POSTINOR BAN (2001)

Here is the BFAD position which led to the DOH delisting of the abortifacient drug POSTINOR in 2001. the light of recent developments, I am posting it here for reference purposes. It is quite lengthy bit to cut it down to the chaste, you can only disagree with the BFAD findings if:

1 - You disagree that life begins at conception, and;
2 - You choose to ignore the constitutional provision that "The State shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception." (sec. 12, Art. II)".
/
BFAD vs Postinor

Republic of the Philippines Department of Health BUREAU OF FOOD AND DRUGS LEGAL DIVISION Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City

10 October 2001

HON. MANUEL M. DAYRIT, MD, MSC

Secretary

Department of Health

Manila

Subject:

In the Matter of Levonorgestrel 750 mcg Tablet Brand: POSTINOR BFAD Registration No. DR-XY26140

Dear Mr. Secretary:

This is in response to your directive contained in your communication dated June 13, 2001, requiring this Office "to take all appropriate actions in the immediate recall of POSTINOR and the consequent cancellation of its CPR and to prohibit its further use, dispensing, sale and distribution in the local market," if proven to be abortifacient, following a letter-complaint of ABAYPAMILYA FOUNDATION through its President, Ramon A. Pedrosa dated May 08, 2001, seeking the recall of the above Certificate of Product Registration on the ground that Levonorgestrel 750 mcg Tablet is abortifacient, hence, illegal under existing laws and the Constitution.

By way of antecedents, this Office received on 23 April 1999 an application for registration for Levonorgestrel 750 mcg. Tablet filed by EURO GENERICS INT'L. PHILS., INC., the drug's importer. Among the documents included in the application is the printed drug insert which reads as follows:

LEVONORGESTREL

POSTINOR



DESCRIPTION

Each tablet contains 0.75 mg. Of Levonorgestrel [d)-)-13-beta-ethyl-
17-alpha-ethinyl-17-beta-hydroxygon-4en-3-one), a totally synthetic
progestogen.

The inactive ingredients present are lactose and starch.

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY

Levonorgestrel (Gedeon Ritcher LTD-EGIP) is believed to act to
prevent ovulation, fertilization and implantation. It is not effective
once the process of implantation has begun.

INDICATION

Levonorgestrel (Gedeon Ritcher LTD-EGIP) is an emergency
contraceptive which can be used to prevent pregnancy if taken within
72 hours (three days) following unprotected intercourse or a
contraceptive accident.

As an emergency contraceptive, Levonorgestrel (Gedeon Ritcher LTD-
EGIP) is indicated following any unprotected act of sexual intercourse,
including:

When no contraception has been used

When a contraceptive method may have failed, including

• 
  Condom rupture, slippage or misuse


• 
  Diaphragm or cap dislodgement, breakage or early removal


• 
  Failed coitus interruptus


• 
  
  Miscalculation of periodic abstinence method


• 
  IUD expulsion


• 
  missed regular oral contraceptive pills for three or more
  days in a cycle

In cases of sexual assault

The drug is manufactured by Gedeon Richter Ltd. of Hungary. It is licensed to Schwarz Pharma and is distributed in the Philippines by Zuellig Pharma Corporation.

Following the standard evaluation and testing procedures provided in BFAD rules and regulations, Certificate of Product Registration No. DR-XY26140 was issued for Levonorgestrel 750 mcg Tablet (Postinor) on April 24, 2000.

Pursuant to Par. 2.2.4, Section 2 of AO 66, S. 1989, we notified the following interested parties of the instant letter-complaint:

1. Drug Association of the Philippines (DSAP)


2. Chamber of Filipino Drug manufacturers & Distributors


3. Filipino Drug Association, Inc. (FIDA)



4. Philippine College of Pharmaceutical Medicine (PCPM)


5. Philippine Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA)


6. Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP)


7. Association of Drug Industries of the Philippines (ADIP)


8. Philippine Association of Pharmacist in the Pharmaceutical Industry (PAPPI)


9. Philippine Medical Association (PMA)


10. Philippine Obstetrical & Gynecological Society



11. Philippine College of Surgeons

The above parties were invited to give this Office written submissions within thirty (30) days, on the issue of whether or not the above named drug should be recalled and delisted from the Bureau's registry of drug products, based on the grounds cited by ABAYPAMILYA FOUNDATION.

Of the parties notified, only the following sent position papers:

1. Schwarz Pharma Philippines, Inc., through its Country Manager,
   
   PEDRO D. MIRANDA, JR., on August 01, 2001;




2. Philippine Medical Association, through its President,
   
   
   GIL C. FERNANDEZ, M.D. , on August 20, 2001;




3. Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (Foundation), Inc., through its President, CORAZON T. LIM, M.D., on August 27, 2001; and




4. Philippine College of Pharmaceutical Medicine, through its President,
   
   NERISSA CINCO-CALIMON, on August 14, 2001; and

The complainant, ABAYPAMILYA, subsequently filed its own submission on September 28, 2001.

Discussion

In its letter-complaint, ABAYPAMILYA states:

"Studies about Levonorgestrel reveal that it is an abortifacient. Levonorgestrel operates to prevent a fertilized ovum from implanting into the uterus and thus aborts a pregnancy that has already began. It may be noted that implantation of the human embryo takes place around the 6^th day after fertilization, with the human embryo now being a multi-cellular structure known as a blastocyst."

Part I

The complaint dated May 8, 2001 included a paper written by JOHN WILKS (Annex "B" of letter-complaint) stating that "conception is the beginning of a pregnancy, taken to be the precise moment that a spermatozoon enters the female secondary oocyte, resulting in the formation of a viable human zygote."

The paper of WILKS cited the medical textbook of MOORE & PERSAUD which states that, "Human development begins at fertilization, the process during which a male gamete or sperm . . . unites with a female gamete or oocyte . . . to form a single cell called a zygote. This highly specialized, totipotent cell marks the beginning of each of us as a unique individual."

Citing the WILKS paper, complainant goes on to say that, "abortifacient drugs or devices are defined as those whose action is operative after conception has occurred."

The meaning of conception and fertilization is, we believe, the key in determining the legality of the registration of Levonorgestrel 750 mcg. Tablet. Stated another way, the answer to the question -- "When does human life begin?" determines the answer to the final question -- "Is the action of Levonorgestrel in the woman's reproductive system directed against a new human being as to characterize the drug as abortifacient?"

FIRST, on the question of "When does human life begin?".

1. Dr. CORAZON T. LIM, M.D. of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS) wrote this Office:

"When does life begin? Majority believe that life begins at fertilization."

DR. LIM cited an article entitled "Life Begins at Conception," by PAUL A. BYRNE, M.D. (Neonatologist, American Board of Pediatrics, Sub-Board of Neonatal Prenatal medicine of the American Board of Pediatrics) published in VITAL SIGNS, September-October 1993, where Dr. Byrne wrote:

"Many textbooks on human embryology state that a new human life begins at conception (See e.g. Langman, Medical Embryology, p. 3 (1963): 'The development of a new individual commences with fertilization;' Thomas, Introduction to Human Embryology, p. 52 (1968); 'Fertilization is significant in that new life is created . . .'; O'Rahilly, Developmental Stages in human Embryos, p. 9 n. 1; 'the initiation of new life occurs at that moment when fertilization is completed by fusion of the two sets of chromosomes.'

"I have never read a medical text or heard of any doctor writing or stating that what exists at conception is not a new human life."

She also cited DR. JEROME LEJEUNE, (Medical Doctor, Doctor in Science, Professor of Fundamental Genetics for over 20 years, and discoverer of the genetic cause of Down's syndrome) who had stated that it is important to understand the meaning of fertilization as the beginning of a human being.

2. NERISA CINCO-CALIMON of the Philippine College of Pharmaceutical Medicine referred to the textbook by MOORE & PERSAUD, The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology (pp 2-18) which states that "a zygote is the beginning of a new human being (an embryo). Human development begins at fertilization, the process during which a male gamete or sperm . . . unites with a female gamete or oocyte . . . to form a single cell called zygote."

3. The product licensee, SCHWARZ PHARMA PHILS., INC. does not go by the above definitions of conception/fertilization. Instead, it cited Emergency Contraceptive Pills: Medical and Service Delivery Guidelines (Consortium for Emergency Contraception, October 2000) wherein it is written:

"Data from studies of high-dose oral contraceptives indicate that the two ECP regimens described in these guidelines do not cause abortion; that is, they do not interrupt or damage a pregnancy, defined as beginning after implantation has occurred."

Grounded on such "definition" of pregnancy, it is the position of SCHWARZ PHARMA PHILS. that when Levonorgestrel acts to prevent implantation, as it admittedly does, there is nothing interrupted because prior to implantation, pregnancy has not begun, that is, no human life has begun to exist.

4. Central to the submission of ABAYPAMILYA FOUNDATION is a letter dated August 28, 2001 (Annex "A") addressed to this Office by Prof. Dr. DIANNE NUTWELL IRVING, M.D., M.A., Ph. D. of the United States (with Curriculum Vitae included.)

Dr. IRVING wrote:

"The major issue concerns when a new living human being begins to exist. Scientifically, there is no question whatsoever that this occurs at fertilization - in vivo, or in vitro. By the time of implantation, the living human embryo is approximately already 5-7 days old. This is not a 'religious', 'prolife', or subjective 'belief' or 'opinion', but rather it is an objective scientific fact that has been known scientifically for over a hundred years, e.g., with the publication of Wilhelm His' (the 'Father of Human Embryology'), Anatomie menschlicher Embryonen (Leipzig: Vogel, 1880-1885).

Dr. IRVING also cited MOORE & PERSAUD (6^th ed.), "a zygote is the beginning of a new human being." She further cited LARSEN, Human Embryology (1997), "In this text, we begin our description of the developing human with the formation and differentiation of the male and female sex cells or gametes, which will unite at fertilization to initiate the embryonic development of a new individual . . ." ; O'RAHILLY & MULLER, HUMAN EMBRYOLOGY & TERATOLOGY, "Fertilization is an important landmark because, under ordinary circumstances, a new, genetically distinct human organism is thereby formed. The ill-defined and inaccurate term pre-embryo . . . is not used in this book"; and CARLSON, HUMAN EMBRYOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY, (1994) which states in particular that, "Human pregnancy begins with the fusion of an egg and a sperm."

We note Dr. Irving's statement that "the scientific experts who are the experts on the issue of when a human being begins to exist, and on subsequent early human development from fertilization on, are human embryologists. Although many attempt to cast even the scientific issue in 'subjective' terms, it needs to be realized that in the science of human embryology these scientific experts are professionally required to follow definitions of terms according to an International Nomina Embryologica Committee (INEC). This international committee meets every 3-5 years to examine, update and clarify which human embryological facts are scientifically demonstrated, accurate, and acceptable for human embryologists worldwide to employ in their own research, teaching and textbooks. In other words, these scientific definitions are not arbitrary, nor are they 'relative'. And among human embryologists globally there is 100% consensus on these objective scientific facts. If other scientists and physicians are not aware of these scientific facts, that is more a reflection of their lack of knowledge and/or credentials, rather than a reflection of any 'confusion' on these scientific facts."

5. Mr. JOHN WILKS, Pharmacist from Australia, as addressed to this Office a paper dated August 22, 2001 (Annex "B", with Currivulum Vitae) wherein he traces the historical perspective and origins of what he calls the "embryological error" which spawned the dissociation of conception from fertilization, and its re-association with implantation. He wrote:

The origins of this embryological error can be traced back to the text Obstetric-Gynecologic Terminology, published by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) in 1972.

In this text, conception was specified to be "the implantation of the blastocyst." Conception was not, according to this revised definition, one and the same with fertilization. Consequently, pregnancy was re-defined as "the state of a female after conception and until termination of the gestation."¹ As a consequence of this new definition, any interference with the viability of the human embryo, from the time of its creation until the time of implantation, was no longer an abortifacient action. According to this 'new' definition, no pregnancy (apparently) existed; hence no abortifacient actions are possible.

Having re-defined conception, which began the process of dismantling the continuum of fertilization, conception and pregnancy, a further reworking of pregnancy was initiated and approved at a meeting of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), in 1985. The Committee on Medical Aspects of Human Reproduction was asked by FIGO to "develop an accurate definition of pregnancy."

That --

As a consequence of the ACOG action in 1972, and the subsequent redefining of pregnancy in 1985, there has been an increasing trend in the deviations from definitional orthodoxy. Some examples of the re-defining of pregnancy are:

"The prevention of pregnancy before implantation is contraception and not abortion." ² (Glasier 1997)

Mr. WILKS emphasized that --

These statements are, in the strictest sense of the word, non-sense. A woman is pregnant because fertilization has been completed and conception has occurred, not because implantation has taken place. Implantation is, from both a time and developmental perspective, separate to conception/fertilization. Implantation of the human embryo takes place around the sixth day after fertilization³ with the human embryo now a multi-cellular structure known as a blastocyst. As Mosby's correctly states: "Pregnancy - the gestational process, comprising the growth and development within a woman of a new individual from conception through the embryonic and fetal periods to birth.⁴

I respectfully draw your attention to another example of meaning manipulation. Those who seek to promote postcoital birth control re-name the human embryo a "pre-embryo",⁵ a "fertilized ovum"⁶ or a "fertilized egg."⁷ Again, these are non-sense terms without any basis in science. They are ideological definitions only, fully in conflict with contemporary embryology. To recall: "Human development begins with fertilization, a process during which a sperm unites with an oocyte (ovum)." (Their emphasis).⁸ This distinction in terminology is critical. The full range of bioethical issues linked to the morning-after pill is centred upon this point."

This Office took time in going over the compendium of medical writings-standard textbooks and medical journals, including the submissions addressed to this Office by the above named resource persons both, Filipino and foreign authorities whose respective professional background in the medical and pharmaceutical community (See Currivulum Vitae, Annexes "A-1", "B-1" and "C-1") sufficiently qualify them to speak on this issue with authority. We likewise considered the paper cited by the SCWARZ PHARMA, product licensee.

This Office can only rely on the objective and scientific fact generally accepted in the medical profession that "life begins at conception and the moment of conception is when the ovum is fertilized by the sperm that there is human life." This fact was earlier recognized by the framers of the present 1987 Constitution, as gleaned from the Record of the Constitutional Commission (Vol. 4, p. 668, pointed out in Annex "B" of the letter of ABAYPAMILYA to the Secretary of Health dated May 08, 2001.) According to the Constitution:

"The State . . . shall equally protect the life of the mother

and the life of the unborn from conception . . . " (Article II, Sec. 12)

thus, expressly recognizing the right to life from the moment of conception.

According to noted Constitutional authority, FR. JOAQUIN BERNAS, S.J. who was part of the 1986 Constitutional Convention:

"The intention is to protect life from its beginning, and the assumption is that human life begins at conception, that conception takes place at fertilization." (IV RECORD of the Constitutional Commission 799, cited in Bernas, J., The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, Manila: 1996 ed., p. 78)

Part II

With the above fact in correct perspective, we now consider the question of whether or not Levonorgestrel 0.75 mg. has an abortifacient action.

The drug insert submitted to this Office by the applicant, EURO GENERICS INT'L. PHILS., INC. indicates that Levonorgestrel inhibits implantation:

"CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY


Levonorgestrel (Gedeon Ritcher LTD-EGIP) is believed to act to
prevent ovulation, fertilization and implantation. "

So does the product literature attached by SHWARZ PHARMA to its written submission to this Office:

"INDICATIONS


Levonorgestrel is an emergency contraceptive preparation that can

prevent conception if it is taken within 72 hours following unprotected

intercourse. It is a progestogen inhibiting the implantation of the

ovum into the endometrium, stimulating the motility of the oviduct and

increasing the viscosity of the cervical mucus."

We note that standard medical textbooks already refer to the anti-implantation effect of certain drugs. This is pointed out by Dr. IRVING as follows:

"It is also an objective scientific fact that the use of many 'contraceptives' can be abortifacient, including the 'morning-after pill', or 'emergency contraception', as stated by Moore (a member of the INEC⁹):

"Keith Moore and T.V.N. Persaud,¹⁰ The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology (6^th ed. -- use this edition only) (Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 1998), pp. 45, 58, 59, 532)

"Inhibition of Implantation: The administration of relatively large doses of estrogens ('morning-after pills') for several days, beginning shortly after unprotected sexual intercourse, usually does not prevent fertilization but often prevents implantation of the blastocyst. Diethylstilbestrol, given daily in high dosage for 5 to 6 days, may also accelerate passage of the dividing zygote along the uterine tube (Kalant et al., 1990.) Normally, the endometrium progresses to the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle as the zygote forms, undergoes cleavage, and enters the uterus. The large amount of estrogen disturbs the normal balance between estrogen and progesterone that is necessary for preparation of the endometrium for implantation of the blastocyst. Postconception administration of hormones prevent implantation of the blastocyst is sometimes used in cases of sexual assault or leakage of a condom, but this treatment is contraindicated for routine contraceptive use. . ." (Annex "A", p. 3).

DR. CHRIS KAHLENBORN¹¹ confirms these facts in his paper, The Morning After Pill: Analysis of Mechanism of Action & Side Effects, (Annex "C" and "C-1"). Dr. KAHLENBORN writes:

"All the evidence to date supports the contention that emergency contraception does not always inhibit ovulation and that it unfavorably alters the endometrial in regard to implantation. In addition, the reduced rates of observable pregnancy over the expected rates in women who receive hormonal EC in the ovulatory or post-ovulatory phase point to an abortifacient effect. Thus, the available medical evidence suggests that an abortifacient effect is likely one of the significant mechanisms by which EC reduces rates, even if given prior to ovulation."

So does Pharmacist, Mr. WILKS, as follows:

" . . . the levonorgestrel [LNG] approach clearly has an anti-developmental impact on the endometrium.

"Work by Kubba et al (1986) specifically referred to levonorgestrel, noting its ability to change "the nature" of the hormonal receptors within the endometrium.¹² Dr Rabone (1990) reported that levonorgestrel caused a reduction in the number of estrogen and progesterone receptors within the endometrium. As Dr Rabone reported: "The concentration of these receptors is critical for the normal development of the endometrium to a stage that will support implantation.

"Simon and co-workers have also reported that altered estradiol/progesterone ratios (E2/P), which will occur with high doses of levonorgestrel, are associated with the impairment of endometrial receptivity." (Annex "B", pp. 8-9)

To us, what is of great concern is simple fact pointed out by Mr. WILKS that:

" . . . the levonorgestrel-only post-coital dose is equal to taking 40 to 50 standard once-a-daily progesterone-only birth control pills."

(Annex "B", pp. 9-10).

The same facts were presented to us by local medical doctors who submitted their written responses to this Office:

1. The Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society Foundation, Inc. (POGS):

"These potent progestogens such as Postinor do not prevent fertilization but inhibits implantation by decidualizing the endometrium rendering it non-receptive to implantation. In this case the so called Postinor is considered abortifacient."

2. The Philippine College of Pharmaceutical Medicine:

"Human development begins at fertilization, when a sperm units with an oocyte to form a single cell, a zygote. A zygote is the beginning of new human being. When you prevent this new human being from being implanted in the uterus, pregnancy is terminated and ABORTION occurs.

"Postinor can therefore be considered as abortifacient. The use of abortifaciens is illegal and not allowed in the Philippines."

3. The Philippine Medical Association(PMA) :

"It is the firm view of the PMA that intentional abortion is or assisted abortion directly or indirectly or in any manner whatsoever is criminal in nature. In view henceforth, condemns the use of drugs or medicines or any device for purposes of inducing abortion.

"Henceforth, if Postinor is indeed found to be abortifacient, then the PMA supports the call for recall and delisting from BFAD's registry of drug products."

The Consumer Act of the Philippines (RA 7394), one of the laws enforced by this Office, prohibits the importation of drugs which are dangerous to health. It states:

ART. 89. Mislabeled Drugs and Devices. -- A drug or device shall be deemed to be mislabeled:
i) if it is dangerous to health when used in the dosage, or with the frequency of duration prescribed, recommended or suggested in the labeling thereof;

ART. 15. Imported Products. --

a) Any consumer product offered for importation into the customs of the Philippine territory shall be refused admission if such product:


x x x
2) is or has been determined to be injurious, unsafe and dangerous.

x x x

ART. 18. Prohibited Acts. -- It shall be unlawful for any person to:

a) manufacture for sale, offer for sale, distribute in commerce, or import into the Philippines any consumer product which is not in conformity with an applicable consumer product quality or safety standard promulgated in this Act.

Conclusion

Even as this Office had notified interested parties and invited written submissions before resolving this issue pursuant to the procedural guidelines contained in Adm. Order No. 66, s. 1989, the same Administrative Order states in paragraph 2.3:

"2.3 -- This procedure of review and evaluation does not preclude however the BFAD from submitting a recommendation to immediately ban a drug and all products containing it in cases where there is a clear finding of serious or lethal toxicity constituting undue risk to public safety. In which cases, the BFAD shall submit its finding and recommendation, together with records of substantial evidence to the Secretary of Health for immediate action."

We therefore find that Levonorgestrel 750 mcg marketed as Postinor is not registrable in the Philippines. We recommend:

1. That Certificate of Product Registration No. DR-XY26140 dated April 24, 2000 issued to EURO GENERICS INT'L. PHILS., INC. be cancelled;

2. That the Department prohibit the further importation, use, dispensing, sale and distribution in the local market of Levonorgestrel 750 mcg - Postinor;

3. That all existing inventories of the drug in any warehouse, enclosure, pharmacy, whether public or private, be immediately reported and delivered to the Department, through the BFAD, for immediate proper disposition.

(SIGNED) WILLIAM TORRES, Ph. D.

Director (Sgd.) 1/10/01

---

NOTES:


¹
Tatum HJ, Connell EB. A decade of intrauterine contraception : 1976 to 1986. Fert Steril 1986; 46(2): 173-192



²
Glasier A. Emergency postcoital contraception. NEJM 1997; 337:1058-1064



³

Larsen, op.cit., p.19.



⁴
Mosby's, 5th ed., op.cit., p.1309



⁵
Grimes, loc. cit.



⁶
Harper C, Ellerston C. Knowledge and perceptions of emergency contraceptive pills among a college-age population: A qualitative approach. Family Planning Perspectives. 1995; 27:149-154



⁷
Ashraf H, McCarthy M. UK improves access to "morning after pill". Lancet 2000;356:2071



⁸

Moore, op.cit., pp. 14 & 531



⁹
International Nomina Embryologica Committee, an international committee that meets every 3-5 years to examine, update and clarify which human embryological facts are scientifically demonstrated, accurate, and acceptable for human embryologists worldwide. to employ in their own research, teaching and textbooks. In other words, these scientific definitions are not arbitrary, nor are they 'relative.' And among human embryologists globally, there is 100% consensus on these objective scientific facts. If other scientists and physicians are not aware of these scientific facts, that is more a reflection of their lack of knowledge and/or credentials, rather than a reflection of any 'confusion' on these scientific facts. (Dr. Dianne Irving, Annex "A", p. 1)




¹⁰
Annex "A-3" herein.



¹¹
Author, Breast Cancer: Its Link to Abortion and the Birth Control Pill, New Hope, Kentucky: 2000.



¹²
With reference citations detailed by Mr. WILKS in ANNEX "B."

The real neighbor

(Lk 10:25-37 - The Good Samaritan)

A man appears before St. Peter at the pearly gates. "Have you ever done anything of particular merit?" St. Peter asks.
"Well, I can think of one thing," the man offers. "Once, on a trip to the Black Hills, out in South Dakota, I came upon a gang of high-testosterone bikers who were threatening a young woman. I directed them to leave her alone, but they wouldn't listen. So I approached the largest and most heavily tattooed biker.
I smacked him on the head, kicked his bike over, ripped out his nose ring and threw it on the ground.
And I told him: "Leave her alone now or you'll answer to me!'"
St. Peter was impressed: "When did this happen?"

"Just a few minutes ago."
/

There was this other unusual incident which happened on my tour of Barcelona. There I was happily strolling in the vicinity where stands one of Antonio Gaudi's famous architectures. I was by myself taking short clips with my videocam when three casually-dressed Spanish ladies approached me. What could these ladies want with me I wondered, as I quickly dispelled the crazy thought that they may have been attracted by my good looks.They started talking to me in rapid Catalan as one grabbed my arm and the other stretched her hand with palm upwards, while the third pointed a sharp-looking object at me. Oh my God I prayed, this is a stickup even as I protested: "No hay! no tengo dinero!". Suddenly a very tall Spaniard in a business suit interfered, warding off the three intrepid ladies: "que pasa! que pasa!!". The three would-be robbers scampered out of sight as they were intimidated by the over six-foot tall Spaniard in the business suit with matching briefcase. I uttered my profuse "gracias, gracias" to him even as I quickly walked away from the scene. After a few steps I glanced backwards to get a good look at my knight in shining suit, but he was nowhere to be seen anymore. He had vanished just as quickly as he appeared.

The parable of the Good Samaritan is a most popular parable with an enduring message. It is a parable that was Jesus' answer to the legalistic question: "Who is my neighbor?". On deeper reflection, it becomes apparent that Jesus has turned the question upside down. It was not anymore a question of "Who is my neighbor", but more a question of "How am I as a neighbor?". The question is about our own persons, and not about how we categorize people. Today's modern translations say "the Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight". Exegetes would assert that the original Hebrew texts portrayed a stronger emotion. Upon seeing the wounded man left half-dead, the Samaritan felt his heart wrenched open, with a Hebrew reference to a mother's womb and maternal care. The original texts actually convey that the Samaritan was viscerally moved by compassion and love. His heart was wrenched open. It did not matter who he was helping. It can be a stranger, a relative, a town mate, a countryman, a foreigner...and yes, it can even be a naive tourist strolling around taking pictures. For all its lessons, the parable of the Good Samaritan eventually points us to love rightly and to become more like Him - who loved us all first.

On (not) accepting donations from PAGCOR

Bishop Soc to Aquino: Oppose casino gambling

MANILA, June 14, 2010— Archbishop Socrates Villegas on Monday has made his first public appeal for President-elect Benigno Aquino III: stop the opening of more casinos.

In a pastoral letter dated June 14 but was released to the media today, Villegas, known to be closed with the Aquino family, said that gaming is not in the country’s best interests.

Archbishop Cruz asks Aquino to abolish Pagcor

Cruz seeks FOI passage to know bishops getting Pagcor money

MANILA, July 6, 2010— Archbishop Oscar Cruz is seeking for the passage of Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill to trace the bishops receiving donations from a state-run gambling firm.

Cruz said that once the measure is approved, it would be easy to get necessary information from the controversial Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).

One thing that he would like know, he said, is the name of bishops allegedly receiving donation from the agency which is prohibited by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

CBCP may discuss gambling in plenary

MANILA, July 7, 2010—The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines might include in their agenda the issue of alleged prelates receiving donations from gambling in their meeting this week.

Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar, CBCP President, said there is a possibility that the controversial issue will be discussed if it will be raised during their plenary assembly as a matter of concern.

The bishops’ meeting will be held on July 10 to 11. The Catholic hierarchy meets twice a year, I January and July, where they discuss internal concerns and issues with national import.
...
Odchimar, though, expressed confidence that majority of their members are adhering to the CBCP’s “consistent” stand on gambling.

“Most of the bishops (believe) that it would be better for us not to receive donations and much more not to ask donations from Pagcor since we know what the source of donation is,” he said.

“As often been stated, the end does not justify the means… that is the prevailing sentiment of the bishops because of the evil effects of gambling,” Odchimar added.

Those last two statements of CBCP President Odchimar indicates where his inclinations are and where the wind is blowing. It is interesting though when Bishop Odchimar says "most of the bishops believe...", which leads us to conclude that there are variances among the bishops on the matter of receiving donations from so-called "tainted" sources. As an example, it is of common knowledge that the late Jaime Cardinal Sin and Bishop Francisco Claver (who recently passed away, may he rest in peace) are in favor of accepting donations irrespective of their sources. Mother Teresa perhaps epitomized the position on this aspect when she was reported to have stated : "I know where the money has been and I know where it's going".

It is a complicated area in ethics that gives rise to many questions on the principles of material cooperation, yet the tipping point of the matter lies on the element of scandal (see Catechism #2284-87). Scandal in this particular situation can swing both ways, and it is normally within the judgment of the local ordinary (the diocesan bishop) to decide in accordance with the particulars within his diocese. It remains complicated however, because bishops still have to evaluate the larger repercussions of their local decisions on a national scale. That explains why the bishops are elevating the matter to its national conference.

There are complicated pros and cons to be sure, and I am not about to second-guess the bishops and the CBCP on this one. It would be interesting to see what happens next. It would be helpful if the CBCP comes up with a pastoral document that illuminates the issue. Certainly as CBCP President Odchimar says: "the end does not justify the means". There can be no question about the end - which should inarguably be about material works of charity to the needy. The real difficulty lies in evaluating the morality of the means (accepting donations from gambling proceeds). It is also important to note that any decision that is arrived at would be subject to reference with similar circumstances, meaning that the decision would have its repercussions on the church's acceptance of donations in general - not only those directly associated with gambling. Tough, tough. Let's pray that our bishops be guided.
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Odds and Ends 7/7/10

Antagonizing the press
by Armando Doronilla

"...This behavior does not come as a surprise, because of Luistro’s background as a street campaigner. He is a cleric and was chancellor and president of De La Salle University. His appointment as head of the Department of Education immediately raises the issue of whether clerics should ever be elected or appointed to public office, given the explicit constitutional mandate separating Church and State."

Poor Armando Doronilla. What a pity he is not aware that Luistro is NOT a cleric. Either that, or he does not know the simple fact that a cleric means a member of the clergy, in other words a person ordained to the Sacrament of Holy Orders. DepEd Chief Luistro is not a member of the clergy, but a member of the De La Salle Brothers - a religious LAY organization whose apostolate is education. So Doronilla is taking off from an erroneous premise when he raises the issue of "clerics..appointed to office, given the explicit constitutional mandate separating Church and State". It never ceases to amaze me that the even the remotest issue concerning the Church and State likely brings up the issue of "separation of Church and State", without an understanding of what it really means. It then remains a mystery what "explicit constitutional mandate" (really?!? explain please) Mr. Doronilla is referring to.
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DOH chief to promote reproductive health

"MANILA, Philippines - New Health Secretary Enrique Ona vowed to promote reproductive health and to expand the membership and benefit packages of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) in the next three years.

According to Ona, he received five orders from President Aquino, foremost of which is the expansion of PhilHealth coverage.

Ona said the Department of Health, under the Aquino administration, would also promote reproductive health as a means to ensure the health and welfare of the family.

To do this, the department would conduct an information campaign on responsible parenthood by giving all possible options to achieve family size based on one’s desire and capacity."

The term "Reproductive Health" seems open to many definitions as well, much like "separation of church and state". At least the UN is much more specific in its definition, emphasizing "safe and satisfying sex life" (huh?).
For DOH Chief Ona, it all boils down to conducting an "information campaign on responsible parenthood by giving all possible options to achieve family size based on one’s desire and capacity". Pretty much sounds like teaching family planning methods. I doubt if responsible parenthood can actually be promoted by DOH if all they do is teach parents to be informed about "all possible options" of family planning methods. I believe the use and purpose of contraceptives are common knowledge enough (although NFP is not) , and family planning should not be so much an issue of cost either. Condoms cost P4 a piece. There are birth control pills that cost about P40 for one cycle/month. Sending text messages average 10 to 20 pesos per day. A bottle of gin - a daily favorite among the menfolk in the iskinitas - costs P120. NFP does not cost anything. It appears more an issue of promoting the right attitude and discipline. I sure hope DOH can teach and promote that. Good luck.
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Mission not impossible

Last Wednesday our Parish Pastoral Council officers were formally inducted in the church during the evening Mass celebration. My wife and I were reinstalled as couple coordinators of the Parish Family and Life Ministry, together with the rest of the PPC Executive Committee. We hadn't planned on being inducted as Family and Life Ministry coordinators this time, after all my wife and I have already served the council for the past three years. It was challenging work not without its share of hardship and frustrations, and I really felt there were other more capable couple parishioners who could do the work much better than we can. It just so happened that our colleagues elected us again (more like forced us) and the parish priest encouraged us to stay on. It was strictly voluntary work but alright, alright...maybe just one more year.

In this Sunday's Gospel (Luke 10:1-12;17-20), Jesus sent out 72 of His disciples as laborers to seek out and work for the "abundant harvest". The directive came out with a lot of explicit instructions: "Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals,...eat and drink what is offered...do not move about from one house to another...give your peace..shake the dust..". Jesus also made it clear up front that the mission was fraught with danger: "Go on your way and behold, I am sending you like lamb among wolves". This makes one wonder how on earth those 72 disciples could have developed eagerness for a daunting mission that gave them uncertain prospects, great danger, and zero provisions. In our office I am bound to complain that top management is expecting more and more from my department and yet my budget gets reduced more and more each year. But just imagine if you had no budget and resources at all, and yet you were tasked to deliver the most significant results for the entire company. In essence, that was what the 72 disciples were tasked to do - at first glance. We only see through it all towards the end of the narrative, when Jesus revealed: "Behold, I have given you the power to 'tread upon serpents' and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you."

It appears that the disciples had enough resources after all - Jesus' empowerment by itself was much more than enough. They had reason enough to be eager, and they had reason enough to rejoice that they were empowered. Our Lord made them realize however, that the real reason to rejoice was because "your names are written in heaven".

In this day and age, maybe we are all placed in a position similar to what the 72 disciples experienced a long time ago.The contemporary circumstances may be different, but in essence each of us are involved in the same mission one way or the other. The mission may be easy, it may be hard, it may produce the results we want, it may not, it may involve frustrations, and it may even involve danger. All of these should be secondary, for there is more than enough reason to rejoice when our names are written in heaven.
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Odds and Ends 7/1/10

Federer adds injury to insult Berdych

Roger Federer is as great a champion as tennis and indeed modern-day sport has ever seen -- his achievements will still litter the record books in 100 years' time -- but yesterday at Wimbledon he suddenly 'cracked', just as other great multiple winners have cracked. More often than not it happens in the blink of an eye in front of an unsuspecting and disbelieving throng unprepared for such an outcome.

Federer was also unprepared, if his untypical testy press conference is any guide, when he unveiled a hitherto unsuspected back problem and occasional pain in his right leg. Switzerland's finest is normally a fairly gracious loser, not that he's had much practice to be honest, but Tomas Berdych deserved a tad more credit than he got from the departing champion.

"It is disappointing to go out in the quarter-finals but he played solid and I could have gone out in the first round as well," said Federer afterwards. "It's been tough for me accepting I didn't play the way I thought I could. Last week my leg started hurting. I had a good rest over the weekend and felt good playing on Monday but then in the second week my back started hurting. Today I couldn't play the way I wanted."

Well, the awesome, super-duper Federer is human after all. A gracious loser, he ain't.
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Charice sings perfect anthem

MANILA, Philippines - For once, there was no controversy regarding the singing of the national anthem.

The National Historical Institute (NHI) gave international singing sensation Charice Pempengco a “perfect” score for her rendition of “Lupang Hinirang” at the inauguration of President Aquino at the Quirino Grandstand yesterday.

And finally, the National Anthem was sung live without any controversial aftermath.

I am aware that we have a law to the effect that the anthem must be sung to the prescribed tune and cadence, but it seems strange. What if you get just one note or timing off? Could that land you into jail?

The US national anthem has been sung to so many creatively soulful renditions, and we have yet to see if any of those caused any deleterious effects on patriotism or the sacred patrimony of the nation. I think the best thing to do under the circumstances is just to playback a pre-recorded, 100% faithful soundtrack of the National Anthem, just to be safe.

Btw, it seems while Charice Pempengco got an "A" for the song, she got an "F" for the gown.
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Aquino told: Reconciliation, don’t pick on scabs

MANILA, Philippines—As praises were heaped on President Benigno Aquino III for his inaugural address, a senior lawmaker criticized the newly-inaugurated leader for continuously “picking on the scabs” instead of working towards reconciliation.

Albay Representative Edcel Lagman said the speech was full of motherhood statements and did not mention the needed specific actions.

“President Benigno Aquino III delivered a campaign speech, not an inaugural address,” Lagman said over the phone.

“He forgot that he had already won. He should heal the wounds of the recent electoral contest, instead of deliberately picking at the scabs,” he added.

Aw, shut up.
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A speech that resonates

I have excerpted a few portions of President Benigno Aquino III's speech that resonated with me, and I suppose with my countrymen as well. If the 20-minute 2,043-word speech were cut down to chaste, I believe it would have boiled down to the following phrases. I hope and pray to the Almighty that these words would come to fruition within the next few years, for it has heretofore remained a dream. Only then can the Filipino hope to rise.

So help us God.

Source: original text here, translated version here. [English translation in brackets]
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...Alam nating lahat ang pakiramdam na magkaroon ng pamahalaang bulag at bingi. Alam natin ang pakiramdam na mapagkaitan ng hustisya, na mabalewala ng mga taong pinagkatiwalaan at inatasan nating maging ating tagapagtanggol. [We all know what it is like to have a government that plays deaf and dumb. We know what it is like to be denied justice, to be ignored by those in whom we placed our trust and tasked to become our advocates.]

Kayo ba ay minsan ring nalimutan ng pamahalaang inyong iniluklok sa puwesto? Ako rin. Kayo ba ay nagtiis na sa trapiko para lamang masingitan ng isang naghahari-hariang de-wangwang sa kalsada? Ako rin. Kayo ba ay sawang-sawa na sa pamahalaang sa halip na magsilbi sa taumbayan ay kailangan pa nila itong pagpasensiyahan at tiisin? Ako rin. [Have you ever been ignored by the very government you helped put in power? I have. Have you had to endure being rudely shoved aside by the siren-blaring escorts of those who love to display their position and power over you? I have, too. Have you experienced exasperation and anger at agovernment that instead of serving you, needs to be endured by you? So have I.]

Kami ay narito para magsilbi at hindi para maghari. [We are here to serve and not to lord over you.]

To those who are talking about reconciliation, if they mean that they would like us to simply forget about the wrongs that they have committed in the past, we have this to say: there can be no reconciliation without justice. Sa paglimot ng pagkakasala, sinisigurado mong mauulit muli ang mga pagkakasalang ito. [When we allow crimes to go unpunished, we give consent to their occurring over and over again] Secretary de Lima, you have your marching orders. Begin the process of providing true and complete justice for all.

Ang sinumang nagkamali ay kailangang humarap sa hustisya. Hindi maaaring patuloy ang kalakaran ng walang pananagutan at tuloy na pang-aapi. [Whoever violates the law will have to face justice. We will not allow a system of non-accountability and continued oppression of the weak.]

Walang lamangan, walang padrino at walang pagnanakaw. Walang wang-wang, walang counterflow, walang tong. Panahon na upang tayo ay muling magkawang-gawa.
[No more influence-peddling, no more patronage politics, no more stealing. No more sirens, no more illegal short cuts, no more bribes. It is time for us to work together once more.]

Kayo ang boss ko...[You (the people) are the boss...]
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And if I were to cut it down even further to the bare essential:

"Walang wang-wang, walang counterflow, walang tong."

-- that would be the perfect antidote to everything that is fundamentally wrong in this country.
Only when this nation starts to respect the fundamentals that we go through in our daily lives, only then can we say that the bigger and greater goals are reachable. We have to see the change in the little things we see everyday. Only then can we believe we are genuinely starting on the road to progress.

You are spot on, Mr. President.

And may God be with you.

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