Vol 39, No 3 • JUNE 2005 Php 70.

00
00

IMPACT
ISSN 0300-4155
Asian Magazine for Human Transformation
Through Education, Social Advocacy and Evangelization
P.O. Box 2950, 1099 Manila, Philippines
©
Copyright 1974 by Social Impact Foundation, Inc.
REMITTING ADDRESSES
AUSTRALIA : Impact P.O. Box 2034, East Ivanhoe, Victoria 3079
BANGLADESH : 1. Community Center, 5 Sadar Road, Barisal; 2. The Priest-in-
Charge, P.O. Box 152, Chittagong
CAROLINE ISLANDS : Social Action Center, Inc., P.O. Box 202, Truk,
Caroline Islands 96942
“
Quote in the Act
“I wish I did not have to stand here
and make a speech. And the reason is: I
have been told that a President always
looks wiser when he is sitting down with
his mouth shut.”
Visiting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to
American business leaders in Washington, on describing about
his fledgling democratic government’s reform agenda.
“Japan’s keen interest to join the group

“
HONGKONG : Catholic Periodicals Subscription Office, Catholic Centre, 16,
Caine Road, 11/F, Hong Kong of countries in the UN Security Council
INDIA : 1. Asian Trading Corp., 310, The Mirabelle, Lotus-House, 33A,
Marine Lines, P.B. No. 11029, Bombay - 400 202; 2. Asian Trading Corp., opens Japan up to higher scrutiny of its
150 Brigade Rd., Bangalore - 56-0025
INDONESIA: 1. Y.S.T.M. Jl. Gunung Sahari III/7 Phone: 021-354700 Jakarta
human rights records.”
Pusat; 2. YPD Jl. Veteran 7, P.O. Box 1066, Semarang 5010; 3. Biro Sosial, Amnesty International Secretary-General Irene Khan, on Japan’s
Jl. Taman Srigunting 10, Semarang. bid for a seat at the UN Security Council.
JAPAN : Enderle Book Co. Ltd., Ichico Bldg., 1-5 Yotsudya Shinjuku-ku,
Tokyo 160, Japan
KOREA : J. R. Heisse, C.P.O.. Box 206, Seoul, Korea
MALAYSIA: 1. Anthonian Store Sdn. Bhd., Wisma Anthonian, 235, Jalan “Communist China must first drop its
Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur 09-08; 2. Catholic Information Services 50 E&F, conditions and change its attitude if it is
Penang Rd., Penang
NEW ZEALAND : Catholic Depot Ltd., 64 Wyndham Street, Auckland to establish ties with the Vatican.”
PAKISTAN: Fr. Joseph Louis, 8-Katchery Road, Lahore
PHILIPPINES : P.O. Box 2950, 1099 Manila Cardinal Paul Shan of Taiwan, on assailing China's plans to normalize
SINGAPORE : Select Books PTE. Ltd., 215 Tanglin Shopping Centre, 2/F 19, relations with the Vatican on condition that the latter cuts ties with
Taiwan.
Tanglin Road, Singapore 10
TAIWAN : P.O. Box 8-146, Taipei 100
THAILAND : NASAC, 2 Saensuk, Prachasongkroh Road, Bangkok 10.
U.S.A .: c/o Mrs. M. Taranella, Walsh Bldg., 1st Floor, Maryknoll, New York “Few foreign investors feel very
10545 confident working with the legal system in

“
Published monthly by the Philippines where laws are not built so
CBCP COMMUNICATIONS DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, INC. much on precedents as on a quicksand.”
OSCAR V. CRUZ, D.D. • ART T. NG • JO IMBONG
E DITORIAL BOARD Survey report of Hong Kong-based think tank Political and
PEDRO C. QUITORIO III Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC), revealing that the
EDITOR -IN -CHIEF Philippine judicial system, which ranked ninth in a field of 12, is
among the worst in Asia.
BALTAZAR R. ACEBEDO
A SSOCIATE E DITOR
DENNIS B. DAYAO “What we have noticed is that because
M ANAGING E DITOR
EULY BELIZAR • ROY CIMAGALA of the tuition increases in private HEIs
ROY LAGARDE • LOPE ROBREDILLO (Higher Education Institutions), many are
S TAFF W RITERS
ROWENA DALANON enrolling in state universities and
C IRCULATION & SALES MANAGER colleges.”
LEAH KATRINA CARIASO
F INANCE OFFICER Dr. Cristina Padolina, CHEd commissioner, on the growing
exodus of college students from private to cheaper public
C ORRESPONDENTS:India: Haranath Tadepally; Malaysia: Chandra Muzaffar; colleges and universities.
Pakistan: James D'Mello; Sri Lanka: Harry Haas; Papua New Guinea:
Diosnel Centurion
C ONSULTANTS: Mochtar Lubis, Indonesia; McGillicuddy Desmond, Ireland
(JPIC) MillHill, London; Sulak Sivaraksa, Thailand, (Communications);
S. Santiago, India, (Community Development); Juan Tan (BATU), Philip- SUBSCRIPTION RATES
pines (Labor); Jessie Tellis Nayak, India, (Women); Dr. Paulita V. Baclig, (Can be remitted in local currencies to remitting addresses)
Philippines (Health); Maximo T. Kalaw Jr., Philippines, (Alternative
Futures) O RDINARY MAIL AIRMAIL
EDITORIAL OFFICE: Philippines 1 year Php550.00
3/F CBCP Bldg., 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila, Philippines HongKong-China, Japan, 1 year US$ 30.00 US$ 45.00
Tel (632) 404-2182 • Telefax (632) 404-1612 Australia, New Zealand,
Visit our website at www.impactmagazine.net Pacific Isles & Middle East
Korea, Taiwan, Singapore 1 year US$ 25.00 US$ 40.00
Other Asian Countries 1 year US$ 20.00 US$ 45.00
For inquiries, comments, and contributions, contact: Europe, Americas, Africa 1 year US$ 55.00 US$ 75.00
inquiries@impactmagazine.net (2 years: 15% discount on 2nd year surface mail)
comments@impactmagazine.net
contributions@impactmagazine.net Impact is officially approved as general reference material for students in the Secondary
and Tertiary levels and a general professional reading material for teachers in all levels on
June 8, 1987.
Address e-mail subscription inquiries to: subscription@impactmagazine.net

2 IMPACT • June 2005

 I MPACT June 2005 / Vol 39 • No 3

EDITORIAL STATEMENTS

Costs of Corruption ...................................................... 25 Shouldering an Onerous

COVER STORY
Yoke: A Statement of Concern
Enduring Quality Education Amid Challenges .... 16 on the Recent Power Rate
Catholic education in the Philippines has firmly claimed its enduring
Hike ........................................ 22
presence even amid crippling challenges. For a lot of reasons.
Wyoming Veterans’ Commission voted to
ARTICLES
return the Church Bells to the Parish of
The Crisis in Private Education: Balangiga ...................................................... 23
Can We Survive? ............................ 4
DEPARTMENTS
Delays in ESC Subsidy Cripple
Quote in the Act .............................................................. 2
Private Schools ............................... 6
From the Blogs ..................................... 24
Private High Schools In The Public Service: Forging
Alliances With Parents, Local Communities, And From the Inbox .................................... 26
Government ...................................................................... 8 CINEMA Review ......................................................... 27
Bonding, Making Connections and the Eucharist ..... 11 Vanilla Bytes ................................................................. 28
The Scourge of Pornography ..................................... 13 News Briefs ...................................................................... 30

schools due to the rising cost of private

O
ne can’t agree more to the observa-
tion of Fr. Rolando V. de la Rosa,
OP, in his The Crisis of Private
Education: Can We Survive?, that educa-
tion has been grossly regarded as a com-
modity, and, being so, is subject to the
equations of market forces and capitalist
principles.
Such a perspective considers profit
and financial viability as the primary if not
the only yardstick of success and operabil-
ity so that the higher values of the educa-
tional system per se and the mission of the
schools, while always flaunted, will end up
as mere rhetoric. A shrinking of student
population is a hostile business environ-
ment which, if not remedied the sooner,
should immediately send signals for termi-
nation of enterprise to avoid further losses.
"Who chooses the kind of schools for
the students -- the parents, the local com-
munity or the state?” asks Bishop Anto-
nio J. Ledesma, SJ, in his “Private High
Schools in the Private Service: Forging
Alliances with Parents, Local Communi-
ties and Government.” But right now,
there seems to be no choice for parents but
to send their children to government
education. Parents who still opt for the
quality education offered by Catholic
schools suffer a double taxation: for the
government’s educational system and for
the private school where they send their
children. There is an injustice somewhere.
There is no denying to the fact that
Catholic schools have been the educators
and evangelizers par excellence of the
Filipino youth all these past three or so
centuries. They have molded with profun-
dity and lasting impact the minds of Filipi-
nos with solid Christian values. There has
never been a more systematic and continu-
ing evangelization program for the Filipino
youth than in Catholic Schools. Admit-
tedly, though, the Church leadership has
never really seriously considered catholic
schools as the best youth evangelizers.
Because if they did, most Catholic schools
would never be left to themselves to fend
for their own survival.
In our cover story, our team of writers,
albeit cursorily, presents a number of is-
sues prevailing in our Catholic schools.
Read on.
Reach the editor at editor@impactmagazine.net

Volume 39 • Number 3 3
 A R T I

A
few years back, a World Congress
on Higher education was held in

THE CRISIS IN
Manila. Listening to the talks de-
livered by educators in many parts of the
world, I felt that my vocabulary needed a

PRIVATE
radical overhauling, if I wished to be under-
stood by people using the latest educa-
tional jargon. Such a jargon, incidentally, is

EDUCATION:
greatly influenced by concepts derived
from economics and information technol-
ogy. These concepts taken together seem

CAN WE
to summarize what many educators today
perceive as the new direction for higher
education institutions.

I felt a vague sense of pessimism when
I listened to foreign educators speaking in
glowing terms of the speed with which they
are updating their educational systems. I
say pessimism, for three reasons.
First, it seems that educators every-
where, following the all-pervasive eco-
nomic model, no longer have any qualms in
treating education as a commodity. As
such, it is subject to market forces and, just
like any other commodity, can be bought at
a price. In many surveys of Asian univer-
sities, one of the criteria for excellence is
material resource. People believe that more
money translates into excellent education.
Second, if education is a commodity,
then educational institutions must pattern
themselves after business enterprises.
Many people today see school as big busi-
nesses that have to follow the laws govern-
ing marketability of enterprises and prod-
ucts. As a consequence, the more school
imitates business corporations, the more
successful it would be. Of course, when we
say successful it means big profits.
Third, if education is a commodity, and
educational institutions are big business,
schools would be more and more judged in
terms of their productivity through the use
of technology. Given the fast pace of obso-
lescence of technological tools, schools
would be forced to acquire the latest and
the best, to keep abreast with other institu-
tions in other countries, or simply to sur-
vive.
Today, educational standards are no
longer determined by educational systems
but by other societal forces that are begin-
ning to determine the relevance of schools
in society. More and more people are in-
SURVIVE?
by ROLANDO V. DE LA ROSA, O.P.
clined to think that a school is relevant as
long as it plays a particular role or fulfills a
need. Schools are gauged in terms of its
functional, not fundamental relevance, to
society.
I strongly believe, however, that a school
is relevant, not because it plays a role, or
fulfills a need, but because it is true to the
mission-vision that defines its identity.
Like individuals, a school’s identity should
be premised on its self-understanding. As
a dynamic organism, a school’s self-under-
standing shifts with time and place, and
might even quite radically differ in varying
temporal and spatial contexts. However,
this self-understanding must always be
faithful to a school’s mission-vision.
The basic mission of a school is to
develop in every student what is funda-
mentally human. If it does this, then it will
remain relevant. With this as its basic mis-
sion, a school must envision itself as a
catalyst in the creation of a world citizenry
equipped with ethical standards based on
the ideals of a free, participatory, humane,
global society where people live in har-
mony with their conscience, with one an-
other and with the environment.
Social thinkers have repeatedly argued
that the global society is in a race between
education and catastrophe. The call to
educate humankind is greater as we traverse
the 21st century because of its growing
capacity to inflict destruction on itself and
its environment. Schools can perform this
task of educating humankind if they wit-
ness to the priority of the ethical over the
technical, the primacy of the person over
things, the superiority of the spirit over
matter, and the regulation of science by the
universal norms of conscience. It is in
regard to this fundamental mission-vision
that schools must remain relevant.
Many private educational institutions
have adopted a functionalist criterion for
measuring the value of knowledge as is
prevalent in neo-liberal capitalism. But neo-
liberal capitalism, geared to the pursuit of
profit, is incapable of the kind of sustain-
able development necessary for effectively

4 IMPACT • June 2005

C L E S
as a crisis survival. We are aware of the fact
that many private schools are closing be-
cause of lack of resources, inability to
acquire the expensive technological equip-
ment, the ceiling on tuition fee increases,
the escalating salaries of teachers, the mili-
tant attitude of unionized faculty and em-
ployees, the mushrooming of public col-
leges and universities, the exodus of teach-
ers to the public schools and abroad, the
lack of support from other sectors of soci-
ety that were once the bastion of educa-
tion: the family, church, and government.
In 1998, the former master of the Domini-
can order, Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, OP came
to visit the country. In a meeting with
Dominican educators, he was told about
the danger of many Dominican schools
closing down. He was asked to give many
insights on how our schools could survive
amidst all the difficulties confronting them.
He answered with only one question. He
asked all of us: “Do you need to survive?”
The question jolted us.
But he later explained that he raised that
question not to belittle our worries but to
redirect our attention. “Do you need to
survive?” was a question calculated to
focus our attention, not to mere survival,
but to more important issues in education
and equitably managing and distributing
that we often neglect, because of our pre-
the intangibles of knowledge and its use.
occupation with tuition fees, curricular
The complaint that many employees
updates, computer softwares, schools ad-
lack professionalism and other human quali-
ministration, and other activities that de-
ties needed to keep business and industry
plete our human resources. Private schools
viable has exposed the flaws of an educa-
do not need to survive in the future if their
tional model that emphasizes profit and
survival is premised on four things:
success. Over the last three decades, many
1. A new form of backwardness — How
governments have provided business and
many private schools willingly sub-
industry with unregulated access to social, ject themselves to self-evaluation that
cultural and human capital created by pri- can help them prepare towards even-
vate schools, without any obligation to tual accreditation? How many private
help the latter develop into excellent cen- schools integrate ethical and profes-
ters for the formation of a professional and sional values in their curriculum?
While teachers in other countries use
ethical work force.
technology for more effectiveness,
It is clear from the above that the crisis
facing private education today is not pri- many teachers in private schools still
use an outmoded, and cavalier method
marily economic, financial, or technologi-
of teaching that alienate, rather than
cal in nature. It has to do with the self-
invite students to learn.
understanding of private schools and how
2. A new sense of anonymity — In the
society and government regard these Internet parlance, if you do not have
schools according to the latter’s valuation an e-mail, you do not exist. How many
of their identity and value. private schools have explored the use
Admittedly, many private educational of the Internet as their virtual campus?
institutions view the crisis confronting them It is a amazing when, in a private uni-
versity of several thousand students,
a great portion of it use computers
primarily for chatting, posting inane
messages, or worse, to access prohib-
ited internet sites.
3. A new sense of illiteracy — In the
past, a person is called illiterate if he
does not know how to read or write.
Today, being the most literate country
in Asia, a great number of Filipinos
know how to read or write but many of
them hardly understand what they are
reading or writing, or worse, they could
not articulate the meaning of what
they read. We have knowledge explo-
sion but there is also a dearth of under-
standing.
4. A sense of frustration – In the past,
private schools have been a promi-
nent fixture in every locality in the
Philippines. They still are. Private
schools are quite visible. But their
visibility does not necessarily trans-
late into effective and transforming
presence. Private schools are chas-
tened by the criticisms and undue
demands of society, bruised by labor
unrest and complaints of low quality
of education, and humbled by hostil-
ity and disaffection of a largely anti-
intellectual environment promoted by
the mass media of communications.
So, do we need to survive if our survival
is premised on irrelevance? We can refor-
mulate the question in a more positive way:
If we want to survive, we must stop think-
ing about mere survival, and more about
relevance. Come to think of it, sometimes,
we are pushing ourselves to irrelevance,
not because we are not doing what we
ought to do, but because we are trying to
do too much.
Let us go back to the basics. We
are saddled by many crises
confronting our country today.
Private schools can help our
people overcome these crises by
concentrating on what they are
meant to do, i.e., excellent
teaching and learning. Even in
the world of nature, only the
fittest survive. There is no reason
for us to believe that private
schools are exempted from this I
rule.
Fr. Rolando de la Rosa ,O.P. is former Chairman
of the Commission on Higher Education, and also
the erstwhile Rector Magnificus of the University
of Santo Tomas, Manila.
Volume 39 • Number 3 5
 A R T I

Delays in ESC Subsidy

Cripple Private Schools
by ROY Q. LAGARDE

T
he teacher was confused and fran-
tic. Her father was rushed to a pri-
vate hospital, barely able to breath.
The doctor then hastily attended to the
patient, who seemed to be unconscious.
Her father was then huddled to the Inten-
sive Care Unit (ICU) while being observed
and diagnosed.
After few hours, the doctor pro-
nounced that her father suffered mild stroke
and that they have to spend more days at
the hospital. It took almost a month before
her father was discharged from the hospi-
tal. The hospital charged them 45,000 pe-
sos, obviously far up from the 30,000 pe-
sos she had kept.
She then thought of getting a cash
loan from the Catholic school where she
teaches — but the school administration
told her there was no available fund be-
cause the government subsidy allotted to
them for the Educational Service Contract-
ing (ESC) has not been released yet. They
were able to go out of the hospital but it They’re patently helpless. All they want is
took three weeks more before the poor simply for the government to release the
teacher could finally settle their bill. subsidy on time.
“I felt bad. Every time I ask for a loan
from the school for emergency use, the
problem of availability of funds sets in,”
Linda says. subsidy to the private education began still there’s yet no road map set in dealing
The ESC has been one of the flagship but by far it has been always hampered by with the problem.
programs of the Fund for Assistance to perennial delays in payment. Not even the change of administra-
Private Education (FAPE). Immediately Catholic schools, which undoubtedly tion in the government and leadership in
after former president Corazon Aquino has provided the country generations of the education sector has been useful
took power in early 1986, the ESC was Filipino students with quality education, enough to effectively implement the pro-
institutionalized thru Republic Act 6728 or are now relatively dying for lack of re- gram.
the so called Government Assistance to sources. It’s definitely not because they’re Apparently, the ESC could have been
Students and Teachers in Private Educa- no longer needed or relevant but because more beneficial for both the government
tion (GASTPE). of the declining population brought by and the participating schools. It could
Several years have passed since the free public education. They are pleading decongest public schools and could also
institutionalized program for government for help with the cynical government but be economical because DepEd will no

6 IMPACT • June 2005

C L E S
longer be hiring additional teachers, build
school buildings and could minimize their
allotted cost per student.
At the moment, the per student cost in
the public schools, dividing the entire
budget in DepEd which is 112 billion by the
total number of students which is around
20 million is roughly amounting to 5, 600
pesos.
On the part of the participating
schools, it also assures them of the num-
ber of students. Majority of students in
many catholic schools especially in re-
mote areas are covered by the program. In
a way, it minimizes their problem of the
declining enrollment.
As of school year (SY) 2003-2004,
actual enrolment stood at 19.2 million for
both public and private education (67%
for elementary and 33% for secondary), of
which 17 million were in the public school
system (71% for elementary and 29% sec-
ondary).
According to Mariano Piamonte, Ex-
ecutive Director of the Catholic Educa-
tional Association of the Philippines
(CEAP), twenty years ago, the share of
private schools in elementary education
was around 20 to 30 percent but then at
present, it dropped to less than 10 percent.
At the secondary level, before the
emergence of barangay, municipal and
provincial high schools, private schools
used to have almost 60 percent share. But
because of the passage of the “Free Sec-
ondary Education Act” in 1998, the market
share of private high schools slid down to
barely 20-25 percent.
The drop in private school population
has caused many school authorities to
raise their tuition, thus leaving the stu-
dents no choice but to transfer to public
schools and this trend shows no sign of
reversing.
At present, the ESC support has been
increased from 2,500 to 4,000 pesos per
student -- an amount equivalent to 75
percent of the per capita cost in public
schools which in 1999 was computed at 5,
200 pesos. Apparently, 4,000 pesos sub-
sidy may still be reckoned as modest, but
the worst thing for the participating
schools is that the release of these subsi-
dies is stunted with maddening late deliv-
ery up to now.
According to Mr. Piamonte, since the
time former president Aquino adopted the
program, the problem of releases became a
perennial problem. He also revealed that
during the time of the former education
secretary Isidro Cariño, it took three years
for some private schools before they got
paid.
Mrs. Betina Olmedo of FAPE, how-
ever, claimed that from 1986 to 1991 when
FAPE was still handling the fund, the
release was fast that they could even pro-
cess in a matter of two weeks.
In 1991 to 1996, Sec. Cariño contended
that it could be better handled by the
Education Department but because of
bureaucratic constraints the release were
always delayed. So they gave it back anew
to FAPE in 1997.
During Raul Roco’s time as Education
secretary up to present, the disbursement
of funds and release of payments to the
participating schools are now being
handled again by the Education Depart-
ment.
Unconfirmed reports revealed that
Roco doubted FAPE’s capability to handle
the finances and after discovering that it
mismanaged the funds through bad in-
vestments. The role of FAPE then was
reduced to paper processing and monitor-
ing.
As of March 2005 according to
Piamonte, roughly 50 percent of the ESC
beneficiaries received the grant for the
school year 2004-2005. He said some Catho-
lic schools have not even paid their teach-
ing staff the mandatory 13thmonth pay and
other benefits because of the delayed re-
lease of ESC payments. But despite of this
setback, more ESC beneficiaries still man-
aged to graduate with unsettled back ac-
counts.
Private school officials, spearheaded
by some Catholic Bishops, have been
repeatedly suggesting to improve the
setup. They are proposing that instead
of feeding support to schools, they use
the voucher system. Under this scheme,
parents are given a voucher equivalent
to the amount government spends for a
public high school student. The parent
or the student, using the voucher, is
allowed to enroll in the school of his her
choice.
They believe that the voucher system
reduces irregularity in the bureaucracy
since it is now the parents, or the students,
who will decide and have the direct control
of the government subsidy intended for
the beneficiary’s education.
Parents of private school students are
mostly taxpayers unlike in public schools
and they’re paying their responsibilities
without objections but why can’t the gov-
ernment do the same to them?
Granting that the government could
not give direct subsidy to catholic schools
as the constitution mandates the separa-
tion of the Church and State, the govern-
ment should at least implement with dis-
patch the little subsidy intended for pri-
vate education, properly and without de-
lay. The ESC in someway or somehow is
helping private schools because the big
chunk of this subsidy- if there is- go largely
to the salaries of teachers.
The present crisis in education -
whether public or private - demands spe-
cial attention. No less, education certainly
requires everybody’s concern – that is,
definitely not excluding the government.
According to Piamonte, the subsidy
is passively beholden to the availability of
funds and the education department is not
entirely to blame. They too are lacking in
resources and in dire financial trouble
because of insufficient budget allotted by
the government.
No wonder. If the government can’t
even manage to provide adequate support
to public schools, how much more to the
private schools which are I manifestly ab-
7
sentVolume 39 • Number 3
in its priority list.
 Private High Schools In The
Public Service: Forging
Alliances With Parents, Local
Communities, And Government
by ANTONIO J. LEDESMA, SJ, D.D.
SITUATIONER
P
rivate high schools in rural areas are
in a crisis today. This is so not be
cause of a lack of students, nor be-
cause private schools are no longer needed,
but because of the opening of public high
schools that offer tuition-free education
for students as well as much higher sala-
ries for teachers.
The result has been a marked drop in
enrollment in practically all private high
schools, especially in the rural areas, and
a transfer of some of the more experienced
teachers from private to public schools.
Already this has led to the closure of some
schools, and foreshadows the eventual
disappearance of many more private
schools in the provinces and rural areas.
In one sense, no one begrudges the
offering of free secondary education to all
students. It is also a sign of heightened
(Editor’s Note: This piece was presented during
the Regional Congress of the Catholic
Educational Association of the Philippines held
at the Ateneo De Zamboanga, Zamboanga City,
on November 8-9, 1997).
8 IMPACT • June 2005
government concern that public school
teachers are being given higher salaries.
Are these not after all in compliance with
the mandate for free secondary education
for all schoolchildren, enshrined in the
Philippine Constitution and the “Free Sec-
ondary Education Act”?
Yet, there are hidden costs and dan-
gers. Does the offering of free public edu-
cation mean better education for all? Do
higher salaries for teachers mean improved
teaching performance? Is free public
school education actually cheaper than
private school education? In the long run,
is the closure of private schools for the
good of the local community? What about
the preference of parents for the kind of
school they want for their children? What
should be the role of government in all
this?
These questions need to be answered
and further clarified. Meanwhile, talking to
school administrators in the prelature of
Ipil and with bishops in the Zamboanga
peninsula and other dioceses, the follow-
ing scenario seems to be taking place
among Catholic rural high schools:
a) In past decades, the Catholic high
school was the only secondary school in
the rural area servicing the needs of the
local community. Through the sacrifice of
many religious congregations, local clergy,
lay teachers, parents and community lead-
ers, these community schools were set up
without any government assistance. De-
spite the relatively low tuition being
charged to attract as many students as
possible and to ensure the viability of the
school, the school continuously had to
cope with mandated wage increases, ris-
ing costs of living, etc. As non-stock, non-
profit private schools in the rural areas,
these schools became part of the local
community’s life, with parents, alumni/ae,
and local leaders supporting and “own-
ing” the school. In not a few instances,
graduates of these Catholic high schools
have come back and taken leadership roles
in the local community.
b) Over the past five years or so, the
government has exerted efforts to set up
public high schools in many municipali-
ties and barangays. This has indeed pro-
vided more access to secondary educa-
tion among poorer households. However,
it has also gradually drawn away from the
private schools students whose parents
have to balance off increasing tuition costs
with increasing costs of living. At the
same time, public school teachers are re-
 A R T C I L
ceiving higher salaries as a part of the
government’s standardization scheme.
The end result is that private schools are
caught in a vicious cycle: they have a drop
in enrollment, have less income to pay
salaries of teachers, lose their good teach-
ers, and eventually are forced to close or
are left to cater only to better-off house-
holds.
c) In the meantime, public high schools
with an influx of students experience
crowded classrooms, lack of facilities and
textbooks, etc. Classrooms with 70 stu-
dents have been reported. Observers have
also noted that students are often drawn
away from attending regular classes due
to athletic meets and other activities for
teachers. Some private school teachers
who have shifted to the public school
have commented that they miss the disci-
pline and sense of dedication they experi-
ence in their earlier post. One also occa-
sionally hears of charges of corruption
and bureaucratic inefficiency in the run-
ning of some of the public schools.
Perhaps, the scenario may not be as
bleak as it is described. There are good
public schools and private schools as there
are also bad private schools and public
schools. There are exceptions to general
statements. But the basic dilemma remains:
must private schools eventually phase
out, or are there any alternative? Do par-
ents and the local community have any
choice in the matter?
Government itself has taken cogni-
zance of this dilemma of private schools.
Various schemes have been tried such as
the Government Assistance to Students
and Teachers in Private Education
(GASTPE), Educational Service Contract-
ing Scheme (ESC), and Tuition Fee Supple-
ment (TFS). None of these however have
been satisfactorily implemented. There
have been many complaints of delays in
release of funds, arbitrariness in alloting
ESC slots, and lack of periodic updating of
E S
the subsidies set aside. The basic issue
remains: who chooses the kind of school
for the student – the parents, the local
community, or the state?
STAKEHOLDERS AND GUIDING
PRINCIPLES
In looking at this issue from a wider
perspective, it is important to first keep in
mind that this is not a situation of private
schools versus public schools; nor of rich
parents and students versus poor parents
and students; nor of government versus
parents and the local community. This
paper contends that it is not a question of
one versus the other, but that both one
and the other – indeed, all stakeholders –
can be working together for the greater
good of all. The Constitution says as much:
“The State recognizes the complementary
roles of public and private institutions in
the educational system….” (Art. 14, Sec.
4.1)
We can examine four guiding prin-
ciples, corresponding to the four stake-
holders in this education issue — the
students, the parents, the local commu-
nity and the state.
1. STUDENTS: Every Filipino citizen
has a right to free elemnentary as well as
secondary education. This is guaranteed
in the 1987 Constitution. Ordinarily, this
right has been operationalized by the cre-
ation of public schools, but it could also
mean recognizing the presence of and pro-
viding equal access to private schools in
the locality. All students are the primary
stakeholders in this issue. Parents have the
primary duty to enable their children to
attain this goal of basic education. Govern-
ment and local communities in turn should
help parents carry out this primary duty
towards their children.
2. PARENTS: Parents should be aided
to send their children to the school of their
choice. Schools are set up to help parents
carry out their primary responsibility of
rearing and edu-
cating their, chil-
dren. Schools per-
form their role jn
loco parentis. Par-
ents should not be
forced, out of fi-
nancial circum-
stances, to send
their children to
only one kind of
school. Ulti-
mately, it is the
parents’ tax con-
tributions that
enable government to finance the entire
public school system in the first place.
Parents who pay tuition for their children in
private schools actually carry the burden
of double taxation by shouldering the cost
of education twice — one for the public
schools (from which they do not benefit),
and another for the private school (which
is not supported by government).
School choice for parents and stu-
dents should be viewed as a right, not as
a privilege granted by government. A reso-
lution of Catholic Schools in the Diocese
of San Jose (Nueva Ecija) states: “Govern-
ment can not deny the benefits of free
secondary education to its constituents
simply because they prefer to enroll in a
private school. This is a matter of justice.”
3. LOCAL COMMUNITIES: Local
communities have a right to demand for
quality education from the schools in their
area. This is better attained through a
healthy competition between public and
private schools. “Education for all,” notes
the same San Jose Diocese resolution,
“means equal access and opportunity to
quality secondary education wherever this
is found, whether in a government or pri-
vate secondary school.”1. When parents
are allowed a choice of school for their
children, they will naturally choose what
to them is the best available school in their
area. Indeed the presence of more than one
kind of school in a locality would spur all
schools to improve their educational of-
ferings to maintain and attract more enroll-
ment.
Included in this concept of quality
education is the parents’ desire for value
formation and religious instruction for their
children. Indeed, the Constitution allows
for optional religious instruction in public
schools, seen not as being at the pleasure
of school principals but as a matter of right
for the parents. (Art. 14, Sec. 3.3) Lately,
the government has also provided public
funds for Madrasah schools in Muslim
communities.
4. STATE: In a democratic society, the
role of government is to provide access to
education for all, whether through public
or private schools. A gradual monopoliza-
tion of education is a threat to the very
hallmark of democracy and a temptation for
authoritarian regimes to take over. “Let us
not forget,” writes a Protestant pastor,
“that some of the worst dictators suc-
ceeded because they first took control of
the education of children.”
In the same way that democratic gov-
ernments allow a free press for civil society
to function properly, so also the educa-
tional system itself should not be entirely
Volume 39 • Number 3 9
 A R T I C L E S

placed under the monolithic structure of a One mechanism that has been sug- ready have their infrastructure in place,
huge bureaucracy. Decentralization, liber- gested time and again is the voucher sys- while public schools do not have to dupli-
alization, privatization have become re- tem — whereby parents are given a voucher cate existing facilities.
cent trends to counter the inefficiency and equivalent to the amount government 4. The voucher system is much more
inertia of big government. Even the provi- spends for a public high school student.2 simple to implement than other assistance
sion of basic needs such as light and water Parents can then use this voucher to enroll schemes.
have recently been turned over to the their child in the school of their choice. 5. There is also greater social account-
private sector. What can be more basic for There are several implications to this: ability through the voucher system since
the future of our nation than the education 1. Government acknowledges the prior parents at the beginning of each schoolyear
of the young? right of parents to choose the school of can choose the “right” school for their
This is not to deny government’s role their choice. Government supports par- children.
in channeling public funds for needy stu- ents directly who then decide which school Figure 1 schematically compares
dents. But these public funds can just as can best help them in the education of their present and proposed financial arrange-
well be channeled to needy students in children. ments for the support of private and public
private schools. Several studies among 2. Private and public schools are seen schools. Instead of token support from
tertiary schools have borne out findings as belonging to one educational system, government for private schools through
that private schools by and large are more even as they engage in a healthy compe- GASTPE, TFS, or ESC, we propose a
cost-efficient than state schools if one tition to attract and service more students. voucher system that gives parents and
accounts for all educational costs on a per This should have a levelling up, rather students equal access to private and pub-
student basis. Public school education in than a levelling down, effect on all schools. lic schools.
this regard is not exactly free nor cheap; it 3. The voucher system will be more It is helpful to keep in mind that par-
is actually more costly to the taxpayer on cost-efficient. Most private schools al- Private High Schools / p. 14
a per student basis than if the same funds
had been channelled through private
schools.
It is also perhaps time to question
critically the distinction often made be-
tween “public” and “private” schools.
Non-stock, non-profit private schools may
be considered private in terms of owner-
ship, liability, and accountability, but they
are not private in terms of being profit—
seeking. Indeed they should be viewed
more as a public trust in terms of providing
a needed social service to a local commu-
nity. Indeed for many of these private
schools, oftentimes started by religious
congregations, they have served and con-
tinue to serve an eminently social and
public role in communities where govern-
ment has dismally failed in the past.
With additional government funding
now set aside for secondary education,
“walking on two legs” would perhaps be
the more apt term in pointing out the
complementarity between private and pub-
lic schools in ensuring not only education
for all but, more importantly, quality edu-
cation for as many parents and students
who care.

FORGING ALLIANCES
Recent experiences by private school
administrators of government assistance
schemes such as GASTPE, ESC, and TFS
have brought about negative reactions.
Delays in disbursements, arbitrary inter-
pretations by public school officials, etc.
have all created a false impression: that
private schools, parents, and local com-
munities are all beholden to the largesse of
government, whereas it should be the other
way around.

10 IMPACT • June 2005

 A R T I C L E S

by EULY BELIZAR, JR., SThD

I
once attended a high school reunion in

Bonding, Making
a beach resort at the outskirt of
Borongan (Eastern Samar), my home-
town. Members of my batch organized it.
Many came but not all faces were familiar.
Some were married, with or without chil-
dren; others, like me, stayed perseveringly
(if fiercely, I might add) single. All members
Connections and the
Eucharist
contributed a specific amount, much of
which, as is often the case with Pinoy
reunions, went to food and drinks. I no-
ticed how some batch members were shy,
not even participating in the initial conver-
sations, just smiling or saying a word or
two when I asked them questions. Some-
one told me that it was probably because
some felt they were not achievers or even
big earners like a few members of the batch.
As the morning wore off, everyone started
to eat and drink. The conversations turned
to memories of past events in high school;
anecdotes about school life once funny,
sad, triumphant or embarrassing filled the
air. By the time the dance started the atmo-
sphere was considerably different, more
relaxed, more friendly, more intimate. A
class had re-achieved bonding.
It’s so plain how in the Filipino culture,
food and drink go together when people try
to establish or re-establish bonding as
families or communities. Food varies; drinks
are not necessarily always alcoholic. But
they are indispensable; some families or
groups go so far as to spend a period’s
savings for food and drinks so as to attract
more people to the gathering.
Mahatma Gandhi once remarked that,
considering the number of hungry and
thirsty people in the world, he wouldn’t be tion’ which, simply put, means the change what we ate and drank from the rest of our
surprised if God would come in the form of or passage of the substance of bread and body. When we take the Body and Blood
food (and drink) to people. In fact, we wine into the substance of the Body and of Jesus, he also becomes part of us, we
Christians know and profess that He did so Blood of Jesus Christ the Lord. become part of him, more intimately than
when his own Son, during the Last Supper, In the Holy Eucharist we reconnect the food and drink we have received. “He
offered bread and wine to his disciples, ourselves with God and with one another who eats my flesh and drinks my blood,
saying, “Take and eat; this is my Body” through Jesus because the Eucharist is remains in me and I in him. Just as the Father
(Mt 26:26) and “Drink this, all of you, for and does Communion. What food and who is life sent me and I have life from the
this is my Blood, the blood of the covenant, drink are to us and in us is astounding when Father, so he who eats me will have life from
which is poured out for many, for the for- we give it a thought. Whatever we eat and me” (Jn 6:56-57). In our gatherings or par-
giveness of sins” (Mt 26:28). In so doing, drink literally becomes part of us; once ties food and drink help us build up rela-
Jesus did the first consecration of bread digested, they join our bloodstream and tionships and bonding; in the Eucharist
and wine, food and drink, into his Body and nourish our body’s cells, tissues and or- Jesus himself in his Body and Blood builds
his Blood, an event we call ‘transubstantia- gans. No one will be able to distinguish us into, and bonds us as, His Body in a

Volume 39 • Number 3 11
 Bonding, Making Connections and the Eucharist
unity much like the unity of hands, feet,
eyes, ears etc. in a human body. We be-
come more and more his one Body through
the Eucharist. “Since receiving this sacra-
ment strengthens the bonds of charity
between the communicant and Christ, it
also reinforces the
unity of the Church
as the Mystical Body
of Christ” (Catechism
of the Catholic
Church, nn.1416-
17).
In the Holy Eucha-
rist we reconnect our-
selves to the events of
our salvation be-
cause the Eucharist
is a Memorial. The
events that have
saved us are the Pas-
sion, Death, Resur-
rection and Ascen-
sion of Jesus. They
are also known as “Christ’s ‘exodus’, by
which he once-for-all took away sin (cf.
Heb 9:26, 28)” (Catechism for Filipino
Catholics, n. 1700). They happened more
than two thousand years ago but, in and
through the Eucharist, they are also made
present to us today and in our own dio-
cese, parish, families and society. That is
what we mean by ‘memorial’. When Jesus
told his disciples at the Last Supper, “Do
this inmemory of me” (Lk 22:19), he doesn’t
simply mean looking backward to his suf-
fering, dying, rising and ascending acts
which liberated us from sin and death. He
means that by our celebration of the Eucha-
rist at which we share his Body and Blood,
these events are made present to us at the
time and place we find ourselves in. In a
word, we are re-connected to these saving
events and become beneficiaries of saving
grace.
In the Holy Eucharist we constantly
walk and live with the Lord because the
Eucharist is the sacrament of his Pres-
ence. St. Thomas Aquinas was once asked
how best to prepare for death. He an-
swered, “Live in the presence of God.”
Jesus himself is God’s presence among us.
That is why in St. Matthew’s gospel he is
called the “‘Emmanuel’, a name which
12 IMPACT • June 2005
means: ‘God-is-with-us’” (Mt 1:23). Not
only at the start of this gospel but also at
its ending that we hear the same message.
“And, behold, I am with you always until
the end of time” (Mt 28:30). The concrete
proof of his being with us always is the
Holy Eucharist we
celebrate daily, in
which Jesus is
present in the Scrip-
tures we read, in the
assembly of the faith-
ful which is his
Body, in the priest
who is the
sacrament’s minister
and proclaimer of
God’s Word through
the homily and, most
of all, in his Body and
in his Blood that we
receive during com-
munion. “Under the
consecrated species
of bread and wine Christ himself, living and
glorious, is present in a true, real, and
substantial manner: his Body and his
Blood, with his soul and hi divinity (cf.
Council of Trent: DS 1640)” (CCC 1413). In
a time and in a culture where so many loved
ones are ‘absent’ because of work-related
migrations, studies or deaths, the Eucha-
rist as the sacrament of Jesus’ Presence is
a tremendous source of strength and con-
solation towards living the Christian life in
adverse circumstances.
In the Holy Eucharist we connect our-
selves with the future because the Eucha-
rist is the Pledge of our Destiny: Endless
Life with God (Eschatology). An aunt,
years before she died in an accident, once
shared with me what she considered a
treasured moment in her life. She was at-
tending a regular meeting of her faith com-
munity when they started to share on the
Eucharist. What struck her, she told me,
was the realization that in and through the
Eucharist the living Body of Jesus dwells
in her own body and, therefore, just as
Jesus’ Body rose from the dead, even if she
should die and be buried, the Body of Jesus
in her body will enable her to conquer
death, too. At her funeral I recalled her
words to the congregation. They do re-
echo the assurance of Jesus. “He who eats
my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal
life and I will raise him up on the last
day…This is the Bread that came down
from heaven; unlike that of your ancestors,
who ate and later died, he who eats this
Bread will live forever” (Jn 6:54, 58).
In the Holy Eucharist we connect our-
selves to our aspiration of a Transformed
Society because the Eucharist is the Sacra-
ment of Justice and Charity. Whenever we
partake of the Eucharist transformations
occur. Individuals become a community;
words written in a book become God’s
Word spoken to us; what we see as mere
presence of people gathered together be-
comes God’s very presence among people;
sinners become saved; most of all, ordinary
bread and wine become the Body and Blood
of Jesus the Christ. It is this one transforma-
tion that makes all the others. One, there-
fore, cannot truly take part in this sacra-
ment without being transformed and with-
out becoming an agent of transformation
towards making the kingdom of God,
present in Jesus, also present in individu-
als and in society. The Eucharist is trans-
forming because of God’s love at work in
Christ Jesus who, out of love, offers himself
to us, and who is at the heart of the sacra-
ment. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s song “Love
Changes Everything” expresses this power
poignantly: “Love, love changes every-
thing, hands and faces, earth and sky/ Love,
love changes everything—how you live
and how you die…” Anyone and everyone,
therefore, who receives the Lord in the Holy
Eucharist must become what he/she re-
ceives. As Jesus was to the lowly, the desti-
tute, the poor and the marginalized, so we
must become today in our society. In the
Eucharist we as individuals must move
from selfish individualism to justice and
charity, from indifference and even cruelty
to compassion and mercy. St. John
Chrysostom has this to say: “You have
tasted the Blood of the Lord, yet you do not
recognize your brother…You dishonor this
table when you do not judge worthy of
sharing your food someone judged worthy
to take part in this meal…God freed you
from all your sins and invited you here, but
you have not become more merciful” (Hom-
ily on 1 Cor 21:40). I
 A R T I C L E S

by CICERO BERNAL

I
’m a neophyte writer and the pen has become my
most precious tool. I always bear in mind the two
most significant things that come with handling
a pen: truth and responsibility. However, uphold-
ing those things is hindered with overwhelming
threats to obstruct genuine press freedom.
Tyrants, corrupt politicians, rich and powerful
individuals involved in crimes are trying to silence
their media critics thru bullets. With the mounting
and alarming cases of media-related killings, where
there has been no single conviction recorded for a
journalist’s murder since 1986 -- 24 in the last two
years and five months alone -- it’s almost as treach-
erous to be a journalist in the Philippines as in Iraq.
After a sustained loud call for government
intervention on the unprecedented thriving vio-
lence, a little breakthrough came in when a press
freedom fund was allotted to help in the investiga-

Silencing the
tion for killed journalists.
Granted. The press fund is one step to resolv-
ing the country’s liberty crisis but it’s precisely not

Critics
the answer. Political will from the authorities and
the national government is needed to cease these
media-related killings.
Recently, the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) made an outrageous proposal to criminalize
interviews with suspected terrorists— a plain sup-
pression, if not a wanton assault, on the press.
According to the National Union of Journal-
ists of the Philippines, AFP’s proposal opens up an
entire society to the dangerous situation of having
a few people dictate what the public should read or
listen to. “That does not serve national interest at
all.”
“The constitution lists freedom of the press
and freedom of expression among the basic rights.
It’s not for the AFP or any other government
agency to curtail a right granted by the constitution
on the basis of its often times flawed logic,” the
NUJP in a statement said.
Just recently, last May 17, the Movie and
Television Review and Classification Board
(MTRCB) imposed prior restraint on all public af-
fairs programs, news, documentaries, socio-politi-
cal editorials and similar programs. They are now
subject to MTRCB review and approval in accor-
dance with Section 3 of the Presidential Decree
1986.
The NUJP believes that MTRCB’s measure is
part of President Arroyo’s move to disinfect or
sanitize the image crisis facing her administration
and has nothing to do with MTRCB’S moral or
normative function of classifying shows or pro-
grams.
“The press does not belong to the government
and its allies. Certainly, the media cannot give the
government blanket authority to define what is
anti-people or anti-state, considering that it has
often come under fire for being just that, anti-
people,” NUJP said in another statement.
Philippine media is not perfect. Yes, dishon-
esty and corruption within the state does exist. That
some media people open themselves to conflict-of-
interest situations is an undeniable fact.
And truth be told, majority of the media
workforce in the country, don’t receive regular or
adequate wages and benefits. Overworked but
underpaid— they still persist with dedications to
serve as watchdogs of society. They opt to marry
the passion of digging the truth with their lives at
stake. They take risky situations without logistics
support. When they’re harassed, threatened,
wounded or killed, there’s little support they can
expect from their employers or media partners.
It’s inevitable that a sprinkling of fear, dismay
and abashment get mixed up but I do still find the
risky but nobler task of disseminating truth a job
that’s not worth quitting. I

Volume 39 • Number 3 13
 A R T I C L E S

Private High Schools / from p.10

ents’ school choice and various forms
of the voucher system have been tried
A 560-Page
out successfully in different countries. Collection of IMP ACT
IMPACT
In Australia, 28 percent of children go
to nonstate schools which are almost Editorials from 1966
to 2003
all religious. In Denmark, 11 percent go
to nonstate schools. Canada has also
enabled parents who choose Catholic
schools to enjoy educational benefits
It’s history written in the
purchased with their tax dollars. In the
United States, choice legislation in fa- pages of truth and justice.
vor of parents’ rights to determine the
school for their children has been Get your own copy now!
passed in several states such as Ohio,
Wisconsin, and Minnesota. 3
Even as we express our concern at To order call 404-2182.
the current plight of private schools, it Or email to
is time to forge alliances to lobby for inquiries@impactmagazine.net
change.
1. All stakeholders — parents and
students as well as local community
leaders — need to come together to

CBCPWorld
articulate their own interests.
2. Likewise, private school admin-
istrators, through their various asso-

ciations should work out a common
stand.
3. As one of the largest networks of
private schools in the country, the
Catholic Educational Association of the
Philippines (CEAP) should take a. lead-
ing role in proactively preparing draft
legislation for consideration by our law-
makers.
4. The Catholic Bishops’ Confer-
ence of the Philippines (CBCP) should
also work closely with the CEAP and
other associations and articulate a com-
mon stand with regard to the recogni-
tion and support of private high schools
throughout the country.
On the part of Catholic schools, it is
well to keep in mind that we should
indeed promote the distinctive role of
private schools in the public service
(and not for private gain); and that our
schools become truly Catholic (and not
sectarian in the narrow sense). They
should be ready to receive and respect
students of any religious or cultural
tradition. Integral evangelization is best
served when we work in alliance with
parents, local communities, and the gov-
ernment itself in providing quality edu-
cation for all students – either through
our schools or in partnership with pub-
lic schools. I
Training Programs
In pursuit of it mission which is
that of making the internet as a
new forum for proclaiming the
Gospel, CBCPWorld is con-
ducting training courses on in-
formation and communications
technology. Last year, about
a thousand catholic teachers
and church workers underwent
various ITC training programs.
This year, CBCPWorld is
offering the following training
modules:
1. EdTech Series - this is for
catholic teachers; a 2-day
program on integrating in-
formation and communi-
cations technology in the
subject curriculum.
2. WebArt - for pastoral work-
ers; a 3-day basic course
on web designing with em-
phasis on religious design
and layout.
3. SysAd - for systems ad-
ministrators; a highly
technical 3-day course on
Linux and systems admin-
istration
4. IT Awareness Seminar -
for evangelizers; a 2-day
hands-on seminar on in-
formation and communi-
cations technology
5. Catechetical Multi-Me-
dia Production - for cat-
echists; a 3-day basic
course on digital audio
and video production.
For network members, all
these training courses, which
are held on site or at the
CBCPWorld Training Center
in Intramuros, are conducted
for free.
For inquiries, please email
to friends@cbcpworld.com or
call (02) 404-1612.

14 IMPACT • June 2005

 A R
by ROY CIMAGALA
A
recent report from a Vatican study
caught my attention when it said
that in Italy alone some 70% of the
boys at ages 15-18 access printed or online
pornographic material. I wonder how it is in
the Philippines. With these dirty materials
now readily available in the internet, what
with all those pop-ups that just appear on
screen anytime, I wonder how many of our
young, not to mention, the old ones too, are
corrupted by pornography.
This phenomenon is not really a sur-
prise, as quite veritably a known fact it is
that the youth are the frequent users of
television and the internet, and
thus most vulnerable to the
threat of pornography.
Plainly enough, there is
definitely a need to more
effectively supervise
© Ed Bock/CORBIS
T I C L E S
and regulate the use of these means of
communication since they can easily turn
into instruments of corruption to the young
and to people in general. There is indeed a
need to form or develop people in general
to become responsible citizens able to
exercise self-control and mature judgment.
Admittedly, yes, this may take a lot of
effort, but there is no other way but to
undertake such program of education. As
one Church official said, a true pedagogy
has to be found involving the family, the
school and society in general, where pro-
fessionals working in the field of communi-
cation become responsible,
and proper ethical
codes established.
The Scourge of
Pornography
This may sound quix-
otic -- or is it? -- but I’m
afraid there is no
other way to effec-
tively combat this
deadly threat to
society. The bad
effects of pornog-
raphy cannot be
questioned any-
more. It weakens
the moral fiber of
people. It stunts
spiritual life. It per-
verts the person. It
leads people into a
world of illusions, of
false images and values.
Pornography dis-
torts human relations be-
cause, conspicuously so, it
is based on the exploitation
of persons. It creates anti-social
attitudes, erases the moral sense and ob-
structs the development of mature rela-
tionships among people. It is based on
selfishness and egoism and leads to an
obsessive state of dependency. Those who
try to soften the evil of pornography by
saying it is but part of growing up, may as
well be reminded of the moral implications
-- and not simply look at the issue from
purely human or biological perspective.
Pornography makes the young lose
their innocence and innate sense of good-
ness as it introduces them to a world of dark
obsessions with their casual complicated
network of deception and hypocrisy. I would
even dare say that a good part of the reason
why so many people find it hard to pray,
offer sacrifices, and do other spiritual things
is but a modern day scourge of pornogra-
phy.
Pornography has become so common-
place and overwhelmingly pervasive --
and yes, also trivialized -- that even
those living in relative simplicity in the
barrios can have easy access to it. Sadly
enough, this is a very unfortunate trend
we are witnessing these days. Why many
young people are reluctant to grow in
maturity or take on responsibilities, as
commonly observed today, may as well
be due to the influence of pornography
in their lives.
No doubt about it, such is what is hap-
pening these days. I am inclined to believe
that it is this moral decay or scourge of
pornography that make many people now
exhibit a know-it-all attitude, or being skep-
tical, if not cynical in life. Obviously, not
only personal or individual lives are af-
fected, but even more the family, profes-
sion or career -- and not to exclude likewise,
social and political lives of people. In no
time than now, therefore, that we collec-
tively take the urgent resolve fight this
ominous scourge of pornography -- when-
ever and wherever they are. I
Volume 39 • Number 3 15
 Enduring Quality
Education Amid
Challenges
by GENREVE BALTAZAR
I
t ain’t crumbling at all for most Catholic
universities in the Philippines. At 7
o’clock one bright morning last April,
as the summer sun was just starting its
gleaming ascent, already the sprawling
façade of the University of Santo Tomas’
Main Building -- unhesitatingly dubbed as
the country’s “Catholic, Royal and Pontifi-
cal University” -- is teeming with a multi-
tude of College freshmen candidates, some
tagged along by parents, crowding or
loosely queuing up for enrollment. All of
them have obviously passed the required
entrance examination -- however, not all of
them will make it to the final list of enrolled
students as the University could only ac-
commodate enrollees within their pre-
scribed quota. “Only those whose names
appear on the priority list will be enter-
tained first. Others will have to wait,”
instructed a voice that emanated from a
handy megaphone from the entrance door
16 IMPACT • June 2005
of the Main Building. Indicatively, UST
has not been affected by the shrinking
population whammy that have reportedly
afflicted not a few private schools in the
country. Truth is, the University officials
claim, there has not been any marked de-
cline in their enrollment by far -- that is,
despite the continued surge in tuition fees
-- and in fact, they said, they have been
turning down a good number of applicants.
Similarly, for most Catholic schools – of
course, not only the prime big ones in
upscale Metro Manila but even the smaller
ones in the provinces -- their long-stand-
ing dominance can be gleaned not exclu-
sively in terms of population quantity but
more so undoubtedly in the quality of
education Catholic schools have relent-
lessly catered. Mariano Piamonte, Execu-
tive Director of the Catholic Educational
Association of the Philippines, readily
enumerates these qualitative achieve-
ments, “Catholic schools have a long tra-
dition of providing quality education in the
country. Many Catholic schools produce
graduates who are outstanding achievers
and leaders in various fields of endeavor.
In many licensure and Bar examinations,
the top performing schools are mostly
Catholic schools. In the CHED (Commis-
sion on Higher Education) list of autono-
mous and deregulated schools which are
recognized for their excellence or quality,
the majority are Catholic schools. In the
Asiaweek listing of the top 100 universities
in Asia, 3 out of 4 Philippine schools in-
cluded in the list are Catholic schools
(Ateneo, De La Salle, UST). Even in the
DepEd (Department of Education) exami-
nations such as NCEE, NEAT and NSAT,
Catholic schools generally perform better
than other schools.”
No doubt, Catholic education does not
run short of its note-worthy contributions
to Philippine society. As akin to a fondly
solicitous mother, it has magnanimously
 C O V E R S T O R Y

cradled, nurtured, and produced in its bo- came to the Philippines, handily brought hegemony, if not monopoly, in the Philip-
som not only few “good men” -- a really by the Americans, only at the early part of pines has long been uninterrupted for cen-
good number of the country’s top leaders, the last century. While some of the notable turies -- only until when the Americans
heroes, and presidents, no less including public or state universities were founded came a little over a century ago. Granted.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Even only around less or so a century ago -- But pushing forward even closer to the last
the Catholic Church’s Second Plenary University of the Philippines in 1908, Poly- 50 years or so -- that is, from the end of the
Council of the Philippines (PCP II) held in technic University of the Philippines in second World War up to the present -- still,
1991 did not fail to recognize the “distinct 1904, Technological University of the Phil- likely it cannot be said that Catholic educa-
contribution of Catholic educational insti- ippines in 1901, and the Philippine Normal tion did back off even a bit in advancing the
tutions to the country’s total well-being.” University in 1901 -- a considerable number Catholic cause. Catholic education it was
“It is impossible to think of the Philippines of prime Catholic colleges and universities that staunchly defied the non-Catholic in-
becoming what it is today without their have already long established their quali- cursions of American colonization -- the
contribution. Catholic schools, Colleges tative supremacy in the country like, the invasion by protestant missionaries, the
and Universities are among the best educa- University of San Carlos in 1595, Univer- American dichotomy or separation of
tional institutions in the land. Besides their sity of Santo Tomas in 1611, Colegio de San Church and State, exclusion of religious
religious task, they make a distinct and Juan de Letran in 1620, Colegio de Santa instruction in public schools, etc. Note-
important secular contribution,” PCP II Isabel in 1632, Colegio de Santa Catalina in worthy particularly was Catholic educa-
noted. 1696, Ateneo de Manila University in 1804, tion celebrated victory in 1955 when, after
There is no denying likewise that Catho- to mention but a few. relentless objections to the attempts made
lic education in the country has long pre- That this was so, critics readily aver, by some government officials and lawmak-
ceded the public education system which was obviously because Spain’s Catholic ers to abolish optional religious instruc-
tion in public schools, the Secretary of
Yes, Catholic education in the Philippines is yet a shining Education then issued Department Order
No. 5 on May 3, 1955, implementing a fuller
force to reckon with -- generally so, it is. More than the implementation of optional religious in-
smoldering pressures and issues in private education – struction in public schools as then man-
dated by the (1935) Constitution. Never-
viability or sustainability due to declining population, theless, the Catholic bishops during the
rising cost of private education, accessibility, quality and time convincingly believed in the trans-
relevance, and what not -- Catholic schools in the Philippines forming role of Catholic schools. Msgr.
Lope Robredillo, in his article, “The Chal-
have, contrary to grim prognostications, apparently lenges of the Times and the CBCP Re-
remained unbudged, unscathed, and undeterred. For a lot sponses: An Historical Essay on the Catho-
lic Bishops Conference of the Philippines”
more of unassuming reasons than one.

Volume
Volume 39
39 •• Number
Number 33 17
 C O V E R
(1996) succinctly described the Church’s
prime concerns during the period when
Catholic schools indeed played a critical
role, “Faced with the consequences of the
separation of Church and State…the Catho-
lic Welfare Organization or CWO (the erst-
while name of the present CBCP) fought
much for the religious instruction in public
schools which was strongly opposed by
Masons, anti-Catholic individuals and re-
ligious sects, and for private schools’ right
to exist. For the bishops, the Catholic
schools could help create and support a
Catholic order.”
Not only in the past but so as now,
Catholic schools have always figured in
the forefront -- a “rallying factor to reckon
with,” so to speak -- of social issues and
movements in the name of Catholic cause.
The historic People Power 2 saw the pre-
dominant convergence of thousands of
students from various Catholic schools,
colleges, and universities on EDSA which
eventually ousted former President Estrada
in January of 2000. Also, only recently,
Catholic schools from Metro Manila and
even beyond again displayed their collec-
tive power by joining the massive Prayer
Rally at the Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila,
last March 4, 2005 to protest against the
Government’s “Ligtas Buntis” campaign
and anti-population Bills.
Facing New Challenges
Admittedly, there is no denying though
that Catholic schools are not impervious to
present strains -- viability or sustainability
triggered by staggering decline in enroll-
ment population, rising cost of private
18 IMPACT • June 2005
S T O R Y
education, socio-economic constraints,
and accessibility. Fairly important it is to
observe that, smoldering these strains may
pose, they are but given realities afflicting
not only Catholic schools but generally
private education in the country. Needless
to say, these strains, or problems if you
may, are not lacking, if not devoid, of
unassuming reasons or explanations --
which, to a large extent, cannot be attrib-
uted or faulted to Catholic education’s
own making. Hence, a candid examination
or circumspection of these attendant con-
cerns or issues may yet huddle a fresh air
of optimism for Catholic education to un-
failingly hurdle these admittedly smolder-
ing challenges. But what are these present
day challenges or concerns?
One, is the debilitating concern of vi-
ability, if not sustainability, brought about
by declining enrollment population -- which
have adversely affected, definitely not much
the Catholic colleges and universities, but
more particularly the smaller Catholic Basic
Education schools especially those in the
rural areas. CEAP Executive Director
Mariano Piamonte openly admitted about
this strident concern, “The greatest prob-
lem really is sustainability, especially for
the small rural (Catholic Basic Education)
schools because the situation is getting
worse. I am afraid that even if the schools
do not increase their fees frequently be-
cause of rising poverty, many of our par-
ents even if they want to send their children
to private schools, they can no longer
afford the cost of private education. With
heavy hearts, they just send their children
to public schools.”
Indicatively, apart from the manifest
economic constraints and the rising cost of
private education, the dwindling popula-
tion in Catholic Basic Education schools is
largely attributed to one staggering fact:
the proliferation or mushrooming of count-
less public schools in the country -- con-
spicuously resulting to a glaring imbalance
or aberration between an exploding or bur-
geoning public schools on one hand and a
relatively deserted or idle private schools
on the other hand. Fr. Rolando de la Rosa,
OP, former Chairman of the Commission on
Higher Education, observes that “one of
the main problems now of so many Catholic
schools especially those offering elemen-
 Enduring Quality
tary and secondary education is that they
are facing the threat of closure due to poor
enrollment because most of their students
flock to the public schools for free educa-
tion. Even the best teachers in private
schools are also transferring to public
schools.”
Fairly though, that there has been in-
deed an observable population decline in
Catholic Basic Education schools cannot
be said to have been remarkably drastic.
According to Mariano Piamonte, “The
decline has been very gradual. Particularly
in the past 5 years or so, the rate of decline
has been noted at around 5 to 10 percent
only.” Admittedly likewise, in the last 30
years, the market share on student popula-
tion of Catholic Basic Education schools
relatively fell. “Whereas 30 years ago,
Catholic schools then were having a mar-
ket share of 20 to 30 percent (on student
population) for Elementary education and
6 percent for Secondary education, now it
is down to 10 percent for elementary and 25
percent for Secondary,” Piamonte added.
But, curiously, why are Catholic Basic
Education schools not as ‘sustainable’ as
Catholic colleges and universities? “Catho-
lic elementary and secondary schools are
not as sustainable as the Catholic colleges
simply because the fees that they charge
annually cannot be compared to the Col-
lege which charges on semestral or trimestral
basis, or more than once annually,” CEAP’s
Piamonte explains.
Granted, external factors -- burgeoning
public schools, socio-economic conditions,
and rising cost of private education-- which
have triggered a population whammy on
Catholic Basic Education schools are in-
deed not endemic faults attributed cer-
tainly not to Catholic schools’ own mak-
ing, still are not some Catholic schools be
yet likely guilty of some misgivings or
problems which may have likewise ham-
pered their efficient operation,
sustainability, or growth? Relatively yes,
says Mariano Piamonte of CEAP. Truth is,
according to Piamonte, “in some areas out-
side of Metro Manila and other urban cen-
ters, some Congregation schools are per-
ceived to be better managed than some
Diocesan schools. One reason is that
Congregation schools are headed by
Education Amid
fulltime administrators who are not only
academically qualified but also trained by
their Congregations, while Diocesan or
Parochial schools are headed by parish
priests who divide their time between the
school and the parish, and who are not as
qualified or trained as their counterparts in
Congregation schools.”
Further yet, another precipitating prob-
lem that is likely hampering the survival or
sustainability of Catholic schools amid the
present competitive dash for marketability
is their apparent reluctance to profession-
ally manage or run their schools in a “busi-
ness or corporate manner.” According to
Piamonte of CEAP, “Many of our (school)
administrators do not want to run their
schools in a business manner. They are
(still) very critical of elite schools, who are
now thriving and assured of long term
survival. I am even wondering that it might
have been better that our school adminis-
trators were trained as MBAs than as PhDs
in Education.”
Not necessarily perhaps that Catholic
schools should readily follow suit to the
profit orientation or motive embedded upon
legitimate business corporations. Piamonte
is quick to explain, “When I say business
or corporate way, I do not mean profits but
only to professionalize or modernize the
way we run our schools to assure
sustainability and relevant to the demands
of the time. Schools must not sacrifice
Challenges
quality for the sake of profits. But neither
must schools not also work for
sustainability because in the end, their
quality will also be affected.”
Well taken. But, more than the pressing
issue of sustainability due to declining
population, has the quality of education in
Catholic schools slumped too?
No, Piamonte confidently asserts. “Gen-
erally, we (Catholic schools) still have a
competitive advantage in terms of quality
over the public schools. This is so because
private schools have smaller class popula-
tion size, and this enhances quality.” But
for Mrs. Bettina Olmedo, Director for Insti-
tutional Networking and Development of
the Fund for Assistance to Private Educa-
tion (FAPE), it would be an oversimplifica-
tion to assume that private education is
qualitatively better than public education.
“Just like the public school system, the
private school system is not monolithic. So
you can no longer say (that) private schools
are excellent and public schools are lousy.
No, in both systems there are a few excel-
lent ones and the majority are average.
There are some few also which are really
substandard,” Olmedo explained.
Thus far, indeed, the smoldering prob-
lem of viability or sustainability due to
dwindling population has largely affected
more the Catholic Basic Education schools
than the Catholic colleges or universities.
In the arena of Catholic tertiary education,
Volume 39 • Number 3 19
 C O V E
however, the conspicuous proliferation of
public State Colleges and Universities
(SCUs), public Local Colleges and Univer-
sities (LCUs), and likewise the wanton
mushrooming of private educational fran-
chise institutes, not a few of which are
believed to be either substandard in qual-
ity or operating without the required CHED
permit, have not only eaten up relatively
Catholic tertiary schools’ market share but
more so have accommodated some ad-
verse implications on the ‘accessibility’ of
Catholic tertiary education in the country.
To date, according to Fr. Rolando de la
Rosa, OP, former Chairman of CHED, there
are already 111 SCUs and 49 LCUs in the
Philippines. Not only that, “there are yet
around 9 or more SCUs and LCUs already
in the pipeline of being established soon,”
Fr. Dela Rosa further revealed. Similarly
also, glaringly conspicuous it has been
that hundreds of private educational fran-
chise institutes have, like fast food chains,
commercially sprouted all over the country
offering “high earning” -- if not “commer-
cially relevant”, so they claim -- courses,
like nursing and computer courses, and
20 IMPACT • June 2005
R S T O
touting on cheaper fees than Catholic
schools. Ironically observable, some, or
most, of these small franchise schools are
using or bearing Catholic names -- per-
haps, their enterprising ploy to seize or ride
on “Catholic” qualitative marketability.
Consequently so, this alarming trend
has paved for a perceived aberration in
terms of ‘accessibility’ between Catholic
tertiary education as far up very costly --
hence not fairly accessible to the poor --
and the allegedly much cheaper college
education being provided by SCUs , LCUs,
and the small private non-sectarian fran-
chise schools. “The impression created is
that Catholic tertiary schools are not ac-
cessible to the poor because the tuition fee
is very high. But if you come to think of it,
the tuition fee is high because these schools
rely solely on tuition fees,” Fr. de la Rosa
observed.
Veritably so? Is private tertiary educa-
tion indeed more costly than public higher
education?
On first blush, yes. But a closer exami-
nation of the issue may yet reveal other-
wise. According to Fr. De la Rosa, in a
R Y
recent study commissioned by CHED and
conducted by a research group from De La
Salle University, it particularly revealed
that “on the whole, the cost per student in
public higher education is more expensive
than that in private tertiary education by 20
percent.” Fr. de la Rosa says, “What is
spent for a student in a particular course in
a public State college or university is higher
than what is spent for a student in a private
college or university.” How is this so? Fr.
de la Rosa illustrates further, “Take for
example between the University of the
Philippines-Manila and the University of
Santo Tomas. U.P. Manila, which receives
a government annual subsidy of around 4
Billion pesos, roughly produces only
around 39 or so nursing graduates a year,
with, of course, 100% Board Examination
passing rate. On the other hand, UST with
97% Board Examination passing average,
produces around 360 nurses a year -- rely-
ing, not from any government subsidy, but
exclusively from the tuition fees paid by
parents.”
That in private schools, parents, com-
prising largely the tax paying populace or
citizenry, exclusively shoulder or pay all
their children’s tuition or school fees with-
out any government subsidy is yet a fact
that may inescapably require particular
attention. For Fr. de la Rosa, parents in
private schools are, more likely than not,
“doubly taxed,” so to speak, because --
first, out of their salaries from which they
derive what they pay for their children’s
private education, they are already de-
ducted the required income tax, of which
part goes to subsidize the tuition fees in
public schools; second, they are left to
shoulder exclusively all their children’s
tuition or school fees without any govern-
ment support whatsoever. “It’s quite a big
injustice because apparently parents, who
are already taxed to support public educa-
tion, are at the same time ‘penalized’ for
sending their children to private schools.”
Looking Up to the Future
Indeed, on the whole, more than the
present challenges of viability or
sustainability, shrinking enrollment popu-
lation, grim economic conditions, and ac-
cessibility -- smoldering or debilitating
they may have posed -- Catholic educa-
 Enduring Quality
tion in the Philippines has generally re-
mained relatively shining, unscathed, un-
deterred, and indomitable. And very likely
in all indications too, a resolute tinge of
optimism may likewise pave for more rea-
sons than one that Catholic education will
even surpass or transcend beyond the
present challenges and continue its in-
domitable stronghold in the future.
But nay, not that Catholic education
may just rest on its past and present
laurels and pretend to be confidently
unimpregnable to modern day realities –
lest otherwise, the same challenges or
strains may reversibly overpower Catho-
lic education itself. Like other social insti-
tutions, Catholic education cannot remain
impervious to the changing demands of
the time -- and for it not to lose grip of its
competitive edge and purposely tak-
ing heed to the ‘writings on the
wall’ (if not, ‘signs of the
times’), an honest or
straightforward cir-
cumspection, self-
examination if you
may, may as well
be a tall order if
only to bring
about the
needed re-
forms.
One, as
propounded by
M a r i a n o
Piamonte,
“Catholic schools
must lessen their de-
pendence on school
fees for their income to
help ensure their survival.
They need to generate alter-
native sources of income and
train people to manage their invest-
ments.”
Two, again Piamonte proposes,
“Catholic schools need to be managed
more efficiently or professionally like other
corporations. They need to activate their
Boards and improve the competencies of
their administrators.”
Three, one way to address the scar-
city of Religious administrators due to
dwindling vocations, according to
Piamonte, is to empower and train lay ad-
ministrators to manage Catholic schools.
“While there are still some Religious ad-
ministrators who still think that they are
better administrators than the lay, there
are already some schools like La Salle and
Ateneo who are empowering the laity to
manage their schools. I think it’s high time
Education Amid
for Congregations and Religious adminis-
trators to trust the competence of lay ad-
ministrators.”
Of course, Catholic education has not
been completely wanting in notable ef-
forts to train or upgrade the competencies
of Catholic school administrators. In fact,
according to Piamonte, “there are serious
efforts by the CEAP, particularly by its
Superintendent Commission, to train the
Diocesan Superintendents, so that in turn,
they can help upgrade the competencies
of the school administrators under their
supervision. Only recently, for instance,
upon the request of the CEAP, the De La
Salle University has offered a4-summer
Masteral Program in Educational Manage-
ment on full scholarship to two batches of
principals, mostly from Diocesan schools.”
In the continuing efforts to bring about
reforms and maintain Catholic education’s
competitive edge, Catholic schools may
not just be left to fend for themselves to
institute the needed changes. In no time
than now, the Catholic Church -- touted as
supposedly the formidable vanguard or
bastion of Catholic education itself -- may
as well pay particular attention to the plight
of Catholic schools. Why not, if the Church
is indeed spending a considerable amount
of money for its evangelization efforts,
perhaps it may as well take a rather deserv-
ing cognizance of Catholic schools -- not
only as ‘milking cows’ to draw resources
from --but veritably as rich repositories or
Challenges
‘vineyard’ for youth evangelization and
apostolate.
Not likely that it is the innocuous time
to divisively delineate, if not parlay which
arguments are deemed surpassing, on the
dichotomy or separation of Church and
State, constitutional or otherwise. More
than ever -- less the finger-pointing, politi-
cal grandstanding, bickering, and pander-
ing to the gallows -- and for more valid
reasons than one, students and parents in
Catholic schools (and in private education
in general) appropriately deserve equal
attention and support from the govern-
ment similarly as those from public schools.
No less, the government might just as well
take meritorious consideration, or atten-
tion at the very least, to the reasonable-
ness of some suggestions put forward by
the former Chairman of the Commis-
sion on Higher Education (CHED),
Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, OP, to
help the afflicted private
education in the country,
to mention, among oth-
ers, like: implement-
ing direct govern-
ment support to pri-
vate education
t h r o u g h
“voucher sys-
tem”; granting
tax rebates or in-
centives to par-
ents who are
sending their chil-
dren to private
schools; a morato-
rium on the establish-
ment of SCUs and LCUs,
to regulate the mass exodus
of students to said schools;
implementing strict quality stan-
dards and regulate educational fran-
chising.
Finally indeed, in the past and until
now, Catholic education has firmly claimed
its enduring presence even amid crippling
challenges. Through thick and thin, it has
withered countless storms. Its enduring
quality of education surpasses more than
just the pursuance or attainment of knowl-
edge. More than that, its over-arching
agenda of education is firmly rooted on the
program of evangelization. Being so --
and conformably akin to Tertio Millennio
Adveniente's apostolic exhortation of the
late John Paul II, "Jesus is the same yester-
day, today and forever" -- and only for this
reason, Catholic education will thus for-
ever prevail. I
With reports from Bob Acebedo and Roy Lagarde.
Volume 39 • Number 3 21
 S T A T E M E N T S

Shouldering an Onerous
Yoke: A Statement of
Concern on the Recent
Power Rate Hike

S
tarting on April 26, 2005, Filipino households,
especially those consuming 200 kilowatt hours
or more, will pay an additional PhP47.95 per
kilowatt hour every month.
This predicament stems from the impending si-
multaneous implementation of Energy Regulatory Com-
mission-approved Napocor power rates increase and
two recovery mechanisms: Generation Rate Adjust-
ment Mechanism (GRAM) and Incremental Currency
Exchange Rate Adjustment (ICERA).
The power rate increase aggravates the present
situation where the poor are forced to endure acceler-
ating prices of basic commodities and public utilities
vis-à-vis decelerating income and shrinking opportu-
nities.
It is immoral and scandalous that ordinary citizens
are made to suffer the consequences of Napocor’s
inefficiency and government’s unjust policies.
The objective of the power rate increase is to
reduce Napocor’s indebtedness and to deodorize the
corporation to hasten its privatization.
Napocor’s continually swelling debts originate
from its contracts with independent power producers
(IPP) who have connived with the government in
devising the oppressive Purchased Power Adjust-
ments (PPA) that continues to be imposed masked as
the Generation Charge in the electricity bill.
Why are Filipinos made to pay for these unwise
decisions? The poor is the ultimate victim in these
schemes.
NASSA reiterates its call for the nullification of
onerous contracts and the abolition of the PPA.

In Christ,
BISHOP DINUALDO GUTIERREZ, DD
Chair, CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social
Action-Justice & Peace - NASSA
April 25, 2005

22 IMPACT • June 2005

 S T A T E M E N T S

O
n behalf of the Parish of Balangiga

Wyoming Veterans’
and the Diocese of Borongan, we
would like to extend our deepest
appreciation to the Wyoming Veterans’
Commission who recently voted 7 to 4 in

Commission voted to
favor of returning the Church Bells to the
rightful owners, our Parishioners in
Balangiga in the Philippines.
We are aware that a lot of deep think-

return the Church Bells

ing and thoughtful efforts have gone into
this decision based on the research pro-
vided to all of us by Ms. Jean Wall, the
daughter of Private Galmin, a soldier who

to the Parish of
saw an action in Balangiga Research
Group. We also praise the Commission
most effusively for their courage, gener-
osity and for being the epitome of

America’s Ambassadors of goodwill.
These bells are valued significantly
not only for their place in history that
binds both Filipinos and Americans, but
also for the opportunity they present in
fostering much stronger ties, and in en-
hancing lasting goodwill between the two
countries, the Philippines and the United
States.
It is our fervent hope that these bells,
when restored to the original setting in our
Catholic parish, could ring again- this time
as a spiritual symbol of the bond that will
always exist between our two countries.
We all the more take heart from the
legacy of His Holiness, the late Pope John
Paul II, who taught the world to value as
more important the bond of humanity that
is commonly shared by peoples and na-
tions regardless of differences in faith,
politics and history. We are also deeply
honored by the Vatican’s approval under
the late Pope John Paul II and indorsed a
letter of support to president Bush to re-
turn these church bells.
The Philippine-American War ended
over a century ago and the time has come
for the United States to follow our recent
policy of returning church artifacts.
We would like to draw parallel be-
tween the bells of Balangiga and the
Schneerson Collection. The comparison
we would like to make here is that recently
there was a flurry and manuscripts, for-
merly owned by the Jewish Chabad-
Lubavitch community that has been held
for nearly a century by the former Soviet
Union and now the Russian Federation.
The Helsinki Commission and its
Chairman Senator Sam Brownback of Kan-
sas held hearing on the return of these
valuable religious texts. To show support
for the return of these valuable collec-
tions, Senator Norm Coleman of Minne-
sota wrote a letter asking for the support
Balangiga
An Open Letter to president George W.
Bush, the United States Congress and
the Helsinki Commission
of U.S. Senators and 100m Senators signed
the letter, including Sen Thomas and Sen
Enzi of Wyoming, to support the return of
the religious books. President Bush deliv-
ered this letter to President Putin in Febru-
ary 2005.
Presently, there are three church bells
in U.S. possession that were taken in 1901
as “war booty” during the Spanish –
American War, from a Catholic Church in
the Philippines. Two of the bells are “on
display” at a military installation in Wyo-
ming, a location closed to the public. The
third bell is traveling mascot for the 9thUS
Infantry Division in Korea. On April 24,
1863, President Lincoln signed General
Order 100, Article 34, which prohibited
members of the US Armed Forces from
taking church properties.
We are encouraged by the decision of
the Helsinki Commission, 100 US Senators
and President Bush and we hope that they
will also apply the same efforts to return
our church bells to Balangiga. In addition,
we are further encouraged by the govern-
ment of Italy for their gesture by returning
the Obelisk to Ethiopia after 70 years.
It’s been over a century since our
Church bells and the Jewish texts were
taken. If the United States government
lead by example and return the church
bells to our village, perhaps President Putin
may follow suit and return the Schneerson
Collection to the Jewish Chabad-Lubavitch
community.
We will always be grateful for the
courageous decision of the Wyoming
veterans’ Commission. Needless to say,
we are very much encouraged, and we look
for continued global support in our effort
to return the bells to our Parish in
Balangiga. So we pray…
Leonardo Y. Medroso, DD
Bishop of the Diocese of Borongan
Rev. Fr. Marlon Gacho
Ad-hoc Secreatary
May 11, 2005

Volume 39 • Number 3 23
 F R O M T H E B L O G S

Legalization
G
ambling remains gambling no matter how
legal it becomes. Mere legalization does not
change the nature and consequences of
vicious realities. Vice does not become a virtue by
its mere legalization. This is the truth that does not
become a falsehood by human legislation.
Gambling foments greed for the money of oth-
Monopoly ers. It promotes indolence, it cultivates depen-
dence on luck. It seeks quick fortune that never
© Royalty-Free/Corbis
comes. It despises toil and industry that bring

M
onopoly is considered a dirty word. It is productivity. When legalized, jueteng in no way
a dictatorial reality. An odious phenom changes its inherent socio-ethical liabilities as gam-
enon. It is an almighty ally. A dangerous bling.
enemy. And this is true not only in the world of Furthermore, unfortunate are the reasons ad-
business but also in the sphere of politics. vanced for the legalization of jueteng: it has been
Sad to say, it is also in the judicial system. And with the Filipinos for a long time. It is hard for the
one of the greatest social liabilities in the country police to eradicate it. It can be a source of much
today is precisely the perceived monopoly of jus- funds for the government coffers.
tice by the Executive Department. This is a fact Marital infidelity has been long since with the
notwithstanding the so-called “separation of pow- Filipinos. Corruption has accompanied the govern-
ers.” ment for a long time. Oppressing the poor has
That is why the “big fishes” of all kinds of become a practice of long standing in Philippine
criminal activities and illegal syndicates can be society. Would the mere passage of time be enough
found everywhere and anywhere else -- except reason to legalize such atrocious practices?
behind the prison bars. That is why there is appall- To legalize jueteng because the authorities
ing selective justice for the powerful and the help- find it difficult to get rid of it, is a pitiful admission
less, the big shots and the small people. And that of an incompetent and inutile police force. So many
is why even renowned convicts still remain a fa- ranks and titles. So much equip-
vored and privileged class. ments and gadgets. So impressive
And in this country, it is the executive depart- intelligence funds. Yet, the whole
ment who appoints not only all the justices of the police force is no match in clean-
higher courts but even all the judges of the lower ing the country of the jueteng
courts. It is unrealistic to assume that the ap- curse! What a social disaster!
pointed figures are not beholden to the appointing Legalizing jueteng to raise
power. It is only the highly principled and morally government funds is a public dec-
upright appointees who would dare go against laration of official desperation.
even but the mere wishes of the appointing author- When a government takes re-
ity. And these persons who stand straight and tall course to gambling to raise public
in the judicial profession are not that many. funds, it loses its moral ascen-
Where do people then go for justice especially dancy to govern. The govern-
against those high-placed individuals in the execu- ment might want to know that le-
tive department? How could the justice system be galizing abortion, marijuana, child
really free, true and fair when it is in the seeming prostitution and other despicable
monopoly of the Executive Branch of government? Philippine realities would be a
It is enough that the people delegate their bountiful source of funds for the
authority to the legislative and executive depart- public coffers. But these simply
ments by lending these their power through elec- spell moral bankruptcy of the na-
tions from time to time. But the people themselves tional leadership.
should keep and hold unto themselves the applica- PAGCOR for the rich and influential, and legal-
tion of justice system. Let the people be the judge ized jueteng for the poor and gullible -- this is
of those accused from the legislative and especially gambling coming in full circle for the country. This
executive branches of government. makes gambling the main feature as well as the prime
How? Jury system. Anyone? shame of the nation. Quo vadis, Philippines?
www.ovc.blogspot.com www.ovc.blogspot.com

24 IMPACT • June 2005

 E D I T
COSTS OF CORRUPTION
C orruption in government is costly -- in many
ways.
It is a causal factor of national underdevel-
opment, debt crisis, poverty and social instabil-
ity. It breeds discontent, dismay and disbelief in
government capacity.
It is costly to the economy. It is basically
government corruption that gives birth to the
distrust of foreign investment, the flight of local
capital, the need for more and more taxes.
It is costly to the country. It gives birth to
separatists movements, downgrades its credit
rating, promote its isolation from the civilized
world.
It is costly to the national leadership. En-
demic corruption immobilizes it, threatens its
moral legitimacy and undermines its political
stability.
But foremost of all, it is costly to people.
One cannot quantify peoples’ lives which may
have been dislocated, lost or wasted. Lost
opportunities due to corruption can always be-
get unimaginable consequences akin to the plight
O R I A L
of a young student who has been deprived if not
robbed of a promising future.
In a country like the Philippines where parti-
san politics is highly ingrained in governance and
where there is structural corruption, the national
leadership needs the support of all its political
allies and pliant defense forces to survive, to
remain in power.
Considering that to the perception of many
and the allegations from the different sectors of
society, corruption appears to lure among some
of the members of the said political allies and
defense forces, woe to the national leadership if
ever or whenever it will indeed honestly and
decidedly confronts them.
Such precisely is the price of combating
endemic or structural corruption in the country
as far as the national leadership is particularly
concerned.
Not that it cannot rid of corruption in the
country. Not too perhaps that it does not want
to confront corruption. But is it prepared to take
the big risk of losing both the battle and the war?
Volume 39 • Number 3 25
 F R O M
21 Reasons why the English
language is so hard to learn:
1. The bandage was wound around the
wound.
2. The farm was used to produce pro-
duce.
3. The dump was so full that it had to
refuse more refuse.
4. We must polish the Polish furniture.
5. He could lead if he would get the lead
out.
6. The soldier decided to desert his
dessert in the desert.
7. Since there is no time like the
present, he thought it was time to
present the present.
8. A bass was painted on the head of
the bass drum.
9. When shot at, the dove dove into the
bushes.
10. I did not object to the object.
11. The insurance was invalid for the
invalid.
“IMPELLED BY LOVE”
In her book “Blessings and Woes”,
Megan McKenna tells the story of a
photographer who watched the world
through the lens of his camera but failed
to take the most important picture of his
life.
In the late 1980s, Ecuador was in
severe economic crisis. Then it was hit
by a cholera epidemic in huge propor-
tions. As if it were not enough, natural
calamities devastated the whole vil-
lages and cities. The United Nations
and Catholic Relief Services responded
by bringing supplies of corn, soybean
products, milk, fruits, tortillas, rice, and
beans.
The photographer took his position
on a main street where sick, hungry,
and tired people were lining up for food.
He was trained to see small details and
developing situations.
26 IMPACT • June 2005
T H E I
© Royalty-Free/Corbis
He was struck by one girl - thin and
dirty, about nine or ten. He noticed that
while patiently waiting in line, she was
looking out for three other children
huddled under a large bush trying to
protect themselves from the hot sun.
Two boys, about five and seven, were
holding between them a little girl of
about three. As her attention was di-
vided, the girl had not noticed that the
aid workers were running out of food
supplies.
The photographer’s heart was
pounding. His cameras were ready.
After hours under the sun, the young
girl finally got to the front of the line. All
she was given was one banana. But
her reaction stunned and paralyzed the
photographer. First, her face lit up in a
beautiful smile. She took the banana
and bowed to the aid worker. Then she
N B O X
12. There was a row among the oars-
men about how to row.
13. They were too close to the door to
close it.
14. The buck does funny things when
the does are present.
15. A seamstress and a sewer fell
down into a sewer line.
16. To help with planting, the farmer
taught his sow to sow.
17. The wind was too strong to wind the
sail.
18. After a number of injections my jaw
got number.
19. Upon seeing the tear in the painting
I shed a tear.
20. I had to subject the subject to a
series of tests.
21. How can I intimate this to my most
intimate friend?
(rdalanon@yahoo.com)
excitedly run to the three other children
under the bushes. She peeled the
banana ever so carefully, split it evenly
into three pieces and almost reverently
put one piece into the palm of each
child. Together they bowed their heads
and said a blessing! Then, slowly, they
ate their pieces of banana, savoring
every single bite, while the eldest girl
sucked on the peel.
The photographer lost it all together.
He wept uncontrollably, forgetting all
about his cameras and what he was
there for. He would say later that in that
moment, as he watched the girl, he saw
the face of God shining. He had a
glimpse of the Kingdom of Heaven in
the face and actions of a poor street
child rich in generosity, love and care
for others.
(rdalanon@yahoo.com)
 E N T E R T A I N M E N T
ease!
Rel
CATHOLIC INITIATIVE New
FOR E NLIGHTENED
MOVIE A PPRECIATION

Title: STAR WARS EPISOPE III:

REVENGE OF THE SITH
Running Time: 146 mins
Lead Cast: Ewan McGregor, Hayden

www.ovc.blogspot.com
Christensen, Natalie Portman, Ian
McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Jimmy
Smiths, Frank Oz, Anthony Daniels,
Christopher Lee, Kenny Baker, Peter
Mayhew, James Earl-Jones
Director: George Lucas
Producers: Rick McCallum
Screenwriter: George Lucas
Music: John Williams
Editors: Roger Barton, Ben Burtt
Genre: Sci-fi/Action
Cinematography: David Tattersall
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Location: U.S.A.
Technical Assessment: • • • ½
Moral Assessment: + + +
CINEMA Rating: For viewers 14 and above
For Orders Contact:

P
iloting a fighter craft, friends
Anakin Skywalker Hayden
Christensen) and Obi-Wan
Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) dare to res-
cue Chancellor Palpatine (Ian
McDiarmid) who has been captured by
the rebel Gen. Grievous. Complications
arise when back with the Jedi Council,
Anakin discovers that he will still not
be named a Jedi Master despite his
daring and bravery. The Council wants
Anakin to spy on Palpatine whom it
distrusts, while Palpatine wants him to
spy on the Council. He also learns that
Padme (Natalie Portman) whom he has
married in a previous episode, is preg-
nant. Anakin is consumed by his darker
side, sacrifices all he holds dear, even
his soul, in order to attain power.
If you have been following Star
Wars from its 1977 debut five films
ago, you’ll find it easier to understand
Star Wars Episode III:The Revenge of
the Sith, as it represents the crowning
conclusion to George Lucas’s it’s-writ-
ten-in-the-stars achievement. The film
seals the galactic saga that portrays
the rise, fall and redemption of Darth
Vader. The story is compelling, if only
for the struggle in Anakin’s being,
although the dialogue leaves much to
be desired. Actors Christensen and
Portman seem to have grown into their
roles, delivering more convincing per-
formances than before. But most of all,
this episode delivers astounding visu-
als meticulously executed to the last
detail. This has been the cutting edge
magnet that attracts Star Wars fan to
the box office, and this time Lucas even
outdoes himself, offering a spectacle
that from a purely visual standpoint
would be hard to match in film history.
When all that eye-popping show
of force (pardon the pun) is over and
done with, the viewer may do well to
ask if entertainment such as Star Wars
Episode III:The Revenge of the Sith,
should be shown to all regardless of
age, intelligence or emotional readi-
ness. Just like most cartoons that are
passed off as “kiddie stuff” or children’s
entertainment, Star Wars(and its likes)
could contain dangers not readily per-
ceived by the mind that merely seeks to
be entertained. (Remember Power Puff
Girls which CINEMA dubbed as vio-
lent?) The extreme violence in Star
Wars Episode III:The Revenge of the
Sith may under the circumstances be
shrugged off as a “natural” for a movie
of this genre—would that be healthy in
the long run? Would all Star Wars
fans or viewers be able to discern the
evil in a film or would the question of
morality simply be sidetracked for the
visual feast that the film offers? (“Never
mind who killed for what; I got my kicks
watching dog fights in deep space!”)
(Date Reviewed: 26 May 2005
www.cbcpworld.com/cinema)
National Matrimonial
Tribunal Office
Tel. No. (632) 5274160
CBCPWorld Office
Telefax (632) 4041612
Other books by
Abp. Oscar V. Cruz, JCD, DD
1. Marriage Tribunal Ministry
2. Curia Management
3. Guide Documents on Parish, Vicariate and
Diocesan Administrative / Pastoral
Concerns
4. Canon 290 CIC in the Service of Truth,
Justice and Charity
5. Annotations on Rotal Jurisprudence on
Canon 1097, 1098, 1102
6. Annotations on Rotal Jurisprudence on
Canon 1103
7. Annotations on Rotal Jurisprudence on
Canon 1095
8. Annotations on Rotal Jurisprudence on
Canon 1101
9. Evidence in Marriage Nullity Cases
10. Impediments to Canonical Marriage
11. Markers
12. Penal Process for Dismissal from the
Clerical State
13. Provincial Council, Diocesan Synod,
Pastoral Assembly
14. CBCP Guidelines on Sexual Abuse and
Misconduct: A Critique
15. Board of Conciliation and Arbitration
16. Viewpoints at the Onset of the New
@ Millennium
17. Administration of the Temporal Goods of the
Chrurch

Volume 39 • Number 3 27
 V A N I L L A

Browse
these sites! TECHNObabble
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
Blog – short for weblog, is just a diary – online! It is a personal
journal that is frequently updated and intended for general public
Catholic Schools consumption. Blogs generally represent the personality of the
author or reflect the purpose of the Web site that hosts the blog.
1. Aquinas School, Inc.- http://www.aquinas.edu.ph
The author of a blog is often referred to as a blogger.
2. Aquinas University High School - http://thomas.aquinas-
university.edu Cookie - information that a Web site puts on your hard disk so
3. Ateneo de Manila High School - http://hs.admu.edu.ph that it can remember something about you at a later time. A cookie
4. Claret School of Quezon City - http:// records your preferences when using a particular site. A cookie
www.claretschool.edu.ph is a mechanism that allows the server to store its own information
5. Colegio de San Juan de Letran - http://www.letran- about a user on the user’s own computer.
calamba.edu.ph
Spider - a program that visits web sites and reads their pages
6. Colegio San Agustin – http://
www.colegiosanagustin.edu.ph and other information in order to create entries for a search engine
7. Concordia College - http://concordia-elearning.edu.ph index. The major search engines on the Web all have such a
8. De La Salle – Araneta University - http:// program, which is also known as a “crawler” or a “bot.” Spiders
www.araneta.dlsu.edu.ph are typically programmed to visit sites that have been submitted
9. De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde - http://www.dls- by their owners as new or updated.
csb.edu.ph
Spam – these are unsolicited e-mails on the Internet. From the
10. De La Salle - Lipa - http://www.lasalipa.edu.ph/
sender’s point-of-view, spam is a form of bulk mail, often sent to
11. De La Salle University-Canlubang - http://
www.canlubang.dlsu.edu.ph a list obtained from a spambot or to a list obtained by companies
12. De La Salle University Health Science Campus - http:// that specialize in creating e-mail distribution lists. To the receiver,
www.hsc.dlsu.edu.ph it usually seems like junk e-mail, and it has become a major problem
13. Divine Word College of Legazpi – http://www.dwc- for all Internet users. (E-mail that is wanted is sometimes referred
legazpi.edu
to as ham.)
14. Holy Angel University - http://www.hau.edu.ph
15. Holy Trinity College - http://www.htc.edu.ph
Spyware - any technology that aids in gathering information
16. Immaculate Conception Academy - http:// about a person or organization without their knowledge. It is
www.icagh.edu.ph sometimes called a spybot or tracking software. Spyware is a
17. La Consolacion College - http://www.lcc-p.edu.ph program or script that is put in someone’s computer to secretly
18. La Consolacion College - http://www.lccm.edu.ph gather information about the user and relay it to advertisers or
19. La Salle College - http://www.lasalleantipolo.edu.ph other interested parties. Evidently, once in the computer it can
20. Loyola School of Theology - http://www.lst.edu catch software virus or install a new program.
21. Mater Ecclesiae School - http://www.materecclesiae- Open source - refers to any program whose source code is
dvmi.com
22. Notre Dame of Greater Manila - http://www.ndgm.edu.ph made available for use or modification as users or other developers
24. Notre Dame of Marbel University - http:// see fit. (Historically, the makers of proprietary software have
www.ndmu.edu.ph generally not made source code available.) Open source software
25. Notre Dame University – http://www.ndu.edu.ph is usually developed as a public collaboration and made freely
26. O.B. Montessori Center, Inc. - http://obmontessori.edu.ph available.
27. Poveda Learning Centre - http://www.poveda.edu.ph VoIP - voice over IP, it means, voice delivered using the
28. S a c r e d Heart College - http://www.shc.edu.ph/ Internet Protocol. This means sending voice information in digital
29. Sacred Heart High School - http://
www.sacredheartschool.com.ph
form in discrete packets rather than in the traditional circuit-
30. Sacred Heart School For committed protocols of the public switched telephone network
Boys - http:// (telco). A major advantage of VoIP and Internet telephony is that
www.shsbaa.com it avoids the tolls charged by ordinary telephone service.
31. Saint Michael’s College Wi-Fi - short for “wireless fidelity”, a term for certain types of
- http://www.smcl.edu.ph
wireless local area network (WLAN) that use specifications in the
32. Saint Paul College -
http:// 802.11 family. Wi-Fi has gained acceptance in many businesses,
www.spcpasig.edu.ph agencies, schools, and homes as an alternative to a wired LAN.
(Note: Due to space limitations
Many airports, hotels, and fast-food facilities offer public access
other schools could not be to Wi-Fi networks. These locations are known as hot spots.
included in this issue. They will
be listed in the next)

28 IMPACT • June 2005

 B Y T E S

by DENNIS B. DAYAO

Obstruct Those
You’re then feeling a drag in browsing, and
you’re always directed to websites you are not
visiting. You noticed your browser now looks dif-
ferent. And sooner, you are nagging on your ser-

Spies!
vice provider. Wait. Stop.
Your PC might have possibly been intruded!
Or your computer has been under siege by a
spyware?
Spyware, according to whatis.com,
is “any technology that aids in gather-
ing information about a person with-
out their knowledge. On the Internet, of this. Most of unsolicited commercial
spyware is programming that is put software makes its way to your com-
in someone’s computer to secretly puter through some freeware programs.
gather information about the user These programs are “bundled”
and relay it to advertisers or other with parasites, which are installed at
interested parties.” the same time. The P2P file-sharing
More broadly, the term programs are notorious for this; in
spyware can refer to a wide range particular, iMesh and Grokster come
of related malware products which with countless unwanted add-ons.
fall outside the strict definition of Here are some known programs bun-
spyware. These products perform dling adware: Kazaa, Bearshare, DivX
many different functions, includ- (except for the paid version, and the ‘stan-
ing the delivery of unsolicited ad- dard’ version without the encoder),
vertising (pop-up ads in particular), WeatherBug, Atomic clock sync, Bonzi
harvesting private information, re-rout- Buddy, Limewire (Non-pro),Wildtangent,
ing page requests in order to fraudu- Gator, ErrorGuard, and FlashGet.
lently claim commercial site referral fees, During installation, if you are careful to read
and installing stealth phone dialers. the small print when you install the software it will
Here are some conditions to suspect when you warn you about this, and it is sometimes possible
might have spyware or other unwanted software on to opt out. So always skim the licence agreement
your computer: when you install and don’t just click Next-Next-
• You see pop-up advertisements even Next... but you still can’t be sure they’ll tell you.
when you’re not on the Web. Many parasites load using Internet Explorer’s
• The page your Web browser first opens to ActiveX installation option. When a web page
(your home page) or your browser search includes a link to an ActiveX program, a window will
settings have changed without your appear asking the user wishes to execute it. If ‘Yes’
knowledge. is clicked (or if IE security settings are set lower than
normal so that it never even asks), the software is
• You notice a new toolbar in your allowed to run and can do anything at all it likes on
browser that you didn’t want, and find it our computer, including installing parasites.
© Royalty-Free/Corbis
difficult to get rid of. For this reason, you should never click ‘Yes’
• Your computer takes longer than usual to a “Do you wish to download and install...”
to complete certain tasks. prompt unless you are 100% sure you trust the
publisher of the software, which might not be the
• You experience a sudden rise in com- publisher of the web site you are viewed -- read the
puter crashes. dialogue box very carefully.
Once you have detected one, the software Some of the really sleazy parasites, particularly
provides no uninstall feature, and puts its code in homepage-hijackers and diallers, execute by ex-
unexpected and hidden places to make it difficult to ploiting security holes in Internet Explorer. Ways of
remove. And this can be pretty annoying. What getting these scripts to execute are not supposedly
ought be done? possible, if only due to some limitations in the
There are numbers of anti spyware programs browser code.
that can detect and remove unwanted software You can do your best to guard against this by
from your computer. Lavasoft Ad-Aware, Spybot ensuring you have the latest updates and patches
Search & Destroy (S&D), Webroot Software’s Spy from Microsoft. Still, there are usually a handful of
Sweeper, and other enterprise-level programs. security holes that have not been yet corrected, so
As any medic would say, prevention is better you can never be 100% sure you are safe.
than cure. Where does spyware come from? Well, At any rate, most attacks of spyware are on
there are several sources and you should be aware Windows. I

Volume 39 • Number 3 29
 N E
AFGHANISTAN
SUICIDE BOMBER
KILLS 27
Twenty-seven people
were killed including the
Kabul police Chief in an ex-
plosion at a mosque in
Kandahar, Southern Af-
ghanistan last June 1.
Initial reports revealed
that one man entered the
mosque and blew himself
up causing the death of
many church-goers and a
lot people were injured. At
least 50 people were inside
the mosque when the blast
occurred during the funeral
for Mullah Abdul Fayaz, a
top cleric who was also shot
dead.
CHINA
CATHOLICS IN
CHINA CELEBRATE
CORPUS CHRISTI
Chinese Catholics cel-
ebrated the annual feast of
Corpus Christ with great
fervour and in great num-
bers. In a letter for the occa-
sion published earlier Arch-
bishop Cheng of Taipei
encouraged Catholics to
make faith-life be ever more
part of daily life and he
asked: “Does the Eucharist
have a concrete impact on
our daily life? In the Eucha-
rist de we experience close
union with the Lord Jesus
Christ?”
Calling everyone to take
part in the Corpus Christi
procession on May 28 the
Archbishop said he hoped
the witness would help “our
non Christian brothers and
sisters see that Christ is an
essential part of our life”
and he called on clergy and
religious to be ‘leaven’ in
the ‘dough’ of the world. In
response to the
Archbishop’s call Catholics
turned up in great numbers
30 IMPACT • June 2005
W S
to take part in the proces-
sion which wove its way
through the streets like a
great river. (Fides Service
06/02/05)
IRAQ
IRAQ PRIME
MINISTER’S BODY-
GUARD AMONG 9
DEAD IN CAR
BOMB
A body guard of Iraq
Deputy Prime Minister
Rowsch Nouri Shaways was
among the 9 people killed in
a car bomb explosion in Tuz
Khormato, a town 55 miles
south of the northern oil
city of Kirkuk, of Iraq on
June 2.
Police investigation re-
vealed that the car bomb
was targeting a restaurant
where bodyguards of Iraq’s
Kurdish deputy prime min-
ister were eating. At least 25
people were also wounded
including Shaways’ six
bodyguards.
PAKISTAN
GOV'T URGED TO
PROMOTE PEACE,
INTER-RELIGIOUS
HARMONY
Lahore (Fides Service) -
There is tension in the
southern Pakistan port of
Karach where violent dis-
order followed a suicide
bomb on 30 May which dev-
astated the Mandinatul Ilm
Shiite mosque in the district
of Gulshan-e-Iqbal. After
the bomb blast groups of
extremists set fire to a res-
taurant belonging to an
American chain of heating
houses located near the
mosque. Six people were
burned alive in the fire and
in the suicide bomb attack
five were killed including
the two suicide bombers
B R I E F S
and at least 18 people were
injured.
Christian leaders have
called on the government
to take stronger measures
to protect citizens of all re-
ligions. Waseem Anthony,
a Catholic who heads the
independent Commission
for Peace and Develop-
ment” condemned the sui-
cide attack and called on
the government not only to
increase security but to
“implement in society
programmes and initiatives
to promote social and inter-
religious harmony.”
THAILAND
4 TERRORISM SUS-
PECTS ACQUITTED
A criminal court here ac-
quitted four alleged mem-
bers of the Jemaah Islamiyah
terrorist group accused of
plotting to bomb five for-
eign embassies that threat-
ened the national security.
The court claimed the
lack of evidence to prove
the charges lodged against
Waewmahadi Waedao, 48,
a doctor and owner of a drug
store, Maisuri Hai
Abdulloh, 52, owner of an
Islamic religious school, and
his son Muyahi, 23, and
Samarn Waekaji, 52. They’ll
remain in jail pending an
appeal by the attorney-
general’s office.
VIETNAM
AUSTRALIAN
DRUG SMUGGLER
JAILED IN VIET-
NAM
An Australian man of
Vietnamese origin has been
sentenced for 20 years im-
prisonment by a court in
Vietnam’s central Phu Yen
province for drug smug-
gling, AFP news said on
June 2.
The source said that
Tony Tran, 43, was found
guilty of sending 200 grams
of heroin by post to Austra-
lia. His accomplice, Le Thi
Van, 33, was jailed for 15
years. The two were arrested
in May 2004 in Ho Chi Minh
City.
S. KOREA
BRUNIE, CHILE,
N.Z., SINGAPORE
STRIKE 4-WAY FTA
CHEJU, June 3 Kyodo -
Representatives of Brunei,
Chile, New Zealand and
Singapore announced Fri-
day they have successfully
concluded negotiations for
a four-way free trade pact,
which they hope will build
‘’a bridge between Latin
America, the Pacific and
Asia.’’
The accord dubbed the
Trans-Pacific Strategic Eco-
nomic Partnership Agree-
ment, which will make more
than 90 percent of trade
between the four countries
duty free, is expected to
come into force on Jan. 1,
2006, subject to the comple-
tion of each country’s do-
mestic process, a joint state-
ment said.
WASHINGTON
CHINA EYES STOP-
PING FOOD AID IF
N. KOREA TEST
NUKE
China has warned North
Korea that it will have to
consider stopping food aid
if Pyongyang carries out a
nuclear arms test, six-party
talks and U.S. government
sources said Thursday.
If suspended, it will deal
a heavy blow to North Ko-
rea, which relies on the Chi-
nese aid to cover 30-40 per-
cent of its food shortage.
(June 2 Kyodo News)
 CBCPWorld Corporation
CBCP Building 9/F Summit I Building
470 Gen. Luna Street Shaw Boulevard
Intramuros, 1002 Manila PHILIPPINES Mandaluyong City PHILIPPINES
www.cbcpworld.com Telefax: (632) 404-1612
friends@cbcpworld.com Phone: (632) 7183721
content@cbcpworld.com Fax: (632) 533-4052
+639209205848

Volume 39 • Number 3 31
32 IMPACT • June 2005