To Bring Glad B1 Tidings to the Poor (Luke 4:18)

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The News Supplement of Couples for Christ

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Stories from the Ground Zero

Yolanda

Bishop condemns use of child soldiers by rebel group

A CATHOLIC bishop has expressed deep concern over the alleged recruitment of child soldiers by a breakaway Moro rebel group in Southern Philippines. In a radio interview, Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad condemned the reported use of minors by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in engaging the military in Maguindanao. The church leader said that the practice of recruiting children into the armed forces is against human rights law and is unac-

February 3 - 16, 2014

Vol. 18 No. 3

Php 20.00

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Be contemplative shepherds, Villegas urges fellow bishops

By Pinky B. Barrientos, FSP
He said it is only through a life soaked in prayer and contemplation that bishops would be able to teach their flock in full freedom, that is, freedom from the fascination of political or social gain, freedom from the insane and unreal attraction of popularity in the world. To be contemplative bishops is to become truthfully honest, cheerfully loving and passionately zealous teachers of the flock, bishops serving the Lord in total freedom detached from vainglory, Villegas said in a speech at the opening of the bishops 108th plenary assembly at Pius XII Center, Jan. 25. The CBCP president also stressed the important role of the laity to pray for their bishops so that they will transformed into contemplative pastors. He also asked Religious sisters and seminarians, as well as lay devotees to pray for the bishops as they meet for the plenary assembly. Villegas had a small chapel put up beside the plenary hall so prayer warriors can take turns in the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for the whole duration of the CBCP plenary assembly,

PRESIDENT of Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and Lingayen Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas called on fellow bishops to be contemplative shepherds who seek only the good for their flock.

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Cardinal Robert Sarah, president of the Vaticans charity arm Pontifical Council Cor Unum, leads the distribution of relief goods to survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda at the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Mission Station in Brgy. Libertad, Palo, Leyte, January 28. Touched by his recent visit to Leyte, the Vatican official appealed for more help for typhoon victims in the Philippines.

Bishops, farmers urge government to extend CARPER

CATHOLIC bishops and civil society groups have asked the government to give the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER) two more years to meet its land acquisition and distribution target, especially since close to one million hectares of land is still pending for coverage five months before the program is set to expire. Agrarian reform advocates led by Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, chairman of the CBCP National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace (NASSA), and Christian Monsod of Sulong CARPER have urged President Benigno Aquino III to push for a legislation that will provide additional time for the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to complete the issuance of notices of coverage (NOCs). Under Republic Act 9700, CARPER is set to expire on June 30. According to government data, DAR was only able to issue NOCs covering 314,422 hectares from the 1.2 million hectares of agricultural lands covered by CARP from July 2010 to July 2013. In a letter sent to Mr. Aquino dated January 22, 2014, Pabillo and other signatories said giving CARP two more years will coincide with the remaining two years of his term and will assure a lasting legacy of the centerpiece program of former President Corazon Aquino. Decisive action to ensure the success of CARP will be especially timely, given that 2014 has been declared the International Year of Family Farming by the General Assembly of the United Nations. There would be no stronger statement that your administration champions the cause of family farmers by sustaining the very program that would give land to the landless, and thus allow the family farm sector to flourish within our country, the advocates told the President in their letter. The group also reiterated a previous plea for the replacement of DAR Secretary Gil delos Reyes, saying the official does not fit the role of a transformational leader for the demanding task ahead for CARP. Audit DAR, investigate violations The agrarian reform advocates likewise asked the President to create an independent commission to audit the performance of DAR as well as order a comprehensive investigation of human rights violation and alleged land-grabbing cases in rural communities. Among other purposes, the (proposed) Commission would look into the lands that avoided or circumvented the law, such as the use of dummies in Voluntary Land Transfers (VLTs), unwarCARPER / A7

Archbishops observation contradicts Aquino survey rating

Archbishop John Du (left) and Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, president of Catholic Relief Services check damage to the cathedral in Palo, Nov. 17, 2013.

Pope Francis wishes to visit Yolanda victims

POPE Francis has expressed his intention to visit the typhoonravaged areas in Leyte, a Vatican official said. Cardinal Robert Sarah, President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, said the possible visit is for the pope to show consolation and spiritual closeness to the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda. The church official made the announcement during a Mass at the La Libertad Mission Church, in Palo, Leyte, which was badly damaged by the typhoon last November 8. The pope sent the cardinal to the Philippines to visit the areas struck by the typhoon and to extend more assistance for rehabilitation efforts. You go now because I might be going there also, Cardinal Sarah quoted the pope as saying in his homily, drawing cheers and applause from the churchgoers. I would not tell you the date but the Holy Father has been telling me I might be also going there, he said. Jesuit Fr. Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, earlier said that Pope Francis may go to Daejeon, South Korea for the Asian Youth Day this August, in what would be his first visit to Asia since he was elected pope in March last year. The leader of the worlds 1.2 billion Catholics has made only one international trip so far, visiting Brazil for the World Youth Day last July, but is scheduled
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For US bishops, its time to give back to Filipinos

PRESIDENT Aquino got a high mark from the victims in his performance after the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda but a church officials observation is different. Palo Archbishop John Du

refused to comment on the Social Weather Station surveys very good rating for Aquino, but said many victims gave more credit to the help of nonSurvey / A6

Church must reach out to elderly, too CBCP head

AS the Church tries to reach out to the youth and the unchurched, the head of the Catholic hierarchy said initiatives are also in place for the elderly. Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, CBCP president, said the Church must give attention not only to the next generation of Catholics but also to the older

US CATHOLIC bishops are once again hoping to give back to Filipinos that made their parishes alive because of their presence. When US Conference of Catho-

lic Bishops president Archbishop Joseph Kurtz arrived in Manila on Feb. 3, he assured his Filipino counterparts of their
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ones. Taking a cue from Pope

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Illustration by Brothers Matias

Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, greets a child in Anibong, a community in Tacloban City, Feb. 4. Archbishop Kurtz traveled with an international delegation of church leaders to assess the needs of communities affected by Typhoon Haiyan.

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Roy Lagarde

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World News

CBCP Monitor
February 3 - 16, 2014

Vol. 18 No. 3

Caritas Australia disappointed by government budget cuts

SYDNEY, Australia, Feb. 3, 2014Even as the Australian government has reduced funding for foreign aid, the nations branch of Caritas intends to continue its mission of aiding the worlds poor. On Jan. 18, the Australian government announced cuts of A$650 million (US$572 million) to its aid program for the 2013-14 fiscal year, which affects funding for Caritas Australia and other non-governmental organizations. Despite this unforeseen, mid-year change to our Partnership Agreement with the Government, we remain committed to promote peace, justice and dignity for the poorest of the poor, Paul OCallaghan, CEO of Caritas Australia, said in a Jan. 22 release. For half a century, Caritas Australia has walked in solidarity with the worlds most vulnerable women, men and children, and we are resolute in our mission to honour the dignity of the people we serve. He added that we urge the Government to re-establish a sound basis for effective long-term partnership through its budget planning for the next four years. Several non-profit aid agencies have criticized the governments policy, noting that it will have significant impacts on vulnerable groups who are served by projects funded through the Australian government. Caritas said the budget cuts reduce funding for programs in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and South and West Asia which help to lift communities out of poverty. OCallaghan noted that the cuts have strained some of the agencys existing commitments but that the agency will work to ensure that the cuts will be felt least by the most vulnerable populations its serves. He said the 40 year partnership between Caritas and the Australian government has positively affected millions of impoverished persons including more than 1.1 million in the last year. In Bangladesh, the percentage of families that can afford three meals a day has risen from 36 percent in 2005 to 100 percent in 2012. And closer to home in Oecusse, Timor Leste, Caritas Australias food and security program has reduced these communities hunger months from four months per year to just one month. OCallaghan added, however, that success of this kind hinges on our ability to develop relationships of mutual respect with local communities. But to do this effectively, we need funding predictability from Government. Caritas Australia is the Australian bishops aid agency, providing assistance in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Oceania, and for indigenous Australians. It aims to make the poor selfsufficient so that they will no longer need aid.

Vatican Briefing
Do not justify sin by using other people, Pope warns

In his daily homily, Pope Francis spoke of the proper attitudes to have when we face difficult moments, stating that it is important not to defend our sin, but to repent and trust in the Lord.In the difficult moments of life that occur maybe in despair one tries to defend himself as he can and also to use God and to use his people, the Pope explained in his Feb. 3 daily Mass.Centering his homily on the first reading, taken from the Second Book of Samuel, the pontiff addressed those present in the Vaticans Saint Martha guesthouse, highlighting Davids attitude in light of the great betrayal of his son. (CNA)
Evangelize with love, Pope urges missionary families

Pope Francis held an audience with missionary families from around the world Feb. 1, encouraging them to spread the gospel with great charity.Evangelize with love, carry to all the love of God. Tell everyone you meet on the streets of your mission (and) that God loves man as he is, even with his limitations, his mistakes and his sins, the Pope urged members of the Neocatechumenal Way.Saturdays meeting in the Paul VI audience hall included almost 8,000 members from the organization dedicated to helping people grow in their faith through parish-based communities, including families, seminarians and priests. Nearly 30 cardinals and bishops were also present.Pope Francis thanked the participants for their joy in faith and ardor of Christian testimony. (CNA)
Vatican's Financial Intelligence Authority receives new president

Walk inspires Wyoming students outreach to at-risk women

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Jan. 31, 2014San Franciscos recent Walk for Life and Students for Life events inspired Wyoming Catholic College students to start an outreach to women in crisis pregnancies from nearby indigenous communities. We went to the Students for Life Conference, and they were talking about how to battle prochoice people on your campus, which we dont have to deal with, Jordan Dunnaway, a senior at the liberal arts college in Lander, Wyo., told CNA. Since we dont have prochoice people, well be working mainly with the local Indian reservationits about 20 miles outside of our school town and its extremely impoverished...so that will be our main mission, working with the women out on the reservation there. As the Wyoming Catholic College students traveled on a charter bus back to Lander from San Francisco following the first ever Students for Life of America West Coast Conference on Jan. 26, they held a meeting to found their campus chapter during which officers were elected. Dunnaway, who was chosen as inaugural president of the group, said that her campus is 100 percent pro-life, which calls for the students to look beyond ministry within their walls and out to nearby communities that contend with crisis pregnancies among other challenges. The chapter will reach out to residents of the Wind River Indian Reservation, home to some 12,000 members of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes of Native Americans, which borders the town of Lander. The formation of a Students for Life chapter at the Catholic,
Kyle French/Wyoming Catholic College

Programs supported by Caritas Australia include health care, providing clean water; literacy; community leadership; microfinance; and housing support for refugees and the displaced. (CNA)

Pope Francis appointed Bishop Giorgio Corbellini Jan. 30 as interim president of the Financial Intelligence Authority, the agency charged with acting as financial watchdog for Vatican City.Bishop Corbellini replaces Cardinal Attilio Nicora, who is 76 and requested to retire. Bishop Corbellini is a legal expert and is currently both president of the Labour Office of the Apostolic See and a member of the Disciplinary Commission of the Roman Curia; he will retain both positions.He had previously served in the third-highest position of the Vatican City State's administrative office. (CNA)
Law professor appointed as advisor to Vatican City State

Students from Wyoming Catholic College take part in the 2014 Walk for Life West Coast in San Francisco, Jan. 25, 2014

liberal arts college was initiated by the organizations conference which meant to give high school and college students both a general context for why were so involved in the pro-life movement, but also some specific training sessions on how to get some pro-life activities in their particular communities, Wyoming Catholic College president Kevin Roberts explained. Roberts, along with the schools dean and chaplain all accompanied the students to the Walk for Life West Coast, for the campus first organized trip to the pro-life event that drew 50,000 participants from across the country. I told the faculty last summer when I came on board with the whole community, that I thought it was important that we take students out of Wyoming occasionally as a group, because theyre so joyful, and it will do a very good job of forming them as leaders, and give them a taste of efforts they might be involved in once they graduate, or even before then, Roberts told CNA. So we made an institutional commitment. With the faculty

on board, the students were given a four-day weekend so that those attending the Walk would not miss class time; and so the students financial burden wasnt great, we had a couple donors step up and subsidize the trip. We just want to take the special folks, the students we have at Wyoming Catholic, and share them with the pro-life movement, because we think they have a certain zeal, a certain joy, that will offer a lot to the movement. He reflected that during the Walk, the young people were praying the rosary, and singing, and of course with our choir program they sing well; it was a really nice way to counteract some of the protestors, rather than engaging them in some kind of hostile way. The students I think kept a real positive spirit up, Roberts reflected. The contingent had come to San Francisco after a drive of 16 hours total, Dunnaway said, most of it spent on a bus. It definitely is exhausting...

but were all so grateful for the opportunity to come out, because in Wyomingyou know your prayers make a difference from wherever you arebut theres no real opposition there, because its a pretty conservative state. So it meant a lot to all of us to come out and show people, that were here too. Dunnaway said she was extremely impressed by the number of people at the walk, as well as the vocal enthusiasm of the tens of thousands of pilgrims, hearing the joy of everyone singing, praying, chanting, as well as seeing the unity of everyone whos Catholic, Anglican, and Christians in general, who were all there for the same purpose. She called the Walk a great opportunity to spend time with those people who are a little bit more out in the real world than we are, and to see that even if we disagree on other issues, abortion is one fundamental issue that everyone can say no to. Roughly a third of the colleges students attended the San Francisco event, and Dunnaway said that since the school made it very clear that they didnt want money to stop anybody from comingand that there were donors who gave for that express purposeit was very easy to choose to attend. We had an overwhelming amount of people who wanted to come. We also had the blessing of people coming up to us and being excited about us coming out, saying, Oh, youre from Wyoming (Catholic), weve heard about you, thank you so much for coming. It was a blessing for us that people recognized us and thanked us specifically for coming. (CNA)

On Jan. 25, Pope Francis appointed Vincenzo Buonomo, who has worked with the Holy See for over 30 years and is a dean at the Pontifical Lateran University, as an advisor to Vatican City.The appointment demonstrates the Roman Pontiff's balance between seeking the counsel of outside experts as well as those who have been long associated with Vatican structures.Buonomo has served as dean of the civil law department at the Lateran University since 2006, a department at which he began teaching in 1984. He has authored books and articles on international law and organizations, which have contributed to the protection of human rights and religious freedom around the world. (CNA)
Vatican: Rolling Stone article a display of 'superficial journalism'

Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi has strongly criticized the tone of crudeness directed to Benedict XVI in a recent article published in the Rolling Stone magazine on Pope Francis.Although Pope Francis face appearing on the cover of the magazines latest edition is a sign of the attention that the news of Pope Francis draws in different environments, Fr. Lombardi emphasized that the rest of the article falls short of serious journalism.Unfortunately the same article disqualifies itself, falling into the usual mistake of superficial journalism, which in order to highlight the positive aspects of Pope Francis, thinks it should describe in a negative way the pontificate of Pope Benedict, the spokesman explained in his Jan. 29 statement. (CNA)
Catholic identity must be clear, uncompromising, pope tells university

Catholic universities must give "uncompromising" and "unambiguous" witness to church teaching and defend themselves from all efforts to dilute their Catholic identity, Pope Francis said. Catholic universities, "by their very nature, are committed to demonstrating the harmony of faith and reason and the relevance of the Christian message for a full and authentically human life," he said in an audience with members of the board of trustees of the University of Notre Dame and other officials. The pope met Jan. 30 with some 130 people representing the Indiana-based Catholic university, who were in Rome for the inauguration of the university's new Rome center. (CNS)
Pope at audience: Make sure your children are confirmed

Many Catholic parents go to great lengths to ensure their children are baptized, and they must make similar efforts to see that their children are confirmed, Pope Francis said. Without confirmation, he said, young people will remain "halfway" on the path of Christian maturity and membership in the church. Confirmation "unites us more solidly to Christ. It completes our bond with the church," Pope Francis said Jan. 29 at his weekly general audience. The sacrament "gives us the special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith, to confess the name of Christ and to never be ashamed of his cross," the pope said. (CNS)
Make more room for women without crowding out family, pope says

Catholics celebration of Lunar New Year centers on family

BANGKOK, Thailand, Feb. 1, 2014East Asian Catholics celebrating the Lunar New Year this weekend are focused on family ties and charity, particularly in the dioceses of Thailand. Family is the nucleus and the heritage of Asian spirituality and culture, Bishop Joseph Sirisut of Nakhon Ratchasima, a city 160 miles northeast of Bangkok, told CNA Jan. 31. He said that for some Thai Catholics, the importance of the Lunar New Year celebration is derived from and influenced by Chinese culture. Lunar New Year, also called the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, fell this year on Jan. 31, and celebrations continue until the Lantern Festival, observed Feb. 14. Some parishes will observe the new year on Sunday, Feb. 2, for the sake of those who work or have to travel long distances to come to Mass. The event is celebrated culturally, and Catholics observe it with Masses of thanksgiving, blessings of cemeteries, agape meals, and sharing charitable gifts. The festivities unite families in offering thanksgiving and in praying for their predecessors souls. pao, or red envelopes containing gifts of money accompanied by oranges, which symbolize good luck and are given especially to children. Bishop Silvio Siripong Charatsri of Chanthaburi said Mass at Sacred Heart parish in Sriracha, during which he preached on the importance of the family and distributed angpao to the faithful. A local catechist, Aroonpraha Sukasee, told CNA that the Lunar New Year is focused on prayer and family reunion dinners among people of all religions in Thailand, but added that some practices of the celebrations are based on taboos and superstitions that do not fall in line with Catholic teaching. She said she looks forward to the upcoming synod on the family, to be held in Rome in October, for what it might have to say on the horizons facing pastoral ministry in such multi-cultural situations as are found in Thailand and throughout southeast Asia. Lunar New Year falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice; Jan. 31 began the Year of the Horse, in the 12-year Chinese zodiac. (CNA)

Diocese of Chanthaburi

Women should play a greater role in society and the church without sacrificing their essential attention and contribution to their families, Pope Francis said. Women's distinctive skill sets and sensibilities make them invaluable not only for building "peace and harmony" in families, but for all of humanity, too, he said. The pope made his remarks during an audience at the Vatican Jan. 25 with women taking part in a national congress hosted by the Italian Women's Center (Centro Italiano Femminile), a Catholic women's association promoting greater democracy, solidarity, human rights and human dignity. (CNS)
Pope says Internet a 'gift from God,' should be used for solidarity

Bishop Silvio Siripong Charatsri distributes gifts for Lunar New Year. Credit: Diocese of Chanthaburi.

Bishop Sirisut commented that the immigration of Chinese families to Thailand has influenced Thai culture, with much of the Lunar New Year celebrations representing an inculturation into Catholic spirituality and faith. The bishop stressed that fellowship is the key which unites families in prayer, communion, and sharing during the new year festivities. Following Masses of thanksgiving, families gathered for the distribution of ang-

Like the Good Samaritan, who stopped on the road to help a person in need, travelers along today's communication highways should offer support to those they encounter there, Pope Francis said. "The digital world can be an environment rich in humanity; a network not of wires but of people," he said in his message for World Communications Day. Modern means of communication, especially the Internet, offer "immense possibilities for encounter and solidarity," he said. Because of that, he said, the Internet is "a gift from God." "Communication at the service of an authentic culture of encounter" is the theme of this year's World Communications Day, which most dioceses will mark June 1, the Sunday before Pentecost. The message, released Jan. 23, was dated Jan. 24, the feast of St. Francis de Sales, the patron saint of journalists. (CNS)

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News Features

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Church must always protect, support children against abuse, pope says
VATICAN City, Jan. 31, 2014 Children and young people must always be protected against sexual abuse and always find adequate support in the church community, Pope Francis told the Vatican doctrinal office dealing with suspected cases of sexual abuse by clergy. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith should also look at ways to collaborate with a new papal advisory commission on abuse, which, the pope said, he wants to be an exemplary model for child protection. I want to thank you for your dedication to dealing with the delicate set of problems concerning the so-called most grave crimes, in particular cases of sexual abuse of minors by clerics, Pope Francis said in a written speech Jan. 31. He called on the congregation, which was given exclusive jurisdiction over a number of these most serious crimes in 2001, to focus on the well-being of children and young people, who in the Christian community must always be protected and supported in their human and spiritual growth, he said. The pope asked the doctrinal office to also study ways it could cooperate with the special commission for the protection of young people he established in December. While the pope has yet to name who will be on the new advisory commission, he said in his speech that he wants the new body to be exemplary for everyone who is charged with promoting the well-being of children. Less t han a mon t h aft er his March 13 election, Pope Francis met with the congregations prefect, Cardinaldesignate Gerhard Muller, reaffirming the importance of continuing to act decisively concerning cases of sexual abuse, according to a Vatican statement. The pope wanted the congregation to continue promoting measures to protect children; to offer care and help for victims; to implement necessary procedures against those found guilty; and to have bishops conferences formulate and implement appropriate directives for child protection, the statement had said. The popes meeting and speech Jan. 31 addressed Cardinal-designate Muller and members, advisers and other people taking part in the congregations plenary assembly. Pope Francis asked the congregation to work in such a way that the criteria of faith prevail in the words and practice of the church. The faith needs to shine in its simplicity and original purity, he said, so God may appear in all his glory and bring people to Christ. Unfortunately there has always existed the temptation to interpret doctrine in an ideological sense or to reduce it to a collection of abstract and crystallized theories, he said. Instead, doctrine has the sole aim of serving the life of the people of God and is meant to ensure our faith has a sure foundation. However, the temptation is still great for people to to appropriate for ourselves the gifts of salvation that comes from God, to domesticate themperhaps also with good intentions according to the views and spirit of the world. Safeguarding the purity and integrity of the faith is a very delicate task and must be done in collaboration and with a spirit of communion with local pastors and the doctrinal offices of the worlds bishops conferences, he said. The congregation tries to maintain constructive, respectful and patient dialogue in its work, the pope noted. If truth demands fidelity, he said, fidel-

ity always grows in charity and brotherly assistance for those who are called to mature or clarify their convictions. Dialogue, communion and collegiality with all parties are key, he added. I am certain that the more collegiality will be the actual way we work, the more the light of our faith will shine before the world, he said.

He also noted the plenary reflected on an issue retired Pope Benedict XVI had designated for further study: the need to look more closely at peoples faith and the sacrament of marriage. In a January 2013 speech to the Roman Rota, the now-retired pope asked for closer reflection on the impact a persons lack of faith in God could have on the validity of marriage. (CNS)

Pope Francis first Lenten message to focus on poverty, generosity

VATICAN City, Jan. 31, 2014 Pope Francis has chosen the theme, He became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich, for this years Lenten message, said a Vatican statement Jan. 31. The theme comes from a verse from St. Pauls Second Letter to the Corinthians where the apostle is promoting generosity in giving and wishes to test the genuineness of your love by your concern for others. The full verse reads: For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich, (2 Cor 8:9). The text of the popes message for Lent, which begins March 5, was to be released at a Vatican news conference Feb. 4. Haiti was expected to be a focus for the Lenten season as a married Italian couple serving as missionaries in the Caribbean nation were scheduled to speak at the Vatican news conference along with top officials from the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, which promotes Catholic charitable giving. According to the World Bank, Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and is still struggling to rebuild four years after a devastating earthquake struck Jan. 12, 2010. (CNS)

Letters to Pope read with the heart, Vatican official says

VATICAN City, Jan. 31, 2014According to Vatican Radio, Pope Francis receives a few thousand letters a week, which Correspondence Director Msgr. Giuliano Gallorini notes are read more with the pontiffs heart than his mind. He reads these letters more with the heart than with the mind; to share the suffering of others, Msgr. Gallorini told Vatican Radio on Jan. 28. The letters, packages, drawings and objects that arrive at the Vatican on the Popes behalf are sent from all over the world, and are sorted by the Office of Correspondence of the Pope, located in the Vaticans Apostolic Palace, which Msgr. Gallorini directs. In their letters people ask for many things, the priest explained, whether it is advice on how to manage a turning point in their lives or asking for wisdom in the midst of hopeless situations. Some have even written the Pope a poem, or sent of Msgr. Gallorini, a Religious Sister, and two others, Vatican Radio reports, revealing that the first step in the process of sorting is to divide everything by language. Afterwards the letters are opened and read by the Office of Correspondence due to Pope Francis time constrictions, and the office then distinguishes the simple letters of greeting from those who seek solace and spiritual support from the Pope, or have and urgent need. These are the letters that arrive to his desk, the bishop explained. There are a little more delicate cases like cases of conscience, Msgr. Gallorini noted, and in this case, a note is made and passed to the secretaries because the Pope examines the content directly. He definitely reads them, puts his initials and directs us on how we should respond. Although Pope Francis is unable to respond personally to all of the letters he receives, the priest assured that all who write the pontiff do receive a response expressing gratitude in the Popes name. Writing the response of the Pope is a special task for those who do it, Msgr. Gallorini observed, because it requires a reply done with the specific tone of the Popes own style. He reads these letters more with the heart than with the mind, the priest expressed, highlighting that their job then is to share the suffering of those who write and search to find the right words to express how the Pope really wants to express himself. Proximity, sharing... and truly in the style of sharing, are the key themes to keep in mind when the responses are written, he continued, adding that moreover the Pope has always said that the priest should live among the flock, the sheep. Hear and live the experience with them. (CNA/EWTN News)

Pope Francis rides through St. Peters Square after Mass on April 28, 2013

Counter secularism by reaffirming Christ, good news CBCP

MANILA, Jan. 28, 2014The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in a pastoral letter called on the faithful to counter the secularist influences of the modern times by rekindling their relationship with the Divine and reaffirming the joy that emanates from the good news. Catholic country as we may be, we may have come to think that joy is suppressed by Jesus and His imperatives, and so have begun to pursue joy by walking away from Him in fashionable secular modernity, the bishops collegial body said in a letter signed by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas. The bishops reiterated the call of the Supreme Pontiff to turn around, and return to Jesus, who is not just a cold concept, not just an old memory, not just a set of ethical demands, but the God who encounters us from the Cross, gazes into our hearts with love, accepts us unconditionally, and moves us profoundly. Crucial in the return to joy, is the return to Jesus ChristA response may be a resolution never again to walk away from the Lord, they added. We have all too easily walked away from Jesus, and walked into protected comfort zones, cultures of institutionalized hypocrisy, selfishness and sloth; we have found solace in superficial ideologies or shallow religiosity that but mimic the Gospel, the CBCP said. The faithful may rekindle this spiritual relationship by spending more quality time with Him, to converse with Him more regularly, to find silence to listen to Him more intimately, to waste time with Him more liberally, to experience more deeply the joy of knowing him personally, of being truly shaken by His love, infected by His values, influenced by his choices, and being convinced in his love of the love of the Father. Returning to joy Reaffirming the joy that roots from the good news is also vital for the faithful to cope with the

Raymond Bandril

Archbishop Socrates Villegas

challenges of the modern times, according to the CBCP. Pope Francis invites us to return to the joy that comes from the Gospel and from sharing the Gospel. That is a joy that comes neither from a covetous heart nor from the frivolous pursuit of pleasures, nor from a blunted conscience, it said. It comes rather first and foremost from a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ. This joy is real and deeply personal in a social world, the bishops said, noting the need for it to be urgently shared today in all its fullness, challenge and joy no matter the danger, no matter the ridicule, no matter the dying. Countering secularist influences through spiritual encounter compels the faithful to share their experience to others, the bishops said. It is not possible to have met Jesus, then hoard the joy of this encounter for oneself, they said. The encounter with Jesus is genuinely personal, but intensely moving in his love not only for me but for all others lay, religious, priests, bishops, Catholics and non-Catholics, Muslims and Lumad, they added. It is the joy of this gratuitous personal encounter that impels us to share it, to break out of our zones of comfort, our parish turfs, our intimidating conventos, our moldy libraries and tired ways of thinking in order to share of this joy with those who cry out for it in need, the CBCP said. (Jennifer Orillaza)

Priest stresses calamity victims need for psychological counseling

MANILA, Jan. 30, 2014Food and shelter are not the only necessities that victims of recent calamities must acquire. The need for psychological counseling is also an integral component in helping traumatized victims rebuild their lives, a Catholic priest said. Fr. Carlos Ronquillo, Director of the Saint Alphonsus Theological and Mission Institute in the Philippines, noted that aside from providing relief efforts, it is also important to facilitate psychosocial intervention among victims of natural calamities. Letting people tell their story should be an integral component in responding to disaster situations like typhoon (Yolanda), Ronquillo said in his interview with the Vatican radio, referring to Super Typhoon Yolanda which struck Eastern and Central Visayas last November. The death toll from Super Typhoon Yolanda rose to 6,201 as of January 29, with 28,626 injured and 1,785 still missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. What the church has been used to is the temporal approachwhich is understandable because people are desperate, people are in need, and the immediate needs to be attended would definitely be food (and shelter since) most of them have lost homes, Ronquillo said. But we have failed to recognize that in this situation; (the people) did not only lose their homes. They lost many of their family members and that is

gifts, such as a scarf. Most of the requests made are for support and prayer, he stated, but many also regard the moment we are living - difficulties, especially diseases...asking for prayers for children, also describing situations of economic hardship. Reflecting on why so many people write to the now-famous Saint Martha house of the Vatican where the Pope resides, Msgr. Gallorini observed that it is because the people of today feel that Pope Francis is near to them

in a special way. They try to feel the closeness of the Pope who captures their suffering, their distress, who is close to them in prayer. Then, for what is possible, we help by directing requests to specific offices, the priest continued, adding that for example the requests for economic help are forwarded to the diocesan Caritas so that they can be verified, either immediately or more operational. Managing the high volume of letters is a small team of four, consisting

Stephen Driscoll/CNA

Roy Lagarde

that experience and where would they get the resources to be able to handle that? Ronquillo asked. Definitely, not the relief and food response. Theres got to be a certain story telling. Theres got to be a certain accompaniment, which would enable them to face up to the shadows that they have experienced through that disaster, he said. Theres got to be something that we could offer (these people) beyond the traditional response that we give them, he added. Untapped resource Ronquillo noted that psychological counseling can be included in different church relief efforts through religious individuals who have gained expertise on psychological counseling due to the long years they have rendered in the ministry. What is concrete reality among the religious is that they have this resource within them religious formation from different congregations and orders often [include] psychological processing, he said. He urged religious members of the church to refine, repackage, and bring this resource in the service of those who are most in need. What is important is how you harness this resource thats there, untapped, from our many religious priests, sisters, and brothers, Ronquillo said, noting that true healing could only be achieved once they are able to break walls and help victims share their stories. (Jennifer Orillaza)

The Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) coordinates with CBCP-NASSA in reaching out to typhoon survivors especially in providing psychological first aid and counseling.

more traumatic than losing (in) poverty, he said. And precisely for that reasonpsychological intervention should bean integral component (of disaster response) from hereon. Without any psychological intervention, our response as church would still be deficient, he added. Lasting impact Ronquillo, who participated in various relief efforts, noted that individuals who suffered from the devastation brought by different calamities yearn to share their story to others who are willing to listen and sympathize with their situation. The priest noted that the psychological component of relief efforts could bear lasting impact to the lives of people, especially

during the point when they are left on their own to rebuild their lives. The moment (these people) are left on their own, the effect of (these disasters) would be horrible, Ronquillo said, noting the trauma brought by natural calamities to the mentality of people. When the rain starts falling, many of them become afraid. They do not know how to manage their fear. He stressed the importance of psychological counseling to individuals who are in the process of rising up from the shambles brought by disasters. Just come to think of it, a big number of children and adults having gone through the traumatic experience of saving themselves from the surges and seeing their relatives dying or disappearing. How do you locate

Urban Poor Associates

A4
EDITORIAL

Opinion

CBCP Monitor
February 3 - 16, 2014

Vol. 18 No. 3

Of economic ratings and perceptions

THE status of the Philippine Economy can be diagnosed and consequently pronounced accordingly either by result of ambivalent perception or the truth on ground reality. Such differences in appreciation basically depend on whether it is the administration itself that makes the evaluation, or it is this or that survey that issues the pronouncement or it is the people in general who live the economic and actually speak about it. When the administration makes its own official appraisal, the Philippine economy is not simply promising but even amazing. When it is one or the other survey issues its formal evaluation, the Philippine economy is either great or bad, usually depending on what firm supposedly made the survey. There is quite ambivalence in the sense that it depends on the survey readers what they want to believe. But when it is the people in generalthose in supermarkets and wet markets, those in the classy and standard neighborhoods, those living in subdivisions and under the bridges or by the canals for that matter, they say the truth they live and know: The Philippine economy is not only oppressive but also depressing. After some three years in Office, the present administration continues to claim with certainty, that the economic growth is a priority and that economy progress is thus a magnificent reality. Graft and corrupt practices were supposed to be something in the past through the Matuwid na daan loud and avid proclamations. Moreover, the common good and public welfare of the people were also supposed to be championed through the then avowed and applauded claim Kayo ang boss ko! as if sovereignty does not in fact belong to the Filipinos themselves as provided by the Constitution. But after some time, such proud and triumphant claims proved to be but empty claims and futile resolves. So it is that the people are instead not only robbed to the bones by their public officials by pocketing public funds but also made slaves by the stern demands of payments of direct and indirect taxes from sun up to sun down, from birth to death. Admittedly, economy is undermined not only by natural but mostly by man-made calamities. It comes, therefore, not a surprise that, conservatively, about 10% of Filipinos cannot find local employment and about 20% of them are wallowing in poverty. Statistics, of course, can be deceiving. But the increasing number of Filipinos leaving the country to eke a living abroad is very telling. And yet government reports say that Philippine economy grew by 7.2 percent in 2013, and proudly hinted that this growth rate is second only to Chinas performance in the past year. This looks like on the same league with the recent SWS survey conducted from December 11 to 16 where the Yolanda victims who were supposedly some of the respondents gave the President a +54 net satisfaction rating which is equivalent to very good.

People of the Philippines A convenient scapegoat

THE Poor Pilipino Peoplethis is another reading of PPP. And such is not really bad a coincidence. The Filipinos have become even poorer with the advent of the present administration. While it is said by this and that foreign financial entity that the index of the socio-economic standing of the Philippines is heavenly high, the ground reality, however, is that more and more Filipinos live and feel the fact of poverty. The main thesis affirmed and championed by the administration is that Filipinos are poor because they are many in number or in count. In other words, the poverty in the country is simply because of the big number of Filipinos. It is as simple as that. There is no sufficient number of work or employment in the Philippines. Reason: There are too many Filipinos. There are many of them who are homeless. Reason: There are too many Filipinos. There are many crimesmurders, assassinations, violencein the country. Reason: There are too many Filipinos. Justice, peace, and

Oscar. V. Cruz, DD

Views and Points

the Filipino people are too many. So it is that more and more pro-population control public officials and private individuals are again tri-media stars. So is it that recently, contraceptive advertisements have again come to fore. So it is that while abortions-infact take place, the people charged and paid to prevent and punish abortionist are blind, deaf, and dumb. So it is that the Supreme Court is under enormous pressure from the Executive Department with its contrapopulation allies, to do away with the TRO on the implementation of the Population Control Bill deliberately misrepresented by the government as Responsible Parenthood Bill, although it is formally and clearly against parenthood and responsibility. Woe to all thosepublic officials, physicians, nurses, and private individuals who are directly or indirectly responsible even but for a simple abortion. You might get big beautiful medals from the administration here and now. But hereafter and beyond...

The laity: called to a community of families

A VERY important insight of the Second Vatican Council is the recognition of a strong interrelationship between community life and family life, in which Jesus Christ sets individuals in a new relationship to one another because of their relationship to him in the Spirit. In his Post-Synodal Exhortation on the Christian Family, Pope Johan Paul II states that: in order to understand better the foundations, the contents and characteristics of this participation (of the family in the life and mission of the Church), we must examine the many profound bonds linking the Church and the Christian family and establishing the family as a Church in a miniature ( Ecclesia Domestica ), in such a way that in its own way the family is a living image and historical representation of the mystery of the Church. ( Perfectae Caritatis , 49) The family is the Church in the home. It is the primary community of Christs disciples whose members are bound together not only by ties of flesh and blood but by the grace and obedience to the Fathers will. Jesus began his work of salvation within a family, the Holy Family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus himself. Thus, family life in the Lord is of greatest concern to the Church. The family plays a pivotal role in renewing Christian life and in forming communities of the Lords disciples. The family is where the journey in faith-life is initiated and guided towards maturity. Within the family assisted by educations institutions, social conscience is formed, and the life of worship and prayer is nurtured and integrated with the sacramental life. In the family the various ministries in the Church are awakened and cultivated. There the spirituality of the Christian is nurtured and rooted in the Word of god and finds its Filipino expression. As Pope John Paul II observes: It is through the family that the history of salvation of the Church is wrought. And again, he points out, The future of evangelization rests in great part on this Church in the home. (Familiaris Consortio, 49) Called to reach out to its neighborhood and beyond, the family becomes a true foundation for Basic Ecclesial Communities. It is in fact a model of relationships in the Church. For the plan of God is that mankind should form one family, and the Church is the household of God where all call upon and obey the will of the same Father though the Holy Spirit. The Church in its entirety should therefore become a family of families. (PCP-II Acts of the Council Nos. 419-422) Acts and Decrees of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines, 1991

development are but impossible dreams. Reason: There are too many Filipinos. Consumer goods are costly and becoming even costlier as time goes by. Reason: There are too many Filipinos. Taxes that are more in kind and in amount are never enough. Reason: There are too many Filipinos. There are not enough schools. Classrooms are crowded. Reason: There are too many Filipinos. The streets are full of people, vehicles are everywhere, and accidents are common. Reason: There are too many Filipinos. There are more and more OFWs who leave their families behind in order to make a living. Reason: There are too many Filipinos. Hunger and weakness, sickness and death are all around. Reason: There are too many Filipinos. So it is that Population Control Bill was passed. So it is that contraceptives are presented as a composite big savor. So it is that children are not welcome in the country. So it is that a population count was recently made with the readily expected result that

Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS

and thats the truth

IT is alarming how so many minors figure in various crimes today, particularly those we can call dark ways of earning a living: petty theft and robbery, bag snatching, ambushing motorists, breaking into homes, etc. As the news reveals, these are mostly children of the poor, unwittingly lending themselves to exploitation on account of their poverty. But there is a more searing poverty evident in these child offendersit is their lack of consciousness that they are children of God. It doesnt need an expert in child psychology to see that these children were not made aware earlier in life of the presence of God, much less of Gods love and providence. Whats dangerous is, our continued exposure to such news of juvenile delinquency could desensitize us to their condition until we in our complacency begin to accept it as normal. However, it is not too late to reverse an apparent trend young parents of the 21st century can still be guided by Mary and Joseph who fulfilled the law that required their child to be consecrated to the Lord. The year 2014, being Year of the Laity for us Catholics in the Philippines, could be an opportune time to move towards empowering our lay people not just for a year, or a decade, but also for generations to comeby empowering our children now. This empowerment means consecrating our children to the Lord in order to lay a foundation that is beneficial to children, their parents, and society as a whole. Aware of the paternity of God to their children, parents will appreciate the young ones dignity and will raise them with respect.

Challenging the laity

Children who are nurtured on the conviction that they are children of Godand are hand-led in the ways of the Lordwill develop a greater sense of the divine in their nature and will be inclined to regard their bodies with dignity as they grow older. Teaching children that work is a gift from the same God makes them value labor accordingly and gives them a higher purpose in employing their talents to earn a living. Thus, they will not be easily swayed to cooperate in dubious money-making activities by predatory elders. While this sounds doable, the reality stares us in the face as well: that there are parents who need enlightenment for they themselves grew up in the dark. Such are those who rent their children out to syndicates to beg on the streets, or who pimp for their children to make quick bucks from cybersex and prostitution. How pathetic to see that parents could violate their own children for the sake of a better life for the family! How will these parents be led out of the darkand who will do it? It is a challenge to our laity in year 2014 that is too great to be ignored. If indeed we laypeople believe and proclaim that we are called to be saints and sent forth as heroes, there is no nobler place to begin spreading the Good News than at home, consecrating our children to Our Father. And if we laity must be true to our mission of sanctification and transformation of the world, we should reach out to the truly poor in our midst, and not be content with curling up in the comfort of our sanitized homes and singing hymns while sleepwalking in our beautiful churches. And thats the truth.

www.cbcpmonitor.com cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net

Year of the Laity

OUR beloved bishops have declared 2014 as the Year of the Laity. I suppose it is part of the 9-year preparation, a novena of sorts, for the celebration of the fifth centennial of the Christianization of our country in 2021. Remember that Magellan discovered our country and introduced Christianity on March 16, 1521, as that naughty Yoyoy Villame ditty had immortalized. In their pastoral letter of exhortation, they appeal to the laity to be more aware of their duty and responsibility in the Church and in our country. The bishops wish that the laity to be consistent to their faith, translating it from belief to action, from something personal to something social and collective, especially in the area of politics. Lets hope and pray that this initiative acquires more meat and structure, gains foothold and traction, and runs far and wide. It should not just be a good idea, a beautiful

Fr. Roy Cimagala

Candidly Speaking
cal structure of the Church is not meant to elicit that attitude but rather to put in place and to keep the vitality of the Church as animated by the Holy Spirit himself. Everyone has to be aware that, whether cleric or lay, he is part of an organic body that has dimensions both visible and invisible, material and spiritual, human and divine. He has to realize that the Church is also in his own hands. He has to learn to work in tandem with others. All faithful are conformed to Christ in baptism. Those ordained to the priesthood are conformed to Christ in a more specific way, that is, to Christ as head of the Church. Yes, they enjoy a certain authority over others, but that authority is precisely meant to serve the others. They preach, administer the sacraments, etc. Their power should not be understood as a claim of entitlement. On
Candidly Speaking / A7

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letter. It has to be a living reality, widely and immediately felt, and concretely acted out. Many things need to be done, many concepts to be clarified, programs to be acted on, and goals to be pursued. Even the very concept of laity is not clear to many people, including those who consider themselves very Catholic. So, imagine what idea they have about the responsibilities attached to their status. While every believer who is baptized is called a faithful in the Church and therefore enjoys a basic equality with everyone else in terms of dignity and responsibility in the Church, there is also a functional diversity that distinguishes them into clergy on the one hand, and laity on the other, with the consecrated religious men and women comprising as a third division. There should be no question about who is higher or lower in the Church. The hierarchi-

Illustration by Brothers Matias

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 18 No. 3
February 3 - 16, 2014

Opinion
Raising the tide of Philippine politics
(Part 2)
for faith-impelled social change has awakened. Then there is the so-called best-kept secret of the Church, its social teachings and, if I may add, the reflections of the CBCP applying the social teachings to Philippine realities. There is a cumulative process of learning yielding nuggets of wisdom that await discovery and application. Let me share some insights from Benedict XVI that give clear orientation: The Church cannot and must not take upon herself the political battle to bring about the most just society possible. She cannot and must not replace the State. Yet at the same time she cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice... A just society must be the achievement of politics, not the Church. Yet the promotion of justice through the efforts to bring about openness of mind and will to the demands of the common good is something which concerns the Church deeply (Deus Caritas Est 28). For the Church to play this role described by Benedict XVI two realities are presupposed: human dignity and a divine promise. Our conscienceGods voice embedded in our consciousnessis the deepest expression of our dignity and also represents the most underutilized resource in advocacy work. As Heidi Mendoza puts it, conscience is the missing human capital in the fight against corruption. This is the good in all of us just waiting to be tapped. And we are not alone in tapping this Jesus promised to be with us always until the end of the world (Matthew 28:20). He is going to remain through the instrumentality of another Advocate, the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17) who will guide the faithful (John16:13) and convict the world (John 16:8-11). We are not alone and this is our consolation (with + alone). Prayer then is essential since it connects us with the original Advocate. Avoiding shortcuts and persevering in patient, loving work makes us resemble the Advocate. Only in this way can we reverse the Towel of Babel through an experience of Pentecost. *** What aligns these strengths is solidarity: A firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good, i.e., to the good of all and of each individual because we are really responsible for all. (Catechism for Filipino Catholics 1194). Solidarity is the missing link, starting with the aftermath of People Power I and even up to the present. Without it yesterdays heroes easily become todays tyrants. With it, lay-led effort in faith-impelled social change becomes possible. (To be continued)

A5
Rev. Eutiquio Euly B. Belizar, Jr., SThD

Fr. Carmelo O. Diola

Spaces of Hope
LET me share a story to explain what I mean. In the evening of July 6, 2007, a group of us had dinner with several bishops during a lull in their July meeting. The dinner had been requested by Atty. Simeon Marcelo who had resigned as Ombudsman a little less than two years before. There were two policemen in our company. One was a general, Samson Tucay; the other was a colonel, Cesar Binag. As the two proceeded to share their stories, it became obvious to the bishops that they were dealing with two gentlemen and Christians who were serving their country very well. One of the bishops started to teasingly refer to Sam as Bishop Tucay and Cesar as Monsignor Binag. And, before the night was over, they were teasing me with General Diola. We had a good laugh but we also had a very special lesson. Unless we learn to exchange placesso to speakfaith-impelled social transformation remains an elusive dream. Empathy is the first step towards this dream. The letter to the Ephesians puts it, It is he (Christ) who is our peace, and who made the two of us one by breaking down the barrier of hostility that kept us apart (Ephesians 1:14). Christ had healed my oncedeep biases against policemen and politicians. This first principle of exchanging places is a paradigm shift from the adversarial stance of yesteryears. It has been yielding fruit and will continue to do so, from outreach to the police and other public servants to our work with youth and voters. Truly, underneath our different roles and external appearances we are the same human beings, broken by sin yet loved by God and needing each other in the journey towards healing and wholeness. From this starting point, we can then proceed to healing socio-political structures to make them more life-giving. Communion is the starting point for any meaningful change. *** Starting with empathy one then proceeds with concrete action for raising the tide of Philippine politics. I like the perspective of the late Peter Drucker, probably the most influential management guru of the 20th century. He said that the task of leadership is to create an alignment of strengths in ways that make weaknesses irrelevant. Just what are these strengths that need alignment? Let me point out a few. Majority of Filipinos are baptized Catholics and the Church has the most extensive network on the ground, from parishes to schools, chapels to BECs. This carries with it a huge responsibility (Catechism for Filipino Catholics 1193). There are indications that the once sleeping giant

By the Roadside Laitys peculiarity

TO get to know someone it pays to be able to set him or her apart from others. I relearned this truth from two identical twins, named Gino and Geo, both altar boys in Brgy Locsoon. Believe me, even their own mother tells me to this day that she cant distinguish one from the other because they look and behave so much alike. But I found a way one day when, before Mass, I noticed a tiny scar on the left temple of one of the boys and then, out of the blue, I let out a guess: You must be Gino, right? He nodded his head like I caught him with his hand inside an utap jar. From then on I have been ninety-nine percent able to distinguish the one from the other. Ginos peculiarity was, for me, the key. So how do you distinguish the laity from the other members of the Church? The key is the laitys peculiarity. I was reading the book of Genesis and it struck me that Judahs peculiarity among his brothers earns him the greatest blessing from their father Jacob or Israel. Judah, says Jacob in a prophetic state, your brothers will praise youYour fathers sons shall bow before you. Judah, a young lion! You return from the prey, my son! Like a lion he stoops and crouches, and like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? (Gen 49:8-10). His peculiarity is his leadership among his brothers; it is also out of him that a royal figure will soon emerge to lead Gods people to greatness. Without Judahs knowledge of his peculiarity the history of Israel would have turned out different. Because so many of our lay peoplepardon my saying soare out of sync with their peculiarity, need we wonder why the Church and the country are where they are today? In the words of the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church: Their secular character is proper and peculiar to the laity [But] by reason of their special vocation it belongs to the laity to seek the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them according to Gods will (LG 31). Now doesnt this feel like a strong punch, somewhat akin to a Pacman jab? If secularity distinguishes the laity as their peculiarity, what constitutes secularity? Saeculum which means world offers a window to an answer and the document confirms our suspicions when it refers to the lay faithful as those who are engaging in temporal affairs. As a rule (which is not to say there are no exceptions), it is they, and not the clergy or the religious, who become politicians, business people, scientists, lawyers, doctors, nurses, farmers, soldiers, accountants, engineers, etc. That is to say, activities and states that more directly tie people to the things of this world are the lay faithfuls field of competence, and not the clergys nor the religious. I would leave it to the reader to draw his or her conclusions (not simply the likes of Oh, so thats why it feels something is not right when Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion dress themselves like priests and when priests call themselves Engineer or Attorney). But, and heres the catch, secularity does not exhaust the laitys peculiarity. The Vatican II fathers hastened to add to the laitys act of engaging in temporal affairs the complementary phrase and directing them according to Gods will. I wouldnt be surprised at all if some would react to this with, And how do I know Gods will or whether or not Im directing my own affairs according to Gods will? Naturally to that it wouldnt be difficult to say, That is exactly why the Scriptures and the Catechism of the Catholic Church are there, why the Churchs teaching authority, as exercised by popes, bishops and to a degree by priests, exists. The point is, the document strongly instructs all lay faithful to allow the light of faith to guide them in the way they conduct their responsibilities in the world. In a word, it is not enough for the laity to know they are in the world and that the world is their field of expertise; they must likewise never stifle the voice of the Savior who reminds them: But you are not of the world since I have chosen you from the world (Jn 15:19). To me what follows staggers the imagination. When true to their identity, the lay persons engage directly in something unspiritual but do so under the guidance of the Spirit who speaks through the Church and, therefore, in that sense they bring spirituality into the unspiritual. For instance, when a lawyer puts his law practice in the service of a true search for justice, and not just for money or profit, he becomes faithful to his vocation. A doctor who cares for his patients not only out of professionalism but especially because he wants to concretely express love towards those who suffer as persons in whom Jesus Christ is present similarly carries out his Christian discipleship. A politician who listens not simply to the voices of his own party or ideology but, most of all, to the highest demands of morality, when crafting decisions and putting them into action, completes his peculiarity. Remember the first chapter of the gospel of Matthew that deals with the genealogy of Jesus? Remember how he takes pains to mention names of women among those of men, i.e., Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and the wife of Uriah (Bathsheba with whom David committed adultery) (Mt 1:3-6)? While a case could be made for the holiness of Ruth, Tamar, Rahab and the wife of Uriah are known to be women who engaged in illicit unions. As Scripture experts tell us, the point of Matthew is to make us, first of all, realize that Jesus truly became a human being because he became a member of a human family, with members that were both heroic and cowardly, saintly and sinful. The evangelist makes it clear what he means by saying that Jesus is truly the Emmanuel or the God-with-us because he is with both saints and sinners in his own family, so as to save all. And how is this relevant to our reflection of the laitys peculiarity? Again the answer should not be too difficult to see. It is Jesus who brings to the world of real human beings and real human families the kingdom of God and of heaven. This action by the Savior goes to the heart of the laitys peculiarity. They are to bring the world of politics, economics, culture, sports, business, entertainmentworldly or temporal affairsto Gods rule so as to put them within the sphere of Gods saving action. The president used to say to Filipinos: Kayo ang Boss ko (You are my Boss). Pardon me but I think that is not exactly expressive of the real definition of the true lay person according to Vatican II. Filipino Catholic Laity are such because they are answerable not only to human bosses or employers but especially and, above all, to the Supreme Master of all, God who reveals himself through Jesus Christ in the Spirit. If any politician were to be a true Catholic lay person, he or she should rather address his constituents: Kayo ang Boss ko, pangalawa sa Dios na Boss nating lahat (You are my Boss after God who is the Boss of us all).

Choose to be brave in the Year of the Laity!

THE Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) declared the celebration of The Year of the Laity (YOL) from December 01, 2013 to November 23, 2014. The Episcopal Commission on the Laity (ECLA) chaired by Most Rev. Jesse Mercado, Bishop of Paraaque, was tasked to handle the formation, celebration and legacy of YOL. Bishop Mercado, the National Director of Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas (Laiko), tapped Laiko and the CBCP Episcopal Commissions to make the YOL a success. The CBCP appointed Fr. Rico Ayo of the Diocese of Paraaque to head the YOL Secretariat. In a message, the CBCP President, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, urged everyone not to be afraid to be Catholics. He told them to be brave and get involved in Churchs parishes, the Churchs organizations and the Churchs schools. The theme of the YOL is Filipino Catholic Laity: Called to be Saints Sent Forth as Heroes. The goal is to form and inform Catholics on the basic catechisms about Baptism and Confirmation. Focus is on the disillusioned and hurting Catholics; those who do not care about the faith. The primary role of the Laity is the transformation of the world, not the Church. For information about the YOL, you may visit its website at www.choosetobebrave.org. Everything that one wants to know about the YOL and its activities can be found in the website. There is a forum

Atty. Aurora A. Santiago

Duc in Altum
wounded families receive Gods healing for their hearts and relationships? The Homeless and Joblesshow can you help build homes for the poor and provide them livelihood programs? The Homebound and Prisoners how can you give inspiration and assistance to the sick, handicapped, elderly, prisoners who are already losing hope? The Farmers, Fisher Folks and Laborers (FAFILAB)how can you encourage these poor sectors to struggle for change and social justice and become effective agents of evangelization? The Troubled Friendshow can you heal those who are addicted to drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling and cyberspace assuring them of Gods salvation? The Government Employeeshow can you instill and inspire rank and file government employees about the virtues of honesty and integrity in public service and urge them to share their stories of being honest government employees. The Civic Organizationshow can you help in the social transformation of major civic groups, promoting the spirit of volunteerism based on faith and solidarity? The Public School Teachershow can you help in the formation of public school teachers that they may be animated to teach ethics and moral values to their students? The Indigenous People (IP)how can you show gratitude to the indigenous peoples since the Church is the custodian of culture and integrity of creation? The Lay Saints and Catholic
Duc In Altum / A7

where everyone is welcome to post their views and sentiments about the faith, an avenue for dialogue, queries and surveys especially about the synod on family which will be held in October. One may also learn formation about the sacraments of baptism and confirmation. The website has links to Facebook and Twitter. About the YOLs Logo, as described in the website: The heart in the Choose to be Brave symbolizes LOVE. The rays behind the hand symbolizes where the Laity can be found: in the world, from all walks of life. The open hand symbolizes the decision of the laity to respond to the call of the mission. It also symbolizes generosity. The rays symbolize the areas of the world where the Laity are called to bring the light of Christ. We are to go out and make disciples. The flame over the heart symbolizes the ardour that the Spirit of Jesus ignites in our hearts so that we may choose to be brave. To reach out, twelve sectors who are in need of love, care and help. By reaching out to these sectors, the Laity Choose to be Brave. The 12 sectors are: The Non-Practicing Catholicshow can you bring back to the Church the Lost, the Least and the Last who stopped going to Mass or had been converted to other religion? The Young Professionals can be saintshow can you empower and make them active co-sojourners in the Catholic Church? The Broken Familieshow can you reach out and help broken and

Importance of earnestly being

ONE day, a mother began telling her son his bedtime story. An African native found an eagles egg on the ground. Not knowing where to return it, he placed it amongst the eggs of a chicken. When the eaglet hatched, it started following the other chicks. In fact, it began thinking it was a chicken. One fine day when the sky was clear, the eaglet was startled by a great shadow over him. He looked up and saw a beautiful majestic eagle soaring high up in the clouds. The young eaglet was so amazed that he stopped eating. When the mother hen noticed what he was staring at, she said, Dont even think one second about it. You will never become like that! Sad, the eaglet hung its head and started pecking at the ground for seeds. Will the eagle ever fly, mama? the boy eagerly asked as he sat up from bed. We shall see, dear, his mother winked at him as she settled him back on the bed. *** Fortunately, were not born out of misplaced eggs! Unlike the rest of creation, man was created by God in a very special and loving way: in His own image and likeness. This unique place of man reveals his mission within creation and we could call this his creational identity. This identity includes all of the rich realities embodied by the human person: intellect, will, freedom, and also other aspects as biological, sexual, religious, and social, etc. God deigned all of these to be part of every person because they somehow write a singular life story and together are meant to help man attain the purposeboth human and divineintended for him by the Creator. Now mans perfection lies in the proper use of his freedom to integrate all these God-given gifts. Our first parents, however, chose otherwise. Misusing their freedom, they somehow un-natured themselves by opposing the creational identity meant by God for their own good. Thankfully, God isnt one to give up easily on man. He accepted patiently this rejection and converted it into the very backdrop of a new creation. A re-creation that would endow man with an unheard of capacity for the divine: to become Gods adopted children. And God car-

Fr. Francis Ongkingco

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ried out this saving plan through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, says Pope Francis speaking about the roots of fraternal love, who assumed human nature in order to redeem it, loving the Father unto death on the Cross, has through His resurrection made of us a new humanity, in full communion with the will of God, with His plan, which includes the full realization of our vocation to fraternity. (Address for the World Day of Peace 2014, no. 3) However, despite this new offer, man still possesses the freedom to accept or not like our first parents this gift of his true identity. The consequences of sin upon human nature, though not corrupting, make him prone to disorders interiorly stemming from his passions and exteriorly from dysfunctional family, social and cultural factors. One manifestation of this personal disintegration today is seen in the widespread psychological, sexual and social insecurities and complexes. Instead of perceiving these personality crises as invitations to practice virtue and to be guided by the new humanity offered by God, some attempt to justify deviancy by masking or making it fashionable by doning on sophisticated personality labels. Such individuals cling to the hope that their fragile labels would provide some justification and refuge for their lack of personal integration. Swapping identity labels can only go as far as to appear as something else, but nominal tags never change reality for what it was meant to be by God. For example, the label honey pasted on a jar of vinegar will not make vinegar sweet. Nor does any doctor imagine of curing cancer by simply crossing out cancer and replacing it with hypertension. Thus, the attempt to label and re-label real disorders in man is at most being mediocre in treating the real causes of ones problems, having a pessimistic stance and lacking in personal sincerity in facing ones problem. Personal humility and a sincere openness to Gods mysterious designs are necessary to embrace what may seem disorderly and difficult to comprehend in our personality and life. St. Josemara, in his sincere desire to help someone, did not mince words when counseling: Dont say: Thats the way Im
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THE Philippines new cardinal is seeking the passage of a law that seeks to protect the rights of more than 1 million internally displaced people (IDP) in the country. Cardinal-designate Orlando Quevedo of Cotabato particularly backed the passage of the Rights of Internally Displaced Persons Act of 2013 which was vetoed by President Aquino last year. The church official stressed the need for such measure as many people continue to be uprooted by armed conflict, violence and natural disasters. We need a law. An executive order or directive or even a law is necessary so that government agencies and civil society will be better guided by that, Quevedo said. It would be good with regards to the 40 years of conflict in Mindanao, said the first cardinal in troubled regions of Southern Philippines. He cited as example the recent standoff between government forces and the Morro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Zamboanga City, which displaced more than 70,000 people. Quevedo also noted how several parts of Mindanao continue to struggle with the devastation caused by previous typhoons with many still living in makeshift homes. According to him, the Church, for one, is in need for better guidance on how to go about assisting IDPs. Our brothers and sisters there, they keep on striving and

Local News
the Church in the Philippines help for internally displaced persons is continuing, said Quevedo. In May 2013, Aquino vetoed Senate Bill No. 3317 and House Bill No. 5627 over some provisions, which according to him, not in accordance with the Constitution. Cardinal-designate Orlando Quevedo, OMI In the meantime, Quevedo appealed for the displaced persons, he to the government to ensure added. adequate support for the IDPs Pope Francis recently named and ensure that their rights are Quevedo as among the 19 new protected. cardinals, from 12 countries in They have the responsi- five continents. They will be bilities of helping the emergency installed in a consistory on Febsituations So we are appealing ruary 22, 2014 at Vatican City in to them to fast track their projects Rome. (CBCPNews)

CBCP Monitor
February 3 - 16, 2014

Vol. 18 No. 3

Quevedo seeks law for internally displaced Peso donation campaign launched for Intl Eucharistic Congress
File Photo

Bishop calls on laity to boost pro-life cause

AS the nation observes Pro-life month in February, a Catholic bishop calls on the Filipino laity to actively participate in the pro-life cause and intensify their defense of Catholic values. Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes said there is a need for more lay people to stand for life, and to be champions of the poor, the weak, and the innocent. Reyes, who is also the chairman of Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, has endorsed the various activities Pro-Life Philippines is organizing for the entire month of February. He urged the laity to actively promote the Gospel of life and love in every sphere of society. We are waging a spiritual war, and our laity should stand at the forefront of our temporal realities that help build the spiritual kingdom of Godfrontlines like politics, mass and social media, commerce, and public service should be filled with holy and knowledgeable Catholics in order for the Gospel to be spread to everyone and every place and institution, he said. The defense of our deeply held values of life, family, and marriage is a worthwhile reason for us Catholics to step up and make our presence felt, the bishop continued. Already in its 27th year, activities during the Pro-Life month include talks, seminars and other programs that are geared towards educating and training especially the lay to actively participate in the prolife cause. This years observance has the theme, Year of the Laity, Year of Life: Hand in Hand towards a Pro-Life Nation. Reyes urged the laity to exert every effort to keep the culture of death away from our nation. Quoting Pope Francis, he said, A population that does not take care of the elderly and of children and the young has no future, because it abuses both its memory and its promise. On February 2, a Eucharistic celebration was held at the San Agustin Church in Intramuros at 10 am to mark Pro-Life

Bishop Crispin Varquez of Borongan drops his One peso coin inside the box at yesterdays launch of Piso para sa Misa ng Mundo at Pope Pius XII Center.

Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes, chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life urges the laity not to let their guard down in defending the rights of the unborn and the family.

Sunday. The observance of February as pro-life month stemmed from a Proclamation No. 214, of then President Corazon Aquino, declaring the second week of February 1988 and every year thereafter as Respect and Care for Life Week. (CBCPNews)

A PESO donation campaign was launched to help raise funds for the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) in Cebu City. Dubbed as Piso para sa Misa ng Mundo, the fund raising drive aims to support preparations for the international gathering on Jan. 24-31, 2016. Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, overall chairman of the IEC Committee, said they decided to use coins in raising funds because it is affordable to faithful from all walks of life. We can all share something and what is important is the openness and richness of our hearts, Palma said. The launching was held on the last day of the bishops plenary assembly at the Pius XII Center in Manila. Uttering the phrase piso mara sa misa, the more than 80 bishops who were present
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dropped their coins into the donation boxes. Palma, a former president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, said the donation boxes would be placed in schools and parishes across the country. I hope young and old people, students, professionals and everyone will show their unity and peso for the world, Palma added. Held every four years, the 51st IEC will reflect on the theme Christ in You: Our hope of Glory. Preparations are ongoing for the event, which is expected to draw thousands of participantsincluding laity and Church leadersfrom countries around the world. The Philippines is also hoping to get on Pope Francis itinerary for a possible papal visit during the gathering. (CBCPNews)

CBCP head notes unfair judgment against bishops

A TOP Church official has described criticisms that bishops only visit high-profile detainees like former President, and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo as unfair. Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, CBCP president, said priests and bishops often visit jails in their respective areas silently and without the need for media attention.
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Roy Lagarde

You only count the number of bishops because the one in Veterans (hospital) is a high-profile detainee thats why people noticed that, Villegas told reporters. When we visit ordinary prisoners, ordinary jails, we dont tell mass media that we are visiting them. But we do visit them, he said. Villegas said that he

himself and his priests regularly visit jails in his archdiocese in Pangasinan because of their obligation to attend to the spiritual needs of the inmates. Im sure I am not the only one. Im sure there are other bishops who do their work quietly by visiting these prisons. They are not high-profile prisoners thats why they go unnoticed, he said.

Criticisms against the bishops flooded the social media when five more bishops visited Arroyo, who is under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City last Jan. 26. Prior to that, retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz, a known critic of Arroyo during her presidency, also visited the former president early

this month. The CBCP head said he believes that the Arroyo family sought the help of the bishops who held Mass for the lawmaker. He said that as pastors, it is their obligation to visit anyone, regardless of whoever that person is. It is my duty to help because that is my mandate from God, said Villegas. (CBCPNews)

government groups. All I know is that they are always waiting and it is the Church thats always giving them what they want especially those who would say that they have not received anything yet, Du said. He said that it is the international humanitarian agencies and church-based organizations that played major role after the devastation. I have observed that it is really the church people, those from foreign agencies, nongovernment organizations and other religious communities who are working very hard in the area, he said. According to the latest SWS survey, which was conducted
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on Dec. 11 to 16, 73 percent of Yolanda victims are satisfied and only 19 percent are dissatisfied of Aquinos performance. Among the non-victims, 69 percent of non-victims said they were satisfied while 21 percent dissatisfied with Aquinos performance, for a net satisfaction rating of +48 or good. The Aquino administration was criticized earlier for the slow response in delivering emergency assistance after the typhoon. I cannot give a confirmation to what the people in the survey are saying. I do not go into it asking them if they are satisfied with the government or not. We are just doing our part, Du said. The head of the social action

center in the Archdiocese of Capiz, one of the hard-hit areas apart from Leyte, meanwhile, could not believe with the result of the survey. As far as Capiz SAC Director Fr. Mark Granflor is concerned, the presence of local and foreign NGOs in Capiz province is overwhelming compared to the government. When I heard that (survey), I kept on smiling, Granflor said. Im sorry but the people here did not really feel the presence and response of the government during and after Yolanda. Maybe the respondents of the survey really received enough aid from the government but its not the case here in our area, he said.

The priest said the archdioceses aid efforts have now shifted from emergency assistance to recovery and rehabilitation programs to help affected communities return to normal. The situation is returning to normal with people trying to work to support their needs but many groups are still helping with the archdiocese facilitating and coordinating the works, he added. In Leyte, rehabilitation efforts are also ongoing as the archdiocese tries to provide livelihood for the victims so they will be able to stand and not just depend on whatever dole outs. We want to help them earn a living, Du said. (CBCPNews)

Francis, he said the elderly are critical for passing on their wisdom and experience. We want to reach out to them and tell them that they are very important in the Church, Villegas said. In our age we hide wrinkles and white hair. But there is something beautiful about it as it shows wisdom and experience, he said. In this Year of the Laity, the Church is taking new steps to reach to more of its followers including the hurting and disgruntled Catholics and even to critics of the Church. According to him, the celebration is not only for the supportive faithful but also for the critical ones because they are children of God, too.
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We are putting up programs for troubled Catholics troubled friends as we call them because they are addicted to alcohol, or to drugs, or even sex, Villegas added. We are also highlighting the unknown heroes, unknown saints or maybe catechists in villages or priests who struggle improving the lives of the people. In case they really have an antagonistic feeling towards the church, it would have to be a one on one approach because even if the social media is available, there is no substitute to one person reaching out to others and sharing with them the person of Christ himself, he said. (CBCPNews)

which ended on Jan. 27. They are praying for us their pastors. The flock is praying for their shepherds. The lambs and sheep are praying for us their pastors, Villegas told fellow bishops. This is the Church of the new evangelization. Let us allow our flock to transform us their pastors into contemplative shepherds of the people, he said. Inclusive celebration Villegas said the celebration of the Year of the laity should not be an exclusive affair for those who are supportive of the Church. But it should include the critical and distant ones more importantly those who disagreed with us on the RH law, those who hurl accusations at us fairly or unfairly. They are children of God too, our brothers and sisters, members of our flock also, said Villegas. We can do this if we are soaked in prayer as contemplative shepherds of the people freed from fear and rejection, carrying the mark of Christ scourged, crucified yet risen, he said. Villegas pointed out that it is also important to discern that their movement towards contemplation is not merely an escape from pastoral realities. He said it is important to always look for the fruit of prayer, as true prayer will always lead to greater charity for the poor and an increase of love. If contemplation does not lead to action for justice and charity, it might have really become the shabu of the bishops, an addictive flight from reality, the CBCP

president said. A life that has truly encountered Jesus in prayer, said Villegas, must guide the bishops response to the poor in todays society. The poor are not just curious ciphers on a statistical report. The poor are not just the unlettered, the unwashed, the uninitiated, the uneducated, the unhealthy, the naked, the exploited, the trafficked, and the infirm gazing into our eyes for human recognition, he said. Reach out sincerely He encouraged fellow bishops to heed the advice of Pope Francis in planning church programs and projects, especially in this year of the Laity, to resist the temptation of talking and acting like spiritual masters and pastoral experts who give instructions from on high. He said it is important to stay focused on the Lord and reach out sincerely to the distant poor and the wayward children of God. We cannot allow the Year of the Laity to create more circles of elite and closed-in lay groups sometimes called mandated organizations, Villegas said. We need to reach out to those who are angry at us bishops, those we have disillusioned and those we have misled or confused by our excessive misplaced prudence or unbecoming lifestyle, he said. The best of times, the worst of times Noting the many calamities and scandals that happened in the country in the past six months since the last plenary assembly, Vil-

legas couldnt help himself but quote Charles Dickens by saying it has been the best of times and the worst of times. We were visited by the strongest typhoon in the world two months ago but the Lord has blessed the Church in Mindanao with its first Cardinal, Cardinal Orly Quevedo, OMI, Villegas said. Thousands died from the storm surge in Leyte but it also brought us an admirable surge of charity worldwide, he added. He said it is important to look with the eyes of a contemplative the recent devastation caused by Typhoon Yolanda and the massive destruction wrought by the earthquake. We must look at these events with the eyes of the Lord, feel with the heart of the Lord and act with the hands and feet of the Lord. Our best contribution to the rehabilitation in Samar or Leyte, Bohol or Zamboanga is Christ, Villegas said. We send help because of Christ, in Christ and through Christ, Villegas told fellow bishops. Our task is not just to build new homes that can be washed away again by the next storm surges. Our mission is not just to send food for the hungry and give water to the thirsty. The Christ that is in me reaches out to the Christ that is suffering. It is Christ reaching out to Christ, he said. We will miss this point if we are not contemplative bishops. We can even reduce NASSA and the CBCP into just another philanthropic institution and we are not. We are Christs, Villegas said.

commitment to help the typhoon victims in Eastern Visayas. I served as and in every parishes in the US and our best parishioners are from the Philippines so naturally its good to be able in solidarity them, said Kurtz, the archbishop of Louisville. With more than four million people, the Filipino diaspora make up the second largest Asian-American community in the US. The USCCB chief is currently in the Philippines to visit typhoon-ravaged communities and make a first-hand look into the ongoing rehabilitation efforts in Leyte on Feb. 4 until Feb. 6. He will be accompanied by CRS Chairman of the Board and Oklahoma Archbishop Paul Coakley, Sr. Carol Keehan, President of Catholic Health Association, and CRS president Carolyn Woo. I hope to talk to some people and also to see some of the steps that have been taken especially with the local Caritas that we are cooperating with, Kurtz said. We see this as being one Church working together for the good of the people and we are
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very grateful because in the US there are so many Filipino families who have roots and family members here, he said. Kurtz also met with Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle and Archbishop Socrates Villegas, CBCP president, together with some officials of CRS and Caritas International. CRS, the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the US, has earlier pledged to raise US$50 million for the recovery and rehabilitation programs. The typhoon has displaced more than four million people about the population of Kentucky where the archbishop is currently assigned. It means a lot for us to know that the same amount of people who live in the whole state that I serve have been affected by this, said Kurtz. So we want to talk with people and understand their plight and sometimes being present to people as well as giving material help is just as important as that, he said. The Church officials will travel back to the US on February 7. (CBCPNews)

ceptable. It is unbelievable that children are used as soldiers. Our Muslim brothers must stop it, Jumoad told Church-run Radio Veritas. Mindanao will never become peaceful if children are exposed to violence, he pointed out. Children must be in school so that Mindanao will have a bright future. Since Jan. 26, clashes between the BIFF and the military erupted in Maguindanao following the signing of the final annex

of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. On Feb. 2, the government forces ended its Operation Darkhorse against the rebels after they captured four rebel camps and a bomb factory of the BIFF in Maguindanao. The soldiers also recovered an undated photo from one of the BIFF camps last Saturday that showed what are believed to be child combatants aged 15 to 16. (CBCPNews)

Roy Lagarde

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 18 No. 3
February 3 - 16, 2014

Diocesan News
SKI engineers point out that there is nothing to confirm the alleged depletion of water in host communities, yet the same technical people admit geothermal operation requires the utility of water, Fr. Imperial said. Geothermal energy generation may cause water shortage in the host area, he said. Ricefields may suffer from drought, which eventually may lead to unforeseen damages to agriculture. The flow of tourists into the connected towns of Bulusan and Irosin for their choices of cold and hot springs may choke as the area may drain of water, Fr. Imperial said. These springs and Bulusan Lake have been frequented by tourist for many years now. When the springs around Bulusan Volcano have been drained and the whale sharks (Butanding) in Donsol have already left Sorsogon, the province will have nothing left for tourists. The benefits that may arise from geothermal energy will not match the cost of combined destructions to environment, health, tourism, and livelihood, the priest said. Lower power rates are not guaranteed, according to Fr. Imperial. The Bac-Man geothermal plant at the border between Sorsogon and Albay failed to bring lower power rates to both provinces. The electric cooperative in Albay recently was taken over by a private power company after the province suffered from power crisis, despite hosting to Tiwi and Bac-Man geothermal plants for many years, he said. The local church is judicious in its anti-geothermal stand, the priest said. It cannot afford to risk losing the provinces last frontier of watershed, which is the 3, 673-hectare Bulusan Volcano Natural Park (BVNP), and the tourism in the area. The position of the church is to protect the people and environment, he said. Definitely, the church will oppose the move of SKI and Basic Energy to explore, construct plant and operate. SKI was awarded contract to explore 25, 959 hectares of land, covering parts of the towns of Barcelona, Irosin, Bulusan, Gubat, Casiguran, and Juban. The contract area for Basic Energy could be bigger than SKIs, a source who refused to be identified, said. Irosin Coalition Against Geothermal (ICAG) chair Dr. Precy D. Gante in an earlier statement said SKI is selling its

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Diocese reaffirms stand as DOE nods twin geothermal explorations

SORSOGON CityThe diocese, under the pro-environment oversight of Most Rev. Bishop Arturo M. Bastes, holds on to its anti-geothermal stand even stronger as news of another company coming in to explore the province for geothermal energy reached its doorstep, Diocese Media Relations Officer Rev. Fr. Bong Imperial said recently. Basic Energys contract with the Department of Energy (DOE) may step up geothermal exploration in Sorsogon as Summa Kumagai Inc. (SKI) has already achieved initial progress after DOE issued it the same contract on February 19, 2010. SKI exploration though was soon greeted with protests from the local church and anti-geothermal groups, interrupting the company from advancing until present. Geothermal operations harmful effects have long since showed up in Tiwi, Albay, Fr. Imperial said. The host communities suffer from the impact of geothermal energy generation on livelihood, particularly on agriculture. The promised boon from geothermal energy was overshadowed by its negative effects on host communities, he said.

View of Bulusan Lake inside the 3, 673-hectare Bulusan Volcano Natural Park (BVNP). It is one of the reasons the local church and various groups oppose geothermal exploration and eventually construction of geothermal plant in or near the area. The BVPN, for Bulusan Lake, is one of the premiere tourist attractions in Sorsogon. The lake sits at the base of Bulusan Volcano.

ESCALANTE City, Negros OccidentalStill reeling from the devastation caused by typhoon Yolanda, residents from the coastal village of Old Escalante in Negros Occidental again lost the source of their livelihood when typhoon Basyang (Kajiki) struck the area, February 1. Several fishing boats of fisherfolks in Old Poblacion, Escalante City, Negros Occidental were destroyed when Tropical Storm Kajiki (Basyang)
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hit the Visayas area from 10 pm of January 31 until 2am of February 1. Fr. Gilbert Billena, OCarm, Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) National Vice-Coordinator, expressed sadness that another disastrous typhoon would visit the survivors of typhoon Yolanda so soon. We are not yet finished rehabilitating the totally damaged houses caused by typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan. But

yesterday, another disaster happened when tropical storm Basyang damaged the source of livelihood of several small fishermen here in Old Escalante, Billena said in a post on his Facebook page. The priest said several pump boats of the small fishermenthe means of their livelihoodwere severely damaged. Based on the survey of the Disaster Quick Response Team of Saint Francis of Assisi Parish

Photo courtesy of Fr. Gilbert Billena, OCarm

Typhoon Basyang destroys Yolanda survivors fishing boats

shares to Aboitiz Power. Albert D. Altura, SKI President, clarified that the issue about selling stocks is still being discussed, and no deal with

Aboitiz Power has been arrived at. Meanwhile, Basic Energy has not yet announced the start of its own geothermal exploration. (Oliver Samson)

San Pablo diocese holds provincewide protest vs anti-life forces

A woman surveys what was left of their small fishing boat after it was hit by typhoon Basyang, Feb. 1.

in Escalante City, the typhoon left 18 totally damaged fishing boats, 23 partially damaged and 1 missing motorized

banca. The residents, however, were grateful no one died or got injured. (CBCPNews)

Prolife advocates stage protest outside the PICC against the 7th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights on Jan. 23.

ranted exemptions and conversions, excessive retentions, fake joint ventures, and take steps to have them declared null and void and subject the lands to coverage and distribution, the signatories suggested. The agrarian reform advocates also cited an alarming increase in reported human rights violations and land-grabbing incidents involving land redistribution cases. As CARPERs land acquisition and distribution component approaches its deadline, more attacks against small farmers are taking place. Between 2012 and 2013, there has been a 4.6 percent increase in the number of cases filed at the Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board, while numerous cancellations of Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) have occurred, most notably in Quezon province, they added. Free up The group also made a bold request to the government to condone all unpaid amortizations of delinquent farmer-beneficiaries and make future land distribution free of charge.
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Citing the scant funding for CARP implementation, the agrarian reform advocates said freeing up the farmers with the burden of paying amortization is a matter of social justice. Funding for CARP should have been P255 million for its first 20 years of implementation but Congress only allotted P175 billion. Meanwhile, P150 billion was allocated for CARPER implementation but actual budget fell short. The inability of the farmers to meet their amortization payments arises mainly from the underfunding of CARP which resulted in inadequate support services and capacity-building of farmer beneficiaries. The farmers have been on the short end of these shortcomings and the condonation and free distribution will inject new life into what objective analysts consider to be the least successful, if not abject failure, of the Philippine agrarian reform program compared to those of other countries in our part of the world, they said. The group also told the President that nu-

merous farmers groups have voiced their plans to dramatize their concerns through a series of marches to Malacaang. We understand the farmers sentiments and their great motivation to march to Malacaang. A dialogue with you would be a meaningful first step in responding to their plea for justice, they said. Finally, the agrarian reform advocates reminded Aquino of his commitment to fully implement CARP under his administration. The farmers together with bishops and civil society advocates seek a dialogue with Your Excellency because major decisions have to be made and actions taken before the deadline on both the strategic directions of CARP and the institutional capability of the government to accomplish these strategies, as well as the commitments of your Administration to the farmers. We owe the farmers a better future than what has been, and is being, dealt to them by our lapses and neglect, the advocates added. (Kris Bayos)

to visit sites in the Holy Land in May this year. Palo Archbishop John Du, who was with the cardinal the whole day, is elated over Vatican officials announcement. Of course, we are very happy. People were really clapping, Archbishop Du said, as he asked the faithful to continue praying so that the papal visit will push through. Cardinal Sarah went around Tacloban City and Palo town the whole day, visiting communities and led the distribution of relief goods in some badly devastated areas. He also made a quick visit to the Sisters of Mercy Hospital, a
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health facility dedicated to the poor, in Tacloban City and the Sacred Heart Seminary in Palo town. At the compound of the Archbishops Residence, also in Palo, Cardinal Sarah led the groundbreaking ceremony for the proposed orphanage, clinic and home for the elderly. Archbishop Du said Cor Unum, an administrative body that serves in the name of the pope for the Churchs charitable activities, would finance the construction of the facilities. The project will also include, among other things, a small convent for the nuns who will administer the facilities, a cha-

pel and a dispensary. These are really part of the Holy Fathers desire to reach out to the people especially the least who are not given much attention, Archbishop Du said. I decided to have them built within the compound of my residence because I also want to live with these people, he said. Cardinal Sarah, 68, returned to Manila afternoon of Jan. 28. He will travel onwards to Rome on January 30. According to recent report by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the typhoon caused over 6,100 deaths, more than 28,000 injured and missing still

at 1,785. Caritas Philippines said around 3.8 million people, belonging to more than 851,000 families, were left homeless. In total, around 12 million people suffered damage or losses of various types, in 574 towns and cities in Central Visayas. Immediately after the onslaught of the typhoon, Pope Francis donated an initial US$150,000 in emergency aid through the Cor Unum. Last Christmas, the pope has sent his ambassador to the Philippines, Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, to Leyte to be one with the Yolanda survivors. (Roy Lagarde)

SAN PEDRO, LagunaThe Bishop of the diocese of San Pablo, Laguna through the Commission on Family and Life has organized a province-wide protest caravan on February 8 against forces that pose dangers to the sanctity of life and the solidarity of Filipino families. In a letter addressed to about 204 priests and religious taking charge of 83 parishes and shrines throughout the province, Bishop Buenaventura M. Famadico through the Family Life Commission quoted Pope Francis as saying I invite you to keep the attention of everyone on the important issue of respect for human life from the moment of conception. Then he added, In support to the unceasing call of the Catholic Church to uphold the sanctity of life and to protect the solidarity of the families from the danger imposed by the culture of death, we in the Commission on Family and Life (CFL) strongly urged all the members of the religious communities and organizations and all the faithful to organize themselves and join the motorcade tagged LAKBAY-BUHAY which will be done simultaneously in the 12 vicariates of the Diocese of San Pablo on February 8, 2014. CFL Diocesan Director Fr. Edwin D. Lusterio told this writer the scheduled motorcade hopes to mobilize hundreds of Catholics throughout the province. It is a protest action against the alleged anti-life group which organized the 7th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights (APCRSHR)
Candidly Speaking / A4

which was held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) last January 21 to 24, he said. GMA News online quoted Pro-Life Philippines legal counsel Atty. James Imbong that four out of the nine scheduled talks in the course of the conference center on abortion, a practice considered illegal based on Philippine laws. The said conference allegedly dealt on topics like Abortion and Young People discussed Jan. 21, Facilitating Young Womens Access to Post-Abortion and Safe Abortion, Womens Rights to Safe Abortion Services, Access to Medical Abortion and Unsafe Abortions in Asia: Not Just Number given Jan. 23. The bishops letter said, It is very timely once again to prompt and remind our lay faithful that we cannot compromise our Catholic faith and moral values for the sake of expediency imposed on us by external grounds that do not have authentic and sincere interest in the welfare of our people. Meanwhile, the Knights of Columbus (KC) chapter in Laguna has organized its group throughout the diocese to support the pro-life caravan being initiated by the bishop and the Family and Life organization on February 8. Sir Knight Roberto Calugtong, Chair of the Laguna KC said the organization which is consistently pro-life, has taken steps to mobilize its more than 500-strong members and join the protest caravan. (Fr. Romy Ponte)

made... its my character. Its your lack of character: Be a man! (They Way, no. 4) Here, to be a man doesnt only refer to ones sexuality, but to the totality of man as Gods son. If one earnestly seeks to be what God wants him to be, he will be able to grow through lifes confusing and complex physical and moral trials. He will be able to courageously step away from manmade pseudo-identities that do nothing but obscure his perception
Duc In Altum / A5

of Gods grace and plans. In his new humanity patterned after Christ, the person will no longer be alone, he will be true to God and himself. And he will now find strength in things which before were only a source of weakness and misery for himself and others. *** The farmer, pitied the growing eaglet acting like a chicken.

When the right time came, he brought him up to a high mountain. At the edge he perched the now grown eagle on his arm and urged it to fly! At first the eagle was scared of the mountains height and the brilliant huge sun. Then the farmer jerked his arm, the eagle naturally spread its wings and took to the air, climbed the clouds and finally embraced the sun!

Filipino Heroeshow can you campaign against Halloween scare, highlighting people who can inspire to live holy lives? *** Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes called on more lay people to stand for life, and to be champions of the poor, the weak, and the innocent. He endorsed various Pro Life activities with the

theme, Year of the Laity, Year of Life: Hand in Hand towards a Pro-Life Nation. He stated that February is Pro-Life month and has been celebrated for 27 years since Pres. Cory Aquino declared, through Proclamation No. 214, the second week of February as Pro-Life month. Bishop Reyes stated A population that does not take care of the elderly and

of children and the young, has no future, because it abuses both its memory and its promise. *** Cardinal Robert Sarah, President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, who came to the Philippines, announced the possible visit of Pope Francis to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda, to show his consolation and

spiritual closeness with them. He said the Pope told him You go now because I might be going there also. *** Happy Birthday to Fr. Tim Guarin, Fr. Dennis Salise and Fr. Gigi Yabut and Happy Sacerdotal Anniversary to Fr. Ofero Opi Balana, all of the Diocese of Kalookan.

the contrary, priests should feel like rags for the lay faithful to step on softly on their earthly pilgrimage. But the laity has a great responsibility too in the Church, and especially in the world, since they have to bring Christ, his spirit, his teaching into the world, transforming it to make it more human, more Christian, more in accord with the will and plan of God for it. Thus, they should never feel like secondary citizens in the Church. They have to stop acting like little, uneducated kids, or mere amateurs. They have to earnestly aim to be mature Christians, aware and alert to do their duties. This truth has to be pounded on their heads more often, because they tend to get contented with an idea of maturity that is simply temporal. Their faith has to be a matter of conviction, guiding them in their thoughts, words and actuations, whether in private or in public,

and in every level and aspect of life. To achieve this, they have to learn to pray, to spend time conversing with God, to study thoroughly the doctrine of our faith, develop the virtues, avail of the sacraments, etc. They have to burn with desire for holiness and with apostolic zeal, such that wherever they are, they would always be aware and feel urged to be holy and to be apostolically concerned with everyone else. Lets hope that we can make use and activate all structures and mechanisms to enable the laity actualize their potentials. We have to start with the individual, then the families, schools, parishes, offices, etc. Its good to note that there are now many groups with different charisms that are working to make everyone an authentic Christian. Lets hope that little by little, we can see a transformation, a new spring in the world of politics, entertainment, business, etc.

Raymond Sebastian

Oliver Samson

A8

People, Facts & Places

CBCP Monitor

February 3 - 16, 2014

Vol. 18 No. 3

Impacting peoples lives through communication, the greatest thrillVatican Radio director
FOR a person who has spent most of his life in the world of communication, nothing could be more exhilarating than knowing you are impacting peoples lives through it. That is what Vatican Radio director Sean Patrick Lovett, said at the sidelines during a social media workshop for the bishops at Pius XII Center, Jan. 22. Lovett, who as a child, realized he never wanted to do anything else but to be involved in the media and communication, said it is exciting to be able to share my experience and knowledge with the bishops and to know that through them, youre changing the image of the church and the country. Vice-president of CREC (Centre for Research and Education in Communication) and Director of Vatican Radios English Programme, Lovett conducted a three-day seminar-workshop for the bishops on Jan. 21-23 upon the invitation of Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle. You are really impacting, youre touching people and their experiences. Its the greatest feeling you can have because it gives meaning to your existence. You go away thinking, Gosh, you know, its all worthwhile in the end, said Lovett. He was obviously as thrilled as the bishops who have shown so much enthusiasm in learning how to use social media, especially Facebook. I have never seen group of bishops so happy when they left the room at the end of the session, Lovett said, noting that even during the break, many bishops did not want to go for snacks because they were so taken up with what they were doing they could not leave their laptops and their tablets. In an earlier interview, Lovett admitted that it is difficult sometimes to convince bishops to engage in social media. In the same interview, he referenced Pope Francis saying: If the bishops want to be a true pastor, they really need to smell like a sheep, and if the sheep smell like social media, the bishop should smell like social media too. But his experience of the recent seminar proved that Philippine bishops, although most of them unskilled in using social media and other modern gadgets, were willing to learn and overcome their biases to be able to connect with the faithful. Its funny but the reality is that most of the bishops who are not media savvy, who do not have much experience about media came away from the session this morning not only with a greater awareness of the medium and not only with the realization that they can do it but [also] the desire, the passion to use this new media, the social networking to stay connected with their young people especially interact with them, and to inspire them in a new way, Lovett said. Lovett, who has given seminars to many bishops in various parts of the world, noted the diversity of age groups and experiences. We have one bishop [this morning] who does not have a cellphone, and by the end of the morning he had a Facebook account, he observed with amusement during the feedback session. This is reality, this is what we experience. We had other bishops who were seeing their websites for the first time, who were able to assess critically their own websites and choose to decide what messages, what images they wish to project and how to connect better in Facebook, he added. For Lovett, nothing can surpass the excitement of seeing the transformation among the bishopsof seeing their eyes literally light up with excitement almost like a child, with discovery, with the realization that [learning and navigating social media] is much easier than they thought. The biggest thrill of doing this is to see the transformation inside and not outside. Most of bishops have the gadgets. They have the tablets, they have the Macbook, they have all the instruments, but they dont have the skills or desire to use these instruments to their best capability, he said. Multi-awarded communicator For Lovett, who was into radio for the first time when he was 5 years old, said communication is his life.

Sean-Patrick Lovett (extreme left) shared with the Philippine bishops his passion for communication through a three-day social media seminar at Pius XII Center, Jan 21-23.

I never want to do anything else but to be involved in the media and communication, he said. A multi-awarded communicator, Lovett has taught Communications courses at the Pontifical Gregorian University for 25 years. Pope Benedict in 2011 made him a Papal Knight in recognition for his 35 years of service to four Popes, beginning with Paul VI. He was named Catholic Communicator of the Year by the University of Dayton in 2012 and Christendom Col-

lege awarded him the St. Thomas More Medal for Defence of the Faith. Together with Lovett, during the three-day seminar was Fr. Jerry Martinson, SJ, an experienced trainer in the field of communications and media and formerly Vice President of the International Catholic Association of Film and Audio Visuals. Some members of the Pauline FamilySociety of St. Paul, Daughters of St. Paul and Pious Disciples of the Divine Masterparticipated as facilitators during the workshop. (PB / CBCPNews)

Vatican official inspects Yolanda rehab effort

ONE of the most touted papabili or cardinal who could be pope during last years conclave that elected Pope Francis has visited typhoon-ravaged areas in Leyte. Cardinal Robert Sarah, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, has arrived in Manila on Jan. 27, and proceeded to Tacloban City the following day. Former Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See Henrietta de Villa said Cardinal Sarah wanted to get a first-hand look at the progress of the Churchs ongoing recovery efforts. De Villa is a consultor to the Cor Unum, an administrative body that serves in the name of Pope Francis for the Churchs worldwide charitable activities. It also distributes papal funds to disaster-torn areas in the world. He [visited] some areas worst hit by the typhoon the whole day, De Villa said. The cardinal returned to Manila on the same day. Upon his arrival on Jan. 27, Cardinal Sarah met the countrys Catholic bishops who were gathered for their plenary assembly in Manila, January 25-27. Fr. Marvin Mejia, CBCP Secretary General, said the cardinal discussed the Churchs recovery works in areas worst hit by Typhoon Yolanda last November. His talk has something to do with the efforts of the Church to address the situation in Yolanda hit areas, Mejia said. Cardinal Sarah returned to Rome on January 30. The 68-year old Guinean cardinal was among the leading names drawing buzz in Rome as the conclave was drawing near last year. According to US-based Catholic News Service, he was known as a defender of rights and promoter of charity. As Pope Benedict XVI prepared to leave office in late February last year, Cardinal Sarah was visiting Syrian refugee camps in Jordan. (Roy Lagarde)

Always speak the truth, Villegas reminds social media practitioners

THE Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president reminds media practitioners how the twin values of love and truth should be the powerhouse that motivates their work. Speak the truth, defend the truth, spread the truth always with love because when you put the truth and love together that is Jesus. Truth plus love equals Jesus. And if Jesus is here what is there to fear?, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas told a new group of social media practitioners called Areopagus Social Media for Asia recently. Winning enemies Villegas admitted, that in the Philippines, a country considered as one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, standing by the truth all the time can win enemies [for people in media] because the devil does not like the truth. He rallied them, however, to stand with the truth nevertheless beause in the end, all the evil of today will be defeated and only truth, which sets us free, will prevail. The value of truth, according to Archbishop Villegas, must be balanced with love. Love + truth = Jesus The other partner of truth is you must always be filled with love. Truth is inspiring, but only love can redeem. Only love can save us from sin, he added. This formula of sorts, according to Villegas, can be seen in the life of Jesus Himself. [He] saved us, not only by telling us the truth about Himself and about the Father, He saved us by loving us and dying for us, explained Villegas. Lastly, he praised the valuable work of people in media who contribute a lot to bringing the fragrance of Jesus into the order of society. In the end, society becomes beautiful not because of infrastructures that the eyes can see, but because of the invisible kingdom that we are building, Villegas said in closing. (Nirvaana Ella Delacruz)

NASSA, PhilamLife to train dioceses in skills development

Veritas holds Marian exhibit for Yolanda survivors

CHURCH-RUN Radio Veritas is holding an exhibit-for-a-cause featuring replicas of Marian icons venerated by Filipinos throughout the country. Now on its ninth year, the Mary and The Saints exhibit runs from January 26 until February 6 at the 2nd floor of the Mall of Asia Entertainment Center in Pasay City. Cagayan de Oro archbishop Antonio Ledesma formally opened the exhibit with a Holy Mass. Admission is free, but organizers of the event encourage visitors to donate. Radio Veritas president Fr. Anton Pascual, said that proceeds from the exhibit will go to the five-year rehabilitation and recovery program of Caritas Manila for the survivors of super typhoon Yolanda (international code name: Haiyan). Pascual, who is executive director of Caritas Manila, the social arm of the Archdiocese of Manila, added that the Blessed Virgin will always stand by the poor and disadvantaged, especially those affected by the calamity. Yolanda, which weather scientists tagged as the strongest typhoon on record, devastated the Central Philippines November last year, killing thousands and displacing more. On display are 90 life-size canonically crowned images of Our Lady like those of La Naval de Manila, Manaoag, Peafrancia, Mt. Carmel, Porta Vaga, Perpetual The exhibit of Marian images and other saints life size Help, and others. statues at the Mall of Asia draws a lot of visitors daily. Pascual is inviting everyone to take this opThe legendary pontiff, who died in portunity to witness and accept bless- 2005, is set to be canonized by Pope ings from these Marian images which Francis this coming April 27, Divine devotees believe are miraculous. Mercy Sunday, together with Blessed Also featured are second-class relics John XXIII at St. Peters Square in Rome. and memorabilias of Blessed John Paul II. (Raymond A. Sebastin)

NASSA executive secretary Fr. Edu Gariguez seals with Maximillan Ventura of PFI an agreement to provide skills development for diocesan partners.

THE National Secretariat for Social Action of the Catholic Bishops Conference has partnered with PhilamLife Foundation in training diocesan partners to acquire new skills for development. In a memorandum of agreement signed on January 21 with NASSA, Philam Foundation, Inc (PFI) agreed to have its employees from different departments to help NASSA, including the Social Action Centers in all dioceses to acquire and develop new skills on financial management, marketing strategies, communication development, training and other skills needed. Maximillan G. Ventura, PFI Executive Director, said that together with CBCPNASSA, PFI envisions an empowered Filipino society. CBCP-NASSA has always been in the front line in advocating for social development in the Philippines. We believe that this partnership can respond to the need of social change though active volunteerism and engagement, Ventura said. NASSA will provide PFI with training needs analysis which will be gathered through surveys, focused group discussions or one-on-one sessions with the different partners. These, in turn will help PFI, in coordination with the Subject Matter Experts (SME) and Subject Matter Departments (SMD), to create and develop the modules that will address the specific needs of the organization.

Trainings will be conducted to the identified individuals or partners. After each training, there would be mentoring, coaching and evaluation to ensure that the concepts learned during the seminars will be effectively applied in the partners daily accomplishments of their tasks, Fr. Edwin Gariguez, NASSA Executive Secretary said. Continuous communication between the partners-beneficiaries will be sustained to address immediate needs, gather feedbacks, monitor and evaluate, and improve the program, he added. PFI will shoulder expenses of volunteers, such as transportation and other resource materials, while NASSA for its part, will shoulder all logistic concerns such as venue for training, food for the participants and information dissemination among its parish staff and partners. The period of engagement of each volunteer with the dioceses or parishes may extend to one to two months, or more depending on the needs identified in the assessment of skills. To generate result and impact learning between the partner organizations, a series of Saturdays may also be dedicated for the accomplishment and evaluation of tasks. The partnership is called KaAkbay Professional Volunteering program that engages various activities to support advocacies on education, environment, and social development. (SocialActionNews)

CBCP-NASSA

Italian-based Focolare musical group performs in Phl

AN Italian-based Performing Arts group is in the Philippines to perform in a musical in solidarity with the survivors of typhoon Yolanda. GenRosso, a group of young people from Focolare Movement, will spread the Gospel message of love and peace through music and dance in a solidarity tour this month. Named Gen, short for New Generation and Rosso, after the color of their original drum set, the group was formed in 1966 in the little town of Loppiano, near Florence, when Focolare founder Chiara Lubich gifted the young people with a red drum set as a Christmas gift. The group will stage a series of musical performances titled Streetlight in different venues across the country beginning February 2014. The musical is inspired by the experience of Charles Moats, an African-American Youth in the 1960s, who had renounced violence in Chicago, Illinois his hometown. Streetlight is a story of the struggles of the young people, on how to resolve conflicts in their immediate surroundings. Organizers said the musical was written to help the young people educate themselves on how to channel their inner strength for them to have this sense of personal competence. Youth workshops Aside from musical performances, a series of youth workshops are also on the agenda of the group, which will precede the staging of the musical. The first workshop with 200 youths from public and private schools, was held on January 30 and 31, before staging the musical Streetlight on February 1 at 6:30 pm and on February 2 at 3:30 pm at Ynares Arena in Pasig City. The second workshop, slated on February 5 and 6, will be held in Masbate with 200 youths from public and private schools attending. The Streetlight Musical will be staged on Feb. 7 and 8 at 6:30 pm at the Magallanes Coliseum in Masbate City. A third workshop with 200 youths from public and private schools will take place on February 12 and 13, with the musical Streetlight to follow on February 14 and 15 at 6:30 pm in Holy Cross of Davao College Gymnasium in Davao City. A fourth workshop with 200 young people is slated on February 19 and 20 and will be followed by the musical Streetlight on Feb. 21 and 22 at 6:00 pm at the Sacred Heart School, Ateneo de Cebu, in Mandaue City. The groups Solidarity Tour will culminate with a workshop and musical presentation at the Iwahig Penal Farm in Palawan on March 5. Although the name may not be familiar to many, this is not the first time the group will perform in the country as they have already staged a production in the Philippines during the 70s. Some of their songs known to Filipino Catholics are Stay With Us Oh Lord (1985); Servant of Love (1985) and Grazie, Mamma (Thank You Mama, 1966.) A number of Filipinos have also been a part of the group from its founding year in 1966 up to the present. The group has collaborated with more than 200 artists and technical staff, performed in 49 countries, staged 2,500 shows, and gone on 220 tours. With songs in 24 different languages, GenRosso has held 60 international events, conducted 350 workshops, played before 6 million spectators, and published 54 albums with 325 songs. (Guilian Geronimo)

Raymond Sebastian

Roy Lagarde

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 18 No. 3
February 3 - 16, 2014

Pastoral Concerns
(Luke 4:18)

B1

To Bring Glad Tidings to the Poor

Pastoral Exhortation of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines

THE Joy of the Gospel and the Church of the Poor As the New Year of the Laity unfolds, we recall Pope Francis compelling invitation to the joy of the Gospel and the joy of Evangelization1. We are invited to turn away from our sadness, our discouragement, and our despair at the manner in which life for us is unfolding, and return to joy. We all yearn for joy. We work for joy. Yet, in its quest we have often failed to find it. We are bundles of shattered dreams; or we are showcases of fulfilled dreams, which leave us empty. We have worked hard, but are frustrated; we have struggled, but feel the weight of disappointment. We are victims of calamities, natural or man-made, or victims of our own coldness in the face of overwhelming suffering. Pope Francis invites us to return to the joy that comes from the Gospel and from sharing the Gospel. That is a joy that comes neither from a covetous heart nor from the frivolous pursuit of pleasures, nor from a blunted conscience. It comes rather first and foremost from a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ. This is joy real and deeply personal in a social world. Consequently, it is a joy which needs urgently to be shared today in all its fullness, challenge and joyno matter the danger, no matter the ridicule, no matter the dying. This is the joy of evangelization: the joy of sharing Jesus Christ. It is a joy that cannot be contained, cannot be tamed, cannot be restrained, cannot be boxed in; it is signed with the foolishness of the Cross and rooted in the splendor of the Resurrection. Return to Jesus Crucial in the return to joy, is the return to Jesus Christ. Catholic country as we may be, we may have come to think that joy is suppressed by Jesus and his imperatives, and so have begun to pursue joy by walking away from him in fashionable secular modernity. Pope Francis is inviting us to turn around, and return to Jesus, who is not just a cold concept, not just an old memory, not just a set of ethical demands, but the God who encounters us from the Cross, gazes into our hearts with love, accepts us unconditionally, and moves us profoundly. It is love that calls forth our response of love. If in love you have done this for me, Lord, what have I done for you? What am I doing for you? What ought I do for you?2 A response may be a resolution never again to walk away from the Lord. The resolution may be to spend more quality time with him, to converse with him more regularly, to find silence to listen to him more intimately, to waste time with him more liberally, to experience more deeply the joy of knowing him personally, of being truly shaken by his

love, infected by his values, influenced by his choices, and being convinced in his love of the love of the Father. This is a response we must all consider, be we bishops or priests, religious or lay, married or single. We have all too easily walked away from Jesus, and walked into protected comfort zones, cultures of institutionalized hypocrisy, selfishness and sloth; we have found solace in superficial ideologies or shallow religiosity that but mimic the Gospel. We must turn back to Jesus. Turn back to his Gospel. Impelled by Conscience to Share The elation within of having encountered Jesus compels us to share. It is not possible to have met Jesus, then hoard the joy of this encounter for oneself. The encounter with Jesus is genuinely personal, but intensely moving in his love not only for me but for all otherslay, religious, priests, bishops, Catholics and non-Catholics, Muslims and Lumad. It is the joy of this gratuitous personal encounter that impels us to share it, to break out of our zones of comfort, our parish turfs, our intimidating conventos, our moldy libraries and tired ways of thinking in order to share of this joy with those who cry out for it in need. For Pope Francis, this is not just a matter of choice; it is a matter of conscience. If something should rightly disturb and trouble our consciences, it is the fact that so many of our brothers and sisters are living without the strength, light and consolation born of friendship with Jesus Christ, without a community of faith to support them, and without meaning and goal in life (EG, 49). In going forth, in opening the doors of Gods love to them, in facilitating grace, not being its arbiters, we should not fear for ourselves, but fear to fail those Jesus leads to us in need. More than a fear of going astray, Pope Francis says, my hope is that we will be moved by a fear of remaining shut up within structures which give us a false sense of security, within habits that make us feel safe, while at our door people are starving and Jesus does not tire of saying to us: Give them something to eat (Mk 6:37) (ibid). Poverty Still Scandalous In our personal encounter with Jesus, we know ourselves uplifted, we know all humanity is uplifted in dignity because of Jesus loving gaze from the Cross for us all. We must abide in this joy in evangelical discernment, and not allow ourselves in a confusing world to be led astray by spurious joys. While we gratefully recognize advances in Philippine society in such areas as basic education, fundamental aspects of the economy, the struggle

for elusive peace in Mindanao, the war against corruption, and in all the shameful slime uncovered in connection with the now unconstitutional Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), we cannot help but admit with Pope Francis that twenty-eight percent of our people3 still are barely living from day to day. The poorest of our people are in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao with 47% of the people living below the poverty threshold of PHP 5,458 pesos/month, in Region XII and Region IX with 38% and 37% respectively of the populations still living in absolute poverty. The income gap between our rich and poor has not closed: the richest ten percent of our population is earning ten times more than the poorest ten percent, with the income of the richest families soaring way beyond the income of the poorest.4 These are figures that have not yet captured the devastation wrought by the standoff in Zamboanga, the earthquake in Bohol, and Typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas. This is a social scandal for which we cannot just blame government. We need to understand our role in it, our personal responsibility for it in our individual lives and shared cultures, and return to Jesus. The Encounter with Jesus: Root of our Love for the Poor It is the fundamental encounter with Jesus that must guide our response to the poor. The poor are not just curious ciphers on a statistical report. The poor are not just the unlettered, the unwashed, the uninitiated, the uneducated, the unhealthy, the naked, the exploited, the trafficked, and the infirm gazing into our eyes for human recognition. They are those about whom Jesus said, Whatever you have done or not done to one of these the least of my brothers and sisters, that you have done or not done to me (cf. Mt. 25:40). Jesus makes himself one with the poor. From his Cross, Jesus gazes into our eyes and touches our hearts with love. It is his love which calls forth our response in love. It is his love which allows us to admit our personal faults in our shared social woundedness. It is his love which quietly says: Go forth, and heal! From the poverty or wealth of our lives and personal situations, how do we love our neighbor? How especially do we love our poor, Gods poor? Recalling the words of the 1971 Synod of Bishops, Our relationship to our neighbor is bound up with our relationship to God; our relationship to the love of God, saving us through Christ, is shown to be effective in the love and service of people. Christian love of neighbor and justice cannot be separated (34). An honest assessment of our ways of dealing

with the poor whom God brings in our lives our neighbors, our colleagues, our students, our employees, our parishioners, our political constituencies is called for, especially when these ways impact not just on individual lives but on the common good. To the poor, we owe love as God loved us first. That entails not just sentimentality. That entails justice. Action Against Exclusion, Injustice PovertyPart of Preaching the Gospel If God loves us so all-inclusively, why are so many excluded? If Gods justice is wrought so marvelously in compassion, why are so many victims of heartless injustice? If God loves us so lavishly, why are so many yet victims of driving poverty? There is no full answer to these questions. Our faith tells us God is love but our Catechism of the Catholic Church also says Gods love is mysterious. We do know for certain that while God permits much evil he also wished to overcome evilbut only with our cooperation. He wants our active love to show his love. He wants to draw from us love in response to all these evils. Thus where sin has abounded grace has abounded all the more Rom 5:20. In returning to the joy of evangelization, we return joyfully to the memorable words of that same Synod of Bishops, Action on behalf of justice and participation in the transformation of the world fully appear to us as a constitutive dimension of the preaching of the Gospel, or, in other words, of the Churchs mission for the redemption of the human race and its liberation from every oppressive situation (#6). There is no Christianity without love. There is no love without justice. There is no integral proclamation of Christianity without effective action for justice. The Churchs mission of redemption is tied up with liberation from injustice and oppression. In this light, unmistakably, Pope Francis is saying, Go forth!5 No to an Economy of Exclusion Evangelize, not only in words, but evangelize in action that brings justice to all! The Gospel is of Gods love for all that touches all and uplifts all. It excludes no one. Therefore Francis forbids an economy of exclusion. Thou shall not, he says, support, abet, encourage an economy of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills. 6 We must understand what an economy of exclusion means for us in the Philippines. It is an economy which pampers the wealthy with mansions, multiple cars, yachts, helicopters, exotic food, outstanding education, state-ofthe-art gadgetry, influence and power, but excludes others, especially the poor, from regular jobs that generate

more than subsistence, from liberating education, minimum health care, decent and safe housing, and modern modes of communication. It concentrates decision making in the wills of an entrenched elite, and reduces participation of the poor in these decisions to empty formalities. It serves the interests of the global economic elite, as these benefit the local elite, defends these interests with political, military and media power, and disenfranchises poor people who stand in their way of their rights even of their right to life. Indigenous peoples are pushed off their lands, their defenders are killed. Meanwhile, laws enacted to close the gap between included and the excluded, the wealthy and the poor, the powerful and the disempowered, the housed and the homeless7 are sluggishly implemented or implemented in the breach. Here, the economy of exclusion takes on its own lethal life. To this, Francis quietly states: As long as the problems of the poor are not radically resolved by rejecting the absolute autonomy of the markets and financial speculation and by attacking the structural causes of inequality, no solutions will be found for the worlds problems or, for that matter, to any problems. Inequality is the root of social ills. The dignity of the human person and the pursuit of the common good are concerns which ought to shape all economic policies, no matter how irksome.8 No to the Idolatry of Money For Francis we must go back to the love of Jesus. Only then can we understand its social imperative. As in love we must reject an economy of exclusion; in the experience of Jesus love we must reject its driving daemon, the idolatry of money.9 We have created new idols. The worship of the ancient golden calf (cf. Ex. 32:1-35) has returned in a new and ruthless guise in the idolatry of money and the dictatorship of an impersonal economy lacking a truly human purpose (55). If in the pursuit of private interest, money has taken over life, has co-opted substantial time in our loving and space in our thinking, is more demanding than family, more consoling than friends, determines what is right and what is wrong, is able in importance to push God into a corner, if not into oblivion, for as long as I can push my interests to the exclusions of others, money has become an idol. Before this idol, both humanity and divinity are sacrificed. As God says, Thou shall not kill in an economy of exclusion! he also says, Thou shall not have money as a false god before me! Only in the love of Jesus which expresses the Fathers love for all, can
Poor / B2

Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

B2 Bishops Letter in lieu of Homily

(Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy and dean of theology at the Regina Apostolorum university, answers the following query:) Q: Which documents would you mention as regards the practice of reading a letter of the bishop or of the bishops conference by a layperson? There is a custom of reading such letters in the place of the homily. Should an ordained minister do this? What would be a theological reason? If a layperson can read a letter of Paul from Tarsus, why would she/he not be able to read a letter of Christoph from Vienna, for instance? H.S., Krakow, Poland A: There is little in the way of norms regarding the proper place and time for the reading of pastoral letters. Therefore we are more fully in the area of opinion. A pastoral letter has been defined as an open letter addressed by a bishop to the clergy or laity of his diocese, or to both, containing either general admonition, instruction or consolation, or directions for behavior in particular circumstances. In the Catholic Church such letters are also sent out regularly at particular ecclesiastical seasons, particularly at the beginning of fasts. I do not think that reading a pastoral letter is absolutely excluded from the time assigned to the homily, provided that it fulfills the proper objective of this moment as recorded in the instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum: [64.] The homily, which is given in the course of the celebration of Holy Mass and is a part of the Liturgy itself, should ordinarily be given by the Priest celebrant himself. He may entrust it to a concelebrating Priest or occasionally, according to circumstances, to a Deacon, but never to a layperson. In particular cases and for a just cause, the homily may even be given by a Bishop or a Priest who is present at the celebration but cannot concelebrate. [67.] Particular care is to be taken so that the homily is firmly based upon the mysteries of salvation, expounding the mysteries of the Faith and the norms of Christian life from the biblical readings and liturgical texts throughout the course of the liturgical year and providing commentary on the texts of the Ordinary or the Proper of the Mass, or of some other rite of the Church. It is clear that all interpretations of Sacred Scripture are to be referred back to Christ himself as the one upon whom the entire economy of salvation hinges, though this should be done in light of the specific context of the liturgical celebration. In the homily to be given, care is to be taken so that the light of Christ may shine upon lifes events. Even so, this is to be done so as not to obscure the true and unadulterated word of God: for instance, treating only of politics or profane subjects, or drawing upon notions derived from contemporary pseudo-religious currents as a source. Many bishops write pastoral letters during the liturgical year exhorting the faithful to imbue a season such as Lent or Christmas with particular fervor or inviting them to practice a specific Christian virtue. Such letters are often clearly designed to be read in lieu of the homily and often evoke the readings of the day. In such cases it would be normal and natural that the celebrant himself read the letter. The pastor could also read it at all Masses so as to underline communion with the bishop. It would not be proper to have a non-ordained person read such a letter at this moment. This is because the letter is, for all practical effects, the homily. If a priest were to read a homily prepared by someone else, although attempting to make it his own, it would still be the homily. In an analogous way the bishops letter would be the homily and more so than the previous case insofar as it is a message from the diocesan pastor who has the right and duty to preach and teach his flock. Other pastoral letters dealing with current political or social situations, or making monetary appeals, would probably be best left to the period between the Prayer after Communion and the final blessing. According to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, No. 166, this is the appropriate time for general announcements. However, if a bishop considered a particular social or pastoral situation to be of notable gravity, he could mandate that it be read at the time of the homily. If the letter is to be read at the end of Mass, it would be possible for a qualified layperson to read the bishops message, although it is still preferable that it be the pastor. Letters prepared to be read at Mass are usually brief and to the point. Pastoral letters in which the bishops desires to expound on a particular topic in greater detail are sometimes summarized at Mass and distributed in full, using other appropriate means of communication.

Updates

CBCP Monitor
February 3 - 16, 2014

Vol. 18 No. 3

The canonical form of marriage

By Fr. Jaime B. Achacoso, J.C.D.
A friend of mine recently got married at St. Peters Basilica in Rome. Although bride and groom are Filipino residents of Metro Manila, they timed their wedding with a Rome trip attended by many of their relatives and friends. The wedding Mass was superbpresided by a Filipino priest in a side chapel of the Basilica, complete with organ and small choir facilitated by the Basilica itself. The only hitch came at the moment of signing the papers, right inside the side chapel and immediately after the Mass. A Vatican official amiably asked for the signatures of the couple, then the priest presider. But when it came to the sponsors, he approached the persons at the kneelers positioned on either side of the couple near the altar and a step in front of the rest of the congregationwho happened to be the parents of the bride and the groom. The official got visibly agitated, saying that those positions should have been occupied by the sponsors, since validity of matrimonial consentnecessary: 1) to make the coming about of a given marriage public within the ecclesial communityi.e., since the couple would henceforth live as husband and wife in the midst of that community; 2) to make the expression of matrimonial consent verifiable with certaintyi.e., by providing for witnesses who could attest to the manifestation of such consent by the contracting parties; 3) to safeguard the specific content of canonical marriagei.e., by making the presence of the qualified witness depend on his moral certainty that all other canonical requirements for marriage have been fulfilled. Thus, the configuration of canonical marriage as a formal juridic act (aside from being a consensual act) has been a constant principle in Church law since the Council of Trent established it in 1563. The present Code of Canon Law summarizes this canonical in person or by proxy. 2. Those to be married are to express their matrimonial consent in words; however, if they cannot speak, they are to express it by equivalent signs. Although this is not usually discussed under the heading of the canonical form usually forming part of the issue of consentI find it pedagogically better to deal with it here. In fact the configuration of the canonical form as the substantial juridic form of Catholic marriage is a function of the need to provide witness to the expression of mutual consent by the contracting parties. Thus, their physical presence at the wedding is normally presumed. What could be a novelty for most Catholics is the provision in Canon Law for either or both of the contracting parties to be represented by legitimate proxy. Canon Law regulates this matter in great detail: Can. 1105 1. In order for marriage to be entered validly by proxy, it is required that:

they should be the ones hearing the exchange of I do. He even said that we had opened the marriage to a possible suit of invalidity due to lack of canonical form. He was only appeased when the real sponsors immediately affirmed that they did hear everything, even from their place in the front row of pews, since the chapel was relatively small. What was the fuss all about? THE issue was the integrity of the so-called canonical form of Catholic marriagei.e., the external formal requisites in the exchange of marriage consent for it to have juridic validity. Together with capacity and consent itself, it is one of the three legs on which the juridic reality of Catholic (or canonical) marriage stands. With this article, we shall have completed our initial overview of the Canon Law regarding marriage. The Canonical Form of the Celebration of Marriage Three reasons made the establishment of a juridic substantial formi.e., a set of external and verifiable circumstances as requirements for the substantial and juridic

form of Marriage in the following terms: Can. 1108 1. Only those marriages are valid which are contracted in the presence of the local ordinary, or the pastor, or a priest or deacon delegated by either of them, and in the presence of two witnesses, according to the rules expressed in the following canons, with due regard for the exceptions mentioned in cc.144, 1112,1, and 1127,2 and 3. 2. The one assisting at a marriage is understood to be only that person who, present at the ceremony, asks for the contractants manifestation of consent and receives it in the name of the Church. In simple terms, what the canonical form of marriage means is that for marriage to validly come about, the following formal requirements must be present in the actual marriage ceremony. 1st: The Bride and Groom in Person or by legitimate Proxy. Can. 1104 1. In order for marriage to be contracted validly, it is necessary that the contracting parties be present together, either

1 there is a special mandate to contract marriage with a certain person; 2 the proxy is appointed by the person who gave the mandate and that the proxy fulfill this function in person (i.e., the proxy cannot appoint another proxy). 2. To be valid a mandate must be signed by the person who gave it, as well as by the Pastor (i.e., parish priest) or the Local Ordinary where the mandate was issued, or by a priest delegated by either of these, or at least by two witnesses; or it must be arranged by means of a document which is authentic according to civil law (i.e., duly notarized). 3. If the person giving the mandate cannot write, this is to be noted in the mandate itself and another witness is to be added who must also sign the document; otherwise, the mandate is invalid. 4. If the person who gave the mandate revokes it or becomes insane before the proxy has contracted marriage in that persons name, the marriage is invalid, even though either the proxy or the other contracting party was unaware of these developments.
Marriage / B7

Poor / B1

we return to the human finality of money, the human core of private property. It is not humanity that serves money, but money that serves humanity. We must recall the social teaching of the Catholic Church. There is a social mortgage on private property. While the Church recognizes the validity of sufficient money and private property for the human beings fulfillment of personal and family needs, private property is encumbered by a social mortgage and must contribute to the common good10. Short of this, the legitimacy of accumulated money and private property is lost: The right to private property is subordinated to the right to common use, to the fact that goods are meant for everyone (ibid). This is a powerful doctrine inviting urgent reflection on the manner we relate with money and private property in our lives. It is embedded in the principle called the universal destination of all created goods11, the doctrine that all goods created by God are for the good of all. Money is a means. It is not an end. It is certainly not God. Avarice is idolatry (Cf. Col 3:5). Selfishness is a sin. The return to the joy of encounter with Jesus cannot force conversion. But it does invite it. Challenges in the Year of the Laity The invitation to conversion, to return to Jesus and to the joy of bringing him into our world, is issued to all members of the Church, including bishops, priests and religious. But in the Year of the Laity, when we are specially aware of the valued role the laity

play in the proclamation of Jesus and the transformation of our Philippine cultures according to the heart of Jesus, allow us only to invite the laity to urgent action in three areas: The immediate responsibility for our Catholic families belongs to the laity. Lead our families back to Jesus! Here, nothing is more urgent than that parents introduce their children credibly to the compelling love of Jesus, and that children see their parents as exemplars of human goodness and responsibility impelled by the love of Jesus. No Christian family can flourish without prayer, worship, service to each other, and service to others. No family can be Christian reared only on junk food, trashy media, selfishness, and indifference to the needs of others. Catholic families have responsibility for the life of the Church community. Get involved in the Churchs parishes, the Churchs organizations and the Churchs schools. Make sure that they are not turned in on themselves, missing to bring the life of Jesus to those in our world who need Jesus most. Help them in the spirit of Francis to Go forth! Recall the challenge of Francis to the youth of Brazil!12 The Catholic laity has immediate responsibility for a just social order, which we in the Philippines have far from achieved. In carrying out this responsibility, it should not only be guided by the social doctrine of the Church, but spread it.13 Through a return to Jesus, we must beg to be converted from the idolatry of money and the

obsession with private property and private gain. In Gods love for all, we must recover not only our sense of the common good, but our obligation to work for it and achieve it,14 even at the cost of personal convenience or of personal treasure. This entails not only turning away from the corruption that has so shamefully marred our history, but to embracing positive action for the good of all. This means acquiring the learning, gaining the skills, cultivating the wisdom, and making the hard choices that the common good entails. It also means acknowledging humbly and respecting the cultural, religious, confessional and ideological diversity that belongs to human and Philippine society today. The shared pursuit of the common good through dialogue hopes for an ever-improved synthesis in human community15 and community with the environment16 MARY, BEARER OF THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL, Mother of the Poor Francis ends his apostolic exhortation on the Joy of Evangelization by pointing to Mary, Model of Evangelization. She is mother of Jesus, to whom we return. She is mother of Jesus, whom we share with those in need. Her style of evangelization is of humility and tenderness, which are not virtues of the weak but virtues of the strong who need not treat others poorly in order to feel strong themselves. Mary who praised God for bringing down the mighty from their thrones and sending the rich away empty (Lk 1:52-53) is also

one who brings a homely warmth to our pursuit of justice (288). Let us entrust ourselves to her, who so specially shares our history as a Filipino People. Let us learn patience from her. But let us also learn to say, Be it done to me according to your will (Lk 1:38). Let us ask her to bring us back to her son. Let us entreat her to show her sons liberating face to all in our afflicted nation. Let us beg her to return us all to the joy of evangelization. For the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines: +SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS, D.D. Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan CBCP President January 27, 2014
[1] Francis. Evangelii Gaudium. Apostolic Exhortation. Nov. 24, 2013. 2 Colloquy, Week I, Exercise 1, Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius 3 National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB), 2013. A family of five can be considered poor if it is earning PHP 5,458 a month or just enough to put food on the table. The same family has to earn PHP 7,821 if it wants to satisfy other nonfood needs such as clothing. 4Family Income and Expenditure Survey, NSCB, 2012 5 Francis, ibid., 20-24, 49 6 Ibid., 53 7 E.g. Comprehensive Agrarian Refrom Program with Extension and Reforms (RA 9700), Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (RA 8371), Urban Development and Housing Act (RA 7279), Fisheries Code (RA 8550), Kasambahay Law (RA 10361), magna Carta of Women (RA 9710), Anti-Violence Against Women and Children (RA 9262), Family

Courts (RA 8369), Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation (RA 8425). 8 Francis, ibid., 202-203. How many words prove irksome to this system [economy of exclusion]? It is irksome when the question of ethics is raised, when global solidarity is invoked, when the distribution of goods is mentioned, when reference is made to protecting labor and defending the dignity of the powerless, when allusion is made to a God who demands a commitment to justice (203). 9 Ibid., 55-56 10 John Paul II, Laborem Exercens, 14 11 John Paul II, Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 42. Cf. also: Compendium of the Social Teaching of the Church: Christian tradition has never recognized the right to private property as absolute and untouchable (177). 12 Challenging the youth of Brazil on Sept. 20, 1013 to get involved in the Church through living the radical Gospel of Jesus Christ, Pope Francis said, I want a mess! 13 To teach and to spread her social doctrine pertains to the Churchs evangelizing mission and is an essential part of the Christian message, since this doctrine points out the direct consequences of that message in the life of the society and situates daily work and struggles for justice in the context of bearing witness to Christ the Saviour (Compendium of the Social Teachings of the Catholic Church, 67). 14 It is the primary task of the lay faithful, formed in the school of the Gospel, to be directly involved in political and social activity. Hence they need suitable formation in the principles of the Churchs social teaching. (Benedict XVI, Verbum Domini, 100) 15 Cf. Social Dialogue as a Contribution to Peace, Evangelii Gaudium, 238-258. 16 Cf. Caritas in Veritate: The way humanity treats the environment influences the way its treats itself and vice versa. this invites contemporary society to seriously review its life style, which, in many parts of the world, is prone to hedonism and consumerism, regardless of their harmful consequences. (51).

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CBCP Monitor
Vol. 18 No. 3
February 3 - 16, 2014

Features
CHARIS and CAFOD. Because of the assistance from these partners, NASSA together with its DSAC partners were able to serve and support the immediate needs of 3,000 family beneficiaries. Simultaneous with the identification of the family beneficiaries through the DSACs/ parishes was the market survey and agreement with suppliers and vendors who agreed to the terms and conditions set by NASSA and partners. The full implementation of emergency response was assisted by NASSA personnel to ensure that the services will follow the internationally recognized minimum standards. The identified family beneficiaries were given tarpaulins sheets for emergency shelter tent including sets of nails and nylon roll for roofing. The provision kits for temporary shelter were given to the families with totally and partially damaged houses. Most of the families Participation R a p i d R e s p o n s e f o r Vi s a y a s Earthquake Project partners served as the instruments in carrying out the proposed intervention in which the essence of participation on every humanitarian action is imperative on making our response as dignifying and humane as possible. Adhering on the Sphere Standards, that is what NASSA tried to achieve as well. Having a pool of volunteers on the ground for the target communities, partners DSACs easily mobilized them through Parish based approached or the Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC) in performing tasks from coordination with local authorities in identifying beneficiaries, validating the list beneficiaries of the families submitted by parishes to the actual orientation and distribution of items. The uniqueness of our Church structure is an advantage of Tagbilaran where the other affected vulnerable beneficiaries are living in the interior part, the items were directly delivered to them. Monitoring activities revealed that family beneficiaries did not have difficulty arriving at distribution points and they were provided with sufficient information as to the time of distribution. Vulnerable groups including the elderly, persons with disability, pregnant and lactating mothers were given priority on the distribution of items ahead of the others. While majority of the beneficiaries were Catholics, other religious affiliations were not disqualified as long as they were identified according to the criteria set by the implementing partners. Targeting Accessing the most vulnerable members of the communities has always been challenging in the early

B3
days after the earthquake confirms that logistics were the priority need because major bridges and roads were rendered impassable that temporarily hampered the delivery of assistance from government, NGOs and other humanitarian actors. For instance, the Municipality of Maribojoc and Loon were temporarily isolated because of the collapsed bridges in national roads. During NASSAs rapid assessment on the ground, information and feedback from the field showed that markets and businesses in the capital city of Tagbilaran have resumed operations immediately three days after the earthquake. One of our aims is to revive the local economy by ensuring the participation of local traders and suppliers. This has been applied during the project where the partner DSAC volunteers took charge of identifying reliable and reputable suppliers for the rice and non-food items for emergency shelter kits. Procurement of most of the items was done in Tagbilaran except for the tarpaulin sheets that were purchased in Manila due to unavailable supplies in the local market and in Cebu, the city in the adjacent island nearest to the province. Delivery of the items became a challenge at first because of the upcoming Super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) that might impact the island. The team arranged for the withdrawal of most of the tarpaulin sheets from the port area. The other items from the suppliers were sent directly to the selected parishes that are quite far from the city, while the other remaining items were safe kept in the port and the DSACs warehouse in Tagbilaran. The good thing about the logistic was that even when some of the major bridges and roads were cut down, delivery of goods were not hampered as the province has other alternative roads that can be used. The two-month duration of rapid response activities using the blanket distribution of shelter kits and food for the two DSACs seemed to be longer than expected but it was accomplished on time. Unpredictable weather patterns also caused further delays especially the Super typhoon Yolanda although it was not directly affected. Still, NASSA and partner DSACs managed to bring the goods to the areas where beneficiaries were eagerly waiting. During interviews at the distribution site, beneficiaries revealed satisfaction on the quality of the goods received, compared to the other items initially provided by the government and other agencies. On the overall response made, logistical concerns were properly channeled in which in turn contribute significantly to the efficiency of NASSA and partner DSACs. Monitoring and Evaluation The EA 19 emergency response targeted the island and province of Bohol that was badly affected by

Nassa update on Visayas Earthquake Rapid Response

By Harvey Luistro
THE 7.2 magnitude earthquake incidence in Bohol in 2013 was quite a unique experience for NASSA/ Caritas Philippines in terms of the nature of disaster because it was unexpected. Visayas region is frequently experiencing typhoon and flooding every year and NASSA has always responded to it in emergency and rehabilitation aspects. Unlike earthquake, those can be predicted ahead of time through weather forecasts. As of January 10, 2014, according to UN-OCHA Report, three months after the devastating earthquake struck the island of Bohol, there are still an estimated 600 families remaining in 17 evacuation centers (EC). We e k s a f t e r t h e h e i g h t e n e d displacement, the numbers staying in

evacuation centers decreased as more families started to return to their homes despite the continuous aftershocks felt almost daily, using their salvage materials for makeshifts. As NASSACaritas Philippines implemented the emergency response, a mixture of home-based families and those in evacuation centers and tents have been targeted. Following the launch of the appeal for the earthquake-affected families in Bohol, NASSA/Caritas Philippines immediately acted by sending its emergency staff and volunteers to conduct preliminary meetings and consultations with partner DSACs in Tagbilaran and Talibon. CAFOD also sent its personnel and coordinated with NASSA staff on how to implement the emergency response by assisting the technical aspects of the operations as well as giving direct support for the provision of food and non-food items on a short term basis. CAFOD was able to provide the following tasks: Conducted further emergency needs assessment in Bohol. Helped in establishing response delivery system with specific guidance on beneficiary selection and verification, compliance with standard and costefficiency of delivery. Supported provincial coordination level with local government unit (LGU) and other humanitarian actors including OCHA. NASSA also responded in coordination with CRS and other humanitarian organizations to avoid duplication of the services given. Upon consultations with CAFOD and two target DSACs, we have agreed to provide 3,000 family beneficiaries for the emergency shelter, and food and non-food items. Interventions for 1,249 families were focused mainly on the parishes of Sagbayan, Maribojoc, and San Isidro for the Diocese of Tagbilaran but the DSAC decided to include other affected parishes of Balalihan, Cortes and Catigbian with the identified least served families. On the other hand, we selected the parishes of Buenavista, Carmen, Danao and Inabanga for the remaining 1,751families, but the DSAC also included Getafe. The extent of damage brought by the earthquake affected many vulnerable communities. As it was necessary to immediately respond to the needs of the people, NASSA launched right away the EA19 and the call for help was immediately heeded by its local and international partners including

were afraid to go back to their original houses because of the continuous aftershocks felt almost every day. We also included rice as food support for the affected families as part of the emergency response to complement with other food items that was given to them by other agencies. Rice is readily available in the local market supporting the local economy. Partner DSACs with NASSA and CAFOD assistance tried to strictly adhere to the procedures agreed to in the project using mainly their human resources. They also followed the step-by-step process from canvass procedure, targeting, selection and orientation of beneficiaries and distribution. In the Diocese of Tagbilaran, the DSAC directors parish has available warehouses that served as a drop-off point for items to be distributed to affected families. Volunteers from parishes helped in the targeting and selection of beneficiaries. For Talibon, as we have agreed upon with the DSAC, the items were delivered and distributed per parishes in consideration to the proximity and accessibility for the targeted beneficiaries with special considerations to the vulnerable groups. Aside from orientation, some of the identified family beneficiaries together with DSAC and member parishes volunteers were then invited for basic management orientation and emergency response training facilitated by CAFOD representative. The Rapid Response for Visayas Earthquake Project has been guided by the principles observed by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGO Code of Conduct. Through the distribution of shelter kits and food based on the families identified priorities, the project was somehow able to provide temporary relief to the sufferings of the beneficiaries as manifested by their satisfaction during receipt of the goods especially the quality and durability tarpaulin sheets for tents. This project adopted and used the Sphere standards with the provision of Shelter-Non-food and food items intended for the emergency relief of the earthquake affected families. NASSA and its implementing partners ensured that humanitarian charter and core standards were met to consider the quality and accountability of the emergency response.

for humanitarian actors that are necessary in reaching the most affected, vulnerable and least served families. Aside from the beneficiaries who directly benefited from the response project, the local economy also benefited as most of the goods were directly purchased from the local suppliers in accordance with the procurement

phase of emergency response, but with the selection criteria set by NASSA along with CAFOD representative, exclusion errors were lessened. The partner DSACs and volunteers strictly adhered to these criteria namely those families with totally damaged houses or those with partially damaged but still cannot go back to their houses

Photo courtesy of CBCP-NASSA

standards required by NASSA from its partner DSACs. Protection EA 19 project implementation provided services in the safest and easiest way as possible for the target beneficiaries. With the risk and coercion that always exist in different forms during emergency and response, selection of appropriate environment where the goods can be safely distributed should be entailed in order to avoid any untoward circumstances that may cause further harm to the physical and psychological well-being of the affected population. The DSACs made sure the ease of the transportation for the beneficiaries by providing some transportation cost especially to those who are far from the selection distribution sites. The DSACs did their distribution at the targeted churches. During those scheduled distribution, partners DSACs did coordination activities with local leaders to ensure their security during the entire process. In the case

because of continuous aftershocks and risk for further collapse; families with minimum of 3 children members; poor families with members of the vulnerable groups of older persons, person with disabilities, pregnant and lactating women and single-headed households. An interview with a solo parent beneficiary revealed her deep appreciation for being chosen for the project. The Secondary data obtained from the local authorities and parishes, were a good reference to start with. Partner DSACs and volunteers took time in screening and validating thoroughly this information to arrive at the list of qualified and least served families in the affected dioceses. Logistics The earthquake in the Island of Bohol triggered landslides engulfing the entire homes, ripping apart some of the bridges and tearing down century-old churches. According to OCHA, the inter-agency rapid needs assessment conducted two

the earthquake. Areas covered by the project were mostly western and some central part covering the two dioceses. The roads to these areas can be navigated and traversed by land within 2-3 hours travel time from Tagbilaran City, the provinces capital. Targeted communities were mostly in rural areas that are accessible thats why the monitoring and evaluation was easily done. Aside from the debriefing meeting as way of evaluating the Rapid Response for Visayas Earthquake, post distribution survey was also conducted. The respondents chosen in the surveys were those belonging to vulnerable groups, such as older persons, person with disabilities, and pregnant and lactating mothers. Choosing them as respondents gave NASSA and partner DSACs a good gauge of how efficient the response was implemented, as their ease during the whole process needed consideration. We gathered feedback from the family beneficiaries using a simple
Earthquake / B7

Photo courtesy of CBCP-NASSA

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Features

CBCP Monitor
February 3 - 16, 2014

Vol. 18 No. 3

The cause of the SIDS is everyones cause too

By Fr. Benny Tuazon
MAYBE unknown to many, the United Nations had been recognizing the particular problems of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) since 1994. At present, the total number had grown to 51 countries. Some of them are: Mauritius, Maldives, Guam, Fiji, Tuvalu, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Bahamas, and Haiti. Though they differ a lot in geography and culture, they share similar economic and sustainable d e v e l o p m e n t c h a l l e n g e s . Wi t h their fragile ecosystems, SIDS are also highly vulnerable to domestic pollution factors and globally induced phenomena such as sea level rise. Some practically are resting on coral reefs! Sea level rise threatens small island countries more than others. The climate of small island states, due to their location and surrounding environment, is influenced by large ocean-atmosphere interactions like trade winds, El Nio, and the monsoons. Tropical cyclones and hurricanes are also important components of the climate, as well as sea-level rise. These climate characteristics, combined with their particular socioeconomic situations make SIDS, among which are 12 members of the Least Developed Countries, some of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. This, added to the fact that SIDS produce such extremely low levels of greenhouse gas emissions, means that they will suffer disproportionately from the damaging impacts of climate change. Having so little to do with climate change, they are bound to suffer, first and foremost, its impact. Scientific findings in the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (FAR IPCC) categorically stated that if the world will increase its temperature by two degrees centigrade, sea water level is expected to rise about one meter without countries, who can still afford to delay decisions or contest their responsibility. In the two UNFCCCs I attended, COP 13 in Bali, Indonesia and COP 16 in Cancun, Mexico, too many details and vested political and economic interests dominated the negotiations. Every word and phrase in the document was examined and nuanced. Splitting hairs seemed to be the order of each negotiation. In the end, the political and economic agenda were always the fundamental points of decisions. Maybe they felt they will not be directly or severely affected and therefore saw it as either manageable or bearable. This maybe partly and initially true. But, ultimately, it will catch up with them. We all live in the same world. Whatever happens to this world will have an effect on everyone. Many scientists agree that climate change, which is responsible for the melting of ice in the Arctic, will result to the rise of sea water level. As to its magnitude and how it will affect the islands, no one really knows the extent. Hopefully it will still be manageable. Scientists could not say, with certainty, that it would not be greatly calamitous. We know that with the environment, nobody really knows what to expect! And by the way, though the Philippines is not one of the SIDS, as a nation composed of thousands of islands, we too are as vulnerable. Many have advocated preparation and prevention as the best options. Mitigation halts the worsening process. We cannot take for granted what will be. Taking chances should not be an option. To expect the worst would be the best attitude. To prepare for the most would be the best defense. Anything less is too risky and would be like walking on thin ice. Let us hope and pray that all of us, especially those who have the power to decide and the resources to respond, would begin to see the whole picture. Nobody can do this alone. Everybody should be part of the solution. There is no Plan B. By helping the cause of the SIDS, we help our own cause too.

Tuvalu islands in the South Pacific. Rising sea water due to global warming threatens to sink this 26 kilometer strip of islands.

accounting for the melted ice in the Arctic regions. Even by that water rise alone, many of these small islands will be partly or totally submerged underwater. Migration for the people in these islands will therefore be an option and consequently a problem. Nearby countries have no choice but to accommodate them. That situation poses big problems for everyone. In 2009, in Copenhagen, their appeal found some light and responses when the UNFCCC established the Green Climate Fund. It was further strengthened in 2010, in Cancun,

Mexico and was finally provided with its governing instrument in the Conference of Parties 17 held in Durban, South Africa in 2011. The Green Climate Fund, which is co-chaired by Albay Governor Joey Salceda, will support projects, programs, policies, and other activities in developing country parties using thematic funding windows. It is intended to be the centerpiece of efforts to raise Climate Finance of $100 billion a year by 2020. The amount may increase further depending on the needs that may come up. Disputes

also remain as to whether the funding target will be based on public sources, or whether leveraged private finance will be counted towards the total. At present, the UN is slowly fulfilling its target amount. Initial contributions are just enough to fund initial organization costs and some applications for assistance. It is hoped that countries will fulfill their pledges and accumulate the amount targeted. It is really interesting that in spite of the reality of the dangers besetting the SIDS, there are member countries, particularly the so-called developed

Gods hand keeps home for the elderly provided

Position Paper on the Death Penalty

THE CBCP-ECPPC strongly opposed the call of some legislators and some sectors in our society to revive the death penalty. The CBCP-ECPPC considers this effort to be an unenlightened, counter-productive, and counterprogressive move. Some two thousand years ago, a man was sentenced to death and crucified on the cross. Two millennium years later, states and societies have not learned their lesson. They still impose the ultimate punishment on those whom they deem have violated their laws, despite the fact that some of those that they have sent to death are innocent, like Christ, the man who died on the Cross. Others, like Dismas and Hestas and those who followed after them were guilty, but their fate whether on the cross, at the gallows, in the gas chamber, on the electric chair, or through any contraption of societys extreme cruelty to its erring members failed to deter others from committing even the most heinous of crimes.

The elderly at Kanlungan ni Maria watch their favorite TV show at the living room of their residence after lunch.

By Oliver Samson
BACKED by the local church, a n d c u r re n t l y u n d e r t h e guidance of Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes, Kanlungan ni Maria Home for the Aged Inc. has been providing home and family to abandoned, sick, and destitute elderly for the past 11 years, counting on Gods providence alone, Rev. Fr. Uldarico D. Dioquino, priest-in-charge of the house, said Jan. 29. From the day it opened its door on May 1, 2002, to welcome indigent elderly who need a home and a family, Kanlungan ni Maria had not embarked on any fundraising campaign to feed its occupants; pay for hospital bills; compensate its staff; and pay the electricity, water and other operation costs, according to Fr. Dioquino. The foundation is currently renting a house along Lanzones Road in Nayong Silangan that cost P12, 000 a month after moving from its smaller original home along Langka

Road on October 29, 2004 to accommodate a bigger number of elderly. For 11 fruitful years, Fr. Dioquino does not worry about operation costs. The staple grains, groceries, other foods, diapers, and medicines are donations from local and foreign charitable individuals and groups. The house pays the service of its staff of eight no less than P100, 000 a month. People who drop bya concerned individual, a family, or a group of generous personshand monetary aid amounting from P2, 000 and above. Some pay a visit to provide free meal. Others come to check the elderlys health condition. Mary Jean Netario Cruz for one, who is Kanlungan ni Maria newly-installed Wellbeing Program Director, brought containers of magnesium oil equivalent to 100 bottles on January 29 to share the healing power of the mineral, which she advocates.

Magnesium oil has proven properties that are capable of relieving body pains through transdermal application, she said. Magnesium advocates in the United States include Dr. Carolyn Dean, who is referred to as Doctor of the Future, Dr. Mark Sircus, and Morley Robins. Dean calls the Filipina Cruz a Magnesium Maven. Fr. Dioquino looks at Cruz a s a n ot h e r p rov i d e n ce of God that Kanlungan ni Maria is happy about. He said he does not fret about locating someone who will help him to preserve the wellbeing of his elderly. But Cruz came surprisingly. Leaving aside his worries, the priest entrusts everything in the hands of God knowing that God takes care of everything. Everything in the house came from the generosity of charitable people. The large TV screen mounted next to a wall was a donation. So are the wheelchairs and mono block

tables and chairs. Medicines and vitamins are also donated by drug companies. L a s t D e c e m b e r, t h e foundation nearly did not open its purse to spend for the houses consumption, the priest said. Individuals, families, and groups with a good heart from different places have come to share food, not to mention gifts. God really takes care, he said. There were times the house had to give away canned goods that were nearing expiration date due to oversupply. Knowing there are plenty of goods stored in the house, people knock on its steel gate asking for food. No one knows about the real intentions of people who beg, Fr. Dioquino said. But he was taught in school to give. Kanlungan ni Maria was founded by former Antipolo Bishop Crisostomo A. Yalung. It welcomes under its roof not only Roman Catholics. Anyone, regardless of religious affiliation, who needs a home, a family and love, can seek it here.

Rather than take away precious human life, the Church wants to explore alternatives to mete out justice. For one, it seriously considers and vigorously advocates a shift in the paradigm of justice: from litigation to mediation; prosecution to healing; punishment to reform and rehabilitation: from the retributive to the restorative.
Indeed, then as now, the imposition of capital punishment is deemed by some as the quickest, most efficient solution to its biggest penal-administration problem disposing of a subject who has transgressed its laws. The thought is unchristian and inhuman, to say the least. The stance against the death penalty is in no way a posture to let criminal offenders go scot-free. The Catholic Church believes in Justice and it is ranked high in its hierarchy of values. Those who have transgressed the laws of the land should be held answerable and accountable after a fair trial; otherwise, they become effective endorsers of crime and criminal actions, and strong parody for the ethical adage that crime does not pay. But taking away the life of someone, whom we have condemned, immobilized and rendered helpless with
Penalty / B6

Photo courtesy of Oliver Samson

www.photovide.com

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 18 No. 3
February 3 - 16, 2014

Statements

B5

TO Professor Klaus Schwab Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum I am very grateful for your kind invitation to address the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, which, as is customary, will be held at Davos-Klosters at the end of this month. Trusting that the meeting will provide an occasion for deeper reflection on the causes of the economic crisis affecting the world these past few years, I would like to offer some considerations in the hope that they might enrich the discussions of the Forum and make a useful contribution to its important work. Ours is a time of notable changes and significant progress in different areas which have important consequences for the life of humanity. In fact, we must praise the steps being taken to improve peoples welfare in areas such as health care, education and communications ( Evangelii Gaudium , 52), in addition to many other areas of human activity, and we must recognize the fundamental role that modern business activity has had in bringing about these changes, by stimulating and developing the immense resources of human intelligence. Nonetheless, the successes which have been achieved, even if they have reduced poverty for a great number of people, often have led to a widespread social

Message of Pope Francis to the Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum on the Occasion of the Annual Meeting at Davos-Klosters (Switzerland)
make a difference. In fact, those who have demonstrated their aptitude for being innovative and for improving the lives of many people by their ingenuity and professional expertise can further contribute by putting their skills at the service of those who are still living in dire poverty. What is needed, then, is a renewed, profound a n d b ro a d e n e d s e n s e o f responsibility on the part of all. Business is -- in fact -- a vocation, and a noble vocation, provided that those engaged in it see themselves challenged by a greater meaning in life (Evangelii Gaudium, 203). Such men and women are able to serve more effectively the common good and to make the goods of this world more accessible to all. Nevertheless, the growth of equality demands something more than economic growth, even though it presupposes it. It demands first of all a transcendent vision of the person (Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate, 11), because without the perspective of eternal life, human progress in this world is denied breathing-space (ibid.). It also calls for decisions, mechanisms and processes directed to a better distribution of wealth, the creation of sources of employment and an integral promotion of the poor which goes beyond a simple welfare mentality.

exclusion. Indeed, the majority of the men and women of our time still continue to experience daily insecurity, often with dramatic consequences. In the context of your meeting, I wish to emphasize the importance that the various political and economic sectors have in promoting an inclusive approach which takes into consideration the dignity of every human person and the

common good. I am referring to a concern that ought to shape every political and economic decision, but which at times seems to be little more than an afterthought. Those working in these sectors have a precise responsibility towards others, particularly those who are most frail, weak and vulnerable. It is intolerable that thousands of people continue to die every day from hunger, even though

substantial quantities of food are available, and often simply wasted. Likewise, we cannot but be moved by the many refugees seeking minimally dignified living conditions, who not only fail to find hospitality, but often, tragically, perish in moving from place to place. I know that these words are forceful, even dramatic, but they seek both to affirm and to challenge the ability of this assembly to

I am convinced that from such an openness to the transcendent a new political and business mentality can take shape, one capable of guiding all economic and financial activity within the horizon of an ethical approach which is truly humane. The international business community can count on many men and women of great personal honesty and integrity, whose work is inspired and guided by high ideals of fairness, generosity and concern for the authentic development of the human family. I urge you to draw upon these great human and moral resources and to take up this challenge with determination and farsightedness. Without ignoring, naturally, the specific scientific and professional requirements of every context, I ask you to ensure that humanity is served by wealth and not ruled by it. Dear Mr. Chairman and friends, I hope that you may see in these brief words a sign of my pastoral concern and a constructive contribution to help your activities to be ever more noble and fruitful. I renew my best wishes for a successful meeting, as I invoke divine blessings on you and the participants of the Forum, as well as on your families and all your work. FRANCISCUS PP. 17 January 2014

Pope Francis Address to 12,000 Members of the Neocatechumenal Way during an audience at the Paul VI Audience Hall on February 1, 2014
DEAR brothers and sisters, I thank the Lord for the joy of your faith and for the ardor of your Christian witness. Thanks be to God. I greet you all cordially, starting from the International Responsible Team of the Neocatechumenal Way, together with the priests, seminarians and catechists. I send an affectionate greeting to the children, in attendance in great number. My thoughts go out in a special way to the families, who will go out to different parts of the world to proclaim and witness to the Gospel. The Church is grateful for your generosity! I thank you for all that you do in the Church and in the world. And precisely in the name of the Church, our Mother,... I would like to propose to you some simple recommendations. The first is to have the utmost care to build and to preserve the communion within the particular Churches in which you will work. The Way has its own charism and dynamic, a gift, which like all of the gifts of the Spirit, has a profound ecclesial dimension; this means paying attention to the life of the Churches to which your leaders send you, to enhance the riches, to suffer for the weaknesses if necessary, and to walk together, like one flock, under the guidance of the pastors of the local Churches. Communion is essential sometimes it can be better to renounce living in all the details that your itinerary demands, in order to ensure the unity among those who form one ecclesial community, of which you must always feel that you are part. Another recommendation: wherever you may go, it would do you well to think that the Spirit of God always gets there ahead of us. The Lord always precedes us! ... Even in the most faraway places, even in the most diverse cultures, God scatters everywhere the seeds of his Word. From here, flows the necessity to give special attention to the cultural context in which you, families, will go to work: it consists of an environment often very different from the one from which you come. Many of you will have to work hard to learn the local language, sometimes it will be difficult, and this effort is appreciated. Even more important will be your commitment to learn the culture you will encounter, knowing how to recognize the need of the Gospel, which is present wherever, but also that action that the Holy Spirit has accomplished in the life and in the history of every people. Finally, I exhort you to care lovingly for each other, in a particular way for the weakest. The Neocatechumenal Way, as an itinerary of discovery of ones own baptism, is a demanding road, along which a brother or a sister can come upon unforeseen difficulties. In these cases, the exercise of patience and of mercy on the part of the community is a sign of maturity in the faith. The freedom of each person must not be forced, and even the eventual choice of someone who decides to seek, outside of the Way, other forms of Christian life that help him to grow in the response to the call of the Lord must be respected. Dear families, brothers and sisters, I encourage you to bring everywhere, even in the most de-Christianized environments, especially in the existential peripheries, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Evangelize with love, bring to everyone the love of God. Tell everyone you will meet on the streets of your mission that God loves man as he is, even with his limits, with his mistakes, with his sins. For this, he sent his Son, so that he could take our sins upon himself. Be messengers and witnesses of the infinite goodness and the inexhaustible mercy of the Father. I entrust you to the Virgin Mary, that she may inspire and always sustain your apostolate. In the school of this tender Mother, be zealous and joyful missionaries.

CNA

Statement Against Corruption

WE, members of the Cebu Coalition Against the Pork Barrel System, guided by our respective beliefs and by our love for the Philippines, reiterate our call to abolish the pork barrel system in all its forms. We maintain our firm unity and unwavering stand in condemning corruption! 1.On the Supreme Court (SC) Ruling on the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) We applaud the Supreme Courts decision declaring unconstitutional the Congressional Pork Barrel, the Presidential use of the Malampaya Funds and the Presidents Social Fund. However, we oppose mechanisms that continuously capacitate legislators to have sole discretion in realigning their pork funds into other items under various agencies of the Executive department. In essence, the label PDAF is gone but the power of individual discretion of the legislators is retained together with the pork funds that are now in the hands of the President. We condemn this kind of political maneuvering and call for the absolute dissolution of pork funds in the national budget. We support the call to remove lump-sum discretionary spending and off budget items. 2.On the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) We believe that funds withdrawn in the middle of the fiscal year and funds taken from unreleased appropriations and unobligated allotments are illegal and unconstitutional. The DAP violates Constitutional provisions expressing the Congress power of the purse since there is also no law that has been passed to legalize or authorize the DAP or the funds released under such mechanism since its conception in 2011. We believe that the DAP is part of the Presidents pork barrel where he has the sole discretion to where the funds will go. It has become a tool in which the executive can control and influence the legislature and other agencies contravening the entire system of checks and balances. We support the Supreme Court petitions calling to strike down these acts violating our Constitution. We ask the Supreme Court to make a ruling against the DAP and not to treat it merely as moot and academic. We propose that all unobligated and unreleased funds be returned to the General Fund in order to avoid the repeat of DAP. 3.Punish the Scammers We demand that the respective judicial bodies be duty-bound to give justice to the people by immediately prosecuting those who are charged of using the peoples money for personal gain. We demand the immediate resignation of public servants who are formally charged by the Department of Justice and the Ombudsman. We demand the punishment of convicted pork barrel scammers and the return of their loot to the coffers of the people. 4.Peoples Initiative to Abolish the Pork Barrel System We reiterate our call for legislation through Peoples Initiative as the MOST EFFECTIVE SYSTEMIC ALTERNATIVE to abolish the present pork barrel system. By conducting this Peoples Initiative, we are voicing our commitment for transformation. With other national organizations, we move forward with renewed courage in standing for our rights and working for change. MSGR. ROMUALDO G. KINTANAR Convenor Cebu Coalition Against the Pork Barrel System And Representatives from 30 member organizations of the Cebu Coalition during the Cebu Coalition Against the Pork Barrel System General Assembly on February 1, 2014 at the SPFY Function Room, Archbishops Residence Compound, Cebu City

Speech delivered by Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas on the occasion of the January 2014 Plenary Assembly of the CBCP
HOW may we describe the past six months behind us since we last met as a conference of bishops? I cannot resist quoting Charles Dickens It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair. We were visited by the s t ro n g e s t t y p h o o n i n t h e world two months ago but th e Lord h as b lessed t he Church in Mindanao with its first Cardinal, Cardinal Orly Quevedo, OMI. Thousands died from the storm surge in Leyte but it also brought us an admirable surge of charity worldwide. The best of times, the worst of times! Blessed be the name of the Lord! As you leave this Blessed John XXIII Hall, on your left side, we have put up a small chapel for the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for the insane and unreal attraction of popularity in the world. To be contemplative bishops is to become truthfully honest, cheerfully loving and passionately zealous teachers of the flock, bishops serving the Lord in total freedom detached from vainglory. It is from this contemplative starting point that we can look at the recent happenings in our country. We cannot look at the devastation of typhoon Yol a n d a a n d t he ma ssive destruction wrought by the earthquake in Bohol from the eyes of CNN or ANC. We must look at these events with the eyes of the Lord, feel with the heart of the Lord and act with the hands and feet of the Lord. Our best contribution to the rehabilitation in Samar or Leyte, Bohol or Zamboanga is Christ. We send help because of Christ, in Christ and through Christ. Our task is not just to build new homes that can be washed away again by the next storm surges. Our mission is
Contemplative Bishops / B7

Contemplatives Bishops for the Poor

whole duration of the plenary assembly of the bishops of the Philippines. Religious sisters and seminarians, lay devotees and fellow disciples will kneel before the Lord in silence praying for us bishops. They are praying for us their pastors. The flock is praying for their shepherds. The lambs and sheep are praying for us their pastors. This is the Church of the new evangelization. Let us allow

our flock to transform us their pastors into contemplative shepherds of the people. Indeed it is only when we bishops become contemplatives like the Beloved Disciple resting on the chest of Jesus that we can truly serve and teach the flock in full freedomfreedom from seeking ones own interests, not those of Jesus Christ (Phil 2:21), freedom from the fascination of political or social gain, freedom from the

Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

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Ref lections
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mt 5:13-16 (A) Feb 9, 2014

CBCP Monitor
February 3 - 16, 2014

Vol. 18 No. 3

The call to be salt of the earth and light of the world

Bishop Pat Alo

ENCOUNTERS

Tempus fugit
(Time Flies)
THE Latin title is an expression of past Latin writers to describe how time passes by. Even if you take some moments of consideration you will realize how time passes by, however much our efforts to hold on to our age or even the material things we possess which naturally in the course of time undergo the decay and the ravages of time. But what can you do? Human life on earth is only destined for a limited period of time. What is important is that we live good moral lives so we may deserve the joys and rewards God is preparing for those who keep His laws. It is unavoidable to avoid the passage of time since God has destined us for an eternal destiny of heavenly reward if we keep His laws or of an eternal condemnation in the punishments of Hell if we violate His laws and precepts. Its worth all the patience and sacrifices we can undergo for doing Gods will and commands after all we can claim an eternal reward of happiness and glory, forever and ever.

By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB Bo Sanchez

TO be a light to the nations was an essential aspect of the mission of the Messiah. (See Is 42:6 and 49:6.) He came in Jesus Christ as the real light which enlightens every man (Jn 1:9). His thoughts, words, attitudes, and actions were such that in all truth he could claim: I am the light of the world (Jn 8:12 and 9:5). We understand and gratefully accept all this. But when we hear Jesus himself say to his disciples: You are the salt of the earth . . . You are the light of the world, we know that he was not stating a fact, for he knew that the behavior of his disciples was far from being exemplary. Rather, Jesus was throwing a challenge at them. He was giving them a mission. He was describing what all his disciples in all times and places should strive to become. St. Paul understood this perfectly. That is why he reminded his converts that, since they were children of light and of the day, they should behave accordingly. (See 1 Thes 5:5.12-22.) The mission entrusted by Jesus to his disciples and the exhortation of St. Paul are as

SouLfood

Let your work be your worship

I HAVE a simple message for you today:Let your profession be your preaching and your work be your worship. Preach in your profession O ne day, my friend told me, Once upon a time, I used to complain about my crummy job. Until I met people with worse jobs.Like I heard of this wife who complained how her husband kept on bringing home work. Huh?I didnt get it. The wife was so irritated that her husband kept bringing his work home and working on the dinner table.Finally, she gave him an ultimatum and told him to stop doing that or else. But isnt that uh normal?I asked. Not if your husband is an embalmer. Suuuuure, I chuckled. Seriously, I really thank God Ive got the job that I have.Even if its difficult. Absolutely. I n fact, I believe our job is where God wants us to share His Love to others. Yes, even if youre an embalmer. S t. Francis of Assisi said, It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching. A nnouncement: I dont know what your job is, but I believe youre also a preacher. B ut with a big difference.If my audience doesnt like what I say, they stand and leave the room.You however have a captive audience.In your workplace, people are listening to you eight hours a day, five days a week. If your audience doesnt like what you preach, theyre stuck with you, and theyll have to listen to your preaching whether they like it or not. S adly, if you live a life of materialism, selfishness, and prideyoure preaching a life of Hell. But if you live a life of love, forgiveness, and humility, then you preach Gods Loveand you bring your officemates closer to Heaven. F riend, the choice is yours.Today, will you preach Heaven or Hell? Do your officemates become better persons because of knowing you and being with you?Find out how you can bless them more. Worship in your work Your job should worship God. Because youre not employed by your boss or company, but by God Himself. T he guy who you call Boss isnt your Boss. T he Almighty is your real Boss. S t. Paul says, Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24) So when you give sloppy work, you give sloppy worship to God. I remember Joseph in the Old Testament. Wherever he was working inas a slave in Potiphar s house, or a jailbird in an Egyptian prison, or as VicePharaoh, he was always Star Employee of the year. N o, he didnt do these for the awards. He just did a fine job everywhere he went because he was faithful to God. T his is what I learned: If you work for God, you bloom wherever youre planted. So respect and honor that obese guy with the bad breath behind the desk in front of you.He doesnt look it, but hes Gods representative. A gain, St. Paul says, Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men (Ephesians 6:5-7). Will you be embarrassed when you present your work to the Lord as your worship? Or will you be proudly offering your work to Him?What can you do to make your work more pleasing to God?List down the ways. Martin Luther King said, If a man is called to be a streetsweeper, he should sweep even as Michaelangelo painted, or Beethhoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven and earth will pause to say, Here lived a streetsweeper who did his job well. Let your work be worship.

valid today as they were two thousand years ago. If we want to be real disciples of Christ, the Light of the world, our consciences have to be clear and transparent; our behavior must have the refulgence of love, honesty, purity, respect, sincerity . . . . Our life then will become bright and meaningful, for the simple reason that we will be becoming ever more Christ-like. Then even other peoples lives will take on meaning and brightness too, because our authentic Christian life will have become an inspiration for all those who live in a world darkened by sin in its many forms. Becoming the light of the world is a challenge worth accepting and living up to. If we persevere in this effort, at the end of our life, the Lord himself will tell us in all truth: You have done your best to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world! That will be a wonderful synthesis of a life well spent. The challenge to be (become) salt of the earth and light of the world is especially timely and relevant during this Year of the Laity. This invitation/challenge is addressed to all the baptized and not just the members of the clergy and the

religious. The Second Vatican Council Decree Apostolicam Actuositatem (On the Apostolate of the Laity) has reminded all believers about this very important truth. The Gospel foundation and practical implications of this truth were discussed during the Synod of Bishops held on 1-30 October 1987, and were masterfully presented by Pope John Paul II in his Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles Laici (The Lay Faithful). The Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II) picked up the Popes appeal to have the laity fully involved in the life and mission of the Church and listed the lay faithful as the first workers of renewal (See Acts & Decrees of PCP II, pp. 139-154.) Since then, much has been done by bishops and priests to enable the laity to get a better appreciation of their role in the Church. They have also done much to empower them to be more involved in the life of the parish, as well as in promoting Christians values in society. But much more still remains to be done. The observance of the Year of the Laity is a golden opportunity to do just that.

The call to live out the values of the commandments

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mt 5:17-37 (A) Feb 16, 2014
By Fr. Sal Putzu, SDB
LAWS can be hard, at times, but when we succeed in complying with their formal prescriptions, they also produce in us a feeling of fulfillment and security . . . Yet, there is more to moral life than just complying with certain legal demands. Governments may not require more than that, but God does. Our conscience does. A well-formed conscience never stops at the action in itself. It knows that every action either forbidden or commanded is like the tip of an iceberg: the iceberg of moral attitudes, of fundamental commitments which are the primary targets of the moral law. If we want to be in good terms with God and our conscience we must reject the idea that He can be cheated, . . . that He also can be satisfied with appearances and lip service The letter of the Law is important, but what matters most are the values it enshrines, and the internal dispositions with which we comply with its demands. Jesus reminds us of just this. He enters the scene as the young prophet and reformer who has
Penalty / B4

an important message to deliver and presents it with authority. With his moral teaching he shakes off the dust of accommodation and the rust of compromise. With shocking frankness he presents to his followers stern demands which leave no room for selfdeception. Unless your holiness surpasses that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the Kingdom of God (Mt 5:20). Not only does he remind his audience that the Commandments are still valid, but especially he challenges them to look deeper and to go beyond the wording of the Law, and reach out toward the deep core of every prescription. Jesus poses radical demands. If we want to be his disciples, our priorities must be arranged (or re-arranged) accordingly. First things, first. If anything has to be sacrificed, let it be what is secondary, rather than what is essential (see Mt 5:23-24); what is transient, rather than what will last forever (see Mt 5:2930). Then we shall experience the consolations that only wise persons enjoy. We may be few, but never alone: Jesus and all the saints will be with us!

contraptions of death is a horrible lesson to teach our children, that human life is as disposable as any contraptions and trimmings of postmodern life. The CBCP-ECPPC values all forms of life, especially human life. It is sacred. And only the Giver of life has the right to take it away. This is the premise for all the pro-life advocacies of the Church, more so for the abolition of the death penalty. The CBCP-ECPPC firmly believes in the capacity of the human being to transform and reform its behavior, especially with the help of society which, in the first place, has much to do in creating an environment for the commission of crime, intended or not. Each crime committed has a social context and society as a whole,

for creating an environment vulnerable to the commission of crime, is as guilty as its erring member. Taking away life is an easy, quick but wrong solution. It merely gives the impression that measures are being taken so as to eradicate crime, or that criminality is finally solved. But until such time that the root causes of criminality are aborted, criminality will forever rise. Society itself has implanted those roots. R a t h e r t h a n t a k e a w a y p re c i o u s human life, the Church wants to explore alternatives to mete out justice. For one, it seriously considers and vigorously advocates a shift in the paradigm of justice: from litigation to mediation; prosecution to healing; punishment

to reform and rehabilitation: from the retributive to the restorative. The CBCP-ECPPC is glad to find allies in our President and enlightened legislators who see beyond the criminal act. We laud our enlightened and circumspect leaders who believe that we need not reintroduce capital punishment in our justice system. The CBCP-ECPPC vigorously supports their stand against the revival of the death penalty. Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines EPISCOPAL COMMISSION ON PRISON PASTORAL CARE February 4, 2014

Pinky Barrientos, FSP / CBCP Media

Pinky Barrientos, FSP / CBCP Media

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 18 No. 3
February 3 - 16, 2014

Social Concerns

B7
eyes and she grew silent. Then after a while, we all walked slowly through the widespread destruction and ruins of the entire village to where her little house once stood. It was just a heap of rubble, half of a block wall remained. There was a broken mirror, a hairbrush, a crumbled photo in the ruins. Outside was a little white passenger van, its front window and roof crushed by a fallen tree. Her father once drove it for a livelihood. The landscape all around was one of utter destruction. Not a house was left standing. Bodies of the dead were strewn around the day after the great wave, some covered by debris, it took a week to uncover them for burial. Over two hundred people died in that village and more are missing, their bodies were never found. Perhaps they were carried out with the receding waters of the great wave. As I looked around this scene of devastation, there were fallen trees everywhere and the remaining coconut trees stripped of their palms stood starkly silhouetted against a gray wet sky. Back in the tent that is now her home, Erica said that she is thankful to be alive and she had relatives who are caring for her. I miss seeing my parents and brothers, I dont know where they are, but wherever they are, I pray for them to God, they are in Gods hands now. Asked about her future; I have a hope to study and become a teacher, thank you for listening to my story. She seemed a little happier than when we first arrived. Erica and other homeless children of Tacloban are being helped by the Preda Foundation, P.O. Box 68 Olongapo City.

The survival of orphan Erica

By Fr. Shay Cullen
TACLOBAN, Leyte. I arrived here with the Preda team of social workers to prepare the way for a series of training seminars to combat the human trafficking and give group therapy to the many survivors in the squalid evacuation camps to cope better with the tragedy and great loss they have suffered because of typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). For the children, we have puppet shows that teach abuse prevention. But I went first to find the missing orphans. Here is the story of one of them. We found Erica in a white canvas tent with her auntie and uncle, about three hundred meters from where her parents house once stood. She was willing to tell us her tragic experience. The home of Erica was half a kilometer from the shore line. On the night of November 7, she, her parents and two brothers slept together in the small room of her parents as the rain was lashing down and the wind was rising. They woke after an hour. This is going to be a strong storm, everyone stay close tonight, her father told them. By 2 am, the howling wind was tearing at the coconut trees and they could hear coconuts crashing into metal sheet roofs across their village. The family of five huddled together and embraced each other. It was to be their last embrace. By 5 am on November 8, a great wave of water, about twenty to thirty feet high reared up from the ocean and driven by a 230 kilometer wind, rushed inland across the open land towards the village. It knocked down everything before it. It was unstoppable; mango
Earthquake / B3

trees toppled before this wall of water as if a dam had suddenly collapsed. The great wave of water suddenly burst into their little bungalow house, smashing through the windows, collapsing the door and the water gushed in and quickly filled the house. They cried out for help and were trying to swim to stay above the water. Ericas father shouted to them to cling and climb into the ceiling but it was too late, the water engulfed them so quickly, there was no escape. Then the roof was torn off like a scrap of paper ripped from a notebook and disappeared in an instant into the dark sky. They were trying to swim and float on the rising water and a

tree came rushing by and was held momentarily by the remaining wall of their little house. Grab the branches, hold the branch, her father shouted above the deafening noise of the wind. Her father and mother and two brothers caught the branches but Erica could not reach them, she was clinging to the remains of the rafters, the water was up her neck. Her mother saw they were being separated and cried out in the storm, Erica, we love you, we care for you, survive, survive. Then they were swept away and Erica was also carried off with the surging waters. They disappeared into the darkness and that was the last Erica

ever saw of them. She was carried on the wave and bumped into a coconut tree and she grabbed it and wrapped her arms around it and clung on for dear life. After a long while, the powerful wave began to lose its power and strength and receded. I prayed to God to save me, save my family, to please to let me live, she said. She clung on the tree until the waters fully retreated. Exhausted and trembling in shock, she fell to the ground and Erica survived. Her parents and two brothers were lost. Two months later, she still has nightmares. I cannot sleep so well, I have bad dreams that I am drowning, I miss my family, tears welled in her

questionnaire based on the Good Enough Guide . In this activity, family beneficiaries were provided with sets of questions using non-structural interview on a rating from 4 which is the highest and 1 is the lowest. This includes queuing time, quality of goods/materials provided, and the usefulness of the products being given. Based on the tally of the partner DSACs from each of the boxes, 99% of the family beneficiaries were satisfied in most of the aspects of project implementation. The project clearly made its impact particularly with the beneficiaries who openly shared their feelings and insights on what they have received. Specific issues Coordination The impact of the earthquake was remarkable as it was the first time the province experienced this kind of intensity and damage.
Contemplative Bishops / B5

Call for coordination was active that prompt the provincial government of Bohol for a joint meeting of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on national, regional, and provincial levels to coordinate response immediately after the earthquake and the authorities have activated the cluster system at the provincial level. The DSWD responded for food packs, Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement also provided food and set-up first aid stations while CRS and other international NGOs gave non-food items like shelter, sleeping and hygiene kits and water containers. These coordination meetings were observed to be showing more of the responses of government offices, and less if not none of the other humanitarian agencies that are also working in the affected areas. N A S S A t o g e t h e r w i t h CAFOD and DSAC partners

implemented the emergency response to the communities where none or less humanitarian organizations are working. A list of affected families was obtained through cluster meeting and coordination at the local level, among community leaders and municipal social welfare and development offices in the province. The list served as the basis in identifying probable family beneficiaries for the EA 19 project. To validate the data, Parish or BEC leaders conducted interviews with the local leaders from whom humanitarian organizations coordinate with. Hand over/exit strategy This kind of disaster was the first that happened in Bohol. Implementation of the project was done during the immediate phase of emergency. Prior to any distribution points, clarity on the emergency response and how it will be distributed was clearly explained. A huge part of
Marriage / B2

the session is the basic disaster management orientation and emergency response training with capacity building conducted by CAFOD to the partner DSACs and parishes. Through this way, the response is not only geared towards short-term relief, but also in enhancing the staff and volunteers awareness on disaster risk reduction. On the actual distribution, the beneficiaries were already aware of what they will be receiving. The DSAC staff and volunteers had them signed the beneficiary list with the checklist of the items to confirm their receipt. We cannot extend the response to all who are in need. Sustaining the needs of community will not be answered by the program since it was only intended for emergency relief. However, it made a big difference on them. The capacity of some of the families to recover their shelters

from tents to houses per se is a clear indication of the programs success. Conclusion NASSAtogether with CAFOD and its partner DSACs created the Rapid Response for Visayas Earthquake. This also served as an opportunity to coordinate and work directly with the social action centers of Tagbilaran and Talibon as this was the first major disaster that impacted the communities, mostly on shelter sector. Despite the limited funds available, it did not however, prevent us from rendering the kind of service expected by the funding partners and the target beneficiaries. The project aimed not only in providing emergency relief, but in making an impact on the peoples lives by giving them high standard and quality of goods and services. For the DSACs, we accompanied them through the whole process of

Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

emergency implementation and to capacitate them to respond efficiently and timely. Emergency phase may be done but the needs for rehabilitation are something we are looking into. Shelter clusters in the province are coordinating for shelter and some livelihood projects. NASSA attributes the success of the program to the hard works of its implementing partners as well as the solidarity and support provided by the Caritas Internationalis confederation and our direct donors, both local and international. Their important contributions made it possible for the implementation of the emergency response. (The author is the Emergency & Social Services Program Officer of the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines)

not just to send food for the hungry and give water to the thirsty. The Christ that is in me reaches out to the Christ that is suffering. It is Christ reaching out to Christ. We will miss this point if we are not contemplative bishops. We can even reduce NASSA and the CBCP into just another philanthropic institution and we are not. We are Christs. Christi sumus! As we launch the Year of the Laity in preparation for the five hundredth anniversary of the first Mass and baptism in the Philippines, let us heed the caution of Pope Francis that in planning Church programs and projects,we resist the temptation of talking of what needs to be done like spiritual masters and pastoral experts who give instructions from on high. We must go out of the Pius XII Catholic Centre, stay focused on the Lord and reach out sincerely to the distant poor and the wayward children of God. We cannot allow the Year of the Laity to create more circles of elite and closed-in lay groups sometimes called mandated organizations. We need to reach out to those who are angry at us bishops, those we have disillusioned and those we have misled or confused by our excessive misplaced prudence or unbecoming lifestyle. The Year of the Laity is not only for the supportive and loyal laity but for the critical and distant ones more importantly those who disagreed with us on the RH law, those who hurl accusations at us fairly or unfairly. They are children of God too, our brothers and

sisters, members of our flock also. We can do this if we are soaked in prayer as contemplative s h e p h e rd s o f t h e p e o p l e freed from fear and rejection, carrying the mark of Christ scourged, crucified yet risen. But how are we to discern that our movement towards contemplation is not an escape from pastoral realities? The fruit of prayer is always greater charity for the poor. If prayer does not increase love, it must be only a soliloquy. If contemplation does not lead to action for justice and charity, it might have really become the shabu of the bishops, an addictive flight from reality. It is the encounter with Jesus in prayer that must guide our response to the poor. The poor are not just curious ciphers on a statistical report. The poor are not just the unlettered, the unwashed, the uninitiated, the uneducated, the unhealthy, the naked, the exploited, the trafficked, and the infirm gazing into our eyes for human recognition. They are those about whom Jesus said, Whatever you have done or not done to one of these the least of my brothers and sisters that you have done or not done to me (cf. Mt. 25:40). Jesus makes himself one with the poor. From his Cross, Jesus gazes into our eyes and touches our hearts with love. It is his love which calls forth our response in love as bishops of the flock. That we all be contemplative bishops bringing the joy of the Lord to the poor! May we be those bishops, only those bishops, always those bishops! Let us move on. Thank You!

2nd: A Qualified Witness to ask for the Consent in the name of the Church. The Code enumerates who can act as the qualified witness: Can. 1109 within the confines of their territory, the Local Ordinary and the Pastor (parish priest) in virtue of their office, validly assist at the marriages of their subjects as well as of non-subjects provided one of the contractants is of the Latin rite. Thus, the Bishop of the Diocese (in his whole diocese) and the Parish Priest (in his parish) is a qualified witness for marriage. Can. 1110 In virtue of their office and within the limits of their jurisdiction, an Ordinary and a Personal Pastor validly assist only at marriages involving at least one of their subjects. Thus, a Bishop (not the Bishop of the Diocese) can validly assist if one of the parties comes from his own diocese; likewise a Military Chaplain can validly assist if one of the parties belongs to the Military Ordinariate. Can. 1111 1. the Local Ordinary and the Pastor can delegate to priests and deacons

the faculty, even a general one (i.e., not just for a specific marriage), to assist at marriages within the limits of their territory. This is the usual case in a big place like Metro Manila, where people get married at the church of their choice (not their own parishes). Every time a couple get married outside of their parish, the Parish Priest of the church where the marriage is celebrated either assists at the marriage or delegates another priest to do so (usually the priest of choice of the couple). 2. To be valid the delegation of the faculty to assist at marriages must be given expressly to specified persons (e.g., if the couple brings their own priest, he must be identified beforehand and his credentials verified.); if it is a question of a special delegation, it is to be granted for a specific marriage; however, if it is a question of a general delegation, it is to be granted in writing. 3rd: Two Other Witnesses also called Common Witnesses. The Code does not stipulate any requirement. Hence, we can presume the

common doctrinal and jurisprudential criteria of: (1) use of reason, and (2) the capacity to perceive the marriage they are witnessing. In sum, the common witnesses should be able to testify regarding the celebration of marriage, especially regarding the exchange of matrimonial consent. Thus, more than godparents (a common term in the Philippines) we are dealing with simple witnesses, whose only juridic obligation is to be ready to testify that the marriage took place. They dont even have a moral obligation to assist the new couple to live up to their commitmentswhich is what the word sponsors (another common term in the Philippines) implies. Conclusion As to the romantic (and Roman) wedding in question, the zealous Vatican official was right in being concerned, but was also right in being appeased once the official witnesses testified that they heard and saw everything.

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B8
Moral Assessment

Entertainment
Technical Assessment

CBCP Monitor

February 3 - 16, 2014

Vol. 18 No. 3

Abhorrent Disturbing Acceptable Wholesome Exemplary

Poor Below average Average Above average E xcellent TITLE: The legend of Hercules Running Time: 99 minutes Cast: Kellan Lutz, Liam McIntyre, Scott Adkins, Roxanne McKee Direction: Renny Harlin Story/ Screenplay: Sean Hood, Daniel Giat; Producer Boaz Davidson, Renny Harlin et al Cinematogrpahy: Sam McCurdy Music: Tuomas Kantelinen Editing: Vincent Tabaillon Genre: Action-Adventure Distributor: Summit Entertainment Location: Greece Technical Assessment: Moral Assessment: CINEMA Rating: V 14 MTRCB rating: G (for all ages) CINEMA rating: V 13 (for Viewers 13 years old and below, with parental guidance)

The Legend of Hercules begins with King Amphitryon (Adkins) challenging the King of Athens to a winner take a battle. Easily defeating his opponent, Amphitryon takes over the army and kingdom to the disgust of his wife Queen Alcmene (McKee). Realizing her husbands growing insatiable desire for power and aggression, she prays to the gods for guidance. Her answers her call and promises her the son of Zeus whom she will bear and eventually will defeat the king. Years past, Alcmenes son with Zeus takes on the name Alcides (Lutz) and grows into a burly yet gentle prince in love with Hebe (Weiss), the princess of Crete. He willingly stays in the shadows as his half-brother Iphicles takes credit for Alcides success. However, when the king announces the betrothal of Iphicles to Hebe and betrays Alcides to the Egyptians, Alcides

must accept and embrace his fate as Hercules the half-mortal, half-god son of Zeus who will deliver Greece from the tyrant king and bring peace and harmony back to the nation. The movie may have the viewer scouring through the original storyline of the halfmortal Hercules as it introduced characters and sub plots so different from the more popular animated versions. While it did retain more of the original flavour of the classical myth plot, the treatment was so terrible complicated yet diluted that one would definitely prefer the adolescent versions. If we get pass the thinly conceived storyline and character development and just take the computergenerated effects that uselessly peppered the scenes, then we would be even more confused as it merely demonstrated the technical ability of the post production team and

senselessness of their efforts. Lutz who should have retained his non-speaking character in the previous vampire film series made matters worse with his non-existent acting prowess that gave neither life nor depth to what could have been a dramatic character. In fact, none of the actors could act and evoke sympathy or support from the audience. The Legend of Hercules was too dull as an action film, too lifeless as a romantic drama and too uninspired as an epic film. The movie tried hard to compare Hercules to Jesus Christ. In so many instances, the parallelism were obvious a prophesy of the promised savior, the divine conception it could have worked and delivered a powerful message if there was more effort and intelligence placed in the direction. Instead, what was left were the indiscriminate fighting and killings, betrayals and the desire for revenge. While Hercules did embrace his destiny and fulfill his mission, we doubt if it was a result of a realization that peace, justice and brotherhood were far more important than his self-serving desire to take back his lover and kill his step father. Neither was he a hero whom people can rally behind as he had no redeeming nor outstanding human or divine qualities viewers can relate to.

Buhay San Miguel

Brothers Matias

TITLE: Bride for Rent Sa romantic comedy na Bride LEAD CAST: Kim Chiu, Xian Lim for Rent, spoiled si Rocco DIRECTOR: Mae Cruz (Xian Lim), maluho, walang SCREENWRITER: Carmi Raymundo, Charlene Grace Bernardo inaalala sa buhay kungdi ang PRODUCER: Charo Santos-Concio magpakasaya. Sa gabi bago GENRE: Romantic Comedy dumating ang ika-25 niyang DISTRIBUTOR: Star Cinema kaarawan, magpa-party at LOCATION: Philippines malalasing siya kasama ng RUNNING TIME: 115 minutes barkada, at matatalo siya sa Technical Assessment: casino ng 10 milyong piso, Moral Assessment: ang salaping dapat sanay MTRCB rating: PG gagamitin niya sa negosyo. CINEMA rating: PG 13 Mapapalitan lamang niya ito kung makukuha na niya ang trust fund na inilalaan sa kanya ng lola niyang si Lala (Pilita Corrales). Pero hindi pala ganoong kadali iyon, dahil may kondisyon si Lala: dapat ay mag-asawa muna siya bago niya matatanggap ang trust fund. Sa kabilang dako, mahigpit naman ang pangangailangan ni Rocky (Kim Chiu), isang dalagang may ambisyong mag-artista at siyang sumusuporta sa kanyang pamilya. Mapapakinabangan ni Rocky ang hilig niya sa pag-arte nang makakapasa siya sa audition ni Rocco na naghahanap ng isang babaeng magpapanggap na asawa niyapara lamang makuha na niya ang inaasamasam na trust fund. Bagamat masaya ang dating ng pelikula gawa ng pagiging makulay nito, nakaka-distract naman ang sobrang pula sa paligid nagmumukha tuloy mga bakla ang mga lalaki dahil animoy naka-lipstick sila sa lahat nang eksena. May isa kaming puna sa castingitoy madalas na kakulangan sa mga pelikulang Pilipino kung saan may mga pamilya sa kuwento. Kadalasan, hindi man lamang gawing magkakahawig ang maganaktulad ng mga magkakapatid dito ano anong solusyon malutas lamang ang nila Rocky, wala ni isang bahagya man problema. Hinangad ng pelikulang ipakita na lamang nakahawig ng ama, halimbawa. At ang pag-aasawa ay mistulang isang halaman maniniwala ba kayo sa sa guwapot guwapa na inaalagaan, na nakatanim sa matatag na ng mga magkakapatid (na hindi rin naman pag-uunawaan at dinidilig ng walang sawang mga bobo), at sa lusog ng ama, ay magiging pag-bibigay ng sarili sa minamahal. Itoy palamunin lang silang lahat ni Rocky? (Ano isinagawa sa tulong ng mga mag-asawa sa ba ang basehan ng pagpili ng mga gaganap tunay na buhay na ipinaloob sa kuwento na mag-anak? Ah, ewan!) Umaasa ang bilang mga tampok na panauhin. May istorya Bride for Rent sa kiliting dulot ng tunay-na- namang maituturing ang Bride for Rent, may buhay na relasyon ni Lim at ni Chiu, kaya dulot ding mga aral, pero formulaic din ang naman hindi maituturing na pagganap ang kuwentomay party, may kasalan, may paginawa nilang pag-arte ditto; pati halikan at kyut-an hanggang magkatuluyanat hindi titigan ay totoo. Nakakasawa din ang arte ni kapani-paniwalang maging totoo ito sa tunay Chiu na tila yatang pumalit sa trono ni Toni na buhay. Magkagayunman, hindi maikakaila Gonzaga sa larangan ng overacting at over na patok ang formula nito sa mga manonood, pa-kyut. Nakakaaliw namang panoorin ang base sa milyon-milyon nitong kita sa takilya. isang bagong-lumang mukha (Corrales) na Humigit-kumulang, mahuhulaan na natin kamangha-mangha ang sariwa pang mukha at kung ano ang panglasa ng Pinoy pagdating sa kabila ng di na maitagong pagkatuyot na sa pelikula. leeg at mga kamay ay may asim pa rin, ika nga. Likas na mabubuting tao TITLE: Kimmy Dora: ang kiyemeng prequel ang ipinapakita sa Bride Running Time : 100 minutes for Rent, bagamat gawa CAST: Eugene Domingo, Angel Aquino, Sam Milby; ng ibat ibang kalagayan o Direction: Chris Martinez Screenplay: Chris Mar pangangailangan, sila ay tinez nakakaisip gumawa ng kung Location: Metro Manila Genre: Comedy Distributor : Spring Films Technical Assessment : Moral Assessment : MTRCB rating: PG13 CINEMA rating: V14

TITLE: Walking with dinosaurs VOICE CAST: John Leguizamo, Justin Long; Skyler Stone; Tiya Sircar DIRECTORS: Barry Cook, Neil Nightingale SCREENWRITER: John Collee DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: John Brooks EDITOR: John Carnochan MUSIC: Paul Leonard-Morgan PRODUCERS: Mike Devlin, Amanda Hill, Deepak Nayar EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Stuart Ford, Marcus Arthur, Tim Hill, David Nicksay, Miles Ketley, Zareh Nalbandian DISTRIBUTOR: 20th Century Fox GENRE: Action/Adventure, Animation, Kids LOCATION: Alaska and New Zealand RUNNING TIME: 87 minutes Technical Assessment: Moral Assessment: MTRCB rating: G (for all ages) CINEMA rating: V 13 (for Viewers 13 years old and below, with parental guidance)

Dinosaurs Patchi (Justin Long) and Scowler (Skyler Stone) are brothers from the Pachyrhinosaurus family meaning thick-nosed lizard in Greek. When they happen to watch their father in a fierce and fatal battle with a gorgosaurmeeting his death when pinned down by a fallen treelife changes for the orphaned brothers. Tough guy Scowler has ambitions to succeed his father as alpha male of the tribe, while his younger brother

Patchi is quite content in not being the strongest or the biggest dino of the herd. Circumstances, however, lead the brothers to the unexpected. In their trek for survival, they are accompanied by Patchis loyal friend, the parrot Alex (John Leguizamo). The most outstanding thing about Walking with dinosaurs is the extensive research made towards the creation of the movie. Walking with dinosaurs is a feature update of the six-part BBC

television show (with the same name) that boasted 700 million viewers globally when it was shown in 1999. The research and the cutting edge 3D Fusion Camera System (used for Avatar by James Cameron) combine to recreate the earth and its creatures 70 million years ago. Grafting the television series documentary style onto the full-feature format to craft a movie that young and old alike could relate to, the creative team of Cook, Nightingale and Collee spins the coming-of-age tale that shows Patchi as a hatchling up to the time it finds a mate, punctuated by dinosaur data superimposed on the screen and voiced over, adding a lecture feel to it. To the viewers delight, a dinosaur is humanized in Walking with dinosaurs. Patchis developmentfrom the nest, through his navigation of his environment, his trek for survival, his inevitable conflict with his brother, and the love-at-first-sight he had forwell, pretty (by dinosaur standards) and fair-complexioned Juniper (Tiya Sircar), is portrayed in a manner that would endear an otherwise ugly, lumbering, tough-hided prehistoric predator to viewers. What boy would not go through life as Patchi did? The emotions are so realsorrow, joy, fear, love, jealousy, angereven if in the back of your head youd honestly doubt if dinosaurs were capable of feeling as they are made out to be in this movie. But could dinosaurs forgive and love unconditionally? Let the last few minutes of Walking with dinosaurs answer that and maybe put many humans to shame.

Ang Kimmy Dora: Ang Kiyemeng Prequel ay naganap sa panahong bago pa sa ang unang pelikula Kimmy Dora: Kambal sa Kiyeme. Ipinakilala ang matalinong sina Kimmy na katatapos lamang ng tatlong kurso sa ibang bansa at nakatamo ng pinakamatataas na karangalan at si Dora (Domingo) na isang mahusay na artista sa teatro subalit may kahinaan ang ulo. Patuturuan sila ng kanilang amang si Luisito Go Dong Hae (Ariel Ureta) na patakbuhin ang kanilang negosyo sa pangunguna nina Bridget (Aquino) at Rodin (Milby). Samantala isang misteryosong terorista ang mananakot at sisita sa kanilang negosyo. Matutuklasan nina Kimmy ang tunay na katauhan ng terorista at malalagay sa panganib ang buhay ni Luisito; magsasanib ng pwersa ang kambal sa tulong ni Bogart (Torre) at ng teknolohiyang magpapatalino pansamantala kay Dora. Ang dapat sanang yugto na magbibigay paliwanag at kaliwanagan sa buong serye ay tilaisang nakakaasiwang kirot ng ngipingusto mong kalimutan pero ayaw mawala. Sayang ang ipinuhunang talino at bagong atake ni Martinez sa kauna-unahang Kimmy Dora dahil nahanay bigla ang buong serye sa mababaw na katatawan at walang katuturang pag-usad ng kwento. Mahusay na mga artista ang gumanap pero gaano nga ba ang magagawa nila kung hungkag naman ang mga eksenang ipinagagawa sa kanila. Maayos naman sana ang buod ng istorya pero dahil medyo pilit na ang ikatlong yugto, maraming eksena na inilagay na lamang para pampahaba at pampatawa. Maliban sa kwento at atake sa komedya, maayos naman ang larangan teknikal ng pelikula. Hindi nga lamang siya sulit panuorin at mas mabuti pang abangan na lamang ang libreng pagpapalabas nito sa telebisyon. Ang paggalang at pagpapahalaga sa bawat tao, matalino man o mahina ang pag-iisip, ay hindi dapat kalimutan. Sa katunayan, ilan ang may kapansanan na nadaig ang kakayahan pisikal, intelektuwal at pangsining na kakayahan ng mga taong normal ang kakayahan. Hati ang pananaw ng Kimmy Dora sa mga taong mahihina ang ulo, dahil sabay nitong pinapahalagahan at pinagtatawanan ang kahinaan nito. Alin ang mas naging matimbang? Depende sa eksena at kung ano ang mas kwela sa manunood. Hinapyawan din ng pelikula ang halaga ng pamilya at kung paanong ang matibay na relasyon sa isat isa ay sandigan sa oras ng kagipitan at pagsubok. Problema din ng Kimmy Dora ang karaniwang problema ng pelikulang Pinoy, ang anumang mensaheng mapipiga ay tinatabunan ng mga eksenang binuo para sa mababaw na kasiyahan ng manunuod at hindi sa ikauunlad ng kwento.

Vol. 18 No. 3

CBCP Monitor

February 3 - 16, 2014

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The News Supplement of Couples for Christ

The CFC Leaders Conference 2014

By The CFC Docu Team
JANUARY 11, 2014 opened the years roster of events for Couples for Christ via the CFC Leaders Conference, held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines. This much-anticipated event drew an audience of almost 14,000 coming from the various provinces in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, as well as the whole of Metro Manila and countries like the USA, Canada, the Middle East, China, Africa, Europe, Indonesia, and Australia. After the recitation of the Holy Rosary led by the wives of the International Council, a procession carrying the image of the Our Lady of Banneux went around inside the coliseum in honor of Mama Mary. The Most Reverend Honesto Ongtioco, Bishop of the Diocese of Cubao, celebrated the Mass, together with Msgr. Allen Aganon, CFC IC Spiritual Director; Fr. Marvin Mejia, Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines; Fr. Jacques Piat and Fr. Pierrot Friquin from Mauritius; Fr. Timothy from Taiwan; Fr. Marlon Avenido from Compostella Valley; Fr. Quezon Juan from Nueva Viscaya; and Fr. Joel Jason from the CBCP Commission on Family and Life. Bishop Ongtioco began his homily by greeting the congregation with these words: On the Year of the Laity, the Church needs you, the Church relies on you. Thank you for defending the is prepared to obey God without full knowledge or understanding, yet would quietly reflect and grow in understanding as God permitted. This very much depicts Mary, shown to have pondered on four occasions, as found on scripture: during the visit of the shepherds to the infant Jesus; when the child Jesus was presented to the temple; the Holy Familys flight to Egypt; and the loss and finding of the child Jesus in the temple. On the first two occurrences, Mother Mary pondered and believed. In her selection as the Mother of God, there would be sorrow and tragedy, Campos shared. He added, Marys example here teaches us that only from our deepest self, from our heart, can we offer to God what is most valuable. All else is secondary. She teaches us that the offering must be made, even when the consequences might be unpleasant or unknown. During the third, Mary pondered and loved. Amidst the threat of Herod against them, they knew they had to journey from death to life. With Joseph and Jesus, Mary becomes a refugee. Like Mary, we too will be compelled to travel from a well-known and comfortable environment to a new place in which Gods grace will be our compass. She demonstrates that an intimate union with Jesus is intrinsic to progress in our spiritual life, Campos recounted. And in order to protect what is
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Behold and Ponder

Bishop Honesto Ongtioco concelebrated the Mass with local and international clergy.

Close to 14,000 CFC leaders from the Metro Manila, Philippine and International Missions attended the Conference.

Dixie Banzon, Provincial Area Director for CFC Bataan, led the powerful praisefest

CFC Executive Director George Campos: I am bold. I am CFC.

CFC Chairman Ricky Cuenca: When God calls, He knows what Hes doing.

life of the Church. January 11 being the eve of the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus which marks the end of the Christmas season, Bishop Ongtioco reminded everyone that Christ wants to be born in each persons heart. And as long as there is Christ, Christmas is there. The joy of Christmas is not just

encountering Christ, but sharing with others the same joy of such encounter, he added. Referring to Couples for Christs theme for 2014, the charismatic bishop reminded the delegates that to BEHOLD is not just to see, but to pause, to BE and HOLD, with emphasis on the being and becoming. Like-

wise, Bishop Ongtioco exhorted all to HOLD on to the graces received in the past. Bishop Ongtioco further stated, Like Mary, we are invited to ponder on the mystery of Christs coming. Let us keep the message of Christmas alive in the hearts and lives of people who long to see Christ.

After the Mass, a simple but ardent worship led by John Cheng of CFC China ushered the first session titled Ponder, delivered by CFC Executive Director George Campos. I am bold. I am CFC. In his talk, Campos described pondering as an act of one who

GLEC 2: Rediscovering the Joy of Evangelization

fice Coordinator); Re-defining CFCs Global Evangelization Strategy and Priorities (Facilitator: Eric de los Reyes, CFC Canada Country Coordinator). Afterwards, the output of the workshops were presented to the plenary. After the CFC Global Leaders Empowerment Convention at the Landbank Plaza, the GLEC participants trooped to The Orchidarium at the Rizal Park in Manila for an evening of fellowship. The management of the Rizal Park welcomed the foreign delegates with a series of Filipino cultural performances. The delegates also came in costumes representing their respective countries. ABLAZE Communications sponsored games and prizes for the participants. To add to the festivities, some of the countries also performed songs and dances. Fr. Herb Schneider, the first Spiritual Director of Couples for Christ, celebrated the Mass on Day 2 of GLEC, exhorting the faithful to remember always to come in deep prayer and not to be overtaken by busyness as CFC responds to Gods call to evangelize. After the Mass, a spirit-filled worship led by John Cheng of CFC China. CFC Executive Director George Campos exhorted and empowered all leaders during the Leaders Training 1 titled One Global Team Mindset, discussing the implications when CFC acquires a global mindset or consciousness. He likewise presented the primary activities that CFC should champion: the CFC IC priority strategies for the next couple of years, the First Fruits, and the One Mission Fund. His presentation was followed CFC Global Mission Center Administrator Eric Ylagan, who led the Leaders Training 2, Effective Governance: Authority and Accountability. After lunch and afternoon worship led by Keith Sampson if CFC South Africa, the delegates broke out again into groups for the Intercontinental Planning, where outputs on the status of CFC membership, a SWOT analysis of the continents and areas, and a strategic
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Conference worship leaders Jun Clarito (CFC Canada) and Joe Aquilina (CFC Malta)

CFC PFO Director Jun Uriarte delivering first session, CFC in the New Evangelization

Bishop Jesse Mercado, Msgr. Allen Aganon, Fr. Herb Schneider, together with members of the international clergy, concelebrating the Masses during the GLEC

By The CFC Docu Team

CFC leaders from the International, Philippine and Metro Manila Missions gathered at the Landbank Plaza in Manila, Philippines for a two-day convention to talk about CFC in the light of new evangelization. The 2nd CFC Global Leaders Empowerment Convention (GLEC), with the theme The Joy of Evangelization encourages the CFC leadership to go into the deep and mend their nets as far as evangelization is concerned. Moreover, the GLEC likewise challenged the leaders to leave everything behind as they trust God to bring the community through victories in mission. The event formally opened with the celebration of the Holy Mass by Bishop Jesse Mercado of the Diocese of Paraaque. In his homily, he spoke about the significance of the Feast of the Lords Baptism. The Baptism of the Lord is another epiphany, a manifestation. It is the beginning of the Lords public ministry. Through his baptism, Jesus aligns Himself with us (sinners) even if He himself is sinless in order to say that God is with us. After the Mass, Jun Clarito of CFC Canada led everyone to a powerful opening worship.

International Council member and Pastoral Formation Director Jun Uriarte, delivered the first session titled CFC in the New Evangelization. Uriarte identified the three main areas of new evangelization: to those who are already in ministry, to those who have been baptized but having no meaningful relationship with the Church, and those who do not know or have rejected Jesus Christ and his teachings. He also presented three approaches for dialogue that CFC can utilize in the context of new evangelization inter-religious dialogue, inculturation and through dialogue with the poor. There is a Marian style to the Churchs work of evangelization This interplay of justice and tenderness, of contemplation and concern for others, is what makes the ecclesial community look to Mary as a model of evangelization. In the afternoon, Joe Aquilina, Country Head of CFC Malta, led the worship, encouraging all, As we worship the Lord this afternoon, let us try to reach for the skies! What followed was a series of workshops: Inculturation & building a global face of CFC (facilitator: Israel Silud, CFC China, Country Head); Building and Strengthening Relationships with the Clergy as Evangelization Partners (Facilitator: Shok Ariola, CFC Church Integration Of-

Workshop facilitators Bong Arjonillo (left) and Eric delos Reyes (right)

CFC ED George Campos giving Leaders Training 1 titled One Global Team Mindset

CFC GMC Administrator Eric Ylagan, led the Leaders Training 2 on Effective Governance

CFC IC members Jimmy Ilagan, Ricky Cuenca and George Campos pray over the leaders

ANCOP scholars doing a colorful dance number

Ricky Cuenca giving final talk titled They Left Everything and Followed Him

SFC International Coordinator Noli Manuel led the delegates in a spirit-filed praisefest

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George Campos

Ugnayan
Now the Work of Christmas Begins

CBCP Monitor
February 3 - 16, 2014

Vol. 18 No. 3

3rd CFC ANCOP Golf Cup: All for a good cause

TheRes this song by Howard Thurman that goes: When the song of the angels is stilled,when the star in the sky is gone,when the kings and princes are home,when the shepherds are back with their flocks,the work of Christmas begins:to find the lost,to heal the broken,to feed the hungry,to release the prisoner,to rebuild the nations,to bring peace among the people,to make music in the heart. The New Year has just been ushered in and we are still longing to extend the Christmas spirit and holiday feeling. It is so hard to switch from vacation mode to work mode. We cant help but sigh at the thought of going back to our normal daily lives, to our respective jobs and countless cares. Has really Christmas come and gone? Are we now just waiting for the next Christmas? We all go through the tedious preparations for Christmasdecorating our homes, assembling the Christmas trees and lights, putting up the Belen, buying and wrapping gifts, preparing the noche buena feast. Spiritually, we are preparing as well. We sacrifice our much needed sleep by waking up so early for the Simbang Gabi (Midnight Mass). Some of us even do civic and charitable works. There is so much generosity and sharing, love and caring. And when the Christmas Season is over, we take down all the decorations. The Belen is kept back in the box, the Baby Jesus left in the storeroom of our houses, gone from our hearts and minds till next December comes. Is Christmas just any other occasion? Is it just an ordinary holiday that we look forward to every December? What truly is the message of the coming of the Christ Child in Bethlehem? What does it call us to do? Christmas is that very special day God pre-

sented to the world His great plan of salvation, unfolding His work of redemption. Yes, Christmas marks the beginning of Christs mission to reconcile man with God. He comes with the Fathers blessing of love, peace and hope. And we, the beneficiaries of His redemptive work, owe it to Him to continue the legacy of love that He gave us. As Howard Thurman wrote in his song, now is the time for us to start the work of Christmas. We are called to share this love that we received and take the Christ Spirit into the world. This New Year, how can we better work and serve in Gods vineyard? There are three kinds of people here on earth: (1) those who make things happen, (2) those who watch things happen and (3) those who wonder what happened. Let us be those who make things happen. Let us all dedicatedly and actively work with the Lord in establishing His kingdom in the hearts of everyone, enthroning Him as our only King! Let our lives be bold witnesses of His great love as we trustingly obey His will and do whatever He tell us. Let our hands be His hands. Let our feet be His feet. Let our ears be His ears. Let our mouths be His mouth. Let us go out of our comfort zones. Let us go to where we are called. Let us offer our time, talent and treasure willingly. Let us go together on missions. Let us journey in faith. This 2014, we have the whole world to conquer. Miracles happen because of faith. That which we think is impossible would be possible. We would be like the people who were amazed in Jesus response to a strong faith when they uttered, We have never seen anything like this! (Mark 2:12). Let us be the miracle in other peoples lives. That in all things, may God be glorified!

The 3rd CFC ANCOP Golf Tournament last January 15, 2014 proved to be more for fellowship and a good cause as 76 golfers trooped to the Villamor Golf Club very early that morning. CFC members and guests enjoyed the crisp weather as they hit the greens. CFC Chairman Ricky Cuenca and Lito Tayag did the cermonial tee-off. At the end of the tournament, the following came out champions: Overall Champion (Lowest Net) - Greg Cancio; Low Gross Champion - Freddie Salinda; Team Champion - Philippine Titans; Class A Champion - Ian Laurel; Class B Champion - Albert Bercasio; Class C Champion - Pedy Acosta; Ladies Champion - Renee Francisco. This years annual friendly games were made possible through the generosity of partners like GT Radial Philippines and KiG Glassware, RCBC Savings Bank, FH Commercial, and Philippine Titans Alumni.
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Cross Catholic Outreach Sponsors Five Houses in AKC Community

By Marvie Gazo

CRoss Catholic Outreach turned over their five (5) sponsored houses to homepartners in ANCOP Kapatid Community (AKC) in Bagbaguin, Caloocan City last January 9, 2013. Cross Catholic Outreach is an international Catholic ministry that serves the poorest of the poor by channeling aid through dioceses, parishes, and Catholic missionaries, cost-effectively helping the poor break the cycle of poverty while advancing Catholic evangelization. Gracing the ceremonies were Jim Cavnar, President of Cross Catholic Outreach; Claudio Merisio, International Project Director; Victor Biggs, International Program Director and Lot Ortiz-Luis, Country Coordinator. ANCOP President Eric delos

Reyes, BCOP Shelter Head Mark Tagalag, CFC leaders and members of Metro Manila North A sector and AKC homepartners welcomed the guests. The home partners, on the other hand, were very happy and excited to receive the symbolic keys and move in to their new houses. Delos Reyes thanked the donors and homepartners who joined hands in making this dream of having decent homes and a spirit-filled community a reality. He also talked about the other ANCOP programs like the Child Sponsorship Program, Cornerstone and Community Development Program for the benefit of Cross Catholic Outreach. CSP scholar Aileen Rivera shared how her life was changed when she became a scholar of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde,

and the better opportunities in her future once she graduates from her studies. To date, there are 41 ANCOP scholars in AKC. Jim Cavnar was impressed with ANCOP and how it is working to answer the cry of the poor. He expressed how Cross Catholic Outreach is also doing its share in helping the poor all over the world. We believe that great things are possible when committed Catholics work together to meet a need!, Cavnar added. Cross Catholic Outreach has pledged to sponsor more houses in AKC and many other ANCOP Communities all over the Philippines. Cross Catholic Outreach is an official Catholic organization registered with the Diocese of Palm Beach in South Florida, USA and is listed in the Official Catholic Directory.

precious to her, Mary had to make decisions and choices that would safeguard not only the life of her son, but also the mission that God entrusted to her. In the final situation, Mary pondered and hoped as she searched for the missing boy Jesus. Mary challenges us to recognize and accept the quest for Jesus as a substantive dimension of our Christian life and mission. Campos added, She is the pioneer of this quest and so models the spiritual life for us. Like Mary, we will have to look for Jesus wherever our search leads us. With detachment and hope, our search will bring us to the temple, to the truth that Jesus is the only solid ground in which we must root our lives. Our search leads us, as did Marys own, to the Fathers house, to a way of life in union with Jesus. In the life of Couples for Christ, many have become guilty of negative attitudes which may obstruct ones focus on Marys model of pondering. As a reminder, Campos presented the basic tools for spiritual growth which every CFC learned in Talk 10 of the Christian Life ProgramPrayer, Study, Fellowship, Service, and the Sacraments. At the end of the session, Campos challenged Couples for Christ to be bold, taking to heart these words: We are the music makers; the story tellers; teachers and poets; the men and women of vision and leadership; the legends, the saints, and the champions. We are the dreamers of dreams. Let us sit with god for a few minutes each day and dream with him, and with the vision that he
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places in our hearts, go out into the world with a contagious love that cannot be ignored. Learning from Mary to BEHOLD CFC Chairman Ricky Cuenca, on the other hand, gave the second talk, Behold. In his presentation, Cuenca discussed how Couples for Christ can learn from Mary to behold, using the heart and not the eyes to see. Being the first disciple, Mary is CFCs model of beholding and responding. Mary our Mother, in the first instance of her recorded encounter with God, pondered and responded totally with the courage of one whose heart is pure. Another translation of BEHOLD is HERE I AMShe understood and readied herself to act, all the way, with her entire life, he added. Further, Cuenca stressed that to behold is to be engaged in a dialogue of love, having a dynamic connection & wholehearted responding. Cuenca emphasized, Beholding is a seeing that acts in trustworthy response. Marys life, like our life, had its human share of joys and sorrows, of darkness and light. She journeyed in deep faith guided by the indwelling Holy Spirit. As in Marys life, the initiating move is Gods. God is at work. Whenever God wants to do something, He lets us know and reveals Himself and His activities, Cuenca stated. Despite the seeming impossibility of the task at hand, God called Mary to have a deeper reliance upon her relationship with Him so that

she may grow into someone God desires her to bethe Mother of the Savior. Cuenca reminded that Mary represents everyone in CFC. God also calls us. There are some of us who unlike Mary, do not want to heed Gods call. Some feel completely unqualified to do Gods will. Nevertheless, when God calls, He knows what He is doing. He added, We cannot have a deep experience of God without changes or adjustments in our lifestyles, purposes, goals not without an encounter with the word of God. The life of Mary being everyones guide, Cuenca challenged the congregation to respond fearlessly because as God calls, God also provides and sustains. When God speaks, He wants us to go from where we are to where He is, so that He can complete His saving activity through us. Cuenca then proceeded to present the International Councils six-point priorities for the next two years, giving emphasis on CFCs engagement in building the Church of the poor. As a final word, Cuenca took the words Pope Francis said in one of his homilies, Let us ask Our Lady to help us too, to give Christs joy to our families, our companions, our friends, to everyone. Never be afraid to be generous with Christ. It is worth it! Go out and set off with courage and generosity, so that every man and every woman may meet the Lord. To cap the event, Dixie Banzon, the Provincial Area Director of CFC Bataan, led everyone into a power-packed praisefest.

continent evangelization plan were expected from the participants. Following the presentation of the results, IC members Ricky Cuenca, Jimmy Ilagan and George Campos came up onstage to pray over the entire plenary. Lastly, CFC Chairman and Director for International Missions Ricky Cuenca gave the final session for the GLECThey Left Everything and Followed Him. We again need to respond to the call of Jesus with an ever deeper, passionate and zealous commitment, Cuenca emphasized, adding, We must also rediscover the joy of evangelization and discipleship that our Pope Francis is showing to

the Church in the world. Testimonies by his wife Irma Cuenca; Israel and Sally Silud of CFC China; Bal Quiambao of CFC UAE; Bob and Aileen Serrrano, Country Coordinator of CFC Seychelles; Eugene and Jo Vilbar of UAE; and Ramir Gazo and family inspired the participants into placing their trust in the Lord in all areas of their lives. SFC International Coordinator Noli Manuel, closed the entire convention with an empowering Praisefest. (photos by Caloy Rubio, Deo Oliveria, Nathaniel Gomez)

Brighter Days for Tala Hansenites

By Marvie Gazo

TAlA in Caloocan City used to be tagged as no mans land because it is where the biggest hospital for leprosy patients and their families is located. Today, Tala is a thriving community of healed Hansenites and their families and is the latest site of an ANCOP Community. Last December 19, 2013, ANCOP officers and volunteers, the local government of Caloocan and key personalities from the National Housing Authority (NHA) came together for the Signing of the Memorandum of Agreement and groundbreaking ceremonies at the Fr. Hofstee ANCOP

Homes. No less than the Vice President of the Philippines, the Hon. Jejomar Binay, and Mayor Oscar Malapitan of Caloocan City graced the event. Other guests include NHA representatives Atty. Chito F. Cruz, Engr. Vic Balba and Cecilia Alba; Holy Rosary Parish Priest Farther Alberto Tamisen; Tala HOAI President Virgilio Reyes; Co-ops for Christ Manila Chairman Victor Hizon; Program manager of Bagong Silang, Caloocan City Engr. Ramon Reside; Brgy. 186 Tala Punong Barangay Jesus Basmayor; Medical Director for Leprosarium Dr. Edgar Javillonar; Fr. Hofstee HOAI President Cesar Romero; ANCOP President Eric delos Reyes; and ANCOP Shelter Program Head Mark Tagalag.

Vice President and Chairman of PagIBIG Fund (Home Development Mutual Fund) Hon. Jejomar Binay, in his speech thanked CFC ANCOP, Holy Rosary Parish Priest Father Alberto Tamisen and all stakeholders on this housing project for their commitment to provide 55 decent houses for the poor. To date, there are 187 ANCOP scholars from Tala. This latest partnership among ANCOP, the City Government of Caloocan and the National Housing Authority for shelter hopes to give a new face to Tala, Caloocan, and transform the district from no mans land to a community of opportunities, from education to shelter and livelihood, and transform not only the physical look of community but also the lives of the people residing there.

Vice President Jejomar Binay for NHA and Mayor Oscar Malapitan of Caloocan led in the signing of the partnership with CFC ANCOP to build the Fr. Hofstee Community in Tala, Caloocan

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 18 No. 3
February 3 - 16, 2014

Ugnayan
CFC in the New Evangelization

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Photos by Greg Sasis, CFC USA, SoCal and Mauril Mariano, CFC USA, NorCal

Jun Uriarte

CFC USA march at the 10th Annual Walk for Life

THE following is the content of the talk of Bro. Jun Uriarte during the 2nd Global Leaders Empowerment Convention last January 12, 2014. We will be publishing this in two or three parts. Part 1 discusses the Scope of and Need for New Evangelization. Many of you would remember that in 2002, during the 21st anniversary of Couples for Christ, we had our 5th International Mission Conference in Manila. The theme of that conference was Going to the Deep. Today, we are going back to that same verse from the gospel of Luke (Luke 5:4), which says, put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch. But this time, we are going to ponder on this instruction from the Lord to go into the deep, and we will ponder it from the perspective of new evangelization, meaning to say, new evangelization means going to the deep. With that, we start sharing on and asking ourselves what is the scope of, and what is this need for, new evangelization. Bishop Mercado already shared with us during his homily what new evangelization is all about. But lets try to reflect and ponder on it. Let us hear what Pope Benedict XVI said about new evangelization. Pope Benedict XVI said new evangelization is new, but not in its content. It is new in its inner thrust; it is new in its methods, which must correspond to the times. It is new because it is necessary to proclaim the gospel. Pope Francis, in Evangelii Gaudium, defined what new evangelization is all about, the way we should be understanding it today. He said the evangelization calls for personal involvement on the part of each baptized. Every Christian is challenged, here and nownot yesterday, not tomorrow, but here and nowto be actively engaged in evangelization. He continues, Indeed, anyone who has truly experienced Gods saving love does not need much time or lengthy training to go out and proclaim that love. And he proceeds further, Every Christian is a missionary, to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus. And the last part is the most important that we need to ponder and reflect on: We no longer say that we are disciples and missionaries. There is no more separation between disciples and missionaries, and this is very

important. Because he said, We should rather call ourselves missionary disciples. New evangelization, my brothers and sisters, is necessary. New evangelization is an obligation. As St. Paul said in his letter to the Corinthians, Woe to me, if I do not proclaim the gospel. And so, lets ponder: what is the scope of new evangelization? This is very important because as Bishop (Mercado) said, earlier, we defined new evangelization in a very narrow way. Pope John Paul II, in the encyclical Redemptoris Missio, defined new evangelization in a narrow way. But Pope Francis, starting also with Pope Benedict XVI, expanded and widened the definition of new evangelization. Scope of, and Need for, New Evangelization Pope Francis identifies three areas for evangelization. These three areas correspond to the three situations that Pope John Paul II mentioned in Redemptoris Missio. The first area is that of ordinary pastoral ministry, where new evangelization is aimed to inflame the hearts of the faithful to preserve a deep and sincere faith and regularly or occasionally take part in community worship (Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium). This means us. For those who have heard of Jesus Christ, and know the story of Jesus, what is needed is mending the netspastoral care. We have to ensure that the fish we have already caught do not escape through the holes of the net. And we therefore need to mend the nets. That is the ordinary pastoral ministry. In Redemptoris Missio of Pope John Paul II, this is not called new evangelization, it is just an ordinary pastoral care of the faithful. And that is why this is very important, because from Pope Benedict XVI, and now our current Pope, they have now included even our pastoral care to our own members in the community of Couples for Christ. Our mending of our nets is included in the definition of new evangelization. When we talk of new evangelization, it includes the leaders pastoral concern over those under him. The second area is that of those of the baptized whose lives do not reflect the demands of Baptism, who lack a meaningful relationship to the Church and no longer experience the consolation born of faith. And Pope Francis con-

tinues, Here, the aim of new evangelization is to help them experience a conversion that will restore (emphasis added) the joy of faith to their hearts and inspire a commitment to the Gospel. This is what Redemptoris Missio defines as new evangelization or re-evangelization those who have heard about Christ, those who used to be faithful to the Church, but somehow have fallen slowly away from the Church. Redemptoris Missio defined this as new evangelization or reevangelization, Evangelii Gaudium also defines it also and includes it in new evangelization. This is what we have been doing since 1981. We have been inviting Catholics, and occasionally other Christians to the Christian Life Program, and the attempt that with the power of the Holy Sprit, we will be able to restore the joy of the gospel. And that was new evangelization with Pope John Paul II, it is still new evangelization in Pope Francis. And finally, the third are of new evangelization as now defined in a wider sense covers those who do not know Jesus Christ or who have always rejected him. And again, it is very clear in the words of Pope Francis, The aim of new evangelization is to proclaim the gospel, appearing as people who wish to share their joy. When you proclaim the gospel, you do not proselytize. But what do you do? You appear as people who wish to share their joythe joy that we experience in the community, we wish to share with them that joy, pointing to a horizon of beauty and inviting others to a delicious banquet. (Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium) This, in Redemptoris Missio, is missio ad gentesthe mission to the Gentiles. In the narrow sense of Redemptoris Missio, this was missio ad gentes, and not new evangelization. We have not yet fully entered into missio ad gentes, but now, because of the wider definition of new evangelization, and because the laity is especially called to new evangelization, then all three areas now are included in our work in the community of Couples for Christ. We pastor our own members thats new evangelization. We reevangelize those who have fallen away from the Churchthats new evangelization. And then we go to non-Christian countries, non-Christian regionsand that is still new evangelization.

By Jenn Cruz
CoUples for Christ and its family ministries in the United States converged with many thousands of anti-abortion protesters to defend the sanctity of human life on Saturday, January 25th. In Southern California, the morning began with the 9:30 AM holy Mass presided by Archbishop Cordileone at St. Marys Cathedral. In his homily, Archbishop Cordileone stated, The (pro-life) movement is not only about abolishing abortion. It is (also) about the motherproviding for her emotional, physical, and spiritual needs so she chooses life. It is about connecting the baby to the mother and father. Marriage is about children. Thereafter, CFC and its family ministries joined a massive and diverse crowd of pro-

testers to rally in front of City Hall at 12 noon. Signs and banners displayed various messages such as: Respeta La Vida, Defiende La Vida, All people are equal. All choices are not, and Smile, you mom chose LIFE. A former Planned Parenthood representer said, Our goal is to see that there are no more abortion clinics. We are getting closer to that goal each year. October Baby actress, Sheri Rigby, also shared her personal testimony on abortion. Meanwhile, in NorCal, CFC and its family ministries peacefully marched down Market street to the Justin Herman Plaza praying the Rosary, holding signs saying I AM PRO-LIFE GENERATION, and chanting the words prolife. A small group of pro-abortion rights activists were on the sidelines protesting the march.

GPSI Finalists Visit ANCOP Homes

GPSI 2014 Champion Katrina Lopez of Hawaii receiving her prizes and trophy from DZMM Executives

GPSI First runner-up Michelle Lao from Canada with Fil-Canadian Senator Tobias Enverga Jr.

PIRA, CFC ANCOP seal partnership for Yolanda shelter project

The Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association Inc. (PIRA), represented by its Chairman Emmanuel Que and Deputy General Manager Roger Concepcion, and CFC ANCOP, with CFC Chairman Ricky Cuenca and outgoing ANCOP President Eric delos Reyes, signed the Memorandum of Agreement for the construction of 12 houses in the ASEAN Insurance Village that will rise sat a relocation site for Yolanda survivors in Palo, Leyte. In a simple ceremony last January 9, 2014, officers of PIRA and members of the CFC International Council met at the Couples for Christ Global Mission Center to seal the partnership. Concepcion narrated how CFC ANCOP was introduced to the organization during the Asian Convention of Non-Life Insurers, and that they see CFC ANCOP as the group that can best help them in their desire to help those affected by the recent super-typhoon.
GPSI Finalists experience ANCOP

CFC SG turns over Goodwater bottles to CFC ANCOP

CFC Singepore, represented by Gary Argulla, turned over Goodwater portable filtration bottles to CFC ANCOP during Day 2 of GLEC last month. Ethel Balenton of CFC ANCOP and Southern Leyte Provincial Area Director Jude Abenoja received the donations. The Goodwater portable filtration bottles are being shipped to families who have been affected by typhoon Yolanda through the CFC leadership in the area to facilitate ease in distribution.

The eight finalists of the World Caravan Global Pinoy Singing Idol (GPSI) visited the ANCOP AVANAI Community last January 23, 2014. The children and home partners of the AVANAI Community warmly welcomed the eight Idols, who came all the way from the USA, the Middle East, Canada and Macau. After the brief orientation about ANCOP and what it does, the Idols were made to experience how it is to be volunteers in building the

ANCOP homes. The immersion activity is part of their stint as GPSI champions. The various GPSI local finals were held in Hawaii for GPSI USA, Abu Dhabi for GPSI Middle East, Montreal for GPSI Canada, and GPSI Macau. Three of the country finalsUSA, Canada and the Middle Eastwere conducted in partnership with the local ANCOP counterparts. (Text & photos by Romeo Medina)

ANCOP USa Iloilo Medical Mission set for this month

The News Supplement of Couples for Christ

(L-R) Dr. Patricia S. Trabado, Dr. Alabado, Dr. Reyes, Vonz Santos, Gov. Defensor, Ancop Usa Executive Director Roger Santos

The Ugnayan News Supplement is published by the Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc., with editorial offices at 156 20th Avenue, 1109 Cubao, Quezon City. Editorial trunk line: (+63 2) 709-4868 local 23 Direct line : (+63 2) 709-4856 www.couplesforchristglobal.org cfcglobalcommunications@gmail.com facebook.com/CFC.Global.Mission

@CFChrist

FAIR LAWN, NJ - ANCOP USA has scheduled an eight-day medical/surgical/dental mission in the Typhoon Yolanda worst hit towns of Mina, Dumangas, Barotac Nuevo, Concepcion and Carles, all in Iloilo Province, from February 7-14, 2014. Roger Santos, ANCOP USA Executive Director, met and had a pre-medical mission meeting with Governor Arthur Defensor and his provincial medical personnel last January 14, 2014 in Iloilo City. At the same time, Elizabeth Macaraeg, ANCOP

USA Health Program Head, announced that some 30 Filipino American medical professionals from around the US will join the mission. Santos also revealed the three-phase program of ANCOP USA in providing assistance to the victims of the last typhoon. The program comprises of disaster relief (which is done already); health mission (for February) and rebuilding of destroyed houses. ANCOP aims to build/rebuild 300 houses in Leyte and Samar this year.

C4
By The CFC Docu Team
The threat of a single-digit temperature did not stop the over 2,000-strong members of the CFC Mission Core from going up to Baguio City for the 2014 The Beloved Weekend. In fact, delegates from the Metro Manila, Philippine, and International Missions were on fire as soon as they entered the CAP Convention Center in Camp John Hay. As early as 2:30 PM, CFC leaders were lining up to register on the first day of the Beloved Weekend. After the recitation of the Holy Rosary, Rev. Fr. Anton Pras, CICM of Indonesia celebrated the Mass, together with Fr. Carolus Patampang (Indonesia), Fr. Pierre Friquin (Mauritius) and Fr. Jacques Piat (Mauritius). In his homily, Fr. Anton called everyones attention to Marys special attitude of constant pondering on Gods will for her and plan. He shared,By saying, I give up!, we deny the generosity of God who is the source and giver of our talents, capabilities and skills in our lives. As CFC leaders, we have to participate and play our various roles to strengthen our community. He extracted two simple lessons from the gospel: 1) When everybody shares in the task, everything is possible. 2) Never give up when challenged because by giving up, man denies God the chance to do something in his life. To open the weekend retreat, Noli Medalla of Metro Manila Central B led the community in a rousing worship and exhorted everyone to be of service to brothers and sisters in need, to country, and to God. CFC Executive Director George Campos welcomed the delegates, exhorting all, Let us journey with Mary individually and collectively. We are Gods beloved. Mother Mary has been singing to us of Gods love. After the worship and welcome remarks, the Metro Manlla Sectors performed original compositions of songs honoring Mother Mary. Joe Aqullina, CFC Malta Country Head, likewise rendered his own composition, with the active participation of the audience. The husband and wife tandem of Kirby and Michelle Llaban kept the program flowing. The performance by

Ugnayan

CBCP Monitor

February 3 - 16, 2014

Vol. 18 No. 3

The CFC Beloved Weekend

CFC Pastoral Formation Office Director Jun Uriarte giving the prologue CFC Family Ministries Director Mannix Ocampo delivering Session 1 CFC Executive Director George Campos welcoming the MC delegates

CFC IC member Jimmy Ilagan giving Talk 3, Behold, the New Mission

CFC Corporate Secretary Arnel Santos talking about loving the poor in Talk 2

Manny Garcia exhorting the participants to be the ears, moths and hands of Jesus in Talk 4

One of the highlights of the Beloved Weekend is the Eucharistic Adoration

Local and international clergy concelebrating the Mass

the Metro Manila Sector Heads also brought the house down. Day 2 marked the start of the powerful talks and inspiring testimonies from CFC leaders. As it is usually done, the recitation of the Rosary and the celebration of the Mass were the first order of the day to prepare the participants throughout the three sessions of the second day. Rev. Fr. Andres Posadas of the Dioceses of Baguio quoted Pope Francis in his homily: All of us need to encounter Jesus When we encounter Jesus we experience joy and we share that joy to others by being the good news for the poor, sick, prisoners, the marginalized. In bringing the good news be God-centered, not centered on self. In so doing, God must increase; I must

decrease. After the Mass, Joel Santos of Metro Manila Central C led the opening worship. Before proceeding to the sessions, CFC Pastoral Formation Director Jun Uriarte gave a prologue on Behold and Ponder. Uriarte revealed, This weekend is a retreat, not a conference. Look into ourselves and look at Gods action into our lives. Further more, he exhorted everyone to ponder on each ones life as a family, husband, wife, parent; and as a bigger community of CFC and strive for balance of lives and activities, with the Family at Nazareth as the model. He reminded every person to pursue the work of evangelization as alter Christus, another Christ, the Beloved Son. He ended the Prologue with a community recitation of Prayer to

Mary by Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Talk 1, Ponder, the Family of Love, by Mannix Ocampo followed immediately. Ocampo reiterated on the message he received from the CFC Leaders Conference the week before: Behold, I have made myself broken for your sake. On a very positive note he said, This year we will be at the greatest heights of holiness. Prepare to make a bountiful harvest of fruits. During his session, Ocampo called onstage Manny & Ditas Garcia, Joe & Babylou Tale, Lito & Linda Tayag, Rouquel & Nina Ponte, Joe & Mila Yamamoto, and Joey & Tess Arguellesthe IC, together with Melo & Nini Villaroman, that held the community together during our storms in 2007 and 2009and honored them for standing as parents of the community. Afterwards,

he invited the entire congregation to extend their hands to pray over them. Talk 2, titled Ponder, the Mangers Message was given by Arnel Santos. Behold and Ponder: Look at things differently with the eyes of faith, hope and love, Santos underscored. He added as a challenge, Ponder on, each one of us. Do we really love the poor? Talk 3, Behold, the New Mission was in turn delivered by Jimmy Ilagan. According to him, CFCs mission is a call, a challenge and an inspiration. CFC is called to bring the gospel and to witness the Word to all nations, and to respond with generosity. New Evangelization requires a retelling of the story of Christ which calls CFC to a new mission involving: Interreligious dialogue, enculturation, Social Economics involvement, Ilagan underlined. One of the highlights of the second day is the Holy Hour, where the CFC leaders spent an hour praying in silence before the Blessed Sacrament. Day 3, Sunday, was ushered by the talk of Manny Garcia titled Behold, the Beloved Son after the opening worship led by Jorge Santos. In his session, Garcia reminded CFC, Mary is telling us to be alter Christusto be the ears, mouths, hands of Jesus. We are the hands of Christ who hold each other in tenderness. Do good so everybody can say, This is the Son of God. Garcia likewise reminded CFC to see Jesus in the poor, to give their hearts to them and show Christs face to others. To close the session, Joe Tale led the praisefest, exhorting everyone that the Lord calls each one to be missionaries, to go to the ends of the earth to tell the story of Jesus. After the praisefest, CFC IC Spiritual Director Msgr. Allen Aganon celebrated the Mass, leaving these commanding words through his homily: Behold, God is intervening! Do not be afraid. Do not worry. Remember, I will be with you. Do not rely on your own strength and ideas.
Documentation: CFC Global Communications: Joey Tomas, Jerry Tanigue, Mike Santos, Caloy Rubio, Sam Manuel, Alma Alvarez, Deo Oliveria North B Documentation Team: Bobot and Echie Bautista, Jake and Pat Ayson, Rudy and Grace Plazo

CFC Foreign Leaders Experience BCOP

Total BCOP experience, clockwise from top left: Miss Corazon Pamintuan, principal of Northville Elementary School; ANCOP leaders pose with the clergy before the Mass; Joe Aquiilna, CFC Malta, interacting with the scholars; ANCOP Canada pose with their scholars; Cornerstone tutees lining up for breakfast; outgoing ANCOP President Eric delos Reyes.

By Alma Alvarez
CFC Leaders from Canada, UAE, Malta, South Africa, China, Indonesia, Kenya, and KSA joined the BCOP Tour and experienced concretely building the church of the poor by interacting with the Cornerstone children from Northville Elementary School and ANCOP scholars from the Aeta community in Pampanga, as well as immerse in the ANCOP Bani Community in Balanga, Bataan. The delegation left Manila early Thursday morning and arrived in time for the Mass in San Fernando, Pampanga. Fr. Rading David, CFC Pampanga Spiritual Director, and Fr. Ching Fuertes, Parish Priest of St. Vincent Ferrer, concelebrated the Mass. The international delagates had fun sharing lugaw with tokwat baboy, pandesal & tibok-

tibok with the children, interviewing them and watching their performances afterwards. Miss Corazon Pamintuan, principal of Northville Elementary School, expressed her gratitude to CFC, the volunteers and sponsors who make Cornerstone possible, citing the great impact the program has made to the students of her school. After the meet-and-greet and feeding program with the Cornerstone tutees and the ANCOP scholars in Pampanga, the group proceeded to Balanga, Bataan to experience first-hand the activities in an ANCOP community. The group got to know the families, planted trees, painted a few walls and played with the children in Bani. The participants of the first BCOP Experience Tour & Immersion were very much inspired to work more in engaging in CFCs building the Church of the poor programs when they return to their respective countries.

A taste of BCOP, clockwise from top left: Cornerstone tutees from Northville Elementary School, San Fernando, Pampanga; delegates pose with the children; leaders from South Africa and the Middle East pray over their seedling; Mylene David and her mother sharing about her experiences as an ANCOP scholar; Manu Muinde of CFC Kenya plants a tree; CFC Chairman Ricky Cuenca getting a feel of the communitys livelihood program; Eric delos Reyes briefing Joe Aquilina of CFC Malta about the specifications of the model house; Emmanuel Pineda of BCOP Bataan introducing the ANCOP Bani Community to the guests. (Photos: Alma Alvarez, Jerry Tanigue)

CBCP Monitor

February 3 - 16 , 2014

Vol. 18 No. 3

ThIS supplement is a collection of stories from Typhoon Yolanda impacted communities. Most stories and pictures are written and taken by media survivors of the typhoon. An initiative of PECOJON-The Peace and Conflict Journalism Network Philippines (http://philippines.pecojon. org). For queries contact philippines@pecojon.ph

Caritas helps unreached Yolanda victims

By Joy Cherry Quito
During their visit, Archbishop Philip Wilson of Adelaide in South Australia gave his blessing to the fishing boats in Sitio Maluk Baluk, baranagay Agujo, that were given by the foundation to the communities. Archbishop Wilson is also the Chair of Caritas Australia. The fishing boats would serve as a source of livelihood to the communities affected by the typhoon. The boat project was made through the Catholic Bishops Conference Philippines National Secretariat for Social Action (CBCP-NASSA), also known as Caritas Filipinas. Currently, the project includes
Jim Stipe for Caritas Charlie Saceda/PECOJON

Amid wreckage arises a purpose

MEMBERS of the Caritas Australia visited some remote areas and communities in the municipality of Daanbantayan, northern Cebu after typhoon Yolanda struck and devastated their village.

Dax Tibus

ITS easy to miss one of the more remarkable emergency efforts taking place on the island of Leyte in the Philippines, an area leveled by Typhoon Haiyan. Here, in coastal and hillside towns where 6,201 people perPurpose / D2

28 boats in Bogo City, 7 in Medellin and 5 in Daanbantayan. The foundation has also distributed agricultural help such as seeds to be planted by the communities. Sr. Maria Perpetua Mapet Bulawan DC, Program Manager in Northern Cebu, said that their target is to help the communities in the remote areas which were severely affected by the typhoon but were unreachable by the relief operations. We are helping those communities who were unable to receive relief until now since the typhoon struck their homes, Sr. Mapet said. They were able to give tarps, non-food items and relief goods to the communities. Winny Nombre, 38, a resident of Sitio Bantigue, barangay Agujo in Daanbantayan, said that they only received a kilo of rice from the municipality and the relief aid from Caritas Filipinas. Until now, we havent received any relief. Relief doesnt reach our community because its too far. If not with the relief given

by the sisters, we would have nothing, Nombre lamented. Nombre, a mother of two, currently lives with her family under a little house they made after the typhoon. Their house was wiped away by the typhoon. We made a small house where the four of us could fit. We curl so we would fit and when it rains, we would sit because the water gets inside the house, Nombre added. Jose Maria Awiten, a registered social worker and Northern Cebu area coordinator, said that since their doing an emergency response operation, they were able to give tarpaulins which would serve as temporary roofing to the damaged houses. Mass After the community visit, hundreds of people attended the Mass presided by Archbishop Wilson inside St. Rose de Lima Parish Church. In his homily, he reminded the people to help those who are greatly in need especially those who were badly hurt by the typhoon. So when people are in need,

Caritas Australia Chairperson and Archbishop of Adelaide Philip Wilson blesses the boats to be donated to fishermen who survived the super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in Daanbantayan, Cebu.

such as the community here, it is the responsibility of all the Disciples of Christ to response to the need and do what they can do to help them, Archbishop Wilson said. The archbishop also assured the people that Caritas will continue to help the communities. Our responsibility is to create

the space for you to be able to do the things that is necessary. And when I pray for you, Ill be able to visualize all of you, each of you. And I hope that my expression of love and care for you will be in your hearts and help you to give goodness to the lives of the other people who surrounds you, he said.

With a hammer and nail, a new beginning

THREE people clung to a tree, literally hanging on for their lives as 195 mph winds tore at their clothes, pelting them with flying debris and rain, watching as others who had no anchor were blown away by the winds. Thats how John described the agonizing scene in front of his house as Typhoon Haiyan, believed to be the strongest storm ever to make landfall, ripped through the middle of the Philippines on November 8th. His real name is Hermogenes Cortez, Jr., but his friends call him John. Like John the Baptist, he said smiling, alluding to his deep Catholic faith. Living in a cluster of houses with other family members in the middle of a rice paddy in a part of Ormoc called Haubon, John, his wife and their two children lost their home entirely but escaped injury. About 30 feet away, his two aunts werent so fortunate; their entire house collapsed with them inside, injuring both. Like many Filipinos, John has lived through numerous typhoons, but this is the first time one destroyed his home. K n o w i n g h o w John Cortez builds his new home. important shelter is in the aftermath to provide families with their own of a huge disaster, Caritas offers a emergency shelter as they start to reBeginning / D2 quick, inexpensive and effective way

Communities in the center of disaster risk reduction

By Len Manriquez
SINCE the signing of the Hyogo Framework Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities in 2005, the world shifted its development gear from poverty reduction to disaster risk reduction. The Millennium Development Goal has then been defined by UN agencies from the DRR perspective. Their thesis is that MDG will not be attained unless disaster risk is address. A community is more empowered if they know their capacity. The ability to know its own capacity is the goal of Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR). With the principal objective of creating awareness and understanding of the CMDRR approach in addressing hazards within communities especially and specifically those affected by Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) in November 8 last year, Caritas gathered Catholic humanitarian actors from the nine impacted dioceses to a week-long workshop in addressing pressing rehabilitation efforts and building long-term resilience. The workshop was facilitated by two key experts in disaster risk reduction and collaborated by Caritas Philippines / CBCP-NASSA and Cordaid the Catholic relief and development organization of the Netherlands. Mr. Rustico Rusty Binas is the Global Advisor of Cordaid and leads the organization in the implementation of its Disaster Risk Reduction country action plans. He developed and produced a manual on Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction which is now being use as implementing guidelines for all Cordaid partners in the countries Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Malawi, ZamCharlie Saceda

Jim Stipe

Love touches Yolanda impacted communities

By Len Manriquez

Caritas is the Latin word for Love. Love for humankind. Bishop Broderick Pabillo, National Director of CBCP-NASSA said when asked what Caritas means. Caritas Internationalis is the global confederation of 164 Catholic organisations working on behalf of the poor. It is the arm through which the Church delivers its moral mission to help the most vulnerable and excluded people, whatever their religion or race. Caritas Internationalis

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines National Secretariat for Social Action (CBCPNASSA) is Caritas in the Philippines.

through close coordination and collaboration with CBCP-NASSA responded to Haiyan affected communities in the Philippines. NASSAs emergency response reached 39,101 households or 195,505 individuals, 71% of NASSAs target of 55,000 households. Implementation of the response are acted upon by nine dioceses in partnership with international Caritas partners across the Yolanda affected population. NASSAs goal was to give priority to distant, hard-to reach and/or isolated areas. Within these areas, the most vulnerable households would be selected, women headed households, elderly headed households, persons with disabilities and indigenous people. Reach

To date, 450,354 households have received emergency shelter materials consisting of tarps and a toolkit which contains nails, screw drivers, pliers and many others. These materials and tools have been carefully selected to be useful for urgent self-recovery and subsequent phases of full recovery. Caritas focused its shelter support on the urgent needs for protection with an eye to the needs for long-term support and stability in the coming months. Through the extensive network of the Diocesan Social Action Centres, NASSA sourced food packs locally where markets had sufficiently recovered and where the purchase would not negatively impact other consumers.

NASSAs Immediate Food Relief includes 10-15 kg rice and 1 kg lentils. This reached 23,000 households (105,000 people). A clean-up drive developed as Cash for Work (CFW) programme employed people with the tasks of removing the mountain of debris. Special efforts would be made to make cash available on market days so that people could use the money immediately. Each household would receive 700 PHP, an amount calculated to cover a food basket based on Sphere standard said Ms. Jo Ignacio of CBCP-NASSA. One hundred five fishing boats & board motors for at least 525 households in affected coastal communi-

Love / D2

bia, Central America, India, Indonesia and Bangladesh. The development of DRR country strategies and action plans highlights considerations on policy advocacy, documentation, targeting the most at risk, resource mobilization, exit and accompaniment plan and participatory planning, monitoring and evaluation and learning. Together with Binas is Mr. Orly Buenviaje of the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction. Mr. Buenviaje is a professional development worker whose character and unwavering commitment to serve the poor and the disadvantaged, inner drive and competence have been honed over more than 30 years of facilitating development management solidly founded on a peoplecentered philosophy and participatory and integrated development approach. The workshop aims to further develop a strategy of the recovery phase program with maximized input from affected communities. Participants expected to gather information and learn various concepts on disaster risk management, disaster preparedness, cooperation with communities, clarity in assessment and recovery plan, review and integrate best practices and gain empowerment of the spirit in humanitarian response. We will be discussing different paradigms and frameworks on disaster risk reduction. After this, we will be having action plans which will hopefully give

Reduction / D2

D2
A UNIQUE Filipino Catholic Tradition, the PAKUWARENTA was celebrated last December 17, 2013 in Tacloban City, where all Taclobanons gathered in different barangays at exactly 4:00 pm, to offer their final tribute on the last day of mourning for their departed loved ones who lost their lives because of Super Typhoon Yolanda. This tradition let the Catholics observe the 40th day of a persons death in commemoration of Jesus ascension to heaven 40 days after his death. The said communal memorial, called YOLANDA CANDLE LIGHT MEMORIAL was organized by Region 8 Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Dir. Olivia P. Tiu, a civic group One Tacloban, Dept. of Tourism, and CatNetwork Television. The activity sought to give closure to those who lost relatives and friends and to sustain the remarkable spirit of the community.
Love / D1

CBCP Monitor
February 3 - 16, 2014

Vol. 18 No. 3

PAKUWARENTA: 40 Days of Grief

The survivors lit a chain of candles on a 10.1-kilometer stretch of road from the city center to Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport. The chain passed through Anibong District, where hundreds are believed to have died when four ships docked in the port area were lifted from the sea by 20foot waves and slammed into populated communities. Colored candles, provided Taclobanons commemorate the 40th day of their deceased loved ones in b y t h e D e p a r t - a candle lighting ceremony in Tacloban City. ment of Tourism, were planted on the road to form ies have never been found. most people think. We also a chain of light. His grief can still be seen in want to show the world that Tiu said this ceremony his eyes. we will always remember was the idea of Mr. Jef ManiBut there is a message November 08. That was the bay, a local broadcaster who that he wanted everyone day hell descended on earth, lost his parents during the to know. And this what he upon us, said Manibay. disaster. His parents bod- said, We are stronger than (Rona Daquilanea)
Photo courtesy of Atty. John Tecson Lim

Butards Band composed of mostly blind musicians perform during the #ProjectPagbangon 'Sandugo concert in Tacloban City.

Charlie Saceda/PECOJON

NO BUILD ZONE. A mother calmly feeds her new born baby in a make shift house along the coastline of Pampanggo, one of the coastal Barangay in Tacloban City.

ties is provided. The Diocesan Social Action Centres identified and commissioned local artisans to construct fishing boats. NASSA also provided necessary materials including motors and fishing supplies to ensure fisherman are able to regain their primary food source. Artisans are encouraged to employ the local fishermen to build their boats. To be sustainable, the DSACs will spearhead in the communities development of a mechanism for both the short-term and long-term management, including use and maintenance of the fishing boats. Families relying on subsistence agriculture as their primary food source received small-scale agricultural input kits. NASSA provided to at least 12,875 households in inland communities who could make use of
Beginning / D1

residual moisture and ongoing rains to establish leafy vegetables or tuber crops. The intervention aims to help communities recover primary food sources. The support kit will consist of vegetable seeds and small garden tools. Based on the level of acceptance by the beneficiary community, poultry birds or small live stocks would also be given to equal numbers of households. In order to quickly restore essential household assets, Non-Food Item kits will be provided and will consist of a jerry can, cooking utensils, matches, blankets and a mosquito net, and sleeping mat. Each kit is suitable for a family of five. Hygiene kits were distributed compliant with the requirements of the WASH cluster, and contain bathing soap, laundry soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, nail clippers, malongs (or

multi-purpose cloths), towel, sanitary napkins, a 16 litre pail with lid and plastic water dipper. The kit was intended to last a family of five for a minimum of 30 days. Local dioceses organized psychosocial healing events by conducting special masses addressing the impact of the typhoons toll. In Leyte, 40th day after the typhoon, the communities prayed for the souls of the departed. Communities members identified as most vulnerable received direct psycho social counselling and first aid to learn to cope better with the impact of the disaster. A community psycho-social intervention through music was held in Guiuan, Tacloban and Roxas performed by renowned artists Gary Granada, Cookie Chua, Bayang Barrios, Chickoy Pura and Lolita Carbon.

Allan Amistoso

JOB SEEKERS. The Department of Labor and Employment in coordination with the Bureau of Labor & Employment, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the Office of the City Mayor through the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) conducted a job fair for Local and Overseas Employment at Leyte Normal University Gym last January 22, 2014. Many of the typhoon victims benefited from the said job fair.
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build what the typhoon destroyed. While families collect the salvageable pieces of their old homes, Caritas is showing them how to use these simple materials, along with tools, durable tarps, hardware and training provided by Caritas to build a temporary shelter that can be upgraded as families begin picking up the pieces of their lives. The scene in Johns front yard is now quite different, as a CRS-hired carpenter and

volunteers come together like an old-fashioned barn raising to use materials and tools from CRS and wood John salvaged from the storm to quickly build a new structure. As they work, a new form is raised up from the very wood that the typhoon dashed to the ground. While families begin to reconstruct, Caritas staff are on hand to teach families simple ways to make their house more durable against wind and rain.

Though intended as a temporary emergency shelter, John is looking to his shelter for longer-term use, joking that its a permanent temporary shelter. He thinks it will last a year or more as is, but plans to use it as a base for making upgrades when he gets money, strengthening it and building additions to provide his family with longer-term use. The typhoon may have destroyed Johns house, but it strengthened his Catholic

faith. This is a man who years ago built a small chapel in the complex of his extended families homes. Once a month a priest celebrates mass in their chapel and the other Sundays of the month theyre led by a lay minister John. Even in the face of so much destruction and despair, John comments, God knows what happened in this country. The typhoon makes my faith stronger, because Im still alive! (CBCP-NASSA)

Mark Escol

us new parameters. Buenviaje responds to the participants in affirmation of the collected expectations. Every learning situation has important elements like design, materials, facilities, facilitators and support staff. The most important element however is you, the participants. This learning situation is a journey and it is a journey of mutual learning. We have seen that many of the people here are rich in experience. Some are still starting, but the experience is there. Even when we were still young, we already have that desire to help our fellowmen, in the personal individual level. Now, this help has become institutional. Is disaster natural? Binas provoked the participants by working on various assumptions in disaster situations. In the workshop, he asked if disaster is natural. Participants took time in thinking through the question and had mixed answers. Further on, Binas queried if the typhoon is a disaster. One participant commented that the question sounded wrong. Hazard can be man-made or natural Binas explained. If a hazard strikes a community and the community has no capacity to bounce back, then that is disaster. Therefore, disasters are man-made because if man is well-prepared for eventualities then he has capacity to cope, control and manage the situation. The group reflected the statement and collectively implored that communities and humanitarian actors cannot be in total control and that, yes, communities can be prepared to manage and mitigate. Binas clarified, that the control we are trying to emphasize is the control of our capacity. We have control over our capacities and can be resilient, to develop a solid ability to bounce back after a hazard

struck It is critical how a disaster situation is determined. If external help is unnecessary then the community is able to handle the hazard. The concept of community managed hazard is a concept that empowers communities to decide for themselves. In the Philippines, there has yet been no system placed for barangays to determine disaster situation. Often it is the external community that decides when a barangay is in disaster or not. Very often, the media declares a disaster by the number of damage and deaths of a certain affected area. Reclaiming dignity The word disaster can cripple or empower a nation. Oftentimes in the Philippines, when a disaster situation happens, hazard-affected people are waiting for others to help them. While this is true in many sense, Binas emphasized that this very situation holds the people from rebuilding and rehabilitating themselves. They are waiting for others to assess their situation and to act for them. We must restore and claim our dignity as a country. Causes of disasters are closely associated with unsustainable development patterns which increase the risk faced by large sectors of society. Its all about changing power relations, decisions making, and peoples access to resources Preparedness in disasters should tackle unresolved issues in development and centered around capacity development and releasing peoples potentials. The end state is people become resilient. A community centered hazard management recognizes acquired knowledge accumulated through the communitys experience in addressing and navigating adverse conditions it

have been exposed to over time. Revisiting November 8 Participants recalled a day of fear. Yolandas eerie cry crept fiercely through the air. Every nook could hear the screeching sound of her voice. The minute her 300kph destructive force slammed across the Visayas region, communication and power shut down and people could only tremble in disbelief at the endless scene of destruction all over Yolandas path. She caused nine ships to smash and flatten more than five barangays in Anibong, Tacloban City. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) SitRep No. 104 of January 29, 2014 reports a total of 6,201 casualties more than 28,000 injured and at least 1,785 people missing, with over 1 million houses damaged. Fr. Amadeo Alvero of the Sto. Nio Parish in Tacloban remembers a day of walking from one community to another and blessing body after body left on the streets and on top of debris. Creeks and rivers filled with debris increased flooding and the foul smell of death brought depression. Food was limited and violence increased. The underreported case of Taytay, Palawan had to actually immediately address the need to reach island communities with almost 100% of boats destroyed. Social Action Director of the Archdiocese of Capiz, Fr. Mark Granflor said that their reach was limited due to impassable roads caused by tons of debris. The Diocese of Kalibo and Antique shared Fr. Granflors experience. Despite the extreme destruction in agriculture, fisheries and business, participants expressed that Yolandas experience highlighted Filipinos strength and capacities in cooperation and unity. Despite the lack of knowl-

edge in responding to calamities, the Church response was immediate and adept. The institutional humanitarian capacities of the Dioceses were natural and instinctive. Coordination was inherent even with nongovernment organizations and government agencies. The spirit of bayanihan was re-awakened and a very strong commitment to help each other emerged among Filipinos. The dioceses assessed the situation and the actual relief operations then coordinated with CBCP NASSA. In less than a week Caritas partners all over the world pledge incredible support financially and morally. Yolandas havoc and catastrophic strength led Catholic humanitarian responders to an in-depth reflection on climate change and an immediate need of resiliency. The Diocese of Jaro and Capiz see the importance of creating a disaster response team on the DSAC level. Alay Kapwa It is an annual Lenten campaign implemented in all parishes nationwide during Palm Sunday. It is an opportune time to collectively reach out to others. Alay Kapwa Sunday is Caritas Sunday. Straight away after the typhoon passed, CBCP-NASSA did an emergency rapid assessment and utilized local Alay Kapwa funds to respond to the catastrophe. The funds were sent to Diocese Social Action Center. In-kind goods were also sent. Vision Calibrated disaster response to Yolanda affected communities have proven Filipino resilience and adaptability. The groups in the workshop shared various vision in preparing for what the future brings,

An institution trying to continuously learn, discover, develop its inherent commitment to help the needy in a more affective and effective charitable response. A Social Action Center very capable of responding to any calamity or disaster situation A highly responsive and stable organization that provides prompt quality service for improved quality of life. And, to Build resilient communities to rehabilitate houses, recover livelihoods and other development initiatives such as strengthen capacity to respond to disasters and stewards of creation. Understanding resilience In a group exercise on resilience, Binas asked the participants to choose and present a symbol of resilience. The group chose the bamboo as their symbol. The bamboo is still, flexible and deeply rooted. It will grow again even if it gets uprooted. Facilitators agree that the bamboo is a good symbol of resiliency. Like the bamboo, resilience is persistence, the persistence to continue to exist. It is anchored from within and not from external factors. Resilience enables people to bounce back. It can strengthen a systems structure and increase survivability of communities. To enable communities to identify the problem for themselves, will enable the communities to build more resilient strategies for themselves. Mr. Buenviaje shared an anecdote on toilets. There are times that toilets are made for the community however these toilets are not even used because these are not owned and initiated by the community. Binas defines resilience as the capacity of an individual and the community to get ready to bounce back from any eventuali-

ties and actively create possibilities to improve his or her condition towards full enjoyment of being an empowered human being and community. Developing a tool Disaster preparedness must be done long before a disaster happens. In the Philippines, we are battered by old and new forms and disaster and are constantly at risk. A hazard map is a tool many disaster risk reduction expert recommend as necessary preparedness mechanisms for communities to become resilient against various disasters. The map should be able to identify key focus on typhoon and quake. Mr. Bong Grajo of Emergency Response Integration Center explains that the strong typhoon has become the new normal often coming in the last quarter of the year. These typhoons will most likely hit Visayas and Mindanao. He also emphasized studies that warn a 7.2 magnitude earthquake can damage Metro Manila far greater than the Bohol earthquake combined with Yolandas wrath. However, no amount of preparedness has been done for communities in countrys capital. Unity in resiliency In closing nine Yolanda impacted dioceses sang in unity the songs Hawak Kamay, Kanlungan and Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok Ko. Every song denotes togetherness, unity, and camaraderie, promoting the ability to relate well to our fellowmen a value all participants shared among each other. Embrace the error and celebrate success, the group cried in unison. (with reports from Don Trinidad and Gen Bedro)

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 18 No. 3
February 3 - 16, 2014

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Survivor relies on God for survival
By Jazmin Bonifacio
ALMOST three months after the Yolanda devastation, survivors rely on God as they continue to fight for survival. One such victim who strongly holds on to his faith is Bonifacio Mabag, a 45 year-old tricyle driver who lost five of his seven children during the onslaught of the super typhoon. Standing among the twisted wreckage of his home in Brgy. Costa Brava, Mabag narrated his experience of the disaster, reliving the terror they felt while the 16 feet water surge and strong winds obliterated their area. I and my wife were inside our house and holding our children. We thought wed die. GI sheet-roofs and debris started slamming on us, Mabag recalled. Five of Mabags children died, as they couldnt hold themselves against the strong winds and current of water while embracing floating logs. I lost consciousness. I tried to look for my wife and children but I know they are just here somewhere, Mabag said, while fighting back tears. His 38-year-old housewife, Lorna, was then nine months pregnant when the typhoon occurred. Mabag was somehow relieved when he spotted his wife and two of his children after two days of searching along San Jose, a coastal village in Tacloban city. Well, I thought God just answered one prayer to let me be okay but he answered both of them, he said, before being led away from the debris with his wife.
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Man saves 6, loses family

By Joy Cherry Quito
DESPITE the grief of losing his loved ones, a man in his late 40s continues to go on with his life with what is left with him the strength and faith of the people around him. Arnel Erandio lost his mother, wife and three children after typhoon Yolanda hit and devastated the city of Tacloban in Leyte three months ago. He currently stays with one of his uncles house but would sometimes sleep outside if shame starts to rush within him. Erandio was left alone at their house in barangay 70 in Anibong during the typhoon after evacuating his family to a bigger house which he thought was a safer place to stay. But he was mistaken. He was saddened by the thought that he was able to save some of their neighbors but he was unable to save his own family. While the four-storey house was not reached by the waves when the storm surge occurred, a ship was carried away by the waters current and unfortunately hit the house where his family was staying. The ship crushed the house down along with the people inside. Ang masakit nga sa akin eh, nakaligtas ako ng ibang tao, kaso yung pamilya ko hindi ko man lang natulungan gawa ng nasa kabilang bahay na malaki, akala ko safe.. yun pala hindi. Kung alam ko lang eh, hindi ko na pinaalis sa bahay. Kasama ko sana sila sa akin sa bundok, he added. Erandio recalled that during the typhoon, he saw the

Along with debris, dead bodies were left uncollected in the streets of Tacloban several weeks after typhoon Yolanda devastated Eastern Visayas.
water from the sea suddenly subside and moved backward. Along with six people who evacuated in his house, Erandio survived by running towards the mountains. He also lamented that he wanted to go back to his aunts house to save his family but he was blocked by flying debris and iron sheets. Nagkaroon ng tsunami. Kasama na yung mga barko kaya yung mga bahay dito, sinagasa na ng mga barko, he recalled. (A tsunami occurred. The water surge carried the ships onshore and unfortunately hit the houses.) Andiyan pa yung bahay pag akyat ko. Pagpunta ko doon sa taas, sinilip ko. Wala na. Kaya nanlumo ako diyan sa tabi, a teary-eyed Erandio said. (When I ran up [the mountains], the big house was still there, standing. When I was already on top, the house was gone. I lost all my strength. I was weakened by the thought that my family is gone.) Only Erandio, his brother and a nephew survived. Mass grave Four days after the typhoon hit the city, cadavers were still visible along the streets, and some remains unfound. Smell of rotten cadavers also filled the air. Erandio said that they were able to find the bodies of his wife, mother, some of their relatives and neighbors but his three children are still missing. Working with other neighbors, they swiftly dug a mass grave for the bodies they found. Yung ibang bangkay, kinuha na namin. Gumawa kami ng mass grave diyan. Nilibing namin dahil mabaho na nga eh. Mga apat na araw na, nilibing na lang namin, Erandio added. (We dug a mass grave for the bodies we were able to find. We buried them because the smell was already bad. It was four days since the typhoon, so we decided to bury them.) Living alone Tortured with the grief of losing his family, the thought of ending his life becomes inevitable. However, people around him would never stop encouraging him to live his life and be thankful of the second life God has given to him. Lakasan mo yang loob mo. (Be strong) These are the words that Erandio would always hear from the people around him whenever he felt like giving up. (with reports from Gideon Mendel).

Mabag spoke of his desperation as he tried to round up his family after the typhoon hit and his relief when he realized that his wife and two kids survived. Our hearts are broken for the parents that are wondering about the state of other children that have been hit, I know that there are families who are still wondering where their loved ones are, Mabag said. Familys death is one of many tragic stories to emerge from devastation of typhoon Yolanda. It was one of many heartbreaking stories that surfaced in the hours after a deadly storm surge ripped through the city of Tacloban with incredible tales of survival. Rescuers were looking under every single piece of debris for the missing. More than two months now after the onslaught of typhoon Yolanda in the city, Mabag is determined to fight and he continues to hold on in faith that God is going to lead him through this. He went back pedalling his pedicab for transporting goods and people as his means of livelihood. I fight .and I am fighting for my three young children, that my children may not have to die so young, because of hunger, Mabag said. So many times our problems cause us to think that God has forgotten us. It is hard to understand that the Source of our strength and our Provider in all things is already with us. When a situation seems hopeless, it is difficult to not grow weary and lose strength.. Through the storm, we have the peace of knowing that `all is well and we keep our eyes on our Savior, he said.

Roy Lagarde

10-year-old daughter, blind parents heroine

By Joy Cherry Quito
BLIND parents owed their second lives to their ten-year-old daughter. Joseph and Winie Fe Bacunyata, both 40, were inside an evacuation center along with their daughter when typhoon Yolanda struck the city of Tacloban last Nov. 8, 2013. Because of their blindness, it was difficult for them to move inside and it was only their daughter who guided them in every step they took to ensure their safety inside the evacuation center. Joseph, a resident of Sitio Alimasag, Barangay 88, San Jose, unfortunately lost their home when a storm surge occurred and devoured their village unmercifully. Barangay 88 is located in San Jose, a coastal village. San Jose is one of the villages in Tacloban City which was wiped out by a storm surge. Joseph recalled that a week prior to the typhoon, he heard news from the radio that a super typhoon is going to hit their city. When I heard about the super typhoon, I was restless. I was afraid. I was nervous and I didnt know where to go, where I could evacuate my family to a safer place, he lamented. The 40-year-old man was worried that he might not be able to save his family from the typhoon especially because of his disability. I also felt worried that no one might help us especially in our condition that we are unable to see, he said. According to him, his family were able to evacuate at the Grand Convention Center two nights before the typhoon hit the city. God really loved us because He kept us away from danger but it was inevitable not to feel any fear during the typhoon, he said. At the morning during the typhoon, Joseph narrated that one of the rescuers at the center advised the evacuees especially those who have kids to transfer at a higher place inside the dome. But instead of them taking their child to a safer place, it was their daughter who guided them and secured their safety. The kid, unlike her parents, is not blind and served as guide to her blind parents. If not for our daughter, we could have died. We just hold Joseph Bacunyata (middle) smiles as he plays his guitar during the on to her to #ProjectPagbangon 'Sandugo Concert at the Sto Nio Church in s a v e o u r Tacloban City. lives, Joseph added. to abort her several times during pregAt the height of the typhoon, people nancy which caused her blindness. panicked inside the center. They were The couple tried to go on and live as pressed at the middle when people normal as they could despite of their started to flock inside the dome. disability. They heard the harsh blowing of the Joseph, who learned how to play a wind as it fiercely slammed the glass guitar when he was still a child, became windows of the dome. part of a band which was also composed They also heard that some of the glass of blind musicians. windows were shattered and hit some He was the lead guitarist of the band of the evacuees inside. and they played during fiesta celebraWhen the wind blew stronger, we tions, birthday parties, Christmas carwere calling on to God to save us from ols, and some other occasions where the calamity, he also said. they are invited to showcase their He considered it as a miracle that incredible talents. they were able to survive the strongest However, the typhoon took away typhoon that hit the country. their livelihood. It also took his happiness of playing his guitar. Blind since childhood As of now, I dont have any work At an early age, both Joseph and because of the typhoon. We lost our Winie Fe lost their eyesight. livelihood, said Joseph. Joseph, a native of Marabut, Eastern Now, the family currently seeks Samar, was only four years old when comfort under a tent inside the evacuhe lost his eyesight because his parents ation center. failed to de-worm him early. Sought for his message to his fellow When they transferred to Tacloban survivors, especially those with disCity, his situation was already acute abilities, Joseph encouraged the people and they did not have any money for not to lose faith and continue to go on an operation. with their lives. He could only see shadows of light. We should not lose hope. Even us, His wife, Winie Fe, a native of Palo, who are incapable of seeing the world, Leyte, was already three years old when are fighting and striving to live in this her parents discovered that she was blind. world. You, too, should be strong, Winie Fe said that her mother tried Joseph said.

Gratitude from the hearts of Taclobanons

MANY international leaders and foundations visited Tacloban to express their love and care for the city and its people devastated by Super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). United States Sec. of State John Kerry, United Nations Sec. Gen. Ban Ki Moon, Taclobanons beloved Tzu Chi Foundation, Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon, Shaijah UAE Red Crescent Khameer Swardi, Japans Sisterhood City Fukuyama Congressman and Mayor, and other leaders came personally to offer their help, bringing HOPE to the rehabilitation, rebuilding and reconstruction of the People and City of Tacloban. The Taclobanons felt blessed also when the Holy See sent the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto who presided the Christmas day concelebrated mass at the Sto. Nio Shrine. The Art Reach and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra sang during the said event. During the celebration, Mayor Afred Romualdez, in a written message thanked all who extended help to the City of Tacloban. In the wake of the destruction and devastation wrought by Typhoon Haiyan we take comfort in the knowledge that we have not been forsaken. The overwhelming aid and

ished in Novembers storm and nearly 2,000 are still missing, you see in all directions piles of wood, debris and garbage that line roads and cover the lawns of homes and schools. The harrowing remnants of devastation should be uninviting. And, yet, they have become a source of communion, a place where many Filipinos are finding resolve. Throughout Palo, teams of Filipinos take on the exhausting physical work to clear garbage, trees, and the heavy fallen debris through Cash for Work projects. No matter the backdrop of waste, this is one of the most valuable contributions to the relief effort. To provide anythingclean water, materials to rebuild homes and schools, and other necessitiesyou need to be able to reach communities via clear access routes. In other words, you need to clean up the mess. We emphasize a level of care in the clearing process, says Jose Dax Evaristo Tibus, a program coordinator with Catholic Relief Services Philippines who oversees cash-for-work programs in Palo. Its not simply debris removal. At any time you can be confronted with a human being under the debris, he says. So, youre not just digging and digging. Youre taking things one by one, piece by piece. Youre also taking in all the smells. Its part of the processfacing reality. We were devastated, but we have to go on. Dax, a native of the southern Davao region and a manager of CRS programs there, traveled to Leyte to take part in the emergency relief effort. In times of devastation, it can be hard to stand on your own, especially when the loss is still fresh, he says. Sometimes, you just need someone to be with you. Dax is among the dozens of CRS Filipino staff who have come from around the country to help. His regular work with CRS is on the island of Mindanao, where he leads efforts to resolve conflict in communities that have a history of interreligious tension and fighting. In Palo, his work is more physical. Dax spends entire days under the scorching sun or pouring rain, kneedeep in heaps of garbage, directing teams of men and women who have signed up for the opportunity to clean their neighborhoods. His job is to guide the meticulously organized process and to keep spirits up. Its important to bring people together, he says. The idea of people forming teams offers a good feeling. People talk to each other. At times they come across a silly thing and they laugh with each other, making things more normal than they were just a few days or weeks ago. Isagani Labong, a project participant and supervisor of a team at the San Joaquin Central School in Palo, agrees. Our minds are focused on this work and not on the trauma, says Isagani. We know each other well. We all live here. We went through this experience

together. The men and women taking part in cash-for-work activities are paid daily rates (at the national minimum wage per national guidelines), and typically work 8 hours a day, 6 days a week. CRS provides workers with heavy protection gear, including helmets, gloves, masks and boots. In these initial months of the emergency effort, CRS has committed to provide 15,000 days of work, which will provide much-needed income for people in the area. With markets struggling to reopen and so many livelihoods devastated from the storm, the work opportunities help families buy food and start the process of rebuilding their homes. It gives us money for everyday expenses, Isagani says. It is a way up, a way to move on. Teams of 10 are assigned to designated areas, where they take on heaps of debris one street, school and barangay, or neighborhood, at a time. Wood is divided according to whether it can be used to rebuild or is only suitable for firewood. Garbage is also separated, and taken away in trucks to government-designated dumpsites. Even though the work provides relief from the trauma, it gets personal when a corpse is found in the debris, for example. When this happens, the team stops and people will shout, says Dax. They will be asking, who is she? and will come and mourn over them. We have a kind of talk in our group just to relieve the depression, because they often know who the person is. Bodies are identified by the barangay captain and by family members, and the victims names are then crossreferenced against a missing persons checklist. Eventually, the family and the government remove the bodies for burial. Mass graves now fill areas in Palo, outside churches and even the St. Joaquin School. When I carry bodies, I just tell myself I want to be a good person100 percent a good person, says Isagani. These incidents are thankfully on the decline and progress is visible each day as more streets are cleared. Community members taking part in the work describe this effort as therapeutic. The best part of this job is when you talk with the people, converse with them, allow them to be themselves, says Dax. Honestly, its quite a hard job to truly listen. When you listen, you really have to be with the person, embracing their spirit in a way. When people sense they are being listened to, they can share whatever they are carrying. My message to themand to myselfis to live it, maximize it. Dont be too individualistic, says Dax. Change things. Do something collective. Isagani adds, God has given me a second life, so why not move on? (CBCP-NASSA)

support from friends from here in the Philippines and all over the world. This magnanimous display of selflessness and charity has given us the courage to move forward as we begin the herculean task of reconstruction and the restoration of our beloved City of Tacloban to its former beauty and glory. No words can truly express our feelings. We are deeply humbled and truly blessed to have humanitarian

Charlie Saceda/PECOJON

friends who have eagerly responded to our desperate cry for help in this time of great loss of lives amidst the vast devastation not only to our beloved city but also the rest of the Visayas Island. Your continuing aid and invaluable support remain instrumental to our recovery. Please accept our sincerest gratitude and heartfelt appreciation for all the help and assistance that you have extended to us. In behalf of the people

of Tacloban City, THANK YOU. The overwhelming display of generosity of spirit and resources has touched countless lives and will forever be remembered by the City of Tacloban and its people. DAMO NGA SALAMAT and GOD bless us all." Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez The mayors message of thanks was met with applause, leaving many eyes filled with tears of joy. (Rona Daquilanea)

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CBCP Monitor

February 3 - 16, 2014

Vol. 18 No. 3

Artists use music to help Yolanda victims heal emotionally

By Joy Cherry Quito
After the disaster, organizers with artists Gary Granada, Lolita Carbon, Cooky Chua, Bayang Barrios and Chikoy Pura wanted to put the event to uplift the spirit of typhoon Yolanda victims. Last January, the five members of the public interest music group Forty Eight Voices got together for Sandugo: Salu-salo sa mga Kwento at Awitin ng Pagbabago. The group performed in at least three hard-hit areas: in Talcoban City on Jan. 4, Guiuan, Eastern Samar on Jan. 14, and Roxas City on Jan. 29. Sandugo is a song about unity....that we are one, one blood and one life for each other Granada said in a press conference in Tacloban City. Granada composed the song Sandugo, a reflection of Filipino solidarity after the onslought of the typhoon. It is a tribute to the survivors and the people who responded to the catastrophe, he said. Some 500 Taclobanons and voluteers attended the free concert at the Sto. Nio Church which lasted for around three

Dengue alert up in Leyte, Samar Survivors ignore no build zone policy

TYPHOON Yolanda survivors are slowly getting back on their feet, although a number of them may be doing it the wrong way. In this city, several families are ignoring the no build-zoneset by the government by building their homes by the sea. As rebuilding efforts continue in typhoon-ravaged areas, the government orderd a no-build zone in coastal communities washed out by the typhoon to ensure the safety of residents from storm surges. In fact, the government has begun building bunkhouses, albeit controversial, in more secured locations for displaced residents so they woould not go back to living by the shore. But many residents defied the order because the temporary shelter built by the government is far from their source of liveliood. Other survivors like Richard Doring, 54, were also forced to build their house by the sea because they can no longer take their condition in makeshift tents as they wait for their bunkhouses to be finished. He also admitted that he already lost his faith in the governments promises so they have to rely on their own. We are going to build our house here. Anyway, theres always possiblity that the governments promises will not come true, Doring said. A typhoon wont hit us everyday. We are going to build a house and stay here because it pains me seeing my family in pitiful condition, he added. Fisherman Victor Abud, 55, also rebuilt his home along the shore, saying that the sea is the source of living for his family. We are seven in the family. I need to make a living for them. If there is no work in the construction, I am a

Food for the soul The concert was organized by the Philippine Misereor Partnership, Inc (PMPI), Caritas Philippines and PECOJON - The Peace and Conflict Journalism Network Philippines. One of the goals was to bring a unique psycho-social intervention to typhoon-ravaged communities. There is food for the body and there is food for the soul and the concert is such kind of food that nourishes the soul, Msgr. Pirmin Spiegel Director of Misereor, the Catholic Development Agency in Germany said. According to Yoly Esguerra of the PMPI, it is the Filipinos long-history of love for arts and music which inspired the partners to realize the solidarity and trauma-relief concert. Aside from the FEV artists, the concert also featured local musicians who survived the wrath of the typhoon. In Tacloban, the Butards band of blind musicians performed their own composition of thanksgiving to the people who helped them recover.

Guiuan As music started, loud cheers and applause enveloped the entire plaza. Like most other concerts, the audience sang cheerfully with the artists. But what made it unique was that even the children ages five to nine years old jammed and

Charlie Saceda/PECOJON

Residents living near the public market in Tacloban City, continue to dump garbage into the streets. The garbage problem has been seen by the Department of Health as one of the causes of increasing number of dengue cases in the city.

WITH debris and garbage still visible along the streets, health officials warned the public to keep themselves and their surroundings clean to avoid being infected by dengue. Boyd Cerro, Surveillance Coordinator of the Department of Health (DOH) Region VIII, said that dengue cases in the region have been prevalent especially after typhoon Yolanda struck the province of Leyte and Samar, leaving pile of debris and garbage along the roads and several areas. Cerro said that there were 85 cases recorded in the region as of Jan. 1 to 25, this year. Of the 85 cases in the region, Tacloban City has the highest number with 37 percent of dengue cases. With this, Cerro calls on the cooperation of the public in order to prevent the people especially the kids from getting infected by the disease. He urged the public to observe cleanliness in the environment to prevent breeding of dengue-carrier mosquitoes. He also said that the public should check that there is no stagnant water in their backyard or inside their house where mosquitoes are most likely to breed. He reminded the people not to risk the danger of being infected by dengue since the disease might become severe and might eventually lead to death. The principal symptoms of dengue

are high fever, severe headache, severe pain behind the eyes, muscle and bone pain, rash, and mild bleeding in the nose or gums and easy bruising. Aside from dengue, the public is also warned from Chiconggonia and measles. Chiconggonia is a viral disease, which is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. Symptoms appear between the fourth and seventh day after the patient has been bitten by the infected mosquito. Symptoms include high fever, joint pain, joint swelling, rash, headache, muscle pain, nausea, and fatigue. According to the World Health Organization website, Chiconggonia shares some clinical signs with dengue and can be misdiagnosed in areas where dengue is common. The virus remains in the human system for 5-7 days and mosquitoes feeding on an infected person during this period can also become infected. Cerro said that there were already 30 cases of chiconggonia recorded in the entire Eastern Visayas region since January 2014. Meanwhile, there were also 34 cases of measles recorded in the same days. He added that the public should be cautious with measles, as there might be an outbreak of the disease. We have not yet experienced an outbreak of this kind of disease, Cerro added. (Allan Y. Amistoso)

fisherman. I hope the government would also consider our livelihood, Abud said. On Jan. 25, an organization of typhoon survivors called Alyansa han mga Biktima han Bagyo ha Tacloban (ABBAT), protested the governments lack of financial assistance and the resettlement plan. They are also asking the government to provide financial assistance amounting P40, 000 per family. (Lorelie Salarda)

Saved by a Cross
After Tacloban City and Region 8 was hit by a strong typhoon (Super Typhon Yolanda) you cant see any houses or building that wasnt destroyed specially those houses located at the sea side area. You cant spot any structure still standing. It was not only a strong wind that hit the Tacloban, it was also joined by a 12 feet high of water taking thousand lives of so many people. As a field reporter of DYDW RadyoDiwaTacloban AM Station 531 KHZ, I immediately respond to the coastal area of the city to know the situation of the people living there, and left my family in the Evacuation Center. While Im walking at the Real Street, I saw lots of people crying looking for their loss relatives who were washed away by a big wave from the sea. Until I found Alex Pingol the care taker of Marcos Beach Resort in San Jose and a listener of my program Relax Ka Lang. This is his story. Tears falling on his face, his shirts and pants reaped, himself wounded. When I started to interview him, his body was shaking while telling his experience during the typhoon. He told me that he dont really understand the report of Taclobans weather station about the storm surge and he thought that his house will be safe from damages, so he decided not to go in the evacuation center on Thursday night (Nov. 07, 2013). Because of this, he was washed away. It was a life and death experience. He the sea water moved backwards and released unexpectedly in the seashore. Three times big waves slammed at the resort that is higher than a two story house. While swimming against the wave, he saw one of his helper. He grabbed his hand to fight the strong current of water, swimming for almost two hours while trying to avoid all the barrels and iron sheets. Because of the strong wind, surroundings became zero visibility. Alex Pingol together with his helper realized that God still love them because they just grabbed a roof and hold in tight to be safe from the tragedy. Later after they saw a little light from the sky they realized that the wood they are holding was the cross of the chapel in San Jose area. Tears fall from his eyes and cried out loud, thanking God for saving their lives and for giving the roof with a cross while looking up in heaven. Pingol said for all his life, this is the only time that he remember that there is a God who is loving, he never even go to church because of the business that he is taking care of and all that he just mind is about money and to be rich. Pingol was also thankful for his whole family are safe because before the typhoon came, he already bring his family to a safe place where they can stay. He was also thankful that God gave him a second chance to live to see the meaning of life, to be thankful for every blessings and life that he gave to us, to praise, to listen and follow the word of God and because of this typhoon Pingol realized all the mistakes that he have done, and if theres a good deed he made to his fellow men. Pingol said that every time he saw the church of Tacloban that was also devastated by the typhoon, he always attempt to volunteer in fixing the damages. To be able to help in his own little way. He realized there is something that God would like to tell him, and that is to change and use this in a right way to move forward in life. He also mentioned that for all his life, it is his first time to sail without using a boat, but a roof with a cross at the top of it. Before our conversation ends, Pingols said that life is so important and colorful, but the other people didnt mind this, for them life is just nothing. And when he also recall what happened on him in the sea, trying to save his life in the middle of devastation of Typhoon Yolanda, he realized the importance of life that God gave to us. For this, he will tell his story during the typhoon in every people he met, to share the lesson and the meaning of life to us. Even our conversation ends, my tears are still falling while taking the path to our station, to check my co-workers who left were there to cover the situation of the typhoon. To know that all my co-workers are okay is a relief. However, I am still guilty that I was not able to advise my other relatives to evacuate before the typhoon. Few days later I found out that three of them died I cant do anything but to pray for their souls. I remember what Pingol told me that day when I talked to him. Even if the property that he keeps watch is already gone, and his work gone too, what is important is the love he has for his family and fellow. Material things will not last but our families will. I share Pingols story with the hope that this will inspire many people. (Leo Ladan)

Palo identifies 4 safe relocation sites

LOCAL officials here have identified areas that are safe for the establishment of permanent relocation sites. Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla said that new shelters would be built in at least four relocation sites for thousands of families displaced by typhoon Yolanda last year. The super typhoon had damaged over thousands of houses and displaced numerous residents in Palo. The national government said that new shelter for the displaced residents must be in areas safe from geological hazards. In Palo, the relocation sites include a 5-hectare lot in the towns Brgy. San Jose, a 7-hectare property in Brgy. Bulac, and another 3-hectare land in Brgy. Barayong. According to Petilla, the Leyte Provincial Government donated these lots to the Palo municipal government. She added that by the end of February, the national government would start the project through the National Housing Authority. Petilla said that the around two 200 units will be constructed by GMA Kapuso Foundation who committed support for the project. She added that the San Miguel Corporation also pledged to build additional units. The mayor also said that the housing project is expected to be finished before 2014 ends. (Allan Amistoso)

Charlie Saceda/PECOJON

Charlie Saceda/PECOJON

TWO months have passed since the deadly typhoon in Central Visayas and survivors are still at a loss for words. But recently, renowned performers filled the silence with music.

hours. In Guiuan, the bad weather did not stopped the people from watching the concert. Children, teenagers, adults and even the elderly flocked at the town plaza to witness and be part of the psychosocial intervention activity of inspiring messages and Filipino music.

Media survivors who organized themselves into a group called 1Media1Tacloban also sang a beautiful composition of Radyo Diwa broadcaster Leo Ladan titled Iisang Pangarap (One Dream). Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Director of CBCP-NASSA, in his inspirational message to the people in Roxas City encouraged the people to experience God in solidarity through songs of hope and humanity. The song expressed that all typhoon victims share one dream and one direction which is to start rebuilding lives and emerge from the pain that Yolanda brought. John Heredia with other local alternative singers in Roxas City performed in the third leg of the concert with their songs that tackle social issues. Some survivors also shared their experiences during the storm while others shared their recovery and rebuilding efforts. German friends from Misereor led by Msgr. Spiegel culminated the concert with an Alleluia song. People stood up and sang in praise and thanksgiving to God.

sang along with the artists even though the songs were about more than 30 decades old. Granada sang with his original compositions, and Bayang lent her powerful voice to revitalize the downtrodden spirits of the people of Guiuan, while the melodious charm of Cooky ignited the people to lift their hopes up high and the WE ARE ONE. Artists sing the 'Sandugo song during the Guiuan, Eastern Samar leg legendary voice of the #ProjectPagbangon 'Sandugo concert. From left: Gary Granada, Lolita Carbon of Nene, in her of Asin, Bayang Barrios of Bagong Lumad, Cooky Chua of Color It Red and Chikoy famous song Ka- Pura of The Jerks. paligiran among Perpetual Help of Confraternity to sing with the artists. others, awakened Drenched from the rain, sin- of the Parish of the Immacualte the people into the reality of takcere smiles and laughter were Concepcion in Guiuan, also ing good care of Mother Earth. Chikoys performance, mean- inevitably seen in the peoples thanked the artists and organizwhile brought the audience to faces. People danced with the ers for making a concert happen a heady sense of a brighter to- music. People sang. Heart warm- in their peaceful municipality. I am very thankful that you morrow, as chords after chords ing applauses were heard. Local talents from Guiuan went out of your way to serenade of music settled in the hearts of also took part and participated us with music and gave us a mothe people. I am so grateful that even the in the event. Inspiring messages ment of bliss, Abrinzosa said. After the concert, the artists children aged five to nine years from local government officials expressed how overwhelmed and the voice of humanitarian old know my songs and sang they were seeing the response along with me, a teary-eyed organizations were also heard. Napakasarap sa pakiram- of the audience. Carbon, a member of the famous We came here to give inspiradam na nakakatulong kami band Asin in the 80s, said. As the overwhelming re- sa kapwa namin, said Billy tion to the people but it seemed sponse heightened at the middle Abueme, President of Homon- that we were the ones who got of the concert, people started to hon Environment Rescuers Or- something from them, Chickoy said. (With reports from Marlon fold and kept their umbrellas ganization (HERO). Tano and Ricky Bautista) Maria Abrinzosa, President of amidst the rain, and continued