|
National Council of Churches in the Philippines |
|
Sangguniang Pambansa ng Mga Simbahan sa Pilipinas |
|
Due to inclement weather, the Continuing Education for Christian Educators and Workers with Children is reset for July 28, 2010 |
|
For those who wish to donate in cash or in kind, our contact and account details are below. Address: 897 Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City Tel: (+632) 922-8141, 929-3745 Email: mcalub@nccphilippines.org, padirex@gmail.com, library@nccphilippines.org Account Name: National Council of Churches in the Philippines Peso Account Number: 3051-0063-04 Dollar Account Number: 3054-0162-89 Swift code: BOPIPHMM Bank: Bank of the Philippine Islands, QC West Triangle Branch |
|
World Council of Churches: Letter to Pres. Aquino Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights: Open Letter to President Benigno Aquino, Jr. and the Canadian Government on the Inauguration of the New President World Council of Churches: WCC Urges Release of Detained Filipino Church Worker Letter on the Abduction of Health Workers in the Philippines Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea: Solidarity Statement Christian Conference of Asia: CCA Condemns Illegal Arrest of Health Workers in the Philippines Presbyterian Church USA: Letter to Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ: Global Ministries Co-Executives Express Concern Over Detention of Philippines Medical Workers KAIROS Canada: KAIROS Calls for the Release of 43 Detained Health Workers in the Philippines United Church of Canada: The United Church of Canada Calls for the Immediate Release of 43 Detained Health Workers |
|
NCCP Blogspot: nccplibrary.blogspot.com
CUER Blogspot: nccp-cuer.blogspot.com
ACT Alliance: www.actalliance.org
|
|
Read NCCP Statement: Free the 43 Health Workers |
|
The Program Unit on Faith, Witness and Service (FWS), together with other agencies, was invited by the Office of the Mayor of La Trinidad, Benguet to a meeting regarding relocating the survivors of Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng. Recently, the 3.3 hectare relocation site in Barangay (village) Tawang for the survivors was approved under Proclamation 2098. About 299 families will be relocated here, some of them, families from Little Kibungan who were NCCP relief beneficiaries in partnership with ACT Alliance and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. The NCCP committed to give non-food assistance to the survivors such as sleeping materials, kitchen utensils and other basic needs. It also committed to provide agricultural assistance such as seeds for rice and vegetable crops to ensure sustainability of food needs. Other agencies in the meeting were the Philippine Red Cross, Gawad Kalinga, Episcopal Diocese of North and Central Philippines of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines, and the municipal Department of Social Welfare and Development. Other rehabilitation efforts, the NCCP will provide agricultural assistance to 400 rice farmers and 400 vegetable farmers in partnership with the Regional Ecumenical Council in the Cordillera. The FWS will go back to Baguio City next week in order to continue its meetings with Benguet local government and the Lutheran Church in the Philippines to assist in their rehabilitation efforts. |
|
Continuing Rehabilitation Efforts |
|
“WOULD THAT. . . YOU KNEW THE THINGS THAT MAKE FOR PEACE” A Statement on the killing of Benjamin Bayles and Jovelito Agustin
The circumstances of their deaths point to the pattern of continuing impunity against progressive organizations and their members, and journalists who raise critical voices. The culture of impunity is so pervasive that, according to Karapatan, from June 1, a month to go before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo steps down, six people were summarily killed, including these two IFI lay leaders. They were killed for espousing the right to live abundant lives -- free from the systemic violence of the state. They were killed for standing for the rights of ordinary people. From the perspective of those who ordered their killing, Bayles and Agustin are “enemies of the state”. This is the spirit of Operation Bantay Laya (OBL) the anti-insurgency policy of the state carried out by state security forces. It makes no distinction between armed combatants and civilians engaged in principled dissent. OBL and the resulting extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances are an abomination to democracy and to a country claiming to be a Christian nation. We renounce it and will continue to speak out against it. How shall we pay homage to this increasing number of victims of extrajudicial killings in the twilight of the current administration and the dawning of a new presidency? How shall justice be rendered to victims and perpetrators? They are not mere statistics. They represent state repression never experienced since the time of martial law. President-elect Benigno Aquino III campaigned on a platform of Vindicate the suffering and the oppressed, Mr. President-elect! Stand by your promise and let justice roll down like a river and let peace come like an ever flowing stream. We urge the incoming president to scrap the OBL and neither adapt nor engage in any similar repressive measures in the future. We also urge the incoming government to make this nation stand unashamedly before the international community. Abide by the Philippine commitments and pledges to international instruments on human rights. The church in the Philippines stands committed to the primacy of just and lasting peace. The festering issues of poverty, neglect and corruption in high places have long remained barriers to a just and lasting peace. Beyond the political colors is the pressing demand to address the roots of dissent through a government that is compassionate and caring to its citizens. This is the call of the church. As Jesus drew near to Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it saying Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace. (Luke 19.41) We grieve not only for the loss of sons and daughters, husbands and wives but also for the never-ending violence. We bear witness that we are now being hemmed in on every side, and dashed to the stone by the dark principalities and powers of this country and the world that seek to perpetuate violence and oppression upon this land. We urge our partners and people of peace around the world to listen to our testimony and join us in prayer, hope and work for the better condition we deserve and which we know can happen. |
|
Indigenous Peoples Week August 5-9, 2010 Theme: Land and Water |
|
Last July 14,2010, an Ecumenical Student Reception was held at the National City United Church. The activity aims to be a venue for fellowship for the youths of the NCCP member churches, as well as a time to collectively study the situation of the Filipino youth and to identify the youth’s role in the pursuit of peace and justice. The reception was attended by around 70 youths from the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, the United Methodist Church, the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, the Episcopal Church in the Philippines, Iglesia Unida Ekyumenikal, and the Iglesia Evangelica Metodista En Las Islas Filipinas. Youths from the Global Justice Volunteer program also joined the fellowship. Ms. Norma Dollaga was their guest speaker at the student reception who appropriately talked about education. She reminded them that education is a right and not a privilege although in Philippine society, the latter seems more true. Apart from having a right to education, students must know what constitutes good education. First, it must remind us of our heritage and history as a people so that history will not repeat itself; instead, propel us to move towards a better future. Second, good education must make people craft a better society where there is peace and justice. Lastly, knowledge and learning must only be used in the pursuit of the good of everyone; in the pursuit of life in its fullness. |
|
Ecumenical Student Reception Held |
|
Ecumenical Conference Topic: Inter-marriages between Members of the Christian Faith
Date: August 27, 2010 Venue: Lord’s Flock Heritage 5 Catanduanes St. near Del Monte cor. West Avenue Time: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Registration Fee: PhP 100.00 (for lunch and snacks)
Organized by: NCCP, CBCP Episcopal Commission and CFCCCF |
|
Indigenous Peoples and Church Forum
Date: August 9, 2010 Venue: Bp. La Verne Mercado Ecumenical Center Time: 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. |
|
- - ooo- - |
|
Strengthening Our Commitment to Children’s Ministry Program A Continuing Education for Christian Educators and Workers with Children
Date: July 28, 2010 Venue: Bp. La Verne Mercado Ecumenical Center Time: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Registration Fee: PhP 100.00 |
|
WHAT IS THERE TO CELEBRATE? In Anticipation of the First State of the Nation Address of P-Noy A Biblico-Theological Reflection By: Lizette G. Tapia-Raquel
After the presidential inauguration last June 30 and the release of a survey showing his popularity rating at +83, we can assume that many Filipinos and most of the world, anticipate P-Noy's pronouncements and plans for the next six years. His proclamations in his inaugural address to follow the most basic of rules such as stopping for the traffic light and refusing to use the 'wang-wang' and his grand declaration, Kayo (the people) ang boss ko, have been met with approval. The attitude has been one of celebration. But what is there to celebrate? II Kings 5:1-18 tells the story of the healing of Naaman, the victorious commander of the King of Aram, from leprosy. He and his people are enemies of the Israelite people and had in fact taken a young girl from her family and home in Israel as a booty of war. Without a doubt, she is just one among many. Despite her situation, she proposes healing for Commander Naaman, saying, If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria!He would cure him of his leprosy. (v.3) Her desire for his healing brings together the most powerful men in the land. The King of the Arameans and the King of the Israelites, despite their distrust of each other, put aside their fighting to cure a military man from leprosy. At a time of war, two political leaders create an alliance for one man. A third man, the prophet of God, Elisha, consummates this act. Showing no prejudice against a commander who had killed his people, he summons the commander to come to Israel, saying, Let him come to me that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel. Then orders him, Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean. In this act of healing, Commander Naaman proclaims, Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. (v. 15) In the healing of Naaman, we celebrate with the two kings and the prophet. And we forget the cry of a slave-girl-child. Perhaps, when she voiced out the healing through Elisha, she envisioned her own liberation from slavery. For how can she wish for the healing of her enemy and not want freedom for her oppressed self. The most powerful men in two kingdoms and the most powerful prophet of God came together to heal a man of privilege and yet do nothing for a slave-child. What is there to celebrate? What does it mean for the slave-girl-child to be taken from her home? Were her parents and siblings killed as they tried to protect her, was her house burned down so that she will not have anything to return to; was she violated and abused so that she would be silenced; was an entire village destroyed to subdue her people? Were they dispossessed of and driven from the lands that they have lived off for generations? Who is the nameless and forgotten slave-girl-child among us? In Old Testament times and today, she is not one but many. And they ask, what is there to celebrate? Who are the kings amongst us celebrating? GMA has been elected to Congress and has already formalized her pursuit of Charter Change. How do we seek justice for the anomalies and human rights violations during her presidency? P-Noy has been hounded by the issue of Hacienda Luisita Massacre and agrarian reform even before the elections but he has not made any commitments. How do we make him accountable? And since his inauguration, four political activists have been killed, and the Morong 43 and many others continue to be political prisoners. Who shall give them justice? P-Noy was explicit in his inaugural message, “there can be no reconciliation if there is no justice!” There can be no celebration until there is justice! Naaman needed healing. Yes. But the slave-girl-child needed liberation. As millions of Filipinos do. The measure of true celebration is liberation. There is reason to celebration when the Morong 43 are set free; as well as all political prisoners. There is reason to celebrate when GMA is held accountable for the gross violations of human rights and the grave cases of corruption during her watch. There is reason to celebrate when Oplan Bantay Laya is junked and militarization in the rural and urban communities grounds to a halt. There is reason to celebrate when the peace talks between the GRP and the NDFP, under the Hague Joint Declaration, are resumed. There is reason to celebrate when CARPER is junked and the PhP 125 across the board wage increase is implemented. There is reason to celebrate when the RP-US joint military exercises under the VFA is abrogated. The measure of true celebration is when those who need God the most no longer cry out for human rights, just wages, land, healthcare, education, clean water and most basic of needs. The measure of true celebration is liberation. Ms. Lizette G. Tapia-Raquel is an Assistant Professor at the Union Theological Seminary |
