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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