What you need to know about the RH Bill's negative side

This is rarely publicized, so I repost this infographic from Kuya Caloy Palad's The Catholic Position on the RH Bill:

Anyway, Check the announcement below. Hope to see you there 'cause I will be. 

The Battle for Existence Continues: the Rosary Month Editorial

(originally made as episode for TSEKPoint, the video commentary program of 100% KATOLIKONG PINOY! now made as a blog version)

This October, we celebrate the Month of the Most Holy Rosary, and there’s no other celebration that could parallel the way the Dominicans honor the Blessed Virgin Mary. Every second week of October, the Order of Preachers, as well as the throngs of people who have a very special attachment to Mary (besides, we were called as the "a people who loved Mary"--"pueblo amante de Maria") because it is the Blessed Mother who interceded to the Child in her arms to preserve the Pearl of the Orient from Calvinist desacration. 

1645 was the year. The Philippines was in total chaos. Revolts were sporadic in the Islands; two earthquakes reduced Manila to ruins; and its Archbishop-elect, Fernando Montero de Espinosa, died before he even took possession of his cathedral. And to make the situation worse, the Dutch are prowling the Philippine shores, desperate to capture poorly-armed Spanish galleons, kick the Spanish regime out of the Philippines, and spread the Protestantism of Calvin. In short, with all these ominous events, the Dutch were resolved that this weak state of the Spanish government in the Philippines is enough to decapitate its rule and incorporate the islands with Formosa (now Taiwan) and Indonesia, both of which were Dutch colonies. It was do or die. If the Spaniards and Filipinos lose, the Philippines will cease to exist.

The Dutch had more or less 15 battleships, divided into three squadrons. The only defense the Spanish-Filipino forces had were two (and later three) galleons, a galley, and a few brigantines (all of them refitted for war). Aside from these makeshift warships, The crew of the Encarnacion (the flagship), the Rosario (the admiral ship), as well as the other warships had weapons and torches on one hand, and rosaries on the other. This only shows that their greatest arsenals were prayers and their devotion to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. 

The first battle was fought on March 15 the next year with the two Spanish-Filipino galleons facing five Dutch battleships—with odds in favor of the latter—off the coast of Corregidor. But their resilience and prayers made the Spanish-Filipino crew draw first blood with minimal damage and zero casualties.

The Encarnacion and the Rosario were then dispatched as escorts to the incoming galleon San Luis. They were then blockaded by seven Dutch warships at Ticao Island for about a month, and was lifted afterwards to sail for Manila. The Spanish galleons, then, chased them to an encounter near Marinduque on the 29^th of July. The Dutch waited till nightfall for their fire vessels to be at maximum effectiveness. The Dutch ships encircled the Encarnacion, desparate to capture or destroy the Spanish flagship. They were then fired upon by the Rosario from behind, doing much damage to the enemy squadron. The fire ships then closed in on the two-ship Spanish fleet, hoping to set them on fire, but to no avail. They were heavily bombarded and capsized. The battle lasted till dawn the next day, resulting to a Dutch rout. Again, another victory for the Spanish-Filipino forces with two injuries, but with no deaths, as General Lorenzo de Orella y Ugalde prayed through the intercession of the Virgin before the battle. This was supposed to be the bloodiest among the five battles. 

Two days later, on July 31, 1646, another battle ensued off the coast of Mindoro, this time, with the Spaniards and Filipinos on the offensive. Still in high morale after the previous fight, they cornered the Dutch ships for battle, surprised on how powerful were the Dutch cannons compared to theirs. Resilient and undismayed, they fired upon the Dutch ships, echoing the famous battlecry: “¡Viva la Virgen!” to the sound of their cannons. After four hours one Dutch vessel sank and the rest retreated. Again, no casualties were made on the side of the Spanish-Filipino crew.

After this, General Orella retired as commander of the fleet, turning it over to Captain Sebastian Lopez, thus making him captain of the Encarnacion, while Agustin de Cepeda replaced him as captain of the Rosario. The crew fulfilled its promise before the battle that if they win, they will march barefoot at the Santo Domingo Church in Intramuros. The intermission was important for the Spanish-Filipino fleet to reorganize its crew, do repairs to the ships, and to replenish their supplies. However, they became complacent, believing the Dutch will never again set sail over the Philippine waters. The galleon San Diego was en route to Acapulco when it was harassed by three Dutch ships near Fortune Island. Luckily the poorly-armed ship escaped the trap without an escort and went back to Manila. 

The San Diego was hastily remodeled as a battleship and joined the Encarnacion and the Rosario in the campaign. On Sept. 16, 1646, the now three-ship-and-one-galley-strong Spanish-Filipino fleet met the three-ship Dutch squadron at the port of Calavite in Mindoro. At the height of the battle, the Rosario drifted in for the kill—one ship against three. Admiral Cepeda prepared his crew for broadside fire, and the Dutch fled in the crew’s tenacity.

General Sebastian Lopez ordered the fleet to return to Mariveles to await orders from the Governor-General and to do repairs. On October 4, the San Diego was moored in the port, with the Encarnacion guarding it from a distance. The Rosario was again drifted away from the fleet, this time the Dutch, with three ships, have the flagship, the Encarnacion, as their target. General Sebastian ordered to move the ship, and the final battle for existence was about to begin.

With cunning movement and furious bombardment, the Encarnacion singlehandedly inflicted heavy damages to the enemy ships, causing them to flee. When the wind died down, the galley then attacked the Dutch ships, particularly the Dutch flagship. When it was about to be sunk, the wind blew again, allowing the Dutch to escape despite the pursuit of the Encarnacion and the galley. That final battle tolled four deaths aboard the Encarnacion. 

General Sebastian Lopez again fulfilled their vow of marching barefoot to the shrine of the Virgin of the Rosary. From that time on, all efforts of the Dutch to capture the Philippines were already in vain.

Celebrations were made in Manila, for their death sentence was lifted. An ecclesiastical committee of the vacant See of Manila then convened to investigate if the said series of battles were to be declared as miracles. And true enough, they were for the following reasons:

First, despite the bitter fighting, only fifteen people from the Spanish-Filipino crew lost their lives;

Second, the Encarnacion and the Rosario were old galleons supposed to be incapable of a long-term campaign, yet they won with unexpected results; and

Finally, the crew prayed the Rosary, and implored the intercession of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, which was also the agent of the victory of the Holy League under John of Austria at the Battle of Lepanto decades ago. 

This only shows that for those who pray, prayer is powerful; and if coupled with human efforts, there will be great results.

This was also a sign of determination that the Spaniards will never surrender the faith they practice and preach to the natives. This was a battle for survival—a battle for the existence of the Philippines itself, which Nick Joaquin said:

"Imagine the Philippines as part of Indonesia! That seems incredible today - but it's a might-have-been of our history. There was a time in the 17th century when our fate hung in the balance. Had events gone the other way, THERE MIGHT HAVE NO PHILIPPINES AT ALL.” 

The battles were part of the Eighty Years’ War between Spain and the Dutch and her allies. Their battlefield was extended to the colonies, threatening to conquer and destroy Spanish culture from the Filipinos. If not for this gallant, almost predictable defense, we would be speaking Dutch instead of English, and we will not have this kind of procession. More importantly, if we just sat down and let the Dutch take over the Philippines, we would not have become the predominant Catholic country in Asia, from which we owe our culture to, for we are already indoctrinated by the heresy of Calvin. 

A coincidental fact: Spain and the Netherlands faced each other again, this time; in the FIFA World Cup Finals in Johannesburg last 2010. Just as almost 400 years ago, the Spanish emerged victorious against the Dutch and won that year’s championship, their first in football. 

Now, another battle is ongoing; though a truce is formally implemented from now until January next year. It is not about territories or indoctrination of heresies, but of ideologies of what life is all about. 

It was on October 7, 2010 that Filipinos for Life, and in the partnership of 100% Katolikong Pinoy, launched the Facebook page called “I Oppose the RH Bill”, in response to the all-hell-broke-loose web war made by neo-atheists, freethinkers, and most of the people who associate themselves to the pro-RH crowd, specifically those who question the alleged involvement of the Catholic Church in politics, as Carlos Celdran assumes. We at 100% Katolikong Pinoy plugged the page instantly, since we also experience anti-Church bigotry through statements and trolling, and sometimes, divides the line between loyal Catholics and dissident, nominal Catholics, not to mention anti-Catholic statements about the “doctrine” of contraception. 

Ever since the establishment of the lines between those who claimed that the RH Bill was for women’s rights and for those who proclaim that life is sacred and should be left alone, TV debates have already aired, thousands of arguments have already been raised, both houses of Congress take this bill into consideration than other more important legal documents pending for ratification, most especially now that Senator Lito Lapid exposed that the RH Bill’s budget is about 13.7 million Pesos. Imagine that.

This is another battle for existence. But this time, it is not fought with ships or cannons, but with ideologies and arguments. And this time, what hangs in the balance is the destiny of our moral and socio-economical status, as well as the lives we are living and the lives yet to exist. 

The belligerents are the pro-life groups, dauntlessly spearheaded by the Catholic Church, and the groups who favor contraception, abortion, divorce, same-sex marriage, and the abuse (or to put it in their point, the exercise) of the freedoms of speech, choice, and expression. Instantly, groups of individuals, as well as large institutions and organizations take their sides, whether in overt or in covert manner, contributing to their consecutive camps.

As far as everyone can see, there seems to be a deadlock between them, if not an uphill advantage of one of them. A deadlock since the pro-RH are supported by celebrities people see, hear, and talk about in the media; while the pro-life camp only have a handful, mostly, the least talked-about (of course Manny Pacquiao and Sen. Tito Sotto are exceptions). But when it comes to things like proof, as well as exposure in charity works specially in times the Filipinos are on their knees, it is the Catholic Church and the pro-life NGO’s (if ever there are; but of course there are) who is the first to respond to the needs of the victims of calamities and the ire of nature in general; the pro-RH camp falls silent in these situations either because they don’t have the capacity to do so, or because they think it is not part of the argument, yet paradoxically, they point out the alleged wealth of the Catholic Church—that they have enough resources to purchase vehicles.

If that is the case, at least the Church uses it for the common good, of course comparing to some anti-Church organizations that have the luxury to produce advertisements about their cause and create full-scale campaigns out of their own pockets. 

In 1646, we have defended Manila, dubbed as the Rome by the Pasig by Nick Joaquin, from the Calvinist Dutch. Now, we face much more influential enemies: DEATH and its cohorts. Of course there are people outside the Church who support us in our campaign against this threat to the country's survival; the only problem is that some of them independently fight these monstrosities for their own benefits. We hope that these allies of ours may soon realize that we are fighting the same enemies and that they may agree to join forces to achieve a more decisive victory. 

To summarize, we are still facing a battle, in one way or another. But the battle we insist in this episode is not just a personal one, but it is a battle for reputation and respect. The Philippines is considered to be the last impregnable fortress of true Catholicism outside the Vatican. Malta has already succumbed to the legalization of divorce, and many predominantly Catholic countries, even Spain and Italy, have already been secularized as a society. It is up to us, the gallant men and women striving for sanctification, to remain loyal to the teachings of Christ through His Vicar and through His Church and to justify our reputation as the Rome of Asia. For this, we say, the battle for our existence continues. 

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.

Filipinos and Counter-Cultures (A Commentary for "Filipino Hippies")

Here's a blog post of my colleague in Communication Arts, Ms. Paula Solmerano, about counter-cultures. I don't have that much idea about it, but I guess in the prevailing social issues and attitudes can be inserted here as additions to what she posted, of course, with her permission. You can see the original post HERE. 

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Filipino Hippies

The world must need more love, because the last hippie has yet to die.

-Jesse Walker

            Counter-culture as defined in most references is a culture or way of life of particular people living in a society whom oppose or reject the dominant culture, norms, or behavior existing in that society. Some sociologists believe that culture in a society is never without a counter-culture. [And that is correct. Yet social issues today are so confusing that no one can distinguish what is the culture and what is the counter-culture.] To date, the most popular counter-culture was the ‘hippies’ which began their cultural revolution in the West during the 1960’s.  [which also brought about the Sexual Revolution that started the opening of the Pandora's box of contraceptive mentality and also the liturgical abuses that were practiced as a misinterpretation of the documents made at the Second Vatican Council.] However, locally speaking, some counter-cultures also existed and continues to exist in the Philippine society.

            One manifestation of cultural opposition is evident in the Philippines’ religion history during the pre-colonial period. Even before Catholicism becomes the dominant religion in the country, in the past, it can be considered as an opposition to the then prevailing religious system—Animism.  Animism can be used to describe the indigenous spiritual traditions practiced by people in the Philippines during pre-colonial times. It is a collection of beliefs and cultural mores anchored in the idea that the world is inhabited by spirits and supernatural entities, both good and bad, and that respect be accorded to them through nature worship. These spirits are known as ‘diwatas’. In this belief, some worship anitos and others even practice magic. This religion, in the past, holds the record of dominance for the whole archipelago but when Catholicism started to spread in the northern part of the country, the shift of the once principal to a minor religion ensues.

             In short, today’s leading religion, Catholicism, was then part of minor subculture in Philippine society which in the course of history, developed to be the main religion in its opposition and desire for propagation. Nowadays, only a handful of indigenous tribes continue to practice Animism. [and a number of people also practice its Western counterpart, Wicca, which is considered a cult by the Catholic Church.]

            As an example now of the present existence of cultural opposition in the country, youth again can be fairly counted. It seems that Philippines has its own “hippies”—only more socialites in sense--with the like of Katipunan ng mga Kabataang Kadre (KKK), an underground socialist youth in Mindanao. These young people, described as dynamic, bold and daring, is a sector, composed of various sub-sectors, which transcends to different sectors and classes of the society (Antoine, 2010).

            On the anniversary of Bonifacio Day, year 2009, the socialist oriented youth from the Bangsa Moro people, Indigenous Peoples of Mindanao and from the majority nationality, proclaimed the creation of a new underground, revolutionary socialist, anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist youth society called the Katipunan ng mga Kabataang Kadre (KKK) or the Society of Young Cadres. This society is mainly based in Mindanao with elements in various parts of the country. It reflects the desire of the young revolutionaries to slowly unlearn and out-grow the Stalinists and Maoist orientations that they inherited. This is also to help create a counter –culture against the rising culture of careerism, opportunism, commercialization, and reformism that they view as the main culprit of havoc and confusion in various social sectors. (http://www.internationalcamp.org/spip.php?article244&lang=fr)  Furthermore, according to the socialist youth there is a need to organize and mobilize all the anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist youth under the banner of revolutionary socialism towards the realization in Mindanao, Philippines, and the world. [Looks like the idea is a fusion of Islamo-indegeous and communist thought, I presume.]

            Clearly, this example somehow violates one of the main considerations in defining what a counter-culture is: being not necessarily a social movement and members are often unorganized. However, the mere existence of the citizens having the same outlook against the existing social concerns of Philippine society presently already proves a fact that such culture exists in the country prior to the formation of their movement. This youth socialites stand for what they believe as the more proper way of living life and how social system in the country should change and not be tolerated anymore by its people. Indeed, an opposition of what is constantly happening in Philippine society. [Uh-huh]

            Lastly, the counter-culture that has been existing in the past, present, and in high chances, still continues to exist in the future shows the manifestation of Filipino colonial mentality. [Take, for example, the Sexual Revolution, which ushered in the ST films here in the Philippines, which in turn paved the way to pornography and voyeurism, and now, the RH Bill.]  At first thought colonial mentality may seem to be irrelevant in discussing Philippine society, but as Manuel L. Quezon said, “It is not, at least not entirely.” [Though some of Quezon's critics argue that he was a Janus-faced politician--facing the Filipinos, he speaks of his ardent desire for independence, on the other hand (or should I say face), he speaks with the Americans about other plans. Thus, Quezon is a counter-culture himself, much like Jekyll and Hyde]

            In an article of Manuel Quezon entitled Philippine Racism, he discussed the significance to highlight colonial mentality as part of Filipino culture. For some reasons, it already has became a characteristic of Filipino culture which therefore promotes a different  yet common subculture in the country—people who account a big part of their life by patronizing everything colonial and  deride anything that gives pride to what truly is “Filipino”. This culture is simply evident through the lifestyle some Filipino follow and their standpoint of beauty, in both aspects—physical and material. Sadly, even in media, this kind of lifestyle is portrayed. [and, sadly, even mimicked for the sake of ratings.]

             Furthermore, Quezon said, “The colonial mentality constitutes a weakness in the structure of our national society which we can ill afford.”. If one were to argue that this is a mere mentality or behavior, not a counter-culture of Filipino nationalism why therefore it affects society so much that it cannot afford to completely manifest in the culture of the country? The answer is because; it is indeed already a sub-culture continuously opposing the dominant nationalistic culture which ought to really rule. However, it may not be imperative that this kind of culture in Philippine society be eliminated, only minimized. As a result of the mentality, a sub-culture materializes and its defect in Philippine society can cause it to crumble.

            Aside from these three cases presented, the existence of counter-culture in Philippine society can also be pointed through a number more examples. These examples only prove that Philippines, just like any other country, has experienced, and still experiencing, counter-cultures.

Bibliography

Antoine. (n.d.). Philippines. Retrieved July 23, 2011, from http://www.internationalcamp.org/spip.php?article244&lang=fr

Quezon, M. L. (n.d.). Philippine Racism. Retrieved July 23, 2011, from http://www.quezon.ph/familyinfo/philippine-racism/

Religion in the Philippines. (n.d.). Retrieved July 23, 2011, from http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Religion_in_the_Philippines 

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Blogger's Note: Paula Solmerano is currently a Communication Arts Junior at the University of Santo Tomas. At the time of this post, she works as a trainee and an undercover reporter for ABS-CBN Sports. Ms. Solmerano also blogs at Beneath a Dreamer's Apophthegm

Taking from here, Ms. Solmerano was right. There are existing counter-cultures which do not only shape society, but divides it into two or more schools of thought. 

The greatest example we can tackle here is the issue of contraception and the other issues related to it. Advocates of contraception are further divided into splinters of thought: on one hand, those who favor contraception as essential medicines and nothing more; on the other, those who favor contraception who also are advocates for abortion, divorce, same-sex marriages, euthanasia, secularism, neo-atheism, and even religious bigotry. In the three latter advocacies, there are still more collateral damage which they are pursuing--the discrediting and taxing of religious organizations, specifically the Catholic Church; the "education" of young minds to adhere neo-atheism; and much more. 

There is a loophole in these, however. It seems they only target Catholics--prelates, clergy, religious, and laity--just because, for them, they have the guts of opposing all of these, and they are the most rational among the religious institutions in the country, and basically, across the globe. Besides, what can they get from the other religious groups aside from their support? 

Aside from this prevailing word war on venues and in the Internet, there are many more counter-cultures that continues to make this country a house divided. 

Anyway, Thank you, Paula, for letting me do a commentary about this. 

:D

Ang Tunay na Iskolar ng Bayan: a Poem by John Juat

Don't get me wrong. I'm a Thomasian. 


But some of our brothers who are Iskos [colloquial term for UP students; derived from "Iskolar ng Bayan"] are against the RH Bill for secular, and maybe practical reasons. Nevertheless, the main idea is there even if UP is a house divided in this issue, just as other Universities are. We're still a month away before I shift to Filipino in blogging, but let me give you a teaser for that, courtesy of Before the Eastern Sunset. 


Original post may be seen HERE. 

Ang tunay na iskolar ng bayan

Na may pakialam sa kapwa nating mamamayan

Alam na hindi RH Bill ang tunay na kasagutan

Sa problemang hinaharap ng ating lipunan

Napakaraming problema ang dapat nating tugunan

Pagpapatatag ng edukasyon ang ating pondohan

Kung kulang pa tayo ng guro, libro at paaralan

Paano natin sila bibigyan ng wastong karunungan?

Pill at condom lang ba ang halaga ng ating katawan?

Kung hindi kaya mahalin, edi huwag na pakasalan

Tayo rin ang todong maaapektuhan, tayong mga kabataan

Kaya naman natin magtimpi, disiplina lang ang kailangan

Bakit ba ang pagbubuntis ay pilit iniiwasan?

Isa ba itong sakit na nararapat mabilisang gamutan?

Ang totoo, isa itong napakalaking karangalan

Na ang babae’y makapagdalang tao sa kanyang sinapupunan

Mga taga-UP, gamitin natin ang ating taglay na katalinuhan

Huwag tayo maging parang asong sunod sunuran

Hindi purkit uso at sinabing maganda ng mga taga-kanluran

Ay totoong makabubuti sa ating minamahal na bayan

Iskolar ng bayan, buksan natin ang ating isipan

Tingnan natin mabuti ang isyu sa kabuuan

Ibasura na natin ang RH Bill bago tayo magsisi ng tuluyan

At tinataguyod ng panukalang ito ay kultura ng kamatayan

Ang tunay na iskolar ng bayan

Na may pakialam sa kapwa nating mamamayan

Alam na hindi RH Bill ang tunay na kasagutan

Sa problemang hinaharap ng ating lipunan

-o-o-o-

This poem is penned by John Juat in relation to the Pro-Life Rally mounted by Pro-life UP Students last July 1. 

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That also means I'm not the only poet around.... hahahaha 


Ma'am Aliza Racelis also shared about that UP Pro-Life Rally.

A Leningrad in the Making: The Independence Day Editorial

For almost 900 days--from Sept. 8, 1941 to Jan. 27, 1944--the city of Leningrad (known today as St. Petersburg) was blockaded by the Germans and Finns under the command of Field Marshal Wilhelm von Leeb, as part of Operation Barbarossa. The city is so important to Hitler for it was once the capital of Russia before it was moved to Moscow. Furthermore, the city also houses the Baltic Fleet, a heavy tank factory, and some of its most important treasures; and to top it all off, it was the spiritual capital of the Soviet Union, being the cradle of the Russian Revolution. The Third Reich also prioritized this city bearing the name of Vladimir Lenin, the great leader of the Soviets, along with Moscow (the capital) and Stalingrad (the city named after Joseph Stalin, its most influential leader; also functioned as its industrial center; now named Volgagrad).

In this span of time, the defenders and the citizens of Leningrad experienced an ordeal not yet repeated in recent history: about four million of its citizens and defenders were killed, wounded, captured, or got sick after the siege was lifted; food became scarce and its quality degraded; bombardments and barrages became common; sickness and hunger reduced the population; their physical and mental health also deteriorated. In short, Leningrad was the most destructive siege of the war and in history in terms of casualties and economical downfall, with Stalingrad still being the bloodiest battle and turning point of the Great Patriotic War.

But what kept the city alive is the courage to live for their city, even if it means neglecting one's self. The children of Leningrad was committed to fight for their mother-city to the last man. They have held off the besieger more than what they could imagine. Death never conquered Leningrad; instead, Leningrad defeated death.

Though the ferocity and peril of the Second World War has long gone, there seems to be an ideological Leningrad in the Philippines, with the forces of death looming its shores.

For years, the Philippines was left untouched by a legal upcoming dedicated on contraception, population control, and reproductive rights...

...until recently.

Carlos Celdran, the infamous tourist guide who unethically desecrated the Holy Mass at the Manila Cathedral almost a year ago, emphasized on national television that the Church, and by that he means the Catholic Church, is involving itself in politics, but in reality, they are just doing their role as society's Mater et Magistra--Mother and Teacher. Besides, it is possible that he perceives mothers as meddlers to their children while ironically protecting their health from complications and, ultimately, childbirth ailments when in doublespeak. Furthermore, he also proclaimed that they are doing this struggle for 16 years.

These are also the sentiments of Celdran's allies, who happened to be supporters of House Bill 4244, commonly known as the Reproductive Health Bill. Most of them also emphasize that the passage of this bill does not mean that it will lead into abortion; yet in study and experience, passing an act on contraception will eventually lead to an act legalizing abortions, divorce, same-sex marriage, and even prostitution at the worst. What's worse about this is that though there are some who admitted that they push for it sooner or later, there are others who are still insisting that through education, abortion will not happen, though they wanted it at the back of their minds. In short: buking na nga, nagtatago pa.

This editorial is timed to the celebration of the Month of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the Month of Matrimony; and specifically, Independence Day, and the Solemnity of  Pentecost last Sunday because the bill on contraception (RH Bill), and the recent looming of a Divorce Bill (which could be compared to Finland in the Siege of Leningrad) are threats to Filipino living as we know it. All laws and proposed laws shape societies, but these bills are doing so all for the wrong reasons. In every angle, the RH and Divorce Bills clearly threaten the Filipino family, our economy, our workforce, even the way we see morality and freedom.

But these groups are but accessories to the real enemies of life and development. Basically, the contraceptive mentality is a foreign concept--an import, to simplify. In short, if these bills will be passed, God forbid, we are opening our doors to aliens and our society will be like the Spanish era--enslaved by foreign minds while retaining our Filipino identity, which is a contradiction to what true nationality is. These bills are given as anti-life, atheistically made, and specifically anti-Catholic; but since we should relate it to our June 12 celebration, we should also emphasize that these legal courses are anti-patriotic; anti-nationalistic; anti-Filipino.

The person responsible for all of this is Margaret Sanger, the founder of the American Birth Control League, the predecessor of Planned Parenthood. Aside from pushing for the legalization of abortion, she also proposes the legalization of birth control methods and promotes negative eugenics, which Adolf Hitler applied during the Third Reich, not just to the Jews, but virtually to everyone who opposes Germany. Now we see the connection of the Siege of Leningrad and to what is called as the "Siege of Filipino Life".

Now let us Filipinize the experience of "The 900 Days". Assuming that the contraceptive mentality and its proponents are struggling for sixteen years, they have long lobbied at the first line of defense. By 2010, they have broke out of the "Luga Line" through the Manila Cathedral incident, and started to isolate the Philippines from the rest of the pro-life world in terms of the contraceptive trend with the compromise of Malta to divorce. Just as Hitler delayed the total destruction of Leningrad in order to kill the populace by hunger, so does the condom-brained people try to make delaying tactics like pushing for a "Divorce Bill" as a red herring to contraception. But it turns out that the Russians have struggled all the more; by creating a "Road of Life" through the frozen Lake Ladoga, the Leningraders were somehow supplied by its basic needs--food, clothing, and fuel. Day in and day out, Pro-lifers based on religion keep on praying, believing in the power of prayer; and those based on secular arguments and facts, keep on researching and studying as much data as they could supply the frontliners.

But still, deaths in Leningrad were of cataclysmic proportions every day of the siege. If "the pill" will be legalized, this may lead to death counts far greater than that of the Japanese Invasion, the Martial Law era, the Pinatubo eruption, and the death tolls of natural disasters combined. Basically, the contraceptive mentality is a death sentence that will bring chaos to society if no one is dedicated to combat it off and force it to our shores once and for all.

After almost 900 days of blockade and misery, Leningrad's siege was lifted. Russia, the very inspiration of this spirit of hope called the Siege of Leningrad, through the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian government, are taking steps in making abortion illegal and the prohibition of contraceptive use without a physician's prescription. We Filipinos are hoping that this siege brought about by the Culture of Death will be lifted by the Gospel of Life; and that we may destroy the Hitler that is threatening the family.

For now, the Philippines must survive this Leningrad in the making.

Now is the time to play "The Sacred War" in medley with "Bayan Ko".

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.

Time for a BARRAGE!

Finally, the Archers have spoken:

Good Citizenship Statement on RH Bill

Reject the RH-RP BILL!

It is Anti-life and Anti-Filipino!

It goes against the Spirit of EDSA!

We, members of the Good Citizenship Movement, representing thousands of faculty and students, government employees, businessmen, parents, women and urban poor, reject the proposed House Bill on reproductive health and responsible parenthood. It is unhealthy, anti-life, irresponsible and anti Filipino!

The Bill is Unhealthy and Anti-Life

If passed, the Bill would make contraceptives more accessible and encourage their use. But medical research has shown conclusively that contraceptives have harmful effects for women who use them regularly. Some are even carcinogenic.

Proponents of the Bill also claim that widespread use of condoms will reduce the incidence of HIV-AIDS. Nothing is farther from the truth! Just look at the experience of Thailand where AIDS has spread greatly since they started flooding their people with condoms!

Another deceptive claim of the Bill’s proponents is that more contraceptive use will reduce unwanted pregnancies. The truth is that contraceptive use gives a sense of “false security”, opening the way to more sexual activity and more unwanted pregnancies!

But the most deceptive and damning claim of the Bill is that it is against abortion! Yet it provides for free services to women for post-abortion trauma. It facilitates and encourages the use of contraceptives that are abortifacient! It violates the right to life of the unborn Filipino! It is for abortion!

The Bill assumes that a woman’s right to choose whether to abort is equal to the unborn’s right to life. This is not consistent with the natural moral law which makes the right to life superior to any other human right, including a woman’s right to choose to abort. In a word, a woman’s freedom to choose ends where a child’s right to life begins!

The Bill is Irresponsible and Unconstitutional

The right and responsibility to educate children belongs primarily to the parents. This applies to sex education. If the bill is passed, it would take away this right and responsibility and give it to the schools and to mass media! This is not “responsible parenthood”! It is a clear violation of parents’ right to choose the manner and vehicle for giving sex education to their child! It is therefore irresponsible and unconstitutional!

The Bill is Anti-Filipino

Underlying the Bill is the claim that overpopulation causes poverty, and therefore, Filipino population must be controlled! Most economists and political scientists would refute this! Empirical research shows otherwise.

We assert that the Philippines is not overpopulated and population is not correlated to poverty!

We have more than enough land and food for our people. Our problem is that our cities and urban centers are too densely populated, simply because there are not enough jobs in the countryside. The solution is for government and business to decentralize their economic programs and empower the provinces. More support to agriculture and fishery, and more tax revenues to local governments can achieve this.

Furthermore, let us not make the same mistake of Singapore and the industrialized West. Their negative population growth now drives them to pay couples and give them incentives to have children! No, the problem is not population per se. The problem is to have better economic policies and better education programs for our people. That will put an end to our poverty!

The Bill is Anti-EDSA

The Spirit of EDSA was simply this: a united people won back its freedom peacefully! Thus, a Spirit of Unity, Freedom and Peace restored our pride and dignity!

The proposed RH-RP Bill is unnecessarily dividing our people. It is pitting Catholics against non-Catholics, the Catholic Church against the government. It does not promote unity!

The Bill violates the right to life of the aborted unborn Filipinos, and their potential to be born and live as free citizens in a free country. Let us not deprive them of that right!

Finally, the Filipino wants and deserves to live peacefully with everyone. This Bill is causing sincere and well-intentioned Filipinos to fight against each other.

It is a needless provocation. Let us reject it!

An Ardent Call

We therefore ardently call on our Congress Representatives to reject this Bill! We call on our Senators not to let it prosper! Most of all, we call on our beloved President Benigno Aquino III to remain steadfast in his decision not to support the Bill! The greater common good of our country demands nothing less!

Br. Rolando Dizon FSC

Founder and Chairman

Good Citizenship Movement

De La Salle University,Manila

February 26, 2011

EDSA Silver Anniversary

PACQUIAO AS PNOY'S ENDORSER!(?) WHAT?

I just got this from Sir Nemesio Antonio, Jr. on his post at "The Truth Is..." and yeah.... I smell something fishy in the yellow gloves the Pacman is using in his fight against "Sugar" Shane Mosely.... [Reactions will be on this format....]

Pnoy’s Administration must be really desperate and panicking to regaiin public support.

They’ve now turned to boxing legend Manny Pacquiao as unofficial endorser of the Aquino Government through the yellow gloves he will wear today in his fight against Shane Mosley in Las Vegas, Nevada. [Well, well, well.... What do we have here? A sabotage?]

Why do I say so?

Pacquiao had announced he will wear yellow gloves today to symbolize Filipino unity in the fight against poverty.

But whoever said yellow symbolizes Filipino unity versus poverty? What law? What rule? [I don't even saw that kind of interpretation to yellow.] We all know that yellow is identified to only ONE FAMILY in the entire country, the Aquinos starting with the late former President Cory, Pnoy’s mom. [It's obvious.]

Pacquiao’s decision to wear yellow gloves comes at a time when the Aquino Administration’s popularity is on a CONTINUOUS DECLINE. As far as I know, he never wore yellow gloves in his previous fights. [He normally uses RED gloves.]

But apart from newspaper reports saying Pnoy is praying for Pacquiao’s victory, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abegail Valte is asking the people to wear yellow today as a sign of unity and support. [But there are hidden agendas to this.]

Even though none of us will be watching the fight live at Nevada. Let me give you two possible explanations for this.

First, they want to make Pacquiao en endorser of the Government. [And MAY have all the power to lure him into the Pro-Death camp (through the infamous Reproductive Health Bill) and away from his original stance of the sanctity of life.] They want him to ask his legions of fans not to lose trust in Pnoy and the Aquino Administration to prevent another drop in the ratings.

Or Pnoy’s boys will take pictures and video footages of seas of yellow which they hope to find today in as many areas as possible. Then, they will come out with these in media claiming that the people are united, not just behind Pacquiao but also the Government, proof that they’re recovering Pnoy’s popularity. [This...is...DECEPTION!]

A DISGUSTING and PATHETIC propaganda gimmick. [And I totally agree with it.] Anybody corfrect me if I’m wrong and I assure you I’ll immediately come out with it.

I sure hope Pacquiapo is not a willing participant in this amateurish propaganda scheme., and that he won’t allow himself to be used and exploited by the incompetents in Pnoy’s  government. [Pacquiao must not do so. He has a name of his own, and he should protect that name so that the trust the people gave to him will not be broken.]

(1:32 PM)

This just in....

HE WON AGAINST MOSELY VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION!

Now he's got two things he must consider:

1. Retire from Boxing and ignore Mayweather; and
2. Focus his duties as Representative of Saranggani and knock out the Reproductive Health Bill on his new boxing ring: the Batasang Pambansa.

Now how'dya like that?

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.