Cardinal Rosales

On the occasion of the World Food Day last October 16, 2007, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI addressed a letter to Jacques Diouf, Director General of UNFAO (United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Organization). In the said letter, while His Holiness acknowledged "The Right to Food" as a fitting theme, he cited the need for greater awareness amongst the more mature members of the Community of Nations to consider "food as universal right of all human beings, without distinction or discrimination." He brought out the fact that while there have been great endeavors to minimize global hunger, it continues to be a great challenge, pointing to a major flaw in motivators, which was construed to be technical and heavy on economic considerations.

The primary and ethical dimension of "feeding the hungry" is forgotten. What was pointed out by His Holiness as a missing component were the "sentiments of compassion and solidarity proper to the human being, which may include sharing with others not only material

Christ breaking bread with Street Urchin

goods, but also the LOVE which all need." In effect, he enjoins everyone to consider, that in feeding others, "we give too little if we offer only material things."

The Archbishop of Manila, under the enlightened leadership of His Eminence, Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales launched the Pondo ng Pinoy last June 17, 2004. Tapping the loose coins of the Catholic population, it has generated millions of pesos. It now funds the HAPAG-ASA feeding program. So far, HAPAG-ASA is said to have fed over 75,000 children. While it has been spearheaded by the Archdiocese of Manila, now 37 dioceses and various government units, schools, NGOs and religious organizations are helping out.

Fr. Jojo Zerrudo, Spiritual Director of the PWHS, in his radio program "Ala-alang Walang Hanggan", aired over Radio Veritas last December 9, 2007, had this to say: (see On Repentance...)

"The Pondo ng Pinoy project suggests something: Christmas is usually a time for many excesses. Do you want to cut down on these excesses? Well, you can support the HAPAG-ASA program where your cash donation of P1,600 can feed one malnourished child for six months. Many people worry about gaining weight and getting fat especially this Christmas season where there are lots of delicious foods. Well, remember that the Church offers many 

opportunities to cut down our excesses, and to make up our weaknesses. One concrete way is through this HAPAG-ASA Project of Pondo ng Pinoy. Sacrifice a little and you are able to help the hungry, not to mention that you make mountains in your life low by doing so. The Church 

helps us do this. And so, let’s do this while we are still here on earth because all the mountains that are not made low, 

crooked roads that are not made straight, and rough places that are not made plain will be made to be so in Purgatory. And one cannot enter heaven until they are made low, made straight, and made plain."

All PWHS members are therefore enjoined to support the HAPAG-ASA program of the PONDO NG PINOY. Local parishes can provide information how one may be involved in this program. While one may be able to save a starving child from the pangs of hunger, the wonderful thing is that the soul one may save, may actually be one’s own soul.

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