Catholic Youth network declares united stance vs RH bill

 A network of Church-mandated youth groups and movement has come out with a solidified stance of the Filipino Catholic Youth for Life denouncing the Anti-Life component of the Reproductive Health bill.

The Federation of National Youth Organization (FNYO), a network of mandated Catholic youth groups and movement recognized by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Youth (CBCP-ECY) has recently released an official statement of the Filipino Catholic youth for Life against the controversial measure.

Emphasizing four major points, the FNYO statement argues that the root of poverty in the country is corruption in government; strong family values is a great cultural trait of Filipinos; everything that prevents life are violations of human right to life and dignity; and promoting the RH bill with its anti-life component in a Christian nation such as the Philippines goes against the citizens’ Christian values and beliefs. Under FNYO are 22 Catholic youth organizations that include Chiro Pilipinas, Salesian Youth Movement FMA and SDB, Student Catholic Action of the Philippines, Institucion Teresiana-Youth, Franciscan Youth Philippines, Canossian Youth Movement, Catholic Youth Organization, Junior Catholic Womens’ league, CFC-Youth for Christ, CFC-Youth for Family and Life, CFC-Singles for Christ, CFC-Singles for Family and Life, Christ’s Youth in Action, Christian Life Community of the Philippines, Columbian Squires, Filipino-Chinese Catholic Youth, Filipino Youth with a Mission, Mary help of Christians Crusade, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Tarcisian Adorers, Youth for Mary and Christ, and Youth for a United World-Focolare.

The groups denounced the claim of the bill’s proponents that poverty is caused by overpopulation, hence the need to pass the RH bill.

“How can the passing of RH Bill be a solution to this problem? Instead of funding efforts to pass such a bill, the government should direct the funds to the poor,” the groups declared in their statement.

“We cannot understand why even the funds for them should be pocketed by corrupt legislators. The government should continue exploring possibilities of partnership with the private sector in providing equal opportunities for our people like work and livelihood programs, helping them to stand on their own and uplift them from their miserable condition,” they said.

Their statement also noted that despite changing times, the Filipino families remain conservative in their faith and beliefs, stating that “the high regard and respect to parents as first teachers to their children is a fact that influences the strong family ties.”

“Efforts then on how to educate children about sex and sexuality should start at home and should be done by parents,” it said.

The groups pointed out that parents should also be educated so that they would be better equipped teachers of life to their children.

“Let us fund programs to educate parents because Sex Education to pupils in Grade V up to students in High School is a threat to the Filipino families at large that will create more problems than solutions,” they added.

Noting that the bill promotes the use of contraceptives, the groups stressed that women should be empowered by educating them on the side effects of contraceptives which according to many studies, have even resulted to deaths among women.

“Besides failure to prevent pregnancy, contraceptives have caused more serious threat to women’s reproductive health. Contraceptives are abortifacients that prevent life. Let us not turn the women’s life-bearing womb into a useless tomb,” the groups said.

Survey and studies show that more and more young people engage into pre-marital sex, and statistics of sex-related crimes among teenagers that include sexual abuse, gang rape and sex-date also increases, where the rate of men getting into extra-marital sex also goes up.

“This also means that incident of infidelity increases which results to separation and break-up, broken families, unwanted pregnancies, etc. These must be the results of “safe sex” culture that the use of condoms promotes,” they reiterated.

“Making contraceptives accessible allows people especially the youth to use them to their own pleasurable advantage. These and a lot more are expressions saying that with condoms and pills, it is okay to have sex with anyone, anytime, anywhere. With condoms [offering false] safety and protection, cases of HIV-AIDS also has increased in the Philippines,” they furthered.

The group further said that “free choice” is not a Christian value, [instead] being free to choose life is Christian.

“Hence today we announce our united stance for Life and in solidarity denounce the Anti-Life component of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill,” the groups stated.

The statement was released March 26, as the Church celebrated the Feast of the Annunciation. (Jandel Posion)

Iloilo holds Youth Forum on negative impacts of RH Bill

Despite the short notice and the ongoing final examinations in most schools, hundreds of youth and pro-life supporters from various institutions and organizations in Iloilo City gathered in a youth forum on the controversial reproductive health bill.

Organized by the Commission on Family and Life of the Archdiocese of Jaro and the Citizens for Life in cooperation with the University of San Agustin, the forum was held on March 16 at the University of San Agustin.

Speakers include 1st District Davao City Congressman Karlo Nograles and 2nd District Lanao del Norte Congresswoman Fatima Aliah Dimaporo, along with World Youth Alliance representative Renelyn Tan who clarified issues surrounding the controversial bill and highlighted its negative impact on the youth sector.

Tan encouraged the youth to get themselves responsibly informed and to be more critical on the consequences of the laws being crafted, especially the RH Bill in its present version.

She emphasized that the youth must be heard because they are the future leaders of the country.

There is no use of becoming a leader, she said, if as an effect of population control, there will be nobody to serve.

She also presented key points of the RH Bill that clarified the position of the pro-life movement.

Nograles, meanwhile, revealed that if the RH bill is passed into legislation, educational and structural developments will be sacrificed since emphasis will be given to the promulgation of the RH Bill such as allocations for contraceptives which will be distributed to the youth.

Nograles said that, instead of giving contraceptives to the people, the government should focus on educating the youth. He further rebuked the lengthy sex education program which will be imposed once the RH bill is passed by asking, “Do you want your children to master sex before they graduate high school?”

For her part, Dimaporo explained the rights of citizens and the duties of the legislators to preserve and uphold the rights of the family.

Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, who was also present in the forum, lauded the efforts of nine young solons in Congress, known as the “9YL” or the “Nine Young Legislators”, who “are swimming against the tide” and are fighting for the right to life.

He encouraged everyone to pray for the young solons that they will never stop the fight.

After the talks, Dr. Dolores Octaviano, of the Archdiocesan Commission on Family and Life, gave enlightening comments about the contraceptive mentality that the RH Bill will perpetuate among the youth.

She stressed that the impact will be so alarming to the extent that the youth will unconsciously learn how to “kill the unborn” without being guilty about it.

Discussions and open forum followed the talks which covered public issues and unspoken experiences of the youth about the RH Bill, proving that the younger generation strongly disagrees to a culture of death and immorality that is imposed by the proposed measure.

The forum ended with a song number from the singing priest Fr. Jonas Mejares, OSA, who serenaded the youth with classic love songs.

The youth forum was in response to reports that the RH Bill will be hastened into legislation before Congress adjourns for the Holy Week recess.

But the last day of plenary sessions in Congress ended without tackling the bill, seemingly an indication of lawmakers’ waning interest on the divisive measure. House Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte has been quoted as saying there are members of the House leadership and majority coalition who are opposed to the bill. (Elena D. Santisteban, Jayrel Javier Encontro, and Fr. Mickey Cardenas)

Notion of youth majority as pro-RH ‘wishful thinking’; student group doesn’t speak for youth sector

After a group of university student leaders declared its intention to campaign against lawmakers opposed to the Reproductive Health (RH) bill, several youth organizations representing an even bigger number of young people blasted the mistaken notion that majority of the youth are easily swayed by pro-RH propaganda.

Noisy minority

As for the statement made by the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP) national spokesperson JC Tejano that  “we are ready to launch the full force of the youth against anti-RH legislators,” Youth Pinoy! President Eilleen Esteban remarked, “To me the statement is irresponsible and very assuming. It’s a hollow threat, propaganda to make them seemingly look huge but the truth is they are just a noisy minority.”

“SCAP is in no position to make wholesale statements about the voice of the youth on the RH issue. They are not even a quarter of the majority of the voting youth that they claimed to be, even if we talk of the numbers game,” she  continued.

“You want to talk about the voice of the youth that reckons real numbers?  Talk to millions of Catholic youth based in our 86 dioceses, the Catholic schools and the trans-parochial organizations with millions of members that extend globally — then we could talk of a threatening number.”

“In my opinion, the youth are the most intelligent sector in the voting population,” Esteban said, adding that she was at the PPCRV Command Center during the 2010 election, mobilizing millions of young people who wanted to take part in the historic first automated election.

“And their power to move on causes they truly believe in is just so spectacular that it’s almost miraculous. They are the vigilant and idealistic slice of the pie that inquires, critically studies and acts on a sound judgment. What made SCAP think that the youth will just give away their precious votes just because the candidate voted against the bill?! That’s wishful thinking.”

RH bill benefits only a few

“We the members of Federation of National Youth Organization are really standing up against the RH bill because we know that it will only destroy our family, our values, our morality, lalo na ng mga kabataan,” said National Federation of Youth Organizations (NFYO) Council Member Maria Lea Dasigan.

“Kung ‘di pag-aaralan, hindi natin maiintindihan na ang RH bill ay para lamang sa kapakanan ng mga iilan at hindi talaga para sa kapakanan ng mga kabataan.”

“Personally,” she added, “I don’t believe na marami [silang mga pro-RH] na parang nananakot na majority of the voting population are young and for the RH bill. I really don’t think so.”

The NFYO has organizations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and its members have recently come up with a signature campaign, the result of which they intend to send to Congress.

Part of the group’s preparations for the 2013 elections is educating its various organizations on electoral candidates who are true to pro-life legislation.

‘I am part of the youth and I oppose the RH bill’

Even students of the University of the Philippines pointed out that newly elected University Student Council (USC) chair Heart Diño, who expressed support for the RH bill at the SCAP press conference, does not reflect their convictions.

“Heart Diño’s seat in the USC was favored by a mere 17.02% of UP’s student population. Heart was voted into the council by 3,290 students out of roughly 19,300. Tell me, does Heart Diño speak the voice of UP’s studentry? Ideally, yes. But in reality, no,” stated Kiboy Tabada, convenor of UP Against the RH Bill.

“Heart was reported to have said that lawmakers ‘should not belittle the youth vote,’ that ‘they should listen to what the youth are actually saying.’ Listen to the youth? Or listen to you? I am part of the youth and I oppose the RH Bill. I believe that a lawmaker’s vote for the RH Bill is a vote against the real welfare of the youth, against the future of the youth. And I speak for the youth who stand against it and for the rest of my generation who do not know that it’s their future that’s at stake. On this matter, Heart Diño does not speak my voice. By what strong mandate can Heart speak the youth’s voice?”

Pro-life legislators can bank on youth support

The engineering student also reiterated his group’s all-out support for legislators who act on a genuine, life-affirming concern for the youth and for the future of the country.

“To pro-life legislators, stand your ground. The youth are with you. The youth know that you have our best interests in mind in your opposition to the RH Bill. There is no honor in instilling fear to get you to vote for the measure. There is no honor in ruining someone else’s credibility to forward our own. We from UP Diliman ought to know this. We remain ready to speak for and defend our position by its merits. And we will stand with and campaign for you by your merits as real representatives of the youth’s welfare,” Tabada declared.

John Walter Juat, also of UP Against the RH Bill, said that though the pro-RH student group was free to present its views, “I want to firmly say that they do not represent even close to the majority of those in the youth sector.”

‘Peaceful but strong assertiveness’ marks anti-RH campaign

“While the pro-RH camp may choose to go with ‘wrath,’” he continued (referring to the news item’s title ‘RH bill foes face the wrath of student groups’), “the anti-RH camp will choose the peaceful but strong assertiveness to convince our legislators to take a stand against this divisive bill, and support the pro-life legislators in the next election. The pro-RH individuals noted in the article may be university leaders, but they do not intimidate us, even a little bit. The fight to preserve our nation’s pro-life, pro-family, pro-God culture will continue and will not stop until this RH bill is finally trashed.”

World Youth Alliance Asia Pacific (WYAAP) regional director Renelyn Tan blasts the misleading assertion that the RH bill will empower women as well as provide a solution to poverty.

Youth know RH bill is not the answer

“Working with young people in World Youth Alliance Asia Pacific allows me to see the great concern they have on issues relating to women and children. Our members clearly do not want women dying during childbirth or children missing out on opportunities but unfortunately, the current RH bill version does not provide a holistic way of addressing the fundamental causes of poverty and challenges to true women empowerment,” Tan said.

In an earlier statement, Tan explained that she and other young people find it unfortunate that the media often portrays young people as “callous, who don’t know when to stop. But this is not true,” she asserted.

“Kaming mga kabataan, we are all made for excellence and we really hope that our government, our institutions, our leaders and civil society will be able to provide [the necessary conditions] because our lives should be seen as an expression of our intrinsic and inviolable dignity. We would like to reiterate that young people are not only sexual beings.”

“Much has been said about the RH bill, but it cannot be an issue totally conclusive of a young person’s future,” Esteban of Youth Pinoy! added.

“Education comprises the biggest chunk, though we’re not talking about sex education here but good quality education that leads to an individual’s progress.” (CBCP for Life)

University faculty, students plant trees on Mt. Banahaw

The Southern Luzon State University (SLSU) continues to reforest the Mt. Banahaw de Lucban in Quezon Province as part of its efforts to restore, preserve and protect the mountain’s ecology, and to prevent catastrophe to happen on communities at the foot of the “mystic” mountain.

In a statement, SLSU-Lucban President Dr. Cecilia N. Gascon said that last March 22, the campus personnel, student and faculty went up to Mt. Banahaw to reforest some 200 hectares of damaged part of the mountain. Some of the species of indigenous trees that they planted were dalingdingan, bintongol, apitong, mulawin, bagtikan, macaasim and malababayas, as well as bamboo, wild ferns, and rattan.

The project, Gascon said, was made possible with the help of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Region IV-A and some non-government organizations (NGOs).

Aside from planting trees, the SLSU-Lucban used coco geo-nets, a kind of anti-erosion material made of coco coir.

Gascon also said that other initiatives of SLSU-Lucban include CFDP – coconut replanting program funded by CIIF, with some 70,000 coconut seedlings already distributed for planting; the production of embryo-cultured makapuno, coconut based agro-forestry pilot farm funded by Department of Agriculture- Bureau of Agriculture and Research (DA-BAR); growth performance of rubber tree in Quezon province also funded by DA- BAR; crafted project in Sampaloc, Quezon funded by NEDA-KR2 where rubber tree as a main crop; and the science and technology-based farm on production of high quality malapapaya planting stocks funded by PCARRD or the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). [Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews]

Filipinos abroad contribute to youth programs—Church official

Filipinos working abroad help in maintaining the various programs of the Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) through their generous donations, according to ECY executive secretary Fr. Conegundo Garganta.

Garganta has visited the Filipino community in Doha, Qatar last March 16 to appeal to ‘kababayans’ working here to become supporters/benefactors of the youth programs initiated by the youth commission.

“Their support is through financial assistance. We know that our ‘kababayans’ working there are also experiencing difficulties but we believe that despite the difficulties and struggles, it cannot be discounted that they can still show or manifest their generosity and concern for the Church in the Philippines,” Garganta said.

The initial appeal to contribute to the programs of ECY was initiated by a Filipino Capuchin priest, Fr. Zacharias Parra, OFM Cap, to which the Filipino community responded positively.

The financial assistance given may not be that big, Garganta continues, but you can see and feel that they are eager and willing to help.

He hopes that a continued relationship with the Filipino communities in Doha, will assure ECY of assistance from ‘kababayans’ in the said country.

The Capuchin-ministered parishes follow some dynamics and guidelines for appeals done by priests coming from the Philippines.

“The Capuchins in UAE do not want that the appeal for help be made through 2nd collection, at this point in time, it must be made through private capacity or responses from ‘kababayans’ who will be responding to the said request,” Garganta shared.

He added that the Capuchins are trying to avoid a negative picture the continuous would create in the parishes since more and more priests come from the Philippines also to ask for help.

“They are observing also some restrictions from the government, especially the freedom to practice faith and religion,” he added.

Appeals received form Doha come in a subtle way. As of now, there is still no concrete response from ‘kababayans’ in the said country, although an initial amount was already brought home by Garganta.

When asked about his opinion on the generosity of ‘kababayans’ abroad, he pointed out that it is not only programs or projects here in the Philippines that overseas Filipinos are willing to help.

During calamities, Filipinos abroad automatically initiate a fund drive to help the needy back home.

“It is their way of extending themselves, they believe they are also responsible to their kababayans’ at home,” Garganta said.

“The natural goodness of a Filipino always comes in, which is an identity. Many of our ‘kababayans’ are naturally concerned for their home country. ‘Yun ang nakikita kong kabutihan sa ating mga kababayan na nagtatrabaho sa abroad. They are open to share the blessing of the fruits of their hard work. And it is already a part of our culture, ‘di nila hinuhubad ‘yun ganoong consciousness and awareness, ‘yun pagiging matulungin ay andoon pa din,” the priest commented.

During his Qatar visit, Garganta stayed at the Our Lady of Rosary Parish in Doha with parish priest Fr. Peter P.M., OFM Cap, together with Fr. Zacharias Parra, a fellow capuchin. He was also introduced to Bishop Camillo Ballin, the Apostolic Vicar of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia.

In 2010, Garganta has also made a similar appeal to the Filipinos in Dubai which generated a positive response. Although minimal, the donations received were used in youth projects initiated in the same year.

The priest also calls on other generous benefactors to help in maintaining youth programs by sending aid to their office. Interested benefactors may call +063 (02) 527-9567 or emailecynsya@gmail.com. (Jandel Posion)

CBCP youth commission to join post WYD 2011 meeting in Rome

Representatives from various Episcopal conferences will gather in Rome later this month to do a post-evaluation of the World Youth Day celebration held in Madrid last August 2011.

Fr. Conegundo Garganta, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Youth of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, and Maria Victoria Tacderas, senior staff of the National Secretariat for Youth Apostolate (NSYA), will participate in a post-evaluation international meeting of the concluded World Youth Day (WYD) celebration.

Garganta said the meeting will be a sharing of experiences during the WYD 2011 in Madrid.

“We, from the Philippines, particularly ECY was asked to deliver a 10-minute report and in that report, the Pontifical Council for the Laity Youth Desk expects that there will be reports about the pastoral implications or the pastoral gains from the young peoples’ experiences during the World Youth Day celebration,” he explained.

Garganta emphasized that the meeting will raise the issue on how the international celebration helped today’s youth, their mission and vision as members of the Church and how it enhanced their spiritual life.

The priest said there had been a 100% positive feedback from the young people who participated in the international gathering.

Garganta noted that the report shows positive gains/effects from the youth in their involvement during the World Youth Day 2011 Madrid celebration, as most participants have grown in their understanding of their relationship with God, their role in the Church and the significance of the Eurcharist in their life.

He furthered that the report also mentions the participation of the ECY’s official media delegation to document and cover the Filipino youth participants during the World Youth Day celebration.

YouthPinoy! the youth media arm of the Filipino Catholic Youth was the one who conducted the media coverage for the Filipino delegation. (Jandel Posion)

NYC expresses concern over rising number of teen smokers

The National Youth Commission (NYC) raised an alarm on the growing number of young Pinoys smoking, with two out of five teens aged 13 to 15 lighting up in 2011.

According to NYC, there is an increase of 40% in smoking prevalence among young Filipinos (13-15 years old) from 19.6% (1,070,000) in 2003 to 27.3% (1,560,000) in 2007.

“Following this trend and without significant changes in other factors affecting smoking behavior, the Commission projects that last 2011, smoking incidence among teens aged 13-15 was 38.2% (2,250,000),” declared by NYC Chairperson Leon Flores III.

Flores emphasized that the commission is concerned that the youth have been the new targets of tobacco companies because of longer life span to spend more years in smoking than older smokers.

Flores also pointed out the role of NYC is to protect the youth from vices and acts that will destroy their future.

NYC Commissioner Percival Cendaña on the other hand stressed that very minimal increases in tax in 2005 and 2007 were ineffective in curbing smoking among the youth.

“Recent studies noted that tobacco products are very affordable and accessible to the youth under the present exercise tax rates. In a recent survey conducted by the University of the Philippines Communication Research Society (UP-CRS) with the support of Health Justice, it was found out that 60% of the sample population will quit smoking if cigarettes will be priced at 5 pesos per stick,” Cendaña said.

Flores and Cendaña believed that raising the price of cigarettes will definitely curb smoking among young people.

The commission recognizes the need to strengthen the imposition of the current ban on selling tobacco products to minors.

The commission also calls for the passage of House Bill 5727 (Restructuring Excise Tax on Alcohol and Tobacco) to significantly increase tobacco prices and make it less accessible to the youth as well as generate more funds for a universal health care system in the country.

NYC’s campaign against teen smoking is supported by Action for Economic Reform (AER), Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP) and TV personality and Chef Carlo Gonzalez. (Jandel Posion)

Unemployed fresh grads urged to work for the Church

Administrators of Catholic schools, colleges and universities nationwide are encouraging their graduates to render volunteer work for their parishes while awaiting employment.

Fr. Gregg Bañaga Jr., CM of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) invited fresh graduates to consider working as a volunteer for the Church especially if they will be unemployed.

“Volunteering for parish work is a worthwhile activity during the summer break and also while one is still unemployed,” he said.

Bañaga made the suggestion after government reportedly expects thousands of students to graduate this month as the school year ends. The fresh graduates are unfortunate to add to the growing statistics of unemployed Filipinos due to scarcity of job opportunities.

Although volunteering for parish work may not be a money-making venture for fresh graduates, it is nevertheless an opportunity to serve the Church especially for Catholic school-raised students, according to Bañaga.

The priest, who is the president of Adamson University, also encouraged fresh graduates to take some time to rest from schoolwork before getting employed.

“I advise them to take rest first before looking for jobs. Their vacation can also be a time for them to rest and think more deeply about their plans in life,” he said.

Earlier, Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon advised students and graduates to spend some time for spiritual recollection during their summer break so as to have meaningful observance of lent.

Baylon, who chairs the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth, also invited the young faithful to gather their friends and attend together summer camps and leadership conferences being organized by the parishes near them and youth organizations in their community to make their summer vacation more meaningful.

“While it is great to be with friends on vacation, it is also fulfilling to be with them in attending summer camps, youth conferences or Bible study classes, which are alternative activities this summer where they can even learn a lot from,” he added. (YouthPinoy)

No permit, no exam policy is illegal—solon

Kabataan Partylist reminds schools that it is absolutely illegal not to permit their students to take the final examinations, even though they have not paid their tuition fees.

In a statement, Kabataan Rep. Raymond V. Palatino explained that based on Article 20, Section 99 of the Manual of Regulations for Private Higher Education Institutions, the “no permit, no exam” rule, being strictly implemented by some HEIs, is not considered valid as it clearly states that “No higher education institution shall deny FINAL exams to a student who has outstanding financial obligations, including unpaid tuition and other school fees corresponding to the school term.”

He also appealed to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to strictly implement this rule as his office receives numerous reports about prohibition of students to take examinations due to unpaid obligations.

“In the midst of the school examination period and the wave of price hikes and massive unemployment of parents, the government should ensure that students with pending fees will be allowed to take their examinations,” said Palatino.

Palatino also urged the Senate to immediately adopt the Anti-No Permit, No Exam Act which he authored, to penalize erring HEIs. Under the proposed legislation, an HEI who would refuse a student to take his or her final examinations would be fined up to P50,000 (US$1,165.51 based on today’s foreign exchange rate).

Palatino, meanwhile, asked students and parents to immediately report to telephone no. (02) 352-10-54 any case of violation of the anti-no permit, no exam policy as stipulated in the aforementioned manual. [Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews]

Kabataan party questions libel in new Cybercrime bill

Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond V. Palatino questions the inclusion of online libel in the recent version of Cybercrime Bill, pending in Congress.

“The bill may be used to stifle freedom of expression, speech and the press and may violate the people’s right to privacy. The definition of ‘cybercrime’ in the bill is vague and its scope overly-broad that it may criminalize ordinary electronic activities of any Tom, Dick or Harry who uses the Internet, a mobile phone or any electronic device,” says Palatino, who voted “NO” for the passage of the Cybercrime bill in the 14th Congress.

The youth solon explained that there were “good amendments” in the present bill, the libel clause could be used by authorities and private entities to harass critics.

“It can be a weapon of abusive politicians and corrupt corporate bosses against netizens who wanted to expose the truth about their illegal activities,” the lawmaker explained.

Meanwhile, Palatino said that he and another partylist representative, Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers, are scheduled to interpolate with the primary authors of the bill. [Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews]

Filipinos urged to observe Earth Hour

Two weeks before the observance of Earth Hour, a Church leader has invited Filipinos in advance to participate in the worldwide event promoting energy conservation and care for Mother Nature.

Fr. Conegundo Garganta, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), specifically urged the youth to encourage their family, friends, community, and other people in their network to observe the Earth Hour on March 31.

“As in the past years, I enjoin everyone to join in the observance of Earth Hour this 31st of March 2012, the last Saturday of this month, and to extend this invitation to everyone within our respective networks to take part,” Garganta said.

“Let us join millions in our country and around the world in switching off non-essential lights for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 PM, and using this time to engage in activities which promote care for our planet,” he added.

The priest likewise urged young Filipinos to join the “I Will If You Will” campaign. The ECY has started off with its "I Will if You Will" statement “the ECY will change its office light bulbs to compact fluorescent lights if you will switch off your lights on March 31, join the ‘I Will If You Will’ campaign, and share these two with your community.”

“This campaign empowers people to share to the world their own personal contribution on how they can willingly do ways to save Mother Earth,” Garganta added.

Organizers of the Earth Hour hope that the initiative will spur people to be more aware of their energy usage and its effect to the environment.

The initiative began in Sydney, Australia in 2007 and has since become a global event. (YouthPinoy)

Campus Ministers’ national convention to be held in Cebu

The Campus Ministries of the Archdiocese of Cebu and the Archdiocese of Manila are jointly organizing the 4th National Convention of Campus Minister to be held at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City on April 24 to 26.

With the theme “New Directions in Campus Ministry: Discovering Roadmaps for Youth Guides of Today”, the convention aims to have a venue for the exchange of stories and approaches in ministering to the youth of today.

“We have invited guest speakers and facilitators from Manila, Cebu and Davao. We wish to nurture and enhance the personhood and competencies of campus minister in order to face the challenges of ministering to the young,” said the organizers.

“In view of this, we wish to invite you to this large gathering of campus ministers, chaplains, youth directors, youth ministers, educators, theologians, religion teachers and student leaders. We hope that this shall be an occasion where we are together in our search for better ways and approaches and forge a network that will create positive impact to the growth and spirituality of young people,” they added.

The organizers estimate around 800 ministers will participate on the said convention.

Interested participants can email the Cebu organizers (headed by Fr. Jake Reyes, the Director of the Cebu Archdiocesan Campus Ministry) at cebu_acm@yahoo.com.ph or inquire through their fax/telephone number +32 4168002. (Jandel Posion)

CBCP encourages youth ministers to join teen sexuality workshop

The CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) is inviting youth directors and ministers in the parishes, schools and organizations nationwide to attend the workshop on “Teaching Teachers on Teen Sexuality Workshop” being organized by Pro-Life Philippines.

ECY executive secretary Fr. Conegundo Garganta urged diocesan youth directors, coordinators and leaders of member-organization of the Federation of National Youth Organization (FNYO) to participate in the event scheduled on May 17-19 at the St. Joseph Retreat House in Sampaloc, Manila.

Garganta together with the National Secretariat for Youth Apostolate (NSYA) trusts that youth collaborators will strongly consider the invitation.

Organizers on the other hand said that the training/seminar aims to strengthen the ability of the participants to respond to the needs of today’s teens with respect to issues on human sexuality, marriage, family planning and population education according to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

“Furthermore, this year’s seminar is designed to further the participants’ knowledge and understanding of the problems of Aids in the country as well as to dissect the objectionable provisions of the RH bill like the mandatory sex education from grade 5 to 4th year high school,” they said.

“Participants will be trained to implement training modules on teen sexuality packaged in the manual titled “Learning to Live and Love” and will be provided updated supplementary activity and reading materials,” they added.

The seminar-workshop requires a fee of Php 1,500, inclusive of snacks, meals, handouts and certificate, from participants.

For further inquiries, interested parties are advised to call telephone number 632 7377027, telefax number +632 7349425, mobile number +63 9192337783 or send email atlife@prolife.org.ph. (Jandel Posion)

NYC calls for transparency in tuition fees

The National Youth Commission (NYC) is calling the attention of schools, colleges and university for transparency and full disclosure in all tuition and other school fees being charged for the next school year.

NYC Chairman Usec. Leon Flores III made the call on the reports that some schools are applying for tuition fee increases for the coming school year with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Flores said that the process of increasing tuition fees requires proper consultation first before imposing it.

He encouraged students to use their rights to join in discussions regarding tuition fee increase in their respective schools, colleges or universities.

The call was made citing CHED Memorandum Order No. 03 series of 2012 which is “Enhance policies, guidelines and procedures governing increases in tuition, and other school fees, Introduction of new fees, and for other purposes”. It is also indicated in the CMO that the enforcement of the memorandum shall be on AY 2013 – 2014.

Flores urged students to remain vigilant in monitoring tuition fee increases and other dubious fees implemented by their respective schools.

“We don’t want to go over with what happened last year when dubious fees arises in order to gain kick backs from students,” Flores said. (Jandel Posion)

CBCP recommends attendance to JP II youth confab slated in May

The CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) is inviting youth ministers in the parishes, schools and organizations nationwide to attend the 8th Blessed John Paul II Catechetics and Youth Ministry Conference in May.

ECY executive secretary Fr. Conegundo Garganta urged diocesan youth directors, coordinators and leaders of member-organizations of the Federation of National Youth Organizations to participate in the event slated on May 16 to 18 at the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati City.

Garganta said the conference, themed "Mary: Mother of God's Word and Mother of faith," “will be a beautiful deepening of our ‘CBCP Year of the Youth’ and a fitting prelude to the ‘Year of Faith’ proclaimed by the Holy Father.”

Based on the event schedule, the ECY will be handling three workshops in the three-day conference and lead the animation of the Taizé prayer at the conclusion of the first conference day.

“It is our earnest hope that you come and register for this learning event, and share this to those youth ministers and leaders in parishes, campuses, organizations, etc. in your networks,” Garganta said.

Early registrants for the conference will only pay P800 until April 7 while the others will have to shell out P1,000. Registrations can also be done online by logging on tohttp://www.blessedjp2cymc.com/.

For inquiries, interested parties are advised to contact the secretariat of the Blessed JP II CYMC Office at 2/F, Multipurpose Bldg. St. John Bosco Parish Compound A. Arnaiz Avenue cor. Amorsolo St., Makati City.

They can also be reached via telephone number +632 8450721, mobile number +63 9266219711 or email address jp2cymc@gmail.com. (YouthPinoy)