Aurora’s Mt. Falcon proved by 7 advance mountaineers as one of Central Luzon highest peaks and toughest to climb

SAN LUIS, Aurora, April 29, 2011-Professor Leonardo Usita, president of the environmentalist group Noble Blue Falcons International (NBFI) said that seven (7) advance men team of his group conducted reconnaissance mission at Mt. Falcon before the 300 mountaineers and environmentalists from the Philippines-South Korea, among others to trek in this town today.

“Three (3) days before the Philippine International Climb 2011 to save Sierra Madre, an advance 7 men team of Noble Blue Falcons Environmental Mountaineers conducted reconnaissance mission in Mt Falcon,” he said, adding that the advance team confirmed that the 2007 findings of last Blue Falcons expedition report that there was a cell phone signal at the top of the mountain.

Usita also reported that they re-establish that in summer time where the Mt. Falcon can be climbed in 6 hours (uphill), and confirmed that it is one of Central Luzon's most difficult to climb and is a rich biodiversity that needs to be protected.

“The seven advance team already put ribbon markings and wood signs to guide the climbers and established camp sites where the climbers can stay,” he said. Usita identified the team as Vicente Porte, Marlon Dulay, Ruel Villar, Eduardo Sarenas, Dominador Bitong, Mar Tangson and Diojeto Minosa.

“The markings were already established for the success of this mountaineering adventure dubbed as Akyat Kalikasan, in support to save the longest Sierra Madre mountain rangers of the country,” Usita said.

Usita said that the climb for a cause activity will start today from April 29 to May 1 as the culminating activity in a lung-busting hike at the top of Mt. Falcon which at 5,231.60 ft. above sea level is one of Central Luzon’s highest peaks and is considered to be the toughest to climb.

“It is our way of promoting Aurora as an eco-tourism haven,” he said, saying that it is said to be Central Luzon’s stiffest mountain.

He said that the Blue Falcons mountaineers, who have become a global organization, will retrace their roots in Mt. Falcon, Ditumabo here in San Luis, Aurora where it was founded on March 19, 1996 by Sir Edward J. England.

Usita said that the jungle trek to kick off today is a peaceful rally in support to the executive order number 23 of President Aquino’s total logging ban nationwide where he noted that the group has opposed illegal logging in the province for 15 years.

“I assured the mountaineers will also witness the testament of the seven advance team who conducted reconnaissance patrol at Mt. Falcon where they could see the bountiful beauty of the mountains,” he said.

Aside from the Blue Falcons and the south Korean mountaineers, it is expected that the other groups will participate in the activity like the Greenpeace,  Hospital, Philippine National Red Cross, DFA-Katribu climbers, Green Philippines. Among others are the media from the Catholic Media Network-CMN, DZMM, Philippine star, DZRH, GMA7, ABS-CBN, Business Mirror, Esports Daily News, Radyo Natin and Bulgar. (Jason de Asis)

Trillanes bats for speed limit to utility vehicles to lessen Phl deaths and injuries

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, April 28, 2011-To lessen the number of deaths and injuries on the roads due to over speeding, Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV filed a bill that would require on-board speed-limiting devices for all public utility vehicles (PUVs) where he believes that to have a speed limiting device fitted in their vehicles it would help to reduce speed-related fatal accidents which the number of victim continues to rise over the years.

The senator sponsored Senate Bill No. 2790 otherwise known as the proposed speed Limiters Act of 2011, stating that speed-limiting devices could help save lives since it would limit the speed on PUVs, which are most likely to break
speed limits on fast roads.

Trillanes strongly recommended that legislation obliging operators of PUVs to have that kind of device will ensure safe to all passengers, operators and drivers where 78 percent of the population rely on buses, jeepneys, taxis, trains and tricyles for mobility, and 44 percent of road accidents caused by speeding.

“It is very alarming that World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 2.4 million fatalities died due to road accidents,” Trillanes said, adding that local studies revealed that in Manila alone, almost 50 road accidents occur every day.

Trillanes stressed that by enforcing strict compliance with the mandated speed limits in various streets, highways and thoroughfares, vehicular accidents caused by speeding will be reduced and that lives will be saved.

“I hope that this proposed bill will be supported by my fellow solon in the Senate,” Trillanes said.

Trillanes cited that the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) imposed 60 kilometer per hour speed limit on the 12.4 kilometers thoroughfare which resulted to the dramatic reduction of road accidents along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, adding that almost every week,  Commonwealth Avenue previously gained notoriety as a killer highway because of the great number of fatal accidents taking place on the said road; thus, the Senator believes that installing on-board speed-limiting devices on PUVs would be a step towards the right direction to duplicate this experience not only in Metro Manila but across the country.

Trillanes’ bill of PUVs will be required to bear the cost of the speed-limiting devices where the Senator said that the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) will be tasked to supervise and to inspect the setting up of speed-limiting devices to comply with speed limits corresponding to the maximum allowed in the route plied by a particular PUV.

“DOTC will also be authorized to subsidize deserving PUV owners in the procurement and installation of on-board speed-limiting devices,” Trillanes said, adding that the bill provides that no PUV shall be registered by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) without a properly calibrated speed-limiting device installed.

The bill stated that a fine of P30, 000 and a jail term of up to three years shall be imposed upon those who will be found to have tampered with a duly installed and set speed limiter.

The DOTC, in coordination with the LTO and the Land Transportation Franchise Regulatory Board will be tasked of the proposed measure in the formulation of the guidelines, rules and regulations of the implementing provisions. (Jason de Asis)

300 South Koreans and Phl mountaineers to trek Aurora’s Mt. Falcon

SAN LUIS, Aurora, April 27, 2011-Professor Leonardo Usita, president of the environmentalist group Noble Blue Falcons International reported that at least 300 mountaineers and environmentalists from the Philippines and South Korea will embark tomorrow in a bold attempt to conquer Mt. Falcon in this town.

Usita said that the mountaineering adventure was dubbed as “Akyat Kalikasan,” was meant to drum up multi-sector support to save the Sierra Madre mountain rangers, the country’s longest mountain range.

“The climb for a cause activity will start April 29 and end on May 1, culminating in a lung-busting hike atop Mt. Falcon which, at 5,231.60 ft. above sea level is one of Central Luzon’s highest peaks and is considered to be the toughest to climb,” Usita said, adding that the mountain trek is more than just a simple climb.

“Conquering Mt. Falcon is not just an adventure. It is our way of promoting Aurora as an eco-tourism haven,” he said, saying that it is said to be Central Luzon’s stiffest mountain.

He said that the Blue Falcons mountaineers, who have become a global organization, will retrace their roots in Mt. Falcon, Ditumabo here in San Luis, Aurora where it was founded on March 19, 1996 by Sir Edward J. England.

Usita said that the event will also be highlighted by a peaceful prayer rally for the successful implementation of Executive Order 23 issued last February by President Aquino directing a moratorium on cutting of trees in natural and residual forests nationwide, including the province. “In effect, this is a celebration of our victory against logging in Aurora, a battle which we have waged over the past 15 years,” he said.

“I would like to add that aside from Filipino and South Korean mountaineers, also will join in the mountain trek are peace volunteers, hospital personnel, fitness buffs, fire personnel, government employees, religious groups and media practitioners,” he said.

“The Greenpeace, UST Hospital, Gold’s Gym, Philippine National Red Cross, Department of Foreign Affairs-Katribu Climbers , Bureau of Fire Protection, Green-Philippines, Rotary Club of San Juan, Hotel SOGO, ESports Daily News climbers,   Kibbal, Ordo Luminis Legis, St. Mary’s College-QC., CUB’71, Aurora National Science High School, Genesis Bus Trekkers, Bagong Henerasyon Climbers and Christian pastors are also part of this activity,” he added.

The 414,000-strong NBFI, which includes 8,000 green armies in Aurora, have been in the forefront of protecting Aurora’s biodiversity against corrupt local officials, timber poachers, illegal loggers and their financiers. (Jason de Asis)

Sotto law to be amended for the benefit of media practitioner says Sotto III

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, April 27, 2011-Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto C. III today seeks to amend the law introduce by his grandfather and to continue to be enjoyed by media practitioners in exercising press freedom to include cable and internet-based media exempting them from revealing their sources of information, saying that today’s modern technology and various social networking sites are already being used for faster dissemination of current events where existing laws should be made to conform with the emerging new medium of mass communications.

Sotto III furthered that technology has advanced by leaps and bounds and with it, the expansion of coverage of mass media where news and investigative reports are not only broadcast through the print media but also through radio, television, cable and internet.

In his Senate Bill No. 41, Sotto III said that the law was conceived at a time when today’s technology was unthinkable. Nonetheless, the purpose of the law protecting and enhancing the freedom of the press, so as to inform the public of current events and issues that affect their lives, remains relevant and important where he proposed for an amendment to R.A. No. 53 to include responsible personnel from radio, television, cable and internet-based media from the exemption provided by the law to conforms in the fast-changing technology and further protect the freedom of the press.

Sotto III also proposed for an amendment in section 1, to also cover station manager, producer, news director or duly accredited reporter of any print, broadcast or electronic mass media, including but not limited to newspaper, magazine or periodical of general circulation.

He said that such persons representing media entities in radio, television, cable, internet site and other electronic media outlets, cannot be compelled to reveal the source of their news items obtained in confidence, unless the court or any of the two Houses of Congress or any of its committees finds that such revelation is demanded by the interest of the State.

In 1946, the late Senator Vicente Yap Sotto authored R.A. No. 53, otherwise known as an act to exempt the publisher, editor or reporter of any publication from revealing the source of Published news or information obtained in confidence. At times they called it “Sotto Law” which was put in place when dissemination of news and investigative reports were not as sophisticated as today. (Jason de Asis)

US-Australia offer technical and financial assistance to Phl disaster preparedness

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, April 27, 2011-Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Chair of the Congressional Commission of Science, Technology and Engineering (COMSTE) yesterday said that the government should take advantage of the technical and financial assistance to develop disaster science and preparedness that the United States and Australian governments are offering.

He said that COMSTE will participate in the event sponsored by the U.S. Pacific Command, the U.S. Embassy, the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, the Experimentation Center, and the Office of Naval Research Global, adding that 2011 Forum on Post-Disaster Water and Waste Management will bring together the research and development (R&D) and operational communities from the Philippines and the United States in an interactive environment where current technologies and operational needs can be discussed.

“It will focus on water purification, water distribution and waste management (W3M) which are critical concerns during post-disaster Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HA/DR) operations,” Angara said, adding that the W3M aspires to provide a forum where stakeholders from the HA/DR operational community can convey their requirements to researchers, and for those researchers to describe their current research projects to the operational stakeholders.

“The interaction is designed to foster the development of more effective HA/DR W3M technologies which may someday support the fielding of portable/mobile systems designed to alleviate the effect of future disasters on civilian populations,” Angara said, noting that the event will help one of the main priorities of COMSTE, which is the expansion of the Philippine Disaster Science Management Center (DSMC).

He said that the Australian government has also committed P 720 million to help the country implement a disaster risk management plan on the local level, saying that the announcement was made by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), which has also launched a book entitled, “Rising to the Call”, which documents ideal practices in disaster-risk reduction and climate change adaptation on the 21 provinces of the Philippines.

“The DSMC is needed to help us to prepare for the earthquakes and similar disasters that will continue to threaten the country, noting that the government needs to be able to understand how to develop an advanced and real-time information dissemination strategy so people can better prepare to handle such events.

DSMC will also house a training center that will focus on scenario-type learning utilizing technology for disaster mitigation and management. He said that Taiwan and Japan are already actively cooperating with training of local experts for situations like floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. It will also help the scientific community to better understand the mechanics of managing disasters with the cooperation of neighboring countries that have experienced similar storms and natural calamities like the country. (Jason de Asis) 

Escudero bats GSIS to study on pension system for all uniformed personnel

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, April 26, 2011-Senator Chiz Escudero, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense and security bats the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to conduct a study for all uniformed personnel on the rationalization of pension system.

“Pension contributions by uniformed personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Coast Guard are managed by different retirement and benefits systems; therefore, the rates are not par with their service,” he said, adding that uniformed personnel are government employees ever since and it makes sense that GSIS handles their pension system.

Escudero furthered that the GSIS has the expertise on this matter and the actuarial study they are currently doing will augur well for an informed analysis of the pension system and its viability.

“The AFP's pension system is being handled by the military's built-in insurer Retirement Service and Benefit System, while police personnel are getting better returns compared to their uniformed counterparts,” he cited and explained that he wants to put in place a mechanism that would give uniformed personnel a consistent and rationalized pension rate that equate with the value of serving in uniform.

Since 2010, the data being used by the GSIS in their actuarial study has been provided by the Senate defense and security committee from a series of hearings and meetings conducted. (Jason de Asis)

Umali ally named new prexy of Ecija mayors’ league

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, April 26, 2011-A close ally of Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali has been named the new president of the provincial chapter of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, ending the long leadership vacuum marred by factionalism and power struggle among member mayors over the past several months.

Penaranda Mayor Ferdinand Abesamis, a first-term mayor, received a vote of confidence from 24 of the 27 municipal mayors who gathered at a local restaurant here Thursday to elect a new set of officers. 

Abesamis is a brother of Board Member Edmund Abesamis and provincial administrator Al Abesamis.

Abesamis’ election ended months of a leadership stalemate caused by the resignation of Umali’s erstwhile political ally, Gen. Tinio Mayor Virgilio Bote who quit the presidency of the league shortly after being voted by fellow mayors.

Abesamis, a lawyer and a former fiscal, said he will serve as league president without borders, meaning, he would deal with fellow mayors irrespective of their party affiliations. “Under an Abesamis presidency, I will see to it that political fences and walls that divide will be torn down and destroyed,” he told newsmen.

Prior to Abesamis’ election, the league was rocked by a protracted squabble and controversy when a faction from the Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija of the Josons led by San Antonio Mayor Arvin Salonga held its own election and refused to join the majority bloc led by Bote. The leadership crisis worsened when Bote suddenly resigned shortly after getting elected president.

Because of the leadership vacuum, there were several instances when Nueva Ecija was not represented in various fora of the LMP and it was not included in the roster of the league’s national directorate.

Abesamis said the new leadership is boosted by the expression of support from among Balane mayors themselves, including Mayors Francis Steven dizon of Guimba, Willy Domingo of Licab, Nerito Santos of Talavera, Levy Santos of Gen. Natividad and Salonga himself.

“Majority of our member mayors, notably from Balane spoke of unity and that’s what we will pursue under my leadership,” he said.

He said one of the development agenda of the provincial LMP will be the conduct of educational exchanges among the member local government units and adoption of common developmental goals, programs and policies. (Jason de Asis)

Enrile lauded Finance Secretary Purisima’s move to form climate finance group

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, April 26, 2011-On the issue of climate change, finance Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile lauded Department of Finance (DOF) Cesar Purisima’s move to form and lead the Climate Finance Group (CFG) in the executive branch in the collaborative leadership displayed recently by the DOF and the Climate Change Commission (CCC).

Enrile said that CFG should start with the right ambition and sense of urgency and hoping that it can cover efforts to establish national risk-transfer and catastrophe insurance mechanisms, review ill-advised climate change loans and secure funding for the country's climate change action plan.

The Senator praised Purisima in giving his personal attention on climate finance, saying that the chairmanship of the DOF over the executive's Climate Finance Group is a sign that steps will now be taken to arrest the governance chaos prevailing over the administration of climate finance that has entered country coffers.

“Although the country's priority climate change response should be adaptation, more money has flowed to mitigation activities, which is the main responsibility of the world's top polluters. Worse, funds that went to adaptation have come in the form of loans, which is unacceptable,” he explained, adding that the climate change is an issue of tort. A compensatory framework governs this issue and we need to leverage finance that addresses our country's priorities, not the plans of rich nations.

Last October, a landmark measure that sought to establish the people’s survival fund (PSF) for local government units (LGUs) and communities were filed by Enrile under senate bill 2558, stating that the PSF provides incentives for early climate action from localities, which can tap the fund if it formulates local climate adaptation plans based on vulnerability and development assessments.

It also stated that to address rising sea levels, or to promote agricultural programs resilient to extreme temperatures, severe precipitation or persistent flooding, the PSF can be used by LGUs with coastal communities.

The Senator singled out the efforts of Climate Change Commission Vice Chair Mary Ann Lucille Sering, who led negotiations that secured for the Philippines a seat in the Transitional Committee, a body tasked to design the rules of the global Green Climate Fund, or GCF that was established last  December in the international climate negotiations held in Cancun, Mexico.

Enrile said that the collaboration of Secretary Purisima and Secretary Sering are consistent with the kind of leadership demanded by President Noynoy Aquino in response to the climate change crisis.

The Senate President called on the DOF and the CCC to support the early passage of the PSF to make sure local communities can keep pace with efforts to mainstream climate change into national operations.

“The GCF is expected to manage at least $100 billion in annual funds pledged by rich countries for climate change adaptation and mitigation activities. The Philippines was formally made a member of the Transitional Committee at the recently concluded Bangkok round of climate talks,” Enrile explained, saying that the membership in the Transitional Committee is vital to the national interest.

“With the right design, the Philippines will be eligible to tap the fund, adding that we can put in place direct access modalities that lessen the need for financial intermediaries; thus, reduce transaction costs,” he ended. (Jason de Asis)

5 kids drowned in Nueva Ecija-Aurora last Black Saturday

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, April 25, 2011-Police authorities reported that five youngsters drowned when they swam in rivers in Nueva Ecija and Aurora last Black Saturday.

In Nueva Ecija, the police identified the victims as Jeff Alquizal, 12, and Francis Valmonte, 10, both of Jaen, Nueva Ecija Ansly Constantino, 8, and John Vincent Marcos, both of San Leonardo town.

Senior Supt. Roberto Aliggayu, provincial police director said that three of those who died were found floating along the river in Barangay San Anton, San Leonardo at around 12 noon Saturday.

Constantino was declared dead-on-arrival at the Gonzales District Hospital by attending physicians an hour after he was found.

Initial investigations disclosed that three of the kids swam in the river accompanied by a 17-year-old sister of one of the victims even if they didn’t know how to swim. Police said they were swept by strong currents.

In Aurora province, a certain Michael Angelo Orpiano, nine years old, was declared dead-on-arrival at the Aurora Memorial Hospital after drowning in Sitio Amper, Barangay Gupa, Dipaculao town.

Senior Superintendent Jojo Gumban, the new Aurora provincial police director reported that Orpiano was with his parents having a picnic underneath the Amper bridge when he suddenly went missing. None of the family members noticed that he was swept by the strong currents. They only learned of it when they called out for him to eat lunch.

A witness, Eddie Rebueno said that the boy apparently was driven to a deep side of the river and because he could not swim, got drowned.

Amper is a popular tourist destination but it has also gained notoriety reportedly because every year, many reportedly died due to drowning. (Jason de Asis)

Angara urged the government to ensure delivery of health services in the Phl

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, April 25, 2011-Senator Edgardo J. Angara who authored Senate Bill No. 2629, the Community Health Delivery and Health Team Placement Act which seeks to establish Rural Health Centers in every town and barangay has urged the government for the creation of more health centers in the countryside to ensure the delivery of health services where he believes that it would dramatically decrease the high infant mortality rate nationwide.

Angara said that at least four medical professionals Local Health Unit should be manned to improve access to basic health facilities, infant and mother mortality rates in the countryside may be reduced.

He said that that his bill which is known as “An Act Establishing a Responsive Local Health Unit in Each City and Municipality to ensure delivery of primary health services and to provide a mechanism to ensure the placement of required health personnel in these Local Health Units and other government operated health facilities has been referred to the Health and Demography after the First Reading.

He added that more than 2 million babies are stillborn each year throughout the world and about half could have been prevented with proper health care during the pregnancy according to Lancet, a global medical journal, adding that most of these stillbirths were caused by delivery complications, infections, and congenital abnormalities.

“Unfortunately, this is common in developing countries like the Philippines. Due to the dearth of health care facilities and qualified medical professionals in the province, expectant mothers skip regular checkups which might detect curable and preventable illnesses in the unborn baby,” Angara said. (Jason de Asis)

A thumb history of Good Friday

CMN OFFICE, Manila, April 22, 2011-The gospels described the Good Friday as the commemoration of Jesus' Passion story of all Christians in the world where Jesus was betrayed, trialed, crucified, died and buried. The ritual marks the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday and precedes the celebration of Jesus' resurrection on Easter Sunday as part of the (Semana Santa) Holy Week where Catholics worldwide are now joining the traditional solemn processions representing the Passion of Christ.

Historian said that Jewish tradition dictated that Good Friday began at sundown on Maundy Thursday, adding that the Good Friday traditionally began with the betrayal of Jesus by his apostle Judas in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus was subsequently brought before the Sanhedrin council, the Roman governor Pontius Pilate and King Herod of Galilee with the ultimate outcome ordering his condemnation to death by crucifixion.

The trial of Jesus and his crucifixion are described in varying detail by all four (4) canonical Gospels, the Jewish historian Josephus and the Roman writer Tacitus while the specific events and theological implications are widely disputed, the historicity of the occasion is widely accepted.

The church services this Good Friday revolves around the readings of the Gospel accounts of the Passion story. It includes the distribution of the Eucharist that was consecrated during the Mass on Maundy Thursday and special veneration of the cross by inviting individuals to approach the altar and kiss the wood of the crucifix in the Catholic liturgy for Good Friday.

Christians also marked the Good Friday by participating and/or watching processions meant to replicate the journey that Jesus took through the streets of Jerusalem while carrying his cross to the site of his crucifixion at Calvary. Every year, two of the largest and most famous of these occasions are Rome's Way of the Cross that leads to the Coliseum and is presided over by the Pope and the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem where a procession along the traditionally marked route of Jesus that is attended by thousands of pilgrims.

Key religious leaders will parade around the streets a few hour after 3 o’clock in the afternoon, where the Catholics believe that it is the time when Jesus died in the cross followed by decorated carriages and parish church officials, religious groups and devotees holding rosaries and candles.

The Good Friday is also a day of strict fasting. Catholics are instructed to abstain from eating meat as with all the Fridays of Lent. In Ash Wednesday, the fasting rules for Good Friday dictate that adherents should eat only one full meal with two smaller meals being permitted as long as no other food is consumed in the interim. The use of other meat-based products such as lard, chicken broth or dairy is not traditionally forbidden, although many individuals elect to make their Good Friday meals entirely vegetarian or vegan.

A special liturgy is read in the account of the Passion according to John’s Gospel celebrates by the churches, it is a series of prayers (prayers for special intentions) offered, and the faithful venerate the Cross by coming forward and kiss him. It includes prayers for the Acts of Reparation, the Veneration of the Cross, meditation on the Seven Last Words, praying the Way of the Cross, and the presentation of the “senakulo” or Passion plays. The Good Friday ends with the serving of Holy Communion.

The Good Friday is being observed as a national holyday in many countries with strong Christian traditions. (Jason de Asis)

The Lenten Season at a glance

CMN OFFICE, Manila, April 21, 2011-As Filipinos who have high values of religious traditions in celebrating the Holy Week, I encourage you to remember the brief history of it where most of us celebrate it in total solemnity.

Historian said that the Lenten season preceding Easter goes back to the time of the Apostles. It was a long, long time ago where the length of time varied. But according to the council of Nicea (325 A.D.) which was the first general Council of the Church, the lent is being observed for forty days.

It was said that we celebrate Easter on the first Sunday after the first full moon or the first vernal equinox (day and night sharing equal length). This was agreed upon by the church leaders of Nicea (325 A.D.); thus, this day can be either from March 22^nd till April 25^th.

Biblical history said that it observed the forty days fasts of Moses, Elijah and especially Our Lord in the desert. The observance of fast was very strict during the early days of the Church. It is said that one meal was allowed per day and, even in that meal, meat and fish were forbidden. By the fifteenth century, the one meal was taken at noon. Steadily an extra collation was allowed in the evening and that happened gradually.

In the recent legislation of Canon Law, all Fridays through the year and the time of Lent are penitential days and times throughout the universal Church (Canon 1250). Abstinence from eating meat or another food according to the prescriptions of the conference of bishops is to be observed on Fridays throughout the year unless they are solemnities; abstinence and fast are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on the Friday of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Canon 1251).

The law of abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, the products of milk or condiments made of animal fat. The law of fasting allows only one full meal a day, but does not prohibit taking some food in the morning and evening according to the apostolic constitution of Pope Paul VI (1966).

The observance of fasting on all weekdays of Lent is strongly recommended by the Church, although it is not strictly obligatory where it applies to the Marian Catechists.

One statement that is new in the Code of Canon Law declares that pastors and parents are to see to it that minors who are not bound by the law of fast (eighteenth year completed) and abstinence (fourteenth year completed) are educated in an authentic sense of penance (Canon 1252). In an authentic sense of penance, the said provision applies to Marian Catechists who are in a position to educate young people.

The holy week commemorates the death by cruxification of Jesus Christ as only the devoutly Catholic vows for God. This will start on ash Wednesday that paternized the lunar calendar of Romans to be followed by palm Sunday, adding that the holy week called with Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday and it will end on Easter Sunday. (Jason de Asis)

Legarda encouraged Filipinos Holy Week reflection dealing with nature

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, April 20, 2011-As we celebrate this year’s Earth Day, Senator Loren Legarda, who chairs the senate committee on climate change urged Filipinos to include in their Holy Week reflection the state of the environment and how they can improve the way they treat Mother Earth, saying that there is a need to rekindle our relationship with nature as stewards of God’s creation.

Legarda encouraged Filipinos to reflect on how we treat the benefits we receive from our natural resources, lamenting that formerly abundant and healthy environment that were blessed but now are in a sad and waning condition.

She said that we have destroyed the balance of our ecosystem to provide for our overly consumptive population at the expense of depleting the capital-the land, air, water that took billions of years to form and perfect, adding that we have polluted the air that we breathe and we are now in alarming levels that we have exposed ourselves to respiratory and pulmonary diseases.

“What have we done with the source of life in our waters,” she asked, saying that we did not only use it and used it up. We even dirtied it.

“What about our minerals that took 55 million years to form? We intend to extract these minerals in 30 to 50 years even if future generations of Filipinos will have nothing left,” she furthered.

Legarda said that Filipinos should not wait for another natural hazard or witness another environmental disaster of biblical proportion to understand the current sad state of the Philippine environment.

“It is time to reflect and work out in our own and simple yet big and determined steps to help resuscitate our ailing environment,” she said.

Legarda added that we have to strive to make a positive impact on our natural resources and let us turn away from extractive and consumptive way of living, may it be by saving on fuel, energy and water consumption, recycling, proper solid waste management, or growing trees.

The Holy Week is observed in the most unique way in the Philippines for decades and even centuries where the majority of the people celebrated it in total fervor and solemnity in remembering the passion and death of Jesus Christ.

Most of the Filipinos are Catholics so most of them are not eating pork/beef during the Lenten season while others acquire some other forms of penance or fasting across the nation. (Jason de Asis)