Central Luzon farmers demand halt in N. Zambales mining operations

ANTIPOLO City, March 18, 2012—It’s the farmers versus the mining giant in Zambales as the former demand the immediate halt of large-scale mining operations in Sta. Cruz town.

In a statement, the Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson (AMGL) and the Movement for the Protection of the Environment (Move Now!) said that the environmental health and the livelihood of farmers and indigenous peoples in the area are being threatened by the mining operations of different mining firms namely Benguetcorp Nickel Mines, Inc. and its contractor D. M. Consunji, Inc. (DMCI), Eramen Minerals, Inc., Shangfil Mining and Trading Corp., Filipinas Mining Corp., PhilAsia and Loren and Leoni (LnL).

Joseph Canlas, chairperson of the AMGL said, they are dismayed over the granting of permits by the local officials, knowing that wide-scale mining would eat up most of the forest areas in Sta. Cruz, will mess up the waters, and will make the arable areas barren.

In the fact-finding mission organized by the groups, together with Anakpawis Partylist, the Move Now!-affiliated Agapan ng Kaligtasan at Kabuhayan (AGAP) – Zambales, and SAGIP Zambales, the team had seen the devastating effects of mining in Sta. Cruz:

Effects on the environment: the forest on the mountains were totally wiped out; the river is dead, the water is itchy to the skin, fishes and other food sources vanished, it is heavily silted; water from wells are already contaminated and made undrinkable forcing residents to buy purified water; landslides occurred in Brgy. Guisguis and Lomboy, flashfloods also eroded the soil by the river and floods became regular during continuous raining.

Effects on livelihood: rice yield dropped by 30 to 50%, previous yield reaches to 70-100 cavans per hectare which dropped to 50-70 cavans. Rice lands have been polluted with “red soil” especially during rainy season. Rice production is lower during rainy season. Lower production declined their income to sustain their daily needs. Farmers could no longer source the mountain and river for wood, food, cogon and other necessities.

Effects on people’s health: residents who accidentally drink the water from the river or contaminated wells suffer loose bowel movement and those who use it experience skin irritation. People regularly suffer cough and colds, eye irritation, itchiness as dust from trucks scatter around their community and they fear that dust contain nickel deposits. In Brgy. Canaynayan, trucks pass by the school, thus, residents fear health hazard on children.

Effects on people’s safety: people are restless as they are aware of tragedies that took place in different parts of the country caused by mining, logging and other activities that destroy the environment, such as “baka ma-Ormoc kami,” (we could experience like what occurred in Ormoc), “baka matulad kami sa Mindanao,” (what happened in Mindanao could happen here) said by residents, referring to what happened in Ormoc, Leyte in 1991 that killed more than 6,000 people due to landslides and flash flood. Residents could not sleep calmly during rains as they stay alert for flash flood. People estimate that 100 to 200 trucks pass by their community thus fearing children could be run over.

While there were promises of employment, the FFM team had found out that out of 3,500 registered voters in Brgy. Guisguis, less than 10% (around 300) were employed in the mining areas. In Brgy. Canaynayan, out of 800 eligible workers, only four (4) were employed and in barangays Guinabon and Lomboy, only 70 and three persons respectively, were employed out of 800 households.

However, Sta. Cruz is only one of the towns where big mining operations are being conducted. Move Now! revealed that almost of the Northern Zambales areas are being dug up for nickel, chromites, magnetite, copper and gold.

The groups are now calling the attention of former general Hermogenes Ebdane to look into the matter as his constituents are threatened to be deprived of their rights to land, food security, and to live in a safe and clean environment.

“It is very reasonable why Sta. Cruz farmers are demanding the cessation of mining operations in Sta. Cruz, the Central Luzon farmers support their call as mining in Zambales is not only an issue of the people of Zambales and region, but also of the entire country, as it is a plunder of our national patrimony. We have nothing to hope from the Aquino government as the president is a promoter of mining in the country, we call on the people, direct and indirect victims of mining in Zambales to unite and struggle against it,” said Canlas. [Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews]

2K ‘patriotic’ trees to be planted near Taal Lake

ANTIPOLO City, March 17, 2012—About 2,000 trees are to be planted as part of the campaign of Bayan Muna Parylist to save the famous Taal Lake in Batangas and to teach residents surrounding the lake to fight climate change by preserving and defending the environment, which is their only source of living.

In a statement, Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro “Teddy” Casiño said the 2,000 ‘patriotic trees’ would be the living monuments of the people’s fight against the privatization of the lake, as well as to foster environmental awareness among the inhabitants of the six barangays (villages) in Tanauan City.

“We are optimistic that with this joint undertaking with the City Government of Tanauan, the tree planting project along the lakeshore of Taal we can further enhance the formation of positive values among concerned communities and other project partners through shared responsibilities in sustainable management of the easement zone,” said Casiño.

The trees to be planted are narra (Pterocarpus indicus), a type of hardwood that is known as the Philippines’ national tree; mahogany (Shorea almon), which is under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species; alibangbang (Bauhinia monandra Kurz or the pink butterfly tree); caballero (Caesalpinia pulcherrinma); and fire tree (Morella faya).

The project was co-sponsored by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Region IV-A and the Tanauan City Government, represented by Honorable Mayor Sonia Torres and was supported by the the Sangguniang Panglunsod ng Tanauan, Sangguniang Barangay of Ambulong, Banadero, Gonzales, Wawa and Boot, Janopol Oriental Farmers Association, Banadero Farmers Association, Wawa National High School, Boot National High School, Tanauan School of Fisheries, 727 Riders, Log-Out Riders, Bikers of Tanauan, Kabalikat Civicom, Generation for Christ, the Samahan ng mga Mangingisda ng Tanauan and Tanauan local police.

Meanwhile, Bayan Muna is also planning to re-forest the denuded watershed of Laguna Lake and Talim Island, a small island within the bay.

Casino said that they are also involve in the reforestation of mangroves along the shores of Manila Bay, as proposed by the fisherfolk group, Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya). [Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews]

Campus Ministers' national convention to be held in Cebu

CEBU City, March 16, 2012—The Campus Ministries of the Archdiocese of Cebu and the Archdiocese of Manila are jointly organizing the 4th National Convention of Campus Minister to be held at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City on April 24 to 26.

With the theme “New Directions in Campus Ministry: Discovering Roadmaps for Youth Guides of Today”, the convention aims to have a venue for the exchange of stories and approaches in ministering to the youth of today.

“We have invited guest speakers and facilitators from Manila, Cebu and Davao. We wish to nurture and enhance the personhood and competencies of campus minister in order to face the challenges of ministering to the young,” said the organizers.

“In view of this, we wish to invite you to this large gathering of campus ministers, chaplains, youth directors, youth ministers, educators, theologians, religion teachers and student leaders. We hope that this shall be an occasion where we are together in our search for better ways and approaches and forge a network that will create positive impact to the growth and spirituality of young people,” they added.

The organizers estimate around 800 ministers will participate on the said convention.

Interested participants can email the Cebu organizers (headed by Fr. Jake Reyes, the Director of the Cebu Archdiocesan Campus Ministry) at cebu_acm@yahoo.com.ph or inquire through their fax/telephone number +32 4168002. (Jandel Posion)

Motorists asked to join ‘5-minute EDSA blockade’ vs Oil Price Hike

ANTIPOLO City, March 15, 2012—Urban poor group, Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) urged motorists to give at least 5 minutes of their time to “block” EDSA [Epifanio de los Santos Avenue] to protest the unabated oil price increase.

In a statement, Kadamay secretary-general Gloria Arellano, said it is very obvious that Malacañang and the big oil companies Shell, Petron and Caltex are in “connivance” in terms of oil overpricing. The pump prices in the Philippines had increased eight times due to the tension happening in Iran.

"We only ask for five minutes of their trip to register our strongest opposition to the seeming collusion between Malacanang and the oil cartel at the expense of the majority of the Filipinos. And, it would need our united effort to bring the Aquino administration to its knees for its subservience to the oil cartel,” the urban poor leader said.

For the poor, Arellano explains, every centavo counts and the unabated oil price increases make the lives of the urban poor from worse to worst as food prices and transport fare also go up whenever there is an increase in the cost of petroleum.

"While the government continues to protect the oil cartel and does nothing against its profiteering scheme, Aquino has no right to absolve himself of the soaring number of Filipinos who go hungry or consider themselves poor," Arellano said.

Meanwhile, Kadamay said that the Filipinos should do a “Nigerian-type” of war against the oil price hike, as the Nigerian people had forced their government to bring back oil subsidy after a massive of protests launched that lasted for weeks.

She also said that President Benigno C. Aquino III’s “puppetry” to oil companies must come to an end and force him to act on people’s issues, not only on oil, but also on the problems of burgeoning unemployment, devaluating workers’ wages, and soaring food prices.

“We have no choice but to act now,” Arellano said. [Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews]

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

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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)