tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461088234624171712024-03-14T10:49:06.213+08:00nccplibrarythe library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.comBlogger135125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-17734007376284030992011-10-15T19:25:00.000+08:002011-10-15T19:25:41.188+08:00NCCP Joins Churches’ of Action on Food: A Solidarity Invitation<div style="text-align: justify;">
Note: This post is a bit late...it has been hectic in the office of late. Also this will be my last post as the NCCP Library Staff since I am ending my almost 20-year of serving the Council this day, October 15, 2011. Thank you to all those who followed the blog on my watch. Thank you to all who supported and is continuously supporting the ministries of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines.</div>
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- <span style="font-size: x-small;">Ian Michael Ileto</span></div>
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On October 10, 2011, the National Council of Churches in the
Philippines (NCCP) joins peoples of the world in a global action on
food. To start the Churches Week of Action on Food, the National
Secretariat of the NCCP joined by the National Office Staff of the
United Church of Christ in the Philippines, youth from KAIROS
Philippines, Peace for Life staff, and CONTAK Philippines held a
liturgical celebration which affirmed churches’ call– food security for
the people, equitable and just distribution of the world’s food
production and denouncing practices that deprive people of the right to
food and calling for all to advocate for those who produce the world’s
food and yet go hungry, themselves.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7kfcerr3DGU/Tplr_13WRGI/AAAAAAAABEA/mWZd4nqIg8o/s1600/churches+action+on+food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7kfcerr3DGU/Tplr_13WRGI/AAAAAAAABEA/mWZd4nqIg8o/s400/churches+action+on+food.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Mr. Danilo Ramos of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Peasant
Movement in the Philippines) provided what is called the NOW Testament.
He discussed the current situation of the peasants in the Philippines
and averred that the issues and struggle of the peasants and the
development of agriculture is everyone’s concern.</div>
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The Philippines is an agricultural country with 75% of its population
being peasants and farm workers. However, land they till do not belong
to them but to landlords and large corporations both local and
foreign. A lot of the peasants currently face eviction from the lands
they currently till because of land grabbing of the same.</div>
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Mr. Ramos cited examples of large tracts of land in different parts
of the country as being controlled by families or corporations, or being
converted into something else that clearly does not benefit the
farmers. On top of this, because farmers do not have capital, they are
subject to usurers whose interest rates range from 30-150%. On the
macro level, there are systems in place that continually oppress them
like liberalization of the country’s agriculture and control of
transnational corporations of chemical inputs.</div>
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The farmers call and so must the churches’ is to have genuine land
reform – give land to the tillers and stop liberalization of
agriculture.</div>
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Thus, the church is not only called to prayer but also to action toward social justice.</div>
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Forms of commitment and action</div>
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<li>Offering gathered during the service was given to the KMP as a
support to the upcoming Peasants’ March on October 17, 2011.</li>
<li>Liturgical celebration will also be held with local churches</li>
<li>Church people enjoined to the Peasants’ March on October 17 to 21</li>
<li> “World Rural Women’s Day</li>
</ol>
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Oct. 14 -Peasant Women’s Assembly and Forum on Land Grabbing and its Impact to Food Security</div>
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Oct. 15- peasant women’s march to Department of Agrarian Reform</div>
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October 16- world foodless Day- picket sa Department of Agriculture</div>
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<li>Oct. 14-21 Peasant and Agricultural Worker’s Luzon-Wide March
(Lakbayan-Sakbayan) to Manila while Visayas and Mindanao will also
do their region-wide March. Theme: “Tunay na Reporma sa Lupa” at
Pagsabatas ng House Bill 374 o Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB).</li>
<li>October 17 – “Salubungan sa Monumento and Alabang”</li>
<li>October 17 – Vigil & Solidarity Night in front of Department of Agriculture (DAR) National Office in Quezon City</li>
<li>October 18-21 “Pagkilos sa Supreme Court” at sa October 21 march from Supreme court to Mendiola</li>
<li>Oct 21 (9:00am)– AMIHAN and SAMMARO (Samahan ng mgag Magsasaka sa
Mascap Rodriguez) will seed audience with CBCP regarding the issue of
Land Grabbing through cancellation of EP at CLT.</li>
<li>October 10- Dialogue with National Food Authority Council ng
AMIHAN at BANTAY BIGAS (Rice Monitor) (Alyansa ng Mamamayan para
sa Sapat Ligtas at Abot kayang Presyo ng Bigas) regarding the issue
of support services and subsidy for the farmers to be able to
achieve rice self sufficiency and food security.</li>
</ol>
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credits: text from <a href="http://nccphilippines.org/site/">NCCP website</a>, photo by imileto <br />
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</ol>the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-74102834607927825192011-10-06T21:07:00.000+08:002011-10-06T21:07:06.313+08:00NCCP Appeal for Typhoon Victims<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Emergency Situation</strong></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Typhoons Pedring (Nesat) and Quiel (Nalgae) </em>wrecked havoc in most part of Luzon from September 24. Typhoon Pedring <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></em>entered the Philippine area of responsibility in September 24, 2011, exited three days after it ravaged the agricultural provinces of Isabela and Aurora in Northern Luzon; the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Bulacan in Central Luzon; the provinces of Catanduanes and Albay, including Legaspi City in the southern part Bicol Region; and affected thousands of families in the 17 cities and municipalities in Metro Manila, especially those living in low-lying and flood-prone areas.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
Two days after <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Typhoon Pedring</em> left the country many parts of the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija were submerged in between 3 feet and ten feet floodwater – with the town of Calumpit in Bulacan most severely flooded. Thousands of families were trapped and forced to stay on their roofs as floodwater continue to rise. Further complicating the situation left by Pedring<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">, Typhoon Quiel </em>came and brought in heavy rains and badly affected provinces in Northern and Central Luzon.</div>
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To date, many barangays are still flooded in Isabela, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and Bulacan.</div>
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<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Impact of the Typhoons</strong></div>
<ul style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; list-style-type: circle; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong>1,183,530 families or 5,534,410 persons were affected in 3,252 barangays in 349 municipalities, 41 cities in the 34 provinces of Regions I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B, and V, CAR, NCR and Region VI.</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; list-style-type: circle; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">55 individuals died</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; list-style-type: circle; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">30 missing</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; list-style-type: circle; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">7,540 totally damaged houses</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; list-style-type: circle; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">41,224 partially damaged houses</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; list-style-type: circle; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">PhP 8.8 billion – Damage to agriculture and infrastructure</li>
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<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">APPEAL</strong></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lWzuBkWb1Wc/To2mXdlsbcI/AAAAAAAABD8/PfrrvLzO3vA/s1600/NCCP+appeal+for+typhoon+victims.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lWzuBkWb1Wc/To2mXdlsbcI/AAAAAAAABD8/PfrrvLzO3vA/s400/NCCP+appeal+for+typhoon+victims.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">volunteers preparing relief goods for the affected families</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Relief and rehabilitation work is part of NCCP work and ministry. We appeal to your heart of hearts to help alleviate the suffering of those affected by the consecutive typhoons. You may deposit your donation to the following accounts:</div>
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Account Name: National Council of Churches in the Philippines<br />Name of Bank: Bank of the Philippine Islands (Quezon City West Triangle Branch)<br />Peso Account: 3051-0063-04<br />Dollar Account: 3054-0162-89</div>
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Donations in kind are also accepted. The following in the list are most and urgently needed:</div>
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<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; list-style-type: circle; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Food & bottled water</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; list-style-type: circle; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">clothes</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; list-style-type: circle; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">medicines</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; list-style-type: circle; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">toiletries: bath soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, face towel, laundry soap</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; list-style-type: circle; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; list-style-type: circle; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">cooking utensils, plates, spoons, cups</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; list-style-type: circle; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">plastic water containers</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; list-style-type: circle; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">plastic sheets or canvas tent</li>
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You may bring your donations to 879 EDSA, West Triangle, QC. Or you may call us at 922-8141 to pick up your donations (within NCR only).</div>
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May God bless your kindness tenfold.</div>
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credits: text from <a href="http://nccphilippines.org/site/">NCCP website</a>, photo by imileto</div>
the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-75983416402722051742011-09-30T13:45:00.001+08:002011-09-30T13:45:58.576+08:00NCCP three days after Typhoon Nesat (Pedring)<div style="text-align: justify;">
Work must go on no matter what. Service to the people must not stop. Scenes at the Council three days after typhoon Pedring wreaked havok in the country. Still no electricity pending the replacement of the busted transformer outside the compound gate.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-17rXOYSZDlc/ToVVt0RGM_I/AAAAAAAABD0/k4Ex8F4q6Oo/s1600/nccp+3+days+after+pedring+03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-17rXOYSZDlc/ToVVt0RGM_I/AAAAAAAABD0/k4Ex8F4q6Oo/s400/nccp+3+days+after+pedring+03.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staff in the dark Library compiling data of typhoon Nesat's damage</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9dRDzbgrjCA/ToVVqHDr7mI/AAAAAAAABDw/gUpwmw7hdCw/s1600/nccp+3+days+after+pedring+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9dRDzbgrjCA/ToVVqHDr7mI/AAAAAAAABDw/gUpwmw7hdCw/s400/nccp+3+days+after+pedring+02.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">working by candle light</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Upkzm83bfbQ/ToVVxqPvqWI/AAAAAAAABD4/_PPQzufJfhw/s1600/nccp+3+days+after+pedring+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Upkzm83bfbQ/ToVVxqPvqWI/AAAAAAAABD4/_PPQzufJfhw/s400/nccp+3+days+after+pedring+01.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The darkness and heat won't stop this General Convention Committee members from accomplishing their tasks.</td></tr>
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<br />the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-9276263680806475672011-09-28T10:13:00.000+08:002011-09-28T10:13:29.153+08:00Typhoon NESAT (Pedring) aftermath at NCCPIt's back to work for most.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u1Tf-ARKOhI/ToJ0SWdsT2I/AAAAAAAABDU/XbePnz-Dn9k/s1600/back+to+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u1Tf-ARKOhI/ToJ0SWdsT2I/AAAAAAAABDU/XbePnz-Dn9k/s400/back+to+work.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">commuters lining up to ride the MRT at the North Ave station</td></tr>
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At the National Council of Churches in the Philippines compound, its clean-up day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sdU0CvdmO6M/ToJ16NwVZ7I/AAAAAAAABDY/4SNqyrMA5Mk/s1600/back+to+work2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sdU0CvdmO6M/ToJ16NwVZ7I/AAAAAAAABDY/4SNqyrMA5Mk/s400/back+to+work2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almond, Oblay and Jhun sweeping the leaf litter</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nBcgDlDipPQ/ToJ18YVcmnI/AAAAAAAABDc/WbZkc_ghMTw/s1600/back+to+work5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nBcgDlDipPQ/ToJ18YVcmnI/AAAAAAAABDc/WbZkc_ghMTw/s400/back+to+work5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nanie (left) helping out. Government workers (top right) hauling the trash. Even the guard (bottom right) is doing his share in the clean-up</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Unlike most of the Metro and the rest of the country, the Council was spared heavy damage needing only minor building repair. As of this writing, power is still cut off due to a huge tree branch that fell on the electrical wires causing the transformer outside the gate to trip and explode.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m3KhtRfRDcs/ToJ5urrv6wI/AAAAAAAABDg/UczvWYWlde0/s1600/back+to+work3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m3KhtRfRDcs/ToJ5urrv6wI/AAAAAAAABDg/UczvWYWlde0/s400/back+to+work3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(top and bottom photo) damage to the third and second floor window of the main building</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JeBFT_5UfN0/ToJ598659mI/AAAAAAAABDk/JVZ5iC3M4IQ/s1600/back+to+work7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JeBFT_5UfN0/ToJ598659mI/AAAAAAAABDk/JVZ5iC3M4IQ/s400/back+to+work7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y7xKN6xlWGQ/ToJ6GPtti3I/AAAAAAAABDo/UH8tlLHk4z0/s1600/back+to+work4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y7xKN6xlWGQ/ToJ6GPtti3I/AAAAAAAABDo/UH8tlLHk4z0/s400/back+to+work4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tree that broke one of its main branch (top left of photo) causing the power failure in the area</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h9D4PhRtSxE/ToJ6KhdYSHI/AAAAAAAABDs/OkKsRW1C1Rw/s1600/back+to+work6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h9D4PhRtSxE/ToJ6KhdYSHI/AAAAAAAABDs/OkKsRW1C1Rw/s400/back+to+work6.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">front view of the main building</td></tr>
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I am thankful that Typhoon NESAT (Pedring) spared the Council from damage. Still, the country is suffering from the destruction brought by strong winds and floods. I encourage everyone to pray for the victims of this latest tragedy and if you are able, please do help through the many institutions and organizations helping those in need. You can also contact the Council at (0632) 922 8141 for info regarding its Relief and Rehabilitation efforts. - the library staff</div>
the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-24715526883631694632011-09-20T08:37:00.000+08:002011-09-20T09:00:34.838+08:00NCCP Supports Campaign to Free All Political Prisoners, Join the Campaign<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br />
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<i>“I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”</i></div>
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<i></i> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Luke 9:40</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1839808051" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wHskQBLxSfk/TnffBwJmFjI/AAAAAAAABDQ/9Mv8ysVWQR4/s320/11997522.png" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/free_all_political_prisoners/">click here to go to the online petition site</a></td></tr>
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The declaration and pursuit of justice in the Philippines is a continuing apostolate of the <a href="http://nccphilippines.org/site/">National Council of Churches in the Philippines</a>, for as long as people are unjustly vexed. We recognize the importance of relating with church bodies in countries similarly situated. We value immensely the solidarity of people and church agencies advocating the upholding of human rights everywhere. A violation of human rights anywhere is a violation of human rights everywhere.</div>
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Wherewith, I issue this appeal for you to stay on course with us by signing on to the enclosed signature campaign. Our similar endeavors in the past contributed enormously in upholding peace and justice.</div>
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We are calling for the general, unconditional and omnibus amnesty to all political prisoners in the country. It has been done before it can be done again.</div>
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In the name of the 354 political prisoners as of June 2011, and in the name of all that is just and peaceful, we sincerely covet your support.</div>
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Sincerely,</div>
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REV. REX RB REYES, JR.</div>
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General Secretary</div>
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sources and related links:<br />
<a href="http://nccphilippines.org/site/">NCCP</a>, <a href="http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/free_all_political_prisoners/">Free All Political Prisoners petition site</a>, <a href="http://freeallpoliticalprisonersphils.wordpress.com/">Free All Political Prisoners Phils</a></div>
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the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-68897654625908060342011-09-14T19:38:00.000+08:002011-09-14T19:46:22.499+08:00A Biblico-Theological ReflectionBelow is the text of the Biblico-Theological Reflection of the <a href="http://nccphilippines.org/site/">National Council of Churches in the Philippines</a>' General Secretary during the opening of the seminar on<b> <a href="http://nccphilippines.org/site/2011/09/14/building-hiv-competent-churches/">Building HIV/AIDS Competent Churches in the Philippines</a></b>. This seminar is a cooperative endeavor of the NCCP and the <a href="http://www.cca.org.hk/about/about.htm">Christian Conference of Asia</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HWRKC3rupa0/TnCJ36BV3kI/AAAAAAAABDA/eId98TCJTFM/s1600/201109145732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HWRKC3rupa0/TnCJ36BV3kI/AAAAAAAABDA/eId98TCJTFM/s400/201109145732.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A Biblico-Theological Reflection<br />
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Padi Rex RB Reyes, Jr.<br />
General Secretary, NCCPhilippines<br />
September 14-16, 2011<br />
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Last Saturday, the Executive Committee of the Christian Conference of Asia listened to the testimony of Pastor Ponsawan Khankaew. It was a powerful and moving testimony. Moving because it was a first person story – her life story. She told of her blindness and how one eye eventually gained sight. She talked of her isolation from her friends, from the hospital staff and above all her isolation from her own pastor and the members of her community. She was dismissed as a hopeless case, a sinner and her community talked about rituals and customs related to her impending death. She also told of how her love for her two sons and the apparent love of her sons for her carried her through the painful ordeal. It was powerful because her testimony is a challenge to the church and Christians about our notions of sin, mission and pastoral responsibility. There she was - well recovered singing of her faith in a Jesus who stood by her and healed her. There she was opening up a ministry for people bearing the suffering she underwent by putting up the Adonai Church in Pattaya and the Glory Hut Foundation out of nothing but her indomitable spirit to minister to people isolated by others. There she was receiving, without resentment, referrals from pastors who still think they have nothing to do with people living with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIDS">HIV and AIDS</a>. May she live much longer than the fifteen years she prayed for. There she was singing of the victory that was hers in Jesus Christ and the joy of watching her two boys grow up in a hostile world. There is no other profound and genuine witness to the love of Jesus and His command to love than the testimony of our own lives.<br />
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When her colleagues and friends ask her why she visits bars in Pattaya which is a popular tourist destination in Thailand, she counters “Why not”? Indeed, why not? Pastor Ponsawan proclaims God’s love and healing in a place where it matters most – where love and healing is not felt, utterly hidden by the vicious cycle of people who exploit those who are already marginalized and vulnerable for profit. In this case it is called tourism. Last week, the cover of the in-flight magazine of an Asian airline caught my attention (that is what in-flight magazines are supposed to do – catch attention, of course). Tourism is a dollar-earning industry in many parts of Asia. The magazine cover projects a certain aspect of tourism in an Asian country and targets a particular section of tourists. It is very subtle but the message is there. We have our own in the Philippines – pictures of beautiful and “submissive” women and projections of our hospitality.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bMVSE0OAWAI/TnCLMdsES3I/AAAAAAAABDE/X1rcvtztu8g/s1600/201109145693.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bMVSE0OAWAI/TnCLMdsES3I/AAAAAAAABDE/X1rcvtztu8g/s400/201109145693.jpg" width="400" /></a>The stories of healing and perspective-setting for people of faith in Matthew 9 are instructive for our purpose today. We have a situation here where the religious leaders, contained as they are by their concept of ritual purity, religious rigidity and their authority fail to see the divine agenda of healing. Healing does not only address the issue of physical wellness but also those that cause broken relations – people being cast into the margins, isolated and made more vulnerable in their vulnerability. Our text does not provide the reason or reasons how one got paralyzed, how is it that the woman suffered hemorrhage for years, how the two men became blind or how one person became a dumb demoniac. But, it does tell of how they drew near or were brought near to Jesus. Drawing near or being brought near suggests not just physical nearness but a conversation that results into conversion and healing. To the paralytic Jesus says: “take heart, your sins are forgiven. . .rise, take up your bed and go home”. To the woman, he says “Take heart. . . your faith has made you well”. To the blind men, he says “according to your faith be it done to you”. There is less of “moralizing” but more of compassion. He says “take heart”. None can be more compelling for a sick person than the desire to be healed and not be a social outcast. Jesus knows that and acts on that basis.<br />
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At a cursory glance, physical unwellness is caused by sin. To hold on to this view is to confine a portion of the total self as bad – in this case sexuality – and must be conquered at all costs so that we do not sin. This leads to a tendency to moralize – that one gets sick because of sin. Moralizing tends to espouse segregation or perhaps generates hatred or attitudes of domination or superiority and blocks the way for rendering loving service and creating an inclusive community. It complicates relationships. It is not uncommon to find people who hold the view that people contract <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIDS">HIV and AIDS</a> because they are sinful, that regions are hit by tsunamis, earthquakes and hurricanes because the people there are sinful, that Padi Rex has not grown any taller because of his sins, etc. . . . . Such posturing defies and denies the place of scientific breakthroughs, which are also the results of another of God’s gift – the human mind.<br />
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I believe that our text is also intended to humble the Pharisees in their constant moralizing and hypocrisy. Because Jesus knew that they are consumed by “evil in their hearts” he healed people “that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins”. But beyond that is the lesson that Jesus wants to impart to the Pharisees: “Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice’. Jesus sees mercy from the perspective of those who suffer, instead of from the perspective of those who are in the position to dispense of it. In this way can genuine compassion come about – solidarity with those in pain. This suggests an approach our churches can take in dealing with the issues that matter most to people. First, to be with them, and, second, to be for them. It emphasizes the “Word (which) became flesh and dwelt among” us. If the Word remained a Word, would Christianity be there or would God be relevant? I surmise that if God did not come to be in solidarity with us in Jesus Christ, we would still remain like the people of old, each tribe or nation having their own god with no mission to speak of. As it is, even the first Christian community recorded in Acts was marked by the genuine concern of its members to attend to the needs of the weak – “not one of them was hungry”. Paul, addressing the Romans gives some practical advise, too. “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (8.1). . . . You are in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you, Any one who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him” (8.9).</div>
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At the heart of the <a href="http://nccphilippines.org/site/">National Council of Churches in the Philippines</a>’ self-understanding is faithfulness to Jesus who said they who want to be great must serve. Service or diakonia is the hallmark of the church. Service is extended not only to our own members but especially to others. “Others” does not just refer to non-members. “Others” refers to those to whom that service is most needed – those who are denied opportunities to live abundant lives, those who are isolated/ignored by their families, friends and even by their own members and pastors/priests, regardless of who they are. The NCCP’s self-understanding also seeks to be consistent with the definition of Paul of what churches are – communities built upon “the foundation of the apostles and prophets” and Jesus being the chief cornerstone, in that order. Apostles teach the essentiality of service and prophets call us all, especially those powers and principalities, to repentance and to love peace and justice. I have earlier cited the cover page of an Asian Airline in-flight magazine. Things like those are where the prophetic witness of the church comes in. Any demeaning or diminuition of human life is always a violation of human rights and should be exposed and denounced.<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIDS">HIV and AIDS</a> are not a curse. The first is caused by a virus like tuberculosis is caused by bacteria. The other is equally a serious condition gravely affecting the body’s immune system. Those who have contracted the virus and those with AIDS need care and not condemnation. A loving church will try to understand and know what these are in order to seek the people living with the HIV or PLHIV and people living with AIDS (PLA) out so that not one of them is lost. The book “Building HIV Competent Churches” is a valuable resource material for the churches in the Philippines and elsewhere. Every church should have it. A series of Bible studies could be formulated from its pages. After reading it, one is faced with the undeniable reality of HIV and AIDS and of the compelling need to respond. PLHIVs and PLAs are not faceless. They too, are the image of God.<br />
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It is not late for the churches, or the ecumenical movement for that matter, to extend loving service to the PLHIVs and PLAs and key affected populations. Let it be said that this concern is equally for our sake as it is for them. Now is also the time to engage in prophetic witness such that the many myths about HIV and AIDS, how they are contracted and how to prevent the same can be more objectively known and addressed. The fact is clear: the number of PLHIVs and PLAs is increasing in our country and the environment that allows that number to increase is also widening. We should not wait until the numbers reach thousands upon thousands.<br />
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Pastor Ponsawan has had a very personal experience of healing. Her faith has made her whole again. That wholeness goes beyond herself to the restoration if not renewal of social relationships. Her love for life is not only her personal claim but also propelled her to live out and express that love to those who have been made outcasts by their own kind. The Bible which is our source of personal and private devotion is the product of the engagement of God’s evangelists and prophets of the real issues that made people behave the way they did in those days. The faith that we claim, wrestles with the issues of power relations, of vulnerable people and of the gap between people – and proclaims a community of love, of hope, and of salvation.</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">photos: ian ileto </span></div>
the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-51550164956310583772011-09-02T21:57:00.000+08:002011-09-02T22:48:04.025+08:00PURSUE THE FORMAL PEACE TALKS<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Avian","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">The <a href="http://nccphilippines.org/site/">National Council of Churches in the Philippines</a> renews its call for the Philippine
Government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines to proceed with the
formal peace talks. The peace talks is a
response to the yearning for peace and justice by the long-suffering majority
in this country. To delay it further is
to pass on a responsibility which was within the means of the present to
resolve, display the lack of will to deal with the barriers to a just and lasting
peace and betray the faith in the Filipino.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Avian","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Many agreements and resolutions have already
been signed by both parties. Among them
are The Hague Declaration, the Breukelen Joint Statement, the Joint Agreement
on Safety and Immunity Guarantees, the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect
of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law and recently, the Oslo resolution of
February 2011. We have celebrated the
signing of these agreements aware that these were achieved painstakingly and
with the welfare of the people in mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Avian","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">The NCCP believes that these agreements are
guideposts towards a successful peace negotiations. These are consistent with the Biblical
mandate to “seek peace and pursue it” (IPeter 3:11). Furthermore, we understand that the greater
population of this country has delegated the power and authority to pursue just
and lasting peace to those who are now called to see it through. We enjoin the parties to consider the
foregoing charge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Avian","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">We urge both parties to abide by and build on
all previously signed agreements.
Continue the discussion in a manner befitting a genuine advocate of just
and lasting peace. May the God of peace
give you the will and the grace to accomplish this task.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Avian","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">We also urge our constituents in the
ecumenical movement and to fellow citizens of this country to hold on to the
vision of peace. Amidst the diversity of
gifts of the faith is the divine invitation to proclaim and live out the call
for peace on earth and with the earth.
Let us be steadfast in chanting God’s greatness and power in the
struggle for abundant life. Our
unceasing prayer for peace and injustice includes our prayers that the men and
women involved in the peace talks will persevere. As the enthusiasm of the people for just and
lasting peace refuses to fade away so do we urge the two parties to hold on to
that same enthusiasm until we shall all dwell comfortably in our homes, own the
lands we till and live in dignity according to the work of our hands. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Avian","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">REV. REX RB REYES, JR.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Avian","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">General Secretary </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bodoni BE Bold","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">BISHOP NATHANAEL P. LAZARO</span>
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<span style="font-family: "Avian","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Chairperson</span>
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<span style="font-family: "Avian","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">September 2, 2011</span><br />
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to download the PDF file, click <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?6zjt6c8tafj6mhr">here</a> </div>
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the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-25662465861022335162011-08-15T09:59:00.000+08:002011-08-15T09:59:03.618+08:00Women’s Crisis Center in is need of an Executive Director<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The NCCP Databank and Library received an email from the Women's Crisis Center:</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">12 August 2011</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Dear Friends,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Warm greetings from the Women's Crisis Center!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">WCC is in need of an Executive Director. Please find attached the Call for Application. May we ask that you forward this call to like-minded individuals and organizational partners.</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We have also attached the call at the WCC facebook, please check us out.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The deadline for this call is August 31, 2011.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Thank you.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Sincerely,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Mary (Mae) G. Jardiniano</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Administrative officer</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For Immediate Employment</span></b></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Executive Director, Women’s Crisis Center</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Job Qualifications</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">· Degree, specialization, or training in addressing gender –based issues and concerns </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">· At least five years’ experience in managing a woman-centered organization or program or special training in areas related to organizational management, particular managing non-profit or non-governmental organizations, and human resource management </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">· Training and/or demonstrated expertise in feminist counseling would be an advantage </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">· Aptitude for constructive knowing and knowledge management </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">· Very good writing and speaking skills. </div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Functions and Responsibilities</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">· Leadership</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">· Planning</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">· Staff Supervision and Human Resource Management</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">· Resource Mobilization</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">· Networking and Linkage Building</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">· Program Management, Monitoring, and Evaluation</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">· Policy Recommendation and Implementation</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">· Link between the Board and Staff</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Salary</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">· Negotiable, consistent with industry rates. Basic salary plus benefits.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Documents Requested</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">· Resume</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">· Letter of application Deadline for Submission of Documents</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Please submit documents or direct inquiries to:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The Board of Trustees</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Women’s Crisis Center</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">3/F ER-Trauma Annex</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">East Avenue Medical Center</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">East Avenue, Quezon City</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">e-mail: <a href="http://ph.mc768.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=wccmanila@gmail.com">wccmanila@gmail.com</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Fax/phone: + 63 2 436-5088 +63 2 925-7133</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div>the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-33483894313027069322011-08-08T09:14:00.000+08:002011-08-08T09:14:22.316+08:00Logo Design Contest Deadline Extended<div class="categories" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">The logo design contest for the NCCP 23rd General Convention this coming November 21-25, 2011 has been extended to August 20, 2011. All are invited to join and all are urged to tell your friends about this.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">The design should reflect the theme:</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Holding High the Tapestry of Justice and Peace in a Broken World”</strong></em></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></div><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Contest Rules:</strong></span></div></strong><br />
<ol style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; list-style-type: upper-latin; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Design must not exceed the area 8.5 x 11 inches (letter sized paper). It can be smaller as long as it is proportional to a letter sized paper.</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; list-style-type: upper-latin; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Artist is free to use any medium (e.g. oil, acrylic, water color, digital formats, etc.)</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; list-style-type: upper-latin; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Artist may sign name on the logo; signature must not go beyond the area of 0.8 x 3 cm.</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; list-style-type: upper-latin; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Design submitted to NCCP should be in jpeg or tiff formats.</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; list-style-type: upper-latin; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Minimum resolution should be 600 dpi or equivalent to the size of a photo taken at 10 megapixels.</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; list-style-type: upper-latin; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Artist must provide a brief explanation of the design.</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; list-style-type: upper-latin; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Token Prize is PhP 5,000.00, plaque and public recognition during the Solidarity Evening on November 22, 2011 and written acknowledgement on souvenir program.</li>
</ol><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">DEADLINE OF SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES:</strong> August 20, 2011</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">For inquiries, you may call <strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(632) 929-3745</strong> and look for <strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ms. Katrina de la Cruz.</strong></div>the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-78624964822436084462011-08-05T09:40:00.001+08:002011-08-05T10:14:53.179+08:00UMC Cal-Nevada Solidarity Visit to the Philippines<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">The California-Nevada UMC Philippine Solidarity Task Force has been organizing a pastoral and solidarity visits to the Philippines since 2007 borne out of the Conference’s concern on rampant violations of human rights especially extrajudicial killings that are happening in the Philippines. The said visits were facilitated by a task force convened and spearheaded by the <a href="http://nccphilippines.org/site/">National Council of Churches in the Philippines</a>. Other members include the <a href="http://www.empd2007.blogspot.com/">Ecumenical Mission for Peace and Development (EMPD)</a>, <a href="http://contakphilippines.blogspot.com/">CONTAK Philippines</a>, <a href="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/c.frLJK2PKLqF/b.2794211/k.E1F9/GBCS_Home.htm">UMC Church and Society</a> and KASIMBAYAN.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">The outcomes of these trips has increased awareness in the <a href="http://www.cnumc.org/">Cal-Nev UMC</a> and the wider community through report backs, presentations, and participation in rallies and events in partnership with people’s community organizations that are interested in Philippine justice work.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">The visits and outcomes of the previous groups have inspired others to take part in this year’s visit. A 10-member delegation will arrive in the Philippines and will immerse themselves in Philippine issues from August 18-31, 2011. The objectives of the visit are to gain appreciation, with the eyes of faith, the core issues affecting the Filipino people and how these shape the self-understanding and the ecumenical response of the churches; to understand the systemic roots of the human rights situation in the Philippines; to enrich faith lives through witnessing in justice and solidarity work; and, to manifest the spirit of partnership and solidarity with those engaged in justice work and the ministry of advocacy for human rights in the Philippines.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Their program include listening to people’s and whole communities’ stories, dialogues and discussions on pertinent issues on systemic violence and human rights, reflecting on the situation in the light of faith and biblical imperatives, and thinking of ways to do creative and effective advocacy for Philippine issues.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">source: <a href="http://nccphilippines.org/site/">NCCP Website</a></div>the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-64092859886003569652011-08-05T09:04:00.000+08:002011-08-05T09:04:35.395+08:00Prayer for Norway and Student Christian Movement in NorwayShared to us by <b>Ms. Biyaya Quizon</b>:<br />
<br />
Good day.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Sharing to all the attached statement and a prayer made by the Human Rights, Justice and Peace Committee of the World Student Christian Federation Asia Pacific on the Norway tragedy. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Let us pray for the victims, their families and the Norwegian government as they face the most pressing time in their history.</div><br />
Thank you.<br />
<br />
<br />
In solidarity, <br />
<br />
<br />
Biyaya Quizon<br />
Vice Chairperson<br />
Standing Committee,WSCF-AP (2006-2008)<br />
______________________________________________________ <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Prayer for Norway and Student Christian Movement in Norway <br />
</b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Our loving and gracious God, <br />
<br />
We pray for your healing spirit to touch the lives of the people of Norway, <br />
<br />
We ask that your love and compassion bring comfort to the families, friends and loved ones of those who died in the July 22nd tragedy. <br />
<br />
We pray that the perpetrator of this crime be put to justice, so that faith in the ideals of justice, peace, freedom and liberty be restored in our hearts. <br />
<br />
<br />
God, it is you who is the source of life and wisdom, <br />
<br />
We seek your grace and wisdom to discern your will and the meaning of this painful incident, <br />
<br />
We ask that you guide the leaders of Norway and the international community to seek just, lasting peaceful solutions to the problems fuelling religious and racial tensions in Norway and elsewhere. <br />
<br />
We pray for the safety and well-being of students, youth and our dear friends in SCM Norway <br />
<br />
We remember in our prayers communities of religious, ehtnic and cultural minority groups in Norway and elsewhere in Europe, <br />
<br />
Let not bigotry, exclusion and hatred further escalate the tension in the aftermath. <br />
<br />
May your grace, justice, peace and love be with the people in Norway in this time of grieving and loss. AMEN</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>WSCF AP Statement on the July 22 Attacks in Norway </b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">We share the grief of the Norwegian people for the lost lives, most of them young people, in the calibrated bombing and shoot-out in a youth camp in Utoya islands last Friday in Norway. We are one with the international call for justice for all the victims, along with their families, friends and the people of Norway. <br />
<br />
The twin attacks in Norway, reportedly by a single individual whose prime motivation which is slowly coming to light, is alarmingly slanted towards hatred on the Muslims and immigrants in Norway. We are alarmed that these are aimed at encouraging more extreme rightist Christian ideology, xenophobia, islamophobia, racism and animosity against people of color in Europe. Recently we have just witnessed the attacks on Roma camps and expulsion of the Roma people. <br />
<br />
In our contexts, religious and racial bigotry is an issue that we also must address. Elsewhere, terrorism, attacks on religious and cultural minorities has deep connections with neo-fascism. If this triumphs, the aim of those who want to systematically maim and attack innocent lives will also succeed. <br />
<br />
As we pray and call for justice for the victims, let us also not forget to cast light on the deep roots of such atrocities, intertwined in the political, cultural, and economic milieu. Thru this, may we find solutions that will promote democracy, peace and justice in our midst. </div><br />
### <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
-- <br />
Biyaya G. Quizon<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Human Rights - Program Unit on Faith Witness and Service</div><div style="text-align: justify;">National Council of Churches in the Philippines</div><a href="http://www.nccphilippines.org/">www.nccphilippines.org</a><br />
<a href="http://nccplibrary.blogspot.com/">nccplibrary.blogspot.com</a><br />
<a href="tel:%2B639397751650">+639397751650</a><br />
922.8141the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-36456966421531458632011-06-24T21:02:00.001+08:002011-06-24T21:07:12.522+08:00Tribute to Rhea Whitehead<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Note: The following text and photo was forwarded to us by Ms. Carmencita Karagdag, Coordinator of <b><a href="http://www.peaceforlife.org/">Peace for Life</a> </b>a global faith-based movement resisting militarized globalization and creating life-enhancing alternatives.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JK61rBR-9Cs/TgSLo6NljDI/AAAAAAAABC4/KkuEmYqGn9s/s1600/Rhea.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JK61rBR-9Cs/TgSLo6NljDI/AAAAAAAABC4/KkuEmYqGn9s/s320/Rhea.png" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Peace for Life joins the United Church of Canada and the larger ecumenical community in deeply mourning the demise on June 14, 2011 of an exceptional church and ecumenical leader, Rhea Whitehead. During her</div><div style="text-align: justify;">lifetime and committed mission partnership with Asia spanning four decades, Rhea devoted her talent, energies and passion to the Christian ministry of liberating the oppressed, championing the weak, and empowering the defenseless.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">During her tenure as UCC's Asia Secretary and earlier as Regional Mission Coordinator for Asia-Pacific of the Anglican Church of Canada, Rhea did pioneering work and made exemplary contributions to the cause</div><div style="text-align: justify;">of human rights during the critical decades of the seventies and eighties when Asia, specially the Philippines and South Korea, was reeling under repressive regimes and brutal military dictatorships. The Philippine solidarity movement is specially indebted to Rhea for her major role in helping convene a high-profile ecumenical conference in the US in 1983 to consolidate international support for the Philippine human-rights movement and mobilize opposition to unabashed US support for the murderous Marcos dictatorship.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rhea is also remembered for introducing ground-breaking initiatives in mission work on women's rights and empowerment. She continued her peerless engagement in international solidarity and ecumenical partnership well into the 1990s when she served as General Secretary of UCC's General Division of World Outreach.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rhea was among the more than 130 international delegates who gathered in Manila in September 2002 for the historic International Ecumenical Conference on Terrorism in a Globalized World during which the need for a new faith-based movement resisting state terrorism and militarized globalization, Peace for Life, was first articulated. Even after retirement she continued her active involvement in PfL, representing the UCC in the first of a series of planning meetings for the "World without Empire" conference held last year in New York.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We in Peace for Life salute Rhea, our beloved internationalist, ecumenist, activist and feminist.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In these times of sorrow and grave loss, we specially remember in our prayers her life partner and comrade Ray, her children, grandchildren and other loved ones.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">On behalf of Peace for Life</div><br />
<br />
CARMENCITA KARAGDAG<br />
<br />
21 June 2011<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
*Carmencita Karagdag*<br />
Coordinator, Peace for Life<br />
Bishop La Verne Mercado Ecumenical Center<br />
NCCP Compound, 879 EDSA<br />
West Triangle, Quezon City<br />
1104 PHILIPPINES<br />
Telefax: <a href="tel:%2B63%202%20927%208043">+63 2 927 8043</a><br />
Email: <a href="mailto:cpk@peaceforlife.org">cpk@peaceforlife.org</a><br />
Website: <a href="http://www.peaceforlife.org/">http://www.peaceforlife.org</a>the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-48029876712455183142011-06-24T20:18:00.000+08:002011-06-24T20:18:41.452+08:002011 IBON Midyear Birdtalk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">IBON is inviting everyone to its 2011 Midyear Birdtalk on July 14, 2011. The event will be held at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Auditorium. For more details, click on the poster to enlarge.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9TIjQDEoMcQ/TgR_ypw9u6I/AAAAAAAABC0/oGGtrs0F8eU/s1600/july+14_colored_final-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9TIjQDEoMcQ/TgR_ypw9u6I/AAAAAAAABC0/oGGtrs0F8eU/s320/july+14_colored_final-1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="207" /></a></div>the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-86060325620788367902011-06-08T18:55:00.000+08:002011-06-08T18:55:55.329+08:00A Faith Perspective on Reproductive Health and Rights<div style="text-align: justify;">Jesus in the New Testament was often seen and heard to be proclaiming and granting wholeness to people. This, he did when he healed many women suffering from various kinds of infirmity and diseases. In Luke 8:40-55, we witnessed a “woman in desperation owing to a health issue” (Ball, David). Now, notice that preceding the story of the woman who was bleeding is another story - The one that tells about Jairus’ daughter who was also sick and dying. The girl was 12 years old. “Age twelve is a pivotal age in a young woman’s sexual development, so the fact that the older woman had been bleeding for that time (12 years) can be read as a hint that her bleeding is sexual. Blood meant life in their culture, so her life has been seeping away” (McIntosh)”[1] at the time of her encounter with Jesus.<br />
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A major theme in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament is the Hebrew concept of Shalom. Many will ascribe to “peace” as the meaning of Shalom. But our ecumenical understanding of Shalom goes beyond the present meanings that many of us have when we say peace. Shalom to us, in the ecumenical community means wholeness. A state of life where everything that is needed and is due to the people are given and enjoyed by the people.<br />
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Isaiah 57:18-19 speaks well of a kind of life that constitutes Shalom: a life of health and well-being. Yahweh’s statement of “I will heal my people” points to the fact of a divine undertaking that freedom from structural oppression also frees people from sickness and enables them to live in a state of wellness and wholeness.<br />
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“Shalom involves harmony of economic, social and political life such as in freeing of a people in Exodus. So there is no Shalom where the resources of the community are distributed inequitably so that some eat and others go hungry. . .”[2] (Camba, 2008) <br />
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Our understanding of Shalom then poses a big challenge to the different institutions of our society when we speak of sexual and reproductive rights and health.<br />
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We can only surmise that when Jesus, proclaimed and affirmed wholeness in each woman whom he encountered, he was in fact acting on the basis of an Old Testament concept and vision of promoting Shalom among people, especially the poorest of the poor. There is a subversion in the story. Notice that in this specific story of the bleeding woman, it was the woman, not Jesus, who reached out and sought for healing and wholeness. Jesus only took notice of the woman when he felt that power came out from him. Needless to say, “kailangan pa syang hawakan ng patalikod ng babae bago pa nya ito gawaran ng kagalingan”. The woman’s health was restored because she asserted and persevered for it. Despite her condition, she walked hard through the crowd so that healing can be hers.<br />
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With health having just 32.43% share in the national budget, and with an allocation of just .96 for each Filipino everyday, many of our women are bleeding and have bled to death. The comprehensive reproductive health bill should not be subjected to political bickering and religious debates. It should and MUST be handed to women as a rightful recognition of their right to live in dignity and state of well-being. It must be given to women, majority of whom are poor, so that at least, the government can save face in its long standing record of incapacity to serve the interest of its people. Sad to say that the RH debate had been centered on faces and images of middle class women and personalities who can afford health care and who have easy access to medical attention. When you hear of RH, think of women, POOR women who have long been denied access even to the most basic medical services that they need. Today, we are not only dealing with maternal deaths, prenatal and post natal complications, neonatal, infant and child death, and or contraceptives, we are also dealing with breast cancer, cervical cancer, and other diseases that puts additional burden on the already broken shoulders of our poor women. <br />
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We have long been witnesses to the desecration of women’s bodies. Such had been a negation to the Divine will of Shalom or wholeness to people’s lives, especially women. Desecration is not only in the form of violence against women – physical, emotional, mental, verbal and sexual. Desecration of women’s bodies happen at different level and degrees: talk about women being forced by multi-national companies to subscribe to their own standards and brands of beauty, talk about women suffering from breast cancer, cervical cancer, skin cancer, talk about women being forced to undergo surgeries so that their breasts, hips, noses, eyebags and others are shaped into what is prescribed by doctors and companies that produce millions out of it, talk about the cosmetics industry that continues to flourish at the expense of women especially the young and professional women. A far graver concern would be the inability of poor women to be checked and treated even if for simple and curable diseases. Much more, die from it.<br />
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It becomes totally meaningless and problematic when women’s right to claim, decide and own their bodies is subjected to the dogmas, impositions and manipulation of some sections and institutions of our society. There is also a need that the sacred bodies of women are protected from the impositions and policies of imperialist countries and multi-national companies who have the desire to make billions of profits out of it. We have to be vigilant in our struggle for full legislation of RH bill because we do not want that such policies will further “impose significant costs on women and constrain their options.[3]” (Sen, Gita, and Snow, Rachel, 1994).<br />
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Poor women are pushing for the legislation of the bill not because they are hoping that medical access and services shall be theirs in the wink of an eye but because they want to engage the state in pushing it to fulfill its mandate of serving the interest of the greater masses who are now dying because of its failure to fulfill its duty. Such act gives a semblance of the Story of the Woman who had been bleeding for twelve long years. Pushing and persevering even in the midst of profuse bleeding - just so that life abundant may be realized is the image of today’s poor and struggling Filipino women.<br />
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Reproductive health and rights have long been recognized internationally. “The right to control one’s own body – whether to protect its integrity or to enjoy its pleasures – is the most basic of all rights. If we lack the possibility to prevent our bodies from being violated by others, and if we are denied the opportunity to protect ourselves from pregnancy or disease, then how can we take part in or claim any of the other benefits of development?[4]” (Cornwall, Andrea and Jolly, Susie, 2006) Such assertion clearly explains the role of recognizing women’s right to control one’s body as essential to any path of development. But such assertion has almost always been put into the sidelines because especially in the Philippine context, the right of women to their own bodies is undeniably not acceptable. But let me also clarify, that when I speak of women’s rights to their own bodies, I do speak of a right that is practiced responsibly.<br />
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Unfortunately, today, when we say women’s bodies, it’s not women’s voices that we hear speaking about it. Whom do we hear when we speak of women’s bodies? The capitalist-patriarchal ideology is very much at work in each and every aspect of women’s lives. It permeated every recesses of women’s lives and being making them feel incomplete, imperfect and always lacking of something. It thrives on women’s bodies. Alienating women from their own selves and hating themselves for not being attuned with what capitalist-patriarchal ideology has been promoting as the true measure of beauty - making them feel the need to always need something, crave for something and compete with someone for something. Women’s bodies have become repositories of products that rakes millions and billions of profits for the capitalist master. Women’s beauty has been the stepping stool to which male structures and systems of power continue to dominate and rule. Women have to be beautiful for men and for profit. Women have to compete with and be isolated from one another because of the “divide and rule” tactic of the capitalists which was the same strategy used by imperial powers in colonizing weaker and smaller nations.<br />
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For a long time, institutions within the society, like the church, have taught us that our bodies are “sinful” and should only be given honor when the “prince charming” of our lives will finally come to live with us happily ever after. We were not even allowed to touch ourselves. We were denied of our own sexuality and sensuality. We were denied the right to appreciate and be connected with our own body rhythm and cycles. Women are always taught that being beautiful is all that matters. Everyday and every minute of our lives we are bombarded with different messages of the need to engage in diet programs because being fat means ugly and undisciplined, the need to have white and fairer skin so that men will be attracted to us, the need to have long straight hair because only indigenous and uncivilized people have curly hairs, the need to buy and use designer clothes, bags, accessories to be in and fashionable, the need to wear these brand of make ups so as to look radiant and fresh, the need to always feel and look young because aging is a disease, the need to use this detergent bar so that despite truck load of laundry, our hands will remain smooth and our husband will be more than willing to hold our hands, and the list goes on .<br />
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There is so much to celebrate about women’s bodies and sexuality. Affirming one’s uniqueness: color, height, weight, hair, nose, eyes, even our unique curves, will lead to appreciation and development of one’s full potential and genuine humanness. We are gathered here today because of our collective affirmation that a comprehensive reproductive health bill would contribute to the upholding of women’s rights.<br />
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It’s a long way to freedom, so they say. But a step has been taken already, it is our sacred duty as members of the faith community to render our unwavering support in upholding the rights and welfare of women.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Closing <br />
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The journey to Shalom is long and arduous. Shalom for poor, Filipino women will remain elusive even if we are able to pass the bill on Reproductive Health. We are not saying that the passage of the bill will already be “heaven” to Filipino women. This is only one part of the many on-going struggles of women in defending their life and dignity. Nevertheless, it will be another victory for the women’s movement in the Philippines if the bill will be legislated.<br />
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Like the bleeding woman, Filipino women are not just sitting and waiting for their rights to be realized. They are standing, with clenched fists and ever militant spirits, actively fighting and claiming their rightful space until such time that Shalom will be realized not just for them but for all.<br />
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<br />
[1] McIntosh, Alastair. A SHORT COURSE ON LIBERATION THEOLOGY.<br />
[2] Camba, Erme. A BIBLE STUDY ON JUSTICE AND PEACE. Micah’s Call 2008<br />
[3] Sen, Gita and Snow, Rachel POWER AND DECISION The Social Control of Reproduction, March 1994<br />
[4] Cornwall, Andrea and Jolly, Susie INTRODUCTIONS: SEXUALITY MATTERS, 2006</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The above reflection is an abridged version of the one presented by <b>Ms. Darlene Marquez-Caramanzana</b> during the Forum on the Reproductive Health Bill sposored by the Board of Women’s Work, the Board of Church and Society of the Philippines Central Conference and the Board of Church and Society of the Philippines Annual Conference, together with the organizations of United Methodist youth and young adults. The Forum was held last June 4, 2011 at the Kapatiran-Kaunlaran Foundation, Inc. (KKFI) Multi-Purpose Hall in Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines. Ms Marquez-Caramanzana is the Program Secretary of the Program Unit on Ecumenical Education and Nurture of the <a href="http://nccphilippines.org/site/">National Council of Churches in the Philippines</a> . Posted with permission from the author.</div>the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-33135322173962980662011-06-08T18:32:00.000+08:002011-06-08T18:32:22.613+08:00Drop the Trumped-up Charges Against Pastor Edwin Egar and the Rest of the ST 72<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) is extremely alarmed over the revival of charges against the “Southern Tagalog 72” or “ST 72”. The ST 72 is the collective name for church people, lawyers, human rights workers and leaders of people’s organizations who were charged by the military with fabricated cases of multiple murders and frustrated multiple murders. This is the third time that charges were filed against the 72. The two previous cases were dismissed. This new case is clearly a form of harassment. It further reflects the gnawing thought that when it comes to human rights, there seems to be no difference between the old and new dispensations. </div><div> </div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">What makes this very alarming for the NCCP is that two church people are on the list: Pastor Mel Abesamis of the United Methodist Church (UMC) and Pastor Edwin Egar of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP). The UMC and UCCP are member churches of the NCCP. Moreover, this issue strikes home because Pastor Egar is responsible for the Advocacy and Campaign component of the NCCP’s Human Rights Program – “Defending the Defenders”, aimed at strengthening human rights defenders and bettering the situation of victims and families of human rights violations, which is also funded by the European Union under the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR). He had previous stints with NCCP, as Human Rights Program Regional Coordinator for South Luzon from 2003-2004 and later on was a volunteer staff of our Relief and Rehabilitation services.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">In February 11, 2009, Pastor Egar was abducted by armed men in Macalamcam, Rosario, Batangas. It was only through the quick response of his church as well as friends in the human rights community that he was released a few hours later. Since then he and his family had to relocate. When the cases against him were dismissed, the NCCP took him in again as staff member to help him rebuild his life and enable him to continue in his ministry for peace and human rights. This new case against him and the 71 others, one of who has since died, is reliving a nightmare.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">We condemn in the strongest terms this latest attempt to harass human rights defenders and leaders of people’s organizations critical of government policies and the continuing climate of impunity. Would that the government focus on ensuring that justice be accorded to victims of human rights violations by prosecuting violators and not going after those who are working for human rights like Pastor Egar. In the name of justice, we urge that these charges be withdrawn immediately. END</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">For more information, please contact: </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">REV. FR. REX REYES, JR., <span style="font-style: italic;">NCCP General Secretary</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Ms. Biyaya Quizon, <span style="font-style: italic;">NCCP Media Liaison Officer</span></div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The above NCCP statement was forwarded to the Databank and Library by Ms. Quizon. The ecumenical community continuously appeal to all partners (local and abroad) and freedom-loving fellows to concretely support this campaign in solidarity to the victims and their families in ending the climate of impunity in the country - the library staff</div>the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-65866557752009621842011-05-31T18:49:00.000+08:002011-05-31T18:49:04.905+08:00"Communicating Climate Justice" music album for children, an appeal for help<div style="text-align: justify;">Former <a href="http://nccphilippines.org/site/">NCCP</a> Staff Liza Lamis shared to us this email from Fr. David Arockiam. If you have the materials and is willing to help the <a href="http://www.santhomecom.org/index.html">Sanhtome Communications Center</a>, please do contact Fr. David for details. - the Library Staff<br />
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<br />
My Dear Brothers and Sisters of WACC family, <br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Greetings of the Love and Peace! <br />
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I am Fr. David from Santhome Communications Center, Chennai. <br />
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Thanks a lot for your friendship and fellowship. The conference on "Communicating Climate Justice" was a wonderful experience for me. I personally thank Rev. Dr. Sam Meshack for introducing me to this family of communicators. <br />
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After a short stay with my Grandma at Alore Setare in Malaysia, I was back to my work last Tuesday (24th May). <br />
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I sincerely thank the Jogjakarta organizing team for their splendid job and making our stay a rememberable one. Particularly the Garden Hotel personals for their hospitality and delicious food, Fr. Augustine and his team. <br />
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By the way, I hope that you all remember about the production of a music album on "Communicating Climate Justice" for the school children. I request your immediate action on writing lyrics and if possible composing them too and mail it to (<a href="mailto:da24101966@gmail.com">da24101966@gmail.com</a>) <br />
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These songs should create an awareness and responsibility among the students (Children): <br />
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1. global warming; 2. protect forest; 3. saying no to plastic and polythene products; 4. saving water; 5. noise pollution; 6. Ozone layer damage; 7. forming small vegetable gardens in their own houses; 8. using paper, pencil, and other stationaries carefully and not wasting them; 9. love for nature, and so on. <br />
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Kindly write songs on the above topics and some other related topics and mail to me before the end of June. <br />
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Once again I thank you for your cooperation and let work together to communicate climate justice and love for nature. <br />
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With lots of love and prayers, <br />
<br />
<br />
Fr. David Arockiam A. <br />
Director <br />
Sanhtome Communications Center, <br />
!50 Luz Church Road, <br />
Chennai 600004. <br />
S. India </div>the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-36367220436840744992011-05-28T19:27:00.001+08:002011-05-28T19:40:27.354+08:00Invitation to attend a Forum on Reproductive Health Bill<div style="text-align: justify;">For the past few days I've received several invitations in different formats to attend one single event, the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=203385049704367&ref=notif&notif_t=event_invite">Forum on Reproductive Health Bill</a>. First is a letter from the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=132052046873072">Board of Women's Work of the United Methodist Church</a>, second is the Program sent by <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=203385049704367&notif_t=event_invite">Ms. Norma Dollaga</a>, and two <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=118141138270388&set=at.118139781603857.29000.100002235068197.100000404813625.100000488378069.703403723.100000204470808.804962377&type=1&ref=nf">posters</a> coming from no less than five people. Please check them out, help disseminate the info and if you are able, please do attend. - the Library Staff</div><div><br />
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Dear Friends and Partners in Christ,<br />
<br />
Greetings of Peace & Solidarity!<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">One of the contentious issues grabbing the headlines nowadays is the Reproductive Health bill. Leading the opposition side, the Catholic Church has actively mobilized its clergy and congregations to stop the passage of the bill, claiming that the proposed legislation would only promote abortion and the use of artificial means of contraceptives, thus, it is anti-life, anti-family and run counter to the teachings of the Church. To further strengthen its opposition to the bill, the Catholic Church has sponsored several anti-bill rallies, launched promotional campaigns against the bill, engaged in a fiery word war with President Benigno Aquino, and even welcomed the support of no less than “Pambansang Kamao” Manny Pacquiao.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">On the other side of the issue, the authors and advocates of the bill maintain that such bill would allow couples to choose from several options of family planning methods, both natural and artificial, and give women, especially those in poor communities, greater access to health care and education. In response to the Catholic Church’s assertion that the bill is promoting abortion, Gabriela Women’s Party representative Luz Ilagan said RH bill advocates are pushing for “avoiding unwanted pregnancy through informed choices, not abortion.” (PDI, 10/9/2010)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Amid the noise and debates in the media and within the walls of Congress, a comprehensive campaign to educate the people on the proposed bill remains lacking. Public forum on the issue has been scarce and media coverage of the proposed bill has been limited to the word war between Malacanang officials and the leadership echelon of the Catholic Church, “name-calling” among the church clergy and exchange of diatribes between Pacquiao, Mommy Dionisia and Senator Miriam Santiago.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Given the significance and impact of the proposed bill to the life of every Filipino, especially women and youth, what is at hand right now is the need to provide a comprehensive and objective discourse about the RH bill and to promote a broader public debate for the voices and opinions of other non-Catholic sectors would be heard as well. As United Methodists, our Church vehemently supports the right of men and women worldwide to have the ability to choose when, or if, to have children. Affirming the right of women to access comprehensive health care services, including reproductive health, has always been a cornerstone of the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/United-Methodist-Church/105451466155612">United Methodist Church</a> (GBCS Family Planning and Reproductive Health). Truly, there is an urgent need to collectively respond to this social concern as a community of faith.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">It is in this uniting spirit that the Board of Women’s Work, the Board of Church and Society of the Philippines Central Conference and the Board of Church and Society of the Philippines Annual Conference, together with the organizations of United Methodist youth and young adults, would be holding a Forum on the Reproductive Health Bill. This will be held on June 4, 2011, Saturday, (8:30AM – 12:00 NN) at the Kapatiran-Kaunlaran Foundation, Inc. (KKFI) Multi-Purpose Hall (937 P. Paredes St., Sampaloc, Manila). </div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">We would like to invite you/your organization to participate in this forum. Please find attached the program and sketch of the venue. A registration fee of Php20.00/person will be requested as donation for our snacks and lunch. For your confirmation and other concerns, please get in touch with Jenny Meneses at mobile#: 0939-323-1410, office#: 524-5183 or email: umc.boardofwomenswork@yahoo.com.</div><br />
Thank you very much and may God bless you!<br />
<br />
<br />
Sincerely,<br />
<br />
(sgd) EMMA A. CANTOR ORATE<br />
President, PCC <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002235068197">Board of Women’s Work</a><br />
<br />
(sgd) REV. ANICETO VILLALON, JR.<br />
Executive Director, PCC – Board of Church & Society<br />
<br />
(sgd) NORMA P. DOLLAGA<br />
Chair, PAC – Board of Church & Society<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>PROGRAM </b><br />
<br />
8:00 - 8:30 Registration<br />
<br />
8:30 – 9:00 Opening Worship<br />
<br />
9:00 – 10:30 An Exposition on the Comprehensive Reproductive Health<br />
Bill: Going Beyond Population and Contraceptive Issues<br />
<br />
Resource Person: <br />
Rep. Emmi Amaya de Jesus, GABRIELA Women’s Partylist<br />
<br />
10:30-10:15 Break<br />
<br />
Special Number/Choir<br />
<br />
10:15-11:15 What does the UMC say about Reproductive Health?<br />
The UMC Social Principles/Scriptural Reflection <br />
on Reproductive Health and Rights of Women <br />
<br />
Resource Person: <br />
Ms. Darlene Marquez-Caramanzana, Program Secretary<br />
Program Unit on Ecumenical Education and Nurture<br />
<a href="http://nccphilippines.org/site/">National Council of Churches in the Philippines</a><br />
<br />
11:15-11:45 Special Number/Choir<br />
<br />
Open Forum<br />
11:45 – 12:00 Synthesis & Closing<br />
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12:00 Lunch Fellowship<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br />
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</div>the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-48456290139310705952011-05-21T17:32:00.002+08:002011-05-21T17:57:16.684+08:00Lupa, Kasarinlan, Kapayapaan: An event invitation<div style="text-align: justify;">Shared to us by <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=188938411153391">Romeo Alarcon</a>. Everyone is invited to attend the <b>Ecumenical Worship & Solidarity Forum for Palestine-Israel </b>to be held at the Bishop La Verne Diwa Mercado Ecumenical Center of the <a href="http://nccphilippines.org/site/">National Council of Churches in the Philippines</a> in Quezon City on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 from 1:30pm - 4:30pm.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=188938411153391"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3dWF2ipzwcY/TdeC8YuL0nI/AAAAAAAABCo/XZ16iI37tHk/s400/lupa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><span class="profileName fn fsxl fwb"><span class="dtend"><span class="fn org">Poster by Romeo Alarcon </span></span></span><br />
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</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="profileName fn fsxl fwb"><span class="dtend"><span class="fn org">Click this link to view the <a href="http://wikimapia.org/#lat=14.6459774&lon=121.0357976&z=18&l=0&m=b&show=/13087851/National-Council-of-Churches-in-the-Philippines-NCCP">location map of the event</a>.</span></span></span><br />
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</span></span></span></div>the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-14865714769416545652011-05-17T21:03:00.001+08:002011-05-17T21:06:47.372+08:00CPBC Statement in Support of the RH Bill<div style="text-align: justify;">Here is the Statement of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches as forwarded to us by Rev. Jenkins Banas of the Missions and Evangelization Department.</div><br />
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</a></div>the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-72901904197321223992011-05-11T17:17:00.000+08:002011-05-11T17:17:02.751+08:00Defending Our Heritage<div class="mbl notesBlogText clearfix"><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Below is the full text of the address of the Rev. Rex RB Reyes, Jr., General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines during the Cordillera Day celebration in Toronto Canada held May 7, 2011.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Defending our Heritage</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I bring you greetings from your sisters and brothers in the Philippines and from the National Council of Churches in the Philippines. I wish also to acknowledge KAIROS Canada and the churches in the Canada for making it possible for me to join you on this momentous event.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I will not dwell on the Cordillera Day just celebrated in Abra. I am sure you can easily access this in some internet links. So let me share briefly the reason why I am in Canada. Two days ago I attended the Ecumenical Conference on Mining. This conference brought together representatives of the Canadian churches, Canadian first nations, indigenous peoples from various countries of the global south and a few from the United States and Europe. The indigenous peoples from the south came from countries where Canadian mining firms have either began operations or have pending mining applications. Canada is home to 75% of the world’s mining and mineral exploration companies and Canadian stock exchanges raise 40% of all mineral exploration capital worldwide.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am told of the thirteen trans-national mining companies with applications in the Cordillera, six are Canadian firms. At this conference, the indigenous peoples’ representatives shared common stories of destruction and social erosion as a result of these mining operations. Our message to the Canadian churches was un-equivocable: “Not at our expense!”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In our country, a reason for the easy entry of trans-national mining firms is the liberalized policy on mining as shown by the Mining Act of 1995. Consider some of its features: generous tax holidays, a hundred percent repatriation of profits, and control of hundreds of thousands of hectares of land. For some reason the Supreme Court ruled some of the provisions of the Act unconstitutional only to reverse its ruling later setting the floodgates for applications. Contrary to what we have been told of a 50% share, studies have shown that mining contributed 1.2% to the GDP from 2005-2009 and 1.1% of the total tax collections. The Mining Act is a disenfranchisement for the indigenous peoples as it also declares the state as the owner of mineral resources. These resources are in mountains long inhabited by indigenous peoples.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We are not against mining per se. We are against extractive mining motivated solely for the profit of trans-national corporations and at tremendous expense to indigenous peoples and without regard to patrimony, environmental and ecological concerns as well as the future generations.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It would seem nowadays that the defense of patrimony and ancestral domain is a task only for activists and a few noisy Christians or faith-based groups. To be sure, activists are people who subscribe to genuine social change as opposed to those who prefer the status quo and thus are referred to as reactionaries.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Does this mean that indigenous peoples’ ways are incompatible with activism? In a situation like ours where the reactionary attitude allows the massive exploration and extraction of our natural resources, and therefore promotes social and economic injustice indigenous peoples’ ways is political activism. But far beyond activism is the profound spirituality that digs deep into the inviolable relationship between land and people. This is the tradition that has been passed on to us, a tradition that we parents are obligated to teach our children. This is a rallying point for indigenous peoples in affirming that they are the stewards of the land.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Were it not for this understanding the militant struggle of the Tingguians of Abra to resist the cutting of trees three decades ago would have no meaning; the equally militant struggle of the Bontoks and the Kalingas against the proposed Chico River dam in the same period would have no meaning; the current militant resistance of other indigenous peoples in the Philippines against the intrusion of profit-driven trans-nationals would likewise make no sense at all. Were it not for this understanding, our unity would have been shattered a long time ago.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As stewards, we are deeply conscious that being a part of the land, we have a responsibility for the welfare of future generations. This too, is a tradition that we have received from our parents and their parents before them. Shall we be the generation that shall dare break this tradition because of our negligence and non-involvement? We have seen how in times past and to the present day, state security forces would be used to break our resolve and will to preserve land and life against unbridled extraction and exploitation. Our mothers and fathers before us did that, too. Yet, here we are yet today, strong and resilient. Each time I make my way home to the land of my birth up in the mountains of the Cordillera, I behold the winding Chico River and as I climb to Sagada, I pass through swaying age old trees and hear their welcoming whisper. And I am grateful to our ancestors who have preserved these and I utter a prayer that our rivers, mountains and trees may remain for generations to come.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As stewards of the land, we cannot fully rely on the politicians. We have seen and continue to witness the connivance between some politicians and big business to cause us either to be disunited or to give up the cause of defending our land through deception, intimidation, outright ejection or through legal yet immoral manoeuvres. As stewards, we hold on to traditional values of community and sharing to resist the consumerism that is tearing us into individual shreds. Only the united and collective will of the people nurtured and protected by age-old values will carry us through in the struggle to defend patrimony. We neither romanticise nor idealise these. Rather, we internalise them as relational terms that continue to shape us and establish our identity. Even the churches must recover their prophetic task in this sense.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And there is hope.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There is hope when I see young people heeding the call of their elders to understand the reasons for defending the land and to rise and join the ranks of those who struggle for its preservation, if not for themselves then for those who follow.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There is hope when local governments resist impositions from trans-national corporations often through the national government and its agencies. In saying this, we do not become anti-government. Rather, we are calling government to responsibility to protect the interest of its citizens. I am very pleased to hear that recently, the Baguio City Council passed a resolution condemning the harassment of the health workers belonging to CHESTCORE, a non-government organization involved with primary health care of the people in outlying areas in the Cordilleras for the last three decades. I am also pleased to note the growing number of local government units who have declared their provinces as no-mining zones and/or environmentally protected areas. There is hope when people who are directly affected by policies study the real and long-term implications of such policies, then unite and address those issues, resisting if need be. It is also good to see churches struggling to be relevant by taking on the people’s issues as their own.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There is hope when even you in many parts of the world are united and vigilant, acting with dispatch by studying the issues in the Philippines and sending your message to government leaders every time human rights are violated. (You are in Canada. Millions more are in other countries. At home more than 3,000 people apply for overseas employment each day. Some of your children were born here. But, you have never really left home. To be sure, people have a right to migrate. But, it becomes a serious concern when people are forced to migrate and having to endure some of the worst indignities human beings cause to other human beings. Our country endowed with natural resources is one of the most impoverished in Asia, and with a high prevalence of human rights violations as people struggle for genuine social transformation. This is a concern that we cannot face alone in the Philippines. You cannot just watch or close your eyes to these realities. It takes worldwide solidarity.) “Binnadang” is our term to describe that solidarity. These, we have to tell our children.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">These are the glorious heritage achieved not without a struggle and for which reason we celebrate today. Only then can we truly dance our dances – bowing in reverence to the land and rising for its defense, waving our arms like the birds soaring to freedom, swaying with the trees and along with the roar of its rivers resonate forever the chant of peace and justice.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Matago-tago tako am-in. (Mabuhay po tayo’ng lahat!)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em>Padi REX RB REYES, JR.</em></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em>General Secretary</em></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em>National Council of Churches in the Philippines.</em></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em>N.B. The portion in parenthesis was missed out in the oral delivery but was in the outline - rrbrjr</em></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em><br />
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</em></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em>source: http://www.facebook.com/notes/padi-rex/address-cordi-day-toronto/173996845989629</em></div></div></div>the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-89460525508713878092011-04-24T10:26:00.000+08:002011-04-24T10:26:17.883+08:00Happy Easter Everyone!<div style="text-align: justify;">Performed at the 62nd Easter Sunrise Service of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines held at the Liwasang Aurora of the Quezon City Memorial Circle.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="240" width="320"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/1698570059863" /><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/1698570059863" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="240"></embed></object></div>the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-40372707979779314112011-04-23T09:24:00.001+08:002011-04-23T09:26:11.334+08:00Easter Message from the NCCP Chairperson<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Coke and the Cross: An Easter Message*</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is said that Coca Cola has the most globally recognizable commercial logo. Coke’s advertisers capitalize on that by associating images and messages to it to sell its product. Logos and symbols through recognition and association have come to possess effective influences on people.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The three great faiths of the world have their own powerful symbol – Christianity has the Cross, Judaism has the Star of David, and Islam has the Crescent. Our Roman Catholics brethren have the Crucifix celebrating the Crucified Christ. Protestants have the empty Cross celebrating the Resurrected Christ.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Be that as it may it seems people may have personalized views of the cross on utilitarian reasons. We know Peter Cushing, I mean Count Dracula of the movies is horrified by it. A cross tattooed on the powerful bicep of an NBA player… does it help bring down more rebounds? Or a public display of faith? Makes me wonder… More commonly a cross is worn as a pendant, an adornment on a necklace. This has somewhat elicited the acerbic comment that we are supposed to be cross “bearers” and not cross “wearers.” I also wonder about that…</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Seriously now… while the cross is also viewed as an instrument of death, it does not represent the end of Christ. Jesus died on a cross but rose again from the dead. That is the significance of the empty cross! The resurrected Christ lives and continues to live in us to empower us to work in partnership with God in bringing about God’s eternal plan.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This partnership began when we trusted the claims of Christ that he died for our sins on the cross, and he rose again so that we too may live forever. We were saved by the grace he extended to us and by our faith response. We must be reminded that “we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Through Christ we are a “new creation,” ministers of reconciliation, that “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ…” (II Corinthians 5:17-19) We are to partner with God to help transform this torn, hurting, unjust, oppressive world into a realm of freedom, well-being, and justice.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If Coke claims to be the “real thing” and you go buy and drink it, how does the “real meaning” of the empty cross influence you? Happy Easter!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bishop Nathanael P. Lazaro</div><div style="text-align: justify;">NCCP Chairperson</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) will hold its 62nd Easter Sunrise Service on <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>April 24, 2011</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span>at <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>Liwasang Aurora of the Quezon City Memorial Circle. <a href="http://nccplibrary.blogspot.com/2011/03/easter-sunrise-service-2011-finds-new.html">Click here for the area map.</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://nccphilippines.org/site/2011/04/13/coke-and-the-cross-an-easter-message/">*taken from the NCCP website</a> </span><br />
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</div>the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-74272899366857260662011-04-14T12:58:00.000+08:002011-04-14T12:58:46.710+08:00Philippine Mining Situation: Liberalization under the Aquino Administration and the Peoples' Struggles<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/kalikasan">Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE)</a>, Defend Patrimony! Alliance and the <a href="http://nccphilippines.org/site/">National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP)</a> published the Mining Situation and Struggle in the Philippines to provide the status of the Mining Liberalization and its impacts in the perspectives of the people's movement. This document presents the continuing people's resistance and campaigns to protect their communities, fight for their rights, and the defense of the nation's patrimony against imperialist mining plunder.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VjTor7VLmos/TaZ7id4UcJI/AAAAAAAABAs/Xvvd8rtmC0U/s1600/philippine+mining+situation+tagged.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VjTor7VLmos/TaZ7id4UcJI/AAAAAAAABAs/Xvvd8rtmC0U/s400/philippine+mining+situation+tagged.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Limited copies available at the NCCP Databank. For copies please call the Office of the General Administration at (632) 929-3745 or send us a message on our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/NCCP-Library/138317602876940">Facebook Page.</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div>the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-24869612445812965172011-04-13T17:19:00.000+08:002011-04-13T17:19:10.104+08:00Churches as Havens and Sanctuaries for Human Rights<div style="text-align: justify;">Quezon City, April 7, 2011: Around 60 participants including members of the clergy, church workers, and human rights advocates, came together for the Unity Forum on Churches as Havens and Sanctuaries for Human Rights to reflect on the churches’ role in the context of the human rights situation under the present administration. The said activity was sponsored by the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The one day unity forum involved speakers who helped set the agenda. Mr. Jigs Clamor, Secretary General of KARAPATAN Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights, started the day by providing the human rights situation. He said that the human rights situation in the country remains bleak as violations continue under the present dispensation. Clamor shared that there are already 42 victims of extrajudicial killings and 5 victims of enforced disappearance since President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III took office. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Clamor was followed by the moving testimonies of Dr. Edith Burgos, chair of Desaparecidos and mother of missing activist, Jonas Burgos; Mr. Jonathan Sta. Rosa, of the Ecumenical Mission for Peace and Development (EMPD) and brother of slain UMC pastor Isaias Sta. Rosa; and Mr. Raymond Manalo of Hustisya, who along with his brother were abducted and tortured but eventually managed to escape from their captors after 18 months in captivity from the military. All of them underscored the importance of the churches' role in upholding and defending human rights. Dr. Burgos even stated that the parable of the Good Samaritan is a good example of being in solidarity with human rights victims. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">After the testimonies, Fr. Rex RB. Reyes, Jr., General Secretary of NCCP gave a Biblico-theological Reflection. Echoing Dr. Burgos' illustration of the Good Samaritan in the churches' role for human rights work, Fr. Reyes stated that “churches as sanctuaries and havens for human rights victims is the statement of the Ecumenical Movement that where and when vulnerable people are assaulted, robbed of their rights, killed or left wounded, we shall not pass by.” </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the afternoon, Mr. Tadz Ifurong, Head of Services of KARAPATAN, gave an orientation on human rights. He was followed (by) Mr. Mervin Toquero, Assistant Program Secretary of Faith, Witness and Service of the NCCP, who shared about the Council's human rights work. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">After listening to the presentations, the participants, who came from different churches and organizations, broke up into small groups to share their reflections and to come up with recommendations on how churches can mobilize its resources toward human rights advocacy and to support HR victims and their families. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The participants realized that while the complex issue of human rights was discussed and presented in a comprehensive manner, the one-day event just scratched the surface of the issue. The participants were encouraged to begin the process of thinking about the challenges presented and to continue their analyses within their own churches and organizations. They acknowledged that understanding the human rights situation in the country is very much required in order to enable the churches to strengthen their witnessing and solidarity. They affirmed that education, both in churches' leadership bodies and to the grassroots membership should be done. They also saw the need for continuing advocacy and lobbying and the need for networking. They all committed to following the example of the “Good Samaritan” to be human rights defenders and they will work hard so that they can open up their churches and organizations to be sanctuaries for victims and families of human rights violations. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The activity ended through a symbolic closing worship headed by Dr. Rommel Linatoc, Program Secretary of the Christian Unity and Ecumenical Relations, also of the NCCP.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YI97pKliNu4/TaVows7yA6I/AAAAAAAABAM/-2-DI22KzXQ/s1600/IMG_1791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YI97pKliNu4/TaVows7yA6I/AAAAAAAABAM/-2-DI22KzXQ/s400/IMG_1791.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HT7-ShJ2yAY/TaVo1AMh27I/AAAAAAAABAo/XHx-ZPJAwEU/s1600/IMG_1935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HT7-ShJ2yAY/TaVo1AMh27I/AAAAAAAABAo/XHx-ZPJAwEU/s400/IMG_1935.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-22nr3PrkZhY/TaVowH5T9PI/AAAAAAAABAI/LlTR7u6LqY4/s1600/IMG_1947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-22nr3PrkZhY/TaVowH5T9PI/AAAAAAAABAI/LlTR7u6LqY4/s400/IMG_1947.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Article and photos by <b>Mervin Toquero</b>, Assistant Program Secretary of the Program Unit on Faith Witness and Service of the <a href="http://www.nccphilippines.org/">National Council of Churches in the Philippines</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.nccphilippines.org/"></a>.</div>the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546108823462417171.post-45099920478464289042011-04-13T09:25:00.002+08:002011-04-17T07:55:00.540+08:00Message for Cordillera Day 2011<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Lucida, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="font-size: 14px;"><b>Update as of April 16, 2011</b></div><div style="font-size: 14px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;">The NCCP General Secretary notice a glaring error in his message and noted that the 3rd to the last paragraph should read:</div><div style="font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">"Then the elders will dance. It is the dance in rhythm with nature. They sway elegantly as the pine trees. They bend lightly then stand firm like the majestic golden grain on the stairway to heaven. The dance celebrating community and harmony with the land and ancestors is a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">declaration to uphold for all time all that is </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">noble and just."</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">Our apologies for the error.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><b>The Library staff</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 14px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 14px;">“Let the mountains bring prosperity to the people, and the little hills bring righteousness.” (Psalm 72:3)</div></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Time will come, and now is, when our children will ask what we mean by the annual observance of Cordillera Day.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Then their elders will tell of the unceasing chant for peace. They will speak of the women and men who guarded the mountains and rivers for our sake; of the reverence to land and life that went beyond the commerce of human beings; of the painstaking weaving of the tapestry of unity amidst systematic and furious attempts to break that unity; and of them, some in the prime of their youth, who shed their blood in defiance of principalities whose designs eventually meant death to a race. They will speak of the past not so much for its grandeur but to pass on the tradition of vigilance against any desecration. As stewards of creation, they shall make certain that the resources on the mountains and under it are to be used sparingly for the prosperity of the people of the Cordillera and of this country.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Then the children will ask their elders if such a cause is worth preserving in these days.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Then their elders will dance. It is the dance in rhythm with nature. They sway elegantly as the pine trees they bending lightly than stand firm like the majestic golden grain on the stairway to heaven, hearts pumping to the solemn beat of the gong. The dance celebrating community and harmony with the land is a declaration to uphold for all time all that is noble and just.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">To chant and dance is to declare the legitimacy of the right to dignity; free from the distraction of money and power in exchange for land and identity; and, strong in the resolve to be counted worthy descendants of a race who held fast to the inviolability of land and life.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">To chant and dance is to affirm the prosperity that the mountains bring. May it be so for generations to come.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: white; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">REV. REX RB REYES, JR.<br />
General Secretary</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">April 11, 2011</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8a3I60aNJDY/TaT7aYhYVBI/AAAAAAAABAE/xMsFsnJp5kI/s1600/2011+04+11+NCCP+GS+message+for+the+Cordillera+Day+tagged.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8a3I60aNJDY/TaT7aYhYVBI/AAAAAAAABAE/xMsFsnJp5kI/s400/2011+04+11+NCCP+GS+message+for+the+Cordillera+Day+tagged.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 12px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
</div>the library staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08028605312286298060noreply@blogger.com0