CARDINAL SIN THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

This story was taken from www.inq7.net

——————————————————————————–

Commentary : The lesser-known Sin
, June 26, 2005
Updated 05:55amam (Mla time)
Nandy Pacheco
Inquirer News Service

IN ADDITION to his great contributions to and his crucial and positive impact on the lives of millions of Filipinos as well as on so many worthy political and social causes, Jaime L. Cardinal Sin, former Archbishop of Manila, also gave encouragement to two organizations at a time when they needed it most.

We pay tribute to His Eminence Jaime L. Cardinal Sin for the genuine support he gave us when we started the Gunless Society in 1991 and the Kapatiran sa Pangkalahatang Kabutihan (KPK) in 2002. The KPK is a national, interfaith, nonviolent, political movement that seeks to renew Philippine politics and rid the Filipino nation of its evil dimensions, for the common good.

It was Gloria Alcuaz, a social activist, who arranged an appointment for our group to see the cardinal so that we could get him to endorse the Gunless Society project. A small group, made up of Mila Magsaysay-Valenzuela, Bea Zobel, Gloria Alcuaz, Mercy Tuazon, Alex Reyes Jr. and myself, went to see him. Cardinal Sin had no difficulty in supporting the project after we explained that the Gunless Society is rooted, first, in the prophecy of Isaiah that says, “they (people) shall beat their plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks, one nation shall not raise sword against another, nor shall they train for war again”; second, in God’s commandment “You shall not kill”; and, third, in the “Social Teaching of The Church” with particular reference to that part on the “Sanctity of Life and Dignity of the Human Person.”

As a result of that visit, Cardinal Sin issued a message endorsing to the government two related and complementary resolutions approved by the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II). One of the resolutions “calls on all sectors of the Church to actively campaign for an end to the production and manufacture of the technology of death and the arms trade as part of the Church’s vision of peace”; and the other “calls for a massive campaign for a public policy to prohibit the glorification of guns and violence, lust and sex in the movies, movie billboards, TV, radio and print media.”

Cardinal Sin and Ricardo Cardinal Vidal were the first to sign the petition asking the government “to keep the environment safe by making it unlawful for anyone to carry guns and any instruments of violence in a public place unless he/she is authorized, in uniform and on duty. This ban would not apply to sportsmen or individuals who wish to keep licensed guns in their homes or gun clubs.” The other bishops followed suit. The petition also appeals “to the Government to impose this ban strictly and thereby carry out its mandate of creating a peaceful environment for its citizens.” In addition, Cardinal Sin sent a special message to Congress, urging the speedy approval of the gun control legislation. He did many other things in support of the Gunless Society, such as allowing a big billboard to be placed on the wall of his residence facing Shaw Boulevard, with the message: “You are welcome, your gun is not.”

We were able to gather over a million signatures on the petition. But sad to say, the reality is that one cannot expect a gun control law from a progun-dominated Congress. This has been the situation in Congress since the time of President Corazon Aquino up to the present. There is no political party in the Philippines that is committed to gun control.

With regard to the Kapatiran, the other cause for which we sought the assistance of the cardinal, he received Manolo Dayrit and me warmly when we went to visit him to get his endorsement of the movement.

Cardinal Sin expressed elation when we told him that we had just formed the KPK to renew and transform Philippine politics in accordance with the values of the Good News of Jesus and in the spirit of PCP II.

Cardinal Sin reacted by saying “it is about time for our lay faithful to be more actively involved in socio-political affairs.” In his reply to my letter of June 3, 2003, he also said: “I share your sentiments that Philippine society needs transformation and renewal. We must inject the Gospel values to our citizens, especially to our government officials. Genuine peace and progress can only take place if there is spiritual renewal.” He even asked us to get in touch with Fr. Vic Apacible, the minister for lay formation in the Archdiocese of Manila, to help us and put in context our good intentions.

With common good as its ideology, Kapatiran’s mission includes: (1) to build a nation of character; (2) to develop an enlightened, mature and responsible citizenry-from which servant leaders will emerge-through character building, values formation based on the social teaching of the Church, consistent ethic of life, love of country, and basic political education; (3) to make politics an effective means for the integral development of all rather than a tool for the advancement of a privileged few; (4) to draw up a list of clear and specific aspirations which can be woven into a coherent program of government; (5) to make politics a medium through which you can show love for neighbor and promote justice and peace; (6) to make a reality a government of the people, for the people, and by the people; and (7) to make Kapatiran a national vehicle for social and political transformation.

Cardinal Sin’s earthly work is now done, but we who follow him in his footsteps should not forget the example that he set. Neither should we ignore his wise counsel. He was a great teacher, a true leader, and above all a man of love and peace. The principles that he espoused must guide us all, Filipinos, as we work to build a better country for our children and for the future generations.

Cardinal Sin, you were indeed a faithful servant of God. We love you.

Nandy Pacheco is the founder of Nature/Gunless Society and Kapatiran Sa Pangkalahatang Kabutihan. He is also the president of Ang Kapatiran, also known as The Alliance for the Common Good.

A FILIPINO TEENAGE ACHIEVER, LEADER AND ROLE MODEL FOR ALL OF US

Ryan’s Pinoy heart
By Maria eleanor Elape Valeros
The Cebu Freeman 06/27/2005

Another Pinoy youth sticks in a feather to the Filipino cap.

Gil Adrian “Ryan” Estenzo Torres, 17 years old, graduated class valedictorian at the International School Bangkok in Thailand, topping 150 students last June 6 with a grade point average of 4.28 - being the first Filipino student at ISB to have earned such distinction.

A scholarship grant from the Stanford University in Palo Alto, California dangles before Ryan when he comes to the United States to pursue an engineering course in September.

Apart from Stanford, Ryan was also accepted at the Brown University, a member of the Ivy League. He is also waitlisted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Ryan was also the recipient of three other awards aside from clinching the Honor Roll. These were the Student Council Leadership Award, Computer Science Award, and Mathematics Award.

But apart from these awards, what inspired me to talk of his achievement was the fact that though he spent seven years in Bangkok - a major commercial and transportation hub in Asia, and was exposed to the cultures not just of the Thai people, but also of different nationalities - his heart remained proud of being Pinoy.

Learning that his sojourn to Thailand has not diminished his affinity for anything Filipino touches me deeply. Unlike many teenagers today, Ryan loves the Filipino culture with a passion. He attends school events in a Barong Tagalog. He loves the gag show Bubble Gang, listens to Pinoy music, watches Pinoy movies, and eats Pinoy food. He takes pride in patronizing Jollibee - a Pinoy entrepreneurial wonder.

Ryan is a rare find in his already corrupt generation!

His parents, Gil Torres and Elisa Estenzo, sent an excerpt of Ryan’s thoughts in answer to essay questions on his application to Stanford University. The answers not just reflective of his intelligence and hard work. His generous and loving heart - with emphasis on filial love - are showing through. Read on:

“Hi there! My name is Ryan. I look forward to a semester of fun, learning and sharing of ideas and experiences with you. There will be a lot of opportunities for these, I’m sure. Most of the time, you will see me study a lot and work hard at my assignments and other school responsibilities. I’m a very conscientious student. I drive for excellence in whatever work I do. But, it doesn’t mean to say that I am a nerd - I do know how to enjoy life and to have fun as well.

“There may be times I could get overbearing and bossy. Please don’t take it seriously. It is just a remnant from my experience organizing a regional Southeast Asian International Leadership Conference. As the lead organizer, it has been one of the biggest undertakings of my life that I thoroughly enjoyed. My dad always told me that a good leader is one who knows how to pass down the work to someone else and get it done, anyway. Being able to delegate work on other people and telling them that 150 people would be relying on their output, and making sure that they actually stayed on task, was a very fulfilling job.”

When Ryan was asked, “A picture is worth a thousand words, as the adage goes. Select a photograph no larger than 5×7 inches that represents something important to you, and explain its significance”, his answer was: “This is Gil Ellis “Lyle” Torres, my next and youngest sibling. There are three boys in my family - Justin, 19, is a college freshman; Ryan (me) at 17 and Lyle, 5 years old and a kindergarten pupil in Bangkok. Twelve years below my years, Lyle was a latecomer, but he has been one of the greatest things that happened to my life. His charm never ceases to make people smile even at their worst moments.

“His coming was a surprising yet joyful event for my family. I was the youngest child for the longest time but when Lyle came into the world, I embraced him with love and care, harboring no feelings of resentment or jealousy. I didn’t watch TV for many weeks; instead, I used the time to learn how to take care of an infant - feeding him, changing diapers and knowing how to appease him when he cries.

“My fondness for children gradually developed from this nurturing experience. I was enticed to join volunteer work at the Pakkret Orphanage Babies Home and the adjacent Baan Rachawadee Home for the Physically and Mentally Disabled. I discovered that I had a talent of knowing how to relate with children. Interacting with them and seeing the disadvantaged children respond gave me so much joy. I have been doing this volunteer work for the last six years.

“Looking into the future, Lyle’s importance to me is immeasurable. He is one of the reasons I pursue excellence in all the things I do. As an older brother, I know I have the obligation to return the favor to my parents. Due to my parents’ becoming older, and Lyle still in his early years, my family has agreed to divide up the responsibility of sending him to school. The eldest brother will take care of his High School education while I take care of his University education. Sending my youngest brother through university is a great challenge and responsibility that I take seriously. This is a very specific goal in my life that I intend to pursue.

“Today, I watch my brother grow. At five years, he is learning how to read and how to add and subtract numbers. He likes to use new words like “actually” or “definitely”. He is quick to pick up on new ideas that he thinks would make him appear more intelligent. I know he will have a great future. Who knows, he will be the next one to follow me to Stanford! Seeing him graduate with a degree would be the greatest reward of my life!”

DEAR MRS PRESIDENT THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

Now that President Arroyo ADMITTED she did the inappropriate thing of talking to the Comelec Commissioner during the election process which may be the basis of possible criminal prosecution, can she still govern? Will she be forgiven by the people?
There are those who say she will be forgiven because she made an emotional appeal
which will address a forgiving people,the same people who seem to have forgiven Imelda, Erap.
In her statement to the people the President first defended herself that she did not ask the Comelec to do anything illegal as she was concerned of the slow Comelec process on the election returns. She wants us to trust her to take our country out of this morass.
Mrs President, review your economic policies, look into what Mahathir of Malaysia
has done to make Malaysia strong like removing the Philippines from the floating exchange regime that has doomed us with higher debt and a weaker economy.
Negotiate hard with the creditors tfor a 70 percent discount like what Argentina got for its debt. Require a government to government arrangement on the purchase of oil from suppliers . Never allow purchase in the spot market which is the most expensive way to buy oil.
Use more wind power generation, no more guarantees to independent power producers ON THEIR POWER GENERATION FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
ASK YOUR SON TO STEP DOWN AS CONGRESSMAN.
ASK THOSE AROUND YOU TO APOLOGIZE TO THE NATION FOR WRONG JUDGMENTS
AND MISMANAGING THEIR DEPARTMENTS.
YOUR CHALLENGE Mrs President is to get back the public trust, you have to
waive any immunity as sitting president from prosecution.
Bring down the tax rates to Hongkong levels, strengthen the BIR and Customs to collect revenue with training, equipment and budgetary support.
Ask the members of Congress to forego their pork barrel in favor of livelihood and poverty alleviation.
Thank you for reading this unsolicited advise.

Adrian Sison
a former student
hilman1108@yahoo.com

GO BACK TO GOD AND PRAY

A Vissionary has the following message for Us:
reiterating the messages from fatima= TIME IS RUNNING OUT, CHRIST IS COMING SOON, PRAY FOR THE POPE. THE ANTICHRIST WILL REIGN SOON,
GO BACK TO GOD, THE POWER OF PRAYER SHOULD BE OUR PRIORITY

THE FRUITS AND PREPARATION FOR THE MASS

THE FRUITS OF THE MASS

Preparation for Mass. Apostolate and the Eucharistic Sacrifice.

Before Mass we have to prepare our soul to be ready for the most important event that takes place in the world each day. The Mass celebrated by any priest in the most out-of-the-way, the remotest corner of the world, even when no other person is attending, is the greatest thing happening on earth at that moment. It is the most pleasing thing that we men can offer to God. It is the opportunity to thank him for the many benefits we receive; to ask forgiveness for so many sins and such lack of love and for all our spiritual and material needs.

We all have things we need to ask for. Lord, that humiliation I can’t accept even for love of You … We desire blessings, happiness and joy for the members of our household. We are saddened by the fate of those who suffer hunger and thirst for bread and justice; of those who undergo the anguish of loneliness; of those who at the end of their lives are facing death without an affectionate look or the help of a friend.

But it is sin which is the wretchedness that causes suffering, and is the great world-wide malaise we have to remedy. It separates us from God and endangers souls with the prospect of eternal damnation. To bring men to eternal glory in the love of God – that was the essential desire of Christ when we celebrate Mass. Our apostolate is therefore directed towards the Mass and is strengthened by it.

Some minutes of thanksgiving after Mass will round off these most important moments of the day. They will have a direct influence on our work, on our family life, on the cheerfulness we show to everyone – and in the certainty and confidence with which we face up to the rest of our day. The Mass lived in this way will never be an isolated incident. It will nourish all our actions and give them a special tone, value and significance.

We always find our Mother Mary in the Mass. How could we take part in the sacrifice without remembering and invoking the Mother of the High Priest and Victim? Our Lady played such an intimate part in the priesthood of her Son during his life on earth that she is eternally united to the exercise of his Priesthood. Just as she was present on Calvary, so is she present in the Mass, which is a prolongation of Calvary. She helped her son on the Cross by offering him to the Father. In the sacrifice of the altar, the renewal of the sacrifice of Christ, she helps the Church to offer herself in union with her Head. Let us offer ourselves to Jesus through the mediation of Mary. Let us remember Mary during Mass, and she will help us grow in piety and recollection.

Excerpts from IN CONVERSATION WITH GOD by Francis Fernandez.
To subscribe or unsubscribe, please email defensoresfidei@mail.com.

The DEFENSORES FIDEI FOUNDATION actively spreads Ecclesial Information, Catechetical Instructions and Apologetics in pursuit of making good Catholics better Catholics. Any contribution to help this apostolate is heaven-sent. Please visit us at www.defensoresfidei.com.