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Alminaza: Sparks of hope Posted: 19 Mar 2021 07:33 AM PDT AS I write this piece, a most welcome development is in the works in Negros Occidental -- a Renewable Energy Council for our province, the plan for which was announced by Governor Lacson last February, is set to function starting this month. Along with a Technical Working Group whose expertise will inform its directions and decisions, the Council will help build a renewable energy development roadmap towards aligning to the low-carbon transition required by the worsening climate crisis, and securing clean and affordable energy to power our people's needs. The role that communities, civic movements, and many of our faithful played in bringing this milestone about is undeniable. We are no stranger to the history of resistance against destructive energy that our people made together. For two decades, Negrosanons took down five proposed coal-fired power plants in various towns with a unity strengthened by their genuine care for nature and the future of generations to come. Thanks to this, we presently enjoy Negros Island's status as the Philippines' renewable energy capital, with its existing generation facilities producing power from nearly 100-percent renewable sources. Unfortunately, Negrosanons do not necessarily benefit from the bounty of clean power nature so generously provides, as much of the electricity we use is actually sourced from coal and other fossil fuel power plants from outside the island. It saddens me, and surely also all our readers true in the hope to be stewards of Creation, that we had a part in coal's dirty impacts even with just our use of electricity. But there is no better time to uphold Negrosanons' legacy of coal resistance than today, including in terms of the energy source our electricity comes from. We among groups of clean energy advocates and concerned citizens have recently been made aware that several power supply contracts in some of our electric cooperatives (EC) with coal power plants outside Negros are expiring. This means that renewable energy now has the opportunity to bid and take the place previously occupied by coal. It must be noted that there are concerning matters in the ongoing bidding process for new contracts, including the lack of transparency of the Negros Electric Cooperative Association and unfavorable terms used by Ceneco -- this, dear readers, is something on which we should have more conversations moving forward. In the meantime, we are now actively urging our electricity providers to listen to the cry of the Earth and reject renewed dependence on destructive power. Similar floodgates for the advancement of renewables are being opened in Negros Oriental, with a Renewable Energy Code expected to come to reality soon thanks to the leadership of Governor Roel Degamo and the Negros Oriental Provincial Board. We do not forget that we are still amid a global catastrophe in the form of Covid-19. We do not forget that Negros remains a hotspot of unjust killings as impunity continues to blanket our country with darkness. We, too, are very much aware that the climate crisis worsens day by day. But these steps toward sustainably transforming the way we power our lives spark hope that we indeed can still work together towards the healing of our beautiful planet. I turn once more to a well-loved passage in Pope Francis's Laudato Si', one that has repeatedly served as a source of encouragement in facing the struggles of our time -- "The urgent challenge to protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family together to seek sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change. The Creator does not abandon us; he never forsakes his loving plan or repents of having created us. Humanity still has the ability to work together in building our common home." Readers, may we take on this challenge together! This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Legaspi: St. Joseph with a father's heart Posted: 19 Mar 2021 07:32 AM PDT POPE Francis wrote us an apostolic letter entitled "Patris Corde" on the 150th year of the proclamation of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. The statement is a description of the love of St. Joseph to Jesus as written by the four Evangelists. St. Joseph is also named as a protector of the Order of Augustinian Recollects (OAR). This is the reason why an OAR university in Cebu is named after him. Going back to the letter of the pope, he gave us a description of St. Joseph by which every husband and father can follow. The family is the foundation of our society and the head of the family is responsible for each and every member where St. Joseph is a model. The pope started with the description of St. Joseph as a beloved father. Here, we are reminded to love our respective fathers. We have to look forward to our fathers coming home. We need to give our fathers affection such as hugs. We must let our fathers feel that they are needed and loved. He then moved to remind us that fathers and husbands must be tender ad loving. In the Philippines, most fathers find these qualities effeminate and only fitting for the mothers. Yet we are reminded that fathers and husbands must always be tender and loving towards their wives and children. This is the essence of being a family man. Fathers must always look forward to coming home after work. No amount of persuasion could change the passion of the good father to go home. His best friends and "barkadas" are his wife and his family. Other descriptions about St. Joseph are that he is obedient and an accepting father. Fathers and husbands must be obedient to the will of God for the family. The father should lead the family to discern the will of God. God's will might not and most often do not conform with our will. Fathers need to pray for guidance. The father should lead the family and shall always be ready to sacrifice for the will of God for the family. Fathers must also be creatively courageous. Courageous does not mean having enemies. A good father should always be ready to defend the family from anything that would destroy it. The father or husband should always be there to solve conflicts and with peaceful settlements at home. A good father is one who works. He earns to support his family and not be intoxicated by materialism. He must see his work as a source of life. His work is a blessing from God and so he must do it perfectly. A good father is in the shadows. He works hard for the family. His priority will always be the family and he brings the family closer to God and God closer to the family. He remains in the shadows and does not steal the light from the family. A good father cherishes the achievements of others and is never envious. These are simple reminders for all of us as we celebrate the feast of St. Joseph, the Patron of the Universal Church. St. Joseph, pray for us. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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