Monitor

CBCP

MAY 14 - 27, 2018, VOL. 22 NO. 10 CBCPMONITOR@AREOPAGUSCOMMUNICATIONS.COM

PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE

THE CROSS A3: NEWS A6: LOCAL NEWS B1: PASTORAL CONCERNS
A SUPPLEMENT PUBLICATION
Congolese bishop shares struggles of priests who Bishop urges: Let us entrust the nation to Mary Address of Pope Francis to the members of the
OF KCFAPI AND THE ORDER OF
THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS do not have enough to eat Neocatechumenal Way on the occasion of the 50th
anniversary of the “Way” in Rome

‘Mockery of
democratic process’
Bishops hit ouster of Chief Justice Sereno
By Roy Lagarde

A NUMBER of Catholic bishops

have expressed concern over a
high court decision that ousted the
country’s top judge Maria Lourdes
Sereno.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop
Broderick Pabillo said Sereno’s
ouster by her colleague in the
Supreme Court “subverted
democracy”.
“The Supreme Court fell.... It
self-destructed by granting the
quo warranto. It fell from being
a bastion of independence in our
democratic system,” said Pabillo.
By a vote of 8-6, the SC on May 11
granted the government’s petition
to invalidate Sereno’s appointment
over alleged violations in the
appointment process, preempting
an impeachment proceeding
against her in the lower house.
Aside from the petition, Sereno
also faced an impeachment
complaint over alleged failure to
declare her wealth and for violating
court procedures.
The high court also declared
Sereno’s position vacant effective
immediately and ordered the
judicial and bar council to begin a
new selection process.
Sereno is expected to file a motion
for reconsideration.

‘Sad day for democracy’

Retired Bishop Teodoro Bacani of
Mockery / A6 Ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno waves to supporters gathered outside the Supreme Court in Manila on May 11, 2018. VINCENT GO

Church’s social justice arm says

Duterte has no word of honor
Cardinal Tagle leads ‘Collegio Day’ in Rome,
appeals for end to discrimination
CARDINAL Luis Antonio
Tagle of Manila has appealed
for an end to discrimination
against people of different
cultures and faiths as he led
the “Collegio Day” celebration
in Rome on Sunday.
The celebration was
highlighted with a liturgical
service at the Pontificio
Collegio Filippino (PCF),
which gathered the Filipino
community in Italy’s capital.
Kontratwalisasyon and Defend Job Philippines tear copies of the signed Executive
Order No. 51 of President Rodrigo Duterte on contractualization during a press briefing The cardinal’s homily
in Manila, May 3, 2018. PHOTO FROM DEFEND JOB PHILIPPINES stressed the importance of
valuing other people without
ON the feast of Saint Joseph workers. discrimination.
the Worker, Cardinal Luis He said that by policies that According to him, that is
Antonio Tagle of Manila has promote a more inclusive, the way a person who knows
called for policies that protect responsible and equitable Jesus treats people — as
and defend the dignity of society, “we can overcome friends and equals.
work and the rights of Justice / A6 “We have this tendency to
discriminate and the other
group becomes mysterious
to us because we don’t know
them, we don’t befriend
them. And the more that
we don’t know them, our
suspicion gets deeper,” Tagle
said.
According to him, mercy
reminds us that “God always
love first” and his love is not
something we earn because
that is unconditional.
“God’s love builds bridges”
he also said, adding that
Jesus’ grace dismantles the
barriers between people.
PCP is the residence of
Filipino diocesan priests
studying in catholic
universities in Rome.
As a pontifical institution,
the Collegio is directly under
Pope Francis, through the
Vatican’s Congregation for
Catholic Education.
At the same time, the
Collegio administration
reports directly to the
Catholic Bishops’ Conference
of the Philippines which has
on Episcopal Commission
on the PCF that is currently
chaired by Tagle.
Before coming to Rome,
Tagle met with the Filipino
community in New York
and New Jersey wherein
he appealed for support to
the Collegio’s scholarship
fund, to cover board and
lodging, tuition fees and
health insurance.
The PCF also needs help for
its daily operations, ongoing
programs, maintenance,
renovations, among others.
The Collegio is currently
renovating its 57-year old
industrial grade kitchen that
will eventually serve up to 80
priests, sisters and lay staff
on a daily basis.
It also trains a number of
volunteer overseas Filipino
workers, who, after a week of
hard work in their employers’
homes, spend time with each
other learning new culinary
and garden skills.
There are currently
about 27 Filipino priests
at the PCF from 20 out of
the 86 archdioceses and
dioceses in the Philippines.
(CBCPNews)

PH marks 400 years since the arrival of Our Lady of Mount Carmel image
THE 400th anniversary of the
devotion to Our Lady of Mount
Carmel in the Philippines tells
Filipinos to look back to the Blessed
Mother amid violence and other
problems besetting the nation,
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle said.
In a “noisy world” that refuses
to listen to the cries of people,
especially the poor, he urged the
faithful “to relive the spirit of
Carmel in the heart and life of
Mother Mary”.
“I hope that that the sound of
guns and grief will stop and be
replaced with silence caused by true
Carmel / A6
Slain Fr. Mark Ventura laid to rest
MAKING his final trip to the
cathedral where he was ordained,
Fr. Mark Ventura was eulogized as
martyr for the poor and crusader for
social justice in Cagayan province.
More than a thousand people on
May 7 gathered at the Saints Peter
and Paul Cathedral in Tuguegarao
City where the priest’s coffin was
placed on the floor throughout the
entire funeral mass.
“We condemn in strongest terms
this brutal and cowardly act,” said
Tuguegarao Archbishop Sergio
The image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel arrives at the Philippine Coast Guard headquarters in Manila Utleg in his homily.
after a fluvial procession at the Manila Bay marking the 400 years of its arrival in the Philippines, May Ventura was the first to be
4, 2018. ROY LAGARDE
ordained priest by Utleg when he
assumed the post as Tuguegarao
archbishop in 2011.
Utleg said he was expecting
Ventura, a young but “zealous and
dedicated” priest, to have “a long
and fruitful” ministry; but only
ended from an assassin’s bullet.
What was the reason for his
death?
The archbishop said one thing is
for sure: “he was killed by a hired
killer”.
Hired killers, he said, thrive in a
society where many people are poor
and jobless, where it is profitable
to commit a crime “and where
Slain / A6
A2 WORLD NEWS May 14 - 27, 2018, Vol. 22 No. 10 CBCP Monitor

Report promoting abortion Vatican Briefing

in developing nations Pope Francis prays for victims of deadly Indonesian attacks

denounced as ‘grotesque’
WASHINGTON D.C.— A report
calling for access to contraception
and abortion in the developing
world is an example of ideological
colonization and cultural arrogance,
warned a family author and scholar.
“By what moral right do
Westerners send the message that
the world would be a better place
with fewer Africans in it?” said Mary
Eberstadt, senior research fellow at
the Faith and Reason Institute.
“Such campaigns are going to
look as ugly in history’s rearview
mirror as the twentieth-century
eugenics movement does today,”
she told CNA.
Eberstadt was responding to
the newly-released Guttmacher-
Lancet Commission report, which
declared a need for universal access
to contraception and birth control
within the next 12 years, particularly
in the developing world.
The Commission believes that
these goals are “consistent with,” yet
broader than, the United Nations’
2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development.
The findings were published last
week in the medical journal The
Lancet.
They discussed “sexual and
reproductive health and rights”
(SRHR), a term defined by the report
to mean gender-based violence,
sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/
AIDS, abortion, contraception,
infertility, reproductive cancers,
and maternal and newborn health.
In addition to the developing
world, populations that were
identified as having “distinct needs”
in this area included adolescents,
sex workers, intravenous drug
users, immigrants, and refugees.
Failure to embrace the goals
outlined by the Guttmacher-Lancet
Commission’s agenda have harmed
women and put lives at risk, the
report claims.
“There is compelling evidence
that countries or governments
that do not prioritize SRHR have
disproportionately poor health
indicators. For example, those
countries with restrictive abortion
laws contributed most to the
global burden of 25 million unsafe
abortions.”
There is an “urgent need to change
the narrative” on these issues, said
one of the included commentaries in
the report, particularly highlighting
the poorer parts of Africa and in
Southeast Asia.
The Commission found that the
cost of promoting abortion and
contraception to the developing
world would come out to about nine
dollars per person, per year, which
they claim will “save lives.”
However, Eberstadt objected
to the idea that Westerners have
the moral standing to promote
contraception and abortion in
developing nations.
She warned that the rhetoric of
the report will not age gracefully
and will one day be likened to
eugenics campaigns.
“The spectacle of pale elites
from increasingly barren societies
trying to reduce the fertility of
darker people in other societies is
intrinsically grotesque,” she said.
(CNA/EWTN News)
After multiple bombings at churches in Indonesia left 11 dead
and dozens more injured, Pope Francis prayed for the repose of
the souls of those who died and asked God to bring an end to
hatred and violence. “I am particularly close to the dear people
of Indonesia, in a special way to the Christian communities of the
city of Surabaya who have been strongly hit by the serious attack
against places of worship,” the pope said May 13. He offered his
prayer for the victims and their relatives, and asked pilgrims to pray
with him for “the God of peace to stop these violent acts, and that
in the heart of all may be found space not for hatred or violence,
but for reconciliation and fraternity.” (Elise Harris/CNA)
Pope’s Lamborghini fetches nearly $1 million for charity
at auction
A custom-built 2018 Lamborghini Huracan coupe autographed
by Pope Francis raised nearly $1 million at a Sotheby’s auction
May 12 in Monaco. The Italian luxury carmaker donated the
white vehicle with gold stripes—to match the white and yellow of
the Vatican City flag—to the pope in November. The pope put his
diminutive signature on the car’s hood, then put the vehicle up for
auction to raise money for charity. The final selling price of 809,000
euros (US$970,000) outstripped its pre-auction estimated price
range of $300,000 to $450,000.Of the money raised at the May
12 auction, the bulk of the proceeds, 70 percent, will go to the Iraqi
city of Ninevah, which had been occupied and raided by Islamic
State in the mid-2010s. (Carol Glatz/CNS)
Christian persecution urgently calls churches to seek unity,
pope says
Seeking Christian unity is more urgent than ever because of
the ongoing persecution of Christians, Pope Francis told an
Orthodox leader. Meeting with Metropolitan Rastislav, primate
of the Orthodox Church in the Czech and Slovak Republics, the
pope said the “suffering of many brothers and sisters persecuted

Mosque attack ‘wreaks havoc’ on religiously because of the Gospel urgently calls us to act in seeking greater
unity.”The primate met with the pope at the Vatican May 11 as
part of a May 9-12 pilgrimage to Rome; during his visit he also
tolerant South Africa, bishops say met with Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council
for Promoting Christian Unity, and celebrated the Divine Liturgy
at the tomb of St. Cyril in Rome’s Basilica of St. Clement. Sts. Cyril
and Methodius are honored by European Catholics and Orthodox.
Known as the Apostles to the Slavs, the two brothers preached the
Gospel throughout Central and Eastern Europe in the late ninth
century when the churches of Rome and Constantinople were still
united. (Carol Glatz/CNS)

Embezzlement trial of former Vatican bank official begins

The Vatican has accused a former director of the Vatican bank
and his lawyer of money laundering and embezzlement, saying the
men skimmed an estimated 57 million euros (about $68 million)
off profits from the sale of Vatican properties. The trial of Angelo
Caloia, who served as president of the Institute for the Works of
Religion, the formal name of the bank, and his lawyer, Gabriele
Liuzzo, began in the Vatican courtroom May 9.The Vatican had
announced in late 2014 that the two men—along with Lelio Scaletti,
the former director general of the bank—were under investigation
in a case involving the sale of 29 Vatican-owned buildings in Rome
and Milan between 2001 and 2008. Scaletti has since died. During
the investigation, the Vatican had frozen a total of about 17 million
euros ($20 million) in the Vatican bank accounts of the three
men. At the opening of the trial May 9, Gian Piero Milano, the
Vatican’s chief prosecutor, said that at the Vatican’s request, the
FILE PHOTO/CNA

Swiss government froze another 10 million euros ($11.8 million)

in a Swiss account in Liuzzo’s name. (Cindy Wooden/CNS)

DURBAN, South Africa— In the
wake of a mosque attack that left
one dead and two other critically
injured, the Catholic bishops of
South Africa have offered their
prayers and condolences to the
victims, and strongly denounced
the attack as an act of religious
violence.
“We heard with great shock
and sadness of the attack on the
Imam Hussein Mosque in Verulam,
Durban and the tragic killing of an
imam and the injury of two other
people. On behalf of the Catholic
Church in Southern Africa, we
offer our deepest condolences
and sympathy to the family and
friends of the murdered imam,
and wish the injured a speedy and
full recovery,” the bishops said in a
statement. “Our hearts go out to the
community of the Imam Hussein
Mosque who have been so brutally
violated. You are in our thoughts
and prayers.”
On May 10, multiple assailants
attacked the Imam Hussain Mosque
Vatican OKs sainthood cause for Iraqi priest,
during midday prayers, slitting the
throat of an imam and critically
injuring two others.
Authorities are unsure of the
motive of the attackers, but have
said that the attack has “elements of
extremism” that could point to the
involvement of the Islamic State,
according to The Guardian.
The Catholic bishops said that
they “strongly condemn this bloody
and futile attack and call upon
law enforcement agencies to work
diligently to bring the perpetrators
to justice.”
Local Islamic leader Aftab Haider
told the Guardian that the mosque
was likely attacked for being a Shia
mosque, and could be connected to
a Sunni faction of the Islamic State,
which has continually threatened
Shia Muslims in South Africa.
“There has been a huge organized
hate campaign in different mosques,
radio stations and on social media
against the Shia community. There
have been threats at this mosque
before, but not in the weeks leading
up to this incident,” Haider said.
“It has all the hallmarks of the
ISIS style of operations in Iraq and
Syria.”
This kind of attack is
uncharacteristic for South Africa,
which is known for its religious
tolerance and in which only about
1.5 percent of the population
identifies as Muslim.
“Religious tolerance has long
been a characteristic of South
African society and those who
wish to wreak havoc, and set
one faith community against
another, must never be allowed
to succeed,” the bishops said. “We
will continue to pray for peace in
our country and throughout the
world, a peace that is based on
respect for the dignity and rights
of each human being.”
The bishops’ statement was
issued on May 11 and was signed
by Archbishop Stephen Brislin,
president of the Southern African
Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
(CNA/EWTN News)
See the yearning for peace in eyes of migrants, refugees,
pope says
Building peace starts with small gestures and kind words,
and in today’s world it must include being generous to migrants
and refugees, Pope Francis told a major gathering of German
Catholics.”Wherever the human person as such is not considered
a gift of God, there follows disagreement, resentment and hatred,”
Pope Francis said in his message to the 101st Katholikentag, a
national Catholic convention running May 9-13 in Munster. Pope
Francis told German Catholics, “I am deeply worried about the
people, especially children and young people, who are forced to flee
because of war and violence in their countries.””They knock on our
doors asking for help and a welcome,” the pope said. “In their eyes
we see a yearning for peace.”The theme of the 2018 Katholikentag,
“Seek peace,” was drawn from Psalm 34, which urges believers:
“Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” (CNS)
Pope calls dicastery to promote reflection on role of women
Pope Francis has updated the statutes of the Dicastery for Laity,
the Family and Life, adding among other things a specific reference
to the office’s responsibility for promoting a deeper reflection on
the role of women in the church and society.”The dicastery works
to deepen the reflection on the relationship between men and
women in their respective specificity, reciprocity, complementarity
and equal dignity,” the new statutes said. “Valuing the feminine
‘genius,’ it offers a contribution to ecclesial reflection on the identity
and mission of women in the church and in society, promoting
their participation.”The new statutes, approved by the pope on an
experimental basis, were released by the Vatican May 8 and were
to go into force May 13. They replace statutes issued in June 2016,
just before the new office began functioning under the leadership
of U.S. Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell. (Cindy Wooden/CNS)

deacons killed in Mosul
VATICAN CITY— The
Vatican has given its
permission for the
opening of the sainthood
cause of an Iraqi priest
and three deacons
who were murdered
by armed gunmen in
Mosul.
The Congregation
for Saints’ Causes gave
the “nihil obstat” (“no
objection”), permitting
a diocesan bishop to
open a local inquiry into
a candidate’s sanctity,
according to Fides,
the news agency of the
Congregation for the
Evangelization of Peoples,
May 14.
Fides confirmed
that the Eparchy of St.
Thomas the Apostle
of Detroit would be
handling the process
because of the difficult
conditions facing the
church in Mosul.
Chaldean Father
Ragheed Aziz Ganni,
his cousin Deacon
Basman Yousef Daud,
and Deacons Wahid
Hanna Isho and Gassan
Isam Bidawed were
killed June 3, 2007, in
front of the Holy Spirit
Church in Mosul. Father
Ganni had just finished
celebrating Mass for the
feast of Pentecost.
The three deacons
had been accompanying
Father Ganni because
of increasing threats
against him by
militants. According
to AsiaNews, armed
gunman shot the four
men and then booby
Theologians call for regular consultation of laity in church
trapped their car with decisions
explosives to prevent The Catholic Church needs to seek the input, commitment
others from safely and talents of all of its members if it is to be truly catholic and to
recovering the bodies. evangelize effectively, said a new document from the International
Father Ganni was born Theological Commission. Pope Francis has called for the church to
in Mosul in 1972. He be “synodal,” which does not just mean holding regular meetings
graduated in engineering of the world Synod of Bishops, but constantly finding ways to
and studied theology live and work in the world with a greater sense of the value of the
from 1996 to 2003 at prayers, experience and advice of everyone in the church—including
Rome’s Pontifical laypeople, the document said.”Synodality in the Life and Mission
Irish College and the of the Church” was published in early May with the approval
Pontifical University of Archbishop Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Congregation for the
of Thomas Aquinas the Doctrine of the Faith, and the authorization of Pope Francis. The
“Angelicum,” where he International Theological Commission is a board of theologians,
received a license in appointed by the pope, who advise the doctrinal congregation.
ecumenical theology. (Cindy Wooden/CNS)
(CNS)
CBCP Monitor May 14 - 27, 2018, Vol. 22 No. 10 A3

Congolese bishop shares struggles of priests

who do not have enough to eat
DOLISIE, Congo— As
poverty continues to grow in
the Republic of the Congo,
a local bishop is concerned
that his priests do not have
enough to eat.
The Republic of the
Congo, also referred to as
Congo-Brazzaville, is rich
with natural resources,
particularly petroleum. Yet
nearly 50 percent of the
population lives in poverty,
according to the World Bank.
Bishop Bienvenu
Manamika Bafouakouahou
leads the Diocese of Dolisie,
established in 2013, where
the population lacks clean
drinking water and basic
medical care.
“The average Congolese is
a poor man living in a rich
country, with oil reserves
welling up beneath the
ground—yet the wealth is
shared among a handful of
the rich and powerful,” said
Bishop Bafouakouahou in
an interview with Aid to the
Church in Need.
“In my diocese my priests’
first concern is to get enough to
eat,” continued the Bishop of
Dolisie. “If one of them were to
have serious health problems,
I don’t know what we’d do.”
The bishop explained
that the state hospitals have
been on strike for months
because the government no
longer funds basic medicine.
The drop in crude oil prices
constrained government
spending to the point in
which many doctors and
nurses were not paid.
The formerly Marxist
country still feels the effects
of the civil war in the late
1990s that destroyed much of
Congo’s infrastructure.
“There is no safe drinking
water here; many adults die
drinking contaminated water,”
said Bishop Bafouakouahou.
Although the Dolisie
diocese struggles with
material poverty, it is rich in
priestly vocations, according
to the bishop.
However, in a country
where the unemployment
rate is more than 50 percent,
Bishop Bafouakouahou said
he must carefully screen
potential seminarians to
ensure their priestly calling is
deeply rooted in faith, rather
than a “fall back” professional
opportunity.
The bishop is also sees
a connection between the
rise in poverty and growth
of freemasonry and Islam
within his country.
“Given the poverty in the
country, Islam and its money
are seducing the young people
– even including some of my
altar servers,” said Bishop
Bafouakouahou.
When he asked one of his
former altar servers why
he had become a Muslim,
he said that the young boy
replied, “Father, when I was
your altar server, did you give
me a penny? With Islam I was
given a scholarship, a wife
and my shop.”
The Congolese bishop said
that he is utilizing Eucharistic
adoration, the local Catholic
radio station, and preaching
in the market square to try to Bishop Bienvenu Manamika Bafouakouahou of Dolisie. PHOTO FROM ACN
grow the shrinking Catholic
population, which fell from according to Bafouakouahou. Catholic, according to the
60 percent to 40 percent In 2010, 30 percent of the Pew Research Center. (CNA/
between 1995 and 2005, Congolese population was EWTN News)

Inmates rediscover joy, faith through guitar lessons
MANILA— After winning the top
prize at a guitar class recital, Alex
(not his real name), tearfully said
in Filipino, “I thank God not only
because I now know how to play the
guitar, but also I see now that there
are still a lot of good things that I
can do and discover about myself.”
Alex was part of the first-ever guitar
recital class at the Medium Security
Compound in the New Bilibid
Prisons in Muntinlupa. Having been
incarcerated for attempted homicide,
he had spent 2 years in the city jail
before being sent to the national
penitentiary where Fr. Ro Atilano, SJ,
associate director of the Philippine
Jesuit Prison Service, met him. Alex
is 23-years old.
Immediately after being ordained
to the priesthood, Atilano was
sent to the New Bilibid Prisons to
minister to the sacramental needs of
the inmates through the Philippine
Jesuit Prison Service. Currently,
there are more than 25,800 inmates
distributed in four major prison
camps in the reservation. This
number excludes some 2,800
women who are imprisoned in the
Correctional Institute for Women
in Mandaluyong. “Imagine how the
Bureau of Corrections manages to
feed all of them on a daily basis, not
to mention the provision of other
basic human needs,” said the priest.
8-week guitar workshop
The young Jesuit recounts
how the inspiration to teach the
inmates music came to him. “After
celebrating my first Mass inside
the prison camp, I asked myself
what else could I give and do for
my Mass-goers. The first thing that
came to my mind was music,” he
shared. It was at this very moment
that he decided to teach the inmates
how to play the guitar.
After leaving the camp, Atilano
immediately posted a request for
Some 15 inmates joined the first batch of guitar lessons offered by Fr. Ro Atilano, SJ at the New Bilibid
Prisons. JESCOM
guitar donations on his Facebook
account, saying: “I started a guitar
class inside the prisons and I need
your old guitars to bring hope, joy,
and perhaps even conversion to the
inmates. PM me if you are willing to
let go of your old guitar and let your
guitar be a real guitar.”
After the social media post, the
priest received more than a dozen
guitars from friends and with
permission from the NBP, he began
a 8-week guitar class program.
Fifteen inmates, who had never
held a guitar before, joined the
class. “…During the recital, each
one of them played with confidence
and gratitude in his heart. Alex
turned out to be the best player.
He cried after his performance. I
could almost see in his face how
his dignity was restored,” shared
Atilano. More inmates would join
the second and third batches of the
classes.
More than just inspiring creativity,
the priest said the guitar lessons
seems to have helped foster the
inmates’ self-control and emotional
stability. This was made evident
when a couple of months ago all the
inmates in the camp were locked-
down in their cells for five days
because of a brawl between two
groups. Masses, sports, classes were
cancelled during those days.
“When finally the inmates were
allowed to resume their daily
activities and I was able to enter
the camp again, one of my inmate
students ran to me and said, “It is
good that a lot of us know how to
play the guitar now, so we were able
to play and to pray. It kept our heads
cool,” said Atilano.
Faith, joy, hope
The guitar lessons, he believes,
are reintroducing the inmates to
hope, joy, and faith.
Alex was eventually released a
few months later under the parole
program. Before he left prison, he
approached Atilano and asked to
be baptized.
“If music is indeed the language
of the soul, perhaps, music is the
language of God as well. I never
thought that a simple guitar class
could bring hope, joy, and even
conversion to the inmates,” said
Atilano. (CBCPNews)
This ‘pilgrim grandmother’ walked
570 miles to pray for families
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. EDUARDO BERDEJO/CNA
MEXICO CITY, Mexico— Emma
Morosini has been called the
“pilgrim grandmother.” Earlier this
month, at the age of 94, she earned
that nickname by concluding a 570-
mile walking pilgrimage in honor of
Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Her 40-day pilgrimage took
Morosini from Monterrey, in
northeastern Mexico, to Mexico
City, where she prayed at the
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
before the tilma of Saint Juan
Diego.
Morosini, a native of Italy who
for more than 25 years has made
pilgrimages to shrines around the
world, arrived the afternoon of
May 12 at the Basilica of Our Lady
of Guadalupe in Mexico City, to
pray for families, young people, and
“world peace.”
The “pilgrim grandmother” has
visited shrines in Portugal, Spain,
Poland, Israel, Brazil and Argentina.
During this pilgrimage, Morosini
began walking each day at 6:30 am,
carrying a small suitcase and an
umbrella, and wearing a reflective
vest as a safety precaution.
For food, Morosini carried milk,
juice, bread, and water, receiving
along the way some donations of
fruits and vegetables.
At various points on her way
she was accompanied by medical
and civil defense personnel or
by Mexico’s Federal Police. She
was often housed by municipal
authorities along her route.
During a 2015 pilgrimage in
Argentina, when she was 91,
Morosini told reporters that she
was praying for “peace in the world,
for young people, for all these
families that are divided. Many are
separated, some live together but
aren’t spouses, or they don’t have
children. It’s very sad.”
The “pilgrim grandmother” was
applauded by fellow pilgrims when
she arrived at the the Basilica of
Our Lady of Guadalupe. Before
entering the church, she woman
knelt down, kissed the ground,
made the sign of the cross and
prayed silently for a few moments.
(CNA/EWTN News)

Young professionals offer free tutoring to ‘slow readers’

MANILA— Instead of
malling or hanging out with
friends, Ruel Tenerife, an IT
specialist, spends most of
his Saturdays tutoring public
school elementary students,
who struggle with reading.
The 32-year old heads a
group of some 60 singles who
volunteer half a day every
weekend to coach and tutor
more than a hundred grade
2 and 3 school students in 6
schools in Marikina, Cainta,
Antipolo, and San Mateo—all
in Eastern Metro Manila.
They are part of
Cornerstone, a nationwide
free tutoring program
organized by the Catholic
covenanted community
Couples for Christ.
28 Saturdays
“Twenty-eight Saturday
mornings is not easy, but to
help this children of public
schools with difficulty in
studying, its all worth it,”
said Tenerife, who has been
a volunteer tutor since 2012.
In a country where an
estimated 20.1 million of
the population are literate
but who cannot understand
what they read, understaffed
schools need all the help they
can get.
“…Cornerstone is not a
prerequisite in school, it’s
a support program for the
students to help the students
read.
The teachers support the
program because they find it
helpful for them and for the
students to improve,” shared
Tenerife, who helps oversee
and coordinate the program
for 182 kids in his area.
In their area alone, some
182 students who are part of
the program, aged 7 to 12, will
be successfully moving on
to the next grade level when
classes open again in August.
For Tenerife and others
like him, every “Moving Up
Day” brings about feelings
of poignant pride, a sense
of accomplishment, and
separation anxiety for both
students and tutors alike.
“[I have] mixed emotion as
we say goodbye again to our
tutees during our last day
of tutorial this 2017-2018
school year. For tutors who
have been volunteer of the
program, we are supposed to
get used to this emotion, but
instead, it’s always like the
first time,” said Tenerife, who
even got his boss to donate to
the program.
This year, Housal, a tech
company that runs a real
estate app, donated complete
sets of schools supplies for
the 152 Cornerstone students
in Tenerife’s area during the
moving up day this summer.
Falling literacy rate
For Tina Matanguihan, who
volunteers for Cornerstone in
San Juan City, at the heart of
Metro Manila, the program
has inspired her to be more
grateful.
“I realized how blessed I
was to be in a place where
God could use me to bless
to others. It makes me more
thankful to be where I am.”
According to the World
Education and News
Reviews, the Philippines’
youth literacy rate fell from
96.6 % in 1990 to 95.1 %t in
2003, making the country the
only Southeast Asia nation
with declining youth literacy
rates.
Cornerstone rises at a time
when the country needs it the
most. “For the past years,
we have several stories of
non-readers who made it to
the honor roll in their class,”
shared Cornerstone national
program coordinator, Sherryl
Canlas.
She even shared about a
student from Rizal who shot
up to the top of his class
after joining the Cornerstone
program. “The only reason
for him not to be able to
perform is that nobody took
time to help him study,”
explained Canlas.
There is also the story of
a student in Bukidnon in
Northern Mindanao, who
from a non-reader became
5th honor of his class and is
now doing peer tutoring.
Poverty, malnutrition
Many students in public
schools struggle with poverty,
malnutrition, big class sizes,
and lack of teachers.
Students like Ronnie
Pahimnayon stand to gain
the most from programs like
Cornerstone.
Entering the program at
13-years old, Ronnie, who was
a school transferee from Samar,
a province in Eastern Visayas,
could not even spell his own
name. From grade 4, he was
returned to grade 3 because of
his poor comprehension and
reading skills.
According to Erica
Babad, the Cornerstone
team leader for Ronnie’s
school, because of his size
he had also started bullying
smaller kids in school, which
Cornerstone tries to address
as well through its formation
component.
Canlas explained that the
program would be incomplete
if it does not include spiritual
and moral upliftment as well.
“We incorporate
values formation in the
[Cornerstone] program
because we would to impart
to the parents the importance
of their personal worth and
dignity as children of God,”
she said. Formation doesn’t
end with the kids but includes
their parents as well.
According to Canlas, the
parents’ values formation will
help them “understand and
value their role as parents;
help them practice their role
in their children’s education
and values formation; and …
help them appreciate their
role in the school and in the
bigger community.”
Parents of the pupils
are also invited to join
livelihood programs to learn
soap-making, rag-making
as well as learning how to
cook nutritious food with
cheap and easily available
ingredients.
The other component of
CFC’s education program is
the ANCOP Child Sponsorship
Program (CSP), which
raises funds for financially
challenged young people
continue their elementary,
high school and college
education. (Nirva’ana Ella
Delacruz/CBCPNews)
A4 OPINION May 14 - 27, 2018, Vol. 22 No. 10 CBCP Monitor

EDITORIAL

Peaceful elections
THE recently concluded Barangay and Sanguniang Kabataan
Elections have been generally peaceful. This was the official
statement of PNP chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde: “The
election was generally peaceful nationwide. There were some
reports of shooting incidents today… but nobody was hurt in
these incidents.”
Nobody will refute that. This was the general observation
substantiated by statistics and even by media reportage.
But only if peace is seen as the absence of violence and
when nobody gets hurt—physically, that is. When one
looks at elections from a larger perspective, things turn
out differently. Take vote-buying, for instance. The “hurt”
and “violence” that it has impacted on Philippine society is
undeniably tremendous for many decades now. It begets
corruption to astronomic proportions in all branches and
levels of government. Hordes of goons and thieves are
catapulted into powerful government offices because they
are the most moneyed and always the highest bidder in the
buying of votes.
This is one of the backdrops when Catholic bishops
commented in their Pastoral Exhortation on Philippines
Politics (1996), thus: “Philippine politics—the way it is
practiced—has been most hurtful of us as a people. It is

ILLUSTRATION BY BLADIMER USI

possibly the biggest bane in our life as a nation and the
most pernicious obstacle to our achieving of full human
development.”
Vote-buying being so common and comfortably embedded
already into the Filipino psyche, has become socially
acceptable and, therefore, remorseless. Although a criminal
act and, probably a sin, nobody thinks about it that way.
According to Section 261 (a) of the Omnibus Election Code
of the Philippines (Batas Pambansa Blg. 881), vote-buying
and vote-selling are among the prohibited acts which are
punishable with imprisonment of not less than one year but not Lights in defeat Panaghoy
more than six year, or with disqualification to hold public office
and deprivation of the right of suffrage, among others. In Bp. Broderick Pabillo
May 2013 National Elections, the Comelec issued Resolution
No. 9688, which provides the warrantless citizens arrest of
persons engaged in vote buying or selling. It is amusing and
even funny how some laws are too stringent but toothless in
implementation.
Seriously, there can never be peaceful elections where there THE petition on the Quo Warranto Court fell today. It self-destructed by but more than that, people have already
is vote buying and selling. has been granted by the justices in the granting the Quo Warranto. It fell from openly expressed the call for Duterte to
Supreme Court with a vote of 8-6. In its being a bastion of independence in resign. The fight now moves from the
Beware of fake forms of holiness effect the justices have ousted SC Sereno our democratic system. It lost the esteem Supreme Court to Malacañang because
from being the Chief Justice. This is a and even the respect of the people. It has people clearly see now the dictatorial
THAT’S one of the things Pope Francis mentioned in his latest big defeat for thousands of lawyers, civil shown its true and unmistakable color moves of the Duterte regime. It has
Apostolic Exhortation, Gaudete et exsultate. We have to really society people, leaders of the academe, of being now a tool of Duterte. It is now become unmistakable.
know what true sanctity is, how it is attained, where to find it, religious people, students and many a Duterte Court. The decision did not dampen the
how to sustain it and make it grow, etc. It cannot be denied other groups and sectors in society who Another light: the quo warranto mood of the people. It angers them all
that there are many fake forms of holiness besetting our world have lobbied, prayed and even marched issue has united broad segments’ of the more. They resolve to more actions
today, and we have to know how to identify them and avoid in front of the Supreme Court for several Philippine society. Evangelicals and is palpable in the hearts and speeches
them. One of the fake forms is what he called as Gnosticism,
actually a very old heresy that continues to hound us today days to warn the justices and the people Catholics have come together, so also of many. Expect more mobilizations.
but in very subtle ways. at large of the subversion of democracy Church people and civic organizations. Expect more protests. Expect more
In paragraph 36 of the document, the Pope describes in the country if the Chief Justice is Urban poor organizations have joined unmasking of the hypocrisy of Duterte
Gnosticism as “a purely subjective faith whose only interest is removed by the Quo Warranto. In spite forces with the middle class. Student and his cohorts.
a certain experience or a set of ideas and bits of information of all these warnings, rallies and prayers organizations have been organized. As CJ Sereno said in her short speech
which are meant to console and enlighten, but which ultimately the justices stone-heartedly approved Groups from different political before the crowd around noon, we did
keep one imprisoned in his or her own thoughts and feelings.” the petition. spectrums marched together. The not really lose. If the 6 justices who
Then in paragraph 37, he points out the consequence of this In this darkness of defeat, however, various colors of flags that flown have already accused her had inhibited
erroneous approach. “Throughout the history of the Church,”
lights of hope have shone . This this morning along Taft Avenue and themselves, as they should have done
he said, “it has always been clear that a person’s perfection is
measured not by the information or knowledge they possess, somehow is a reflection of the Paschal Padre Faura Street was a sight to see. if there was an iota of decency in them,
but by the depth of their charity. Mystery where life came out of death. Speakers from various persuasions the vote would have been 6-2, with 6
“Gnostics do not understand this, because they judge others The Jericho March was a success. The spoke out in a hastily built stage in Taft dismissing the quo warranto petition. If
based on their ability to understand the complexity of certain walls of Jericho fell when the Israelites Avenue in the morning, with claps of the playing field were level, the petition
doctrines. They think of the intellect as separate from the marched around it. The Supreme approval coming from all. would have been squashed. How could
flesh, and thus become incapable of touching Christ’s suffering Court building did not fall down when The decision of the justices has accusers take the function of judges? Is
flesh in others, Evangelicals and Catholics marched heightened the level of engagement of there justice here?
locked up as they are in an encyclopaedia of abstractions. around the block of the Supreme Court the groups. Yes, there is anger at eight The Supreme Court has fallen.
In the end, by disembodying the mystery, they prefer ‘a God
without Christ, a Christ without the Church, a Church without early this morning. But the Supreme justices who voted for the quo warranto, Malacañang will be the next!
her people.”
We need to be clear about this. While knowledge of the
doctrine of the faith is indispensable, it should not be separated Preaching certainties in
from the most important element of sanctity which is charity.
That’s why St. Paul said: “These three remain: faith, hope and
By the Roadside an age of uncertainty
love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor 13,13) Earlier, he Fr. Eutiquio ‘Euly’ Belizar, Jr. SThD
said: “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not
have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and
all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, TIME was when life was Sometimes, especially in poor and powerless look for It is within this world that
but do not have love, I am nothing.” (1-2) deemed so sacred even rural Philippines, it is the the victors and take their the Filipino priest lives and
And this love, let’s never forget it, should be the love shown hardened criminals killed only option to survive. The side. Unless they do so, their proclaims the Good News.
and lived by Christ himself and commanded by him to be the only as a last resort. Now poor and powerless do not as lives and/or well-being could In the controlled views,
kind of love we have for each other. “Love one another as I killing seems an ordinary much look at their patrons’ hang in a balance always. uncertain promises and
have loved you,” he said. (Jn 13,34) And what kind of love
means to get rid of perceived principles, if any, or the lack Ironically siding with the policies of a regime, he holds
is shown and lived by Christ? A love that goes all the way to
offer his own life for our sake, a love thatknows how to bear enemies, whether personal, of them. They simply judge victors now does not ensure on to the certainties of the
all the sins of men. It’s not a love that is very concerned about economic or political. Then their patrons by the track future stability. Victors today Kingdom of God. As regimes
the requirements of justice, because in the end, in spite of murderers feared the long record of their reliability. could be losers tomorrow. move from fake news to EJKs
our best efforts, we know that we can never fully meet these arm of the law; now they fear When the poor and “Never mind,” the poor and or assassinations, the priest
requirements. only the law of the long arm. powerless witness the drama powerless say, eyes wide open preaches the “kingdom of
And so we have to see to it that our growth in the knowledge There is a justice system that of a Chief Justice being mock wisdom, “tomorrow is truth and life”. As regimes
of the doctrine of our faith should lead us first of all in the works especially for people ousted at the instance of a still years away.” They say egg on supporters towards
growth of the charity as shown and lived by Christ. If we notice who, in the first place, are well- strongman’s instrumentality, this, of course, tongue in killings or violence, bully
that our doctrinal knowledge makes us feel superior to others,
leading us to look down on them, to be rash in our judgments, off and powerful; for most they see it somewhat as a cheek, because they also critics with curses and threats,
let’s be convinced that we are on the wrong track toward true of the poor and powerless battle between powerful know too well tomorrow the priest must uphold “the
holiness. We would be following a fake one. clinging to the moneyed and haves. Now that the smoke could spring a couple of kingdom of holiness and
True holiness should make us always humble, compassionate, mighty are inevitable options. has somehow cleared, the surveys away. By the Roadside / A6
patient, merciful, willing to bear the burden of the others,
never mind if in our human standards, things seem to be
unfair. True holiness is living the beatitudes as articulated
by Christ.
Educating our emotions Candidly Speaking
and passions Fr. Roy Cimagala

Monitor
CBCP
IF we are truly serious with our faith, In fact, the Catechism tells us that the full potentials of our humanity. But
then we have to realize that our faith our emotions and passions are “natural given the wounded condition of man,
PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE should not just be an intellectual affair, components of the human psyche; they our emotions and passions need to be
lived and pursued only in the spiritual form the passageway and ensure the purified and thoroughly educated.
Pedro Quitorio world of good intentions and right connection between the life of the senses They should not be allowed to just
Editor-in-Chief doctrine. It has to involve a basic and the life of mind.” (1764) develop at the instance of our hormones
element of our humanity, and that is Our emotions and passions therefore and instincts, for example, and the many
Nirva’ana E. Delacruz Ron Ramos our feelings, our emotions and passions. serve as a link between our body and other blind or short-sighted impulses
Associate Editor Design Artist
Our Catechism tells us that our soul. They are where we materialize and trends in our social, cultural,
emotions and passions are “movements what is spiritual in us, and spiritualize economic, or political environment.
Roy Lagarde Mercedita Juanite
News Editor Circulation Manager of the sensitive appetite that incline us to what is material in us. As such, they They need to be reined in, to be
act or not to act in regard to something create a rich texture in our lives. They guided and given direction.
Christine Paguirigan Marcelita Dominguez felt or imagined to be good or evil.” create the consistency proper to us as a Obviously, the guiding principle
Managing Editor Comptroller (1763) person and as a child of God. They also should be our faith, hope and charity
As such, we can say that our emotions help to give focus on our judgments, which truly define us as a person and a
The CBCP Monitor is published fortnightly by the
CBCP - Media Office with editorial and business offices and passions play an important and modulate our will, and add sensitivity child of God. In other words, our faith,
at 3rd Floor, CBCP Compound, 470 General Luna crucial role in our life. And that’s why to our reasoning. hope and charity tell us who we really
Street, Intramuros, Manila. Email Address: cbcpmonitor@
areopaguscommunications.com, Business: (632) 404 - 1612.
we have to take pains in forming them In other words, they play a decisive are, what the purpose of our life here
ISSN 1908-2940. well. We just cannot be complacent with role in achieving a happy and fully on earth is, how our freedom should
this responsibility. human life. They contribute to achieving Candidly Speaking / A7
CBCP Monitor May 14 - 27, 2018, Vol. 22 No. 10 OPINION A5

The View from the Mountain Responding to a call to

Collection Box
Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR, STD solitude and silence Fr. Jerome R. Secillano, MPA

IT’S been a month since I started another

phase of my life—a life of solitude and
silence as a hermit after so many years of
active ministry. I am living the life I have
always longed for. Even as a young priest
over 37 years ago, I was already attracted
to this kind of life. But through the years,
I could only spend a month each year
alone on top of this mountain for rest,
prayer, contemplation, reading, writing,
running and biking, playing my flute
& violin, practicing tai-chi, preparing
dinner after fasting intermittently. It
was my way of coping with the stress
of missionary and pastoral ministry. I
considered this a part of the rhythm of
my life—the contemplative dimension.
This kept me from burning out. I came
down from the mountain fully recharged
to continue my pilgrim, missionary
journey—evangelizing the poor, building
Basic Ecclesial Communities, resisting
a dictatorial regime, and struggling
against logging companies.
Being on top of this mountain has
enabled me to have a closer encounter
with my deeper self and with the One to
whom I have offered my life. I have never
felt alone or lonely. The mountaintop
interlude has given me the opportunity
to look at a big picture and a long view
of my life and ministry. I have tried
to seriously live the traditional image
of the Redemptorist: apostle abroad,
Carthusian at home. This has been part
of my effort to integrate the active and
the contemplative dimensions of my
life as a religious priest which I try to
do every day but which I need to do for
extended periods.
In the midst of my busy life and hectic
schedule, I always looked forward to
going up to this sacred space. But I
could never get enough of it. I planned to
spend my sabbatical year here every ten
years of my life. I also made a promise to
The truth will
spend the final phase of my life on this
mountain. I built a bamboo hermitage
which I could only occupy for three
months since I was asked to do higher
studies in Berkeley and Rome. When I
came back, I spent the next sixteen years
in Davao engaged in teaching, pastoral
ministry, inter-religious dialogue, life
and peace advocacy, and denouncing
the killings perpetrated by the Davao
Death Squad. Throughout those years,
I continued my annual mountaintop
interlude; I could only spend five months
here during my sabbatical due to my
pastoral and academic responsibilities.
And now after over six years working
at the CBCP—promoting BECs all over
the country and denouncing extrajudicial
killings and authoritarian rule under the
new regime over the last two years, I can
finally fulfill the promise I made long ago.
Last month, after Biking for Life & Peace
from Manila to Mindanao, I came up to
this mountain to begin living as a full-
time hermit. I am occupying the room in
the rest-house which I have been using
annually after a typhoon destroyed the
bamboo hermitage I built years ago. In
due time, I will be rebuilding with my
own hands the hermitage in the woods.
This will be my home for the next 10 to
20 years or more, God willing.
Some people—especially friends,
confreres, and fellow human rights
activists—are asking why I am doing this
now when there is still much I can do in
my ministry and in the struggle against
the forces of evil in society.
I just feel that now is the right time to
answer the eremitical call. I am already
a senior citizen, and I want to do this
before I am too old to live alone and take
care of myself. I believe that this is where
the Lord wants me to be at this time
of my life. I will no longer be active in
organizing, giving talks or joining rallies.
I will continue to struggle and speak out
against evil in a different way—through
prayer, fasting, and writing. Echoing
Mark 6:9, St. John Paul II affirmed:
“Jesus himself has shown us by his own
example that prayer and fasting are the
first and the most effective weapons
against the forces of evil.” Mahatma
Gandhi said something similar: “My
religion teaches me that whenever there
is distress which one cannot remove, one
must fast and pray.”
Coming up this mountain reminds
me of the prophet Elijah whose life was
threatened by King Ahab and Jezebel.
He was weary and discouraged. It was
amidst the silence and solitude on top of
the mountain that he felt God’s presence,
giving him courage to face death. (1
Kings 19:1-14). I did not come here to
escape or hide from those who intend
to end my life prematurely because of
my prophetic stance—just like what
they did recently to Fr. Mark Ventura. I
came here to fulfill a promise—to answer
the Lord’s call to spend the remaining
years of my life in solitude, silence, and
contemplation. I came here to enter into
a deeper communion with Him and to
prepare myself for my final journey, fully
aware of my mortality. I am encouraged
by the words of a Carmelite hermit, Fr.
Cornelius Wencel: “The solitude of the
desert teaches a person to be at peace
even in the face of death… The mere
choice of solitude is an experience of
kenosis and death. The hermit, with
his childlike heart, approaches death
fearlessly. He accepts it with quiet
understanding and patience. He does
not try to avoid death, to run away from
it, or to forget the inevitable necessity of
dying… By dying in Christ and rising in
Christ, touching the mystery of Christ’s
Passover, the hermit becomes a prophet
sent to the people of today.”
Graduates,
congratulations
and good luck!
DEAR graduates, there are two things people would constantly
tell you on your graduation, ‘’congratulations’’ and ‘’good
luck’’.
Congratulations because after years of studies, you finally
made it. The long hours spent studying lessons are over,
the sleepless nights for accomplishing projects are gone,
you defended your thesis, you passed your examinations,
you survived terror professors, and you hurdled all other
requirements. Indeed, congratulations for doing so. You
deserve our compliments. We know you worked hard for it,
and we appreciate what you have accomplished so much.
But ‘’good luck’’ too, because you truly need it. When you
walk out of the four corners of your university, that’s when
reality hits you. You will realize that that victorious feeling you
had when you set foot on the stage to receive your diploma is
but a fleeting moment of triumph. You will now have a first-
hand experience of how difficult it is to compete with others
to land a job. You will either be challenged or be discouraged
when you see how prevailing systems in hiring job applicants
are prejudiced against those coming from small and non-
elitist schools. It is not your fault though. Many graduates
ahead of you suffered from this unjust practice. Unfortunately,
we have yet to see our institutions do something to level the
playing field. We have yet to see our government give equal
opportunities to all graduates from any school or university. If
it is not the task of the government to provide jobs, it should
at least create an enabling environment for generating jobs,
something that matches the ever-growing demand for it.
Please bear in mind too, that sometimes it is no longer about
what we know but about whom we know.
Some are of the opinion that education should not always
be thought of as geared towards a profession. They believed
that education is about forming the mind, equipping it with
the necessary tools to discover and understand the world. It is
also about forming the person so that he/she may become an
asset to his/her family and society. That the goal of education
is not merely profit, rather it also focuses on the education of
the heart, so that we may become more caring of others. It is
not calling attention to ourselves but preparing ourselves to
serve others well.
I couldn’t agree more. Indeed, many would like to graduate

set you free
DATELINE: San Francisco,
California—The 52nd World
Communications Day is
celebrated by the Universal
Church every Feast of the
Ascension. Pope Francis’
message this year is very
timely. Entitled “The truth
will set you free. Fake news
and journalism for peace,”
the Holy Father stated that
“the capacity to twist the
truth is symptomatic of our
condition, both as individuals
and communities. On the
other hand, when we are
faithful to God’s plan,
communication becomes an
effective expression of our
responsible search for truth
and our pursuit of goodness.”
Pope Francis disapproves
fake news which he defined
as the spreading of false
information based on
non-existent or distorted
data meant to deceive and
manipulate the reader.
Spreading fake news can serve
to advance specific goals,
influence political decisions,
and serve economic interests.
Fake news is a sign of
intolerant and hypersensitive
attitudes, and leads only to
the spread of arrogance and
hatred; it is rooted in the thirst
for power. He suggested that
to prevent the spread of fake
news, it is the responsibility
of journalist to communicate
the truth.
Pope Francis quoted from
the Bible “The truth will set
you free” (Jn 8:32). People
who lie to themselves and
listen to their own lie come to
such a pass that they cannot
distinguish the truth within
them, or around them, and so
lose all respect for themselves
and for others. And having no
respect, they cease to love,
and in order to occupy and
distract themselves without
love they give way to passions
and to coarse pleasures, and
sink to bestiality in their
vices, all from continual lying
to others and to themselves.”
According to Pope Francis,
the most radical antidote
to the virus of falsehood is
purification by the truth. If
responsibility is the answer to
the spread of fake news, then
a weighty responsibility rests
on the shoulders of those who
provide information, namely,
journalists, the protectors
Duc in Altum
Atty. Aurora A. Santiago
of news. Theirs is not just
a job; it is a mission. He
invites everyone to promote
a journalism of peace, a
journalism that is truthful
and opposed to falsehoods,
rhetorical slogans, and
sensational headlines. A
journalism created by people
for people, one that is at the
service of all.
***
On this year’s Mother’s Day,
I pay tribute to all mothers
in the world, especially to
my mother Gloria Angeles-
Santiago and to all mothers
in the world. My brothers
and sisters are very blessed
to have our mother until she
reached 97 years old. She was
still strong, even our former
bishop could not believe she
was strong at that age. She
got bedridden when she had
mild stroke; she passed on 4
months before she turned 98.
To all children and
grandchildren, make your
mothers and grandmothers
happy. Shower her with your
love and care, to the point
of spoiling her. Take her to
interesting places, so that
she will not get bored in
the house. Whenever your
schedule permits, call her
daily, visit her every now and
then. In her old age, she needs
somebody to talk to; listen to
her stories, for you may never
hear her story again. Have
you told her that you love
her? It is not yet too late to do
so. We have only one Mother
and we must always make her
happy. God bless all Mothers.
***
Another mother who ought
to be given tribute is our
Blessed Mother Mary, Our
Lady of Fatima, whose 101st
Anniversary of Her Apparition
we celebrate this year. The
Blessed Mother has a very
special place in the life of
every Filipinos due to our close
family ties. We always pray
for the Blessed Virgin Mary to
intercede for us so that her son
Jesus Christ will give us divine
assistance and divine guidance
in our daily lives.
***
Happy Birthday to my
sister-in-law Jinky Santiago,
wife of my brother Dr. Andres
Santiago and mother of my
nephew and niece Rome and
Ella Santiago.
and eventually earn a living so they could help their parents
and siblings. I am sure that when you painstakingly hurdled all
challenges and make a total commitment to reach this stage,
you have your loved ones in your thoughts. It is, therefore,
satisfying to hear you say, “This graduation is for my parents.
I want to repay their sacrifices for me. This is also for my
siblings, I may now be able to send them to school.”
Graduates, it is always a challenge to “die to the self”. It
is not easy to sacrifice more for the sake of others. But I am
not asking you to do the impossible. All I am telling you is
to be honest and give witness to the truth when all others
are lying; to be patient when others are becoming a burden;
to be understanding when dealing with the ignorant; to be
courageous in facing wrongs; to be respectful in the midst of
competition; and to be humble amid success and plenty. Do
all these, and later you will realize that true victory happens
not when you receive your diploma but when others respect
you not simply for what you are but for who are to them.
Indeed, education not only leads you to acquiring a
profession. It also makes heroes out of you. When you put
the good of others ahead of you, you become an extraordinary
person. You become a hero to your family, a model to your
community , and an asset to society.
The Scholastics would say, “Non scholae sed vitae discimus”,
which means, “we study not just for school, but for life”.
I just hope that you did all the right and good things to
merit this graduation. But if you cheated so you could pass
your course, do not be a cheat later on. Don’t cheat on your
would-be spouse. Do not cheat the company you’ll work for,
your clients, and others. If you cut classes and loitered, be
thankful that you will graduate, but remember luck easily
runs out and very possibly you may not have it the next time.
If you copied a project or let others write your paper, bear in
mind that an employee’s performance is observed and rated
in the confines of an office and not in the nooks and crannies
of Recto. If you were always either late or absent during
classes, take heed not to feel entitled. Many new graduates
exude this attitude. It turns off bosses. You have not proven
anything yet. Be humble. If you are just ‘’pasang-awa,’’ don’t
amuse yourself. Work hard. Strive more. Go the extra mile.
Learn the value of sacrifice. Remember, the road to success
is difficult and hard.

Spaces of Hope
Fr. Carmelo O. Diola
I ARRIVED at our office in Cebu
around noon. About 20 millennials
and their families had gathered for their
entrustment ceremony marking the
end of a 33-day spiritual journey. Each
did daily readings from a home retreat
booklet that reflected on the role of the
Blessed Virgin Mary. This was followed
by the rosary and short journal entry-
writing session. Once a week for about
a month we met for two hours to share
stories and reflections. The kids, most of
whom were not active in their parishes,
were about to entrust themselves to Our
Lady of Mt. Carmel.
A survey done on millennialS in
the Philippines leaves a picture that
seems not to bode well for the religious
practices of this sector. According to
the study, “Millennials see themselves
as more spiritual than ritual. They find
‘New methods’
very little meaning in the rituals of I spoke in a language accessible to them
the Holy Mass probably because they with the goal of making the message
don’t understand them or they find more easily understandable. It helped
them boring. But they will attend Mass that the booklet we used was written
because they know it is expected by their by the author in a conversational tone.
elders.” It worked. They persisted. And we
But my experience with millennials had fun.
in the home retreat points otherwise. The youngest participant, 13-year
How does one ignite the interest—and old Jenine, confidently stood up in one
sustain it for 33 days—of this group? of our sessions with a miniature metal
I began by asking Jillian, a 22-year luggage to reflect on the impact of the
old, to accompany me on the journey. home retreat on her. She imagined
Millennials are not shy about sharing herself at an airport carrying a lot of
their ideas, and their lives revolve heavy bags. To her right was a woman
around technology. Jillian suggested an dressed in brown and holding a baby.
FB group where the young participants The woman only had two bags. “I think
could interact. I prepared daily tweet- you should check your luggage again,”
like text inputs summarizing the lessons the woman advised her.
of the day. At the start of our weekly Jenine then took took out from her
sessions, the millennials had 30 minutes miniature luggage some symbols of
to themselves to help set the tone. Then Spaces of Hope / A7
Graduates, please admit that you were not perfect students.
There are things you still need to learn and there are habits
that need to be undone. So, learning continues. Be adaptable
to your environment, but learn to shun what is wrong. Do not
tolerate evil, but conquer evil with good. Do not be tempted
to be eaten-up by rotten social systems, effect change and be
the change. Society pins its hope on you. The Church sees
you with confidence and expectation. Bring a bright future
to our country.
I know that you have your own dreams and expectations.
You have your own goals to achieve. The Church is praying for
you. The Church would like to see the fulfillment of everything
you’re striving for. Do not be deterred by failure. Keep on
trying. Pray to God, He is our hope.
When things are not happening according to plan,
remember the story of Santiago. He was a young man who
embarked on a journey in search of a treasure buried in a
field. Along the way, he met an old man named Melchizedek.
This old man taught him a lesson he wouldn’t forget. The
old man said, ‘’Every man has his own personal legend. This
is something one always wishes to accomplish. In pursuing
it, he will meet different mysterious forces that will either
destroy his plan and discourage him or inspire and push him
to achieve it. Take courage and believe in yourself no matter
what happens. You will then notice that everything in the
universe will conspire to help you achieve your goal.”
Santiago continued with his journey. Unfortunately, it
Collection Box / A7
A6 LOCAL NEWS May 14 - 27, 2018, Vol. 22 No. 10 CBCP Monitor

Bishop urges: Let us entrust Bishop condemns killing of Dumaguete

broadcaster

the nation to Mary

Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon (center) leads the faithful in prayer outside the San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City after the ouster of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno,
May 11, 2018. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
AFTER the ouster of Chief
Justice Maria Lourdes
Sereno, Bacolod Bishop
Patricio Buzon has led a
prayer Friday, May 11 outside
the diocese’s cathedral and
urged the faithful to entrust
the nation to Mary.
Immediately after Sereno’s
ouster, the bishop circulated
a text message inviting the
faithful to gather in front of
the San Sebastian Cathedral
to pray the rosary.
Around 300 people showed
up for the unplanned prayer
gathering with a simple
message: “uphold and
preserve the justice in the
country”.
“We appeal to a power that
is greater than us because
the ‘power’ in our midst
seems to be so formidable
and so scary,” Buzon told
the crowd.
“We also need to do our
part, more than just pray,
to remain vigilant, to be
stewards of democracy, the
Constitution, the ideals of
justice, of truth,” he said.
The bishop also urged the
congregation “to continue to
express our defense of the
Constitution”.
He underscored that this
call is not just about Sereno:
“It’s about the institution; it
is the Supreme Court that is
trampled upon.”
Diocesan Chancellor Fr.
Roy Christian Gesulgon said
the bishop was surprised by
the turnout of the prayer
gathering.
“Since the bishop’s call was
made only this afternoon,
he would have been content
on having a few gathered,”
he said. (Fr. Mickey
Cardenas/CBCPNews)
A CATHOLIC bishop has while, the 51-year-old victim
condemned the killing died the following day, two
radio broadcaster in Central days before the celebration
Visayas, becoming the ninth of the World Press Freedom
journalist killed since 2016. Day.
Bishop Julito Cortes of According to the National
Dumaguete has joined the Union of Journalists of the
local media community of Philippines (NUJP), Sestoso
Negros Oriental in deploring is also the 182nd journalist
“this dastardly act” that killed in the country since
claimed the life of Edmund 1986.
Sestoso. The bishop also added his
“We are keeping the family voice in deploring the murder
and friends of Edmund of Fr. Mark Ventura of the
Sestoso in our prayers in Archdiocese of Tuguegarao
this time of grief and sorrow,” on April 29.
said Cortes. The 37-year-old priest
“We also urge our local was gunned down just after
authorities to bring the saying mass in Brgy. Piña
perpetrators of this crime to Weste, Gattaran town, in
justice the quickest possible Cagayan.
time,” he said. “Human Life is sacred in
Unidentified gunmen all its circumstances and
attacked Sestoso, host of condition. No one ever has
the program “Tug-anan” on the right to take it away
DyGB Power 91, while he was for any reason whatsoever,
on his way home after work in except God alone, the only
Dumaguete City on April 30. source and giver of life,”
Fighting for his life for a Cortes said. (CBCPNews)
Slain / A1

3 years after Kentex tragedy, group renews call for

justice, labor reforms
Archbishop Sergio Utleg leads the funeral mass for slain priest Mark Ventura at the
Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in Tuguegarao City, May 7, 2018. MARK SALUDES

criminals are not caught but mining advocacies and for

THREE years ago, after the country’s
“worst factory fire” in recent years,
a group of church and labor leaders
has lamented the lack of reforms in
laws against contractualization and
violations of safety standards.
As justice remains elusive for the 72
people killed in a rubber slipper factory
fire in Valenzuela City, the Church
People-Workers Solidarity said that
the country has seemingly not learned
lessons from the tragedy and other
similar incidents.
“Together with the families and
friends of the victims, we continue
demanding for justice and to unite
in upholding the occupational health
and safety and for other fundamental
workers’ rights,” said Fr. Rudo Abao,
CWS co-convenor.
The fatalities in the Kentex tragedy on
May 13, 2015, according to him, point
to a “very serious” occupational safety
issues in the factories across the country.
“It will always be remembered as the
worst forms of violation of occupational
health and safety standards in the
country,” he said.
On top of seeking justice for the
victims, the group also called on
President Rodrigo Duterte to put an end
Carmel / A1
peace. In a world that is being
destroyed by a false god, may
we be created by God who
gives life,” Tagle said.
Manila’s heat and blazing
sun did not wither the
spirits of the thousands
of people who attended
Friday’s celebration to mark
the arrival from Mexico of
the first image of Our Lady
of Mount Carmel in the
Philippines 400 years ago.
Onboard the Philippine
Coast Guard’s patrol vessel
BRP Capones, the celebration
started with an early dawn
Mockery / A1
Novaliches, one of the framers of the
1987 Constitution, said that Sereno’s
removal violated the charter, insisting
that the chief justice, like the president,
can only be removed through an
impeachment.
He asserted that the ruling has
“weakened” the high court, which
according to him, is the “chief protector
of our democracy”.
“It is a sad day for democracy in the
Philippines and it is a very sad day for
the
Supreme Court,” he told Radio Veritas.
Jesuit Archbishop Antonio Ledesma
of Cagayan de Oro also criticized the
court decision as a mockery of the
democratic process.
“A sad day for the separation of
power and democratic system,” said
Ledesma, a former vice president of
the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
the Philippines.
are rewarded instead”. helping indigenous peoples
“It is an indictment of our in the province.
own failures as a society The prelate earlier called
that allows killings and on the police authorities to
murders to be committed act swiftly in going after the
with impunity,” Utleg perpetrators and to bring
added. them to justice.
Ventura was shot dead After the mass, the remains
after celebrating Mass and of Ventura were brought,
while baptizing children in through a funeral procession,
Gattaran town, Cagayan on to the Tuguegarao public
April 29. cemetery where he was
He was known for his anti- buried. (CBCPNews)
Justice / A1
May 13 marks the third year of the Kentex fire tragedy that killed 72 workers. PHOTO FROM DEFEND JOB PHILIPPINES obstacles and transform our the country, demanding wage
to labor contractualization practices. made by law between illegal “labor-only world of work into one that hike and a stop to illegal
“We reiterate our call to President contracting” and legal “job contracting” is grounded on social justice, contractualization.
Duterte to immediately act and is an illusory one,” he also said. respect and love.” Ending contractualization
implement concrete policies that would On Labor Day, Duterte signed an According to him, work or endo (end of contract)
abolish all forms of contractual labor,” executive order banning illegal forms is more than just doing is among the key campaign
Abao said. of contractualization but later admitted something for money, but promises of President
Contractualization not only tramples that it was powerless in putting and end about how we share in the Rodrigo Duterte.
upon the workers’ right to security of to “endo”. creative activity of God Manila Auxiliary Bishop
tenure, he added, but also “destroys The bishops’ National Secretariat “Work is fundamentally Broderick Pabillo, however,
the dignity of human life” by forcing for Social Action, Justice and Peace what happens to the human said Duterte has failed the
workers to work below the meager (Nassa) earlier asserted that Duterte’s person: the active mind, the workers.
minimum wage, without benefits, and EO was a “sign of disrespect to workers” sweaty brow, the fractured “He did not fulfil his
under poor work conditions. and a “betrayal of workers’ trusts”. hand, the aching back, the promise to end endo,” he
“Kentex fire shows that the distinction (CBCPNews) grumbling stomach, the said. “Endo is a great injustice
anxious heart, the zealous to the workers. It is exploting
spirit, the dreams fulfilled,” their labor without gibing
Tagle said. them security.”
fluvial parade of the image at ambassador to the Holy See, mercy of the Lord are always “Thus genuine working In Cebu City, Duterte signed
the Manila Bay. Grace Relucio-Princesa, and strengthened,” he added. conditions are fostered not an executive order (EO) that
It was followed with a Mexican ambassador to the After the Mass, the simply by transactions but bans unlawful contracting an
Mass presided over by Davao Philippines, Gerardo Lozano. image was transferred in a by a covenant relationship sub-contracting.
Archbishop Romulo Valles, In his homily, Archbishop procession back to the San between partners who respect But labor groups said
president of the Catholic Valles advised the devotees Sebastian Basilica in Manila’s and protect everyone’s existing labor laws already
Bishops’ Conference of the gathered under the heat of the Quiapo district where it has dignity. In a covenant contain the prohibition,
Philippines (CBCP). sun to be virtuous like Mary. been enthroned since 1621. relationship there is no room adding that what is needed
About a dozen other “She stood at the foot of The arrival in 1618 of the for exploitation,” he said. is a policy that prohibits all
prelates, including Cardinal the cross without words … image of Our Lady of Mt. Various groups marked forms of labor contracting.
Orlando Quevedo of keeping her faith even in the Carmel began a devotion that Labor Day with protests across (CBCPNews)
Cotabato, and more than 40 tragedy of the cross,” said the remains popular throughout
priests attended the liturgical prelate. the archipelago today, as By the Roadside / A4
service. “Mary always brings us witnessed by the number of grace”. As regimes commit at producing priests “who will
Some top government to Jesus. With Mary our Filipinos who continue to and encourage supreme propel the Church according
officials and dignitaries were recognition, our trust, our wear its distinctive brown injustices, fan old and to the mind and spirit of
also seen, including Philippine confidence in the love and scapular. (CBCPNews) renewed hatreds between Jesus Christ to a new and
peoples, the priest has to vigorous evangelizing thrust”
push forward the “kingdom (PCP II 507). But first they
As various groups have warned of “The justices do not work anymore as of justice, love and peace” must be promoters of the
more protests in the coming days, one, but in shambles. Politics has truly (Preface of Christ the King). “interests of their brethren”
Archbishop Martin Jumoad of Ozamis invaded our justice system,” said the Priests and religious are like (LG 18). They must exercise
appealed to the people to “stay calm” AMRSP. basketball players. To succeed their priesthood in a truly
and not resort to violence. Fr. Edwin Gariguez, Executive they must shoot and their shots ministerial way, that is,
Secretary of the bishops’ National must make it to the goal and enabling the lay faithful’s
Shortcuts Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and the ring through the net. The royal priesthood to realize
For its part, the Association of Major Peace (Nassa), said the Supreme Court goal is God’s Kingdom; the ring itself, sharing in the life and
Religious Superiors in the Philippine decision did not come as a surprise at all. is Jesus Christ. In basketball struggles of those who are at
(AMRSP) said that unseating Sereno “The decision is expected because the the goal and the ring are in the underside of life’s wheel,
through a quo warranto petition “is not accusers are themselves the judges,” the same place. In discipleship out of “preferential love for
right”. Gariguez said. “We condemn in God’s Kingdom and Jesus the poor” (PCP II 499).
“Shortcuts are inimical to what our strongest terms the desecration of Christ is one and the same. Human efforts spell only
justice system stands for. Why not our Constitution and democratic It follows that if we and our uncertainties; only God’s love
follow the proper and legal procedure institution.” society are to be transformed is any human’s true source
which may take a longer time? Haste The priest also accused Malacañang after God’s Kingdom, we must of security. The priest and
makes waste. Shortcuts cause short of having a hand to oust Sereno, who work to change ourselves, our religious are that security’s
circuits and damage the whole system,” President Rodrigo Duterte earlier called society and its structures after mouthpieces and signboards.
it said. an “enemy”. the ways and teachings of Jesus Whether or not we are
The group also lamented the inclusion “The wily manipulation of the Duterte Christ. actually who we say we are is
of the country’s top court in the political administration was so effective. Duterte No wonder the Second an uncertainty that we must
arena when it is supposed to be insulated has succeeded in controlling the Plenary Council of the pray, and strive to, turn into
from it. judiciary,” said Gariguez. Philippines has been aiming a timeless certainty.
CBCP Monitor May 14 - 27, 2018, Vol. 22 No. 10 DIOCESAN NEWS A7

Walk for Life: Baguio rallies faithful against divorce

BAGUIO City— In the face of
the sad realities that signal
the onslaught of the “culture
of death” in the Philippines,
the bishop of this diocese
called on the faithful during
the Walk for Life on May 1 to
speak up against the pending
divorce bill as well as other
anti-life legislations.
Employing a mnemonic
device to underline his point
Baguio Bishop Victor B.
Bendico said, “Our nation
is embracing a culture of
‘DEATH’: a culture of divorce,
euthanasia, abortion, total
population control (through
Contraceptives) and
homosexual union.”
He called on the thousands
present to “to stand up, walk
and journey together to
protect life and strengthen
the family.”
Dignity of the human
person
The prelate called the
people’s attention to House
Bill 7303, also known as the
dissolution of marriage bill,
which the Lower House of
Representatives passed in
March.
“The ‘divorce bill’ portends
that marriages for any reason
can be dissolved if the parties
so wish. We recognize that
there are marriages with
difficult situations but there
are legal remedies in our
civil and canon laws,” said
Bendico.
In the case of contraception,
he recalled Blessed Pope Paul
VI who wrote the encyclical
“Humane Vitae” (Of Human
Life) which presents the
teachings of the Church on
contraception in the light
of the Christian view of the
dignity of the human person
and the meaning of marriage.
Effects of the
contraceptive mentality
“Pope Paul VI prophesied
that the widespread use of
contraception would ‘lead
to conjugal infidelity and
the general lowering of
morality’. “Humane Vitae”
was promulgated in July
1968, fifty years ago, but the
truth it contains holds true
today,” stressed the bishop.
He also cited George Arthur
Akerlof, a Nobel laureate
in economics in 2001, who
confirmed through empirical
evidence that the widespread
Thousands marched against the “culture of death” in Baguio City during the Walk for Life, May 1, 2018.PHOTO COURTESY OF HANTRY
LEY DALILIS
use of contraceptives has led
to higher rates of divorce,
single parenthood, abortion,
drug abuse, and other social
evils.
Bendico also mentioned the
on-going debate in Congress
on a petition that seeks to
pave the way for same-sex
unions under House Bill
6595.
The petition is challenging
certain provisions of the
Family Code on marriage,
particularly Articles 1 and
2, which uphold marriage
between a man and a woman.
“We recognize that
there are those who have
homosexual orientations
and we give due respect to
them and recognize their
dignity. Given their special
circumstances, there is a need
to look into their pastoral
care of which the Church in
the Philippines must look
at, but ‘gender politics and
societal reconstruction’ is not
the answer,” he stressed.
‘Life-changing’
In a statement given
on April 28, the bishop
highlighted “every Christian’s
responsibility” to follow
the example of the Good
Samaritan who “recognized
the dignity in the other
person and cared for the life
of the victim”.
“We are called to be mature
in faith and allow our faith to
be the principle of life, and
not simply a description. We
‘walk for life’ to uphold what
life truly means as taught to
us by Christ,” he said.
The bishop then
challenged the faithful to
“take on measures so that
the ‘Walk for Life’ will not
simply be a big event but a
life-changing event which
compels us to act and do
something for the other:
for our families, for our
neighborhood and for our
country.” (Fr. Mickey
Cardenas/CBCPNews)

Redemptorist holds first ever
Aphonsian Youth Mission Day
ABOUT 120 young missionaries
from across the country gathered
for the 1st Alphonsian Youth
Mission Day held in Legazpi City,
Albay on April 27 to 30.
Organized by the Redemptorist
Youth Mission (RYM) Manila, the
participants came from the various
apostolic units and mission areas
of the Redemptorists including the
Prelature of Marawi.
Organizers said it was a 3-day
sharing of experiences in the area
of youth ministry and deepening of
their Alphonsian spirituality and
Redemptorist charism.
“Allow the youth to be youth”,
exhorted by Fr. Ariel Lubi, CSsR,
the Superior of the Redemptorist
Vice Province of Manila during
the event’s opening Mass April
27.
As part of the activities, the
participants also visited and did
charity works in Brgys. Mi-isi
and Salvacion of Daraga, Albay,
two of the many villages affected
by the recent Mayon Volcano
eruption.
The event reflected on the
theme”One RYM: Gathered with
a Vision, Sent for a Mission”,
which captures the desire of the
Redemptorist Youth Missionaries
to be in solidarity with God’s
mission especially to the youth of
today’s generation.
Also present during of the
event, showing their support to
the youth in general and to RYM
in particular, were Fr. Conegundo
Garganta, the Executive Secretary
of CBCP Commission on Youth,
Fr. Copernicus Perez, CSsR, the
Superior of the Redemptorist
Province of Cebu, Fr. Julius Martin
Malacas, CSsR, the youth director
of RYM Cebu and other local youth
directors of RYM VP Manila.
In his thanksgiving speech, Fr.
Rico Bilangel, C.Ss.R of RYM said:
“The youth have spoken, we have
been heard. Now it is time for us
to listen to what the Lord is telling
us.”
“We have been gathered with a
desire to be heard, with a vision to
be the youth that the Lord hoped
us to be. It is now our moment to
be sent back to wherever the Lord
has called us to go, with a mission
to be faithful to our identity…
Redemptorist Youth Missionaries!”
he said. (CBCPNews)
New deacons told: ‘Look beyond comfort’
TACURONG City— Orlando
Cardinal Quevedo called on newly-
ordained deacons to go beyond their
comfort zones when taking on their
ministry.
In his homily during the rite of
ordination to the diaconate at the
Nuestra Señora Dela Candelaria
Parish here, April 30, the prelate
said deacons should have love
for their service to the people,
especially to the poor.
“Our service is not humanitarian.
Service is love,” Quevedo said,
Cardinal Orlando Quevedo of Cotabato ordains three new deacons at the Nuestra Señora Dela Candelaria
explaining that deacons are not in Tacurong City, April 30, 2018. BRENDA MILAN
non-government workers.
“Our basis is love. Without love, like St. Stephen, a deacon who was look up to them, particularly those
service is just a routine,” added the eventually martyred. who also want to become future
archbishop. “The deacons must have a sense priests someday.
He also said the ultimate purpose of the Holy Spirit in themselves “Your life will inspire those who
of their service is the “salvation of so that the whispering of the Holy want to be priests,” Quevedo said.
souls.” Spirit can be heard,” Quevedo said, The new deacons will wait for
Quevedo ordained three deacons adding that they cannot do God’s their respective assignments after
namely: Rev. Daryll Dhan Bilbao, will without their relationship with their ordination. They have chosen
Rev. Danilo Diaz II, and Rev. Filrey the Holy Spirit. the verse, “Do whatever he tells
Michael Magno, all graduates of He stressed the importance of you.” (John 2:5) as the theme for
St. Francis Xavier Regional Major prayer in the life of a deacon, priests their ordination.
Seminary of Mindanao. and religious. Priests from the Archdiocese
“Be constant in faith, be constant in of Cotabato, visiting priests from
Sense of the Holy Spirit love, be constant in purity,” he said. different dioceses, including the
The only Cardinal from Mindanao newly-ordained deacons’ formators
also underlined the need to spend Influencing ‘future priests’ in the seminary, attended the
time in prayer and to ask for the He added that deacons should be said event. (John Frances C.
grace of the Holy Spirit for deacons, mindful of their actions as many Fuentes/CBCPNews)

Candidly Speaking / A4 Spaces of Hope / A5

be sourced and oriented, etc.
They provide us the moral
principles that should guide
the way we use our emotions
and passions.
The common problem we
have in this regard is that
many people are not clear
about where we can have the
ultimate source of knowledge
and wisdom about ourselves.
Some rely on some ideologies,
fashions and trends. Others
just seem drift to wherever
the world currents would
take them.
Of course, given our
wounded human condition,
to educate our emotions and
passions properly we need to
ask for grace and rely more
on the supernatural means
without belittling in any way
all the human means we can
Collection Box / A5
was not all safe and peaceful
because of discouraging events
that nearly made him quit. He
was robbed, almost beaten
to death, lost his money and
other things necessary for the
journey. But he continued
until he met a lovely, young
woman named Fatima whom
he promised to marry after
finding the treasure. From
then on, there was no stopping
Santiago in looking for the
treasure even in the midst of
dangers, threats, and occasions
of near death. He finally found
it and returned to the woman
who stole his heart.
That, my dear graduates,
avail of.
We have to pray, offer
sacrifices, avail of the
sacraments, have devotion
to Our Lady and the saints.
Then we truly have to study
a lot and go through the
process of developing virtues.
This is how our emotions
and passions help us in
achieving an interior freedom
in all our actuations. In
this way, our emotions and
passions get purified and are
elevated to the spiritual and
supernatural level.
This is also how our
emotions and passions would
know what is truly important
and necessary in life, what
brings us to our eternal joy.
This is how they avoid getting
stranded in our merely bodily
and worldly conditions.
is the story of The Alchemist
by Paolo Coelho. Today,
start thinking of your
‘’personal legend’’ and be
prepared to meet all sorts of
‘’mysterious forces.” As you
embark on your own journey,
don’t quit. Take courage.
Believe in yourself and more
importantly, believe in God!
When you feel helpless, don’t
lose hope because hope is
not putting a limit to what
God can do. Indeed, when we
have nothing left but God, we
become more aware that God
is more than enough.
Dear graduates,
congratulations and good luck!
things that cluttered her bag. She then
replaced these with sheets of paper with
the words “rosary”, “poor”, and, above
all, “Jesus”. Her bag was now so much
lighter. Her destination awaits her.
The budding teenager got the point.
And she was not doing this to meet
certain expectations since her own
mother was also pleasantly surprised.
The same survey on millennials also
reveals what I would refer to as creeping
spiritual heroism. It says, for instance,
that millennials “would rather choose to
do work they are passionate about rather
than work that will make them rich.”
Jenine and other millennials give me
hope. If only we knew how to push the
right buttons in the hearts of our young
people.
***
I am thoroughly enjoying a book
entitled Heroism and Genius, by William
J. Slattery. The description on the jacket
says: “How Catholic priests helped
build—and can help rebuild—Western
civilization.” It continues: “Heroism
and Genius presents some of these
formidable men: fathers of chivalry and
free-enterprise economics; statesmen
and defiers of tyrants; composers,
educators, and architects of some of
the world’s loveliest buildings; and,
paradoxically, revolutionary defenders
of romantic love.” The book presents a
panoramic view of history of how the
Church, particularly through its priests,
accompanied the historical upheavals
and process from the classical Greco-
Roman world, through the so-called
Dark Ages, and into modern civilization.
There is even a section on how the
Irish method of confessing sins was
crucial in this transition. The Church
indeed is a humanizing and civilizing
presence. There is always an element
of new evangelization in every epoch of
the Church.
“New methods” in new evangelization
does not just deal with the effective use
of modern technology. It begins with
mindsets which, in turn, results in and
are the effects of modern technology.
When computer technology led to
social media and internet commerce,
our ways of viewing reality changed and
our ways of interacting with reality and
one another also changed, including
evangelization.
Technology leads to economic
breakthroughs. This, in turn, requires
political intervention to ensure that
the common good is served. Above
technology, economics, and politics are
culture, the call to personal authenticity,
religion, and spirituality. These “scales
of values” provide a scale – akin to the
musical scale—that allows the various
dimensions of human living to work in
harmony, with the lower value being
taken up into the higher value for greater
integration.
Yes, “new methods” emanate from
and bear fruit in new mindsets.
***
During the recently-concluded
“National Conversations on Church-
Led CBRP (Community-Based Recovery
Program) and Related Initiatives” held
in Cebu City from April 16 to 18, 2018,
one of the participants, a priest who is a
recovering addict himself, said that what
led him towards the journey of recovery
towards restoration was the “eternal
perspective.” He was unexpectedly
attending Mass—he was still a lay person
with no seminary background—when
he heard an announcement that struck
his heart. It opened up an eternal
perspective.
About 42 representatives from 18 local
churches, with observers from the PNP,
Liga ng Mga Barangay, and the DILG,
came together to share stories of their
experiences in CBRP. Those farthest
north came from Bontoc-Lagawe,
farthest south from Davao. Bishop
Antonio Tobias of Novaliches gave the
keynote address. His one-liner—“For
heaven’s sake, let us do something!”—
joyfully became the gathering’s rallying
cry and a veritable hashtag. Standards
and best practices were then identified.
The highlight of the two-day gathering
was easily the encounter with Labangers
(i.e. recovering addicts who are clients
of Labang) of Barangay Subangdaku in
Mandaue City on April 17 at the barangay
garden. This lush area was once a
dumping site until the present barangay
chairman, Ernie Manatad, took the bull
by the horns and transformed the area.
Now about 50 Labangers and their
families call this their home and their
fellow recovering addicts and barangay
and parish volunteers “family”.
The conversation participants
witnessed an “open” NA (Narcotics
Anonymous) meeting where the clients
gave personal testimonies and shared
the ups and downs of their journey.
This was followed by a Lectio Divina
conducted by two young blood sisters.
Finally, supper was provided, ending
with some intermission numbers by the
Labangers. Perhaps the impact of the
event was captured by a priest who had
to leave the gathering for a short while
because he could feel tears welling up in
his eyes. He also threw away a packet of
cigarette, realizing that he himself was
being called to conversion.
“New methods” involve very broken
people touching the hearts of “normal”
people who, upon closer look, actually
have their own addictions.
A8 PEOPLE, FACTS, AND PLACES April 30 - May 13, 2018 Vol. 22 No. 9 CBCP Monitor

Pope names new bishop of Malolos Bishop

San Fernando in La Union
A PRIEST from the Diocese
of Iba in Zambales has been
named as new bishop of San
Fernando in La Union.
Pope Francis has appointed
Fr. Daniel Presto as the 6th
bishop of San Fernando on
May 9.
He will replace Rodolfo
Beltran, who headed the
diocese for around four years
until his death in last year.
Upon his appointment,
Presto has been serving as
the administrator in Iba
after Florentino Lavarias
was named as archbishop of
San Fernando in Pampanga
in 2014.
Since 2012, he has been
based in San Antonio town
as parish priest, a member
of the presbyteral council
and various diocesan
commissions.
The bishop-elect was born
in Mangaldan, Pangasinan on
April 7, 1963.
After high school,
he attended courses in
philosophy and theology at
the San Carlos Seminary in
Makati City.
At 27, he was ordained a
priest for the Diocese of Iba
in 1990.
Other posts he held include
as vicar of the Saint Rita
Oliveros dies at 71
parish in Olongapo City and
the Saint Michael parish in
Santa Cruz, Zambales.
Between 1993 and
2005, he was president of
the Columban Center of
Olongapo City.
Presto also holds a master’s
degree in education from
the De La Salle University of
Manila.
From 2005 to 2012, he
was vicar forane of the Saint
Joseph Vicariate, director of
the Saint Augustine School
of Iba, and president of Bishop Jose Oliveros was last seen publicly during the episcopal ordination of his
former Vicar General, Msgr. Bartolome Santos, at the Malolos Cathedral on April 30,
the Magsaysay Memorial 2018. ROY LAGARDE
College of San Narciso. Bishop-elect Daniel Presto of San
(CBCPNews) Fernando, La Union. BISHOP Jose Oliveros of bishop of the Diocese of Iba.
Malolos has died after a long Funeral services were

Saint Padre Pio’s heart relic to visit Philippines battle with cancer on Friday
morning, May 11.
He was 71 years old.
held May 17 at the
Malolos Cathedral after
a 6-day wake. After the
FOR the first time, the “incorruptible” Oliveros died at around church service, interment
heart of a celebrated saint will visit the 9:12am at the Mary followed immediately
Philippines this October. Immaculate Hospital in in the crypt below the
Fr. Joselin Gonda, rector of the Malolos City. basilica’s altar.
National Shrine of Saint Pio in Sto. Fr. Nick Lalog, spokesman Oliveros was ordained
Tomas, Batangas, said the relic of Saint of the diocese, said the bishop a priest for the Diocese of
Padre Pio will be in the country for at was found unconscious in his Lucena by Pope Paul VI
least 20 days, from Oct. 6 to 26. room at around 8am. at Rizal Park in Manila on
Initially, he said that the visit was He said the bishop was then Nov. 28, 1970. He was then
set for 10 days in early September to rushed to the nearby hospital incardinated to the Diocese
coincide with the centenary of the where he was pronounced of Dumaca in 1984.
appearance of the widely venerated dead about an hour later. In 2000, he was appointed
stigmata of Padre Pio. Oliveros had been been bishop for the Diocese of
However, the plan did not push under treatment for prostate Boac. Four years later,
through because it will coincide with cancer since 2015, which has Oliveros was named the
the Italian bishops’ assembly in San limited his physical activities. fourth bishop of Malolos, a
Giovanni Rotondo, in southern Italy, But Lalog said Oliveros’ post he held for almost 14
wherein the shrine that houses the health condition has not years.
saint’s remains and relics is located. stopped the prelate from During his active ministry,
“But we are blessed to have this heart doing his duties. Oliveros served as Vice-
relic of St. Padre Pio for 20 days instead of Visibly frail, he was last Chairman of the bishops’
Pope Francis prays in front of the body of St. Pio in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie at the Shrine of St. Pio seen publicly at the Malolos Commission on Doctrine of
ten days,” Gonda said in a Facebook post. of Pietrelcina in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, March 17, 2018. CNS/COURTESY OF SHRINE OF ST. PIO PIETRELCINA
“We hope and plan that it can visit Cathedral on April 30 the Faith, Chairman of the
Manila for Luzon, Cebu for the Visayas According to Gonda, the pastoral visit Giovanni Rotondo in 1916 and made his during the ordination of the Office on Bioethics, and Vice-
and Davao for Mindanao for 3 days becomes more meaningful as the local home there for 52 years until his death diocese’s vicar general, Msgr. Chairman of the Commission
each,” he said. Church celebrates the Year of the Clergy in March 1968. Bartolome Santos Jr., as on the Laity. (CBCPNews)
The priest said that they are also and Consecrated Life. “Padre Pio was Besides being devoted to God. he
coordinating with the Commission
on Clergy of the Catholic Bishops’
chosen as the model for all priests and
religious,” he said.
was known for his care of the sick,
powers of healing and prophesy. He was
Pope approves coronation
Conference of the Philippines in
planning out the activities.
Born in Pietrelcina, Padre Pio came
to the Capuchin monastery in San
canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2002.
(CBCPNews) of Mary Help of Christians
JesCom feted at China docu festival in Pangasinan
JESUIT Communications across Asia. When I was lighting and texture that had “Since I also teach
Foundation (JesCom) asked to submit a list of a film-like quality just like in documentary film-making
received yet more documentaries that I’ve done, the movies. In a way, it set the in the Ateneo, winning the
international recognition, I thought about the one I template for the way we do award helped me realize that
garnering the “Jury really loved, ‘Duyan’. Shortly documentaries to this day, the stories we tell transcend
Award” at the Belt and thereafter, it was included visually speaking.” time and space. As long as the
Road International Micro in the competition. I wasn’t Mangilog-Saltarin story is good, tell it well. No
Documentary Festival held expecting anything to begin explained the “serendipitous matter how many years have
on March 6 in Dehong, with. The win was a pleasant moment” that proved to be the passed, people will always
Yunnan Province, China. surprise,” she said. inspiration behind ‘Duyan’. relate to a story well told.
It was JesCom’s As a product of her own “I was watching a TV She noted how films like
documentary “Sa Duyan conceptualization and design, feature on Levi Celerio, our Duyan remains relevant
ng Sining” that proudly Mangilog-Saltarin recalled National Artist for Literature, today. “The time is ripe for us
represented the Philippines fond memories of the JesCom who was a brilliant lyricist to showcase the excellence of
in the inaugural event project that began production and musician. He was shown the Filipino artist. Hopefully,
organized by the Dehong in 1999 and was released the playing the piano at Mario’s, we can continue raise public
local government, as part following year, 2000. The where guests could drop their consciousness on our national
of China’s “Belt and Road” documentary features the tips in a glass bowl. It was artists for future generations
development initiative Filipino artists Kidlat Tahimik, so heartbreaking to see the of Filipinos.”
that aims for increased Julie Lluch, Levi Celerio, plight of the Filipino artist, The documentary film
connectivity and cooperation Leonor Orosa Goquingco, and and this led to the idea for festival attracted 250 entries
across the Asian region. Lucio San Pedro. ‘Duyan’. It perfectly reflected from 10 Asian countries and
Image of Mary Help of Christians. PHOTO FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE OF LINGAYEN-DAGUPAN
For JesCom creative She said: “I’m proud to say JesCom’s mission and vision, regions, including Vietnam,
director, Pauline Mangilog- that ‘Duyan’ was my baby. since our goal is not just to Myanmar, Thailand, and POPE Francis has approved Guerrero, the first bishop of
Saltarin, the selection process Supported and produced evangelize but present socio- South Korea. the canonical coronation of Lingayen.
and award itself came as “a by JesCom, it was my first cultural issues as well.” For inquiries on how to the image of Mary Help of The statue is currently
truly welcome surprise.” full length documentary support JesCom’s upcoming Christians in Pangasinan enshrined at the chapel of of
and my first collaboration Recognizing artists film projects and other province. the Mary Help of Christians
‘Pleasant surprise’ with the award-winning Amidst today’s digital productions, interested Archbishop Socrates High School Seminary in
“Considering my cinematographer Lee revolution where new forms parties may get in touch Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan Binmaley town.
background as board member Briones-Meily, who later on of filmmaking come into play, with Ms. Dit Sablan at tel. said the decree, issued The archbishop the next
of Probe Media Foundation worked with us for ‘Ignacio Mangilog-Saltrain noted (02) 426-5971 or 72, local through the Congregation few months leading to the
(PMFI), I was invited as a de Loyola’. She incorporated the seeming lack of focus 121, mobile number 0908- for Divine Worship and the historic ecclesial event will
jury member along with other Japanese lanterns in the on Filipino artists in social 886-8447, or email esablan@ Discipline of the Sacraments, be a period of “historic
documentary filmmakers shoot resulting in warm media. admu.edu.ph. (CBCPNews) acknowledges the faithful catechesis, acts of piety and
devotion of the people to the works of mercy in honor of
venerated image. Mary Help of Christians”.
“This is a clear message of “I call on you our brothers
affirmation from the Holy and sisters to consider this
Father that this image of blessing as a challenge to love
the Mother of God with the the Lord even more and seek
Child Jesus has contributed ways to grow in holiness,”
to the growth of the Catholic he said.
faith in Pangasinan for the A canonical coronation
past ninety years,” Villegas is a pious institutional act
said. wherein the Pope, through
The liturgical rites of a bull, designates a crown
crowning the venerated or stellar halo be added to
image will be presided by a Marian image under a
Papal Nuncio Archbishop specific devotional title in a
Gabriele Caccia at the particular diocese.
Cathedral of Saint John the The crowning of Mary
Evangelist in Dagupan City Help of Christians will be
on August 22. the second coronation to
The image was a gift of take place in the archdiocese
then Apostolic Delegate after 92 years, the first image
Archbishop Guglielmo being Our Lady of the Rosary
Piani to Bishop Cesar Maria of Manaoag. (CBCPNews)