Philippine Laity Gearing Up for 75th Year

The Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas – or the Council of the Laity of the Philippines – is gearing up for its 75th year anniversary in 2025.

Laiko, as It is known, was initially the Catholic Action of the Philippines before it was made into the Council of the Laity of the Philippines. And then eventually translating its name to Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas.

As it prepares for its 75th year, Regional Lay Leaders Conferences are being conducted around the Philippines in order to re-energize and re-ignite the laity, many people call the sleeping giant of the Catholic Church.

The first two gatherings were held in Calbayog and Davao, for the Ecclesiastical Provinces of Palo and Davao, respectively. With the third gathering to be held this weekend in Dipolog for the Ecclesiastical Province of Ozamis.

All the other Ecclesiastical Provinces will have their own Regional Lay Leaders Gatherings within the year.

Davao

Calbayog

Dipolog


CBCP names Archbishop Alarcon as PPCRV’s spiritual director

Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon of Caceres. PHOTO FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF CACERES

By CBCP News
May 29, 2024
Manila, Philippines

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has appointed Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon of Caceres as the national spiritual director of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).

CBCP president Bishop Pablo Virgilio David formally appointed Alarcon to the post on May 27, following the Permanent Council’s decision during its May 22 meeting.

In his appointment letter to Alarcon, the CBCP head said, “We express our deepest gratitude to you for accepting this assignment. May the Lord continue to bless and guide your ministry.”

He said the functions of the office “are in accordance with the statutes of the PPCRV and in coordination with the CBCP Episcopal Commission on the Laity.”

PPCRV is a national parish-based, political but non-partisan lay movement that works for clean, honest, accurate, meaningful, and peaceful elections.

Established in 1991, the movement was born from the realization that the laity must be part of nation-building and the renewal of Christian life.

PPCRV’s current national chairperson is Evelyn Singson.

Filipino fishers protest, demand demilitarization of West Philippine Sea

LiCAS News

May 31, 2024

Approximately 20 boats carrying around 40 small-scale fishers set sail from Masinloc, Zambales to Scarborough Shoal on the afternoon of Thursday, May 30, to carry out what they call a “collective fishing” as a stand against the fishing ban imposed by China in an area that falls within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines. According to the group Pamalakaya, the activity was not meant as a provocation but as a reassertion of fishing rights and national sovereignty. Photo by John Carlo Magallon/ Altermidya

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) held a two-day fishing expedition in Masinloc, Zambales, to protest foreign military presence and assert sovereignty over Philippine territorial waters.

The initiative responds to Beijing’s unilateral fishing moratorium and the recent U.S. Balikatan military exercises.

According to PAMALAKAYA, the action challenges the fishing ban and advocates for the total removal of military operations in the West Philippine Sea.

Joey Marabe, provincial coordinator for PAMALAKAYA-Zambales, criticized military activities by both China and the United States.

“Foreign military presence in our waters challenges our sovereignty and affects our fisherfolk,” Marabe said.

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