PNoy gifts Pope with sculpture of 'Mary, Undoer of Knots,' papal visit coins

MANILA, Philippines -- President Benigno Aquino III gifted Pope Francis during their private meeting in Malacanang with a sculpture of “Mary, Undoer of Knots,” and P50 and P500 commemorative coins issued by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for the papal visit.

"In this sculpture, in Mary, Undoer of Knots, in His Holiness' life, and in the story of the Filipino people, we see the beauty of faith and the strength of devotion, amidst the suffering and challenges of life," he told the Pope.

The image was carved from a piece from a century-old acacia tree that once stood in the grounds of Malacanang but was felled by typhoon Glenda in July 2014.

Fred Baldemor, a multi-awarded sculptor from Paete, Laguna, hand-carved the image several months ago.

Baldemor's works can also be found at the Immaculate Concepcion Parish in Pasig City and St. Patrick Cathedral in New York and has been featured in many exhibits.

The limited edition coins were issued in commemoration of the state and pastoral visit of Pope Francis.  Both coins are legal tender and will be sold for P100 and P1,000, respectively, to cover production, packaging and other costs.

The coins are minted under a licensing agreement with the Vatican.

As a matter of policy, the BSP commemorates significant events in the country’s history through the minting of coins, medals or overprints on our banknotes. Papal commemorative coins were also issued for the 1970 visit of Pope Paul VI, and for the 1981 and 1995 papal visits of Pope John Paul II.

The 50-piso Commemorative Coin for Pope Francis is made of Nickel Brass while the 500-piso is made of Nordic Gold with gold plating.

source: interaksyon.com

LGBT groups seek audience with Pope Francis during PH visit

Filipino lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) groups are seeking an audience with Pope Francis during his apostolic and state visit on January 15 to 19.

In an open letter (http://www.scribd.com/doc/252015071/Letter-to-Pope-Francis-From-Filipino-LGBT-Groups) published Thursday, representatives of GANDA Filipinas, The Red Whistle Campaign, GAYON-Albay, Pinoy FTM, CURLS-Cebu, SHINE-SOCCSKSARGEN, STRAP, Akbayan LGBT Collective, Task Force Pride, GALANG Philippines, TLF Share, Babaylanes Inc., and University of the Philippines Babaylan said they wanted to have a “constructive and meaningful dialogue” with the leader of the Catholic Church.

“(Y)ou are arriving at a moment of great challenges for the Filipino LGBT community. The widespread belief that we are accepted in the country conceals the deeply embedded stigma and discrimination that dehumanize our existence and our lives, exposing many of us to harm and danger,” they wrote.

The groups cited the murder of transwoman Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude in Olongapo City in October last year, where she was apparently strangled, her body marked with cuts and wounds. United States Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton is now facing murder charges over Laude’s death.

“Her story is a narrative familiar to many trans people who face physical abuse and hate crimes simply for identifying with the gender that they’re born with. It is a story known to lesbians who encounter sexual assaults that are meant to correct their sexual orientation and sexual behaviors,” the groups said.

At least 20 transgender people have been killed in the Philippines since 2008, according to GANDA (Gender and Development Advocates) Filipinas. 157 cases of hate crimes against members of the LGBT community, meanwhile, were recorded by Philippine Hate Crime Watch from 1996 to 2011.

The LGBT groups added in their letter to Pope Francis that there was also a rise in the number of gays, bisexuals, other men who have sex with men, and trans people living with HIV. There were more HIV-related deaths in the LGBT community as well, they said.

They attributed this to the “lack of access to sex and sexuality education and the exclusion of LGBTs from sexual health services.”

More than that, the LGBT groups said that they experienced “stigma and various human rights violations” due to “faith-based prejudices” and “interpretations of the Catholic doctrine.”

They accused Catholic leaders of promoting “homophobic and transphobic notions” which rationalized abuses against LGBT children, in particular, by their own families.

“Your Holiness… you are in the best position to dismantle faith-based stigma and the human rights violations that it fuels,” they said.

They called on the Holy Father “to openly condemn the dehumanization and human rights violations experienced by LGBTs.”

source: interaksyon.com