Seminarians' Network of the Philippines

“Ang simbahan ay kasama ninyo. Ngunit kung kayo ay makikilahok sa karahasan, sasasabihin ko na hindi ko kayo kilala.”

These were the strong words of His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales of Manila as he called on farmers to consider active-non-violence as a manner of proceeding in their continued struggle to lay claim to parcels of land allegedly being deprived of them by the lack of government action during the mass he officiated last December 5, 2008 at the Church of the Gesu in the Ateneo de Manila University campus, where 121 farmers from Calatagan, Batangas  and Banasi Camarines Sur were gathered, together with students, NGO representatives, religious and seminarians. A press conference and interaction activity with the farmers followed. The protesters then proceeded to the San Jose Seminary Covered Court for medical check-up and for much needed rest.

San Jose Seminary’s SAPI (Social Awareness and Political Involvement) in collaboration with the SEMNET Secretariat came up with a “SHARE-Box” were seminarians placed their donations in-kind like noodles, coffee, slippers and mats for the farmers.