Novaliches holds youth leadership camp

An estimated 200 young leaders from different parishes within the diocese of Novaliches are expected to participate in a leadership camp aimed to hone the young people’s management skills.

The Commission on Youth of Novaliches diocese will hold its 2nd Diocesan Youth Leadership Camp dubbed CAMPi2012 on May 25 to 27 in God’s Love Family Farm in San Mateo, Rizal.

With the theme “Mission, I’m Possible!” the youth participants will be exposed to a recreational and education summer experience, adding to their intra and inter-personal growth and development.

The camp is also meant to create a space for sharing profound ideas, updating or training on leadership skills, building network, as well as allowing time for the youth leaders to have fun and fellowship.

“We also hope that after the event, upon returning to their respective parishes or communities, these young people will be more empowered young leaders of Christ,” organizers said.

The camp is a part of the commission’s drive to further develop and provide youth programs, and to strengthen and animate the youth ministers in their diocese. (Jandel Posion)

Cabanatuan holds summer youth camp

More than two hundred young people from the diocese of Cabanatuan joined the 11th GLEAM (Growing, Learning, Enhancing and managing youth ministry) summer youth camp last May 11 to 13 at Medes Farm in Patalac, Nueva Ecija.

This year’s theme is inspired by the ‘Year of Faith’ declared by the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI which is “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” 2 Cor. 5:17.

Youth Coordinator Joannie Bolisay said the 11th GLEAM camp is blessed because it didn’t rain.

“Starting in the year 2000, GLEAM camps experience heavy rain, but this camp is so blessed since it didn’t rain. We were happy because we had the chance to use tent as our camp style,” Bolisay said.

Bolisay also said that inputs for the three-day camp were talks about worship (prayer and liturgy), morality, environment awareness, social awareness (media), servant leadership and commitment.

Kenedy Garcia, a youth leader from St. Bartholomew de Apostle Parish said the camp was the best experience he had as he enjoyed the activity so much.

“Activities made me feel so relaxed and changed and I saw my sole purpose in serving the Lord. The youth ministry is continuously making this activity better and better to build a stronger support among the youth and even providing campaign for the out-of-school youth,” Garcia said.

He pointed out that some youth are just busy with other things, the reason why they can’t afford to offer their time to God and eventually live the words of the Lord.

Garcia has served the youth ministry for 17 years since 1996 and still active in propagating the faith through the youth.

The camp ended with ‘bayanihan’ presentations done by 12 groups, and awarding session.

Youth attendees are from the 27 out of 29 parishes in the diocese.

GLEAM is a continuing program of the commission on youth of the said diocese since 2000. (Honey Joy Oyardo/Jandel Posion)

Young people vow to watch closely congress' session on RH bill

Young people from all over Metro Manila and nearby dioceses on May 7, affirmed that they will continue their presence in the congress every session to watch closely future discussions on the issue of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill.

The youth mobilization in Congress, according to Lea Dasigan of the Federation of National Youth Organization, will continue after the 9 pro-life young legislators said that the presence of the youth in congress’s session makes them feel that they are not alone in the battle of protecting life.

“Yesterday, the young legislators really appreciated the presence of the youth. I believe that it was an affirmation from them that they are not alone in the cause to defend life,” Dasigan said.

“Our presence during the sessions will make an impact to the legislators. They will see and believe that the youth will closely watch future discussion on the issue of RH bill and will continue to be firm in their stand about life contrary to the claim of other youth group that the young are pro-RH,” she added.

Dasigan admitted that this is the first time the Catholic youth are being mobilized against RH bill and said that the pro-life legislators expect that their presence in the congress will continue.

“Particularly, we are planning to continue supporting our pro-life legislators, especially the nine young legislators through our presence in the congress. As of now, we are planning to do it every Wednesday,” she further said.

A hundred young people from different youth organizations, movements and dioceses in the Metro were present at the congress session which had made an impact to congressmen, that still, many young people are pro-lifers and against the RH bill.

The youth’s presence in the congress is to express symbolically their support against RH bill, to defend life and back the advocacy of the nine young legislators. (Jandel Posion)

Hundreds of youth pack Congress resumption

Hundreds of youth filled the galleries of the House of Representatives yesterday in what the newly organized youth coalition against Reproductive Health (RH) legislation stated as a first step in a series of mobilizations, information campaigns and other measures to combat the Reproductive Health (RH) bill pending in both chambers of Congress.

Lea Dasigan, council member of the Federation of National Youth Organizations (FNYO), acting as lead organizer on the House delegations, personally met with pro-life legislators, most of whom were part of the  nine Young Legislators (9YL) who late last year banded together to fight the RH bill inside and outside the halls of Congress.

Lone district of Quirino Rep. Dakila “Dax” Cua personally approached  the galleries and thanked the delegates–all garbed in red– expressing appreciation over what is seen as a demonstration of numbers.

“Salamat, maraming salamat sa pagbisita ninyo,” Cua expressed.

The 9YL members one by one went up the galleries to greet the young delegates, among them Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez (Leyte, 4th district), Karlo Alexei Nograles (Davao City, 1st district), Gabriel Quisumbing (Cebu, 6th district), Irwin Tieng and Mariano Michael Velarde (Buhay Party List), and Lord Allan Jay Velasco (Marinduque).

Earlier on the same day, a youth coalition composed of various youth organiations and movements in a press conference presented and signed a manifesto titled “Our Voice Our Vote” and declared combined moves to fight the RH bill.

One of the crucial measures the organizations are carrying out is educating their members on who among those running for public office in the 2013 election are pro-life and thereby deserving of their all-out support.

“The youth, in defense of our welfare, can and will invest our support in legislators who know how to genuinely invest in us. In solidarity, we declare our opposition to the RH Bill. This is our voice. This is our vote,” proclaimed the coalition. (CBCP for Life)

Youth Gather at Congress, RH Forum in a Show of Pro-Life Force

True to their promise that their voice will never be silenced, the youth sector has come out and came in droves of hundreds, attending the resumption of Congress after its summer break.

Hundreds of young people from different organizations and parishes attended the opening day of Congress in order to show their support for Pro-Life solons, especially the 9YL or 9 Young Legislators.

Even more young people attended the RH Forum which was held simultaneously at St. Peter’s Church at nearby Commonwealth Avenue, with many of them proceeding to the Congress after the said event.

Youth Manifesto

Earlier that day, a press conference was held at the CBCP conference hall by representatives from the youth sector: present to give their respective group’s position papers on the RH bill were : Kiboy Sagrada (UP for Life), Raymond Ibarrientos (Singles for Christ – Youth for Christ), Eilleen Esteban (Youth Pinoy!), Lea Dasigan (Federation of Nat’l Youth Orgs), Allen Guballa (Columbian Squires), Peter Pardo (NCR Youth Ministry).

Later on, they would sign the historic Youth Manifesto, which enjoins all young people to embrace the culture of life and to reject the RH bill. In effect, they have also declared that they will not vote for anti-life legislators.

“The youth, in defense of our welfare, can and will invest our support in legislators who know how to genuinely invest in us. In solidarity, we declare our opposition to the RH Bill. This is our voice. This is our vote.”

“We are opposing the bill as young people because it is us who will be directly and severely affected by the RH bill, not the congressmen who push it” adds Eileen Esteban of Youth Pinoy!

“We are not only the hope of tomorrow,” says Lea Dasigan of FNYO, “we are also the hope of today.

These youth leaders, along with their groups, would  go to join more young people at the Congress later that day.

RH Forum

While the session in congress was going on, there was a forum on the RH bill held at St. Peter’s Church in Commonwealth Avenue. More than a hundred youth from the Singles for Christ and the Diocese of Novaliches attended the forum.

The Speakers were Atty. Marwil Llasos, OP, Anna Cosio, RN, and Dr. Rene Bullecer, MD, of Human Life International. They all spoke against the RH bill from the point of view of their expertise, Dr. Bullecer and Anna Cosio being medical professionals, and Atty. Llasos being an impeccable lawyer and an outstanding theologian as well.

Young Hearts, Tomorrow’s Heroes

Coming together in order to oppose the RH Bill and proposing concrete solutions, the youth leaders and their respective members deserve much of our respect and admiration. Young as they are, they have shown that they are indeed the worthy inheritors of the torch that is about to be passed on to them in the next few years.

They have all vowed to vote wisely and to vote Pro-Life. They have all vowed to preserve the culture of life. They have all shown their desire to eradicate poverty the right way and not just resort to shortcuts. There is fire in the collective gut of these young people, a fire which may have been long-extinguished inside our anti-life congressmen, who seem to be more into buying contraceptives instead of providing for the basic necessities of the poor like food, housing, and education. The likes of them should never be elected into office again.

Much of our future lies in what we do today, and if our young turn out to be citizens unworthy of her country’s proud heritage, then the blame lies solely on us who failed to raise them properly. Therefore we educate the young not only to oppose the RH bill, but to embrace the culture of life.

Patriotism used to exclusively mean dying for the country. Nowadays, to live one’s life defending life and protecting the small, the helpless, and the weak – that is patriotism, too.

By: Anthony Perez, Pro-Life Philippines

Poor family relationships root of teen pregnancies, research reveals

Reacting to UNFPA reports that the Philippines has the highest rate of teen pregnancies in Asia, Filipino youth pointed to poor family relationships and communication as the culprit.

Nelson Ingking, 25, a teacher from the Diocese of Talibon, Bohol shared about his faculty's experience with young people, revealing that they have a lot of problematic students who constantly look for attention.

We have a lot of problematic students who are deprived of love and attention from family members, which “they find in their boyfriend or girlfriend,” he said.

“Dapat kasi ang pinagtitibay natin relationship sa family...Family background talaga 'yan, (What we should be strengthening are family relationships...It's really a matter of family background)” Melanie Santos, 28, a staff of the National Secretariat for Youth Apostolate, added.

Santos specifically mentioned the classic “rebellious” stage teenagers go through and absentee parents.

What appear to be Santos' and Ingking's personal opinions are, in fact, backed by research. According to a researched article Relationships, Love and Sexuality: What the Filipino Teens Think and Feel by Jokin de Irala, “...communication with parents protects against early sexual initiation and against risky behaviors.”

Findings from other studies like the one conducted by Bruce Ellis, Ph.D., a professor of experimental psychology at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, show that girls who had absentee fathers either before they were born or up to age 5 were seven to eight times more likely to get pregnant as an adolescent compared to girls who lived with their fathers.

For political science graduate Aphrodite Organo, 25, the response to the alarming rise in teen pregnancies is two-way openness.

“Teenagers should be open to their parents and when they reach that stage, the parents should be the ones to orient them,” she said in the vernacular.

According to the National Demographic Health Survey 2008, 3 percent of Filipino women have sexual intercourse by age 15. [Nirva'ana Delacruz]

Chiro alumni celebrate youth group's influence, anniversary

Around 18 Chiro alumni from all over the country came together to celebrate not just the 60th anniversary of the group, but their fulfilled personal lives as well.

Coinciding with the group's National Camp also held in Camp John Hay, the “mini-reunion” served as a time for reminiscing and looking back on how being part of Chiro prepared them for leadership and their professional careers.

The 'Chiro way'

Arguably the most respected alumni, Carlos Canilao, the 68 year-old spritely city administrator of Baguio said of Chiro, “It made me what I am today.”

Canilao credits his professional success to his early exposure to the youth group when he was in Grade 6 in 1958.

“We were told, 'you will not be Chiro forever, but you will have to live the Chiro way throughout your life,'” Canilao, who was also Chiro’s first National Leader, explained.

Initially, this 'Chiro way' translated to being good students, but as Canilao noticed, “[It would later on mean] to be good in our profession.”

Canilao remained active in Chiro even after college. He would go on to teach in the Philippine Military Academy for 27 years. Canilao also became a lawyer.

Life-long impact

Another alumna, Mely Militar, 62, of Pasig city, attested to Chiro's lifetime effect on her.

“Whatever I learned, the skills, the values...I tried to put that into practice.” Militar who joined Chiro when she was 18 was the lone representative of the Philippines to the 1984 World Youth Day in Rome. She summed up what Chiro taught her, “Huwag aalis o hihiwalay kay Kristo. (Do not leave or separate from Christ.)”

Some of the alumni like Susan Avellana, 60, of Cebu said that their enduring personal support of Chiro and willingness to serve are signs that the group formed them well. Avellana, who joined in St. Theresa's College when she was 12, shared, “Seeing the lives of the people that we trained confirmed my commitment to Chiro...I see that they live exemplary lives. Meron kaming mga pari, mga madre, professionals. (We have priests, nuns, professionals.)”

At the end of the 'mini-reunion', the alumni expressed the desire to organize a separate group for Chiro alumni. They also stated their wish to support their local groups of Chiro kids.

Canilao said it best when asked about his wish for the 60th anniversary of Chiro Pilipinas this year, specifically for kids who are not part of the group, “I want them to join Chiro and benefit [from] what gave us a lot of training for life.”

Chiro is a national, parish-based youth organization that aims “to bring the youth closer to Christ” through activities like games, sharing, sports and hiking. [Nirva'ana Delacruz]

RH Bill: Pagsugal sa Kinabukasan ng mga Kabataan

by Ministry for Youth Affairs

“Kinikilala ng Estado ang napakahalagang tungkulin ng kabataan sa pagbuo ng bansa at dapat magtaguyod at mangalaga ng kanilang kagalingang pisikal, moral, espiritwal, intelektwal, at sosyal. Dapat nitong ikintal sa kabataan ang pagkamakabayan, nasyonalismo at pasiglahin ang paglahok nila sa mga gawaing bayan at sibiko.”

– Saligang Batas ng Pilipinas, Art. II Sec. 13

“Hindi ka dapat hamakin dala ng iyong kabataan. Sa halip, maging huwaran ka ng mga kapatid sa iyong salita, gawa, pag-ibig, pananampalataya, at kadalisayan.”

– 1 Timoteo 4:12

---

Lubhang isinasantabi ng HB4244 ang kapakanan naming mga kabataan bilang mga tagapag-mana ng kinabukasan ng bayan. Mulat nga ang RH Bill sa parusa ng kahirapan sa isang malaking pamilya, bulag naman ito sa katotohanan na ang pagsupil sa populasyon at ang pagpapalaganap ng kontraseptibo ay hindi ang pinakamainam na solusyon at tiyak lamang na lalong ikasasama ng lipunan. Isang kahibangan ang lapastanganin ang limitadong pondo ng bayan sa isang panukalang-batas na salat sa pag-unawa sa mga idudulot na kapahamakan sa lipunang aming mamanahin at hahantungan. Baluktot na prinsipyo ang lunasan ang isang isyu gayong hindi ito ang puno’t dulo ng kahirapan, lalo pa’t pinatotohanan ng agham na magdudulot nga ng masama ang solusyong ipinapanukala.

Hangga’t walang kasiguraduhang maibibigay ang mga nagsusulong ng RH Bill na hindi mailulugmok ng panukalang-batas na ito ang lipunan sa pagkalupig sa mas malulubhang mga suliranin, hangga’t walang garantiya na hindi lalagpak sa palad ng kabataan ang responsibilidad na lunasan, ituwid, at ligpitin ang delubyong-panlipunan na idudulot ng RH Bill sa aming kinabukasan, mananatili ang aming paniniwala na ang RH Bill ay anti-youth.

Hango sa lakas ng sama-samang pagkilos ng kabataan, at sa pagpapatibay ng aming pananampalataya sa Diyos na siyang nagbiyaya sa amin ng kakayahang magsiyasat, mag-isip, at magsuri, amin ngayong ipinahahayag ang aming masidhing pagtutol sa RH Bill. Ikinakasama ng aming loob ang pagsusulong ng isang panukalang-batas na lubhang isinasantabi ang kapakanan at kinabukasan ng kabataan. Amin ngayong patototohanan ang aming paniniwalang ang RH Bill ay anti-youth.

HINDI SOLUSYON ANG PAGTAPYAS SA POPULASYON. ITO’Y ISANG PAGSUGAL.

Isang kahibangan ang pagpapalagay na ang populasyon ay kailangang supilin upang umunlad. Ang Nobel Prize winner na si Simon Kuznets ang mismong nagsabi sa kanyang pag-aaral na walang matimbang na ebidensya ang nag-uugnay ng lumulobong populasyon sa paghihirap ng isang bansa. Sa halip, aniya, ang mabilis na paglago ng populasyon, kapag pinamahalaan nang maayos, ang siyang mas makapag-papaunlad sa ekonomiya.

Bagama’t dumadami nga ang bilang nating mga Pilipino, pinatutunayan ng istatistika na bumabagal ang pagdami ng ating bilang. Bumababa kasi ang Population Growth Rate pati na rin ang Total Fertility Rate ng ating populasyon. Ang pagpasa ng RH Bill ay isang panghihimasok sa natural na mga pangyayaring ito sapagkat papalawigin nito ang paggamit ng kontraseptibo upang supilin ang pagdami ng mga ipinapanganak. Samakatuwid, direktang tatabasan ng RH Bill ang bilang ng bawat henerasyong isisilang kasunod ng isang nauna. Malinaw na isang katakot-takot na epekto ng RH Bill ang madaliang pagtapyas sa populasyon. Ito’y isang tukoy nang dahilan ng lubhang pagbaba ng replacement rate ng isang populasyon gaya nang dinaranas na ngayon ng Japan, Singapore, at marami pang bansa sa Europa. Bagama’t mayayamang bansa sila, tumatanda na ang kanilang populasyon at hindi na sumasapat ang mga ipinapanganak na sanggol upang mapanatiling matatag ang kanilang ekonomiya. Ang pagpasa ng RH Bill ay pagtulak ng bansa tungo sa kaparehong suliranin. Inyo bang i-aasa sa kabataan ang pag-aayos ng problemang ang RH Bill ang may pakana?

Ang aming mungkahi: Ang ating kinatatakutang “overpopulation” ay, sa katunayan, isang kaso ng overconcentration. Ang dumadaming bilang ng tao sa mga kalunsuran ay ‘di maipagkakailang dulot din ng kahirapan sa kanayunan. Ang kawalan ng hanap-buhay, ang kakulangan ng oportunidad sa probinsya, ang siyang nagtutulak sa mga taong makipagsapalaran at makipagsiksikan sa siyudad. Malinaw na isang tiyak na solusyon ay ang pagpapaunlad ng buhay sa probinsya – pagsasaayos ng edukasyon at pagtataguyod ng kumikitang kabuhayan. Ito’y higit na kailangan ng madlang naghihirap kaysa mga panukalang nagbabadyang magdulot ng hindi maganda. Ito ay mungkahing mismong ang Saligang Batas and nagsaad: “Dapat itaguyod ng Estado ang komprehensibong pagpapaunlad na pangnayon… (Art II. Sec. 21)”

HINDI SOLUSYON ANG MANDATORY SEX EDUCATION. ITO’Y ISANG PAGSUGAL.

Bagama’t sinasang-ayunan namin na kinakailangan nga ng kabataan ang wastong kaalaman sa sexuality education, ikinakabahala namin ang sistemang ipinapanukala ng RH Bill. Ang pagpapairal ng mandatory sex education sa lahat ng paaralan ay tila pag-giit na ang kultura ng Pilipinas ay maitutulad lamang sa kultura ng ibang bansa na hindi kasing-makamapilya, makabuhay, at maka-Diyos. Ipinipilit ng RH Bill sa kabataan ang isang banyagang konsepto na lantad ang kakayahang maghubog ng murang isipan tungo sa immoralidad at kahalayan. Ang ipinapanukalang anim na taon ng pagtuturo ng sexuality education “integrated in ALL relevant subjects” ay tila maapura at ‘di maingat na paraan ng pagtuturo ng isang napaka-sensitibong paksa. Mula sa sistema ng pampublikong edukasyon na kasalukuyang matindi ang pangangailangang mapabuti ang pagtuturo ng basic subjects tulad ng Math, English, Science, at Filipino, atin bang maaasahan ang naaangkop na pagtuturo ng sex education?

Higit naming ikinakabahala ang pagsasantabi ng dakilang tungkulin ng mga magulang bilang mga pangunahing tagapag-hubog naming mga anak. Sa bisa ng isang mandatory na sex education program, ano pa’t sa paaralan at sa barkada mahuhubog ang isip ng bata. Ito’y salat sa pamamatnubay ng nakatatanda, patunay lamang na ang ipinapanukalang batas ay taliwas sa mithiin ng Estadong ipagdiinan at ipaglaban ang pangunahing tungkulin ng mga magulang na turuan ang kanilang mga anak.

Ang perang gugugulin sa pagsasaayos ng curriculum na ito ay siya na rin sana ang halagang ginastos sa pagpapabuti ng pagtuturo ng higit na mahalagang mga subjects sa paaralan. Kahusayan sa ingles, agham, at matematika ang magpapapasok sa amin sa trabahong marangal. Aming ikinakalungkot na napagbubuntungan ng sisi ang kamangmangan ng kabataan sa sex gayong mas malubhang problema ang aming kamangmangan sa pagbabasa, pagsusulat, at pagbibilang.

Ang aming mungkahi: Bilang paggalang sa katotohanang kailangan rin ng kabataan ang kaalaman sa sekswalidad, at bilang paggalang rin sa karapatan at responsibilidad ng mga magulang bilang mga unang guro, mas ikabubuti ng bayan ang pagtutuon ng sex education program sa mga magulang. Ikatitiyak ng lahat ang tamang pagka-tuto ng bata ng sekswalidad sapagkat naturuan na rin ang mga magulang kung paano turuan ang kanilang mga anak. Paggalang rin ito sa karapatan ng magulang na magturo ayon sa ano at paano niya naisin. Dito ay higit nating mapapangalagaan ang mga katangian ng ating maka-pamilya at maka-buhay na kultura. Sasang-ayunan lamang nito ang mandato ng Saligang Batas nang kanyang isaad: “Kinikilala ng Estado ang kabanalan ng buhay pampamilya at dapat pangalagaan at patatagin ang pamilya bilang isang saligang institusyon ng lipunan…(Art. II. Sec. 12)”

HINDI SOLUSYON ANG ARTIFICIAL CONTRACEPTION. ITO’Y ISANG PAGSUGAL.

Ang pagpapalaganap ng paggamit ng artipisyal na kontraseptibo ay ang huwad na pangako ng RH Bill ng safe sex at reproductive health. Paglustay ng pondo ng bayan ang pagbili ng mga bagay ng napag-alaman nang nakasasama sa kalusugan. Ang pagtutulak ng malawakang paggamit ng artipisyal na kontraseptibo ay ang nakapagtatakang hindi maamin-amin ng mga nagsusulong ng RH Bill. Tunay nga na ang pagsulong ng RH Bill ay ang pagsulong ng isang bagay na nagbabadyang magdulot ng masama. Ang pagtanggi sa katotohanang ito ay ang sadyang paglimot sa tunay na kapakanan ng kabataan.

Ang pagsulong ng malawakang paggamit ng condoms ay napatunayan nang nakapagtataas ng incidence ng mga sexually transmitted infections gaya ng HIV-AIDS. Kilalang halimbawa ang Thailand sa pagsulong ng malawakang contraceptive program ngunit nananatili silang nasa itaas ng talaan ng mga bansang may pinakamaraming biktima ng HIV-AIDS. Ang paggastos ng milyones para sa ipapamudmod na condoms ay mas ikabubuti pa ng mga kikitang kumpanya kaysa ng buong bansa. Maging ang mga Oral Contraceptive Pills na bahagi ng contraception program na iminumungkahing pondohan rin ng pamahalaan ay napatunayan nang nakakapagpataas ng cancer risk. Marapat lamang tuligsain ang paggamit ng limitadong pondo ng bayan para sa mga bagay na napatotohanang inilalapit ang ating mga kababayan sa kapahamakan. Kung ang mga ito’y mas lalong maipapalaganap sa isang mandatory sex education program, tiyak na ang kabataan nanaman ang magiging pinaka-biktima ng dagok ng kontraseptibo sa kalusugan.

Ang aming mungkahi: Ituon lalo ng pamahalaan ang pagpopondo sa kung ano ang tunay na kailangan ng bayan: edukasyon at trabaho. Tanto nating limitado lamang ang pera ng bayan. Ba’t pa nga ba ito sasayangin sa kung anong hindi kailangan lalo pa’t ang mga ito’y magdudulot pa ng kapahamakan? Mahirap ipagpalagay na ang RH Bill ay tunay ngang isang lunas ‘pagkat mayroon pang ibang mga sakit ang ikinamamatay ng mas nakararaming Pilipino. Ang kalapastanganang ito ay pagnakaw lamang mula sa ponding dapat sana’y ipinalalago ng kinabukasan ng kabataan.

Sa bandang huli, nais lamang naming ipaalala sa pamahalaan na ang pinaka-responsibilidad ng Estado ay ang magtatag ng kaayusan sa pagtataguyod nito ng anumang tunay na ikabubuti ng bawat mamamayan. Ayon sa Saligang Batas, “Dapat sundin ng Estado … ang pangangalaga ng buhay, kalayaan at ariarian, at ang pagtataguyod sa kagalingang panlahat…(Art II. Sec. 5)” Taliwas sa tungkuling ito ang magpanukala ng batas na magdudulot ng kapahamakan. Totoo mang hindi mapipigilan ng Estado ang paggamit ng kontraspetibo, hindi trabaho ng pamahalaan ang maglapit ng panganib sa taumbayan.

Nais naming tanungin ang bawat mambabatas: ang RH Bill na nga lang ba ang nalalabing solusyon kaya’t papayag na lamang kayong maipasa ito gayung lantad na may mga kapahamakang kumakapit dito? Pinaninindigan naming mga kabataan na ang RH Bill ay ang pagsugal ng aming kinabukasan. Ipinagmamakaawa namin na ibaling ninyo ang inyong pansin sa aming tunay na kailanganin: matatag na pamilya, proteksyon laban sa panganib ng mga nakaka-cancer na gamot, pagkakataon sa magandang edukasyon at trabahong marangal.

Ang RH Bill ay pagnakaw mula sa aming kinabukasan. Ang RH Bill ay pagsugal ng aming kapakanan. Ang RH Bill ay tutulan.

Alang sa Inang Bayan,

Ang kabataan ng Diyosesis ng Cubao

Youth Commission bishop assures youth leaders of support in anti-RH campaign

Yet another prelate has expressed complete support for the youth’s initiatives in upholding a culture of life and fighting proposed legislative measures that promote anti-life principles.

Legaspi  Bishop Joel Z. Baylon, chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Youth (CBCP-ECY) assured youth leaders on Monday of his prayers and support for their initiatives to fight the Reproductive Health (RH) bill pending in both chambers of Congress“ I assure you of my prayers I’m sure there will be a lot of need for the inspiration in this ministry and the gift of the Spirit to fire us up and make us truly witnesses in defending life. Good luck at maraming salamat!”

Baylon expressed his appreciation during a meeting of youth leaders discussing plans to push anti-RH initiatives — the first of which is a forum tackling the truth about the RH bill, to take place at St. Peter Parish on Commonwealth Ave., Quezon City.

Everyone interested in getting the real deal about this contentious issue is invited to the event on Monday, May 7, at 3:00 pm. Among the speakers will be Dr. Rene Bullecer, Human Life International (HLI) Pilipinas country director. The Cebu-based physician, a firm advocate of women’s right to be informed of the truth about contraceptives, specializes in HIV Medicine and received special training in infectious diseases.

Recently the Federation of National Youth Organization (FNYO), a network of youth groups and movements with members from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao has come out with a solid stand of denouncing the an

Youth continue to debunk claims of being pro-RH bill

When Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP) representatives asserted in a press statement that the youth will fiercely campaign against lawmakers opposing the reproductive health (RH) bill, leaders of several student and youth organizations denied the assertion. Now, another member of the youth sector — a University of the Philippines fresh graduate – is brushing off the SCAP’s claims.

Aaron R. Veloso, who recently graduated with a degree in Political Science, reiterated that the claim is presumptious.

“I am appalled, to say the least, by the threat that two of my esteemed colleagues, [JC] Tejano and [Heart] Dino, have publicly made against anti-RH legislators. Tejano and Dino are members of ALYANSA from UP Diliman, while I am a member of BIGKIS in UP Manila. Both organizations are members of the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines. Tejano and Dino can speak for themselves, but I must state that they do not speak for me,” Veloso said.

Tejano had also remarked that there was no solid Catholic block vote.

“I must remind my esteemed colleague that there is also no youth block vote, inside or outside the University of the Philippines,” Veloso pointed out. “I thus question on which grounds Tejano and Dino claim to speak for the youth, when even among members of the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, there is a good number of people who are against the RH Bill. My own organization, in fact, maintained that the RH Bill in its current form should not be passed.”

Tejano in March claimed that “We will make sure they will lose in 2013 as we are ready to launch the full force of the youth against anti-RH legislators.” Only recently the Federation of National Youth Organizations (FNYO), a network of youth groups and movements released a statement in response, denouncing the claim of the bill’s proponents that poverty was caused by overpopulation, hence the alleged need to pass the RH bill.

“How can the passing of [an] 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.

Veloso further clarified that he cannot agree with what the RH bill proposes.

“I firmly maintain that we cannot, in good conscience and in a sober disposition, agree to pass this reproductive health bill that is being foisted upon us, keeping in mind not only our duty to our God and our Church, but also our duty to the taxpayers and the Filipino people in general.”  (CBCP for Life)

Fight vs. RH bill, PH’s bright future due to strong values highlighted by K of C Supreme Knight

Pointing out that even the United States is wrestling with the grave consequences of contraception becoming a cultural norm and “reproductive health” being legislated, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson of the Knights of Columbus (K of C) explained why things such as contraception, abortion and sterilization finding their way into a government mandate must be rejected.

“[The RH bill] will change the character and nature of the Philippines if it becomes a law. It’s the beginning of the end of the Philippines’ being a truly Catholic country, the Catholic family, Catholic principles,” he said in his remarks to a group of Council chaplains yesterday on the first day of the K of C Philippines 9^th National Convention at The Manila Hotel.

Anderson, who was appointed to the Pontifical Academy for Life in 1998 by Blessed John Paul II then to the Pontifical Council for the Laity in 2002, not only reminded but also thanked the Knights in the Philippines for their dedication to uphold a culture of life and encouraged them to cherish a society that values the life of every person with no exceptions.

“People don’t deserve RH bill. People deserve a culture of life, where everyone when they’re born is welcome, where everyone is respected, where everyone is given an opportunity,” he enthused.

“If you don’t respect some people, you don’t recognize the dignity of some… you can’t build a great society on that. You can have material progress, but you can’t build a great culture on that.”

The Supreme Knight — who is also a consultant to the Pro-Life Committee of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) — then expressed the group’s all-out dedication to the efforts to fight the controversial legislative measure pending in the Philippine Congress that will change the country’s family- and life-loving culture if enacted into law.

The religious organization’s efforts in defeating the bill must be top priority, he said, and that “We’re not just competing with wealthy organizations and drug companies. We’re also competing against spiritual powers, so we have to use spiritual weapons. We have to be smart, and we have to fight back smartly. So we’re going to tell the convention tonight, the number one issue for the Knights of Columbus: defeat RH bill.”

The RH bill, which is in the period of interpellation in both the Senate and House of Representatives, has been met with an increasingly strong opposition due to its emphasis on taxpayer-funded contraception, a 6-year sex education program for all schools, and forced participation in RH services health care workers, medical practitioners and employers.

The measure will address the nation’s poverty problem, its proponents and advocates repeatedly claim; in addition, poverty continues to be blamed primarily on overpopulation, despite studies showing that it is demography – or population distribution – that needs to be addressed. Based on this, the “need” to limit the size of the population is inaccurate.

Anderson pointed out an oft-forgotten truth about the wealth that any nation should protect and preserve:  “What’s the greatest resource of any country? Its people.”

Many countries are seeing much success in terms of economic progress, he remarked, but partly by destroying the family.  “So what will their future be?”

“The Philippines has a bright future because the Philippines has great people, and as long as the Philippines forms people, preserves marriage, preserves family, this country can ultimately have a great future because it has great people,” he enthused.

Unity crucial in upholding a culture of life

Anderson was also optimistic and quietly fervent as he underscored the value of the laity staying united with its priests and bishops. This unity cannot be underestimated; in fact, a lack of it will even pose a stumbling block in the fight for a culture of life, as “the first thing that ‘the other side’ does to weaken the Church is to split the laity from our priests. So we have to maintain that that will never happen to the Knights of Columbus,” he pointed out.

“The organization that is number one in defeating the RH bill should be the Knights of Columbus. The only way we can do that is if we remain absolutely, unbreakably united with our priests and bishops,” he added.

“There may be some organizations that are larger, but there is no organization that gives the Catholic men of our countries the leadership potential, the formation potential, the ability to contribute to the life of the Church, and there is no organization that is more united with its priests and bishops than the Knights of Columbus.”

The Supreme Knight then stressed the role of forming good Catholic men and how this is closely tied to spreading devotion to K of C founder Fr. Michael J. McGivney, whose beatification is avidly being promoted.

“We need to form our men, Catholic men, so they will be good husbands, good fathers, good businessmen, good citizens, and for that we need the help of our priests. For that we need to increase devotion to Fr. McGivney, because as we encourage this devotion, we encourage the understanding of the dedication and commitment of every priest who serves the people of God in his parish,” Anderson enthused. (CBCP for Life)