ANG MGA OBISPO AT ANG REYNA

Ni: Ederic Peñaflor Eder

Bago ganapin ang pulong ng Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) nitong Pebrero 26, 2008, naisip kong sa halip na ipagdasal na ang mga obispo ay manawagan ng pagbibitiw ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, dapat ay ipanalangin nating ipakita ng Banal na Espiritu sa kanila ang tamang kalalagyan sa kasalukuyang usapin.

Masyado na kasing malalim ang kumunoy ng kalintikang kinasadlakan ng ating bayan. Tila kulang ang pagkilos ng mga tao para makaahon tayo. Sa tingin ko, ang anumang gagawin natin ay dapat na may gabay at basbas ng Nasa Itaas.

Nang lumabas na ang pahayag ng mga obispo, hindi nga sila nanawagan ng pagbaba sa puwesto ng reynang akusado ng pandaraya, paulit-ulit na pagsisinungaling, at katiwalian. Sa halip, ganito ang kanilang posisyon:

1. Condemn the continuing culture of corruption from the top to the bottom of our social and political ladder;
2. Urge the President and all the branches of government to take the lead in combating corruption wherever it is found;
3. Recommend the abolition of [Executive Order] 464 so that those who might have knowledge of any corruption in branches of government may be free to testify before the appropriate investigating bodies;
4. Ask the President to allow her subordinates to reveal any corrupt acts, particularly about the ZTE-NBN deal, without being obstructed in their testimony no matter who is involved;
5. Appeal to our senators and the ombudsman to use their distinct and different powers of inquiry into alleged corruption cases not for their own interests but for the common good;
6. Call on media to be a positive resource of seeking the truth and combating corruption by objective reporting without bias and partiality, selective and tendentious reporting of facts;

Bagama’t hindi ako nagulat, medyo na-disappoint ako. Sabi nga ni Prof. Luis Teodoro, kahit ang pinakatiwali ay laging naglalabas ng mga pahayag na kumukondena sa corruption. Ang panawagan din sa media, ayon sa propesor, ay tila umuulit sa laging sinasabi ng mga taga-Malacanang. At idaragdag ko na ring ang panawagan sa mga senador ay tila ganoon din. Laging parinig ng mga maka-administrasyon na ang mga pagdinig sa Senado ay hindi in aid of legislation o para sa paghahanap sa katotohanan, kundi “in aid of grandstanding”. At gaya ng isinulat ko sa blog ko, paano mo makukumbinsi si Arroyo na manguna sa paglaban sa graft and corruption at payagan ang kanyang mga tauhan na isiwalat ang lahat kung ang kanyang asawa mismo ang pangunahing pinagbibintangan sa mga isyu ng katiwalian? Sa panawagan ng mga obispo na ibasura ang EO 464, lumikha na raw si Arroyo ng grupo para pag-aralan ito. Ngunit dapat tayong mag-ingat sa mga pahayag ng isang pamunuang may rekord ng pandaraya at laging nahuhuling nagsisinungaling.

Sa kabilang banda, naisip kong marahil, ang pahayag ng mga obispo ay pagpapakitang nais nilang sa pagkakataong ito’y talagang magmula sa mga tao ang pagbabago. Inulit nila ang panawagan para sa mga communal action gaya ng diskusyon at pag-aaral sa pagitan ng maliliit na grupo. Kumbaga, ang ‘People Power’, kung magkakaroon nito, ay iluluwal hindi ng biglaang emosyon, kundi ng mga indibidwal na ‘realization’ ng tunay nating kalagayan.

Mas gusto ko ring isiping ang kanilang desisyon ay sagot sa kanilang masinsin at paulit-ulit na panalangin bago at pagkatapos ng kanilang mga pag-uusap at debate sa proseso ng pagbubuo ng kanilang pahayag. Sana ganoon nga.

Sapagkat nakalulungkot kung ang pahayag nila’y bunga ng kanilang kahinaan bilang mga tao — mga taong tumatanaw ng utang na loob sa isang reynang napapabalitang mapagbigay sa materyal na mga pangangailangan ng mga obispo at ng Simbahan. O ng mga taong bagamat gusto rin ng pagbabago, ay takot na magambala ang kanilang maalwang pamumuhay.

(Pinoy Gazette, Sunday MARCH 9, 2008)

IWAS PUSOY !

Adopting Filipino children

A Child Study and a Psychological Evaluation to be prepared by a social worker of the DSWD or the accredited placement non-government organization (NGO);
2. Birth Certificate/Foundling Certificate;
3. Deed of Voluntary Commitment or Decree of Abandonment or Death Certificate of the child’s parents;
4. Medical evaluation/History; and
5. Recent photo of the child.

Q. Where should the Application for Adoption be filed?
R. The Application may be filed in the country of the prospective parent/s by coordinating with Philippine accredited foreign adoption agencies. This information may be available at the nearest Philippine Foreign Post or Consular Office.

The Application shall be in the form prescribed by the Board and shall contain an undertaking under oath signed by the applicant upholding the rights of the child under Philippine laws, the national laws of the country where the applicant permanently resides or is a citizen of, those enumerated under the UN Convention, and to abide by the provisions of RA 8043, including its rules and regulations. Further, it shall also include an undertaking that if the adoption is not approved or does not take placed, the applicant shall pay for the cost of travel back to the Philippines of the child and his/her companion.

Q. What are countries that allow dual nationality?
A. The Commission of Filipinos Overseas provided the following list of countries that allow dual citizenship totally or in some limited form: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Egypt, Yugoslavia, France, Hungary, Macedonia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Syria, Tonga, Turkey, UK, US, Western Samoa, Albania, Antigua, and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Burkina, Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Iran, Jamaica, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macao, Macedonia, Madagascar, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Pitcairn, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Serbia, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Thailand, Tibet, Ukraine, Uruguay, Vietnam.

...To be continued

Schizophrenia (10)

(Continuation)

Other: Electroconvulsive therapy is not considered a first line treatment but may be prescribed in cases where other treatments have failed. It is more effective where symptoms of catatonia are present,[120] and is recommended for use under NICE guidelines in the UK for catatonia if previously effective, though there is no recommendation for use for schizophrenia otherwise.[121] Psychosurgery has now become a rare procedure and is not a recommended treatment for schizophrenia.[122]

Service-user led movements have become integral to the recovery process in Europe and America; groups such as the Hearing Voices Network and the Paranoia Network have developed a self-help approach that aims to provide support and assistance outside the traditional medical model adopted by mainstream psychiatry. By avoiding framing personal experience in terms of criteria for mental illness or mental health, they aim to destigmatize the experience and encourage individual responsibility and a positive self-image. Partnerships between hospitals and consumer-run groups are becoming more common, with services working toward remediating social withdrawal, building social skills and reducing rehospitalization.[123]
Prognosis: Numerous international studies have demonstrated favorable long-term outcomes for around half of those diagnosed with schizophrenia, with substantial variation between individuals and regions.[124] One retrospective study found that about a third of people made a full recovery, about a third showed improvement but not a full recovery, and a third remained ill.[125] A clinical study using strict recovery criteria (concurrent remission of positive and negative symptoms and adequate social and vocational functioning continuously for two years) found a recovery rate of 14% within the first five years.[126] A 5-year community study found that 62% showed overall improvement on a composite measure of symptomatic, clinical and functional outcomes.[127] Rates are not always comparable across studies because an exact definition of what constitutes recovery has not been widely accepted, although standardized criteria have been suggested.[85]

The World Health Organization conducted two long-term follow-up studies involving more than 2,000 people suffering from schizophrenia in different countries. These studies found patients have much better long-term outcomes in developing countries (India, Colombia and Nigeria) than in developed countries (USA, UK, Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Japan, and Russia),[128] despite the fact antipsychotic drugs are typically not widely available in poorer countries, raising questions about the effectiveness of such drug-based treatments.

Several factors are associated with a better prognosis: Being female, acute (vs. insidious) onset of symptoms, older age of first episode, predominantly positive (rather than negative) symptoms, presence of mood symptoms and good premorbid functioning.[129][130] Most studies done on this subject, however, are correlational in nature, and a clear cause-and-effect relationship is difficult to establish. Evidence is also consistent that negative attitudes towards individuals with schizophrenia can have a significant adverse impact. In particular, critical comments, hostility, authoritarian and intrusive or controlling attitudes (termed high 'Expressed emotion' or 'EE' by researchers) from family members have been found to correlate with a higher risk of relapse in schizophrenia across cultures.[131]
Mortality:

...To be continued

Congratulations to the new sets of officers! Continue to be blessed to become a blessing to others!!

Happy Mother's Day !

Kapistahan ng Sambayanang Nananalangin

Linggo ng Penetekostes

Ang karanasan ng mga apostol; noong araw ng Pentekostes (Unang Pagbasa) ay naglalarawan kung paano pumanaog ang Espiritu Santo sa kanila at nagkaroon ng natatanging karunungan at kaligayahan: “Biglang dumating ang isang ugong na tulad ng ihip ng isang malakas na hangin...lumitaw ang mga hiwa-hiwalay na parang dilang apoy na tumigil sa ulo ng bawat isa...at sila’y nagsalita ng iba’t ibang wika”(M. Gawa 2:1-4) Ipinahihiwatig sa mga talata na nananalangin ang mga apostol kung saan nasasaad na matapos umakyat sa langit si Hesus, ang mga apostol ay nagtungo sa Jerusalem, umakyat sa lagi nilang tinutuluyan, kasama si Mariang ina ni Hesus, at doon nagsama-sama sa pagbibigay saksi at pananalangin (M. Gawa 1:12-140. Batay dito, malamang na nananalangin ng ang mga apostol nang dumating ang araw ng pentekostes sapagkat naroon sila sa lugar “na lagi nilang tinutuluyan”.

Nakatulong ang panalangin sa mga apostol upang maging handa sa pagdating ng Espiritu at sa kanilang hinaharap na misyon. Tiyak na nakatulong ang panalangin kay Maria na maging bukas-loob sa ibinalita ng anghel Gabriel na siya’y maglilihi ng isang sanggol na lalaki sa kapangyarihan ng Espiritu Santo (Lc 1:26-38). Maalaala rin na noong pagalingin ni Hesus ang isang sinasaniban ng masamang espiritu ay ipinahayag niya” ‘mapapalayas lamang ito sa pamamagitan ng panalangin at pag-aayuno” (Mc 9:29). Pananalangin din ang naging gabay sa kaloob niyang misyon sa mga apostol sa ating Ebanghelyo ngayong Linggo na maituturing na pangunahing Pentekostes: “Kung paaanong isinugo ko kayo. Tanggapin ninyo ang Espiritu Santo. Ang mga kasalanang inyong patatawarin ay pinatatawad, at ang mga kasalanang inyong panatilihin, ay pananantilihin” (Jn 19:21,23).

Sa orihinal na salitang Griyego, ang Pentekostes ay nangangahulugang “ikalimampung araw”, Shabuoth naman ito sa salitang Hebreo na tumutukoy naman sa Kapistahan ng mga ani. Sa kapistahang ito ginugunita ng mga Judio ang pasasalamat sa mga ani na ginaganap pitong linggo matapos ang Kapistahan ng Paghahanda ng Trigo. Sa pagdaan ng mga taon kasama na ring tinutukoy sa Pentekostes ang kapistahan ng pagbibigay ng Sampung Utos sa bundok ng Sinai at ang pakikipagtipan ng Diyos kay Abraham at Noe. Anu’t ano man, lagi nang kalakip ng pentekostes ang pasasalamat pagdiriwang at pagbubukas-loob pagtitipan.

Sa ating panahon, ginugunita natin sa araw ng Pentekostes hindi lamang ang kababalaghan kundi ang kahalahagan din ng pananalanging nagbukas sa mga Apostol sa pagdating ng Espiritu na siya namang nagbigay ng mga katangi-tanging kaloob mula sa iisang Diyos (1 Cor 12:6). Ito rin ang paniwala ng ating Santo Papa Benito XVI sa kanyang mensahe noong Miyerkules NG abo (6 Peberero 2008): “Bukod sa pagiging sandata laban sa mga pagsubok na nagsasara sa ating puso at damdamin, ang panalangin ang siyang susi na nagbubukas sa atin sa ating mga sarili at sa kapwa-bukas sa ating pagkakawanggawa, bukas sa ating pagpapatawad, bukas sa paggawa at bukas sa pagmamahal...Ang tunay na panalangin ay di kailanman pansarili bagkus ito ay tumutugon sa iba. Kapag walang panalangin, mawawala rin ang pag-asa.”

Sa araw ng Pentekostes, nagsisimulang tunay ang pagiging bukas ng mga apostol sa kapwa. Nauunawaan sila ng bawat isa-maging ng taga-Mesopotamia, Judea, Capadocia, at iba pa. Napawi ang kanilang takot, napuspos sila ng pananampalataya at malalim na
pagkakaisa na taliwas sa karanasan ng mga taong gumawa ng tore ng Babel (bas. Gn 11). Ang araw ng Pentekostes ay pagtitipon ng sambayanan sa pamamagitan ng panalangin at pinagbubukas-palad ng Diyos. Ito ay kapistahan ng sambayanang nananalangin sa Ama sa tulong at gabay ng Espiritu. Habang nanalangin, hinahamon din tayong magpatawad, umunawa, at maging huwaran at saksi ng kapayapaan at pag-ibig na dulot ng Panginoon.

~ P. Norman Melchor Peña, SSP ~

Are Catholics ‘Born Again’? Series (LXXXVIII)

The First Letter of Peter addresses Christians as those who “have been born anew” (1:23). This language echoes the words of Jesus, who tells Nicodemus: “No one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above” (or “born again”; the Greek in this passage — Jn 3:3 — allows for either translation).

Nicodemus is puzzled. “How,” he asks, “can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?” (Jn 3:4).

Jesus’ reply to Nicodemus is critical for understanding what it means to be “born again”: “I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit” (Jn 3:5; emphasis added). The event described here is not, as some Christians insist, an initial profession of faith in Christ, Rather, it refers to the sacrament of Baptism, when the person is washed with water and receives the Spirit. Later, preaching on Pentecost, St. Peter confirms that those who are baptized receive the Spirit (see Acts 2:38).

The new birth, which is the beginning of the new life in Christ, must come about after the death of the “old self” (Rom 6:6) — that is, the unredeemed nature burdened by original sin (see “What Is Original Sin?” and “Why Does the Church Baptize Infants?”). The person who thus “dies,” says St. Paul, is “absolved from sin” (Rom 6:7).

How does this death, leading to new life, come about? Through the absolution (remission) of sins in Baptism. “Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life” (Rom 6:3-4).

To be “born again” or “born anew,” then, is to be baptized. In this sacrament, through “water and Spirit,” the soul is washed clean, the “old self” is buried, and the new life in Christ begins. Since every Catholic has been baptized, every Catholic has indeed been “born again” — and is called to grow in grace with the help of the Holy Spirit.

RELATED SCRIPTURE — Texts cited: Lk 3:21-22; Jn 3:3-5; Rom 6:3-4, 6-7; Acts 2:38; 1 Pt 1:23. General: Mt 3:13-17; Mk 1:9-11; Lk 3:21-22; Jn 1:29-34; 1 Cor 12:13; Col 2:12-13.
CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH — 1213-1284; 1425-1429; 2813.

POETRY FOR MOTHERS

My Mother

My Mother, my friend so dear

throughout my life you're always near.

A tender smile to guide my way

You're the sunshine to light my day.

(Author Unknown)

A Precious Mother

Mom You've given me so much,

Love from your heart

and the warmth of your touch.

The gift of life and you're a friend to me.

We have a very Special Bond

which only comes from God...

I'm sure you agree.

As a child I would say Mommy I Love You,

Now you're my Mother so dear I love you even more

with each and every new year.

If I could had chosen,

I would have picked no other.

Than for you...to be my lifelong friend

and Precious Mother.

(Author Unknown)

I Wish I Could Tell You, Mom

I wish I could tell you, Mom

how much you mean to me....

But there are no words to say

how much I admire you...

how much I appreciate you...

how much I thank you

for everything you've done.

(Author Unknown)

RIO-DIAZ COJUANGCO (A living Testimony)

After spending Christmas with my family here in Manila, I left for San Francisco in January of 2003 for my check-up. I knew there was something terribly wrong with my body. I had sleepless nights; I was steadily losing weight; I couldn't eat anything. By the time I had completed all my tests, I was only 96 pounds. My doctor said, the cancer has spread. You need to be confined in the hospital. Your food passage is completely blocked by the cancer. I don't know how much time you have. Not much. Maybe a month. But I promise you will not feel the pain. I hugged Dr. Fisher and thanked him. I told him, don't be sad. I know God is in full control of my life. I went home that night to make some arrangements and my daughter was fast asleep. I knelt down by her bedside and I cried, Mama loves you so much that it hurts. Lord, you know how much I love my Ali, my Claudia and my Jaime. You gave them to Charlie and me and I thank you. I know in my heart that Charlie will love them and watch over them. Lord, take care of my husband because I love him very much. But much more than this, it comforts me to know that I could never love them as much as you love them. I thank you, Father God. Charlie remained by my bedside day and night, caressing me, talking to me. It pains me to think how much our husbands or wives suffer the fear of losing us. How blessed I am to know how much my family and friends love me.

The Lord allowed me to experience deep, deep, sleep. I have never ever felt that kind of peace, peace that surpasses all understanding. Dr. Fisher explained to Charlie that my nourishment would come from a bag of liquid attached to me, which has to be administered on a daily basis for life. I would never be able to eat or drink again. Surgery was ruled out, so was radiation. As a last recourse, it was suggested that I do the mildest chemo but if I so much as cough, he would remove it and just keep me comfortable. I was in awe when I was told how many people were praying for me. By God's sovereign mercy, I never coughed.. One month later, my cancer level went down by half. I am now only a few points away from being on remission. And as if this weren't enough, God's incredible bonus is that I am back to my full diet. I can eat and drink anything now! Once again, the doctors were amazed. Yes, isn't our God amazing? God spared my life when Stanford doctors had given up on me. In my heart, I knew why. God allowed this miracle in my life to show us how gracious He is and what a powerful weapon prayer can be. And that God can perform miracles in our lives, if you let Him. I will never fully understand God's ways but I do know that God has a purpose for each of us.

When God calls you to live for Him, He will invite you to be a part of something much bigger than yourself, something that requires the very best of you, something that may outlive you. When God calls us to a powerful vision, it may transcend safety and it may transcend common sense because it is all about Jesus Christ. Without Jesus, we will not make it! Do we know, do you know, what God wants you to do with your life? If you are uncertain of God's will for your life, surrender all your plans to Jesus because God's plans for us are perfect. The cancer in my body, I did not choose. But in God's sovereignty, He allowed this affliction in my life. But I ask you, what is the cancer in your life? Is it the cancer of unforgiveness, jealousy, lust, anger or bitterness that you are holding on to? What are the wrong choices you continue to make because they give you temporary pleasure but can permanently destroy you -your husband or your wife or your children or your circle of influence? If you are going through a time of terrifying darkness and despair, or are plagued by doubts that are slowly eroding your hope that things can get better, I urge you to surrender it all to God; give Him full control of your life. It is the only way to live. Lord, forgive me for all my sins. Jesus, come into my heart; be my Lord and my Savior. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

~ End ~