Homily on Good Friday

The most important symbol of Christianity is the crucifix – the image of Jesus hanging on the cross.
We have gotten used to this symbol but if we look more closely, we realize that it is gruesome image – we see a person being executed in the most brutal, painful and humiliating way. An electric chair or lethal injection would be less shocking.

What did he do to deserve such a punishment?

We have to bear in mind that crucifixion was a punishment that was reserved for the worst criminals and especially those guilty of rebellion against the Roman Empire.

Was Jesus a rebel?

He was not a Zealot. He did not take up arms against the Roman occupiers. But what did he do that made those in authority think that he was a dangerous man?

He came to preach the coming of God’s kingdom – this was the Good News of salvation – the good news that God will save them from sin and all forms of evil, slavery and oppression. He denounced evil in society and called people to conversion. Above all he cleansed the temple and drove out the money-changers – those who used the temple trade to exploit the people.

This was surely good news to the poor and to those who were longed for freedom and salvation. But this was not good news to those who benefited from the sinful structures and systems. His message was dangerous – it would subvert the existing kingdom and empire that was under the dominion of sin and evil.

He came to serve the poor and the needy, those who were hungry and sick. By doing so, many believed that he was the awaited Kingly-Messiah – the Son of David. He was welcomed as king when he entered Jerusalem. Naturally, the authorities and the Romans were afraid that he would lead a rebellion against Rome.

Thus, in the eyes of those in power, Jesus was a dangerous man, a threat to the status quo. The proclamation of the coming of the kingdom of God was a threat to their existing kingdom and empire. He had to be put away.

The cross at first glance symbolize the brutal reality of sin. Where sin reigns, the just man suffers and die. Jesus on the cross experienced the suffering of so many people in the world who have been victimized by the sinful situations and systems.

The cross at a deeper view symbolize the love of God for humanity – the God who gave up his son for our salvation. It is also the greatest expression of Christ’s love. As Jesus said during the last supper: no greater love a man has than to lay down his life for his friends. The cross reminds us that it is the power of love that will ultimately free us from the power of sin and death.

Biking and advocacy

The Philippine Daily Inquirer yesterday came out with an article about my forthcoming Bike-Tour starting next week. The title: Priest to Bike 4750 km to ask GMA for Reforms. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20080316-124941/Priest-to-bike-4750-km-to-ask-Arroyo-for-reforms.

I do not like the heading of the article because it gives an impression that the main purpose of my biking is to ask the president for reforms. It also emphasizes that I am not asking the embattled president to resign.

The primary purpose of my biking and preaching is to draw attention to the culture of death and corruption that afflicts Philippine society - from top to bottom (from Malacanang to the barangay). Delivering a letter to Malacanang is just a side-trip and I don't expect the President to meet me or to read the letter - it is just symbolic. I will make the contents of the letter public - in it I will denounce the President for perpetuating the culture of death and corruption and for being a hypocrite (she goes to mass everyday and claims that it is God's will that she is president). Although I want her to resign, I will not be demanding her resignation because I know that it will be futile - she will continue to cling to power at all cost. I will just tell her that she will face the judgment of history and of God. Her worst punishment will be to live the rest of her life in shame and disgrace - knowing that the majority of the people have condemned her as a corrupt, greedy and powerhungry president - no better than Marcos and Estrada. But I don't want to focus all my energy in just denouncing the president.

As I bike around the Philippines (from Davao to Aparri and back), I will be preaching the Gospel of Life and Peace. I will speak out against the culture of death and corruption in society. I will focus my advocacy on 5 specific concerns which I believe are manifestations of the culture of death: abortion, the ongoing armed conflict, extrajudicial killings, the destruction of the environment (especially through logging and mining) and graft & corruption. What links all my other advocacies is the call to respect life. This means stopping abortion, stopping the war (call for resumption of peace negotiations), stopping extrajudicial killings, stopping the destruction of the environment (an appeal for total log ban and the repeal of the mining act), and stopping graft & corruption (search for truth and accountability, abolish pork barrel).

Weekend with the Redemptorist Youth Mission Team

This weekend, I facilitated the evaluation and planning session of the DRYM team (Davao Redemptorist Youth Mission team which was held in our beach house in Dasag, Samal Island. There were seventeen participants. On Saturday morning, seven members of the team joined me in biking towards the place - after crossing to the island on the ferry boat.

I really enjoy being with the members of the Youth Mission team and working with them. I helped train them since 2002 and they have been active helping organize the youth program in the parish and the BECs. They are all volunteers, some are still students and some have graduated and are now working as teachers and nurses. Recently, I trained them to facilitate the BEC youth fellowship seminars - an evangelization seminar for young people at the grassroots communities. Every year during the Mindanao Week of Peace, they provide assistance for the Bike for Peace which I organize.

Mass & Prayer Rally for Truth and Accountability

Yesterday afternoon we held a mass and prayer rally at the Ateneo de Davao University and Freedom Park as a response to the call for a communal action for truth. Over a thousand students, religious and members of civil society groups turned up for this event. Fr. Antonio Samson, SJ, (president of the University) presided at the mass while Fr. Albert Alejo read the statement. There were 8 priests who concelebrated (2 Redemptorists and 6 Jesuits). After the mass, we gathered outside the university, in front of the Freedom Park for the candle-lighting and noise barrage.

Taking a stand against corruption and abuse of power

I just came from a meeting with some Jesuit priests and representatives from civil society groups in Davao. We discussed about the brewing political crisis sparked by the testimony of Jun Lozada about the involvement of the President and her husband in the ZTE-NBN corruption deal and the efforts to obstruct senate investigation. All of us are convinced that Lozada is telling the truth and the president must be held accountable.

We are aware that a lot of people have become apathetic and inflicted with "people power" fatigue. After ousting two corrupt presidents, many have become wary about going out to the streets to demand the resignation of another corrupt president.

Yet we cannot remain silent. We cannot allow this social evil that has permeated society to reign with impunity. So we have decided to respond to the CBCP call for communal action. We are organizing an interfaith rally this coming Friday, February 22 to express our outrage at the corruption and abuse of power.

It doesn't matter if the majority remain silent. We will continue to exercise our prophetic vocation.

Saying Goodbye to Fr. George and Sr.Yna

I just came back from Manila tonight after attending a meeting of the Baclaran commission the whole day today. The commission is made up of three Redemptorists from the Manila vice-province and four Redemptorists from the Cebu province. We talked about the collaboration between the two units of the Redemptorists in the Philippines in carrying out the mission apostolate in the Mother of Perpetual Help shrine in Baclaran.

Yesterday, the remains of Fr. George Tither arrived from Legazpi City and the coffin was placed at the Baclaran church where the wake will be held. I joined the Redemptorist community in a short ceremony of welcome. George will be buried this Friday. An Australian Redemptorist, George was assigned to the Philippines in 1947. He has been all over Luzon conducting missions and also as vocation director. I have known him since 1975, when I was a novice in Lipa. George is a source of inspiration for me and an example of missionary zeal and commitment. I hope that like him, I too will spend the rest of my life as a member of the congregation. Goodbye, George. St. Alphonsus and our departed confreres await you in heaven. Hope to see you again someday.

Late in the afternoon, I took the MRT to Cubao where I met my good friend, Yna. We had dinner at Gateway and then had capuccino. Yna is joining the Cenacle sisters and will be starting her novitiate this Feb. 17. I won't be seeing her again for the next two years. I promised her that I will attend her profession. I will miss her. Goodbye, Yna, see you two years from now.

I like the way the Italians say goodby: Arrividerdci! Until we see each other again.

A Gathering of Former Activists

Last night I attended a gathering of some 60 former activists held at the covered court at the back of the monastery. The convenors called this event "Tapok-Tapok sa mga Tibak." Many of those who came are now in their 50s or 60s - among them are lawyers, an ex-Mayor, a ex-Congressman, a city councilor, media people, ex-priests, NGO workers, businessmen, etc. What we had in common was that during the 1970s up to the mid-1980s we were active in resisting the Marcos regime. Many started in the student movement of the so-called First Quarter Storm - the Kabataang Makabayan, SDK, Lakasdiwa, YCSP, etc. Many became Marxists-Maoists/National Democrats (Natdems) and joined the CPP and the NPA. Others were Social Democrats (Socdems). Many were arrested, tortured and imprisoned.

We shared our stories and experiences and where we are now. Some read their poems, others sang revolutionary songs. After dinner of lechon and other delicacies, we continued to talk in small groups. I was surprised to hear them talk about spirituality.

And now several decades later we find ourselves living different kinds of lives. The radicalism and idealism is gone. Most of us have abandoned the ideologies of our youth. But many still work with the poor without resorting to armed struggle - through cooperatives, the Gawad Kalinga, social development work, peace advocacy, governance, etc.

Manila Meeting (CBCP-BEC National Office)

I just came back from Manila today after attending the meeting of the CBCP-BEC National Office held at the Pius XII Center. This office is an arm of the Catholic Bishops' Conference that promotes the Basic Ecclesial Communities in the Philippines. It is chaired by Archbishop Quevedo with 7 other bishops who head other commissions. The executive secretary is Msgr. Elmer Abacahin. I am one of the consultants, together with Msgr. Jomari Delgado, Msgr. Manny Gabriel and Estela Padilla.

We talked about the plans of the BEC office for the year which Archbishop Quevedo was to present to the bishops from all over the country who are in Manila this week for their plenary assembly. Two of the things we discussed were the BEC participation in the Second Rural Congress this July 2008 and the BEC national assembly this coming November 2008 whic will be held in Cagayan de Oro. We agreed that the theme of the national assembly should be based on the Rural Congress - the Role of the BECs in rural development.

During the previous BEC national assembly in 2005 held in Cebu, I gave a talk on the role of BECs in Social Transformation. It was just one of the three topics that were tackled. This coming assembly will focus on how BECs are addressing and can address the problems that rural communities face -especially poverty, underdevelopment, etc.

I am glad to note how the bishops in the Philippines are fully supportive of the effort to promote BECs in the Philippines as the pastoral thrust. As far as I know, this is the only Bishops' Conference that has a national office devoted to BECs. In 2002, when we first organized the BEC national assembly, there were two resolutions that we submitted to the CBCP: the formation of a BEC national office and the holding of a BEC national assembly participated by the various dioceses in the country. Both of these resolutions were adopted by the CBCP.

There is still much to be done to make our dream of a renewed Church become a reality in the BECs. But what I find hopeful is that the bishops are right behind us. I still remember that there was a time during the martial law era when only a handful of bishops were open to forming BECs in their dioceses while many were suspicious of BECs as leftists.

Training for the Philippine Bike-Tour for Life and Peace

I am starting to intensify my training for my bike-tour this summer.
I only have 9 weeks to go and I am still feeling sluggish and out of shape. I am 173 lbs - I gained 7 lbs during the Christmas season. I need to lose at least 15 lbs.
The other day I biked for 6 hrs and 30 minutes. My pace was very slow and I had leg cramps after 4 hrs while ascending some hills. Luckily the cramp disappeared once I descended.
This morning after mass I went out for a relaxing 2 1/2 hrs bike ride.

So this will be the weekly training program I will be following starting tomorrow.

Monday - 6 hrs (road bike) - every other week
Tuesday - 3 hrs (mountain-bike)/ 6 hrs every other wk
1 hr strength-training (back, shoulders)
Wednesday - 2 hrs (mt-bike)
Thursday - 4 hrs (road bike), 1 hr strength-training (lower body)
Friday - 2 hrs mt-bike
Saturday - no biking, 1 hr strength-training (chest, arms)
Sunday - 2 hrs (mt-bike)

I hope I will be able to stick to this program. I have so many other things to do - teaching, celebrating the mass and other sacraments, praying, writing, attending meetings, etc.
I need to be fully prepared for my longest bike-tour so far - over 4000 km around the Philippines. I am excited just thinking about it. Besides biking for a cause, I will be setting a record for being the first to bike around the country - from Davao to the tip of Luzon and back. Seven years ago I already set the record for being the first to bike across the Philippines - from Davao to Pagudpud (2083 km). I took the bus and plane back to Davao. The other summer I also set the record for being the first to bike around Mindanao (2182 km).
I know that this time it will be more challenging since I am older (I am already 53 years old), overweight, recovering from atherosclerosis and myrocardial ischemia, and constantly threatened by gout. So I have to bike slowly and make sure that my heart rate does not go beyond 135 bpm - that's why I always wear my heart rate monitor.
Here's a video clip of my training ride last Friday.

Remembering my Father

I spent the whole day biking. When I came back to the monastery, I celebrated the mass for dead in the chapel. After a quick supper I went out for capuccino and a slice of brazo de mercedes. This is my way of observing my father's death anniversary.

Exactly 15 years ago my father died of heart attack. I was in Rome at that time and I had just arrived from New York where I spent my Christmas vacation. I had to go home immediately to Iligan. I presided at his funeral mass with 10 other priests concelebrating. After his burial I returned to Rome to finish my doctorate.

I was deeply affected by my father's death. We had grown closer -- especially the last summer I spent with him (which was in June 1991). I had just finished my graduate studies in Berkeley and came home for vacation before starting my studies in Rome.

As a little boy, I considered my father as a hero. He was fearless guerrilla officer during the World War II, and with his veteran's benefits he was able to finish civil engineering. I usually accompanied him to his projects - building roads, bridges, powerplants and dams. He often brought me along to church, to the barbershop, to the moviehouse, to the tennisc court and the restaurants. I wanted to be an engineer like him and he expected me to follow his footsteps. When I entered high school, I decided to become a priest. This disappointed him and at first he wouldn't allow me to enter the seminary until a priest visited our home and convinced him. He got angry with me when I was arrested and imprisoned for seven months during the eary years of martial law. Although, he visited me once in prison, the expression in his face showed anger and disappointment.

Through the years my relationship with my father became more distant. At 59 years old he had a stroke and had to stop working. My mother patiently took care of him but after she died he lived with my sister's family. I became very concerned whenever I heard that my father had conflicts with my brothers and sisters. He sometimes threatened to shoot them. He was an angry sick old man who had violent tendencies.

When I visited him that summer, I got so angry with him after seeing him slapped my sister. I decided to spend a lot of time with him at the beach and listened to his life-story. I found out where the anger came from. He was angry with his father whom he blamed for his mother's death. His mother died in an accident after a quarrel with his father over his infidelities. My father never forgave my grandfather. Years later the conflict worsened when his father deprived him and his siblings some parcel of land which they were supposed to inherit. The went to court against their father and they won. When my father married my mother, his father did not attend the wedding. My father harbored this anger up to his old age. And this affected his relationship with us.

Before, I left for Rome, I brought my father to my grandfather's grave. I asked my father if he was ready to forgive his father and reconcile with him. I waited for a long time and then he cried. "Father, for all the pain and hurt you have inflicted on us, I forgive you." The tears in his eyes softened his face. I could see the anger disappearing. He looked peaceful. The following day, I saw him walking with a cane, and smiling. He told me that the cane belong to his father which he kept. As we were walking down the street, we met an old friend and introduced me as his son the priest. I could see in his face that he was proud of me and pleased with me. I remember the gospel text: "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased."

The last summer that I saw my father, he was at peace. He was freed of the anger that he carried with him for a long time. He learned to forgive and this led to an inner healing. He was ready to face death. And this is what I will always remember.

The Way of Peace - Learning from Mandela

I'm back in Davao after spending my post-Christmas vacation in Iligan. Over the weekend, I finished reading the biography of Nelson Mandela.
What a fascinating man and an amazing life-story. As a young man, he was involved in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. He resorted to armed struggle after realizing that the non-violent resistance was ineffective against a repressive regime. He worked with communists and was accused of being a communist. He was arrested and imprisoned for 27 years. Even while in prison, his leadership over the revolutionary movement was recognized. He maintained his sense of dignity and inner freedom, and never harbored any bitterness and anger against enemies. As he got older and as the political and economic crisis deepened, he realized that the African National Congress and it guerrilla army could never seize power through armed struggle. The sanctions and international pressure against the government made it viable for a negotiated peace settlement. He was able to successfully pursue peace negotiation with President de Klerk's government. After his release, the Apartheid was dismantled and years later he was elected president. His passion for freedom was accompanied by his capacity for forgiveness. Above all his sense of of hope sustained him throughout those long years in prison. Mandela embodies the Christian values even if he was not pious or deeply religious.

I wish the Filipino revolutionary leaders , especially Joma Sison, would read Mandela's biography and learn from his experience. The armed struggle in the Philippines has been going on for 40 years. The peace negotiation, which started 20 years ago has not progressed. The NDF has set a preconditions for the resumption of the stalled peace talks - of being delisted as terrorist organization by the US and the European Union. Meanwhile, the NPA continue to conduct tactical offensives - like attacking remote military outposts and soft targets (cell sites, banana plantations, etc.). The revolutionary leaders continue to dream the impossible dream - of capturing state power through armed struggle. On the other hand, President Arroyo and her generals are not interested in pursuing peace negotiatitions and continue to dream the impossible dream - the total annihilation of the NPA - by 2010.

I think that it is time for revolutionary leaders to come to their senses. They can never succeed in transforming Philippine society through armed struggle. The most that they can do is to attack remote outposts and cell-sites and liquidate uncooperative barangay officials. The majority of the Filipinos do not support the so-called "People's War" and the establishment of a dictatorship of the proletariat.

The Arroyo government and the military generals should also come to their senses. They can never totally annihilate the NPA. The military solution cannot solve the insurgency problem for as long as the roots of armed conflict are not addressed.

The only way forward for the revolutionary movement and the government is to walk the way of peace. There is much to learn from the South African experience and from Nelson Mandela.

New Year's Day Homily

On this first day of the new year, we celebrate the feast of Mary the Mother of God.
This is also the day that the whole Church observes the world day of peace.

Mary Mother of God

One of the most ancient title for Mary is that of Mother of God – Theotokos – the God bearer. This title, does not teach about the divinity of Mary, but rather the divinity of the child that she gave birth to. It therefore reminds us that Mary has given birth not just to an ordinary human being but to the God made man – the savior of the world.
One of the titles of Jesus that the angels announced at his birth is that of the Prince of Peace. Peace is one of the blessings that the Messiah has brought into the world. “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to people of God will.”
If Jesus is the prince of peace, then Mary is the Queen of Peace and we continue to pray for her intercession as we long for peace in our land.

World Day of Peace

The Church has set aside every first day of the year to mark the World Day of Peace. We are called to reflect and carry out our mission to bring Christ’s message of peace to the world.
In the midst of a culture of death and violence – a situation of division and conflict – we the followers of the prince of peace are called to be peace-makers, to be peace-builders.
As we desire to bring peace to the world, let us always remember that peace should begin in each one of us and in our homes, in our neighborhood and in our communities.
In his message for the World Day of Peace today, Benedict XVI dwells on the theme of the Human Family as a Community of Peace.
The pope reminds us that the family is the first teacher of peace and the first environment where peace is experienced. He also emphasizes that mankind should consider itself as one family and should become a community of peace.
With this theme of the family as the community of peace, let us reflect on what is happening in our own families. We need to ask: can peace be experienced in our own family, in our home? Is our family truly a community of peace.
There are families that suffer division and conflict. Families afflicted by domestic violence. If this exist, it is important that we work for healing, forgiveness and reconciliation.
Achieving genuine peace in the family: this can be part of our new year’s resolution

Last Day of the Year - Waiting for the New Year.

I'm here in Iligan, my hometown. I left Davao the day after Christmas and came by motorbike across the Bukidnon mountains. It took me over eight hours to drive 390 km.
It is the last day of the year 2007, and a few hours from now we will meet the new year 2008. The noise of firecrackers can be heard outside the monastery. I am just waiting for the New Year eve's mass which will start at 9 pm.

This morning after mass, I went mountain-biking in the trail near the Pugaan mountain. At 9:30 I dropped by the cemetery and attended the last day of novena for my aunt Tanciang who died a few days before Christmas. I presided at her funeral mass the other day.

This afternoon at three I brought my six nephews and nieces to Jollibee for hamburger and hotdog. This has become an annual ritual for the last 8 years. Everytime I come home for my post-Christmas vacation we usually go out for some snacks and conversation. I'm very fond of them. They are fast growing up. I will be meeting my brothers and sisters for dinner after the New Year's day for common celebration and business meeting.

As the year draws to a close I wish to express my thanks to the Lord for the blessings I have received throughout the year. I also express my regret for not being able to achieve some of my new year's resolutions. I am still overweight, I have not been able to continue training for my marathon comeback, and I haven't finished writing my book.

So once again I am making my New Year's Resolution. This is what I intend to achieve this coming year:

1. Reach my target weight of 145 lbs (this means losing 25 lbs)
2. Normalize my cholesterol levels and blood pressure
3. Bike for Life & Peace around the Philippines (over 4000 km in 49 days)
4. Start marathon training after the bike-tour (run the Philippine Marathon in Feb. 2009)
5. Publish my books on Ecclesiology (A Vision of a Renewed Church) and on BEC (A Manual for Developing Basic Ecclesial Communities)

The Night before Christmas

Silent night. It's quiet all around - no sound of firecrackers. We still have more than an hour before 'midnight mass'. Soon, I will be conducting the seminarians' choir who, before the mass, will be singing christmas carols 'a capella' and in 3 voices to the churchgoers. No sopranos - it's an all male choir that I trained for the last 4 weeks.

Christmas brings back a lot of memories - both happy and sad.

Most of the happy memories go back to my childhood - especially with my family. Christmas eve was the time for family dinner, gathering around the christmas tree and exchanging gifts, and attending midnight mass together and coming back for 'noche buena' while firecrackers were exploding outside.

My four christmases in Rome are also unforgettable - celebrating it with Filipino friends and with Redemptorist confreres. The only thing lacking was the early dawn masses - but it was the height of winter so it was preferable to stay in bed.

But Christmas also brings back painful and sad memories.

On Christmas eve 34 years ago I was in a prison cell in Cebu together with 10 other political prisoners. We were on the sixth day of our hunger strike. We could hear the firecrackers outside and the Christmas carols being sung in a nearby chapel.

On Christmas eve 21 years ago, my family was still grieving after my mother was shot to death by rougue soldiers at the beginning of the Misa de Gallo. She was buried on December 22. We found it difficult to experience the joy of Christmas.

It's been a long time since I celebrated Christmas with my family. Both my father and mother are dead. My brothers and sisters are scattered in many places. My brothers Sam and Angel are in the U.S. My youngest brother Agustin is somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. My four sisters are in Iligan (I hope to see them next week).

But I still have my religious community and we will be having noche buena after midnight mass.

I remember tonight those who are alone - away from home, with no friends and no community. I also remember those who have lost someone they love. I know that Christmas can heighten their loneliness, their alienation and their grief. I pray for all of them and wish them a joyful Christmas. There is still reason to celebrate the birth of the one who came to bring light into our darkness.

Early Dawn Mass (Misa de Gallo)

This morning we celebrated the ninth day of the Misa de Gallo and tonight we will be celebrating the Christmas eve mass. I continue to be amazed by the crowd that came to church. Elsewhere in the parish, the members of the Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) gather early in the morning in their chapel for bible-service throughout these nine days.
We Filipinos probably have the longest celebration of Christmas. Our traditional celebration is a means for the majority of the faithful to maintain and renew their bond with the Church.
We are constantly reminded that Christmas is not about Santa Clause or Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer - it is about Christ who came to bring light to the world.
For as long as we continue to celebrate Christmas this way, Christianity will not only survive but also grow inspite of the threats of secularism and materialism. Our churches will never be empty.

Early Dawn Mass (Misa de Gallo)

At 3:30 this morning I was awakened by the sound of Christmas carols coming from the Church. As early as 2:30 people have started coming, filling the seats. By 4:30 as I was about to start the mass there were over four thousand people - inside the church and in the car park around the church. I was just amazed by the number of young people and children who came along with their parents and grandparents as they prepare for the celebration of our Lord's birth during the nine days novena. It appears that the Christian faith is indeed alive in this part of the world. However, many of these people come to church only during the Advent/Christmas season and Holy Week. We call them seasonal Catholics. But that's better than empty churches in Europe even during this season.

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo: The Most Corrupt President?

The Daily Inquirer and the Philippine Star reported yesterday the result of the Pulse Asia survey "Ulat ng Bayan" where 42 % of the respondents consider President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) as the most corrupt president in the history of the Philippines, followed by Marcos (2nd place) and Estrada (3rd place).

I feel saddened by this news. Seven years ago, we met GMA at the KOMPIL II assembly held in Ateneo de Manila University attended by representatives of civil society groups from all over the Philippines. The impeachment proceedings against President Estrada was still going on and we were already making strategic plans for an EDSA II, a people-power that would bring down what we considered as a corrupt president. A week later, EDSA II actually took place after the opposition walked out from the senate. We were out in the streets in Davao, leading a march rally and calling for Estrada's resignation, like many other Filipinos in Metro-Manila and other major cities in the country. I was filled with euphoria when we heard that news that Estrada had stepped down and GMA was sworn in as the new president. The support of the Catholic Church for EDSA II and GMA was most evident during the swearing in at the EDSA shrine with Cardinal Sin and the papal nuncio in attendance. I remember GMA promising in her inaugural speech that she will be different from here predecessor and she woulds usher in a "new politics" that would replace the traditional politics characterized by patronage and corruption. She also promised to pursue the peace process with the MILF and the NDF.
Now seven years later, I am saddened to realize that the president we helped bring to power is no better than Marcos and Estrada. Under her administration, many of the evils that we denounced during the Marcos era and the Estrada administration persist. Besides the charges of corruption, she has been accused of cheating during the elections. She has curtailed civil liberties. Extra-judicial killings and forced disappearances continue. Most of the people remain poor and the armed conflict continues. Peace remains elusive.

I find it so disappointing that after EDSA I and EDSA II, the situation of our country and our people have not really improved. We have kicked out a corrupt and brutal dictator (Marcos) and an immoral and corrupt president (Erap) and what we have is another corrupt and brutal president. Being a woman and a pious Catholic have not made a difference. And she has two more years before her term ends.

Is there hope for our country? There is no way that she can be impeached since she is protected in congress by representathieves who are corrupt like her. There is no chance of another EDSA people power succeeding since people are tired of going out into the streets (that's why Trillanes and company failed again the other week). I fear that more extreme and desperate elements could come into the picture. There are some idealistic and restive junior officers in the military. I am totally opposed to any coup d'etat.

As we celebrate the season of Advent, we wait in hope for better days.

Imams, Pastors & Priests: An Interfaith Forum

This morning I attended the Interfaith Forum of Muslim Imams, Protestant Pastors and Catholic Priests at the Grand Mensing Hotel. This forum is one of the activities during the Mindanao Week of Peace.
I was asked to lead the opening prayer together with a Muslim Imam. The forum discussed the theme of this year's Mindanao Week of Peace - "Building Bridges of Peace with our Peace Officers."
Among the speakers were Rev. Dr. Mar Apilado (the senior Pastor of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines - Davao) and General Rene Badilla of the Easter Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
I am glad that I was able of meet the religious leaders from the various Religious Traditions and Faith-Communities in Davao and to engage in dialogue with the officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police. In working for peace we have to work together with them and develop lines of communication.
General Badilla assured the forum that the Armed Forces are willing to work together with the religious leaders in bringing about peace in Mindanao.

This was the text that resonate in our hearts today:

'They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again."

I hope next Mindanao Week of Peace, we can also engage in dialogue with the leaders of revolutionary movements and convince them to pursue the path of peace.

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Mindanao Week of Peace - Bike for Peace

This morning over 400 cyclists participated in the 6th Bike for Peace which I organized as part of the celebration of the Mindanao Week of Peace. We gathered at the Rizal Park at 7 am. By 8:00 am after the send off ceremony presided by Bishop George Rimando we started our 30 km journey for peace around the city. There were 24 participating biking clubs, including the bikers of the Eastern Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police. Judge Renato Fuentes also biked with us. After two hours of biking we finished at the Rizal Park.

The celebration of the Mindanao Week of Peace started yesterday with the walk for peace and the opening ceremonies and will end on December 5. Besides the Bike for Peace there will also be a concert for peace, youth peace camp, a gathering of Catholic priests, protestant pastors and Muslim Imams.

Rumor of Evil Spirits and Angels

Over two weeks ago, a father brought his nine-year old daughter to the monastery. He told me that the girl had been seeing evil spirits and was even possessed a number of times. She would faint and then when she woke up she would have a different voice. The father asked me if can I heal her. The girl looked dazed and frightened.

I was on the verge of telling him to bring her daughter to the psychiatrist. But I told myself - no use telling the father and child that these were just hallucinations or some form of hysteria. So I prayed over the girl and asked God to send a guardian angel to watch over her. I sprinkled her with holy water. After blessing the girl I told her not to be afraid, her guardian angel would be there to protect her and the evil spirits won't be able to harm her. I also told the father to come back after a few weeks and report to me any progress.

This evening, just before mass, the father came with his daughter. The girl looked very well. The father told me that her daughter has been healed. He recounted that as they were leaving the monastery, the girl told her that she could see her guardian angel. For a week, the evil spirits tried to come near her but she was not afraid because her guardian angel was there to protect her. So after a while the spirits were gone.

I really don't know whether the evil spirits and the guardian angel were just the product of her imagination. What is important is that she's well. My prayer seemed to have an effect on her.

In this day and age, it is very difficult to believe in evil spirits and angels. We have been influenced by a rational-scientific world-view that rules out the reality malignant spirits and angels. What you see is what you get. Everything can be scientifically explained. If there are cases like the one above let the psychiatrist take care of that. Yet, the rumor of spirits and angels persist. And they are very real to many people. And the doctors and psychiatrist are helpless to deal with these cases.

I have not seen or felt the presence of spirits and angels. But does it mean that they do not exist? Of course, the Sacred Scriptures affirm their existence. But it is difficult to determine which ones are real and which one are just hallucination.

I really hope that angels do exist and I wish I can see them. Maybe there are here but I do not recognize them.

Becoming peace-makers: Peace begins with me

The tents have sprouted in the grounds of the parish since yesterday. There are around 400 youth delegates coming from the various Basic Ecclesial Communities in our parish who are participating in the Parish Youth Encounter.

This morning the delegates were divided into smaller groups to listen to various speakers on various topics. I was assigned to talk about "Becoming Peacemakers." There were over 60 young people who attended. During the first part of the morning I divided them into 4 groups and asked them to prepare a drama on 4 various topics (domestic violence, neighborhood/gang violence, Christian-Muslim Conflict, the armed conflict between the NPA and the military). After 45 minutes of preparation they were able to present dramas that depict the spiral of violence and culture of death in society. Afterwards, I gave my talk on "Peacemaking." Here's the gist of my talk:

1. There's violence all around us - in the home, in the neighborhood and communities, between religious/ethnic groups, between the revolutionary armed groups and the military. Violence has become a way of life that leads to suffering and death. For many violence is a means for expressing anger and frustration, of getting even, an instrument of achieving their goals (justice, freedom, social tranformation), or for defence or security. Violence may be fueled by anger, fear, or cold-blooded calculation/rationalization based on an ideology.

2. Amids this spiral of violence and culture of death, we are called by Jesus and our Church to become peacemakers. "Blessed are the peacemakers, they shall be called the children of God."
To be Christians is to be peacemakers.

3. "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me." Peace begins with me, in me. In order to become peacemakers, we need to achieve peace within each one of us - inner peace. This means rooting out the seeds of violence in our minds and hearts. This requires being healed of the wounds within us, of overcoming the anger, hurt, resentment, and the desire for vengeance. This means turning our heart of stone into a heart of flesh - capable of compassion, love, care, forgiveness and reconciliation. This also requires learning to respect others - their dignity, their rights, and the differences - and to value life. This requires recognizing one another as brothers, sisters and friends, and entering into dialogue with them.

4. Promoting a culture of life and peace in our homes, neighborhood and communities. This means inculcating the values that promote peace (respect, compassion, love, friendship, dialogue, reconciliation, forgiveness, sharing, harmony, justice). This also means avoiding violent thoughts, speech, behavior and action.

5. Peace is not only the absence of war. It must be based on justice. There cannot be true peace without justice. But we can only achieve justice and social transformation using peaceful and non-violente means. Concrete examples of this (Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Ninoy Aquino, EDSA people power, San Fernando struggle against logging, peace zones, Christian-Muslim dialogue, etc.)

6. We need to work for peace in our homes, neighborhood, communities, in Mindanao and the rest of our country, Think globally and act locally.

Biking and Camping in Samal Island

Last Friday and Saturday, I went on a biking and camping adventure in Samal Island. I had said mass for the dead in the morning and didn't have any schedule the rest of the day and the following day. I started biking after lunch, following the JP Laurel Avenue and upon reaching Panacan, I took the ferry to Samal Island. Upon reaching Babak, I followed the coastal trail to Penaplata and then crossed over the other side of the island. It was already dark when I reached Dasag. It was scary riding in the dark, following a rough trail along the beach with just the headlight of my bike showing the way. After pitching my tent on the beach,I had dinner consisting of sardines, tomato and some wine. Then I started playing the flute. By eight thirty, I began my meditation, while watching the distant lights coming from fishing boats and listening to the waves. I was asleep by ten. Then I was awakened by the heavy rain that poured on my tent. Luckily, I survived without getting wet.

I was up early in the morning and had morning prayer. I then had breakfast of sardines and tomato, without the wine. I spent the rest of the morning gazing at the sea and reflecting on my life. Then it was time to go back home to the monastery.

This is what I enjoy doing - it is very relaxing and I feel close to nature and the Creator. I should do this more often.

Table-Fellowship among Muslim Imams, Catholic Priests and Protestant Pastors

Last night I had dinner with Muslim Imams, Protestant Pastors and fellow Catholic priests. It was held at the St. Mary's parish here in Davao City and hosted by Fr. Pete Lamata, the parish priest. Before dinner there were prayers recited by a Catholic priest, a Muslim Imam and a Protestant pastor. This is one of the activities of the Imams, Pastors and Priests Forum (IPPF) - an interfaith-ecumenical movement that seeks to carryout an ongoing dialogue of life and faith.

I was delighted to see my old friend - Ustadz Mahmod Adilao. He is a convenor of the Bishops-Ulama Forum (BUF). We first met seven years ago when we organized the Caravan for Peace during the height of the armed hostilities between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Since then we have worked together on various peace initiatives in the city.

I am convinced that an interfaith-ecumenical dialogue can progress not only in the level of discussion and prayer but also on the level of praxis - in working together for peace and development.

Seminar-Workshop for BEC Formation Teams

This weekend, I conducted a Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) seminar workshop in Ormoc City which was attended by 240 participants coming from 20 parishes of the Ormoc and Palompon vicariates of the Archdiocese of Palo. Most of the participants are members of the parish formation teams responsible for forming BECs in their respective parishes.

The workshop-seminar was meant to deepen their understanding of BECs and find new ways of forming and strengtheningBECs.

Almost two years ago, I conducted a BEC seminar for the priests of the archdiocese. I am glad to know that they are enthusiastically implementing the BEC program of the archdiocese with the encouragement of Archbishop Jose Palma. They have already formed the BEC formation teams in every parish most of whom are composed of lay volunteers coming from LOMAS (lay organizations, movements an associations). Sr. Betty, DC is the energetic archdiocesan BEC promoter.

Expressing Solidarity with the People and Monks of Burma

At around noontime, I and some of my students joined a "prayer service" in front of the Buddhist temple here in Davao to express our solidarity with the people and monks of Burma. Before saying the opening prayer, I read this poem which I composed earlier:

The Empty Streets and Monasteries of Burma
Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR

There is silence in the empty streets
and monasteries in Burma.
The saffron robes of the monks have turned to red
as they languish in prison or float in the river
while the Generals in their luxurious palaces order their troops
to continue maintaining “peace and order.”

Meanwhile, the grumbling in the stomachs and the hearts
of the people of Burma continues to grow.
Their anger and courage will overwhelm their fear
that have kept them enslaved and impoverished for so long.
It is only a matter of time when the hated regime
will share the same fate of the other dictatorial regimes all over the world.

They will not reign forever and ever.
Someday, the streets and monasteries of Burma will be full
of monks and citizens celebrating their freedom.

Healing a Little Boy

This evening, our secretary Gingging and her husband came to the monastery with their little boy Revlon who had a very high fever (40.5 degrees centigrade). They just came from the hospital and they were told to go back tomorrow for tests. No medicine was prescribed since they did not know what his ailment was. We let them stay in our guest room for the night since it was getting late and their home was 7 kilometers away. Gingging asked me if I could heal her little boy. So I prayed over Revlon and held his wrists. After 30 minutes, the fever went down to 39.3 C and he was feeling much better. He asked for food as he was famished. Several hours later, his body temperature was 37.9 centigrade.

There was a time when I did not believe in this type of healing. I believed that only doctors and their medicines can cure people. The only thing I could do was administer the sacrament of the anointing of the sick and pray that the sick get well without any expectation of physical healing. I remember feeling helpless in the presence of the sick little girl in a remote barrio and I wondered if it was possible to heal the sick as Jesus did. I wished God would give me the gift of healing. Down through the years, I have been surprised to discover that the sick could experience healing by praying over them. Of course, I don't want to spend most of my time doing this. But in cases of emergency, I cannot say no. But I don't want people to line up in the monastery or the church to ask for healing. I won't be able to do the other things that I am supposed to do - like teaching, writing, advocacy work, giving seminars, biking, etc.

My confrere, Fr. Senen jokingly refers to me as the priest with a double doctorate - a doctor of sacred theology (STD) and a quack doctor (QD).

Biking for Life with Cancer Warriors

Yesterday, I biked for 140 km in fog and rain across the mountains of Bukidnon to meet the "Cancer Warriors" who have been "Biking for Life" for the last two weeks. They left Manila last September 16 and they were now in Quezon, Bukidnon. The group composed of 9 riders is headed by James Auste, a cancer survivor. Among those in the group is Eric Reyes who has been afflicted by 3 kinds of cancer and who continues to survive with the inspiration of his girlfriend. There are also three fathers of children with cancer who in the group. In every city or town where they stayed for the night, they conducted a "Cancer Forum."

So today I accompanied them on the last leg of the journey to Davao. Before we started biking, they asked me to lead the prayer. So we pedaled along the scenic Bukidnon-Davao highway. The last 80 kilometers was mostly downhill. Fifty kilometers away from the city, we were met by over a hundred bikers from Davao. After eight hours of biking we reached the Davao Medical Center where we had late lunch followed by a "Cancer Forum".

I am looking forward to my own Bike-Tour for Life and Peace around the Philippines this summer - from March 24 to May 11, 2008. I plan to cover it in 49 days. I am already excited just thinking about it. It will be the ride of my life - biking for a cause, seeing most of the country, adventure, and setting a record (over 4,000 km on a bike around the Philippines). I will be biking alone most of the time without any support vehicle , but I will invite local cyclists to bike along with me for a few hours. In every parish where I will stay for the night, I will be preaching the Gospel of Life and Peace and I will invite the leaders of the Basic Ecclesial Communities and the Lay Organizations & Movements to attend the mass so that I can remind them of their responsibility to promote life and work for peace.

A Culture of Corruption and Death

The TV and newspapers these past few days have been reporting on the investigation being conducted by the Senate on the NBN deal. So many people are implicated in this anomalous scandal - the COMELEC commissioner Abalos, DOTC head Leandro Mendoza, the husband of the president (Mike Arroyo). I won't be suprised if Madame President Macapagal Arroyo will ultimately be implicated. In his testimony Neri revealed that Abalos tried to bribe him and he reported to the president who told him not to accept the bribe. And yet she still went to China to sign the agreement. It is no wonder that in the latest report, the Philippines is one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

Besides the corruption scandal, the media continue to report the case of Jonas Burgos - who has been reported missing and could be dead by now. The military is the primary suspect. This is just one of the cases of disaparacido and summary killings that are carried out with impunity.

Here in the Philippines, corruption and violence perpetrated by those in power have become part of our culture - it is way of life. This was our complaint agains the Marcos dictatorial regime. This continues under the Macapagal-Arroyo presidency.

The president is a hypocrite. She appears to be a pious lady who claims that her position is God's will. Yet so much corruption and death have characterized her administration. She is no better than Marcos and Joseph Estrada. Someday, she will share the same fate.

Court Upholds Aerial Spray Ban in Banana Plantations!

The local and national papers today reported that the Judge Renato Fuentes of the Regional Trial Court ruled that the city ordinance banning against aerial spraying in the banana plantation is constitutional. The Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PGBEA)had filed a case to stop the implementation of the city ordinance. This a victory for the people of Davao, a victory for the Movement Against Aerial Spraying and for the environmental groups.

When I met Judge Fuentes after mass yesterday, I shook his hand and he had a big smile. He said, "I'm sure that you are very happy with my decision." The judge is dear friend and he knows about my community's stand on this issue. A few months ago, when the hearing started, he was surprised to see me in court together with the environmental group. When we met in church after that he asked me what I was doing in the courthouse. I told him that I had attended an inter-faith prayer service in support of the aerial spray ban and afterwards went inside the courthouse to observe the hearing. Last month, we had a special petition in all the masses on a Sunday praying that the aerial spray ban would be upheld to protect the health of the people and the environment.

My friends in the environmental group a few months ago were worried that Judge Fuentes might rule in favor of the Banana Plantation owners because he granted them a three-month temporary restraining order that prevented the immediate implementation of the city ordinance. They wanted me to exert my influence on the judge. But I told them that I wouldn't do that. The Judge already knew my stand but he had to make a ruling on the basis of the evidence and testimony in court. And yesterday, while talking with the Judge, he told me that he found the testimony of the victims of aerial spraying and the experts supporting the ban very convincing. As we parted, he told me:"you were also a light."

God bless Judge Fuentes. An upright judge who could not be swayed by the powerful Banana Plantation owners. He is devout layman, who gives communion on Sundays and even on weekdays. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Working with young people in Forming Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs)

One of the pleasant experiences in my ministry is working with young people. There is a group of young people in the parish that call themselves as the DRYM team (Davao Redemptorist Youth Mission Team). This group is full of missionary zeal. They are involved in evangelizing the youth in the parish and in forming youth groups within the BECs. I have given them recollection and seminars over the years. This month I started training them, together with our seminarians to conduct youth fellowship seminars in each BEC. I accompanied them last night and the whole day today in conducting the youth fellowship in the BEC of San Vicente. Over 50 young people turned up. The theme of this event is : "Growing up Together as Persons and as Christians." The seminarians and the DRYM team took turns in the facilitation and the giving of inputs or lectures. The previous seminars, it was I who was giving the input, this time they were the ones doing it and my role was simply to observe and later give suggestions how they can improve their presentation.
This is the format of the seminar:

Sept. 22
8:00 pm - Opening Liturgy: Taize prayer
8:30 - First Session: "Growing up together as Persons"
Individual reflection/meditation (guide question: what are the changes that I have noticed in me over the years, what are my joys and sorrows, what are the problems that I have encountered?)
Small group sharing (5 each group)
Plenary session (1 person from each group give a synthesis of the responses)
Deepening/Input
Penitential Service
(we finished by 11 pm)

Sept. 23
9:00 am - Morning prayer
9:15 - Second Session: "Growing up together as Christians"
Drama preparation (3 groups, each group is given a story line on a dimension of Christian life)
Drama presentation
Feedback/Processing
Deepening/Input
12:00 lunch-break
1:00 pm Third Session: Planning (what they can do to strengthen their fellowship within the BEC and how they can actively participate in the BEC activities)
3:00 pm - Closing Eucharist

I am happy with the outcome of this seminar. I am confident that the DRYM team can continue giving this fellowship seminar in 31 other BECs in the parish.

What we are promoting through this Youth Fellowship is that young people learn to develop bond of friendship among themselves at both local community (BEC) level and also at the parish level. This is alternative to the gangs that are sprouting in these communities.