Dear friends and fellow labor and human rights advocates,
Greetings of peace and solidarity!
The Labor Rights Defenders Network (LaRD-Net) aims to serve as a campaign and advocacy platform that would support and complement the initiatives of the trade union movement in asserting the right to organize, collective bargain and strike under a climate of repression and oppression. It is composed of lawyers, artists, Church people, labor rights NGOs, members of the academe and advocates whose hearts also beat for workers’ rights. The network operates under the call, “Defend Labor Rights and Uphold Human Dignity!”
Amidst the pandemic and the worst global economic crisis, the plight of the workers continue to worsen, with the implementation of a militarist lockdown, loss of thousands of jobs, intensified repression and attacks against trade union and human rights.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Philippines was once again tagged by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) as one of the Top 10 Worst Countries for Workers. ITUC’s Global Index Report noted the prevailing trend to restrict workers’ rights through violations of the right to collective bargaining, withholding the right to strike and excluding workers from unions. The report noted that trade unionists and labor rights advocates are being killed to silence them, prevent them from organizing and pushing for the welfare of the workers Meanwhile, the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) has documented 50 victims of killings among workers, unionists and labor rights defenders.
Your Eminences, Your Excellencies and Very Reverend Diocesan Administrators:
Peace!
Typhoon Rolly left thousands of families bereft of hope, security and stability and a number of people dead in the Bicol Region. And days after it, Typhoon Ulysses hit many parts of Luzon, particularly Bicol and Metro Manila. In fact, as of today, many areas in the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao and Diocese of Ilagan are still under flood waters. These two (2) typhoons brought great suffering to our people, caused so much damage to properties, homes and sources of livelihood and, most painful of all, the loss of lives.
Though we are not strangers to this recurring natural calamity caused by typhoons, there is no doubt that we are again touched by the pain and misery that our people are experiencing during these difficult times as they also battle against the effects of COVID-19. We cannot even try to imagine the pain that families are enduring with the loss of loved ones.
Again, we are called to act in solidarity with these devastated families and communities. We are challenged to bring even our most humble and lowly offerings of mercy and compassion to these people. And one of these is our most sincere and fervent prayer to the Lord, for Him to touch the hearts of these suffering people, to keep their hopes alive, and to keep their faith in the Lord. Also, we offer our special prayers for those who died and for their grieving families.
We are aware that our CBCP-ECSA-JP and NASSA have written to appeal to us to jointly campaign for help and to bring whatever help we can do and offer to the suffering people in these areas. The CBCP-ECSA-JP and NASSA is in contact with the bishops of these affected areas.
Please find attached to this letter a copy of the appeal for your quick referral: Solidarity Appeal for Typhoon Rolly Devastated Families and Communities.
Typhoon Rolly left thousands of families bereft of hope, security and stability.
We saw how super typhoon toppled down not only houses but dreams. We witnessed how not only it took lives – to some, it actually claimed an entire community.
On November 1, 2020, NASSA/Caritas Philippines launched a global appeal for help in anticipation of the vast devastation brought by #RollyPH in Bicol region and other parts of Luzon.
“While we urge everyone to continue praying for safety, we also launch today our global appeal for help. The typhoon will surely bring greater poverty to our communities severely affected by the typhoon, as they have also been battling against the effects of COVID-19. So with humility, we appeal for everyone’s sincere acts of kindness, generosity and compassion.”
“In these most trying time, we lift up everything to our God. We also know that everyone around the world will be able to listen to our prayers and send help.”
“Thus, we enjoin all the dioceses in the country to reach out and assist our affected dioceses. Let us do #AlayKapwa together.”
Angelus: Pope Continues Catechesis on Prayer (Full Text)
November 11, 2020 | Jim Fair
It seems that someone told Pope Francis that he talks too much about prayer, that is isn’t necessary. And as expected, he rejected that advice.
Perhaps to protect the reputation of his critic, he didn’t mention the name or place of the incident but during his General Audience today continued teaching on the necessity of prayer. The audience was livestreamed from the Apostolic Library of the Apostolic Palace, with in-person audiences restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Yes, it is necessary,” the Holy Father said of prayer. “Because if we do not pray, we will not have the strength to go forward in life.
“Prayer is like the oxygen of life. Prayer draws down on us the Holy Spirit’s presence who always leads us forward. For this reason, I speak a lot about prayer.”
Pope Francis cited the Catechism and three parables to demonstrate that prayer must be “tenacious” and must continue even if everything seems in vain. Prayer is never done alone.
“Jesus, in fact, is not only a witness and teacher of prayer; He is more.,” Francis said. “He welcomes us in His prayer so that we might pray in Him and through Him. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. For this reason, the Gospel invites us to pray to the Father in Jesus’s name.”
Following is the Holy Father’s full address, provided by the Vatican:
These guidelines (slides) will help young community leaders in identifying future leaders who could serve their communities as volunteers in elective or non-elective local government positions.
This is a public service of Alliance for the Common Good Volunteers. Please share this freely for the benefit of our future generations of community leaders and public servants.
We are one with the peoples of Mindanao and as the Filipino people, united in faith that calls for ecological justice and integrity.
We vigorously oppose, vehemently denounce and verily object to this Tampakan Mining Project of the Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI), whose key player is the Alcantara Group of Companies.
KNOW THE FACTS: The Tampakan Mining Project is a mammoth project and leviathan in its impact. SMI Tampakan covers 4 provincial boundaries(1), the headwaters of six (6) catchments and 2 major river systems, where:
Nearly 10,000 hectares of forestland will be razed, 50% of which are closed and open canopy forests. The open pit is 800 meters deep, 2.5 km wide and 3 km long.
1000 families will be ejected from their community, relocating 5000 persons, including women and children
AT LEAST 5000 farmers/irrigators depend on the headwaters in the FMA for their cultivation of prime agricultural lands.
500 hectares will be covered by waste rock high in arsenic and ripe for acid mine drainage The area sits on geological faultlines and a cluster of dormant volcanoes within 12 km of Mt. Matutum, an active volcano (2).
a) The Project lies at the heart of river systems
b) Nestled in a network of faultlines(3)
SMI Tampakan will leave irreversible impacts on food security, peoples and biodiversity, and is a serious threat to peace and security including Mindanao’s resilience to climate change.
Mindanao is being primed as the food basket of the country with 1/3 of its land devoted to agriculture, even as it ranks high in poverty incidence and heightened conflict areas. It is also home to the critically endangered Philippine Eagle as well as rich flora and fauna species with high endemicity.(4) Globally threatened species are also found in Mindanao.
Protecting Tampakan is defending Mindanao and its key role in the Philippine economy and environment and the rest of the world.
LEARN FROM THE PAST
We do not want another Marcopper disaster: dead rivers, a heavily silted and toxic Calancan Bay, heavy metals flowing in the bloodstream of children, tailings-laced ricefields, from nearly 25 years ago until today.
When the mine tailings are dumped, or the open pit operates, which river systems will die? Can Sarangani Bay survive a power station and a filter plant that will dewater the mine concentrate?
When water to be used in the mining operations is 300 million liters per second(5) which rivers will dry up and how many hectares of farmland will become wasteland(6)?
When the forests are cleared where will the people go? How will they live when their lifeblood is the forests and rivers? How many threatened flora and fauna species will go extinct?
How will Mindanaoans brace for the impact of natural disasters and remain resilient when the region’s vulnerable ecosystem has become more fragile? Mining accounts for the highest number of human-induced earthquakes worldwide(7).
CHAIN OF IRREGULARITIES
In 2016, SMI’s permit was cancelled by then Secretary Gina Lopez of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). She had said that the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) should not have been issued at all due to serious irregularities.
In 2019, the Office of the President restored this ECC. How can a cancelled ECC be “restored”? And have the issues surrounding the illegitimate issuance of the ECC been resolved?
In 2020, we learned that the contract of the Tampakan Mining Project was extended for 12 years. The Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement/FTAA expired last March 2020. Apparently, in 2016, the previous administration’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau Director of the DENR Leon L. Jasareno, “approved” the 12 year extension.
But isn’t this being done behind the back of President Rodrigo Duterte who has declared repeatedly that the protection of the Filipino people and the environment is NON-NEGOTIABLE in his term?
Or did President Rodrigo Duterte himself consent to this 12-year extension by his silence? Did he actually consent to a project that endangers the whole of Mindanao, its old-growth forests, its rivers, its flourishing rice fields, the rights of the B’laans and the livelihood of 200,000 farmers in the interests of foreigners, or worse, in the private interest of political allies in business with foreigners? If not, as we suspect, are there not odious signs of malpractice in government in the resurgence of the Tampakan mines?
This October, Indigenous Peoples’ Month, the public learned that tribal rights were “granted” to the SMI Tampakan by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) (NCIP) in a CP (Certification Precondition) issued last September 19. NCIP is charged to protect the rights of the indigenous peoples. News of this NCIP move came after the Koronadal City Regional Trial Court upheld the constitutionality of the open-pit mining ban of South Cotabato last October 12.
How can the actions of government be justified and reconciled?
DEAFENING SILENCE
The silence of DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu is deafening with consent.
The silence of President Rodrigo Duterte fails to protect his Mindanao and its peoples.
Silence means YES. Yes to the destruction fomenting in the horizon:
The brewing disintegration of cultures and peoples especially the B’laans;
The backlash of losing the remaining forest cover of Mindanao in the face of climate change;
The worsening water crisis in Mindanao
The continuing suffering of peoples, especially farmers, women and children in Mindanao
To: All Laiko Members: National Lay Organizations & Arch/Diocesan Councils of the Laity Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Two weeks ago, we prayed hard for the protection of our Lord against the devastating onslaught of Typhoon Rolly in Metro Manila and the rest of our country. We slept in peace and woke up relieved that we were spared from this Super Typhoon. But millions of our fellow Filipinos were not spared. Hardest hit were our countrymen in the Albay and Catanduanes provinces. For many, it was like a Yolanda experience.
On that same weekend, we were reminded of our membership in the great Communion of Saints, that deep bond of love and active compassion among the Church Militant, Triumphant and those who are still suffering. In this communion, we grow as Church, one body, under Christ our head.
The Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas is calling on the generosity of our brothers and sisters to respond to our suffering brethren in Albay and Catanduanes. We are “one body under Christ” and they need our help. We are in communication with Bishop Joel Baylon, D.D. of the Diocese of Legazpi already but have no way to communicate yet with Bishop Manolo De Los Santos of the Diocese of Virac. We hope we can send them some help for the rehabilitation work needed there at this time.
Please send your donations to:
1. For the Diocese of Legazpi c/o Bishop Joel Baylon: SOCIAL ACTION CENTER-SPM
BPI Acct# 0851-0067-37
2. For the Diocese of Virac c/o Bishop Manolo De Los Santos BDO : RCBDVI FOR DIOCESE’S GENERAL.FUND BDO – Virac Branch SA# 006030001948
PNB : RCBDVI FOR DIOCESE’S GENERAL.FUND PNB.-Virac Branch SA# 253510025634
Thank you very much for your solidarity at this time!
Below is a statement of PCM’s call for unity in the 2022 election. In view of this, we would like to invite everyone (group and individuals) to join in this signature campaign while sending this at the same time to your own networks who may have our same belief.
God bless and Maraming Salamat.
On September 14, 2020, more than 60 organizations and 70 individuals signed a UNITY STATEMENT calling for the 2022 National and Local Elections to be held as scheduled.
We now come together again, as ONE VOICE, ONE NATION, to declare: WE WANT THE ELECTIONS OF 2022 TO BE A TRULY DEMOCRATIC EXERCISE EVERY FILIPINO CAN TRUST!
We call on COMELEC to stop using the current non-transparent automated election system, cancel and terminate any contract it may still have with its foreign provider, Smartmatic.
We demand a more accurate and transparent system that is also cost-efficient in consideration of the pandemic.
We urge Congress to now pass a law to pave the way for the COMELEC to adopt an alternative automated election system (Alternative AES) that is appropriate, more accurate, and more transparent.
We request the House of Representatives to give priority to this and work closely with the Senate on passing this bill into law and made effective for use by the COMELEC for the coming 2022 elections.
The decision to shift to an electronic voting system in 2010 which would provide a faster count and results transmission was good, but through the years, there have been many problems with the system that far outweighed the benefits and eroded the people’s trust in the automated electoral process, casting doubts on the results of each election. Here are a few examples of these problems from the 2016 & 2019 National Elections.
1. In 2016, the premature transmission of vote tallies from at least two municipalities, one day before the actual voting started. In how many more municipalities did this happen? This anomaly could not be explained.
2. Also in 2016, Smartmatic changed the transparency server script on the evening of election day, even though it was NOT given the authorization to do so by the COMELEC En Banc, as the Election Law requires.
3. In 2019, the highly controversial7-hour delay in the transmission of votes into the COMELEC transparency server that neither COMELEC nor Smartmatic could explain. The glitch put into question the reliability of the entire election process.
In a speech made to the Filipino community in Japan, President Duterte told COMELEC “Dispose of Smartmatic, find a system free of fraud.” Many have supported this call. We the people agree and would rather have an alternative automated election system (Alternative AES) that is more transparent and FILIPINO-MADE that ensures the sovereignty of our election process.
We appeal to President Duterte, Congress, and the COMELEC, to ensure that the 2022 NATIONAL ELECTIONS be FAIR, ACCURATE, TRANSPARENT CREDIBLE, and will TRULY REFLECT the PEOPLE’S WILL. This will promote TRUST and UNITY between the government and its citizens, and enable us to work as one to address the challenges we face as a nation.
We also call upon all POLITICAL PARTIES and prospective CANDIDATES and their followers to get behind the move to push for an alternative automated system and to support its implementation for the 2022 national and local elections.
Finally, we call upon our FELLOW CITIZENS, especially the YOUTH, to actively PARTICIPATE in the election process, to REGISTER & VOTE, and promote the transparency and credibility of the counting process.
Signed:
Individuals: Albert Oasan Alberto “Bertie” Lim Alex Ramos Aristotle Socrates Augusto “Gus” Lagman Aurora Pijuan BB Poblador Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo Dan Danilo Arao Emmanuel Sakay Enteng Romano Eric Alvia Ernie del Rosario (ex Comelec ITD Head) Hubert Guevara Imelda “Mely” Nicolas Joel Rocamora Jojo Deles Jun Cruz Leah Navarro
Tree And Nativity Scene In St. Peter’s Square (C) Vatican Media
November 05, 2020 Zenit Staff Vatican City
The traditional inauguration of the Nativity Scene and the lighted Christmas tree will be held, despite the COVID-19 limitations, in Saint Peter’s Square on Friday, December 11, at 4:30 pm.
According to a Vatican note, the ceremony will be presided over by Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, and Bishop Fernando Alzaga, Secretary-General of the same.
Given the circumstances the world is experiencing due to the pandemic, this year’s Christmas decoration is intended to be “a sign of hope and trust” and an expression of the “certainty that Jesus comes among His people to save them.”
The Nativity Scene, which will be set up in Saint Peter’s Square, comes from Castelli, in the Italian province of Teramo, a very important ceramics center since the 16th century. The red fir tree is 289 meters tall and 70 centimeters in diameter; it comes from the Municipality of Kocevje in South-eastern Slovenia.
The Crib
According to the press release, this Crib is characterized by being made up of ceramic statues that are larger than those of natural size.
Not only is it a cultural symbol for all the Abruzzi, but it’s also considered an object of contemporary art, which sinks its roots in the traditional work of Castelli’s ceramics. It’s a work done by the students and teachers of the F.A. Grue Art Institute, present-day State School of Art for Design.
Only a few pieces of the fragile collection of 54 statues will be displayed in Saint Peter’s Square. They will be placed along a luminous platform, of some 125 square meters, which surrounds, in a gentle slope, part of the obelisk.
Sculptures
The sculptures represent the Wise Kings. At the center, in the highest point of the platform, is the group of the Nativity Scene, with an Angel with open wings. His place above the Holy Family symbolizes his protection of the Saviour, Mary, and Joseph.
The first group of statues, made up of the Holy Family, was made together with the piper, the shepherdess with the jar, a flautist with Pan’s flute, and a girl with a doll. The inspirers of the project were Serafino Mattucci, then Director and animator of the Institute, and the teachers Gianfranco Trucchia and Roberto Bentini. The students and all the Institute’s technical staff took part with great enthusiasm.
In the Abbruzzi Crib, there are strong references to the history of ancient art, from Greek to Sumerian art, passing through Egyptian sculpture. Moreover, in the objects that enrich it and in the <pentachromia> with which the works have been decorated is found the memory of local ceramic art. The statues were made with modules of rings that, overlapping, form cylindrical busts.
Perceived in some figures, especially in the use of color, is the experimentation and renewal of the ceramic art developed in those years in the Grue Institute. The first public display of the Nativity Scene took place in Castelli, in the Mother Church in December of 1965, then Christmas of 1970 was the turn of the Trajan markets in Rome and a few years later in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Tel Aviv.
The Christmas Tree
The red fir comes from Kocevje, South-eastern Slovenia. This region is one of the Slovenian territories where nature is most intact, taking into account that the forests cover 90% of its territory.
The fir chosen for Saint Peter’s Square grew six kilometers in a straight line from the virgin forest of Krokar, one of the two Slovenian forest reserves. The other is Sneznik-drocle (in the Notranjska region), one of the 63 sites of ancient primordial beech trees that are on UNESCO’s world patrimony list.
Symbol of Fertility
The picea abies (red fir) spread amply in Slovenia in the second half of the 18th century. It represents over 30% of the forest resources and is the most important tree species from the economic point of view. It has been a symbol of fertility since ancient times and, in popular tradition, it is often used in ceremonies such as the May 1 celebrations or those of Christmas. In the Beka Krajina region, it was a tradition on the feast of Saint George, to carry in procession a spruce decked out with flowers and fabrics. Europe’s tallest fir, Sgermova smrek, measures 61.80 meters and is found in the Pohorje Massif in Slovenia. It’s about 300 years old, with a perimeter of three meters and 54 centimeters; its diameter is more than a meter.
The Tree and the Nativity Scene will be displayed in the Square until the end of Christmastide, which coincides with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Sunday, January 10, 2021.
