Category: Documents

Rationale and Reflection on the Proposed Theme

Worldwide, the Year 2020 presents unimaginable complex challenges brought about by the Corona Virus Infectious Disease, known as “COVID-19” pandemic. In the Philippines, one vibrant part of everyday life that has been most affected is our religious practices as Catholics around the country. Yet despite the closing of our churches and postponements of the conduct of traditional sacraments and rituals, we, the Filipino Catholics, with the openness and creativity of our parish communities and use of information technologies and social media, our expressions and spirituality of Catholicism remained present and strong amidst this pandemic.

Thus, for this year 2020, our National Catechetical Month celebrates “fruitful catechesis” signifying the fundamental lessons of our Catholic faith, which bear its most precious fruits during the times of crises. These catechetical fruits bring forth the missionary character of how our Catholic faith heals, and how this faith shepherds us in becoming witnesses of the new evangelization.

With this in mind, we cull our Catechetical Month’s theme from Chapter X, Catechesis in the Face of Contemporary Cultural Scenarios, of the New Directory for Catechesis (2020) released by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization. The chapter describes Catechesis in (a) situations of pluralism and complexity; (b) the context of ecumenism and religious pluralism; and (c) socio-cultural context. Our theme reflects the current year’s focus in our nine-year era of New Evangelization dedicated to Year of Ecumenism, Interreligious Dialogue and Indigenous Peoples.

Without God revealing Himself, man cannot know God. God always takes the initiative, not only with regards to salvation, but with regards to everything else in our lives. The faith, which is man’s response to what God has revealed (CCC, 26) must be reactivated “among men and render it conscious and fruitful by means of opportune instruction” (Christus Dominus, 14) through catechesis. From the early history of the Church, the name given to the total process of making disciples and imparting the teaching of God’s Word has been “catechesis” (CCC, 4-5).

September 9, 2020

Toward a C-22 (Covenant for the 2022 Elections): Our Unity Statement

Two years from now, we will elect a new President and Vice President, as well as other national and local officials. Even at the risk of stating the obvious, the national and local elections should push through on May 9, 2022.

Any excuse to postpone the elections as scheduled is utterly unacceptable. As the country adjusts to the effects of the global pandemic, we should all the more protect and uphold our basic rights, including the right to suffrage.

With this unity statement, we put on record our commitment to preserve our democratic institutions that freedom-loving Filipinos have fought so hard to restore, even at the cost of their own lives.

Let their struggles and deaths not be in vain as we fight those who think that elections can be dispensed with, as they plan to lift term limits of incumbent officials by changing the form of government.

We challenge the powers that be, as well as various political parties, party-list groups and the Commission on Elections, to similarly put on record their commitment to holding the elections on May 9, 2022. They should sign a Covenant for the 2022 Elections (C-22) with these words: “We commit to holding safe, free, fair, credible and transparent elections on May 9, 2022.”

We likewise call on the public to register. May this serve as proof that we want elections to push through.

Much as there had been various covenants for clean and honest elections in the past, our proposed C-22 is crucial as those in power need to dismiss speculations about a “no-elections” (no-el) scenario given the push for charter change and the shift from presidential to parliamentary system.

The right to suffrage should never be compromised. All of us should remain committed in promoting and upholding safe, free, fair, credible and transparent elections. Let it be said that our C-22 is hardly a catch-22.

August 18, 2020

“Because the pursuit of justice has to continue…. receiving death threats has already become one small part of our work…” These were the brave words of Zara Alvarez when she was interviewed last year by UCANEWS. Just last night, Zara Alvarez took the bullets from her assassin. Those who wanted to silence a woman of dedicated service for the poor, yes, they murdered her.

In 2018, Zara was tagged as a terrorist in a case filed before the Department of Justice. Even if her name was eventually deleted from the list, threats to her life continued, culminating in this violent act that is widely deemed as another case of extrajudicial killing, in pursuance of the state’s anti-terrorism campaign.

Zara is a human rights champion in the Negros island, an activist, organizer and ecumenical church worker. Her active involvement in the Church People -Workers Solidarity is worthy of emulation – always reminding us to be prophetic in our work of evangelization and social justice.

Zara, they imprisoned you of fabricated charges; yet, you were declared innocent by the court.

Zara, they are afraid of you; though a petite woman yet capable of condemning injustice and ever-ready to organize farmers, peasants, workers, jeepney drivers and even church people.

Zara, they took your life, believing that they can silence the cause you are fighting for… But no, Zara, your martyrdom in the cause for justice will inspire us to advance the cry for justice – the cry of the oppressed.

Zara, you are a courageous witness in the cause for social justice.

As you said: “I cannot leave everything behind while everyone I know is being killed…”

I bleed of this never-ending injustice and violence, someone closest in my work with the oppressed is murdered. I just cannot believe this continuing madness of senseless killings! These systemic killings of human rights defenders and activists must be condemned and must stop! Our responsible agencies must pursue justice and accountability on those responsible and should never allow impunity of criminals doing senseless executions of Filipinos!

I thank the Lord for knowing you, Zara, my dear little child of struggle. I promise to ever continue our work in the service of God’s poor. You inspired me in many ways to be a pastor of the anawim of God’s kingdom.

Justice for Zara Alvarez!

Justice for all the victims of senseless killings!!

Dear friends and allies,

Warmest greetings!

We are reaching out to you for solidarity and support. On August 10, Randall “Ka Randy” Echanis, Anakpawis chairperson, KMP secretary-general, and NDFP peace consultant, was stabbed to death by state agents.

For five decades, Ka Randy led a life of service to the people. His was a life of achievements for the people’s liberation achieved through painstaking perseverance in the face of seemingly insurmountable hardships and sacrifice.

Ka Randy’s death is not simply the death of a man, it is part of a fascist regime’s insidious acts against the people. This can be seen not only in the brutal and cowardly manner of his murder but also in the desperate attempt at covering it up as a common crime done by armed state agents. Seeking ​#JusticeForKaRandy ​is part of advancing the people’s struggle for land and peace, as can be learned from looking back at Ka Randy’s life.

Coming from a lower-middle-class family, Ka Randy was first exposed to activism as a college student in the late 1960s when he joined rallies condemning the US’ war of aggression against Vietnam. He then joined the Kabataang Makabayan (KM – Patriotic Youth) and participated in the First Quarter Storm of 1970.

By mid-1970s, Ka Randy was among the activists who heeded KM’s call to “Serve the People” in anticipation of and response to the Marcos fascist dictatorship and the total erosion of all illusions of democracy. As with many activists during his time, he was compelled to go underground and went to the countryside. There he helped in peasant education and organizing work in Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, and Ilocos regions.

He was detained three times, first under the Marcos dictatorship (1983-1986), then under the Cory Aquino regime (1990-1992), and then under the Arroyo regime (January – July 2008).

 After his release, each time, Ka Randy goes straight back to work for the interest of the people.

Ka Randy played a role in the formation of human rights advocacy organization Karapatan in 1995, and was a founding member of the First Quarter Storm Movement in 2001. He has represented the Philippine peasantry in various international forums and was a delegate in the founding assembly of the International League of People’s Struggles in 2001. From 2002, he served as a peace consultant for the NDGP-GRP peace talks. Ka Randy also served as a consultant of Anakpawis Partylist since 2007, through the terms of Rafael Mariano, Fernando Hicap, and Ariel Casilao. From 2016 to 2017, he actively participated in the peace negotiations between the GRP and NDFP.

Ka Randy consistently participated in forming the foundations of a nationwide peasant and national liberation movement, persistently consolidating and building these movements through various victories and defeats, all amid the rabid fascist attacks of successive reactionary regimes. His death is wanted only by despotic landlords and militarist peace spoilers.

We ask you to:

1. Release statements ​calling for justice for Ka Randy. Any other form of support such as moral, financial, and material, especially for the immediate needs of laying his remains to rest and the supporting the loved ones and colleagues he has unwillingly left behind.

2. Send appeal letters ​to the following government agencies urging them to act upon the apprehension of Echanis’ assassins

Department of Justice
Padre Faura Street, Ermita, Manila 1000
communications@doj.gov.ph | (+632) 8523 8481 to 98
https://www.facebook.com/dojphilippines.official/

Secretary of Justice Menardo Guevarra
Direct Line No.: 8521-8348
Telefax No.: 8526-2618
Trunkline No.: 8523-8481 loc. 217
Email Address: ​osecmig@gmail.com

Commission of Human Rights

SAAC Building, UP Complex, Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, 1101
(02) 8294-8704
+63 936 068 0982 (Globe)
+63 920 506 1194 (Smart)
chad.pasco.chr@gmail.com