The artist behind the famous painting Hapag ng Pag-Asa and other works depicting Christ in everyday Filipino life passed away last July 20 from a fatal heart attack.  This was posted on his website.

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of our dear friend, Joey Velasco’s recent passing. He suffered from a heart attack and seizures a few days ago. Kindly offer prayers for the eternal rest of his soul. May perpetual light shine upon him.  Let us derive comfort from Joey’s own words, and from the words that have inspired him…

Everyone knows he’s going to die, but nobody seems to be completely and absolutely prepared for it. Nobody lives each day ready to die; life should be lived to the full each day.  This is why I have nothing but respect and awe for the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi:   ”Each night when I go to sleep, I die. And the next morning, when I wake up, I am reborn.”

p.20, “The Niche of Nene,” They Have Jesus by Joey A. Velasco

Here are other links about Joey Velasco.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/07/20/10/heartist-painter-velasco-passes-away

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=536187&publicationSubCategoryId=70

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20080204-116572/Joey-Velascos-journey-in-art-and-life

The oldest Bible, Codes Sinaiticus, believed to be written over 1600 years ago is available online.  According to a Time’s article, the site hosting the images of the Sinaiticus has already had 96.4 million hits in the first 48 hours of being available online.

Time has a list of 10 interesting facts about the world’s oldest Bible.

In a recent editorial entitled, “Two-pronged war against poverty,” Sun Star Cebu, a daily newspaper, claimed that the Philippines’ rising population is “one of the basic causes of pervasive poverty and which has become central to the reproductive health controversy.”

This is false and obsolete thinking.

Numerous economic studies have shown that there is no causal link or correlation between poverty and population growth. In the paper “A Primer on the proposed Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood, and Population Development Consolidated Bill,” Dr. Roberto de Vera cites Nobel Prize winner Simon Kuznets’ 1966 book, Modern Economic Growth: Rate, Structure and Spread, which concluded: “no clear association appears to exist in the present sample of countries, or is likely to exist in other developed countries, between rates of growth of population and of product per capita.”

More recent studies have supported Kuznets’ original conclusion and applied it to all nations in general. De Vera cites five more:

“(1) the 1992 Ross Levine and David Renelt study of the relationship between growth and its determinants found no significant effect of population growth on economic growth;

(2) the 1994 Jeff King and Lant Pritchett study arrived at a similar finding where they allowed the effect of population on economic growth to vary according to the level of development and resource scarcity;

(3) in a 1996 review of the population-growth-poverty relationship, Dennis Ahlburg points out that studies have shown population growth has little or no effect on poverty;

(4) in a 2004 study examining the determinants of long-term growth, Gernot Dopelhoffer, Ronald Miller, and Xavier Sala-I-Martin, found that average annual population growth from 1960-1990 was not robustly correlated with economic growth;

(5) the 2007 Eric Hanushek and Ludger Wommann study found that total fertility rates, which can be seen as an alternative measure of population growth, did not have a statistically significant association with population growth.”

Dr. De Vera goes on to say:

Similar conclusions have been arrived at by the US National Research Council in 1986 and in the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) Consultative Meeting of Economists in 1992.

Moreover, these studies support Kuznets’s explanation of why no direct relationship could be expected between population growth and economic growth. Population growth and economic growth are linked through a “common set of political and social institutions.” Thus, any “direct causal relation” between them “may be quite limited.” Moreover, any relationship that is measured cannot be used as a basis for managing population to affect economic growth.

It is important to note that even if there are recent econometric studies that show that population growth is negatively correlated with per capita income growth in the Philippine case (i.e. an increase in the population growth rate leads to decrease in the per capita income growth rate), these studies cannot conclude that higher population growth rates causes lower per capita income growth rates. It is more probable that there are intervening factors such as those mentioned by Kuznets that may cause economic growth. This these studies cannot serve as bases for a policy that aims to reduce population growth to raise per capita income growth.

For the Sun Star to say that population growth causes poverty is unscientific. Overpopulation is clearly a myth.

The real causes of poverty in the Philippines are massive corruption, bad governance, economic mismanagement, indiscriminate debt servicing, greed, and war (in Mindanao). The so-called “reproductive health” bill and its population control measures will not address these issues; but the Church’s social teaching — if put into practice — certainly will.

(NOTE: This post also appeared in my blog at http://mamador.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/obsolete-thinking-again/)

Archbishop Socrates Villegas plays “Paolo’s Journey.”

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) announced the launch of a new video game on Friday which has a “catechetical value” for kids. St. Paul is the protagonist in the three-dimensional game promoted by the bishops.

The introduction of the video game was so novel that even the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano picked up on the CBCPnews report announcing the initiative, which was created for the Filipino bishops’ Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education.  Continue reading here.

Rome Reports

Taking place right in the heart of NYC, in downtown SoHo, this weekly social discussion forum for young adults in their 20’s and 30’s, will inspire them to grow in their understanding of love and flourish in their relationships. The primary text for discussion will be “Men, Women and the Mystery of Love: Practical Insights from John Paul II’s Love and Responsibility” by Dr. Edward Sri.

In an age of confusion, the needs of young adults often go unmet. Relationships begin and end with arbitrary ease, hearts are broken, and the most common piece of advice is the old adage, “Just do what feels right”.

But we deserve more!

Come join for the very first kick-off event us on Tuesday, July 27!

It will be held at 32 Prince St at the outdoor setting at 7:30pm. In case of bad weather, we have a rain venue at 263 Mulberry st (just around the corner).

It’d be much appreciated if you could bring along chips, dips and/or sips as well!

Bring friends and coworkers, it’ll be a great night out! We’ll also be heading after to a place nearby for food and drinks.

READING 1: The Foundation of Friendship*

http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/marriage/mf0078.html

*We’d encourage you to read this chapter in advance of our discussions. Copies will also be made available every week.

Source

MANILA, July 13, 2010— Pope Benedict XVI will be writing for the first handwritten Bible created by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate (CBCP-ECBA) in collaboration with the Philippine Bible Society (PBS).

The Holy Father will be writing verses of the first and last chapter of the Bible, that is Genesis 1.1 and Revelation 22.21.

The first handwritten Bible intends to create Bible responsiveness and to cultivate love for the Word of God among different sectors in the country.

Organizers said the creation of this Bible is a response to the12th Synod of Bishops and the forthcoming Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Benedict XVI.

The May They Be One handwritten Bible will be divided into two columns. The first column will be the English version while the second column will be in the vernacular. Eight native languages such as Tagalog, Ilocano, Pangasinan, Cebuano, Hiligayon, Samarenyo, Bicol and Pampango will be used in separate editions.

The 35,656 verses from the 78 books of the bible will be written by hand by representatives from various sectors such as the Church, urban/rural poor, OFWs, youth, farmers, government offices like Malacañang, Senate, and Congress; schools, indigenous people, and the fisher folks.

Meanwhile, Roman Catholic and Protestant Bishops will be tasked to author the passages of Genesis 1 and Revelation 22.

The English version of the handwritten passages will be based from the published Catholic editions of the Old and New Testaments while the different languages will be copied from the Popular Versions or the New Testament Books of the Philippine Bible Society (PBS). (Kate Laceda)

The Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Class of 1985, in partnership with the Ayala Foundation USA is proud to present the San Lorenzo Ruiz Choir’s (SLRC) summer concert: CHOIR GOES POP: OPM Collection, July 29, 2010, Thursday at 7:00 pm, Philippine Center, Kalayaan Hall 556 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10036.

We invite you to come and share this evening of Filipino music. For tickets & donation please call : Kay (908) 209-2130 / Anna (917) 747-6397 / Sam (917) 403-6307 or email pshs85nyc@gmail.com. Also visit Facebook.com/sanlorenzoruizchoir; http://sanlorenzoruizchoirnyc.org/. Suggested minimum donation: $15.00

The concert repertoire will include original Filipino inspirational songs and Metropop favorites, and promises to delight SLRC’s growing list of fans in the metro NY area.

The San Lorenzo Ruiz Choir (SLRC) is a New York music ministry brought together by a devotion to the first Filipino saint. Besides regularly singing during masses at St. Lucy’s Catholic Church and Our Lady of Pompeii Church – both in New York City, the choir also provides music at special liturgical feasts and events. These included: the annual San Lorenzo Ruiz Feast Day Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral (2007-2009); Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome for the 20th anniversary of San Lorenzo’s canonization (2007); “Sanlibong Buhay: A Musical Tribute to San Lorenzo Ruiz” (2007, Sta. Pudenziana Church, Rome); the “Pinoy Aid Benefit Concert for Typhoon Ketsana Victims” (2009); the Mass for Haiti’s earthquake victims (2010, Philippine Consulate General in New York) and “Then Came Sunday” – an Easter Musical (2010).

SLRC’s Music Directors are tenors Rogelio Peñaverde, Jr. and Leo Paolo Leal. Mr. Peñaverde is currently pursuing a career in opera, while Mr. Leal is an alumnus of the world-renowned Philippine Madrigal Singers. Both are actively singing professionally in New York and are alumni of the Manhattan School of Music.

The choir will also be joined by Enrico Lagasca, also alumnus of Philippine Madrigal Singers and is currently a member of Oratorio Society of NY and St. Patrick’s Cathedral Choir, Wilhelmina Manuel an alumnus of UST Singers and Philadelphia-based pianist Clement Acevedo will provide the music accompaniment. He is an alumnus of the Temple University Boyer College of Music and Dance.

Major sponsors of the event are GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and Filipino Association of Flushing Hospital Medical Center.

Part of the proceeds from this concert will benefit the PSHS Teachers Healthcare Fund and Philippine Typhoon Reconstruction project through Ayala Foundation – USA.

Thanks to Catholic.net and their volunteers in Mexico, the first complete Catholic Bible made available for keyword search is now online. The new Catholic Bible (English and Spanish) Search Engine was launched last May 13 with partial funding coming from the US Bishop’s Conference. Here is the link.

METROPOLITAN ARCHBISHOPS WHO WILL RECEIVE THE PALLIUM

source:  Vatican Information Service

VATICAN CITY, 22 JUN 2010 (VIS) – At 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday 29 June, Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul Apostles, Benedict XVI will preside at a Eucharistic concelebration with the following 38 metropolitan archbishops upon whom he will impose the pallium:

- Archbishop Luis Gerardo Herrera O.F.M. of Cuenca, Ecuador.

- Archbishop Alex Thomas Kaliyanil S.V.D. of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

- Archbishop Gerard Tlali Lerotholi O.M.I. of Maseru, Lesotho.

- Archbishop Antonio Fernando Saburido O.S.B. of Olinda and Recife, Brazil.

- Archbishop Albert Legatt of Saint-Boniface, Canada.

- Archbishop Gualtiero Bassetti of Perugia – Citta della Pieve, Italy.

- Archbishop Andrea Bruno Mazzocato of Udine, Italy.

- Archbishop Gabriel Mblinghi C.S.Sp. of Lubango, Angola.

- Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, Philippines.

- Archbishop Constancio Miranda Weckmann of Chihuahua, Mexico.

- Archbishop Bernard Longley of Birmingham, England.

- Archbishop Juan Jose Asenjo Pelegrina of Seville, Spain.

- Archbishop Jerome Edward Listecki of Milwaukee, U.S.A.

- Archbishop Samuel Kleda of Douala, Cameroon.

- Archbishop Jesus Sanz Montes O.F.M. of Oviedo, Spain.

- Archbishop Anton Stres C.M. of Ljubljana, Slovenia.

- Archbishop Joseph Atanga S.J. of Bertoua, Cameroon.

- Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town, South Africa.

- Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr of Cincinnati, U.S.A.

- Archbishop Alberto Taveira Correa of Belem do Para, Brazil.

- Archbishop Andre-Mutien Leonard of Mechelen-Brussels, Belgium.

- Archbishop Antonio Lanfranchi of Modena – Nonantola, Italy.

- Archbishop Dominik Duka O.P. of Prague, Czech Republic.

- Archbishop Ricardo Antonio Tobon Restrepo of Medellin, Colombia.

- Archbishop Jose Domingo Ulloa Mendieta O.S.A. of Panama, Panama.

- Archbishop Francis Kallarakal of Verapoly, India.

- Archbishop Desire Tsarahazana of Toamasina, Madagascar.

- Archbishop Ricardo Blazquez Perez of Valladolid, Spain.

- Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-joong of Kwangju, Korea.

- Archbishop Luis Madrid Merlano of Nueva Pamplona, Colombia.

- Archbishop Thomas Gerard Wenski of Miami, U.S.A.

- Archbishop Peter Smith of Southwark, England.

- Archbishop Jozef Kowalczyk of Gniezno, Poland.

- Archbishop Pierre Nguyen Van Nhon of Hanoi, Vietnam.

- Archbishop Matthias Kobena Nketsiah of Cape Coast, Ghana.

- Archbishop Bernard Bober of Kosice, Slovakia.

- Archbishop Carlos Garfias Merlos of Acapulco, Mexico.

- Archbishop Luigi Moretti of Salerno – Campagna – Acerno, Italy.

OCL/                                                                         VIS 20100622 (370)

Vatican Time Warp
The newsmagazine launches a snide attack on the Pope.
By George Weigel
Posted: Friday, June 4, 2010

ARTICLE
National Review Online
Publication Date: June 4, 2010

It’s not easy to understand the decision of Time’s editors to run the magazine’s current (June 7) cover story, with its cheesy title, “Why Being Pope Means Never Having to Say You’re Sorry.” The lengthy essay inside breaks no news; it recycles several lame charges against Benedict XVI that have been flatly denied or effectively rebutted; and it indulges an adolescent literary style (e.g., “mealymouthed declarations buttressed by arcane religious philosophy”) that makes one yearn and pine for the days of Henry Luce.

The lengthy story is also poorly sourced, relying (as many such exercises do) on alleged “Vatican insiders” and giving analytic pride of place to the Italian Church historian Alberto Melloni.

As real Vatican insiders know, real Vatican insiders don’t give back-stabbing and score-settling sound bites to the American media. That practice is more typically indulged in by clerics far down the Vatican food chain, monsignori who have no real idea of what’s happening within the small circle where real decisions get made inside the Leonine Wall, but who are happy to chat up journalists over a cappuccino or a Campari and soda while pretending to a knowledge they don’t possess. Such sources can be occasionally amusing; they are almost never authoritative. Please continue reading here.