The Natural Family... is a cradle of life and loveBENEDICT XVI�s HOMILY ON THE WORLD DAY OF PEACE

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Dear Brothers and Sisters, today,we are beginning a new year andChristian hope takes us by thehand; let us begin it by invokingdivine Blessings upon it andimploring, through theintercession of Mary, Mother ofGod, the gift of peace: for ourfamilies, for our cities, for thewhole world. With this hope, Igreet all of you present here,starting with the distinguishedAmbassadors of the DiplomaticCorps accredited to the Holy Seewho have gathered at thiscelebration on the occasion ofthe World Day of Peace.

I greet Cardinal TarcisioBertone, my Secretary of State,and Cardinal Renato RaffaeleMartino and all members of thePontifical Council for Justice and

Peace. I am particularly gratefulto them for their commitment tospread the Message for the WorldDay of Peace whose theme thisyear is: “The human family, acommunity of peace”.

Peace. In the First Reading fromthe Book of Numbers we heardthe invocation: “The Lord... giveyou peace” (6:26); may the Lordgrant peace to each one of you,to your families and to the wholeworld.We all aspire to live inpeace but true peace, the peaceproclaimed by the Angels onChristmas night, is not merely ahuman triumph or the fruit ofpolitical agreements; it is firstand foremost a divine gift to beceaselessly implored, and at thesame time a commitment to be

. .

JARO ARCHDIOCESAN COMMISSION ON SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONSJARO, ILOILO CITY, PHILIPPINES

jaroveritas@gmail.com . telefax no. +63 33 3291100january 2008 . no. 1 vol. 1 [evaluation issue]

Coal-fired Power Plant: Ano Bala Ang Kamatuoran? see feature article belownot for sale

AS we come to the end of theyear 2007 we are challengedto assess ourselves, to evaluateourselves as individuals and ascommunity. Everyone mustexamine his conscience. Alitany of questions along theline of the corporal works ofmercy may be asked: such aswhat have we done regardingfeeding the hungry andmalnourished, helping buildshelters for the homeless,supporting the education ofpoor students, creatingemployment and healthsecurity for the sick, releasingthose unjustly imprisoned,liberating the oppressed andexploited, and doing away withall abductions and extrajudicial killings.

Despite the good-willed effortsof government and church, thesinful root causes of our socialproblems continue to challengeboth individuals and society toconversion and socialtransformation.

The birth anniversary of theGod-Man, Jesus Christ,reminds us not only tocelebrate but also to respondto its call for a change of heartand conversion to justice andcharity. Among the manycorporal works of mercy,“Pondo ng Pinoy” and “GawadKalinga” are non-governmentinitiatives that have grownalmost nationally. These andother social initiativesincluding the silent andunseen ones are alsotransmitters of the “newpresence” of God and give oursociety “reason to hope” inthe coming New Year 2008.

By our response we becomereflections of God “who is thefoundation of hope: not anygod, but the God who has ahuman face and who has lovedus to the end” (Pope BenedictXVI, Encyclical Letter, “SpeSalvi”, no.31)

MANILA, 8 January 2008 -I f o n l y f o r t h e b e n e f i t o ft h e p e o p l e , a t l e a s t t w oC a t h o l i c b i s h o p s s e e n oproblem with the revival ofthe nat ional ident i f icat ion(ID) system.

But with the current politicalsituation of the country, theranking Church officialssounded reservations on themilitary scheme.

Catholic Bishops Raise Concerns Over ID SystemCBCP NEWS Manila Auxiliary Bishop

Broderick Pabillo, CBCP’ssocial action arm head, said thecredibility of the proposedpolicy would depend on itsmerit and the people whowould implement it.

“It also depends on how theyare going to use (the policy).

It should not be abused sothey should use it for goodpurpose,” he said in aninterview over Radyo Veritas.

ARCHBISHOPANGEL LAGDAMEO�s

NEW YEAR�S MESSAGE

Be A Reason for Hope

V

The family is “the primary “agency’ of peace”, and “the denial or even therestriction of the rights of the family, by obscuring the truth about man,threatens the very foundations of peace.

Pabillo also said that a clear lawis important in the militaryplan to implement a nationalID scheme.

“No matter how good a law is ifthe law enforcers don’t havethe political will, nothing willhappen,” he added.

Dagupan Archbishop OscarCruz, meanwhile, said the IDsystem would be mostacceptable and useful if theruling administration is

Coal-Fired Power Plant: Ano Ang Kamatuoran?

“Ano bala ang ka-matuoran?” (Jn. 18:38) Amoini ang pamangkot ni Pilatosang gindala sa iya si Kristoagud hukman, sang si Kristomagsiling: “ang bisan sin-onga nagadampig sa ka-matuoran makabati sangakon tingog.”

Amo man ini ang ginpamangkotsang mga Obispo sang WesternVisayas sa ila sulat pastoral,sadtong 16 Enero 2005,nahanungod sa pagpatindog sang“100mw coal-fired power plant”.

Ano gid bala ang kamatuorannahanungod sa nagaharaharanga handum sang aton mgalideres politikal sa pagpatindogsining “100mw coal-fired powerplant” diri sa siyudad sang Iloilo?

Agud ma-athagan ang tanantinguhaan ko nga ipa-athag angsabat sa Hiligaynon kagtinguhaan ko gid ngamahangpan ini sang isa kaordinaryo nga bumalasa diri sasiyudad sang Iloilo.

Ang mga obispo sang WesternVisayas NAGAPANGDUHA-DUHA sa mga datos nga nagikansa Department of Energy nganagasiling nga kon indi kitamakapatindog dayon sang plantasang kuryente pag-abot sang2008 may “power crisis” kita.

Ang ila “forecasting” nagasilingnga sa tuig 2008 maga-kinahanglan kita sang 279mwkag ang “existing” lang ngakuryente sa sina nga tuig 116mwlang. Gani kinahanglan nga ma“upgrade” ang “submarinecable” halin sa Negros pakadto

sa Panay agud nga masabat angkakulangon sang kuryente. Amoina tani ang solusyon. Ugalingsang magsulod ang mganegosyante sang “coal-firedpower plant” nga mga Koreanokag magapatindog sila saBanate, hinali lang na-untat angplano sa pag “upgrade” sang“submarine cable” kag sangginpamangkot kon ngaa, angsabat wala sing kwarta.

Tungod sang pagpangduha-duhasang mga obispo nangayo silanga dapat may “multi-stakeholders approach to powersector planning anddevelopment.”

Sa sini nga pama-agi gusto sangmga Obispo nga makita ang mgaeksperto sang gobiyerno, ang mgaeksperto sang “civil society group,”kag ang mga “stakeholders” nga

magsugilanon sing may kaalamagud maka-abot kita tanan sa isaka desisyon nga may nagakaigonga mga inpormasyon.

Ginpatigayon sang “civil societygroup” atong ginapangayo sangmga Obispo nga “multi-stakeholders approach to powersector planning anddevelopment” kag gin-agda mannila ang presensya sang DOE, sangmga naganegosyo sang kuryente,sang mga “stakeholders” kagkaupod ang “University of thePhilippines Electrical andElectronics EngineeringFoundation” (UPEEEF).

Ikomparar naton ang forecastingsang DOE kaupod ang PPC kagMirant kag ang “forecasting” sangUPEEEF kaupod ang “civilsociety group.” Amo ini ang ila

Pangamuyo sa Pagpatumansang Ikatlo nga Sinodo sang Jaro

Labing mahigugmaon nga Amaysa Imo daku nga kaluoy

padayon Mo nga ginaupdanang Imo katawhan

sa ila pagpanglakaton padulongsa bug-os nga paghiliusa.

Ipabati liwat sa amonang Imo masunsun nga pangagda

sa nahanda na nga punsyonsang paghiliusa

agod nga sa nabag-o na kamisang Imo kusog

kag nadihon sang Imo pagtuytoykag kaalam,

mahatagan katumanan

ang mga kaayohannga Imo na ginsugdan sa amon.

Ihatag sa amon obispo ang grasyasang walay pagkapaslaw nga

pagtatap sa iya panong,nga ginaugyonan

sang amon mga kaparian,mga relihiyoso, kag laiko.

Buligi kami sa amon handumsa pagpakasantos

kag himpita ang tagsa namonka panimalay kag katilingban

agod nga ang amon mga pamat-odsa Ikatlo nga Sinodo sang Jaro

magpamunga sang sahi sang bunganga nagapadayon

kag magadala sa amon padulongsa bug-os na paghiliusa.

O Birhen sang Candelaria,iwagi ang amon dalan!Santa Isabel de Ungria,

ig-ampo mo kami sa Amay, sa Anakkag sa Espiritu Santo!

Amen.

NSO Cancels

CBCP NEWS

MANILA, 11 January 2008 — Aprovision requiring solemnizingofficers to undergo seminarbefore they would be allowed toconduct wedding ceremonieshas been cancelled.

The National Statistics Officemade the revocation following astrong opposition from theRoman Catholic Church andother religious sector.

“We realized that it has sparkedprotests, so we have decidedto revoke that particularprovision of theadministrative order requiringan orientation seminar,” NSOadministrator Carmelita Erictasaid in a news report.

The Catholic Bishops’ Con-

Seminar For Priests

Ang ika-3 nga Sinodo sangDiosesis sang Jaro ginhiwatsadtong Nobiembre 17, 2005 kagnatapos sang Nobiembre 17,2007. Ini nga pagtipon nahimosa pagsabat sang mgakinahanglanon sang local ngasimbahan kag sa iya sini ngapaghili-usa. Ini gindihon agudnga mangin malapit si Kristo samga tumuluo, kag ang iyapresensiya labi nga mabatyagansang Kristohanong Katilingban.

Suno kay Msgr. Lagdameo, 40 katuig na ang nagligad matapos

Ang Ika-Tatlo nga Sinodo sang JaroFE MARINA SIACON ginhiwat ang Vatican II; 13 ka tuig

ang PCP II kag 72 ka tuig ang ika-2nga Sinodo sang Jaro. Subong ngation nagtililipon ang mga tumuluopaagi sa sini nga sinodo, kag singmay pagpa-ubos ginpahayag ininga pagtililipon upod sa Kabilugannga Simbahan sang RomanoKatoliko sa pagpamuno ni PopeBenedict XVI.

Panan-awan kag Katuyu-an sangArkidiosesis: Ang mga tumuluosang Arkidiosesis sang Jaro, saila ululupod nga pagpang-lakaton, may ginalantaw nga

MSGR. MELITON B. OSO

evaluation copy

2 JANUARY 15, 2008VERITAS

“forecasting:” sa tuig 2006 anggrupo sang DOE/PPC-Mirantnagasiling nga magakinahanglankita sang 243 mw kag ang iya sangUPEEEF kaupod ang “civil societygroup” nagasiling nga 197mw langang aton kinahanglan, kag angmatuod nga nagamit sadtong tuig2006 amo ang 200mw. Konikomparar naton ang iya sangDOE nga 243mw may sobra nga43 mw kag ang iya sang UPEEEkag “civil society” may kulang nga3mw. Ang punto amo ini. Masmalapit sa matuod ngaginkinahanglan ang forecastingsang UPEEE kag civil society groupsang sa iya sang DOE. Para sa tuig2007, amo ini ang ila forecasting:DOE 260mw kag ang iya sangUPEEE kag “civil society group”215mw. Ang matuod ngaginkinahanglan amo lamang ang212mw. Sa liwat mas malapit samatuod nga ginkinahanglan angiya sang “civil society” sang sa iyasang DOE. Ang mga datos ngaginapakita naton halin saResponsible Ilonggos forSustainable Energy (RISE).

Ini nagapahanumdum sa aton sangPALPAK nga “forecasting” sanggobiyerno sang tiempo ni Pres.Ramos sa diin nagbayad kita sangnagasolobra nga kuryente nga walaman lang naton ginagamit.

Kon madumduman sang aton mgakautoran sadto anay masako angaton “rally” batok sa “PowerPurchase Agreement” (PPA). Paagisa PPA ginpasalig sang atongobiyerno ang mga negosyantesang kuryente nga ang “power”nga ma-generate pagabayaransang gobiyerno, buot silingonnaton nga mga pumuluyo, bisanwala ini ginagamit.

PALPAK ang “forecasting” sadto,masaligan bala naton ining gina“forecast” nila subong sa Panay?

NGA-A “COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT”?

Amo ini ang ikaduha ngapamangkot sang sulat pastoral.

Ginabaton naton nga ang “coal”bilang “energy resource” barato,pero ang mga pagtuon nagasilingnga ang “coal-fired power plant”nagabuga sang masunod nga mgaVOLATILE MATTERS katulad sangCARBON DIOXIDE, SULFUR OXIDE(Sox) kag OXIDE OF NITROGEN(Nox) nga naga “pollute” sang atonnga palibot. Indi lang ina!Nagabuga man ini sang HEAVYMETALS katulad sang MERCURYkag LEAD nga posible nga maymahimo kag indi na matadlongnga halit sa ikaayong lawas sangtawo. Nagabuga man ini sangTOXIC ORGANIC SUBSTANCESkatulad sang DIOXINS, BENZENE,POLYCYCLIC AROMATICHYDROCARBONS. Subong manang mga bag-o nga pagtuonnagapakita nga ang FLY ASHESmay sakot nga RADIOACTIVEMATERIALS, kag ini nga mga

“substances” wala lamangnagabulig sa pag “pollute” sangpalibot kundi nagabulig mankawsa sang mga DEFORMITIES samga kabataan sang mganagabusong kag mga masakit sangtawo katulad sang KANSER.

NGA-A “COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT”?

Kon matuod nga wala kwarta paramapatahos sa Panay paagi sa“submarine cable” ngaa “coal-firedpower plant” gid dayon ang sabat?Makatalanhaga ini nga solusyon,kay ini batok sa “vision-mission”mismo sang DOE. Ang misyon sangDOE nagasiling: “consistent with

the objectives of the Electric PowerIndustry Reform Act (EPIRA) of2001, DOE shall ensure that therestructured power industry shallgive preferential bias forenvironment-friendly and re-newable energy technologies andprojects.” Suno sa ila “vision-mission” dapat gali nila nga pa-segurohon nga ang “restructuredpower industry” dapat maypagpasulabi sa “environment-friendly” nga manga teknolohiya.

Ti nga-a “coal-fired power plant”?

NGA-A “COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT”?

Kon aton padaluman angsitwasyon sang Panay kag Negros,

makita naton nga may ara na ngamga “renewable energy resources”kag madamo pa nga mga“renewable energy resources” angpwede ma-explore, katulad abisang WIND, SOLAR, WATER kagGEOTHERMAL.

Matuod nga sa pagsugod gamitsang mga “renewable energyresources” may kamahalan inisang diutay, pero ina sa pagsugodman lang, pero sa padayon ngapaggamit sini ini naga nanginbarato. Luwas nga naga nanginbarato ini indi pa ini makahalalitsa ika-ayong lawas sang tawo kagsa aton nga palibot.

Sa sini nga mga kabangdanan angmga Obispo sang Western Visayasnagasiling: “we, the CatholicBishops of Panay and Negrostogether with our Social ActionDirectors would like to

categorically state our firm standagainst any proposal to build coal-fired power plants in any part ofour arch/dioceses.

Our preferential bias is forenvironment-friendly renewableenergy technologies and projects.”

Walo ka mga Obispo ang nagpirmakaupod ang Obispo sang Romblon.Si Bishop Romulo T. de la Cruz sangSan Jose de Antique nag pirma“with reservation” tungod mayara na nga “coal-fired power plant”sa isla sang Semirara, sa diin mayminahan sang “coal.”

Kaupod sini nga panindugan angpaghingyo sa gobiyerno ngahimuon nga modelo ang Panay kagNegros para sa pagpasanyog sangmga poyekto angot sa “renewableenergy.” Ini nga paghingyo sagobiyerno napasad sa PhilippineEnergy Plan sang DOE sa diin ilagina proponer nga himuon angNegros bilang modelo sang“renewable energy development.”Sa liwat ginapangayo sang mgaObispo nga indi lang ang Negrosang mangin modelo kundi patiman ang Panay. Samtangnagapahayag kita sang atonpagpamatok sa “coal-fired powerplant” nakabaton ako sanginpormasyon nga ang Diyosesissang Negros nagpahayag sang ila

pagpamatok sa “coal-fired powerplant” paagi sa isa ka pahina nga“advertisement” sa isa ka lokal ngapamantalaan.

Ang ila panindugan batok sa “coal-fired power plant” ginlagdaan sang71 ka mga pari. Gin pamangkot kosa “text message” ang ila “socialaction director” kon bala matuodnga may plano ang gobiyerno sapagpatindog sang “coal-fired powerplant” sa ila probinsya, ang iyasabat, “ang ila electric co-opnagpirma sang kasugtanan ngamagabakal sang kuryente halin sacoal-fired power plant sa Naga,Cebu,” kag sila batok sini. Kagnatapos ang “text message” sa sininga mga pulong: NO TO COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT GID KITA!

“Please stop opposing theconstruction of the coal-fired powerplant in Iloilo City!”

Halos amo sini pime ang “textmessage” nga nagasulod sa akon“cell phone” kada bes nga may“brown out” sa Iloilo city.

NGA-A?

Una: nagapati ang halos kadamu-an nga kulang gid ang elektrisidadsa siyudad sang Iloilo gani masakoang “brown out.”

Ikaduha: kay ang simbahan angisa sa mga nagapamatok,simbahan ang ginabasol kada besnga may “brownout.”

MATUOD BALA NGA KULANGANG KURYENTE SA SIYUDAD?

Sang 28 Disyembre 2007 may isaka “forum” nahanungod sa “coal-fired power plant” ngaginpatigayon ang BOMBO radyo.Sa sadto nga “forum” nangin ma-athag nga wala sang “shortage”kon kuryente ang pagahambalansa siyudsad sang Iloilo.

Ang Panay Power Corporationsang ginpamangkot kon pila gid ka“megawatts” ang ila gina-“produce” nagsabat nga 72 mw.Kag 69 mw ang “dependable” ngakuryente sa sinang 72 mw.

Ang NAPOCOR sang sila angginpamangkot nagsiling nganagahatag sila sa siyudad sang 15mw. Kon ang 69mW idugang mosa 15mW ini nagahatag sa atonsang kabilugan nga 84 mW.

Kag suno sa PECO ang “peak load”lamang naton amo ang 76 mW.

MA-ATHAG NGA WALAGINAKULANG ANG KURYENTESA SIYUDAD SANG ILOILO, SOBRAPA GANI. SA SUBONG MAY SOBRAKITA NGA 8MW.

Na-athagan ako sa “forum” nga sanegosyo sang kuryente may apatka importante nga sangkap: 1.GENERATION. 2. SUPPLY. 3.TRANSMISSION. 4.DISTRIBUTION. Gani bisan maynagakaigo nga “supply” sangkuryente posible sa gihapon ang“brown out” kay basi mayproblema sa “transmission” ukonindi gani sa “distribution.” Ganikon may “brown out” indi natondayon pagbasulon ang “supply”kay sa aton sitwasyon bastante ang“supply” kag ang possible ngaproblema ara sa “transmission”ukon “distribution.” Ti kon“transmission” iya ina problemasang TRANSCO pero kon“distribution” iya ina sang PECO.

Sang adlaw sang “Christmas” nag“black out” kita! Ato ginbaton sangTRANSCO nga ang problema arasa ila sa “transmission” ka yang ilalinya kuno ginkawat. Sa amo nga“forum” kay may representanteang PECO ginpangayo ko sa ila ngainsigida dayon dapat ihambal samga konsumidor kon ano angproblema agud ang tanan ma-athagan. Ang PECO nagsiling nganagwa man dayon sila sa radyo sapagtadlong sang sayop ngapagpati.

Sa tampad sining KAMATUORANnga bastante gali ang “supply” kagang kapalpakan yara sa“transmission” ukon indi gani sa“distribution” indi malikawan ngamakahatag malisya angkadamuan nga gina KONDISYONlang sang mga negosyante sangkuryente ang aton nga mgakaisipan agud batunon na gid langnaton ang pagpatindog sang “coal-fired power plant.” Posible gid ngamatuod ining pagpangduha-duha,kay sa nasiling ko na, may naga“text” sa akon nga batunon na langnaton ang “coal-fired power plant”tungod kulang ang kuryente.

Gusto ko suliton: MA-ATHAG NGAWALA GINAKULANG ANGKURYENTE SA SIYUDAD SANGILOILO, SOBRA PA GANI. SASUBONG MAY SOBRA KITA NGA8MW.

Sa “forum” ginbaton sang taga PPCkag PECO nga ang “shortage”mahanabo pa sa tuig 2010, ganikinahanglan kuno ngamakapatindog dayon subong sangplanta kay halos mga duha ka tuigang pagpatindog sang planta. Peroginpamangkot man ang TRANSCOkon pwede madugangan angginapatahos nga kuryente diri saPanay halin sa “geothermal” ngamga planta sa Leyte kag Negros,ang ila sabat tama gid ka pwedekon ma “uprate” ang “submarinecable”. Subong nagapatahos siladiri sa Panay sing 85mW paagi sa“submarine cable,” kon ma“uprate” ina pwede gid sila

makadugang sang 85mW pa gid.Buot silingon ang TRANSCO pwedegid makapatahos diri sa Panaysang 170mW kon ma “uprate” singhusto ang “submarine cable,” kagkon suguran ini subong masabatsini ang ginakinahanglan natonnga kuryente sa 2010.

Gani sa baylo nga “coal-fired powerplant” aton ginahingyo anggobiyerno nga dapat ma “uprate”ang “submarine cable.” Ina angdayon nga solusyon saginakakulbaan nga “shortage” sa

2010, samtang padayunon angeksplorasyon sang mganagakalain-lain nga “renewablesources” diri sa Panay kag sa bug-os nga Visayas.

“Ti wala man kita kuha-an sangrenewable energy?” Amo sini ngapatalang nga argumento angmasami naton nga mabati-an samga negosyante sang mahigko nga“coal-fired power plant” kag sangila mga “supporters” bisan gani sahanay sang mga “local officials.”

WALA KUNO KITA KUHA-ANSANG RENEWABLE ENERGY!

Bilang “necessary background”dapat lang nga mahibalu-an sangaton nga mga konsumidor nga maso menos 80% sang elektrisidadsang bug-os nga Visayas nagagikansa “renewable geothermal energy.”

Talupangdon naton ang masunodnga mga datos halin sa “primer”sang Responsible Ilonggos forSustainable Energy (RISE) nga ilaman gani ginkuha sa datos sangNational Power Corporation (NPC).

Ang “primer” nagasiling nga angbug-os nga Visayas may “installedcapacity” nga 1,579mw. Sa sining“installed capacity” 57% angnagahalin sa “geothermal”; 12%ang nagahalin sa “coal-fired powerplant” kag 31% ang nagahalin sa“oil.” Kon samu-on mo na iningtatlo ka ginagikanan sang atonelektrisidad makita naton angmasunod nga mga datos: 84%geothermal; 3% coal-fired powerplant kag 13% oil.

Base sa sini nga mga datosmakasiling kita nga isa kapagpatalang kon indi isa ka dakunga pagbinutig ang magsiling silanga wala kita kuha-an sang“renewable energy.” Suliton ko:84% SANG ELEKTRISIDAD NGAGINAGAMIT SANG VISAYASNAGAHALIN SA GEOTHERMAL!PAGPATALANG KON INDI ISA KADAKU NGA BUTIG ANG MAG-SILING NGA WALA KITA KUHA-ANSANG “RENEWABLE ENERGY!”

Balik kita sa “forum” ngaginpatigayon sa radio BOMBO.Ginpahayag sang TRANSCO ngakon ma-“uprate” lang ang“submarine cable” pwede gid silamakapatahos sang doble sang sa ilaginapatahos subong. Buot silingonpwede sila makapatahos sang mga170mw. Kon suguran ta subongang pag-“uprate” matapos ini sasulod sang duha ka tuig kagensakto lang ang “timing” sa gina-“forecast” nila nga “shortage” satuig 2010.

Sa amon man nga “forum”ginpamangkot ang PECO konmatu-od bala nga ang mga Lopezes“part owner” sang PECO, kag gin-ako sang PECO nga matu-od nga“part owner” sila. Gin-balhag sang3 Enero 2008 sa Philippine DailyInquirer (PDI) nga ginbakal sangFirst Gen, ini kompaniya sang mgaLopezes, ang interes sang PNOC-EDC sa “geothermal energy” kagamo ini ang ginapahayag ngainteres kag intensyon sang bag-onga tag-iya: “PNOC-EDC is the

second largest geothermal energyproducer in the world. We intend tomake it even bigger under First Gen.”

Sugpon pa sang First Gen.: “ThePNOC-EDC acquisition certainlymakes First Gen one of the biggestclean and green energy producersin the world, with over 90% of itstotal installed capacity portfolioutilizing clean technology.” Angpamangkot amo ini: “Masugot balaang mga Lopezes nga magbakal angPECO sa “coal-fired power plant”

Sources of pollutants for a coal-fired power plant

Exposure pathways

Majestic view of the wind farm in Ilocos Norte. The 25 megawatt wind farm, owned and operated byDanish firm Northwind, is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. According to Greenpeace and the GlobalWind Energy Council, the Philippines is poised to become the leading wind power producer in SE Asiawith potential of up 70,000 MW of clean renewable energy from wind. (photo courtesy of Greenpeace.)

Palinpinon Geothermal Powerplant. If the submarine cables are uprated, Iloilo can gainan additional 85mW of power generated from Palinpinon. (photo courtesy of PNOC.)

3JANUARY 15, 2008 VERITAS

Santa Barbara was once just avisita of Jaro, and was referredto as Catmon. The Visita wasplaced under the patronage ofSan Pedro Apostol. Catmon isderived from a fruit–bearingtree, which served as a landmarkin the vicinity.

Records show that as early as1617 Augustinian missionarieswould frequent the place,attending to the spiritual needsof her inhabitants, of the whichlater, because of its fertile fieldswhich was regularly beingenriched by the floods of thenearby Salog and Tigum rivers,became very prosperous. Soprosperous that the Augustinianmissionaries suggested to theirsuperiors that the Jarovicariate’s seat be transferredthere. After much deliveration,the plan was shelved.

In 1760, Catmon wascanonically established as anindependent parish and placedunder the advocacy of SantaBarbara, Virgen y Martir. Thetown came to be known by itspatroness’ name.

A church was built after Sta.Barbara’s establishment as aparish but its builder is unknown.The church was destroyed in1787 by an earthquake.

sang PPC sang kuryente konmapatahos man lang sang FirstGen ang kuryente sang ila“geothermal” halin sa Negrospakadto sa Panay?” Wala inimasabat sang taga PECO! Konako ang mag sabat: LABAN-LABAN INDI GID!

Ang PDI sadtong 26 Disyembre2007 nagsiling nga “PNOC seenpursuing more hydro projects.” Kagduha sina nga “hydro projects”makita sa Panay: TIMBABAN INAKLAN, 23.5 mw; and VILLASIGAIN ANTIQUE, 16.5 mw.

Ang “primer” sang RISEnagahatag sa aton sang mgamasunod nga posible ngagikanan sang mga “re-newable energies”:

BIOMASS RICE COGEN INILOILO, 2mW; CAPIZ BIO-ENERGY IN CAPIZ, 16mW;IGBOLO HYDRO IN ILOILO,4mW; DALANAS HYDRO INANTIQUE, 8.9mW; SUMARAYHYDRO IN ANTIQUE, 9.8mW;CANGGARANGAN HYDRO INANTIQUE, 5mW; DAAN SURHYDRO IN CAPIZ, 9mW; TIBIAO

HYDRO IN ANTIQUE, 0.8mW;kag PANDAN WIND INANTIQUE, 15mW.

KADAMO GALI SANG PWEDEMA-“EXPLORE!”

Gani nagapanawagan kita sagobiyerno nga kon mahimomangin seryoso ini nga ma-“exhaust” ang tanan sapagtinguha nga ma-“explore” ininga mga posibilidad nga makuha-an sang “renewable energies”.

Samtang ginapatigayon ini ayaw gidanay magpanumdum sang ma-

higko nga “source” katulad sang“coal” agud mapakita sang gobiyernosa mga pumuluyo kag mgakonsumidor ang iya pag ka sinsero saginasiling sang iya Vision/Mission:“consistent with the objectives ofthe Electric Power IndustryReform Act (EPIRA) of 2001, DOEshall ensure that the restructuredpower industry shall givepreferential bias for environment-friendly and re-newable energytechnologies and projects.”

Gani ang aton singgit: NO TO COAL!LET US GO RENEWABLE!V

The present church was built ofochre sandstone by Fr.Francisco Aguería, OSA who wasassigned as parish priest in 1849.Fr. Mateo Rodríguez, OSAcontinued construction from1855-73 and Fr. Calixtocompleted construction in 1878.The convento beside the churchwas built together with it.

The building up continues evenin our days. This time howeverthe buiding up is not just aconstruction job, it is a buildingup of Christian communities.Under the direction of thenumerous parish priests andtheir parochial vicars assigned toher the parish grew to becme avibrant Church.

Today, the Parish of SantaBarbara sets itself to a newchallenge – to implement thedirections set by the recentlyconcluded 3rd Diocesan Synodof Jaro.

Under the direction of her parishpriest, Very Reverend NelsonSilvela, his parochial vicar Rev.Mark Senina, together with thefaithful, the parish of SantaBarbara gears toward becominga real Christian communityinviting everyone “Kari kamo,nahanda na... padulong sa bug-os nga paghiliusa.

Parokya ni Santa Barbara

Rev. Fr. Nelson Silvela, parish priest of Sta. Barbara Parish and his parochial vicar, Fr. Mark Senina

Padulong Sa Bug-os Nga Paghiliusa

Siling sang isa ka hurubaton,“Maayo man ang sugid, apangmaayo pa gid kon ipagkit.”Kaangay ini sang Parokya niSanta Barbara . Madamo sanginagyan nga napagkit sa tagsa-tagsa ka tagipusuon sang mgataga-Santa Barbara.

Sa nahibaluan sang kadam-an,ang ngalan nga Santa Barbaraginkuha sa ngalan sang ila Santosnga Patrona nga si Santa Barbara,ulay kag martir. Natukod ini sangtuig 1760. Ang iya kaadlawanginahiwat kada tuig sa bulan sangDesiembre 4.

Ang Novenario kag pagsimba saadlaw sang piyesta nanginhilikuton sang mga taga-Sta.Barbara. Ang kinabatasan sangpagtilipon sang mga himata,pagbinuligay sang mga hilikutonsa sulod sang balay kag simbahannaga pabakod sangpaghangpanay kag paginabyanay sang mga pumuluyo,mga pamatasan nga kina-hanglanon man sa pagpabakudsang parokya. Para sa mgatumandok,ginaisip nila nga angpagbaton kag pag-amuma sangmga dumulu-aw, isa ka buhat sakaluoy nga ginasugo sangpagtulo-ohan nga Kristuhanon.

Amo man ini ang kahimtangan,kag ang mga kaayohan ngamakuha sa pagsaulog sang tuigannga kaadlawan sang mga Santosnga Patron sa mga kabarangayan.Sa mga malayo nga mgabarangay, ang ila piyesta amo

lamang ang naga hatagkahigayunan sa iya pumuluyo sapagpabag-o sang ila pagtu-onagikan sa pagsimba,pagkompisar, kag pagkalawat,kag pagbunyag kag pakasal. Samadamo nga kabarangayan angila “barangay hall” amo angginahiwatan sang Santos ngamisa,nagapakita lamang sangpaghangpanay sangsimbahan kag sang banwa sasini nga parokya.

“Kag may iban ako nga karneronga wala sa sining panong. Silaakon gid pagadal-on kagmakabati sila sang akon tingug,kag mangin isa ka panong kag isaka manugbantay.”(Juan , 10:16)

Madamo ang pagtilaw kag upangang naeksperyensyahan sangmga pumuluyo ilabi na gid angmga Agustinos lamang ngamatigayon ang pagpatindogsang simbahan kag kombento saSanta Barbara.

Madamo nga mga inagihan kagpagtilaw ang ila nasugata apangpadayon sila nga nagpatindogkag naga panglakaton kaupodang simbahan. Bisan pa madamoang mga pilas nga gingihan sangsimbahan ini madali nga napalitungod sa bendisyon kagpagtatap sang Diyos ilabi na gidsang pumuluyo sa sini ngaparokya. Sa kada bagting sanglingganay sa simbahankaangay ini sang gamhanan ngatingog nga naga gikan sakaitaasan kag naga bulig ini

Kari kamo, Nahanda Na...

pasanag sang madulom ngabahin sang ila pangabuhi bilangisa ka simbahan.

Madamo ang mga proyekto nganatigayon sa pagtukod sakaalwan kag katutom sang mgapari nga nag-alagi,subong man sakaalwan sang mga pumuluyosang Santa Barbara .

Ang kabuhi sang isa ka banwa maymadamo nga istorya, masadyaman ukon masubo. Ini nga istoryanaga pahanumdom sa mgapumuluyo sa sini nga banwa sangmga inagihan sang mga katawhansadtong una nga panahon lamangmapreserbar kag mapadayon angmga Kristuhanon nga mgabuluhaton. Mga istorya nga nagaserbi man nga handurawan kagimahen nga dapat sundan kagbuhaton para sa ika-maayo sangkadam-an. Ang mga inagihan sangmga kapari-an, tumulu-o kag bug-os nga pumuluyo sang SantaBarbara wala lamang naga pabilinnga napagkit sa mga libro kundipadayon ini nga naga kabuhi satagsa-tagsa ka tagipusu-on sangmga tumuluo kag pumuluyo sangSanta Barbara.

Sa subong nga tini-on, padayonang pagpanglakaton sangparokya ni Santa Barbara sapagtatap kag pagpamuno sangila Kura Paruko nga si PadreNelson Silvela kag sa pagbuligman ni Padre Mark Seninakaupod man ang mga taga-Sta.Barbara Padulong sa Bug-osnga Paghiliusa.

Kabuhi Sang Banua

PRAYER FOR VOCATIONSLord Jesus, just as one day youcalled your first disciples to makethem fishers of men and women, sotoo, today, continue to resound yoursweet invitation: �Come, follow me.�

Give to young menand women the grace to respondreadily to your voice. Sustain ourbishops, priests and consecratedpersons in their apostolic labors.Grant perseverance to ourseminarians and to all those who arerealizing an ideal life totallyconsecrated to your service.

Awaken in our communities themissionary endeavor. Lord, sendlaborers into your harvest and do notallow humanity to lose its way for alack of pastors, missionaries, andpeople vowed to the cause of theGospel.

Mary, Mother of the Church, modelof every vocation, help us to res-pond by saying �yes� to the Lordwho calls us to collaborate in the di-vine plan of salvation. Amen.

PRAYEROF ST. JOHN MARIE VIANNEY

FOR HIS PARISHMy God, grant me the conversion ofmy parish; I am willing to suffer allmy life whatsoever it may please Theeto lay upon me; yes, even forhundred years am I prepared toendure the sharpest pains, only letmy people be converted.

My God, convert my parish.

V

This evaluation issue ofthe Veritas was publishedthrough a very generousdonation from the Parishof Sta. Barbara (Iloilo). ed.

V

V

B. CABALAR, cjaya

4 JANUARY 15, 2008VERITAS

Circular No. 204/27/07Protocol No. 5320/2007

December 19, 2007

TO: All the Reverend Clergy of the ArchdioceseRE: Composition of the PERMANENT PERSONNEL BOARD

After we have constituted the membership of the AD HOCCOMMITTEE on the change of Assignments in 2008, it wasseen fit to reconstitute the membership of the PERSONNELBOARD.

Said Personnel Board will be composed of the following:Ex-officio:

The Vicar General Msgr. Higinio VelardeThe Chancellor Fr. Carlo NoquezThe Chairman Comm. on Clergy Fr. Ramon MasculinoThe Chairman of JAPS Fr. Robert AmalayRector of SVFS Msgr. Jomarie DelgadoRector of SJRS Msgr. Jesus EnojoThe President of JAPA Fr. Dennis Galon

Parish Priests:Fr. Patricio SalardaFr. Jose Alberto Guillen

The main function of the Personnel Board is to propose and/or study recommendees for pastoral assignments outside ofofficial function of the Ad Hoc Committee on Change ofAssignments.

The Personnel Board is now likewise tasked to study existingproposed guidelines for appointment of priests which havenot yet been finalized and approved.

The Lord bless our Work.

+ ANGEL N. LAGDAMEOArchbishop of Jaro

Circular No. 206/01/08Protocol No. 0109/2008

January 9, 2008

TO: All the Reverend Clergy of the ArchdioceseRE: MARIAN SEMINAR

I am pleased to recommend and approve the Project of thePraying Army of the Immaculate Heart of Mary which is beingorganized in cooperation with the Marian Associations,Movements and Organizations (MAMO) and the JaroArchdiocesan Pastoral Secretariat (JAPS).

Although Marian in content and emphasis, the seminar hopesto highlight the importance of the lay apostolate in the contextof building or forming Basic Ecclesial Communities.

This project/activity will be under the supervision of Fr.Ramon Sequito, the MAMO Spiritual Director, and, Fr. RobertoAmalay, the JAPS Director.

Let us hope that this Marian activity will lead us closer toJesus and to strengthening the church through the BECs.

God bless us.

+ ANGEL N. LAGDAMEOArchbishop of Jaro

katuyuan kag dapat ngamatuman, nga ang Simbahan:

-mangin katilingban sang Iyamga sumulunod nga nadihon saTatlo ka Personas sang Dios –Amay, Anak, kag Espiritu Santo;-magabag-o,magakabuhi kagmagapartisipar sa ebanghelyokag sa pagpahayag sini;-para sa imol, sa diin mayhustisya kag may maayo ngapagtubo sang tagsa ka tawo.

Sa aton tingob nga pagpang-lakatonupod kay Kristo aton ginsaad:-bilang sumulunod: sa pagtubo ngapagkabalaan sa tawo paagi sapagpangamuyo, pagsakrifisyo kagwala sang pagduha-duha ngapagpakigbahin sa Iya hilikuton pinaagisa Pulong sang Diyos kag Eukaristiya.- bilang isa ka katilingban: sapagpangabuhi nga mayalalangay nga dignidad nganagakilala sang katungdanansang tagsa-tagsa sa ginhariansang Diyos.- sa kada barangay may ara ngakomyunidad sang simbahan (BEC– Basic Ecclesial Community) ngamagabulig sa mayo nga pagpalakatsining komunidad nga nasandig saKamatuoran, Hustisya, Kali-nungan kag Paghigugma.

Ang Sinodo (Synod) naghalin satinaga nga “Syn hodus,” kon sayuronululupod nga pagpanglakaton (ajourney together).

Ini nga hitabo naangot sapagpanglakaton sadto sang mgaPatriarcas ilabi na gid sangbanwang pimili (chosen people),sang sila nagpadulong kagnagpabilin sa desiyerto sapaghanda sang Diyos sa ila

pagsulod sa duta nga ginsaad(promised land). Wala langnaton mahangpan kon ano angaton gina-usoy bilang isakasimbahan. Pero sa gihapon aralang ina sa aton taguipusuon.

Paagi sa aton pagdumdum sangmga hitabo sining mga nagliligad,makompleto kag mapalawignaton ang aton paghangop samga hitabo paagi sapagdumdum, pagbinag-binag(reflection), kag pagtukib kondaw ano gid ka kinahanglanonang Pulong sang Diyos ka gangIya pagpatunga sa aton personalnga kabuhi, kag sa kabuhi sangSimbahan sa sining sinodo.

Ginakilala naton ini sing maydaku nga pagtuo.

Ginatul-id natom ining Pulongkag mga hitabo, indi bilangkasaysayan (historya), indi bilangmga hitabo sang mga nagliligadnga panahon, kundi nasandig saeksperiensiya naton upod saDiyos, ang Iya makatalanhaganga pag-ubay sa aton, bilang Iyanga mga pinili, tubtub sa sini ngamga tinuig, “Padulong sa Bug-osnga Paghiliusa”.

Sa dalayon nga pagtuon singmatul-id sang mga pamaagi sangDiyos, kita nagapati ng Siya angnagahandum sang atontaguipusuon, kag sang mgahitabo sa aton kabuhi, sapagtuman sang Iya binubuot, kagsa Iya pagtuytuy sa atonginatudluan Niya kita sang dapatnaton usuyon padulong sapagkabalaan (perfection) ngaamo ang pinakamataas naton ngahandum. Aton ginapaabot,ginahandum, kag ginahulat ang

pagbuot (design) sang Diyos saaton kasaysayan.

Sa sini, ginalantaw naton angSinodo nga kabahin sang planosang Diyos nga sa amat-amat Iyanga ginahumlad ukon ginapakita(unfold) ang Iya Balaan ngaPlano (Devine Plan) agud atonman malambot ini ngapagkabalaan. Ginapatihan mannaton nga ang Diyos padayonnga nagapakilala sang IyaKaugalingon sa aton, paagi samga hitabo sa aton kabuhi.Subong man ssang atonpaglantaw sang mga nagliligad,ang “Pagpadulong sa Bug-os ngaPaghiliusa” indi malayo ngamalab-utan (vision), kundi angaton paghiliusa nagakatabo na sasubong sa aton pag-eksperiensiya sang Sinodo.

Sa katapusan,ang ginhiwat ngapagdihon sang Sinodo kag angmga experiensya nganagkalatabo sang ginabalay paini nangin subong mankamapuslanon sa mga dekretonga gindihon.

Ang pinakamalahanon ngahitabo sa Sinodo amo angpagdihon (hone) sang atontaguipusuon sa pakilala gidsang binubuot sang EspirituSanto sa aton.

Ang talalupangdon nga bagay sasining Sinodo sang Diosesis amoang ululupod nga pagtingub sangkada isa kag isa sa aton kag sangDiyos – obispos, kapari-an, mgamadre, kag mga tumuluo (laity)sa aton pangpanglakaton,padulong sa isa lang ka direksyonnga amo si Jesus, sing may bug-os nga paghiliusa sang tanan.V

Dear Brothers and Sisters: Todaywe celebrate the feast of the HolyFamily. Following the narration ofthe Gospels of Matthew and Luke,we stop to look at Jesus, Mary andJoseph, we look with adoration onthe mystery of a God that chose tobe born of a woman, the holy Virgin,and to enter this world by a pathcommon to all men. In this way hesanctified the reality of the family,filling it with divine grace and fullyrevealing his vocation and mission.

The Second Vatican Council paidspecial attention to the family. Thespouses, it affirmed, are for eachother and their children witnessesof the faith and love of Christ (cf."Lumen Gentium," No. 35). TheChristian family participates inthis way in the prophetic vocationof the Church: With its manner ofliving, "The Christian family loudlyproclaims both the present virtuesof the kingdom of God and the hopeof a blessed life to come" (ibid.).

As my venerable predecessor PopeJohn Paul II repeated untiringly,the good of the person and of societyis intimately linked to the "goodhealth" of the family (cf. "Gaudiumet Spes," No. 47). Because they arewords of the council, the Church iscommitted to the defense andpromotion of the "the naturaldignity of the married state and thesuperlative value" of marriage andthe family (ibid.).

With this end in mind, an importantinitiative is being celebrated todayin Madrid. I will address thoseparticipants now in Spanish.

Greetings to the participants in thefamily encounter that is takingplace this Sunday in Madrid, as wellas to those cardinals, bishops andpriests that accompany them.

Upon contemplating the mysteryof the Son of God that came into theworld surrounded by the affectionof Mary and Joseph, I invite allChristian families to experiencethe loving presence of the Lord intheir lives. I encourage them,inspired by love of Christ for allmankind, to give witness before theworld of the beauty of human love,marriage and family.

This, founded in the dissolubleunion between a man and awoman, constitutes the privilegedenvironment in which human lifeis welcomed and protected, from itsbeginning until its natural end.

For this, parents have the rightand fundamental obligation toeducate their children, in the faithand in the values that dignifyhuman existence. It is worth it towork for the family and marriagebecause it is worth it to work forthe human being, the mostvaluable being created by God.

I direct myself in a special way tothe children, so that they love andpray for their parents and brothersand sisters; to the young people, sothat stimulated by the love of theirparents, they follow withgenerosity their own vocation tomarriage, the priesthood orreligious life; to the elderly and thesick, so that they find the help andunderstanding they need. And toyou, beloved spouses, count on thegrace of God always, so that yourlove will be always more and morefruitful and faithful.

In the hands of Mary, "who withher 'yes' opened the door of ourworld to God" ("Spe Salvi"), I placethe results of this celebration.Thank you very much and happyholidays.

BENEDICT XVI on The Feast of the Holy Family

It Is Worth It to Work

ON THE HOLY FAMILY:

for the Family and Marriage

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“trustworthy anddependable.”

The people would alsosupport such scheme,he said, only if themilitary leadershipwere composed of“upright andhonorable men.”

“The Commander-in-Chief and her soldiersfirst learn to respecthuman lives, humandignity and humanrights,” said Cruz.

The governmentshould also “do awaywith the mind framethat all those whodissent against theirsocio - politicalposture arenecessarily enemies ofthe State and shouldwherefore be e-liminated,” he added.

Government securityforces suggested therevival of a proposednational ID system in abid to curb nationalsecurity threats likethe communistinsurgency and Is-lamic militancy.

Philippine NationalPolice chief, DirectorGen. Avelino Razon Jr.,said President Arroyohad also showninterest in the im-plementation of the IDsystem. V

ference of the Philippines(CBCP), meanwhile, said they“are all happy about this turnof events.”

“I am thankful that the NSOlistened to our prayers to cancelthe requirement,” said JaroArchbishop Angel Lagdameo,CBCP president.

The prelates have been urgingthe government to cancel therequired training since thetopics to be taken up in the

required seminar have longbeen part of the priestseminary course.

Lagdameo said their priestsdon’t need the traininganymore because they areupdated with the marital lawsof the land through theirdiocesan chancellors and canonlaw experts.

The NSO policy is in line withthe Administrative Order 1Series of 2007, whichembodies the implementing

rules and regulations (IRR)governing the registration ofauthority to solemnizemarriage with the civilregistrar general.

A provision in the IRR statesthat before granting acertificate of registration andauthority to solemnizemarriage (CRASM) to asolemnizing officer is therequirement for proof oftraining conducted by the NSO.

This means, that unless

priests undergo suchseminars, they wil l not beal lowed to solemnize thesacrament of matrimony.

Courses offered in the seminarinclude:

1 . Marriage Lawsand other related laws

2. Marriage RegistrationProcedures,and,

3. Registration Proceduresof the Authorityto Solemnize Marriage.

NO TO COAL!

LET US GO

RENEWABLE!V

5JANUARY 15, 2008 VERITAS

ROY LAGARDE, CBCPnews

Real healer is holy,doesn’t ask for money

MANILA, 8 JANUARY 2008 �BELIEVE AND YOU WILL BEFINE, JUST PAY YOUR BILLON TIME.

If you get that line from a �faithhealer,� you better be careful, warneda ranking Catholic Church official.

But how can you really ascertaina genuine faith healer to avoidfalling into the trap of a fake faithhealer instead?

According to Lingayen-DagupanArchbishop Oscar Cruz it is hard toidentify a person with the special giftof healing from the one who has not.

�Meron nagkataon tapos nasabingmeron siyang gift of healing sonagpupunta ang tao sa kanya.Meron naman ibang ministrongnagpapanggap lang na meron silanggift to heal,� he said.

There are some frauds out there, hesaid, pretending that spirits inhabitstheir body to cure the incurable.

But Cruz also has this to say: thereare signs that a healing ministry isfor real or not. �There are gaugeto that.�

Foremost, he said, a healing ministerpossesses pious life. Example to this,he said, is the late Father Pio of Italyand Mother Theresa.

Cruz said that it is also significantto note that within that holiness,h u m i l i t y a l w a y s i s p r e s e n t .��Because he knows that he�snot the one that can really heal,�he said.

The prelate also stressed that neverwill a saintly and modest healer willask money or anything in return fromthe people he nursed back to health.

Cruz said that if you see those threeguides from a faith healer, you couldbe certain somehow. �But even ifjust one of those (guides) is absent,you better be wary,� he said.

Faith healing is a highly controversialsubject, and even some priests andlay pastors have been accused ofmaking unscrupulous claims that donot stand up to scrutiny.

Many say that where physicalhealing does not take place, peoplehave a need to try spiritual approach.

But Cruz also warned that there isnothing predictable about faithhealing�except the assurance ofGod�s love and care.

He added that the healing ministryi s o n e o f t h e g r e a t e s topportunities the Church has forsharing the Gospel.

For the last 40 years (1968-2008) we have been celebratingthe first day of the New Year asa World Day of Peace. Born of aof a providential intuition ofPope Paul VI and carriedforward with great convictionby Pope John Paul II, thecelebration of this Day of Peace,over the course of the years,enable the church to present aninstructive Body of teachingregarding this fundamentalhuman good – Peace.

For this New Year’s Day of Peace,Pope Benedict XVI’s message ison the theme of the humanfamily, as a community of peace.The seeds of World Peace areplanted in the human families.The seeds of Peace are in factfound in each person’s heart.

On the marriage between a manand a woman the natural familyis founded. The family is “theprimary place of ‘humanization’for the person and society”(Christifideles Laici #40). Thefamily, as the first naturalsociety, is “a divine institutionthat stands at the foundation of

V

life of the human person as theprototype of every socialorder” (Compendium of the SocialDoctrine of Church, No. 211)

The fundamental elements ofpeace are experienced in ahealthy family life. what arethey? For example: “justice andlove between brothers andsisters, the role of authorityexpressed by parents, lovingconcern for the members whoare weaker because of youth,sickness or old age, mutual helpin the necessities of life,readiness to accept others, and,if necessary, to forgive them”(#3). All these fundamentals ofpeace that are found in a healthyfamily, are likewise sought inlarge scale in the world.

That’s why Pope Benedict says“the family is the first andindispensable teacher ofpeace.” The family is “theprimary living cell of society”(Vat. II ApostolicomActuositatem #11). The familyenables its members in decisiveways to experience peace evenbefore they experience it in the V

THE HUMAN FAMILYA COMMUNITY OF PEACE

Highlights from Pope Benedict XVI’sMessage for World Day of Peace 2008

ARCHBISHOP ANGEL N. LAGDAMEO

community or large society.That’s why it goes withoutsaying that peace and likewisetrouble in the family overflowsinto the large community orsociety. When the rights of thefamily are denied or evenrestricted unreasonably – thislikewise threatens the veryfoundation of societal peace.

Pope Benedict also states“whoever, even unknowingly,circumvents the institution ofthe family undermines theplace in the entire community,national and international,since he weakens what is ineffect the primary agency ofpeace.” (#5) Everything thatserves to weaken the familyconstitutes an objectiveobstacle on the road to peace.The saying has it: “As the familygoes so goes the nation.”

When the values of a healthyfamily affect the members ofthe community, they cease tobe a mere aggregation ofneighbors, but a community ofbrothers and sisters called toform one great family.

Jaro Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo and his Vicar General, Msgr. Gene Velarde with some ofthe Lay and Clergy Participatants of the 3rd Diocesan Synod of Jaro (c. November 2007)

ILOILO CITY, January 12, 2008 –The Jaro ArchdiocesanCommission on Catechesis andCatholic Education conducted aCatholic Evangelization TrainingProgram for twenty eightcatechists coming from thedifferent parishes in theArchdiocese of Jaro.

The CET Program for Catechistsbegan on January 7, 2008 and wasconcluded with a formal“graduation” on the 11th ofJanuary 2008.

The intensive training programwas facilitated by the JaroEvangelization Team headed by

kabuhi sang banuaACCCE Trains 28 Catechists

for Catholic Evangelization

Fr. Ely Fuentes. The five-daytraining program was held at thePius XII Pastoral Complex.

Msgr. Ramon Pet , ACCCEDirector commissioned thetwenty eight graduates to beevangelists in their respectiveparishes. Eve Horvidalla, oneof the lead facilitators addedthat the graduates will becomefacilitators themselves intraining other catechists forevangelization.

Msgr. Pet challenged thegraduates to conduct intensiveAdult Catechesis and laterestablish BECs in their parishes.

BABELYN CABALAR, cjaya

Schedule of Trainors’ Training For Catechist (Phase I)An Intensive Course for Adult Catechesis

Pius XII Pastoral Complex, Jaro, Iloilo CityJanuary 7– February 8, 2008

January 14– 25, 2008Family Catechesis (Creed – Msgr. Ramon Pet)

January 14– 18, 2008Liturgy of the Mass (Fr. Alejandro Esperancilla)

January 21– 25, 2008Sunday Readings (Fr. Alejandro Esperancilla)

January 28– 31, 2008Social Concerns (Msgr. Meliton B. Oso)

Historia Sagrada (Old Testament– Fr. Rey Zerrudo)

February 1– 5, 2008Basic Ecclesial Community (Fr. Robert Amalay)

Historia Sagrada (New Testament– Fr. Rey Zerrudo)

February 6– 8, 2008Catechists Spirituality & Personality Development (Pius XII Alumni)

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Ang Jubilee Gawad KalingaVillage sa Barangay Buntatala,Jaro, Iloilo City nagabaton na sangmga alikante nga mga Katekistahalin sa Vicariate sang Sts. Peterand Paul.

Para maqualify, ang mga masunodamo ang talaksan o basehan:

1 . Wala nagapaag-iya sang loteor balay

2. Nakaserbisyo sa Parokyasa indi magkulang napulo(10) ka tuig.

3. May bulanan nga kitasa pamilya nga indi sobrasa Php 15,000.00

4. Makahatag sang counterpartnga indi magkubos sa 480 V

BALAY PARA SA MGA KATEKISTA

HELEN ROA, jasac

hour sweat equity.5 . Wala sang Criminal Record6. May certification halin

sa Kura Paroko.

Sa subong may 47 na ka pamilyaang naga-estar sa Jubilee Village.May mga regular nga hilikutonnga ginapatigayon sining Village:

1 . Bible Sharing and Studysa tagsa ka Domingo

2. Formation kada ikatlonga domingo sang bulanupod kay Msgr. Dodong Oso.

3. Vegetable gardening.4. Katilingban nga kahiwatan

sang Christmas kag New YearCelebration, kag Weddings

5. Waste segregation

Pius XII Pastoral Complex. Jaro Cathedral Compound, Jaro, Iloilo City. Home of ACCCE, Comm. onSocial Communications, JASAC, Barangay sang Birhen, & Deaf Ministry Offices.

6 JANUARY 15, 2008VERITAS

carried forward patiently,always remaining docile to theLord’s commands.

Inspired by family values

This year, in my Message fortoday’s World Day of Peace, Iwanted to highlight the closerelationship that exists betweenthe family and building peace inthe world. The natural family,founded on the marriage of aman and a woman, is “a “cradleof life and love’” and “the first andindispensable teacher of peace”.For this very reason the familyis “the primary “agency’ ofpeace”, and “the denial or eventhe restriction of the rights of thefamily, by obscuring the truthabout man, threatens the veryfoundations of peace” (cf. Nos.1-5).Since humanity is a “greatfamily”, if it wants to live in peaceit cannot fail to draw inspirationfrom those values on which thefamily community is based andstands. The providentialcoincidence of variousrecurrences spur us this year tomake an even greater effort toachieve peace in the world.

Sixty years ago, in 1948, theGeneral Assembly of the UnitedNations published the “UniversalDeclaration of Human Rights”;40 years ago my venerablePredecessor Paul VI celebratedthe first World Day of Peace; thisyear, in addition, we will becommemorating the 25thanniversary of the Holy See’sadoption of the “Charter of theRights of the Family”. “In thelight of these significantanniversaries” — I am repeatinghere what I wrote precisely at theend of the Message — “I inviteevery man and woman to have amore lively sense of belongingto the one human family, and tostrive to make humancoexistence increasingly reflectthis conviction, which isessential for the establishment oftrue and lasting peace” [No. 15].

Our thoughts now turnspontaneously to Our Lady,whom we invoke today as theMother of God. It was Pope PaulVI who moved to 1 January theFeast of the Divine Motherhoodof Mary, which was formerlycelebrated on 11 October.

Indeed, even before theliturgical reform that followedthe Second Vatican Council, thememorial of the circumcision ofJesus on the eighth day after hisbirth — as a sign of submissionto the law, his official insertionin the Chosen People — used tobe celebrated on the first day ofthe year and the Feast of theName of Jesus was celebrated thefollowing Sunday.We perceive afew traces of these celebrationsin the Gospel passage that hasjust been proclaimed, in whichSt Luke says that eight days afterhis birth the Child wascircumcised and was given thename “Jesus”, “the name givenby the Angel before he wasconceived in [his Mother’s] ...womb” (Luke 2:21). Today’sfeast, therefore, as well as beinga particularly significant Marianfeast, also preserves a stronglyChristological content because,we might say, before the Mother,it concerns the Son, Jesus, trueGod and true Man.

Mary’s immense privilege

The Apostle Paul refers to themystery of the divinemotherhood of Mary, the“Theotokos,” in his Letter to theGalatians. “When the time hadfully come”, he writes, “God sentforth his Son, born of woman,born under the law” (4:4).We findthe mystery of the Incarnationof the Divine Word and theDivine Motherhood of Marysummed up in a few words: theVirgin’s great privilege is

precisely to be Mother of theSon who is God.

The most logical and properplace for this Marian feast istherefore eight days afterChristmas. Indeed, in the nightof Bethlehem, when “she gavebirth to her first-born son” (Luke2:7), the prophesies concerningthe Messiah were fulfilled. “Thevirgin shall be with child andbear a son”, Isaiah had foretold(7:14); “Behold, you willconceive in your womb and beara son”, the Angel Gabriel said toMary (Luke 1:31); and again, anAngel of the Lord, the EvangelistMatthew recounts, appeared to

Joseph in a dream to reassurehim and said: “Do not fear to takeMary for your wife, for thatwhich is conceived in her is ofthe Holy Spirit; she will bear ason” (Matthew 1:20-21).

The title “Mother of God”,together with the title “BlessedVirgin”, is the oldest on which allthe other titles with which OurLady was venerated are based,and it continues to be invokedfrom generation to generation inthe East and in the West. Amultitude of hymns and a wealthof prayers of the Christiantradition refer to the mystery ofher divine motherhood, such as,

for example, a Marian antiphonof the Christmas season, “AlmaRedemptoris mater,” with whichwe pray in these words: “Tu quaegenuisti, natura mirante, tuumsanctum Genitorem, Virgo priusac posterius — You, in thewonder of all creation, havebrought forth your Creator,Mother ever virgin”.

Dear brothers and sisters, let ustoday contemplate Mary, ever-virgin Mother of the Only-Begotten Son of the Father; letus learn from her to welcome theChild who was born for us inBethlehem. If we recognize in theChild born of her the Eternal Son

of God and accept him as our oneSaviour, we can be called and wereally are children of God: sonsin the Son. The Apostle writes:“God sent forth his Son, born ofwoman, born under the law, toredeem those who were underthe law, so that we might receiveadoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4).

Same but different Child

The Evangelist Luke repeatsseveral times that Our Ladymeditated silently on theseextraordinary events in whichGod had involved her. We alsoheard this in the short Gospel

by the CBCP Office on Women

7JANUARY 15, 2008 VERITAS

passage that the Liturgy presentsto us today. “Mary kept all thesethings, pondering them in herheart” (Luke 2:19).

The Greek verb used,“sumbállousa,” literally means“piecing together” and makes usthink of a great mystery to bediscovered little by little.Although the Child lying in amanger looks like all children inthe world, at the same time he istotally different: he is the Son ofGod, he is God, true God and trueman. This mystery — theIncarnation of the Word and thedivine Motherhood of Mary — is

great and certainly far from easyto understand with the humanmind alone. Yet, by learningfrom Mary, we can understandwith our hearts what our eyesand minds do not manage toperceive or contain on their own.Indeed, this is such a great giftthat only through faith are wegranted to accept it, while notentirely understanding it.

And it is precisely on thisjourney of faith that Marycomes to meet us as oursupport and guide.She ismother because she broughtforth Jesus in the flesh; she ismother because she adhered

totally to the Father’s will.StAugustine wrote: “The divinemotherhood would have beenof no value to her had Christ notborne her in his heart, with adestiny more fortunate than themoment when she conceivedhim in the flesh” (“De SanctaVirginitate,” 3, 3). And in herheart Mary continued totreasure, to “piece together”the subsequent events of whichshe was to be a witness andprotagonist, even to the deathon the Cross and theResurrection of her Son Jesus.

Dear brothers and sisters, it isonly by pondering in the heart,

in other words, by piecingtogether and finding unity inall we experience, that,following Mary, we canpenetrate the mystery of a Godwho was made man out of loveand who calls us to follow himon the path of love; a love tobe expressed daily by generousservice to the brethren.

May the new year which we areconfidently beginning today bea time in which to advance inthat knowledge of the heart,which is the wisdom of saints.Let us pray, as we heard in theFirst Reading, that the Lordmay “make his face to shine”

upon us, “and be gracious” tous (cf. Numbers 6:24-7) andbless us. We may be certain ofit: If we never tire of seekinghis Face, if we never give in tothe temptation ofdiscouragement and doubt, ifalso among the manydifficulties we encounter wealways remain anchored tohim, we will experience thepower of his love and hismercy. May the fragile Childwho today the Virgin shows tothe world make uspeacemakers, witnesses of him,the Prince of Peace. Amen! V

One of the significant developmentsin the Church after Vatican II is theemergence of Basic EcclesialCommunities (BECs) in variousparts of the world including thePhilippines. In his encyclicalRedemptoris Missio (51), John PaulII considered BECs as “signs ofvitality in the Church… a cause ofgreat hope for the Church and a solidstarting point for a new societybased on the civilization of love.”The promotion and formation ofBECs is one of the means ofrenewing the Church which wasthe aim of Vatican II.

The communitarian vision of theChurch as Communion and asPeople of God—a priestly, prophetickingly people—has made it possiblefor BECs to emerge. The SecondPlenary Council of the Philippines,echoing the Vatican II vision of arenewed Church, recognized thiswhen it declared: “Our vision of theChurch as communion,participation and mission, theChurch as priestly, prophetic andkingly people, and as the Church ofthe Poor—a church that is renewed—is today finding expression in oneecclesial movement.

This is the movement to foster BasicEcclesial Communities.” (PCP II,137) PCP II has further decreedthat the formation of BECs be“vigorously promoted in urbanand rural areas in the Philippinesfor the full living of the Christianlife.” (PCP II, Acts and Decrees). PCPII views the ordained ministry inrelation to the Christiancommunity—a ministry of presid-ing over a community that ispriestly, prophetic and kingly(serving) in nature. PCP II alsorecommended that training andformation of those preparing forthe ordained ministry should beoriented to the formation of BECs.

The presence and vitality of BECsin the dioceses and parishes maybe one of the indicators forevaluating how ecclesial renewalpromoted by Vatican II and PCP IIis being implemented. For somedioceses the BECs as envisioned by PCPII is already a reality. For others itremains a dream. In the course ofpromoting and forming BECs, a lotof problems and concerns haveemerged that needto be addressed.

Problems and Concerns:

1. Sustainability. Many BECs thathave been formed could not besustained, especially when theparish priests who initiated themwere transferred and those whotook their place were notsupportive. This was also the case,when external pastoral agents whohelped form BECs were gone. SomeBECs have a ningas cogonmentality. The members werevery enthusiastic at the start butthey lost interest after a while.

2. Attendance and participation.There are BECs, where only a fewactively participate in the ongoingactivities (e.g. the weekly bible-service and biblesharing). Most ofthose who attend are women. Themen and young people are seldomseen. Attendance and participationmay increase during communitymasses and during fiesta,Christmas and Holy Week.

3. Policies and Sanctions. In orderto ensure maximum attendanceand participation, some diocesesespecially in some parts ofMindanao, have resorted to policiesand sanctions. Only activemembers of BECs can avail of thesacraments (baptism, confirm-ation, matrimony). Communitieswithout active BECs or those whofail to pay their monthly duescannot have fiesta masses. So,many participate due to coercion.But this has also driven othersaway and some have transferredto other Christian denominations.

4. Leadership. Some BECs haveleaders who are incompetent andlacking in commitment. Othershave leaders who are veryauthoritarian and dictatorial. Someare acting like “pari-pari” or little-priests, falling into a new form ofclericalism of lay leaders. Theleaders lack team-work. Many don’tgo out of their way to reach out tothe members and to encouragethem. Others resort to policies andsanctions to assert their authority.

5. Relations with Lay Organ-izations, Movements andAssociations (LOMAS). In manycases the relationship betweenBECs and lay organizations,movements and associations(LOMAs) tend to be problematic.Some members of LOMAs regardBECs as just another organizationand because of this there is no need

to participate in the BECs since theyalready belong to an organization.Others claim that theirorganizations can be considered asBECs—so again there is no need tobe members of the BECs in theirneighbourhood or village. In somecases,members of BECs whobecome members of LOMAs stopparticipating in their BECs.Consequently, a spirit ofantagonism and competitionprevails between BECs and LOMAs.

6. Responding to Social Concernsand Issues. Many BECs remaininwardlooking communities thatlack social concern. Their activitiesrevolve around bible-sharing andliturgical celebrations. They do notrespond to social problems andissues that they face—e.g. poverty,hunger, criminality, injustice,armed conflict, the destruction ofthe environment, etc. These BECsfeel helpless in the midst of povertyand armed conflict. They are eitherincapable of addressing these concernsor they think that BECs should onlyfocus on spiritual concerns.

7. Understanding the vision andnature of BECs. Many practitionersand members of BECs do not havean adequate understanding of thevision and nature of BECs. There aremany who associate BECsexclusively with the small group orcell, composed of six to ten members,who gather weekly to reflect on theword of God. The BEC becomes justan activity (bible-reflection) or thatsmall exclusive group. With thisunderstanding of BECs, any smallgroup can be considered as BECs—thesmall cells in the neighborhood, insidethe classrooms, within the seminary,a small prayer group (SPG) or the CFChousehold unit. The focus is on thesmallness, rather than communitydynamics and ecclesiality.

Most of these problems and concernsare interrelated. The problems ofsustainability and poor participationin BECs may be the result ofproblematic leadership, the use ofcoercive policies and sanctions,problematic relationship with LOMAs,failure to respond to social concernsand inadequate understanding of thevision and nature of BECs.

10 Prescriptions for FormingSustainable BECs . In view of theproblems and concerns, thefollowing prescriptions may behelpful in the more effectivepromotion and formation of BECs.These are based on the lessonslearned from the setbacks as well asthe successes of BECs for the last fourdecades. These may be helpful forthose who are just starting to formBECs and also those who want torevitalize BECs that have becomestagnant or dormant.

1. The promotion and formation ofBECs should be adopted as thethrust of the local Church, thediocese and the parish. It has to beregarded as a means of renewing

the local Church in the spiritofVatican II and PCP II. Thus, theformation of BECs is not merelyoptional. It is the obligation of thebishop, the clergy, religious andlay faithful in every diocese topromote and form thesecommunities. The diocesancommissions (especially worship,education, social action, youth)should be oriented inimplementing the BEC thrust.

2. A leveling off regarding the visionand nature of BECs needs to be done.The PCP II provides a holistic vision ofBECs—community of disciples, livingin communion, participating in themission of Christ as a prophetic(evangelizing), priestly (worship-ing), and kingly (serving)communities and the Church of thePoor. The BEC must be understood asa way of life or culture— acommunitarian way of living theChristian life where there iscommunion (a sense of belonging,participation and sharing) among themembers, where they come togetherregularly to reflect on the Word ofGod and to celebrate their faith in theliturgy, and where they worktogether for social transformation—for total human development, peace,justice and the integrity of creation.The BEC should be understood as thecommunity in a locality which maybe composed of cells and familygroupings that are interconnected.It has to be seen as the most localexpression of the Church at thegrassroots, village and neighborhood.

7. BEC Core groups should be formedin each village or barangay. Theywill function as light, leaven andsalt in the midst of the community.Filled with missionary dynamismthey can help in the ongoingevangelization and in the expansionof the BEC. From among them willemerge the leaders of thecommunity. A leadership for-mation program should be set up atthe parish level. This programshould promote a participatory typeof servant-leadership. The commit-ment and competence of the leadersshould be developed as well as theirteamwork. They should eventuallyfunction as the council of leaders.

Promoting and Forming

Problems and Prescriptions

Basic Ecclesial Communities:

AMADO L. PICARDAL, CSsR

3. A BEC parish formation team hasto be formed for each parish.Imbibing the BEC culture, filledwith missionary dynamism andadequately trained, this team canassist the parish priest in theformation of BECs. Team-workbetween the priest and the membersof the formation team is veryimportant. They need to regularlycome together for planning,monitoring and evaluation.

4. A Pastoral/Strategic Plan for theparish must be drawn up by the parishpriest, parish formation team andselected lay leaders. This pastoral planincludes the vision-mission, an externaland internal analysis of the parish(SWOT analysis), goals, strategyselection, operational plans, monitoring,and evaluation mechanism.

5. A renewed evangelization is anessential component in theformation or revitalization of BECs.The BEC is the fruit ofevangelization and correspondingpersonal conversion that themembers need to undergo. Theparish should not rely on coercivepolicies and sanctions to evoke theactive participation of the layfaithful in the BECs. An evangeliza-tion program for communities, families,men and youth should be drawn up.

6. Lay organizations, movements andassociations should be given orientationon BEC and encouraged to activelyparticipate in the formation of BECs intheir village or neighborhood.

8. In large villages or barangays,as the BECs expand and more peoplebecome active, it may be helpful tosubdivide the comm-unity into cellsor family groupings. This canfacilitate close relationship amongthe members. The cells should havetheir own regular gatherings. Thecells should be linked together andunderstood as part of the BEC.

9. Regular/sustainable activitiesand structures should beintroduced to facilitate the growthof BECs as witnessing, worshipping,and serving communities. Thismay include weekly bible-reflection in the homes for cells orfamily groupings, weekly bible-service or liturgy of the word in thechapel for the whole community,monthly or bi-monthly BEC mass,monthly general assembly, etc.These regular activities should helpdeepen the bond of unity andfriendship among the membersand help develop the BEC culture.The WESTY (worship, education,service/social action, temporal-ities, youth) committees may be setup at the BEC/Barangay level aswell as the parish level. NeighboringBECs should be linked as zones. TheBEC zones should be represented inthe Parish Pastoral Council.

10. The BECs should eventually bemobilized to engage in renewedsocial apostolate. This meansdeveloping their social awarenessand their capability to respond tothe pressing social concernsb(poverty, injustice, armed conflict,destruction of the environment,etc.). If necessary, the BECs shouldhelp develop livelihood projects thatcan help in poverty-alleviation, setup peace zones in areas of armedconflict, resist logging and miningoperations, help in reforestationprojects, participate in prayerrallies in support of the CBCP orNASSA initiated nationwidecampaigns, change the politicalculture at the grassroots level. Inthis way John Paul II’s vision of BECsbecomes a reality: “They take root inless privileged and rural areas, andbecome a leaven of Christian life, of carefor the poor, and of commitment to thetransformation of society” (RM 51).

Ultimately, BECs can only besustained if they truly become a wayof life for the lay faithful and if theycan truly respond to their needs—whether material, social, spiritual.These communities can make adifference—in renewing the Churchand transforming Philippine society.

V

8 JANUARY 15, 2008VERITAS

DIRECTORY OF THE VICARIATES AND PARISHES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF JARO AS PRINTED IN THE CATHOLIC DIRECTORY OF THE PHILIPPINESPlease report corrections to the Jaro Archdiocese Chancery Office. The other entries in the Directory will be printed in the next issue of the Veritas.