Is there Food

in the Duterte
Revolution?
 ISSN 0300-4155 / Asian
Magazine for Human Trans-
formation Through Educa-
tion, Social Advocacy and
Evangelization / P.O. Box
2481, 1099 Manila, Philip-
pines Copyright 1974 by So-
cial Impact Foundation, Inc.
Published monthly by
AREOPAGUS
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Editor
PEDRO QUITORIO III
Associate Editor
ROY LAGARDE
Staff Writers
CHARLES AVILA
EULY BELIZAR
ROY CIMAGALA
LOPE ROBREDILLO
Sales & Advertising
Supervisor
GLORIA FERNANDO
Circulation Manager
MERCEDITA JUANITE
Design Artist
RON REGINO
Cover Photo by
ROY LAGARDE
Editorial Office: Areopagus
Communications, Holy Face
of Jesus Convent and Center,
1111 R. Hidalgo St., Quiapo,
Manila Tel (632) 404-2182 instances he backtracks thus leading people to conclude that his
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our website at www.impact-
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email us at: impactmaga-
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impact
2 IMPACT
EDITOR'S NOTE
THE Malacaang Press Corps (MPC) issued a statement of late
addressed to the Governments Communications Secretary
who accused them of misreporting the Presidents talk on
martial law. We take exception to the statement of Presidential
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, accusing the media of
misreporting President Rodrigo Dutertes statement about Martial
Law, the MPC said in a statement.
The media that merely paraphrased the presidents remark
was hurt. We are disturbed and appalled by the propensity of
the officials of this administration to blame the media whenever
inflammatory statements of the President stir controversy or draw
flak. The misinterpretation or misreporting that the media was
accused of by the Presidents apologists is consequential because
it pierces right into fiber that journalism is made of, which is the
truthespecially now that the manufacture and proliferation of
fake news has become a lucrative industry and a propaganda
machine.
But how more consequential could it be when interpreting
becomes the business of those who have been empowered to use
a gun. How would, for instance, a police force interpret a war on
drugs if not literally killing those in drugs? The president has been
talking without lit up about killing drug traffickers and users who
are mostly poor because they have become worse than slaves.
Earlier on he has been saying that the fish in Manila Bay will grow
fat because they will be feed with dead bodies. By the looks of it,
the police have taken this as policy statements that gave them an
umbrella power to hack to death anybody they want. Columnist
Randy David puts it curtly when he wrote that the war on drugs
has normalized abduction and the raiding of home, and has made
killing an everyday thing.
The big problem with the presidents statement is that there are
facts are not verified and his sources not foolproof. This makes
the list in the order of battle, those targeted for liquidation, very
indiscriminate and unstable. But what if his analysis and perspective
where his decisions are based are wrong? History will bear that
never has killing thousands of people been right no matter how
noble the cause.
On the side, the country will have to bear with a leader entrusted
with over 100 million lives but is not in the habit of accepting
criticisms. He prowls like a roaring lion ready to attack anybody who
brandishes an opposing opinion. In this worldview, martial rule is a
logical upshot. The change that everybody has been groaning for
is becoming very uncertain now. No matter how one interprets it,
these are uneasy times.
This issue opens with the pastoral letter on amending the
constitution issued by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the
Philippines during their January Plenary Assembly. Our cover story,
Morally revisiting the mining issue, is written by our staff writer
Charles Avila. It posits that mining is not purely an economic or legal
issue. It is primarily an environmental issue that has devastating
consequences, and, as such, must be governed and justified within
the context of environmental ethics. Read on.
DECEMBER 2016
 CONTENTS
28 | Mater et magistra 14 | What we need is not only
change but conversion
16 | Morally revisiting the
mining issue 23 | News Features
4 | Amending the Constitution 25 | Statements
8 | Criminals at 9 years old 29 | From the blogs
10 | Employability: Indication 31 | Asia briefing
of education success?
13 | Light in the midst of darkeness

QUOTE IN THE ACT

"We need mercy
but we are afraid to
give mercy. Instead
of mercy there is
terror, death penalty,
"To speak out for the poor is not just revenge. Why?"

a decision to open ones mouth, but a Socrates Villegas, archbishop of

Lingayen-Dagupan and president

decision to listen to them." of the Catholic Bishops Confer-

ence of the Philippines; during
Broderick Pabillo, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Manila and head of the bishops laity com- his homily at the University of the
mission; in his talk at the 4th World Apostolic Congress on Mercy. Santo Tomas for the WACOM4.

"What kind of police force

do we have that they could not
catch the killers of 4000 people?"
Teodoro Bacani, bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Novaliches; in his talk delivered in Santo Tomas Batangas during the 4th World Apostolic
Congress on Mercy.

"Churchmen are not perfect. "Fake news and trolls are not mercy. They
Nevertheless, they are
supposed to proclaim what
are lies. Bullying and internet bashing are not
is right and proper even if mercy. They are offensive and violent."
they themselves fall short of Ruperto Santos, bishop of the Diocese of Balanga in Bataan; during this talk on the last
day of the 4th World Apostolic Congress on Mercy.
what they teach."
Ramon Arguelles, archbishop of the Archdiocese
of Lipa; in his talk delivered at the 4th World
Apostolic Congress on Mercy.

VOLUME 50 NUMBER 12 3
FEATURE ARTICLE

AMENDING THE
CONSTITUTION
DEAR Catholic Faithful
We write this pastoral letter to you with an eye to
our celebration of the 500th year of the coming of
Christianity to our shores. By 2021 the Christian
faith shall have arrived in our shores for half a
millennium already. For a long time we have been
the only Asian country with a Christian majority.
And even today we can thankfully say that we
are the Asian country with the biggest Christian
population. As we prepare for this great milestone
in our history, it is but right that we examine how
deeply we have lived up to our Christian name.
During the 33rd International Eucharistic
Congress held in Manila in 1937, our faith was
described in the official hymn of the Congress in
this way:

La fe de Filipinas
Es como el sol ardiente,
Como la roca firme
Inmensa como el mar.
La iniquidad no puede
Ser de estas islas duena.

The faith of the Philippines

Is like the blazing sun,
Is strong as a rock,
Immense like the sea.
Iniquity cannot lord
It over these islands.

More recently, we your bishops discerned

that the top pastoral priority for the Church in
the Philippines is integral faith formation. (cf.
Behold I Make All Things New, 2001). While
acknowledging that the faith of our people
 FEATURE ARTICLE

Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto addresses

the members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines at
the opening of their 114th plenary assembly at the Pope Pius XII Center in
Manila, January 28, 2017. ROY LAGARDE
FEATURE ARTICLE
is simple and strong, we nevertheless
lamented the ignorance of our people
regarding the truths of our faith, and the
lack of coherence between the faith we
profess and our personal and societal
lives. (cf. Live Christ, Share Christ, 2012).
We also expressed our considered opinion
that the way politics as it was presently
practiced in our country is perhaps the
single greatest obstacle to our integral
development as a nation. (cf. Pastoral
Exhortation on Philippine Politics, 1997)
But the corruption of our politics cannot be
isolated from corruption in our economic
life, in our culture, and in the practice of
our religion itself.
The bitter fruit of all these is widespread
poverty, violence and a cultural
degeneration whose end result is the
absence of genuine peace.
No wonder people have been longing
and clamoring for change. We are today
indeed experiencing change, but it is
highly questionable whether this change is
for the better or for the worse.
One of the major steps proposed to
bring about change for the better is the
amendment of our 1987 Constitution. This
is a major step which poses a challenge to
every Filipino citizen, and hence, to every
Filipino Catholic.
We write to you not to endorse or
disapprove moves to amend the 1987
Constitution but to offer pastoral guidance
on whatever decision that may be taken on
this matter.
Our Lord Jesus Christ called his followers
the salt of the earth and the light of the
world. (Mt. 5:13-14). He made it clear
that his disciples should not abandon the
world to its own devices. While they did
not belong to the world, and should not
conform themselves to this age (Roman
12:2), the followers of Christ were being
sent into the world to penetrate it with the
values of the Gospel, so that the Kingdom
of God might come to the world and
transform it. The Second Plenary Council
of the Philippines (1991) set as one of the
purposes of the new evangelization the
transformation of society in which all
Catholics are called to be involved. Every
Christian is commissioned by the Lord
Jesus not only to profess the Christian faith
but to make it bear on our world which
needs sorely the light of Christ. Every
Catholic and all of us together, are called
to bear witness to Christ by our lives, our
words and by our actions which reflect and
convey the love and mercy of Christ, the
face of the Fathers mercy. The Second
Vatican Council has gone to the extent
of warning: The Christian who neglects
his temporal duties neglects his duties
towards his neighbor and even God and
We are jeopardizes his eternal salvation (Pastoral
today indeed Constitution on the Church in the Modern
experiencing World, no. 43).
change, but Hence we call on you, to participate in
it is highly the political processes of our country,
questionable and today, especially in the process of
whether this amending our 1987 Constitution. The
change is for process of amending the Constitution
the better or should not be left to politicians or to those
for the worse. who either by election or appointment
will be tasked to draft the amendments.
For the Constitution is not only a piece
of paper, even though some who would
disregard its provisions may claim that it
is only that. The Constitution is the single
most important document of our country.
The Filipino people are the author of this
document. Those who are tasked to draft
it or to amend it are not its authors but
the instruments of the sovereign Filipino
people. It becomes the Constitution or a
valid amendment only upon approval by
the people.
But while the peoples approval of the
Constitution or amendments thereof
is our final act of owning it, we must be
vigilant and watch over, and even suggest
ideas and formulations that enter into the
Constitution. We have to make sure that
the resulting document embodies our
rights, our ideals, our aspirations, and our
dreams (Commissioner Jose Nolledo).
We want to tell you that the CBCP
supported the ratification of the 1987
Constitution, while acknowledging its
imperfections. The bishops collectively
said then, We have come to the
conclusion that the provisions of the new
draft Constitution are consistent with
the teaching of the Gospel. They added,
We believe that this new Constitution
will provide firm basis for governance, a
clear direction for national renewal and
development, and a covenant towards
peace. (Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, CBCP
President, A Covenant Towards Peace:
A Pastoral Letter on the Ratification of
the 1986 Constitution of the Philippines,
November 21, 1986).

We urge you to get involved in the
process of amending the Constitution so
that all its provisions will be consistent
with the Gospel, and the gains of the
1987 Constitution will be preserved and
enhanced, instead of being removed.
We urge you in a very special way to
be vigilant that our Constitution will
continue to assert that Sovereignty
resides in the people and all government
authority emanates from them (Art.
II, sec. 1). Let us continue to insist that
Public office is a public trust. All public
officers must at all times be accountable
to the people, serve them with utmost
responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and
efficiency, act with patriotism and justice,
and lead modest lives (Art. XI, sec. 1).
Let us not allow any public official to act
as if he is the master of the people, for a
person is elected or appointed to public
office to be a servant of the people.
Let us make sure that the Constitution
continues to uphold this fundamental
principle: The State values the dignity of
every human person and guarantees full
respect for human rights (Art. II, Sec. 11).
Let us ensure that provisions of our Bill
of Rights are preserved, especially Art.
III, Sec. 1: No person shall be deprived
of life, liberty, or property without due
process of law, nor shall any person be
denied the equal protection of the laws.
Let us especially safeguard the 1987
Constitutions declaration that The State
shall equally protect the life of the mother
and the unborn from conception (Art. II,
Sec. 12). And let us continue to maintain
the safeguards against dictatorial martial
rule that our present constitution contains
(Art. VIII, Sec. 18).
The gains enshrined in Article XV, on
The Family, as well as the State Policy
which says, The State recognizes the
sanctity of family life and shall protect
and strengthen the family as a basic
autonomous social institution (Art. II,
Sec. 12) should be safeguarded by us, as
also the provision which mandates that
upon request of the parents or guardians,
optional religious instruction to children
in the public schools must be provided
by teachers designated by the religious
authorities of the religion to which the
children or wards belong (Art. XIV, Sec.
3, no. 3). Likewise very important is the
prohibition of the death penalty, which we
AMENDING THE
CONSTITUTION
advocate to be made absolute (Art. III, Sec.
19, no. 1).
We cannot cite here all the provisions
that we should be vigilant about. There is
the big issue of federalism which we must
all study. The clamor by many for it stems
from the dissatisfaction of many people
with the lack of equitable distribution of
benefits, power and financial resources in
our present unitary system. Do we need to
change from our present unitary system to
a federal system of government? Or will it
suffice to introduce amendments and laws
which will make the present unitary system
responsive to the needs of disadvantaged
regions?
Keep in mind that the drafting of a
Constitution and amendments to it should
concern all of us. And our overriding
concern should be that the provisions of
the Constitution and all amendments to
be incorporated should be consistent with
the Gospel and promote the common
good. Such concern is our right and duty
as Filipinos as well as followers of Jesus
Christ who wants for us all peace and life
in abundance.
Let us not fail our country. Even more
importantly, let us not fail our Lord Jesus
Christ. We, your pastors, on our part
commit ourselves to the huge task of
helping our people know our Constitution
and the faith issues connected with it.
Let us, by our active involvement in the
political life of our country and in the work
of amending our Constitution prepare a
people who do honor by their personal
and societal livings to the Lord and to
our Christian faith, come 2021, the 500th
year of the coming of the Christian faith
and of the holy Mass to our shores. Let us
above all remember that no change in our
Constitution will help us if we do not have
a change of heart, soul and behavior.
May Mary, the Mother of Jesus, intercede
for her people who call themselves,
pueblo amante de Maria (a people in love
with Mary).
For the Catholic Bishops Conference of
the Philippines, January 30, 2017.
+SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS
Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan
President, Catholic Bishops Conference of
the Philippines
ARTICLES
Criminals at 9 years old?
Fr. Shay Cullen
ANDRES is just one10-year old
child and he has lived on the
streets of Metro Manila most
of his life like thousands of
other street children. They are
abandoned, work as scavengers,
market boys or girls and are
vulnerable to sexual and physical
abuse by adults. They are
uneducated and without family or
social welfare, care and protection.
They are completely vulnerable
to the influence of those who can
give them food or money.
Andres was a survivor. He
worked as a scavenger collecting
plastic bottles and other junks
to sell in order to buy enough
food for the day but it was never
enough. He only knew he had to
get food and anything he did to
survive was the right thing for
him to do. He didnt get enough
scraps one day and he saw a cell
phone on a vendors tray at the
market and he took it. He sold it
and bought food. Andres like most
children didnt know if it was right
or wrong. The moral or legal issue
was not a reality for him. He was
just hungry. He was arrested by
the barangay tanod and charged
with theft. Was he a criminal?
There is a majority of Filipinos
who say, No he is not. The
Philippine Congress on two
previous occasions said he is
not. There are now voices of
the police and local district
officials who blame the children
as young as nine years of age as
notorious criminals and they say
the children should be treated as
criminals. They are persuading
congressional representatives
8 IMPACT
to amend the law and to lower
the minimum age of criminal
liability of the Filipino children
from 15 years of age to nine
years of age. They think that the
child is allowed to go without
any intervention to help them
know right from wrong. The law
directs that there be help given
and intervention for children in
conflict with the law. This lowering
of the age of criminal liability is
detrimental to children it should
not be changed.
The child shall be subjected to
a community-based intervention
program supervised by the local
social welfare and development
officer, unless the best interest of
the child requires the referral of
the child to a youth care facility or
Bahay Pag-asa managed by LGUs
or licensed and/or accredited
NGOs monitored by the DSWD.
The law and millions of Filipinos
and around the world say, No,
Andres and thousands like him are
not criminals and must be helped.
They and wise legislators believe
that the survival of life is the
greatest human need and hunger
must be satisfied. Besides the work as drug couriers and should
Philippine law RA 9344 is benign, be treated as criminals and the
compassionate and enlightened law be changed so nine year olds
and it takes into consideration that can be arrested. The supporters
a child, especially under the age of of such a position should present
15, that has little schooling, lives solid research showing substantial
on the streets and is always hungry figures of children being used
cannot be held liable for adult acts in this way. But even if it were
that are considered adult crime. so then the child would not
The fact that police are understand that he or she was
complaining that criminal gangs doing something wrong. The
are taking advantage of children power and influence of an adult in
because they cannot be held liable ascendency over the child is very
for crimes claim that the children strong. The child cannot act with
JANUARY 2017

free will and full knowledge and
without that there is no crime.
They have been coerced.
The adult drug traffickers are the
criminals, not the small children.
The children are innocent victims
of abuse by the adults. The adult
suspects ought to be arrested
and charged with child abuse.
The testimony of the child will
be sufficient to convict the adult
criminal using the child. The
child can be taken into care and
protection and the law provides
for that intervention. In a court
ruling applying the RA 9344 the
judge had the following to say.
R.A. No. 10630 addresses the
concerns and criticisms of the law
by amending certain provisions of
R.A. No. 9344. One amendment
introduced by R.A. No. 10630 is
the imposition of the maximum
period prescribed by law for the
crime committed on any person,
who in the commission of a
crime, makes use, takes advantage
of, or profits from the use of
VOLUME 51 NUMBER 1
ARTICLES
children, including any person
who abuses his/her authority over
the child or who, with abuse of
confidence, takes advantage of the
vulnerabilities of the child and
shall induce, threaten or instigate
the commission of the crime.
That is putting the burden on
law enforcers to apprehend and
charge the adults who use children
and instigate and teach them to
participate in illegal actions. The
tabloid media has constantly
played up the plight of the street
children who have to survive
alone or in groups. They present
them as animal-like criminals and
sometimes demonize the children.
But the desperate hungry and
abandoned children are trying
to meet their human needs to
survive in a cruel neglectful
society around them. They have
been neglected, abused oppressed
and jailed. Some of the Bahay Pag-
asa youth centers are in fact jails
in most respects and the children
are in fact being punished. They
provide little or no education or
assistance to give the children no
chance at a better life. Soon the
cells will fill-up with nine year
olds and suffer physical and sexual
abuse in the jails if the law is
changed.
What an added disgrace to the
Philippines to criminalize the
innocent children. Remembering
the words of Jesus of Nazareth
when asked who was the most
important in the world. He placed
a child before the crowd and said
The greatest in the Kingdom of
Heaven is the one who humbles
himself and becomes like this
child. Whoever welcomes one
such child as this welcomes
me. (Matt.18; 3 -5) These are
somber thoughts for those
who would treat the child as a
criminal at nine years old. Let
your opposition be known by the
chairperson of the Congressional
Committee on Justice Rep.
Reynaldo Umali through his
Twitter account https://twitter.
com/reyumali
9
ARTICLES
Employability: Indication of education success?
By Bernardo M. Villegas
IN a recent conference attended
by Human Resource Managers of
the IT-BPO industry, a question
was posed to me: Is employability
an indication of education success?
What came immediately to my
mind was the definition given
by one of the greatest Filipino
educators of the last century who
taught thousands of students in
the Metro Manila area in such
schools as the University of Sto.
Tomas, Assumption Convent,
De La Salle College, St. Josephs
College, Sta. Isabel and many
others. The late Dr. Ariston
Estrada Sr. always insisted that
education is preparing a human
being for what he or she must be
and do on earth so that he can
attain his or her eternal goal in
the life hereafter. It is quite clear
that this definition does not take
a utilitarian view of education.
Even without bringing in the after
life, no one will disagree with
the famous French economist
Thomas Piketty, the author of
the best seller Capital in the
Twenty First Century. He wrote:
The main purpose of the health
sector is not to provide other
sectors with workers in good
health. By the same token, the
main purpose of the educational
sector is not to prepare students
to take up an occupation in some
other sector of the economy. In
all human societies, health and
education have an intrinsic value:
the ability to enjoy years of good
health, like the ability to acquire
knowledge and culture, is one
of the fundamental purposes
of civilization. We are free to
imagine an ideal society in which
all other tasks are almost totally
automated and each individual
10
has as much freedom as possible
to pursue the goods of education,
culture, and health for the benefit
of herself and others.
Employability may be one of
the favorable results of quality
education but it should not be
the primary goal of education.
The reverse is also true: there
are factors that make individuals
employable other than quality
formal education. In various road
shows in which I participated
in which top executives from
the BPO-IT sector presented
the competitive advantage
of the Philippines in their
booming industry, the following
were usually cited as the main
attractions of Filipino human
resources: Proficiency in English
and other languages; affinity with
Western culture; customer service
orientation; highly trainable;
cost effective; and high level of
commitment and loyalty. Some
of these qualities may indeed
be cultivated in the formal
educational system. It is equally
obvious, however, that many of
the traits are products of child
rearing practices in the Filipino
family; influences of Western
media; on-the-job training
practices; and unique features of
Filipino culture.
Except for the very specialized
profession of medicine,
employability is not directly
related to the university education
of most Filipino knowledge
workers. This is obvious from
the fact that in the BPO sector,
especially in the voice-oriented,
one can find nurses, engineers,
accountants, lawyers, physical
therapists and others with
the most diverse educational
IMPACT JANUARY 2017
backgrounds. What made them
employable is clearly not the
professional specialization they
had in the university. What
made them employable were
the traits that they could have
acquired in the non-specialized
courses required in their
respective curricula, such as
English, Literature, Mathematics,
History. Social Sciences, and
other general education subjects
that sharpened their analytical
thinking, communication skills
and interpersonal relations. As
a business school professor, I
am always amused that the ones
who excel in MBA and executive
education programs are not those
with undergraduate degrees in
business administration, but
those who are physicists, mining
engineers, civil engineers,
mathematicians, etc.
The main point I want to
stress here is that the success of
education (at all levels) should
not be primarily measured by
employability but by the quality
of human beings we are turning
out. Are they first and foremost
good citizens? Will they be good
parents? If they do get employed,
will they be able to rise to the top
of their respective organizations?
This does not mean, however, that
I am not concerned with a serious
problem in our educational
system: the mismatch between
the skills being produced and
the demand of the market place.
This is very obvious from the
facts that I cited: that many of
those who work in the IT-BPO
industry are underemployed if
one considers what they took
up in their respective university
studies: nurses, physical therapists.

lawyers, accountants, even
engineers working as call center
agents.
The transition in our basic
education curriculum to K to 12
is fortunately a move in the right
direction to address the skills
mismatch. It is my hope that the
additional expense they will incur
to send their children to Grade 11
and 12 will finally convince many
parents that to be a plumber,
electrician, mason, mechanic,
carpenter can be as dignified
and as (or more) economically
rewarding as to be an accountant,
lawyer, economist, etc. The
K to 12 program will finally
allow us to follow the former
European system of distinguishing
between technical institutes and
universities. Most of our high
school graduates should be going
to TESDA-type schools that will
prepare them for the types of
skills that are in great demand in
our present stage of economic
development. I know for a
fact that so many construction
projects have been unduly delayed
because of the scarcity of masons,
electricians and plumbers.
The feudalistic mindset of
Filipinos, making many of
them look down at blue collar
work, can now be changed if
VOLUME 51 NUMBER 1
ARTICLES
private industry should take a
pro-active role in developing
attractive courses that can be
incorporated into the Grades 11
and 12 curricula that could lead
to immediate employability. I
understand that the IT-BPO sector
is leading the way in this regard.
I am glad to know of initiatives
like those of the Ayalas and the
PHINMA group that are actively
investing in technical educational
programs that directly meet the
manpower needs of the business
sector. Another sector that is in
great need of technically trained
workers is that of agriculture. The
average age of a Filipino farmer is
11
ARTICLES
close to 60. We have to train more
farm entrepreneurs, not university
graduates from Los Banos. At the
macro level, there is evidence that
Filipinos who have progressed
to college earn more than those
with only a high school diploma
and those who have reached high
school earn more than those
who drop out after grade school.
These are findings of the leading
specialist on the economics of
education, Dr. Edita Tan of the
University of the Philippines.
At the micro level, however, we
still have to ask the question what
type of post-secondary education
will address the manpower
needs of industry. As a life-time
educator, I can say that industry
should insist that the most
important task of universities
is to teach their students how
to think, how to communicate
effectively in English and other
languages, and how to relate the
different human disciplines to one
another. This would require every
quality university to give great
importance to the Humanities
which include History, Philosophy,
the Fine Arts, Literature,
Mathematics, the Physical
Sciences and the Social Sciences.
Whatever the specialization, these
liberal arts subjects are crucial to
preparing professionals who can
rise to the top of their respective
fields and can be the innovators
that are direly needed by a
middle-income economy aspiring
to rise to First World status. Over
and above the subjects that will be
covered in Grade 11 and 12 (Senior
High School or Junior College),
universities must still expose their
students to the Humanities at
the college level (as all the world
class educational institutions
like Harvard, Yale, Stanford,
Cambridge, Oxford, etc. do).
The private business sector
must warn universities not
to clutter their curricula with
very specialized subjects which
are better learned on the job,
especially in a fast-changing
12
technological environment.
In my personal experience, I
regretted that the accounting
specialization that I took in my
undergraduate years forced me
to devote hundreds of hours to
learn bookkeeping techniques,
accounting principles, provisions
on commercial law, etc. which
I could have learned faster in
industry. I could have devoted
all those hours to reading more
books on the classics, learning
about music and the arts, etc. To
remedy the lack of liberal arts
training of numerous people who
work for the IT-BPO sector (as
was the case in the last century
with the thousands of accounting
graduates), the leading enterprises
in this industry would do well to
offer in-company programs on
the Humanities for the employees
they expect to progress to higher
levels of management.
In the 1960s, I joined a group
of professors from different
universities to offer an in-house
Humanities program for the
accountants and auditors of SGV,
the leading accounting firm then.
I must attest to the fact that those
who were in the Program rose
to CEO positions in many of the
Philippine and multinational
enterprises over the last forty
years. Having been working
closely with the IT-BPO sector
over the last ten years at least, I
can say that the greatest challenge
to the industry today is to produce
the middle-management staff
needed to supervise tens of
thousands of workers. Although
a long-term solution is to make
sure that all of our universities
are giving great importance to
a liberal arts foundation in any
professional program, a more
immediate solution is to offer in-
house programs in the liberal arts
to their existing employees.
As regards two of the qualities
identified as part of the
competitive advantage of Filipino
workers, i.e. customer service
orientation and high level of
IMPACT JANUARY 2017
commitment and loyalty, I must
point out that very few universities
consciously include values or
character formation in their
educational efforts. They assume
that character training should be
limited to the basic education
years of the youth. Considering
some very bad examples in moral
behavior that we get from some
of our leaders and from cultures
of other countries (especially
through social networks), I
would also recommend that
IT-BPO enterprises turn to Values
Education specialists to craft
in-house programs that reinforce
the human virtues and values that
are the foundation of customer
service orientation (unselfishness
and generosity) and high level of
commitment and loyalty.
It is never too late to help
human beings in the lifetime
effort to nurture the cardinal
virtues of fortitude, temperance,
justice and prudencelong
discovered as essential for
harmonious living by the Greek
philosophers Socrates, Plato
and Aristotle. Since there are
more than one million workers
(and counting) in this industry,
it would also be a great service
to Philippine society if these
Filipino citizensmost of them
millennialsare helped to
develop the human virtues and
values that they can bring to other
sectors of the economy and most
importantly to their respective
families. I consider this effort of
values education among the more
than one million workers in the
IT-BPO industry as the Number
One item in the Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) agenda of IT-
BPO enterprises. For comments,
my email address is bernardo.
villegas@uap.asia.

Light in the midst of darkness
By Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR, SThD
I NOTICE many Facebook friends
changing their profile picture.
Actually, there is no picture or
image at all, just black or total
darkness. What does it express?
For some it could just be an
expression of protest. It could be
an expression of grief, a sense of
hopelessness and despair. It does
symbolize our present situation
the darkness that we once again
find ourselves in. Indeed, we are
living in another dark period of
our country when evil appears to
reign.
Every day as we watch TV
and read the newspapers we are
confronted with gruesome news
and images of those killed
mostly poorby the death squads
and police. More than 7,000 killed
in six months. The president is
promising more deaths while
absolving the police of murder.
He threatened to kill human
rights advocates and lawyers. And
theres congress trying to railroad
a bill that will restore the death
penalty. The senate has come up
with a report denying the reality
of extrajudicial killings and the
existence of death squads.
With a judiciary and legislative
branches that seems to be
controlled and bullied by the
executive branch, the system of
check and balance is disappearing.
So if the trend continues, we
can expect the casualties in the
so-called war on drugs to exceed
70,000 by the end of six years
when Dutertes term ends. He said
he would be happy to kill 3 million
addicts following the example
of his idolAdolf Hitler. We see
a deeply divided societywith
many who have dulled conscience
or no conscience at allapproving
and applauding whats going on.
On the other hand, there is a
growing number who are speaking
out and protesting against the
heros burial of a corrupt dictator
and the killings. Meanwhile, the
bigger problems such as poverty
and corruption continue and are
not being seriously addressed. An
economic crisis is not farfetched.
We are indeed amidst darkness. Is
there hope?
I know how it feels to celebrate
a bleak Christmas in the midst of
a seemingly hopeless situation.
During the early years of
martial law, I spent Christmas
in prisonon hunger strike
with other political detainees to
protest the maltreatment that we
received from the minions of the
dictator. In December 1985, two
months before EDSA, our family
was in grief after my mother
was killed by a gang composed
of PC (Philippine Constabulary)
soldiers. A few months earlier,
my Redemptorist confrereFr.
Rudy Romanowas abducted
by military intelligence agents
and made to disappear. Around
the same time, a pastoral worker
that we have trained was killed by
a paramilitary unit - the CHDF.
During that dark period there
seemed no end in sight for the
reign of evil.
Looking back and remembering
the subsequent events, I can say
that in the darkest moment there
is always light. After two EDSA
people power events I no longer
doubt. In a seemingly hopeless
situation, there is always hope.
VOLUME 51 NUMBER 1
ARTICLES
Children and relatives hold photos of victims of
extrajudicial killings during a procession held a
before a Mass at the Our Lady of Victory Chapel
in Malabon City, February 2, 2017. ROY LAGARDE
This is what the light of Christ
symbolizes. The God who never
abandoned His people in the past
will not abandon us now. Evil will
not reign forever and ever. This
too will pass. As Marys songthe
Magnificatassures us: The proud
and the mighty will be deposed
from their thrones. I firmly
believe that a time will come when
decent Filipinos with awakened
conscience will overcome their
fear and rise to the occasion. I
have witnessed miraculous events
in the past, I expect another one
soon. It may not be the same
as the previous ones but it will
once again the demonstrate the
triumph of light over darkness. I
hope my FB friends will change
their profile picture with a
lighted candlethe Christmas
candle. This is the Good News of
Christmasthe triumph of light
over darkness, of good over evil.
13
ARTICLES

What we need is not only change but conversion

By Fr. Emmanuel Mijares

President Rodrigo Duterte presides over the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LE-DAC) Meeting at the State Dining Room in
Malacaan Palace, January 30, 2017. MALACAANG PHOTO

WHEN Hitler ran for elections
before the Second World War
for presidency in Germany, what
brought him to power were also
votes of many Catholics. They
were made to believe, through his
rhetorics, that there will be a new
Germany. What was needed was
change, he exhorted. And when
he won and later waged war, only
few were able to manifest their
conscientious dissent even when
the final solution was placed
into motion. Many Catholics
were silent or perhaps could not
even believe what was unfolding.
Public dissent meant death if not
persecution.
But then, as we know, it was too
late to stop Hitler. The change
was not for the better but for the
worst. Realization came late. The
after math of the second world war
placed Germany in devas-tation
and chaos. What came later is
history.
In our democratic country, what

14 IMPACT JANUARY 2017


was the cry during the last election
was change. Change is coming
and indeed it came, but it turned
to be a change for the worst,
many did not expect: a moral
devastation characterized by
publicly enticing to kill, indecent
words and senate hearings and
an explicit desire, on the part
of the president, to kill three
million addicts, as if the good of
the country depends on killing
without regard to any rules for
engagement. He declares even
to teach God how to do justice. It
is devastating even for Filipinos
abroad who excitedly voted for
Duterte. Many sensible ones
regretted, though some are really
fanatics and perhaps those who
have ideological agendas continue
to remain in a sinking boat.
Reality check: sixteen million
pro Duterte voters are not the
majority of us Filipinos. The
major-ity of Filipinos did not vote
for Duterte though some remain
spectators. Due to this change for
the worse, some of them end up
with an unwelcoming attitude
to those who have been disap-
pointed by this promise of change.
Attitudes could range from blame
like merisi or just a sigh of relief
saying that finally these blinded
followers of Duterte were able
to come to their senses, to just a
simple sigh, a buntonghininga.
Yet we have seen as a nation
this notorious kind of change
unfolding in front of our very eyes
and ears. We cry with one sobbing
voice: this is not a kind of change
that was expected.
Enough is enough. Change
has indeed come but we need
is not this kind of change. We
need a kind of conversion now.
Conversion is first of all something
internal not external. It means
an internal conversion from our
exclusive mentality towards a
more inclusive one: to welcome
those who have realized that
perhaps they have voted for the
wrong president. All of us make
mistakes including our president
and his way of governance. In
other words, understanding those
who fell into the trap of Dutertan
rhetorics and has realized he/she
has been Duterted, instead of
judging them harshly.
Without conversion, our
country will always fall to a trap
into a kind of dialectics of political
exclusion of the opposing party;.
Non-conversion is not to open
towards a cooperation through
a respectful consideration and
inclusion of what is good in the
other side of the fence. What
conversion connotes is that
outright exclusion or rejection of
a political agenda only because it
is morally evil. With conversion,
it is possible to support what is
morally right even if it is from an
adversary political party and shun
what is morally wrong even it
comes from ones own party.
The experience of EDSA I and
II was quite partisan and it even
drew some political borders
ex-cluding one from the other,
like pro-masa and pro-elitist the true values that makes us
tantamount to out-group and
out-group exclusivist mentality.
These previous peaceful
revolutions have not solved our
po-litical problem since it fell
into this dialectical pit of partisan
political integral exclusion of one
and the other. Before an EDSA III
could start, we need conversion
if we dont like to become our
worst violent enemy and divide
irreparably our nation. We need
to shun violence at all costs and
bring the revolution inside our
hearts and minds to let it evolve
into a revolution of love, mercy
and compassion not only towards
the victims is this drug war but
also towards the victim-izers.
All of us need conversion and
mercy because all of us have done
something wrong by commis-sion
or by a glaring omission caused
by our indifference and apathy.
Conversion means listen-ing to
the internal voice of conscience
vis-a-vis the loud voice against
EJK instead of hav-ing apathetic
VOLUME 51 NUMBER 1
ARTICLES
deaf ears to the cry of the victims.
Conversion means looking at
each other eye to eye towards
forgiveness and understanding
real-izing that all of us could fall
into a political blindness and an
inclination to a wrong notion
of power not as service but
domination.
Internal conversion is difficult
but its important to have the
interior light to go ahead for
a real change for the better.
Vindictiveness could cloud
judgments and may be unfruitful
since it could lead to more
violence.
Conversion means that we
share together, red or yellow,
civilian or the military, masa or
elit-ist the responsibility for the
amelioration of our nation based
of truth, peace, justice and respect
for human life beyond blind
allegiance to partisan politics and
political greed for power.
Conversion means to joyfully
work together hand in hand for
live as a dignified nation and as
brothers and sisters having the
same God, whoever one may call
Him, Allah, Yahweh or Buddha.
We need conversion now
before its too late. We dont need
another Auschwitz. Our beautiful
islands could become seven
thousand killing islands of three
millions murdered because the
highest official of the land has an
addiction to kill to preserve his
power.
Finally, conversion means
to have faith that could move
mountains, and to hope that
this na-tion could always rise
again because we truly love our
motherland. Conversion is the
real force beneath true change.
Then we can all rightfully say:
Change is coming, otherwise all
of us will go down the drain and
Satan will continue laughing.
15
 COVER STORY

16 16 IMPACT JANUARY 2017

 MORALLY
REVISITING THE
MINING ISSUE
Mining is not purely
an economic or
merely a legal issue.
It is primarily an envi-
ronmental issue and
as such, must be gov-
erned and justified
within the context of
environmental ethics.

By Charles Avila

Most highly mineralized country

The Philippines is a part of Earth that is so
incredibly rich in gold, silver, copper, nickel, chrome
and zinc that there is now a consensus among
governments and industry in the valuation of the
mineral wealth within the territorial limits of the
country at more than a trillion dollars worth, at least.
In fact, you will now hear from more and more
sources how our country has more than seven billion
metric tons (BMT) of metallic mineral reserves and
51 BMT of non-metallic deposits with values ten
times our GDP and 17 times our external debt. The
Philippines has the fifth largest mineral resources in
the world.

VOLUMEVOLUME
50 NUMBER 12
51 NUMBER 1 17 17
COVER STORY
It is then understandable how
tempting it was for past cash-
strapped administrations to
give in with very little fight to,
say, the International Monetary
Funds structural adjustment
program, and fully liberalize the
mining industry, as the Philippine
government did in 1995, allowing
100% foreign-owned mining
corporations control over our
mineral land in exchange for
how much? Well, yes, how much
that remains a big, big question
mark. It may be more accurate to
ask, how little?
We can, indeed, quite easily
grant that in mining there is
room for foreign investments
room. It is crazy to give them
the whole house. Let us welcome
the Philippines becoming at
long last a strong state that can
rigorously screen and strictly
18
regulate investors, which Secretary
Gina is now attempting. Cant
the State make sure that foreign
participation in the critical
stages of minerals extraction and
processing be in accord with a
defined program for technology
transfer and constitutionally
correct equity shares?
It is time we open our eyes to
the fact that often we are fried
in our own grease. What triggers
the activity of foreign funders
and investors are the licenses
and permits and certificates
here, necessary reminders that
the resource is here. The power
to allow the production of new
wealth is here. Indeed, Filipino
financiers can do as well if not
a better job if backed up by the
sovereign state.
Here is a concrete proposal to
strengthen the financial capacity
IMPACT JANUARY 2017
of the State so that it can have
the wherewithal to become an
effective and responsible steward
of the national patrimony:
amend the Mining Act to include
the crucial provision of the
government's pre-tax share of the
cash flow generated by a mining
project.
A pre-tax share representing the
national patrimony
In most countries around the
world where there is mining this
pre-tax share representing the
national patrimony averages
a hefty 38.15% (Chile 15.00% ,
Bolivia 27.06% ,Venezuela 32.82%
, Peru 36.52%, United States
36.61%, Mexico 37.21%, Botswana
40.10%, Brazil 40.85%, Argentina
46.13%, Canada 46.71%, Guyana
48.16%, Australia 50.60%--and the
Philippines? 0%. ) ! Since it is a
fact that the Phiippines has for
many decades now been idolizing
the Australian model of mining,
with an Australian propagandist
so strongly on our ground that
he was even awarded Filipino
citizenship a few years back, then
we might as well be consistent and
follow the Australian example of a
50.60% pre-tax share.
At the present time, the
Mining Act is blind on how the
State - which has the exclusive
duty to explore, develop and
utilize natural resources - would
participate in the profits of service
contracts such as financial and
technical assistance agreements
with mining contractors. The
law also does not guarantee
that the government will
receive an equitable share on
the mining contractor's profit.
The government's share in the
mining deals only includes taxes,
duties, and other fees paid by the
contractors. The payment of these
fees does not immediately benefit
the Philippines as the contractors
are given the privilege of first fully
recovering their pre-operating and
property expenses before paying
their financial obligations to the
government, not to mention the
aggressive grant of tax holidays to
foreign investors in mining, which
does not make sense at all since
mining is that kind of investment
which is neither market-seeking
nor efficiency-seeking so much as
clear asset-seeking.
A give-away country
The Philippines has become
such a give-away country one
wonders why anyone should even
respect it as sovereign at all. The
State and the Filipino people have
been so remiss in their duty as
stewards. Section 80 of its Mining
Act expressly states that the excise
tax on mineral products shall
constitute the "total government
share in a mineral production-
sharing agreement," which under
the Tax Code is only two percent
of the market value of the gross
output of the minerals. Section
84 reiterates essentially the same
thing. From an ethical standpoint,
prescinding from any changing
Supreme Court decisions, the
law does not make sense when
one looks at the provision on
the state ownership of mineral
resources, because, in effect, the
government concedes to the
foreign corporation practically for
free its beneficial ownership over
the mineral resources.
In essence, and in contrast,
the moral view understands
stewardship properly and asserts:
mining projects that cannot
absorb the environmental and
social costs of modern mining
should not be allowed to proceed.
Secretary Gina, you are doing fine
as far as the interests of the nation
and the people are concerned.
We welcome the radical review
that has been embarked on based
on the following questions: is the
current utilization of our mineral
endowment designed to serve
the basic needs of our people
who live and work in a backward
agricultural mode of production?
Is it geared to addressing the
need of our national economy
to making a successful leap to
becoming a strong industrial state?
Or isnt our mineral advantage
being used again to develop
underdevelopment in our land?
Isnt it a fact that for too long a
time our mineral resources were
extracted purely for the benefit of
imperialism or the developed
nations economies and for the
super-profitable advancement of a
few mining companies?
So, at the outset the question
should be articulated correctly:
shouldnt we only allow the
development of our mineral
resources for our own use - rather
than mainly for money-making by
a few in the world market?
No one, including our moral
leaders, should be or can be
against mining per se. Mining
has been an important part
in the historical development
VOLUME 51 NUMBER 1
of civilizations from first
(agricultural) to second (industrial)
to third (information) wave of
social formations. Industries
need minerals to support the
production and flow of basic
goods and services. How fortunate
should our country have been,
given the mineral resources vital
for industrialization!
The problem, however, has
been again the fact that the
State and the Filipino people
did not really own and control
mining as a crucial part of basic
industry. In no other sector
than in mining is the Philippine
state exposed to be unarguably
weak till Secretary Lopez came
supported by the incumbent
President (for how much longer,
though, still remains to be seen)
with no one truly responsible
on the government side, no one
liable. The organs of government
were captured instruments of
the mining companies, as former
Secretary Heherson Alvarez
discovered in his time, when he
suddenly found himself out of a
job because of the mining lobby.
Because of this, we could never
really have hoped that mineral
production and development
would serve the modernization of
agriculture and the launching of
rural industrialization with all that
this could have entailed in terms
of food security and economic
self-reliance, generally.
In sum, the Philippine State
and the Filipino people have been
rather remiss in their stewardship
of the national patrimony.
Understanding stewardship
Stewardship understood in
this way means primarily the
preservation and conservation
of nature. However, it does not
in any way preclude the creative
transformation of nature,
represented by human ingenuity
and technology. In performing
this task, however, human beings
must recognize that they can only
proceed within a certain limit and
19
COVER STORY
that the resources with which they
must work are not necessarily
inexhaustible.
Thus, stewardship--to the
chagrin of many businessmen-
-is not a license for doing just
about anything or for trying
out anything just because it is
possible. Rather it entails more
than anything else, restraint and
responsibility in the use of this
worlds resources. No matter how
human beings may progress in
science, freedom, and power,
they should not dare abuse this
responsibility and in the process
contradict their own human
nature with the consequence of
destroying themselves and their
environment.
Nature is to be creatively
transformed but not to be
relentlessly exploited. The slogan
should be, Need not Greed. We
will not encourage people to be
simply driven by the desire to
satisfy wants and wantonly engage
in research and experimentation
without taking into consideration
risks and negative consequences.
Who will foot the bill for
researches and applications in
the area of footprint reduction,
innovations in waste management,
mine closure and rehabilitation,
and ecosystem risk management?
At this juncture in our history,
we ask: is enviro-friendly
mining even possible and can
we be convinced? Is "sustainable
mining" not an oxymoron? Even
with the best of intentions, is it
possible for mining to ever really
be sustainable? Can a company
extract millions of tons of rock
from the Earth and still manage
to be a friend of the environment?
And is it good enough to "contain"
mining's toxic by-products
indefinitely, as current green
mining companies do?
Another problem with the whole
sustainable mining debate has to
do with secrecy in reporting toxic
mining waste. Mining companies
have not been accurately reporting
the amounts being dumped into
20
the environment and in doing
so have kept the people in the
dark. While sustainable mining
looks good on paper, the industry
has a way to go before it can be
considered even remotely green
How real and true and effective
is a Norwegian Companys claim
of adopting green mining in its
Mindoro operation?
Lastly, consider another
proposed amendment to
the Mining Law - such that
the government must have a
representation in the board of
directors (even as a non-voting
Member) in all mining companies
operating in the Philippines in
order to safeguard the data and
information filed as a basis for
taxes and royalty payments to the
government.
The case of the Rapu-Rapu
Mining operation became public
knowledge when it was discovered
that the Australian-owned mining
firm violated Environmental
Laws. The tailings in the gold
mine spilled-out into the adjacent
river, causing tremendous damage
to the environment and to fish
& fowl in the area. Tragically,
it caused damage to human life
in the surrounding community
because of the poisoning caused
by the highly toxic nature of the
tailings. was the fact that there was no
Among a number of violations effective control and monitoring
which the Rapu-Rapu Fact Finding mechanism by government
Commission found was something in place. It also showed that
which stood out as a serious operations monitoring by
economic flaw. The Commission representatives of government on
audited the amount of tons ore the lower levels were ineffective
milled (as reported in its books (and even prone to graft and
and to the government) against corruption).
the shipping documents presented The point here is that
by the shipping companies. Government must establish
The discrepancy was in the basic and workable controls to
neighborhood of 50% more make sure that its share from
shipment than what was declared the incomes (via taxes) and fees
and reported in its books and (via proposed Royalty payments)
to the government. Would not from mining companies are
the Government take for every reported and paid properly and
ton-ore-milled also be slashed into fairly. Placing a Government-
half? Representative into the Board
One of the reasons why this of Directors of these companies
violation had gone unchecked would help ensure proper
IMPACT
IMPACT NOVEMBER
JANUARY 2017
2016

reporting of revenues and the
correct payment of taxes and
royalty fees.
Meantime, the Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines
keeps reiterating its concern not
against mining per se but against
mining as it is practiced in our
country.
Our experiences of
environmental tragedies and
incidents with the mining
transnational corporations belie
all assurances of sustainable
and responsible mining that the
government is claiming, the
bishops have said time and again.
They lamented the rising figure
of mining affected communities,
human rights violations and
economic depravations. Rapu-
Rapu was only the latest, and the
Marinduque tragedy is all but
forgotten. Aggrieved parties have
had to go to the United States to
file their cases of complaint there.
Putting it very clearly, the CBCP
reiterated its demand for the
government to repeal Republic
Act 1942 known as the Philippine
Mining Act of 1995, recall all
approved mining concessions
and cancel pending applications,
claiming that the mining act
destroys life. Secretary Gina is
coming close to this even more
radical stance of moral leaders.
The bishops said that the
guaranteed economic benefits
of mining by transnational
corporations are outweighed by
dislocation of communities, the
VOLUME
VOLUME50
51NUMBER
NUMBER11
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ARTICLES
risks to health and livelihood, and
massive environmental damage
and the loss of mining resources
to giant foreign companies. They
added that mining rights granted
through the "National Policy
Agenda on Revitalizing Mining in
the Philippines" have encroached
into 17 "important" biodiversity
areas, 35 national conservation
priority areas and 32 national
integrated protected areas.
The bishops have cited Caraga,
a mining area listed by the
government's statistics office,
whose four provinces are among
the 40 poorest of the 79 Philippine
provinces, and the Bicol and
Cordillera regions, where some
provinces are among the 20
poorest.
COVER STORY
The Mining Act of 1995 allowed
100-percent foreign investment in
mining operations in the country
despite a constitutional cap of
60-40 equity in favor of Filipino
investors. In January 2004, the
Supreme Court declared the act
unconstitutional, but it reversed
that decision in December
that year when it took up the
government's counter-petition.
As early as February 1998, the
Philippine bishops' conference
issued "A Statement of Concern
on the Mining Act of 1995." They
called for the repeal of the 1995
Act and for the government to
rescind all mining concessions it
granted to foreigners.
Now they are reiterating those
appeals and calling religious
leaders to "unite and strengthen"
local people, especially indigenous
communities, in fighting to stop
the government's 24 priority
mining projects.
More and more sectors have
assured the bishops of their
support at all levels of this
struggle.
The bishops' statement specifies
the Rapu-Rapu operations, the
Hydrometallurgical Processing
Plant project in Palawan, the
Didipio gold and copper project
in Nueva Vizcaya, and the San
Antonio copper project in
Marinduque. They also singled
out the Tampakan copper and
gold project in South Cotabato,
and the Canatuan gold project in
Zamboanga del Norte.
Back to the moral basics
In the course of economic
development and growth, many
human acts can be either right
or wrong relative to their effects
on the house of life we call the
environment. Human acts are
rarely value-free or ethically
neutral. They are always either
right or wrong. And when they
are wrong no matter what great
profits they had brought to some
corporations, or revenues to some
states, and prosperity to some
22
individuals and social sectors if
and when those human activities
we refer to were essentially wrong,
they ultimately and inevitably
would have to bring worse
problems and deeper crises, for
truth is one: the truth of science,
the truth of economics and the
truth of ecology are one many-
sided, non-conflictual truth.
For instance, a certain way of
exploiting some mineral resources
could bring irreparable, and
therefore irreversible, damage to
the environment. Any damage to
the environment in this way can
in turn bring irreparable harm
and injury to human health.
The dramatic example of the
Minamata disease in Japan took
years and years to establish, before
effects could be linked to original
causes beyond reasonable doubt.
In our own country today, after
Marinduque and Rapu-Rapu,
the question necessarily pops
up: What is the right thing to
do? Undoubtedly this is, quite
properly, an ethical question -
whether or not it is recognized as
such.
Another fact is the non-
renewability and non-
inexhaustibility of mineral
resources. Once they are depleted,
there is no way that they can be
replaced or restored. We know, as
many scientists have pointed out,
that the essential resources upon
which our global progress depends
are not inherently and exclusively
created by human ingenuity and
technology. On the contrary, the
essential resources upon which
global progress depends are
inherently natural in origin so that
resources are fundamentally in
limited supply.
Putting it another way: our
technological systems and we
humans exist within and are
subject to the rules and processes
of the ecosystems of the natural
world. It is not the other way
around. We are a part of and not
apart from the natural world.
Nature does not exist within a
IMPACT
IMPACT NOVEMBER
JANUARY 2017
2016
human-made and manipulated
landscape. The biology of natural
systems simply does not function
subject to our rules, economies,
and decisions. In other words,
it is we who exist within and are
subject to the natural setting.
The natural world does not exist
within and is not subject to human
artifice.
A given mining operation,
therefore, will have to be viewed
by people and the State according
to this perspective and first be
evaluated as either ethically right
or wrong, good or bad, before
it could even be considered
legal or illegal, before it can be
judged economically profitable
or non-profitable, before it can
be tested as socially acceptable
or not. Without a full respect for
the principles of geo-ethics, the
exploitation of mineral resources
can be very dangerous indeed.
From the very outset, then,
the objective of any country that
seeks to derive any good from
the mining industry should be
to ensure that mining is done
the right way. Only such a view
stands to reason, which posits that
mining is not purely an economic
nor merely a legal issue. It is
primarily an environmental issue
and as such, must be governed
and justified within the context
of environmental ethics or what
is now called geo-ethics. In fact,
underlying any mining law and
the economics that appertain to
it should be a solid geo-ethical
foundation - a foundation of rules
for the use of mineral resources,
which are designed to protect
people against environmental
catastrophes.
All Presidents, including PRRD,
easily vow transparency in
governance. The Faith-inspired
movement to regard mining in
the context of environmental
concerns is getting stronger by the
day. It is time to agree on a new
synthesis, towards a stable, healthy
and prosperous Philippines: that
all may be one.
 NEWS FEATURES

Govt told: Target Bishop nixes ban on OFW

syndicates, not children deployment to Kuwait
MANILA The Labor
department should
reconsider its plan to
ban the deployment
of Filipino domestic
helpers to Kuwait due
to reports of abuses by
employers, a Catholic
bishop said.
Bishop Ruperto
Santos of Balanga
said the government
should instead make
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, CBCP President.
good on its promise to
MANILA The Catholic hierarchy is opposing provide alternative or
a proposed measure lowering the minimum age permanent jobs to all
of criminal responsibility, saying the government Filipinos so that they
Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos, CBCP-
should crack down on syndicates and not minors. will not be forced to ECMI chairman. ANALYN PERUCHO
The bishops said reducing the minimum age of work abroad.
criminal liability will not curb the use of children 15 Temporarily
years or below in criminal activities. banning works in Kuwait is not the answer, it will
CBCP president Archbishop Socrates Villegas just create difficulties to our people, said Santos,
said the government should instead go after the who chairs the CBCPs Commission for the
syndicates who exploit vulnerable children. Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People,
The fact that criminal elements make use of on June 29.
youngsters up to fifteen years old to commit crimes The bishop also called on the government to
is no argument against the present benevolent make sure the needs of overseas Filipino workers
provisions of the law, but about the resoluteness of (OFWs) are given proper attention.
criminals in using even the young for their purposes, We have to accompany and always assist
Villegas said in a press statement on Jan. 30. our OFWs there, be always available to them
The sins and failings of the young and immature and attend to their needs-legal, economic and
should not mar the possibilities of ones future or spiritual, he added.
stand forever in the name of an honorable and noble He also said that the Churchs migrants
reputation that can, in later years, be very well built, ministry is also doing its best to help the OFWs.
he said. In Kuwait we have three Catholic Churches:
President Rodrigo Duterte is considering reducing Holy Family, St. Theresa and Our Lady of Arabia,
the age a person could be prosecuted as an adult Santos said.
from 15 to nine years old due to the perceived Last Jan. 29, Filipina domestic helper Jakatia
escalation in youth crime. Pawa was executed for the murder of her
The bishops called on the Duterte administration employers daughter in 2007.
and its allies in Congress to rethink their stance on Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said they are
lowering the age of criminal responsibility. exerting all efforts to save another OFW death
Villegas said the bishops believe that provisions convict Elpidio Lano who was found guilty by a
of the Juvenile Delinquency Act of 2006 remain Kuwaiti court of killing Filipino Nilo Macaranas
adequate in addressing criminal activities of the in 2014. (CBCPNews)
youth.
The purpose of the law is laudable; its present
provisions, beneficial, the CBCP added.
The correct response, we believe, is vigilance on
the part of parents and stiffer penalties for those who
exploit the young in the perpetration of crime, he
also said. (Roy Lagarde/CBCPNews)

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 NEWS FEATURES

Catholics urged: Speak Lack of public outcry vs killings shows

out against killings dichotomy in faith, Quevedo says
MANILA A Catholic bishop demanded MANILA Cardinal delivered a talk to the
forceful denunciations of drug-related Orlando Quevedo of thousands of WACOM
killings in the Philippines from the Cotabato said the lack delegates in attendance
countrys Church leaders and from the of public outcry against emphasizing the lack of
faithful. extrajudicial killings communion among people
Speaking at the 4th Apostolic Congress on is a symptom of the today.
Mercy in Manila on Jan. 18, Manila Auxiliary dichotomy of faith and He said this is evident to
Bishop Broderick Pabillo said Christians life in many people. many peoples indifference
should not be reined in by fear when In press conference at to the killings as a result of
confronting the crisis that has claimed more the sidelines of the ongoing the governments war on
than 6,000 lives over the past six months. World Apostolic Congress drugs.
Six thousand killed. That means more on Mercy on Jan. 17, he He also cited issues such
than 30,000 people directly affected, said there is corruption as terrorism, kidnapping,
orphaned of their father, their brother, their and killings in the country drug wars, ethnic wars
sons and daughters, their husbands. These because they do not and even conflict between
thousands are deeply traumatized and even practice their faith. religions.
now made more poor, he said. Our faith is one level and Let us open our eyes to
At the same time, he told more than the other level is daily life. issues where there is lack
5,000 bishops, priests, and lay people They do not jive, Quevedo of communion, he said. It
from different countries gathered for the said. One priest said we are is especially (true) now that
Congress that to speak out for the poor saints on Sundays but devils the Holy Spirit is urgently
is not just opening ones mouth but also the rest of the week. calling the whole Church to
listening and being available to them. Dichotomy is split level be a Communion.
If we are true to our call to be Church of Christianity. I think the The cardinal also clarified
the Poor, we cannot as Church keep silent approval of many despite some observations that
on these issues, said Pabillo, who formerly the extrajudicial killings is a the Church is supposedly
chaired the Churchs National Secretariat symptom of that split-level silent about the increasing
for Social Action, and Peace (Nassa). spirituality, he said. number of drug-related
I know that people tag me as activist The cardinal admitted killings.
bishop for speaking out often, but I am not that he admires President The silence is media
speaking out for myself but for the poor and Rodrigo Dutertes perceived. I think we should
voiceless. determination to end think of the Church as
For me, it is not an insult to be tagged criminality in the country. not bishops only. There
and identified with the poor and the Those are good intentions, are bishops, priests, and
oppressed. It is what I am supposed to be, to he said. lay people. Let the people
be a follower of Christ, added the prelate. But the killings of do the action, we give the
Currently the chairman of the CBCPs suspected drug offenders moral action, he said.
Commission on the Laity, the bishop and other lawbreakers According to him, there
will also be leading a Walk for Life in without providing them due was a deliberate choice on
Manila on Feb. 18 to demonstrate their process of law, he added, is the issue for the bishops to
condemnation of the wave of extrajudicial simply wrong. give moral guidance and for
killings. Some may have been the people to act.
Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas President even framed by political Therefore, when we wish
Zenaida Capistrano said it is about time opponents. What do you say action its not on the part of
lay people express their opposition to the about that? said Quevedo. the bishop to go to rallies
thousands of unexplained killings. We are a country where but encouragement of the
We, the Filipino Catholic lay faithful our faith is a dichotomy. people to make decisive
signify our protest against all forms of We believe but we do not informed actions regarding
threats to human life and dignity that practice our faith, he said. issues, Quevedo said. (Roy
are coming from the economic, social, The cardinal earlier Lagarde/CBCPNews)
and political structures and authorities,
Capistrano said. (CBCPNews)

24 IMPACT
IMPACT DECEMBER
JANUARY 2017
2016
 STATEMENTS
An invitation to reflect, pray and act
My dear sisters and brothers in
Jesus Christ,
Peace be with you! Once
again the issue of capital
punishment or the death penalty
has surfaced in our country.
Through the centuries there
have existed differing opinions
on the authority of the state to
administer the death penalty
for heinous crimes. In these
past years many nations have
abandoned the use of the
death penalty, including the
Philippines. They try instead to
find other means to suppress
crimes while giving offenders
the chance to reform. I would
like to share some reasons why
recent Catholic teaching opposes
the death penalty. I invite you
to study and reflect on them as
guides for prayer and action.
1. Studies worldwide show
that the death penalty has not
lessened violent crimes. The
threat of punishment by death
has not reduced criminality.
The best approach is to address
positively and comprehensively
the roots of crime of which
offenders have probably been
victims themselves: the loss
of moral values, injustice,
inequality, poverty, lack of
access to food, education, jobs
and housing, proliferation of
weapons, drugs, pornography,
loss of respect for sexuality, and
many others. The death penalty
has not reduced crime because it
does not solve criminality from
its roots. To help solve these
roots of criminality, the Church
and the state need to protect
and strengthen the basic unit of
society, which is the family.
2. There is a danger that the
death penalty might legitimize
the use of violence to deal with
very wrongdoing. We affirm
that victims of crimes need
justice and healing. An honest
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VOLUME50
51NUMBER
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1 25
and upright judicial and penal
system assures the victims
and society of protection and
renewal. There is real danger
that the death penalty might be
applied to an innocent person.
We need to reform institutions
so they would safeguard justice
while preventing the spread of a
culture of violence. Penalties are
not imposed for vengeance but
for the correction of offenders
and the good of society. A culture
of violence dehumanizes. A
culture of justice, integrity, and
hope heals.
3. As Christians we believe
that human life is Gods gift.
Every human being is created
in Gods image and likeness.
Every human being is saved by
Jesus Christ. This is the reason
for forgiveness, hope and
salvation. This is the reason why
an ethic of life, a culture of life,
is inconsistent with abortion,
euthanasia, human trafficking,
mutilation, and violence against
innocent and vulnerable persons.
Before God the source of life, we
are humble. We cannot pretend
to be gods.
I offer these thoughts for your
serene study and prayer. If you
share these convictions, you
should make them known to
your elected representatives. I
commend you, our Archdiocese,
and our beloved country to God
who sent Jesus to the world not
to condemn the world but so
that the world might be saved
through him ( John 3:17). We rely
on the prayers and protection of
Our Mother Mary, our life, our
sweetness, and our hope.
+LUIS ANTONIO G. CARDINAL
TAGLE
Archbishop of Manila
2 February 2017, Feast of the
Presentation of the Lord in the
Temple
 STATEMENTS

Statement on death penalty

THE Gospel of the Lord Jesus is when we decry murder, we cannot

the Gospel of Life. It is this Gospel
we must preach. It is this Gospel
that we must uphold. We therefore
unequivocally oppose proposals
and moves to return the death
penalty into the Philippine legal
system. We took a considerable
stride in the defense of life when we
repealed the Heinous Crimes Act
that provided for the death penalty
in what were considered heinous
crimes. We regret that there are
strident efforts to restore the death
penalty. Though the crime be
heinous, no person is ever beyond
redemption, and we have no right
ever giving up on any person. When
we condemn violence, we cannot
ourselves be its perpetrators, and
ourselves participate in murder, no
matter that it may be accompanied
by the trappings of judicial and legal
process. Throughout the world, the
trend against the death penalty is
unmistakable, and international
covenants, one of which the
Philippines is party to, obligate us
not to impose the death penalty. We
urge the government to champion
life for all!
For the Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines,
+SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS
Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan
President CBCP
January 30, 2017

26 IMPACT
IMPACT NOVEMBER
JANUARY 2017
2016
 STATEMENTS
Statement on the age of
criminal liability
THE Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines
implores Congress of the
Philippines to keep intact the
Juvenile Justice and Welfare
Act, especially regarding the
age of criminal liability. We
are therefore opposed to
lowering the age of criminal
liability. The purpose of the
law is laudable, its present
provisions, beneficial. The
sins and failings of the young
and immature should not
mar the possibilities of ones
future or stand forever in the
name of an honorable and
noble reputation that can,
in later years, be very well
built. The fact that criminal
elements make use of
VOLUME
VOLUME50
51NUMBER
youngsters up to fifteen years
old to commit crimes is no
argument against the present
benevolent provisions of the
law but about the resoluteness
of criminals in using even the
young for their purposes. The
correct response, we believe,
is vigilance on the part of
parents and stiffer penalties
for those who exploit the
young in the perpetration of
crime.
For the Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines,
+SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS
Archbishop of Lingayen-
Dagupan
President CBCP
January 30, 2017
NUMBER11
1 27
 FROM THE BLOGS
Culture of death
www.ovc.blogspot.com
BECOMING more often noted and
lamented upon, the Culture of Death
in the country is becoming a day
and night fact, an already common
and expected phenomenon. So it
is that instead of the preservation
and enhancement of life, it is the
nonchalance day-and-night killings
that the Filipinosyoung and old
are progressively witnessing, seeing
or hearing about and wherefore
probably even considering it but as a
matter of course. When life is done
away with as a matter of course, this
is the premise, the basis, the output
of the Culture of Death.
When the killing of people is met
with nonchalance or even glee and
delight, when getting rid of human
lives becomes normal, when getting
rid of human persons is looked upon
as something customarythis is
when death becomes a constitutive
element of culture. Among other
things, this means thatstrange
enoughkilling becomes a part
of living. So it is that the Culture
of Death is a gross contradiction
of social life, a blatant negation of
civilization. When life is done away
with, what is left to attend to, to care
for, to promote and defend?
Terrorism does not simply
promote but even affirms the Culture
of Death. The more people are
killed, the better. The more lives are
taken away, the merrier the killers
become. Preserving and enhancing
lives are irrelevant. Defending and
promoting lives are nonsensical.
So it is that the more guns and
ammunitions there are, the better
for terrorism. So it is that the more
mortal are the cannons, the tanks and
planes, the merrier are the terrorists.
The warring and killing fields
in certain parts of Mindanao long
since existent and mortal, promote
28 IMPACT JANUARY 2017
the Culture of Death. So it is that
the carrying of guns and bullets,
having hand grenades and keeping
bayonetshaving anything and
everything deadlyhave become a
cultural heritage thereat. No wonder
then that even foreign terrorists
bearing this or that name, fighting
under this or that banner, have
already become part of the Mindanao
killing forces.
The so-called war against drugs
that has become synonymous
with day-and-night extra-judicial
killings, has become promotional
of the Culture of Death. The fact
that certain drugs are legitimately
prohibited by lawtheir
manufacture and distribution, their
sale and useremains in accord with
reason. But to nonchalantly kill those
therein involved is not merely doing
away with prohibited drugs but in
effect doing away as well with a good
number of people.
So it is that the now proposed
Death Penalty Law is but a poignant
expression of the Culture of Death.
To penalize those who manufacture,
sell and/or use prohibited drugs
is morally acceptable and legally
tenable. Reason: Their production,
business and/or consumption
effectively boost criminality and
generate criminals. Penalize them,
yes. But kill them, no. Otherwise,
those killing them likewise become
killers themselves.
So it is not asked: What do Filipinos
prefer to be identified with: The
Culture of Death or the Culture of
Life which is synonymous with the
preservation and promotion, the
enhancement and affirmation of the
life of every man, woman and child?
If even killing oneself by suicide is
abominable, how could killing others
be laudable?

Mater et magistra
THE Church is a Mother Mater
and Teacher Magistra to the
people, to the world. A mother
loves and cares for her children.
A teacher makes her children
think and learn. So it is that even
in the secular world, a mother
loves her children while a teacher
makes them learn. But having
the Church as both a Mother and
a Teacher to humanity, caring
for people from birth to death
and making them learn what is
true, right and justthis gives the
Church a big composite obligation
to people the world over to know
the truth, to live in righteousness,
to observe justice.
She is a Mater and Magistra
whereas this is what Her Founder
wants and intends Her to be. Such
a plain yet profound truth, such
a simple yet signal reality bring
to fore some timely and relevant
reminders that are good to know,
to keep in mind and heart:
That the Church as a Mother is
thus duty-bound to love people,
to do what is good for them, to
propose what brings about their
EDITORIAL
common good, affirms what
promotes their social welfare.
Whether those concerned
especially those in leadership
positions want to listen or not,
that is their call, that is their
option. The Church nevertheless
as a Mother will continue to love
people and to wherefore insist on
what will bring about and sustain
their common welfare. True
mothers do not stop loving and
caring for their children.
That the Church as a Teacher
is wherefore required to teach
people, to tell them what is right or
wrong, what is good or evil, what
is virtuous or vicious. And again,
those concernedparticularly
those in tenure of public
authoritywant to act accordingly
or not, that is their responsibility,
that is their decision. The Church
however as a Teacher will go on
teaching people, telling them what
should be done or avoided. What
should be banned or promoted.
Real teachers do not get tired
making their students know what is
true or false.
VOLUME 51 NUMBER 1
That the Church as a Mother
and a Teacher is some two
thousand years oldand counting.
This is a good reminder, a
solid reality. Devious and
odious individuals, vicious and
despicable persons, callous and
thus insensitive powerful public
officials came to the world and
are eventually gone. The Church
however remains and stays as a
matter of course. Up to now after
more than two thousand years
and still counting, the Church
is up and about mothering and
teaching people from one century
to another. Until when? Only God
knows!
It is good to remind people
not to curse, neither to lambaste
nor step down on the Church.
No onethis means absolutely
no onecan bring the Church
down, can make her disappear
and be gone. There were those
who tried. Yet while to dust they
return wherefrom they came, the
Church is up and about from the
time She came to be as Mater et
Magistra.
29
 CBCP CINEMA

JAZZ enthusiast and down and out

pianist Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and
Mia (Emma Stone), a barista with
dreams of becoming an actress,
first meet in an awkward road
rage situation while stuck in Los
Angeles highway traffic jam. Their
paths cross again when Mias car is
towed: walking home she drops by
a bar and finds Sebastian playing
Christmas carols on the piano. Their
third meeting is at a party Mia
attends, where Sebastian is on the
keyboard of the live band. It seems
like destiny after three encounters.
Sebastian then takes Mia to a jazz
bar where he discloses his ambition
to have his own jazz bar; Mia
reciprocates by sharing her dreams
of becoming an actress.
Because La La Land is supposedly
a musical rom-com drama, the
boy-meets-girl plot flows into a
boy-dances-with-girl number on the
moonlit night they meet. First they
fight, then they flirt, then they fall in
love. Then they live together. But
will the director pursue the affair
to its logical and box-office friendly
conclusion? The chemistry between
Gosling and Stone is obviousthis
being their third pairing (after Crazy,
Stupid Love and Gangster Squad)
and the story of love and ambition
in Hollywood is deftly presented,
and yetthere is something amiss,
something artificial about the
movie that stands in the way of
total enjoyment. Maybe whats
distracting is the fact that Stone
DIRECTOR: DAMIEN CHAZELLE CINEMATOGRAPHER: LINUS SANDGREN
and Gosling are neither singers nor
LEAD CAST: RYAN GOSLING, EMMA STONE DISTRIBUTOR: SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT
dancersthey were just trained for
SCREENWRITER: DAMIEN CHAZELLE LOCATION: LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES
their roles for a few months, and
PRODUCER: FRED BERGER, GARY GILBERT, RUNNING TIME: 128 MINUTES
it shows. (Stone nailed it, though, JORDAN HOROWITZ, MARC PLAT TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT: 3.5
in the emotional audition scene EDITOR: TOM CROSS MORAL ASSESSMENT: 3
towards the end). MUSICAL DIRECTOR: JUSTIN HURWITZ CINEMA RATING: V 13
Families would benefit from GENRE: ROMANTIC MUSICAL COMEDY
discussions with the young on how
love impacts ones ambitions, and
how ambition challenges ones
commitment to permanence
in relationships. The situation is
universal although the setting is emotional costs of working overseas two here about the industry behind
glittery Los Angeles (LA, thus La away from loved ones. Young the scenes and the realities of
La Land), something relatable to people with hopes of entering sacrificing ones passion and art on
Filipinos familiar with the socio- showbiz will also learn a thing or the altar of expediency.

30 IMPACT NOVEMBER 2016


VIETNAM. Bishops launch Year of
the Family vs divorce, marriage crisis
To meet the challenges of moder-
nity and rebuild Vietnams increasingly
fractured social fabric, the Vietnamese
Church has decided to dedicate the
year of 2017 to the family, the basic
unit on which the country is founded.
To reach this goal, Vietnams bishops
decided to focus on future families,
providing seminars and courses for
couples preparing for marriage and
family life. According to official data
for 2016, there are over 60,000 divorce
cases in Vietnam each year, a growing
trend, experts warn. One source of great
concern is that the problem is not lim-
ited to cities and larger urban centers,
but also affects rural areas. (Asianews)
CAMBODIA. A Christian "model" of
the family proposed
Msgr Olivier Schmitthaeusler, apos-
tolic vicar of Phnom Penh, released a
letter on Epiphany, laying out a three-
year plan for the family aimed at find-
ing a model to propose to Cambodia,
a country whose culture was destroyed
by civil war and the Khmer Rouge re-
gime, leaving young people without
values based on religion and tradition
but rather informed by consumerism
and selfishness and a quest for personal
happiness. For him, the three-year jour-
ney devoted to the family requires an
analysis of the current situation of the
Cambodian family and the problems
that it encounters, starting with the
quest for a model. (Asianews)
PAKISTAN. Mass arrests halt rally
backing blasphemy law
Supporters of Pakistans strict blas-
phemy law attempted to march in La-
hore on Wednesday, but were thwarted
when police made more than 150
arrests. The nation's blasphemy laws
impose strict punishment on those who
desecrate the Quran or who defame or
insult Muhammad. The Jan. 4 demon-
strations would have fallen on the sixth
anniversary of the 2011 assassination
of Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, a
prominent advocate of changing the
strict blasphemy law. He was killed by
his own security guard, Mumtaz Qadri,
for his stance on the law. Protesters from
several religious parties had planned
the march in the capital of Punjab
province. The arrested were members of
ASIA BRIEFING
the Islamist coalition Tehreek-i-Labaik
Ya Rasool Allah. (CNA)
JAPAN. Samurai martyr beatified
A 17th century Catholic Samurai and
martyr was beatified during a Mass in
Osaka, Japan on Feb. 7. Cardinal Angelo
Amato, Prefect of the Vaticans Congre-
gation for the Causes of Saints, presided
over the Beatification Mass of Justo
Takayama Ukon, who was declared a
martyr by Pope Francis in January last
year. Takayama Ukon was born in 1552
in Japan during the time when Jesuit
missionaries were being introduced
within the country. Takayama's position
in Japanese society as daimyo (a feudal
lord) allowed him many benefits, such
as owning grand estates and raising
vast armies. As a Catholic, Takayama
used his power to support and protect
the short-lived missionary expansion
within Japan, influencing the conver-
sion of thousands of Japanese. (CNA)
PHILIPPINES. Bishops stand firm
against death penalty
Violence against violence? It wont
solve anything, the countrys Catholic
bishops have warned. In a statement,
the prelates said that the death pen-
alty is no different from the crime it
punishes. Thats why it is regrettable,
CBCP President Archbishop Socrates
Villegas said, that there are strident
efforts to restore the capital punish-
ment in the country. When we con-
demn violence, we cannot ourselves
be its perpetrators, and when we decry
murder, we cannot ourselves partici-
pate in murder, no matter that it may
be accompanied by the trappings of
judicial and legal process, he said.
(CBCPNews)
JORDAN. Bishop says the Christian
influence is still strong
Jerusalem Bishop William Shomali,
newly appointed to the Latin Patri-
archate of Jordan, says that although
Christians are a very small minority in
Jordan, through the Catholic schools,
hospitals and charities their presence
is strongly felt in the communities.
Although Christians are a very small
minority in the area they only make
up about two percent of the overall
population, he said their social status
and presence, relatively speaking, has a
much stronger influence. The Catholic
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Church, although a minority, is very ac-
tive through Catholic schools, Caritas,
and other institutions, he said. We also
have Catholic hospitals in Jordan, so our
presence in the health and social and
educational sectors is strong. (Hannah
Brockhaus/CNA)
JERUSALEM. 'We must never be-
come accustomed' to the Holy Land
occupation
The 50 year-long of occupation of the
West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza by
Israel must be at the attention of every
Christian and demands resolution, the
chair of the Holy Land Coordination
said. Our Coordination has called for
justice and peace every year since 1998,
yet the suffering continues. So this call
must get louder. As Bishops we implore
Christians in our home countries to
recognize our own responsibility for
prayer, awareness and action, Bishop
Declan Lang of Clifton, chair of the
Holy Land Coordination, wrote in a
Jan. 19 statement. The statement was
signed by another 11 bishops, including
Bishop Oscar Cant of Las Cruces. The
communique marked the conclusion
of an annual week-long pilgrimage to
the Holy Land by the group, made up
of bishops from Europe, North America,
and South Africa. The Holy Land Coordi-
nation is encouraged in its work by the
Holy See as it supports the local Church
in Palestine and Israel. (CNA)
EGYPT. Cathedral restored after
December bombing
The Egyptian army corps of engi-
neers has completed the restoration
of Saint Mark's Coptic Cathedral in
Cairo, where a terrorist attack last
month left 27 dead. In a statement
published on their Facebook page, the
Egyptian Army reported that the areas
of the church damaged by the attack
were quickly repaired by direct order
of President Abdel Fattah Sisi so that
Coptic Christians could celebrate the
feast of Christmas there. The Coptic
Cathedral of Saint Mark, located in
the Al Abasiya neighborhood, was
damaged Dec. 11 by a suicide bomb-
ing. The target of the attack was the
Saint Peter and Saint Paul chapel, an
annex to the cathedral, where Mass
was being celebrated at the time. ISIS
claimed responsibility for the attack.
The majority of the dead and injured
were women and children. (CNA)