The Morong 43-Filipino Health Workers Become an International Concern

In my previous blog, the statement of KASAMMAKO has decried the Philippine security forces for illegally arrested, detained and tortured the 43 health workers who were peacefully assembled in a farmhouse attending a seminar on health procedures in times of calamity. Today, in the Philippines daily inquirer webpage, inquirer.net mentioned the following and quoted here below:

18 February 2010.
Inquirer.net
Int’l outrage growing over ‘Morong 43’ case
By Alcuin Papa
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:58:00 02/18/2010

Filed Under: Human Rights, Torture, Military, Healthcare Providers, insurgency
MANILA, Philippines—International outrage over the arrest, detention and torture of the “Morong 43” is growing.

A Methodist delegation, led by Rev. Sandra Richards, said her congregation in the United States had expressed concern over the detention of the 43 health workers who were arrested on Feb. 6 in Morong, Rizal, on suspicion that they were communist rebels.

“The issue is already of international concern. We received an e-mail today from our General Board of Church and Society and they are expressing concern,” said Richards, who went to Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal to visit the detainees on Tuesday.
Richards also said that on Feb. 12, the World Council of Churches issued a statement requesting the immediate release of the 43 detainees. The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 churches seeking unity in the Christian service.
Two presidential candidates in the May elections have also expressed concern over the situation of the detainees.

Villar, Perlas“I condemn any violation or abuse of human rights,” Sen. Manuel Villar, standard-bearer of the Nacionalista Party, said in a statement.
Villar said “the manner and circumstances of the arrest and detention already raised a lot of questions. Thus, the authorities should ensure that the legal procedures will be followed.”

Nicanor Perlas, an independent presidential candidate, called on the military to release the health workers, saying the “practice of medicine should be given to all regardless of their political ideologies.”

“The members of the medical profession should not be subjected to any harm or danger in the performance of their official functions as embodied in the Geneva Convention,” Perlas said in a statement.

He said the arrest of the Morong 43 while they were conducting health training showed the need to professionalize the police and the military.
“And, if the rights of these workers were, in any way, violated, those responsible should be held accountable,” Perlas said.

Richards, who was accompanied by Rev. David Farley and Rev. Irwin Lee McKlenshaw, tried to visit the Morong 43 on Tuesday.

They are members of the United Methodist Church California-Pacific conference. The congregation’s General Board of Church and Society is one of four international programs of the church.

Lay minister a detainee
One of the detainees, Dr. Alex Montes, is a lay leader of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), a Christian denomination formed by the merger of various congregations, including the Methodists.

“He is a well-respected surgeon and had given up his material well-being to serve the poor. We don’t think acts of mercy are criminal acts,” Richards said.

US lawmakersRichards said her group would bring the issue to US legislators belonging to the Democratic Party, including Sen. Barbara Boxer and Rep. Loretta Sanchez, both of California, and Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii.

Boxer chaired hearings in the US Senate in 2007 on extrajudicial killings in the Philippines, while Sanchez is a member of the House committee on armed services and homeland security and the joint economic committee in the US Congress.Inouye championed a bill giving aid to Filipino World War II veterans and their families.

Protest at RP consulates
Kuunsela Hilo, vice chair of Bayan USA, who was part of Richards’ party, said Filipinos and non-Filipinos had been holding protest actions at Philippine consular offices in the United States, including Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York, asking for the release of the Morong 43.

“It’s definitely an international issue especially with so many Filipino health care workers abroad,” Hilo told the Inquirer.

She said national labor unions in the United States like the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations and the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance had sent letters to US and Philippine officials “condemning the ongoing treatment, detention and torture of the 43 health workers.”Richards’ party met with Commission on Human Rights Chair Leila de Lima on Tuesday morning at her office in Quezon City.

De Lima, for her part, said the CHR would exhaust all remedies to secure the release of the Morong 43. If all else fails, the CHR can also bring the issue to the United Nations, she said.

Left out in the heat
Richards lamented the hardships the families of the detainees were undergoing just to see their loved ones.

“These are young men and women, children and grandparents waiting to see their loved ones. One poor family had come from very far. They had not seen their daughter. They were left out in the heat all day waiting. We were moved by the plight of the parents and families of the detainees,” she said.

Based on stories told to them by the families, Richards said some of the detainees “fear the coming of the night” because they would be interrogated. The detainees also suffered psychological torture.

De Lima said that based on the report of Richards’ party, the families were waiting on Tuesday to see the detainees since morning. But it was only close to 4 p.m. that they were able to spend just five minutes with the detainees. With reports from DJ Yap and Jocelyn R. Uy

Forty Three Health Workers Illegally Arrested, Detained and Tortured

08 February 2010

H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President of the Republic of the Philippines
Malacañang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila Philippines

Gen. Avelino Razon, Ret. PNP
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)

Norberto Gonzales
Secretary, Department of National Defense

Atty. Agnes Devanadera
Secretary, Department of Justice

Atty. Leila De Lima
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights

Dear President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Sirs and Mesdames:

We, leaders and members of the Katipunan ng mga Samahan ng Migranteng Manggagawa sa Korea (KASAMMAKO) or the Alliance of Organizations of Filipino Migrant Workers in Korea vehemently condemn the illegal arrest of 43 health workers in Morong, Rizal on February 6, 2010, conducted by the joint elements of the 202nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army (202nd IBPA), and Rizal Philippine National Police (PNP) headed by Colonel Aurelio Baladad, commander of the 202nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army based in Tanay, Rizal and Police Superintendent Marion Balonglong of the Rizal PNP.

The actions of the military and police personnel constitute violation of domicile; destruction of property; divestment of property; illegal search and seizure illegal arrest; illegal detention; threat, harassment and intimidation, and fear for safety victims.

These actions are brutish and with no regard for the rights and civil liberties of individual persons as guaranteed in Philippine Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As informed and organized Filipino migrant workers, we are angered by the sheer abuse of power and discretion by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Mr. Norberto Gonzales, the military generals and their commanding officers involved in this crafty scheme of things. We have no other way to describe this ongoing situation in the Philippines but barbarity, worse than martial law. The narrative of witnesses of the illegal arrest and other violations of human rights that took place on Saturday February 6 in residential compound of Dr. Melecia Velmonte in Bgy. Maybangcal, Morong, Rizal cannot belie our description of the country right now.

The initial reports gathered by Karapatan, at 6:15 am on February 6, 2010, around 300 heavily armed elements of the military and police forced their way into the farm of Dr. Melecia Velmonte in Bgy. Maybangcal, Morong, Rizal. At gunpoint, the military forced the caretaker to open the gates. Inside, the soldiers fanned out to different directions. They also kicked the main door to get into the building. When Dr. Velmonte and her son, Bob demanded for a search warrant, they were merely brushed aside by the military.

All medical practitioners and health workers, were ordered to line up at the garage, frisked, and handcuffed. The victims were also questioned and photographed by the military, while another took a video recording of the interrogation. The male victims were then blindfolded with old shirts brought in by the soldiers and secured with packaging tape. All of the personal belongings of the victims were also taken by the military.

When the participants were already handcuffed, it was only then that Police Superintendent Marion P. Balonglong showed Bob a search warrant for a certain Mario Condes of Bgy. Maybangcal, Morong, Rizal, charged with illegal possession of firearms. The search warrant dated February 5, 2010 and issued by Judge Cesar A. Mangrobang of Branch 22 of the Imus, Cavite Regional Trial Court, did not indicate the exact address of the Velmonte compound.

Bob asserted that the warrant did not specify their address, and that Mario Condes, who is subject of the warrant, is not even the owner of the house, but he was ignored by the authorities.

Outside the compound, were eight (8) vehicles. Along with the four (4) 6 x 6 military trucks were two (2) Armored Personnel Carriers (APC), a KIA Pride car, and an ambulance. Some of the vehicles had no plate numbers while the rest of the license plates were either covered, or smeared with mud.

The health workers were forced into the military trucks and were brought to Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, headquarters of the 202nd Infantry Brigade of Philippine Army. The military declared that the victims were members of the New People’s Army because of the explosives allegedly found inside the compound. However, according to witnesses, the military conducted the search of the compound’s premises only after all of the victims, as well as the residents, were already outside the buildings. Witnesses also said that the military have brought in with them plastic bags with the GMA Kapuso logo printed on it.

Allegedly found were C4 explosives, a pistol with seven bullets, 3 grenades (one allegedly found under a pillow); beside the grenade were some improvised landmines. However, Bob said that they were not issued a receipt of the inventory of the said firearms and explosives. The illegal search of the Velmonte compound ended at past 9:00 in the morning of Saturday, February 6, 2010. The military and police arresting team were led by Col. Aurelio Baladad and Police Superintendent Marion Balonglong.

In the afternoon of the same day, Karapatan Deputy Secretary General Roneo Clamor, husband of Dr. Merry Mia, Olive Bernardo, Karapatan Services Head, along with Karapatan counsel, Atty. Ephraim Cortez, Dr. Geneve Rivera and Dr. Edelina De La Paz, chairperson of Health Action for Human Rights (HAHR), went to Camp Capinpin to inquire about the victims. They were not allowed to enter the camp premises. As of this writing, the military has not allowed any of the relatives of the victims to see anyone of them.

We express our support and solidarity to the following doctors, health workers and caretakers in their fight for justice:

Illegally arrested and illegally detained (partial list):
• Dr. Mary Mia, Health Education and Training Services coordinator for Council for Health and Development (CHD)
• Dr. Alexis Montes
• Gary Liberal, Registered Nurse (Jose Reyes Medical Memorial Center)
• Teresa Quinawayan, Midwife
• Lydia Ubera, health worker
• Reynaldo Makabenta, health worker
• Delia Ocasla, health worker
• Jane Balleta, health worker
• Janice Javier, health worker
• Franco Remoroso, health worker
• Ailene Monasteryo, health worker
• Pearl Irene Martinez, health worker
• Ellen Carandang, health worker
• Dany Panero, health worker
• Rayom Among, health worker
• Emily Marquez, health worker

Victims of threat, harassment and intimidation and violation of domicile:
• Dr. Melecia Velmonte
• Bob Velmonte
• Bernardo Landag
• Two caretakers

We demand that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the respective government agencies do the following urgent actions:

1. The immediate release of the health workers who are illegally arrested and illegally detained at Camp Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal.

2. The government to ensure the safety of the victims and that they are not harmed; their belongings be returned immediately to them.

3. The immediate formation of an independent fact-finding and investigation team composed of representatives from human rights groups, the Church, local government, and the Commission on Human Rights that will look into raid and illegal arrest of the health workers conducting health skills training in Morong, Rizal.

4. The military to stop the labeling and targeting of human rights defenders as “members of front organizations of the communists” and “enemies of the state.”

5. The Philippine Government to be reminded that it is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that it is also a party to all the major Human Rights instruments, thus it is bound to observe all of these instruments’ provisions.


Very truly yours,

Mr. Pol Par
Chairperson
KASAMMAKO
Seoul, South Korea
09 February 2010

The Passing Away of Presidents: Corazon Aquino and Kim Dae-Jung

This month of August two distinguished political leaders in Asia passed away. First is Corazon Aquino, former president of the Republic of the Philippines and second is the former president of South Korea Kim Dae-Jung. I have quoted the news clip from the internet portal of Korea Herald about the recent demise of Kim Dae-Jung:

Koreans mourned the death of Kim Dae-jung, the man credited with laying the foundations of democracy, freedom and peace on the peninsula. National leaders spoke out to honor the former president and Nobel laureate and expressed condolences for his family.

Mourning throngs streamed into a hospital in Seoul where he died at 1:43 p.m.

"We lost a great political leader today. His accomplishments and aspirations to achieve democratization and inter-Korean reconciliation will long be remembered by the people," President Lee Myung-bak said in a statement.

"I hope that President Kim's lifelong wishes will eventually be realized through reconciliation between the South and North and social integration."

His death brought a truce in Korea's perennially feuding politics. All parties and civic groups put their differences aside in solemnly pledging to carry on his lofty wish of peace on the divided peninsula.

"We are not ready to bid farewell to you, who never yielded to dictators, tided the nation over the economic meltdown, made us aware that two Koreas, divided by hostility for half a century, belong to one nation," the opposition Democratic Party said.

The ruling Grand National Party praised his life devoted to democracy, human rights and the development of relations between South and North Korea.

News of his death sent a wave of sadness throughout the country.

In South Jeolla Province, his hometown, the flags were lowered to half-mast at government offices and public facilities. People with tears in theirs had their gaze fixed on TV screens as his death was reported.

Flowers, ribbons and letters of condolence were laid on makeshift altars set up by the provincial government and the Democratic Party. Swelling crowds gathered in pubic squares holding candles.

Some celebratory events and entertainment shows were canceled or scaled down nationwide.

The government even considered delaying the launch of the nation's first space rocket, but decided to go ahead with it.

Internet sites were flooded with messages of mourning. Some portal services carried icons of chrysanthemums and black ribbons.

"I will never forget you and what you did for our country until my death," an anonymous person wrote on Daum's bulletin board.

Kim's life-long rival Kim Young-sam said that "a great man passed away." For more than three decades, the two democratic leaders united in fighting the military dictatorship but competed bitterly with each other to grab power.

Former strongman Chun Doo-hwan, under whose rule Kim was sentenced to death for resistance against the junta, expressed deep sadness.

"He led the decades of turbulent political life. I wish he may now rest in the heaven."

Last week, the nation witnessed a reconciliation of historical moment when the two former presidents visited the hospital.

Religious leaders of all faiths wished the repose of his soul. Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk hailed him as man of great faith who forgave and embraced all those who inflicted tremendous sufferings on him, including imprisonment, assassination attempts and a death penalty. Kim was a Catholic.

Major business associations remembered him as a leader who guided the nation through the financial crisis in late 1990s and laid the groundwork for the nation to emerges as an information technology powerhouse.

(jjhwang@heraldm.com)
By Hwang Jang-jin

Extraction of more consular fees not justified

We oppose the extraction of more consular fees from OFWs in Europe

The Unity of Filipino Migrant Workers Associations in Korea or KASAMMAKO expresses its solidarity with the migrant workers in the Eurozone who are seeking an investigation over new service rates imposed by the Department of Foreign Affairs in nine Philippine embassies and three consulates general across Europe.

KASAMMAKO noted in the websites of Philippine embassies in Greece, Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria and Vatican City that they have increased the costs of a new passport from 40 to 50 Euro. The replacement of lost passport costs from 90 to 140 Euro applying the minimum 25 percent increase on it and on other consular documents effective January 2, 2009 for the main reason of difference in Euro to US Dollar conversion rate.

This increase in passport and other consular service fees is the least expected by migrant workers in the midst of severe global economic crisis. The Department of Foreign Affairs continues to levy unjust increases in rates and add unnecessary fees without considering its economic implications and impact on the OFWs. Thousands of migrant workers are losing their jobs and others are forced to be repatriated to the Philippines and extracting 10 to 40 Euro from the depleted pockets of distressed OFWs is a betrayal of hope for a better life and nationality of migrant workers.
Migrante International has received information that migrant workers, organizations, groups and Filipino communities in those countries were not consulted regarding the reasons and process of every fee adjustment the DFA approved. In this regard, Representatives Satur Ocampo, Luzviminda Ilagan, Teodoro Casino, Rafael Mariano and Liza Maza introduced House Resolution 949, “directing committees on overseas workers affairs and foreign affairs” to conduct an inquiry into the “unreasonably huge increase of consular service fees”.

KASAMMAKO supports the statement of the house representatives stressing that “the hike in consular service fees is unjustified as it only increased the financial burden faced by migrant Filipinos and their families in these times of severe economic crisis.” The resolution further seeks the government to “explain and democratize” the process of adjusting old service rates and imposing new ones. It is not a farfetched possibility that the increase in fees on consular services in Philippine Embassies and Consulates in Europe will also be implemented in the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region especially in South Korea, where more than 40,000 OFWs live and work.

It is lamentable that instead of supporting Filipino workers abroad in these times of crisis and uncertainty, the government is determined to collect more fees from suffering OFWs. This simply shows that the Arroyo government’s response to the worsening crisis is intensified labor export policy program rather than restructuring and freeing of the Philippine economy from control of monopoly and transnational capitalists and from the dictates of World Bank/IMF, and eradicating graft and corruption.

KASAMMAKO urges the Arroyo government to stop this monetary extraction from OFWs. The OFWs that are directly affected by the worldwide economic crisis in the form of retrenchment without just compensation and due process, wage depreciation, an escalating number of unjust policies and bilateral agreements and increasing human rights violations should be effectively addressed by Philippine Embassies and Consular offices around the world.+

Palliatives not enough for terminated migrant workers

There is a cloud of doubt to the responses of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul to retrenched OFWs

KASAMMAKO the Unity of Filipino Migrant Workers Associations in Korea has cast a cloud of doubt on the appropriateness and effectiveness of the responses of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul to the situation of OFWs in a ‘shaky economic climate’ in South Korea. The greater concerns for protection of labour and human rights of migrant workers have been sidelined because of the Embassy’s concentration in palliatives such as conducting seminars on money management, bookkeeping, entrepreneurship and feasibility studies. These palliatives used are based on ineffective social welfare practices and shallow analysis of the Philippine society that do not match the actual situation of migrant workers especially those in South Korea.

One of the appropriate responses for migrant workers who are retrenched and facing retrenchment is the ultimate use of legal injunction and diplomatic processes for OFWs to get the maximum compensation and benefits for the loss of their jobs. It is within the legal boundaries to ask for a full year payment of migrant workers’ salaries, as their contract would assume in the event they are retrenched prior to completion of contract as in cases of some migrant workers in Taiwan. This, the Philippine Labour Office (POLO) hesitates to do, KASAMMAKO disclosed.

Furthermore, KASAMMAKO asserts that there has been inadequate provision of shelter for retrenched and distressed migrant workers. Overseas Filipino Workers need a place where they can be housed until they land new jobs. The justification POLO would say for not providing adequate shelter for retrenched and distressed OFWs is the lack of funds, which many migrant workers would not easily believe. For there were many occasions that OWWA used the OFWs funds for purposes that do not serve their interests and welfare but for the business ventures of those in government.

KASAMMAKO also observed that the reintegration program for OFWs and their families introduced by the composite team from National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO), DOLE, OWWA, POEA and TESDA visiting Seoul this month mainly focused among others, on Micro Enterprise Development where OFWs can apply for 50,000 pesos loan from TESDA at 5% interest rate. Minister Abraham Estavillo commented after the presentation of the reintegration program, that the program is a good idea but does not take into consideration the national and global economic situation, especially in terms of market viability. He further said that talking about OFWs engaging in business is good, but who will buy or patronize their products is the question that must be answered. KASAMMAKO pinned that the Arroyo government is not willing to overhaul the national economy to provide a better life for the majority of the Filipino people. The government continues to assert its labour export policy even if countries of destination are no longer hiring OFWs.

Moreover, KASAMMAKO analyzes that the contraction of the South Korean economy will result in job loss of more than 200,000 is alarming because there are more than 8,000,000 Korean irregular workers. In this situation, the South Korean government will first serve the interest of their labourers and the need for migrant workers will eventually diminish. This is the reason why OFWs under the Employment Permit System are retrenched and the undocumented ones are arrested and deported. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul has been indifferent to the plight of estimated 20,000 undocumented OFWs and no substantial social services were given to them aside from the token issuance of travel documents for them to be allowed passage back to the Philippines.

The number of OFWs retrenched as reported by the Philippine Embassy is only 12 cases. Although there is a disclaimer clause in its press statement, ‘several more may have gone unreported’, KASAMMAKO insists that this does not free the Philippine Embassy from the responsibility of establishing the actual number of OFWs retrenched by their employers. Several retrenched OFWs in Korea have opted not to seek the assistance of the Philippine Embassy especially of the POLO and managed their own situation on the thought that they will not be fully assisted anyway. The responsibility is not just establishing the actual number but to assist distressed and retrenched OFWs from the very beginning up to the time when they get a new job in South Korea. +

New Year, Birthdays, Vacationing

It seems like five days ago.
Gloria and I flew to Cebu for a five week long most awaited vacation last December 29, 2008. After that more than five hours flying from Incheon airport to Mactan, we finally arrived there past midnight. We were glad that Mike and Rose Camba picked us up from the airport and allowed us to stay at the VCMC guest room.

Because year 2008 was almost over, we decided to buy a ticket for a boat trip to Maasin Leyte on the evening of the 30th and we finally reached Maasin at dawn of the December 31st. After few hours of rest at home in Laboon, it was New Year's Eve. The worship service was at 10:00 P.M. and was followed by pot luck meal and the congregation met the new year 2009 inside the church. It feels good to be home and to be reunited with family members and friends in Laboon. The taste of bread, biko and hot chocholate was just delightful. Conversations were convivial and the people around were all happy to see us joining them in meeting another year in their lives.

Four days after we planned to go back to cebu to prepare for the resplendent nurture program for the korean teenagers from Singal Church. However due to a storm in northern Samar, our trip was postponed two days after. Eventually we reached Cebu and met the staff of Cendet and West Visayas Jurisdiction and discussed with them the program. We all agreed on the details and were all willing to go another mile in open mindedness just to make the program meaningful for the children. The Korean kids arrived on January 9th and we met them at Mactan Airport and brought them to Cendet where they were billeted for a month.

On January 14th we left Cebu for Iloilo. We flew with a smaller airplane and it feels a bit scary to ride in that 80 seater airplane, although the weather was generally good. We reached Iloilo airport in Sta. Barbara toward noontime and we decided to proceed to Mrs.Carmen Rio's pension house. Gloria and me were very eager to see Tita Carmen because we lost touch with her for two years or more. She looks thinner and a bit weak and she's already 76 years old?? The same day we attended the funeral service of Auntie Erlinda Hernando, half sister of my father. The worship service was held in a nearby Foursquare Church and Pastor June Frances Gange preached. My mother was there in the church and she looks good but a wee bit weak. Instead of going to the Tanza Cemetery for the internment we accompanied mother home in San Juan.

The house in San Juan has further deteriorated since the last Typhoon Frank that turned over the roof. It was in early evening the same day when sisters, brothers, nephews and nieces gather for dinner at San Juan but we left them for a dinner appointment with Tita Carmen, Pastor June Fances and Manay Vicky Gacutan. We enjoyed our stay in Iloilo and on Sunday January 18 I preached in the morning service at UCCP Iloilo City. It was a time to meet old friends and relatives in Iloilo. We had lunch with Tita Carmen and Many Vicky, sumptuous pinoy delicacies. We stayed in Iloilo for five days and went back to Cebu on the 19th and continue to join the Korean kids in their various learning experiences.

On the 22nd I had an apppointment with a doctor at the VCMC for the removal of a small cyst on my forehead. Few days after we left Cebu for Ormoc City. We took a day boat trip and arrived in Ormoc almost four o'clock. Tito Gloria's younger brother picked us up from the pier. We stayed there overnight and the following day we journeyed to Maasin. It was about four-hour bus travel from Ormoc to Maasin. The bus travel gave us the chance to see the sceneries in Leyte Island and refamiliarized the towns and villages we passed by.

On the 26th of January we offered lunch to friends as part of the extended birthday celebration given to me. It is was interesting to note that on the 28th another birthday co-celebration with Bishop Ben Camino took place where the Korean kids joined in the dinner. We flew to Manila on the 30th of January and when we arrived at Shalom Center we met Ate Winnie Barloso and greeted her. We had the chance to visit the project of UCCP tondo in the Smokey Mountain-2. We also visited Bishop Bolocon and Bishop Jessie Suarez in Cubao and saw the Durebang-Sinag Kababaihan and the Youth Development Center in Filinvest, Quezon City.

Time flies so fast and were back to Seoul since February 2nd and once again adjust to the cold weather and the warm and balmy philippines is once again a memory that can come to reality only on vacation time and probably retirement. Thanks be to God for God's mercies and love in our travel to the Philippines.

Wonderful Counselor

"Wonderful Counselor" is one of the names given to the king to be of Israel as prophesied by Isaiah. This is of inseparable from other names like "Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace" (Isa. 9:6). It is quite an approriate name or characterization of the one who will govern a nation given the socio-historical context of the 8th century Israel. I have chosen for our Christmas meditation the title "Wonderful Counselor" for it captures what God's incarnation in Christ intends for humanity.

Guidance counselors or whatever kind of counselors we have in our community and society have special responsibilities as trained professionals. But one can be just an ordinary person who has skills in counseling and employ them to help others. There are special characterisitics in counseling that other people may not have due to their professional training. Let me reflect on these characteristics.

First, a counselor is one who is able to listen. Listening for a coounselor is not just hearing words and sentences. It is listening to the words and the meaning that flows out of a person's heart and mind. This includes verbal and non-verbal expressions or actions a person utters and shows which allow interpretion. More importantly listening has to do with understanding the deepest longing and hopes of what the person wants to become.

In the Gospel of Luke the angels announced to the shepherds the birth of Jesus saying "be not afraid, for behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy which will be to all the people; to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Lk 2:11). The birth,life and ministry of Jesus shows us that he is a wonderful counselor because he lived like anyone of us in this world. Remember those moments he had with his disciples when he intently interacted with them and listened carefully to their hopes, aspirations as well as to their struggles and inner contradictions. He is even now our wonderful counselor who is alive in us and we can communicate with God through him.

Second, a counselor is able to intervene in our thoughts and behavior. Through psychotherapy a person may get healed through the intervention of the counselor. The counselor guides a client in overcoming oppressive thoughts or other distrubances that render the person unproductive. It is so with God in Jesus Christ, through the consistent devotion and reflection of God's word, we can be guided in our thoughts and actions. Individuals have their own perceptions of reality and at times these brings despair or hopelessness. God's intervention in our lives is through the Spirit of Christ that convinces us that life is larger than our jobs, our health, our families.

Third, the counselor exercises leadership as in the experience of one who is being led to a pasture--to peace and harmony. This leadership function enables a client to change behavior that will improve his or her relations with himself/herself and with other people. There are many great leaders in our world today who have good intentions to make life worthwhile, but many of them have been lost in fame, wealth and greed. They have lost touch with the very reasons of their leadership. God in Christ is our wonderful counselor because he is able to lead us to where we wanted to be and to what we may want to become.

Merry Christmas