and culture. But above all else, we are deeply saddened and of-fended by this sacrilegious exhibit that takes on the guise of contemporary artistry, yet in truth, is nothing but a work which is deceitful and superficial. It is a vile attempt to uproot the Filipinos, a vast majority of whom are Catholics, from their Christian heritage by disparaging the sacred person of Jesus Christ and by making a mockery of what we as Catholics hold as sacred and dear to our hearts. This harmful kind of exhibit targets the minds and hearts of the simple folks who become easy preys to the malicious intent and unscrupulous machinations of those people who attempt to supplant the Gospel values with standards of their own making that even-tually corrodes the conscience of individuals and the moral fiber of our society. Moral perversion has no place in the world of arts. It should not be distorted under the claim of freedom of expression because “there is no true freedom except in the service of what is good and just. The choice to disobey and do evil is an abuse of freedom and leads to slavery of sin (cf. CCC 1732 – 1733). Furthermore, “to violate the moral order for the sake of exalting the autonomy of art is not only arrogant pride but the very alienation of art. Moral perversion cannot claim authentic originality.” Thus, we make this appeal to our faithful: Hold fast to your faith particularly during these difficult times when the teachings of the Church and the expres-sions of our faith are increasingly and systematically being mocked and challenged. Continue to pray for the preservation of our faith and for the conversion of people who, knowingly or unknowingly, are becoming instruments of deception and discord. We call on the faithful to be vigilant against such sacrilegious acts so that it will not be repeated in the future. Lastly, we appeal to all the Artists in the words of Pope Benedict XVI that you remain true to your artistic vocation by becoming “heralds and witnesses of hope for humanity” by unlocking the yearning of the human heart with the profound desire to know, to love and to go towards the Other because “beauty, whether that of the natural universe or that expressed in art,… can become a path… towards God” (Pope Benedict XVI’s Address to Artists, Nov. 22, 2009).

Holy Mary, Mother of God You are the epitome of the Gospel values. We pray that you protect our country and cover us with the mantle of your love so that not a single soul will be lost to fangs of the Evil One.

Make us courageous in fighting against future manipulations that seeks to destroy our moral and spiritual values.Help us that we may imitate you in your virtuous lifeand wisdom in discerning what is true, good and beautiful. Amen. Mary conceived without sin, pray for us! I impart to all of you my Pastoral blessings.

+VICENTE M. NAVARRA, DDBishop of BacolodBishop’s House, Bacolod CityAugust 9, 2011

THIS time the WORLD YOUTH DAY is starting in Madrid, Spain. Pope Benedict will be meeting young people all over the world. “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith (Col.2:7). This is the theme of Pope Bene-dict XVI’s message for the 26th World Youth Day in Madrid, this month of August 2011. The Pope clearly stressed in his message the importance of our personal relationship with the living Christ. It will be always an invitation and a challenge for our young people to be firm in their faith rooted in one’s per-sonal relationship with Jesus, Lord and friend. The Pope constantly warned us of today’s strong and influ-ential secularist trend that aim to make God marginal in the lives of people and of society by proposing and attempting to create a “paradise” without him. A world without God becomes a “hell’ filled with selfishness, broken families, hatred between individuals and nations. There will be a great deficit of love, joy and hope. On the other hand, whenever individuals and na-tions accept God’s presence, worship him in truth and listen to his voice, then the civilization of love is being built, a civiliza-tion in which the dignity of all is respected, and communion increases, with all its benefits (L’Osservatore Romano, no. 36, 8 Sept. 2010). As we also celebrate this year the CBCP National Year of the Youth we are affirming our preferential love for the youth, raising our awareness about the young, and promoting a pastoral ministry to, with, and for them. We want to review and assess the Church’s role as sower, nurturer and harvester of the faith to the young. We want to appreciate our young people as a gift to the Church. We want to give them priority and preference in our ecclesial life. We want to

recognize the unique contribu-tion of the youth ministry to the Church. And we want the young to become more responsibly involved in the transformation of the Church and society. We want them to be involved in the protection of life and the environment. We want them to be leading agents and par-ticipants in evangelization and the renewal of society. Our young people are the easy target of sinister forces that only manipulate and exploit them. We, too, may lost sight of our mission for them. To those who allow ourselves to be co-opted by evil in abusing and corrupting the young, our Lord Jesus Christ himself give this stern warning, “It would be better for anyone who leads astray one of these little ones who believe in me, to be drowned by a millstone around his neck, in the depths of the sea” (Mt. 18:6). “We humbly

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‘Proclaim liberty to the captives… Set free the Oppressed’NEARLY three weeks ago, July 25, hundreds of political detainees around the country began a synchronized hun-ger strike to protest the government’s inadequate agenda on human rights protection and its seeming disregard of the conditions of political prisoners.

Since the early ‘80s, more than 300 political prisoners have been lan-guishing in prison cells throughout the country without explicit assur-ance of judicial remedy or execu-tive clemency. Some of whom have already died or gotten ill in custody as a direct result of the government’s inability to provide for their medi-cal treatment. The circumstances of neglect and eventual demise of

some of these prisoners qualify as violations against human dignity and protection.

The National Secretariat for Social Action – Justice and Peace expresses deep concern over the condition of the political detainees, especially those on hunger strike. Three weeks without food will have surely and rapidly de-teriorated their conditions. We wish to solicit the immediate action of the government to prevent unnecessary deaths.

We also denounce the underhanded conduct of law enforcement agencies that oftentimes criminalize the le-gitimate struggle of some groups and individuals.

We call on the judiciary to expedite the process of review of the detainees’ cases and grant the immediate and unconditional release of those whose arrests are deemed to be politically-motivated.

President Aquino abstractedly speaks about improvements in human rights situation in the country. The call for a clear human rights framework by the political detainees is a judicious op-portunity for him to demonstrate his sincerity to uphold peace and national reconciliation. We appeal to the President to grant executive clemency on political detain-ees who have already served long and completely unjust sentences. May he

accede to the humanitarian character of this appeal and make progress towards the full respect of human rights in the Philippines. Meanwhile, we express solidarity to the struggle of our political prisoners. We wish to assure them that the Church, as it has always done so in the past, will always defend human rights and the sacredness of life as stated in the Gospel.

+ BRODERICK S. PABILLO, DDNational DirectorNational Secretariat for Social Action—Justice and Peace

13 August 2011

On the CBCP Pastoral Letter on the National Year of the Youth

YOUNG PEOPLE, STAND FIRM IN CHRIST!

repent of our shortcomings and failures, and ask forgiveness, resolving as we do to purify our motives and embark on a renewed ministry for and with the young. We should not be paralyzed into thinking that all is well in the youth ministry and with our young people when in fact it is hardly true” (CBCP Pastoral Letter on the National Year of the Youth, July 9, 2011). We pray to the Holy Spirit to have a joyful and committed celebration of this special time of grace. To all of us, Bishops, priests and deacons, parents, teachers, government officials, religious women and men, and to anyone who has a heart for the youth, and above all, you dear young people, let us all dedicate our-selves to conversion and renewal for the sake of a more relevant, responsive and effective youth ministry. As the WORLD YOUTH

DAY commence its celebra-tion in Madrid, let the loving words of Pope Benedict be in our hearts. Dear young people, we need you. The Church needs you. We affirm “your lively faith, your creative charity and the energy of your hope. Your presence renews, rejuvenates and gives new energy to the Church.” In turn, believing in your desire for great things, we promise to continue bring-ing Christ to you through our ministry among you: engaging in dialogue with you, striving to enter your world and journey-ing with you towards fullness of life in Christ.

We should make the young feel that this CBCp Year of the Youth is truly their year!

+ELENITO DELOS REYES GALIDO, DDBishop of IliganAugust 11, 2011

Bp. Elenito Galido was the first ECY bishop to give the youth ministers of DOPIM (Dipolog, Iligan, Marawi, Ozamiz, Pagadian) a retreat as part of the ECY@25 celebration.

A Statement of Concern on the Plight of Political Prisoners in the Country

Pastoral Statement

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Statement at the Senate Hearing Regarding the Problem at the CCP Art Exhibition

Honorable Members of the Senate:

We thank you most deeply for inviting us to help you craft better legislation on the matter concern-ing the Art Exhibition at the Cultural Center in the Philippines. The particular exhibit in question has been the subject of widespread condemna-tion especially by our lay Catholic faithful and by other Christian denominations.

1. Our position is simple and straight-forward. This position has to do with the moral limits of the freedom of expression. What the legal limits may be we do not presume to suggest, although we also believe that what is legal should first of all be moral.

2. We hold that no human freedom is absolute. Human freedom is a gift of God and has corresponding responsibilities to (a) the moral law of God; (b) to the rights of others; and (c) to the common good. These responsibilities are the triple test for the just exercise of human freedom.

3. When the exercise of human free-dom defies the moral law of God or violates the rights of others or militates against the common good of all, the act would be objectively unjust or immoral.

4. In the particular case of some of the art installations exhibited recently at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the exercise of human freedom for the sake of art is subject to moral criteria. To be just

or moral, the artistic expression of human freedom must respect the religious sym-bols of various religions, especially those that are most sacred to them, whether the religion be Islam or Christianity or Hindu-ism or Buddhism. Disrespecting them by artistic portrayal would be a form of objec-tive desecration of religious symbols. This is especially true for visual art which is a powerful instrument of public discourse. Ars pro gratia artis (art for the sake of art), therefore, has moral limitations.

5. In the same way that we condemn sinful acts but do not condemn the sinner, we condemn such artistic portrayal as objectively immoral; but we do not nec-essarily condemn the person of the artist who may not be aware of the objective

immorality of his action.

We respectfully suggest that the crafting of a law that covers freedom of expression through art include the corresponding responsibilities for the exercise of human freedom.

Once again we express our profound thanks to you for inviting us to this forum and for the privilege of being of some help to your work of legislating for the common good.

For and in behalf of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines,

most Rev. JOsE s. pAlmA, ddArchbishop of Cebu andVice-President, CBCP16 August 2011

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B6 Vol. 15 No. 17August 15 - 28, 2011

CBCP Monitor

‘Sex and the family’

Destined to be a strong foundation

Do weak people have a place of leadership in the Church?Ref lections

the cost of true discipleship

Whatever / B7

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Fr. Francis Ongkingco

WHATEVER

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A (Matt 16:13-21) August 21, 2011

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What does it mean to follow Jesus?

By Msgr. Lope C. Robre-dillo, SThD

EVER since sex scandals rocked the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, the local Church in America has never been the same. Many people believe that pedophilia in the ranks of the clergy diminished their trust in Church leadership. No wonder, efforts have been made to restore confidence. The US Bishops, for example, decided a few years back to bar priest-abusers from any position that requires face-to-face contact with parishioners, re-moving them from parish work, and in some cases to defrock them entirely. Later on, in a move that was less restrictive than the zero-tolerance policy adopted by the American Bishops, the leaders of the US religious orders decided that sexually abusive priests be kept away from children, but not expelled. The document issued by the Conference of Major Su-periors of Men states that “these religious priests or brothers who have molested children or ado-lescents have broken the bonds of trust invested in them. We feel this hurt deeply.” According to a wire from the Associated Press, victims’ advocates criticized the document by saying that it gives too much freedom in disciplining guilty priests. Which makes peo-ple wonder: why are weak and wounded priests given position of leadership in the Church?

I am not sure if today’s Gospel is of any help. But Roman Catholi-cism has always read the pericope in terms of Petrine leadership. The story in Matthew, like that of Mark, begins with an opinion poll on how people perceived Jesus. People outside thought that he was John the Baptist, Elijah, Jer-

emiah or one of the prophets. There was, of course, specu-lation that he was John the Baptist who returned from the dead (Matt 14:1). Elijah, who went up to heaven (2 Kings 2:11), was expected to return (Mal 3:1.23). Peo-ple might have also thought that he was Jer-emiah, because he relived the prophet’s ex-per ience of rejection and suffering. Or, they identified him with the prophets of old (Deut 18:15). It seems, how-ever, that this range of opinion is aimed at providing a foil for the asser-tion of Peter: “You are the Mes-siah, the Son of the living God” (Matt 16:17). Peter’s confession of Jesus’ messiahship is given on behalf of the community of disciples. But for Matthew—and this is distinctive of him— this is not simply a personal assessment of Peter. The perception of who Jesus really is does not come from human speculation, but from divine revelation: “Blest are you, Simon son of Jonah! No mere man has revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father” (Matt 16:17). Jesus called him blessed, because God has chosen Peter to be the recipient of this divine revelation.

Precisely because he is the recipient of that revelation, Jesus constituted him the rock of the Church he was to establish by calling him Petros, meaning rock. In the words of Georg Schwaiger, Peter is to guarantee stability and security, permanence and unity. Christ is himself the foundation of the Church, but this foundation appears visibly in Peter. Of course, it has been objected that Peter cannot be identified with rock, for the original Greek gives Petros for Peter and petra for rock. But the problem is only apparent, because in the Aramaic language that Jesus spoke, the distinction does not exist. The Aramaic word for both is simply kepha. This, however, cannot be preserved is a Greek

translation, because petra, which is feminine, cannot be applied to Peter. Thus the Protestant scholar Howard Clark Kee: “Peter’s nick-name now becomes the basis for a play on words: Peter (Kepha) is to be the rock on which the Church will be built.” Accordingly, in the New Testament, Peter is named first in the post-resurrection list of the Eleven, plays a significant role in the election of Matthias, is a preacher in the Jerusalem church and spokesman for the Christian community, the object of miracu-lous divine care, and presides at the first council in Jerusalem.

And yet, it may be asked: on the basis of what personal merit was Peter chosen to be the rock? It seems that there was no

personal basis at all. Judged from worldly standards, he had no spe-cial qualifica-tion. Unlike the scribes, he was not a theologian or a scholar of the Torah, he had no special social position nor was he wealthy. On the contrary, if one judges him from his por-trayal by Mark, Peter was a man of weak faith and had many failures. Jesus accused him of being on the side of men rather than of G o d ( M a r k 8:27-33). He re-buked him for

failing to stay and watch. Indeed, Peter denied the Lord, probably even to the point of cursing him (Mark 14:37.71). One wonders then why, despite all these, God chose him to be the honored recipient of the fundamental revelation of Jesus’ messiahship, and why Jesus himself chose him to be the rock. Obviously, “flesh and blood,” the earthly capacities of the weak man that is Peter, are not responsible for the choice. It was simply God’s pleasure. Which reminds us that the secrets of the Kingdom of God are revealed only to the little ones, to the unworthy, out of God’s pleasure: “Father, Lord of heaven and earth, to you I offer praise; for what you have

hidden from the learned and the clever you have revealed to merest children. Father, it is true. You have graciously willed it so” (Matt 11:25-26).

If the Church was placed in the hands of Peter who was weak, one wonders why people are scandalized when they discover that Church leaders exhibit some frailness or weakness. Weakness is a part of being Church, pre-cisely because, apart from being divine, it is also human, and also because it is put in the hands of weak, frail people. If the Church is strong, it is because God is, and not because of its strong leaders. Personally, whenever the media exposes the weakness of the Church, I am not scandalized. My faith has not been shaken, be-cause I know the Church is in the hand of God. When the late John Paul II, ending the World Youth Day celebrations in Toronto with a big outdoor Mass, urged the drenched 800,000 to stand by the Roman Catholic Church, not let-ting “be discouraged by the sins and failings of her members,” he was obviously right. The sex scandals in the US are not the first, nor will they be the last. Indeed, if Christ entrusted the Church to weak and frail leaders, it could only mean that he trust them so much—and he even guaranteed them with his presence until the end of the world (Matt 28:30). There is therefore no reason for me to trust them less than God himself does. If God chooses weak leaders for his Church, it is to show that the Church is his, not men’s; Church leaders are there to serve it, not to dominate God’s people. They cannot behave as if the future of the Church depends on them. The Church lives, and remains holy, despite its weak and sinful leaders.

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A (Matt 16:21-27) August 28, 2011By Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo, SThD

ALMOST a decade ago, June 19, 2002 to be exact, even as then US President George Bush prepared to make a major Mideast policy statement, an Islamic extremist detonated nail-studded explo-sives in a Jerusalem city bus crowded with students and office workers, killing himself and 19 passengers, injuring 55 people, sending bodies flying through the windows and peeling off the roof and sides. This was the deadliest attack in Jerusalem since February 25, 1996 when 26 people were killed in a bus explosion. According to the report of the Associ-ated Press, Hamas, an Islamic militant group, claimed responsibility for the blast, identifying the assailant as Mo-hammed al-Ghoul, 22, from the Al Faras refugee camp near the city of Nablus in the West Bank. Abdel Aziz Rantisi, a Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, said that their goal in these suicide attacks was the withdrawal of Israel from the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as they did not have the power to liberate all Pales-tine through such attacks, although one remembers that Hamas leaders in the past used to say that their main objective was the destruction of Israel. Anyhow, though one must condemn such form of violence, one can only remark at how relentless Palestinians stick with their goal. They could even sacrifice their lives in pursuit of that objective.

Would that Christians were as relent-

less in their pursuit of Christian objec-tives! For it appears that the exercise of our being Christian leaves much to be desired. For some, being Christian means professing the Roman Catholic faith against every effort of born-again Christians to demonstrate how false the Roman Catholic Church is—it is being a catolico cerrado, even though one does not notice how well they exercise their profession of faith. For others, being Christian is identified with doing what the so-called practicing Catholics are supposed to do—go to Mass on Sunday, abstain on Friday, go to confession and re-ceive other sacraments, and die Catholic. This brand of Catholicism, one notices, is often extremely individualistic, without regard for the common aspiration of the community of Christians, like the parish or the diocese. Against this background, one cannot therefore fail to notice what is remarkable with the Hamas! One can only hope that Christians are as unyield-ing in their enthusiasm for Christian values that the community needs—like peace and justice.

Still, being Christian is more than that—it is more than an ideology to pursue. In today’s Gospel, Matthew outlines for us the basics of discipleship. First of all, it is a profession of Jesus as the Messiah, as was seen in the Gospel last Sunday. But not just any kind of Messiah—he is a crucified Messiah: “From then on Jesus [the Messiah] started to indicate to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly there at the hands of the elders, the chief

priests, and the scribes, and to be put to death, and raised up on the third day” (Matt 16:21). The first reading gives us a model of what it means to accept the implication of a profession of faith. Jeremiah’s faith in a God who placed his words in his mouth, setting him over nations and kingdoms to root up and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant (Jer 1:7-10), brought him derision and reproach, making him the object of laughter and mockery (Jer 20:7-8). Similarly, a profession of belief in the messiahship of Jesus entails a living out of that faith in sharing the life and death of the Messiah. Just to make sure that this is not misunderstood, Matthew tells us that when Peter remonstrated Jesus that the Messiah could not suffer and die, tagged him—this man Peter who a moment ago was called blessed—with a harsh appellation, “Satan,” who was trying to make the Messiah trip and fall (Matt 16:22). Matthew seems to portray the apostle Peter as adhering only to a theology of glory and power. That is why Jesus corrected him by offering him a theology of the cross. To profess belief in the messiahship of Jesus is to share in his life and destiny.

How does one share in the life and death of the Messiah? Jesus explained to his followers the practical implica-tions of the theology of the cross: “If a man wishes to come after me, he must deny his very self, take up his cross, and begin to follow in my footsteps” (Matt 16:24). In Filipino popular religiosity,

Reflections on the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) August 21, 2011

By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB

SIMON did nothing special to at-tract Jesus’ attention and deserve a “preferential treatment.” He only put his fishing boat at the disposal of the Master, and accepted to carry out Jesus’ questionable instruction to cast the nets again when the sun was already high on the horizon—a most unlikely hour for a good catch. (See Lk 5:4f.) Yet Jesus loved Simon with special love. There were reasons for that . . . .

Simon was a simple, unschooled fisherman. He was well aware of all his limitations and moral failures. (See Lk 5:8.) But when the crucial moment came to express his opin-ion on Jesus, he showed a unique perceptiveness which outshone all others. He had no doubt: Jesus was “the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16).

The learned and the clever had formed their opinion about the Christ from what they had studied or heard. Their opinions could only be conjectural and inadequate. But Simon’s deep conviction – his faith – was rooted in another kind of knowledge: divine revelation. It was God Himself who had implanted that certitude in him. Hence, Jesus’

reaction: “Blest are you, Simon! . . . No mere man has revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father” (Mt 16:17).

This fisherman from Bethsaida was the object of the Father’s special love. God knew him through and through: his weakness as well as his generosity and sincerity. God had plans for him. He who put the right answer on his lips, would still enlighten him, time and time again, whenever needed for the good of His Church.

Peter would outlive his Master only by thirty years, but the mis-sion of being “rock” and steersman would outlive the fisherman from Galilee till the end of time. It would live on in his successors, century after century. Peter’s role would be fulfilled by others, called by differ-ent given names, but always bear-ing the same root name of “Peter/Rock.” On each of them, as on the fisherman from Bethsaida, Jesus has been conferring his authority to bind and loose, and the strength and wisdom needed to steer the fragile but unsinkable unboat of the Church. Ever assailed by hell’s fury, this Church is ever victorious over storms and reefs, as it is steered by the God-steadied hand of Peter’s successors.

Reflections on the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)National Heroes’ Day

August 28, 2011By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB

WE often forget that the Lord has many types of “blessings.” Some are obvious, like when things go pretty well in life for quite a time, and even for a long time – smooth sailing on a glorious day.... Then we congratulate ourselves and, of course, we thank God too, always hoping that He may continue to bless us....

At other times God’s bless-ings may come to us very much “in disguise.” For a time (or even for too long a time!) we may find it difficult to “recog-nize” them. So, a day may come when we will feel our shoulders burdened with a weight that seems to crush us―the weight of suffering in any or all of its forms: physical, moral, spiri-tual.... And we may be brought

to ask if the Lord still cares for us....

When this happens, we should remember that there are “bless-

“MOM? Where are you and dad going all dressed up?” Drew asked as he clumsily tried buttoning his pajama.

“Honey, tomorrow’s our wedding anniversary! Dad and I are going out on a date to celebrate such a special occasion,” she knelt down and finished buttoning his pajama and fixed his collar.

“That’s reeeally cooool!” Drew said. “Then, I guess after your date you’re both going to have sex!”

His mom suddenly blushed and her eyes popped wide open with surprise. “Honey, whe…, whe.., where in the world did you learn that?” She asked trying to control her emotions.

“I read it in the Dinosaur book you gave me last week,” Drew explained. “It sez that they go off in pairs and later have sex.”

“But honey, that’s with dinosaurs and animals,” she patted his head.

She was just about to add something when her eldest daughter butted in: “That’s right Drew! You shouldn’t talk about sex like that. You gotta wait till after college then you can have sex.”

“Daaad!” Drew cried out. “Susie made mommy faint!”

* * *Parents today can no longer seem to cope with

the way their children are exposing themselves to the many noble as well as harmful realities and experiences of life. Many generations ago they only had to worry about monitoring how much time their children spent playing basketball or their whereabouts as they hang out with peers.

Now, there are just too many real and virtual forms of activities (i.e. video games, mobile gadgets, and various social networks in the Internet, etc.) that parents can no longer totally monitor. Their task becomes more challenging when it comes to how vulnerable their children are before the deluge of sexually explicit mediums (e.g., ads, billboards, clips, pop-ups, and DVDs, etc.) To these we add the easy access to pornographic and hate sites in the Internet.

As a consequence, some believe that a more

ings in disguise”.... That will be “the moment of truth.” The moment when the real disciple comes alive, in all humility and trust. And a wonderful sunshine will break through the dark clouds of sorrow and discourage-ment.

Then, with God’s grace, we will come to understand many things: the sighs of those who suffered before us... the frailty of our strength and virtues.... We will understand the meaning of the words of Jesus when he spoke of crosses to be taken up and carried patiently after him as a sign of our faithfulness to him. (See Mt 16:26.)

We will gradually discover that there are values in life which are appreciated only when we are brought low by suffering, or while groaning under the weight

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Social Concerns

Tahanang Walang HagdananStrengthens and uplifts the lives of PWDs

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By Ronalyn R. Regino

WHEN the National Statistics Office conducted a Labor Force Survey last March, the results showed that the un-employment rate in the country rose to 2.91 million in January this year from 2.82 million in the same month as last year. This goes to show that having a stable financial income or being employed is getting harder and harder by the min-ute. Such situation can only be applied, however, to able persons.

If able persons are already having difficulties to be hired, how much more are persons with disabilities (PWDs)? This is where the Tahanang Walang Hagdanan enters.

Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, Inc. is a non-stock, non-profit and non-government organization that aims to uplift the lives of the orthopedically handicapped persons. Its goal is to be-come rehabilitation and skills training center with sheltered workshops where PWDs are trained to be productive, to improve their standard of living through sustainable livelihood and to be self-reliant members of the society.

Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, Inc. was founded by Sister Maria Paula Val-eriana Baerts, ICM, a Belgian nun who belonged to the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. She used to be assigned in the Philippine Orthopedic Center in 1965 where she witnessed

and saw that discharged patients had nowhere to go. Some of them were either abandoned or scared of going back to their families due to fear of not being accepted. Sister Baerts knew then that something had to be done.

According to Tess Lloren, Tahanan’s Resource Mobilization Office Director and Executive Assistant to the Chief Operations Officer, it was through the efforts of Sister Baerts and civic minded citizens that the sheltered workshops were built as early as 1965. But it was only when Sister Baerts met Cardinal Jaime Sin in 1973 that Tahanan was established. Both were able to identify a lot where they can build the Tahanan.

Tahanan used to be under the Arch-diocese of Manila but now it has been transferred to the Diocese of Antipolo

with a 10-year renewable contract, under Bishop Gabriel Reyes, D.D.

As mentioned above, Tahanan was originally for rehabilitation and skills training, but when PWD employment was not supported by most companies due to physical and social barriers, they began the Livelihood Program where they accommodated packaging services and produce wheelchairs, educational materials, and kitchen wares, among other things. And because they know better, Tahanan opted to produce “cus-tomized” wheelchairs which are suited according to a person’s disability so they could be more comfortable and produc-tive through customized mobility aid.

There are over 350 persons in Tahanan. Eighteen of them belong to the Special Education program—children who live

and study within Tahanan although some have been enrolled in a regular school. The rest are staff and workers, 70% of whom are PWDs while the 30% are able bodied.

Tahanan has over four hectares of land but as of now, only two and half hectares are being occupied. There are six dormitories for residents and dif-ferent workshops such as metalcraft, woodcraft, needlecraft, and packaging area. Aside from those, there is also a house and a study room provided for the SpEd children. The remaining lot is allotted for a housing project designed for wheelchair users, for the staff and workers, but is yet to be built since the lot improvement and housing construc-tion require funding. Proposal for this project has been prepared and still to be

submitted to potential funders.Tahanan calls for support of their

livelihood program by availing their products which are not only functional but also of good quality.

However, it is Tahanan’s wish that the government and private companies would employ PWDs which the law says that 5% of the workforce must be PWDs.

Some PWDs who have availed of the services of Tahanan like education pro-gram and skills training are now hired by other companies. One of them is now a director in a call center while another is an executive in a private company and one is a professor in one of the Universi-ties. This only proves that even if they are physically challenged, they can work as good as the able-bodied.

“PWDs, when given the opportunity and accessible environment that they can work on can really be an asset to the company,” Lloren said.

People with disabilities used to limit themselves in doing things. But because of Tahanan, PWDs have a place to call their own where they can feel free, expe-rience independence and do things that an able-bodied does. As Lloren puts it, “We’re not looking at the income that we generate but from the number of the people we help.” It is the essence of a social enterprise.

Tahanang Walang Hagdanan is locat-ed at 175 Aida Street Marick Subdivision, Cainta, Rizal. For your donations and concerns, call 655-0055 or 655-0812.

self-denial is sometimes identi-fied with being an ascetic, or engaging in self-flagellation, as is done in some parts of Luzon during Holy Week. Still, one can be an ascetic or a self-flagellant and still remain self-centered. Such a view of self-denial could justify and encourage various forms of oppression. Rather, denying oneself on the one hand implies the affirmation

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of one’s being a child of God and therefore subordination of his will and desire to God’s will as expressed in the life of Jesus. Obviously, this entails negation of self-centeredness, a complete severance from what people crave after—all forms of self-seeking and self-promotion. It means death to pride, self-ishness, and lust for pleasure and power. It means no to self-

assertion. On the other hand, it means replacing one’s very “I” with Christ, who alone is the real wealth, all others being counted as rubbish (Phil 3:8b).

In saying that one must take up the cross, Jesus did not mean that this has to be done literally, as do some flagellantes during Holy Week, although it could lead to that. What is meant here is the acceptance of suffering entailed

in following Jesus—the rejection and ridicule, opposition and sacrifice of one’s very life, which could literally include carrying the cross and being crucified in it, though today there are other ways of doing this. In following the Lord, one is formed in the pattern of his death. In the words of St Paul, I wish to know “how to share in his sufferings by be-ing formed into the pattern of his

of our cross(es). But especially, we will realize that those “mis-haps” and failures have drawn us closer to our Teacher. We will discover that, now, we have come to resemble him much more than when things were “going well.”

In those days suffering will be seen for what it was meant to be: a blessing that tests, puri-fies, and strengthens. And the crucifixes in our houses will no longer be pious decorations, but our coat of arms, the real source of our strength, of our dignity, and our hope. Hope, indeed! Because it is only in the cross of Christ that our crosses take on meaning, acquire supernatural value, and open our hearts to the expectation of our “resurrection day.”

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pragmatic approach will “help the children” to wrestle against this vi-cious sexual environment. Instead of attacking the problem at its source by censoring, banning and removing obscene and immodest media, they believe that informing children with about human sexuality would solve this problem.

Sadly, they do not realize that the education in human sexuality is not a mere modified biology class point-ing out the parts of the human body. Neither can it be reduced to a romantic story explaining how babies come into the world because of love. Education

of the person’s sexual and affective spheres, like all human realities, can only be understood and properly lived when their real contexts are taken into account. Taken apart by themselves, sex, affections and passions will be nothing but biological urges or emo-tional cycles.

Blessed John Paul II says: “It is an illusion to think we can build a true culture of human life if we do not accept and experience sexuality and love and the whole of life according to their true meaning and their close interconnec-tion.” (The Gospel of Life no. 97) The close interconnection between sexuality

and love can only be fully appreciated and can only be oriented towards the person’s perfection when it is under-stood within the context of marriage and the family.

Within the family, sex can never be a mere biological urge that seeks a selfish release. It becomes an anvil for forg-ing personal virtues (e.g. temperance, sobriety, patience and understanding). This fosters generosity and sacrifice which likewise help love to grow when everyone seeks only the good of the other.

Sexuality understood within the context of marriage also helps to

nurture a very much needed virtue today: fidelity. The fidelity between the spouses –not only in the marital sense– becomes a vital example for the children to learn how sexuality is oriented towards serving, diligence and a creative affection for every mem-ber. It is here that family ties become stronger and fruitful.

Finally, such ties that arise from fidel-ity and love help every family member to mature in their personal and social identity. The long history of divorce and homosexual unions demonstrate how children grow up incapable of properly grappling with their personal identities

death” (Phil 3:10). That way, one carries in his body the death of Jesus: “We are afflicted in every way possible, but we are not crushed; full of doubts, we never despair. We are persecuted but never abandoned; we are struck down but never destroyed. Continually we carry about in our bodies the dying of Jesus so that in our bodies the life of Jesus may be revealed. While we live,

we are constantly being delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal bodies” (2 Cor 4:8-11). This mystery of the cross is likewise reflected in a deutero-Pauline letter; “Even now I find my joy in the suffering I endure for you. In my own flesh I fill up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of his body, the Church” (Col 1:24).

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and social roles.The plain solution of ‘sex educa-

tion’ may indeed sufficiently inform children about sex (e.g. including the consequences of the irresponsible use of their reproductive faculties). But it will not be sufficient to educate them about sex especially when it is grasped outside of its authentic sphere. If they cannot understand sex within its cre-ational and vital space, then what can prevent sexual information from being a spark that will light the wick of their ‘untrained curiosity’ and later explode into a frenzy of uncontrolled sexual promiscuity?

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was created in July 1986. Before this, the ECY was initially a committee un-der the Episcopal Commission on Lay Apostolate (ECLA) during the period 1976-1985. During the National Con-ference for Youth Ministers (NCYM) in January 1986 in Tagaytay City, the delegates proposed for the creation of a separate commission specifically for the youth. The bases for its creation are the following: 1) that majority of the population belongs to the youth; 2) that the ECLA, dominated by lay adults with their own unique needs and concerns, cannot adequately meet the particular demands of ministering to the young; 3) that the youth and youth ministry exhibit unique needs and aspirations—calling for a corresponding response that is concrete, adequate and complete; 4) that the youth deserve fuller and more direct representation and participation in the Philippine Church. Acknowledging the need for a commission that addresses all youth ministry concerns distinctively, the Bishops, in their CBCP Plenary As-sembly in July 1986, unanimously ap-proved the creation of the ECY.6“As youth ministry is a ministry within the Ministry, then it espouses and lives out the mystery of communion. Truly, youth ministry is a mirror of the Church held together as a family of the Father in Jesus through the Spirit” (KA-LAKBAY, p. 87-88).7How often do we say that the youth are the future of our nation, of our church, but they are also, and perhaps more so, the present of our nation and church—they who compose more than 50% of our country’s population.8“[The youth] must be helped to grow and develop in the faith: this is the first service they should receive from the Church and especially from us Bishops and our priests... If this is to happen, young people must feel loved by the Church and concretely loved by us Bish-ops and priests” (Benedict XVI, Address to Italian Bishops, 30 May 2005).9Understood as the specific “branch” of the Church’s mission, directed to and involving the young in general, flow-ing from the selfsame overall ministry of the Church, but is carried out as a concrete expression addressed to the young in their everyday situation (cf. KA-LAKBAY, p. 27).10Cf. Conciliar Document of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines, art. 385: “As we in this Council have declared our evangelical love of preference for the poor, so it would appear to us now to declare a preferential apostolate for children and youth.”11Cf. Lk 5:4.12“You, the young people, are called above all to become missionaries of this New Evangelization, bearing witness daily to the Word that saves.” (John Paul II, Message for the 10th World Youth

Day 1995, no. 3).13“Young people are the source of hope for the future, as we have seen during the Tenth ‘World Youth Day’ right here in Manila. With their enthusiasm and energy, they must be encouraged and trained to become ‘leading characters in evangelization and participants in the renewal of society’.” (John Paul II, Address to the Episcopal Conference of the Philippines, 14 January 1995).14From the Third General Conference of Latin American Bishops in Puebla, Mexico, 1979.15Cf. Lk 1:38.16Decrees of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines, article 50, no. 2.17“Youth ministry as a way of being a gift of the Church to the world, is not a separate ministry. It is a ministry found within the ‘Ministry’” (KA-LAKBAY, p. 67).18“…false teachers of life, also numerous in the modern world, propose goals which not only fail to bring satisfaction but often intensify and exacerbate the thirst that burns in the human heart. Who then can understand and satisfy our expectations? Who but the One who is the Author of life can satisfy the expecta-tions that he himself has placed in our hearts?” (John Paul II, Message for the 8th World Youth Day 1993, no. 3).19Mt 18:6, NAB.20“In school year 2007, about 5M students were enrolled in national high schools… about 1.2M of them will fall by the way-side” (Salesian Missions Inc., The Y Fac-tor, p. 99); “Almost 70% of Filipino youth have tried drinking alcohol” (p. 149); “…3.4M Filipinos are on illegal drugs. An estimated half of this or 1.8M were from the youth sector” (p. 150);“79% of drug patients were out-of-school youths prior to their admission for treat-ment” (p. 153); “On the average, male and female youth get initiated to sex at the age of 18.2 and 18.9, respectively” (p. 173).21Cf. Mt 9:14.22Cf. Mk 10:18-21.232 Cor 5:14, NAB.24Ps 127:1, NAB.25As upheld by art. 51-52 of the Decrees of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines.26“I would like then to invite Christians, confidently and with an informed and responsible creativity, to join the network of relationships which the digital era has made possible. This is not simply to satisfy the desire to be present, but because this network is an integral part of human life. The web is contributing to the development of new and more complex intellectual and spiritual hori-zons, new forms of shared awareness. In this field too we are called to proclaim our faith that Christ is God, the Saviour of humanity and of history, the one in whom all things find their fulfillment (cf. Eph 1:10)” (Benedict XVI, Message

for the 45th World Communications Day 2011).27Slogan of YouthPinoy!: “Winning the world through the Word”28“…youth ministry is not merely for the chosen few, but it is for young people from all walks of life” (KA-LAKBAY, p. 89).29“Another cluster of weakness lies around the characteristic of discontinuity, seasonality, transitoriness, and lack of sustainability. Some programs are merely sporadic” (KA-LAKBAY, p. 31).30“The entire activity of the Church is an expression of a love that seeks the integral good of man” (Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter Deus Caritas Est, no. 19).31“You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and fittingly enough, for that is what I am. But if I washed your feet—I who am Teacher and Lord—then you must wash each other’s feet” (Jn 13:13-14, NAB).32 i.e. the parish or the diocese: “Within the larg-er Christian community, [youth ministers] are recognized by and through the ecclesial hierarchy…” (KA-LAKBAY, p. 173).33Here we mention some institutions and events which offer formation for youth ministers and leaders: the Institute of Formation-Fondacio Asia of Fondacio-Christians for the World, the annual Blessed John Paul II Catechetics-Youth Ministry Conference of the Salesians of Don Bosco, and the biennial National Conference for Youth Ministers of the ECY, aside from many other formative gatherings for youth leaders and minis-ters organized by regions, dioceses and other groups.34“This communitarian dimension is very much in line with the vision of the Fili-pino Catholic Church as a participatory community of disciples, as spelt out in the Second Plenary Council of the Philip-pines (PCP II)” (KA-LAKBAY, p. 15).35Youth ministry is “…a comprehensive and collaborative effort, carried out by the entire ecclesial community—intergenerational, integrated, and har-monized…” (stet).36“Youth ministry takes this opportune time in the life of the individual for total and integral formation that not only focuses on faith but on all other aspects of growth as well” (KA-LAKBAY, p. 84-85).37“…an emerging design in youth min-istry is also that of welcoming persons who do not fall under the mentioned general characteristics [i.e. single Filipino Catholics from 13 to 29 years old who normally belong to a parish], such as unwed mothers, youth in the streets, members of other Christian denominations or other religions, indigenous youth, and others” (KA-LAKBAY, p. 21).38“We also ask you to ensure that our ministry, at all levels, coordinate and synergize with other Church ministries

(e.g. Family Life, Human Development, etc.)…” (2nd Bishops’ Institute for the Lay Apostolate on Youth 2007, Final Statement, no. 3).39“…we must become new people, abandoning what is old within us, letting ourselves be renewed in depth by the strength of the Spirit of the Lord” (John Paul II, Message for the 10th World Youth Day 1995, no. 5).40“The Christian formation of young people in Asia should recognize that they are not only the object of the Church’s pastoral care but also ‘agents and co-workers in the Church’s mission in her various apostolic works of love and service’” (John Paul II, Apostolic Exhor-tation Ecclesia in Asia, no. 47).41“In fact the Church sees her path towards the future in the youth, be-holding in them a reflection of herself and her call to that blessed youthful-ness which she constantly enjoys as a result of Christ’s Spirit” (John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles Laici, no. 46).42Our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, whose 150th birthday our country celebrates this 2011, wrote in his To the Filipino

Youth:“Raise your unruffled browOn this day, Filipino youth!Resplendent shines your courage rich,Handsome hope of my motherland!”43Benedict XVI, Message for the World Youth Day 2011, no. 6.44”…young people want great things. They want an end to injustice. They want inequalities to be overcome and all peoples to have their share in the earth’s goods. They want freedom for the oppressed. They want great things, good things. This is why young people are—you are—once again fully open to Christ. Christ did not promise an easy life. Those who desire comforts have dialed the wrong number. Rather, he shows us the way to great things, the good, towards an authentic human life” (Benedict XVI, Message to German pilgrims, 25 April 2005).45From the National Pastoral Consulta-tion on Church Renewal 2001.46Cf. Jn 10:10.471 Cor 16:13-14, GNT.48Message of the Second Vatican Council to the youth, 07 December 1965.49Cf. Ps 90:17.

B8 Vol. 15 No. 17August 15 - 28, 2011

CBCP Monitor

JUST-DIVORCED Larry Crowne (Tom Hanks) has been Employee of the Month for eight months straight at the local UMart store. But he is the first to go when retrenchment time comes. Reason? He has no college degree. Now jobless and with a mortgaged house, he sells all but the barest necessities through his neighbor Lamar (Cedric the Entertainer) and enrols at the local community college. There he is befriended by a fetching young woman Talia (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) who playfully christens him “Lance Corona”, updates his look and his lifestyle to match the new name, and invites him to join their scooter club. In Public Speaking class he meets the teacher Mercedes Tainot (Julia Roberts), and from then on life becomes one safe and wholesome scooter ride.

The story is good, no doubt about that. But in its telling, the viewer might somehow expect something more gripping, some seismic spurts to lend spice to break the bland succes-sion of events and to heighten the impact of the plot’s positive aspects. But then, although the subject is serious enough to merit a more profound, dramatic treatment, Larry Crowne is still billed as a romance-comedy, so it’s a compromise at best, but not without merits. As far as the script demands, lead stars Hanks and Roberts did their best and came out convinc-ing and credible personae as what you might encounter in a small town that can pretty much exist without the rest of the world encroaching on private lives. You get to view them as Larry Crowne and Mercedes Tainot, stripped of the glamour of their real life Hollywood identities, which makes them real good actors in our eyes.

In its own quiet way Larry Crowne succeeds in giving hope for fresh beginnings to persons nearing the end of their line. Larry is tearful over his retrenchment but it also serves to emphasize his tender nature: he is one hero who rises above misfortune without firing a gun, burning a building or plot-ting revenge on his oppressors. The only “violence” here is when he smashes his scooter onto a couple of tables displaying cheap garage sale items. Hanks as director and writer (with Nia Vardalos) probably created the Larry character to remind us that gentlemen are a vanishing breed in this day and age. For what male nowadays would have the guts to disengage himself from a woman’s tight embrace and a devouring kiss-hungry mouth, say goodnight politely, and while tickled to high heavens still walk away without looking back? Larry Crowne is also a subtle statement about prejudice against non-college graduates in America, a bias so common it’s been taken for granted.

TITLE: Larry CrowneCAST: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Rami Malek, Bryan

Cranston, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Wilmer Valderrama, Taraji P. Henson, Pam Grier;

DIRECTOR & WRITER: Tom Hanks; GENRE: Comedy, Drama; RUNNING TIME: 99 minutes.Technical Assessment: Moral Assessment: ½CINEMA Rating: For viewers age 14 and above.

Buhay Parokya

Technical Assessment

PoorBelow averageAverageAbove averageExcellent

Moral Assessment

Abhorrent Disturbing AcceptableWholesomeExemplary

Entertainment

MAC en COLET Ni Bladimer Usi

STEVE Rogers wants to serve his country and enlist in the Army. However, he is not physically qualified to become a soldier and is rejected for the 5th time. After he and his best friend attend the Modern Marvels of Tomorrow exposition, Rogers tries his luck one last time. Scientist Dr. Erskine (Stanley Tucci) overhears Roger’s fervent conviction and approves his application to the US Army’s special unit, Strategic Scientific Reserve. Rogers works hard and displays common sense but al-ways falls short to the physical demands of the training, much to the disgust of Col. Chester Phillips (Tommy Lee Jones) who believes he is simply too weak and skinny to be chosen as the super soldier experiment. But when he shows how he is will-ing to sacrifice himself to save the team, Erskine knows he has found the right person. The ex-periment transforms Rogers into a well-built muscular soldier with enhanced physical. However, Er-skine is killed by a Nazi spy and the transformed Rogers is simply reduced into a performing war mascot, Captain America tour-ing cities and camps. However, SSR officer Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) refuses to believe that this is Rogers destiny and helps him fly into enemy lines to save his enlisted childhood friend, now captured by Schmidt/ The Skull (Hugo Weaving). Captain America destroys the base, saves

400 soldiers, brings back hi-tech enemy weapons and proves his worth in fighting the war.

It is always inspiring to learn the back stories of popular heroes whose quests and triumphs we already know. Captain America presents Steve Rogers as a char-acter with dreams and struggles any person can identify with. The story telling is straightforward and clear with a production de-sign that is well-researched and thorough. The visual technique is entertaining but average. Ironi-cally, the story development is more interesting in the first act, where Rogers struggles to be accepted in the US Army. The movie begins to lose momen-tum during the 2nd act where Captain America battles with the Skull because the scenes are longer than necessary and too much emphasis is given to the special effects and post produc-tion techniques. Overall, Captain America is enjoyable (especially is watched in 3D) but pales in comparison to Iron Man and Thor which completes the back story of the Avengers characters. It gives a good back story but of-fers nothing new or noteworthy. It is entertaining enough to hold the audience captive for the next few minutes but not memorable enough to be talked about after wards.

Captain America emphasizes two strong points. First, hero-ism is not about the strength of

TITLE: Captain AmericaCAST: Chris Evans, Tommy

Lee Jones, Hugo Weav-ing, Hayley Atwell, Stanley Tucci

DIRECTOR: Joe JohnstoneSCREENWRITER: Christopher

Markus, Stephen McFee-kyl; Based on Captain America by Joe Simon

EDITOR: Robert Dalva and Jeffrey Ford

PRODUCER: Kevin FeigeRUNNING TIME: 124 minutesDISTRIBUTOR: ParamountPictures

Technical Assessment:

Moral Assessment: ½CINEMA Rating: For viewers age 14 and above

the body but the genuineness of the desire to protect and serve up to the point of self- sacrifice. Although Rogers was physically transformed into a super soldier, it was his heart and spirit that made him a hero. Second, the movie reminds us how every person has a place in history if only he will patiently persist and learn not to run away from pain or failure.

Although the theme and lan-guage of the movie is suitable for the family, it remains a war movie with several violent action scenes that may be disturbing to the younger audiences.

look for the images of saint John the Baptist, saint peterand Chalice(Illustration by Bladimer Usi)

CFC Europe celebrates 16th CFC/SOLD Conference in Geneva

By Elmer Pagdilao

CFC members from 11 countries in Europe marched to Geneva, Switzerland to celebrate the 16th CFC/SOLD European Conference on 12-14 August 2011 at the Geneva Palexpo Congress Centre.

The conference is anchored on the 2011 CFC theme, “Full Armor of God” which drew inspiration from the passage in Ephesians 6:11 (NIV) “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

The conference started with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist presided by Father

Richard De Lord, parish priest of Pope John 23rd Centre, the home parish of host CFC Switzerland. The traditional Food Festival followed where brethren were treated to sumptuous dinner featuring the speciality cuisine of each participating country. As the event was held in a country famous for chocolates, delegations shared their respective chocolate desserts. The chant and banner showdown that centered on the theme of the conference capped the first day and set the stage for the series of talks the following day.

The second day began with the Holy Mass led by Fr. Tony Sequeira of the Pope John 23rd Parish and concelebrated by Fr. Paulino Bumanglag, Chaplain of the Philippine Catholic Mission in Italy and Fr. Joseph

Farrugia, the Spiritual Adviser of CFC Malta. Joe Yamamoto, CFC Regional Coordinator for Europe, gave the Prologue and spoke about CFC’s Fight for Fullness through its history of storms and how the Lord

guided the community in its journey out of the trials.

Chris Mautsi, Country Head of CFC United Kingdom, gave Talk 1 that described the Field of Battle including God’s plan of redemption. Venci Arcayan,

Southeast Europe Subregional Coordinator, shared his life, particularly on his own personal struggles. This was followed by Joe Aquilina, CFC Malta Country Head, who gave Talk 2 on Relying on the Mighty Power of God. Bong Arjonillo, a member of the CFC Board of Elders and a sector head in Metro Manila, reinforced the talk with his sharing.

Talk 3 which reminded the CFC brethren to Stand Firm against the Foe was given by Junfer Dela Cruz, CFC Netherlands Country Head, who is among the youngest leaders of CFC Europe. Boie Sescon, Country Coordinator for Netherlands, travelled all the way from his native town of Cagayan de Oro in far Mindanao, Philippines, to give

his testimony about the talk. Art Sandoval, CFC

Switzerland Country Head, gave Talk 4 which described each element of the “Full Armor of God” described in Ephesians 6:10-18. This time around, it was Joe Yamamoto who gave his sharing on how the Lord provided him with the full armor in leading CFC as Executive Director during its darkest days.

Vince Granado from CFC Austria led the brethren into a vibrant and powerful praisefest after the talks, but not before he too shared his own experience of God’s protection. He related how the Lord protected his child from serious injury with what he half-jokingly called the “car seat of salvation” when the bus they were riding on the

Geneva / C6

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CFC Joins State of the Soul of the Nation AddressBy Tina Rodriguez

ON June 25, 2011, CFC members were among about 1,500 people who attended the STATE OF THE SOUL OF THE NATION ADDRESS (SSONA), organized by Pro-Life Philippines Foundation. The SSONA had one purpose: “to examine our objective national condition, express our faith and hope in the good things to come and give voice to our just anxieties about the new challenges we

face and many recurring ills.”The event opened with a wor-

ship service for the Evangelical Christian participants at Club Filipino, and a Mass for the Catholic attendees at the Sanc-tuario de San Jose in Greenhills, Mandaluyong City. CFC Chair-man Ricky Cuenca led the CFC delegation, distinctive in their red “Armor of GOD” t-shirts.

The mass was officiated by Manila Auxiliary Bishop Bro-derick Pabillo together with other clergy, including healing priest Fr. Fernando Suarez, who

delivered the homily. Fr. Suarez reminded everyone about how “it is so good to be Catholic” tasked to “do good” always and to “work for life.”

Above everything else, Fr. Suarez said that we are called to “be like Jesus and give our lives as a ransom for many.” He also said that we should be united as a people, “loving” those who are pro-RH, because “only Satan will triumph if hatred reigns in our hearts against them.”

After the Mass, everyone “marched” to Club Filipino for the SSONA proper.

Those who spoke about the state of the soul of the nation were former Sen. Francisco “Kit” Tatad; former Congressman and now bishop of Bible Mode Inter-national Bienvenido “Benny” Abante; former Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) chief Bro. Rolando Dizon of La Salle Greenhills; Soldiers of Christ elder Erlinda Arcadia; Eleanore Palabyab, M.D., president of Doctors for Life; Pastor Reyzel Cayanan of the Baptist group Biblemode Youth; and World

By Tina Rodriguez

AFTER the well-attended and very inspiring Freedom To Love Conference presented by Christopher West last June 25, 2011, Couples for Christ has started on a follow-up to West’s teachings by organizing an eight-week Theology of the Body (TOB) Basic Formation Program.

As part of the pro-life “army” in the forefront of the battle against all things that seek to promote the culture of death, CFC aims to equip all members with the basic formation needed to nurture, defend and uphold life.

Blessed John Paul II’s Theol-ogy of the Body is considered as the foundation for this formation, and CFC is privi-leged to have Fr. Joel Jason, Dean of Studies of the Theology Department of San Carlos Seminary and Professor of Moral Theology and Sexuality, as the main formator for the program.

The TOB Basic Formation program started on August 10 and will end on

September 28. Sessions are held every Wednesday from 7.30 pm to 10.00 pm, at the Multi-Pur-pose Hall, San Carlos Seminary Lay Formation Center, Guada-lupe, Makati City. Participants who are able to complete the whole program will be issued a certificate of attendance.

The Theology of the Body Pro-gram is only one of other pro-life activities organized by CFC’s Gift of Life Ministry, which include natural family planning seminars, fertility awareness talks, and crisis pregnancy coun-selling. As one global family, CFC continues to unite itself with the Catholic Church, in cherishing the gift of life, family and community.

To contact the CFC Gift of Life office, please email cfcgiftof-life@gmail.com or call (632) 709 4853.

Youth Alliance Asia-Pacific (WYAAP) regional director Re-nelyn Tan.

Aside from talking about matters of life, family and mar-riage, the two-hour SSONA also discussed the state of our economy, the true picture of poverty in the country and the concerns of our “national heroes,” i.e. overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

The issues of peace and order, education, health care, environ-mental concerns and agrarian reform were also brought up, with calls for improvements in our foreign affairs, the fight against corruption, and electoral reforms.

The message was clear to all: our nation needs MORAL RES-TORATION above everything else. We need to continue to fight for LIFE, but more than that, nurture it in all forms. This means that all Catholics, including CFC, must work to help others have a restoration of their conscience, and to educate others on what is good, right and true, in accordance with God’s plan.

CFC Holds Theology of the Body Course

By Princess Nidea

VICTORIOUS! This is the one word that best describes the 10th CFC-KFC European Kids Village celebrated on 12-14 August this year in Geneva, Switzerland.

The atmosphere indeed was one of victory. The halls of the Geneva Palexpo (Palais des Expositions), home to the renowned annual Geneva international auto show, teemed with excited and exhilarated voices of the young and the old alike, as the European Kids’ Village was held alongside the 16th CFC/SOLD Conference.

The theme for the conference was inspired by the verse from Ephesians 6:10: “Be strong in the Lord.”

The Kids for Christ and their ates and kuyas from Youth for Christ Europe ex-

perienced the beautiful blessings of love and fellowship during the conference, particularly the teenagers from YFC Europe who willingly gave their time and talent to serve God through their younger siblings in Christ.

The conference was held at the same time as the CFC European Conference. There were sessions wherein the kids joined their parents, which allowed the families to worship God and enjoy the weekend together. The CFC theme, “Put on the Full Ar-mor of God,” was delivered through workshops, songs, talks, play and games. The conference focused on three elements: praying, loving and serving. These are the very traits the older genera-tion wants their kids to learn,

so that in the future, these same kids will be leaders that will espouse these same values not just in their families but in society. The creative and sports competitions, participated in by both kids and parents, highlighted all these virtues in a fun way.

Blessed and inspired! It’s truly amaz-

ing to know that KFC Europe, young and carefree, have already responded to the calling of God. The EKV allowed both delegates and service team to real-ize that age doesn’t matter as long as we all praise, serve and worship the Lord with all our hearts. One of the service team shared, “They made me smile,

not because of their cute faces and childish attitudes, but because of their willingness to stand up and to shout at the top of their little lungs their praises to our Almighty God. They have so much energy to offer, and that made the serv-

Kids Strong in Christice even more enjoyable and fun.”

Delegates coming from countries all over Europe had a grand time in the fun competitions, as well as the sports competitions. As the program ended on Sunday, kids and adults alike left re-energized and ready to get back to their own countries and go to battle, especially as they prepare to return to their own schools, the holidays be-ing almost over. As if they cannot get enough, all are looking forward to the 11th Kids’ Conference in Milan, Italy in July.

Truly, KFC Europe is geared up to raise strong leaders for the Lord!

Fr. Joel Jason giving the TOB seminar

Ugnayan

Vol. 15 No. 17August 15 - 28, 2011

CBCP Monitor

The News Supplement of Couples for Christ

C2 Vol. 15 No. 17August 15 - 28, 2011

CBCP Monitor

By Eunice Claire Yape

ON July 31, 2011, CFC Kids for Christ (KFC), held the second R.O.C.K. (Reach Out Christ to Kids) Conference at Miriam College Grade School Auditorium. Around 500 participants, made up of members of Youth for Christ, Singles for Christ and Handmaids of the Lord from Metro Manila and the nearby provinces, attended the conference that had as theme “ENLISTED” which stands for “ENduring a LIfe of Service Together Every Day”.

The Conference started with a mass presided by Father Nanja, a priest from Peru, who is now based at the Ateneo De Manila University. Fr. Nanja stressed in his homily that “the youth are the hope of the future.” He also encouraged the participants to continue their service in molding young Christ-like leaders in KFC.

Nic Escalona Jr., the International KFC Coordinator, welcomed everyone as he formally announced the opening of the whole conference. The 29 AD Next Gen band helped hype up the par-ticipants by performing “Enlisted,” a song composed by Ian Talisic especially for the conference. Afterwards, YFC Metro Manila East B R.O.C.K. Leader, Cholo Gamogamo, led the crowd in the opening worship.

Blair Jereza, KFC Luzon fulltime pas-toral worker gave the first session, titled “Zeal for the Mission.” Blair pointed out that this zeal focuses on three main points: first, God calls us to be like Him; second, God wants us to be like Jesus; and third, He empowers us by sending the Holy Spirit.

In the afternoon, Lloyd Polinar, a mission volunteer for KFC Metro Manila, led everyone into worship. Afterwards, there were various work-

Raffy Mundo, member of the Interna-tional Core Team of KFC. The Summit emphasized “the life of love and service of the couple coordinators for the min-istry of CFC Kids For Christ.” Couple coordinators came to appreciate more fully their service in KFC, and were again affirmed in their mission to “mold young Christ-like leaders.”

AIan Talisic, the newly-assigned fulltime pastoral worker in charge of Metro Manila gave the second talk entitled “A.R.M.E.D.” He spoke about the realities R.O.C.K. facilitators face in their service, and reminded everyone of their responsibilities while they serve God through the kids. They were also exhorted to be A.R.M.E.D. (Aware, Role Models, Excellent & Efficient, and Develop) as they serve the KFC, and to recall that being a ROCK is not just a service, but a lifestyle.

Nic Escalona Jr. empowered every-one by reminding them who our true leader is – Jesus – and by rallying and encouraging everyone to be ENLISTED: first, enlisted to invite others to be en-listed; second, enlisted to mold young Christ-like leaders; and third, enlisted to be always with Jesus.

shops both for the R.O.C.K. facilitators and R.O.C.K. Couple Coordinators. “Cadet R.O.C.K.,” facilitated by KFC fulltime pastoral worker Kathryn Pacheco, discussed the basics of KFC, and enjoined those present to equip themselves with the basics: the mis-sion, vision, goals, programs and advocacies of KFC.

Another workshop, titled “Charlie Tango,” was facilitated by Dayloe Ranario from the CFC Events team. It focused on bringing out the crea-tivity of every facilitator. They were taught about creative thinking and how to do the Kids Praise the right way.

Another workshop for the R.O.C.K. facilitators was the “Leaders Taking Flight,” given by Nabie Lagaspi, a KFC sector facilitator from Metro Manila North A who is also a BS Child Devel-opment student and a member of the UP Music Circle Emcee guild of the Philippines. Facilitators were taught how to deal with kids in a more ap-propriate manner and how to speak effectively in front of them.

Meanwhile, the R.O.C.K. Coordina-tors’ “Brave Heart” Summit was led by

Ugnayan

SFC Japan Stands for JesusBy Prince Nathaniel del Rosario

FROM CamSur to Tokyo, God’s call to battle echoes to his soldiers!

The SFC International Confer-ence (ICon) 2011 Japan Echo was held last July 30 in Rikkoukai Hall, Shinagawa, Tokyo. As an “echo” conference, SFC ICon Japan aimed to cascade God’s messages given during the SFC Icon, held last February in Ca-marines Sur, to the Singles for Christ members in Japan.

Now on its fourth year, the SFC ICon Japan was hosted by SFC Yokohama, bringing togeth-er SFCs from Tokyo, Yamato, Kita-Kanto, Chiba and Osaka to listen to God’s message and be united in worship. Members of other CFC Family Ministries (CFC, HOLD, SOLD) were also present to support this much-awaited SFC event.

Erwin Paler of SFC Tokyo led the community in an uplifting morning worship and assured God’s army of our Commander-in-Chief’s promise: “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Rec Serrano of SFC Yoko-hama, one of the SFC Japan delegates to the CamSur ICon, gave Talk 1: “Call to Arms.” He reminded everyone that as Christians, we are in the middle of a spiritual battle, and that the enemy can subtly attack our homes, schools, workplaces, and even our Church.

Talk 2, titled “The Enemy,” was given by Fr. Oscar Sam-son, Jr., Assistant Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Cathedral, Yokohama. Fr. Oscar also celebrated the Holy Eucharist during the event. He empha-sized that our own pride and

By Aaron Estrellado

THE July 29 to 31 SFC Oceania Conference (OCON) at the Tops Conference Center in Sydney, Australia saw 124 members united together in the OCON theme: “I stand, Put on the Armor of God,” from Ephesians 6:10-18.

This conference was truly different from previous ones. It was a time for truly seeking God. Our Lord says “Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). Christ constantly knocks at the door of our heart, but only we can open it. Once I opened up to the whole OCON experi-ence, I was able to receive God’s grace. I saw the reality of my faith, the richness and fruitfulness of what the Catholic Church has to offer.

At the OCON, people gave personal testimonies on purity, faith, salvation and family. They opened their lives up for us not to take pity on them, but to realize God’s power to save and trans-form. The sharers were truly “transpar-ent,” and I was able to empathize with them. I was able to find the strength, courage and motivation to take a STAND in a very im-portant area of my life. I know I can do this only t h r o u g h G o d , a n d w i t h t h e support of my commu-nity.

E v e r y time I delve deeper into our Catho-lic faith, the

more I am in awe and in love with the beauty of the Church. I love that there is a deeper exploration of cat-echesis in SFC. Catechesis allows me to further understand our faith and therefore further love it. I was able to do this during the SFC Oceania Conference.

During the Holy Mass at the OCON, I came to a better understanding of the sacrifice that Christ made for our free-dom. Father Greg Morgan, a recently ordained priest (24 years of age and the youngest priest in Australia) gave an analogy about God’s love for humanity -- Christ became one of us so we could be like Him.

During the Eucharistic Adoration, I realized the beauty of silence. It was a time where I was able to be in God’s presence and enter in conversation with him. I was no longer distracted by things in the world but was simply able to be still and adore Him.

At the Oceania Conference, I gained a greater appreciation not only for SFC, but the entire CFC community. I am now reaffirmed on how much this com-munity has influenced my faith. I now know that to be a part of the Church is not about simply doing but a process of becoming.

selfishness can be used by the enemy for his wicked purpose, which contributes to the corrupt and unjust systems that prevail in our world today.

Another SFC Japan delegate during the CamSur ICon, Jhun Faderanga of SFC Yokohama, gave Talk 3: “I Stand.” Reiterat-

Taking A Stand.. Down Under!An SFC Oceania Conference Reflection

Cadet R.O.C.K.: Enlisted by God

Communicating Love

ing CFC’s theme for 2011, he encouraged every SFC warrior to put on the Full Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) and to make a stand in the battle against evil. In response to this call, members of SFC Japan boldly expressed their convictions as they stood for Jesus through unity in the

family, integrity in the work-place, compassion for the poor, chastity, purity of heart, and sup-port for the Catholic Church.

Michael Ariola, SFC Interna-tional Head, flew all the way from Manila to give Talk 4, “March to Victory.” Michael emphasized that Jesus, through

His death and resurrection, is our true victor. However, if we are to claim God’s vic-tory through Jesus, we should know what we stand for and remember that we are one with the Church and with the CFC community. He redefined what “SFC” means; it is not only “Singles for Christ” but extends to the whole com-munity, the entire battalion of “Soldiers for Christ.”

To close the conference, Romeo Alejo of SFC Yoko-hama led the praisefest, which included an empowering chant: “Whoever goes against our God will have to face His

people!”Throughout the event, the

talented SFC Yamato Music Min-istry filled Rikkoukai Hall with powerful songs of praise and worship. SFC Yokohama, on the other hand, led the community in singing and dancing the “I Stand” SFC ICon theme song and in shouting the SFC ICon chant. This conference also served as a fellowship among SFC members from different areas of Japan, as they shared an army-style, “boo-dle fight” lunch and a Japanese-style, obento dinner.

Recent disasters in Japan caused the Japan SFC ICon to be postponed by a few months, but in God’s perfect timing, He allowed this event to victori-ously push through. Indeed, God’s providence and empow-erment never fails. No storm nor earthquake can stop God’s mighty warriors from fighting the spiritual battle and standing for Jesus.

By Zeny Gimenez

WHEN you meet Robert Labayen, it is hard to imagine him as being the vice-president of a big conglomerate like ABS-CBN. With his youthful looks, relaxed air, and simple ways, it is easier to imagine him as some laid-back artist, focused only on his art.

Actually he is both executive and artist, and successful at both.

Robert is the Vice-President for Creative Communications for ABS-CBN and as such, is responsible for the station IDs, the program trailers and plugs

and the videos promoting the station’s advocacies. He has been in the communications field for about 20 years, seven of them in ABS-CBN and the rest with Saatchi and Saatchi and J. Walter Thompson, all powerhouse groups where one is expected not just to hone one’s craft but to mold one’s sense of excellence.

But Robert is proudest of his success as a family man. He has been married for the past 28 years to Ging (Dinah Serrano) with whom he has five children. “We joined CFC 23 years ago, when we had been married only for five years. This was a

great blessing as we were able to actually live out in our family the values that CFC taught us,” Robert says.

Their five children are all in the advertising and com-munications business as well, proof of what Ging says is their kids’ admiration for their father. Joma (27) is a freelance actor but also a communicator, Camille (26, married and based in Abu Dhabi), also finished Mass Com-munications, Boggs (24) works at the same station as Robert, Kay (22) has completed a filmmaking course and Rocky (19) is now enrolled in fine arts.

Talk about a family praying together and staying together. This family does that and more – they work together! The video of the song “Pearl of Great Price” was done lovingly by the Labay-en family, with Ging helping out in the administrative side.

Robert tells the story of the video: “When Joe Tale asked me to help produce the video, I was in a panic because he said he wanted it to be ‘world class!’ But to produce a world class video, I needed a lot more time than

what he had given me. I needed the full support of a group such as ABS-CBN, and a full array of equipment – cameras, sound ma-chines, boom on tracks etc. But the big bosses at the station had all gone abroad and I could not request, on such short notice, the station’s help and sponsorship of the video project.”

The Labayen kids came to their dad’s rescue. “I knew my children could help. Kay was in filmmaking and the rest were all experienced in the industry, but I also knew they had their own lives and careers to take care of. I worried about how I would tell them and how they would react. I worried about how I would react in case they refused. But I need not have worried. Even I was amazed at the speed at which they said yes and at the commitment and dedication they poured into the project, given the lack of the necessary equipment.”

Indeed, those observant enough during the filming of the song sequence at the Mis-sion Core Gathering one Sun-day morning at the Ateneo, would have noticed that in the

absence of a boom on tracks, which would have facilitated the overhead shots and the running shots, the Labayen boys were filming while zipping along on their skateboards! Ingenious. And fun! Which is what Robert says was what their family expe-rienced while doing the video. In fact, they had so much fun that they were all still present at the second filming, held at the EcoPark in La Mesa Dam in No-valiches, miles away from their home in Las Pinas.

Robert says: “I can’t believe we were able to do this video, with just my children. Ging of course was our production man-ager. And Dayloe (Ranario) and her team provided magnificent support and the initial work.

On reaching mid-lifeRobert and Ging married at

the young age of 22. “Would you believe I am not a graduate of a communications course? I finished AB Sociology at Bicol University. Ging and I are both Bicolanos and we met in our stu-dent days, though she was from a different school where she was in

a management course. We met when we were both representa-tives of our respective parishes in a Youth Encounter program where I was the trainor. This year, we both turned 50, and we have spent more than half of our lives together, and almost half of our lives in Couples for Christ.”

He goes on: “Ging and I are amazed that all our experiences as a married couple are CFC-centered – our friends, our activi-ties, our aspirations, our service, even our family life, since our children all went through the Family Ministries, from KFC to YFC. Camille, in Abu Dhabi, is now CFC, since it was in SFC that she met her husband.”

“We have no shared memory that is not connected with CFC. And it is CFC that continues to keep us rooted in what is good and true. I am grateful for that especially because I am in an industry that is full of vice, and very often, glorifies vice. It is easy to get lost in this industry, particularly when one gets to be my age.”

Robert confesses that it was Communicating / C6

C3

C3Vol. 15 No. 17August 15 - 28, 2011

CBCP Monitor

By John Elmar Templonuevo

THE land of the howling winds declared God’s victory again when the Youth for Christ of the Diocese of Virac, Catanduanes held its 11th Provincial Youth Conference (PYC) at San Miguel Central Elementary School, San Miguel, Catanduanes last July 16-17.

Over 220 YFC members from the six chapters of the province gathered in this event, excited by the theme “FOR THE WIN: Armed and Ready,” which is rooted on Ephesians 6:10-18. “Finally, build up your strength in union with the Lord and by means of His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand up against the devil’s evil tricks.”

The delegates from Virac, San Andres, Bato, Norte, San Miguel, and Baras celebrated God’s love through the competitions, wor-ship, sessions, and workshops that highlighted the conference.

The PYC kicked off with an opening worship followed by the welcome remarks of Hon. Oscar M. Lopez, the Barangay

YFC Catanduanes Holds 11th PYC

worship God; Max’Prayin which tackled leveling up our prayer-ful life, Write of Duty which encouraged the youth to write for God’s glory, and R.O.C.K which is a service of leading kids to Christ. Top YFC leaders of the province and Fr. Eduardo Zafe, the Diocesan Director of the Commission on Family, Life and Youth Apostolate served as the speakers in the workshops.

In the anticipated mass, Rev. Fr. Renato Dela Rosa, parish priest of San Miguel, commended the work of YFC and the CFC community in engaging the young to be armed and ready in the battle against evil. He said

Captain, the message of Ely Tem-plonuevo, the Provincial Area Director of CFC and the formal declaration of the opening by Joey Villareal, the Provincial Family Ministries Head.

After the opening, sports com-petitions like basketball (junior and senior), volleyball, bad-minton and soccer were done simultaneously with special competitions, namely Amazing Race, essay-writing, T-shirt de-sign, and poster making.

The conference continued in the afternoon through the four simultaneous workshops namely Worship Workshop, which taught participants how to

that the community is a big help in the evangelistic work of the Church in the provinces, and in the world, especially now that we are marred by evil blows that will surely damage the future of the Church (RH and divorce bills).

The conference talks were giv-en by John Elmar Templonuevo, Yroll Zoleta, a YFC fulltime mis-sionary, and Bryan Joe Valencia, a YFC Cavite leader.

Jun Manlangit, the provincial couple coordinator (PCC) said that the Lord indeed blesses a community that serves him. He pointed out how the conference became so successful because of the leaders’ prayers and fast-ing. It was his first PYC as the new PCC of Catanduanes. He expressed how excited he is now for the next conference.

Furthermore, Fr. Zafe ex-pressed his happiness at being part of the conference. It was also his first experience of a YFC conference. He said that Youth for Christ indeed is one of the strong youth communities in the province, with a firm foundation of evangelistic work. He said that he is looking forward to be with the community again in future activities.

Ugnayan

By Gracelyn L. Romero

AS members of CFC Singles for Christ, our chapter, namely Metro Manila West B-2b, has been molded to be mission-ready whenever we are asked to serve.

On August 7, 2011, we were called to share our 3T’s, namely time, talent and treasure, to help the CFC Laguna Sword of Gideon in their Christian Life

Program at the Police National Training Institute (PNTI) at Camp Vicente Lim, Canlubang, Laguna. Speakers during the first session were Tito Cayamanda of the CFC National Music Ministry and CPA Training Director, NBI Academy Executive Officer, OAD Atty. Dante A. Gierran.

The CLP is headed by retired police officer and former Chief of the Intelligence and Narcotics Division of San Pablo City PNP Station, Angelito Caraan with

SFC Metro Manila West B: Sharing The 3Ts

his wife, Corazon, and their members Danny Bienvenida, a retired full Colonel of the Philip-pine Army, with wife Lucy; and former 45th, 5ID, PA Battalion Commander Ricardo Belarmino with his wife Lil.

Members from our SFC chap-ter were assigned to be team leaders, facilitators and mem-bers of the music ministry. Cur-rently, there are three hundred CLP participants, who are at the Institute for their on-going training to become future police of the CALABARZON area.

These 300 participants are can-didates to become SFC, HOLD and SOLD members of our com-munity through the Sword of Gideon (SOG) ministry, though some of the participants are al-ready YFC members. The team brings our own food for our breakfast and lunch.

Despite the challenges, we have been experiencing God’s blessings since saying “yes” to the call to serve, one of which is the free use of a PNP coaster as our service vehicle from Camp

Crame to Camp Vicente Lim. One of our members, Dinn Demain, is able to assist us with this every time we go on mission to the PNTI.

A brief historyThe makings of this SOG

CLP started in 2008, when our chapter was invited to serve at the PNTI through our former Chapter head, now the Sector Coordinator of SOLD Metro Manila West B Ferdie Garcia. We ended up joining him at the PNTI as a regular service team.

During the early years, the SFC and CFC mission teams were only allowed to use class-rooms of PNTI, which could only accommodate 80 people. There-fore, we needed to use four to six classrooms to accommodate all the trainees. This was very hard for us, especially the Music Min-istry, as we had to teach songs in every room, and the speakers had to give two talks each in a day. By God’s grace though, we are now allowed to use the renovated PNTI gym, making our mission easier.

The present CLP at the PNTI will run for three Sundays and one Saturday from 8 AM to 5 PM until August 27, which is the date set for the Lord’s Day Celebration. In a day we have four talks and group discussion before ending the session.

This CLP would not be pos-sible without the help of Police Chief Supt. Luis L. Saligumba (Director, PNTI), Police Supt. Hubert B. Tuzon (Deputy Direc-tor PNTI & Training Dir. ITG),

By Gelo Saludo

ON July 15 to 17, around 250 youth were mobilized for the eastern portion of the YFC Canada National Conference “True North: Armed and Ready” at Algonquin College, Ottawa, Canada. Two weekends after, around 500 youth from all over Western Canada assembled at the University of Alberta for the second installment of the National Conference.

YFC Eastern Canada discovers their True North

The YFC Eastern Conference was opened in a special way, with a Holy Mass celebrated by His Grace, Terrence Prendergast, Archbishop of Ottawa. The opening session, “From Sea to Sea,” taking off from the country’s motto, celebrating victories per area, was given by Greater Toronto area head, Miguel Javier.

The second edition of the Live Holy, Live Loud Concert ensued, which featured the Youth Excellence Awards (Y.E.A). This new staple of the YC Canada Conferences sought to ac-knowledge the excellence of the youth based on the seven YFC identities. The concert also included an original song composition competition. “Armed and Ready” apparel were also launched during this time.

The youth then gathered Saturday morning for the main workshops given

YFC Canada Unites Under “True North”

by Father Rico Dingal, who spoke pas-sionately on the topic of Prayer and Sac-raments. This was followed by exciting sports and creative Competitions. The “Awake Fair” also went into full swing, highlighting the newest Canadian game fad, the “Mono Deal Tournament.”

Workshops resumed in the afternoon, one of which featured One Match, a charitable organi-zation that manages blood donations, and an exten-sive marrow and stem cell network across Canada. Workshop leader Jessica Stergiou was able to collect various donations from attendees present. The second workshop on Mis-sion was well received as it featured the experiences of fulltime pastoral worker Gelo Saludo.

In the evening, confer-ence attendees settled down to hear Sessions 2 and 3. “Target Identified,” given by Ellen Maigue-Talacca, sought to warn the youth against the ploys of Satan. “Armed and Ready”, given by fulltime pastoral worker Candy Subang, encouraged participants to don the armor of God. The night ended with a praise fest by YFC Canada fulltime pastoral worker Vince Gomba.

Sunday ended on a powerful note as Saludo closed all the sessions with an exhortation on “True North: Strong

PCI Arnold Formento (Dep. Training Dir., ITG), PSI Hermis G. Averion (Exec. Training Dir., ITG). CFC is grateful for all their support of the mission.

SFC Metro Manila West B-2b is inviting other areas to be part of their mission to the Philippine Armed Forces. If you are inter-ested in sharing your 3T’s (time, talent and treasure), please con-tact Gracelyn Romero at the CFC Home Office (Tel. No 7094868).

by Queenie Diane D.L. Malabanan

MANILA, Philippines — YFC Campus Based Metro Manila held this year’s Campus Fresh Party at the Augusto-Rosario Gonzalez Theater in the De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde on Saturday, July 16, 2011.

The Campus Fresh Party is an annual event which aims to promote YFC Campus Based to college freshmen and non-YFCs in the campuses, and to allow them to experience fun, friendship, freedom, and faith the YFC way. This year’s Fresh Party was entitled #FRESH (read as “hashtag fresh”).

The event commenced at around 7:00 in the evening with a doxology. It was fol-lowed by a “Praise and Fash-ion” presentation featuring models from different YFC campuses. Then, the Follow Chant was played while the crowd sang along. After the

chant, the emcees explained the mechanics of a game, which enabled the attendees to meet new friends from other campuses. The attend-ees were grouped accord-ing to their hobbies and/or interests, for example: Harry Potter fans, GCs, Tumblristas, Dancer Ako, Gleeks, etc.

This activity was followed by a series of band and dance performances by YFC members from the different campuses in Metro Manila. A raffle draw also took place, wherein some attendees won free Metrocon (Metro Manila Conference) registration payments.

Nearing the end of the event, sharers from YFC Campus Based spoke before the crowd to relate their ex-periences regarding how YFC touched their lives through fun, friendship, freedom, and faith. The program ended with a praise fest led by YFC full-time pastoral worker Raymond Ibarrientos.

and Free.” Montreal Area leader, Jesse Roca, then led the crowd into a power-ful praisefest. Excitement abounded as YFC National Core leader, George Fournier announced that the YFC Ca-nadian Conference 2012 would be on a national level.

CFC also welcomed two other clergy

members for the masses, Father Joe Muldoon and Monsignor Kevin Beach

True North spirit gusts into YFC West-ern Canada

On July 29, the YFC Western Cana-dian Conference opened with a nation-themed opening number and pep rally. The celebratory opening session was given this time by Calgary area head, Jason Diala. “Canada is really alive [...]

YFC Campus Based Rocks It at #Fresh!

all delegations were well represented,” Diala exclaimed. Indeed, the Conference was significant as it marked the first time attendance of YFC Canada mis-sion areas such as Red Deer, Ponoka, and Whistler.

Creative competitions followed throughout Friday evening and Sat-

urday morning. Notable performances included a recently added competition entry, “Poetry Slam” by Ajay Neyra from the Pacific Region. The competitions included band, dance, and banner-making. “God is truly very colorful,” ob-served Rieza Zara, technical director of the Conference. Sports competitions ensued in the early afternoon.

The youth were then armed and readied with workshops on Prayer and Sacraments, Vocations, Mis-sionary and One Match. These were given by Father

Jim Carrigan, Father Dan Gurnick, and fulltime pastoral worker Candy Subang.

The evening sessions, “Target Iden-tified” and “Armed and Ready” were then given by Ellen Maigue-Talacca and Vince Gomba respectively. This part of the Conference sought to brief the youth about the schemes of Satan and equip them with God’s armor. The talks were preceded by powerful creatives includ-ing a lyrical, poetic slam and a theater

piece coupled with an original song. The evening closed with a spirit-led praisefest led by AJ Cabaccang from the Pacific Region.

The Conference ended on Sunday morning on a high note. Speaker Gelo Saludo exhorted participants to take up the call of “True North,” echoing all re-flections surrounding the theme. After-wards there was a powerful Praisefest by James Rodas from the Pacific Region. The location of the next national Confer-ence was then announced: Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The Western Conference’s Masses featured several prominent members of the clergy from Edmonton: Father Nilo Macapinlac, CFC Edmonton’s spiritual director; Father Paul Murray, and His Grace Richard Smith, Archbishop of Edmonton.

Both participants and service team members alike said they felt spiritually refreshed and empowered after the Conference. “Especially in the last praisefest...It really felt like God was actually there,” says Monica Cerin, a YFC from Edmonton, and a first-time National Conference attendee.

“This was truly a Conference of ‘first-timers,” expresses Saludo, who was also the Conference event head. This was the first time a Conference outside the Philippines was broadcast online via CFC’s official Ustream channel. The Conference also featured many innova-tions in set-design, notably its heavy use of motion graphics.

C4 Vol. 15 No. 17August 15 - 28, 2011

CBCP Monitor

THE past months, by God’s grace, brought me to many countries and events particularly in the series of ANCOP Summits and launching in UAE (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharja and the Northern Territories), CFC/ANCOP Conferences in Baltimore and Portland and in the CFC anniversary celebrations in the provinces of Cebu and Masbate in the Philippines.

As I reflected on these visits there is one common thread - “the zeal of Couples for Christ members is bring-ing hope and faith in the countries and provinces where they live.” The fruit of this simple faith springs from their daily prayer and personal relationship with Christ. They are happy and joyful in the love of Christ. Everywhere I go where there is a gathering of Filipinos and CFC members, I feel the love and support for one another. I experienced our value of “Kapwa ko, mahal ko.” These are fruits of the Holy Spirit first

A Mother’s Incredible Love Story

introduced to couples in the Christian Life Program. And that seed of invok-ing the presence of the Holy Spirit at the start of CLP’s is now ON FIRE in our CFC members.

In Abu Dhabi where I am now, I had the chance to meet with Bishop Hinder and the Philippine Ambassador, H.E. Grace Princesa who is a Handmaid of the Lord. They specifically asked to meet with me to collaborate with Cou-ples for Christ to answer the cry of our overseas kababayans. Our simple faith and compassion for our countrymen have become our identity and byword in the Middleast. And this is the grace that God brings to members of Couples - the grace to respond with love and compassion to the plight of our poor brothers and sisters no matter what the cause and no matter how difficult the situation is. CFC has become bringers of faith and hope abroad and in their hometowns.

Couples for Christ Brings Hope and Faith

The second common thread I am experiencing is: ” there is a new gen-eration of leaders that has taken their place.” Our leaders in the Middle East and in the USA are energetic, bold, youthful and vibrant. Succes-sion leadership is in place. These spirit filled visionary leaders are responding courageously to the call of our mission to build the church of the home and the church of the poor.

In Manila, at the masses in Don Bo-sco, San Antonio Forbes and BF Homes Paranaque, the invitation to attend the Christian Life Program is bolder and invites attention. The announcements are made in attractive words such as “Experience limitless encounter with the Lord” or “Do personal conversa-tions with God.” They use simple mod-ern lingo that can speak to the common layman. I was so excited and happy to hear first hand that the CFC Christian Life Program is being announced si-

multaneously that weekend in various Metro Manila parishes.

On the night before my flight to UAE, I gave the Orientation talk in the CLP San Antonio Forbes. I was able to bring in my sister and her husband, who I have been inviting for so many years to attend the CLP. It pays to be persistent in evangelizing. The lesson here is never give up for the Lord.

Truly, the new generation of CFC leaders has taken their place not only in the chapters, areas and sectors but also in the Elders Assembly and in the International Council. A proof of this was in our last International Council retreat where the younger members took the lead and the senior members gave full support with respect, trust and unconditional love. God is good! All the time!

As I move on to other places to visit, I am filled with gratitude and awe. The presence of the Holy Spirit is felt among

brothers and sisters in every country and province I have visited. There is joy and fulfillment among CFC members. The Lord truly has a plan for CFC, a global calling to spread the good news, to evangelize the world. He has gifted us with our simple faith and the grace to withstand difficulties, to bring hope and compassion to our fellowmen.

May God Be Praised!

Ugnayan

ON August 15, we celebrate one of the most joyful of our liturgical Solemnities - the Assumption of our Blessed Virgin Mary. In a few weeks, on September 8, we shall also celebrate her birthday. A few weeks ago too, my family celebrated the 71st birthday of my mother, Luz Villaroman. Allow me to deviate from pastoral exhortation, and with this personal article, to remember and honor the love and sacrifices of our Blessed Mother Mary, by way of honoring the love and sacrifices of my Mama Luz.

It is no longer there, but my mind vividly remembers that red and rusty canopied swing we used to have in our old back-yard in Novaliches where I and my six siblings grew up as kids. This one had bench seats facing each other, rested on a floor that was cleverly hinged unto sturdy parallel roof beams, swinging back and forth, back and forth, by the inertia of its guests. A lot of our childhood memories were formed playing in that swing - an ordinary, rickety swing. One afternoon, when I was seven, my mom told us children an incredible story that would change forever the way we would remember that swing, and remember our mother.

That was the summer day we kids were huddled around Mama in wonder, eyes twin-kling, mouths open and jaws to the floor, as the words from my mom’s story wafted like heavenly stardust around us. She told us for the first time that way before we kids were born, she used to live in the clouds - the youngest among beautiful “fairy angel” sisters, each with a pair of long, detachable silver feathered- wings. According

to her, one day, she was able to convince her sister angel fairies to sneak out and fly down to a beautiful hidden lake on earth so that they can swim and play be-fore the sun retreated. Arriving in the lake, they each removed their pair of long silver-feath-ered wings and rested these on a secluded mound just behind the trees. A young handsome man, who arrived unnoticed in the lake to fish, chanced upon them wading in the lake, and se-cretly watched, fascinated by the beauty and grace of the youngest fairy, supposedly our mom-to-be. He hides the shortest pair of wings belonging to the young-est, prettiest one. As evening ap-proached, the angel fairies hear the angry voice of their father booming from the clouds. He is worried and anxious, looking for his fairy angel daughters who left without permission. Back in the lake, the elder sisters were crying, as they told the youngest, “Sor-ry, we have looked everywhere and could not find your wings. You can-not fly back to the clouds with us. Fa-ther is waiting. We have to go and leave you now.” And off they flew, leaving her stranded alone on earth.

The young man, who was spying all along, comes out and introduces himself. He is kind and helpful to her, but does not admit he hid her wings, for he has fallen in love with her, and wanted her to stay

on earth. He helps her to be adopted by a family, so she can study in school. Eventually, the young man courts her and becomes her boyfriend. After graduating from the MAPUA Institute, they marry and are blessed with seven beautiful children. According to my mom, the swift passing of all these earthly events made her almost totally forget about her real identity and her true home in the clouds.

Mama’s story-telling con-tinued, fast-forwarding us to a whirlwind ten years, many cycles of challenges, celebra-tions, and calm typical of fami-lies. Seven children growing fast, tuition fee loans, music and tennis lessons, unending refrigerator-posted bills. She told us of this special morning, when we kids were in school, and our Papa was at work, and she was home alone, busy fix-

ing linen, laundry, and litter around the house. Stepping out into our Novaliches back-yard to look for our youngest brother’s lost mini basketball, she stood on a garden chair to stretch and take a peek at the top of the swing’s roof. She was startled at what she saw. Lo and behold, there it was on the roof, the long silver-feathered wings she had been looking for that fateful day, back at the lake, ten years ago! She ran her fingers through the silver feathers, wore the wings, and thought and believed again, “I am a fairy angel, and I could fly back to my home in the clouds, right now!”

But faces of her children and husband filled her mind, and her heart burst in words, “I love them so much. Because of them this house is my home now. This is my life!” She hurriedly pulled the wings from the red

swing’s roof, started a fire, and set the wings burning, until these were ashes and soot.

T h a t e v e n i n g , my Mama would continue narrating, Papa supposedly discerned in her eyes an uncertain mix of nostalgia and joy. Queried about this, she said, “Its noth-ing, I just had an in-teresting day.” That early evening too, one of her sons, look-ing out the window at the fluffy tangerine-tinted clouds, would ask her, “Mama, you think we can go and fly and live there in the sky?” Mama re-

members saying, “ Maybe someday son. The clouds are nice, but today, you are here with me, God’s precious gift, right here in our home. You make this the best place in the world for me! I will never choose to be anywhere else.”

Today, I am old enough to know Mama was never a winged fairy, as clearly as my sons Dave and Sam know where Santa really got all the gifts they re-ceived in past Christmases. But if my mom were really one, we seven children are certain, she will not think a second to burn her wings for us. There is a lot of truth in her story about choosing to give up her flight. She actually did. Graduating with honors in Chemical Engineering, she traded the chance to earn big by innovating test tube solutions for the world, so that she can wake up at dawn to mix milk bottles and fix “baon” for seven hungry children. She used to be a potential PhD professor, who never became one because she deliberately chose to become the most patient and loving tutor to her seven sons and daughters. Today, we raise our own families, parents ourselves, knowing by Mama and Papa’s example how and what it is like to sacrifice joyfully so that our own children will grow to their fullest potential.

My Mama Luz might not be a fairy, but to us children, she is still the most beautiful an-gel in the whole world. What makes her the most beautiful among angels, you may ask? Others have beautiful wings. She has none. She gave up hers so that all seven children can grow wings and soar. That

makes you so beautiful, Mama. Belated honoring and Happy Birthday!

Let us watch out for and listen to the stories of moth-ers. Many of these may sound incredible, but listen with your heart, and find these stories very true! Like the story of this other mother who grew up an orphan, yet could love her sons so greatly with the love she never knew as a kid, only to be surprised with the miracle of God allowing her to meet and embrace her father for the first time in 45 years! (that’s a story for another time). But the most “incredible but true” Mother of all Mother stories, your and my all-time favorite is this: “When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:18). The story of a virgin mother, having no relations with a man, conceiving with the Holy Spirit, and giving birth to the Savior of the world so that you and I can experience what Full-ness and Full Armour is truly all about!

Happy Birthday, Blessed Mother Mary from Couples for Christ!

By Ricky Cuenca, CFC Chairman

By Melo Villaroman, Jr., CFC Executive Director

By Arnel Santos

ON its first ever Mission Core Group Teaching Night after the Pearl Anniversary Celebrations, the leaders of Couples for Christ went through a reflection session on Christian Leadership based on the thoughts of Pope Benedict XVI.

Facilitated by CFC Spiritual Director Monsignor Allen Aganon, the Mission Core Group filled the Christ the King Church at Greenmeadows, Quezon City on July 20, 2011. They were reminded that in governing the community, they must always “listen.”

The exhortation was a re-echoing of Pope Benedict XVI’s homily at the in-auguration of his pontificate, where he said: “My real program of governance is not to do my own will, not to pursue my own ideas, but to listen, together with

the whole Church, to the word and the will of the Lord, to be guided by Him, so that He himself will lead the Church at this hour of our history.”

Msgr. Allen explained that constant listening to the word and will of God manifests our “inner conviction of the centrality of God in our lives and of the whole universe.” He emphasized that “you do not choose to be leaders, you are chosen by God.” As the anointing comes from God, “you must always listen to Him.”

He also presented two images of a leader that must be emulated by CFC leaders.

The first is the Good Shepherd who has put on a yoke. He said that the yoke is God’s will, which should not weigh us down,

but must purify us and in the process allow us to experience joy.

Msgr. Allen lamented how the world today propagates “theophobia” in the name of democracy. “Pag pinag-uusa-pan ay Diyos, parang ang bigat. Mas maraming masamang salita kaysa sa maganda. When Christians speak of the truth, slogans are hurled against us.”

He emphasized that it should not be so. God’s yoke is easy and His burden light. “Pagdating sa harap ng Diyos, (When we are before God) we rest. Hindi na natin kailangang magpakitang gilas sa Diyos (We don’t need to boast of our accomplishments) because in front of God, we are loved.”

In fact, to do God’s will is to be “in a new era of adventures.” It is having “no limits” as we share in God’s creativity. It is living a life free from loneliness and boredom.

Msgr. Allen enjoined the leaders to be good shep-herds, seeking the “lost sheep in the desert.” That “desert” is the situation of human life characterized by “darkness and emptiness of the soul.” In doing pastoral care, “you should be able to

guide the lost sheep towards the light of God.”

The second image is that of a Fisher of Men. The Christian leader, Msgr. Al-len said, must go into the deep, which means the deeper needs of the soul and of the heart. “Kunin natin ang tao na nasa dagat ng kalungkutan. (Let us rescue those who are lost in the sea of loneliness.) And when we go to them, we offer not prosperity, but God.”

He reminded the CFC leaders of the words of Pope Benedict XVI: “The net of the Gospel pulls us out of the waters of death and brings us into the splendor of God’s light, into true life. It is really true: as we follow Christ in this mission to be fishers of men, we must bring men and women out of the sea that is salted with so many forms of alienation and onto the land of life, into the light of God. It is really so: the purpose of our lives is to reveal God to men.”

On Being Good Shepherds and Fishers of MenMelo and his incredible” Mama

C5

C5Vol. 15 No. 17August 15 - 28, 2011

CBCP Monitor Ugnayan

By Joe Yamamoto

Reflections of a PilgrimAS CFC celebrates its 30th (Pearl) anniversary, the community embarks on a new period that steers the whole community towards its Golden stage. At this period of our community history, the focus on the mission has become clearer and more intense while anchored on a community life of deep prayer and scriptural grounding. We are actively promoting contemplative prayer (taught by Sister Mary Niere) hand in hand with the Great Adventure Bible study course (of Jeff Cavins) for the spiritual deepening of the CFC members.

On this our Pearl Anniversary, we have also organized a pil-grimage to the Holy Land. The November pilgrimage will be not just a regular pilgrimage but one that will reflect the spirit of community life. The Pilgrimage will allow an inspirational and collective experience that will enable the pilgrims to better ap-preciate the love story that God offered to His people.

When the community decided to organize this pilgrimage, I ea-gerly accepted the task of being Council overseer for the event. I wanted to have the chance to promote the blessings of a pil-grimage, particularly one whose schedule and itinerary is focused on the kind of deep reflection and prayer that our community aspires for. I wanted many of our brethren to experience that wonder and awe that Mila and I experienced last November 2010, when we went on our first ever pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

When we came home from that pilgrimage, we resolved to share the wonderful and moving experience with the community starting with the Council breth-ren. By passionately sharing the intense feelings, thoughts and realizations brought by our own pilgrimage, we were able to excite our co-leaders in CFC to espouse the Pearl anniversary Holy Land pilgrimage.

Just like in many personal spiritual experiences and jour-neys, each one of us forms re-

flections and insights as to how we had been moved or touched. In our community especially, we advocate journal writing so that the insights are not lost and we are able to share them ac-curately in our households and assemblies.

The beauty of our Holy Land experience moved me to journal writing. I share these experi-ences with you now, by way of a series of reflections. My own set of experiences will follow the schedules generally followed by pilgrimage organizers. As best as possible, the biblical and histori-cal backgrounds are provided so as to give the would-be traveller a sense of familiarity and com-forting feel even if he has yet to set foot in the Holy Land.

A Pilgrim’s YearningAt the root of the journey is

the yearning to be in the very land where the Old Testament patriarchs, the prophets, the kings and the judges lived and experienced God. Consider as well the awe and wonder of finally being able to connect to Jesus, the apostles and the early Christian disciples not only in prayers and scriptures but also physically by being in the very places where they lived and walked, worked and preached. It is an incomparable feeling to ac-tually set foot in the very places where our Lord proclaimed the Good News, taught in the syna-gogues and performed His many miracles (Matt. 4:23). While dif-ferent people will have their own appreciation of the pilgrimage, the majority will be touched by experiences that are sure to be intense, profound, intimate and even life changing.

Today, whenever I read the Bible in my daily prayer time, I experience so much joy and gratitude because the Lord has touched me in a manner that is profound and intense during the pilgrimage.

The Pilgrimage RouteThe pilgrimage generally starts

in Jordan. This is also where the

CFC pilgrims will converge from the many countries where they are currently residing. The present day kingdom of Jordan was known in biblical times as the land of the Canaanites, Moa-bites, Ammonites and Edomites. These people belonged to tribes who were consistently charac-terized as being inimical to the ancient Israelites. Jordan like-wise was a cradle of early civi-lization, endowed with notable archaelogical sites attesting to its ancient importance.

Undoubtedly, one of the most recognized, and accepted as one of the greatest if not the greatest of the spiritual giants of the Old Testament, was Moses. After serving the Lord through a long and fulfilled life, Moses stood on the slopes of Mount Nebo (Deuteronomy 32 and 34) in the present day kingdom of Jordan, beholding the beauty and prom-ised bounty of Canaan as the Promised Land. Knowing he was not to be allowed to enter it, he longingly scanned the moun-tains and valleys of the Promised Land with eyes grown old with age and with the responsibility of leading His people for 40 years in the desert. The land had been foretold and promised to the Israelites since time immemorial as proof of God’s covenant with His people, but Moses was not to partake of the promise.

The role played by Moses was unique because he was especially picked by the Lord to liberate his people from 400 years of slavery and bondage in Egypt under extremely dif-ficult circumstances. As the chosen prophet, he received the two tablets of the law and was conferred the extraordinary privilege of speaking directly to God regularly during their desert sojourn.

All throughout the desert wanderings, Moses was the go-between with God and the Israelites. Given that his achieve-ments were phenomenal and extraordinary among men then and since, the Lord was able to fully use him according to the

divine plan because Moses was the paragon of humility and obe-dience. And yet his one instance of display of temper and annoy-ance with the Lord cost him big-he was forbidden from entering the Promised Land and to lead the people of God in what would have been a monumental feat.

As I stood on the slopes of Mt. Nebo one sun-drenched after-noon, looking west and north towards Israel, somehow I felt a certain sense of sadness. This was perhaps much like what Moses might have experienced at being unable to complete the work he started. But precisely because he was humble and submitted to the Lord, he was very likely comforted by divine grace at having done what no one has ever achieved- liberating a great multitude of Israelites from the clutches of an oppres-sive Pharaoh and being able to stand before the presence of God in a face to face conversation, regularly. In the name of the Chosen People, he received the tablets containing the Ten Com-mandments. To this day, the laws handed to him continue to define the Jewish and Christain morality and spirituality.

Right then, I recalled the line of the song that goes...” only by grace can you enter.” This rings true for the entry of the people of Israel into Canaan. This is also true of our own entry into the heavenly Kingdom.

The Jews have experienced countless wars, in both ancient and modern times.The long history of continuing violence in the Holy Land is a paradox. That fact was not lost on me as I stood on the slopes of Mt. Nebo while peering into Israel. As the late afternoon sun cast a shadow upon the distant Judean hills, I could not help but wonder and marvel at the sight of the land that the prophets of old longed to see.

Today a tourist can travel in and out of the many sites in the Holy Land with so much ease and convenience. But if one thinks he need have only the

attitude of a tourist, he would be sadly mistaken and the benefits of the journey would be wasted on him. A strong spiritual grounding is a requisite to making the most of that journey.

In our community, we read scripture mainly and ini-tially out of obedience to a cov-enant. It took a lot of prayers for us to develop the sense of seeing with the eyes of faith. But now that I have a strong physical connection to the land of our faith, reading and studying the Word of God means relishing the journey with the satisfaction and the happiness of a child enjoying every moment of stay in his spiritual home. Scripture has become alive and movingly personal to me.

Getting to know more about Mt. Nebo and Jordan

Moses died in Mt. Nebo, located in the Moab region of Jordan. Eventually, Joshua as successor to Moses led the Is-raelites in crossing the Jordan river into the Promised Land. Under Joshua, the Israelites did not experience long last-ing peace either as they were almost constantly in battle with the hostile tribes living then in Canaan, most notably the battle of Jericho. Another notable bat-tle was the one fought by Joshua in Rabbath Ammon, the site of present day Amman.

Centuries later, David defeat-ed the Ammonites and allowed his army to kill the entire popu-lation. Even later, Herod the Great left his mark in Jordan at Machaerus, one of the fortresses he built, where John the Baptist was later beheaded on orders of Herod Antipas.

During the New Testament period, another place in Jordan was mentioned prominently- Gadara, a largely heathen city. It was in Gadara that Jesus encountered the man possessed by evil spirits (Legion) and caused the spirits to be driven out and enter the herd of swine

(2,000 in number) that eventually drowned after falling from the cliff (Mark 5:9, Matt.8:28-34) into the Sea of Galilee.

Exciting Facts about Mt. NeboLocated at 817 meters above

sea level in what is now western Jordan, Mt. Nebo commands a breathtaking view and on a clear day, the Judean hills, the Dead Sea , the west bank city of Jericho, and Jerusalem are vis-ible. In a more limited view, the valley of the River Jordan can be seen to its north.

On March 20, 2000, Pope John Paul II visited the site during his pilgrimage to the Holy Land (Mount Nebo being one of the most important Christian sites in Jordan). During his visit he planted an olive tree beside the Byzantine chapel as a symbol of peace.

Pope Benedict XVI visited the site on May 9, 2009, gave a speech, and looked out from the top of the mountain in the direc-tion of Jerusalem.

The serpentine cross sculpture (the Brazen Serpent Monument) atop Mount Nebo was created by Italian artist Giovanni Fantoni. It is symbolic of the bronze serpent created by Moses in the wilder-ness (Numbers 21:4-9) and the cross upon which Jesus was crucified (John 3:14).

The pilgrimage kicks off on November 20 and ends on De-cember 2. Mila and I will be there, eager once again to expe-rience the wonderful blessings, not just of being where the Lord lived and walked, but also of being one with community in prayer, reflection and fellow-ship. It promises to be a great trip. It is our fervent hope that you too can share in this awe-some experience.

JUST like many who grew up in the 60’s, I am a fan of the Beatles, and enjoyed their music as it evolved from Love Me Do, to Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, to Let it Be and so on. Of course, they went overboard in their quip about being more popular than Jesus Christ. May God forgive them for their high moment of pride.

Of their numerous songs, many of which topped the charts, and most of which I like very much, two are outstanding as my all time favorites. The first is “In My Life.” The second, well, the second I will reveal in another article.

This song has become a favorite because it has a lilting and pleasant melody, a unique and interesting in-strumental interlude, and meaningful and arresting lyrics. While it is a secular song, I find it filled with meaning, even now, individually and as CFC. John Lennon and Paul McCartney may not have intended it that way, but God can so inspire and use every instrument for His purpose.

The first part of the song goes:

There are places I remember All my life, though some have

changedSome forever, not for betterSome have gone, and some re-

mainAll these places have their mo-

mentsWith lovers and friends I still can

recallSome are dead and some are liv-

ingIn my life, I’ve loved them all.

I don’t know why this song has been playing in my mind more often these days.

Perhaps, it is because I seem to be hearing it more on radio, including the version where Sean Connery (yes, of 007 fame) does a narration with an orchestra accompaniment that gives the song a distinct classical sound. Beautiful.

Perhaps, it has something to do with becoming a senior citizen – I have tended to be more and more reflective about life.

Perhaps, it has something to do with passing on the torch in CFC (reference my previous Ugnayan column). I recall more and more the mission companions I have served with, a few of whom are dead, but, thankfully, many more are still living. Some are getting on in years, and have become, sadly, largely forgot-ten and unappreciated.

Perhaps, it has something to do with my occasional bouts of gout and hyper-tension that remind me that I may not always be able to go through another round of visits, pastoral or otherwise, to all the peoples and places of past mis-sion trips, and with whom and where I have experienced and witnessed God’s overwhelming love. Some of these will eventually just become people and places I will remember all my life, un-likely to be encountered again.

Perhaps, it has also something to do, on the one hand, with my visits to my mother who is moving on in old age to the point that it seems she hardly rec-ognizes me anymore; but on the other hand, with the great joy of being a first time grandfather to Baby Elle, born just over a month ago.

Or perhaps, it is because as I write this, it is raining here in Dumaguete, which has made me even more intro-spective, especially because I am alone, with Babylou thousands of miles away taking care of Rica and Elle as a mother and a grandmother ought to do at the special moment of birth.

Perhaps. But really, beyond the reminiscing and the nostalgia, the song makes me stop and think and appreciate God’s gift of the cycle of life. Just like Thornton Wilder’s play “Our Town,” the life cycle indeed goes on – babies are born, they grow up, they fall in love, get married, become parents themselves, they grow old, and eventually die. At every stage though, there is also beauty and meaning even in the simple and or-dinary, and we ought to live each phase

fully. Of course, we now know from our faith that those who die do not die in vain, for they join our Maker in the eternal Kingdom where the cycle stops but the living goes on forever.

We in CFC must not lose out in this cycle. We must savor every moment of the gift of life that the Lord offers to us. For many of the stages in the cycle do not come back. We must seize the moment. In what we go through in life, unlike videos and CDs, there is “no rewinding, no replay” (from a Simon and Garfunkel song). For example, graduations and important milestones of a child’s life happen only once. As parents, we should be present on these occasions. For those who have missed out, please make up for it as soon as possible.

We have been blessed with fullness of life, not only as a previous year’s theme, but also as a reality we experience. In this context, fullness of life means passion for every gift and time that the Lord gives us. Passion should not be mistaken for being forever busy. It is also to strongly desire a deepening of our relationship with God through our daily quiet time. It is also loving our spouse and children and expressing that love every time in words and action. It is strengthening the bond of friendships among brothers and sisters in commu-nity, particularly with our household members, old and new and future, in an ever-widening circle of friends. Fullness of life can sometimes mean “wasting” time in an unhurried visit to the sick and the elderly or to those grieving the loss of a loved one. Yes, fullness of life also means being aware of our mortal-ity, and therefore proactively pursuing our dreams while we still can, asking for God’s guidance and blessing and empowerment.

The song continues:

But of all these friends and loversThere is no one compares with

youAnd these memories lose their

meaningsWhen I think of love as something

newThough I know I’ll never lose af-

fectionFor people and things that went

beforeI know I’ll often stop and think

about themIn my life I love you more.

One can readily read the significance of these lines. Spouses need to thank the Lord for bringing them to each other, and thus should be faithful to the gift of each other. From among many, the Lord chose us, each other, to be together as husband and wife sharing a life’s jour-ney. Let us rejoice in that, let us respect that, and let us love our marriage strong enough to protect it, including from past relationships. All other “memo-ries should lose their meanings” and instead, in our lives of togetherness as a couple, we pray that indeed, we find ourselves loving each other more.

So, where have all these musings on a Beatles song on a rainy morning led me? Well, I find myself in an overwhelming posture of thanksgiving, not just for me, but also for us in CFC.

I thank the Lord for the life He has gifted us with, and for filling our lives with special moments. For one, the birth of a baby, the bundle of miracle that is an expression that God still looks at us with favor, for in the birth of a child, we see His love and intention for the human race to continue generation after generation. Pity those who want to stop life and who cannot see the gift in every life. They are missing out a lot. Let us pray hard for their conversion.

I thank the Lord for the blessing of family, where we first experience life and love. Let us thus evangelize with more zeal so that more and more fami-lies experience God’s love. Let us con-duct our Marriage Enrichment Retreats diligently and help make homes safe havens of unconditional love, where each one can feel protected and secure from the harshness that an unloving

world sometimes deals to us. In other words, let us bring Christ and His love to every home, poor and rich alike.

I thank God for the gift of friends and community, they who support us in this walk with the Lord. They are our comrades-in-arm in the battles that we invariably have to fight because evil also abounds. Young and old, each one has a role to play. In this context, we should not “lose affection for people and things that went before.” Let us not forget our CFC leaders and members who have served before us. On the contrary, let us enhance and entrench in CFC the culture of recognizing and honoring our elderly - they who re-sponded to God before us, and helped make our community what it is today, by His grace. I suggest that all areas and ministries seek out and honor previous leaders who have stood firm for CFC, but who are not or cannot now serve in the same way as before.

I thank the Lord for the gift of mis-sion, for allowing us to fellowship with brethren from many places. Aside from the joy of sharing God’s love and His Word, CFC mission has allowed us to interact with friends we would have not otherwise met in our lives. CFC mis-sion has allowed us to go to places we otherwise would not have set foot on in our entire life. So I encourage all to go on mission. Mission and evangelization defines us as CFC. Every CFC should be mission ready, all the time, wherever, whenever we are sent.

In My Life, like other secular songs, can indeed also inspire us to live our lives fully, love faithfully, value friend-ships, and just find joy in every moment and in every setting of our mission, and in the process, move us to thank God for the gift of life. Happy listening, and reflecting, everyone.

In My LifeBy Joe Tale

C6 Vol. 15 No. 17August 15 - 28, 2011

CBCP Monitor

previous night on the way to the hotel made a sharp turn. He also added that he saw strength in CFC when he joined the community at the time when it was barely coming out of the eye of the storm in 2007.

Saturday evening ended with the very colorful Festival of Caribbean Dances that matched the festive ambiance outside as Geneva was also celebrating the end of its Fetes de Genève (Geneva fiesta).

On the final day of the conference, Fr. Paulino and Fr. Joe concelebrated the Holy Eucharist. Bong Nidea, Area Head of CFC Northeastern UK, gave the final talk on the Victory in the Spirit. Ian Sallegue, a young CFC Mission Volunteer from CFC Austria, gave a passionate sharing

and led the brethren to an equally Spirit-filled praise fest. The conference highlight followed with the waving of the CFC banner and the flags of the different countries in CFC Europe, followed by the handing out of God tags (an appropriate symbol to denote that CFC Europe is now ready and equipped to do battle for life, for family and for God) to all participants.

This year’s conference provided a clear and welcome glimpse of CFC Europe’s bright future as young leaders emerged and participated in the major parts of the conference program.

The next Euroconference will be held in Bratislava, Slovak Republic on the second weekend of May 2012.

Ugnayan

Know Your Regional Heads

mid-life crisis that brought him away from the main advertising field into what he does now. “But it was mid-life crisis with a difference. I did not long to stray from my values or to seek guilty pleasures. But I felt incomplete somehow. Perhaps it was because of my exposure to our work with the poor. It reawakened in me feelings of patriotism. Sure, I enjoyed ad-vertising work. And even there I made sure to promote pride in self, pride in one’s work. I helped promote good news wherever it was found. But I wanted to promote patriotism and good values. I am able to do that now in ABS-CBN. Sobrang bantay ako sa values because of my CFC connection. My staff know me well enough to know that I would not tolerate their practicing non-Christian values in the workplace.”

How does he balance his work with his CFC commitment?

“You know, Ging and I, per-haps because of our youth then, started out as Singles for Christ coordinators. Balancing my activities was easier then be-cause we only had a service household. Then sometime in mid-2009, Mannix Ocampo, our

sector head in South A, asked me to take on a chapter. Me, a chapter head? I was very, very reluctant because I knew the kind of demands on my time that service would entail. But Man-nix was persistent. And I also learned early on in my spiritual journey that my attitude should always be to accept any position that I am asked to take on. And so I did. It was difficult, but I tried. It was doubly difficult for me because all my creative juices somehow flow between late at night and 3:00 AM.”

Robert laughingly recalls that Mannix must have been percep-tive enough to see this because he was offered, as his new serv-ice, the Kids for Christ sector coordinator. Again, true to his personal creed, he accepted.

Ging says, “We enjoy this service. We make it a point to

be present at all teachings, and MCG gatherings, except when Robert is abroad. We always, al-ways attend IKVs (International Kids Village) and weekend CFC retreats. I take care of Robert’s schedule and file the necessary leave papers for him during these weekends.”

Robert continues. “We like KFC because this expands our world. We like to be with young people. One insight I see in community is that in KFC, and I guess even elsewhere, it is the mothers that take the initiative. Their maternal instincts kick in and it is a joy to see them take charge of all the activities. Ging, for instance, has taken on more than I have. She regularly visits the Las Pinas City Jail, as part of her commitment as the HOLD in charge of prison work. She belongs to the HOLD sector

By Sonny Sta Ana

Romy Alfaro, 55

Regional Head (Central Luzon),Sector Head (MM South A), Provincial Area Head or PAH (Zambales)

Married to Edit for 28 years, with four (4) chil-dren: Thea (26), Norman (24), Regine (22) and Rocky (18). Joined CFC in 1992. In the construction business.

“The most challenging thing I face as a CFC re-gional head is how to bring together the provincial mission core groups and the leaders in the seven provinces in the region so that they may experience a deeper sense of friend-ship and brotherhood. My prayers always include their intentions, particu-larly as we rebuild the pastoral structure.

As regional head, I be-lieve my primary respon-sibility is to prepare the hearts of our people in Central Luzon to embrace and support the wonder-ful programs initiated by our International Council leaders with our work in evangelization and in serving the poor. Despite these challenges, I firmly believe that everything comes from God and that I am nothing without Him. At the same time, I can do everything with Him by my side. This is what inspires me to continue with my service.”

Rene Breva, 53

Regional Head (South-eastern Mindanao), Mem-ber (Board of Elders), PAH (North Cotabato), Provin-cial Area Director or PAD (Davao City).

Married to Mary Rose for 23 years, with one child, Kertchmel. Joined CFC

in 1990. Engaged in busi-ness.

“The most serious chal-lenge I faced, not just as a regional head, but as a leader and member of CFC, was a sense of drift and meaninglessness in the recent past because of what we as a commu-nity went through. It was through serious prayer and discernment that I came to realize that CFC is where God wants me to be, as affirmed by the recent directions that CFC as a community is moving into. Now the new chal-lenge for me is to translate these directions into reality all the way down to the members in the provinces where I serve.”

James Solano, 46

Regional Head (South Central Mindanao), Coun-try Coordinator (France), PAH (South Cotabato).

Married to Ella since 1988 and members of CFC since 1995, with three (3) chil-dren: Ellaine Jame (22), Elson James (21), and Ellan James (14). Engaged in the construction business.

“As a regional head, the most challenging thing my wife and I face are the long distances we have to travel when we visit the provinces under my region. In some places, peace and order is in a critical status. But I am in-spired by the CFC brethren in the region because they are so excited and eager to listen to talks and inspiring messages. It is my inner de-sire and conviction to serve God through CFC to the best that I can whenever, whatever and wherever I am assigned.

Carlos D. Subang, 59

Regional Head (Western Mindanao). Family Minis-tries Head and member of the

Area Governance team (Ili-gan and Lanao del Norte).

Married to Mary for 32 years, joined CFC in 1988, with three (3) children: Cookie (31), Candy (30) and Chippy (25). A full-time pastoral worker.

“As a CFC regional head, the GK-Jolo Bayani Chal-lenge proved to be the most difficult challenge of my service, because this ulti-mately led to the letting go of GK, and spawned a great deal of hurts and resentments in the region. This led me to a deeper realization that CFC is anointed by God and that He has given us anointed leaders. I draw strength from Exodus 14:13-14 “Have no fear, God will work for you, God will fight for you, all you have to do is stand still.”

Eric P. Ylagan, 60

Regional Head (North-eastern Luzon), PAH (Isa-bela), Area Coordinator (Eastern China).

Married to Evelyn for 32 years with two (2) children, Paolo Enrico (30) and Mark Andrei (28). Joined CFC in 1988. Now director of a manning company after re-tirement as a bank officer.

“The long distances Eve-lyn and I travel when we go to the provinces in our region, often covering 800 km to and from Manila, including traversing two mountains, by road, and the effort of understanding dif-ferent cultures and dialects/languages are my biggest challenge as a regional head. I face the same challenge in Eastern China. But overcom-ing these challenges is very fulfilling because I know that no sacrifice is too huge and no risk too great when we do it for Our Lord. The people we serve in the region and in China inspire us greatly.”

Wilfredo N. Padida, 60

Regional Head (North-western Luzon), PAH (Benguet), member (Serv-ants of the Lord (SOLD) International Core Group), Area Coordinator (South China).

Married to Soledad (Sol-lie) for 38 years, with two (2) children: Abigail (37) and Wilsol (35). Members of CFC June 1983. Fulltime pastoral worker.

“Travelling 16 to 18 hours one way, just to visit the provinces in the region is a major chal-lenge. But God provides the strength, the protec-tion and the commitment required for me to be able to serve His people”

Arthur D. Del Rio, 59

Regional Head (Mima-ropa, comprising the prov-inces of Mindoro Orien-tal, Mindoro Occidental, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan)..

Married to Emilie for 35 years with five (5) children: Kristian Lloyd (34), Kris-tine Mae (32), Katrina (29), Krisanto Luis (21), and Karlo Antonio (20). Joined CFC in 1991. A practicing architect.

“My region, because all the provinces are islands, that can be reached only by plane and ferry boats, is quite difficult to serve but I believe that all of us have the duty to serve God whenever and wherever he calls us. This enables me to surmount these dif-ficulties.”

Carlos B. Laiz, 55Regional Area Head (Bi-

col), Country Coordinator (Brunei), Program Direc-tor (Gift of Life Ministry), SOLD International Core Group Member.

Married to Melinda for 24 years with three (3) chil-dren: Karla Patricia (24), Jerome Raphael (19), and Karyl Jean (18). Joined CFC in 1990. Fulltime pastoral worker.

“When our problems with GK began, I had to go around the region and work out differences aris-ing from the ground. This has been, so far, my most challenging experience in my many years of service to the Lord. Building and rebuilding relationships is truly a very difficult work but the vision of one united global community of evangelizers keeps me going. This gives me a sense of purpose and con-viction.”

Alfonso Banaynal, 53Regional Head (North-

eastern Mindanao), PAH (Surigao del Sur and Bukidnon)

Married to Perlita (In-day) since 1982 with seven (7) children: Tanya Kris-tie (28), Wanda Mae (26), Martha Jo (23), John Rey (21), Mark Daniel (18), Ron Joshua (13), and Jabez Michael (9). Joined CFC in 1989. Fulltime pastoral worker.

“One of the biggest chal-lenges I faced as a regional head was the real threat of division and disunity after CFC let go of GK in 2009, as secession, disloyalty and confusion were expe-rienced in many areas of the region. This led to the challenge to go back to the basics of CFC, especially in the area of pastoral care, as well as the formation and training of leaders. This is extremely difficult as many leaders have been fast-tracked due to the massive and rapid demands of the work of evangelization and the work with poor. I was privileged to be cared and nurtured through the dili-gent and warm support of leaders assigned to care for me. I greatly benefited from their pastoral forma-tion and guidance. I feel that it is my obligation to God to share and impart the same for those in my

care.”Dr. Sofronio C. Sescon,

66Regional Head (North

Central Mindanao), Member (Board of Elders), Coun-try Coordinator (Nether-lands), PAH (Lanao del Norte).

Married to Adelaida (Angging) for 42 years, with three (3) children: Sarah Jane, Catherine, and Bernadette and six (6) grandchildren. Joined CFC in 1986. A retired Doc-tor of Medicine (Surgeon) and now Fulltime pastoral worker.

“The most challenging thing I face as a regional head is how to ensure the spiritual growth of top leaders and members in the region. The love of God and love of neighbor, as a result of daily intercessory prayers, enable me to over-come the challenges.”

Antonio Gimenez, 66Regional Head (Western Visayas).

Marr ied to Zenaida (Zeny) for 41 years with five (5) children: Lysander Antonio (40), Lionel Vin-cent (37), Lee Paolo (34), Natalie Joy (19) and Noelle Marie (19). Joined CFC in 1990. A corporate execu-tive in the energy and au-tomotive industry.

“The region is composed of several islands and the time spent on planes, land trips and ferry boats can be very frustrating be-cause it is so time-consum-ing and physically tiring. But God’s blessings far outweigh the challenges of my service, nay any service for that matter. The sense of fulfillment and the desire to serve a God who gives far more than we can ever hope to give spur me to continue

serving.”

Emmanuel GarciaRegional Head (Eastern

Visayas), Member (Inter-national Council), Director (CFC Mission Information Systems and Technologies (MIST), Head (CFC Special Events).

Married to Ditas since 1977, with four children: Anthony Bernard (34), Ce-leste Dawn (31), Emmanuel Frederick (28) and Gerald Hansel (19). Owns a video production and boutique advertising business.

“There are numerous challenges in my service in the region, but despite eve-rything, I know that God is moving there, and blessing the region. I have been a fulltime pastoral worker for CFC for many years and I have seen how God is molding and refining CFC to be the community He wants it to be.”

Reggie Ragojos, 53Regional Head (Central

Visayas)Married to Janet (Ra-

panan) for 31 years, with four children: Christian Noel (30), Jeffrey and Jer-ome (25) and Regine (19). Joined CFC in 1992. An ar-chitect with his own design and construction firm.

“My life is CFC. I have always maintained this and I try to live my life accord-ing to this. So surmounting challenges, for me, is just one way of living out my life with the Lord. In Cen-tral Visayas, there are in-deed many challenges, such as the difficulty of hopping from one island to another in order to meet with the leaders, and the language, since I am Ilocano. But God makes all things possible. I have never refused any task for the Lord, and I will continue to serve Him, no matter what.”

core. She is actively involved in our sector’s ANCOP work. In fact, I didn’t even know it, but she has pledged our support for Sibol teachers in our sector. This is good. This is our own way of paying it forward for all the bless-ings the Lord has given us.”

It wasn’t always a bed for roses for them, Robert admits. “We went through our own struggles, mainly financially, as a couple and as a family. We scuttled all our credit cards some time ago because we needed to downsize. Again, it was our CFC training in the values of frugality, hard work and the value of money that allowed us to sail through our difficulties.”

The financial difficulties have also given Robert the realization that “my family, my children are my treasures. I don’t feel needy because I know that my treasures are with me always. Even when I am troubled by outside pres-sures, I am comforted because my family is close, we can rely on one another, we need never feel lonely or abandoned.”

Robert and Ging have indeed found a great pearl in each other and in their children. But they are most grateful for finding the Pearl of Great Price in their life as Christ-followers.

Communicating / C2 Geneva / C1

Joe Yamamoto with leaders of CFC Malta, led by Joe and Doris Aquilina, at right. Fr. Joseph Farrugia of Malta is third from right.

C7

C7Vol. 15 No. 17August 15 - 28, 2011

CBCP Monitor

By Beth Comahig

TEACHING is something I have dreamt of doing for years. Just taking education units isn’t enough to bring one into the academic field though. One needs courage and passion. So I set this dream aside and pursued a career in the corporate field, working from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. However, my weekends soon became filled with Kids for Christ activities and missions. KFC activities became an outlet where I could live out my dream of becoming a teacher.

Recently another opportunity came to me when a close friend revealed plans to put up a small tutorial school. I volunteered to give tutorial sessions on Saturdays. I was very excited about this plan and considered it as a big blessing for me, as it would be a source of ad-ditional income as well.

Then came the Cornerstone train-ing on July 7. Only then was I able to clearly understand what the program is all about. I was deeply moved. Hav-

More Than Just A VolunteerReflections on The CFC Cornerstone Training

opportunity to earn extra income at my friend’s tutorial school.

On August 6, we had the orientation day at our “adopted” school, and see-ing the smiles on the children’s faces enlivened my spirit. They sang and they danced, told us stories and shared their life with all of us volunteers. They were all excited to come back for succeed-ing sessions. One student even asked us if we’d be there the following day (Sunday) because he wants to be with us again.

After the Orientation I realized that more than being a teacher or a volun-teer, I am called to be these school-children’s “Ate,” a source of “family support,” love and prayers.

I believe now that CFC’s Cornerstone program is more than just a literacy program. It is a life-changing program. It will change the lives of the students and their families and the lives of eve-ryone who will be involved and who will be inspired by it. It will change our community for the better. Yes, it will be difficult and challenging. But it is and it will always be God’s work.

ing been previously involved in several Corporate Social Responsibility pro-grams that included tutorials for poor children, I could see that CFC’s Cor-nerstone program is much, much more than your regular tutorial program.

Thirty students, 10 schools, 1 school year to start, a new generation to build - and I was asked to be a part of it as a volunteer. But I was volunteering not in any school located in my Sector (Metro Manila East A), but in a school which requires me to travel for an hour to an hour and a half, meaning I have to wake up extra early on Saturdays as sessions start at 9 AM, and also miss the

Ugnayan

By Ramuel Garcia

OVER 700 CFC leaders from across the United Arab Emirates attended the formal launching of ANCOP in the UAE held

last August 5, 2011 at the Main Hall of St. Michael’s Church in Sharjah, UAE.

The celebration of the Holy Mass kicked off the launching of ANCOP, one of the rare oc-casions where CFC UAE was

CFC-UAE Launches ANCOPblessed to do so. During his homily, visiting priest from Tagaytay, Father Peter Eu-genio, explained in depth the transfiguration of Christ and how God reveals Himself in each person.

After Mass, CFC UAE Na-tional Director, Leo Verdolaga, and Ambasssador to UAE Grace Princesa, delivered their wel-come remarks, helping set the tone for newly-elected CFC Chairman and formerly AN-COP Chairman Ricky Cuenca’s talk, where he explained the work of ANCOP as akin and tantamount to the work of evan-gelization.

The newly appointed CFC UAE ANCOP heads were then prayed over by Ricky. Now

empowered and eager to get started, they were one in say-ing that “they could not contain themselves” and are ready for what lies ahead.

Before the launch, Ricky Cuenca and Ambassador Grace Princesa, accompanied by Leo Verdolaga, and CFC-UAE Na-tional ANCOP Head Ramuel Garcia, visited His Excellency Bishop Paul Hinder at his resi-dence in Abu Dhabi. During the visit, Bishop Hinder gave his blessing to ANCOP and affirmed his support and appreciation of CFC UAE.

In a related note, the First Fruits collection for ANCOP during the launch amounted to AED 18,034.00 (PHP 208,054.00) plus different amounts in other

currencies. Additional rev-enue from the sale of ANCOP shirts during the formal launch amounted to AED 12,600.00 (PHP 145,364.00).

The parents of CFC UAE

ELEVEN-year-old Filipina-Canadian singer, Maria Aragon, whose version of the popular song “Born This Way” on You Tube received more than 40 million visitors, revealed during a television interview in Manila that she was supporting CFC ANCOP’s Global Walk because “she wanted to help poor Filipino children go to school.”

The annual ANCOP Global Walk is scheduled this year on August 21 around the Philippines and in key cit-ies of various countries, including the United States, Canada and Australia. Funds raised will be used for two major projects of ANCOP, namely the Child

Sponsorship Program (CSP), which helps send poor Filipino children to elementary school, high school or col-lege; and the Community Development Program (CDP), which provides hous-ing to poor Filipino families.

Last July 24, Maria appeared in the popular TV program “The Buzz,” where she was interviewed by actress KC Concepcion. Maria told KC how she felt for the poor people she saw in the streets of Manila. She revealed that she was a supporter of the CFC ANCOP

Popular YouTube Sensation Maria Aragon supports CFC

ANCOP’s Global Walkscholarship program in her hometown in Canada.

More recently, during the CFC Mis-sion Core Gathering at Ateneo de Manila Grade School on August 7, Aragon, who has been dubbed the official ANCOP Global Walk ambassador, also shared her message of hope to the hundreds of CFC leaders gathered. After a colorful and lively dance presentation by CSP scholars from the ANCOP community in Tala, Maria gave an inspiring rendi-tion of the new ANCOP theme song “One Hope, One Dream.”

Along with Maria Aragon, popular composer Vehnee Saturno is also sup-

porting the ANCOP Global Walk, along with different government and private organizations, schools and CFC mem-bers from all over the world.

To know more about the ANCOP Global Walk, please visit www.ancop-globalwalk.com.

To watch the video clip of Maria Aragon promoting the ANCOP Global Walk on The Buzz, search for “Maria Aragon for ANCOP Global Walk” on YouTube.

ANCOP’s very first beneficiary expressed their joy and grate-fulness for the cash assistance they will receive to help cover the cost of their Baby Iya’s liver transplant.

By Bernadette Cuevas

COUPLES for Christ has embarked on a new journey. Cornerstone, a new program for bringing the benefits of education to the poor, has its anchor in Mark 12: 10- “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” For CFC, Christ is indeed the cornerstone as the community moves forward in its mission to Build the Church of the Home and the Church of the Poor.

Cornerstone began when Fr. Ben Ne-bres, then Ateneo de Manila (ADMU) President and Joe Tale, then CFC Chairman, envisioned a partnership between Ateneo and CFC that will make a positive difference in the education of children and youth, espe-cially in the public schools. Under the program, Ateneo through the Ateneo Center for Educational Development (ACED), will provide the expertise in education and strong relationship with the Department of Education (DECS), while CFC will provide the formation programs and the army of volunteers to implement a jointly developed education program, the Cornerstone Strategy, for poor children.

The program vision and details were affirmed last August 9 during the meeting between CFC Council members led by Melo Villaroman, the new CFC Executive Director, and the new ADMU President Fr. Jett Villarin, together with the joint CFC-ACED Cornerstone Team.

At this early phase of the Corner-stone Strategy, CFC and Ateneo will work with a manageable number of partner schools. Already, 15 pilot schools in Metro Manila have been identified, of which 12 are in Quezon City and 3 in Parañaque City. Of the 15, 10 are elementary schools and 5 are secondary schools, with 7 schools identified as recipients of feeding programs. Of the seven schools with feeding programs, four are under the Blue Plate for Better Learning Feeding Program, two are part of Jollibee Foun-dation’s Busog, Lusog, Talino Feeding Program, and one is under an LGU. Although the targeted schools are lo-cated in sectors North A and B, West B and C and South B, all the 12 sectors

of Metro Manila will be involved in the Cornerstone Tutorial Program. All the ministries of CFC have also been brought into the implementa-tion loop.

COMPONENTS OF THE CORNER-STONE STRATEGY1. Regular Reading Tutorials and

Values Formation Sessions for Elementary School Students

2. Twice a month Formation Sessions for Secondary School Students

3. Monthly Formation Sessions for Parents and Adults

4. Child Sponsorship Program through ANCOP

5. ANCOP Health

The Regular Reading Tutorials and Values Formation Sessions for Elemen-tary School Students is assigned to SFC and KFC. It targets 30 students who are non or slow readers from Grades 2 and 3 in the 10 partner elementary schools. The tutorial is done every Saturday morning, followed by the KFC Values Formation. CFC will provide food for the children during tutorial days.

The twice a month Leadership For-mation Sessions for Secondary School Students is assigned to YFC. There are 5 schools in 5 sectors (Metro Manila North A and B, West B and C, and South B). The target group is 30 student leaders from first to fourth year High School in the 5 partner High Schools. The High School Program is expected to start before the end of August.

CFC will lead the Monthly Forma-tion Sessions for Parents and will also

Cornerstone - A CFC Convergence Strategy

(The essay below, written by an ANCOP CSP high school scholar from ANCOP Modesto Village in Lipa, Batangas, won the highest award in the recently held Batangas Regional Competition on Writing and Communication.

invite the teachers and principals. This will be supplemented by the “Ang Ganda Mo” program of Handmaids of the Lord and the parenting program of KFC.

ANCOP will be involved in Corner-stone through its Child Sponsorship Program (CSP). According to ANCOP, some of its current scholars are already enrolled in some of the Cornerstone Partner Schools.

ANCOP Health will also lend support by providing health screening and proper health intervention to ensure the wellness of the children and their families.

Last August 6, eight of the Corner-stone schools held its Orientation Day for school principals, teachers, parents, children to be tutored (tutees) and the CFC, SFC and KFC volunteers. The Cornerstone Team from Ateneo and CFC were also present to conduct and observe the activities. The two remain-ing schools will follow on August 13.

Based on early feedback, parents were very happy that their children will be helped to do well in school through the reading tutorial. The principals and teachers have expressed much appreciation of the Cornerstone effort to help the children in their schools do better academically and learn good values.

The Cornerstone team, along with the rest of the CFC community, are filled with expectant faith that the Lord will unfold many more opportunities to bring the love of Christ and fullness of the mission of CFC to the students, their family and the whole school community.

by Rizel Benolirao

THE road to success never runs smoothly. Indeed, the difficulties and obstacles that you’ll meet along life’s highway may seem difficult.

The journey towards reaching your goals is not as quick as you think, be-cause before you reach the top, many challenges and mazes that you need to overcome may seem too hard to overcome.

“Ma, can we buy our new school uniform?”

“I’m sorry my dear daughter. We don’t have enough money to buy that uniform, I hope you’ll understand!”

“It’s ok, Ma, I understand.”Because of poverty, many children

can’t buy new school uniforms.After a week…“kringg…Kring…

Kring…,” the cellphone rang. “Hello.” “Good morning Ma’am.” “We’re from ANCOP Batangas. We

just want to say that your daughter was very fortunate because she was given a scholarship.”

My mother was speechless. She just

cried. I’m very lucky that I was given a scholarship like this… Tears really fell from our eyes.

My prayer was answered. All of the things I need were given to me. Bags…shoes…uniforms, school supplies.

We’re five in the family: my father, mother, my two brothers and myself. Sometimes my father’s salary is not enough for our daily expenses. But be-cause of this scholarship, I believe that this is the start. The start of my way to success.

I started by learning my 123’s and ABC’s and knowing that there are subjects like algebra and physics. But before I reach my goals in life, I must first overcome all the obstacles and mazes that hinder me from achieving them.

To my sponsors, thank you very much for this scholarship. Always remember that our family will always pray to God for your guidance. I promise that I’ll do my very best to reach the top.

I wish and I hope that this ANCOP Scholarship Program will be able to help more children. To prepare them for their future. (Courtesy of ANCOP USA News Bureau)

CFC leaders, led by IC members (from extreme right) Nonoy Dalman, Melo Villaroman, Mannix Ocampo and joe Tale, pose for a photo with ADMU President Fr. Villarin

Prayer Answered

By George Campos

JULY 23, 2011 was indeed a blessed day as the CFC Nueva Vizcaya community celebrated its 16th year anniversary.

The celebration started with a Holy Mass officiated by Fr. Crispin at St. Catherine’s Parish Church in Bambang. The homily was about the Pearl of Great Price, an appropriate theme since Cou-ples for Christ is celebrating this year its 30th (Pearl) anniversary. The homily affirmed God’s love and faithfulness to His people by valuing each person as His own pearl of great price.

After the mass, CFC members joined a motorcade around town before pro-ceeding to St Catherine’s Gymnasium. CFC International Council member Manny Garcia and wife Ditas, together with Eric Ylagan, Regional Head of Northeastern Luzon, and wife Evelyn, graced the occasion. They exhorted the body to live out their faith and the teachings of the Church and CFC, and to be a true example of what a Christian/CFC should be. Garcia emphasized that people tend to follow what one does rather than what one says: “The most effective evangelization tool is the way

CFC Lanao del Norte Turns Silver

we live our life.”During the event, newly appointed

provincial and chapter leaders were presented and prayed over by the com-munity, led by Manny Garcia.

As a way of encouraging each and every member to read the Holy Bible, and to have different and more mean-ingful performances, the presentations onstage were taken from the stories in the Book of Genesis, specifically the Story of Creation (by CFC Kasibu Chap-ter), Cain and Abel (by CFC Belance), Noah (by CFC Dupax), Sodom and Gomorrah (by CFC Solano), Tower of Babel (by the Area Governance Team), Abraham (SFC), Isaac (SFC), Jacob (CFC Bayombong) and the Story of Joseph (CFC Bambang).

The presentations showcased the talents, creativity, resourcefulness and ingenuity of the members. The festivity was capped by a healing prayer fol-lowed by a Praisefest.

The anniversary theme, “Flourish-ing at 16,” was indeed aptly worded, as it showed how God has blessed the community in Nueva Vizcaya to be like a blossoming flower, shedding its fragrance and unfolding its beauty.

CFC Nueva Viscaya: Flourishing at 16

By Manny Eroles

CFC Laguna held the Armor of God Weekend Echo Conference last July 17, 2011 at Lina-Lajara-Chipeco Auditorium in Calamba City. It was attended by 887 members, an overwhelming “overflow” from the target participants of 500.

The one-day activity started at 7:30 a.m. with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist officiated by Rev. Fr. Regi-nald A. Mamaril. The morning and afternoon worship sessions were led by Ruben Macalinao and Rudi Talosig respectively, with a series of inspiring talks in between, and the respective sharings of different CFC members on how God really works within their families to overcome all the battles they have encountered.

Talk 1 entitled “Field of Battle” was delivered by Mannix Ocampo followed with a sharing by Manny Severino. KFC International Head Nic Escalona Jr. fol-lowed with the sec-ond talk, “Rely on the Mighty Power of God” with a sharing by Renan Andrade.

T a l k 3 , e n t i -tled “Stand Firm Against the Foe” was in turn given by Joey I lagan. Angie Tad-y gave the accompany-ing sharing. Talk 4, “Put on the Full Armor of God” was delivered by Chito

Nepomuceno, with his wife, Luchie sharing her personal experiences. The last talk, “Victory in the Spirit” was given by CFC Laguna Provincial Area Head Mon de Leon, with testimonies from his wife, Penny, and Ricky Tan.

CFC Laguna Provincial Governance Team members Manny Eroles, Alex Merencillo, Oca Roman and Chito Ber-mudez assisted in the creative segments of each talk.

The conference ended with a very Spirit-filled Praisefest highlighted by the commissioning of the eight sector leaders as God’s soldiers by Mon and Penny de Leon. The sector leaders in turn did the same to their respective members.

CFC Laguna was truly able to cel-ebrate and claim its own victories for God, as seen from the smiles of all present, who readily renewed their commitment “to serve the Lord with all their hearts” and responded to the chal-lenge to strive to be the best they could be as they go on with God’s mission.

CFC Laguna Puts On The Armor Of God

C8 Vol. 15 No. 17August 15 - 28, 2011

CBCP Monitor Ugnayan

By Caloy Subang

CFC Iligan City and Lanao del Norte celebrated 25 years of the Lord’s goodness and blessings last July 17. The theme for the year was anchored on “Jesus the Light of His chosen servants,” taken from John 8:12.

What made the activity spe-

cial was that Iligan/Lanao del Norte is the very first area out-side Metro Manila to reach this milestone.

The Silver year kicked off with a jubilant Evangelization Rally last January 30, 2011, attended by more than 2,500 members who were on fire with anticipa-tion for the anniversary that would happen seven months

hence.The anniversary highlights in-

cluded an ANCOP fund raising project, with the January draw as the first of three draws. The sec-ond draw gave away a Hyundai Atoz and the final draw a brand new Toyota Innova, to be drawn during the main anniversary celebrations.

The week prior to the anniver-

sary Sunday was truly a busy one for the whole CFC community. Starting with July 10 Sunday, CFC members sponsored early morning masses in each parish in the whole province of Lanao del Norte. After the masses, Operation Clean Iligan Streets commenced.

July 11 and July 12 were sports competition days. July 13

Wednesday, the community again sponsored a late after-noon Holy Mass, this time in the cathedral, and after that, still in the cathedral, we had the conference on John Paul 2s Theology of the Body. Fr Nazer Zaragoza, STL, gave the eye-opening talk.

July 14 Thursday was the most awaited day. It was the Silver Ball, the Mission Core Group fellowship with

By Chari Deiparine, missionary to South Africa

LAST month, CFC Youth for Christ marked another momentous event in the life and mission of all the youth in South Africa when youth from the different parishes of Durban, PMB and Kokstad gathered for another life-changing and spirit filled conference entitled “FOR THE WIN, ARMED AND READY!”

The conference stirred up the pas-sion and the conviction of the youth to bring their love and service to God to a deeper level. Some 100 young

people, made up of YFCs and non-YFC members, gathered to celebrate God’s unlimited love for everyone through 2 days of prayer, worship, team-build-ing, competition and inspiration.

The grace of service, love and com-mitment did not end there, for the day after the conference, a team of ten YFC members went up to Marian Hill to conduct a Youth Camp, finish-ing with a harvest of twenty-five new members.

The afternoon following the Youth Camp, thirty YFC members from Montclair gathered in the same venue

for a YFC Discovery Camp. It was a “baptism of fire and water” for most of the service team, as most of them had never been to a Discovery Camp themselves. Despite the initial challenges, God proved victorious once again.

On the last day of this camp, half of the service team left early to travel five hours from Durban to Umthatha for another Youth Camp in the evening. It was really a test of endurance, and a time of utmost prayer for all of the team members, since they

had been leading ac-tivities on a daily basis. It was truly the power of the Holy Spirit that saw the team through, and led 46 youth to openly express their love for God through the camp.

After two days of rest, the YFC South Af-rica mission team hit the road again for an-other two-hour trip in the freezing world of Kokstad. About thirty

By Evelyn Ylagan

“LORD, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to Peter: “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-19)

More than 300 children of varying ages formed a long queue to receive their share of a bowl of chicken soup and “mamon” during a “Feed my Sheep” activity conducted by CFC Isabela in Barrio San Fermin, Cauayan City, Isabela last July 23. The group was led by Isabela Provincial Area Director Bong Pagulayan and Governance Team

the clergy. With live band and dance instructors, it was a time of laughter and non-stop picture taking.

The Leaders Conference was held on Saturday July 16. Guest couples who gave inputs and sharings were Dodong Banaynal, Regional Head of Bukidnon and International Council members Nonoy and Marivie Dalman and Joe and Mila Yamamoto. It was good to be reminded once again that there is One CFC, One Com-munity, One Global Army. Joe Yamamoto encouraged every-one, to look into the future, filled with the conviction that Christ is the center of our work and life and that CFC will always be a community of evangelizers

The anniversary celebrations culminated on July 17. The day started with a motorcade, then a

members Amang Roxas and Rene Tomas and their wives. They were joined by CFC In-ternational Coun-cil member Manny Garcia, with wife Ditas, and North-eastern Luzon Re-gional Head and Isabela Provincial Area Head Eric Ylagan, with wife Evelyn.

In his exhorta-tion, Ylagan encouraged the children to thank the Lord for the food that was to be shared and for them to be prayerful as a means to receive spiritual nourishment from God.

Aside from the feeding activity, the GT members also distributed rubber slippers and plastic toys for the children.

The feeding activity

CFC Isabela Feed Jesus’ Sheep

YFC South Africa: Victory after victory

youth were able to finish another Spirit-filled Youth Camp – yet another victory for the Lord!

Truly, God’s Spirit is moving here in South Africa. Every Youth Camp is re-ally life-changing and transforming for the participants and the service team. Seeing young people and parents reu-nited in love, young men and women declaring their full allegiance to God is another victory attributed to the Lord. Despite the physical and sometimes even spiritual exhaustion, everyone involved truly felt blessed to share God’s great love to every young person we met. Truly God is using YFC to win victory after victory in South Africa!

was started by CFC Isabela last year, and has since benefited a number of barangays, parishes and ANCOP sites in Isabela. CFC birthday celebrants or households in the province usually pro-vide material support for the program by way of sponsorships.

Barrio San Fermin is an informal settlement on a piece of land owned by the National Bible Institute. Aside from being a “Feed My Sheep” site, it has also been identified as a possible site for a Christian Life Program sometime this year.

foot parade towards the venue, MSU-IIT Gym. A holy mass was celebrated by Bishop Nits Galido, and then Joe Yamamoto exhorted the community to continue on with more vigor for the gold.

A showcase of talent from the Family Ministries followed, then the whole celebration was capped with three major events. Honoring of the remaining five CFC couple members from the first CLP way back 1986, the turn over of the baton of leader-ship from the outgoing Provin-cial Area Director Caloy Subang to incoming Reubert Dechos together with the ceremonial turn over of the ministries to the next generation of young leaders and then the final raffle draw of the brand new Toyota Innova.