Strengthening disaster preparedness and evacuation strategies in Payatas

posted in: Reconciliation with Creation | 0

There is an increasing focus on disaster preparedness in the Philippines, although this is happening at different levels. The general public is learning how to use the available technologies for monitoring hazards and to understand the language used. Many communities are also focused on evacuation strategies and on identifying safe centres that can be used in the event of a disaster.

Album for Pope Francis in top 10 charts in the Philippines

posted in: Social Communications | 0

The album produced by the Jesuit Music Ministry (JMM) for the Philippine Papal Visit made it to the top 10 of the Original Pinoy Music (OPM) charts in January.  This is the first time a JMM album has reached the top 10.  “Mercy and Compassion: Songs for Pope Francis” landed in the second spot of the OPM list and in the third spot of the Overall best-selling albums for the fourth week of January.

A copy of the album was presented to Pope Francis when he met with Jesuits in the Philippines on January 16.

Meeting Pope Francis

posted in: JCAP News | 0

Some 40 Jesuits met with Pope Francis at the Nunciature in Manila during his Philippines visit.  All were ecstatic at the invitation. I was privileged to be among them. 

From the beginning, the meeting was very much that of brother Jesuits coming together. Provincial Tony Moreno SJ opened the meeting saying that Francis had been met by 40 elephants in Sri Lanka and here in Manila he was met by 40 Jesuits. To which Francis replied, “The elephants were more colourfully dressed.”

Continuing to hope

posted in: Social Justice | 0

Although Typhoon Hagupit – known as Ruby in the Philippines – is reported to have taken   only a handful of lives, for thousands of people in the country, it was still a sort of repeat of Typhoon Haiyan, which had torn through the Philippines in November 2013, leaving more than 7,000 dead or missing.  “It’s déjà vu, but not the same as last year with Haiyan,” a Tacloban resident Mariano Tan Jr told the BBC.

Bringing inclusive development to an indigenous tribe

posted in: Indigenous Ministry, Social Justice | 0

When the Philippine’s newest freeport was established seven years ago in Casiguran, Aurora province, a large-scale protest among the affected residents and various groups erupted. The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport (APECO) aimed to transform more than 12,000 hectares of Casiguran land into a commercial, industrial, agro-industrial, and tourist hub to usher development throughout the province.

Finding business solutions to social problems: Jesuit initiatives in social enterprise

posted in: Social Justice | 0

Today’s problems need different strategies and Jesuits must apply new skills and techniques in order to respond more effectively. Beyond simply business skill however, there is a need for greater imagination to solve the challenges of today. In the same way business as usual needs to change, social ministries and apostolates must also go beyond the usual.

God, people and planning

posted in: Social Justice | 0

Have you ever seen or walked into a fancy handbag boutique selling the likes of Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Dolce and Gabbana? Even if we have never walked into one, we all know that these bags are pricey, high class, and beyond the reach of most people. What about bags branded “Rag2Riches”? You can find them in major shopping malls in the Philippines and in Anthropologie shops in Singapore, Malaysia and many countries in Europe.