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STATEMENT OF THE SANGGUNIANG LAIKO NG PILIPINAS ON ACCOUNTABILITY AND SAFE SPACES IN THE CHURCH The Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas firmly supports the call for...
A Devotee holds the image of the Child Jesus (Santo Niño) during the religious procession before the Eucharistic celebration to mark the feast of the Santo Niño in the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice in Diliman, Quezon City, on Jan. 15, 2023. (Photo by Jire Carreon)
Jire Carreon LICAS News Photos January 15, 2023
Devotees of the image of the Child Jesus, popularly known in the Philippines as the “Santo Niño de Cebu,” would cry on top of their voices “Pit Senyor!”“Pit Senyor!” is supposed to be short of the Cebuano “Sangpit sa Senyor!” or “Call on the Lord!”
Devotees of the image of the Child Jesus, popularly known in the Philippines as the “Santo Niño de Cebu,” would cry on top of their voices “Pit Senyor!” as they dance in honor of the Child Jesus during its “feast every third Sunday of January.
In the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice in the village of Diliman in Quezon City, women wearing traditional Philippine dresses dance to the church with images of the Child Jesus before the celebration of the Holy Eucharist on Jan. 15, 2023.
The devotion of Filipinos, especially people from the central province of Cebu, to the Child Jesus has deep historical roots. The image of the Santo Niño was brought to the country by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan on April 14, 1521, as a gift to Queen Juana of Cebu. She and her husband, Rajah Humabon, and about 800 natives, were baptized, thus establishing Christianity in the country.
Human rights activists welcome a court decision in Manila on Jan. 9, 2023, that dismissed perjury charges filed against leaders of a religious organization and human rights advocates. PHOTO BY MARK SALUDES/LICAS News
By LiCAS News
January 11, 2023 Manila, Philippines
A court in the Philippines cleared a Catholic missionary nun and several human rights activists of perjury charges that were filed by the country’s former national security adviser in 2019.
A Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court in the capital Manila acquitted the activists after the prosecution failed to establish “beyond reasonable doubt” that the accused “made a willful and deliberate assertion of a falsehood.”
Among those found not guilty were Sister Elenita Belardo, national coordinator of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP); women rights activists Gertrudes Libang and Joan Salvador; and human rights advocates Cristina Palabay, Elisa Lubi, Roneo Clamor, Edita Burgos, Wilfredo Ruazol, Gabriela Krista Dalena, and Jose Mari Callueng.
The case stems from a complaint filed by former National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon who claimed that leaders of the RMP, human rights group Karapatan, and women’s group Gabriela lied in their petition for a “writ of amparo” before the Supreme Court.
Esperon — who was a respondent in the amparo petition — accused the activists of calling RMP a “registered non-stock, non-profit organization” even as the Securities and Exchange Commission reportedly revoked the organization’s certificate of registration in 2003.
The Quezon City prosecutor’s office initially indicted the 80-year-ol Belardo, a member of the Religious of the Good Shepherd congregation. Esperon later appealed and included the other activists in the charge.
In a statement, Karapatan welcomed the dismissal of the case, calling it “a victory of truth and justice, against lies.”
The human rights group maintained that the case was “aimed at disrupting our work … in helping victims (of human rights violations) seek justice, in defending the rights of people.”
“We will continue to explore all options under domestic and international human rights mechanisms to hold the perpetrators of this form of judicial harassment accountable,” read the Karapatan statement.
Women’s group Gabriela expressed hope that “this positive decision augurs well for the calls to stop the attacks against human rights defenders in the country.”
The ecumenical group Promotion of Church People’s Response said the acquittal of the activists was “a much hoped for result.”
“However, the very struggle to overcome this charge pushed by [Esperon] underscores the great dangers in defending human rights in the Philippines.”
The group said the threats, harrassment, and other abuses faced by human rights defenders “are clear and present dangers.”
Ecumenical youth group Student Christian Movement of the Philippines also welcomed the dismissal of the case, saying “Our God is truly a God of justice and reason.”
“Through our faith and struggle, we can win against fabricated cases against human rights defenders and expose those who attempt to use the law for the defence of the selfish powerful,” said Kej Andres, the group’s national spokesperson.
“This victory is a joint effort not only by the legal teams of organizations, but also by the wide support of Filipino masses and Filipino religious who stand by the defense of human rights and defense of our faith to serve the marginalized,” he added.
The Rural Missionaries of the Philippines is a religious organization, which is inter-congregational and inter-diocesan in character, of religious women and men, priests, and lay people that was founded on Aug. 15, 1969.
It is a “mission partner” of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines, now known as the Conference of Major Superiors in the Philippines. The faith-based group is currently under scrutiny of the Philippine government for alleged terrorism financing and for allegedly being an aboveground communist organization.
To all Laiko Members: National Lay Organizations & Diocesan Councils of the Laity
Dear Brothers & Sisters:
The peace & love of the Lord!
As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our savior Jesus Christ this Christmas, we are pleased to invite you to an online Advent Recollection on Saturday, December 3, 2022, 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.
We have invited Fr. Jason Laguerta, Director of the Office for the Promotion of New Evangelization of the Archdiocese of Manila to facilitate the event with the theme: “Journeying Together as a People during the Advent Season”. Together let us prepare ourselves spiritually as we welcome His coming into our midst.
Kindly encourage all your members, family and friends to join this moment of grace, hope and thanksgiving.
Kindly register to join the Zoom room & be acknowledged. Please email: laiko_phils@yahoo.com.ph, messenger: Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas or Text: 0967- 4025652. The event is also live at the Facebook page of Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas.
By CBCP News November 18, 2022 Manila, Philippines
The Parents for Education Foundation, Inc. (PAREF), a network of 16 schools based in the Philippines, is holding the 3rd Jesus-Centered Life (JCL) International Conference this coming December 8.
In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, whose “ultimate purpose” according to St. Pope Paul VI is the universal call to holiness, the conference theme is “Holy and heroic: The courage to be Catholic”.
With over 30 years in his ministry, international speaker John Beaulieu from the Franciscan University of Steubenville in the US will speak on how Catholics can be heroically holy in their daily struggles.
An expert in youth evangelization, Beaulieu has worked in the Christian Outreach Office of the Franciscan University, and presently is its Director for Evangelization and Engagement.
In a recent press conference with Beaulieu, Dr. Raul Nidoy, and Danny Moran, the panel talked about how we can grow stronger and more courageous as we move on to the post-pandemic era.
“We are slowly going back to how our lives used to be, but it’s not as simple as we thought,” said PAREF Chair and President Danny Moran.
According to him, many changes and new challenges have occurred whether it be in the business sector or one’s own spiritual life.
Moran said it’s important to ask ourselves, “What are these difficulties, and how do we cope with all of these things? There has to be a lot of adjustments, but the bigger challenge is how we can be holy and heroic in this era.”
He suggested “beginning wherever we are– at home, in our daily lives, facing the situations that we encounter daily, whether it’s academic, athletic, or even professional, there has to be a lot of adjustments.”
Beaulieu stressed that despite the challenges and hardships presented by the post-pandemic era, people have to entrust their fears to the Lord, quoting Joseph Piper who once said, “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.”
To do this, the conference speaker heavily encouraged the need to pray, read the Bible and frequent the Sacraments “to put us in contact with the living Word of God” as a means of entering Him.
“This is so important: receive the sacraments. They give grace to us and draw us closer to Christ,” Beaulieu said.
Warm greetings from Church people-Workers Solidarity (CWS)!
CWS is a decade-old non-profit, ecumenical organization in support of workers’ rights and welfare. Workers are among the hardest hit by the worsening economic crisis exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and neoliberal policies that depress wages, destroy unions and attack workers. Our support has been carried out through our various programs including Education and Formation, Campaign and Advocacy, Welfare and Support Services and Networking. We are present in key cities in Metro Manila and in the Visayas.
As the year ends, CWS has endeavored to continue serving workers and farmworkers through four major activities this December:
CWS-National Capital Region Assembly on December 5
CWS-NCR will convene workers and church people to revive the NCR arm of CWS which was first launched on March 17, 2012. An expected 200 participants, mainly workers from key cities in NCR, as well as advocates from the church sector, are expected to attend. This assembly is timely because of the dehumanizing situation of the workers and their families.
Himamaylan, Negros Occidental Mercy Mission, December 14
Himamaylan has been under intense militarization since October, owing to state forces occupying, hamletting, and indiscriminately bombing rural communities under the guise of counter-insurgency programs. Farmers and farmworkers are slowly going back to their communities but face dire economic difficulties as their homes, crops, and animals have been destroyed. Reports state that they are under virtual military lockdowns and thus need support to allow for the entry of essentials such as food, medicine, and others.
CWS will be part of this endeavor together with other church people and faith-based organizations in Negros.
Paskuhan Para sa Manggagawa at ang kanilang Pamilya, December 26
Paskuhan para sa Manggagawa is a CWS Christmas activity for workers and their family. This year CWS plans to provide educational materials and toys to three hundred (300) children of workers in the communities under the parishes of San Pancracio in Grace Park, Kalookan City and Risen Christ in Balut, Tondo Manila, as well as workers of Regent Food Corporation in Pasig City who are on strike.
Once a week Kapihan/ Talakayan sa hanay ng Manggawa ng Tondo which will start in November 25, 2022
This activity is designed to reach out to the workers in Tondo specifically those working in Manila North Harbor Center which is composed of 16 piers and an international port and South Pier Harbor Center. All of these are owned by big tycoon billionaires, Ramon Ang and Enrique Razon. Low wages, contractualization and inhuman working conditions are some of the issues that should be addressed during the discussions.
This will be done every 7:30 am which is the time they are going home from work. This will be done in a parish near their workplace.
This Advent Season, we seek your generosity and kindness to bring simple cheers to our sister and brother workers who ironically, create the world’s wealth but are among those with least in life. Your support in the form of goods, toys, and financial resources will go a long way for any of these activities. These will surely bring happiness and smiles to the children of the workers.
You can send your donations through the BPI Kamuning Savings Bank account name Churchpeople-Workers Solidarity, Inc. and account # 3143-4239-39. Kindly advise us if you have deposited your donation so we can gladly acknowledge your support. For donations in kind such as educational toys and other gifts and items for the children, you can indicate the address where we can pick up the said items or you can bring these to this address, Bukal Center, ICM District House, 61, Banawe Street, 1114 Quezon City.
A climate activist sits near banners demanding protection of human rights, climate reparations, and countries’ adherence to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels, during the COP27 climate conference in Egypt’s Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh on Nov 18. (Photo: AFP)
UCANews November 21, 2022 Crossing the Line Father Shay Cullen, MSSC
This year, instead of buying a cut tree for Christmas, plant one instead
COP27, the environmental conference on climate crises that concluded in Egypt last week, heard the voice of the Catholic Church calling for climate justice and restitution payments for the loss and damage caused by the industrial nations against the poor. Many in the hard-hearted rich industrial countries refuse to admit and accept their responsibility and liability for causing the climate crises.
These are the powerful hidden forces of industry that capture government departments and compromise and bribe politicians and bend them to their will. Their will is for all to deny that there is a climate crisis and leave the world as it is, consuming fossil fuel non-stop.
The planet is heading for a cliff at full speed, as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, with the deniers and obstructers’ foot hard down on the accelerator. The tipping point of no return will soon be reached when the heating cycle of the planet continues indefinitely. Life on earth will be unbearable for creatures, plants and humans, the experts say.Ucan Store
Paying reparations for harm being done to poor nations is an urgent matter of conscience, according to Archbishop Nicolas Thévenin, Apostolic Nuncio to Egypt and deputy head of the Holy See’s delegation. He said that the rich industrial nations must pay compensation for polluting the planet and damaging the lives and environment of everyone else. In rather undiplomatic words, the rich countries must stand up and pay up.
“All humans have to save the environment and the planet from the destructive forces of irresponsible governments and industry”
“It is imperative that we build bridges of solidarity. Those who are most vulnerable to the ravages of climate change are urgently calling for real support in this moment of crisis.” he said, “to ignore them [those affected by climate crisis] would be a failure of conscience.”
Pope Francis in Laudato Si teaches that all humans have to save the environment and the planet from the destructive forces of irresponsible governments and industry that cause global warming and the massive disasters that are happening around the world.
The damage to small countries from floods, typhoons and drought is immense and is brought upon them by irresponsible governments that approve coal and oil power stations and are paying oil companies a trillion dollars in subsidies to explore more oil and gas. This is extreme hypocrisy and a total contradiction to their statements in the past and today at COP 27 where they vow to reduce CO2 and methane levels in the atmosphere. In fact, they are increasing the emissions of CO2.
The Philippines has 28 polluting coal-fired plants and industry moguls and some government cronies and politicians under their influence are demanding to build 20 more coal plants. Public opinion is steadfast against any more and clamors for free renewable power from nature.
The tycoons and government must invest in low-cost renewable energy generating sources like wind, solar geothermal, hydro and biomass. Oil companies worldwide are among the worst in causing CO2 and toxic contamination.
The papal encyclical has inspired many to join The Laudato Si Movement (LSM) of committed lay people, priests, religious, and hopefully bishops. Working together with many organizations, they are committed to saving the planet by raising awareness and inspiring action to reduce global warming and CO2 emissions.
The objectives are: “To urge political, business and social leaders to commit to ambitious climate action to solve this urgent crisis and keep the global temperature increase below 1.5 degrees Celsius (relative to pre-industrial levels). They can be found at www.Laudatosi.org.
The bishops and priests can roll up their sleeves and get out of the comfort of their palaces, rectories and cloisters”
The one group they overlooked to mention by name is the bishops of the world. They need to be inspired, motivated, and challenged to act and help save the creation from global warming. Sadly, not all bishops in the USA support Pope Francis on his stand in Laudato Si. Many are silent and some are misleading on climate change, says research by Creighton University in Nebraska.
If bishops around the world took up the call of Pope Francis and began their own environmental-changing project in their diocese and plant at least 1,000 tree saplings and care for them that would be a great contribution. They could teach by example and encourage every parish to have its own tree-planting project. They could offer a prize for the best effort.
The bishops and priests can roll up their sleeves and get out of the comfort of their palaces, rectories and cloisters and lead the people in planting trees. It’s a powerful way to teach the Gospel values and inspire and unite a parish.
