Pro-Life Philippine Foundation leads the celebration of Pro-Life Month this February, lining up a series of activities focused on the theme "
Unite for Life", and highlighted by the observance of "Respect and Care for Life Sunday" on February 10.The celebration of "Respect and Care for Life Month" began in 1987, with
a presidential proclamation issued by former President Corazon C. Aquino. In observance of the event, schools, parishes and organizations hold various pro-life activities such as slogan and
essay contests, film showings and seminars, Eucharistic celebrations, prayer services and Rosary for Life events.
For Pro-Life Philippines, a major event of the month will be its On
February 15 and 16, Pro-Life Philippines will hold its 10th National Convention, scheduled on February 15 to 16 at the College Auditorium of St. Paul College of Manila with theme "
Magkaisa Para sa Buhay".
Convention delegates will be addressed by Manila Auxiliary Bishop Socrates Villegas, who will speak on the theme of the celebration on the first day, and
Dr. Bernard Nathanson, who will call on the participants to "Unite for Life" on the second day. Dr. Nathanson is an ex-abortionist who converted to the Catholic faith. He is famous
among pro-lifers for exposing the horrible evil of abortion as seen through the ultrasound technology in the documentary film entitle "Silent Scream". Since his conversion, Dr.
Nathanson has been a guest speaker in numerous conferences and symposia preaching the Gospel of Life.
The two-day convention will also feature reports on pro-life activities and
workshops among the delegates. I will likewise be highlighted by the election of a new Board of Directors of the Pro-Life Foundation, who will serve for a term of two years. It
concludes with a Eucharistic Celebration officiated by San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, Chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (ECFL).
Another activity of the Pro-Life Month is the "Baon Ko, Buhay Mo! Piso-Piso Para Sa Buhay!", a fund-raising campaign launched last month to make the students aware of their solidarity to
the cause of Life. Another is the Human Life Chain scheduled on February 7. This features a human chain Prayer rally in front of an abortion- contraception center.
Dr.
Nathanson will also be the guest speaker during a symposium sponsored by the ECFL through one of its support groups, the Defensores Fidei Foundation. The symposium will be held on February
17 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the St. Paul College Auditorium, and Dr. Nathanson will speak on "Human Life Issues in Emerging Reproductive Technologies".
On February 23, there will be
a "Himig Kabataan Concern" at the St. Paul College of Manila from 7-9 p.m. On this day, the final judging Choir Competition will also be held. The judges and gues performers include
Ogie Alcasid, Gerard Sison, Cocoy Laurel, Fr. Carlo Magno and Fr. Eduardo Hontiveros, SJ. Fr. Hontiveros' composition "Piliin ang Buhay" is the contest piece taken from Deuteronomy 35
written specially for Pro-Life.
For more information on the pro-life activities for the month, including registration for the Pro-Life National Convention, and pro-life materials,
videotapes, posters and pamphlets that can be used for school, parish or organization activities, contact Pro-Life Philippines tel./fax: 734-5111/735-2424.
