The Knights of Columbus, an Organization with an Insurance Program to Its Members

The Knight of Columbus is a Roman Catholic, family, fraternal and service organization that is positively distinct from other civic organizations because of its insurance program for the financial protection of its members and their family. Subscribing to an insurance policy is however voluntary and members can select one or more insurance products that suit their needs and budgets. The most affordable is the group insurance plan whereby a group of knights pays PHP 500 per member to pool their money for an insurance coverage of one year. And in case of an untimely death of any member within that period his beneficiary or his family receives PHP 50,000 as compensation. Ideally, a brother knight should get an insurance certificate to have himself or his loved ones the privilege of being financially protected by the organization in case of unfortunate events.

In the Philippines the insurance program is undertaken by the Knight of Columbus Fraternal Association of the Philippines Inc. (KCFAPI), a Mutual Benefit Association that was founded by the late Rev. Joseph Willmann, the first Philippine District Deputy of Knights of Columbus. Providing knights with financial protection is in line with the concept of US Knights of Columbus insurance programs to its members. The organization was originally founded by Fr. Michael McGivney in 1892 in New Haven, Connecticut USA to help Catholic families who lose income with the sudden demise of their breadwinner.

KCFAPI is a Mutual Benefit Association of the members of the Knights of Columbus that was incorporated in 1958. It is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and accredited by the Insurance Commission to deal with insurance related transactions. It is a non-stock and non-profit association that exclusively serves the members of Knights of Columbus and their immediate family. Transactions between the KC Fraternal Association and the benefit certificate holders and their beneficiaries are done in conformity with the Philippine Insurance Law.  

                                                                                                           

Benefit Certificate or policy holders of the KCFAPI automatically become co-owner of the association who can participate in the sharing of its dividends. In addition they can also avail of loans with an amount based on the total cash value of their benefit certificate.                                                                                                                                  

The growth in the number of benefit security holders and net assets is an affirmation of the sound management and financial stability of the association. On that premise the knight’s investment is in the association is said to be secured. In 1958 the association started with just a capital of PHP32, 000 which was contributed by 64 member knights. In 2015 this has grown up to PHP 13.36 billion insurance in force, and the association’s total amount of resources is now worth PHP 4.86 billion. For 2015, maturities paid amounted to PHP 203 million, and death claim paid amounted to PHP 106.7 million. The association also posted a PHP 70.2 million excess of revenue over expenses before participation to benefit certificate or insurance policy holders. KCFAPI is the only mutual benefit association in the Philippines with an ISO Certified Quality System under the standards of ISO 9001:2008.                                                                   

A brother knight is guided with the principle of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism and with its motto “In service to one, in service to all” as he carries out his activities in the order. Joining the order, he serves his church, his community and his country by voluntarily and selflessly giving his time, effort and material resources without expecting something in return. He does it because of his devotion and inspiration to follow Jesus Christ. 

March for Life 2016

The March for Life is an annual pro-life rally of different associations and groups that is held in the month of January or February. The first rally was led by Nellie Gray on January 22, 1973 in Washington D.C., USA in response to the US Supreme Court decision on Roe versus Wade on January 22, 1972 decriminalizing abortion.  Since then, succeeding annual rally has been held by different pro-life advocacy groups to support the culture of life and protest on abortion. Those groups have also been reaching out to some lawmakers for the overturn of the SC decision.

        

Religious organizations such as the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church and the evangelicals have been active participants in the annual rally. The Knight of Columbus a fraternal service organization of the Catholic Church is the agent of the Catholic Church to carry out its support to the multi-sectoral March for Life rally. The organization is committed to reverse the trend toward the culture of death and to build a culture that values human life at the every stage.  Since Knight of Columbus has councils and assemblies in different parts of the world, it follows that the March for Life rally has taken a world stage.

In the Philippines the March for Life rally is exclusively carried out by the members of Knight of Columbus all over the country with the support of the Catholic Church. Unlike in the United States where a woman’s right to an abortion is protected, abortion is a crime in the Philippines. The participation of the Filipino Knight of Columbus members of the rally is their expression of solidarity with other groups the world over for pro-life promotion. 

In Cagayan de Oro the annual March for Life rally was held on February 27, 2016. Participants from different councils and assemblies gathered at the provincial capitol ground of Misamis Oriental. The march to the Gaston Park at Saint Augustine Cathedral started at about 7:30 am. The 30-minute march culminated in a simple program at the park that included prayer and short speeches from speakers.  The highlight of the program was a speech of Fr. Juliano Retiquez who discussed on certain moral issues with emphasis on the church advocacy on the culture of life and abortion.

Philippine Election 2013: Churches or Religious Leaders Should Refrain from Endorsing or Opposing the Election of Candidates

The Philippine election is just around the corner. Since the country gained independence from the United States, it has been the practice of some churches through their priests or religious leaders to endorse or oppose the election of candidates for public office. At present, some priests of the Catholic Church are endorsing or opposing the election of some senatorial candidates over the Reproductive Health (RH) Law. People are also expecting that within several days the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), a minority but strong and solid sect will publicly announce its endorsement of senatorial bets. Members of this sect are known for voting as a bloc during election.

Despite the fact that RH Bill is already a law, the Catholic Church is still fighting against its implementation. It also vows to oppose measures on matters that promote abortion, gay marriage and other social issues. Filipinos look up to their religious leaders for moral guidance and spiritual enrichment. Because of that role the church has been at odds with government leaders who were dictatorial and corrupt. A case in point is the role played by the church in denouncing the Marcos regime for its violations of human rights and other excesses. Most people however are averse of the church interfering on their right of suffrage or of priest engaging in partisan political activity. Partisanship during the election may involve telling the members on whom to vote during the election or telling the voters not to vote for some candidates especially if it is done through the pulpit or publicly through the radio and other media. There is no issue if a religious leader expresses his voting preference in a private and personal forum or in a private conversation with his flock, friends and acquaintances.                                               

The involvement of religious leaders in partisan political acts, and the practice of politicians in seeking the help of a religious leader to boost their candidacy are not good since it may bring about undesirable consequences. Politicians who think that they win because of the help of a church through its leaders will be beholden to them so that they may not make policies or enact laws that are detrimental to the interest of that religious group. In return the religious group may turn a blind eye to the inefficiency or the abuses of the powers that be.

If religious leaders can really make politicians win an election because of their hold on their members, then they are a force to reckon with in the Philippine society. Politicians would not dare to cross their path lest they lost in the election. Under these circumstances said religious leaders can exert its influence or pressure on officials in the important branches of the government which are the legislative, executive and the judiciary. In exchange of their votes and other support, these religious groups can also put their members in high positions in the government because of their power and connections. As a result, the principle of the separation of the church and the state will be undermined because religious leaders can influence the affairs of the government behind the scenes.

To improve the Philippine electoral process, legislators should pass laws prohibiting religious leaders from endorsing or opposing the election of candidates during election or from engaging in activities that are politically partisan. Religious groups which insist to engage in partisan political activities should be stripped of their tax-exempt status.

A March for Life and for Clean, Honest and Orderly Election

On the afternoon of April 20, 2013, members of the Knight of Columbus of Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental marched from Vicente de Lara Park at the provincial capitol building to Plaza Divisoria passing through main streets of Cagayan de Oro City.

The march was a show of Knight of Columbus members’ support for the conduct of free, honest and orderly May 13, 2013 mid-term election. It is also their expression of solidarity with the Catholic Church in opposing government policies and issues that will affect the morality of the faithful. A simple program was held at Plaza Divisoria. The speakers included Atty. Macudi Agus, Master of the 4^th degree; Atty. Proculo Sarmin, 8^th Division, NLRC commissioner and Monsignor Elmer Abacahin, President of the Cagayan de Oro Press Club.

The speakers deplored election anomalies such as vote buying, vote selling and cheating. They also touched on the Reproductive Health (RH) Law, abortion, divorce and same sex marriage. The Knight of Columbus being the defenders of the Catholic faith were urged to support the Catholic church in its stand on those issues that undermines the faithful‘s moral and spiritual fortitude.  Although Reproductive Health Bill was already signed by President Aquino into law, the petitioners against it successfully got a restraining order from the Philippine Supreme Court thus suspending its implementation.

Although the gathering was aimed in discussing present political and social issues, it was however non-partisan. It did not specifically mention or endorse any name of a candidate for the election. But the members are enjoined to take heed on the Catholic Church guidance on the ideal traits of a candidate. These include being pro-life, pro-people, pro-God, pro-environment and being patriotic.

The Feast Day of the Black Nazarene

It started to rain lightly early in the afternoon. It stopped but the sky was still cloudy and there was drizzle. A heavy rain might mar the celebration of the feast day of the Black Nazarene on January 9, 2013 in Cagayan de Oro City. Although the sky was cloudy, the rain did not fall from the start of the procession at about 3 p.m. until its conclusion at about 7 p.m. The procession started at Lapasan and went through the main thoroughfares of Cagayan de Oro City. Its final d destination was the Jesus Nazareno Parish Church at C.M. Avenue. Police authority estimated that there were about 50,000 people who attended the procession.

The occasion started with a mass at 6 a.m. Shortly thereafter, the statue of the Black Nazarene was brought to Lapasan where the procession started. On the road, the carriage carrying the Nazarene were surrounded by police neophytes who were locking arms  to prevent commotion that might happen as a result of people jostling into the carriage to touch the Nazarene.   

On the carriage was the statue of dark-skinned Jesus Christ on bended knee carrying a life size wooden cross with gold-plated brass ornamentation on its tips. He was clad in a maroon tunic with gold threads. On his forehead is a crown of thorn and over his head are three clusters of rays symbolizing the Holy Trinity. 

                                                                     

Some of the devotees were carrying along with them statuettes of the infant Jesus as they followed the procession headed by the carriage of the Black Nazarene. People along the streets were tossing small face towels to the four escorts on the carriage where the Nazarene was on. The escorts then wiped those towels on the Nazarene, and after they did they tossed back the towels to return them to their owners. 

Occasionally, the carriage made brief stops so that the four escorts would be able catch towels. During those instances the devotees who were in the procession were shouting “Viva Señor Jesus Nazareno!” and waiving their small towels or banners. The faithful believes that the towels that are touched to the Black Nazarene will have miraculous healing power.

The number of people who attended the procession swelled as more and more people who were waiting along the street joined it as the carriage bearing the Black Nazarene made its way along its routes. In addition, many more devotees were waiting at the final destination of the Black Nazarene at the Jesus Nazareno Parish Church which was the terminal point of the procession. Monsignor Rey Monsanto announced that there was no more mass that evening, but the devotees would be allowed in the church and the statue would be available until early morning for those who wanted to touch it.

The festivity in Cagayan de Oro is similar to that in Quiapo, Manila, where it was originally held. The feast in the city started after the Archdiocese of Manila sent a replica of the statue of the Black Nazarene to the city. It is only Manila and Cagayan de Oro which celebrate this kind of occasion in the Philippines.

Many Catholic devotees from many parts of the Philippines go to Quiapo, Manila to attend the procession in honor of the Black Nazarene because they believe that being able to make a physical contact with it can make their wishes come true or have their prayers answered. Catholic devotees of Cagayan de Oro think that having a similar statue of the Nazarene in their city is a blessing because it will give them and the other people in the neighboring places the opportunity to celebrate the feast day without going all the way to Manila.

The original statue of the Nazarene is believed to have come from Mexico via the Galleon Trade during the Spanish colonial era. The original sculpture is said to have a fair complexion. But it was burned when the ship carrying it was in route to the Philippines; hence its black color. 

The House of Hope Foundation Incorporated of Cagayan de Oro City

Aside from its role as a giver of moral or spiritual guidance to its faithful, the Catholic Church as an institution has been also one of the prime mover for the social development of Cagayan de Oro City. The Catholic Church has contributed largely to the educational and cultural enrichment of the people of the city. Moreover, it has also been active in reaching out its charity work to the people especially the poor and the least fortunate.   

One of the institutions established by the Catholic Church of the city to help the sick and the poor is the House of Hope Foundation Incorporated which is situated in Upper Palalan, Lumbia which is about 14 kilometers from the heart of the city. The foundation serves as custodial and care facility of mentally ill persons especially those that are abandoned by their families. The House of Hope Foundation Incorporated, the first of its kind in Mindanao, is established by the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro and is being run by the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC) nuns.   

The charity foundation manages to get by on a shoestring with the donation given by its benefactors. Private individuals, civic groups and drug companies, in their own small way, have also given their fair share of charity by donating whatever they have such as food, clothing, medicines and other items that are needed by the patients. Volunteer medical service institutions such as the German Doctors Hospital and the Northern Mindanao Medical Center have given assistance to the foundation by way of availing the services of doctors, psychiatrists and other medical aid workers such as nurses and care givers.

True to their calling, the CMC nuns have followed the call of Jesus to serve God by giving their selfless services to the people who are poor and who are isolated from the mainstream society because of their mental illness. The doctors and other medical health workers and other people who give assistance to the foundations are also equally laudable because of their concern and generosity.  It is by the grace of God that the foundation is able to sustain its operations and to realize its endeavor to help its poor patients despite the fact that it is only getting its resources from its kind benefactors.