2002 Tsat 9 Invitation Letter

Are poor families good news for us Christians? Or

They are everywhere in this sprawling city – families housed in shanties in the streets, in niches along the bayside, the riverbanks, under the bridges, along roads... their stories vary in some detail and yet some things are the same – the structures they contend with, their resiliency, their persistent struggle, their hope, their faith and their frustration...

With this public knowledge, questions such as the title of this article, brought about reflection and challenge to us as church workers. Thus, the ninth TSAT of the Philippine Church Communicators’ Network (PCCNet) provided the venue for this kind of reflection. The ninth TSAT entitled, “Are poor families good news for us Christians?,” was held last September 18, 2002 at Titus Brandsma Center. Organized by the PCCNet, where Titus Brandsma Center-Media is a member, the TSAT became a venue for discussion and sharing on the plight of poor families. Unlike the past forums, this TSAT was designed in a talk show format (Mel & Jay –type) so as the sharing would directly come from the panelists, whom are members of the urban poor themselves, instead from the hosts and experts/specialists. This way, the sharing was rooted from true-to-life experiences. Opinions and learned insights from the hosts and experts served only as the synthesis of the forum. Also with this format, we were able to save time because the open forum was already inserted in the program proper. The audience can ask questions or give their point of views simultaneously. The forum was given this focus because of the coming Fourth World Meeting of the Families on January 2003. This is to answer or if not to provide awareness that poor families are a majority in the Philippine population and that whatever preparations or agenda the meeting would have, the Church must bear them in mind and not to overlook their needs and plight. The meeting gives the theme, “Christian Family, Good News for the Third Millennium.” Thus, the ninth TSAT came up with the above-mentioned theme. The primary question that brought PCCNet to this theme was, where do families at the margins fit in? This is where our contribution would fall, to provide greater sensitivity and realization, as members of one FAITH.

Panelists were members of families from different sectors. We have Gil Galdo, contractual worker, member of Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Manggagawang Kontraktuwal (SNMK); Lucy Lopez, battered wife, member, Alyansa ng Kababaihang Anak Pawis (AKAP); Rejienald Bacosa, street child, client of Silong Tanglaw Foundation; Leodegania Buñales, elderly, member of Coalition of Services for the Elderly (COSE); and Norola Omor, from a displaced family in Mindanao. Our experts were social workers from Silong Tanglaw and DAMPA – Charisma Cabatit and Evelyn Abagao. Committees to facilitate the forum were formed among the members. Union of Catholic Asian News (UCAN) was assigned in writing the script and program proper; Radio Veritas-Asia was assigned in the registration of participants; Communication Foundation for Asia (CFA) was to do the documentation in video format; TBC-Media for the invitation letter, physical arrangement and budget. Masters of Ceremony were Jofti Villena and Imma Belza of Ligaya ng Panginoon. Briefing was scheduled two hours before the scheduled time (2-4 PM) to prepare the panelists and give them a set of guide questions. The talk show proper discussed about two major concerns: “being a Christian and being a Christian family.” Emphasis was given to peace, love, justice, healing, forgiveness and solidarity with the poor, both in Islam and Catholic Christianity. Truly, their stories vary but their needs, as mentioned, remained the same. One challenge, therefore, to us Christians sprawled during the forum. That is, are we Christians really there to accept them whole-heartedly, without passing on judgment and freeing ourselves, our hearts from discrimination? Are we Christians good news to poor families? Its up to us to reflect and take action on it!

Written by: Jofti A. Villena