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Based on a common faith in Jesus Christ, Its mission is to bring about upliftment of the BBC is a partnership of and the quality of life of the Filipino through business leaders, both on the national the promotion of social justice and and local levels, collaborating towards through the increase of the nation’s total total human development; in wealth – that is equitably distributed in cooperation with various sectors of total rejection of poverty in this country. Philippine society. Towards the achievement of these goals, BBC considers widespread poverty and BBC will catalyze the participation of social injustice in our country today a various sectors of society – rich, poor, contradiction to the Christian powerful and powerless – in solidarity for understanding of the human person. total human development.

QUO VADIS, BBC?

To fully understand what the Bishops- and Annual Meeting in July 2016 is the venue when Businessmen’s Conference for Human Development and where this renaissance or re-birth is hoped to (BBC) is, one must look back to the beginning in formally commence or conclude. 1971 when 35 Bishops and 35 businessmen The concerns of the grassroots, the rekindling of the gathered in a Conference in Baguio City to seek ways rationale of the very existence of the BBC and the in which the Church and Business could presence of the Bishops-Businessmen, civil society cooperatively seek solutions to the problems and and representatives of the new administration are development in the Philippines. some elements that will converge during our Thus was born BBC, in a time of heightened passion General Assembly & Annual Meeting. and rhetoric, by men of the cloth and men and The genuine involvement of the business sector in women of capital, who thought both Church and social issues both at the national and local levels; Business should play a role in transforming establishment/strengthening of BBC chapters in Philippine society. identified where Bishops deem it necessary The analysis, prognosis that led to the creation of to replicate in their areas or craft their own BBC is contained in its “Consensus Statement”. programs and advocacies will serve as crucial opportunities for BBC to re-invigorate itself to Some members ask though “Is BBC still relevant continue to become a stronger voice. today? Has it continued to contribute to the vision of total human development of Filipinos? Has this We believe the crucial role of the partnership unique partnership between bishops and between two of the most influential sectors – businessmen been reciprocally fruitful? Church and Business – must be continuously rekindled. To regenerate this union, the BBC continually revisits its roots – for only in looking back can it Where there is Social Injustice, BBC will be there. surely move forward. This 40th General Assembly “Dawning has just begun”.

+ Broderick S. Pabillo, D.D. Christian S. Monsod National Co-Chairman National Co-Chairman 1

The BBC General Assembly at its 39th General Assembly & Annual Meeting held last July 13, 2015 at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center elected its National Executive Committee for the Year 2015-2016: BISHOPS SECTOR Bishop Jose Colin M. Bagaforo, D.D. - Auxiliary Bishop of Cotabato Bishop Arturo M. Bastes, SVD, D.D. - Bishop of Sorsogon Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ, D.D. - Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro Bishop Roberto C. Mallari, D.D. - Bishop of San Jose, Nueva Ecija Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo, D.D. - Auxiliary Bishop of Manila Bishop Ruperto C. Santos, D.D. - Bishop of Balanga Bishop Antonio R. Tobias, D.D. - Bishop of Novalices Bishop Crispin B. Varquez, D.D. - Bishop of Borongan

BUSINESS SECTOR Roberto W. Ansaldo - President, Rocky Mountain Arabica Coffee Meneleo J. Carlos, Jr. - President, RESINS, Inc. Jose S. Concepcion, Jr. - Chairman, RFM Corporation Alejandro Teves Escano - Founding Chairman, TEVSAPHIL, PCAFI, PSDMN Victoria P. Garchitorena - Consultant, Ayala Corporation Luvinia M. Lapid - Vice-President, VEMAVAL Corporation Christian S. Monsod - Consultant, MERALCO Mediatrix V. Villanueva - Vice-President, Shelmed Cottage Treasures

Subsequently, at its organizational meeting held August 13, 2015, the EXCOM unanimously elected its new officers continuing its pursuit of Inclusive Growth through Human Development and Social Justice: NATIONAL CO-CHAIRMEN Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo, D.D. and Christian S. Monsod NATIONAL CO-VICE-CHAIRMEN Bishop Roberto C. Mallari, D.D. and Meneleo J. Carlos, Jr.

Mr. Meneleo Carlos, Jr. was appointed Treasurer with Luvinia Lapid as Assistant Treasurer.

Mary Belle Beluan was re-appointed Executive Director.

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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE - CARDINAL SIN TRUST FUND FOR BUSINESS DISCIPLESHIP Meneleo J. Carlos, Jr. ; Luvinia Lapid ; Mediatrix Villanueva

APPOINTMENT OF CLUSTER/COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRMEN Each Cluster /Committee is co-chaired by a bishop and a business sector member of the EXCOM:

1. MEMBERSHIP Bishop Broderick Pabillo Vicky Garchitorena Alejandro Escano 2. PROGRAM Bishop Antonio Tobias Vinchu Lapid 3. WAYS & MEANS Vicky Garchitorena Alejandro Escano 4. CLUSTER ON LABOR & EMPLOYMENT Bishop Antonio Tobias Meneleo Carlos, Jr. Antonio Asper (representing Labor) 5. BBC CHAPTER FORMATION Bishop Roberto Mallari Meneleo Carlos, Jr. Vicky Garchitorena 6. SOCIAL JUSTICE & AGRARIAN REFORM Bishop Broderick Pabillo Christian Monsod 7. PASTORAL MANAGEMENT Bishop Ruperto Santos Mediatrix Villanueva 8. INCLUSIVE GROWTH Bishop Broderick Pabillo Roberto Ansaldo 9. UGNAYAN NG MGA BARANGAY AT Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle SIMBAHAN Bishop Antonio Tobias Victoria Garchitorena

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To start off the year in its right direction, the II. HALLMARK INITIATIVES EXCOM held a challenging and exciting strategic planning conference to help arrive at a a. BBC served as a sanctuary of hope for Filipinos fundamental decision on BBC’s relevance and during the Marcos dictatorship. continued raison d’être – the reason for its existence. b. It helped fiscalize government during the time of Marcos in the face of the mounting socio- economic problems at that time.

c. In the beginning, the purpose of the BBC was very distinct, with the battle lines drawn clearly. The single biggest problem then was good versus evil.

d. Held regular fora and dialogues which provided the necessary and sometimes dangerous

service of independent ventilation and discussions of pressing national issues. An analysis of the organization’s history, Vision- Mission and existing structure and programs e. 1980: Compiled major talks delivered during were thoroughly reviewed. the BBC Breakfast Dialogues from 11977-1980 entitled “Not By Bread Alone- Breakfast Held last September 28, 2015 at the CBCP, the Dialogues on Human Development under highlights of the discussions included the Martial Law.” (A copy of this book was following: presented to the late Pope John Paul I during his Papal visit to the Philippines). I. RETHINK THE ROLE AND RELEVANCE OF BBC f. BBC conducted the first socio-political and economic surveys on a nationwide scale during Is BBC still relevant today? Have its advocacies the Martial Law years. continued to bring about upliftment of the quality of life, especially of the marginalized sector of our g. BBC spearheaded the multi-sectoral effort to society? Does the unique partnership between establish NAMFREL and the Social Weather bishops and businessmen still hold? Stations (SWS) in 1985.

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h. Pursued the ideals of Corporate Social These publications have proved to be invaluable Responsibility through studies, seminars, reference materials in the field of Business conference and pioneering a Program on Education teaching Social Responsibility in Business Schools. k. Conducted pastoral management training seminars in the services of the Church. i. It prepared and produced an unprecedented document entitled “Code of Ethics for l. Initiated the formation of a National Coalition Business” (1977). This served as a guide for for Transparency (NCT) composed of committed businessmen in the management of organizations who believed that truth, honesty their business and reference material for and fidelity to public interest are the collegiate business schools. cornerstones of the new morality needed in public service and private enterprise. j. Other publications include: m. The pursuit of its commitment to people 1. “Perspectives on the Social Responsibility empowerment. for Business”

2. “People for Business or Business for People 91977) – Proceedings of a Seminar on “The Social Responsibility of Business - The Impact of Enterprise on the Community”

3. “The Practice of Business Social Responsibility”

4. “Church of the People” (The Basic Christian Community Experience in the Philippines) n. In collaboration with the Philippine Association (1988) of Collegiate Schools of Business (PACSB), BBC undertook a pilot Metro Manila Survey of 5. “ISQ: Living One’s Values in the Workplace” Government Agencies dubbed as ‘Salamin ng – (author: Sabsy S. Palanca) (2005) Bayan” vis-a vis their observance of the government’s Code of Ethics for Public Officials and Employees (1992).

o. Participated in the legislation of Republic Act 7279 of 1992, also known as Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA); and Republic Act 7835 of 1994 also known as the Comprehensive and Integrated Shelter Finance Act (CISFA). 5

p. Launched the Sikap-Gawa Awards recognizing u. In 2005 translated the principles into observable significant contributions of labor and and measurable indicators to be able to management groups in the promotion of compute the Institutional Spirituality Quotient industrial peace. (ISQ). q. In 1992, BBC entered into a Social Pact with v. Forged partnership with the administration of some business organizations in response to the then President Joseph Ejercito Estrada in the call of the late Pope John Paul II for a new form operationalization of Programs for the of solidarity that applies “the principles of Preferential Option for the Poor. stewardship in the management and sharing of earth’s resources.” TODAY

Today the country faces so many issues, i.e. r. Supported the Environmental Science for Social poverty; corruption; and different views on how to Change (ESSC) in printing maps on Mining address Social Justice, among others. Applications and Ancestral Domains and

launching of the book on mining. III. DO WE WANT TO CONTINUE AS BBC? s. Facilitated the acquisition of land for housing of the Payatas Scavengers Homeowners The echoing sentiments expressed by the EXCOM Association (PSHAI) were for BBC to continue. However, its short and long-term goals should be determined, laid out t. Facilitated the signing of a Memorandum of and implemented. Agreement by stakeholders from the government, business, industry, labor and civil society on the National Quick Response Team (QRT) that would address problems related to closure of establishments and retrenchment of workers.

IV. FIND BBC’S FOCUS / NEW BEGINNINGS / NEW HOPE

1. BBC’S Relevance: Creating a shared vision for the country According to Pope Francis, “Politics is the highest form of charity”. This could very well be the focus of BBC in re-establishing its relevance and objectives. 6

2. Pursue Culture of Encounter and Dialogue: 1) 4. Focus on the countryside and aim at Inclusive Good Governance; 2) Business to create Growth. wealth and empower people; 3) Create 5. Muslim Mindanao decent and sustainable jobs; 4) Moral 6. Adopt the Social Contract approach, the new Regeneration – strengthening the moral fiber approach to Inclusive Growth. of the people will eventually result in 7. Pursue Social Justice for Total Human addressing issues on the environment, Development climate change, and sustainable development. The EXCOM through its National Co-Chairmen has re-affirmed that 3. Rekindle crucial Partnership with Bishops and Businessmen “Where there is Social Injustice,

BBC will be there.”

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Jaime Zobel de Ayala Eugenio Lopez, Sr. (+) Ayala Corporation Lopez, Inc. / MERALCO

Manuel Villar Carlos Alindada Camella Homes SGV & Co.

David M. Consunji Jose A. Concepcion III D. M. Consunji, Inc. RFM Corporation

Amb. Ramon V. Del Rosario, Sr. (+) Ricardo S. Pascua PHINMA Group of Companies Ready Foods Corporation / Caelum Developers Alfredo B. Ramos Alakor Corporation/National Bookstore 8

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Thank you for inviting me today. It is my honor to lives and stood up to a dictator in the electoral be here, among the people who keep alive the spirit arena, even on the terms of his choosing. of volunteerism that is the lifeblood for reform in That led to the millions at the EDSA People Power our nation. Volunteerism, at its finest moments, is Revolt that happened not only in a highway in people power. Manila but in the whole of this country, We proved My assigned topic today is a “National Situationer: to ourselves and to a world audience on live the Key Challenges Facing CSOs Today. “ Let me just television that we were capable of radical political say from the start that given the kind of challenge change by bringing down a dictatorship through that we face to build a new social order, we are peaceful means. In the glow of that moment, we going to need a lot of heroes, the kind that are also thought ourselves capable of radical social celebrated in epic poems and stories that speak of change, through democratic ways. This signaled the ancient truths, of deeds of gallantry, of values that unprecedented rise of Civil Society Organizations to define us - of learnings that resound with meaning carry out the promise of a new social order and the in today’s world of broken promises. And you my vision of a Constitution whose central theme is friends are those heroes. social justice and human development. That journey, however, has been longer and harder than The good news is that we have already faced we thought despite the hardiness and persistence of challenges in the past that seemed insurmountable many CSOs. Because, as 29 years has told us, the and which moved a visiting American official during longest journey in any struggle for social change is martial law to say that the Philippines consists of the journey from the mind to the heart. And our one son of a bitch and 27 million cowards. country, led by the ruling class of the Christian majority, has largely failed in that regard or have But many heroes rose to that challenge - from the successfully resisted it through means fair and foul. ranks of ordinary people, many of them poor, nine Maybe there were not enough CSOs to the tipping of whom died in the service of country - 500,000 point. But many of us are also complicit in that Namfrel volunteers who protected the ballot in failure. 1986 like it was the most sacred blessing in their

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The fact is that after we brought our nation to a belief about our identity. Maintaining the familiar greatness at EDSA, after the first peaceful transfer is one of the strongest human motivators. Many of power in 27 years through credible elections in would rather live the abuse they know than a 1992, we folded up our banners, took off the t-shirts different life without it. with the imaginative slogans that brought humor to I am not the one who can answer those questions. our lives, and went back to our personal interests That can only be done by all of us listening to one and sectoral advocacies. And as many of us went our another and listening especially to the poor. separate ways with our separate causes, we lost something of the dream of a nation and the What I can tell you today is the vision of the significance of our interconnected lives. Constitution, where we are today on the promise of a just and progressive society and the challenges we You are here because you and I know that there is face that need urgent attention. something very wrong in our country today and we want to put things right. And because that means no The vision of the Constitution. less than radical social change, it requires no less than a new round of heroism, in a revolution to When we, as a people and not just the Framers who change the minds and hearts of a people that has were only their instruments, wrote the Constitution lost its way and need to go back to its beginnings. in 1987 and overwhelmingly approved it in a national plebiscite, it was the first time in over a Let us begin again with a vision. When Martin Luther hundred years that we spoke to the world as a truly King gave his famous speech beneath the Lincoln independent and democratic Filipino nation. It is a Memorial, he did not say I have a strategic plan, with document that had not been imposed on us by any 20 goals, 40 targets and 60 indicators , he said “I colonial power or by a dictatorship. have a dream. I have a dream that one day little black boys and black girls will join hands with little The Constitution reflects the views of the people in white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I the consultations before any writing was done and have a dream that my four little children will one day in the hearings, studies and suggestions during the live in a nation where they will not be judged by the deliberations. More importantly, it reflected the color of their skin but by the content of their values and aspirations of a people as expressed at character. I have a dream today.” important junctures in our history and particularly in the events that led to EDSA. What is our dream ? Is it a dream that is shared by all the stakeholders in our country? Is it a dream for The Constitution is clear on what should never which we are willing the pay the price? For there is happen again in our country – firstly, the oppression a price for every worthy vision. The foremost and neglect of the poor by a feudalistic society that reformers in history died by assassins bullets, or has been impervious to change for generations; suffered long-term imprisonment or sufferings by secondly, another dictatorship, and thirdly, allowing being too far ahead of their times such as Lincoln, foreign interests to violate our sovereignty and King, Sadat, Rabin, Gandhi, Jinnah, Mandela, territorial integrity because the national destiny Aquino. Sometimes personal bravery is letting go of must firmly and safely rest on Filipinos themselves.

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To address the first, we had to cut the umbilical cord income did not recover until 2001/2002. The crisis that patterned many of our constitutions after that was rooted in world class corruption, wrong of the United States which is based on the primacy policies, political instability marked by extra-judicial of civil and political rights because it was a country and legalized killings in the name of national security of immigrants who all started from the same and an all-out war against the Moros of Mindanao position and only wanted to be free from autocracy. that resulted in the deaths of over 100,000 people, Hence, the emphasis on the protection of individual mostly civilians, many of them children, and the rights and the free play of a market system based on displacement of over 3 million of them over the equal opportunity to compete. years.

But we are a country of inequalities under two To prevent the compromises to our sovereignty and colonial periods and a domestic ruling class to this territorial integrity, the Constitution enacted day. There is no equal opportunity when the starting economic and political provisions that protect positions are not equal – because of certain activities and our territory from differences in the quality of education and foreign control. Never again an of health care, and of nutrition that amendment similar to the 1935 have a cumulative effect on the There is no equal Constitution that gave Americans development of human capital. The opportunity when equal rights to our patrimony, same with the trauma of stressful foreign policies that were not childhoods from the struggle for the starting positions those of an independent nation subsistence or in the case of Muslim are not equal but one aligned with those of the Mindanao from being in the middle of United States, foreign military wars which affect brain development that bases which violated our territorial stays with children to adulthood. And then there integrity, and by deferential economic is the inequality in assets, mainly land and access to policies where even our exchange rate could not be natural resources that provide safety nets, source of changed without the approval of the U.S. President. livelihood and human dignity. 1 These betrayals on our freedoms, patrimony, Hence, our Constitution gives social and economic foreign relations, territorial integrity and economic rights equal primacy with civil and political rights development that wrought havoc on our national based on the primacy of human dignity which psyche, and stunted our development that made us precedes and supercedes constitutions. There are the basket case in our part of the world on human no comparable provisions in the U.S. Constitution. development were the work of the ruling elite of the Christian majority of this country. The peasants, To address the return of another dictatorship, the urban poor, non-moro indigenous peoples, Constitution prescribes very limited scope for the municipal fishermen and our Moro brothers and declaration of martial law. A dictatorship set back sisters, who constitute the poorest of the poor in our development 20 years with a debt crisis in 1983, our country had no hand in these betrayals of the only one in Asia, from which our per capita national interest but suffer the most from them.

1 based on readings in The Age of Sustainable Development by Jeffrey Sachs, 2015, Columbia University Press 12

Where are we today? more extreme the economic inequality, the greater the threat to democracy.” The most immediate event ahead of us is the Beyond the elections, the question begs to be asked: elections. I believe that in defining the issues and in “What’s the point of all that money and attention examining the credentials and capabilities of the for a speedy and accurate count of the ballot that is candidates we should use the lens of social justice already devalued by the improper use of money, and human development Certainly we cannot vote mostly government money, by dysfunctional for the corrupt. But even if a candidate is incorrupt, political parties, warlords and political dynasties, does he or she know what it takes to carry out the who limit the choices of voters? Until we, especially mandate of social justice that will upset the status the Congress, address these structural problems, quo and that many decisions would involve counter- those who are elected will continue to protect cultural reforms, which many politicians assiduously vested interests with policies and governance that try to avoid making. have made us the laggard of development in our Thus, even if we elect honest and well-meaning part of the world and makes a fiction of what we call people in 2016, we will remain a failure unless they democracy. know what to do. Sincerity is not a substitute for After the elections, instead of intermittent election correctness. And a president with no depth on the education which is not very effective anyway, we issues will rely on advisers who will likely suggest the should engage in massive and continuous civic same policies and governance that have failed for 28 education in the schools and through media and the years. We need leaders who are both sincere and social networks to urge the practice of civic virtues correct in what they do. wherever we are - love of The larger context of the elections, country, the rule of law, concern whether we realize it or not, is our The larger context of for the environment, the common good, So that when democracy, which is at stake the elections, whether because we are a country of mass asked what is the primary poverty and gross inequalities. we realize it or not, is standard in our decisions, our answer is always the same --- As former U.S. Supreme Court our democracy, which country. As a social reformer Justice Louis Brandies “famously is at stake because we (Michael Sandel) puts it - “until argued… the United States could there is a larger purpose to what have either democracy or wealth are a country of mass we do, when citizens finally bring concentrated in a few, but not both. poverty and gross the habits of the heart to public The political equality that is required life and find a way to cultivate by democracy is always under threat inequalities. civic virtue,” we cannot speak of from economic inequality, and the solidarity and of ourselves as one nation.

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On the economy, you are all familiar with the numbers, here are selected data on poverty and inequality:

GDP growth $ per cap income (ppp) Gini ave/yr 50 yrs 1960 –-- 2009 ---- 2012 coef. (2009)

Philippines 1.58%/yr 1,314 --- 2,838 –- 6,005 44.8

Malaysia 3.69%/yr 1,470 -- 11,296 -- 21,897 46.2

Thailand 4.38%/yr 961 --- 7,794 – 13,458 40.2

Indonesia 4.25%/yr 693 --- 4,075 --- 8,856 38.1

Japan 3.40%/yr 5,850 -- 30,008 -- 35,006 37.6

So. Korea 5.54%/yr 1,782 -- 25,084 -- 29.496 31.5

China 6.18%/yr 403 --- 7,634 -- 10,771 43.8

Note: 2012 figures relative to 2009 may have a what could have been is the cost of our failures to different base year which may account for the big the country and to our poor of flawed policies, increases. The figures are included more to show corruption and incompetence. relative differences among countries in income per Govt assessment (Balisacan August 14, 2014) of the capita rather than their levels. situation, some indicators: Source: World Bank and others - Recent economic growth has been remarkable. My favorite economist made some calculations on GDP grew by an average of 5.2 percent over the what our per capita income would have been in last 10 years making the Philippines one of the 2009 based on 2005 purchasing power parity, had fastest growing economies in Asia….. but there we grown as fast as our neighbors. Over the 50 is still so much that we can do to enable people years from 1960 to 2009, our average annual growth to participate better in the country’s rate was 1.58% and by 2009, our real per capita development process”; income was $2,838. . - In agriculture, where the bulk of the poor are, Had we grown at the growth rate of selected growth was much slower”; neighbors, our real per capita income would be as follows: with Thailand’s average annual growth rate - Despite the high economic growth in recent of 4.36% our per capita income would have been years, progress in reducing poverty has been $10,635, with China’s 6.18%, $24,814, with slow”; Indonesia’s 3.69%, $7,757; with Sri Lanka’s 3.45%, $6,924 and with India’s 3.14%, $5,477. The - There has been little improvement in the difference between our actual performance and distribution of income.

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- On access to jobs, the quality of available jobs Twenty nine years after EDSA, we continue to be a has not been adequate to address the poverty failure of social justice and human development in situation; the whole of our country and we know that this must change. - The prevalence of malnutrition has significantly declined since 1990 but the malnutrition rate of What is Social Justice? 20.1 percent in 2011 remains far from the target rate of 13.6 percent in 2015; Social justice in the 1987 Constitution builds on the concepts of the 1935 and 1973 constitutions that - The Philippines is likely to meet its target of “[t]he State shall promote social justice in all phases universal access to primary education. of national development.”2 However, in contrast to previous constitutions, it elaborated the concept in - However, the cohort survival and completion a separate article (Article XIII), which defines “social rates are still low and the quality of education justice” in Section 1: still needs to be improved.

- With climate change, it is expected that extreme Section 1. The Congress shall give highest weather conditions will be more frequent and priority to the enactment of measures that more severe….these could push people into protect and enhance the right of all the people poverty and poor people into deeper poverty. to human dignity, reduce social, economic, and political inequalities, and remove cultural To date, we have not successfully finalized peace inequities by equitably diffusing wealth and agreements either with our Muslim brothers and political power for the common good. sisters which we thought at one time was very close to completion or with the National Democratic To this end, the State shall regulate the Front. In addition to the usual cost of armed conflict acquisition, ownership, use and disposition of and the inability to attend to the human property and its increments. development of the peoples in the conflict areas, this has also diverted precious attention and Article XIII goes on to specify certain sectors to resources from the bigger and increasingly more which Congress must give priority namely, labor, difficult problem on the West Philippine Sea. agrarian reform, urban land reform and housing, health system, protection of women, people’s Clearly, there is something very wrong in our organizations, and protection of human rights. country today. History has not been kind to the There are numerous other provisions on social poor. justice in other articles of the Constitution. 3

2 PHIL. CONST. art. II, § 10. 3 PHIL. CONST. art. II §§ 11 (dignity and human rights), 14 (women), 16 (right to a balanced and healthful ecology ), 17 (total human liberation), 22 (indigenous peoples), 23 (non-governmental, community-based or sectoral organizations), and 26 (against political dynasties); PHIL. CONST. art. III § 11 (free access to courts and legal assistance to the poor); PHIL. CONST. art. V on absentee voting; PHIL. CONST. art. VI on term limits and the party-list system of representation; PHIL. CONST. art. VII on term limits for the president and vice-president; PHIL. CONST. art. X § 9 on sectoral representation in local governments; PHIL. CONST. art. XII §§ 1 (equitable distribution as the primary goal of the national economy ahead of an increase in goods and services and productivity) and 6 (“the use of property bears a social function” and “distributive justice”); & PHIL. CONST. art. XIV on Education (mandatory quality and free education not just at the elementary but also at the secondary level). 15

Clearly, social justice under the 1987 Constitution is raising the trajectory of income growth by more encompassing than in the 1935 and 1973 improving over-all economic efficiency. Constitutions. In the matter of jurisprudence on social justice, the When business talks about the efficiency of markets winds of change that first moved the Court in 1968 to promote their interests, they ignore the reality of and again in 1979 to expand the concept of social markets – that competitive markets have no moral justice beyond “equal justice” (where the Court limits and are never perfect, but it can work, even wrongly said that the rich are also entitled to social imperfectly, provided that the starting positions of justice which is a contradiction in terms), to the its participants are first adjusted. (Kenneth Arrow). Magsaysay slogan that “those who have less in life Adjusting starting positions is social justice. must have more in law” towards the highest standard of social justice - “demand of human In the Philippines, adjusting starting positions dignity”, which precedes and supercedes consist of (1) income reform programs such as the constitutions is a source of hope of more changes to conditional cash transfer program (that appears to come. But the Judiciary must be willing to be succeeding) and, over the long-term, the access promulgate at every opportunity a new generation of the poor to quality education and quality health of jurisprudence consistent with the compelling services and (2) asset reform programs that are all principles of the broader concept of social justice in underperforming according to the Report Card on the 1987 Constitution, even if it means revisiting the programs by former NEDA Director-General Ciel landmark decisions. Habito in 2008 for lack of government support services and political will. What is human development?

The asset reform programs consist principally of Growth is about increasing incomes. Development four laws, namely, Agrarian Reform (R.A. 6657 of is outcomes. Stated differently, development is 1988 and RA 9700 of 2009), Urban Land Reform and growth plus distribution. Housing (R.A. 7279 of 1992), The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (R.A. 8371 of 1997), and Fisheries The UNDP (1990) states: Code (R.A. 8550 of 1998).

Every administration since EDSA has “Human development is a process of underperformed on these income and asset reform enlarging people's choices. In principle, these programs. choices can be infinite and change over time. But at all levels of development, the three We have to make a success of the income and asset essential ones are for people to lead a long reform programs. that are underperforming. As and healthy life, to acquire knowledge and to NEDA Sec. Balisacan tells us: It is no longer have access to resources needed for a decent disputable that countries doing well with poverty standard of living. If these essential choices reduction are also countries that have done well in are not available, many other opportunities growth. An improvement in land inequality is not remain inaccessible.” just about advancing equity goals; it is also about

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Why did we fail? in the Philippines are huge – estimated as up to P150 billion to upwards of P240 billion a year by Our failure of social justice and human such organizations as Transparency International development is due mainly to three factors – the (TI), the Bertelmann Foundation and Global failure of policy and institutions, the failure to Financial Integrity. Even if we reduce these address corruption and our inability or estimates, what can be done for the poor with the unwillingness to dismantle the scourge of stolen money still cries out for change -- the feudalism. estimated cost a year of lifting the very poor from poverty is about P120 billion Policies and Institutions Studies across societies show that corruption The respected economist Jeffrey Sachs, in a study adversely affects key social indicators, retards the commissioned by the Asian Development Bank, emergence of strong institutions, discourages “Emerging Asia: Changes and Challenges”. investments and is a major factor in “aid fatigue”, discusses the factors which account for the prevents the functioning of markets, attracts differentials in growth rates among countries: talented people in unproductive activities, distorts optimal management of natural resources, and – Initial Conditions undermines health programs. Above all, the – Natural Resources deleterious effects of corruption fall – Geography disproportionately on the poor. – Demography – Policies and Institutions Clearly, corruption has to stop. The big-fish approach of the Aquino administration tells us that In the case of the Philippines, the study says that nobody is beyond the reach of the law. That is a the effect of flawed policies and institutions was good beginning but it cannot stop there. From greater than all of the other factors combined. On stories I hear in this regard, we are still far from the other hand, “How Asia Works” by Joe translating this into the everyday experiences of Studwell, compares our failed policies on our people. But at least there is something to build agricultural development and agrarian reform, on and the next critical step in that direction is industrialization and the banking system, with electing incorrupt and incorruptible public servants those of successful countries. Some excerpts: “the in 2016 and those whose allegiance to the country Philippines (which) boasts the most selfish and self- is without question. serving political class, based heavily on landed wealth. “ and “..the Philippines, in short, has never The Root of our Problem - Feudalism moved on from the colonial era and the patterns of Feudalism is the root of our social and economic amoral elite dominance that it created.” problems. Our society is still feudalistic, dominated Corruption by a ruling class that rotates within itself the levers of power through changes in administration. Not Corruption is the bane of our society and it is all businessmen are part of this grouping, or being worsening with impunity. The costs of corruption part of it behave like feudal lords. But big business as a whole is all about self-interest.

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The top 1% of the families make the laws, dispense intensive farming which the IFAD (International justice, implement programs and control media. Fund for Agricultural Development) says is the There are good people among them who go to future of world food security, from 450 million of church regularly, participate in community projects small farms of less than 2 hectares each all over the and donate to charities. They sincerely think that world. using their power and influence to advance their We want a new social order that is not only about interest is part of the dynamics of a democracy, in land and jobs, but about the primacy of peace and the same way that hard work and innovation are the equitable diffusion of wealth and political rewarded in a competitive market. power, about a new generation of jurisprudence Sadly, many of them miss the point. There is nothing based on the 1987 Constitution, about a wrong with having wealth and power and special consultative process of decision-making that connections, but there is something very wrong expands the concept of due process, a change in about using them to worsen the inequality or deny social relationships between employer and or delay justice to the poor or to perpetuate only employee, the landed and the peasant, master and one family name. The longest dynasties today are servant, the building common public spaces and not in the Muslim communities as we institutions where people and children think, but in the Christian communities. from all stations in life can get And we know this must change. The top 1% of together and interact, the families intergenerational climate justice in the What is the change we want? We can protection of our environment, about start the list to which the people can add make the laws, breaking the vicious cycle of poverty of their own advocacies towards radical dispense the children of the poor through change: education and health services of such justice, a quality that even the rich want their On the economy, we want economic implement own children to avail of them, and for growth but it must be inclusive growth the “catch up” of the poor, intensive with the poor as the center of programs and adult education of parents since the development under the standard not control media. most productive formative years of a just of income but of well-being. We child are from 1-6, before the start of want foreign investment but it must be formal education. And many more. quality investments that do not harm our environment or compromise future I know that’s a lot to ask from all of us but then we generations. We are willing to exploit our natural are talking about a new social and economic order resources but the State, and the indigenous peoples based on social justice and human development and with respect to their ancestral domains, must get we have only ourselves to blame for not doing the economic rent from its operations. We want our enough all this time. But what is clear is that if we own technology-based industrializatioin and a want these changes to happen the CSOs must be the banking system that serves development goals, not catalysts for change. And this is a much bigger just profits. We want agricultural development responsibility than we have assumed in our history. based on successful agrarian reform and family Are we up to the challenge?

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What would that entail on our part? six, harness non-material and material resources I think that the full implications of the task will come to realize the national shared vision, and to us in the doing. But I would think that the task 6 would involve: seven, and most difficult of all, draw up a plan with first, the support of those in power and wealth as 1 knowing the Constitution, 7 well as the poor, to develop a new generation of leaders who know how it is to be poor but second, who also know how to work with the other organizing and promoting the continuing stakeholders in building a nation of social study and research of the laws, practices and justice, civic virtue, a progressive economy and 2 the human development of all. jurisprudence on social justice that need to be changed or corrected, and advocate the inclusion of a more comprehensive study of social justice policies in the curriculum of law That’s the agenda of heroes, described by Philip schools which would create a network of Zimbardo (The Lucifer Effec) as acts of principle to student and faculty research serve others in need, that involves sacrifices on the part of the actors, and are done without expectation third, of any reward. All that is needed is for each of us to engage in legal activism and intelligent bring to a successful conclusion one truly heroic act 3 advocacy. Sloganeering is out and so are street in our lifetime among the many opportunities protests. Even “meems” and infograms in offered by the agenda. For it is the accumulation of social media are better narratives and more millions of heroic acts by ordinary citizens that will explanatory. Remember that we are fighting result in the real change we seek. for the hearts and minds of our people and against very smart people with money to boot; And after we have done our part, we must learn to let go and allow those who learned from us how to fourth, fight for themselves to now do the fighting for the foster a meaningful dialogue among different country of our dreams. sectors of society on the need and scope of 4 social change and new economic paradigms;

five, through broad consultations, develop and

nurture a shared vision for our country’s 5 future,

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In the words of the assassinated Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador: It helps now and then to step back and take a long view…. We plant the seeds that one day will grow. … We lay foundations that will need further development.……We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing this. This enables us to do something, and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, And an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest… We are workers not master builders, ministers not messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own.

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BBC SOCIAL JUSTICE and AGRARIAN REFORM COMMITTEE

The activities of the Social Justice Committee during the fiscal year consisted of the following:

(1) We continued to render legal services to peasant communities in , Palawan, Negros Occidental, Marikina Watershed area, Kidapawan, Aurora, , Davao, and others. We were able to farm out to 3 law firms some of the cases so that legal representation was available to our farmers in all the legal and administrative processes of justice;

(2) Until its demise from inaction by the Congress, we continued in the advocacy for Bangsamaro as a social justice issue ;

(3) We participated in Voter Education presentations in various fora, including several , on the issues of the 2016 elections.

(4) We published a Statement on the 2016 Elections that was published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on May 5, 2016;

(5) We continued to be engaged on the issue of Climate Change through (a) the Climate Change Congress of the Philippines and (b) the Public-Private Climate Change Committee of the Philippine Council for Agricultural and Fisheries (PCAF) of the Department of Agriculture, which we chair.

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STARTING A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT BETWEEN BBC AND OROCHAMBER in Cagayan de Oro "The Cagayan de Oro River Basin Project"

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Donors

Mr. Ramon S. Ang Mr.& Mrs. Meneleo J. Carlos, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Jose S. Concepcion, Jr. Ms. Vinchu M. Lapid Mr. & Mrs. Don Villanueva Mrs. Bea Zobel

Loyal Partners/Collaborating Organizations

Eric Jude O. Alvia Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro Roda N. Bautista (Resins, Inc.) Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce & Industry Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines CBCP - Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace Makati Business Club Management Association of the Philippines Mai-Mai Menor (Vemaval Corporation) National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections Punongbayan & Araullo (P & A Grant Thornton) Ugnayan ng mga Barangay at Simbahan (UBAS) Josefa Aportadera, Paolo Maligaya, Edgar Camenting, Jeffrey Falco, Gil Tansengco, Lydia del Corro-Reyes, Gazelle Malacaman, Lydia Garcia

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A. BISHOPS - Church Sector

MOST REV. ISABELO C. ABARQUEZ Bishop of Calbayog MOST REV. NARCISCO V. ABELLANA Bishop of Romblon MOST REV. JOSE F. ADVINCULA, JR Archbishop of Capiz MOST REV. GUILLERMO V. AFABLE Bishop of Digos MOST REV. GERARDO A. ALMINAZA Bishop of San Carlos MOST REV. PRUDENCIO P. ANDAYA Vicar Apostolic of Tabuk MOST REV. DAVID WILLIAM V. ANTONIO Vicar Apostolic-Administrator of San Jose, Occ. Mindoro MOST REV. RAMON C. ARGUELLES Archbishop of Lipa MOST REV. PEDRO D. ARIGO Vicar Apostolic of Puerto Princesa MOST REV. RICARDO L. BACCAY Bishop of Alaminos MOST REV. FILOMENO G. BACTOL Bishop of Naval MOST REV. JOSE COLIN M. BAGAFORO Auxiliary Bishop of Cotabato MOST REV. SOFRONIO A. BANCUD Bishop of Cabanatuan/ Administrator, Diocese of Bayombong MOST REV. JOSE B. BANTOLO Bishop of Masbate MOST REV. ARTURO M. BASTES Bishop of Sorsogon MOST REV. JOEL Z. BAYLON Bishop of Legazpi MOST REV. RODOLFO F. BELTRAN Bishop of San Fernando, La Union MOST REV. PATRICIO A. BUZON Bishop of Bacolod MOST REV. EMMANUEL T. CABAJAR Bishop of Pagadian MOST REV. ANTONIETO D. CABAJOG Bishop of Surigao MOST REV. JOSE A. CABANTAN Bishop of Malaybalay MOST REV. SEVERO C. CAERMARE Bishop of Dipolog MOST REV. WARLITO I. CAJANDIG Vicar Apostolic of Calapan MOST REV. PRECIOSO D. CANTILLAS Bishop of Maasin MOST REV. CARLITO J. CENZON Bishop of Baguio MOST REV. JULITO B. CORTES Bishop of Dumaguete MOST REV. BERNARDINO C. CORTEZ Bishop of Infanta MOST REV. PABLO VIRGILIO S. DAVID Bishop of Kalookan MOST REV. ROMULO T. DELA CRUZ Archbishop of Zamboanga MOST REV. FRANCISCO M. DE LEON Coadjutor Bishop of Antipolo MOST REV. VALENTIN C. DIMOC Bishop of Bontoc-Lagawe MOST REV. JESUS A. DOSADO Archbishop of Ozamiz

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MOST REV. JOHN F. DU Archbishop of Palo MOST REV. REYNALDO G. EVANGELISTA Bishop of Imus MOST REV. BUENAVENTURA M. FAMADICO Bishop of San Pablo MOST REV. OSCAR JAIME L. FLORENCIO Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu MOST REV. ELENITO R. GALIDO Bishop of Iligan MOST REV. GILBERT A. GARCERA Bishop of Daet MOST REV. CAMILO D. GREGORIO Bishop Prelate of Batanes MOST REV. DINUALDO D. GUTIERREZ Bishop of Marbel MOST REV. LEOPOLDO C. JAUCIAN Bishop of Bangued MOST REV. JACINTO A. JOSE Bishop of Urdaneta MOST REV. EDGARDO S. JUANICH Vicar Apostolic of Taytay MOST REV. MARTIN S. JUMOAD Bishop Prelate of Isabela de Basilan MOST REV. ANGEL N. LAGDAMEO Archbishop of Jaro MOST REV. ANGELITO R. LAMPON Vicar Apostolic of Jolo MOST REV. FLORENTINO G. LAVARIAS Archbishop of San Fernando, Pampanga MOST REV. JOSE ROMEO O. LAZO Bishop of San Jose, Antique MOST REV. ANTONIO J. LEDESMA Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro MOST REV. ENRIQUE V. MACARAEG Bishop of Tarlac MOST REV. ROBERTO C. MALLARI Bishop of San Jose, Nueva Ecija MOST REV. JOSE ELMER I. MANGALINAO Auxiliary Bishop-Elect of Lingayen-Dagupan MOST REV. WILFREDO D. MANLAPAZ Bishop of Tagum MOST REV. MARCELINO M. MARALIT, Jr. Bishop of Boac, MOST REV. EMILIO Z. MARQUEZ Bishop of Lucena MOST REV. RENATO P. MAYUGBA Bishop of Laoag MOST REV. LEONARDO Y. MEDROSO Bishop of Tagbilaran MOST REV. JESSE E. MERCADO Bishop of Parañaque MOST REV. JOSEPH A. NACUA Bishop of Ilagan MOST REV. VICTOR C. OCAMPO Bishop of Gumaca MOST REV. NEREO P. ODCHIMAR Bishop of Tandag MOST REV. JOSE F. OLIVEROS Bishop of Malolos MOST REV. HONESTO F. ONGTIOCO Bishop of Cubao MOST REV. BRODERICK S. PABILLO Auxiliary Bishop of Manila MOST REV. ANTONIO P. PALANG Bishop of San Jose de Mindoro MOST REV. JOSE S. PALMA Archbishop of Cebu MOST REV. DANIEL PATRICK Y. PARCON Bishop of Talibon MOST REV. MARLO M. PERALTA Archbishop of Nueva Segovia MOST REV. EDWIN A. DE LA PEÑA Bishop Prelate of Marawi MOST REV. JUAN DE DIOS M. PUEBLOS Bishop of Butuan HIS EMINENCE ORLANDO B. CARDINAL QUEVEDO Archbishop of Cotabato MOST REV. GABRIEL V. REYES Bishop of Antipolo MOST REV. GEORGE B. RIMANDO Auxiliary Bishop of Davao

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MOST REV. JOSE R. ROJAS, JR Bishop of Libmanan MOST REV. RUPERTO C. SANTOS Bishop of Balanga MOST REV. MANOLO A. DE LOS SANTOS Bishop of Virac HIS EMINENCE LUIS ANTONIO G. CARDINAL TAGLE Archbishop of Manila MOST REV. JOSE CORAZON T. TALAOC Bishop of Kalibo MOST REV. ROLANDO J. TRIA TIRONA Archbishop of Caceres MOST REV. ANTONIO R. TOBIAS Bishop of Novaliches MOST REV. JULIUS S. TONEL Bishop of Ipil MOST REV. EMMANUEL C. TRANCE Bishop of Catarman MOST REV. LEOPOLDO S. TUMULAK Military Ordinary MOST REV. SERGIO L. UTLEG Archbishop of Tuguegarao MOST REV. ROMULO G. VALLES Archbishop of Davao MOST REV. CRISPIN B. VARQUEZ Bishop of Borongan MOST REV. MYLO HUBERT C. VERGARA Bishop of Pasig MOST REV. DENNIS C. VILLAROJO Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu MOST REV. SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS Archbishop of Lingayen- Dagupan

B. INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS – Business Sector

NAME DESIGNATION / COMPANY CECILLE ANG President, Diamond Hotel ROBERTO W. ANSALDO President, Rocky Mountain Arabica Coffee ISIDRO ANTONIO C. ASPER Assistant to the President Federation of Free workers CORAZON S. DELA PAZ- BERNARDO CPA, MBA, Business Consultant FRANCISCO R. BILLANO President & General Manager Interphil Laboratories, Inc. FELINA A. BRAVO President , Aldecoa Realty Corporation JOVENCIO F. CINCO President , Penta Capital and Investment Corporation JOSE S. CONCEPCION, JR. Chairman, RFM Corporation REGINA Sy COSETENG President, Go Soc & Sons, Inc. and Sy Gui Huat AMB. HOWARD Q. DEE Chairman, Assisi Development Foundation CARLOS G. DOMINGUEZ President, Philippine Tobacco Flue – Curing & Redying Corporation 28

ALEJANDRO TEVES ESCANO Founding Chairman, TEVSAPHIL, PCAFI, PSDMN CARMENCITA N. ESTEBAN President, Philippine Survey and Research Center LOLITA DELGADO – FANSLER Executive Director, Ala-Ala Foundation LUIS M. FERRER Architect/Environmental Planner JESUS P. FRANCISCO President, Light Rail Manila Corporation VICTORIA P. GARCHITORENA Consultant, AYALA Corporation EDWARD S. GO Pacific Plaza Tower, Bonifacio Global City

LUVINIA M. LAPID Vice-President, VEMAVAL Corporation ROBERTO P. LAUREL President, Lyceum of the Philippine University LINO V. LEBRON President, Circle Transport Corporation MARIO ANTONIO G. LOPEZ Professor, Asian Institute of Management FR. FRANCIS B. LUCAS Executive Secretary, CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social Communications and Mass Media MAHAR K. MANGAHAS President, Social Weather Stations CHRISTIAN S. MONSOD Consultant, MERALCO VITALIANO N. NAÑAGAS, II President, Organizational Systems, Inc. ANTONIO C. OPPEN President & Chief Executive Officer Welding Industries of the Philippines ISABELITA S. PALANCA Chair, The Mother Company RICARDO S. PASCUA Chairman, Caelum Developers, Inc. JOSE F. PERALTA President, Philippine School of Business Administration PETER ANGELO V. PERFECTO Executive Director, Makati Business Club RICARDO J. ROMULO Senior Partner, Romulo, Mabanta, Sayoc & De los Angeles Attorneys At-Law FR. JOEL E. TABORA, S.J. President, Ateneo De Davao University JOSE P. TAMBUNTING President, Angelo Holding Corporation 29

MEDIATRIX V. VILLANUEVA Executive Vice President Shelmed Cottage Treasures FR. PETER WALPOLE, S.J Executive Director Environmental Science for Social Change JAIME AUGUSTO ZOBEL DE AYALA Chairman and Chief Executive officer Ayala Corporation JAIME ZOBEL DE AYALA Chairman Emeritus, Ayala Corporation

C. CORPORATE MEMBERS

ASIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT R. V. DEL ROSARIO SR. CENTER FOR CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FRANCISCO L. ROMAN Executive Director

DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS Management & Organizational Department MARIA VICTORIA P. TIBON Coordinator, Graduate Program

FIRST PHILIPPINE HOLDINGS COPORATION OSCAR M. LOPEZ, SR. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

MAGSAYSAY MARITIME CORPORATION DORIS MAGSAYSAY-HO President and Chief Executive Officer

PHILIPPINE SEVEN CORPORATION JOSE VICTOR P. PATERNO President and Chief Executive Officer

PUNONGBAYAN & ARAULLO (P & A) MA. VICTORIA C. ESPANO Chairperson & Chief Operating Officer MAILENE S. BISNAR Partner, Audit & Assurance; Head, Markets Group

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RESINS, INC. MENELEO J. CARLOS, JR. President

SHELMED COTTAGE TREASURES LOURDES V. VILLANUEVA Executive Director for Operations

MESHELLE ARACELI V. VILLANUEVA Director for Marketing

THE PHINMA GROUP ROBERTO M. LAVINA Chief Operating Officer

TRAN-ASIA OIL & ENERGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FRANCISCO L. VIRAY President and Chief Executive Officer

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Dawn – at the Dusk of our DayNATIONAL Dawn – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2015-2016 at the Dusk of our Day NATIONAL CO-CHAIRMEN

NATIONAL CO-VICE-CHAIRMEN

MEMBERS

BISHOPS

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BUSINESSMEN

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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Once more the day ends, as this year’s report is offered to you.

With our thanks to each of you who have been with us through thick and thin is our continuing invitation to stay; and to those who are part of us but have left, is our beckoning to return: Share again our hope and vision of yet another dawn.

We hear some of you say, dear fellow Bishops and fellow Businessmen, that you want to leave, that you’d rather bring our life to a close, since you no longer see the relevance of our Conference.

But where is our value to be found except in our hearts and in our hands? Who is to bring meaning except our own souls?

If you go, if we fold up who shall speak for those who cannot speak? Who shall stand up for those who have no strength to rise?

May we not have to repeat in our lifetime what Martin Niemueller once sadly said in his: “In Germany, they came first for the Communists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist. And then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak up because I was not a trade unionist. And then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak up because I was not a Jew.

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And then … They came for me. And by that time, there was no one left To speak out for me.”

In Europe, as we know, the Union’s life has been shaken. Do we want a similar thing for us? In our country, a new leadership has begun. Are we to refuse to participate?

No. Let us together say NO.

We cannot die. We should not surrender. Not in the face of the papal call to find or find again The Joy of the Gospel in our hearts and share it in our lives.

With Benedict XVI we affirm we cannot close our eyes to the needs of our neighbor; for if we do, we blind ourselves to God.

With Pope Francis, we ask Mary, Star of the New Evangelization to help us “bear radiant witness to communion, service, ardent and generous faith, justice and love of the poor so that the Joy of the Gospel may reach to the ends of the earth.”

We pray to God to show us our place in the world as channels of His love, to seize us with His power and light and help us prepare for the coming of His Kingdom by working for, striving after Inclusive Growth and Total Human Development.

In the world, Jesus had said, we would have strife, but He told us not to be afraid for He has conquered the world.

In hope and confidence we thus sing “Morning has just begun .. It is the dawn of the morning of time …” 36