Eleksyon 2022 Koalisyon (E22K)

July 5, 2021

To: All Laiko Member Organizations: Archdiocesan Councils of the Laity & National Lay Organizations

Dear Brothers & Sisters:

Attached is a letter from our Coalition Partner (Eleksyon 2022 Koalisyon), a non-partisan group promoting election related activities such as voters registration and education; as well as programs to help ensure a free and honest election in May 2022.

The coalition is getting organized in the local areas and we encourage our DCLs and NLAs to support their effort in reaching out to our members as well others in our circle of influence.

We hope you will give your full cooperation and support when our coalition partners connect with you.

Thank you very much and let us be one in doing our share for the future of our country.

May God bless us all!

Sincerely in the service of the Lord,

30 June 2021

SAMAHANG LAIKO NG PILIPINAS
Laiko Building, 372 Cabildo St.
Intramuros, Manila

ATTN: MR. ROUQUEL PONTE
President

Dear Madams/Sirs:

Greetings!We cannot be more grateful and proud to have your organization as among the conveners of Eleksyon 2022 Koalisyon (E22K). We thank you for your support in the successful public information and awareness campaign to drive up voter registration, which culminated in our May 22, 2021 online launch event. The next step is for us to undertake activities on the ground, which may include voter registration drives and awareness campaigns in the localities and rendering assistance to citizens who will register or reactivate their registration. The latter can be done through coordinating with COMELEC and LGUs in proposing and organizing satellite registrations, providing transportation to registrants, assisting registrants to accomplish forms, by providing safe venues for offsite registration, etc.

While COMELEC may have publicly reported that the number of registrants is already near the target it has set, we believe that we have to continue pursuing our efforts. We have to make people realize the importance of their power as sovereigns in choosing our leaders. Besides, only very few of the 7 million whose registrations have been deactivated for failing to vote in two preceding elections, have so far reactivated their registration.

Your nationwide reach is vital to E22K’s goal of reaching as many of our fellow citizens as possible in our voter registration drive for the upcoming May 9, 2022 National and Local Elections. It is in this regard that we are requesting your network in the regions to assist in the conduct of E22K activities on the ground. We would also appreciate to have your network be our reference on the ground in coordinating and monitoring our activities. We are ready to reach out to your network to discuss other possible activities on the ground and to conduct briefings on updates and trainings. Thank you so much.

Invitation to “New Heroes of the Pandemic: Responsible Parents” on July 26

14 July 2021
Dear Brothers & Sisters,
The peace & Love of the Lord,
We are pleased to endorse to you the invitation from the Responsible Parenthood & All Natural Family Planning Network to the Webinar on the “New Heroes of the Pandemic: Responsible Parents” on July 26, 2021, 2-5 pm via Zoom.
Attached is the invitation letter & the details of the event.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
(Sgd) ROUQUEL A. PONTE
President

2 July, 2021
Mr. Roquel Ponte
National President
Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas
2F LAIKO Building
372 Cabildo St., Intramuros, Manila
Dear Brother Roquel,
Greetings of hope and good health.
The world celebrates Parents’ Day on the 4th Sunday of July every year, to pay tribute to the noble sacrifices of parents everywhere. The RP ANFP Network recognizes the selfless love of parents in building up the next generation of citizens and desires to honor them in a special way.
In view of this, we are inviting you to a webinar on the “New Heroes of the Pandemic: Responsible Parents”, on July 26, 2021 from 2-5 PM, via Zoom and Live on ANFP Network Facebook page. The webinar is especially designed not only for parents, but also for educators, counselors, community and parish workers involved with families, youth, children, and the elderly.
As a sequel to the successful webinar last April, the RP-ANFP Network will now highlight the fact that amidst the threats presented by the COVID 19 pandemic, responsible parents as our modern day heroes are capable of creating opportunities for families to remain united, healthy and vibrant.
Practical guidelines founded on the realities of the present day situation are envisioned to emanate from insights from our eminent speakers:
 Archbishop-Emeritus Antonio Ledesma, SJ of Cagayan de Oro will discuss the Pastoral Approach to Humanae Vitae contained in Amoris Laetitia.
 POPCOM will provide insights into the challenges to families during this pandemic, specifically the persistent unintended pregnancies and domestic violence.
 Selected parents to share what families can do while facing these challenges.
 Rev. Fr. Luciano Ariel Felloni of “Almusalita” fame will discuss the various perspectives of responsible parenting in light of Catholic Church teachings.
Attached is the program of the event, as we look forward to the active participation of Sangguniang Laiko members. Please share this information to your members and networks.

Truly yours,

(Sgd.) Amelita D. Go, Ed.D.
Chairman

(Sgd.) Dr. Divina LUpe M. Lazaro, M.D.
President

(Sgd.) George Pimentel
Vice President & Executive Director

Living without destructive plastic

Plastic pollution is destroying many creatures and poisoning our air and rivers and oceans and people don’t seem to care

LICAS News
Father Shay Cullen
July 1, 2021

Greenpeace together with the Break Free From Plastic coalition conduct a beach cleanup activity and plastics brand audit on Freedom Island off the coast of Manila in in 2017. (Greenpeace photo by Daniel Müller)

Plastic was and is a magical invention. It is a material based on oil and has thousands of excellent and life-saving uses. In the medical world, in construction, in tool-making, manufacturing of phones and other gadgets, cars, household items, furniture and almost everything you see has plastic in it.

Our modern world depends on plastic to sustain its present lifestyle. But that lifestyle built on the plastic revolution has its dangerous dark side. Everything we humans use and discard can have dire consequences for the planet.

Garbage is everywhere and it is damaging our health. Plastic pollution is destroying many creatures and poisoning our air and rivers and oceans and people don’t seem to care.

It is dangerous to health because it is a destructive chemical-based pollutant. The one-time use of disposable plastic stuff is so dangerous and damaging to our lives, our health, our environment. The fish we eat have plastic in them because the vast oceans are filling up with discarded plastic.

Continue reading

The Philippine Terror Law and Implications on Rights and Civic Space

A year ago, in 2020 amidst the pandemic, the draconian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 was enacted into law, despite broad opposition from various sectors, groups and personalities. At least 37 petitions were filed at the Supreme Court seeking that the ATA be declared unconstitutional. The petitions remain pending at the High Court, after a series of oral arguments during the first half of 2021.

During the past months, counter-terror legislations and policies have been increasingly used against religious and civil society organisations, as well as individuals, in a perceived attempt to silence dissent, to impede their work for social justice and human rights, and to further constrict civic and democratic space.

A year after the enactment of the Anti-Terrorism Act in the Philippines, Karapatan together with the Ecumenical Voice for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines will hold a  webinar on the Philippine Terror Law and Implications on Rights and Civic Space  on July 6, 2021 (Tuesday), 3:00-4:30 PM via zoom.

The webinar seeks to inform the public on the dire implications of the counter-terror laws on rights and fundamental freedoms. We invite you to join us in the said webinar. You may register through http://bit.ly/70621ATLvvCivicSpace

Another UCCP Pastor Arrested Early Morning of June 25

June 25 2021

Peasant advocate Carmilo Tabada, a barangay councilor and the program coordinator for Bohol of the Central Visayas Farmers Development Center (FARDEC), was arrested in his home in Trinidad, Bohol at 1:00am today, June 25.

A composite team of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reportedly planted firearms and explosives in his home.

Tabada is now detained at the Trinidad Police Station.

In March 2021, Tabada was subjected to an anti-communist rally in front of his house, with the rallyists claiming that he was hiding firearms. (Read: https://www.facebook.com/…/a.1275…/10157545800062331/…)

FARDEC reports that since this incident at Tabada’s home, red-tagging and surveillance of Tabada has increased.

Tabada has been a member of FARDEC since 1998. According to FARDEC, Tabada has contributed significantly to the rice mill in Trinidad, which aided farmers’ orgs like Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma sa San Jose (NAMASAJO) in setting rice prices and breaking buyers’ monopolies before the rice mill’s forced closure in December 2020.

FARDEC has previously been red-tagged by government agencies in 2019. In June 2020, Elena Tijamo, the Sustainable Agriculture Program Coordinator of FARDEC, was also abducted from her home in Bantayan Island, Cebu. She remains missing to this day.

Aninaw Productions also earlier reported the arrest of UCCP pastor Nathaniel Vallente in his home in San Jose, Mabini, Bohol at 3:00am today. Vallente is a counselor for NAMASAJO. (Read: https://www.facebook.com/118591512330/posts/10157718393717331/?d=n)

FARDEC says the midnight raids is similar to the Synchronized Enhanced Managing of Police Operations (SEMPO) of Negros Oriental and other parts of the country.