In a video message sent Saturday to participants in the VAX Live concert, Pope Francis stresses the need for deep healing, both from the effects of the Covid-19 virus and the virus of individualism and closed nationalism.
By Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ
“Receive a cordial greeting from this old man, who does not dance or sing like you, but who believes as you do that injustice and evil are not invincible,” said Pope Francis in a video message to participants at “VAX Live: The Concert to Reunite the World.”
The event, which takes place on Saturday, aims to celebrate the hope that Covid-19 vaccines are offering families and communities around the world. It is also part of a growing chorus of voices seeking wider and more equitable distribution of the vaccines.
Need for healing from the roots
Amid the “darkness and uncertainty” brought about by the ongoing pandemic, “we need light and hope. We need paths of healing and salvation,” Pope Francis said.
Elaborating further, he specifies that he is referring to is a “healing from the roots, which cures the cause of evil and is not limited only to the symptoms.”
The Holy Father, therefore, encouraged everyone not to forget the most vulnerable in the face of the pandemic, which has “produced death and suffering, affecting the lives of all,” and also contributed to exacerbating already existing social and environmental crises.
Individualism makes us indifferent to sufferings of others
Illustrating some of the ills we need to heal from, the Pope noted that within “these diseased roots, we find the virus of individualism, which does not make us any freer or more equal, nor more brothers” but rather makes us indifferent to the sufferings of others.
Other variants of this cultural virus, he said, are closed nationalism which prevents sharing of vaccines, and putting the laws of the market or intellectual property above the laws of love and the health of others.
Likewise, another variant is “when we believe in and foment a sick economy that allows a very rich few to possess more than all the rest of humanity, and when models of production and consumption destroy the planet, our ‘common home’.”
Everything is interconnected
Pope Francis went on to highlight the interconnectedness of everything, pointing out that we are united in nature and person, and thus every social injustice and act of marginalization against poor people also affects the environment.
He added that God instills in our hearts a new and generous spirit that enables us to abandon individualism in order to promote the common good.
It is a “spirit of justice that mobilizes us to ensure universal access to vaccines and the temporary suspension of intellectual property rights; a spirit of communion that allows us to generate a different, more inclusive, just, sustainable economic model,” the Pope said.
A better, post-pandemic society
The Pope then reminded everyone that “we do not come out of a crisis the same, we either come out better or worse.”
However, he noted that “the problem lies in having the inventiveness to look for paths that are better” in our efforts to deal with the crisis we are experiencing due to the pandemic.
He thus prayed that God may comfort the suffering and welcome those who have died into His kingdom.
He also implored our Lord that for us, pilgrims on earth, He may grant “the gift of a new brotherhood, a universal solidarity, so that we may recognize the good and beauty he has sown in each of us, to strengthen bonds of unity, of common projects, of shared hopes.” The Holy Father concluded his video message with an expression of gratitude to the participants for their efforts and a request for prayers for himself.
Guiuan, Eastern Samar – Manicani environmental defenders, Protect Manicani Island Society, Inc. (PROMISI), stage yet another silent protest at the Eastern Samar State University as the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of the Guiuan Marine Reserve Protected Landscape and Seascape (GMRPLS).
One of the GMRPLS PAMB’s agenda is to conclude the field assessment in the island of Manicani in relation to the application for a Special Use Agreement in Protected Area (SAPA) of Hinatuan Mining Corporation (HMC) for the planned causeway construction in Brgy. Banaag and the rehabilitation of the existing causeway in Brgy. Buenavista, Manicani Island.
In 2017, Hinatuan Mining Corporation (HMC), a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corporation attempted to file for the renewal of its mining contract in Manicani Island but was denied by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), amidst a camp-out held by PROMISI members and support organization in front of the of agency’s central office. HMC remains in the island despite the non-renewal of its mining contract.
Manicani Island along with portions of Homonhon Island, Candulo, Suluan, Tubabao, Calicoan, and their surrounding reefs, and mainland Guiuan municipality are part of the RA 7586 “National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992″ and RA 11038 Expanded National Protected Area System Act (E-NIPAS Act).
Melody Asia of the Partnership Mission for Peoples’ Initiatives (formerly Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc.) said, “HMC’s presence in the island and the un-rehabilitated former mine site contravenes Section 20 of the E-NIPAS Act that mandates all areas must be restored or rehabilitated by the permit holders once their permits, contracts, or agreements ended and without renewal.”
Fr. James Abella, Parish Priest of San Lorenzo Ruiz in Manicani Island said, “This project is quite alarming especially that it is going to be funded by HMC.” He continued, “Many are asking what it is for? Is the project their new ticket to operate again in the island?” PROMISI demands from GMRPLS PAMB to deny HMC’s application for a SAPA permit and compel the mining company to rehabilitate the mine site and altogether exit the island. They chide HMC for its lack of transparency and accountability to the community and demand from the mining company, to release their rehabilitation plan and discuss the same to the community. In this time of pandemic, they also call on the LGU to prioritize social and health services and support the livelihood of those negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The horrific scenes in Brazil and India show people dying in the streets from the lack of preparation by government for the protection of its citizens against the surge of Covid-19. They failed to impose control of mass gatherings and election rallies and now they reap the tragic results- a massive wave of infections. In India, 314,835 infections were recorded and as many 3,000 died in one day and every day. It still rages on.
The government has failed to provide oxygen to the hospitals and see that there are enough beds in response to a catastrophic calamity. Television shows people dying at the gates of the hospitals. The hospital wards are crowded with relatives, for sure they will be infected and many will soon follow their relatives to the grave. There is no way to save them with the lack of medicines and oxygen. The vicious virus attacks the lungs and racks the body with fever. It is a terrible disease and hundreds of thousands are dying around the world.
Everybody needs to know this and act with intelligence and protect themselves, their families and neighbours from the horrible virus. It knows no bounds, has no restrictions and is almost unstoppable. We have to live with it and hope that a rapid roll out of the vaccine distribution plan everywhere and especially in the Philippines will start soon and at least slow its rapid progress ripping through the population.
In the meantime, everyone should wear masks, wash their hands frequently with disinfectant and keep physical distance at all times. That is a small sacrifice to make to stay healthy and not get infected or infect someone else. There is no vaccine that will give 100 percent protection even if one gets a second jab. They all have a different efficacy. Science is terrific in discovering vaccines and cures and healing and giving people protection and teaching us about many things going on in the world around us.
Sinovac is all that is available in the Philippines at present but it is much better than no vaccine at all and everyone ought to get it when and where it is available. Published reports show AstraZeneca is 70.4 percent effective after the second shot. Pfizer-BioNTech is effective up to 94.70 percent after secind dose; Moderna 94.1 percent; Sinovac 50.40 percent after second dose.
The AstraZeneca vaccine-maker made a deal with the Philippines to supply 2.66 million injections. It has an average 70 percent effectiveness. However if a half-dose is first given and then later a full shot is given, the efficacy rate jumps to 90 percent. Pfizer and Moderna claim similar results. AstraZeneca is a much lower cost vaccine.The one thing the vaccine will do is to prevent a severe attack of the Covid-19 and a person will suffer a mild attack and recover quickly, some doctors say.
There is no reason for people to fear or hesitate to get vaccinated. There is just a feeling of nervousness, lack of confidence and knowledge and understanding and a fear perhaps of getting the Covid after the injection. That is unfounded and the person will be protected as the vaccine stimulates the immune system to resist the virus if it enters the person. Vaccines work and they have eliminated smallpox and polio in the world allowing millions to live a healthy life.
So the law becomes slack and justice never prevails. The wicked surround the righteous—therefore judgment comes forth perverted. (Habakkuk 1:4)
The Promotion of Church People’s Response urges the Duterte government to release UCCP Pastor Daniel “Dan” Balucio immediately.
Pastor Dan is a known community leader, humanitarian response coordinator, rights defender and social activist. He is the Secretary General of the Bagong Alyansa Makabayan-Bicol. As a Church leader, Pastor Dan is also the coordinator of Andurog Mayon, an Ecumenical Disaster Response and Management Committee of the Bicol Region Ecumenical Committee (BREC) in Albay Province and is currently engaged in humanitarian response in communities affected by Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses.
At around 3:30am, this morning, May 2, 2021, Pastor Dan and those in his home in San Isidro, Santo Domingo, Albay, were awakened by a raiding team of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) from Camp Simeon Ola, Legazpi City. A search warrant issued by Judge Edgar Armes (Presiding Judge of Branch 4, Regional Trial Court, 5th Judicial Region, Legazpi City) was used to raid Pastor Dan’s home and take him into custody.
During the incident, Pastor Dan’s family and National Council of Churches in the Philippines staff Almond del Rosario were commanded to lie face down. Shortly thereafter, ‘firearms and explosives’ were alleged to have been found.
We are gravely concerned for the safety and welfare of Pastor Dan, who is being held in Santo Domingo Municipal Jail. This fraudulent modus operandi of planting evidence against rights defenders and activists in the Philippines was already exposed in the arrest of journalist Lady Ann Salem on December 10, 2020 in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. We urge the courts to dismiss any charges against Pastor Dan and release him. Fabricating and planting of evidence must not be tolerated.
Stop the attacks on activists! Defend the defenders! Drop any and all fabricated charges against Pastor Dan Balucio and release him immediately!
Reference: Father Rolly de Leon and Rev. Mary Grace Masegman Co-Chairpersons Promotion of Church People’s Response
“Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40b)
The latest onslaught of cases filed against UCCP leaders for their ministry with Lumad in the sanctuary at UCCP-HARAN in Madapo Hills, Davao City, Mindanao is yet another example of the weaponization of the law under the Duterte administration. Since bank accounts of UCCP-HARAN were frozen a few weeks ago for supposed ‘terrorism financing,’ the reported warrants of arrest for Bishop Hamuel Tequis and others for various other infractions at the UCCP-HARAN lay bare the repressive state efforts to close this Church ministry and force another displacement of Lumad that they view as critics of the Duterte administration.
The Promotion of Church People’s Response stands in solidarity with the UCCP and the affected Lumad to call for peace-building and healthy resolution of any identified weaknesses in the administration of the UCCP-HARAN ministry with displaced Lumad. We stand firmly on the imperatives of Christian faith that guide the mission and ministries of Bishop Hamuel Tequis and other leaders of the UCCP. Furthermore, we sound the alarm on these latest efforts to label as ‘terrorism’ what is clearly Church ministry; this is another manifestation of the clear and present dangers for increased repression and oppression under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and other similar laws.
The UCCP-HARAN ministry with displaced Lumad has been an effort to care for the ‘least of these’ among our fellow Filipino brothers and sisters, as an expression of Christian faith. By shifting our lens to peacebuilding and upholding the civil liberties and human rights of the Lumad, we can instead seek to address the roots of armed conflict in the countryside. This is a more viable course of action, so that the displaced Lumad who sought sanctuary at the UCCP-HARAN would be able to return to their ancestral lands. In the meantime, we urge the Davao City government and other civil society groups to support the noble efforts of the UCCP to improve the sanctuary at UCCP-HARAN. Any deficit in compliance with regulations would simply be a reflection of the great need vs. limited resources, cultural differences, and much-desired improvements in social services.
The weaponization of the law against Church ministries and Church leaders exposes the callousness of this government, which seems to prefer repression and meting out more suffering, both on the marginalized and on those who try to help them. Thankfully, it also highlights the Christian values and hearts of service of those who dare to provide sanctuary and engage in mission, despite clear challenges and great need. These last years under the Duterte administration have exacerbated the ‘un-peace’ in Mindanao. We stand in solidarity with Bp. Hamuel Tequis and other leaders of UCCP: their charity, kindness, and services demonstrate hearts that are in the right place. Using a peacebuilding framework, the government could more productively engage any concerns on the UCCP-HARAN sanctuary. Instead, they have chosen to haul Church leaders into court, as if serving the poor is now criminal in the Philippines!
#StopTheAttacks #DefendTheDefenders Hands Off Bishop Hamuel Tequis!
Reference: Fr. Rolly de Leon and Rev. Mary Grace Masegman, Co-Chairpersons Promotion of Church People’s Response
