January 4, 2012 01:41 AM
MANILA, Jan. 2, 2012—Since national basic education curriculum will be extended from 10 to 12 years starting next school year, the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) will gather representatives of private Catholic schools nationwide to discuss preparations on the looming shift to the government’s Kindergarten to 12th grade (K+12) program.
January 2, 2012 09:25 AM
MANILA, Jan. 1, 2012—The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) appealed to the South Korean (SoKor) government to withdraw its funding for the Aurora Pacific Economic and Free Port (Apeco) as it would affect the livelihood of small farmers and fisherfolks living in the area where the port is located.
January 2, 2012 09:23 AM
MANILA, Dec. 31, 2011–The crusade for a culture of life is an advocacy of truth, and based on the goings-on in 2011 alone, the pro-life advocacy has covered a lot of ground and, inadvertently, saw much success in promoting the truth.
Though reproductive health (RH) legislation in the Philippines is not new — being proposed, discussed, rejected and resurrected for decades now — 2012 saw significant developments in its promotion as well as in its opposition. The year ended with the RH bill reaching the period of interpellation in both chambers of Congress, heated debates in progress when legislative sessions went on adjournment on the final month of the year. Mass actions such as rallies and prayer vigils to express opposition to the bill happened not just in the country’s capital, but in many other cities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Civil society seemed to wake up to the folly of the legislative measure and wanted to be heard loud and clear.
January 2, 2012 09:12 AM
MANILA, Dec. 31, 2011—The head of the Catholic hierarchy said the coming of yet another year promises abundant divine graces for Filipino Catholics as he cited two important Church events that will happen in 2012.
On October 7 to 28, the 13th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will convene in Rome to discuss the topic The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith, according to CBCP president and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.
January 2, 2012 09:09 AM
My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ:
Maayong Bag-ong Tuig kaninyong tanan!
As we thank God for the many blessings He bestowed on us last year, we offer Him praise and thanksgiving as He brings us to another year, the New Year 2012.
December 29, 2011 03:54 AM
MANILA, Dec. 28, 2011—The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) has challenged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to name the alleged “illegal” loggers that are behind the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan tragedy.
December 29, 2011 03:52 AM
MANILA, Dec. 27, 2011—Environmental advocacy group, Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (KPNE) asserted that the Aquino administration should be held accountable for what happened in two of Mindanao’s key cities, Iligan and Cagayan de Oro, for allegedly “coddling” loggers and lack of disaster preparedness that could have saved thousands of lives.
December 27, 2011 05:06 AM
MATI City, Dec. 26, 2011—The Catholic Women’s League in the Diocese of Mati publicly proclaimed their unequivocal stand in defense of life and the promotion of the Natural Family Planning (NFP) method of birth regulation.
CWL diocesan president Norma Lanaban of Banganga unit stressed the group’s position against the reproductive health bill during its general assembly last December 18 at the Clergy compound in Mati City.
December 27, 2011 05:05 AM
ILIGAN City, Dec. 26, 2011—A Catholic bishop urged people to look deeply into the issue of environmental destruction that contributed greatly to the tragedy that struck the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.
Iligan bishop Elenito Galido called for a communal action to protect and preserve the environment from further destruction.
December 23, 2011 04:01 PM
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CAGAYAN DE ORO City, Dec. 23, 2011—Christmas is a time of rejoicing, but for thousands of families in Cagayan de Oro City, it’s a time of grief, of rebuilding lives and homes.</p>
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With thousands of families huddled in evacuation centers, the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro is faced with the great challenge of helping families re-build their lives and homes after rampaging flash floods destroyed properties and killed many.</p>
December 23, 2011 03:59 PM
Christmas is a time of rejoicing. But this year in Cagayan de Oro we mourn and express our condolence for all those who have perished in the wake of Typhoon Sendong on Dec. 16-17.
In some places entire families have been washed away by the rampaging waters of Cagayan de Oro River. Others died in their sleep trapped inside their homes by the sudden rise of flood waters that reached unprecedented levels past midnight.
December 23, 2011 03:57 PM
CAGAYAN DE ORO City, Dec. 22, 2011—A Jesuit-run institution in Cagayan de Oro City has coordinated its own relief operations to help victims of Typhoon Sendong.
Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan has mobilized its staff, faculty, students and alumni to gather, repack and distribute relief goods for those affected by the flash floods.
December 23, 2011 02:04 AM
BACOLOD City, Dec. 22, 2011— In response to the invitation of the Episcopal Commission on Youth to plant at least one million trees nationwide, the Diocesan Commission on Youth planted at least 300 seedlings at Sitio Lantawan, Brgy. Guimbalaon, Silay City last December 11.
The Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY), on the celebration of its 25th year, has urged the Filipino youth to concretely express their love for Mother Earth by protecting, preserving and restoring the environment through various activities, including tree planting.
December 23, 2011 02:02 AM
JARO, Iloilo City, Dec. 22, 2011—Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo has called on the faithful to help victims of Typhoon Sendong which laid to waste vast areas of Northern Mindanao, in particular Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities.
In a circular released December 20, Lagdameo urged the clergy “to encourage our parishioners to help with the spirit of God who generously gave His Son that we may experience what Christmas is.”
December 22, 2011 06:56 AM
ILIGAN City, Dec. 21, 2011—Relief and rehabilitation should not only be limited to those whose homes were swept away by flashfloods, but help should also be extended to families whose houses were partially damaged by the typhoon, a priest said.
This, according to Iligan Social Action Director Fr. Albert Mendez, who assessed the situation after meeting evacuees in various government facilities and churches in the city.
December 22, 2011 06:54 AM
CAGAYAN DE ORO City, Dec. 21, 2011— Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, SJ said everyone should look beyond rescue and relief efforts, and government should provide flashflood victims with safe relocation sites, even with basic housing facilities.
This as President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III visited Cagayan de Oro City and ordered local authorities to prevent residents from returning to hazardous areas.
December 22, 2011 06:52 AM
MANILA, Dec. 21, 2011—Migrante chapters in different parts of the Middle East opened their lines to receive donations for the victims of the flash floods in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities, Mindanao, which has already claimed hundreds of lives, most of them children.
In a statement, John Leonard C. Monterona, regional coordinator of Migrante-Mideast said that they had already coordinated with different Filipino communities and migrant workers’ organization in Saudi, Qatar, and in United Arab Emirates.
December 22, 2011 06:50 AM
CAGAYAN DE ORO City, Dec. 20, 2011—Civil society groups and local government units of Cagayan de Oro City and nearby towns called on President Benigno Aquino III to declare Cagayan de Oro river basin a protected watershed area to shield it from further exploitation.
The multi sectoral groups said the devastation brought by Typhoon Sendong was “the result of irresponsible and wanton exploitation of our watershed forests, leading to river siltation which reduced the city’s capacity to hold enormous water load.”
December 22, 2011 06:48 AM
MANILA, Dec. 20, 2011—A Catholic bishop has urged the cancellation of pricey fireworks shows for Christmas and the New Year amid tragedy that struck Northern Mindanao provinces.
Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez made the call as number of fatalities from Typhoon Sendong rose to more than 900 as of Tuesday morning.
December 22, 2011 06:45 AM
MANILA, Dec. 21, 2011— The Vatican yesterday announced that Blessed Pedro Calungsod and six others will soon be proclaimed saints.
A Vatican news release (http://www.news.va/en/news/decrees-of-the-congregation-for-the-causes-of...), said “Pope Benedict VXI received in audience, Cardinal Angelo Amato, SBD, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, and authorized the promulgation of decrees (for sainthood)”.
December 19, 2011 05:34 AM
MANILA, Dec. 17, 2011—Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle has urged the faithful to spend the days leading to Christmas as occasions to deepen one’s prayer life and worship of God.
He called on the congregation to “recover this sense of worship [and] resting in God, for us to relish the salvation that comes to us in Jesus.”
“We are asked during these days and on Christmas Day to be a worshipping people, to pray, to rest in God,” he said in his homily during a Mass he celebrated at the Supreme Court of the Philippines.
December 19, 2011 05:32 AM
CAGAYAN DE ORO City, Dec. 18, 2011—With thousands of people huddled in evacuation centers displaced by typhoon “Sendong”, the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines in Northern Mindanao are appealing for relief items to be sent to the victims.
December 19, 2011 05:29 AM
MANILA, Dec. 16, 2011—Three Mindanao bishops called on the government to protect and promote the interest of the people and not of mining companies.
Kidapawan Bishop Romulo dela Cruz, Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Guetierrez and Digos Bishop Guillermo Afable, in a collective statement, urged for protection of the environment and promote sustainable development.
December 13, 2011 02:36 PM
ANTIPOLO City, Dec. 13, 2011—While it voted “yes” for the Chief Magistrate’s impeachment complaint, Kabataan partylist forewarned his fellow legislators not to make the Impeachment Tribunal against Supreme Court chief justice Renato Corona to be an “Aquino court.”
“The blind support of Chief Justice Renato Corona to former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and by extension to the crimes of the latter against the people warrants an impeachment case on the basis of betrayal of public trust. But I stress my vote for Corona’s impeachment with a caveat against Palace machinations to establish an Aquino court,” said Kabataan Rep. Raymond Palatino in a statement sent to media.
December 13, 2011 02:04 AM
MANILA, Dec. 12, 2011— The job as new head of Manila’s Catholic Church started Monday for Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle who turned emotional as the crowd praised him for his appointment.
“We are grateful to the Holy Father for giving Manila the best in our own,” said Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
