Category: Uncategorized

We are once again at a crucial point in history. Under the helm of Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines had been living in a bed of untruths. The last presidential election saw the rise to political power of Rodrigo Duterte, a man who touted himself as capable of saving the Filipino people from the country’s longstanding problems of inequality and poverty. A plurality of 16 million Filipinos believed that Duterte was the man who will give voice to their desire for a better future. But his self-fulfilling prophecy was a big lie and his promises were empty rhetoric. Instead of uniting the Filipino people in a massive war against a dehumanizing poverty, Duterte divided the nation by creating a moral “us” against an immoral “them,” thus treating human life arbitrarily. This narrow moral worldview motivated Duterte to demonize minorities, silence dissent, weaken checks and balances, repress media freedom, and pursue discriminatory legalism. Yet Pope Francis sends out a strong reminder in Fratelli Tutti: We are either all saved together or no one is saved (FT 137).

The raging pandemic is an eye-opener to the catastrophic hubris of Duterte. The population is starving, people are dying, and Filipinos are desperate. Every Filipino bears the brunt from the consequences of our poor choice of leadership. But in the bleakness of our situation, a few good Filipinos choose to respond with empathy. The valor of our self-sacrificing frontliners and the emergence of kindness stations and community pantries all over the country has rekindled the bayanihan spirit that empowers communities to take responsibility for their most vulnerable members. The power to transform hopeless circumstances lies within ourselves. This grassroots effort is an antidote to apathy and frees us from dependence on savior figures. We need to establish a network of empowered communities, and they need to be sustained by national leaders who will build the enabling structures that provide communities the agency to improve their situation for a long-term common good. This is a mission which our Church shares, and we can make significant contributions.

We, the Seminarians’ Network of the Philippines, believe in the capacity of the Filipino’s bayanihan spirit to restore the civil society that Duterte sought to dismantle. The national elections in 2022 offer us the opportunity to embark on a common project of rebuilding our nation based on high principles (FT 178). The values of honor, integrity, compassion, and solidarity that have always sustained the Filipino spirit are at stake. We need to go beyond short-sightedness, petty provincialism, and mere superficiality in order to make better choices with far-reaching responsibilities and impact.

We call on all theology seminarians in the country to exercise their right to suffrage by registering and voting in the coming elections. We encourage each seminary to work with the local governments, social action centers, and communities to ensure that the election will be clean, honest, accurate, meaningful, and peaceful. We urge everyone to engage their circles of influence, especially our youth, in conversations that will help form their conscience in choosing leaders who live out their values. We enjoin each one to help build communities of solidarity and form leaders who will enable their flourishing. We need to learn from this populist regime how to build an inclusive political system in which no voice is silenced and wherein no Filipino is left uncared for. Only then can the Filipino nation reclaim its soul that was lost under the failed messiah that is Duterte. The Filipino is not a lost cause.

Seminarians’ Network of the Philippines
13 May 2021

Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas – KMP
May 11, 2021.

A timeline of injustice and neglect

Peasant leader Joseph Canlas was in stable physical condition before his illegal arrest and detention. The quick deterioration of his health in less than two months is unquestionably due to neglect of jail authorities, on top of severe and miserable jail conditions.

We particularly call the attention of BJMP Angeles District Warden Jsupt. Rebecca Manalo-Tiguelo who appears to belittle the plight of Canlas and other detainees. Last week, Canlas expressed that he was not feeling well but Manalo-Tiguelo simply dismissed Canlas’s ailment as ‘umaarte lang.’

If jail authorities thoroughly checked Canlas’s health condition, they would have known that he has hypertension and diabetes which makes him more vulnerable to COVID infection. If he received proper medical attention while in detention, then the risks could have been lessened.

After a series of quarantines, no COVID testing was done on Canlas (and reportedly also on other detainees) so there was no way to determine if a detainee, even under quarantine, is COVID positive or not.

We highly suspect that Joseph Canlas got COVID infected while under quarantine inside BJMP jail facilities.

March 30 – Peasant leader Joseph Canlas was illegally arrested in Barangay Sapang Maisac, Mexico, Pampanga. He was then brought to PNP Camp Olivas in San Fernando, Pampanga.

April 1 – He was transferred and put under quarantine at the CIDG Region 3. While in quarantine, he was not allowed to receive visitors even from family members and counsel.

‘With great power the Apostles bore witness to the resurrection
of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all.
There was no needy person among them, for those with property
or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale,
and put them at the feet of the apostles and they were distributed
to each according to need. (Acts 4:33-35)

The Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas, (LAIKO) composed of all Church-based National Lay Organizations and Archdiocesan/Diocesan Councils of the Laity in the country, express our unanimous support to the emerging phenomenon called, Community Pantries.

This movement, initiated by kindhearted individuals with the common objective of helping our countrymen who are most in need but with less capabilities, is unprecedented and unequalled during this crucial times of the pandemic.

People with lesser opportunities can somehow hope to survive even for a day, through the overflowing and collective generosity of community residents with much or less to share. Undoubtedly God is inspiring their hearts to, Give us this day our daily bread. (Mt 6:11)

We also give our recognition to everyone who boldly initiated actions in selfless service right from the start of this pandemic: anonymous individuals, movie and TV personalities, churches, groups, movements and private corporations. Moved by God’s love and generosity, they simply acted on what their faith dictates without expecting anything in return. From a single mustard seed it grew and now the fruits benefit everyone.

We encourage all our National Lay Organizations, Archdiocesan/Diocesan Councils of the Laity to extend their unwavering support to these initiatives.  Likewise, let us be alert & vigilant that these community undertakings be protected from forces who plan to divide and thwart whatever gains there is to be reaped.

For the LAIKO Board of Directors,

27 April 2021