A3

CBCP Monitor • A7 B1 B5
Vol. 11 No. 9 Bishop Urges
April 30 - May 13, 2007
Youth to Get
Notion of
Limbo Isn’t
Pope’s Message
for 41st World
Abp.
Lagdameo’s
A1
Involved in Closed, Says Communications Reflections on
May Polls Expert Day Labor Day

Ledesma: Time to Take www.cbcponline.net/cbcpmonitor cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net

Democracy in Our Hands
“IT is time to take democracy in our own hands
and make it work for our communities and
future generations,” said Cagayan de Oro Arch-
bishop Antonio Ledesma as he called on vot-
ers to choose their candidates well before go-
ing to polls on May 14.
In a pastoral statement issued over a week
before the elections, Ledesma said voters
should consider the three “Cs” that will assure
of the candidate’s basic qualities, namely: con-
science, competence and commitment to the
common good. Ledesma / A6
Bishop Calls for Peace
CABANATUAN Bishop Sofronio Bancud
appealed to his flock to shun violence as the
campaign period for the country’s midterm
elections draws to a close as he called for
vigilance to assure everyone of peaceful and
credible elections.
Bishop Bancud issued his statement after
election-related incidents occurred in Nueva
Ecija a few days after the signing of the can-
Protagonist of Truth, Promoter of Peace didates’ peace covenant which was co-spon-
sored by the Dioceses of Cabanatuan and
San Jose.
April 30 - May 13, 2007 Vol. 11 No. 9 Php 20.00
Bishop / A6

Cardinal
Asks Faithful
Pray for a By Roy Lagarde
“We need the Lord’s help without which our
best efforts will come to nothing,” said CBCP
President Archbishop Angel Lagdameo adding
that no matter what we do to ensure fair and free

Peaceful
polls, it’s only prayer that can assure us of what

to Pray
is truly good for us.
Lagdameo exhorted the faithful to kneel in
prayer and penance in the face of the tremendous

‘Oratio
potential for either good or evil that the forth-
coming May 14 election will bring to the coun-
try.

Election
“May the hand of God stop evil from getting

Imperata’ for Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, D.D.

Archbishop of Cebu
in control. We need everyone to invoke the grace
of the Holy Spirit to guide our people in this elec-
toral exercise, for the renewal of our country to-

2007 Polls
CEBU Archbishop
Ricardo Cardinal Vidal,
called on the Catholic
faithful to pray the revised
“Oratio Imperata” for this
year’s midterm elections .
The prayer was person-
ally prepared by Vidal to
ask God to enlighten the
Filipino voters to “cast
their votes responsibly ac-
cording to their con-
science.”
The “Oratio Imperata”
calls on the Holy Spirit to
help people realize that
elections are important to
transform society by elec-
tion capable, credible,
committed, and morally
protection of concerned ward genuine common good,” Lagdameo said.
citizents involved in po- Pray / A6
litical education, poll
watching and other re-
lated activities.
The “Oratio Imperata”
which means obligatory
prayer, is an old Catholic
tradition, where bishops
led their community in
prayer for a special inten-
tions.
A priest said it is a form
of “coming together of
people to raise their voices
in collective prayer, with
unified intentions ti pro-
mote the common good
and public welfare.”
“The relevance and im-
portance of this Special
Prayer cannot be overem-
phasized—as a Church,
we and our people must

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

upright leaders to foster
renewal and lasting stabil-
ity, prosperity and peace.
“Lord, protect with the
tender yet mighty care of
the Holy Spirit all the can-
didates with their fami-
lies, political allies and
followers,” the prayer
read as it asked for Divine
pray for a clean, honest,
violence free, and credible
elections,” said Vidal.
The prayer is to be re-
cited kneeling down in all
Sunday and Weekly
Masses after the Commun-
ion Prayer until a week af-
ter the May 14 elections. A Covenant for H.O.P.E. The Covenant for Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections was signed on April 24, 2007 at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila . Among the signatories
(CBCPNews) were: CBCP, Commission on Human Rights, Department of Education, National Capit al Region Police Office, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, the Filipino Alliance
Movement-Support Group, Bantay Bayan, Inc., and DeltaCom.

CBCP Dares Upcoming Gov’t Leaders to Solve Labor Crisis

CBCP President and Jaro
(Iloilo) Archbishop Angel N.
Lagdameo said candidates
should prove they are worth
© Alessandra Benedetti/Corbis
“We hope that the future tested government’s claim ine level of economy,”
leaders in the country—from that the country’s labor con- Lagdameo said.
the bottom up—in solidarity dition has improved with the The prelate also lauded the
with the business sector, will generation of five million jobs contribution made by mil-

the peoples’ vote by address-
ing the country’s labor crisis.
In the statement, “Reflec-
tion for Labor Day,” CBCP
president Archbishop Angel
Lagdameo said future gov-
ernment leaders must con-
sider the labor condition s in
the country as one of their
2 Pinoys Ordained by Pope in Vatican priorities.
ensure through implementa-
tion of just legislation the
workers’ rights as well as the
just development of the
world of work,” he said.
While the country has laws
that are “pro-workers”,
Lagdameo noted that many of
them remain unimplemented.
The CBCP head also con-
from 2001 up to date.
Citing a survey, he said that
in January 2006 the unem-
ployed individuals have
reached 3.9 million and still
increasing, while the under-
employed were 5.4 million of
31.7 million employed
“The poverty of labor could
be a sign indicating the genu-
lions of Filipinos working
abroad “mitigating the em-
ployment problem in the
country.”
“It is an accepted fact, their
remittances have provided an
important source of income
for a great number of Filipino
families,” he said.
(CBCPNews)

POPE Benedict XVI ordained Cebu were ordained as mem-

22 men on April 29 in St.
Peter’s Basilica, including two
Filipinos.
Fr Joseph Michael de la Cruz
of Bacolod, Negros Occidental
and Fr Meletito Fabella of
bers of the Legionnaires of
Christ, a conservative religious
order.
Church Watchdog, Muslims Ink Pact for Clean Polls
A LANDMARK accord has been signed be- Former Ambassador Henrietta de Villa portant for the “survival and empowering
Both are graduates of the tween a Church group and Muslims to en- represented the PPCRV while Mufti of a democratic and just society.”
prestigious Pontifical
sure a credible election and to mop the Abdulla Hamja Utoh signed the treaty in The Muslim panel has committed to en-
2 Pinoy / A6
image of Muslim Mindanao as “cheating behalf of the Assembly of the Darul Ifta of force its moral authority by urging their
capital” of the country. the Philippines. members to exercise their electoral duty.

Religious Superiors: Right to

The Parish Pastoral Council for Re- The said Muslim organization is the of- The PPCRV, meanwhile, said it would es-
sponsible Voting (PPCRV) and the As- ficial body of the Filipino Muslims that tablish a network of volunteer monitors and
sembly of the Darul Ifta of the Philippines maybe equal to Catholic bishops in issuing watchers who shall take the lead in moni-

Suffrage is a Birthright formally signed a working agreement for

JUST as campaign flyers, posters
the protection of the sanctity of the votes
this May 14.
religion edicts.
Both groups have agreed that holding
clean, honest and credible elections is im-
toring, watching and canvassing of votes
in the ARMM region, which includes Lanao
Church / A6
choose right.
© Denz Dayao / CBCP Media

and streamers from political can- Aside from including a

didates overwhelm the electorate
prior to the May 14 polls, so are
materials from the Church advo-
cating for responsible voting.
Alongside the efforts of vari-
ous Church groups to educate
the voters on the coming elec-
tions, the Justice, Peace and In-
tegrity of the Creation Commis-
sion of the Association of Major
Religious Superiors in the Phil-
ippines (JPICC-AMRSP) re-
cently launched its own reflec-
tion guide for voters.
“While the Church clearly
outlines that it cannot be directly
involved in partisan politics, it
is nonetheless encouraged to
help reclaim the positive values
of political life,” said JPIC-
AMRSP executive secretary
Charito Pinalas in a statement.
But unlike other voters’ edu-
cation program of its genre,
JPICC-AMRSP’s handy reflec-
tion guide highlighted a faith-
based approach to urge voters
to discern their birthright to
graphic illustration of the coun-
try and its problems, the reflec- 17, 880 Seats at Stake in Midterm Polls
tion guide contains insightful
pieces that bank on the Catholic Millions of Filipino voters from municipal councilors at stake
faithful’s duty to vote wisely as nearly 42,000 barangays will during tomorrow’s election.
part of their baptismal right of troop to 224,157 clustered pre- National Statistics Office es-
free choice. cincts nationwide to elect law- timates revealed 50,515,165 Fili-
“Our Catholic baptism en- makers and local government pinos 18 years old in time for
titles us the power to discern officials on May 14 after a cam- this year’s midterm elections.
and choose right. As such, our paign period marked with over The country’s registered voters
right to vote is just a practice of a hundred election-related vio- reached a high of 45,041,777
our birthright that we must not lent incidents. from 43,536,028 in 2004.
waste,” said AMRSP co-execu- These incidents caused The National Capital Region
tive secretary Bro. Hansel deaths and injuries to a num- tops the list of voters with
Mapayo, SSP. ber of politicians and their re- 5,457,570 voters from 5,925,347
But Mapayo added that what spective ward leaders and sup- voters in 2004. The reduction
the Church advocates is an in- porters in a number of prov- came after exclusion proceed-
formed free choice. inces, notably Abra, Nueva ings and voters failure to re-reg-
“The Church has to do some- Ecija, Pangasinan and Masbate. ister on duly appointed dates.
thing to educate its people. This There are 12 senatorial posi- Sources at the Commission on
is why it has launched a lot of tions, 55 party-list posts, 219 Elections disclosed all reported
programs to help the people dis- congressional seats, 81 guber- figures are subject to further
cern the candidates worthy to be natorial and vice-gubernatorial verification.
elected,” said Mapayo. seats, 770 provincial board In 2004, Cebu province
The CBCP Secretary General, Msgr. Juanito Figura, prepares the First Friday
Hopefully, Mapayo said, the members, 118 city mayors, 118 placed second to NCR with Prayer Vigil of CBCP Staff and members of mandated organizations under the
results of the polls reciprocate city vice mayors, 1,510 munici- 2,018,719, Negros Occidental Council of the Laity of the Philippines , last May 4. The CBCP President urged
the Church’s efforts in educat- pal mayors and vice mayors with 1,478,260, Bulacan had the faithful to organize prayer vigils and do penance for the intention of a
ing the lay faithful. (Kris Bayos) together with 12,092 city and 17, 880 / A6 peaceful May 14 elections.
 CBCP Monitor
A2 World News Vol. 11 No. 9
April 30 - May 13, 2007

Benedict XVI Ordains 22 to Priesthood

draw near to the altar to renew witness of that joy that flows from
the sacrifice of the cross, you being with the Lord, from love for
will discover the richness and him and one’s brothers.”
tenderness of the divine After the homily, and as the
master’s love more and more. candidates lay prostrate on the
“He is the one who is calling floor, those present in St. Peter’s
you today to a more intimate Basilica, many of whom were
friendship with him.” relatives and friends, intoned
“If you will listen to him with the Litany of the Saints.
docility, if you will follow him Afterward the Pope placed
faithfully, you will learn how his hands on the heads of the
to translate his love and pas- candidates, repeating the ges-
sion for the salvation of souls ture of the first apostles.
into everyday life,” the Pope The new priests
added. concelebrated their first Mass
with Benedict XVI; Cardinal
“Indestructible hope” Camillo Ruini, the Pope’s vicar
The Holy Father continued: for Rome; Bishop Luigi Moretti,
VATICAN CITY, April 29, be called to sow the seed of his “May the certainty that Christ Vice vicar for Rome; the auxil-
2007—At a Mass in which he Word—the seed that bears in will not abandon you and that iary bishops of the Diocese of
ordained 22 men to the priest- itself the Kingdom of God—to no obstacle can stand in the Rome; and the superiors of the
hood, Benedict XVI spoke on dispense God’s mercy and to way of his universal design of respective seminaries.
what it means to be a priest. feed the faithful at the table of salvation be for you a reason Of the newly ordained men,
“Each one of you,” the pope the body and the blood.” for constant consolation—even 11 are from the Major Seminary
said today to the ordinands, Benedict XVI said: “To be wor- on the difficult days—and in- of Rome, eight are from
“will become a good shepherd thy ministers you will have to destructible hope. Redemptoris Mater—the Ro-
with Jesus’ help, ready even to unceasingly nourish yourselves “The goodness of the Lord is man seminary of the
give your life for him if it is nec- with the Eucharist, the source always with you and it is Neocatechumenal Way—and
essary.” and summit of Christian life. strong.” the other three are from the
The sacrament of holy orders, “Draw near to the altar, your “Despite misunderstandings Seminary of Divine Love, the
the Holy Father said in his hom- daily school of sanctity, of com- and problems,” said Benedict Capranica College of Rome and
ily, “makes you participants in
Christ’s own mission; you will
munion with Jesus, the way of
entering into his sentiments;
XVI, “the apostle of Christ does
not lose his joy, indeed he is the
the congregation of the Legion-
aries of Christ. (Zenit)
Buddhism the State Religion, a
“Useless and Dangerous” Proposal
A Synod to Deepen our Encounter with the Word of God BANGKOK, Thailand, April
28, 2007—The proposal to in-
also warned of the grave
risks this proposal ran: it
VATICAN CITY, April 27, 2007—A pasto- Today there is a growing passion within sert Buddhism as the state could aggravate tensions in
ral synod by exploring doctrinal reasoning the Christian community for the Word of religion within the new Con- the Southern provinces,
aims to extend and strengthen the practice God, as the source of life and grace in man’s stitution, currently being fi- where relations between the
of our encounter with the Word of God. encounter with God”. In other words, “the nalized, has little support Muslim and Buddhist com-
That is the objective of the next general as- human person is in need of the Revelation”. among Thai people. The pro- munities are already
sembly of the synod of bishops, which will For its part, 40 years on the Church also posal was put forward by strained”.
be dedicated to the theme of “The Word of feels the need to question itself on the fruits monks from the Buddhism Neither are the monks
God in the life and the mission of the of the council document, “Dei Verbum”, Promotion Foundation and the and people of the country-
Church”. Today the secretary and which was dedicated to the Word. “There Buddhism Protection Centre of side in favor of this move;
undersecretary of the synod, Msgr. Nicola have been positive results among the Thailand , who have been many feel that the recogni-
Eterovic and Msgr. Fortunato Frezzi pre- people of God, such as the renewal of the peacefully rallying before tion of Buddhism as a state
sented the “Lineamenta”, the draft work- Bible in liturgical, theological and Parliament in Bangkok for religion “will do little to
ing copy of the questions regarding the is- catechetical areas as well as the diffusion the past ten days in efforts to guarantee the correct prac-
sue which are presented to bishops all and practice of the Sacred Book”. But other pressure the Constitutional tice of Buddha’s teachings”.
around the world. aspects remain open and problematic. Assembly, (CDA) to “protect Out of a total population of
Due to be held from October 5-26, 2007, Questions posed to the world’s bishops oc- Buddhism”, by elevating it 62.8, 95% are Buddhist with
this assembly follows the previous session cupy a large part of the 58 page document. to the ranks of a National Re- 4% Muslim and 1% others
dedicated to the “Eucharist as the source These questions range from the knowledge of ligion, within the Constitu- including Christian. There
and summit of the life and mission of the the Word of God in countries across the world, tion. are only 300,000 Catholics in
Church” and seeks to highlight the direct and how this is lived by the faithful, as to what The monks appeal has re- Thailand including hill tribe
link between the Eucharist and the Word sort of initiatives are taken to “transmit the awakened a ten year old de- inhabitants.
of God. complete and integral doctrine to the single bate. The front pages of the Saknarin Keun-onn, the
Moreover continues the document, believer and the community as a whole”, to main newspapers speak of youngest CDA member, has
“modern man in many ways shows that he the impact that the Word of God has “on the little else. Even if the CDA invited the protesters to see
has a great need to listen more closely to spiritual life of the lay faithful”, “the clergy” has promised to evaluate the positive aspects of the
the Word of God and to speak with Him. and “consecrated people”. (AsiaNews) the request, the chances that future constitution, which
it will come to pass are few. aims to “guarantee a greater
Noranit Sethabutr, Chief of participation for the people

East Java: 41 Christians Arrested for Blasphemy Against Islam
JAKARTA, Indo-
nesia, May 2,
2007—Blas-
phemy has be-
come a hot issue
in Indonesia af-
ter 41 people
were arrested in
Malang (East
Java province).
The local Police
C h i e f ,
Muhammad Amin Saleh, officially con-
firmed that at least 41 members of the In-
donesian Students Service Agency ( Lembaga
Pelayanan Mahasiswa Indonesia or LPMI), an
umbrella organization representing various
Protestant groups, were arrested for their
alleged involvement in blasphemy against
Islam. Some other 60 members of the group
are wanted for the same alleged crime.
Abortion Proposal in Mexico City is
Misguided Says Supreme Knight
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut,
April 30, 2007—A bill passed in
Mexico City—legalizing abor-
tion in that municipality—is
misguided and dangerous said
Knights of Columbus Supreme
Knight Carl A. Anderson.
“In a country that has made
great progress in the demo-
cratic inclusion of all its citi-
zens, a law such as this will re-
move legal protection from the
most vulnerable members of so-
ciety,” Anderson said. “The
Knights of Columbus will con-
tinue to work to protect the dig-
nity and value of life of every
human being – from conception
to natural death.”
The law that passed last week
is the first such law in Mexico.
Anderson said that the situa-
tion should make us recall the
words of Pope John Paul II who
wrote: “[D]emocracy, [when]
contradicting its own prin-
ciples, effectively moves to-
wards a form of totalitarianism.
The State is no longer the
‘common home’ where all can
live together on the basis of
principles of fundamental
equality, but is transformed
into a tyrant State, which arro-
gates to itself the right to dis-
pose of the life of the weakest
and most defenseless members,
from the unborn child to the
elderly, in the name of a public
interest which is really nothing
but the interest of one part.”
CDA appealed to the pro-
testers “ may I suggest all
Buddhists to reconsider
of the nation in the
country’s political life”.
In order to be approved,
their request and listen to a draft text of the Constitu-
Blasphemy is one among many impor- All the detainees are now being interro-
tant issues that have come under close pub- gated. The people on the run are believed other people faiths as they tion will have to pass a ref-
were also Thai”. Yesterday erendum vote due to take
lic scrutiny. It is a punishable offence when to have fled to Bali and West Nusa
it involves attacks against someone’s eth- Tenggara Province. an advisor to interim pre- place in September. (Weena
mier Surayud Chulanont, Kowitwanij /AsiaNews)
nic origin (Suku), religion (agama), race or A spokesperson for the LPMI has con-
skin color (Ras ) and social group (Antar- firmed the existence of the video, but shied
golongan). away from justifying it. Instead, he told re-
The police are investigating the role the porters that it was the personal initiative Pope Speaks Up for the Environment
41 people played in making a controver- of the East Java branch.
sial video which has been circulating for Police are in contact with religious lead- VATICAN CITY, April 26, inaugurated the seminar. Some
some weeks. The one-hour tape shows a ers in Probolingoo and Malang to prevent 2007—Benedict XVI joined his 80 scholars and experts from 20
group of LPMI members, dressed in Mus- the matter from turning violent. voice to those encouraging the countries are participating.
lim-like attire praying as Christian songs For some time the local Ulemas Council protection of creation and re- Cardinal Martino expressed
can be heard in the background. A Chris- have called for the withdrawal of the ‘blas- spect for the environment. his wish for “a fruitful exchange
tian priest is seen leading the prayer, point- phemous’ tape, but the situation seems The Pope’s appeal came in a of experiences, in a climate of
ing a finger at a copy of the Qur’an, saying under control. telegram signed by Cardinal serenity and composure, and an
that it is the “source of all evil in Indone- East Java is known as the stronghold of Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secre- in-depth dialogue and disinter-
sia, from violence to terrorism.” moderate Islam and is home to many mem- tary of state, and sent to partici- ested research.”
According to police, the taped event is bers of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), pants in a seminar sponsored The 74-year-old cardinal
believed to have taken place at Batu’s Asida Indonesia’s largest Muslim organization. by the Pontifical Council for spoke about the necessary bal-
Hotel on December 17-21, 2006. (Benteng Reges /AsiaNews) Justice and Peace. ance between environmental
The conference, being held education and the development
today and Friday, is examining of needy populations. He said
Survey Shows Average Age of Priests “Climate Change and Develop-
ment.”
the Church’s social doctrine
and the “very pertinent and in-
to be Ordained in ’07 is 35 The Holy Father invited ev- structive” lesson of the first few
eryone to adopt “a way of liv- chapters of the Bible can aid in
WASHINGTON, April 30, 1998 by the U.S. bishops’ Secre- ing, models of production and finding that balance.
2007—Results of a survey re- tariat for Vocations and Priestly consumption marked by re- According to the cardinal,
leased April 30 show that the av- Formation. spect for creation and the need humanity’s dominion over cre-
erage age of the 475 priests ex- Last year, the Center for Ap- for sustainable development of ation, willed by God, must not
pected to be ordained in the plied Research in the Apostolate peoples, keeping in mind the be despotic or irresponsible.
United States this year is 35 and at Georgetown University began universal distribution of goods, The person must “cultivate and
one-third of this year’s new conducting it for the U.S. bishops. as is so often mentioned in the guard” the goods of creation.
priests were born in another coun- For this year’s analysis, CARA Church’s social doctrine.” “Cultivate to develop man,
try, primarily Vietnam, Mexico, researchers contacted the 475 The Pontiff’s message ex- all of man, all men: This is the
Poland or the Philippines. ordinands by e-mail, telephone pressed “sincere appreciation” challenge that we are faced with
The national study of the ordi- and fax. A total of 282 ordinands for this meeting, which will as we reflect upon climatic
nation class of 2007 also shows that responded, or roughly 60 percent. study the “problems relating to changes,” Cardinal Martino
the men are well educated. More The group includes 221 who the environment, ethics, eco- said.
than six in 10 completed college will be ordained for dioceses and nomics and the political and He added that “The Compen-
before entering the seminary and 60 for religious orders. One re- social life with repercussions dium of the Social Doctrine of
some have advanced degrees in spondent did not specify. Respon- for the weakest members of so- the Church,” published by the
law, medicine and education. dents represent 98 archdioceses, ciety.” same dicastery, underlines that
The annual survey of new dioceses and eparchies and 33 re- environmental education is
priests was initially developed in ligious orders. (CNS) Disinterested research everyone’s responsibility, inas-
Luis Guevara, who serves as
a liaison between the Knights of Cardinal Renato Martino, much as the environment is a
Columbus in the United States
and those in Mexico noted:
Compendium Published in Russian president of the Pontifical
Council for Justice and Peace,
collective good made for every-
one. (Zenit)
“The right to life is the most MOSCOW, April 27, 2007—The to be made for the majority pres-
important right that a govern- Compendium of the Catechism of ence of the Orthodox Church in
ment can safeguard, and legal-
izing abortion in Mexico City
the Catholic Church is now avail-
able in Russian.
Russia when translating both the
Catechism and the Compendium.
Religious Superiors to Meet in Rome
sends the message that life is In presenting the volume this The archbishop recalled the ROME, May 2, 2007—The Inter- ment, interreligious dialogue,
cheap and expendable. Such a month, Catholic Archbishop words of then Cardinal Joseph national Union of Superiors- laity, migration, refugees and
law goes against the conscience Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz of the Ratzinger with regard to the General will have an audience spirituality will be discussed
of the vast majority of Mexicans Mother of God Archdiocese in project of translating the Cat- with Benedict XVI during its during the plenary meeting.
who value and respect the dig- Moscow said that the “experience echism: “Keep in mind the fact plenary meeting focused on The president of the union, Sis-
nity and value of each life.” showed that the complete edition that this Catechism will also be “weaving a new spirituality ter Therezinha Rasera of the Sis-
The Knights of Columbus is could be, in a certain sense, chal- used by the Orthodox so it is vital which generates hope and life ters of the Divine Savior, ex-
the world’s largest lay Catholic lenging for the average person.” to study their tradition in depth, for all.” plained the focus of the meeting
organization with more than 1.7 The Compendium, first pub- above all, their terminology.” The May 6-10 meeting in with this question: “Contemplat-
million members worldwide. lished in 2005, is a synthesis of the Since then, five editions of the Rome will bring together 850 ing our world, hearing its cries,
The Knights were founded 125 Catechism of the Catholic Church, Catechism have been published in superiors-general of women’s its needs, its thirst, its yearnings,
years ago in New Haven, Conn. which was promulgated by Pope Russian for a total of 12,000 copies. religious congregations. They what is the thread that we,
The Order established its first John Paul II in 1992. Some 3,000 copies of the Com- will meet with the Pope on women religious, leaders of our
council in Mexico in 1905. (KC Archbishop Kondusiewicz said pendium were released in Russia Monday. congregations, are called to
News) that a special consideration had at a cost of 130 rubles ($5). (Zenit) Issues including the environ- weave now …?” (Zenit)
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 9
April 30 - May 13, 2007
VATICAN CITY, May 1, 2007—
Made public today was a Mes-
sage from the Holy Father ad-
dressed to Mary Ann Glendon,
president of the Pontifical
Academy of Social Sciences,
and to participants in the
academy’s 13th plenary assem-
bly which was held in the
Vatican from April 27 to May 1
on the theme: “Charity and Jus-
tice in the Relations among
Peoples and Nations.”
In his message, published in
English and Italian, the Pope
makes it clear that, according to
“the principle of the universal
destination of all the goods of
creation, ... everything that the
earth produces and all that man
transforms and manufactures,
all his knowledge and technol-
ogy, is meant to serve the ma-
terial and spiritual develop-
ment and fulfillment of the hu-
man family and all its mem-
News Features A3
able growth, and to draw up
and apply solutions at an inter-
national level.”
“Indeed, if development
were limited to the technical-
economic aspect, obscuring the
moral-religious dimension, it
would not be an integral human
development, but a one-sided
distortion which would end up
by unleashing man’s destruc-
tive capacities,” he said.
The second challenge “in-
volves our conception of the
human person and conse-
quently our relationships with
one another. If human beings
are not seen as persons, male
and female, created in God’s
image and endowed with an
inviolable dignity, it will be
very difficult to achieve full jus-
tice in the world. Despite the
recognition of the rights of the
person in international declara-
tions and legal instruments,

bers.”
The Holy Father goes on to
identify “three specific chal-
lenges facing our world, chal-
lenges which I believe can only
be met through a firm commit-
ment to that greater justice
which is inspired by charity.
“The first,” he adds, “con-
cerns the environment and sus-
tainable development. The in-
ternational community recog-
nizes that the world’s resources
are limited and that it is the
duty of all peoples to imple-
ment policies to protect the en-
vironment in order to prevent
the destruction of that natural
capital whose fruits are neces-
sary for the well-being of hu-
manity. ... Also needed is a ca-
pacity to assess and forecast, to
monitor the dynamics of envi-
ronmental change and sustain-
© Alessandra Benedetti/Corbis
much progress needs to be
made in bringing this recogni-
tion to bear upon such global
problems as the growing gap
between rich and poor coun-
tries.”
The third challenge “relates
to the values of the spirit.”
Benedict XVI explains that,
“unlike material goods, those
spiritual goods which are prop-
erly human expand and multi-
ply when communicated. Un-
like divisible goods, spiritual
Development Must Not Ignore
goods such as knowledge and
education are indivisible.”
Having emphasized the ur-
gent need for “a just equality of
Moral and Religious Issues
opportunity, especially in the
field of education and the trans- sufficient in many parts of the justice at the service of life and image of God, can assure that place the human person once
mission of knowledge,” the world. the promotion of human dig- inter-generational solidarity more at the center of life in so-
Pope laments the fact that “edu- “To meet these challenges,” nity. Only love within the fam- which transmits love and jus- ciety and at the center of a glo-
cation, especially at the primary he concludes, “only love for ily, founded on a man and a tice to future generations. Only balized world governed by jus-
level, remains dramatically in- neighbor can inspire within us woman, who are created in the charity can encourage us to tice.” (VIS)

CBCP Holds Entrepreneurship

Bishop Urges Youth to
Get Involved in May Polls
By Pinky Barrientos, FSP
aged to get to know those running for
public office, both at the local and na-
tional levels “through candidates’ fora,
profiles, interviews, and other similar
activities.”
Baylon said the youth should take the
chance to watch/listen the “Halalan
2007 Senatorial Forum” spearheaded by
PPCRV in collaboration with ABS-CBN
and Radio Veritas.
“Let us patronize opportunities like
this to educate ourselves about the elec-
tions and the candidates,” Baylon said
in his letter.
A module called “Kabataang Bayani:
Most Rev. Joel Zamudio Baylon, D.D. Bishop of Masbate
Youth for H.O.P.E” (Honest, Orderly,
EPISCOPAL Commission on Youth and Peaceful Elections), which the ECY
Chairman and Masbate Bishop Joel Z. prepared last 2004 is again being used
Baylon challenged everyone in the for formation program this coming elec-
Youth ministry to make the coming elec- tions. Baylon also cited the PPCRV mod-
toral exercise “a truly transformed and ule “Pinoy Voters Academy” that can be
transforming endeavor.” used and adapted to local situations.
This was his response to calls for col- Involvement in social transformation
laboration from various groups includ- is the fruit of education and formation
ing the Parish Pastoral Council for Re- of the youth, according to Baylon. He
sponsible Voting and the Commission on stressed the need for the youth to par-
Elections to help in keeping the elections ticipate in the electoral exercise, as vot-
tomorrow clean, honest, peaceful and ers and as involved citizens, in their
credible. families, schools and parishes.
Baylon cited three important sugges- “Let us accompany our youth in vol-
tions for youth’s participation that can unteering in election-related activities,
help alter the political landscape: edu- such as those programmed by the
cation, formation and involvement. PPCRV,” said Baylon. Stressing the im-
He said the youth should be encour- portance of participating, he added:
“Let us be informed and involved in
election-related activities in our local
churches, always moving as one
Church.”
Baylon reiterated his call on everyone
to remain vigilant, to watch and pray
for the good of the country.
“Allow me again to call you and our
young people to pray and light A Candle
for HOPE—honest, orderly and peace-
ful elections—on 13 May 2007, the eve
of the elections, in your homes, groups,
and parishes,” said Baylon. “As one
country and one people, we lift up to
the Lord our humble and heartfelt pleas
for conversion, guidance, and renewal,”
he added.
Pinning his hopes on the youth’s posi-
tive response to ECY’s program for the
coming elections, Baylon said he prays
that today’s youth “may not only be-
come socially aware but also actively in-
volved citizens, all by the grace of God
who strengthens and empowers us to
‘hold on to what is good and shun ev-
ery form of evil’ (1 Thes. 5:21-22).”
A Candle for Hope was an activity
conceptualized by ECY in 2001. This
concerted action calls for simulta-
neously lighting a candle at six in the
evening on the eve of the elections in
May 2001. Since then, this activity has
been done every time there are elections
in the country.
Seminar for OFWs
By Dyz Pumarada
ABOUT 23 participants from
the ten selected dioceses in
Luzon attended the three-
day workshop-seminar on
Entrepreneurship for Over-
seas Filipino Workers (OFW)
and their families recently at
Manresa Retreat House in
Quezon City.
The seminar was orga-
nized through the Reinte-
gration Program of the
CBCP Commission on Mi-
grants and Itinerant People
(ECMI) with the fund sup-
port from the Conferenza
Episcopale Italiana (CEI). The
training was conducted by
the Business Enterprise and
Cooperative Mentoring, Inc.
(BECMI) headed by Ms. Ma.
Luisa Lopez.
The workshop was given
to selected parish pastoral
leaders and overseas Fili-
pino workers (OFW) who
were expected to come up
with specific projects for the
diocese that will serve as a
modest example of a reinte-
gration program for OFWs
and their families.
It was held in response to
the sincere desire of the
Church to alleviate the
plight of OFWs and their
families.
The ten selected dioceses
include the Arch/Dioceses
of Manila, Kalookan,
Novaliches, Antipolo, Lipa
(Batangas), San Fernando
(Pampanga and La Union),
Alaminos (Pangasinan),
Bayombong (Nueva
Viscaya), and Nueva
Segovia (Vigan).
The participating Arch/
dioceses have an established
migrant’s ministry program
in the diocesan level, and
have varying plans of eco-
nomic or livelihood activities
for the families left behind in
their respective communities.
Dubbed as “Discovering
the Entrepreneur in You,” the
training was composed of
seven modules that taught
participants of knowing their
interests and capacities to lead
a business. These are deemed
important since participation
in the training is not just for
oneself, but also for the com-
munity or group that each
participant was representing.
Learning the language of
business, marketing, pro-
duction, handling and man-
aging finances and people,
and setting up structure of
business are some of the
main topics that have been
discussed during the train-
ing. Writing and coming up
of a good business plan or
feasibility study was the con-
crete output of the training.
One of the positive propo-
sitions that have come out
from the training is the pos-
sible linkage and network-
ing with micro-enterprise
projects of each diocese in
terms of product exchange
or marketing. For example,
the vegetable production of
the group in Bayombong,
Nueva Vizcaya can be trans-
ported to the groups in Ma-
nila, Kalookan, Novaliches
as ideal points for distribu-
tion and marketing. The
group in Antipolo has seen
their home-made achara to
be viably distributed to the
existing parish cooperatives
and can be offered as
pasalubong of the balikbayans.
The next phase of the en-
trepreneurial program will
be a localized activity, where
each parish or lay diocesan
leader is expected to re-echo
the same to their core-team
in the diocese, and eventu-
ally, sit down with them for
a more concrete business
planning. A feasibility and
market study can also be
pursued as part of the busi-
ness conceptualization and
implementation.
ECMI will be present in
all these endeavors espe-
cially if the group will be
availing of the ECMI’s mi-
cro-lending service. Similar
seminar will soon be held in
Cebu for the pastoral lead-
ers in the Visayan region.

Papal Prayer Intentions for May

VATICAN
VATICAN CITY, April
April 30,
30, 2007—Benedict
2007—Benedict XVI
XVI will
will pray
pray during
during May
May
that Christians
that Christians allow
allow themselves
themselves to
to be
be guided
guided byby the
the Word
Word of
of
God.
God.

The Apostleship
The Apostleship of
of Prayer
Prayer announced
announced thethe general
general intention
intention
chosen
chosen by by the
the Pope:
Pope: “That,
“That, following
following the
the example
example of
of the
the Virgin
Virgin
Mary, all Christians should allow themselves to be guided by the
Mary,
Word
Word ofof God
God and
and always
always remain
remain attentive
attentive to
to the
the signs
signs of
of the
the Lord
Lord
in his
in his own
own life.”
life.”

The Holy
The Holy Father
Father also
also chooses
chooses an an apostolic
apostolic intention
intention for
for each
each
month. In
month. In May,
May, he
he will
will pray
pray that
that “in
“in mission
mission territories
territories there
there may
may
be no
be no lack
lack of
of good
good and
and enlightened
enlightened teachers
teachers inin the
the major
major semi-
semi-
naries and
naries and in
in the
the institutes
institutes of
of consecrated
consecrated life.”
life.” (Zenit)
(Zenit)
 CBCP Monitor
A4 Opinion Vol. 11 No. 9
April 30 - May 13, 2007

EDITORIAL

How Far Has the Church

Evangelized Politics?
OR should this question be asked, at all? Because, strangely
enough, not many people, even within the Church, believe
that to renew the political order is part of the Church’s
mission.
Some say that the Church should have nothing to do with
politics because Christ said to Pilate: “My kingdom is not
of this earth!” (Jn. 18:36). The conclusion, therefore, is that
the Church should not say anything about politics and
politicians.
As a result, our political culture is characterized by deception,
dishonesty, fraud, violence, corruption, pay-offs and
patronage—evils that have nothing to do with Christianity.
Yet most of the participants in the political process are
Christians, many are even graduates of Catholic schools.
Admittedly, there is a tragic dichotomy between our faith-
life as a people and our political culture.
The CBCP Pastoral Exhortation on Politics is definitive:
“Any serious believer in God cannot allow the state of our
national politics … to persist. And in fact there is a duty for
the Christian Catholic to transform politics by the Gospel.
The Church, God’s people, must evangelize politics. God’s
call to the Church is to preach the integral Gospel, the
Gospel with all its social dimensions. The Gospel must
influence every phase of life, every stratum of society, and
“restore all things under Christ” (Eph. 1:10).”
If such is the case, then the Catholic Church in the Philippines
has not yet gone too far in the work of evangelizing the
political order.
Indeed, the catechesis on politics cannot have any lasting
effect if done only on the occasion of elections. It should be
done as part of regular catechesis in the family, in schools,
in Basic Ecclesial Communities, covenant communities of
lay people, religious organizations—in season and out of
season.

Labor Day
INSTEAD of the spirit of celebration and the expressions of
gratitude, Labor Day in the country is once again an
occasion for dissent and discontent. And rightly so. Millions Oscar V. Cruz, DD
of Filipinos precisely suffer from joblessness. The other
When Will this Political
Vie ws and P
iews oints
Points
millions of workers receive starvation salaries. The rest of

the million Filipinos have to leave their homes and families
in order to find work abroad. This understandably makes
Labor Day in the Philippines an occasion for grievance and
resentment—as it has been getting worse for some years
now. WHEN elections are held in other coun-
tries, it is not expected that Filipino ob-
The significance of human labor is squarely premised on servers go there to watch the conduct of
three distinct realities: such political exercises. But when elections
are held in this country, foreign observers
• It affirms human dignity. Joblessness eats up the self- from many nations infallibly come to
esteem of individuals capable, willing and eager to work check on how Filipinos do it, particularly
but work there is none. what the government in power does on the
occasion of the electoral process.
• It provides for the standard needs of families which in this This is a shame—to say the least, the ex-
country is an extended reality especially in favor of the tensive presence of foreign observers dur-
elderly and the sick. ing the elections in the country in no way
means that they come to learn how to con-
• It contributes to the economic development of the duct peaceful, honest and credible elec-
community, the society to the country as a whole on tions. The truth is, they come to watch how
account of the social dimension of the fruits of labor. bloody, deceitful and unbelievable Phil-
ippine elections are. Thereafter, they go
Contrary to those who consider labor and look at laborers as back to their respective countries to sub-
but a good or bad business concern, an issue of little or big mit their reports for the whole world to
capital earnings, human labor dignifies the laborer, supports know what and how elections precisely
home requirements, and ultimately contributes to socio-
economic development.
It would be good for those who wield power and influence,
who wallow in wealth and capital potentials, to pause every
now and then and think how jobless people feel. Let them Split-level Marianity
every now and then look at thousands of job-seekers each
of them infallibly clutching a Manila envelope, everyone of
them patiently waiting in long lines, and most of them
eventually going back home to their families empty handed. “THE Filipinos have a split level Christian-
ity.” Over the decades this claim has been
As the national leadership indulges its visionary projections repeated so loudly and so often that its mes-
and glorious achievements, all base socio-economic inquiries sage now seems taken for granted. Briefly,
say exactly the opposite. There is little food on the family it means Filipino Christians wear one mask
tables. There is less education for the children. There is inside the church and another outside of it,
exhibit one type of behavior on Sunday and
more death among the sick. There are meager social services.
a different one from Monday to Saturday.
The government financial statistics are impressive, socio- Now, the month of May and tradition-
human conditions however are depressive. ally of Mary, another facet of our split-level
Christianity surfaces: our irrepressible ven-
So much Vat and E-Vat for the government, yet so meager
eration of the Blessed Virgin Mary, back to
welfare services for the citizens. So many leadership back with our appalling disregard of the
promises of abundant times ahead but millions of Filipinos virtues she embodies.
live a difficult present while facing a dismal future. Someone It behooves me to think there must be
must be lying to the people, cheating the country, stealing thousands of Marian organizations in the
public funds. Philippines and yet… how authentically
“Marian” have we become? We remember
her every six hours in the Angelus or
Regina Coeli, every day in the rosary, ev-
ISSN 1908-2940 ery week in novenas, every month in her
myriad manifestations. And every year
Curse End?
should not be.
Elections are supposed to be a symbol
of democracy, the proof of the supremacy
of the people, an expression of political
freedom of the citizens. In this country
however, especially during the tenure of
the present administration, the forthcom-
ing elections are a dangerous and fearful
political reality.
The infamous triad of guns, goons and
gold is becoming more and more perva-
sive and effective. Lives are becoming
cheaper while votes are becoming more
costly. More candidates have so much
money to spend while most people wal-
low in so much poverty. Private armies
openly make their rounds in the streets
while the keepers of peace and order stay
silent and immobile in their offices and
stations.
Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS
…and tha
billboards studding our highways reduce
women to the level of sex objects? (Aw, come
on!) Are we aware of the standards some
of our magazines are setting to determine
the value of a woman? (Yes, now you may
text your votes for the sexiest cover girl in XXX
Men’s Magazine). How are the women in
these media clad? (Definitely not Mary-like!)
What are they selling? (Worldly goodies.)
What thoughts, desires, and emotions do
they spawn in us? (The stuff of which confes-
sions are made.)
Are we concerned about the values our
showbiz “goddesses” are transmitting to
our young women by their example? How
do we reconcile these images (of Filipino
women) with our fervor for Mary? How
does this nonstop image-barrage by media
affect our devotion to Mary? Shouldn’t our
devotion to Mary somehow influence the
public depiction of women in our midst?
Sometimes it’s embarrassing to realize
As usual, the national leadership makes
the expected denouncements of election
related criminal wrong doings. As usual
her close allies fervently echo the tired and
tiring condemnations. And as usual too,
nothing happens—except that the situa-
tion is in fact becoming worse as the days
go by.
The country is already in turmoil when
it is still some weeks before the elections.
But if the truth need to be said, it will be
even much worse after the elections. This
is expected for ample reasons: the admin-
istration cannot afford to lose the major-
ity in the lower house on account of the
impending impeachment case. The admin-
istration wherefore will spare no one and
no cost to make ally congressmen and
party-lists win the elections.
When will this socio-political curse end?
thatt ’s the tr uth!
truth!
What ought to concern us is the effect of
this “split-level Marianity” on young girls
today—who will be tomorrow’s women
and mothers. Show two images of woman
to your 5-year old daughter—one of Our
Lady and the other of a noontime TV
dancer—and see which of the two will put
a sparkle in her eye. Your guess is as good
as mine. Attend a fiesta night in a remote
barrio and you’ll find that live entertain-
ment will most likely be provided by young
girls dancing “Itaktak mo!”
We hope this split-level Marianity is but
a passing thing, and that there are more
true-blue Marian devotees than are appar-
ent among us. It is laudable to give Mary a
special place in our celebrations, but we
also wish for everyone to savor the com-
pany of Mary in contemplation. With the
Filipinos’ penchant for celebrations we
sometimes forget about the long-range ef-
fects of our actions, like when we release

CBCP Monitor
over the centuries we have celebrated that “non-Marian” countries or cultures are balloons on Mother Mary’s birthday and
countless fiestas, held congresses, dedi- even more Marian in their regard for cer- choke Mother Earth in the process. With
cated shrines, and organized jubilees—all tain virtues we Catholics are supposed to child-like and typical ningas-cogon glee we
for Mary. We release balloons on her birth- uphold, such as modesty, for one. Buddhist watch the balloons fly to the skies, not
P r o ta g o n i s t of Tr u t h , Promoter of Peace
day, and in Intramuros we hold proces- temples in Thailand, for example, do not knowing that next day the deflated balloons
sions of favorite and cherished Marian im- let in women visitors wearing shorts, could land in the ocean and cause death to
Pedro C. Quitorio Pinky Barrientos, FSP ages every year. sleeveless dresses or plunging necklines. marine creatures that ingest them.
Editor-in-Chief Production Manager This month, in churches all over the Temple guards at the Islamic al-Aqsa shrine We know that the imitation of Mary could
country—up to the humblest kapilya in far or Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem cover provide the solution to our many ills. We
Melo M. Acuña Rowena T. Dalanon flung barangays —we honor Mary with such improperly dressed tourists with fully trust that we shall one day be granted
Managing Editor Marketing Supervisor flowers offered each day, culminating in gowns made for the purpose. (In contrast, the grace to be “other Marys”—the soul of
two popular events in our calendar: the note what some of our women wear to humility, modesty and compassion—re-
Dennis B. Dayao Ernani M. Ramos Santacruzan and the Flores de Mayo. Mass in this “only Catholic nation in Asia.”) maining docile to God’s will while defying
On-Line Editor Circulation Manager
After more than 400 years of all that show Newspapers and magazines in Islamic the judgment of men. Until that day comes
Roy Q. Lagarde Mercelita Dominguez of love and devotion for our Blessed countries—even the more “liberal” or “pro- we will in good faith just close an eye to our
News Editor Comptroller Mother, one would imagine the Filipinos gressive” ones like Egypt—do not carry split-level Marianity. We carry on with our
to be by now a shining model of Christian photos of women exposing their bodies, processions in her name, flaunting our
discipleship. But are we? such as fashion models in revealing clothes fantabulous carrozas of her images while
How attentive have we grown to the and beauty contestants in swimsuits. Here overlooking the probability that because we
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCP Com-
Layout by Blue Flame

munications Development Foundation, Inc., with editorial and writing on the wall, to the warning signs
business offices at 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila. P.O. enveloped in images we are exposed to
Box 3601, 1076 MCPO. Editorial: (063) 404-2182. Business: daily? Do we remember Mary when we
(063)404-1612. Email: cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net Website: watch those scantily clad “bombs” and
www.cbcpworld.net/cbcpmonitor “babes” gyrating on noontime TV shows?
(Mary who?) Do we care that advertising
in our Mary-loving land, those beauties al-
ways get front page exposure in print me-
dia, and certainly, even jeepney-riding
Filipinas are getting bolder and bolder in
fashion, flaunting their navels and tattooed
hips for all the world to see.
cannot imitate her, we make her imitate us:
we can not be poor and simple like Mary,
so we dress her up in gold and diamonds
like us. The picture borders on the ridicu-
lous, but our sense of humor will see us
through. And that’s the truth.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 9
April 30 - May 13, 2007
Melo M. Acuña
Issues and Concerns Some Questions (Part II)
MASBATE Bishop Joel Baylon aptly de-
scribed Philippine politics “built on three
pillars—greed, patronage and fear.” Hav-
ing covered the political killings in Masbate
during the 80s and 90s, I cannot disagree
with his assessment. Come to think of it,
Masbateños watched with fear and disgust
as politicians and their supporters literally
and figuratively shot it out on a number of
occasions.
The late Bishop Porfirio Iligan, Bishop
Baylon’s predecessor, in an interview be-
fore the 1998 elections said he has offici-
ated funeral masses for the known politi-
cal leaders of the province. He said he never
ceased to call on contending parties to cease
from putting the law into their own hands.
Bishop Baylon, quoted by Agence France
Presse, said “Masbate is a microcosm of all
that is wrong with the Philippines. Outsid-
ers see it as barbaric and not as civilized
people.” He suggested “politicians should
be looking at getting people out of poverty,
educating the children and not killing their
political rivals.”
Is it purely coincidental where political
dynasties exist, poverty rears its ugliest
head as insurgency flourishes? If this is
happening in Masbate, this could very well
be the picture in some other parts of the
country, say ARMM?
***
Can we ever have well-paved roads
where everyone obeys traffic rules to the
The Roots of Violence
Against Women and
Children
BASED on findings, the incidence of child
abuse has increased dramatically for the
last 20 years. This vicious phenomenon is
attributed to the contraceptive mentality,
the seed of which were sown in media and
the school curricula around three decades
ago. Most men and women who grew in
that milieu imbibed the anti-life or anti-
natal spirit. They are mothers who refuse
to bear children, who use contraception,
who abort and neglect their children. These
are fathers who abuse their own children,
who abandon their families, who regard
women as commodities, who regard chil-
dren as property.
Dr. Philip Ney, A Canadian child-psy-
chiatrist, claims that abortion and contra-
ception remove the guilt for killing inno-
cent lives. If people are capable of rational-
izing that killing the baby is the right thing
to do given that situation, then killing any
other person can be reasoned out as well.
As Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta has
said, “If we allow a mother to destroy her
unborn child, what will keep us from kill-
ing one another?” To whom can we turn to
for protection?
No less than Judge Noonan of the Ameri-
can Jury considers the rise in the incidence
of child abuse as one of the adverse conse-
quences of the Roe v. Wade Decision that
Rev. Euly B. Belizar, SThD
By the Roadside
Roadside
MAY is such a very Marian month in the Phil-
ippines. I would say it’s very much so in
Borongan, my hometown. I would watch
children in the parish I’m ministering make
a line every afternoon’s Catechism classes to
put flowers of all looks, kinds and shapes at
the feet of Mama Mary’s statue while sing-
ing the ‘Ave Maria’ or some other Marian
song. These days I’d accompany them with
silent prayers asking Mama Mary to inter-
cede for us hapless Pinoys in the face of Elec-
tions 2007 at which would-be senators, con-
gressmen, governors, board members, may-
ors, vice mayors and councilors vie for our
votes (at times by hook or by crook). But then
it occurs to me: Mama Mary has actually been
teaching us how to cope with the challenge,
if only we care to stop for a while and take a
careful look at our situation.
Listening and Pondering: Voters’ Education
Efforts. The one thing most people appreci-
ate is when they are listened to. Attentive lis-
teners are better conversationalists than lo-
quacious talkers. We would find Mama Mary
among the first kind, not the last. The gospel
of Luke, as is the case with the other gospels,
doesn’t put too many words in her mouth.
Apart from her lively exchange with the arch-
angel Gabriel in the first chapter (Lk. 1:26-
38), her singing the Magnificat (Lk. 1:46-55)
and her worried remark about Jesus’ AWOL
(absence without leave) or unannounced
parting from them and then being found later
in the temple (Lk. 2:48), most of the time
Mama Mary stays at the background. Doing
what, we could ask. Listening and ponder-
ing. “And Mary kept all these things, reflect-
ing on them in her heart” (Lk. 2:19). “…and
his mother kept all these things in her heart”
(Lk. 2:51).
Our PPCRV-sponsored candidates’ fora, in
the municipal, provincial and national lev-
els, plus our voters’ education programs are
veritable means by which we and all other
voting citizens of the Republic are given a
chance to imitate Mama Mary’s listening and
pondering so as to gain better skills in judg-
ing and discerning which candidates are re-
ally called by God to be our leaders. Unthink-
Opinion
letter, taxi drivers giving their passengers
change to the last centavo? Can we strictly
enforce laws against smoke-belching? Can
we have clean toilets with running water
and toilet paper in all our malls? Can we
have immigration officials who seem to
welcome tourists as valued friends from far
away? Can we extend tax refunds to tour-
ists who buy souvenirs at our shopping
centers? Can we have shopping centers
minus security guards armed with chop-
sticks poking at our bags and subjecting us
to body search?
I had the rare privilege to join my family
in visiting Singapore recently. Described
as a garrison state by some, I felt far away
from the Philippines considering
Singapore’s remarkable infrastructures,
clean and well-maintained highways, se-
cured tourist destinations and attentive
shopkeepers. A taxi driver said their gov-
ernment extracts a significant amount in
taxes but he’s pretty sure the money goes
into government projects. Can we say the
same for the Philippines?
A trade-off somehow exists. At their im-
pressive malls on Orchard Road, one rarely
sees Singaporean families with children in
tow. Theirs may be a gray society. Yes, there
were families with children in their stroll-
ers but they were mainly Caucasians.
A number of Filipinos I talked with said
they long for home but there aren’t enough
well-paying jobs left for them. Almost all
Sr. Mary Pilar Verzosa, RGS
legalized abortion in the USA.
In that country, there is widespread child
abuse and wife battering despite the strong
feminist movement. Incidentally, abusing
their children is admitted by women who
had abortion. Besides depression, insom-
nia, guilt, anger, addictions, blaming and
confusion, child abuse is part of the Post-
Abortion Syndrome (PAS). Pro-life Coun-
selors have sat through many healing ses-
sions with post-aborted women who re-
gretfully relate how they kicked, slapped,
or verbally abused their children without
understanding how they could go into such
rage. Men also experience Post-Abortion
Syndrome and admit to wife-battering and
child abuse, going through a cycle of vio-
lence, regret and contrition, then violence
again.
George Gilder, a sociologist, provides a
similar explanation. He says that violence
against women and children flows from the
collective consciousness of men who are
retaliating from society’s rejection of their
maleness—their capacity to sire off springs
(as in contraception), and their giving up
their role as a provider and protector of the
weak and defenseless (as in abortion). They
then retaliate by performing “male” acts to
prove their superiority, for instance, sexual
abuse and brutality to those whom they
Mary, the Flower of
May and the Challenge
of Philippine Elections
ing Pinoy voters there still are; but it is our
hope that they are a vanishing breed because
they contribute little to the development of
an enlightened democracy in our midst and
in better Christian discipleship at the polls.
There are signs of hope. A recent newspaper
account tells of a greater number of viewers
(17 percent) gained by a talk show where can-
didates to the senate spoke about “corrup-
tion and political dynasties” compared to
those who viewed a beauty tilt (11.1 percent)
held last April 29, 2007 (cf. Philippine Daily
Inquirer, May 2, 2007, 1). We can hardly con-
clude that Pinoy voters are maturing by this
single instance of positive action but it’s cer-
tainly a step in the right direction.
Submission to the Lord’s Word: Obedience to
the Highest Authority as a Priority. If there is
one crucial human action that has single-
handedly opened the doors to God’s saving
love rushing on earth, it’s the simple, un-self-
conscious gift of consent to God’s plan by
Mama Mary, uttered in the presence of an
angel. “Behold, I am the handmaid of the
Lord. Let it be done to me according to your
word” (Lk. 1:38). Pinoys are known, by and
large, as LTDs (“loyal to death”) to their fami-
lies and clans, to their friends and their can-
didates, with a few glaring exceptions. That
could mean, many times, a Pinoy’s submis-
sion to human authorities or wanna-be au-
thorities in doing what could be a single or a
series of election-related acts that may or may
not flout the laws of the Republic or those of
morality.
That this has been our single most endur-
ing flaw and recipe to the sorry chaotic state
we are now in can hardly be contested. In
that sense embracing Mama Mary’s simple,
peace-giving formula is not only proof of
wisdom but also a sign of recognition that
what offers Pinoys real redemption even in
their politics is going beyond politics to what
politics should en-flesh: God’s eternal plan
as revealed by his Word. Political partisan
loyalties and the submissions they require
have never brought us anywhere but to the
brink. It’s about time we imbibe the words
of Peter after Pentecost, echoing Mama
said they would rather stay in the Philip-
pines provided they would get the same
opportunities and benefits they get abroad.
We all the while thought overseas employ-
ment would just be a stop-gap measure to
address the unemployment problem along
with demands for manpower from friendly
countries. Will we ever live to see the day
when most of our talented workers come
home?
***
So the Philippine economy has im-
proved, marked by the strength of the Phil-
ippine peso and the continuous remittances
from abroad. However, Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla
admitted a steady growth in the number
of pawnshops over the past few years. Told
of pawnshops’ new specialized line on
cellphones and laptops, he said they have
also noted the same.
Will this not reveal the true state of the
country’s economy that more people are in
need of money as there are no alternatives,
say credit cards and unemployment insur-
ance?
***
Elections are just around the corner.
Whom will you vote for? Please choose the
best among the candidates. We will all be
responsible for electing them into office. We
ought to make them responsible and ac-
countable for their programs of action,
should they win come May 14.
Lo
Lovve Lif
Lifee
perceive as weak.
Several other factors are attributed to the
rise of violence again women and children.
Among these are personality disorders ex-
perienced by individuals in their psycho-
sexual development, drug, and alcohol
addictions. It has been shown that men who
experienced physical and emotional abuse
in their childhood have a tendency to be
perpetrators in the future. And researches
show that children who observe or witness
violence within the household can turn into
abusers when they are in positions of
power.
Another factor contributing to violence
is pornography. Two generations of Filipi-
nos already have been exposed to such
material through cinema, television, tab-
loids and magazines, comedy bars, internet,
videos, and lately, the mobile phones.
The effect of porn on the mentality of this
generation must be examined in the light
of recent foreign researches and studies
which affirmed that “it is pornography
which feeds the imagination of those with
guns and gives them a blueprint to act out
in their own lives violence as enjoyable. It
encourages the view that women are sexual
victims, not equal partners.” Thus pornog-
raphy develops potential criminals.
Love Life / P6
Mary’s own: “We must obey God rather than
men” (Acts 5:29). When there are clear at-
tempts and temptations to cheat, buy or sell
votes and do many such other acts of elec-
tion outrage, these are the best words to re-
member and live by.
An Eye for Non-Self-Oriented Service. When
we consider Mama Mary rushing to her
cousin Elizabeth, then pregnant with the fu-
ture John the Baptist, even after she is hailed
as Mother of the Redeemer by no less than
God’s Archangel Gabriel, we find no hint of
self-importance. Now contrast that with
someone who, without batting an eyelash,
tells you he/she wants your vote in order to
serve you (this after staying in office for two
terms virtually doing nothing). Her coming
had nothing to do with announcing her
choice by God as the Queen of Heaven and
Earth, no matter how true that was then and
now. Her coming had everything to do with
offering herself to serve an expectant mother.
And it soon became clear that her service
to Elizabeth didn’t simply lie in preparing her
to deliver her baby well but in revealing the
joy that comes from the child in Mama Mary’s
womb, making clear what faith really is and
strengthening Elizabeth’s own. Elizabeth’s
words are our testimony: “Most blessed are
you among women, and blessed is the fruit
of your womb. And how does this happen
to me that the mother of my Lord should
come to me? For at the moment the sound of
your greeting reached my ears, the baby in
my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you
who believed that what was spoken to you
by the Lord would be fulfilled” (Lk. 1:42-45).
In response Mama Mary sings of the won-
ders of the Lord and the great things he
wrought on the “lowly ones” such as herself
(Lk. 1:46-55). Mama Mary’s humility was her
foremost tool in the service that she actually
rendered to Elizabeth. She teaches us that hu-
mility enables us to see our real Master whom
we serve in others when we shift our eyes
from self-centered involvement with others
to doing concrete good acts for their true
good. We don’t lack for people who go out
Roadside / P6
A5
Jose B. Lugay
Laiko Lampstand
Laiko
Water Security in a
Time of Climate Change
THE Concerned Citizens Against Pollution, COCAP, where
I sit as a member of the Board of Trustees, and other advo-
cates for a better environment, celebrated World Water Day
last March 22 and Earth Day last April 21. After COCAP’s
successful launch of the forum on “Biofuels and Our Future”
last November 4, 2006, these two recent events held within
30 days apart encouraged the Board to plan for holding
another forum, this time a theme involving water and cli-
mate change. Climate change is a direct result of global
warming. We know some of its stormy effects as El Niño
and La Niña. Both are due to changing wind patterns and
temperatures of the earth. The forum should interest all
advocates for the protection of the environment in the ar-
eas where they work and reside.
Scientists have declared global warming as mainly due
to man’s uncontrolled usage of fossil fuels for industries
and all types of mobile vehicles. Former Vice-President Al
Gore in sponsoring the award-winning movie, the Inconve-
nient Truth pricked the conscience of all nations specially
the United States for delaying their commitment to reduce
carbon dioxide emissions as mandated by the Tokyo Pro-
tocol. China and India are now identified as major contribu-
tors to global warming because of their fast developing
economies—burning more fuel for their industrial expan-
sion and increased commerce with other nations in the
world. The resulting unabated increase in the concentra-
tion of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide
gases, will lead to more destruction of the ozone layer. This
triggers the melting of more glaciers in the Arctic ice cap
resulting in the increase of the temperature world-wide.
COCAP decided to hold the forum on May 31 at the
Walter Hogan Conference Center of Ateneo de Manila Uni-
versity and the theme is “Water Security in a Time of Cli-
mate Change.” As we discussed the many issues that could
fall within this theme, I remembered that the CBCP had
issued a warning related to the same topic in a pastoral
letter of January 29, 1988, 19 years ago, entitled “What Is
Happening to Our Beautiful Land?” It is a long pastoral
letter with 15 subtopics written in 15 pages. The assembly
headed by Archbishop Leonardo Legaspi suggested that
copies of the pastoral letter be sent to the Department of
Natural Resources, the Department of Forestry, and to the
media.
This began the conscientization of our parishioners all
over the Philippines regarding our responsibility for the
care of the environment—our forests, our ancestral lands
and our seas. It invited the People of God to protect the
integrity of creation and rallied the laity to become advo-
cates for the protection of our atmosphere (clean air), riv-
ers and seas (clean water) our forests and surroundings (tree
planting and composting). After this initial challenge of the
Bishops, advocacy groups like Green Peace, COCAP,
Mother Earth Movement, Recycling Movement of the Phil-
ippines, etc. together with Academe led by Miriam Col-
lege, St. Paul’s College, Assumption College, and Ateneo
de Manila University, harnessed all the talent and resources
they could garner. They worked as a team and successfully
defended in the halls of Congress these environmental bills
which eventually became laws—the Clean Air Act, Clean
Water Act and the Solid Waste Management Act. It is encour-
aging to note that the advocacy started by CBCP has con-
tinued strongly today as evidenced by the inclusion of the
Care for the Environment as one of the criteria for selecting
candidates for the coming election this coming May 14.
As one reads more on the statistics of climate change, the
forebodings of disaster are clear and will eventually come.
While these events—the coming of the 250 km per hour
winds that destroyed the Bicol region last year, the land-
slides in Leyte and the destruction of the forests of the
Prelature of Infanta is still fresh in our minds, scientists give
us more chilling scenarios which could happen within the
lifetime of this generation. Water resources in 9 cities in the
Philippines will not be enough for the needs of industries
and household consumption, considering the increasing
population and new businesses generated. These are Metro
Manila, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Bacolod, Angeles City,
Zamboanga, Baguio and Cagayan de Oro. The hardest hit
will be the poor who live in communities that are not con-
nected with the local water supply systems. They pay more
for their drinking water. This takes away meager funds
needed to buy basic nutritious food for the family, espe-
cially the young children. Lack of water deprives people of
normal activities to maintain body health and sanitation—
the water for washing clothes, for taking a bath and for
flushing the toilets. No sufficient water for household use
is tantamount to unhealthy living conditions. Lack of sani-
tation is the primary cause of diseases and epidemics. It is
the poor people that die during these epidemics since they
can not ill afford the cost of hospitalization and the required
medicines.
The scenario is more chilling when the effects of El Niño
and La Niña come again. Their 4 to 9 years cyclic visits are
the consequences of climate change. These events had
caused from 1990 to 1994, 112 tropical cyclones according
to PAGASA and intense droughts from October to May 1994
and October 1997 to June 1998. While we do not notice it
here in the tropics, the melting of the Arctic icecap and its
disastrous effects will be felt by the next generation. Re-
member the floating icebergs depicted in the movie, Ti-
tanic—when these island glaciers melt, the sea level in-
creases. The temperature reportedly has increased by 7
degrees centigrade in the last 50 years. In the next 50 years,
according to scientists, the sea level will rise by one meter.
The rise will go on as long as nations do not cooperate in
reducing the use of fossil fuels, that is, by substituting it
with biofuels. The shoreline is calculated to recede 3 kilo-
meters inland for every meter rise in sea level. Our cities
facing the sea like Metro Manila and Cebu will be inun-
dated unless there are plans to build dikes to prevent flood-
ing of these metropolitan cities.
The preparation for this type of projected catastrophic
event can only be done by professionals with scientific re-
search training and properly funded study groups. The
work will need a huge budget. If the plan is erroneous and
the budget is underestimated it will be a disaster and if it is
overestimated it is money that the country can ill afford to
waste. This is why we need professionals and science-and-
technologically oriented senators who are environmental
advocates. The Party List, AGHAM (Alyansa ng mga
Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa
Mamamayan, Inc.), initiated by the late Dr. Raymundo
Punongbayan, if supported by our lay leaders will be our
advocate for preparing us for the coming catastrophic di-
saster of our land. Laiko / P6
 CBCP Monitor
A6 Local News Vol. 11 No. 9
April 30 - May 13, 2007

Filipino Bishops Bishops: Ten Days of

Prepare for Elections
Call for Prayer and
Issue Voting Guidelines
MANILA, Philippines, May 3,
2007—Bishops are trying to
prepare Filipinos for the May
14 national elections, calling
above all for prayer.
The president of the bishops’
conference of the Philippines,
Archbishop Angel Lagdameo
of Jaro, said in a statement:
“We exhort everyone to be
vigilant, to pray and to offer
penance for this intention.
“May the hand of God stop
evil from getting control. We
need the Lord’s help, without
which our best efforts will
come to nothing.”
The statement urges commu-
nities and parishes nationwide
to organize Holy Hours of
prayer from May 5 to election
day.
Contemplative men and
Pray / from p1
9 days
The CBCP devoted nine
days, from May 5 right up to
the “pivotal” election Day, for
“prayer and penance” so that
the coming elections will be
“clean, peaceful and reflective
of the true voice of the voters.”
Lagdameo called on the
people across the nation to
unite in prayer to ask God’s
blessing on the “pivotal” syn-
chronized local and national
elections.
Prayer and hardwork, he
added, must go hand in hand
with the united thrust of ev-
eryone in exercising vigilance
during the entire electoral
process.
He requested priests, reli-
gious leaders and church
groups all over the country to
pray for all voters, candidates
and election officials and
workers.
The Catholic Church has 5,
518 diocesan priests, more
than 8, 000 religious men and
women and over 15, 000 cat-
echists spread out in some 2,
800 parishes in the country.
He also urged the Basic
2 Pinoy / from p1
Gregorian University in
Rome.
The Pope called for prayers
for the new priests to perse-
vere in their ministry and re-
main faithful to their vocation.
He also asked for prayers
for more vocations for the
priesthood. The Catholic
Church has seen candidates
for the priesthood decline in
parts of the West.
At one point in the cer-
women in more than 100 mon-
asteries nationwide are en-
couraged to pray for the coun-
try, “especially for all voters,
candidates and election offi-
cials and workers,” said the
bishops’ statement.
Guidelines
Archbishop Lagdameo, dur-
ing his Labor Day reflections,
said that candidates should
prove they are worth the
peoples’ vote by addressing
the country’s labor crisis.
The archbishop remarked
that government leaders of the
future must consider the labor
condition a priority as the
country struggles with an un-
employment rate of 8.7%.
Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales
of Manila issued a statement
Ecclesial Communities (BECs)
in around 40 dioceses to lead
the same activity in their re-
spective centers.
“Humble and trusting
prayers are needed to safe-
guard the sanctity of the bal-
lot and of the entire electoral
process,” he said.
The bishop urged that all
Filipinos “take on board the
exhortation, so that these
prayers may be fruitful”.
Moral values
The call to prayer would be
the exclamation point of the
past months of endeavors by
many Church leaders to rouse
a massive wave of voters who
will go to the polls.
The CBCP also exhorted the
people to pray that God will
bless us with the election and
re-election of many pro-life
and pro-family leaders who
respect the “God-inspired”
foundations of the country.
The bishops earlier stressed
that the faithful has a serious
responsibility “to elect leaders
who are devoted to moral val-
ues.”
emony in St. Peter’s Basilica,
the men prostrated them-
selves on a carpet in front of
the central altar.
Wearing simple white cas-
socks, they replied one by one,
“Here I am,” as their names
were called out.
The two new Filipino priests
said they expect to be assigned
in Rome for the next three
years depending on the needs
of the diocese.
urging the lay faithful to take
seriously their role as citizens
through active participation in
responsible voting.
Cardinal Rosales’ statement,
read in all churches within the
Manila Archdiocese, called on
the clergy and the faithful to
vote for candidates who: love
and fear God; are guided by a
well-formed conscience and
are thus sensitive to the choice
of what is good; live and serve
consistently with moral prin-
ciples; are honest, nonviolent
and compassionate.
The 74-year-old cardinal la-
mented, “In the past, enor-
mous sufferings resulted from
political ambitions, maneuvers
and group adventurism result-
ing in the country’s poor be-
coming even poorer.” (Zenit)
Shun violence, cheating
The CBCP likewise reiter-
ated its call for candidates not
to engage in all forms of vio-
lence and cheating in polls.
The CBCP head asked vot-
ers to reject and condemn as
“immoral” all acts of violence
and cheating, including the
“evil of vote padding and
shaving” in favor of or against
any candidate.
“Let both candidates and their
supporters face the judgment of
democratic election with humil-
ity and magnanimity,” the pas-
toral exhortation read.
On April 24, representatives
of the Church and several
stakeholders in the election
signed a “covenant for honest,
orderly and peaceful elec-
tions” in Manila.
The signatories include the
Parish Pastoral Council for
Responsible Voting, Commis-
sion on Human Rights, Na-
tional Capital Region Police
Office, Department of Educa-
tion, the Filipino Alliance
Movement-Support Group,
Bantay Bayan Inc., and
Deltacom, a civic group.
The other newly ordained
priests included 12 native Ital-
ians, and one man each from
Poland, Peru, Colombia,
Slovakia, Spain, Paraguay, Ec-
uador and the Dominican Re-
public. They ranged in age
from 25 to 51.
One of the priests ordained
by the Pontiff, Fr Juan Carlos
Rugel Mari, is the son of the
longtime papal photographer
Arturo Mari. (CBCP News)
MANILA, April 30, 2007—The Philippine bish-
ops have asked the faithful to pray for ten days
from May 5th through to 14th, so that the com-
ing national elections are “honest and peaceful”.
But in the interim, political violence targeting
candidates continues: the Mayor of San Carlos is
the latest victim of a political war that seems to
know no bounds.
In his Pastoral Exhortation letter, CBCP President
Ledesma / from p1
Ledesma added “a candidate
with conscience is guided by a
sense of morality, of what is
morally right or wrong.”
He explained a candidate
must be transparent in his ac-
tions and accountable for all
transactions involving public
funds and is expected to up-
hold at all times the “values of
Truth, Justice and Love.”
Ledesma said competence
can be measured by the
individual’s public service
record and work experience
will assure voters of efficient
service.
“Belonging to a “political
dynasty” is no assurance of
17, 880 / from p1
1,420,798, Cavite with
1,323,895 and Pangasinan with
1,330,027 voters.
Both Comelec and National
Statistics Office figures re-
vealed Regions I, III, IV and the
National Capital Region
would be enough to make
senatorial candidates win.
Aside from Pangasinan,
Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna,
Batangas, Pampanga, Rizal,
Nueva Ecija and Quezon have
over a million individuals over
18 years old.
Earlier studies revealed the
significance of the so-called
Lingayen-Lucena voters corri-
dor which has a total of over
15,019,119 voters or nearly 33%
of the total registered voters.
However, Comelec records
showed 76.99% voter turn out
in 2004 national and local elec-
tions. To date, there’s no point
of reference due to the recent
fire that engulfed Comelec an-
nex building. (Melo Acuña)
Prayer for “Honest
and Peaceful”
Elections
Archbishop Angel Lagdameo called on the Filipino
Christendom to “unite for the Lord’s guidance so
the elections on May 14 will be clean, peaceful and
reflective of the true voice of the voters”.
The bishop urged that “every Filipino take on
board the exhortation, so that these prayers may
be fruitful”.
The Church has increased its efforts to reduce
tension as the election nears. But just this morn-
ing Julian Resuello, Mayor of San Carlos (160 km
from Manila), died in hospital, the victim of an
ambush attack April 28th last.
According to the provincial chief of police,
Leopoldo Bataoil, the authors of the crime are
political opponents. For this reason the whole
area “will be placed under the jurisdiction of the
electoral Commission which has the necessary
power to stop the violence”.
In a separate incident, the Mayor of Morong
miraculously escaped unharmed from a night-
time raid on his home, while he and his family
were sleeping.
In efforts to stop this violence, President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo has ordered the army to co-
ordinate controls with the police “24 hours a day”
in all areas of the Country considered at risk.
Moreover, she has issued orders to confiscate all
fire arms in private citizen’s possession. (Santosh
Digal / AsiaNews)
competence for it may even issues, from political reforms,
leave a negative mark. corruption, family life and edu-
Ledesma who is also CBCP cation to environment and ex-
vice president underscored the trajudicial killings.
candidates’ commitment to The 64 year-old prelate ex-
good governance even before horted poll volunteers to per-
they get elected into office as severe and keep the coming
they are expected to pursue the midterm elections clean, hon-
common good and give flesh to est, peaceful and credible.
people empowerment. “May your involvement in
He cautioned voters against the political life of our country
vote buying. He said “the can- personify your collective con-
didate who buys your vote is a science, competence and com-
candidate without the three Cs” mitment to rebuild our dam-
and “he is the last one you aged institutions and create a
should vote for.” brighter future for your chil-
The three parameters should dren and the coming genera-
be used in asking candidates of tions,” he concluded. (CBCP
their views on a wide range of News)
Church / from p1
del Sur, Maguindanao, Sharif “The perception of Mindanao
Kabungsuan, Tawi-Tawi, as ‘cheating capital’ did not even
Basilan, Sulu and Marawi City. come from us but from the Mus-
De Villa said they would come lims themselves,” she said.
up with around 15,000 poll The Assembly of the Darul Ifta
watchers to service in about 7,768 of the Philippines also issued a
clustered polling precincts in the statement for all their members
ARMM region. that would guide them in their
She said they are hoping to conduct of the elections.
have two poll watchers per pre- The said statement came al-
cinct or at least ten volunteers in most at the same time with the
one polling area. CBCP pastoral exhortation for
CBCP Archbishop Angel clean and peaceful elections is-
Lagdameo lauded the “landmark sued on April 24.
document”, in an effort to correct “We can see the parallel effort
the “wrong perception” about that everybody is really coming
Mindanao during elections. together to really come with a
“I would even say that the pres- credible elections… helping to-
ence of PPCRV in ARMM has gether regardless of faith for a
occasioned a change of heart on common cause,” De Villa also
the part of Muslim Mindanao,” he said.
said. Both the PPCRV and the Mus-
De Villa stressed the agreement lim group vowed to work to-
does not only mean they are just gether for the common goal of
taking care of activities in election protecting the integrity of the elec-
monitoring but also bolstering the toral process and to “deter or pre-
moral force that has to be applied vent the commission of fraudu-
in ARMM. lent acts” in the elections.

Lovelife / from p5 Laiko / from p5 Bishop / from p1

Finally, the secular sex edu-
cation (reproductive rights,
“safe sex”) promoted by the
population/birth control advo-
cates targeting 8-12 year olds
seriously disturb the latency
period in the psycho-sexual de-
velopment of our children.
During this stage, sexual energy
should be directed for the de-
velopment of good habits and
virtues, particularly compas-
sion, which is essential for the
control of cruelty impulses in
the human. Persons whose
compassionate feelings are de-
stroyed during the latency pe-
riod are frequently devoid of
this emotion. Without compas-
sion, the youth plunge in surges
of violent behavior.
It is alarming that promoters
of the values-free type of sex
education want it obligatory in
public schools at age ten. This
grabs away from the parents the
primary responsibility to be the
sex educators of their children
as they are the ones who know
the developmental needs of
their child. Classroom sex edu-
Visit us online at
• www.cbcponline.net/cbcpmonitor
cation in the grade school re-
moves the modesty and rever-
ence, that discussion on the
God-given gift of sexuality de-
mands, thus making it trite and
object of curiosity among the
young.
Society is like a parabola
where values from a fixed lo-
cus extend like lines reaching
every point. When from the
central point emanates philoso-
phies that shape people’s val-
ues and culture towards anni-
hilation of life, there follows a
separation of the human expe-
rience from the Divine. Let us
not be surprised if our society
is prone to exploitation and
brutality.
In John 10:10, the thief comes
to steal, kill and destroy the
sheep but Jesus promised us
that “He came to give life, life
in its fullness”. Many women
and children are waiting for
that fullness of life now. Join
the various movements and
agencies dedicated to stop do-
mestic violence. Call Pro-life at
911-2911.
Lack of water means lack of
irrigation for our agriculture
where 70% of our total water
resource is used. Climate
change will aggravate the
situation. While our local
governments should support
policies to prevent the de-
struction of our water re-
sources by uncontrolled ex-
traction and by protecting
rivers from pollution, in or-
der to ensure supply of clean
water for a rapidly increasing
population, everyone has a
role to play. The people must
now be educated, in a sense,
catechized, to preserve the in-
tegrity of creation. Praying
for good weather is not
enough. As they say, God will
Roadside / from p5
of themselves; but most of the
time we could go out of our-
selves to get something from oth-
ers in the guise of serving them.
In Mama Mary we learn that we
don’t really serve if we engage
in self-promotion; we serve
when we forget self to give it in
terms of time, talent and treasure
shared with others who need
them.
Being in Mission: Urging Oth-
ers to Follow Jesus in Poll-Related
Conduct. In Mama Mary we see
someone whom PCP II calls
“evangelized” and “evangelizer”
(PCP II, 55-56) at the same time.
She first received Jesus Christ, the
real gospel, into herself; then she
has been giving Jesus Christ to
others, first to Elizabeth, her child
John the Baptist and to every hu-
only help those who help
themselves. This is a chal-
lenge to the laity since prepa-
ration for a disaster is a tem-
poral concern. If the lay
groups in the parish do not
have social action activities
regarding the preservation of
the environment, start now. It
is never too late to save
Mother Earth.
For parish leaders/trainers
and environmentalists, the
Concerned Citizens Against
Pollution (COCAP) invites you
to a forum on the theme, “Wa-
ter Security in a Time of Cli-
mate Change” to be held on
May 31, 2007, Thursday, 8:3O
AM to 3:30 PM at the Walter
Hogan Center Conference Cen-
man being for whom Jesus was
born and with whom Jesus is one
in humanity. We see her service
as inextricably connected with
Jesus-promotion. At the wed-
ding reception in Cana, her sen-
sitivity to the couple’s needs is
radar-sharp but also her action in
bringing it to Jesus’ attention:
“They have no more wine” (Jn.
2:3-4). She could have said today
of the Philippines: “They have
very little sense of your presence,
very little sense of your salvation
challenging them to be allowed
inside their culture, their politics,
their economics, their way of
doing democracy”.
The really wonderful thing
about Mama Mary being our
foremost intercessor with the Re-
deemer is that she enlightens us
ter, ISO Complex, Ateneo de
Manila University, Loyola
Heights, Quezon City. Regis-
tration fee is P600.00. NGO
members who register before
May 17, 2007, can avail of 50%
discount. Please address all in-
quiries to the COCAP Secre-
tariat (Tina or Annie) at tele-
phone number (+632) 682-8671
or thru e-mail at
fluiidtech@compass.com.ph. Re-
source speakers are from
PAGASA, Miriam College, Ma-
nila Water Company, DENR,
and the Local Water Utilities
Administration. If you are from
cities that are predicted to be in-
undated within your lifetime, it
is worth coming to Manila to at-
tend this forum.
about our response: “Do what-
ever he tells you” (Jn. 2:5). How
wise that counsel is. For instance,
to candidates who are always
tempted to engage in mudsling-
ing, the words of Jesus are clear:
“Do not judge and you will not
be judged. Do not condemn and
you will not be condemned” (Lk.
6:37). To candidates who are con-
stantly wronged by false accusa-
tions again Jesus’ words are in
point: “But to you who hear I say,
love your enemies, do good to
those who hate you, bless those
who curse you, pray for those
who maltreat you” (Lk. 6:27). To
voters who are perennially giv-
ing their choice politicians their
votes in exchange for money, the
words of Jesus are equally clear;
“When you do something good,
He appealed to the candidates
to “stop all forms of violence”
as he called on everyone to
“work together in promoting
peace.”
He took the occasion to con-
demn the shooting incident in
Jaen town which resulted to the
death of two individuals.
“This sad incident in Jaen is a
clear evidence (of) some obstacles
that we should face, reflect and
pray for,” Bishop Bancud said.
He added “the real path to
peace in our country is being put
to test” as “the challenge towards
attaining peace is more crucial.”
He asked for prayers and asked
for sacrifice for peace not only in
his diocese but for the Philippines
as well. (CBCP News)
do not let your left hand know
what your right hand is doing,
so that it may be done in secret.
And your Father who sees in se-
cret will repay you” (Mt. 6:3-4)
or “Unless your holiness sur-
passes that of the scribes and
Pharisees, you will not enter into
the kingdom of heaven” (Mt.
5:20). Tall order? We have no
choice on the matter. Disciple-
ship stands or falls on whether
or not we follow what the Mas-
ter tells us.
Didn’t I say that Mama Mary
is the Flower of May? Well, I’d
say she could be like the Sun-
flower. As the Sunflower points
to the sun, so does Mama Mary
always point us to the Sun of
Righteousness, Jesus Christ, our
Lord and Master.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 9
April 30 - May 13, 2007 Features A7
Vatican: May Day
Comment Irresponsible
VATICAN CITY, May 3, dissociate themselves” from
2007—A Vatican spokes- those comments.
man, Jesuit Father Federico Wednesday’s edition of

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

Lombardi, says a comment
referring to Benedict XVI at
a traditional May Day con-
cert was an irresponsible act.
The traditional concert is
sponsored by Italy’s labor
unions and held outside of
the Basilica of St. John
Lateran.
the semiofficial Vatican
newspaper, L’Osservatore
Romano , criticized the com-
ments by saying “it is a con-
temptible and terroristic act
to throw stones, this time
even against the Pope, while
feeling protected by cries of
approval from an easily ex-

Notion of Limbo Isn’t

Andrea Rivera, one of the
presenters on Tuesday, said,
among other things, “The
Pope does not believe in
evolutionism,” because “the
citable crowd.”
Father Lombardi, agree-
ing with both Giorgio
Napolitano, president of
Italy, and Cardinal Tarciso

Closed, Expert Says

Church has never evolved.”
Father Lombardi said
Wednesday, on the televi-
sion news of the Italian state
broadcaster, that “the irrev-
erent comments directed at
the Pope and the Church
during the May Day concert
were clearly an act of irre-
sponsibility. It is right to say
so, and the trade union rep-
resentatives were right to
Bertone, Vatican secretary
of state, clarified: “It would
be as well for all of us to seek
to diffuse tensions and to re-
create conditions for serene
dialogue in our society.
“In this way, it is right
that what was an evident act ROME, May 3, 2007—The theory of limbo She added: “The commission is trying to dare to hope that these infants will be saved
of foolishness should not is not ruled out, says a member of the In- say what the Catechism of the Catholic by some extra-sacramental gift of Christ.”
become a tragedy and an ternational Theological Commission, com- Church—Nos. 1260, 1261, 1283—has al- “We do not know what the destiny of
opportunity to reignite huge menting on a study from the panel. ready said: that we have a right to hope that these children is,” she said, “but we have
conflicts.” (Zenit) Sister Sara Butler, a Missionary Servant God will find a way to offer the grace of grounds for hope.”
of the Most Blessed Trinity, has served on Christ to infants who have no opportunity Sister Butler spoke of the plight of
the commission since 2004. The commis- for making a personal choice with regard aborted babies.
sion is an advisory body comprised of 30 to their salvation.” “I’m sure we never considered suggest-

Tolkien Book theologians chosen by the Pope. Its docu-

Hailed as Prophetic
ATLANTA, Georgia, April 27,
2007—With the release of a
new edition of J.R.R. Tolkien’s
“The Children of Húrin,” fans
of this deeply Catholic author
may be surprised by its bibli-
cal tone, says a Tolkien expert.
Jef Murray, artist-in-resi-
dence at the St. Austin Review,
speaking with ZENIT, said,
“‘The Children of Húrin’ has a
more biblical tone than ‘The
Lord of the Rings.’ It is a story
of human fallibility and sin
and may be prophetic for our
times.”
Painstakingly reconstructed
by Christopher Tolkien from
his father’s manuscripts, the
new publication released by
HarperCollins last week is
close to two versions previ-
ously published. The elder
Tolkien died in 1973.
Christopher Tolkien cor-
rected some contradictory ele-
ments, updated the chronol-
ogy, and made the writing tone
more accessible.
and, more importantly, in the
foibles and sin of fallen man,”
said Murray.
The Narn i Chîn Húrin, as it
is known in Tolkien’s “Unfin-
ished Tales,” is an almost Job-
like story of one family’s
struggles in Beleriand long be-
fore the tales of “The Hobbit”
or “The Lord of the Rings.”
Tolkien’s satanic figure,
Morgoth, curses the family of
Húrin. And, just as with the
story of Job, Húrin’s wife, son
and daughter all bear the brunt
of that curse.
But unlike Job, the protago-
nist of the tale, Túrin, does not
humble himself and seek
God’s grace and redemption.
Rather, Túrin attempts to
flee his doom, but pride
coupled with an attitude of
self-righteousness drives him
to commit greater and greater
acts of sin and folly.
Murray explained, “The tale
ends badly, but, as with all
great tragedies, there are les-
ments are not considered official expres-
sions of the magisterium, but the commis-
sion does help the Holy See to examine
important doctrinal issues.
On April 20, the commission released a
document, commissioned under Pope John
Paul II, called “The Hope of Salvation for
Infants Who Die Without Being Baptized.”
Benedict XVI approved it for publication.
In an interview with Inside the Vatican
magazine, Sister Butler, who teaches dog-
matic theology at St. Joseph’s Seminary in
Yonkers, New York, says “the report con-
cludes that limbo remains a ‘possible theo-
logical opinion.’ Anyone who wants to de-
fend it is free to do so. This document, how-
ever, tries to give a theological rationale for
hoping that unbaptized infants may be
saved.”
“The [International Theological Commis-
sion] wants to give more weight to God’s
universal salvific will and to solidarity in
Christ than to the necessity of baptism,
which is not absolute but is qualified in cer-
tain ways,” she said.
Principles of faith
Sister Butler cited No. 41 of the docu-
ment: “[B]esides the theory of limbo—
which remains a possible theological op-
tion—there can be other ways to integrate
and safeguard the principles of faith out-
lined in Scripture.”
The document “is trying to provide a
theological rationale for what has already
been proposed in several magisterial docu-
ments since the council,” Sister Butler said.
“Generally, the [commission] documents
offer a point of reference for bishops and
theology professors in seminaries, for ex-
ample, to offer an explanation for the de-
velopment of doctrine.
“But I doubt whether this would lead to
a further statement from the magisterium,
because it says no more than what has al-
ready been said in the [Catechism], in the
funeral rites for infants who have died
without baptism in the 1970 Roman Mis-
sal, and in ‘Pastoralis Actio’—the document
from 1980 from the [Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith] on the baptism of in-
fants.
“It says nothing new; it is simply trying to
make explicit the theological grounding for
this hope. ‘Gaudium et Spes,’ 22, and ‘Lumen
Gentium,’ 14 and 16, at the Second Vatican
Council, opened the way for this develop-
ment. Actually, some wanted the teaching on
limbo formally defined at the council, but the
topic was excluded from the agenda.”
Extra-sacramental gift
The theological commission’s document,
she said, “just indicates that given our un-
derstanding of God’s mercy and the plan
of salvation which includes Christ and the
gift of the Holy Spirit in the Church, we
ing that these infants be declared martyrs,”
she said. “We were, of course, aware that in
many places Catholics remember the unborn
babies who have been aborted on the feast
of the Holy Innocents. We didn’t propose a
solution.”
She added: “In this particular instance,
death is the way these children might be
united with Christ: Through the violent cir-
cumstances of their deaths, they may be
united to his paschal mystery.
“The Council explicitly taught that God
provides a way of salvation for those who
are invincibly ignorant of the Gospel and
therefore have no access to sacramental
baptism.
“The [commission] report extends the
logic of this teaching to infants. We sug-
gest that the Holy Spirit offers to them, in a
way known to God, the possibility of be-
ing made partakers in the paschal mys-
tery.”
Sister Butler nevertheless warned that
“the ordinary means of salvation is bap-
tism, and that infants should be baptized;
Catholic parents have a serious obligation.”
“God is not bound to the sacraments,”
she said, “and therefore, just as we under-
stand there are other possible ways for
adults who are in invincible ignorance of
the Gospel to achieve salvation, so we pre-
sume there are other ways, known to God,
open to infants who unfortunately die with-
out baptism.” (Zenit)

Muslims Help Catholics

The book is illustrated by
Alan Lee, one of the two con-
ceptual artists for “The Lord of
the Rings” movies.
Hollywood studios are al-
ready interested in the film
rights.
The tale
“The tale itself has much to
say of the nature of evil; how
it manifests itself in the actions
of angelic/demonic beings
sons here for our own times.”
“We, too, often trust in our-
selves rather than in God,”
says Murray, “and like Túrin,
the world believes itself invin-
cible and capable of meeting all
challenges.”
Murray concluded, “But sin
taints all things, and without
humility and trust in the grace
of God, we are all in grave dan-
ger of following Túrin’s path.”
(Zenit)
Build Church in Mindanao
BONGAO, Tawi-tawi, May 3,
2007– A heartfelt thanks to the
“Muslim brothers” for their help
and support of the Catholics
currently building their parish
Church in Kualabaru, was ex-
pressed by Fr. Dodoy Daquipil,
Oblate priest of the Holy Rosary
in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi province
and capital of Mindanao Island.
“During the first mass cel-
ebrated in December 2005, the
Muslims supervised the entire
(activity),” recalls Fr. Dodoy,
“now the Muslim population
have even asked me to build a
nursery for children”.
“We live and behave,” says
the priest, “as brothers and sis-
ters sent by God to spread his
love throughout the world”.
Kualabaru is not very well ing there are for the most part employ Christians in Mindanao
known and for many years it Catholic. as land workers.
was not known that there was a In the majority Muslim island In exchange for their gratitude
small Christian presence there. of Mindanao, the Christian com- and warm relations, the last gov-
The village lies within the mu- munity has been growing for ernor granted the Christians a
nicipality of Languyan—a Mus- some time. More precisely since piece of land on which to build
lim city governed by the Matba 1980 when long time Tawi Tawi their own church. (Santosh
family—and the 72 families liv- governor Gerry Matba, began to Digal / AsiaNews)

makes us aware that the

world changes swiftly,” he
said. In fact, in South Korea
this has meant about a mil-
lion immigrants and almost
160,000 multicultural fami-
lies.
However, despite the num-
bers the country is unpre-
pared for the task. For this
reason Catholics must be
pioneers in welcoming immi-
grants,” Msgr. Ri said.
On example is that of the
“Blessed Giovanni Battista
Scalabrini and the congrega-
tions he found: the Congre-

Catholics, Pioneers in
gation of Missionaries for
Italian Migrants and the Con-
gregation of the Missionary
Sisters of St. Charles

Welcoming Migrants Borromeo for Migrants.

SEOUL, South Korea, April
30, 2007—Korean Catholics
“must be pioneers in wel-
coming migrants, and ac-
complish the task that the
Lord gave us when he said
that two peoples shall be one,
breaking down the wall of
enmity,” said Msgr. Vincent
Ri Pyung-ho, bishop of
Jeonju and chairman of the
Episcopal Commission for
the care of migrants, in his
message to the Korean com-
munity of faithful on the oc-
casion of the 93rd World Day
of Migrants and Refugees,
celebrated yesterday.
As the phenomenon of
“migration spreads and de-
velops rapidly it becomes
one of those elements that
Finally, Msgr. Ri said he
was hopeful that “the will of
Our Lord, who ‘made both
one and broke down the di-
viding wall of enmity’ (Eph
2:14), may be concretely re-
alized thanks to our efforts,
especially now that borders
lose their meaning and the
people of the world become
one family with a common
destiny.” (Theresa Kim Hwa-
young / AsiaNews)
 CBCP Monitor
CBCP Monitor
A8 People, Facts & Places Vol. 11 No. 9
April 30 - May 13, 2007

Markings
CELEBRATED. FR. SANTOS S. CELEBRATED. MOST
VILLAHERMOSA, DCD, and FR. REV. LUCILO B.
CRISTINO B. VIOLON, DCD, 25th anniver- QUIAMBAO, DD., 75,
sary of sacerdotal ordinations; March 24, 2007. auxiliary bishop of
Fr. Villahermosa was born on November 1, Legazpi; 25 th anniver-
The Filipino Chaplaincy in Auckland, New Zealand. 1956 in Kiblawan, Davao del Sur. He finished sary of Episcopal ordi-
his theology at St. Francis Xavier Regional nation, April 27, 2007.

Filipino
Major Seminary (REMASE) in Davao City. He Born in Bacacay, Albay
was ordained to the priesthood on March 27, on October 30, 1932, Bp.
1982 at the Immaculate Conception Parish in Quiambao finished his
Kiblawan, Davao del Sur. Fr. Villahermosa secondary education at
holds a master’s degree in Mission Studies the Minor Seminary of Naga. He obtained his

Chaplaincy in
(Summa cum Laude). He is currently as-
signed in Nuing Mission Station, Jose Abad
Santos, Davao del Sur.
Fr. Violon was born on July 26, 1953 in
Kiblawan, Davao del Sur. He finished his the-
Licentiate in Philosophy and Theology from
the University of Sto. Tomas Central Semi-
nary, and a degree of Bachelor of Science in
Education also from UST. Ordained priest in
1960, he served as Spiritual Director of St. Gre-

Auckland to mark
ology also at REMASE, and was ordained to-
gether with Fr. Villahermosa in 1982.
Fr.Violon is currently the assistant parish
priest of St. Michel Parish in Padada, Davao
del Sur, concurrently the Family and Life
gory the Great Seminary in Tabaco and Rec-
tor of Holy Rosary Major seminary in Naga
prior to his Episcopal ordination on April 27,
1982.

10 Anniversary
th
THE Auckland Catholic Fili-
pino Chaplaincy in Auckland,
New Zealand is gearing up to
celebrate its 10 th anniversary on
May 26-27, 2007 with a fiesta
atmosphere.
His Eminence Gaudencio
Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop
of Manila, Main Presider and
Guest, will officiate the closing
Mass of the year-long celebra-
tion on May 27 at the Malaeola
Samoan Catholic Community
Centre, 16 Waokauri Place,
Mangere. Other guests include
Fr. Mario Tejada, MSP, Fr.
Manuel Jadraque, MSP (1 st
ACFC Chaplain) and Mr.
Christian Tecala (1 st ACFC
Chairman).
Two special events highlight
the anniversary celebrations.
The Chaplaincy Night on May
26 will present A Night of
Thanksgiving and Recognition
at the Top of the Park Lounge,
Alexandra Park, Greenlane
Road West, Epsom.
The morning of May 27 will
feature the Filipino Senior Citi-
zens’ of Auckland Grand
Santacruzan Procession and a
shared lunch, picnic style;
among participants. The event
will be culminated with a Fili-
pino Cultural Dance Festival,
Games and Entertainment,
dubbed as Sayaw Saya!
The Auckland Chaplaincy
functions as a quasi-parish. It
was established under the Ro-
man Catholic Bishop of
Auckland in response to the re-
ligious and cultural needs of
Filipino migrants in Auckland
and in the wider New Zealand
Catholic Church.
The Chaplaincy provides a
Apostolate Director and Mission Director. CELEBRATED. MOST
REV. JESUS Y.
CELEBRATED. FR. RESTITUTO U. VARELA, DD., 80,
EVEDIENTES, DCD , 25th anniversary of sac- bishop-emeritus of
erdotal ordination; March 30, 2007. Born on Sorsogon; 40th anniver-
October 8, 1948 in Calinan, Davao City, Fr. sary of Episcopal ordi-
Evedientes finished his theological studies at nation, April 30, 2007. A
feeling of “being at home” for St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary native of Bacolod City,
Filipinos living and working in (REMASE) in Davao City. He was ordained Bp. Varela did his ear-
New Zealand. to the priesthood on April 3, 1982 at St. lier seminary training at
In the Chaplaincy, Filipinos Michael Parish, Padada, Davao del Sur. Fr. the Minor Seminary of Our Lady of
pray and worship in their na- Evedientes holds a master’s degree in Edu- Peñafrancia in Sorsogon. He obtained his Li-
tive tongue. Sunday Mass is cational Management from Xavier University, centiate in Philosopy and Sacred Theology
said in Tagalog, and Filipino Cagayan de Oro City. He is currently the par- from the Central Seminary of the University
fiestas and devotions are cel- ish priest of St. Michael Parish in Matanao, of Sto. Tomas. In 1959, he received a Bacca-
ebrated. Davao del Sur. laureate in Canon Law from the University
The place also serves as a of the Angelicum in Rome. He obtained a doc-
meeting place for Filipinos to CELEBRATED. HANDMAIDS OF CHRIST torate in Sacred Theology in 1961, also from
meet their country men and THE KING (ACR) Ancillae Christi Regis, Angelicum. Bp. Varela was ordained to the
share their common migrant- 25 th anniversary of foundation; April 15, 2007. episcopacy on April 30, 1967 and served as
life stories, and to seek and of- Founded in Tagum, Davao del Sur by Bishop auxiliary bishop of Zamboanga from 1967-
fer assistance to anyone in Joseph W. Regan, MM, on April 1982, the con- 1971. He was prelate of Ozamis from 1971-
need. gregation as of now has 20 professed Sisters. 1981 before his appointment as bishop of
More than anything else, ac- It received a formal decree of establishment Sorsogon in 1980. He retired in 2003 upon
cording to pastoral worker on May 16, 1999. Two sisters also celebrated reaching the mandatory age.
Mark Barrios, the Chaplaincy their anniversary of profession: Sr. Concordia
is a home to Filipinos and “to G. Pingoy, ACR and Sr. Epefania P. Mipaña, CELEBRATED.
our other brothers and sisters ACR. The congregation’s main apostolate is MOST REV.
who would like to belong to a the formation and strengthening of the Basic SOFRONIO A.
Community.” (Pinky Ecclesial Communities (BEC) through BANCUD, SSS, DD.,
Barrientos, FSP) catechesis, and other pastoral ministries in the 59, bishop of
local Church. Cabanatuan; 30 th anni-
versary of sacerdotal
CELEBRATED. ordination, May 2,
Silver Jubilee of 2007. Born and grew

Abp. Cruz Leads Forum on the following

Benedictine
Sisters of the
up in Tuguegarao, Bp.
Bancud finished his
elementary and secondary studies in his na-
Eucharistic tive place. He obtained his college degree

Church Temporal Goods King, (OSB) on

April 18, 2007:
Sr. Eleanor Barangot, presently assigned at St.
By Bro. Hansel B. Mapayo, SSP Benedict Retreat House in Cogon, Davao del
Sur; Sr. Vivian Rojas, stationed at St. Benedict
Priory in Ulas, Davao City; and Sr. Leonila
Altiso, assigned at Queen of Peace Priory in
Damortis, La Union. Most Rev. George
Rimando, DD, auxiliary bishop of the Arch-
diocese of Davao, celebrated the 8:00 AM sol-
emn thanksgiving mass at St. Benedict Priory
in Ulas, Davao City.
from the University of Sto. Tomas. He joined
the Blessed Sacrament Fathers in 1971 and
was ordained to the priesthood in 1977. His
ministry included being Formator of Postu-
lants and Novices, Pastor of Assumption Par-
ish in Davao City, Assistant Regional Supe-
rior and General Consultor of the SSS Gen-
eral Curia in Rome. Bp. Bancud was local
superior of SSS Sta. Cruz community prior to
his appointment as Auxiliary bishop of
Cabanatuan in May 2001. In January 2005,
he was installed bishop of Cabanatuan.

Business Group Relaunches “Be

Honest” Campaign
© Denz Dayao / CBCP Media

IN THE administration of all temporal goods
of the Church, the religious are urged to be like
a good father of a family.
In his humor-filled talk before more than 200
Religious Sisters and Brothers and Priests at the
Mother Ignacia Center of Spirituality at the RVM
Compound in Quezon City in the morning of
April 28, 2007, Archbishop Oscar Cruz, DD,
Bishop of Lingayen-Dagupan; stressed that “the
wise norm and prudent rule of the figure of a
“bonus pater familias ” is the over all reality that
should guide, inspire and regulate the consid-
ered option and pursuant acts of all adminis-
trators of all ecclesiastical goods.
In discussing the five areas: Ecclesiastical
Goods (Nature, Finality and Assignment), Ac-
quisition, Administration, Contracts and Alien-
ation, Cruz clarified that the Ecclesiastical goods
are principally, 1) for the regulation of Divine
Worship, 2) the provision of fitting support for
the clergy and other ministers and 3) the carry-
ing out of the works of the sacred apostolate and
of charity, especially for the needy.
He said all questions about who should be
given the priority for the use of a church prop-
erty must be referred back to these proper ob-
jectives.
Cruz warn ed religious and other church
people not to use “church lands and buildings”
in entering into contracts “when the secular use
would be in anyway contrary to the posits of
faith, and, or the demands of morals.”
He reminded them as well of the five categori-
cal tasks of the administrators in conjunction
with the Church temporalities: custody, preser-
vation , amelioration or improvement, fruition or
application and payment of obligation thereto ap-
pended as religious dues and/or civil taxes .
On the most problematic area of Contracts,
Cruz also reminded the audience about the can-
onization of Civil Law, that is, “that Canon Law
itself submits to Civil Law regarding the par-
ticular regulatory norms regarding Church
Properties.”
Meanwhile, Atty. Sabino Padilla, Sr., legal ad-
viser of most bi shops and religious orders,
picked up the canonization of civil laws in his
talk.
He stressed that all contracts entered into in
the past by bishops and juridical persons in the
Church in whatever form and context are con-
sidered contracts and therefore binding.
Padilla enlightened the assembly with his his-
torical exposition, showing that the presence of
the schools of most congregations in dioceses is
due to the desire of the bishop to increase the
number of First Communicants in his territory
because this is what the Apostolic See always
asks. Thus contracts were entered into by the IN pursuit of the Catholic workplaces. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
Episcopal authorities and congregations. Church’s call for honest, or- Today, BCBP called voters, the Philippines (CBCP), Parish
Padilla also opined that in the course of his- derly and credible elections, candidates, supporters and Pastoral Council for Respon-
tory, as people and places change, other termi- the Brotherhood of Christian election officials to treasure sible Voting (PPCRV) and the
nologies were used into the contract especially Businessmen and Profession- age-old Filipino virtues of hon- Commission on Elections
in the title of the contract. Thus the legality of als (BCBP) launched motor- esty to keep the midterm polls (Comelec) in promoting clean
the contracts is questioned, he said. cades in their 111 chapters na- clean, honest and credible. and honest polls.
Padilla emphasized that the body of the con- tionwide. After an early morning Mass “Altogether, we urge the
tracts should give light to its proper interpreta- Streamers, banners and post- at the EDSA Shrine, BCBP country to stay awake and
tion. He concluded that most of the existing con- ers calling on candidates and members from their 11 chapters watch over the conduct of the
tracts, by virtue of canonization , remain valid and voters to keep the midterm elec- in Metro Manila begun their re- election to ensure a peaceful,
binding. tions clean and honest reached spective motorcades in their ar- honest and credible results,”
Other questions such as acquisition of lands the countryside as its members eas. A hundred other chapters said Laviña.
by Religious Congregations, taxation and em- took the streets with nearly in various provinces had their Laviña also lauded a recent
ployment-related issues were also tackled in the 4,000 vehicles last Saturday, own activities. Comelec resolution which al-
open forum, hoping, as the CBCP-Episcopal May 5. BCBP National President lowed the group to post its “Be
Commission on Mutual Relations (ECMR) puts The motorcade was part of Roberto “Bobby” Laviña said, Honest” posters in the polling
it, “to address the countless concerns on the use the group’s relaunch of its “Be “The coming elections will centers located in areas where
of Church properties and related issues” that Honest” campaign, which they bring the country face to face BCBP’s chapters and out-
often hound religious congregations. began in 2002 to rid society of with threats to its traditional reaches operate.
ECMR organized the half-day conference as dishonest practices in the work- values,” as candidates may In a related development,
a response to the queries of Religious Congre- place. once again resort to “guns, BCBP Regional Director for
gations concerning the use of Church proper- The Brotherhood of Christian goons and gold.” South Metro Manila Manny
ties. Businessmen and Professionals “The BCBP, therefore, felt Jimenez said their motorcade
An Episcopal Commission, ECMR is also is a group of professional lay- that it must do something to was “a gratifying experience”
called Mixed Commission since it is composed men and women with doctors, spur the country’s well-mean- to further bring the message
and represented by two separate bodies with lawyers, engineers, accoun- ing citizens to take a stand in home to Filipino voters that
their own separate Statutes and By-Laws, the tants, nurses among its mem- defense of their Christian prin- everyone has a responsibility
CBCP and the AMRSP (Association of Major bers. , Gospel values have been ciples,” he added. to maintain the elections
Religious Superiors of the Philippines). introduced in their offices and The BCBP also joined the clean.
 CBCP
CBCP Monitor
Monitor • B2 • B6
Vol. 11 No. 9
April 30-May13, 2007
Message for the 44th World Day of
Prayer for Vocations
• B4
Suggested Homily for World
Communications Day
• B7
B1
Pastoral Statements on the The Link of Interreligious Dialogue
Vol. 11 No. 9 • April 30 - May 13, 2007 Forthcoming May Elections with Human Rights

Pastoral Concerns
Message of the Holy Father, Benedict XVI
41st World Communications
May 20, 2007
Theme: “Children and the Media: A Challenge for Education”
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
1. The theme of the Forty-first World
Communications Day, “Children and
the Media: A Challenge for Education”,
invites us to reflect on two related topics
of immense importance. The formation
of children is one. The other, perhaps
less obvious but no less important, is
the formation of the media.
The complex challenges facing edu-
cation today are often linked to the
Day
pervasive influence of the media in our
world. As an aspect of the phenomenon
of globalization, and facilitated by the
rapid development of technology, the
media profoundly shape the cultural
environment (cf. Pope John Paul II, Ap-
ostolic Letter The Rapid Development, 3).
Indeed, some claim that the formative
influence of the media rival that of the
school, the Church, and maybe even
the home. “Reality, for many, is what
the media recognize as real” (Pontifical
Council for Social Communications,
Aetatis Novae, 4).
2. The relationship of children, media,
and education can be considered from
two perspectives: the formation of chil-
dren by the media; and the formation of
children to respond appropriately to the
media. A kind of reciprocity emerges
which points to the responsibilities of
the media as an industry and to the need
for active and critical participation of
readers, viewers and listeners. Within
this framework, training in the proper
use of the media is essential for the cul-
tural, moral and spiritual development
of children.
How is this common good to be
protected and promoted? Educating
children to be discriminating in their
use of the media is a responsibility of
parents, Church, and school. The role
of parents is of primary importance.
They have a right and duty to ensure
the prudent use of the media by train-
ing the conscience of their children to
express sound and objective judgments
which will then guide them in choosing
or rejecting programmes available (cf.
Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Exhorta-
tion Familiaris Consortio, 76). In doing so,
parents should have the encouragement
and assistance of schools and parishes
in ensuring that this difficult, though
satisfying, aspect of parenting is sup-
ported by the wider community.
Media education should be positive.
Children exposed to what is aestheti-
cally and morally excellent are helped to
develop appreciation, prudence and the
skills of discernment. Here it is impor-
tant to recognize the fundamental value
of parents’ example and the benefits of
introducing young people to children’s
classics in literature, to the fine arts and
to uplifting music. While popular litera-
ture will always have its place in culture,
the temptation to sensationalize should
not be passively accepted in places of
learning. Beauty, a kind of mirror of
the divine, inspires and vivifies young
hearts and minds, while ugliness and
coarseness have a depressing impact on
attitudes and behavior.
Like education in general, media edu-
cation requires formation in the exercise
of freedom. This is a demanding task. So
often, freedom is presented as a relent-
less search for pleasure or new experi-
ences. Yet this is a condemnation, not
a liberation! True freedom could never
condemn the individual – especially a
child – to an insatiable quest for novelty.
In the light of truth, authentic freedom
is experienced as a definitive response
to God’s ‘yes’ to humanity, calling us
to choose, not indiscriminately but
deliberately, all that is good, true and
beautiful. Parents, then, as the guard-
ians of that freedom, while gradually
giving their children greater freedom,
introduce them to the profound joy of
life (cf. Address to the Fifth World Meeting
of Families, Valencia, 8 July 2006).
3. This heartfelt wish of parents and
teachers to educate children in the ways
of beauty, truth and goodness can be
supported by the media industry only to
the extent that it promotes fundamental
human dignity, the true value of mar-
riage and family life, and the positive
achievements and goals of humanity.
Thus, the need for the media to be com-
mitted to effective formation and ethical
standards is viewed with particular
interest and even urgency not only by
parents and teachers but by all who
have a sense of civic responsibility.
While affirming the belief that many
people involved in social communi-
cations want to do what is right (cf.
Pontifical Council for Social Commu-
nications, Ethics in Communications,
4), we must also recognize that those
who work in this field confront “spe-
cial psychological pressures and
ethical dilemmas” (Aetatis Novae,
19) which at times see commercial
competitiveness compelling com-
municators to lower standards. Any
trend to produce programs and
products—including animated films
and video games—which in the name
of entertainment exalt violence and
portray anti-social behavior or the
trivialization of human sexuality is
a perversion, all the more repulsive
when these programs are directed at
children and adolescents. How could
one explain this ‘entertainment’ to the
countless innocent young people who
actually suffer violence, exploitation
and abuse? In this regard, all would
do well to reflect on the contrast
between Christ who “put his arms
around [the children] laid his hands
on them and gave them his blessing”
(Mk 10:16) and the one who “leads
astray … these little ones” for whom
“it would be better … if a millstone
were hung round his neck” (Lk 17:2).
Again I appeal to the leaders of the
media industry to educate and en-
courage producers to safeguard the
common good, to uphold the truth,
to protect individual human dignity
and promote respect for the needs of
the family.
4. The Church herself, in the light
of the message of salvation entrusted
to her, is also a teacher of humanity
and welcomes the opportunity to
offer assistance to parents, educa-
tors, communicators, and young
people. Her own parish and school
programs should be in the forefront
of media education today. Above all,
the Church desires to share a vision
of human dignity that is central to
all worthy human communication.
“Seeing with the eyes of Christ, I can
give to others much more than their
outward necessities; I can give them
the look of love which they crave”
(Deus Caritas Est, 18).
From the Vatican,
BENEDICTUS XVI

JesCom on TV and Radio

By Fr. Ari Dy, SJ
JESUIT Communications (JesCom) is duced for ABS-CBN and its news channel
perhaps best known for the videos it pro- (ANC).
duces and the songs released by its Jesuit
Music Ministry. In recent years, however, Holy Week
JesCom has prioritized the production Taking advantage of the seasons when
of materials for the mainstream media, Filipinos naturally take interest in spiritual
namely, TV and radio. This move was the things, JesCom regularly produces TV spe-
result of strategic planning by JesCom’s cials for the Holy Week and the Christmas
Board of Trustees, where it was articu- season.
lated that after a period of consolidation The Holy Week specials feature contem-
and institution-building, the time was porary reflections on the Paschal mystery
ripe to focus on media that reaches the by spiritual leaders such as Bishop Chito
masses, i.e., the mass media of television Tagle and Bo Sanchez. These specials al-
and radio. ways include the use of Jesuit music as
performed by artists such as Christian
TELEVISION Bautista, Bituin Escalante, Cooky Chua,
Short segments and Noel Cabangon.
Since October 2004, JesCom has been Last Holy Week, JesCom was at its busiest
producing a daily spiritual segment as its partnership with ABC-5 bore fruit in
called “Kape’t Pandasal” for ABS-CBN the live coverage of the Paschal Triduum at
Channel 2. Every day, before the morning the Ateneo de Manila’s Church of the Gesu,
show begins at 5:15 a.m., a Jesuit priest or and the production of a “reality” retreat
seminarian (with the special participa- series where Fr. Albert Alejo, SJ, led eight
tion of Bishop Chito Tagle on Tuesdays) retreatants from diverse backgrounds in
shares a reflection or a prayer to help an experience of returning to God. Both
viewers begin the day on a positive note. the live coverage and the retreat show were
Many viewers have shared how much “firsts” for Philippine television, and were
they appreciate the segment, including made possible by the interest and commit-
security guards, homemakers, and Fili- ment of Mr. Tonyboy Cojuangco to include
pinos abroad who see the segment on The more spiritual content on ABC-5.
Filipino Channel.
Other values-oriented segments or Christmas
public service ads have also been pro- For Christmas, JesCom has thus far
Bishop Chito Tagle with Fr. JBoy Gonzales, SJ, host of Kape’t Pandasal. produced two
TV movies.
Ma rilou Diaz
Abaya directed
Marvin Agus-
tin in “Maging
Akin Muli,” a
vocation story
set in the Arch-
diocese of San
Fernando; and
Noel Añonuevo
work e d w it h
fou r talented
kids in the mod-
ern-day Scrooge
story, “No (Yes)
to Christmas.”

Ordinary Time
Jescom / B6
 CBCP Monitor
B2 Feature Vol. 11 No. 9
April 30-May 13, 2007

Message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

44th World Day of Prayer for Vocations
29th April 2007, 4th Sunday of Easter
Venerable Brothers in the Epis-
copate,
Dear brothers and sisters!
The annual World Day of
Prayer for Vocations is an ap-
propriate occasion for highlight-
ing the importance of vocations
in the life and mission of the
Church, as well as for intensify-
ing our prayer that they may
increase in number and quality.
For the coming celebration, I
would like to draw the attention
of the whole people of God to the
following theme, which is more
topical than ever: the vocation
to the service of the Church as
communion.
Last year, in the Wednesday
general audiences, I began a new
series of catechesis dedicated to
the relationship between Christ
and the Church. I pointed out
that the first Christian com-
munity was built, in its original
core, when some fishermen of
Galilee, having met Jesus, let
themselves be conquered by his
gaze and his voice, and accepted
his pressing invitation: “Follow
me and I will make you become
fishers of men!” (Mk 1: 17; cf. Mt
4: 19). In fact, God has always
with which you have loved me
may be in them, and I in them”
(Jn 17: 26). The mission of the
Church, therefore, is founded
on an intimate and faithful com-
munion with God.
The Second Vatican Council’s
Constitution Lumen gentium
describes the Church as “a peo-
ple made one with the unity of
the Father, the Son and the Holy
Spirit” (n. 4), in which is re-
flected the very mystery of God.
This means that the love of the
Trinity is reflected in her. More-
over, thanks to the work of the
Holy Spirit, all the members of
the Church form “one body and
one spirit” in Christ. This people,
“The vocation
to the service
of the
Church as
communion”
to the mystery of the Church as ask, it will be done for them by
communion; because whoever my Father in heaven (Mt 18: 19).
lives in an ecclesial community The Good Shepherd, therefore,
that is harmonious, co-respon- invites us to pray to the heav-
sible and conscientious, certainly enly Father, to pray unitedly
learns more easily to discern and insistently, that he may send
the call of the Lord. The care of vocations for the service of the
vocations, therefore, demands a Church as communion.
constant “education” for listen- Harvesting the pastoral expe-
ing to the voice of God. This is rience of past centuries, the Sec-
what Eli did, when he helped ond Vatican Council highlighted
the young Samuel to understand the importance of educating
what God was asking of him future priests to an authentic
and to put it immediately into ecclesial communion. In this re-
action (cf. 1 Sam 3: 9). Now, gard, we read in Presbyterorum
docile and faithful listening can ordinis: “Exercising the office of
only take place in a climate of Christ, the shepherd and head,
intimate communion with God according to their share of his au-
which is realized principally in thority, the priests, in the name
of the Bishop, gather the family
of God together as a brotherhood
enlivened by one spirit. Through
Christ, they lead them in the
Holy Spirit to God the Father”
(n. 6). The post-synodal Apos-
tolic Exhortation Pastores dabo
vobis echoes this statement of
the Council, when it underlines
that the priest is “the servant
of the Church as communion
because—in union with the
Bishop and closely related to the
presbyterate—he builds up the
© Philippe Lissac / Godong / Corbis
Priests and Politics
by Fr. Jaime B. Achacoso, J.C.D.
We have a problem in my archdiocese with a priest who said
that priests can campaign for the upcoming elections as long as
they don’t do it from the pulpit. People are confused because
the statement came out in the local papers. Is there anything in
Canon Law on this?
In a previous issue (Vol. 11, No. 5 of the CBCP Monitor), we had
dedicated this column to the question of Catholic Associations
and Partisan Politics. The questioner then had taken for granted
that the Hierarchy should not be involved in partisan politics.
Now, it seems, this criterion is not very obvious to everyone.
The Role of the Priest in Political Life
By virtue of the service that he must render to individuals and
society, the priest is interested in all those questions relative to
public administration, which inevitably entail an ethical dimen-
sion. The correct notion of the distinction of Church and State
does not mean that the hierarchy and the political community
should live oblivious of each other. It means rather that each has
its own proper sphere of responsibility: the hierarchy towards
the eternal common good, and the government towards the
temporal common good.
But since the temporal common good necessarily dove-
tails—since it ends up in the same final destination of the human
person—with the eternal common good, the proper role of the
hierarchy towards the temporal common good is one of magis-
terium and guidance: it is the role of the hierarchy in general and
of priests in particular to form all men of good will (but especially
the lay faithful) to have the right criteria to exercise their political
options with freedom and responsibility.
The priest, in addition, preserves the right to have a personal
political opinion and to exercise his right to vote, according
to his conscience. “In those circumstances in which diverse
political, social or economic choices legitimately present them-
selves—pointed out the Synod of Bishops in 1971—priests, like
all citizens, have the right to make their own choices.”

chosen some individuals to unity of the Church community

work with him in a more direct
way, in order to accomplish his
plan of salvation. In the Old
Testament, in the beginning, he
called Abraham to form a “great
nation” (Gn 12: 2); afterwards, he
called Moses to free Israel from
the slavery of Egypt (cf. Ex 3:
10). Subsequently, he designated
other persons, especially the
prophets, to defend and keep
alive the covenant with his
people. In the New Testament,
Jesus, the promised Messiah,
invited each of the Apostles to
be with him (cf. Mk 3: 14) and
to share his mission. At the Last
Supper, while entrusting them
with the duty of perpetuating
the memorial of his death and
resurrection until his glorious
return at the end of time, he of-
fered for them to his Father this
heart-broken prayer: “I made
known to them your name, and I
will make it known, that the love
organically structured under the
guidance of its Pastors, lives the
mystery of communion with
God and with the brethren, es-
pecially when it gathers for the
Eucharist. The Eucharist is the
source of that ecclesial unity for
which Jesus prayed on the eve of
his passion: “Father…that they
also may be one in us, so that
the world may believe that you
have sent me” (Jn 17: 21). This
intense communion favors the
growth of generous vocations
at the service of the Church: the
heart of the believer, filled with
divine love, is moved to dedicate
itself wholly to the cause of the
Kingdom. In order to foster vo-
cations, therefore, it is important
that pastoral activity be attentive
in harmony of diverse vocations,
charisms and services” (n. 16). It
is indispensable that, within the
Christian people, every minis-
try and charism be directed to
prayer. According to the explicit full communion; and it is the
command of the Lord, we must duty of the Bishop and priests
implore the gift of vocations, in to promote this communion
the first place by praying untir- in harmony with every other
ingly and together to the “Lord Church vocation and service.
of the harvest”. The invitation The consecrated life, too, of its
is in the plural: “Therefore, pray very nature, is at the service of
the Lord of the harvest to send this communion, as highlighted
out labourers into his harvest” by my venerable predecessor
(Mt 9: 38). This invitation of the John Paul II in the post-synodal
Lord corresponds well with the Apostolic Exhortation Vita con-
style of the “Our Father” (Mt 6: secrata: “The consecrated life can
9), the prayer that he taught us certainly be credited with having
and that constitutes a “synthesis effectively helped to keep alive
of the whole Gospel” according in the Church the obligation of
to the well-known expression of fraternity as a form of witness
Tertullian (cf. De Oratione, 1,6: to the Trinity. By constantly
CCL I, 258). In this perspective, promoting fraternal love, also
yet another expression of Jesus is in the form of common life, the
instructive: “If two of you agree consecrated life has shown that
on earth about anything they Message / B5
Limits to the Priest’s Participation in the Political Exercise
The aforementioned right—like any other right—is obviously
not an unlimited one. The external manifestation of a priest’s po-
litical preferences may be reasonably restricted by the demands of
his ministry, which seeks to embrace everyone, to fully proclaim
the Gospel and to be a valid sign of unity among all people.
Thus, c.287, §2 of the Code of Canon Law explicitly limits the
participation of clerics in the political exercise in the following
terms: Clerics are not to have an active role in political parties
and in the direction of labor unions, unless the need to protect the
rights of the Church or to promote the common good requires it
in the judgment of the competent ecclesiastical authority.
The rationale behind this prohibition is as follows:
1) To avoid any semblance of dogmatism. As the Synod of
Bishops of 1971 pointed out, “political choices are contingent by
nature and do not express the Gospels completely, adequately
or perennially.” John Paul II, following the same line of thought,
would add that “a political party can never be identi¬fied with
the truth of the Gospel, nor could it ever be, therefore, the object
of absolute allegiance, unlike what happens with the Gospel.”
John Paul II concludes that the priest should not forget the relative
character of political activities “even when citizens of Christian
faith create, in a plausible way, parties inspired ex¬pressly in
the Gospels, and he should not cease to strive to make the light
of Christ also shine on other parties and social groups” (General
Audience, 28.VII.1993).
2) To avoid any semblance clericalism. As John Paul II also
pointed out in the aforementioned audience “within the frame-
work of the Christian community, [priestly ministry] should have

7 Questions for
respect for the maturity of the laity and, what is more, should
strive to assist them to achieve this, through the formation of
con¬science.” In other words, the correct sense of empowerment
of the laity consists precisely in respecting their rightful autonomy
in political choices, without their being unduly coerced—whether
intentionally or otherwise—through a false reverential fear of

Bishop Lucilo B. Quiambao, DD
Most Rev. Lucilo B. Quiambao, DD, is the Auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Legazpi.
Bishop Quiambao, who celebrated the 25th anniversary of his Episcopal ordination on
April 27, 2007, recently talked to CBCP Monitor on various concerns involving his
responsibilities in the diocese; the situation of vocations, the ongoing formation of the
clergy, the rehabilitation program in the Bicol province in the wake of devastation caused
by typhoon Reming, and the upcoming mid-term elections.
What are your specific responsibilities as If they have one boy and one girl, they will
Auxiliary bishop of Legazpi? say, well, we have only one boy, we cannot
First, I am in charge of priestly forma- sacrifice anybody (who should) prolong our
tion, which includes vocation recruitment, family name. And, good if those having two
seminary administration and the ongoing boys can sacrifice one for the priesthood.
formation of the clergy. This includes voca- Well, relatively speaking, our diocese has
tion promotion and the care of priests who a good number of priests. As a matter of
are retired. We can say, in charge of voca- fact, we have sufficient personnel in all the
tions—from the womb until the tomb. parishes as of now. And we have on loan to
I am [also] in charge of the temporalities other dioceses priest personnel, around 40
of the diocese, mainly on Church lands. people. Some are in the mission areas, one
That is the most troublesome, because, you in Kuwait. There is one who is inclined to go
know before, so many pieces of land were to Pakistan because the bishop is requesting
undocumented, belonging to the diocese. from me some priests. The others are in the
And sometime ago, the priests in the parishes Caribbean.
were simply—well, preferential option for
the poor—will permit or tolerate squatters Do you have a continuing formation for
on Church lands. Now, that is our problem, your clergy?
how to put them in decent homes. Our formation of the clergy is a weekly
vicarial meeting. The first part of it is spiri-
How is the situation of vocations in the tualization. There is a short recollection, the
diocese? Blessed Sacrament is exposed and we invite
Well, these days are different from the confessors for both priests and religious to
good old days. When I entered the seminary be given opportunity for the sacrament of
more than 50 years ago in 1948, we were al- reconciliation. And then, of course we have
ready determined to be priests. Nowadays, the annual retreat. Before, we used to invite
it’s quite different. Even in college, seminar- some experts on psychology, especially in
ians are still searching themselves, whether what we might say, middle aged crisis. Now
they have vocation or not. I am again looking for one who can talk
about that because most of those younger
What could be the reason for this ambiva- priests are now in their middle age, so they
lence? need it.
I guess there are many reasons behind it. [As part also of their ongoing formation],
One is what we may call secularization. Many we are encouraging everyone to subscribe to
people now do not know gospel values. The CBCP Monitor. This is not only informative
world has different values from Christ’s in terms of news but also in spirituality, in
values. That is influenced by the prolifera- canon law, in liturgy and lot of things, in
tion of the media. In every home, you have documents from the Vatican, etc. As a mat-
television sets, and the kinds of newspapers ter of fact, we said each parish must have
they read everyday would change, we might a subscription. As of now we are receiving
say, [their] direction in life. This is affecting copies of CBCP Monitor in bulk. This is very
everybody. You know, in other countries, it informative and formative.
is affecting not only religious vocations but
also the marital vocations. After a year of The Diocese of Legazpi was the worst hit by
marriage, they divorce. So nowadays, with typhoon Reming. How is the rehabilitation
the facility of transportation, we have the program for typhoon victims taking place
mobility of peoples, and there, we also have in your diocese?
the mobility of commitments, mobility of We have a big program for housing of
minds. Changeability, in other words. people whose houses were washed away
But what I am lamenting very much is the by the typhoon, by the floods. As a matter
population control. Most of the young cou- of fact, we have 14 evacuation centers. Good
ples now would simply have two children. there are religious congregations helping
And of course, if they have both girls, no- us in building houses, and also this Gawad
body would be qualified for the priesthood. Kalinga.
I guess we have just [completed] one
fourth of rehabilitation. What we are doing
now is relief and rehabilitation at the same
time. Because those people whose houses
were washed away, their livelihoods were
also destroyed. Their coconut plantations
were all destroyed by the typhoon. Some rice
lands were covered by boulders.
The Franciscans (OFM), I understand they
are donating some 100 houses, and then the
Daughters of Charity (DC) are building 300
houses. We are buying a piece of land to be
given also to this project.
How long do you think it would take for
the typhoon victims to recover and return
to normal life?
In five years? It will take a long time. I
don’t know exactly what cottage industries
are they having. Most of them have cottage
industries before, but now abaca is de-
stroyed. Coconut is destroyed. Other cottage
industries, practically nothing. As a matter of
fact, the monkeys have nothing to eat in the
forest. At night, they are invading the houses
in the populated areas for food. This is really
for us a year of social concern. Up to now I
do not hold office in my former office in the
parish. I hold office in my bedroom because
my office was completely devastated. I lost
books and important documents. We are still
rehabilitating our ground floor because the
water there was five feet high. The whole city
was covered with water. The highest was at
14 feet in the lowest areas. The rain, accord-
ing to Pag-asa, [was] the biggest recorded
rainfall in the history of the Bicol region.
What about the upcoming elections in
May? What is the diocese doing in terms
of guiding the flock in choosing the right
candidates?
We have just finished the first diocesan
seminar of PPCRV. We are now recruiting
members for the PPCRV. And right after
Holy Week, we shall go on with the semi-
nars. We are targeting the college students
to join the PPCRV. And I guess, as in other
places, politics in our area is also hot, we
may say.
Yes, we will [issue guidelines] two or three
weeks before the elections. But now, we shall
be taking up social concerns emphasizing the
coming local elections.
displeasing their pastor who expresses a political preference
different from theirs.
The problem lies in the fact that when a priest (more so a
bishop) speaks of his political preferences, it is difficult for the
faithful to distinguish—especially in a country with a tradition of
deep respect for the clergy—when he is proclaiming Gospel truth
and when he is merely speaking of his preferences or opinions.
In other words, it is difficult for a priest to claim that he is only
speaking as a private citizen expressing his political leanings,
without the Catholic faithful perceiving it as an authoritative
moral determination.
Scope of the Prohibition
1. Active participation in political parties. The juridical norm
extends the prohibition not only to the exercise of functions of
management or direction of such parties, but also to any mem-
bership in such parties, the knowledge of which may trigger an
alienation of those faithful of a different political leaning—an
alienation which the canonical prohibition precisely seeks to
avoid.
2. Active participation in the direction of labor unions. The
treatment of the participation of clerics in union associations is
something very different. What is forbidden in this hypothetical
situation is, strictly speaking, participation on an active basis
in maintaining those organiza¬tions—i.e., to have positions of
government and direction in such unions.
3. Militancy in favor of a given person or party. As a logical
consequence, the same Synod of Bishops of 1971 declares that
“the priest, witness of future things, should keep a certain dis-
tance from any political position or effort.” It is difficult to argue
that this statement does not refer precisely to the priests actively
campaigning for a certain political party or electoral candidate.
4. Possible exception: To defend the rights of the Church and
the common good. The canon obviates any danger of laxity in
the interpretation of this exception, by precisely stipulating that
such an exception must be according to the judgment of the eccle-
siastical authority. Thus, no individual priest may determine by
himself the existence of sufficient reason to make an exception to
the general prohibition, but must rather depend on the judgment
of the competent authority—i.e., the Local Ordinary.
Conclusion
The Directory on the Ministry and Life of Priests, issued by the
Congregation for the Clergy on 31.I.1994, summarizes all these
in the following terms (ref. n.3):
• “The priest, as servant of the universal Church, cannot tie
himself to any historical contingency, and therefore must be
above any political party. He cannot take an active role in political
parties or labor unions, unless according to the judgment of the
ecclesiastical authority, the rights of the Church and the defense
of common good require it.”
• “In fact, even if these [political parties and labor unions] are
good things in themselves, they are nevertheless foreign to the
clerical state, since they can constitute a grave danger of division
in the ecclesial communion.”
• “Like Jesus (cf. Jn 6, 15 ff.), the priest ought to refrain from
actively engaging himself in politics, as it often happens, in or-
der to be a central point of spiritual fraternity. All the faithful,
therefore, must be able to approach the priest without feeling
inhibited for any reason.”
• “The Priest will remember that it does not fall on the shoul-
ders of the Pastors of the Church to intervene directly in political
activities and in social organizations. This task, in fact, forms
part of the lay faithful’s vocation, in which they work by their
own initiative together with their fellow citizens. Nevertheless,
he will not be absent in the effort to form in them an upright
conscience.”
CBCP
CBCP Monitor
Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 9
April 30-May13, 2007 Diocese B3
THE ecclesiastical province of the Diocese of Iba occupies the civil
province of Zambales and Olongapo City in western Luzon facing
the South China Sea. It is separated in the west from provinces
of Tarlac and Pampanga by the Zambales mountain range in
which Mt. Pinatubo nestles. It is bounded in the north by Panga- IMPORTANT FACTS
sinan—Diocese of Alaminos and in the south by Bataan—Diocese
of Balanga. Zambales has a land area of 3,642 square kilometers Bishop ……………………………........…….............1
which is mostly mountainous. Farming and fishing thrives only Priests:

The Diocese of
on the coastal areas. Zambal, Ilocano and Tagalog are the main Diocesan ……………………............................ 43

Iba
dialects of the area. Religious …………............................................. 8
Zambales was formally organized as a province in 1672, which
formerly comprised the coastal areas from Lingayen Gulf to Subic
Sisters:
Bay. However, due to difficulties in administration, the munici- Filipino ………………………..........…….......... 71
palities of Agno, Alaminos, Anda, Bani, Bolinao, Infanta and San Foreign ……………….......................................... 3
Isidro were annexed to Pangasinan. Seminarians …………….……............................... 33
Majority of the population live along the coastline while the Diocesan Division:

I I
remaining population of the Aetas settles in the slopes of the Vicariates …………….......................................... 3
bundocs. People are concentrated in the urban area of Olongapo Parishes:
City around the Subic Bay area. The eruption of Mt. Pinatubo With resident pastors ....................................... 22
in 1991 displaced a lot of people who settled in other provinces Entrusted to diocesan clergy .......................... 21
or resettlement areas. There were 7 resettlement areas, namely, Entrusted to Religious Clergy .......................... 1
Iram in Olongapo City, Cawag in Subic, Balaybay in Castillejos, Chapels/Visitas/Missions ................................... 132
Baquilan, Loob-Bunga and Taugtog in Botolan and Dampay Educational Centers:
Salaza in Palauig. Colleges (Diocesan) ............................................ 3
Highschools:
Evangelization of Zambales Diocesan/Parochial ........................................19
The Church in Iba had a difficult beginning. Owing to the inac- Elementray Schools:
cessibility of the province, flanked by the mountains in the west Diocesan/Parochial .......................................13
and the sea in the east, early missionaries were few in Zambales. Pre-Schools:
But the rugged topography of the area did not deter the religious Centers and Clinics ..................................... 33
priests from pushing for the evangelization of the province. In Sep- Population .................................................... 695,138
tember 1606, shortly after their arrival in Manila, the Augustinian
Recollects, upon the invitation of encomendero Hernando Avalo,
Area .................................................... 3,642 sq. kms.
by Rev. Gerald Pascual
reached the present-day Bataan and Zambales provinces. The area
that stretches from Marivelez in Bataan to Sunga in Pangasinan was
then known as Playa Honda.
Three Recoletos: Fray Miguel de la Madre Dios, Fray Pedro de
San Jose and Bro. Francisco de Santa Monica embarked on the first
step of evangelizing Playa Honda. It was not an easy task even
with the enthusiasm of the missionaries. The unhealthiness of the
terrain, or the scarcity of food and the bellicosity and ferocity of the
Zambalenos had its toll on the young mission. In 1607 the cause
claimed the life of Fray Miguel when he died as an aftermath of
his stoning by furious native Aetas. He was even regarded as the
Order’s protomartyr. During this period six priests were stationed
in Playa Honda; two in Mariveles, two in Masinloc and another
two in Bolinao. In November 18, 1607, the Parish of St. Andrew in
Masinloc was the first to be established in Playa Honda being the
capital then. Fray Andres del Espiritu helped establish the parish
and started the building of the Masinloc church which still bears
the distinct architectural design of the times. In July 31, 2001, the
National Museum declared Masinloc church as one of the Cultural
Treasures of the Philippines.
The Dominicans supplanted the Recollect mission in Zambales
in 1676 when their Provincial, Felipe Pardo was promoted to the
archbishopric of Manila. Iba, then known as Paynauen became a
parish in 1681. When the Recoletos returned they established Santa
Monica Parish in Botolan in 1736. Despite the joint efforts of the
Recoletos and the Dominicans the evangelization of the resistant
Zambals proved to be very difficult.

The Philippine Independent Church

Until the 19th century, there was little progress in subduing the
natives of the province and the establishment of parishes almost
came to a halt. But Divine Providence prevailed and the missions
flourished with the successive establishment of the parishes
starting with St. Michael Archangel in Sta. Cruz in 1812. But the
brewing conflict between the Spaniards and the Filipinos as early
as 1870’s caught up with the missions. The Filipino clergy started
revolting against the friars as an offshoot of the revolution. Fr.
Gregorio Aglipay organized the Philippine Independent Church
in 1902. With the Treaty of Paris signed ceding the Philippines
to America by Spain, the Spanish missionaries began leaving
due to threat from the revolutionaries and the Aglipayans seized
the opportunity to bring the Catholics to their fold. In 1905 the
lone secular priest in Zambales, Fr. Gregorio Dizon joined the
Aglipayans.
The Aglipayans thrived in the first half of the 1900’s. Palauig,
for instance remained without a Catholic priest for almost 50
years, thus, almost all the people of Palauig became Aglipayans.
Protestantism brought to our shores by the Americans also claimed
a share among the faithful dissipated by the revolution and the
American occupation. The Methodists established free elementary
education. The prevalent anti-clerical stance of the new evangeliz-
ers and the hate for anything Catholic gained influence among
the Zambalenos so that by 1918 the Aglipayans in Zambales was
64.5% of the population.
But the almost three-hundred-year-effort of the Spanish mis-
sionaries was not lost. The northern part of the province, notably
Sta. Cruz, Candelaria and Masinloc remained steadfast to Catholi-
cism. These towns were adopted by the priest of the new diocese
in the north, the Diocese of Lingayen-Dagupan.

A New Hope
A new hope for the Catholic Church in Zambales came with
the entry of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) fathers. They
hired and trained catechists and started patronizing public elementary
schools. They built large conventos where they hold Sunday schools for
children and catechetical schools for adults wishing to receive the faith.
The SVD fathers were not without any help in raising the flag of
Catholicism. Priests from neighboring diocese lent their services
and with the establishment of the diocese in San Fernando, Pam-
panga in 1948, then Bishop Cesar Guerrero sent priests to handle
parishes in Subic, Castillejos, San Marcelino, San Antonio, and
Olongapo. The SVD’s continued their presence in San Narciso,
San Felipe, Cabangan, Botolan and Iba. Masinloc, Candelaria
and Sta. Cruz remained with the diocese of Lingayen-Dagupan.
By the time the SVD’s were about to leave Zambales, Aglipayans
constituted only 37.8% of the population.
Wave of Catholicism in Zambales
This was the Catholic Zambales when the Columban Mis-
sionaries arrived in 1951. To wrest the grip of Aglipayanism on
the Zambalenos, the Columbans started establishing parochial
schools. First to be established were St. Joseph School in Olongapo
and Southern Zambales High School (now St. William’s School)
in San Marcelino. They bought private schools owned by families
and private administrators in every parish and where there was
none, they put them up with collections from the parishes and
funding from foreign sources. The wave of Catholicism in Zam-
bales initiated by the establishment of schools was a success but
it was not without the aid of the women religious who came with
the Columbans. The Columban Missionary Sisters, Benedictine
Sisters, Daughters of Charity, Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres and
CFIF Sisters contributed to the life in schools and parishes.
The Prelature of Iba
In 1951 Fr. Henry Byrne, MSSC, JCD came to the Philippines
as part of the staff of the proposed National Diocesan Seminary
planned by the Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi.
On June 12, 1956, Zambales was created a prelature and shortly
after that Fr. Byrne received his appointment as the new prelate
ordinary of Zambales. The Prelature Nullius of Iba was erected
on October 18, 1956. After his ordination in Manila as bishop on
October 29, 1956 he was installed as the new bishop of the prela-
ture on November 4, 1956.
He took care of his priests as a father and manifested great
concern for the poor. Parochial schools blossomed during his
term and the minor seminary was established in 1973 despite the
difficulties. The St. Augustine Minor Seminary started accepting
local boys for the priesthood and the bishop financially supported
the major seminarians in Manila. The generous bishop was once
quoted saying: “We all must work together for the promotion of
religious vocations; let not financial difficulties hinder these young
boys and girls in the pursuit of their lofty dream”.
The prelature was elevated as a diocese in November 15, 1982
under “Bishop Harry,” as he was fondly called. By the time of his
death in July 1983, he became a naturalized Filipino, and willed that
his body be buried in the Cathedral of Iba. He was the man who put
Zambales in the ecclesiastical map defying the odds of the early 20th
century and steering the diocese to reforms under Vatican II.
Parishes Entrusted to Filipino Clergy
Bishop Paciano B. Aniceto, DD (now Archbishop of San Fernando,
Pampanga) succeeded Bishop Byrne. Under his term, Filipino clergy
started occupying parishes from the Columban fathers. He showed
support for the local clergy by frequenting their gatherings. The
Columbans did not wane in their zeal for concern for the people of
the diocese; they helped establish the Parishes of St. Anne in Gordon
Heights and Immaculate Conception in Baretto both in Olongapo
City. In 1989, Bishop Aniceto was elected as the new Archbishop of
San Fernando, Pampanga.
Bishop Deogracias Y. Iñiguez, DD succeeded as the Local Ordinary
of Iba in March 1990. Major parishes were transferred to the local
clergy while new parishes were created; San Lorenzo in Kalalake,
in 1991 and the quasi-parish of Holy Family in Kalaklan in 1992,
both in Olongapo City. Under Bishop Iñiguez, Columbans and the
local clergy, who still were still very few, took care of the parishes
and strengthened the social action arm of the diocese to cater to the
victims of Mt. Pinatubo when it erupted in 1991. With the creation
of new dioceses in Manila, Rome appointed Bishop Iñiguez as the
prelate of the newly created Diocese of Caloocan. Msgr. Crisostomo
Cacho was the Apostolic Administrator until the present bishop
was appointed.
On August 31, 2004 Bishop Florentino Galang Lavarias, DD was
installed as the 4th bishop of Iba. His care and concern for priests
in the diocese was most notable having been the director of the
CBCP Assisted Intensive Renewal for Priest program. He was most
keen on intensifying the ‘holiness of priests’ from which lay people
can draw their strength for their ministry as Church of God, for
which the priest-centered mentality may still work to the church’s
advantage.
25th Year as a Diocese
Iba marks its 25th year as a diocese in 2007, under the theme URGE
(Unity, Renewal, Greatness and Eucharist). This celebration was
launched during the diocesan celebration of Christ the King last
November 25, 2006. Coinciding with this celebration are the 400th year
anniversary celebrations of the parishes of Subic and Masinloc, the
first ones to be established as parishes under the Spanish missionar-
ies. Various activities highlight the celebrations, one of which is the
re-dedication of the newly-restored cultural heritage church in Ma-
Bishop Florentino G. Lavarias, DD
sinloc which was badly damaged during an earthquake in 1998.
It is not a coincidence that the diocese is currently formulating a
pastoral plan to govern its ministry in the future. The Diocese of Iba
Integrated Pastoral Plan (DIIPP) had its first seed during the time
of Bishop Byrne when a handful of local clergy (then Fr. Teodoro
Bacani, Frs. Crisostomo Cacho, Juan Pastor, Frank Minas and Fer-
nando Carpio) requested that they be assigned in the parishes of
San Marcelino, San Antonio, San Felipe, San Narciso, Cabangan and
Subic. These parishes, which were contiguous to each other, were to
serve as a pilot area for the implementation of Vatican II concept of
the church as communion. The bishop supported this initiative. They
then started forming various parish commissions and ministries. It
continued until the term of Bishop Aniceto.
In October 1993, after the clergy retreat in Baguio, the priests met
and started the discussion on the importance of having a pastoral
plan for the diocese. They agreed to have the diocesan pastoral plan
and by February of the following year formed the Pastoral Team to
organize and formulate the DIIPP.
Diocesan Pastoral Assembly
In November 1997, the first Diocesan Assembly was held to plan
for the Jubilee Year—but it proved to be short-sighted. After another
assembly, the action plans for commissions were drafted. A diocesan
pastoral council was formed and initially identified the elements of
a diocesan vision-mission. Commissions were identified and tasked.
In 2002 the process of the DIIPP was revived and specified. A new
Diocesan Pastoral team was formed. It was then that the DIIPP sec-
retariat met to plot steps on how to implement the DIIPP under the
vision-mission of the diocese. However, with the transfer of Bishop
Iñiguez to Caloocan, the planning process was held off.
Few months after the reorganization of the pastoral assignments
of the clergy, Bishop Lavarias invited the priests to continue working
on the DIIPP. During the monthly meeting of the clergy last Janu-
ary 2007, the priests expressed their commitment to continue with
the planning process. Schedules, programs and activities were set,
together with expected output and results.
A diocesan pastoral assembly is scheduled on March 17, 2007. It
is expected that, at the end of the said gathering, both the lay faith-
ful and the clergy present will have committed themselves to work
together and lead the planning process and the implementation of
the drafted plan of action.
The Diocese of Iba will be celebrating its Silver Jubilee on Novem-
ber 15, 2007. It is the hope and prayer of the People of God in this
diocese that the celebrations and the DIIPP that we are working on
will intensify and strengthen our resolve to continue welcoming and
accepting God’s loving and divine dominion over our lives.
 CBCP Monitor
B4 Statements Vol. 11 No. 9
April 30-May 13, 2007

A Circular Letter to the Faithful

(To be Read in Churches and Chapels of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-
Conscience,
A Pastoral Letter
Competence, Commitment
Dagupan During Eucharistic Celebrations on May 6, 2007) AS we enter the final weeks be-
“Love one another.” (John 10:34) fore elections, it would be good
to remind ourselves of three C’s
My dear brothers and sisters, my dear young people: for choosing candidate—i.e.,
After the love of God, the love of neighbor is the greatest Conscience, Competence, and
commandment Christ gave us. Christ knows too well that until Commitment.
we come to love one another, we ourselves would live in suf- First and foremost, the can-
fering and pain, in antagonism if not anger and hatred towards didate must be a person of con-
each other. With love, we become united as one people. We are science. He or she is guided by
inspired as one blessed community. a sense of morality, of what is
Putting the commandment of love of neighbor in the context morally right or wrong. He is
of these days when we are facing the many challenges that come maka-Diyos and maka-tao. He
recent statements of the Catholic
Bishops’ Conference of the Phil-
ippines.
1) There is a need for elec-
toral reforms. The credibility of
some COMELEC officials has
been eroded, particularly in the
conduct of last elections. In this
regard, I highly endorse to our
parishioners the call for volun-
teers to join PPCRV, NAMFREL
and NASSA in helping in voters’

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

with the forthcoming May elections. It is but right and proper takes to heart the command-
to seriously take into account the social dimension of the one ments: “Thou shall not kill. Thou
vote we individually cast on Election Day. shall not steal. Thou shall not
The truth is that the one vote of one person does not only bear false witness.” Since he is
affect his or her future—but also the future of his family and running for public office, he must
others as well. In other words, one vote cast in favor of a cor- be transparent in his actions and
rupt, dishonest and incapable political candidate is a vote that accountable for all his transac-
brings about the evil of other people. On the contrary, a vote tions involving public funds. In
cast in favor of an upright and competent candidate favors all short, he upholds the values of
others. Truth, Justice, and Love.
Herein lies the big social benefit of the big social evil of every Secondly, the candidate must
single vote—depending of whether the vote is cast for the right be a person of competence. He
or wrong candidate. This brings to mind the following simple has a record of public service
lessons relevant to the forthcoming elections. that we can verify. His academic
First: It is against the commandment of love of neighbor if qualifications are sound. His pre-
anyone of us would dare vote for an unworthy candidate. vious work experience gives us
Second: It is against the commandment of love of neighbor if assurance that he will be a good
anyone of us would dare sell our vote to any candidate. steward of human, natural and
Third: It is against the commandment of love of neighbor financial resources. Merely be-
if anyone of us would not even vote at all when we can and longing to a “political dynasty”
should do so. is no assurance of competence; it
Come 14 May, let us show in a particular way, our love for may even be seen as a negative
one another by voting, by treasuring our vote, by voting for the mark.
candidates adorned with the qualities of integrity and capacity. Thirdly, the candidate is a
God Bless us all! person of commitment—i.e., he
is sincere and committed to
+OSCAR V. CRUZ, DD serve the common good and the
Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan participation of the governed
28 April 2007 through people empowerment.
He is committed to causes be-
Day of Prayer and Commitment yond his own self-interest and
family aggrandizement.
for an Honest, Orderly, and Some of these causes have
been articulated by the Church in
education, poll watching, and the
quick counting of votes.
2) There is a need for genuine
democratization and political
reforms. The sordid practices
of vote-buying and vote-selling
and mindless marshalling of
“command votes” are symptoms
of a deeper malaise. This must
be counteracted by a political
culture of “principles, party
platforms and genuine people’s
participation.” The recent stand
of the local Church against the
railroading of charter change
through a so-called Peoples’
Initiative or a Constituent As-
sembly highlights the need for
continuing vigilance and genuine
democratic processes.
3) Corruption in public office
must be checked by engaged
citizens’ groups that demand so-
cial auditing of the use of public
funds, especially for infrastruc-
ture projects. The use of “pork
barrel” funds must also be fully
accounted for. Drug-pushing
and rampant gambling must be
checked. These social vices even-
tually give rise to narcopolitics
and the dominance of “jueteng
lords.”
4) In terms of social reform, the
CBCP statements in January 2007
express the bishops’ concerns in
upholding the dignity of the rural
and urban poor. In particular, we
call on government to complete
the implementation of agrarian
reform and provide housing op-
portunities for the urban poor.
5) The integrity of family life has
to be protected and promoted.
The Church has been in the
forefront of pro-life issues—par-
ticularly against the social ills of
abortion and artificial contracep-
tion. The archdiocese promotes
responsible parenthood and a
comprehensive natural fam-
ily planning program which we
invite government agencies and
local governments to support.
6) The support of private
schools in the public service
has been a recurrent concern for
the local Church. Moreover, the
rights of parents and students for
optional religious instruction in
public schools as upheld by the
Constitution should be fully hon-
ored. There is need to strengthen
the moral fiber of our citizenry
through religious instruction
according to the students’ own
faith tradition.
7) Conserving the environment
has been a major concern of many
dioceses, including our own. The
CBCP has issued statements
against irresponsible mining and
logging—wanton practices that
apparently are still taking place
at a small or fairly large scale in
the upstream areas of Cagayan
de Oro and Iponan rivers. We
have also issued a call against the
introduction of genetically-modi-
fied organisms (GMOs) in our
food chain. This has been done
surreptitiously without proper
labeling that should protect the
consumers’ rights.
8) Finally, the rule of law and
promoting the human security
of households and local com-

Peaceful Elections Message / B5

To All Priests, Religious, and Laity of the Diocese of Maasin:

Recognizing the great importance of the May 14 Elections
for the renewal and transformation of our society; and aware
of our Christian duty and responsibility to be agents of social
transformation in consonance with Gospel teachings and those
of the Church, we, as the Diocese of Maasin, set a Day of Prayer
and Commitment on May 6, Sunday, for an honest, orderly,
and peaceful elections.
All parishes and chapels are enjoined to offer the Eucharist
and Liturgy of the Word Services for the afore-said intention.
The faithful are invited to offer prayers and sacrifices on this
day, for the same intention.
We are also inviting all candidates within the Diocese of
Maasin to participate in the Parish level celebration of this
Day of Prayer and Commitment. They are invited to show a
concrete expression of their commitment to an honest, peaceful
and credible election.
We are also asking generous and responsible faithful to
volunteer in the Parish activities meant to ensure the proper
conduct of the elections.
May the Blessed Virgin Mary Assumed into Heaven, inter-
cede for us for the grace of a good May 14 Elections, and pray
for us, protecting us from all evils.
Given this 25th day of April, 2007, on St. Mark the Evangelist’s
Feast Day, at the Chancery Office, Asuncion, Maasin City,
Southern Leyte.
+PRECIOSO D. CANTILLAS, SDB
Bishop of Maasin
Pastoral Letter on the Upcoming
2007 Elections
“Choose wise, intelligent and experienced men from each of your
tribes” (Deut. 1:13)
Beloved people of God:
Peace be with you!
Once again we are to face another election this year. And
once again our maturity and ability to choose leaders who
will become public servants in our government will be put
to the test. Thanks to the democratic process in our choice of
candidates whom we want to elect. This process also demands
of us the responsibility to take actions to ensure peaceful, true,
clean, and just elections.
As a people of God it is our responsibility to safeguard our
right to choose and to protect the sanctity of ballots. Let us
always uphold activities that will help us achieve peaceful
and true elections. Important activities are “Voters’ Education”
before elections and vigilance during and after the elections,
and securing the “election returns and results”.
The CBCP Pastoral Letter to the dioceses and to the parishes
has this request “…every parish organization and institution—
and the BECs most especially—be mobilized to the utmost to
do what each can do towards that end…that they must form
linkages with one another and with other like-minded civic and
religious associations that are working to help clean the dirt
from our easily corrupted electoral process.” THERE SHOULD
BE NO VOTE BUYING, CHEATING, COERCION, FIGHTING,
STEALING, DISHONESTY… DO NOT BE DECEIVED BY
PROMISES THAT HAVE NO FULFILLMENT. LET US MAKE
OUR ELECTIONS PEACEFUL, TRUE, CLEAN AND JUST.
As a guideline here are the ten (10) commandments for re-
sponsible voting: 1) You shall vote according to the dictate of
your conscience; 2) You shall respect the decision of others in
choosing their candidates; 3) You shall seek to know the moral
integrity, capabilities and other personal qualities of the can-
didates you will vote for; 4) You shall strive to understand the
issues, platform and program of candidates and parties seeking
your vote; 5) You shall not sell your vote; 6) You shall not vote
for candidates using guns, goons and gold; 7) You shall not
vote for candidates with records of graft and corruption, and
Human Rights Violation; 8) You shall not vote for candidates
just because of “utang na loob”, personal appearance, popular-
ity, or pakikisama; 9) You shall not vote for candidates living an
immoral life; 10) You shall put the welfare of the country above
all else in choosing the candidate you will vote for.
It is our hope that the Virgin Mary, the Queen of Peace, will
always inspire us to do the will of Her Son Jesus. We hope that
St. Michael the Archangel will protect us from every evil.
May the God of love, peace, and justice unite all of us in our
work for a peaceful and clean election!
In Christ,
+ELENITO D. GALIDO, D.D.
Bishop of Iligan
February 23, 2007
“You Can Make Elections Clean”
A Friendly Letter
Dear Friends in Davao City and Provinces, anywhere. Through the marvel of television I suggest you share this letter with a
Greetings of Peace! it happened again in our country recently friend, neighbor, or co-worker. Both of you
You who read this letter may be a can- on April 15, 2007 during the Pacquiao-Solis then or your group can begin to ask your-
didate, volunteer or paid party worker, boxing fight in the United States. selves what’s happening around, why it’s
local COMELEC official, precinct person- The pope’s presence and words turned happening, what can you do together. Even
nel and public school teacher, NAMFREL Filipino minds and hearts to God and they if nothing concrete results in terms of proj-
and PPCRV volunteer, poll-watcher, votes behaved accordingly. The boxing bout ects, this activity itself, is already charging
canvasser, law enforcer, voter or non-voter, turned Filipinos here and abroad to national the atmosphere with thought-energies. The
media practitioner, and foreign observer. pride of being Filipino. Both are symbols and secret is in multiplying groups like yours
Whoever and wherever you are, you can essential ingredients of the sense of nation- and intensifying positive thought-energies
make the present election campaign period hood, national unity, love of country and in the locality. And this can be done in
and the election day itself and beyond VERY common welfare. Was it a miracle? Perhaps, times of prayer, work, even during sports
CLEAN and FREE. Yes, clean and free of but it can be explained. and leisure.
lies and slander, of name-calling and char- Experts say the human mind can process This is how you and I can make a differ-
acter assassination, vote-buying and selling, 40,000 thoughts a day. You multiply that ence in the electoral process. The clean and
cheating and dagdag bawas, coercion and with 80 million which is more or less the free elections will just be the beginning of
intimidation, killings and salvagings, false Philippine population today. That would the process of change whose momentum
and irresponsible reporting. Here is how. go into the billions of thoughts and positive will have to be intensified. This is what
A good thought is an energy, humanly energies whose power is comparable to an I mean by the word “beyond.” Yes, after
speaking. It can be a grace of God, spiri- atomic or nuclear explosion. This explains today and beyond you and I together, and
tually. It is a power that can charge and why no crime was committed nationwide millions more like us, can continue to cre-
change the atmosphere and positively affect on January 20-25, 1995 and on April 15, ate an atmosphere where selfless and mor-
people’s minds and hearts and behavior. 2007. The criminal mind could not work in ally upright leaders will emerge and lead
In you there is that inborn goodness that a positively charged atmosphere! us towards national unity, lasting peace,
your sin or crime cannot eliminate. I call it Love, respect, justice, honesty, truthful- sustainable development, and authentic
your goodness-bulb or lamp that is ignited
by electric power. Your good thought or
ness, goodness, gentleness, humility, sim-
plicity, mercy, compassion, repentance, for-
prosperity. They will come out because
they will be supported and followed by
idea is like an electric energy or power. It giveness, self-control, etc. etc., moral values the people and the citizenry who like them
can activate your goodness-bulb, enable so badly needed today, are a few positive en- are powerful signs of hope and who have
you to think good thoughts, and empower ergies or graces that you and each of us can internalized, in the positively charged
you to do good deeds, thus making your have in our minds and hearts, and unleash atmosphere, the sense of nationhood and
entire day and night beaming, bright, and them reflectively into the atmosphere now, love of country. It will happen even without
brilliant. As they say, “You are what your on May 14, 2007, and beyond. Then each the presence of holy and popular symbols
thoughts are.” of us would be a light to others dispelling like John Paul II and boxing champions like
You know, for five days in January 1995 the dark atmosphere created by negative Manny Pacquiao.
during the World Youth Day whose closing thought-energies coming from media. Our Thank you very much.
rites were attended by close to six million home, office, parish, church, mosque, cha-
people, the presence of the charismatic pel, barangay, town, city and province will Sincerely your friend,
Pope John Paul II in Manila so triggered be beaming and radiant, creating good be-
and unleashed positive thought-energies havior, good relationships and friendships, +FERNANDO R. CAPALLA
throughout the country that according to and possibly common undertakings for the Archbishop of Davao
police reports no crime was committed common good. How can this be sustained? 27 April 2007
Pastoral Letter to Priests and Lay
Faithful of the Diocese of Cubao
“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27
MY Dear People of God in the Diocese of Cubao: society and of my Christian
The Scriptural image of the shepherd and the sheep is very community which serves
old. Anyone who has closely observed the behavior of sheep realizes that society. Vocation means,
that they can be quite silly. They are crowd-followers. When one first of all, a realization that
panics, they all panic. They are timid, fearful, curious and without every one of us has a definite
initiative. Maybe, after all, they are not so different from us! call from God to serve, based
The emphasis, of course, in the Scripture images is on the on the circumstances of our
shepherd. There are beautiful images given in the Old Testament life and the particular gifts
(e.g. in Ezekiel) and in the Gospels. The image implies someone we can use to benefit oth-
who gives caring, compassionate leadership. Those who stay with ers.
the shepherd, Jesus says, will never be lost. The sheep listen to and Allow me now to address you regarding the forthcoming na-
recognize the voice of their shepherd and that is why they continue tional elections.
to follow him rather than another. It is important for us also to rec- This process of choosing our leaders is a gift from God. He has
ognize the voice of Jesus as it comes to us in our daily life. And, in placed in our hands the sacred duty to choose the men and women
our Christian life, the voice of Christ can take many forms. Most of who will lead us. Let us choose them well! Let us elect statesmen
the time, it is in the voices of those people who come into our daily who will serve the people instead of themselves, their families, or
lives. If we do not recognize Christ in the voices we hear, we are their parties. Let us select leaders after the image of Jesus, the Good
likely to get lost and perhaps many, including Christians, do lose Shepherd, who lays down his life for his sheep.
their way. They do not know where their Shepherd is—or perhaps For many years now, we have been crying out for change. We
they do not have shepherds. have been clamoring for an end to corruption in Philippine society.
This brings us to Good Shepherd Sunday, also called Vocations Change will come in and through us. Change will come through
Sunday. Today we are asked to pray that more of you will consider our responsible participation in the elections. We can no longer
whether you are being called to join the ranks of priest-shepherds tolerate the “who cares” attitude of many who keep on blaming
or to the dedicated life of brothers and sisters. But perhaps we need others but never do anything themselves. We need to join hands,
to do more than just pray. I think we need to realize that every per- we need to work together, in the time-honored Filipino tradition
son has a vocation. My work, my profession, my job must be fully of bayanihan.
impregnated with a Christian commitment. I am not just a doctor, May Jesus, the Good Shepherd, bind us together in love. May
a public official, a teacher, a parent who happens to be a Catholic. Mary, our Mother, keep us under her protection.
I am first of all a Christian, a follower of Jesus’ Way, who exercises
my Christian calling, my vocation, through my medical practice, my +HONESTO F. ONGTIOCO, DD
public service, my teaching, my parenting… Beyond that there is Bishop of Cubao
a general need to be more deeply involved in the well-being of my April 29, 2007, 4th Sunday of Easter, Good Shepherd Sunday
 CBCP
CBCP Monitor
Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 9
April 30-May13, 2007
Reflections on Labor Day
TODAY the nation honors, appreciates
and salutes the millions in the labor
force all over the country. We might
even consider these workers as also
genuine servants of the state. They are
the hands and feet, even to some extent
the mind and the soul, of production.
On them too rest the rise and fall of
economy. The condition of labor is
probably a key to the question of social
progress.
We can gauge the country’s poverty
level by looking at the condition of the
majority of our labor force. In some
real sense, the primary basis for the
value of work is the worker himself.
As the classic saying goes: “Work is
for man, not man for work.” Every
human being achieves fulfillment by
working for himself and his family and
then for the great society whose life he
participates in.
This means everyone must be able
to derive from his work the means of
supporting himself and his family, and
of serving the human community. It is
necessary that solidarity among work-
ers themselves and with workers on
Statements
the part of business establishments be
promoted for the protection of mutual
rights.
While approaching and advocating
the ideal situation of solidarity and
communion between labor and busi-
nessmen, still the “priority of labor over
capital” should be accepted as a fun-
damental and classic principle. This is
based on the principle of the “primacy of
man over things”—such as, science and
technology, the instruments of work,
money, profit, which are thought of
as capital.
Numbers or statistics might help
our reflection on Labor Day. While
government claims that 5 million jobs
have been generated from 2001 to the
present (Philippine Star, April 30, 2007),
one study has it that in January 2006 the
unemployed individuals have reached
3.9 million and still increasing, while
the underemployed were 5.4 million
of 31.7 million employed. Overseas
work has helped to a great extent the
Philippine economy by mitigating the
employment problem in the country.
As of 2004 the overseas Filipino work-
B5
ers totaled 8 million. It is an accepted
The condition of
fact, their remittances have provided
an important source of income for a
great number of Filipino families. labor is probably a
During the present campaign period
for the May election, the condition key to the question of
of labor must be one of the concerns
addressed to our future leaders of social progress.
government in all levels. We may
have many good laws that are “pro -Lagdameo
workers”, but how many of them are
still waiting for implementation? The
poverty level of labor could be a sign
(one anyway) indicating the genuine
level of economy.
We hope that the future leaders
of our country—from the bottom
up—in solidarity with the busi-
ness sector, will ensure through
implementation of just legisla-
tion the workers’ rights as well
as the just development of the
world of work.
+ANGEL N. LAGDAMEO
Archbishop of Jaro
President, CBCP
May 1, 2007

A Pastoral Letter to Priests, Religious

and the Faithful on the Forthcoming Elections
“The Lord is risen!” May the joy and peace of Easter grant us the courage to witness to our faith in the resurrection
of the Lord Jesus.
AS the May 2007 Elec-
tions draw near we are
caught by the feverish ex-
citement that customarily
accompanies elections in
our country. Let us not be
drowned by this passing
sensation and shove aside
the decisive impact of the
elections that could bring
foreseeable dismal conse-
quences to our future as
a democratic nation. I am
writing you this letter to
put back to our conscious-
ness the crucial necessity
of preparing ourselves for
another critical moment
of our lives as Filipino
Catholics.
First and foremost, I
remind you that we live
in a democracy. The late
Pope John Paul II empha-
sized this in his encyclical:
“The Church values the
democratic system.”(cf.
Centesimus Annus, 46). In
a democracy we, the peo-
ple, rule. In a democracy
© Dennis Dayao / CBCP Media
“a struggle for the soul of
the contemporary world.”
In every compartment
of our lives—from our
families, to our jobs, and
even to the solitude of the
voting booth—God asks
us to be His witnesses,
His apostles. St. Paul’s
words, “Woe to me if I do not
preach the Gospel,” apply
to us all every single day
in our choices. We either
preach Jesus Christ in our
words and actions, or we
lose him. It has always
social consequences—and
that means cultural and
political consequences. De-
mocracy thrives on those
consequences.
Having said all that, I
direct your serious con-
cern to the May Elections.
Having given a brief recall
of the gloomy situation
experienced by our nation
because of past “controver-
sial electoral exercise that
further aggravates social
be serving God through
his deeds.
c. Commitment to the
common good: The candi-
date must be able to cham-
pion the causes of all citi-
zens not just that of their
family members or close
relatives and friends.
Finally, let us be aware
that the past elections in
our country had always
been marred by coercion,
unfairness and dishonesty.
The Catholic bishops af-
firmed that “many of our
current political problems
which have hindered fuller
economic development
and social injustice can
be traced to unresolved
questions concerning the
conduct of past elections.”
(cf. CBCP Letter to Dioceses
and Parishes, 28 January
2007). I enjoin all of you,
then, as concerned citizens
and faithful believers, to
“work to help clean the
dirt from our easily cor-
tice, peace and love which
you preach as servants of
the Church.
To all Basic Ecclesial
Communities (BEC’s)
throughout the diocese, I
make this special appeal:
The bishops of our
country underscore your
critically significant role
in this year’s elections
not because you form the
majority of the electoral
populace but because you
possess an extraordinary
strength that comes from
your solidarity and unity,
that strength that comes
only from the Lord who is
always present “whenever
two or three are gathered
in His name.” The Lord
assures us, “Do not fear! It
is I!” (Jn 6.20)
Thus, I appeal to you to
stand up and show your-
selves as self-governing,
self-sustaining, self-nour-
ishing communities who
cannot be manipulated and

Message / from B2
sharing in the Trinitarian communion can
change human relationships and create a
new type of solidarity” (n. 41).
At the centre of every Christian com-
munity is the Eucharist, the source and
summit of the life of the Church. Who-
ever places himself at the service of the
Gospel, if he lives the Eucharist, makes
progress in love of God and neighbor
and thus contributes to building the
Church as communion. We can affirm
that the “Eucharistic love” motivates
and founds the vocational activity of the
whole Church, because, as I wrote in the
Encyclical Deus caritas est, vocations to
the priesthood and to other ministries
and services flourish within the people of
God wherever there are those in whom
Christ can be seen through his Word,
in the sacraments and especially in the
Eucharist. This is so because “in the
Church’s Liturgy, in her prayer, in the
living community of believers, we expe-
rience the love of God, we perceive his
presence and we thus learn to recognize
that presence in our daily lives. He loved
us first and he continues to do so; we too,
then, can respond with love” (n. 17).
Lastly, we turn to Mary, who support-
ed the first community where “all these
with one accord devoted themselves
to prayer” (Acts 1: 14), so that she may
help the Church in today’s world to be
Message / from B4
munities must prevail. We condemn the
extra-judicial killings of individuals. Two
of these have taken place over the past
months in Misamis Oriental. The public
safety of peasant and labor leaders as well
as of journalists exercising their profession
must be upheld. The basic freedoms of
expression and association are hallmarks
of a genuine democracy.
Conscience, Competence, Commit-
ment—three qualities we look for in our
public officials. But these are the same
attributes we should look for in ourselves
as voters. It is time to take democracy in
our own hands and make it work for our
communities and future generations.
We commend all those who volunteer
their time, talents and treasure to ensure
the viability of our democratic institu-
tions. These include volunteers who take
a neutral stance to watch the polls. On
the other hand, we also encourage the
Catholic laity together with other citizens’
the people rule through
their vote. This God-given
power is a “pearl of great
price” (cf. Mt. 13.46) which
must not be “thrown to the
pigs.” (cf. Mt. 7.6) Through
this God-given power we,
the people, become active
builders of our own future.
And as Christian believers
an icon of the Trinity, an eloquent sign of we fulfill what we all pray
divine love for all people. May the Virgin, when we say in the Lord’s
who promptly answered the call of the Prayer, “Thy Kingdom
Father saying, “Behold, I am the handmaid come!” (cf. Mt. 6.10; Lk.
of the Lord” (Lk 1: 38), intercede so that 11.2) I ask you then to
the Christian people will not lack servants exercise this God-given
of divine joy: priests who, in communion power as faithful Catholics
with their Bishops, announce the Gospel who must be a leaven in
faithfully and celebrate the sacraments, take the world and transform
care of the people of God, and are ready to our culture in Jesus Christ,
evangelize all humanity. May she ensure, the Risen Lord.
also in our times, an increase in the number Secondly, as we look
of consecrated persons, who go against the forward to the celebration
current, living the evangelical counsels of of the 40th anniversary of
poverty, chastity and obedience, and give our diocese, a unique oc-
witness in a prophetic way to Christ and casion that challenges the
his liberating message of salvation. Dear maturity of our Christian
brothers and sisters whom the Lord calls to faith, God calls us not just
particular vocations in the Church: I would to “renew” our religious
like to entrust you in a special way to Mary, faith, but to make it the
so that she, who more than anyone else un- guiding force in our lives,
derstood the meaning of the words of Jesus, both public and private. The
“My mother and my brethren are those who Second Vatican Council in
hear the word of God and do it” (Lk 8: 21), the document “Gaudium
may teach you to listen to her divine Son. et Spes” advises us of the
May she help you to say with your lives: eminent significance of the
“Lo, I have come to do thy will, O God” (cf. practice of the Christian
Heb 10: 7). With these wishes, I assure each faith: “One of the graver
one of you a special remembrance in prayer errors of our time is the di-
and from my heart I bless you all. chotomy between the faith
we profess and the practice
From the Vatican, of [our] daily lives… Let
BENEDICT XVI there be no such perni-
cious opposition between
professional and social
groups who wish to take a trans-partisan activity on the one hand
stand in the choice of worthy candidates. and religious life on the
Trans-partisanship in this sense does not other. The Christian who
only mean choosing and openly endorsing shirks his temporal duties
candidates across political parties. More pro- shirks his duties toward
foundly, it means transcending the narrow his neighbor [and] neglects
bounds of party politics to choose candidates God himself … (Vatican II,
who uphold the Gospel values for building Gaudium et Spes, n. 43)
what the Social Teachings of the Church envi- Thirdly, let us remind
sion as a “civilization of love.” ourselves of our vocation
May your involvement in the political as baptized Christians.
life of our country personify your collective Vatican II tells us that we
conscience, competence and commitment to each share “the obligation
rebuild our damaged institutions and create a of spreading the faith, and
brighter future for your children and coming that “the whole Church is
generations. The candidate who buys your missionary and the work
vote is a candidate without the three C’s. He of evangelization [is] the
is the last one you should vote for. Your vote fundamental task of the
is sacred. Your vote counts. people of God.”
John Paul II stresses
+ANTONIO J. LEDESMA, SJ. in his book, Crossing the
Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro Threshold of Hope, that all
1 May 2007 Christians are involved in
distrust and hopelessness,”
the Catholic bishops of our
country enjoin us to “come
together once more and
organize ourselves more
effectively… to make this
year’s elections credible—
and as free of violence as
possible.” (cf. CBCP Letter
to Dioceses and Parishes, 28
January 2007)
Hence, as your shepherd
and your bishop I urge you
as faithful citizens and as
faithful Catholics:
1. To form your con-
science according to the
social teachings of the
Church concerning the
active participation of all
Catholics in social affairs.
Your active involvement
demands a critical moral
judgment.
2. To know and under-
stand the issues and criti-
cally evaluate the platform
and programs of candi-
dates and parties seeking
political office. (cf. PPCRV,
Ten Commandments of Re-
sponsible Voting, n. 4) The
platform and programs
must promote peace, jus-
tice and development.
In effect, when you enter
the voting booth, you are
not there simply to pull
a lever for a favorite or a
popular candidate or in
favor of your own personal
and possibly selfish self-
interest. You are there with
the power to effect change
and shape the future of our
society.
3. To critically choose
candidates who possess
the following qualities
necessary for public office:
(cf. PPCRV, Ten Command-
ments of Responsible Voting,
nn. 6-10)
a. Competency: The can-
didate must be competent
to hold public office and
be judged by his/her per-
sonal behavior and his/her
commitment to serve the
people.
b. Personal Integrity:
The candidate must have
moral integrity; be honest
and adhere to his moral
principles. He or she must
also have strong family
values. The candidate must
be true to his words and
rupted electoral process.”
(cf. CBCP Letter to Dioceses
and Parishes, 28 January
2007)
Therefore, as your pastor
and your bishop I strongly
admonish:
All government offi-
cials: Many of you are
Christians. In fact, major-
ity of you are Catholic
Christians. I admonish you
not to resort to ways and
means that will impair a
free, fair and honest elec-
tion. I appeal to your good
Christian hearts and minds
to take heroic courage to
definitely curb all abuses
and all forms of violence,
intimidation and corrup-
tion.
All political candidates
and all those affiliated with
them: Politics is not an ex-
ercise of popularity or of
showing off one’s wealth
and power but it is an
exercise of one’s commit-
ment to look after the com-
mon good. I admonish you
not to employ whatever
form of violent and corrupt
means to achieve success
in the political race.
Some sectors of society
who take advantage of
the election commotion:
In the past your unortho-
dox means of “participat-
ing” in the elections in the
name of helping the people
had sown fear and anger
among the population.
I admonish you to cease
taking advantage of some
ambitious politicians and
of the vulnerability of the
people. If you honestly
have the good of the coun-
try in mind, sowing terror,
violence and anger are
absolutely way out of your
vision to make your ideal-
isms come to reality.
All who work in the ser-
vice of the Catholic Church:
In past experiences I had
known of Church workers
who decided to give up
their Christian principles
and get mired up in “dirty”
politics. I admonish you
not to abandon God in fa-
vor of “mammon”. Indeed,
this is the appropriate oc-
casion for you to witness
to the Gospel values of jus-
overcome by gold, guns
and glamour. Let your
actions show that you are
governed, sustained and
nourished by the Gospel
values of love and for-
giveness, of humility and
obedience, and of justice
and peace.
For us all, our respon-
sibility to our faith and to
our nation requires that we
consider seriously the ac-
tion we are going to make,
and that we do what is
right. For only action that
is right and true will in the
end rescue our country.
This is a critical moment
– and to do nothing would
be a great tragedy. There-
fore, let us implore the
Holy Spirit to enlighten
us and to enlighten our
country.
As a sign of our depen-
dence on God, I ask each
vicariate or, if circum-
stances allow, each par-
ish to hold a pre-election
Holy Hour before Christ,
the Bread of Life. I urge
each family to recite a daily
Rosary prior to the elec-
tions; we beseech Mary,
Immaculately conceived,
the patroness of our coun-
try, to intercede for us; and
we ask the intercession of
St. Joseph, the protector of
the Church and patron of
our diocese, to protect us.
Through intense prayers
and acts of self-giving, I
ask all Catholics to wit-
ness to all our brothers and
sisters about the profound
moral significance of the
decisions being made that
day.
May the Risen Lord
grant us the strength to
live up to our convictions
as witnesses of his resur-
rection striving towards
the building up of “a new
heaven and a new earth.”
Given this 23 rd day of
April 2007, the feast of St.
George the Martyr, at the
Bishop’s Residence, Am-
payon, Butuan City.
In Mary’s fiat,
+JUAN DE DIOS M. PUEB-
LOS, DD
Bishop of Butuan
 CBCP Monitor
B6 Reflections Vol. 11 No. 9
April 30-May 13, 2007

Suggested Homily for World Communications Day

Prepared by the Episcopal Commission on Social Communications and Mass Media
WHEN a mother brings her child to
school, for the first time, to nursery or
to kindergarten, at the age of five, she
believes that the three forces which will
build the character of her child are:
First, the home—father and mother,
sisters and brothers, lolo and lola, the
family;
Second, the school—the teacher in
the classroom. And that is why parents
sacrifice to send their child to the best
school that they can afford;
Third, the Church – the priest and
the nun.
But today there is a force playing on
our children that is stronger than the
home, stronger than the school, stron-
ger than the church—stronger than all
three put together. It is media.
Our children are confronted four
hundred times every day with messag-
es—interesting messages—sometimes
spectacular, sensational, complete with
lurid images and startling sounds that
they can never forget.
On the TV screen, for hours every
day. Over the radio, even while they
are in the jeepney, going to school.
In the newspapers, in the magazines,
even in the comics that are produced
for children. On the neon signs in
every street, the billboards flashing
in and out, the movies, the stage, the
computer, the internet, in the music
© Roy McMahon / Corbis
media. If there is a quiet moment, the
cellphone rings and there is a text, or a
voice—urgent!
Media, in itself, is a gift of God.
When the Apostles set out to bring the
Word of God to all the known world,
two thousand years ago, God gave
them the Roman Roads…..He has given
us the airwaves, the printing press,
the laptop, the internet. They can be
used for good. And they can be used
for evil.
On this day, Ascension Sunday, May
20, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
asks each one of us—you and me—to
face the challenge of media…..especial-
ly the impact of media on our children.
He puts it this way: “Children and Me-
dia: a Challenge to Education”!
The Challenge is this: media is the
biggest business in the world. It makes
money. So the producers of media,
many of them, say: “We must give
the people what they want, what they
will buy. They want sex and violence.
So we give them sex and violence. It
sells. If we come out with goody-goody
productions, we’ll go out of business!”
They say this, without blushing.
Benedict XVI wants every diocese
to have a media office—especially to
guard and guide our children, to pro-
mote media that leads them to what
is beautiful and good, and to protect
to board the school bus. He was about
to kiss his mother goodbye. But other
boys, looking out the windows of the
bus, began to laugh. So he did not kiss
his mother. He said: “Give me five!”
And then ran to the bus.
Mothers wrote in to the company
that produced the ad, saying: “What is
this? Since when can a Filipina mother
not kiss her little boy when he is going
off to school? What are you teaching
our children?” They took the ad off the
network, on the next day! The TV pro-
ducers know that one letter represents
at least 5,000 customers. If we try, we
can control the TV screen, the radio,
the press, the whole of media. It is a
challenge, and we must meet it!
And so today, in every Mass, we are
taking up a special collection for the
apostolate of communication! Most
will be kept for this diocese, to meet
the problems we face right here, right
now…..some will be sent to the Na-
tional Office of Mass Media, so that we
can attack the problem at its roots—the
decision makers.
The Catholic Church in the Philip-
pines is on satellite radio. We have 49
Catholic radio stations, all over the
country, united by satellite….We are
on satellite television—T.V. Maria on
Channel 21 of the Dream Satellite, and
on Channel 43 of Destiny Cable….We

on the earphones that they wear all them from evil. We can do that! The au- are doing exactly what Benedict XVI
day, even on the boxes of the food that dience, really, can control the media! is asking us to do!.....We are trying to
they eat—four hundred times, every There was an ad on television where meet the real challenge of our modern
day…..Media! There is no rest from the a little boy was going out of his home world!

Bo Sanchez
Fr. Roy Cimagala

Life is Good if Taking Sanctity to

you Love
THERE are some things in life that I deeply enjoy.
Like standing on top of a serene mountain breath-
ing in God’s beauty.
the Next Level
Or simply reading a delicious book that I can’t THE Pontifical Academy of the Social ing unless it gives due attention to our If there already are such offices in
put down. Sciences is a Vatican office tasked to complete character that includes our the local levels, then we may need to
Or just being hugged by a little child. monitor and make in-depth study of material and social aspects. put more life into them, since there’s
Or eating ice cream with friends. world social developments. As such, This is taking our sanctity to the hardly anything substantial heard
it carries out an important function of next level. This is precisely the self- from them.
But there is this one specific thing that I do which I find exquisitely sweet.
the Church. understanding of the Church today, as Instead, we get the impression
Awesome even. It’s probably one of the most profoundly inspiring things
This is because the Church, while embodied in many documents like the many Church leaders are awkward
that I do.
mainly religious, spiritual and su- pastoral constitution “Gaudium et spes,” in this regard. We have to go beyond
You might think it’s preaching. Or writing. Or leading worship.
pernatural in character and mission, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of knee-jerk responses to issues, recycled
Believe me, I love doing those things.
cannot avoid having to grapple with the Church, etc. motherhood statements, idle attacks
But I’m thinking of something else. and condemnations, all bluster-and-
mundane events. In the first place, it The good thing about this Pontifical
(Something downright simple.) is immersed in the world. Academy of the Social Sciences is that bombast stuff.
I’m talking about cutting Dad’s fingernails. To effectively shepherd souls to there’s a serious, inter-disciplinary It is for these reasons that com-
And toenails. their ultimate destination, the Church effort to know the root causes of world plaints about clericalism or undue
You see, Dad is eighty years old—and he can’t see very well anymore. has to know how to Christianize the developments, so as to infuse the proper interference of priests and bishops in
So whenever I’m at home, this elderly man lumbers towards me, and very world. While its mission transcends Christian spirit into them. civil life are heard.
shyly, shows me his fingernails and toenails. He doesn’t have to say anything. worldly dimension, the Church can- It is manned by very able men and Toward this end, I believe we have
He just chuckles. And I understand. not escape from worldly affairs. women, all professionals and experts in enough professionals with true love
So I get my heavy-duty, industrial-strength, kryptonite nailclipper. And Thus, it is important to distinguish their fields. There’s a regular program of for the Church and competence who
we go to work. I also wear bullet-proof goggles to protect my eyes, lest they between the material and the spiritu- activities, study sessions, meetings and can help. Let’s work toward a more
be injured by flying shrapnel. Beside me is a chain-saw, just in case my nail- al, what would comprise our earthly exchanges as well as special initiatives constructive pastoral ministry of our
clipper won’t do. progress and what our spiritual and when good reason warrants them. earthly affairs.
But as I do this, my heart melts within. supernatural growth would entail. In short, it is a living and working Also, there is a need for Church
Because many years ago, I still remember when he’d do this for me. As a We should avoid confusing them. entity, governed both by love for the leaders to be more familiar with social
little boy, I’d sit on his lap, and he’d hold my tiny hands and with great care At the same time, we have to know Church and competence that includes issues and to learn how to effectively
cut my nails. I remember him doing this again and again and again… the relation and unity between our the indispensable and tricky prudence shepherd souls in this area. Thus, the
Those were also the days when he’d bring me to the barber shop. As I’d sit material and spiritual dimensions, from all its members. Church’s social doctrine has to be
on the high chair, he’d tell the barber what to do. “Make him guwapo,” he’d our temporal occupations and eternal In its current plenary session, it tack- mastered. This will help us overcome
command. vocation. Any moral gap in these two les the question of charity and justice our blind and soft spots.
Today, things are little bit different. I now bring him to the barber—after dimensions should be bridged. in the relations among nations and This obviously will require a lot
some shy signals from him that he doesn’t want to look like Freddie Aguilar. This is our inescapable condition peoples. It is listing some worrying of prayer, study, patience, humility,
With a sheepish smile, he’d form his fingers like scissors and run them through which we have to learn to properly signs of the times that need to be ad- mercy, fortitude. The capacity to be
his grayish hair. And so I’d drive him to a nearby barber shop, trying to stop live with. It is not easy at all, but again dressed. It promises to be an exciting flexible, to dialogue and consult
my tears from falling. And when he’d plop on the chair, I’d tell the barber it is not impossible. What is more, we session. all parties, to adapt with changing
what to do. “Make him guwapo like me,” I’d command. just have to find an effective way to I just hope something like this can situations, and to act, should be cul-
Life is good. Why? do this integrating act, because it is be replicated in the local levels of our tivated.
Because life gives me precious moments to say “thanks” to special peo- necessary. Church. We have to give more attention Of course, all these virtues should
ple. We have to understand that our to how our Christianity can be consis- spring from an authentic personal
Because life gives me abundant opportunities to genuinely love. salvation is not only a purely spiritual tently lived in our social life—in our sanctity. This is the barest require-
Because life gives me a way to be a better person, everyday. and personal affair. That means noth- business, politics, entertainment, etc. ment.
Jescom / from B1
Atty. Jo Imbong
Every week, JesCom produces “Light Talk,” a discussion hosted
by Bishop Chito Tagle at 11:00 p.m. on Sundays, ABC-5. The topics

What’s Your Religion?
IS IT an appendage meant to add more precisely, a rule of awe
“color” to your latest Bio-Data? and reverence towards God and
Is it some plus factor which one’s fellowman. The term, after
an accomplished person like all, has its roots in a Greek word
you must have a smattering that means to bind, to tie down:
of, so as to enhance your value religare.
in the market? Do you write And that’s the whole point of
it in your Profile with passion one’s religion, for it should tell
in your pen, half thinking, half a lot about you and foremost is
writing, making sure to high- that you believe in the existence
light the Roman before Catholic, of some power “behind the
and knowing what that means? scenes”, so to speak, and that
And after having put the words it is important for you to keep
on paper, do you pause and read on his side.
it again—Roman Catholic. Do Why so? Well, because you
you then beam and place your believe that you are not on
fist over your breast with silent this earth by accident; that you
pride, perhaps not equal to the have a tangible purpose to ful-
fire of St. Paul after Damascus, fill, under the beneficence of a
but at least with the awe and rev- benign Patron who plans and
erence for what the words mean? charts your ‘career path’ with
Or do you fill it in simply as an no other motive (or will) than
“added grace of character”? to fast-forward your “pursuit of
Whatever it might be for you, happiness.” That is, if you are
one thing should be clear—that only sensitive to his Presence at
religion is “something we belong the wings of that stage where
to, not something which belongs you act out your magnum per-
to us; something that has got formance!
hold of us, not something we But really, there is something
have got hold of.” Ronald Knox more than just attitude in that
could not have put it more posturing of ours of having a
frankly half a century ago. And religion. That something lies in a
it still holds true in our day. very simple reality which is that,
In other words, one’s religion among all creatures, man is the
is not a fad or a mere pose. It is only animal who finds it com-
a bond that ties us down (or ties fortable to be on bent knees.
us up) to a rule of right living, Why? Because our religion
does not stand for a mere atti-
tude. It stands for relationship.
A relationship compacted by
dealings, and to be more pre-
cise, by dealings with Christ.
That means a one-on-one sort of
meeting with Him, not a face-in-
a-crowd encounter. Not a casual
name-drop like, “I know Him.”
Rather, it means a personal
conviction that one can say with
faith, “He knows me.” There is,
after all, a bond (religare, remem-
ber?) with Christ.
Alright, alright. But there
is one question that might be
asked, and it begs to be an-
swered: What difference does
religion make? And the answer
to the first question might well
be another question: If you
profess not to believe in any re-
ligion, what might your life be?
Well, there should be a difference,
not in the Bio-Data, but in one’s
personal life.
For your religion will add a
‘fifth’ dimension to your por-
trait. It will make the face in
the picture alive. The eyes, the
orbs that could not tell a lie, will
testify to a profound inner life
that cannot help but proclaim
its gifts through words that
flow from the heart, flowing
from thoughts that ring with
passion and wisdom, thoughts
garbed in words tobogganing
in those unguarded moments,
spoken words which will edify
the listener... or incriminate the
one who speaks. It all depends
on where his heart is. And that
depends on his religion... or the
lack of it.
For to have a religion is not
a single transaction—you are
baptized, and that’s it, and the
next encounter might be your
requiem and a final blessing.
That is, if you’re blest enough to
stay in the sheepfold at the final
hour. Nope! For us, the Christian
religion is a frequent, ever con-
stant dealing with Christ. That
is friendship. And in that frame
of a relationship is the certainty
in your heart that the other is a
True Friend who will not tell on
you, who will in fact leave the
99 in search for you if you must
turn your back on him.
Ultimately with this constant
exchange of hearts (to borrow
from the mystical experience
of St. Theresa of Avila), we are
subsumed into his Divine Life.
Holy Mother Church uses the
word “partakers” of his Divine
Life. We are “incorporated” into
Him to the point that you will be
able to say, “It is no longer I who
lives, but Christ lives in me.”
Is this your religion?
covered are rarely explicitly religious, as the show aims to address
issues that ordinary Filipinos are concerned about such as employ-
ment, education, and political realities.
JesCom also produces “Soul Mix,” an MTV show hosted by Jesuit
and lay veejays. This show opens ABC-5’s Sunday strip at 6:00 a.m.
It is followed by “Word Made Flesh,” Fr. Jun Lingad, SDB’s Bible
study show on the air, which is line-produced by JesCom.
RADIO
Despite the onset of many modern gadgets, the radio is still a
favored source of information and entertainment for millions of
Filipinos. Soon-to-be-ordained Bro. Nono Alfonso, SJ, apart from
contributing on and off-screen for JesCom’s TV productions, heads
JesCom’s radio department.
Radio Veritas
For some seven years now, Bro. Nono’s “Pasakalye” show has been
part of listeners’ Sunday experience as he uses music to lead people
to reflection. He also leads a team in producing afternoon dramas
under the series title, “Huwag Mangamba.” On Sunday nights, he
hosts a live counseling show called “Heartbeat.”
JesCom has been working closely with Fr. Anton Pascual to
enliven the image of Radio Veritas from its association with the
EDSA revolution.
DZMM
JesCom’s ties with ABS-CBN, notably with Mr. Gabby Lopez, has
also resulted in a weekly talk/counseling show called “Usapang
Kapatid,” where Bro. Nono is joined by Sr. Bubbles Bandojo of the
Cenacle Sisters, and Betsy Fuentes, a lay counselor, in addressing
the questions and concerns of listeners. DZMM shows are now also
seen on cable television as “Teleradyo,” one of several mobile chan-
nels that ABS-CBN will launch in the coming months.
JesCom’s TV and Radio commitments may seem like a lot, but
much more needs to be done so that spiritual values can subtly
permeate the airwaves. Fundraising for the various programs
is a very daunting challenge, as it is no joke for JesCom to simply
maintain its present level of activity. Partnerships, with both indi-
viduals and institutions, are key to the modest success of JesCom in
the mainstream media. JesCom hopes to form more partnerships so
that its TV and radio operations can expand. (For more information,
email Fr. Ari Dy, SJ at ady@ateneo.edu or text “FDBK (your message)”
and send to 2346.)
 CBCP
CBCP Monitor
Monitor
Vol. 11 No. 9
April 30-May13, 2007
ONE very significant experience I had
during the week (from March 17-24,
2007) in being a participant/member of
the Philippine Ecumenical Delegation
that submitted the Philippine Human
Rights Report “LET THE STONES CRY
OUT” during the Fourth Session of the
UN Human Rights Council in Geneva
was the realization of the deep link
between the issues of human rights and
interreligious dialogue.
With my experience of networking
with the ecumenical community on
various issues and concerns such as
women, justice and peace and ecology, I
realized at first that my limited appreci-
ation was just being able to work at least
outside the Roman Catholic circle—(the
Philippines being a predominantly Ro-
man Catholic Country with 85% of the
populace). Whenever I would think of
“interfaith dialogue” on the other hand,
it merely meant having a Muslim in our
Social Concern B7
dialogue is a necessity in our world of
rapid changes and because of the glo-
balization process, which has reduced
the world to a global village. Increased
mobility, characterized by a large-scale
movement of refugees, economic mi-
grations and young people in search of
educational opportunities, has resulted
in societies where more people of di-
verse faiths live side-by-side. Where
mechanisms for dialogue and encoun-
ter exist, there is a greater possibility
of fostering deeper knowledge and
awareness among people of different
religions. Good neighborliness grows
and thrives where there is mutual ac-
ceptance and mutual respect.
At a time when the pace of change
leads to increasing uncertainty, fear
and insecurity, people yearn for assur-
ance and affirmation as human beings.
In such yearning, the search for identity
becomes critical and urgent. Religion is

The Link of Interreligious Dialogue

group. It simply meant knowing why
we are different from one another and
looking at some commonalities in our
faith. However, as I continued to get in-
volved working on the issue of human
rights especially with other Christian
faiths and religions, I discovered that
indeed a deeper and more significant
connection is being established.
The main sponsors of the ecumenical
delegation were the Lutheran World
Federation (LWF) and the World Coun-
cil of Churches (WCC).
LWF is a global communion of Chris-
tian churches in the Lutheran tradition.
Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the
LWF now has 140 member churches in
78 countries all over the world repre-
senting nearly 66.7 million Christians.
The LWF acts on behalf of its member
churches in areas of common inter-
est such as ecumenical and interfaith
relations, theology, humanitarian as-
sistance, human rights, communication,
and the various aspects of mission and
development work. WCC promotes
Christian unity in faith, witness and
service for a just and peaceful world.
An ecumenical fellowship of churches
founded in 1948, today the WCC brings
together over 340 Protestant, Orthodox,
Anglican and other churches represent-
ing more than 550 million Christians,
and works cooperatively with the Ro-
man Catholic Church.
They accompanied us in almost every
step of the journey that we have taken
during the week that we were at the
UN in Geneva. From the fellowship
with the Filipino Catholic Community,
the Side Event at the Human Rights
Council Sessions, Meeting with the Ger-
man Mission and European Mission,
Philippine Mission, Networking with
the Franciscans International and the
Asian NGO Forum of Human Rights
(HR) Defenders as well as the meeting
with the Office of the Special Rappor-
teur on Extra Judicial Executions and
the Office of the High Commissioner
for Human Rights until the Dialogue
with the World Council of Churches
and Lutheran World Federation.
The Ecumenical Principle
In the Philippines, it is the National
Council of Churches in the Philippines
with Human Rights
by Sr. Maureen Catabian, RGS
(NCCP) that spearheaded the submis-
sion of the Human Rights report to the
International Community. Why is this
so? It is because the more than 800 vic-
tims of extra judicial killings from 2001-
2007 under the Arroyo Administration,
about 16 of the 24 Church people killed
are from the Protestant churches.
One of the victims was even the
Former Supreme Bishop of the Philip-
pine Independent Church (IFI) Bishop
Alberto Ramento. The NCCP is part of
the worldwide network of the World
Council of Churches.
For almost 35 years, the World
Council of Churches has embarked on
a Dialogue with people of living faiths
and ideologies as a program that began
at the meeting of the WCC Central
Committee in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
in 1971. This decision to embark on
this risky “adventure” of Interfaith
Dialogue had cultivated a rich experi-
ence of interfaith dialogue since 1971
and has yielded good fruits.
According to Dr. Sam Kobia (an
ordained minister of the Methodist
Church in Kenya and the Sixth Gen-
eral Secretary of the WCC, and the
first African to hold the position since
2004), from this endeavor they have
established relations with organiza-
tions, groups and people of other faiths
and have become friends. He talks
about how much common ground we
share. We have been able to address
together issues of common concern.
Within the Council they have come to
realize the interreligious truth of an
old ecumenical principle: “That which
we can do together, we should not do
separately”.
This ecumenical principle became
very much alive when I participated
in the Philippine Ecumenical delega-
tion that brought the Human Rights
Situation in the country to international
communities and structures such as
the UN. Our delegation consisted of an
Anglican Priest (as head of the group),
an Evangelical woman pastor, a Mus-
lim Woman Peace Advocate, a Roman
Catholic Bishop, a Roman Catholic nun
from the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
and a Human Rights defender and
activist.(who had to come at a later
date). Part of the itinerary of the delega-
tion was the courtesy call to the WCC
General Secretary, Reverend Dr. Sam
Kobia. WCC as well as LWF have an
NGO status in the UN.
Why are Catholic Bishops not
Involved?
In that meeting, Dr. Kobia came
across as a simple, soft spoken and very
humble man who exuded wisdom and
a deep spirituality. As he spoke, one
could sense a deep passion and com-
mitment for interreligious dialogue
and social justice. As I listened intently,
it suddenly dawned on me “that the
Philippines is a predominantly Roman
Catholic Country and the Protestant
churches is only a minority, so are the
Muslims. But how come, it took a Prot-
estant church network to endorse the
submission of the Philippine Human
Rights report to the UN?”
Why are the Catholic Bishops not
directly involved in the making and the
submission of this report? Is it because,
the victims of extrajudicial killings are
mainly Protestant church workers,
pastors and a bishop, as well as the so
called militant organizations, members
of progressive political parties labeled
as “leftists and communists” as being
vilified by the Philippine Military?
According to Bishop Deogracias
Yniguez from the Roman Catholic,
the very same question was posed to
him by the US Catholic Bishops Con-
ference after a US Senate hearing in
Washington D.C. “Why are the Philip-
pine Catholic Bishops not involved in
such an alarming issue as extrajudicial
killings and human rights violations
in the country?” The bishop has even
mentioned that the killings have started
in 2001 but they have not taken it up
as a major agenda in any of the CBCP
meetings which happens annually. At
least in 2006, however, the CBCP has
issued a statement condemning the kill-
ing of Former Supreme Bishop Alberto
Ramento of the IFI.
An Urgent Agenda
The main objective of the submission
of the HR report to the international
community engaging international
groups, communities and structures
is to simply put a “STOP to the KILL-
INGS!” Regardless of the number, who
the perpetrators and victims are, the call
is something very basic—“Uphold Hu-
man Rights, Defend Life and Stop the
Killings!” There was some urgency and
hesitancy at the same time, on my part
in responding to the invitation to be a
member of the ecumenical delegation
because of several reasons: one, was the
risk of security; second, was the fear of
being labeled myself a “leftist, activ-
ist, communist”; third, was the fear of
getting killed as the others because of
my involvement in human rights and
social justice and bringing the concern
of the victims’ kin to the international
community; and fourth, the risk of
being maligned by the military forces
whom we are accusing as liable for all
the killings and many others.
However, as I went with the delega-
tion and held a series of meetings and
dialogue with various groups and
personages in the UN and to the HR
defenders in the Asian NGO Forum,
I have understood the significance
of working for human rights and the
relevant connection with interreligious
dialogue in this era of Globalization.
To quote Rev. Sam Kobia, “Interfaith
good at providing a sense of identity.
The main challenge in a globalized
context is how to live with our diverse
identities in one world. Unfortunately,
increased relations between communi-
ties can be marred by tension and fear.
For many communities, this tension
confirms the need to protect their in-
dividual identities and distinctiveness.
Sometimes the legitimate search for
and affirmation of one’s own identity
thus becomes mixed with self-defen-
sive hostility towards neighbors of
other religions and cultures.”
The extrajudicial killings taking place
in the Philippines and the culture of
impunity that prevails is a result of
the lack of tolerance, respect and ac-
ceptance of differences particularly in
political orientation, convictions and
strategies. Human rights are based
on respect, tolerance and acceptance.
Once we cut off dialogue and peace
negotiations with political groups or
parties that are espousing different
political perspectives other than what
is dominant, human rights violations
and abuses are bound to happen.
Dr. Kobia concludes, “Today, we
live in a broken, fractured and divided
world; a world in which people are in
dire need of healing, reconciliation and
above all, hope. If we, people of faith,
cannot give the world hope, then the
future is hopelessly bleak. We can only
be effective and successful in our search
for hope if we work together. Alone,
one can only travel a limited distance;
together we can go further towards
restoring hope for another possible and
better world in which all people may
experience abundant life in dignity.”
Where there is Respect, Tolerance
and Acceptance, we can expect a more
healthy community of people living
with diverse religions and cultures—
promoting life and human dignity for
all beings—just as how I experienced
the journey with the Philippine Ecu-
menical Delegation as an experience
of Faith and Dialogue.
(Sr. Maureen Catabian, RGS, is a mem-
ber of the Philippine Ecumenical Delegation
which submitted the Philippine Human Rights
Report to the 4th Session of the UN Human
Rights Council last March 2007 in Geneva,
Switzerland.)

Diocese of Bayombong
My Dear People of God of the Diocese
of Bayombong,

Greetings of peace to all of you my

beloved brothers and sisters!
I, Bishop Ramon B. Villena, am here
once again to you on a very important
issue which troubles me at this very
moment. I am referring to the atrocious
bombing that happened in the residence
of Mayor Ruben M. Sayo in Aritao,
Nueva Viscaya. Just this morning, at
around 1:30 in the morning, a grenade
which was thrown by unidentified men,
exploded. I, myself, cannot believe
that such heinous thing ever happened
in a peaceful and nonviolent town of
Aritao.
On this account, I strongly condemn
the said bombing whatever may be its

ECMI Mentors Parish Leaders for Possible Work

By Dyz Pumarada
THE Episcopal Commission on
Migrant and Itinerant People
(ECMI-CBCP) organized a skills
training on Mentoring for Work
Program for Migrant’s Desk
Leaders on March 24, 2007 at
the Lay Formation Center in San
Carlos Compound, Guadalupe,
Makati City.
The training which was con-
ducted in partnership with the
Staff Search Asia Cooperative
(SSA) had thirty-three parish
leaders as participants repre-
senting twenty two parishes
under the dioceses of Manila,
Kalookan and Antipolo.
The activity is part
of the ECMI’s Reintegration
Program for overseas Filipino
workers (OFW) and their fami-
lies to facilitate alternative ven-
ues for returning perspective
and employment.
SSA is a personnel
outsourcing cooperative that
provides client companies with
solutions that enhance opera-
tional efficiency and improve
productivity. SSA concretely
assists the parishes and commu-
nities in outsourcing aspiring
workers.
The training provided
the participants knowledge
about work, nature of coopera-
tive, how to make an effective
resume’ and familiarize them
with the common interview
questions. The knowledge and
skills acquired helped prepare
the leaders in doing the initial
selection of applicants within
the community level before the
conduct of the general examina-
tion that will be spearheaded by
the SSA personnel.
Among the SSA more
familiar clients are Jollibee,
Chowking, Red Ribbon, Green-
wich, Abenson and Toyota. SSA
is continuously sourcing for
accounting staff, administra-
tive assistant, human resource
clerk, marketing officer, logistic
staff, encoder, report developer,
help desk engineer, draftsman,
service crew, doorman, multi-
skilled technician and hotel
driver.
Aside from offering
concrete possible employment
through the SSA, the applicant
or would-be worker once em-
ployed will automatically be-
come an owner–member of the
SSA Cooperative. This way the
individual is not only provided
employment, but business as
well since aside from the salary
one receives, the capital share in
the cooperative entitles one with
dividends at the end of each fis-
cal year.
The offshoot of this
training will be a parish-based
processing of application as
committed by different parish
leaders that will commence on
May 12, 19, and 26 consecu-
tively.
purpose for it surely creates an intimi-
dation and fear to the people. I strongly
denounce the persons behind it espe-
cially that it happened during the heat
of the electoral campaigns.
My appreciation goes to the men of
the Philippine National Police for their
initial attention as regards the matter.
Still, I earnestly appeal to them, es-
pecially to the Provincial Director, to
take a thorough investigation so that
the culprit will be arrested. I am sug-
gesting that a reward-money from the
government and people with great sense
of patriotism will be given to encourage
individuals who can identify the culprit
to come to the open. I do hope and pray
that such unacceptable bombing will
never be part of a series of violence in
our province.
Since it happened during this season
of election, I also appeal to the Com-
mission on Election to take this matter
seriously. To the electoral candidates, I
repeat my call in my pastoral statement,
“please spend the remaining time of
the campaign period to focus on your
development agenda and platform of
governance. The electorate does not
anymore believe in negative campaign
propagandas, vote buying, blatant lies
coated in sweet talk. Cheating and vio-
lence during election, graft and corrupt
practices are examples of lies and injus-
tices.” Never ever redound to violence
or aggressive coercion like the use of
guns and goons for this is totally against
the sanctity of life.
To you my beloved brothers and sisters,
please be vigilant and steadfast. As the
scripture says, “The opponent, the devil,
is prowling like a roaring lion looking for
someone to devour! Resist him, be solid in
your faith!” Our beloved province is a free
and safe place to live as long as we are all
united and awake in resisting these evils
around us! Let us never be afraid. As we
choose our candidates and cast our votes,
let us exercise our right and uphold our
dignity as free and true human persons.
With the maternal protection of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, I commend you
all and your loved ones!
Most Rev. Ramon B. Villena, DD
Bishop of Bayombong
May 4, 2007
 CBCP Monitor
B8 Entertainment Vol. 11 No. 9
April 30-May 13, 2007

sinumang makialam rin si Ricketts bilang director at

Title: RUMBLE BOY
Moral Assessment Technical Assessment Running Time:
85 mins
Abhorrent Poor Lead Cast:
Disturbing Below average Derick Dee
Acceptable Average Director:
Ronie Ricketts
Wholesome Above average
Producer: Derick Dee
Exemplary Excellent Screenwriter: Willy Laconsay
Music: Nonong Buencamino
Editor: Jess Navarro
Genre: Action
Cinematography: Macoy Tarnate
Distributor: Apache Films
Location: Philippines
Technical Assessment:
Moral Assessment:
CINEMA Rating: For mature viewers
18 and above
Umuwi si Karen (Kyla Cole)
upang hanapin ang kanyang
ama at laking sama ng loob
niya nang dalhin siya ni Edy
(Ma. Isabel Lopez) na siyang
kinasama ng kanyang ama sa
Pilipinas, sa puntod nito. Sa
kagustuhang mapaghigantihan
ang mga pumatay sa kanyang
ama, makikilala niya si Trigger
(Derick Dee), isang mahusay
na mekaniko ng Rumbleboys,
samahan ng mga big bikers.
Matutuklasan nila na ginagawa
lamang panakip ang grupo
para sa mga ilegal na gawain at
pangangalakal kung saan ang
o maging balakid ay walang bago siyang naipakita sa
kanilang pinapatay. pelikula. Sa kabuuan ay sayang
Manipis at gasgas ang lamang ang salaping ginugol sa
istorya na pinahaba la- pagbubuo ng pelikulang ito.
mang ng habulan, sun- Karahasan at paghihiganti.
tukan at bakbakan. Hin- Ito pa rin ang nangingibabaw
di pa rin ito humiwalay na mga tema ng pelikulang
sa lumang pormula na Pinoy pagdating sa aksyon.
“konting patawa, kontng Tila baga ang anumang pag-
pa-seksi at sangkatutak patay at karahasan gawin,
na bakbakan” upang sa ngalan ng paghahanap ng
mapunuan lamang ang katarungan ay dapat palagpa-
isa’t kalahating oras sin. Tila ba ang mga tao rito’y
na haba ng pelikula. sukdulang masama lamang o
Walang kabuhay-buhay sukdulang biktima na napi-
ang daloy ng kwento at pilitang lumaban at manakit.
mga piniling eksena na Hindi makatotohanan ang
lalong pinalala naman paglalarawan sa pagkatao na
ng lalong walang buhay sumasakay lamang sa alon
na pagganap ng lahat ng tau- ng karahasan. Maging ang
han, mula pangunahin hang- ilang patawa ay nakatuon sa
gang extra. Magaspang ang karahasan sa pambabastos,
pagtagni-tagni ng mga ekse- tulad ng pamboboso nina Ariel
na at kulang sa imahinasyon at Maverick. Bagamat hindi
ang mga eksenang aksyon. naman malaswa o sukdulang
Ang pinagmamalaking special marahas ang pelikula, wala rin
effects, na sinaliksik at isinunod naman itong buting maibibi-
pa mula sa istilo at teknolihiya gay sa mga batang manunuod,
ng iba’t ibang bansa ay nag- sa aspetong pang-aliw man o
ging katawa-tawa lamang dahil moral. Hindi angkop ang tema
bukod sa napaka- amateur na at mga eksena sa kanila. Mas
diskarte ng pagkakagawa ay maaliw pa silang magbasa ng
halatang-halata pa ang pagka- libro o kahit komiks kung saan
peke nito--isang kasalanang mas malikhain at kapanap-
mortal sa larangan ng paggawa anabik ang aksyong mabubuo
ng pelikula. Hilaw na hilaw pa ng kanilang imahinasyon.

Title: PAN’S LABYRINTH such as the lullaby theme song

Running Time: 112 mins
Lead Cast: Ivana Baquero, Sergi Lopez, Maribel Verdu, Adriana Gil
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Producer: Guillermo del Toro
Screenwriter: Guillermo del Toro
Music: Javier Navarrete
Genre: Horror/Suspense/Fantasy
Distributor: Picture House and Telecines Pictures
Location: Spain
Technical Assessment:
Moral Assessment:
CINEMA Rating: For mature viewers 18 and above
It is 1944 in Spain. A small
contingent of Spanish soldiers
under the command of Capt.
Vidal (Sergi Lopez) mans an
outpost near the mountains to
rout the insurgents fighting the
Fascist government of Franco.
Capt. Vidal’s pregnant wife Car-
men (Adriana Gil) arrives at the
camp with her eleven year old
daughter Ofelia (Ivana Bquero).
Fond of reading fairytales and
creating her own, Ofelia thinks
herself to be the embodiment of
the spirit of the lost princess of
the underworld Realm. She is
friendly to creatures of the wild
like the large mantis – like insect
whom she thinks transforms
into a fairy. With her “fairy”
guide she explores nearby, an
ancient stone labyrinth where
one can easily get lost. She
meets a fawn who instructs her
on how she can return to her
Kingdom. While Ofelia com-
munes with these woodland
creatures, she also witnesses
the violence and death during
the war in the world of men. In
the camp is Mercedes (Maribel
Verdu) the housekeeper of Vidal
and an informer of the rebels.
The 2 women develop a spe-
cial relationship when Ofelia’s
mother dies. In danger of being
unmasked, Mercedes leaves
camp with Ofelia but both are
caught. In the meantime, Ofelia
has nearly completed the tasks
assigned by the fawn.
Pan’s Labyrinth (in Span-
ish with English subtitles) re-
veals the masterful touch of
Guillermo del Toro as director
and writer. This is especially
evident in the clever handling
of the complicated story that
adeptly interweaves the world
of reality with the world of fan-
tasy. So seamless is the integra-
tion that one may easily suspend
one’s disbelief in fairies and the
like. The title may suggest a
fairytale but this is not a tale of
joy, light and happy-ever-afters.
Though spellbinding this dark
tale is full of painful anguish
and is steeped in vivid, raw
details of brutality and cruelty;
all these are emphasized by the
dominant use of greys, sepia
and muted black and white
images. Guillermo Navarro’s
expert cinematography has
also captured the quiet, wild
beauty of the unsullied wood-
lands which when juxtaposed
with the violent war scenes
brings out effectively the con-
trast and the irony between the
two worlds depicted. Eugenio
Caballero’s production design is
imaginative and the prosthetics
and make-up, very good. The
story is replete with symbol-
ism. Character development
goes hand in hand with plot
development. Thus, as the story
darkens Vidal becomes more
evil. The deliberate repetition
of scenes emphasizes character
traits. Lead actors do excellent
work, To be commended, too,
is the rest of the cast. There is
judicious choice of music pieces,
that sets the somber mood.
Much as one admires the
craftsmanship of Pan’s Laby-
rinth, one can also be dismayed
by the negative values of the
film. In a war picture (and this
is one, though it has fairytale
elements), one may assume
there is violence and death,
but this picture accentuates
the inhumanity and cruelty of
man vs. another, especially in
the gruesome torture scenes
and the killing of the wounded.
Oppression and injustice are
depicted in the restriction of
the villagers, subjecting them to
rationing of food and medicine.
Then there is the unjust murder
of the innocent (rabbit hunter)
on mere suspicion. Though one
can understand the doctor’s mo-
tives, mercy killing is still killing.
Little value is placed on human
life in the film. Vidal says that if
a choice has to be made between
his wife and his son, he wants his
son saved at all costs. But this
is not moral. The wife’s life is
as valuable as that of the son’s.
Effort should have been exerted
to save both. However, some
positive values are shown by
the love between Ofelia and her
mother Carmen. Though sick,
Carmen shows understanding of
her daughter’s imaginative na-
ture and tries to guide her. The
admirable courage of Mercedes
and others who work in enemy
territory calls the mind our own
resistance workers in World War
II. This adult fairytale is a par-
able that resonates with Chris-
tian undertones as it depicts the
battle between good and evil. It
shows that conscience (verbal-
ized by the doctor) is the best
weapon against fascism or any
ideology that violates human
dignity and rights. The film sug-
gests that strength and redemp-
tion comes through sacrifice and
love. Rated R-18, this film can be
traumatic for the very young.
People often mistake siblings
Gray (Heather Graham) and
Sam (Tom Cavanaugh) for
a couple, because besides
living together they’re just
so compatible, enjoying the
same things since childhood
and… well, they seem just
“meant for each other.” So
they decide to each look for
their soulmates. In the park,
they stumble upon a new-
comer to New York, a scin-
tillating, California-tanned
woman named Charlie
(Bridget Moynahan). Over
the weekend Sam proposes
marriage to Charlie and
Charlie accepts. Sam is de-
lirious, and invites Gray to
Las Vegas for the wedding.
Gray tries to talk sense to
her brother, dumping the
idea of a whirlwind court-
ship, but Sam’s euphoria
prevails and she agrees to
be the bridesmaid. Gray
and Charlie actually hit it off
well, and on the eve of the
wedding, after a bubbly girls’
night out on the town, do the
unexpected: their goodnight
smack turns into a passionate
lovers’ kiss. Gray is upset by
her discovery that she’s gay,
Title: GRAY MATTERS
Running Time: 100 mins
Lead Cast:
Heather Graham, Thomas Cavanagh, Bridget
Moynahan, Molly Shannon, Allan Cum-
ming, Sissy Spacek, Rachel Shelly
Director: Sue Kramer
Producer: John J. Hermansen
Screenwriter: Sue Kramer
Music: Andrew Hollander
Editor: Wendy Stanzler
Cinematography: John S, Bartley
Location: USA
Technical Assesment:
Moral Assessment:
CINEMA Rating: For mature viewers 18 and
above
and from here on, life will never nothing comic about the
be the same. obvious way the movie tries
Gray Matters has a good to scream that it’s okay to
cast, but one may wonder why be gay. There’s a tinge of
such effective actors would take rebellion in the character
on such roles in a movie that who fears she might be gay
tries hard but fails to be sensi- but who couldn’t come out
tive to the very issue it hopes of the closet for fear of re-
to promote: acceptability of jection. The movie with its
homosexuality. The otherwise happily-ever-after ending
plausible plot is rendered lu- makes a mistake by saying
dicrous by the presence of too all it needs to live with one’s
many coincidences which may extra-normal sexual prefer-
be acceptable in a TV sitcom ence is the ability to bring it
but which do not convincingly out in the open. Being honest
reflect real life as a full-length with oneself about it is no
film like this attempts to show. doubt a good beginning but
Cavanaugh’s character as the it’s only a beginning; what
well-balanced Sam is in direct about the struggle that fol-
contrast with the hyperactive lows? Gray Matters, in spite
character of Graham which, by of its chatty though tearful
any standard, is a caricature of confessions, is incapable of a
soul coming to grips with its baf- profound analysis or elabora-
fling gender orientation. Despite tion of the issue of same-sex
his laughable role, Cumming as love, and in fact trivializes
the sympathetic cabbie Gordy it by using comedy as its
delivers fine perforformance; so megaphone. Impressionable
do Spacek and Moynahan. Edit- viewers could be misguided
ing is good, and the costumes are regarding homosexuality
good-looking, but one gets the by arguments mouthed by
feeling that director Sue Kramer the characters in this movie.
wanted to say so much she stut- There’s more to gay than
tered through it. being gay about it—but that,
Gray Matters is supposedly Gray Matters leaves in the
a romantic comedy but there’s gray area.

ANSWER TO THE
LAST ISSUE:

BEING UNWANTED,
UNLOVED,
UNCARED FOR,
FORGOTTEN BY
EVERYBODY, I THINK
THAT IS A MUCH
GREATER HUNGER,
A MUCH GREATER
POVERTY THAT THE
PERSON WHO HAS
NOTHING TO EAT.

QUOTES IN QUIZ
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