Sinners or Saints (PCSO vs. Pajero 7)

There is no other government charitable institution that gives donations in millions except Philippines Charity Sweepstakes (PCSO).  A PCSO fund is mandated for charitable purposes.

Bishops, this is the easiest way to have basic transportation by asking help from the government for their charitable works as priest has “a vow of poverty”. Priest is also man with ambition and who submit their selves to God and through them as instruments teach us of His doings. We must be proud until now that still a lot of youth taking up theology despite of malanding panahon.

It has been part of Philippines Politics to candidates to seek vindication or endorsement from various religious sectors as the later influences people’s morale in choosing the right candidates. We don’t even know that some of those given donations in favor of support; it might be in good or bad faith. Some speculate it as bribery.

Contradiction

The priests usually oppose gambling as source of evil that’s why in the first place they knew where the asked donation came from, PCSO’s gambling operation. Is it in bad faith in the first place?

Before Scrutiny

The bishops have been very vocal in criticizing when a president is doing nothing for the country. Moreso, most of them is opposing the controversial RH Bill and same sex marriage. Besides they always take part in all people’s power movement in Philippines history and sad to say they are also close to Arroyo’s Presidency and the PCSO was under the suspicious management of Mr. Manoling Morato. From “dating daan” to tuwid na daan” the battle cry of the present administration although constricted.

First Statement (By Paolo Romero from Philstar)

Poor people always knock on our doors, and these vehicles are used for many purposes, for delivery of health and education services. We cannot close our doors to all those who seek our help,” according to Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.

He also detailed the use and the nature of the donations given to the so-called “Pajero 7” bishops since 2007 and stressed none of them got brand-new Mitsubishi Pajeros.

Bontoc-Lagawe Bishop Rodolfo Beltran, who was given P600,000 in April 2007, used the amount to purchase a 10-year-old Nissan Pathfinder pick-up amounting to P280,000 that was used for medical missions in far-flung areas in his diocese. The rest of the funds were used for the Alay Kapwa programs of the church.

Abra Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian, who received a donation amounting to P1.129 million in January 2009, used the fund to buy a second-hand Mitsubishi pick-up that was used to ferry personnel and materials for various projects of his diocese.

Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo also received a donation for the purchase of a Pajero as reported by a newspaper in 2009, but what was bought was a van and the rest of the funds was used by the Social Action Center (SAC) of the archdiocese for distribution of medicine and other relief goods during calamities in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, Cotabato City, and Shariff Kabungsuan.

Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad was also reported to have received funds to buy a Pajero, but the amount was used to buy a pick-up for community work in depressed areas in the province.

Butuan City Bishop Juan de Dios Peublos indeed requested a 4×4 vehicle from the PCSO and then the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and follow it up in time of his birthday. He was not only the bishop of four provinces in Caraga but he was also a member of peace and order council in that Region 13 and was a member of other bodies, including the Zeñarosa Commission that was tasked to dismantle private armies.

Second Statement (For Shame By: Conrado de Quiros Philippine Daily Inquirer)

WHY SINGLE us out?” ask the bishops.

One, because there are no others. They are not being singled out, they stand out singly as the ones who received those gratuities from the PCSO during the years 2008-2009. Or so according to the Commission on Audit in its report on that period. It identifies six of them as having received SUVs and cash amounting to P8.3 million, manna not from heaven but from Gloria. No officials of other churches got this, only they. They are no more being singled out for persecution than the Ampatuans are being singled out for prosecution.

Two, because the gratuities were an obvious bribe. Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian says he got P1.129 million from the PCSO in January 2009 but denies it was in payment for support. “It was an honest-to-goodness assistance for the Diocese of Abra, it was a charitable assistance.” The donation was given three years after “Hello, Garci’’. More…

Three, because there is such a thing as the separation of Church and State. Jesus Christ said, “Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” He did not say, “Give unto God, or his self-professed representatives, the things that are Caesar’s.” It was Arroyo who said, or might as well have said, “Give unto me the things that are FPJ’s, and I will give to you the things that are not mine.”

Bishop Martin Jumoad says he uses the Mitsubishi Strada he bought with P1.1 million from the PCSO for medical and relief missions and to negotiate with kidnappers. Well, if he didn’t drive around in a Strada to undertake relief missions, he wouldn’t need to deal with kidnappers at all, would he?

Four, because exposing them is the right thing to do. Bishop Nereo Odchimar asks: “Is it because some of the bishops are critical? Is it because of the bishops’ position on the RH bill?” Archbishop Capalla says, “I don’t know why they take (the donations) against the bishops and make it appear scandalous. This is unfair. I challenge them to show the records—the real records, and not the twisted ones.” Archbishop Arguelles says, “It’s really the intention of the PCSO to destroy the credibility of the bishops.” Bishop Jumoad says they are being persecuted because “the bishops have been very vocal in criticizing when a president is doing nothing for the country.”

Five, because the Church is supposed to be a paragon of virtue and not a repository of vice. Because bishops are supposed to profess the highest standards of excellence and not resort to the lowest claim to innocence.

The point is not for the bishops to show they have a right to be there until someone can prove them guilty, it is for them to show they have no right to be there until they can prove themselves worthy. Their thinking is all of a piece with their defense of Arroyo: She had a right to be president until she could be proven to have stolen the vote. The problem was not merely that it was impossible to do that during her time, it was that it posited the presidency as an office that was fit for unproven criminals rather than for proven sages.

That is what they are positing about themselves, too. The bishopric is an office that is fit for unproven, well, take it from the name, rather than for proven saints. No wonder this country is what it is.

Moral Issue

From Tito Jonathan

First, kasalanan bang manghingi nang tulong kahit kanino?

Ang Obispo ay nanghingi ng tulong sa gobyerno dahil kinakailangan nila ito at may rason sila kung saan nila ito gagamitin. Pero hindi naman siguro nila sinasabi sa letter or sa hinihingi na bigyan sila nang porshe or multi-million cars worth para nito. Hindi naman siguro nag demand ng branded cars? Diba?

Second, Kasalanan bang magbigay ng tulong kahit kanino?

Dahil naman siguro ay nabasa at nakita nang recipient na kailangan nila nang bagay na yan kaya binigyan,  at siguro nakakahiya namang magbigay ka ng second hand cars lalo na kong ang ahensyang magbibigay ay milyon-milyong pera ang pumapasok araw-araw, kaya nagbigay silang worth it din para sa kanila diba? Somewhat you can proud of.

“Para sa akin walang mali sa ginawa ng mga Obispo….bakit? nanghingi lang sila pwede namang tanggihan or pag bigyan???? “

From Tito Hubert

Why is it that many persons strive for very high ideals and too many expectations for a certain leader and knowing everywhere life is full of heroism? Let us not be blinded by the physical matters. Cause politics is as perennial as the grass. Only God knows what the truth is and what is inside of each heart of those in the position.

From Tito Alejandro

Tulad ng ibang tao na gustong maging politician dahil sa ano? Marami silang benefit na makukuha, bukod pa sa power at material things.

Ganon din sa mga taong tagapaglingkod ni God, sa simula, they are very honest with their vows and stands with their principles as God’s servant. Pero di natin maiiwasan, ang iba sa kanila, ng dahil sa respetong nakukuha nila sa tao, ng dahil sa mga ibinibigay sa kanila ng tao, ng dahil sa sobrang respetong binibigay sa kanila ng tao, nakakalimutan nila na hindi sila ang dapat i-praise ng mga tao kundi si God. Ang sang-kaparian ay may “vow of poverty”, hindi natin ito nakikita sa kanila. Ang iba pa nga sa kanila, gusto pa nila ng special treatment. Katuwa di ba. kailangan ng mamahaling sasakyan para lang makipag-negotiate sa mga kidnapper or maghatid ng mga relief goods hehehe.. pero di ba, kaya naging matatag ang simbahang katoliko is because pag nasa mass na, hindi na yung pari or yung nag-preside ng mass ang tinitingnan ng tao, kung di yung mass na kung saan yung presence ni Jesus Christ ang ating mas inuuna.. mga T2s, siguro, sa mga ganitong pagkakataon, ipag-pray po natin ang ating Simbahan at ang mga kapariang involved and kung talagang nagkasala sila, then, igawad kung anong nararapat sa kanila.. Truly mga T2s, we are in a battle now. Sa article na ito, baka may iba dyan na nag-doubt about our religion, about our faith… let’s offer our prayers mga t2s na ma-solve ito at mabigyang-linaw sa lahat.

From Tito Condrado

Disciples, sa pananaw ng Kritiyanismo, ay nangangahulugang tagasunod ni Kristo. So, masasabi nating kapag ikinommit natin ang sarili natin o ng sinuman ang kanilang buhay sa Panginoon, at isinasaisip at isinasabuhay niya ang mga aral nito, then masasabi natin na disipulo siya ng Diyos.

Righteous, sa aking interpretasyon sa tagalog, ay pagiging tama or pagiging panig sa kung anong tama, though alam naman natin na iba o mas malalim pa ang ibig sabihin nito kung sa pananaw ng Kristiyanismo ang usapan. Pero, just to simplify things, sabihin natin na kahit sinong tao, kahit anong pananampalataya, minsan nga pati yung mga hindi naniniwala, ay gumagawa rin ng kabutihan, gumagawa rin ng tama. Pero ang magpapa-iba na lamang doon, ay kung ginagawa natin ang kabutihan o ang tama, upang magbigay papuri sa Panginoon.

Siguro, sabihin na lang natin, that we still have our human weaknesses. Kaya patuloy tayong lumapit sa true source of strength, and that is God.

Naalala ko tuloy sa isang homiliya sa Pilipinas, kung saan sinabi ng isang pari, na kahit pari na sila, nagkakasala pa rin sila. Kung kaya’t humingi siya sa mga taong naroon, ng panalangin para sa kanila.

Paalala siguro sa atin ito ng kahalagahan ng panalangin at ang katotohanan ng demonyo. Kasi, once inisip natin na tao lang ang may gawa nito, then, baka hindi natin maisip ang kahalagahan ng Diyos.

Economical Approach

From Tito Miguel

Walang usok kung walang apoy.Yun ang tingin ko sa isyung ito.

Tama nacriticize ni Archbishop Oscar Cruz si PNOY regarding sa performance nito. If I remember it right, wang wang lang daw ang accomplishment ni PNOY. Hats off ako sa kanya kasi consistent si Archbishop sa pagpuna sa mga isyu like good governance, jueteng at iba pa.kahit yung dating pangulo ganun din ang stand nya sa mga isyu which makes him credible enough sa isyo ng mga Obispo, he’s objective enough to challenge the PCSO to name names.

Just an observation, di naging active ang CBCP sa pagkondena sa lantarang mismanagement ng rehimeng Arroyo noon, namiss ko tuloy ang pagiging vocal ni Archbishop Cardinal Sin. Nagtataka din ako kung bakit ganun na lamang.at sa pagputok ng isyung ito, dun ako nagkaroon ng conclusion.

Di na bago ang ganitong sistema satin. No offense meant but Archbishop Cardinal Vidal ng Cebu was an avid supporter of Erap before. Then there was Mike Velarde also.

Ewan kong nararapat bang “tanawin na utang na loob” ang pag endorse ng mga religious leaders during the campaign period dahil sa ganun naging hostage tuloy ang nakaupong opisyales, mapa mayor man, congressman, governor o presidente.

Just asking though, why that expensive? Di ba pwdeng multi-cab na lng? Or yung pampasaherong jeep na kung saan multi-purpose at marami ang makakasakay? Pag pajero o strada kasi just like what mentioned, kukonti lang maisasakay nito kung medical assistance naman, doctors lang ata ang kayang isakay, Papaano yung mga gamot? Paano yong ibang mga volunteers?

Priest or Politicians?

we should support our priest than our pulitkos… bakit?

sagutin nyo ang mga katanungan ito?

1. sino ba maraming SUV’s?
2. if our government has a vows of poverty pwede ba wag sila mag-SUV’s wala naman karamihan sa kanila na nasa bundok.
3. masama bang humingi?
4. masama bang magbigay o tumanggap?
5. nagbibigay ka ba sa kaaway di ba kalimitan sa kaibigan?
6. hindi ba dapat bigyan natin ng kahihiyan ang mga kaparian kahit sa malanding panahong ito marami pa rin ang nasa puso ang pagtuturo sa aral ng Diyos..
7. buti nga mayron tayong kalayaang pumili ng relihiyon samantalang walang tayong kalayaan pumili ng pulitiko kasi walang mapipili sa dalawa o tatlong partido.
8. isipin nyo ang bansa kung walang pari, imam o pastor?
9. kung walang presidente may vice president, kung wala ang mayor may vice mayor… kung wala ang pare, pwede ba sakristan?

After All

Are you going to question the mosque donated by the Sultanate of Brunei in Maguindanao or PCSO giving donation to build a church? I know it’s a different story because mosque being donated is not part of PCSO and building a church will not be used for bishop’s personal agenda.

How about if PCSO give assistance through Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and GK and the later help foreign states, or give more blessings to provinces, congressmen or bishops close to administration? Since the states and church is still the subject, so it’s not segregated per se. Is it all about the personalities involve instead of its purpose?

Kahit naman sa church nandyan ang mga corrupt politicians nagsisimba, nagbibigay ng donation hindi rin naman nila tinangihan at kusa itong tinatanggap.

I think the amount involve is not even 5% of PCSO income for a year, immaterial in amount.

The most of the bishops named by the PCSO were administering to dioceses where unpaved roads and poor communities are located in hard reach areas which were suitable for 4×4 or utility vehicles.

If those mention vehicles are true, then those are not luxurious.

Is it better to use church fund to buy the stuff rather than asking it from the national government where church has limited funds and rely mostly on donations instead of using it for their daily budget, their charities like scholarships, missions and apostolic works.

If those mention charity works are true, then you cannot ignore the fact that the church and state exist side by side as both has “a vow of poverty” and also falls in PCSO’s mandate. Bihira lang ako nakakita ng pare na dala-dala ang sasakyan for personal use.  Binyag, Kasal, Piyesta, Patay is this personal? Hahadlangan mo ba silang makakatulong right away, effectively and conveniently without pay?

It’s okay that PCSO give donation through priest in their charity but to accuse them in favoring the former President is very hard to prove as the former has not been proven guilty. Why waste time except if the current administration have envy them? Or it’s more political?

But if their faith favors to those in position acting in bad faith I will be the first to condemn them but not the church.

Who are the Sinners or Saints?