Month: August 2019

BLESSED ARE THE POOR

The Church’s social doctrine is marked with a “preferential option for the poor” PCP 11 asserts that this option, following Christ’s own, takes on great urgency in our country where a very great  number   of our people wallow in abject poverty and misery, while tremendous social privileges and deference are accorded the rich and powerful. ( PCP 11 312 )

This option, however, must be properly understood. The Church obviously desires to bring the message of salvation to every human being, to every culture and social environment, but in the first place to those who are most in need. Thus “the preference for the poor is a Christian preference,” for Christ came to proclaim a message of salvation to the poor (cf. John Paul 11, to people of Tondo,3). It is an “option in the exercise of Christian charity to which the whole tradition of the Church bears witness. It affects the life of each Christian inasmuch as he or she seeks to imitate the life of Christ. But it applies equally to our social responsibilities and hence to our manner of living.(CFC1187)

Word of God :  Lk 6:20-23

The poor incarnate the evangelical values in their lives:
Blest are you poor, the reign of God is yours;
Blest are you who hunger, you shall be filled;
Blest are you who are weeping, you shall laugh.
Blest shall you be when men hate you, when they ostracize you and
insult you and proscribe your name as evil because of the Son of Man…
Rejoice and exult, for your reward shall be great in heaven.

Values/Attitude

Kindness     Generosity     Empathy     Charity     Detachment

Doctrine:  Love for the poor

God blesses those who come to the aid of the poor and rebukes those who turn away from them.” Give to him who begs from you, do not refuse him who would barrow from you”; “ you received without pay, give without pay”( Mt5:42)It is by what they have done for the poor that Jesus Christ will recognize his chosen ones ( Mt25:31-36) When the poor have the good news preached to them” it is the sign of Christ’s presence. ( Lk 4:18 ) The Church’s love for the poor is a part of her constant tradition .This love is inspired by the Gospel of the Beatitudes, of the poverty of Jesus and of his concern for the poor. Love for the poor is even one of the motives for the duty of working so as to be able to give to those in need.( Eph 4:28) It extends not only to material poverty but also to the many forms of cultural and religious poverty.(CCC 2444)

Moral

St. Luke does not speak of poverty “of spirit” but simply of those who are “poor”(cf.Lk6:20). In this way, he too invites us to live a plain and austere life. He calls us to share in the life of those most in need, the life lived by the Apostles, and ultimately to configure ourselves to Jesus who, though rich, “made himself poor” (2 Cor8:9)

Worship

The ultimate criterion on which our lives will be judged is what we have done for others. Prayer is most precious, for it nourishes a daily commitment to love. Our worship becomes pleasing to God when we devote ourselves to living generously, and allow God’s gift, granted in prayer, to be shown in our concern for our brothers and sisters. This is the worship most acceptable to God.(GE 104)

Faith  Response

Affirmation :     Appreciation of the blessedness of the poor

Commitment:   Giving hopeful advice to the confused and weary

Celebration   :   Prayer for solidarity with the poor

Compassionate and loving God,
We praise you for the many gifts you provide us
May we be mindful of those who go without, each and every day. Help us to provide the resources needed for our brothers and sisters. Burdened by the suffering caused by poverty and oppression, Let our work this day be a reminder of our interconnectedness with all your beloved children. Open our eyes to see the needs of the community. Cleanse our ears to hear the cries of the poor. Anoint our hands and feet to be instruments in fulfilling your justice. We ask this all through your Son Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit one God forever and ever, Amen.

We, PhilCCRS and FTCC,  Stand With Our Bishops:

As in the days of the prophet Nehemiah where those “who were building the wall, those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other” (Nehemiah 4:7), we, the Philippine Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services, Inc ( PHILCCRS) and the Federation of Trans-parochial Charismatic Communities (FTCC) stand together with all the laborers in the vineyard of God in our pursuit of Truth, Justice and Peace for our country.

We will continue our work of building the Kingdom by proclaiming the Truth and our mission to defend God’s people by seeking Justice for the maligned, persecuted and the oppressed.

Having worked through the years so closely with the Archbishop Socrates Villegas, D.D. and Bishop Teodoro Bacani, D.D., Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, D.D., and Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, D.D., our organizations can attest to their good-will and moral ascendancy.

Thus, we declare our full support for these men of Peace and we enjoin everyone to journey with them with our love and prayers.

We Stand With Our Bishops For Truth, Justice And Peace!

With PhilCRRS & FTCC and our Members,
Dr. Arcadio L. Tamayo, M.D.
National President

Pastoral Letter of Bishop Bernardino C. Cortez of the Prelature of Infanta

4 August 2019

ST. JOHN MARIE VIANNEY

Dear Brother Archbishops, Bishops and Administrators:

Greetings of Peace!

Come September until October 4, 2019 we will celebrate the Season of Creation. This is the time to promote and expound our Pastoral Letter – “An Urgent Call for Ecological Conversion, Hope in the Face of Climate Change.”

In spirit of solidarity for “our common home” (Pope Francis) and in this regard, may we present to you our appeal and campaign: NO TO KALIWA DAM! We ask you, your ecology ministry, earth ministry desk to support us in our 10 Million Signature Campaign – No to Kaliwa Dam,

Please seriously consider our appeal as expressed by the letter that follows:

August 1, 2019

Your Excellences: Archbishops and Bishops: Maka-Kalikasang Pagbati – Laudato Si!

We would like to thank you for the Pastoral Letter “An Urgent Call for Ecological Conversion, Hope in the Face of Climate Emergency.” You have encouraged us “to discern the issues and actively care for the Earth.”

A Petition to President Rodrigo Duterte to Revoke the Kaliwa Dam Project

The Kaliwa Dam Project violates legal processes and the Philippine constitution, is destructive to the environment, and is against the country’s national interest.

With the increasing demand for water supply in Metro Manila, costly options appear to seemingly solve this concern. In fact, the recent “water crisis” was used to expedite and justify the New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project as the solution to such.

We stand against this short-term solution because the Kaliwa Dam Project:

● Will be built on the ancestral domain of at least 5,000 Dumagat-Remontados;

● Is being expedited by the railroading of its legal process, particularly the right of the Dumagat-Remontados to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent process under IPRA;

● Will destroy the biodiversity and habitat of 126 species in 300 hectares of the Sierra Madre and endanger 100,000 residents downstream with the risk of massive flooding;

● Will entail an unnecessary 10.37 billion-peso loan from China, further worsening our debt-ridden economy;

● Will need every Filipino, including those outside Metro Manila, to shoulder the debt;

● Faces a short lifespan of 5-6 years due to the high rate of sedimentation the dam will cause;

● Allows China to settle disputes on the project using their laws and on their territory;

● And may cause our government to surrender Philippine territory to pay off the loan.

We thus call on President Rodrigo Duterte and all government leaders to revoke the Kaliwa Dam Project. We believe that this project will not address the problem but also make conditions worse for the Philippines. Alternative water solutions that are both cheaper and more sustainable (e.g. watershed rehabilitation, repairing and improving existing dams and water distribution facilities, water conservation policies) have been offered by various experts.

We, the Filipino people, say NO to Kaliwa Dam, and YES to alternatives!

“Caring for ecosystems demands far-sightedness, since no one looking for quick and easy profit is truly interested in their preservation. But the cost of the damage caused by such selfish lack of concern is much greater than the economic benefits to be obtained.”

(Laudato Si, No. 36)

Wilfredo G. Villanueva
July 28, 2019

Corregidor is that tadpole-shaped island guarding the entrance of Manila Bay. Called Fort Mills, it was the last stand of the United States Armed Forces in the Far East or USAFFE against the Japanese onslaught in 1942.

Vice President Leni Robredo is our Corregidor in 2019, being the last stand of the organized opposition against the evil regime of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The battle begins on August 9 at the Department of Justice. Every Filipino and Filipina worth his or her salt should pray on-site or in their homes, or show up in the area for a demonstration of support while the Vice President and other opposition figures explain their side vis a vis the charges of sedition on testimony of a reinvented witness called Bikoy.

If Leni falls, BBM will take her place and the script will be concluded with the resignation of Duterte. President Bongbong Marcos, feel it in your bones. And shiver.

But unlike in Japanese times, we cannot hope for a return of democracy as we know it. The country will be cut up into states under a federal government and there will be no term limits for elective officials.

We have no more time. The enemies of our values, tradition, history, flag, are fast advancing. It will be open season for the Marcoses, GMA, Dutertes AND China. Kiss the Philippines goodbye.

What can we do, given that:

We have no murdered Ninoy Aquino to rally around;

Our opponents have studied the People Power playbook and have plugged all loopholes, making another instantaneous EDSA an uphill climb, if not an impossibility;

We have no singular message or spokesperson;

We are a sad people, we wake up and sleep with hopelessness.

Here’s what I think we can still do:

Pray. Returning to God is 51 per cent of the agenda, or we will just be like a “poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more.” Let God show the way out of this morass.

Act. Begin by using social media as a bulletin board only. Views and opinion are still welcome but posts of this nature must ring with pride and optimism for the cause, otherwise keep your thoughts to yourself and your loved ones.

Act. Show up in rallies if able. Hong Kong is everyone’s dream of a malawakang protesta.

Act. Campaign, just like for Ocho, but this time for Leni. Create awareness on what’s happening to her, start conversations wherever you are centering on “last stand,” “Leni the tireless government official still addressing the needs not only of the laylayan ng lipunan but also of our need for a beacon in stormy seas, an inspiration, grace under pressure, family values, beauty inside and out in the face of bako-bakong pamunuan.”

Yun lang muna. Please share away. No need to ask for permission. Thanks.

July 30, 2019

Dear PMPI Network Cluster Members,

Warm Greetings from the National Secretariat.

As you may have already heard, the DENR and its attached government body – the Mines and Geosciences Bureau – have decided to allow OceanaGold Philippine, Inc. (OGPI) to continue its operation under its already expired Financial/Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) No.1. Based on the MGB official list of approved mining contracts, FTAA No.1 already expired last June 20, 2019 (see attached “MGB letter to OGPI.Didipio”).

More importantly, the community-members of Nueva Viscaya including the Provincial Government and the LGU of Didipio, Municipality of Kasibu have been consistent with its demand to stop the mining operations of OGPI, and recently called for the non-renewal of its FTAA (see attached documents – Sangguniang Panlalawigan.Didipio, Sangguniang Barangay.Didipio, Ofc of the governor advisory.Didipio), and this stance against OGPI is shared by Most Reverent Jose Elmer I. Mangalinao, DD, Bishop of Bayombong, Nueva Viscaya (see attached Bp.Mangalinao letter.Didipio).

In this light, may we ask you to show your solidarity with the peoples of Nueva Viscaya by appending your signature (e-signature) in this statement that are right now in protest against the orders of DENR/MGB and moreover facing legal sanctions from OceanaGold Philippines, Inc.

 For information, kindly see below a brief summary on the OceanaGold Philippines, Inc. history in Didipio, Nueva Viscaya

 OGPI, formerly the Australasian Philippines Mining, Inc. (APMI), is the transferee of FTAA (Financial/Technical Assistance Agreement) originally granted by the government to Climax Mining Limited, also an Australian company in 1994.

 OGPI FTAA covers 17,626 hectares of mineral lands in Didipio. The FTTA allows OGPI to go on full-scale commercial production and utilization of Gold, Copper, Nickel, Chromites. Lead, Zinc and other minerals except for cement raw materials like marble, granite, sand and gravel and construction aggregates.

 FTAA No.001 of OGPI. in Brgy. Didipio, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya has already expired last June 20, 2019.

 An application for renewal of FTAA was filed at DENR last October 2018 (according to MGB letter dated June 20, 2019 addressed to OGPI President Jose P. Leviste, Jr.). The application and the letter to OGPI was done without the knowledge of the LGUs and the affected communities.

 A favorable endorsement by the MGB for the renewal of the FTAA was issued by MGB last April 30, 2019. A copy of the letter was shown to the Didipio group, but were not allowed to take a picture or secure a copy. The endorsement was addressed to the DENR Secretary. The justification was that OGPI had complied with all requirements for the application of renewal.

 The LGU particularly Governor Carlos Padilla is very vocal in opposing the renewal of OGPI.

 The POs (People Organizations) in protest against OGPI are SAPAKKMMI, DESAMA and ANVIK.

Thank you in advance. We hope for your positive response on the matter.