Category: News

In its new ‘State of the Global Climate 2021’ report, the World Meteorological Organization says the past seven years have been the hottest on record and that greenhouse gas concentrations, sea-level rise, ocean heat, and ocean acidification set new records in 2021.

Vatican News
By Deborah Castellano Lubov

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released the new “State of the Global Climate 2021” report on Wednesday in Geneva, warning that the past seven years have been the hottest years to date and that four key climate indicators set new records last year.

The report will be used as an official document for the UN Climate Change Conference 2022, known as COP27, taking place in Egypt in November.

According to the report’s findings, the indicators of sea-level rise, ocean heat, greenhouse gas concentrations, and ocean acidification, set unprecedented highs in 2021.

Action required immediately

Despite illustrating the grim reality of how climate is changing in unprecedented ways, the report suggested there are “many options to alleviate the impacts, through both mitigation and adaptation.”

Even if adaptation improves, the text cautioned that climate change will worsen unless the underlying drivers are addressed. Only if all sectors and regions greatly and immediately reduce emissions, it stated, will it be possible to keep warming below 1.5° C.

Underscoring the harsh reality presented in the document, UN Secretary-General António Guterres also issued his own video message, stressing, “Time is running out.”

Renewable energy transition

He proposed five “critical actions” to jump-start the renewable energy transition, including renewable energy technologies, such as battery storage, being treated as essential and freely-available global public goods.

While calling for securing, scaling up, and diversifying the supply of critical components and raw materials for renewable energy technologies, he urged governments “to build frameworks and reform bureaucracies to level the playing field for renewables” and “to shift subsidies away from fossil fuels to protect the poor and most vulnerable people and communities.”

Guterres also said that private and public investments in renewable energy must triple to at least $4 trillion dollars a year.

“If we act together, the renewable energy transformation can be the peace project of the 21st Century,” the UN Secretary-General said.

Warning that “without renewables, there can be no future,” he urged both public and private leaders “to stop talking about renewables as a distant project of the future.”

“As today’s report makes clear, it’s time to jump-start the renewable energy transition before it’s too late”

By CBCP News
May 18, 2022
Manila, Philippines

The French-founded Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools have elected Brother Armin Luistro as their new superior general.

Luistro becomes the Lasallian Brothers’ 28th superior general and the first Filipino to hold the global position.

The election took place May 18 at the religious institute’s 46th general chapter in Rome.

Typically held every seven years, the election comes eight years after the previous government was elected in 2014 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Luistro joined the La Salle Scholasticate, the academic training centre of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, in Manila in April 1979, while studying at De La Salle University (DLSU).

He received the religious habit in October 1981, professed his first religious vows in October 1982 and his final vows in May 1988.

The 60-year-old started his teaching career at De La Salle Lipa in Batangas, where he worked as a religion teacher, class counsellor and campus minister from 1983 to 1986.

In August 2000, he co-founded with Indonesian BishopJosef Suwatan of Manado, the De La Salle Catholic University in Manado, now known as De La Salle University-Indonesia.

Luistro has more than 34 years of experience in both the private and public sectors.

From 2010 to 2016, he served as secretary of the Education department. Prior to this, he was at the helm of De La Salle University in Manila, serving as its president from 2004 to 2010.

In previous years, he also served as president of the De La Salle University System and several other La Salle schools. From 2017 to 2019, he returned to serve as President of De La Salle Philippines, the network of La Salle schools in the country.

He is currently a board member of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), the largest business-led non-governmental organisation in the country. In May 2019, he was appointed Brother Visitor of the Lasallian District of East Asia.

Luistro has also held various positions in other governmental and intergovernmental organisations, such as the Advisory Council of the National Youth Commission, the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines and the South East Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO).

Luistro holds a Doctorate in Educational Management from Saint La Salle University in Bacolod and a Master’s Degree in Religious Education and Values from De La Salle University in Manila. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Humanities from DLSU.

By CBCP News
May 18, 2022
Manila, Philippines

The head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has called on the faithful to keep the fight against ‘evil’ in the society going.

Bishop Pablo Virgilio David stressed the need to “keep a good attitude” and remain focused on issues that affect the nation “as we move forward together”.

“We should not surrender our hope to the forces of evil at work in our society,” David said in a message released a week after the country’s local and national elections.

The recent polls, the bishop said, had “made more obvious” the factors that continue “to challenge our democratic institutions”.

He was referring to “well-funded trolls” behind massive disinformation and rampant vote-buying “now made easier by online cash transfers”.

But if there’s anything to be hopeful for, according to him, “it’s the reawakened sense of patriotism among many sectors in Philippine society”.

The CBCP head, who is also the bishop of Kalookan, particularly cited the young people “who have discovered the power of solidarity for the common good”.

“Their desire to give a more concrete expression to responsible citizenship as the key to achieving good governance has been strongly manifested in their many spontaneous acts of volunteerism,” David said.

The prelate even went on to call it as “a rediscovery of what we used to call ‘people power’.”

“Now it has to be harnessed through the creation of well-thought out, well-planned, and better organized mass movement that will not only protect our democratic institutions but will also contribute proactively towards community development on the grassroot level and the formation of a better, more mature political culture,” he said.

Angel Marie Vier Albaracin, 6, attends canonization of St Marie Rivier who allegedly cured girl of fatal condition

By Joseph Peter Calleja
May 16, 2022

A Filipina child “miraculously” cured by a French nun was presented to the pope on May 15 during the canonization of ten new saints at the Vatican in Rome.

Angel Marie Vier Albaracin was healed in a miracle attributed to Saint Marie Rivier, a French nun who founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Presentation, according to the Congregation of Saints’ Causes.

Angel Marie, 6, from Bohol province in the central Philippines had been diagnosed with hydrops fetalis, a serious condition when an abnormal accumulation of fluid builds up around the lungs and the heart.

Angel Marie’s mother prayed to Saint Marie Rivier to heal her, according to Vatican reports.

“At first, the doctors did not believe that she would get well and were surprised when they became convinced that she was indeed free from the condition,” a cousin of the child, who wished to remain anonymous, told UCA News.

Bishop Abet Uy of Tagbilaran diocese in Bohol province witnessed the canonization at the Vatican.

“Who would expect that a little kid from Barangay Nahawan in Clarin, Bohol would walk in St. Peter’s Square and be near the Holy Father. This is called grace, a gift from God,” he said on Facebook.

By Archbishop-Emeritus Antonio Ledesma, SJ
May 11, 2022
Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines

Election Day, May 9th, 2022, has come and gone. We are left with the election results. But who are the real losers and winners? Ten challenges confront us as individuals and as a nation.

1. The massive DISINFORMATION campaign over social media by a particular candidate and his party cannot just be brushed aside. Over the past five to ten years, we are told, this online campaign has been stealthily carried out, reaching the minds and fantasies of cell phone users even in the remotest areas of the country. The dissemination of fake news about the “golden era” of the Martial Law period, the rehabilitation of the Marcos name, the downgrading of the reputations of other candidates, the casting of heroes as villains and villains as heroes — all this was planned with deliberation and strategic targeting of socio-economic classes as well as age groups.

How can the country prevent this form of brainwashing and “vote buying” in future elections? There are cyber libel laws, but can they be easily implemented? Do we require senders of anonymous online messages to identify themselves? Frequent repetition of lies can eventually be accepted as the truth, a lesson from Goebbels of the Nazi regime.

2. The lack of HISTORICAL AWARENESS of the iniquities of Martial Law, particularly among the young voters who were born after the 70’s and 80’s, has been pointed out. Has our educational system failed to instill in the minds of the younger generation the horrors of this period, much in the same way that we have bitter memories of World War II in the Philippines? Have media people also failed to provide an accurate picture of those dire periods in our history? We need to correct these deficiencies for the sake of truth-telling, and also to honor the memory of those victimized by Martial Law. One of these victims was my classmate, Evelio Javier, former governor of Antique, who was killed on the eve of the EDSA People Power Revolution.

3. We hear reports of RAMPANT VOTE BUYING done openly on Election Day, or earlier at nights, or through various ways such as distributing ATM cards, installment payments given before and after voting, etc. Has vote buying become the accepted practice for winning elections? What about the honest politicians that do not allow this? One particular presidential candidate has carried out her campaign with meager means of support, much less by vote buying.

We have existing laws against vote buying. Do we need stricter implementation of these laws? Can COMELEC or PNP itself station special guards that do not simply stand by but keep an eye on lines of vote buyers and sellers in the vicinity of the polls? PPCRV volunteers have tried to take photos of some of these practices, but these are isolated cases.

4. In addition to buying of votes, we are witnessing the buying of mayors and other officials. Several millions of pesos are involved in these transactions. Likewise, POLITICAL DYNASTIES have refined the practice of “winning over” local public officials to their side. The question often raised is: where does the money come from? Is this from the personal wealth of the politician or from the plunder of the public treasury? Are there no longer restrictions to the amount of campaign funds a candidate can spend? And how should these be reported? Is our political culture hopelessly damaged in this regard?

5. Religious leaders on the whole remain non-partisan when they use the pulpit as official representatives of the Christian community. But do they exercise their PROPHETIC ROLE in forcefully denouncing moral issues — such as extra-judicial killings, disinformation, non-payment of taxes, etc.? Many have spoken on pro-life issues, but should the clergy also talk about Social Justice and Option for the Poor, as well as the need for Good Governance?

By Ferdinand Patinio
May 10, 2022, 4:57 pm

MANILA – A Catholic priest urged the people to respect the decision of the Filipinos in choosing the leaders of the country.

Fr. Anton CT Pascual, president of Radio Veritas, said it is important to recognize the result of the election because it is one of the characteristics of an independent society.

“Let’s respect the rule of the majority from a relatively peaceful, clean and credible election,” he said in a radio interview.

“That’s (an) appreciation of the democratic ideals of the foundation of sovereign popular will and rule of law,” he added.

The statement came after presidential frontrunner Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. leads in the partial unofficial count of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), the citizen’s arm of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the May 2022 polls.

Based on the latest count, Marcos already has 31 million votes while his closest rival, Vice President Leni Robredo only has 14.7 million votes.

The former senator’s tandem, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, also leads the vice presidential race with 31.3 million votes. In second place is Senator Kiko Pangilinan with nine million votes.

Earlier, the pastors of the Catholic Church have called on the faithful to respect and accept the outcome of the election and urged them to reunite for restoration especially those who had a conflict due to differences in the candidates they supported.

At present, the PPCRV continues to canvass the fourth copy of the election returns (ERs) at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in España, Manila.

The church is also hoping that truth and justice will prevail in the 2022 national and local elections despite the reported issues including defective vote-counting machines and faulty Secure Digital (SD) cards.

The Comelec estimated that over 80 percent of the registered voters have participated in the polls this year. (PNA)

Landslide presidential victory for dictator’s son Ferdinand Marcos Jr leaves many clergy disappointed

UCAN News
By Joseph Peter Calleja
Published: May 10, 2022 10:03 AM GMT

Catholic clergymen and groups have expressed disappointment at the result of the Philippine presidential election by offering messages of support to Leonor “Leni” Robredo, the defeated candidate and the champion of many in the Church.

As counting came to a close in the May 9 election, frontrunner Ferdinand Marcos Jr was heading for a landslide win.

Many church leaders had supported his main rival Robredo, a former human rights lawyer and the current vice president.

“Thank Vice President Leni. At least, just for a few months. I lived in hope. We truly do not deserve a leader like you. Unfortunately, this country is not ready for good governance,” one priest, Jesuit Father James Gascon, wrote on Facebook.

Manila Cathedral vice rector Father Kali Llamado also shared his sentiments by thanking Robredo for her decision to run in the election despite the lack of machinery and support from big political families.

“It is my honor to stand with you, Vice President Robredo, for integrity, truth and for the common good,” said Father Llamado on his Facebook account.

“Let us remain peaceful in this electoral process. Let us remain hopeful that while the election count is soon to be over, no violent incidents may happen”

The San Lorenzo Church group called on all Filipinos to keep watch and to pray for the vice president for strength.

“Let us pray for Vice President Leni Robredo. Let us extend our support to the vice president and for those who won in the elections. May they truly be motivated to serve the nation,” they said in a statement.

Please circulate this to all your acquaintances and loved ones.

Before heading out to vote

Some quick reminders: Across the country, polls will open at 6 am, and election workers will accommodate voters up to 7 pm. The Comelec extended voting hours this year to accommodate lines that are expected to form due to social distancing measures in place due to the health crisis.

Double-check and familiarize yourself with the location of your polling precinct, or where you will cast your vote. You can check that here. (If you face any issue with the Comelec’s online precinct finder, here’s a quick guide on what do next.)

Preparing for the day: Prepare a list of who you will vote for to avoid making accidental markings on ballots, which may be read by vote-counting machines. Expect that lines can get long. If there are still voters outside the polling place at 7 pm, the Comelec said voting would continue.

“It will continue until such time all those inside or within 30 meters will be catered,” Commissioner Marlon Casquejo told lawmakers at the House of Representatives in November 2021.

Don’t forget to bring the following items with you:

1. Pen (to sign the election day computerized voters list [EDCVL])
2. Face mask
3. Face shield (if voting in an area under Alert Level  4)
4. You will not need to present a COVID-19 vaccination card or a negative COVID-19 test result to vote.
5. Take note: You can bring your list of who to vote for, but remember you cannot bring campaign materials.

At the polling place

There will be a single entry point in polling places to ensure that health protocols are observed among voters. You can expect the following to take place:

STEP 1: Temperature check

The Comelec has asserted that minimum health standards must be followed, and that it will observe measures such as temperature checks and the submission of COVID-19 health declaration forms.

Upon taking one’s temperature:

• If 37.4°C and below – Voter can go ahead and vote.
• If 37.5°C and up – Voter will be asked to rest for a few minutes before checking again.
• If 37.4°C after rechecking – Okay to go ahead

If still 37.5°C and up – Voting will be done in an isolated polling precinct to avoid potentially exposing other voters. In this situation, Marañon said the voter is presumed to have COVID-19 and so will need to be separated and assisted by election workers wearing the proper personal protective equipment.

It’s important to take note that if a voter may be suspected of having COVID-19 or is positive, he or she still has the right to vote. “The right to vote is a guaranteed right under the Constitution. So even if you are positive, you still have the right to vote,” Marañon said in a mix of English and Filipino during a recent episode of Rappler’s Ask Your Election Lawyer.

STEP 2: Identification

After you pass the temperature check, head to the voter’s assistance desk and give your name. You will then get directions to your specific polling precinct, or the room you’ll be voting in.

STEP 3: Get your ballot

Outside your precinct, look for your name in the posted computerized voters list. Approach any member of the electoral board or its support staff and state your name, precinct number, and other pertinent details asked.

At this point, your identity as a voter will be established. You do not need an identification card to vote, but Marañon advised to have one valid ID ready, in case the member of the electoral board will need it to establish your identity.

After this, the election worker on duty will say in a voice loud enough to be heard in the room that you will be voting. This is done to give any poll watcher the chance to object to your voting. After this, you’ll sign the EDCVL and receive your ballot.

Do not accept a ballot with tears, marks, or shades. Inspect the ballot carefully at the desk of electoral board because after you leave, any marks found will be presumed to be yours.

What if a crowd starts to form? The Comelec earlier decided it would be more feasible if there was no cap on the number of people allowed in a polling place at a specific time. But to prevent overcrowding, the electoral board has the authority to decrease the number of voters casting their ballots simultaneously inside the room if the headcount exceeds 50% of the place’s capacity.

In this case, a holding area can be set up next to the polling precinct, where voters will await their turn. Voters will be arranged on a first-come, first-served basis. The Comelec said giving numbers to voters to determine their sequence is “strictly prohibited.”

Voting

Step 4: Fill up your ballot

Ballots are divided by positions up for election: president, vice president, senator, House of Representatives member, governor, vice governor, provincial board members, mayor, vice mayor, councilors, and party list.

Vote only for the number of seats indicated per position:

President – Vote for a maximum of 1 candidate
Vice president – Vote for a maximum of 1 candidate
Senator – Vote for a maximum of 12 candidates
House of Representatives – Vote for a maximum of 1 candidate

Governor – Vote for a maximum of 1 candidate
Vice governor – Vote for a maximum of 1 candidate
Board member – The number of seats per district varies.
Mayor – Vote for a maximum of 1 candidate
Vice mayor – Vote for a maximum of 1 candidate
Councilor – The number of seats per municipality or city or district varies.

Party-list – Vote for a maximum of 1 group

Take note, you cannot vote for more candidates than the number indicated beside each position as this can invalidate your vote. For example, if you vote for 13 senators, when there are only 12 seats available, the rest of your votes in the senatorial contest will be considered invalid. You can undervote, or abstain from choosing the maximum number of candidates.

The Comelec will provide marking pens to shade ballots. Refrain from placing extra markings on your ballot. Fully shade the entire oval beside a candidate’s name to make sure it is counted by the vote counting machine (VCM). Don’t make an x-mark, check, or half-shade.

Do not take a picture of your ballot. This is an election offense.

Step 5: Cast your ballot

After filling out your ballot, keep it inside the ballot secrecy folder. Bring this to the VCM and insert it into the machine.

Do not leave right away. Wait for the machine to process your ballot. Once this is done, a poll clerk will mark your finger with indelible ink and will give you your voting receipt to review.

Check your voting receipt to see if it correctly reflects who you voted for, then put it in the designated box. If the receipt does not match who you voted for, bring it to the board of election inspectors to register your complaint. This will then be put on record.

Once done, you’ve officially voted!

– Rappler.com