The inside story
By Raïssa Robles
“From the very start, (na) bad trip si presidente kay Rosales,” someone in the know told me when I casually wondered why President Benigno Aquino III did not have that same chummy relations with top Catholic Church officials, enjoyed by his predecessor Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Mrs Arroyo was always just a phone call away from top Catholic clerics.
She even designated a special liaison officer – Nena Valdez – to attend to any of the bishops’ requests.
I remember, in one interview I had with Catholic Bishop Martin Jumoad of Basilan province, he told me that whenever the public school teachers’ salaries in that province went unpaid, he would simply phone the presidential palace and the money for the salaries would come through.
But Bishop Jumoad did not ask for himself but only for things that would enable him to help the long-neglected people of Basilan. The controversial vehicle supplied by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office came under that category.
I’m sure Mrs Arroyo never openly told the bishops to support her beleaguered presidency. But in gratitude for what she was doing for them – making them political power brokers – they simply did.
And so, when my source told me that from the very start PNoy did not see eye to eye with the Archbishop of Manila Gaudencio Rosales, I was greatly intrigued.
The Archbishop of Manila holds a special place in the local Catholic hierarchy. The Manila bishopric is the wealthiest in the country and whoever occupies that post becomes equally or even more influential than the head of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the clergy’s policy-making and governing body.
My source explained:
It was because of the way Rosales treated the mother. You remember in 2005, Cory Aquino called for GMA (Arroyo) to resign (from the presidency)?
“Uhuh,” I said all ears.
My source said Archbishop Rosales had delivered a sermon inside the Edsa People Power Shrine criticizing Mrs Aquino’s demand for Arroyo’s abrupt resignation. This was after it emerged that in 2004, Mrs Arroyo had phoned an election commissioner in order to ask whether she would win by at least a million votes over presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr.
My source said the Archbishop’s sermon had stung Cory Aquino to the core:
From that time on, Cory refused to step inside the Shrine, (because) basically, he had slapped her face.
Wow, how the past continues to haunt us, I thought, as I researched what exactly had happened six years ago that now colors the incumbent president’s attitude towards certain members of the Catholic clergy.
I found this news dispatch by my friend Barbara Mae-Dacanay, Manila bureau chief of Gulfnews, dated July 12, 2005:
Aquino tells Arroyo to quit
Former President Corazon Aquino yesterday advised President Gloria Arroyo to resign due to alleged election fraud and allow Vice-President Noli de Castro to assume the presidency.
Barbara quoted Mrs Aquino as stating in a speech before students at De la Salle University:
I ask the president to spare her country and herself from this second option [of impeachment at the House of Representatives] and make the supreme sacrifice of resigning.
Then another news item from the online newspaper Sunstar explained what exactly Archbishop Rosales had said to make the late former President Corazon Aquino feel rejected so:
Ex-presidents are not exactly faultless: Rosales
MANILA — Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales said past presidents were also tainted with corruption and scandals that were worst than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Rosales mentioned the late former President Ferdinand Marcos, who allegedly stole public funds, adding that the Marcoses should “give back the money” to the people.
On former Presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos, Rosales said the two former heads of state were not directly linked to corruption but the people around them were.
With regard Estrada, Rosales said cases against him are pending in court.
“I’m not in favor of anyone and I don’t mean to say that I like GMA [Gloria Macapagal Arroyo]. What I’m worried about is the truth. The truth is GMA is not the only president linked to corruption,” Rosales said over the weekend.
Rosales added: “There are bigger, bigger fishes. That is why I’m interested in the whole truth. This is only piecemeal.” (Sunnex)
What about PNoy’s sisters?
“What about his sisters,” I asked.
I wanted to know whether the sisters were leaning on the President not to pass a Reproducive Health Law that would allow the state to give away free condoms and offer family planning services other than natural methods.
My source said “I don’t think they meddle.”
Another thing my source pointed out was that only the De la Salle brothers had stuck with Cory Aquino and her family through political thick and thin.
My source noted that even Ateneo de Manila University “refused to hold the wake for Cory.”
PNoy’s critics would probably label the President vindictive.
I don’t think so.
I think what happened was that the bishops lost their holy aura when they sided with Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The sheen on their halos got a little bit tarnished in the eyes of a good number of Catholics, myself included.
They haven’t recovered their moral ascendancy to this day. And this is affecting their battle against the passage of a Reproductive Health (RH) Law.
kontrapilo says
i am sorry, I only happened to open this blog, this may sound archives but i can’t help to share my sentiments and disappointment with hypocrites , this bishop who only wanted material things from their fanatic members. This so called man of God, they are not interested on the salvation of the soul of human kind, they invented anything, instant miracles , mislead the people from the true GOD that is in the bible, they created their own interpretation , they invented ,LIMBO, PURGATORY, ORIGINAL SINS, and many others, Whoever read this, try to search if there a single word written of limbo, purgatory,original sins in the Bible. These are all inventions, so to make money. The catholic bishop headed by the archdiocese of manila is the richest with 12 billion in bank deposits and investment at BPI… Now tell us, who are they ?
182AngLopez says
Am glad your comment ended with a question. But don’t end there. Seek in fairness and open mind, the answers to those questions and you will find that the answers will lead to a plethora of other questions. Persevere and you will eventually come to the ‘truth’ not only about the’ aura of power’ of these so-called ‘men of God’ but also about anchor of your ‘faith’ and your ‘beliefs’. And you will never be the same again.
The church’s power and hold over the ‘faithful’ and ‘believers’ is sourced on ignorance and fear. Once you exorcise these 2, the ‘truth’ will set you free. And you will live a more fruitful and meaningful life.
Rallie F. Cruz says
Cardinal Rosales said he was looking for the big fish and he found it in Arroyo.
Rallie F. Cruz says
One thing I am really confused with the church ever since is in one of their beatitudes saying, “blessed are the poor for they shall inherit heaven” and yet most of their priests especially those who came up to the ranks of Bishop and archbishop are normally surrounded by the rich. Is it because the rich has less chance and they are helping them to inherit heaven also?
Freddie Pelina says
Your right Ms. Raissa, GMA leadership shook some bishops out of their shell.
Jojo Deles says
I remember in that EDSA Shrine mass officiated by Rosales, right after the mass, even while people including Pres Cory were still greeting one another, the parish priest announced over the sound system that the congregation should leave the church right away; that the Church should not be used for political meetings.
edlyn kalman says
oh my, that was so rude!
libertas says
in the comparative country index of iq’s, the philippines ranks near the bottom – 86 – just above moron, so is it any wonder that all the time is spent on lying, cheating and stealing and then being a coward and never admitting guilt.
jungle bunnies who are happy to take but contribute nothing.
you should be ashamed – especially in the media who all get their backhanders and are mouthpieces for political pimps but certainly not journalists
raissa says
I think you’re the one ashamed. Hiding behind that pseudonym.
Racist and sexist too.
nanie geronimo says
Cardinal Rosales is not an effective Manila archbishop and Catholic leader. He pales in comparison to the beloved Cardinal Sin. Not only is he feigning goodness when he sided with the purveyors of the untruth and immorality, such as those leading the past government, he is also mentally dishonest.
I recall he and 3 other bishops issued a pastoral statement to ban aerial spray in Mindanao but when invited there, he and his cohorts declined to be enlightened. While ex-CBCP president Bishop Fernando Capalla and 4 other bishops of the DIDATEMA, who undertook an inclusive and thorough investigation on the subject and then later on issued a contrary pastoral statement — to regulate and not ban — showed the shallowness of Cardinal Rosales’ pronouncement while the DIDATEMA bishops showed their preferential treatment for the poor based on moral and educated grounds on this issue. How can this shepherd lead the flock when he lacks the mental fortitude and credibility so needed now by the beleaguered church?
If PNoy feels cold and distant, he deserve it. After all, so have many other believers who have found some leaders of the Catholic church as equally unreliable, selfish and utterly blind to the corruption and greed of the past regime deserve the same treatment. He simply gives the church a bad wrap.
Gerard Duayne Papa says
I agree. Unless you show us how PNoy became incompetent Trisha, I’ll consider you 1 of the paid attack dogs of the former president disguising as an opinionated reader roaming around every news websites’ forums.
And whatever bad things you say about Pnoy, it would never change the fact that GMA, your president, is the most corrupt and incompetent president this country has ever had.
CESAR ARELLANO says
Anyone that sided with the arroyos specially during that “hello Garci” incident automatically does the mad dog fate !
so is the cardinal and his kind as it is to me the highest criminal or felony offenses she ever commiited,
Targrod says
I think there is a big difference in bringing down a person and telling the truth.
anyhoo, it is just plain sad that our guardians of morality are mostly blinded by a few of the deadly sins. i hope there’s a change inside the government of our religious leaders. hoping for at most 5 to 10 years from now, that everything would be ok. i know it is kind of far-fetched but being optimistic is always a good thing.
raissa says
Yes, there is always time for change.
trisha says
If Cory is still allive, do you think she would do exactly the same thing she did w/ GMA to her son? Ask PNoy to leave his post? She advised GMA to resign then just because of the issue on the tape recordings that has spun out of control… one allegation that has yet to be proven until now even w/ all the testimonies of paid witnesses.
Let us not fool ourselves, Raissa. Whatever bad things you say about GMA, it would never make PNoy look good to the thinking filipinos.. it would never change the fact that PNoy is an incompetent president.
raissa says
Dear Trisha,
Do you know that Cory Aquino made PNoy go through the hoops just to run for Congress?
If Cory were still alive, all your presuppositions would be moot and academic.
No way would PNoy be elected President.
And the tape recordings are not a “just because” thing.
The tape recordings were the evidence to show that GMA tampered with the very essence of democracy – the vote.
And you are fooling yourself, sadly, Trisha.
Saying bad things about GMA is not intended to make PNoy look good.
One thing is not the cause of the other.
Saying bad things about GMA is saying the truth about GMA, which unfortunately for her, happens to be bad.
As for PNoy being an incompetent president, you have to show me why.
You know, I’m not pro-PNoy.
I’m pro good governance.
Raissa
Al says
Oo nga naman Trisha show/tell me why PNoy is incompetent?
Dan says
Si Trisha kasi accountant ni Villar ito hehehe
raissa says
Talaga? Paano mo alam? Curious lang ako.
Rallie F. Cruz says
Raissa,
our Filipino loyalty will always be addressed to the person who feeds the mouth that should not bite the hands and not on the principle of what is right and just.
Trisha will never see what is good in P’noy who is found loyal to the opposition who lost.
karen tanada says
Ask around further on events, it seems what angered former president Cory even more was that Rosales was among the bishops who earlier told her that Arroyo must go. Then when she made the call for Arroyo’s resignation, they were not behind her.
manuelbuencamino says
Hmmm…I think I heard that too…maybe Rosales changed his mind after Ms Medy Poblador the alleged bag lady of GMA who is also his niece was able to offer some convincing arguments about why keeping GMA in power was better than heeding Cory’s call. I have no idea what those arguments were but I hope they were crisp.
raissa says
Hmm. I will.
Thanks for the tip.