(CNS): Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos the Philippines expressed hope for the renewal of a community-centred Church under his country’s new leader, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has not shaken off his family’s notorious legacy.
“I am sure that most of us, if not all, are already aware of the well-funded, well-orchestrated and systematic whitewashing of the Marcos history,” Bishop Alminaza told a virtual forum of more than 100 Philippine—and US—based peace workers on August 13.
“And regrettably, we might have to humbly admit that we, particularly as Church, may have acted too late in response,” the bishop said.
The bishop said, however, “We just have to start creating the circles of forces … that are very much aware of what is happening.”
He told the forum that the synod on synodality preparation in the Philippines is a “very powerful moment,” as the bishops look more closely at their decision-making and leadership response and how they should be responding to the country’s difficulties by listening to those in the peripheries.
Bishop Alminaza said he is looking to a return to “basic ecclesial communities,” in which Church communities of families come together on issues of spirituality and social justice, whether for better formation or to tackle various challenges.
By changing the leader without changing the structure, we have now these political dynasties in our own time
Bishop Toquero
Marcos, a former senator and congressman, took office in June. He is the son of the late dictator, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who amassed billions through questionable means and whose leadership from the late-60s to the mid-80s helped steer the island nation toward its politically and economically unstable status.
Bishop Alminaza recently made headlines for speaking out against a new movie about the Marcos family in the last 72 hours before they fled the Philippines to seek asylum in the United States; the movie portrayed the family in a good light [Sunday Examiner, August 5].
The forum, hosted by the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, the US chapter of the International Coalition of Human Rights in the Philippines and other Christian organisations, was held in preparation for the 50th anniversary of martial law in the Philippines, on September 21.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
Bishop Alminaza, a human rights advocate, grew up in sugar cane country in Negros Occidental province, where there was a famine under the first Marcos. His slide presentation showed a systematic government takeover of the country’s sugar industry.
Investigators found the Marcos administration’s new sugar commission operated all buying and selling of sugar and set a price for planters and millers, who lost an estimated US$1 billion in profits [$7.8 billion], went deep into debt, left close to 200,000 people jobless and shredded Negros Island’s economy. The government sold sugar at low prices to Marcos associates, who then sold it back at significantly higher prices.
I am sure that most of us, if not all, are already aware of the well-funded, well-orchestrated and systematic whitewashing of the Marcos history,
Bishop Alminaza
Following the People Power revolution that deposed Marcos in 1986, further investigations found that the sugar commission was just one of multiple fronts to carry out graft across a country rich in resources such as coconuts, bananas, rice and other farmed products.
Retired Methodist Bishop Solito Toquero told forum participants about what the country was like under the first Marcos regime.
Bishop Toquero spoke of search and seizure orders against his close associates and various clergy, including Catholic priests, who were detained and tortured. He recalled the use of liturgy, music and scripture passages to protest what was happening, and that various groups mobilised student and farmer protests.
The bishop pointed to centuries-old “feudalism, fascism and neocolonial imperialism” that brought the Philippines to its current state. He said the country would have a difficult road ahead under the new president, but added he still had hope.
“By changing the leader without changing the structure, we have now these political dynasties in our own time,” said Bishop Toquero. “We continue to minister to people, we continue to use the Bible in our churches, but there is still repression in the various regimes that followed. We need to be vigilant in our work as Church people so the truth will prevail and will finally help us transform the Philippines as the Pearl of the Orient Seas once again.”
