bk December 2002

Vol. 3 No. 3 Geneva, Switzerland December 2002

NEWSLETTER FOR THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN GENEVA

MALIGAYANG PASKO AT MANIGONG BAGONG TAON !

STEERING COMMITTEE LEAD YULETIDE“PASKO SA AMING NAYON” CELEBRATION

PH

OT

OS

BY

: R. R

OM

EA

NEWSFLASH!!

At left, Ambassador Samuel Ramel delivers his Christmas message, while onthe right, part of the huge crowd participate in singing traditional Christmas carols.

AMBASSADOR SAMUEL RAMEL’S CHRISTMASMESSAGE

The Meaning of ChristmasLet me extend the best wishes of the season to you all.Tonight is the Filipino community of Geneva’s celebration of Christ-

mas. Although it is too early by all standards of time to do so, it onlyhighlights our love of doing things early to allow more time for othercelebrations. That is why we are credited with having the longest Christ-mas celebration in the world. There will be other celebrations of theseason tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and the days after that until thefirst week of January next week. We took the meaning of the season liter-ally. In the western calendar a season is of three months duration.

I believe that our passion for a long Christmas celebration is basedon our life-long commitment to the values of Christianity; to what thebible tells us about our faith as Christians.

All of the bible’s teachings, and for that matter, what being a Chris-tian is all about, is summed up in John 3:16 — “For God so loved theworld, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth inHim, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The meaning of Christmas is that we re-commit ourselves to live asChristians. The birth of Jesus Christ is that beginning. His labors andtribulations are our lessons to learn and live by. His life is the Christianway of life — of love and honor and compassion, sacrifice and endur-ance, of reciprocal duties and obligations which equality, the dignity ofman and fraternity impose. The Christian way of life teaches us not to be“of proud ambitious heart, who, not content with fair equality and frater-nal state, would arrogate dominion undeserved over his brethren, andquite dispossess concord and law of nature from the earth.”

Christmas is the celebration of the Christian way of life, which is as itshould always be PEACE ON EARTH, GOODWILL TO MEN.

The Annual Steering Committee Christmas party celebration washeld last 30 November at the Ecole Henry Dunant in Geneva. Led bythe Steering Committee of the Filipino Community, a large crowd ofaround 400 people mostly members of major and significant Filipinoorganizations and groups trooped to the spectacle dubbed as “Pasko saAming Nayon” which included musical performances by Filipino tal-ents in Geneva, skits, and mass singing of traditional Christmas carols.

Steeering Committee Chairman Rody de Guzman welcomed thecrowd with a short but profound Christmas message calling on ourcompatriots to continue helping one another citing Matthew 25:35-36,“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gaveme something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I wasnaked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, Iwas in prison and you visited me”.

Ambassador Samuel Ramel also went theological in his Christmasmessage by asserting that “our passion for a long Christmas celebrationis based on our life-long values of Christianity”. He summed up hismessage by citing John 3:16. (see full message)

The programme ended with Steering Committee members togetherwith Ambassador Edcel Custudio, Consul Frank Cimafranca, Vice-Consul Raly Tejeda and Labor Attaché Yoly Porschwitz joining theCome to Jesus choir on stage in singing traditional Christmas carols.

Afterwards, food which included lechon, kaldereta, pancit,dinuguan, adobong manok and a lot more brought by the differentgroups was served by volunteers in Santa costumes from the FilipinoCatholic Community in Geneva.

MANOLO ABELLA, BABAYLAN-SWITZERLAND, AND MAHARLIKA-

BASEL BAG PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS

Manolo Abella, Director of ILO and Chief of the Migrants Branch of theInternational Labor Office (ILO) won the Pamana ng Pilipino Award, while theFilipino Womens group Babaylan-Switzerland and Maharlika-Basel took theBanaag Award in this years’ Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals andOrganizations Overseas.

This biennial event honors distinguised Filipino individuals and overseasorganizations who, by their exceptional achievements or humanitarian efforts,have given form and substance to Filipino excellence and the time-honored val-ues of pakikipag-kapwa, pagtutulungan, and pagkakaisa. The awards are arecognition of the unsung heroes and heroines of our time- the overseas Filipinos.

The awarding ceremonies and testimonial dinner was held in Manila at theMalacanaang Palace last December 12. (see related article on page 4)

www. buklodkabayan.ch

EDITORIAL

Buklod Kabayan December 20022

GLIMPSESby Gabriel

It was a clear but chilly autumn day in Geneva, the usual morning I wake up

to as the “ber” months set in signaling the onset of cold winter . Wrapped in a

thick jacket and with hands in my pocket, I felt the wind gushing on my cheek

sending cold shivers to my bone. Nginig, I told myself, I’m a Filipino, never

made to withstand this type of weather, and as I tortured myself in such ex-

treme temperature, my mind suddenly drifted and brought me back to the warm

and sunny streets of Manila. The busy Pasilyo, the speeding jeepneys…and then

I saw it! Was it a mirage or was I now delusional because of the cold? I saw right

there parked near Gare Cornavin a queue of Tamarraw FX’s lined on the street,

with a binatilyo in front shouting……Baclaran…Baclaran.. Isa na lang lalakad

na…

Ano pa ang hinihintay ninyo….tara

na. At bibiyahe tayo papuntang

…..BACLARAN

Filipinos are known for their devo-

tion and religiousness. The country be-

ing colonized by Spain for more than 300

years has inherited a rich culture centered

on Catholicsm lavishly manifested in the

numerous celebrations and feasts related to this faith. Baclaran is one of these

places where Filipinos converge every Wednesday and this is its story:

The popular novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help was introduced in

the Philippines in the Redemptorist Church of Baclaran on June 23, 1948. From

an initial mass attendance of 70 people, it has grown in over fifty years to more

than 100,000 devotees every Wednesday of the year, making it the biggest of its

kind in the world.

Then I heard the familiar shout again and as I looked back, there it was -, the

EP EKS. The binatilyo now shouting

QUIAPO…………

Our religiosity is really well demonstrated through our penchant to idolize

religious icons, it is our way of showing devotion to holy dieties. The manner

of paying homage to them is so intense that non-Filipinos at times find it absurd

and illogical.

An example would be the feast of the Black Nazarene, which is the patron

saint of Quiapo, a small but well known part of Manila, held every January 9. It’s

a place where Muslims, Buddhists , and Catholics co-exist peacefully. It is also a

place where amulets, herbal medicines, fortune tellers, and second-hand wares

flourish. Quiapo is a culturally rich place, a must-see for

non-Filipinos.

The Black Nazarene is a blackened icon of Jesus

Christ carrying a cross. The statue is a replica of the origi-

nal wooden icon, which was not black initially. Legend

has it that Spanish missionaries were bringing the icon to

Manila aboard a ship. The ship caught fire, burning the

Nazarene. Despite its condition, the people kept the

charred Nazarene for worship. Since then, its believed

that it has granted miraculous favours to its worshippers

.

The main event of the feast is the procession of the Black Nazarene, start-

ing around 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Its devotees come from all over the coun-

try. The Black Nazarene is paraded in the main streets of Quiapo. Onlookers

would throw in their handkerchiefs or any piece of cloth to the person nearest to

the Black Nazarene. The person would wipe the statue and then give back the

cloth to the owner. The cloth is believed to cure sickness and bring good luck to

the owner.

The ensuing pandemonium signaled that the Black Nazarene was on its way.

People suddenly flooded the street, each vying to get hold of the thick ropes

pulling the carroza carrying the Nazarene. There were about 200 to 300 people

pulling the long ropes and several hundreds more struggling to get a hold of it.

The carroza was swarmed by people trying to climb over to be able to touch the

icon despite the danger of getting injured. The procession ended as the Black

Nazarene re-entered the Quiapo church.

Indeed as the procession comes to an end, so does this brief odyssey. And

it was right there parked outside the church…the familiar FX, but this time with

Geneva written on the signboard.

O ano pang hinihintay ninyo….sakay na’t babalik na tayo.

No Room at the InnAnd she gave birth to her first-born sonAnd wrapped him in bands of cloth,And laid him in a manger,Because there was no room for them at the inn (Luke 2:7)

The Christmas story has been told countless times in countless places.Today, this timeless story situates itself in the context of increasing globaliza-tion characterized by, among others, great advances in the field of communi-cations technology, the integration of the global economic system under aneoliberal ideology as well as the movement of peoples whether as a resultof conflict or dire economic want.

Today, as we recall the Christmas story, let us reflect on the birth of Jesusinto the world as a migrant, in the sense of the rejection his family experi-enced, in the sense of not finding room in the inn. We see this story beingrepeated in the lives of more than 7 million of our compatriots scattered acrossthe globe because of poverty, economic uncertainties and unemployment.

The United Nations has proclaimed December 18 as International Mi-grants Day. Let us be one in solidarity with migrants wherever they may be.Let us take this day as an opportunity to recognise the contributions made bymillions of migrants to the economies and well being of their host and homecountries. Lastly, let us observe this day by disseminating information onhuman rights and fundamental freedoms of migrants, sharing experiences,and undertaking action to ensure the protection of migrants. In doing these,let us make use of the newly ratified Convention on the Rights of MigrantWorkers and their Families, as a tool to urge the enactment of laws andpolicies that protect their fundamental human rights.

We, at Buklod Kabayan wish you and your families a very meaningfulChristmas and a peaceful New year and we leave you with a prayer from theUS Conference of Catholic Bishops for the National Day of Prayer for Immi-grants and Refugees from January 6-12, 2003

Response: We welcome you, Jesus.Dear Jesus, you came into this world as a migrant R.There was no room for your family at the inn R.Along with the angels in heaven R.Along with the shepherds who wandered the hills R.Along with the Magi who traveled from the East R.Your family became refugees fleeing Herod R.In Egypt you were an alien R.In your public life you did not have a place to rest R.Dear Jesus, we see you today, and R.In refugees fleeing war and violence R.In immigrants seeking a better life R.In migrant workers who enrich our land with their labor R.In seafarers and other people on the move R.Let Us Pray: Dear Jesus, you are the refuge of people on the move. We ask you togrant immigrants, refugees, and other migrants peace, protection, and comfort. Helpus to recognize that whenever we welcome the stranger in your name, we welcomeyou. Teach us to recognize your presence in every human being. Bring us togetheras one family, at the banquet table of your love, with you who live and reign with theFather and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Buklod KabayanPublished by the Steering Committeeof the Filipino Community in Geneva

EDITORIAL BOARDMaria Theresa ALMIROL, Rodolfo de GUZMAN,

Marian Victoria VILLANUEVA-HERNANDEZ,Erwin POLICAR, Ricardo ROMEA, Joseph SYCIP

STAFFNep CASTILLO, Dennis DE GUZMAN,

Raymond FLORES

Articles, opinions, letters to the Editors, and othermanuscripts should be in Pilipino or English, typed in MS Word and sent

to : [email protected]

The views and opinions expressed by the authors are solely their ownand do not necessarily reflect the position of the Steering Committee of

the Filipino Community in Geneva

NEWSBRIEFS

Buklod Kabayan December 2002 3

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Bewitched Balik-Aral EntertainsRevelers Despite Heavy Rains

The Balik-Aral Volunteers Association, an or-

ganization of volunteers offering free computer

classes to Filipino migrants in Geneva, held the

Bewitched Halloween Par ty at the Salle

Communale de Chambésy last November 2. The

organizers raised funds for their day-to-day op-

erations and for the purchase of additional equip-

ment by selling tombola tickets, food and drinks

and 500 entrance passes. Masked and costumed

party-goers started arriving at 8:30 pm. Some 300

people attended the event.

During the festivities, four judges chose 10

costumed revelers out of all the dancers on the

floor. Out of the 10, the audience chose the two

who wore the best costumes, “Kamatayan” and

“Beelzebub.” The winners were given gift certifi-

cates from Bahay Kubo and Little Pinoy, respec-

tively.

CIMAFRANCA TOPS APIBOWLING TOURNEY

KAKKAMPI sponsorsOFW forum

KAKKAMPI, together with the OFWNet Foun-

dation Inc.(OFWNet) and the OFW International

Holdings Inc. made a big leap in its efforts to spread

its twin goal of political and socio-economic empow-

erment for Overseas Filipinos Worldwide.

The team of Jaime “Jimmy” Leonida-Area Lead

Promoter(Western Region-Saudi Arabia) and mem-

ber of the Board of Directors of the holding com-

pany and Alan Leonardo T. Exevea-Spokesperson

for the OFWBank Project headed for Geneva, Swit-

zerland on the 8th of November 2002 to present the

vision and missions of the foundation and the hold-

ing company to the OFWs in Geneva.

Prior to their activities, the team paid a courtesy

visit to the Ambassador of the Philippine Mission to

the United Nations Samuel Ramel. Ambassador

Ramel welcomed the team and expressed his sup-

port in all initiatives and activities geared towards the

empowerment of OFWs both political and socio-

economic.

The presentation was held at the Philippine Cul-

tural Center of Geneva and was attended by more

than 100 OFWs eager to hear and see the programs

of the foundation and the holding company. Grac-

ing the occasion was Consul Frank Cimafranca and

Labor Attaché Yolanda Porschwitz of the Geneva

Philippine Mission. Also present on a personal ca-

pacity was former Jeddah Vice Consul Mardomel

“Boy” Melicor who is presently posted at the Philip-

pine Mission in Berne, Switzerland.

One of the major event of the trip was the sign-

ing of the Memorandum of Agreement between

OFWNet Foundation and the Kapatiran para sa

Karapatan at Kaunlaran ng mga Manggagawang

Pilipino sa Ibayong Dagat (KAKKAMPI), formaliz-

ing and forging the cooperation between the two or-

ganizations having the same objective of political

and socio-economic empowerment of OFWs. The

agreement was signed by Mr. Jimmy Leonida for the

Foundation and Ms. Estefa “Fanny” Rabunal for

KAKKAMPI.

Mr. Leonida and Mr. Exevea also went to Berne

and met leaders of empowered women group headed

by Lily Angelical of the Samahang Pilipina and Anny

Misa Hefti of BABAYLAN-Switzerland. The trip also

gave them an opportunity to visit the office of the

Migrants Right International and met the Interna-

tional Coordinator Ms. Genevieve Gencianos who

gave the team a brief on its activities and advocacies

for Migrant Rights in their host countries.

CONSUL-GENERAL ANGIESTA. CATALINA SAYS

AU REVOIR

Steering Committee members pose for a photo duringAngie Sta. Catalina’s farewell dinner last 25 November.

STEERING COMMITTEE

BARES PLANS FOR 2003

During its last meeting last 9 December at the

conference room of the Philippine Mission, the

Steering Committee of the Filipino Community in

Geneva bared out its plans as it reaffirmed its com-

mitment to be of service to the Filipino community.

It vowed to continue its efforts in bringing

together the Filipinos in Geneva through activi-

ties like the June Independence Day celebration,

presentation of an authentic Filipino cultural

shows in coordination with DOT and the annual

year-end Christmas celebration.

The Steering Committee will also focus on

migrant issues and concerns. It has vowed to ac-

tively participate in local programs for integration

of Filipinos in the Geneva community, actively

involve itself in the regularisation campaign for

the undocumented, and conduct training programs

on capacity building in cooperation with DOLE

on work skills enhancement and entrepreneurship.

Kakkampi leaders sign MOA with OFWNet Foundation

Consul Frank Cimafranca of the Philippine

Consulate in Geneva won the first place trophy at

the Association Philippine International’s (API)

Bowling Tournament held last 1 December at the

Meyrin Bowling Centre.

Joel Landicho took second place, while his

father, Jimmy Landicho landed on the 3rd spot.

In the women’s division, Nadia Hagner

took the 1st place cup, followed by Grace Baehler

in 2nd place and Merlinda Subito taking the 3rd

place.

Aside from the trophies given to the champi-

ons and runner-ups, gift items were also handed

out to the top twelve bowlers in the competition.

Free T-shirts were alsodistributed to all partici-

pants of the bowling tourney.

The Steering Committee of the Filipino Com-

munity in Geneva held a despidida dinner for outgo-

ing Consul General Angelina Sta.Catalina last 23

November at the Bahay Kubo restaurant in down-

town Geneva.

Colleagues in both the Philippine Mission and

the Steering Committee took turns in paying tribute

to the dynamism of Angie Sta. Catalina. She was to

them a great diplomat, a caring mother, a peer

counselor and an able community organizer.

Later, she expressed her heartfelt appreciation

and thanked the Steering Committee for their co-

operation in making her “tour of duty” a memora-

ble experience.

“Angie” as she is fondly called by friends in

the community, was one of the initiators and main

pillars of the Steering Committee. Together with

Chairman Rody de Guzman, the Steering Com-

mittee started out as a committee for the Philip-

pine Centennial celebration. Later, due to its suc-

cess it was continued as a loose-coordinating body

for activities of the Philippine community.


(Editor’s note: This was the acceptance speech given by Manolo Abella in behalf of all thePresidential awardees last 12 December at the Ceremonial hall of Malacanaang Palace)

Filipinos are bound to be a global people

Manolo I. Abella

Your Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

Excellencies Secretary Ople, Secretary Romulo,

Director Jose Molano, Ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps, distinguished

guests, fellow awardees

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Madame President, on behalf of my fellow awardees I wish to thank you

most sincerely for the honour you and the high office you represent have con-

ferred on us this evening.

We accept these awards, not only for ourselves, but more importantly for and

in behalf of Filipino migrants all over the world, many of whom are labouring

heroically under the most difficult of conditions, to give their families more secu-

rity, to assure for their sons, daughters, their brothers and their sisters a better

future, and also to obtain a deeper satisfaction from the practice of their profes-

sions where our own domestic condition still impose severe limitations.

We view these awards not only as a recognition of individual merits – impres-

sive as they are for we have amongst us outstanding artists and designers, the

Governor of Hawaii and the Mayor of Daly City, eminent physicians, academics,

community organizers and leaders, even the first Filipino to receive an MBE

from the Queen of England and organizations like Kalayaan which in Europe is

now the best-known advocate of the rights of migrants – but more significantly

we look at these awards as symbols of our Government’s efforts to reach out to

Filipino trans-national communities abroad, as reminders that no matter how

distant we are from this land we still belong to the Filipino nation, if not or no

longer as citizens of the Philippine state.Filipinos are emerging as a global people.

According to the Commission on Filipinos Overseas there are some 7 millionFilipinos living either permanently or temporarily in foreign countries. That

means that there are as many Filipinos abroad today, as there were in the whole

of our country at the beginning of the last century when some 7.6 million

inhabitants were counted by the Census of 1903. Based on yearly flows the

Philippines has already surpassed Mexico as the largest source of migrant

labour in the world.

Filipinos are bound to be a global people. It is clearly emerging as the

path of our demographic evolution. The last century saw the numbers of our

people multiplying ten times from 7.6 to 76 million – experts say thanks to our

success in bringing down the rate of infant mortality and our success in

increasing life expectancy; others would attribute it to the romantic proclivities

of Filipinos and their lust …for life. But these population pressures ineluctably,

predictably, will push more of us to foreign shores. Within the lifetime of many

in this room, or over the next 29 years, we shall be doubling our population to

150 million, pushing further to the limits the capacity of our beautiful isles to

support life with food and water, pushing further to the limits the capacity of

our government to maintain social order as people fight over space and scarce

resources, pushing further to the limits the capacity of our nation-state itself tosurvive as its structures must stand the strains of demands for power-sharingamong our regional and provincial polities.

Of course, migration develops a dynamic of its own. Every immigrant has

an interest in bringing more kith and kin with him or with her. Migration thus

becomes the raison d’etre of more migration, like a giant snow-ball that expands

geometrically with its circumference. That is, until the opposite force of eco-

nomic growth at home reaches sufficient strength to oppose it. Our studies indi-

cate that the migration transition only occurs once a country crosses a threshold

of about $ 5000 per capita. The challenge is immense. Unless we slow down the

growth of our population our economy will have to grow at a rate of 10 percent

a year over the next 23 years if we are to reach that threshold. Unfor-

tunately, the growth fundamentals are still missing. Our population is growing at

twice the rate of growth of that for the Asian region, while our rate of savings

remains half of that of our successful neighbours.

We are bound to be a global people not only because of these “push” factors.

We are a people very much in demand. Over the past 12 months the POEA

reports having approved the overseas employment contracts of over 800,000

migrant workers. Nowhere else is there such a huge organized outflow of labour

migration. The world labour market seems to have a voracious appetite for our

nurses and our care-givers, our seafarers and our oil-drillers, our dancers and our

musicians, and many more. The emergence of the so-called “knowledge

economy”, one based not on physical strength but on mental acuity, is likely

further to increase migration as our society and education system appear to re-

spond quickly to such stimulus in the labour market.

Finally, Filipinos are bound to be a global people because of our cultural

heritage. Our colonial past has imbued us with a Judeo-Christian view of the

world which allows us to transcend our geographic mooring in Asia to find

common values with those in the western hemisphere. A Filipino shares an affin-

ity with Italians or with Latins in South America that can only be explained by

such heritage. September 11 had created a new, inhospitable climate in Europe

against more immigration, but ageing populations and the need to sustain social

security systems will sooner or later force a change of attitudes. When that time

comes I have the hunch that religion, because of problems with social integra-

tion, will be the defining criterion for acceptance and admission.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Prof. Samuel Huntington, that famous author of “The Clash of Civiliza-

tions”, said that “migration is the central issue of our time”. He had of course in

mind the march of globalization and its unsettling impact on the structures of

production and how these would affect the movements of populations. Whether

by default or conscious design our recent history suggests that Filipinos will be

major actors on that stage.

These present important problems, or if you prefer challenges, as well as

opportunities. Let me end by expressing some of these dilemmas raised by mi-

gration:

Firstly, while the Philippines no doubt generates a large share of its national

income from abroad, the loss of human capital might reach beyond the optimal

point where further emigration will not add to but instead only undermine our

own potential for growth and development.

Secondly, some might look at migration for hope to make up for our failures

with agrarian reform, and for the past excesses at political power to correct our

social and economic inequalities. Indeed spending out of remittances could ener-

gize our country-sides just as powerfully as a transfer of lands to our peasantry

could have brought about. But is it possible that, because of its selectivity, migra-

tion might have in fact exacerbated our problems with inequalities? More prob-

lematically, as Prof. Ranis had warned, the inflows of remittances might again

allow us to postpone necessary but painful reforms in governance, in improving

income distribution through direct equity measures, and in facing up to the need

for population control.

Thirdly, there is the important social dimension. Most migration is motivated

by a desire to provide security for the family, and indeed is said to often have such

results. But there are increasing laments that the long absence of mothers or

fathers through migration frequently leads to the break up of the family thus

undermining the strength of the basic unit of our society.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I might have overstepped my role tonight of simply expressing on behalf of the

awardees our heartfelt gratitude for the honour you have given us this evening. If I did,

I beg your forgiveness. But I felt I owe it to you to layout the larger significance of these

awards to our beloved country which we all would dearly love to see among the front

ranks of the world’s most developed economies and societies.

Thank you.


BRINGING FILIPINO

ENTERTAINMENT RIGHT

INTO YOUR HOMES

Singer Rachel Alejandro with Marilen Roxas of Hollywood Video Club duringher recent visit to promote her concert in Fribourg last 7 December.

Phot

o b

y: R

aym

ond

Flo

res

Come visit us atRue de Lausanne 145

1202 GenevaTel. 022 7313865

Couples for Christ is among the most responsive communities we have nowadays. Your presence and support in church activities and functionsespecially with regards to family life and evangelization are noteworthy.

Father Delfin Felipe, Executive Director of the Commission on Marriage and Family Life of the Archdiocese of Manila made this remark andfurther mentioned that “I believe you are living up to your vision of being families in the Holy Spirit renewing the face of the earth. Slowly, butsurely the light to this vision is beaconing thousands of Filipino homes and homes elsewhere around the globe.

Father DP (as he is fondly called) believes in the urgency of bringing back the plan of God in the family so as to translate this into reviving thechurch’s vibrancy.

Couples for Christ provides an effective formation program and a lifegiving support system which he thinks is our strength. To reach a criticalmass in bringing about positive change in the church and society, the fastest route would be through the family. Father DP is exhausting all meanssuch as giving talks, writing articles and at present even reaching to Catholics through cyberspace .

The “Simbahayan sa Manynila” website (http://www.simbahayan.org) is an alternative access to information on church encyclicals and churchupdates on the family. It imparts “familiar wisdom.” The principles, values, works and practices which every individual ought to uphold at variousperiods of his or her life in order to become a mature and responsible family person and an active participant of his or her basic community, thehome.

Father DP supports lay empowerment. You are patrons of the church therefore you have to be steadfast. He quotes Cardinal OConner in sayingthat what we are doing is a good thing.

Its a blessing that bishops and priests like Father DP acknowledge the life and mission of Couples for Christ. We need their support. We lookpositively forward in hurling a Herculean task in renewing the face of the earth.


FiGAG invites you to play golfOnce again the Yuletide season knocks on our doors. It is the time of the year that we want to be with our dear families, close

relatives and friends. Salo-Salo around a big table filled with appetizing meals — sharing moments and giving gifts throughout the longfestive period.

When the festivities are over, we must recover from over-indulgence. And to do this, we must choose the right activity that suitsall weather — a sport that almost certainly requires least physical effort. As a golfer and President of the Filipino Golfers Associationof Geneva (FiGAG), allow me to invite you to learn golf with us. So different and full of challenges, golf once learned is enjoyable,exciting and lots of fun!

FiGAG membership continuously grows every year. We are golfers from allwalks of life, singularly motivated to learn and enjoy golf. If you are a Filipino or aformer citizen, or a spouse of a Filipino, you are most welcome to join us. We offeryou free lessons until you become proficient. On top of that, we assure you ofFilipino camaraderie.

On behalf of FiGAG members, let me greet you Maligayang Pasko atManigong Bagong Taon! I look forward to meeting you at the start of the golfingseason in March next year.

Ramon MaximoFiGAG President, 2002 FiGAG members during a golf time out.

The Church Speaks

CFC is Most Responsive

A Singles for Christ Discovery weekend in Vienna

What is Christmas?Christmas is a time to share. It reminds me of so many things, my family and especially, a time to be a child again. And a time to

share your blessings without counting the cost.Marco FloresFulltime WorkerCFC-Singles for Christ

Manila Chapter

Pour moi, Noel c’est la plus longue fete de l’année qui dure deux semaines ou plus. Noel - c’est aller à l’église, manger avec la famille

et les amis, s’amuser, chanter et recevoir plein de cadeaux interessants.

Robin Finger, 8 ans

It’s the birthday of Jesus Christ, our Lord. It’s a time for celebrating the birthday of Jesus with people that we love (friends, family).

It’s a time to thank Jesus for all the blessings he has given to us.It’s a time for showing our love to our family, friends and especially to

Jesus.It’s a time to give presents, for showing our love, but a hug can also be a good present.

Jean-Jean Schuwey, 12 - year old

Christmas is going to Manila to see Lolo and Lola. Christmas is gifts.

Danille Nicole Muriel, 3 and a half years old

Ang pasko ay malamig, ngunit ito’y umiinit kapag kapiling mo ang iyong mga mahal sa buhay. Bukod sa pag-aalala sa

kapanakan ng ating Panginoon, ito ay panahon din ng pagbubukas loob sa Kanya.

Anonymous, 33 years old


Christmas: What does it mean to you?Rebecca B. Flores

Family reunions. Forgiving and forgetting. Where broken families are made whole and wounds healed. Christmas trees, and tinsels,and glittering lights and lots and lots of gift. Goodies on the tables. A time for rejoicing. Giving and receiving. Toys, and more toys forchildren. Shops and gifts. House to house singing. Greetings and blessings from the very old to the very young. Merrymaking. Frost andsnow. Santa Claus. Christmas carols. The midnight vigil on 24 December, waiting for the coming of the Child Jesus. The Nativity. Godborn in a manger.

More than anything, Christmas is a time to remember that "unto us a Child is born, unto us a SON is given, and the government will beupon His shoulder, and His name will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting FATHER, Prince of peace. In the increaseof His government and peace there will be no end (eternal …the everlasting rule of the Messiah). Isaiah 6:9-7.

What better gift than that which was given unto us by our Father in heaven, the Creator of heaven and earth and Author and Finisher ofour faith? The bible says: "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…" (1John 3:1). For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believeth in Him (Jesus) should not perish, but haveeverlasting life."

The scriptures give us the account of what it is all about. In the book of Matthew, chapter 1 verses 18-23, we read: Now the birth ofJesus Christ was as follows: "After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of theHoly Spirit. . . The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for thatwhich is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus, for He will save His peoplefrom sins.' Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet saying: "Behold, the virginshall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, God with us."

The name Jesus is from the Greek (and Latin), and for the Hebrew "Jeshua", which means the Lord is salvation. Christ is from the Greek,and for the Hebrew Meshiah (Messiah), meaning "anointed one." Messiah will come as a baby who is born, and as a gift from God to be aruler. His perfections are described as follows: Wonderful Counselor. "Wonderful" regularly means supernatural, so the phrase refers toMessiah as the supernatural Counselor (the Holy Spirit) who, at His first coming, brought words of eternal life, and who, when He comesagain, will rule with perfect wisdom. Mighty God is a term applied to Yahweh, and which predicts the ultimate victory of Messiah, over evil.Everlasting Father, literally and as a gift from God to be a ruler. Mighty God is a term applied to Yahweh, and which predicts the ultimatevictory of Messiah, over evil. Everlasting Father, literally Father of Eternity: i.e., Messiah is eternally a Father to his people, guarding,supplying and caring for their needs. Prince of Peace - the One who brings peace in the fullest sense of wholeness, prosperity and tranquility.(Source: Thomas Nelson, Notes from the Ryrie Study Bible, New King James Version, Moody Press, 1985.)

The Lord, literally YHWH "probably pronounced Yahweh", is the most significant name for God in the Old Testament and means: theactive self-existent One, Israel's Redeemer and is especially associated with God's holiness, His hatred of sin, and His gracious provision ofredemption.

The Apostle John, in the most theological of the four gospels, showed the nature and person of Christ and the meaning of faith in Him.We read in the Book of John Chapter 1, verses 1-14: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made. In Him was life,and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it. x x x… And the Word becameflesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the Light. No one comes to the Father except through me." He was God from all eternity andyet joined Himself to sinful humanity, possessing all attributes of deity (God) and the attributes of man (apart from sin) and He will existforever as the God-man in His resurrected body (Acts 1:11; Rev. 5"6). Only Jesus Christ could be an adequate Saviour, for He must behuman in order to be able to suffer and die, and He must be God to make that death effective as a payment for sin. In the Old Testament,glory expressed the splendor of divine manifestation and attested the divine presence. Here it means the visible manifestation of God inChrist.

Millions of church people know Jesus as Saviour…but millions of church people also do not walk in His light. The bible says that peopleperish for lack of vision. Because of ignorance (not knowing the Word of God) many are sick (physically and spiritually) and die. In thewedding at Cana, his mother, Mary, said: whatever he asks you to do, do it. She said WHATEVER! She knew who Jesus is. If Jesus is theWord from the beginning…nothing is impossible for Him. He shed His blood as atonement for our sins once and for all. All we have to dois know who we are in Christ and take our position in Christ and receive (take) our victory.

Yes, we rejoice to remember that the Saviour was born. Those that believe that He is the eternal spirit that will lead us to all truth mustbelieve in spirit and in truth. That the whole meaning of His coming is that He died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. For the Christian,death must mean dying to self (repentance), burial, not to live in sin anymore and resurrection, to live in Christ and for Christ, in the newnessof life by the renewingwal of our minds in Jesus Christ…in the new nature that is offered unto us…. and continuing to live as temples of theHoly Spirit, in holiness and the righteousness of God.

The Saviour is born. Let us remember Him not only on Christmas, but live according to His Word everyday, being led of the Holy Spirit,living in the newness of life in Christ. Let Him shine in you. Let Jesus relate daily in our daily lives. Merry Christmas./ rbf


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bk December 2002

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