Protecting Our Common Home

Protecting Our Common Home

THE urgency of protecting “Our Common Home” is much given emphasis by our Holy Father, Pope Francis. Much heat, drought and difference in the weather and climate is felt.

Many kinds of sicknesses are also attacking especially the poor who lack nourishment due to having no food security. One can really feel the difference of being in a polluted city from the simple rural setting where there are still enough trees providing clean air. The other week, I and my community of Sisters together with two visiting Sisters were able to enjoy the beautiful beach of San Isidro, Davao Oriental. I salute Mayor Tina Yu and all the officers of the Municipality of San Isidro for really defending their stand for a “No to Mining in San Isidro.”

I wish that it would also be true for the whole province of Davao Oriental. It is sad that some barangays and municipalities who make resolutions to allow mining only consider themselves as the only ones with the rights to allow mining, obviously setting aside the possible harms/effect on the people and the environment especially to the next generation. We have experienced the effect of the haze brought about by the forest fire of Indonesia, a true evidence that we are all affected all around the world of what happens in a certain part of the world. As Joey Ayala reminds us in his song, “Ang Lahat ng Bagay ay Magkaugnay.”

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Mining in Davao Oriental

Just last year (July 1, 2014), Senator Loren Legarda visited our province (Davao Oriental) and congratulated the province for its stand on the protection of our natural resources especially citing Mt. Hamiguitan, a UNESCO World Heritage site. What a heritage, what a treasure!

Yet, what is really happening in Davao Oriental? Even our priests in the Diocese of Mati are alarmed on the “proliferation of alleged mining activities in the province of Davao Oriental, particularly in the following areas: (1) Brgy. Old Macopa, Manay; (2) Brgy.Tiblawan, Governor Generoso; (3) Barangay Causwagan and Maputi, Banaybanay; (4) Barangay Dapnan and Lambajon, Bagangga; and (5) Barangay Calapagan, Lupon (excerpts from the letter of Rev. Fr. Edito S. Baño, DCM, Apostolic Administrator to the DENR National Office, September 10, 2015. He made another letter to the DENR on October 22, 2015 to includeMacambol (Magum and Salingcomot) as a concern.

With much prayers for awakenings, re-awakenings, and miracles to happen, we formulated a petition entitled:

A PETITION FOR THE STOPPAGE AND REJECTION OF THE IMPENDING ISSUANCE OF MINING PERMIT FOR AUSTRAL-ASIA LINK MINING CORPORATION AND HALLMARK MINING CORPORATION BOTH UNDER THE CORPORATE ORGANIZATION OF ASIATICUS MANAGEMENT CORPORATION (AMCOR) AT MAGUM, PUJADA BAY AND SALINGCOMOT, MATI CITY, PROVINCE OF DAVAO ORIENTAL

We, the farmers, fisherfolks, Church people, youth, professionals, business people of Davao Oriental Province together with our national and international supporters, hereby, urge Mr. Ramon J.P. Paje, DENR Secretary, NOT TO ISSUE ANY MINING PERMIT to AUSTRAL-ASIA LINK MINING CORPORATION AND HALLMARK MINING CORPORATION both under the CORPORATE ORGANIZATION OF ASIATICUS MANAGEMENT CORPORATION (AMCOR) for its mining operation in Magum, Pujada Bay and Salingcomot, Mati City, Province of Davao Oriental. We also demand that their mining equipment be pulled out from the mining site.

We urge the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to take the real lead to protect our remaining “environment and natural resources,” plan with other government agencies and environmentally concern organizations/foundations on how to preserve our remaining forests and marine life sanctuaries.

NO TO MINING IN MAGUM, PUJADA BAY AND SALINGCOMOT, MATI CITY, PROVINCE OF DAVAO ORIENTAL! (by Sr. M. Evangeline Madayag, OSB)

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Cathedral marks its Parish Day

THE San Nicolas de Tolentino Cathedral celebrated its Parish Day on November 21, 2015.

Parishioners came with colorful T-shirts to identify their respective districts. At 8:00 AM, they started walking through the streets of Mati accompanied by the energetic students from the Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy (IHMA), playing with their drums, lyre and cymbals. All the parishioners were warmly welcomed at the St. Therese Gym, Clergy Compound, Madang, Mati City. The parish day was formally opened with the invocation, singing of the National Anthem and the welcome remarks given by the PPC chairman, Carlos Millan. The theme was introduced: ANG SIMBAHAN NGA GIHIUSA SA GUGMA NI KRISTO. Then, the chairman encouraged each district to prepare a yell.

In the morning, games such as basketball for men and volleyball for women were played. Parlor games were also prepared and it was actively participated in by all districts. In the afternoon, championship games for basketball and volleyball were played. One of the priests of the Society of Divine Vocations (SDV), Fr. Alfredo Briones, joined the District 1 basketball team that later turned out the champion, while in the women’s division, the players from District III became the volleyball champions. It was such a close fight that loud yells and cheers were heard. Meantime, at the other corner of the gym, a Bible Quiz was held, wherein the District 2 representatives became the champion.

At 5:00 PM, the Apostolic Administrator Fr. Edito S. Baño, officiated at the concelebrated Eucharistic Celebration. After supper was the Fellowship night. It was highlighted with the dance contest in different categories—the ballroom and pop dance. District II was the champion for ballroom and pop dancing. Fr. Baño thanked all the organizers of the Parish Day while also sharing a few words about the challenges discussed at the National BEC Congress in Manila which took place a week ago. Awarding of champions followed, making it memorable to all the parishioners, supporters and organizers.