Ang Kapatiran's standard bearer Councilor JC De los Reyes and senatorial candidate Atty. Jo Imbong file a case against condom ads.

QUEZON CITY, May 8, 2010—Ang Kapatiran Party (AKP) senatorial candidate Jo Aurea Imbong filed a case to stop the contraceptive honchos of DKT Philippines as well as its celebrity endorser actor Robin Padilla from advertising condoms for the sake of public decency and morality.

The pro-life lawyer submitted her complaint to the Quezon City Regional Trial Court against DKT and Padilla for threatening the rights of the public for a moral and decent environment by advertising condoms.

Padilla recently starred in an ad campaign for Trust Condoms, a brand manufactured by DKT.

Imbong stated in her complaint, “It is respectfully prayed that a writ of preliminary injunction be issued ordering defendant Padilla to cease and desist from publicly espousing and promoting condoms and condom use.”

In justifying the civil complaint, Imbong said the explicit and subliminal messages in the ads convey “an unwholesome and indecent influence upon the audience, especially the young.”

Imbong cited that provisions in the Child and Youth Welfare Code were violated by DKT as the ads targeting the youth market “partake of the nature of child abuse of the highest order for these deform conscience and corrupt moral character.”

Moreover, the advertisers according to Imbong also violated Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code that punishes immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions, she said.

As for Padilla, the actor violated Article 200 of the Revised Penal Code which punishes grave scandal when he publicly promoted and endorsed the use of condoms.

AKP standard bearer JC de los Reyes and his cohorts accompanied Imbong to court. De Los Reyes and the AKP had been very vocal about their stand against the proposed reproductive health bill which includes the promotion of artificial contraception.

“I am aghast that my children are asking why condoms are being sold in convenience stores beside candies,” De los Reyes told the reporters. With reports from the Philippine Daily Inquirer

February 14 is Valentine’s Day, and for Prolife Phils Foundation, Inc., Feb 14, 2010, was truly an ourpouring of love and generosity when the Mary Mother of Good Counsel  Parish Youth Commission, (in Marcelo Green Village) belonging to the Diocese of Paranaque, handed over proceeds of their Youth Praise Concert held last Dec. 5, 2009.  Prolife was part beneficiary of the said concert as the youth projects also benefitted from the event.  The simple turnover ceremony was held during the 10:30 AM Eucharistic Celebration, with Fr. Alfred Ramos, Parish Priest as main Priest-Presider.  Also present at the ceremonies were Marty Dagdag and the youth commission leaders.  Ms. Marita F. Wasan, Exec. Director of Prolife Phils., received the  Fifty-Thousand Pesos proceeds in cash.

It is indeed worthy of our reflection,  that these youth who so dedicated their time, their talent, their whole lives to this significant event have actually given much of themselves to the youth of their generation who are, at this very moment, in danger of losing their lives in areas of conflict, in violent homes, in the hands of an abductor, in the very womb of a mother thinking of abortion.  It is the mission of Prolife to promote a culture of Life, as opposed to a culture of death and violence.  Thus, Prolife’s way of thanking these young people of MMGC Parish, is a firm resolve to continue its mission of spreading the Good News of life through its programs:  Education and Training, Lobbying and Advocacy, and Crisis Intervention Services, with a focus on the future youth – the bearers of Life! (Weena S. Meily)

BROKEN hearts weren’t the only body parts attended to during Pro-Life Philippines Foundation’s post-Valentine event.

In partnership with the Blessed Margaret of Castello Movement (BMCM) spearheaded by Bro. Gonzalo “Sonny” Goquiolay, the Foundation held its annual Pro-Life Healing Mass last February 18 at the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish (Sto. Doming Church) in Quezon City.

More than 100 participants afflicted with diseases and weaknesses of the mind, body and soul gathered inside the church to recite prayers and hear the Holy Mass concelebrated by parish priest Rev. Fr. George Moreno, OP and Fr. Efren Borromeo, SOLT of the Trinitas Healing Ministry.

Fr. Moreno from the Dominican Order of Preachers was once designated as chaplain priest in the University of Santo Tomas Hospital while Fr. Borromeo from the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity has led a group of healers via Trinitas Healing Ministry.

After the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, Fr. Borromeo conducted the healing sessions for the participants had sicknesses ranging from recurrent back pains to terminal blood cancers.

Also, Pro-Life Program Officer Weena Meily gave a short talk on the alarming anti-life trends proliferating in today’s society as well as the vital steps pro-lifers need to take in order to heal and cure the contagious culture of death. To further emphasize her points of view, a 10-minute video presentation titled “Simula ng Buhay” was shown to the attendees of the pro-life affair.

The Pro-Life Healing Mass was part of the Foundation’s activities in celebrating the Pro-Life month this February with a theme “Buhay Mo, Mahal Ko.” (Katherine P. Trimocha)

As patroness of the unborn, the image of the Our Lady of Guadalupe has traveled and replicated in many nations in an explicit effort to end abortion. For pro-lifers, she brings a message of hope as well as a message of concrete charity with which she challenges the Church.

Seeking faith in this premise, Pro-Life Philippines Foundation found it fitting to have the Archdiocesan Parish of the Our Lady of Guadalupe in Makati City as its venue to usher in the celebration of the Pro-Life Month this year.

At high noon, a Holy Mass was celebrated last February 7, the first Pro-Life Sunday of the year with the hosts of the opening, parish priests Rev. Fr. Edwin Mercado and Rev. Fr. Salvador Jose, officiating.

“We dedicate this month to advocating and promoting being pro-life which is very much important in our society today,” Fr. Mercado said. “That is why we opted to let Pro-Life hold their opening salvo here in the parish of the Our Lady of Guadalupe, the pro-life patroness.”

Read during the Holy Mass was Word and Life’s Sunday Euchalette’s prayer intentions dedicated to the pro-life advocacy.

After the Holy Communion, Pro-Life Executive Director Marita Wasan delivered her talk.

“We are reminded today of the gift of life that God has given us, as well as our responsibility to respect, take care and defend our own life and the life of all people. We give special attention to the unborn baby that   we forget is life itself, and that is why there is so much abortion today.”

Wasan also mentioned of the violence that our society is facing today. In addition, she invited everyone to support the Family and Life Programs of the parish and learn more on how to improve the love within family members.
“There is a need to promote a culture of life and to convince everyone to topple the evils in our society.”

Present during the Mass were Pro-Life Vice President Edgardo Sorreta and wife, Let, Pro-Life’s Board of Trustees Eric Manalang, Manny Amador and Baby Nebrida-Ballesty, Pro-Life’s Board of Advisers Dra. Myrna Zapanta, Minda Fuentes, and Dr. Primitivo Chua, and Ang Kapatiran’s Vice-Presidentiable Jun Chipeco. (Roxanne Joy D. Pesigan)

MANILA, February 4, 2010—THE DEBATE on the Reproductive Health Bill is by no means over. But at the end of the 14th Congress, the proposal remained stuck in the period of interpellation despite being given a priority status. With this, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal was optimistic that the current scenario implies the defeat of House Bill 5043.

During the last three working days before the House adjourned for the campaign period, House Speaker Prospero Nograles cited that lack of quorum was the reason that the bill got jammed.

In an earlier report, Nograles instructed Majority Leader Arthur Defensor to “simplify the plenary debates to avoid personal divisive emotional matters.” In this regard, two panels of five members from each side were supposed to speak and comment on the different aspects of the bill. This was done to allegedly hasten the process instead of having a long list of lawmakers interpellating the sponsors of the said bill. However, since series of plenary debates did not suffice to be able to put it to a vote, reports indicated that the Catholic church believes that the turn of events was symbolic of the way the RH Bill was buried.

The reproductive health bill, now with 132 co-authors and 20 others who pledged support, seeks to step up the use of both artificial and natural means of family planning as one of the measures to curb the ballooning population, the rising maternal deaths and empower couples in deciding the size of family they want.

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 9, 2010—LIKE MOST religious people, Mati Bishop Patricio Alo hit on anti-life advocates and their arguments to be “baseless, misleading and erroneous.”

Further, Bishop Alo warned that those who support the anti-life agenda unknowingly are engaged into corruption because the program in itself is a kind of corruption.

“They are just making man slave to the passing glory and sensual pleasures of the world. They simply disregard the basic fact that life is sacred,” he said.

The prelate moved on saying that the arguments that matter are those based on truth, not just on transitory or volatile reasons.

“They (anti-lifers or Reproductive Health Bill supporters) give reasons such as poverty, overpopulation, hunger and many others which are erroneous,” said Bishop Alo.

Bishop Alo said those arguments have no sufficient basis for terminating life or potential life by means of abortion or contraception.

“You do not solve the problem of life by terminating life. Things were made for man and not vice versa,” he said, adding:

Credits:
Cited from an original article by Mark S. Ventura for cbcpnews.com last 01/09/10

MANILA, January 12, 2010—THE CATHOLIC Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) remains steadfast on their stand against the realization of a law setting expiration dates on marriage contracts.

CBCP President and respected Canon lawyer Bishop Nereo P. Odchimar quoted “Unity and indissolubility of marriage are values rooted in the bible and Christian tradition.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar V. Cruz, another expert in Canon Law and Chairman of the CBCP’s National Appellate Matrimonial Tribunal said the proposal is “some kind of desperate approach to right a wrong by something wrong.”

“It is wrong for couples to separate and here comes a proposal for them to precisely separate,” he said.

The proposed legislation cites “a 10-year expiration on marriages would give couples the opportunity to review their relationship, and decide whether to continue or not with the union.”

Prelature of Isabela (de Basilan) Bishop Martin S. Jumoad said he’s definitely against putting an expiration date on marriages. He said commitment, fidelity and respect are vital for one to have a strong family.
If this happens, he foresees “Philippine society will become chaotic, more street children and more social problems.”

As far as Administrator Carmelita N. Ericta, who concurrently sits as Civil Registrar General, the proposal to put expiration on marriages in the Philippines is “contrary to the aspirations of the Filipino people as espoused in the 1987 Constitution, the family being the building block of society.”

She added there are about 500,000 marriages solemnized annually with less than 10% getting annulled and reported to the National Statistics Office.

Credits:
Cited from an original article by Melo M. Acuña for cbcpnews.com last 01/12/10

(This is the story of a former beauty queen and model who almost went in to decide to do abortion for the sake of her budding career. But then again, she came to her senses and withdrew herself from the idea and decided to keep her baby who is now celebrating her 20th birthday this year. Read her blog/narrative and find inspiration to patronize the pro-life cause.)

We recently celebrated my daughter Diandra’s 20th birthday in our family’s traditional quiet way of marking such personal milestones. I bought her a lovely black and white muumuu gown so she could wear it to please my eye. I love watching her because she is a reflection of me and a reminder of God’s grace in my life.

A little more than twenty and a half years ago, when I found myself pregnant for the 2nd time, I was shocked. It was a bad time to get pregnant – I was in my early 20s with a son who was 1 and a half years old. I was a beauty queen with a modeling and acting career that was starting to pick up again. It just wasn’t a great time to get pregnant.

So I struggled with the idea of abortion.

I thought it was the only way to “fix” the situation. To make sure my career didn’t stall again.  Because if it did, how could I ever support my little boy? I already had him and knew that there was no way I could handle another child. Although I was surrounded by family (and my partially-estranged husband) and knew that I could run to them with my troubles, I kept my state a secret and felt so ALONE in my predicament.

But I did have ONE person in my life that I could talk to. My best friend Maureen. I clearly recall the day I told her about my plan to get an abortion. I had found a doctor but was too afraid to go alone. She really blew her top that day and got so angry at me, I was utterly gobsmacked. I had never seen my flouncy Maureen, my party animal girlfriend so red in the face and dead seriously mad at me.

But I told her that no matter what she felt, I was going to get an abortion and THAT was the end of it.

Then she said the most astonishing thing. She said to me, “Joyce, I hate abortion but I love you. And I will be by your side all the way hating it but loving you. I will go with you to the doctor.”  I cried a river of tears because I realized that in my most broken moment, I was with a true friend.

So it was on a humid August afternoon twenty and a half years ago that my best friend and I entered the cold hallway of the clinic together with our hearts beating fast. My hands were even colder than the place and I was quaking ever so slightly. If you had looked into my eyes at that moment, you would have seen a scared, confused and lost girl, not knowing what was wrong or right. I was leading myself to the gallows and you would have felt so sorry for me.

After the long check up was done, another astonishing thing was said to me, this time by the doctor. He said, “Iha (Child), I won’t do it. You’re already 4 months and you might die. Tell your family about it, I’m sure in the long run they will be okay with it.”

To this day, I don’t know why I accepted those words so EASILY specially since at the time I was SO dead-set on doing the deed. Why did I not go to another doctor when I knew that there were many out there who would’ve been willing to take my case in spite of the danger?

And why did my heart leap with joy when the doctor said he wouldn’t do it?

I cannot explain it except for one thing…

God had his hand on my daughter and when He spoke, I somehow heard and followed.

Isn’t that funny? Hearing God’s voice through my party animal friend and even more shocking, through an abortion doctor? And me, a Christian only by name, being spoken to by the God of all time? Up to this day I shake my head in wonder over how these things could be true.

I guess that all things ARE possible with such a gracious God.

And so, Maureen and I left that cold and dreary clinic grinning like high school kids skipping all the way to her car. What was started out as a dreadful day had suddenly become bright and hopeful. And because Maureen is the consummate party animal, she had only one way to deal with this wonderful development: By driving off to a fancy restaurant, cracking open a bottle of champagne (I only took a few sips, promise!) and having a quiet little dinner party to celebrate the good news: I was keeping my BABY!

Ron, Diandra, Me and Migo (Diandra’s special someone)

When Diandra was about 16 years old, I was asked to share this story at my church but I couldn’t because she had NO idea of my near-brush with abortion. Nevertheless I knew the story had to be told. Maybe there was someone who needed to hear it. Someone struggling between life and abortion. So I went to my daughter and told her what I almost did. I asked for her forgiveness and after an hour of us crying plus the peace negotiating of her step-dad Ron, she forgave me.

On a different occasion I shared this story with some friends. Afterwards, one of them cried and admitted she had an abortion and carried that memory like a cross. I told her that all she needed to do was to give that burden to God. He is willing to swap loads with her anyway – and the good news is that His load is LIGHT!!!  So we cried and prayed together and asked for forgiveness. And then we spent the rest of the time talking  about her little child in heaven and how much God loved the both of them.

Credits:
Cited from an original article from adventuresofabeautyqueen.wordpress.com last 01/12/10

MANILA, Jan. 15, 2010—IN THEIR 20-page “catechism” for the 2010 Elections, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) outright mentioned their rebuff of 2010 electoral candidates who support the controversial Reproductive Health (RH)

A product of the national gathering of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Family and Life’s (ECFL) directors and lay coordinators last Nov. 30 in Antipolo City, the document titled “Catechism on Family and Life” clearly states that “it would not be morally permissible to vote candidates who support anti-family policies, including reproductive health bill, or any other moral evil such as abortion, divorce, assisted suicide and euthanasia.”

The guideline also says that once a voter decide to support a candidate who advocate the anti-life policies, “one becomes an accomplice to the moral evil in question.”

Launched last week after the approval CBCP President and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar, the initiative was aimed at ensuring the voters would choose the “right candidates” who will lead the country.

Fr. Melvin Castro, ECFL executive secretary said, a candidate’s position on the RH bill mirror’s his or her stand on life and family.

“… and then from there, we can deduce their positions on other issues,” said Castro.
But Castro clarified the catechism for the 2010 polls was made only to serve as a guide for the faithful and a course of action.

When casting their votes, Filipinos, he said, must consider social interest over self interest, and decide guided by moral principles.

Based on the guidelines, Presidential survey frontrunner Senator Benigno Aquino is likely to lose major votes if Catholics will seriously take a call from their church leaders not to vote for candidates supporting birth control. Aquino has been very vocal on his support on population control.

Should the Catholic Church boycott him in the 2010 elections because of his support for the RH bill, he said he would rather heed his conscience.

Of the presidentiables, Councilor John Carlos (JC) de los Reyes, Senator Manuel Villar and Bro. Eddie Villanueva are only those who are totally against the bill.

Credits:
Cited from an original article by Roy Lagarde for cbcpnews.com last 01/15/10

MANILA, January 4, 2010—TO HELP Filipinos vote intelligently, a voter’s guide placing life and family issues at top priority was recently issued by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

Titled “Catechism on Family and Life,” the document proclaims that the dilemmas facing voters in the upcoming presidential elections are “not only political but also clearly and profoundly moral.”

Highlighted in the document were lengthy instructions in the principles behind the pro-life position. “We should not think that ‘abortion is wrong because the Church says so,’ but rather, ‘abortion is wrong because it kills a human being who is one of us, and the Church reminds us of its wrongness,’” it says.

The bishops point the finger at politicians on the left who have attempted to impose legislation to loosen restrictions on abortion, contraception and to undermine the Philippines’ strong identification of the family. Of particular concern, they write, is the government’s proposed Reproductive Health bill that would open the door to legal abortion, promote contraception, sex education and reproductive technologies.

The Catechism also defends the right of Catholics to bring their voices into the debate, saying, “Because we are people of both faith and reason, it is appropriate and necessary for us to bring this essential truth about human life and dignity to the public square.”

“Through our active participation in the democratic process, including voting, we contribute to ensuring that our democracy firmly underpins moral and ethical values and standards. In the absence of ethical values and standards democracy will become the totalitarian rule of the rich and the powerful who can trample on the rights of the weak and vulnerable, such as the unborn babies, mothers, the elderly and the poor families.”

Read the full document here.

Credits:
Cited from an original article by Hilary White for lifesitenews.com last 01/04/10