Children speak out at Signis World Congress

CHILDREN around the world were part of the recently concluded global convention of Signis World in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Young students asked Congress participants to hear their voice and speak for their rights during the Congress’ workshops on Oct. 17-21.

Aside from the 100 Chiang Mai students who joined the children’s workshops, some 2,000 children from 40 countries around the world also participated in the convention by sending handkerchiefs with their hands imprinted on them.

The handkerchiefs were sewn together as streamers and hung at the convention halls during the congress.

“These handkerchiefs, each one of them has a story on the child and his or her rights,” Signis World president Augustine Loorthusamy said, in his opening address on Oct. 17.

With the theme “Media for a Culture of Peace - Children’s Rights, Tomorrow’s Promise”, the congress stressed the issue of children’s rights and encourage communicators to use media to support children’s rights.

Loorthusamy said Signis wanted the children to get involved in the congress by speaking out and telling their stories.

“This is going to be a unique Congress bringing together the creativity of children, young people and communication professionals…one of rich variety of learning experiences and is meant for reflection and change,” he said.

Loorthusamy noted that as the world and the Church’s future, children have the right to be heard, to be involved and to be respected by the media.

“This priority concern here for the children is also aimed at enabling media professionals from across the world to examine, explore and plan activities taking into account the perspectives of children, children’s rights and the media,” he said.

A children’s workshop highlighting the rights of children in today’s digital world was organized during the congress with a team of educators from Philippine Association for Media Education (PAME) as facilitators.

In a show and tell portion during plenary assemblies, delegates from various countries also presented their productions highlighting the plight of children around the world.

Insights and concerns of the children taken up during the workshops were showcased in creative productions, which they presented to the assembly on the last day of the congress.

They dared delegates to hear their voice, to trust them, teach them, lead them, and speak for their rights.

For their part, the delegates responded by pledging their support and promised to make children’s rights their priority in their media work.

Revival of values for children’s programs needed, says priest

A YOUNG priest from the Archdiocese of Manila said that more television programs focusing on values and the rights of children should be produced for broadcast.

Fr. Jojo Buenafe of the archdiocesan television station TV Maria lamented the shortage of television programs for children that are centered on values.

“Gone are the days when Sesame Street and Batibot were the ones being watch by children,” he said.

Buenafe was one of the more than 15 Filipino delegates attending the Signis World Congress in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Interviewed at the sidelines during the congress, the priest said “there should be a revival of values and virtues” with regards to media productions intended for children.

He said the theme of the convention was very relevant to the Philippine situation today “because we really have to focus on our children in preserving their rights since they will be the future of our church and the future of the whole world.”

The world congress, which was held from Oct. 17-21, had the theme: “Media for a Culture of peace: Children’s rights, tomorrow’s promise.”

“In terms of productions, based on the workshops that I attended, there is I believe this empowerment of our children,” Buenafe said.

He noted that back home, most of the productions even if they are made for children, “are mostly leaning towards sex and violence.”

When asked if it means TV Maria will soon come out with quality TV productions, he quipped, “That’s what we are hoping for.”

“With regards to our productions, a lot of time we tried to see them what they would do and what should be the outcome, and to see and hear what they can contribute based on their experience and based on what they want to share with the children—children teaching children and even children teaching adults,” he said.

Buenafe said the world convention “really set the fire in our hearts so that we can inflame in our hearts the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ through the mass media of communication.”

Ateneo student joins video journalists at Signis World congress

A YOUNG student from a Catholic university in the Philippines joined a group of video journalists covering the day to day activities of international congress of Signis World in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Maria Carmina Jingco, a legal management student from Ateneo de Manila University was one in the group of neophyte video journalists invited and trained by Signis World to cover the five-day world event.

Jingco said the experience of working with people of various cultures has been an enriching event for her.

As the director of the team she said she tried not to impose her thoughts and ideas as her team members “have great ideas too.”

At least 10 young people from 18 to 22 years old from six Asian countries representing Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines and India comprised the group of neophyte video journalists trained by Signis to cover the congress

“It’s a good avenue to get the word out to other people,” said Jingco of the world gathering.

“At least everyone will be informed through this. It’s a world congress, so people are representing their respective countries. At least when they go back to their countries and they are involved in the media, they can find ways to express the theme,” she added.

The global assembly of World Catholic Association for Communication, known as Signis World, has tackled the theme “Media for a Culture of peace: Children’s rights, tomorrow’s promise.”

As video journalists, the group covered the daily activities of the congress and did interviews of participants regarding their insights and experiences related on the congress.

They videotaped all the activities during the day, did editing in the evenings and showed the production before the start of the day’s plenary.

The group presented a video production showcasing the congress’ commitment to promote a culture of peace and the right of children through the media to the assembly at the conclusion of the congress on Oct. 21.

While honoring the young journalists for their commitment and dedication to their work during the congress, the organizing committee took note of the excellent program of the association to involve the young people in the world event.

Jingco said producing videos is just a hobby for her. But her experience in the congress showed that pursuing her hobby could make a difference in the life of other people.

“It’s an opportunity for me to make a change in the world,” she said. “In our school in Ateneo, with all the lots of things happening, we are often asked to do something…” she added.

Reflecting on the congress’ theme, she admitted a feeling of sadness with the situation of poor children back home, saying that “there should be something out there for them.”

“In the Philippines, there are a lot of children in the streets. We need to protect them. We should have programs that would answer the needs of these children. It’s really sad that they can’t enjoy their childhood, that they can’t have a good education. When they grow up, it’s like they don’t have a purpose in this world. We have to give them some sort of hope.”

NGO: Mindanao tri-people live along well with each other

CONTRARY to usual perceptions that conflict in Mindanao is fueled by religious conflict, Christians, Muslims and Lumads in reality live well with one another, according to a non-government organization.

The issue of religious discord to justify the war in Mindanao is only created by some sectors to push their own agenda, said Radzini Oledan, an officer of the Initiatives for International Dialogue, a Regional Initiator of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC).

GPPAC is a global civil society-led network which seeks to build an international consensus on peace-building and the prevention of armed conflict.

Oledan was one of the GPPAC presenters on the issue of media’s role in peace-building and promotion of children’s rights, in one of the workshops during the World Signis Congress that is currently held in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

She said the tri-people have their own systems to address conflict, adding that problems only arise when outsiders with vested interests come in and use the resources of local people for their own benefit.

“Sometimes these elite would use the religious dimension to somehow justify the conflict in Mindanao but what we are doing as a civil society group is to really sit down, make spaces available for each one to really dialogue with one another,” said Oledan.

Oledan’s group links with the Church and other civil society groups in pushing for the protection of women and children in Mindanao. The civil society groups have drafted along with the Mindanao Peoples’ caucus the women and civilian protection.

“I think it is a significant contribution to the peace process. It outlines the situation of women displaced by war and also the protection issues that have to be responded both by the government and MILF. It actually calls for both panels to heed the responsibility to really protect the civilians,” she said.

There are currently 700,000 internally- displaced people in Southern Mindanao.

Oledan said they are tapping the indigenous people, women, children and youth in their peace-building efforts, making sure that their voices are heard in the peace process.

“There’s [a] need for the civilian population to really assert their right to live humanely considering that the war has taken the toll on human dignity and their right to live with dignity,” said Oledan.

Aside from linking with civil society groups to advance their peace advocacy, the NGO also takes the initiative to go down and partner with organizations and communities to further their agenda.

Catholic Media practitioners gather for world convention at Chiang Mai

HUNDREDS of Catholic media professionals gather today at Chiang Mai, Thailand for the world wide convention of Signis, also known as World Catholic Association for Communication.

Reflecting on the theme “Media for a Culture of Peace-Children’s Rights, tomorrow’s Promise”, the Signis World Congress, held in Asia for the first time, has participants of 568 media professionals coming from 69 countries.

The world congress opened today with a solemn Eucharistic celebration presided by the Apostolic Nuncio to Thailand, Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio at the Hotel Empress Convention Centre in the historic city of Chiang Mai.

The opening of Signis Congress incidentally coincides with the universal church’s celebration of World Mission Sunday.

Highlighting the importance of the event, the nuncio in his homily told participants that opening the congress on the day of World mission Sunday “is a fitting way of living your commitment of proclaiming the good news.”

In a video message, Cardinal Claudio Celli, President of the Pontifical Commission on Social Communication, relayed the Holy Father’s message to the participants.

The pope underscored the significance of the congress’ theme, saying that “it is important to hear their [children] voices and learn from them… [and] see them as protagonists of the present.”

Reflecting on the theme in his opening address, Signis World president Augustine Loorthusamy, noted that the present congress’ theme makes the current assembly to be different from previous gatherings.

He said that as professional communicators “we are morally bound to open up opportunities for our young to express themselves and to help us see the world we have created through their eyes, their frame of reference.”

True to its theme, the congress has involved young students from the city’s Catholic schools in the preparations and Congress’proceedings.

“You will see many young people creatively and actively involved here,” Loorthusamy said. “You will see them in action and we encourage you to interact with them,” he added.

Around 100 children from three Catholic schools in the city are participating in the workshops.

“This priority concern for children is also aimed at enabling media professionals from across the world to examine, explore and plan activities taking into account the perspectives of children, children’s rights and the media,” said Loorthusamy.

“In the end, we need them more than they need us. We need their imagination and involvement to help us seek peace in the world,” he added.

Among the participants are 70 priests and 150 religious sisters involved in the ministry of communication coming from the continents of Europe, Africa, America, Asia and Oceania.

Fifteen of the Congress’ participants come from the Philippines.

CBCP asks Congress to uphold inmates’ rights to suffrage

THE Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care (ECPPC) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) called on Congress to modify election laws to ensure prisoners of their right to vote.

In a press statement, the Commission lauded both COMELEC and BJMP for allowing prisoners in detention to register to exercise their constitutional right to vote in the upcoming 2010 elections.

Reiterating the Commission’s statement, ECPPC Executive Secretary Rodolfo Diamante in an interview, said the prisoners’ right of suffrage must be respected and that “the lost of this right must not form part of punishment.”

He called on the government to review election laws to guarantee that the rights to suffrage of prisoners are upheld.

The Commission likewise urged government agencies involved in electoral process to put the needed reforms in place in time for the national and local elections in May 2010.

ECPPC is the social arm of the CBCP that promotes the total human development of the prison society and works for reforms for the country’s criminal justice system.

Laiko convention to reflect on laity’s potential to change society

LAY leaders nationwide are set to gather in a three-day convention in the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga to reflect together on their potential to bring about change to oneself and society.

With the theme “The Laity: Changing Self and Society with Jesus and Mary”, the three-day event will be a combined assembly of the 16th National Biennial Convention of the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas and Laiko Regional Gathering in Luzon.

Running from October 16 to 18, the national assembly is hosted by the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga and will be held at the University of the Assumption in San Fernando City.

The convention opens in the afternoon of Oct. 16 with a procession of the image of Virgen de los Remedios and Santo Cristo del Perdon from the Archbishop’s House to the University of the Assumption Gym.

Auxiliary Bishop Pablo David will lead the opening concelebrated Mass at the university gym.

Keynote speaker will be Fr. Catalino Arevalo, SJ who will talk on “The Laity: Changing Self and Society with Jesus and Mary.”

Included among other activities and workshops during the convention is the presentation of the Laiko National Team to the delegates of the “Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas and its Programs.”

Other celebrants and homilists during the convention are Auxiliary Bishop Roberto Mallari who will lead the Mass on the second day and Archbishop Paciano Aniceto on the third day. Chairman of the Episcopal Commission for the Laity (ECLA) and Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes will deliver his message to delegates at the closing mass.

Aside from reflecting on the importance of lay vocation under the guidance of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, the convention also aims to make Laiko known to Luzon, hence the choice of venue; to learn from the pastoral realities, challenges and lay involvement of the local Church, and to promote an effective working relationships among Arch/diocesan councils and local and national lay organizations.

The convention will also elect a new set of leaders that would compose the Board of Trustees for the year 2010-2011.

Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas is the implementing arm of the Episcopal Commission for the Laity of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, in promoting nationwide initiatives and coordinating national programs of the laity. It is made up of Arch/diocesan Councils of the Laity, National Lay Organizations, National Movements and Church-oriented groups.

Caritas Manila gives aid to thousands of families affected by typhoon

CARITAS Manila has given relief aid to at least 90,212 families in Manila archdiocese and nearby provinces in the wake of devastation caused by Typhoon Ondoy that left hundreds of fatalities and thousands of families homeless.

A report from Caritas Manila said a total of 90,212 affected families have been given relief aid through Caritas Manila’s Crisis and Disaster Program.

Nearly 200,000 poor families within Metro Manila and nearby provinces have been identified by Caritas Church network as “priority families” that needed immediate relief assistance.

A network of parishes, priests, social action centers, schools and volunteers are helping Caritas in bringing aid directly to affected areas and families.

Caritas Executive Director Fr. Anton Pascual said Caritas is delivering “quality relief goods” to typhoon victims.

“This is what we want to make sure. Because we want our brothers and sisters to feel some comfort to ease their pain and suffering when they receive the relief goods,” he said.

A standard relief pack of Caritas Manila contains 5 kg of rice, 4 cans of pork and beans, 1 kg of brown sugar, 5 cans of sardines, 2 pcs. 500ml bottled water, 1 350ml cooking oil and 5 cans of meat loaf.

Caritas has assisted affected families in the Archdiocese of Manila, particularly the districts of Manila, Makati, San Juan, Pasay and Mandaluyong, and in the Dioceses of Pasig, Kalookan, Cubao, Novaliches, Malolos, San Pablo, Paranaque, Antipolo and Imus.

Caritas Manila and Radio Veritas have jointly launched a fundraising activity to raise funds for the victims.

As of October 9 Caritas and Radio Veritas joint effort has raised more than P27.7 million in donations both cash and in kind.

The amount collected may still increase as more donations from parishes and various donors continue to pour in following Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales’ call for all parishes to help.

CBCP Official urges Congress to consider options to detention

SAYING that imprisonment is counterproductive for the rehabilitation and wellbeing of prisoners, an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines called on Congress to think of alternatives to detention.

Rodolfo Diamante, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Pastoral Care, said in a statement that the sorry state of the country’s penitentiary system “impinges on several human rights [of prisoners], like provision on basic needs like food, shelter and medicines.”

“Prisoners are often held in grossly overcrowded conditions, poorly clothed and underfed,” he said.

Due to this dismal condition, “prisoners are particularly vulnerable to disease, and yet are given poor medical treatment,” he added.

Diamante said policy-makers should take a close look on the situation of the inmates, the reason of their detention and how long they have been inside prison.

It has been noted that many of the inmates have been languishing in jail for a long period of time while still awaiting trial.

The Episcopal commission argues that other effective measures can be applied to meet the goal of imprisonment, since not “all socially undesirable conduct can be classified as crime”.

City jails in Metro Manila and provinces are often filled up to capacity with petty crime offenders.

Congress can decriminalize those crimes, Diamante said.

“We can also use diversion strategies, divert offenders to alternative programs like community-based program, treatment centers or work and study furlough,” said Diamante.

The statement was released in time for the upcoming celebration of Prison Awareness Week on October 25.

Filipino Seafarers: Sailing amidst turbulent waters

THE travails of Filipino seafarers invaded anew the consciousness of the Filipino people when in April 2009, international attention was riveted by the dramatic rescue of American captain Richard Phillips from the hands of Somali pirates.

The drama on the high seas was successfully executed through the combined efforts of France, European Union, Canada, China and some African countries, which sent their navy armada to resolve the crisis.

At that time, there were about 228 seamen of various nationalities being held captive by Somali pirates from 13 ships they seized on various occasions. Half of those hostages were Filipinos.

The swift action of the United States in securing the release of Captain Richard Phillips highlighted the inadequacy of the Philippine government in ensuring the safety of Filipino seafarers when they fall prey to piracy and other dangers related to their work.

Piracy on the high seas

Considered the scourge of the maritime industry, piracy caught international interest when Maersk Alabama, a US cargo ship, was seized by Somali pirates off the Horn of Africa sometime in April and took hostage the ship’s captain, Richard Phillips.

Piracy off the coast of Somalia is a booming business. With warlords offering protection, it has become too easy for pirates to pull off attacks in exchange for hefty ransom that runs to millions of dollars.
Somali pirates have been attacking ships plying the Gulf of Aden in the Horn of Africa since the early 1990’s.

Piracy in Somalia started off as an upshot against illegal fishing and dumping of toxic wastes by other nations into Somali waters. With no functioning central government, and a civil war to boot, there was much chaos around. The local fishermen banded together to protect their source of livelihood. And very soon after, they transformed themselves into pirates upon discovering that piracy is a lucrative business that pays in millions of dollars.

International piracy experts have estimated that in 2008 alone, the pirates have gained at least $80 million dollars in ransom payments.

Somali pirates have had at least 78 piracy attacks since January this year, compared to 111 during the same period in 2008, according to a Malaysian-based International Maritime Bureau.

In November of last year, Somalis took hostage a Philippine tanker and its 23 all-Filipino crew. The longest in captivity so far, the ship and seamen were freed only on April 21 this year, after the ship’s company paid an undisclosed amount of ransom.

Somalis however, are not the only pirates preying on merchant vessels plying the Gulf of Aden off North Africa. Nigerian militants are also involved in the lucrative business of piracy whose notoriety is second only to Somalis.

Job benefits outweigh risks

Filipino seafarers comprise about 25% of manpower in around 80% of ships in the world today. Hailed as among the very best in the world, Filipino crews can be found anywhere—onboard transport ships, tankers, ro-ro ships, riggers, fishing vessels, luxury liners and yachts. It has been said that without the big percentage of Filipino seafarers working onboard, the global shipping industry would suffer a crisis.

Seafaring, perhaps more than any other profession exacts a lot on the emotional and psychological wellbeing of the person and his loved ones.

“It can be lonely sometimes, especially when you have to think of your loved ones left behind. But in my profession that is a sacrifice that you have to accept,” says Jonathan Luman-ag.

Working as an able-bodied seaman (AB) in a salvage towing ship, Luman-ag says his ship has traveled many times in pirate-infested waters of Africa and Malta. But he is not worried about dangers at sea.

“God is there to protect,” he says.

Indeed, life in the oceans is fraught with risks. Seafarers have to contend not only with their own personal struggles of being separated from family for a long period of time, but with other factors as well. Loneliness sometimes drives them into illicit relationships every time they call on every port. There are instances too when their salaries are withheld for months or they are not given sufficient food by their employers. At the top of it all is the problem of piracy which has been pillaging the high seas for years already.

Notwithstanding threats of piracy or otherwise, Filipino sailors still are lured to seek a seafaring job because the profession pays far better than any other job they can find at home.

Ordinarily, able seaman and oilers can earn as much as US$1,500 monthly. Bosuns earn US$1,700; chief cooks get a pay of US$1,600; and third and second engineer officers US$2,350 and US$2,500 monthly, respectively.

Seafarer Hydee Denoy admits he also worries about being taken hostage, but says he is willing to take the risk.

The Leyte native says he would rather stay in the country than board a ship if only he could find a job that pays as much as he gets as a seaman. Working in a product tanker ship, Denoy gets as much as P60,000 a month in salaries.

“Life is really hard in the beginning because of adjustments, but after a few months you tend to get used to the routine,” he says in a mixture of English and Tagalog.

Lack of opportunities at home

Like thousands of other overseas workers who opted to leave the country and loved ones in search for better opportunities abroad, Filipino seafarers are mostly driven by the same motivation. Certainly, it is not all love for travel that moves them to endure the hard life at sea, separated from family for months, sometimes without the possibility of communication.

The Department of Foreign Affairs, approximate the number of Filipino seafarers deployed all over the world at around 350,000, most of them on board ships that travel through African waters, particularly the Gulf of Aden in the Horn of Africa.

According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), since 1987 the Philippines has been the leading contender in the supply of manpower in the international shipping industry. In 2007 alone, 266,553 seamen were hired to work in international passenger and cargo ships.

Despite receiving pay less than what their contracts state, still the salary is bigger compares to what they will normally get if they worked in the country. To be able to sail around the world for free is also another plus factor.

“Besides earning dollars, you can travel around the world,” says Luman-ag, who gets a monthly salary of $1,500.

Seafarers’ remittances make up 15 percent of the $14.5 billion sent home by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). In 2007, the remittances sent home by seamen totaled around $2.2 billion. This amount went up in 2008. According to Central Bank, Filipino seafarers sent home $2.393 billion in the first nine months of 2008, a 43.35-percent higher than the $1.669 billion they sent in the same period in 2007.

Demand remains high

Although the demand for Filipino crews has remained high as shown by increase in deployment this year despite the global economic crisis, the emergence of other countries like China, Ukraine, India, Indonesia, Poland and Greece, as sources of labor can drastically cut the need for Filipino seamen.

But ship owners still preferred Filipino seamen for various reasons. The Filipinos’ ingenuity, flexibility, loyalty, willingness to work long hours and facility in English language are among the many positive factors why ship owners would choose Filipinos to man their ship. But ship owners also tend to exploit the seamen in many ways, like withholding their salaries for sometime or paying them less than what was stipulated in their contracts.

Apostleship of the Sea

The Church is deeply involved in protecting the welfare of Filipino seamen and their loved ones. To be able to assist the needs of mariners who are highly vulnerable to dangers and exploitation, the Church has established the Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) organization which gives all kinds of assistance to seafarers and their families. The AOS which is present in many countries works hand in hand with national and international organizations, private agencies and maritime institutions to protect the welfare of the estimated 1,200,000 seafarers worldwide, more than 300,000 of whom are Filipinos.

Magna Carta for Seafarers

Recently, a bill providing a Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers, which aims to improve the economic and social status of Filipino sailors has been introduced in Congress. Filed by Senator Edgardo Angara, the piece of legislation is touted to be a “major breakthrough in Philippine Maritime industry,” as it proposes better educational curriculum, employment system and post-employment support for Filipino seafarers and their families.

Indeed, global competitiveness should push the country to improve the Maritime industry by creating policies that would safeguard the rights of Filipino seafarers.

At the home front, the government may do well to urge for the revitalization of the country’s shipping industry so that Filipino mariners who may not wish to go out of the country at one point in their life will have an equally satisfying opportunities right within our shores.

But with little possibilities offered to them at home, our seafarers may yet choose a riskier alternative. Brave it out in the pirate-infested waters of Africa where yet a number of Filipinos are being held hostage.

While the Filipino seafarers in rough seas are living turbulent lives enough, the government seeming indifference to their plight is more than chaotic. But all that is nothing compared to the catastrophic turbulence of bad governance which is the root cause why the unwilling Filipino has to become a seafarer in the first place.

Hong Kong church supports aid campaign for typhoon victims

FOLLOWING massive destruction due to flash floods wrought by typhoon “Ondoy”, Filipino communities in Hong kong are now campaigning for donations to aid flood victims.

Chaplain of Filipinos in Hong Kong, Divine Word missionary Fr. Emil Lim, said the local Church of Hong Kong is supporting their campaign.

He said Bishop John Tong and the Diocesan Curia have sent directives to all parish priests to allow them to raise funds to send to the Philippines.

“That opens the channel for our Filipino parish-based groups to do their part locally and engage the help of the Chinese parishioners,” Lim said.

The SVD missionary noted that since many of OFWs in Hong Kong are domestic helpers, “they get their employers to help and donate as well.”

Lim disclosed that all financial donations will be submitted to Caritas Hong Kong who will do the money transfer to Caritas Philippines.

“They (Caritas) can issue receipts for the purpose of tax-deductions for the donors,” he said.

The priest said they are exploring many possibilities to have the aid reach the recipients as quickly as possible.

“Filipino crews of Cathay Pacific airways are working to get their company to carry the material donations and relief goods free of charge. This is a quicker channel than the door-to-door cargo which is by ship,” he said.

Lim said they are coordinating with other civic groups doing similar campaigns to fast track the delivery of donations.

He also asked the Philippine Consulate to help them get the required clearances for customs and other procedures for bringing in donations.

“There seems to be a law that governs this activity and it is a sticking point in the process. We have to be aware of these procedures to avoid the relief goods getting stuck in the bureaucracy at the airport,” the priest said.

Lim said St. Joseph Parish in Central has been designated as a drop-in centre for collecting donations from different parishes.

“We are setting the collecting, sorting-out, packing, labeling, stocking of relief goods at St. Joseph Parish,” he said. “This provides a chance for volunteers to exercise their bayanihan spirit,” he added.

Migrant chaplains raise funds for typhoon victims

FILIPINO migrant chaplains stationed overseas quickly spearheaded a fund campaign among Filipino communities to help flood victims back home.

Migrant chaplains from Tel Aviv, Berlin, Spain and Kuwait were among the very first to respond to the appeal for assistance, according to Fr. Edwin Corros, Executive Secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Migrants and Itinerant People.

“As early as 11 a.m. [of] Sept. 26, I have written some of the chaplains and friends overseas describing the huge amount of [rain that flooded] Metro Manila… It was very spontaneous on the part of our migrant chaplains overseas to raise funds particularly in Tel Aviv, Berlin, Spain and Kuwait, because they were immediately informed of the disastrous effect of the recent typhoon,” Corros said.

Fr. Ric Fernando, chaplain of the Divine Mercy Chapel in Tel Aviv said he would launch an appeal so Filipinos in Tel Aviv could participate in the “re-building of lives of [those] hard hit by this natural calamity.”

“I am thinking first of all of extending needed help to those in the Divine Mercy Chapel whose families have suffered total loss,” he stated in his email to Corros.

For his part Fr. Adonis Narceles, an SVD based in Berlin, Germany said that he was able to collect little amount for the victims after reading Corros’ letter to the people during the Mass.

Likewise, Fr. Ben Barrameda, chaplain of Holy Family Cathedral in Kuwait and Fr. Casey Ureta based in Sydney, Australia are also spearheading a campaign drive to collect donations for the flood victims.

“We are doing fund raising here for the victims of Ondoy. I appealed to our parishioners in Narraweena to help,” Ureta said.

He said many groups in Sydney have expressed their willingness to contribute to help the victims. Aside from second collection during masses, they are also planning to hold dinners with proceeds intended for the victims.

Fr. Fabio Baggio, director of Scalabrini Migration Center in Manila, who is currently in Madrid, also sent word that Filipino migrants in Spain are collecting donations and will send aid either in cash or in kind.