Grassroots: Common Ground

Sa isang pag-uusap isang gabi sa FX, napasarap ang kwentuhan namin ng isang kasama sa CA (Communication Arts) na isang Evangelical ("Born Again" Christian) habang kami'y papauwi mula UST. Maraming bagay ang aming napag-usapan, lalo na ang aming pag-aaral; at sa sobrang daldal ko, nasingit ko ang ang efecto ng naging Sexual Revolution sa Kanluran.

Laking gulat ko na napuna niya na may dalang problema ang pagpasa ng Reproductive Health Bill sa moral at socio-economical na aspeto ng ating lipunan. Hindi siya papayag na magalaw siya ng kanyang boyfriend (assuming na meron nga siya) unless maikasal sila. Nasagot ko naman na bilang lalaki, kailangan kong maging responsableng katipan (again, assuming na may girlfriend ako), respetuhin ang kanyang desisyon na hindi makikipagtalik hangga't hindi kasal, at kailangan kong kontrolin ang mga pagnanasa at pang-uudyok ng katawan (desires of the flesh, kumbaga).

Bilang mga Kristyano, napagsang-ayunan namin ang ilang nakasaad sa iisang basehan ng aming pananampalataya mula sa utos ng Panginoon sa paglilikha sa tao (Gen. 1:28), hanggang sa maaaring maging efekto ng contracepsion (ang kasalanan ng Sodom at Gomorrah), maging ang utos ng Diyos na "huwag kang papatay" kahit na hindi namin na-quote ito; kahit nga ang isyu tungkol sa controversiya na kinasangkutan ng PCSO ay nilagyan ng aral na "huwag ipaalam sa kaliwang kamay ang ginagawa ng kanan" (okay, hindi ko na alam kung anong verse yun...).

Sa huli, na-realize naming dalawa na kahit ako'y Katoliko at siya'y isang Evangelical, pagdating sa isyu ng pagpapahalaga sa buhay, may common ground kami--ang buhay ng tao, gaano man kaliit, ay may halaga; siguro nga, dapat no questions asked na 'yun.

Pro-lifers at the Tigers' and Falcons' Camps

Last July 19, the CBCP has launched two pro-life forums held at two separate locations: the Adamson University for the laity, and the University of Santo Tomas for the students. Both were successful, and both were graced by pro-life Representatives--Rep. Roilo Golez for AdU and Rep. Mitos Magsaysay for UST. Let me focus on the latter since it was where I was....

The program was held at the UST Chapel. Aside from the host school, which is UST, there were also delegations from St. Paul University Manila and Quezon City, Lourdes School Quezon City, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, St. Jude Academy, Cainta Catholic School, La Consolacion College Pasig and Valenzuela, San Beda College, St. Mary's College of Quezon City, Philippine Normal University, Assumption College Makati, Technological University of the Philippines, Santa Catalina College-Legarda, and though uncharacteristic, small delegations from Ateneo and La Salle.

Aside from Rep. Magsaysay, the other speakers were Ate Renelyn Tan of World Youth Alliance and Prof. Richard Pazcougin of the UST Center for Campus Ministry.

Sir Raymond Bandril gives you the rest of the report, while Ma'am Diana Uichanco reports the Adamson forum.
The Varsitarian also has an article about this.

These are some of the pictures of the events that happened at UST. The rest can be shown HERE.

Take note of the vestments: a stole and a cope. That means, it's a paraliturgical celebration, not a Mass since the priest must wear a chasuble in order to celebrate the Holy Eucharist. 

The guy in green with a scarf near the center is my Pro-life friend.... :) 

Thomasian reinforcements.... Sweet.... 

Thomasians avoid passing through the Arch of the Centuries because of a prevailing urban legend. But students of other schools don't care about it just to get to España. 

The Legion of Life in formation. Find me in the crowd! hahahahaha 

Good thing these guys never hesitated to smile at the camera.... ^_^

And after that, a number of Thomasians have started flooding the CBCP for Life Page with their statements. (and I guess, these are the new set of students handled by Prof. Agui Jalin, mostly from the Faculty of Arts and Letters) This is what I posted: 


"WOW! Another batch of Thomasians standing for life! The Artlets (colloquial term for AB students in UST) have represented, We want to hear from other Colleges as well! GO USTE!" 

Congratulations to everyone!

And, yeah. The people on the other side are not happy about this.

TIGERS! ON THE DEFENSE! NOW!

Exploiting the Moment

Radyo Veritas went off air for five days last week due to technical upgrading...

...and in its absence, all hell broke loose.

It seems that the dissident anti-Catholics took it as an opportunity to discredit the Church all the more. But five days were not enough to create a significant change in the rationality of Filipinos; and in those five days, a miracle even happened--the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is now on the defensive mood after the seven bishops were resolved to return to PCSO the SUV's which they allegedly purchased in the course of the Senate hearing. Besides, it was not their loss since they promised a vow of poverty in their ordination to the priesthood.

Furthermore, the revelation of this issue made Carlos Celdran, Elizabeth Angsioco, and their allies and minions furiously rage together and imagine vain things such as "SaPARI at MitsuBISHOP", and other insulting statements. But the sweet revenge (backfire could be a better term) of this issue is that by this radio silence, all the more DZRV's fellow media professionals--whether in TV, Radio, Print, or in Multimedia--have shown their true colors: On one side, the personal bias of some of them prevailed; on the other, the objectivity of balancing views--and sometimes favoring the underdog of this issue, which is the Catholic Church and its ardent adherers.

In this end, Radyo Veritas is back on air--stronger and more widespread. But there is always an effect in communication, even in radio silence; since radio can be an effective catalyst for change and can sway listeners to take action.

Axios!: Archbishop Palma elected as next CBCP President

The Pinoy Catholic and One With You posted greetings...and so do I....

MSAG congratulates His Excellency Most Rev. Jose Palma, D.D., Archbishop of Cebu, for his election as the next President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop, Most Rev. Socrates Villegas, D.D., is elected Vice-President.

AXIOS!

RH bill: Spawn of statism

Editorial of The Varsitarian, April 13, 2011

A DIFFERENT show of people-power was staged last March 25 at the Quirino Grandstand when the clergy and religious, pro-life groups, and the Church as a whole gathered to call for the abolition of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill.

During the Mass, attended by some 200,000 to 300,000 people, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales called for respect for life and the junking of the RH bill. Cardinal Rosales said that despite the bill’s avowals of “responsible parenthood” and “sexual responsibility,” its bias for contraception and “safe sex” is very evident, so that it is hardly expected to foster authentic responsibility and discipline, two virtues, he said, that the people and the nation need. He added that people’s indifference to life, if not their utter disrespect of it, could lead to moral decay.

The Cardinal said life should be defended from conception: “Kapag hindi pinahalagahan ang buhay na iyan sa alinman o saan mang yugto ng buhay ng tao, (sanggol, fetus, matanda, malakas, o mahina) hinding-hindi igagalang ang buhay ng sinuman—at diyan kapag wala ng halaga o walang pagpapahalaga, wala ng magtatanggol sa buhay.”

The Cardinal’s remarks are a re-expression of what the Varsitarian has said in its last editorial (“RH Bill: Deadly, Anti-Constitution”). Despite its claim to being a lawful measure by its invocation of supposed constitutional principles and state policies, the RH bill is mum on the most important constitutional principle and state policy that should apply on any measure that seeks to regulate births, curb population growth, and introduce sex education—that the “State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception. The natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character shall receive the support of the Government.” (Section 12, Article 2) If one pits all of the questionable provisions of the bill against this proviso, one will recognize how the bill is in fact an attack on the 1987 Constitution that had been overwhelmingly ratified by nearly 80 percent of the population! One will agree with the Varsitarian that it is “deadly,” “anti-life,” “anti-family,” and “anti-constitution.” One will recognize that the RH bill is an attack on human dignity and the Filipino nation!

Oh, but contraception is not abortion, the RH bill proponents maintain. But only the truly dense cannot see through their smokescreen, their lie. In the first place, the bill makes a blanket approbation of all contraceptives, which it wants to be declared as “essential” medicines. Some of these contraceptives are technically abortifacients, even physicians admit that. Moreover, the bill compels medical workers to provide services to women suffering post-abortion complications, which is a condonation of abortion and violates the penal statutes on the crime. Much as mercy and compassion should be extended to women suffering from complications arising out of abortion, wouldn’t a law that forces medical practitioners to extend services to them, regardless of established ethical medical protocols, encourage other women to commit abortion, which is a criminal act? In short, doesn’t the RH bill in fact abet criminality?

Meanwhile, UST, maintaining its Catholic nature and character, released a statement last March 24 opposing the RH bill, saying it violates conscience and tramples upon religious freedom.” It said that any government-sponsored responsible parenthood program should be motivated by an “option for life and not against it. Backing the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ stand, UST said natural family planning was the better option as it is “not only pro-life but also pro-poor and pro-women, since it does not endanger people’s health.”

UST is specifically opposing provisions in the consolidated RH bill or House Bill No. 4244, such as Section 9 which names contraceptives as essential medicines, Section 18 demanding all employers to include contraceptives in their employee’s economic package, and Section 22 that prohibits any person from “malicious engagement in disinformation about the intent or provision of this act.”

“This would mean that the purchase of contraceptives shall be the burden of all tax-paying Filipinos, even those who, in conscience, are pro-life,” UST said in its statement. “This is a violation of the freedom of religion, of freedom of conscience, and of freedom of expression.”

As much as how the mainstream media generally biased for the RH bill portray the rally and UST’s stand, both events evinced a growing awareness in the Church and society at large of the demonic ends of the bill, its utter disregard of life. Despite secularism and the pro-choice mentality of many Filipinos, it’s good to know that there are still Catholics and other Filipinos who belive in the sanctity of life and the right to life of both the born and the unborn.

Moreover, Filipinos are beginning to see the dark social-engineering dimensions of the bill. Contrary to what the authors of the bill have been trumpeting, the RH bill is not pro-poor. If it is, then there will be no need for the more than a billion of pesos that is planned to be spent during its initial phase. Filipinos are beginning to realize that the money for it would be better used to address directly the education, food and health needs of the poor. After all, the poor need food, clothing and shelter, not condoms and contaceptives. Filipinos are beginning to see that the RH bill authors and supporters are really Stalinist legislators who see the poor as sex-starved rabbits and blame the poor for their poverty.

In fact, family planning and population control were enshrined in the Marcos Constitution of 1973. Despite the widespread implementation of the draconian birth control law, poverty persisted, denying any correlation between population and poverty. On the contrary, the Philippine economy collapsed, which should show that poverty is caused, not by overpopulation (no such thing), but by corruption, mismanagement, and monopolistic and oligopolistic practices.

Now, Congress, backed by academics from the University of the Philippines (self-proclaimed leftist and nationalist) and Ateneo de Manila University (self-proclaimed democratic liberal and nationalist), both elitist and bourgeois institutions, want population control back! Their concourse should show that Statism exists, whether in the left or the right, and that Stalinists and fascists aren’t so strange bedfellows. In fact, for all practical purposes they’re cozy intimates. And from their act of consummation would issue the monstrous offspring—the RH bill, nothing less than the spawn of Statism.

The Dramatic Memorial March for Mothers at the CBCP

This was actually a note from a friend of mine which she wrote Easter Sunday, and it was against the Feb 27 rally of the Pro-Deathers who surrounded an empty CBCP Compound.

Kudos to Ms. Monica Guioguio for this.

The Dramatic Memorial March for Mothers at the CBCP

“The lives lost, the children left behind, the hopes and relationships cut short, the contributions to society that have ceased.”

“We only leave behind the 11 candles with their dying flames. May the memories of the eleven women who died today touch your hearts and minds.”

These are such nice words to hear. Unfortunately, these same words are dubiously used to misrepresent the Catholic Church.

As a response to an obviously deceiving attempt to malign the Church, CBCP news through Msgr. Juanito Figura, CBCP secretary general, stressed that the church “do not in any way down play these women’s situation.”

Population control and public funds to subsidize contraceptives that's the real RH agenda. They claimed that there are 11 deaths per day due to lack of reproductive health, is it really the case?

First,  Corazon Juliano-Soliman the Secretary of DSWD said, "at least 10 women die everyday due to pregnancy or child birth-related complications." 11 against 10 is already a sign of dishonesty. Secondly, According to the Department of Health, the following have been the 5 leading causes of maternal mortality since 2004: 

1) Complications related to pregnancy 

2) Hypertension complicating pregnancy and childbirth 

3) Postpartum hemorrhage 

4) Pregnancy with abortive outcome 

5) Hemorrhage in early pregnancy

Why are these the leading causes? What are the things that needs to be done? Put the blame on the Catholic Church?  Msgr. Juanito Figura stated that;

“Precisely, the bishops ‘call on our government to address effectively the real causes of poverty such as corruption, lack of economic and social services, lack of access to education and the benefits of development, social inequities," quoting the CBCP’s latest pastoral letter. 

Msgr. Juanito Figura further stated that "those are the reasons of the deaths and suffering many Filipino women, especially the poor. "

“But the RH bills will not correct these root causes of poverty; it can even worsen the already real and present problems,” he said.

The CBCP, he said, further called for the establishment of more hospitals and clinics in the rural areas, the deployment of more health personnel to provide more access to health services, among others.

Among the reasons why the bishops reject the RH bill is "its overall trajectory towards population control", and its intention to "use public funds to subsidize contraceptives and sterilization services". - CBCP News

My guess, that march should have been directed to the DOH, the Ombudsman and Malacañang. They seemed to have protested on those who are calling for solutions on maternal deaths as well.

Hendry Plaza, the reproductive health programme officer for UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, says: “We will only [achieve] 140 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2015. We are still statistically off-track from the MDG of 55 deaths per 100,000. 

Mr. Plaza is so sure about this 'achievement' that he seem to be quite convinced the RH Bill is already a law. I agree that we need to develop and change the usual Filipino reliance to a "masahista" or "kumadrona" to lessen maternal deaths. But the Filipino out of being poor would rather rely on these than go to a hospital which requires downpayments before extending medical help. There are lots of issues that needs to be addressed first, and the RH Bill though having some solutions also have problems that would only worsen our situation. Just when did a woman dying of maternal complications needed pills or condoms to save her life? Prevent her from being pregnant in the first place is the solution? Yeah right! (sways head). Push for a law that will directly address the problem of maternal deaths and don't inject something that doesn't really solve the problem.

This kind of action is simply anti-Catholicism. Besides, the same atheists crowd are the ones most in that march anyway.

RH Supporters Held a Memorial March for Mothers at the CBCP February 27th 2011. Take notice of the hand sign.  It is the baphomet horns hand signal/sign, these are not just simple hand signals, they mean "I Love You Satan" on the heavy metal world of satanism.

Meet the Filipino Freethinkers. They are the famous flesh loving RH advocates mocking the Last Supper of the Lord. These are the very individuals who wants to eliminate the usual Filipino identity into a more promiscuous country like that of America. Do they look pro-poor?

Blaspheme is common with these RH advocates. The RH bill is just a tool to further advance anti-Catholicism in the Philippines. 

The Eagles are for Life!

First, the infantry (the Maroons); then, the armor (the Tigers); and now, we have air support (the Eagles). 


Yup...you heard it right. The Ateneo de Manila University is AGAINST House Bill 4244, or the "Consolidated" Reproductive Health/Responsible Parenthood Bill. I saw this one HERE. And here is what they have to say: 

ADMU Statement on Reproductive Health Bill 4244
Date posted: 2011-03-25 06:35:37

24 March 2011

MEMO TO : THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY
FROM : THE PRESIDENT
SUBJECT : STATEMENT ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH BILL 4244

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

There is a recent article in the press that "UP, Ateneo Profs call for
passage of RH Bill." The article also lists the signatories from the
University of the Philippines and the Ateneo de Manila.

A similar position paper was issued by Ateneo faculty on October 15, 2008 and, 
on that occasion, I issued a statement to the Ateneo community to clarify the 
stance of the University. In that memo, I said that the position of the Ateneo 
de Manila is as follows:

1) We appreciate the efforts of these members of the Ateneo faculty to grapple 
with serious social issues and to draw from Catholic moral teaching  in their 
study of the bill.

2) We acknowledge their right to express their views as individual 
Catholics and 
appreciate their clear statement that their views are their own and not that of 
the University.

3) However, the Ateneo de Manila University does not agree with their position 
of supporting the present bill. As I said in my letter of October 2 to 
Archbishop Aniceto and Bishop Reyes, it is the considered opinion of our moral 
theologians that, although there are points wherein the aforesaid bill and the 
Catholic moral tradition are in agreement, there are certain positions and 
provisions in the bill which are incompatible with principles
and specific positions of moral teaching which the Catholic Church has held and 
continues to hold.

We thus have serious objections to the present bill in the light of 
our Catholic 
faith.

4) Ateneo de Manila thus stands with our Church leaders in raising 
questions about and objections to RH Bill 5043.

5) It is also the responsibility of the Ateneo de Manila as a Jesuit 
and Catholic university to ensure that, in our classes and other fora, we 
teach Catholic faith and morals in their integrity.

6) At the same time, as I also wrote on October 2, we support 
continuing efforts 
on the critical study and discussion of the bill among Church groups including 
the University and in civil society.

The position of the Ateneo de Manila remains the same. In matters of faith and 
morals, the Ateneo de Manila as a Jesuit and Catholic university, stands with 
the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and the Philippine 
Province of the Society of Jesus. At the same time, we recognize the right of 
our faculty, as individuals, to express their views and appreciate their clear 
statement that these views are their own and not that of the University.

BIENVENIDO F. NEBRES, S.J.
President 

And on the sidetrack, their most famous alumnus and athlete, Chris Tiu, also expressed his sentiment for the sanctity of life through his blog post about Jason Evert's talk at the SMX Convention Center. And for his fans, he has a Twitter account. So I look forward for a strong Pro-Life air arm. 

But to show you all how serious we are about this, please view the video below: 

Which brings me to my conclusion: 

When could we have land- and sea-based artillery from the Archers? or will they go against it at all?

PAHALAGAHAN ANG BUHAY

(Homily delivered by His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales during the Mass at the Prayer Rally “Filipinos! Unite Under God” at the Quirino Grandstand, Luneta, on March 25,2011, Feast of the Annunciation and Day of the Unborn Child, at 7 p.m.) Nagsalita ang Panginoong Diyos kay Moises at sa mga sumasampalataya sa kanya nang ganito: “Tatawagin ko ang langit at lupa na sumaksi laban sa inyo. ‘Ihahain ko sa inyo ay buhay o kamatayan, ang pagpapala o ang sumpa. Piliin na ninyo ang buhay, nang sa gayo’y kayo at ang inyong salin-lahi ay mabuhay sa pagibig ng Panginoong inyong Diyos, tumatalima at nananatili sa Kanya.” (Deuteronomio 30:19).                Simulan natin ang pagninilay sa prinsipyo na ang buhay ay ang pinakamahalagang biyaya na kaloob ng Panginoong Diyos sa sinumang tao. Ito ang matinding paniniwala at turo ng Simbahang Katoliko na ang buhay ng tao, kahima’t mahina or nagdurusa ay palaging isang pinakamalaking biyaya ng kabutihan ng Diyos (Familiaris Consortio, n. 30). Kapag hindi ninyo pinahalagahan ang buhay na iyan sa alinman o saan mang yugto ng buhay ng tao (sanggol, foetus, matanda, malakas o mahina), hinding-hindi igagalang ang buhay ng sinuman --- at diyan kapag wala ng halaga o walang pagpapahalaga, wala ng magtatanggol sa buhay, dadayain ang buhay na yan, aapihin, kikidnapin na, pagsisinungalingan na, pagnanakawan na ang buhay na ‘yan ng tao! Kanya napaka-ganda ang pagtuturo ng Simbahan --- alagaan, ipagtanggol at itaguyod ang buhay. Huwag hahadlangan ng anuman sandata o anumang artipisyal na paraan ang buhay. Ang paglalapastangan sa buhay na iyan, malakas man o mahina, na ating laging, pinapahalagahan ay labag sa kulturang Pilipino tungkol sa buhay ng tao. (Pastoral Letter, CBCP, 30 January 2011). Ang kahirapan ng tao o kaya’y ang pagdami ng tao ay likas na merong solusyon at ang kasagutan dito ay aral na rin ng Panginoong Hesukristo. Una, ang yaman ng daigdig or kaya’y ang pinagsikapan ng tao ay sapa’t na at sobra pa upang pagsaluhan ng lahat. “Magmahalan kayo” at magdamayan sa ngalan ng pagibig. Ikalawa, mayroong paraan na inilagay ang Panginoong Diyos sa kalikasan ng katawan ng lalaki at babae, na ito ay marapat alamin o pag-aralan upang matiyak ang mga araw kung kalian maaaring madulot ng panibagong buhay sa pagtatalik ang binhi ng lalaki at babae. Sa bawa’t pagtatalik ang mag-asawa ay maaaring maging katuwang ng Panginoong Diyos sa paglikha ng panibagong buhay. (Humanae Vitae, n. 11). Banal ang buhay ng magasawa at sapagkat ito ay banal ito ay ginagantihan ng Panginoong Diyos ng tuwa at ligaya ang bawa’t pagsasama ng sinuman magasawa, sapagka’t habang buhay nilang ipag-papatuloy ang masidhing pangangalaga hanggang sa ang mga anak ay akayin sa kabutihang asal, banal ring pamumuhay na mayroong pagdamay at paggalang sa kapwa hanggang sa katandaan. Mayroon naming natural na paraan sa paghahanda sa mahalagang buhay na iyan. At iyan ang tinatawag na NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING. At ito ay kaloob ng Panginoong Diyos sa kalikasan ng bawat tao, lalaki or babae. Alam ng makapangyarihang Panginoong Diyos na darating ang araw na dapat lalung pag-aralan at may pananagutang balakin ang dakilang paghahanda sa buhay na iyan. Kung kaya’t inilagay ng Panginoong Diyos sa kalikasan ng katawan ng tao—lalaki at babae—ang wasto at tiyak na paraan at panahon ng hinog na binhi (ng buhay) para magsilang ng bagong buhay ng tao, lalang, at sa kawangis at kalarawan ng Diyos. (Henesis 1:27). Sa pag-aaral ng paraan para tiyakin ang mahalaga at banal na mga sandaling ng nahihinog na binhi ng buhay, malalaman ng sinuman ang mga banal na sandaling iyan—at kailangan naman sa mga tiyak na sandal at araw na iyan ang pagtitimpi, pagpigil sa sarili (pagpigil sa pang-gigigil). Yan ang sakripisyo ng tao. Alalaon baga ay kailangan ang mga sandal ng disiplina. Kapag may disiplina sa kama, tiyak na magkakaroon ng disiplina sa kalsada, maging sa pitaka (karta moneda). Dito mapapahalagahan natin ang “values” na itinuturo ng Simbahan. Banal po mga kapatid ang Gawain ng mag-asawa, kaya naman ginagantihan ng Butihing Diyos ng ligaya at tuwa ang mag-asawa hindi lamang sa pagtatalik, kung hindi hanggang sa mapalaki sa kabutihang asal, kabaitan at akayin sa kabanalan ang kanilang mga anak. Kasama diyan ng magasawa ang Panginoong Diyos. At ang tapat na magasawa ay hindi pinababayaan ng Panginoon. Banal ang pag-aasawa; banal ang pagtatalik sapagka’t ito ay kalakip ng pagbibigay ng buhay na galling sa Panginoong Diyos. Hindi ito laru-laruan na ituturo sa mga bata sa paggamit ng goma, lobo o condom, para iwasan daw ang sakit? Bakit mga bata ang tuturuan ng ganitong laro? Hindi po ba ang tamang ituro sa kabataan ay ang magandang halimbawa ng matatanda at ang kahalagahan ng buhay, ang kabanalan ng pagpipigil sa sarili na ang tawag ay disiplina? Ang awag po noong una ay kapag may pagpipigil, mayroong disiplina at paggalang at magkakaroon din ng Karakter ang tao. Ngayon ang gusting ipamulat sa kabataan ay ito: gamitin ang goma, maglaro kayo! Ganyan kabarato ang buhay ng tao ngayon. Salamat at mayroong Simbahan at salamat at mayroong Pananampalataya na nagpapaalaala pa (kahit mayroong ilang mga mambabatas o matatanda na kakaiba ang isip na hindi na mabuting makapangaral, hindi na kayang magpagturo ng magandang asal at batas na magpapabalik pa sa dahan-dahang nawawala at nanghihinang magandang hiyas na ating kabihasnang Pilipino. At bakit bata pa ay tinuturuan na ang mga anak ng ilang mga matatanda at mambabatas sa pag-iwas sa responsibilidad at ang pagwawalang bahala sa katuwiran at kalinisan? (Sa pangalan daw ng sanidad at kalusugan). Puro maalawang palusot ang gustong ituro sa kabataan ng ilang mambabatas—kanya ganiyan ang magiging bukas ng Pilipinas—mga mamayan na puro palusot, lahat ng padulas ang alam. May peligrong mawawala ang halag (value) ng kristiyano at tunay na Filipino. Ang dapat ituro sa kabataan ay kalinisan ng budhi, kalinisan ng puso, disiplina at pagpipigil sa sarili at paggalang sa hindi sariling pera. Anong klaseng panukalang batas itong RH Bill na kung maging batas na, at ang itinuro o ipaliwanag ng Simbahan at mga naglilingkod dito ay ang katwiran ng galing sa Bibliya, Pananampalataya at konsensiya ng Kristiyano tungkol sa Buhay at Kalinisan, sa halip na ang turo ay ang RH law, ay maaaring papag-multahin o ibilanggo ang mga ito? Paparusahan pa ang sumusunod sa konsensiya at Pananampalataya. Hindi ito ang Pilipinas! Hindi na tayo babanggit ng anumang bansa, pero hindi ito ang Pilipinas na minahal at pinag-alayan ng buhay ng mga bayani, sampo ng tatlong Pari --- Padre Mariano Gomez, Padre Jose Burgos, at Padre Jacinto Zamora. Sa El Filibusterismo, ang unang pahina ay inihandog ni Jose Rizal sa tatlong pari na iyan. (At ang gusto pang alalahanin ng ilan ay si DAMASO na ito naman ay hindi Pilipino!)                 Ito ang paninindigan ng Simbahan: 1. Ang pagmamalasakit sa katatayuan ng maraming mahihirap, lalo na ang mga nagdurusang kababaihan na nagsusumikap upang gumanda ang buhay at kailangan pang mangibang bayan upang kamtin ito o kailangan pang pumasok sa isang hindi disenteng paghahanap-buhay. Nababagabag ang Simbahan diyan. 2. Ang Simbahang Katoliko ay para sa buhay at dapat ipagsanggalang ang buhay ng tao mula sa sandal na ito ay ipaglihi o mabuo hanggang sa natural ng katapusan nito. 3. Naniniwala ang Simbahan sa mapanagutang (responsible) pagsasaayos ng bilang at panahon ng pagsisilang sa pamamagitan ng Natural Family Planning. Dito kailangan ang pagbuo ng matatag na kalooban (character building) na nagtataglay ng sakripisyo, disiplina at paggalang sa dangal ng asawa. Kung wala kang sakripisyo, hindi ka makakabuo ng karakter. 4. Ang sinumang tao ay tagapangasiwa lamang ng kanyang katawan. Ang pananagutan sa ating katawan ay dapat umalinsunod sa kalooban ng Diyos na nangungusap sa atin sa pamamagitan ng konsensiya (budhi). Kapag hindi pinakinggan at iginalang ang tinig na ‘yan ng Diyos (sa konsensiya), yayanigin at lilindulin, hindi ang bundok at dagat, kung hindi ang budhing ‘yan ng sinumang tao. 5. Aming paninindigan na sa mga pagpili kaugnay ng RH Bill, ang budhi (konsensiya) ay hindi lamang sapat na kabatiran kung hindi higit sa lahat ay ginagabayan ng mga itinuturo ng kanyang pananampalataya. 6. Naniniwala kami sa kalayaan sa relihiyon at sa karapatan ng pagtutol ayon sa budhi (konsensiya) sa mga bagay na labag sa sariling pananampalataya. Ang nakapataw at parusa sa napapaloob sa minumungkahing RH Bill ay dahilan para sa aming pagtutol dito. (Pastoral Letter, CBCP, 30 January 2011). May panahon pa upang maiwasan ang trahedya moral na idudulot ng RH Bill. Baguhin ang mga panukalang ‘yan, o ibagsak ang kayang kabuuan ng siyang pugad ng walang paggalang sa buhay, pagkawala ng responsibilidad at disiplina na siyang tunay na kailangan ngayon ng tao at bayan. Kung ang mga bata ay natuturuan pa ng Simbahan, ang mambabatas ay amin rin pinapaalalahan. Lahat kayo, ngayon at bukas, ay kasama sa aming dalangin. Pagpalain kayong lahat at ang Bayan ng Poong Maykapal! Mahal tayo ng Diyos at alaga ng Ina ni Hesus! +G.B.ROSALES Prayer Rally Feast of the Annunciation 25 March 2011

In hoc signo vinces: CBCP Monitor Editorial, Vol. 15 no. 6, March 14-27, 2011

WHILE a small band of Planned Parenthood (aka Reproductive Health) advocates were rallying in the Batasan, many pro-life activities and prayer meetings organized by Catholics all over the archipelago remained largely unnoticed by mainstream media, for one reason or the other. That was Tuesday, March 8, 2011—International Women’s Day the world over.

But the happening at the University of Santo Tomas the day after was just too big not to notice. Ash Wednesday, March 9—in just one Catholic university, 24,000 students, teachers and school personnel assembled to form a human cross that even the pro-RH media networks just had to cover. The 400-year-old UST was Ground Zero, and with a vision that pierced through the most sinister of clouds, blessed eyes from Heaven were watching.

The awesome Cross made of over 24,000 persons was meant to commemorate the beginning of the Lenten Season, but it was also meant to send a strong message against the passage of the planned parenthood-styled Reproductive Health Bill. Foreign paymasters and controllers of Reproductive Health
NGOs do not seem to grasp the sheer size of a sleeping prolife giant that is just beginning to awaken. For a while in the Philippines there might not be such a thing as a Catholic vote, but there is no doubt about the existence of a Catholic
Faith.

The parts of this compelling symbol of life are 99% young— the future of our homeland, the last country that has not formally succumbed to the culture of death.

Some have hastily predicted the arrival of a post-Christian era for the Philippines, but beyond the dark clouds hovering over a nation whose poor have been battered by foreign intervenors and our own fraudulent countrymen, we Filipinos swear yearly by the Nazarene and affirm by His cross that we shall rise up and face the challenges of life with resiliency and endurance.

And it is by this sign that the Faithful of the Philippines shall resist and conquer. Not only shall we survive; we shall flourish and we shall thrive! 

Blogger's Note: Shoutout to Br. Mark Vertido for the photo and statement....

The Saga of the Right to Life Against the Culture of Death

Maybe only a handful knew about the March for Life that happened Valentine's Eve, due to the absence of the major media networks in the country; in fact, the only prominent one present was Radyo Veritas, which is the sole Catholic radio station in the Metropolis. In my personal opinion, this is a problem to the prominent profession which we seek, and because of this ignorance, I was disappointed to the very institutions I look up to. 

But all that happened there is just the tip of the iceberg. Because when you dive down deeper, you would realize that there is a continuing saga of life versus death. 

Yes, reader. I'm talking about the most talked-about moral issue to date: the Reproductive Health Bill; and I would give my best common-sense comments on this. 

It started in the last days of the Arroyo administration, but was aggravated at the beginning of Benigno Aquino III's presidency when Albay Representative Edcel Lagman filed House Bill 96 in the Lower House of Congress. With its responsibility as Mater et Magistra, obviously the Catholic Church is the first to react and challenge the said legal action. Their conflict even got worse when Carlos Celdran got into the picture and rubbed to the Bishops' faces that the Church should not meddle in political affairs while raising high the placard which wrote "DAMASO"; but the Bishops didn't interfere in politics, they just reacted as it is natural for all men to react in a peculiar issue. It is the Church who spearheaded the campaign against the RH Bill, but it does not mean that they were the only ones fighting. There were also pockets of resistance that came from several pastors, imams, and even secular groups. Their support was physically shown in the March for Life and virtually shown through social networking. And everything between it is history. 

Now, I name the game. It cannot be morality because it is more religious. It cannot be the freedom of choice because it's vague. It cannot also be Church vs. State because being a Theist cannot be separated from being a Filipino. Maybe the name of the game is social responsibility. 

Why such? 

Everyone, I presume, is familiar with the Basic Human Rights: in this case, the right to life. Maybe the Bill could promote life, but what makes it wrong is simple: the intention is good yet some provisions are shown promoting artificial family planning (e.g. contraceptives), which is something not yet 100% proven effective. In short, the intentions may be good, but the means are doubtful: thus, a doubtful legal action that must be scrutinized. 

Moreover, to make things simple, imagine this: you were born even if you are uncertain of your future and no matter how and why; and after all your prayers and endeavors, you succeeded in the things you look  forward to achieve (who doesn't want to, anyway?). Will you be that generous to share your experiences to your future children for their future reference; or will you be that selfish to keep all your grudges to yourself, given that you were told that you were a mistake? 

Okay. Enough of the analogies. The reason why we see this as a taboo in society is because of three things: 

1. Filipinos value life even outside religion and law. We are known for our acceptance for children, regardless of color, physique, or even gender; 

2. Filipinos try hard to be careful of their bringing, especially in their sexual aspect; and 

3. Filipinos do not want to shame the ones they cherish the most, especially one's family and community. 

It is not wrong to make love in bed, as long as it is according to one's social norm and as long as the participants are responsible enough to face the potential consequences. We must remember that no matter what happens, deprivation is not an answer to something that is rendered as sacred. 

And the saga goes on.... 

Sacrilege! Shameful apathy!

(The following entry is the Editorial of the Oct. 29, 2010 issue of "The Varsitarian": The Official Student Publication of the University of Santo Tomas. The entry could also be viewed here.)

Last October 1, Intramuros tourist guide Carlos Celdran staged a shocking, stupid, and shameful stunt all in one when he disrupted Holy Mass at the Manila Cathedral, where Apostolic Nuncio Edward Joseph Adams and Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales were present. Styling himself as the “new” Jose Rizal and dresssed in the national hero’s characteristic European attire, he broke up the solemn Mass and carried around a placard with the inscription “Damaso,” a reference to the friar-character in Rizal’s novels, and shouted at the bishops and clery on the altar, “Stop involving yourselves in politics!” He was referring to the Church’s opposition to the Reproductive Health bill, several versions of which have been refiled in the new Congress, as well as criticism of President Aquino’s statements during his US trip that he’s in favor of “responsible parenthood,” or some form of birth control.

Even if he clearly does not agree with the Church, Celdran could have just let his mind known by a letter to the editor: after all, the Church representatives only made known their stand when they were interviewed by the media. But arrogantly enough and without regard for religious sensibilities, Celdran did the brazen act of desecrating the Church, her priests and liturgy. As a result, he landed in jail for committing a crime against religious worship, a violation of Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code.

But what was more alarming was that many Catholics did not condemn Celdran’s “shameful deed,” as described by the Manila clergy.

Even more terrible was that at the time of Celdran’s detention, about 6,500 people, apparently Catholics, had immediately supported a Facebook fan page calling for his release. Moreover, feminists rallied in front of the building of the Church’s episcopal conference in Intramuros with obscene placards directed at the bishops such as, “Get your rosary out of my ovary.” Even harlots would not use such language!

In what planet are Celdran and his supporters living? Perhaps they should repeat their stunt in a Muslim mosque or an Iglesia ni Cristo service. Let’s see if they would not get lynched.

Celdran’s arrogance was not only an affront to religion; it was an insult to the national hero. Even if Rizal was a Mason, a liberal secularist, and an anti-cleric, he would not have disrupted the Holy Mass and cursed the clergy. In his distasteful, unseemly blog, Celdran styles himself and those opposed to the Church’s stand on population control as “the new Jose Rizal.” What megalomania! Even the diehard Rizalista would not make such a claim. Apparently Celdran and his ilk have been making the fantastic claim inside the Mandaluyong sanatorium.

The apathy of many Catholics to denounce Celdran’s outright assault of the Church is a reality check on the Church both as a hierarchy and as people of God: Catholics are woefully ignorant of the Church’s teachings. The Catholic Church and her leaders have failed to educate Catholics on the teachings of the Church.

This problem may also stem from the failure of schools, particularly Catholic schools, to impress upon the students the position of the Church on issues such as the RH bill, which goes against the Church’s teachings on the basic right to life.

Closer to home, has UST, which prides itself as the Catholic University of the Philippines and a Pontifical University no less, done its job in teaching the Church’s pro-life stand as it confronts issues such as population control?

In the University, a minimum 15 units of theology subjects are mandated. Despite this, a study of former Arts and Letters Dean Armando de Jesus last year revealed that many Thomasians are “religious but not moral”––a finding which implies the tendency of Thomasian students to support the RH bill.

To be sure, this disturbing situation in the academe should force the Institute of Religion, the office in charge of the theology subjects, to start rethinking its curriculum and method of instruction, particularly SCL3 (The Social Teachings of the Church) and SCL9 (Marriage and Family).

All of the subjects are treated in an abstract manner, without reference to pressing issues of the day. For example, the chapter on natural family planning in the Marriage and Family textbook does not really explain why there should be family planning at all, it does not explain the geopolitcal context that has forced couples more and more to limit their family size. The discussion does not reveal the population-control mindset that occasions the discourse on family planning, whether natural or contraceptive.

Moreover, the chapter does not explain really why natural family planning is best. It does not even make reference to the natural law that underpins the Church’s moral teachings.

Theology professors appear to be ignorant of the issues around the RH bill and population control, considering that these issues are pressing to young Thomasians who have impressionable minds. Corollarily, UST doctors and bioethicists have largely evaded the issues. Most UST doctors, who receive perks from drug companies some of which produce contraceptives, don’t even go out of the way and explain to the public the side effects and risks of chemical contraceptives.

The Church, her leaders and teachers should tell Catholics that alleged overpopulation is not the cause of the poverty in the country but corruption, mismanagement and poor public policy. As columnist Atty. Jose Sison, a loyal Thomasian, said, “overpopulation” is the wrong term to use for the congestion of Metro Manila and urban centers, which is a migration and development phenomenon. In any case, he said it is wrong to blame the poor people for their poverty: the corruption and mismanagement of public officials are the culprits.

World-class economists such as Simon Kuznets and Jacqueline Katzun have denied any negative correlation between population and economic growth. Meanwhile, Nobel-winning economists Amartya Sen and Gary Becker have recommended that funds for birth control would be better used in directly addressing poverty.

Moreover, the RH bill is draconian and violative of human rights. The version by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman bill forces employers into providing contraceptives to workers under their collective bargaining agreements. How can UST, a Catholic institution, offer contraceptives to its employees?

Catholics should understand that natural family planning teaches husbands to respect their wives’ body cycles. It teaches trust, discipline and fortifies the family as an institution contrary to the RH bill, which advocates shortcuts, fosters irresponsibility, and weakens the family. Therefore, natural family planning humanizes us while artificial methods, which RH bill espouses, make us look like sex-starved rabbits.

House Bill 5043 carries a provision in which a spouse can get a vasectomy or ligation without the consent of the other spouse, which is tantamount to legalized treachery.

In addition, the bill also wants to muzzle the opposition by providing a provision that punishes those who allegedly spread “disinformation.” In addition, foreigners who speak against the bill may be deported. (What if the Pope visits the country and calls population-control measures anti-life? Can Lagman kick the Supreme Pontiff out of the country?)

Catholics are duty-bound to study the many anti-life and anti-human-right provisions of the RH bill and uphold with conviction the stand of the Church against it and other social-engineering measures of the state. Thomasians and other Catholics should rouse themselves from their apathy. Let the biblical injunction be their guide: “If you are neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.”

http://www.varsitarian.net/editorial_opinion/editorial/20101029/sacrilege_shameful_apathy

Carlos Celdran: Dauntless or Dimwitted?

My Christian Ethics professor at UST told our class that there are times that freedom, though a right, is misused and abused. Carlos Celdran's case is a blatant and current example.

The drama unfold at the second anniversary of the "May They Be One" Campaign of the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Bible Apostolate and some Protestant denominations in the country. Celdran, a tour guide who, under the mocking guise of the execution dress of Jose Rizal, protested inside the See of Manila in what he called "interference of the Church in politics" which goes against the separation of the Church and the State, disturbed the solemnity of the Eucharistic celebration by showing a placard with the name "Damaso"--remembering the character of Rizal's novel "Noli me Tangere"--which is pointed to the bishops and priests: among them, Cardinal Rosales, Metropolitan of Manila and Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, Apostilic Nuncio to the Philippines.

Two points clearly manifest in this conflict:

1. The barbaric approach of persons who blatantly oppose a controversial issue; and

2. The wrong portrayal that leads to misinterpretation.

Celdran, probably an Atheist or Agnostic, had no idea (or did not care if he had an idea?) that a place of worship is not an agora--in this case, the Cathedral is being kept from secular conflicts. As a civilized person, I would not let myself be THAT desperate just to be seen on TV and on the Internet. I should say that what Celdran manifested was barbaric behavior; one of my closest professors told me through chat that good manners is universal, even if you object religion and spiritual thought. This is what Celdran lacked.

For Filipinos, Rizal is a man of calmness and does not get arrogant easily. The perversion Celdran showed only certifies his ethical lunacy; not only because of the above-mentioned point, but also in what he wore. Rizal NEVER made an in-the-face protest against some of the friars, though he sarcastically spoke and made literature condemning their secularism; and Rizal died a Catholic--repenting and retracting EVERYTHING he said and wrote against the Church or its clergy. With what Celdran wanted to tell everyone present with his three-pieced dress, there is somehow a contradiction.

Well, if you ask me, what Celdran did was insane; not because I am Catholic, but because what he did was unethical: an abuse of the freedom to express. In short, he did not placed his protests at the right place and at the right time; if he had done it, he wouldn't have been jailed.