-Ber Months are here again....

Aaaahh, the -BER months.... Parang kelan lang.

Actually, I also have a lot of things to consider before that happy moment at the last month of the year--and I mean, A LOT.

One of them would be my promise of returning to Santo Domingo to see the Great Lady of Heaven (whose Nativity we would be celebrating in just a few more days) and her Son, the King of Kings--Child He may be, but the majesty He manifests shatters even the most devout. This is also a promise of duty, since almost a year ago, proudly donning an ROTC uniform, I participated into the security of the Queen and those who guarded it--who were actually my superiors. In short, this will be my "giving back" to the experience and formation that I have greatly acquired, and at the same time, my dedication and devotion to the one thing that I NEVER leave home without--the Most Holy Rosary.

I also have to consider my Finals in all my subjects, plus our "awards night" in our TV Production class. Even right now, I'm hands full in organizing our Marian Week in my affiliated college in UST! Yes, true to what I said, that's A LOT!

Anyway, good thing I survived Grassroots Month.... Back to me blogging in my comfort zone.

Grassroots: Sa Wakas! AXIOS!

Naalala n'yo ba ang ginawa ng UST noong Ash Wednesday mga ilang buwan na ang nakakalipas?

Nai-post ko rin yun dito.

Yup... humatol na ang Guinness...

...

...

...

...

at sa wakas...

AT SA WAKAS! NASA GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS NA ANG UST! WOOOO!

SOLI DEO GLORIA: PATRIS, ET FILII, ET SPIRITUS SANCTI!

Axios, mga Tomasino! ¡Levante!

At dahil ito ang ika-99 na post sa MSAG, gagawin kong espesyal ang aking ika-100 post dito. ABANGAN.

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. 

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

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 

------------------------------------ 

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

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!

Relevance of Rizal in our Times by Prof. Abercio V. Rotor, Ph.D.

Original post can be viewed HERE.


The following article about Dr Jose Rizal is widely circulated on the Internet in celebration of Rizal Day which is observed every 30th day of December, the day he was executed in Bagumbayan by Spanish authorities, more than 100 years ago. To preserve the originality of the report,I am presenting it the same way it is found on the Internet and as written by two sources of information, for which I express my indebtedness and gratitude. Rizal as the Father of Filipino Nationalism (Manila: Bureau of printing, 1941), pp.3-4.; andRizal's Concept of World Brotherhood, 1958, pp.48-60. The intention of printing this article Dr. Rizal, is to provide a fresh perspective about him and his teachings - and principally for the cause for which he gave his life in the light of present problems and challenges.
- Dr Abe V Rotor

TRIVIA: Complete name of Jose Rizal: José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda
The Philippine national hero, Jose Rizal, has his own views and concepts about Global Fellowship which is synonymous to "Internationalism", "Worldwide Brotherhood", "International Alliance", and "Global Fellowship of Humankind". The following concepts are taken from Rizal's own words, speeches, literature, and careful analysis of his personal history and works.

Factors that shaped Rizal
Among the factors that shaped Jose Rizal as a person:

1. Racial origin: Rizal descended from the Malay race and also genetically inherited the mixed Ilocano and Pangasinan bloodline of his mother. He also has Chinese and Spanish lineage.

2. Faith (religion): Christianity also shaped Rizal's way of thinking. He was born, baptized, and raised as a Roman Catholic.

3. His being a reader of books: He read many manuscripts, books, and other publications printed in various languages.

4. His being a linguist: His knowledge of different languages apart from his own. He can speak and understand 22 languages.

5. His voyages: He was able to befriend foreigners from the various nations that he was able to visit.

Rizal's ideas about "Brotherhood" (Fellowship)
These are Rizal's ideas about the subject of having a fellowship or brotherhood of humankind:

1. Education: The proper upbringing and education of children and daughter in order for them to prevent the same fate and suffering experienced by the uneducated and ignorant fellowmen under the rule of the Spaniards.

2. Faith or religion: The belief in only one God. The existence of different religions should not be the cause of misunderstandings. Instead, this existence of many religions should be used to attain unity and freedom. There should be deep respect to every individual's faith; the beliefs that one had become accustomed to and was brought up with since childhood.

3. Fellowman: It is important for one person to have a friend (fellow) and the establishment of an acquaintance with fellow human beings. (It is also important) to recognize the equality of rights of every fellow human being regardless of differences in beliefs and social status.

Rizal's efforts to promote a "Global Fellowship"

Rizal promoted global fellowship through the following:
a. Formation of organizations: Included here are known scholars and scientists recognized as the International Association of Filipinologists.

b. Friendship: In every journey, he was able to meet and befriend foreigners who sympathize with the experiences and events occuring in the Philippines.

c. Maintenance of communication: Before and during his exile at Dapitan, Rizal was able to keep in touch with his friends located in different parts of the world. He was also able to exchange opinions, writings and even specimens which he then studied and examined.

d. Joining organizations: Rizal believed in the goals of organizations that are related to the achievement of unity and freedom of humankind. He always had the time and opportunity to join into organizations.

Basis of "Worldwide Brotherhood" (Worldwide Fellowship)

These are the basis of the above ideas, which were then taken from Rizal's opinions found in his own writings and speeches which intend to establish unity, harmony, alliance and bonding among nations: The fundamental cause or reason for having the absence of human rights is eradicated through the establishment of unity.

One of Rizal's wishes is the presence of equal rights, justice, dignity, and peace. The basis for the unity of mankind is religion and the "Lord of Creations"; because a mutual alliance that yearns to provide a large scope of respect in human faith is needed, despite of our differences in race, education, and age. One of the negative effects of colonialism is racial discrimination. The presence of a worldwide alliance intends to eradicate any form of discrimination based on race, status in life, or religion.

Rizal wishes Peace to become an instrument that will stop the colonialism (colonization) of nations. This is also one of Rizal's concerns related to the "mutual understanding" expected from Spain but also from other countries. Similar to Rizal's protest against the public presentation (the use as exhibits) of the Igorots in Madrid in 1887 which, according to him, caused anger and misunderstanding from people who believed in the importance of one's race.


Hindrances towards the achievement of a "Worldwide Brotherhood"

However, Rizal also knew that there are hindrances in achieving such a worldwide fellowship: Change and harmony can be achieved through the presence of unity among fellowmen (which is) the belief in one's rights, dignity, human worth, and in the equality of rights between genders and among nations.

From one of the speeches of Rizal:

“The Philippines will remain one with Spain if the laws are observed and carried out (in the Philippines), if the Philippine civilization is "given life" (enlivened), and if human rights will be respected and will be provided without any tarnish and forms of deceitfulness. ”
Rizal's words revealed the hindrances against an aspired unity of humankind:

1. The absence of human rights.

2. Wrong beliefs in the implementation of agreements.

3. Taking advantage of other people.

4. Ignoring (not willing to hear) the wishes of the people.

5. Racial discrimination.

Excerpt from one of Rizal's letter to a friend:

“ If Spain does not wish to be a friend or brother to the Philippines, strongly the Philippines does not wish to be either. What is requested are kindness, the much-awaited justice, and not pity from Spain. If the conquering of a nation will result to its hardship, it is better to leave it and grant it its independence. ”

This letter presents Rizal's desire and anticipated friendship between Spain and the Philippines, but one which is based on equality of rights.

NOTE: This article serves as a reference guide to students taking the Rizal Course, a 3-unit subject in college. 


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


Blogger's Note: Prof. Rotor is an award-winning author of two books--"The Living with Nature Handbook" and "Living with Nature in Our Times". Currently, he is a professor teaching Communication and Socio-Cultural Change at the University of Santo Tomas. He also airs over DZRB 738 as a radio commentator for Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid. Prof. Rotor also maintains a page here at Blogspot.

The Single Greatest Obstacle to the Reform [A Commentary]

This got my eyes. Fr. Jojo Zerrudo was interviewed by my fellow Thomasians, and this is what he said in his blog:

Yesterday, some students from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila interviewed me for an article on Universae Ecclesiae [Father, I presume these are guys from The V]. When the conversation tackled the issue of Ad Orientem, I asked the students: To whom does the priest offer the Sacred Liturgy, to God or to the people? Without carefully thinking, the students unanimously answered: "The people!" [AAAAAHHH!!! My eyes!] They were surprised when, using the Ordo Missae, I pointed out to them how the prayers were addressed to the Lord and not to the people [Whether in the TLM or the Novus Ordo, ALL PRAYERS ARE OFFERED TO GOD. Common sense, Tigers... tsk]. No matter how much the Holy See insists on the fact that the Liturgy is always directed Ad Deum, it seems that such is not immediately picked up by the average Catholic. The reason for this? It is the celebration of the Mass versus populum [Kulang sa catechesis. Period]. I agree with Dom Mark Kirby of Vultus Christi when he said that "Mass facing the people is the single greatest obstacle to the Reform" of the Liturgy.

______________________________ 

I was disappointed to these interviewers. Looks like they forgot what they learned from their Theology classes. 

'Nuff said.

Saint

Editorial of The Varsitarian, May 16, 2011.

TENS of thousands of Catholics from all over the world flocked at St. Peter’s Square to witness and rejoice in the beatification of Pope John Paul II last May 1, a showcase of the people’s love and appreciation for the Supreme Pontiff who led the Church for 26 years until his death in 2005. Tens of millions more did the witnessing and rejoicing through the electronic media if not vicariously, at least spiritually. And they weren’t all Catholics. They were people from other denominations and other religions who did not hide the affection and high regard they hold for the new beato.

To the Roman Catholic Church and beyond, the Blessed John Paul II was an example of sheer faith, and love amid strife and the many adversities of life. His successor, Benedict XVI, called him “an immense grace which embraced Rome and the whole world: a grace which was in some way the fruit of my beloved predecessor’s entire life, and especially of his witness in suffering.”

The miracle that qualified the late Pope for beatification was the healing of a similar suffering in Sister Marie Simon-Pierre, a nun who asked for his intercession when Parkinson’s disease was already getting in the way of her duties as a faithful.

The man of humble and tragic beginnings was born Karol Jozef Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland in 1920. At a young age, he faced many loses with “death hovering over the family”—an infant daughter had died before his birth, his mother Emilia passed away a month before he turned nine years old, and his brother Edmund followed three years later. In the midst of the Nazi occupation in 1941, his father Karol had a heart attack and died, leaving the younger Karol completely orphaned.

“At twenty, I had already lost all the people I loved, and even those I might have loved,” the Pope would say in an interview nearly forty years later.

But the man turned to his faith and the Church, even when he was fully capable of taking on other paths given his intellectual talents and charm. His ordination as priest when he was 26 years old would be the start of his swift and surprising climb up the Church’s hierarchy, becoming one of the youngest cardinals in 1967.

The biggest surprise would come on October 16, 1978, when the Sacred College of Cardinals elected him as the 264th pontiff and the first non-Italian one in more than 400 years—a role that he reportedly accepted “before the cardinals with tears in his eyes.”

Speaking on the balcony overlooking the crowd that patiently waited, the reluctant new Pope said that he received the event “in the spirit of obedience to Our Lord and in the total confidence in his Mother, the most holy Madonna.”

From then on, he would be known as John Paul II and would spend the rest of his life with an even bigger family and more responsibilities. As head of one of the biggest sectors of faith in the world, the Supreme Pontiff embraced his newfound kin by traveling to be with them—making him “one of the most-travelled world leaders in history,” reaching more than a hundred countries and visiting the Philippines twice.

His pilgrimages, however, went beyond the Catholic circle. A peacemaker whose charm and sincerity seeped through negotiations, the Pope had touched the hearts and reestablished links with other religious groups like Judaism and Islam. He also met with many political leaders, appealing for peace and better relations.

He would be known by many names and advocacies, one of which is his love and encouragement for the youth. It was in 1985 when he initiated the first World Youth Day (WYD) and it has been held and anticipated since.

His second and last sojourn to the Philippines was for the 1995 World Youth Day in Manila, with its closing Mass at Luneta considered to be the largest Catholic gathering in history. During this visit, the Pope also visited again the University of Santo Tomas, which was hosting the International Youth Forum, the Catholic youth leaders’ forum of WYD. The Pope’s address before the mammoth crowd at the UST Grandstand put in proper perspective while UST enjoys special papal regard historically: “As a pontifical university, Santo Tomás has a special right to the Pope’s attention,” the Pope said. “In fact, this is the third visit of a Pope to the oldest university in Asia: Pope Paul VI came here in 1970; I came in 1981 and now God gives me the grace of being here again to meet the ‘university world’ of the Philippines.” Blessed John Paul added: “As a former university student and professor myself, I feel a special affinity with you. I wish to encourage you to live the University experience with dedication and commitment, in the pursuit of human and academic excellence, with a great sense of responsibility toward your families and society, toward your future and the future of your country.” Years later, when Philippine bishops and clergy visited him in Rome and reminded him about UST and Filipino Catholics, the Pope said he remembered those days “very well [because of] how warmly you received me during the World Youth Day.”

John Paul II dedicated himself to the service of God and the Church amid his long, hard struggle with Parkinson’s disease and the many controversies that he faced during his pontificate. But much like his fond remembrance of the University, John Paul II’s papacy is still regarded not for its shortfalls but its achievements.

Now, only six years after his passing, he has been beatified, which formally declares him among the elect in heaven and worthy of veneration. Even beyond his earthly life, the well-loved Pope is showing us that little miracles can lie in what we decide “to do with the time that is given us.”

Sinner

On the other side of the spectrum is another—but different—kind of remembrance.

Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the only son and namesake of the late president Ferdinand Marcos, has revived the clamor to bury his father’s remains in the Libingan ng mga Bayani—the “hallowed place reserved for heroes,” including former presidents and government dignitaries, Filipino veterans, national artists, and military personnel who died in the line of duty.

The issue, which has been dragging on for decades, has dug up old wounds once again. President Benigno Aquino III, whose father was allegedly killed upon the older Marcos’ orders, may have opened his heart to co-existing with the Marcoses peacefully, but he was not ready to take on this huge decision and tossed it over to Vice President Jejomar Binay to prevent his bias from getting in the way.

The plea would bellow in many sectors, even in Congress, where a resolution was signed by more than 200 congressmen, “urging [Aquino] to allow the burial of Marcos at the Libingan.”

The survey outfit Social Weather Stations found that Filipinos have a “virtually exact split opinion” on the matter after their March 4-7 survey, while the StratPOLLS Inc. saw that 71.6 percent—or seven out of 10—of 250 residents in Metro Manila favor the controversial burial.

Marcos’ remains are in a refrigerated crypt in an “ill-maintained and dilapidated” mausoleum in Batac, Ilocos Norte. Marcos kin and supporters keep on citing how his mausoleum is unfit for a former president. But it was the megalomania of the Marcos family and supporters that set up the ghastly mausoleum in the first place. As far as the requirements of Christian charity and human respect are concerned, the former strongman had been accorded that when, after dying in Hawaii where he had fled during the Edsa revolution of 1986, his remains were allowed to be brought home. Many countries that have kicked out dictators haven’t allowed their remains to be brought home.

A Catholic country, the Philippines has rewritten the rules on ousted despots and presidents in the interest of charity. But the Marcos family and their minions still insist on burying him at the Libingan because his mausoleum is “dilapidated” and apparently cannot be properly maintained by the billions he had plundered. Apparently the snootiness of his family and followers cannot be backstopped by the billions they had pillaged: since they cannot put their money where their mouth is, they want the people to foot the bill for their superciliousness. Despite the mercy accorded the strongman, his family, and cohorts by the people who allowed them to come home in the first place, they still want to push the envelope; they’re merciless and irredeemable.

It’s an insult to the Edsa revolution and the tens of thousands of human rights abuses under Marcos, as well as those who have worked for the restoration and the nurturance of our democracy that the Marcoses and their sycophants could demand state burial for the ousted despot. It’s an insult to the many men and women—journalists, politicians, and civilians alike—whose rights and lives were put to disdain by the stronghold of the dictator, his thugs, and his kleptocrats.

That the Marcos kin and minions have had the gall to demand a state burial for the strongman—and the fact that the public at large seems willing to go along with them—should indicate that the battle for historical memory is slipping. More and more, Filipinos feel a little kinder toward Marcos not really because his successors haven’t been any better (although that’s part of the reason), but because Filipinos continue to be infected by short memory and shallow thinking: they can’t seem to understand that many of the ills affecting the nation now owes to martial law and Marcos’ scornful decision in 1972 to destroy the rules of the democratic game so as to perpetuate himself in power by corrupting the military and the body politic. The Filipino people should not disgrace themselves further: they should say No to burying Marcos at the Libingan and say Yes to charity with, above all, truth and justice.

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.

Pro-RH People never saw this coming....

The 100% Katolikong Pinoy Manila Chamber of Regulars (CORE). Blogger is second from right proudly flying the Philippine Color (and in military jargon, you know what that means...). 

The I Oppose the RH Bill Team, KP's sister-group, mostly from Filipinos For Life. 

I promised you a follow-up yesterday, and here it is.... 

Yours Truly became so excited for the Prayer Rally entitled "Filipinos! Unite Under God for Life!" that I left UST at 1 in the afternoon so that I could make it to the 3pm call time that was set by Kuya Randolf Flores, one of the Senior Admins of our group. It turns out that I was the first to arrive there: specifically in the area near that of Radyo Veritas' setup point, which is positioned at the left side of the Grandstand when facing it. By 3 in the afternoon, Kuya Randolf and Kuya Weldann Panganiban showed up; and the rest of the gang followed. Well, I got to see and meet Msgr. Pepe Quitorio in person, so as Fr. Anton Pascual; and among others. The program started with about 40,000 people praying the Holy Rosary. They are from all over the Metro and its suburbs. And take note: this was the figure that mainstream media estimated in broadcast and print.

While majority of the crowd were Catholics, there are also delegations of other religions, specifically imams and a handful of Protestant "bishops", thus making it an interfaith affair. There were also testimonies from Pro-Life legislators, ordinary people, from Bro. Bo Sanchez and Rep. Velarde of Buhay Partylist, and a video message from the People's Champ himself, wherein he said, "Kung wala ang papa ko at wala si Mommy D[ionisia], walang Manny Pacquiao ngayon" [sic]. He is currently in West-Coast America for his training in preparation for his fight against "Sugar" Shane Mosley. Also in that gathering were numerous performances by the YFC, YFL, and other youth groups. Before the Mass, there was a ceremonial tearing of the copy of the Reproductive Health Bill, in a scenario akin to the Cry of Pugad Lawin. And before I forget, The Falcons (Adamson U), the Tigers (of course, UST), and other Catholic schools sent their own delegations in the event; too bad I never had the chance to approach the Thomasian delegation. And finally, a Mass in Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin Mary was celebrated by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and a number of priests and bishops. Before the Final Blessing, Cardinal Rosales led the Prayer of the Consecration of the Philippines to the Two Hearts--The Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. By the end of the Mass, Bro. Mike Velarde of the El Shaddai community showed up and took over the rest of the night for their community's prayer meeting. 

Basically, that was the rundown of the event. But of course, to make this post credible, let me give to you the photo albums of some of my Facebook friends and groups: 

Kuya Randolf 

Kuya Weldann (mixed with the pics from the earlier PICC Prayer Rally and the MOA Meeting) 

Tyran Blastoise 

Kuya Edward Singzon 

Sir Ike Jamilla (part of the Thomasian delegation) 

There are also Google-able images from other sources, so do check them out.... 

Do also check out: 

HERE 

HERE 

HERE 

There is also a post by Filipinos For Life that goes like this. Click here.

Secular media screwed the number count, but the V did it right.

You could also check out Kuya Weldann's own blog report, as well as that of Sir Ishmael's.

And at this part of the entry, let the following pictures tell you that this event was absolutely jam-packed! 

Me flying the Colors 

KP + F4L = IOTRHB 

Maging Tunay na Katoliko! Maging Tunay na Pilipino!

New RH bill: Deadly, anti-constitution

From the Editorial of "The Varsitarian" dated March 15, 2011

PRESIDENT Aquino III should be commended for dropping the reproductive health (RH) bill from his legislative agenda. But his minions in the House of Representatives just the same are prioritizing the passage of the bill. They have in fact consolidated several versions of the bill and rammed it through the process so that, despite the denial of House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte that they were rushing the bill, it’s now on its second reading and up for plenary debates. What the right hand giveth, the left taketh.
The consolidated version incorporates the President’s version of family planning, “responsible parenthood,” and further pushing the envelope, now uses the word “population,” making Edcel Lagman and his battened likes eat their word since they had been claiming before that heir original version of the bill was not a population-control measure. Considering that just about every shade and nuance of the population-control movement has been incorporated into the consolidated version, the bill is now known as “The Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health and Population and Development Act of 2011.”
With 35 sections and more than 5,800 words, the bill promises to become the most extensive measure by any Congress in history, and should leave no doubt to anyone about its Stalinist conceit and social-engineering intentions. Just about every possibility of unwanted pregnancy and regeneration by the poor is checked by the bill. While ostensibly declaring it does not set “demographic and population targets,” it declares that the ideal family size is two, which is just about saying that the population growth target should be zero. (The ideal population growth for the Philippines is zero, according to RH backer and former health secretary Alberto Romualdez!) The bill adds that the state “shall assist couples” to achieve that size.
Those who say that there’s nothing wrong with this should be reminded that the state is not exactly wet behind the ears: it is after all the state and its bureaucracy that have fostered the corruption and waste that characterize the debacle that is the Filipino republic. Considering the sorry tale of the tape as far as the Philippine state is concerned, should the state, which has an overpopulation of bureaucrats battening themselves like Lagman and congressmen on people’s money, have the right to suggest, much less, declare that there’s such a thing as an “ideal” number of children for couples to have?
Much more, should the state have any right to add what follows after the bill’s arrogant discourtesy of declaring how many children Filipino couples should have: “Attaining the ideal family size is neither mandatory nor compulsory. No punitive action shall be imposed on parents having more than two children.” One should rightly cringe at that.
“Assisting” couples to attain the ideal family size wouldn’t be hard for the state since the bill sanctions just about any contraceptive means and, making free use of taxpayer’s money and funding from foreign donors that support abortion, makes them available to all. Those who argue that the bill is pro-choice but not necessarily pro-abortion should look at the bill’s liberal sanction of contraceptives, some of which even physicians admit are technically abortifacient. And they should look at sections 2 and 3 on “Declaration of Policy” and “Guiding Principles.” While the bill enshrines “reproductive health” as a “universal basic human right” and exalts “freedom of choice” – where do you find such in the Philippine Constitution? – it doesn’t mention key state policies in the charter that should be the guiding principles of any law relating to family, life, demographics, and sex education for the young, the most important of which is:
“Section 12. 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.”
Why the very telling bypass of such a very relevant constitutional policy in a bill that seeks to use hundreds of millions of pesos to shower contraceptives and abortifacients on the poor; to provide sex education to the young and teach them how to have “safe sex,” even if the education ministries, the biggest bureaucracies, can hardly teach school kids properly the three R’s; and generally to neuter the poor by mass ligation and vasectomy?
Amid the mass of words and declarations and provisions and platitudes of the consolidated RH bill, try to search for constitutional principles such as “the sanctity of family life,” “(protection of) the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception,” “promotion of social justice,” and “dignity of every person.”
So sorry, but you search in vain.

Ona, Akbayan, Jalin

Department of Health Secretary Enrique Ona, should also be praised for sticking to his job as health agent of the state and shunning outlandish stunts like the ones staged by his hopeless predecessor Esperanza Cabral, who distributed condoms at Dangwa Flower Market last year during Valentine’s Day.
Eager to strike back at the bishops who had been holding back the passage of the RH bill, Cabral found a bogeyman last year out of the increase in HIV cases to press for safe sex. Insisting that she was within her jurisdiction as a state health official, she distributed condoms near UST on Valentine’s Day. In doing so, she merely showed the arrogance of the state because Valentine’s is a Catholic feast. Apparently, she had thought February 14 was Motel Day.
Those who cry separation of church and state whenever the bishops and the clergy criticize the RH bill should learn from Cabral’s case. The constitutional provision is really a re-expression of the republican dictum, “non-establishment of religion”; thus, separation of church and state is really a prohibition against the state, not against the church. Cabral’s case shows that it is often the state that transgresses on the church. And whatever the alleged meddling of the church on state affairs is, it’s merely one that is suasive, unlike that by the state which, because of its police and taxing powers, is coercive. For example, where did the condoms that Cabral distributed in Dangwa come from? Didn’t they come from the money of ordinary people who were taxed by the state into supporting such an unsavoury stunt as condom distribution during a religious feast which is supposed to enshrine human love, not animal lust?
Meanwhile, the blasphemous stunt of Cabral last year was restaged on Valentine’s this year by the Akbayan party-list group at the Nepa Q Mart in Quezon City. Its youth arm, Akbayan Youth, is the same group that criticized UST Theology professor Aguedo Florence Jalin for giving incentives to students who would post criticisms on the Akbayan stunt and the RH bill on Akbayan’s Facebook fan page.
It is quite galling that a group that by and large receives international funding, some of them from groups that espouse “reproductive rights,” should take to task a Catholic educator who gives incentives to students doing a completely optional assignment to defend the pro-life stance of the Church against RH and safe-sex proponents. Considering too that the professor did not force his students to do the posting, even making it clear to those who support RH among his classes that they need not join the opposition to the measure, considering further that hardly anyone fails Theology (except those always absent) in UST, Akbayan doth protest too much. Hasn’t Akbayan heard of “academic freedom” and “intellectual honesty”? Jalin was teaching Social Issues of the Church and he had the perfect right, nay the responsibility, to tackle the RH bill and the threat it poses to things which the Church holds dear—the natural law, the dignity of the human person, and the sanctity of life. By urging his students to post their criticisms of RH and of Akbayan’s attack on religion through its distribution of condoms on Valentine’s, a religious feast, Jalin was merely asking them to stand up for what they believe in. To put their money where their mouth is. Which cannot be said of other educators, such as the Ateneo 14, who oppose Catholic teachings on birth control and flaunt their defiance despite teaching in Catholic schools: they put their money where their pocket is while completely chucking intellectual honesty.
Akbayan should be reminded that it is part of the administration coalition and technically, a part of government. Since it has representation in parliament and its people occupy key posts in the administration, it has no choice but to consider criticisms and opposing views. No one in power has the right to be onion-skinned.

Agony of Japan

No words can fully describe the magnitude and shock of what Japan suffered last March 11: the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and 30-foot-high wall of ocean that the undersea upheaval unleashed were never conceived even in the exacting calculations of the Japanese, probably the most disaster-prepared people on earth. The deadly combination of temblor and tsunami has left in its wake whole towns, industries and populations swept away from the map. Now, Japan is struggling to contain the damage of the disasters on its nuclear power plants. We pray that they will be successful in that regard.
The crisis is the worst that has happened to Japan since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the Second World War and the surrender that followed. Judging from that experience, the world knows that in due time, Japan will heal and recover. We know from the history of the Japanese people about their remarkable resilience and strength of spirit. We know that in the face of many calamities, the Japanese compose themselves with admirable dignity, honor, and optimism. We pray for—and expect that—Japan will heal and be back on its feet. In this terrible time of adversity, the Japanese should not forget that the world is with them in prayer and commiseration.