Filipina in anti-Duterte rally among TIME’s most influential teens

COURAGE. Shibby de Guzman (with megaphone) and fellow St Scholastica’s College students at a protest rally against the hero’s burial for dictator Ferdinand Marcos and the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. Photo from the Benildean.

Shibby de Guzman of St Scholastica’s College joins an eminent list of global teen influencers

Kimiko Sy  Published 11:39 AM, November 03, 2017   Updated 2:01 PM, November 03, 2017

MANILA, Philippines – Fourteen-year-old Shibby de Guzman, who drew both praise and online attacks for joining a protest rally against the hero’s burial for dictator Ferdinand Marcos, has been included in TIME’s list of “30 Most Influential Teens of 2017.”

De Guzman gained a spot in the TIME list for bravely speaking out against President Rodrigo Duterte during a protest with fellow students at St Scholastica’s College on the hero’s burial for Marcos.

A picture of De Guzman holding a megaphone and with a message strung around her neck, saying, “Lahat tayo posibleng drug pusher (We are all possible drug pushers) – a criticism of the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs – went viral. De Guzman and her classmates wore cardboard signs pertaining to the mostly poor victims of drug-related killings.
Administration supporters slammed the participation of students at the protest rally as “so wrong” and even called out their school for “child abuse” and for “forcing” the students to rally, which SSC, the parents, and students denied.

In its piece on De Guzman, TIME’s Joseph Hincks noted that in the Philippines, “it’s a risky move to speak out against Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte,” considering what happened to his critics, including detained Senator Leila de Lima.

“None of this has deterred de Guzman, who shot to prominence after she was photographed protesting the lionization of late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos,” Hincks wrote.

De Guzman did not let the criticism stop her, and stood her ground. “Please do not underestimate the youth. We completely know and understand the injustice we are protesting against,” she replied to one of the attacks against the young student-protesters.

In an interview with Rappler on Friday, November 3, De Guzman said that she only “used the tools and opportunities given to her to speak especially for people who can’t.”

Moving forward, she encouraged the youth to take action and never give up the good fight until their voices are heard and their words are put into action.

“I can light the match but only they can start the fire. It’s easy to be passionate about your country but I believe what’s important are the ideas that come from the youth. It’s important that we are passionate, creatively innovative and that we strive for something better because we are the future,” she said.

She also shared that she’s ecstatic to be on the same list as one of her favorite stars, Millie Bobby Brown of hit TV series “Stranger Things.”

Another Filipino who made it to the list is Brentman Rock, a Filipino beauty vlogger based in Hawaii.

TIME said that in deciding on the list it considered “accolades across numerous fields, global impact through social media and overall ability to drive news.” – Rappler.com

Message for the Sikh Feast of Guru Nanak Parkash Diwas

PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE

Dear Sikh Friends,

From the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, with great joy, we offer our most auspicious festal greetings to you on the occasion of Guru Nanak Prakash Diwas, celebrated this year on the 4th of November. May all your celebrations marking this holy feast strengthen the spirit of belonging and the bond of unity in your families and communities and thereby enhance peace and happiness among you.

This year our cherished practice of sharing with you a few thoughts on this occasion focuses on how we, both Christians and Sikhs can promote education towards universal fraternity. This theme, while assuming great relevance and significance in the present day global context of disturbingly growing apathy, indifference, intolerance, hatred and violence, also calls for making greater efforts on our part towards promotion of universal fraternity.

More than ever now it is being felt across the globe that universal fraternity as the foundational principle, upon which the edifice of life of humans as individuals and communities must be raised, needs new expressions. Because we are all related to one another as children of God, ensuring education about universal relationality of humans and our responsibility towards one another, as well as, the cosmos, acquires a great importance for our times in order to advance the wellbeing and care of all persons. Echoing this need, Pope Francis unequivocally pointed out that “The common home of all men and women must continue to rise on the foundations of a right understanding of universal fraternity and respect for the sacredness of every human life, of every man and every woman, ….(and) of created nature” (Address to the UN General Assembly, 25 Sept. 2015).

But unfortunately, ignorance and bias, greed and selfishness of some continue to create a situation where the ‘other’ tends to be treated as an inferior, a nonperson, or someone to be feared or even eliminated. These destabilise, damage and destroy the bonds of fraternity and fellowship.

Promotion of education towards universal fraternity, therefore, requires a prime focus, a renewed fervour and a new expression in shaping mind-sets and educating persons at all levels, starting with the family, the “wellspring of all fraternity” (Pope Francis, Message for the World Day of Peace, 2014). It is in

“the family that children, led by the example of their parents and other elders begin first to learn to respect, love and care for others; to accept the differences; to be sympathetic towards the less fortunate and to love and care for nature. Educational institutions, religious teachings, the media, Governmental and non-Governmental agencies too have a prominent role to play in inculcating this value among the masses. Interreligious dialogue and action, of course, play a pivotal role in generating peace, harmony and fraternity among people of diverse religious traditions.”

As believers grounded in our own respective religious traditions and as persons with shared belief that the Fatherhood of God is the foundation of fraternity amongst us, may we, Christians and Sikhs, together with other believers and people of good will, rediscovering our connectedness with and responsibility towards one another and nature, promote, individually and collectively, education towards universal fraternity. Education towards universal fraternity, according to Pope Francis, is nothing but education for peace itself in the complimentarity of diverse sensitivities and of proper roles (cf. Address to Participants in the Plenary Session of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, 9 June, 2017).

Wish you all, once again, a happy Prakash Diwas of Guru Nanak Dev Ji!

Join the Project Pagbangon 4th Typhoon Yolanda Commemoration

Greetings of Peace.
We are inviting you to come and join the Project Pagbangon 4th Typhoon Yolanda Commemoration on November 8-9 (Wednesday Thursday) at the Ali Mall Activity Area, Araneta Center, Cubao in Quezon City.
PMPI-Project Pagbangon will set-up an exhibit panels featuring our partner organizations’ post-disaster  and development initiatives and rehabilitation programs during the 3-year implementation of the project. Local products from Manicani and Homonhon Islands in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, developed thru PMPI-Project Pagbangon will be on sale.
There will be a series of lectures from TAO-Pilipinas Inc., Community Organizers Multiversity (COM), SIKAT, Medical Action Group (MAG), INAM, Inc., and SIBAT. ECOJIM National Coordinator Fr. Dexter Toledo OFM will also join to discuss the encyclical letter of Pope Francis, Laudato si’.
LAPIS.PH, Talahib and Pordalab will also be present to give us an acoustic sessions.
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
PMPI

Looking Back at the 500 years of Reformation: Challenges for Harmony and Unity

Invitation to An Ecumenical Gathering

October 2, 2017

Dear Brothers and Sisters;

We are happy to inform you that the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Interreligious Dialogue, National Council of Churches of the Philippines, Institute of Spirituality in Asia, Religions for Peace, Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) in cooperation with the University of Santo Tomas, will hold an ecumenical gathering with the theme “Looking Back at the 500 years of Reformation: Challenges for Harmony and Unity”. It will be held on November 7, 2017, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Grand Ballroom, 2/F Paredes Bldg., University of Santo Tomas.

In view of this, may we invite members of your community to participate in this forum? Attendance costs PhP 300.00 which covers 2 snacks and lunch. Attached is the copy of the Program.

We will deeply appreciate if we can have your reservation on or before October 30, 2017.

Should you have clarifications regarding this activity, please contact us at Tel # 723-0449, Mobile # 09162547568. You may email us at spirit@isa.org.ph and carmen_alviar@yahoo.com.

In behalf of the different church leaders, we hope for your positive reply to our invitation. Thank you very much.

 

Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas 20th Biennial National Convention in Legazpi City

Thank you, Legazpi for hosting the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas  20th Biennial National Convention on October 27 – 29, 2017. 

         

President-elect Marita Wasan delivers her Expression of Gratitude.

Convention delegates GIVE for the Marawi victims. Multiplication of the bread.

Incoming Laiko officers take oath before Bishop Pabillo.

Incoming Laiko officers take oath before Bishop Pabillo.

Incoming Laiko officers take oath before Bishop Pabillo.

Incoming Laiko officers take oath before Bishop Pabillo.

Gina Lopez with convention delegates.

Delegates in Filipiniana finery.

Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers of Legazpi with Bishop Pabillo.

Laiko Chair Bishop Broderick Pabillo says “Thank You” to the Diocesan Council of the Laity in Legazpi through President “Atoy” Adornado.

Legazpi welcomes Ms. Gina Paz Lopez, Keynote Speaker.

Ratification of the Amendments to the Statutes of the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas. Delegates say “Aye!

Convention delegates preparing for the group picture.

Convention delegates preparing for the group photo.

Tarlac Bishop Enrique  Macaraeg with Laiko Board after the Eucharistic Celebration morning of October 28, 2017.

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Activities for 2018 Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons

Activities Throughout the Year 2018
2018 Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons
December 03, 2017 – November 25, 2018

 DECEMBER 2017

 December 03, 2017 

Ø     First Sunday of Advent
Start of the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons

·      Pastoral Letter to be read during the Sunday Masses (parish level)

·      Prayer for the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons before the Final Blessing during the Community Masses in parishes through-out the year

·      Special Intention for the Year to be inserted in the Prayers of the Faithful especially during Sunday Masses

·      Catechetical Information about the Year in all printed Liturgical Guides such as Missalettes nationwide

·      Possible Media Launching Activity

·      Start prominent display and use (printing/uploading) of Logo

·      Start teaching/singing/broadcasting/uploading of Theme Song 

December 04-07, 2017

Ø     Training Workshop for Vicars for Clergy and Members of Diocesan-Level Commission on Clergy  (Level II of the Vicars for Clergy Gathering meant to empower them and professionalize their roles in the Diocese for the good of the Clergy) :  First Stop – Western Visayas, Ecclesiastical Provinces of Jaro and Capiz 

December 16-24, 2017

Ø      Simbang Gabi 2017

·      Themes and suggested Homilies including the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons, Seminary Formation & Vocations 

Visit of Pilgrim Relic (Relic of the Saint’s Heart?) of Padre Pio to all the 16 Archdioceses of the Philippines throughout the Year 2018 :  (still to be scheduled and arranged with individual archdioceses) the year 2018 is the 100th Year of the Stigmata of Padre Pio and the 50th Year since his death in 1968.  Padre Pio is a model of parish priests when he was Parish Priest of San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy and he is also a consecrated person, a Franciscan Capuchin.  So Padre Pio or more accurately St Pio of Pietrelcina would be a good role model for the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons. 

JANUARY 2018 

January 15 – February 16, 2018

Ø     Course on Human Sexuality & Celibacy

·      John Mary Vianney-Galilee Development and Retreat Center for Priests
069 Bonifacio Drive, Brgy. Silang Crossing Tagaytay
Website: http://galileecenterphil.org
Mobile: (63) (917) 505-
(63) (933) 868-5477
Email: galilee.center2007@gmail.com  

January 22-26, 2018

Ø     National Conference on the New Ratio Fundamentalis and National Consultation on the Ratio Nationalis on Seminary Formation 

·      Venue:   IEC3 Convention Center in Cebu
Pope John Paul II Ave, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu

FEBRUARY 2018 

February 02, 2018

Ø     Feast of the Presentation of the Lord / World Day of Consecrated Life 

·      Diocesan-level celebrations and activities to be organized with the communities of the Religious and other Consecrated persons within the diocese 

February 05 — 11, 2018 

Ø     World Retreat for Priests

·      Shrine of St. John Baptiste Marie Vianney at Ars, in France on the occasion of the 200th Anniversary of the arrival of Saint John Mary Vianney to the Parish of Ars.

·      Those who are interested kindly visit http://clerus.org for more information and arrangement. 

February 19 – 23, 2018

Ø     Training Workshop for Vicars for Clergy and Members of Diocesan Commission on Clergy :  Second Stop – Ecclesiastical Province of Zamboanga 

February 19 – 23, 2018

Ø     Assessment Week 1

·      John Mary Vianney-Galilee Development and Retreat Center for Priests
069 Bonifacio Drive, Brgy. Silang Crossing Tagaytay
Website: http://galileecenterphil.org
Mobile: (63) (917) 505-
(63) (933) 868-5477
Email: galilee.center2007@gmail.com

MARCH 2018 

March 5 – 23, 2018

Ø     Return Workshops 1

·      John Mary Vianney-Galilee Development and Retreat Center for Priests
069 Bonifacio Drive, Brgy. Silang Crossing Tagaytay
Website: http://galileecenterphil.org
Mobile: (63) (917) 505-
(63) (933) 868-5477
Email: galilee.center2007@gmail.com

March 5 – 16, 2018

Ø     Best Wine Served Last: A 2 – Week Retreat-Seminar for Senior Clergy (Ages 65 and above)

·      St. Clements Retreat House

Lapaz, Iloilo City

Tel. (630 (033) 329-1332

Email: redemretreatministry@gmail.com

Or contact: Ms. Cynthia C. Baga, MS  

                    G.A.M.O.T. Resources, Inc. 

                    Mobile: (63) (917) 241-2114

                                  (63) (917) 620-9044

                    Email:  sofiaemmanuelle@yahoo.com

APRIL 2018 

April 02 – 6, 2018

Ø     Priests in Transition: Making Sense of Life’s Changes

·      Our Lady’s Hill Center for Spirituality and Retreat House

Brgy. Dulao, Bago City, 6100 Negros Occ.

Tel. (63) (034) 703-8834

Telefax: (63) (034) 710-0002

Or contact: Ms. Cynthia C. Baga, MS  

                    G.A.M.O.T. Resources, Inc. 

                    Mobile: (63) (917) 241-2114

                                  (63) (917) 620-9044

                    Email:  sofiaemmanuelle@yahoo.com                    

April 09 — 13, 2018 

Ø     National Gathering of the Vicars for Clergy of the Philippines and Members of the Diocesan-Level Commission on Clergy 

·      Final Venue will be announced later, most likely in Davao City

·      Check updates at: http://eccler.org

·      Email: eccleroffice@gmail.com or eccleroffice@yahoo.com

 April 09-13, 2018

Ø     National Convention for Vocations Directors

·      Theme: “Youth & Vocation Discernment”

Venue:  Ozamiz City

April 21-22, 2018 

Ø     Good Shepherd Sunday, Fourth Sunday in Easter. 

·      Vocation Jamboree with Overnight Vigil

Venue: To be held in the respective Arch/Dioceses (Regional or Diocesan)

April 23 – July 20, 2018  

Ø     Assisted Intensive Renewal (AIR-1) for Priests

·      John Mary Vianney-Galilee Development and Retreat Center for Priests
069 Bonifacio Drive, Brgy. Silang Crossing Tagaytay
Website: http://galileecenterphil.org
Mobile: (63) (917) 505-
(63) (933) 868-5477
Email: galilee.center2007@gmail.com

MAY 2018 

Ø  Ø  May 10 – 17, 2018 :  Orientation for New and Incoming Seminary Formators also in Baguio City 

JUNE 2018 

June 08, 2018

Ø     Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus / Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests. 

·      Parish or Diocesan level celebrations, Holy Hour, Prayer Vigils by the lay faithful, all towards the specific intention of the Sanctification of Priests. 

June 18 – July 20, 2018

Ø     Celebrating Midlife Promises: A 5 – Week Retreat-Seminar for Priests in their Midlife Years (Ages 35 – 65).

·      The Holy Family Retreat House

                  Nivel Hills, Cebu City, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu

Tel. (63) (032) 232 6564

Email: redemretreatministry@gmail.com

Or contact: Ms. Cynthia C. Baga, MS  

                    G.A.M.O.T. Resources, Inc. 

                    Mobile: (63) (917) 241-2114

                                  (63) (917) 620-9044

                    Email:  sofiaemmanuelle@yahoo.com 

JULY 2018 

July 2018         

Ø     Annual Retreat of the CBCP during the month of July 

·      Joint Retreat with Major Superiors of Men and Women Religious 

July 18 – 20, 2018 : Reunion of Previous Batches of Assisted Intensive Renewal (AIR) for Seminary Formators at the Assumption Sabbath Place, Baguio City

July 20-22, 2018 

Ø     Philippine Conference on the New Evangelization (PCNE 5)

·      University of Santo Tomas, España Street, Manila 

July 30 – August 3, 2018

Ø     Assessment Week 2

·      John Mary Vianney-Galilee Development and Retreat Center for Priests
069 Bonifacio Drive, Brgy. Silang Crossing Tagaytay
Website: http://galileecenterphil.org
Mobile: (63) (917) 505-
(63) (933) 868-5477
Email: galilee.center2007@gmail.com

AUGUST 2018 

August 05, 2018 

Ø     St. John Baptiste Marie Vianney Sunday  

·      In Churches, “Special collection on all Sunday Masses and the evening before is to be made” in all parishes “for the on-going formation of the clergy” (cf. Ordo 2017). 

August 6 -24, 2018

Ø     Return Workshops 2

·      John Mary Vianney-Galilee Development and Retreat Center for Priests
069 Bonifacio Drive, Brgy. Silang Crossing Tagaytay
Website: http://galileecenterphil.org
Mobile: (63) (917) 505-
(63) (933) 868-5477
Email: galilee.center2007@gmail.com

SEPTEMBER 2018 

September 01 – 30, 2018 (Tentative Dates)

Ø     ‘Sabbatical sa Vatican’

·      Pontificio Collegio Filipipino

Via Aurelia 490 – 00165 Rome – Italy

For more information please contact:

Fr. Gregory Ramon D. GASTON

                gdgnet@gmail.com

                +39-388-756-4552 (with Viber)

Or visit: http://www.pcfroma.org 

September 10 – December 07, 2018  

Ø     Assisted Intensive Renewal (AIR-2) for Priests

·      John Mary Vianney-Galilee Development and Retreat Center for Priests
069 Bonifacio Drive, Brgy. Silang Crossing Tagaytay
Website: http://galileecenterphil.org
Mobile: (63) (917) 505-
(63) (933) 868-5477
Email: galilee.center2007@gmail.com

OCTOBER 2018

NOVEMBER 2018

November 25, 2018

Ø     Solemnity of Christ, King of the Universe

·      Closing of the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons.

DOWNLOAD Official Logo:   

DOWNLOAD: Possible Events at Local Level