Santosh Digal

The Virgin, patroness of Bicol, is known across the country as “Ina”, Mother. In preparation for the three hundredth anniversary of the festivity, the archdiocese has ordered three years of prayer and reflection.

A court in Manila finds him guilty of corruption and embezzlement, orders him to pay back the money he took from the public purse. Estrada accuses President Arroyo and the Church of conspiring against him.

The Philippine Bureau of Immigration fines six Taiwanese Buddhist monks for working in the country without correct visas.

A few days from the start of the Muslim holy month, the archbishop of Manila and other prelates call on the government and the guerrillas to end the hostilities which affect the civilian population and cause desperation across the country.

According to the United Nations Council for Human Rights, the Philippines is tenth in the world for “involuntary disappearances” with 758 reported cases. Social activists, human rights groups and priests, religious, imams and students participated in the march.

The project was launched by the Philippine Claretian missionaries who have been on the round since 2002. To improve understanding of the language they have published a disk of the daily Gospel. The government is not “hostile” to the project.

Filipino Dominicans and major Muslim leaders have been working for months to set up a forum where young Catholics and Muslims from South-East Asia could meet. After the first such meetings, all other religions in the region will be invited to tear down barriers and build peace together.

A group of lay Catholics teaches the population in the Southern provinces how to control the birth rate without going against their religious beliefs.

The association of Superiors of Religious Congregations asks Manila to use dialogue and not violence to pacify the south. Clashes between the army and Abu Sayyaf have displaced over 80 thousand families.

Over 80 thousand police officers throughout the country contributed to the reconstruction of public schools in Albay province, destroyed by a series of typhoons last year. The funds collected, which amount to over 46 thousand euro, will also finance food and medical programs.

President Arroyo announces peace talks with MILF rebels but launches a major military offensive against other rebel groups. Bishop of Jolo says Church ready to help the population.

Despite economic growth in some areas of the continent, poverty levels remain high. The Asian Bank demands “new strategies” for development and a more equitable wealth distribution, as well as sanctioning 800 million dollars for development programmes.