An mga Katotoohan kan Kahadean

 

Giya sa Prayer-Meeting nin mga Saradít na Komunidad nin Pagtubód (SAKOP) para sa semana kan Marzo 2-8, 2025. Basahon an Evangelio gikan sa Lucas 6,39-45 (Ikawalóng Domingo sa Ordinariong Panahón - C).

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An Evangelio pagpadagos kan mga katukdoán ni Jesu Cristo sa Saiyang “Sermon sa Patag” sa Lucas 6, na pigkuahán kan mga babasahon kainíng nakaaging duwáng Domingo. Nagpoón ini sa kun siisay an mga paladan sa matá nin Diós (beatitudes), dangan sinundan kan kasugoán na kamòtan an kaiwal. Ngonian namán may nagkapirang mga kasabihán na nagtutukdò nin mga katotoohan kan Kahadean.

Si Jesu Cristo an katotoohan.

Sa Juán 14,6, sinabi Niyá: “Akó an dalan, an katotoohan, asín an búhay”. Kun bakô Siyá an satóng giya sa búhay, garó kitá nagsúsunód sa butá na daí aram an tamang dalan. Kun talikdan ta an Saiyang kabôtan, garó kitá mga estudyante na sa kadikít na kaaramán naghohonà na mas tataó na kisa saindang maestro, kayâ daí minatalubò sa pakasabot.

Sa Lucas 11,23 sinabi pa Niyá: “An daí Ko kaibang nagtitipon, nagwawarak,” napapadumán sa mga saláng dalan. Kun bakô si Cristo an pigsusundan niatò, ibáng tawo o bagay an pinipilì niatong mag-influencia satô. Kun bakô kitá disipulos ni Cristo na katotoohan, tibaad magin kitáng kampon nin parabsawag nin kaputikan.

Magpakatotoo kitá sa satóng sadiri.

Mahalagá sa Kahadean an pag-akò kan katotoohan kan satóng sadiri. Sabi sa 1 Juán 1,8-9: “Kun magsabi kitá na mayò kitá nin kasâlan, dinadayà ta an sadiri, asín an katotoohan mayò satô. Kun ikumpisal ta an satóng mga kasâlan, maimbod Siyá asín suripot, papatawadon Niyá an satóng mga kasâlan asín lilinigan kitá sa gabós na katampalasan.”

Alagad kun enoton ta an paghusga sa kapwa, si Cristo mismo an nagsasabi satô: “Halea ngôna an pasagi sa saimong matá, dangan ka makakahilíng nin marhay tanganing mahalè mo an salugsog sa matá nin saimong tugang.” Sa panahón nin eleksyon, kun naghahanap kitá nin kandidatong matanos, bakóng parautik, asín bakóng mahâbas, dapat siguradohon ta na kitá ngôna matanos man, bakóng parautik, asín bakóng mahâbas. An mga kandidatong pinipilì ta minapahilíng kun anó an mga pinapahalagahán ta sa búhay.

An katotoohan nin pusò nahíhilíng sa tataramon asín gibo.

Sabi ni Jesus sa Lucas 6,45: “Ta sa sûpay kan pusò, nagtátarám an ngusò”. Kun an naglúluwás sa satóng ngusò nagdádará nin karahayan sa kapwa, an Kahadean nasa satóng pusò. Kun kitá paramudá, parautik, asín paragibo nin pagkabarangâ, karâtan an nasa laóg kan satóng pusò. Sabi sa Sirach 27,6: “Kun pâno inataman an kahoy nahihiling sa bunga; siring man kun anó an pagkatawo, sa pagtátarám kan saiyang kaisipan.”

Ngonian na panahón nin eleksyon, marhay iníng magin basehán sa pagpilì nin mga kandidato. An responsableng botante minimidbid an mga kandidato susog sa saindang mga naginibohan o track record, mga posisyon sa mga isyu, asín plataforma de gobierno. Alagad maski an mga totoong gibo asín tataramon nababaliktad na ngonian nin huli sa maatî na propaganda asín paggamit nin mga online trolls asín fake news.

Kayá nangapodan an mga obispo sa Pilipinas sa banwaan na “daí pagpabayaan na saná an lambang sarô asín an satóng nación, nin huli ta an Diós daí kitá pinapabayaan.” Sa saindang huring surat pastorál “May Pag-asa Pa Ba?,” sinabi ninda: “Manindogan sa katotoohan, sa karahayan, asín sa pamamayo kan batás. Hagadan nin paninimbagan an mga nasa poder. Danay na pilion an karahayan nin kagabsan kisa sadiring interes. Daí mapagal na na magmakulog sa mga pinakamaluya asín saradít na miembro kan satóng sociedad.”

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GIYA SA PAGHIRÁS SA SADÍT NA KOMUNIDAD O PAMILYA | Maghirás nin experiencia kun pâno nagin totoo sa saimong búhay an arín man sa mga kasabihán na naonambitan sa Evangelio.

PASUNÓD-SUNÓD KAN WEEKLY SAKOP/FAMILY PRAYER-MEETING | Kumustahan/Pamiridbidan • Disposition to Prayer / Silence • Gathering Song • Opening Prayer • Gospel Reading • Reflection • Sharing • Scripture Response • Prayers of the People • Closing Prayer • (Spontaneous and Our Father) • Closing Song

An Evangelio sa Panahón nin Eleksyon

 

Giya sa Prayer-Meeting nin mga Saradít na Komunidad nin Pagtubód (SAKOP) para sa semana kan Octubre 22-28, 2023. Basahon an Evangelio gikan sa Mateo 22,15-21 (Ika-29 Domingo sa Ordinariong Panahon - A).

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“Tâwan ki Cesár an ki Cesár, asín sa Diós an sa Diós.” Tamang-tamà iníng kasabihán mantang haraní na an eleksyon nin mga oficiales sa mga barangáy asín SK. Iní an simbag ni Jesús sa patibóng na hapót Saiya kan mga naghahanap nin ikakaparaót Niya: “Tugot magbuwís ki Cesár o bawal?”

Kun magsimbag si Jesús na dapat magbayad nin buwís, ipapalakóp kaining mga parasunod kan mga Fariseos asín ni Herodes na traidor Siya sa banwaan na Judío nin huli ta nagsusuporta Siya sa mananakop na Imperio Romano. Kun sabihon Niya man na daí dapat magbayad, ioosip ninda sa mga autoridád na Romano na Siya nagrerebelde asín nagtutukdò sa mga tawo na magsuway sa Imperio, kayâ dapat Siyang padusahan. Alagad ginamit ni Jesús an saindang patibóng tanganing magtukdô dapít sa autoridád asín Kahadean.

Siisay palán iníng Cesár sa kasabihán? Ini si Tiberio Cesár, an Emperador kan Roma kan panahón ni Jesús. Daí man kita pinapamayohán ngonian nin saróng Cesár, alagad may mensahe an Evangelio sa satong mga botante asin kandidato ngonian na nagdadangadang an eleksyon.

An Diós an paorogón sa gabós.

Iníng kasabihán bakô sa pagbangâ kan materiál o seculár na mga bagay sa lado kan gobyerno asín an espirituál sa lado kan Simbahan. Kundî na an maninigong itaó sa Diós iyó an gabós. Sa Mateo 22 kan hinapót si Jesús nin saróng abogado kun anó an pinakadakulà sa mga batás, sinimbag Niya kaining linya sa pamìbì na Shema Israel sa Deuteronomio 6,5: “Kamòtan mo an Kagurangnan mong Diós sa bilog mong pusò, sa bilog mong kalág, asín sa bilog mong isip.”

An Diós an nagwawaras nin kapangyarihan sa dagâ.

Sa Isaías 45,1-6, iniistorya kun pàno ginibo nin Diós na kasangkapan si Emperadór Ciro (Cyrus the Great) kan Persia para matapos na an pagsakit kan mga Judío sa  irarom kan Imperiong Babilonia asín makaulî sa Israel an mga destiero (exile).

Sabi pa ni San Pablo sa Roma 13,1: “Dapat magpasakop sa mga namámayó kan gobyerno, huli ta mayong autoridád na bakóng tugot nin Diós. An mga autoridád sa ngonian na panahón ibinugtak nin Diós.” Alagad pàno kun bakô marhay an gibo kan mga namámayó?

An Diós an sukol kan satong pagsunód sa mga autoridád sa kinâban.

Daí pwede gamiton an Roma 13,1 tanganing magin butá o daíng isip na parasunod an mga tawo kun lakóp an karâtan asín korupsyón sa gobyerno. Sa Mateo 28,18, iní an sinabi Niya: “Itinaó sako an gabós na kapangyarihan sa langit asín sa dagâ.”

Kun susog sa kabôtan nin Diós an mga pinapapatupad na batás asin marhay an pasunód nin mga pamayó sa gobyerno, maninigò lamang an pagsunód nin mga ciudadano ta para sa ikakaraháy man saná iní nin gabós.

Ngonian na eleksyón, an kabôtan nin Diós iyó an satong paorogón, bakô an mga kinâbanon na tentación. Sa pangangampanya, ipahayag saná an katotoohan, daí magpalakóp nin kaputikan. Sa pagboto, dangogón an dikta kan consciencia bakô an dikta kan kwarta.

Pag tinataó ta an tamà asín maninigò sa Diós, tinataó ta man an marhay asín magayón para sa satong komunidad. Sabi nganì sa Proverbio 29,2: “Kun an matanos an nagkákapót nin kapangyarihan, nag-oogma an banwaan; alagad kun namámayó an tampalasan, nag-aagrangay an katawohan.”

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GIYA SA PAGHIRÁS SA SADÍT NA KOMUNIDAD O PAMILYA • Ngonian na pirilían, pàno mo isasabuhay iníng kasabihán: “Tawan ki Cesar an ki Cesar, asín sa Diós an sa Diós”?

PASUNÓD-SUNÓD KAN WEEKLY SAKOP/FAMILY PRAYER-MEETING • Kumustahan/Pamiridbidan • Disposition to Prayer / Silence • Gathering Song • Opening Prayer • Gospel Reading • Reflection • Sharing • Prayers of the Faithful • Closing Prayer (Spontaneous and Our Father) • Closing Song

Maghimatè sa Tingog kan Marhay na Pastor

Giya sa Prayer-Meeting nin mga Saradit na Komunidad nin Pagtubod (SAKOP) para sa semana kan Mayo 8-14, 2022. Basahon an Evangelio gikan sa Juan 10,27-30 (Ikaapat na Domingo nin Pasko nin Pagkabuhay-Liwát - C).

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Sa evangelio nagpapamidbid si Jesu Cristo bilang satong Marhay na Pastor. Sa Jeremias 3,15, may panugà an Dios sa Saiyang banwaan: “Tatàwan ko kamo nin mga pastores susog sa Sakong puso, na papamayohan kamo na may kadunongan asin pakasabot.” Sa Juan 10,30, sinabi ni Jesus: “Ako asin an Ama sarò saná”. Siya an kapanoan kan profesía kan Marhay na Pastor, na matao nin buhay na daing kasagkoran sa mga naghihimatè sa Saiyang tingog.

Sa panahon nin eleksyon, ano an sinasabi sato kan tingog kan satong Marhay na Pastor?

Sa Juan 10,10, sinabi Niya: “An parahàbon minalaog, daing ibang tuyo kundi maghàbon, maggadán asin magraót. Ako napadigdi tanganing sinda mabuhay asin mapanô nin buhay.” Kaya maglikay sa mga boot mamayó sa banwaan na nagsasagin-sagin na marhay asin maboot pero karâtan palán an katuyohán. Maglikáy kita sa mga utikón asin parahàbon.

An marhay na pastor dinadara sa karahayan asin katanosan an banwaan. Siring Siya sa Kagurangnan sa Psalmo 23,2, na dinadara an karnero “sa mga berdeng sabsaban, sa mga tubig na malinaw”. An maraot na pastor dinadara sa karâtan asin kasâlan an banwaan. Ining mga nakaaging taon nahiling ta kun pàno an mismong mga pamayó kan satong nacion ginibong normal an kadustaan, an kaputikan, asin an panggagadan – asin kadakul an saindang napatubód na an salâ tamà, asin an tamà nagin salâ.

An marhay na pastor may pagmangno sa saiyang nasasakopan, lalo na sa mga nasa laylayan nin sociedad. May pigpapamatè man na pagmangno sa banwaan an mga maraot na pamayó – alagad an tabang na tinatao ninda sa saindang mga constituentes, tinapyasan na nin mas dakulà para sa saindang sadiri. Dangan pag-abot kan eleksyon, ginigibong pambakal nin boto. Asin an mga botanteng pinatood sa barakalan nin boto, hinahaboan na pati an mga kandidatong matanos asin may kakayahan, sa saláng paghonà na an pagmakulog sainda nasusukol sa kun siisay an pinakahalangkaw an pigtatao para iboto.

An marhay na pastor sinusurog an saiyang kawan na inaataman. Alagad an pastor na kwarta saná an habol, susog sa Juan 10,12, “minadulág kun nakakahilíng nin lobo, binabayaan an mga karnero”. An maraot na pastor kasabwat pa kan may mga maraot na plano – an mga nagraraot nin kapalibotan sa saindang pagpayaman, an mga mahàbas sa pondo kan gobyerno, asin an mga lulóng sa kapangyarihan.

Susog sa Talinhaga 29,2: “Kun an matanos iyo an nagkakapot kan kapangyarihan, nag-oogma an banwaan; alagad kun an maraot iyo an namamayo, nag-aagrangay an katawohan.”

Dai man ki perpektong kandidato alagad dakul man an mga matanos asin totoo. Pilion ta an mga pamayó na nagtutubod sa kapangyarihan nin pagkamoot, bako an pagkamoot sa kapangyarihan; an mga nagdudusay kan saindang sadiri, bako itong mga nagpapayaman sa sadiri. Sa panahon nin pirilian, maghimatè kita sa Marhay na Baretà kan satong Marhay na Pastor, bakò sa pekeng baretà (fake news) kan mga utikón na boot mamayó sato.

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GIYA SA PAGHIRAS SA SADIT NA KOMUNIDAD O FAMILIA • Magherás nin experiencia nin mga tentacion asin biyayà sa pagsunód niato sa tingog kan Marhay na Pastor sa panahon nin eleksyon.

PASUNOD-SUNOD KAN WEEKLY SAKOP/FAMILY PRAYER-MEETING • Kumustahan/Pamiridbidan • Disposition to Prayer / Silence • Gathering Song • Opening Prayer • Gospel Reading • Reflection • Sharing • Scripture Response • Closing Prayer (Spontaneous and Our Father) • Closing Song

The Advent of Our Rebirth as a Nation

Homily for the First Sunday of Advent (C) – 28 November 2021. Readings: Jer 33:14-16; Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14; 1 Thes 3:12-4:2; Lk 21:25-28, 34-36

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Advent Season this year comes at a time when the political season starts heating up. Amidst the politicking, the candidate substitution drama, and the switching of political allegiances, what should concern us Christians the most is the violence.

The first type of violence is the destruction of the truth. Someone said, “The first casualty of war is the truth”. Today we see truth-telling upended by manufactured narratives, government officials lying shamelessly to the public, and troll farms flooding the internet with disinformation, some of them operating as early as seven years ago. Worse, a recent study found out that 52% of young people could not distinguish real from fake news, and they comprise the bulk of our voting population. The number is even higher among older population.

The second type of violence is the wanton corruption perpetuated by those in power. The bottom pit of corruption recently unearthed were the anomalous deals and overpriced purchases in COVID-19 response, which benefitted government officials and their choice friends, and cause so much suffering to our people, especially the poor who are already affected by poor healthcare services and loss of income. In a homily in 2014, Pope Francis said, “The corruption of the powerful is paid for by the poor.”

The third type of violence are the killings and harassments perpetrated against critics and the so-called dregs of society. The culture of killing extends beyond body count to the breakdown of the social conscience. Thus, we see the scandal of Christians who go to Church on Sundays and post bible quotes on social media, but who are also the staunchest cheerleaders of the killings and enablers of murderers.

We enter into Advent in the context of this systemic violence. There is more to the theme of preparation in Advent than just anticipating the festivities of Christmas. It is a season of soul-searching and spiritual preparation in order to fully grasp the meaning of Christmas, thus, to fully celebrate it. Advent also reminds us to prepare for two other events: Christ's Second Coming, and our own mortality.

The Gospel passage this Sunday prophesies cosmic upheavals, a slew of natural disasters, and nations in tumult to precede the second coming of the Son of Man. It seems Scriptures, nature, and history all attest that for meaningful change to happen, some form of violence or crisis has to happen as well. The joy of Easter is preceded by crucifixion and death. The rejoicing at Christmas is accompanied by political oppression and the slaughter of innocents.

A soul’s journey of conversion from the old ways to new life is also fraught with inner violence as the old ways fight back and seek, time and again, to regain control. Read St. Augustine, St. John of the Cross, Thomas Merton, even Mother Teresa, and you will know. Ask any recovering alcoholic or addict and they will tell you this to be true. Salvation, redemption, and human progress come with a heavy price.

So it seems to be true as well for our nation. How then do we turn this blood-soaked time of violence and corruption into our hour of glory? Luke 21,28 says; “But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” How do we stand erect, raise our heads and await our redemption?

First, we have to recognize that we are all involved. The powerful and corrupt political dynasties, and their sycophant enablers, may be mainly to blame. But we too played a part in it. Let us ask ourselves these questions: Have you posted on social media unverified contents that support your personal views? Have you ever thought dirty politics will never change, or accepted that corruption is here to stay? Have you ever participated, willingly or unwillingly, in a corrupt practice because it is a fact of life and you can’t do anything about it? Have you ever conceded that vote-buying and patronage will never be gone during elections? Have you given up on politics and politicians, and chose instead not to care?

If our answer is yes to any of these questions, then we are partly to blame as well. We have heard this line from Edmund Burke often enough: “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men (and women) to do nothing.” We are as much part of the problem as the solution.

Second, we have to work on the things we need to stop doing. We need to stop believing that politics will never change for the better. We need to stop affirming that corruption is a way of life. We need to stop conceding that power only belongs to a few. Even in our weakness, there is strength; in our poverty, resources within our reach; in humiliation, dignity; in naivety, wisdom. We need to put a stop to our apathy for a culture of apathy spawns a culture of impunity.

Third, we have to get involved. We have to start respecting ourselves and our vote. “Ang pera sa bulsa, ang boto sa balota” degrades our dignity us voters and undermines the electoral process itself. Our sense of sacrifice has to go beyond the confines of family and loved ones. We have to hold our public officials more accountable. More importantly, we have to hold ourselves more accountable, especially, those of us entrusted with responsibility or position of authority.

Ultimately, we are all accountable to God. When our hour of judgment comes, can we honestly say we have made God’s will the standard of our moral choices? More importantly, when people see what we do, do they recognize Christ in us? More than ever, we have to make our Christian faith relevant to our participation in public life.

In his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (205), Pope Francis echoed the words of Pope Pius XI in 1924, “Politics, though often denigrated, remains a lofty vocation and one of the highest forms of charity, inasmuch as it seeks the common good,” Then he prayed, “I beg the Lord to grant us more politicians who are genuinely disturbed by the state of society, the people, the lives of the poor! It is vital that government leaders and financial leaders take heed and broaden their horizons, working to ensure that all citizens have dignified work, education and healthcare. Why not turn to God and ask him to inspire their plans? I am firmly convinced that openness to the transcendent can bring about a new political and economic mindset which would help to break down the wall of separation between the economy and the common good of society.”

There is a way in which the martyrs and victims of killings, and those who perished from COVID-19, would not have died in vain; those vilified unjustly by fake news and those made more destitute from corruption would not have suffered in vain. That way is to learn from these tragedies and grow better as a people. Tragic as they may be, these types of systemic violence may just be the thing to rouse us from our "carousing and drunkenness, our petty anxieties", our mediocre citizenship, our inconsistent democracy – but only if we let the Spirit guide our passions toward truth-telling, justice-seeking and peace-making. When this happens, there will be genuine healing and rebuilding. It will be the advent of our rebirth as a nation.

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Artwork: "Hope in the Ruins of Manila", Fernando Amorsolo, Oil on Canvas, 1945

SILAG Voters Education

In the Diocese of Legazpi, the voters education module for the 2016 elections is called “SILAG”. Silag is a Bikol word that means “transparent”. It also stands for “Social Initiative for Local Accountability in Governance”, the overall program framework for people’s empowerment and good governance advocacy of the Social Action Center (SAC). The SILAG brand, already present in a few SAC Legazpi projects such as partnerships with line agencies and local government units, and capacity-building trainings for grassroots organizations, now extends to its Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) election campaign.

In crafting this module, we applied some lessons learned from our long institutional track record in community organizing and election advocacy, and drew inspiration from other voters education projects. The result is a campaign whose methodology expands from the usual moralistic preaching into a more audience-driven learning, whose advocacy transcends beyond the elections into the much broader arenas of good governance and people empowerment, whose support structure improves upon the current stand-alone PPCRV model into a synergistic movement that maximizes the strengths of the Church’s structure and network, including its partners in government and civil society.

Session 1, “Kita Man an Dangogon (Let Them Listen to Us this Time): Setting-up a People’s Local Governance Agenda”. We thank Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan’s “Kuwentuhang Bayan” for articulating our kindred desire to make the election season not just an exercise in discerning the qualifications of candidates but also in raising the quality of dialogue between candidates and voters by encouraging communities to express their own agenda of pressing community concerns and the common good, instead of just waiting for candidates to present their platforms of government.

Session 1's objective will be accomplished by PPCRV units when they gather the output of all vote-ed workshops conducted in parishes in a city or municipality into easy-to-remember five, seven or ten-point agenda, and present them to candidates for adoption in their respective platforms. The adopted local community agenda in turn will be the basis for measuring and demanding accountability from winning candidates as they take on the task of governance later.

Session 2, “May Marhay Magsayuma (It’s Better to Say No): Challenging Barriers to Empowerment and Good Governance”. We are also grateful for the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) “One Good Vote” module for the consistent and impassioned campaign against vote-buying and selling. We adapted the “One Good Vote” spirit into our local language and setting in order to come up with a session that challenges the most resistant barriers to HOPE (honest, orderly and peaceful elections), such as public cynicism, vote buying, and political dynasty.

The participants’ commitment against vote-buying is reinforced with a sticker campaign in homes, offices, and vehicles. The sticker says: “Kami Pamilyang Kristiyano, Dai Nababakal an Boto” (We are a Christian Family, Our Votes are Not for Sale).

Session 3, “Banwaan Pagturuwangan (Solidarity for Community Development): Promoting People’s Participation in Local Governance. To this mix, we add the message that this election need not be a zero-sum game if your favored candidates don’t get to win; that PPCRV volunteers need not easily despair in case vote-buying becomes rampant and massive again despite their best efforts; and that no matter what happens, the election season still opens up windows of opportunity for genuine people’s participation in local governance – provided we do our part.

Session 3 raises awareness on various participatory mechanisms, especially provisions in the Local Government Code for non-government and civil society organizations’ participation in local development councils (at least 25% CSO membership) and local special bodies. Section 108 of R.A. 7160 mandates that “within a period of 60 days from the start of organization of local development councils, the nongovernmental organizations shall choose from among themselves their representatives to said councils”. The session also includes information on the Bottom-Up Budgeting initiative and the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (50% CSO membership).

SAC Legazpi intends to follow-up its PPCRV campaign with post-election projects and activities within the SILAG framework such as organizing, accreditation assistance, and capacity-building of grassroots groups, so they can effectively participate in and influence local governance processes.

In a big picture perspective, elections are part of the value-chain of good governance. The other parts of the chain include policy-making and the budget process, people’s participation, transparency and accountability, and effective and efficient service delivery, among others. The clearer we recognize the role of elections in this value-chain, the better for our people to get the best value out of it, which means making elections truly a means for sustainable community development, inclusive growth, and nation-building. This should be the end game of any voters education project.

Barangay Jericho

HOMILY
31st Sunday in Ordinary Time – 31 October 2010

Readings: Wis 11:22-12:2; Ps 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14; 2 Thess 1:11-2:2; Lk 19:1-10


Imagine a barangay named Jericho. It was big and prosperous, and has just received news that the Lord Jesus was set to pass through its main road. The barangay chairman was one named Zaccheus, a man of small stature in more ways than one, with a reputation for being corrupt and greedy. He was not generally well-liked but he always won the election because he simply bribed the voters more than his rivals.

Corrupting our Minors, Corrupting the Future

DIOCESE OF LEGAZPI
PASTORAL BULLETIN NO. 03, Series of 2010

To: Clergy, Religious, Lay Faithful
Re: Corrupting our Minors, Corrupting the Future


"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” (Mt 18,16)


Reports coming from all over leave no doubt as to the scope and magnitude of corruption and cheating in the recent Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. During our Clergy General Assembly held last Tuesday, every priest present said that vote-buying and selling were rampant in their respective places of assignment and home towns. Radyo Veritas Legazpi and other local radio stations, as well as our local PPCRV units also confirmed this widespread terrible state of affairs.

Sermon manungod sa Eleksyon

HOMILIA
Ika-6 na Domingo sa Panahon kan Pagkabuhay-Liwat – 9 Mayo 2010

Mga Pagbasa: Gibo 15:1-2, 22-29; Ps 67:2-3,5,6,8; Kap 21:10-14, 22-23; Jn 14:23-29


Pagbasa kan Binikol na Surat-Pastoral kan CBCP manungod sa Eleksyon

Kan 2004, sa pag-aadal kan SAC na “Albay Pulse”, 72.8% kan mga hinapot an nagsabing tinangro sinda nin lagay o sample ballot na may paipit. Sa mga tinangro, 4 sa 5 an uminako kan kwarta, asin labi sa kabanga an buminoto man nanggad sa kandidatong nagtao sainda nin kwarta.

Sabi kan sarong para-tricycle, “Maski siisay an manggana, para-tricycle man giraray ako, kaya maboto ako sa pinakahalangkaw magtao.” Pano ta daw ini masisimbagan? O baka ngani kumbinsido pa kita kaini.

Dagdagan ta pa. Pira sato an nakadangog na kan linyang ini para ipaliwanag kun nata nangyayari an barakalan nin boto sa eleksyon? Baka ngani nagamit ta na man an saro o nagkapira sa mga ini:

1. Akoon mo na ta an kwarta sa bulsa, an boto sa balota.
2. Maski iboto ko su maray, su makwarta magana man giraray.
3. Su kwartang nakua, binakal ko ki para sa pamilya.
4. Dai man ki mangyayari sa prinsipyo pag-tios an tawo.
5. Kun dai ko kuahon, kanogon sana ta su lider an mabulsa.
6. Para saro-saroe man sana an boto ko.
7. Parte na iyan kan satong eleksyon, pabayae na.
8. Ano man kun tawan ako ki kwarta, iboboto ko man sya talaga.
9. Dipisil magsayuma ta tibaad makulgan an boot kan iba.
10. An dai minaako sa grasya, nabubuta.

Sabi kan satong Ebanghelyo ngonyan na Domingo: “An siisay man na namomoot sako, minaotob kan sakong tataramon, asin an sakong Ama kamomotan siya, asin kami mapasiring saiya asin mag-eerok kaiba niya” (Jn 14,23).

Siring man: “An parasurog, an Espiritu Santo, na ipapadara kan Ama sa ngaran ko, magtotokdo saindo kan gabos asin mapagirumdom saindo kan gabos na sinabi ko” (Jn 14,26).

Sa hiling nindo tugot daw an tataramon asin an Espiritu kan barakalan nin boto? Kun dai, nata ta ginigibo ta pa ini? Garo baga ka-naïve man na kahapotan. Garo baga dai na ini mawawara. Mga tugang, kun nagtutubod ka kan kapangyarihan kan Dios na nagpatalingkas sa mga Israelitas sa kaoripnan sa Ehipto, na nagbanga kan dagat tanganing makaagi sinda, na nagtao nin paghiling sa mga mata, pagbulong sa mga may helang, buhay sa mga gadan – kun nagtutubod ka kan gabos na ini – dai nin dahilan para magduda na pwede pang mabago an sitwasyon. Alagad boot kan Dios na kaiba kita sa pagbago kan satong kamugtakan.

May sinasabi an Espiritu satuya ngonyan na aldaw. Gusto nindong madangog? Boot niyang ipasabot kun nata an “sadit” na bagay na ini asin nagpapaogma sato sa presenteng aldaw, may dakulang epekto sa satong futuro.

1. Ano sa hiling nindo an natatangadan kan satong kaakian manungod sa eleksyon asin demokrasya? Magdadarakula sinda na an halaga kan eleksyon mapresyohan an boto ninda. Anong klaseng paghiling sa demokrasya asin pagiging ciudadano an makukua kan maabot na henerasyon? Anong klaseng demokrasya asin pagka-Pilipino an isasabuhay ninda pagsinda naman an nagpapadalagan kan satong nasyon.

2. Cade vez minaako kita, o mas maraot minahagad, nin kwarta sa kandidato pigpapadisganar ta an sarong grupo nin mga tawo na mag-entra sa serbisyo publiko. Siisay an mga ini? An mga may marhay na kamawotan, mga may kakayahan na mamayo, may pagmakulog sa banwaan asin may pagpahalaga sa prinsipyo. In short, the best of us. Alagad an mga ini dai na malaog sa pulitika ta daing kwartang pantao. Kun presyohan pa an pagboto ta, siisay na sana an matatada na boot maglingkod sa banwaan ta?

Kan sarong aldaw naka-recibe ako nin text, quote daa hale sa kolumnistang si Alejandro Roces, boot kong ihiras: “Elections are a must in a democracy. But they must be meaningful. They must not only be a change of men, but a change in men.”

An Espiritu kan Dios haloy nang naghahalat na akoon kan banwaan, siring na an dalan sa tunay na progreso asin marhay na pagkabuhay haloy nang naghahalat na satong paglakawan. Ngonyan na eleksyon, apesar sa pagpili kun sairisay na mga kandidato an satong bobotohan, igwa pa nin duwang pagpili na kaipuhan tang gibohon: kun maotob kan tataramon kan Dios o dai; kun madangog sa Espiritu Santo o dai; kun malakaw sa tamang dalan o dai. Yaon sato an desisyon.

Vote wisely.