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As the death toll of drug-related killings continue to rise following the new administration’s war on drugs, some Church leaders have come forward offering better solutions. Filipino priests and bishops are opening parish doors to drug offenders to provide immediate and long-term rehabilitation.
Being born sans material wealth is challenging enough yet being born deprived of senses is way tougher. But for someone who was born blind, Ronnel del Rio grew up teeming with vision. What he lacks in eyesight, he makes up with will power.
Melbourne-based street artist Kaff-eine found her way to the charcoal-making community in Baseco and the dumpsite in Happyland, Manila, where she collaborated with residents and created artworks using charcoals they make for a living.
The Holy See’s oversight may be limited to the 1.2-billion Catholic population and its territory constrained by the Vatican City’s 44-hectare land size. But the Holy See’s concerns involve the global population and its influence goes beyond the Vatican City’s borders.
The insistent invitation of Pope Francis to the Church to ‘go out to the peripheries’ of society in order to encounter Christ there, is, on one hand, an implicit acknowledgment that the ‘peripheries’ in society and in the world are still many and, on the other hand, that we are not doing enough to be present and minister to those who live in the ‘peripheries.’ It is, therefore, inspiring when we come to know someone like Bro. Paulino (Paul) Bongcaras, who has made the ‘peripheries’ of Cebu City not just a place for his outreach activities, but a place he calls home.
Like endangered species, environmental activists are being threatened to extinction. They are harassed, detained, sued and even killed for protecting the environment. But while environmental protection remains a painstaking advocacy, a Benedictine nun draws inspiration from the papal encyclical, Laudato Si, as she continues her anti-mining advocacy and promotion of sustainable agriculture in conflict-laden yet naturally blessed Mindanao.
There is nothing wrong in dreaming, so say those who rose from humble beginnings and climbed their way to success. This is especially true for Jessa Balote, who danced her way out of poverty. From the slums of Tondo, Manila, the 17-year-old painstakingly earned her place in the international spotlight as a professional and competitive ballerina.
The youth have always been regarded as a catalyst for social change because of their bold ideas and an inexhaustible energy for action. One can never simply disregard the opinion of young people since, in any given society, it is the youth (and women) who bear any crisis or breakdown in values. While local and international conferences have addressed various social issues, they only catered to mature audiences, often alienating young people. The World Youth Parliament, therefore, was established to bridge this gap by empowering the youth so they can truly express themselves and put to test their actions and beliefs.
During Pope Francis’ five-day apostolic voyage to the Philippines, Filipinos could not get enough of the Holy Father, who was enthusiastically received wherever he went. The Vatican and international media were overwhelmed by the Filipino people’s reception of the Vicar of Christ. This was because the Holy Father, even for a short while, brought joy, hope, and warmth to many who were reeling and living in a literal and figurative “storm.”
When Sr. Mary Varguese, a nun who used to work with special children in India, arrived in the Philippines to take care of a center of mentally-challenged persons, the conditions were so bad that she was “completely shocked.” However, after some years of hard work, the situation has greatly improved. Says another nun of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Anne who deals with the center’s children: “When you see God in them, everything becomes easy. They are angels because they don’t have malice.”
