01 July 2021
Dear Brothers & Sisters,
Warm greetings. We trust you are finding hope through the difficulties of this pandemic.
We wish to invite you to join us online in 1Sambayan Town Hall: SIMBAHAN AT BAYAN on July 10, 2021 at 3:00 to 6:00 PM.
The People’s Choice Movement, an inter-faith effort to elect good and worthy candidates for the crucial 2022 national election is supporting 1Sambayan and as such is spearheading this Faith-Based sector meeting. In this event, we will talk on issues that are important to people of God in the coming elections. Leaders from various church traditions are going to speak on the biblical basis for our social involvement. At the end of the meeting, we hope to begin a conversation towards a consensus on selecting and voting leaders for the nation.
For a start, the PCM has identified 5 issues that are most important to faith communities – 1) poverty and economics; 2) sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea; 3) the EJK and respect for life; 4) political repression and human rights; and 5) the problem posed to democracy by political dynasties. Bishops from the Catholic, mainline Protestant and evangelical communities have been invited to provide biblical reasons for why these issues are important to us. They will pose a challenge to their respective churches on what can be done and bring a word of encouragement to the flock.
The Bishops we have invited to share their views on the said issues are the following:
- His Eminence Jose Fuerte Cardinal Advincula Jr., Archbishop of Manila
- Bishop Efraim Tendero, former Secretary General of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), and the first Global Ambassador of WEA
- Bishop Reuel Norman Marigza, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines
- Bishop Broderick Soncuaco Pabillo, D.D., Chairman, CBCP Episcopal Commission on the Laity, and newly appointed by Pope Francis as Apostolic Vicar of Taytay
- Bishop Antonio Javellana Ledesma, S.J., D.D., Archbishop-Emeritus of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro
- Bishop Antonio N. Ablon, President of the Mindanao Bishops Conference, and Regional Chairperson of KARAPATAN in Western Mindanao
There will be an hour of Open Forum to carefully listen and answer questions among the attendees, both on Zoom and on other social media platforms of PCM, 1Sambayan and other networks participating.
We are attaching herewith the program guide for the Townhall meeting. To register, follow this link https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YH1R1QnITL2ucogsatGACQ.
We trust that this meeting will signal the start of circles of discernment and action among our various church traditions, in keeping with our responsibility both as citizens of the Kingdom and of this country.
Yours in Christ,
PEOPLE’S CHOICE MOVEMENT
PROGRAMME
2:45 Open Zoom Room for Attendees
3:00 Singing of National Anthem
Invocation to be led by His Eminence Jose Fuerte Cardinal Advincula Jr., Archbishop of Manila
1Sambayan & PCM Introduction
3:15 Welcome Remarks by Mr. Ricky Xavier, Chairperson of PCM
3:20 Presentations:
1) Absence of a Life of Dignity by Bishop Efraim Tendero, former Secretary General of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), and the first Global Ambassador of WEA
2) Political Repression, Culture of Impunity, Human Rights by Bishop Reuel Norman Marigza, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines
3) Justice and Peace-keeping by Bishop Antonio Javellana Ledesma, S.J., D.D., Archbishop-Emeritus of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro
3:40 Quick Break
3:45 Presentations:
4) Misgovernance and Unbridled Corruption by Bishop Antonio N. Ablon, President of the Mindanao Bishops Conference, and Regional Chairperson of KARAPATAN in Western Mindanao.
5) Political Dynasty by Broderick Soncuaco Pabillo, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Manila, and newly appointed by Pope Francis as Apostolic Vicar of Taytay
4:00 Open Forum
Panelists will be from PCM convenors and Guest Speakers
5:00 Response from 1Sambayan & PCM
5:20 Integration by Melba Padilla Maggay, Ph.D., President of the Institute for Studies in Asian Church and Culture, and the Micah Global
5:40 Benediction
5:45 Other Announcements & Call to Action
6:00 END PROGRAM
