an unusual valedictory speech

i have received this email forward recently, introduced by 'This is an unusual valedictory speech'. the valedictorian is Mikaela Irene Fudolig. the 'unusual' tag may, at first glance, refer to the fact that ms fudolig graduated summa cum laude from UP, bs physics, & she is only 16 years-old.

graduation speeches and valedictions from the country's premier universities seem to become email staples. (last year gawad kalinga founder tony meloto's speech at UP made the rounds.) maybe because they easily fit the description of being 'inspiring'. ms fudolig's speech certainly continues the tradition. what makes it properly unusual, i think, is that she delivered it wittily, succinctly, with a wisdom expectedly well beyond her years. & then she announced she's putting her money where her mouth is: she'd like to teach at UP.

high score for idealism! except (& here my nitpicking begins) for the apparent show of disdain to the present administration's critics and the 'perverse sense of satisfaction' they get 'from vilifying our state of affairs'. endless political squabbling & vilification do indeed dampen the youth's, or for that matter, anyone else's, idealism. then again, what alternative does the critics' critic offer?

do whatever you can with the best of intention, imagination and effort, and steer clear of politics in this country as much as possible? never mind if a major reason why this country could not find its longed-for redemption, in spite of the 'bravest' efforts of the best of its individuals and groups, is that this very government is hell-bent on convincing us not to mind them while they proceed to lie, cheat and steal from the rest of us. my words, of course.

incidentally, this was, in a way, the same line of value-reorientation that the much-esteemed mr. meloto proffered in his speech last year. focus on the positive. don't mind too much the negative. think about the good you can do. not the bad that some people are doing.

when the best of us moves on convinced of this spin, the rest, of course, will try to catch up but stay in wonder as to why we just can't make progress.

still it’s an inspiring read.

Mikaela Irene Fudolig / BS Physics
Speech at the Commencement Exercises, University of the Philippines in Diliman
April 22, 2007

One of the things that strike me as being very "UP Diliman" is the way UPD students can't seem to stay on the pavement. From every street corner that bounds an unpaved piece of land, one will espy a narrow trail that cuts the corner, or leads from it. Every lawn around the buildings sports at least one of these paths, starting from a point nearest to the IKOT stop and ending at the nearest entry to the building. The trails are beaten on the grass by many pairs of feet wanting to save a fraction of a meter of traveling, no matter that doing so will exact some cost to the shoes, or, to the ubiquitous slippers, especially when the trails are new.

What do these paths say about us, UP students?

One could say that the UP student is enamored with Mathematics and Pythagoras, hence these triangles formed by the pavement and the path. Many among you would disagree.

Others could say that the UP student is naturally countercultural. And the refusal to use the pavement is just one of the myriads of ways to show his defiance of the order of things. This time, many would agree.

Still, others will say that the UP student is the model of today's youth: they want everything easier, faster, now. The walkable paths appeal to them because they get to their destination faster, and presumably, with less effort. Now that is only partly true, and totally unfair.

These trails weren't always walkable. No doubt they started as patches of grass, perhaps overgrown. Those who first walked them must have soiled their shoes, stubbed their toes, or had insects biting their legs, all in the immovable belief that the nearest distance between two points is a straight line. They might even have seen snakes cross their paths. But the soiled footwear, sore toes, and itchy legs started to conquer the grass. Other people, seeing the yet faint trail, followed. And as more and more walked the path, the grass gave in and stopped growing altogether, making the path more and more visible, more and more walkable.

The persistence of the paths pays tribute to those UP students who walked them first ? the pioneers of the unbeaten tracks: the defiant and curious few who refuse the familiar and comfortable; the out-of-the-box thinkers who solve problems instead of fretting about them; the brave who dare do things differently, and open new opportunities to those who follow.

They say how one behaved in the past would determine how he behaves in the future. And as we leave the University, temporarily or for good, let us call on the pioneering, defiant, and brave spirit that built the paths to guide us in this next phase of our life.

We have been warned time and again. Our new world that they call "adulthood" is one that's full of compromises, where success is determined more by the ability to belong than by the ability to think, where it is much easier to do as everyone else does. Daily we are bombarded with so much news of despair about the state of our nation, and the apparent, perverse sense of satisfaction our politicians get from vilifying our state of affairs. It is fashionable to migrate to other countries to work in deceptively high-paying jobs like nursing and teaching, forgetting that even at their favored work destinations, nurses and teachers are some ofthe lowest paid professionals. The lure of high and immediate monetary benefits in some low-end outsourcing jobs has drawn even some of the brightest UP students away from both industry and university teaching to which they would have been better suited.

Like the sidewalks and pavement, these paths are the easiest to take.

But, like the sidewalks and pavement, these paths take longer to traverse, just as individual successes do not always make for national progress. The unceasing critic could get elected, but not get the job done. The immigrant could get his visa, but disappear from our brainpower pool. The highly paid employee would be underutilized for his skills, and pine to get the job he truly wants, but is now out of his reach. And the country, and we, are poorer because of these.

Today, the nation needs brave, defiant pioneers to reverse our nation's slide to despair. Today, we must call upon the spirit that beat the tracks. Today, we must present an alternative way of doing things.

Do NOT just take courage, for courage is not enough. Instead, be BRAVE! It will take bravery to go against popular wisdom, against the clichéd expectations of family and friends. It will take bravery to gamble your future by staying in the country and try to make a prosperous life here. It might help if for a start, we try to see why our Korean friends are flocking to our country. Why, as many of us line up for immigrant visas in various embassies, they get themselves naturalized and settle here. Do they know something we don't?

Do NOT just be strong in your convictions, for strength is not enough. Instead, DEFY the pressure to lead a comfortable, but middling life. Let us lead this country from the despair of mediocrity. Let us not seek to do well, but strive to EXCEL in everything that we do. This, so others will see us as a nation of brains of the highest quality, not just of brawn that could be had for cheap.

Take NOT the road less traveled. Rather, MAKE new roads, BLAZE new trails, FIND new routes to your dreams. Unlike the track-beaters in campus who see where they're going, we may not know how far we can go. But if we are brave, defiant searchers of excellence, we will go far. Explore possibilities, that others may get a similar chance. I have tried it myself. And I'm speaking to you now.

But talk is cheap, they say. And so I put my money where my mouth is. Today, I place myself in the service of the University, if it will have me. I would like to teach, to share knowledge, and perhaps to be an example to new UP students in thinking and striving beyond the limits of the possible. This may only be a small disturbance in the grass. But I hope you'll come with me, and trample a new path.

Good evening, everyone.

sabi ni bishop soc

ano nga ba ang masasabi natin tungkol sa nakaraang hangalan, este, halalan? understatement na yata ng taon ang sabihing may nangyaring dayaan nitong eleksyon. walang understatement sa mga pahayag ni bishop soc at ng kaparian ng balanga. halos nasabi na ang lahat nang masasabi. ang nangya(ya)ri sa bataan ay nangya(ya)ri din sa albay at sa iba't-ibang lugar sa bansa. magawa na rin sana ang dapat na magawa.

.......

DIOCESE OF BALANGA

Sulat-Pastoral Ukol sa Nakaraang Halalan sa Bataan

ANG KABANALAN NG HALALAN

Nagsalita na ang balota subalit hindi tinig ng konsensiya ang lubusang narinig. Ang nanaig sa karamihan ay ang nakasisilaw na pera. May sigla sa buong bayan subalit ang siglang ito ay kahiya-hiya at kalapastanganan sa Diyos. Ito ay katulad ng pagsasayaw ng mga Israelita sa harap ng ginintuang diyus-diyosan sa ilang. Bagamat tayo ay nanalangin at nangarap upang maging malinis ang halalan, hindi ito ipinagkaloob sa atin dahil na rin sa ating sariling kabuktutan at kanya-kanyang pagkukulang.

Parami nang parami ang hindi na nababagabag sa buhay ng panlilinlang at ginagawa na lamang nating katatawanan. Sa maraming bahagi ng ating lalawigan, lantaran nang humahanay ang ating mga kababayan upang tanggapin ang kanilang bayad sa botong dapat sana ay banal at walang kasing halaga.

Nagsimula na rin nating maranasan ang matalim na sungay ng karahasan sa ilang bahagi ng ating lalawigan na nagdulot ng takot sa ilan sa atin. Masugpo na sana ang mga binhing ito ng karahasan at huwag nang lumala pa sa susunod na halalan.

Ano ang nangyari sa atin at humantong tayo sa ganitong kababang moralidad? Para sa isang lalawigang halos lahat ay naniniwala sa Diyos, paano natin nagawa na hamakin ang sarili nang dahil lamang sa tukso ng madaliang salapi? Para sa isang lalawigang kung saan ang lahat ng simbahan ay napupuno sa dami ng nagsisimba linggu-linggo, paano natin nagawang itapon ang ating dangal bilang mga anak ng Diyos at makipag-ulayaw sa mga manlilinlang at buktot na gawi ng ihahalal na pinuno ng bayan? May malaking bangin na naghihiwalay sa buhay pansimbahan at buhay panlipunan.

Kung walang pandaraya sa bilangan ng balota, ang sinumang makatanggap ng pinakamaraming boto ang siyang ituturing na nagwagi ayon sa batas ng pamahalaan. Subalit ayon sa pamantayang moral, ang sinumang manungkulan batay sa panlalamang, panlilinlang o pagbabayad ay may mabigat na kasalanan sa harap ng Diyos. Ang panulukang bato ng kanyang panunungkulan ay hindi Diyos kundi kasalanan. Ang pagbebenta ng balota na dapat ay banal at walang kasing halaga ay mabigat ding kasalanan sa Diyos.

Alam natin ang nangyaring panlilinlang, pagsasamantala sa mga dukha at pagpapagamit natin sa mga buktot na kandidato. Tayo lang ba ang nakakaalam? Hindi natutulog ang Diyos. Ang bayang walang takot sa Diyos ay isinumpa na sa pagdurusa dito pa lamang sa mundong ito. Sa mga kandidato na walang kahihiyang nagtataguyod ng kabuktutan ay mayroon ding nakaumang na kaparusahan. Ang kanyang panunungkulan ay siya na ring sumpa sa bayang nagbili ng boto. Tiyak na babawiin niya ang kanyang pinuhunan mula rin sa kaban ng bayan o kaya ay sa pagtataguyod at pagpapalaganap ng jueteng o iba pang bisyo.

Matahimik nga ang ating halalan subalit ang katahimikang ito ay hindi maka-Diyos. Walang namatay sa Bataan nang dahil sa halalan. Salamat sa Diyos. Subalit maraming konsiyensya ang namatay, maraming utos ng Diyos ang sinuway at maraming kaluluwa ang nawasak. Bumalik tayo sa Diyos at pagsisihan ang katatapos na halalan. Ito ang pinakamarumi sa lahat ng halalang naganap sa Bataan at walang kapantay sa bilihan ng boto, panlalamang at panlilinglang sa mga mahihirap. Ang talunan at ang nagwagi ay kapwa may kasalanan. Ang naghalal at ang nahalal ay kapwa may bahid ng maruming halalan. Ang simbahan at lipunan ay nagluluksa sa ganitong katayuan ng Bataan.

May pag-asa pa ba tayo?

Mayroong pa tayong pag-asa at dapat pa rin tayong umasa. Ang mga bumoto nang ayon sa kanilang konsiyensya at tumangging ipagbili ang kanilang boto ay mga tanda ng pag-asa. Dagdag pa rito ang mga masisigasig na PPCRV volunteers. Sila ang pinagkatiwalaan ng maraming mamamayang maka-Diyos pa rin ang pangarap. Mayroon ding ilang mga kandidato ang nanindigan para sa malinis na kampanya. Ang mga tapat at masisipag na guro sa ating paaralan na nagtiis ng gutom at puyat, pagod at init ng panahon upang makapaglingkod sa Inang bayan. Silang lahat ay mga bayaning tunay.

Pag-alabin natin ang pag-asa ng Bataan. Wakasan na natin ang makasalanan at maruming halalan at ibabalik natin ang paghahari ng Diyos sa ating pamahalaan at lipunan.

Mula sa Katedral ng San Jose, Lungsod ng Balanga, ikalabing anim ng Mayo, 2007

ANG OBISPO AT KAPARIAN NG DIYOSESIS NG BALANGA

Pinoy Voters' Academy (PVA) - Legazpi Edition // Session 1: PILIPINAS, NAG-GROW KA NA BA?

Diocese of Legazpi Voters’ Education Module for the May 2007 Elections

PAGPOON

Sabi daa, igwa nin tolong season sa Pilipinas: dry season, wet season, election season. Election season na naman! “The circus has come to town”, sabi kan headline kan Inquirer sa pagpoon kan campaign period sa national level. May kantahan, may baraylehan (boom-tarat-tarat!). May padurukutan ki posters (itanim sa semento!). Kanya-kanyang gimik para marumduman (K’ na ‘Tol? Corecto! Pero kung bad ka…) Pero may naghaharapot man: “Arog na sana kita kaini pirmi?”

Dai manenegaran an importansya kan eleksyon sa satong buhay demokrasya. An pagtiripon ta ngonyan sarong pag-aadal kun gurano man nanggad kahalaga an gigibohon ta sa Mayo 14 asin kun ano na an nangyayari matapos tang manusnusan an satong balota. Mag-iristoryahan kita kan kan drama sa likod ng halalan. Game ka na ba?

A. PILIPINAS, NAG-GROW KA NA BA?

Opening Activity: Eleksyong Pinoy II (VCD)

Tryad: Maggrupo sa 3 asin mag-iristoryahan. Simbagan:

a. Ano an pinaka-dai-ko-malingawan duman sa pasali?

b. Ano an makusogon na naiisip o namamatean ko mantang naghihiling?

Talk: Nat-Sit: An Sitwasyon kan Nasyon

1. Ekonomiya

· Presyo nin barakalon: halos nadoble na asin padagos pang naglalangkaw (NSCB)

· Unemployment rate na 8.2% = maabot 3 million jobless Filipinos (NSO, April 2006)

· National debt P3.89 Trillion na, boot sabihon, kun kwentahon sa 84 milyon na populasyon, maluwas na, kada pamilya, may bayadan na P46,309.50 (FDC)

· 33% kan kayamanan kapot kan 5% na elite, mantang 6% sana kan kayamanan na ini an nagagamit kan 25% kapobrehan (World Bank & Tatsulok ni Bamboo ;-)

· 42 milyon Pilipino an nabubuhay sa P100 daily subsistence budget (World Bank)

· 73% pamilya an nagsasabing mas pobre sinda ngonyan kaysa kan nakaaging taon

· 3 sa 10 Pilipino an muyang maghale sa Pilipinas (Pulse Asia, October 2005)

2. Pulitika

· Grabe an pagkabaranga sa satong pulitika

· Pigkukwestiyon pa man giraray kun talagang lehitimo an liderato ni GMA

· People’ Initiative & Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) na pigsulong para gamiton sa Charter Change (Cha-Cha), nahihiling na piggagamit sa pansadiring interes kan mga pulitiko

· P1.2 Trillion an nawara dahil sa graft and corruption sa nakaaging 5 taon (Transparency International); maabot P100 Million an nawawara aroaldaw sa corruption sana (Office of the Ombudsman Report, 2005) ; 48% kan PDAF kan mga Senador asin Congressmen an napasiring sa mga “kumisyon” (Former DBM Secretary Salvador Enriquez)

· #1 most corrupt country in Asia an Pilipinas susog sa pinakhudyan na survey kan PERC.

· Dakulonon na, nagdadakul pa, an biktima kan political and extra-judicial killing

· May mga LGU na nagpapahiling nin maray na trabaho maski dakul an limitasyon

3. Kultura asin Sosyedad

· Dakul an nalilibongan. Dakulang dahilan kaini an hampangan na pag-utik kan mga pulitiko, asin an manipulasyon kan impormasyon, na pigpapaagi sa media.

· An kadaklan habo nang makiaram sa mga problema kan satong banwaan.

· Minaluya an moralidad kan satong sosyedad, minalabog an kaibahan kan sala asin tama. Minsan an sala nagiging tama, asin tama nagiging sala. Minaroro an kunsensya kan indibidwal asin kan bilog na banwaan.

· “Philippine politics, the way it is practiced, has been most hurtful to us as a people. It is possibly the biggest bane in our life as a nation and the most pernicious obstacle to our achieving full development.” (CBCP 1997 Pastoral Exhortation on Philippine Politics)

4. Eleksyon

· Top 5 answers on Who People Voted For (SWS-IPC)

1. Madaling lapitan 4. Kakayahan: Competence

2. Pinagkaka-utangan ng loob 5. Kabutihan: Moral integrity/Decency

3. Kamag-anak

· How Albayanos Voted for their Leaders (Albay Pulse)

Qualities	1st District	2nd District	3rd District	Legazpi City	Albay Province
Credibility / Integrity	8.8	33.3	34.9	25.9	25.6
Dependability and Reliability	17.6	43.9	15.1	19.0	21.9
Capability and Competence	39.2	47.0	34.1	51.7	40.9
Approachability and Compassion	56.9	36.4	30.2	25.9	38.4

5. Simbag kan Simbahan

· “We are to provide moral and religious guidance to our people. This is what we offer in the present crisis… Not to do this would be an abdication of our duty.” (CBCP, “A Plea for Moral Values in Philippine Politics”, July 2005)

· “We have to intensify our commitment to build in our land a ‘civilization of love’ by

o prophetically critiquing and denouncing injustice; and

o prompting positive actions that will promote a ‘society befitting mankind because it befits Christ’ (CSP 8,63).” (CBCP, “Building a Civilization of Love”, May 2006)

· We commit ourselves to a threefold program of pastoral action of

o building character through a continuing advocacy of fostering moral values in public life;

o building capacity through programs that empower our people, especially the poor, to participate in their own development and in the continuing work of creation; and

o building community through the promotion of a spirituality of citizenship, which is a concrete way of living out in our country the “fundamental social virtue”– solidarity.

· “We seek only one thing: to apply the values of the Gospel to our electoral process. We are calling every parish organization and institution – and the BECs most especially – to be mobilized to the utmost to do what each can do towards that end. This means, too, that they must form linkages with one another and with other like-minded civic and religious associations that are working to help clean the dirt from our easily corrupted electoral process.” (CBCP, “Letter to Dioceses and Parishes”, January 2007)

Pinoy Voters' Academy (PVA) - Legazpi Edition // Session 2: ANG TANONG SA BAYAN: DEAL OR NO DEAL?

Opening Activity: Albayano, Ikaw ba Ito?

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.

Nakasurat sa papel an mga minasunod na pahayag. Sa big group session, pagborotohan kun arin an “pinaka-convincing” na pahayag. Magpili nin Top 3. Magdiskusyon nguna kun nata ta iyo an pinili.

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.

Talk: Pwera Bola, Mas Marhay Talaga an Magsayuma

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. Pangana an vote-buying sa satong rona. Dipisil na daang mawara. Dapat daa an bagohon, iyo an batas sa eleksyon. Pero an sakuyang tuga: Pwera bola, mas marhay talaga an magsayuma.

1. Sabi daa, “An kwarta sa bulsa, an boto sa balota”.

· Sala. Labag ini sa batas (Omnibus Election Code, R.A. 881, Art. 23, Sec. 26.1a-b) asin kasalan sa Dios nin huli ta bako ini paggalang sa pagkasagrado kan balota asin kan deretso ta sa pagboto.

· Pagmag-ako kita nin kwarta sa kandidato pigpapabakal ta an diretso ta sa maray na paggogobyerno. Makareklamo ka pa kun nabakal ka na? Arin an papaorogon ta: an dikta kan kwarta o dikta kan kunsensya?

· An kwartang pambakal kan boto mo, babawion sa kurakot pagmakapwesto!

2. Pero sayang kan kwarta, pwedeng makatabang, makabakal ki kun ano pa…

· Pero marhay daw na magpakaogma o magpakaon sa pamilya na bako sa marhay na paagi nakua?

· Saen pigkukua kan kandidato an kwartang pigtatao? Nata ta minagibo siya nin siring para sana manggana? Ano man an balos na katukal kan balotang pinabakal?

· Dakul pang mga tawong marhay, may kakayahan asin pagmakulog sa banwaan, alagad dai minadalagan ta daing kwartang pantao. Kun presyohan pa an pagboto ta, siisay na sana an matatada na boot magserbe sa banwaan ta?

3. Pero sayang ta kun dai ko kuahon, iba an makua...

· Pero bako mas sayang su pagrumpag kan satong integridad asin prinsipyo? O su epekto kaini sa mga kaakian na natatangadan an mga gurang?

· Kun mag-ako kita nin kwarta, naku-corrupt kita. Pigku-corrupt ta man an mga kandidato. Parte na kita kan pagdanay asin paglakop kan corruption sa satong nasyon.

· Gusto ta ki pagbabago? Tama na an reklamo. Igwa kita ki magiginibo: DAI IPABAKAL AN BOTO. Kun dai na ki mag-ako, dai na man ki matao.

4. Pero saro-saroe man sana ako, su kadaklan iyo pa man giraray...

· Maski saro, maski diit may impact an satong pagsayuma para sa mga tawo sa palibot ta – kapamilya, kabarkada, kamidbid. Dangan bako man kita solo, kairiba ta si Kristo. Sa pasaro-saro, sa padiit-diit, madakul man kita. May 16.2% na nagsayuma kan nakaaging eleksyon, susog sa pag-aadal na “Albay Pulse”. 16.2% kan 72.8% na mga botanteng tinangro nin lagay = 11.8%. Idagdag digdi an 27.2% na dai tinangro nin kwarta = 39% sa mga botante an dai nakakua nin kwarta kan nakaaging eleksyon. Bako ini diit asin pwede ta pa dagdagan.

· Pipaabot ta man sa mga kandidato na dai kaipuhan magbakal nin boto para makatukaw sa pwesto.

· AN PAGBAGO KAN SATONG PULITIKA, MAPOON SA SATO MAN SANA. KUN BAKO NGONYAN, NUARIN PA?

Pinoy Voters' Academy (PVA) - Legazpi Edition // Session 3: JESUS: BIG BROTHER

Opening Activity: Wish Ko Lang

Isurat sa papel: 3 wishes para sa Lokal na Banwaan, 2 wishes para sa Banwaan na Pilipinas.

Tryad: Maggrupo sa 3 asin mag-iristoryahan kan sadiring mga wishes.

Big group: Tiponon asin i-rank an top 5 o 10 wishes.

Konklusyon: Magagayon an satong mga pangatorogon para sa satong banwaan. Ano daw an pwede tang gibohon para mangyare an mga ini? Ano an mga nakakaulang para makua ta an satong mga kamawotan? Bilang mga Kristyano, igwa kita nin mas makusog na rason kun nata importante an pagboto nin responsable.

Talk: Mt 25,31-46:Ang Text sa Likod ng Halalan

Pagbasa sa Evangelio susog ki San Mateo.

Pag-omawon ka, Kagurangnan.

Pagdatong kan Aki nin Tawo sa saiyang kamurawayan, asin kan mga anghel na kaiba niya, matukaw siya sa trono nyang mamuraway. Titiriponon sa atubangan niya an gabos na nasyon; asin susuruway-suway sinda siring kan pagsuruway-suway kan pastor kan mga karnero sa kanding, asin papatindogon niya an saiyang mga karnero sa saiyang tuo, alagaad an mga kanding sa wala.

Dangan masabi an hade sa mga nasa tuo niya: “Madya, mga paladan kan sakong Ama; manaha nindo an itinagama saindong kahadean puon muknaon an kinaban. Ta nagugutom ako, asin saindong pinakakan; napaha, asin pinainom;dayuhan, asin pinadagos; huba, asin ginubingan;naghehelang, asin dinalaw; ibinilanggo, asin sinungko.”

Dangan masimbag saiya an mga maimbod, na an sabi: “Kagurangnan, kasuarin mi ika nahiling na nagugutom asin pinakakan nyamo, o napapaha asin pinainom nyamo? Kasuarin mi ika nahiling na dayuhan asin pinadagos nyamo, o huba asin ginubingan nyamo? Kasuarin mi ika nahiling na naghehelang o nabilanggo asin samong sinungko?” masimbag an hade asin masabi sainda: “Sa katotoohan nagsasabi ako saindo: An ano man na ginibo nindo sa saro kaining mga tugang kong urog kasadit, sa sako nindo iyan ginibo”.

Dangan masabi man siya sa mga yaon sa wala: “Rumayo kamo sako, mga maraot na tawo, pasiring sa kalayo na daing kataposan, na inandam para sa Diablo asin sa saiyang mga anghel!Ta nagutom ako, asin dai nindo ako pinakakan; napaha, asin dai pinainom;dayuhan, asin dai pinadagos; huba, asin dai ginubingan;naghelang saka nabilanggo, asin dai sinungko.”

Dangan masimbag man sinda, na an sabi: “Kagurangnan, kasuarin mi ika nahiling na nagugutom o napapaha o dayuhan o huba o naghehelang o nabibilanggo asin dai mi ika inasikaso?” Dangan masimbag siya sainda, na an sabi: “Sa katotoohan nagsasabi ako saindo: An ano man na dai nindo ginibo sa saro kaining urog kasadit, dai nindo iyan sa sako ginibo”. Mahale an mga ini pasiring sa padusa na daing kataposan, alagad si mga maimbod pasiring sa buhay na daing kasagakoran.”

Marahay na Bareta nin satong Kagurangnan.

Pag-omawon ka, Kristo.

Talk: Jesus Big Brother: Eleksyon na sa Bahay ni Kuya

1. Sabi sa binasang ebangelyo, sa Ikaduwang Pagdatong ni Jesus, madigdi sya sa paghukom sa gabos na tawo. Mas pa ki Big Brother na nahihiling an gabos na nangyayari sa bahay ni kuya, midbid ni Jesus an bilog tang pagkatawo.

2. An saiyang paghukom, arog kaini: ipapamidbid niya sato kun siisay man nanggad kita susog sa pagkamidbid niya sa sato. Mahihiling ta sa liwanag kan katotoohan ni Kristo an satong mga karahayan asin karatan, mga kakayahan asin kaluyahan, mga pangatorogan asin kakundian.

3. An pinakapunto kan Ebanghelyo iyo ini: kaipuhan maggibo nin marhay sa kapwa para maligtas. Kulang asin kanogon an pagtubod asin pamibi na dai minapasaring sa gibo. An mga gibong herak: pagpakakan sa nagugutom; pagpainom sa napapaha;pagpadagos sa daing estaran; pagtaong-bado sa daing mababado;pakidumamay sa naghehelang; pagsungko sa nabibilanggo.Boot sabihon, obligasyon ta na tabangan an kapwang nasasakitan.

4. Pero bako daw na obligasyon ta man na aramon asin papundohon an mga tawo asin sistema na iyo an mga dahilan kan pagkagutom asin pagkapaha kan satong kapwa? Bako daw na obligasyon ta man na tabangan na mapakarhay an serbisyo publiko kan gobyerno, halimbawa sa health asin edukasyon? Bako daw na obligasyon ta man na surogon an mga biktima nin inhustisya asin karahasan, an mga napepreso dahil sa salang bintang? Boot sabihon, obligasyon ta man na bagohon an sistema o istruktura na dahilan kan pagsakit kan satong banwaan.

5. An eleksyon saro sa mga pinakaepektibong paagi sa pagbago kan satong banwaan. An responsableng pagboto, maaapod na gibong marhay (good works) o gibong herak (work of mercy) na magugustuhan nin Kagurangnan. An daing pagpakiaram asin an pagpabakal nin boto ngonyan na eleksyon, mga “ugaling kanding” na dai Niya naooyonan asin isisingil satuya sa Huring Paghukom.

6. Kumbinsido kamo kaini? Ngonyan, an satong kaipuhan iyo ini: mga tawong mabalangibog kan marhay na bareta nin tamang pagboto. Kaipuhan kan satong banwaan nin mga tawong dai masusupog o matatakot na mapagal, maulukan, o pag-isipan nin maraot, sa paghingowa na mapakarhay an satong banwaan, sa paghigos na mabago an salang kultura kan satong eleksyon. Ika na daw ini?

AN SAKONG PANUGA PARA SA RESPONSABLENG PAGBOTO

Ako si ______________________, residente kan Barangay______________, sa Parokya_______________, Munisipalidad/Syudad nin_____________, Diyosesis nin Legazpi, Probinsya nin Albay, sa sakong maigot na pagtubod na an eleksyon dapat na malinig, maimbod asin nakakatabang sa banwaan, minasumpa na

1. Dai ako mapabakal nin boto o maako nin kwarta hale sa kandidato;

2. Ibabalangibog ko an kahalagahan kan dai pagpabakal nin boto sa sakong mga kapamilya, katood, kamidbid asin sa gabos na boot magdangog;

3. Mahingowa ako na makatabang, susog sa sakong kakayahan, sa pagpakarhay kan satong komunidad asin banwaan.

4. ________________________________________________ .

sa tabang ni Birhen Maria, Nuestra Señora de Salvacion asin ni San ___________, Patron kan sakong Parokya, sa balaog nin Mahal na Dios.

________________________
Pangaran Pirma Petsa

________________________
Saksi

________________________
Saksi

reming

The joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the people of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted, are the joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the followers of Christ as well.

Gaudium et Spes 1

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Hope springs eternal.

Our prayers for God's abundant blessings for all those who have helped us in our time of need.

this is your invitation to our ordination

This is your invitation to our Ordination
to the Sacred Order of Presbyters
by the grace of God and the laying on
of hands of our bishop. That day
will be rife with meaning and filled
with possibilities; timely, too, for
celebrating the kindness of friends
and family who helped made that day
possible. We hope you can join us
in the Eucharist and Ordination Rite
at 8:30 a.m., 8 December 2006, Friday,
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception,
at the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Great
in Legazpi City, and share in the joy
of that day with us, dream dreams
for the Church with us, and pray
that we remain thankfully, faithfully
Shepherds after His own heart.

"I give you shepherds after my own heart." Jeremiah 3,15


Rev. Rex Paul Arjona y Bragais
son of Renato Arjona Sr. and Socorro Bragais
Thanksgiving Mass: 8 December 2006, 4:00 p.m.
St. John the Baptist Parish, Tabaco City

Rev. Gerard Arroyo y Bonayon
son of Simeon Arroyo and Corazon Bonayon
Thanksgiving Mass: 10 December 2006, 3:00 p.m.
St. Anthony of Padua Parish, San Antonio, Tabaco City

Rev. Emman Avila y Belchez
son of Armingol Avila and Evangeline Belchez
Thanksgiving Mass: 9 December 2006, 9:00 a.m.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Malilipot

Rev. Jose Baranda Jr. y Benasa
son of Jose Baranda Sr. and Rose Benasa
Thanksgiving Mass: 10 December 2006, 9:00 a.m.
St. Rose of Lima Parish, Bacacay

Rev. Roque Patanao y Oliquiano
son of Segundino Patanao and Delia Oliquiano
Thanksgiving Mass: 9 December 2006, 3:00 p.m.
St. Stephen Proto-Martyr Parish, Ligao City


ORDAINING PRELATE
Most Rev. Nestor C. Cariño, D.D.
Bishop of Legazpi

together with
Most Rev. Lucilo B. Quiambao, D.D.Auxiliary Bishop of Legazpi

Most Rev. Jose C. Sorra, D.D.
Bishop-Emeritus of Legazpi

and the Presbyterium of the Diocese of Legazpi

pope meets world

The Post-9/11 world that is. And he’s finding it too thrilling for comfort. What started as an innocuous homecoming lecture, filled with the usual erudition and staidness as one would expect from Pope Benedict XVI, churned out the most controversial and dangerous results.

The offending words: “Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached” (lines spoken by 14^th century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Paleologos in a dialogue with a Persian scholar). Of course, Benedict XVI didn’t mean that he agreed with the opinion of the Emperor.

The other offending point was the Pope’s assessment of Sura 2;256 (“There is no compulsion in religion”): “According to the experts, this is one of the suras of the early period, when Mohammed was still powerless and under threat. But naturally the emperor also knew the instructions, developed later and recorded in the Qur'an, concerning holy war.”

The Pope might have thought it apt and even timely to use these points as jumping board to scholarly discussions on the transcendence of God, the dynamics of faith and reason and the contradictory natures of religion and violence. The points, however, jumped farther than he imagined.

Several Muslim scholars have since challenged the accuracy of the Pope’s observation and that of his sources, as well as certain other theological points concerning Islam that he made in the lecture. Many also thought he could have exercised a little more sensitivity and prudence in his choice of words. However, the intensity of violent reactions from the Muslim world – the rounds of vitriolic condemnation from Muslim leaders, incomplete, of course, without the fatwas and flag-burning; the demand for recalling Papal legates in some Muslim countries; the bombing of Christian churches (many of them non-Catholic) in West Bank, Gaza and Iraq; and the murder of an elderly Italian nun in Mogadishu allegedly because of it – have turned out to be, at once, inexcusable, ironic, understandable and expected.

Inexcusable because violence is never a fitting response to an academic opinion. Plus the inherent irrational nature of terrorist acts. Plus the appalling disproportion of the reactions. Suspicion of blasphemy is enough to merit several death sentences; allegation of disrespect to the tenets of another faith is sufficient ground to bomb churches.

Ironic because so much of the aggression has been pointed (1) at Pope Benedict XVI himself, icon of intellectual rigor and dogmatic correctness; (2) and at the Catholic Church (and other Christian Churches, by association) who is among those at the forefront of dialogue, peace-seeking and lobbying in behalf of Muslims in war-torn areas. And (3) radical Islamists dream of the day when everyone will think of them as men of peace by killing today those who think otherwise.

Understandable, to an extent, if one considers the Muslim context: a history of general poverty (despite the affluence of some oil-producing Arab nations), lack of proper education, suspicion against the encroachment of Western culture to their society and traditions, and recently, the wars involving “Christian West” versus Muslim peoples in Bosnia, Chechnya, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Expected because, in this Post-9/11 world, if you’re a world leader and you say something in public that falls short of perfection about the Prophet and Islam, do you expect to have peace of mind afterwards?

The Pope has since issued several apologies for the confusion and hurt of those who misinterpreted his words and intentions. The Vatican has made diplomatic moves to ease the tension and work for a return to normalcy of relations. Some were relatively satisfied with the apologies. Some just could not get over it.

Other than a costly lesson on religious sensitivity, the controversy has come to highlight certain facts: the growth in strength over the years of the threat of radical Islamists; the need to truly understand and properly respond to this phenomenon; the paucity of the West’s response to it so far (i.e., economic sanctions and military occupations); and the need for continuing and effective dialogue and peace-building among cultures.

Nothing new under the sun really; just a timely jolt to remind the Church of certain realities it has come to terms with in our Post-9/11 world, just like everybody else.

senti

Today it has been 1 year, 1 week & 2 days since I got ordained as a deacon.

This anniversary fact first came last 16 September when I went to the ordination to the diaconate of some members of the batch next to us at San Jose.

It was a bright Saturday morning. The ordinandi were visibly beaming as well. Their family and friends were present. Bp. Bacani was the ordaining prelate. Loyola House's St. Ignatius Oratory turned smaller with all the guests who came to witness the ordination, some of them spilling to the side corridors. A few happy tears too were spilled at certain high moments of the rite: 5 young men prostrated on the sanctuary's marble floor as the congregation invoke the intercession of the saints; Bp. Bacani laying his hands on each of them, one after the other, to confer the Sacred Order of the Diaconate; the newly-ordained vesting for the first time the deacon's stole and the dalmatic, assisted by their parish priest, another priest-friend and their parents.

Aside from the obvious remembrance of a similar event which happened 1 day shy of a year ago, suddenly it came to me: I was back again at San Jose, back to its familiar familial atmosphere, back once more to the company of people whom I shared space and life with just a few eternal months ago. Words like magis, cura personalis, familiaritas cum Deo, et al. rushed back and claimed their lost meanings. Even the old oft-quoted words appeared with the freshness of a just-heard thing: “Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you will do with your evenings, how you will spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love and it will decide everything.”

Amen to that and to all such Jesuit/Ignatian words, even if today they are no longer confidently attributed to the saintly Pedro Arrupe, S.J. It was an ordination, a most fitting time to hear once more those words in the homily, in the words of thanks, in conversations – including the one which I and a classmate had as we did a celebration of sorts for our ordination anniversary the next day, Sunday.

I can’t help but compare. I’ve only been in my diocese since April, a little less than six months, yet it seemed I have acquired a new epistemology, a new set of things to learn and live with: the literature of pastoral bulletins and circulars; the unique sociology of a provincial presbyterium; the psychology of clerical age-groups; the economics of remittances; the mathematics of bination, trination, quaternation and pluri-intention Masses; the politics of social action; the different management styles of pastors; the procedural arcana of our general assembly; an alternate philology for words like: prayer, dialogue, support system, on-going formation, simplicity of lifestyle, and especially, Church of the Poor.

Limited experience and viewpoint notwithstanding, it seems to me rather strong, this seeing of varied levels of dissatisfaction and dissipation among our clergy. There seems to exist among us a heady mix of several coping/escape mechanisms: a groping for direction, a desperate clinging to the stability of the status quo, a nostalgia for real/imagined better by-gone days. Yet in all this, the Word of God continues to be preached, the work of evangelization proceeds at a certain pace, the People of God have not been relatively led astray. Our situation sometimes gives new dimensions to St. Therese of Lisieux’s “everything is grace”.

If I were fatalistic I would say I sense, as I sometimes do, an imminent time for reaping the rewards of all our blunders and good intentions, of our denials and discernments, of our failings and excesses, of our diligence and fidelity – in short and in Gospel-speak, a day of harvest both of those wheat and weeds we have so (choose your adverb) planted. But I am not.

I am just a transitional deacon, 1 year, 1 week & 2 days older.

Ora pro nobis.

we don't want to delve into that

“Technically Lafayette has been compliant with all the conditions. The political and economic issues would be a different matter… we don’t want to delve into that.” So said Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Director Horacio Ramos (Phil. Star, Fri, 8 Sept. 2006, p.2).

What’s wrong with this statement? Two things:

1. A high-ranking DENR official gives advance notice of yet another anomalous government decision: the permanent lifting of the order which suspended the operations of a recidivist multinational mining company, in the aftermath of a series of mine spills and fish kill in October 2005.

2. A virtual announcement of yet another government-Lafayette collusion and whitewash. Ramos, in his great fervor to endorse Lafayette’s mining operations in Rapu-Rapu, admits to have judged as having no practical merit to the case, as far as he/the MGB is concerned, such issues as: Lafayette's glaring lack of social acceptability, its cheating the people of taxes and revenues, its social and economic cost to the lives and livelihood of the locals (which the company tries to assuage with its palliative and deceptive community development programs), its proven destruction of the environment, and the MOST RECENT SERIES OF FISH KILL WHICH HAPPENED ON JULY 2006 - well within the schedule of the test run.

On record in the Rapu-Rapu Sangguniang Bayan minutes: some residents saw several DENR officials on the site of the fish kill, while it was happening. As usual, no picture evidence of the incident ever surfaced. And all this time company representatives were all over the media, preaching their new-found mantra ever since the “take-over” of the “new” board: transparency...responsible mining...transparency... responsible mining...

That is when they weren’t busy accusing Greenpeace and the whole motley of local anti-mining advocates (including, presumably but left unmentioned, the Dioceses of Legazpi and Sorsogon) of staging the fish kill themselves via an elaborate plan that involved smuggling into Rapu-Rapu a sizable volume of pesticide and then stealthily dumping it all into one of several heavily guarded (by both private guards and the military) creeks in the island.

But they don’t have pictures of that Operation Whatever taken either. What they have is made of far stronger stuff: the testimony/rantings of Gov. Raul Lee of Sorsogon in an interview with a notoriously pro-Lafayette PDI Southern Luzon Bureau reporter. How reassuring it is for the people of Sorsogon to hear their governor passionately defend a company coming from foreign lands, operating in another province, yet posing as the gravest threat to date to their own province's booming eco-tourism industry. Pity the butandings, they're no match for Lafayette in enlisting the support of local officials.

What's wrong with the quote again? DENR should be releasing the result of the tests they have presumably conducted during/right after the fish kill, instead the news article where that quote is taken has this for its headline: "DENR says Lafayette fit to resume operations in Rapu-Rapu".

As an afterthought, MGB Director Ramos gives a token display of realism and balance: “We cannot preempt though the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB), which would decide on whether to lift the suspension order or not.” But of course, he doesn't want to preempt the PAB, he just wants to prepare the ground for when their decision comes out.

In a recent mobilization in Legazpi City, a couple or so banners bore the words, "DENR: Destroyer of the Environment and Natural Resources". With public officials like these, that claim might turn out to be closer to reality than we think.

apathy is bliss

let us be united for our country's sake.
no more impeachment.
no more protests.
they won't listen anyway.
i'd still go for elections, for it's part of our democracy.
but no more election watch.
no more namfrel. no more ppcrv.
everybody cheats and steals anyway.
let's just ask the cbcp to issue another pastoral letter,
then cheer them for doing their prophetic duty.
amen for critical collaboration.
amen for pro-poor donations.
then, let's move on.
let this government be.
let oppositionists and leftists fight their own battles.
morality for political expediency.
let's get real.
let's move on.
no more truth-seeking,
apathy is bliss, apathy for progress.

.......

A Call for Unity and Sacrifice

It’s been a year after the Garci tapes first surfaced, and we are still hopelessly divided as ever. Each side appeal to the other to join their cause, both claim to represent the majority. The anti-GMA forces base their claim on survey results which consistently show that a vast majority believe GMA cheated. Pro-GMA forces claim the people have spoken – they have not responded to the opposition calls for protest. They conveniently forget that neither have the people responded to their call to move on.

The truth is we are in a political gridlock. And the situation will continue to worsen unless we see a breakthrough in the current impasse.

It is unreasonable to expect GMA and her allies to budge. Therefore, the only option left is for us within the anti-GMA camp, who claims to be motivated by love of country, to make the supreme sacrifice by abandoning our quest for the truth. After all, truth is a small price to pay for progress.

Let us heed the admonition of the bishops. They discourage us from pursuing impeachment, convinced that it will fail, and will only dismay every citizen. Besides, they question the motivation of some groups in our rank. In effect, they’re saying we might inadvertently abet the return of Erap, the succession of Noli (whom they probably see as incompetent), or worse, the ascendancy of the communists. So, let’s not waste our time and energy on impeachment.

While at it, let’s ask the poor to stop filing cases in court. They will only be dismayed since we all know it takes money to win a case. They will do all of us a favor by unclogging the dockets in our court system. The wheels of justice will finally grind faster, especially for those with enough money to influence the court decisions.

And what’s all this talk about asking the US government to deport Bolante so he can finally testify at the Senate hearing? We all know that he will simply deny all allegations, just like Garci did, and nothing much will happen. We will only be dismayed. Let’s not waste any more taxpayers’ money on all these Senate inquiries in aid of legislation.

On the other hand, the bishops want us to continue denouncing the palace-led people’s initiative for charter change. They find the haste by which Malacanang is pushing this rather alarming. I wonder why they do not find the alleged cheating and the subsequent cover-up efforts by the palace equally alarming.

I also wonder why they have decided to fight this one when the very same groups whose motivation they question are fighting this one, too. I guess it’s because non-partisan groups like One Voice and Kapatiran, are endorsing it. They have no agenda (just like many of us in the anti-GMA camp, anyway) and they know what’s best for this country. Let us join them and speak with one voice on this issue.

While at it, let’s also heed the repeated appeals of the “top 600 women” and businessmen like Donald Dee for us to stop all forms of protest. They only scare investors away and imperil the economy. Let’s not nitpick on the issue of cheating. Everybody cheats anyway. Some of them even expect us to be thankful for GMA’s cheating, because it saved us from an FPJ presidency. The end justifies the means.

Let’s not bother to have elections in 2007 and 2010. In fact, let’s not have elections ever. Everybody will cheat, anyway. And we run the risk of our mindless masa voting another incompetent movie personality into office. Let’s just leave the future of this nation to these all-knowing non-partisan groups. Never mind that the rest of our people do not agree with them. They know better.

Some of them actually believe that what this nation needs at this time is a benevolent dictator. And they cite Singapore’s success under Lee Kwan Yu as the best example. No wonder they eagerly embrace GMA’s all-out war against the leftists. Never mind the unabated killings (they’re all communists, anyway) and escalating human rights violations. They are but small sacrifices that we can offer in the altar of national progress.

Of course, GMA supporters will not openly admit that she is a dictator, even though she has repeatedly violated the constitution with CPR, EO 464, and PP 1017. But we can all agree that she is benevolent. Just ask the Comelec officials who met at her house and the congressmen who voted down impeachment last year. But then again, the bishops may not agree. P20,000 in an envelope can hardly be considered benevolent.

I call on my colleagues in the anti-GMA movement to stand down and join the majority of our people who believe she cheated but have decided not to do anything about it. That is the most patriotic thing to do.

Never mind that we are breeding a new generation of Filipinos lacking in moral scruples, where lying, stealing and cheating abound. You cannot eat morality. Never mind that our rights are curtailed and our basic liberties trampled. You cannot drink democracy. National unity, at whatever cost, is our only hope for a better future and a strong republic.

How times have changed. I remember, right after EDSA 1, people proclaimed, “Never again!” Now, all we can say is “Never mind!”

Enteng Romano III
Convenor, Black and White Movement

P.S. – please pass this on to everyone you know who are actively involved in or even remotely supportive of the anti-GMA movement that they may be enlightened and do the right thing for the sake of our nation.