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BAtANGAN - Archdiocese of Lipa
Ulat PAPAL INTENTIONS SEPTEMBER 2008 Batangan FOR SEPTEMBER 1 Pope Prays for Refugees VATICAN CITY, (Zenit.org).Benedict XVI will be praying this September for the protection and defense of the rights of refugees. The Apostleship of Prayer announced the general intention chosen by the Pope, “That those, who because of war and totalitarian regimes have been obliged to leave their homes and country, be supported by Christians in the defense and protection of their rights.” The Holy Father also chooses a missionary intention for each month. In September he will pray, “That all Christian families, faithful to the sacrament of matrimony, will cultivate the values of love and community, so that they will be a small evangelizing community, open and sensitive to the material and spiritual needs of their brothers and sisters.” #UB YEAR 79 YEARIVIVNO. NO. OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER NEWSPAPER OF OF THE THE ARCHDIOCESE ARCHDIOCESE OF OF LIPA LIPA OFFICIAL Taon ni Maria sa Lipa, pinatingkad ng MARIAN CONGRESS JULY 2008 2008 SEPTEMBER 5th National Pilgrimage to Lipa, hindi napigil ng ulan " Susie D. Bauan Alamin ang isyu hinggil sa panukalang batas na naglalayong magkaroon ng National Policy sa Reproductive Health, Population Management at iba pa. Basahin ang kabuuan ng nasabing panukalang batas. Tunghayan at pagnilayan ang mga pagliliwanag ng Simbahan sa mga probisyong mapanganib sa ating buhay at bansa. " Susie D. Bauan “Towards a Prayerful, Committed, Contemplative, Spirit-filled Marian Family”, ito ang naging tema sa ikalimang taon ng National Pilgrimage to Lipa (A Day of Prayer for World Peace and Sanctification of the Clergy) na idinaos noong ika-12 ng Setyembre sa Carmel Monastery na dinaluhan ng mahigit isang libong mga pilgrims mula pa sa iba’t ibang panig ng bansa. Photo by: Fr. Eric Arada Tampok ang Mahal na Birhen ng Caysasay sa ginawang Archdiocesan Marian Congress noong ika-19 at 20 ng Setyembre sa St. Francis de Sales Major Seminary Gym sa Marawoy, Lipa City. Photo by: Fr. Eric Arada Mahigit dalawang libong centennial delegates ang nagsama-sama sa Lipa Archdiocesan Marian Congress, ang pinakatampok na gawain ngayong Taon ni Maria ( Esposa ng Espiritu Santo) na ginanap sa St. Francis de Sales Major Seminary Gym, Marawoy, Lungsod ng Lipa noong Setyembre 19-20. Ang pagtitipon ay may temang Contemplation, Prayer and Spirituality. Sa dalawang araw na pagkilala at pagbibigay parangal kay Maria, patuloy na nadagdagan ang kaalaman ng mga dumalo sa pamamagitan ng sunud-sunod na pagbabahagi ng iba’t ibang mga tagapagsalita ukol sa Mahal na Ina. Kabilang sa mga naimbitahan upang maging tagapagsalita sina Reb. P. Melvin Castro, Reb. P. Ernie Garcia, CSsR, Reb. P. Yulito Ignacio, Reb.P. Bert San Diego, OFM Cap., at Reb. P. Francis Gustilo, SDB, para sa unang araw, samantalang sina Msgr. Sabino Vengco, Jr., Atty. Marwil Llasos, Sr. Mary Niere, OCD, at Bishop Teodoro Bacani naman para sa ikalawang araw. Isang laykong tagapaglingkod sa Redemptorist Church, Bb. Luz Lumbera, ang naglahad ng kanyang personal na karanasan tungkol sa nagawa ni Maria sa layko ng Arsidiyosesis ng Lipa. Ganon din si Bb. Celing de Castro na nagbigay ng sariling testimonya na may tema na Mary’s XTAON NI MARIA... P. 2 PATER PUTATIVUS Publishing House Klero ng Lipa, Naglunsad ng “Signature Campaign” Inilunsad ang malawakang kampanya na naglalayon na makakuha ng mga lagda ng mga mananampalataya laban sa nagbabantang panukalang batas ukol sa “Reproductive Health”. “Kinakailangang malaman ang mga panganib na idudulot kung saka-sakali na ang substitute bill sa HB Nos. 17, 812, 2753 at 3970 ay pumasa sa Kongreso,” mariing igniit ng Lubhang Kgg. Arsobispo Ramon Arguelles sa kanyang pagsuporta sa ginagawang signature-campaign na inilunsad ng CBCP. “Di lamang ito patungo sa pagiging legal ng aborsyon, bagamat lagi nilang sinasabi na laban sila sa aborsyon. Ang mas nakakatakot dito ay ang take-over ng gobyerno sa pangunahing tungkulin ng mga magulang sa paghubog sa kanilang anak sa kanilang kasarian. Bukod pa rito ang punitive measure na ipapasa laban sa mga lalabag sa probisyon ng ngasabing panukalang batas,” paliwanag pa ni Arsobispo Arguelles. Nauna rito, sa buwanang recollection ng klero, ipinaliwanag ni Rdo. P. Yulito Ignacio, kilalang eksperto sa Mariology, ang teksto ng Aklat ng Pahayag kabanata 12, hinggil sa tunggalian ng babae at ng dragon. “Patuloy ang pagtutunggali ng ating Inang Maria laban sa demonyo,” aniya. “Patuloy na inaatake ang sanggol ng babae at ito nga ang masasabi nating nangyayari sa ating bansa.” Inisaisa ni P. Itoy, direktor-ispirituwal sa San Carlos Seminary, ang mga probisyon ng panukalang batas, at ipinakita niya ang mga panganib na napapaloob dito laban sa buhay, sa pamilya, at maging sa kultura. (Sa kaugnay na mga expositions, basahin ang mga artikulo hinggil sa isyung ito. – Patnugot) . Ang paksa ng buwanang rekoleksyon ay “Mga Pari – Tinatawag ni Maria na Makilahok sa Kanyang Pakikibaka laban sa Kasamaan”. Ipinakilala si P. Itoy ni Rdo. P. Eyong Ramos, co-chair ng Formation Committee para sa ikalwa sa tatlong taong paghahanda para sa Hubileyo 2010. #UB Family Life Bldg., Villa San Jose Marawoy, Lipa City (043) 756-2410 • (043) 312-2410 e-mail: [email protected] Sa kabila ng masamang panahon, hindi natinag sa pakikiisa ang mga deboto ng Mahal na Ina buhat sa lalawigan ng Batangas hanggang sa pinakamalayong nakiisa mula Davao. Isa sa mga pilgrims na nakapanayam ng UB ay mula pa sa Tarlac, si Gng. Rosalina Espiritu na sa Photo by: Fr. Eric Arada gulang na pitumpu’t isa ay tumutupad sa kanyang pangako na makadalo tauntaon sa nasabing pilgrimage. Si Gng. Evelina Dimaano, isa ring mananampalataya mula naman sa bayan ng Taal ay nagpakita ng kanyang debosyon hindi lamang sa pakikiisa kundi maging sa pakikinig sa mga seminars na ukol kay Maria lalo na X5TH NATIONAL... P. 2 SERVICES OFFERED: COMPUTER COLOR SEPARATION LASER PRINTING OFFSET PRINTING LETTERPRESS PRINTING PHOTO TYPE SETTING PHOTO SCANNING NYLOGRAPHIC CLICHE ART SERVICES PLATE MAKING OFFSET RUNNING BINDING ALLIED PRINTING SERVICES LAMINATION “Your One-Stop Printing Partner in Batangas” 2 Ulat Batangan TAON NI MARIA... P. 1 Miracle of Love. Maging ang kilalang healing priest na si Reb. P. Fernando Suarez , C.C, ay nagbahagi na si Maria ay hindi nagpapabaya sa kanyang mga anak at tumutugon sa mga kahilingan. Bago pa man ganapin ang Marian Congress, nakapanayam ng UB ang Lubhang Kgg. Arsobispo Ramon Arguelles tungkol sa kung ano ang inaasahan niya sa darating na congress, at kanyang sinabi na, tulad noong nakaraang taon, marami ang tutugon upang makiisa. “Also greater appreciation of the role of Mary in our lives as church”, dagdag pa niya.Sa kanyang naging paliwanag kaugnay sa tema ng Taon ni Maria, sinabi niya na “we enter 5TH NATIONAL... P. 1 ngayon na ang taon ay inilalaan sa Mahal na Ina. Bago pa man sumapit ang malaking pagdiriwang ay nagkaroon ng triduum kung saan ang presensya ng mga mananampalataya mula sa bawat bikariya ang inasahan at nakinig naman sa mga talks na may kaugnayan pa rin kay Maria. Samantala, madaling araw sa mismong pilgrimage day, nagkaroon ng prusisyon mula sa San Sebastian Cathedral patungo sa itinatayong parokya ng Our Lady of Mary Mediatrix of All Grace sa Antipolo del Norte, Lungsod ng Lipa. Ang Banal na Misa noong umagang iyon ay pinangunahan naman ng Lubhang Kagalang-galang Ramon Arguelles . Sa pagkilala pa rin kay Maria, NEWS & EVENTS into God when we pray and we are temple of God like Mary”. Nais rin ng Arsobispo na magkaroon uli ng Parish Congress, tulad noong nakaraang Taon ni Hesus at magkakaroon din sa susunod na taon. Hinggil naman sa nakikita niyang partisipasyon ng mga mananampalataya sa paghahanda para sa 2010, sinabi niya na aktibo, buhay at may Marian spirit ang mga taga Arsidiyosesis. Sa pagtitipon ng mga tinatawag na centennial delegates, nasaksihan ang kanilang pagpapahalaga kay Maria . Ang Congress ay nagwakas sa pamamagitan ng pagdiriwang ng misa konselebrada sa pangunguna ng Mahal na Arsobispo ng Lipa kaisa rin si Bishop Salvador Quizon, Katulong na Obispo ng Lipa. Sa pagbalik ng mga nangagsidalo sa kani-kanilang mga parokya baon nila ang mga dagdag na kaalaman, at higit sa lahat ay ang pag-alala na sa paglalakbay, si Maria ay kasama ng bawat isa. #UB isa sa mga natalakay na paksa na ibinahagi ng bisitang tagapagsalita na si Reb. P. Melvin Castro, Executive Secretary (CBCP) Commission on Family Life, ay ukol kay Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace. Isinalaysay niya ang ilang mga bahagi ng naging aparisyon sa Lipa noong taong 1948. Ang pinakatampok sa pilgrimage ay ang misa konselebrada na ginanap noong hapon sa pangunguna ng Kanyang Kabunyian Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, samantala nagbigay naman ng homiliya si Lubhang Kgg. Arsobispo Angel Lagdameo, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President. Dumalo sa Banal na Misa ang ilang pulitiko kabilang sina Punong-bayan ng Lipa, Oscar Gozos, Gobernador ng Batangas, Vilma Santos -Recto mga kinatawan, Hermilando Mandanas, Mark Llandro Mendoza at Vicky Reyes at Pangulo ng Pilipinas, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Sa panayam ng UB kay Lubhang Kagalang-galang Ramon Arguelles ilang araw matapos ang pilgrimage, sinabi niya na hindi na rin nakapagtataka at inasahan na niya ang dami ng taong dumagsa sapagkat maging noong nakaraang mga taon ay hindi naman naging hadlang ang masamang panahon upang maipakita ng mga Katoliko ang pagmamahal kay Maria at ang pakikiisa sa layunin ng pilgrimage. #UB SEPTEMBER 2008 BALITANG BIKARIYA IV... General Assembly sa Parokya " Nilda Rosal Adorable Muling nagsama-sama ang mga opisyales ng religious at church organization sa ginanap na Assembly sa parokya noong Setyembre 6, 2008 (Sabado) kung saan ay naging panauhing tagapagsalita si Fr. Vani Silva, OSJ. Sa kanyang pananalita ay binigyang diin niya ang attitude ng isang tao at ang epekto nito sa kanyang sarili at sa kapwa gayundin sa kanyang pagkilos at paggawa sa parokya. Ayon sa kanya ang positive attitude ng isang tao ay maituturing na ‘puhunan’ para sa kanyang ikapagtatagumpay sa hangaring maglingkod sa tahanan, sa komunidad at sa simbahan. Ang attitude ay ang salamin ng ating pagkatao, tagapagsalita ng ating kasalukuyan at the ‘prophet of our future’. Tinalakay din ni Fr. Vani ang ‘failure’ o kabiguan na ayon sa kanya ay isang opinyon o kuro-kuro ng tao kapag hindi nakamit ang nais niyang tagumpay. “Failure is a judgement not an event when it looks like we have failed.” Idinagdag pa ni Father na ang kabiguan ay hindi nangangahulugan na wala tayong nagawa, bagkus ibig sabihin mayroon tayong natutuhan. Kaya kung mayroong hindi nagawa, kailangan ang ibayo pang pagtitiyaga. Let’s aim always for the best. ——————— o0o ——————— Sa kabilang dako, nagdaos ng Vigilia de Espigas Section Level ang mga adorador ng Vicariate IV sa Alupay, Rosario, Batangas noong Setyembre 6, 2008. Ang naturang aktibidad ng ANF Vic. IV ay bilang pagpaparangal sa Mahal na Birhen na ipinagdiwang ng simbahan ang kaarawan noong Sept. 8 taon kasalukuyan. Tema ng isinagawang pagtatanod ay “Mahal na Birhen kasama ng Sangkatauhan sa pamamagitan ng Banal na Espiritu Santo.” Kapansin-pansin na sa buong Arsidiyosesis ng Lipa, ang Bikariya 4 lamang ang taunang nagdaraos ng Vigilia de Espigas Section Level. Sa Parokya ng Ibaan mayroon nang humigit-kumulang sa isangdaan ang miyembro ng ANF. #UB Birhen ng Caysasay, pinarangalan sa Balayan " Zeny Palanca Lubhang maligaya ang bawat mamamayan sa pagdalaw ng Mahal na Birhen ng Caysasay. Dumating sa Parokya ng Inmaculada Concepcion, Balayan, Batangas noong ika-anim ng Setyembre ang Imahen mula sa kanyang tahanan sa Labac, Taal, Batangas. Ang Mahal na Ina ay sinalubong ng mga mag-aaral mula sa Immaculate Conception College (ICC) at Drum and Bugle Corps ng ICC, Balayan East and West Central Schools Bands. Kasamang sumundo ni Msgr. Rafael Boy Oriondo, P. Jonathan Tamayo at Mayor Emmanuel Fronda ang mga pinuno ng iba’t-ibang religious organizations at mga parokyano. Ang welcome prayer ay pinangunahan ni Mayor Fronda. Ang kasaysayan ng Mahal na Birhen ay ipinakita sa pamamamagitan ng isang tableu na ginampanan ng mga mag-aaral ng ICC. Naghandog ng bulaklak ang mga pari mula sa unang bikariya, madre at consejeras at lahat ng mananampalataya. Nagkaroon ng dalawng nag-alay ng luwa bilang parangal sa Birhen , sina Gloria Capacia ng ICC at Nikki Pantoja ng St Paul College-Balayan. Sinudan ito ng Misa Konselebrada na pinangunahan ni Msgr. Oriondo at naging homilist si Msgr. Madlangbayan. Kaagad na sinimulan ng vigil pagkatapos ng Misa hanggang ika-11 ng gabi. Setyembre 7 - Dinala ang Mahal na Birhen sa mga mga malalapit na Kapilya sa Poblacion nang magkaroon ng pagkakataon ang mga taong makapagpugay sa kanya. Setyembre 8 - Natatanging pagpaparangal na ginanap sa ICC noong umaga. Pagkatapos ng Banal na Misa, isinagawa ang COLC investiture sa college department. Nagkaroon din ng Mama Mary look-a-like at Choral competition. Nang hapong iyon, ang mga taga-SPC-Balayan naman ang nagparangal sa kanya. Setyembre 9 - Dinalaw ng Mahal na Ina ang apatnapu’t walong barangay ng buong parokya mula ika-anim at kalahati ng umaga hanggang ika-labing-isa ng gabi. Setyembre 10 - Pagkakataon naman para sa mga magaaaral mula Balayan National High Schoo, Balayan East and Wesr Central Schools upang parangalan ang Birhen. Nang gabing iyon, nagkaroon naman ng Marian Serenade ang mga piling choir ng parokya. Setyembre 11 - Buong umagang tumigil ang Imahen sa Bahay Pamahalaan ng Balayan. Ganap na ika-tatlo ng hapon nang sunduin ang Mahal na Birhen ng Caysasay ng mga taga Tuy, sa pangunguna ng Kura Paroko, Reb. P. Benny Aguila. #UB MISSION SUNDAY October 19 SEPTEMBER 2008 NEWS & EVENTS Parokya ng San Juan Nepomuceno, dinalaw ng Birhen Ika-23 ng Hulyo. Isang makasaysayang petsa para sa Parokya ng San Juan Nepomuceno sa San Juan, Batangas. Ito ay sapagkat dumalaw ang Mahal na Birhen ng Caysasay at tumigil sa bayan ng anim na araw, Alas dose pa lamang ng araw na iyon, sa pangunguna ni Reb. P. Perseverando Marquez, OSJ, Kura Paroko, mga parokyano at mamamayan ng San Juan ay masiglang masigla at handa na sa pagsalubong at pagsundo sa Mahal na Birhen na nakatakdang sunduin bandang ikalawa ng hapon sa Holy Family Parish, Alupay, Rosario, Batangas. Limampu at dalawang sasakyan at tatlumpu’t apat na motorsiklo ang sinakyan ng mga taong buong pusong nakiisa sa pagsundo. Isang Misa ang ipinagdiwang ni Reb. P. Lee Leonida, OSJ, Kura Paroko sa Alupay bago ang naging pagsasalin ng pagkandili sa Mahal na Birhen kay P. Marquez ng San Juan. Isinakay ang imahe ng mahal na Birhen sa sasakyang inihanda ng mha San Juaneño-isang malaking palayok bilang simbolo ng pangunahing produkto ng San Juan. Habang binabagtas ng motorcade ang lansangan buhat Alupay, nakatutuwang malasin ang halos walang patid na hanay ng mga tao pagpasok pa lamang sa nasasakupan ng San Juan. Mga taong buhat sa iba’t-ibang antas ng buhay, mga mag-aaral, manggagawa, matatanda at mga kabataan dala ang banderitas na may mensaheng “MALIGAYANG PAGDATING MAHAL NA BIRHEN NG CAYSASAY”. Walang patid ang palakpakan at pagsasabog ng bulaklak. Naka-iigayang pagmasdan ang mga masasayang mukha na wari bang nag-uukol ng mataimtim na panalangin sa pagsilay sa mukha ng Mahal na Birhen. Dahilan kung bakit bumaba ng sasakyan si P. Marquez upang kamayan ang mga tao at na birhen at tuloy ipinararating ang kanilang mga kahilingan. Ang ibang tuklong cluster ay may mga palatuntunang inihanda handog sa Birhen. Pagsapit ng dilim muling ibinabalik ang Mahal na Imahen sa Simbahan ng Parokya. Dito nagbantay sa kani-kanilang nakatakdang oras ang iba’t-ibang samahang pansimbahan, pribado at publiko. Ika-26 ng Hulyo, nagkaroon ng fluvial procession. Isangdaan at tatlong bangka ang naglulan ng mga tao upang maglakbay sa tubig mula Catmon hanggang Hugom. Itinatayang mahigit na tatlong oras ang paglalakbay sa dagat na sinasaliwan ng pagbabasbas ng mga bangka (bago maglakbay) at sa baybay dagat (habang ipadama sa kanila ang labis niyang kagalakan. Pagsapit ng Poblacion, unang tinungo ang Pamahalaang Bayan, kung saan marami pa ring mga mamamayan ang naghihintay sa pangunguna ng mapagkandiling Ama ng Bayan, Alkalde Danilo S. Mindanao. Isang mainit na pagtanggap at mataimtim na panalangin ang inialay ng punongbayan at pinagtibay ito ng pumpon ng mga bulaklak. Sa dami ng taong naghihintay hindi maitatawa ang labis na pananalig sa Panginoon ng mga mamamayan ng San Juan sa pamamamgitan ng Mahal na Birhen. Ang pagdating na ito ng Birhen ng Caysasay ay buong itinampok sa iba’t-ibang tuklong cluster ng mga barangay sa buong bayan. Dalawang oras ang inilagi ng imahe sa bawat tuklong. Sinisimulan ang pagdiriwang sa panalangin ng pagtanggap, pagsasalaysay ng kasaysayan ng Birhen kasunod ang pagdarasal ng Santo Rosaryo. Sa pagtatapos ng paglagi, pinahihintulutang lumapit at humalik sa Mahal naglalakbay. Ang pangangalaga sa karagatan ay buong pananalig na iniluhog ng mga mamamayan para sa masaganang ani at tahimik na pangingisda na isa sa mga pinagkikitaan ng mga tao sa San Juan. Hulyo 27. Buong araw na nanatili sa Simbahan. Hulyo 28. Naglakbayeskwelahan din ang Birhen ng Caysasay sa Poblacion. Ganap na ikalawa ng hapon ng pangunahan ng Katulong na Obispo ng Lipa, Lubhang Kagalang-galang Salvador Q. Quizon, DD, Misa bilang pamamaalam sa Mahal na Birhen. Bukod sa Kura Paroko, kasama din niya sina Reb. P. Ariel, Reb. P. Ed Bayani at Reb. P. Ferdie. Pinagpala ang San Juan at masigla ang buong bayan sapagkat sa puso ng mamamayan, naroon ang labis na pananalig sa higit pang TAGUMPAY, KATAHIMIKAN, KAPAYAPAAN at KASAGANAAN ang biyayang iniwan ng Mahal na Birhen ng Caysasay. #UB Parangal kay SMJV at mga gawain para sa Kaparian, matagumpay! " Violy Echague Ang taunang pagdiriwang ng kapistahan ni San Juan Maria Vianney, patron ng mga pari sa parokya ay naisakatuparan sa parokya ng Inmakulada Concepcion, Lungsod ng Batangas sa pagtataguyod ng mga magulang, kamag-anak ng mga pari at seminarista ganoon din ng mga promoters nito sa ilalim ng pagpapatibay ni Father Cecil Arce, kura paroko, kaugnay ang parish planning team at ang itinalagang Spiritual Director, Father Boy Vergara. Ang St. John Mary Vianney Association na matatagpuan sa parokya ng Inmakulada Concepcion ay binubuo ng mga kasapi mula sa mga parokyang nasasakop ng Lungsod ng Batangas. Nilalayon nitong pangunahang maitaguyod ang buhay at espirituwalidad ni San Juan Maria Vianney, tumulong sa ministeryo ng mga pari at ipanalangin sa kanilang banal na pagpupunyagi at itaguyod ang patuloy na paghuhubog o programa ng “renewal” ng mga pari at kampanya ng bokasyon sa pagpapari. Ang mga gawaing nasimulan ay ang mga misa-nobena sa karangalan ni San Juan mula ika26 ng Hulyo hanggang ika-03 ng Agosto. Naganap din ang pagdiriwang ng kapistahan ng santo noong ika-04 ng Agosto sa pamamagitan ng mga “celebrants” Fr. Cecil, Fr. Riki, Fr. Boy at Fr. Erickson. Sinundan ito ng salu-salo ng mga miyembro ng Vianney at ang kinatawan ng mga kapisanan sa parokya, Dr. Cesar Macatangay. Sa pakiki-isa ng parokya sa tema ng kasalukuyang Taon ni Maria, paghahanda sa ika-100 taon ng pagdiriwang ng simbahang lokal sa arsidiyosesis ng Lipa sa 2010, isang MARIAN CONCERT ang inihanda ng St. John Mary Vianney Association noong ika-22 ng Agosto, Biyernes, 7:00- 9:00 n.g. sa loob ng Basilica ng Inmakulada Concepcion. Ang concert ay pinagka-isahang maisakatuparan ng mga kapisanang pamparokya. Ang naging tagadaloy ng recollection-concert na may temang, Maria- Alagad ng Pagibig ay si Father Jeronimo “Mimo” Perez. Siya ay kasalukuyang spiritual director ng St. Augustine Major Seminary sa Lungsod ng Tagaytay. Manunulat na siya ng mga awitin 15 taong gulang pa lamang at habang nasa seminaryo. Naniniwala siya na ang kanyang music ministry ay likas na daluyan ng kanyang ministeryo bilang pari, nasa parokya, gawain ng paghuhubog o sa kasalukuyang gampanin. Sinabi niya, “ Walang kabuluhan ang acoustic gospel concert kung hindi makaaabot sa maraming tao ang pagpapalaganap ng Mabuting Balita ng Pag-ibig ng Diyos at pagka-unawa sa katotohanan ng ebanghelyo at Ulat Batangan 3 LACCS, punong-abala sa NSC CCR PHIL. " Elma Lecaroz Ang Lipa Archdiocese Catholic Charismatic Secretariat (LACCS) ay naging host ng National Service Committee Catholic Charismatic Renewal Philippines (NSC CCR PHIL.) regular meeting noong ika-7-9 ng Agosto, 2008 sa Galilee Place, Mataas na Kahoy at Archbishop’s Residence, Lipa City. Ito ay dinaluhan nina Archbishop Jose Palma ng Archdiocese of Palo, Spiritual Director ng NSC CCR Phil., Caceres, Cebu, Jaro, Palo, Zamboanga, Ozamis at Diocese of Bacolod at Bukidnon. Ang pagdiriwang ay sinimulan ng Banal na Misa na ginanap sa Carmel Church, Lipa City. Ang main celebrant ay si Archbishop Ramon Arguelles at kasama sa konselebrasyon sina Archbishop Jose Palma, Rev. Fr. Bart Pastor- chair of NSC CCR Phil., Rev. Fr. Romy Mendoza, Rev. Fr. Johannes Arada, the past and present LACCS Spiritual Director, at mga pari ng NSC CCR Phil. Ang umawit sa misa ay pinangunahan ni ;Rev. Fr. Gerry Sujede, guest priest at asst. spiritual director ng Bauan Charismatic Community. Binigyang diin ni Archbishop Arguelles ang role ni Mama Mary sa ating pananampalataya at CCR. Pinapagdasal niya ng rosaryo ang mga pamilya. Sinabi din niya ang kahalagahan ni Mama Mary; at mga himala sa Carmel. Pagkatapos ng misa ay nagpunta na sa Archbishop’s Residence para sa isang tanghalian. Sa ganap na alas 2:00 ng hapon ay nagsimula ang pagbibigay ng Spiritual Input ni Fr. Bart sa mg NSC CCR Phil. At LACCS leaders. Ang topic ay “Building the Purpose Driven Church”. Ang layunin ng simbahan ay binubuo s dalawang salita ni Hesus: (1) The Great Commandments- Matthew 22:37-39 “Mahalin mo ang Panginoon mong Diyos ng buo mong puso, ng buo mong kaluluwa at ng buo mong pagiisip at mahalin mo ang iyong kapwa gaya ng iyong sarili” (2) The Great Commission- Matthew 28:19-20 “Humayo kayo at gawing mga alagad ang lahat ng bansa. Binyagan sila sa ngalan ng Ama, at ng Anak at ng Espiritu Sanato, at turuan sila na sundin ang lahat ng iniutos ko sa inyo. Pagsapit ng unang gabi ay nagkaroon ;ng Fellowship. Naghandog ng joyful songs ang Balayan at San Jose Music Ministries. Nagbigay ng vocal solo naman sina Fr. Lorenzon Jarcia ng Naga at ang ating inaangaking Fr. Johannes Arada. Nagpalabas din ng special number si Fr. Romy Mendoza. Nagtapos ang sayahan sa pamamagitan ng sayawan ng tuwangang NSC CCR Phil. At LACCS leaders. Sa ikalawang araw, nagkaroon ng Business Meeting hanggang tanghali. Pinagusapan ang First Asia Oceania CCR Leaders’ Conference sa Indonesia sa ika 14-18 ng Setyembre, 2008 na ang tema ay “Catholic Charismatic Renewal: Born Yesterday, Living Today and Growing Tomorrow”, NSC CCR Phils. sa ika 22-24 ng Mayo, 2008 sa Cebu City at Regional Report. Tinapos ang pagpupulong ng isang Banal na Misa na pinangunahan ni Archbishop Jose Palma kasama sina Archbishop Ramon Arguelles at mga pari ng NSC CCR Phils. at LACCS. Sa kanyang homiliya, 3 puntos ang binigyang pansin- na tayo’y bumalik sa pinagmulan, na tanggapin natin at pasanin ang krus ng may pagmamahal at pagibig, at tanggapin ang kapangyarihan ng Espiritu Santo kasama si Mama Mary bilang tunay na alagad ni Kristo. At pagkatapos ng Misa ay sinundan ng masarap at masaganang tanghalian na inihanda ng LACCS sa pangunguna ni Sis. Girlie Luna. Sa ikatlong araw, nagbigay si Fr. Bart Pastor ng maghapong seminar sa mga parish charismatic leaders ng Archdiocese of Lipa sa Archbishop’s Residence na ang tema ay TWO GREATEST COMMANDMENTS with focus on DISCIPLESHIP. Naging matagumpay ang event na ito. #UB ang pinahahalagahan ng Kanyang kaharian”. Ang kanyang tatlong album, Buntonghininga ng Isang Alagad, My Only Good, at Isang Mundong Mapayapa ay ginawa ng Jubilee Music Ministry. Ang kanyang music ministry ay hindi lamang naka-abot sa maliliit na parokya ng Mindoro kundi sa mga parokya sa Maynila hanggang sa sa malayong parokya ng Vancouver sa Canada, Kristiyanong komunidad ng Italya, at Estados Unidos. Naging katuwang ang mga sponsors ng concert upang mabigyang daan ang mga nasiyahang mananampalatayang pumuno sa basilika na makapagbigay ng donasyon sa parish fund for priestly vocation na inilunsad ng gabing iyon. Ang huling linggo ng Agosto ay nakalaan naman sa kampanya sa bokasyon sa pakiki-ugnay ng kapisanang Vianney kay Rev. Fr. Toter Resuello, Vocation director. Ang mga paaralan sa Lungsod ng Batangas na dinalaw para sa kampanya ay ang Marian Learning Center and Science High School, Batangas State University at Batangas National High School. #UB 4 Ulat Batangan OPINION SEPTEMBER 2008 E D I T O RYAL Boses Katoliko, Dapat Iparinig! Ito na ang panahon — at kinakailangan na nga — na ang tinig ng mga Katoliko (at lahat ng mga taong may takot sa Diyos) ay umalingawngaw! Ang puwersa ng kadiliman ay nagbabantang lumukob sa ating bansa sa anyo ng isang panukalang batas na nagtatago sa tinatawag nilang “karapatan” umano ng isang indibidwal at sa mapanuksong alok ng pagsulong di-umano ng buhay ng bansa. At magaling si Satanas sa larangan ng panlilinlang, sa pagsasabi ng tinatawag na “half-truths” at palabasin na ito ay buong katotohanan. Sa isyung ito, minarapat naming ilathala ang mismong panukalang batas na nais isulong ng ilang mga mambabatas. Nakakalungkot na malaman na ang mga ito ay Katoliko, nguni’t walang pasubaling sinasabi na sa kabila ng alam nila na ang mga probisyon ng nasabing panukalang batas ay labag sa turo ng Simbahan, malakas pa rin ang kanilang loob na itaguyod ang kanilang panukala na marami ay pagsunod sa mga panukala ng mga tagapagtaguyod ng maka-bago nguni’t mapaminsalang pamamaraan na magdudulot hindi sa kaganapan ng buhay kundi sa kultura ng kamatayan. Inilalathala din ng Ulat Batangan ang mga paglalahad ng mga paglilinaw ng mga eksperto ng Simbahan sa mga probisyon ng nasabing panukalang batas. Marami sa mga ito ay bahagi ng opisyal na paninindigan ng Episcopal Commission on Family and Life ng Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, na siyang nangunguna sa pagsalungat sa mapanganib na panukalang batas ni Kinatawan Edsel Lagman. Ito ang pagdadala sa liwanag ng mga “half-truths” na ipinakakalat ng mga nagtataguyod sa nasabing panukalang batas. Karangalan ng buhay ang pangunahing ipinaglalaban ng Simbahan: ang buhay na kaloob ng Diyos sa tao; ang buhay na ang may-aksa ay ang Diyos at di ang tao! Ang panukalang batas ay naglalayong burahin sa kamalayan at panamdam ng tao ang katotohanang ito. Nais na ipamata na ang buhay ay tanging sa tao lamang at siya ang may karapatan na gawin kung ano ang nais niya sa buhay na iyan. Sa pamamagitan ng batas (ayon sa panukala), ang tao ang magpapasya sa kung ano at paano niya gagamitin ang buhay (lalo na ang nauukol sa kasarian), basta legal kahit na ito ay immoral. Nanganganib ang institusyon ng pamilya, lalo na ng pamilyang Pilipino. Dahil nga sa iginigiit ng mga tagapagtaguyod ng nasabing panukala na ito umano ay “rights-based”, walang salang susunod na rito ang panukalang magsasa-legal ng diborsyo at ng tinatawag na “same-sex marriage”. Nguni’t huwag muna nating isipin ang mga ito. Ang kasalukuyang panukalang batas na ito ay naglalagay sa estado ng kapangyarihan na ayon sa kalikasan ay dapat nasa sa magulang. Ang “sex-education” ng mga kabataan ay isa sa mga pangunahing tungkulin ng mga magulang. Ito’y bahagi ng kanilang paghubog sa kanilang mga anak. Ang panukalang batas ay naglalayon lamang ng paghubog sa “safe sex”, at nagbibigay-diin pa nga sa sinasabing “access” sa mga pamamaraan na umano’y makaiiwas sa panganib sa kalusugan dala ng “unsafe sex”. Kaya nga sinasabi ng Simbahan na ang panukalang batas na ito ay magbubukas sa lalo pang maraming panganib sa ating mga kabataan! Ang nasabing panukalang batas na ito, bagamat sinasabing “rights-based” ay di kumikilala sa karapatan ng tao na nababatay sa kanyang indibidwal na paniniwala o relihiyon. Mabigat ang kaparusahan sa mga di-tatalima sa mga probisyon ng batas (kung ito ay magiging batas). Di nito iginagalang ang konsiyensya ng mga duktor, narses, at iba pang mga nasa sa larangan ng pangangalaga sa kalusugan ng mga mamamayan, lalo na ng mga kababaihan. At lalo na ang mga lider-simbahan na natural magsalita laban sa dimaka-Diyos na probisyon ng panukalang batas, kung ito ay maisabatas! Tandaan natin: ang mga laykong Katoliko ay 99.1 bahagdan na bumubuo ng Simbahan. Ilan sa bahagdang iyan ang tunay na naka-aalam sa tunay na isyu na kinahaharap dala ng nasabing mapanganib at mapaglinglang na saligang batas? At ano ang ginagawa ng 99.1 bahagdang iyang bumubuo ng ating simbahan dito sa ating bansa? Dapat nang mapagkinggan tinig at ipadama ang paninindigang Katoliko – hindi lamang ng mga klero at reliheyoso’t reliheyosa, kundi ng buong layko – sa ating bansa! Iparating natin ang ating pagtutol sa nasabing panukalang batas! Ang susunod na buwan ay krusyal sa buhay ng ating pananampalataya, ng ating mga pamilya, at ng ating buong bansa! #UB OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF LIPA EDITORIAL STAFF Fr. Nonie C. Dolor Editor-in-Chief Fr. Oscar L. Andal Managing Editor Myrna Suarez Circulation Manager Contributors: Fr. Gil Hernandez Mrs. Nilda R. Adorable Msgr. Ruben Dimaculagan Mrs. Norma Abratigue Fr. Jojo Gonda Fr. Eugene Hechanova Fr. Manny Guazon Fr. Eric Joquin Arada Photographer Niño Balita Cartoonist Atty. Mary Antoniette E. Arguelles Legal Counsel Lenny D. Mendoza Emma D. Bauan Lay-out Artists Archdiocese of Lipa Pater Putativus Publishing House Publisher Printer For your comments, submission of articles, and/or subscriptions email us at [email protected] # Most Rev. Ramón Argüelles, DD, STL BANALAKBAY Mula noong ika-20 ng Agosto hanggang sa ika 9 ng Setyembre ay nasa Europe ako sa isang banal na paglalakbay (Pilgrimage = Banalakbay). Ang pangunahing layunin ng aking pagtungo sa Europe ay, ayon sa kahilingan mula sa Pontificia Academia Mariana Internationalis, upang ako’y makapagsalita sa Lourdes sa paksang: ‘Did Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace appear in Lipa?’ Si Bishop Socrates Villegas naman ng Balanga Diocese ay nahilingan ding magbahagi ukol sa ‘Mary’s Apparition in EDSA’. Ang panayam ay kaugnay ng 22 nd International Mariological Congress sa Lourdes kung saan idinaraos ang Jubilee Year dahil sa ika-isangdaan at limampung taon mula ng magpakita ang Mahal na Birhen kay Santa Bernardita (1858). Dahil dito ang paksa ng kongreso ay ‘Marian Apparitions’. Bago tumuloy ng Lourdes ay pumunta muna ako sa Roma. Bahagi ng Banalakbay ang pagdulog sa Mahal na Panginoon, sa mga Banal, sa mga Angel at lalung-lalu na sa Dakilang Birhen, at sa pamunuan ng Simbahan ng mga suliranin ng ating Arsidiyosesis. Napag-alaman na tulad ng Lourdes-Tarbes Diocese ay bukod tangi sa buong mundo na ang Arsidiosesis ng Lipa ang nagdiriwang ng Extraordinary Marian Year sa taong 2008 (Ang ikalawang taon ng paghahanda natin sa sentenaryo ng Dioceses ng Lipa, 10 Abril 2008 hanggang 2009 ay nakatalaga kay Maria, Kabiyak ng Espiritu Santo. Nguni’t itinakda pa ring ‘Extraordinary Archdiocesan Marian Year’ mula ika-8 ng Disyembre 2007 hanggang ika-25 ng Marso 2009). Dinala ko sa pananalangin at sa mga kinauukulang tanggapan sa Vatican City ang suliranin natin ukol sa mga dukha at sa kapaligiran. Itinuturing kong matagumpay ang aking pakikipanayam kay Kardinal Martino ng Pontifical Commission on Justice and Peace na nagsabing mahigpit na pandaigdigang suliranin ang panganib sa ating kapaligiran. Sa pamamagitan ng mga samahang maka-maralita at maka-kalikasan madadala natin ang mga suliranin sa lalawigan sa mga may mabubuting hangarin para sa Tao at sa daigdig na nilikha ng Diyos para sa Tao at ipinagkatiwala sa Tao. Natuntun ko rin ang mga samahang pandaigdigan na may malawak na pagmamalasakit sa hanay ng agricultura. Maaari silang makatulong sa atin para itaas ang kaalaman at kakayahang pangkabuhayan ng ating mga nasa kanayunan. Nagpatuloy ako sa Lisieux kung saan natanggap ko ang pangakong tiyak na muling pagdalaw sa ating bansa ng mga reliquia ni Santa Teresita ng Batang si Hesus at ng Banal na Mukha. Ibinalita tuloy sa akin sa Lisieux na sa ika-19 ng Oktubre sa taong kasalukuyan, Linggo iyon ng pandaigdigang misyon, ay itatanghal na mga beato ang mga magulang ni Santa Teresita na sina Louis Martin at Zelie Guerin. Datirati’y iniisip ng marami na ang mag-asawang ito ay banal dahil sa ang anak nila ay ang pinakadakilang santa sa kapanahunan natin (wika ni San Papa Pio X noong 1913). Napagkaalaman na ang magasawang Luis at Celia ay banal sa ganang sarili nila na nagbunga nga ng napakabanal na mag-anak. Kailangan ang mag-asawang ito upang magsilbing huwaran para sa maraming mag-asawahan ngayon na ang pagsasama ay nagdaraan sa matinding pagsubok bunga ng di makaDiyos na kabihasnan na umiiral sa kasulukuyang kabihasnan. Sana’y maipakilala natin sina Louis at Zelie sa lahat ng mga Kristianong mag-asawa, lalo sa ating simbahang local, upang matularan nila ang kanilang kabanalan. Marahil ay napapanahon na itong ‘beatification’ ng mag-asawang banal lalo ngayon na ipinapasok ang maka-mundo at salungat sa utos ng Diyos na mga kaisipan at mga batas na sumisira sa pagkakaisa at kabanalan ng mga angkan. Tamang-tama naman na ang ating Arsidiosesis ay magdaraos ng sentenaryo sa XBANALAKBAY... P. 8 Ang Simbahan at ang Misyon Ang kalikasan ng simbahan ay misyon (The nature of he church is missionary). Ito ang dahilan kung bakit itinatag ni Hesus ang simbahan. Ang wika ni Hesus sa Juan 20:21; 17:18: “Kung paanong sinugo Ako ng Ama, gayundin naman, sinisugo Ko kayo.” Ang kahulugan ng salitang “Misyon” ay “Sugo” o “Pagsugo”. Si Hesus ay sinugo ng Ama at si Hesus naman ang nagsugo sa Simbahan upang ipagpatuloy nito ang kanyang sinimulang misyon ng pagliligtas. Si Hesus ay sinugo ng Ama upang ipahayag ang mabuting balita (Evangelization) at tawagin ang mga tao sa pagbabalik-loob at pananampalataya (Conversion). Sang-ayon kay San Marcos 1:14-15; “Si Hesus ay nagtungo sa Galiliea at ipinangaral ang mabuting balita mula sa Diyos: “Dumating na ang takdang panahon at malapit na ang paghahari ng Diyos! Pagsisihan ninyo’t talikdan ang inyong mga kasalanan at maniwala kayo sa mabuting balitang ito”. Pagkatapos ng kanyang muling pagkabuhay, kanyang ipinagkatiwala sa mga alagad ang pagpapatuloy ng kanyang misyon tulad ng kanyang sinabi sa Mateo 28:19-20; “Kaya, humayo kayo at gawin ninyong alagad ko ang lahat ng bansa. Bautismuhan ninyo sila sa ngalan ng Ama at ng Anak at ng Espiritu Santo, at turuang sumunod sa lahat ng ipinagutos ko sa inyo. Tandaan ninyo: Ako’y laging kasama ninyo hanggang sa katapusan ng sanlibutan”. (Mc. 16:15; Lk. 24:4-7; Mga Gawa 1:3). Sang-ayon sa Doctrinal Notes on some aspects of Evangelization ng Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: “By means of the church, Christ wants to be present in every historical epoch, every place on earth and every sector of society, in order to reach every person, so that there may be one flock anf one shepherd”. (Jn. 10:16) “The apostles, therefore, prompted by the Spirir, invited all to chnage their lives, to be converted and to be baptized”. (Redemptoris Missio, 47). “At the beginning of the third millennium, the call which Peter and his brother Andrew, as well as the othjer disciples, heard from Jesus continues to respond in the world: “Put out into the deep and lower your nets for a catch” (Lk. 5:4) (Novo Mellennio Ineunte, 1). Evangelization: Misyon ng Simbahan Samakatuwid, ang pangunahing misyon ng simbahan ay ang Evangelization na sa kasawiang-palad ay hindi nabibigyan ng kaukulan at tamang pansin sa panahong ito tulad ng ipinahayag ni Pope John Paul II sa introduction ng Redemptoris Mission: “The mission of Christ the Redeemer, which is entrusted to the church, is still very far from completion. As the second millennium after Christ’s coming draws to an end, an overall view of human race shows that this mission is still only beginning and that we must commit ourselves wholeheartedly to its service. XANG SIMBAHAN... P. 5 SEPTEMBER 2008 OPINION Ulat Batangan 5 ANG SIMBAHAN... P. 4 # Msgr. Ruben Dimaculangan “Theology” of Housecleaning Ang paglilinis at ang pagdedekorasyon ng sariling silid ay kagaya ng gawang pagpapakabanal. Walang patid na ginagawa mo ito kahit walang ibang nakakakita sa iyo maliban sa iyong sarili at tanging ang Diyos lamang. Syanga naman. Ang pagpapakabanal ay katulad rin ng paglilinis ng sariling katawan. Kahit sigurado ka na magdudumi uli ang iyong katawan, di mo pinagsasawaan na maging amoy baby ka sa umaga ng bawat araw. Ginagawa mo ito hindi para sa sariling kapakanan lang kundi para sa “kaligtasan na rin ng sanlibutan”. Kung ikaw ay doktor o nurse, maililigtas mo ba ang nasa ICU kung ang hininga mo ay amoy imburnal at ang alingasaw ng underarm mo ay dyablo lang ang may kakayanang maglarawan? Syanga naman. Narinig ko, matapos mag-officer training ang kakilala ko sa military, ang naging tingin nya sa paglilinis ng bahay ay trabahong pang-chicks lang. Kaya simula noon the most na kanyang naitutulong ay itaas ang paa sa mesa para ang ilalim ng kinauupuan niya ay mapasadahan man lang ng walis o ng pambuli habang nanonood siya ng DVD. Kung malungkot na bahagi ito ng pamamahay, mas nakakalungkot kung yaong mga tapos ng Academy ay siya pa mismong nagiging bad apple sa “bahay ni Juan de la Cruz”. Bakit? Sapagkat ang corruption ay hindi po lang tungkol sa pera at kapangyarihan. Ang corruption ay may kinalaman rin sa pagkikilo ng mga katotohanan upang proteksyunan iyon mismong mga malalakas at upang mailapat ang hagupit ng katarungan para sa mga mahihirap at walang tinig lang. Syanga naman. May nagtanong sa akin, “Bakit kaya hindi malinis ang bahay ni Juan mula sa mga bad apples?” Dahil may kalawang na sumisira sa pundasyon ng kanyang bahay: a) ang una ay ang masyadong pagmamahal para sa sariling pamilya lamang; b) pangalawa ay ang pagtatanim ng sama ng loob. Totoong-totoo ang awitin, “Magtanim Ay di Biro”. Bakit? Sa “pagtatanim” na iyan nag-uugat ang kilong prinsipyo na “weather-weather lang”. Kay ganda palang substitute sa jogging, kahit paminsan-minsan lang, ang pagbubunot ng hagdan o paglalampaso ng bahay. Pagkatapos ng tatlumpung minutong “exercise”, ramdam mo ang release ng kapuy sa katawan at ang sense of accomplishment. Ramdam mo pa na meron kang nagawang alay-kapwa bilang buena mano sa bawat araw. Syanga naman. Ano ang mapapala mo makamtan mo man ang ganda ng hubog ng iyong katawan at ang sarap ng iyong pakiramdam pagkatapos ng eksersisyo sa Central Park, kung ang kapalit naman nito ay inidoro mong may nicotine, hinigan na nakatiwangwang at iniipis na pinagkainan? Ha ha ha ha. Syanga naman. Nang mawasak ang dalawampung taong diktadorya, nakahinga nang maluwag si Juan de la Cruz dahil nagkameron ng pagkakataon ang kababaihan na patunayan ang pagiging tunay na lider sa sambahayan ni Juan. Ang buong paniwala kasi ni Juan ay nasa babae ang muling pagkabuhay ng bansang sinilangan dahil may puso silang maka-ina. Subalit ngayong malapit na ang Pasko 2008, naghihintay pa rin si Juan de la Cruz sa inasam na regalong malinis na pamamahay mula sa maka-inang pangungulo. Kaso, yung inaasahang dapat maging maka-ina ay lumalabas na ina para sa sariling pamilya at extended family lamang. Syanga naman. Mga guro, kung hinuhubog ninyo ang inyong mga iskwela sa kalinisan, ituro din ninyo ang social dimension ng kalinisan. Hindi sapat na ituro sa mga bata at sa kanilang mga magulang na hwag magtapon ng candy wrappers, bubble gum, cigarette butts at plastic cups sa loob ng bus, jeep o sa loob ng kanilang pribadong sasakyan. Dapat ituro din sa kanila na ang kalye, sulok ng munisipyo, bakod ng kapitbahay, highway at ang patio ng simbahan ay hindi basurahan. Syanga naman. Ang pagpapa-house blessing ay hindi paglalagay ng anting-anting sa nasabing bahay. Hindi porke napagdasalan na ang bahay ay magsisipanaog na ang mga anghel upang magmalasakit na ipaghugas kayo ng pinggan, ipaglaba o ipaglinis ng bahay. Matapos mabendisyunan ang bahay, wala nang dapat maghari kahit yun mismong nagpagawa ng bahay. Si Kristo na lang ang siyang dapat maghari upang malupig ang naghahari-hariang katamaran, pasahan at pauyuhan. Syanga naman. #UB It is he Spirit who impels us to proclaim the great works of God: “I have no right to boast just because I preach the gospel. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Cor 9:16). Ang napagtutuunan ng pansin ng simbahan sa nakaraang panahon ay ang tinatawag na Pastoral of SACRAMENTALIZATION na ang ibig sabihin ay akayin ang mga tao patungo kay Kristo sa pamamagitan ng Kanyang iba’-ibang presensya sa mundo. Tulad ng Kanyang presensya sa mga Sakramento, lalo na Binyag, Eukaristiya (Misa) at Pakikipagkasundo (Kumpisal). Nariyan din ang Kanyang presensya sa Blessed Sacrament na kung saan si Kristo ay sinasamba sa Kanyang pagka-Diyos at pagka-tao. Gayundin ang Kanyang presensya sa mga dukha, mga may sakit at nangangailangan, anupa’t ang ating gawin o di gawin sa kanila ay kay Hesus natin ginagawa o di ginagawa. (Mt. 21:31-46) Si Kristo rin ay nasa mga pinuno ng simbahan katulad ng Santo Papa, mga Obispo at mga Pari kung kaya tayo’y sumusunod at gumagalang sa kanila (Lk. 10:16) Bagama’t ang Pastoral na ito ng Sacramentalization ay mabuti at ainam, gayunman ito ay masasabing kulang, sa dahilang ang natutulungan lamang ng Pastoral na ito ay mga tao na masasabing may pananampalataya, malaki man o bahagya. Sapagka’t para sa mga tao ay sumasamba kay Kristo sa Blessed Sacrament sa tabernakulo, ito ay nangangailangan ng pananampalataya! Gayundin, para makita ng mga tao na si Hesus ay nasa mga Sakramento sa mga pinuno ng simbahan, sa mga dukha at nangangailangan, ito ay nangangailangan din ng pananampalataya! Ngayon, ang tanong. Paano ang mga taong walang pananampalataya? Mga taong di naniniwala na si Hesus ay nasa mga ito? Halimbawa, sa isang parokya tulad ng San Francisco Javier sa Nasugbu, ilan ang mga taong sumisimba sa mga araw ng Linggo at pangilin? Sa aming ginawang survey, 10% hanggang 15% lamang buong populasyon ang nakagagawa nito. Kung gayon, nasaan ang 85% o 90%? Maliwanag na sila’y kulang sa paniniwala sa Misa at kahalagahan ng pagsimba bilang binyagan. Sa isang salita, walang pananampalataya. Ano ngayon ang misyon ng simbahan para sa mga taong ito upang sila’y mailapit kay Kristo? Ang matunog na kasagutan ay EVANGELIZATION! Ang ibig sabihin ay ipahayag sa kanila ang Mabuting Balita, na walang iba kundi si Krristo na namatay at muling nabuhay. (Mga Gawa 2:23-24) Sila’y nangangailangang makarinig ng pahayag ng Mabuting Balita upang kahit bahagya ay magkaroon ng pananampataya. “Kaya’t ang pananampalataya ay bunga ng pakikinig.” (Roma 10:17) Samakatuwid, ang tawag ng panahon ay bigyang pansin at puspusang itaguyod ang Pastoral of Evangelization upang ang mas nakararaming mga tao na nasa labas ng simbahan ay makarinig ng Mabuting Balita at maakay sa pagbabalik-loob at pananampalataya (Conversion) EVANGELIZATION: Katuparan ng Pananaw Ang pananaw ng Simbahan ng Lokal ng Lipa ay: “Isang Bayang tinawag ng Ama kay Hesukristo upang maging mga Sambayanan ng mga Taong may Kaganapan ng Buhay sa Sanlibutan Sumasaksi sa Kaharian ng Diyos sa Pagsasabuhay ng Misteryo Paskwal sa Kapangyarihan ng Espiritu Santo “ Ang uang bahagi ng pananaw na Maria, Paliwanag ng Diyos Nais kong ibahagi ang aking nabasa tungkol sa walang kahulilip na pagmamahal ng ina sa kanyang anak. Hindi tumitigil and pagmamahal ng ina sa kanyang anak kahit na ito ay masama, hindi siya tumitigil sa paghihintay rito kung siya’y nasa malayo, ang tanging hangarin niya ay magkita silang muli, mapatawad siya, mayakap na muli dahil sa ang pagmamahal ng inay ay sumasaklaw sa lahat nang may habag. Laging nalalampasan ng pagmamahal ng ina ang anumang nakalulungkot na kalagayan o masakit na kinasasadlakan ng kanyang anak. Ang pagmamahal na ito ay hindi kailanman gumuguho sa harap ng anumang asal, paniniwala o iba pang unos na maaaring gumapi sa kanyang anak. Ang pagmamahal niya ay isang pagmamahal na laging naghahangad na mapagtakpan at maitago ang lahat, sapagkat ito’y naninindigan sa lahat ng bagay. Kapag nakikita niyang ang kanayang anak ay nasa panganib, hindi siya nag-aatubiling itaya ang kanyang buhay sa panganib. Nakahanda siyang iharang ang sarili sa dumarating na tren kung ang kanyang anak ay masasagasaan o tumalon sa dagat kung ang kanyang anak ay malulunod sapagkat ang pagmamahal ng ina ay likas na higit kaysa kamatayan. Ang buhay na halimbawa ay ang isang inang tumalon sa kanyang balcon upang iligtas ang kanyang anak sa humulagpos sa kanyang pagkakahawak, isang bigong pagtatangka subalit naglalarawan kung gaano kalaki ang pagmamahal ng ina. Kung tunay ito sa mga karaniwang ina, mailalarawan natin kung gaano katotoo ito kay Maria, taong banal na ina ng batang Diyos, at inang pang-ispiritual nating lahat! Si Maria ay isang walang katulad, huwaran ng pagkaina, at dahil doon, huwaran ng pagmamahal ng tao. At dahil na ang Diyos ay Pag-ibig, siya ang “paliwanag” ng Diyos, isang bukas na aklat kung ano ang Diyos. Napakalaki ng pag-ibig ng nasa puso ng Diyos kaya binata niya ang napakalupit na kamatayan para sa atin, upang iligtas tau; hindi Siya nangailangan ng ibang dahilan para sa sariling pagpapakasakit tulad din ng tanging dahilan ng pagmamahal ng ina sa kapakanan ng kanyang anak. Dahil sa Inang banal si Maria, isang nilalang na malapit na malapit at nakakatulad sa Diyos, tunay niyang naipakikita Siya sa atin. Panariwaing muli natin ang ating pananalig sa pagmamahal ni Marial sa atin, kailangang maniwala tayong mahal na mahal niya tayo. Tularan natin siya sapagkat siya ang modelo ng lahat na Kristiyano at pinakamadaling daan patungo sa Diyos. #UB kung saan nasasaad : “Isang Bayang tinawag ng Ama...upang maging mga sambayanan...” ay magkakaroon ng katuparan sa pamamagitan ng Evangelization. Sapagkat sa evangelization magaganap ang “pagtawag ng Ama kay Hesukristo sa Kanyang bayan”. Ang bayan ay “tatawagin”, aanyayahan na makinog sa pagpapahayag ng Salita ng Diyos o ng Mabuting Balita (Evangelization). Ang mga “tinawag” at tutugon sa “tawag” ang siya ngayong mabubuo bilang isang “sambayanan”. Ito ang ipinahayag ni Bishop Chito Tagle sa isang retreat na kanyang ibinigay sa mga pari ng Lipa may mga sampung taon na ang nakaraan. Ang nasabing retreat ay naglalayong ipaliwanag sa mga pari ang tungkol sa iba’t-ibang bahagi ng pananaw. Tungkol sa unang bahagi ang kanyang sinabi ay ganito: “The Community is gathered by the Word” and “the Community is nourished by the Word and the Sacraments.” Sa pahayag na ito ni Bishop Tagle, siya’y naniniwala na ang Sambayanan ay mabubuo lamang sa pamamagitan ng Salita (Evangelization), tulad ng Paikipagkasundo (Kumspisal) at Eukaristiya (Misa). Ito rin ang ipinahayag ng Santo Papa Juan Pablo II sa THE PRIEST AND THE THIRD CHRISTIAN MILLENIUM: Evangelization is based on the three inseparable elements :Preaching the Word, Sacramental Ministry and Leading the Faithful. Preaching is senseless unless it includes continuous formation of the faithful and participation in the Sacraments. Likewise, participation in the Sacraments without sincere conversion of the heart, full of acceptance of the faith and of the principles of Christian morality, is also meaningless. From the pastoral pespective, the primary action of Evangelization is logically considered to be preaching. From the perspective of intentionality, however, the primary element of Evangelization must be the celebration of the Sacraments especially of penance and the Blesssed Eucharist. The integrity of the pastoral ministry of priests in the service of new evangelizationis to be found, however, in a harmonious fusion of both of these functions.” Ito ang dahilan kung bakit ang Salitang kasunod ng SAMBAYANAN (Gathered by the Word) ay sinusundan ng NG MGA TAONG MAY KAGANAPAN ANG BUHAY (Nourished by the Word and the Sacraments) Samakatuwid, ang KAGANAPAN NG BUHAY ay magkakaroon ng katuparan sa loob ng Sambayanan. Isang Sambayanang pagdating ng panahon ay masasabing SUMASAKSI SA KAHARIAN NG DIYOS SA PAGSASABUHAY NG MISTERYO PASKWAL SA KAPANGYARIHAN NG ESPIRITU SANTO. #UB 6 Ulat VATICAN Batangan SEPTEMBER 2008 Papal Message for World Mission Sunday “Servants and Apostles of Christ Jesus” Here is Benedict XVI’s message for the 82nd World Mission Sunday, to be celebrated Oct. 19. Dear Brothers and Sisters, On the occasion of the World Mission Day, I would like to invite you to reflect on the continuing urgency to proclaim the Gospel also in our times. The missionary mandate continues to be an absolute priority for all baptized persons who are called to be “servants and apostles of Christ Jesus” at the beginning of this millennium. My venerable Predecessor, the Servant of God Paul VI, already stated in the Apostolic Exhortation “Evangelii Nuntiandi”: “Evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity” (n. 14). As a model of this apostolic commitment, I would like to point to St Paul in particular, the Apostle of the nations, because this year we are celebrating a special Jubilee dedicated to him. It is the Pauline Year which offers us the opportunity to become familiar with this famous Apostle who received the vocation to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles, according to what the Lord had announced to him: “Go, I shall send you far away to the Gentiles” (Acts 22: 21). How can we not take the opportunity that this special Jubilee offers to the local Churches, the Christian communities and the individual faithful to propagate the proclamation of the Gospel to the ends of the world, the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (Cf. Rm 1: 16)? Humanity is in need of liberation Humanity needs to be liberated and redeemed. Creation itself - as St Paul says suffers and nurtures the hope that it will share in the freedom of the children of God (cf. Rm 8: 19-22). These words are true in today’s world too. Creation is suffering. Creation is suffering and waiting for real freedom; it is waiting for a different, better world; it is waiting for “redemption”. And deep down it knows that this new world that is awaited supposes a new man; it supposes “children of God”. ( Let us take a closer look at the situation of today’s world. While, on the one hand, the international panorama presents prospects for promising economic and social development, on the other it brings some great concerns to our attention about the very future of man. Violence, in many cases, marks the relations between persons and peoples. Poverty oppresses millions of inhabitants. Discrimination and sometimes even persecution for racial, cultural and religious reasons drive many people to flee from their own countries in order to seek refuge and protection elsewhere. Technological progress, when it is not aimed at the dignity and good of man or directed towards solidarity-based development, loses its potentiality as a factor of hope and runs the risk, on the contrary, of increasing already existing imbalances and injustices. There is, moreover, a constant threat regarding the man-environment relation due to the indiscriminate use of resources, with repercussions on the physical and mental health of human beings. Humanity’s future is also put at risk by the attempts on his life, which take on various forms and means. Before this scenario, “buffeted between hope and anxiety... and burdened down with uneasiness” (“Gaudium et Spes”, n. 4), with concern we ask ourselves: What will become of humanity and creation? Is there hope for the future, or rather, is there a future for humanity? And what will this future be like? The answer to these questions comes to those of us who believe from the Gospel. Christ is our future, and as I wrote in the Encyclical Letter “Spe Salvi”, his Gospel is a “life-changing” communication that gives hope, throws open the dark door of time and illuminates the future of humanity and the university (cf. n. 2). St Paul had understood well that only in Christ can humanity find redemption and hope. Therefore, he perceived that the mission was pressing and urgent to proclaim “the promise of life in Christ Jesus” (2 Tm 1: 1), “our hope” (1 Tm 1: 1), so that all peoples could be co-heirs and co-partners in the promise through the Gospel (cf. Eph 3: 6). He was aware that without Christ humanity is “without hope and without God in the world” (Eph 2: 12) “without hope because they were without God” (“Spe Salvi,” n. 3). In fact, “anyone who does not know God, even though he may entertain all kinds of hopes, is ultimately without hope, without the great hope that sustains the whole of life (cf. Eph 2: 12)” (ibid., n. 27). The Mission is a question of love It is therefore an urgent duty for everyone to proclaim Christ and his saving message. St Paul said, “Woe to me if I do not preach it [the Gospel]!” (1 Cor 9: 16). On the way to Damascus he had experienced and understood that the redemption and the mission are the work of God and his love. Love of Christ led him to travel over the roads of the Roman Empire as a herald, an apostle, a preacher and a teacher of the Gospel of which he declared himself to be an “ambassador in chains” (Eph 6: 20). Divine charity made him “all things to all, to save at least some” (1 Cor 9: 22). By looking at St Paul’s experience, we understand that missionary activity is a response to the love with which God loves us. His love redeems us and prods us to the missio ad gentes. It is the spiritual energy that can make the harmony, justice and communion grow among persons, races and peoples to which everyone aspires (cf. “Deus Caritas Est”, n. 12). So it is God, who is Love, who leads the Church towards the frontiers of humanity and calls the evangelizers to drink “from the original source, which is Jesus Christ, from whose pierced heart flows the love of God” (“Deus Caritas Est”, n. 7). Only from this source can care, tenderness, compassion, hospitality, availability and interest in people’s problems be drawn, as well as the other virtues necessary for the messengers of the Gospel to leave everything and dedicate themselves completely and unconditionally to spreading the perfume of Christ’s charity around the world. Gentiles” (Eph 3: 1), knowing that you can count on the strength that comes to us from him in difficulties and trials. A Bishop is consecrated not only for his diocese, but for the salvation of the whole world (cf. Encyclical “Redemptoris Missio”, n. 63). Like t h e evangelized: the world. Give witness with your lives that Christians “belong to a new society which is the goal of their c o m m o n pilgrimage and which is anticipated Apostle Paul, a Bishop is called to reach out to those who are far away and do not know Christ yet or have still not experienced his liberating love. A Bishop’s commitment is to make the whole diocesan community missionary by contributing willingly, according to the possibilities, to sending priests and laypersons to other Churches for the evangelization service. In this way, the missio ad gentes becomes the unifying and converging principle of its entire pastoral and charitable activity. You, dear priests, the Bishops’ first collaborators, be generous pastors and enthusiastic evangelizers! Many of you in these past decades have gone to the mission territories following the Encyclical “Fidei Donum” whose 50th anniversary we celebrated recently, and with which my venerable Predecessor, the Servant of God Pius XII, gave an impulse to cooperation between the Churches. I am confident that this missionary tension in the local Churches will not be lacking, despite the lack of clergy that afflicts many of them. And you, dear men and women religious, whose vocation is marked by a strong missionary connotation, bring the proclamation of the Gospel to everyone, especially those who are far away, through consistent witness to Christ and radical following of his Gospel. Dear faithful laity, you who act in the different areas of society are all called to take part in an increasingly important way in spreading the Gospel. A complex and multiform areopagus thus opens up before you to be in the course of that pilgrimage” (“Spe Salvi”, n. 4). Evangelize always While the first evangelization continues to be necessary and urgent in many regions of the world, today a shortage of clergy and a lack of vocations afflict various Dioceses and Institutes of consecrated life. It is important to reaffirm that even in the presence of growing difficulties, Christ’s command to evangelize all peoples continues to be a priority. No reason can justify its slackening or stagnation because “the task of evangelizing all people constitutes the essential mission of the Church” (Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation “Evangelii Nuntiandi”, n. 14). It is a mission that “is still only beginning and we must commit ourselves wholeheartedly to its service” (John Paul II, Encyclical “Redemptoris Missio”, n. 1). How can we not think here of the Macedonian who appeared to Paul in a dream and cried, “Will you come by to Macedonia to help us?”. Today there are countless people who are waiting for the proclamation of the Gospel, those who are thirsting for hope and love. There are so many who let themselves be questioned deeply by this request for aid that rises up from humanity, who leave everything for Christ and transmit faith and love for Him to people! (cf. “Spe Salvi”, n. 8). Woe to me if I do not preach it! (1 Cor 9: 16) Dear Brothers and Sisters, “duc in altum”! Let us set sail in the vast sea of the world and, following Jesus’ invitation, let us cast our nets without fear, confident in his constant aid. St Paul reminds us that to preach the Gospel is no reason to boast (cf. 1 Cor 9: 16), but rather a duty and a joy. Dear brother Bishops, following Paul’s example, many each one feel like “a prisoner of Christ for the Conclusion Dear Brothers and Sisters, may the celebration of World Mission Day encourage everyone to take renewed awareness of the urgent need to proclaim the Gospel. I cannot fail to point out with sincere appreciation the contribution of the Pontifical Mission Societies to the Church’s evangelizing activity. I thank them for the support they offer to all the Communities, especially the young ones. They are a valid instrument for animating and forming the People of God from a missionary viewpoint, and they nurture the communion of persons and goods between the different parts of the Mystical Body of Christ. May the collection that is taken in all the parishes on World Mission Day be a sign of communion and mutual concern among the Churches. Lastly, may prayer be intensified ever more in the Christian people, the essential spiritual means for spreading among all peoples the light of Christ, the “light par excellence” that illuminates “the darkness of history” (“Spe Salvi”, n. 49). As I entrust to the Lord the apostolic work of the missionaries, the Churches all over the world and the faithful involved in various missionary activities and invoke the intercession of the Apostle Paul and Holy Mary, “the living Ark of the Covenant”, “the Star of evangelization and hope”, I impart my Apostolic Blessing to everyone. From the Vatican, 11 May 2008 BENEDICTUS PP. XVI Ulat FEATURES SEPTEMBER 2008 HOUSE BILL NO. _____ (In substitution to HB NOs. 17, 812, 2753 & 3970) Introduced by Honorables Edcel C. Lagman, Janette L. Garin, Narciso D. Santiago III, Mark Llandro Mendoza, Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel, Eleandro Jesus F. Madrona AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL POLICY ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD AND POPULATION DEVELOPMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008”. SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State upholds and promotes responsible parenthood, informed choice, birth spacing and respect for life in conformity with internationally recognized human rights standards. The State shall uphold the right of the people, particularly women and their organizations, to effective and reasonable participation in the formulation and implementation of the declared policy. This policy is anchored on the rationale that sustainable human development is better assured with a manageable population of healthy, educated and productive citizens. The State likewise guarantees universal access to medically-safe, legal, affordable and quality reproductive health care services, methods, devices, supplies and relevant information thereon even as it prioritizes the needs of women and children, among other underprivileged sectors. SEC. 3. Guiding Principles. – This Act declares the following as basic guiding principles: a. In the promotion of reproductive health, there should be no bias for either modern or natural methods of family planning; b. Reproductive health goes beyond a demographic target because it is principally about health and rights; c. Gender equality and women empowerment are central elements of reproductive health and population development; d. Since manpower is the principal asset of every country, effective reproductive health care services must be given primacy to ensure the birth and care of healthy children and to promote responsible parenting; e. The limited resources of the country cannot be suffered to be spread so thinly to service a burgeoning multitude that makes the allocations grossly inadequate and effectively meaningless; f. Freedom of informed choice, which is central to the exercise of any right, must be fully guaranteed by the State like the right itself; g. While the number and spacing of children are left to the sound judgment of parents and couples based on their personal conviction and religious beliefs, such concerned parents and couples, including unmarried individuals, should be afforded free and full access to relevant, adequate and correct information on reproductive health and human sexuality and should be guided by qualified State workers and professional private practitioners; h. Reproductive health, including the promotion of breastfeeding, must be the joint concern of the National Government and Local Government Units (LGUs); i. Protection and promotion of gender equality, woman empowerment and human rights, including reproductive health rights, are imperative; j. Development is a multi-faceted process that calls for the coordination and integration of policies, plans, programs and projects that seek to uplift the quality of life of the people, more particularly the poor, the needy and the marginalized; k. Active participation by and thorough consultation with concerned nongovernment organizations (NGOs), people’s organizations (POs) and communities are imperative to ensure that basic policies, plans, programs and projects address the priority needs of stakeholders; l. Respect for, protection and fulfillment of reproductive health rights seek to promote not only the rights and welfare of adult individuals and couples but those of adolescents’ and children’s as well; and m. While nothing in this Act changes the law on abortion, as abortion remains a crime and is punishable, the government shall ensure that women seeking care for post-abortion complications shall be treated and counseled in a humane, non-judgmental and compassionate manner. SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be defined as follows: a. Responsible Parenthood – REFERS TO the will, ability and commitment of parents to respond to the needs and aspirations of the family and children more particularly through family planning. b. Family Planning - REFERS TO a program which enables couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children and to have the information and means to carry out their decisions, and to have informed choice and access to a full range of safe, legal and effective family planning methods, techniques and devices. c. Reproductive Health - REFERS TO the state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes. This implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life, that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so, provided that these are not against the law. This further implies that women and men are afforded equal status in matters related to sexual relations and reproduction. d. Reproductive Health Rights - REFERS TO the rights of individuals and couples to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children; to make other decisions concerning reproduction free of discrimination, coercion and violence; to have the information and means to carry out their decisions; and to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health. e. Gender Equality - REFERS TO the absence of discrimination on the basis of a person’s sex, in opportunities, allocation of resources and benefits, and access to services. f. Gender Equity - REFERS TO fairness and justice in the distribution of benefits and responsibilities between women and men, and often requires womenspecific projects and programs to eliminate existing inequalities, inequities, policies and practices unfavorable to women. g. Reproductive Health Care - REFERS TO THE availability OF and access to a full range of methods, techniques, supplies and services that contribute to reproductive and sexual health and well-being by preventing and solving reproductive health-related problems in order to achieve enhancement of life and personal relations. The elements of reproductive health care include: 1. Maternal, infant and child health and nutrition; 2. Promotion of breastfeeding; 3. Family planning information and services; 4. Prevention of abortion and management of post-abortion complications; 5. Adolescent and youth health; XHOUSE BILL... P. 8 Batangan 7 Misconceptions and Clarifications on Issues Related to Humanae Vitae and the Reproductive “Health” Bill in Philippine Congress. " Rev. Fr. Gregory D. Gaston, STD (This primer was written for Avenues, the Journal of San Carlos Seminary Graduate School of Theology. Copyright © 2008 by the author, a priest of the Archdiocese of Manila, assigned since January 2008 at the Holy Apostles Senior Seminary, Makati City, Philippines, and was previously an Official of the Pontifical Council for the Family, Vatican, for five years. For consults and resources on related topics, please visit www.safe.ph.) M: The world is overpopulated. Global population will soar to 11.9 billion by 2050. C: “Yet this is not the full story. To the contrary, in fact. Across the globe, people are having fewer and fewer children. Fertility rates have dropped by half since 1972, from six children per woman to 2.9. And demographers say they’re still falling, faster than ever. The world’s population will continue to grow— from today’s 6.4 billion to around 9 billion in 2050. But after that, it will go sharply into decline. Indeed, a phenomenon that we’re destined to learn much more about— depopulation—has already begun in a number of countries. Welcome to the New Demography. It will change everything about our world, from the absolute size and power of nations to global economic growth to the quality of our lives.” [Michael Meyer, “Birth Dearth,” in Newsweek, September 27, 2004, p. 58. Since the 1970’s, several demographers, economists, and other experts have been informing the public of these trends.] M: Overpopulation is a scientific fact. C: Not overpopulation, but population ageing and underpopulation, as seen in these sample article titles: * European Pension Systems Set to Collapse. Low Fertility Blamed, in Friday Fax, May 4, 2000. * Underpopulation, Not Overpopulation, the Real Global Problem, in Washington Post, March 18, 2001. * Developed Nations Warned on Aging Crisis Time Bomb, in Manila Bulletin, Aug 30, 2001. * Have Three Babies to Sustain the Population, in Daily Telegraph, Dec. 12, 2003. * Asian Economies Desperate for Babies, in Daily News Express, Feb. 2, 2004. * Have More Babies, Say the Tories, in Daily Mail, September 22, 2003: “Women should have more babies to stave off the looming crisis of an ageing population, the Tories will say today. The call to ‘go forth and multiply’ comes from work and pensions spokesman David Willetts, who wants couples to send birth rates soaring.” * In address to Estonians, President Calls on Citizens to Make More Babies, in New York Times, January 2, 2003: “Worried about a declining population, Estonia’s president has urged the country’s 1.4 million residents to make more babies. ‘Let us remember that in just a couple of decades the number of Estonians seeing the New Year will be one-fifth less than today,’ President Arnold Ruutel said in a speech broadcast live on national television Wednesday.” M: Our population growth rate of 2.04% is extremely high. C: The CIA gives a much lower estimate of 1.728% (World Factbook Country Listing of 2008, available on the internet). M: We should aim for a Zero Population Growth Rate. C: Zero Population Growth Rate will make the Filipino race at first extremely old, and then rare, and finally extinct. M: Filipino families have too many children. C: “The UN Population Division figures indicate that it is not an exaggeration to say that as early as now the Philippine Total Fertility Rate [children per woman] is already dangerously low. Whereas in the early 1970’s the average Filipina had six children, today she has around three, and in another 20 years, only two. Shortly after 2020, or just fifteen years from now, the Philippine TFR will sink below its replacement level of around 2.29.” [Rev. Fr. Gregory D. Gaston, STD, World Population Collapse: Lessons for the Philippines, in Familia et Vita, vol. XII (2007) no. 2, pp. 84-113, paragraph no. 22. Henceforth referred to as WPC and paragraph number.] M: Having two children should be the ideal family size. C: SEC. 16. Ideal Family Size. – The State shall assist couples, parents and individuals to achieve their desired family size within the context of responsible parenthood for sustainable development and encourage them to have two children as the ideal family size. As of now the Philippines’ total fertility rate, or children per woman, is projected to go below replacement (2.29 children per woman) by 2025. After that we will experience the population ageing and collapse taking place today in rich countries, and like them, we will also wish to pay parents to have more children—but unlike them, we will have no money to do so. Pushing for only two children per family will make all this occur even earlier. (Note that two children per family would give a total fertility rate of much lower than two, since women without children would have to be included in the computation of “children per woman,” or total fertility rate.) M: Intensified population control programs will slow down population growth, improve the economy soon, and thus solve poverty. C: “The effect desired by population controllers, the slowing of population growth, will not immediately take place, due to population momentum, decreased mortality and longer lifespan. By the time population growth will have slowed down, the Total Fertility Rate will be way below the replacement level, and the average population age will be extremely high. In other words, the solution proposed to solve poverty, that is, population control programs, will just create more economic difficulties in the long run. Nor may one say that we should limit population growth now, hope for rapid economic development, and finally try to solve whatever problem might come up in the future. It will simply be too late by then. Countries that were already rich 30 to 40 years ago when their TFR’s started to decline, and are now ageing, encounter extreme difficulty in solving their economic problems today. Their efforts to encourage their citizens to produce more children have not yielded acceptable results after a decade. They depend on immigration to maintain their population growth. The Philippines is not a rich country today, and may or may not be rich within 50 years. How will it support its ageing population? Will it also invite workers from other countries to replace its dwindling workforce? How will it attract immigrants if it has no jobs to offer to its people in the first place? Even if it becomes rich by then, it will have to face the same problems rich countries face now, and will have to tell the people to raise more children. We simply cannot afford to fall into the trap rich countries have fallen into 30-40 years ago, and from which they desperately try to escape today. Graphically speaking, we cannot afford to have in the future a population pyramid like theirs now, and then, like them today, wish to regain the population pyramid we have now.” [WPC 26] M: In ruling out population control as a solution to poverty, the Catholic Church teaches that the people should beget as many children as they can, following God’s command, to “go forth and multiply.” C: “Ruling out population control’ simply means not encouraging people to have few children, which is entirely different from telling them to have all the children they can possibly produce. Parents should instead be guided and supported to attain the number of children they can generously and responsibly raise and educate. For some spouses, this means having one child or two; for others, five, ten, twelve, fifteen or even more. Neither the government nor the Catholic Church may compel, instruct, or encourage spouses to raise a specified number of children, as what population control programs definitely try to do, either through massive propaganda, or through deceptive and coercive policies. Rather, the government and the Catholic Church should form and guide the people to reflect on their actual circumstances, and to freely, generously and responsibly decide whether to have another child now, or not to have another child for the time being or indefinitely. This is one aspect of responsible parenthood, which the Catholic Church has always taught, and which takes into account both the real capacities of individual spouses and the national demographic situation.” [WPC 27] M: The Catholic Church has always recognized the existence of a “population problem,” and the government’s intervention in the decision-making of spouses as to the number of children they beget. C: In recognizing that it is legitimate for the state “to intervene to orient the demography of the population,” it immediately adds that, “This can be done by means of objective and respectful information, but certainly not by authoritarian, coercive measures. The state may not legitimately usurp the initiative of spouses, who have the primary responsibility for the procreation and education of their children. In this area, it is not authorized to employ means contrary to the moral law” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2372). Humanae Vitae (no. 2) describes some changes taking place in 1968. “In the first place there is the rapid increase in population which has made many fear that world population is going to grow faster than available resources, with the consequence that many families and developing countries would be faced with greater hardships.” Note that while Humanae Vitae in this point observes that there is the rapid increase in world population, it merely expresses the fear of many, without owning that fear, that world population is going to grow faster than available resources. Today, forty years later, we can see for a fact that while population has grown, food production has grown even more. “Since 1965 to 1994 the population of the world has nearly doubled, but food production has kept well ahead... United Nations figures show there has been a rise of over 30% in the period 1951-92 in food production per capita, that is to say the amount of food which would be available to each person in the world if it were divided equally. This has occurred in spite of the fact that Western farmers are paid millions of dollars a year to keep land out of production. If these European and American farmers were to produce to their capacity, food prices would collapse as a result of the glut (Population Facts and Myths, published on the Internet in 1994 by the National Association of Catholic Families in the UK). The problem then is not food production but proper distribution. Hence the solution should not be to reduce the number of consumers, but social justice. In recent years, Church documents have focused greatly on the fall of fertility, which, “very significant in almost all parts of the world, is irrefutable and evident from the facts published by specialized organizations. It is, nontheless, frequently disregarded (Pontifical Council for the Family, The Ethical and Pastoral Dimensions of Population Trends, March 25, 1994). Such fall in fertility is the real “population problem” today. M: The Catholic Church is not concerned with the plight of the poor in the country. C: The Catholic Church dedicates a huge part of its efforts at the service of the poor, helping the government: education, microlending, presence in slum areas and garbage, orphanages, feeding programs, social action projects, calamities, opposition to destructive mining and destructive logging, Pondo ng Pinoy, Caritas, environmental ecology concerns, human ecology, family empowerment. Whenever the Church talks against graft and corruption, she does so also out of concern for the poor. Poverty will be very quickly eradicated if graft and corruption are eradicated, so that taxpayers’ money will go to the poor (especially in terms of education, which is the long-term solution to poverty, and livelihood programs) and not to those rich who steal from the poor. “Each time poverty is blamed on the ‘population problem,’ its real and root causes are conveniently tolerated or covered up: graft and corruption in the public and private sectors, burden of foreign debt servicing, and bad governance, resulting in failed development programs” (A Manifesto of Filipino Families on July 25, 2008). M : Contraceptives should be listed as essential drugs. C : They should not be listed as essential drugs, but as dangerous drugs and devices. Pills have been shown to cause abortion of a 5-day old baby, cancer, premature hypertension, heart disease, etc. IUD’s are abortifacient and may cause intrauterine trauma, pelvic infections and ectopic pregnancy. XMISCONCEPTIONS... P. 9 8 Ulat Batangan BANALAKBAY... P. 4 taong 2010 na ang Tema ay Pagtatalaga sa Banal na SanTatlo at Pagpapanibago sa Banal na Angkan (Consecration to the Holy Trinity and Transformation into the Holy Family). Hinihikayat ko ang lahat, lalo sa ating mga parokya, na kilalanin at pagdasalan ang banal na mga magulang ni Santa Teresita. Sa Lourdes ay nagkaroon ng mabungang pagpapalitan ng kaisipan at pagninilay lalung-lalo ang mga delegasyon galing sa Asya. Ang mga bansang Asiatiko na may kinatawan sa unang pagkakataon sa isang International Marian Congress ay buhat sa India, Japan, Korea, China at Pilipinas. Nakilala na marami nang pagpapakita ang Mahal na Birhen sa iba’t ibang dako ng Asia. Hindi kaya tanda ito na tama ang sabi ng yumaong Papa (IN)FORMATION Juan Pablo II na ang oras ng Asia ay sumapit na? Maraming panayam at mga mungkahi ang lumabas sa Kongreso Marianong iyon. Higit sa lahat ay ang pasiya na magdaos ng kaunaunahang Kongreso Mariano sa Asia at ito ay sa ika-11 hanggang ika-16 ng Setyembre 2009 dito sa Lipa. Asahan natin na ang pagdiriwang ng ika-6 na National Pilgrimage to Lipa for Peace and Reconciliation in the Nation and the World and the Sanctification of the Clergy ay sasaksihan ng maraming mga dayuhang namumuno sa simbahan sa Asia. Malamang ang mga panayam sa ika-12 ng Setyembre ay ibibigay ng mga International Experts. Ipagdasal natin ito at pagtulungan. Ito’y malaking karangalan para sa Arsidiyosesis. Higit sa lahat aking nababanaagan na ang ating simbahang lokal ay unti-unting HOUSE BILL... P. 7 6. Prevention and management of reproductive tract infections (RTIs), HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmittable infections (STIs); 7. Elimination of violence against women; 8. Education and counseling on sexuality and sexual and reproductive health; 9. Treatment of breast and reproductive tract cancers and other gynecological conditions; 10. Male involvement and participation in reproductive health; 11. Prevention and treatment of infertility and sexual dysfunction; and 12. Reproductive health education for the youth. h. Reproductive Health Education REFERS TO [is] the process of acquiring complete, accurate and relevant information on all matters relating to the reproductive system, its functions and processes and human sexuality; and forming attitudes and beliefs about sex, sexual identity, interpersonal relationships, affection, intimacy and gender roles. It also includes developing the necessary skills to be able to distinguish between facts and myths on sex and sexuality; and critically evaluate and discuss the moral, religious, social and cultural dimensions of related sensitive issues such as contraception and abortion. i. Male involvement and participation - refers to the involvement, participation, commitment and joint responsibility of men with women in all areas of sexual and reproductive health, as well as reproductive health concerns specific to men. j. Reproductive tract infection (RTI) – [includes] REFERS TO sexually transmitted infections, sexually transmitted diseases and other types of infections affecting the reproductive system. k. Basic Emergency Obstetric Care REFERS TO lifesaving services for maternal complication being provided by a health facility or professional[,] which must include the following six signal functions: administration of parenteral antibiotics; administration of parenteral oxytocic drugs; administration of parenteral anticonvulsants for pre-eclampsia and eclampsia; manual removal of placenta; and assisted vaginal delivery. l. Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care - REFERS TO basic emergency obstetric care plus two other signal functions: performance of caesarean section and blood transfusion. m. Maternal Death Review - refers to a qualitative and in-depth study of the causes of maternal death with the primary purpose of preventing future deaths through changes or additions to programs, plans and policies. n. Skilled Attendant - REFERS TO an accredited health professional such as a licensed midwife, doctor or nurse who has adequate proficiency and the skills to manage normal (uncomplicated) pregnancies, childbirth and the immediate postnatal period, and in the identification, management and referral of complication in women and newborns. o. Skilled Attendance - REFERS TO childbirth managed by a skilled attendant under the enabling conditions of a functional emergency obstetric care and referral system. p. Development - [is] REFERS TO a multi-dimensional process involving major changes in social structures, popular attitudes, and national institutions as well as the acceleration of economic growth, the reduction of inequality and the eradication of widespread poverty. q. Sustainable Human Development REFERS TO the totality of the process of expanding human choices by enabling people to enjoy long, healthy and productive lives, affording them access to resources needed for a decent standard of living and assuring continuity and acceleration of development by achieving a balance between and among a manageable population, adequate resources and a healthy environment. r. Population Development - REFERS TO a program that aims to: (1) help couples and parents achieve their desired family size; (2) improve reproductive health of individuals by addressing reproductive health problems; (3) contribute to decreased maternal and infant mortality rates and early child mortality; (4) reduce incidence of teenage pregnancy; and (5) enable government to achieve a balanced population distribution. SEC. 5. The Commission on Population (POPCOM). – Pursuant to the herein declared policy, the Commission on Population (POPCOM) shall serve as the central planning, coordinating, implementing and monitoring body for the comprehensive and integrated policy on reproductive health and population development. In the implementation of this policy, POPCOM, which shall be an attached agency of the Department of Health (DOH) shall have the following functions: a. To create an enabling environment for women and couples to make an informed choice regarding the family planning method that is best suited to their needs and personal convictions; b. To integrate on a continuing basis the interrelated reproductive health and population development agenda into a national policy, taking into account regional and local concerns; c. To provide the mechanism to ensure active and full participation of the private sector and the citizenry through their organizations in the planning and implementation of reproductive health care and population development programs and projects; d. To ensure people’s access to medically safe, legal, quality and affordable reproductive health goods nakikilala hindi lamang sa Pilipinas, kung hindi sa buong mundo na isang pook ng Banalakbay. Ito ay hindi kagagawan nating mga Tao. Ito ay ninanais ng Diyos at ng Mahal na Ina. Sana maging karapatdapat tayo sa magandang layunin ng langit para sa ating arsidiyosesis. Ang mga mananampalataya ng Lipa ang unang dapat maging masigasig na taga-ganap ng malimit na Banalakbay sa ating lugar. Bago matapos ang taon 2008 ay isisiwalat natin ang mga simbahan ng ating Arsidiosesis kung saan ay makakamtan ang biyayang pangjubileo mula ika-10 ng abril 2010 hanggang ika-9 ng abril 2011. Sana’y sama-sama natin paghandaan ang matiniding panahong ito kung kailan ang Arsidiyosesis ng Lipa ay magiging puntahan ng napakaraming nagnanais magdaos ng Banalakbay. #UB and services; e. To facilitate the involvement and participation of non-government organizations and the private sector in reproductive health care service delivery and in the production, distribution and delivery of quality reproductive health and family planning supplies and commodities to make them accessible and affordable to ordinary citizens; f. To fully implement the Reproductive Health Care Program with the following components: (1) Reproductive health education including but not limited to counseling on the full range of legal and medically-safe family planning methods including surgical methods; (2) Maternal, peri-natal and post-natal education, care and services; (3) Promotion of breastfeeding; (4) Promotion of male involvement, participation and responsibility in reproductive health as well as other reproductive health concerns of men; (5) Prevention of abortion and management of post-abortion complications; and (6) Provision of information and services addressing the reproductive health needs of the poor, senior citizens, women in prostitution, differently-abled persons, and women and children in war AND crisis situations. g. To ensure that reproductive health services are delivered with a full range of supplies, facilities and equipment and that service providers are adequately trained for reproductive health care; h. To endeavor to furnish local Family Planning Offices with appropriate information and resources to keep the latter updated on current studies and research relating to family planning, responsible parenthood, breastfeeding and infant nutrition; i. To direct all public hospitals to make available to indigent mothers who deliver their children in these government hospitals, upon the mother’s request, the procedure of ligation without cost to her; j. To recommend the enactment of legislation and adoption of executive measures that will strengthen and enhance the national policy on reproductive health and population development; k. To ensure a massive and sustained information drive on responsible parenthood and on all methods and techniques to prevent unwanted, unplanned and mistimed pregnancies, it shall release information bulletins on the same for nationwide circulation to all government departments, agencies and instrumentalities, nongovernment organizations and the private sector, schools, public and private libraries, tri-media outlets, workplaces, hospitals and concerned health institutions; l. To strengthen the capacities of health regulatory agencies to ensure safe, high-quality, accessible, and affordable reproductive health services and commodities with the XHOUSE BILL... P. 9 SEPTEMBER 2008 An Open Letter from an ex-seminarian September 8, 2008 Missionary Catechists of the Sacred Heart MCSH Motherhouse, Sabang, Lipa City, Philippines 4217 Dearest Community, May the Peace of the Divine Lord be with you all! I was one of the lucky recipients of the services of one of the MCSH sisters from your community, the late Sr. Mary Purificacion†, who had just died a few years ago (if I’m not mistaken). I would be regarding her as a saint in the future, if God will. I would be wishing for a bit of forgiveness for all the sins of omissions and commissions I’ve done under her tutelage as a principal in the St. Francis de Sales Minor Seminary that contributed to her earlier demise due to poor health in Lipa City. I was trying to be the best seminarian in my own time. In this sense, I would be wishing also for the forgiveness of my fellow seminarians who almost (accidentally) contributed to her health failure while studying in the seminary under her tutelage. I should’ve been a good and holy priest without my co-seminarians but the mysterious but perfect God may not let it happen. I did my best but unfortunately, the test of times ended up with a very poor health. And up until now, I am struggling to live with my respiratory diseases because of seminary formation during our time. I hope that what happened in the seminary may not happen again in the future for a seminarian’s death could mean a demise of one of the Roman Catholic Church’s greatest commandment: to love neighbors as self. It was martyrdom but without the Spirit of God, death would mean sin. Secondly, I would want to thank God for the love He gave me through your Religious Order, the Missionary Catechist of the Sacred Heart. It was through Msgr. Alfredo’s hands that God gave this precious gift of a lifetime: holiness where people in the Philippines may learn to live with after the Holiness of God the Son made man. And it was the exemplary of Sr. Puri that I learned to live in the spirit of simplicity of heart and mind. Perhaps, without the existence and presence of the Monsignor’s founded order, I would’ve been one with the dead as early as High School. Sacrificing her whole life for the sake of God would be enough for giving me (as a seminarian) to hold on to God and do His Divine will for the rest of my life and that would be holiness. Thirdly, through the Religious Order Msgr. Alfredo left us before his demise, through the blessings of God, under the Supervision of Sister Puri for four years, I discovered all the consequences of all my acts in the High School seminary and I admire the Religious Order for that. Up until now, I am still waiting for God’s call for priesthood and I found happiness while waiting. It was these four years of waiting that strengthen me to be one of the witnesses of Christian faith that up until now still permeates in my soul that transform me to become a true Christian. Waiting is tough. But through this sacrifice that I learn to sacrifice my one and only life for the love of my neighbors, be it a violator or an exemplar of goodness and of faith. I was reflecting and meditating nowadays the death of the Son of God. And imitating this form of act is not impossible nowadays. I found this millennium as the moments where martyrs and saints go hand in hand towards one unified goal: being with God by imitating how to die like God without the wooden crucifix. I experienced it before two times in a row and saying my last words in the emergency room gave me a new space to put some more oxygen inside my air sacs. This miraculous death of God saved me from death twice and I can’t forget that dialogue with God while I lied down in the emergency room, losing oxygen, and almost convulsing, and struggling to find God in the midst of the shadow of death that almost conquered the presence of God in my mind. I forgot God that dark night and this forgetfulness would be the culprit why humans die up until now. I believe that humans can live more than a thousand years if and only if they would not forget God in their own lives just like the belief of the immortality of Patriarch Moses and the Blessed Virgin Mary. I should’ve died like a normal human but with the presence of God in my mind, eternal happiness is not difficult to reach. It’s in the tip of our minds every day. Finally, I would want to thank Bishop Alfredo F. Verzosa’s Religious Order that through his initiative, he produced a Sr. Purificacion who let me wait inside the seminary for four years. And ‘dying’ like that inside the seminary, helped me train myself to pray while dying in the emergency room. I hope that if this happen again, seeing God face to face would mean a perfect score again in my Latin exams. Thank you again and more power to your Religious Order! Thanks to Bishop Alfredo and Sister Purificacion! Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and let the Perpetual Light shine upon them. May they rest in peace, Amen! Yours in Christ, Emmanuel C. Tio (Batch 1997) SFS Minor Seminary, Lipa City SEPTEMBER 2008 HOUSE BILL... P. 9 concurrent strengthening and enforcement of regulatory mandates and mechanisms; m. To take active steps to expand the coverage of the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP), especially among poor and marginalized women, to include the full range of reproductive health services and supplies as health insurance benefits; and n. To perform such other functions necessary to attain the purposes of this Act. The membership of the Board of Commissioners of POPCOM shall consist of the heads of the following AGENCIES: 1. National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) 2. Department of Health (DOH) 3. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 4. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 5. Department of Agriculture (DA) 6. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) 7. Department of Education (DepEd) 8. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 9. Commission on Higher Education (CHED) 10. University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI) 11. Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) 12. National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) 13. National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) 14. National Youth Commission (NYC) In addition to the aforementioned members, there shall be three private sector representatives to the Board of Commissioners of POPCOM who shall come from NGOs. There shall be one (1) representative each from women, youth and health sectors who have a proven track record of involvement in the promotion of reproductive health. These representatives shall be nominated in a process determined by the abovementioned sectors, and to be appointed by the President for a term of three (3) years. SEC. 6. Midwives for Skilled Attendance – Every city and municipality shall endeavor to employ adequate number of midwives or other skilled attendants to achieve a minimum ratio of one (1) for every ONE HUNDRED FIFTY (150) deliveries per year, to be based on the average annual number of actual deliveries or live births for the past two years. SEC. 7. Emergency Obstetric Care – Each province and city shall endeavor to ensure the establishment and operation of hospitals with adequate and qualified personnel that provide emergency obstetric care. For every 500,000 population, there shall be at least one (1) hospital for comprehensive emergency obstetric care and four (4) hospitals for basic emergency obstetric care. SEC. 8. Maternal Death Review – All [Local Government Units (]LGUs[)], national and local government hospitals, and other public health units shall conduct maternal death review in accordance with the guidelines to be issued by the DOH in consultation with the POPCOM. SEC. 9. Hospital-Based Family Planning –Tubal ligation, vasectomy, INTRAUTERINE DEVICE INSERTION and other family planning methods requiring hospital services shall be available in all national and local government hospitals, except in specialty hospitals which may render such services on an optional basis. [Such services shall be covered by PhilHealth benefits and government funding for financial assistance to indigent patients.] For indigent patients, such services shall be fully covered by PhilHealth insurance and/or government financial assistance. [The cost of tubal ligation, vasectomy and intrauterine device insertion for indigent clients shall be fully subsidized by PhilHealth.] SEC. 10. Contraceptives as Essential Medicines. – Hormonal contraceptives, intrauterine devices, injectables and other allied reproductive health products and supplies shall be considered under the category of essential medicines and supplies which shall form part of the NEWS & EVENTS National Drug Formulary and the same shall be included in the regular purchase of essential medicines and supplies of all national and local hospitals and other government health units. SEC. 11. Mobile Health Care Service. – Each Congressional District shall be provided with a van to be known as the Mobile Health Care Service (MHCS) to deliver health care goods and services to its constituents, more particularly to the poor and needy, as well as disseminate knowledge and information on reproductive health: Provided, That reproductive health education shall be conducted by competent and adequately trained persons preferably reproductive health care providers: Provided, further, That the full range of family planning methods, both natural and modern, shall be promoted. The acquisition, operation and maintenance of the MHCS shall be funded from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of each Congressional District. The MHCS shall be adequately equipped with a wide range of reproductive health care materials and information dissemination devices and equipment, the latter including but not limited to, a television set for audiovisual presentation. SEC. 12. Mandatory Age-Appropriate Reproductive Health Education. Recognizing the importance of reproductive health rights in empowering the youth and developing them into responsible adults, Reproductive Health Education in an age-appropriate manner shall be taught by adequately trained teachers starting from Grade 5 up to Fourth Year High School. In order to assure the prior training of teachers on reproductive health, the implementation of Reproductive Health Education shall commence at the start of the school year one year following the effectivity of this Act. The POPCOM, in coordination with the Department of Education, shall formulate the Reproductive Health Education curriculum, which shall be common to both public and private schools and shall include related population and development concepts in addition to the following subjects and standards: a. Reproductive health and sexual rights; b. Reproductive health care and services; c. Attitudes, beliefs and values on sexual development, sexual behavior and sexual health; d. Proscription and hazards of abortion and management of post-abortion complications; e. Responsible parenthood; f. Use and application of natural and modern family planning methods to promote reproductive health, achieve desired family size and prevent unwanted, unplanned and mistimed pregnancies; g. Abstinence before marriage; h. Prevention and treatment of HIV/ AIDS and other STIs/STDs, prostate cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer and other gynecological disorders; i. Responsible sexuality; and j. Maternal, peri-natal and post-natal education, care and services In support of the natural and primary right of parents in the rearing of the youth, the POPCOM shall provide concerned parents with adequate and relevant scientific materials on the ageappropriate topics and manner of teaching reproductive health education to their children. In the elementary level, reproductive health education shall focus, among others, on values formation. Non-formal education programs shall likewise include the abovementioned Reproductive Health Education. SEC. 13. Additional Duty of Family Planning Office. - Each local Family Planning Office shall furnish for free instructions and information on family planning, responsible parenthood, breastfeeding and infant nutrition family to all applicants for marriage license. SEC. 14. Certificate of Compliance. – No marriage license shall be issued by the Local Civil Registrar unless the applicants present a Certificate of Compliance issued for free by the local Family Planning Office certifying that they had duly received adequate instructions and information on family planning, responsible parenthood, breastfeeding and infant nutrition. SEC. 15. Capability Building of Community-Based Volunteer Workers. – Community-based volunteer workers, like but not limited to, Barangay Health Workers, shall undergo additional and updated training on the delivery of reproductive health care services and shall receive not less than 10% increase in honoraria upon successful completion of training. The increase in honoraria shall be funded from the Gender and Development (GAD) budget of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). SEC. 16. Ideal Family Size. – The State shall assist couples, parents and individuals to achieve their desired family size within the context of responsible parenthood for sustainable development and encourage them to have two children as the ideal family size. Attaining the ideal family size is neither mandatory nor compulsory. No punitive action shall be imposed on parents having more than two children. SEC. 17. Employers’ Responsibilities. – Employers shall respect the reproductive health rights of all their workers. Women shall not be discriminated against in the matter of hiring, regularization of employment status or selection for retrenchment. All Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) shall provide for the free delivery by the employer of reasonable quantity of reproductive health care services, supplies and devices to all workers, more particularly women workers. In establishments or enterprises where there are no CBAs or where the employees are unorganized, the employer shall have the same obligation. SEC. 18. Support of Private and Nongovernment Health Care Service Providers. - Pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof, private reproductive health care service providers, including but not limited to gynecologists and obstetricians, are encouraged to join their colleagues in non-government organizations in rendering such services free of charge or at reduced professional fee rates to indigent and low income patients. SEC. 19. Multi-Media Campaign. POPCOM shall initiate and sustain an intensified nationwide multi-media campaign to raise the level of public awareness on the urgent need to protect and promote reproductive health and rights. SEC. 20. Reporting Requirements. Before the end of April of each year, the DOH shall submit an annual report to the President of the Philippines, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on a definitive and comprehensive assessment of the implementation of this Act and shall make the necessary recommendations for executive and legislative action. The report shall be posted in the website of DOH and printed copies shall be made available to all stakeholders. SEC. 21. Prohibited Acts. – The following acts are prohibited: a) Any health care service provider, whether public or private, who shall: 1. Knowingly withhold information or impede the dissemination thereof, and/or intentionally provide incorrect information regarding programs and services on reproductive health including the right to informed choice and access to a full range of legal, medically-safe and effective family planning methods; 2. Refuse to perform voluntary ligation and vasectomy and other legal and medically-safe reproductive health care services on any person of legal age on the ground of lack of spousal consent or authorization. 3. Refuse to provide reproductive health care services to an abused minor, whose abused condition is certified by the proper official or personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or to duly DSWD-certified abused pregnant minor on whose case no parental consent is necessary. 4. Fail to provide, either deliberately or through gross or inexcusable negligence, Ulat Batangan 9 reproductive health care services as mandated under this Act, the Local Government Code of 1991, the Labor Code, and Presidential Decree 79, as amended; and 5. Refuse to extend reproductive health care services and information on account of the patient’s civil status, gender or sexual orientation, age, religion, personal circumstances, and nature of work: Provided, That all conscientious objections of health care service providers based on religious grounds shall be respected: Provided, further, That the conscientious objector shall immediately refer the person seeking such care and services to another health care service provider within the same facility or one which is conveniently accessible: Provided, finally, That the patient is not in an emergency or serious case as defined in RA 8344 penalizing the refusal of hospitals and medical clinics to administer appropriate initial medical treatment and support in emergency and serious cases. b) Any public official who prohibits or restricts personally or through a subordinate the delivery of legal and medically-safe reproductive health care services, including family planning; c) Any employer who shall fail to comply with his obligation under Section 17 of this Act or an employer who requires a female applicant or employee, as a condition for employment or continued employment, to involuntarily undergo sterilization, tubal ligation or any other form of contraceptive method; d) Any person who shall falsify a certificate of compliance as required in Section 14 of this Act; and e) Any person who maliciously engages in disinformation about the intent or provisions of this Act. SEC. 22. Penalties. - The proper city or municipal court shall exercise jurisdiction over violations of this Act and the accused who is found guilty shall be sentenced to an imprisonment ranging from one (1) month to six (6) months or a fine ranging from Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) to Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court. If the offender is a juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the president, treasurer, secretary or any responsible officer. An offender who is an alien shall, after service of sentence, be deported immediately without further proceedings by the Bureau of Immigration. An offender who is a public officer or employee shall suffer the accessory penalty of dismissal from the government service. Violators of this Act shall be civilly liable to the offended party in such amount at the discretion of the proper court. SEC. 23. Appropriations. – The amounts appropriated in the current annual General Appropriations Act for reproductive health and family planning under the DOH and POPCOM together with ten percent (10%) of the Gender and Development (GAD) budgets of all government departments, agencies, bureaus, offices and instrumentalities funded in the annual General Appropriations Act in accordance with Republic Act No. 7192 (Women in Development and Nation-building Act) and Executive Order No. 273 (Philippine Plan for Gender Responsive Development 1995-2025) shall be allocated and utilized for the implementation of this Act. Such additional sums as may be necessary for the effective implementation of this Act shall be included in the subsequent years’ General Appropriations Acts. SEC. 24. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Health shall promulgate, after thorough consultation with the Commission on Population (POPCOM), the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), concerned nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and known reproductive health advocates, the requisite implementing rules and regulations. SEC. 25. Separability Clause. – If any part, section or provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. SEC. 26. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. SEC. 27. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation. Approved, fn: RH Substitute Bill 26-May-08 1:27PM IBM/Mydocs/Substitute Bill MISCONCEPTIONS... P. 7 test to examine samples from each batch of condoms for leakage. If the test detects a defect rate of more than 4 per 1,000, the entire lot is discarded. The agency also encourages manufacturers to test samples of their products for breakage by using an air burst test in accordance with specifications of the International Standards Organization.’ [Mike Kubic, New Ways to Prevent and Treat AIDS, in FDA Consumer, Jan-Feb 1997 (revised May 1997 and Jan 1998; available at http://www.fda.gov/fdac/ features/1997/197_aids.html).] “If four leaking condoms are allowed in every batch of 1,000, there could be hundreds of thousands or even millions of leaking condoms circulating all over the world, either sold or distributed for free, and most probably contributing to the spread of HIV/AIDS and STD’s. Does the public know this? Does the public know that the risks increase the more often and the more promiscuously one is exposed, considering the cumulative risk factor, as explained earlier?” [from Family Values Versus Safe Sex. A Reflection by His Eminence, Alfonso Cardinal López Trujillo (then President of the Pontifical Council for the Family), December 1, 2003. Note that the first paragraph above came from the US Food and Drug Administration website.] M: Condoms are effective in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS in a country. C: “In Thailand and in the Philippines, the first HIV/AIDS cases were reported in 1984; by 1987, Thailand had 112 cases, while the Philippines had more, with 135 cases. Today, in the year 2003, there are around 750,000 cases in Thailand, where the 100% Condom Use Program had relatively great success. On the other hand, there are only 1,935 cases in the Philippines - and this, considering that the Philippines’ population is Condoms have high failure rate even against pregnancy and thus do not guarantee protection against AIDS and other STD’s. Tubal ligation and vasectomy (especially targeting the poor) leave couples without the chance to have more children (for example, in case of improved economic situation, or death of their present children) and little or no support in their old age. Hence, it is the right of the citizens to be forewarned of these, even in the form of government warnings, as in the case of cigarette smoking (“is dangerous for your health”), alcohol (“drink moderately”), and infant milk formulae (“mother’s milk is best for babies under two years old”)—not out of religious concerns, but as part of consumers’ rights. Possible warnings could state: “CONDOMS DO NOT GUARANTEE PROTECTION FROM AIDS AND OTHER STD’S”, “PILLS HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO CAUSE CANCER AND ABORTION OF 5DAY OLD BABIES,” and, “IUD’S MAY CAUSE TRAUMA OF THE UTERUS AND ABORTION OF 5-DAY OLD BABIES,” etc. (For the medical data on these dangerous drugs and devices, see also John Wilks, A Consumer’s Guide to the Pill and Other Drugs, 3 rd Ed., National Bookstore, Inc., Manila 2000.) Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II, in denouncing systematic antichildbearing campaigns, described poisoning the lives of defenseless human beings as similar to a form of “chemical warfare” (Paul VI, Address to the participants of the World Food Conference, Nov. 4, 1974. Pope John Paul II, Centessimus Annus, no. 39). M: Condoms have no holes. They provide truly safe sex, as advertised. C: “‘Condom manufacturers in the United States electronically test all condoms for holes and weak spots. In addition, FDA requires manufacturers to use a water XMISCONCEPTIONS... P. 10 Ulat 10 Batangan (IN)FORMATION tinubos nila siya sa pag-aalay ng batu-bato – ang alay ng mahirap, ang alay ng aba sa lipunang Judio. Si Maria ay Ina ng Mahirap na Anak ng Diyos Totoong kahanga-hanga na si Maria, ang ordinaryong dalaga ng Nazareth, ay siyang pinili ng Diyos upang maging Ina ni Jesus, Anak ng Diyos subalit naging mahirap. Si Jesus na dinala sa sinapupunan ni Maria ay Diyos na iniwan ang Kanyang kaluwalhatian at inangkin ang abang kalikasan ng tao. Isinilang sa Bethlehem at inihiga sa isang sabsaban. Siya ay lumaking anak ni Jose, ang karpintero ng Nazareth. Siya ang sinugo upang magpahayag ng paghahari ng Diyos sa buong sambahayan ng Israel, kaya’t siya ay nabuhay na pagala-gala at ayon na rin sa Kanya “wala man lang mahiligan ng kanyang ulo.” Siya ang Anak ni Maria – dakila sa Kanyang mga pangaral at himala subalit nabuhay na dukha at namatay na walang dangal sa pagkapako sa krus. Si Maria, Ina ng mga Mahihirap Kung minahal at kinalinga ni Maria si Jesus na kanyang ‘mahirap’ na Anak, natatangi rin para kay Maria ang mga mahihirap, noon at ngayon, sa mundong ito. Kapuna-puna na ang mga kinaharap ni Maria sa kanyang mga kinikilalang pagpapakita o apparition ay ang mga taong payak at mahirap sa buhay. Ang kanyang maka-inang pagkalinga sa mga mahihirap ay ipinakita na niya noon pa man sa Cana ng Galilea – sa isang kasalan ng marahil ay mahirap ding magnobyo at nobya sapagkat di nga sagana ang kanilang handa. Sa kanyang matalas na pakiramdam sa pangangailangan ng iba ay napansin niya ang nalalapit na pagkaubos ng alak at siya na ang lumapit kay Jesus upang sabihin: “Wala silang alak.” At naging dahilan ito ng unang himala ni Jesus para sa nangangailangang tao. Si Maria at ang Pondong Batangan Sa mga naunang pagpapahayag hindi malayo bagkus ay marapat lamang na sabihing tiyak na malapit din sa puso ni Maria ang Pondong Batangan. Wala ngang Pondong Batangan sa panahon ni Maria at Jesus subalit maliwanag na ang buhay ni Maria at Jesus ang siyang nagbibigay kahulugan at kabanalan sa Pondong Batangan. Kung hindi gayun, ang Pondong Batangan ay katulad na rin lamang ng maraming panawagan na magbigay sa mga mahirap at nangangailangan. Marami na ngayong pamanhikan at advocacy para sa pagbibigay upang makatulong sa iba’t ibang pangangailangan o layunin. Ang kultura ng makataong pagbibigay o philanthropy ay pinagsisikapang pairalin ngayon dala ng laganap na kahirapan at maraming panganganilangan ng tao na dapat tugunan. Maging ang sugal tulad ng sweepstakes, lotto at STL ay ginamit na rin upang hikayatin ang Pilipino upang makatulong sa mga mahirap at maysakit. Subalit sa Kristiano at mamamayang Batangueño dapat ay malinaw na si Maria ay inspirasyon upang mabuhay na may damdaming maka-mahirap, pusong mapagbigay para sa nangangailangan at kamay na may kahandaan tumulong upang maiangat ang antas ng buhay ng kanyang kababayan. Ang mapagligtas na pag-ibig ni Jesus at ang maka-inang pagkalinga ni Maria ay sapat-sapat na dahilan upang ang bawat Batangueño ay mag-Pondong Batangan. #UB The volume of Filipinos going abroad has never stopped accelerating over the past five years. Batanguenos continue to leave the country looking for greener pastures to live a better life as individuals and families. More and more students prefer to take courses that will help them land jobs abroad than here in our country. Sad to say, most of the time they are only focused in the financial rewards rather than the development of essential values of our great Christian and Filipino traditions. Much had been said regarding the tremendous effects of migration in the family, society and economy. Less had been mentioned regarding the missionary dimension of migration. From Archbishop Ramon C. Arguelles, D.D., migrants develop a new direction apart from just working and earning abroad for themselves and their families. They become the new missionaries of the new generation. Migrant Filipinos are filling the churches and they are taking the reins of the parish leaderships abroad wherever they are. Indirectly, while bringing with them their Catholic faith, they carry with them the story of Jesus to their working area. Their Catholic culture and traditions come indirectly in the way they relate with people and how they do their work. Directly, they actively participate in many different church activities and mandated organizations involved in different apostolate and ministries. Here, they do missionary work. Of course the role of the missionaries, remain to be the vital aspect of the church mission of bringing the Good News to the rest of the world, to people and nations who are not yet evangelized. But with limited vocations to mission, the Filipino migrants are going around the world bringing their faith and gospel values as part of the missionary spirit of the church. Their training begins in their home and in their parishes and schools they came from. They learn the basic tenets of faith; and when properly guided and formed in the schools and in the parishes, they become a very important resource of mission in the church today. It is ironic that now after being evangelized by the west more than four centuries ago, our Filipino migrants are going back there bringing the good news and their faith experiences to the same people who brought faith to us. It is then urgent and important that the church, with the leadership of priests and religious, initiate further education, training and formation of our lay people especially those planning to work and/ or live abroad. As such, they are being prepared to do mission. They will form a great aspect of the Church evangelization and mission program. More and more people, more and more Filipinos and more and more Batanguenos will spearhead in telling the Story of Jesus and sharing their Catholic faith all around the world. Let us take care and guide our Batangueno migrants and their families. When we do that, we prepare them for mission and we take part in the missionary life of the Church even if we are here in our Archdiocese of Lipa. #UB Pills and IUD’s make the womb’s lining unhabitable for the new baby. ; hence, in case they fail in their contraceptive actions, the five-day old baby will be unable to attach to his or her mother’s womb. This has to be called “abortion,” for the five-day old baby dies in the process, and such action of pills and IUD’s is called “abortifacient.” M: Natural methods are not effective C: The modern natural methods (e.g., Billings, Sympto-Thermal, Basal Body Temperature) can be more effective than contraceptives, if they are learned and practiced as a way of life and not as “natural contraceptives.” Hence, communication, love, respect, selfdiscipline, and formation in the values are necessary for the natural methods to work—values that are not exclusively religious, but very human and natural as well, and values that are not necessary in the use of contraceptives. The obsolete calendar and the rhythm methods, and their modern repackagings, should not be taught (including by the DOH) because of their high failure rates. Withdrawal is not a natural method, and has extremely high failure rates. It is sad that many doctors (including Ob-Gyn’s) are not even familiar with many of the facts regarding benefits of the natural methods and the medical ills of contraceptives. M: The Catholic Church teaches that in each sexual act, the couple should aim for a new child. C: No. Rather, the Catholic Church teaches no action, whether before, during or after the sexual act, should close the possibility of new life or kill the new life that arises. Hence, in the woman’s infertile periods, or if one of the spouses is sterile, the couple may still perform the sexual act since they do not do anything to prevent the possibility of, or kill, new life. M: The Reproductive Health bill does not promote or pave the way to abortion, since it even states that abortion remains illegal in the Philippines. C: The bill does not legalize surgical abortion, but it does PROMOTE all types of abortion, and DOES LEGALIZE abortion of 5-day old babies. SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. h. Reproductive Health Education – is the process of acquiring complete, accurate and relevant information on all matters relating to the reproductive system, its functions and processes and human sexuality; and forming attitudes and beliefs about sex, sexual identity, interpersonal relationships, affection, intimacy and gender roles. It also includes developing the necessary skills to be able to distinguish between facts and myths on sex and sexuality; and critically evaluate and discuss the moral, religious, social and cultural dimensions of related sensitive issues such as contraception and abortion. To “critically evaluate and discuss the moral, religious, social and cultural dimensions of related sensitive issues such as contraception and abortion” paves the way to abortion because it will present abortion as a hypothetical (hypothetical as of now in the Philippines, while practical in other countries) solution to an unplanned pregnancy. The next step will be to push for safe and legal abortion. This reflects the mentality presented in some sex education modules, which could very well go this way: “Ang pagkontrol sa kakayahang maganak ay isang karapatang makabago para sa kababaihan... May dalawang uri ng batas na nagkakaroon ng impluwensiya sa gawaing ito. Ang una ay may kinalaman sa paggamit ng kontraseptibo, kusang-loob na pag-papaopera upang hindi magkaanak at paglalaglag ng sanggol. Ang ilegal na paglalaglag ng sanggol ay ipinagbabawal ng batas sapagkat hindi makabubuti sa kalusugan ng ina. Ang pangalawa ay nagbibigay ng karapatan sa kababaihan sa pagpaplano ng pamilya.” Note than in such a formulation, illegal abortion is considered wrong because it is bad for the woman’s health. The child being killed is insignificant. The solution insinuated is to legalize abortion so that it could become “safe”—safe for the mother (they claim, though abortion is always traumatic for her), but not for the baby. Some candidly say that if legislators and teachers insist on asking their student to discuss the pros and cons of abortion, then parents should also insist on discussing the pros and cons of killing legislators and teachers (for example, if they are inefficient, involved in graft and corruption, etc.). M: The Reproductive Health bill does not promote sexual promiscuity. C: SEC. 4. Definition of Terms c. Reproductive Health – the state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes. This implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life, that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do Si Maria, ang Mahirap at ang Pondong Batangan Ginanap nitong nagdaang September 19 at 20, 2008 ang Archdiocesan Marian Congress kaugnay ng ikalawang taon ng paghahanda sa pagdiriwang ng centenario ng Arsidiyosesis ng Lipa. Ang taong ito ay kinilalang Taon ni Maria, Esposa ng Espiritu Santo. Binuksan ang taong ito sa maringal na pagdiriwang na ginanap sa Basilica ni San Martin ng Tours, Taal, Batangas noong Abril 10, 2008. Nagkaroon ng mga panayam at kaganapan – may mga panayam at mga pagbabahagi ng mga obispo, pari at layko. Makatawag pansin ang pahayag ni Bishop Teodoro Bacani nang sabihin niyang katangi-tangi ang Marian Congress na ito sapagkat ito lamang sa abot ng kanyang nalalaman ang nagbigay ng paksa: “Si Maria, Ina ng Mahirap.” Si Maria ay Mahirap Si Maria ay taga-Nazaret, isang maliit na bayan ng mga pangkaraniwang Judio. Sabi pa nga ni Natanael, noong hikayatin siya ni Felipe na kilalanin si Jesus: “May mabuti bang puwedeng manggaling sa Nazareth?” (Juan 1:46). Walang kilalang tao sa kasaysayan ng mga Judio na tubong Nazareth. Si Maria ay isa lamang sa mga ordinaryong Judio na nanirahan sa Nazareth. Ang kanyang pagiging mahirap, kasama na rin si Jose, ay lumutang pa noong dumating ang takdang panahon na dinala ang sanggol na si Jesus upang ialay sa Diyos bunga ng kanyang pagiging panganay na anak. Sinasabi sa Banal na Kasulatan (Lukas 2:2224) na sa pagsunod sa batas MISCONCEPTIONS... P. 9 around 30% greater than Thailand’s! Relatively low rates of condom use by the people in general, and staunch opposition from the Church and a good number of government leaders against the condom program and sexual promiscuity, are wellknown facts in the Philippines.” [from Cardinal Alfonso López Trujillo (then President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, Vatican), Family Values Versus Safe Sex, December 1, 2003. The quoted text cites the following references: Rene Josef Bullecer (Director of AIDS-Free Philippines), Telling the Truth: AIDS Rates for Thailand and the Philippines; Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, Pastoral Letter on AIDS: In the Compassion of Jesus, January 23, 1993; and Jaime L. Cardinal Sin, Pastoral Letter on Subtle Attacks against Family and Life, July 9, 2001.] M: The Catholic Church teaches that contraceptives, including condoms, cause abortion. C: Abortion is the termination (killing) of life, not simply of pregnancy. Life begins at conception when the sperm and the egg meet. Killing the new life at any moment after this, and before it is born, is considered abortion. The new life develops as it goes down the fallopian tube, and implants onto the mother’s womb when the tiny baby is around five days old. Condoms do not directly cause abortion because they prevent conception—if there is no conception, there is nothing to kill in the first place. But they can lead to abortion if, because of high condom failure a woman gets pregnant, she decides to kill the baby in her womb. SEPTEMBER 2008 MIGRANTS IN MISSION so, provided that these are not against the law. The law will guarantee children and teenagers (since they are “people”) the right to have a satisfying and safe sex life with anyone, and to decide if, when and how often to reproduce. Hence children have the right to have information and access to contraceptives, and to learn all possible options in case they get pregnant—including abortion, which “unfortunately” (as they will be made to feel), is still illegal. Parents who object to this “right” act against the law, a law which of course goes against the parents’ inherent right to educate their children. M: The Reproductive Health bill will strengthen parental rights in forming and educating their children. C: SEC. 3. Guiding Principles. L. Respect for, protection and fulfillment of reproductive health rights seek to promote not only the rights and welfare of adult individuals and couples but those of adolescents’ and children’s as well... SEC. 4. Definition of Terms d. Reproductive Health Rights – the rights of individuals and couples to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children; to make other decisions concerning reproduction free of discrimination, coercion and violence; to have the information and means to carry out their decisions; and to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health. In the Bill, children and adolescents have the right to have a “satisfying and safe sex life,” and “to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children.” In such a case parents (and teachers, public authorities, priests, etc.) who XMISCONCEPTIONS... P. 11 SEPTEMBER 2008 (IN)FORMATION " Tadeo Dolor Medrano , Anakiko ‘ 67-72 Most dioceses all over the Philippines consider September as the “Vocation Month” . Many events to promote “vocation” are being celebrated during this month. I guess the same holds true to our Archdiocese of Lipa. If I am not mistaken, there were activities last year for vocation promotions headed by Fr. Toter Resuello, to name a few - visited various schools in the different parishes, conducted “Life Direction Seminars” which were attended by college students and young professionals, organized sportsfest for the members of the Knights of the Altar. I wonder how ANAKIKOS can help in this vocation campaign. Every year, Anakiko-silver jubilarians hold fund-raising activities to raise money and help our beloved ALMA MATER. If I may suggest, maybe, Anakiko MISCONCEPTIONS... P. 10 do not want children to have sex with classmates will be going against the children’s rights, and hence they can be considered as “coercing” the children to stay away from sex. Earlier bills have even proposed fines and/or imprisonment for similar acts; this is indicative of their real intentions. In some countries, school clinics are prohibited from informing parents if their child seeks or has undergone abortion, whereas they are required to do so for treatment of a minor wound. Reproductive health rights will therefore weaken parental authority and rights over the upbringing of their children. Children are brainwashed into this promiscuous, antiparent, and anti-authority mentality through Value-free sex education modules. M: The Reproductive Health bill is an original idea of Filipino Congressmen. C: Reproductive Health bills are pushed by the PLCPD (Philippine Legislators’ Committee for Population and Development), a foreign funded NGO with offices questionably located in Congress, precisely where our laws are made. This is in complete violation of our national sovereignty and our profamily and pro-life Constitution. PLCPD has access to formidable financial Batch 84 and thereafter can at least plan/fulfill a project related to vocation campaign, not just by contributing cash.. After all, our ultimate goal is to invite potential recruits with vocation to study and be part of SFS Minor Seminary. We can hold a PBA basketball game featuring Ginebra team vs. any other PBA team (even outside September month) here in Batangas province; then during halftime, we can announce to the watching/viewing public the real purpose of sponsoring such game, that is, BE AN ANAKIKO. Or we can sponsor a concert featuring both KAPAMILYA and KAPUSO celebrities or homegrown talents. Each song they render should be accompanied by a “vocation campaign” message. That’s right, make use of Mass Media, identify ways of how to use its various forms and identify our target resources (including the P2 billion budget this year), and is backed by a powerful conglomerate of NGO’s (see A Manifesto of Filipino Families on July 25, 2008). M : The Reproductive Health bill promotes health. C: “We would rather call them the ‘reproductive death’ bills. They are totally silent on the aforementioned ills which will bring DEATH not only to the body, but to the person, family and society as well: D-ivorce E-uthanasia A-bortion Tyrannical population control Homosexual unions” (A Manifesto of Filipino Families on July 25, 2008). M: Filipino families cannot do anything to stop the Reproductive Death bills. C: “A Call to Defend the Filipino Family against the Reproductive ‘Health’ Bills We call on all Filipino Families to defend ourselves by defending life. We have so far succeeded in foiling many of the attempts of our lawmakers to enact reproductive health statutes. We believe they are being enticed by monetary and other compensations, but we hope that they will see the grim reality behind reproductive ‘health’. But now could be our last chance. Many countries have fallen into the subtle and the blatant attacks against their families. It is time to organize ourselves better and pressure our leaders to come up with pro-family and pro-life legislation audience not only for vocation promotion but for raising the level of spirituality of the Christian community. As a saying goes “Communication can persuade; it can move people and it can change their behavior and the way they feel about things. If people respond to communications of products and causes, then all the more we should use it for vocation promotion” . Also, vocation month is a special time for us to remember all brother priests, deacons and the consecrated persons with joy and thanksgiving. Mabuhay ang mga PARI! May their tribe increase!!!! TIDBITS There is a suggestion that come ANAKIKO Reunion/ Homecoming, we elect/choose “Mr. ANAKIKO 2008”. *** Happy Birthday to the longest serving RECTOR in the history of SFS Minor Seminary, Fr. Totit Mandanas!!!! So far, I consider him the most famous ANAKIKO of all time. Everybody (from Batch 60s to the youngest Anakikos belonging to batch 2007) knows him, adulate and have high regard for him. #UB and programs. We call on all men and women of good will, of all creeds, social standing, and political affiliations, to further promote the family. Let us patronize family-safe establishments, and complain to our civil authorities against those offering drugs, gambling, pornography and prostitution, especially those surrounding our homes and our children’s schools. Let us boycott products and services that degrade sex and women in their advertisements. Let us review the textbooks used by our children for promiscuous and anti-parental content. Let us make the TV stations know that we want wholesome family entertainment. Recovering the Family’s True Nature. We hope that in the end, children may see their parents as role models of family warmth and citizenship, and that parents and grandparents may experience the appreciation and respect of their children whom they have truly loved and guided. Humanae Vitae prophetically warned that we could lose our values if we go against God’s design on the responsible transmission of life within the family. May the Filipino Family, which is the sanctuary of life and love, rediscover and reclaim the peace and joy that rightly belong to us.” (A Manifesto of Filipino Families on July 25, 2008). Teresing, Humarap sa mga Pari! Bakas ang kahinahunan at kababaang-loob, humarap sa kaparian sa kanilang buwanang pagtitipon ang sinasabing pinagpakitaan ng Mahal na Birhen sa monasteryo ng Karmelo sa Lipa noong 1948. Sa imbitasyon ng Commission on Clergy, at kaugnay pa rin ng ipinagdiriwang na Taon ni Maria, ibinahagi ni Teresing Castillo ang kanyang naging karanasan sa pakikipagtagpo sa Mahal na Birhen, na hanggang ngayon ay sinasabi niyang tutoong nagpakita sa kanya sa Karmelo ng Lipa. Matapos mailahad ang kanyang kuwento, nagkaroon ng malayang talakayan kung saan sinagot niya ang mga katanungan ng mga pari. Inamin niya na siya ay na-intimidate ng bahagya ng mga nagsiyasat sa kanya. “Pero hindi ako naghihinanakit dahil alam kong tungkulin nila ang maging devil’s advocate, at alam ko namang tutoo ang aking sinasabi,” phayag niya. Sa katangunan kung bakit siya ay nanahimik at kung sino ang nagpatahimik sa kanya ng mahabang panahon, magalang na tumugon siyang di niya masasagot ang nasabing katanungan. Maalaala na ang dating postulant ng Karmelo ng Lipa ay suma-ilalim ng mahigpit na pagsisiyasat sa mga pinuno ng simbahan sa bansa. Ayon sa kanya, ang kanyang kalusugan ang naging dahilan din ng kanyang pag-alis sa kumbento at hindi kung ano pa mang kaugnay ng naging pagsisiyasat sa nasabing pagpapakita ng Mahal na Birhen sa kanya. Noong pinahintulutan ng yumaong Arsobispo Mariano Gaviola ang pampublikong benerasyon ng imahe ng Mahal na Ina Tagapamagitan ng Lahat ng Biyaya, naging maingat pa rin siya umano sa kanyagn mga pagsasalita. Sa kasalukuyan, ang “counseling” ang isa sa mga pinagkakaabalahan ni Teresing. Masasabi ring “fixture” siya sa mga pagtitipon na may kinalaman sa pagpapalaganap ng debosyon kay Maria Tagapamagitan ng Lahat ng Biyaya. #UB Ulat Batangan 11 # Rev. Fr. Gerard Jonas R. Palmares Laity Week: 21 September – 1 October 2008 This year’s theme: The Laity: Primary Agents of Change, Towards Honesty and Integrity for Good Governance (“Ang Layko: Pangunahing Tauhan para sa Pagbabago tungo sa Katapatan, Integridad at Malinis na Pamamahala” ***** ILM Renewal - 27 September As our Instituted Lay Ministers once again renew their commitment to serve at the Altar, let us pray that they be more and more inspired by Mary in serving Christ the High Priest in our community liturgical celebrations. ***** Death Anniversary, Most Rev. Mariano G. Gaviola - 13 October On this day we remember the 10th anniversary of the passing away of our dearly beloved former Archbishop. Please include him in your prayers. World Mission Sunday – 19 October Pope Benedict XVI reminds us that “St. Paul’s experience shows that missionary activity is a response to the love with which God loves us” (from the World Mission Sunday 2008 Message). Also on this day, the pious parents of St. Thérése of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, Louis and Zelie Martin, shall be beatified at Lisieux. This is the last step before their canonization as saints. They were declared “Venerable” in 1994 by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II. Jubilee Watch… ***** 2008 Archdiocesan YEAR with MARY, SPOUSE of the HOLY SPIRIT Month of October - Rosary Month - Visit of Our Lady of Caysasay to Vicariate III Saturday, 25 October - Archdiocesan Rosary Rally : Batangas City ***** Welcome to the Archdiocese of Lipa! We welcome the latest addition to our growing number of religious congregations in the Archdiocese: - Companions of the Cross (CC) Three priests from this religious congregation in Canada have come here to establish a local Mission house and help in evangelization and the apostolate for the poor, and prayers for healing. The Vicar to the Moderator, Rev. Fr. Charles Orchard, CC, came with Rev. Fr. Jeffrey Shannon, CC, and the Batangueño ‘healing priest’ Rev. Fr. Fernando Suarez, CC. - Missionaries of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (MPS) The Mexican congregation came here to establish a Juniorate formation house for their religious community. Sr. Evelyn Bacsan, MPS, Sr. Lenyu Bravante, MPS, and Sr. Sherryl Rivera, MPS, have settled in a house at Adelina Homes, near Canossa Academy in Lipa City. New Assignments ***** Rev. Fr. Roy Reyes – now the Pastor of the Parish of St. Roch, Tingloy. He was formerly a Parochial Vicar at the Immaculate Conception Parish, Balayan; Rev. Fr. Clarence Patag – now the fulltime Director of the Lipa Archdiocesan Social Action Commission (LASAC). He was formerly the Pastor of the Parish of St. Roch, Tingloy. Kudos! ***** More power to our four Congressional Representatives who concur with our Batangueño Pro-Life stand by not co-sponsoring and expressly stating that they do not intend to vote for the Reproductive Health Bill at the House of Representatives: Hon. Eileen Ermita-Buhain, District 1; Hon. Hermilando I. Mandanas, District 2; Hon. Victoria Hernandez-Reyes, District 3; and Hon. Mark Llandro Mendoza, District 4. God bless you! Ulat 12 Batangan NEWS IN PHOTO SEPTEMBER 2008 Ang paglalakbay ng Mahal na Birhen ng Caysasay ay nakaabot maging sa Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Malate, Manila sa pamamagitan ng Kapisanan ni San Francisco de Sales (KSFS). Ang pagdalaw na ito ng Mahal na Ina para sa taong ito ay kaalinsabay ng ika-25 Taon ng Pagkakaluklok/Pagkakatatag ng Blessed Sacrament Chapel sa BSP. Piangunahan ng Arsobispo ng Maynila, Gaudencio Cardinal B. Rosales ang Banal na Misa kasama sina Fr. Angel Pastor, Fr. Junie Maralit at Fr. Roy Macatangay mula sa SFSTS; Fr. Dong Rosales mula sa IF-SFSMaS; Reb. Bobot Hernandez mula sa SFSMiS at Fr. Raul Martinez, KSFS Board Member. #UB (Emma D. Bauan) Pinangunahan ng Kgg. Obispo Salvador Quizon ang delegasyon ng Arsidiyosesis ng Lipa sa taunang pagdalaw sa puntod ng yumaong Obispo Alfredo Obviar sa Tayabas, Quezon noong ika-28 ng Agosto. Photos by: Fr. Eric Arada Mga larawang kuha sa paglulunsad ng ika-apat na aklat ni Msgr. Leandro Castro, Bikaryo Heneral ng Lucena at Rektor ng Katedral ng Lucena, kasama ang mga Paring-Lipa - Fr. Nonie Dolor, Fr. Angel Pastor, Fr. Oca Andal, Fr. Toter Resuello at Fr. Manny Lucero. Kasama rin sa larawan ang Obispo ng Boac, Obispo Rey Evangelista. #UB Photo by: Fr. Nonie D. BALANGA CLERGY VISITS LIPA. Bishop Socrates Villegas of Balanga Diocese led his Clergy on their visit to the Archdiocese, which coincided with the Marian Congress. Archbishop Arguelles received them at the Congress site while Fr. Nonie showed them the St. Joseph Seniorate. It was learned that the Balanga Clergy took this occasion for their R&R activity. Tampok sa mga larawan ang mga panauhing tagapagsalita at tagapagbahagi sa katatapos na Archdiocesan Marian Congress. Ganon din ang partisipasyon ng mga kabataan sa nasabing Marian Congress. Photos by: Fr. Eric Arada On its 8th Year of Service! MABUTING BALITA (Mon – Sat; 5:30 – 6:00 am) MISA NG BAYAN (Sunday, 7:15 – 8:15 am) HOLY ROSARY (Daily: 5:00 -5:30 am; 10:30 -11:00 pm) MAGNIFICAT/DE PROFUNDIS (Daily: 8:00 pm)
