Category: Documents

Statement of the Department of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University
about the May 2022 Election

The upcoming May election is a critical moment in our history. Our precarious future will be determined by our choices for new leaders. In the meantime, social media is being bombarded by discordant voices vying for our support – from flowery promises of a more prosperous future to voices of steely confidence of discipline and integrity to the voices of those with no real platform or thought offered beyond superficial slogans for the good of the country. In our online classrooms and social media spaces, we hear the voices of the youth, awakened to the plight of various sectors of society, speaking up, clamoring, and working with hope for change.

Many are promising change, but what direction should we pursue and whose platforms should we support? While we uphold that no one is to be forced to act in a manner contrary to their conscience, we must seek the truth and make judgments according to it for “without trust and love for what is true, there is no social conscience and responsibility.” Conscience’s dignity is compromised when it shows little concern to seek what is true and good. To follow our conscience equally requires the obligation to form it, anchored in God’s vision of justice and inclusive love revealed in the Gospel.

Hence, we are called to reflect on the future we want for our generation, one that is a “strongly rooted, comfortable, and secure life….secure in the knowledge that we have enough for our daily needs and unexpected expenses, that we can plan and prepare for our and our children’s future” as described by NEDA. How committed are we to realize that dream? For the past six years, we have endured a government associated with rampant impunity and corruption, incompetent leadership, and the failure to deliver real change. It is now time to face the future with courage.

Hindi na sapat ang mangarap, kailangan nang magtaya.

Over and against power that forces us to forget, we have to remember the dangerous memories of the atrocities of Martial Law, and make hard choices, even at the risk of being misunderstood or judged. We have to act now even if others think our efforts may prove to be futile. Despite the price we have to pay, we continue to hope not only for ourselves but for everyone who believes that “another world is not only possible, she is on her way” (Arundhati Roy).

“What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?” For them, we envision a world where there is justice and social participation for all, commitment to the common good, and special care for the vulnerable and marginalized. Integral human development includes not only care for the human person but also for the Earth, our common home. We hope for leaders who will hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. We continue to hope in the promise already accomplished by Christ’s Resurrection that “God will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

The world we envision stands in contrast to the Philippines today. Many poor Filipinos have fallen victim to the war on drugs. The pandemic exposed the limits of populist campaign promises. Institutional gaps in our economic, social, and health care systems worsened an already dehumanizing poverty. Countless more have lost their security, their livelihood and their lives. Courageous voices of dissent are red-tagged. Women are ridiculed in public speeches. Our economic and political elites continue to prosper at the expense of our natural resources, our indigenous peoples, and our farmers and fisherfolk. We have seemed to have forgotten our vow to never again tolerate impunity and oppression.

The signs of the times call all of us to prophetically defend the truth, even at the risk of being labelled “divisive.” The call for “Unity” is empty at the expense of Gospel values. Authentic unity is grounded in truth, inclusive justice, and good governance. While there may be a myriad of voices calling out for change and more than one candidate and their platforms espouse the principles and vision of hope, we strongly endorse the candidacies of Leni Robredo and Kiko Pangilinan, which embody the ideals of exemplary leadership untainted by corruption and the needed competence to address society’s many social ills. A vote for the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem is not just a vote for viable candidates, but it is also a vote for the ultimate good of our nation. One such vote is a vote for candidates who espouse the Gospel and Filipino values. It is a vote against the return of the Marcos and Duterte Dynasties in power which destroyed much of the nation’s social fabric. It is a vote against those candidates who destroy the integrity of creation and the dignity and rights of peoples, distort the truth, and perpetuate unjust systems and structures that continue to beget the kinds of evil that continue to oppress the Filipino.

Kay Leni at Kiko tayo magtaya. Mangarap… magtaya para sa Pilipinas.

Pahayag ng Kagawaran ng Teyolohiya, Pamantasan ng Ateneo de Manila Tungkol sa Halalan 2022

Ang parating na halalan sa Mayo ay isang napakahalagang pagkakataon sa ating kasaysayan. Ang ating walang katiyakang kinabukasan ay pagpapasyahan ng ating pagpili sa mga bagong mamumuno. Samantala, ang social media ay pinuputakti ng salu-salungat na tinig na humihingi ng ating suporta – mula sa mga mabulaklak na pangako ng mas matiwasay na bukas, sa mga tinig ng di-matitinag na disiplina at integridad, hanggang sa mga boses ng mga walang tunay na plataporma o plano maliban sa mabababaw na pakulo para umano sa ikabubuti ng bansa. Sa ating mga online classrooms at social media, maririnig natin ang tinig ng mga kabataan, mulat sa iba’t ibang kalagayan ng mga sektor ng lipunan, may paninindigang  nagsasalita, tumataghoy, at kumikilos nang may pag-asa para sa pagbabago.

Marami ang nangangako ng pagbabago, ngunit anong direksyon ang dapat nating tunguhin at kaninong plataporma ang dapat nating suportahan? Bagaman pinaninindigan namin na walang sinuman ang maaaring piliting kumilos o magpasya nang labag sa kanilang konsensya, dapat nating hanapin ang katotohanan at gumawa ng mga pasya na naaayon dito sapagkat kung “walang pagtitiwala at pagmamahal sa kung ano ang totoo, walang panlipunang konsensya at pananagutan.” Ang dangal ng konsensya ay nalalabag kapag wala itong malasakit na hanapin kung ano ang totoo at mabuti. Ang pananagutang sundin ang ating konsensya ay may katumbas na obligasyon na hubugin ito ayon sa paghahangad ng Diyos sa katarungan at ingklusibong pag-ibig na ipinahayag sa Ebanghelyo.

Kaya naman, hinihinging pagnilayan natin ang kinabukasang ibig natin para sa ating henerasyon, isang bukas na “maaasahan, maginhawa, at siguradong buhay… panatag dahil alam natin na laging may sapat para sa ating pang araw-araw na pangangailangan at mga di-inaasahang gastusin, na nakapagpaplano at nakapaghahanda tayo para sa kinabukasan natin at ng ating mga anak” tulad ng paglalarawan ng NEDA. Gaano tayo kasigasig sa pagkamit ng mga pangarap na ito? Pinagtiisan natin sa nakalipas na anim na taon ang isang gobyernong nauugnay sa garapalang pagdepensa sa mga tunay na may-sala, talamak na korapsyon, pamumunong walang kakayahan, at kulang sa maasahang kilos para matupad ang mga dapat at totoong pagbabago. Panahon na para harapin ang kinabukasan nang may tapang.

Hindi na sapat ang mangarap, kailangan nang magtaya.

Sa kabila ng mga kapangyarihan at pwersa na pumipilit sa ating lumimot, at bilang pagtutol sa mga ito, kailangan nating alalahanin ang mga mapanganib na ala-ala ng kalupitan ng Batas Militar, at gumawa ng mahihirap na pasya, sa kabila ng panganib na mahusgahan o hindi tayo maintindihan. Kailangan na natin kumilos ngayon kahit maraming nag-iisip na walang patutunguhan ang ating mga pagsusumikap. Sa kabila ng halaga na hinihinging kapalit nito, patuloy tayong nangangarap hindi lamang para sa ating sarili kundi para sa lahat na naniniwalang “ang isang bagong mundo ay hindi lamang posible, ito ay paparating na” (Arundhati Roy).

“Anong klaseng mundo ang nais nating ipasa sa mga susunod sa atin, sa mga batang lumalaki na ngayon?” Para sa kanila, nangangarap tayo ng mundong may katarungan at pagkakataon para sa lahat na makilahok sa mga makabuluhang pagpapasya ng lipunan, may pagtataguyod sa kabutihang panlahat, at pagkiling sa mga nangangailangan at naisasantabi. Nangangarap din tayo para sa kapakanan ng kalikasan sapagkat may kaugnayan sa kabuohang pag-unlad ng tao ang pagkalinga sa mundong ating tahanan. Kaya naman, naghahangad tayo na magkaroon ng mga pinunong handang makinig sa panaghoy ng mga dukha at ng kalikasan. Sa pangangarap nating ito, patuloy tayong kumakapit sa pangako na nagsimula nang maganap sa muling pagkabuhay ni Kristo; sa pangako na papahirin ng Diyos ang ating mga luha at mawawala na ang kamatayan, dalamhati, pagtangis, at paghihirap sapagkat lumipas na ang lumang kaayusan (Pahayag 21:4).

Ang mundong pinapangarap natin ay kabaliktaran ng Pilipinas na mayroon tayo sa ngayon. Maraming dukha ang naging biktima ng war on drugs. Samantala, isiniwalat naman ng pandemya ang pagkukulang ng mga pangako ng isang papyulistang pangangampanya. Ang mga kakulangang ito ang nagpalala ng karukhaan at hindi makataong kalagayan ng mga mahihirap. Marami sa kanila ang nawalan ng seguridad, hanapbuhay, at mga mahal sa buhay. Bukod dito, ang mga taong nagsasalita laban sa mga kakulangang ito ay itinuturing na mga rebelde at terorista. Patuloy namang binabalahura ang mga kababaihan sa mga pampublikong diskurso. Patuloy rin ang pagpapasasa ng mga may kapangyarihan na pinagbabayaran ng kalikasan, mga katutubo, magsasaka, at mangingisda. Ang ating pangako na “never again”, kung saan di na natin papayagan ang karahasan at pang-aapi, ay tila ba atin nang nalilimutan. Ang kalagayang ito ng ating bansa ay hudyat ng kasalukuyang panahon na tumatawag sa ating maging mga propeta at manindigan para sa katotohanan kahit na magmukha tayong salungat sa pagkakaisa. Sapagkat hungkag ang pagkakaisang taliwas sa mga prinsipyo ng Mabuting Balita. Tunay lamang ang pagkakaisa kung nakasalig ito sa katotohanan, katarungang para sa lahat, at pamamahalang tapat. Samantalang maraming tinig ang nanawagan ng pagbabago at higit sa isang kandidato ang may mga platapormang sumasalamin sa mga prinsipyong nabanggit at pag-asang tinatanaw, pinili namin sina Leni Robredo at Kiko Pangilinan mula sa mga ito, sapagkat kinakatawan nila ang huwarang pamumuno na walang bahid ng kurapsyon at ang mga katangiang may kakayahang tumugon sa mga suliranin ng lipunan. Ang aming boto para sa tambalang Robredo-Pangilinan ay hindi lamang dahil sa tsansa nilang manalo. Higit sa lahat, kinakatawan ng aming boto ang masidhing pagsalungat sa pagbabalik sa kapangyarihan ng mga pamilyang Marcos at Duterte na syang sumira sa pagkakaisa ng bansa. Ang aming boto ay isang maalab na pagtuligsa sa mga kandidatong walang pakundangan sa kalikasan at karapatang pantao. Ang aming boto ay mariing pagtutol sa mga mandaraya at mga mapagpamihasa sa mga hindi makatarungan at mapang-aping sistema at balangkas ng lipunan na patuloy na nagpapahirap sa maraming Filipino.

Kay Leni-Kiko tayo magtaya ngayong halalalan. Mangarap para sa Pilipinas, magtaya para sa Pilipinas.

Urges President Duterte, Zubiris to Enforce IP Rights in Ancestral Lands

(April 20, 2022)

          The Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) condemned the assault on presidential candidate Leody de Guzman and unarmed lumads (indigenous peoples)  – including women and children – in barangay San Jose, Quezon, Bukidnon last April 19 by security guards of an agribusiness corporation allegedly owned and controlled by Mayor Pablo Lorenzo III of Quezon municipality.        

          At the same time, FFF Board Chairman and former Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Q. Montemayor urged President Duterte, Bukidnon Governor Jose Zubiri, Jr. and his son – incumbent Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri – to act decisively to prevent further violence and to enforce the ancestral land rights of lumads.

          Five (5) persons were reportedly wounded by the security personnel of the Kiantig Development Corporation (KDC), using shotguns, M16 and M14 high powered weapons.  De Guzman was unhurt in the incident.  Police and military personnel, who were in the vicinity during the shootings, reportedly did not intervene.

         Earlier on April 18, Supreme Datu Rolando Anglao of the Manobo-Pulangiyon tribe met with Mayor Lorenzo, Chairman Allen Capuyan of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and other government representatives.  He informed them that the lumads  would be reclaiming the 1,111-hectare area in barangays Butong and San Jose that was officially recognized last October 6, 2021 by the NCIP as the ancestral domain of the tribe – being the “rightful owner and possessor” thereof.

         Since 2017, about a thousand lumad families have encamped in tents and makeshift shelters along the national highway in Quezon just outside their ancestral land, which have been fenced off by the KDC and planted to pineapple previously for Del Monte Philippines and lately to Lapanday Corporation.

          According to FFF Board Chairman Leonardo Q. Montemayor, the disputed area in sitio Kiantig had been originally leased to the Montalvan Ranch in the 1960s.  Somehow, the KDC under Lorenzo managed to secure leasehold rights over the property.   In 2018, the 25-year lease period ended, and the area was reclassified as forest land under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.  During the Ramos presidency, top DENR officials declared that the area was part of the ancestral domain of the Manobo-Pulangiyon, pursuant to the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 (Republic Act No. 8371).

          Montemayor called on Governor Zubiri to live up to his title, “Datu Intunda” (Chief Guardian Angel), which was conferred on him by the Seven Tribes of Bukidnon in the 1970s.

The recent statement by presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. vowing to prioritize the protection of the environment [1] and recognizing Nature’s Rights saying “it has its own rights and should be allowed to flourish, reproduce and attain its abundance side by side with human civilization in perfect balance and harmony with our growing communities” seems to be a positive statement for us,  Rights of Nature [2] advocates in the country.

We were surprised and cannot help but be very worried though by this statement from Mr. Marcos Jr. because our assessment of his stance on environmental protection and mining garnered him a low rating in our profiling research called the Power of Purple 2022 [3]. Of the seven (7) presidential candidates, he got an ambivalent rating for his position on environmental protection as we could only find general statements admonishing environmental protection without details of why’s and the how’s of such position. Although he got positive points for pushing for bills on green building and PAG-ASA modernization, he got a negative rating on mining because he supports it and believes that it is a key source of revenue and employment to prop up our economy. On a similar note, he is likewise supportive of the operation of the Bataan nuclear power plant which might have a devastating impact on the people and the environment.

An extractive-oriented economy is an anti-thesis of the rights of nature perspective. Massive extraction or large-scale mining carries an ideology that sees nature as objects that is infinite and are there to be used, processed, and sold for the sake of profit and human development. Mr. Marcos needs to realize that taking on the rights of nature paradigm demands a whole paradigm shift in the way economics, legal and socio-political systems should function in relation to the environment.

Currently, Rights of Nature bills have been filed in Congress by Senator Risa Hontiveros and Cong. Kit Belmonte with six (6) other co-authors. They were referred to several committees and only the bill in the lower house had been on the agenda of one committee, and only once, we reckon, owing to the lack of understanding of the urgency to protect the environment and address the current climate crisis and emergency.

We lament the low level of attention given by many of the 2022 election candidates on the importance of addressing environmental issues in their platforms and discourses. The intersectional relationship of the environment with all other issues have not been recognized and highlighted — its connection to strong typhoons, disasters, the sorry state of agriculture and fisheries, our health, and even the armed conflicts whose roots are driven by lack of access to resources. To add, despite the warning of our climate scientists in their UN report [4] that humanity only has three more years to curb greenhouse gas emissions to avoid more severe climate disasters, or face irreversible and fatal consequences, many still regard climate emergency issues as just among the many other problems