Total Darkness?

Can you imagine San Jose and rest of Occidental Mindoro is engulfed by total darkness? Your computer is not working including all you electrical appliances. The sound of all types of power generators, portable and stand-bys are so annoying both in public places and offices. Include the pollution that it would emit in the environment. And most of all, the chain of economic and social chaos that this total black out would bring. Brace for Hades folks. This is no doubt hell if there’s no precautionary and long lasting solution to be laid both by people from the power sector, the government and the consumers, hand in hand.

Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (OMECO) general manager Alfred A. Dantis confirmed to this writer yesterday about the possible run out of the National Power Corporations’ (NPC) electricity supply in the first week of August 2011 due to, according to Dantis, fuel supply shortage. The OMECO Board of Directors and the Multi-Sectoral Electrification Advisory Council or MSEAC were already informed of the matter as early as last week. Series of meetings were scheduled in order to formulate contingency plans for the matter. This event would situate our province from light to darkness, so to speak. In their meeting last July 19 and that was last Tuesday, Engr. Sonny N. Privado have disclosed that GM Dantis who was in Manila that day informed the former thru text that the news came from the officials of NPC Mindoro grid themselves.

No doubt that this “total darkness and electricity-less” scenario would disrupt OMECO’s operation. In the employees meeting, participants were told that since the EC (electric cooperative) is no longer delivering and rendering its services, it is already at the verge of cutting its expenses including the salaries and wages of employees. In said meeting, suggested precautionary measures on the part of the employees were laid.

This is not a hoax and it’s real. In July 8, 2011, the NPC’s Small Power Utilities Groups or SPUGs have issued a status of power run out dates in all Luzon SPUG Plants. In the list, there are 3 power plants that will be affected by fuel shortage in Occidental Mindoro : the Mamburao Modular Plant, Pulang Lupa DPP and the Power Barge 106 which was stationed in Bragy. Caminawit. In a cable message addressed to GM Dantis last July 21, 2011 from Pulang Lupa DPP, said in part : “As of to date, both PLDPP and PB 106 fuel stocks (diesel and bunker) will last until August 6, 2011. PD yet still awaiting additional funding for the purchase of the fuel for the months of September and months onwards. We may request (if you would permit) scheduled or voluntary load cut daily in order to conserve fuel…” People from NPC cannot be reached by a local radio station for comments.

All of us citizens of Occidental Mindoro, specifically those owners of industries consuming a large load of electricity to communicate with Malacanan and the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Electrification Administration or NEA citing how the NPC declared fuel rundown would affect the economy of the province, as suggested by OMECO employees in their meeting last Tuesday.

But worry not even a bit for OMECO people are doing all they can to expedite measures to solve this impending problem. But to tell you honestly, this is NOT Omeco’s much less the consumers’ fault. This power shortage hinges on a bankrupt national policy on power and electricity that I think President Benigno C. Aquino III has not explained, if not totally neglected, in his SONA yesterday.

OMECO plans to hold a forum this coming August 1, 2011 here in their main Office in San Jose tentatively at around 1:00 PM. All of the invited participants will be informed of the real score and the measures that they have been discussing since last week on this “total darkness” thing. In Sablayan, there will be a Power Summit and this surely will also be tackled.

Rest assured that I’ll keep you all posted on this. If the office computer that I am borrowing would be repaired and if there’s no brown out or power shortage or anything of sort. Let us light a little candle. And pray….

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(Photo from Bing)

Who Is Sick Really?

Somebody said yesterday that Occidental Mindoro governor Josephine Sato is suffering from cancer and (his own) people believed him. The source is a cancer survivor himself.

While it is a moral requirement upon public officials to disclose information about his or her medical conditions that are likely to seriously undermine his/her ability to fulfill the core functions of the office, said disclosure should be done by his/her doctors, by the patient himself/herself but certainly not his or her political opponent! More so if there are no proofs to support it. In any court of justice, such baseless pronouncement is mere rumor and to be treated as such. At this point sans diagnostic results and other medical records, such news is a blatant insult to citizens’ right to truthful information. And the media men who allowed it go unchecked is equally liable. As we repeat all over again, freedom of expression is always coupled with responsibility. We all are supposed to know that, regardless of our political belief and affiliations.

Being interviewed in a radio program over Bambi FM, a stationed owned by him, San Jose mayor Jose T. Villarosa, also known as JTV, disclosed that somebody informed him that governor Josephine R. Sato is suffering from kidney (or was it liver?) cancer while he held the anonymity of his source(s). Let us assume that the mayor and his source(s) are telling the truth, anchors of said programs should have not treated it as a gospel truth even if he is their boss. It should not have occupied airtime in the first place. That time, one of the two anchors is Father Ronilo M. Omanio, who happened to be the station manager and Sato’s opponent for the gubernatorial post in the past two elections. Sato always win with no less than 15 thousand votes.

Last week in a radio interview, this time over Heart FM, Sato said she had an appendectomy and very much on top shape now. She leaves again for US recently this time reportedly for a family vacation along with her daughter.

I remember in January of 2008, some broadsheets irresponsibly reported that former governor JTV went into hiding while in fact he is recuperating at the intensive care unit of the Makati Medical Center after going under the knife to remove his cancer stricken left portion of his lungs. Those journalist and reporters maliciously imputed that JTV was missing and freed out of prison without court order while the truth is he was brought to the hospital for treatment has the approval of Department of Justice and New Bilibid Prisons officials. House deputy speaker Ma. Amelita C. Villarosa said in a radio interview, “it really amazed me how they can come up with irresponsible journalism.” She likewise lamented further, “They did not even validate their story.” It is indeed very torturous and a great agony to find someone in this helpless and heart-breaking situation being victimized by irresponsible people from the media.

Is this case in point about sudden burst of the governor’s cancer story been validated by the radio station direct from the surgeons who allegedly underwent an appendectomy on the governor? Do they have plans to check the hospital and medical records of Sato? The public deserves to know all of these either from Sato herself or from other reliable sources including her political opponents. This would be accompanied with, of course, solid proofs or evidences. It’s the responsibility of Fr. Omanio to the listening public as a priest (Remember, he’s not yet laicized) and as a media man to dig deeply into the matter and present it again over the radio if possible fair and firm with the rest of his staff.

Be it rumor or otherwise, I wish that governor Sato once and for all would come out and tell us how fit or unfit she is because we have heard a lot of stories now about her sickness. What will happen next? Should we have to wait until she comes home for her disclosure to seal this matter or she’ll just shrug this off over her shoulders? Or another legal case is to about to loom. This situation will surely be capitalized by the rival propagandists at Heart FM to their advantage. And another thing is certain : that news (or was it rumor?) becomes another air pollutant. Anyway, we are already breathing the foul air since the beginning and we are immune to that already. Who is sick really? We all are.

Here in the Occidental Mindoro and elsewhere in the Philippines, not only health and related things like doctors (who take partisan stands), district hospitals (like those in San Jose and Mamburao that reportedly lack needed medicines and other supplies) and diagnostic center (that is projected to be erected in a disputed property) are being politicized but likewise the very sickness of the people themselves.

Massive politicking as such is sickening and deadlier than terminal cancer. Today, at least certain types of cancer can be prevented and cured. Pray this political sickness is not a hopeless case…

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(Photo from Mindoro Post)

Multiply and Spread the Bread

Amidst the recent Catholic Church’s involvement in controversies like the PCSO-COA audit and its billion pesos investments in BPI, Philex and San Miguel, there are people who do not generalize the bishops and priests. No doubt, while there are bishops or dioceses who decided to invest money in various assets including stocks, there are many of them assigned in dioceses that are extremely poor thus incapable to enter into such financial venture simply because they do not have enough funds or they prefer other ways what to do with their money. The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila, for example, owns more than 300 million peso shares of BPI and is the bank’s 4th largest owner. Its share worth as of May 2011 is reportedly valued at more than P17 billion.

Pater Maurin of the Catholic Worker Movement in the US once said, “The world would become better off if people become better. And people would become better if they stopped trying to become better off.”

As I have previously stated, there are contradictions that we must explore, having in mind the fact that each diocese is independent from each other in administrative and pastoral concerns, like this recent investment of some archdiocese. I have read somewhere a quotation which says, “The Catholic church is not so much a museum of saints as is it a hospital of sinners.” And if I may add, “…a classroom of contradictions.”

Out of 86 dioceses all-over the country and 129 bishops and ordinaries of the Philippines, allow me to pick just one example, the legacy left by Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz in Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. Cruz, as we all know is former CBCP president, former Judicial Vicar of the CBCP National Tribunal of Appeals and Director of the CBCP Legal Office.

In 2003, a book entitled “Unholy Nation: Stories from a Gambling Republic” was published and there’s a story in page 137 called “Shades of Gray” written by my most favorite lady journalist, Bernadette Sembrano (who is by the way continue to appear at TV Patrol Weekend in ABS-CBN Channel 2 despite of her Bell’s Palsy). Allow me to share to you part of the interview conducted by Sembrano on then still active Archbishop Cruz.

When asked by the journalist, “How much money does your archdiocese have?” the prelate told her, “We do not have money. Every time we have money, we build. We do not accumulate, we spend money. We do not put money aside [except] just enough for salaries.” He adds: “I always tell our priests that we do not have money in reserve, but the moment we need it, we will produce it. You better believe it and it happens.” After the interview, according to Bernadette Sembrano’s account, Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz handed her a pair of small statue of angels and said, “Just keep your hands clean and the money will come.”

In July 5 to 9, 2004 the National Congress of the Clergy was held at World Trade Center in Metro Manila. Majority of the clergy who attended the Congress perceived that lack of transparency and honesty in the management of Church resources as the most weakening factor in the Institutional Church. According to its document called “History and Grace”, “1409 or 52% of the delegates, close to half of the Congress participants, have admitted that this situation weakens the Church all the more because the problem is from within. The clergy’s inability to manage the Church resources due to simple and plain dishonesty militates against very basic human and Gospel values. It brings to the fore the Gospel’s battle cry against sin and corruption, the moral imperative of honesty and truthfulness in the presence of the Lord and His people, the demand for responsible stewardship in the governance of earth resources… Should this Church be found wanting in this transparent, Gospel-inspired stewardship of resources, because the leaders themselves have failed to practice what it preach, the institutional Church weakens its moral foundation and credible leadership” (p. 213). Since then, a lot of things in different parishes and dioceses were gradually made to remedy this.

Maybe its high time now for the Church to have a second look and do concrete actions on the distribution of wealth equally with other poor dioceses and all of the 2,762 parishes in the land and not only during special occasions or in times of extreme charity needs.

May these controversies challenge us to invoke for financial transparency and the right to be informed on what our pastors (or the Parish Finance Council) have done to our donations and monetary contributions. Instead of buying the line of its detractors’ and falling into the cobwebs and unwittingly join in their wagons.

Multiplying the bread then spread it is in a way means of protecting the Church that we love from all her detractors…

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(Photo : Capemaytech.net)

Mitsubishops (Once And For All)

"They are trying to cover up bigger multi-billion peso anomalies in the PCSO and PAGCOR, and they have conveniently found a scapegoat in the CBCP because, you know, it makes a sensational headline," Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago said at the Senate hearing last Wednesday. On that same occasion, PCSO Chairman Margie Juico cleared that no Mitsubishi Pajeros were given to the 7 bishops. Juico also told senators that the news that all 7 bishops received SUVs could have come from an anonymous PCSO employee who was interviewed by journalists.

So, having heard those words coming from the two distinguished ladies, do the media, those in print and in broadcast including on-line news sites, maliciously sensationalized the 2009 COA report? In a way, I think so. But can we solely blame them? Nope. Because it seems nowadays, nobody wants to hear good and inspiring news anymore. We, the opinionated citizens (and netizens) are no longer interested in what the Church is doing in helping her needy flocks, regardless of their religious affiliation. The secular media do not appreciate anymore what the Church is doing in times of calamities, both man-made and natural, here and abroad. We are all gaga over news laced with scandals and intrigues especially if it concerns men of cloth. We generalize them most of the time.

Last Wednesday at the Senate, Cotobato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo emphasized, "We are from the provinces that have some of the most difficult areas that we, as bishop, have to reach. Most of us are from calamity- or conflict-stricken areas. We serve communities with some of the poorest of the poor. Our vocation is to help them in so far as we can with our resources. When we lack resources, we seek the assistance from others." Generally, the Catholic Church in the Philippines is not wealthy as her critics claim. Far from the pastor-centered protestant churches, say, in the US, that personally owns the temporal goods (read: assets) of their churches, our bishops and priests does not personally own them. Her assets are owned by the particular Christian community for the use of their pastoral and social programs. The late Jaime Cardinal Sin, for example, died poor and did not bequeath to his relatives the assets of the whole Archdiocese of Manila. An editorial of CBCP Monitor, Vol. 15; No. 13, has this to say: “….[I]t is not even correct to lump the Catholic Church as wealthy as if it were a centrally managed organization (like Iglesia ni Kristo is) because each of the 86 ecclesiastical jurisdictions in the country is independent from each other. While a few dioceses in the country maybe well-off financially, the majority is not. The Diocese of Borongan (in Eastern Samar), for instance, has a number of parishes that barely make both ends meet.” Here in our Vicariate, out of our 17 parishes, only 4 are in a way financially capable and the rest are considered "poor". Therefore, it is a wrong perception to say that the Church is wealthy so she does not need financial help anymore from sources outside of the Church. She needs mission partners in her community-based programs like livelihood projects and relief and rehabilitation and other advocacies like anti-mining and pro-environment endeavors, peace efforts and issues concerning the indigenous peoples.

Allow me to cite an example of partnership between of the Church and the LGUs featured in the June 6-19, 2011 edition of CBCP Monitor. To pave the way to combat insurgency by providing livelihood to the needy constituents in Bukidnon, Gov. Alex Calingasan has tapped the help of the clergy of Diocese of Malaybalay to assist in the implementation of a livelihood program. It is part of the peace initiative jointly managed and implemented by the local government and church leaders of said province. In a forum attended by Malaybalay Bishop Jose Araneta-Cabantan and Cagayan De Oro Bishop Antonio Ledesma last June 1, 2011, Calingasan admitted that he is not satisfied with the result of his livelihood projects for, according to him, it did not improve the economic status of the people and still, poverty lurks in the countryside.

Calingasan saw that the church has direct connection with the people, even in the remotest areas through the church’s various apostolates, organizations and Basic Ecclesial Communities or BECs. He said, “People tend to trust the clergy’s sincerity in the implementation of the program rather than us politicians whom they think they could pay back during elections…Tapping the church’s help may give this initiative more meaning to the people and they might value it to sustain their livelihood, unlike in the past where most recipients just squandered the money given to them and remain poor.” As we all know, all of the socio-economic and livelihood projects of the church are delivered with corresponding formations and the funds only comes next. By the way, Gov. Alex Calingasan is not a Catholic, he is a devout Baptist.

Well, on the recent PCSO issue, there are two things the government and the church has to take independently. For the legislative bodies or lawmakers, to do something towards the revisit or review of these 3 constitutional provisions: Section 6; Article III, Section 5; and Article VI, Section 5.

On the other hand, for the bishops, to collectively, as they have proposed on their statement “A Time of Pain, A Time of Grace”, (Which is by the way, to be read in all of the Catholic churches in Occidental Mindoro come Sunday) “...re-examine the manner of our collaboration with government agencies for purposes of helping the poor, making sure that pastoral sensibilities are respected and the highest ethical standards are observed.” And finally make a uniform, implementable and clear-cut policy NOT to accept or solicit anything from gambling.

And please include donations or gifts from a commonly perceived pro-gambling (i.e. pro-STL, pro Lotto) political leader and even politicians who are compulsive gamblers or those believed to be running gambling operations…

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(Photo : VoxBikol)

CBCP : Changing Guards and Gears?

The Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has selected new set of officers and I believe this has a lot to do with its present stand on various social issues and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes (PCSO) scandal that 7 of their peers are facing. In our lenses as citizens, they dipped their fingers in the un-holy waters of patronage politics if not partisan politics.

The CBCP will have a new president in the person of Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma starting December. The 61-year-old and incumbent CBCP Vice President, Palma will succeed Tandag, Surigao del Sur Bishop Nereo Odchimar whose term as CBCP president ends on Nov. 30. The CBCP elected a new set of officers during its 103rd plenary session that started last Saturday, July 9, 2011. The president and the vice-president are elected for two-year terms and can serve for a minimum of two terms. Usually, they are reelected for their second and last term but for some reason, Odchimar declined a second term being the president of the conference. The Misubishops were undoubtedly noticed for figuratively beating the speed limit.

In December 12, 1967, the Holy See approved CBCP’s Constitution and prior to this the group was called Catholic Welfare Organization (CWO). CBCP meets twice a year, in January and July. Its leadership is composed of a president, vice-president, a secretary general and a governing body called Administrative Council which speaks for CBCP in between meetings. There are also various Episcopal Commissions which carry out activities of the Conference.

CBCP members and even their previous presidents represent several differences on looking at things. For example in 2005, Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo became president and openly expressed judgments on the supposed faults of then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Lagdameo openly declared the GMA was corrupt and became one of her staunch critics in her last 4 years in Malacanan. On the other hand, his predecessor, Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla issued a document asking GMA to stay in the wake of the Garci scandal. Capalla was perceived by many political onlookers as GMA’s ally while Lagdameo as anti-GMA. Political animals as they are, the bishops as individuals have different preferences when it comes to political personalities.

This is how they work on certain socio-political issues. Be reminded, and many of us are not aware of this for we often generalize CBCP members on specific concerns, especially those who are in the secular media. Let us remember that the matters agreed upon during CBCP meetings have NO binding force unless they are passed by the 2/3 of the body; then they have the force of law. However, by Church law (the Canon Law), a bishop has supreme authority in its own diocese. No other authority, except that from Rome, may interfere with the affairs of the diocese. It is in a manner of saying that CBCP’s collective decisions are enforced more through “gentleman’s agreement” than anything else. Even then, a bishop may interpret a policy statement far differently or not in consonance that another colleague. While there is a mental acceptance of the principle of collegiality among the bishops, there is still a wide gap between that and actual practice. For example, on CBCP’s open declaration of “war” against RH Bill, Mining, Divorce, etc., in many dioceses and religious organizations, concrete and visible mass actions are yet to be launched.

That is why it is very valid to ask how effective and significant these responses (read: pastoral letters, statements, etc) were and they should be argued every now and then. But one thing is certain, the bishops integrate evangelization with an engagement in temporal problems but there are still a lot of things to be done specially in their common and shared response. As a have presented to you a while ago the differences between the two separate statements of Capalla and Lagdameo on GMA, one of the basic flaws of majority of CBCP documents- because of the mentioned differences among the bishops- they reflect pluralism within the Catholic Church in the Philippines. The division and the differences of liberal, radical, conservative and moderate bishops have resulted in compromise statements but of course there are exemptions specially those with regards to morals and dogma.

The CBCP as a flock of shepherds who leads our pastoral actions and faith is yet to overcome many things. Both as individual persons and as office-holders and we the laity have to be responsible not only in fostering our support, trust and hope in them but to challenge and criticize their actions if deemed inappropriate. These are also important dimensions of being a community, a dynamic and a pilgrim Church.

In short, Church leaders, priests and especially bishops, who are without doubt seemed to be involved in partisan political struggle and those who aligned themselves with the wealthy and the influential and fail concretely to show concern should be reminded by every faithful like us and even their peers.

And we too show our love for our Church this way. Jesus examples made me think of this when He confronted the Pharisees during His time…

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(Photo: Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Mitsubishops

There are glaring contradictions among the Catholic Church leaders’ position on receiving donations (or was it bribe?) both from legal and illegal gambling. This is the grayest area which divide the Church today especially after the news came out saying 7 Filipino Catholic bishops received monetary aid and luxury vehicles from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) during the Arroyo administration. Retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz called on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to take action and investigate reports that some bishops received money and even Mitsubishi Pajeros from the government, which were allegedly coursed through Malacanan’s Office of Religious Affairs.

No less than the late Jaime Cardinal Sin himself in defense of PCSO assistance given to him for his projects for the poor reportedly stated that he would even accept money from the devil in order to help the poor. Recently, Cotabato Archbishop Orlando V. Quevedo, answers all the allegations and presented his side in his blog site called “Perspectives”. He asked in brief, “What are your real motives in selectively targeting some bishops to whom PCSO gave grants for the sake of the poor?” But another question is, why luxury vehicles? It is more appropriate, say for example, in the delivery of service and administering its projects and programs on education, livelihood and health – that are mostly found in far flung communities –what they need most are vans and pick-up trucks, and not Misubishi Pajeros. But what worries me is the luxury vehicle isn't really utilized for the poor but to augment the whims of some bishops and priests, instead for social action, promotion of health, poverty alleviation and human development. In accepting those SUVs, what will happen to our thrust of being the “Church of the poor”?

For almost a decade now, the CBCP Plenary Assembly made a collegial decision not to solicit or accept donations, cash or in kind, from gambling but it was not followed universally. Likewise, it also issued a pastoral statement in January 2005 through Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla, then CBCP president, announcing that it would be the policy among bishops “to refrain from soliciting or receiving funds from illegal and legal gambling so as not to promote a culture of gambling.”

Legally speaking, any bishop (or any religious leader for that matter) who uses a motor vehicle or cash obtained from PCSO for non-charitable purposes is criminally liable under the PCSO Charter. But are they properly monitored if being used for such purpose?

Archbishop Emeritus Oscar V. Cruz apparently followed that decision to the letter. This is manifested when he issued a pastoral statement on the issue when he was still active some years back. I wrote about this matter about a year ago in a blog entry called “Clean Little Hands” when this issue first landed in the news. Cruz even noted that the matter should be tackled by CBCP and even elevated to the Congregations of Bishops in the Vatican since it affects the credibility of the Church.

In this particular issue, I adhere to the proposal of House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman for in-depth investigation on the Pajeros and cash gifts given by PCSO to several Catholic bishops during GMA’s watch.

But come to think of this reality, even a call from CBCP to intensify her stand and stage concrete pastoral actions against RH Bill is treated lightly if not ignored by some dioceses. As I have told you before, many of our bishops (and priests) are lousy social advocates but exemplary resource generators…

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(Photo :phnnetwork)

Sara Duterte & Tiffany Startz: Women Punchers

“Son-of-a-gun, this woman knows basic punching,” that’s what I exclaimed when I saw Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte throwing at least four punches that landed in the face of Regional Trial Court (RTC) sheriff Abe Andres last Friday. Sara like her father Rodrigo Duterte, her Vice-Mayor, is also a lawyer. Sara told members of the media after the punching incident that the court sheriff ignored her plea to hold for two hours and wait for her before implementing a court order to demolish houses inside a property owned by a local businessman. Can any Occidental Mindoro women politicians protect my interest, or my property, this far? I doubt it. All of the women politicians in my place do not know how to box. How about the men? I doubt it either.

This is in no way justifying the Laila Ali-like straights and hook she unleashed but its wonderful - for us poor, ordinary citizen- to see our mayor or governor, to stand and fight for our interest, in flesh and in spirit, against moneyed and influential people. Government official who would risk his or her career for our home and shelter. Public servants who avoid making business interest with the wealthy and use his or her position in government.

Very few local officials will risk their political and career, life and limb to deliver a message that authority and leadership is a matter of political will and if it get the ire of the Department of the Interior andLocal Government (DILG), the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) or the National Prosecutors League of the Philippines, so be it. Let shy away from Mayor Duterte for a while and talk about punching in general.

To women out there, keep in mind that even men does not know how to thrown punches right. Freelance writer Jillita Horton reminded us, especially women, “First of all, stop thinking you can't throw a punch because you're a woman. Yes, there are structural differences between a man and woman's body, but trust me on this: Many MEN can't throw a punch, either. I've seen men in cardio kickboxing classes "punch like a girl." And these were average-size men. And I've seen 5'3" women wail on the punching bag. So put your mind to it and tell yourself, "I can hit like a man!" Then do it” Then of course if should be accompanied by training, I mean physical training on how to punch and allow an expert to assist you on this with the aid of a punching bag.

But do you believe that a single punch of an average woman can kill? A 22-year old girl named Tiffany Startz reportedly killed an aspiring rap singer John “Fatboy” Powell, with a single punch to the face after he agreed to be hit in the face by Startz in return for $5 bet. An autopsy ruled that he had died from a brain hemorrhage caused by blunt force trauma. Startz, who is 5'5" and weighs 142lbs, was charged with reckless conduct and battery charges stemming from the incident last September 2010 in Joliet, Illinois, USA. A lawyer for Startz had asked Will County Judge Edward Burmila to dismiss the charges as Powell had agreed to be punched in return for $5.

Let us go back to Duterte’s case. Andres, on the other hand said that he is consulting his bosses for a possible legal action against the lady mayor. He maintained that he was just obeying orders to carry on the demolition order. Duterte may be charged with slight to serious misconduct, the penalties for which range from reprimand to dismissal from office. Some local lawyers said that she could face disbarment for violating Article 148 of the revised penal code, which prohibits qualified direct assaults on persons in authority and their agents “while engaged in the performance of official duties.” But Duterte told reporters that she does not care. She reportedly said she’s not afraid of losing her job or getting disbarred for protecting the poor.

Unlike the lawyer-politician that I know that’s so sweet to be punched in the nose for protecting business interests of people from other provinces than our own fishers and marine life 6 years ago…

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(Photo : Durian Post)

Eggplants, Peanuts and Same-Sex Marriage

A cyberspace friend named Nelia Angeles pos(t)ed a timely topic at Facebook : “What is your opinion on same-sex marriage?”. I am one of the early birds who posted a comment and I said that this presently hot issue in the Philippines boils down to our individual and collective concept of what a family and a marriage are.

Last night, TV Patrol, an ABS-CBN Channel 2 news program featured a story from its bureau in the US about the legalization of gay marriage in New York City thus becoming the sixth state in said country to do so. Here at home last Sunday, eight pairs of lesbian and gays tied knots in Baguio City. The ceremony was held by a Metropolitan Community Church, which is obviously one of the Protestant churches in the country, insisted that the wedding was legal. Also on that same day but in another forum, the Baguio Pride Network, lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender (LGBT) group, celebrated its anniversary by holding a protest action and demanding equal rights. The group of militant LGBT also called on the government to stop the killings of their members in the whole country. The group likewise claimed that 104 LGBTs have been killed from January to June only of this year. (I just do not know if the two cases of the recent killings of gay people here in San Jose are included in their list) Sadly (?), also last June 27 when those lesbians and gays exchanged “I do’s” in the Summer Capital of the Philippines, my wife and I celebrated our 19th Wedding Anniversary!

Nonetheless, Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño came to support the Baguio Pride Network and said that his priority right now is to push for the passage of his anti-discrimination bill instead of passing a resolution making same-sex marriage in the country legal. I completely agree with Rep. Casiño’s prioritization of his current bills. To emphasize, I am for the basic rights of our LGBT brothers and sisters but against any move for the legalization of same-sex marriage. Call me a hypocrite if you wish but for me, assering for it is "over" already. By the way, under our present legal system, we cannot marry same-sex couples without revising our New Family Code. Told you, this issue goes down to cultural, social, legal and political realities and orders concerning marriage and family in our present context and what our faith and the law say about the essential public purpose of marriage. Our laws and our faith are one in saying that marriage is a natural institution where a man and a woman give themselves to each other exclusively for life in a sexual relationship that is open to procreation. It is publicly recognized, honored and supported because of its unique capacity to generate new human life and to meet children’s deepest needs for the love and attachment of both their father and their mother.

Addressing the Minnesota House of Representatives in May 2010, Dr Jennifer Roback Morse said, “Same sex marriage redefines marriage. Redefining marriage redefines parenthood. Redefining marriage affects the balance of power between the state and civil society”. Saying "yes" to same-sex marriage means major revision of the Family Code would end to redefinition of marriage from the “union of a man and a woman” to “the union of any two persons”. It consequently turns into garbage the “golden” law of marriage changes the law for every for everyone. Redefining marriage is a radical, if not moronic, social experiment or adventurism. Redefinition of marriage is no doubt a subtle attack on the family.

I do not mind at all if same-sex individuals live together as a couple. All of us, gay or straight, have no business in minding what other people, including LGBTs, do as long as they are done in private. Any loving couple can rightly claim that every sexual acts that they do - like anal sex, oral sex, heterosexual intercourse, or even if they practice BDSM or any sexual position they prefer - is also an expression of love whether they are straight or not. The Church has no reason to force them to stop such “expression of love” but just to give precautions and reminders that we can all disobey if prefer to do so. And at the same time our religious leaders will not discriminate the LGBTs in any way in public especially when they are doing their religious functions or receiving the sacraments. Again, our priests and pastors will not intervene in any way in our private affairs on such “caring” practices or sexual relationships with our partners. But when it comes to marriage, it’s different. It is because of marriage’s permanence, its natural orientation to life, and the way it brings together and expresses the fullness of humanity in male and female.

Changing the definition of family and to jettison the elements of male and female will profoundly change us as a nation constantly giving high importance to our rich culture. There is unique, divine and beautiful about these gifts (being a woman and a man) we receive from God. We are all created with a purpose as a man and woman, despite our physical, emotional and spiritual brokenness. Allowing same-sex marriages would involve a radical change in our definition of marriage itself, from life-giving and sexually complementary union to a personal, romantic relationship where there is no genuine communion or connection to procreation.

Just few days from now I am sure, media will be prioritizing news on same-sex marriage and the issue will again dominate the halls of our legislative branches. That’s for sure after that news we all watched last night somehow emphasizing that we are lagged behind as a nation because we do not have such a law.

But I believe no social institution- whether party-list groups and the rest of the legislators, the faith community, or any instrumentalities in our society- have no power to change what marriage and family are. Even if they alter the definition, it cannot change the reality.

A same-sex union cannot be a marriage. Planting a combination of certain variety of eggplants and peanuts cannot produce a flower garden….

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(Photo : mccbaguio)

China Connection

One of the most prominent Chinese residents in San Jose during the pre-WWII era was Co Yan Sio and he was married to my mother’s aunt, Juana Monsobre of Mamburao. Historically, hundred of years before that war, due to its favorable geographical location, Mindoro was an important trading center of Chinese goods during pre-Spanish time. For local products such as beeswax, pearl and sandalwood, Chinese goods such as porcelain, silk or tea were bartered. No doubt, Chinese influence haunts every one of us as a people or as an individual.

Then lately, the territorial conflict between Manila and Beijing over the Spratlys' once again gained the limelight. Pundits even claimed that this is the first acid test on the Aquino administration’s foreign policy. This coming June 28, the Philippines and the United States will conduct a joint military exercise called CARAT or Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training which was programmed since last year. Officials said the exercises were in accordance with the 1951 Philippines-US Mutual Defense Treaty (MTD) and aimed at testing the capabilities of the two navies to undertake "freedom of navigation operations". God forbid, but the real trouble comes when Philippines is caught in a crossfire between China and America. It’s one big of a hell… for us!

Just this morning, Anakpawis party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano called for the immediate abrogation of the MDT between Manila and Washington. "The United States government is not interested in the conflict between the Philippines and People's Republic of China because it doesn’t serve the interest of the US and its people," Mariano said while reportedly lambasting the so-called US intervention.

But I am just wondering why the Filipino militant organizations and party-list groups, ASIDE from discouraging US intervention did NOT protest against alleged Chinese intrusion in that part of the sea claimed in whole or in part by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam? A protest just like the one staged by hundred of demonstrators, mostly group of young people, in front of the Chinese embassy in Hanoi last week. This was participated by young militants wearing Vietnamese flags t-shirts and carrying signs that read, "Stop Chinese invasion of Vietnam's islands." Maybe, just maybe, Rep. Mariano do not believed in Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin’s accusation that China is undermining peace and stability in Asia by allegedly sending naval vessels to intimidate rival claimants in the disputed islands. Or their (Philippine militant’s) meaning and definition of patriotism and nationalism is truly that selective?

For me, this should be rooted down to a peaceful action or a principled negotiation towards a solution acceptable to all claimants and the rest of the countries in the world, taking off from the declaration called "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in South China Sea", a pact signed in 2002 by China and the members of the ASEAN or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. All of the claimants other than China should report this supposedly bullying to the United Nations (UN). The Philippines should not let the United States fight for us for, as they say, there’s no such thing as a free meal. Besides, it would entail bigger trouble. Believe me.

As a people, we must not be too emotional, irresponsible and careless about these latest events. On the other hand, our government must stand firm to our ground (or is it “waters”?) and be diplomatic but firm. Let us show them how brave we are. They might hurt us but certainly we will not give up.

Me? I will be relaxing in the beach this weekend and I will enjoy the sight of the sea closest to my heart: the South China Sea now called West Philippine Sea….

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(Image : Reuters)

Che at Rizal

Una ay ang pag-amin na ang isang picture profile dito sa Facebook (na kilala ninyo tiyak kung sino) ang nagtulak sa aking isulat ito. Kabilang ang kuwento ng isang kaibigan na halos mamatay daw siya sa katatawa nang makita niya ang isang kakilala niyang CAFGU na naka-suot ng t-shirt na may mukha ni Che Guevara sa harapan. Alam kaya ng mamang may baril na ito kung kaninong mukha ang tila ibina-bandila niya? Hindi ba niya alam na martir at idolo si Che ng mga Sosyalista (Komunista) kagaya ng CPP-NPA-NDF? O baka naman hindi lang ang ating lonely para-military. Baka pati ang mga kabataang nagsusuot ng anumang kagamitan,- bag, sando, pitaka, sombrero, at iba pa, na may mukha ni Che ay hindi siya kilala. Isa lang ang tiyak ko, ang Che na ating nakikita ngayon sa mga kagamitang iyon ay HINDI ang Che sa tunay na buhay.

Mula kay Ernesto “Che” Guevara, sa susunod na Linggo nga pala, Hunyo 19, ay magarbong ipagdiriwang ng bansa ang ika-150 kaarawan ni Gat Jose Rizal kaya hayaan ninyong iugnay ko kay Che ang ating pambansang bayani sa sulating ito. Ito ang ikalawang bagay na nagtulak sa akin.

Wala rin itong ipinagkaiba sa mga kumakalat na larawan ni Jose Rizal sa internet, mga babasahin at maging sa mga kagamitan ating binibili at isinusuot. Akala marahil natin, sa pagsusuot lamang nang mga ito ay maaari na rin nating maipakita na tayo ay kanyang mga taga-sunod, na naniniwala tayo sa kanya, na tayo ay makabayan na. Kahit suotan natin siya ng Ray-Ban at pagdamitin ng parang hip-hop upang maka-angkop at mapag-balingan ng atensyon ng ating mga kabataan at ng modernong panahon. Hindi ganap o tunay na Rizal ang ating makikita at masasalamin.

Ano ba ang parehong meron si Che at si Rizal? Sa palagay ko, kung nabubuhay lamang sila ay hindi rin nila magugustuhan ang mga pagtatampok nang labis at nahahaluan na nang labis na exposure na sagad sa komersyalismo at overly showbiz ang kanilang pagkatao. Ang pagdakila at pagkilala sa dalawa ay hindi lamang sa pagsali sa mga concert at rakrakang ibinabandila ang kanilang larawan, talambuhay, pangarap at adhikain. Ang higit na mahalagang diwa nito ay ang batid nating sina Rizal at Che ay PINATAY ng mga kaaway ng kalayaan, katarungan, kapayapaan at pag-ibig sa bayan at paniniwala. Dumaan sila sa lupit ng mga kampon ng kasakiman, pagmamalabis at panunupil. Kapwa sila kaaway ng pamahalaan, ng gobyerno.

Ang tunay o “essensiyal” na Rizal at Che na dapat na ibahagi sa atin ng mga kinauukulan at ng kasaysayan ay ito : gumawa ka nang isang bagay para sa iyong bansa at sa ‘sangkatauhan na maglalagay sa iyong buhay sa alanganin at pagbuwisan nito kung kinakailangan.

Ang mga tunay na kabayanihan ay pagsuong sa panganib para sa makatao o/at maka-Diyos na layunin. Hindi tayo maaring maging bayani kung ang gusto lang nating gawin ay yaong mga bagay na hindi natin itinataya ang ating buhay. Hindi lahat tayo ay maaring maging bayani sapagkat kakaunti at pili lamang ang maaaring dumating sa ganitong katayuan. Sabi nga ng iba, aksidente rin daw madalas ang pagiging bayani kagaya sa pelikulang “Hero” ni Dustin Hoffman. Huwag rin tayong magkakamali na ang “pagiging bayani” at “pagiging mabuting mamamayan” ay iisa. Halimbawa, ang pag sunod sa batas trapiko, para sa akin, ay pagiging mabuting mamamayan at hindi kabayanihan. Maging ang pagtatapon ng basura sa tamang lugar. Walang extra ordinary doon para sa isang law-abiding citizen. Bagama't aaminin ko na mahalagang sangkap ang huli sa pagsasakatuparan ng una.

Pero ano ang nangyari sa ala-ala ni Che? Si Che na simbolo sa marami ng kalayaan at rebolusyon ay ginawang instant pop icon of fashion and marketing na, maaring mali ako, labag sa kanyang paniniwala at personal conviction. Bunga nito, tunay na naka-pasok na ang kapitalismo maging sa kaliit-liitang himaymay ng tunay na imahe ni Che Guevara. At kay Rizal ay wala na tayong dapat ipagtaka. Si Che ay isang rebolusyunaryo samantalang repormista naman si Rizal na bukas sa ideya ng kapitalismo. Hindi ba't inayawan ni Rizal ang alok na pamunuan niya ang rebolusyon?

Siyanga pala, bagama’t hindi pareho ng pamamaraan at idolohiya, sina Che at Rizal ay parehong duktor ng medisina. Na kapwa manggagamot at seruhano rin pala ng sakit ng lipunan….

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(Photos : GoogleImages)

Yeswitzki!

Do not believe if somebody would tell you that the first Filipino-American in the NBA is Miami Heat head coach Erik C. Spoelstra. But forgive them for they do not know their basketball too well. No doubt, Spoelstra is the first NBA coach with Filipino American roots. He is proud of his Filipino roots. His mother is Elisa Celino from San Pablo, Laguna. He occasionally visits his mother’s hometown and visit Manila to conduct clinics and other activities to basketball fans, especially children. Coach Spo undeniably made history as first Fil-Am coach to reach NBA Finals. But is he the first Fil-Am in the NBA? It’s “No” according to this site.

The first half-Pinoy in the US pay-for-play league is Raymond Anthony Townsend, a A 6’3″, 175-lb point guard from UCLA who was the last pick in the first round (22nd overall) of the 1978 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors. He concluded his NBA career in 1982 as a member of the Indiana Pacers. He also played in Italy for Banco Roma during the 1984-85 Season.

Raymond is the son of Ray Sr., (an American), and the former Virginia Marella, who happens to be a Filipina from Balayan, Batangas. This makes him a half-Filipino and the first in the NBA. Townsend (born December 20, 1955 in San Jose, California) is now a retired professional basketball player. At present, Townsend is the youth sports development coordinator in San Jose, California and was honored as UCLA Pilipino Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumnus of the Year on May 2, 2009.

Raymond Townsend reportedly explained, “I am a proud Filipino but in those days when I played, your culture or heritage were never an important issue because the game was dominated by the black athlete. Now with the influx of international players, the NBA is now commercializing the sport internationally with their marketing and taking their business into the world.” He further stressed that, “Little did the NBA know how much Basketball is the unifying factor for many of our people”. Aside from Townsend, Oklahoma City Thunder's ace guard Nate Robinson is also reportedly has 1/8th Filipino blood (Honestly, I do not know what that fraction means neither I am familiar with hematology!).

Townsend visited Batangas in the early 80s as a guest player in an exhibition game which was played by Freddie Hubalde, Terry Saldana, and other local players. He tried to apply in the PBA as import for two particular teams in the 90s but to no avail. Team officials said that Townsend was already “too old” for their teams.

Hey, the NBA Finals 2011 will begin tomorrow, June 1, Wednesday (Tuesday in the US) and just like 5 years ago, Miami and Dallas are the two teams that will be competing for the Championship. The rosters changed and no longer the same. Pat Riley handed the job to Erik Spoelstra and Avery Johnson to Rick Carlisle. Vengeance is ours, said the cowboys from Texas.

Call me an unpatriotic monster if you wish but I will not root for the Miami Heat in the Finals only because of Erik Spoelstra having a Filipino blood. Like Dirk, I am loyal to our team, the Dallas Mavericks. There are two questions heading for the series including my loyalist's reply:

Can the Mavs bounce back on Heat this time?
Yeswitzki!

Can Dirk be stopped?
Nowitzki!

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(Photo from Getty Images)

The Mutineer’s Wife

Despite of the bad weather, their plane landed safely at the runway of the San Jose Airport and that was early morning of Saturday. A little something for those who are not aware of this tiny trivia, our airport, also known as Thomas Mc. Guirre Airdrome got its name in memory of the US ace fighter pilot who crashed in Negros during the height of World War-II.

The couple came to Occidental Mindoro upon invitation of my elder (?) brothers and sisters in Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals or BCBP- San Jose Chapter. As I have told you before, I am an associate member of this community. They were invited as couple-sharer for our Grand Breakfast last May 28.

“Familiarity breeds contempt”, says an old idiom. With all honesty, aside from seeing our male guest in person, I am more interested in finding what his wife is made of. How she was able to stay behind her man during his time of trouble and chaos. Being once involved in the local media, I am already familiar with the life and struggles of Col. Ariel Querubin. How he took part in the 7-hour Fort Bonifacio Standoff, his protest against the irregularities in the 2004 presidential elections which was, according to him was “marred with fraud”. I read from all over about his achievements as a soldier. He graduated from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in 1979, completed the Australian command and staff course, and received his master's degree in defense studies from the University of Canberra. He ran but lost in his senatorial bid last election.

Querubin, co-founder of the Young Officer’s Union or YOU, is the most bemedalled officer in Philippine history, earning practically every award that the Armed Forces could give, except the Wounded Personnel Medal, which he could have received in 1989 had he been on the government side during the December coup attempt against the Aquino administration. YOU is affiliated with the earlier established Reform the Armed Forces Movement or RAM. He was given Medal of Valor, AFP’s highest award given to a soldier for heroism, gallantry in action and sacrifice. Yap, Col. Querubin’s life is already an open book especially among those people who are into politics specifically those who advocate for good governance. Just like yours truly. What about his wife? I do not know her. While most of our members are very eager to see him in person and hear the good officer’s life testimony, I am more curious about his wife. I asked my self while I was inside the (that day) crowded Conference Hall of the Sikatuna Beach Hotel and Restaurant that day: “What is this woman made of?” And that isn’t a contemptuous question as far as I know.

Formerly known as Ma. Flor Palacio Azcarraga is the better half of Col. Ariel Querubin but she was introduced to us by Dr. Pabs Lazaro simply by her nickname: “Sister Pong”. She related to us the trials she had as a mother of their seven children and the agony of raising them when her husband was incarcerated. She added that, “I felt the agony, it’s every inch, of the soldier’s wives depicted in the movie ‘We Were Soldiers’ where Mel Gibson as lead actor.” She is referring to the motion picture in 2002 directed by Randall Wallace about the battle of la Drang in Vietnam in 1965.

“Mommy, why is Daddy in jail? Is he bad? If he isn’t bad, why he is in jail?” Whenever these questions are asked, she tried to explain to the younger kids that their father is a good man, a man of integrity and honor. Pong joined rallies and mass actions. She stood by his husband’s principles and legal quests through peaceful means. The challenge in James 5:13 became his refuge, “Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.” Mrs. Querubin admitted that during those times, their BCBP brothers and sisters are always there to bring comfort, spiritually, physically and financially. “When is Daddy coming home?” this question now is no longer being asked by the young kids. Their Daddy is a freeman now after 4 years in prison. At present, he is San Miguel Corporation’s consultant.

Pong Querubin is one of the, in Blessed John Paul II’s words, “brave mothers who devote themselves to their own family without reserve, who suffer in giving birth to their children and who are ready to make effort, face any sacrifice, in order to pass on to them the best of themselves.” (Homily for Beatification, 1994) To emphasize (Though I am in no way comparing Col. Querubin to Christ, my aim here is to highlight women’s bravery in biblical times), Sister Pong, like the women disciples, bravely came out to the open. They followed Him up to Jerusalem and stood by Him in His hour of suffering. Unlike their men counterparts who ran and hide!

We Christians not to hide our face from evil, not walk or toy around it, or pretend that it is not there or it doesn’t exist. Face it and fight even if it’s almost impossible, in spite of our feelings of powerlessness or insignificance (Col. Querubin did not receive his stars, remember?) and to become involved in transforming it. If our couple-sharers did not suffer, they surely cannot have the privilege of finding God’s compassion and grace.

Well, to summarize, this is what I’ve learned from the Querubins : Each member of a Catholic charismatic community like BCBP, is faith-bound to be a “mutineer” (or wife of a “mutineer”for that matter!) against sinful structures of society, and vice-versa…

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(Photo : Grabbed without permission from Ms. Ellen M. Calugay’s Facebook album at BCBP San Jose Group)

Thy Temple, Thy Will

I was out for a couple of days for I was asked by Sr. Paz Duerme, MCJ, coordinator of the Catechetical Coordinating Office or CCO of our vicariate, to be one of the speakers for the Annual On-going Formation for Catechists held May 21 to 23, 2011 at San Isidro Labrador Formation Center here in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. Around 70 participants – fulltime and volunteer catechists - coming from all over Occidental Mindoro attended the gathering dubbed “Pantaunang Pagtitipon ng mga Katekista" or “PantapaK”. Among the participants were graduates of Sienna College who took up Bachelor in Secondary Education (BSE), major in Religious Education. “Pantapak” in English, as we all know, is “sandals”. The sandal,- by the way in Jesus’ time, was simply a sole, made of wood or palm-bark, fastened to the foot by leathern straps. In the Old Testament, sandals were proverbially a man's cheapest possession (Amos 2:6; 8:6), and therefore "a man without sandals" was the poorest of the poor. With this periodic formation, our catechists do not go down to their communities and classrooms "evangelically barefooted" each school year, hopefully.

But when I was little, my father’s sandals on my behind at night were reminders of his orders I have forgotten to obey. But hey, before I forget, the topic I and the catechists dwelled was about the Catholic Social Teaching or CST.

The social doctrine of the Church proposes a set of principles for reflection, criteria for judgment and direction for action. And in this particular juncture, the topic is addressed to the untiring and dedicated (mostly) women in the base communities of our local Church, the catechists. It is important that the faithful engaged in evangelization effort should have a firm grasp of this precious body of teaching and make this integral part of their pastoral work, specifically in catechesis.

Here’s the theme of the formation activity: “Buhay…Biyaya… Alagaan, Ingatan at Mahalin”. Taking a clue from its theme, all of the topics are anchored on the most controversial issue that divides our nation today, the Reproductive Health Bill.

In discussing the CST, I focused mainly on the Catholic hierarchies’ understanding of human freedom. And this is more or less a run-down on that particular canto of my sharing:

The Catholic Church teaches that freedom, including freedom of choice, is not a license to do whatever we like. It is not a license, indeed, to do evil. And freedom of choice, even over one’s own body, is not merely a right that one claims for oneself neither merely a drive inspired by an ideology or sentiment but ALSO a duty that one undertakes with regards to the wisdom and will of God and serving our neighbors. So, that “pro-choice” slogan that firmly states “My Body, My Choice” may sound sensible if one uses his/her legal and ideological spectacles and biases but there’s another theme/slogan that is worth discerning employing our biblical lenses: “Thy Temple, Thy Will”. Although both may be correct to some degree, while taking the risk of being accused as using biblical passages to strengthen my position, Jesus said in 1 Cor. 6:19-20, “You are not your own. You were bought with a price. So glorify God in you bodies.” Believing to any of the two themes or slogans I have cited above depends on how we understand the radical ontological difference between good and evil as thought to us by the culture of whatever country that we are in, the faith that we believe in, the ideology that we embrace, and other external factors that surround us. And let us not count out our biases against certain religious groups’ dogma, tenets and doctrines, including its office holders and pastors, whether we are a member of that congregation or an outsider, or even if we already loose faith in any religion.

When we view our freedom not coming from God and for God, when it is not lived in service and charity for others, then we make choices that cater our own will and not anymore of God’s, we abuse our freedom and pursue what we want, we disobey Him.

Pope Benedict XVI states that the root cause of abuse of freedom is the “dictatorship of relativism”. In such self-styled post-modern philosophy, the ultimate goal is solely one’s own ego and desires as the measure of all things and not God. This made it contrary to CST. He’s the very same Pope who urged Filipino faithful not to give up fight against RH Bill.

Before we closed the session, we prayed together that may the freedom that we receive as gift live in the hearts and minds of every Catholic in whatever field of endeavors they are in. Wherever soil they are planted and expected to bear fruits. For in our different capability and capacity, just like Mary, the apostles and the Christian martyrs of yore and in our midst and the early Christian community, it is Thy temple that we are building and it is Thy will that we must follow.

Not ours and the worldly gods, certainly…

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(Photo: cccooperagency.com)

Pacquiao’s Abstinence

Chances are, as I am dipping my fingers into the computer keyboard at this very moment, Sarangani Rep.Manny Pacquiao is having his audience with the Catholic bishops. Members of the CBCP Permanent Council are expected to meet the boxer-turned-legislator today. CBCP Secretary General Msgr. Juanito Figura said that the church is not using Pacquiao in its campaign against the Reproductive Health (RH) bill and added further that the gathering is the champ’s “personal initiative" to meet with the bishops.

Just recently, Pacquiao said in an interview: “As a couple, we practice abstinence. Discipline. It’s just like boxing, you must exercise self-discipline.” But I would like to sway away from discussing the RH Bill for every discussion about it ends with immaturity, if not sacrilege, subjectivity and arrogance from both sides. We will be answering a more exciting question related to sex and boxers: “Is sexual abstinence before a boxing bout (or any physical competition) has a proven physiological effect?” The Ancient Greeks believed so.

Plato, yap that famous Greek philosopher, was first to tackle the issue when he wrote about an Olympic champion, Ikkos of Tarentum, joined the 84th Olympiad in 444 B.C. Based on Plato’s narrative, Ikkos’ training regimen includes eating large quantities of wild boar, cheese and goat meat, but restrained from sexual activity, fearing it could diminish his strength. So it goes to conclude that the notion that a bed “fight” the night before + a ring fight the next day = poor performance in the boxing arena, is older than the Olympics itself!

The male hormone called testosterone is responsible both for sexual desire and aggression are reduced when man had an ejaculation, according to experts of yore. Ergo, trainers, coaches and supporters of this belief are firm in saying that every time a man ejaculates, he looses his energy and strength.

Boxing greats Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali followed abstinence months before each fight. The former became the only heavyweight who retired undefeated while the latter is considered one of the best fighters of all time; his record stands at an impressive 56 wins in 61 fights, with 37 knockouts.

Our very own Manny Pacquiao publicly admitted time and again that he separates himself from Jinkee whenever he’s inside the training camp. Unless of course during her brief (no pun intended!) visit.

But modern-day scientists belied what they call myth about sex and training. According to them, there is no critical evidence to suggest that sex has repercussion on any athletic ability. Want to know my opinion on this? Sorry I am no (s)expert. All I know is this: Sex can easily help someone go to sleep, and wake up early the following morning, actively doing household chores and whistling his or her favourite song!

For example, a study in Geneva in 2000 (published in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness) reported sex had "no detrimental influence on the maximal workload achieved or on the athletes' mental concentration." Here’s another : A study at Rutgers University in NJ credited sexual activity before an event as beneficial for combating muscle pain and other sports injuries.

But while it has “no approved physiological claim”, for a boxer who practices abstinence, has the mental edge, the psychological advantage. For those great fighters in training, it’s the spirit more than science, mind more than body.

You may call Manny Pacquiao a "religious freak" or fanatic, "superstitious nut" or “Uto-uto sa mga Damaso” because of his recent stand and I don’t care. All I know is as a boxer (not as a politician, mind you!), this combination of his became his effective formula for success: discipline con hard work.

Well, generally people are going to believe what they want to believe, based in good part on what they are taught. Just like their stand on the issues of sex while on training and the RH Bill...

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(Photo: cosmo.image)

Brutal Than Boxing, Part 2

My eldest, straight from Saint Joseph College Seminary (SJCS) for a long vacation landed at the Wesmin Hospital here in San Jose last May 5 due to pneumonia. Together with Dr. Rosendo Nueve, MD and the rest of the nurses and staffs, he watched the Pacquiao-Mosley fight live on television right at personnel quarters of said nursing home. With a dextrose attached to his right arm and his left hand pressing the nebulizer mouthpiece into his mouth, they watched the fight direct from the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.

I told you once in a blog entry that my son loves boxing and he seldom skipped Al Bernstein show on TV before he entered the seminary and his favorite boxing hall- of- famer is Tommy Hearns. He was second year high school when he KOed a rascal classmate using a flicker jab, Hearn’s favorite weapon. Like how Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez advised his parishioner Manny Pacquiao to retire from the ring, Dra. Eleanor Sy-Costibolo, MD also advised my son to go into swimming and she said it is good for the respiratory system than any other sport, perhaps, including boxing.

Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez, DD of Marbel and former chairman of the National Secretariat for Social Action or CBCP-NASSA, said he has advised boxing legend and Saranggani Representative Manny Pacquiao to retire from the ring. The prelate reportedly reminded Catholics that the Church considers a person’s body as the “temple of the Holy Spirit” and that it should not be abused or harmed. But the good bishop seemed to forget that here in the Philippines, how politics is practiced, how graft and corruption put many of us into poverty are more brutal than boxing thus do more harm to the “temple of the Holy Spirit”. Only some old fashioned members of the clergy could insist that boxing is indeed a sin.

All I can say is, any professional athlete needs to be concerned with how his profession might best glorify God. Is he a good Christian model to all, specially those people around him? Is he a good example for kids who idolize him and his family? Is he doing the right thing with his talents and abilities? Any sport is liberating as long as you are humble in victory and gracious in defeat. What’s un-Godly with that? You, kill joys and OAs!

Is Manny Pacquiao a bad Catholic? I doubt it. The Pacman is pious not only because he has no qualms about wearing a rosary around his neck before and after a match or of making a sign of the cross at the start of a round, but because he entrusts himself and his professional work, his training, his family, to God. He regularly attends Mass and he kneels down before acknowledging the cheers of the gone-crazy and ecstatic crowd. Most of all, Manny is not there to humiliate and destroy his opponent. Remember this incident in his fight against Ricky Hatton (which I featured in “Brutal Than Boxing, Part 1”), as soon as Hatton staggered to his feet, Manny extended a helping hand. He even expressed gratitude. "I thanked Ricky for giving me the opportunity to fight him because he put his championship at stake. I told him it’s nothing personal, that I just had to do my job, like he has to do his. I’m only a boxer so this is my job." That’s how humble is our boxing hero. Unlike the politician I know who take every criticism against him personally.

Returning to the Philippines after his victorious dream match against the Golden Boy Oscar Dela Hoya, Manny went to the popular Black Nazarene Church in Manila and attended the Mass. After the priest gave his final blessings, Pacquiao according to reports, was asked to give a message to the people. And it is there Manny Pacquiao gave this quote and my favorite from him: "Don't tell God you have a big problem. Tell your problem you have a big God.” That’s what I kept in mind and in my prayers when my kid had a 6-day bout with pneumonia and with the help of the Almighty- including people in the hospital- he was released just a couple of hours ago.

By the way, I know priests who were good amateur boxers during their seminary days but they remained non-violent. Likewise in my son’s school, they have Tae Kwon Doo and other martial arts for PE classes…

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(Photo from pinoyofw.com)

Aromatic Questions

Tourism is expected to be one of the lifeblood of San Jose that is why the Municipal Tourism Council is created and rejuvenated. The renovation and beautification of our famous Aroma Beach is now halfway and expected to be over soon. It is projected as one of the main sources of income for the residents and additional revenue for the local government. While I have no problem with that, my utmost concern here is the issue of uncontrolled sewage discharges. Key persons from the Municipal Health Office say nothing about it even in their radio program. But in the first place, do I have really something to worry about?

I am not a sanitary engineer or a medical and health practitioner but being an ordinary beach lover and self-proclaimed environmentalist, I am bothered by fears of bacteriological contamination of this beach closest to our hearts. May I know from our authorities if we have a plan for sewage collection and treatment system ready for implementation? What shall we do with the wastewater elements coming from the mushrooming commercial establishments along Aroma Beach and nearby locations? Have we already put measures on the possible fecal coliform contamination that may include ear infections, dysentery, typhoid fever, viral and bacterial gastroenteritis, and hepatitis A? Coliform is a group of bacteria indicating the state of salubriousness of seawater or shellfish. They are germs present in the intestines of warm-blooded animals and, when present in water in large numbers, they often reveal contamination by excrement and the possible presence of other disease-bearing pathogens. Another question: Do these clusters of cottages and other buildings along the beach have quality septic tanks and once full they will not overflow into the sewage lines running onto the beach?

I am just a citizen who loves to watch sunset at the beach whenever I’m down, all I know is that wastewater elements - are excreta, urine, sewage, sullage, storm water and other liquid wastes – are hazards to health and environment. Epidemics, fish kills, floods, and other related problems proved the menace brought by poor management of wastewater which claimed several lives and debilitated a number of people mostly affecting children. The tourist destinations that we try to imitate like those beaches in Puerto Galera and Boracay have been victimized by said health threatening situation.

I just wish that the Municipal Engineering Office have sanitary engineers to fully take care of the matter for they are the professionals mandated by law, specifically RA 1364, to deal with wastewater disposal. These engineers have the express authority to survey, design, direct, manage, be consulted, and investigate any activity pertaining and related to pollution, whether in water, air and land. I am not sure if they have.

In PD 856 or Philippine Sanitation Code, specifically Chapter XVII or the Sewage Collection and Disposal, it pretty much say the same thing. And to public health officers of my hometown, please tell me if my fears are baseless and unfounded or valid and relevant, aromatic or fishy…

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(Photo from SanJoseOccMindoro)

A Sugar-Free Legislation

As I have a “sweet tooth”, so to speak, for budding and intelligent politicians, I pin high hopes on this talented young legislator from second district of Occidental Mindoro named Marian Haydee “Sugar” G. Villaroza who is now on her second term in office as provincial board member. The first time I met her was last September 16, 2009 in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro while we are both attending the two-day Mindoro LGU-CSO Conference on Mining Moratorium being part of the participants coming from local government units (LGUs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) from all over the island. We were “seat mates” in the activity held at the Provincial Capitol Square of said city and I wrote a story about it via blog entry called "Of True Ants and Truants” two years ago.

I instantly recognized her then being a politician but I doubt if she could still remember me or if she personally know me by now. But things of sort don’t matter to me anymore.

The last time I heard Board Member Villaroza talking was last Monday (March 18) when being interviewed by anchor Alex Del Valle over DWDO-FM in the latter’s program called “Sa Totoo Lang”. The former was discussing about her side on why she retracted her previous nod to a Sangguniang Panlalawigan ordinance adopting the Occidental Mindoro Energy Development Plan crafted and finalized by the Energy Development Advisory Group or EDAG and was presented to the provincial board sometime this month. Said energy development plan is seen as a solution to problematic power situation in the province with regards to, “...below average service performance, inefficient system and neck-deep financial trouble.” Technical people from Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (OMECO) were sent to the Philippine National Engineering Center (UP-NEC) for series of training and the main objective is to improve planning capabilities to enable the cooperative to keep up with the energy demand of our improving province. The creation of the EDAG was approved by Governor Josephine Y. Ramirez-Sato through Executive Order No. 11-11 s. of 2010. “EDAG is composed of the major players in the energy sector, representatives from the municipal and provincial government and non-government organization,” according to the Executive Summary of said development plan.

In the interview last Monday, Ms. Villaroza stated that she retracted her previous stand on that particular legislative action through a formal letter to the august body. The bottom line of such action, according to her, is the existing and still valid Energy Conversion Agreement (ECA) entered into by and between OMECO and Island Power Corporation or IPC. She admitted that she consulted three prominent personalities on the case and those names she mentioned are key officials and supporters of the IPC and known public officials at that. While I believe that she has all the right to talk to those people, she also has the full responsibility to equally ask the opinion of the OMECO Board, the EC management and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on the status of the ECA even after the presentation to balance her opinion on the matter.

Villaroza further stressed that prior to the tackling of the issue to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, she said in that same interview that she is not aware of the existing ECA between OMECO and IPC. With all respect to the lady lawmaker, this I do not buy.

As early as the 2009 Annual General Membership Assembly of OMECO, there approved a Resolution to cause the rescission of its ECA with IPC because of the latter’s inability to perform its obligation in said contract.

As expected, the OMECO Board resorted to legal action. Atty. Ditas A. Lerios-Amboy, legal counsel for OMECO, wrote a Notice of Termination in September 2009 and she emphasized, “In a letter dated April 2, 2009, the ERC has ruled that the ECA has effectively been superseded by the Power Purchased Agreement entered into by and between NPC and IPC in June 2000 because when the ERC approved the PPA wherein IPC undertook to supply electricity to NPC for the latter to sell to OMECO, the agreement between OMECO and IPC in the ECA wherein IPC will supply electricity directly to OMECO was rendered ineffectual. The ERC explained further that in both the PPA and ECA. IPC undertook to sell the same generating capacity of its plant which is 7 MW. Both agreements cannot subsist at the same time or independently of each other since IPC can generate and supply only from the same 7 MW capacity. Finally, the ERC has directed OMECO to execute and award a new Power Supply Agreement (PSA) in favor of a New Power Provider (NPP)…..

In view of the foregoing continued inability of IPC to perform its obligations in the ECA and pursuant to the ruling of ERC, we are serving this NOTICE to formally inform IPC of OMECO's intent to RESCIND its ECA with IPC to take effect within 15 days from receipt hereof.” At present, as far as the OMECO is concerned, the ECA is already terminated that is why they are looking for the new Independent Power Producer (IPP) consistent with their position and rightly so, we do not have to wait until kingdom come to solve the problem brought about by this one-sided agreement.

The present OMECO Management Board, in the name of member-consumers, opted to go on with the reform, push the energy development plan as an official roadmap to development with utmost urgency and face the legal consequences later.

To synthesize, allow me to quote this gem from the Catholic Catechism for our discernment: “Authority is exercised legitimately only when it seeks the common good of the group concerned and if it employs morally licit means to attain it. If rulers were to enact unjust laws or make measures contrary to the moral order, such arrangements would not be binding in conscience. In such a case, authority breaks down completely and results in shameful abuse.” (CCC, no. 1903)

We at the Serve OMECO Movement (SOM) believes that the time to implement the energy plan is NOW but Board Member Villaroza thinks otherwise. No doubt, Sugar is free to stand by her own principle and even beyond….

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(Photo: From Bokal Sugar Villaroza's Facebook Account)

Busy Bisi

This does not concern his politics nor his personal life or even his love life (if there’s any!) or anything outside of his being a writer. All I want to highlight is how this man, despite of his immobility, became one heck of a writer and may his story as a writer inspire our youth, those who are feeling tired or sick whenever the need for writing comes their way. The story of Rodolfo Meim Acebes as a writer and the great writers before him (and a little bit like him) are really worth telling and re-telling especially to struggling, budding writers of Occidental Mindoro. To those who keep on writing and writing, like a clock letting time pass by keeping its hands busy.

Tomorrow, April 17, is Acebes’ natal day and I am inviting everyone to stroll around the writings of this jolly good fellow who wielded his pen with fearless might but protected with battle-tested armor of social responsibility and service.

Ka Bisi writes from his bed after that fatal accident in 1988 which paralyzed half of his body. In an interview for the Inquirer in 2008, Ka Bisi recalled, “After the accident, I went back to reading and writing to keep my sanity. I worked on a borrowed manual typewriter placed on top of three pillows on my right side.” He made more than two dozen of letters to the editors of various broadsheets and magazines. Maybe, just maybe, if he did not went through this trial, his writing potential would forever be imprisoned by his erstwhile happy-go-lucky attitude.

“You cannot write if you do not read,” my late teacher in English Composition at Occidental Mindoro National College (OMNC) used to tell her class. Since college, Ka Bisi is already a bookworm. He is into reading especially the most sought after materials those days. “I was brought to the world of books by Ed Apigo. He was first to acquire books by COD from bookstores in Manila … We also read Alfredo Saulo’s “Communism in the Philippines”, William Pomeroy’s “The Forest” and the guerilla warfare diary of Ernesto “Che” Guevarra,” Acebes recalled in his column for the Divine Power, a Souvenir Program for Grand DWCSJ Alumni Homecoming 2000.

Acebes’ present situation reminded me of another great intellectual named Marcel Proust of France. Proust, was asthmatic and dying, who could write well only when, bedridden, he lay half-suffocating in a room hazy with inhalations, his bedclothes serving as his desk. I’ve learned that Blaise Paschal and Lucretius too were at their best in writing their respective masterpieces and not eaten up by their severe illness, solitude and destitution. Such situation did not hinder these great men of science and prose to concentrate. They have special gifts that are easier to cherish than to describe.

Ka Bisi, now 61, despite this physical handicap, has made his life fully busy and productive by writing historical and biographical articles and editing local news papers. He was my editor then at Mindoro Guardian. His latest work, “Mindoro sa Panahon ng Digmaan” is one gem of a book written by this Pandurucan-born historian. By the way, in case you are interested to know, Mr. Rudy A. Candelario, equally distinguished historian of Occidental Mindoro already migrated to the United States last March.

To allow you to glance at Ka Bisi’s life story, read it directly from the horse’s mind through his grand prize winning entry in the National Book Store and Globe Telecom’s “If My Life Were a Book 2007” essay writing contest. The piece is about Acebes’ thoughts on finding the meaning of life after becoming a paraplegic entitled “Finding the Meaning of Life and Becoming Free” published in Philstar three years ago.

Ka Bisi figuratively deserves waving of palms and laying down of coats for his literature. He rides on a donkey like a humble writer on a peace mission. At present, I was told, he is working on another book about 100 prominent residents of Pandurucan and I wish him the best of luck for his another noble project.

There is much more to say about the courageous historical and biographical writer who could be our youth’s inspiration for creative and intellectual works like research and writing. But this much can be said with confidence: this man already left a lasting legacy in our community and society that many of us, able men and women of this particular time and space, are afraid, too lazy or too busy to walk across…

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(Photo: Acebes at work. Image from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)