By Jesse Jose

A Cup O' Kapeng Barako

H e's got guts.  He's got courage.  He's got chutzpah. 

He's the personification of the Black Knight, one of the Camelot Knights, who had the courage to challenge King Arthur to a fight.  He then broke the King's sword in three pieces. And wonderfully kicked the King's royal butt.  Luckily for King Arthur, an old man rescued him and nursed back him to health.  Y'all know that story, right?

And yes, just in time this Black Knight came to Seattle, Washington and rescued me.  Y'all know this story, too, right?

As I wrote in my previous two columns, I've been waging a fight myself against fellow Knights of the Knights of Columbus of our Holy family Church here in Auburn, Washington. And getting ganged up and that anytime now, I'll be captured, tied to a stake, tortured and burned. 

I am a "heretic" daw. 

And zealots, bigots and fundamentalists among this Knights of Columbus that I belong to, have told me in no uncertain terms that I ought to leave the "One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church" and seek another faith.  Can you imagine that? 

Kind of scary, I tell ya.  It brings to mind the KKK, which is also a brotherhood of believers, consisting of zealots, bigots and fun(ny)damentalists (sic), whose symbol is also the Cross. A burning Cross.  

And the reason for this wishful, wishy-washy expulsion of mine as a Knight was because I refused to support our Archbishop, the Most Reverend J. Peter Sartain, through a Referendum that would UNDO the law on same sex marriage that has been approved by our state legislators and signed into law by our governor.

Because, you see, our elected leaders of Washington state believe in Equal Rights for all.  But our Archbishop does not believe in it and has told all churches in our diocese and the Knights of Columbus to spread out and fight this law.

So, all the Knights of our church went on a Crusade to seek signatures against this law.  I was personally given a sheet by our Grand Knight to gather forty signatures for this referendum that I view as an anti-equal rights sheet of trash.  So I threw that sheet in the trash, where it belongs!

Several parish priests in churches under the domain of Archbishop Sartain have also dubbed this referendum as "anti-equality."  These churches are: St. James Cathedral, St. Mary's, St. Joseph's, St. Louise's, St. Patrick's, the Christ Our Hope Church, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Our Lady of the Lake Church.

THE GOLDEN RULE OF THE BLACK KNIGHT: So, you may ask, who's this Black Knight who came to Seattle, Washington, to rescue me?  None other than the man himself, President Barack Obama. 

A day after endorsing gay marriage on ABC News, he came here and took sides, telling a cheering crowd of Seattleites that "everybody, regardless of sexual orientation" should all be "treated fairly."

He said that this stance of his is deeply-rooted in the Holy Bible that says "to treat others the way you would want to be treated."

Mr. Obama said he arrived at the decision to support gay marriage from talking with gay friends, his two daughters and his wife and several others that in the end, his Christian faith and the Golden Rule and the values that he cares most deeply about, factored in.

He had cited religion in opposing same-sex marriage when he campaigned for president, but a few years later declared his position as "evolving."

Supporting equal rights for all Americans, including same-sex marriage with all its attendant rights and responsibilities, is the right thing to to do.

As Kathleen Parker, a Washington Post syndicated columnist, said, "In this respect, Obama may have evolved in his thinking, as millions of other American have, including yours truly."

And yours truly, too, Dear Readers.

And ... as Leonard Pitts Jr., a Miami Herald syndicated columnist and a multiple-times Pulitzer Prize Award winner, said: "It was a historic moment from a historic president, a moment of POLITICAL COURAGE ... and the timing was serendipity itself."

"Obama's embrace of marriage equality," Mr. Pitts said, "offers not just a REBUKE to one's .... atavistic backwardness, but also a bracing reminder that progress will not be denied, that change comes, come what may."

And, that's the American way!  God bless President Obama.  And, God bless America. 

I have evolved, too, Dear Readers. I used to be for Mitt Romney. Now, I am for Obama.  He's my kind of a heroic 21st-century Black Knight.  For he fights for EQUALITY for all!  The magical Excalibur sword truly and rightfully belongs to him in slaying more zealots and bigots in this world, especially those in camouflaged as Knights kuno.  JJ

JGL Eye Column

By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA

(© 2012 Journal Group Link International)

C HICAGO (jGLi) – From the early fifties, after every time a Philippine President visited the White House in an annual ritual, he would get home to the Philippines always with a largess (U.S. foreign aid) to brag around.

As a result, Filipino politicians got the impression that the Philippines and the United States really had “special relation.” But in reality, there was really no such relation to speak of because at that time any U.S. President was in default to help any Philippine President no matter how bad or how good he handled the human rights or labor rights issues in the Philippines. Why?

Because the Philippines was at the time hosting twin U.S. naval (Subic Bay) and air force (Clark Field) bases.

That situation changed in 1992 when the Philippine Senate shut down the two huge U.S. military bases in response to the clamor of Filipino nationalists that those bases were intruding into the Philippine sovereignty.

Since then, when a Philippine President would go to the U.S., the Filipino head of state would no longer be hosted to the usual state or official visit. A new word was introduced into the political lexicon: a “working visit,” which is extended to a chief of state or head of government at the invitation of the U.S. President. A working visit normally consists of a meeting with the President at the White House, but without a luncheon, dinner or formal press availability. There is no gift exchange and spouses do not attend the luncheon. This happened with the last visit of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the White House.

PH, ONE OF 142 COUNTRIES

T here were only a couple of state dinners hosted by President Obama lately: for the heads of state of Great Britain and emerging superpower India.

Just like any of the 142 nations, which receive foreign aid from the U.S., the Philippines will now have to stay at the back of the line with its empty hat waiting for donation.

Despite the absence of its U.S. bases, the Philippines can still avail of other foreign assistance: bilateral development aid, economic assistance supporting U.S. political and security goals, humanitarian aid, and multilateral economic contributions.

The Philippines should never entertain thoughts of getting that generous military aid despite the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

Most of the aids available for the Philippines have what Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario calls ties to the so-called “conditionalities.” The Philippines, like any other countries, would now have to go thru the eye of the needle to get these U.S. foreign aids. No more VIP treatment.

For instance, at the tail end of the 2+2 meeting by Secretary Del Rosario and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and their U.S. counterparts U.S. State Department Secretary Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Mr. Del Rosario was asking publicly for the release of the whole $30-million Foreign Military Financing since only $3-million or 10 percent of total has so far been released.

In other words, if Mr. Del Rosario would like to get the whole pie, his government has to “earn” it. It is not going to be presented to him in a silver platter.

The $30-million could not just be released by the U.S. State Department. These monies can only be released if the Department would be satisfied with the human-rights situation in the Philippines.

NO HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES MEAN RELEASE OF FOREIGN AID

If the U.S. State Department stops receiving human-rights complaints in the Philippines, then, the U.S. State Department would have no recourse but to release the foreign aid in full. Complaints that reach the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines are forwarded to the U.S. State Department, which usually makes annual country reports about the human rights situation in the Philippines and other countries. Sources of complaints are usually Philippine mass media, the human rights victims themselves, non-government organizations (NGO’s), etc.

Bases of human rights reports are internationally recognized individual, civil, political, and worker rights, as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international agreements. The U.S. Department of State submits reports on all countries receiving assistance and all United Nations member states to the U.S. Congress in accordance with the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Trade Act of 1974.

So, next time the Philippine government will make a pitch for U.S. foreign aid, it should first do its homework by making sure that its security forces, like the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation, etc. are properly trained to prevent human-rights violations in handling people under their custody.

 A “foreign aid” that President Aquino could gift wrap from his upcoming visit to the White House would have been the passage by U.S. Congress of the pending “Save Our Industries Act” (S. 1244). If not, he can ask Mr. Obama to issue an Executive Order that contains provisions of the bill.

But Mr. Aquino might run into opposition from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative if it resolves that there are widespread labor-rights violations in the Philippines, notably the union busting of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) by PAL management, the Philippine Labor Secretary and Malacañang.

The Save Act had been endorsed by Secretary Clinton to the U.S. Congress. But U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Ron Kirk, who also holds a Cabinet position, could have the last word on the bill. Mr. Kirk is mandated to “review pending country practices related to concerns about internationally recognized workers rights,” including 1) the right of association, 2) the right to organize and bargain collectively, 3) freedom from compulsory labor, 4) a minimum age for the employment of children, and 5) acceptable conditions of work with respect to minimum wages, hours of work and occupational safety and health.”

Even if Ambassador Kirk was President Obama’s official representative to the inauguration of President Noynoy Aquino and even if Save Act had picked up the endorsement of Secretary Clinton, Mr. Kirk cannot betray his mandate by giving the Philippines “special or preferential treatment” if he finds labor-rights violations in the Philippines.

I just hope President Aquino will not be going back to the Philippines empty handed after his White House visit. # # #

Editor’s Note: To contact the author, please e-mail him at: (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)

Once upon a time there was a rich King who had four wives. And of course, his mother.

He loved the fourth wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved his third wife very much and was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another man or monarch. 

He also loved his second wife. She was his confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her and she would help him get through the difficult times.

The King's first wife was a very-loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the first wife. Although she loved him deeply, he hardly ever noticed her.

One day the King fell ill and he knew his time was short. He thought of his luxurious life and wondered, "I now have four wives with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone."

Thus, he asked the fourth wife, "I have loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I am dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"No way!" replied the fourth wife and she walked away without another word. Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.

The sad King then asked his third wife, "I have loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"No!" she replied. "Life is too good! When you die, I am going to remarry!" The King’s heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the second wife, "I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die will you follow me and keep me company?"

"I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the second wife. "At the very most, I can send you to your grave." Her answer came like a bolt of lightning and the King was devastated.

Then a voice called out: "I'll leave with you and follow you no matter where you go."

The King looked up, and there was his first wife. She was so skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the King said, "I should have taken better care of you when I had the chance!"

B ut then if the King in this story becomes like King Herod, who was punished by God for all his evil ways, perhaps even the first wife will not be at his death bed. As what supposedly happened in the sad story of King Herod, whose body was racked by numerous lesions and boils with worms crawling from the inside of the wounds. Everybody in King Herod's court, including his many wives and harem deserted him. At the very end, there was supposedly only the mother of King Herod who remained at his death bed, nursing him and cleaning his body of maggots and worms. As the idiom goes, "only a mother can love" at the very end an evil man like King Herod.

In reality, all persons have four proverbial spouses in their lives. And of course the person's mother.

The fourth spouse is our body. No matter how much time and effort was lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die.

Our third spouse is the sum total of our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they will all go to others.

Our second spouse is our family and friends. No matter how much they been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is accompany our remains only up to the grave.

B ut the first spouse is like our Soul. Often our soul (and Mom) are neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world. However, our Soul is the only thing left in us wherever we go to the Great Beyond. So cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now because our soul will follow us to the next life and stay with ourselves throughout eternity. And of course we must cherish our Mom, for she may be the only woman who is left in the room as we are about to close our eyes for the last time in our respective death beds. # # #

(This parable was rewritten from an article sent by Johnny Chua of Walnut, California. He is the president of the Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce of San Gabriel Valley. The original article did not contain the King Herod portion.)

By Marissa Acierto | SCCPress.com

B ONITA, CA - Many individuals piled up in the room on the evening of April 27, 2012 for the All Groups United (AGU) Candidates Forum Meet and Greet on Friday at 6 p.m.  It was held at the Bonita-Sunnyside Branch, San Diego County Library on 4375 Bonita Road and over 100 attendees including 15 candidates and 1 representative.  

The following 2012 candidates who attended and spoke were San Diego Mayoral Honorable Bob Filner;  Greg Moody, Representative of San Diego Mayoral Honorable Carl DeMaio; Honorable Greg Cox, Board of Supervisor, District 1;
Mateo Camarillo, San Diego City Council, District 9; Honorable Long Pham, Ph.D., 72nd State Assembly (Orange County); Honorable Mary England, 79th State Assembly; Honorable Rudy Ramirez, 79th State Assembly; Pat Washington, Ph.D., 79th State Assembly; Honorable Shirley Weber, Ph.D., 79th State Assembly; David Berry, San Diego Superior Court Judge, Seat #24.

The candidates that were invited but did not show up due to conflicting schedules were San Diego Mayoral Honorable Bonnie Dumanis; San Diego Mayoral Honorable Nathan Fletcher; Honorable Marti Emerald, San Diego City Council, District 9.

The emcee who moderated professionally and had raved reviews was TV Reporter Melissa Mecija from KGTV Channel 10.  Melissa Mecija joined the 10News team in July 2010. She reports on the latest traffic conditions during 10News This Morning. In the afternoon she reports on local news stories that impact San Diegans. She came to San Diego from KCBS/KCAL in Los Angeles, where she covered her hometown of Orange County as a video journalist and web reporter. Prior to that, Melissa served as a reporter and fill-in anchor/weather forecaster for KSBY in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. She covered several major wildfires in Santa Barbara County and numerous high-profile trials.  Melissa began her broadcasting career as a reporter/weekend anchor for KYMA in El Centro, California/Yuma, Arizona. Some of her most memorable stories in the Desert Southwest include skydiving with the U.S. Army Golden Knights, covering visits by former President George W. Bush, exploring underground drug tunnels, and reporting on former President Gerald Ford’s funeral services. Melissa graduated from UC Irvine with an honors degree in political science and a degree in psychology. She volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters and is an active member of the Asian-American Journalist Association.   

Reverend Emmanuel "Manny" Cabildo delivered the invocation.  Manny was a former president of the Filipino-American Veterans Association and the co-founder of the Concerned Filipino-American Club of San Diego County (CFAC).  Manny was one of the main organizers for the successful AGU Candidate Forum for 2012.

The musical instrument performers on the violin were one of the best youth talents in San Diego County: Chenelle Barrett (San Diego Youth Symphony); Leeann Hu; Kim Phan (San Diego Youth Symphony).

Oscar Sa. Garcia, the current president and co-founder of the Concerned Filipino American Club (CFAC) headed the pledge of allegiance.  Under Oscar's leadership as former president of COPAO, the legacy he leaves for the Filipino's in San Diego County is that they raised funds and negotiated to purchase the COPAO building in National City.  It now stands as an epi-hub center for the Filipino-American Communities.

Another rising performer is Fresas Flores-Balistreri, who has mastered the art of being a songbird in the 2012 era.  A talented performer who is the Regional Associate of Carnegie Hall Royal Conservatory "The Achievement Program" and as a Music Teacher for the La Jolla Conservatory of Music and a UC Berkeley Alumni.

The highlight of the evening was the candidates for the 51st Congressional District.  It was the first time ever that all the 6 candidates accepted attendance:  John Brooks II; Michael Crimmins; Honorable Denise Moreno Ducheny; Xanthi Gionis; Bernard Portley; Honorable Juan Vargas.

The candidates were asked questions, they answered and their time monitored by a timekeeper, Antonio Garcia.

Channel 10News awaited and stayed for at least two hours for the forum to begin and end. Preston Phillips, TV Reporter for Channel 10 expressed their views of the 51st Congressional Candidates.  The televised and linked is noted below from the Channel 10's website. 

Vargas Speaks On Debate-Ducking Allegations, Abortion Bill - San Diego News Story - KGTV San Diego
http://www.10news.com/news/30971906/detail.html

Denise Moreno Ducheny was in Washington, D.C., and arrived at the San Diego International Airport on the same day at 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Ducheny luckily made it to the forum even though she was several minutes late.  It was still commendable. Meanwhile, all the other candidates were awaiting their other opponent, Ducheny. 

Juan Vargas commented in one of his answers that he was not dodging any forum, he just wanted to have all the candidates to be at the forum not with two selective candidates of choice such as himself and Ducheny.  He expressed good thoughts about candidates Michael Crimmins and respects him because he is a Veteran.  He proudly said, "I am here and thanked the organizers for inviting everyone." 

Meanwhile, Portley who has not attended a forum came out of the woodworks and made a comment that he was new at this.  However, one expressed it was commendable that he attended and represented his stand on community issues.

Crimmins, Brooks and Xanthi felt very comfortable with the forum setting.  A prominent African American individual felt that Xanthi had a strong deliverance and was a potential candidate.  Vargas coming into the forum was like a Presidential election was beginning instead of a Congressional. 

Reverend Cornelio "Corning" Evangelista delivered the closing remarks. He gave a spiritual prayer to end it for all candidates to be better leaders and to pursue the quest to help the community.  Corning is presently the Director for Operation Samahan, a health clinic that started to assist Filipino immigrants and citizens.  It now serves many multi-ethnic underserved communities.  Corning is also an author and celebrity hilot (hilot is ancient Filipino art for healing) for actor Mario Lopez,  Congressman and professional boxer Manny Pacquiao and many others.

The All Groups United thanked:   The DJ Service of Mark Mon from www.3wisemendjs.com; Moderator and Emcee Melissa Mecija; Channel 10News Team; the performers; Joe Long and James Cole (program); Oscar Sa. Garcia; Julio de Guzman; Emmanuel "Manny" Cabildo; Anita "Nitz" Willett; Mr. Willett; Antonio Garcia; Eddie Enriquez; Regina Ong-Garcia; Lydia Loristo; Veronica Garcia; Donard Cayabyab; Peggy Cayabyab; Maxine Sherard; Bob Crider and many others contributors.

The AGU's main mission is to "Build Coalitions, empower communities, educating, strengthening our communities."

HOSTS ORGANIZATIONS: Asian Community Luncheon (Serving since 2010) Co-founder:  Joe Long and Julio de Guzman | Asian Journal San Diego (Traditional and Online Print Media, Events, Radio) (Serving since 1987)

Publisher: Sim Silverio; Managing Editor:  Genevieve "Gen" Silverio and Santi Silverio | Concerned Filipino American Club of San Diego County (CFAC), (Serving since 2010) Co-founder:  Oscar Sa. Garcia, Emmanuel "Manny" Cabildo, Eddie Enriquez, M. Acierto | Filipino American Veterans Association (FAVA) (Serving since 193Os) Secretary Emmanuel "Manny" Cabildo | Filipino Press (Traditional and Online Print Media, Events) (Serving since 1986) Publisher and Marketing Manager:  Susan de los Santos. Founder:  Ernie Flores | Pagasa-Tumainisha-Esperanza-Hope Inc. (PTE-HOPE, Inc.), Filipino/API-African American-Latino-Caucasian/European American and Others, Diversity/Multicultural, Cultural Understanding (Serving since 2006) Vice President Maxine Sherard,  Ph.D., Assistant Treasurer, Gerald Espiritu Co-founder:  Maxine Sherard, Lydia Loristo, Eddie Enriquez, M. Camarillo, M. Acierto |Pampagueno Association of San Diego County (Serving since 1970's) President Troy Vargas;
Former President Anita "Nitz" Willett; Current Board member
Former President Casimiro "Roy" Bautista | Pangasinan Association of San Diego County
(Serving since 1967) President Julio de Guzman, Executive Vice President Romy Crena |Presidents Lions Club (Serving since 2006) President (Incoming)  Neva Von Lato | SCCPress.com; The Southern California Community News; Southern California Community Press (Serving since 2006) Founder:  Marissa Acierto; Co-Founder:  2011, Regina Ong-Garcia and E. Enriquez | Vietnamese American Voters Alliance (Serving since 2010). Founder:  Joe Long | Women Esprit de Corps, (Serving since 1996)
President Sherry Hunter, Co-founder: Debbie Cruz and M. Acierto. # # #

By Jesse Jose

A Cup O' Kapeng Barako

I am a Knight.  No, not that "Knight in Shining Armor."  I am done with that role.  I've saved enough damsels in distress in my lifetime. 

I am a member of the Knights of Columbus of our Holy Family Catholic Church here in Auburn, Washington. And a heated debate rages between my fellow Knights and myself. I am being ganged-up, in fact, like it's me against the world kind of thing, within this "brotherhood of knights" that I belonged to. 

And that anytime now, I'll be captured, tied to a stake and BURNED as a witch and a heretic!

Here in my beautiful state of Washington, known throughout the United States of America and world-wide as the "Evergreen" state, our Legislature passed a bill and our governor, Gov. Chris Gregoire had signed into a law that would allow same-sex couples to marry.

This law becomes effective this month of June, UNLESS more than 120,557 signatures can be collected to put a referendum, called Referendum 74, on the ballot this coming November elections.

Our Seattle archbishop, the Most Reverend J. Peter Sartain, vehemently opposed this legislation and an ala-Cardinal Sin's "pastoral letters" (y'all remember our own Filipino Cardinal Sin during the time of President Marcos, right?), had also wrote his own pastoral letter, that approved the gathering of signatures that would UNDO this law of our state.

Our governor said that passing this law is a "milestone for equal rights."  I agree. 

And that this law, as clearly explained by The Seattle Times would not, should not and does not "INTERFERE with the exercise or proclamation of Catholic religious values, sacraments or practices."  That's a fact! 

And that this law allowing same-sex couples in the state of Washington "to raise families, as recognized within the rights and responsibilities of state marriage laws would promote social stability" something devoutly desired by many Catholics and by majority of the residents of Washington.  Yes, indeed!

Several parishes in our diocese, notably St. James Cathedral and St. Joseph's have expressed that: "We are a diverse community that welcomes, accepts and celebrates the differences we all bring."

Yes!  Amen!  Amen to that!

BUT our good archbishop, said, "Ain't no way, Hosay!"  He said all good Catholics MUST sign the petition to undo the law and called on all the Knights of Columbus in every churches to spread out and seek signatures that will overturn this law.

I suppose I am not a good Catholic for I vehemently refused and disobeyed this commandment of Archbishop Sartain.  So, I've been ganged-up by fellow Knights and past and present Grand Knights and Advocates of our Council. 

I fought them hard and argued like "hell" ... so to speak 

I argued that the ESSENCE of Referendum 74 is not within the teachings of our Lord Jesus.  I argued that Lord Jesus IS the Lord of COMPASSION and INCLUSION.  And that one of Lord Jesus's most important commandments is: "Love your neighbor as you love yourself."

I described a scene in the Bible where the "children" tried to come close to Jesus, the apostles drove them away, but Lord Jesus said, "Let them come to me."

That "neighbor" and those "children" could be those gays and lesbians Archbishop Sartain and Referendum74 are excluding, I said. 

My fellow Knights fired their volleys that "marriage is only between a man and a woman."  They quoted verses and passages from the Old Testament and the New Testament that read, "marriage is only between a man and a woman."  They picked out verses for me to see from the Genesis and the Corinthians and the Ephesians and such.

HOMOSEXUALITY AND PEDOPHILIA: They said homosexuality is a sin.  I fired back that pedophilia and the rape of innocent children that numerous Catholic priests all over the world have committed, tolerated and tried to bury under the Church's rug, is a MORE EVIL SIN than homosexuality.

Back and forth, on and on, we went.  Finally, I said, we are "talking in circles."  So, someone named Fred suggested and offered his "closing thoughts.," excerpts of which, reads:

Jesse .... My Archbishop has asked me, in good faith, to sign this Referendum as he is my local point of contact with the Magisterium which is the Teaching Authority of the Church....  Please no more name-calling or accusations of the Brotherhood of Believers.  Fred 

Here's mine:

Hello Fred ... Good morning.  How are you?  Thank you for your closing thoughts on Referendum 74.  I, too, have my own closing thoughts.  May I also say mine?  But I need you to get off your high horse first and talk to me on level ground, with an open heart and an open mind.  That way we can really understand each other and see clearly each other's thoughts.

And if you don't mind, may I ask this question: Who is this person that you referred to as, "MY ARCHBISHOP"?  Your own Archbishop?  Yours and yours alone?  Oh, please! 

Well, in that case, I, too, have my own Archbishop and his name is Elijah.  You know him, don't you?  He was also called, Elias. 

Another thing: What's this "Brotherhood of Believers"?  Who are they?  The KKK is also a BROTHERHOOD of Believers?  And, what names did I call this "Brotherhood of Believers" of yours?  What did I accuse them of?  In fact, you're the one who had accused me of accusing your "brotherhood of believers" of I don't know what!  I merely stated my opinion, and stating one's opinion is nowhere near the definition of the word, "accusing."

May I veer away from that subject for a moment?  Have you heard of Galileo and about his persecution by the Catholic Church?  He was persecuted as a HERETIC because the mighty Catholic hierarchy in the 1600's LITERALLY interpreted from one of the Psalms of David, Psalms 104:5 that reads:

"THE EARTH IS FIRMLY FIXED; IT SHALL NOT BE MOVED."

We have to put in mind, Fred, that the Psalms are poems and songs of praises that David wrote and sang to the Lord.  And poems and songs are metaphors!  In that verse, David was praising the Lord for the beautiful world the Lord had created for us. 

But it was this particular verse of metaphors that shackled the minds of men for thousand of years and held back the advance of science.   

It was this verse that was used as evidence against Galileo, who argued for the theory of Copernicus, that the EARTH IS NOT IMMOVABLE, BUT ROTATES AROUND THE SUN.

CRIME OF HERESY BY GALILEO: It was for contradicting this verse that Galileo was called to Rome in 1663 and tried for the CRIME OF HERESY.  Galileo, in his 70's then, was taken down into the dungeons of the church and shown the instruments of torture that were going to be used on him if he did not recant what he wrote.  Fearing torture, and fearing that he might end up sharing the fate of Giordano Bruno, whom the Church BURNED at the stake a generation earlier for the CRIME OF HERESY, Galileo recanted the truth that the earth was NOT "fixed" and flat ... and he was confined to his home under house arrest, neither allowed to leave or to receive visitors till he died.

Robert Bellarmine, the Cardinal then of the Roman Catholic Church said:

"To affirm that the Sun is really FIXED in the center of heavens and that the earth revolves very swiftly around the sun is a very "DANGEROUS THING ... INJURING OUR HOLY FAITH, making the SACRED PRINCIPLES FALSE.  He added, "Freedom of belief is pernicious.  It is nothing but the FREEDOM TO BE WRONG."

In 1864. Pope Pius IX wrote:

.  The Divine Revelation is perfect and, therefore, it is NOT subject to continual and indefinite progress in order to correspond with the progress of human reason.

.  No man is free to embrace and profess that religion which he believes to be true, guided by the light of reason.

.  The Church has the power to define dogmatically the religion of the Catholic Church to be the ONLY TRUE RELIGION.

.  It is necessary even in the present day that the Catholic religion shall be held as the ONLY RELIGION of the state, to exclusion of other forms of worship.

.  The Roman Pontiff cannot and ought NOT to reconcile himself or agree with progress, liberalism and modern civilization.

Dear Readers, can you imagine that kind of thinking by a Pope of the Roman Catholic Church?  Susmaryusep!  Daig pa ang Taliban.

In 1992, hallelujah and praise the Lord, Pope John Paul II, with all HUMILITY, formally apologized for the persecution of Galileo, as a heretic. 

So, what am I saying, Fred? 

That nobody is INFALLIBLE, even that person you have referred to as "My Archbishop."  Lord Jesus is the only Perfect One "on earth as it is in heaven."  And, if I may I say again: He is our mighty God of Inclusion and Compassion, and I believe with all my heart and soul, that Referendum 74 is NOT within his teachings! 

Thank you, Fred, for hearing me out ... and if I have offended you and the Brotherhood of Believers within our church, please forgive me.  Res Ipsa Loquitur. 

And to all of you, my Dear Readers, thank you, once again, for reading my story.  That's all.  JJ

By Jesse Jose

A Cup O' Kapeng Barako

I 've gotten several interesting and different pro and con responses from my story last week on Referendum 74, the modern day "Inquisition" of Gays and Lesbians by the Catholic Church. These people who wrote them were not those, who we may call the average two-sentence letter-writers, but from highly-intelligent, highly-educated, prolific letter-writers.

They wrote about their beliefs on this issue, as well as their beliefs on God.  I cannot fit them all within the space of this column.  One came from a nun and one from a "devil," named Salvahey2, and several more from my detractors and critics ... and, believe it or not, from someone who seemed to be an honest-to-goodness moron.  I deleted the letter of the moron. Grabe, I tell ya.

I've saved the worthy ones though to share with my readers.  This first letter came from Romy Marquez, a Toronto, Canada-based colleague and cyberspace friend, whom I respect and admire.  He wrote:

Pareng Jesse ... Without going into details, I'd like to say that I am against same-sex marriage not because I disfavor gays and lesbians.  On the contrary, I am for inclusion.

Marriage to me is between man and woman, period, whether it's civil or church-sanctioned.

My belief is rooted in the ability of the human race to perpetuate the species.  Can you imagine a world of same-sex marriage all throughout?  That'll be the end of the human race; the human race will be extinguished like the dinosaur simply because of a failure to procreate.

I'll leave the discussion of other issues affecting same-sex marriage to pundits.  Thanks and best regards.

My response to Romy's comments?  Thanks, Pareng Romy.  I understand.

A LETTER FROM "DOC" LEE: Now, this one came Lee Licerio of San Diego, California, who I call, "Doc Lee" in our Internet letter-writing to each other.  Like me, he's a retired US Navy man and a Vietnam veteran ... and a former English and Literature professor at the University of the Philippines in Manila.  This is what he said:

Jesse, I just finished reading your latest salvo on your continuing discussion with your fellow Knights.

I had to take care first of a few emails I haven't answered lately. I have been up to my neck with things to do and appointments and people to see and this and that. You know what I mean.

Jesse, you don't need me or anybody else to help you defend your position. You did a wonderful job! I agree a hundred percent with everything you said! It is uncanny that we share the same abhorrence of dogmatic reasoning and "know-it-all" people. You stated your position clearly, persuasively and passionately. I like that fire! I like that passion! I do share many things with you.

Jesse, I was not baptized a Catholic as an infant. My grandfather fought the Spaniards with Aguinaldo during our war for independence. He disliked the Catholic church with a passion.  I was his first-born grandson and he would not let my parents get me baptized as a Catholic. 

I became an Aglipayan (Philippine Independent Church). Something happened to me in 1953 which forever changed my life and my faith.  (I will let you read my story telling the miracle of prayers to a special Lady).  I asked to be  baptized a Catholic. I told you this to let you know that I am a Catholic by choice and not by happenstance.

As I get older, I've gotten more and more disappointed with the Church's dogmatism and its refusal to grow with time. I am bothered by the way it takes the Church hierarchy many centuries to admit mistakes. The Galileo case you wrote about is a good example.

I was old enough when Vatican II convened in 1962. I was hoping that "the pill" would become an accepted contraceptive. I was married by then and thinking that there had to be a better way to prevent pregnancy other than the "Roman roulette" of good days and bad days to have intercourse. How do you tell a "horny" sailor no because it is a "bad" day? Even then I was thinking why not women as priests? These things didn't happen.

I am a Catholic because I still believe that it is the closest to my core beliefs. The dogmatism of its hierarchy I attribute to their mistaken thinking that changes will lessen their hold to power.

As I told Bobo, I am not a theologian.  I am just a Catholic who sins every day by not agreeing with my priest, my archbishop and my pope.  God will forgive me.

DOC LEE'S LETTER TO BOBO ABOUT GOD: Curious, I asked Lee, "Who is Bobo?" 

"Xia Hong Bo (nicknamed Elsie or Bobo)," Lee said, "is one the Chinese students that we hosted for a couple of months last January.  A couple of months ago after two USC Chinese students were murdered in Los Angeles, Bobo emailed me and asked about God.  How does one explain to a non-believer the presence or the reality of God?"

"Bobo grew up in Communist China," Lee said, "where Christian Churches are controlled and even persecuted.  I really feel inadequate when discussing God and religion.  My faith is very personal."  Lee said that he had "to answer the question put to me by someone groping for answer."

When I read Lee's letter to Bobo, I told Lee that "it was a beautiful letter."  And that I would like to share it with my "Cup of Kapeng Barako" readers.  So, here it is, Dear Readers, verbatim.  Enjoy.    

 
Dear Bobo,

I'm sorry for this late email. I had a doctor's appointment last week for two days. I also had to renew my driver's license which took more of my time. After the age of 70 in California, we have to take the driving (written) and also eye tests to renew driver license. The doctor's appointments turned out ok. No problems. We also had some work done in the house - plumbing problems.

Thank you for thinking about us and our safety here in California. We are grateful for your concern and caring. Thank you for your prayers.

You wrote in your email, "And I will pray for you in China (will it be listen by lord god if I am not Christian?).

Bobo, God is everywhere!  He is not only in Christian countries but in China and all over the universe. You see Him at every dawning of every day. You see Him when the sun sets at the end of the day. You see Him at the blossoming of a bud into a beautiful flower. You see Him at the sprouting of a seed into a green plant reaching for sunlight. You see Him among people helping other people. You see Him in everything that is beautiful in nature. You see Him when people care for other people. You see Him where love exists. God is with us everywhere.

God is love - not just love between a man and a woman but love for one another. We can show that love when we treat others like we want others to treat us. I think Confucius said the same thing in  other words. We show that love when we give water to those who are thirsty - when we give food to those who are hungry - when we give shelter to those who are homeless and when we do God's work on earth as His children .

We are all His children - Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Jews, etal. Even people who do not believe in Him are His children. We have to have that faith that there is a Supreme Being who watches over us. Ask (through your prayers) and you shall be given.

God is forgiving.  Bobo, I am not a theology (religion) teacher and I know that my explanation to you about God is wanting, inadequate even . It took me a long time trying to answer a question that has been asked for centuries.  I am not even a very good Catholic but I try to be in my own way. God is a forgiving God and I know He will forgive my sins - the errors of my ways. I think the basic rule of God is that one about "treating other people like you want other people to treat you". You live by that rule and you are a child of God.

Lola and I miss you and Cherry.  How is Cherry?  Ask her how come we haven't heard from her?  Take care of yourself Bobo and say hello to your parents.

Love you,

Lolo and Lola

My response to that?  One word: Amen.

PS: And, as I've said in my previous story: "Referendum 74: the Catholic Church's present-day Inquisition of Gays and Lesbians in Washington state (google that story, if y'all have missed it), Lord Jesus is a God of Inclusion and this referendum that Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of our Seattle diocese is endorsing, is WRONG.  Excluding groups of people is WRONG.  Denying certain groups of people their equal rights is WRONG.  We are all God's children.  Gays and lesbians, too, in their loving relationships with each other.  JJ