Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan assumed his new post as president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on December 1.
On the same day, David lamented, in his speech after being conferred the honorary doctor of humanities degree from Holy Angel University in Angeles City, what he described as growing “escapism” among many Filipinos.
He said such an attitude is “very wrong” especially for those who are only “seduced by troll propaganda in the social media.”
He pointed out that having a sense of history is crucial “because we do not want our past mistakes to keep repeating themselves.”
“Otherwise, the ghost of the past can continue to haunt us in the present,” David said.
“We remain in that dark and perpetual state of victimhood that deprives us of a future, because we do not know how to review the past in a manner that lights up our path in the present for the future,” he said.
The Kalookan bishop warned that without a sense of history, “we cannot even develop a good sense of identity.”
Without mincing words he said: “Those who do not learn from history are simply doomed.”
Other CBCP officials assume posts
David replaced Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao, who finished his term as head of the conference of Catholic bishops in the country.
Prior to becoming CBCP head, David served as vice president of the bishops’ collegial body.
The new CBCP vice president is Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara of Pasig.
The new set of permanent council members are: for Luzon, Archbishop Ricardo Baccay of Tuguegarao, Bishop Dennis Villarojo of Malolos, Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga and Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa.
For Visayas, the regional representatives are Bishop Jose Bantolo of Masbate, Bishop Patrick Daniel Parcon of Talibon and Bishop Louie Galbines of Kabankalan.
Representatives for Mindanao, meanwhile, include Archbishop Jose Cabantan of Cagayan de Oro and Bishop Abel Apigo of Mati.
This new set of officers, who were elected during the bishops’ plenary assembly last July, will set the pace and agenda of the CBCP for the next two years.
CBCP officials have a two-year tenure in office. They can be elected a second term, giving them a total of four years in office.
The CBCP meets in regular sessions twice a year, in January and in July. When not in session, the permanent council acts on behalf of the conference.
Honorary doctor
The Holy Angel University conferred on David an honorary doctor degree “for his inspirational leadership in the Church and community.”
Besides his “tireless work of evangelization” as a writer, cultural heritage worker and environmental advocate, the award also cited David’s “courage” to defend the poor and the defenseless.
The university particularly noted the prelate’s vocal stand against the spate of killings in the government’s brutal war on drugs.
The church leader once described his diocese, which covers the cities of Caloocan, Malabon and Navotas, as a “killing field” as many killings of drug suspects happened in his jurisdiction.
David also expanded his diocese’s mental health ministry to assist the drug war widows and orphans. CBCP News
Image courtesy of Diocese of Kalookan photo
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