Banner of Barug! Pilipino Minda Caolie rscj (first row, right ) with volunteers

I work as a full-time campus minister of Cebu Normal University, a state-run institution which specializes in teacher-training. Lately, I have been very much involved with Barug! Pilipino, a Cebu-based non-partisan network of active and vigilant citizens and organizations,working for the promotion of good governance in our country. I was invited to join the network right after I came back from our assembly last January 2004. Barug! Pilipino is an offshoot of the highly successful campaign against the impeachment of Chief Justice Hilario Davide,Jr. “Barug” is a Cebuano term which means STAND UP! More specifically, it refers to defending one’s rights.

Barug! Pilipino’s commitment for good governance is based on democratic principles, good citizenship and faith as Christians, which is translated into a SPIRITUALITY OF SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION.

As you may have heard or read, we are going to have national elections on May 10, 2004 so we have been busy doing our small share in educating some sectors of our citizenry towards responsible voting.

Last April 12-13, 2004 Barug! Pilipino organized a National Consultation on Good Governance which brought together the church hierarchy, social action directors of some dioceses and delegates from covenanted communities and civil society from the three big islands in the Philippines: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Our Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr. opened the two-day consultation and inspired all of us by saying that we have a very good 1987 Constitution which should be our political bible. However, he noted with sadness that we have not appreciated it enough. He then gave each of us a copy to encourage us to study it and make it our guide as Filipino citizens! The convenors of the consultation, Cardinal Vidal of Cebu, Bishops Chito Tagle of Cavite, Tony Ledesma of Ipil, Zamboanga, and Fr. Carmelo Diola of Barug!Pilipino and the 26 delegates issued a joint statement which gave much HOPE to all of us that our country will rise again!

The sharings of the delegates, especially that of Abra which has been successful in monitoring the projects and performance of their local government officials for the past 18 years, has inspired other dioceses to adopt a specific focus and direction for their social action programs. Good governance will be introduced as a new component, done in close collaboration with existing agencies, POs, NGOs and civil society, emphasizing non-threatening or non-intimidating ways and motivating and empowering those who need to do their work properly. The lay covenanted communities were excited with the new understanding that after a process of communal discernment they could endorse a candidate of their choice because they are not bound by the non-partisanship stance of the church hierarchy. It was also inspiring to hear of inter-faith collaboration in the diocese of Bishop Ledesma. There are different initiatives going on in different parts of the country and we are indeed filled with hope and joy!

Two days after the consultation, we had the Youth Concert for HOPE in one of the big malls of Cebu City. Musical bands and choral groups of young people featured songs reminding the youth to work for peace. BARUG! PILIPINO gave a short message to the youth in connection with the national election on May 10, 2004: vote for candidates with conscience, competence and commitment.

What an Easter week it was!! The Risen Jesus was indeed very present in all of our celebrations.

My RSCJ community in Cebu is very much involved with the activities of Barug! Pilipino. The choral groups of Dindin (Gerladine Villaluz rscj) at St. Teresa’s College sang three songs at the youth concert, one with angklung accompaniment. Sandra’s friends and volunteers at the University of Cebu helped out in different capacities for the concert and the creation of a website for Barug! PIlipino. And the Cebu Normal University campus ministry volunteers were busy at the Barug office this summer.

I am happy to have found a new involvement which is very much impelled and animated by faith and moving towards social transformation of our country.