A3
and joyful, says
Bataan clergy pushes
dismantling of nuke plant
CATHOLIC Church officials in Bataan ap-
pealed to the government to dismantle the
mothballed nuclear facility in their province.
While lauding President Aquino’s decision
against the revival of the Bataan Nuclear
Power Plant, totally dismantling it, they said,
could bring more positive reception from the
people there.
Monsignor Tony Dumaual fears that
until the BNPP structures and facilities are
there, the possibilities for it to be revived
CBCP revives dialogue with
lawmakers over RH bill
PPCRV chairperson Henrietta de Villa (right) reveals the 99-percent accuracy in the results of the May 10 polls random manual audit as Comelec chairman Jose Melo and Commissioner Lucenito Tagle listen during
a press conference, July 29. Despite initial doubts from various sectors, De Villa said the country’s first automated national elections helped prevent “systematic cheating” that marred the previous polls.
Indigenous leaders vow to pursue PPCRV favors auto-
rights to self-determination mated polls in 2013
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
Bishop Broderick Pabillo
Church is young
B1 Vatican says new norms
will strengthen efforts
Pope against abusive priests
Bataan / A6 August 2 - 15, 2010 Vol. 14 No. 16
LEADERS of various indigenous
communities vowed to act col-
lectively as they urge govern-
ment to recognize their rights to
self-determination.
Tribal leaders expressed dis-
appointment on President Be-
nigno Aquino’s SONA saying
that as in past administrations,
Aquino’s government seemed
to exclude them.
IP leaders said Aquino’s
SONA failed to address the
issues of the indigenous com-
munities “such as recognition of
their right to self-determination
and reversal of policies that have
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
undermined their culture and
their very existence.”
“As with previous presidents
we barely deserved mention in
his speech. And while we ap-
preciate his statement that we
will be part of any negotiation
NASSA supports postpone- P-Noy urged to lead anti-littering drive
ment of APECO project
THE National Secretariat for Social Action-Justice and Peace
(NASSA) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines
(CBCP) expressed their support with the Aurora clergies in its
call for the suspension of the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and
Freeport (APECO) project.
“We reiterate our expression of solidarity with and prayers for
their Excellencies Bishop Rolando Tirona and Bishop Emeritus
Julio Labayen, Fr. Joefran Talaban and the Infanta clergies who
bravely face risks to ensure that the rights of the farmers, fisher
folks and indigenous peoples are respected,” NASSA said in a
statement.
The APECO project is authored by Senator Edgardo Angara
and Representative Sonny Angara aimed to expand the eco-
nomic zone in the province from 500 to 12, 923 hectares.
The project replaces the equally disputed RA 9490 that created
NASSA / A7
Listen to the CBCP Online Radio at: www.cbcponlineradio.com
regarding peace in Mindanao,
we are concerned that the direc-
tion he seems to be taking with
respect to economic policy is to
adopt the same old formulas
that have already proven inad-
equate,” said Nilda Mangilay,
a Subanen of Zamboanga del
Sur.
Almost a hundred indigenous
peoples’ representatives from
Luzon and Mindanao gathered
recently at Apu Agbibilin Com-
munity Center in Brgy. Songco
during their State of the Indig-
enous Peoples Address (SIPA).
Recalling that the government
had failed them in the past, the
IP leaders said that they have
committed themselves to pur-
sue their demands through the
SIPA.
“We will not wait for govern-
Indigenous / A6
SOME Catholic bishops
presented on June 30 a 13-point
agenda that President Benigno
Aquino III should address in
his administration.
The bishops said the
Arroyo administration
had failed to attend
to many social issues
so they hope that
Aquino would give
it utmost priority.
The agenda
composed of the
positions of the
church on certain
issues long tackled
in CBCP Pastoral
Statements was pre-
sented in a press
conference after a
P-Noy / A6
C1 A Supplement Publication of KC Life and
The Cross
the Order of the Knights of Columbus
Church leaders urge
‘Hello Garci’ witnesses to
come forward
A RELIGIOUS leader has
made a public appeal for
civilian witnesses to the
“Hello Garci” 2004 elec-
tion scandal.
Association of Major
Religious Superiors of
the Philippines co-chair-
person Sr. Mary John
Php 20.00 Garci / A6
By Roy Lagarde
WITH the recent opening of
the 15th Congress, Catholic
prelates are reviving the
holding of further dialogues
with lawmakers on the con-
tentious legislation.
An official of the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines said the
Church is open to dialogue, but said
that any measure that seeks to promote
contraception will remain unacceptable
to them.
Fr. Melvin Castro, executive sec-
retary of the CBCP’s Episcopal Com-
mission on Family and Life, said the
discussions would be done on a dioc-
esan level wherein each bishop would
talk directly with lawmakers in their
respective dioceses.
“We’d rather talk to the congress-
men individually. The bishops agreed
last plenary to dialogue with legislators
especially those who are new members
of the Congress,” said Castro.
Information reaching Castro’s office
also revealed that pro-RH bill lobbyists
have been holding seminar with new
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
congressmen.
He claimed that these “moneyed”
lobbyists are “courting” neophyte law-
makers to support the passage of the
RH bill which also seeks to control the
country’s growing population.
HB 13
One purpose of the dialogue, he
RH Bill / A6
THE Parish Pastoral Council
for Responsible Voting (PP-
CRV) said the new system of
automated elections should
be replicated in the 2013
presidential elections.
PPCRV chairperson Hen-
rietta de Villa said the au-
tomation will improve the
quality of elections as it did
last May 10.
She said any plans to au-
tomate the next elections improved the quality of the
would be great after proving election process,” De Villa
that there was “no systematic said.
cheating” the recent polls De Villa released to the
wherein President Benigno media, in a recent press brief-
Aquino III won as presi- ing, the result of the random
dent. manual audit of 1, 145 pre-
“The automated election cincts in the May 10 polls
has features that prevent conducted by a technical
massive cheating. It really PPCRV / A6
Illustration by Bladimer Usi
 World News
CBCP Monitor
A2 Vol. 14 No. 16
August 2 - 15, 2010

Pope welcomes cluster munitions

ban, urges more countries to sign
VATICAN City, August 1,
2010—It was with “great con-
tentment” that Benedict XVI
observed the first day of the
worldwide ban on cluster mu-
nitions, which took effect on
Sunday. The Vatican partici-
pated in the talks that led to the
international agreement, focus-
ing upon the “logic of peace.”
A total of 107 states have
signed the Convention on Clus-
ter Munitions (CCM), adopting
its ban in May 2008. The conven-
tion prohibits “all use, stockpil-
ing, production and transfer of
Cluster Munitions.” According
to the CCM, the agreement also
includes articles which address
victim assistance, the clearance
of contaminated areas and the
elimination of stockpiles.
On Aug. 1, the agreement
became binding in international
signatories to the ban but have order and for the realization of
not yet ratified it. the common good of all people
After the Sunday Angelus and all nations.”
at Castel Gandolfo, the Holy In an accompanying Sunday
Father welcomed the news, statement, the Vatican high-
saying that his first thought lighted its commitment to the
goes to “the numerous victims process which led to the con-
who have suffered and con- vention. It reported the Holy
tinue to suffer serious physical See’s close participation with
and moral injuries, even loss the other states and said the
of life, from these insidious Holy See was one of the first
explosives.” state to call for a moratorium
“With the entry into force of on the munitions and to ratify
the new Convention, to which the document that entered into
I exhort all states to comply, force on Sunday.
the international community The Vatican is highly commit-
has demonstrated wisdom, ted to the cause, reads the state-
foresight and the capacity to ment, “in the conviction that the
pursue a meaningful result in logic of peace is stronger than
the field of disarmament and the logic of war, which in every
international human rights. case must have as an insur-
He concluded by saying that mountable limit the protection
it is his “hope and encourage- and preservation of the civil
ment” that States continue to population, and particularly the

law. However, countries such
as the United States, Russia,
China, Israel, India and Paki-
stan did not sign it. Both Iraq
and Afghanistan, where wars
are currently taking place, are
www.uscmediareligion.org
work in this way “with ever most vulnerable people.”
greater vigor, for the defense of The first meeting of the par-
dignity and human life, for the ties involved in the conven-
promotion of integral human tion’s ratification will meet this
development, for the establish- Nov. 8-12 in Vientiane, Laos.
ment of a peaceful international (CNA)

John Paul II continues to inspire vocations HONG KONG, July 30, 2010— ties, with the desire to strive

Pope praying for

One of Hong Kong’s four new for peace.
permanent deacons says his “At that time I thought: John
vocation is linked to Pope John Paul II passed away, who will
Paul II, and particularly to the follow his footsteps and con-

Pontiff’s death.
Deacon Stephen Kwok Ping-
fai was one of four to be or-
dained July 24 at the Cathedral
of the Immaculate Conception
in Hong Kong.
Decon Kwok, 45, recounted
to the Catholic Weekly that the
news coverage of the Pope’s
death in 2005 led him to reflect
on his baptismal vocation.
“Pope John Paul II lived out
the teachings of Jesus Christ
in his life,” the deacon said.
www.nccbuscc.org
tinue his missions?”
Deacon Kwok is a radiog-
rapher at the faculty of medi-
cine of the University of Hong
Kong.
He is the youngest of Hong
Kong’s 15 permanent deacons,
and according to UCANews,
his ordination helps dispel the
idea in Hong Kong that the
permanent deaconate is for
retired men.
In addition to the diocesan
deacons ordained July 24, a Do-
unemployed in August
VATICAN City, July 30, 2010—The Vatican has released Pope
Benedict XVI’s prayer intentions for the month of August.
In his intentions, the Pontiff is praying that those in serious
financial need or require housing will be assisted.
Pope Benedict’s general prayer intention is: “That those
who are without work or homes or who are otherwise in
serious need may find understanding and welcome, as well
as concrete help in overcoming their difficulties.”
His mission intention is: “That the Church may be a ‘home’

“He led the Catholic Church minican deacon was ordained in for all people, ready to open her doors to any who are suffering
to search for the reconciliation Hong Kong on July 1, and a Je- from racial or religious discrimination, hunger or wars forcing
with the Orthodox Churches suit priest and Jesuit deacon will them to emigrate to other countries.” (CNA)
and the Protestant communi- be ordained Saturday. (Zenit)

5 Theology of the Body Pioneers awarded

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, July
30, 2010—Five individuals and institu-
tions were honored for their work to
spread the teaching of Pope John Paul
II in his theology of the body at the first
national congress on this topic.
Cardinal Justin Rigali, archbishop of
Philadelphia, said the opening prayer
for the Thursday evening awards ban-
quet at the National Theology of the
Body Congress.
Cardinal Rigali affirmed to ZENIT
that the theology of the body is “a great
gift.” In fact, the cardinal personally
wrote a Jan. 21 letter of invitation to
the congress, in which he stated, “I am
convinced that John Paul II’s theology
of the body is a treasure for the Church
and a gift of the Holy Spirit for our
time.”
The three-day congress, which was
organized by the Philadelphia-based
Theology of the Body Institute, ends
today.
The institute awarded Valentine
and Ann Coelho of Goa, India; Father
Richard Hogan of Crystal, Minnesota;
the Daughters of St. Paul of Boston,
Massachusetts; the Theology of the
Body International Alliance of San
Antonio, Texas; and Ruah Woods of
Cincinnati, Ohio.
A press release noted the “pioneer-
ing work” of these honorees in “the
advancement of the teachings of Pope
John Paul II on human sexuality.”
David Savage, chairman of the
institute’s board, said at the banquet
that “each of the recipients have been
true trailblazers—in ways unique to
their individual and organizational
missions—in promoting and helping
others understand the theology of the
body.”
Unique missions
Valentine and Ann Coelho were
acknowledged for their work over the
past decade in spreading the teachings
of John Paul II in India, through semi-
nars for clergy, religious, seminarians,
doctors, youth and engaged and mar-
ried couples.
Father Hogan, co-author of “Cov-
enant of Love: Pope John Paul II on
Sexuality, Marriage and Family in the
Modern World,” was honored for his
vanguard work in disseminating the
theology of the body through publica-
tions as early as 1981.
His latest book, “Theology of the
Body: What it Means, Why it Matters,”
continues his 29-year work of bring-
ing John Paul II’s teachings to a wider
audience.
Sister Mary Mark Wickenhiser, pub-
lisher of Pauline Books and Media,
accepted the award on behalf of the
Daughters of St. Paul. The congrega-
tion, which works to communicate
Christ through the media and modern
technology, was awarded for its work to
publish the general audience addresses
of John Paul II, and then many subse-
quent books by various authors on the
topic of the theology of the body.
Anastasia Northrop received the
award for the Theology of the Body
International Alliance, which was cre-
ated in 2003 to provide resources for
catechesis and ministry. The organiza-
tion currently supports 500 members
in 25 countries in their work with
couples, teens, prolife causes, street
evangelization, forums and national
conferences.
Ruah Woods was honored for its
ministry in the Archdiocese of Cin-
cinnati, Ohio, as an education center
specifically dedicated to teaching the
theology of the body. Since it opened
its doors last year, it has trained 400
students to bring John Paul II’s teaching
to their own parishes and communities.
(Zenit)

Israel threatens to cut off water supply

to Church of the Holy Sepulchre
TEL AVIV, Israel, July 30, 2010—
The Churches of Jerusalem are
perplexed and concerned by
the municipal authorities threat
to cut off water supplies to the
basilica of the Holy Sepulchre.
Since water supplies were first
operational in the area, succes-
sive governments have always
provided access to the Holy Sep-
ulchre free of charge as a public
service to the pilgrims and act
of courtesy to the religious,
Catholic and non-Catholic, who
custody the sanctuary.
So did the British government
in the Holy Land (1917-1948), the
the Holy Sepulchre.” An admin-
istration that does not exist, since
the ancient basilica is governed
by a special, internationally rec-
ognized, legal regime, known as
the “Status quo”. The “Status quo”
means that the spaces, time, and
functions are divided between
the Catholic Church, represented
by the Franciscan Custody of the
Holy Land and several groups of
non-Catholic monks, primarily
Greek and Armenian but also to
a lesser extent, Copts, Ethiopian
and Syrian Orthodox.
An expert of Church-State
relations in the Holy Land con-
modity’ for which you should al-
ways pay a fair price. However,
in order for this to be applied
to the whole of the Holy Sepul-
chre, specific agreements must
be reached between first among
the different users regarding
the splitting of costs for the con-
sumption of water in common
areas, and then you will have
to install separate water metres
so that it can be demanded that
each group of monks pay for
what they consume. In fact it is
a rather complex legal and tech-
nical transaction, which can be
addressed only by mutual agree-
India to celebrate revised Mass next year
MUMBAI, India, August 2, 2010—Indian
Catholics can expect a somewhat different
celebration of Mass next year when a revised
English text for the liturgy is put to use.
The Latin-rite bishops of India have “voted
to introduce” the revised liturgy from the first
Sunday of Advent 2011, Cardinal Oswald Gra-
cias of Bombay told ucanews.com.
The cardinal is a new appointee to the Vatican
office that overseas liturgical practices.
Pope Benedict XVI handed over the approved
revised English translation of the third edition
of the Roman Missal for use in the United States
and India on April 30, Cardinal Gracias said.
The prelate, who is president of both the Indian
bishops’ conference, said the new text would be
applicable to all English-speaking countries.
www.ucanews.com

Jordanian (1948-1967) and so far
the Israelis. But now Israeli mu-
nicipal authorities have stepped
up pressure and threats to cut off
water supplies unless a tax is paid,
not only in future but also for all
water supplied since 1967.
The revelations were made
to AsiaNews by sources in the
Basilica, who prefer not to be
identified in the hope that the city
authorities will have a change of
heart. The curious fact is that the
payment requests are directed to a
nonexistent entity, “the church of
tacted by AsiaNews, said: “The
question of paying for the past
use is clearly unfounded, be-
cause it was a conscious choice
and consistent political of all
the successive states that ruled
in Jerusalem both de facto and
de jure, to offer this courtesy to
those who officiate and those
visiting the Holy Sepulchre of
Our Lord Jesus Christ [and also
to many other churches in the
past]. As for the future, nobody
denies that nowadays the supply
of water could be seen as a ‘com-
ment and not to the sound of
threats and warnings, addressed
to nobody in particular”.
With some hesitation, the
scholar concludes: “But in the
end, is it worthwhile for the
Israeli authorities to remove an
appreciated courtesy practiced
by all other states that have con-
trolled the area? It’s likely that
whoever had this idea will now
have to consult with the Office of
the Prime Minister or the Foreign
Ministry to reach a more lenient
conclusion”. (AsiaNews)
Church leaders revised the text as the earlier
Missal was a “free translation” and lacked “fi-
delity to the original Latin” text, he said.
The 65-year-old prelate said he was a member
of the committee that studied the revision.
Some texts are “from the second, third and
fourth centuries” and some prayers are “for-
mulated by early saints,” he said.
“We did not want to lose the theological and
historical richness of early Church practices.”
The new version is “getting back to the roots
of our faith,” but is “certainly not an attempt
to hark back to the pre-Vatican II Latin Mass,”
he added.
Cardinal Oswald Gracias
The cardinal was appointed to the Congrega-
tion for Divine Worship and the Discipline of
the Sacraments on July 6.
He said the revision would not hinder incor-
porating local cultural elements such as music,
songs and dance in liturgical celebrations.
Local dance, music and other artforms have
been successfully introduced in the liturgy in
Africa, he said. (UCAN)
 News Features
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 16
August 2 - 15, 2010
A3

Church is young and joyful, says Pope

SONA lacks focus
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, July 30,
2010—After viewing a documentary
on the first five years of his pontificate,

on environmental
Benedict XVI noted that although the
Church experiences periods of crisis and
suffering, it remains joyful and young.

safeguards
After watching “Fünf Jahre Papst
Benedikt” (Five Years: Pope Benedict
XVI), a film produced by Bayerischer
Rundfunk, a public broadcaster in
Bavaria, Germany, the Pope thanked MANILA, July 30, 2010—For environ-
the filmmakers “for this extraordinary mental advocates, President Benigno
spiritual journey, which has enabled us Aquino’s first State of the Nation ad-
to relive and see again determinant and dress should have included specifics
culminating moments of these five years on how his government will work to
of my Petrine service and of the life of protect the nation’s ecology.
the Church herself.” Environmental group EcoWaste Co-
“It was for me personally very moving alition expressed their dissatisfaction on
to see some moments, above all the one Aquino’s SONA, saying it lacked focus
in which the Lord placed on my shoul- and did not have any concrete plans on
ders the Petrine service,” he continued. environmental safeguards.
“A weight that no one could carry by “Honestly speaking, we were dis-
himself with his limited strength, but mayed by the lack of focus on envi-
which can be carried because the Lord ronment as if Mother Nature does not
carries it and carries me. matter,” Roy Alvarez, president of
“It seems to me that in this film we EcoWaste Coalition said.
saw the richness of the life of the Church, “We share and support P-Noy’s drive
the multiplicity of cultures, of charisms, for a clean government but we could
of different gifts that live in the Church not help but wonder if environmental
and how in this multiplicity and great protection is in any way central to his
diversity the same one Church lives. crusade for change,” he added.

www.saidaonline.com
“And the Petrine primacy has this Alvarez also said Aquino has disre-
mandate to render the unity visible garded the basic ecological challenges
and concrete, in the historical, concrete being faced by the country particularly
multiplicity, in the unity of the present, the poor and the vulnerable communi-
past, future and the eternal.” (Zenit) ties.
The group particularly hoped that
Aquino has addressed his plans on

Cardinal Newman and Pope Benedict share

water crisis and ways to save Sierra
Madre and other watersheds as well
as the “biodiversity areas from log-
ging, mining and dumping activities

fight against relativism, writes Vatican expert on top of implementing rainwater

VATICAN City, July 28, 2010—Sim-
ilarities between the teachings of
Pope Benedict XVI and Cardinal
John Henry Newman are detailed
in Wednesday’s edition of Il Foglio.
According to the author, at least one
major element unites their thought
- their aversion to a relativistic so-
ciety.
Vatican expert Paolo Rodari exam-
ines the Pope’s interest in the soon-
to-be beatified English cardinal in an
article titled, “The fight against rela-
tivism of B-XVI is the same as New-
man’s one hundred years ago.”
The Il Foglio writer refers to the
impounding systems for farmers and
communities.”
They also expected Aquino to tackle
This, wrote Msgr. Strange, is a “not the issues on climate change; forest and
necessarily coincidental” link to Car- biodiversity demolition; marine pollu-
dinal Newman’s own premise of a tion; toxic chemicals; municipal solid
“simply non religious world.” waste; hazardous waste and such.
Relativism, explained Rodari, repre- For his part, Rei Panaligan, Coordi-
sents a “threat” for the Pope, “because nator of the EcoWaste Coalition, said
when truth is abandoned, freedom is Aquino will soon carry on the mistakes
also left behind... and it slides towards of the past administration that allowed
totalitarianism.” the destruction of the country’s ecosys-
In his book on Newman, Msgr. tems and remaining forests if he will not
Strange goes on to describe a further prioritize environmental protection.
occasion for comparison, when at a In their earlier statement, the eco
conference for the 100th anniversary of group has called on Aquino to give
Cardinal Newman’s death, “Ratzinger attention to Zero Waste and Chemical
makes reference to the link between Safety.
truth and personal conscience.” The Zero Waste and Chemical Safety
www.traditioninaction.org

argument of Msgr. Roderick Strange,
who in his “spiritual biography” of
Cardinal Newman, illustrates a mo-
ment when then-Cardinal Ratzinger
showed a “bond” with the founder
of the Birmingham Oratory.
Holding the floor before the Col-
lege of Cardinals on the eve of the
papal enclave in which he was
elected in 2005, Cardinal Ratzinger
spoke of the “dictatorship of relativ-
ism” threatening the world, in which
nothing is definite and the only thing
that remains is “oneself and one’s
desires.”
Newman, pointed out Cardinal Ratz-
inger, “taught that the conscience must
be nourished as a way of obedience to
objective truth.
“And Newman’s entire life witnesses
that conviction,” he said.
So, continued Msgr. Strange, during
World War II, the future Pope “experi-
enced what Newman had predicted: the
consequences of when revealed religion
is not recognized as true (and) objective,
but is considered as something private
from which the people might choose for
themselves whatever they like.”
Newman, concluded Rodari, went
“straight to the heart” of the issue when,
on being named cardinal in 1879, said
“Religious liberalism is the doctrine
according to which there doesn’t ex-
ist any positive truth in the religious
field, but that any creed is as good as
any other; and this is the doctrine that,
day after day, is acquiring consistency
includes the execution of ecological
solid waste management; recognition of
the informal waste sector in resource re-
covery and conservation; ban on plastic
bags, elimination of lead in paint, adop-
tion of pollution prevention and control
measures against mercury, polychlori-
and vigor. nated biphenyls (PCBs) and other toxic
“This position is incompatible substances,” the report affirmed.
with every recognition of a religion “The ban on aerial spraying of chemi-
as true.” cals in agriculture, and adoption of
And, as this worried Cardinal genuine climate-friendly adaptation
Newman, it also “worries Ratzinger and mitigation strategies, including
today,” concluded Rodari. (CNA/ “Zero Waste for Zero Warming” are
EWTN News) also part of the eco program,” the state-
ment declared. (Kate Laceda)

Vatican official urges Chinese clerics to Fisherfolks to block Laguna

continue promoting unity
VATICAN City, July 29, 2010—
The head of the Vatican’s mis-
sionary office urged bishops and
priests in China to live simply,
show kindness to all people and
continue working for the unity
of the Catholic community on
the mainland.
Cardinal Ivan Dias, prefect of
the Congregation for the Evan-
gelization of Peoples, wrote to
Chinese bishops and priests
July 5; the text of his letter was
released July 29 by Fides, the
congregation’s news agency.
Reflecting on the themes Pope
Benedict XVI highlighted during
the Year for Priests, which ended
in June, Cardinal Dias said bish-
ops and priests must remember
they are ministers of Christ and
his forgiveness, servants of all
people and promoters of the
unity of the church.
Promoting unity, he said, re-
quires both communion with the
pope and with other Catholics.
“We are all too aware of how
some of you suffered in the re-
cent past because of loyalty to
the Holy See,” he said. “The ex-
emplary and courageous loyalty
toward the See of Peter demon-
strated by Catholics in China is a
precious gift of the Lord.”
When China began suppress-
ing the church in the late 1950s, it
established the Chinese Catholic
Patriotic Association, whose
members initially were asked to
reject ties with the Vatican.
Catholics who refused to join
the patriotic association and
overtly maintained their loyalty
to the Vatican suffered decades
of persecution.
Being Catholic and obeying
the will of Christ that his follow-
ers be one means Catholics must
be in union with one another,
Cardinal Dias said.
“This important challenge you
are already tackling,” he said, as
bishops and priests try to promote
reconciliation between those who
practiced their faith clandestinely
and those who participated in of-
ficially sanctioned activities with
the patriotic association.
Cardinal Dias reminded the
bishops and priests of what Pope
Benedict said in his homily for the
June 29 feast of Sts. Peter and Paul
about attacks on the church and
persecution of Christians having a
long history, yet never being able
to defeat the church completely.
On the other hand, the car-
dinal said, the pope noted how
the church “is subjected to the
greatest danger by what pollutes
the faith and Christian life of her
members and communities.”
The pope said that “one of the
typical effects of the action of the
Evil One is, precisely, the inter-
nal division of the ecclesial com-
munity,” the cardinal wrote.
Cardinal Dias also urged each
Chinese bishop and priest to be a
man of prayer and simplicity and
to show special concern for the poor
and needy, including “sheep who do
not yet belong to his fold.” (CNS)
Lake’s ‘privatization’
ANTIPOLO City, July 23, 2010— alliance, Pambansang Lakas ng
Fisherfolks in the Laguna Lake Mamamalakaya sa Pilipinas,
had assailed the plans of having Inc. or Pamalakaya said if the
the lake “privatized,” saying government will allow Maynilad
they will do anything to block to develop the lake into a water
the attempt to make the 94,000- source, it would create a larger
hectare lake as water source for problem.
Metro Manila residents. “The idea is a crazy adventure
Proposals have been made to aimed to realize super profits
tap the lake in order to resolve under the guise of social welfare
“waterlessness” in Metro Manila but in reality are all about mo-
due to low water levels in Angat nopoly windfall at the expense of
Dam in Bulacan, the primary wa- people’s livelihood, welfare and
ter reservoir that supplies water the environment,” said Pamala-
to the residents of the National kaya National Chair Fernando
Capital Region. Hicap in an e-mail.
Fisherfolks fear the plan is yet Hicap said that the current
another scheme for profits by water crisis is not brought by
big water conglomerate, May- the lack of water itself, but the
nilad Water Services Inc., now privatization and mismanage-
being managed by the DMCI ment of water sources.
Holdings, Inc., a well-known “Let me state the fact: The wa-

Advocates score gov’t inaction on T’bolis’ plight

KORONADAL City, July 25,
2010—Indigenous peoples and
advocates have criticized the
government’s seeming indiffer-
ence on the plight of the T’bolis
in Barangay Ned, Lake Sebu.
Datu Victor Danyan, Chair-
person of the T’boli-Manubo
Sdaf Claimants Organization
(TAMASCO), speaking in the
dialect, said that “the govern-
ment is hurting us more by not
listening and respecting our
decisions not to allow mining
or any other so-called develop-
ment projects in our ancestral
land.”
Consunji-owned Silvicultural
Industries (SII) and San Miguel
Corporation have been encroach-
ing on the T’bolis’ ancestral do-
main for many years.
SII operates the Dawang Cof-
fee Plantation by virtue of its
Industrial Forest Management
Agreement (IFMA).
The Department of Environ-
ment and Natural Resources
(DENR) has awarded the IFMA
in 1992. It will expire on 2016.
Another Consunji owned
company has recently started
drilling activities for coal mining
within the ancestral territory of
the T’bolis.
As tension builds up because
of harassments from the com-
pany guards, Danyan decried
the government’s failure to act
on their behalf.
“This government is ramming
their version of development
into our throat despite our oppo-
sition, this is already too much”
he said.
“It seems that the government
finds it difficult to respect the
decision of the community not
to allow the Consunjis and San
Miguel Corporation to mine
their ancestral domains,” said
Sister Susan Bolanio, OND of
HESED Foundation.
The indigenous advocates
called on the Aquino govern-
ment to respect the decision of
TAMASCO.
“For the T’bolis the coal min-
ing projects are unacceptable
and detrimental to their lives
and livelihoods. We are sad-
dened by the fact that the gov-
ernment is quick at fast tracking
large-scale extractive projects but
[slow in] attending to the needs
of the indigenous peoples,” said
Rosalinda Latonio of LRC-KsK/
FoE Phils.
Danyan lamented that “for 18
years, we have been respectful of
various government programs
like appropriating our ancestral
lands into an Agrarian Reform
area despite our objection.”
He said their community al-
lowed the lands to be appropri-
ated for agrarian reform despite
their objection “just so we may
have peace in our ancestral
territories.”(CBCPNews)
construction and development ter problem manifested by water
company. rationing in Metro Manila has
Department of Public Works been there since time immemo-
and Highways (DPWH) Secre- rial; it was further aggravated
tary Rogelio Singson said that the when water concessionaires took
government is considering Lagu- over the operations of the water
na Lake as an alternative source utilities that only rake profits but
of water, along with Marikina cannot improve their services,”
and Pampanga Rivers to address Hicap said.
the water crisis and mitigate the Hicap and his colleagues said
impacts of the El Niño. that if LLDA and the DPWH
Laguna Lake Development will push the idea, they are cul-
Authority (LLDA) general man- pable of violating the laws on
ager Edgar Manda, meanwhile the environment and the LLDA
said, his agency is open to the mandate itself.
idea and even said that the Lo- “Although the LLDA is autho-
pez owned Maynilad Water Ser- rized under Republic Act 4850
vices Incorporated could utilize to issue permits for the use and
its water treatment facilities to be abstraction of lake water,” Hicap
able to get at least 50,000 million explains, “it is not authorized to
liters per day. perform acts that are deemed
However, the Save the Laguna to destroy the ecological bal-
Lake Movement (SLLM), con- ance and very nature of Laguna
vened by the militant fisherfolk Lake.” (Noel Sales Barcelona)
 A4 Opinion CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 16
August 2 - 15, 2010

EDITORIAL

State of the nation

THIS time the State of the Nation Address was different. It was a far
cry from the SONAs of paper boats, super maids and super regions,
strong republic and the “ramdam ang kaulanran” sort of crap. But
President Benigno Aquino III somehow unfurled a more honest state
of the nation—a nation in shambles if only because of leaders who
were more engrossed with party politics and self-aggrandizement than
concerned about the welfare of the country and the common good.
After nine years of being bamboozled with empty rhetoric, the SONA this
time seemed a relief. It actually feels comfortable to get one’s haunches
finally substantiated with honest declarations. Every barber in town knew
that there was something fishy with rice importations (that crippled local
agriculture) or the fraudulent extravagance of government officials. But
to be told with sincerity that the government imported rice 10 times or so
over the necessary was like earning a sense of victory. And no amount
of justifications from apologists of the previous administration can
deodorize the foul odor of corruption. (The argument that importing so
much rice just to be abandoned to rot in NFA warehouses was a policy
decision does not make it neither reasonable nor sane—except, perhaps,
for reasons that the past dispensation had been overly infamous of.)
The profligacy of MWSS big bosses and of other government owned and
controlled corporations smacks of plunder so subtle yet so detrimental. This
was the “kalakaran” that characterized the past administration; that was
why even the lowly director of a GOCC didn’t have qualms receiving 20th
month pay or flashy cars over and above the regular perks and under the
table SOPs knowing that the queen herself did not even blink in tendering
a “simple” $20,000 meal in Manhattan’s Le Cirque while more than half
of the Philippine population was gnawing in pangs of hunger. For some, it
sounded like Emperor Nero playing the fiddle while Rome was burning.

Illustration by Bladimer Usi

That somewhere over half of the calamity fund for the current fiscal
year has been shamelessly siphoned to a few districts in Pampanga
before the elections rather than disbursed to provinces that were
real victims of past calamities is more catastrophic. But even that is
only the tip of the iceberg. By the looks of it, there should be more
anomalous transactions, which can be thievery pure and simple, if only
the Ombudsman must be ombudsman enough to side with the truth and
the Filipino people. In fact, the upcoming Truth Commission should
be superfluous in a government structure designed to plug every bit
Oscar V. Cruz, DD
of leak incumbent in democratic governance.
For sure, six years of presidency will not allow the Aquino government to
Justice system in the
accomplish so much. But that is irrelevant for now. What is of consequence
is that the Filipino people have found spaces for hope and some reasons
to unshackle their dreams after many years of wasteland.
Views and Points Philippines
HERE is an interesting thesis that tal causal origin. So too, think precious blessings brought about tions, inclusive of innumerable
On organ donation, sale those in the Executive Depart- of really big time crooks freely by social justice. Come to think unsolicited pieces of advice—is
ment of the present administra- roaming around and enjoying of it, it is morally impossible unconditionally committed to its
tion might want to seriously their decadent lives, remember to find anything really good or battle cry of principled policies
HUMAN organ transplantation gives new hope, particularly to patients consider and thereafter decidedly infamous professional thieves truly right when injustice is an and upright governance, it stands
with end stage diseases, to recover and regain an acceptable and decent act upon. This proposed agen- proudly displaying their stink- element thereof. Thus: Unjust to reason that its over-all national
lifestyle. It provides a better quality of life compared with alternative dum can neither be irrelevant nor ing stolen wealth and throwing “honesty” or “truthfulness.” plan of action cannot but have as
expensive and exorbitant medical interventions (e.g., renal dialysis).
Human organ transplantation, however, cannot be separated from the vain—considering that this coun- their sordid weight around, Unjust “generosity” or “be- its cornerstone and priority mis-
human act of donation. John Paul II states that “It is a decision to offer, try is at the bottom of develop- bring to mind high ranking nevolence.” Unjust “integrity” sion, none other than a consistent,
without reward, a part of one’s own body for the health and well-being mental possibilities in Asia, and politicians infamous for their or “probity.” None of these serious and operative Justice
of another person. In this sense, the medical action of transplantation that millions of its people have to heinous graft and corrupt prac- make sense. On the other hand, System all over the country. And
makes possible the donor’s act of self-giving, that sincere gift of self leave behind their dear families, tices yet still manage to com- everything that is objectively the rest of what is basically good,
which expresses our constitutive calling to love and communion.” only to earn a living abroad. mand the adulation of certain good and realistically right, right and fair for the Philippines
(John Paul II, 20 June 1991, no. 3) In other words, mention any people—and you find systemic cannot but incorporate justice and the Filipinos, simply follow
political errancy or any social injustice in the country as their as a constituent factor thereof. as a matter of course.
The same act, however, can also be abused and exploited usually at the
expense of the economically poor. The lack of access to renal care and malady in the Philippines, say common premise. Thus: Just worth or merit. Just Thus: Away with untouch-
the non-affordability of a life-long dialysis increase the demand for any public misery or economic This is in no way over-stating profitability or liberality. Just ables! Away with those above
organ donors. In spite of the prohibition for health care professionals malediction of the Filipinos as a the inherent deadly significance advantage or win. the law! Away with justice only
and facilities, there is an increasing organ sale, especially of kidneys, people, and at the bottom thereof and consequent fatal implica- In the event that the new for the poor, the ignorant, the
a practice that is perhaps apparently permitted by some physicians, is readily found a dysfunctional tions of injustice in society vis- administration—swamped by little people. Justice for all or
Kidney Transplant Teams, and hospital authorities. There are even some justice system as its fundamen- à-vis the good fortune and the so many propositions, sugges- none at all!
currents in the Philippines who are advocating a change in policies
and guidelines to open the door to incentives for organ donors and,
even perhaps, to compensation. Sr. Mary Pilar Verzosa, RGS
We understand the poor and they should not be blamed. There are other
ways to help them but not through organ sale. They are human beings
and cannot be treated as commodities. We encourage voluntary organ
donation from cadavers and also from living donors. We condemn any
My first trip to Taytay Love Life
form of organ sale and organ trade.
Human organ sale or trade, by its very nature is morally unacceptable.
It is contrary to the dignity of the human person, his or her authentic WHENEVER I talk of Taytay, many Metro ply to Baguio or Batangas where video or they do each day and symbolize that with a
autonomy and the essential equality of all persons. The dignity of the Manila residents think I am referring to the rock music would be playing all through- coin, even five or ten cents if they can’t give
human person as the image of God includes not only his or her soul town in Rizal Province, next to Antipolo out the trip. It was a beautiful time to pray the twenty-five centavos daily. The parish-
but his or her corporeal being. Hence, our body ought not to be treated and Cainta. Very few have heard of that far and commune with nature as we zigzagged ioners and students have to be told also of
as a commodity or object of commerce, which would amount to the away town in Northern Palawan. Just about through the low mountains and viewed the the many projects for the poor that Pondo
dispossession or plundering of the human body. five years ago, it was named the Apostolic lovely beaches. has been funding these past six years, not
We, therefore, ask the government to continue its program towards Vicariate of Taytay with Bishop Edgardo We were met by Bishop Juanich himself only in member dioceses but also in very
holistic program of gathering and distributing donated organs. We raise Juanich as its first Bishop. It has 26 parishes, at the Vicariate Pastoral Center where 28 of poor provinces that have applied for funds.
our voice against those who are involved in organ trafficking. many of them located in islands, the more his priests were gathered for their tri-annual In Palawan itself, we have helped set up
popular ones among them are Coron and assembly. We learned that some of them many artesian wells, a water system in its
We recommend that a stricter law against those involved in the Culion as they boast of beach resorts and had travelled 14 hours by boat coming from most southern island, many micro-financing
commercialization or selling of organs be enacted and implemented programs, and educational assistance to the
deep sea diving facilities. their parishes in order to attend the meeting.
without discrimination.
I was scheduled to go there last June Some islands are even closer to Mindoro or poor students in Macarascas, the former
A just allocation of the scarce organ donor should be safeguarded. Scarce 14 with the staff of Hapag-Asa, Pondo ng Antique than to the mainland of Palawan! parish of Fr. Broderick Pabillo, SDB, now
organ donors should be made available first to the local recipients. A Pinoy. Typhoon Basyang grounded all After a brief rest, we were escorted to see the Auxiliary Bishop of Manila. The priests
strict limit on allocation should be set for foreign recipients. flights that morning. Thanks to the persis- Fuerza Sta. Isabel, one of the last standing asked a lot of questions on how to apply for
tence of Finda Lacanlalay and Magine Giron, Spanish forts in our country. It is well main- funds too.
We call for the education of our people especially with regards to organ
donation. The physician or medical professional has the sublime duty to we were able to leave as chance passengers, tained and ideally located between the two My talk was followed by the presentation
supply the possible candidates for organ donation with all the necessary late in the afternoon of that same day for “pantalans” or piers for fishing boats and of Finda and Magine on Hapag-Asa. They
information to help them make an informed consent. Puerto Princesa. The very next day, we got ships that go to the different islands. showed statistics on the severity of malnu-
into a van and travelled five hours to Taytay. The next day, I spoke to the priests on trition of 8 million children in our country.
Though professional competency is necessary in order to care for those The trip was not as bad as we were warned. Pondo ng Pinoy, challenging them to inte- Hapag-Asa has so far been able to improve
who are sick and in need of medical care, it is nevertheless insufficient. In fact, it was smooth, paved roads all the grate the education program into the BEC, or rehabilitate 500,000 children. Without
Pope Benedict XVI reminds us that: “We are dealing with human way to Roxas, two hours away, and were Catechetical, and Christian Living Classe upgrading their nutrition and health, these
beings, and human beings always need something more than technically
it not for the construction of the roads that s in schools and parish organizations. Many children will grow up with low intelligence
proper care. They need humanity. They need heartfelt concern… these
charity workers need a ‘formation of heart’; they need to be led to that forced the van to ride through deep mud of them thought that Pondo was only a fund and capacity to be productive citizens of our
encounter with God in Christ which awakens their love and opens their next to dangerous ravines, we would have raising activity so they were excited when country. We could tell that the priests were
spirits to others.”(Deus Caritas Est, 31 § 2.) arrived in Taytay in an hour. The trip was I explained to them how teaching people mentally planning already how and when
pleasant and quiet, unlike the buses that to be aware of every little good deed that Love life / A5
–CBCP Statement on Organ Donation Against Organ Sale, 2008

Fr. Carmelo O. Diola, SSL

www.cbcpmonitor.com
Lost and found
Spaces of Hope
cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net

WE lost two pets, a kitten and Wanda was missing. chair. I called out her name but Shortly, she came back with the
a puppy, in a span of 24 hours. We cried out her name and there was no answer. I searched good news that Wanda was just
They were also found in the searched for her but she could not but could not find her. After an inside the cabinet supporting
same space of time. be found. Alas, we thought that hour, I finally found her inside our photocopying machine. The
Our kitten’s name is Wanda maybe the poor cat had found an the wooden drawer of my bed. cat had sneaked in when it was
Pedro C. Quitorio Kris P. Bayos and she has been with us for near- opening to the outside world while It had enough of an opening to opened and remained inside.
Editor-in-Chief Features Editor ly a month now. She actually has a we were busy cleaning the office. let in the creature. She was there, Was Wangwang signaling to
sister named Tasha who has been We decided to let the night pass. her chocolate fur blending with me the whereabouts of Wanda?
Pinky Barrientos, FSP Gloria Fernando with us for about two months. Al- Perhaps she will just return. the dark corner of the cabinet. Perhaps this is reading too much
Associate Editor Marketing Supervisor though they are siblings, Wanda is The following day I was in I felt Wangwang had an even into it. Nevertheless these series
much smaller and with a different my room with Wangwang, our greater flush of victory. of seemingly unrelated events
Melo M. Acuña Ernani M. Ramos mien. She has big eyes and a more 2-month old puppy. I decided to Soon I was back at our office has given me a glimpse of how
Managing Editor Circulation Manager rounded face. Tasha is bigger and play a game on her by going up for our weekly staff meeting. the different layers of vital ener-
LAYOUT BY KRIS BAYOS

Roy Q. Lagarde has a more feline look. Both cats a small mezzanine floor in my We were discussing the loss of gies are somehow connected. We
Marcelita Dominguez
News Editor Comptroller do rodent control. room where I have my library. Wanda, when I mentioned about are lost and found depending on
We recently did a general I felt a flush of victory when the my game with Wangwang. Then how we take care of and nurture
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the CBCP Communica- clean-up at our office. By the dog did not know where I was. someone said: “Maybe the kit- life wherever it may be found.
tions Development Foundation, Inc., with editorial and business offices time the clean-up ended, we I came down after a minute or ten is inside a cabinet, similar to It is not a bad reflection to
at 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila. P.O. Box 3601, 1076 MCPO. had become “persona non grata” so and sat on my rocking chair. what happened to the puppy.” start the week with, even as more
Editorial: (063) 404-2182. Business: (063)404-1612.; ISSN 1908-2940 to the local roach and rodent All the while I thought that the Immediately someone was dis- macro concerns are tackled in the
population. We also noticed that dog was just underneath the patched to look into these places. SONA of our new president.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 16
August 2 - 15, 2010
Opinion A5
Fr. Roy Cimagala
Gospel should cruise Commentary
Candidly Speaking social media Miriam Grossman

“WOE to me if I do not preach the Gospel.” (1
Cor 9,16) This was the cry of St. Paul convey-
ing his burning desire to transmit the Good
News to the early Christians.
It’s a cry that also has to spring in each one
of us, Christian believers, who now partici-
pate in the abiding function of preaching and
teaching the word of God according to our
personal circumstances.
God’s word, let’s remind ourselves, is the
original and ultimate word that should inspire
every word we use in our communications.
It’s what gives our word its soul, enabling it
to acquire its supernatural quality, regardless
of whether it is literary, technical, legalistic,
conversational, etc. in its human usage.
God’s word is a way to connect us and ev-
erything that we think, say and do to God. It’s
always relevant. In fact, it is indispensable, oth-
erwise our life will stray from its proper path.
It should always be in our mind and heart,
acting as a kind of leaven to our word so that
our word’s practical human use can acquire
a certain spiritual and supernatural value,
enlightening and redemptive in character.
We need to be clear about the relationship
between God’s word and our word, between
God’s word and our life. Perhaps this is the
crucial point we need to work on first, before
we proceed with our communications.
With the advent of the computer and the whole
range of digital and electronic technology, this cry of
St. Paul, and hopefully ours too, finds a most auspi-
cious vehicle to expand its reach and scope.
P-Noy’s path to good
Besides, with the way these technologies are
affecting people’s lives, it’s clear that an abiding
and adequate evangelization in that field is an
urgent must. Otherwise, they will just decline
to all sorts of bad effects and influences.
It’s good that in this regard the American
bishops are pioneering the way and are open-
ing frontiers. Recently, they came out with a
document on social media guidelines that for
sure will be helpful to all Christian believers
trying to get involved in the evangelization of
this vast, exciting world of social media.
It bats for greater visibility of the gospel mes-
sage in the social media, as well as favorable
manners to build stronger sense of community
among ourselves. It also recommends efforts
at accountability, so our postings can really be
responsible and therefore defensible.
The gospel has to be presented in such a
way that it retains its original forcefulness
and meaning while adapting to the evolving
issues at hand. It should be in a language not
only understandable but also attractive and
engaging to the intended audience.
Highly interactive, the social media has
to be handled with extreme prudence and
powerful magnanimity and nobleness of
heart. Otherwise, one can easily founder in
its many delicate, tricky spots.
It’s important that one assumes a very posi-
tive outlook toward the social media, not easily
bogged down by the many dangers it poses
and the other negative traits it possesses.
He has to be very broad-minded, with a
Jose B. Lugay
universal grasp of things, knowing how to
stick to what is essential and how to deal with
the merely incidental. In the social media,
one is bound to see a spill of tactlessness,
inanities, narcissism, etc. One simply has to be
above this level, while respecting each one’s
idiosyncracies.
He has to be sharply and quickly discern-
ing in his judgments, knowing what to pick
up and what to disregard with respect to
the different views expressed. Thus, having
clear criteria is required. He should be good
in cruising the complicated field.
No doubt, a high level of spirituality is
needed here, otherwise one ends up getting
entangled in petty quarrels and animosities
and other worse predicaments.
As St. Paul said, “The spiritual man judges all
things, and he himself is judged by no man…”
(1 Cor 2,15) These words may not sit well with
those with no faith or with weak faith. But this
is just how the cookie crumbles.
In terms of expression, one has to be both
natural and supernatural, mastering the art
of political correctness as well as that of holy
shamelessness when it is precisely needed.
He has to know how to enter into the mind
and heart of the people.
That’s why, one really has to be properly
formed before he enters into the social media
and hope to contribute to the effort to evan-
gelize it. The most effective evangelizer is one
who manages to transmit the gospel message
without being noticed.
Teach my child that,
and you’ll be sorry
SEX education for tots is in the headlines. Last month it was
a policy in Provincetown, Massachusetts making condoms
available to first graders. Student requests were to be kept
secret and parents’ objections ignored.
Now the news is from Montana. If the Helena school district
has its way, kindergarteners will learn about “reproductive
body parts”: the penis, vagina, breast, nipples, testicles, scro-
tum, and uterus. Ten year olds will be taught that “sexual
intercourse includes but is not limited to vaginal, oral, or anal
penetration”. Two years later they will discover this may in-
volve “the penis, fingers, tongue or objects”.
Have these people lost their minds? To the contrary. All
these maneuvers are entirely consistent with the sex educa-
tion programs supported by President Obama. Moreover, the
administration would like taxpayers to fund their export to
the rest of the world.
Who came up with the notion that it’s necessary to teach the
world’s children about high risk sex acts their parents never
heard of? The usual suspects: Planned Parenthood and the
Sexuality Education and Information Council of the United
States (SEICUS, a private organization). These groups portray
themselves as guardians of our children’s health; they claim
to provide students with all the information and skills they
need to make smart choices. Their curricula, they declare, are
comprehensive, age appropriate, ideologically neutral, and
medically accurate. They give children the same message as
parents: you’re too young—wait until you’re older.
If only it was so. The priority of this industry is not sexual
health, but sexual freedom. Their objective is not for students
to delay sexual behavior and remain free of infection, but for
them to be open, from a tender age, to just about any form of
sexual activity.
Let’s get this straight. There is no evidence that knowing

governance
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino’s
State of the Nation address was
less than 40 minutes. However it
gave the people what they were
hoping for—a new path to good
governance. Speaking in Filipino,
he articulated what he found in
the coffers of government within
three weeks after his oath-taking.
Of the budget allocation of P1.43
trillion for the year 2010, what
remains is one percent for each of
the remaining months of the fiscal
year. The deficit after six months
has reached P196 billion while
the government’s collection was
a measly P58.3 billion. Of the P1.4
billion allotted as calamity fund,
70% was already spent, P108 mil-
lion allocated for Pampanga and
of this amount, P105 million was
for one district only. Pangasinan
waited for their calamity funds to
repair the damage of last year’s
typhoon. It was recently allocated
only P5 million. You do not have
to guess for whose district in Pam-
panga received the windfall!
The President’s men, to get
the data for the SONA, used
the problem solving approach
which consists of the following
steps: First, get the data of the
current state of the problem.
Second, identify what would
be the possible causes of the
problem—is it system-related,
person-related or quality-relat-
ed? Third, what are the possible
action plans that will lead to
the solution to the problem?
P-Noy’s SONA gives details of
problem identification in the
financial situation of the country.
It identifies one of the causes of
the nation’s financial problem is
the system of governance of the
Brian Caulfield
previous administration.
Under the Chief Executive’s
responsibility are the Govern-
ment Operated and Controlled
Corporations (GOCC), and the
Government Financial Institu-
tions (GFI). President Aquino
cited an example of abuse of
the use of people’s money by a
GOCC, the Manila Water and
Sewerage System, (MWSS). In
his SONA, the President zeroed
in on the Board of Trustees of the
MWSS. His exposé of the Board’s
abuse of power in governance
is made more bitter for our
people in 19 districts of Metro
Manila who were still getting
pails of water from fire trucks
due to the critically low water
level of Angat dam. Who did
the people blame for this water
crisis? MWSS of course! As they
listened to P-Noy’s SONA, they
were dismayed to learn that the
MWSS Board of Trustees allo-
cated for themselves P14 million
of bonuses for the year to include
grocery incentives, mid-year
bonus, productivity bonus, year-
end bonus and Christmas bonus!
To add to the people’s dismay,
the President revealed that the
MWSS has not yet paid the pen-
sion of their employee retirees!
Other horror stories include
anomalies in DPWH projects. Of
P 425 million allocated from the
road users’ tax for 264 projects
only 84 projects were completed.
Worse was the discovery of
DPWH allotment worth P3.5 bil-
lion supposedly for the housing
of victims of Ondoy and Pepeng,
but signed only 5 days before the
end of the term of the previous
administration. What struck
Laiko Lampstand
directly to the heart of the poor
was the huge purchases of NFA
rice at very high prices, allegedly
to provide for the coming rice
crisis due to La Nina. Inspection
of the warehouses from North
to South confirmed the grim
effects of errors of governance
in procurement—warehouses
containing rice stocks that were
deteriorating. NFA relied on
bloated statistics which with
more study and care could have
prevented the largest importa-
tion of rice in the world! Al-
though denied by previous DA
Secretary Yap, people believe
that the motivation of the impor-
tation is the kickback, the “tong
pats” that the decision makers
would receive. It is a shame
that the Philippines which has
been chosen as the site for the
International Rice and Research
Institute (IRRI) has still not suc-
ceeded in being a rice exporting
country. Our Asian neighbors,
Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar all
sent their rice technologists to be
trained in Los Baños.
With 85% agreement of P-
Noy’s SONA by the masa, can we
see the bright future of improved
governance that would lead to
the common good in the areas of
education, health, economy, jobs
for the jobless, climate change
mitigation and adaptation, and
peace among our people? Much
is demanded by the people and
much is expected from Presi-
dent Aquino. There is a brighter
prospect of attaining success with
the involvement of the citizens,
young and old, tech-savvy and
traditional in supporting the
governance of President Aquino.
Family is key to the
He projects sincerity, honesty
and integrity and we pray it will
stay that way. People are willing
to run the extra mile specially
those who are members of advo-
cacy groups. Much is expected
from the new Communications
Group who will be using the lat-
est communication technology to
provide constant feedback from
concerned citizens. Their new
organization separating the dis-
semination of presidential direc-
tives from the citizens’ complaint
and feedback using the latest
computer technology, augurs
well for better understanding
between the President and the
public.
All these moves need money.
That is why let us give President
Benigno Aquino our support to
his plan to improve the income
generation of the country not
only from traditional sources
like taxes and customs duties
but also from innovative invest-
ments together with the private
sector. Local government units
need to generate more income
hence there is no room for cor-
ruption especially in the use of
internal revenue allotments that
they get according to law. The
chance to get involved by every
citizen who loves this country
comes during the barangay elec-
tions scheduled on October 25,
our chance to elect dedicated lay
people. Let us support this great
movement to solve the problems
of governance of this country.
This is a call to all Catholics
wherever they are, in govern-
ment, in advocacy groups in the
dioceses and parishes and in the
Basic Ecclesial Communities.
the anatomy of male and female genitalia is vital to the well-
being of young children. And the “one size fits all” approach,
mandating that children learn about intercourse or same sex
attraction at a particular age, is contrary to the principles of
child development.
Children are not miniature adults. Introducing them to new
information that cannot be easily assimilated can be distress-
ing. A young child has his own theories about where babies
come from, based on what he already knows; he may think his
sibling came from a store or the hospital, or that his mother
consumed some particular food or drink.
There’s nothing wrong with that. “Parents should respond
to the needs and curiosity level of their individual child”, says
the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,
“offering no more or less information than their child is asking
for and is able to understand”. In other words, let him be.
The sex ed oligarchy ignores this wisdom. And while insist-
ing that first graders be taught “human beings can love people
of the same gender and people of another gender”, and expect-
ing third graders to “define HIV/AIDS”, these “experts” omit
critical biological facts from the one group that actually needs
sex education: adolescents.
Among other things, middle and high school students are
not taught that:
* Intimate behavior causes the release of a brain chemical
that promotes feelings of attachment and trust, even if you
are with a stranger;
* A girl’s immature cervix increases her vulnerability to
genital infections. HIV aside, girls and women carry 80% of the
burden of negative consequences from early sexual behavior
and multiple partners;
* Faeces are filled with dangerous pathogens. Oral-anal
contact is associated with serious infectious diseases such as
salmonella, shigella, and hepatitis A, B, and C;
* The physiology and anatomy of the anus is vastly differ-
ent from the vagina. Regarding HIV transmission, anal inter-
course is at least twenty times more dangerous than vaginal
intercourse;
* As stated on condom wrappers, breakage is more likely to
occur during anal intercourse;
How do “comprehensive” sex educators justify the omission
of these life-saving facts? How do they boldly claim that their
curricula are medically accurate, and their sole priority the
health of children? I don’t know about Montana, but where I
come from, that’s called chutzpah.
The administration wants to see programs like Helena’s go
global. This year, thirty-nine House democrats introduced
H.R. 5121, the Global Sexual and Reproductive Health Act of
2010. It calls for comprehensive sex education in developing
countries using US taxpayer funds.
How do we fight this madness? Like hundreds of parents,
grandparents, teachers, and clergy in Helena are—by stand-
ing up publicly and insisting that sex education, like all health
matters, be based on biological truths, not social agendas.
By reminding authorities that this is a war against disease,
not social injustice. And by proclaiming loud and clear: “my

Half a World Away future child’s innocence is precious. You try and take that away, and
you’ll be sorry.”

(Miriam Grossman, MD is a child, adolescent and adult psy-

THE family is at the center of God’s plan for
the Church and the world. In the creation of
the world, God planned that the relation-
ship of man and woman, husband and wife,
would be the most basic social unit, which
would be crowned by the gift of children
within the structure of a family.
Try as we may in this postmodern, post-
Christian, post-common-sense culture, there
is nothing that can take the place of the fam-
ily as the ideal setting for love between a man
and a woman and the begetting and rearing
of children. There are other arrangements
that are made out of necessity, in some cases,
but there are no substitutes for the family.
It was so refreshing to hear this common-
sense yet increasingly rare message stated
in so many ways by so many speakers
last week at the annual conference of the
National Association of Catholic Family
Life Ministers (NACFLM), held at Xavier
University in Cincinnati. I attended as one
of the 40-plus exhibitors, with the Fathers
for Good display, and was privileged to sit
in on the proceedings.
Matthew Kelly, the high-energy Aussie
and author of a boatload of great books on
Catholic themes, set the pace for the confer-
ence with his Thursday evening keynote. He
pulled no punches: the Church in America is
at a crisis point, and what the Catholic hier-
archy, clergy, leaders and laypeople do and
decide in these days will determine for a long
time whether the Church will grow outward
in evangelization or fold into itself.
He said that nothing short than a bold
pastoral plan will overcome the scars from
the sexual scandals and the infectious influ-
ence of secular consumerism that draws
imagination and resources away from the
pursuit of virtue and other spiritual realities.
The next generation in the Church is woe-
fully deficient in knowledge and interest in
the faith, and we better act soon if we are to
capture them for Christ before they exit the
doors into young adulthood. So said Mat-
thew Kelly.
The U.S. bishops are doing an admirable
job of piecing together the pastoral program
needed to reach the hearts of the people,
young and old. They have placed support
of family life and defense of marriage at
the heart of their pastoral initiatives. And
they are doing so in a doctrinally sound
and socially astute manner, drawing on the
wisdom of John Paul II’s Theology of the
Body, as well as the timeless truths found
in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, in
presenting the teachings of the Church in a
modern and accessible manner.
“What Have You Done for Your Mar-
riage?”, “Marriage: Unique for a Reason,”
“God Has a Plan for Your Marriage.” These
are all taglines and concepts that the bishops
are using to push the message forward.
The key element, the exciting counterpart,
is that the bishops have a cadre of ground
troops, active and informed laypeople, to
carry the message into the larger society—
into the family, the workplace, the highways
and byways of culture and sports and places
where people meet and exchange experi-
ences and ideas. Some of those laypeople
were at the conference, as diocesan and
parish leaders, and some of their children
were with them.
They may be a small and non-represen-
tative minority of Catholics, but they are
people in possession of an idea, and know
they have the truth to share. Dr. Jennifer
Morse Roback, who runs the cutting-edge
Ruth Institute in defense of marriage, in-
sisted repeatedly in her talk that Catholics
have the benefit of knowing the truth, and
they should be anxious to share it out of love
and compassion for their neighbors.
I am confident and hopeful about the
days ahead for the Catholic Church in
America. There is a flicker of light on the
horizon, rising at the NACFLM conference.
That light is Christ, reflected in the fidelity
of his people, and the darkness shall not
overcome it.
chiatrist and the author of “You’re Teaching My Child What? A
Physician Exposes the Lies of Sex Education and How They Harm
Your Child” (Regnery). This is published upon special arrangement
with MercatorNet.)
Lovelife / A4
to invite the team again to give mented past projects.
training so that Hapag-Asa can You can’t leave Palawan with-
be implemented immediately in out a taste of their fresh prawns,
their areas. fish, squid and other sea foods—
Right after our presentations, dinner all laid out by Bishop
we returned to Puerto Princesa Arigo, while he discussed with
to confer this time with Bishop us other issues such as the prob-
Pedro Arigo and the Pondo ng lems with the mining companies
Pinoy team—Fr. Camilo Caabay and the Malampaya gas project
and Tonton Badilla. Fr. Pipes, that bring in billions of dollar
head of the Social Action Min- profit to Shell while Palawan
istry and Sophia, in charge of people continue to live in pov-
the Hapag-Asa program, were erty. Conversations always end
also there. They expressed the with hopes that the new political
eagerness of the priests to sub- governance will not be as abu-
mit projects but the allocation sive as the past ones.
of funds does not seem to be The emerald island of Pala-
enough for the year, a need that wan is a dream place for many
I was requested to raise up at tourists. It will be such a pity
our next Pondo ng Pinoy Board if much of the virgin forests
meeting. And that I will gladly and crystal clear waters will
do, knowing how committed be ravaged by materialism and
and efficiently they have imple- corruption.
 Local News
CBCP Monitor
A6 Vol. 14 No. 16
August 2 - 15, 2010

Parents drop lawsuit vs sex education

A GROUP of Catholic parents who filed
a class suit against the Department of
Education over a sex education program
in public elementary and high schools
have withdrawn the case.
Jo Imbong, the parents’ lawyer, said
they decided to drop the case against
former Education Secretary Mona since
she no longer heads the agency.
“She is no longer the secretary so the most
reasonable thing to do is to substitute her
with the new secretary,” Imbong said.
But the lawyer said they cannot substi-
tute the new education chief, Bro. Armin
Luistro, as respondent since he “has not
openly endorsed” the sex education pro-
gram and assured to review it instead.
“He promised he will examine the sex
education modules,” she said. “We will
give him more space to do that.”
The lawyer added that should Luistro
pursue the current module, her group
would revive the lawsuit “without
prejudice”.
Imbong also serves as lawyer for the
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP) who continues to
lobby against the program.
The bishops claimed that the govern-
ment’s sex education program “further
highlights and fortifies the concept that
contraceptives provide safe and satisfy-
ing sex.”
They also clarified that the Church is
not against sex education per se “but for
reasons of morality and religious faith,
we strongly object to the proposed sex
education program.”
The CBCP insisted that sex education
should take place at home by parents
and not in school. (CBCPNews)
Groups to barangay heads: Adopt waste management
ENVIRONMENTATISTS called on level through recycling and compost- residents to promote ecological values, recycling knowhow,” Calonzo
all barangay officials to lead their ing. conserve resources, stop the discharge added.
constituents in mitigating the effects Roy Alvarez, president of EcoWaste of climate damaging pollutants and According to GAIA, the public
of climate change by adopting a zero Coalition said that local leaders can save boost local economies,” said GAIA can achieve Zero Waste by reduc-
waste resource management. a lot of public funds by embracing the Coordinator Manny Calonzo. ing waste disposal in landfills and
Around 42,000 barangay officials principles of Zero Waste management. Calonzo urged the barangay lead- incinerators to zero; investing in
have gathered recently at the SM “By embracing Zero Waste principles ers to show their leadership skills by reuse, recycling and composting
Mall of Asia Convention Center in and implementing changes, they have implementing the principles of waste jobs and infrastructure; requiring
Pasay City for the Third National saved scarce public funds from being management in their areas, and thus that products are made to be non-
Convention of the Liga ng mga Ba- spent for expensive haul-dump-burn “prevent and reduce waste, recycle toxic and recyclable; ensuring that
rangay sa Pilipinas (LBP). waste disposal scheme,” he said. materials safely back into nature and manufacturers of products assume
The EcoWaste Coalition and the It is also the most practical and least the economy, and cut dependency on full social and environmental costs
Global Alliance for Incinerator expensive solution to the problem landfills and incinerators.” of what they produce; ensuring
Alternatives (GAIA) appealed to of pollution that aggravates climate “Recognizing the essential role of the that industries reuse materials and
the local leaders to transform their change, the groups explained. informal waste sector such as the waste respect worker and community
respective barangays into a “healthy “Zero Waste is the most practical pickers will further help the communi- rights; and preventing waste and
and climate-friendly havens” by community action that can be under- ties in achieving even higher waste reducing unnecessary consumption.
eliminating waste to the minimum taken by the barangay councils and diversion results given their immense (CBCPNews)
Philhealth coverage for all Filipinos possible—bishop
MANILA Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo believed attention to this project for the welfare of the Filipino However, Pabillo said Aquino has failed to present
that the assurance of Philhealth coverage for all Fili- people. his plans on the Freedom of Information (FOI).
pinos made by President Benigno Aquino III during “Sana pansinin yan para maramdaman ng mga tao “Sana ang inaasahan ko rin sa kanya ay ang mga
his State of the Nation Address (SONA) yesterday is na may nangyayari para sa kanila,” Pabillo said. bills na kanyang isusulong tulad ng FOI o Freedom
doable. The bishop, meanwhile, said that in the long run, of Information. Kaya nga maraming tinatago na mga
“What made me feel better is the Philhealth cover- people will definitely look into the outcome of his anomalya kasi hindi alam ng bayan. Sana dinikit na
age and I think it is doable,” the prelate said. speech in terms of benefits; job creation; medicine, rin yan sa freedom of information,” he said.
Pabillo said that Aquino should first identify the and such. The prelate also expected Aquino to discuss not
five million poorest people in the country and pro- “Kasi itong rhetoric na ito na sinasabi eh in the long only the creation of jobs but creation of permanent
vide them the Philhealth coverage for their health run, ang makikita dyan ay kung anong nakukuha jobs.
needs. namin dyan tulad ng benepisyo; pagkain; trabaho; He also hoped that the Truth Commission may be
He also added that the administration should give gamot,” he revealed. true to its goals and actions. (Kate Laceda)

Bataan / A1 Garci / A1

lingers on.
“We are grateful because it’s almost
certain that it will not be revived (un-
der the Aquino administration) but
we still have this fear that it will be
opened (in the future),” he said over
Church-run Radyo Veritas.
Dumaual said they are also seeking
a meeting with President Aquino to
raise their clamor of finally disman-
tling outright the 600 megawatt nuke
plant.
Aquino earlier scrapped propos-
als to revive the $2.3 billion nuclear
facility as an option to address the
country’s power needs.
His mother, the late and former
President Corazon Aquino, moth-
balled the BNPP in 1986 due to safety
concerns.
But Energy Secretary Jose Rene
Almendras said the chief executive’s
policy decision against the BNPP does
not necessarily mean that the govern-
ment is totally closed to it.
“We are evaluating it. We have been
told that there have been significant
technological advancements relative
to safety,” Almendras said.
In a pastoral statement last year, the
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP) also asked for the
dismantling of the BNPP and urged
government instead to use renewable
energy.
The prelates said that instead of
looking at nuclear energy, the govern-
ment should strictly implement the re-
newable energy law, and explore such
sources of energy. (CBCPNews)
Mananzan said it was a busy time of
the election period and there must have
been many witnesses.
“I would urge… I think everyone,
who knows the truth about it, should
come out already and say their part,”
Mananzan said.
The Church leader made the call
Monday as some Marine officials have
reportedly signified their intention to
divulge their knowledge on the alleged
poll cheating.
The Hello Garci controversy refers
to the alleged wiretapped conversa-
tions between a woman believed to be
former president Gloria Arroyo and a
man believed to be then Commission
on Elections commissioner Virgilio
Garcillano that happened during the
2004 presidential elections.
Parish Pastoral Council for Respon-
sible Voting chairperson Henrietta de
Villa also would like witnesses to come
forward and cooperate with the authori-
ties in putting closure to the issue.
“I am all for everyone who knows
about that dark moment in our history
would come out and tell the truth, of
course backed by hard evidence, espe-
cially now that our momentum is very
high in terms of cleansing our govern-
ment agencies,” said De Villa.
Lately, the Armed Forces of the Phil-
ippines urged military officers and men
to come out and reveal what they know
in the alleged rigging operations during
the 2004 elections.
The Department of National De-
fense, for its part, guaranteed that it
will provide for the safety of whoever
from their ranks is going to come out
as witnesses.
As for civilians, Mananzan called on
the Department of Justice to prepare
well its witness protection program for
the safety of whistleblowers.
“It is their job to protect the civilians
and they should make sure that they
can do that to those who will reveal
information in the ‘Hello Garci’ scan-
dal,” she said.
The PPCRV head, on the other hand,
said the police should also do their part
in making sure that they could protect
would-be civilian witnesses.
Mananzan also urged lawmakers to
hasten the passage of the whistleblow-
ers’ bill as pushed by Aquino in his
recent State of the Nation Address.
(CBCPNews)

RH Bill / A1

said, is to encourage congressmen to
reject the Reproductive Health bill
and instead support House Bill 13 or
the proposed “Act Providing for the
Safety and Protection of the Unborn
Child and for Other Purposes”, filed
by Rep. Roilo Golez
The Catholic bishops’ leadership
earlier stepped up efforts to convince
the government to push natural family
planning.
The Church is not only stressing that
artificial contraception violates Catho-
lic teaching but that it harms women’s
health, the CBCP said.
The HB 13, they said in a pastoral
statement, looks to go further than
existing legislation protecting fetuses
by specifically recognizing that human
life exists when a sperm first penetrates
the egg.
The measure pushes that the gov-
ernment protect the life of the unborn
from conception, “and conception is
the moment of fertilization.”
“If its ambiguous stand on contra-
ceptives that are not abortifacients is
corrected in favor of moral truth, a
house bill such as the new House Bill
No. 13 is laudable,” said the CBCP.
Cory legacy
The bishops also urged President
Benigno Aquino III to continue the
moral legacy of his mother, the late and
former President Corazon Aquino by
rejecting policies that pushes artificial
birth control.
The Church favors only the use of
natural family planning—which ad-
vocates abstinence during a woman’s
fertile period.
Various civil society groups and
even some church officials have
called on Mr. Aquino to declare his
position on the issue of reproductive
health.
The CBCP particularly made men-
tion that it would oppose the proposed
Reproductive Health and Population
and Development Act of 2010 that
was re-filed by Rep. Edcel Lagman as
House Bill 96.
The bishops said the bill is similar
with the HB 5053 filed in the last Con-
gress which seeks to control the coun-
try’s growing population and prevent
the spread of sexually-transmitted
diseases.
“With the utmost concern and ur-
gency we express our strong objection
to the fundamental aspects of House
Bill 96. The basis of our moral objection
is once again the central religious truth
of the divine origin and divine image of
the human person, of one’s being and
life,” said the CBCP.
“Science has proven that some con-
traceptives render the mother’s womb
inhospitable, thereby causing abor-
tion,” it added.
The Church leaders reminded Mr.
Aquino that the constitutional protec-
tion of the unborn child from the first
instant of conception was a legacy of
his mother.
“It is a legacy given to us some twen-
ty years ago during the presidency of
President Corazon C. Aquino,” said
the CBCP.
Sex education
In the pastoral exhortation, the bish-
ops’ collegial body also brought to the
attention of the President the issue on
sex education program of the Depart-
ment of Education.
“We reiterate that the Church is not
against sex education. But for reasons
of morality and religious faith, we
strongly object to the proposed sex
education program. The program is
devoid of any substantive moral and
religious value formation,” the CBCP
said.
“In the family, the lessons of love
through human sexuality can be
learned with respect and awe for the
“wonder of God’s work.” Such setting
and such manner of teaching will not
be found in a classroom sex education
program designed simply to inform
and not form.”
Sex education, the CBCP said, has to
impart a sense of the sacredness of the
gift of human sexuality by integrating
proper conscience formation, moral
and spiritual guidance into the whole
process. (With reports from Melo
Acuna)

Indigenous / A1 P-Noy / A1

ment to act on our demands.
We have not forgotten our sad
experiences in the past, when
our demands were ignored
and our rights systematically
curtailed and undermined by
governments which served only
the interests of the rich and pow-
erful, such as big business and
foreign investors.” said Cristina
Batiel Moyaen, a Kankaney from
Apayao.
Quintol Labuayan, a B’laan of
Sultan Kudarat said they want
the government to recognize
their customary laws, recognize
their right to self-governance
and give them equal status in the
Mindanao peace negotiations.
He said there should be honest
PPCRV / A1
working group of which the
PPCRV is involved.
The National Statistics Office
(NSO) audit of the presidential,
vice-presidential, congressional,
gubernatorial, and mayoralty
races has an accuracy rate of
99.6 percent.
“There was a variance if 0.4
percent,” said Florante Varona
of the NSO which helped the
manual audit.
Such discrepancy, he said, is
only equivalent to 2,174 votes
out of 540, 942 votes included in
the audit. “This is quite small,”
said Varona.
implementation of the Indig-
enous Peoples Rights Act and
proper accountability of the
National Commission on Indig-
enous People (NCIP).
“We will strengthen our ranks
and push our collective agenda
together as a unified IP move-
ment,” he added.
The IP delegates lamented the
indigenous people’s assimilation
into the Filipino “nation”, saying
“it brought nothing but trouble
for their people.”
“Our people were the original
inhabitants of this land. We were
here long before the Philippines
came into existence. But through
force or deception we were
incorporated into this nation,”
The NSO added that a break-
down of the accuracy rates per
region ranged from 99.87 per-
cent to 99.17 percent.
The random manual audit
counted 1,406 clustered pre-
cincts, which translated to about
500, 000 votes.
And in most cases of discrep-
ancies, De Villa said that the
error was usually caused by
wrong computation or wrong
encoding of the Boards of Elec-
tion Inspectors (BEI).
In other words, she added, the
variances were not due to fraud
but human error.
said Datu Vic Saway, one of the
Talaandig delegates to the third
SIPA assembly.
Subjected to centuries of abuse,
the country’s indigenous com-
munities have lost most of their
ancestral lands with the entry of
big business and development
projects.
“Our incorporation into this
political system has only brought
the entry of destructive develop-
ment projects such as mining,
logging and plantations. Some
of us have also suffered displace-
ment and forced evacuation
from wars that we were not even
party to,” Peter Duyapat, an Ifu-
gao representative from Nueva
Vizcaya said. (CBCPNews)
Commission on Elections
(Comelec) chairman Jose Melo
described the report as “en-
couraging” and means that
voting machines used dur-
ing the elections worked 99
percent.
This clearly shows, he said,
that an automated election sys-
tem is the answer to the clamor
for accurate and credible polls
in the country.
“I think the people generally
want to have automation. We
can no longer go back to the
manual (system),” Melo said.
(CBCPNews)
Mass held at the Manila Cathe-
dral few hours before Aquino
took his oath of office.
“The CBCP insists 13 point
advocacies as guidance to Presi-
dent Benigno Simeon Aquino
III when he assumes office for
moral and social transforma-
tion of the country especially
the poor,” said Bishop Teodoro
Bacani.
On top of the church’s list
is the implementation of land
reform through Comprehensive
Agrarian Reform Program with
extension and reform (CARP-
er).
The church officials demanded
the rejection of the controversial
reproductive health bill, same
sex union, abortion, divorce, eu-
thanasia and contraceptives.
They urged Aquino not to
allow the demolition without re-
location of urban poor families.
They also demanded that the
new chief executive put a stop
to human trafficking of children
and women.
Taking note of the “many
problems” left by the Arroyo
administration, Bacani called on
Aquino to rise beyond giving an
average performance during his
six-year stay in Malacañang.
He said the “sorry state of
the country” left by Arroyo has
brought such high expectations
and hopes for the incoming
president and that they will
expect no less than a “heroic”
performance.
The prelate added that Aquino
should use the legacies of his
parents, former President Cora-
zon Aquino and former Senator
Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr., as
an inspiration to always strive to
do better.
The other nine Church advoca-
cies lined-up were: Protect the
environment by stopping large
scale mining and illegal logging;
stop corruption and prosecute
the people involved in graft and
corruption; no to Nepotism and
political dynasty in Philippine
politics; uphold human rights
of all the accused; educate the
poor by improving educational
system and give the poor ac-
cess to quality education; peace
and security: negotiate with the
rebels with public consultations
to all stakeholders; stop illegal
gambling by arresting and pros-
ecuting gambling lords; alleviate
poverty by improving the liv-
ing condition of the marginal-
ized, under-represented and op-
pressed people; food security by
eliminating structures that hinder
the growth and development of
those in the agricultural sector. with those who will serve the
A Mass for the New Governance
was held at the Manila Cathedral
in the morning shortly before
the inauguration of the new
president of the Republic of the
Philippines on June 30.
The Mass was led by Gaud-
encio Cardinal Rosales. Con-
celebrants include Caloocan
Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, San
Fernando Auxiliary Bishops
Pablo David, Roberto Mallari
and Novaliches bishop-emeritus
Teodoro Bacani. In his homily,
Rosales described as “gift” from
God the presidency of Aquino,
“who, in his simple and humble
ways will exemplify what love
for God and country means.
The cardinal, however,
stressed that the job not only
lies with Aquino but also in each
and every Filipino.
“This beautiful national dream
is not the job for one man, no
matter how gifted or great. Nei-
ther is it a collective work for a
group of good men. The dream
of a better Philippines is within
the response and the ability of
every Filipino,” said Rosales.
Aquino, along with Vice Presi-
dent Jejomar Binay, took their
respective oaths as the new
leaders of the country at the
Quirino Grandstand in Manila
on Wednesday noon.
He also called on the faith-
ful to pray for Aquino together
country with him “that they will
be guided by the wisdom from
the Holy Spirit in serving the
Filipino of whatever tribe, belief,
age or class.” (Roy Lagarde/
CBCPNews)
 Diocesan News
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 16
August 2 - 15, 2010
A7

Naga prelate urges end to speculation over priest’s death

NAGA City—As the investiga- ocesan Vocation Director of the
tion gets underway, a prelate Caceres archdiocese.

urged the public to avoid unnec-
essary speculation on the death
of Fr. Baltazar Acompanado Jr.,
and wait for more information
to become available.
Following media speculation
that the priest committed sui-
cide, Caceres Archbishop Leon-
ardo Legazpi said people should
avoid it as matter of respect for
the 35-year old priest.
Acompanado was found dead
inside his room at the Pre-Col-
lege seminary in San Jose town
in Camarines Sur on July 28
with a 38-caliber revolver near
his body.
He was laid to rest on July 31
at the Resurrection Garden in
Naga City, the burial ground
for priests of the Archdiocese of
Caceres.
Legazpi earlier described
Acompanado, rector and voca-
tion director of the Holy Ro-
sary Preparatory Seminary, as
“a good and dedicated priest.”
Acompanado was also Archdi-
In his homily during his reg-
ular 6:00 a.m. Sunday Mass,
August 1, at the Naga City
Cathedral, the prelate said it
would only be a matter of time
before the authorities furnish
his office the official report of its
investigation.
“Sa ngayon, lubhang ma-
halaga na makita natin ang
pagkakaiba ng mga tunay na
pangyayari sa mga haka-haka o
speculation,” he said.
“Hanggang sa sandaling ito
ang kaso ay under investigation,”
the senior prelate also said.
He added that the authorities
have not released their findings
and it is only fitting and proper
to wait for them to report on the
incident.
“Sa sandaling ipalabas ang
findings na iyan, ay aking pag-
aaralan, at pagkatapos, sa ta-
mang pagkakataon ay aking
ipaaalam sa inyo ang aking
kalooban,” he said. (Melo M.
Acuna/CBCPNews)
Briefing
Farmers must protect environment to ensure rice
sufficiency
CAGAYAN DE ORO City—The Committee on Agriculture
in the Misamis Oriental Provincial Board has urged farmers
to be protectors of the environment, noting that the environ-
ment and food sufficiency are interconnected. Board Member
Benedict Lagbas, chairperson of the province’s Committee
on Environment Protection, Ecology and Natural Resources,
said that it is now high time for farmers in the province to
help protect, preserve and conserve the environment. (Bong
D. Fabe)
Ozamiz clergy holds annual retreat
OZAMIZ City—Around 30 priests of the Archdiocese of
Ozamiz recently held its annual retreat to further strengthen
their spiritual life and grow in holiness in their pastoral
ministry. The clergy’s annual retreat allows them to spend
time in silence and solitude with the Lord so that “they may
be strengthened in the faithful performance of their pastoral
ministry and sacred vocation.” (Wendell Talibong)
Palo clergy to discuss STL
Archbishop Leonardo Legazpi
TACLOBAN City—The operations of state-run Small Town
Lottery in Eastern Visayas will likely top the agenda of the

Church urges public to join drive against dengue

TACLOBAN City— The Catholic Church has
called on the people to support the govern-
ment’s anti-dengue campaign.
The Archdiocese of Palo made the call
recently after it received reports about an
increase in the number of dengue cases in
the region.
Fr. Amadeo Alvero, archdiocesan’s
spokesman, said that recognizing the im-
portance of maintaining clean surroundings
would help boost the campaign to keep the
number of dengue cases down.
“We urge everyone to adopt the callings
of the Department of Health (DOH) to prac-
tice the practical ways of eradicating the
disease,” he said.
The priest was referring to the four strate-
gies imposed by DOH-8 to fight dengue—1)
search and destroy mosquito breeding sites,
2) self protection measures like using mos-
quito nets, 3) seeking early treatment, and 4)
no indiscriminate fogging.
Local health authorities earlier rejected
calls by local government units to use ther-
mal fogging to combat the growing number
of deaths caused by dengue.
Boyd Cerro, regional sentinel nurse of the
Department of Health in the region, said do-
ing such is highly impractical.
The dengue situation in the region, accord-
ing to him, can still be prevented by other
practical means.
“Fogging is only advisable in highly-
concentrated areas where there are already
outbreaks in the dengue case,” Cerro said.
In Eastern Visayas, the Department of
Health classifies the latest figure with more
than 4,486 cases and 56 deaths since January
as under the “epidemic scale.”
This means that to declare an outbreak,
there must be clustering of cases in signifi-
cant areas, Cerro said.
“In this case, fogging is not needed be-
cause there is no clustering. But, since our
case is still manageable and can be prevented
to balloon, other practical measures will do,”
he stressed.
He explained that fogging is not neces-
sary because of its risks that may give to the
residents concerned.
Fogging, using the nauseous gas Mala-
thion, is used to kill the Aedes aegypti
mosquito, the carrier of the dengue virus, to
stop transmission of the disease. The chemi-
cal contains toxins that may cause intestinal
problems, brain damage, respiratory prob-
lems, among others.
However, Cerro said that it does not to-
tally eradicate the dengue-carrying mosquito
as it just transfers to other place which had
not been fogged.
“It is useless because it just kills the adult
mosquito but leaves the “kiti-kiti” (mosquito
larvae) to thrive,” he explained.
“We recommend of having more effective
dengue prevention and controlling program
rather than use the fogging method which
is highly risky to health and environment,”
he added.
Fr. Alvero said they support the health
department’s position, saying that relying
to thermal fogging would just create another
problem.
He said that this would only “give the
people a sense of complacency that may
lower their guards against the dreaded
disease and the dengue mosquito.” (Alvin
P. Cardines)
clergy there when they meet next month. Fr. Amadeo Alvero,
Palo archdiocese’s spokesman, said the meeting on August
4 to 5 will give them a chance to come with a consensus on
crucial issues in the region, including the STL. He said the
church still believes that gambling, whether legal or illegal,
is likely “to bring more harm than benefits” to the region.
(Alvin P. Cardines)
Coconut ‘waste’ exporter bats for creation of coco
fiber industry
OZAMIZ City—A top official of a company that exports
“waste materials” from coconut has urged the Aquino
administration to create the Coconut Fiber Industry of the
Philippines. Dr. Justino Arboleda, CEO of the Coco Green
Technologies that exports coco peat, coco dusts, coco fiber,
coco twine and other by-products of coconut said that it is
very ironic that coconut farmers are still striving for their daily
bread when they are cultivating what is considered to be the
“tree of life.” (Bong D. Fabe)
Lay leaders join Basic Bible Seminar
MARIKINA City—A Basic Bible Seminar (BBS) for active
lay leaders was held at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish,
Marikina City on July 21-23. The BBS is an introductory course
on Sacred Scriptures for all the faithful aimed to intensify and
fortify the Christian faith through prayerful reading and shar-
ing of God’s Word. Resource speakers were Carmela Estacio
and Jenaro Molina both from the Divine Word Biblical Center
and Marcelina Cacal of the CBCP’s Commission on Biblical
Apostolate. (Kate Laceda)
Congress on terminal illness held
PACO, Manila—A congress for persons with terminal illness
was held to plan concrete actions to respond ably to current

May They Be One Bible Campaign

situations of the handicapped, sick, aged and dying people.
Themed “Look Carefully, Act Mercifully,” the event was
convened by the CBCP’s Commission on Health Care on July
Help Put a Bible in Every Filipino Home 24, at the Paco Catholic School, Manila. The event served as a
venue to present various experiences of the survivors of ter-
minal illness as well as the people who care for them such as
relatives, caregivers and some organizations. (Kate Laceda)

Prelate asks PCSO to stop STL

BUTUAN City—Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos called on the
Praise Item Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to stop the operations
Praise God for the warm of the small town lottery (STL) in the Diocese of Butuan. Pueb-
response of Bishops to los said the decision of PCSO to establish STL operations in
the Handwritten “Unity” the province is “highly questionable and immoral,” because
people were not properly consulted. (CBCPNews)
Bible Project when it
was presented at the Migrant workers oppose mandatory PAG-IBIG fee for
Catholic Bishops Ple- OFWs
nary Assembly on July ANTIPOLO City—Filipino migrant workers in the Mid-East
11. assailed the Philippine Overseas Employment Administra-
tion’s decision to make the Home Development Mutual
Please Pray Fund or PAG-IBIG membership as a mandatory requirement
For the active partici- in acquiring an overseas employment contract. “It’s like a
pation of all the 86 holdup!” said John Leonard Monterona, regional coordi-
dioceses in Bible dis- nator of Migrante-Middle East in a statement. (Noel Sales
Barcelona)
tribution and formation
under MTBO. So far,
74 out of 86 dioceses NASSA / A1
are already involved the Aurora Special Economic will no longer be utilized for
Zone (ASEZA). agriculture. The fisher folks will
Total Funds Needed for It is a private enterprise that is likewise be displaced from their
designed to uphold the interest of sources of livelihood when the

Printing and Transport of
Bibles in 2010: P30M
Support the May They Be One Bible
Campaign and help bring God’s
Word to more Filipino homes. Your
contribution of at least P150/month
will enable poor families to have their
own Bibles they can read, study and
pray. For more Campaign info-visit,
email or call ECBA – Fr. Oscar Alun-
day, 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros,
Manila. Telefax no. 5279386; ecba_
cbcp@yahoo.com; www.ecba-cbcp.
com; PBS-Mrs. Perry Cartera/ Mrs.
Juliet Rivera at 890 UN Ave., Ermita
Mla.; perry@bible.org.ph; juliet@
bible.org.ph www.bible.org..ph. PBS
is a certified donee institution by the
Philippine Council for NGO Certifica-
tion (PCNC). MTBO bank accounts:
PBS-MTBO Account #3903-0649-34
(BPI-Sta.Mesa Branch. Fax deposit
slip to 521-5803 or ECBA-CBCP Ac-
count #0251-021376 (BPI-Tayuman
Branch. Fax deposit slip to 527-9386)
Tel. nos. 5215785/5267777 loc. 600,
Fax No. 5215803; 09178590019
/09156727492 /09182802775. Also,
share the MTBO stories/ photos
from your parishes and send them
to jojee@bible.org.ph.
F
r. Jaime P. Padilla and his church, the St. Raphael Archangel Parish of Montalban, Rizal
seeks to influence society by sharing God’s Word to the family, the basic unit of society. foreign investors and enrich the
Since January 2010, the parish has been using May They Be One Bibles in its family- few who control its operation.
centered activities such as in the Bible Enthronement services, house blessings, mass marriages Manila Auxiliary Bishop Brod-
and Bible formation classes. This kindled greater interest in the Word of God with a growing erick Pabillo, Executive Secretary
number of parishioners clamoring for their own copy of the Bible. Several residents contributed of CBCP-NASSA, explained that
varying amounts – P150, P50, even P25 – to help make the MTBO Bible affordable to poor the APECO project is opposing
parishioners. Church workers are deployed regularly to the 13 different sitios, eight of which the “principles of social justice
are located in the mountains. A father relates that he is now more forgiving and less vindictive and democracy.”
due to the influence of the Bible. One mother says she has begun reading the Bible daily and The group also condemned
has given up tong-its. (a gambling game). A church worker recounts that even the poor are the fact that all the social reform
now giving to support the Parish’s ministry especially in livelihood and microfinance, as a result laws will lose its supremacy once
of reading and applying Bible principles. By helping build Bible-centered homes, the Parish is the APECO project has been
gradually witnessing the spread of the transforming power of God’s Word in the community. implemented.
“The administration of APECO
No. of Dioceses participating in the Bible Campaign – 74 out of 86 Dioceses are granted legal powers to se-
quester private lands even those
Bible Distribution (Jan 2010: July 26, 2010): already committed for agrarian
Total No. of Bibles distributed: 103,731 cps. reform without needing to un-
dergo a legislative procedure,”
Bibles Distributed by Languages - Tagalog (29,034 cps), Cebuano (31,567 cps) English they said.
(15,781 cps), Ilocano (11,266 cps), Hiligaynon (8,375 cps), Pangasinense ( 3,458 cps), Pabillo added that the Church
Bicol (4,250 cps) is also backing the residents
that have been made to pay for
Parishes/Communities served: 369 the establishment of the project
through its taxes without their
Target Coverage of Bible Distribution for April-June 2010 (based on orders received): notice and “discernible benefit”
to the province.
Quezon City, Malolos, Alaminos, Urdaneta, San Jose Nueva Ecija, Manila, Tuguegarao,
“If the lands will be appropri-
Cagayan de Oro, Legazpi, Naval, San Fernando, Pampanga, Borongan Eastern Samar,
ated for the said economic zone,
Nueva Segovia
many indigenous people will lose
Total Bible Distribution: (Jan 2009- July 26, 2010): 207,704 cps the only home they ever had, and
the food security of the province
Target No. of Bibles for Distribution for 2010: 200,000 cps will be imperiled as wide tracks
of irrigated and productive lands
coastal areas will be populated
with high-end and luxury re-
sorts,” the prelate said.
In an earlier statement, Bishop
Rolando Tirona, Bishop Emeri-
tus Julio Xavier Labayen and
other 30 priests appealed to
the Aquino administration and
the Commission on Audit to
review Republic Act 10083 and
the alleged uncharacterized in-
frastructure projects.
NASSA headed by Pabillo has
also joined the clergies in its call
for action of the Aquino adminis-
tration on the APECO project.
“We trust in the sincerity of
this government to effect promise
changes and we hope it starts with
upholding the wellbeing of the
poor and marginalized over the
designs of the corrupt and power-
ful politicians behind questionable
legislations,” they said.
Meanwhile, NASSA also con-
demned the attack against Fr.
Joefran Talaban last June 26, 2010
at his convent, Nuestra Señora
de la Salvacion, in Brgy. Bianoan,
Casiguran.
The said attack to the priest
was in relation to his strong ad-
vocacy against the creation of the
APECO project. (Kate Laceda)
 A8 People, Facts & Places CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 16
August 2 - 15, 2010

Missionary cited for promoting interreligious dialogue

A FOREIGN missionary based in Min-
danao has been cited for his invaluable
contribution in the promotion of peace
and interreligious dialogue among
Christians and Muslims in Mindanao.
Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME, re-
ceived the Bukas Palad Award during
a ceremony at the Erwin Shaw Theater
in the Loyola Heights campus of Ateneo
de Manila University on July 22.
D’Ambra is a member of the Pontifi-
cal Institute for Foreign Mission (PIME)
and founder of the Silsilah Dialogue
Movement.
His contribution in the promotion of
peace through the movement “helped
plant the seeds of interreligious dia-
logue in the Philippines, particularly in
Mindanao, and [nurtured and spread]
them through leadership roles in the in-
terreligious dialogue thrusts of Pontifi-
cal Institute for Foreign Mission (PIME)
and the Catholic Bishops Conference of
the Philippines (CBCP).”
The Award was later named Bukas-
Palad to “capture the Ignatian spirit of
‘Generosity’ and to give recognition to
the unconditional, dedicated service of
Religious in Christ’s Kingdom.”
D’Ambra gratefully accepted the
award, acknowledging that “it is not
just an honor but a responsibility to
fulfill.” He said the award is not only
for him but for every Christian and
Muslim in Mindanao who share his
commitment to the mission of dialogue
and peace.
Awarded together with D’Ambra
were Monsignor Jose C. Bernardo, Jr.,
also for the Bukas Palad Award; Fed-
erico Aguilar Alcuaz for the Gawad
Tanglaw ng Lahi; and Dr. Alfredo R. A.
Bengzon for Lux-in-Domino Award.
A native of Sicily, Italy, D’Ambra was
assigned in 1977 to the PIME mission sta-
tion in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte.
His experience of living together
with Muslims, Christians and lumad

The citation, first given in 1963 by the
university to Msgr. Jose Jovellanos, was
named after Jesuit Fr. Manuel Peypoch,
“who served the Church and society in
the areas of education and culture, in so-
cial and human development concerns.”
www.silsilahdialogue.com
in Mindanao led him to found Silsilah
Dialogue Movement in 1984 aimed at
“promoting a deeper understanding
and better relations” among tri-people PIME missionary Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra received the Bukas Palad Award from the Ateneo de Manila University for promoting interreligious
of Mindanao and with people of other dialogue among Christians and Muslims during the university’s academic convocation on July 22.
faiths and traditions. (CBCPNews)

CEAP holds assembly on indigenous education program A REGIONAL assembly focus- cal shifts that also have affected

Lipa holds series of Marian conferences

ing on the education of the In-
digenous People (IP) has been
conducted by the Cordillera
Administrative Region (CAR)
Chapter of the Catholic Educa-
tional Association of the Philip-
pines (CEAP) on July 8 and 9 at
St. Louis Center, Baguio City.
Attended by school directors
and principals of the Catholic
schools from the Diocese of
Baguio-Benguet, Vicariate of
Bontoc-Lagawe and the Vicariate
of Kalinga-Apayao, the regional
assembly was themed “Re-
imaging our Education Ministry
and IP Education Program for
CEAP-CAR.”
Dr. Josefina Tamondong, CAR
regional director of the Depart-
ment of Education (DepED),
has challenged the participants
to take on the “responsibility of
envisioning an education that
would enable today’s students
to face the fast-changing world,
marked by increased technologi-
how education is being done
today.”
Tamondong also shared the
“Ten Ways to Fix Philippine
Basic Education of the Aquino
administration” to inform the
attendees about the plans of the
Department of Education.
Meanwhile, Maria Lourie
Victor of the CBCP’s Episcopal
Commission on Indigenous
Peoples (ECIP) facilitated series
of workshops about the direc-
tions and assumptions of IP
Education as a regional program
of CEAP-CAR.
The participants identified
the key historical issues and
concerns of indigenous peoples
in CAR and articulated the guid-
ing principles in responding as
educators to these issues and
concerns during the workshop.
Culminating the activity was a
planning session on ways to in-
tegrate the discussion for the IP
school systems. (CBCPNews)
A SERIES of monthly con-
ferences in preparation for
the upcoming 7th National
Pilgrimage to Lipa in Septem-
ber are being held at the San
Carlos Seminary, Guadalupe
Makati City.
Organized by the Archdio-
cese of Lipa, the conference
for the month of July was
held on July 24 with Bishop
Teodoro Bacani as the re-
source speaker.
The Marian conference will
have as topic the devotion to
the Blessed Virgin in the pres-
ent Philippine context.
A lecture titled “Mary as
Fullness of Evangelization
from the Asian Context”
was facilitated by Fr. Francis
Gustilo on June 26, while the
topic about “Mary and the
Asian Cry for witness” will
be discussed by Msgr. Sabino
Vengco, on August 21.
The monthly conferences will
end with a Eucharistic celebra-
tion, according to the organizers.
They added that Marian
lectures are being held to
continuously to spread the
works and devotions to the
Blessed Virgin Mary.
The September national
pilgrimage will be highlight-
ed with the First National
Marian Prayer Congress con-
vened by the Pueblo Amante
de Maria Mariological Mar-
ian Society of the Philippines
(PAMMMSPhil) headed by
Lipa Archbishop Ramon Ar-
guelles. (CBCPNews)

Adamson calls for nominations

Markings CELEBRATED. Bishop Leo M. Drona, SDB,
to ‘1st SVP Awards’
ONE of the country’s oldest
Catholic educational institu-
tions reiterated its call for
Systemic Change Initiative
(SCI) serves as a concept and
a framework introduced by
DD, 23rd anniversary of Episcopal Ordination, nominations to recognize the Vincentian Commission
July 25, 2010, with a concelebrated Mass at the outstanding organizations for the Promotion of Sys-
San Pablo Cathedral, attended by the clergy, and individuals that have temic Change to implement
religious and laity in the diocese. Bishop Drona, shown exemplary deeds in meaningful strategies or
69, was ordained bishop July 25, 1987 and ap-
pointed third Bishop of San Pablo Diocese on
serving the poor and the approaches in helping build
May 14, 2004. He was installed June 18 of the marginalized sectors. a self-sustaining community
same year. The Laguna born prelate, accord- The Adamson University here and abroad.
ing to Vice Chancellor of San Pablo Diocese issued the call July 23 as “To qualify for the award,
Fr. Eugene A. Fadul, was the First Filipino Don it welcomed entries to the the project should have
Bosco priest and the first Filipino Don Bosco
Bishop. He was ordained priest on December first-ever St. Vincent de shown significant change in
22, 1967. Paul (SVP) National Awards the over-all living conditions
which seek to honor organi- of the community where
AWARDED. Msgr. Jose Bernardo, with Bukas zations which made a lasting social structures are also
Palad Award in memory of Fr. Manuel Peypoch,
SJ, July 22, 2010, for his selfless dedication for impact in ending the cycle of created in order to sustain
almost 40 years of his priestly life and ministry poverty among poor com- a permanent change in the
to the formation of priests, and for continuously munities in the country. lives of the poor,” said Fr.
guiding them in renewal and reformation through Fr. Gregg Banaga, CM, Banaga.
his work with the Galilee Center, the National
Renewal Center for Priests of the Philippines, the Adamson president, said According to him, the
Assist Ministry of the CBCP, and the Commission the initiative seeks to inspire project should also engage
on Clergy. Msgr. Bernardo was feted together more people to continually stakeholders both in the
with other honorees during a Special Academic promote better and more cre- public and private sector
Convocation at the Rev. Henry Lee Irwin Theater
of the Ateneo de Manila University. ative ways to serve the poor. and should at least be in
“Through this award, we existence for three consecu-
INVESTED. Fr. Rolando R. Mabutol and Fr. Romeo C. Nietes as “honorary prelates” wish to acknowledge or- tive years.
of Pope Benedict XVI, at the St. Joseph Cathedral, July 14, 2010. The newly-invested ganizations that create a Any individuals and orga-
Monsignori are members of the clergy of the Diocese of San Jose in Nueva Ecija. The
investiture coincided with the Mass to officially close the diocese’s year long Silver Jubi- system of helping the poor meet their just individual charitable work. nizations may nominate anyone or any
lee celebration at the St. Joseph Cathedral presided by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop basic needs and in assisting them to “The demands and expectations of group irrespective of socio-political-
Socrates Villegas last July 14. the Mass to officially close the diocese’s yearlong Silver change whatever unjust structures that the poor have tremendously changed religious affiliation and orientation as
Jubilee celebration at the St. Joseph Cathedral presided by Lingayen-Dagupan Arch- keep them poor,” he said. over time. Vincentians here and abroad long as they have shown strong com-
bishop Socrates Villegas last July 14. The Diocese of San Jose, headed by Bishop Mylo
Hubert Vergara, is a suffragan of Lingayen-Dagupan. Concelebrants during the Mass
The SVP National Award was are taking the lead in promoting and mitment to the improvement of the poor
also include prelates from neighboring dioceses: Bishops Florentino Cinense of Tarlac, launched at the opening of the 350th implementing systemic change that communities.
Marlo Peralta of Alaminos, Jacinto Jose of Urdaneta, Sofronio Bancud of Cabanatuan, death anniversary celebration of Sts. requires shifting old mindsets, attitudes Entries may be sent to svpawards@
and Lingayen-Dagupan Auxiliary Bishop Renato Mayugba. Two Papal awardees were Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac and behaviors that keep the poor,” said adamson.edu.ph or info@svpawards.
also given recognition during that day. They were Dr. Eleuterio R. Violago (Order of Saint last Sept. 27. Fr. Banaga. org.ph or to Office of the Vincentian
Gregory the Great) and Mrs. Primitiva F. Violago (Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice).
St. Vincent and St. Louise are known “It is not just eliminating slums, but Identity and Mission, Ground Floor
DIED. Fr. Baltazar A. Acompanado, Jr., Rector of the to be the patron saints of all charitable more of eradicating the slum or defeatist SV Bldg., Adamson University, 900
Holy Rosary Preparatory Seminary and Archdiocesan works and organizations and of all attitude that has dwarfed and thwarted San Marcelino St. Ermita, Manila. For
Vocation Director, Fr. Acompanado was found dead in social works, respectively, who in their our people to attain their full potentials. inquiries, contact Pamela Mantuhac at
his room at the Preparatory Seminary (High School),
San Jose, Camarines Sur at about 9:30 a.m., July 28. lifetime created a system of helping the It is about helping define life’s choices 521-8360/ pamelamantuhac@yahoo.
The late seminary rector was first appointed Parochial poor in organized charity rather than for themselves,” he added. com. (CBCPNews)

Bible encounter held in Hong Kong

Vicar of St. John the Evangelist church in Naga City
on March 24, 2003 and Professor/Formator of the
Holy Rosary Preparatory Seminary in San Jose,
Camarines Sur on November 22, 2003, Assistant
Coordinator of SPARC from May 15, 2004 until his
appointment as Assistant Director of the Archdioc-
esan Office of Social Action on April 2, 2006. He was
named Professor and Formator of the Holy Rosary
Major Seminary on April 2, 2006 and later Rector/
Vocation Director of the Holy Rosary Preparatory
Seminary last November 28, 2006.
DIED. Fr. Rodolfo Malasmas, SJ, 86, July 11, 2010. Fr.
Malasmas was in a coma when he died after suffering a mas-
sive heart attack early morning of July 3. Except for a gap of
13 years from 1962 to 1975, where he was assigned at the
Sacred Heart Novitiate followed by a stint at the Ateneo de
Manila University, Fr. Malasmas’ ministries have all been at the
Ateneo de Davao. Among his assignments include being col-
lege dean and professor of Ateneo de Davao. He also served
as ADDU Grade School Headmaster, High School supervisor
at Compostela Annex, Assistant University Chaplain.
A BIBLE encounter has been held for
the Filipino Migrant Workers at the
Annunciation Parish Church in Tseun
Wan, Hong Kong last July 18, 2010.
The Bible quiz intended to deepen the
Gospel values and respect for life and
creation of the people.
Contestants of the Bible encounter
were Filipino Migrant Workers repre-
senting various religious organizations
and different parishes in the state who
have attended and completed the Basic
Bible Seminar (BBS) in Hong Kong.
Fr. Oscar Alunday, Executive Secre-
tary of CBCP’s Episcopal Commission
on Biblical Apostolate (ECBA) said the
main convenors of the Bible quiz were
the winning group of the 1st Interna-
tional Catholic Family Bible Encounter
in collaboration with the Hong Kong
Filipino Catholic Bible Pastoral Ministry
headed by Fr. Emil Lim.
The activity started with a Bible En-
thronement, a celebration of the Word of
God, wherein Fr. Alunday has provided
the participants some reflections.
The enthronement, said the organizers,
is a constant reminder of God’s presence
in His written Word and a constant invita-
tion to “take and read” God’s word.
Msgr. Gary Formoso from the Arch-
diocese of Nueva Segovia and Fr.
Alunday, both members of the National
Secretariat of the Family Bible Encoun-
ter Philippines, acted as adjudicators of
the Bible contest.
A Eucharistic Celebration led by
Msgr. Formoso and the announcement
of winners of the Bible quiz culminated
the contest.
The Bible encounter aimed to increase
knowledge and love for the Bible and
the Catholic faith as well as to foster
love for the Eucharist and the Blessed
Mother. (Kate Laceda)
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 16
August 2 - 15, 2010
Rome Diocese calls for active gay priests
to go, stop sullying church
By Carol Glatz condemned the article for its
Catholic News Service
IN the wake of an undercover
video and news report
documenting priests in Rome
engaged in homosexual acts,
the Rome Diocese has called for
priests engaged in “unworthy”
behavior to leave the priesthood
and stop sullying the reputation
of the vast majority of honorable
ministers.
While the diocese also
Pastoral Concerns
overall aim of discrediting the
church, it did say it “is committed
to rigorously prosecute, according
to church norms, any behavior
unworthy of priestly life.”
On July 23 the Italian weekly
newsmagazine, Panorama,
published a lengthy dossier
detailing the sexual behavior of
some priests residing in Rome.
A journalist and a practicing
homosexual male accomplice went
undercover with a hidden video
camera to several popular gay
night spots in Rome for 20 days.
The magazine said it discovered
“numerous cases” of priests who
were “perfectly integrated in the
capital’s gay scene.”
The article focused on three
priests, two Italian and one
French, who, based on the video
footage, were seen “dancing
half-naked” and engaged in
sexual acts.
A written statement issued July
23 by the Diocese of Rome said
“the news article’s aim is clear:
to create scandal and defame all
priests, based on the declaration
of one of those interviewed who
said ‘98 percent of the priests
I know are homosexual,’ to
discredit the church and—on
the flipside—put pressure on
that part of the church they have
defined as ‘intransigent, which
struggles to ignore the reality’
of homosexual priests.”
“The facts recounted (in the
article) can only cause pain and
disconcertion in Rome’s church
community,” it said, adding
that people who were familiar
with Rome’s clergy know that its
priests do not lead a “double life”
but lead “just one life—happy
and joyous—consistent with
their vocation.”
The diocesan statement
also pointed out that there are
hundreds of priests living in
Rome who are not part of the
Rome diocese, but are foreigners
accountable to their bishops at
home.
Priests who are living “a
double life,” the statement said,
“have not understood what the
B1
Catholic priesthood is and should
not have become priests” in the
first place.
It said such priests should
recognize that “no one is forcing
them to be priests (as they are)
just exploiting the benefits” of
the priesthood.
“Consistency demands that
they be discovered. We do not
wish them ill, but we cannot
accept that because of their
behavior the honorability of
everyone else is dragged through
the mud,” it said.

© Msgr. Pedro Quitorio / CBCP Media

Vatican says new norms
will strengthen efforts
against abusive priests
By John Thavis the Doctrine of the Faith. The norms
Catholic News Service affect how church law treats sex abuse
cases; civil law deals with the crime
separately.
THE Vatican has revised The latest revisions, approved by Pope
Benedict XVI May 21 and released July
its procedures for handling 15, for the most part codify practices
priestly sex abuse cases, that have been implemented through
streamlining disciplinary special permissions granted over the
measures, extending the last nine years and make them part of
universal law.
statute of limitations and The Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Father
defining child pornography Federico Lombardi, said publication of
as an act of sexual abuse of a the revisions “makes a great contribution
minor. to the clarity and certainty of law in this
field, a field in which the church is today
Vatican officials said the changes strongly committed to proceeding with
allow the church to deal with such rigor and transparency.”
abuse more rapidly and effectively, often The norms on sexual abuse of minors
through dismissal of the offending cleric by priests now stipulate:
from the priesthood. –The church law’s statute of limitations
As expected, the Vatican also updated on accusations of sexual abuse has been
its list of the “more grave crimes” extended, from 10 years after the alleged
against church law, called “delicta victim’s 18th birthday to 20 years. For
graviora,” including for the first time several years, Vatican officials have been
the “attempted sacred ordination of routinely granting exceptions to the 10-
a woman.” In such an act, it said, the year statute of limitations. Exceptions to
cleric and the woman involved are the 20-year limit will be possible, too,
automatically excommunicated, and but the Vatican rejected a suggestion to
the cleric can also be dismissed from do away with the statute of limitations
the priesthood. altogether, sources said.
Vatican officials emphasized that – Use of child pornography now
simply because women’s ordination falls under the category of clerical
was treated in the same document as sexual abuse of minors, and offenders
priestly sex abuse did not mean the two can be dismissed from the priesthood.
acts were somehow equivalent in the This norm applies to “the acquisition,
eyes of the church. possession, or distribution by a cleric of
“There are two types of ‘delicta pornographic images of minors under
graviora’: those concerning the the age of 14, for purposes of sexual
celebration of the sacraments, and those gratification, by whatever means or
concerning morals. The two types are using whatever technology.” Vatican
essentially different and their gravity is officials said age 14 was chosen as
on different levels,” said Msgr. Charles the threshold age into puberty; canon
Scicluna, an official of the Vatican’s law considers a child under 14 as a
doctrinal congregation. “prepubescent.”
Sexual abuse of a minor by a priest – Sexual abuse of mentally disabled
was added to the classification of adults will be considered equivalent to
“delicta graviora” in 2001, and at that abuse of minors. The norms define such
time the Vatican established norms to a person as someone “who habitually
govern the handling of such cases, which lacks the use of reason.”
were reserved to the Congregation for In 2003, two years after promulgating
the Vatican’s norms on priestly sex
abuse, Pope John Paul II gave the
doctrinal congregation a number of
special faculties to streamline the
handling of such cases. The new
revisions incorporate those changes,
which were already in practice:
– In the most serious and clear cases
of sexual abuse of minors by priests,
the doctrinal congregation may proceed
directly to laicize a priest without going
through an ecclesiastical trial. In these
instances, the final decision for dismissal
from the clerical state and dispensation
from the obligations of celibacy is made
by the pope.
– The doctrinal congregation can
dispense with using the formal judicial
process in church law in favor of the
“extrajudicial process.” In effect, this
allows a bishop to remove an accused
priest from ministry without going
through a formal trial.
– The doctrinal congregation can
dispense from church rules requiring
only priests with doctorates in canon law
to serve on church tribunals in trials of
priests accused of abusing minors. This
means qualified lay experts, including
those without a canon law doctorate, can
be on the tribunal staff, or act as lawyers
or prosecutors.
– The doctrinal congregation’s
competency in such cases means it has
the right to judge cardinals, patriarchs
and bishops as well as priests. Vatican
sources said this norm, which originates
from a decision by Pope John Paul in
2004, indicates that if the pope authorizes
a trial or penal process against such
persons for sex abuse or another of
the “more grave crimes,” the doctrinal
congregation would be the tribunal
and could also make preliminary
investigations.
The revised norms maintain the
imposition of “pontifical secret” on the
church’s judicial handling of priestly
sex abuse and other grave crimes,
which means they are dealt with in strict
confidentiality. Father Lombardi said
the provision on the secrecy of trials
was designed “to protect the dignity of
everyone involved.”
The spokesman said that while the
Vatican norms do not directly address
the reporting of sex abuse to civil
authorities, it remains the Vatican’s
policy to encourage bishops to report
such crimes wherever required by civil
law.
“These norms are part of canon law;
that is, they exclusively concern the
church. For this reason they do not deal
with the subject of reporting offenders to
the civil authorities. It should be noted,
however, that compliance with civil law
is contained in the instructions issued
by the Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith as part of the preliminary
procedures to be followed in abuse
cases,” he said.
Father Lombardi added that the
doctrinal congregation also was studying
how to help bishops around the world
formulate local guidelines on sexual
abuse in church environments.
He said that would be “another crucial
step on the church’s journey as she
translates into permanent practice and
continuous awareness the fruits of the
teachings and ideas that have matured
over the course of the painful events of
the ‘crisis’ engendered by sexual abuse
by members of the clergy.”
The new norms treat a number of
other “delicta graviora” connected with
sacramental issues.
On the “attempted ordination of a
woman,” the norms essentially restated
a 2008 decree from the doctrinal
congregation that said a woman who
attempts to be ordained a Catholic priest
and the person attempting to ordain her
are automatically excommunicated.
The norms added that if the guilty
party is a priest, he can be punished with
dismissal from the priesthood. For those
wondering why an excommunicated
priest would also be laicized, Vatican
sources said they were two different
kinds of penalties.
“Excommunication is a medicinal
penalty which has to be remitted
once the person repents; dismissal
(from the priesthood) is an additional
expiatory penalty which remains
in place permanently, even if the
excommunication is lifted,” Msgr.
Scicluna explained.
The norms address violations against
the sacraments of penance and the
Eucharist.
One norm explicitly extends the
crime of violating the seal of confession
through use of modern technology—by
recording confessions or making any
such recording public through social
communication media. This reflects a
change introduced in practice in 2003.
The revisions include among the
“more grave crimes” other actions
regarding the sacrament of penance:
attempting to impart absolution or
hearing sacramental confession when
one cannot do so validly; indirect
violation (and not only direct violation)
of the seal of confession; and simulation
of the administration of the sacrament
by a priest who is able to grant
absolution.
Vatican sources said the direct
violation of the confessional seal would
occur, for example, when a priest betrays
the name of the penitent and the sin
confessed; an indirect violation might
occur if the priest betrays only the name
of the penitent or only the confessed sin,
but the missing element is understood
from the context of the conversation.
Regarding the Eucharist, the revised
norms modify the language concerning
the attempted and simulated celebration
of the Eucharist, and sacrilegious
consecration of one or both matters in or
outside of the eucharistic celebration.
The revised norms include for the first
time “crimes against the faith”—heresy,
apostasy and schism—saying that while
competency normally falls to local
bishops in such cases, the doctrinal
congregation becomes competent in the
case of an appeal.
B2 Updates CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 16
August 2 - 15, 2010

The ‘Te Deum’ Serious and More

(Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina
Apostolorum university, answers the following query:)

Q: I read with great interest your discussion of the Adoro Te

Devote. I wondered if you would prepare a similar explanation and
Serious Crimes in the
Catholic Church
discussion of the Te Deum. I consider it to be a beautiful hymn
and would be interested to know more about its history and use.
–B.D., Columbia City, Indiana

A: Compared to the labyrinthine history of the Te Deum, that

of the Adoro Te Devote was quite straightforward.
The Te Deum, an ancient Latin hymn in rhythmical prose, is
probably a compilation of three sources. In fact, there are triple
rhythms and three distinct melodies within the one piece. In
By Fr. Jaime B. Achacoso, c.1364, §1 of the Code of Canon this delict is to be punished 4. Crimes against Catholic
J.C.D. Law. It further establishes that according to the gravity of the Morals (Art.6)
many ways it resembles another ancient liturgical prose hymn,
“it pertains to the Ordinary crime, not excluding dismissal §1. The more grave delicts
the Gloria in Excelsis Deo.
The chant melodies are from pre-Gregorian and Gregorian or Hierarch to remit, by norm or deposition. against morals which are
styles. Polyphonic versions have been composed by, among oth- JUST when our readers might of law if such be the case, the reserved to the CDF are:
ers: G. Palestrina, G.F. Handel, Henry Purcell, Ralph Vaughan just have had enough of the latae sententiae (automatic) 2. Crimes against the Sacrament 1° the delict against the sixth
Williams, M.L. Cherubini, Benjamin Britten, H. Berlioz, A. Bruckner Penal Law of the Church for excommunication and likewise of Penance (Art.4) commandment of the Decalogue
and A. Dvorak. Numerous English translations have been made, the meantime─with a spate to undertake a juridicial trial § 1. The more grave delicts committed by a cleric with a
including one by the poet John Dryden (1631-1700). The popular of articles in this column on in the first instance or issue an against the sanctity of the minor below the age of eighteen
“Holy God, We Praise Thy Name,” originally a 1775 Lutheran Crime and Punishment in the extrajudicial decree, with due Sacrament of Penance reserved years; in this case, a person
hymn in German, is also based on the Te Deum. Catholic Church (Parts I&II) and regard for the right of appeal to the Congregation for the who habitually lacks the use
We present the Latin version and the translation published Canonical Process for Alleged to the CDF” (Art.2, §2). These Doctrine of the Faith are: of reason is to be considered
in the 1975 Liturgy of the Hours. For the sake of clarity we have Sexual Abuse of Minors by cases therefore are not reserved 1° the absolution of an equivalent to a minor.
divided it into the three parts mentioned above. Clerics (Parts I&II)─the Holy See to the CDF, at least not in the accomplice in a sin against 2° the acquisition, possession,
“Te deum laudamus te dominum confitemur / Te aeternum pa- has recently come up with new First Instance. the sixth commandment of the or distribution by a cleric of
trem omnis terra veneratur / Tibi omnes angeli Tibi caeli et universae documentation consolidating Decalogue (with automatic pornographic images of minors
potestates / Tibi cherubim et seraphim incessabili voce proclamant all the norms pertinent to the More Serious Crimes excommunication according to under the age of fourteen, for
/ Sanctus sanctus sanctus dominus deus sabaoth / Pleni sunt celi issues that we have recently The document proceeds to c.1378, §1); purposes of sexual gratification,
et terra maiestatis gloriae tuae / Te gloriosus apostolorum chorus tackled─i.e., relative to the enumerate the more serious 2° attempted sacramental by whatever means or using
/ Te prophetarum laudabilis numerus / Te martyrum candidatus serious crimes against the crimes, which are strictly absolution or the prohibited whatever technology;
laudat exercitus / Te per orbem terrarum sancta confitetur ecclesia faith, and more serious crimes reserved to the CDF. It is hearing of confession by a §2. A cleric who commits the
/ Patrem inmense maiestatis / Venerandum tuum verum unicum against the sacraments of the important to note that most of person who cannot validly delicts mentioned above in §1
filium / Sanctum quoque paraclytum spiritum Holy Eucharist and Penance, these crimes already carry an give sacramental absolution is to be punished according
“Tu rex gloriae christe / Tu patris sempiternus es filius / Tu ad and the sexual abuse of minors. automatic (latae sententiae) (with automatic interdict or to the gravity of his crime,
liberandum suscepisti hominem non horruisti virginis uterum / Tu To conclude this discussion, censure, such that what is suspension according to c.1378, not excluding dismissal or
devicto mortis aculeo aperuisti credentibus regna caelorum / Tu ad therefore, let us summarize the reserved to the CDF is not §2, 2°); deposition.
dexteram dei sedes in gloria patris / Iudex crederis esse venturus recent documentation. so much the imposition of 3° simulated sacramental
/ Te ergo quaesumus tuis famulis subveni quos pretioso sanguine the penalty, but rather its absolution (with a just penalty Procedural Norms
redemisti / Aeterna fac cum sanctis tuis gloria numerari\”Salvum Legislative Background remission or possible declaration according to c.1379); The procedural norms to be
fac populum tuum domine et benedic hereditati tuae / Et rege eos On 30.IV.2001, Pope John (ferendae sententiae), if that 4° the solicitation to a sin followed in these cases are as
et extolle illos usque in aeternum / Per singulos dies benedicimus Paul II promulgated a very were necessary. against the sixth commandment follows:
te / Et laudamus nomen tuum in saeculum et in saeculum saeculi of the Decalogue in the act, • Whenever an Ordinary or
important document, the
/ Dignare domine die isto, sine peccato nos custodire / Miserere 1. Crimes against the Holy on the occasion, or under the Hierarch had at least probable
Motu Proprio Sacramentorum
nostri domine miserere nostri / Fiat misericordia tua domine super
sanctitatis tutela, which gave Eucharist (Art. 3) pretext of confession (with knowledge (notitiam saltem
nos quemadmodum speravimus in te / In te domine speravi non
the Congregation verisimilem habeat)
confundar in aeternum”
for the Doctrine of the commission of
“You are God: we praise you; You are the Lord: we acclaim
of the Faith (CDF) one of the reserved
you; / You are the eternal Father: All creation worships you./ To
you all angels, all the powers of heaven, / Cherubim and Sera- responsibility to grave delicts, after
phim, sing in endless praise: / Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of power deal with and having carried out
and might,/ heaven and earth are full of your glory./ The glorious judge a series the preliminary
company of apostles praise you./ The noble fellowship of proph- of particularly investigation, he is to
ets praise you. / The white-robed army of martyrs praises you. / serious crimes inform the CDF which,
Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:/ Father, of within the ambit unless it calls the case
majesty unbounded, / your true and only Son, worthy of all wor- of Church Law. to itself because of
ship, / and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide. The Motu Proprio special circumstances,
“You, Christ, are the king of glory,/ the eternal Son of the was accompanied will indicate to the
Father./ When you became man to set us free / you did not by a series of Ordinary or Hierarch
spurn the Virgin’s womb. / You overcame the sting of death, and practical and how to proceed. The
opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. / You are seated procedural Norms, right of appeal against
at God’s right hand in glory./ We believe that you will come, and known as Normae a sentence of the
be our judge./ Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought de gravioribus first instance is to be
with the price of your own blood, / and bring us with your saints delictis (“Norms exercised only before
to glory everlasting. on more serious the Supreme Tribunal of
“Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance./ Govern crimes”). the Congregation.
and uphold them now and always./ Day by day we bless you./ At this point it is • Criminal action
We praise your name for ever. / Keep us today, Lord, from all interesting to note in the cases reserved
sin. / Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy. / Lord, show us your that the serious to the CDF─hitherto
love and mercy; / for we put our trust in you. / In you, Lord, is our crimes to which extinguished by a
hope: / And we shall never hope in vain.” the regulations prescription of ten years
As we mentioned, we are probably dealing with three distinct referred primarily after the 18th birthday of
hymns in one. The first is directed toward the Father and ends concerned vital the victim─henceforth
with a Trinitarian doxology. It could be a rare survivor of the hymns aspects of Church prescribes only after 20
that were popular before the Council of Nicaea in 325. There are life as such: crimes years, subject to even a
probable references to this hymn in the writings of St. Cyprian of against the faith longer period if the CDF
Carthage and in the Passion of St. Perpetua, which would make deems necessary.
(heresy, apostasy
its composition earlier than the year 250. • In tribunals
and schism) and
The second part, entirely Christological, is evidently later established by
crimes against the
and reflects the controversies surrounding the fourth-century
Sacraments of the Ordinaries of Hierarchs,
Arian heresy. It is also the more-perfect composition faithfully
Eucharist and of for the cases of the more
respecting the rules of Latin rhetoric.
Penance. Hence the grave delicts reserved
The third section is formed from a series of verses from the
title of the Motu to the Congregation
Psalms. It is possible that these were originally versicles added as
for the Doctrine of the
www.hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net

a litany at the end of the hymn. Something similar happens today Proprio. Only by
when we add the versicle “You gave them bread from heaven extension, because Faith, the functions
…” after the Tantum Ergo. Eventually this litany also became of the vast public of judge, promoter of
part of the hymn itself. Indeed, in the Milanese Ambrosian rite echo that it attracted justice, notary and legal
the Te Deum ends with the “Aeterna fac cum sanctis tuis gloria in recent years, was representative─hitherto
[Munerari].” The present rubrics also allow this part to be omitted the crime of sexual validly performed only
in the Roman rite. abuse committed by priests─henceforth
There are many theories regarding the author, especially by a priest against a can be fulfilled by anyone
with respect to who composed the second part and added it to minor under the age of eighteen § 1. The more grave delicts suspension, prohibitions or with required knowledge of
the older first part. The most likely candidate is Nicetas (circa included in the list of more against the sanctity of the most deprivation, or dismissal from Church Law.
335-414), bishop of Remesiana, now Bela Palanka in present- serious crimes, which were Holy Sacrifice and Sacrament clerical state as mentioned in • Regulations concerning the
day Serbia. This zealous missionary bishop’s poetical talent was reserved to the CDF. Hence the of the Eucharist reserved to the c.1387); secrecy of trials are maintained,
acknowledged by contemporaries such as St. Jerome and St. title of the Norms attached to Congregation for the Doctrine of 5° the direct and indirect in order to safeguard the dignity
Paulinus of Nola, as well as Gennadius writing about 75 years the Motu Proprio. the Faith for judgment are: violation of the sacramental seal of all the people involved.
later. Nicetas’ authorship is attested by about 10 manuscripts, the Nine years after the 1° the taking or retaining by a confessor (with automatic
earliest from the 10th century and mostly of Irish origin. It is likely promulgation of the Motu for a sacrilegious purpose excommunication according to A Final Word on Judicial
that Ireland’s isolation could have kept alive an older attribution, proprio Sacramentorum or the throwing away of the c.1388, §1); Discretion (vs. Secrecy)
whereas in continental Europe the hymn was attributed to more sanctitatis tutela, the CDF felt consecrated species (with § 2. Also reserved to the CDF A point that remains
famous names such as St. Hilary and St. Ambrose. A more detailed it necessary to propose certain automatic excommunication is the more grave delict which untouched, though it has often
discussion of the question of authorship and translation of the text changes to these norms, not according to c.1367); consists in the recording, by been the subject of discussion
can be found in the online Catholic Encyclopedia. modifying the text in its entirety, 2° attempting the liturgical whatever technical means, or in in recent times, concerns the
The earliest evidence for the use of this hymn in the Divine but rather only in a few areas, a c t i o n o f t h e Eu c h a r i s t i c the malicious diffusion through Church’s collaboration with
Office is found in St. Caesarius of Arles in 502. St. Benedict (died in an effort to improve the Sacrifice, without having been communications media, of the civil authorities. We need to
526) also prescribed it for his monks. The general rubrics of application of the law. After promoted to the priestly order what is said in sacramental point out that the Norms under
today’s Divine Office direct the recitation of the Te Deum before a serious and attentive study (with automatic interdict or confession, whether true or discussion form part of the Penal
the concluding prayer of the Office of Readings on all Sundays of the proposed changes, the suspension according to c.1378, false, by the confessor or the Law of the Church, which is
outside of Lent, during the octaves of Easter and Christmas, and Cardinals and Bishops Members §2, 1º); penitent. Anyone who commits autonomous and distinct from
on solemnities and feasts. 3° the simulation of the such a delict is to be punished the Civil Law.
of the CDF presented the
It is also common to sing the Te Deum as a hymn of thanks- administration of Holy Eucharist according to the gravity of On this subject, however, it
results of their decisions to the
giving to God on special religious and civil occasions. Religious is important to take note of the
Supreme Pontiff and, on 21 May (with a just penalty according to the crime, not excluding, if
occasions would be such as the election of a pope, the consecra-
2010, Pope Benedict XVI gave c.1379); he be a cleric, dismissal or Guide to Understanding Basic
tion of a bishop, the canonization of a saint, religious profession,
his approval and ordered the 4° the concelebration of the deposition. CDF Procedures concerning
and other significant occasions.
promulgation of the revised Eucharistic with ministers Sexual Abuse Allegations, as
In many traditionally Catholic countries it is still common for
civil authorities to assist at a special Te Deum on occasion of a text. of ecclesial communities 3. Crimes against Holy Orders published on the Holy See
royal coronation or presidential inauguration, for peace treaties and The text of the Norms on which do not have apostolic (Art.5) website (cf. www.vatican.va) In
significant historical anniversaries. This tradition was sometimes delicta graviora currently in succession and do not The more grave delict of the that Guide, the phrase “Civil law
ruled by strict protocol. For example, when General Charles de force is the text approved by acknowledge the sacramental attempted sacred ordination concerning reporting of crimes
Gaulle triumphantly entered a liberated Paris during the Second the Holy Father Benedict XVI dignity of priestly ordination of a woman is also reserved to the appropriate authorities
World War the canons of Notre Dame Cathedral debated if the on 21 May 2010, and published (with a just penalty according to the Congregation for the should always be followed”
recognized French leader was also the legitimate head of state. by the Vatican press office last to cc.908 & 1365) Doctrine of the Faith: both the is contained in the section
The Te Deum could only be sung for the legitimate head of state, 15 July 2010. § 2. Also reserved to the one who attempts to confer dedicated to “Preliminary
and the legal situation was confused. Therefore, when the general Congregation for the Doctrine sacred ordination on a woman, Procedures”. This means that
entered the cathedral the canons diplomatically received him by Serious Crimes (Art.2, §1) of the Faith is the delict which and she who attempts to receive in the praxis suggested by the
singing the Magnificat. The new document starts by consists in the consecration for sacred ordination, incurs a latae CDF, it is necessary to comply
Finally, the Te Deum is traditionally sung on Dec. 31 in establishing the serious crimes a sacrilegious purpose of one sententiae excommunication with the requirements of law
thanksgiving for the year about to end. The Church grants a against the faith as heresy, matter without the other or even reserved to the Apostolic See in the various countries, and to
plenary indulgence to those who participate in public recitation apostasy and schism, as defined of both, either within or outside (1º); If the guilty party is a do so in good time, not during
of the Te Deum on this day. in c.751 and penalized with an of the eucharistic celebration. cleric he may be punished by or subsequent to the canonical
automatic excommunication by One who has perpetrated dismissal or deposition (3º) trial.

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 16
August 2 - 15, 2010
Unyielding against formidable enemies:
The T’bolis’ continuing quest to regain ancestral lands
By Erwin B. Quinones
FOR nearly two decades, the T’boli tribe
in Brgy. Ned, Lake Sebu and other tribes
elsewhere have been fighting against
land-grabbers and intruders in their
ancestral domain.
With resoluteness, the T’bolis
have stood their ground against the
encroachment of foreign and local
corporations whose greed for profit
has made them even more vicious to
extract raw materials from the lands of
indigenous peoples.
And while these tribes toil with
blood and sweat to make sure that
their families can eat at least one meal
every day, the government on the other
hand continues to be adamant in fast
tracking the entry of corporations in their
ancestral territories hopeful that these
investments will bring huge economic
benefits to the country notwithstanding
the fact that negative impacts outweigh
the so-called benefits.
With the new administration in
place, the indigenous people hope that
within President Benigno Aquino’s six
years’ term, their long desire to finally
repossess their entire ancestral domain
will be fulfilled.
They share the same aspiration among
indigenous peoples in other parts of the
country that P-Noy, who vowed that the
people will be his boss, would somehow
initiate sincere efforts to correct the
historical injustices which have been
inflicted upon them for more than 300
hundred years.
The story of the T’bolis in Barangay
Ned, Lake Sebu now needs to be re-told
if only to remind the government that
they have already suffered so much and
are now demanding respect that they
deserve from the government.
Tension in a coffee plantation
Tension gripped anew in sitio Datal
Bonlangon, Brgy. Ned, when armed men
with high powered rifles believed to be
company guards of the Consunji-owned
Silvicultural Industries Inc. (SII) were
seen frequenting their village, fearing
that violence will erupt soon as the
lumads vowed to defend their land by
all possible means.
SII operates the Dawang Coffee
Plantation by virtue of its Industrial
Forest Management Agreement (IFMA
22) awarded by the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) in 1991. It covers 11,862 hectares
in seven different blocks. The permit
was granted on April 29, 1991 and will
expire on December 31, 2016.
On the night of June 18, 2010, members
of the community who joined a night
watch in Datal Bonlangon spotted
armed men approaching their village.
The armed men however turned back
upon knowing that the night watchers
have noticed their presence.
Since then, they see company guards
patrolling day and night even in areas
outside the plantation and in the
peripheries of TAMASCO communities
especially in sitio Datal Bonlangon
where Datu Victor Danyan resides.
Danyan is the chairperson of the T’boli-
Manubo Sdaf Claimants organization
(TAMASCO). Reports of threats to
his life have been received by several
members of his community.
On July 9, 2010, SII personnel with
seven fully armed men entered Datal
Bonlangon, violating and disrespecting
the policy of the community that bans
outsiders from carrying firearms while
inside the area.
TAMASCO members also lament
that they can no longer pursue their
scheduled meetings for fear that these
armed men will harm them along the
way to their agreed meeting place.
The company allegedly beefed up
its security forces. Residents said they
saw a new batch of company guards,
numbering around 16, arriving in the
area on July 5, 2010.
There is no exact figure as to how
many company guards are already
detailed all throughout the plantation.
The community also claims that the
company keeps a sizeable number of
Features
high powered rifles (HPRs), fearing
that a private army is being formed to
secure the area.
A glimpse of their grim past
When Silvicultural Industries
Incorporated (SII) came and started its
aggressive campaign to displace the
lumads from their ancestral domains
in 1991, sitio Datal Bonlangon was no
longer at peace. Hectares of trees were
felled and the area was eventually
converted into a coffee plantation.
The community tried to resist the
intrusion but persistent threats and
harassments of company guards forced
them to flee the place in late 1991 and
sought refuge in Sitio B’lugsanay,
also of Brgy Ned, led by Datu Victor
Danyan. Others sought refuge in nearby
communities of Segowit, Tuburan and
Tawan Dagat.
During an all-evening, rain-drenched,
eight-hour evacuation hike, a child and
old man died along the way. And for
seven years, they settled in B’lugsanay
in their most precarious condition, scarce
food, no livelihood and the like. There
came a point where a mother has to
feed her son with sugarcane juice, and
has to exchange clothing for few sticks
of sugarcane. Children were forced to
stop schooling.
In December 2007, they decided to
Datu Victor Danyan, Chairperson of T’boli-Manubo S’daf Claimants Organization (TAMASCO) facilitates a meeting.
come back to Datal Bonlangon and
reclaim the land which they have
owned since time immemorial. Again
the company prevented them from
putting up huts and clearing patches of
lands. But Datu Victor and his members
stood their ground despite persistent
harassment.
Since their return to the community,
the T’bolis labored hard to till few
hectares of lands beside the coffee
plantation even as SII continued its
expansion to other TAMASCO areas like
Tawan Dagat and Tuburan without the
consent of the T’bolis.
Together with other community
leaders, Danyan also sought the help of
support groups like the Justice and Peace
Desk of the Diocese of Marbel (JP-Marbel),
Legal Rights Center (LRC) and later the
OND HESED Foundation for assistance
through livelihood projects, capacity
building programs and ancestral domain
delineation and management.
In 2006, they become “nomadic no
more” and “learn sustainable farming
to survive,” wrote Romer Sarmiento
of Businessworld in his article, T’bolis
Nomads No More.
The literacy and sustainable agriculture
projects implemented with the support of
HESED created an enormous difference
in their way of life and have significantly
increased their production.
Until now, communal farms still
provide the community enough food to
be served in their tables. Corn, cassava,
beans, nuts, fruit trees and other root
crops continue to grow and have even
provided them additional income.
“No expansion” agreement violated
On May 13, 2004 Silvicultural Industries
Inc. (SII) signed the memorandum of
understanding (MOU) that requires them
to “immediately stop its development/
expansion activities in the area except
forest protection activities of the
remaining residual forests”.
The Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) was entered into by and between
RED-DENR XII Mr. Jim O. Sampulna,
DAR-Region XII Director Mr. Nasser M.
Musali, CESO III, JP-Marbel Executive
Director Sr. Susan O. Bolanio, OND, and
NCIP South Cotabato Provincial Officer
Dr. Danilo Solamo.
But the T’bolis themselves are living
witnesses of the unhampered expansion
of SII. To date, it has already reached
Sitio Segowit, Tawan Dagat and Sitio
Tuburan, the other three communities
included in TAMASCO’s 2,200-hectare
ancestral claim.
Enter the deadly coal project
On October 2009, DOE signed COC
154 with DMC Construction Equipment
Resources Inc. (DMC CERI) awarding
them with an area of 3,000 hectares (3
blocks) located in the boundaries of
South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat. The
project area lies within and beyond the
ancestral territories of TAMASCO.
DMC CERI is but another Consunji
owned company.
On July 23, 2010, TAMASCO leader
Abelardo Wali reported via text message
that the company, without due notice
closed all plantation roads that lead
to TAMASCO communities and other
neighboring villages.
At the height of the IFMA issue in
late 90’s, Datu Victor Danyan and his
community were not allowed to use
these plantations roads.
It was only after a series of dialogues
facilitated by JP-Marbel and LRC that
SII allowed the community access to
these roads.
A formidable family?
The Consunjis are among the country’s
few historical elite who are well
entrenched economically and politically.
The family owns and controls a
number of corporations including those
engaged in logging, mining, plantations,
engineering and construction, urban
development and housing, holding
companies and power generation,
among others. David M. Consunji is
consistently in the Philippines’ top 20
list of richest Filipinos.
Semirara Mining Corporation for
example is the coal mining arm
of Consunji-led DMCI Holdings
Incorporated, while the Calaca Power
Plant in Calaca, Batangas is now under
DMCI Power Corporation.
B3
LRC-KsK/FoE Phils/Davao Regional Office
M & S Co., another Consunji affiliated lands into an Agrarian Reform despite
company also operates IFMA No. 20 our objection.”
covering 11,835 hectares. IFMA 20 was “We accepted DAR’s program in
issued of November 28, 1989 and will order for us to acquire a tenurial
expire on December 31, 2014. Another 988 instrument just so we may have peace
hectares of IFMA was awarded to Victor in our ancestral territories. But the
Consunji on April 15, 1993 and will expire government through its agencies, the
on April, 2015. The two IFMAs are also DENR and NCIP, has allowed Consunji
located in Sultan Kudarat Province. to incessantly encroach in our lands”.
Said IFMA projects have resulted to For Danyan, 18 years of waiting
strings of atrocities and human rights for the government to do something
violations in ancestral lands as reported about the intrusion is more than long
by journalist Joey R.B. Lozano in his enough but they have continued to
article titled Corporate Trees in 2004. The hope for appropriate government
article said the victims point to company interventions.
guards and contractors as responsible “And now comes these drilling
for the atrocities in the course of IFMA activities of another Consunji-owned
implementation. companyforcoalmining,thisgovernment
Facts of the said atrocities were is ramming their version of development
also investigated and documented by into our throat despite our opposition,
non-government organizations like this is already too much,” Danyan,
the Philippine Association for Inter- speaking in a local dialect, said.
cultural Development, Inc. (PAFID)
and even government agencies like the Right to say NO
Department of Environment and Natural Indigenous peoples’ rights advocates
Resources (DENR) and Commission on echoed Danyan’s sentiments saying that
Human Rights (CHR). the government has continued to turn a
The United Nations Special Rapporteur blind eye on the plight of the T’bolis in
on Indigenous Peoples even took notice of Barangay Ned.
the Datal Bonlangon story of injustice. “It seems that the government finds
In its 2004 report, it says that “In 1991 it difficult to respect the decision of the
the company representatives informed community not to allow the Consunjis
them that their land was part of a logging and San Miguel Corporation to mine their
concession area but that this would be ancestral domains,” said Sister Susan
Bolanio, OND of HESED Foundation.
HESED and the Legal Rights and
NaturalResources–KasamasaKalikasan/
Friends of the Earth Philippines (LRC-
KsK/FoE Phils) as well as the Social
Action Center of Marbel have been
assisting TAMASCO in its campaign to
reclaim and developed their ancestral
lands. TAMASCO has already filed an
application for CADT in 2002.
“We appeal to the new administration
to respect the decision of TAMASCO.
For the T’bolis, the coal mining projects
are unacceptable and detrimental to their
lives and livelihoods,” said Rosalinda
Latonio of LRC-KsK/FoE Phils.
“We are saddened by the fact that the
government is quick at fast tracking large-
scale extractive projects but is attending
to the needs of the indigenous peoples at
a snail pace,” Latonio added.
LRC-KsK/FoE Phils/Davao Regional Office
More trouble times up ahead
Datu Victor Danyan and his community
may also have to brace themselves for more
corporate onslaught. In March 2010 San
Miguel Corporation acquired 100 percent
of DAMI through its subsdiary, San Miguel
Energy. The Dept of Energy (DOE) has
awarded Coal Operating Contract (COC)
No. 126 to Daguma Agro-Minerals, Inc.
(DAMI) on November 19, 2002 with an area
of 2,000 hectares (or 2 coal blocks 380 and
a positive development because of the 381). The project is now at the production
building of new roads to transport their and development stage.
produce. Company representatives Coal block 380 and 381 encroach
made no reference to the planting of the ancestral territories of TAMASCO
coffee, much less the conversion of the particularly in areas of Tawan Dagat
area into a large coffee plantation.” and Tuburan.
Within seven months, trees were felled
until the area was completely logged Angat kefye...
over, it added. “Soon after, bulldozers The plight of TAMASCO and other
and other heavy machinery arrived and indigenous peoples elsewhere who
cleared the entire area of bananas, fruit suffer the same fate under the hands of
trees, native coffee and other locally seemingly formidable entities remain
grown plants including rattan to make uncertain even under the P-Noy
way for a coffee plantation. Only when administration.
the mechanized and massive clearing For TAMASCO, with unwavering
was in full swing did the people realize courage and greater resolve, they vowed
that their land had been taken away from to fight for their rights and pursue their
them,” the report said. dream of regaining their ancestral lands,
The report added: “Thereafter, they for their life and for angat kefye (T’boli
were prevented from tilling their farms term meaning future).
and those who attempted to do so were Their message is clear, respect their
harassed by company guards armed rights as a people and cancel IFMA 22
with carbines, armalites and rifles. Those and the coal contracts that encroach in
who tried to work on the company’s their ancestral lands.
clearings were fired at. Before long, the They expect nothing more from the
cleared areas were planted with arabica National Commission on Indigenous
and robusta coffee.” Peoples (NCIP) except to immediately
issue their Certificate of Ancestral
Government inaction Domain Titles (CADT).
Speaking in the dialect, Danyan said The Department of Environment
that “the government is hurting us more and Natural Resources (DENR) should
by not listening and by not respecting also heed their call for the immediate
our decisions not to allow mining or cancellation of IFMA 22.
any other development projects in our
ancestral land”. (Erwin B. Quinones is the Campaigns
Danyan laments that they “have been Paralegal of the Legal Rights and Natural
respectful of the Government’s action to Resources Center, Kasama sa Kalikasan,
them, like appropriating our ancestral Friends of the Earth.)
 Features
CBCP Monitor
B4 Vol. 14 No. 16
August 2 - 15, 2010

OFWs go on pilgrimage to Torreciudad

Filipino pilgrims join
pilgrimage in Altötting
By Fr. Adonis Narcelles, Jr. SVD

MORE than 300 Filipino pilgrims, mostly from Germany,

Austria and Switzerland made a pilgrimage to Altötting,
Bavaria, Germany to venerate the Black Madonna of Altötting
on July 24, 2010.
The first Filipino Pilgrimage of Philippine Communities
and Chaplaincies in Europe was led by Filipino chaplains Fr.
Johan Dumandan, Fr. Antonio Enerio SVD and Fr. Adonis
Narcelles Jr. SVD.
The Filipino pilgrim day in Altötting began with the Holy
Rosary and Marian Songs at 9 a.m. followed by the exposition of
the Blessed Sacrament for prayers and adoration until 1 p.m.
The pilgrims had a “Walk with Mary” to the Basilica of
St. Anne where the Holy Mass was celebrated by the three
chaplains. The huge church that can accommodate up to 8,000
pilgrims was constructed from 1910 until 1912.
Pilgrims representing Zurich, Bern, Luzern, Basel and
St. Gallen in Switzerland; Vienna and Salzburg in Austria;
Munich, Hannover, Mühldorf, Passau and Berlin in Germany

By Fr. Russell Bantiles
CONVERSION and interior peace
for many souls: these are mainly the
spiritual graces that St. Josemaría
Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei,
wished every pilgrim would
receive upon venerating Our Lady
dedication in Altoaragón, where
an 11th century Romanesque
image of Mary with the Child
Jesus on Her lap (an image also
known as Mary, Seat of Wisdom),
is venerated. This Marian temple,
promoted by the Founder of Opus
Dei, was opened for the cult since
1975 and has drawn thousands of
medieval tower which stands
over the Cinca river could be
appreciated near an ermita or an
old chapel where for more than
nine centuries, pilgrims venerate
the Marian icon. According to a
medieval document, “Civitas”
is the name Muslim invaders
gave to the bulwark (a solid
with her husband and two
children. Getting down the bus,
everyone could contemplate
the picturesque view of a
reddish temple against a bluish
background, with a complement
of some cumulus clouds above it.
A refreshing breeze of a 20º Celsius
temperature reminds everyone

participated in the lively and multilingual Holy Mass celebrated

at the Basilica. Filipino pilgrims coming from the United States
and the Philippines also joined the celebration.
After the Holy Mass, the pilgrims visited the Holy Places in
Altötting including the churches of St. Conrad and St. Mary
Magdalene, the Congregation Hall, the Parish Church of St. Philip
and James, the Adoration Chapel, St. Michael Church, the Stations
of the Cross and the Chapel of Grace (Gnadenkappelle) which
houses the much-venerated Black Madonna of Altötting.
The pilgrims gathered again at 6 p.m. at the Church of
Philip and James, which also celebrates 500th Anniversary of
its inauguration, for the blessing of religious articles and the
praying of the Holy Rosary. At 7 p.m., the group went to the
Church of St. Conrad, a saint from Altötting, for the evening
prayer. The pilgrimage ended with a Light Procession at 9

OFWs accompanied by Filipino priests

and the sanctuary rector carry in
procession the images of Our Lady of
Antipolo and Our Lady of Guadalupe.

of Torreciudad in Aragon, Spain.
“Graces that the Lord will give to
whoever venerates His Blessed
Mother in Her sanctuary; these are
the miracles I desire: conversion
and peace for many souls”, he
once said.
For the 235 OFW’s from
pilgrims each year.
Asthefivebusesthattransported
some 85 OFW’s from Tarragona
and 150 from Barcelona started
to escalate the winding road that
leads to the sanctuary, almost
everyone sighed at the sight of
the bright blue-colored water of a
wall-like structure raised for
defense) that they had which
they used to defend themselves
from Christians who wanted to
recover their territories. In 1084,
the Christians, once recuperated
the Aragón area, enthroned
the image of the Virgin Mary
that they are 3-4 hours away from
home. What was irresistible was
the strong temptation of settling
down in one place for sometime
and contemplate the precious
scenery. But the insistent voice of
the pilgrimage guide prompted
everyone to take their seats in

p.m. together with other pilgrims from around the world. RETABLO: the magnifi-
cent 8-scene altarpiece
Altötting is a main pilgrim site in Germany that receives provide an awesome
about 1.5 million pilgrims every year. The pilgrimage to the prayerful atmosphere
Black Madonna started as early as 1498. inside the temple.
A museum named House Pope Benedict XVI keeps the
treasures and historical artefacts of Altötting including a
collection of more than 2,500 rosaries and other gifts offered
to the Blessed Mother.
The pope’s birthplace, Marktl is only 18 kilometers away from
Altötting. The pontiff, who used to visit the Black Madonna
had expressed the importance of Altötting to him in saying:
“I am very lucky to have been born near Altötting and to go
on pilgrimages together with my parents and sibling to this
place of grace which formed part of my earliest and most
treasured memories.”
The Holy Father last visited the Black Madonna on September
11, 2006. Like Pope Benedict XVI, many Filipino pilgrims
who visited Altötting and Marktl in July 2010 expressed their
joy after this blessed experience and went home with “most
treasured memories.”

Tarragona and Barcelona, who
made a romería (pilgrimage) to
this Marian sanctuary last July 18,
2010, St. Josemaría’s wish came
true. Everybody was captivated
by the serenity and the prayerful
atmosphere of this secular Marian
deep pantano (a reservoir or lake
for the purpose of irrigation) that
serves as the perfect background
of the temple that appears light-
reddish under the rays of a
noontime summer sun.
From the road, ruins of a
in the Ermita, beside what was
then called “Turris Civitas”
(tower city); hence, the name
Torreciudad (in Spanish).
“Vale la pena venir aquí,
eh” (It’s worth coming here!),
said one mother, who came
the audiovisual room as a 20-
minute video orients them about
the place.
Somehow, the video
orientation contributed a lot
to the prayerful mood that the
OFWs / B7

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 16
August 2 - 15, 2010
Securing our Moral Heritage: Towards a Moral Society
(A Pastoral Exhortation on Proposed Bills on Sex Education and Reproductive Health)
THE divinely inspired words of the psalmist
in the Sacred Scriptures frame our reflections.
We wish to contribute towards our shared
dream to become a nation of integrity. We
write this letter on behalf of the community
of the faithful entrusted to our spiritual care.
We present our reflections to all men and
women of good will and address ourselves
particularly to the leaders and members of
the present government.
Corruption—the rejection of moral and
religious truths
“Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.”
“Without corruption, there will be no
poverty.” This was the political rallying cry
of our new President. It resonated deeply, and
still does, with the longing of our people for
truth and integrity, for a moral society.
Allow us to remind you of two timeless
and simple but profound truths:
1. At the foundation of the moral society is
a central religious truth – our divine origin
and our divinely-given identity as persons.
God created our inmost self, our inmost
being, and knit us in our mother’s womb. We
come from God. We are created by God. Our
capacity to understand truth and to love, our
capacity to have compassion for the weak and
for the feeble – these are divinely-endowed
wonders of ourselves, of the persons that we
are, wonderfully created unto God’s image
and likeness. To respect God’s creative act
and to be true to God’s image are at the heart
of being moral persons.
2. Real corruption is moral and spiritual
corruption. The rejection or disregard of
morality and religious belief is at the core of
corruption. Moral and spiritual corruption
breeds its kind in other spheres of life -
It was you who created my inmost self, and put me together in my mother’s womb;
for all these mysteries I thank you: for the wonder of myself, for the wonder of your
works (Psalm 139:13-14, Jerusalem Bible).
political, social, and economic.
Therefore, to get rid of corruption at all
levels of life we as a people must acknowledge
our origin from the creative power of God and
must be true to our identity as created unto
God’s image and likeness. This moral truth is
at the very foundation of a civilization of truth
and love, a humane society, a moral society.
To disregard moral and religious truths such
as this is to be defenseless to the onslaught
of corruption. In brief, we have to restore
and secure the moral heritage that governs
us as persons, our social relationships, and
our institutions.
All the faithful, clergy religious and laity,
and all our religious institutions are called
to proclaim these moral and religious truths.
It is our divine mission. Our action or lack
of action might sometimes, sadly, contradict
our call and weaken our credibility. But
realizing this with the deepest sorrow we
nonetheless cannot abdicate our duty and
mission. We have to vigorously proclaim
truth and integrity, combat corruption, and
help build up a moral society.
But the fight against moral and spiritual
corruption in our society is not only the
duty of the Church. It is also the duty
of the government. This is clear from
the Constitution: “The government is to
support parents in rearing the youth in the
development of moral character...,” (Art 2,
sec. 12) “…in the youth’s physical, moral,
spiritual, intellectual and social well-being,”
(sec. 13) “…in the school’s role in ethical
and spiritual values, development of moral
character and personal discipline.” (Art. 14,
sec. 3)
For this reason we address two concurrent
and related issues that bring serious
implications on the good of the faithful—on
you as parents, on young people and
ultimately on the family—the crucial building
block of society. These two issues are: sex
education and reproductive health.
1. SEX EDUCATION: “Adolescent
Reproductive Health Through Lifeskills-
Based Education”
Here are some news reports on sex
education that the Department of Education
has not disclaimed:
a. The aim of the sex education program is
to curb the population growth rate and reduce
HIV incidence among young Filipinos.
Statements
b. Beginning with the 5th grade, information
will be given on such topics as reproductive
systems, cycles, hygiene, gender identity, pre-
marital sex, sexually transmitted diseases.
c. Given the right information the hope is
that the children would make responsible
decisions.
We know that sex education concepts have
been in place since the 1970’s. The proposed
sex education program further highlights
and fortifies the concept that contraceptives
provide “safe and satisfying sex.” But the
following we also know:
a. The failures rates of contraceptives
against sexually transmitted diseases are
high.
b. Oral contraceptive pills are classified as
Group I carcinogenic, i.e., “there is sufficient
evidence of carcinogenicity.”
c. With its very liberal sex education
programs and its aggressive attitude in
pushing contraceptives and condoms for safe
sex, the United States still has the highest teen
birth rate, 93.0 per 1000, and one of the highest
rates of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI)
among teens in the industrialized world.
We reiterate that the Church is not against
sex education. But for reasons of morality
and religious faith, we strongly object to
the proposed sex education program. The
program is devoid of any substantive moral
and religious value formation. by poor delivery of social services, by unjust
By its nature, human sexuality is a sacred
gift from God and is destined for a divine
purpose. Moral and religious value formation
is, therefore, absolutely indispensable in
appreciating and treasuring human sexuality.
This divine gift must not be taught in a
manner emptied of its deep spiritual and
moral dimension.
In matters of character formation and
nurturance in moral values, it is the parents
who possess the fundamental and natural
right and duty, a right acknowledged in the
Constitution, a right which government may
not take away and arrogate unto itself.
Lessons on human sexuality are lessons
about love, most importantly about God’s
gift of love manifested in the total sexual
dimension of the human person. In the
familial setting of a human trinity, father,
mother, and child, there is a sincere and
palpable gift of self and love from the parents.
In the family, the lessons of love through
human sexuality can be learned with respect
and awe for the “wonder of God’s work.”
Such setting and such manner of teaching
will not be found in a classroom sex education
program designed simply to inform and not
form. Sex education has to impart a sense of
the sacredness of the gift of human sexuality.
For sex education to be proper, conscience
formation, moral and spiritual guidance must
be integrated with the whole process.
2. REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH: “The
Reproductive Health and Population and
Development Act of 2010” (HB 96)
House Bill 96 is substantially the same
Reproductive Health Bill formerly known
as HB 5043.
With the utmost concern and urgency
we express our strong objection to the
fundamental aspects of House Bill 96. The
basis of our moral objection is once again the
central religious truth of the divine origin
and divine image of the human person, of
one’s being and life.
Like its predecessor the main purpose of
House Bill 96 is to make barren what is by
nature fruitful and generative of human life. It
promotes contraceptive barriers, techniques,
supplies, and services that control fertility as if
it were a disease. Science has proven that some
contraceptives render the mother’s womb
inhospitable, thereby causing abortion. And
abortion, as Pope John Paul II has cited in
“Evangelium Vitae,” the Gospel of Life,
was the instrument of the first systematic
population control program by a dominant
power on a poor slave population, as narrated
in the book of Exodus (cf. Ex. 1: 8-22).
Moreover the Constitution protects “the
life of the mother and the life of the unborn
from conception” (Art. II, Sec. 12). And
conception is the moment of fertilization. At
implantation the new life is already a seven-
day old human being.
For this reason, if its ambiguous stand on
contraceptives that are not abortifacients is
corrected in favor of moral truth, a house bill
such as the new House Bill No. 13 (An Act
Providing for the Safety and Protection of
the Unborn Child and for Other Purposes) is
laudable. This bill seeks to make operational
the Constitution’s Declaration of Principles
and State Policies, where it indicates that “the
State recognizes the sanctity of family life and
shall protect the life of the mother and the life
of the unborn from conception.” (Ibid.)
Population and Poverty
Many people think that to reduce poverty
it is necessary to control population. We
would raise serious questions regarding this
opinion. Does this opinion not have a certain
bias against the poor? In population control
are not the real targets the millions of poor
families whose numbers must be reduced?
Moreover, it is our belief that the causes
of poverty are complex. We believe that
poverty is caused by flawed development
philosophies, plans and priorities, by
corruption, by inequitable wealth distribution
and access to economic resources and benefits,
economic policies, and by imbalances in our
political structures that favor the few and
powerful over the many poor. It is social
injustice that is at the root of poverty. And
social injustice is simply another name for
moral and spiritual corruption, the jettisoning
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
of moral and spiritual values from private
and public life.
If this is so, would not the overwhelming
attention to control population be a
convenient way to ignore the greater causes
that keep our poor people below the poverty
line? These are the causes of poverty, the
removal of which would comprehensively
transform our social order and establish
social justice.
Conclusion
To plan our families is, indeed, a Christian
value and responsibility. This is why we
support the couple’s desire for the planning
and proper spacing of their children
through natural family planning programs
in our dioceses. A contraceptive-oriented
population control program is not the moral
way. Even if powerful organizations in the
world might imperiously and ideologically
promote and fund such programs we would
still object. For we believe that such programs
contradict our moral and religious beliefs.
Moral truth is not created by the powerful or
by popular opinion. Moral truth is what God
wills from the Sacred Scriptures, interpreted
and taught authentically by the Church’s
teaching authority.
The constitutional protection of the unborn
child from the first instant of conception is
a legacy given to us some twenty years ago
during the presidency of President Corazon
C. Aquino. In spite of all the foreseeable
opposition of politicians and powerful lobby
groups, we pray that President Aquino’s
moral legacy could be finally and fully
realized during the term of her son, President
Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III.
May the Good Shepherd, who himself was
raised in a family, bless your family and every
child who is nurtured in your homes. May
Mary, the Queen of the Family, enlighten and
inspire our new leader to build a nation of
truth and integrity, a truly moral society.
For the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines:
+ NEREO P. ODCHIMAR, D.D.
Bishop of Tandag
President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
the Philippines
July 24, 2010
B5
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
An Open Letter to President
Benigno Aquino III
His Excellency
BENIGNO SIMEON C. AQUINO, III
President of the Republic of the Philippines
New Executive Building, Malacañang Palace Compound
J. P. Laurel St., San Miguel, Manila
Your Excellency,
We, the Catholic Bishops of the Philippines, join the whole
nation in greeting you and welcoming you as the new and
duly elected president of our country. Together with others,
we are hopeful that your presidency will usher in needed
changes in our country. We are especially happy that you have
declared it as your policy to listen to the people. As bishops
in dioceses all over the country, we are privy to many things
that happen among our people, especially among the poor
and the voiceless.
Emboldened by your openness, we appeal to you to protect
and conserve our natural resources. For more than a decade
now, we are asking our government to put a stop to large-scale
mining since this not only permanently damages the delicate
balance of our natural environment, but it also makes our small
farmers, fisher folks and indigenous peoples suffer.
We question the neo-liberal pitch that there is no other path
to development except through further economic liberalization,
especially in the mining industry. The CBCP calls for changing
the way we manage and develop our natural resources. Our
bias for the use of our resources should be for Filipinos and
not for foreigners. We are calling for the abrogation of the
Mining Act of 1995 that do not adequately protect the interest
of our people and the country’s natural resources.
As if the Mining Law of 1995 is not bad enough, it has been
made more harmful by EO 270-A, better known as the National
Policy Agenda on Revitalizing Mining in the Philippines,
decreed by former President Macapagal-Arroyo in 2004. It is
within your capacity, Mr. President, to revoke this executive
order to give a strong signal to our people that now you have
the genuine good of the Filipinos at heart.
Furthermore, we call for review of all anomalous and
controversial mining contracts. We cannot move forward if
we fail to rectify previous contentious contracts the state has
entered into with mining investors. Connected with this is the
request to make public all existing mining applications and
contracts. The people and NGOs are not able to scrutinize
the applications and contracts because these are kept from
the public. We are expecting this new government to turn
away from the policy of secrecy that characterized the
previous administration. The best instruments we could use in
safeguarding the interests of our nation are transparency and
sincerity in heeding the voice of the people who are the true
beneficiaries and stakeholders of the country’s resources. The
promotion of participatory governance guarantees check and
balance on government decisions and policies. You have clearly
declared that as public servants, you and your colleagues in
the government are ultimately accountable to the people.
Pursuant to the continuing effort of the DENR to revitalize
its environmental conservation and protection strategies, we
also ask your commitment to spearhead the reform in DENR
bureaucracy and weed the corrupt officials in its national
and local agencies. In light of bureaucratic reform, we would
like to highlight the principle of subsidiarity. We have many
experiences of local governments refusing the entry of mining
and even passing a moratorium on mining operations, but only
end up not being recognized at the national level. Similarly, we
also ask that an appropriate disciplinary measure be imposed
upon local DENR officials who try to suppress the legitimate
objections of the stakeholders by preventing their complaints
from reaching the attention of the national office.
We deeply appreciate your commitment towards
accountability and transparency, the hallmarks of your
government’s platform. We pray that the same level of
commitment would reverberate to your office’s pursuit for
environmental justice.
With my paternal blessing and cordial regards.
In Christ,
+NEREO ODCHIMAR, D.D.
Bishop of Tandag
President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
(CBCP)
12 July 2010
 Ref lections
CBCP Monitor
B6 Vol. 14 No. 16
August 2 - 15, 2010

The Assumption: We pray

to our Mother in Heaven
Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary;
Lk 1:39-56, August 15, 2010
By Fr. Joseph Pellegrino
ALTHOUGH the dogma of the
Assumption is a relatively new
declaration by the Church, made by
Pope Pius XXII in 1950, the belief in
the Assumption is one of the oldest and
first beliefs in the Church regarding
Mary. Instead of using the word
Assumption, though, the early Church
used the word, Dormition. Mary fell
asleep in God’s hands where she
remains united with Him in heaven.
Actually, the Assumption of Mary was
one of the most popular themes in the
religious art of the medieval times.
In those days when plague and class
turmoil dominated life, the people
were reminded that just as Mary is in
www.luckytucker76.files.wordpress.com
man became the instrument of death,
by rejecting God, the new Adam,
Jesus Christ, became the instrument
of life.
It is in this light that we come to
an understanding of the Assumption
of Mary into heaven. Her death was
a transformation from this life to the
next. She is the model Christian who
heard the Word of God and lived it.
She carried the life of God within her,
celebrated the life of her Son on earth
and in His resurrection, and is united
to His life for all eternity.
The bottom line of the feast is this:
Mary is in heaven. The one who is our
mother is with God for all eternity.
Our prayers to Mary are the prayers
of children asking their mother for
help. We pray to Mary because she is
Jesus gave Mary to us to be our
Mother. He wants us to call upon our
Mom in times of need. She wants us to
call upon her for help. And that is what
we are doing today. We are praying
to our mother Mary to help us. Help
our country make moral choices. Help
our people to ascend beyond the sex
culture. Help us to reflect her Son’s
Love to all.
We Catholics have got to stop
being over concerned with the
misinterpretations and out and out
lies perpetuated by anti-Catholics,
sadly, some of whom claim to be
Christian. We don’t worship Mary.
We do pray to her. We recognize her
love and care in our lives. We say the
Rosary meditating on the mysteries of
her Son and asking Mary to pray for us

God’s hands, the faithful Christian will
join God.
In the second reading for the vigil,
St. Paul states that death is swallowed
up by the victory of Jesus. Physical
death is a transformation from one
manner of living to another. A few
verses before this reading, we have the
second reading for the feast itself. In
this Paul explains that since the first
our mother. When we were little and
we fell down and scraped out knees,
we called out to our mommies. When
we got older we stopped calling out to
our moms in time of minor difficulties,
but when major traumas hit, when a
girl loses a baby, when a young man
learns that he has cancer, it is usually
Mom who is still the first person called
upon for help.
sinners. We recognize that it is Jesus’
life and power that saves us, but we also
recognize that Mary was given to us at
the foot of the cross as our mother. We
call upon her to pray to her son, Jesus,
to extend the various manifestations of
His Love to us.
O Mary, Assumed into heaven, pray
for us, your children, who are fighting
the attacks of sin.

Fr. Francis Ongkingco

WHATEVER

The Givens and the Gifts

THE basic algebra teacher was
showing her students how to
solve an equation. “Now class,
pay attention to what I’m about
to teach.” She neatly scribbled a
formula on the board.
“We have the following
equation. We are supposed to
solve for z. Now, in order to
do this, we have the help of the
following givens: x = 5 and y
= 10.” She paused to see if her
students we following her.
“With these known variables,
we are going to solve for….”
“Excuse me, miss,” a student
raised his hand.
“Yes, Arnold, what is it you
don’t understand?” she adjusted
her glasses.
“Miss, I’m wondering why are
they called ‘givens’?”
“Because they’re constants,”
she paused when she realized her
definition was not fully grasped
by the children’s wrinkled
brows.
“I mean, they are fixed values,
in other words, they don’t
change. They are necessary to
solve for the unknown variable
or variables in an equation.”
“Okay,” Arnold said, “but who
gives them?”
***
Life is also like an equation,
though not tackled exactly in a
mathematical way, which we
have to solve. There are also
givens and unknowns in life. The
solution to life is finding these
unknown variables with what we
already have by converting them
into occasions to grow more in
our love for God and the others.
Our life on earth has only one
answer or final solution: going
to Heaven.
The givens of life come in
varying forms and degrees.
They can either be positive or
negative. They differ according
to each person’s circumstances.
They normally do not change
overnight, and even for a lifetime.
We are aware of them and we can
either learn to grow through them we are beset by the many or that the neighbor’s howling also grow in the other areas that
or be bullied by their weight. For uncontrollable or unforeseen dog won’t just fold up and die. we had previously neglected.
example, the temperament that events around us. Thus, at the As we’ve previously pointed Some more example of these
God has given us or the particular end of the day many of us would out, our effort to avoid giving in gifts are: discovering God’s
family circumstances we were be personally fulfilled if we have to our impatience is something Fatherly mercy and compassion
born into. on managed to greatly curb our valuable. Surely, however, this expressed through our patience
Added to this personal sphere impatience towards bad traffic or isn’t all that God wants me to towards our neighbor, learning
of givens is another layer of an incompetent colleague. work on for the rest of my life? to discover and receive the
fixed situations in the form of The constant struggle to This is the moment to open our true gifts that come from
unique socio-cultural structures. maintain our patience through eyes and hearts to the gifts that within various moments in
There are, for example, the weeks, months and years is God stores behind every given life in the form of the Gifts of
overwhelming trends of hyper- indeed something noteworthy. whether positive or negative. the Holy Spirit (i.e. wisdom,
urbanization, maddening traffic This continuous and sincere effort What else could we gain in understanding, fortitude, piety,
behavior and conditions, the is also a kind of a given. There is, living the virtue of patience? etc), and deepening our love for
harmful levels of environmental however, one small problem in There is the motive behind for the Eucharist when we use these
pollutants, etc. These conditions this desire to improve: limiting living this virtue: to consider daily givens to prepare our hearts
also are not reversed or resolved ourselves only to this particular how a son of God should not be to receive Jesus in a purer way
in one go. given. We end up thinking that easily perturbed by such small in Holy Communion.
Now when these various this is all there is to struggle for nuisances, the pious act of praying This constant attitude of finding
constants engage a person, in life and we overlook the gifts for the persons or situations that the gifts behind the givens cannot
there comes to play in him a set behind the givens. can try us, or the initiative to be reduced to a simple optimistic
of given attitudes, convictions Let’s further develop the foresee such “undesirable events” attitude in life. Seeking to find the
and reactions. Let’s take the example of patience. We might and already propose a possible gift is not discovering something,
example of a personal negative have the common complaint solution beforehand. but encountering and loving
constant called impatience or that the helper didn’t do as she In seeking the deeper gifts someone. It is being transformed in
to be more positive, the effort was told, that the driver once behind the givens we actually the process, when the givens allow
to moderate our temper. Our again took the wrong route, grow not only in one aspect of our us to be truly gifts of ourselves to
patience is put to the test when that the class was superboring, personality and spiritual life. We God and the others.

Bo Sanchez

SOULFOOD Bishop Pat Alo

Say thank you
often
WHEN I was a kid, I sort of liked getting
sick.
Honest.
Not only because I could miss school
and stay home. I liked being sick because
Mom would bring me milk and cookies
as I stayed in bed.
In all the times I got sick as a kid (which
was about every other month), I never
saw my Mom get too tired not to serve
me, or feed me, or fuzz over me. In my
mind, the earth may shake, the moon
melt, and the sun explode, but she was
the one thing in this universe that will
never ever change.
Many years later, already as a lay
missionary, I remember getting terribly
sick. And there she was, just as if the
decades folded up into mere days, as
she went up to my room for her hourly
visits, bringing food, warm clothes,
medicine, prayer, etc. Again, it felt good
having a loving mother to watch over
me. All I had to do was ask, and she’d
be there for me.
But this time, as her visits progressed,
I noticed how she entered my room
almost panting, her breath short, her
words faint, her movements slow. I
also read in her eyes the acceptance of
a painful loss: for the first time, she was
discovering that she couldn’t care for me
much longer.
My suspicions were right. A few days
later, she tearfully shared with me her
emotional realization. “I’m just getting
ENCOUNTERS
older, Bo. I got so tired these past few
days caring for you. I began thinking
that perhaps it’ll be good for you to get
married and have a wife now.” That
Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace
was the first time she ever said that to
me—someone who for years always WE hear of the Lipa, Batangas apparitions at a Carmelite advocate.
wanted me to be a priest. Monastery when Our Lady described herself as the Certainly, it is not contrary to God’s plan that a
One day, Mom got sick. A rare event Mediatrix of all grace. That was in 1984. With Jesus creature, close to the Lord in holiness of life, would be
when it happens. So I went to her and under Jesus she holds an intercessory role to help instrumental in man’s salvation. That was also clearly
room, sat beside her, and chatted about us, poor and sinful mortals, reach our final destination stated by the late Pope John II in his book: Crossing the
everything she wanted to talk about. and goal, the heavenly kingdom with God our Father, Threshold of Hope (page 221). “On this universal level,
(To her, talking to me is better than all and His beloved Son Our Lord Jesus Christ. This title if victory comes it will be brought by Mary. Christ will
the milk and cookies in the world.) I felt as Mediatrix is not contradictory but rather correlative conquer through her, because He wants the Church’s
good just being beside her. to her many other approved titles which you find in victories now and in the future to be linked to her”. In
I’m writing this to you, Mom. her litany, for example, Mother of God, Mother of the fact the implication of the very last instruction of Jesus
I know I travel a lot and I’m rarely Church, Mother of divine grace, Virgin most powerful, before His heavenly Ascension is that everyone of us
at home, because that’s the life of a Virgin most merciful, Mother of our Creator, Health of (as one body of Christ, cf. 1 Cor. 12) under guidance of
missionary. And I do thank you for your the sick, Help of Christians, Queen conceived without the Church do our utmost in proclaiming and living
all-out support for me in my decision to original sin, Queen of all saints… The early Fathers of the message of Jesus Christ. And if the principle is true-
serve the Lord. the church, throughout their writings, saw in Mary the contra factum non valet argumentum (translate: You
But if you do get sick, and no one’s new Eve, which was mentioned in the Book of Genesis don’t argue against facts), as He had promised He will
at home to give you milk and cookies, I (3:15), and who was to be closely united in the work of provide signs and wonders to accompany the work of
want you to know that all you have to do Redemption with the new Adam, Christ, and as the first proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ. You can
is call me, and I’ll be there for you. Yes, Eve was in truth the cause of the spiritual death for all only go over and investigate the history of the Catholic
we can talk as much as you want. humanity, so Mary is the cause of the supernatural life Church and the many recognized saints of Christianity
You’re the best mother I can ever for the human race. to see how the Lord gives His signs and miracles. “And
wish for. In May 3-7, 2005 a good number of Cardinals, Bishops, he said to them, Go out to the whole world; proclaim
You may be too old to care for me the and prominent theologians gathered in Fatima, Portugal the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is
way you did, but I’m old enough to care to attend the Symposium on Mary as Unique Cooperator baptized will be saved, he who does not believe will be
for you now. in the Redemption. The Symposium was sponsored and condemned. These are the signs that will be associated
In my pride, I don’t show it as much directed by Cardinal Telephore Toppo, Cardinal Luis with believers: in my name they will cast out devils;
as I should, but I just want you to know Aponte Martinez, Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, C.S.S.R., they will have the gift of tongues; they will pick up
that I love you, Mom. Cardinal Edouard Gagnon, P.S.S., Cardinal Ricardo snakes in their hands, and be unharmed should they
I really, really do. Vidal, Cardinal Ernesto Corripio Ahumada. The topics drink deadly poison; they will lay their hands on the
You have given me your life. included Mary’s role as Mediatrix, co-redemptrix and sick who will recover.’ (Mk. 16:16-20).
I thank you.
 Social Concerns
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 16
August 2 - 15, 2010
B7

Helping the hungry feed themselves

By Fr. Shay Cullen
MY first encounter with death by
starvation was in Olongapo City many
years ago when I was called out to bless
a dead child. I was led to the hovel made
of cartons and plastic sheet where the
three year old was about to be buried. I
found a little girl about in a cardboard
box covered with dress cut out of paper.
It was all the emaciated mother could
afford. The family hadn’t eaten in days.
It led me to ask why and what could I
do to prevent it.
That quest pulled me out of the comfort
of the church rectory into the farms and
factories, onto the streets and into the
harsh realities of poor people’s lives
and to understand better the causes of
poverty and led to me to start Fair-trade
projects all over the Philippines. How
could I be content to eat well everyday
and enjoy food security when millions
went hungry? It led me to look closely
at the social teachings of the church
and realize that faith in the God’s given
dignity of the human person is only real
when it leads to action for justice that
will uplift the downtrodden and lead
to a life of dignity for all.
In the Philippines about 200 families
own or control 70% of the wealth. They
control the congress and the army
ensures their survival. Only a handful
of rich families, politicians, and tycoons
own or control most of the private
arable land in The Philippines while
the majority goes landless and hungry.
For example, seven out of 10 peasants
still do not own land while less than
1/3 of landowners own more than
80% of agricultural land. Not only has
the land reform project (CARP) failed,
only a fraction (17%) of the 1.5 million
hectares of private lands has been fairly
redistributed to the tenants who worked
the land. The previous government of
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo negotiated
a 25-year lease with South Korea for
94,000 hectares of prime arable land in
Mindoro for food production for South
Koreans while Filipinos went landless
and hungry.
Since the rapid increase in commodity
prices world-wide three years ago, rice
has remained at an all-time high in the
Philippines. Small farmers did not benefit,
fertilizer and pesticide costs rose, millions
of pesos designated to help subsidize
the inputs were allegedly siphoned off
to support the reelection of (a former)
president. Besides the government did
not offer higher prices to farmers to grow
more rice, instead they imported millions
of tones of rice and allowed traders to
manipulate the prices by hoarding. So
as usual, the rich are getting richer on
the hunger of the poor.
There are a billion hungry people in
the world today, most of them in Asia
at 642 million, in Sub-Saharan Africa 265
Million, Latin America and the Caribbean
53 Million, Near East and North Africa
42 Million and developed countries
15 million. Children suffer most from
this global malnutrition. If they don’t
get the basic food intake between one
to three they are brain damaged and if
they survive will join millions of children
that are unable to learn and remain
uneducated and can never have a decent
job and a life of dignity.
Undernourished children are sick
160 days of the year and this leads
directly to the death of an estimated 5.4
million children every year. Another
5 million children die because of
www.unescap.org
preventable diseases diarrhea (61%),
malaria (57%), pneumonia (52%), and
measles (45%) which do their deadly
damage because the children are so weak
from undernourishment.
Three years ago, almost 33 percent of
Filipinos were living below the poverty
line. Now it is even worse because of the
recession. As of 2005, 10.8 percent of the
country’s population survive on just $1
a day, and another 41.2 percent make
do with less than $2 daily.
This is the greatest challenge that
faces the Aquino administration. It also
challenges all people of good will and
non-government agencies to continue
to work helping the poor to grow food
and develop livelihoods.
(Contact Fr. Shay Cullen at the Preda
Center, Upper Kalaklan, Olongapo City,
Philippines. e-mail: preda@info.com.ph)

What is needed for change?

OFWs / B4

pilgrims maintained as they Spanish language course –

By Denis Murphy
URBAN poor people are
astonished at the remarkable
speed with which landowners
and corrupt government officials
have continued with their illegal
forced evictions and demolition
of poor families’ houses without
relocation. Only a day after
the country’s new president
promised a great concern for
justice and the poor, the evictions
began.
Clearly the landowners and
officials don’t think anything has
or will change. They believe it
will be business as usual.
One of the on-going evictions
is especially poignant. People
living near the Tullahan River in
North Fairview are ordered out
of their homes. If they destroy
their homes and move away,
they get P21,000. If they resist this
illegal practice, they will simply
be demolished by the city. In no
case is there any relocation as
prescribed by law. In this area
Myrna Porcare and her 18-year
old son were shot to death by
security guards last October,
because she tried to protect her
home from demolition. She was
the leader of the people of that
area. Her son was shot when he
came to the aid of his mother. The
trial of the guards is on-going.
To honor Myrna, her son, and
all poor people who struggle for
just treatment, she was selected
as the Urban Poor Person of the
Year for 2009 at a special mass in
the Manila Cathedral celebrated
by Bishop Broderick Pabillo.
What is truly alarming in this
matter is the brash disregard
shown by the landowners
and government officials for
President Noynoy’s promise
to end government that is
“indifferent to the appeals of the
people.” He warned officials not
to continue “the crooked ways
that have become the norm for
so long.” Clearly the powerful
landowners and public officials
involved will not be stopped by
words alone.
Traditional unjust practices
continue, even as urban planners
inside and outside government
and the urban poor are moving
toward consensus on what
principals must guide the renewal
of the slums. For example, at a
recent meeting of 50 such people
at the World Bank Offices on July
2 the participants agreed there
should be no more relocation
outside the cities; all relocation
should be in-city. The group
also agreed that upgrading or
improving urban poor areas in
the city, rather than relocation
outside the city should be the
major tactic of government in
addressing the problems of
our slums. If the government is
prepared to improve the slums,
it has at hand agreement on the
policies needed.
The number of urban poor in
our society is now just above 21
million persons (UN Habitat), or
about 20% of the total national
population. There is need,
therefore, for housing officials
who can act with foresight, justly
and rapidly.
There is also need for an
official, or an office that will
be tasked with coordinating all
government services for the poor.
The task of such an official would
be to make sure the poor receive
all the services due them: piped
water, legal electric connections,
improved schooling, health
services and similar benefits,
including job opportunities.
It is clear to anyone who works
with the urban poor that projects
move ahead more quickly if the
poor people are in support of the
projects. Agreement on the plans
to be pursued is possible. There
may be need for negotiation,
but there is hope for agreement.
The poor want good solutions as
much as government, and they
are very practical. If something
is really not possible, they will
not insist it be done. They expect
substantial action. They take
election promises seriously.
The poor have long appreciated
the Catholic Bishop’s Conference
of the Philippines Statement on
the Nation’s Housing Problem
that summarizes the Church’s
basic teaching on our urban
poor.
“Our urban poor people, as
human beings and children of
God, have basic human rights
to clean and inexpensive water,
decent houses, communities free of
stagnant disease-ridden water, and
uncollected garbage. They have a
right to security of tenure, to be
free of a constant threat of eviction
and fire, and very importantly,
they have the right to organize
themselves to seek solutions to
their problems in a democratic and
a non-violent manner.
“Despite their own efforts and
those of many groups, including
government and the Church, we
cannot say our urban poor people
enjoy these rights today.
“We are all compelled to do
everything possible to remedy
this situation. We must all work
that all may have their own
homes that are suitable for God’s
persons who are made in God’s
image and likeness. We cannot
achieve complete success in a
short time—we lack resources
for one thing—but we can do
something.” (January 28, 2007)
A house suitable for God’s
persons. That is the challenge.
(Denis Murphy works with the
Urban Poor Associates. E-mail:
upa@pldtdsl.net)
solemnly entered in procession to
the sanctuary’s temple. Four men
carried on their shoulders the
statue of Our Lady of Antipolo,
also known as Our Lady of Good
Voyage. In front goes the image
of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
the patron saint of Tarragona
Filipino Catholic Community,
organized barely more than a
year ago. Fr. Javier de Mora-
Figueroa, the sanctuary’s rector,
led the procession, accompanied
by four Filipino priests, namely,
Fr. Russell Bantiles (Davao), Fr.
Allan Rodriguez (Davao), Fr.
Elizar Cielo (Ipil) and Fr. Emil
Larano (San Pablo).
Entering the temple, the
pilgrims were mesmerized by
a magnificent alabaster Retablo
(reredos or altarpiece), designed
by a famous Catalan sculptor,
Juan Mayné, in the Plateresque-
Renaissance style of Damián
Forment. The 9.5 meters wide
and 14.5 meters tall Retablo
took three years to finish (1972-
1975). It has eight groups of
sculptures, following the classical
iconographical criteria and
some explicit indications of St.
Josemaría and representing
episodes from the life of the
Virgin Mary, namely: the
Betrothal of Mary with Joseph,
the Annunciation of Gabriel, the
Visitation of Mary to Her cousin
Elizabeth, the Adoration of the
Shepherds, the Flight to Egypt,
the Workshop in Nazareth, the
Crucifixion of the Lord and the
Coronation of Mary.
At the center just above the
Crucifixion scene is the Blessed
Sacrament adored by four angels.
Below it is the Camarín of Our
concelebrated the Mass with me
in Tagalog, which ended with the
symbolic offering of children by
their parents. This custom dates
back to the famous episode in the
life of St. Josemaría Escrivá.
In 1904, Josemaría was two
years old when a deadly sickness
struck him which the doctors said
he would not survive the next
morning. His mother, Dolores,
pleaded the Blessed Virgin and
promised to offer the child in a
pilgrimage to Our Lady if She
would cure him.
The next day, when the
doctors asked: “At what time
the child died?” they were very
surprised upon discovering
that he recuperated. Josemaría’s
parents, then, brought him to the
Ermita and offered him to Our
Lady. In 1956, the founder of
Opus Dei wanted to express his
gratitude to this great favor and
wished to spread the devotion
to Our Lady of Torreciudad by
constructing a sanctuary.
After the sumptuous lunch, the
Tarragona pilgrims presented
various folk dances and Filipino
songs. A video on the visit of
Monsignor Javier Echevarría,
the Prelate of Opus Dei, to the
Philippines in 1998, gave the
pilgrims some ideas on the
apostolate that the personal
prelature is doing in the
archipelago.
The romería or pilgrimage
ended at 6:00 p.m. with the
meditation of one of the three
parts of the Holy Rosary (two parts
were prayed during the round
trip) and the benediction with the
Blessed Sacrament. A quick visit
to the Ermita, while enjoying the

CBCPMonitor Name _________________________________________________

(Family Name) (Given Name) (Middle Name)
Lady, a little cubicle where the
statue of the Virgin with the
Child is venerated. The spiritual
beautiful scenery along the way
was worth the sweat. Everybody
ended up dog-tired but with a
awe that the Retablo inspires smile on the face.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES Mailing Address _______________________________________________ was accompanied by the warm “We must do it again next
welcome of the rector. year”, said one couple who live
_________________________________________________ At twelve noon, all the pilgrims in Tarragona. “Ay, sayang, hindi
Phone No.: ________ Fax No.: ________ E-mail: ___________ went down to the Confession ako nakasama”, (What a regret
The CBCP Monitor is published chapels located just below the having missed the occasion!)
fortnightly by the CBCP Media Mode of Payment temple for the administration said one lady, to which a cheerful
Office, with editorial and busi-  Check/PMO enclosed  Cash Payment of the sacrament. A total of 40 señora retorted: “You don’t know
ness offices at 470 Gen. Luna confesonarios (or confessional what you’ve missed!”
(Payable to: CBCP Communications Development Foundation Inc.)
St., Intramuros, Manila. PO Box cubicles) are distributed in three
3601, 1076 MCPO chapels dedicated to various (Fr. Russell Bantiles is helping
• Domestic _____________________________ Marian advocacies like Our the OFWs of Tarragona organize
Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady and form a Catholic Community
1 Year Php 500.00 Signature of Loreto and Our Lady of where all members could lead good
2 Years Php 900.00 Pillar. For an hour, various Christian lives. Twice a month,
• Foreign: Asia pilgrims received the Sacrament the community celebrates the Holy
1 Year US$ 55.00 of Reconciliation administered Eucharist and the Sacrament of
• All Other US$ 80.00 PLEASE SEND TO: by the five priests, in English, Confession in Tagalog, and receives
Tagalog and Spanish. catechism in the parish church of St.
CBCP Monitor, P.O. Box 3601, Manila, Philippines
Fr. Allan and Fr. Elizar—who John the Baptist. For a virtual tour of
470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila, Philippines | Tel (632) 404-2182 • Telefax (632) 404-1612 just recently arrived from the the sanctuary, click this link: http://
Or e-mail this at cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.com Philippines to start their intensive www.torreciudad.org )
 B8 Entertainment CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 16
August 2 - 15, 2010

Moral Assessment Technical Assessment

 Abhorrent  Poor
 Disturbing  Below average

 Acceptable  Average

 Wholesome  Above average

 Exemplary  E
xcellent

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice opens
with a flashback to the Middle
Ages, when wizard Balthazar
Blake (Nicholas Cage), a pupil of
Merlin, the legendary medieval
wizard, has been tasked to
watch for the emergence of the
prophesied successor of Merlin
Year 2000, grade schooler Dave
Stutler (Jake Cherry) accidentally
discovers a store called Arcana
Cabana, which is actually
more of a museum housing the
sorcerer Balthazar’s treasures.
The treasures Balthazar guards
in Arcana Cabana include a
matrioshka (Russian nesting doll)
imprisoning another medieval
sorcerer, Maxim Horveth
(Alfred Molina), Balthazar’s
contemporary as pupil of Merlin
who had flipped over to black
sorcery. Subjecting the 9-year
old Dave to a test, Balthazar
discovers the boy is the person
he has been looking for through
the centuries. However, the
boy is scared and incredulous,
especially when his story about
his encounter with Balthazar is
seen as hallucination by people
who hear of it. Year 2010, 19-
year-old Dave (Jay Baruchel) is
now a socially-awkward physics
geek at New York University
and his humdrum existence is
about to be punctuated by his
encounter with the evil Maxim
who has been newly freed from
his doll-prison and is doggedly
after the magical ring in Dave’s
possession.
Like movies of this genre,
director Jon Turtletaub’s The
Sorcerer’s Apprentice is meant
to be a fantasy-adventure. It will
be compared—perhaps unfairly
and unfavorably—to a Harry
Potter movie, but this doesn’t
mean it can’t stand on its own.
Due to the proliferation of such
magic-driven flicks, the viewer
can’t help but recognize in this
movie elements from other
kindred-creations, particularly
in the display of sorcerous
powers. Because it has its own
fantastic story to tell (authored
by Lawrence Konner, Mark
Rosenthal and Matt Lopez),
advanced by CGI and special
effects, it has enough energy and
splash to entertain the audience,
mostly the young ones. Happily,
the script (by screenwriters Matt
Lopez, Doug Miro and Carlo
Bernard) is devoid of vulgar
language albeit slightly tinged
with toilet humor. Molina’s
villain is the kind audiences love
to hate, while Cage is a surprise,
a departure from his usually
morose characters, he is quite
lighthearted here and smiles a lot
in spite of his bad hairpiece.
Disney’s The Sorcerer’s
Apprentice, with all its bloodless
stylized violence, is inoffensive
enough for pre-teens, but parents
and educators guiding young
viewers should arm themselves
with convincing explanations
in case the latter ask about the
probability of people being
imprisoned in dolls and coming
back to life after centuries. The
movie’s hero is a young person, so
expect young people to resonate
Title: The Sorcerer’s Appren-
tice
Cast: Nicholas Cage, Jay
Baruchel, Alfred Molina,
Teresa Palmer, Toby Keb-
bell
Director: John Turtletaub
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer
Screenwriters: Lawrence Kon-
ner, Mark Rosenthal
Music: Trevor Rabin
Editor: William Goldenberg
Genre: Fiction/Fantasy, Com-
edy, Action/Adventure,
Drama, Kids/Family
Cinematography: Bojan
Bazelli
Distributor: Walt Disney Stu-
dios Motion Pictures
Location: New York, USA
Running Time: 111 min.
Technical Assessment: 
Moral Assessment: 
CINEMA Rating: For viewers
age 13 and below with
parental guidance
with it, and maybe affirm its
values without question, so
do be forewarned. Older teen
and other viewers will benefit
from discussions on the topics
of power, destiny, and sexual
attraction as portrayed in the
movie. (Note that school kids
here are shown attracted to the
opposite sex at age 9). Perhaps
one exercise would be to ask
“What would you do if you
had Dave’s powers and you are
asked to save the world?” While
CINEMA may give this movie PG
13 rating, parents are advised to
bring only older children as some
of the scenes might prove too
scary for very young children.

MAC en COLET Ni Bladimer Usi

Title: Hating Kapatid
Cast: Judy Ann Santos, Sarah Geronimo, Luis Manzano,
Vice Ganda, JC de Vera, Cherry Pie Picache, Ms.
Gina Pareño
Director: Wenn Deramas
Screenwriter: Mel Mendoza-del Rosario
Genre: Drama/Comedy
Distributor: Viva Films
Location: Philippines
Running Time: 110 min.
Technical Assessment: 2.5
Moral Assessment: 3
CINEMA Rating: For viewers age 13 and below with pa-
rental guidance

Umalis ang mga magulang nina Rica (Judy Ann Santos) at

Cecilia (Sarah Geronimo), noong sila’y mga bata pa upang
maghanap-buhay sa ibang bansa. Naiwan sila sa kanilang

Buhay Parokya
lola (Gina Pareno) at sa loob ng halos 20 taon ay si Rica na ang
tumayong ama at ina para kay Cecilia. Dahil sa isang aksidente Look for the
noong bata pa si Cecilia, napilitan si Rica na isakripisyo ang images of the
kanyang buhay-pag-ibig. Itinuon na lamang niya ang buo Bishop’s Staff,
niyang lakas sa pag-aalaga at pagbibigay proteksiyon sa Holy Rosary,
kapatid habang wala ang kanilang mga magulang. Unti-unti’y Chalice.
napapalayo na ang loob ni Rica sa kanyang ina (Cherie Pie
Picache) at ama (Tonton Gutierrez) dahil sa matagal nilang
hindi pag-uwi sa bansa. Kaya’t nang makatapos si Cecilia sa
kolehiyo at magbalik-bayan ang kanilang mga magulang ay
matabang na ang pakikisama nito sa kanila. Si Cecilia naman
ay masaya sa pagbabalik ng kanyang mga magulang at sa
wakas ay buo na silang pamilya. Hindi ito magugustuhan ni
Rica at magsisimula nang magkalamat ang relasyon nila ni
Cecilia. Lalo pa itong lalala, nang malalaman ni Rica na may
manliligaw (Luis Manzano) na ang kapatid.
Marami sanang magandang nais sabihin angHating Kapatid
patungkol sa pamilya at relasyon ngunit pawang napako ang
mga ito sa lantarang kakulangan ng sinseridad ng pelikula sa
kabuuan. Gaano man kahusay ang mga talinong nasa likod
nito, pati na ang mga di matatawarang galing ng mga aktor,
semplang pa rin ang pelikula dahil sa walang pakundangan
nitong komersiyalismo na labis na naka-agaw ng pansin sa
daloy ng kuwento. Masyadong ginamit ang pelikula upang
maisulong ang interes ng mga kalakal at serbisyong ine-endorso
na ng mga artista. Tuloy, pawang naglaho ang mga tauhan
at pawang mga artista na lamang ang napapanood sa isang
pinalawak na patalastas sa telebisyon. Kakatwa rin sa maraming
pagkakataon na ang mga patawa, kung hindi luma, ay kapos
naman sa hagod o sobrang bagal ng pagkaka-bitaw. Nawawala
tuloy ang dapat sana’y magandang epekto sa manonood. Hindi
rin nabigyan ng pansin ang paghagod sa karakter, emosyon
at kuwento. Pawang minadali ang lahat. Sayang ang manaka-
nakang aliw sa mga eksena, pati na rin ang ilang eksenang may
kurot sa puso na maari sana’y napalawig pa.
Sa kabila ng mga kakulangang teknikal, hitik sa mensahe ng
pagmamahal at pagpapahalaga sa pamilya ang Hating Kapatid.
Sinasalamin nito ang maraming pamilyang napipilitang mabuhay
nang magkakahiwalay dala ng matinding pangangailangan na
mangibang-bayan. Totoo ang sakripisyo ng mga magulang na
umaalis mabigyan lamang ng magandang kinabukasan ang
mga anak. Kaakibat din nito ang maraming suliraning dala ng
paghihiwa-hiwalay. Nariyang malayo ang loob ng mga anak
sa magulang dahil sa tagal ng panahong hindi pagkikita. Hindi
nga naman mapupunan ng anumang materyal na bagay ang init
ng presensya at pagiging nariyan para sa mga anak sa oras ng
pangangailangan. Sinubukan namang punuan ng mga magulang
ni Rica ang mga pagkukulang na ito sa pamamagitan ng pagtawag
sa telepono at paggamit sa makabagong teknolohiya, ngunit
sadyang di pa rin sapat. Sa bandang huli’y nagsubok naman
ang mga magulang niyang bumawi sa kanilang pagbabalik.
Nakakabahala nga lang ang malabis na poot na naitanim ni Rica
sa kanyang mga magulang na wala namang hinangad na hindi
maganda para sa kanilang magkapatid. Kahanga-hanga naman
ang ipinakitang pagmamahalan ng magkapatid sa pelikula. Pati
ang aral na ang tao, gaano mo man kahusay alagaan, ay hindi mo
kailanman magiging pag-aari. At ang pagmamahal ay ibinabahagi
at hindi sinasarili. May mangi-ngilan nga lang na patawang
eksena sa pelikula na maaring maka-sakit sa damdamin ng ilan
tulad na lamang nang gawing katawa-tawa ang isang matanda.
Pati na rin ang pag-iingat sa paggamit ng mga paputok ay dapat
na mabigyang-pansin. Kaya nararapat pa ring gabayan ang mga
batang manonood na 13 gulang pababa.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 16
August 2 - 15, 2010
C1

The Cross
A Supplement Publication of KC Life
and the Order of the Knights of Columbus
Insurance Commission renews KC Life’s license to operate. The Insurance Commission (IC) has granted the Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the Philippines, Inc. (KC Life) a renewal of license to operate as a mutual benefit association
under license number 2010-7-R. Deputy Insurance Commissioner Vita L. Chiong, OIC of the Insurance Commission awarded the license to KC Life on July 29, 2010. In photo (from L-R) are KC Life VP-Information & BC Holders’ Services Ronulfo
Antero G. Infante, VP-Finance Mary Magdalene G. Flores, Executive Vice President Ma. Theresa G. Curia, President Alonso L. Tan, Insurance Commission OIC Vita L. Chiong, KC Life VP-Actuarial & Business Development Angelito A. Bala and VP-
Fraternal Benefits Group Joseph P. Teodoro.

KC Life holds sales

THE KC Life has recently con-
ducted a GEAR 5: Executive
Sales Visitation with the Sales
Group of the Mindanao Ju-
risdiction last July 10, 2010 at

visitation in Mindanao
KC Life Executives, Fraternal Benefits
Associates, Area Managers and Fraternal
Counselors during the GEAR 5: Executive Sales
Visitation held at De Luxe Hotel, Cagayan de Oro
City on July 10, 2010.
the Deluxe Hotel in Cagayan
De Oro.
The meeting intended to give the FCs
a better knowledge of the rules govern-
ing the incentive program and update
the sales persons with the current de-
velopment in the Association to enable
them to answer queries from the field
especially those affecting the manage-
ment and operation of KC Life.
Ronulfo Antero Infante, Vice Presi-
dent of Information and BC Holders’
Services, discussed the BC Relations and
Underwriting Update to the Fraternal
Counselors which gave emphasis on the
filling-up of the BC Applications.
The KC Life products, incentive
programs and sharing of selling experi-
ences and tips were tackled by Gari M.
San Sebastian, Manager of the Fraternal
Benefits Services Department.
Then KC Life President Antonio B.
Borromeo presented the continuous
growth of the KC Association to the
FCs while Executive Vice President Ma.
Theresa G. Curia gave an inspirational
message.
Along with their Fraternal Benefits
Associates, Fraternal Counselors from
major parts of Mindanao were also
present.
FBAs Bong M. Bragat (ECM, NM,
& NWM), Adrian Boston (CM & EM)
and Jeffrey Galea (SWM) and Area
Managers Cres Dal (NM), Jojo Amoroso
(ECM), Boy Labrador (EM), as well as
Mindanao / C2

KC Life maintains ISO KC Life’s SICAP project ends

9001:2008 certification

SICAP participants and KC Life employees during the culminating program of SICAP
project held at the KC Youth Livelihood Center in Intramuros, Manila last July 12,
2010.

KC Life Officers headed by President Antonio B. Borromeo and Executive Vice President Ma. Theresa G. Curia with Certification International
Phils., Inc. representative, Sofia Mangahas.
THE Knights of Columbus Fraternal As-
sociation of the Philippines, Inc. (KC Life)
remains in conformance to standards set
by the International Organization for
Standardization or ISO, a worldwide
federation of standards bodies.
The Certification International Philip-
pines, Inc. (CI), represented by Ms. Sofia
Mangahas, audited the Association’s
Quality Management System last July
20, 2010 and certified KC Life as com-
pliant to ISO 9001:2008 for the scope of
design, development and provision of
mutual benefits.
“KC Life is proud to be the first mu-
tual benefit association to be certified as
ISO compliant, and even more proud
that we are able to maintain our certifi-
cation for more than three years now,”
said Ms. Magdalene Flores, KC Life’s
Vice President for Finance and Quality
Management Representative.
KC Life first acquired its certification
ISO / C2
THE Social Improvement through
Community Action Program (SI-
CAP) has ended its session last July
12, 2010 at the KC Youth Livelihood
Center in Intramuros, Manila.
This project has been conducted
as a response of the KC Life to the
growing concern for poverty and
unemployment.
The participants of the program
were: Susan Abulencia; Gina Joy Bello;
Shiela De Leon; Macrina Isturis; Mary
Ann Lucrecio; Rowena Padilla; Melrose
Perez; Lydia Rarogal; Teresita Rosal;
Archie Silvestre; Nora Tabonyag; Mar-
lina Tanlawan; Alma Viernes; Wilma
Almerino; Marites Camacho; Mary Ann
Conde; Leonila Enegente; Delia Lequin;
Marivic Tolmo and Jocelyn Barasona.
SICAP / C2

KC Life turns over income from Seed of Hope Fund to CBCP

FOR the third consecutive year,
KC Life turned over the income
from the P10 M Seed of Hope
Fund to the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines
(CBCP) last July 10, 2010 after the
concelebrated mass officiated by
the Papal Nuncio Edward Joseph
Adams. The P809,000.00 check
represents 2009 income from the
P10 M fund.
The turnover took place at
the Pope Pius XII Catholic
Priests hold Lakbay-Aral in Quezon. Seventeen (17) visiting priests from the Diocese of San Fernando, La Union headed by Center in Paco, Manila during In photo (from L-R) are KC Foundation Executive Director Roberto T. Cruz, KC Life
our own Priest-Scholar, Rev. Fr. Romeo G. Lopez (seated 4th from left), Diocesan Director of BEC Program, recently had the annual plenary session VP-Finance Mary Magdalene G. Flores, Former President Antonio B. Borromeo,
their Lakbay-Aral to the dioceses in Quezon Province including a stop-over in Manila. The priests were accommodated on an of the CBCP. Receiving the Bishop of Tandag Most Rev. Nereo P. Odchimar, DD, KC Life EVP Ma. Theresa
overnight stay at the KC Life Dormitory in Intramuros, Manila. Former KC Life President Antonio B. Borromeo (seated next check were Most Rev. Nereo G. Curia, Former Treasurer Antonio T. Yulo, former Corporate Secretary Alonso
to Fr. Lopez) and Executive Vice President Ma. Theresa G. Curia (seated 3rd from left), took the opportunity to present to L. Tan, Former Chairman Patrocinio R. Bacay, Archbishop of Cebu His Eminence
them the Order of the Knights of Columbus and KC Life during a breakfast meeting. Former President Borromeo later gave
P. Odchimar, DD, President of Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, DD, Archbishop of Manila His Excellency Most Rev.
each a souvenir copy of coffee table book released in 2008 during the 50th Anniversary of KC Life. Fr. Lopez was grateful CBCP and Bishop of Tandag Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales, DD, and Bishop of Cubao Most. Rev. Honesto
for the hospitality accorded to them. CBCP / C2 F. Ongtioco, DD.
 The Cross
CBCP Monitor
C2 Vol. 14 No. 16
August 2 - 15, 2010

A closer look at KC Life’s new Chairman

By Annie M. Nicolas
Chairman Hilario G. Davide, Jr. or “Jun”
as he is known to his relatives and friends,
was born in Colawin, Argao, Cebu. He is
one of the seven children born to parents
who were both teachers. Married to former
Virginia J. Perez, their marriage was blessed
with 5 children and 11 grandchildren.
As a young boy, he walked several kilo-
meters, often barefoot, in order to reach his
school. Poverty did not deter him from work-
ing his way. By the 1960’s he passed the bar
and begun his career as a lawyer.
He started his professional career in the
government service early. In 1959, he became
the Private Secretary to the Vice –Governor
of the Province of Cebu, and later on to its
Governor. Like his parents, he also became
a professor. He was a faculty member of the
College of Law of Southwestern University
in Cebu City from 1962 to 1968.
It was in 1971 when he embarked on what
has now become a long list of government
assignments and engagements. From rep-
resenting Cebu Province at the 1971 Consti-
tutional Convention (CONCON) to having
been appointed as Chairman of the Truth
Commission by President Benigno Simeon
C. Aquino III.
Little, however, has been said about Chair-
man Davide being a member of the Knights
of Columbus. Bro. Jun was exemplified into
the First Degree in 1975. In subsequent years,
he was exemplified into the Second and
Third Degrees, and in 1982 he was conferred
the honors of the Fourth Degree.
For Bro. Jun, the time when he became a
knight was a life-changing event. During
the Knights of Columbus in the Philippines’
Atty. Rizal V. Katalbas, Jr.
Centennial Celebration in 2005, he recalled
“one of the most memorable moments in my life
was my admission some thirty years ago, to the
Knights of Columbus in the Philippines through
the Fr. Matias Lucero Council 6054 in Argao,
Cebu. It was a moment of transformation for
me that changed the course of my life. I felt that
no day unfolded and ended in the same way as
the previous ones. Every day was unique. No
day ended in a sunset, but in dawn of new one
enriched by faith, hope, and love.”
Chairman Davide was one of the only
four Filipinos featured in the book “By
Their Works” published by the Knights of
Columbus Supreme Council to honor the
New KC Life President
contributions of extraordinary knights.
His being elected to the position of Chair-
man of the Board on July 2, 2010 (Friday)
during the 52nd Annual Founder Members
meeting makes him the 8th Chairman of KC
Life. After being advised as the duly elected
Chairman, he immediately requested to be
briefed about the KC Group of Companies on
the first working day of the following week.
A gesture, which did not surprise many
as he is already known for his diligence,
professionalism and readiness in assuming
leadership.
It was on July 27, 2010, that he had his first
ever series of meetings (a total of 9 meetings
throughout the day) with the Board of KC
Life and all its subsidiaries, which lasted
for 11 hours overall. The conduct of all the
meetings was said to have been consistently
done in a very legal manner, similar to that
of senate meetings usually seen on television.
All nine meetings started with the Prayer for
the Beatification of Fr. George J. Willmann
and ended with the Prayer for the canoniza-
tion of Fr. Michael J. McGivney. During the
meetings, Chairman Davide would use first
name basis in addressing his board mem-
bers. That’s when he realized that there are
Meet the new President of the Knights of Columbus Frater-
3 “Juns” in the board including himself: Bro.
nal Association of the Philippines, Inc. (KC Life) – A one true
Jun Esteban, Bro. Jun Suralta & Chairman
Knight, who also embodies the knightly ideals of the Order…
Jun Davide.
Sir Knight ALONSO L. TAN.
Having Sir Knight Hilario G. Davide, Jr.
Sir “Alon”, as he is fondly called was born in Cuyo, Palawan
for a Chairman, will definitely give KC Life
on January 11, 1946 and is presently residing in Philam Homes,
an experience of a whole new leadership
Quezon City. He is married to Sister Thesse and is blessed
style. His popularity along with his many
with three children. He is a B.S. Commerce – Management
achievements will surely bring prestige to
graduate from the University of the East and took up General
the Association. But more than anything, it
Management Course at the Ateneo De Manila University.
is his character and his commitment to the
Among his professional affiliations are the following:
Order that make him fit for his new role.
Chairman & CEO Goldrock Construction & Development
Chairman Davide, a person to look up to,
Corporation; Board of Director, RBL Fishing Corp.; President,
an inspiration to the KC Life family.
Inter-Island Deep-Sea Fishing Association; President, Alliance
of Phil. Fishing Federations, Inc.; Member, Board of Director,
Philippine Fisheries Dev’t. Authority; Member, Governing

From the Legal Standpoint

Council Body, Phil. Council for Aquatic and Marine Research
Development; Vice Chairman, National Agricultural &
Fishery Council; President, Chamber of Fisheries & Aquatic
Resources of the Philippines, Inc.; and a former Chairman of

Revocable or Irrevocable?
WHEN applying for insurance
coverage, there is an item in
the Application for Member-
ship Certificate (FM-KCFAPI-
FBN-08) which requires you
to choose between revocable
beneficiary and an irrevocable
beneficiary. Your Fraternal
Counselor (FC) should explain
the difference and effects of
the designation. Here are some
points you should know in des-
ignating your beneficiary/ies:
* In a revocable beneficiary,
the insured BC Holder/ Insured
may change his/her beneficiary
anytime during his lifetime,
while in an irrevocable ben-
eficiary the insured may not
change his beneficiary any time
during his lifetime. The basis for
the distinction can be found in
Sec. 11 of the Insurance Code
of the Philippines (P.D. No.
612), which state: “The insured
shall have the right to change
the beneficiary he designated
in the policy, unless he has
expressly waived this right in
said policy”.
* In a revocable beneficiary
the BC Holder does not need
to get the consent of his benefi-
ciary/ies in case he decides to
make any amendment (changes)
in his benefit certificate, contract
a loan, assign the proceeds from
his BC or surrender his BC. In an
irrevocable beneficiary the BC
Holder has to secure in writing
the consent of his beneficiaries
before he can do any of the
aforementioned acts or any act
which may diminish the amount
the beneficiary may recover.
The reason for the limitation
with an irrevocable beneficiary
is that the beneficiary acquired
an absolute vested interest in
the policy from the date of its
issuance and delivery.
This principle is based on the
ruling of the Supreme Court
in the case of Gercio vs Sunlife
(G.R. No. 23703) wherein the
husband named his wife as the
beneficiary but did not reserve
his right to make changes in the
policy. When the husband want-
ed to change his beneficiary the
insurer refused to do so for the
reason that the insured waived
his right when he designated
his wife as an irrevocable ben-
eficiary. The court upheld the
contention of the insurer say-
ing that the wife had already
acquired a vested interest over
the policy.
So for prospective BC Hold-
ers, before deciding between
a revocable beneficiary and an
irrevocable beneficiary it is a
must that the applicant consider
first its consequences to avoid
future inconveniences or misun-
derstandings when transacting
with KC Life and to fully ap-
preciate the features under his
benefit certificate.
ASEAN Fisheries Federation.
He became a member of the Knights of Columbus, Manila
Council 1000 in 1977. Since then, he became very active in the
Order. He was a two-time Knight of the Year Awardee (1981
& 1986), a Grand Knight of Manila Council 1000 from 1986-
1987 and a Centennial Grand Knight for the same council from
2004-2005. He became a District Deputy of M53 from 1992-1995
during which, he was awarded as the Most Outstanding District
Deputy of the whole Luzon Jurisdiction (1993-1994). Eventually,
he was appointed by the Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson
as Luzon Deputy in 2007. He will be serving a four-year term
until June 30, 2011. Further, he was recently nominated by no
less than the Supreme Knight himself to be a member of the
Supreme Board of Directors of the Knights of Columbus.
Sir Alon is no stranger to KC Life. As a matter of fact, he
has held various significant posts such as being the former
Treasurer and past Corporate Secretary of the Association.
Concurrently, he is the Director of one of KC Life’s subsid-
iaries, Keys Realty & Dev’t. Corporation. Likewise, he is the
President of KC Life’s two foundations: the KC Fr. George J.
Willmann Charities and KC Philippines Foundation.
Truly, the Association is blessed with this very hardworking
and dynamic leader!!
Do the “wave” in welcoming KC Life’s new President, Sir
Knight “Alon” Tan!!! (Ma. Kristianne G. Pascual)

Joseph P. Teodoro

For Brother Knights by Brother Knights

Executive Sales visitation goes to Solano

THE morning sun has barely made his
appearance in the horizon when the KC
Life officers left the Home Office com-
pound in Intramuros, Manila. FBG Vice
President Joseph P. Teodoro, Medical
Director Dr. Jaime Talag, FBS Manager
Gari San Sebastian and Jemwel Santil-
lan left the office in the early morning
of Friday, July 16, 2010 to conduct the
Executive Sales Visitation in Solano,
Nueva Vizcaya which will be attended
by fraternal counselors from the North-
ern Luzon Cavaliers headed by Area
Manager, Armando Gonzales.
The next day the group composed
of Angelito Bala, Edwin Dawal and
Carmelita Ruiz followed and arrived
on time for their respective roles in the
sales visitation.
FBG Vice President Joseph P. Teodoro
while essaying the truism that each one
of the attendees has his own technique
in making a successful sale, delivered
the step by step selling process as
practiced in life insurance industry.
These steps involve prospecting, pre-
approach, approach, sales presentation,
closing techniques and handling objec-
tions. Teodoro also oriented the group
in market segmentation, identifying the
needs of the specific market segment
and helping them get the right plan and
adequate insurance program for their
families and for themselves.
Angelito Bala, VP for Actuarial and
Business Development, discussed the
role of his group in KC Life. He meticu-
lously answered a question on how divi-
dends are arrived and the factors affect-
ing the amount of dividends a member is
entitled such as size of benefit certificate,
amount of premium, type of plan and the
length of time the benefit certificate has
stayed in the books of KC Life.
Edwin Dawal, Benefit Certificate
Holders’ Relations Office (BRO) Man-
ager, made clear the workings of his
department which is dedicated to at-
taining Customer Satisfaction to the
level of excellence expected by the
insured members.
Carmelita Ruiz, Underwriting Man-
ager, emphasized clarity and complete-
ness in accomplishing the life insurance
application form as a requisite for ap-
praisal of risk, shorter turnaround time
from submission to released status and
conversion to paid business.
Gari San Sebastian explained to the
satisfaction of the group the incentive
programs which KC Life has lined up
for the quarter and through the year
2010. Foremost is the 52nd Anniversary
Sales Drive which encourages optimum
participation of fraternal counselors
nationwide, the Most Outstanding
District Deputy and KC Life Council of
Honors Award to recognize the support
given by district deputies and grand
knights. Finally, the Fr. George J. Will-
mann Award for Academic Excellence
which seeks to recognize members and
children of members who will show
outstanding performance in academics
this school year.
The group proceeded back home with
the successful delivery of the objectives
of the Executive Sales Visitation. The
fraternal counselors numbering about
28 were highly satisfied of the experi-
ence. They are now more equipped in
servicing the needs of brother knights
and their family members.
It was Sunday afternoon when the KC
Life officers arrived home.

Mindanao / C1 ISO / C1 CBCP / C1

Team Leader Nato Acupan at-
tended the meeting.
Culminating the event was
the awarding of certificates to
those who have attended and
participated.
“The participants of the GEAR
5: Executive Sales Visitation not
only received their Certificates of
Attendance but also the knowl-
edge imparted by the resource
speakers, the experiences of
other Fraternal Counselors in
their sales activity and wisdom
of the KC Life Management,” the
organizers said.
Meanwhile, coinciding with
the visitation was a contract
signing of the newly appoint-
ed team leaders Jing Galon of
NWM-Shooters and Pio Detal of
the NWM-Warriors.
Gari M. San Sebastian and
Bong M. Bragat attended to wit-
ness the said contract signing.
(KC Life News)
in 2007 as it was assessed by CI
as compliant to ISO 9001:2000.
In February this year, the As-
sociation passed the surveillance
audit and was again certified as
compliant to the revised stan-
dard ISO 9001:2008.
“Our continued certification is
a testament of KC Life’s untiring
effort to always improve our
systems and products to serve
to our BC Holders better,” Flores
added. (Ira J. Tee)
with His Eminence Gaudencio
V. Cardinal Rosales, DD and
Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, DD.
Turning over the check were
former KC Life Chairman Patro-
cinio R. Bacay, former President
Antonio B. Borromeo, former
Corporate Secretary Alonso L.
Tan, former Treasurer Antonio
T. Yulo, Luzon State Treasurer
Joven B. Joaquin, Executive Vice
President Ma. Theresa G. Curia,
Vice President for Finance Mary
Magdalene G. Flores and KC
Foundation Executive Director
Roberto T. Cruz.
After the mass, copies of the
Sacrament of Marriage (Series
no. 5) and the Sacrament of
Confirmation (Series no. 2)
of the Fr. Willmann Series on
the Sacraments were distrib-
uted to the bishops. In addition,
the Primer on Freemasonry
which represents the Catholic
Church’s position regarding
the incompatibility of Free-
masonry with its doctrines/
teachings were also given out.
The pamphlet provides some
historical background on Free-
masonry as well as an analysis
of its religious aspects. Lastly,
the bishops were each given
copies of the first two issues of
the Fr. Willmann Gazette which
is a quarterly newsletter on the
Cause of Fr. Willmann. (Ro-
berto T. Cruz)

SICAP / C1

They were awarded certificates for
having completed the SICAP program.
Ira Tee, SICAP Coordinator, said
these members attended the weekly
meetings, trainings, seminars scheduled
within the 6-month program. The semi-
nars conducted during the SICAP were
on livelihood and/or health, wellness,
Catholic faith and social awareness.
The speakers of the various sessions
held were also present during the clos-
ing ceremonies. KC Life has provided
them with a simple token.
The resource persons were: Lita Bon-
golan (for the leche flan session); Ivy Tee
(for chocolate candies and cordon bleu
sessions); Rowena Patricio (for voters’
education session); Nenita Casiño (for
the yema session); Msgr. Pedro Quitorio
III (for catechism); Dr. Jaime Talag (for
breast care information); Eva Dawal
(for the pizza roll and siomai sessions);
Emma Gumapac (for the seminar on
osteoporosis) and Coco Nadal (for the
creamy pork stew cooking session).
KC Life employees such as Gerard
Francisco, Michael de Castro and En-
rique Mangona were also recognized for
assisting Tee in organizing and execut-
ing activities of the project.
Present during the closing session
were KC Life Executive Vice-President
Ma. Theresa G. Curia, Spiritual Director
Msgr. Pedro C. Quitorio III, Vice Presi-
dent for Finance Magdalene G. Flores,
Vice President for Actuarial and Busi-
ness Development Angelito A. Bala; Ms.
Susan Sevilla, Representative of Brgy.
658 and Chairman Jose Caranto.
KC Life, through this project, intends
to develop and strengthen self-help
values and entrepreneurial capacities
of members through livelihood train-
ings/seminars and to provide financial
assistance to those who would want
additional capital for their start-up or
ongoing small business.
Members of this program were the
selected women from Brgy 658, Intra-
muros, Manila.
“The project was officially launched
last December 2009 and was scheduled
to hold weekly meetings, trainings,
seminars for six months (Jan-June
2010),” said Tee. (Kate Laceda)
 The Cross
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 16
August 2 - 15, 2010
C3

In Service to One, in Service to All

By Supreme Knight Carl A.
Anderson
THE phrase “In service to one, in ser-
vice to all” has long been a motto of the
Knights of Columbus. It simply means
that Knights take seriously the two
great commandments of Jesus Christ:
to love God with our entire being, and
to love our neighbor as ourselves (cf. Mt
22:37-40). A good explanation of why
this motto reflects the Order’s purpose
comes from the Second Vatican Council
document Lumen Gentium, which truly
serves as our mission statement:
“The laity, by their very vocation,
seek the kingdom of God by engaging in
temporal affairs and by ordering them
according to the plan of God. They live
in the world, that is, in each and in all of
the secular professions and occupations.
They live in the ordinary circumstances
of family and social life, from which the
very web of their existence is woven.
They are called there by God that by
exercising their proper function and
led by the spirit of the Gospel they may
work for the sanctification of the world
from within as a leaven” (31).
The idea of working in this world “as
a leaven” is not a new concept for the
Knights. We know that we are called to
be witnesses to Christ in our families, in
our jobs and in our service to society.
We know God’s plan and will for us
through an informed conscience, and
cultivate such a conscience by being
faithful to the Church’s teachings. This
requires solidarity with our bishops
and priests, something we have been
committed to since our founding by
Venerable Michael McGivney.
For 128 years, the Order has been led
by its first principle, charity. Every day,
people witness the work undertaken by
Knights as members work in thousands
of communities around the world. Com-
bined with unity—with our Church and
with our neighbor—charity provides us
with the means to fulfill Christ’s great
commandments. This is what it means
to be “in service to one, in service to
all.” Lives filled with charity, motivated
by faith and hope, are what will make
Christ known to others.
Reflecting on the Gospel story of the
Good Samaritan, Pope Benedict XVI
said in his July 11 Angelus address that
the parable “must make us change our
attitude following the logic of Christ,
which is the logic of charity: God is love,
and worshipping him means serving
our brothers with sincere and generous
love.” He added that this passage “of-
fers the ‘standard,’ which is the ‘univer-
sal love toward the needy we encounter
by chance, whoever they may be’” (cf.
Deus Caritas Est, 25).
It is this spirit of the Good Samaritan
that has always propelled the Knights of
Columbus. This is the reason why our
history is one of service: helping the wid-
ows and orphans of the late 19th century;
providing necessities to the American
troops in World War I regardless of their
race or religion; publishing books on the
contributions of African-, Jewish- and
German-American citizens four decades
before the civil rights movement; work-
ing in support of Catholics in Mexico
when the government there persecuted
the Church in the 1920s; protecting
parents’ rights to send their children to
Catholic schools; helping the hungry in
the city of Rome during and after World
War II; adding the words “under God” to
the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance; pioneering
nationwide blood drives; promoting the
dignity of people with intellectual dis-
abilities through Special Olympics and
other programs; supporting mothers
and their unborn children through our
work with pregnancy resource centers
and our Ultrasound Initiative; giving
winter coats to poor children; providing
mobility to people with physical disabili-
ties through wheelchair distributions;
providing food for families in need; and
in general, being a force of love for our
neighbors, wherever and whenever a
need arises.
In practicing charity, in a spirit of uni-
ty, we lead by our witness, and we bring
to life Christ’s words in the Gospel, that
all will know we are his disciples by the
way we love one another.
Vivat Jesus!

Supreme Knight lauds KC

spiritual formation book
SUPREME Knight Carl An-
derson praised the three
Philippine State Deputies
for the establishment of a
spiritual formation book,
entitled Spiritual Formation
Courses, this volume con-
tains the spirituality of the
Order of the Knights of Co-
lumbus and basic catechism
based on the Catechism of
the Catholic Church.
Through the leadership
of Luzon Deputy Alonso L.
Tan, Visayas Deputy Dio-
nisio R. Esteban and Min-
danao Deputy Sofronio R.
Cruz, the Formation Team
of Luzon that composed
the editorial board were
the ones who painstakingly
wrote the book.
Anderson said the “Su-
preme Council has made one
of its priorities the spiritual
formation of all Knights of
Columbus.”
“To this end, we have em-
ployed a full-time priest to
advice our priest-chaplains
in taking a more active role
in their councils, and we
have set aside two pages in
Columbia magazine each
month for our Supreme
Chaplain, Bishop William
E. Lori, to provide guidance
and instruction in this area,”
the Supreme Knight added.
“The Spiritual Formation
Courses, according to An-
derson, that has been pro-
duced for Filipino Knights is
an excellent example of the
type of resources that state
councils can offer for their
members.
Anderson expressed his
joy and gratitude that the
Filipino Knights has dedi-
cated the spiritual formation
book to its founder Vener-
able Michael J. McGivney,
and to Fr. George J. Will-
mann, SJ, who is known as
the “Father McGivney of the
Philippines.”
Meanwhile, he also
thanked Cubao Bishop Hon-
esto F. Ongtioco, the Luzon
Chaplain, and Msgr. Pedro
C. Quitorio, Luzon Assistant
Chaplain, for their contribu-
tions, for their supervision in
the writing of the book.
“A special word of thanks
also goes to the Spiritual
Formation Committee and
all the members of the editorial
team who made this book pos-
sible,” expressed the Supreme
Knight.
Anderson hopes that this
book will reach the hearts of
all Knights and their families
in the Philippines and will
serve as means for spiritual
renewal of the Knights of
Columbus.
The cost of printing of the
book was subsidized by the
KC Fraternal Association of
the Philippines, Inc., (KCFAPI)
which is also known as KC Life.
(Kate Laceda)

Emiliano R. Deleverio
2010 Board of Member, KC Life Board of Trustees
Trustees / Directors The Knights of Columbus Fraternal As-
sociation of the Philippines, Inc. (KC Life)
welcomes its newly elected Independent
Regional Chairman of the Zamboanga Penin-
sula Human Rights Advocate (ZAPAHRA),
Purok President of Purok Adelfa of Barangay
KC Life Trustee for the Columbian year 2010-2011, San Pedro in Pagadian City from 1970 to
Hon. HILARIO G. DAVIDE, JR. - Chairman SK Emiliano R. Deleverio. 1990, and currently, the Vice Chairperson
TEODORO O. ARCENAS, JR. - Vice Chairman Deleverio, a practicing lawyer was born of Union of People’s Lawyer, promoting
ALONSO L. TAN - President in the province of Cebu. His family later human rights advocacy, since 2007.
GUILLERMO N. HERNANDEZ – Treasurer moved to Mindanao. He has been active His affiliation with K of C began when he
RAMON E. RODRIGO - Corporate Secretary not only in the field of government service was initiated as a member on March 1, 1969.
EMILIANO R. DELEVERIO - Independent Trustee and civic affairs but also in the Order of the He held various positions in the Order such
HOSPICIO T. SURALTA, JR. - Independent Trustee & Com- Knights of Columbus (K of C) in the Mind- as becoming a Grand Knight in Pagadian City
pliance Officer anao Jurisdiction. Council 6713 from 1983 to 1987 and a District
DIONISIO R. ESTEBAN, JR. - Trustee Atty. Deleverio had been a member of Deputy from 1988 to 1992. In 1993, he became
SOFRONIO R. CRUZ, JR. - Trustee Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Board for a Faithful Navigator of the Archbishop Luis del
13 years. He was awarded as the Most Out- Rosario Assembly. During the same year, he
Keys Realty standing Legislator of the Department of also became a Mindanao State Advocate and
TEODORO O. ARCENAS, JR. - Chairman Interior and Local Government (DILG) in was reappointed in 2008. While in 1994, he be-
HENRY A. REYES - President 2003. He held valuable positions in different came a 4th Degree District Master for two terms.
RUBEN L. GUTIERREZ - Treasurer organizations such as being the President Aside from these, he also became an Assistant
RENATO M. BERNABE - Corporate Secretary of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines to the Mindanao Deputy for Region 9-B.
ANTONIO B. BORROMEO - Director (IBP)–Zamboanga del Sur Chapter from Emil, as he is fondly called is married to
POLICARPIO B. ALBERTO – Director 1985 to 1987, President of the Rotary Club Dr. Perla Rosos Deleverio and are blessed
ISMAEL V. DE LEON - Director of Pagadian in 1996, Provincial Chairman with four children, namely Monalisa, Pre-
ALONSO L. TAN – Director of the National Movement for Free Elections ciosa, Dean and Evangeline.
DIONISIO R. ESTEBAN, JR. – Director (NAMFREL)–Zamboanga del Sur & Paga- As one family, KC Life welcomes its new-
SOFRONIO R. CRUZ – Director dian City Chapter during the 1986 elections, est Board member! (April B. Basilio)
JOSE D. BACALANMO, JR. – Director

Mace Insurance
PATRICIO J. VERA - Chairman FBG Vice President attends organizational meeting of
Regional, Provincial and District Deputies
ANTONIO T. YULO - President
PASCUAL C. CARBERO – Treasurer
COMM. RENE V. SARMIENTO – Corporate Secretary
COMM. LUCENITO N. TAGLE - Director
THE Vice-President of the Fra- theme “Year of the Volunteer.” lence. discussions on membership;
DANILO A. SANCHEZ - Director
ternal Benefits Group, Joseph Teodoro has presented the “Most of the concerns raised service programs and financial
RAMONCITO A. OCAMPO – Director
P. Teodoro, attended the recent President’s report and discussed during the open forum were management.
organizational meeting of the the various incentive programs reasons for denial of claims, none Present during the organiza-
KC Fr. George J. Willmann Charities
Regional, Provincial and District of the KC Life. receipt of contribution notice, tional meeting were the regional,
Justice JOSE C. REYES, JR. - Chairman
Deputies of Central Visayas at Among those incentive pro- FADB and others,” the FBG Vice provincial and district deputies
PATROCINIO R. BACAY - Vice Chairman
the Ecotech Center in Lahug, grams were the Most Outstand- President announced. coming from the Central Visayas
ALONSO L. TAN - President
Cebu City last July 10, 2010. ing District Deputy (MODD), A discussion on the thrust region.
RUPERTO P. SOMERA – Treasurer
The meeting was convened Council of Honors Award and of the jurisdiction for the Co- The fraternal meeting culmi-
MARIANO R. SIDECO - Corporate Secretary
by the Knights of Columbus the Fr. George J. Willmann, SJ lumbian Year 2010-2011 was nated with a fellowship. (KC
TEODORO O. ARCENAS, JR. - Trustee
Visayas Jurisdiction with the Award for Academic Excel- also prepared following the Life News)
ANTONIO B. BORROMEO – Trustee
SOFRONIO R. CRUZ - Trustee
DIONISIO R. ESTEBAN, JR. - Trustee
ARSENIO R. LOPEZ – Trustee
PANFILO O. PACUBAS, SR. – Trustee
KC Foundation announces names of new Collegiate scholars
MSGR. PEDRO C. QUITORIO III – Trustee THE Knights of Columbus Philippines University (Marine Engineering). Tacloban (Biology); Hershey Mae Calago,
FR. JEROME J. CRUZ – Trustee Foundation has recently announced the For Mindanao: Stephanie Grace Queza- University of San Jose Recoletos (Accoun-
FR. RENATO M. SAPUNGAN – Trustee new beneficiaries of its Collegiate Schol- da, UP Diliman (Geodetic Engineering); tancy); and Lee Ann Margareth Tajor,
FR. BENJAMIN DEOGRACIAS M. FAJOTA – Trustee arship Program for the school year 2010- JM Leor Fernandez, STI Zamboanga (In- University of San Jose Recoletos (Civil
2011. formation Technology); and Earl Rafael Engineering).
KC Philippines Foundation For Luzon: Vince Alvic Alexis Nonato, Labitad, Xavier University (Agricultural For Mindanao: Katrina Baliling, MSU-
Justice JOSE C. REYES, JR. - Chairman UP Diliman (Journalism); Kester Laurenz Engineering). IIT (Accountancy); Fritz Harold Raran,
ALONSO L. TAN - President Arenas, UP Diliman (Computer Science); The KC Foundation also announced the Xavier University (Political Science); and
RUPERTO P. SOMERA - Treasurer John Alfred Halo, UP Diliman (Industrial beneficiaries of the Supreme Council Schol- Carmela Goc-ong, Negros State College of
FRANCISCO V. TANKIANG - Corp. Secretary Engineering); Jan Carlo Oblepias, PUP arship which is under its supervision. Agriculture (Elem Educ.)
TEODORO O. ARCENAS, JR. – Trustee (Accountancy); and Alithea Jumawan, UP For Luzon: Gerard Paul Pascual, UP Inquiries about the Scholarship Program
PATROCINIO R. BACAY – Trustee Los Baños (Food Technology). Diliman (Computer Engineering); Brette may be coursed through Bro. Roberto T.
ANTONIO B. BORROMEO – Trustee For Visayas: Jayvee Elnar, Siliman Uni- Michael Castillo, St. Louis University (Me- Cruz, Executive Director, at tel. nos. 527-
SOFRONIO R. CRUZ – Trustee versity (Accountancy); Kareen Suarez, chanical Engineering); and Kevin Lebril, 2223 local 210 with office address at Gen-
DIONISIO R. ESTEBAN, JR. – Trustee University San Jose Recoletos (Int’l. Stud- PUP (ECE). eral Luna corner Sta. Potenciana Streets,
ies); and Alvin John Aligway, Cebu Tech. For Visayas: Arvin Dominic Agner, UP Intramuros, Manila. (KC Life News)
 The Cross
CBCP Monitor
C4 Vol. 14 No. 16
August 2 - 15, 2010

District Deputies during the DD’s Organizational Training held at De Luxe Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City last June 26, 2010. Mindanao Deputy, Sofronio R. Cruz facilitated the event. Also present was Gari M. San Sebastian of KC Life who presented
awards for Most Outstanding District Deputy, Council of Honors Award and the Fr. George Willmann Academic of Excellence Awards.

Knights participate, attend Sports festival

COLUMBIAN spirit was kept
strong and close-knit through
various sports and recreational
activities in the recent 1st Inter-
diocesan Sportsfest 2010.
Brother Knights and their
families from the Archdiocese
of Davao and Dioceses of Digos,
Tagum and Mati gathered at the
Woodridge Part in Ma-a, Davao
City to participate in the event.
Mindanao Deputy, SK Sofronio
R. Cruz welcomed close to 500
participants and family members
while he called on the Regional
Officers “to keep up the good
work.”
Organizers led by Regional
Secretary and State New Council
Development (NCD) Chairman
SK Reynaldo C. Trinidad made
sure everyone had a good time
in the whole day affair.
Overall winner were
by Digos Diocese, the 3rd placer
goes to the Mati Diocese and 4th
placer was Tagum Diocese.
“All made their best in playing
basketball, volleyball, lawn and
table tennis, badminton, bowling,
billiards, swimming, dart, chess,
tug-of-war and free-throw
competition for Columbian
Squires,” organizers said.
An awarding ceremony and
fellowship night highlighted
the whole day activities. The
culminating activity which was
held at Tabing Ilog, Marfori
Bridge in Ma-a, Davao City,
showcased performances from
a Brother Knights’ Band and
backed-up by different talents
from the four participating
dioceses. Awarding of trophies
and medals, and the drawing In behalf of Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson and Supreme Board of Directors, LD Alonso L. Tan presented the Charter Certificate of the Annunciation Council 15055 at
Annunciation Parish, Pasong Camachile, General Trias, Cavite to Charter Grand Knight Fredy Ramos and Council Chaplain/Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Claro Sumague, in the
of raffle tickets concluded the presence of District Deputy Manuel H. Carpio of District I36 and Manuelito R. Putong, Past Grand Knight of Sponsoring Council, the Immaculate heart of Mary Council
affair. (SK Rey Trinidad and SK 13538.

A letter from a KC Foundation scholar

Archdiocese of Davao; followed Ricky Jimenez/KC Life News)

KC Life presents death

claim to Garlitos family MY name is Edgar R. Rebusto, Jr. pres- because I wanted to help my family. But and always smiling. Even when he
THE Knights of Columbus Fraternal ently studying at St. John Vianney Theo- when I reached high school, I learned celebrated the Holy Eucharist, he really
Association of the Philippines, Inc. logical Seminary as first year theologian. how to draw and use some calligraphic had the character of an angel.
(KC Life) has presented a death claim I graduated from Inahan sa Kinabuhi method as style. And so when my teach- There was this very striking experi-
to the Garlitos family following the College Seminary at Del Carmen, Iligan ers asked me of what I want to become, ence of mine which really moved me. I
death of SK Bienvenido G. Garlitos. City and earned my bachelor’s degree I answered her that I wanted to be a was left alone in the convent that time
Area Manager Armando C. at St. Michael’s College with a degree of famous painter. when an old lady approached me and
Gonzales of Northeastern Luzon Bachelor of Arts major in Philosophy. When I graduated from high school, asked for a priest to administer the
Cavaliers (NEL) presented the I am now in my sixth year of forma- I decided not to continue my studies in sacrament of anointing of the sick to
death claim to Bienvenido’s wife, tion pursuing my goal to become a college due to some financial problems her dying husband. It was untimely be-
Liwayway. priest someday. I could not reach this my family was facing during that time. cause our parish priest was unavailable
Died at the age of 79, Garlitos was far without the support of my family. In order not to waste my time doing for he was also attending an equally
a former Fraternal Counselor and a I was born on September 17, 1986 at nothing, I willingly helped my grandfa- important matter at that time. When
Past Grand Knight of Council 4365 Ditucalan, Iligan City. We are seven in ther in his farm. Indeed, I learned many she knew that there was no priest
in San Mateo, Isabela. the family and I am the fourth child. I things about farming. It was on my sixth available, I saw tears welled in the old
Mrs. Liwayway Garlitos said her am 23 years old. My father is a farmer month, helping out my grandfather lady’s eyes as she requested me instead
husband died on June 12, 2010 in and a part time security guard in a pri- in the farm, when my foster parents if I could perform the said sacrament.
Houston, Texas. vate property. My mother is a laundry visited me. They insistently asked me And I told the old lady, “Lola, I’m not
“On his last will and testament, woman and also a farmer. to become a sacristan and convent boy a priest.” Upon hearing the old lady’s
he wanted his body to be buried It would be great to look at the history but I didn’t take their offer. Still they request, I could feel my heart beating
in the Philippines and wanted K of of my life. And so, allow me to narrate were very persistent and even more, too fast. At that very moment, I was
C Philippines to serve during his my vocation story. I guess, because they would not leave struck by the fact that priesthood is a
wake,” they said. My family is not a religious type of without me. In the end, I went with road less traveled and I realized that
The death claims, said the Asso- some sort. On the one hand, my father them because I was carried away with God, through the old lady, was call-
ciation, is being provided to Brother is an inactive member of the Knights of compassion, leaving my grandfather ing me to become a priest. As I went
Knights who have insurance cover- Columbus. But he was a choir member in the farm. to bed later that night, I reflected on
age with the KC Life. during his early adulthood. My mother, Out of my compassion, I served the what had happened that day. And I
SK Bienvenido Garlitos’ wife bought on the other hand, is a typical churchgo- parish as sacristan and convent boy. I decided, with God’s grace, to enter the
the Special Program for Elderly Knights er. My grandfather plays a very impor- served two parish priests; the first for seminary and become a priest who will
(SPEK) Plan while his daughter bought tant role in my faith journey. He was the almost nine months and the second, be of service to everyone.
the KC Dollar Heritage Plan after one who taught me everything I knew who followed, was the one who really With this, I am asking your prayers
receiving the death claim. about faith during my adolescence. inspired me. This priest really moved and support as I continue my formation
The two plans are just some of the I remember when I was a child, my me and awakened my desire to be a in the seminary in response to the call
products of KC Life. (KC Life News) dream was to become a civil engineer priest. He was very humble, simple, of God.

Frequently Asked Questions

Board of Trustees
approves Increase in
Retention Limit
On its last meeting held last
July 2, 2010, the KC Life Board
of Trustees approved the recom-
mendation of the Management
to increase the retention limit
with the Reinsurer, Philippine
National Reinsurance Corp.,
from P1 Million to P2 Million
for non-accidental death ben-
efit and from P500,000 to P1
Million for accidental death.
This increase in retention limit
automatically increases the re-
insurer’s automatic acceptance
limit, which is 5x the retention
limit, from P5 Million to P10
Million per life.
Through the years, KC Life has
built a strong and solid financials
to cover all benefits promised
to brother knights and their
immediate families in times of
dire loss. Increasing the retention
limit will result to greater sav-
ings on reinsurance premiums
but will likewise result to higher
anticipated death claims that KC
Life shall cover. With its 52 years
in life insurance operations, KC
Life has gained full faith and
confidence in its underwriting
expertise and skills and is now
ready to absorb more risks. Not
only will KC Life gain savings in
expanding the retention limit, it
will also provide the Association
the opportunity of accepting
jumbo-sized coverage without
resorting to costly facultative re-
insurance, wherein the reinsurer
is under no obligation to accept
the risk.
Rest assured that KC Life will
continue its quest of improv-
ing the way it does business to
achieve continuous growth and
stability and to provide better
service in meeting the needs and
requirements of brother knights
and their immediate families
during good times or bad times.
(Ma. Celina Tabin)
Contribution Default
Q. I wasn’t able to pay the
insurance contribution on my
benefit certificate on the due
date because I didn’t receive
the billing notice on time,
what will happen to my BC?
What are my options?
A. Your BC will continue
to remain in-force thanks
to the thirty (30) day grace
period. Should you meet an
unfortunate event, the death
benefits shall be payable to
your beneficiaries less any
unpaid contribution and
overdue interest.
In case you can no longer
continue to pay the required
contributions, you can in-
struct KC Life to withdraw
from your accumulated divi-
dend balance and apply the
same to your contribution
due. Another option is to
change your non-forfeiture
option in case of contribution
default to automatic contribu-
tion loan (ACL). This allows
you the facility to borrow from
your BC’s cash value to pay
your contribution. However,
the borrowed amount together
with accrued interest shall be
treated as a loan against your
BC and will be deducted from
any benefits due you or your
family. Still another option is
to use your BC’s cash value to
buy a fully paid reduced paid
up insurance or extended term
insurance.
Note: Provided there is ac-
cumulated dividend balance
(dividend option C), the appli-
cation of dividend as payment
for insurance contribution is
system-generated. On the other
hand, payment of contribu-
tion through ACL is BC holder
initiated, that is, via a written
request.
Misstatement of Insurance Age
Q. What happens if there is
an error in the birth date on the
application for insurance?
A. One of the most important
data being considered when ap-
plying for life insurance is your
birth date or insurance age. It is
used as a reference or basis on
how much KC Life will charge
a client (called insurance con-
tribution) in proportion to the
promised benefits in the BC.
In cases of misstatement of
age, our BC provision states that
the amount of benefits payable
under the BC will be adjusted to
the amount, which the contribu-
tion paid would have purchased
at the correct issue age, appli-
cable risk class, and applicable
contribution rates as of the Issue
Date. This provision applies not
only to death benefits but also to
maturity benefits as well. When
the issue age is understated, the
benefits under the BC will be
smaller than the face value as
a higher contribution rate will
be imposed on the insured.
When the issue age is over-
stated, the benefits under the
BC will be paid in full together
with the excess contributions
without interest.
A gentle reminder: to avoid
or minimize mistakes, the
proposed applicant/insured
must be the one who must
answer and complete the ap-
plication form. The FC is there
to guide you and is more than
willing to assist you in accom-
plishing the form.
If you discover any error or
omission in your BC, please
call the attention of your ser-
vicing FC or call direct our
friendly customer care rep-
resentatives at (02) 527-2223.
(Loriz Mae Sangalang /Jose
Felimon Abanador)