We, the current members of the Board of Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas, faithful to our mandate to be agents of social transformation as contained in the decree Apostolicam Actuositatem which stresses that the “renewal of the temporal order” must be taken up by the laity “as their own special obligation,” aspire to exercise this mandate, “led by the light of the Gospel and the mind of the Church and motivated by Christian character.” With this statement, we continue to remind our members that “it is the primary task of the lay faithful, formed in the school of the Gospel, to be directly involved in political and social activity.” (Pope Benedict XVI, Verbum Dei)
We have taken directions from PCP II (Art.8 #1), as it strongly urged that competent and conscientious persons of integrity should become political candidates and the laity must “help form the civic conscience of the voting population and work to explicitly promote the election of leaders of true integrity to public office.”
After a series of listening sessions conducted in the LAIKO Board and personal evaluations, through prayerful discernment, of the profiles and platforms of the Presidential Candidates (from science-based research, live interviews and data coming from trusted sources), the current leadership of the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas have reached a majority decision (specifically 11 of 15, with 3 abstentions and 1 absence) regarding the endorsement of a candidate for President.
Though there are still other issues* which need further dialogue and cooperation, we are of the opinion that Vice President LENI ROBREDO, based on her track-record of service, dedication to good governance, ability to implement partnerships and programs for the advancement of the people especially the marginalized and her unassailable integrity, bested the others.
With our current political-economic turmoil and the pandemic situation in the Philippines, we firmly believe that Vice President Leni Robredo, a God-fearing person, is the most capable candidate for the Presidency, and we urge our constituents, if possible, to consider the same.
Hence, we explicitly endorse Vice President Leni Robredo to the highest position of our land.
Entrusting this decision to our mighty and merciful Lord on February 5, 2022.
On behalf of the majority members,
(SGD.)RAYMOND DANIEL H. CRUZ JR. National President CBCP-Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas
Abstentions: Gertrudes E. Bautista, Dr. Rene C. Bullecer and Proculo T. Sarmen
Absence: Conchita M. Dela Cruz
*With Reservations on her stance on SOGIE, Same Sex Civil Union and Decriminalization of Abortion: Xavy Padilla
We wish to invite you and your families to join the National Consecration of Families to St. Joseph on December 8, 2021.
As part of our spiritual preparation in the upcoming Celebration of the National Consecration of Families to St. Joseph on December 8, 2021. We invite everyone to participate in this 9-day novena using the “Living with the Beatitudes with Saint Joseph – A Nine Day Novena for Consecration to St. Joseph” by Amb. Howard Joseph Q. Dee and daughter Angelyn C. Dee.
Consecrating ourselves and our families to St. Joseph is an act of entrustment to his fatherly care, protection, and guidance. The goal of this consecration is to imitate St. Joseph’s virtue, example, and closeness with Christ.
You can get a copy of the digital book in this link:
The Season of Advent will soon be in our midst. This year’s celebration of the seasons of Advent and Christmas is well within the context of the Filipino people’s preparation for the May 9, 2022 elections. elections. When “the Word became flesh and pitched his tent among us” (John 1:14) humanity found hope in him. Our nation longs to see hope for our country in the coming 2022 elections.
The RDG has planned a series of online discussions on politics in the country and elections in 2022. The first conference was held last October 16 with the theme, “Philippine Politics in Context”. It proved to be a fruitful discussion and sharing.
The RDG is planning for its second conference on 04 December 2021, Saturday at 9:00-11:30 AM. The theme is “Christian Engagement in Politics Today”. The objective of this second conference is to present and clarify the participation of Christians in politics: why we must participate and engage in politics and how we can work for a “better kind of politics” (Fratelli Tutti, 154).
In this regard, may we invite you to attend the second webinar?
The speakers who confirmed their participation are Most Reverend Broderick Pabillo, D.D. of Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay, Palawan and Rev. Fr. Dionito Cabillas of Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI).
Your Eminences, Excellencies and Reverend Administrators:
RE: National Consecration of Families to St. Joseph on December 8
On December 8, we will be closing the “Year of Saint Joseph” coinciding with the celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
With the year-long celebration of the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of Saint Joseph as Patron Saint of the Universal Church, we were all invited to undertake the interior path of the carpenter of Nazareth, so as to “increase our love for this great saint, to encourage us to implore his intercession and to imitate his virtues and his zeal. ”(Pope Francis, Apostolic Letter, Patris Corde)
The Ad-hoc Committee on the Year of Saint Joseph has prepared several activities to fittingly culminate this whole-year celebration. First, is the National Consecration of Families to Saint Joseph and second, the Launching of the Men of St. Joseph – Philippines in all parishes throughout the country.
Consecrating ourselves and our families to St. Joseph is an act of entrustment to his fatherly care, protection, and guidance. The goal of this consecration is to imitate St. Joseph’s virtue, example, and closeness with Christ. As Fr. Donald Calloway, writes, “We need the spiritual fatherhood of St. Joseph to help us protect marriage and the family. Marriage and the family have always been under attack, but in modern times, the threats have reached extraordinary heights… To combat and overcome Satan’s deceptions, the Church needs St. Joseph.” (Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father, 4)
Thus, on December 8, at 11:00 a.m., His Excellency Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio S. David, Bishop of Kalookan and who by that time will be the CBCP President together with some representatives of families in his diocese will lead the praying of the Holy Rosary and the Act of Consecration of Families to St. Joseph at the Cathedral of San Roque in the Diocese of Kalookan. The celebration shall be broadcasted via CBCP News, Dominus Est, Radio Veritas, TV Maria Philippines and cross-posted in various Catholic Social Media platforms all over the country.
All the archbishops and bishops of the country are kindly requested to participate in this event together with the clergy, religious, and families at their homes. It is suggested that a celebration of the Holy Eucharist be done after the National Consecration. Diocesan and/or Parish Consecration could also be made especially for those that could not follow the National Consecration.
All Parish churches are also hereby requested to launch the Men of St. Joseph- a Catholic Association of Men committed to Jesus Christ and consecrated to St. Joseph. The institution of this lay association is the Philippine Church’s response to the call of Pope Francis as contained in his Apostolic Letter – Patris Corde, encouraging us to reflect upon the role of St. Joseph in caring and loving our Savior with the Father’s heart.The priests of the Oblates of St. Joseph humbly accepted the honor of being the propagator and spiritual guide of this association.
For further guidance and information regarding this celebration, you may contact Mr. Joseph S. Jesalva of LAIKO at telephone number 8527-5388 and email address laiko_phils@yahoo.com.ph
Thank you very much for your kind attention, and we are hoping for your participation in this activity.
With sentiments of esteem and cordial greetings, I remain
On November 30, the Church People-Workers Solidarity (CWS) will join the whole nation in celebrating Bonifacio Day. Andres Bonifacio, the great plebeian was instrumental in waging anti-colonial struggle against Spanish colonizers. His revolutionary fervor has become a source of inspiration to Filipino workers who continue to fight for dignified work.
As we collectively discern who to vote this coming 2022 elections, it is but proper to revisit Bonifacio’s legacy of genuine service and enduring courage and patriotism. Indeed, our future leaders can learn a lot from Bonifacio’s life as a great leader and a humble servant of the masses. This online forum seeks inform church people and members of the academe on the relevance of Bonifacio especially in this epochal historical juncture.
In order to prepare church people for this momentous event, CWS is organizing an online forum with the theme: SI BONIFACIO AT ANG HALALANG 2022. The webinar is intended to deepen our understanding on the historical significance of Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan viz-a-viz the 2022 Elections.
We invited Prof. Jerry D. Imbong who will share with us on the topic “Bonifacio in the Messianic era: Hope and the Redemption of History in the light of Jürgen Moltmann’s Eschatology”
In this connection, we are inviting you to join us in this online discussion on November 27, 2021, from 9am-11:30am. You can register through this link: https://forms.gle/AJvREKarV8p8ABD88
The Director of the Catholic development agency CAFOD, Christine Allen, welcomes Cardinal Parolin’s address on behalf of the Pope at the COP26 Climate Summit and says “time is running out” in the battle against climate change.
Around 30,000 people were estimated to have taken part in COP25 in Madrid. (Photo courtesy of Catholic Agency for Overseas Development)
By Lydia O’Kane 03 November 2021
As the COP26 Climate Summit continues in Glasgow, Scotland, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development in England and Wales (CAFOD) has joined Pope Francis’ call to act now in the battle against climate change.
Representing the Pope at the summit, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, addressed delegates on Tuesday telling them: “We can achieve the goals set by the Paris Agreement only if we act in a coordinated and a responsible way. Those goals are ambitious, and they can no longer be deferred.”
“Now is the time to act, urgently, courageously and responsibly. Not least, to prepare a future in which our human family will be in a position to care for itself and for the natural environment,” the Cardinal said.
Listening to those affected by Climate Change
Reacting to the Cardinal’s speech, the Director of CAFOD, Christine Allen, said, “Cardinal Parolin emphasised that the voices of communities hardest hit by the effects of the climate crisis must be listened to, and for world leaders to redouble their efforts to work together to provide the practical policies that match the demands of this crisis.”
She went on to say that “from the start of his papacy, Pope Francis has prioritised environmental issues, highlighting how the current global economic models, policies and industrial systems are disastrous to the planet, and the cause of untold suffering and injustice to the world’s most vulnerable communities.”
Climate justice
In an interview with Vatican Radio, Ms. Allen said: “It’s really critical that countries that have become wealthy through industrialization, and which have been fueled by fossil fuel, that we recognise the responsibility that we have to be able to really take the lead and to take the actions that are necessary, and Pope Francis is highlighting that. This is fundamentally a question of climate justice but it’s the people who are poorest in our world that have done the least to contribute to the changes in our climate that are paying the price, and they’re paying that price now.”
Church engagement
In early October, during the ‘Faith and Science: Towards COP26’ meeting held in the Vatican, Pope Francis, along with scientists and religious leaders, signed a document calling for the world to achieve net-zero carbon emissions as soon as possible; and for wealthier nations to reduce their own emissions and finance emission reductions by poorer nations.
Commenting on the Church’s response to the climate crisis, the CAFOD director underlined that “the Church is at the forefront of the climate issue because the Church is there in communities; those very communities that are facing the impact of climate change.”
“What we’re talking about is more droughts, more floods, more erratic weather that makes it much more difficult for people who are dependent upon the earth to grow crops and feed their families,” she said.
“So the Church is there in practice doing the support for communities, and I know this because CAFOD is doing that as well. We are supporting people and communities and Church-based organizations around the world in helping to adapt, in helping to be more aware of what can they do in order to respond to the climate crisis.”
Congratulations to the new sets of officers of the CBCP Council of the Laity of the Philippines (Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas), elected during the 22nd National Biennial Convention on October 22-23, 2021.
The new Board of Trustees will commence their term on January 2022 until December 2023.
The new officers are the following:
Position
Name
Organization
President
Raymond Daniel H. Cruz
Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon
Executive Vice-president
Albert A. Loteyro
Holy Name Society of the Philippines
Vice-president for the Ecclesiastical Province of Manila
Gertrudes E. Bautista
Diocesan Council of the Laity of Pasig
Vice-president for LUZON
Armin F. Ibarra
Diocesan Council of the Laity of Tarlac
Vice-president for VISAYAS
Rene Josef C. Bullecer, MD
Catholic Physician’s Guild of the Philippines
Vice-president for MINDANAO
Atty. Proculo T. Sarmen
Council of Lay Ecclesial Movements & Organizations in the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro (CLEMOACO)
Secretary
Teodoro G. Santiago
Archdiocesan Council of the Laity of Manila
Treasurer
Conchita M. de la Cruz
Catholic Women’s League
Auditor
Fatima M. Estacio
Diocesan Council of the Laity of Novaliches
P.R.O.
Xavier Padilla
Missionary Families of Christ
Trustee
Fe M. Barino
Cebu Archdiocesan Commission on the Laity
Trustee
Michael Bukuhan
Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation
Trustee
Edric Marco Florentino
Lord’s Flock Catholic Community
Trustee
Divina Lupe M. Lazaro
Responsible Parenthood & All-Natural Family Planning Network
Greetings of peace! Apart from the pandemic, our society today is battling with fake news, historical revisionism, and disinformation. The De La Salle Brothers of the Philippines would like to invite the respective members of your organization, community, congregation, diocese or parish to join us in fighting fake news and standing up for democracy.
We are working in partnership with Democracy Watch Philippines (DW), a citizen-led democratic initiative founded in 2013 that seeks to uphold democratic values through good governance initiatives and electoral reform. DW promotes honest, fair, and free elections and instills electoral integrity through its activities that include voter education campaigns and electoral reform advocacies.
For the 2022 elections, DW is organizing a group of Cyber Volunteers to receive training on digital advocacy and help engage and expand the reach of DW’s disinformation content and messages. Given the pandemic of disinformation we have seen since 2016, an organized group of cyber volunteers forms a key part of the “disinformation resistance” needed to transform the Philippine political environment.
We would like to invite one or two representatives of your organization to join us for an initial orientation meeting via zoom so we could discuss how we could enjoin many religious and Church people to become vanguards of truth and beacons of hope in our world today.
May we invite you to join us on September 23, Thursday starting at 11:00 am. We will target to end on or before 12:30 pm. Please use the link below to register. If you have any questions or concerns, send an email to zak.castl@delasalle.ph.
Let us reclaim the narrative of the gospel of Jesus and celebrate our 500th year of Christianity in the Philippines with renewed zeal to proclaim the good news!
Fraternally yours,
(Sgd.) Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC De La Salle Brothers
Pope Francis waves to pilgrims during his weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican on Wednesday, August 11, 2021. VATICAN MEDIA
By CBCP News August 11, 2021 Manila, Philippines
Cardinal Jose Advincula of Manila has asked for prayers for Pope Francis’ safety after Italian authorities intercepted an envelope containing bullets addressed to the pontiff.
“Let us pray that God may touch the hearts of people who sow fear, violence, lies, and violate human rights,” Advincula said over Radio Veritas on Wednesday.
Police in Milan are investigating the threat which reportedly originated from France.
The suspicious envelope containing three pistol bullets was flagged by postal workers at a mail sorting facility near Milan on Aug. 9.
“While investigation is ongoing on the origin and the motive of the envelope with three bullets for Pope Francis, let us continue to pray for his safety,” Advincula said.
In July, the pontiff spent 10 days in hospital for colon surgery.
Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Hungary and Slovakia in mid-September.
The Vatican also confirmed that the pope will attend the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow in November.
