•B1 ‘The causes of
underdevelopment are
‘Pro-life’ advocates
holding emergency
meeting on RH
ANTI-ABORTION advocates will hold an
emergency meeting this week, following
President Benigno Aquino’s decision to pro-
mote contraception.
The most likely agenda is to discuss their
next move now that the Aquino administra-
tion made official its stand on population
control.
Pro Life Philippines president Eric Mana-
Emergency / A6
Economist debunks claim of
population explosion in RP
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz and Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico Puno take their oath before testifying at a Senate investigation over al-
legations that some ranking officials of the Aquino administration are receiving millions of monthly jueteng payola, Sept. 21, 2010.
Cardinal seeks radical measures to end Jueteng
Rosales
Church alarmed over successive
discovery of fetuses
GAUDENCIO Cardinal Rosales
expressed alarm on Sept. 16,
days after human fetuses were
found in the cities of Manila and
Malabon that week.
In a statement, Rosales con-
demned the incidents as he reit-
erated the stand of the Catholic
Church against abortion.
With “possible malicious in-
tent” the ugly part of life, he said,
is again gaining the limelight as
Priest slams US ‘meddling’ in Aquino birth control stance
A CATHOLIC priest has accused the
United States of meddling in the Philip-
pines after President Benigno Aquino
III revealed his plan to promote con-
traception.
“I’m certain that the US government
had a hand over Aquino’s abrupt deci-
sion to support population control,”
said Fr. Melvin Castro, a priest of the
diocese of Tarlac and executive sec-
retary of the bishops’ Commission on
Family and Life.
The church official said it’s no secret
that the US and other foreign nations
have tried to pressure the Philippine
not primarily of the
•C1 The Cross
A Supplement Publication of KC •D1 Thousands of
devotees flock
Life and the Order of the Knights of to Peñafrancia
material order’ Columbus tercentenary
Comply with SC ruling
on source code review,
Comelec urged
A POLL watchdog welcomed the Supreme
Court decision ordering the Commission
on Elections to reveal the source code of the
Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines
used in the national and local elections last
May.
In a statement, Kontra Daya said the complete
disclosure of the source code is needed for it to
be reviewed in the wake of the many complaints
September 27 - October 10, 2010 Vol. 14 No. 20 Php 20.00 Source Code / A6
By Pinky Barrientos, FSP
Is the Philippine population
indeed a ticking time bomb as
proponents of RH bill say so?
One of the country’s econo-
mists and academicians thinks
otherwise.
Dr. Bernardo Villegas, PhD, calling
himself a long-term student of de-
mography, claimed that the country’s
population data is a “statistical abra-
cadabra”.
Debunking the claim of population
control advocates, Villegas in an article
published in this paper said, that “he
had always suspected some doctoring
of population data by birth-control
pushers”, to justify the government’s
push for artificial family planning
methods.
Villegas, a university professor and
senior vice-president of the Univer-
sity of Asia and the Pacific, said the
congested slums in Metro Manila area
could have created the illusion that the
country’s population is a “ticking time
bomb”.
That, coupled with the “inflated” data
© Dennis Dayao / CBCP Media
of the 2000 census, gives the wrong idea
that the population is indeed “explod-
ing”.
On the contrary, he said, the National
Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB)
quotes in its website that “the Philip-
pine Population Growth Rate (PPGR)
Population / A6
THE head of Manila’s Roman Catholic hopes to double their hard-earned money
Group marks `Save
Church called on the government to take by placing bets.
drastic measures against “organized extor- He discouraged the people from placing
tion” such as the illegal numbers game called bets and patronizing the illegal numbers
Sierra Madre Day`
jueteng. game in order for it to be finally stopped.
Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said Jueteng
must be stopped because it’s the Jueteng A moral and social cancer
on Typhoon Ondoy
lords that get richer and benefit from the The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
underground and multi-million lottery. Philippines (CBCP) in a pastoral statement
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
“Jueteng is an organized extortion… on gambling has referred to Jueteng as a
extorting money from the poor in order to moral and social cancer.
anniversary
become rich,” Rosales said over Church-run “Gambling exploits the poor in a particu-
Radyo Veritas. lar way. Fleecing the poor of the little they
According to the cardinal, many of those have, some 85% of gambling profits return
victimized by jueteng operators belong to to the pockets of gambling operators. With
the marginalized sector of the society who Jueteng / A6 A NETWORK of Church held annually on September
and non-government orga- 26, the anniversary of Ty-
nizations committed to the
preservation of Sierra Madre
Mountains commemorated
phoon Ondoy.
With the observance of
Save Sierra Madre Day, the
the anniversary of Typhoon group wanted to create pub-
Ondoy by rallying the public lic awareness that would
to protect the mountains and serve as a catalyst to move
forest cover. people to action to protect
the frequency of aborted fetuses symptomatic of a grave moral Church of the Black Nazarene in The Save Sierra Madre the environment.
is publicly exposed. decadence and irresponsible Quiapo. Network (SSMN), a group Member organizations
“The placing and exhibiting behavior that now seriously Authorities said the fetus de- of more than 30 organi- will initiate various activities
of aborted human fetuses in threaten the country.” scribed as about seven to nine zations dedicated to the in the provinces of the Sierra
public places are not favored On Sept. 14, a 5-to 7-month- months old, was in a red shoe conservation of the Sierra Madre Mountains, including
in other cultures, and decent old fetus, wrapped in a green box when found by a church- Madre Mountains, marked Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vis-
people refuse to do the same,” plastic bag, was found inside the goer. September 26 as “Save Sierra caya, Nueva
said Rosales. Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, The following day, a 7-month Madre Day”. Ecija, Auro-
“If the expositions of discard- Manila at around 5 p.m. old fetus, wrapped in plastic In a statement, SSMN said ra, Quirino,
ed human fetuses are not done An hour later, devotees were and then stuffed into a sack, was the observance of “Save Sierra
with evil intent, then the practice shocked when another fetus found in Catmon district. Sierra Madre Day” will be Madre / A6
alone of rampant abortion is was found at the doorstep of the Fetuses / A6
government for a more aggressive birth principles and morality,” Castro said.
control program. He said if the Obama administration
One example, he said, is the granting is sincere in helping the Filipinos, it
of huge foreign funding for the govern- should give aid with “no strings at-
ment’s development projects, but it all tached” and pre-conditions.
comes with a price. “The assistance should be selfless and
On Monday, Aquino, in town- have no strings attached,” the CBCP
hall-style meeting in the US, said his official said.
government would provide contracep- President Aquino arrived in Manila
tives such as condoms and pills to poor early Tuesday after his week-long
couples, to curb the Philippines’ high working visit to the US where he met
birth rate. with President Barack Obama and at-
“This is clearly a form of colonization tended the UN General Assembly.
of morality. They are imposing their The bishops have previously con-
morals on us, disrespecting our own
Illustration by Bladimer Usi
Birth Control / A6
Be updated with Church issues. Listen to CBCP Online Radio at www.cbcponlineradio.com
 World News
CBCP Monitor
A2 Vol. 14 No. 20
September 27 - October 10, 2010

Sex abuse lawsuit involving Wisconsin

priest names Pope Benedict as defendant
MILWAUKEE, Wis., Sept. 24, 2010—A
lawsuit filed by a man sexually abused
decades ago by a Wisconsin priest has
named Pope Benedict XVI as a de-
fendant. However, two authors have
claimed the latest charges against the
Pope repeat “widely debunked” inac-
curacies.
The suit has been brought by 60-year-
old deaf abuse victim Terry Kohut, who
says he was abused by Fr. Lawrence C.
Murphy while he was a priest and prin-
cipal at St. John’s School for the Deaf in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
According to CNN, Kohut said
through an interpreter that the abuse
first took place in the priest’s office
when he was in his early teens. The
abuse continued for years.
About 200 former students have said
they were molested by Fr. Murphy,
sometimes even in the confessional.
Victims reported abuses to the civil au-
thorities in the mid-1970s, but authori-
ties dropped the investigation.
because he was allegedly “protected” son is one of the leading attorneys in
by the Congregation for the Doctrine sex abuse lawsuits and has claimed that
of the Faith (CDF) headed by Cardinal Pope Benedict was “the mastermind,
Joseph Ratzinger, who is now Pope head, of an international conspiracy
Benedict XVI. to cover up their own crimes and keep
Clergyman such as current CDF head them above the law.”
Cardinal William Levada and former According to CNN, Anderson is the
judicial vicar of the Archdiocese of Mil- lead lawyer in Kohut’s lawsuit. The suit
waukee Fr. Thomas Brundage have said alleges that through a policy of secrecy
the CDF only suspended canonical pro- the Holy See “knowingly allowed, per-
ceedings against Fr. Murphy because mitted and encouraged child sex abuse
he was dying. A lack of records in the by its priests, including Murphy.”
archdiocesan archives also impeded the Gregory Erlandson and Dr. Matthew
canonical case, which was opened in the Bunson, authors of the Our Sunday
mid-1990s after advocacy by Murphy’s Visitor book “Pope Benedict XVI and
victims. the Sexual Abuse Crisis: Working for
Until 2001, the CDF had limited juris- Reform and Renewal,” have claimed
diction over sex abuse cases. Generally that the latest allegations concerning the
it was only involved in cases concerning Pope’s involvement in the Fr. Murphy
allegations of abuse which took place in case rehash discredited charges.
the confessional and possibly involved “While the Murphy case is a glaring
violations of the Sacrament of Penance. example of the poor oversight and in-
Prior to that year, most cases were adequate communication that typified
handled in the Roman Rota. many abuse cases in the U.S. dioceses
In its March reports on the case, the in the past 50 years, it does not show

The case came to prominence earlier
this year, with media outlets such as
the Associated Press claiming that Fr.
Murphy was “spared a defrocking”
www.arnewde.com
New York Times relied on documents Cardinal Ratzinger in any way tolerant
provided by lawyers Jeff Anderson and of, or insensitive to, the actions of abus-
Mike Finnegan, some of which were ers,” they said in a press release from
poorly translated from Italian. Ander- Our Sunday Visitor. (CNA)

US bishops warn against

Say basic methodology is unsound
book on sexuality
WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 23,
2010—The U.S. bishops are caution-
ing about a book that claims to teach
“Catholic anthropology” but in fact
goes against Church doctrine on hu-
man sexuality.
The United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops released a statement
from its Committee on Doctrine,
headed by Archbishop Donald Wuerl
of Washington, regarding the book,
“The Sexual Person: Toward a Re-
newed Catholic Anthropology.”
The statement noted that the book
www.press.georgetown.edu
on a different basis.”
Consequently, it continued, the
authors, Creighton University pro-
fessors Todd Salzman and Michael
Lawler, “argue that the teaching of the
magisterium is based on this flawed
‘traditional theology’ and must like-
wise be substantially changed.”
The doctrine committee issued the
statement in response to a request
from the archbishop of Omaha, Ne-
braska, to review the book. Creighton
University is in Omaha.
In 2007, Archbishop Elden Cur-
moral legitimacy of some homosex-
ual acts. Their conclusion is in seri-
ous error, and cannot be considered
authentic Catholic teaching.”
Clear conflict
Then, in 2008, when the book, “The
Sexual Person,” was published, the
prelate requested the aid of the doc-
trine committee.
In its statement, dated Sept. 15, the
committee detailed some of the errors
of this book.
It asserted, “The fact that the alter-
tradition.”
“The Committee on Doctrine
wishes to make it clear that neither
the methodology of ‘The Sexual Per-
son’ nor the conclusions that depart
from authoritative Church teaching
constitute authentic expressions of
Catholic theology,” it added.
“Moreover,” the statement con-
tinued, “such conclusions, clearly in
contradiction to the authentic teach-
ing of the Church, cannot provide
a true norm for moral action and in
fact are harmful to one’s moral and

“does not offer minor revisions to a
few points of Catholic sexual ethics,”
but rather, “the authors insist that
the moral theology of the Catholic
tradition dealing with sexual matters
is now as a whole obsolete and inad-
equate and that it must be re-founded
tiss, then archbishop of Omaha, had
already published a statement in the
diocesan newspaper regarding vari-
ous articles by these professors.
In his statement, Archbishop Cur-
tiss said: “In these articles, Professors
Lawler and Salzman argue for the
native moral theology of ‘The Sexual
Person’ leads to many positions
in clear conflict with authoritative
Church teaching is itself considerable
evidence that the basic methodology
of this moral theology is unsound
and incompatible with the Catholic
spiritual life.”
Rather, it affirmed, “In the Cat-
echism of the Catholic Church,
where we find a genuine systematic
presentation of the faith, we look for
that wisdom that reflects the words
of everlasting life.” (Zenit)

Colombian archbishop calls for authentic sex Vatican Briefing

ed to prevent teen pregnancy Pope asks youth to learn from beatified teen
Benedict XVI urged the youth to emulate Blessed Chiara
Badano’s “example of Christian consistency,” because she
BOGOTA, Colombia, Sept. 27, 2010—Arch- programs must not be focused on promot- teenage girls with contraceptive implanta- was certain of God’s love even as she was dying. “Only
bishop Ruben Salazar of Bogota stressed last ing contraception. “As long as there is no tions in order to prevent pregnancies. Love with a capital L gives true happiness,” and that’s what
week that if the root causes of teen pregnancy authentic education on the relationship “We are creating one problem to solve Blessed Badano showed her family, her friends and her fel-
are not addressed, the problem will never between sex and love, on the meaning of another,” he said. “Our teenage girls are not low members of the Focolare Movement, he said Sept. 26
be solved. marriage and the family, and while chil- animals, like cows that we sterilize on a farm. during his midday Angelus address. In Rome on Sept. 25,
“The truth is that if the root causes are dren are not taught values that encourage They are human beings with dignity. We are Archbishop Angelo Amato of the Congregation for Saints’
not attacked, we will never prevent teen responsible sexuality, we will always have turning them into objects by putting a device Causes led the beatification of Badano who succumbed to
pregnancies from happening, no matter how this problem,” he added. in them so they can’t be mothers. I agree that bone cancer just before her 19th birthday in 1990. (CNS)
many contraceptives are distributed,” the For his part, the secretary of the Colombian a girl of that age should not become a mother
archbishop said. bishops, Bishop Juan Vicente Cordoba, reject- but that is not the way to do it,” the bishop ‘Non-nuclear weapon agenda must be based on
The archbishop warned that sex-ed ed proposals by one local official to provide said. (CNA) human dignity’
Vatican’s delegate to an international conference on atomic

Vietnam remembers energy has stressed the value of human life as the central
issue in “every step” towards a nuclear weapon-free world.
“Humanity,” he said in a speech, “deserves no less than full

Cardinal Van Thuân co-operation” of the governments of the world in reaching

ROME, Sept. 23, 2010—A gathering of some
2,000 faithful at a Mass in Ho Chi Minh
City marked the eighth anniversary of the
death of Cardinal François Xavier Nguyen
van Thuân, the prelate who became known
www.dominic-cooray.blogspot.com
Years later, after his forced exile from
Vietnam, he was appointed president of the
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. He
preached spiritual exercises to Pope John
Paul II and the Roman Curia in 2000 and the
agreements establishing peace and security. Among the
1,400 participants in the recent 54th general conference of
the International Atomic Energy Agency is Bishop Ettore
Balestrero, the under-secretary for the Vatican Secretariat
of State’s department for relations with states. (CNA)
Forgiveness is foundation of real reform – pope

worldwide for his holiness in the face of
fierce persecution.
Cardinal Van Thuân died Sept. 16, 2002,
in Rome.
During his episcopal ministry in Vietnam,
he spent more than 13 years in a Communist
“re-education” camp, nine of those in soli-
Cardinal Văn Thuận tary confinement.
next year, was made a cardinal.
His cause of beatification was opened on Sept.
16, 2007, on the fifth anniversary of his death.
This Saturday in Italy, there will be a sym-
posium marking the eighth anniversary of
his death at the Verona-based International
Observatory Cardinal Van Thuân On the
Social Doctrine of the Church. (Zenit)
Forgiveness is the backbone of all true reform, both in the life
of an individual Christian and in the life of the whole church
community, Pope Benedict XVI said. The current spiritual
crisis, in fact, is rooted in “obscuring the grace of forgiveness,”
the pope said Sept. 25 as he met with a group of bishops from
Brazil. The prelates were making their “ad limina” visits to
Rome to report on the status of their dioceses. (CNS)
Catholics urged to reflect on impact of work, free

Chinese Academy of Social Sciences calls for a time on family

The Holy Father has called on the world’s Catholics to use
2011 as a time to reflect on the impact of their work and
rethink of religious policy towards Catholics their free-time pursuits on their family life. The reflection, he
said, should help the church prepare for the Seventh World
BEIJING, China, Sept. 27, 2010—A research- Council, roughly the equivalent of a national 1998, died in 2007. Mgr Joseph Liu Yuanren, Meeting of Families, which will be in Milan May 30-June 3,
er at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences bishops’ conference elsewhere in the world, patriotic bishop of Nanking and president of 2012. The theme of the gathering will be: “The Family: Work
(CASS) said that the Chinese government but without Holy See recognition. the Bishops’ Council, passed away in 2005. and Celebration.” (CNS)
should review its religious policy towards In the report, Wang Meixiu suggests that For one reason or another, the meeting to elect
Catholics. the two organizations ought to specialize their replacements has been postponed, because Benedict XVI says West needs to see role of faith in
In the study, she criticizes the current role according to tasks. The Bishops’ Council of an earthquake and the Olympic Games public life
played by the Chinese Patriotic Catholic As- should be left to run the Church, whilst the in 2008, the 60th anniversary of the People’s Pope Benedict XVI said his message in Great Britain about
sociation (CPCA) and the Bishops’ Council. CPCA should act as a “bridge” between Republic in 2009 and the Shanghai Expo this the enduring importance of faith-based values in public
She also raises doubts about the National Church and state. year. Still, as Wang Meixiu points out, the life is valid for the entire Western world. He said one of his
Assembly of Catholic Representatives, Currently the CPCA, whose secretaries are government is bound to convene the assembly key messages was “the importance of evangelizing culture,
the governing body if the official Catholic often atheist, runs every aspect of Church after Expo, in late October, to avoid “criticism”, especially in our age when pervasive relativism risks over-
Church in China. life, from vocations and Episcopal appoint- which is coming from various directions. shadowing the unchanging truth about the nature of man”
In the CASS annual report on religions in ments to financial matters. For Ms Wang, With the CPCA pushing for the election and about the importance of faith in the education of active,
China that was released in mid-September, clearing defining the responsibilities of each of unlawful Bishop Ma Yinglin (pictured), creative and responsible citizens. (CNS)
Wang Meixiu, a member of the Institute of organization should improve the govern- official bishops recognized by the Vatican
World Religions, a research unit at CASS, ment’s religious policy. would face a major dilemma over whether
Vatican aims for 2012 release of new marriage
noted that Chinese Catholics have increased As for the National Assembly of Catholic to participate or not. In March, the Vatican
Commission for the Church in China issued preparation document
their ties with the universal Church. A keen Representatives, she notes that it has failed to
observer of Catholic affairs in China, she said a statement in which it called on bishops The Pontifical Council for the Family is working to create a
meet since 2004 even though it is viewed as the
that China constitutes a unique case because accepted by the Pope to avoid “actions document to guide marriage preparation efforts in dioceses
governing body of the official Catholic Church.
of the existence of the National Assembly of (like sacramental ceremonies, Episcopal throughout the world. Through it, the council hopes to better
The next meeting should elect the new presi-
Catholic Representatives, whose “democrat- ordinations and meetings) that contradict inform young couples of what they are asking of the Church
dents of the CPCA and the Bishops’ Council,
ic” choices are imposed on official bishops, the communion with the Holy Father.” when they opt to receive the Sacrament of Marriage. (CNA)
both of which are vacant. Patriotic Bishop Mi-
and the CPCA, which supervises the Bishops’ chael Fu Tieshan, elected CPCA president tin (AsiaNews)

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 20
September 27 - October 10, 2010
Pope tells British bishops they must Religious
satisfy people’s spiritual hunger
News Features
A3
leaders hail
Gov’t, NDF
willingness
to talk
peace
MANILA, Sept. 20, 2010—The Philip-
pine Ecumenical Peace Platform hailed
the willingness between the govern-
ment and the National Democratic
Front of the Philippines to resume direct
talks.
In a statement, the organization ac-
knowledged that the road to just and
lasting peace is “complex” but said “it’s
not impossible to go through.”
“We also recognize the long arduous
work done by both parties to establish
mutually agreed principles or frame-
work upon which the peace negotia-

BIRMINGHAM, England, Sept. 19,
2010—Meeting Catholic bishops at the
end of his visit to Great Britain, Pope
Benedict XVI said he had spent four
days witnessing signs of spiritual hun-
ger that bishops have an obligation to
help satisfy.
Pope Benedict urged Scottish, English
and Welsh bishops to give people real
spiritual nourishment, not just easy or
popular answers to their questions and
doubts.
“As you proclaim the coming of the
kingdom − with its promise of hope for
the poor and the needy, the sick and the
elderly, the unborn and the neglected −
be sure to present in its fullness the life-
giving message of the Gospel, including
those elements which call into question
the widespread assumptions of today’s
culture,” the pope told the bishops Sept.
19 during a meeting at Oscott College in
Birmingham.
At the end of a trip that saw him be-
come the first pope to visit the Anglican
archbishop of Canterbury’s residence
and the first pope to pray in the Angli-
cans’ Westminster Abbey, Pope Bene-
dict also asked the bishops again to be
generous in welcoming Anglicans who
want to enter into full communion with
the Roman Catholic Church.
The British bishops have been criti-
cized by some conservative Catholic
commentators for an apparently luke-
warm reception of provisions Pope
Benedict made last year that would
allow for the establishment of special
church jurisdictions for former Angli-
cans who want to maintain some of their
Anglican heritage and practices.
The jurisdictions, known as ordi-
nariates, have not yet been established
anywhere in the world.
Some people involved in efforts to
promote full Anglican-Roman Catholic
unity said the pope’s special provisions
were essentially an admission that full
unity was virtually impossible because
of the ordination of women priests and
bishops and positions on homosexual-
ity in some parts of the Anglican Com-
munion.
Speaking to the Catholic bishops,
though, the pope said his provision
“should be seen as a prophetic gesture
that can contribute positively to the
developing relations between Anglicans
and Catholics” by promoting unity
while accepting differences.
The Rev. David Richardson, director
of the Anglican Center in Rome and the
archbishop of Canterbury’s represen-
tative to the Vatican, said the idea of
the ordinariate was initially billed as a
“pastoral provision” for disaffected An-
glicans and appears to offer benefits to
them, but “seems to contribute nothing
to the full visible unity” of the Anglican
and Roman Catholic communities as a
whole.
Full unity can only be achieved
through formal dialogue between the
Roman Catholic Church and the Angli-
can Communion as a whole, Rev. Rich-
ardson told Catholic News Service.
Pope Benedict also told the bishops
that as they, like bishops in the United
States, prepare to begin using a new
English translation of the Mass, they
should “seize the opportunity that the
new translation offers for in-depth cat-
echesis on the Eucharist and renewed
devotion in the manner of its celebra-
tion.”
As the bishops seek to evangelize “in
a highly secular society,” challenges
www.flickr.com
come not only from widespread public
opinion on ethical issues like biotech-
nology, abortion or homosexuality, he
said, they also come from the current
economic crisis and people’s assump-
tions about wealth and poverty.
“The specter of unemployment is
casting its shadow over many people’s
lives and the long-term cost of the ill-
advised investment practices of recent
times is becoming all too evident,” he
said.
As pastors of a Christian community,
the pope said, the British bishops must
encourage their flocks to be generous
and stand in solidarity with the poor.
Pope Benedict told the bishops he
knows that the “shameful” clerical sex
abuse crisis “seriously undermines the
moral credibility of church leaders.”
“I have spoken on many occasions
of the deep wounds that such behavior
causes − in the victims first and fore-
most − but also in the relationships of
trust that should exist between priests
and people, between priests and their
bishops, and between the church
authorities and the public,” he said.
(CNS)
tions are built,” it said.
The ecumenical group particularly
commended the “spirit and intent” of
the substantive agenda of the peace
talks like the comprehensive deals on
the respect of human rights, social and
economic reforms, political and consti-
tutional reforms, and the disposition
of forces.
“We believe that these principled
agenda emerged from the crucible and
contain the fundamental issues that
need to be addressed by both parties if
the road to genuine peace and justice is
to be pursued,” they said.
“Even as we still have a long way
towards the ideal, at least the first
substantive agenda was accomplished.
There is now a standard that both sides
must follow with respect to human
rights.”
The faith-based formation of peace
advocates, meanwhile, vowed to en-
courage the government and the com-
munist rebels to sustain the “principled”
peace process.
“We will continue to remind all of
the necessity to implement and put into
practice mutually agreed best practices
for just and lasting peace to flourish,”
they added.
The statement was signed by PEPP
co-chairpersons Archbishop Antonio
Ledesma, and Ms. Sharon Rose Joy

Holy Father speaks to schoolchildren,

Ruiz-Duremdes and PEPP Secretariat
head Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, Jr.
(CBCPNews)

emphasizes importance of reading Sibuyan

ROME, Italy, Sept. 24, 2010—Hundreds of kids felt the
personal “warmth” of the Pope as they met with him
in a private audience on Thursday evening. Accord-
ing to the children’s school principal, they received
his message to them about learning to read so they
can better know God and the world.
The Holy Father hosted nearly 400 children from a
local Catholic school at the Apostolic Villa of Castel
Gandolfo on Thursday evening. The kindergarten
and primary school students of the local Paul VI
Pontifical School, run by the Maestre Pie sisters of
the Philippines, were accompanied by their parents,
grandparents, friends, brothers and sisters as they met
with the Holy Father in the villa courtyard.
In his message to them, the Holy Father told the
children of the importance of studying and learn-
ing to read so they can know the thought of others
throughout time. One can learn about the “spiritual
continents of the world,” communicate with others
and, he said, turn to the Bible “to read what God
says to us.”
He emphasized the importance of going to school
“to learn all of the things necessary for life and learning
also to know God, to know Jesus and thus to know
how to live well.”
Sister Anna, the principal of the Paul VI Pontifical
School told CNA that the kids were “happy” with the
encounter and had “received the Pope’s message.” She
said that they arrived prepared to listen to his words
and to put them into practice.
Pope Benedict XVI, she said, was visibly “so serene
local officials
and so happy” also to meet with them, responding
with gratitude to the songs that were sung for him
and the gifts he received.
sign joint
Among their gifts to the Holy Father was a picture
made by the children themselves in which “the magic
of life” was depicted through in which they incorpo-
resolution vs
mining
rated their handprints into the design of the world
brightened by a rainbow.
Sr. Anna said that in the encounter also the little
ones felt the “warmth, this humanity, this affection”
of the Pope towards children. (CNA)
MANILA, Sept. 17, 2010—Local offi-

Anti-mining advocates pray, light candles for

cials in Sibuyan Island’s three munici-
palities have signed a joint resolution
rejecting mining operations in the
island.

victims of extra judicial killings

MANILA, Sept. 16, 2010— ippines because of its nega-
Anti-mining advocates held tive impact on people’s lives
a prayer service outside the and the environment.
country’s premier hotel in Fr. Archie Casey, Co-Chair
memory of the victims and of the JPICC-AMRSP said
martyrs of anti-mining strug- the government should stop
gles. making mining a priority in
Religious, seminarians and its economic policy, adding
anti-mining activists gathered that there is no such thing
outside the Manila Hotel Sept. as a sustainable and green
14 holding lighted candles, mining.
as the International Confer- “Mining has killed a lot
ence on Mining, hosted by of people. It has affected
the Chamber of Mines of the many communities and we
Philippines was being held. have seen this in the many
Photos of those who have tragedies that occurred in
died in their struggles against mining sites in the Philip-
mining that include former pines,” he said.
Councilor Armin Marin of “Today we pray for the
San Fernando, Sibuyan Is- souls of the lives taken by
land in Romblon, Ricardo mining, as we also seek for
Ganad, ABC Chairperson of President Aquino’s action
Victoria, Oriental Mindoro, upon this issue,” he added.
Eliezer ‘Boy” Billones of South They also called on the
Cotabato, Gensun Agustin of Aquino government to re-
© Danny Pata
The municipalities of Magdiwang,
Cajidiocan and San Fernando issued
Joint Resolution No. 1 and 2, indicat-
ing the people’s opposition to mining
in the island.
In Joint Resolution No. 1, the local of-
ficials asked President Benigno Aquino
“to declare Sibuyan Island free of all
metallic mining (all forms of mining
except gravel and sand)”, while Joint
Resolution No. 2, addressed to DENR
Secretary Ramon Paje asked that all
mining permits issued in the island be
revoked.
Sibuyan’s officials recently trooped to
the office of the Department of Interior
and Local Government (DILG) to insist
that their autonomous decision to free
the island from mining activities be
respected.
Environmentalists and anti-mining
advocates hailed the local officials’
joint resolution to reject mining to
protect and preserve the island’s rich
ecosystem.
Sibuyan island, dubbed as the Galapa-
gos of Asia, is rich in natural resources
and biodiversity. It is known to have the
densest forest in the world.

Cagayan Province, Fernando
Sarmiento of Compostela
Valley, and Samson Rivera,
of Oriental Mindoro were presented
during the rally.
“We are gathered [here] not to rally
against mining companies but to pray
for the many lives the irresponsible
mining industry has taken. Several
years back, we already condemned the
killings and grave effects of mining to
indigenous peoples, and the degrada-
tion of the environment,” said Fr. Edu
Gariguez.
Gariguez, who is Executive Secretary
of the National Secretariat for Social
Action-Justice and Peace of the Catholic
Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
(CBCP-NASSA) has led protests against
mining companies in Mindoro while
heading the Mangyan Mission in the
province.
The Catholic Church has consistently
opposed large scale mining in the Phil-
voke EO 270-A, or the re-
vitalization of mining in-
dustry.
The gathering was led by the Justice,
Peace and Integrity of Creation Com-
mission of the Association of Major
Religious Superiors in the Philippines
(JPICC-AMRSP) and the Seminarian
Network. Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM)
co-organized the event. (CBCPNews)
The island is home to a rich biodi-
versity of flora and fauna. One hun-
dred twenty-three species of trees,
54 of which are not found anywhere
in the world, 700 vascular plant spe-
cies, and 131 species of birds, and
many mammals and rodents still
yet to be catalogued, are found in
Mt. Guiting-guiting Natural Park.
(CBCPNews)
 A4 Opinion CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 20
September 27 - October 10, 2010

EDITORIAL

The Jueteng agenda

AT first blush it would seem that Archbishop Oscar Cruz is a solitary

prophet crying in the wilderness yet with admirable courage and gait in
his crusade against what he calls a persistent curse that is Jueteng.
But actually he is not. He is backed up with three pastoral statements
of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. In 2003,
the bishops issued “Eradicate Gambling: It is Moral and Social
Cancer.” In 2005, “CBCP Statement on Gambling.” And again,
in 2006, “Plea and Appeal: Stop STL, Please.” And this, not to
mention the pastoral letter on gambling issued by Northern Luzon
Bishops in 1993 titled, “Make Yourselves a New Heart and a New
Spirit: A Joint Pastoral Letter on Gambling.”
Yet all this aside, it is really his deep conviction and conscience that
give him the drive to transcend to a realm of fools where even holy
angels fear to tread. This is the kind of witnessing that erstwhile
we only read in conciliar documents and encyclicals, but now we
see incarnated in an exemplary valor of one man—a man who has
always been willing to trade off the comfort of an ivory tower with
the risk of one’s life attendant to denouncing evil, in much the same
fashion and reminiscent of John the Baptist in the holy book.
Be that as it may, but the social transformation advocated by the
present dispensation will remain a hollow slogan unless Jueteng
or the preferential option for gambling remains in tow. No social
reforms will ever be feasible if Jueteng and all its dubious variations
are on the ledge.
To drive home the point, take, for instance, electoral reforms.
While it is true that with poll automation quite a number of
electoral anomalies have been skirted, vote buying has morphed
exponentially. In the last elections, reports have it that the votes of
one household in predominantly Jueteng areas were priced from
ten to twenty thousand pesos. In such places where vote buying is
bankrolled by Jueteng, no amount of political education in parishes
will ever sink in the minds and hearts of the electorate. He who Illustration by Bladimer Usi
controls the “cabos”, controls election results.
Indeed, Jueteng or its various forms robs the country of a democratic
process and the sanctity of people’s right to suffrage. And this is Oscar V. Cruz, DD
not even saying about the other evils of gambling that fleece the
poor of the little they have. Which is why the move to legalize
Jueteng because of the government’s happy inability to stop it,
A curse that refuses to
does not even smack of defeatism, but of a self-serving agenda
that is obviously very profitable.
Views and Points die
NOTWITHSTANDING all rhet- ing truth of the matter: the matter of the determination of Destitute and ignorant people
oric and propaganda made by One: It is exactly the poor and what numbers/bets win or lose, remain needier than before.
public officials, despite all the the helpless, the miserable and there was a time when these were Meantime, the Jueteng Syndi-
Church in the Philippines—Called to Mission alleged bleeding hearts for the the ignorant that are continuously decided by tampered “tambiolo” cates amass fortunes, Protectors
poor brought to fore by civil exploited and duped every time surreptitiously held in suppos- enjoy more and more luxurious
WE as Church are called to be in our part of the globe “the universal authorities, and despite loud, re- they are enticed and duped into edly “secured” house backyards. lives, and all payola beneficiaries
sacrament of salvation”, sent out by the Lord on a mission to the peated and impressive resolves betting their hard earned money However, behold and wonder, happily have and gleefully keep
whole of the human race (Lumen Gentium 13). The Church universal by one government after anoth- into this vice. The reality is that during these times, the win- progressively big fat bank ac-
is Catholic because of this mission. But each particular or local er, the stark truth and standing for the very few bettors chosen ning numbers are conveniently counts here and abroad.
Church, being Catholic, shares in the same mission. Hence to each fact is that Jueteng continues to win by expert manipulation decided and communicated by Three: It does not take much
local Church the mandate is also given to proclaim Jesus’ message to be a disastrous, hideous and on account of their meager bets the mere use of cell phones at the thinking, much less any formal
and invitation to give living witness of God’s love in Christ Jesus, deeply rooted vice nonchalantly as “consuelo de bobo”, literally dictate and wish of operators! study why Jueteng continue to
and to share the gifts it has received from the Lord. For the Church persisting as a vibrant racket in thousands upon thousands of Two: It is concretely the so- proliferate. It is simply for the
in the Philippines, for every one of our local Churches, there is a this already too long suffering bettors are infallibly destined called “Jueteng Lords” plus their same elementary and simple rea-
new insistence and a new urgency to fulfill this mandate.
country. Specifically in conjunc- to lose in this well syndicated “Operators” plus their “Protec- son: the local public officials and
We believe that in recent years the Spirit has awakened among us a new tion with this long-lasting, dis- racket. What numbers win and tors” plus their “Revisadores” their assigned police authorities
awareness of the Church’s missionary task, and has also poured out his gusting national phenomenon, what numbers lose—all these are plus their “Pagadores” who cat- simply love and cherish to have
gifts to begin to realize it in deed and in truth. For in recent decades, it is in good order to point out at the absolute command of the egorically exploit and literally rob Jueteng in their respective ter-
a constantly increasing number of our brothers and sisters—priests, formally and categorically the jueteng syndicates operating in the poor and helpless individuals ritorial jurisdictions. And, of
religious brothers and sisters, laypeople—have left our shores to share three following solid and stand- their well assigned territories. In of the meager they have. Result: course, everybody knows why.
their Faith with peoples of other lands, in every continent on the face of
the earth. The Mission Society of Philippines has sent several priests as
missionaries in many parts of the world. Many Filipino priests, brothers Sr. Mary Pilar Verzosa, RGS
and sisters belonging to different religious congregations as well as
diocesan priests are now working in the foreign missions.
War against abortion in
Several lay missionaries, both men and women, who underwent
training through the Catholic Lay Mission Program, are also
working in the foreign missions. New movements of faith such as Quiapo Love Life
the covenant communities, initiated by the Filipino laity under the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit, have spread to particular churches
of other countries and have surely contributed to the efforts of I WAS only in high school when I first heard Many times in the past, former Mayor Lito saw the photos of the aborted babies, others
evangelization of those sister churches. Our overseas workers in whispers about the herbal vendors in Atienza would have those vendors arrested looked away, while others stared defiantly at
have in so many instances become missionaries, bringing the Quiapo where one can buy concoctions for but since the law that could be cited for their those leading the rosary. We prayed silently
Gospel and Faith where these have not been present, renewing and abortion—euphemistically identified by illegal vending is simply a misdemeanor in our hearts that the police standing around
reactivating Christian life and practice where these have been in the vendors as you pass by—“pamparegla, (non-medical professionals prescribing would face up to their responsibility and help
decline. Through Radio Veritas Asia, based in Manila, the saving Miss?” Now, as a Good Shepherd Sister drugs), they would be released from deten- once and for all in stopping the sale of the
message of Christ has reached millions of people living in many counseling pregnant girls and women who tion within a few hours then back they were abortifacient drugs in their area.
parts of the vast continent. May we not see in these events the hand have attempted abortion, I hear of how they around Quiapo Church. Then along comes Fr. Anton Pascual was the main celebrant
of the Lord, and the movement of his Providence?
tried those preparations unsuccessfully, thank Msgr. Clem Ignacio who could not tolerate in last Saturday’s Eucharistic Celebration. He
It is imperative then that we—all of us—renew our own God. However, in our Pro-life Counseling the notoriety attached to abortion happen- gave a very pointed homily on the importance
understanding of mission. We urge most especially the formators Center, I have also been counseling women ing right there in the Church premises. Sev- of defending the life of the unborn and ex-
of our seminarians, the candidates for the priesthood, to help the who aborted due to the tablets that they eral dialogues with the police (who by now plained emphatically the Church teaching on
future leaders of the Church to develop a personal and profound bought from those Quiapo herbal vendors. have been identified as part of the syndicate excommunication, not only of the mother of
understanding of mission during their priestly formation. Our Yes, those vendors have become sophisticated distributing the illegal drugs as well as the the aborted baby, but of all those involved – the
young priests should experience life in the missions either here in their offering ways and means to accom- abortion tablets) did drive away the vendors father of the baby, the grandparents, the doc-
or abroad so that they can become effective agents of renewal in
plish abortion on demand. a few streets away from the church patio for tors, “hilot” and sellers of the abortion drugs.
mission consciousness among the faithful.
The tablets they are referring to is called a couple of years. But lately, the vendors are I was very happy to hear Msgr. Clem read
Mission is the proclamation of the Good news of salvation given Cytotec, an anti-ulcer medicine that is being back. Apparently, Mayor Lim assigned a sta- the Pastoral letter of Gaudencio Cardinal
by the Father in Christ Jesus. It is about the forgiveness, the misused to induce bleeding and the eventual tion commander who is once again allowing Rosales, issued last Sept 15, Feast of the Sor-
communion, peace and hope Christ brought to us for all time, and expulsion of the fetus (unborn baby). Fifteen the vendors to do their “business”. Permits to rowful Mother, on “Abortion, a Crime against
unto everlasting life. Mission is the sharing of the promise of a new years ago, I and the Pro-life staff ran after the vend, of course, means a daily income for the the Unborn”. This was promulgated in con-
heaven and a new earth, the ultimate triumph of life over death, pharmaceutical company to stop distributing assigned collectors who will see to it that the nection with the spate of fetus being left in
of grace and glory over evil and sin in the new Jerusalem which this drug. Within a year, we were able to have cash gets to the right persons up there!
will be given to us by God. But mission does not proclaim only church premises these past few weeks.
God’s victory in the life to come, but also the redemption of time DOH/BFAD declare it as a banned drug. Msgr. Clem is waging an all out war at this We welcome the many efforts of various
and history in the cross and resurrection of Jesus. However, those tiny white hexagonal-shaped time. These past two Saturdays, he organized groups to stop abortion through prayer ral-
tablets continued to proliferate in small drug the parish organizations plus many pro-life lies, seminars and counseling centers. But the
−“Missions” and the Church in the Philippines: stores and the herbal vendors. According to groups to hold a prayer rally to stop abortion. deeper issue that must be attended to is the
A Pastoral Letter on the Church’s Mission in the New the manufacturer, those tablets are made in Before the Mass for the Unborn, they held prevention of the “need” to have an abortion
Millennium, 2000 Bangkok and Korea and enter the country a procession holding placards with pro-life by the thousands of women who find them-
illegally. Lately, young lovers are able to slogans and pictures of the unborn, both live selves in troubling pregnancy. Each one has
source them through the internet (along with and aborted. Thousands of people watched to do her/his part. Care to help? Call Pro-life
contacts to abortionists). the procession pass by, some grimaced as they office at 733-7027.
www.cbcpmonitor.com
cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.net
Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS

Pedro C. Quitorio
Editor-in-Chief
Pinky Barrientos, FSP
PUBLICATION LAYOUT BY KRIS BAYOS
17 seconds
… And That’s the truth
ONE thing blows the mind when of the “Our Father” in our life. at “…for the kingdom, the power the lips, but look how praying
Kris Bayos reading about and pondering How many times a day, or a and the glory are Yours…”, it with all our being can change
Features Editor Jesus teaching His disciples how week, do we pray it? And how etc.—but after that, when we our 24 hours. At once the prayer
to pray. The prayer He taught do we pray it—fast, slow, sung, leave the church, how much of puts us in touch with the Holy
Gloria Fernando them is what is now popularly said aloud, meditated on? Does that prayer remains with us to One, a Father who has given us
Marketing Supervisor known to us as the “Our Father”. praying it make us better human guide us through the day? life, and whom we’re asking to

Associate Editor
As we all know it was not in- beings, or does it only make us In the family or in our places of bring His Kingdom down here to
Melo M. Acuña Ernani M. Ramos vented by a medieval saint or by think we’re better than others? work, does this prayer make us more where we stand. Empowered by
Managing Editor Circulation Manager theologians, not even by a pope. Does singing it lead us closer to ready to forgive our loved ones or that, how can we fear, how can
That’s what’s mind-blowing Jesus? And does this closeness to our offending co-workers? Does it we lose, how can we fail when
Roy Q. Lagarde Marcelita Dominguez about it: it was taught by Jesus Jesus make us more like Him? increase our faith in God’s goodness, we are asking for that which He
News Editor Comptroller
Himself, over two thousand You’ve probably observed that our tolerance in dealing with strang- Himself longs to give us?
years ago, in the open air (we even during the Mass, people ers we meet on the streets? Does it Praying the Our Father with the
imagine), while sitting upon a pray the Our Father using many encourage us to do right even when lips touches our mind, praying it
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 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 20
September 27 - October 10, 2010
Opinion A5
Fr. Carmelo O. Diola, SSL
Commentary
Star-struck
Spaces of Hope Gaston Asitaki

I was upset when I was in-

formed that my flight to Cebu
from Manila had been moved
to 9 a.m. After all, I had been
up and about the wee hours
of the morning just to be at the
airport for my 4:30 a.m. flight.
However, recalling the sage ad-
vice, “When you are angry, you
are punishing yourself for the
mistakes of others,” I decided
to spend my time placidly at the
airport longue.
On entering the place, I saw
a familiar figure. It was Josette
Biyo, a science teacher from the
Philippine Science High School
in Iloilo who had won interna-
tional acclaim for being the first
Asian to win the prestigious
Intel International Excellence
in Teaching Award in 2002. The
award meant Josette was the
best among 4,000 candidates
from all over the world and had
merited for her the name of an
asteroid. It is now called Planet
Biyo, a decision made by the
Massachusetts Institute of Tech-
nology’s Lincoln Laboratory.
Josette was hoping to catch
an earlier flight to be able to
attend to one of her students in
Iloilo who had contracted den-
gue. As we started to exchange
pleasantries and updates on
each other, I realized the de-
lay in flight had been divinely
planned. I saw fire in Josette’s
eyes as she explained her many
works and commitments. She
is truly an untiring figure with
a heart of gold.
I then mentioned to her the
recent formation of a Lonergan
Circle in Cebu to introduce the
concept of intellectual conver-
sion in support of social trans-
formation. She listened intently.
Suddenly I saw another figure
enter the longue and my eyes,
so to speak, nearly popped out.
It was the honorary consul of
Russia in Cebu, Consul Armi
Garcia.
Armi also happens to be the
wife of Atty. Jesus “Sonny”
Garcia, Jr. whom I had just
mentioned to Josette as the lec-
turer and sharer in the Lonergan
Circle. I beckoned to Armi to
join us. She too was a bit upset
with the delay in her flight. We
were now taking the same flight
to Cebu.
Lonergan was a Canadian
Jesuit priest who tried to do for
the 20th century what Thomas
Aquinas did for the 13th cen-
tury: integrate all bodies of
knowledge into a single whole
by identifying a method that is
built into the human being. He
begins his attempt by studying
the formation of insights in
mathematics and science before
proceeding to other areas of hu-
man knowing. He died in 1984
and his influence continues to
grow. Lonergan is theoretical
but also very practical.
The two ladies soon had a
lively conversation. They dis-
covered they had many things
in common. Both are visible
women leaders whose concern
for others is inspired by their
Christian faith. Both also enjoy
painting as a way to relax and
express themselves.
They also consider education
as the way to truly liberate the
poor. Josette does this through
her science teaching. Armi has
supported a good number of her
workers through college.
But their interest in education
converges in one more signifi-
cant aspect. “When people ask
me what I consider to be the
most important need in educa-
tion, they usually expect my
answer to be ‘a research center.’
They are surprised when I tell
them what we need are good
pre-schools. Yes, pre-schools,”
Josette says.
She continues: “Pre-schools
Jose B. Lugay
are not just for playing games
but where the basics of learning
begin.”
As she says this, I recall Lon-
ergan’s definition of method: “A
normative pattern of recurrent
and related operations yielding
cumulative and progressive re-
sults.” Pre-schools create these
physical, mental, emotional,
psychological and social tem-
plates that prepare the young
students to take on life itself.
Being a nursery drop-out, I
could not help but try to imag-
ine what my life could have
been had I persevered. But that
is another story.
Armi could not contain her
excitement: “I completely agree
with what you are saying. I have
actually been inviting active
professionals and retirees to
consider sharing their talents in
setting up a pre-school in a town
in southern Cebu.”
“What is the name of your
town?” Josette asked. “Bito-on
in Barile,” Armi responded.
“Really?” countered Josette.
“You know,” she continued,
“the Philippine Science High
School I teach at is located in
Bito-on, Iloilo!” Bito-on is “star”
in both Ilonggo and Cebuano.
I am star-struck.
We need penicillin, not
condoms, in central
Africa
EVER since it gained independence in 1960, the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC) has been in chaos. By some statistics,
the hinterland outside of the capital Kinshasa has suffered
through the worst war since World War II as rival armies of
thugs, warlords, or surrogates of hostile neighbors battle it out
over our rich mineral resources.
The DRC is rich in people, too. It has a population of about
70 million and by the year 2050 it will be one of the ten most
populous countries in the world. Our total fertility rate is 6.3,
one of the highest in the world. Abortion is illegal here, with
some exceptions for the health of the mother.
Unsurprisingly, our health care is in a mess, especially for
women, and it is actually getting worse, year by year. The cur-
rent maternal mortality rate (MMR) is estimated at 2,000 per
100,000 live births; in 1990 it was 800. (The rate in Canada is 6
per 100,000 births.) Infant mortality in the first year is estimated
at 92 per 1,000. (In Canada, it is about 6 per 1,000.)
At the moment, however, at least by the standards of the DRC,
the country is relatively calm and the thoughts of foreign aid
donors have turned to improving health care. And the band-aid
they are offering is vigorous family planning programs.
Back in December, the DRC’s First Lady, Marie Olive Lembe
Kabila, opened a National Conference to Reposition Family
Planning in Kinshasa. It was attended by all the nabobs of
DRC’s health bureaucracy as well as USAID, the American
aid agency, and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund.
“This is an issue that concerns us all,” said Mme Kabila. “No
one among us wants to lose a child, a loved one we waited
nine months for, and no man wants to see his wife left on the
delivery table.”
USAID is investing US$8.4 million in family planning in the

P-Noy’s two months in

office
THE results of the investigation of Secre-
tary of Justice Leila de Lima, who headed
the Incident Review and Investigation
Committee (IIRC) spared no one. Twelve
persons were found liable for the tragic
outcome of the August 23 hostage drama
broadcast all over the world. Undersec-
retary Rico Puno, Mayor Alfredo Lim,
Vice-Mayor Isko Moreno were among the
high profile personalities recommended
to be charged for criminal neglect. Media,
specifically Radio Mindanao Network’s
Michael Rogas and TV5’s Erwin Tulfo were
also included among the list for prosecu-
tion. This is the baptism of fire of our new
President.
Despite the effects of this tragedy on
our tourism income, there is a boost in the
confidence of foreign investors. A record
sale of $1B worth of peso denominated
bonds early this September, as well as high
interest of foreign capital for investments
in the Philippines shows great confidence
in the new leadership. President Aquino’s
promised fight against graft and corrup-
tion, has given these potential investors
the assurance that their investments in the
Philippines will not be tainted by corrup-
tion scandals similar to the NBN-ZTE deal
during the Arroyo administration.
While there is delay in the filling up
Fr. Russell Bantiles
of vacancies in government, there is also
the abolition of eight offices reporting to
the President, including the Presidential
Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) as well as
the Presidential Anti-Graft and Corrup-
tion office (PAGC). The newly appointed
Secretaries have been doing extremely
well, at least for their two months in office.
Sec. Rogelio Singson convened advocacy
groups in anti-graft and corruption to help
him change the corruption ridden Dept. of
Public Works and Highways. Sec. Ramon
Page of DENR came to hear the SONA pre-
sentation of the Advocacy Groups belong-
ing to the Green Convergence and NASSA
at the Environmental Science Institute of
Miriam College. He ably answered many
concerns on the environment, mining, re-
forestation, etc., creditably while maintain-
ing the government’s right to implement
existing laws. Sec. Enrique T. Ona of DOH
has invigorated the campaign on member-
ship for Philhealth by declaring a day of
enrollment in many places including all
government hospitals in the Philippines.
Sec. Florencio Abad of DBM has changed
the budgetary system which previously
allowed using the previous year’s budget
plus an increase of 10%. Now it starts from
zero. This would mean itemizing all expen-
ditures for projects and services as well as
Laiko Lampstand
salaries of all employees, permanent and
contractual. Sec. Cesar V. Purisima of DOF
now questions all overseas development
funds which need our own counterpart
funds and determines the sources of funds,
local and foreign to meet budget goals.
It may take some time for a smooth take-
off of the economy since eradicating graft
and corruption starts with the election of
local officials including the barangay offi-
cials and representatives of the Sangguni-
ang Kabataang Barangay which had been
disbursing internal revenue allocations
without control. The burden of eradicat-
ing jueteng which impoverishes the poor
and enriches political landlords is the
greatest challenge to P-Noy. No less than
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz had sounded the
alarm that officials of P-Noy’s new cabinet
are involved! The Small Town Lottery
which was the past government’s solution
to the jueteng problem has now become its
shield for continuing the jueteng business.
The Archbishop’s expose’ has endangered
his life. I suppose one can say that the good
Archbishop or the President himself are
risking their lives to let the truth be known.
But is this not what is demanded of us as
Catholics? After all, that is what our Lord
Jesus Christ died for—saving mankind
from sin and eternal damnation!
DRC. The US Ambassador to the DRC, William Garvelink, told
the conference that the unmet need for family planning is more
than 24 percent. Satisfying this unmet need could avert over
18,000 maternal deaths and 850,000 child deaths.
I share the desolation of the First Lady, but this is almost
literally insane. No one can fail to weep at a stillborn child or
the death of a mother in childbirth. But it is absurd; it is crimi-
nally irresponsible, for the United States and international aid
agencies to argue that the solution to the DRC’s calamitous
maternal mortality is family planning.
The real solution is quality basic health care. Not conferences
about foreign aid. Not plans drawn up in air-conditioned of-
fices in New York. We need real health care. We need $8.4 mil-
lion worth of penicillin, not $8.4 million worth of condoms.
A few years ago, the slogan was “Health for All by 2000”.
Now it is the propaganda of “Millennium Development”. We
even have a home-grown slogan, “the five yards of the presi-
dent.” This is all pie-in-the-sky stuff. What the DRC needs is
not a scaled-down version of the American health care system,
but an understanding of how to deliver primary health care
throughout the whole country, not just in Kinshasa and the
provincial capitals.
In the DRC, as in most Third World countries, lack of medical
care is the principal cause of maternal mortality—and this is
the case regardless of the legal status of abortion or the level
of family planning.
Here are a few of the dismal statistics. The World Health Or-
ganisation says that medical problems linked to maternity are
the cause of 19 percent of deaths amongst women and girls. Life
expectancy was 42 years in 2002, when the mean for Africa was
51 years. Access to health services is less than 26 percent.
Throughout the country, especially in the interior, basic
health care and prenatal care is inadequate or nonexistent.
There are no midwives and clinics lack minimum conditions
of hygiene. Even major cities lack the infrastructure and equip-
ment for emergency care. Where it does exist, only a small
minority can afford it. Doctors are poorly trained. Many are
not equipped to deal with emergencies in childbirth. In large
public hospitals there are excellent physicians, but sometimes
they lack antibiotics and sterile gloves.
Malaria is widespread. Eradicated diseases such as trypano-
somiasis, leprosy and plague have reappeared. HIV/AIDS af-

ANC’s edition of Truths last
Monday left me preoccupied.
Aside from the fact that clearly
the mentality behind is a latent
support for the legalization of
abortion in the Philippines (as
can be deduced from its argu-
ments), I am deeply troubled by
the misunderstanding it feeds
on our people regarding the
Church-backed Natural Fam-
ily Planning. As the Church
ordained minister and the
people’s conscience formator,
I feel the obligation to clarify
some points here.
In the program, the narra-
tor presents an interview of a
Catholic priest who explained
how the two dimensions of
sexual activity—the unitive and
the procreative—should not be
separated. Immediately, the
reporter notes that the Church’s
teaching here involves a con-
tradiction since the Church
also promotes Natural Family
Planning which entails doing
sexual activity during infertile
periods; hence, separating the
procreative from the unitive
dimension. The reporter could
have asked the interviewed
priest how to explain this. But
she did not. She simply jumped
into his conclusion. This gave
me reason to assume that the
Truths’ edition last Monday is
grossly biased in favor of the
anti-life mentality.
***
In the Natural Family Plan-
ning, the couple is engaged in
Cogito
sexual activity during infertile
periods. Naturally, no life could
come out; hence, the sexual
activity does not yield the cre-
ation of new life. But this does
not mean that the unitive and
procreative dimensions of the
sexual activity are separated.
Why? Simply because it does
not involve an anti-life mental-
ity. Let me explain.
The procreative dimension
refers to openness in the trans-
mission of life or fecundity.
In God’s design of creation,
fecundity is a cycle. And there
are periods wherein transmis-
sion of life is not possible.
Sexual activities done within
these periods are still open
to life; it’s just that no life yet
is possible. Hence, it cannot
involve an anti-life mentality.
And the couple’s desire not
to have a baby is only second-
ary to God’s will. They simply
cooperate in God’s procreative
design, so to speak.
On the contrary, in the use of
artificial methods or contracep-
tives, the anti-life mentality is
clearly manifest. Regardless of
whether the woman is fertile
or not, the couple’s intention
in sexual activities is to block
the transmission of life. Hence,
it intentionally separates the
procreative from the unitive
dimension. In the natural way,
the couple’s desire not to have
a baby seconds God’s will as
manifested in nature. In the
artificial way, the couple simply
rejects God’s will to transmit
ANC’s half-Truths
life. That is why, it is rightly
called contraception (“contra”
= against; “conception” = life).
The Church’s teaching on
this aspect is quite clear. It is
a total irresponsibility on the
part of the reporter not to have
researched on this and to sim-
ply brush aside the Church’s
teaching as contradictory. To
fill-in that gap left by ANC’s
Truths’ half-truths, here is the
full truth.
***
“Never is it permitted to
separate these different aspects
[unitive and procreative] to the
point of excluding positively ei-
ther the intention of procreation
or the conjugal relation”. (Pius
XII, Allocution to the Members
of the II World Congress of
Fertility and Sterility, May 19,
1956)
“The husband and wife do
no wrong in seeking out and
enjoying this pleasure [coop-
erating with God in propagat-
ing the human race]. They are
accepting what the Creator in-
tended for them. Still, here too,
the husband and wife ought to
know how to keep within the
bounds of moderation. As in
eating and drinking, they ought
not to give themselves over
completely to the promptings
of their senses, so neither ought
they to subject themselves un-
restrainedly to their sensual
appetite. This, therefore, is the
rule to be followed: the use of
the natural, generative instinct
and function is lawful in the
married state only, and in the
service of the purposes for
which marriage exists”. (Pius
XII, Allocution to Midwives,
October 29, 1951)
“The moral lawfulness of
such conduct [limiting the use
of the marital act to times of
natural sterility] would be af-
firmed or denied according as
to whether or not the intention
to keep constantly to these
periods is based on sufficient
and reliable moral grounds.
The sole fact that the couple do
not offend against the nature
of the act and that they are
willing to accept and bring up
the child that is born notwith-
standing the precautions they
have taken, would not of itself
alone be sufficient guarantee
of a right intention and of the
unquestionable morality of the
motives themselves”. (Pius XII,
Allocution to Midwives, Octo-
ber 29, 1951)
***
Watching ANC’s Truths left
me preoccupied but with anoth-
er important lesson learned: not
everything that the media feed
us is the truth, even though they
would call it Truths. Hence, we
need to be very careful and crit-
ical. Knowing better our faith
and the Church’s teachings is
our effective shield against the
obvious ideological indoctrina-
tion that is going on around us.
There’s no deadliest danger
than being misinformed.
fects more than 4 percent of the population between the ages of
15 and 49. In the eastern provinces where fighting is still going
on, that figure rises to about 20 percent. According to recent
estimates, 750,000 children have lost at least one parent due to
sickness. During the 1997-2005 war, 3.9 million of our people
died. Most of them succumbed to infectious diseases which
they were too weak to withstand because of malnutrition and
the stresses of migration.
Although the DRC has an abundance of natural resources,
it is one of the poorest countries in the world, with vast dis-
parities in wealth. This is due mainly to the never-ending war
which scourges the country. In 2002—the last year for which
I have statistics—80 per cent of the population were living
below the poverty line of US$2 per day. Nearly 44% of women
and about 22% of men had no income. Regional disparities
are very strong. In the eastern districts, people were living on
$32 per year; in the southern districts, $138; and in the capital
Kinshasa, $323. Malnutrition affects between 30 and 50% of
women and children. In total, 16 million people live in condi-
tions of food insecurity.
In these chaotic circumstances, how can the US ambassador
seriously propose family planning as a solution? He and his
cronies in the aid agencies are living in Never-Never Land.
I firmly believe that what the DRC needs to turn around the
appalling statistics on maternal deaths is good nutrition, basic
health care, good obstetric care during pregnancy, childbirth
and postpartum. In industrialized countries, birth-related
deaths declined with the development of better obstetric tech-
niques and improvements in the overall health of women. In
England and Wales, for example, the maternal mortality rate
dropped from more than 550 pregnancy-deaths per 100,000
births in 1931 to less than 50 in 1960, through the use of antibi-
otics, blood transfusions and the management of hypertensive
disorders during pregnancy.
According to the World Bank’s 2006 Development Report,
Malaysia and Sri Lanka have managed to reduce maternal
mortality by enabling access to midwives and nurses in rural
areas and regularly supplying provinces with medicines and
medical equipment. Severe bleeding contributes to 44 percent
of maternal deaths in Africa, deaths which could be prevented
if doctors had access to clean blood.
Rather revving up the engines of family planning, foreign
aid donors should think of ways to bring modern medicine and
better health care to the DRC. If they don’t, it will just confirm
our suspicions that family planning is merely a Trojan horse
for legalizing abortion in the DRC.
(Gaston Asitaki is editor of the magazine Construire la famille in
Kinshasa and a lawyer.)
 Local News
CBCP Monitor
A6 Vol. 14 No. 20
September 27 - October 10, 2010

Pro-life groups ask Gov’t urged to improve

prison environments
Congress to enact Citizen
Protection Act

PRO-LIFE groups renewed their call
on legislators to support the promotion
of life by enacting into law the Citizen
Protection Act 2010.
Pro-Life Philippines Foundation Inc.
together with Alyansang Bayanihan ng
mga Magsasaka Mangagawang-Bukid
at Mangingisda (ABA) and the Ang
Kapatiran Party (AKP) has recently
filed a petition at the House of the Rep-
resentatives to ratify Citizen Protection
Act of 2010.
Citizen Protection Act of 2010 is a
proposed law that urge for the security
of any citizen against forms of injustice,
human rights violations, torture, or
abuse of power by the military, empha-
sizing the “right to life in every human
activity,” and calling for a firm control
over the issue of firearms, and “respect
Source Code / A1
of election failure nationwide.
“Its review will enable groups to trace
back where the problem areas had been
and find evidence that will shed light on
complaints of fraud from the local to the
national level,” they said.
The SC said that the poll body has to
comply with the Automated Election
Law which states that “Once an AES
(Automated Election System) technol-
ogy is selected for implementation, the
Commission shall promptly make the
source code of the technology available
and open to any interested political
party or groups which may conduct
their own review.”
A few days before the elections, soft-
ware testing company SysTest came
out with a report on the source code
and revealed several problems that the
Comelec did not admit and discuss to
the public.
Among the problems cited in the re-
port include claims that source codes are
for life in professional and
social actions.”
Pro-life said the filing of the
bill on September 21 signified
the oneness of the group on the
celebration of the International
Day of Peace (September 21) and
the Imposition of the Commission on
Election (COMELEC) Gun Ban for the
forthcoming Barangay and Sangguniang
Kabataan (SK) Elections on October 16.
According to a report, the total gun
ban will be effective from September
25 to November 10, 2010.
Pro-Life Philippines is a non-profit
organization that delves with issues
on values, dignity and nurturance of
human life with corollary issues of sur-
vival, security, sustainability.
On the other hand, ABA is a party-list
not properly commented and several of
the logging functions in the Smartmatic
CCS project appear to omit the inclusion
of the time and date from the logged
messages.
SysTest also reported that the voting
machines used do not log events when
feeding ballots and that the reviewer
was unable to verify that identity of the
contacted wireless device was logged
when the resident device made a con-
nection.
The software testing company also
lamented that the certificate of canvass
and statement of votes documents are
not always encrypted before transmis-
sion and that software inventory pro-
vided by Smartmatic is “inadequate.”
Kontra Daya, together with the Com-
puter Professionals Union, has already
warned Comelec before the elections
that the erroneous and seemingly hasty
programming of the PCOS machines
as found by SysTest can lead to serious
that
advocates
for dialogue and
understanding with the police and
military forces while AKP is a political
party that promotes a pro-God, pro-
life platform as a solution to the tradi-
tional personality-based parties. (Kate
Laceda)
problems in the accuracy and integrity
of election data.
The failure of Comelec to open the
source code to the public opened the
election results to possible manipula-
tion, it added.
The group also asked the poll body
to adopt the necessary operational safe-
guards recommended by SysTest.
“A complete review of the source
code will reveal whether the Comelec
took heed of the warnings and imple-
mented the precautionary measures
recommended by different groups,”
it said.
“There is no reason for Comelec
to keep it from public scrutiny now
that the election season has long been
over.”
“The commission’s continued resis-
tance casts serious doubt as to whether
the Comelec is hiding something
from the public,” Kontra Daya added.
(CBCPNews)
PRISON Chaplains and jail workers
have called on the government and
other concerned agencies to look
into the situations of the prisoners
in the country.
The group urged government au-
thorities to improve prison environ-
ments and ensure the implementa-
tion of the “UN Standards, Principles,
Covenants and Recommendations on
the Treatment of Prisoners”, while
promoting the culture of life.
They also asked Church leaders to
address the concerns of jailed offend-
ers by assigning prison chaplains
that would administer to them.
According to the group, “the
problems of the prison situation are
far more serious now than at any
other time in the long history of our
involvement in prison ministry.”
They noted that prisoners have
been also deprived of their most ba-
Emergency / A1
lang said they also see the possible
passage of the controversial reproduc-
tive health (RH) bill under the Aquino
administration.
“A stronger force is needed now
against RH bill. President Aquino’s
support for birth control is a go signal
for RH bill advocates,” he said over
Church-run Radyo Veritas.
Manalang vowed they will do
everything to block the passage of
the RH bill and would stage protests
if Aquino pushed through with his
www.correctionalsystems.com
sic rights as ventilation, hygiene and
food because of too much congestion
inside the prisons. Other concerns
raised are: putting young offenders
together with adult offenders inside
the jails; punishment and torture;
and lack of access to a good defense
of the cases.
“There were also corruption in the
criminal justice system not to men-
tion the biases and discrimination
against vulnerable sectors of society;
long and life sentences; executions
and death penalty; and increase in
number of foreign prisoners due
to drug trafficking and large scale
migration trends,” they added.
These issues and concerns were
tackled in the recent 6th Interna-
tional Prison Chaplains’ Association
Worldwide Conference held at the
Clarion Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden.
(CBCPNews)
plan to provide contraceptives to the
poor.
“We will definitely organize and
come out strongly and we will be more
active in protest,” Manalang said. “We
are not going to allow it even if we
have to lie down on the street.”
Expected to attend the 9:30 a.m.
meeting at the Quezon City Sports
Club are representatives of other
“pro-life” coalitions such as the Ang
Kapatiran party, Buhay party list and
Couples for Christ. (CBCPNews)

Population / A1

for the year 2010 to be at the
slowing rate of only 1.82 percent
per annum (vs. the 2.36 percent
during the census year 2000,
which figure is often still used
to justify the view that PGR is
“exploding”).”
Villegas also cited the claims
of former Population Commis-
sioner Dr. Jose Sandejas that the
NSCB “single-handedly added
146,582 babies to the actual
number recorded in the 2000
census.”
The “arbitrary addition”, he
said, increased the “population
growth rate (PGR) and the total
fertility rate (TFR) by some 9 per-
cent more than the actual figure
measured in the 2000 census.”
“The TFR for the year 2000
should have been reported as
only 2.7 babies per woman, al-
ready dangerously close to zero
population growth rate,” he
further explained.
The NSCB quoted the TFR for
2010 at 2.96 births per woman,
which according to Villegas,
“represents a significant decline
from the NSCB figure of 3.41
births per woman.”
He said that even without
“aggressive population control
campaigns”, population is obvi-
ously declining because young
couples decide to have fewer
children than their elders before
them.
“The main factors for the
decrease in fertility are urban-
ization, later marriages, and
increased education of women,”
he said.
Villegas quoted Sandejas that
the country “does not need a
policy on family planning which
will tend to slow down PGR even
more rapidly” instead it “can
reap a demographic dividend if
we can slow down or reverse the
declining PGR or TFR.”
“The government’s role is to
assist parents to educate and
nurture the youth leaders so
that they can be more productive
citizens in the future.”
Natural family planning
The Church has always main-
tained its stand against the use of
contraceptives as it goes against
Church teachings.
It urges couples to apply the
natural family planning methods
in spacing out children, saying
natural family planning is “the
only morally acceptable way of
practicing responsible parent-
hood.”
The Catholic Bishops Confer-
ence of the Philippines (CBCP) in
an earlier statement, has stated
that “the Church does not forbid
the advocacy of the increase or
decrease of population provided
the freedom of the couple to ex-
ercise sexual and family moral-
ity according to their religious
conviction are respected.”
Contraceptive policy disap-
points Church
President Benigno Aquino’s
contraceptive stand has disap-
pointed the Catholic Church and
threatened to launch protests if
he will pursue the policy.
Although “saddened” by
Aquino’s support towards the
use of contraceptives in family
planning, Fr. Melvin Castro said
it did not surprise them because
Aquino was already veering
towards the support of contra-
ceptives during the campaign
period.
“I won’t conceal the fact that
we are hurt… we were hoping
that he will be like his mother,”
said Castro, who is also the ex-
ecutive secretary of CBCP Com-
mission on Family and Life.
The CBCP official warned they
will do everything just to block
the measure even if it means
going back to the streets again
in protest.
Castro also said he is hop-
ing Aquino will not use the
family planning issue to di-
vert people’s attention from
controversies hounding his
administration.
“There are more pressing is-
sues that the government should
prioritize,” he said, referring to
the Manila hostage fiasco and
jueteng controversy involving
some of his allies.
He added that the government
should also provide long-term
solutions such as job opportuni-
ties to address poverty in the
country.
Speaking via a satellite televi-
sion interview from the United
States where he was on a 7-day
visit, President Aquino an-
nounced his plan to distribute
contraceptives such as condoms
and pills to poor couples.
He stressed that the number
of children a couple had was a
matter of personal choice.
“The government is obligated
to inform everybody of their re-
sponsibilities and their choices.
At the end of the day, govern-
ment might provide assistance
to those who are without means
if they want to employ a particu-
lar method,” he said.
“I believe the couple will be
in the best position to deter-
mine what is best for the family,
how to space (the births), what
methods they can rely on and
so forth,” said Aquino. (With
reports from Roy Lagarde)

Jueteng / A1

their hard-earned money the poor are
daily lured by the easy money that
gambling vainly promises. Whatever
little recreational value it might have
cannot justify the immense suffering
inflicted on entire families because of
the loss of money needed for the basic
necessities,” the bishops said in a
2003 pastoral statement titled “Eradi-
cate Gambling: It is Moral and Social
Cancer.”
In an interview with CBCPNews,
Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes, SVD,
said he fully supports the campaign of
the Catholic Bishops Conference of the
Philippines against illegal gambling as
he pledged to issue another pastoral
statement for his diocese reiterating his
commitment against the proliferation of
the illegal numbers game.
The 66-year old prelate said his stand
against gambling has not changed and
the CBCP has been very vocal against
it.
“Gambling, legal and illegal like
jueteng simply impoverishes poor
people while gambling operators, the
politicians and some law enforcement
people take advantage of the people’s
ignorance making them hope of win-
ning instead of working hard,” he
explained.
He said it is the gambling lords who
benefit from the illegal numbers game,
including the politicians who control
the police.
“I am in favor of the crusade led by
my good friend (Lingayen-Dagupan)
Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz and I
hope he will continue his crusade,” he
further said.
Step up Jueteng fight
Bishops, priests, and the religious
must give more for the fight against
jueteng or risk jeopardizing the morals
of the society, retired archbishop Oscar
Cruz said.
He noted the seemingly lack of effort
among church leaders to combat the
illegal numbers game “which destroys
the society” and “corrupts the govern-
ment.”
According to the founder of the Kru-
sadang Bayan Laban sa Jueteng, it’s
about time for church leaders to fight
and put into action their position against
the multi-million illegal lottery.
He said the campaign should be
more aggressive especially in teaching
people against gambling and other
vices.
“Ang ibig ko lang sabihin ay hindi na
pwedeng malamya… hindi na pwedeng
masyadong mabait,” Cruz said over
Church-run Radyo Veritas.
“Kailangan po siguro meron na kon-
ting sipa yung mga pangaral natin para
ganun baka sakali naman maiba natin,”
he furthered.
In the pastoral statement cited above,
the bishops categorically denounced the
legalization of Jueteng.
“We strongly denounce any attempt
to legalize it. We once again appeal to
our political leaders, lawmakers and
law enforcers to put teeth to our anti-
gambling laws, ferret out the gambling
lords and their protectors, and punish
them with the full force of the law. We
encourage and support citizen’s move-
ments, such as Krusadang Bayan Laban
sa Jueteng, to root out gambling from
our culture,” the bishops said. (Roy
Lagarde/Melo Acuña)

Fetuses / A1 Sierra Madre / A1

Cardinal Rosales said that a
deliberately procured abortion
is a moral evil and the Church
attaches the canonical penalty
of “excommunication” on those
who procure and helped obtain
it.
“Abortion is a grave sin against
a defenseless life; and for this
the severe canonical penalty to
Birth Control / A1
demned the US-AID, the United
Nations Population Fund and
other international aid agencies
for allegedly meddling in Philip-
pine government’s affairs.
The funding, Castro said,
goes to the maternal health and
population management pro-
gram, a multi-lateral program in
several decades after the govern-
ment suspended it due to strong
Church’s pressure.
perpetuator/s is excommunica-
tion,” he said.
Rosales added that unwanted
pregnancies could be avoided if
only people are “less selfish, and
more disciplined and capable of
self control, exercising a strong
will, and capable of making
sacrifices.”
“These are virtues that are
Foreign funding institutions
claimed they are concerned with
the fast growth rate of the Philip-
pine population.
With this scenario, they be-
lieve that it will be difficult
for the government to address
poverty and achieve sustainable
economic growth unless an ef-
fective population management
measure is implemented.
Castro said these agencies are
much needed in a country of
disciplined people,” the Manila
archbishop said.
In Churches where public
exposition of fetuses occurs, spe-
cial prayers and acts of repara-
tion will be made, for the sins of
the perpetrators, at the church’s
Prayer and Adoration Chapels.
(CBCPNews)
also key players in pressuring
the lawmakers to pass the con-
troversial reproductive health
(RH) bill while linking increased
aid to its passage.
With Aquino’s support for
artificial contraception, the CBCP
official admitted being “afraid”
over possible passage of RH bill.
“On our side, that’s how we
look at the situation now,” he
said. (Roy Lagarde)
Bulacan, NCR, Rizal, Quezon,
Camarines Norte, Camarines
Sur, Albay and Sorsogon.
Among the various issues SSMN
wanted to bring to public aware-
ness through the event are forest
deforestation, illegal logging and
mining, and people’s active par-
ticipation in conservation.
Last year’s tragedy brought
by Typhoon Ondoy “was caused
by an unusually high level of
precipitation, aggravated by
anthropogenic factors including
deforestation and destruction of
the Sierra Madre Mountains.”
The longest mountain range in
the Philippines, the Sierra Madre
wall protects a greater part of
Luzon from typhoons that visit
the island every year.
But with rampant illegal log-
ging, quarrying and other develop-
ment projects the mountains’ rich
bio-diversity is fast shrinking.
In partnership with the Dio-
cese of Antipolo, SSMN ob-
served the “Sierra Madre Day”
with a Mass, Rosary, Vigil and
Photo exhibit last September 26
at the Provident Village Chapel
in Marikina.
Other activities included a
Memorial service and Mass,
followed by tree planting at
the Marikina watershed with
each seedling bearing a name
of someone who perished in the
Ondoy tragedy.
SSMN members count Grace
Padaca, former Governor, Isa-
bela; Tony Abuso, Episcopal
Commission for Indigenous
Peoples (ECIP); Donna Paz T.
Reyes, Ph.D. Executive Direc-
tor, Miriam-P.E.A.C.E. (Pub-
lic .Education and Awareness
.Campaign for the Environ-
ment); Nina Galang, Green
Convergence; Fr. Bien Miguel,
Diocese of Antipolo; Fr. Ernie
P. Pesimo, Diocese of San Jose,
Nueva Ecija; Sr. Angie Villan-
ueva, RC, JPICC – AMRSP; Sr.
Susan Esmile, SFIC Franciscan
Sisters of the Immaculate Con-
cepcion, Coordinator, Justice
Peace and Integrity of Creation;
Sr. Glocar Eamiguel, FMM,
FMM-JPIC; Ruby Ephraim M
Rubiano, MD, Agham Partylist;
Rogelio Buban, SAGIBIN- LN,
Quezon; Sr. Malou Santos, DW,
Daughters of Wisdom; Order
of Friars Minor-Justice, Peace
and Integrity of Creation (OFM-
JPIC); Franciscan Movement
for Justice, Peace and Integrity
of Creation (FMJPIC); Haribon
Foundation, EcoWaste Coali-
tion, Task Force Sierra Madre,
Task Force Kalikasan, Earth Day
Network, COPE Infanta, Tribal
Center for Development. (Pinky
Barrientos, FSP)
 Diocesan News
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 20
September 27 - October 10, 2010
Clergy calls on gov’t to respect human rights
TUGUEGARAO City— The clergy of
the ecclesiastical province of Tugue-
garao has called on the government
to respect human rights and serve the
cause of peace.
In a statement, the clergy vowed to
respect the fundamental rights of people
even as they asked all others to do the
same.
“We invite the officials of govern-
ment, the men and women in uniform,
non-governmental organizations as
well as those who have taken up arms
against the government to join us in
the cause of peace,” the statement
partly read.
The statement was released during
the Priests’ Congress in celebration of
the Centennial Jubilee of the Archdio-
cese of Tuguegarao last August 23-25,
2010 held at the Auditorium of the
Cagayan State University.
© Luis Liwanag
A7
also expressed “regret that many among of human rights abuses, while reiterat-
them must still cultivate a healthy re- ing the Church’s stand that large-scale
spect for human rights.” mining is detrimental both for the
“We will do what we can to help win people and the environment.
the trust of our parishioners for men and They asked government leaders to
women in uniform, but we also insist pay attention and dialogue with them
that they always take up the cause of for they communicate more often with
justice and that they be uncompromis- the people in their parishes “whose
ing in their respect for human rights,” voices seldom reach the offices of the
they said in the statement. government.”
They also expressed their concern on The group also stated their unwaver-
the plight of farmers who have been ing support and help with the farmers,
deprived of land to till and fisher folks fisher folks, laborers and “those who
whose livelihood is threatened because live by the sweat of their brow to or-
of environmental abuse, “including ganize themselves in ways that will
pollution and mining in different promote their interests and the welfare
guises”. of the community.”
“We share in the struggle of indige- Signatories of the statement were
nous peoples for the recognition of their Tuguegarao Archbishop Diosdado
rights. And we mourn with those who Talamayan, Bayombong Bishop Ramon
have lost their loved ones to a dreadful Villena, Ilagan Bishop Joseph Nacua,
cycle of violence and vendetta,” they Tabuk Bishop Prudencio Andaya, Jr.,

The priests praised the courage of said. Tuguegarao Auxiliary Bishop Ricardo
men and women in uniform who defend The clergy urged lawmakers to repeal Baccay and the priests in their arch/
freedom and the constitution but they the Mining Act of 1995, another source dioceses. (CBCPNews)

Ozamiz holds symposium on labor laws

for school heads
OZAMIZ City— The Archdiocese of Ozamiz
held a conference on labor laws affecting
local churches and Catholic schools for the
clergy, school administrators and principals
of the Archdiocesan Commission on Educa-
tion (ACE).
Held on Sept. 16 at the Tudela Function
Hall, Tudela, Misamis Occidental, the sym-
posium was attended by principals and
school administrators from 14 parochial
schools in the province.
Atty. Ulpiano Sarmiento III, dean of San
Beda College of Law, was the resource
speaker of the one-day conference.
Sarmiento focused on the education laws
in private schools, labor code, and explained
regarding the security of tenure.
He emphasized that employees should not
be terminated from services except for a just
cause or when authorized by law.
Briefing
A similar symposium was held two Western Visayas Catechetical Directors attend 50th
years ago in the ecclesiastical province of Assembly meeting
Dipolog, Ozamiz, Pagadian, Iligan and ROXAS City—The Catechetical Commissions Directors of the
Marawi (DOPIM) with CBCP Legal Counsel Western Visayas have participated in the 50th Assembly meet-
Atty. Sabino R. Padilla, Jr. as the resource ing organized by the Western Visayas Regional Association
speaker. of Catechetical Commissions Training Institutes and Schools
Both confabs discussed on labor law af- (WV-RACCTIS). Highlighted during the assembly was the
fecting the Catholic schools and how to fore- approval and ratification of the Constitution and By-Laws of
see potential problems in parochial schools. the Association and the formation of a committee that would
(Wendell P. Talibong) study the Catechism for Filipino Catholics. (Kate Laceda)

Power-Coop consumers assert right to legislate

Aquino skips biggest Mindanao business confab
CAGAYAN DE ORO City—Organizers of the 19th Mindanao
Business Conference are “wondering why” President Benigno
Aquino has “snubbed” the recent and biggest gathering of
businessmen in Mindanao here. “We were left wondering why
he has prioritized the turn-over of MinDA in Davao when we
have sent him the invitation a long time ago,” said Conference
Director Ruben Vegafria of the CDP Chamber of Commerce
and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Bong D. Fabe)

Governor promotes organic agriculture as tool for

peace
PAGADIAN City—The local chief executive of the Province of
Zamboanga del Sur is promoting organic agriculture as a tool
for peace after experiencing the benefits of such venture for his
constituents. Gov. Antonio Cerilles explained that since the
province, like most provinces of the Philippines, is basically
an agricultural province, the best tool to promote the culture
of peace is through agriculture. (Bong D. Fabe)

Consumers protest power hike

LEGAZPI City—Militant groups have staged mass protests
here opposing the power rate increase imposed by Albay Gov.
Joey Salceda to consumers of Albay Electric Cooperative. Vari-
Photo courtesy of Elmer James Bandol

ous militant organizations staged a picket at Penaranda Park

fronting Albay Capitol on Sept. 15 in protest of the P1.66 per
kilowatt hour power hike which the power cooperative has
passed on to more than 200,000 member-consumers. (Elmer
James Bandol)

Sorsogon bishop backs CBCP stand vs illegal gambling

LEGAZPI City—Multi-stake-
holders of the power coop-
erative here have approved a
resolution mandating the Board
of Directors (BOD) of the Albay
Electric Cooperative (ALECO)
to facilitate a special meeting of
member-consumers on October
16, to come up with solutions
that will bail out the ailing
power facility
ALECO consumers asserted
their right to call for a special as-
sembly under Article 3, Section
2 of the cooperative by-laws to
find a way out of the problems
hounding the power coopera-
tive.
Fr. Ramoncito Segubiense,
Legazpi diocese Social Action
Executive Director facilitated the
meeting at the Pastoral Center
of St. Gregory the Great Cathe-
dral.
The assembly assailed the
inability and negligence of the
management and the board to
come up with effective solutions
and policies that will solve the
financial crisis experienced in
ALECO.
Earlier, Albay Gov. Joey Sarte
Salceda has imposed on con-
sumers an added P1.66 per kilo-
watt hour to the present power
rate to be paid within three
years. The generated amount
will pay off the P982 million
indebtedness of ALECO to the
Philippine Electricity Market
Corp. (PEMC).
PEMC threatened a power
blackout in the entire province
unless the additional rate was
imposed.
Salceda’s formula was con-
curred by the ALECO board
without public consultation and
clear presentation of the financial
status of the cooperative.
The decision created howl of
protests from militant groups
and the church.
The protesting groups be-
lieved that the announced power
cut off by PEMC to ALECO was
only a “ploy” to pass on to con-
Sorsogon City—Bishop Arturo Bastes said he fully sup-
ports the campaign of the CBCP against illegal gambling as
he pledged to issue another pastoral statement for his diocese
sumers Salceda’s imposition of reiterating his commitment against the proliferation of the
additional power rate. illegal numbers game. He said his stand against gambling
During the assembly dubbed has not changed and the CBCP has been very vocal against
as “Energy Consumers Forum, it. He added it is the gambling lords who benefit from the
An Liwanag sa ALECO”, busi- illegal numbers game, including the politicians who control
ness sector represented by Benjie the police. (Melo M. Acuña)
Santiago explained that the add-
ed cost of power is unproductive Migrante Mideast asks help for sick OFW
and will not help their sector QUEZON City—Migrant workers’ watchdog Migrante Mid-
compete with other businesses dle East (ME) called on the Philippine government to help an
outside the province. overseas Filipino worker who was hospitalized due to stroke.
Engr. Virgilio Perdigon of Migrante ME regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona
Aquinas University has chal- said that Tamano Saltan Ismail, 35, and a Maguindanaon, was
lenged local officialdom to “pro- rushed to the King Saud Medical Center on August 24, due
vincialize” the power coopera- to blood clot in his brain. Dr. Ali Bin Salamah, the attending
tive and enjoy “first” the benefits physician, said Ismail was almost unconscious when he ar-
of the two existing geothermal rived to the hospital and suddenly fall into the state of coma.
fields in Albay. (Elmer James (Noel Sales Barcelona)
Bandol)

Family Bible Encounter holds bible quiz anew

MANILA—The National Catholic Family
Bible Encounter (NCFBE) is again holding
a diocesan-based bible quiz in preparation
for a national biblical competition.
Launched last February 2010, the Family
bible quiz is a program of various bible ad-
vocates and organizations aiming to increase
knowledge and love for the Bible and Catho-
lic faith among family members.
Among the arch/dioceses that have already
conducted the bible quiz are the Archdioceses
of Palo, Ozamiz, Zamboanga, Tuguegarao and
Pampanga; Dioceses of Antipolo, Balanga,
Bayombong, Borongan, Daet, Dipolog, Boac,
Iligan, Kidapawan, Legazpi, Lucena, Maasin,
Malaybalay, Malolos, Pagadian, Romblon,
Sorsogon, Tagum, Urdaneta, and the Apostolic
Vicariates of Jolo and Puerto Princesa.
Participants to the Bible quiz are coming
from Catholic families. To qualify for the
quiz, Couples must be married in Church
with 2-3 children, single, 8-25 years old
(elementary, high school, or college level/
graduate), regularly attend Sunday mass
and must have basic knowledge of the Bible
and Catholic Catechism.
Organizers said that to be able to compete
in the Regional level, the official arch/dioc-
Proactive parenting seminar next month
MANILA— Parents, teachers and guidance counselors are
invited to a seminar on instilling values in the family next
month in Sampaloc, Manila on Oct. 12. Hosted by the Pro-life
Philippines Foundation, Inc., the seminar titled “Effective
esan family participants must have won the Parenting for Peace and Nation Building” will be held at the
eliminations in the arch/diocese. St. Joseph Retreat House from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. “This
Together with the NCFBE, other conve- seminar aims to help participants learn more about the culture
nors are the Episcopal commission on Bible of life and how they could inculcate its values to their style of
Apostolate (ECBA) of the Catholic Bishops parenting,” organizers said. (CBCPNews)
Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Phil-
ippine Bible Society (PBS) and the Power to
Ecumenical labor group launches ‘Globalization
unite Catholic Family Bible Group, Inc.
With the theme, “The Word of God calls Lecture Series’
us to be Caring Stewards of Creation,” the ANTIPOLO City— The Ecumenical Institute for Labor Educa-
bible quiz is also in pursuit of strengthening tion and Research (Eiler), Inc., in line with its 30th Founding
family ties and relationships and fostering Anniversary will do a series of lecture about globalization and
the Eucharist and the devotion to the Blessed its effect on labor, the environment, and the local industry
Mother. (CBCPNews) and world trade. Anna Leah Escresa-Colina, Eiler executive
director, said that the 10 lectures will enlighten the public
more on the ill-effects of globalization to the economies of

Lipa holds first National Marian Prayer Congress
LIPA City—The Archdiocese of
Lipa in coordination with the
Pueblo Amante de Maria Mario-
logical Society of the Philippines
(PAMMSPhil) has convened the
First National Marian Prayer
Congress last September 8-12
at the Mt. Carmel Monastery in
Lipa City.
The congress began with
a Eucharistic Celebration at
the Metropolitan Cathedral
of San Seb ast ian followed
by a grand procession of the
statues of the Blessed Virgin
Mary from the Cathedral to
Carmel Church.
PAMMSPhil, headed by Lipa
Archbishop Ramon Arguelles,
is tasked to openly advocate the
declaration of the so-called fifth
Marian dogma.
Dr. Manfred Hauke, president
of the German Mariological Soci-
ety, and author of many Marian
books was the keynote speaker
during the congress.
Lauds and praying of ro-
saries as well as singing of
Marian hymns were also pre-
pared to further develop the
congress.
A Centennial Marian Exhibit
showcasing various images of
the Blessed Virgin Mary was
opened last Sept. 9 at the Bishop
underdeveloped countries like the Philippines. All the lec-
tures will be done every Saturday, starting Oct. 9 to March 5,
2011. (Noel Sales Barcelona)
Alfredo Obviar Center.
The opening of the congress Fisherfolk group scores DENR P1-B computer project
coincided with the feast of the MANILA, Sept. 21, 2010—Members of the Pambansang Lakas
Nativity of Our Lady and ended ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) scored
with the commencement of the the P1-Billion computer project of the DENR, saying that it
7th National Marian Pilgrim- is just a “brazen wasting of taxpayers’ money.” The DENR
age. proposes to buy 50,000 computer sets, software and web
Hundreds of devotees, reli- cameras, which, according to Pamalakaya, is more than twice
gious and some bishops and the number of DENR personnel, citing the latest Department
priests have gathered and par- of Budget and Management (DBM) staffing summary. (Noel
ticipated in the Marian congress. Sales Barcelona)
(Kate Laceda)
 A8 People, Facts & Places CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 20
September 27 - October 10, 2010

Filipino liturgists advocate use of vernacular in liturgy

MANY of the faithful may prefer The liturgists also mentioned the
Tridentine Mass with the blessing of need for some dioceses to encourage
the Vatican but Filipino liturgists still participation of women in liturgical
advocate the use of the vernacular in ministries.
liturgy. “Some dioceses in the Philippines still
The diocesan directors of liturgy said reserve to male persons ministries like
they would rather prefer that masses serving at the altar and leading Sunday
and other liturgical celebrations in par- celebrations in the absence of a priest.
ishes and communities use the native We believe that we should encourage
language. the ministry of women where it is al-
The statement was made at the lowed by universal law,” they said in
conclusion of the National Meeting a statement.
of Diocesan Directors of Liturgy (NM- The delegates also mentioned the
DDL) held at Pope Pius XII Center, need for liturgical studies of those in-
Manila. volved in liturgy, especially the clergy.
They said that while they respect the “[They] should be sent by their bish-
option to use Latin and celebrate the Tri- ops or superiors to enroll in academic
dentine liturgy, they would recommend institutions that specialize in liturgical
the use of vernacular and “recommend studies.”
translations that faithfully reflect both The NMDDL meeting, organized by
the spiritual doctrine of the texts and the Episcopal Commission on Liturgy
the linguistic patterns of our vernacular of the Catholic Bishops Conference
languages.” of the Philippines and hosted by the

Calling attention on “the unfinished
agenda of liturgical inculturation”
which began after Vatican II, the lit-
urgists noted that “our rich cultural
heritage has much to offer to make the
Roman liturgy truly Filipino.”
© Noli Yamsuan/RCAM
Archdiocese of Manila, was held from
Sept. 13-16.
Themed “The Veneration of the
Saints”, the meeting also coincided with
Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales presides the concluding Eucharist of the National Meeting of Diocesan Directors of Liturgy last Sept. 16.
the 25th anniversary of NMDDL. (Pinky
Barrientos, FSP)

Caritas Manila strengthens scholarship program

CARITAS Manila is strengthening its schol- in training scholars to become future servant YSLEP has over 3,000 scholars this year

arship program to provide more educational
opportunities to poor but deserving students
from elementary to college.
The social action arm of the Archdiocese
of Manila made the announcement on Sept
23, four days before it celebrated its 57th
anniversary.
Fr. Anton Pascual, Caritas Manila execu-
tive director, said that this year, special fo-
cus is given to its flagship program, Youth
Servant Leadership and Education Program
(YSLEP).
Caritas Manila’s scholars receive financial
support for their transportation allowances
and miscellaneous expenses.
But what makes the YSLEP unique is that it
stresses leadership and moral transformation
leaders and model citizens.
Pascual said the country has a leadership
in crisis “and it is moral in nature”.
“We need to develop our youth to be
educated and with the right mindset and
moral upbringing. This is what we are
trying to do in Caritas Manila through our
YSLEP,” he said.
“We want our scholars not only to gradu-
ate and end up with a diploma, but to be
good citizens and become servant leaders
who will serve in the various communi-
ties.”
“And we need more funds so we can offer
more scholarships and leadership formation
to more unfortunate students, not just schol-
arship but leadership,” Pascual added.
Markings
with priority being given to the children of
the poorest of the poor among the urban
poor sector of Metro Manila.
Caritas Manila’s anniversary celebration
was a two- day event. On Sept. 25, a Mass
and the commissioning of over 3,000 volun-
teers were held at the Cuneta Astrodome
in Pasay City led by Manila Archbishop
Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales.
During the event, the agency also officially
welcomed its partnership with Meralco Bolts,
the newest basketball team in the PBA.
Pascual said that with Meralco’s sports
advocacy program in support of the
youth, Caritas Manila has been selected
as the beneficiary of its basketball team.
(CBCPNews)

Youth cruise marks int’l Day of the Galleon

YOUNG people here and abroad
are taking a cruise dubbed as
“Viaje del Galeón,” on Oct. 8–11,
to mark the climax of the coun-
try’s participation in the first
ever international commemora-
tion of the “Día del Galeón” (Day
of the Galleon).
Over 300 youth delegates
from the Philippines and other
countries are expected to board
Super Ferry 20, Aboitiz Trans-
port System Corporation’s latest
acquisition, to participate in the
event. Aboitiz is the main spon-
sor of the event.
Under the supervision of the
National Commission on Cul-
ture and the Arts, the four-day
cruise from Manila to Cebu will
feature lectures and interactive
events, grounding on Filipino
culture and the effects of the
centuries-old Galleon trade to
the Filipinos.
Highlights of the event include
a procession of the pilgrim image
of Our Lady of Peace and Good
Voyage, cultural exhibits and
presentations, and the “Gabii sa
Kapilin,” a night heritage tour in
Cebu. The awarding ceremonies
for the national essay writing,
oratorical, and declamation
contests in relation with “Día
del Galeón” will also be held
onboard the ship.
“Día del Galeón” is being or-
ganized in accordance to the Oct.
2009 proclamation of the United
Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization in
Paris, France, declaring every
year’s eighth day of October
as the Day of the Galleon. The
event aims to give tribute to
the monumental Galleon Trade
culture, which prospered from
1565 to 1815.
The arrival of Augustinian
Fray Urdaneta in Mexico on-
board the San Pedro Galeon is
noted in history to have hap-
pened on Oct. 8, 1565. Historians
have attributed to this event the
establishment of the Manila-
Acapulco route, which led to the
bridging of continents—Asia,
Americas, Europe, and Africa—
through trade.
AWARDED. Ozamis Archbishop Jesus Dosado, Capiz Archbishop
Onesimo Gordoncillo, Fr. James Meehan, S.J. and Fr. Hermann Gräf,
SVD, and the late Bishop William Brasseur, CICM and Fr. Camilo
Marivoet, CICM, with the Sacrosanctum Concilium Awards, for their
contribution to the promotion of the Church’s teachings on liturgy.
The awards were handed out at the conclusion of the annual National
Meeting of Diocesan Directors of Liturgy (NMDLL) held at Pope Pius
XII Center, Manila on Sept. 13-16. The recognition award was part of
the silver jubilee activities of the NMDLL.
CITED. Fr. Benigno
Beltran, SVD as “Mil-
lennium Development
Goals (MDG) War-
rior” in simple rites
at Eastwood City in
Libis, Quezon City,
Sept. 16, 2010; for
his unselfish involve-
ment and dedication
in helping the poor
of Smokey Mountain
better their lives. For-
merly pastor of the
Risen Christ Parish in
Smokey Mountain, Fr.
The Philippines will be the Beltran has worked
only country in Asia to of- for almost three de-
ficially partake in the month- cades rebuilding
the lives of Tondo’s
long celebration, which will scavenging commu-
simultaneously be held in nities by providing
Mexico and Spain from Sept. livelihood programs
15 to Oct. 15. through recycling of
waste materials, and
More information can be educating them to becoming responsible and self sufficient individuals.
gleaned through the event’s sec- Among his many projects include the creation of an environmental
retariat at 0916-2676977 or send performing arts group whose young members all came from Smokey
an email to viajedelgaleon2010@ Mountain. Through dances and rituals, the performing group aims to
educate people on the importance of protecting the environment and
gmail.com. (Levine Lao) all of God’s creation. Beltran was born on June 5, 1946 in Kolambugan,
Lanao del Norte. Ordained in 1973, he received his Doctorate in Theol-

RP Youth joins global campaign for disarmament

THE Filipino youth has joined the global
crusade for disarmament in the name
of peace by collecting 1M signatures
for the “Arms Down” Campaign last
September 18.
Held at the Colegio De San Juan De
Letran in Intramuros Manila, the event
was dubbed as “I Am For Peace, I Am
For ARMS DOWN!”
With a pledge to shoulder 1M signa-
tures, the Filipino youth has linked up
with other youth leaders across the globe
in a worldwide campaign of collecting
50M signatures to lobby the UN General
Assembly for the abolition of nuclear
arms production.
Youth leaders from the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines’ (CBCP) Episco-
pal Commission on Youth (ECY), Religion For
Peace Interfaith Youth Network represented by
Youth Desk of the National Council of Churches
of the Philippines (NCCP), Focolare Youth’s
Gen/Youth for a United World Movements,
The Center for Moderate Muslim Youth
(CMMY) and the indigenous people’s youth
organizations such as Tuklas Katutubo and
Katribu and student leaders from the University
of Sto. Tomas led and joined the campaign.
YouthPinoy, a joint project of the Catholic
Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
(CBCP) Episcopal Commission on Youth and
Media Office, has also joined the signature
campaign.
“Arms Down” is a campaign orga-
nized by the youth of the worldwide
Religions for Peace, the world’s largest
multi-religious organization.
Through the campaign, youth from
various countries such as the Philippines,
Kenya, Liberia, Japan, Indonesia, Latin
America and other countries in the world
will be able to work together for peace.
The campaign aimed to abolish nucle-
ar arms production; stop the spread and
misuse of conventional weapons and the
allocation of the 10% of military budget
for the millennium development goals.
(Kate Laceda)
ogy from Gregorian University in 1985 and was Scholar-in Residence at
Catholic Theological Union in Chicago from 1985-1986. A prolific writer,
Beltran has won the Manila Critics’ Circle National Book Award in 1988
for “The Christology of the Inarticulate.” He also wrote the book “Smokey
Mountain: Ravaged Earth and Wasted Lives.”
ORDAINED. Ulysses Salgado Cabayao, SJ, Ismael Jose III Villarino
Chan-Gonzaga, SJ and Richard Villacrucis Ella, SJ, to the diaconate
on September 25, 2010, at the Oratory of St. Ignatius, Loyola House of
Studies, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City. Imus Bishop Luis
Antonio Tagle, DD presided the ordination rites.
ELECTED. Fr. Primitivo Viray, SJ, as the new President of Ateneo
de Naga University, by the
university’s Board of Trustees,
September 22, 2010. Fr. Viray
will assume office at the end of
current academic year. He will
succeed outgoing AdNU Presi-
dent Fr. Joel E. Tabora, S.J. In
a letter announcing the appoint-
ment of Fr. Viray as new AdNu
president, Jesuit provincial Fr.
Jose Magadia, SJ thanked Vi-
ray for generously accepting the
responsibility of taking over the
university leadership. Magadia

Lay faithful reaffirms role in Church during Laity Week
THE lay faithful will again reaf-
firm and revitalize their essen-
tial role in the life and mission
of the Church, through active
promotion of freedom, justice,
peace, sharing and solidarity in
a week-long celebration of the
National Laity Week from Sept.
26- October 2.
The National Laity Week is
under the auspices of Sang-
guniang Laiko ng Pilipinas,
the implementing arm of the
Episcopal Commission for the
Laity of the Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines.
With the theme, “Sharing
the Richness of Mother Church
for Social Transformation,”
the celebration will open on
September 26, 2010 at the Lay
Formation Center Chapel in
Guadalupe, Makati City.
The festivity will kick off
with a Eucharistic Celebra-
tion and some activities and
exhibits.
National Laity Week celebra-
tion is in honor of St. Lorenzo
Ruiz and Blessed Pedro Calung-
sod, Patron Saints of the Catho-
lic Laity of the Philippines.
Organizers hope that the
annual event further promote
lay involvement in social trans-
formation.
Various conferences and
workshops about lay vocation
will also be organized during
the celebration.
Laiko also suggested that
other activities such as Eucha-
ristic mass, prayer meetings,
seminars on the pastoral pri-
orities of the Church, exhibits
and outreach programs may
also be conducted by various
arch/dioceses to celebrate the
laity week in their respective
areas.
The week-long event will
culminate with a Eucharistic
Mass on October 2, 2010 at the
Medicine Auditorium of the
University of Sto. Tomas in Es-
paña, Manila. (Kate Laceda)
also cited Tabora’s accomplish-
ments as university head for 11
years. “In that time, AdNU has expanded in size and outreach. A new
campus was added for the High School; home campus infrastructure
was improved with various structures (including a new University Church
and Jesuit Residence); and the University has taken on an increasingly
significant role in social development and entrepreneurship in Bicol,”
Magadia said in his letter.
LAUNCHED. “Celebrating Milestones: 75 Years of SVD Mission at
USC”, a coffee table book chronicling the 415 years of existence of
the University of San Carlos, Cebu. The book launching was held on
September 26 at SM Cebu to mark the diamond jubilee of SVD Fathers’
administration of USC. The book is co-authored by Jose Eleazar Ber-
sales and Patrick John Lim with modern digital images provided by Fr.
Generoso Rebayla, Jr., SVD and Lorens Gibb Lapinid. The University of
San Carlos formerly Colegio de San Carlos was under the administra-
tion of the Vincentians when the SVD Fathers took over in 1935 upon
the invitation of then Cebu Archbishop Gabriel Reyes.
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 20
September 27 - October 10, 2010 Pastoral Concerns B1

CBCP MEDIA
‘The Causes of
Underdevelopment
are not Primarily of the
Material Order’
(Address given on September 20, 2010 to the United Nations in New York by Cardinal Peter Turkson,
president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and head of the Holy See delegation to the summit of
heads of state and government on the Millennium Development Goals.)
Mr. President, equal opportunities for work, and
I have the honour to convey the advocating responsible stewardship of
cordial greetings of His Holiness Pope the environment.
Benedict XVI to the Heads of State and Efforts to reach the Millennium Goals
Government assembled here during have involved the entire international
these days to work together towards community at global, regional and
a world free of the plague of extreme national levels, in spite of armed
poverty and to ensure that all children, conflicts, financial crises, commercial
women and men in every country of the differences, natural catastrophes, and
world have the conditions necessary to a myriad of other human and social
live their lives in freedom and dignity. problems. Progress has been made
HisHoliness,asasignoftheuniversality in various ways towards halving the
of the message of the Catholic Church, number of people living under the
desires to collaborate with men and absolute poverty line, particularly in
women from all over the world, both the area of primary education and
developed and developing countries, equal educational opportunities for
both Christian and non-Christian men and women. Encouraging signs are
cultures. So it was that Pope Benedict also noted in the area of access to basic
XVI appointed me, a son of Africa and sanitation and to safe drinking water.
of the Church, to be his assistant for However, achievements are mainly
the questions concerning justice and concentrated in the so-called “emerging”
peace among peoples. In so doing, he economies, which have succeeded
affirms that Christianity forms part of in reaching an extraordinary degree
the African culture, rich in fundamental of development in the past decade.
human values that contribute in a Unfortunately, less than half of
specific way to a “human” management the countries suffering from child
of global affairs, notwithstanding malnutrition will be able to eradicate
material setbacks suffered in the 20th this affliction before 2015. Despite rapid
and early 21st centuries. economic growth and improvement of
In the year 2000, with the unanimous the social indicators in many countries
endorsement of the Millennium of Sub-Saharan Africa, this region as
Declaration, all Heads of State at the a whole continues to face the greatest
United Nations acknowledged that the number of problems in the struggle
international struggle against poverty against poverty. As if that were not
could not be limited to the management enough, even in middle and high-
of the great economic variables, such as income countries, there are important
finances and foreign debts, commerce concentrations of poverty.
and development aid. Rather, the Therefore, much still needs to be done
Family of Nations appreciated the to maintain and strengthen political
www.ipsnews.net

more specifically “human” aspects mobilization, through continued

of development, such as eradicating economic and financial solidarity, in
hunger, promoting education, providing order to guarantee the availability
health care and social services, ensuring Underdevelopment / B4
B2 Updates CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 20
September 27 - October 10, 2010

Collaboration of Non-Ordained Faithful

in the Sacred Ministry of Priests (Part III)
Bowing while
kneeling
(Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina
Apostolorum university, answers the following query:)

Q: At Mass some folks are beginning to bow after the

consecration of each of the elements, although our rubrics
require that we be kneeling. Isn’t kneeling already an act of
adoration and reverence, thus making the bow superfluous?
For some reason, bows seem to be proliferating during the
liturgy like rabbits multiplying. If one is prevented from
kneeling due to circumstance or size of the congregation
it might be understandable to make some simple act of
reverence, but it seems this is simply an act of piety imposed
on the liturgy. Also, it’s my understanding that, according
to the GIRM a bow is prescribed for those in the sanctuary,
that is, those ordained: deacons or concelebrants.—A.R.,
Mishawaka, Indiana

A: This question is addressed in the Introduction of the

Roman Missal, nos. 274-275:

© Noli Yamsuan/RCAM
“(274) A genuflection, made by bending the right knee to
the ground, signifies adoration, and therefore it is reserved
for the Most Blessed Sacrament, as well as for the Holy Cross
from the solemn adoration during the liturgical celebration
on Good Friday until the beginning of the Easter Vigil.
“During Mass, three genuflections are made by the priest
celebrant: namely, after the showing of the host, after the
By Fr. Jaime Blanco following reminders: 3) “Those chosen should It cannot, however, be regarded
showing of the chalice, and before Communion. Certain 1) “Only with constant
Achacoso, J.C.D. possess that level of formation as an ordinary occurrence or as
specific features to be observed in a concelebrated Mass are reference to the one source, the necessary for the discharge of an authentic promotion of the
noted in their proper place (cf. above, nos. 210-251). ministry of Christ, may the term the responsibilities entrusted to laity” (§4).
“If, however, the tabernacle with the Most Blessed ministry be applied to a certain
In a recent Workshop of the them”. More specifically:
Sacrament is present in the sanctuary, the priest, the deacon, extent and without ambiguity to
Executive Committee of the Canon 1° “In accordance with the Article 3: The Homily
and the other ministers genuflect when they approach the the lay faithful: that is, without it
Law Society of the Philippines, norms of particular law, they The homily is the “preeminent
altar and when they depart from it, but not during the being perceived and lived as an
a nagging question was again should perfect their knowledge form of preaching, (in which)
celebration of Mass itself. undue aspiration to the ordained
raised: What is the canonical status particularly by attending, in so the mysteries of faith and the
“Otherwise all who pass before the Most Blessed Sacrament ministry or as a progressive
of Basic Ecclesial Communities far as possible, those formation norms of Christian living are
genuflect, unless they are moving in procession. erosion of its specific nature,
(BEC)? The matter was raised by courses organized for them by the expounded from the sacred text
“Ministers carrying the processional cross or candles (because) only in virtue of sacred
the canon lawyers from Mindanao competent ecclesiastical authority throughout the course of the
bow their heads instead of genuflecting. ordination does the word obtain
(priests and a bishop), because of in the particular Churches”. liturgical year” (§1).iii Thus, the
“(275) A bow signifies reverence and honor shown to that full, univocal meaning that
the growing frictions between the It is interesting to note Instruction makes the following
the persons themselves or to the signs that represent them. tradition has attributed to it”
ecclesiastical organization and the that the Instruction hurries reminders:
There are two kinds of bows: a bow of the head and a bow (§2).
so-called basic ecclesial communities. to advert that these courses 1) “The homily must be
of the body. 2) “The non-ordained faithful
In the past, this question had always should be carried out “in reserved to the sacred minister,
“a. A bow of the head is made when the three Divine may be generically designated
been sidelined by the lack of any environments other than that of priest or deacon, to the exclusion of
Persons are named together and at the names of Jesus, of extraordinary minister when
clear theological notion of such the seminary, as this is reserved the non-ordained faithful, even if
the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of the Saint in whose honor deputed by competent authority
communities; hence—the argument solely for those preparing for the these should have responsibilities
Mass is being celebrated. to discharge, solely by way of
went—it was futile to attempt a priesthood”─thus forestalling as pastoral assistants or catechists
“b. A bow of the body, that is to say a profound bow, supply, those offices mentioned
canonical analysis of the problem. yet another tendency to erode in whatever type of community
is made to the altar; during the prayers Munda cor meum in c.230, §3 and in cc.943 & 1112”
This time, however, it was pointed the line between the ordained or group... All previous norms
(Almighty God, cleanse my heart) and In spiritu humilitatis (§3).
out that even if it might be premature and the non-ordained faithful. which may have admitted
(Lord God, we ask you to receive); in the Creed at the 3) “Temporary deputation for
to attempt a definition of the 2° “Great care must be the non-ordained faithful to
words Et incarnatus est (by the power of the Holy Spirit . liturgical purposes─mentioned
canonical status of Basic Ecclesial exercised so that these courses preaching the homily during
. . made man); in the Roman Canon at the words Supplices in c.230, §2─does not confer any
Communities, some working conform absolutely to the teaching the Holy Eucharist are to be
te rogamus (Almighty God, we pray that your angel). The special or permanent title on
guidelines might be in order, by of the ecclesiastical Magisterium considered abrogated by c.767,
same kind of bow is made by the deacon when he asks the non-ordained faithful. It is
way of delimiting the scope of and they must be imbued with a §1”(§1).
for a blessing before the proclamation of the Gospel. In unlawful for the non-ordained
pastoral action of such communities, true spirituality.” The use of the 2) “The diocesan Bishop
addition, the priest bows slightly as he speaks the words faithful to assume titles such as
in accordance with Church Law. In adverb absolutely is noteworthy: cannot validly dispense from
of the Lord at the consecration.” pastor, chaplain, coordinator,
short, even if it might not be possible it shows the concern of the (this) canonical norm, since this
And also No. 43: moderator or other such similar
to categorically state what Canon Supreme Legislator that such is not merely a disciplinary law
“In the dioceses of the United States of America, they titles which can confuse their role
Law states these communities are, formation courses not be done but one which touches upon the
should kneel beginning after the singing or recitation of and that of the Pastor, who is
it might be possible to draw from haphazardly─just to comply with closely connected functions of
the Sanctus until after the Amen of the Eucharistic Prayer, always a Bishop or priest” (§3).
existing legislation what these the letter of the law─, without teaching and sanctifying” (§1).
except when prevented on occasion by reasons of health, Article 13: Necessary Selection
communities are not. In more fulfilling the spirit of the norm. 3) “The practice, on some
lack of space, the large number of people present, or and Adequate Formation
practical terms, perhaps we can 3° “Precisely to avoid occasions, of entrusting the
some other good reason. Those who do not kneel ought “Should it become necessary
glean from Canon Law what these a functionalistic, pragmatic preaching of the homily to
to make a profound bow when the priest genuflects after to provide for supplementary
communities may and may not do. and utilitarian conception of seminarians or theology students
the consecration.” assistance in any of the cases
In fact, this is the task that the ministry in the Church─Cardinal who are not clerics is not
Some other countries and dioceses follow the same custom mentioned─i.e., in the other
Canon Law Society of the Philippines Ratzinger adds─it is essential to permitted” (§1).
for kneeling as the United States; others prescribe kneeling articles below─the competent
proposed to tackle in its National emphasize clearly the doctrine 4) “A form of instruction
only during the consecration until the “Mystery of faith.” authority is bound” by the
Convention in May 2011. As a on the nature of the ministerial designed to promote a
There is no mention here of bowing while kneeling but following criteria:
starting point for the canonical priesthood and on the unity and greater understanding of the
only of bowing when for some good reason one is unable 1) He should “select faithful
investigation, the CLSP Execom diversity of ministerial tasks in liturgy─including personal
to kneel. of sound doctrine and exemplary
identified a little-known document the service building up the Body testimonies─is lawful, if in
The practice of bowing while kneeling is not a novel moral life.” The importance of
of the Holy See, which was issued in of Christ.” harmony with liturgical norms,
custom. In the extraordinary form it is a general rule that this criterion of selection should
1997. To arouse interest in this topic, should such be considered
kneeling does not substitute a prescribed bow. But the vast be obvious: conduct reflects
we are revisiting that document in Specific Practical Provisions objectively opportune as a means
majority of the ritual gestures where this might occur refer doctrine, and the good conduct of
a 4-part series that started in the Article 2: The Ministry of the of explicating the regular homily
to ministers and clergy in choir rather than to the faithful such non-ordained faithful in the
previous two issues of the CBCP Word: Preaching in General preached by the celebrant priest...
in general. exercise of their functions would
Monitor. This ministry refers to the (and) not assume a character
In some countries the double genuflection before the depend on their intellectual pastoral preaching, catechetics which could be confused with
Blessed Sacrament exposed, which incorporates a bow comprehension of the doctrinal
The Dispositive Part of the and all forms of Christian the homily” (§2).
while kneeling, is still normative. foundations of such functions.
Instruction instruction, among which the 5) “As an expositional aide,
In the ordinary form the practice of bowing while kneeling 2) The following Catholics
The second part of the liturgical homily holds pride and provided it does not delegate
is not common except for celebrant and acolytes before and “may not be admitted to the
Instruction is entitled Practical of place (§1). The Instruction the duty of preaching to others,
after incensing the Blessed Sacrament exposed. It is not exercise of such functions”:
Provisions and consists of 13 emphasizes the following the celebrant minister may make
foreseen while incensing the sacred species during Mass. 1° Those “who do not
Articles: Two articles covering norms: prudent use of dialogue in the
I would hazard to guess that some people have acquired live worthy lives”─i.e., worthy
general provisions, and 11 articles 1) “The non-ordained faithful, homily, in accord with liturgical
the practice of bowing when the priest genuflects after of the ministry they are being
containing specific practical according to their proper norms” (§3).
showing the host as a consequence of seeing concelebrants deputed to perform, the more
provisions in as many areas character, participate in the 6 ) “ H o m i l i e s i n n o n -
bowing at this moment. This bow while kneeling is not stringent standards (logically) to
where collaboration of the lay prophetic function of Christ. Eucharistic liturgies─e.g.,
required, but I don’t think it does any harm and would be applied to the extraordinary
faithful is possible─and in fact Therefore, (they) can be invited blessings─may be preached by
likely be very hard to eliminate once someone has acquired ministers of the Holy Eucharist.
exists─in the pastoral ministry to collaborate, in lawful ways, in the non-ordained faithful only
the habit. Thus, the Pastors should make
of priests. Without reproducing the exercise of the ministry of the when expressly permitted by
The same cannot be said for those who bow during the sure that such lay ministers
that part of the Instruction, Word” (§2). law and when the prescriptions
showing so as not to look at the host. While such a gesture are habitually in the state
we can focus our attention on 2) “The use of the expression for doing so are observed” (§4).
is understandable in the light of the divine majesty, the of grace─obviously only by
the strictly dispositive parts of admitti possunt─in c.766 of 7) “In no instance may the
practice contradicts the very reason for raising the host the assiduous and frequent
the text, following the original the Codex which establishes homily be entrusted to priests or
and chalice in the first place. They are raised precisely in reception of the sacrament
numbering of the articles. the conditions under which deacons who have lost the clerical
order to be seen, contemplated and adored. of Penance─because of their non-ordained faithful may be state or who have abandoned the
These gestures entered relatively late into the Roman rite intimate contact with the Body
General Provisions invited to preach in ecclesia sacred ministry” (§5).
in the 12th century. At a time when reception of Communion of Christii.
Article 1: Care in using the vel oratorio─makes clear that
was at an all-time low, a popular movement arose among
terms Ministry and Minister 2° Those “who do not in no instance is this a right”. Article 4: Participation in the
the faithful desirous of at least beholding the sacred host.
John Paul II had emphasized enjoy good reputation”─and this Furthermore, “the terms in which Pastoral Work of the Parish
The showing of the host by the priest responded to this
the need to clarify and distinguish obviously so as to avoid scandal these conditions are expressed Priest
devotion. The parallel gesture of raising the chalice followed
the various meanings that have in the rest of the faithful. Thus, in c.766...make the exceptional The Instruction deals in this
more than a century later.
accrued to the term ministry it would not be enough that the nature of such cases clear” (§3). section with two fundamental
Finally, our reader understands that “according to the
in theological and canonical Pastor himself knows that the 3) It is up to the Conference of realities:
GIRM a bow is prescribed for those in the sanctuary, that
languagei. “For some time now, layman in question is living a Bishops to lay down the opportune 1) Participation of non-
is, those ordained: deacons or concelebrants.” Actually the
it has been customary to use the worthy life; he must also project criteria─which must receive the ordained faithful in the pastoral
bow is carried out ordinarily only by concelebrants. The
word ministries not only for the such righteousness to the rest recognitio of the Apostolic See─to care of a parish - The Instruction
deacon would normally be kneeling. However, he kneels
officia (offices) and non-ordained of the community─e.g., upright help the diocesan Bishop discern begins this article by stating
only during the consecration, even in countries where the
munera (functions) exercised by profession and professional the advisability of making use of that “the non-ordained faithful
faithful kneel for the entire Eucharistic Prayer. If, for some
Pastors in virtue of the sacrament practice. this prerogative (§3). may collaborate effectively in
just cause, the deacon is impeded from kneeling, then he
of Orders, but also for those 3° those “whose family 4) “Preaching in churches or the pastoral ministry of clerics
would also make a deep bow.
exercised by the lay faithful in situations do not conform to the oratories by the non-ordained in parishes, health-care centers,
virtue of baptismal priesthood” teaching of the Church”─e.g., faithful can be permitted only as charitable and educational
(§1). The Instruction made the irregular marriage situation. a supply for sacred ministers ... Collaboration / B4
 Features
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 20
September 27 - October 10, 2010
B3

Women, children, poverty…

What’s missing from the Millennium Development Goals programme?
By Carolyn Moynihan
AS th e UN summit on its Millennium
Development Goals wound up this week
the global face of poverty came into
sharp focus, and it was female. That is
how Josette Sheeran, executive director
of the U.N.’s World Food Program saw
it. “We know that the most powerful
intervention we can do is ensure women
have access to food so they can build a
future for their children, for themselves
and for their villages.”
It was also the vision headlined by
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon,
launching his Global Strategy for
Women’s and Children’s Health. “In
many parts of the world, women have
yet to benefit from advances that made
childbirth much safer nearly 100 years
ago,” Ban said. “Millions of children die
from malnutrition and disease which we
have known how to treat for decades.
These realities are simply unacceptable.
The 21st century must be and will be
different.”
Associated Press reports that more than
$40 billion in financial commitments by
governments and nonprofit agencies were
announced for the global strategy, which
aims to save the lives of 16 million mothers
and children over the next five years.
“You can count on the United States and
the Obama administration for the success
of this initiative,” U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Rodham Clinton told Ban at the
“Every Woman, Every Child” event.
Maternal and child mortality
Maternal and child survival/health
cover just two of the eight MDGs but with
five years to run of the 15-year global anti-
poverty programme, these are goals that
seem unlikely to be reached. According
to a World Health Organization Report,
some 358,000 women died from treatable
causes while giving birth in 2008—down
from 546,000 in 1990—but the rate of
progress is “less than half of what is
needed” to reach the goal’s target.
Diarrhea, a Kenyan pediatrician
points out, kills 1.5 million children
under five each year, and yet the
solutions are simple: increased access to
safe drinking water and basic sanitation
(called for under MDG 7) rotavirus
vaccinations, oral rehydration therapy,
exclusive breastfeeding, and zinc
supplements.
Against a backdrop of skepticism
that new pledges would be honored by
recession plagued richer countries, and
calls for a shift of emphasis from aid to
development, the UN needed something
to shame governments into keeping up
the momentum of the MDG programme,
slogans like “women’s issues are human
rights issues”, one fears that something
vital is being deliberately left out.
Where do men come in?
Isn’t there something slightly worrying
about a picture from which men are so
notably absent?
It is true that women and children
are particularly vulnerable to poverty—
after the birth he very definitely has a
role in providing the necessities of life,
including education, for his family. If
only his upbringing, education and
earning capacity equip him to do it.
This is something that the MDGs, and
development programmes generally,
fail to address. They seldom speak of
husbands and fathers except in the context
of “gender equity” where they loom as the
and the Gates Foundation, which,
reports the Guardian, “will focus on the
dearth of family planning in developing
countries”. Access to contraception and
abortion seems to be Clinton’s idea of
“maternal health”.
What will happen in the long term if
governments and aid agencies keep dealing
with women and children as though they
do not belong to families but are simply
© Dennis Dayao / CBCP Media
hand, global mass media culture can
corrode good traditional values and
undermine a man’s fidelity to his wife
and responsibility for his children.
Women, of course, are not perfect
and have made their own contribution
to family breakdown in the developing
world, as elsewhere.
None of these difficulties—or others
that might be raised—is a reason for
giving up on men and the family unit.
In fact, there are compelling reasons for
building family “capacity” in developing
countries, as current development-speak
would have it.
Building family capacity
For one thing, the United Nations,
its signatories and its agencies, are
committed, by Article 16 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, to the
recognition the family as the “natural
and fundamental group unit of society
… entitled to protection by society and
the State”. And this founding document
is not talking about “families” consisting
of women and children, but of families
founded on marriage. Nor was Article
16 meant only for white middle class
people living in rich countries; it is a
fundamental principle for all societies.
Secondly, marriage is a wealth
building institution, while single
parenthood and marriage breakdown
are major causes of poverty. This is
true of the richer countries, as family
scholars have repeatedly pointed
out—as recently as last week—and
developing countries that want to wipe
out poverty should take note. Steps to
strengthen families will deliver long-
term dividends long after specific aid
programmes have ended.
Thirdly, strong families will build
democratic capacity. Committed,
responsible parents will raise children
with similar strengths and such families
will be more resistant to extreme political
agendas and corrupt government. This is
important because corruption continues
to divert and waste untold amounts of
national budgets and aid money.
Most importantly, strong families
are essential for the emotional health
of children as well as their material
security. It would be a sad mission to
save children from death by diarrhea
only to deprive them of responsible and
loving fathers.
If men in poverty-stricken countries
are not up to their role, there needs
to be an intensive effort to educate
and support them in it. Partly this is a
moral and spiritual task, one of those to
which faith-based NGOs can make an
important contribution—as the Holy
See’s delegate to the summit hinted

and the plight of so many women and
children was the obvious choice.
Certainly the statistics are shameful, and
there is no doubt that developing the health
and other basic infrastructure which will
save the lives of mothers and children will
benefit whole communities and countries.
These are absolute priorities.
But there comes a point in the rhetoric
about women’s and children’s health
where it begins to spin off into ideology.
When Ms Sheeran of the World Food
Programme wants to enable women
to “build a future for their children,
for themselves and for their villages”;
when Hillary Clinton talks about “Every
woman, every child”; and when former
Chilean President Michele Bachelet, who
will head the new, super-sized, US$500
million budget UN Women agency, chants
women, because they are the ones who
give birth, often lacking the most basic
obstetric care, and because of their financial
dependency; and children because of their
physical immaturity and dependency.
It is also true, in a third world setting,
that the man involved in begetting a
child—the husband and father—can
do little by himself about ensuring
a safe delivery; that is dependent on
healthcare and other infrastructure that
is beyond his control. But before and
perpetrators of inequality and violence.
For the same reason, the family unit is
ignored and the word “family” is hardly
ever heard except in combination with
“planning”—in which case the context is
not the family as such but women’s rights
and/or population policy.
In this connection it is not encouraging
that during the UN summit Hillary
Clinton announced a new alliance
between USAID (the official US
development agency), the UK, Australia
classes of people whose material and social
status needs to improve?
Granted, there are serious obstacles to
men in developing countries fulfilling
their role in the family (as there are among
the poor in developed countries also):
lack of productive land or employment,
sickness and disability, social conflict
and wars, for a start. Traditional cultural
attitudes can lead men to dominate
their wives and withhold education
from their daughters. On the other
in his address. At government level,
nothing could be more important to
building the morale of men than shaping
an economy that delivers decent jobs
for them, and not only for women (see
MDGs 1 and 3).
All the money in the world will not
make up for social weaknesses. The
terrible mortality rates of mothers and
little children in developing countries
urgently need to be reduced. But the
ongoing health and wellbeing of women
and children is intimately tied up with
the family unit, and, whatever weakens
that, also needs urgent attention.
(Carolyn Moynihan is deputy editor of
MercatorNet. This article is reprinted here
under special publication arrangements with
MercatorNet)

Fair-Trade fights for justice and freedom

By Fr. Shay Cullen
BEFORE I became a missionary
priest I thought about my life
during a spiritual retreat and
asked how could I best live
usefully and worthwhile since
human life is so short. Would I
reach eternal life? No one can
know the answer, we have to
die first. So I realized that since
I was not a brilliant student I
would not be rich in this world
but I could be spiritually rich
by helping others in this world
and that’s when I became a
missionary priest.
It was by God’s will I was sent
to the Philippines on mission
it. If He came to visit the to change. I started a price for the products. There is
people there he would not charity called PREDA, an no cheating or price fixing or
be happy, he would cry out organization that works corruption and the producers
and weep over the cities for justice in all aspects share in the profits.
and he would say again, of life. It rescues the Fair trade is another word
as he did to his apostles children from the jails, for economic justice and
and followers “I have been save children from the improving the lives of hundreds
with you a long time and human traffickers and of thousands by getting buyers
still you do not understand sex slavery in brothels. for their produce at fair prices,
my message”. Today there is training to it means that they can live in
And he would tell again the youth so they could dignity and economic freedom.
the story that we read and get jobs and we would Fair Trade is working to give life
heard in the gospel today. try to protect children to the hungry like Lazarus at the
How the rich man named in every possible way gate of the rich man. To save the
Mr. Richman had good from abusers and children from the international
food every day, he dressed traffickers. The goal of criminals that abduct and sell
in expensive clothes and the charity is to make children into slavery. We rescue
completely ignored the justice real, and to work them and give them a new life.
suffering and starving man to stop the corruption We rescue and save the child
called Lazarus who was and wrongdoing and workers in brothels and when
www.columban.org

to spread the message of the
gospel to the Filipino people.
The Philippines was already a
catholic country converted by
the Spaniards who occupied the
Islands for many hundreds of
years. So why was it necessary
for missionaries to go there and
what more are needed to be
done? Well, as I discovered there
was the established Catholic
Church and people went to
church on Sunday for Mass
and participated in the rituals,
devotions, pilgrimages and
processions but this did not mean
that the gospel was being lived
out as Jesus Christ preached
begging for the scraps of
food that fell to the floor.
But even the crumbs, the
rich man would not share.
The malnutrition cause
sickness and sores and
there was no one to help, no one
had pity, or compassion, but it
was only the dogs that came to
heal him and have pity.
That was the situation that I
found in the Philippines, a vastly
rich and wealthy elite, about
200 powerful families owned
the land, the food, the factories
and all industry. The millions
of Filipino people were mired in
poverty, hunger, sickness and
were begging for the scraps that
fell from the tables of the rich who
lived in palaces and made billions
of money from corruption. They
even owned the government.
The congress was stacked by
the relatives and friends of the
rich and government served
them and not the poor. But these
rich people were very religious,
went to Mass, thanked God for
their wealth and gave money to
the church.
I wanted to put into action
what Jesus preached and did; he
said the poor were the salt for the
earth, the most important of all,
that innocent children were the
models of sanctity that we should
imitate so we will be worthy to
enter the Kingdom of God.
It was a big challenge and much
progress together with many
other development agencies
implementing the social teaching
of the church and society began
bring freedom to many they are pregnant save them
people. from forced abortions. We take
The charity called legal action to bring the abusers
PREDA brings economic to justice and jail where they
freedom and human cannot harm and abuse children.
dignity, and self-reliance, All this important work is
to thousands of people through supported by the earnings that
the practice of FAIR TRADE. come from the selling of fair
This aspect of our work at trade products like dried tropical
Preda Fair Trade is to help the fruit, juice concentrates, and
poor by establishing livelihood other handicraft products.
opportunities so the poor can Buying fairly traded products
learn and use their skills in the is a way to fight for justice and
home and farm and produce reduce hunger and poverty.
quality products for the market. Fair trade helps them to help
Preda fair trade gives interest free themselves and to stand on their
loans to the producers. Fair Trade own and survive and prosper in
finds buyers that pay a good fair dignity.
 Features
CBCP Monitor
B4 Vol. 14 No. 20
September 27 - October 10, 2010

The Philippine population is not exploding

September 26:
Save Sierra
Madre Day
‘Save Sierra Madre, Save

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

Ourselves’

By Dr. Bernardo M. Villegas
I AM glad that Dr. Jose S. Sandejas, former
commissioner of the Population Commission,
has a Ph.D. in engineering and is steeped
in mathematical and statistical sciences.
Unlike some of our ignorant journalists or
commentators who talk about an exploding
population, he cannot be fooled by the
www.filipinaathome.com
rate of anywhere from 1.6 to 1.8 percent
annually, the neo-Malthusians continued
to report a growth rate of 2.3 percent. Only
when some of us insisted that the growth
rate had already decelerated did government
demographers start to report a rate of less
than 2.0 percent.
That is why Dr. Sandejas has all the
right to question the scientific validity of
Equally worrisome is the Total Fertility
Rate (TFR), the average number of children
per woman, quoted by the NSCB for the year
2010 at 2.96 births per woman. This represents
a significant decline from the NSCB figure of
3.41 births per woman.
This big drop in the TFR is quite palpable.
All around us, we see young couples having
fewer children than their elders (even in

the unwarranted adding of 9 percent more informal dweller areas), with many young
statistical abracadabra being performed babies to the actual data that resulted from couples saying that they plan on having no
by some people in the National Statistical the 2000 census. The net effect of the arbitrary more than two or three children (or much less
Coordination Board. He recently wrote a addition is to inflate the population growth than their elders who had four to six children
letter to the chairman of the NSCB expressing rate (PGR) and the total fertility rate (TFR) by per family). In fact, in 1975 the TFR was six
his surprise that in projecting population data some 9 percent more than the actual figure children per fertile woman. This decline in
from the 2000 census, some of the statisticians measured in the 2000 census. The TFR for the fertility has happened without aggressive
in the NSCB single-handedly added 146,582 year 2000 should have been reported as only population control campaigns. The main
By Fr. Pete Montallana, OFM babies to the actual number recorded in the 2.7 babies per woman, already dangerously factors for the decrease in fertility are
2000 census. close to zero population growth rate. The urbanization, later marriages, and increased
MEMBERS of Save Sierra Madre Network (SSMN), consisting The flimsy excuse given in a technical inflated figures that some gullible journalists education of women.
of more than 30 organizations based or with development note, hidden in very small letters, is that unwittingly accept can mislead economic Dr. Sandejas concludes that the Philippines
and conservation projects in the Sierra Madre Mountains, they assumed that the Philippine population and social planners, including legislators does not need a policy on family planning
commemorated September 26 as Save Sierra Madre Day. pyramid should continue to be “pyramid- who are pushing the Reproductive Health which will tend to slow down PGR even
On September 26, 2009, Typhoon Ondoy wrought havoc like” (instead of an inverted pyramid). In Bill and other population-control measures more rapidly. The Philippines can reap a
to the population of Metro Manila and Rizal and Bulacan. fact, if they had not added the 146,582 babies based on wrong and even deliberately demographic dividend if we can slow down
Together with Typhoon Pepeng one week after, these calamities to the data for the year 2000, the Philippine doctored data. or reverse the declining PGR or TFR. The
caused the death of several hundreds of people and loss of demographic data would no longer conform Contrary to the view that the Philippine government’s role is to assist parents to
billions of pesos’ worth of property. The Typhoon Ondoy with the classic form of a pyramid. It would population is still exploding (seemingly educate and nurture the youth leaders so
disaster was caused by an unusually high level of precipitation, start to show the makings of an inverted supported by the common sight of that they can be more productive citizens
aggravated by anthropogenic factors including deforestation pyramid which now characterizes aging overcrowded slum districts in the Metro in the future.
and destruction of the Sierra Madre Mountains. countries like Japan, Spain, Italy and South Manila area), the Philippines’ National I hope that some of our media people will
Sierra Madre, the longest mountain range in the country, is Korea. Statistical Coordination Board in its website, stop their hysterical cries about the Philippine
strategically positioned to serve as the eastern wall of Luzon As a long-term student of Philippine quotes the Philippine Population Growth “population bomb.” They have unfortunately
that protects much of the island from an average of 26 storms demography, I had always suspected some Rate (PPGR) for the year 2010 to be at the been misled by the “doctors of statistics.”
emanating from the Pacific Ocean each year. doctoring of population data by birth- slowing rate of only 1.82 percent per annum
What is disturbing is that Sierra Madre’s biodiversity-rich control pushers. When the United Nations (vs. the 2.36 percent during the census year (Dr. Bernardo M. Villegas is senior vice
rainforest and capacity to shield much of Luzon from the raging Population Commission was already 2000, which figure is often still used to justify president of the University of Asia and the Pacific.
Pacific storms is fast diminishing due to rampant logging, reporting Philippine population growth the view that PGR is “exploding”). His e-mail address is bvillegas@uap.edu.ph)
quarrying, and other developmental aggressions, such as dam
and landfill or garbage dump projects.
Collaboration / B2
In the face of climate change and impending typhoons, it is
feared that similar if not worse floods and natural calamities institutions, prisons, Military c ) “ T h e s e f o r m s o f “ T h e s e s t r u c t u r e s ─ t h e structures.”
might happen. To turn around this hopelessness, citizens Ordinariates, etc.” (italics added). participation in the pastoral Instruction starts─have 2° “Only those faithful
have to be proactive and collectively share in the mitigation of Nevertheless, subsequent care of parishes cannot, in any produced many positive results who possess the qualities
floods, landslides and other disasters. Sierra Madre Mountains allusion to c.517, §2 makes it way, replace the office of parish and have been codified in prescribed by the canonical
needs to be conserved. Thus there is a need for more awareness clear that it is dealing not so much priest” (§1). canonical legislation.” While norms may be elected to such
and participation in rehabilitation, reforestation, protection, with a simple collaboration, the previous article dealt with responsibilities.”
conservation and natural resources management among the but with “a participation in the 2) Tenure of Parish Priest - participation in the pastoral care 3) The Parish priest presides
communities in the mountains and the downstream areas as exercise of the pastoral care of a “The parish priest is the pastor (properly speaking) of the Parish, at Parochial Councils - “Any
well as other stakeholders and support groups. parish” (c.517, §2 in medio, italics proper to the parish entrusted to this article deals more specifically deliberations entered into (or
Thus, Save Sierra Madre Day, a special event to act as a added)─i.e., a real exercise of him and remains such until his with the structures provided by decisions taken) by a parochial
catalyst for this awareness and action. SSMN agreed that Sierra the power of jurisdiction. Thus, pastoral office shall have ceased”. law for the collaboration of the council, which has not been
Madre Day will be celebrated annually on September 26, the the Instruction underscores the The following clarifications are non-ordained faithful with the presided over by the parish
anniversary of typhoon Ondoy. following points: made as regards the duration of hierarchy at the parish and at the priest or which has assembled
Save Sierra Madre Network coordinated Sierra Madre a) This is an exceptional this tenure: (§2) diocesan levels. Noteworthy are contrary to his wishes, are to be
Day 2010, with member organizations initiating activities in provision, and before employing a) “The presentation of the following reminders: considered invalid, and hence
their own localities. Events happened simultaneously in the it, “other possibilities should resignation at the age of 75 by 1 ) C o u n c i l o f P r i e s t s null and void” (§3).
provinces of the Sierra Madre Mountains: Cagayan, Isabela, be availed of, such as using a parish priest does not of itself (Presbyteral Council) - 4) Special Study Groups
Nueva Viscaya, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Quirino, Bulacan, NCR, the services of retired priests (ipso iure) terminate his pastoral “Membership in it is reserved - “Ordinaries may avail
Rizal, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay and still capable of such service, or office. Such takes effect only to priests alone. Deacons, non- themselves of special study
Sorsogon. Partnerships with government, NGOs, POs and the entrusting several parishes to one when the diocesan Bishop...shall ordained members of the faithful groups or of groups of experts
private sector were encouraged. People converged in the Sierra priest or to a group of priests”, have definitively accepted his even if collaborators with the to examine particular questions.
Madre, doing various activities, covered by media. keeping in mind “the preference resignation in accordance with sacred ministers─i.e., as per Such groups, however, cannot
In this way, Filipinos can become aware of the issues that that (c.517) gives to deacons” c.538, §3.” Article 4─and those priests who be constituted as structures
confront Sierra Madre such as forest deforestation, illegal logging (§1). b) “Having reached the have lost the clerical state or parallel to diocesan presbyteral
and mining, and can actively participate in conservation. b ) “ T h i s e x c e p t i o n a l age of 75 does not constitute a who have abandoned the sacred or pastoral councils”, nor to
In Metro Manila, the following activities, in partnership with provision (should) be used binding reason for the diocesan ministry do not have either an parochial pastoral or finance
the Diocese of Antipolo were held: September 25 (Saturday) only with strict adherence to Bishop to accept a parish active or a passive voice in the councils. “Neither may such a
at Provident Village chapel (Marikina City), 7:30pm - Mass, conditions contained in it” to priest’s resignation”. In fact, Council of Priests” (§1, italics group deprive these structures
Rosary, Vigil, Photo Exhibit; September 26 (Sunday) at wit: the Instruction points out that added). of their lawful authority” (§5).
Provident Village chapel (Marikina City), 8:15am, Memorial 1° it is “due to a dearth it may seem better to extend the 2) Diocesan and Parochial [To be concluded.]
Service; 8:30am, Mass; 10am, Caravan to Marikina watershed of priests and not for reasons tenure of an old but still able Pastoral Councils and Parochial
for Tree-Planting. Each seedling bore a name of someone who of convenience or ambiguous parish priest, rather than resort Finance Councils - These are the
died in the Ondoy tragedy. Cf. John Paul II, “Address to a Sympo-
i

advancement of the laity, etc.”
For those who were not able to come were encouraged 2 ° i t i s o n l y “ a
to do parallel activities in their respective parishes and participation in the exercise of the
communities. pastoral care, and not directing,
coordinating, moderating or
(Fr. Pete Montallana, OFM, heads the Save Sierra Madre governing the parish─which are
Network) competencies of a priest alone”
(§1).
to the extraordinary measure of
allowing non-ordained faithful
to participate in the exercise of
the pastoral care of the parish,
as stated above.
Article 5: Structures of
Collaboration at the Diocesan
and Parish Levels
only two structures provided by
the Code, which may have non-
ordained faithful as members
with the following conditions
(§2):
1° They have “a consultative
vote only and cannot in any
way become deliberative
sium on Collaboration of Lay Faithful in
the Priestly Ministry”, loc. sit.
Joseph Ratzinger, “Unity of the church’s
ii
mission involves diversity of ministries”,
in L’Osservatore Romano, N. 17 (29.
IV.1998), 18. Cf. Post-Synodal Exhora-
tion, Christifideles laici, n.23, §6.
iii
Cf. CIC, c.767, §1.

Underdevelopment / B1

of resources. In this regard, the Holy
See emphasizes the importance of
strengthening a global partnership
for development which is a necessary
condition for the achievement of all other
goals, and supports the full and integral
compliance of the Monterrey Consensus
and the Doha Declaration of Financing
for Development. Furthermore, in
addition to providing the financial
means to redress the problems associated
with the international financial system,
hard work is still needed to eradicate the
debts of poor countries and to prevent
the recurrence of certain situations of
international usury that have marked
the last decades of the 20th century.
We need constant low-cost cash flows
for the less developed countries,
specifically destined to create structures
for sustainable local productivity
and stable high-level employment.
Developed countries and emerging
economies should also generously keep
their markets open, without excessive
demands for trade reciprocity, in order
to help poor countries grow towards
the economic independence necessary
to promote their socio-economic
development. A constant sharing of
knowledge in the areas of science and
technology has to be offered to poorer
countries so that they can generate, on
a local level, the capacities necessary to
solve effectively, by themselves, their
health-care problems and their need
to diversify agricultural and industrial
production.
Notwithstanding the international
financial crisis, an essential part of
a deeper and lasting solution, is
the reinforcement of ODA (Official
Development Assistance) pledges, so
that the commitment to allocate 0.7%
of the GDP to this kind of aid may be
quickly applied, while ensuring that
these sums do in fact reach the poorest
countries. Promotion of this effort will
require a renewed understanding that
will enable us to expand our vision
from the donor/recipient paradigm to
see each other for who we are: brothers
and sisters, with equal dignity, and
opportunity to access the same markets
and networks.
The campaign for development
carried out by international agencies
has revealed that success is not so much
economic assistance but rather creativity
and resourcefulness, commitment
and countless sacrifices of “small
actors.” For example, there are local
governments and municipal authorities,
the myriad of subjects who make up
civil society—large and small NGOs,
international and national trade unions,
cooperatives, consumer associations,
advocacy groups— as well as a plethora
of “Faith-based Organizations.” Such
local ownership constitutes a new
phenomenon, which has succeeded,
almost spontaneously, in combining
the most modern technology with so-
called “appropriate” and “intermediate
technology” thus giving life to the
expression “small is beautiful.” Indeed,
this reality was predicted many years ago
by economists such as Ernest Friedrich
Schumacher, and strongly inspired by
the Encyclicals Rerum Novarum of
Pope Leo XIII and Mater et Magister of
John XXIII (cf. also Pope Benedict XVI,
Encyclical Caritas in Veritate, n. 72).
The struggle for development has
therefore stressed the importance of
actively mobilizing all subjects of civil
society; and in this way, has proven to
be, beyond a doubt, the centrality of the
human person, as the subject primarily
responsible for development (Caritas
in Veritate, no. 47). Real men and
women who have formed partnership
and alliances to bring the north and
the south together are showing that
it is possible to unite the immense
possibilities of intelligence and human
will in the service of integral human
development. There is a vast amount
of experience, from Africa and from
other poor regions, to demonstrate
that positive change is possible. This
involvement, at the ground level, where
local communities become key actors in
their own development, is something
indispensable for the true effectiveness
of international aid and for better
international financial and commercial
structures, which nevertheless continue
to be necessary.
Mr. President, although, local civil
societies seem increasingly conscious
of their role as actors in their own
development, unfortunately, most
of the obstacles encountered are
imputable to bad governance and
irresponsible State conduct on regional
and international levels. Therefore, to
overcome definitively the obstacles
that impede development, the positive
experiences of civil society must become
values that guide political action.
Countless innocent victims, whole
populations, have been left in the wake
of the international financial crisis. The
unethical and irresponsible conduct of
large private financial operators, together
with the lack of foresight and control by
Governments and the international
community, have all played a role.
Underdevelopment / B7
 Statements
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 20
September 27 - October 10, 2010
B5

Abortion, A Crime Against Life National Meeting of Diocesan

Directors of Liturgy
Silver Jubilee Statement
September 13-16, 2010
Manila

PEACE!
We, the delegates to the 25th National Meeting of Diocesan
Directors of Liturgy (NMDDL), raise our hearts and voices in
thanksgiving to Jesus Christ, the Leitourgos of divine worship.
For twenty-five years, NMDDL has been a consistent instrument
of the continuing liturgical formation of diocesan directors
of liturgy. It has created closer ties among the directors and
has promoted better coordination between the Episcopal
Commission on Liturgy and the diocesan commissions in the
implementation of the liturgical reform of Vatican II.
As we look back with gratitude at what NMDDL has
accomplished, we look forward to what remains to be done so
that the liturgy will become more vibrantly the source and summit
of the Church’s life in the Philippines. Hence, we recommend
attention in the future meetings to topics like the following:
1. The Use of the Vernacular. While we respect the option to use
Latin and celebrate the Tridentine liturgy, we uphold the use of
the vernacular in our parishes and communities and recommend
translations that faithfully reflect both the spiritual doctrine of the
texts and the linguistic patterns of our vernacular languages.
2. Spirituality of Liturgy. Active participation is one of the
many blessings Vatican II has bestowed on our parishes and
communities. We wish to remind ourselves, however, that
active participation should lead to deeper spiritual encounter
with Christ and the Church. Hence our liturgical celebrations

WITH possible malicious intent the ugly part
of life is again gaining the limelight in our
country as the frequency of aborted fetuses is
publicly exposed. The placing and exhibiting
of aborted human fetuses in public places
are not favored in other cultures, and decent
people refuse to do the same.
Thou shalt not kill! A deliberately procured
abortion is a moral evil and the Catholic
Church attaches the canonical penalty of
Excommunication on those who procure it and on
those who help obtain abortion (Canon 1398).
If the expositions of discarded human
fetuses are not done with evil intent, then
the practice alone of rampant abortion is
symptomatic of a grave moral decadence and
irresponsible behavior that now seriously
threaten the country.
Human lives are always precious to God
and any violation of it will be dealt with by
Him for He said, “Vengeance is mine... He
will avenge the blood of his servants” (Gen.
4:15, Deut. 32:43). Abortion is a grave sin
against a defenseless life; and for this the
severe canonical penalty to perpetuator/s
is Excommunication.
Unwanted pregnancies could be avoided if
only people are less selfish, more disciplined
and capable of self control, exercising a strong
will, and capable of making sacrifices. These
are virtues that are much needed in a country
of disciplined people.
Short cuts to progress even by way of
new laws cannot compensate for abandoned
values. Human life, created in the image of
its Maker, (Gen. 1:27), the very source of the
www.flickr.com
rights and dignity of the human person, must
always be respected and defended.
In Churches where public exposition of
fetuses occurs, special prayers and acts of
reparation will be made, for the sins of the
perpetrators, at the church’s Prayer and
Adoration Chapels. Pray and include also
in your prayers the special prayers to ST.
MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, for the
perpetrators and instigators of this grievous
sin against the life of the innocent.
May Mary, Mother of Life, intercede for
all who value the sacredness of life.
GAUDENCIO B. CARDINAL ROSALES
Archbishop of Manila
Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows
15 September 2010
should foster the necessary environment of prayer and awe in
the presence of the divine mysteries, excluding those expressions
that trivialize the sacred celebration.
3. Liturgical Inculturation. The interest in recent times to revive
the Tridentine Liturgy should not draw the attention, especially
of the Church leaders, from the unfinished agenda of liturgical
inculturation. We are of the persuasion that liturgical renewal, as
envisioned by the Constitution on Liturgy of Vatican II, entails
liturgical inculturation and that our rich cultural heritage has
much to offer to make the Roman liturgy truly Filipino.
4. Liturgical Studies. Sound tradition and legitimate progress
are key phrases that express the program of liturgical reform. It is
consequently necessary to study the history and theology of the
liturgy, be familiar with culture, and be imbued with liturgical
spirituality and pastoral zeal for the Church. We, therefore,
recommend that those involved in liturgy, particularly the
clergy, should be sent by their bishops or superiors to enroll in
academic institutions that specialize in liturgical studies.
5. Lay Ministers. Our parishes and communities are blessed
with numerous and worthy lay liturgical ministers. However,
some dioceses in the Philippines still reserve to male persons
ministries like serving at the altar and leading Sunday celebrations
in the absence of a priest. We believe that we should encourage

Statement of the Priests’ Congress

Ecclesiastical Province of Tuguegarao; August 25, 2010
WE, the assembled members of
the clergy of the Ecclesiastical
Province of Tuguegarao,
consisting of the Archdiocese of
Tuguegarao, the Diocese of Ilagan,
the Diocese of Bayombong and
the Apostolic Vicariate of Tabuk,
humbly address our brothers
and sisters in these ecclesiastical
jurisdictions, after having met for
three days of discernment and
fraternal exchange.
In the full realization that we
have been ordained to be bearers
of Christ’s Peace, we pledge to
serve the cause of peace. There
will be less recrimination and
more constructive effort towards
peace. We invite the officials of
government, the men and women
in uniform, non-governmental
organizations as well as those
who have taken up arms against
the government to join us in
the cause of peace. We shall, as
priests, be more respectful of
the fundamental rights of our
brothers and sisters so that all
else shall show the same respect.
We shall be less demanding of
privilege and prerogative so that
there will be more to share with
those who truly need.
We are especially concerned
about the lot of farmers who are
at the mercy of middlemen and
fall victim to various schemes
that deprive them of their
land, of fisher folks who are
threatened by different forms of
environmental abuse, including
pollution and mining in different
guises. We share in the struggle
of indigenous peoples for the
recognition of their rights. And
we mourn with those who have
lost their loved ones to a dreadful
cycle of violence and vendetta.
We earnestly ask our
lawmakers to repeal the Mining
Act of 1995 and reiterate the
position of the Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines
in 1998. “Through Agreements
arising from the Mining Act, our
land is being offered to foreign-
owned companies under liberal
conditions, while our people
continue to grow in poverty.”
We are not opponents of
government, because we are
aware that inspired government
is indispensable to the well-being
of the people, but we also ask
our government leaders to listen
to us, dialogue with us because
in several ways, we touch base
with the people in our parishes
whose voices seldom reach the
offices of the government.
We are in admiration of the
risk to which our gallant men
and women expose their lives
in defense of our freedoms and
Constitution, but we also regret
that many among them must
still cultivate a health respect for
human rights. We will do what
we can to help win the trust of
our parishioners for men and
women in uniform, but we also
insist that they always take up the
cause of justice and that they be
uncompromising in their respect
for human rights.
Many of our people remain
poor. We, as priests, will endeavor
to live simple lives, to keep only
that which we need, so as to be
more credible witnesses of that
poverty that the Lord called
blessed. We consecrate ourselves
to the education of the youth
so that they may be productive
members of the society, and so
that there may be, in their own
lives, the promise of flourishing.
We will ceaselessly inspire
farmers, fisher folks, laborers and
those who live by the sweat of
their brow to organize themselves
in ways that will promote their
interests and the welfare of the
community, as we shall ever
be vigilant against attempts at
exploiting them.
By the love we hope to be able
to show for each other, we also
pray that all will recognize that
we are Christ’s Disciples. By the
humble service we render our
the ministry of women where it is allowed by universal law.
6. Liturgy Newsletter. Part of continuing liturgical formation
of diocesan directors and their collaborators is liturgical
information. We request the Episcopal Commission on Liturgy
to publish and disseminate regularly through newsletter, in
print or by electronic media, recent liturgical norms, guidelines,
and other pertinent information on the liturgy.
As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of NMDDL, we recall the
brothers and sisters, we hope that
visionary initiative of Archbishop Jesus Dosado who, together
our communities will experience
with Fr. Camilo Marivoet, CICM, and Fr. James Meehan, SJ,
the presence of the Spirit that was
established and promoted the annual meeting. We are in their
poured out on us on the day of our
debt. Likewise, we remember with gratitude the dioceses that
Ordination to bring glad tidings
have generously hosted NMDDL and the speakers that shared
to the poor and liberty to all who
their liturgical expertise with us. Lastly, we thank His Eminence
are in captivity.
Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales of the Archdiocese of Manila for
As we beg the Lord of the
hosting NMDDL at this significant year of its existence.
Harvest, one hundred years
That in all things God may be glorified!
after Quae Mare Sinico, to allow
us to advance in wisdom, age
and grace before God and his
people, we ask His Mother, and
ours, who, in this ecclesiastical
province, we venerate under
Statement of the Association of
the title of Our Lady of Piat, to
journey with us.
Major Religious Superiors in
+ DIOSDADO TALAMAYAN, DD
the Philippines on the Hacienda
Archbishop of Tuguegarao Luisita Case
+RAMON VILLENA, DD
Bishop of Bayombong “Let none of you wrong his neighbor, but fear your God; I
+JOSEPH NACUA, OFMCap., DD am Yahweh your God” (Lev. 25: 17)
Bishop of Ilagan
+PRUDENCIO ANDAYA, JR. The Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines
CICM, DD (AMRSP) is thankful that the Highest Court of the land is setting
Apostolic Vicar of Tabuk in motion the case of the Hacienda Luisita towards hopefully a
+RICARDO BACCAY, DD definitive resolution. After the presentation of the oral arguments
Auxiliary Bishop of of the contending parties regarding the stock distribution option
Tuguegarao scheme (SDO), we, the religious men and women expect that in
the soonest possible time the Supreme Court will finally issue
Clergy of the Archdiocese of a resolution that will render justice to the farmers and farm
Tuguegarao workers of Hacienda Luisita. We urge the same Court to make
Clergy of the Dioceses of use of the facts based on the records of the case.
Bayombong and Ilagan We denounce the stock distribution scheme and we support
Clergy of the Apostolic the farmers and the farm workers’ petition for the revocation
Vicariate of Tabuk of the SDO to pave the way for actual land distribution. Any
attempt to resolve this issue that deviates from the actual land
distribution will not put the case to rest but will only fuel another

An Open Letter on the Hostage Crisis

To our fellow Filipinos here and abroad
To all men and women of goodwill
everywhere:
For us, Filipinos, 23 August 2010, now
known all over the world as the “Philippine
hostage crisis” will forever stand as a very
dark day in our people’s history. On this
fateful day, a former police officer hijacked
a tour bus in Rizal Park, Manila, carrying
25 tourists from Hong Kong, including 5
Canadian nationals and 1 British. At the
end of a ten hour negotiation and siege, 8
hostages and the hijacker lay dead. Finger
pointing, investigations, damage control,
continue to take place even now. Blunders
in the negotiations and in the assault have
been pointed out and admitted. As Filipinos
we are ashamed. It is as though we are now
afraid to face the world. satisfaction of everyone concerned.
But let us “not be taken aback at the testing
by fire which is taking place” among us (1Pt.
4: 12). Let us remember that we also had our
brightest moments as a nation, when the
whole world acclaimed us for our heroism to
defend our country and for our determined
courage to restore our democracy. These
are peak moments in our history that must
inspire us. We are not an undisciplined
nation staggering in blunder and chaos.
We are a nation with a proud heritage of
righteousness, of heroism and discipline.
It is from this Filipino heritage that with
God’s grace we shall overcome our shame
and shout with pride, “Let us rise and move
on.” With the Lord we must persevere and
we shall surely “not lose heart and come to
grief” (see Heb.:12: 3).
But we have to begin with confession.
We admit with great sadness the grave
inadequacies in the entire process of the
hostage crisis, negotiating, decision-making,
media role, communicating, coordinating,
and assaulting. With transparency our
government must thoroughly and impartially
investigate every inadequacy to the
We express our deep grief with the families
of the victims. We are truly numbed by the
tragedy that has befallen visitors in our own
land. Deeply tragic, indeed, was the great
loss, and made more so by the knowledge
that it could have been avoided. Even as our
shame is deep, our grief and sympathy with
the bereaved families are beyond words.
We assure you, the grieving families of
victims as well as all men and women of good
will here and abroad, that the true heart of
the Filipino is demonstrated not by the fatal
inadequacies of the few, but by the great human
and professional qualities of the many.
Kindly observe the thousands upon
thousands of Filipinos working abroad. With
great love and sacrifice they are taking care of
families, children, and old people in various
parts of Asia, including Hong Kong, Macau,
Taiwan and Singapore, and in many other
parts of the world. They are contributing
their professional skills towards the economic
development of other countries. In them you
will see the true heart of the Filipino.
We ask our brother bishops in other
countries to communicate this message to
their people.
In the Lord,
+ NEREO P. ODCHIMAR, DD
Bishop of Tandag
President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
the Philippines
6 September 2010
round of peasant unrest in Hacienda Luisita.
We uphold the position of the farmers and farm workers that
transforming them into stockholders will not give them better lives
than the actual land distribution. Moreover, they had suffered far
too long from the callous resistance of the landowners to maintain
their ownership of the land, in defiance of the essence of the agrarian
reform law and of the moral demands of social justice.
In addition, we make this stand based on our discernment that the
actual distribution of land of Hacienda Luisita is an issue of national
significance and impact to our Philippine society. It is a dispute that
shouldnotjustbelefttothecorporateofficersandmajoritystockholders
of Hacienda Luisita Incorporated to decide upon. It is wrong to simply
consider it as “intra-corporate dispute”. It is an issue of national interest
considering the fact that it is a test case of the effective implementation
of the agrarian reform law in the country.
We, therefore, call on the Filipino people to rally behind the
farmers and farm workers and to support their demand for
land distribution. We call on the landowners and management
of Hacienda Luisita to stop their obstinate opposition to land
distribution so that the farmers and the farm workers can have
the piece of land that each one of them dreamed of.
We will be vigilant and will continue to monitor every step
of the way until the Supreme Court, finally decides in favor
of the rights of the farmers and farm workers of Hacienda
Luisita. We are confident that justice will finally be served: Sa
matuwid na daan, lupa para sa mga magsasaka; katarungan
para sa lahat na mamamayan hindi para sa iilan.
SR. MARY JOHN M. MANANZAN, OSB
FR. QUIRICO PEDREGOSA, JR., OP
AMRSP Co-Chairpersons

B6
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C (Luke 17:11-19) October 10, 2010
By Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo,
SThD
WHEN the two commercial jets that
terrorists had hijacked brought down
the historic World Trade Center in New
York, leaving in its wake thousands of
casualties and tons of debris, bringing
havoc to the American psyche, a
number of people went to the nearby
St. Patrick’s Cathedral to thank the
Lord for having been absent in the
vicinity of the twin-towers when the
tragedy struck. They attended Mass
in gratitude to God who saved them
from the disastrous attack. But events
of course are not always as mind-
boggling as the assault on the World
Trade Center. And what is or has
become ordinary does not normally
make a dint.
Understandably enough, when one
becomes accustomed to an event,
however momentous it may be, it
becomes so normal that he misses
to see even its significance, still less
perceive the meaning that has yet to be
uncovered in the long run. A sacristan,
for example, may tend to regard the
change of the bread and wine into the
body and blood of Christ to be just an
ordinary part of the rite, no different
from the making of the sign of the cross
at the beginning of the mass. Indeed,
sometimes it takes the inquisitive mind
of a little boy, who wishes to have his
first communion, to make us realize
the profound significance of the ritual.
At other times, it requires the touch
of God’s finger to make us aware that
what is happening is far from ordinary,
as in the miracle of the Eucharist in
Lanciano, Italy. And only then are
we conscious that the hand of God is
behind what is happening before our
very eyes.
Today’s Gospel about the healing of
the ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19) provides
us an example of that experience. At the
outset, it may be noted that leprosy was
Fr. Francis Ongkingco
WHATEVER
“HEY, Andy,” Timy waved a flyer for her
friend to see. “Check this out! There’s a new
craze called frogurt!”
“Frogurt?” Andy was busy licking the
remnants of chocolate icing from the spatula
for his recent experimental baking session.
“Would that stand for ‘frozen yogurt’?”
“Guessed right, dude!” Timy approached
him the kitchen counter. “And it looks
inviting!”
“Well, why don’t we try it out this
weekend, and we can exchange our culinary
impressions about it?”
“That’s a good idea,” she said. “I’m badly
needing a break from all my classes and exams.”
***
“Waiter!” Timy called out. The young man
eagerly approached to take their order.
“We would like to have some frogurt?”
she asked.
“Oh, I’m really sorry miss,” he frowned.
“Unfortunately, it is only served in selected
franchise outlets.”
“What a pity,” Andy wiped his lips after
sipping his lemonade. “We actually came
only for that!”
“I’m so sorry sir. But maybe if you come by next
month, it may already be part of our products.
Would you like some ice-cream instead?”
***
“Geez, we came all the way here for
nothing?” Andy looked at Timy with
disappointment.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t read the small print
saying it’s not available in all outlets,” Timy
apologized. “I guess there will be a next time.
What about when my brother comes over?”
“Timy, that’s like a month and a half from
now,” Andy said.
“Yeah, but let’s just wait for that moment to
Bo Sanchez
SOULFOOD
A soul dream was born
I HAD my spiritual conversion exactly make my mother jump up
at age 12. and down with glee.
And as a 13-year-old boy, I When she told me it was
read the life story of St. Francis impossible to do what I wanted
of Assisi. to do, I nurtured a dream in my
That was when I felt something young heart. This time, I was not
stir deep in my soul. anymore dreaming for a toy robot
I dreamt of becoming like Jesus with a tiny head, a sword handle
and Francis, loving the poor the on its chest, and rectangular
way they did. arms and legs. I dreamt of
So I brought home street kids building a huge home where I
and elderly poor people wandering could welcome the poorest of
about in the streets, which didn’t the poor.
Ref lections
Healing and saving faith
Love and Yogurt
exchangeourimpressions.Inthemeantime,Iguess
there won’t be frogurt for both of us,” she smiled.
“Alright, I guess so. ‘Sides, you got me
into this.”
***
[BEEP, BEEP, BEEP] Timy’s cell sounded
a new text message. It was from Andy
She was miffed with what she read: [Timy,
u hav 2 try d frogurt! 8s gr8!!!]
Timy couldn’t contain herself and texted
back: [Bt we agred dat we wnt try 8 til my
bro cmes frm UK!] She waited for a reply,
but nothing came in that day.
The next day, she woke up and read Andy’s
reply: [M sori, I ddnt knw tkng 8 2gthr mnt
smthng 2 u. Lts cht. :( ]
***
“…come on Timy, we casually agreed to
enjoy it together. Hey, it wasn’t anything like
we made some promise or vow. ‘Sides, I was
eatin’ lunch with my folks that day and…,”
Andy defended himself.
“Okay, okay, okaay! No big deal, no offense
committed, Andy. It’s just that I felt that since
we’ve been longtime culinary buddies, taking
it together for the first time would give us a
crisp and raw impression about the dessert,”
she explained.
Timy noticed that Andy suddenly became
serious and pensive. “I’m sorry, Andy. I
didn’t mean too…,”
“No, it’s perfectly alright, Timy,” he said.
“I was only struck by what you said, and
realized that friendship and love are like
having frogurt together.”
“Duh?” Timy gaped at him. “Hey, that
doesn’t sound like you speaking…hello?
Is Andy still there? How are frogurt and
friendship or love related?”
“I saw that ‘tasting something together’
By age 14, I would do outreach
work in the slums, sometimes
sleeping there. I would live in a
shanty, sharing a tiny room with
nine people. I breathed their air,
ate their food, and laughed at
their jokes.
The experience changed my
life. Unlike the dream for a robot,
the dream to serve the poor never
died.
Sixteen years later, we built
a huge home for the poorest of
like frogurt meant so much to you. And
between friends, sharing things together for
the first time is very important. Whatever they
experience as friends, say, watching a movie,
reading a book, and sharing a dessert is a lot
more meaningful when they are enjoying it
together and for the first time. It would be
like sharing that first impression and never
getting used to it.”
“You mean they would be enriched by their raw
impression of that first time experience together?”
“Exactly! It wouldn’t be the same, for
example, if I’ve done something already –like
having watched a film– and I just go through
it again to accompany you to watch it. But the
impact would be different if I hadn’t watched
it yet. The same goes with a book, a song, a
poem and frogurt.”
“That’s really something,” Timy chuckled.
“I wonder what you had for breakfast!”
“Reflecting a bit more, we can apply the
same idea to people who are in love and
preparing for marriage. It wouldn’t be the
same if the exchange of affection of two people
would have already been selfishly tainted by
previous experiences. It would be sad if in
their most intimate moments, of the greatest
exchange of love and affection either of them
would start comparing or basing their love
with past experiences.”
“I see your point, now Andy, but I’m
just a bit curious…,” she was a bit hesitant.
“By saying all this…were you alluding to
something else?”
“Alluding to something like…?”
“I mean… ah, you know, like…us?”
“Us…huh?” Andy scratched his head. He
glanced at his watch and exclaimed, “Of course,
you’reright.It’slunchtime!Allthatreflectin’made
us forget the most important thing: FOOD!”
“Grrr! Boys! [SIGH!]” Timy rolled her eyes
in frustration.
the poor.
With the help of my friends,
we bought a huge land (today, it
consists of five hectares), built a
number of houses on it, and called
it Anawim—a Hebrew word that
means the poor of the Lord.
Since 1995, we have been
picking up abandoned elderly
from the streets and giving them
a loving home.
What dreams do you have in your
heart that has never died?
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 20
September 27 - October 10, 2010
a general term in the ancient world to
cover a variety of skin anomalies—from
rashes, acne, boils to actual Hansen’s
disease (Lev 13). In instances of actual
Hansen’s disease, the afflicted were
ostracized from villages, although they
lived near enough on the outskirts to
receive alms. Their isolation, which
was regulated by Lev 13:45-46 (see
also Num 12:15; 2 Kings 7:3-4), was
bridged by warning the people of
their approach by shouting “Unclean!
Unclean!” Whether the ten lepers
in the present story had Hansen’s
disease or not, the data do not enable
us to determine. At any rate, the
episode seems to be a miracle story,
in which the lepers called out for pity
and mercy, and Jesus answered their
plea by healing them while they were
on the way to the priests to present
themselves for examination (Lev 13:49).
One gets the impression that here Luke
shows Jesus as a healer who meets the
needs of those who cry for help. He
is portrayed as a liberator who frees
the afflicted from the slavery to evil
condition and restores them to the
community of Israel.
It seems, however, that—as Luke
narrates it—this is not the main point
of the Gospel story. For one thing, the
narrative ends with a pronouncement:
“Your faith has been your salvation”
(Luke 17:19). Secondly, the Samaritan’s
faith is praised, obviously in contrast
with that of the nine other lepers, and
the gratitude of the former is starkly
set over against the ingratitude of the
latter. One is tempted to say, therefore,
that Luke’s point revolves around the
act of salvation that Jesus performed.
Let us uncover what this means. To
be sure, the healing of leprosy was not
distinctive of Jesus. There were many
www.thebiblerevival.com
miracle workers in the Near East at
that time, and the Greeks called them
theios aner, divine men. Which is why
one can assume that although the nine
Jewish lepers showed faith in Jesus, as
Healing / B7
Bishop Pat Alo
ENCOUNTERS
The contra-
ceptive issues
MANY misunderstand the Church’s official position versus the
use of artificial contraceptives and abortion, which are included
in the controversial RH Bill; so too the present issues on sex
education, which the Church sees as to be gradually developed as
is natural within the family supervision rather than to be publicly
taught in the public schools. This is exposed to corruption of
the youth since pornography or indecent images are very much
commercialized without control in the Internet media.
There’s no denying the fact that the proliferation of artificial
contraceptives, many of which are abortifacient, can and do
really reduce population. A friend Bishop of mine, Bishop R.
Baccay, from the Tuguegarao Archdiocese, confided to me his
observation in various places or sites he visited abroad where
you can’t any more hear babies’ cries but rather the coughing
of older people. Where then is the future of our country if the
young people are being cut down in number. Yea, if there
be a plan for a 2-child policy, can we then have the famous
Cardinal Sin who was 14th in a family of 16 children, or a
Manny Pacquiao who is 3rd among the children?
The Church would rather we endeavor to increase the food
production and school facilities rather than limit the guests to
the table of life. The Bible tells so in the very first chapter of the
book: “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it” (Gen.
1:28). And we must not forget in conscience lest we commit a
big mistake if we do not listen to the successor of Peter, the first
Pope, whom the Lord Jesus commissioned, saying: “You are
Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates
of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you
the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth
shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on
earth shall be considered loosed in heaven” (Mt. 16: 18-20).
There is still the angle to consider that the use of artificial
contraceptives may lead to concealed cases of infidelities or
immoralities in the sexual relations of the male and female
population, as well as many other abuses because of the various
anti-life and money syndicates that capitalize on the weakness
of the human person in the line of sexuality. As an addendum
we include below the Church’s official stand on the matter of
sexual ethics which falls under the 6th commandment, taken
from an address by Pope John Paul II to the bishops of the
United States of America:
“With the frankness of the Gospel, the compassion of
Pastors and with the charity of Christ, you have dealt with
the question of the indissolubility of marriage correctly
saying: “The covenant between a man and a woman united
in Christian marriage is as indissoluble and irrevocable as is
the love of God for his people and the love of Christ for his
Church. Exalting the beauty of marriage, you have rightly
taken a position against both the theory of contraception and
contraceptive practice, as did the encyclical letter Humanae
vitae. I myself, today, with the same conviction as Paul VI,
ratify the teaching of that encyclical issued by my Predecessor
“in virtue of the mandate confided us by Christ”.
Describing the sexual union between husband and wife
as a special expression of their covenant of love, you have
correctly said: “The sexual relationship is a human and moral
good only within the sphere of marriage: outside marriage it
is immoral”. As men who speak with “words of truth and the
power of God” (2 Cor 6,7), as authentic teachers of the law of
God and as compassionate pastors, you have correctly said:
“Homosexual practice (which is to be distinguished from
homosexual orientation) is morally deceitful”…. “Both the
Church’s teaching, according to its constant tradition, and the
moral sense of the faithful have stated without any hesitation
that masturbation is a practice grievously and intrinsically
disordered” (Declaration of the Sacred Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith concerning certain questions of sexual
ethics, Dec. 29, 1975, No. 9).
 Social Concerns
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 20
September 27 - October 10, 2010
B7
Jesuit foundation feeds undernourished school children

Photo courtesy of Sr. Marietta Alo, OND

By Sr. Marietta H. Alo,
OND
THE leading microfinance
institution in the diocese of Mati
celebrated the 15th anniversary
of the People’s Credit Finance
Corporation (PCFC) through
a feeding program for all
elementary school children in
a remote barrio rated low in
nutrition.
The Ad Jesum Development
F oundat ion, Inc. (AJDF I)
organized snacks and a
substantial lunch for the 560
school children, including the
pre-school, of the Taguibo
Elementary School on Sept. 14,
2010, as their way of joining in
the nationwide feeding program
of the state funding agency,
PCFC, living out this year’s
theme: “We care, we share, we
rear.”
Sr. Bernadette “Badette” R.
Dollete, CSJ, executive director,
led the AJDFI head office and
Mati staff in going to the area
with sacks of rice and food
ingredients to be cooked in time
for lunch by selected parents of
each class. They are equipped
with their respective kitchen
utensils, while the children
brought along their own plate
and eating paraphernalia.
This was the first time the
AJDFI conducted the outreach
feeding program on the PCFC
anniversary. According to Sr.
Badette, in the past years, PCFC
officers across the whole country
would go to Manila for a party
celebration. She then broached
the idea to the Manila office to
hold a reach-out activity instead
in the local areas, such as what
AJDFI does every December for
the poor children in Ceboley
Beach, Mati.
Thus, for a change, the Manila
central office decided to allot
funds to active institutional
members in Luzon, Visayas
and Mindanao with a history
of malnourished children. In
Mindanao—Davao Oriental,
Cotabato and Zamboanga were
selected.
Mr. Jeffrey Ordoñez, executive
director of the Mindanao
Microfinance Council (MMFC)
attended the activity in Mati,
Davao Oriental, and brought
along donations of books and
hundreds of cakes-ensaymadas
from Red Ribbon bakeshop for
the outreach activity.
The school principal, Mr.
Merlito Enad, declared no classes
in the morning, while the parents
were busy cooking outside
their assigned rooms, and the
children, supervised by their
respective teachers, enjoyed
a holiday atmosphere with
games, song-dance-recitation
renditions, and messages from
the guests, culminating in a fiesta
lunch galore in the barangay
gym, courtesy of Brgy Capt.
Alombro Mabawad.
Sr. Badette thanked the
Taguibo academe, PTA,
Barangay officials, PCFC, the
whole community present,
PCFC, and everyone who
supported the feeding venture.
With the feeding activity, AJDFI
was able to help the poor,
undernourished children attain
a healthy growth, in line with
the foundation’s vision of
“providing the poor families
with sustainable and innovative
opportunities for transformation
towards economic self-reliance
and political will power for Total
Human Development.”
Now in its 13th year of
existence, AJDFI has expanded
“to the provinces of Davao
del Sur, Davao del Norte,
Compostela Valley, Malungon,
Sarangani Province, Bislig
City and Lingig, Surigao del
Sur, serving 30,936 clients,
mostly women in the unserved
and hard to reach areas in
the region with portfolio of
Php91,507,752.24..” (AJDFI
annual report 2009).

Underdevelopment / B4

Excessive nationalism and corporate
self-interest as well as old and new
ideologies, fomenting wars and conflicts,
are all obstacles to development. Illicit
trafficking of persons, drugs and
precious raw materials linked to the
situation of war and extreme poverty, on
the one hand, and the lack of scruples of
certain economic and social contractors
from more developed regions, on the
other hand, continue to be serious
impediments to development. The
reality of tax evasion, money laundering
and the so-called “tax havens” set up to
drain the coffers of Governments in poor
countries by diverting limited resources
away from development, remains a
problem. The financial crisis, which has
finally given rise to protectionist trade,
has become yet another obstacle to the
development of poor countries.
All Governments, both of developed
and developing countries, must accept
their responsibility to fight corruption
against reckless and sometimes immoral
behavior in the areas of business and
finances, as well as irresponsibility
and tax evasion, in order to guarantee
the “rule of law” and to promote the
human aspects of development such as
education, job security and basic health
care for all. Likewise, all countries,
especially richer or more powerful ones,
must act in accordance with responsible
international solidarity. Today more
than ever, it is difficult for national
measures not to have international
consequences that may at times weigh
heavily on countries that are distant and
unknown to the immediate beneficiaries
of such measures. In addition, within
their own territories, Governments —the
donors as well as the recipients— should
not interfere with or hinder the particular
character and autonomy of religious
and civil organizations involved in the
areas described above. Rather, they
should respectfully encourage such
organizations as well as promote and
financially support them as much as
possible. The generosity and commitment
of religious and civil organizations
should inspire governments and
international organizations to make
proportional efforts.
For all these reasons, any attempt to use
the MDGs to spread and impose egoistic
lifestyles or, worse still, population
policies as a cheap means to reduce
the number of poor people, would be
malevolent and short-sighted. I say this,
not just as a religious leader, but also
as an African and a man coming from
a poor family. I urge the international
community not to be afraid of the poor.
MDGs should be used to fight poverty
and not to eliminate the poor! Instead,
give poor countries a friendly financial
and trade mainframe and help them
to promote good governance and the
participation of civil society, and Africa
and the other poor regions of the world
will effectively contribute to the welfare
of all.
The inherent and equal dignity, the
individuality, and the transcendence
of each human being must be the
foundation of each and every policy
on development. Morally responsible
openness to life represents a rich social
and economic resource (Caritas in
Veritate, 44). Reverence for human
life, from conception until natural
death, and respect for the capacity of
men and women to live upstanding
moral lives, affirms their personal
transcendence, even if they live in
poverty. Controlling one’s passions
and overcoming hedonistic impulses,
constitute the starting point for building
a harmonious society. Such respect is also
the necessary and essential condition for
sustainable economic development and
integral human development. Hence,
the Holy See reaffirms its conviction
that great benefits will accrue to all
men and women now living in poverty,
only if the MDGs are understood and
pursued in harmony with objective
moral standards and human nature
(cf. Caritas in Veritate, nos. 44, 68- 70
and 75).
In this regard, on the much debated
issue of maternal health, the Holy See,
respectfully and fervently invites the
Countries participating in this HLM,
to provide quality resources for the
health care needs of mothers and their
babies, including the unborn. Moreover,
repeated references in the Outcome
Document to “sexual and reproductive
health” and “family planning” raise
deep concerns. These are controversial
terms, often interpreted as including
access to abortion and methods of family
planning that are not in accordance
with the natural law, known by right
reason.
Mr. President,
In his latest Encyclical Letter Caritas
in Veritate, Pope Benedict XVI explained
that the vision of development as a
vocation brings with it the central place
of charity within that development.
Indeed, the causes of underdevelopment
are not primarily of the material order.
In the pursuit of development, in a
globalizing world, only “the deep
thought and reflection of wise men in
search of a new humanism...will enable
modern man to find himself anew”
(Populorum Progressio, 51). While
reason, by itself, is capable of grasping
the equality between men and women,
and of creating the means to give some
stability to their civic coexistence,
it cannot establish fraternity; since
authentic fraternity originates in a
transcendent vocation from God (cf.
Caritas in Veritate, no. 19).
The Family of Nations has committed
itself to fighting material poverty. This is
a key and noble goal to pursue; but in this
effort let us never forget that material
poverty has partners—relational,
emotional, and spiritual poverty. The
human person must be at the centre of
concern in our quest for development.
If everyone’s political, religious and
economic rights and freedoms are
respected, we will shift the paradigm
from merely trying to manage poverty
to creating wealth; from viewing
the person as a burden to seeing the
person as part of the solution. The
fundamental mission of the Holy See
is above all spiritual, and this mission
encompasses a solicitude for all people
and all of creation. For this reason, the
Holy See feels obliged to be present in
the life of the nations and carry out its
commitment, in partnership with the
international community and the civil
society, to promote justice and solidarity
among peoples. It is with this conviction
that the Holy See desires to collaborate
with this Summit in the quest of an era
of peace, social justice and authentic
human integral development.
Thank you, Mr. President.

Healing / B7

evidenced by their shouts for
help, yet they must have viewed
their restoration to health as
no different from the various
healings that miracle workers
performed in Israel. Their
mindset was completely that
of an Israelite who lived under
the law of Moses. It was for this
reason that they were content
with fulfilling the prescription
of the Law, which stipulates that
those cleaned of their leprosy
must show themselves to the
priests so they could be restored
to the community of Israel (Lev
13:49).
But for Luke, the healing was
not ordinary. Although the nine
lepers were blind to the salvific
act involved in the healing,
it took a Samaritan—a social
outcast and religious heretic
in the eyes of the Jews—to
recognize that what happened
to all of them was more than
a miracle of healing and
restoration to the community.
For the Samaritan, the healing
was over and above all a miracle
of coming to faith in Jesus, and
an experience of the salvation
that comes from him. The nine
Jewish lepers were completely
blind to this. In the theology
of Luke, Jesus is the bringer
of the messianic salvation; he
proclaims the Kingdom of God,
makes it present in the salvific
acts he performs, and invites
or shared the experience of
salvation. Hence, he came back
to thank him, and glorified
God through him. In contrast,
the nine Jewish lepers did not
recognize this; it was, therefore,
understandable that they were
content with simply carrying
out the command of Jesus to
show themselves to the priests.
For lack of the perception
of faith, they were simply

CBCPMonitor Name _________________________________________________

(Family Name) (Given Name) (Middle Name)
men to experience the blessings
of salvation. But to experience
and participate in the messianic
healed, but never saved. They
were never converted to Jesus;
they remained under the Law.
blessings, one must come to Hence, they did not feel the urge
SUBSCRIPTION RATES Mailing Address _______________________________________________ faith in him. That precisely to thank him. They were unlike
happened to the Samaritan. It is Naaman, an army commander
_________________________________________________ for this reason that Jesus said to from the Arameans in the 1st
him, “your faith has been your Reading (1 Kgs 5:14-17) who--
The CBCP Monitor is published Phone No.: ________ Fax No.: ________ E-mail: ___________ salvation” (Luke 17:19). In other despite his being a pagan and,
fortnightly by the CBCP Media Mode of Payment words, in contrast with the nine like the Samaritan, despised by
Office, with editorial and busi-  Check/PMO enclosed  Cash Payment Jewish lepers, the Samaritan the Jews—having been cured
ness offices at 470 Gen. Luna was more than healed; he was of his leprosy, recognized the
(Payable to: CBCP Communications Development Foundation Inc.) saved. superior power of the God of
St., Intramuros, Manila. PO Box
3601, 1076 MCPO Consequently, in contrast to Israel at work in the prophet
the comportment of nine Jewish Elisha, and returned to give
• Domestic _____________________________ leprous who did not show thanks, again like the Samaritan.
1 Year Php 500.00 Signature gratitude to Jesus because of Thus, the story anticipates the
2 Years Php 900.00 their blindness, the reaction of gradual blindness of Israel to
• Foreign: Asia the Samaritan to his experience God’s work of salvation in Jesus,
1 Year US$ 55.00 of the messianic blessings and the growing acceptance of
• All Other US$ 80.00 PLEASE SEND TO: from him, made possible by it by the Gentiles, whom the
the eyes of faith, was one of Samaritan represents. For Luke,
CBCP Monitor, P.O. Box 3601, Manila, Philippines thanksgiving. He recognized this Samaritan exhibits the basic
470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila, Philippines | Tel (632) 404-2182 • Telefax (632) 404-1612 that Jesus was God’s agent who element of discipleship: faith
Or e-mail this at cbcpmonitor@cbcpworld.com not only healed but brought in Jesus.
 B8 Entertainment CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 20
September 27 - October 10, 2010

Moral Assessment Technical Assessment

 Abhorrent  Poor
 Disturbing  Below average

 Acceptable  Average

 Wholesome  Above average

 Exemplary  E
xcellent

Resident Evil opens with gripping
scene showing umbrellas on
a rainy day in Tokyo. In the
middle of all this hustle and
bustle stands a girl, dripping
wet and apparently stoned. Soon
she sinks her teeth into the neck
of an innocent passerby—aaah,
so she’s “one of them,” a newly
converted zombie, one of those
that will engage Alice (Milla
Jovovich) in her battle to save the
world from the bad guys.
Real life fashion model Milla
Jovovich slips back into her black
tights as Alice for this fourth entry
in the series based on the video
game. In post-apocalyptic Los
Angeles, Alice is armed with an
arsenal of high-powered guns and
flying knives to fight off zombies
infected with a virus developed
by the Umbrella Corporation
(with headquarters in Tokyo).
Whatever the zombies’ role is in
the bad guys’ attempt at world
domination is obscured by their
clicheic participation—mobbing
after humans, waving their arms
and sputtering monosyllables
which together may be taken to
mean they want the humans as
snacks, just as moviegoes crave
popcorn and soda.
Clearly, Resident Evil relies
on its main attraction Jovovich
to make a story out of a video
game. If there is an attempt to
make a moral pronouncement,
it is pitifully overshadowed by
the stylish presence of its main
star, shown throwing flying
knives are people in an obviously
choreographed way, and in all-
too-often close-up shots that
distract from the story with her
parted lips. Even if you didn’t
know that Jovovich is a five-
star fashion model whose face
and figure has appeared in so
many high-end advertisements,
you’d wonder here if she’s a
heroine out to save humankind
or an endorser selling guns. One
question pops up: is it okay to be
killing so many people on the
Title: Resident Evil: After Life
Cast: Milla Jovovich, Ali
Larter, Kim Coates,
Shawn Roberts
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Screenwriter: Paul Anderson
Producer: Paul Anderson
Running Time: 97 minutes
Location: Tokyo and Los An-
geles, California
Technical Assessment:  ½
Moral Assessment: 
CINEMA Rating: For viewers
18 and above
way to finding the real culprits?
What happens to the families of
those killed? But what do you
expect when a video game is
given flesh and blood via a full
length feature film? Forget about
the justice and the value of human
life and the consequences of
killing. The lesson Resident Evil:
After Lifeincidentally teaches is:
if you want your kids to grow
up smart, cut down their video
game playing.

MAC en COLET Ni Bladimer Usi

Buhay Parokya
Look for the
images of St.
Michael the
Archangel,
Church
aisle and
Baptismal
cake.

Title: Going the Distance

Cast: Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day, Christina
Applegate
Director: Nanette Burstein
Genre: Romance/Comedy
Distributor: Warner Bros
Running Time: 97 minutes
Location: USA

Erin and Garrett meet in a Manhattan watering hole on the very night
when Garrett’s girlfriend has broken up with him, citing his insensitivity
and commitment phobia. He just hasn’t met the right girl yet. Enter Erin, a
Stanford graduate student in New York for a summer internship at a daily
newspaper. They sleep together, but in the morning realize something more
meaningful than a one-night stand is possible. After a six-week idyll, she must
head back out West and they agree to attempt a bicoastal relationship. Over
the better part of a year, when they aren’t texting or saying goodbye in the
airport after brief visits, Garrett banters with pals Box (Jason Sudeikis) and Dan
(Charlie Day), while Erin fields advice from her protective older sister Corinne
(Christina Applegate). Erin has been burned before after dropping everything
for a guy. Garrett, who works as a talent scout for a record company, tries to
find a job in San Francisco without success. Unless something gives, they’re
doomed. In addition to whining about being apart, Erin and Garrett lament the
beleaguered state of the newspaper and music industries—a plaint that will
resonate most with so-called media elites. Lacking authenticity, the graphic
language and unsavory situations overlaying the plot, by contrast, will ring
false to a cross-section of viewers. For two educated, presumably intelligent
people, Erin and Garrett have limited vocabularies and imaginations. Ditto
their cohorts. The copious amount of alcohol everybody consumes may be
a contributing factor.

One positive element of Going the Distance is that it implicitly endorses

committed, monogamous relationships. Still, there’s no indication Erin
and Garrett will marry in the end. (From the USCCB Office for Film and
Broadcasting)
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 20
September 27 - October 10, 2010
Wreath laying at the statue of Fr. George J. Willmann, S.J. on the occasion of his 33rd Death Anniversary led by Chairman Hilario G. Davide, Jr. and KCFAPI President, Alonso L. Tan.
KCFAPI celebrates
52nd anniversary
KCFAPI President Alonso L. Tan delivering his Anniversary Message in front of employees, Board members, Fraternal Counselors, Area Managers and guests during the
celebration of the Association’s 52nd Anniversary last September 9, 2010, held at its Head Office in Intramuros, Manila.
KCFAPI holds TV Mass for the 33rd
death anniversary of Fr. Willmann
IN commemoration of the 33rd death
anniversary of Fr. George J. Willmann,
SJ, the Knights of Columbus Fraternal
Association of the Philippines, Inc.
(KCFAPI) has organized a TV Mass at
the San Agustin Church in Intramuros,
Manila last September 14, 2010.
Recorded as live, the Eucharistic
celebration will be aired September 26,
2010 on IBC Channel 13 from 9 a.m. to
10 a.m.
The mass was presided by Tandag
Bishop Nereo Odchimar, President of
the Catholic Bishops Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP) and concelebrated
by KC Priests namely: Msgr. Joselito C.
Asis, Fr. Isabelo R. San Luis, Fr. William
D. Araña, OSA, Fr. Asis R. Bajao, OSA
and Fr. Jerome J. Cruz.
Odchimar, during his homily, has
emphasized the works and deeds
of Fr. Willmann and the Knights of
Columbus.
Luzon
Jurisdiction holds
GK, FS Seminar in
Naga City
THE Knights of Columbus-Luzon Jurisdic-
tion has recently conducted a seminar for
the Grand Knights, Financial Secretaries and
Treasurers from the Bicol Region.
The seminar was held last September 4,
2010 at the Regent Hotel in Naga City.
Organizers said the seminar was intended
to discuss the duties and responsibilities of the
Grand Knights and Financial Secretaries.
Naga / C2
The Cross
A Supplement Publication of KCFAPI
and the Order of the Knights of Columbus
He also said that Fr. Willmann and
the Knights of Columbus will always
come together for one cannot think of
Fr. Willmann without thinking of the
Knights of Columbus.
Officers of the Fr. George Willmann
Charities led the attendance. Those
present were Chairman Justice Jose C.
Reyes, Jr., President Tan, Atty. Rizal
V. Katalbas, Jr., Asst. Corp. Secretary
and Fr. Cruz, Trustee of the Board of
Officers.
KCFAPI officials such as Chairman
Hilario Davide, Jr., President Alonso
L. Tan, Executive Vice President Ma.
Theresa G. Curia, and their spouses
have attended the mass.
Vice-President of the Fraternal Ben-
efits Group, Joseph P. Teodoro; Vice
President for Finance, Magdalene
Flores; Vice President for Actuarial and
Business Development, Angelito A.
TV Mass / C2
Cofradia del Sto. Niño de Cebu visits KCFAPI
THE pilgrim image of Sto. Niño de
Cebu visited the Knights of Columbus
Fraternal Association of the Philip-
pines, Inc. (KCFAPI) head office in
Intramuros, Manila in September. In
cooperation with the Cofradia del Sto.
Niño de Cebu and the KC Luzon Ju-
risdiction, KCFAPI housed the image
of Señor Sto. Niño from August 31 to
September 6 coinciding with the 7-day
novena in connection with the Annual
Pilgrimage of Cofradia del Sto. Niño
de Cebu.
The visit intended to propagate the
devotion to the Divine Child and to
raise consciousness to the faithful about
the devotion.
The story of the Señor Sto. Niño
Knights of Columbus officials together with Chairman Hilario G. Davide, Jr. (6th from left) and KCFAPI President, Alonso L. Tan (5th from left)
pose in front of the statue of Fr. George J. Willmann, S.J.
began way back in the 1500s when
the image was discovered in Cebu
unscathed decades after it was left by
the early Spanish explorer, Ferdinand
Magellan, as a gift during the baptism
of Raja Humabon and his wife Hara
Amihan.
Numerous tales of miracles
of the image spread ever since,
making Cebu as the cradle of Sto.
Niño devotion. Up to this time,
devotees of the Señor Sto. Niño
continue to increase throughout
the country.
At present, the original image of the
Sto. Niño de Cebu is housed at the Ba-
silica Minore del Sto. Niño, Cebu City.
(Ira Tee)
C1
THE Knights of Columbus Fraternal
Association of the Philippines, Inc.
(KCFAPI) marked its 52nd years in
service with a Eucharistic celebration
on September 9, 2010.
It was on September 9, 1958 when KCFAPI was
duly licensed by the Insurance Commission to
operate as an insurance system for the exclusive
protection of the members of the Knights of Co-
lumbus and their immediate family members.
Fraternal Benefits Group (FBG) Sales force
meeting; 2010 Annual Awards Teaser and product
information on CMBP Guaranteed Acceptance
were organized later in the afternoon.
The occasion also served as a venue for giving
recognition to KCFAPI Service Awardees. These
are employees who have been with the Association
for at least ten years.
Likewise, Certificates of recognition were also
given to employees who have completed the basic
course or who have achieved a designation from the
Life Office Management Association (LOMA).
Life Office Management Association (LOMA) is
an international organization based in USA which
provides quality employee training and develop-
ment especially to those who belong in insurance
and financial services industries.
KCFAPI is a Mutual Benefit Association that
provides KC Members and their families and all
of its insured members, divisible surplus of the
Association. (KCFAPI News)
KCFAPI President, Alonso L. Tan leading the employees, members of the KC
Luzon Jurisdiction and representatives of Cofradia del Sto. Niño de Cebu in
praying to the pilgrim image of Señor Sto. Niño during one of the 7-day novena
offered to propagate the devotion to the Divine Child.
 The Cross
CBCP Monitor
C2 Vol. 14 No. 20
September 27 - October 10, 2010

Alonso L. Tan KCFAPI holds joint area

President’s Message
WE have just reached our 52nd year
of fraternal service. Over our 52
meeting in Benguet
years, we have grown by leaps and THE Knights of Columbus Fraternal As- Central Luzon Conquerors (CLC), North- Other matters discussed were the KC-
bounds from a humble P32,000 seed sociation of the Philippines, Inc. (KCFAPI) western Luzon Thunders (NWL), and host FAPI incentives for the KC Order such as
money; we now have P3.2B in total conducted a Joint Area Meeting for Fraternal area Northern Luzon Gold Miners (NL). the Council of Honors, Most Outstanding
resources. We have paid millions Counselors. With Gari M. San Sebastian, Manager for Fra- District Deputy, and Fr. George J. Willmann
in death claims and maturities. We The meeting was held last August 21, ternal Benefits Services Department facilitating, Award for Academic Excellence.
have extended benefit certificate 2010 at Benguet State University’s Gladiola the meeting took up monitoring performance, Meanwhile, Area Managers gave inspi-
loans and other benefits attached to Center, La Trinidad, Benguet. analysis and improvement measures on the rational messages after conducting their
the benefit certificate. We have also Present during the said meeting were the three areas for the last quarter of the year. individual meeting. (KCFAPI News)
donated millions to the KC Founda-

Columbian Squires acquire 2010-2011

tion, Fr. George J. Willmann Chari-
ties, Inc. and other institutions as part of our civic, social and
spiritual reach to our brother Knights and to the community
as a whole.

Corps d’ Elite Award

As we travel through the corridors of time, we will continue
to provide the fraternal “promise” we have envisioned and will
improve our systems to level up the service that we provide.
We could not do these without the guiding support of all the
Board of Trustees, Advisors, Founder Members Committee
(past and present) and to the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao THE Knights of Columbus-Co- qualify for this award. risdiction have won at least two 8922, Chief Counselor Vicente P.
Jurisdictions. To the KCFAPI Officers, staff and salesforce, we lumbian Squires has once again Among the qualifications for years in a row,” he added. Orellano; Circle 4154, Calumpit,
extend our heartfelt congratulations. To the benefit certificate garnered awards from the Knight the award are Circles that have Awardees for this privilege Bulacan, Council 10582 Mark
holders and all Knights of Columbus members, our many of Columbus Supreme Council. conducted at least four major are Circle 2450, Cavite City, Anthony Lodrigito; Circle 4625,
thanks. Let us also thank the Almighty God for His guidance, Corps d’ Elite is the highest activities under the Squires Council 4071 Chief Counselor San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan,
as we work in the fulfillment of our avowed objectives. honor given to a Circle that is program which are service, spiri- Arjay Uy Alejo; Circle 3066, San Council 12204 Chief Counselor
active from the start of the Co- tual, circle and membership and Antonio, Cavite, Council 7686, Arnel S. Borcena; Circle 4709,
lumbian Year and that is insti- must achieve at least two new Chief Counselor Glen P. Ravelo; Lawa, Meycauayan, Bulacan,
TV Mass / C1 tuted or reinstituted during the members before the end of the Circle 3655, Valenzuela Bulacan, Council 12890, Chief Counselor
Bala; Manager of the Fraternal the person responsible for spread- program year. Columbian Year. Council 9591, Chief Counselor Rolando E. Hernandez; Circle
Benefits Services Department, ing the Order of the Knights of According to Jose Cuaresma, In this award, Circles and Edgardo O. Luna; Circle 3702, 4863, Calumpit, Bulacan, Gat
Gari M. San Sebastian; and other Columbus throughout the coun- State Chairman of the Colum- Chief Counselors of the Squires Council 9440, Malhacan, Bula- Blas Ople Assembly 1408, Chief
officers have also participated. try that now counts about 265,000 bian Squires, the award recog- in the Philippines are being can, Chief Counselor Alfredo A. Counselor Fernan Dealca; Circle
KC Luzon officials arrived and in active membership. nizes outstanding achievement granted. Balcora; Circle 3767, Meycauay- 5198, Tugatog, Meycauayan,
attended the mass namely: State He is also the founder of KC- in all areas of Circle operations, Cuaresma said that “out of an, Bulacan, Chief Counselor Council 12892, Chief Counselor
Secretary Arsenio G. Yap, State FAPI, a mutual benefit associa- including programming, recruit- the 42 circles recognized for the Fernando Galsim; Circle 3925, Bernardo P. Gacam and Circle
Treasurer Joven B. Joaquin, and tion of the Knights of Columbus ment and circle administration. Award Orderwide, 13 Circles Meycauayan, Bulacan, Chief 5327, Luna, La Union, Council
Jose F. Cuaresma, State Colum- in the Philippines, and the Fr. The overall circle feats of every came from Luzon Jurisdiction.” Counselor Juanito J. Perancullo; 5363, Chief Counselor A. Flores.
bian Squires Chairman. Willmann Charities, a founda- Circle are being recognized to “All Circles from Luzon Ju- Circle 4019, Taguig, Council (KCFAPI News)
Employees of KCFAPI and its tion that has already graduated

KC Luzon launches awards

subsidiaries, and KC Luzon Ju-
risdictions were also present.
Fr. George J. Willmann is re-
garded as the Fr. Michael Mc-
Givney of the Philippines being
Naga / C1
The seminar also discussed on
various issues on the member-
ship of the diverse councils of
the areas.
Also present in the event were
the District Deputies, and Trea-
surers of the various councils in
the Luzon jurisdiction.
Officials from the Luzon Ju-
risdiction present were Jose
over a hundred seminarians who
became priests, and priests who
have taken up further studies in
various ecclesiastical disciplines.
(Kate Laceda)
Cuaresma, Columbian Squires
Chairman, Efren Mendoza, State
Seminar Director and Ramon
Sanchez, District Deputy of the
Sta. Teresita Council 12308 of the
Diocese of Cubao.
Attendees were the Brother
Knights from the provinces of
Camarines Norte and Camarines
Sur. (KC News)
IN recognition of those who dedicated
themselves in establishing and strengthening
the Columbian Squires Circles in their arch-
dioceses, the Knights of Columbus Luzon
Jurisdiction has launched various awards.
Among these awards are the Most Out-
standing Squires Area Chairman for Circle
Development, Most Outstanding Squires
Area Chairman for Membership Develop-
ment, Luzon Deputy Awards for Circle De-
velopment and the Luzon Deputy Awards
for Membership Development.
The Most Outstanding Squires Area Chair-
man for Circle Development is intended for
dioceses with the highest net gain in the
Circle Development based on the Supreme
Council summary as of June 30, 2011.
On the other hand, the Most Outstanding
Squires Area Chairman for Membership
Development is for the dioceses with the
highest net gain in membership develop-
ment based on the Supreme summary as of
June 30, 2011.
The Luzon Deputy Awards for Circle Devel-
opment, meanwhile, will be awarded to the Dis-
trict Deputy and Chairman of the Roundtable of
District Deputies wherein the District and Dio-
cese must have attained the highest net gain in
the Circle Development based on the Supreme
Council summary as of June 30, 2011.
Qualifications needed for the Luzon
Deputy Awards for Membership Develop-
ment, however, that will be awarded to the
District Deputy and Grand Knight/Faithful
Navigator is that the District and Council/
Assembly must achieve the highest net gain
in Membership Development based on the
Supreme Council summary as of June 30,
2011. (KC News)

Marbel Knights work for nation building

THE members of the Order of the
Knights of Columbus from the Diocese
of Marbel in southern part of Mindanao
have committed to help work for nation
building during a convention held in
General Santos City from August 7-8,
2010.
“To cultivate peace and protect cre-
ation” in nation building was the theme
of the 24th Grand Diocesan Convention
attended by KC members from Marbel
diocese which comprises the whole
province of South Cotabato and two
municipalities of Sultan Kudarat.
Led by Convention Chair SK Luciano
M. Acuba, Sr., Council 6501 of Sts. Peter
and Paul Parish of Lagao, hosted the
convention.
During his talk, retired Chief Justice
Reynato S. Puno, author of the “Writ
of Kalikasan” and a proactive environ-
ment legal advocate, told the conven-
tion participants that “pollution and
degradation of the environment threat-
ens the people’s right to a balanced and
healthful ecology.”
Several concerns about the threats
posed by an open pit mining project
planned by the Sagittarius Mines, Inc
(SMI) in the region were also tackled.
Meanwhile, SK Mario Nery, former
San Miguel Corporation Executive,
urged the knights to consistently sup-
port the community, the church and
the country.
According to Adrian B. Boston, Fra-
ternal Benefits Associate, Marbel Bishop
Dinualdo D. Gutierrez said that open
pit mining of SMI is an abuse of God’s
command to care for creation since it
would destroy forest cover, remove top
soil and pollute water resources.
According to Boston, the convention
theme, “To cultivate peace, Protect cre-
ation,” was the core message of Pope
Benedict XVI during the 43th World
Day of Peace.
Culminating the convention were the
raffle draws and some fun fares. (Ramon
Fuentes, Jr. – KC MindaNews)
 The Cross
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 20
September 27 - October 10, 2010
C3

Giving Hope to Haiti’s Children

By Supreme Knight Carl A.
Anderson
WHEN a massive earthquake struck
Haiti in January, it killed a quarter
million people and injured even more.
Some of the youngest victims lost the
most—with around 800 children losing
an arm or leg.
If this happened in the United States
or another developed nation, medical
services and prosthetic limbs would be
provided. This is not the case in Haiti.
For the hundreds of Haitian children
who lost a limb in the earthquake, there
was little hope of living a normal life.
Recently, a video produced by the
Global Wheelchair Mission premiered
at the 128th Supreme Convention, held
in Washington, D.C. It included the
story of a young Haitian woman at the
Knights of Columbus wheelchair dis-
tribution in Haiti earlier this year. She
lost her entire family in the earthquake;
she also lost her home and, more im-
portantly, a leg. Although she had been
treated too late to receive a wheelchair,
she was undeterred, and prayed to God
that more people would come to help.
When I, along with other K of C rep-
resentatives, met this woman last April
and presented her with a wheelchair, we
were moved by her situation, but we
were even more moved by her prayers.
She did not simply pray for material
necessities, but instead saw God as the
provider of gifts through people, people
who give.
The Knights of Columbus has already
distributed about 1,000 wheelchairs to
those injured in Haiti, with even more
on the way. And brother Knights at
both the state and local level have been
generous in supporting our relief efforts
for Haiti and in donating to Knights of
Columbus Charities.
However, there is still more to do.
We learned that Project Medishare—the
group that runs the hospital in Port-au-
Prince—needed about $1 million to sup-
ply a prosthetic limb for every child who
lost an arm or leg in the earthquake.
With this financial assistance, they can
also supply new prosthetic limbs and
two years of physical therapy as the
children grow.
In response, the Knights of Colum-
bus Board of Directors has launched a
new initiative, called “Hope for Haiti’s
Children,” with the promise to provide
every child in Haiti who has lost an arm
or a leg in the disaster with the prosthet-
ics and physical therapy they need.
It is a once-in-a-lifetime charitable op-
portunity, and the Knights of Columbus
are honored to help.
In undertaking this work in Haiti, the
Knights have an excellent example in
Pierre Toussaint, a Catholic who was
a true model of charity during the 18th
and 19th centuries. Born into slavery
in Haiti, young Toussaint suffered
upheaval at the time of the Haitian
revolution and fled to New York City
with the family he served.
With his income, he bought his sis-
ter’s freedom, as well as the freedom
of many others, although he chose to
remain a slave until he was released in
1807. A married layman, he spent his life
assisting orphans, schools, the Church
and the underprivileged.
Today, in the wake of the earthquake,
Haitians face different challenges,
including hunger, homelessness and
lack of medical attention. Like Vener-
able Pierre Toussaint, Knights do not
simply recognize that the suffering
people in Haiti have physical needs
that we can help alleviate. The practice
of charity, the first principle of the Or-
der, also helps to meet spiritual needs
as we make a gift of ourselves to our
neighbors.
In 1852, a year before Pierre Toussaint
died in New York, Michael J. McGivney
was born about 70 miles away in Con-
necticut. Father McGivney may have
never heard of Pierre Toussaint—but
they shared a common vision. The lives
of both were personally transformed by
Jesus Christ, which allowed them to see
the potential for Catholic laymen to put
their faith into action.
Today, we follow their example as
a force for good, as helpers of those in
need. Vivat Jesus!

Joseph P. Teodoro
For Brother Knights by Brother Knights
KCFAPI Posts Double Digit Sales
KCFAPI posted a double digit first year
contribution income (FYCI) for the month of
August 2010. The FYCI of 10.8 million pesos
became the highest FYCI in a month during
the current year. FBG expressed optimism
that this development signals the start of
improvement of sales and the attainment of
the 2010 FYCI target. This optimism is based
on the following factors:
1. At least 50 fraternal counselors are cam-
paigning for a slot in the 52nd Anniversary
Sales Drive which is now being co-shared
by Bros. Lorenzo Dufale and Reynaldo
Segismundo. Both are fraternal counselors
of the Northwestern Luzon Thunders under
the able leadership of Area Manager Josefino
Valencia.
2. The recent announcement that the next
annual awards will be held in Boracay moti-
vated producers to aspire anew for a slot in
the prestigious circle of fraternal counselors.
During the early part of September Bros.
Lauro Evangelista (CLB1) and Venancio
Capiral (SL) are among the fraternal coun-
selors who have registered considerable new
businesses that will not only give them the
annual awards but also served notice that
they have thrown their hats in the FC of the
Year derby. Other fraternal counselors who
will figure in the tightly contested FC of the
Year Award are Maria Teresa dela Mota of
the Western Visayas Bulls, Teofilo Samson
of the Southern Luzon Lakers and Amado
Miranda of the Central Luzon Diamonds.
3. The area managers have stepped up their
recruitment for new fraternal counselors. The
actual number of new fraternal counselors
recruited from January to August 2010 is just
two heads shy of the target. Reports indicated
that new fraternal counselors will be more
than the target for the month and make up
for the deficit during the year.
Various programs served as tools to
generate better FYCI. They include the fol-
lowing:
1. The KCFAPI Council of Honors Awards
which encourages the councils to help pro-
mote the fraternal benefits program of the
Order.
2. The Minimum 12 New Paid Lives
Campaign which calls for every fraternal
counselor to bring in at least 12 new paid
lives during the year. The fraternal counsel-
ors were also reminded that cash gifts await
if they make the 12 benefit certificates by
October 30, 2010.
3. The monthly update that FBG provides
to the candidates for the annual awards also
contributed to the improvement of sales.
FBG will be recommending plans of
actions for the last quarter to sustain the
momentum which commenced during the
month of August 2010.
Atty. Rizal V. Katalbas, Jr.
From the Legal Standpoint
Accident
Insurance
WHEN applying for insurance coverage or Membership
Benefit Certificate with KCFAPI, there are variations of
accident plans that may be attached as a supplementary
contract, depending on the plan chosen. It may either be
the Accidental Death Benefit (ADB), Fraternal Accidental
Death Benefit (FADB) or the Extended Accidental Death
Benefit (EADB), either way it involves death arising from
an accident. Under this supplementary contract, where the
insured dies in an accident, the beneficiaries are entitled to
an amount equivalent to the face value.
The general rule is that death or injury is not considered
to have resulted from an accident or accidental means if it
is the natural result of the insured’s voluntary act, unac-
companied by anything unforeseen except the death or
injury. The exception to this general rule is when some
additional unexpected, independent and unforeseen hap-
pening occurs which produces or brings about the result of

Knights of Columbus Fraternal

death or injury. It must be emphasized, however, that the
burden of proof that the death was a result of an accident
rest with the claimant.
An example would be in a boxing match. In one case de-

Association of the Philippines Inc.,

cided by the court, the insured died during a boxing contest,
when he slipped and was hit by the opponent at the back of
his head, then hit his head on the rope. The insurer denied
the claim contending that the insured’s death was caused by
an established mutual benefits association is currently looking for: his participation in the contest. The court ruled, otherwise,
saying that his death was the result of an accident. Although
engaging in a boxing match is attended with the risk of
Auditor The Knights of Columbus
Fraternal Association of
external injuries it does not make any injuries received in
the course of the game not accidental. (Dela Cruz v. Capital

Accounting Staff
the Philippines Inc., is an
established and progressive
mutual benefits association
BC Holders’ Relations Office Staff operating for 52 years, has
been highly committed to
Treasury Staff provide mutual aid and
assistance to its members and
Customer Relations Assistant their immediate families.
KC Fraternal firmly believes
that the continued progress
and success of the association
If you are dedicated, service-oriented, and have the prom- depends to a great extent on
ising potential to join us in our continuous drive to provide its human capital
mutual aid, assistance and excellent service to our mem-
KC Fraternal also believes
bers. Kindly send your comprehensive resume’ thru fax that through training and
number 527-2244 or hand-carry resume’ with a 2x2 photo
and transcript of records to:
a host of other benefits if
coupled with hard work, will
help employees and the asso-
ciation attain their goals and
objectives.
In our continuous drive to
provide excellent service to
our members, we are cur-
rently on the look-out for
individuals with promising
potentials. He must be dedi-
KC Family... Our Concern cated, service oriented, and
willing to undergo training .
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FRATERNAL Our compensation and em-
ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC. ployee benefits are compa-
rable, if not better than most
Gen. Luna cor. Sta. Potenciana Sts.,
companies of our same size
Intramuros, Manila and nature of business.
You may also call 527 – 2223 local 202 for queries and look for Ms. Kristianne or Ms. Juno.
Insurance & Surety Co. Ltd. 17 SCRA 559 [1966])
When an insured willfully exposes himself to a known
danger it negates the accidental character of what follows
after the known danger. Thus when the insured’s death was
a result of playing “Russian roulette” (pulling the trigger of
a revolver after spinning the cylinder with one bullet in it)
it was held not within the coverage of accident insurance. It
would be different, if the insured was cleaning his gun and
it suddenly goes off, in this case it would be compensable
under the accident insurance.
It is important to note that the Accidental Death Benefit
contract contains provisions excepting deaths resulting
from intentionally inflicted injuries. The phrase “intention-
ally inflicted” is interpreted based on the circumstances of
the case.
Angelito Bala
Frequently Asked Question
Reduced Paid-Up Insurance
Q: I received a letter inform- with the lowered benefit still
ing me that my Benefit Cer- payable on the same terms
tificate has been converted and conditions as the original
to Reduced Paid-Up status, certificate. The BC also loses
what does this mean? its right of entitlement to any
annual dividends declared
A: Reduced paid-up insur- by the Board of Trustees and
ance (RPU) is one of the non- other benefits previously
forfeiture options available to available to your BC.
a benefit certificate holder in
case of contribution default. To revert back your BC to
Once a benefit certificate is contribution paying status
converted into RPU status, and restore the original sum
you are no longer required to of protection, BRO (BC Hold-
make any succeeding contri- ers’ Relations Office), requests
butions. However, the benefit the submission of necessary
amount is reduced to what the documents and payment
available cash value can buy, before a specified date.
 The Cross
CBCP Monitor
C4 Vol. 14 No. 20
September 27 - October 10, 2010

K of C Luzon undertakes
Watershed Tree Planting
IN support of the Annual Tree
Planting Program of the De-
partment of Environment and
Natural Resources - National
Capital Region and Metropoli-
tan Waterworks and Sewerage
System, around 800 members of
the Knights of Columbus - Lu-
zon Jurisdiction planted more
than 1,000 tree saplings at the
La Mesa Critical Watershed in
Novaliches, Quezon City last
September 18, 2010.
This eco-friendly undertaking
of the KC - Luzon Jurisdiction,
headed by Luzon Deputy Alonso
L. Tan, is being held annually
as an institutionalized activity
of the Order for environmental
protection.
A Eucharistic celebration was
held at the Sacred Heart No-
vitiate Chapel with Most Rev.
Bishop Antonio R. Tobias, JCL,
DD., as celebrant, in commemo-
ration of the 33rd death anniver-
sary of Fr. George J. Willmann,
S. J.
Luzon State Secretary Arsenio
Isidro G. Yap and Bishop Tobias
led the wreath laying ceremony
at the tomb of Fr. George J. Will-
mann, S.J. following the mass,
which KC - Luzon Jurisdiction
state officers, state service pro-
gram directors/chairmen, district
deputies, grand knights and coun-
cil members of the archdiocese of
Manila, dioceses of Cubao and
Novaliches attended in remem-
brance of the Father of the Knights
of Columbus in the Philippines.
Prior to the tree planting,
Bro. Raymund Gubat, RTDD
Chairman of the Diocese of
Novaliches, reiterated that lo-
cal indigenous tree species will
be used for this year’s planting
at the watershed areas. These
tree varieties were provided by
DENR-NCR courtesy of Dr. Jose
L. Diaz, Regional Exec. Director
of DENR-NCR who also graced
the occasion.
A very happy and apprecia-
tive Bro. Bonifacio Martinez,
State Program Director, together
with Bro. Ramoncito A. Ocampo,
State Community Director, ex-
pressed their gratitude to all
the officers and members of KC
- Luzon Jurisdiction and Novali-
ches Diocese who supported
and participated in this Tree Most Rev. Antonio R. Tobias, Bishop of the Diocese of Novaliches during the opening rites of Tree-Planting activity at the grounds of the Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches,
Planting project. (Bro. Eduardo Q.C. With him are State Secretary Arsenio Isidro Yap, State Warden Pascual Carbero and other state directors & chairmen.
S. Manabat)

Knights of Columbus seminarian-scholars ordained priests

DURING this month of September, two nary in Pagadian City for a two-year scholar in the person of Rev. Jupe Lao of Mr. Ramon Garalde, a retired police was still too young for Theological
scholars of the KC Fr. George J. Will- Pre-Theological formation. Thereafter, Garalde at the Holy Infant Jesus Parish officer and Mrs. Juanita Lao, a retired formation, Fr. Jupe was told to undergo
mann Charities, Inc. were ordained to the seminary formators recommended in Matnog, Sorsogon. public school teacher. Born on July a two-year Regency which he spent in
the Sacred Order of Priesthood in their that he pursue his priestly formation. Most Rev. Arturo M. Bastes, SVD, 02, 1982, Fr. Jupe finished his primary various Apostolate programs of the
respective Dioceses. He was then selected course at Matnog Cen- Diocese of Sorsogon. After two years
Last September 20, 2010, the com- during the school year tral School in 1994. outside the seminary formation, he de-
munity of San Isidro Labrador Parish in 2004-2005 as one of Inspired by their Par- cided to return to the Central Seminary
Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur joined Rev. the scholars of the KC ish Priest, he entered and pursue his Theological studies.
Fr. Paterno Trapa Dalumpines as he Fr. Willmann Chari- the Our Lady of Pe- He was granted a scholarship by
pledged his perpetual vow of celibacy to ties, Inc. for a five-year ñafrancia Minor Semi- the Foundation for the school year
Most Rev. Emmanuel T. Cabajar, CSsR, course in Theology at nary for his secondary 2005-2006 during his second year
DD, Bishop of Pagadian. St. Mary’s Theologate studies which he com- of Theological Studies in UST. He
Fr. Pat, as he is fondly called, was in Ozamiz City. He pleted in 1998. Upon graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2007
born on August 22, 1974 to Mr. Silvano finished his studies the recommendation and still with a scholarship under the
Dalumpines and Mrs. Margarita Trapa in March 2009 and of then Bishop of Sor- Foundation, proceeded to enroll at the
of Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur. In immediately begun goson, Most Rev. Jesus Loyola School of Theology-Center for
March 1996, he graduated from a two- his Pre-diaconal pro- Y. Varela, Fr. Jupe was Family Ministry (CEFAM) for an M.A.
year Associate in Computer Science gram. Bishop Cabajar able to continue his degree major in Family Ministry and
course at Southern Mindanao Colleges ordained him to the seminary formation at Counseling.
in Pagadian City. He then proceeded to Sacred Order of Dea- the UST Central Semi- He finished his Masteral Degree in
Rev. Jupe L. Garalde Fr. Paterno T. Dalumpines
take up his Bachelor’s Degree in Second- con last December 29, nary where he attained 2009 and was recommended for Pre-dia-
ary Education, major in Mathematics 2009. his Bachelor’s Degree conal Program. Fr. Jupe was ordained to
from the same school and graduated in September 28, 2010 is the DD., Bishop of Sorsogon, presided the in Classical Philosophy in 2002 at the the Sacred Order of Deacons last March
October 2001. feastday of San Lorenzo Ruiz and solemn Eucharistic Celebration with the young age of 19. Because the former 25, 2010, the feast of the Annunciation
Fr. Pat began his seminary life in 2002 Companion Martyrs. This is the date of clergy of Sorsogon as concelebrants. Rector of the Seminary, Rev. Fr. Hon- of the Lord, at the Sts. Peter and Paul
when he entered the Holy Infant Semi- ordination of a second KC seminarian- Fr. Jupe is the third and youngest son orato Castigador, OP thought that he Cathedral. (Denise Solina)

Ferdinand Magellan Province holds 19th

Annual Provincial Assembly meeting
THE Ferdinand Magellan Province has con-
ducted the 19th Annual Provincial Assembly
meeting.
The assembly was held at the Richmonde
Hotel in San Miguel Avenue, Ortigas, Pasig
City last September 18, 2010.
Pedro M. Rodriguez, Jr., Vice Supreme
Master, presented the annual report while
Gerardo Domingo Coloma, Luzon Dis-
trict Master I opened the assembly with a
prayer.
The talk on the assembly programs and
projects was delivered by Dionisio R. Este-
ban, Jr., Visayas State Deputy while Mind-
anao State Deputy Sofronio R. Cruz talked on
the fourth degree exemplification/assembly
KCFAPI Alonso L. Tan giving an overview of the Order of the Knights of Columbus
to the District Masters during the 19th Annual Provincial Assembly meeting held at
reporting/membership growth.
the Richmonde Hotel in San Miguel Avenue, Ortigas, Pasig City. The resolutions committee report was pre-
sented by Januario B. Espejo, Jr. Mindanao
District Master 14.
Several discussions were also tackled such
as the fraternal programming, membership
growth, assembly growth, duties and re-
sponsibilities of officers.
Msgr. Pedro C. Quitorio, III, KCFAPI
Spiritual Director, facilitated a spiritual talk
and presided the Eucharistic celebration
during the assembly.
KCFAPI President Alonso L. Tan, Luzon
Deputy and Supreme Director, gave an
overview of the Order of the Knights of Co-
lumbus while Executive Vice-President Ma.
Theresa G. Curia talked about insurance.
The Installation of Masters of the 4th
Degree where KCFAPI Chairman Hilario
G. Davide, Jr. was the guest of honor was
conducted at the conclusion of the as-
sembly.
The event culminated with the awarding
of certificates and plaques presented by
Rodriguez.
The following District Masters were
present: Gerardo D. Coloma, Armando C.
Gonzales, Ruel D. Tecson, Deovides F. Reyes,
Isagani B. Maghirang, Antonio B. Bonaga,
Pepito O. Palomero, Mauricio A. Padawan,
Rufino P. Soriano, Crisostomo T. Lagare,
Enrique G. Siaboc, Sagrado P. Navarro and
Januario B. Espejo, Jr.
Joseph P. Teodoro, Vice President of the
Fraternal Benefits Group, and Gari M. San
Sebastian, Manager of the Fraternal Benefits
Services Department were also present dur-
ing the occasion. (Kate Laceda)

Knights attend the GK, FS Seminar in Legazpi City KCFAPI holds joint
BROTHER Knights from the
CMBP Banners guaranteed acceptance feature General Santos City
provinces of Sorsogon, Masbate
and Catanduanes have par-
ticipated in the recent Grand
Knights’ and Financial Secretar-
ies’ Seminar.
Organized by the Knights of
Columbus Luzon Jurisdiction,
the seminar was held last Septem-
ber 5, 2010 at the Nazpen School
of Safety in Legaspi City.
Officials from the Luzon Ju-
risdiction present were Jose
Cuaresma, Columbian Squires
Chairman, Efren Mendoza, State
Seminar Director and Ramon
Sanchez, District Deputy of the
Sta. Teresita Council 12308 of the
Diocese of Cubao.
Also present in the event were
the District Deputies, and Trea-
surers of the various councils in
the Luzon jurisdiction.
The seminar discussed the
duties and responsibilities of
the Grand Knights and Financial
Secretaries.
It also tackled various issues
on council membership. (KC
News)
area meeting in
KCFAPI will be offering a new Council Mortu- open forum were facilitated by Bro. Gari San
ary Benefit Plan (CMBP) with a new guaranteed Sebastian, Fraternal Benefit Services Dept THE Knights of Columbus Fra- rules governing the incen-
acceptance feature starting on October 1, 2010. Manager. ternal Association of the Philip- tive programs of KCFAPI for
The launching of the new CMBP which was The 4 KCFAPI Group Heads/Vice Presidents pines, Inc. (KCFAPI) has recently 2010 such as the sales drive
dubbed as KCFAPI HAPPY was held at the 3rd were on hand and answered the questions conducted a joint area meeting in celebration of KCFAPI’s
Floor, Fr. George J. Willmann, SJ., Intramuros, posed by the attendees. for the Fraternal Counselors of 52nd Anniversary, The Most
Manila on September 22, 2010. The features of the new CMBP are as fol- Central Mindanao and North Outstanding District Deputy
Present were KCFAPI officers, area man- lows: Central Mindanao. (MODD) and KCFAPI Council
agers and selected employees and fraternal 1. The CMBP is open to all KC members and Aiming on improving their of Honors which is given to
counselors. their wives who are between the ages 18 and 70 sales performance, the meeting District Deputies and Grand
Sis. Maria Theresa G. Curia, KCFAPI Execu- on enrolment date. Children of KC members was held at the Sydney Hotel in Knights for supporting the
tive Vice President, was the main speaker of who are between 1 and 20 years old may also General Santos City. Association.
the occasion. In her speech Curia reiterated a enrol in the program. KC members who are Adrian Boston, Fraternal Ben- San Sebastian also announced
number of comparative advantages of KCFAPI single may also enrol their parents provided efits Associate, facilitated the the program, Fr. George J. Will-
earned after 52 years of its existence. Among they are not over 70 years on enrolment date. joint area meeting. mann SJ Award for Academic
them are KCFAPIs financial stability, expedi- 2. There is a minimum of 30 enrolees before a Gari San Sebastian, Man- Excellence, which is intended
tious adjudication of death claims and contri- council may be issued a CMBP group contract. ager of the Fraternal Benefits to encourage members of KC
butions to various charitable and benevolent Twenty of the enrolees must be K of C members Services Department, gave an family to achieve outstanding
projects which include the CBCP SEED OF while the rest from family members. update on the current devel- academic performance.
HOPE FUND, scholarship programs benefit- 3. The insurance contribution will be the same opment in the Association and The project for the loan pro-
ting children of members and those desiring to rates as before. the activities of FBG to upgrade gram packages for the Area
becoming priests. The new CMBP is expected to obtain better the skills and knowledge of the Managers, Team Leaders and
The product presentation and the ensuing availment from the K of C councils. sales force. Fraternal Counselors were also
He also discussed the tackled. (KCFAPI News)
 CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 20
September 27 - October 10, 2010
Tercentenary of Our Lady of Peñafrancia D1

© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

PEÑAFRANCIA AT 300. Thousands of Bicolanos from all over the country and several parts of the world await the traditional procession from the Caceres Metropolitan Cathedral to the Bicol River where thousands more have lined-up themselves for
the fluvial procession. For the first time in years, the original image of Bicol Region’s well-loved icon of Our Lady of Peñafrancia was brought out for the tercentenary celebration.

Thousands of devotees
flock to Peñafrancia
tercentenary
By Melo M. Acuña
THOUSANDS flocked the
Bicol region’s commercial
center as the Archdiocese of
Caceres rolled out the red
carpet to the faithful devotees
of Our Lady of Peñafrancia
in celebration of the three
hundredth year of devotion
to the revered icon.
Msgr. Romulo Vergara, Rector of
the Basilica Minore de Nuestra Senora
coming fiesta of Ina involving various
organizations with the appropriate
entrepreneurs from the archdiocese.
“The traslacion was a success, from
the spiritual formation of the partici-
pants,” he added.
de Peñafrancia told CBCPNews their recollections. the procession from the Peñafrancia Cultural Presentations
preparations paid off as everything Shrine to the Metropolitan Cathedral “All the activities were done by the
went smoothly well according to Trade Fair to the security and the traffic,” Msgr. Church with the exception of the tra-
plans. A trade fair in honor of Bishop Fran- Vergara said. ditional Civic-Military Parade, which
“The lay faithful and the religious cisco Gainza y Escobas, prelate of He acknowledged the close coordina- was supervised by the city govern-
had their different committees from the Caceres circa 1863, ended September tion between the archdiocese and the ment,” Msgr. Vergara further said.
spiritual and physical preparations and 20 at the SM Naga grounds. Bishop city government and other agencies He said this year’s theme “Growing
all the other activities we had,” Msgr. Gainza is acknowledged as responsible including the military and the medical in Holiness with Ina” is more than
Vergara said. for bringing new farm equipment to the professionals. appropriate because it emphasizes the
He added they begun the month of rich farming community in the Cama- “The procession which usually last devotion should not end with Ina but
September with the Harubay announc- rines provinces during his time. The fair for four hours, has been significantly rather on God as the Blessed Mother is
ing the coming novena masses and showcased the products of farmers and reduced to an hour and a half, through just an instrument, a way to God.

Naga declared Bicol region’s pilgrimage capital

THE city of Naga and the prov-
ince of Camarines Sur have been
declared pilgrimage capitals of
the Bicol region and recognized
top tourist destinations in the
country in a presidential proc-
lamation by President Benigno
Aquino III.
Aquino, in Presidential Proc-
lamation No. 33 released on
Sept. 10, said Bicol’s Feast of
Our Lady of Peñafrancia “is the
only regional feast in the country
[and] for the past three centuries
has become an epic historical
event that has become part of
our cultural heritage.”
Aquino noted the contribution
of the Peñafrancia celebrations to
appreciation of Bicol arts and vances essential to the feast, which tember and October.”
culture, its indigenous and culi- include but are not limited to the The decree likewise under-
nary arts, natural wonders and Traslacion, the Fluvial and Dawn scores the role of the Philippine
archaeological treasures.” Processions and other cultural and National Police to maintain
Hundreds of thousands of pil- historical remembrance activities, peace and order and provide
grims flock to Naga and Cama- shall be respected, and that com- security to all pilgrims during
rines Sur every year from Sep- mercial exploitation during the the celebrations.
tember until middle of October pilgrimage period such as street The annual Peñafrancia festi-
to celebrate the feast of Our Lady parties that may become ram- val begins every second Friday
of Peñafrancia whom Bicolanos bunctious, drinking sprees in pla- of September with the traslacion,
endearingly call “Ina”. zas, street vending that obstruct a procession from the Basilica
This year’s festivities also fea- passages towards the pilgrimage Minore to the Metropolitan Ca-
tured the tercentenary celebra- sites, and other similar activities, thedral where the nine-day
tion of the Devotion to Our Lady shall be discouraged,” part of the novena is held.
of Peñafrancia highlighted by an proclamation read. Last Sept. 18, the venerated
International Pilgrims’ Congress The proclamation also man- image of Our Lady of Peñafran-
(IPC) held Sept. 16-17 at the Ba- dates the local government units cia and the icon of Divino Rostro
silica Minore in Naga City. to partner with other govern- were carried in fluvial procession
The presidential proclama- ment agencies and the Archdio- to the Bicol River with thousands
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media

the local economy, and the sense
of unity and religious fervor that
bond all devotees who come
from all over the world.
He said the festivities also
“provide an environment con-
ducive to tourism, a venue for
tion stresses the government’s cese of Caceres to put together of voyadores in small boats amid
participation by providing as- “their technical and financial chants of Viva La Virgen. The
sistance to maintain peace and resources and participate in the procession was capped with a
order and preserve the solemnity conduct of trade fairs, job fairs, 6 p.m. Pontifical Mass at the Ba-
of the occasion. skills training and seminars on silica Minore led by Papal nuncio
“The government shall ensure agriculture, aquaculture and Archbishop Edward Joseph Ad-
that the conduct of the obser- crafts during the months of Sep- ams. (Pinky Barrientos, FSP)

Devotion to Peñafrancia is distinctively Bicolano—bishop

THE Bicolanos’ deep devotion to Our Lady of
Peñafrancia is what makes the region’s faithful
different and distinct from other devotees.
This was the impression shared by Sor-
sogon Bishop Arturo Bastes, SVD in an
interview with CBCPNews at the Arch-
bishop’s Chapel, a couple of hours before
the traditional fluvial procession along the
Bicol river.
“(The devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia) is
something different and very unique,” he said.
Recalling his first visit to Naga City eight
years ago while preparing for his assump-
tion as co-adjutor bishop of the Diocese of
Sorsogon, Bastes said Caceres Archbishop
Leonardo Z. Legazpi, OP insisted then that
he spent his first days in the Bicol region “to
pay homage to Ina” before assuming his new
appointment in Sorsogon.
Bastes said he was truly overwhelmed
© Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
renewal, education and evangelization.
Former Senator Francisco S. Tatad said that
while the Bicolanos’ devotion to our Lady of
Peñafrancia has reached various parts of the
world, it has remained “basically identified
with Bicol, (the Archdiocese of) Caceres as we
sing in the hymn Patrona del Bicol.”
“On the 300th year anniversary of the
Bicolanos’ devotion to Our Lady of Peñafran-
cia, we’re seeing the arrival of pilgrims from
all over the world,” Senator Tatad said.
The presence of overseas Filipinos who par-
ticipated in the International Pilgrims Congress
from September 16-17 showed that the devotion
has spread across the world, he added.
He said the solemn Mass presided by
Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legazpi, OP with
several archbishops from various places even
outside the country showed the “great fer-
vor, which you don’t see in other places.”
“Inspite of all our problems, the moral dif-
ficulties of the times, marked by secularism
and relativism spreading around the world,
the faith seems to be strong,” he explained.
Legazpi City-based businessman Romeo
Tan said he is a staunch devotee of Our Lady
of Peñafrancia. Interviewed after the briefing
for the voyadores and other passengers of the
barge bearing the region’s icon, Tan said he
attributed his being able to overcome trials
through Mama Mary’s intercession.
“I believe in her intercession and as a
businessman, I am calling on my colleagues
to seriously consider becoming devotees in
the near future,” Tan said.
Police Chief Supt. Cecilio Calleja said he
appreciates the preparation and cooperation
of Church leaders and local government
units and national government agencies in
keeping the Peñafrancia celebration peaceful

to see the fluvial procession and hear the
Bicolanos’ shouts of joy and victory
For his part, Virac Bishop Manolo Delos Santos
said his province of Catanduanes has its share of
significant number of Peñafrancia devotees.
Asked of ways to further deepen the faith,
Bishop Delos Santos said there should be
The former lawmaker said a foreign
bishop who saw the multitudes shouting
Viva La Virgen! almost broke down to tears
because it was a moving experience.
Filipinos look at Our Lady of Peñafran-
cia as a source of hope, the former senator
said.
and orderly.
Interviewed by CBCPNews, the Bicol po-
lice director said they have not monitored
any untoward incident despite the influx of
hundreds of thousands of devotees from all
walks of life, the country and various parts
of the world. (CBCPNews)
CBCP Monitor
Vol. 14 No. 20
September 27 - October 10, 2010
MY warmest greetings to all Bicolanos
and devotees of Ina as you celebrate
the Tercentenary Year of the Feast of
Our Lady of Peñafrancia.
Your festivities mark one of the most
memorable fiestas in the history of the
Bicol region and the Philippines. As you
promote a deeper appreciation of our
heritage and a sense of solidarity among
our people, may a sense of communal
responsibility and the spirit of Ina hold
sway over all of us Filipinos. Pray that
she guides us, that we can stay true to
the principles that inspire us to take the
straight and righteous path, and that we
can hold the course despite the challenges we might encounter.
Your celebration comes at a time when our country has chosen to
take a great leap towards social transformation. As we rise to this
occasion, may we remain steadfast in gratitude and devotion to the
Creator. With the benevolence of our Lord and the empowerment
of the Holy Spirit, we shall pursue with more vigor our mission to
glorify Him and His teachings.
Let us remain committed to the spirit of renewal through posi-
tive, meaningful change. Sama-sama nating tahakin and tuwid na
landas tungo sa pagbabago!
BENIGNO S. AQUINO III
President, Republic of the Philippines
INDEED, for the last three centuries,
our Ina has been our fount of har-
mony; our source of strength; our
stronghold; and our protector, as we
have solemnly avowed in our devo-
tions and prayers.
And on this momentous occasion, it is
but fitting that we observe the three hun-
dred years of devotion to our region’s
loving and faithful Mother who is truly
a gift to the Bicolanos from God the Fa-
ther; and more importantly, to share the
blessings granted through Our Lady’s
intercession with the multitude.
Henceforth, in behalf of my family,
I join my fellow Bicolanos in commemorating the Tercentenary of
Our Lady of Peñafrancia! Nawa’y ipagpatuloy ng ating mahal Ina
ang kanyang kalinga sa Kabikulan para makamtan nating lahat ang
kasaganaan at kapayapaan na kalakip ng kanyang pagmamahal
na siyang magbubunsod ng isang bagong simula para sa ating
bayan! Mabuhay!
FRANCIS “CHIZ” G. ESCUDERO
Senator
I JOIN our kababayan in celebrating
300 years of devotion to our Ina—Our
Lady of Peñafrancia. Indeed, this year
marks a milestone not only because it
is the Tercentenary celebration of our
ever-growing faith and our outpouring
affection to Ina, but also it is the time
to rejoice for the overflowing blessings
and gifts of Our Lady of Peñafrancia.
This annual commemoration of
Ina’s feast day showcases the grow-
ing faith of the people along with the
diversity of the cultural heritage of the
country. These blessings, ultimately,
we lift up to Ina and graciously share to the world.
Let this year be an inspiration, that our devotion to Ina is not
only a gift worth remembering but more so, a gift more sharing.
Mabuhay!
ANTONIO “SONNY” F. TRILLANES IV
Senator
IT is with heartfelt jubilation that I join
my beloved Bicolanos, devotees, spon-
sors, patrons, visitors and spectators in
a glorious tradition of religious, cultur-
al and social event that has transcended
many generations, era and borders…
the feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia,
now even more monumental on its
grand tercentennial celebration.
If there is one major thing that keeps the
Bicolanos united and proud as one race
above the rest and over a test of time, it is
their deeply rooted reverence to Mahal na
Ina, Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia.
On this tercentenary of our Patron-
ess, may we offer our sincerest prayers, lofty intentions, magnani-
mous deeds and supreme thanksgiving as a fitting homage and
adoration to Her as our constant light, shield and consolation.
Let this occasion be also a worthwhile opportunity to strengthen our
vows and relationship with God and Mama Mary as we strive to be-
come better followers, stewards, servants and fellow to one another.
There is no obstacle too tough to hurdle, no crisis too serious to
overcome, no summit too high to conquer, no road too arduous to
tread on and no dream too big to make come true if the power of
faith, hope, love and goodness dwell in our hearts.
This humble representation takes advantage of this moment of
prayerful celebration with renewed fervor and firmer commitment
to be loyal to my oath of office and henceforth make my tenure of
service worthy of divine intervention.
Peace and prosperity to all! Viva La Virgen de Nuestra Señora de
Peñafrancia!
ELMER E. PANOTES
Representative
2nd District, Camarines Norte
ON behalf of my family and staff, I
would like to express my solidarity in
observance of Tercentenary of Devo-
tion of Our Lady of Peñafrancia.
This year’s celebration which is
dubbed as Tercentenary, highlighted
from the traditional Traslacion and Flu-
vial Procession, is a fitting occasion that
vividly underscores the rich religious
history and culture of the Bicol Region,
from which can emanate the pride,
faith and confidence to take bigger and
bolder strides into the future.
This occasion showcases the strong
regional spirit prevailing among the
Bicolanos, which should serve to remind everyone that we can only
grow and prosper through unity, solidarity and involvement. Only
when we keep in mind the nobility of our race and the glory of our
past, and put our shoulders together can we move forward as one na-
tion and people towards the new century and beyond. It is my fervent
hope, therefore, that this momentous occasion will move us towards
closer participation and teamwork in local and national affairs. Let
us draw from within ourselves the power, capability and collective
energy to keep our beloved Philippines on the path of sustainable
progress. Let us reaffirm the pride and strong devotion we take in our
religious, historical and cultural heritage and strengthen our ability
to unite, to sacrifice and to serve in the best interest of our nation and
our people! VIVA LA VIRGEN! VIVA LA VIRGEN!
NARCISO R. BRAVO, JR.
Representative, 1st District of Masbate
Tercentenary of Our Lady of Peñafrancia D3
THIS year, the Church in the Philip-
pines celebrates the 300th Anniver-
sary of the Devotion to Our Lady of
Peñafrancia. The CBCP Monitor is
preparing a supplement in time for
this most special occurrence, and I am
happy to contribute these few words
that have been asked of me.
“From now onwards all genera-
tions will call me blessed, for the
Almighty has done great things for
me” (Luke 2:48-49)
All nations call Mary blessed. This
is true of the whole of the Catholic
world, but much more so in this Philippines!
It can be said that the Catholic faith and the devotion to the
Blessed Virgin and to her mysteries belong to the very identity, and
characterize the piety, of Filipinos. This piety is the true expression
of their uniqueness, since it is a piety touched by grace and forged
by the happy meeting between the Gospel and what they are.
From the time Father Miguel Robles de Covarrubias introduced
the veneration of Mother Mary under the special title, Nuestra
Señora de Peñafrancia, to the people of Bicolandia, they began
to come to her, to love her and to experience her healing power.
Affection for the “Ina” spread not only throughout the region, but
the entire country as well.
May the 300th Anniversary of the Devotion to Our Lady of Peña-
francia be an occasion for God’s family in this Country, especially
the Christian communities in Bicol, to reaffirm their loyalty and
love for the blessed Mother and to intensify their faith. Guided by
the constant action of their pastors, may they be able to experience
fully the mystery of their Catholic faith according to “Ina’s way”,
that is, to live and pray like Mary.
In the name of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, I greet and
bless all the Bicolano faithful and all those devoted to Our Lady
of Peñafrancia.
Viva La Virgen!
+EDWARD JOSEPH ADAMS
Apostolic Nuncio in the Philippines
HEARTIEST greetings on your Ter-
centenary Celebration of the Devotion
to Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia!
The celebration of the 300th Year of
devotion to our Lady of Peñafrancia is,
above all, a celebration of the victory
of our faith. This devotion endures
through centuries, which boldly
manifests the ever deepening trust and
dependence among Catholic Chris-
tians in the loving providence of God
through the intercession of Our Lady.
Despite the apparent weakness of this
divine yet human church, the fondness
of the faithful towards Mary remains steadfast. In fact, through her
unfailing maternal care, Mary continues to win the hearts of many
unbelievers and draws more people close to Her Son.
Your theme writes: “A gift received, a gift to share.” In Salve
Regina, we boldly profess our nothingness and humbly accept the
misfortunes of our humanity before the graciousness of Mary. We
realize how much need we have of Mary’s intercession. But most
importantly, we must know that some hope and good things take
place in us, poor banished children of Eve, because Mary never
ignores our cry. Indeed, Mary is a gift to the church—a woman so
richly blessed among others and full of grace as the Angel Gabriel
announced (Luke 1:28). Hitherto, Mary extends her maternal
concern for her children and constantly serves as an open vessel
into which God pours His abundant blessings and from which we
also share. She bears the Son for us, the greatest of all gifts that
the Heavenly Father can offer to men. Thus, particularly among
Bicolanos, if not Filipino Marian devotees, the commemoration
attributed to Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia is surprisingly gran-
diose and overwhelmingly solemn. This profoundly expresses the
Bicolanos’ deep gratitude to Mary’s unwavering love and concern
especially for the needy
This gift should serve as blessings to others too—a gift to share.
Our devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary only finds complete mean-
ing in making ourselves truly blessings to others too, that is, we make
Mary and Jesus readily present to others by the kind of life we live.
We proclaim to the ends of the world how richly blessed are we the
moment we encounter Jesus and Mary, but most importantly, our
very own lives, our very own actions should tell the people that
indeed we, who are touched by the goodness of so loving a Mother,
now become bearers of God’s blessings ourselves.
May we never cease to trust in the intercessions of the Blessed
Mother as we seek everyday God’s favors. Viva Nuestra Señora
de Peñafrancia!
+NEREO P. ODCHIMAR, DD
Bishop of Tandag
CBCP President
“THERE is need of only one thing”
(Lk. 10: 42). This passage is set in
the straightforward way that Jesus
reminded Martha to prioritize the
concerns of God over others. At the
heart of a disciple’s life and service is
the unconditional surrender to the will
All Photoes © Roy Lagarde / CBCP Media
of the Divine Master.
The Church of Bicol, in celebrating
the historic moment of the 300th an-
niversary of the devotion to Our Lady
of Peñafrancia, pauses for a moment to
realize what God has bestowed them
for more than a third of its history,
attempts to acknowledge the immensity of the grace received and
asks herself: “How can I repay the Lord for all the good done for
me?”(Psalm 116:12)
For three years since 2007, we have embarked on a spiritual jour-
ney or pilgrimage of faith rooted in our gratitude to God for the gift
of Ina, the Patroness and Queen of the region. We experienced even
more deeply that our love for Ina necessitates an intimacy with her
Son, Jesus. It is in this articulation of our love for His mother, that
we come into full circle the munificent love of God.
The people of God in the Archdiocese of Caceres, in communion
with the dioceses of Bicol, are one in answering to our collective voca-
tion as inheritors of a glorious past, protagonists of the present, and
shapers of the future. The gift of devotion handed down to the pres-
ent generation, makes us remember that in 1710, Fr. Miguel Robles
de Covarrubias, has been chosen by God as an instrument for the
propagation of the devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia. The call to
a renewal of life in faith challenges us to cease being passive specta-
tors and to rise up as active agents in building up the Kingdom of
God. Our love for Ina invites us to look further to the next generation
by preparing them in and with great hope. In these threefold act of
remembering, renewing, and sharing do we manifest our response
to Jesus’ heed “to choose the better part “(Lk. 10: 43).
It is in this spirit that I enjoin everyone to take part in our humble
prayer as one local church in singing Mary’s hymn: “My soul pro-
claims the greatness of the Lord” (Lk. 1: 46). Viva la Virgen!
+LEONARDO Z. LEGASPI, O.P., D.D.
Archbishop of Caceres