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“ Quote in the Act “The population is hungry, and they are quick to get angry.” Dr. Marlene Dorismond Adrien, an advocate for the hungry who has a radio program in Port-Au-Prince in Haiti; describing desperation of the populace over food shortage and distribution mismanagement of relief good continue to mount as fake food coupons spread in Haiti’s capital. “I call on the whole country: ‘Switch off the lights.’” Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela; as he declared an “electricity emergency” due to drought in Venezuela that relies on hydroelectricity for 70% of its power despite its huge crude oil reserves; but critics say poor management and underinvestment are the real reasons for undermining the power grid. ““The true cause of the crisis is the decline in the birth rate.” “Women have stronger characters than men because when they say no they mean no, and they are less corruptible.” Boiko M. Borisov, prime minister of Bulgaria during the inauguration of the women’s wing of his center-right political party; dubbed as an “unlikely feminist,” perhaps he is unaware his dictum may not be true in other countries, like the Philippines. Ettore Gotti Tedeschi, President of the Institute for the World of Religion; in a recent interview on Vatican Television said that bankers are not the cause of the global economic crisis but ordinary people who do not “believe in the future” and have few or no children. ““Unless we priests have an experience or are strongly convinced of being loved by God, we cannot lead the people to this liberating experience of God’s love.” Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher of the papal household; in one of his talks to the 2nd National Congress of the Clergy held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City on January 25-29, 2010. “To transform our political order—how imperative this task is today!” Nerio Odchimar, bishop of Tandag and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines; in a Pastoral Statement issued on the occasion of the 100th Plenary Assembly of Philippines’ bishops held in Manila in January 2010. SUBSCRIPTION RATES Philippines Metro Manila - 1 year - Php 750.00 Provincial - 1 year - Php 800.00 Asia - 1 year - US$ 45.00 Middle East, Australia, New Zealand - 1 year - US$ 50.00 USA, Europe, Canada - 1 year - US$ 55.00 Africa, Caribbean, Latin America - 1 year - US$ 60.00 (2 years: 15% discount on 2nd year surface mail) Impact is officially approved as general reference material for students in the Secondary and Tertiary levels and a general professional reading material for teachers in all levels on June 8, 1987. Address e-mail subscription inquiries to: subscription@impactmagazine.net IMPACT ISSN 0300-4155 Asian Magazine for Human Transformation Through Education, Social Advocacy and Evangelization P.O. Box 2481, 1099 Manila, Philippines © Copyright 1974 by Social Impact Foundation, Inc. REMITTING ADDRESSES AUSTRALIA: Impact P.O. Box 2034, East Ivanhoe, Victoria 3079 BANGLADESH: 1. Community Center, 5 Sadar Road, Barisal; 2. The Priest-in- Charge, P.O. 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Joseph Louis, 8-Katchery Road, Lahore PHILIPPINES: P.O. Box 2950, 1099 Manila SINGAPORE: Select Books PTE. Ltd., 215 Tanglin Shopping Centre, 2/F 19, Tanglin Road, Singapore 10 TAIWAN: P.O. Box 8-146, Taipei 100 THAILAND: NASAC, 2 Saensuk, Prachasongkroh Road, Bangkok 10. U.S.A.: c/o Mrs. M. Taranella, Walsh Bldg., 1st Floor, Maryknoll, New York 10545 Published monthly by CBCP COMMUNICATIONS DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, INC. PEDRO C. QUITORIO III Edi t o r-in-Ch i e f PINKY B. BARRIENTOS, FSP Ass o c i at e Edi t o r CHARLES AVILA • EULY BELIZAR ROY CIMAGALA • ROY LAGARDE LOPE ROBREDILLO • PAUL MARQUEZ, SSP KRIS BAYOS Sta f f Wr i t e r s LAARNI BERGADO Sal e s & Ad v e rt i s i n g ERNANI RAMOS Cir c u l at i o n LAURENCE JOHN MORALES Lay o u t Ar t i s t Co r r e s p o n d e n t s:India: Haranath Tadepally; Malaysia: Chandra Muzaffar; Pakistan: James D'Mello; Sri Lanka: Harry Haas; Papua New Guinea: Diosnel Centurion Co n s u lta n t s: Mochtar Lubis, Indonesia; McGillicuddy Desmond, Ireland (JPIC) MillHill, London; Sulak Sivaraksa, Thailand, (Communications); S. Santiago, India, (Community Development); Jessie Tellis Nayak, India, (Women); Dr. Paulita V. Baclig, Philippines (Health) Editorial Office: 3/F CBCP Bldg., 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila, Philippines Tel (632) 404-2182 • Telefax (632) 404-1612 Visit our website at www.impactmagazine.net For inquiries, comments, and contributions, contact: inquiries@impactmagazine.net comments@impactmagazine.net contributions@impactmagazine.net 2 IMPACT • February 2010
EDITORIAL Relax! ................................................................... 27 COVER STORY CONTENTS Upholding the Rights of Migrant Workers ... 16 ARTICLES Second National Congress of the Clergy ...... 4 Equity, economy, and environment ................. 9 IMPACT February 2010 / Vol 44 • No 2 Hands across the waters ................................. 11 Thrice a victim of labor migration ............... 20 DEPARTMENTS Quote in the Act ................................................. 2 News Features ................................................... 14 Statements .......................................................... 22 From the Blogs ................................................... 26 From the Inbox .................................................. 28 Book Reviews ..................................................... 29 Entertainment .................................................... 30 Asia Briefing ...................................................... 31 There is no mistaking that the 2nd National Congress of the Clergy was a phenomenal success. The sight of more than five thousand priests robed in white was spectacular—during liturgical celebrations especially at confessions, and on the 1.2-kilometer procession towards Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City. But numbers alone do not a success make—except from the mobilization point of view. And neither is the shedding of tears no matter how profuse, as some comments tended— implying, consciously or otherwise, that priests were really in deep renewal because some of them were seen teary-eyed at one session or two. But measuring up goodness by the number of wet hankies is very tentative and reminiscent of the heydays of the Cursillo when one had to elicit a tearful sentiment to the satisfaction of the “rollesta.” Transformation in human nature—and so with the clergy—is an itinerary. Or, better, perhaps, a gestation. Even Paul of Tarsus was nary an exception. He had to become a recluse in Damascus for some days before the miracle of change thumped the streets. But, of course, human transformation maybe understood better in the macro context of the economy of salvation—which really saying too much. It maybe safe and realistic to say that the effect of the national clergy congress, which was actually a retreat, will be felt after some time, if ever. But definitely, it will neither be quantifiable nor even be verifiable in, say, social surveys. To think otherwise would be cornering enough the power of the Holy Spirit—and, one hastens to add, the gift of Holy Orders. It would suffice for now to tell that a great number of priests gathered, reflected and prayed. In the meantime, the demands of evangelization hung like a Jewish zikaron or even perhaps as a sword of Damocles in the very core of the fast-changing lifestyles of priests. Of late, the laity that is developing to be not as timid as before has demanded of the clergy “to hold high the moral compass that will light our way, and…to provide the prophetic pastoral accompaniment that will strengthen us in fulfilling our role and mission as sons and daughters of God.” The Second Plenary Council of the Philippines already said this in some other words nineteen years ago this year. But then again, even the implementation of plenary councils is also a journey. This issue opens with a very timely article on the Second National Congress of the Clergy written by Pinky Barrientos, FSP. Our staff writer, Fr. Paul Marquez, pens our cover story “Upholding the Rights of Migrant Workers” as the country marks the 24th National Migrants Sunday this month. On the side story, Fr. Edwin Corros notes that most Filipino Migrant Workers do not bother to know about their rights or the migrants’ labor policy, perhaps because they are too engrossed with the more basic need of their own and their family’s survival. Read on. Volume 44 • Number 2 3
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Page 5 and 6: ARTICLES By Pinky Barrientos, FSP
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Page 11 and 12: ARTICLES By Mario Añabieza & Paul
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Page 29 and 30: ook Reviews Joyce Rupp Meaningful M
Page 31: ASIA BRIEFING INDIA Avalanche kills

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