Human Rights Situation in the Philippines

How would I respond when someone asks me about the human rights situation in the Philippines?

I would readily say human rights are respected and protected in the country. The fact that there is peace in most parts of the country, I can safely claim it is the consequence of the general condition of human rights widely safeguarded. Respect for human rights is embedded in the Filipino culture.

In this essay, I will outline the legal framework and institutions developed so far. Then, I will discuss peace as a consequence of the free exercise of human rights and how it is enjoyed by expatriates living in the country. Lastly, I will show how to contextualize the issue of extrajudicial killings (EJKs).

Today is Black Saturday ...

Today is Black Saturday(Philippine time), one of the best times of the year to look and contemplate the Holy Shroud of Turin. It is the cloth believed to have been used to wrap the dead body of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Full length negatives of the Holy Shroud of Turin (ref. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shroud_of_Turin)

Today is Good Friday ...

Today is Good Friday. I write a post thinking aloud a thought that came up to me while reading a book of meditations.

While Our Lord Jesus Christ was hanging on the Cross, He gave His Mother, Blessed Virgin Mary,  to his disciple, St. John, to be his mother too. Despite the suffering His Mother is already enduring at that time, He imposes upon His mother one more responsibility, to be a mother to his disciple.

My mind goes to the modern feminist movement that claims equality between the sexes. In this movement, motherhood is looked upon as an obstacle to equality. This goes without saying the reason contraception is advocated by modern feminist women.

Viva il Papa! Papa Francesco!

This was the welcome chant of the choir in Tacloban City as Pope Francis went down from the plane. The choir's chant was so energetic, there was no trace of the long, wet and cold wait they endured.

Four (4) days before Pope Francis' arrival to the Philippines I was just beginning to plan on what to do during His visit. My sister mentioned to me they will go and wait along the route of His motorcade on Wednesday, January 15th, the day of His arrival. “We will get His blessing already on the first day”, she said excitedly.

I also decided to welcome the Pope on His arrival. I bought a transistor radio to bring with me. I thought I need to monitor the radio broadcast to keep me updated of His arrival while waiting along the motorcade route. I also invited some friends.

Abolish the Pork Barrel

I came to learn of the movement To Abolish the Pork Barrel from a very credible person today, Sunday, December 7, 2014. The person I am referring to is a parish priest in the Diocese of Novaliches (Most Rev. Antonio R. Tobias, DD is the current bishop).

The parish priest is so convincing, I am inspired to write this post to help in spreading the word about the movement.

The movement is proposing to institute a law entitled "An Act Abolishing the Pork Barrel System" through a People's Initiative as provided by the Constitution and R.A.6735. This overrides the law-making function of Congress.

Reading books

"I believe that we should read only those books that sting us. If a book we are reading does not rouse us with a blow to the head, then why read it? What we need are books that affect us like some really grievous misfortune, like the death of one whom we loved more than ourselves, as if we were banished to distant forests, away from everybody, like a suicide; a book must be the ax for the frozen sea within us." - Franz Kafka

Contraception shatters human dignity

I had my personal copy of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church (CSDC) a long time ago. Just recently, I chanced-upon glancing on it in my bookshelf. An idea flashed in my mind!

Is not this the portion of Catholic Doctrine that the Church proposes as principles for reflection, criteria for judgment, and norms and guidelines for action (CCCC, 509) in order for people to proclaim the Gospel that brings salvation and genuine freedom also to temporal realities. (cf. CSDC, 2)?