First aired on Feb. 21, 2021
Major Themes of the Catholic Social Teachings
First aired on Feb. 21, 2021
First aired on Feb. 21, 2021
Walk for Life: A Celebration of Life through Dance
February 15, 2021
To: All Laiko Members: Arch/Diocesan Councils of the Laity & National Lay Organizations
Re: WALK FOR LIFE 2021
Dear Brothers & Sisters:
“All life has inestimable value even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor, are masterpieces of God’s creation, made in his own image, destined to live forever, and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect.”
-Pope Francis
In line with our vision and despite the present situation, to “build together a life integrated in our faith, founded on love, solidarity, righteousness and peace,” we will be holding once again the annual WALK FOR LIFE on February 20, 2021, 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm.
This year however, because of the restrictions, we will do it differently. Instead of actual walk, we collaborate with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Dance Exchange on Air for an online rendition of the event dubbed as: “Walk for Life: A Celebration of Life through Dance”
Our event has Two (2) parts. First Part is the Dance Production, portraying various expressions of value and reverence for life. The second Part will be an anticipated Eucharistic Celebration to be officiated by the Chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on the Laity & Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila, Most Rev. Broderick S. Pabillo, D.D., at the Santissimo Rosario Parish, University of Santo Tomas, España, Manila.
The Walk for Life 2021 will be shown live at the following Online Platform: YouTube Channel of Dance Exchange Philippines, Facebook Pages of:
https://www.facebook.com/dancexchangephilippines/
https://www.facebook.com/cbcplaiko
https://www.facebook.com/cbcpnews
https://www.facebook.com/SantisimoRosarioUST/
https://www.facebook.com/NCCAOfficial/ https://www.facebook.com/dinagyang.idfi.1
JOINT STATEMENT of the Archdiocese of Cebu, SVD Philippines Southern Province, and University of San Carlos
We issue this Joint Statement to clarify the surrounding facts relative to the presence of policemen at the Talamban Campus of University of San Carlos this morning, February 15th, that to us is of serious concern.
To recall, the Societas Verbi Divini (SVD) Philippines Southern Province supported the Archdiocese of Cebu–Commission on Social Advocacies (COSA) project of a bakwit school program with Save Our Schools (SOS) Network.
For this, the SVD hosted last March 11, 2020 the delegation of forty-two (42) students accompanied by five teachers and three community elders (Datu), after four other educational institutions in Cebu hosted the same. The delegation was housed at the SVD-owned retreat house, accessible through USC–Talamban Campus. The delegation was supposed to complete their modular schooling on April 3, 2020 after which, they would have returned to their respective indigenous communities.
As we all know, though, the Cebu City government imposed quarantine restrictions beginning March 13, 2020 to stem the spread of coronavirus disease of 2019 (CoViD-19). After being locked down, the SVD Community has since sheltered the delegation at its retreat house, providing them with comfortable accommodation, and allowing them the use of its facilities for the lumad’s recreation.
When the quarantine restrictions loosened, plans were made for their safe return to their homes. Because the return necessitated logistical preparations to be made and entailed costs such as those relating to the swab tests, fare and food allowance, the travel of the delegation was planned to be carried out in batches. At least four of the delegates have so far returned to their place, and another batch was scheduled to return this week.
It, thus, came as a surprise that reports about minors being “rescued” surfaced today. While COSA mentioned that some parents were coming over to fetch their children, it did not dawn on us that the parents’ visit will necessitate the presence of policemen. Here, no rescue need ever be conducted because the presence of the lumads in the retreat house was for their welfare and well-being, and all throughout, they were nurtured, cared for, and treated with their best interest in mind.
| (original signed) Fr. ROGELIO N. BAG-AO, SVD Provincial Superior SVD Philippines Southern Province | (original signed) Fr. NARCISO A. CELLAN, Jr. SVD President University of San Carlos |
(original signed)
Most Rev. JOSE S. PALMA, D.D.
Archbishop of Cebu
Alay Kapwa Lenten Campaign
To All Laiko Members: National Lay Organizations & Arch/Diocesan Councils of the Laity
Dear Brothers & Sisters,
We are forwarding to you the letter to the Bishops from NASSA/ Caritas Phillipines on the Alay Kapwa Lenten Campaign.
Bishop Broderick Pabillo is requesting everyone to support this noble undertaking.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
LAIKO Secretariat
‘Stop the killings!’- Labor NGO seeks justice for the murder of union leader Leonardo Escala
15 February 2021
The Ecumenical Institute of Labor Education and Research (EILER) condemns the brutal murder of Leonardo “Ka Esca” Escala, union president of the port operator International Container Terminal Services Incorporated (ICTSI) last Februrary 7, in Tondo Manila.
Under Escala’s leadership, the union, the Nagkakaisang Manggagawa sa Pantalan Incorporated (NMPI)-ICTSI under the National Federation of Labor Unions (NAFLU), fought for labor rights and humane working conditions.
Because of his convictions, he constantly received death threats.
According to reports, Escala was with his 4-year old niece when both of them were shot by two assailants who escaped in a motorcycle. Escala died in the hospital an hour after they arrived, while his niece is still receiving treatment .
According to the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights, the number of labor leaders killed under Duterte have already gone up to 51. Adding to that the increasing numbers of harassment, union-busting, and cases of repression.
The culture of impunity under the Duterte administration has resulted in the increased number of killings of labor leaders, human rights defenders, and ordinary citizens. This has to stop. We seek justice and we also want to hold accountable those that perpetuate this culture of impunity.” said Rochelle Porras, Executive Director of EILER. #
Stand in Solidarity with EILER
February 18, 2021
Dear Partners and Colleagues,
In the spirit of defending our fundamental freedoms, we inform you of the continuing saga of red-tagging by the Philippine government to civil society organizations, specifically, the intensifying harassment and attacks on labor organizations and church people.
Research and education work is not a crime. The Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER) strongly denounces the allegations of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA). In the NICA’s letter to the Bureau of Immigration (BI), EILER is branded as a Communist-Terrorist Group-affiliated. The said letter was received by our volunteer staff from the BI only on February 3, 2021.
The red-tagging endangers the lives of EILER’s Board of Trustees, its staff, and the workers it serves. Our volunteer researcher and lay missionary, Otto De Vries, has been maliciously accused by NICA that he was “engaged and actively participating in protest rallies of Communist-Terrorist Group (CTG) front organizations.” Under EO 70 (2018), the NICA sits as a member of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), and heads the NTF-ELCAC’s Situational Awareness and Knowledge Management (SAKM) Cluster.
The wrongful allegation is another violation by the Philippine government in its relentless series of harassment and attacks on church people and labor rights defenders. Further, the attacks on civil society organizations indicate the eroding democratic governance in the country, in a critical time the focus should be on relief and recovery amid the pandemic.
Contrary to the accusations of NICA, EILER neither supports terrorism nor publishes materials to recruit terrorists. EILER is an established non-profit, non-governmental organization that has tirelessly advanced labor education, research, capacity-building, campaigning and advocacy work since 1981. It has published numerous research materials and has produced documentaries on the plight of the Filipino workers for 40 years.
We would like to assure our partners that we will continue to serve the workers through our projects, research and education work. We also appeal for your support in this very difficult time. We hope that you can sign on to endorse our official statement (attached), in support of our campaign to end red-tagging, as well as to put an end to the culture of impunity.
We urge our partners, civil society organizations and trade unions to stand in solidarity with EILER in condemning the attacks and in defending our democratic rights. We kindly ask for you to:
1) Issue statements supporting EILER’s call for defending labor rights and defending our institution so that we may continue serving the workers. You may also include our publicly-shared photos from any joint activities of our organizations and the hashtags below for online posting.
2) Issue statements supporting Otto’s mission to the Philippines.
3) Share our campaign to stop red-tagging and hold those in power accountable for perpetuating the culture of impunity.
4) Endorse our statement by affixing your signature.
Our calls:
No to Red-tagging!
Hands off Otto! Hands off Labor Rights Defenders!
Research and education work is not a crime!
Stand with EILER! Hands off civil society organizations!
Thank you very much for your solidarity.
Sincerely,
Rochelle M. Porras
Executive Director
Institusyong Ekumenikal para sa Edukasyon at Pananaliksik sa Paggawa
Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER)
Task Force Mapalad Press Release
Amid Duterte government’s lowest land distribution record in CARP history, hungry, pandemic-vulnerable Negros farmers ask president: Why do you break our hearts? Why can’t you fulfill your land reform promise?
Carrying “broken hearts” made of red cartolina, about 50 landless Negros Occidental farmers belonging to national peasant federation Task Force Mapalad (TFM), staged a post-Valentine protest-rally in front of the provincial office of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Dawis, Bacolod City on Monday, February 15, to express their frustration over the failure of the Duterte administration to fulfill its promise of completing land distribution under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
“First you gave us hope, you made us look forward to a much better future, free from the clutches of hacienderos, because you repeatedly vowed that we would have land. But now, you’ve broken our hearts, our dreams, Mr. President, because you failed to deliver what you promised,” said Teresita Tarlac, president of TFM’s Negros-Panay Chapter.
Tarlac said TFM farmers were apprehensive to hold a rally amid the pandemic, but extreme hunger aggravated by the sharp increase in the prices of basic commodities made them decide to go out and hold a rally and tell President Duterte of their plight.
“Hunger and the lack of adequate nutrition will make us vulnerable to illnesses, which in turn will make us susceptible to Covid-19. We have no other choice but to fight for our right to land, to our right to food and nutrition, so we can shield ourselves from diseases, including Covid-19,” she said.
“President Duterte has to see CARP as the most viable solution to our problem. He must give us our land now, ” added Tarlac.
In January 2020, while in North Cotabato, President Duterte reiterated his vow to complete the CARP’s land acquisition and distribution (LAD) component within his term, adding that he had directed DAR Secretary John Castriciones to fully implement the program, particularly in Negros Occidental, the province with the biggest LAD balance nationwide.
In May 2019, as a response to the chief executive’s directive to complete the distribution of agricultural landholdings to their tillers, the DAR said its target was for CARP to be LAD-free by 2022. In August 2020, the DAR shortened the land acquisition process from to 291 to 112 days supposedly to fast-track CARP.
Low and unmet land distribution target, lowest performance in CARP history
However, according to TFM, it is clear from the records of the DAR itself that there is a big credibility gap between what President Duterte promised and what the department does.
“While the DAR has been projecting to the media that it is doing its job, the truth is the current administration does not only have low and unmet land distribution targets. It is also, on record, the worst CARP implementor in terms of LAD since the land-to-the-tiller program started in 1988,” said Tarlac.
Data from the DAR show that in 2020, the department was only able to distribute a total of 18,789 hectares (has.) of agricultural landholdings nationwide or nearly 40 percent short of its 30,154-hectare target for last year.
“The nationwide LAD balance is still about 500,000 hectares. If the DAR’s LAD target is only over 30,000 hectares yearly, how can the CARP be LAD-free by 2022? At 30,000 hectares yearly, it would take the DAR over 15 years or three more administrations after the Duterte administration before it completes land distribution nationwide,” Tarlac said.
“Worse, missing the target means land distribution will be forever or never,” she added.
From 2016 to 2020, or during the last five years under the Duterte administration, its total LAD accomplishment nationwide was only 142,806 has., according to TFM’s computation based on DAR data.
“That total LAD performance is just equivalent to a yearly average accomplishment of 28,561 hectares – the lowest ever in the history of CARP, ” said Tarlac.
“We thought President Duterte’s predecessor, who came from a haciendero family, was the worst CARP implementor. But we were proved wrong. How come this happened when our current chief executive issued strong directives to the DAR to complete CARP before he stops down from office?” the TFM leader added.
From 2010 to 2015, or during the first five years of Benigno Aquino III’s presidency, the DAR distributed a total of 525,151 has. of agricultural landholdings under the CARP, or an annual average of 105,030 has., based on data from the DAR.
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8 February: International Day of Prayer Against Human Trafficking
Christians are invited to join an online Prayer Marathon on 8 February for an economy without human trafficking.
By Vatican News staff writer
All Christians are invited to participate in an online Prayer Marathon on Monday, 8 February, marking the 7th International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking.
The marathon has been organized by the International Committee of the World Day, coordinated by Talitha Kum, the network of consecrated life against trafficking in persons of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG). Other partners include the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Service to Integral Human Development, Caritas Internationalis, the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations, the Focolare Movement and many other local organizations involved at the local level.
Event organizers announced that with this online marathon, it will be the first time that every organization working against trafficking in persons will be able to participate in the main event together.
An economy without Human Trafficking
The theme chosen for 2021 is “An Economy without Human Trafficking.” It brings into the spotlight “one of the main causes of human trafficking: the dominant economic model of our time, whose limits and contradictions are exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic,” reads a statement on the organization’s website.
This 7th International Day of Prayer and Awareness, it says, “is an invitation to multiply and promote new economic experiences that oppose all forms of exploitation.”
8 February, the statement explains, is “an important date because it marks the liturgical memorial of St. Bakhita, the slave girl who became a saint and universal symbol of the Church’s commitment against slavery.”
In explaining this year’s initiative, Sr Gabriella Bottani, coordinator of Talitha Kum, says: “With ‘The Economy of Francesco’, the Holy Father has asked the Church to stop and reflect on the dominant economic model and to find alternative paths. We found ourselves perfectly in tune, since the trafficking of people is an integral part of an economy of exclusion, where the rules of the market are destroying the fundamental values of human coexistence, based on respect for dignity but also on the protection of the environment. The dominant economic model is one of the main structural causes of human trafficking in our globalized world. Through this day, let us trace together a path of reflection for an economy that promotes life and dignified work for all”.
Participating in the prayer initiative
This year an online Marathon of Prayer has been organized due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. It will take place on Monday from 10 am to 5 pm CET. There will also be a moment of prayer all together at 1 pm CET. It will be attended by all the Talitha Kum networks around the world, divided into blocks according to continents.
Event organizers also announced that a video message of Pope Francis will air around 1:40pm.
Individuals can support the World Day through the official hashtag #PrayAgainstTrafficking.
The online Prayer Marathon will be live-streamed on YouTube. Further information is available on the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking website.
Pope prays for peace in Myanmar as anti-coup protests grow
Francis expresses his solidarity with Myanmar’s people and calls for social justice and national stability
UCA News Reporter
Updated: February 08, 2021 04:56 AM GMT
Pope Francis prayed for justice and peace in Myanmar as tens of thousands took to the streets of the conflict-scarred nation to protest the military coup.
He used his Angelus address on Feb. 7 to express his concern over the generals’ Feb. 1 power grab that has set back the country’s transition to full democracy.
“These days I am following with great concern the developments of the situation that has arisen in Myanmar,” the pope said, adding that Myanmar is “a country that, since the time of my apostolic visit in 2017, I carry in my heart with much affection.”
Pope Francis held a moment of silent prayer for Myanmar during his Angelus address and expressed “my spiritual closeness, my prayers and my solidarity” with its people.
“I pray that those who have responsibility in the country will place themselves with sincere willingness at the service of the common good, promoting social justice and national stability, for a harmonious coexistence,” he said.
As Feb. 7 marked a day of prayers for peace, Catholics in Myanmar attended Mass, recited special prayers and held fasts following the coup.
While they were praying at home or churches, thousands of protesters took to the streets in cities across the country including Yangon, Mandalay and Monwya to denounce the coup and call for the release of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and an end to military rule.
In Mandalay, the second-largest city of Myanmar, young protesters took to the streets on motorcycles followed by some cars.
Older people clapped in support and gave the three-finger salute as some offered food and water to protesters. The salute is a reference to The Hunger Games movies and a popular symbol of recent pro-democracy protests in Thailand that has been adopted in Myanmar.
Young people waved National League for Democracy (NLD) flags while some held banners reading “Military rule fail, fail”, “Oppose military dictatorship” and “Democracy win, win”.
Tens of thousands of people also rallied in Yangon, the largest city in Myanmar, on Feb. 6 and Feb. 7.
In an appeal letter on Feb. 4, Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon urged citizens to stay calm. “We have shed enough blood. Let no more blood be shed in this land,” he said.
Cardinal Bo used Twitter to quote St. John Paul II’s comment that “the lay faithful can’t remain indifferent or be strangers and inactive in the face of all that denies and compromises peace, namely, violence, war, torture and terrorism, concentration camps, militarization of public life, the arms race.”
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