News

CEBU CITY — It has been a while since human rights worker Jose Luis Blanco spent time with his family, and his latest visit mid-October in Borbon town, two hours north of Cebu City, was a much needed respite from his stressful job. However, just when his visit was ending, alleged military elements visited his home and harassed his family.

On October 17, a person claiming to be a friend of Blanco and identifying himself as Loloy dropped by their house twice, the second time accompanied by a certain Benecio Wating, a known member of Guardians, a group associated with the military. Reports describe Loloy as chubby, fair skinned, narrow-eyed, and 5’4″ in height.

What alarmed Blanco’s relatives were the questions Loloy asked regarding Blanco, which they described as intrusive.

Blanco’s father said he suspected Loloy to be a government agent because even though he identified himself to be a friend of Blanco, his questions, which included the names of Blanco’s siblings, where he finished high school, or whether they permitted him to work in Negros, were obviously not questions that a friend who just happened to drop by the area to visit would ask.

This same Loloy, according to Blanco, also called and texted him using mobile number 0917-3031349.

The messages included invitations to meet for lunch at a certain restaurant in Dumaguete City.

Threats

This is not the first time Blanco experienced harassment and threat from alleged members of the military.

Last June, an unidentified person posing as a member of Blanco’s family hacked his Facebook account and posted a status update on his Facebook wall claiming that he died in an encounter between elements of the Philippine military and the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. This worried Blanco’s friends and family.

At that same time when the message was posted on his Facebook wall, Blanco said members of the military harassed him on board a bus on his way to Dumaguete City. Blanco just finished investigating a case of harassment in Guihulngan City, when en route to Dumaguete City, government agents boarded the bus he was riding and tried to persuade him to cooperate with them, saying that they could help him with his needs. But before they made the offer, they made sure to let him know that they could easily inflict harm on him or his family should they choose to.

Legal harassment

According to Dennis Michael J. Abarrientos, Karapatan-Central Visayas secretary general, Blanco has also been harassed through the filing of trumped up charges against him.

In 2010, Blanco was accused of kidnapping by the Commission on Human Rights through its field investigator in Negros Oriental, Jesus Cañete, and direct assault by the Philippine National Police. Legal scholars who appraised the cases claim that they were ridiculous and obvious fabrications.

In June 2012, Blanco was charged with violating Provincial Ordinance No. 5 when his group insisted on investigating alleged human rights violations by members of the military in the hinterland village of Siaton, Negros Oriental.

Provincial Ordinance No. 5 requires that a permit be secured from the provincial government for all medical and fact finding missions to certain areas in the province. Violations of the said ordinance entail criminal liabilities.

Ordinance No. 5, Province of Negros Oriental

Non-government organizations are questioning the constitutionality of the said ordinance, stating that it impedes the right of a person to travel or the development of communities that need the assistance of private entities and socio-civic organizations. NGO workers also said that it is being used against them when they work with communities.

Human rights group Karapatan said this form of harassment on human rights workers is nothing new, especially with the implementation of the Aquino government’s counterinsurgency program Oplan Bayanihan. Nevertheless it is still a violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other human rights instruments of which the Philippines is a signatory.

“This is a systematic effort on the part of the AFP to destroy the credibility of human rights workers,” said Abarrientos.

Doubting the military’s sincerity

Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command spokesperson, Lt. Col. Christopher Tampus, however, told Bulatlat.com in a phone interview that the military does not tolerate any form of harassment perpetuated by government agents.

“The AFP fully supports the work of human rights workers,” he said.

He promised that they would help Karapatan in investigating the matter. However he requested that the group identifies the alleged agent and the unit to which the agent belongs to.

“We cannot just investigate if we do not know the unit,” Tampus said in the vernacular, adding that even if they are willing to do a line-up of agents, there are 2,000 soldiers based in Negros alone, and requesting for them to be pulled out for a line-up would be difficult.

Abarrientos, however, doubts the sincerity of the military, saying that based on their experience, whenever they file a complaint with the military or with the CHR, their complaints are dismissed outright and the burden of finding the evidences is always placed on the complainant.

It is because of this that the case of Blanco was instead forwarded to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and other international rights bodies to help pressure the Aquino administration to act on the case.

Already, Human Rights Watch has written to President Benigno Aquino III asking for immediate action on the matter, said Abarrientos.

Recruitment

Abarrientos believes that subjecting members of organizations critical of the government to systematic harassment is one of the methods subscribed by the military in trying to recruit them as civilian agents.

Abarrientos said this is also the tactic that is being used by the military in trying to entice Blanco to cooperate with them, adding that once Blanco would agree to working for the military, the series of harassments would stop.

Tampus denied Abarrientos’s claim.

“We are not recruiting civilian agents,” he said.

But Abarrientos doubts this. He cited a recent attempt by the military to recruit a student from the University of the Philippines-Cebu.

A statement by the League of Filipino Students revealed that a certain John Darwin Kitt Muralla, a second year BA Political Science student of UP-Cebu was recruited by the AFP Central Command to gather information on the Visayas delegates to the group’s national convention, and to secure organizational documents, and plans of the group.

Abarrientos also said that in barangays in remote areas, farmers are also being recruited to monitor activities of members of “left leaning” groups.

“This endangers the lives of civilians,” he said, adding that many of these civilians are unable to decline the military’s request for fear that it would endanger their lives.

“They are, after all, armed,” he said.

Labeling

Karapatan also condemned the branding and labeling of human rights workers.

“This false accusation that rights organizations are fronts of insurgent groups is putting the lives of our workers in danger,” said Abarrientos.

“Instead of addressing the worsening human rights situation, the government claims that what human rights organizations are saying are plain propaganda,” he said.

“In order for the authorities to genuinely address tissues regarding human rights, they should first change their way of thinking, otherwise they won’t be able to do their job and fulfill their obligations,” he added. - Bulatlat

First published in Bulatlat.com as "Rights worker in Visayas harassed by suspected military agents", on October 31, 2012.

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Culture

As mentioned in my post entitled, The FREEMAN's Light A Star year 5 entries - elementary category, I'll be posting the works of the high school students who used tin cans as their main material, here they are:

The students were not really required to use tin cans for everything, its just a matter of exploring their creativity.

The important thing is the material of choice (tin cans) would be prominent int he finish product.

The contestants were also required to include all characters of the nativity scene - the Sagrada Familia (Mary, Joseph, and Jesus), the three kings, a farmer, and one or two farm animals.

And of course there's the star because why would it be called Light-A-Star if there is no star?

Lighting is also very important, and I noticed that most of the kids were so good with wiring. I bet that they learned these stuff because of the contest.

It was also amazing to note that even students with disabilities, in this case the hearing impaired, were so cool in making their version of the Belen. 

Those who were able to finish on time had a study of they nativity scene and already knew what was expected of them. I would say that they were more successful than the rest because they were able to execute their plan better, not like those wherein only the team leader decided on the design and concept of their entry.

Somehow, the event taught me a lot of things, including team work and knowing that advice is given because there is a better way of executing a certain project.

As you can see, each team has a different interpretation of the Belen, but as with all Filipinos, the Belen represents the birth of Christ and of course, family.

It tells of the story of the Holy Family, how they were abandoned by most people, because there simply was no room for them in the inns, but in the end was accommodated in a very humble place, a shelter for animals.

The Christ child was born in a manger, and to think he is the prince of the whole universe.

Such representation tells us that a true king do not require a golden crib, because after all, as with all leaders, the king is but a servant of its people. 

Truly, the activity was amazing.

Not just because it showcased the creativity of the Cebuano youths, but also because it allowed us to reflect on our own humanity, on how we are living our lives. As extravagant kings or as humble servants.

For you, what does the Holy Family, the nativity, represent?

Photo from The FREEMAN.

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Culture

(My nephew JM, me, and my grandmother, Lilia)

After six days at the hospital, my grandmother (my mom's mother) left the body last Friday, October 26. This is the second day of our grieving. On Tuesday we will bury her next to my grandfather. There is really no reason to prolong the wake since most of my grandma's kids are here, except for my aunt who is in Hong Kong. 

Mourning in the Philippines would last for 40 days after the death of a loved one. For nine days after the burial, a novena (group prayer) is held, believed to help the soul of the loved one enter the gates of heaven.

This is the traditional Catholic practice. My mom is a preacher in the protestant church, and my aunt in Hong Kong also attends a protestant church. My uncle, their eldest, however is an active member of the Knights of Columbus, and my other aunt, who took care of my grandma, is a Roman Catholic, but not really a very active one. So, I really am not sure if we are going to follow the said traditions.

In my family, as much as we take grief seriously, with all the private crying, we try to keep a straight face in public, because, I don't know, its not just in our family to show grief, I guess. And besides, we try to celebrate the life of our loved one. Well, it would be different on the day of the burial where one would expect a lot of crying, still, for me personally, I try not to cry, although it could be hard especially if you remember all those good times that you spent together or your unfulfilled hopes for the person who passed on. 

My grandmother said that she is already content with her life because she has been to places - from Manila to Palawan, to Cotabato to her sister, Lola Fe. She has had plenty of experiences in all her 78 years. This November 30 we were supposed to celebrate her birthday, but fate, apparently, would have it that she move on before that.

My grandmother was born in Bayawan City in the province of Negros Oriental. Her family used to work the land of my grandfather. That's how they met, although, they were somehow related. Cousins, I guess. My grandfather and grandmother used to own several stores in Bayawan City until my uncle asked them to transfer in Cebu City. They then sold all their properties in Bayawan and relocated in Cebu.

When my aunt decided to work in Hong Kong, she left her three kids to the care of my grandmother, who dutifully accepted the responsibility. Since then, my cousins have been her constant companions, until she became sickly and my other aunt decided to take her in. 

My grandmother's life is filled with sacrifice, putting her wants and even convenience aside while putting the wants and needs of her children and grandchildren first. Even when she was already having a difficult time with her health, she still has our interest in mind, reminding us constantly of the money she'll be getting from the city government saying that my cousin could use it to help him with his requirements for his application to the middle east. 

Her desires were simple and it was so easy for her to be happy. If it makes you happy to see her happy, then she would give you a happy face, this even when she was already having a hard time breathing. My grandmother was the epitome of a mother, even until the end.

How should I grieve the passing of my grandmother? I really don't know. I want to cry for reasons mentioned earlier, but I also don't want to cry because I know that there is really no point in crying except for my selfish reasons. My grandmother is in a better place. Whatever comes after death, we really can't say, but we can only hope that its better than our current world.

To my grandmother, Lilia "Lola Leah" Tasa Jalbuna Torrequemada, thank you for the gift of life, thank you for loving us unconditionally, and thank you for the sacrifice just so we could have a better life. We will forever be grateful. We love you and we will miss you.

How do you express grief?

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Culture

The Belen is a depiction of the Holy Family at the time of the birth of Jesus Christ.

It is a tradition in the Philippines for every home to have a Belen during Christmas. It represents family and reflects the importance that Filipinos put on family.

Last Monday and Tuesday, kids, both high school and elementary school, came to The FREEMAN office for the yearly Light A Star contest. This year, instead of the usual parol (Christmas lantern), our General Manager, Mr. Bhoy Mendoza, suggested that we do an on-the-spot Belen making contest, basically to reflect the value that the company places on the family.

It was an exciting two days.

The first day there were the elementary school kids aged 7-12 seriously creating their interpretation of the Belen from raw materials, which, for this category was coconut palm - any parts of the coconut palm, from the leaves to the branches, and even seedlings.

There were 18 entries for the elementary category, representing 16 different schools from Cebu City and neighboring cities and municipalities.

The elementary schools who came included Pusok Elementary School, Tipolo Elementary School, Mactan Elementary School, Zapatera Elementary School, Cabancalan II Elementary School, Agus Elementary School, Bankal Elementary School, Mandaue City Central Integrated SPED School (school for the disabled, their representatives were deaf), Don Vicente Rama Memorial Elementary School, Vicenta Manreal Elementary School, Banilad Elementary School, Subangdako Elementary School, San Nicolas Elementary School, Pilipog Elementary School, Guadalupe Elementary School, and Argao Central Elementary School.

For the high school category, 15 schools were represented, I'll talk about the high school category on my next post.

There were some entries that were so creative, one could say, wow, could you actually do that?

Take the coconut husk, for example. One team used the inside of the husk to make it into the characters, although painting it white made it, well, not so good to look at. Takes the drama out of the material, still, the over all effect was awesome.

One entry I really liked because the whole theme represented everything that is Cebu, from the templete that is being constructed for San Pedro Calungsod de Cebu, to guitars, of which those made in Cebu are said to be of great quality.

Another entry I liked was the one made of coconut palm, although the characters were not complete because the small kids lacked the time to finish everything. Still it was amazing how they were able to turn the ginit into the characters.

Another entry had a water feature, and you could just imagine the learning that the kids gained from this experience.

Considering that they were under time pressure, I'd say that it was quite a feat for these kids. 

Next would be the voting portion where readers of The FREEMAN get to vote for the Belen of their choice. Voting would start today, October 26, until November 25.

The Belen with the most number of votes would get an extra price plus a certain percentage in the total score.

At stake is 10,000 pesos for the winning piece plus other prizes. The votes will also be raffled, and at stake would be overnight stays or treats from Cebu's great hotels and resorts including Mactan's Shangri La Resort and Spa and Plantation Bay.

Photos courtesy of The FREEMAN.

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Events

Two new Ministop convenience stores opened in Cebu yesterday, one along Escario St. and another along Fuente-Osmeña. Looks like the opening of the 7-11 stores in Cebu has also triggered the opening of other 24-hour convenience stores, whose primary market would be the contact center workers, who work the night shifts.

Both brands, 7-11 and Ministop, have been operating in Luzon for a while, decades even, but somehow they are starting to realize that the capital is already too crowded and that its time to expand their business in Cebu, which is said to be the gateway to the south.

According to Ministop's country president Rowena Sarte (Ministop is a Japanese brand, by the way), the reason why it took them a long time to finally decide in setting up shop in Cebu is because they needed a commissary or a distribution center, and that, apparently entails a lot of investment. That is why, to make sure that their investment in Cebu would be worth it, they plan to build at least 60 stores in the next five years, 15 of which will be built within the year, and all of which are franchise stores.

Sarte pointed out that unlike other convenience shops, Ministop offers freshly cooked meals, which makes the commissary even more necessary.

"Our stocks are delivered fresh to our stores daily," she said, adding that she hopes that after Cebu, other shops outside Luzon will also be opening. She revealed that after six months, they will be opening shop in locations like Davao City and in Panay Island.

By the end of the year, Sarte hopes that there will be 400 Ministop stores all over the country. Currently, there are 300 plus shops in the Philippines. Its biggest market is in Japan where there are around 2,000 shops, followed by South Korea with around 1,700 shops. Ministop also has franchises in Vietnam and China.

She said that the growth of their company is due to the Filipino's desire to be independent, to be entrepreneurs rather than be content with being employees.

Sarte added that investment for a franchise would range from P3 to 4 million pesos (roughly around USD72,000 to USD96,618), depending on the location of the store. The investment would already include the interiors and exteriors of the shop, as well as the content of the shop. Return of investment is expected after 3 to 4 years.

Ministop is a franchising company, and is a joint venture between the Robinsons Group, Mitsubushi Corp. (Japan), and Ministop Ltd. (Japan).

 

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Events

The FREEMAN is once again holding the yearly Light-A-Star contest which brings together students from different schools all over Cebu province and neighboring provinces.

This year, the theme was the Nativity, or the Belen as we call them.

For non-Christians, the Nativity is the depiction of the Holy Family at the time of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Graders (7-12 years old) were asked to make Belens out of the coconut palm. They could use any part of the plant, but everything must be done onsite, except for those that require difficult cutting like the coconut shell or the trunk itself.

High school students (13-16 years old), on the other hand, were required to use tin cans, any can.

Last Monday and Tuesday we had the on-the-spot thingy and here's some of the pictures. Will be posting the finish products in the next couple of posts.

The following pictures are of the high school students:

Look National High School (Talisay City)

Look National High School (Talisay City)

Mandaue City Comprehensive National High School (Mandaue City)

Tungkil National High School (Lapu-Lapu City)

Cansojong Technical Vocational National High School

Apas National High School (Cebu City)

Southwestern University - High School Department (Cebu City)

Bankal National High School (Lapu-Lapu City)

The following pictures are of the elementary students taken by photographers of The FREEMAN. Sorry I forget which school these students were from:

The aim of the activity is to raise awareness on the usefulness of both indigenous and recycled materials in coming up with saleable products, and also to tap the creativity of the youth, and at the same time encourage them to practice recycling. 

This project was conceived by our General Manager, Mr. Bhoy Mendoza, who always believed in the talent of the young people. Truly, I am happy to be one of those who helped organize this event. Thank you for the opportunity.

With Photos from The FREEMAN.

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Spirituality

Today, at 4pm Manila time, Pope Benedict XVI will be elevating seven Catholic faithfuls to sainthood, one of whom is 17-year old Cebuano Filipino San Pedro Calungsod de Cebu.

San Pedro Calungsod was an altar boy and a companion of Jesuit missionary Beato Padre Diego Luis de San Vitores, when the latter went to Guam to spread the the Catholic religion.There were only a few accounts on San Pedro Calungsod, for who would have thought that a simple altar boy, and an indio at that, embody the teachings of Christ, deserving him a place in the annals of the Saints. 

San Pedro Calungsod and Beato Padre Diego Luis de San Vitores were killed by a native called Matapang, who left the Catholic faith in fear that its the missionaries who caused the death of many children in the islands.

Both were martyred on April 2, 1672, when Matapang together with another native, Hirao, speared first San Pedro Calungsod and then Beato Padre Diego, finishing them off with a cutlass, and then throwing their bodies in the ocean.

Being a strong bodied young man, San Pedro Calungsod could have chosen to defend himself or Fr. Diego, or could have ran away if he wanted to, but he chose to stay beside the 45-year old Spanish priest.

Fr. Diego was beatified on October 6, 1985, while San Pedro Calungsod was beatified March 5, 2000. The petition for Fr. Diego's sainthood remains until today. 

San Pedro Calungsod is the second Filipino saint. The first was San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila. Both were young men, and both died as migrants, in other countries.

***

The following is a story I wrote on the pilgrims to the beatification. This story was first published in The FREEMAN on 20 October 2012, and subsequently in PhilStar.com, its web-portal, with the title, Witnessing sainthood, a blessing and an opportunity.

Witnessing sainthood, a blessing and an opportunity
By Ritche T. Salgado

CEBU, Philippines - Not everyone has the opportunity to witness firsthand the canonization of a saint, so much more one claimed to be a Cebuano.

An estimated 10,000 Filipinos, around 3,000 of whom are Cebuanos, left for pilgrimages that will end in Rome starting mid-October to witness the canonization of Beato Pedro Calungsod. The cost per trip is at least P150,000 and could easily climb to P200,000, depending on the chosen package.

Carmel De Pio-Salvador of Global Carrier Philippines Inc. and multi-awarded furniture designer Clayton Tugonon started their pilgrimage last October 17, with visits to several significant religious places in Italy before the grand day on the 21st when Pope Benedict XVI leads the canonization rites of Beato Pedro Calungsod and six other saints.

“Every Catholic dreams of witnessing the canonization of a saint,” said Salvador, “at least in our lifetime we can witness (one).”

Salvador went with her parents. “My mom is a devout Catholic, and it has always been her wish to meet the Pope,” she said, adding that to be able to meet the Pope and at the same time witness him elevate a Cebuano into sainthood is more than what she or her mother dreamt.

For Tugonon, having the means to witness the canonization is an opportunity that not many are able to enjoy, and to be given such a blessing would only mean that there is no reason to miss the opportunity.

“It is not easy for us Filipinos to choose a saint,” he said, adding that the chances of having another Cebuano saint in this lifetime would be very remote.

Both Salvador and Tugonon are involved in the raising of funds for the canonization.

Mildred Simolde, 66, who will also witness the canonization, traces her relationship with her Dodong Pedro Calungsod even before Calungsod was beatified.

“When I went to Guam in July 1998 I made it a point to research on Pedro Calungsod,” she said, but what she found out was distressing. The people she asked about Calungsod never knew or even heard of him. And although she found a painting that bore a representation of Calungsod, the painting was mainly of Beato Padre Luis de San Vitores, the Spanish Jesuit Missionary whom Calungsod served as an altar boy and companion.

Simolde admitted that at first she was doubtful of Calungsod’s qualifications given the feedback she got from her travel to Guam, but her involvement in church as president of the Parish Pastoral Council of Christ the King Parish in Alang-alang, Mandaue City and as the regional president for Northern Mindanao of the Children of Mary, she also got involved in the effort for the Calungsod’s beatification.

But she did her tasks half-heartedly, still doubting the sainthood of Calungsod.

When the day of his beatification came, Simolde came to the realization that her views on Calungsod were misdirected. Since then, her family adopted Calungsod as a member – for her, Calungsod is her son, and for her three children, their brother.

Simolde vowed to spread the message of Beato Pedro Calungsod in the hope of aiding the journey towards his sainthood. She proudly related how she was instrumental in spreading the message of Calungsod in Mindanao as she got to speak in several gatherings of priests from all over Mindanao, or the church visits that she used to do, just so she would be able to talk of Calungsod.

Even in her travels abroad, Simolde related that she would usually talk to people whom she believed to be Filipinos, encouraging them to pray to Calungsod to intercede in their petitions to God.

“Dodong Pedro is a very good child, and he is not like other saints who seem hard to talk to. He feels so near and so easy to talk to,” she said.

“I wish that people would treat him like a young boy and get close to him,” she said.

For Simolde, the trip to the Vatican for Calungsod’s canonization is but a fulfillment of a promise she made to her son, Dodong Pedro, and the ease in getting her papers approved was, for her, a sign that Calungsod approved of her decision.

“When I went to Sun Travel and Tours in General Maxilom Avenue, I was expecting that I would have difficulty going there especially with the parking, so I told Dodong Pedro, ‘Now that you will be a saint, I am sure that you would be very busy but would you still work for me?’ and right then, when I entered Cherry Court, a car vacated a parking space,” she said.

However, Simolde also said that if not for the promise she made, she would have chosen to stay behind, knowing that the money that she would spend on the trip could help many people in her community.

“For me, whether I will attend (the canonization) or not, it will be the same,” she said, because for her, Calungsod is already a part of her life and her everyday routine.

Still, to be able to attend a special event of someone close to her, Simolde, like a proud parent, is elated.

“It would be like attending his graduation or his marriage,” she said.

For the few Cebuanos, the opportunity to be able to go to the Vatican and witness the canonization of the first Cebuano Saint is one that should not be taken for granted. Regardless of their reasons in going to the Vatican, Pedro Calungsod remains to be the focus of their travel, and in coming back, they all intend to bring Calungsod into the lives of the people they serve. -/Edited by Quennie Sanchez-Bronce (FREEMAN)

***

For the faithfuls, San Pedro Calungsod embodies the following virtues, which every Roman Catholic faithful must emulate:

Fortitude.
Of the cardinal virtues which Pedro Calungsod possessed, fortitude shines out clearly in his courage and perseverance to teach the Christian Faith to the Chamorros even in the midst of hostility, in his resolve to stay with and assist the superior of the Mission, Fr. de San Vitores, even in the time of adversity. Fortitude finally made him face a violent death on account of the Faith.

Spiritual Poverty.
Pedro Calungsod was poor in spirit for he was able to leave everything behind at a tender age—beloved family and homeland and a convenient life—all in order to proclaim the Gospel to the Chamorros.

Chastity.
Pedro Calungsod never gave in to the immoral practice of the young male prostitutes in the Marianas at that time, as some of his acquaintances did.
Prayerfulness. Despite the difficult life and tight schedule in the Mission, Pedro Calungsod never neglected his prayers which kept him faithful to Christ.

Strong devotion to the Eucharist.
Pedro Calungsod never went out into a missionary journey without first receiving Holy communion which made him fearless in the face of dangers.

Frequent Confession.
Pedro Calungsod never went out into a missionary journey without first confessing his sins to the priest and receiving the absolution. That made him always ready to face death anytime.

Faith.
It was because of his faith that Pedro Calungsod studied the truths of the Catholic Faith. At the same time, it was his knowledge of the truths of the Faith that helped deepen his faith. Fr. de San Vitores chose men of deep faith as his companion missionaries in the Marianas who would evangelize the Chamorros more by example than by words, that is, through faith translated into good works. Pedro Calungsod must have deeply possessed and lived the Christian Faith because he was among those chosen by Fr. de San Vitores to be his companion missionaries in the Marianas. Even more, Pedro Calungsod must have lived this virtue in a very remarkable way so much so that perhaps he must have been one of Fr. de San Vitores’ best, most trusted and closest collaborators because it is said that he was a long-time companion of the said Father, meaning to say, that he was always working side by side with Fr. de San Vitores. This becomes plainly seen when, out of the several missionaries, Pedro Calungsod was chosen by Fr. de San Vitores to be his lone companion during that critical moment of the Mission and in that fateful journey to Tomhom where they both gave their final witness to the Christian Faith.

Putting aside these considerations, we can still say that Pedro Calungsod had a deep faith in God by the mere fact that he spent his young life in and for the Christian Faith through teaching catechism in the Mission despite difficulties and dangers.

Finally, Pedro Calungsod was killed by the enemies of the Faith. Indeed, he professed his faith until death, a fact which gave more courage to Fr. de San Vitores to die also for the same Faith.

Hope.
It may be said that Pedro Calungsod’s perseverance in the difficult and troubled Mariana Mission was sustained by his Christian hope for eternal salvation and happiness after such earthly trials. He himself must have communicated this hope to others more by example than by words. In a particular way, if his death gave more courage to Fr. de San Vitores to die also for the Faith, it can be said that Pedro Calungsod demonstrated this hope through his willing acceptance of martyrdom.

Charity.
The foundation of all the goodness of Pedro Calungsod cannot be but his great love for God and love for his fellowmen as manifested in the following facts which also reveal his other virtues:
—in his zeal to join and help the foreign Mission in the Marianas, a zeal which must have been inspired also by the example of Fr. de San Vitores;
—in his dedicated service in the Mission —a quality that may have even edified the Superior of the Mission, Fr. de San Vitores;
—in his selflessness in risking his young life in a troubled far-from-home Mission;
—in his perseverance in serving the difficult Mission right from the start in 1668 up to his violent death in 1672;
—in living what he taught, so much so that he was remembered to be a virtuous catechist;
—in his heroic obedience to Fr. de San Vitores, accompanying the latter in an apostolic task even in the time of imminent danger when he ought to have taken refuge immediately in the fortified Residence; and in not carrying any weapon for self protection as willed by Fr. de San Vitores;
—in his courage to teach the Christian Faith to the Chamorros even in the midst of hostility;
—in his faithfulness to Fr. de San Vitores whose mission he always supported and whom he never abandoned even in the time of adversity, thereby imitating Jesus Christ who showed the greatest love in laying down his life for his friends (cf. Jn. 15:13);
—in his humility in not using his physical prowess to defend himself or to defeat his aggressors;
—in his non-violent response to his aggressors;
—in shedding his blood for the Christian Faith, thereby proving himself to be a good soldier of Christ;
—in being an edifying Christian, for his death even gave new courage to Fr. de San Vitores to die also for the Christian Faith.

***

Prayer to San Pedro Calungsod de Cebu:

San Pedro Calungsod de Cebu
Student, catechist, young migrant, missionary, faithful friend, martyr,
You inspire us by your fidelity
In times of adversity;
By your courage
In teaching the Faith
In the midst of hostility;
And by your love
In shedding your blood
For the sake of the Gospel.

Make our troubles your own
(Mention requests)
And intercede for us
Before the throne of Mercy and Grace,
So that, as we experience the help of heaven,
We may be encouraged to live
And proclaim the Gospel here on earth.

Amen.

Photos Reynan Villena (de Pio Salvador and Tugonon) and from the net.

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Food

CEBU, Philippines - They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

For one, breakfast breaks the long fast that our body just had as it went on a brief hibernation during the evening, although with less physical activity, the energy that our body would use will also be less, just enough for it to fulfill its nightly obligations, mainly repair and other metabolic processes.

Another important point that many breakfast advocates would bring up is that the meal serves as our fuel for the day. It's like filling up your car before taking it out for a spin.

The same goes with our body. Food serves as our body's fuel and breakfast is a great opportunity to fill up in order to meet the demands of the day's activities. In fact, studies* reveal that people who eat breakfast are able to cope with the day's stressors better than those who skip breakfast.

Start your day right with these wonderful easy-to-whip vegetarian breakfast ideas:

Scrambled Tofu

One of my favorite breakfast fares is scrambled tofu. It is easy to make, and rich in protein, which is good, since protein is actually an upper, just what we need to start the day. Carbohydrates, on the other hand, despite it being the body's first energy source, are actually downers. For your carbo load, pair your scrambled tofu with a cup of steamed black or brown rice.

Ingredients:

A block of tofu, crushed

3 tablespoons of cream of mushroom or cream of asparagus soup powder dissolved in a

a cup of fresh milk or evaporated milk (for vegans, use coconut milk)

½ cup of crushed pineapple

Salt and pepper to taste

Your favorite spice (I love curry, so I sometimes add curry powder to this recipe)

A dash of hing (or you can use crushed garlic)

Vegetable oil or butter

Procedure:

1. Heat oil in pan.

2. Stir in the hing and curry powder.

3. Add the crushed tofu. Stir.

4. When some of the tofu would start to turn brown, pour in the milk and cream of mushroom mixture.

5. Let it simmer for a bit, then add the crushed pineapple.

6. After a minute or two, take out from the fire and add salt and pepper to taste.

Homemade Granola bars

Granola bars are not only great for breakfast, they are also a nutritious and delicious snack item. This fiber-rich food is a complete meal in itself, especially if you load them with nuts and fruits. They are also very easy to make, although this recipe would require the use of an oven, to ensure that your granola bars would be shaped into bars; otherwise, you'd just have muesli, which would be our next breakfast recipe.

Ingredients:

2 cups oatmeal

1 cup desiccated coconut

1 cup mixed nuts (almonds, peanuts, cashew nuts, and walnuts)

½ cup dried mango, chopped

½ cup drained crushed pineapple

½ cup mixed dried fruits, chopped

1 cup honey

½ cup brown sugar

½ cup sun dried raisins

2/3 cup soy-based butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Salt to taste

Procedure:

1. Pre-heat oven to 175 degrees C.

2. Roast oatmeal, desiccated coconut, and mixed nuts until slightly browned. Mix and then add the fruits.

3. In a saucepan, mix butter, honey, sugar, and vanilla extract. Allow to simmer.

4. Pour in mixture to the dried ingredients. Mix and transfer in a baking pan, buttered and lined with wax paper.

5. Bake for at least 20 minutes or until golden brown.

6. Let it cool for at least 2 hours and then cut into bars.

Muesli

Muesli was first introduced in 1900 by Swiss physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner for patients in his hospital. Today, this is a staple for weight-watchers and health conscious individuals.

Ingredients:

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup mixed dried fruits (mango, raisins, papaya, pineapple), chopped

½ cup mixed nuts (peanuts, almonds, walnuts, cashew)

3 tablespoons desiccated coconut

¼ cup ground flaxseeds

1 piece banana, sliced

½ cup mango, sliced

1 cup orange juice or soy milk

Pinch of cinnamon and salt to taste

Procedure:

1. Mix all dry ingredients and roast briefly.

2. Soak dry ingredients in orange juice or soy milk for at least two hours. Overnight soaking is more preferable.

4. Mix in the sliced fresh fruits.

5. Add cinnamon and salt to taste.

6. Serve.

Bread Pakora

Pakora is a Northern Indian dish. Basically, it is vegetable coated in besan or garbanzos flour batter. The flour itself contributes to the flavor of the dish. These days, even breads are made into pakoras to make for a delightful and healthy snack. In this recipe, we use milk for a creamier and indulgent dish. Should you choose, water would do fine.

Ingredients:

Halved sliced bread or any stale bread cut into bars

1 cup Besan flour (Garbanzos flour), dissolved in

1 cup milk (or coconut milk) or until mixture is to the right consistency, not too watery, yet not too thick

1 small bundle of wansoy (cilantro), finely chopped

Sili espada, chopped (optional)

A dash of hing

Salt and pepper to taste

Oil

Procedure:

1. Heat oil in pan.

2. Add the wansoy, sili espada, hing, salt, and pepper into the batter.

3. Coat the bread one at a time.

4. Deep fry until golden brown.

5. Serve.

*Breakfast makes you brainy: Morning meal “reduces stress and spurs mental and physical performance”, The Daily Mail, 11 March 2012. (FREEMAN)

First saw print in The FREEMAN on 16 October 2012 and published in Philstar.com as Vegetarian Breakfast Ideas. Video credit: Pakora - Manjula's Kitchen; Scrambled tofu - Every Day Dish TV; Granola bars - Laura in the Kitchen. Photo credit: Muesli - Karen Knowler.

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News

CEBU, Philippines - “I was 9 ½ years old when it first happened,” Christina (not her real name) says.

“Do you know what cunnilingus means, kuya*?” she asks me, unsure if I was aware what she meant.

“Yes,” I told her, “I’m in the medical field.”

That’s how Christina started her story – that time when she lost her innocence.

According to Sr. Nida Viovicente, OSR, founder and director of Antonia de Oviedo Center, out of 58 female victims of child molestation, 51 are incest rape, meaning the perpetrator is a close relative of the victim, either the father, a brother, an uncle, or a cousin.

“So, how did you feel?” I asked Christina.

“I was confused. I was not angry, just confused, unable to understand what happened,” she recalls. “I could not say that what he did was his way of showing affection because from what I observed with my cousins and my aunts and uncles then, that was not how they showed love to each other.”

When she started having her period, her father reportedly started going further and had actual sex with her.

“I just tolerated it kuya because from what I learned on TV, children who report cases of sexual abuse always end up with a broken family,” Christina says, adding, “I don’t want to be the cause of any rift in the family.”

It was only during her college years when she tried to find every excuse not to be alone with her father or to stay out of the house as often as she could just so he would not have any opportunity to molest her, she says.

“Perhaps that was the reason, kuya, why recently his temper has not been good,” she says.

When her father struck her with a monobloc chair, she decided that she had suffered enough. She first turned to her friends for help before deciding to confide to relatives on her mother’s side who, in turn, brought her to one of the safe houses of the Antonia de Oviedo Center.

“She was a special case,” Sr. Nida says, explaining that the center primarily accepts minors, but the case of Christina was considered an emergency case, considering the threat that the situation posed on her life and the level of influence of her perpetrator.

A process

“Sex abuse is a process,” Sr. Nida explains.

At first, the perpetrator would try to get the trust and confidence of the victim through acts of kindness and by showing and giving favors to the victim. This is called the grooming stage.

“Once the trust of the victim has been gained, that’s when the perpetrator would start to engage in sexual intercourse,” she says.

The process is premeditated to the point that at times, the perpetrator would create a scenario wherein only he and the victim would be in the house, like sending other companions in the house on an errand.

After the abuse, the perpetrator would then threaten the victim or use force in order to discourage the victim from reporting the incident.

“They would usually say, ‘If you would tell somebody about this I will kill your mother,’ or ‘You are the one who wanted this, you asked for this’,” says Sr. Nida.

Sometimes, the grooming stage also plays on the conscience of the victim, believing that the act is but a form of showing love and affection.

“Indebtedness is an instinct in children,” said Sr. Nida, a reason why children easily fall victim to sexual abuse.

For Christina, however, physical threat or treats were not a deciding factor in keeping her troubles to herself.

“Maybe, kuya, I am just a very submissive person. There were times when I would think that if only I was strong enough to fight back, maybe this would not have happened to me,” she says.

Sex, Love and troubled family

Another reason that would make children vulnerable to child molestation is the notion spread by media that sex is equated to love.

“When the perpetrator would tell the child that, she would easily believe him even if it is not true primarily because of lack of education,” says Sr. Nida.

“The child would believe the perpetrator because the father is a trusted person,” she says. “Tatay who is a loving person, tatay who is a provider, tatay who is a protector, but then tatay is an abuser.”

Sr. Nida points out that most of the victims come from troubled families. Some have stepfathers while in others, even the mothers were abused themselves.

“There are also instances where the mothers are battered wives, who sometimes are themselves products of broken homes,” says Sr. Nida. “The parents are not aware how to care for their children and so the cycle of abuse continues.”

Perpetrators as victims

Sr. Nida reveals that even perpetrators themselves are potential victims of abuse.

“Especially for victims who have not undergone any treatment, the cycle of abuse would not usually stop and there is the potential that when he becomes an adult he will become a perpetrator,” she says.

“But he is not aware that this is the reason for his actions, otherwise he would not do it; he would prevent himself from doing such acts so that others would not be made into victims like him,” she adds.

Pornography, Peer pressure, and separation

Aside from being victims of abuse themselves, there are also perpetrators who are reportedly encouraged to do the act through pornographic films.

“They would even sometimes ask the child to watch X-Rated films with them, misleading the child into believing that what she is seeing in the film is normally done between a father and child,” she says.

Other times, it is other people who encourage the perpetrator to do the act, and other times, the distance between spouses is a factor, as with overseas contract workers.

In Christina’s case, her mother works in the Middle East as a nurse. Her father used to work with her mother, but when her brother started engaging in substance abuse to cope with the separation from their parents, the family decided to let the father return home considering that it is the wife who is earning more.

“People have sexual needs,” says Sr. Nida, and apparently for Christina’s father, Christina was the most convenient outlet for him to fulfill those needs.

Since her father returned home, he and Christina reportedly slept in one bed. This arrangement reportedly continued until Christina reached college. During that time, the abuse was frequent, almost every night, as her father had plenty of opportunity to be alone with her.

Education

Sr. Nida believes that reproductive health education can play a vital role in the prevention of sex abuse in children.

“Children must know their rights, they must know what the abusive situations are and how they could avoid these,” she says, adding that children should also know that there are people whom they could go to when they feel that they are being abused.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) itself has created the Special Committee for the Protection of Children, a body charged with monitoring the implementation of Republic Act No. 7610 or The Special Protection For a Child Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.”

The law defines a “child” as anyone below 18 years old “or one who is over 18 years of age but who cannot take care of himself fully because of a physical or mental disability or condition”

Meanwhile, it defines child abuse as “any act which inflicts physical or psychological injury, cruelty to or the neglect, sexual abuse of, or which exploits, a child.”

Sexual abuse, in particular, is defined as is the employment, use, persuasion, inducement, enticement or coercion of child to engage in, or assist another person to engage in sexual intercourse or lasciviousness conduct or the molestation or prostitution of, or the commission of incestuous acts, on, a child.”

Abuse is not only limited to physical infliction, the law says, because any action that harms a child’s psychological or intellectual functions can also be considered abuse.

Under the law, any person who shall commit any other acts of child abuse, cruelty or exploitation or to be responsible for other conditions prejudicial to the child’s development including those covered by Article 59 of Presidential Decree No. 603, as amended, but not covered by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, shall suffer the penalty of prision mayor (6 years and 1 day to 12 years) in its minimum period.

Interestingly, the DOJ has identified people who are “required” to report a child abuse case, including the head of a public or private hospital, medical clinic or similar institution, as well as the physician and nurse who attended to the needs of the abused child; Teachers and administrators of public schools; Parole and probation officers; Government lawyers; Law enforcement officers; Barangay officials; Correction officers such as jail guards; and other government officials and employees whose work involves dealing with children.

The DOJ says that the individuals identified can be charged criminally if it is learned that they knew of a child abuse case and did not report the same to the proper authorities.

Who can file a complaint against the suspect? The DOJ says that the child victim, the parent or legal guardian of the victim, the grandparent, a relative of the child victim up to a first cousin, the barangay captain, and/or one of a group of three or more persons who have personal knowledge of the abuse can do so.

The complaint against Christina’s father was filed by the Children’s Legal Bureau, a Cebu-based organization that aims to empower communities to provide a just world for children through developmental legal aid, trainings and advocacy.

The case in now pending in court.

“They should be educated and re-educated… this is part of the preventive program,” Sr. Nida emphasizes.

For Christina, the battle has just begun, but to be able to finally tell her story with conviction and strength is, for her, the beginning of a victory. — /With reports from and edited by Joeberth M. Ocao/FREEMAN

*Kuya means older brother, spoken as a sign of respect.

First saw print in the FREEMAN as Losing Innocence: Victim of sexual abuse speaks, hopes for others to break silence (First of 2 parts) on October 15, 2012, and subsequently published in Philstar.com as Victim of sexual abuse speaks, hopes for others to break silence (First of 2 parts). Photos by A.N. Banaynal/THE FREEMAN.

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Travel

 

What better place to unwind than in a secluded locale where you can be intimate with nature?

Malubog Lake in Barangay General Climaco is one of Toledo's not so secret destinations, but the difficulty in getting to the place has shunned many who may want to visit, essentially making it a peaceful, tranquil, and a wonderful place to be refreshed.

Ironically, the lake is not nature's work; in fact, many residents begrudge its existence, as what Barangay Councilor Armando Basalo echoed -- the community is better off when the area was still an agricultural land.

"At least during that time we had income and we did not go hungry," he said. Like all families who have chosen to settle in the area, Basalo's family used to plant corn and rice in the place before the 100-hectare area was flooded and turned into a dam in the 1970s by then Atlas Consolidated Mining & Development Corporation, the company that made Toledo City into one of Cebu's most progressive cities.

The dam is designed to hold 15 million cubic meters of water, most of which is used in the operations of the copper mines of Atlas.

To provide livelihood to the farmers in the area, Atlas and the local government through the Department of Agriculture, filled the dam with milkfish, carp, and tilapia fry, which today is being harvested by many residents in the area.

A tour in Malubog Lake is very cheap, at P2,500 per trip, while a ride to the lake only costs P20 by jeepney, one way. There is a trip to Barangay Gen. Climaco every hour. It seems that accessibility is really not a problem, but the difficult ride has become an obstacle for many to enjoy the wonder of Malubog Lake.

Through special arrangement, lunch can be prepared on board the Malubog Lake Cruiser with grilled tilapia freshly caught from the lake. Or, should one choose, he can do the catching himself and have his catch cooked by the locals.

The City Government of Toledo also plans to further develop the lake, seeing its many potentials as a tourist destination. Toledo City Mayor Aurelio P. Espinosa said that the city plans to build more facilities and amenities along the lake and introduce more activities to help make it an even more attractive destination for visitors.

"Tourism has a lot to contribute, especially to the city because without tourism it would be difficult for us to attract visitors and investors," he said.

For the meantime for those wanting to enjoy nature at its best, these little inconveniences in going to the lake is a plus, because, after all, it would not be as enjoyable when the lake becomes crowded with visitors.

Truly, Malubog Lake, despite its industrial origin and the many issues that may surround it, is a gift for nature lovers.

A trip would take you around the river, to marvel at the confluence of nature and industry. And on the sides you can check out Barangay General Climaco's program on agriculture, with its thrust to also include it in the community's tourism plan.

To visit Malubog Lake, contact Toledo City's Tourism Office at (032)3225748.

Photos by A. N. Banaynal/The FREEMAN. First published in The FREEMAN on 14 October 2012 as Malubog Lake: Industry's product, nature's gift, and subsequently online at PhilStar.com.

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