Emily JohnsonTuesday Night Class
Selasa, 01 Februari 2011
Baguio's Dancing Nuns try to Recruit New Blood
Catholic nuns on Saturday night danced to the Filipino band Eraserheads hit song inside Baguio Cathedral in northern Philippines as part of a vocational drive to recruit new blood.
"There is a dwindling (number) of (entrants) through the years. But because of this, we might be able to get recruits," Sr. Eva Vargas of the Villa Milagrosa Convent told the Inquirer.
About 30 nuns, aged between 25 and 80 years and who came from different Catholic congregations, danced at the altar before more than 100 churchgoers to the tune of 'Toyang', a hit among the youth in the 1990s.
The song, released in 1993 by the band Eraserheads, talked about a young man's wish to be with a simple girl.
Joining the nuns was a group of actors who depicted how parents instill values among their children.
"The family is beset with problems. We think that discussion about vocation should start in the family," Vargas said.
New members needed -- She said they wanted to reach out to young women so the program would be brought to the city's Catholic parishes and universities.
"We danced to 'Toyang' because the song is very popular among the youth. This will call their attention," Vargas said.
The nuns also danced to "I Will Follow Him," which became a household tune courtesy of the 1992 Whoopi Goldberg starrer "Sister Act," to Abba's "I Have a Dream," and "Our Mission," a composition by Fr. Carlo Magno Marcelo of the San Carlos Seminary here.
Vargas said 10 more performances were scheduled in Catholic churches and universities here until February 7. The nuns will be joined by child performers and dancers as they tour the community.
Sr. Alice Lansang, chair of the Association of Women Religiou said local churches needed new staff members and missionaries.
"The city has 19 congregations of religious women, which have 95 members. (Most are) elderly and retired (nuns)... Schools, retreat houses and parishes are understaffed," Lansang said.
Another calling -- Vargas said through their campaign, the nuns also wanted to clear misconceptions toward their vocation.
"The sisters are not just there to pray in church. We can still be ourselves. Through dancing we can show the people that the life of sisters (is also fun)," she said.
She said women could choose to stay single and focus their lives on serving God and their community.
Vargas said many young people only thought about getting married.
"But there is also another kind of calling, which is the religious life, giving up a part of themselves for God," she said.
"There is a dwindling (number) of (entrants) through the years. But because of this, we might be able to get recruits," Sr. Eva Vargas of the Villa Milagrosa Convent told the Inquirer.
About 30 nuns, aged between 25 and 80 years and who came from different Catholic congregations, danced at the altar before more than 100 churchgoers to the tune of 'Toyang', a hit among the youth in the 1990s.The song, released in 1993 by the band Eraserheads, talked about a young man's wish to be with a simple girl.
Joining the nuns was a group of actors who depicted how parents instill values among their children.
"The family is beset with problems. We think that discussion about vocation should start in the family," Vargas said.
New members needed -- She said they wanted to reach out to young women so the program would be brought to the city's Catholic parishes and universities.
"We danced to 'Toyang' because the song is very popular among the youth. This will call their attention," Vargas said.
The nuns also danced to "I Will Follow Him," which became a household tune courtesy of the 1992 Whoopi Goldberg starrer "Sister Act," to Abba's "I Have a Dream," and "Our Mission," a composition by Fr. Carlo Magno Marcelo of the San Carlos Seminary here.
Vargas said 10 more performances were scheduled in Catholic churches and universities here until February 7. The nuns will be joined by child performers and dancers as they tour the community.
Sr. Alice Lansang, chair of the Association of Women Religiou said local churches needed new staff members and missionaries.
"The city has 19 congregations of religious women, which have 95 members. (Most are) elderly and retired (nuns)... Schools, retreat houses and parishes are understaffed," Lansang said.
Another calling -- Vargas said through their campaign, the nuns also wanted to clear misconceptions toward their vocation.
"The sisters are not just there to pray in church. We can still be ourselves. Through dancing we can show the people that the life of sisters (is also fun)," she said.
She said women could choose to stay single and focus their lives on serving God and their community.
Vargas said many young people only thought about getting married.
"But there is also another kind of calling, which is the religious life, giving up a part of themselves for God," she said.
Ombudsman denies receiving money in approving Garcia's plea bargain deal
Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez on Tuesday denied receiving money in exchange for approving the plea bargain agreement with a former military comptroller. Gutierrez, during the hearing of the committee on justice of the House of Representatives, said that the evidence against former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) comptroller Carlos Garcia was weak.
"Walang ayusan dito, walang perahan dito (There is no fixing here, there is no money involved)," she said.
"Kung may kumita rito, tamaan na ng kidlat at mamatay na ngayon din. Ganito kalinis ito at wala kaming tinatago (If there is anyone who benefited from this [plea bargain agreement], may they be hit by lightning now. That’s how clean this deal has been. We have nothing to hide)," she added.
Gutierrez said the plea bargain agreement with the former military comptroller is "legal and clean" and that "it was best for the country."
"We want to get the most of what we can get from the accused then, (and) now we are being tried by publicity because of misrepresentation and false accusations," she said.
The Ombudsman said that not even the findings of former Commission on Audit (CoA) auditor Heidi Mendoza, who did some audit work on military funds, could pin down the ex-AFP comptroller.
"I was told that the report she (Mendoza) made, she made alone, they pointed to the AFP transactions without linking Garcia," Gutierrez told the panel.
"It was a recommendation from the prosecutors that we don’t have enough evidence, there is weak evidence to convict Garcia that’s why we bargained... If he will just be acquitted, we might as well get all the properties we can get from him so we end up the winner," she said.
On the other hand, Mendoza told the House justice committee that she found a voucher for a P200-million check from the Land Bank of the Philippines signed by the former military comptroller, but the P50 million supposed "pabaon" (send-off) money for retiring military chief of staff mentioned earlier by former AFP budget officer George Rabusa, could not be found.
She said the P200 million was encashed in November 2002 at the UCPB Alfaro branch in Makati City. Although another account was opened, it contained only P100 million and P50 million deposits, she added.
Rabusa, at the hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee last week, said that former AFP chief of staff Angelo Reyes received P50 million as send-off money when he retired from the service.
He said that this was a tradition within the military. Reyes had denied the accusation.
Meanwhile, it was reported that the Department of Justice (DOJ) already placed Mendoza under the provisional coverage of the Witness Protection Program (WPP). The former COA auditor earlier appealed to lawmakers to help her ensure her security, saying her coming out has risked the life of her family. She said she resigned from her job at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) effective January this year and is now jobless.
Mendoza said she agreed to talk about what she knew because "in my heart, there’s no place for good governance and anti-corruption if I don’t tell my people what I have discovered in the AFP."
"Walang ayusan dito, walang perahan dito (There is no fixing here, there is no money involved)," she said."Kung may kumita rito, tamaan na ng kidlat at mamatay na ngayon din. Ganito kalinis ito at wala kaming tinatago (If there is anyone who benefited from this [plea bargain agreement], may they be hit by lightning now. That’s how clean this deal has been. We have nothing to hide)," she added.
Gutierrez said the plea bargain agreement with the former military comptroller is "legal and clean" and that "it was best for the country."
"We want to get the most of what we can get from the accused then, (and) now we are being tried by publicity because of misrepresentation and false accusations," she said.
The Ombudsman said that not even the findings of former Commission on Audit (CoA) auditor Heidi Mendoza, who did some audit work on military funds, could pin down the ex-AFP comptroller.
"I was told that the report she (Mendoza) made, she made alone, they pointed to the AFP transactions without linking Garcia," Gutierrez told the panel.
"It was a recommendation from the prosecutors that we don’t have enough evidence, there is weak evidence to convict Garcia that’s why we bargained... If he will just be acquitted, we might as well get all the properties we can get from him so we end up the winner," she said.
On the other hand, Mendoza told the House justice committee that she found a voucher for a P200-million check from the Land Bank of the Philippines signed by the former military comptroller, but the P50 million supposed "pabaon" (send-off) money for retiring military chief of staff mentioned earlier by former AFP budget officer George Rabusa, could not be found.
She said the P200 million was encashed in November 2002 at the UCPB Alfaro branch in Makati City. Although another account was opened, it contained only P100 million and P50 million deposits, she added.
Rabusa, at the hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee last week, said that former AFP chief of staff Angelo Reyes received P50 million as send-off money when he retired from the service.
He said that this was a tradition within the military. Reyes had denied the accusation.Meanwhile, it was reported that the Department of Justice (DOJ) already placed Mendoza under the provisional coverage of the Witness Protection Program (WPP). The former COA auditor earlier appealed to lawmakers to help her ensure her security, saying her coming out has risked the life of her family. She said she resigned from her job at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) effective January this year and is now jobless.
Mendoza said she agreed to talk about what she knew because "in my heart, there’s no place for good governance and anti-corruption if I don’t tell my people what I have discovered in the AFP."
Use of reusable chopsticks urged
Environment advocates urged restaurants to make a “cut” on the use of disposable chopsticks because of deforestation and flooding problems.“By making a switch from disposable to reusable chopsticks, we help in assuaging China’s problem with deforestation that leads to soil erosion and destructive flooding, and in trimming down chopstick trash from our consumption of mouth-watering East Asian food,” EcoWaste Coalition president Roy Alvarez said.
As this developed, Alvarez appealed to Chinese food lovers to opt for reusable chopsticks as a fitting response to the environmental troubles being faced by both China and the Philippines.
“If you are planning to eat out in Binondo or dine in your favorite Chinese restaurant elsewhere, please bring your own reusable chopsticks and protect trees from being cut and wasted,” Alvarez suggested.
“We likewise encourage restaurant owners to provide their customers with clean reusable chopsticks and offer single-use chopsticks by request only. To entice their customers to switch to reusable chopsticks, eco-minded food entrepreneurs can provide incentives such as extra fortune cookies or fruit servings,” he added.
EcoWaste’s Basura Patrollers observed that only one of the 25 Chinese restaurants they visited along Ongpin Street and nearby streets in Binondo, Manila’s Chinatown, offered reusable chopsticks.
While all the 25 restaurants use reusable tableware for dine-in customers, only one restaurant offers both reusable and disposable chopsticks, which are given to diners if requested.
Aside from bringing your own chopsticks, EcoWaste advised the public, especially those planning to go to Binondo area in the coming days to bring reusable bags or containers for popular “take home” Chinese dishes, and make a healthy and eco-friendly food choice
Citing information that Greenpeace East Asia obtained from China’s forestry authorities, EcoWaste noted that China produces some 57 billion pairs of disposable chopsticks annually that requires over 1.18 million square meters of forest to be cut.
Chinese government data revealed that over 25 million trees are felled in China each year to meet the consumer demand for disposable chopsticks inside China and overseas, it added.
By Ellalyn B. De Vera
Questioning Jinggoy!
“Now, I am not questioning the motive of Senate President Pro-tempore Jinggoy Estrada in bringing in Rabusa as witness. Rabusa’s testimony proved damning to the public against former AFP chief, Secretary Angelo Reyes, whose switching of allegiance in January 2001 led to the downfall of then Prez Erap Estrada, Jinggoy’s father… He or other probers could take the cue from the mode of questioning usually employed by Sen. Joker Arroyo, or Sen. Gringo Honasan or Sen. Kiko Pangilinan. They seldom raise their voices, their language could be cutting even if shorn of venom. And what’s more, they extract the needed information.”
QUESTIONING JiNgGoY!
The Senate blue ribbon committee hit pay dirt in its anti-graft and corruption drive with the testimony of retired Col. George Rabusa, former AFP budget officer, on the allegedly “welcome” and “pabaon [sendoff]” gifts for incoming and retiring AFP chiefs of staff. I hope it will not fritter away this golden opportunity to curb corruption in the military by giving the impression that some of its members are out for vendetta or “pogi points” with the press.
Personalities should not intrude into this noteworthy inquiry or else, its findings would be suspect. Now, I am not questioning the motive of Senate President Pro-tempore Jinggoy Estrada in bringing in Rabusa as witness. Rabusa’s testimony proved damning to the public against former AFP chief, Secretary Angelo Reyes, whose switching of allegiance in January 2001 led to the downfall of then Prez Erap Estrada, Jinggoy’s father. But even if Jinggoy is not out for vendetta, he should have at least referred Rabusa to another senator so there would be no color to Rabusa’s testimony.
I like the attitude of Jinggoy toward fugitive Sen. Ping Lacson much better. Whenever media sought his comments on Ping, Jinggoy would give a guarded comment, and for good reason. When Ping was linked to the murder of publicist Bubby Dacer, he delivered a privileged speech claiming that Erap knew more about the supposed operation against Dacer. This led to the cooling of relations between the Estradas and Ping. It was also for this reason that Jinggoy is almost always hesitant in answering questions about Ping who is still on the lam. He explains that his comments might be held suspect because of his relations with Ping.
Of course, it is not yet too late for Jinggoy to stop coming in strong against Reyes. He, as well as other members of the blue ribbon, can ferret out the truth without subjecting Reyes or other former AFP chiefs of staff to humiliation or ridicule. He or other probers could take the cue from the mode of questioning usually employed by Sen. Joker Arroyo, or Sen. Gringo Honasan or Sen. Kiko Pangilinan. They seldom raise their voices, their language could be cutting even if shorn of venom. And what’s more, they extract the needed information.
Perhaps, asking senators to keep personalities off the “pabaon” scandal might be too much. I note that Secretary Reyes has chosen lawyer Bonifacio Alentajan as his counsel. Well, if both Alentajan and Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago will attend the hearing tomorrow, Thursday, expect all hell to break loose. Senator Miriam is one who can never forget a perceived offense against her and she is still smarting from the disbarment case he had filed against her, citing among other things her mental health. That disbarment case has been thrown out by the High Tribunal but the very mention of Alentajan’s name still sends her temperature and blood pressure soaring.
Going back to the “pabaon” issue, I was struck by the comment of Rabusa in an ANC interview that Mrs. Reyes had asked him not to tell her husband about the amounts given her in her foreign travels “as this would anger him.” What does this say of Angelo Reyes in relation to the giving of perks to his wife? (By Efren Danao)
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