CBCP encourages youth ministers to join teen sexuality workshop

MANILA, March 14, 2012— The CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) is inviting youth directors and ministers in the parishes, schools and organizations nationwide to attend the workshop on “Teaching Teachers on Teen Sexuality Workshop” being organized by Pro-Life Philippines.

ECY executive secretary Fr. Conegundo Garganta urged diocesan youth directors, coordinators and leaders of member-organization of the Federation of National Youth Organization (FNYO) to participate in the event scheduled on May 17-19 at the St. Joseph Retreat House in Sampaloc, Manila.

Garganta together with the National Secretariat for Youth Apostolate (NSYA) trusts that youth collaborators will strongly consider the invitation.

Organizers on the other hand said that the training/seminar aims to strengthen the ability of the participants to respond to the needs of today’s teens with respect to issues on human sexuality, marriage, family planning and population education according to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

“Furthermore, this year’s seminar is designed to further the participants’ knowledge and understanding of the problems of Aids in the country as well as to dissect the objectionable provisions of the RH bill like the mandatory sex education from grade 5 to 4th year high school,” they said.

“Participants will be trained to implement training modules on teen sexuality packaged in the manual titled “Learning to Live and Love” and will be provided updated supplementary activity and reading materials,” they added.

The seminar-workshop requires a fee of Php 1,500, inclusive of snacks, meals, handouts and certificate, from participants.

For further inquiries, interested parties are advised to call telephone number 632 7377027, telefax number +632 7349425, mobile number +63 9192337783 or send email atlife@prolife.org.ph. (Jandel Posion)

Foreign officials thank Sendong survivors for teaching them resiliency

CAGAYAN DE ORO City, March 13, 2012—Foreign dignitaries visiting “Sendong survivors” on Tuesday, expressed gratitude to typhoon victims for showing and teaching them how to be resilient in the midst of a very bleak circumstance.

Swiss Ambassador to the Philippines Ivo Sieber, with UK Ambassador Stephen Lillie and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Representative Ugochi Florence Daniels arrived here in a very low profile visit to the relocation sites of the survivors of Tropical Storm Washi (locally named Sendong), which devastated a huge portion of this city and neighboring Iligan City last December.

More than 1,000 were killed and another thousand are still missing when floodwaters rampaged through the city, overflowing the Cagayan de Oro River, and destroying everything in its path, night of December 16, 2011.

Sieber, Lillie and Daniels expressed happiness for the rare opportunity to visit and hobnob with the Sendong survivors at the tent city in Barangay Canitoan.

“I am very happy to see all of you and talk with you. I am happy because you are all showing the resiliency and determination to recover from the devastation you all went through last December,” Sieber said.

Switzerland donated last December some 300,000 Swiss francs (about P14 million) to support the Philippine government’s rehabilitation efforts for the victims of Sendong.

Aside from the cash donation, the Swiss government through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation dispatched a team of water and sanitation experts to flood-ravaged areas in this city and neighboring Iligan City.

“It is very impressive to see all of you here and the determination you have to rise above the situation and making something positive about a very bleak circumstance,” Sieber said.

In 2009, right after the devastation wrought by Typhoon Ondoy, the Swiss government provided a total of 1.5 Swiss francs for the rehabilitation of the victims.

Lillie, on the other hand, said that their visit was also an eye-opener for them and for other Europeans in the Philippines.

“If there is one lesson for us to learn as we visit here, it is that you are a resilient and happy people. Despite the disaster you all went through and despite the great sacrifice you made, you are all still smiling. That is something that we all can learn from you,” he said.

Canitoan Barangay Chairman Joshua Taboclaon and the “climate refugees” (victims of TS Washi) welcomed with open arms the dignitaries and expressed gratefulness for the visit.

“We are very honoured and privileged to be visited” by the ambassadors, he said.

Taboclaon expressed hope that Sieber, Lillie and Daniels’ visit will bring “good luck and blessings to all of us here in the tent city.”

“All the families here in the tent city are still picking up the pieces and putting it together to make a better life after Sendong,” he added.

After hobnobbing and talking for several minutes with the Sendong survivors at the tent city in Canitoan, Sieber, Lillie and Daniels paid a courtesy call to Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma at his official residence.

Ledesma then briefed them about the efforts of various government agencies, civil society organizations, academe and the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro to help the Sendong survivors.

Daniels personally thanked Ledesma for his and the Church’s efforts at helping women, particularly mothers, through his Natural Family Planning advocacy.

Ledesma is a staunch advocate of the natural methods of family planning. He has already written a book on it, a copy of which he gave each to Sieber, Lillie and Daniels.

The Jesuit prelate also accompanied them when they visited the survivors taking refuge at the Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Barangay Camaman-an. (Bong D. Fabe)

MPC slams Tribune reporter's attempted slay, asks P-Noy not to spare 'sacred cows'

MANILA, March 12, 2012—There must be no sacred cows. This was the statement of the Malacañang Press Corps (MPC) over the attempted murder of Fernan Angeles of the Daily Tribune, this morning.

“We, the officers and members of the Malacañang Press Corps, strongly condemn the attack against one of our members, Fernan Angeles of The Daily Tribune,” the MPC statement read.

“Angeles’ wife, Gemma, said he sustained six gunshot wounds from a .45 gun. His right arm was also broken when he was attacked by a still unidentified assailant near his house Sunday evening,” the statement furthered.

However, before Angeles had totally blacked out, he said that he “knew” his attackers, and that he suspect that a “malaking tao” (influential, powerful person) was behind the attack.

“We want to know if this is work-related. We are outraged and demand a thorough probe on this dastardly attack,” the MPC said.

Before the assault, Fernandez had posted several comments on his Facebook wall, an observation regarding the Corona trial.

“I find it strange for the Palace to make a big buzz out of the Corona armory, when two powerful men in Malacanang are known to collect guns too, aside from their being shooting buddies. As to who they are, one has been dragged over his AK47 and other high powered guns (specs of which I could no longer remember) and the other one literally owning an armory (he has his own stable of security guards), aside from being addicted to target shooting. I just wish this barb trade would end... why not settle it na lang the old fashion, duelo na lang kayo!” reads Fernandez’s post published last Saturday, March 10, 11:14PM.

A certain Alex Allan had replied to the post, saying “Hacienda Luisita maintains a huge armory. the excuse then and now is to protect itself against Communist rebels. the guns are of varied brands, for example Colts, Smiths and Wessons, Tauruses and Llamas.”

Fernandez had replied, saying, “boss, you forgot to mention one very important matter that the public deserves to know. hacienda luisita does not only have an armory. they also maintain a stable of fugitives who work "on call" and hires dishonorably dismissed personnel from various government security-related branches of the afp and the pnp. for those who may want some basis of what i just said, it is prudent to look into noy's private armed group masquerading as security agency.” This post had seven (7) likes or thumbs-up from its readers or followers.

“We hold the Aquino administration to its word that there will be no sacred cows in cases of wrongdoings, and that it gives a primacy to press freedom and protection of media practitioners in the country,” the MPC statement ended. [Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews]

Mindanao IPs, Bangsamoros reaffirm kinship through ritual

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

2 pulis na biktima umano ng pagmamalupit ng kapwa-pulis, bumalik na sa training | Video

2 pulis na biktima umano ng pagmamalupit ng kapwa-pulis, bumalik na sa training | Video

New Central Luzon Infantry Brigade assumes post

CALAANAN, Bongabon, Nueva Ecija, March 8, 2012-The new top official of the 702^nd (Defender) Brigade, 7^th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division (7ID), Philippine Army assumed his post last Monday replacing Col Felicito Virgilio M Trinidad Jr. who is transferring to the Army’s 1^st Infantry Division (1ID) in Western Mindanao as 1^st ID’s Assistant Division Commander.

Col Henry Sabarre, new brigade chief is now leading the unified armed forces command whose jurisdiction covers the Aurora, Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan.

Sabarre is a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Matikas” Class of 1983.

“As I therefore take on the responsibility as Acting Commander of 702nd Infantry Brigade, I pledge myself to lead the troops of this brigade towards the furtherance of our campaign plan IPSP ‘Bayanihan’,” said Sabarre in his assumption speech, explaining he already chartered significant stride and considerable accomplishments under Col Trinidad.

“On Internal Security Operations (ISO), we have significantly reduced the remnants of various threat groups in our area of responsibility. Through our shared determination, hard work and team spirit, this brigade saw the successful handover of the Internal Security Operations responsibility of the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Aurora and Pangasinan to the local government units,” said Sabarre.

Under Col Trinidad, 702 Bde saw the much improved peace and security situation in 2010 which was highlighted by the declaration of an Insurgency-free Aurora Province on February 2010 and the Provinces of Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan on June 2010 and July 2010, respectively.

Bgen Alan R. Luga, Commander 7ID said that the clearing of the provinces in Central Luzon from insurgency can be credited by the help of local chief executives so that development can continue to come in.

In his speech during the turn over ceremonies, Trinidad said, “the big credit to this success should be given to the Local Chief Executives – our Provincial Governors, our Municipal Mayors and our Brgy Chairmen-for their leadership and good governance. Without their support and cooperation, we could have not been successful in our Bayanihan Programs.”

702nd (NOT 703) Brigade was where LtGen. Anthony Alcantara, now the Northern Luzon Commander and LtGen General Emmanuel Bautista, now the Commanding General of the Philippine Army had their stint as Brigade Commanders. (Jason de Asis)

BP: Binatilyo sa Aurora, patay nang masagasaan ng truck nang mahulog ...

Poetry group to launch poetry anthology on Luisita

MANILA, March 7, 2012—The progressive poetry group, Kilometer (KM) 64 will launch a book about the struggles of farmworkers of the disputed Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac, which is owned by the family of the current president of the Republic.

Titled “Ang Mga Panahon sa Hacienda Luisita” (Seasons in Hacienda Luisita), the book is a compilation of poems that deal with the aches and pains of the farmworkers’ struggle as laborers in the hacienda of the Cojuangco family for more than 50 years.

Rustum Gil Casia, poet and social activist and founder of KM 64 in a statement said the book will be softly launched on the eve of the group’s 9th founding anniversary, which will be commemorated by poetry and music, at the Conspiracy Garden and Café in Visayas Avenue in Quezon City.

KM64, for nine years, had been a staunch critic of the status quo, and had been known for its militant stance on people’s issues. Often called as “young rebels” of Philippine poetry, it has released so far 13 chap books (small books), a book and a series of pamphlets about the pressing issue on a particular time.

After the onslaught of typhoon Sendong last year, KM64 had organized a poetry-for-a-cause project to raise funds for the typhoon victims and survivors.

Among its members are poet, journalist and social critic Alexander Martin C. Remollino, a UST student leader during the ‘90s, from 2003 until the time of his death on September 3, 2010, E. San Juan Jr. (honorary member), Gelacio Guillermo, Kristoffer Berse and Catholic youth lay leader, Pia Montalban, among others.

It also boasts of having a huge following abroad, such as in the US, the Netherlands, and has chapters in Quezon province, in Tarlac, and in various colleges and universities in Metropolitan Manila. [Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews]

Don’t ‘freeze’ plunder case vs GMA, Ombudsman told

MANILA, March 6, 2012—The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) urged the Ombudsman not to allow the plunder case against former president and currently Pampanga (2nd District) Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, get “frozen”.

In a statement, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando “Ka Pando” Hicap said, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales should make Arroyo and her former Agriculture Secretary, now Bohol Rep. Arthur Yap, accountable for the overpriced ice-making machines, amounting to P455 million (US$10,584,960.61).

“How long it would take Ombudswoman Carpio-Morales for her to officially act on a case which is waiting a politically and legally correct closure? She has enough powers under her disposal and she was given enough time to put an end [to] this truth and justice seeking undertaking, but still nothing substantial has been done,” Hicap said.

On December 7, 2011, Hicap and Pamalakaya vice chair Salvador France wrote a letter to the Office of the Ombudsman urging the former Supreme Court justice to speed up the investigation of the Arroyo-Yap case.

The alleged overpriced ice-making machines were purchased in 2009, for P2.3 million ($58,089.41) per unit. However, the bidding process is said to be “rigged”, that the Integrated Refrigeration System and Services (IRSS) had obtained the bid, illegally.

“The bidding process for the contract was allegedly rigged in favor of IRSS. The government at that time also promised the delivery of the 98 ice-making machines would be completed by June 2010. As far as we are concerned, we were only able to monitor 1 ice making machine unit which was placed in the district of Secretary Proceso Alcala in Sampaloc Village 2 in Sariaya, Quezon,” a portion of the letter of Pamalakaya, to the Ombudsman, read.

Pamalakaya also revealed that the IRSS had only become a duly registered company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, a day before the bidding happened—that was on August 25, 2009.

Pamalakaya had charged Arroyo and Yap due to their alleged violation of Republic Act 9184. [Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews]

2 baguhang pulis, biktima ng hazing sa Aurora | Video

2 baguhang pulis, biktima ng hazing sa Aurora | Video

RH bill will only burden, not help Filipinos—anti-RH

MANILA, March 4, 2012—Proponents of the reproductive health (RH) bill base the controversial piece of legislation on wrong premises that tend to burden — not genuinely aid — Filipinos, according to those who reject the measure.

One of the basic ideas that have come up in Congress debates and in news reports is the “unmet need for contraception,” which bill sponsors and supporters have claimed exists and which would justify the RH bill being made a top priority.

“‘Unmet needs’ should apply to basic deprivation and not to contraception. Unmet needs for decent shelter, food, education. Unmet need for protection against floods. Unmet need for decent jobs, justice, equal protection, real basic health care, and so on,” Willy Jose, a Human Resources manager, pointed out.

Jose explained that rather than taxpayers’ money going into the delivery of such basic services which Filipinos are in dire need of, billions of pesos would be poured into financing bedroom-related activities and their consequences.

Safe? Satisfying? Selfish?

“In effect, they want taxpayers to subsidize the irresponsible satisfaction of uncontrolled sexual urges. Certainly that is not the duty of the State, but they want us to believe otherwise.

“The right to a ‘safe and satisfying sex life’ is an invention of the UNFPA, which carries with it an implicit right to have ‘access’ to contraceptives. The RH bill authors lapped it up,” he continued. “For them, access means not only allowing but advocating and subsidizing these by force of law. This right is fictitious. For if it really were a ‘human right’ to be given contraceptives or contraceptive sterilization, it would follow that anyone who refused to provide them would be guilty of a human rights violation. There is no principled basis for this, as ‘authentic’ human rights claim no exception.”

“Selfish” has been the description given by some uninformed RH advocates to the refusal to shoulder expenses – by way of taxes – for other people’s use of contraceptives, for the distribution of such birth control supplies, and for programs that work to instruct even the youth on how to achieve a “safe and satisfying sex life.” Would this conviction be selfish?

“Hindi siya selfish kasi sa iyo morally wrong siya, eh ba’t ka magbibigay? Paano kung may poor na gambling addict na lumapit sa ’yo tapos humihingi ng pera – kung hindi mo ba bigyan madamot ka na?” (It’s not selfish because it’s about something that’s morally wrong, so why give your money (to pay for it)? What if a poor person who’s a gambling addict approaches you and asks for money – if you don’t give him money, does that make you selfish?)” said writer Nicole Bautista.

Being forced on the people

“I believe contraception is a moral evil. And since I’ve chosen no to contraception, I should not have to be forced to pay for it by way of taxes. The point is this – I’m being forced to pay for it. No one should have to be forced to pay for something one finds morally repugnant,” Jonjon Villaruel, a graduate student, pointed out.

“Furthermore, it is not true that people are not going to be forced to use contraceptives. It says right there in the bill – the contraceptive mentality will be included first in the education of children via sex education modules that, again, are morally objectionable and unconstitutional as well.”

Among the most staunchly rejected portion of the legislative measure – especially by parents, child development specialists and family advocates – is the comprehensive sex education program being imposed on all public and private schools, starting from Grade 5.

The six-year program – which does not consist of one subject but is to be integrated in six subjects including social studies and even math – is not mandatory, insist House Bill 4244 proponents and its uninformed supporters, owing to amendments they say have been made.

What many still fail to realize is that expressing an intention to make amendments and actually making such amendments (which incidentally can be done only during the period of amendments based on parliamentary procedures) are two different things. Since the House of Representatives is still in the period of interpellation as far as the RH bill is concerned, the version that includes mandatory sex education is the one that stands.

Warping the youth’s values via a 6-year program

“We all could use help in educating children but this is not mere biology or physiology. Sexual education is an endeavor reserved for those who have a personal relationship with children because it is a subject matter that deserves utmost prudence and knowledge about the maturity level of the children being educated. And who else knows their children better than their parents?” dentist Dicky Boncan stressed.

“With regard to the issue of maturity, my problem with school-based sex-ed is this: Boys and girls have different psychological maturity stages even if they are biologically the same age. How is one to deal with co-ed schools?” he continued.

Empower (not burden) the parents

“Other variables which cannot be addressed in this system are differences in parental arrangements at home, and teacher lifestyle/orientation bias. Most of the arguments I hear that favor sex ed in school is that many parents don’t know how to go about it. Well then, tap the schools to provide parent education classes on sex ed,” Boncan suggested.

“This will have two effects: One, it will allow parents to choose, based on their knowledge of their children, how to address their children’s needs, and second, it will create an atmosphere of parental involvement in the home.”

Sandra Villamor, M.D. is skeptical about the effectiveness of State-mandated sex education as a solution to the problems that the RH bill supposedly addresses. Most crucial in this equation, after all, are the children and their well-being, whom the State cannot deal with, with a view to individual personal formation.

“Tell me, when the government teaches my children sex education, do they have my children’s values formation in mind, or the country’s economy and population? The burden is not my children, but the huge government taxes and rising cost of living,” the physician said.

“The government can help me raise my children by cutting back on taxes so we can bring home a bigger paycheck, not by increasing our taxes to accommodate the RH bill.”

The ‘RH = development’ delusion

Regardless of values formation and issues of choice (or the lack thereof), the RH bill, some pro-free birth control Filipinos say, ought to be passed immediately because numerous Western and developed nations have their own RH laws already. Essentially, they see the Philippines as lagging behind, RH legislation as jumpstarting the country’s advancement, and thereby vital in catching up with the rest of the world.

“I guess if ‘advancing’ means being open to pole dancing kits for kids, Plan B vending machines in the school campus, and tax money going to abortion mills, then I guess we really are behind. But honestly, I don’t want that kind of advancement because I don’t want to live in a country that insists I have to use a condom to be called responsible. Last time I checked, responsibility builds character,” Bautista stated.

“Distributing contraceptives and making them available to just anybody, regardless of age and status, is counter-productive. We have countries that have adapted this method, such as the United States, to prove that. They have provided free contraceptives and medical care to the youth, and this has just encouraged promiscuity and as a result, countless ‘unwanted,’ out-of-marriage and teenage pregnancies occur,” observed photographer Karen Ilagan.

“Abortion clinics generate millions of dollars each year,” she added. “People have now become so desensitized and are now killing their unborn children just because they are found to have birth defects or just because there is a big chance that they might be born with defects. Is this the future we want for the Philippines?” (CBCP for Life)

NYC calls for transparency in tuition fees

MANILA, March 3, 2012— The National Youth Commission (NYC) is calling the attention of schools, colleges and university for transparency and full disclosure in all tuition and other school fees being charged for the next school year.

NYC Chairman Usec. Leon Flores III made the call on the reports that some schools are applying for tuition fee increases for the coming school year with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Flores said that the process of increasing tuition fees requires proper consultation first before imposing it.

He encouraged students to use their rights to join in discussions regarding tuition fee increase in their respective schools, colleges or universities.

The call was made citing CHED Memorandum Order No. 03 series of 2012 which is “Enhance policies, guidelines and procedures governing increases in tuition, and other school fees, Introduction of new fees, and for other purposes”. It is also indicated in the CMO that the enforcement of the memorandum shall be on AY 2013 – 2014.

Flores urged students to remain vigilant in monitoring tuition fee increases and other dubious fees implemented by their respective schools.

“We don’t want to go over with what happened last year when dubious fees arises in order to gain kick backs from students,” Flores said. (Jandel Posion)

Boac holds children’s congress to mark ‘Year of Mission’

BOAC, Marinduque, March 2, 2012—As part of the celebration of the ‘Year of Mission’, the Diocese of Boac held a congress of the Holy Childhood Association or the Sancta Infantia—one of the four associations under the Pontifical Mission Societies— last February 25 at the San Isidro Labrador Parish in Mogpog, Marinduque.

More than 700 children from the different schools in the diocese attended the 5th Children’s Congress focusing on the Mission year theme, “Remembering our History, Proclaiming Jesus’ story, Celebrating our faith”.

Fr. Ian Retardo, Mission Director of Boac, said the event aimed to encourage children to join and support the mission activity.

Retardo also said that during the congress, participants have been made aware that they have a role to fulfill for the mission year.

“As children, their simple gestures like offering prayers for the year of mission, material help and sacrifices in helping their fellow children is a valuable help [in] celebrating [meaningfully] the year of the mission,” Retardo explained.

Retardo furthered that the children can apply what they learned during the congress to become role model to their fellow children— by being prayerful, by going to Church, by reading the bible and by sharing their experiences and learnings from the said event.

Anthony Dameg, a PMS staff, gave an insight in the spirituality of the Holy Childhood Association during the morning session.

The afternoon activities include a bible hunt, paper rose origami and praying for missionaries around the world.

Boac Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista presided over the Holy Mass that ended the congress.

In his homily, the bishop emphasized the importance of children growing up active in helping the mission of the Church.

The Society of the Holy Childhood fosters mission awareness and commitment of children through its “children-helping-children” initiatives. (Jandel Posion)

Cebu launches local logo of Calungsod’s canonization

CEBU City, March 1, 2012— Following the declaration from the Vatican of the canonization of Blessed Pedro Calungsod, the Archdiocese of Cebu has launched the local logo for his canonization slated on October 21 this year.

Centering on the theme: “Kinabuhing Gi-ula, Pagtuong Gimantala (Life that is Offered, Faith that is Proclaimed)”, the local logo, consisting of five basic elements was designed following the rules of uniqueness, timelessness, adaptability, scalability and simplicity.

Organizers emphasized that some other elements were inserted in the design such as the title of the event done in red color, converted image of Blessed Pedro, ten green leaves of the palm of martyrdom, islands of Guam and Cebu inserted in the palm, the Cross in red color at the tip of the palm and the year 1672 and 2012.

“In terms of the elements used, we chose the color red for prominence and visibility, the converted image of Blessed Pedro as a timeless image and contemporary comic art form, the ten green leaves on the other hand signifies the ten themes in the life of the blessed, the islands of Guam and Cebu as the place of his origin and martyrdom and the year 1672 and 2012 as the year of his martyrdom and canonization,” explained the organizers.

The local celebration of his canonization will take place in Cebu City in November.

Calungsod, a Filipino lay catechist and martyr (1654-1672) was among the blesseds and venerable from whose intercessions miracles were attributed and approved by the Vatican.

Authorized miracle of Blessed Pedro Calungsod reportedly happened in 2003 at a hospital in Cebu City when a woman who was clinically pronounced dead for two hours was brought back to life through the intercession of Calungsod.

Calungsod, together with companion Blessed Diego San Vitores, were killed while doing missionary work in Guam in 1672. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2000.

After his canonization, Calungsod will be the second Filipino Catholic saint after Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, who was elevated to sainthood in 1987. (Jandel Posion)

Iloilo welcomes St. Clare of Assisi’s relic

JARO, Iloilo City, Feb. 29, 2012—The Archdiocese of Jaro is ready to welcome the relic of St. Clare of Assisi.

In a recent circular Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo requested the clergy, religious men and women to announce to the rest of the faithful the details of the visit of the relic of St. Clare of Assisi.

“We welcome this visit as a blessing in our Lenten journey, an opportunity for us to reflect on the life and virtues of St. Clare,” Archbishop Lagdameo said.

The said Relic is scheduled to arrive in the new Iloilo Airport on March 3, 2012, at 1:30 p.m., and will be brought by motorcade to the Jaro Carmel in Iloilo City.

At 2 p.m. Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo will celebrate the Holy Eucharist to welcome the Relic of St. Clare.

St. Clare’s relic will be enshrined at the Jaro Carmel chapel in the whole duration of its visit in Iloilo.

It will be available for public veneration from 3:30 until 10 p.m. on the first day of the visit.

Vespers will be prayed at 5:30 together with the Carmelite Community. The veneration of the Relic will resume at 6:30 p.m. while the sacrament of Reconciliation, prayers, and presentations are held.

On Sunday, March 4, the Jaro Carmel Chapel will be opened at 5:30 a.m. Lauds with the Carmelite Sisters will be prayed at 5:45 a.m. The celebration of the Holy Eucharist, presided by Archbishop Lagdameo, will follow at 6:30 a.m.

After the Holy Mass the Relic will be sent off to Antique. (Fr. Mickey Cardenas)

Contractual labor to blame on sudden rise of unemployment in PH

ANTIPOLO City, Feb. 26, 2012—Anakpawis Partylist blamed contractual labor on the sudden rise of unemployment in the Philippines, as shown by the latest survey of the private statistics firm, Social Weather Stations.

Anakpawis executive president Joel B. Maglungsod in a statement said that the 24 percent unemployment rate is but a proof of the failed labor policies being implemented by the Benigno C. Aquino III administration, which includes contractual labor.

The SWS survey states that 10 percent of the labor force lost jobs in 2011 due to retrenchments, seven percent of which were due to unrenewed contract. Victims of company closure and termination represent the two and one percent of the unemployed in 2011, respectively, the SWS survey said.

“The government’s policy of labor contractualization deprives our workers their right to security of tenure making them vulnerable to such retrenchments and lay-offs. Contractual or casual workers, who already comprise majority of our workforce, are always in fear of losing their jobs anytime, whether they finish their contract or not,” the former solon said.

On the other hand, Anakpawis pushes for the legislation of House Bill No. 5110 or the Regular Employment Act that will prevent contractual labor in the country. The said bill is still pending in the House of Representatives. [Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews]

PH fosters healthy family culture—priest

BACOLOD City, Feb. 25, 2012— Despite being threatened by issues affecting the family across the globe, the Philippines can export to the world a healthier culture of the family, according to a speaker in the recent National Conference conducted by the John Paul II National Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family.

Fr. Jose Granados, Vice President for the Central Session of Pontificio Instituto Giovanni Paolo II Per Studi Su Matrimonio E Famiglia in Rome, noted that in the Philippines marriage is much “more stable and its existence is covered by the laws,” which makes Filipinos look upon the family as a resource, not as a problem.

In his keynote address during the conference, Granados affirmed that in the perspective of Blessed John Paul II, the issue of marriage and the family is the crucial point for the new evangelization of society.

Touching on the prevalence of secularism, Granados mentioned that many people no longer believe in God, resulting in the superficiality of the present generation’s attempt to build a society without setting the foundations on a “common search for common roots and essence of human life.”

He cited that one of the greatest problems of our age is that many people have stopped believing in love and its capacity to regenerate the human being and transform society. Furthermore, he mentioned that “care for human love is at the center of the Church’s concern.”

The five-day conference opened with a Mass on February 13 at the San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod led by Apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto.

In his homily, the nuncio lauded the effort of the diocese in hosting the national conference, describing it as “a concrete testament to the unrelenting commitment of the Catholic Church in the Philippines to uphold the truths regarding family and life.”

Pinto also said that “during these days, let Bacolod be the ‘Nazareth of the Philippines,’ in order to live a page of the Gospel in our families and in the family of the Church.”

Hosting the national conference initiated by the John Paul II National Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, is only one among the many projects the diocese is involved in its effort to preserve the sanctity of life and the family.

In the fight against the Reproductive Health (RH) bill, the diocese launched last year a massive Caravan for Life which traversed the whole island of Negros.

The diocese has also an ongoing awareness campaigns and the establishment of natural family planning (NFP) centers in the diocese.

The National Conference was attended by some 175 participants – Directors and Executive Officers of the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (ECFL) as well as members of the Clergy, Graduate students and professors. For this year, the theme was Blessed John Paul II’s Nuptial Theology: A Call to Family Ministry, Agenda for Humanity.

Gracing the Conference were Bacolod Bishop Vicente M. Navarra, D.D., ECFL Chairman and Antipolo Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes, D.D., Bishop Camilo D. Gregorio, D.D. of the Prelature of Batanes, Bishop Juan De Dios Pueblos D.D., and ECFL Executive Secretary Fr. Melvin Castro.

In another development, the Bacolod City Council passed a resolution declaring February 13-20, 2012 as “Blessed John Paul II Week” as part of the 31st Anniversary of Blessed John Paul II’s 1981 visit to Negros. The resolution also recognized the numerous historic landmarks; notable among these is the John Paul II Tower in Reclamation Area that celebrated the Pope’s historic visit to Negros. (Fr. Deogracias Aurelio V. Camon)