ANSWER TO THE PRIVATE INTERPRETATION OF MY FRIEND LESTER TO LUKE 11:27-28

It was a Sunday afternoon of April 14, 2013 when I received a text messages from my old friend Lester who happened to be a newly convert to Born Again cult from the only Church founded by Jesus the Catholic Church (Mt 16:18). At first I didn’t expect that the reason behind his greetings is to have a little religious discussion with me.

Btw, to give you an overview Lester was a former Catholic from the beautiful island of Surigao. He used to be very critic to the Catholic Church even before His conversion to his newly established religious organization.

He started the discussion by asking me if I’m still a member of Roman Catholic Church.

With full of proud I said yes, I even added that I don’t have plans to get away from the TRUE CHRUCH founded by Jesus.

I waited for his reply but unfortunately he didn’t reply for the next few hours.

It’s already around 10PM when he replied saying he run out of prepaid credit on his account. I told him, I am attending Mass but he never mind it and sent all his inquiries, accusations and anger to the Catholic Church.  Good thing is that the mass is almost over and just listening to the announcements so I keep on replying to his text messages and there we had a simple discussion.

First text: (First Topic)

In this text message, He is pointing out that the intercession to the Mother of God the Son Jesus is prohibited in the bible by citing Luke 11:27-28, actually the verse is not about intercession to Mary, let us read the scripture:

²⁷ As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”

²⁸ He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

In this verse he is interpreting this as:

“We can be blessed than Mary herself if we will only follow God in the name of His Son Jesus”

His private interpretation of the scripture is no longer an issue to the Catholic Church for it has been answered and corrected long long time ago and since my idol and former Born Again member Atty. Marwill Lasos already has an article about this I will based my answer from his piece. (original article)

In the Catholic Church, we have always considered Luke 11:27-28 as a text that blesses Mary but for my old friend Lester, on the other hand considers the text as rebuking Marian devotion. He is even go as much as claiming that they [the born again members] are more blessed than Mary because of what Luke 11:27-28 says. This anti-Catholic couldn't be more wrong.

  "Blessed is the womb that bore you" (Lk. 11:27a).

The New International Version renders Luke 11:27-28 this way:

“As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

The authorized King James Version renders it:

“And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”

Anti-Catholics like my friend Lester take “rather” to mean as a particle of contradiction. They say, “No, Mary is not blessed; rather blessed are they …” It is in that sense that the New American Standard Version renders Luke 11:27-28, thus:

“While Jesus was saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed.” But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

"Blessed are the breasts that nursed you" (Lk. 11:27b)

Not only Lester but all Anti-Catholics are quick to point out that the "rather" in Luke 11:28 means "on the contrary." This, they say, is a clear proof that Jesus rebukes Marian devotion. With this verse, anti-Catholics are confident that they have shattered to pieces the Catholic case for Marian devotion. They interpret the passage to mean that those who hear the word of God and keep it are much more blessed than Mary (as if Mary herself did not hear the word of God and keep it). But is this interpretation of the text correct? No, it is not. The Greek word used for “rather” in Luke 11:28 is “menoun”:

“autos de eipen menoun makarioi hoi akouontes ton logon tou theou kai phulassontes”

"Blessed are those who hear the word of God" (Lk. 11:28a)

There are various translations of the word menoun. The King James Version translates it as "yea rather" while the Revised Standard Version renders it as "indeed." The Douay-Rheims Version renders it as "furthermore." 

How then is “menoun” to be understood? Protestant Bible scholar Margaret E. Thrall studied Greek particles in the New Testament. This scholar cannot be accused of bias toward the Catholic position. Yet, in her study, she suggests the interpretation of “menoun” in Luke 11;27-28 as: “What you have said is true as far as it goes. But the blessedness of Mary does not consist simply in the fact of her relationship towards myself, but (menoun) in the fact that she shares in the blessedness of those who hear the word of God and keep it, and it is in this that true blessedness lies” [Margaret E. Thrall, Greek Particles in the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 1962) p. 35].

"... and keep it" (Lk. 11:28b)

The passage, far from downplaying Marian devotion, in fact reinforces it. Jesus makes it clear that Mary is actually "doubly blessed" for being His Mother and for hearing the word of God and keeping it.

Mary is certainly blessed for being the Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, as affirmed by the Bible when St. Elizabeth praised her as "most blessed among women" precisely because of the "blessed fruit of her womb"(Lk. 1:42, NJB). Mary is furthermore blessed because she heard the word of God: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word" (Lk. 1:38). Mary believed the word of God (and even conceived the Word of God Himself!) as clearly testified to by St. Elizabeth under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit: "Blessed is she who believed" (Lk. 1:45). Mary kept the word of God as she "kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart" (Lk. 2: 19, 51).

Mary, Mother of the Word Incarnate

Christians cannot be “blessed” in the sense of any physical or blood relationship with Christ as Mary had with her Son. But we can be surely blessed as Mary was if we, like her, hear the word of God and keep it.

"But be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" (James 1:22)

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Additionally my Spiritual Brother further explain the verse as below:

Si Maria ay Lubos na kinalulugdan ng Diyos.

"Lumapit ang anghel sa dalaga at binati ito, "Magalak ka! Ikaw ay lubos na kinalulugdan ng Diyos. Sumasaiyo ang Panginoon!"(Lucas 1:28)

Si Maria ay kalugud-lugod sa Diyos

"Sinabi sa kanya ng anghel, "Huwag kang matakot, Maria, sapagkat naging kalugud-lugod ka sa Diyos"(Lucas 1:30)

Lahat tao'y tatawagin si Maria na mapalad pati dapat yang Born again na kaibigan mo.

" ang lahat ng tao'y tatawagin akong mapalad."(Lucas 1:48")

"Habang nagsasalita si Jesus, may isang babaing sumigaw mula sa karamihan, "Mapalad ang babaing nagbuntis at nag-alaga sa iyo." Ngunit sumagot siya, "Higit na mapalad ang mga nakikinig sa salita ng Diyos at tumutupad nito!"(Lucas 1:27-28)

Ang Layo naman nyan para gamitin nya na mas mapalad pa tayo kay Maria, natural maraming nag-aalagang ina pero hindi naman palaging nakikinig sa salita ng Diyos.

Si Maria hindi lang nag-alaga kay Jesus bilang anak nya, hindi lang sya basta nakinig ng salita ng Diyos kundi mismo sinunod nya ang kalooban ng Diyos, dahil mas lalong mapalad ang sumusunod ng kalooban ng Diyos kaysa sa nakikinig lang ng salita ng Diyos.

Thanks a lot Brother Lay.

Why We Should Celebrate Valentines Day?

Why We Should Celebrate Valentines Day? an ASWER to the "Shocking Truth About Valentines Day!"


Tanong: Selebrasyon ba ng mga Pagano ang Valentine's Day?

Sagot: 

Una sa lahat wala pong masama sa February 14, wala pong problema sa valentines day. 

Ang problema po sa mga tumutuligsa sa ating mga katoliko ay ang kanilang pag-intindi.

Nabasa daw nila sa bibliya na bawal ito. Ang tanong, saang talata sa bibliya na ipinagbawal ang valentine's day?

Nagbasa ka nga ng bibliya pero nabasa mo na ba lahat? 

Mahilig kasi ang diyablo gumaya ng mga bagay na nauukol sa Panginoon.

"Hindi ito dapat pagtakhan sapagkat si Satanas man ay maaaring magkunwaring anghel ng kaliwanagan."(2 Corinto 11:14)

Katulad na lamang ng December 25 kung saan nagsicelebrate tayo ng Christmas, pero Ang December 25 din daw ay kapistahan ng Sol Invictus, o kapistahan ng Araw, ayon sa paniniwala ng mga paganong Romano. At diyan daw kinuha ang petsa ng kapanganakan ni Jesus.

Peo bago pa ipinagdiwang ng mga pagano ang Sol Invictus ay kinilala na ng mga Kristiyano ang December 25 bilang birthday ni Jesus.

Ang kapistahan ng Sol Invictus tuwing December 25 bilang opisyal na ritwal ng paganong Roma ay noon lang 275 AD sinimulan ni Emperador Aurelian.

Kung babalikan natin ang mga naunang pahayag ukol sa petsa ng kapanganakan ni Jesus ay makikita natin na noon pang 183 AD (Theophilus) at 220 AD (Hippolytus) ay paniniwala na iyan ng mga Kristiyano.

Pwede pa nating sabihin na ang mga pagano ang nanggaya sa petsa na December 25 at hindi ang mga Kristiyano.

Kung kukuwentahin natin ay 92 taon pa bago sinimulan ang pista ng mga pagano na Sol Invictus ay may nasulat nang nagpapatunay na December 25 isinilang si Kristo.

Mali po talaga at walang batayan ang sinasabi ng iba na ang Pasko tuwing December ay pista ng mga pagano.

So, kagaya ng valentine's day na sinasabi din ng iba na sinicelebrate din ito ng mga pagano ay maliwanag na isa sa na naman itong pakulo ng diyabalo para guluhin ang mga taong nag-iibigan ng totoo.

Ano po ba ang isang bagay na ginagawa ng mga kristiyano na makikita natin sa valentine's day na hindi masama?

Ang mga mag-asawang nag-iibigan at ang mga boyfriend-girlfriend na sumusunod sa gusto ng Diyos ay tumutupad po sa sinasabi ng 
Panginoong Jesus.

"Kung kayo'y mag-iibigan, makikilala ng lahat na kayo'y mga alagad ko."(Juan 13:35)

Ang tanong, ano po ang masama sa valentine's day o february 14 kung ito po ay sinicelebrate ng tama at nagpapakita ng tamang pag-ibig ang tao sa kanyang kapwa tao?

Dahil inggit na inggit po ang diyablo sa ginagawa ng mga taong nag-iibigan dahil nga ang Diyos ay pag-ibig, gusto nya po itong guluhin at para maimpluwensiyahan ang mga taong walang kaalam-alam para mapasama ang valentines day.

Ipinagbabawal ba ng bibliya na bigyan ng halaga ang araw na ito sa paraan na gusto ng Diyos?

Hindi po!

Kung binibigyan natin ng halaga ang Valentine's Day sa paraan na gusto ng Diyos ay wala pong masama dito. 

"May nagpapahalaga sa isang araw nang higit kaysa ibang mga araw."(Roma 14:5)

Wala pong problema sa Valentine's Day kundi ang problema ay nasa mga taong kulang ang kaalaman at ang mga taong ayaw sumunod sa Diyos, Kung titignan natin sa isang Catholic Enyclopediahttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15254a.htm, ay binabanggit riyan ang Valentine's Day pero wala pong nabanggit riyan na pinaniniwalaan si Kupido kagaya ng pinaniniwalaan ng iba.

Dinagdagan na lang po ng mga taong hindi nakakaintindi at hindi nagbabasa ng bibliya. 

Tandaan po ng mga kapatid na nagsisicelebrate ng valentine's day, wala pong problema sa araw na ito at hindi po masama ang magcelebrate ng valentine's day, may mga ilan lang po sa mga bagay na ginagawa ng iba sa atin at nasanayan na hindi po dapat gawin at paniwalaan. 

Una, ang tungkol kay kupido na marami po sa mga kapatid natin ay naniniwala dito.

Valentine's Day would not be complete without Cupid --- (Wrong!)

Magiging Kumpleto Ang Lahat ng Oras Mo Sa Buhay hindi lamang ang Valentine's Day na hindi mo hinihingi ang tulong ni Cupid.
Hindi mo kailangan si Cupid sa Buhay mo para makumpleto mo ang Valentine's Day. Ang Kailangan mo ay ang Salita ng Diyos!

"But if you keep his word, God's love is made complete in you. This is how we know that we are in him:" (1 John 2:5)

We are speaking of Cupid, the God of Love --- (Wrong!)

Hindi si Kupido ang Diyos ng Pag-ibig, ito ay malaking pagkakamali na dapat ituwid!

Nag-iisa lamang ang Diyos ng Pag-ibig at SYA ang Diyos na ipinakikilala ng BIBLIA.

“Those who do not love have not known God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:8)

Sa Kanya Dapat humingi ng IDEAL Man or IDEAL Woman at Hindi kay Cupid...

"House and wealth are inherited from a father but a sensible wife is a gift from GOD."(Proverbs 19:14)

It is said that if Cupid shoots his arrow of love and hits 
you, that you will fall helplessly and madly in love with the 
next person you meet. --- (Wrong!)

Ito ang Gusto ng Diyos para sa ating lahat...

Matthew 6:33 “Set your heart first on the kingdom and justice of God and all these things will also be given to you.”

SET YOUR HEART FIRST ON THE KINGDOM and JUSTICE of GOD (Ibigay mo muna ang Puso mo sa Diyos bago sa magiging partner mo sa iyong buhay)

Dahil ito ang GUSTO ng DIYOS para sa atin...

"This is the covenant that I will make with them in the days to come - says the Lord - I will put my laws in their hearts and write them on their minds.” (Hebrews 10:16)

Gusto ng Diyos na buksan natin ang ating mga puso para sa Kanyang mga kautosan, upang bago ang mga tao umibig sa kanyang magiging ideal man or woman na ibibigay ng Diyos sa kanya, magiging handa ang mga tao sa mga magiging consequences at malalaman nila kung ano ang tama at mali.

In Roman mythology, Cupid is the son of Venus, the
goddess of love. In greek mythology, he was known as
Eros and was the son of Aphrodite. ---(Wrong!)

Bawal po ng Biblia ito, huwag po natin kikilalaning diyosdiyosan itong si kupido sapagkat mali po ito.

"My dear children, keep yourselves from idols."(1 John 5:21) 

Pangalawa, magcelebrate ng valentine's day at ibigay ang tamang kahulogan ng pag-ibig na ayon sa itinuturo ng Bibliya at hindi ayon sa paniniwala ng kautusan ng mga tao.

"Ang pag-ibig ay matiyaga at magandang-loob, hindi maiinggitin, hindi mayabang ni mapagmataas man, hindi magaspang ang pag-uugali, hindi makasarili, hindi magagalitin, o mapagtanim sa kapwa. Hindi niya ikinatutuwa ang gawaing masama, ngunit ikinagagalak ang katotohanan. Ang pag-ibig ay mapagpatawad, mapagtiwala, puno ng pag-asa, at mapagtiis hanggang wakas."(1 Corinto 13:4-7) 

This Is Authored by Bro. Lay Person Scripturist

QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE OF SENATOR SOTTO (On the Issue of Alleged Plagiarism)

This is the entire speech of Sen. Vicente Sotto III delivered on the senate as an answer to the alleged PLAGIARISM case that was filed by the RH Bill Advocates to the Ethics Committee. Copied from titosotto website

Senator Sotto.  Thank you, Mr. President. 

          Earlier today, a group of Reproductive Health (RH) advocates from different sectors filed an ethics complaint against this representation and asking me to apologize for plagiarism.  August 13 ba iyong unang turno en contra speech ng inyong lingkod, Mr. President?  Two or three weeks thereafter, iyong second turno en contra, third turno en contra, but they decided to file it now.

          Pero ilang ulit ko na pong nabanggit dati ito, kailangang ulitin ko pa rin sa ngayon.   Mukhang it is falling into deaf ears.   Ganoon po ang tingin ko.

          I will set aside the issue of Section 6 of the Constitution.   Itabi natin iyong isyu ng parliamentary immunity.   Although ang pinag-uusapan nga, sabi nga  nila, at pinag-usapan rin namin ni Senate President kanina, and his advice is, ang Congress kaya may parliamentary immunity sa kahit anong sabihin mo sa Kongreso ay para may elbow room ka dahil we are making laws.   Hindi ka puwedeng i-confine.  Kahit nga libelous o kahit anong sabihin mo rito, we cannot be held liable in any place.   Dahil iyon ang binibigay na elbow room sa legislative.  Iba po iyong pananaw sa academe.   Sa academe kasi iyong pangongopya, bawal, at kung anu-ano iyong bawal.   Pero dito po sa Senado, hindi po iyon.  Ibang usapan po iyon.  Pero huwag na iyon.  Isasantabi na lang natin iyong isyu ng Section 6.

          Doon ko po dadalhin sa isyu ng ibinibintang na plagiarism.   Kasi ang tingin ko po dito, what seems to be a simple case of probable misinformation has turned out to be misinterpretation.   And now, it has become a case of persecution.   Hindi ko po maintindihan iyong nangyayari  sapagkat parang obfuscation nga ang dating sa akin.  Imbes na sagutin iyong 16 na puntos na ni-raise ko noong tatlong turno en contra ko, ang ibinalik sa akin ay plagiarism.

          Ngayon, maliwanag doon sa tatlong turno en contra speeches ko, ilang ulit ko pong sinabi, and the Journal will bear me out, wala po akong sinabi roon na akin iyon.  At maliwanag na kontra pa nga ang ginamit ko.   Lahat ng sinabi ko tungkol sa medico, sa mga agham at sa kung saan-saan, ay hindi galing sa akin.   Ang plagiarism is to steal or pass off the ideas or words of another as one's own without crediting the source. 

          Mr. President, wala po akong inangkin.   As a matter of fact, kabila ng inangkin ang ginawa ko.  Papaano ako mag-a-apologize ng plagiarism, wala akong plinagiarize.   Sinabi ko ngang hindi akin.  Parang pinagpi-plead guilty ako sa murder, ay ang dapat na charge ay physical injuries.  Kung sasabihin lang sa akin na nangopya, mag-apologize ka nangopya.  Aba madali iyon.  Talagang kinopya, eh.  Pero hindi plinagiarize.   Iba iyon.   Maliwanag iyon.  Wala po akong ninakaw.

          I am sure na kopya ng draft ng speech  ko ang unang kumalat sa kanila kasi hindi kumpleto iyon.   Wala doon iyong ibang attribution o wala  rin doon iyong counter attribution or contra attribution na sinasabi ko.  Pero sa Journal ng Senado, nandoon po lahat iyan.   Kumpleto.   The Record of the Senate will speak for me.  Iyon po iyong isyu na sinasabi nila.

          Ngayon may bago pa in the case of the so-called Kennedy speech.  It appears that the Kennedy family has been misinformed to get them to say something about me.  Sapagkat ang pinadala yata na report doon ay yon lang part na tinagalog iyong lift from the inspirational line of Robert Kennedy.  At ang pinaalam nila doon, according doon sa nakausap namin sa foundation nila, ang pinarating doon ay minangle ko.   Hindi po totoo iyon.

          Let me explain the truth.   A Christian leader sent me through a text a reminder. It was a nice reminder used to inspire people. He even said that religious leaders used that as an inspirational line. I did not even know whose it was, except that it came from Derek Ross of the True Love Waits Foundation who espouses chastity and teaches all over the country. He is an American. When he gave me that line, I translated and delivered the message in Filipino because we found it fitting cap to what I was fighting for. 

So, Mr. President, I did not steal it or claim that it was mine. In other words, the worst thing probably that they could say is, that I copied it from a text of a friend. I did not really know where it came from but it was a nice inspirational line. Ang sabi nga nila ay kay Kennedy raw pala iyong linya na iyon.  Hindi ko po alam agad iyon.  Kung sa tingin, pati ng Kennedy family, ay kinopya ko, puwede, sapagkat kinopya ko nga roon sa text iyon.  But copying or imitation is the highest form of flattery.  But if it upsets the Kennedy family, well, then I am sorry. But that is not the intention that we had when we used it. 

Ito po ay isa sa  mga natabunan noong mga oras na iyon at uulitin ko po sa ating mga kababayan. Ipapaalala ko lamang po iyong sinabi ko noong huling speech na pilit nilang tinatabunan ng issue ng plagiarism. Nagugulat ako kasi ito pa namang mga tao ay mga aral pero hindi ko maintindihan kung saan galing, except that I know that lahat pala ay RH advocates.

As a matter of fact, nagtataka  rin ako at tinanong ko si Senate President  kung bakit iyong media advisory nitong mga RH advocate na ito ay nanggaling sa opisina ng Akbayan party-list congressman. Nagtataka ako at gusto kung tanungin ang Senate President. Ano ba ang koneksyon ng congressman at bakit makikialam sa pagfa-file sa Ethics Committee ng Congress sa isang senador?

Ang pinag-aralan ko po ay mababa lamang kumpara sa mga pinag-aralan nila.  Pero ako po ay hindi marunong manira at hindi ako nanghuhusga ng kapwa. Kung ginamit nila sana ang kanilang katalinuhan para sa pagbibigay-linaw tungkol sa RH bill, lalo na iyong 16 arguments ko, aba eh, mas makakatulong pa ito sa mga kababayan natin para maunawaan ito.

Kaya sa mga mahal kong kababayan at saka sa mga kasama natin sa Senado, ako po ay matagal na ninyong kakilala. Alam ninyo ang pinanggalingan ko, kilala ninyo ang pamilya ko, asawa ko, mga anak, mga kapatid, kilala ninyo pong lahat.  Alam po ninyo ang pinagdaanan ko, mga nagawa ko at mga natulungan ko.

Ito pong mga naninira sa akin at nag-iimbento ng mga multo ay hindi natin kilala.  Kaya hindi tayo puwedeng basta maniwala sa kanila. When the right time comes and when I have gathered enough evidence, I will expose the people behind this na nagmamanipula nito. Pati iyong mga kababayan natin  sa academe ay namamanipula nila para magamit nila rito.

Mr. President, they can call me names, they can mock me, they can accuse me of anything under the sun, but I will not change my position and I will always be against the distribution of contraceptives, condoms, IUDs promoting immorality to the young people.  I will always be against abortion.  I will remain steadfast and will stand firm in my position as long as I live.

          Thank you, Mr. President.

          The President Pro Tempore.  Thank you, Majority Leader. 

Joint statement of MTC-DOLE and CHED on the closure of non-compliant maritime education programs of the PMI, March 7, 2012

To All Concerned Seafarers, this is a must read article and warning to those institution who are always after the money and no longer considering the integrity and quality of Filipino Seafarers. . .


Joint press statement of the Maritime Training Council-Department of Labor and Employment and the Commission on Higher Education:

On the closure of non-compliant maritime education programs of the Philippine Maritime Institute

[Released on March 7, 2012]

The Philippines, a signatory to the Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW), is in the spotlight of the international maritime community in view of the adverse findings of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) regarding the country’s compliance with the requirements of the STCW Convention.

The EMSA had conducted its validation of the country’s maritime education, training, and certification system from April 12 to 23, 2010.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) enforces and implements the requirements of the STCW Convention for the education and training of Filipino seafarers who will be employed as officers on board seagoing vessels.

Hence, higher education institutions (HEIs) offering maritime education programs such as Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation (BSMT) and Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering (BSMarE) are subject to recognition and regular monitoring by CHED, pursuant to Regulation I/6 of the STCW Convention and Republic Act No. 7722 otherwise known as the “Higher Education Act of 1994.”

In the CHED monitoring conducted from the year 2006 up to 2010, the BSMT and BSMarE programs of the Philippine Maritime Institute (PMI) Manila and Quezon City (QC) were among those monitored and found to have been deficient in several areas of the standards set by CHED for maritime education.

Under existing laws, rules, and regulations concerning higher education, the failure of an HEI to maintain compliance with the requirements for the offering of a higher education program is punishable by closure through a phase out process of the program.

In 2006, the EMSA conducted an audit of the Philippine Maritime Training Council-Department of Labor and Employment (MTC-DOLE) member agencies composed of the Professional Regulation Commission, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and CHED, together with 15 maritime HEIs selected by EMSA in the year 2006, one of which was the PMI.

A follow-up audit was made in 2010 where 6 out of the 15 maritime HEIs, including PMI, were previously audited and visited.

After being apprised by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs on the possible adverse effects to the country’s Filipino seafarers and maritime workers, President Benigno S. Aquino III directed the above-concerned agencies to undertake all the necessary measures to correct the deficiencies discovered by the EMSA.

The Philippines is obligated to comply with the mandatory provisions of the STCW. Otherwise, it stands to be delisted from the roster of compliant states and face adverse consequences to its economy as a result of the European Union’s (EU) blacklisting of Filipino seamen. Such blacklisting would prevent Filipino seafarers from boarding EU member flagged vessels, which could adversely affect their employment. In 2011, Filipino seafarers employed by EU member flagged vessels remitted approximately $700 million based on Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas data.

Aware of the gravity of the situation, the Philippine government submitted before the deadline on August 26, 2011 its Compliance Report on the deficiencies noted by EMSA to the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG-MOVE) of the European Commission. The report contained the corrective measures undertaken by the government to eliminate the remaining deficiencies relating to monitoring of maritime education and training institutions, quality standards system, requirements for on-board training, implementation of the management level course, and improvement of the maritime training institutions’ equipment and facilities that the EMSA noted.

Among the corrective actions reported was the closure of the BSMT and BSMarE programs of PMI Manila and QC. Other Philippine maritime schools complied with the corrective actions on their deficiencies, leaving only three that have remained non-compliant as of May 2011.

As a member-agency of MTC-DOLE, CHED took as its last recourse the closure of deficient maritime programs of maritime schools that, after having been given ample time and opportunity, still failed to rectify the deficiencies noted by CHED and EMSA on their BSMT and BSMarE programs.

Records of the CHED show that PMI had been operating with several gross deficiencies, particularly on program administration, faculty, laboratory equipment, library, and research and development, as found likewise by the EMSA, and PMI had not been able to correct these despite several opportunities given to it from SY 2006 to 2007 even until the second semester of SY 2010–2011. Incidentally, it was one of three maritime schools that received closure orders on their deficient maritime programs.

The closure orders issued by the CHED prompted the PMI to file a civil case before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of QC to secure a temporary restraining order (TRO) and writ of injunction to prevent its implementation. First Vice Executive Judge Fernando T. Sagun Jr. denied the 72-hour TRO request because there was no compelling reason to grant the same:

After circumspect examination of the facts alleged in the instant Petition, the Office finds that Petitioner was not able to sufficiently show that an extreme urgency exists as to warrant the issuance of a 72-hour Temporary Restraining Order under paragraph 2, Section 5, Rule 58 of the Rules of Court, considering that the Closure Order through phase out of the subject matter of this case is still to take effect on the Second Semester of school year 2011-2012.

When the PMI’s case was raffled off to RTC QC Branch 87 presided by Judge Aurora Hernandez-Calledo, she likewise refused to issue a TRO, in an order dated October 28, 2011, ruling categorically that:

The Court, cannot at this time, convinced that indeed the plaintiff has a clear and unmistakable right to seek the relief prayed for. Petitioner failed to establish a clear right to the entitlement of the temporary restraining order because apparently there were deficiencies discovered during the investigation and inspection which was the basis of the issuance of the subject resolution ordering the phase out of Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation (BSMT) and Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering (BSMarE) programs of the PMI Colleges. It likewise failed to substantiate that it will suffer an irreparable damage than the damage that it will bring to the international reputation of graduates and the eventual withdrawal of European Union recognition of Philippine Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) training and certification system.

PMI immediately moved for the reconsideration of the ruling of Judge Hernandez-Calledo while at the same time asking her to recuse. The case was subsequently raffled off to Judge Rosa Samson of RTC QC Branch 105.

In the meantime, the CHED National Capital Region Office assisted former PMI students in their transfer to other recognized maritime schools in the NCR and other regions. These recognized schools accepted PMI students due to the circumstances surrounding their plight. The CHED also requested PMI officials to expedite release of their transfer credentials in order to not further cause prejudice to the students.

On February 1, 2012, despite the evidence presented by the CHED, Judge Rosa Samson issued a “writ of preliminary injunction” enjoining the CHED from further implementing the closure orders on PMI’s BSMT and BSMarE programs until further orders of the court.

As a result of this court order, the MTC-DOLE and the CHED hereby jointly express and manifest the following serious concerns:

1. The EMSA audit conducted on Philippine maritime education, training, and certification system is a matter of national interest considering that any action or decision rendered by the European Commission based on the EMSA findings will determine the fate of Filipino seafarers as far as employment of these seafarers on European flag vessels is concerned.

2. The failure of the Philippines to rectify the deficiencies noted by the EMSA will trigger the European Commission proceedings on the withdrawal of European Union’s (EU) recognition of certificates issued by the Philippine government to Filipino seafarers, which may result to non-hiring of such seafarers on board EU member flagged vessels, as well as pre-termination of contracts of those on board.

3. The withdrawal of EU’s recognition could threaten the position of the Philippines in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) “White List” of countries that are compliant with the requirements of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention) and will definitely have a detrimental effect not only on the country’s reputation in the international maritime community but also on the nation’s economy.

4. The imposition of the closure order on PMI’s BSMT and BSMarE programs is in accordance with CHED’s mandate under the law considering that PMI, after having been given a series of extension of deadlines to rectify the deficiencies noted by both the EMSA and the CHED, still failed to do so. Under the conditions expressly stated in the government recognition granted by the CHED, the authority of PMI to offer the two courses subject of the closure order was without prejudice to withdrawal of the permit, in the event that PMI is found to be non-compliant with the CHED and STCW Convention minimum requirements. In the RTC proceedings, PMI did not even deny the noted deficiencies which are indicated in the CHED Reports bearing the signatures of PMI officials.

5. The closure orders issued against the two PMI courses are the last corrective measures that could be undertaken by the MTC-DOLE through the CHED to eliminate the deficiencies noted by EMSA on PMI’s BSMT and BSMarE programs, in view of the PMI’s failure to demonstrate and show proof that such deficiencies have been corrected before the deadline of August 31, 2011 given by EU to the Philippines.

6.That the issuance of a “writ of preliminary injunction” by the RTC Quezon City enjoining the CHED from further implementing the Closure Order on PMI’s BSMT and BSMarE programs could be looked upon as a nullification of one of the corrective actions submitted by the Philippines to the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG-MOVE) of the European Commission.

7.Therefore, pursuant to the constitutional mandate to protect and promote the right of all Filipino citizens to quality education, and in consonance with the international obligation of the Philippines as signatory to the STCW Convention which forms part of the law of the land, the MTC-DOLE and CHED shall continue to undertake appropriate measures to ensure that Philippine maritime education complies with if not surpasses the minimum local and international standards.

The MTC-DOLE and the CHED served notice that they will continue to combine their efforts in maintaining the standards of the STCW Convention to ensure the competence, efficiency, and integrity of the country’s labor force; to protect the Philippines’ preeminence in the world market for seafarers; and, ultimately, to prevent the Philippine economy from suffering a major setback as a result of non-recognition of Filipino certificates by the EU.

Reference: Philippines Official Gazette 

I was once sent my brother in that school.. He is actually one of those students who have been a victim of that INCOMPETENCE and SELFISH management of PMI Colleges. He suffered a lot from that shameful act of that institution but Luckily he was able to find another school which is good enough and certified enough to give him what he deserves as a dreamer. . 

Thanks For Dropping by. . . Have  a good Day Peeps. . . 

-TheSeductiveEmo ♥