TEN CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISMS

Fr. Wilmer Tria


1. Uphold democracy.

Ensure checks and balances. Vote for candidates from different political parties. Do not swallow ubos kung ubos. It is a threat to democracy. It is a symptom of oligarchy because power actually resides only in the Chief Executive.


2. Empower the Naga City People’s Council as a watchdog of government.

Give it autonomy. It must be financially independent from the city government so it can decide and operate on its own. It must be free from the grip and influence of politicians.


3. Guarantee transparency.

Allow citizens to discuss public issues in the public forum without fear of censure, ridicule, and harassment by paid media. The website is not a proof of transparency. In a poor locality such as ours, how many, in practical terms, have access to the internet? There is transparency when the governed knows how they can participate in governance.


4. Free the people from patronage politics.

Only registered voters of Naga City may avail of urban poor housing. This is a clear case of patronage politics. Stop using government programs to sow “utang na boot” that will be harvested during election. Private ownership is necessary in urban poor housing. Without ownership, the people are always at the mercy of the incumbent.


5. Protect health and environment.

Effective sewage and drainage systems are a must. Lampposts are not. In the past few years, many LGU’s lined their streets with lampposts. For what reason? History, beauty or grease money? Tarps calling to protect the river do not protect the river. Good sewage and drainage systems will.


6. Uplift the morale of the people.

As you build minds and hearts of Nagueños, construct a well-studied city hall complex. Improve the working conditions of city hall employees. Poor building layout, worn-out furniture and equipment and overcrowded offices obstruct productivity. Construct on land owned by the city. For a man of vision, the stability of government employees is paramount.


7. Build a better, safer and more competitive supermarket.

Repetitive repainting and renovating after every fire, whether arson or accident, will not solve the problem. Assist local merchants. Giant businesses can take care of themselves.


8. Be vigilant about drugs.

Fighting drugs is a never-ending saga. Drug users and drug-related crimes are increasing. Random raids are ineffective. Sustained vigilance is required.


9. Pursue truth, not awards.

Awards fade like the morning dew. Michael Jackson was scared of losing his popularity. His recourse was gimmickry. He was lost without the awards and the million dollar sales. He did not see his life’s worth. This is the Michael Jackson syndrome. Pursuing awards can cause blindness and detachment from reality. Pursue truth to avoid this disease.


10. Promote the integrity of the media.

Unethical media practice pollutes the airwaves and prevents people from becoming responsible citizens. Media must present news and not gossips. Reserve drama and appeal to emotions for "teleseryes". Public opinions must be based on facts and not on fertile imaginations. Disinfect news and current affairs from paid propagandas.



Let’s have more Fr. Trias


When generals do battle, they negotiate, they talk but their colonels and captains and sergeants go for their counterpart’s throat.

That could figuratively describe the war of words over the week between Fr. Wilmer Tria and the representatives from the office of the City Mayor when Fr. criticized the administration of City Mayor Robredo regarding the latter’s claim to good governance and transparency.

As expected these guys from City Hall put up a defense during the conference and even outside the conference hall. Apparently choosing to rebut the arguments of Fr. Tria outside the conference hall is poor taste as it does not give Fr. Tria a chance to present his answer and counter-rebuttal.

The proper forum for discussing matters like good governance and transparency in governance is a conference table, a symposium, a debate, a lecture not a radio program, which may not be as comprehensive and freely-wheeling in discussing issues as the one raised by Fr. Tria in his talk during the Philosophy Week at the Ateneo de Naga University.

The issues raised by Fr. Tria are aboveboard and beyond the realm of the personal. The issues touch on principles and on reality checks and they find the governance of Mayor Robredo wanting in many things.

According to Fr. Tria, the campaign slogan of Mayor Jesse M. Robredo “ubos kun ubos, gabos kun gabos” completely disregards the principle of in government. Up to this time almost a week after Fr. Tria had pronounced that Mayor Robredo’s administration has been found wanting in this constitutional principle the issue has not been rebutted. Instead of directing answering the issue, the strategy used by Robredo’s men is to attack the person of, not to answer the issues raised by, Fr. Tria.

According to Fr. Tria, true governance means human development of people; it means a creation of a community of equals; it means participatory governance. The query raised on why Mayor Robredo has failed to develop someone to succeed him for the past 17 years remains valid and has not been sufficiently explained by his defense panel.

According to Fr. Tria, in a free and democratic society, people enjoy the right to ask questions, to demand honest answers, and to agree to disagree if only to encourage further discourse. But there is no place for dissent in the governance of Mayor Jesse M. Robredo. Any dissenting voice is deemed a threat to the leadership of the Mayor because in the “good governance” of Mayor Robredo, power rests only in one man and in no other. Until today, the question on the place for dissent in Mayor Robredo’s administration has not been sufficiently explained by his defense panel.

This talk on good governance is an indication that there are people who are not at peace when making a reality check on the “good governance” in the City of Naga. These are the people who have the truth within them, and could not help but tell it in words.

The Mayor should be thankful that there are people who check the reality for him. He should not be like that king who gives premium importance to praises people would heap on the elegance of his new clothes, when in truth he has nothing on.

Let Fr. Wilmer Tria talk some more and organize more conferences about good governance and transparency in City Hall. We need more and more Fr. Trias who will mince no words in telling us that the emperor does not have his clothes on. His soul, according to Kahlil Gibran, will keep the truth in our heart as the taste of the wine is remembered when the colour is forgotten and the vessel is no more.

Fr. Tria may just be a lieutenant, but his words are those of a general.

Whether the Church has the duty and the right to Criticize Governments?

Objection 1.

It seems that the Church has no duty to criticize governments for it is said: “Pay Caesar what belongs to Caesar – and God what belongs to God”. (Mt 22, 21) Likewise, there is also a political and legal doctrine that government and religious institutions are to be kept separate and independent from each other in the so-called Separation of Church and State.


Objection 2.

Further, it seems that the Church has no right to criticize unjust governments because the Church has also its own weaknesses and frailties. Before the Church criticizes governments, it should first ‘wash its own dirty linens.’ Scripture says: “Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye, and never notice the great log in your own?” (Mt 7, 3) To do so would make the Church hypocritical and self-righteous.


Objection 3.

Further, when the Church shakes the status quo of unjust governments, governments hit back at the Church, with black propagandas detrimental to the latter’s apostolate. Government propagandas against the church cause confusion and even scandal to the lay faithful. Thus, doing more harm to the Church.


Objection 4.

Further, to change government systems, it seems that the best approach is to ‘befriend’ politicians rather than antagonize them. The more their powers are threatened, the more they close their minds and reject the gospel of Christ.


On the contrary, Scripture says: “Keep sober and alert, because your enemy the devil is on the prowl like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (Pet 5, 8)


We answer that, as social beings, we have the duty to love and take care, not only of the Church but also, of the society, our so-called common house. The society is essential to the fulfillment of the human vocation. (CCC 1886) Citizens must exercise their civic duties to promote common good. To vote for the right leaders is only one of those civic duties.


Citizens must take an active part in public life. (CCC 1915) It is the duty of every citizen to be critically and morally vigilant of the state. Governments derive their authority from the people. When left unguarded, when citizens fail to actively participate, governments “pervert to tyranny”.


Oligarchy is tyranny, not democracy. Unjust structures such as oligarchy obstruct integral human development. In such structures, humans are treated as means towards the ends of the powerful few. Patronage politics insult human nature itself. Oligarchs are the “roaring lion” referred to in the Scriptures. People empowerment does not belong to their agenda. But God does not want human beings to live under subhuman conditions. Everyone must have a fair share of God’s creation. Thus, the Church condemns oligarchy.


As baptized Catholics, it is a moral imperative to exercise their prophetic roles. Every lay faithful must, as a member of the Mystical Body of Christ, take an active role in introducing just and humane structures. In its exercise, the lay faithful must begin with an experience of personal conversion. This personal conversion becomes his source of passion in building of God’s kingdom. This is the starting point to develop the personal virtue called social justice.


By virtue of their ordination, the clergy are called to respond more intensely to the prophetic vocation compared to that of the lay faithful. Their philosophical and theological trainings equip them better than those of the lay faithful. They are not only expected to be worship leaders but to be leaders of social change for justice and human rights.


As pastors of the Church, it is their duty to shepherd their flock, so that like the Good Shepherd, the pastors can also say: “The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they know me.” (Jn 10, 27) It is their duty to constantly nourish their flock with the Word of God and the Bread of Life. Shepherding is not selective, but inclusive. (Jn 10, 16) Like Bishop Oscar Romero, Maximilian Kolbe, and many other clergymen in history, the pastor must be willing to “lay down my life for my sheep.” (Jn 10, 15)


Reply to Objection 1.

This is the wrong application of the gospel passage. In fact, the passage reveals our two-fold citizenship: the Earthly City and the Eternal City . And we have duties to both. Also, when Thomas Jefferson mentioned “the wall of separation between the Church and the State”, he referred to the wall that protects the Church from State intervention, and not vice versa. (From Thomas Jefferson’s Letter to Danbury Baptists, January 1, 1802).


Pope Benedict XVI in Deus Caritas Est (28) writes: “The Church cannot and must not take upon herself the political battle to bring about the most just society possible. She cannot and must not replace the State. Yet at the same time she cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice. She has to play her part through rational argument and she has to awaken the spiritual energy without which justice, which always demands sacrifice, cannot prevail and prosper.”


Reply Objection 2.

This is a fallacy called tu quoque (“ika man ngani”), an attempt to discredit a particular position of the opponent for its failure to act consistently on that position. In other words, the position is invalid if the person or institution who brought up the position failed to act on it. This leaves no room to correct evil, for no one is created perfect. The Church is both a divine and a human institution. As divine, it is holy. As human, it has its imperfections. As long as it is human, it will always be imperfect. The authority of the Church to teach [that includes denouncing the evils in society] comes from God and is never diminished or abrogated by the Church’s imperfections as a human institution. Therefore, in spite of her imperfections, it is the Church’s duty to perform her prophetic function and criticize unjust structures and evil governments.


The gospel passage on “splinter” and “great log” refer to human persons, not to issues of public concerns. When governments are criticized, it is the office and its laws and policies that are being attacked, not the individual persons. Even so, elected public officials, who present themselves to the public as the best “persons” to be trusted with authority, must be ready for public scrutiny – for public men are public properties.


Reply Objection 3.
The Church trusts in the power that comes from God and is never interested in the images created by men. To criticize unjust structures and evil governments are part of efficient evangelization. Scripture says: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword.” (Mat 10:32) Confusion and scandal among the lay faithful is failure on the part of the clergy who are supposed to enlighten their flock and inspire them to also do their share. In the battle between good and evil, the Church must make a stand, for scripture says: “So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Rev 3:16) Indeed, Jesus’ ministry “rocked” Jewish institutions; early Christian missionaries “rocked” the Roman empire ; through the centuries, the Church “rocks” the world – and suffered so much in the process. Yet, she’s alive and still rocking the world!


Reply Objection 4.
The Church condemns the sin, not the sinner. It criticizes positions, not individuals. To evangelize means to confront people about the truth. One cannot be charitable to a sinner unless he tells him the truth about his sins. Evangelization is different from negotiation. Prophets never negotiate the truth in the name of evangelization. Scripture says: “For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in- law against her mother-in-law; and one’s enemies will be those of his household.” (Matt 10:35-36) To believe that Hitler could have been converted had the Church ‘befriended’ him would be the epitome of naiveté.


Lastly, the proper use of the idiom on dirty linens is: “do not wash your dirty linens in public” which means, private matters ought not to be discussed in public.
Homily: 5th Sunday, Year C

February 7, 2010


The gospel this Sunday narrates to us the calling of the first disciples. Jesus said to Peter, Andrew, James and John: ‘Do not be afraid; from now on, it is people you will be catching.’ Then, they left everything and followed him. The gospel tells us that Jesus needs identical copies; he needs followers.

Majority of the Filipinos are Catholic. But we wonder, why is there no such thing as a Catholic vote? When I say Catholic vote, I do not mean a vote dictated by the Pope or by the ecclesiastical hierarchy. It is not a vote similar to the Iglesia ni Kristo vote. No! What I mean is a vote that reflects the ideals of the Catholic faith. An evangelized vote. A vote fashioned by the Word of God.

Indeed, majority of Filipinos are Catholic. When we were kids, we had no choice. Our parents brought us to the church and had us baptized as Catholics. However, it is one thing to be baptized; it is another thing to be evangelized. This is where we fail. We may be Catholics by name, but our hearts remain to be pagan. Our political leaders are Catholics. But why is it that our country is one of the most corrupt countries in the world? The Archbishop calls our government oligarchic, that is, the rule of the few. Others call our government a kleptocracy, that is, the rule of the thieves! Yes, we are Catholics by name; but gentiles by heart.

Who influences our thoughts everyday? When we buy soap or shampoo, what criteria do we follow? Why Tide and not Ariel? Why Pantene and not Rejoice? According to psychologists, most of our thought processes are not rational but irrational. Our choices are governed by our fetishes and our obsessions. Our thoughts are controlled by what we see and hear. Here lies the power of advertisements, of the media. When we elect the leaders of our country, with high probability, our choice will be governed by the same power, the power of advertisements, of the media. How many of those that we see and hear are really true?

It is sad that many Catholics are “evangelized” by the flawed editorials of radio personalities. The listeners’ opinion are in fact fashioned and controlled by false information, perverted opinions, and paid judgments. Many Catholics are at the mercy of their propaganda.

Jesus is calling all of us not to be disciples of the media but to be His disciples. He is asking us to follow him, to follow his footsteps, to be like him. He wants us not only to do good, but to be good. The Holy Spirit who lives in us, transforms our lives until we become like Jesus, or copies of Jesus.

Jesus’ invitation offers three simple directions: “deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.”

What is to deny one’s self? He is not telling us to leave our responsibilities. In fact, he wants us to take responsibility at all times. Rather, he wants us to abandon our selfish dreams, dreams that will not benefit our country, our society, our families. They are our fetishes, our obsessions.

Jesus calls us to take up our cross. Many of us have reduced the significance of the cross to a 24K ornament we wear around our neck. Ironically, terrorists in several films are shown to be wearing crosses. The Lord did not tell us to wear it, but to carry it. And carrying it demands commitment.

“Follow me,” Jesus said. When Lindberg flew the Atlantic , he drew a line on his map that he called the point of no return. After he crossed that point, he knew there was no turning back. This is how we are going to follow our Lord. We must cross the point of no return.

The Lord is calling each of us to be like him. A disciple is molded by his master. If we want to be real Catholics, we need to listen more often to our Master. Conversion does not take place in certificates, but in our hearts. If we want to change our society, we must cast votes evangelized by Jesus and not by the media.



Cover of His Three Books


Charity

Homily: 4th Sunday, Year C

January 31, 2010


The liturgy this Sunday is about charity or love. What is love? Love is the reason why we exist. The first reading reminds us of this: “before you were formed in your mother’s womb, I knew you.” And it is the same love that we have a wonderful world to live in. This is God’s love. This is the love that gives us the passion and energy to love one another.

There is another kind of love, the love that rejects God’s love. This is the love that is created by the self. This is also called self-love. This kind of love is appealing and attractive. It gives us pleasure. But this is the love that wanes away or wears off. It is like money that depreciates through the years.

Pope Benedict wrote an encyclical titled Caritas in Veritate. This encyclical reminds us that love and truth are inseparable. “I love you and you alone… but I also love Angelica” – this is not love. “Luv u, mis u” but only through text – this is not love. “You are the best Mayor I’ve ever met” in spite of the fact that you know about his corruption, that is not love. Love must reside in truth. If you want to correct somebody and you tell him the truth in the name of charity, that is genuine love.

“A noisy gong and a clanging cymbal,” write Paul to the Corinthians. It’s nice to hear the cymbal when played along with the orchestra. But it is a plain noise when it is played by itself. It’s like the children who play Christmas carols by whipping empty cans with a stick. Giving a flower or chocolate, a greeting card or a love letter – these are gestures of love. If you give them without love, they are like a noisy gong and a clinging cymbal. They are nothing but noise.

Have you heard of Michael Jackson syndrome? MJ was a popular singer, the king of pop. Popularity dwindles and easily fades away. MJ wanted to keep it. He wanted his popularity to be attached to his being. So he resorted to gimmickry: he had his face changed; he married; he had children; and he created the Nederland . Yet in spite of all these, his popularity continued to wane away. Little by little, he began to discover how empty his life was. There was no meaning, no love at all.

That is the danger when we don’t recognize the love of God. When we only have self-love, we can easily succumb to the temptation of popularity, of recognitions, of awards. We love others because we need to exploit them. This is not real love.

When we graduate and get and get medals and awards; when we teach with innovations like using pushcart and instantly become CNN heroes; when we become governors and get the recognition as visionary, we need to be cautious. To resort to showbiz, to gimmickry like revealing a crush on Angel Locsin, that is an early symptom of a Michael Jackson syndrome.

I remember an anecdote about the late John Paul II. He was on the plane on his way back to Rome on the first of January. He was just namedPerson of the Year by Time magazine. The media went up to him and asked: how does it feel to be named Person of the Year? The Holy Fatherreplied: “Oh, that was last year!”

Medals are simply pieces of metal. They are empty of content. If we believe in them, we will get confused and crazy. If we have projected a great image, we will be go mad using the media to maintain it, to keep it. And when our popularity continues to crumble, we will be tempted to do everything to restore that image of popularity. The moment this is happening, we are already afflicted by such disease. We have become a noisy gong and a clanging cymbal. Our life has become but an empty show.

God loves us all. He has chosen us even before we were conceived. No one lived on earth by chance. There is no need for us to be afraid. We must trust His love.

The Ampatuans did not trust the love of God. They resorted to banditry and arms. They are cowards. Our local politicians do not trust the love of God. They resort to gimmickry. And they use local media to maintain their pogi images. They too are cowards.

We Christians must never doubt God’s love. We must trust his love, and his love alone.


Fellow Bikolanos click here for my Bikol Homilies

TWO BIKOL BOOKS OFF THE PRESS


In his short review, New York-based poet Luis Cabalquinto has these words about

Cordero: ‘One of the bright lights of the recent Bikolnon writing renaissance, Kristian Cordero presents in his poetry Pusuanon, intimate sketches and portraits of the people and land of his birth. He does this with a confident hand, cool detachment and, very often, with tongue-in-cheek humor. Fully in command of his material, Cordero's poetic diction deftly fuses real and surreal elements to elicit from the thoughtful reader not only high amusement but also deep understanding.’

Cordero who also writes in Filipino has received theMadrigal-Gonzales Best First Book Award in 2006, the NCCA Writers’ Prize for Poetry and the Maningning Miclat Awards.

The book launching will coincide with the Harampangan and Pintakasi nin mga Libro, which will gather Bikol writers to discuss their poetics and politics in their writings. The writers who will compose the panel are last year’s SEA WRITE awardee Abdon Balde Jr., Bikol historian Dr. Danilo M. Gerona, literarycritic Paz Verdades Santos together with Frank Peñones Jr, Vic Nierva, Fr. Wilmer Tria and Adrian Remodo.

SPREAD THE NEWS.

TWO BIKOL BOOKS OFF THE PRESS


They will launch the reprinted books of Fr. Wilmer Joseph S. Tria and poet Kristian Sendon Cordero at the Richie Fernando Hall (3PM), Ateneo de Naga University in Naga City.

First published in 2006, the Ako asin An Kapwa Ko is a seminal work of Fr. Tria that encourages learners to use the Bikol language in the task of philosophizing. In this new edition, the book has included several poems of contemporary Bikol poets, Bikol folksongs, and several texts translated into Bikol, to further stimulate among its readers the deep appreciation for one’s language and culture. Fr. Tria who heads the Philosophy Department of Ateneo de Naga University has also done several book projects, most notable is the coffee table book Ina and the Bikol People: A Journey of Faith published in 2001. He also served as co-author of An Satuyang Tataramon, a comprehensive study on Bikol languages and has written a children storybook, The First Peñafrancia Fiesta in Bikol released last year.

Described as the enfant terrible of Bikol poety, Kristian Sendon Cordero comes with a ‘revisited’ volume of Bikol poems in his book Pusuanon: Mga Bersong Bikol, which carries the English translations of Marne L. Kilates and H. Francisco V. Peñones Jr. First published in 2007 by Goldprint, an independent publishing house in Bikol, the book of Cordero was cited as a finalist in the 27th National Book Award.
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3/21/10

Posted by New PARADIGM! at 3:02 AM


TEN CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISMS

Fr. Wilmer Tria


1. Uphold democracy.

Ensure checks and balances. Vote for candidates from different political parties. Do not swallow ubos kung ubos. It is a threat to democracy. It is a symptom of oligarchy because power actually resides only in the Chief Executive.


2. Empower the Naga City People’s Council as a watchdog of government.

Give it autonomy. It must be financially independent from the city government so it can decide and operate on its own. It must be free from the grip and influence of politicians.


3. Guarantee transparency.

Allow citizens to discuss public issues in the public forum without fear of censure, ridicule, and harassment by paid media. The website is not a proof of transparency. In a poor locality such as ours, how many, in practical terms, have access to the internet? There is transparency when the governed knows how they can participate in governance.


4. Free the people from patronage politics.

Only registered voters of Naga City may avail of urban poor housing. This is a clear case of patronage politics. Stop using government programs to sow “utang na boot” that will be harvested during election. Private ownership is necessary in urban poor housing. Without ownership, the people are always at the mercy of the incumbent.


5. Protect health and environment.

Effective sewage and drainage systems are a must. Lampposts are not. In the past few years, many LGU’s lined their streets with lampposts. For what reason? History, beauty or grease money? Tarps calling to protect the river do not protect the river. Good sewage and drainage systems will.


6. Uplift the morale of the people.

As you build minds and hearts of Nagueños, construct a well-studied city hall complex. Improve the working conditions of city hall employees. Poor building layout, worn-out furniture and equipment and overcrowded offices obstruct productivity. Construct on land owned by the city. For a man of vision, the stability of government employees is paramount.


7. Build a better, safer and more competitive supermarket.

Repetitive repainting and renovating after every fire, whether arson or accident, will not solve the problem. Assist local merchants. Giant businesses can take care of themselves.


8. Be vigilant about drugs.

Fighting drugs is a never-ending saga. Drug users and drug-related crimes are increasing. Random raids are ineffective. Sustained vigilance is required.


9. Pursue truth, not awards.

Awards fade like the morning dew. Michael Jackson was scared of losing his popularity. His recourse was gimmickry. He was lost without the awards and the million dollar sales. He did not see his life’s worth. This is the Michael Jackson syndrome. Pursuing awards can cause blindness and detachment from reality. Pursue truth to avoid this disease.


10. Promote the integrity of the media.

Unethical media practice pollutes the airwaves and prevents people from becoming responsible citizens. Media must present news and not gossips. Reserve drama and appeal to emotions for "teleseryes". Public opinions must be based on facts and not on fertile imaginations. Disinfect news and current affairs from paid propagandas.

2/18/10

Posted by New PARADIGM! at 1:47 AM


Let’s have more Fr. Trias


When generals do battle, they negotiate, they talk but their colonels and captains and sergeants go for their counterpart’s throat.

That could figuratively describe the war of words over the week between Fr. Wilmer Tria and the representatives from the office of the City Mayor when Fr. criticized the administration of City Mayor Robredo regarding the latter’s claim to good governance and transparency.

As expected these guys from City Hall put up a defense during the conference and even outside the conference hall. Apparently choosing to rebut the arguments of Fr. Tria outside the conference hall is poor taste as it does not give Fr. Tria a chance to present his answer and counter-rebuttal.

The proper forum for discussing matters like good governance and transparency in governance is a conference table, a symposium, a debate, a lecture not a radio program, which may not be as comprehensive and freely-wheeling in discussing issues as the one raised by Fr. Tria in his talk during the Philosophy Week at the Ateneo de Naga University.

The issues raised by Fr. Tria are aboveboard and beyond the realm of the personal. The issues touch on principles and on reality checks and they find the governance of Mayor Robredo wanting in many things.

According to Fr. Tria, the campaign slogan of Mayor Jesse M. Robredo “ubos kun ubos, gabos kun gabos” completely disregards the principle of in government. Up to this time almost a week after Fr. Tria had pronounced that Mayor Robredo’s administration has been found wanting in this constitutional principle the issue has not been rebutted. Instead of directing answering the issue, the strategy used by Robredo’s men is to attack the person of, not to answer the issues raised by, Fr. Tria.

According to Fr. Tria, true governance means human development of people; it means a creation of a community of equals; it means participatory governance. The query raised on why Mayor Robredo has failed to develop someone to succeed him for the past 17 years remains valid and has not been sufficiently explained by his defense panel.

According to Fr. Tria, in a free and democratic society, people enjoy the right to ask questions, to demand honest answers, and to agree to disagree if only to encourage further discourse. But there is no place for dissent in the governance of Mayor Jesse M. Robredo. Any dissenting voice is deemed a threat to the leadership of the Mayor because in the “good governance” of Mayor Robredo, power rests only in one man and in no other. Until today, the question on the place for dissent in Mayor Robredo’s administration has not been sufficiently explained by his defense panel.

This talk on good governance is an indication that there are people who are not at peace when making a reality check on the “good governance” in the City of Naga. These are the people who have the truth within them, and could not help but tell it in words.

The Mayor should be thankful that there are people who check the reality for him. He should not be like that king who gives premium importance to praises people would heap on the elegance of his new clothes, when in truth he has nothing on.

Let Fr. Wilmer Tria talk some more and organize more conferences about good governance and transparency in City Hall. We need more and more Fr. Trias who will mince no words in telling us that the emperor does not have his clothes on. His soul, according to Kahlil Gibran, will keep the truth in our heart as the taste of the wine is remembered when the colour is forgotten and the vessel is no more.

Fr. Tria may just be a lieutenant, but his words are those of a general.

2/17/10

Whether the Church has the duty and the right to Criticize Governments?

Posted by New PARADIGM! at 12:05 AM

Objection 1.

It seems that the Church has no duty to criticize governments for it is said: “Pay Caesar what belongs to Caesar – and God what belongs to God”. (Mt 22, 21) Likewise, there is also a political and legal doctrine that government and religious institutions are to be kept separate and independent from each other in the so-called Separation of Church and State.


Objection 2.

Further, it seems that the Church has no right to criticize unjust governments because the Church has also its own weaknesses and frailties. Before the Church criticizes governments, it should first ‘wash its own dirty linens.’ Scripture says: “Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye, and never notice the great log in your own?” (Mt 7, 3) To do so would make the Church hypocritical and self-righteous.


Objection 3.

Further, when the Church shakes the status quo of unjust governments, governments hit back at the Church, with black propagandas detrimental to the latter’s apostolate. Government propagandas against the church cause confusion and even scandal to the lay faithful. Thus, doing more harm to the Church.


Objection 4.

Further, to change government systems, it seems that the best approach is to ‘befriend’ politicians rather than antagonize them. The more their powers are threatened, the more they close their minds and reject the gospel of Christ.


On the contrary, Scripture says: “Keep sober and alert, because your enemy the devil is on the prowl like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (Pet 5, 8)


We answer that, as social beings, we have the duty to love and take care, not only of the Church but also, of the society, our so-called common house. The society is essential to the fulfillment of the human vocation. (CCC 1886) Citizens must exercise their civic duties to promote common good. To vote for the right leaders is only one of those civic duties.


Citizens must take an active part in public life. (CCC 1915) It is the duty of every citizen to be critically and morally vigilant of the state. Governments derive their authority from the people. When left unguarded, when citizens fail to actively participate, governments “pervert to tyranny”.


Oligarchy is tyranny, not democracy. Unjust structures such as oligarchy obstruct integral human development. In such structures, humans are treated as means towards the ends of the powerful few. Patronage politics insult human nature itself. Oligarchs are the “roaring lion” referred to in the Scriptures. People empowerment does not belong to their agenda. But God does not want human beings to live under subhuman conditions. Everyone must have a fair share of God’s creation. Thus, the Church condemns oligarchy.


As baptized Catholics, it is a moral imperative to exercise their prophetic roles. Every lay faithful must, as a member of the Mystical Body of Christ, take an active role in introducing just and humane structures. In its exercise, the lay faithful must begin with an experience of personal conversion. This personal conversion becomes his source of passion in building of God’s kingdom. This is the starting point to develop the personal virtue called social justice.


By virtue of their ordination, the clergy are called to respond more intensely to the prophetic vocation compared to that of the lay faithful. Their philosophical and theological trainings equip them better than those of the lay faithful. They are not only expected to be worship leaders but to be leaders of social change for justice and human rights.


As pastors of the Church, it is their duty to shepherd their flock, so that like the Good Shepherd, the pastors can also say: “The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they know me.” (Jn 10, 27) It is their duty to constantly nourish their flock with the Word of God and the Bread of Life. Shepherding is not selective, but inclusive. (Jn 10, 16) Like Bishop Oscar Romero, Maximilian Kolbe, and many other clergymen in history, the pastor must be willing to “lay down my life for my sheep.” (Jn 10, 15)


Reply to Objection 1.

This is the wrong application of the gospel passage. In fact, the passage reveals our two-fold citizenship: the Earthly City and the Eternal City . And we have duties to both. Also, when Thomas Jefferson mentioned “the wall of separation between the Church and the State”, he referred to the wall that protects the Church from State intervention, and not vice versa. (From Thomas Jefferson’s Letter to Danbury Baptists, January 1, 1802).


Pope Benedict XVI in Deus Caritas Est (28) writes: “The Church cannot and must not take upon herself the political battle to bring about the most just society possible. She cannot and must not replace the State. Yet at the same time she cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice. She has to play her part through rational argument and she has to awaken the spiritual energy without which justice, which always demands sacrifice, cannot prevail and prosper.”


Reply Objection 2.

This is a fallacy called tu quoque (“ika man ngani”), an attempt to discredit a particular position of the opponent for its failure to act consistently on that position. In other words, the position is invalid if the person or institution who brought up the position failed to act on it. This leaves no room to correct evil, for no one is created perfect. The Church is both a divine and a human institution. As divine, it is holy. As human, it has its imperfections. As long as it is human, it will always be imperfect. The authority of the Church to teach [that includes denouncing the evils in society] comes from God and is never diminished or abrogated by the Church’s imperfections as a human institution. Therefore, in spite of her imperfections, it is the Church’s duty to perform her prophetic function and criticize unjust structures and evil governments.


The gospel passage on “splinter” and “great log” refer to human persons, not to issues of public concerns. When governments are criticized, it is the office and its laws and policies that are being attacked, not the individual persons. Even so, elected public officials, who present themselves to the public as the best “persons” to be trusted with authority, must be ready for public scrutiny – for public men are public properties.


Reply Objection 3.
The Church trusts in the power that comes from God and is never interested in the images created by men. To criticize unjust structures and evil governments are part of efficient evangelization. Scripture says: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword.” (Mat 10:32) Confusion and scandal among the lay faithful is failure on the part of the clergy who are supposed to enlighten their flock and inspire them to also do their share. In the battle between good and evil, the Church must make a stand, for scripture says: “So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Rev 3:16) Indeed, Jesus’ ministry “rocked” Jewish institutions; early Christian missionaries “rocked” the Roman empire ; through the centuries, the Church “rocks” the world – and suffered so much in the process. Yet, she’s alive and still rocking the world!


Reply Objection 4.
The Church condemns the sin, not the sinner. It criticizes positions, not individuals. To evangelize means to confront people about the truth. One cannot be charitable to a sinner unless he tells him the truth about his sins. Evangelization is different from negotiation. Prophets never negotiate the truth in the name of evangelization. Scripture says: “For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in- law against her mother-in-law; and one’s enemies will be those of his household.” (Matt 10:35-36) To believe that Hitler could have been converted had the Church ‘befriended’ him would be the epitome of naiveté.


Lastly, the proper use of the idiom on dirty linens is: “do not wash your dirty linens in public” which means, private matters ought not to be discussed in public.

2/3/10

Posted by New PARADIGM! at 1:37 AM
Homily: 5th Sunday, Year C

February 7, 2010


The gospel this Sunday narrates to us the calling of the first disciples. Jesus said to Peter, Andrew, James and John: ‘Do not be afraid; from now on, it is people you will be catching.’ Then, they left everything and followed him. The gospel tells us that Jesus needs identical copies; he needs followers.

Majority of the Filipinos are Catholic. But we wonder, why is there no such thing as a Catholic vote? When I say Catholic vote, I do not mean a vote dictated by the Pope or by the ecclesiastical hierarchy. It is not a vote similar to the Iglesia ni Kristo vote. No! What I mean is a vote that reflects the ideals of the Catholic faith. An evangelized vote. A vote fashioned by the Word of God.

Indeed, majority of Filipinos are Catholic. When we were kids, we had no choice. Our parents brought us to the church and had us baptized as Catholics. However, it is one thing to be baptized; it is another thing to be evangelized. This is where we fail. We may be Catholics by name, but our hearts remain to be pagan. Our political leaders are Catholics. But why is it that our country is one of the most corrupt countries in the world? The Archbishop calls our government oligarchic, that is, the rule of the few. Others call our government a kleptocracy, that is, the rule of the thieves! Yes, we are Catholics by name; but gentiles by heart.

Who influences our thoughts everyday? When we buy soap or shampoo, what criteria do we follow? Why Tide and not Ariel? Why Pantene and not Rejoice? According to psychologists, most of our thought processes are not rational but irrational. Our choices are governed by our fetishes and our obsessions. Our thoughts are controlled by what we see and hear. Here lies the power of advertisements, of the media. When we elect the leaders of our country, with high probability, our choice will be governed by the same power, the power of advertisements, of the media. How many of those that we see and hear are really true?

It is sad that many Catholics are “evangelized” by the flawed editorials of radio personalities. The listeners’ opinion are in fact fashioned and controlled by false information, perverted opinions, and paid judgments. Many Catholics are at the mercy of their propaganda.

Jesus is calling all of us not to be disciples of the media but to be His disciples. He is asking us to follow him, to follow his footsteps, to be like him. He wants us not only to do good, but to be good. The Holy Spirit who lives in us, transforms our lives until we become like Jesus, or copies of Jesus.

Jesus’ invitation offers three simple directions: “deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.”

What is to deny one’s self? He is not telling us to leave our responsibilities. In fact, he wants us to take responsibility at all times. Rather, he wants us to abandon our selfish dreams, dreams that will not benefit our country, our society, our families. They are our fetishes, our obsessions.

Jesus calls us to take up our cross. Many of us have reduced the significance of the cross to a 24K ornament we wear around our neck. Ironically, terrorists in several films are shown to be wearing crosses. The Lord did not tell us to wear it, but to carry it. And carrying it demands commitment.

“Follow me,” Jesus said. When Lindberg flew the Atlantic , he drew a line on his map that he called the point of no return. After he crossed that point, he knew there was no turning back. This is how we are going to follow our Lord. We must cross the point of no return.

The Lord is calling each of us to be like him. A disciple is molded by his master. If we want to be real Catholics, we need to listen more often to our Master. Conversion does not take place in certificates, but in our hearts. If we want to change our society, we must cast votes evangelized by Jesus and not by the media.



Cover of His Three Books

2/2/10

Posted by New PARADIGM! at 1:36 AM

Charity

Homily: 4th Sunday, Year C

January 31, 2010


The liturgy this Sunday is about charity or love. What is love? Love is the reason why we exist. The first reading reminds us of this: “before you were formed in your mother’s womb, I knew you.” And it is the same love that we have a wonderful world to live in. This is God’s love. This is the love that gives us the passion and energy to love one another.

There is another kind of love, the love that rejects God’s love. This is the love that is created by the self. This is also called self-love. This kind of love is appealing and attractive. It gives us pleasure. But this is the love that wanes away or wears off. It is like money that depreciates through the years.

Pope Benedict wrote an encyclical titled Caritas in Veritate. This encyclical reminds us that love and truth are inseparable. “I love you and you alone… but I also love Angelica” – this is not love. “Luv u, mis u” but only through text – this is not love. “You are the best Mayor I’ve ever met” in spite of the fact that you know about his corruption, that is not love. Love must reside in truth. If you want to correct somebody and you tell him the truth in the name of charity, that is genuine love.

“A noisy gong and a clanging cymbal,” write Paul to the Corinthians. It’s nice to hear the cymbal when played along with the orchestra. But it is a plain noise when it is played by itself. It’s like the children who play Christmas carols by whipping empty cans with a stick. Giving a flower or chocolate, a greeting card or a love letter – these are gestures of love. If you give them without love, they are like a noisy gong and a clinging cymbal. They are nothing but noise.

Have you heard of Michael Jackson syndrome? MJ was a popular singer, the king of pop. Popularity dwindles and easily fades away. MJ wanted to keep it. He wanted his popularity to be attached to his being. So he resorted to gimmickry: he had his face changed; he married; he had children; and he created the Nederland . Yet in spite of all these, his popularity continued to wane away. Little by little, he began to discover how empty his life was. There was no meaning, no love at all.

That is the danger when we don’t recognize the love of God. When we only have self-love, we can easily succumb to the temptation of popularity, of recognitions, of awards. We love others because we need to exploit them. This is not real love.

When we graduate and get and get medals and awards; when we teach with innovations like using pushcart and instantly become CNN heroes; when we become governors and get the recognition as visionary, we need to be cautious. To resort to showbiz, to gimmickry like revealing a crush on Angel Locsin, that is an early symptom of a Michael Jackson syndrome.

I remember an anecdote about the late John Paul II. He was on the plane on his way back to Rome on the first of January. He was just namedPerson of the Year by Time magazine. The media went up to him and asked: how does it feel to be named Person of the Year? The Holy Fatherreplied: “Oh, that was last year!”

Medals are simply pieces of metal. They are empty of content. If we believe in them, we will get confused and crazy. If we have projected a great image, we will be go mad using the media to maintain it, to keep it. And when our popularity continues to crumble, we will be tempted to do everything to restore that image of popularity. The moment this is happening, we are already afflicted by such disease. We have become a noisy gong and a clanging cymbal. Our life has become but an empty show.

God loves us all. He has chosen us even before we were conceived. No one lived on earth by chance. There is no need for us to be afraid. We must trust His love.

The Ampatuans did not trust the love of God. They resorted to banditry and arms. They are cowards. Our local politicians do not trust the love of God. They resort to gimmickry. And they use local media to maintain their pogi images. They too are cowards.

We Christians must never doubt God’s love. We must trust his love, and his love alone.


Fellow Bikolanos click here for my Bikol Homilies

1/23/10

TWO BIKOL BOOKS OFF THE PRESS

Posted by New PARADIGM! at 8:16 AM

In his short review, New York-based poet Luis Cabalquinto has these words about

Cordero: ‘One of the bright lights of the recent Bikolnon writing renaissance, Kristian Cordero presents in his poetry Pusuanon, intimate sketches and portraits of the people and land of his birth. He does this with a confident hand, cool detachment and, very often, with tongue-in-cheek humor. Fully in command of his material, Cordero's poetic diction deftly fuses real and surreal elements to elicit from the thoughtful reader not only high amusement but also deep understanding.’

Cordero who also writes in Filipino has received theMadrigal-Gonzales Best First Book Award in 2006, the NCCA Writers’ Prize for Poetry and the Maningning Miclat Awards.

The book launching will coincide with the Harampangan and Pintakasi nin mga Libro, which will gather Bikol writers to discuss their poetics and politics in their writings. The writers who will compose the panel are last year’s SEA WRITE awardee Abdon Balde Jr., Bikol historian Dr. Danilo M. Gerona, literarycritic Paz Verdades Santos together with Frank Peñones Jr, Vic Nierva, Fr. Wilmer Tria and Adrian Remodo.

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TWO BIKOL BOOKS OFF THE PRESS

Posted by New PARADIGM! at 7:56 AM

They will launch the reprinted books of Fr. Wilmer Joseph S. Tria and poet Kristian Sendon Cordero at the Richie Fernando Hall (3PM), Ateneo de Naga University in Naga City.

First published in 2006, the Ako asin An Kapwa Ko is a seminal work of Fr. Tria that encourages learners to use the Bikol language in the task of philosophizing. In this new edition, the book has included several poems of contemporary Bikol poets, Bikol folksongs, and several texts translated into Bikol, to further stimulate among its readers the deep appreciation for one’s language and culture. Fr. Tria who heads the Philosophy Department of Ateneo de Naga University has also done several book projects, most notable is the coffee table book Ina and the Bikol People: A Journey of Faith published in 2001. He also served as co-author of An Satuyang Tataramon, a comprehensive study on Bikol languages and has written a children storybook, The First Peñafrancia Fiesta in Bikol released last year.

Described as the enfant terrible of Bikol poety, Kristian Sendon Cordero comes with a ‘revisited’ volume of Bikol poems in his book Pusuanon: Mga Bersong Bikol, which carries the English translations of Marne L. Kilates and H. Francisco V. Peñones Jr. First published in 2007 by Goldprint, an independent publishing house in Bikol, the book of Cordero was cited as a finalist in the 27th National Book Award.



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