Not Apart, But A Part*

The saddest news story that I’ve stumbled upon the net in the last few days happened in Sidney but I had a feeling that some sectors in Philippine society would like to push the issue of legalized euthanasia for public debate sooner or later. Though it happened some years ago, not unlike the Reproductive Health Bill, this issue will ultimately take the center stage, stir public debates and will haunt us as Filipino believers and citizens in the years to come. Like a tsunami from far away seas that ripple down to foreign shores.

The tragic drowning of a toddler diagnosed with Rett syndrome, a disorder that often leaves patients with severe physical and intellectual disabilities, found a “great irresponsibility”, according to a lengthy investigation of authorities, on the part of the parents of two-year old baby named Maia Comas. Two months before her death, her parents, 36-year-old Pablo Comas and 31-year-old Samantha Razniak were very disappointed with the diagnosis which stated that their daughter having said incurable but non-terminal disease.

Ms. Razniak rattled government social workers by telling them: “Do you understand that she will grow into a young woman and have the mind of a 2 to 10 year old. The head, hands and feet all stop growing. I don’t want to see my daughter become a monster, to become ugly… I’d rather her die now than die slowly.” She continued by saying, “I want to get on with my life and not see all this ugliness – clinics, home disabled people, doctors.” Mr. Comas felt much the same. He once asked a social worker: “Why do they keep children with these disabilities alive? It doesn’t seem fair on the children.”

Why am I imparting you this? On Friday, February 11, 2011, the 19th World Day of the Sick will be commemorated. Catholics celebrate the event along with the Feast of our Lady of Lourdes. In his letter to the bishops of different dioceses, Fr. Luke Moortgat, Executive Secretary of the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Health Care, encouraged them to establish diocesan and parochial commission for the handicapped, sick, elderly and dying. He added that, “This will surely serve as strong motivation for us all to care more for those who are now the most forgotten and neglected in our society”. This could be materialized by organizing the so-called 1% Movement from the ranks of professionals geared towards caring for said neglected sectors of our society.

Like Maia Comas, regarding children with incurable diseases, the clergy and lay people are requested to organize the preparation and administration of the sacrament of confirmation for the children with terminal illnesses that could also be a little sign of concern of parents who suffer much.

In his Message Pope Benedict XVI emphasized this challenge:”Dear brothers and sisters, for this World Day of the Sick, I also invite the political authorities to invest more and more in health systems that are a help and a support for the suffering, above all the poorest and the most needy …” But remember that the recently declared over-all champion when it comes to serving the sick is none other than Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997; beatified in 2003; feast day September 5) who was found on the streets washing the wounds of the lepers. And this is what she taught us that, “One of the greatest diseases is to be nobody to anybody.”


BXVI also invites us to reflect on the mystery of suffering, be sensitive to the sick, care especially for those who suffer, both individuals and society must join hands towards this end. The social teaching called Spe Salvi (No. 38) has this to say : “A society unable to accept its suffering members and incapable of helping to share their suffering and to bear it inwardly through ‘com-passion’ is a cruel and inhuman society."

Just as cruel, irresponsible and selfish as the parents of a that lovely cherubim from Australia named Maia…
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(*From the title of CBCP-ECHC Letter. Photo: AP)

Respect Life, Regardless

February is Pro-Life month in the Philippines. Pro-life Philippines Foundation together with the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (ECFL) and Couples for Christ Foundation for Family and Life (CFC-FFL) are spearheading various events nationwide to promote pro-life family values among the people. Near the entrance of the Saint Joseph Cathedral here in San Jose, anti-abortion photo exhibit can be seen by the Mass-goers and the public in general. Series of related activities aimed to highlight the value of the family and sanctity of life were laid by parishes in Occidental Mindoro. On Sunday, February 6, is Pro-Life day in the Philippines.

February as Pro-Life month was declared by the late President Corazon Aquino in 1987 when she issued Proclamation 214 stating, “February is Respect and Care for Life Month”. It is worthy to note that the celebration centers only on the aspects of abortion and euthanasia. While I recognize abortion, euthanasia and death penalty as different concern, all of them point to the same fundamental value: safeguarding the sanctity of life. But here in the Philippines, little is said on an equally important but controversial, issue of death penalty or capital punishment. While Catholics in general are battle-ready to defend our stand on these two life-threatening issues, the issue of death penalty is also part of it and it should not be overlooked in our present pastoral concerns.

Allow me to begin by telling you a story about a man who was sentenced to die by lethal injection in Texas on October 26, 2004. A book called “A Saint on Death Row” by Thomas Cahill centers on Dominique Green, 30, an African-American and the latter’s conversion from an angry and embittered boy to a man of forgiveness, compassion and generosity. Based on the book which was reviewed here, Green created a community among these isolated and desperate men, helping them to forgive, advising them on their legal rights and teaching by his own example. Green’s last message to the author is this: “What is important about a life is not its length but its intensity and direction.” Green maintained his innocence until the end but it is viewed that contributory to his execution was his being poor and black, unable to hire good lawyers and therefore unable to prove his innocence. That’s already Texas, how much more here at home?

With the rising heinous crimes in the country today, specifically the recent brutal killings of car dealers Emerson Lozano and Venson Evangelista, some sectors of society clamor for the re-imposition of death penalty. But many believe that the poor and the powerless will only be victimized by said proposal of re-imposition. In the 1998 data of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) showed that more than half of the convicts earned less than the government mandated minimum wage. In a survey conducted among 425 convicts that year, 105 or 24.7% were agricultural workers, 103 were construction workers, 73 were transport workers, and 42 were in workers in sales and services. Only 6% finished college while 32.4 % finished various levels of high school while the remaining did not go to school or have finished only elementary or vocational education. I am sure that this trend stays with death penalty around.

In short, social conditions of poverty and injustice which often provide the breeding grounds for serious crime. With the re-imposition of death penalty we opted not to consider Jesus in our practical and civic decisions and undertakings. Gut-level reactions may cry out for vengeance, but Jesus' example in the Gospels invites all to develop a new and different attitude toward violence. The education we got, especially from Catholic schools and our faith, encouraged us to embody Jesus' message in our everyday tasks as public servants, as citizens.

The United States Catholic Bishops’ Conference (USCBC) in November 1994 issued a statement called “Confronting a Culture of Violence - A Catholic Framework for Action” stating that, "Increasingly, our society looks to...increased reliance on the death penalty to deal with crime. We are tragically turning to violence in the search for quick and easy answers to complex human problems. A society which destroys its children, relies on vengeance fails fundamental moral tests....We cannot teach that killing is wrong by killing....This cycle of violence diminishes all of us—especially our children."

That’s the call from America. Down here in the Philippines, this year’s theme and call for the celebration is, “Filipinos, Unite for Life”.

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(Photo : Staticbuyit.com)

A Greenhorn Once

It was my 12th birthday when I watched “The Green Hornet” at Golden Gate Theatre along Gen. Dunckel Street here in San Jose, Mindoro. I remember that Bruce Lee, my childhood movie hero, had been long dead when the original film was shown. As a gift, my uncle gave me two pesos so I quickly ran across the street, lined towards the petite, old, fat lady with a big mole on her right chin who was inside the ticket booth. As I have told you before, aside from my favorite swordsmen, Bruce Lee, the first Chinese fist that shook Hollywood, also became part of my childhood memories. His last film, “Enter the Dragon”, has a little connection with important family predicament we are currently in.

If it’s Lee, it’s got to be martial arts all the way and the philosophy behind it in part. Because of Kato (Lee, as co-star), “The Green Hornet” – adapted from a radio serial in the ‘30s and TV show in the ‘60s – became popular in widescreens especially in Asia (During our days, even the 1974 ABC championship games were shown in theaters).

Today, January 23, is my birthday and the re-make of “The Green Hornet” is showing in major cinemas in Manila for five days now. According to reports, the film is raking money from the viewers and still a top grosser in the US and elsewhere. The picture sold about $34 million worth of tickets during the three days beginning January 14, 2011, said its distributor, Columbia Pictures. “The Green Hornet” 2011 edition is directed by Michael Gondry, starring Seth Rogen as “Britt Reid”, the callow cowboy, and the new “Kato”, his driver-mechanic and side-kick, is Jay Chou. Seth Rogen also wrote the story.

Based on what I’ve just seen from its short trailer on TV and reading from film critics throughout the net like Florence Waters of UK-based “The Telegraph”, the new “Green Hornet” is no longer Karate neither a Kung Fu oriented flick unlike the original. According to some movie critics, that’s where the big disappointment lies. The 3D gadget-weapons, SFX and such dimensions in this movie kicked into limbo the martial arts and martial art actors all the way. When I was young, the combination of body, mind and spirit is more important than any device, apparel or gadget.

Those were the days when I was still a greenhorn.

In this new version “Kato” is played by Taiwanese musician Jay Chou. In real life Chou can play piano, guitar, cello, flute, zither and jazz drum – but people doubt if in real life he can do push-ups using only his two fingers or break a wooden board using his bare fist.

What movie buffs like most about the original characters of “The Green Hornet” was their message: real super-heroes are not ego-centered individuals who don fancy costumes; they are clever but quick and humble. They use their inner-strength and they bow before they leave the crime scene. The people who first brought us “The Green Hornet” showed us and conceived and brought to world a martial arts hero in Bruce Lee. And the new “Green Hornet” gave us its exact opposite that almost made Lee and other martial artists who passed away rise from their graves.

But maybe times are changing now. People love gadgets more than their inner and physical strengths. People love machines and devices more than their fellowmen. There are instances that teen-agers are stabbed to death by snatchers for holding on to their I-pods and modern cellular phones. They will keep their gadgets even more than their dear lives. Or even kill to have them.

Or perhaps that’s really how things are today. I do not understand it because maybe I am getting old. Youngsters may call it generation gap but allow me to simply put it this way: I am no longer a greenhorn…

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(Photo from Google Images)

The Pacquiao-Marquez III That Never Was

I would rather see Manny Pacquiao fight against Juan Manuel Marquez than Shane Mosley. I may be wrong but I think that the Pacquiao-Marquez three-peat would surely add more emotion and drama and a great prelude to Pacquiao-Mayweather, the most anticipated fight in boxing history. It’s a dream fight where practically all of us in Boxinglandia would be very hungry to witness. Mosley is not the popular foe against our hero. But no doubt, Mosley is willing to fight and had a chance, no matter how slim, against Manny. (Remember that in boxing, a lucky punch can change everything by just a wink of an eye.)

In Filipino billiards and pool parlance, the recent matchmaking “shot” made by Bob Arum and Freddie Roach is called “plesing” (actually “placing”). It is a shot when the object ball is rolled or “placed” on a safe side. I am wondering why Mosley, with his age (he will be only 4 months away from his 40th birthday when he climbs the ring on May 7 in Las Vegas) and his lackluster performance against Sergio Mora that ended with a worth-yawning split draw, in Arum’s nose in this very hour, Mosley is the worthiest fighter among the three contenders in Juan Manuel Marquez and Andre Berto (27-27-0; 21 KOs). Mosley, no doubt, was a great fighter but his days are now over. While Berto on the other hand is just still in the middle of his career and still has a lot of punching ahead of him.

If only Arum were a painter, he is now painting a tiger out of a kitten model. In his recent public appearances, he’s falsely projecting Mosley as the type of opponent who can beat Pacquiao and the one that could generate large pay-per-view sales. But Arum and company just gave me and my drinking buddies something that we do not truly want. Well, majority of the Filipino fans, on the other hand are not mindful of matchmaking and other down-the-ring intricacies. Money matters in boxing such as these are immaterial to the ordinary Filipino boxing fanatics, it seems. What is of utmost importance for us is seeing our boy win and if possible, via the most spectacular victory in the sport: a brutal knockout.

But why I pick Juan Manuel Marquez over Mosley? First, I believe that Manny would win over Marquez and it will turn out to be tougher than the impending duel with Mosley. That man from Mexico who reportedly drinks his own urine will surely give the congressman from Sarangani couple of powerful combos and counterpunches. Second, and this is important : Marquez and Pacquiao have something to settle, to prove to themselves and to their respective countrymen.

The Pacquiao-Marquez III, for me is more emotionally-charged than what we are about to witness in five months time. True, Marquez was mauled by Floyd Mayweather,Jr. in their last bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in September 2009 but if the rematch did materialize and Manny won against Marquez - especially if via early round KO - this would add excitement to the much-awaited brawl between Pacquiao and Mayweather. I believe that the Marquez-Pacquiao trilogy will be entertaining and more enticing to the general public that the recent match booked by Arum, et al.

Maybe Manny and Floyd, Jr. are not really meant for each other (?) but let us all hope against hope.

Though Marquez acknowledged Manny as a great fighter, he said before his fight against Mayweather that, “He (Manny) does not want to fight me. I want the best pound-for-pound boxer, bring in Floyd Mayweather Jr.” Marquez wants the world’s boxing superhero very badly for the latter snatched the former’s WBC super featherweight title. That was three years after that controversial split decision in May 2004. Marquez wants vengeance. He wants no Zorro, the only Mexican legend that was never been defeated by the Pacman, in his training camp.

In addition, a win against Mosley would prove nothing except we will be more get used to Pacman’s winning streak. It would be same as usual while a win against Marquez will seal the deciding contest that endlessly haunt our champ. Some years ago, Ricardo Lois, a boxing expert from LA Examiner said, “Honestly, it’s Pacquiao who needs a third fight with Marquez. To remove the throbbing thorn Marquez has left in his kingly paw.” Maybe it’s not yet time for removal of such a thorn. It may come later, or never.

If not for Pacquiao-Dela Hoya, this unfinished issue could have been settled long time ago. And now that the fight against Mosley is already finalized, that golden opportunity, once again, slipped through the fingers of Marquez.

More than three months ago, Arum reportedly commented why he preferred the other contenders than Mosley, “He (Mosley) is going to be 40 and he’s in the lighter weights, where speed is so important. He’s on a show with guys … old enough to be his son.” According to Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports, Mosley got the fight, not only because he is the least likely to win compared to Marquez and Berto, but because Mosley is now officially out of the Golden Boy Promotions. Here involve the grand business tussle between rival promoters that most of us do not understand. But that’s how the wind blew in different direction and why Arum flip-flapped that fast. The Top Rank boss does not want to loose his baker, err, boxer, giving him his daily bread.

Well, if Arum only a wind instrument, he is a weather vane.

I can do nothing but to settle for this fight at hand. While with great anticipation we wait for the possibility of Pacquiao-Mayweather till eternity, we Filipinos deserve to enjoy the Pacquiao-Mosley fight - and hopefully the weather won’t be a spoiler - this coming May…

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(Photo from Google Images)

Bible Week and Doomsday

Do you know that there’s a certain presidential proclamation initiated by the late Ferdinand E. Marcos but continued by his staunch rivals and predecessors in Corazon C. Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos during their respective terms? It is the Presidential Proclamation No. 1923 signed by former initiator of the dreaded Martial Law on October 27, 1979. Since then, various Christian organizations in the Philippines – both the mainstream Protestant groups and the Catholics – celebrated the National Bible Week and the National Bible Sunday. Marcos, in said decree recognized the Bible “as an excellent source of principles for the development and personal discipline.” This was re-emphasized by President Corazon C. Aquino via Presidential Proclamation No. 44 in 1986 declaring every last week of January as National Bible Week celebration. This was later sustained by Fidel V. Ramos by proclaiming Presidential Proclamation 1067 emphasizing that “national attention be focused on the importance of reading and studying the Bible, in building the spiritual, moral, and social fiber of our citizenry.” In certain ways, this unity among Christian denominations and sects that we are trying to achieve is one of the mysterious ways how God and/of the Bible work(s) for us believers.

But here is the saddest thing: Majority of Filipino Christians, especially the youth, was more excited with the upcoming performances of Bruno Mars on April 8 and Justin Bieber on May 10 than learning from biblical characters even an inch from Aaron to Zophar. It seems today that nobody cares anymore about the Bible Week celebration much more with the Holy Scriptures itself. All the Christian congregations are expected to, among other activities, to organize an interchurch service honoring the Bible at which several passages are read, the hymns that pay tribute it, and the sermon addresses its influence not only in spiritual and moral issues, but in our art, literature and music. On their part, at least, city and municipal mayors may proclaim Bible Week in our city or municipality and feature the event to local media especially those they have direct hand. It is expected that those members of religious groups, Catholic or not, working in public offices such as LGUs initiate such activity in their respective work places.

This year’s theme: May They Be One: “Becoming One Nation in the Stewardship of Creation” is inspired by Psalm 8:3-6. As destruction and degradation of nature spring from greed, the church leaders unanimously agreed to pursue with the new government its thrust against graft and corruption, focusing on becoming better stewards of the country’s resources.

Contrary to the common belief among Christians, bibles are not all the same. Some Christians gradually removed seven chapters of the Old Testament book and some other parts that contradicted some of their teachings. So each believer should know which Bible is to be used. Even the “prophet (of doom) of the hour” Harold Camping and his followers at Family Stations, Inc. are using different bible for his prediction of the second coming of Christ this coming May 21, 2011. According to some reports, Camping fanatics are aggressively spreading the message of doom through billboards, benches at bus stops, the caravan, and mobilize volunteers to distribute pamphlets in various corners of the city, from Bridgeport to Little Rock, Arkansas. And to spread the message outside the U.S., they even have a group of volunteers who would go around Africa and Latin America. This church group is claiming that the prediction is based on their bible.

Well, as we all know, there’s nothing new with this sort of doomsday brouhaha. Camping himself predicted that the world end in 1994. William Miller, another world acclaimed religious leader had predicted the world’s end was on October 22, 1844 but, as we say, the sun still shines brightly to this day. The sun, just like the Bible, is true and essential for today as always.

Sacred Scripture or the Holy Bible is the speech of God as it is put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit. It challenges us to spread the Good News of salvation. It also continues to be relevant to both saints and sinners, to people like Ted "The Golden Voice" Williams then and now, to acclaimed bloggers and lowly lumberjacks…

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(Photo from Philippine Bible Society)

The Rabbits Who Stayed

According to Chinese calendar, 2011 is the year of the Rabbit and may all the Filipino here and around the globe lick our wounds brought about by the war-torn year of the Tiger. May 2011 become a year of magical persuasion rather than sheer or ferocious force and help us value things and people who were through the years, are still with us today while others just died, faded or simply went away.

My mother, more than 70 years of age, is from far-away Zambales and whenever she remembers the place where she was born and grew up, in her memory come a vivid picture of this big and wheeled “rabbit”. Yes, she’s referring to one of the buses of the Philippine Rabbit Bus Company (PRBC) operating to and from Manila and selected provinces in northern Luzon along strategic routes. To my mother’s memory, the Philippine Rabbit is a symbol of a new life because it was the first transportation that helped her find her luck here in San Jose and eventually met my late father and started a family of their own. The Philippine Rabbit is still alive and kicking through the years.

By the way, people say (perhaps from an urban legend), the name Philippine Rabbit was named by accident. They say that the first of its buses were mistakenly painted “Philippine Rabbit” instead of the intended “Philippine Rapid.” The PRBC went into dark times in the 90’s when its workers led a strike which resulted to temporary suspension of its operations. With changes in corporate decisions and management strategies, the company was able to survive until today though its area of coverage was narrowed. Indeed, it continues to strive to be competitive with leading and mushrooming bus companies in terms of number of units and providing quality and reliable service to its patrons, I doubt if this “rabbit” could regain its former status in the past. But the effort of the Philippine Rabbit to stay alive is still there as long as there are people who patronize and cherish them.

Just like how we, her children, cherished our mother.

We had a sari-sari store when I was a kid and this “rabbit” made me and my playmates salivate a lot. It is actually our favorite candy. It was the most popular candy during our time. The White Rabbit candy was born in Shanghai, China in 1943. In fact, in 1972, Premier Zhou Enlai even used White Rabbit candies as a gift to American president Richard Nixon when the latter visited China. Here in the Philippines, its distributor is Cheng Ban Yek & Co.

But I remember a classmate who was taken to a doctor because of a certain sickness. His eyes, finger and fingernails turned yellow and he was yellow all over. From then on, each time she goes to school, he carried a bagful of White Rabbit candy inside his lunch pack. The doctor, he said, told him to munch a lot of White Rabbit. I am still wondering to this day: Is the candy really cured him from jaundice or other diseases related to it? (To my FB friends out there who are in medical profession, please enlighten me on this.)

Just recently, in July 2007, the White Rabbit was banned for distribution within the country after the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) tested it for formaldehyde, the substance that is used for preserving corpses. The Chinese candy-maker protested that BFAD was "extremely irresponsible" for not confirming the authenticity of the test products and further added that their product was target of confectionary counterfeiting in Asia. After submitting their samples from their own factory to an internationally certified laboratory in Shanghai, it received clearance of any formaldehyde tainting.

Nothing really escapes politics. Even sweet and seemingly innocent things like candies…

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(Photo : Google Image)

Father Jejemon (Not A Film Review)

The Philippine’s King of Comedy took hundreds of roles in various flicks he made in his very long showbiz career. Gay, cowboy, taxi driver, farmer, soldier,- name it, never in his decades-old career he portrayed a priest in a movie. It's his first time for such a role. In an interview, the 82-year old Dolphy said, "Yon na lang ang role na hindi ko nagagampanan, pari. Naalok sa akin 'yan ng uncle ko na pari na namatay na." In the forthcoming Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) that would run from December 25, 2010 to January 7, 2011, Dolphy’s own movie outfit, the RVQ Productions, will be offering an entry called “Father Jejemon”, directed by Frank Gray Jr. and written by Bibeth Orteza and Rhandy Reyes. It’s a good movie no doubt and a surefire hit not only for children but for the general public as well.

No problem came until the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chair Grace Poe-Llamanzares received complaints that some scenes in “Fr. Jejemon” were “violative of Catholic sensibilities.”

In particular, some lay groups within the Catholic church were complaining a scene that shows the consecrated host falling on the cleavage of a woman. Another is the consecrated host getting stuck in a woman’s dentures. “OA naman ‘yang mga paring ‘yan. Anong masama kung ipakita na may nahulog na ostiya sa suso, nangyayari naman talaga yan,” says a middle-aged costumer who was watching news on TV inside a noodle house where I am eating. By the way, she’s wearing a crucifix.

Let us go back to the controversial MMFF entry. "Due to the feedback we received regarding the trailer of Father Jejemon, I have ordered a second review of the scene in the movie being questioned. Please note that the MTRCB board is given the autonomy to decide what rating to prescribe,” Poe-Llamazares said.

I have my own reasons to believe that the woman inside the Rizal Street noodle house is indeed a Catholic. Moving on, lay people are expected to speak up on issues that don’t respect the sacredness of the Eucharist, and that's why here I am jotting this. “They (referring to the two movie scenes) are negative, the movie does not give a good reflection on the priesthood,” former CBCP President and Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said in a message yesterday. CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Social Commission and Mass Media (ECSCMM) executive secretary Fr. Francis Lucas said, “I think religion should be respected and (they should consider) the sensibility of people, things we hold sacred.” The two priests were interviewed by CBCP News yesterday.

To make fun out of religious and holy objects is sacrilege. Sacrilege means the profanation of something or somebody or some place set aside for the worship, glory and service of God. Sacrilege, whether acknowledged or not, is no longer the shocking things as it was for our Catholic ancestors, our grandfathers and grandmothers. It has become part of our daily life, as a matter of fact, in our present social setting - especially how it is employed in modern media – it is almost already normal if not fashionable!

Remember that many Catholics even cheered Carlos Celdran when he disrupted a Holy Mass at the Manila Cathedral just some months back?

Sacrilege in modern times is multi-faceted. Catholic faith and practice, morality and tradition are not only questioned, they are sacrilegiously derided and dismissed as irrelevant, or ridiculed by Catholics themselves. In modern day movies and television shows, we take “in vain” religious objects and sacraments. In the streets and casual talks, we coupled them with left and right blasphemies. How can people like them respect the law (of the land) if they do not respect or they are insensitive towards his/her own, or other people’s religion or faith?

But the rule is very simple : “Sancta sancte tractanda sunt” (Holy things must be treated holily) …

My HR-RH Dilemma

It is International Human Rights Day today and it’s been 62 years since the United Nations (UN) passed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). With all honesty, time came when I cannot grasp anymore and I am so confused about some human rights questions in my mind. This pertains to current discussions related to “reproductive health” in Philippine RH Bill. This is what I call then as my “HR-RH” dilemma. There was no such animal called “Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2010” or HB No. 96 during my days in human rights (HR) movements. When I talk of HR, I had only cases of violations in mind,- arrest and detention, summary execution, torture, involuntary disappearance, etc. Based on my recent experience, HR discussions now became broad and some are even wayward and that’s not unexpected.

I am fully convinced, then and now, that religion of whatever origin, Christians or not, cannot be taken away or excluded in any institution or instrument, like the UN and UDHR, which are aimed at establishing a social order respecting rights and dignity of the human person. This vision of life in this world can gradually be achieved if believers anchor it firmly into religious deep.

It is unlucky that the debate on the RH Bill, has focused only on whether it should be passed or rejected in its present form. To pass or to reject it would not be good for us as a nation, as some sectors would claim. The Catholic Church is firm in saying that the proposed bill has serious flaws that can lead to violations of human rights and freedom of conscience. So it must be rejected totally. On the other hand, pro-RH advocates want it passed also in its totality on the very same ground that through this legislation, human rights - particularly the right to maternal health - is enacted by the State. But here are questions that need to be settled the moment the discussion starts:

As it was in the beginning, the Church insists that protection of life must start from fertilization, is the State hold to same position regarding protection of human life? (It is not specified in the Constitution whether conception means fertilization or the implantation of an embryo in the womb.) For the Church, using contraceptive medications and devices prevent the implantation of an embryo. If the State take this similar stand, is it willing to conduct scientific evaluation and studies of medicines and devices provided by the bill and those with abortifacient effects be banned, regardless if the bill is passed or not?

For the purpose of protecting academic freedom and respecting religious traditions, should not the right of religious schools to write and implement their own sex education curriculum consonant to their religious traditions be respected? The Constitution allows religious instruction in public schools only if the parents consent in writing. Should a similar provision be enacted relative to sexuality education? Is the State amenable to respect the conscientious objection of individual teacher who refuse to teach subject on sex education that violates her/his religious beliefs?

Assuming that HB No.96 is already enacted into law as it is and you are a doctor in a public hospital; since this particular law prohibits the refusal of health care services and information based on a patient’s marital status, gender or sexual orientation, age, religion, personal circumstances, and nature of work; would you continue to administer an IUD to a minor who requested for it?

These are just three examples. The bottom line: Both the pro and anti RH Bill should initiate constructive and respectful dialogue leading to concrete actions that would correct it and somewhat soften their hard-line positions and make room for an open dialogue. This is a more positive move towards working for the good of our people, with special concerns for the unborn, the youth, women and families in problematic situations. The merit of the bill itself should be highlighted and not just distinct moral or legal rhetorical persuasions. Without totally surrendering what we believe in.

These are the main points of the authors of "Towards Critical and Constructive Engagement (Talking Points for Dialogue on the RH Bill)" a proposal issued jointly by Loyola School of Theology and the John J. Carroll Institute on Church and Social Issues few months back that can be read here.

As what the proposal observed,total rejection of the bill, however, will not change the present high rates of lack of health care among women, infant mortality, maternal deaths, and abortions. “Does the Catholic hierarchy want these dehumanizing conditions to continue?” pro-RH advocates rightfully ask. It is imperative that both the proponents and opponents of the bill sit and talk together to amend its objectionable provisions and retain those that can make a contribution to protection of the dignity of Filipinos, improve their quality of life and promote, protect and defend their human rights. Not without considering the importance of rich global experiences, references, views and trends related to it. Be it pro or con, to expand each other’s horizon. But of course we cannot be neutral in situations detrimental to human dignity and human rights of our neighbors.

Some years ago, reportedly many western human rights NGO have tried to insert into the UNDHR the term “reproductive rights” in order to export contraception and abortion globally and tie it to international aid poured into governments in the Third World or developing countries like the Philippines. Here at home, RH supporters insist that the bill is the solution to women’s rights and economic development for the poor and not primarily about population control or, as the HB No.96 terms it, “population management”. Using such language in international instruments can persuade and attract growing number of various feminist and women liberation movements and women rights advocates from all over the world. And it apparently did.

In his address to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly commemorating the 60th anniversary of the UDHR, Pope Benedict XVI challenged the UN and the rest of the world leaders: “This is all the more necessary at a time when we experience the obvious paradox of a multilateral consensus that continues to be in crisis because it is still subordinated to the decisions of a few, whereas the world’s problems call for interventions in the form of collective action by the international community.” The UDHR, according to Benedict, cannot be applied piecemeal “according to trends or selective choices” that actually compromise universal human rights. I am sure that these words of the Pope are rooted in human dignity that is usually subjected to the decisions of the few global elites, both in private and public spheres, of different ideological leanings.

Anna Halpine, founder of the World Youth Alliance - a worldwide coalition of young people committed to promoting the dignity of the person - wrote in an article entitled, “Philippines’ Population Bill Speak With Forked Tongue”: “Population control or population management relies on the assumption that government can and should curb population growth in order to provide the goods necessary for economic development: education, opportunity, housing, protection and stewardship of natural resources. But if the government priority is managing the population according to a schedule of targets and goals, what of the dignity and rights of the persons being “managed”?” She observed further that: “It is obvious to anyone who bothers to actually read the Philippines bill that population management tops the hierarchy of principles. The idea that it is primarily concerned with the promotion of human rights, or women’s rights is an illusion.”

If our legislators including concerned groups are bound to re-open the issue of reproductive health in different forum and venue, it must take-off from the bill’s terms and merits. In such a dialogue, aside from Church and government leaders, leading economists might be engaged and the data available from countless national population policies in the past, especially during the Marcos government, should be re-visited and scrutinized.

To summarize, what I want to emphasize is this: A population management bill should not be offered to citizens only if it is sugar-coated with necessary maternal health reforms or increased women’s health and rights. Women’s maternal capabilities and women’s rights are not only women’s true essence but liberating tool in this patriarchal world. Not merely icings on a legislative cake in the hands of neo-Malthusian bakers.

Why not call HB 96 plainly and simply by what it intends to do: “Population Control” Act? …

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(Photo from Google images)

Complacency is Against the Spirit of Advent

Complacency is a sin and it haunts us all. Even as a Church worker, I am also personally guilty of committing this 8th Deadly Sin (Is “complacency” falls under “sloth”?). Most of the time I say, ”Pwede na ‘yan” or “That’s okay as long as it serves the purpose.” But I also believe - based on my observation on socio-political realities in Occidental Mindoro and as a member of the local media then - our most wicked sin as a people is also complacency.

In today’s Gospel (Matt 3 : 1-12), John the Baptist is telling us that as we, new children of Abraham, await the coming of the Kingdom, we cannot rest in complacency. “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance,” John told the crowds gathered there at the Jordan River. This sermon no doubt, is a call out of complacency. He further said, “Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire”. Presumably, John was just trying to “micro scare” the people maybe because they already had a long history of complacency that time. Not unlike today in our province.

Most of our people are guilty of apathy and indifference. For instance, only few civic organizations stood with the Church in its fight against the Mindoro Nickel Project (MNP) and the Small Town Lottery (STL) operation in the province before. Only few joined the PPCRV pollwatchers during the last elections, just to mention two of our current social concerns. The people act more diligently in self-serving activities initiated by their political patrons or political groups than those initiated by the Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) or their PAKRIS. It’s Advent time once again and may we be reminded that John’s sermon calls us to bear the fruit of repentance and it calls us into the kingdom of God.

As worker of our local Church, it is my Christian duty to go beyond my comfort zones (Here’s a very concrete example : What people do most of the time in Facebook,- finding, chatting, sharing, exchanging something unimportant or naughty with friends and relatives; joking and commenting to a thread, playing Mafia Wars and Farmville , etc.) and do things in line with my faith, with my beliefs, with my work, with my vocation. Whenever. Whether I go, physical or virtual. Because if I do not maximize the potentials of the internet in blogging about socio-political realities in my place, if I do not share news and updates to all the interested people all over the net, if I will not impart related social teachings and doctrines of my Church, I will be doing nothing and become irresponsible worker in His vineyard. For it is not only for what we do that we are held responsible, but also for what we do not do. Still, many of us do not consider the act of “not doing” as a sin. Both the laity and those belong to the ordained ministry who are not expecting intervention from God - and from themselves - to this saddening situation is also somewhat guilty of such a sin. Yes, we should not rely unduly on our competence. Strength lies in improvasion. But many leaders of social and religious institutions have overlooked this fact. Including mine.

But hey, let us set this straight for clarity. I am not insinuating that we aimlessly expect or look for something new. All I say is we must be prepared to anticipate something new rather than remaining where we are. We have to make change happen and not just waste our time in the waiting shed. According to Pope Benedict XVI, "It is important that the Catholic laity proficient in social communications take their proper place in proposing the Christian message in a convincing and attractive way." In a way, BXVI is giving us social communicators this challenge against complacency.

If I were right in saying that “Complacency is against the spirit of Advent”, so therefore, the opposite of expectation is also complacency. Because when we are complacent, we are expecting for nothing more, nothing better as believers and as human beings. Therefore, we are not expecting, anticipating the Kingdom.

Unlike how John foresaw something new in the person of the Emmanuel…

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(Photo from ministrydepot.com)

Confession Of A Murderer

Listen, I have a confession to make. My officers and the rest of the troop do not know that the two men we executed near the mountains of Maragondon are my former neighbors in Tondo. We grew in the same environment before we joined separate revolutionary movements. But nobody knows this except me. I am a soldier of a new republic and what I just participated in is part of my patriotic duty. I do not have a guilty feeling, bothered or whatsoever, by what we have done. Though the brothers are fellow Filipinos and not Spaniards, they became our enemies and I am here to serve and to protect the government.

May 10, 1897 - and that was yesterday - will remain in my mind till the rest of my life for I became part of this heroic act of executing these two traitors who have sinned against the revolutionary movement. The death verdict was already passed months ago and the presidential commutation of death sentence was received and already communicated to them. The two brothers deserve to die and I think they have sensed death already since the Tejeros Convention. They are dangerous and anyone who do not recognize nor respect the Supreme Government of the Philippine Republic must be considered bandits. They organized many men and collected firearms for the purpose of overthrowing the government and they even plotted to kill the national president, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. Based from what I saw from their eyes yesterday, they fully accepted and very proud of their impending death. They never even uttered words begging for dear life. Oh, their courage indeed is beyond description.

The Bonifacio brothers,- Andres and Procopio, were unaware that one of their tormentors and killers was a former neighbor. They did not recognize me for sure. I was only ten when my family moved from Tondo to Indang. Together we grew up in that proletarian community in Azcarraga with all its filth and poverty. How can I forget Azcarraga, that wide and long thoroughfare where from its west, you could find a lighthouse near the mouth of Pasig. The lighthouse was very visible from our homes. A beautiful marker facing Manila Bay was just part of many wonderful memories of my childhood, our childhood, of Andres and his younger brother Procopio. And if I remember right, the so-called Supremo was the oldest of four Bonifacio brothers, and the other three being Ciriaco – also a Katipunero who was also killed some months back – Procopio, and Troadio. They have two sisters, Esperidiona and Maxima. In Indang, at 19, I joined the Magdalo under the command of Col. Jose Ignacio Paua.

Deep inside I am proud every time I hear about Andres maybe because of my memories of Azcarraga or simply because he is a respected brother in this struggle, though his rank is higher than mine and he's more popular than myself. I do not exactly know why I have this feeling. I feel proud when he and Gen. Emilio Jacinto attacked Spanish force guarding the powder magazine in San Juan del Monte in August last year. This attack launched by the KKK made Katipunan’s presence felt heavily by the Spanish authorities and prompted the Governor General to proclaim Martial Law in the provinces of Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija. On the day after the encounter, other towns around Manila also rose in arms. And the bloody arm struggle between the Spanish forces and the Katipuneros have started. All to the credit of Andres Bonifacio and, I hate to say this, to Magdiwang.

Yes, I am proud of Andres but I believe he is not qualified, academically-wise, to be the supreme leader of the revolution more so at this infantile stage of the republic. He only reached primary school because his mother - Catalina de Castro who I heard then hailed from Zambales – and later his father, our local tailor, died, leaving Andres with his brothers and sisters to face the world by themselves. Andres, without doubt, can raise a family but definitely not to lead the revolutionary government and the whole country. Tell me how could a lowly and uneducated warehouseman, messenger and salesman of British and German firms be our president? We need academically qualified leaders in Emilio Aguinaldo, Mariano Trias, Severino delas Alas and the rest of the calculating Magdalo leaders and not the stubborn and overly aggressive Bonifacio and the rest of the Magdiwang. Being a confirmed Mason, Bonifacio do not believe in God, as claimed by the leaflets allegedly distributed by one of our leaders in Magdalo, Daniel Tirona.

I do not care how history would judge us by killing Bonifacio yesterday. I am sure, time will come, many historians, politicians, students, scholars and academicians will ultimately oversimplify history. Only few will be interested in finding out our deepest secrets anymore and learn from them. With foreign invaders around, our idea of true heroism will be generalized until it become lip service. One and a half centuries from now, historical details no longer be given emphasis. The people of the next generation will remember only discrete bit of information - rather than vivid, often violent details - like how we killed the Supremo and his brother yesterday. Reading history in the future will only be trivial and will never be arresting and probing but when hate something that will hurt memories of a dead man and woman even how bad he or she was. History will no longer be the main instrument in educating the people to assert their basic and fundamental rights in the face of social problems of their day.

Centuries from now, majority of the Filipinos will no longer be interested in this critical study of history anymore, I am sure. Take it from me, time will come, unlike other heroes and luminaries, Andres Bonifacio's birthday will be remembered but not the day he died. People will remember the Magdalo leaders but not how and why we kill Bonifacio and his brother.

Their followers may call me and my officers and the rest of our troop, political murderers but we do not care. For tomorrow, centuries from now, Filipinos would again be putting into political power murderers like us…

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(Photo soflinked from ofwnow.com)

Songs of Fanny and Fatima

Fatima Soriano, the young singer-evangelist will be coming to San Jose this Sunday, November 28, as a guest speaker in the Advent Recollection sponsored by the Worship Ministry of Saint Joseph (Cathedral) Parish.

While most of the young guys and gals adore and idolize the international singing sensation in Charice Pempengco, to them, the name Fatima Soriano is “never heard”. But lately, Fatima had been into mainstream when she sing “Nandito Lang Ako”, theme song of child-oriented TV series then called “Momay”, aired over ABS-CBN Channel 2.

Born in 1993, Fatima was diagnosed with retrolental degeneration (a severe eye defect that leaves her nearly unable to see) when she was 3 months old. Not only that, when she was 10, she suffered severe renal failure but she endured them all and struggled and pray hard for a normal life. Despite this handicap, she refused to accept defeat and continue make her life worth-while. Instead, she rose to the top of her class at the Braille-enabled day care center she attended. She also became a very active choir member in their parish. Fatima, though none of her song landed in the Top Ten of the Billboard 200 album chart and never been a guest on “Glee”, I know that every time Fatima renders a song, somebody is singing with her. Not Oprah Winfrey but the Great Physician that took away her almost incurable kidney problem then. Especially that first song which says :

“My suffering is my offering
I'm offering all my sufferings
and if ever I will face, more trials and more pains
then I offer them gladly again
then I offer them gladly again…”

But more than a century ago before Fatima Soriano was born, in the early 1900’s, Fanny Crosby became popular. Crosby was an American lyricist best known for her Protestant Christian hymns. She was one of the most prolific hymnists in history, writing over 8,000 despite being blind since infancy. During her time Fanny Crosby was one of the best known women in the US. Here’s a piece from one of her songs :

“Oh what a happy soul I am,
Although I cannot see;
I am resolved that in this world
Contented I will be.
How many blessings I enjoy,
That other people don't;
To weep and sigh because I'm blind,
I cannot, and I won't."

The songs of both Fanny and Fatima bear the same message I am sure. Inspirations that we have to hear- and not only see - in order to believe.

What would be Fatima Soriano’s Advent sharing for us on Sunday? Let’s come and see …

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(Photo from Fatima Soriano's Blog Site)

Fr. Bernhard's Mission Possible

This German missionary had been brought to Lubang by his congregation, the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), more than forty years ago and he practically spent most of his life in that northern tip island of Occidental Mindoro. He is Fr. Bernhard Kasselmann, SVD who will be more than 70 come Monday, November 22, his natal day.

Looking back from our province’s past, in 1922, the Philippine SVD took over Lubang Island in 1923 where Fr. Henry Demond SVD pioneered the work and later, another missionary, Fr. Carlos Krusenbaum, SVD, was assigned in Tilik. The “chronologically-enhanced” Fr. Bernie, as we fondly call him, is the most senior (sounds like “monsignor”, huh?) priest in my diocese. The cigarette puffin’ cleric transferred to the Bishop Residence here in San Jose few months ago and he will be staying here until Only- God- Knows-When.

A missionary is always a missionary regardless where s/he is and what social and spiritual realities s/he is facing. The Encyclical called “Redemptoris Missio” is quite clear in emphasizing that geography cannot be the sole criterion for determining the frontiers of the mission “ad gentes” in our modern day (RM, n. 37). A little trivia : the Second Vatican Council passed a decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church called “Ad Gentes” from the Latin “To the Nations,” and is from the first line of the decree, as is customary with the Roman Catholic documents. It was promulgated by Pope Paul VI on December 7, 1967.

Let us go back to our birthday boy. I first met him in his San Raphael Parish in Looc sometime in the late 80s when I was invited to conduct a political education training there. Fr. Bernie is so fluent in Tagalog and I know no German. So, I did not bother to retrieve my unreliable English from my mental bookshelf that day and onwards. Riding alone in his blue Yamaha DT-125 motorcycle, he travel mountainous, rough and dangerous roads going to Agkawayan, Balikyas, Bulacan, Burol and the rest of the villages in mainland Looc. I was even shocked to see from my very eye that this old priest is also an acrobat. He gave us a little show or exhibition of sort using his bicycle,- pedaling in backward motion and other awkward biking positions- that amazed us all. But that was before. Now, he's no longer allowed even to set his foot on the kick starter.

Fr. Bernhard make things possible. In 1972, it is well remembered by the people of Cabra, an island community in Lubang, when he constructed a windmill and two deep wells as source of potable water in said coastal area. The project was funded by his friends and benefactors in Germany and elsewhere. Another ambitious project he accomplished is the computerized codification of individual profile of all his parishioners. He extensively gathered data of every single people within his parish. This work had been very useful in many pastoral and civic initiatives in Looc.

In his message for the World Mission Sunday 2010, Fr. Bernie’s compatriot, Pope Benedict XVI, said : “Like the Greek pilgrims of two thousand years ago, the people of our time too, even perhaps unbeknown to them, ask believers not only to "speak" of Jesus, but to "make Jesus seen", to make the face of the Redeemer shine out in every corner of the earth before the generations of the new millennium and especially before the young people of every continent, the privileged ones to whom the Gospel proclamation is intended.” Understandably, not only men of cloth can be missionaries but also the laity, specially those who are away from home. Like the Filipino migrant workers, the OFWs,- Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

Beer and finger foods will be served this weekend I’m sure, including packs of Marlboro for this special celebration of life. Let me reiterate, the OFWs are missionaries in their own special ways. To work hard in a faraway land for your family is also an expression of faith. To care for people in need, regardless of nationality, is proclamation of Good News as well. Ask Fr. Bernie if this statement is true and he will surely throw you his patented big wide grin, nod his head until his cone-shaped nose point to the sky.

For Fr. Kasselmann : “Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag und alles Gute!”…

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(Photo of two SVD Saints from svdphc)

Pacquiao Vs Pacquiao

Let us set aside the much-awaited Pacquiao-Mayweather fight for it is still very remote. Me? I am looking forward for a more interesting out-of-the-ring Pacquiao vs. Pacquiao scuffle. That big fight between Aling Dionisia against his own son, Manny. The Pacmom have been long convincing her son to retire from boxing was only coerced by Congressmanny to allow him to fight for the last time against Antonio Margarito. But the great Filipino boxer assured us, after his mauling of the Tijuana Tornado at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas last November 13, “Yes, I will continue to fight.” And Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is among Pacman’s prospective opponents.

The dream fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather, to refresh our memory, had already been archived twice when both the Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions can’t seem to agree on vital issues, ranging from drug testing to purse split and fight venue.

Certainly, Manny has to settle privately this retirement thing including his career plans with his mother. They need to talk at once before Bob Arum arranged with the Mayweather camp or Shane Mosley’s or Juan Manuel Marquez’s. Equally interesting is who will win in this Pacquiao vs. Paquiao “fight”? Is it the mother or the child? Would the son again disobey his mother to please boxing fans all over the world and continue bring honor and inspiration to his beloved country, and his struggling and impoverished countrymen?

Or will he follow his mother’s advice, hang his gloves and pursue other tasks and careers outside of that brutal boxing ring? Remember, no mother – generally speaking - want to see her son being beaten or involved in dangerous endeavors such as fighting. No parent want to see their children engage in trouble and suffer beatings. Because she knows exactly that boxing – even she’s not into medical profession - being a very physical sport, can kill. Or it can do you harm, gradually or instantly. I am just excited to know if parental desire can be powerful or not in this particular instance.

Aling Dionisia is a Filipina mother beyond compare. Her life changed since Manny hit the jackpot - cars, jewelries, accessories, mansion, travels abroad, name it – and now, it seems, she’s very much contented with all of that. Since she is no longer cooking native delicacies to support her children, the most important thing for her now is his famous son’s health and safety. Ever since, she didn’t want Manny to box. This was the reason why her son kept his training secret when he was starting as a young pugilist. The desire for greatness have been so powerful while parental desire had been powerless long before that boy from General Santos became famous and wealthy. And he is a grown-up man now.

Though she keep on insisting him to retire, Dionisia Pacquiao could still understand that on top of such a situation, parental desires (note : "desires" NOT "guidance") can be disobeyed. Thus, "Pacman Knows" and "Pacmom Understands"…

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(PhotoPinoyispup)

Hindi Lang Boksing

Dahil sa kaliwa’t-kanang public appearances ni Congressmanny nitong mga nakaraang araw, baka mas pinag-uusapan pa siya sa Tate kaysa kay Barack Obama. Sa totoo lang, kabado ako na baka ang mga kasalukuyang ‘distraction’ sa ensayo ni Manny Pacquiao laban kay Antonio Margarito sa isang linggo ay mauwi sa ‘destruction’ ng Pinoy boxing champ.

‘Langya, papaanong hindi tayo kakabahan kung mismong sina Freddie Roach at Bob Arum na medyo nagtatampo noon sa kabi-kabilang appointments ni Pacman sa labas ng training camp sa Baguio City, ay tameme ngayon sa mas grabeng abala o distraksiyon na dulot nito sa preparasyon laban sa pambato ng Tijuana, Mexico sa Dallas Cowboy Arena sa Nobyembre 13. Tingnan n’yo ha, bago umalis ang Team Pacquiao ng ‘Pinas noong bago mag-Undas, tiniyak ni Roach na kapag lumapag na sila sa Los Angeles, wala nang iba pang aatupagin si Manny kundi ang kanyang mga sparring partner sa Wild Card Gymn at ang mga training equipments doon. Pero nasunod ba ito? Hindi.

Si Bob Arum naman na medyo naging masama ang loob sa pagsali ni Pacman noon sa public events kagaya ng 10.10.10 Run to Save Pasig River at ang Family Sports Festival ng Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Alumni Association, noong nasa L.A. na ay nag flip-flap na rin ito.

Sa biyahe pa lang ay bugbog na kaagad si Manny. Noong Linggo, ayon sa ulat, dalawang oras at kalahati na nagbiyahe si Pacquiao papunta sa San Diego para i-coach ang kanyang basketball team doon imbes na nagpahinga na lamang sana siya matapos magsimba. Si Manny pa rin ang nasunod dito imbes na si Roach.

Si Arum naman, noong Biyernes, ilang minuto lang umano matapos ang praktis ay pinalipad agad ang boksingero sakay ng private jet ng Top Rank promoter papuntang Las Vegas para i-endorso ang kandidatura sa pagka-senador ni John Reid, majority leader ng Democrats. Si Arum at si Reid ay matalik na magkaibigan. Ewan ko kung naging matalik na ring magkaibigan sina Reid at Pacquiao.

Noong Sabado naman, umapir uli si Manny sa grand opening ng Nike Store sa Sta. Monica Place kasama si Laila Ali na kapwa niya endorser ng nasabing brand ng toga,.. este, sapatos. Maraming mga kaeklayan ang itinampok sa opening na wala namang kinalaman sa pagsampa niya sa ring sa Dallas. Maliban sa pag-introduce sa sapatos na kanyang susuutin sa laban niya kay Margarito. Hindi ba kumanta pa nga ito sa “Jimmy Kemmel Live” noong Lunes at tinira ang “Imagine” ni John Lennon na ka-dueto si Will Ferrell? Pero hindi na bago ang ganito at huwag nating ipalagay na kapag boksing ay boksing lang. Kung aking matatandaan, kahit si Gabriel “Flash” Elorde nga noon ay naging endorser din at naging artista.

Sa dami ng ‘side trip’ na ito ni Manny, kabado ako baka maubusan siya ng gasolina sa darating niyang laban. Baka masira ang kanyang konsentrasyon at mawala sa pokus. Huwag naman sana. O baka naman ma-over-exposed na siya at dibdibin natin masyado ang resulta ng anumang kahihinatnan ng aktuwal niyang laban sa susunod na linggo. Tandaan natin, mas gutom sa panalo si Margarito para makabawi siya sa kahihiyang inani niya sa kanyang laban noon kay Shane Mosley.

Pero sabi nga sa kanyang bagong tagline o catch phrase, “Manny Knows”…

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(Larawan mula sa www.pinoyscoop)

Basic Poem Writing

A freshman college student who is so dear to me, a struggling campus journalist once asked me for a “non-technical” and “non-scholar” poem- writing tips. Though I am not truly a writer by profession or a poet in the true sense of the word, I just told her to write, write, write and write. Write as fast and as many as she can but she have to write as she talk and do not get tired (but make herself relax) and do not be ashamed and afraid of committing errors (grammatical or otherwise). Mind not what your readers may say or feel against you. Expect not all of them understand what you write. In short, do not let pass any opportunity for a writing exercise. I just reminded her of some practical things. This is what I have told her more or less :

Imagine yourself as a movable CCTV camera : capturing, recording, photographing, using words as your “output cable” and monitor. I told him to try this exercise : Inside a crowded area,- an airplane for example or bus terminal, sit tight and still (or slowly move around). Open your eyes (Do not forget, you are a movable CCTV camera). Look in front of you, to your left and to your right, and occasionally to your back. What do you see? Write down or remember exactly what you see. Toy with words by describing the scenes, color, shape, texture, tone and sound. Remember again you are a movable CCTV camera so you take a long shot, medium shot and close up. One thing is certain, sensory experiences can sharpen our God-given creativity. So all we have to do is - and I think I do not have to reiterate this – be sensitive to the people and things around you.

The Barangay and SK polls will be held Monday and the election fever is on and as I travel aboard a tricycle going to our place, while the tail of Typhoon Juan subdued the air, here’s what I have observed :

“Crowded vehicles come and go; some are fast, others are slow, the clouds are dark , the strong winds blow, etcetera…”

These observations of mine can be translated or developed into a poem. How good and well it is crafted I cannot tell but surely they became a poem nevertheless. Here it is :

Two Typhoons

Crowded vehicles come and go, they jive, they glow
Some are too fast, others are too slow
The clouds above are dark and the wind strongly blow
But as usual the atmosphere, almost like in a circus or a freak show.

You may call me the persistent pessimist in the front row
But this election is far to be a unifying bond, still a dividing saw
Not minding first how to serve, but to how to gain influence and amass dough
Or to please their patrons, the one who loves pink and the other one blue.

They say that the typhoon crawls above the Philippine archipelago
Politics, the way it is practiced here, is as devastating as catastrophes do
As long as we don’t participate in governance, we, the common tao
And amidst corruption and irregularities we keep our arms akimbo!

The farmers solar-drying their palay are in a hurry too
Collecting the golden grains from the concrete road and patio
And to save their precious produce is the foremost thing to do
For another typhoon is coming, not one (Juan) but two!

Notice how my previous observation became a significant theme rooted to my work while my view on our present political system eventually emerged. And for me, this is Poem Writing 101….

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(Photo from Google images)

Why Only Padre Damaso?

No doubt that the current debate on the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill serves as an anvil where we, Filipinos shape and strengthen our sentiments and condemnation against the clergy and the CBCP, if not the whole Philippine Catholic Church hierarchy. My “we” here pertains to the Catholics who are pro-RH bill. And while we curse from the top of our lungs our priests, the bishops and the lay people of being “hypocrites”, “gender insensitive”, “anti-poor and anti-women”, “sexual molesters”, “Modern-day Fathers Damaso” and other accusations – no matter how legitimate they are - let us also remember that aside from the two contending forces- those who support the HR bill and those who are against it – we tend to loose sight on how wealthy and powerful and nations that influenced such local legislative initiatives. As we lambast our priests, bishops and lay people, we ignore the questionable foreign policies of such powerful and dominant countries, cultures and corporations who support such policies. Especially Uncle Sam. Allow me to direct you to two important and recent events on Hillary Clinton and Bill Gates of the Gates Foundation on population control.

And no matter how we deny it, there are still invisible foreign hands in every major Philippine political affairs. And even series of social changes since the beginning of our supposedly independence from foreign domination, particularly the US, was not able to generally change such reality.

In minds of the US policy makers, as far as you understand, does “reproductive health/services/rights” include abortion, or doesn’t it? Let us hear it directly from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Last April 21, 2009, as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Congressman Chris Smith as the alter ego of President Barack Obama : "And so we have total transparency, does the United States' definition of the term 1) "reproductive health" or 2) "reproductive services" or 3) "reproductive rights" include abortion?"

Reportedly she answered: "We have a very fundamental disagreement. It is my strongly held view that you are entitled to advocate, and everyone who agrees with you should be free to do so, anywhere in the world and so are we." But like a fish, she was caught through her mouth : "We happen to think that family planning is an important part of women's health and reproductive health includes access to abortion that I believe should be safe, legal and rare." See? But our pro-RH Bill legislators are denying to their teeth that it will ultimately fall to abortion. Saying that the US, or Clinton, has nothing to do with the RH Bill. Clinton, by the way is one (5th) of Forbes' 2010 World's 100 Most Powerful Women list.

The same thing happened some years ago when a despotic Philippine political leader justified his declaration of Martial Law saying it has nothing to with Uncle Sam or something to that effect. Or that the sorry state then (and now) of our economy has a little thing to do with transnational and multi-national corporations and the injustice and inequality that they bring. The people in the government then lead us think that it was just a product of the wild imagination of the Communist-leaning labor unions including the left-leaning radicals in the 50s up to late 80s. They made us believe that the poverty that we are experiencing as a nation is self-created by us, Filipinos.

But there we have it from Clinton herself, one of the highest authorities on the subject. At least there now is no doubt that the Obama administration will be endorsing legalized abortion as part of its policy towards developing nations like the Philippines. It seems that in the controversial RH Bill, the terms “reproductive health”, “maternal care”, etc. are juxtaposed to imply the need to legalize abortion. It echoes from Washington to Manila.

And to fuel up this grand “Contraceptive Imperialism”, to borrow the word from Atty. Jo Imbong, the world needs the ever-reliable American philanthropy.

Annually, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) give the so-called Population Award on a person and organization that has met its criteria for population control. And the 2010 Population Award goes to Bill and Melinda Gates. But Bill Gates and his wife Melinda were not there to receive the award and it was accepted in his behalf by William H. Gates, Sr., Bill’s father. The couple were in Mexico for a business trip.

According to Vincenzina Santoro,- an international economist who represents the American Family Association of New York at the United Nations, just few days after the said award, the Gates foundation pledged a considerable sum to support the UN led initiative called “The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health” which is “hosted and administered by the World Health Organization” and includes approximately 300 NGOs such as Planned Parenthood and organizations like the UN Population Fund. Of the 300 NGOs, how many of them are from the Philippines? And how much money being poured from it to the Philippines? Nobody knows. One thing is certain, worldwide, resource generation and fund campaigns such as this is initiated and gaining popular support from topnotch corporations in exchange of a future global society of “few, chosen and quality” citizens and nations.

As early as 1983, Ray Ravenholt, a former official of the US Agency for International Development or USAID, an agency actively funding population control in the Third World, has given an insight into the real reason behind US concern : “Population control is necessary for the normal operation of US commercial interests around the world.” Is that reality no longer true today?

Why would innocent words such as “maternal and child welfare”, “reproductive services” “reproductive rights” and “reproductive services”, and even “family planning” would always lead to population control through abortion or contraception?

I maybe wrong but maybe the stipulations in the RH Bill are perhaps the true “wolves in sheep’s clothing” and not only our erring priests and bishops as claimed by many (?) of us Catholics as result of this recent debates on RH Bill…

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(Photo from Shots)

Reckless and Imprudent

Michael “Mike” Rogas, a fellow I know well, a resident of Brgy. Pag-Asa, San Jose and former student leader of our Alma Mater Occidental Mindoro National College (OMNC), is in hot water. Mike is currently employed as one of the announcers/reporters of Radio Mindanao Network (RMN)-Manila DZXL. He, together with other media personalities were recommended by the Incident Investigation and Review Committee or IIRC, the body assigned to review and investigate the bloody hostage-taking incident in Manila last August 23 this year. Justice Secretary Leila De Lima gave hint yesterday that Mike, along with his bosom buddy at RMN, the fearless Erwin Tulfo, and several other broadcasters may face charges of Reckless Imprudence Resulting in Multiple Homicide or the violation of Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code before a court of law. A case I thought before as exclusive only for drivers and motorists!

I had a short huddle with Mike when I met him at the San Jose Airport on September 6, the day before his first appearance at the IIRC investigation.

It cannot be denied that Mike is an accomplished homegrown broadcaster, for he made it to a prestigious radio network and became an anchorman to program with a nation-wide following. Mike indeed became one of the few people who hailed from Occidental Mindoro and became one of the prominent figures in Philippine broadcast industry. Especially after that incident at the Quirino Grandstand. Broadcasting for a Manila-based network is dream come true for every career-focused broadcaster from the provinces. And this is what separates Mike from the rest of our local broadcaster. He aimed high and willing to learn more. He took law and refined his skills risking his life and limb. He took lessons from his mentors and idols. He damned the risk as a reporter. He could not pass a day without a field report or a coverage. He was present at Oakwood and other events and even during the presidential campaign. He does not take for granted important things as far as his craft and career are concerned. He stand tall for what he believe is right.

But human as he is, Mike also have negative spots. Way back home, he is a known supporter of a politician. He even involved in an incident where he allegedly uttered foul and nasty words over a live radio broadcast against a political personality and his brother almost a year ago that ended with little mayhem in the radio booth. His mouth blows fire and not aimlessly. The other camp hated him very badly and they even accused him of financial opportunism. These are just few things in common about him and the rest of the local broadcasters that I know.

Going back to the IIRC recommendation, I do not believe that the journalists should be charged on the August 23 blood bath. According to a title of the blog post of lawyer-activist Harry Roque today, “Bad journalism is not a criminal conduct.” Roque even further cited, in commemoration of the Martial Law declaration, a Statement from Center for International Law which states : “Coming on the eve of the anniversary of the declaration of martial law by the despot Ferdinand Marcos, P-Noy must be reminded that without a free press, there would not be a public debate on public issues crucial to the functioning of a representative democracy. This was why as a precondition for the establishment of an authoritarian regime, then despot Marcos had to muzzle a free press.”

But the horror of reckless imprudence haunts every citizen in our own little way, even in normal occurrences of our lives. Many of us are morally guilty of this offense.

As media propagandists for a politician or for a cause, sometimes we are reckless, and sometimes we are imprudent. Or both…

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(Photo from Dailylife.Com)

Clean Little Hands

If people from the national government now say that the primary aim of Small Town Lottery or STL is to outbox illegal gambling like jueteng, why they allowed STL to operate here in our place when in fact the present mayor of San Jose have already erased it from the face of Occidental Mindoro during his watch as governor. When STL came, jueteng already ended, so why on earth they allowed STL operation to kick-off here in our province three years ago? Surprising isn’t it?

But the latest exposé of retired Bishop Oscar V. Cruz, head of Krusadang Bayan Laban sa Sugal, that several dioceses of the Catholic Church are also receiving money from jueteng syndicates did not surprise me anymore. Cruz, formerly assigned in Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, said that 8 dioceses in Luzon and Visayas allegedly benefit from jueteng payola. For those who are not Catholics, a diocese, - which comprises parishes, is a district under the care of the bishop.

One opinion writer even stated : “Is the Catholic Church still holds firm to what its late Cardinal Jaime Sin once told that he was willing to accept money, "even from Satan as long as it could help my flock." Sin reportedly said that in 2000 amidst reports that the Archdiocese of Manila was receiving a huge sum of money every month as donation from the Presidential Social Fund coming from Pagcor for the so-called Hospital for the Poor project in his archdiocese.

But we should also be reminded that the late Jaime L. Cardinal Sin, then Archbishop of Archdiocese of Manila issued a contradictory pastoral letter on March 25, 2002 about this very issue : “With paternal solicitude I now enjoin all the faithful, institution and ministries of the Archdiocese of Manila to refrain from holding activities that would even at least give a semblance of promoting or tolerating gambling that enslaves the person. Nor we should receive funds from such activities, even if the project we have is for the poor. Our thoughts turn to individuals and families who suffer from the ills of gambling. We ask pardon from the Lord for whatever sins we as sons and daughters of the Church may have committed, through our action or omission, that have led to this situation of suffering and vice.”

And let us suppose the allegation of Archbishop Emeritus Cruz that there are bishops and priests in 8 dioceses all-over the Philippines are collecting money from jueteng is true, maybe they are just following the footsteps of Mother Teresa of Calcutta : helping the desperate poor is the most important thing than minding and considering where that fund or money came from. But Cruz does not buy that argument ever since.

In the Catholic Church, there is no general rule or universal agreement regarding the acceptance of money from gambling in general by priests, bishops or nuns for any pastoral project or program. Nowhere in its teachings or laws can we find them. That is where the big problem lies. This is one of the biggest gray areas in Church so far. And aside from advocating against the evils of gambling and exposing how corrupt officials benefit from it, the Church should have a clear statement on this. A clear-cut policy declaring outright if taking money from such operation is evil or not. Then execute the law and punish the wicked men from among them (1 Cor. 5:13). Anything less is hypocrisy!

May this latest outbursts of Cruz serve as wake-up call not only to the newly-installed Aquino Administration but to long reigning Catholic Church as well.

But let us now set aside gambling and focus on this hypothetical case of donation-giving : Is it okay for the Church to have someone with checkered political career (or a known leader of a criminal syndicate at that) construct a church building under his name? Like in the first case, in the eyes of the Church, there’s a lot of shades of gray in this particular situation.

Both the Church people who accepts and those who declined to receive gambling money have things in common : they are adhered to the gospel value of love and charity to feed the hungry, provide water to the thirsty, etc; and the core theme of the PCP-II called “Preferential Option for the Poor”. Sadly, they differ in the quality of food and drink to give and those who are provided with such necessities using our clean little hands, I think, are being loved and cared for more deeply…

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(Flicker Photo)

Let Us S/Pray

They put on a local radio talk show last week a man I know since I was a child. An interview made me reminiscent on my childhood days and my grandfather’s memory came to mind. It’s September 12 and the world celebrates the Grandparents'Day today. The old man worked with my granddad at the Bureau of Health’s Malaria Control Unit here in San Jose in the early ‘50s. The interviewee, Mr.Gaudioso Ordanel, also known as “Lolo Gudio”, is now more than 80 years of age but still puffing cigarette and swigging gin. My Papang was the medical technologist while Mang Gudio is the driver-team leader of the Malaria control spray men.

As early as 1906, the Philippine Bureau of Health established its Malaria Control Division which is tasked to conduct researches and study, history and epidemiology of malaria in the Philippines including control practices such as annual spraying of all houses in areas affected by malaria. Malaria is a protozoan disease and the word “malaria” means “bad air” in Italian, reflecting an old view and misconception that malaria is caused by gases from swampy regions where the anopheles mosquito, the carrier, usually dwell.

Even before the war, my late grandfather was sent by the government here in Occidental Mindoro from far-away Bulacan (he was from Tolosa, Leyte and my lola was a Bulakenya) to be part of the malarial control team composed of doctors, paramedics and health workers. They were stationed at the San Jose Sugar Central but most of the time, they go to remote areas including sugarcane plantations believed to be infested by malaria and breeding place for the dreaded mosquito. According to Papang’s account then, hundreds and thousand of employees and sacadas (sugar cane workers) suffered and died from the disease. No less than ten people die everyday because of malaria and other related diseases including cholera.

The old folks that I met today could still recognize my grandfather for they helped them in treating the disease. I was just a kid then but how I really wished to have written his biography or extensively made a journal on other interesting stories and experiences of his life. I never had a chance. But to tell you, the Novio clan - in this sense - spreaded in Occidental Mindoro because of malaria-carrying mosquitos!

On the other hand my Mamang was a typical Filipina wife. Good at cooking, at times strict but loving and very prayerful. A very religious woman of physical strength.

I just presumed that Papang joined the Six-Year (1953-1958) Philippine-American Program for Malaria Control in the Philippines. Aside from giving anti-malaria drugs as supplementary relief measure, they sprayed practically every houses, from San Jose to Rizal, for at least 3 consecutive years and thereafter another spot-spraying of houses as conditions demand. They use dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane or DDT. DDT is a potent insecticide rediscovered in 1939 by Paul Muller of Switzerland but it was banned in the United States in 1972. The Philippines have completely banned DDT in 1994.

In 1962, biologist Rachel Carson wrote a report called “Silent Spring” citing studies of bad effects of DDT specially on the reproductive processes of birds. This became a breakthrough in alleged DDT hazardous effect. A series of studies then followed and experts even alleged that DDT residue affects humans through the food chain. DDT like any other product of the chemical industry and the so-called corporate science, is owned by big chemical corporations and capitalists world-wide. Today, very strong scientific evidences of various kinds of harm to humans and other living organisms caused by DDT use gained its highest momentum.

Papang taught me this : Malaria, not unlike other communicable disease, can be traced or rooted from various factors. It is a disease closely linked with poverty and underdevelopment. And the mosquito only take the supporting (or is it character?) role. On the other hand, it is poverty who take the lead role. Poverty in the form of inadequate or faulty surveillance and treatment strategies, faulty data gathering and analyses, lack of medical facilities, medicines, among others. Of course not to be counted out are other factors like improving our socio-economic conditions, environmental protection and the likes. Does he sounded like a politician? As I have told you before in this post, my grand old man introduced me to political stories, issues and concerns of his time.

And my grandparents luckily "infected" their children and grandchildren with these beautiful traits and advices : to pray and spray the good seed of service to others …

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(Photo from history.amedd.army.mil)