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BISHOP LUIS ANTONIO TAGLE: NEW ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA

2011-10-13T05:59:00.000-07:00

CBCP NEWS

MANILA, October 13, 2011

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Imus Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle, a known theologian, as the new archbishop of Manila.

At 54, Tagle will succeed Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales who served the influential post for eight years.

Archbishop-elect Tagle’s appointment was officially announced in Rome on October 13 at 12:00 noon (6:00 pm, Manila time).

The information was officially received by the Media Office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Thursday in a communiqué from the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila.

“I write to inform you that the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has appointed His Excellency Most Reverend Luis Antonio Tagle, until now Bishop of Imus, as Archbishop of Manila,” said Monsignor Gabor Pinter, Charge D’ Affaires.

Rosales, who just turned 79 years old last August 16, earlier said that the Vatican has already accepted his resignation early this year and was just waiting for his successor to be named.

The cardinal submitted his resignation in 2007 when he turned 75, the mandatory retirement age for prelates, but the pontiff extended his term indefinitely.

Born in Manila on June 21, 1957, Tagle took his Philosophy and Theology at the Ateneo De Manila University’s San Jose Major Seminary.

He was ordained to the priesthood on February 27, 1982, at the age of 25.

From 1985 to 1992, he was sent for further studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. where he earned his Doctorate in Sacred Theology.

Since 1997, Tagle is a member of the International Theological Commission of the Vatican. In 1998, he was an expert at the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Asia that took place in Rome.

On December 12, 2001, he was ordained Bishop of Imus. Since then, his activities have been as numerous as in the past. He travels throughout the country in answer to many invitations as a speaker.

At the Synod of Bishops held in Rome in 2005, he was elected member of the post-synodal Council and assistant to Cardinal Angelo Scola, general reporter of this Synod.

Tagle is currently the chairman of the Commission on Doctrine of the Faith of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

No date yet has been set for the installation of the new Manila archbishop.

CURRICULUM VITAE click here

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Source: http://www.cbcpnews.com/?q=node%2F17213

PRAYER OF COMMITMENT

2011-09-06T20:18:00.000-07:00

PRAYER OF COMMITMENT

A MILLION ROSES FOR THE WORLD FILIPINOS AT PRAYER, PEACE FOR ALL NATIONS

ALMIGHTY GOD,

WE ADORE YOU AND WE PRAISE YOU

FOR BLESSING MARY AMONG ALL WOMEN

AND CREATING HER FULL OF GRACE.

THROUGH MARY,

WE RECEIVED JESUS YOUR SON

WHOSE BIRTH HAS MADE ALL THINGS NEW FOR US HERE ON EARTH.

WE SEEK YOUR BLESSING THROUGH HER PRAYING HANDS,

SO THAT PEACE MAY REIGN IN THE WORLD

AND HARMONY MAY BE ESTABLISHED AMONG ALL NATIONS.

I COMMIT TO PRAY THE ROSARY EVERYDAY,

AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WITH MY FAMILY,

FOR EACH AND EVERY NATION ON EARTH

SO THAT WAR MAY END,

FAMINE MAY CEASE,

TERRORISM MAY STOP,

JUSTICE MAY REIGN

AND ONLY YOUR LOVE AND MERCY MAY PREVAIL.

I COMMIT TO LIVE IN THE STATE OF GRACE,

TO AVOID ALL OCCASIONS OF SIN

AND TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION

AS FREQUENTLY AS MY SITUATION MAY ALLOW

SO THAT YOUR NAME MAY BE GLORIFIED

AND ALL PEOPLES MAY KNEEL DOWN BEFORE YOU GOD OF PEACE

IN WORSHIP, ADORATION AND THANKSGIVING

NOW AND FOREVER.

AMEN

IMPRIMATUR: THE MOST REV. SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS, D.D.

ARCHBISHOP OF LINGAYEN-DAGUPAN

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Source: http://www.millionrosesfortheworld.com/prayer.html

A MILLION ROSES FOR THE WORLD

2011-09-06T18:49:00.000-07:00

A MILLION ROSES A DAY…FOR ALL PEOPLES…IN EVERY NATION…FILIPINOS AT PRAYER…REACHING OUT TO THE WORLD

In response to our theme for this year ―FRC Reaching Out to the World‖, the 60th National Assembly of the Family Rosary Crusade adopted by acclamation the Project that we are launching today: A MILLION ROSES FOR THE WORLD.

We are enlisting One Million Filipinos to pray five decades of the Holy Rosary everyday from October 10, 2011 to May 30, 2012, each day from Monday to Saturday dedicated to one nation in the world while the Sunday Rosary if reserved for our own families and nation, the Philippines.

The goal is to bring all the people is all the nations of the world to Jesus and His Father and the Holy Spirit…through Mary Our Blessed Mother …to bring His Peace, Love, Joy and tranquility to every people and every nation, no matter how great or how small, as a gift of love, faith and goodwill from the people of the Philippines.

Pope Pius XI once said: ―Give me an army praying a million rosaries a day and we will conquer the world. We are not out to conquer the world…but to save it for God to whom it rightly belongs.

In almost every nation in the world, the Catholic Church and its faithful is facing a confrontation against the evil forces of secularism. The late Pope John Paul II, now Blessed, foretold this ―final confrontation with the Church and the anti-Church, the Gospel and the anti-Gospel‖ which he said would be ―the greatest battle in the history of the Church. Pope Benedict XVI has decried the spreading secularism in the Church. He warns of threatening clouds in the horizon, and not for us to lose heart, but to keep the flame of hope alive amid the increasing apostasy. The world needs our prayers. And we need to pray also for our families and our own country.

Let this be out contribution…Filipinos at Prayer…Reaching Out to the World…To All Peoples… In Every Nation…With Love and Brotherhood… in Faith, Joy and Goodwill…A World at Prayer is a World at Peace.

Ambassador Howard Dee

Co-Chairman

A Million Roses for the World

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Source: http://www.millionrosesfortheworld.com/Resources/AMRoW_2011Aug18.pdf

http://www.millionrosesfortheworld.com/

CATECHETICAL MONTH THEME AND POSTER: 2011

2011-09-06T06:46:00.000-07:00

BE FIRM IN FAITH

2011-08-20T20:43:00.000-07:00

Pope Benedict XVI has complained that modern society has a certain "amnesia" about God as he lamented the dwindling of the faith during a visit to Spain, a once staunchly Catholic country that has seen the church’s grip on society fall dramatically since the end of the Fascist dictatorship of Francisco Franco.

Benedict was speaking Friday in general terms about the secularization that has taken hold in much of the West in a speech to a few hundred adoring young nuns gathered in El Escorial monastery, a UNESCO world heritage site about 30 miles (50 kilometers) northwest of the capital.

Benedict, in Spain to celebrate the church’s World Youth Day, told them their decisions to dedicate their lives to their faith was a potent message for today’s world.

"This is all the more important today when we see a certain eclipse of God taking place, a kind of amnesia which albeit not an outright rejection of Christianity is nonetheless a denial of the treasure of our faith, a denial that could lead to the loss of our deepest identity," he said.

Today, August 21, Pope Benedict XVI will lead the Papal Mass at the Cuatro Vientos Airfield as part of the closing ceremonies of the World Youth Day attended by at least two million people, including bishops, priests, and the rest of the delegates, including Filipinos.

In today’s final mass, the Pope is expected to urge the younger generation of Catholics to become "witnesses to their faith."

At the end of the final mass, the Holy Father is set to announce the country which will host the next World Youth Day.

Benedict’s main priority as Pope has been to try to reawaken Christianity in places like Spain. He has traveled here three times as Pope – an indication that he views it as a key battleground in his bid to remind Europe of its Christian heritage and the need for God to retake a place in daily life.

Like in much of Europe, the church in Spain has seen its influence wane in recent decades: Its stance on women, equality, gay rights, and abortion have alienated an increasingly educated and sophisticated middle class.

But Spain’s religious apathy also stems from the memories of its 1936-1939 civil war and aftermath, when the church was tightly linked to Franco’s repressive government, which ended in 1978.

Franco’s military revolt pitted Spain’s conservative aristocracy, some of its army and church against a left-leaning democratically elected Republican government.

Internecine violence led to churches being burned and dozens of priests and nuns being murdered in a conflict that saw atrocities committed on all sides.

After the war and because of its support of Franco, the church was granted many privileges, including a major role in overseeing public education.

A vestige of the war is the Valley of the Fallen, a monumental mausoleum Franco built for himself about 2 kilometers (1.5 miles) east of El Escorial. Though he was in the area Friday, Benedict made no stop at the monument, which is popular with tourists but remains a painful and divisive reminder for many Spaniards of the war and its aftermath.

Spain’s Socialist government would like to defuse the overtly victorious monument and transform it into a symbol of reconciliation.

Government ministers met on Friday with top Vatican officials and sought the church’s help in this transformation. Spanish private news agency Europa Press, citing government officials, said the Vatican had expressed "great openness" and "maximum comprehension" to the idea.

Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi confirmed the proposal had been raised and received attention during the meeting with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican No. 2. But he said he couldn’t make any comment on the Vatican’s reaction.

Despite Benedict’s oft-repeated lament about the disappearance of God from daily life in Europe, he has no better evidence that Catholicism is alive and well than the World Youth Day celebrations under way in Madrid, the reason he is here.

Some 500,000 people from nearly 200 countries have signed up to participate in the weeklong prayer fest, which the church sees as a way to spread the faith to new generations. News reports say nearly twice as many may take part in the final Mass on Sunday.

Twelve lucky participants had lunch with the Pope Friday, including 29-year-old Sylvie Kambau, from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kambau, who presented Benedict with a wooden statue, said the luncheon was "magnificent."

"He was a very simple person, very accessible," she told Associated Press Television News. "He received us like a father with his simplicity. He listened to us, he listened to us more than he spoke to us and it was a fantastic moment we had with him."

Late Friday, Benedict participated in a re-enactment of the death and crucifixion of Christ, a mainstay of World Youth Days. Meditations read out during the solemn service included prayers for young victims of war, poverty and sexual abuse, though there was no explicit reference to sexual abuse by priests.

In the Philippines, young people are holding simultaneous World Youth Day vigil at the Ateneo de Manila University campus in Quezon City until today. The event called "World Youth Day 2011: Madrid to Manila," is a manifestation that apart from the millions of people assembled in Madrid, millions of young Filipino Catholics share their faith and their aspirations.

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Source:

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/331459/be-firm-faith-pope

NORA AUNOR: SA AKING PALAD

2011-08-04T08:54:00.000-07:00

Hawak ko ba si Nora Aunor o ako ang nahahawakan niya?
Nasa palad ko ba ang maging tagahanga ni Nora Aunor or nasa kanyang palad na ako ay maging tagahanga niya?

Nitong mga nakaraang lingo, muli na namang pinaikot ni Nora ang kanyang makulay na daigdig. Laman siya ng mga balita sa dyaryo, tebisyon o maging sa radyo. Pinag-uusapan ang kanyang pagbabalik sa Pilipinas mula sa pitong taong pamamalagi sa Amerika.

Sa araw na ito, ika-2 ng Agosto, nakatakda ang pag-uwi ng tinaguriang nag-iisang Superstar ng Pilipinas. Mula sa Los Angeles, California, lulan ng eroplanong may flight number na PR 103, ihahatid siya sa Ninoy Aquino International Airport [NAIA] sa takdang oras na 3:38 ng umaga.

Nagbubunyi ang lahat lalong lalo na ang mga Noranians [tawag sa mga tagahanga ni Nora Aunor] at mga kanyang kaibigan sa loob at sa labas Philippine Entertainment Industry.

Maging ang panahon ay nakikiisa sa kanyang pagbabalik. Tulad ng orkestra, isang musika na may sariling ritmo ang kulog at kidlat at tagiktik ng ulan. Sa iba, ito ay tanda ng isang biyaya. Tama, isang biyaya ang pagdating ni Nora Aunor at isang biyaya sa kanya ang muling makapiling ang kanyang mga anak, kapatid, kaibigan at mga tagahanga.

Kasama ang aking mga kaibigan, tulad ng gabi, mahimbing ang paligid na dumating kami sa NAIA na sa ilang oras lamang ay magigising, magsasaya at magugulo ng isang Nora Aunor. Hindi nga ako nagkamali, ang NAIA ay naging Nora Aunor International Airport.

Inabutan namin sa NAIA ang mga ilang tagahanga ni Ate Guy [Nora Aunor] sa ilalim ng grupong Grand Alliance of Nora Aunor Philippines [GANAP]. Mababanaag sa kanilang mukha at maagang pagdating sa arrival area ng NAIA ang kanilang pananabik na masilayan muli ang kanilang hinahangaan. Dala-dala ang banner ng kanilang pagkakakalinlan at mga larawan ni Nora Aunor, pinagpipistahan sila nga mga cameraman at reporter mula sa estasyon ng telebisyon: Kapamilya [Chennel 2], Kapuso [Channel 7] at KAPATID [TV5].

Ilang sandali pa, dumating naman ang isang hukbo ng mga tagahanga ni Nora, ang Federation of Nora Aunor Followers, Inc.. Kung ang GANAP ay nakasuot na kulay bughaw, kulay luntian naman ang kasuotan ng mga taga-Federation. Kung paano pinagpistahan ang mga GANAP, gayundin ang Federation.

Sa mga naghihintay sa pagsalubong kay Ate Guy, may ilang grupo pa ng mga tagahanga at kaibigan na naroon. Ito ang International Circle of Online Noranians [ICON] at Nora’s Fans and Friends [NFF].

Naroon din si Kuya Germs [German Moreno] at ilang tao mula sa TV5 upang salubungin ang ating Superstar.

Isang oras bago ang pagdating ni Nora Aunor, nakapuwesto na sa kanilang lugar ang mga cameraman at reporter. Nakatutok ang mga kamera sa lalabasang pinto ni Nora. Nakahelera na rin ang mga Noranians sa kanilang lugar. Ang taong susundo sa kanilang mga kamag-anak mula sa ibang bansa, nakiisa na rin. Nakatutok ang mata sa tatlong TV screen sa kanilang harapan kung saan makikita ang paglabas ni Ate Guy. Di pa man dumarating, pangalang NORA ang sigaw na iyong maririnig sa paligid. Kahit ang ibang mga kapatid nating balikbayan ay kumukuha ng bidyo at piktyur sa mga eksenang nangyayari sa paligid.

Tahimik lamang ako nag-aabang sa isang sulok. Napapangiti at natatawa sa mga eksenang aking nakikita at naririnig. Ngunit, naroon ang excitement na hindi lamang makita in person si Nora kundi, tulad ng isang kapatid, sabik na makasama ang kapatid.

Ilang saglit lamang, niyanig ang lugar ng malakas na hiyawan, tanda ng parating na si Ate Guy. Nakita na namin siya sa TV screen kasama si Kuya Germs. Nagkagulo na ang mga cameramen. Pinaligiran agad siya ng mga ito sa kanyang paglabas ng pintuan. At dahil din sa kaliitan ni Nora, hindi na namin siya makita. Halos tumigil ang business sa NAIA. Lahat nakatutok kay Nora. Lahat gustong lumapit sa kanya.

Habang papalapit sa aming lugar, hindi ko alam ang aking gagawin kundi ang kuhanan siya ng larawan. Nang malapit na siya sa kinatatayuan namin at nang makakita ng butas na pwedeng lusutan, bigla siyang tumakbo at niyakap ang kanyang mga fans at kaibigan. Dito na nagsimula ang mga madamdaming tagpo. “Nora! Nora! Nora! Ate Guy! Ate Guy! Ate Guy!. . .” mga katagang maririnig mo habang niyayapos ni Nora ang mga tagahanga gayundin ng mga tagahanga si Nora.

Nakatutok ang mga kamera na para bang gustong kunan ang bawat detalye. Nakaalalay din kay Nora ang mga taong nasa likod niya. Tumulo ang luha ni Nora. Iyakan ang ibang tagahanga. Maaring dahilan sa pananabik sa isa’t-isa. Dahil mararamdaman mo ang pagmamahal ng Superstar sa kanyang mga taga-hanga. Dinala ang mga tagpong ito sa pagpasok ni Nora sa van na naghihintay sa kanya sa labas ng NAIA. Ngunit hindi dito nagtatapos ang lahat. Nagsisimula pala lamang dito ang isa nanamang yugto sa makulay na daigdig ni Nora at kanyang mga tagahanga at kaibigan.

Hindi lamang isang aksidente ang ako ay maging tagahanga sa nag-iisang Nora Aunor. Hindi rin isang aksidente ang ako ay maging bahagi ng buhay ni Nora, bagkus, ito ay plano ng Diyos, na siyang nagbigay ng talino at talento kay Nora. Ang unang nagpakita ng paghanga at pagmamahal kay Nora. Ang patuloy na nagibigay ng lakas ng loob upang sa pamamagitang ng talento ni Nora ay mapapurihan natin ang Diyos. Ika-2 ng Agosto, ito ang araw ng ginawa ng Panginoon upang tyo ay magsaya at magalak.

Si Nora Aunor man ang nagpapa-inog ng aking mundo, o ako man ang may hawak kay Nora, isang katotohanan ang babalik-balikan, na tayong lahat ay nasa palad ng Diyos. Siya ang nagpapagalaw kay Nora. Siya ang nagpapagalaw sa akin at sa iyo. Kaya. anuman ang kalooban ng Diyos, mangyari nawa ito sa atin.

NORA AUNOR: A FORCE IN THE RECORD INDUSTRY

2011-07-15T19:05:00.000-07:00

By Tim Capellan

In 1968, a little girl from Bicol was contracted by Alpha Records upon the recommendation of Carmen Soriano. Her name was Nora Villamayor, known to *Tawag ng Tanghalan, a popular local amateur singing contest (Challenge of the Champions), followers as Nora Aunor.

This marked the beginning of the Golden Age of Local Recording. Although Nora's first singles were not major hits, she smashed all record sales with her series of hits which included "It's Time to Say Goodbye", "Silently", "Forever Loving You", "It's Not Unusual", and countless others. In her seven years with Alpha, she was able to set all-time high record sales which up to this day have not been surpassed. She had more than 100 hit singles, more than 15 hit albums, and several extended plays. At the height of her popularity as a recording artist, local records soared up to 75% of national sales.

The well-manicured lawn of a private villa and the breathtaking view of Taal Volcano could have been a perfect venue to conceptualize an excellent storyline. While there were no sexy bodies and white sands in my contemporary haven for the holy week break, it was nevertheless refreshing and stimulating stay. It was a week of abstinence but I never thought that my imagination and creativity would also be on a fasting mood. I suspect that the food prepared by the chef failed to stimulate my creative muscles. I should try avoiding organically grown lettuce, and maybe the pate is yummy for the bread but an antidote to one’s power to generate ideas. My editor is frantic for I have to submit an article about the contribution of the country’s one and only Superstar in the music industry. This is not an easy assignment because I am not an authority in the music scene. Also, the mere thought of writing about Nora Aunor sends differing signals to my spine.

I have confession to make: it is only now that I am beginning to collect the albums of Nora Aunor. Hey before you brand me an intruder in the Nora camp, let me explain. I was only one year old when the superstar stormed the Philippine music industry. My introduction to her music was when I was in grade one when our teacher taught us to dance “Pearly Shells.” After “Lupang Hinirang,” “Pearly Shells” was the next song that the entire class memorized. I would discover later on that in every school program, a Hawaiian number in the tune of Pearly Shells is a must -- no wonder a small cottage industry was developed: production and sales of grass skirts.

How do we define the music of Nora Aunor?

One critic posted that even if Nora Aunor is just delivering the most mundane line, she seems to be humming a tune. That her melodious voice soothes the senses. A diminutive woman, Nora Aunor is not a belter. She is not fond of making obstrusive body movements to win her audience. What she gives is pure magic which is unadulterated and simply captivating. Her numerous musical forays confirmed the views of experts that Nora Aunor need not do vocal calisthenics and don flashy outfits to connect with her audience. Few years ago, I was part of the supercilious crowd that trooped to the Captain’s Bar of Mandarin Oriental to watch her intimate lounge performance. The audience that evening was a far cry from the banner toting Noranians who would shout till their larynx collapses, but a performed set wanting to confirm if the golden voice of the brown Cinderella is still there. The verdict: the audience was mesmerized and convinced that indeed, the voice that catapulted her to prominence did not wane but in fact improved. It had a renewed timbre, a reflection of a more matured artists. She gave justice to her jazzy numbers, she had the audience dancing to their feet with her fast numbers, and she held everyone spellbound when she crooned a medley of emotion-filled songs.

It would be remembered that her sold-out concert Handog ni Guy in 1990 was her first live outing since the axing of her Superstar show. Weeks before the concert, she was terribly afraid if she could deliver. An insider even related that minutes before the big event, the Superstar was too terrified and was copiously nervous. However, when the strong 17,000 plus audience welcomed her with a standing ovation, her magic simply enveloped the sweaty coliseum, and again she connected well through her music. Few months after the mammoth event, her Handog ni Guy…Live album was given the gold record award. Clear manifestation that 20 years after she released her fist album her fans and believer still treasure her music.

Nora Aunor’s music is without doubt her passport to fame and success. Since winning the Liberty Big Show in 1964 in Camarines Sur to being declared 14 weeks champion of Darigold Bulilit Show in 1965 until her winning the Tawag ng Tanghalan in 1967, there was no looking back for the Superstar. She reshaped the Philippine music scene.

Since 1969 to date, Nora Aunor has recorded more than 500 songs and has won about 23 major music awards. She has recorded all types of songs ranging from native songs (Dandansoy, Sinisinta Kita, Sarungbanggi), Pinoy love songs (Buhat, Kapantay ay Langit, Superstar ng Buhay Ko), Visayan songs (Banikanhon and Gugmang Timawa), Christmas albums (Mama Cita, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus), country songs (Langit Pala ang Umibig), movie theme songs (Kahit na Konting Awa, Bongga Ka Day, Muling Umawit ang Puso) and duets with Tirso Cruz III, Christopher de Leon, Manny de Leon and Cocoy Laurel.

It would be noted that she was most prolific during the 70s churning out more than 40 albums. She holds the record of selling more than a million copies of a single song (Pearly Shells), a monster hit in 1971. It is a known fact that the music of Nora Aunor brought millions to the coffers of Alpha Records. This feat is unprecedented in the recording industry because it only took a single singer to build a recording empire. The 70s is characterized by political uncertainties with foreign singers dominating the airwaves. However, the entry of Nora Aunor changed the beat of that era by delivering million of sales for her records surpassing those of Beatles, the Supremes and Jackson Five. In the consumer’s hierarchy of needs, a Nora vinyl is included in the priority list. It is safe to say that it was Nora Aunor who helped fuel the micro-economy that is the music industry during that turbulent era. Until today, no single Filipino celebrity can claim to have affected the industry and the economy as a whole other than Nora Aunor.

A review of Nora Aunor’s discography revealed that while she slowed down in recording songs in the 80s, she never failed to release at least one album every decade. In the 90s, she had Handog ni Guy…Live (Wea 1991), The Power of Love (Big Record 1991), Langit Pala ang Umibig (Aguilar Records 1994), Superstar ng Buhay Ko (Vicor 1994), Muling Umawit ang Puso (Viva 1995), Viva Films Great Movie Themes (Viva 1996), OPM Timeless Collections (OctoArts 1998) and Thanks for Being a Friend (Alpha 1999). Her latest recording Heal our Land and Aking Mahal (Viva and Artistika Records 2001) still continue to enjoy brisk sales, a testament to her bankability as a recording artist.

A lot has been said about Nora Aunor, but to millions of Filipinos, she is already part of our nation’s history, and her legacy will forever be etched in our collective memory. As a singer, she has expressed and interpreted the many songs of our lives — joys, frustrations and aspirations. Her umbilical cord is attached to the millions of people that she has touched and inspired through her music. To review and analyze her reign as musical genius is to write an incomplete executive summary for she remains relevant and forever be a force in the music industry.

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**Tim A. Capellan is the Managing Director of InAsia Management and Consultancy, a respected retail and marketing consulting firm in the country. He is based in Manila, Philippines.

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Source: http://www.nora-icon.com/music_home.html

A PRAYER FOR CATECHISTS

2011-06-05T04:52:00.000-07:00

We pray you, Almighty Father for our catechists.

Increase their number.

Unite them to you then they shall be holy and will draw others to you.

In our world, confuse and restless as it is - you have chosen them and made them messengers of your saving Truth; to be echoes of your Word in the hearts of the people of their times.

May they radiate you and present themselves as your witnesses in their words and their deeds.

Lord Jesus, grant our catechists the grace to realize in their lives the mystery of your death and resurrection which they celebrate as they partake in that mystery full of wonder - the holy sacrifice of the Mass.

May they constantly draw from this mystery a great concern for the salvation of the world.

Grant them an extraordinary love for your one, holy, catholic Church.

Where there is no love - let them bring love: to the poor and little; to all who hunger for the bread of God's Word.

Come Holy Spirit, we have need to be taught by you in all things.

Be with our catechists so that they may teach as Jesus taught.

Console them in their weariness; strengthen their spirit - that in you and through you that they may live the faith and even die for it - as did Saint Lorenzo Ruiz.

Amen.

Kwentuhan sa pag-uugnay ng bawat isang kabataan

2011-06-04T09:25:00.000-07:00

Katangi-tangi ang karanasan ng bawat isang kabataan. Lagi silang nagsisimula sa ordinaryong karanasan ng isang karaniwang tao na common sa bawat isa. Nais nilang ipakita na ang pag-unawa ay uprooted sa ating konteksto ng pagdanas nila sa kanilang mga karanasan. Isa sa mga karanasan na direkta nilang hinahambing ang pag-unawa ay ang ordinaryong pakikipagkwentuhan. Walang sinuman ang may hawak o may control ng patutunguhan ng kwentuhan. Laging dinadala ang nag-uusap sa isang katotohanan na hindi nila kapwa sinasadya. Sa paghahambing na ito, nagkaroon modernindad na ang pag-unawa ang mga kabataan sa bawat isa.

Hindi maaring magkaroon ng kwentuhan kapag isa lamang ang nagsasalita. Ang kwentuhan ay laging binubuo ng dalawa o higit pang tao na mayroong kagandahang-loob. Kagandahang-loob sapagkat kapwa may pagtanggap ng bawat isa sa pagkatao ng kausap. Nag-uusap ang dalawang tao sapagkat mayroon silang paksang pinaguusapan. Ito ay hindi lamang tungkol sa kanilang sarili. Ito ay mas mabigat pa kaysa sa dalawang nag-uusap. Ang paksa ay isang tanong na nangangailangan ng isang matinong sagot. Sa kwentuhan may palitan ng kaniya-kaniyang opinyon, magkasalungat man o hindi. Kaya nga sa pangyayari ng pag-unawa, kapwa mayroong pagbabagong nagaganap sa dalawang nagkwentuhan sa kanilang pagtingin sa isang bagay. Mayroong paglawak ang kanilang mga abot-tanaw.

Ang tao ang umuunawa ayon sa kaniyang karanasan sa daigdig. Bagamat limitado mayroon silang paunang pag-angkin sa isang katotohanan na maaring sangkap sa pagbuo ng malawak na pagtingin sa katotohanan. Kaya nga, ang pagsapit sa katotohanan ng ating pag-unawa ay hindi lamang nagmumula sa isang suggestion. Ito ay nabubuo sa pamamgitan ng palitan ng pag-unawa at pagkakasundo ng dalawang taong nag-uusap.

Sumasapit sa pag-unawa ang nagkukukwentuhan sapagkat bukas ang bawat isa sa opinyon ng kausap. Mayroon silang kahandaan na tanggapin ang pagpapahayag ng bawat isa bilang may taglay na halaga at karunungan. Kaya nga mas makahulugan kung tatawagin nating “katapat” ang kakukwentuhan. Katapat sapagkat ang kausap ay hindi lamang nakaharap sa kausap. Ka-tapat, ibig sabihin, siya ay katulad kong tapat. Ang dalawang nag-uusap ay buong tapat na nagsasalaysay at nag-aako ng kaniya-kaniyang karanasan. Kapwa nila dinadala ang kanilang mga sarili sa tagpo ng pakikipagkwentuhan .

Ang ang pagkakasundo ay nangyayari hindi lamang dahil magkatulad ang pananaw ng dalawang nag-uusap. Ito ay nagaganap din sa pagitan ng dalawang magkaibang pananaw. Maari ito sapagkat, tulad ng sinasabi na laging mayroong paggalang at pagtanggap ang bawat isa sa kaibahan ng opinyon ng iba. Tinitimbang ng bawat isa ang argumento ng kausap at pinag-iisipan. Hindi nila ipinapataw ang kanilang mga sariling pananaw. Ang pagkakasundo sa sitwasyong ito ay pagkakasundo na sila ay hindi magkasundo.

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Neil Catapang, Katekista ng Archdiocese of Manila [Area of Samapaloc]

Love Encounter at CFAM Youth Day

2011-06-04T09:07:00.000-07:00

Tunay na makapangyarihan ang pag-ibig o pagmamahal, nagagawa nito ang lahat ng mga bagay na imposible sa possible. Katulad nang nangyari sa katatapos pa lamang na CFAM Youth Day noong nakaraang ika-19 ng Mayo, 2011 na ginanap sa Nazarene Catholic School. Dito ang imposible ay naging posible sa pamamagitan sa pagtugon sa tawag ng pag-ibig ng Diyos sa bawat kabataan dumalo sa naturang CFAM youth day.

Mahigit 600 na kabataan ang nakiisa, nakisayaw sa Araw ng mga Kabataan na ito. Ang bawat Diyosesis ng Metropolitan Manila ay may kanya-kanyang delegado sa pagdiriwang ng mga kabataan. Ang temang “God’s Plan of Love for Humanity” ay “in” na “in” sa mga kabataan sapagakat pinag-usapan dito kung ano ang salitang “love” o pag-ibig na nararanasan ng bawat isang kabataan na natutong umibig at magmahal.

Maraming kabataan ang sumubok na umibig, sila ay nabigo at nagtagumpay sa tawag sa larangan ng pag-ibig ngunit hindi sila sumusuko na tuklasin ang dulot na kaligayahan nito. Sa pagbabahagi ni Fr. Michell Joe Zerrudo tungkol sa pag-ibig marami ang naka-relate at kinilig at lahat ay interesado na pakinggan ang bawat salitang binibitawan niya.

Sinabi ni Fr. Jojo na ang pag-ibig ay isang napaka-makapangyarihang puwersa na handa ang lahat na subukin ito. Sinabi pa niya na kailangang ang bawat isa ay marunong mag- sakripisyo at maging malikhain sa pagtuklas ng pag-ibig. Kitang kita sa mga mukha ng mga kabataan na lumahok ang kagalakan sa mga narinig na ibinahagi ni Fr. Jojo.

May mga kabataan nagsulat sa kanilang kuwaderno, nagrecord sa kanilang mga cell phone at higit sa lahat ang iba naman ay na in- love na yata dahil hindi mapakali sa paglingon at paghahanap ng kanilang matitipuhan. Sa pagtatapos ng pagbabahagi ni Fr. Jojo, may iniwan siyang mga katanungan na pagbabahaginan ng mga kabataan sa kanilang small group sharing activity. Ang unang katanungan ay ano ang “significance learning” ng pag-ibig sa nararanasan mo ngayon, ikalawa, anu-ano ang mga “challenges” sa iyo bilang kabataan, sa tingin mo ano ang magiging hadlang at ikatlo, ano ang gagawin mong “commitment” bilang isang kabataan.

Sa aking pagmamasid sa kanilang pagbabahaginan ng mga kanilang karanasan bilang mga kabataan, ay makikita mo ang kanilang pagiging bukas-palad na pagtanggap sa mga problema at kanila itong ipinapa sa Diyos na lamang. Likas sa kanilang kultura bilang kabataan ang magkaroon ng mga puppy love at crush. Marami sa mga kabataang kalahok sa nasabing youth day na sila ay pumasok na sa isang relasyon o ang boyfriend/girlfriend love relationship. Marami ang nagsasabi na sila ay nagtatagal at ang iba naman ay inaabot lamang ng dalawang buwan sa relasyon na ito, marami din naman sa mga kalahok sa youth day na nagsasabing sila ay single since birth o wala pa nasusubukan na karelasyon o di lang sila ligawin sa mga babae at sa mga kalalakihan naman ay nagsasabi na sila ay mahiyain pagdating sa panliligaw or “emo” tulad ng sinabi ng isang kabataan na mula pa sa Novaliches.

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Neil Catapang, Katekista ng Archdiocese of Manila [Area of Samapaloc]

MGA MATA NI NORA

2011-06-03T08:08:00.000-07:00

Nora Aunor

Katulad sa isang aklat na may maraming pahina
Ang mata nya'y maihahambing sa naroong kabanata
Iba't ibang kasaysayan ang doon ay mababadha
At sa iyong harapan ay bumubukas itong kusa

Basahin ang kanyang mata't may salitang inuusal
Tinig nito'y bumubulong mga natatanging bagay
Mga yugtong lumipas na't mga kahapong nagdaan
Ang ngayon at yaong bukas ay iyo ring matatanaw.

Hindi na nga kailangang bumukas pa kanyang bibig
At sa tainga mo'y idampi ang malamyos niyang tinig
Kamay man nya'y di igalaw o katawa'y itagilid
Mata n'ya ang mangungusap sa puso mo ay aantig.

Kayraming mga buhay nang nahipo ng kanyang mata
Kayrami ng nakaranas kalungkutan man at saya
Numingning man o lumamlam idilat man o isara
Tumatagos, umuukit sa diwa at kaluluwa.

Mata n'ya ang sa puso ko ay ang unang nagpatibok
Humabi ng pangarap at sa buhay ko ay lumilok
Magsara man yaong tabing at ang aklat ay tumiklop
Sa puso ko kanyang mata'y nakatayong parang moog.
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May Akda: Mercy Masangcay

CHARITY AND CONSCIENCE ON THE RH DEBATE

2011-05-25T18:58:00.000-07:00

Pastoral Statement of the Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan to be read as
the homily in all Masses on May 29, 2011, the Sixth Sunday of Easter.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

Love is the core of the message of Jesus in today’s gospel. Love is
indeed the trademark of the followers of Jesus. The Lord promises
further in the gospel that if we choose the path of love and keep His
commandments we will never be orphans.

The past few months have seen many of us who belong to the same Church
and who share the same faith in Christ at odds with one another on the
issue of the reproductive health bill in Congress. It is indeed sad
and perhaps even scandalous for non Christians to see the Catholic
flock divided among themselves and some members of the Catholic lay
faithful at odds with their own pastors. If we fail to have love, we
make ourselves orphans.

BRING BACK CHARITY

It is certainly not our intention to add more flame to the fire but
rather to make an appeal for the triumph of reason and sobriety. We
want to make a plea for greater charity even as we passionately state
our positions on this divisive issue. At the end of the heated
debates, we will all be winners if we proclaim the truths we believe
in with utmost charity, courtesy and respect for one another. Charity
is at the heart of the social doctrine of the Church Pope Benedict XVI
reminds us. In the first letter of Peter today, he admonishes us today
never to be without gentleness and reverence.

RETURN TO CONSCIENCE

We appeal to our Catholic brethren who stand on opposing sides on the
reproductive health bill to return to the voice of conscience, to
state their positions and rebut their opponents always with charity.
Today’s second reading is a call for clarity of conscience beyond
reproach. The moral conscience is man’s sanctuary through which the
voice of God is heard, that voice that tells us to embrace what is
good and reject what is evil. However, conscience is not the ultimate
tribunal of morality. Conscience must be formed in the light of truth.
Conscience must be enlightened by the Spirit of God. We appeal to both
sides engaged in debate to pray, to seek the light of God and allow
the voice of an enlightened conscience to prevail. We pray conscience
does now allow itself to be swayed by statistics or partisan political
positions. The only voice conscience must listen to is the voice of
God. The only way for conscience to speak is through the language of
Christ-like charity.

RESTORE UNITY

We appeal to our Catholic brethren to remember that the unity of the
Church does not only pertain to the acceptance of a set of doctrines.
Our Catholic faith has a moral mandate. It is not enough to recite the
Apostles’ Creed; we must show that we are Catholics by living by the
norms of Catholic morality. We are Catholics by creed and cult and
code. We are Catholics in beliefs. We are Catholics in prayer. We are
Catholics with one moral life.

In matters of faith, unity; in matters of opinion, liberty; in all
things charity!

The issue of contraception belongs to the realm of faith not opinions.
Blessed John Paul II repeatedly taught us during his papacy that
contraception can never be justified. We must not make wrong right by
the sheer force of surveys or legislation by the majority or the
convenience of some. People in authority who mislead others on the
matter of contraception put themselves in open conflict with the law
of God and lead others to sin.

FIGHT ALL CORRUPTIONS

The Church holds close to her heart the dream of everyone to rise out
of poverty and live the fullness of life. Pope Paul VI correctly
pointed out to us that “the causes of underdevelopment are not
primarily of the material order. They lie above all in the will, in
the mind and, even more so, in "the lack of brotherhood among
individuals and peoples". In other words, the greater cause of
underdevelopment is corruption of the soul and corruption of society.
Contraception adds to the moral corruption of our society and family.

We all want progress for the nation and for the family of nations. We
cannot progress without freedom. Jesus died and rose to set us free.
Indeed EDSA 1986 taught us that. But freedom must always be grounded
in truth. Freedom is not absolute. Freedom must submit to truth.
Freedom without truth is only sentimentalism and will only lead to
social laxity.

In fact, ethical relativism eventually leads to totalitarianism.
Ethical relativism destroys freedom. Ethical relativism turns freedom
into licentiousness. Licentiousness and laxity has destroyed many
great civilizations of history. Those who ignore the mistakes of
history are doomed to repeat them.

CHURCH AS MOTHER

We plead with our officials in government and our friends in media to
look at the Church as a partner in the mission of development. The
Catholic Church throughout its two thousand year history in the world
and almost five hundred years in the Philippines has proven itself as
a potent agent for holistic authentic human progress and not an
obstacle for development. If the Church issues this stern warning
about the reproductive health bill, it is not to impede national
progress but to protect our nation from greater harms and tragedies in
the generations ahead. On this highly divisive issue, the Church is
still a mother protecting her children from greater dangers and moral
traps which until now her beloved children are still unable to
foresee.

We need God if we want development. Jesus is the only Way, the only
Truth, the only Life for us. There is none like Him. We will be lost
without Him. Ignoring Him and setting Him aside in pursuing progress
we do only at our own peril.

From the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist, May 24, 2011, Feast
of Mary Help of Christians.

+SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS
Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan

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Source: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/home.php?sk=group_216971028320803&ap=1

Why pop-control is not the Solution to Poverty

2011-05-22T06:25:00.000-07:00

The main objective of a population program is to reduce fertility measured in terms of the number of children born of every woman. The means to achieve fertility reduction is to increase contraception, and sterilization (ligation). The persuasion is done mainly under the guise of health and well-being of women and family and are also directed at young people under the forms of anti-birth sex education programs from grade school to College level.

Population Policy is Anti-poor
The premise for the population control argument is as old as Thomas Malthus' 1789 essay on the social consequence of unchecked human population growth. The Malthusians today, are indoctrinating international opinion that poverty does not find its cause in social injustice, or in economic failure, or in political incompetence, or in ideological aberrations. According to them, poverty has its source in the dizzying proliferation of poor people, of the weak, the Blacks, the Indians, etc.

Most growth of the world's population takes place in the Third World, thus a tendency to claim that underdevelopment, poverty and hunger are caused by overpopulation or "the poor having too many children." Many people assume that these population control notions are valid because they have heard them so often, especially in the media. The population controllers never seem to see themselves as part of the "overpopulation problem," only the defenseless poor, whom they belittle, coerce and seek to reduce in number.

Poverty is not a fatality, nor is hunger. What the poor expect is that they be given aid to get out of their misery, not that they be left to stagnate after having been "offered" sterilization or contraception.

The following evidences unmistakably contradicts the assumption that the cause of poverty is too many people and that reducing the number of people will reduce poverty.

Debunking the myths of overpopulation. The world is not exploding!
When one looks around and sees the masses of people, the congestion, the homeless, the slums, the pollution, and gets caught up in the daily traffic jam, it is tempting to think that the world is indeed overpopulated. Currently the world population is numbered at 6,004,428,557 and is growing by an estimated one million people every four or five days. This rapid growth has caused much concern and it seemed to confirm the existence of a "population bomb."

However, the catastrophe that some saw approaching may in fact never come. The latest statistics from the United States Census Bureau reveals that the world's population growth rate has "declined to about 1.5 percent at present," the lowest rate in fifty years. The same study also says that the birth rate is declining faster than population has been growing that the U.S. Census Bureau has just cut its three year old estimate of world population in the year 2000 by one hundred twenty million, and in the year 2020 by more than three hundred million.

In the Philippines, improvements in female education, job opportunities outside the home, rising economic expectations, improved life expectancy, migration, low death rate are among the factors listed by experts on family life that decreased birth rates. So, even without the government family planning program of fertility reduction, there will be less babies born in the future.

Overcrowded cities, not overcrowded countries
According to basic calculations by area, all six billion people on the earth today would fit within the state of Texas, with each family having a house with a little yard. So, it is not a question of area. The problem is the growing concentration of large numbers of people in certain cities, caused by the deterioration and lack of opportunities in the rural areas. This migration to cities, occurring mostly in developing countries, has left most of the countryside uninhabited, while the cities are confronting serious problems with basic infrastructure, health services, food supplies, education, transportation, sewage disposal, and housing.

An example of this is Egypt, where 98% of the population (62 million) lives in a few cities on the banks of the Nile River, in an area that encompasses only 3.5% of Egypt's territory.

Every nation has enough resources and the capacity to feed its people well
In contrast to what the population controllers would have us believe, most countries in the world have the natural resources to feed and provide a life with dignity for every citizen. According to a report of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, every nation has the capacity to feed its people well. Thus, no Filipino should be starving. The problem is food distribution and not food supply.

Furthermore, population-control advocates also insist that it is better to have smaller populations in order to increase resources. If this were the case, then Bolivia, for example, with only 7.8 million people, but with a territory the size of California and Texas combined, and possessing abundant natural resources, would be a wealthy country, which unfortunately it is not.

There is no connection between population growth and economic growth
There is no population problem. Population growth is the result of the plunging death rate and increasing life expectancy worldwide. That is progress.
- Sheldon Richman
CATO Institute

In 1967, Nobel prize winning economist Simon Kuznets published the result of a study in which he compared population growth rates and economic growth rates of a group of countries over the last hundred years to see if high rates of population growth correlated with low rates of economic growth. He found that there was no connection. Indeed, historical data suggest the contrary, that population growth is a positive factor in the economic development process. Sheldon Richman of CATO Institute, in his testimony on International Population Stabilization and Reproductive Health Act further revealed that the United States, England, Hongkong, and other countries became rich during unprecedented growth in population. The most densely populated nations are among the richest. There are many nations much richer than the Philippines where population density is greater. There are also many nations much poorer than the Philippines where population density is lower. Low population density may contribute to poverty.

COUNTRY ----------------GNP($) PER CAPITA----------------PERSONS PER SQ. KM.
West Germany------------10,940-------------------------

--------635
Netherlands----------------9,316-----------------------------------346
Japan---------------------11,300------------------------------------840
Hongkong------------------7,136---------------------------------4,850
South Korea---------------2,150---------------------------------1,121
India------------------------ 270--------------------------------------606
Philippines-----------------1,740-----------------------------------161
Ethiopia---------------------284--------------------------------------27
Zambia---------------------730----------------------------------------8
Source: Statistical Abstract of U.S. World Development Report 1987

The true cause of poverty
International experts have identified that the causes of a country's underdevelopment, like that of the Philippines, can be both internal and external. The internal causes may include social injustice, unjust distribution of wealth, the absence of equal opportunity for all in education and economic life, poor political and economic administration combined with widespread corruption, exaggerated military budgets in contrast to inadequate spending on health and education, overconcentration of productive capacity in urban centers, the unbridled pursuit of profit at the expense of the common good, the heavy burden of foreign debt accompanied by lack of controls on the flight of capital, unequal access to property, etc. The list is endless!

Externally, underdeveloped nations are victims of an inequitable distribution of the world quotes resources as well as international trade and financial arrangements which work against them. Economic experts blame the economic recession being experienced in the Asian region to globalization. We are witnessing a reduction of jobs, a cutting of social services and the laying of greater stress on the laws of the international market rather than the laws of the land. Globalization means global competition in trade and business. As always the case has been, it is only the superpowers who win the game because with deregulation, privatization and liberalization of trade, they can maintain status quo.

Birth (Out Of) Control
"Since absolute security for one power means absolute insecurity for all others, it is obtainable only through conquest, never as part of a legitimate settlement."
- Henry A. Kissinger in World Politics, January 1956

Overpopulation is a concoction of contraceptive pushers and abortion pushers who have banded together in a conglomerate called International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). These are owners of multinational corporations which manufacture infant formulas, contraceptives, condoms, IUDs, sterilization and abortion gadgets like suction machines. They are the same people who control international money lending institutions like the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Frankfurt-based Development Loan Corporation and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

IPPF was founded by Margaret Sanger, the woman who coined the expressions "birth control", "human weeds," "less children from the unfit," "right to destroy," and "freedom of choice." This must sound familiar because Hitler applied this to thousands of Jews whom he considered an inferior human race. Margaret Sanger's whole life was devoted to racism and "contraceptive imperialism."

IBON Databank analysis says that, the Philippine's population program was undertaken to please the rich countries who provide money through loans, grants and investments, crucial to the government's economic plans. Rich countries, including the international organizations they dominate, are only willing to help the poor nations if they allow their population to be controlled. USAID, for example includes population reduction as one of the objectives for giving financial assistance to the Philippines. The focus of "planned parenthood" is an economic strategy of transnational corporations. As long as the population program exists in the Philippines, the foreign-dominated pharmaceutical industry has a ready market for contraceptives that pollute the internal environment of men and women.

Secondly, the Information Project for Africa in a book entitled Excessive Force: Power, Politics and Population Control also revealed that third world countries constitutes the largest population group. Out of every baby born, only one belongs to the white race. Obviously, if the third world population grows too fast, the white Anglo-Saxon race will eventually be swallowed. To quote Bertrand Russell, in his famous speech Marriage and Morals (London, 1929), "It cannot be expected that the most powerful will sit while other nations reverse the military nations balance of power by the mere process of breeding."

Is it moral to allow the Population Bill to be enacted to law?
Most of the countries in the West are suffering from a decline of births. As a consequence their population is ageing. In Japan, the average age of the labor force is 44. Countries whose population is slowing down are also suffering from economic stagnation. This is more than a coincidence. Slow population growth means smaller markets and therefore a less dynamic economy. Aside from these economic problems these countries are also suffering from many social and health problems: high divorce rates, breakdown of the family, juvenile delinquency, sexual promiscuity and serious side effects from the use of contraceptive methods.

Given this scenario there is no reason why we should support a bill that we know poses so many problems. If we appreciate and value the strength of the Filipino family we cannot remain indifferent to the government' s population control programs.

Natural Family Planning not Artificial Methods of Contraception
Catholic teachings has always been firm in its stand on the subject of population control: "The duty to safeguard the family demands that particular attention be given to securing for the husband and wife the liberty to decide responsibly, free from all social or legal coercion, the number of children they will have and the spacing of their births. It should not be the intent of governments or other agencies to decide for couples but rather to create the social conditions which will enable them to make appropriate decisions in the light of their responsibilities to God, to themselves, to the society of which they are part, and to the objective moral order. What the church calls "responsible parenthood" is not a question of unlimited procreation or lack of awareness of what is involved in rearing children, but rather the empowerment of couples to use their inviolable liberty wisely and responsibly, taking into account social and demographic realities as well as their own situation and legitimate desires, in the light of objective moral criteria.
(L'Osservatore Romano. 23 March 1994)

Scientists and millions of couples worldwide agree that modern scientific fertility awareness methods such as the Billings Ovulation Method are reliable, effective, safe, healthy and easy-to-use ways of planning the family.

Speaking on this subject, Mother Teresa of Calcutta has remarked: "In destroying the power of giving life through contraception, a husband or wife is doing something to self. This turns the attention to self and so it destroys the gift of love in him or her. In loving, the husband and wife must turn the attention to each other as happens in Natural Family Planning, and not to self, as happens in contraception."

Other References :
Mercedes Arzu Wilson, "Love & Family: Raising A Traditional Family in a Secular World" , Ignatius Press, San Francisco

Michael Schooyans, "Bioethics and Population", Copyright 1996 by Central Bureau, CCVA

Jacqueline R. Kasun, PhD, "Birth (out of) Control: The Failure of Government Family Planning Programs", The Population Research Institute, 1994

"Debunking the Population Myths: Philippine Setting", Manila: Pro-Life Philippines, 1993

Fr. Anthony Zimmerman, STD, "Catholic Teachings on Pro-Life Issues", Humanae Vitae Research Institute, Kagosima-ken, Japan, 1996

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Source: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_216971028320803&id=218204861530753&notif_t=group_activity:

RH bill HB 4244

2011-05-17T06:16:00.000-07:00

by: Bishop Broderick Pabillo

Do we need this RH Bill HB 4244?

The Philippine Constitution states:

“The State recognises the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution. It shall protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception. The natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character shall receive the support of the government”. (Sec 12, Art II)

“The State shall defend the right of spouses to found a family in accordance with their religious convictions and the demands of responsible parenthood”. (Sec 3(1) Art XV)

The State shall defend “the right of families or family associations to participate in the planning and implementation of policies and programs that affect them.” (Sec 3 Art XV)

Due commendation is to be given to the authors of the bill 4244 when they made several amendments to it on March 15, 2011. The amendments take away some of its objectionable features. The amendments are:

a. The wording on Sec 13 asking the barangay health workers and volunteers to “be capacitated to give priority to family planning work” was changed. The phrase “give priority to family planning work” is deleted. Barangay health workers are not there to prioritize reproductive health. There are so many health issues to be addressed, and very grave and basic ones too, in our barangays.

b. In Sec 15 the Mobile Health Care Service that each congressional district are mandated to have will no longer be funded from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), popularly known as the Pork Barrel, but instead “the procurement and operation of which shall be funded by the National Government”. This may be a way to get the support of some congress men and women who do not want their Pork Barrel to be reduced. This is more of a political ploy.

c. The controversial Sec 16 which deals with sex education entitled: “Mandatory age-appropriate reproductive health and sexuality education” has been diluted with the addition of another paragraph which reads: “Parents shall exercise the option of not allowing their minor children to attend classes pertaining to reproductive health and sexuality education.” This may be a concession but how many parents will exercise this option, and whether their option will be respected in our public schools.

d. Sec 20 on the “Ideal Family Size” has been totally deleted, and rightly so. While this section recognized the rights of parents on how many children they may have, still it is suggested that two children is the ideal. A law, if it is a law, is mandatory and not exhortatory.

e. Sec 21 on “Employers’ Responsibilities” has been entirely deleted on the reason that “this provision is a restatement and amplification of the existing Art 134 of the Labor Code.”

f. Another contentious section is on the Prohibited Acts, Sec 28 (e). One of the prohibited acts is “any person who maliciously engages in the disinformation about the intent and provisions of this act.” This infringes on the freedom of expression. This part is deleted.

With these amendments, can we say that the bill 4244 is now acceptable? I say no! The some basic objectionable elements are still there.
Reproductive Health is now seen by its international promoters as including the control of population, the provision of abortion, the promotion of contraception (including agents and methods known to be abortifacient), promotion of a particular form of sexuality education, and the promotion of an ethic with regard to sexuality that separates it from life and self-giving love. Though the present bill says that it does not promote abortion yet it cannot detached itself from the ideology espoused by the language of reproductive health. The elements of the reproductive health ideology are in the present bill.
There is no mention of the sexual act. Mention is made of pregnancies and HIV and STI, which are results of sexual actions. The bill wants to prevent the results but do not attack the root. Results are to be controlled but not the sexual actions. In a way it brings the message: any sexual activity is alright, just prevent its undesirable consequences, which are sexuality transmitted deceases and pregnancy!
There is no mention of the value of life of the unborn, the value of family, and the value of the sexual act. However, by promoting contraception devices a value is being subtly put forward without even mentioning it: one can engage in sex as long as one does not get unwanted pregnancy or one does not get sick. In truth if one does not want to get unwanted pregnant and sexual disease the solution that is and without cost and complication is to abstain from any inappropriate sexual behavior. But proper sexual values are not promoted. There is even no mention of abstinence and fidelity in marriage in the bill.
There are many provisions that say that devices, commodities, and supplies are to be promoted, made available and provided. This already shows the bias towards artificial family planning methods which would have need of these supplies. Money is to be given for these supplies and commodities to make them available while no mention of money being spent on teaching people, which natural planning methods require. The mention of the natural family planning is just a palliative in the bill with no real intention of promoting it. Instead there is great intent to promote the “devices”.
Sec. 10 entitled “Family Planning Supplies as Essential Medicines” is totally unacceptable! Medicines are for the sick. What sickness do “Family Planning Supplies” cure? These supplies are surely contraceptive pills, IUDs and condoms. Except in particular cases contraceptives do not treat any medical condition. On the contrary they are used upon perfectly healthy women to restrict a natural function. The government cannot even procure real basic medicines as paracetamols, anti-biotics and other basic medicines, and we will stretch out our meager resources to buy commodities that can be done away with with enough information and responsible self-control. By labelling these agents as essential medicines, the bill promotes inaccuracy. They place matters within the province of choice alongside those which are largely outside of it. That is to say, healthy people can choose whether to use contraceptives or not, unhealthy peoples’ choices are seriously limited and their need for genuinely essential medicines is realistic and warranted.
The money to be spent to provide for this “essential medicine” will be taxpayers’ money. Most of the taxpayers are Catholics in this country and their money will be spent on something that they believe to be wrong and immoral. (Will you allow your money to be used to buy condoms and pills to be given to the people?) Let the people who believe in the good of these devices provide them freely to others. No one is hindering them from doing it. They have freedom of choice. These devices are already available in the market in the first place. If the government wants to help the poor let it give them the basic necessities: light, water, truly basic medicine, free hospitalization, basic education, and the like.
The basic presupposition of this bill is that the number of children and consequently the number of population is a hindrance to sustainable development. This has already been debunked by many studies. This fallacy is so prevailing that great responsibility to execute this bill, if it becomes a law, is given to the Commission on Population both in the LGU and the national level. For the authors of this bill reproductive health is an issue of population and not of health. All the talks about “reproduction” and “health” are misnomers or may even be an intent to deceive. Yes, it is true that the PopCom is under DOH, but why should it be? Is population a disease?
It is known in the medical field that the artificial planning devices that are in use are not 100% sure both in protecting oneself from STI and “protecting” oneself from pregnancy. This makes the idea of “protection” dangerous. With the confidence given by this “protection” as advertised by the proponents, people will engage more, and not less, in inappropriate sexual activities. With more frequent sexual activities the effectivity of their “protection” lowers down. They put themselves all the more at risk.
The artificial devices also have medical side-effects and are shown to lead to certain diseases, such as cancer, high blood and cardiovascular diseases. Naturally so! One is putting something in the body that should not be there! There is no mention in the bill that the women who are victims of these devices will be provided with free health care afterwards. The bill claims to champion the health of women but in truth and in the long run it does harm to them. Besides, with the claim of men that they are now “protected” they will easily deal with the women as objects to be used and not as persons to be respected.
There is the concern that many people die because of unwanted pregnancies. Many of these devices, IUDs and Pills among them, are contraceptives and abortifacients. They really kill the life that is already there. The bill and the contraceptive mentality behind it do not recognize the equal dignity of life of all – preferring that of the woman than that of the child that she had engendered. It is killing the ones who are innocent and defenseless. No wonder insensitivity to life in contraception eventually leads to abortion.
In is noteworthy that the bill speaks both of the youth and the adolescent. It defines who the adolescent is but not who the youth is. It really targets the adolescent, both for its sex education and for the services of its “devices.”
There are several good provisions in the bill. Among them are Sec 5 “Midwives for skilled attendance” and Sec 6 “Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care”. Both demand that there beenough personnel and hospital facilities to address maternal care. Both end with this sentence: “Provided that people in geographically isolated and depressed areas shall be provided the same level of access.” Beautiful words, but will the government do this? The bill does not provide where the money shall come from for these services, and this is indeed a very basic need which can really address a lot of deaths and sufferings among women and children. Are these then just dressings to the real intent of the bill, not to really help the poor and the women but to put forward the contraceptive mentality
Other countries have the reproductive health services in place for many years already but they still have the problems that our law makers claim will be solved by this bill:

a. Even more abortions. In fact they have to legalize abortion in these countries. In international circles abortion is part of the reproductive right! Either the promoters of HB 4244 are naïve or they are cunningly deceptive when they say that they are not for abortion. All those who promote contraception end up upholding abortion, if they are consistent with their position of contra-ception!

b. Even more teen-age pregnancies, so more unwanted pregnancies. This is the result of more promiscuity and less respect which stems from the ideology of contraception. By the way, there is no mention the word ‘contraception’ in the bill but its ideology is all over in the language of ‘Reproductive Health’.

c. Their poor people are not improved by the availability of these devices. The poor do not get a better chance in life even if they have fewer children if basic services are not given to them and if the perspective of governance is pro-foreign investment rather than harnessing local resources, pro-investor rather than pro-labor, increased GDP rather than equity.

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Source:http://www.facebook.com/notes/broderick-pabillo/rh-bill-hb-4222/10150166980177023

REUNION

2011-05-13T18:59:00.000-07:00

Karugtong . . . . .

Lukas 24:13-35

Nang Linggo ding iyon, ang dalawa sa mga alagad ay patungo sa isang nayong tinatawag na Emaus, may labing-isang kilometro ang layo sa Jerusalem. Pinag-uusapan nila ang mga pangyayari.

Samantalang nag-uusap sila at nagtatanungan, lumapit si Jesus at nakisabay sa kanila. Siya’y nakita nila, ngunit hindi nakilala agad, Tinanong sila ni Jesus, “Ano ba ang pinag-uusapan ninyo?” At tumigil silang nalulumbay. Sinabi ng isa na ang ngala’y Cleopas, “Kayo lamang po yata ang dayuhan sa Jerusalem na hindi nakalam sa mga bagay na katatapos pa lamng nangyari roon.”

“Anong mga bagay?”, tanong niya. At sumagot sila, “Tungkol kay Jesus na taga-Nasaret, isang propetang makapangyarihan sa gawa at salit, maging sa harapan ng Diyos at ng mga tao. Isinakdal siya n gaming mga punong saserdote at mga pinuno upang mahatulang mamatay, at siya ay ipinako sa krus. Siya pa naman ang inaasahan naming magpalaya sa Israel. Hindi lamng iyan. Ikatlong araw na ngayon mula nang mangyari ito, nabigla kami sa ibinalita ng ilan sa mga babaing kasamahan naming. Maagang-maaga raw silang nagpunta sa libingan, at di nila natagpuan ang kanyang bangkay. Nagbalik sila at ang sabi’y nakakita raw sila ng isang pangitain – mga anghel na nagsabing buhay si Jesus. Pumunta rin sa libingan ang ilan sa mga kasama naming at gayon ang natagpuan nila, ngunit hindi nila nakita si Jesus.”

Sinabi sa kanila ni Jesus, “Kay hahangal ninyo! Ano’t hindi ninyo mapaniwalaan ang lahat ng sinabi ng mga propeta? Hindi ba’t ang Mesiyas ay kailangang magbata ng lahat ng ito bago niya kamtan ang kanyang marangal na katayuan?” At ioinaliwanag sa kanila ni Jesus ang lahat ng nasasaad sa kasulatan tungkol sa kanyang sarili, simula sa mga aklat ni Moises hanggang sa sinulat ng mga propeta.

Malapit na sila sa kanilang patutunguhan, at si Jesus ay waring magpapatuloy pa ng lakad. Ngunit siya’y pinakapigil-pigil nila, “tumuloy na po kayo rito sa amin,” anila, “sapagkat palubog na ang araw at dumidilim na.” Kaya’t sumama nga siya sa kanila. Nang siya’y kasalo na nila sa hapag, dumampot siya ng tinapay at nagpasalamat sa Diyos, saka pinaghati-hati at ibinigay sa kanila. Nabuksan ang kanilang paningin at nakilala nila si Jesus, subalit ito’y biglang nawala. At nawika nila, “Kaya pala gayon ang pakiramdam natin habang tayo’y kinakausap sa daan at ipinapaliwanag sa atin ang mga Kasulatan!” Noon di’y tumindig sila at nagbalik sa Jerusalem. Naratnan nilang nagkatipon ang Labing-isa at ang ibang mga kasama nila na nag-uusap-usap. “Muli ngang nabuhay ang Panginoon! Napakita kay Simon!” At isinalaysay naman ng dalawa ang nangyari sa daan, at kung paano nila siya nakilala nang pinaghati-hati niya ang tinapay.

Ano ang Emmaus ng iyong buhay?

Saan ka patungo?

Sa iyo bang paglalakbay, nakakasabay mo ba si Jesus sa daan?

Kasama mo ba siya sa iyong paglalakbay?

Sa ikatlong araw matapos nang ipako si Jesus sa Krus, muling nakasama at nakapiling ng dalawang alagad si Jesus ngunit hindi nila nakilala siya. Gayunpaman, naroon ang mahabang pasensiya ni Jesus upang akayin ang dalawang alagad upang siya makilala ayon sa sinasaad ng Banal na Kasulatan tungkol sa kanya at maniwala sa pagiging totoo ng Muling Pagkabuhay.

Hanggang naging bukas ang puso ng dalawang alagad upang papasukin, patuluyin at tanggapin si Jesus sa kanilang buhay. Sa personal na pakikipagtagpo kay Jesus higit nilang nakilala siya at nagbigay sa kanila na italaga ang sarili upang ipamansag ang katotohanang si Jesus ay Muling Nabuhay.

Hindi lamang tatlong araw kundi mahabang panahon na hindi natin nakakasama ang ating mga kamag-anak, kaibigan at naging kamag-aral na nasa malayong lugar ngayon. Kaya halos hindi na natin sila nakilala dahil sa maraming mga pagbabago ang naganap sa mga sarili. Kahit ang pangalan, halos nakalimutan na. Ngunit, bumabalik ang ating mga gunita dahil merong mga salita at gawa na nagpapa-ala-ala sa mga naging kaganapan at karanasan noong magkakasama pa.

Hindi lamang tayo ang tumatawag na magkaroon ng reunion at ipagdiwang ang pagsasama-sama kundi maging si Jesus din ay nag-aanyaya na magkaroon tayo ng reunion sa kanya, lalo na kung matagal na siyang nawalay sa ating buhay.

Anumang pamilya o samahan ang ating kinabibilangan, tayong lahat ay kasapi sa iisang pamilya – ang Pamilya ng Diyos o ang Simbahan. Sa loob ng pamilya nating ito, may tinatawag tayong Liturhhiya. Ito ay tumutukoy sa pagdiriwang ng Pamilya ng Diyos o Simbahan bilang pagsamba sa Banal na Santatlo. Sa loob ng Liturhiya ginaganap ang mga Sakramento ng Simbahan. Ang mga Sakramento ay mga gawa at salita ni Kristo at ang mga ito ay nagbibigay ng kanyang biyaya sa tumatanggap nito na may pananampalataya. Ang mga Sakramentong ito ay ang Sakramento ng Binyag, Sakramento ng Kumpil, Sakramento ng Banal na Eukaristiya, Sakramento ng Pagbabalik-loob, Sakramento ng Kasal, Sakramento ng Banal na Orden o Pagpapari at Sakramento ng Pagpapahid ng Langis sa Maysakit. Ang mga ito ay nagbubuklod sa atin sa pagsamba sa Diyos at ang mga paraan upang makamit ang biyaya ng Diyos na nagpapabanal sa atin. Kaya nga, ang mga Sakramento ay mga pagdiriwang na wow! Nagbibigay-buhay talaga!

Ang sentro ng liturhiya ng Simbahan ay ang Eukaristiya na nagpapaalala ng Misteryo Paskwal ng ating Panginoong Jesu-Kristo – ang kanyang Pagpapakasakit, Kamatayan at Muling Pagkabuhay, Pag-akyat sa Langit at ang Pagsugo ng Esiritu Santo. Sa pamamagitan ng Misteryong ito, inaalok sa atin ang kapangyarihan ng mapanligtas na pag-ibig ng Diyos.

Isang katangiang mahalaga ng liturhiya ay hikayatin tayo na lampasan ang matalik na ugnayang pampamilya tungo sa kaisahang pansambayanan batay sa pananampalataya kay Kristo. Umuusad tayo tungo sa pagkakaisa at pagtutulungang nakasalig sa pagiging Kristiyanong alagad at hindi lamang ugnayang panlipunan.

Isang layunin ng panliturhiyang pagdiriwang ay upang tayong mananampalataya’y magbalik sa ating mga karaniwang ginagawa na may bagong lakas sa pananampalataya, pinatatag sa pag-asa at pinag-alab sa kapangyarihan ng pag-ibig. Nilalayon ng liturhiya na pagtibayin ang ating misyon bilang mga Kristiyano na maging ilaw ng daigdig at lebadura ng masa. Ang liturhiyang pagsamba kung gayon ay kaugnay sa paglilingkod sa kapwa.

Bakit nga ba muli tayong nagsasama-sama?

Bakit natin ito ginagawa?

Si Jesus ba ang sentro ng reunion?

Sa ating reuinon, pinapaalala sa atin ni Jesus ang ating misyon bilang Kristiyanong alagad, biyayang tinanggap natin sa Binyag at pinagtibay sa Kumpil.

Pagkatpos ng reunion, what’s next?

Saan ba patungo ang ating reunion?

Hihintayin pa ba nating lumubog ang araw at dumilim pa bago makilala si Jesus at ang ating kapwa?

Handa ba tayong pagpira-pirasuhin at ialay ang buhay sa Diyos at kapwa?

REUNION

2011-05-11T05:34:00.000-07:00

Likas sa atin ang magsaya at magdiwang. Kung kaya sa ating pamilya o sa anumang samahan ay may mga okasyon na ipinagdiriwang. At sa bawat pagdiriwang na ito hindi nawawala ang handaan o salu-salo. Anumang paraan nila ito ipinagdiwang nand’yan pa rin ang kainan at inuman sapagkat sa ganitong kaugalian higit na nagkakakilala sa isa’t-isa, lalong lumalalim ang ugnayan ng bawat kasapi nito, nagiging matatag at matibay ang pagsasamahan.

Isa sa mga pagdiriwang na ito ay ang reunion - ang muling magsasama-sama ng mag-kakamag-anak, magkakaibigan, magkamag-aral at magkakilala. Anuman ang layunin, sapat na ang pagkikita-kita upang tayo ay magsaya at magdiwang.

Maraming dahilan ang muling pagtatagpo. Marahil ang pagkagutom at pagkauhaw sa isa’t-isa ang isa sa mga dahilan. Merong ugnayang namuo noon na naputol kung kaya ngayon ay nais na muling dugtungan ang kahapon upang higit pang maipadama ang pagmamahal. Kaya, maliban sa handang pagkain at inumin, handa na rin ang bawat isa sa mga baon na kuwento. Usapang walang katapusan, pagsasariwa ng nakaraan at pagpaplano para sa kinabukasan.

Isa ako sa mga naniniwala at tumataguyod sa kagandahan ng reunion sapagkat likas sa atin ang pakikipag-ugnayan, pakikipagkaibigan at pakikipagkapwa.

Dahil dito, noong ika-18 ng Disyembre, 2010, sinikap naming buuin muli ang Pamilya GM [mula sa salitang Ingles na “God and Man”.] Kami ang mga mag-aaral na handang pahubog upang maging Katekista at balang araw ay magtuturo at magdadala kay Kristo sa mga bata at kabataan sa pampublikong paaralan upang sila ay magkaroon hindi lamang ng pakikipagtagpo kundi pakikipagniig kay Kristo.

Kami ang mga hinubog noon sa Archdiocesan Catechetical Formation Center na ngayon ay naging Institute of Catechetics of the Archdiocese of Manila na matatagpuan sa San Carlos Seminary Complex, Guadalupe, Makati. Tinawag kaming “GM” dahilan sa ang Modyul ng ginamit sa aming paghuhubog ay may pamagat sa Ingles na “God and Man in the Covenant of Love” (Ang Diyos at ang Tao sa Tipan ng Pag-ibig.) Umabot sa labing-limang taon ang programang ito.

Ako ay kabilang sa batch na kung tawagin ay GM 4 [Batch 4]. Ang grupo na ito ay binuo ng dalawang grupo – ang GM 4-A na tinaguriang St. John Mary Vianney group sapagkat nagsimula ang grupong ito sa paghuhubog sa buwan ng Agosto kung kailan ang kapistan ng Santo ay Agosto 4 at GM 4-B na tinawag naming St. Therese of the Child Jesus sapagkat nagsimula ang aming paghuhubog noong ika-1 ng Oktubre, 1991, kapistahan ng nasabing Santa.

Ginanap ang aming reunion sa Notre Dame de Vie Retreat House na pag-aari ng Notre Dame de Vie Isntitute kung saan ang diwa ng GM ay nagmula.

Noong ika-26 ng Pebrero, 2011, muling nagsama-sama ang aking batch sa kolehiyo – ang batch 85-89. Kami ang mga mag-aaral ng Makati Polytechnic Community College na naging Makati College at ngayon ay ang University of Makati o UMAK.

Sa Aberdeen Court, Makati, naman isinagawa ang reunion ng aming batch.

Makalipas ang dalawang buwan, kapiling ko naman ang aking mga ka-batch noong high school - ang Zamora Memorial College [Zamora Memorial Institute noon] or ZMC Batch ’84. Naganap an gaming pagsasama-sama noong ika- 24 ng Abril, 2011 – araw ng aking kapanganakan at Easter Sunday.

Kasama naming nagdiwang ay ang mga batches mula 1948 hanggang 2011 kaya tinawag itong ZMC Grand Alumni Reunion. Ipinagdiwang namin ito sa aming paaralan at nagsalu-salo sa hapag kainan sa bahay ng isa naming klasmeyt.

At ang latest, noong May 8, 2011. Ang kasama ko naman dito ay ang aking mga estudyante noong nagtuturo pa ako sa Jose Rizal Elementary School, Park Avenue, Pasay City kung saan nakatalaga ako bilang katekista ng Parokya ng San Rafael.

Ang mga kabataan ito ay tinuruan ko noong sila ay nasa ikatlong at ika-apat na baytang. Pagkalipas ng higit kumulang labing-anim na taon, muli kaming nagsama-sama sa tahanan ni Jean.

Sa apat na reunion na aking nadaluhan, merong itong pagkakapareoho. Maliban sa handaan at kuwentuhan, hindi lahat ng miyenbro ng isang pamilya ay nakadalo. Gayunpaman, mararamdaman mo rin ang kanilang presensiya sapagkat wala man ang kanilang katawan doon, naroroon naman ang kanilang diwa na nakikiisa sa pagdiriwang. Naroon ang kanilang suporta, pagbati at panalangin. May mga dahilan kung bakit hindi nakadalo ang ibang kasapi ngunit hindi naging hadlang ito upang kami ay magsaya at magdiwang.

Matagal nang panahon na nagkahiwalay ngunit ngayon ay nagkakaisa. Nagkarooon ng kanya-kanyang landas, ngunit ngayon ay nagkatagpo-tagpo sa isang daan. Wow! Kay ganda ng Buhay!

Malaki ang naitulong ng makabagong teknolohiya lalo na ang Internet. Dahil sa social networking tulad ng Facebook at iba pa, pinagkaisa tayo. Nagkaburunyog kita.

Higit sa lahat, ito ang araw na ginawa ng Panginoon upang tayo ay magsaya.

Bago tayo nagsama-samang muli, nagkatapong muli, nagkita-kitang muli, naka-k’wentuhang muli, nakasalo muli . . . matagal na tayong nagkahiwalay.

Kumusta na ang ating paglalakbay?

Itutuloy . . . . .

THIRD POPE BENEDICT XVI SUMMER FESTIVAL OF CATECHESIS AND CHRISTIAN FORMATION

2011-05-05T07:29:00.000-07:00

BEATIFICATION OF POPE JOHN PAUL II

2011-05-01T06:09:00.000-07:00

Pope beatifies John Paul II before a crowd of over 1 million, tears and cheers erupt

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI beatified Pope John Paul II before more than a million faithful in St. Peter’s Square and surrounding streets Sunday, moving the beloved former pontiff one step closer to possible sainthood.

The crowd in Rome and in capitals around the world erupted in cheers, tears and applause as an enormous photo of a young, smiling John Paul was unveiled over the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica and a choir launched into hymn long associated with the Polish-born pope.

READ MORE

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Catholics worldwide celebrate late Pope John Paul II’s beatification with prayers, memories

MANILA, Philippines — Catholics worldwide celebrated the beatification of the late Pope John Paul II on Sunday, with the faithful jamming churches to pray, cherishing his mementoes and witnessing on TV screens the Vatican ceremony that brought him one step closer to possible sainthood.

From Mexico to Australia, bells pealed in churches and cathedrals and people erupted in applause and tears to celebrate after Pope Benedict XVI bestowed one of the Catholic Church’s greatest honors to Polish-born Karol Wojtyla, who visited 129 countries in his 27-year papacy to become the most-traveled pope ever.

In the Philippines, where many adore the John Paul II with rock-star intensity, people flocked to see mementoes: a piece of his cassock believed to have healing powers and a set of plate, spoon and fork — still unwashed after he used them 16 years ago during a visit to the country.

READ MORE

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Saint-Maker John Paul II Gains Beatification in Record Time

May 1 (Bloomberg) -- Pope John Paul II, the Roman Catholic Church’s biggest saint-maker, was elevated within a step of sainthood himself in a beatification ceremony today led by his successor, Benedict XVI.

City authorities say more than 1 million pilgrims, tourists and Italians packed St. Peter’s Square and piazzas in central Rome to watch Benedict pronounce his Polish-born mentor worthy of veneration by the world’s billion Catholics by declaring him “blessed,” the penultimate step to sainthood.

“The expected day has arrived, it has arrived soon. Pope John Paul II is blessed,” Benedict said, interrupted by the applause of the pilgrims.

READ MORE

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Pope declares John Paul II 'blessed'

Pope Benedict XVI has bestowed the status of 'blessed' on the late John Paul II in Saint Peter's Square as more than one million took part in the mass.

The crowd cheered as Benedict pronounced the formula of beatification for John Paul and a giant banner bearing the Polish pontiff's portrait was unveiled over the facade of St Peter's basilica.

PAGDALAW NG SANTO PAPA JUAN PABLO II SA PILIPINAS: ENERO, 1995

2011-04-30T02:01:00.000-07:00

Dalawang mahalagang Modyul ang ginawa bilang bahagi ng programa sa esperitwal na paghuhubog ng mga kabataan ng Arkidiyosesis ng Maynila bilang paghahanda sa pagdalaw at pagdating ng Santo Papa Juan Pablo II sa Pilipinas noong Enero, 1995.

Una, ang alay ng Catechetical Ministry ng Archdiocese of Manila para sa mga mag-aaral sa Mababang Paaralan.

Ikalawa, para sa mga kabataang nag-aaral sa Mataas na Paaralan na mula naman sa Archdiocesan Youth Council.

SANTO PAPA JUAN PABLO II

2011-04-30T01:43:00.000-07:00

Pangalan bilang Papa: Juan Pablo II

Tunay na Pangalan: Karol Wojtyla

Palayaw: Lolek

Ama: Karol, isang opisyal ng militar

Ina:Emilia Kaczorowska, isang guro

Kapanganakan: May 18, 1920 sa Wadowice, Poland

Nasyonalidad:Polish

Unang hilig: Maging aktor sa Teatro

Unang Trabaho: Manggagawa sa Pabrika [habanbg nag-aaral]

1946, edad 26: Nagtapos ng pag-aaral sa seminaryo sa Krakow at naordehan na pari

1948: Natanggap ang kanyang "Doctorate in Philosophy" mula sa Unibersidad ng Angelicum sa Roma

Edad 38: Naging katulong na Obispo sa Krakow

1964: Naging Arsobispo

1967, edad 47: Ginawang Cardinal ni Papa Paulo VI. Bilang Karol Cardinal Wojtyla, siya ay masigasig na kasapi sa Second Vatican Council; kaanib sa "Church's Sacred Congregations on the Sacraments, Divine Worship, Clergy and Catholic Education"

1978, edad 58: Naging ika-264 na Papa. Siya ang unang Papa mula sa Poland at siya rin ang unang di-Italyano mula pa kay Adrian VI (1522)

1981, Pebrero: Unang Pagdalaw ng Santo Papa Juan Pablo II sa Pilipinas at ginanap ang beatipikasyon ni San Lorenzo Ruiz, ang Unang Pilipinong Santo.

Wikang alam:Polish, German, Italian, French, English, Russian, Spanisg, Lithuanian, Portuguese, Czechoslavakian, Latin at Japanese.

Libangan at hilig na laro: Swimming, skiing, football, canoeing, mountain climbing

Malimit na masambit: "Praise be Jesus Christ, now and forever"

Motto: "Totus Tuus, Maria" [Ako'y Iyong-iyo, Maria]

Pahatid para sa Kabataan: "Kayo ang kinabukasan ng ating bansa at pag-asa ng Simbahan

Kamatayan: April 2, 2005

Beatipikasyon: May 1, 2011

ALA-ALA NG 10TH WORLD YOUTH DAY

2011-04-29T21:04:00.000-07:00

Sa ika-1 ng Mayo, 2011, Kapistahan ng Divine Mercy ay ipagdidiriwang ang 'beatification' kay Pope John Paul II sa pangunguna ni Pope Benedict XVI sa Roma. Dahil dito, aking hinanap ang mga larawan kung saan si Pope John Paul II ay naging bahagi ng aking buhay. Ito ang mga larawang kinuha noong 10th World Youth Day na ginanap dito sa bansang Pilipinas noong Enero, 1995. Salamat na lang meron pang natitirang mga larawan sapagkat ito ay nalubog sa baha noong kasagsagan ng bagyong si Ondoy noong ika-26 ng Setyembre, 2009.


Sa altar na aming kinatatayuan, isinagawa ni Pope John Paul II ang Pagdiriwang ng Banal na Eukaristiya: Buendia, Pasay City

Ang Logo ng 10th World Youth Day

Habang inaawit ang Theme Song "Tell The World Of His Love": Cuneta Astrodome

Mga kasamahan kong Katekista bilang mga facilitators noong World Yoyth Day

Sa loob ng Cuneta Astrodome, Libertad, Pasay City

Kasama ang ilang sa mga delegado mula sa bansang Australia.

IKA-LABING-APAT NA ISTASYON: ANG MULING PAGKABUHAY NI JESUS

2011-04-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

Sinasamba ka namin at pinasasalamatan, Panginoong Jesukristo...
Sapagkat sa Iyong pagkamatay at muling pagkabuhay ay tinubos mo kami.

Marcos 16:1-6

Nang makaraan ang Sabat, si Maria Magdalena, si Maria na ina ni Santiago at si Salome ay bumili ng mga pabango upang pahiran ang bangkay ni Jesus. Nang unang araw ng sanglinngo ay naparoon sila sa libingan. Nang dumating sila, naigulong na ang bato, wala ang bangkay ni Jesus.

Nakita nila ang anghel ng Diyos na nagsabi sa kanila: “Huwag kayong matakot, hinahanap ninyo si Jesus Nazareno, na ipinako sa krus.

Siya ay muling nabuhay.”

[Maikling Katahimikan]

Ama Namin . . . . .
Aba Ginoong Maria . . . . .

Luwalhati . . . . .
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Source Image:

http://www.jesus-pictures.net/jesus-pictures/resurrection-of-jesus-bob-whitehead.jpg;
http://www.paintinghere.com/UploadPic/Unknown%20Artist/Mary%20Magdalene/big/Mary%20Magdalene%20at%20the%20Tomb.jpg;

http://www.knitorknot.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/christ-is-risen.jpg

IKA-LABING TATLONG ISTASYON: SI JESUS AY INIHATID SA LIBINGAN

2011-04-20T08:19:00.000-07:00

Sinasamba ka namin at pinasasalamatan, Panginoong Jesukristo...

Sapagkat sa Iyong pagkamatay at muling pagkabuhay ay tinubos mo kami. 

Marcos 15:46

Si Jose naman ay bumili ng linong kumot at ibinaba si Jesus sa krus; binalot siya sa kumot at inilagay sa isang libingan na hinukay sa bato; pagkatapos pinagulong niya ang isang batao sa pintuan ng libingan.

[Maikling Katahimikan]

Ama Namin . . . . .

Aba Ginoona Maria . . . . .

Luwalhati . . . . .

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Source Image: http://www.jesus-pictures.net/jesus-pictures/lament-of-the-death-of-jesus-christ-painting.jpg

IKA-LABING-DALAWANG ISTASYON: ANG PAGKAMATAY NI JESUS SA KRUS

2011-04-20T08:09:00.000-07:00

Sinasamba ka namin at pinasasalamatan, Panginoong Jesukristo...

Sapagkat sa Iyong pagkamatay at muling pagkabuhay ay tinubos mo kami. 

Juan 19:17.25.30

"Kinuha nga nila si Jesus at siya ay lumabas na pasan ang krus patungo sa pook na tinatawag na Kalbaryo. Doon siya ipinako nila na kasaman ang dalawa pa. Pagkasipsip ni Jesus sa esponghang tinubog sa suka, sinabi niya, "Naganap na." Iniyuko ang kanyang ulo at nalagot ang kanyang hininga.

[Maikling Katahimikan]

Ama Namin . . . . .

Aba Ginoong Maria . . . . .

Luwalhati . . . . .

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Source Image: http://www.aug.edu/augusta/iconography/iconographySupplementalImages/crucifixion/rembrandt.gif

IKA-LABING-ISANG ISTASYON: ANG MAHAL NA BIRHEN AT SI SAN JUAN SA PAANAN NG KRUS

2011-04-20T07:53:00.000-07:00

Sinasamba ka namin at pinasasalamatan, Panginoong Jesukristo...

Sapagkat sa Iyong pagkamatay at muling pagkabuhay ay tinubos mo kami. 

Juan 19:26-27

Nang Makita ni Jesus ang kanyang ina at sa tabi nito ang minamahal niyang alagad, sinasabi niya sa kanyang ina, “Babae, hayan ang iyong anak.” At sinabi sa alagad, “Hayan ang iyong ina.” Buhat sa oras na yaon, tinanggap na siya ng alagad sa kanyang tahanan.

[Maikling Katahimikan]

Ama Namin . . . . .

Aba Ginoong Maria . . . . .

Luwalhati . . . . .
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Source Image: http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/christian/images/AlbrechtAltdorfer-Christ-on-the-Cross-with-Mary-and-John-1515-16.jpg

IKA-SAMPUNG ISTASYON: ANG MAPALAD NA MAGNANAKAW

2011-04-20T07:36:00.000-07:00

Sinasamba ka namin at pinasasalamatan, Panginoong Jesukristo...

Sapagkat sa Iyong pagkamatay at muling pagkabuhay ay tinubos mo kami. 

Lucas 23:39-43

Siya ay nilalapastangan ng isa sa mga salaring nakabitin na sinasabi, “Hindi ba ikaw ang Kristo? Iligtas mo ang iyong sarili at kami.” Datapuwat sinagot siya noong isa upang sawayin, “Hindi ka ba natatakot sa Diyos, yayamang ikaw ay nagdaranas ng gayon ding pagdurusa? At matuwid na tayo’y magdusa, sapagkat ang iginawad sa atin ay yaong nararapat sa ating mga ginawa, datapuwat ito’y walang masamang ginawa.” At sinabi niya, “Jesus, alalahanin mo ako pagdating mo sa iyong kaharian.” Sinagot siya ni Jesus, “Tunay kong sinasabi sa iyo: sa araw na ito ay makakasama kita sa Paraiso.”

[Maikling Katahimikan]

Ama Namin . . . . .

Aba Ginoong Maria . . . . .

Luwalhati . . . . .
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Source Image: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2h1pS-nxOiY/S61DUq_9W8I/AAAAAAAAB5k/0ZEy2L7AYbA/s1600/crucifixion-mantegna.jpg

IKA-SIYAM NA ISTASYON: SI JESUS AY INALISAN NG MGA DAMIT AT IPINAKO SA KRUS

2011-04-20T07:22:00.000-07:00

Sinasamba ka namin at pinasasalamatan, Panginoong Jesukristo...

Sapagkat sa Iyong pagkamatay at muling pagkabuhay ay tinubos mo kami.

Marcos 15:22-24

At dinala si Jesus sa dako ng Golgota na ang ibig sabihin ay pook ng bungo. Doon ay binigyan siya nila ng alak na may halong mira, ngunit hindi niya ininom. Pagkatapos, ipinako siya sa krus at pinaghatian ang kanyang mga damit; kanilang pinagsapalaran ito upang malaman kung ano ang bahaging mauuwi sa bawat isa.

[Maikling Katahimikan]

Ama Namin . . . . .

Aba Ginoong Maria . . . . .

Luwalhati . . . . .

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Source Image: http://www.gnostic.org/meditations/optimized/jesusnailedp.jpg

IKA-WALONG ISTASYON: KINAUSAP NI JESUS ANG MGA BABAENG TAGA JERUSALEM

2011-04-20T07:04:00.000-07:00

Sinasamba ka namin at pinasasalamatan, Panginoong Jesukristo...

Sapagkat sa Iyong pagkamatay at muling pagkabuhay ay tinubos mo kami. 

Lucas 23:27-28

Sinundan si Jesus ng maraming taong-bayan at ng mga babaeng umiiyak at nakiramay sa kanya. Datapwat nilingon sila ni Jesus at sinabi, “Mga anak ng Jerusalem, huwag ninyo akong iyakan; iyakan ninyo ang inyong sarili at ang inyong mga anak.

[Maikling Katahimikan]

Ama Namin . . . . .

Aba Ginoong Maria . . . . .

Luwalhati . . . . .

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Source Image: http://www.moreprayers.com/Jesus_speaks_to_the_women_of_Jerusalem.jpg

IKA-PITONG ISTASYON: TINULUNGAN SI JESUS NI SIMON CIRENEO

2011-04-20T06:51:00.000-07:00

Sinasamba ka namin at pinasasalamatan, Panginoong Jesukristo...

Sapagkat sa Iyong pagkamatay at muling pagkabuhay ay tinubos mo kami. 

Lucas 23:26

Noong siya’y kanilang dalhin, pinigil nila ang isang nangangalang Simon, na taga-Cirene, na galling sa bukid, at ipinapasan sa kanya ang krus, na kasunod ni Jesus.

[Maikling Katahimikan]

Ama Namin . . . .

Aba Ginoong Maria . . . . .

Luwalhati . . . . .

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Source Image: http://www.acliparthistory.com/church/cbr/assets/galleries/177/jesus06.jpg

IKA-ANIM NA ISTASYON: ANG PAGKASUBASOB NI JESUS

2011-04-20T06:39:00.000-07:00

Sinasamba ka namin at pinasasalamatan, Panginoong Jesukristo...

Sapagkat sa Iyong pagkamatay at muling pagkabuhay ay tinubos mo kami. 

Juan 19:1-6

Noon ng ay pinahuli ni Pilato si Jesus at ipinahampas. Ang mga kawal naman ay gumawa ng isang koronang tinik, kanilang ipinatong sa kanyang ulo at nilagyan ng balabal na purpura; nagsilapit sila sa kanya na ganito ang sinasabi, “Aba, hari ng mga Hudio!” at saka pinagsasampal.

Lumabas na uli si Pilato at sinabi sa kanila, “Narito’t inilalabas ko siya sa inyo, upang inyong makilala na wala akong matagpuan sa kanya na ano mang kasalanan.” Lumabas nga si Jesus na may putong na koronang tinik at may suot na balabal na purpura. At winika niya sa kanila, “Tingnan ninyo ang tao!” Nang makit siya ay nagsigawan ang mga punong pari at mga bantay, “Ipako sa krus, ipako siya sa krus!”

Nang walang makitang katwiran upang ipapatay si Jesus, si Pilatao ay gumawa ng paraan upang maglubag ang kalooban ng bayan at huwag siyang isuplong sa emperador. Ipinahampas ng katakut-yakot si Jesus na nakatali sa haliging bato at pinutungan koronang tinik. Iniharap siya sa bayan at winika ni Pilato: “Ecce Homo! Masdan ang tao! Tingnan ang inyong hari.” Inaakala niya na ang mga tao ay malulunos sa kanya at hindi na ihingin ang kanyang kamatayan.

Subalit lalong nilakasanng bayan ang sigaw: “Ipako siya sa krus!” Tiniis ni Jesus ang mga hampas, hagupit at koronang tinik upang bayaran an gating mga kasalanan sa isip at sa kalayawan ng katawan.

[Maikling Katahimikan]

Ama Nanim . . . . .

Aba Ginoong Maria . . . . .

Luwalhati . . . . .

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Source Image: http://www.joyfulheart.com/easter/images-tissot/tissot-jesus-falls-beneath-the-cross-d1.jpg

IKA-LIMANG ISTASYON: ANG PAGTANGGAP SA KRUS

2011-04-20T06:25:00.000-07:00

Sinasamba ka namin at pinasasalamatan, Panginoong Jesukristo...

Sapagkat sa Iyong pagkamatay at muling pagkabuhay ay tinubos mo kami. 

Mateo 27:27-31

Pagkatapos na dalhin si Jesus ng mga kawal sa pretoryo ng gobernador ay tinipon nila sa paligid niya ang buong pulutong. Siya ay hinubaran nila at dinamitan ng isang balabal na purpura; pagkagawa nila ng isang koronang tinik na ipinutong sa kanyang ulo ay binigyan siya ng isang tambo sa kanang kamay niya. At sa pagluod nila sa harap niya ay kinukutya siya ng ganito, “Aba, hari ng mga Hudio!” At siya ay kanilang niluluran at kinukuha ang tambo upang hampasin siya sa ulo. Pagkatapos na makutys siya ay inalisan ng balabal at sinuotan ng kanyang mga damit at inilabas upang ipako sa krus.

[Maikling Katahimikan]

Ama Namin . . . . .

Aba Ginoong Maria . . . . .

Luwalhati . . . . .

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Source Image: http://www.lostseed.com/extras/free-graphics/images/jesus-pictures/jesus-carrying-cross-bloody.jpg

IKA-APAT NA ISTASYON: ANG PAGHAMPAS KAY JESUS AT PAGPUPUTONG NG KORONANG TINIK

2011-04-20T06:05:00.000-07:00

Sinasamba ka namin at pinasasalamatan, Panginoong Jesukristo...

Sapagkat sa Iyong pagkamatay at muling pagkabuhay ay tinubos mo kami. 

Juan 19:1-6

[Maikling Katahimikan]

Ama Nami . . . . .

Aba Ginoong Maria . . . . .

Luwalhati . . . . .

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Source Image : http://www.arthermitage.org/Pieter-Paul-Rubens/Crown-of-Thorns.jpg

IKATLONG ISTASYON: SI JESUS AY DINALA SA HUKUMAN NI PILATO

2011-04-20T05:53:00.000-07:00

Sinasamba ka namin at pinasasalamatan, Panginoong Jesukristo...

Sapagkat sa Iyong pagkamatay at muling pagkabuhay ay tinubos mo kami.

Juan 18:33-37

Muling pumasok si Pilato sa pretoryo at pagkatawag kay Jesus ay tinanong sa kanya, “Ikaw ba ang hari ng mga Hudio?” Sumagot si Jesus, “Iyan ba ay sinasabi mo sa ganang sarili mo o sinasabi sa iyo ng iba tungkol sa akin?” Ako ba’y Hudio?” ang tanong ni Pilato. “Ikaw ay ibinigay sa akin ng iyong bansa at ng mga punong pari; ano ba ang nagawa mo?” Tumugon si Jesus, “Hindi sa daigdig na ito ang aking kaharian; kuna ang aking kaharian ay sa daigdig na ito, ipagtatanggol sana ako ng aking mga lingcod upang hindi ako mahulog sa kamay ng mga Hudio, datapuwat ang aking kaharian ay hindi sa daigdig na ito.”

Kaya winika sa kanya ni Pilato, “Kung gayon, ikaw ba’y hari?” Sumagot si Jesus, “Ikaw na ang nagsasabi na ako’y hari. Ito nga ang dahilan kung bakit ipinanganak ako at at naparito ako sa daigdig: upang patunayan ang katotohanan.”

Iniharap si Jesus sa dalawang hukuman: ang Sanedrin, na hukumang relihiyoso at ang kay Pilato upang hatulang sibil. Kinaladkad siya sa harap ni Poncio Pilato upang hatulan ng kamatayan batay sa mga sumbong na hindi totoo, na diumanao’y sa emperador at ginagawang hari ang sarili.

“Ikaw ba ay hari?” tanong ni Pilato kay Kristo. Isinagot niya, “Sinasabi mo na ako ay hari. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit naparito ako sa daigdig upang patunayan ang katotohanan. Ngunot ang aking kaharian ay hindi sa daigdig na ito.”

Ipinahampas ni Pilato ang Panginoon, pinutungan ng koronang tinik, sinuotan ng damit na purpura at nilagyan ng tambo sa kamay bilang isang setrong hari.

[Maikling Katahimikan]

Ama Namin . . . . .

Aba Ginoong Maria . . . . .

Luwalhati . . . . .

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Source Image: http://rpmedia.ask.com/ts?u=/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Eccehomo1.jpg/300px-Eccehomo1.jpg

IKALAWANG ISTASYON: SA HALAMANAN NG GETSEMANI

2011-04-20T05:38:00.000-07:00

Sinasamba ka namin at pinasasalamatan, Panginoong Jesukristo...

Sapagkat sa Iyong pagkamatay at muling pagkabuhay ay tinubos mo kami.

Lucas 22:42-44

“Ama, kung ibig mo, ilayo mo sa akin ang kalis na ito. Gayon man, huwag mangyari ang aking kalooban kundi ang iyo.” At nagpakita sa kanya ang isang anghel na galing sa langit at inaliw siya. At sa kanyang matinding pagkahapis ay lalong naging mataimtim ang kanyang panalangin; at pinawisan siya ng malalaking patak ng dugo na tumutulo sa lupa.

[Maikling Katahimikan]

Ama Namin . . . . .

Aba Ginoong Maria . . . . .

Luwalhati . . . . .

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Source Imagehttp://www.rulebyrelationship.com/songs/Jesus-in-Gethsemane.jpg