text:
A church where you can come as you are
Introducing the Metropolitan Community Church-Quezon City (MCCQC), where those who visit will find the "organic meaning of the tag line, 'Come as you are'." Because "unlike other churches that put premium on membership, our church mostly exists as a sanctuary," says Pastor Kakay Pamaran. As such, "for as long as it touches people, it stays relevant."
Though Sean Ray was born into the Roman Catholic Church, he also went to Christian churches like the Christ's Commission Fellowship (CCF) and Bread of Life. And since "I have always been flamboyant growing up… I did have issues being judged and questioned by people I know who claim to be Christians," he said. This made it hard for him to bridge the gap between my sexuality and spirituality until "I got to a point where I just decided to keep my faith (to myself)."
Sean Ray eventually found his way to the Metropolitan Community Church-Quezon City (MCCQC), where he believes he found the "organic meaning of the tag line, 'Come as you are'. As a gay man, it's very comforting for me to worship as I am, to the best sense of the word; and it was only in MCCQC that I felt that so called inclusiveness, and I think that it was MCCQC that taught me what it really means."
The Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) – also known as the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC) – is an international Protestant Christian denomination started by Rev. Troy D. Perry in Los Angeles, California in 1968. Rev. Perry himself was a Pentecostal clergyperson who, in the 1960s, was defrocked because of his homosexuality. By reconciling Christianity with sexuality, MCC therefore came into being as a church with a positive ministry to LGBT people.
MCC has four "core values", i.e. inclusion (that is, "everyone is included in the family of God and where all parts of our being are welcomed at God's table"); community (by offering a safe and open community for people to worship, learn and grow in their faith); spiritual transformation (by providing a message of liberation from oppressive religious environments); and justice (by "resisting the structures that oppress people and standing with those who suffer under the weight of oppressive systems").
These teachings reached the Philippines in 1991, when Bishop Richard Mickley, a former Roman Catholic priest and then MCC pastor in New Zealand, established MCC here. MCC, by the way, is a key player in starting Pride celebrations in the Philippines.
By 2006, MCC has expanded in Quezon City.
"How are we different from other churches? To start, we don't tell you you're cursed just because you're LGBT," said MCCQC's current interim pastoral leader, Pastor Kakay Pamaran, with a smile.
This is the very appeal of MCC to the likes of Sean Ray. "As a gay man, one of the inhibitions (that affect my) going to other churches is the fact that you know that the people around you are judging you inside their minds. Some may think: 'Bakla ka, tapos Christian ka (You're gay and you call yourself a Christian)?'" But he added that this isn't so in MCCQC, where "I felt that genuine acceptance and I really felt a part of the family and community."
For Pastor Pamaran, MCC is but one of the many faces of Christian expression. But as such, "we believe in a holistic approach. Insisting a singular truth to a plural world is Christian terrorism," she said.
Also exemplifying MCC's core values, it is not uncommon to see MCCQC helm programs for other communities in need, e.g. lumad, fisher folks and farmers. "We're always looking at programs to immerse (the church) in communities in need," Pastor Pamaran said.
To respond to the needs specifically of the LGBT church members, Pastor Pamaran said that MCCQC has become a sanctuary/safe space where "we accept you as you", and also offers a "hotline" of sorts ("If you get in touch with us for your concerns, we'll respond as quickly as possible").
And for many, this is progressively different from other churches.
Pastor Pamaran was born into "extreme" Protestantism herself. While she acknowledges that "that's where I learned of God's love", she also had a hard time reconciling her Christian faith with her sexuality.
The first time she visited MCCQC, "I wasn't progressive then, but I started opening my mind," she said.
Eventually, "I joined workshops", and by 2012, she decided to enter the seminary (Union Theological Seminary in Cavite). "I said then that if I encountered a teaching against LGBT people (then) I'd turn myself straight," she said. But in the seminary, "I was accepted, even celebrated." This helped her see that LGBT people have a place in God's table.
And this has been a key message being shared by Pastor Pastor since 2013, when she took over the leadership of MCCQC. "(We) can bridge your faith and your sexuality," she said.
Pastor Pamaran is now pursuing her Masters in Divinity at UTS.
MCCQC counts from 15 to 20 regular churchgoers (there's a Bible study at 3:00PM every Sunday, followed by a Mass at 5:00PM), and Pastor Pamaran admitted that "this isn't a big number. But unlike other churches that put premium on membership, our church mostly exists as a sanctuary." As such, for as long as it touches people, it stays relevant.
And here, the likes of Sean Ray said that MCCQC is succeeding, indeed.
"Had I not been a part of this church, I wouldn't have been able to open myself and to be a person of mercy and compassion," Sean Ray said. "The true meaning of fellowship is to be with a community to share your experiences, as well as learn from experiences of others – which is what Jesus wants for all of us. I found that in MCCQC."
MCCQC is located at 2/F Aurora Bldg., 836 Aurora Blvd., Cubao, Quezon City.
For more information, visit http://mccquezoncity.com/.
Dumaguete City passes SOGIE equality ordinance
In a victory for members of the LGBTQIA community in the City of Dumaguete, an ordinance was passed in the City Council to ensure non-discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE).
For Pride.
In a victory for members of the LGBTQIA community in the City of Dumaguete, an ordinance was passed in the City Council to ensure non-discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE).
Dumaguete is a 3rd class city in the province of Negros Oriental. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 131,377 people.
It is the capital and most populous city of the province of Negros Oriental, it has a population of 131,377 people, according to the 2015 census.
Authored by Councilor Rosel Margarette Q. Erames with co-authors Councilors Lei Marie Danielle Tolentino, Bernice Ann Elmaco, Edgar Lentorio Jr., Lilani Ramon and Nelson Patrimonio, the anti-discrimination ordinance (ADO) penalizes actual or perceived SOGIE-based discrimination in the workplace, school and other similar acts that undermines and harms the rights of the LGBTQIA people.
Under the ordinance among the prohibited acts include:
- Actual or perceived SOGIE-related discrimination from employment, training, promotion, remuneration;
- Delaying, refusing or failing to accept a person's application for admission as a student;
- Expelling or any penalty on the basis of SOGIE;
- Harassment and intimidation committed by teachers, administrators and fellow students;
- Refusing to provide goods or service, or imposing onerous terms and conditions as a prerequisite for such;
- Denying access to health services and facilities;
- Refusing or failing to allow LGBTQIA to avail of services or accommodations;
- Denying application for licenses, clearances, certifications or other documents;
- Vilifying, mocking, slandering or ridiculing LGBTQIA people through words, action and in writing; and
- Executing any activity in public which incites hatred towards or serious contempt for or severe ridicule of LGBTQ and other analogous acts.
The bill didn't have smooth sailing before it passed. For instance, the Diocesan Commission on the Laity (whose members consist of 42 Parish Pastoral Councils from the different parishes of the Diocese of Dumaguete, covering the provinces of Negros Oriental and Siquijor, with the exception of the municipalities of La Libertad and Vallehermoso, and the cities of Guihulngan and Canlaon), as well as the Diocesan Organization of Renewal Movements & Communities (composed of 14 organizations) expressed their opposition of the ADO.
When the passage of the ADO also made the news, a handful of locals expressed their disapproval, stating – among others – that LGBTQIA people do not face discrimination in Dumaguete (thereby contradicting their own statement), prioritizing other issues of the city, and that protecting the human rights of LGBTQIA people is against the will of God.
But now with the ADO, first time violators will be made to attend a gender sensitivity training. Second time offenders may be jailed for not less than 60 days but not more than one year, or be fined with not less than P2,000 but not more than P 5, 000 (or both at the discretion of the court).
With the ADO, SOGIE-related concerns will be incorporated in the functions of existing Barangay Violence Against Women and Children (VAW) Desk, which will document and report cases of discrimination against LGBTQIA persons.
Ilagan City in province of Isabela enacts SOGIE-specific anti-discrimination ordinance
General Ordinance 198-2019 finds the "need to prohibit… discrimination against people on the basis of actual or perceived SOGIE on the areas of work, accommodation, education, provision of goods, facilities and services, memberships in organizations, and the administration of local laws and programs."
The rainbow rises up north.
Ilagan – officially the City of Ilagan – a first class city and capital of the province of Isabela, enacted its own anti-discrimination ordinance based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.
Authored by City Councilor Rolando Tugade, General Ordinance 198-2019 stated that the office of the Sangguniang Panglungsod "finds the need to prohibit, so far as is possible, discrimination against people on the basis of actual or perceived SOGIE on the areas of work, accommodation, education, provision of goods, facilities and services, memberships in organizations, and the administration of local laws and programs."
According to Yonidick Pascua, president of City of Ilagan Gay Association, who pushed for the passage of the ADO, having the same is important "para mapangalagaan ang bawat LGBTQIA person," he said. This is also needed, he added, to show respect to the rights and "dignidad ng bawat LGBTQIA person; para sa pagkapantay-pantay (na trato) bilang tao sa lipunan."
Passing the ADO was challenging, said Pascua.
"Marami pa rin sa ating mga kababayan ang lubos na hindi naiintindihan kung ano ba talaga ang SOGIE," he said, adding that this is – nonetheless – exactly why the ADO is needed. Fortunately, for him, City Mayor Josemarie L. Diaz and Vice Mayor Kit Bello backed the ADO.
With the ADO, "inaasahan natin na magiging mas ligtas ang bawat LGBTQIA person (dito sa Ilagan); inaasahan natin na mas lalong magkakaroon ng lakas ng loob at mamuhay ng mas panatag ang bawat LGBTQIA person, at inaasahan natin ang mas masaya at makulay na pamumuhay ng bawat LGBTQIA person dito," he said.
Aside from the aforementioned acts prohibited by the ADO, also deemed unlawful is "discrimination through verbal or non-verbal ridicule and vilification," where it is declared "unlawful for any… person to vilify or ridicule any person on the based of perceived or actual SOGIE which may result in the loss of self-esteem or sense of safety and security, or the infliction of psychological harm through: contemptuous imitating or mockery; and uttering of abusive and slanderous statements."
Persons who violate the ADO may be jailed for up to 60 days, and/or fined up to P5,000.
With the ADO, the city mandates its barangays to "develop a system to record and document reported cases of discrimination and violence against LGBTQIA persons, and provide assistance to victims." But the ADO also establishes an LGBTQIA council.
"Yakapin po ninyo ang LGBTQIA people, itaguyod ang SOGIE para sa proteksyon ng bawat LGBTQIA person at bigyan sila ng pagkakataon na mamuhay ng mapayapa at ligtas sa pamamagitan ng pagpasa ng ADO," Pascua said. "Ang mga LGBTQIA people ay kasama sa lipunan kaya nararapat laman na yakapin, tanggapin at bigyan ng respeto."
Behind the bars on LGBTQIA life in prison
In the Philippines, it remains hard to monitor wrongful accusations (and eventual wrongful convictions); much more on how badly this affects members of the LGBTQIA community. Outrage Magazine interviews a gay man who experienced this, and what he went through as a minor behind bars.
It was a tiring day for then-16-year-old Harry (not his real name). He just got home from two consecutive weddings, and so – right after arriving at their house in San Jose City in Nueva Ecija – he asked his mother if he could skip school to just rest.
Harry's mother indulged him; but she also asked Harry to look after a younger sibling as she had to do some errands. On her way out, Harry saw his mother speak to the nine-year-old son of their neighbor outside their house; he said he was just wandering to catch a dragonfly.
With his mother gone, and before getting some sleep, Harry decided to harvest some mangoes from the tree beside their house. And while atop the tree, he noticed that the nine-year-old boy was no longer in the street. After getting down from the tree, he went inside their house, locked the door, and then slept.
It seemed that only a few minutes passed, but Harry was woken by knocking on their front door. He got up to open the door; it was the nine-year-old boy's mother, asking about the clothes Harry wore to one of the weddings that day. When Harry moved to go inside the room to get the pants he wore, the nine-year-old boy surfaced from inside the room.
"Anong ginagawa mo diyan (What are you doing there)?" the mother asked her son, flabbergasted.
He said "tinitingnan ko lang 'yung kapatid ni Harry (I was just looking at the younger brother of Harry)."
Harry joined the conversation, saying he didn't know that the boy was even inside.
The boy's family went straight to the police station, accusing Harry of child molestation. Harry was eventually taken into custody.
Though he was only 16 then, Harry was detained at the lock-up facility of the Philippine National Police (PNP). This is – by itself – a violation of Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice Law of 2006, which sets the minimum age of criminal liability at 15 years old. This means that those between 15 to 18 years old (and Harry was 16 when the alleged rape happened) may be detained in youth centers and go through rehabilitation programs, while those under 15 years old are exempted from criminal liability and undergo intervention.
After a month with the PNP, Harry was transferred to the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), an agency of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), mandated to direct, supervise and control the administration and operation of all jails in the Philippines.
Here's a sobering fact: the incarceration rate of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people is up to three times than that of the general population. Sexual minorities (or people who self-identify as LGB and people who do not identify as LGB but reported a same-sex sexual experience) comprise: 9.3% of men in prison, 6.2% of men in jail, 42.1% of women in prison, and 35.7% of women in jail.
Note: As is often used, "jails" are facilities that hold inmates awaiting trial or serving short sentences, while "prisons" are facilities for those serving their (often longer) sentences.
Now this is worth stressing: Even if this has already been (partly) studied overseas, this continues to be largely ignored in the Philippine context.
One study – "Incarceration Rates and Traits of Sexual Minorities in the United States: National Inmate Survey, 2011–2012″, co-authored by Ilan H. Meyer, PhD, Andrew R. Flores, PhD, Lara Stemple, JD, Adam P. Romero, JD, Bianca D.M. Wilson, PhD, and Jody L. Herman, PhD and published in the American Journal of Public Health – found that sexual minorities are not only incarcerated at disproportionately high rates, but that once incarcerated, they are more likely to experience mistreatment, harsh punishment and sexual victimization.
"Nung first time kong pumasok sa loob ng selda, binuhusan ako ng isang pulis ng tubig habang natutulog pa ako (The first day I got detained, a police officer splashed water on me while I was sleeping)," Harry recalled. Dazed and confused, and not knowing who the person was (because she was not wearing uniform), "tinanong ko siya kung naka-detain din ba siya; hindi ko alam na pulis siya. Nalaman ko lang nung bigla niyang pinakuha yung batuta niya (I asked if she was also a detainee; I had no idea she was a police officer. The moment she asked for her club/cudgel, everything just came to me)."
There was a time when Harry was almost transferred to Boystown (a facility for offending minors), but his mother pleaded for this not to be done since he would then be too far from home and she would be unable to visit him regularly. And because he did not entirely understand what was being discussed, all Harry said he could do was cry, "too scared of everything."
Bullying/getting maltreated was a "norm" particularly for those who just enter prison.
In Harry's case, he was beaten – an act, he was told, was "a way to welcome new inmates."
"Ano yung ginagawa ng mga jail officers? Wala lang din. Wala silang ginagawa kasi minsan parang sila na din yung nagsasabi o nagbibigay ng memo na i-welcome yung mga bagong inmates (The jail officers are not acknowledging this issue. They are not doing anything about it because there are times when they, themselves, are the ones who give orders to welcome new inmates in that way)," Harry said.
Inside the jail, minors are supposed to be separated from the adult inmates. But this policy is also amendable, depending on the whims of the warden. In their case, an inmate who was also a minor tried to escape because he wanted to celebrate his birthday outside the prison, but "after that incident, the (minors were already treated as adult inmates), included with the adult prisoners."
Men and women have separate sections; but transgender women are mixed with men.
"Wala silang sariling lugar doon sa kulungan. Isinasama sila sa mga lalaki kasi para sa mga tao doon, lalaki pa din sila (There's no designated place for them. The jail officers still see/treat them as men)," Harry said.
Also as big as a risk for new inmates like Harry was getting raped.
"Meron talagang rape na nangyayari sa loob. Lalo na sa mga bagong pasok. Yun din minsan ang parang pinaka-welcome ng mga inmates na lalaki sa mga inmates na bakla. Kahit ayaw mo, talagang pipilitin at pipilitin ka (It is undeniable that rape occurs inside the jail. They specially do it to the newcomers. This is how straight inmates would welcome gay people in their cell. Even if you don't want to, you will be forced)" Harry recalled.
Harry was not exempted from this experience because, "sabihin ko man na ayaw ko, hindi pa din sila pumapayag na huwag kong gawin. Pag sinabi ng isang inmate na gawin namin, wala na lang din akong magawa kundi sumunod na lang (Even though I didn't want to, I would never have a choice. If a straight inmate asked for it, you just have to obey them)," Harry said. "Na-experience ko yun as a welcome sa akin nung pagpunta ko don (I experienced it as a welcome greeting when I first got there)."
At 16, Harry was raped in jail by a 23-year-old.
"Pag na-gustuhan ka nila, may mga grupo don tapos lalapitan ka nila. Papapasukin ka nila sa lugar nila tapos gagalawin ka nila. Mapapasunod ka na lang kesa masaktan ka (If you caught their interest, groups of boys would approach you and ask you to join them in their cell to rape you. You won't have any other choice because if you refuse, they will hurt you)," he said.
This maltreatment, by the way, is not exclusive to members of the LGBT community in jail/prison, since "there, no matter what your gender is, they will hurt you if they wanted to."
Though these may – no doubt – be known to those running the country's jails/prisons, Harry said that they didn't have access to any contraceptives and/or protection while inside the jail/prison.
"Hindi sila nakakapag-provide ng ganun. Kahit minsan nasusubukan namin magkaroon ng sakit, hindi din kami nabibigyan ng kahit anong gamot. Itinatawag lang namin sa mga magulang namin yung mga ganun (They can't provide things like that. Even at times when we were sick, no medicines were made available to us. We still rely on our relatives outside)," he said, adding: "Saka pa lang nagkakaroon ng aksyon pag parang mamamatay na yung tao (They only really act when someone is already really close to dying.)"
There was a point in time when Harry said he almost gave up. But he kept telling himself that "hindi yun ang panahon na dapat akong mawalan ng pag-asa dahil naniniwala ako noon na darating at darating yung oras na malalaman talaga kung ano yung totoo (That was not the time for me to just give up. I had faith that the truth will come out)," Harry said.
Much has already been said about prison management in the Philippines.
To start, and as noted by the Human Rights Watch (HRW), critical and chronic overcrowding has long been a perennial topic when discussing the country's jail facilities. BJMP runs 415 detention facilities in 17 regions, and on average, its jailhouses report 380% overcapacity. In Metro Manila alone, the BJMP's total cell area of 22,318 square meters, designed for 4,749 detainees; but it currently holds 21,868 detainees (a congestion rate of 361%).
The surprising – and somewhat senseless – thing worth noting here is that between 85% and 90% of the more than 94,000 inmates in the custody of BJMP are awaiting or undergoing trial.
"This makes the Philippines the Southeast Asian country with the highest number of pretrial and remand detainees and the second highest in all of Asia. Prolonged detention without charge or trial violates international human rights instruments, including Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which the Philippines ratified in 1986. Moreover, it 'shall not be the general rule that persons awaiting trial shall be detained in custody,' but rather released with guarantees of appearing for trial," HRW stated.
HRW also noted that "the injustice of lengthy detention is compounded by the horrific conditions of the jail facilities (with) many detention centers in the Philippines failing to meet the minimum United Nations standards for such facilities, including inadequate amounts of food, poor nutrition, and unsanitary conditions."
And yes, "torture and other forms of ill-treatment are also common," HRW similarly noted.
Inside jail, fighting for oneself was never really an option, Harry said, because the inmates could just – eventually – get back to you for fighting back. Giving in to just go with the flow was the attitude being in jail teaches inmates.
Though one time, Harry said he tried to fight for his basic human right of… simply existing and being treated more humanely.
One time, he recalled, a lady jail officer started pushing his chest with her fist and kept asking him if it hurts. It reached a point where the officer was already pointing a knife at him.
"Sabi ko sa kanya, hindi rin ako papayag na gaganunin niya ako. Bilang isang inmate, itrato din naman sana kami na parang tao dahil hindi naman kami iba sa kanila. Kasi sabi ko wala naman kaming ginagawang masama sa kanila. Tapos sabi ko pwede ko silang ireklamo sa ginagawa nilang 'yun (I told her that I won't let her do that to me. I may be an inmate, but I am also a person just like her. I told her that I did not do anything wrong to deserve the way she is treating me. I also told her that I could file a complaint on how she is treating me)," he said.
That – fortunately for Harry – silenced and prevented her from doing more harm.
It was while in jail that Harry finished high school under the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program offered there.
ALS is a practical option for learning in the Philippines, offering education to those who could not usually attend and access the formal type of schooling.
It was also while in jail when Harry first found love.
Harry met another minor, and "we became BFs."
Prisoners who are in relationships and want to have sex may ask for permission from the jail officers who then give them space to do so. "Pwedeng-pwede lalo na pag LGBT ka; pero pag babae at lalaki, medyo mahirap kasi inmate na lalaki at inmate na babae, bawal 'yun (ipagsama) (The officers are very open to that matter specially if you are a part of the LGBT community. But if the sexual intercourse is going to be between a man and a woman, they don't allow it)."
Their relationship lasted for a year and three months.
While in jail, Harry was repeatedly told that he would be transferred to "The Mansion" (how inmates called New Bilibid Prison, located in Muntinlupa as the main insular penitentiary designed to house the prison population of the Philippines). He was scared; and he was feeling bad, though not just for himself but also his mother who – even if she just gave birth – continued to regularly visit him.
And then one day, his lawyer – while on a visit – just handed him his already-signed release paper.
"Bigla po akong na-congratulate ng attorney ko dahil nai-panalo ko daw yung kaso ko (My lawyer congratulated me because we won the case)," Harry said.
Relieved, he said he just wanted to have a life outside.
It is worth noting that Harry's case is not exactly rare. And the warning bells have long been ringing.
In 2004, Free Legal Assistance Group (an NGO that provides legal assistance mainly for human rights cases) conducted a survey of death convicts in the Philippines, and it found "significant figures that could indicate a high judicial error rate". The survey showed that 73.9% of the convicts were arrested without a warrant, 78.3% were not informed of their constitutional rights at the time of arrest, and – get this! – 90% were not assisted by counsel during police investigation and interrogation.
Perhaps it is also worth noting that 52.2% of the convicts belong to the lowest socioeconomic class.
In 2014, Innocence Project (a litigation and public policy organization composed of human rights advocates in Ateneo, UP Law School and De La Salle University College of Law, headed by Jose Manuel "Chel" Diokno) revealed that some 400 prisoners were wrongfully convicted by the court; most are charged with rape.
And in 2017, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported of the Supreme Court's admission that seven in 10 death penalty convictions in 1993-2004 by the lower courts, submitted for automatic review, were wrongly judged. Also, during trials, 59% of the suspects were represented by lawyers from the Public Attorney's Office, but 54.1% did not have regular consultations with their trial lawyers, and 10.2% never even had a consultation.
So in 2017, during the 17th Congress, former Sultan Kudarat Rep. Horacio Suansing Jr. and Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrellita Suansing filed House Bill 5582 to create a commission mandated to review all cases in which an innocent person was convicted; identify the causes of wrongful convictions; and identify current laws, rules and procedures implicated in each identified cause of wrongful convictions. This is because, the politicians noted, "at present, there is no government entity in our country charged with conducting the independent expert review of wrongful convictions necessary to identify the primary and potential causes of wrongful convictions."
The same bill was actually originally filed by the late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago during the 14th Congress and refiled during the 16th Congress. It failed to pass the 17th Congress.
Suffice it to say, in a country like the Philippines, it remains extremely hard to monitor wrongful accusations (as in the case of Harry) and eventual wrongful convictions; much more on how badly this affects members of the LGBTQIA community. And then – yes – add to this the extra layer of hardships experienced by members of the LGBTQIA community if/when they are sent to jail/prison, some of them experienced by Harry, solely because of their sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
Upon his release from jail, Harry's first stop was his brother's house, where they accused him of escaping. "They only believed me when I showed them the release paper," he recalled.
Not surprisingly, the complainants weren't too happy that Harry was released. And this was even if other stories emerged – e.g. that the family of the complainant just paid the medical exam to release a report that stated that the boy was raped; that when the nine- year-old boy was interviewed, he actually denied that he was raped; and that the complainant demanded P30,000 from his family in exchange for his freedom.
Harry was also told that if he wants to turn the tables on them and file a case against his complainants, it would be a very strong lawsuit.
But not that Harry even cared at that point in time. "Pinabayaan ko na lang. Hindi ko inisip na maghiganti pa sa kanila (I moved on. Revenge is not what I wanted)," Harry said.
Harry's relationship with his fellow minor inmate also did not prosper.
The BF is also already out of jail, Harry said, and he's already married (to a woman). "Wala naman akong magawa kundi maging masaya na lang para sa kaniya. Pero magkaibigan kami ngayon (There's nothing I can do but be happy for him. We're still friends though)," Harry said.
As a freed man since 2016, Harry eventually found a job working for a local government official.
"Sa totoo lang, mahirap talaga ang buhay sa loob ng kulungan kapag kayo ay papasok so kailangan talaga na mag-ingat kayo na wag gumawa ng kasalanan (My advice to the LGBT people is for them to watch their actions because it is very hard to live behind the bars)," Harry said.
And to the incarcerated: "Sana mag-ingat na lang din sila kasi kailangan din nilang maipagtanggol yung sarili nila sa lahat ng maling gawain doon sa loob (To those who are inside, they should take care and learn to fight for themselves from every wrong thing that is happening inside)."
'Practice what we believe without inciting hate'
With those opposing the non-discrimination of LGBTQIA people still using the Bible to promote their hatred/bigotry, there are numerous people of faith who say that practicing what we believe is possible without inciting hatred. In the end, the goal is to ensure everyone is treated equally; and for the State to sanction those who violate this concept of equality.
The SOGIE Equality Bill is needed, said Pastor Carleen Nomorosa, program coordinator at the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), because "kinikilala niya at inaangat niya ang kagalingan at kahusayan at ang maaaring maiambag pa ng LGBTQIA people sa iba't ibang larangan (it recognizes and elevates how good LGBTQIA people can be, and their contribution to various sectors)."
Nomorosa noted that currently, a handful of LGBTQIA Filipinos are not even allowed to share their potentials because they are hindered by their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE). "And as a Christian, as a pastor, I believe that this (SOGIE) should not hinder LGBTQIA people from… fully participating in society," she said.
This is why, for Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the sponsor of the SOGIE Equality Bill in the Upper House/Senate, there is a need to "remind ourselves of (what unites us). That we are all against any form of discrimination. That we want what's best for each other. And that we want to preserve our values, and the Filipino family." So "let's treat each other with respect, empathy and openness."
For his part, Atty. Lyndon Caña of the traditional Coalition of Concerned Families of the Philippines, passing the SOGIE Equality Bill will go against the existing law of the land by – to start – giving credence to gender identity. Caña is particularly cognizant of the Supreme Court (SC) decision on the 2007 case of Rommel Jacinto Silverio/Mely Silverio, where the SC stipulated that a female person is one who produces ova/egg cells; while a male person produces spermatozoa.
As background info, on October 22, 2007, the SC's First Division junked Silverio's plea to change birth certificate entries — i.e. name to Mely, and sex to female. This after Silverio already underwent gender affirmation surgery. The court ruled that "the words 'male' and 'female' in everyday understanding do not include persons who have undergone sex reassignment."
A Manila court earlier granted Silverio's plea, but the Office of the Solicitor General elevated the matter to the Court of Appeals, where Silverio lost. The case was then raised to the SC, where Silverio lost with finality.
"While petitioner may have succeeded in altering his body and appearance through the intervention of modern surgery, no law authorizes the change of entry as to sex in the civil registry for that reason. Thus, there is no legal basis for his petition for the correction or change of the entries in his birth certificate," the High Court said in the decision written by then Associate Justice Renato Corona.
But even the SC's simplistic definition of what makes males and females may, however, be questioned.
And this is why, according to Prof. Revelation Velunta of the Union Theological Seminary (UTS), there is a need to: 1. Recognize that existing laws may have loopholes; and 2. Come up with solutions to deal with these loopholes.
In the Philippines, Velunta said, there is the Penal Code; which was revised. And then there was a law made to deal with rape; this was also eventually revised. "We always assume that we have anough laws," he said. "The question then is: If we have enough laws, why do we revise (existing laws)?"
For Velunta, laws can have loopholes that may not answer the current needs. "And this is the case with the SOGIE Equality Bill," he said.
Velunta also said that the attempt to attack the SOGIE Equality Bill by using Biblical texts is flawed. This is – largely – because of "diversity". To start, "we always ask: Which Bible (do we use)?"
Velunta said that there are 78 books in the Eastern Orthodox Church Bible; 79 in Ethiopian Orthodox Bible; 73 in the Roman Catholic Church Bible; 66 in the Bible used by Protestant churches; and 24 books in the Hebrew Bible. Right now, too, there are 5,700 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament; no two of them are exactly alike. And, also right now, there are over 2,000 English translations of the Bible, so that "there are more English translations of the Bible than there are English languages."
Velunta, therefore, said that asking "what version (of the Bible)" is always necessary; or better yet, to focus instead on human sexuality diversity.
"For every (faith-based organization that) argues that (the SOGIE Equality Bill) should not be passed, there are (also) faith communities – Christians, Muslims and others – that say that it should be passed," Velunta said. "For us, for example, we follow the example of Jesus who always took the side of the marginalized, oppressed and the poor. And in this particular situation, the LGBTQIA community is being marginalized. (They're not asking for special favors, they) are just asking to be recognized that they are God's children, they are created in God's image, and being LGBTQIA is a celebration of God's diversity, of God's creation, and God's love."
Confusion continues to exist re the SOGIE Equality Bill, nonetheless.
For Kata Inocencio, who is with the 700 Club Asia, there is fear that their freedom to tackle homosexuality – considered a "disorder" with adultery, among others – in their TV programs will be hindered. With her ilk, Inocencio believes that being gay can be "cured"; and conversion therapy is a regular topic discussed in 700 Club Asia.
The SOGIE Equality Bill, however, does not intend to infringe on Constitutionally mandated/protected rights; and earlier efforts were already made to clarify what the bill intends to do/does not cover.
Still, for her part, Nomorosa of NCCP said that "we can still practice what we believe without inciting hate, discrimination and fear against people who do not fit our notion of 'normal'."
Nomorosa urged non-use of the Bible to prevent LGBTQIA people from becoming productive members of society because this very act "shows hate, and not the love of God."
From Cebu in the Visayas, helming the cirty's anti-discrimination commission, Ms Magdalena Robinson said that there is a need for a national law to provide LGBTQIA people who experience discrimination a redress mechanism.
Robinson is cognizant that there are people – including members of the LGBTQIA community – who oppose giving protection to a minority sector that experiences discriminatory acts solely because of their SOGIE.
But "with our work in the (grassroots), we have really encountered (LGBTQIA people who experienced discrimination). You may not have experienced it firsthand, maybe you just heard of it, but we can't dismiss that this is a reality for LGBTQIA people. That their identities, their relationships, their gender expressions… are used against them to attack their dignity and demean their very person. So what we want is for the State to provide (a) mechanism to exhaust legal remedies to deal with these." – WITH ALBERT TAN MAGALLANES, JR.
EDITOR'S NOTES/ERRATUM (Sept. 11, 2019): In the earlier version of this article, Prof. Revelation Velunta of the Union Theological Seminary (UTS) was erroneously identified as "Prof. Salvation Velunta". This has since been amended.
Our apologies for this error.
SC junks plea for marriage equality; but says Charter doesn't limit marriage based on sex
The SC stated that the 1987 Constitution, from its "plain text," "does not define, or restrict, marriage on the basis of sex, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression," but the petition had to be dismissed based on Atty. Jesis Falcis III's lack of standing, violation of the principle of hierarchy of courts, and failure to raise an actual, justiciable controversy.
The Supreme Court (SC) of the Philippines unanimously voted to dismiss on account of a technicality a historic petition to allow same-sex marriage in the country.
The SC dismissed Atty. Jesus Falcis III' petition "on account of his lack of standing, violating the principle of hierarchy of courts, and failing to raise an actual, justiciable controversy," SC's spokesperson Brian Keith Hosaka said in a news conference on Tuesday, September 3.
In 2015, Falcis filed a petition asking the High Court to declare Articles 1 and 2 of the Family Code unconstitutional. The provisions of the 31-year-old law limits marriage between a man and a woman. However, the 1987 Constitution does not categorically state that a marriage must be only between a man and a woman.
But it is worth noting that the SC said the Constitution does not restrict marriage on the basis of sex.
The SC stated that the 1987 Constitution, from its "plain text," "does not define, or restrict, marriage on the basis of sex, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression," but the petition had to be dismissed based on Falcis' lack of standing, violation of the principle of hierarchy of courts, and failure to raise an actual, justiciable controversy.
The SC ruled with a reminder against "premature" petitions, stating that actions done in the name of public interest "should be the result of collective decision coming from well-thought-out strategies of the movement in whose name we bring a case before this Court."
Otherwise, the SC added, "premature petitions filed by those who seek to see their names in our jurisprudential records may only do more harm than good."
For the SC, "good intentions are no substitute for deliberate, conscious and responsible action. Litigation for the public interest for those who have been marginalized and oppressed deserve much more than the way it has been handled in this case."
The SC also held Falcis and his fellow lawyers, Darwin Angeles, Keisha Trina Guangko, and Christopher Ryan Maranan, liable for indirect contempt, stating that "to forget [the bare rudiments of court procedure and decorum] — or worse, to purport to know them, but really, only to exploit them by way of propaganda — and then, to jump headlong into the taxing endeavor of constitutional litigation is a contemptuous betrayal of the high standards of the legal profession."
Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the ponente, said the issue of same-sex partnerships "may, for now, be a matter that should be addressed to Congress."
Leonen was quoted as saying by the SC's Public Information Office (PIO) that the SC "recognized the protracted history of discrimination and marginalization faced by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and other gender and sexual minorities (LGBTQI+) community, along with their still ongoing struggle for equality."
SC also "acknowledged that same-sex couples may morally claim that they have a right against discrimination for their choice of relationships" and said "official recognition of their partnerships may, for now, be a matter that should be addressed to Congress."
The SC ruled that judicial adjudication entails ruling on issues "propelled by actual controversies," adding that it can fully weigh the consequences of its decisions "only through the existence of actual facts and real adversarial presentations."
But legislation "ideally allows public democratic liberation on the various ways to assure these fundamental rights," the SC was quoted by the PIO. "Often public reason needs to be first shaped through the crucible of campaigns and advocacies within our political forums before it is sharpened for judicial fiat."
Discrimination of LGBTQIA Filipinos goes beyond CR access, say activists
51% of 400 LGBTQIA community members surveyed claimed that they experienced discrimination in public schools, 31% in the streets, and 28% in private schools. This highlights that LGBTQIA-related discrimination happens in the Philippines go beyond toilet-related access.
Gretchen Diez may have self-proclaimed herself to be the "face of the LGBT movement", but advocates of the SOGIE (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression) Equality Bill noted that LGBTQIA-related discrimination happening in the Philippines go beyond toilet-related access.
Diez recently made the news because of her ordeal while trying to access the female toilet in Farmers Plaza, a mall in Cubao, Quezon City. But Diez, who has been in the limelight following her experience and not because of her involvement in LGBTQIA advocacy, now fashions herself as the sole representative of the local LGBTQIA community/as the community's "face".
During a Senate committee hearing on the measure held on August 20, mentioned was a survey conducted by Rainbow Rights Project Inc. (R-Rights) with Metro Manila Pride Inc. from 2017 to 2019, with the results showing that 51% of 400 LGBTQIA community members surveyed claiming that they experienced discrimination in public schools, 31% in the streets, and 28% in private schools.
And so Atty. Jazz Tamayo, executive director of R-Rights, the Constitution's equal protection clause is not enough to guarantee equality. "We need laws that will specifically compel if it cannot make people understand what equality is. The fight for the SOGIE (Equality) Bill has been too long, all these cases, all these suffering… they simply must stop."
There are also instances when State bodies end up promoting LGBTQIA discrimination. In Cagayan de Oro City in 2016, for instance, the regional trial court (RTC) sided with a school principal who ordered a Grade 4 student to wear school curtains as punishment for violating the dress code.
"The child was made to wear school curtains as a punishment for failing to abide by (the) uniform policy. This was done to the child no less than six times by the defendant principal," Tamayo said. "The judge ruled that the child was too young to venture into a lifestyle of a gender identity that is different from the child's assigned sex at birth."
The RTC judge further ruled that the mother of the child was to blame for "not guiding her child better."
"I can imagine the chilling effect it will have for other parents who would have to file cases like this… (with) the judge just berating them about how they did not discipline their child," Tamayo added.
For her part, Disney Aguila, president of Pinoy Deaf Rainbow Inc. (PDR), the pioneering organization for Deaf LGBTQIA Filipinos, recalled how she – herself – encountered discrimination because she identifies as a transgender woman.
Speaking to Outrage Magazine, Aguila recalled how – when she applied for a job – the HR (human resource) person of a clothing company based in Pasay City at first "praised her for looking nice". But the same PR officer – when going through Aguila's bio-data – saw that her assigned sex at birth was male; and "she frowned." The HR officer asked Aguila to turn around, and then started pulling her braided hair; she then asked Aguila to have her hair cut.
When Aguila asked why, she was told that it's because she is a "he", based on her assigned sex at birth, and that either she presents herself as a man or not be hired. Aguila left that office without a job.
"The level of discrimination we encounter is doubled not only because we are persons with disability (PWD) but also because of our SOGIESC," Aguila said.
Meanwhile, Perci Cendaña – former commissioner at the National Youth Commission, and now with Babaylanes Inc. – cited the cases of: 1) a certain Jay, a Grade 12 transgender man from Pampanga, who did not finish his secondary school because when he met with his principal for college requirements, he was berated for not following the school dress code; and 2) transgender senior high school students of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines who – at first – were told that they would not graduate if they won't follow the school's prescribed haircut, and though they were later allowed to graduate, they did not receive a certificate of good moral character, which is a requirement for many colleges/universities for incoming students.
"The Philippine youth development plan states that youth development is defined as enabled, involved, patriotic youth realizing their aspirations. Discrimination, stigma… is a deterrent to development," Cendaña said. "We would like to reiterate that discrimination is an issue not just of human rights but a development issue because it deters our young people from realizing their aspirations."
"When you give us equal rights, there is no taking from you. There is no lessening of you. No one is any less a man or a woman. The SOGIE Equality Bill means simply that, an acceptance that we are different but equal," Tamayo of R-Rights ended.


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Subscribe To Sci-Fi Drama I Origins And Rom Com Obvious Child Among Early Sundance Acquisitions Updates
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With Sundance now in full swing, the distribution deals are coming out of the woodwork, and we'll assume that woodwork will eventually go into building a nice cabin in Park City. Two of the more recent acquirements involve a highly anticipated follow-up and a directorial debut. Fox Searchlight Pictures has picked up Another Earth director Mike Cahill's sci-fi drama I Origins, while A24 has snatched up the rights to the offbeat romantic comedy Obvious Child from director Gillian Robespierre. Hooray for indies!
As ComingSoon reports, Fox Searchlight plans on putting out I Origins at some point in 2014. It's a timeless enough tale, as it seems "science vs. faith" will probably always be meaty subject matter. In the film, Boardwalk Empire's Michael Pitt plays a molecular biologist who is obsessed with finding a way to scientifically explain the human eye, which the faithful consider to be proof of God's existence. His lab partner is played by Brit Marling, who reteams with Cahill for their third film together, and he falls in love with a model played by Astrid Berges-Frisbey.
Cahill's debut feature Another Earth premiered at Sundance in 2011 and instantly put the director in the limelight in the realm of indie sci-fi with a brain behind it. I Origins premiered Saturday to mostly positive reviews, calling the film original and smart, though it of course had its detractors. I suppose that split will continue once the film hits theaters. Here are a couple of the film's first stills below.
Meanwhile, Robespierre based Obvious Child on her 2009 short film of the same name. It stars comedian Jenny Slate (House of Cards) as a comedian (!!) in Brooklyn who finds herself on the wrong side of the stick when she gets dumped, fired from her job and pregnant one right after the other just as Valentine's Day is coming. For those lighthearted folks, this is a film that also involves abortion, so be warned. It premiered Friday and received the same kind of split opinions as I Origins. I can't imagine an abortion-based rom com would do that. Oh wait.
Obvious Child also stars David Cross, Jake Lacy and Gabby Hoffman, who is making quite the indie comeback after winning over audiences in Crystal Fairy. As Deadline reports, this is the second film A24 has acquired, with Lynn Sheldon's Laggies picked up the other day. They plan on releasing the film in theaters later this year. And here are a few stills that steer clear of anything controversial.

subset: commoncrawl


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Cargo Shipper
The term "cargo shipper" is defined as a vessel which, during navigation, transit or transportation upon hulls, freights or disbursements, or other ship owner interests, transports goods, wares, merchandise and all other personal property and interests therein, in the course of exportation from or importation into any country or transportation coastwise.
The U.S. Coast Guard Carries out laws of the Federal Maritime Commission.
U.S. Coast Guard, Marine Safety Office
Commander 11th District Coast Guard Island Alameda, CA 94501 (510) 437-3701 www.uscg.mil
The Federal Maritime Commission investigates discriminatory rates, charges, classifications, and practices of ocean common carriers, terminal operators, and freight forwarders operating in the foreign and/or domestic offshore commerce of the U.S. Reviews and monitors agreements of common carriers and other persons engaged in the U.S. foreign commerce.
Federal Maritime Commission
800 N Capitol Street, NW
Washington, DC 20573
(202) 523-5783
For questions on licensing:
California Department of Insurance
Consumer Communications Bureau
300 South Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 897-8921
(800) 927-4357
Directory of State Agencies Directory of Federal Agencies Return to DCA Home Page


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Use the Interactive Online Interview
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or later (v7.0 recommended)
- Firefox V2.0. or later
- Safari V3.0 (For Mac or PC)
- Google Chrome
To check your browser settings, you can use our Troubleshooter tool.
If you do not have Flash, you can complete the Interactive Online Interview, however, you will not be able to view the video portions. To view the video portions of the interview, you need Flash and speakers or headphones.
While your specific computer hardware and the type of Internet connection you use play a role in how fast or slow any web application works, the Interactive Online Interview can be completed with virtually any system, regardless of the type of Internet connection.
Completing the Interactive Online Interview
The interview process is self-paced. You can stop at any point during the process, save your work, and easily continue later. This is not only convenient, but gives you time to really think about your answers.
The site building process does not begin until all of the content for your site is received by your design team.


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SFJazz today announced the details of its 2013-14 season, which begins not with jazz, but with the man who may be the nation's most famous jazz fan — comedian Bill Cosby, performing a night of stand-up comedy as a fundraiser for the organization, at its SFJazz Center.
Cosby's night is Aug. 26, and then the musical season takes off.
Sept. 5-8 at the new venue in San Francisco's Hayes Valley neighborhood, trumpeter and film composer Terence Blanchard brings in his band, featuring saxophonist Ravi Coltrane and guitarist Lionel Loueke. After that, basically, it's a profusion of music, week by week through June 8, 2014. Most of it is jazz, but not all: Allen Toussaint plays solo (Sept. 21), and Rosanne Cash has a four-day run (April 10-13, 2014), as does Laurie Anderson (April 17-20, 2014).
On the jazz side, some of the biggest names include Wynton Marsalis with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (March 20-23, 2014), saxophonist Wayne Shorter's quartet (March 27-30, 2014) and saxophonist Branford Marsalis's Quartet (April 29-30, 2014).
Though for sheer imagination, pianist Jason Moran's eight shows (Nov. 21-24, 2013, and June 5-7, 2014) may represent the most creative stretch of programming. They include a night with vocalist Cassandra Wilson, another with comedians Marina Franklin and Faizon Love (performing with Moran's group), and yet another with pianist Randy Weston and saxophonist Billy Harper. Next spring, Moran will team with the Imani Winds, then with saxophonist Charles Lloyd and finally with top local skateboarders, performing on a half-pipe in front of the pianist's group — an encore of Moran's skateboarding spectacle from this past May.
Moran is one of the organization's five resident artistic directors. The others, all leading their own special programs at the SFJazz Center, are guitarist Bill Frisell (Sept. 12-15, 2013; Jan. 23-25, 2014); violinist Regina Carter (Sept. 26-29, 2013; May 1-4, 2014); saxophonist Miguel Zenón (May 22-25, 2014) and percussionist John Santos (whose shows were still being scheduled at press time).
Here are some other highlights of the season: Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club featuring Omara Portuondo and Eliades Ochoa (Sept. 22, at Davies Symphony Hall); bassist Dave Holland and Prism, his electric band (Oct. 6); the SFJazz Collective (Oct. 10-11 and 13); bassist Esperanza Spalding in a trio with pianist Geri Allen and drummer Terri Lynn Carrington (Oct. 24); and saxophonist Maceo Parker (Oct. 31-Nov. 3).
Persian spiked fiddle master Kayhan Kalhor performs with dulcimer virtuoso Bahrami Fard (Nov. 14); Latin Jazz great Eddie Palmieri alternates nights with his sextet and Salsa big band (Nov. 29-Dec.1), and Spanish singer Buika arrives with her mix of traditional Spanish coplas, Gypsy flamenco and jazz (Dec. 12-15.)
Percussionist Pete Escovedo hosts a New Year's Eve party/concert, and then comes the season's second half: pianist Chucho Valdés and his Cuban Jazz Messengers (Jan. 30-Feb. 2, 2014); drummer Jack DeJohnette and a quartet with saxophonist Joe Lovano (Feb. 19, 2014); vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson with an all-star group (Feb. 20-23, 2014); keyboardist Hiromi and her trio (March 13-16, 2014); the Bad Plus (May 8-11, 2014); and outcat guitarist Marc Ribot, with a wild array of bands and concepts (May 29-June 1).
That's most of it.
For SFJazz members, tickets go on sale July 16 at 10 a.m.; for the general public on July 30 at 10 a.m. Tickets typically range from $25-$65; 866-920-5299, www.sfjazz.org. (Tickets to the Cosby fundraiser are $100-$375.)
Contact Richard Scheinin at 408-920-5069, read his stories and reviews at www.mercurynews.com/richard-scheinin and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/richardscheinin
SFJazz 2013-14 season
When: Aug. 26, 2013, through June 8, 2014
Where: Most shows at the SFJazz Center, 201 Franklin St., San Francisco
Tickets: Typically $25-$65; 1-866-920-5299, www.sfjazz.org; sales begin 10 a.m., July 16, for SFJazz members and 10 a.m., July 30, for the general public


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This lifelike and lovable collection of Pittsburgh Steelers football memorabilia is officially licensed by NFL Properties LLC and a first-ever available exclusively from The Ashton-Drake Galleries. Each spirited little fan in the collection is fully sculpted and handcrafted in realistic resin right down to the smallest details, like chubby limbs and tiny fingers and toes. These littlest fan dolls each come with baby Steelers gear like caps, blankets, miniature footballs and much more, sporting the distinctive Steelers team logo and team colors of black and gold. And they even wear fabric diapers! These spirited, pint-sized Steelers fans will bring a smile on game day and every day, so don't delay! High demand is expected from Steelers fans everywhere, so order now!
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We met up with E Ink at a Consumer Electronics Show event. If you don't know of E Ink, that's okay. If you've ever seen a Kindle or a Nook or almost any other E-book reader, you've seen E Ink's screen technology. The company's aim is to replace printed paper. With so little power consumption that a Kindle battery can last two months, it's well on its way. Unfortunately, E Ink has some weaknesses. One of the biggest is that, until now, it's been black and white only. This is fine for novels, but for anything with pictures, it can be a problem. Well, now E Ink has a solution. It has added a filter to the top of its screens that adds color to images.
The video above shows a working color E-reader which has been released in Russia and includes a bit of explanation about the new screen technology. There aren't currently any plans for color readers here in the United States, but it's only a matter of time, according to representatives for the company. Before E-readers though, the company expects to make inroads into the large poster and non-moving advertising business. Imagine a highway sign that looks like it's printed, but really runs on color E Ink. We think the tech has a ways to go before it produces vivid enough color for some ads, but there is certainly potential. Does a color e-reader interest you?


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A Sneak Peek at the Environmental Working Group's Household Cleaners Hall of Shame
While we know that most household cleaners can be dangerous – which is why we put the safety latches on the cabinets to keep babies out– we may not realize just how dangerous they are even when properly used.
These days a lot of greenwashing (labeling products as natural) and other safety claims are made in advertisements to sell products by putting consumers' minds at ease. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a consumer advocacy non-profit group, decided to take a look at these claims and found some frightening results.
Jane Houlihan, EWG senior vice president for research and co-author of the EWG Cleaners Hall of Shame, said that, "Cleaning your home can come at a high price with cancer-causing chemicals in the air; having an asthma attack from fumes; or getting serious skin burns from an accidental spill."
"Almost any ingredient is legal and almost none of them are labeled, leaving families at risk," she added.
This Cleaners Hall of Shame is a preview of a more comprehensive EWG Cleaners Database project that is due for release in fall 2012.
The current report defines greenwashing as cleaners being labeled non-toxic, green, or safe, while containing hazardous ingredients.
Among the worst offenders is Simple Green Concentrated All-Purpose Cleaner, which the EWG says is labeled non-toxic and biodegradable, but contains the solvent 2-butoxyethanol that can irritate eyes and if absorbed through the skin, can damage red blood cells.
"Worse, the company website instructs the user to dilute the product significantly for even the heaviest cleaning tasks. Yet it comes in a spray bottle that implies it should be sprayed full-strength. Such use would result in higher exposure (and risk)," said the report.


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When a natal planet is in a tight orb to a solar return planet, this is significant, and it enhances the meaning of the solar return.In a book written by Deanna Rose, she states that a concentration in angular houses suggests the 'gains that you work for in the coming year'.A concentration in the solar return succedent houses suggests talents acquired (i.e. acquisitions) this year, and, finally, a concentration of cadent houses, suggests the planning, thinking, studying, licensing required for the future.These are opportunities to gain strength for the future.Lynn Bell, of course, suggests that angularity suggests action.She states that "any planet conjunct an angle in the solar return helps shape the Sun's purpose for the year ahead."
Now when looking at the planets in the solar return, it is important to measure where they are geographically.In other words, say Saturn is at the tail end of the 7th house.There are several conclusions here:
- Saturn in the solar return is where you will be tested
- In this case, Saturn is in an angular house in the solar return, and, so, there are matters regarding relationships and Saturn issues.Perhaps this is the year for someone to set boundaries with others, to ally themselves with older individuals.In the old books, they even said that when Saturn is in the 7th, it suggests marriage to a widower J .We don't know if this is true or not, but what we do know is that since Saturn is at the doorway of the 8th house, one of two things are suggested.
- It is very clear that by transit Saturn will hit the solar return 8th house cusp at some time in the next year if it is close enough.Deanna Rose suggests that the 8th house represents a 'crisis' during the solar return year that deals with others' monies, funds, working for an inheritance, or, just learning about discrimination regarding partnerships, legacies, spending, etc. So transiting Saturn could trigger such issues.
As far as position of a planet in a solar return house, you need to check if it is close to the cusp, in the middle of the house, or, later in the house (how to calculate precisely when these progress backwards to the solar return cusps is discussed earlier in this lesson).When exploring this with a client, it is important to clarify the differences and to help them focus on preparation regarding the placements of these.
The Moon in the solar return will be discussed later, but what about the other planets?The placement of Mercury in the solar return indicates the area in which the mind is engaged for this coming year.Since Mercury only travels 28º from the Sun, watch to see the distance between the Sun and Mercury to see if Mercury is about to go retrograde, or if it just went direct.This is important to know, as retrograde implication does shift the meaning of the Mercury during the course of the year.
Where Venus is placed is where a lot of value will be placed during the year.It is where you will get attention or strive to gain attention and be assertive regarding what you want in that area.It is also important to include in the delineation the houses that hold Libra and Taurus, since Venus rules both signs.If Venus is far from the Sun, it is important to check the ephemeris to see if Venus went or is about to go retrograde in the solar return year.
Mars tends to be the area where you react, where you are motivated, where you are on task, and where you push forward, leaving no stone unturned.If Mars is angular, you may expend more energy in this area of your solar return chart. If Mars is almost at an opposition to the Sun, then it is about to go retrograde and this is important, because this could slow down the actions of Mars until it goes direct during the year and catches up to where it left off (known as the shadow point).Always refer to the solar return house that Mars rules as well – either Aries or Scorpio, if using classical rulers.
Jupiter is where you experience opportunities.Include the houses that hold Sagittarius and Pisces in your delineation and remember that Jupiter is where you may also overindulge.Are there any aspects to Jupiter that contains this overindulgent tendency, such as a hard Saturn aspect, or, not?For any of these planets it is important to qualify the aspects to it.
Uranus is where you break away, let go, wake-up and change.There tends to be a restless anxiety in the area in which we find Uranus, particularly if it is aspecting one of the more personal planets in either the natal chart or solar return chart or both.Out of the blue opportunities can present themselves in the area in which we find Uranus and our responses in that area of the solar return chart can be extreme in nature.For example, Uranus in the second house might indicate that money comes in just as quickly as it goes out, but since Uranus represents the larger picture, the second house and the year's theme of values and cash flow and possessions may rapidly change from one day to the next.
Neptune's placement, particularly if there is a larger aspect cycle occurring (as in 2006 when Neptune opposes Saturn and squares Jupiter throughout the year), there may be major dismemberment in the area in which we find solar return Neptune as well as the area it rules (Pisces house).There can be dissolution OR creative inspiration as one moves towards a more spiritual perspective in that area of the solar return chart.
Pluto is a very slow moving planet and its placement in the solar return chart indicates an area where one finds himself drawing boundaries and pushing for more personal choice that empowers them during the course of the year.If Pluto is aspecting one of the planets, particularly the Sun, then the aspect it is forming with the Sun this year may also be a similar aspect that it forms to that Sun in the following year since Pluto only moves 2º a year max.It may be found in a different house in the following year, of course, but the aspect may be a longer term aspect, because of its very slow movement.The two houses where Pluto is placed in subsequent years should be observed.Its appearance in the solar return directly relates to your ability to transform your life in that area if you are willing to face the issues that keeps you from making those changes.
Moving the Sun through the Solar Return
Another way to use the solar return, since it is, in fact, the Sun's return to its natal position, is to watch the Sun as it transits the solar return's cusps and planets through the year.When it aspects other planets in the solar return this too is important, particularly if there are challenging aspects such as squares and oppositions, particularly with such transits as the transiting solar return Sun opposing Mars or Pluto, or, squaring them….this is a theme than runs concurrent throughout that particular year.Ask in what houses are these oppositions or squares occurring and you get even more information.
A fascinating study is to see which day (use an ephemeris to find this out), the Sun conjuncts each cusp of the solar return chart as well as each solar return planet.Of course, since the Sun is moving quickly, around 59' 10" per day, this means that the aspect forms in a day applying, then the day it conjuncts the planet, and then the day it separates from the planet, lighting that planet up along the way. When the solar return Sun hits Venus, this could be a wonderfully social day, but the day it hits Saturn, or, Pluto, might be a day with Saturnian or Plutonian overtones.
On the day the transiting solar return Sun conjuncts the solar return Moon (again look this up in the ephemeris) it is similar to a New Moon, and, begins a new direction in the life for that specific year. The house in which this occurs is where that new beginning starts. You might want to make up a form or sheet that lists these events.There is also the 'year' that the solar return Moon IS conjunct the solar return Sun, forming a New Moon and this is a year of great changes and new starts for that person.
So…What about that Moon in the Solar Return?
The Moon moves an approximate trine aspect each successive year for each solar return.This usually keeps it in the same element.For example, if in one year the solar return Moon is in Pisces, the next year it will probably be in Cancer, or, starting in early fire, Leo.This means that every fourth year or so it changes elements.
When placing the solar return Moon into the solar return chart, note the house that holds Cancer on the cusp.These two work together.In addition, place the natal moon into the solar return chart as well.
The solar return Moon returns to its natal position about every 19 years, which is very similar to the nodal return cycle.This suggests that at 19 years of age, 38, 57, 76, and 95 the Moon returns to its own natal position.This means that in this year, the Moon may be more impacting bringing great change.These changes may come to the individual because of other peoples' actions as well as their own.This change requires flexibility regardless of the Moon's placement.The arena in which we find the solar return Moon becomes a reflection point and a lens for the Sun.
In addition, be aware of the year(s) where the transiting Moon is more 'out of bounds' than in bounds.This occurs when the transiting nodes are in either Aries or Libra, or, possibly, Pisces or Virgo.The years in which the Moon is out of bounds are interesting years in that events take on an other-worldly, or, unusual events.On a larger mundane scale for the year, we see the Moon running regularly out of bounds and these are historically years when major political events or discoveries occur.
Integrating the Natal and Solar Return Chart
When you think about it, the solar return is the transiting chart to the natal chart.Many schools of thought suggest placing the Solar Return planets outside of the natal wheel, but then you lose the cusps of the solar return, which are important.A better way to do this is to immediately identify the line-up of the natal cusps with the solar return cusps by placing the solar return chart inside the bi-wheel and the natal planets and ASC and MC on the outside of the bi-wheel.In Volume 4 of the March and McEvers book, "The Only Way To Learn About Tomorrow", they suggest placing the solar return planets in the outside wheel using the color 'green' and the natal planets on the inside using the color 'red'.
As mentioned earlier, but worth mentioning again, the solar return cusp (not just the Ascendant), but any solar return cusp that lines up within a few degrees of a natal chart is significant.This suggests that that solar return house and that natal house have an affinity with each other.Their ruler and its placement in either the solar return or the natal chart also suggest some sort of affinity between the two houses and house rulers.The delineation for such a thing would be up to you the person delineating the chart for that year.
In our solar return example, note the natal chart on the top rightand the solar return for the 23rd year on the bottom left. Notice how the natal 2nd house cusp is very close to the solar return's 6th house cusp.During the course of this year, this young student worked as a waitress (6th house) to help with her 'cash flow' issues!She also studied, cloistered in a library, about 12 hours a day.The ruler, Saturn, placed in the natal 9th house (education) and the ruler of the solar return 2nd house, placed in the solar return 12th house, suggests that she pushed hard to get what she needed to get done.There was a difficulty with sleeping, because she only had so much time during the day and during the entire year to complete her studies.
When we compare the two charts, it is important to compare natal planets to any solar return planets or the nodes, particularly if we see conjunctions between the two charts.It will be very common, year after year, to see the same Mercury or Venus, because those two planets never run far from the Sun.But in this specific example, we see solar return Saturn at 27º Cancer conjunct the individual's natal North Node in the natal 8th house at 24º Cancer 35'.This individual, though on a school grant, lived on a very strict budget for her living expenses.
In addition, solar return Uranus at 2º Pisces was square her natal Moon at 1º Gemini, and, she ultimately relocated her home from one coast to the other during the course of the solar return year, traveling cross country in her car.Early in the solar return year, there was upheaval with her family, and, later in the solar return year, it was resolved.
The examples we see in solar returns are not always as clear, but there are usually one or two very clear examples shining through the chart, particularly if there are many angular planets and, particularly, if any of the outer planets are aspecting any of the personal or solar return planets.
Wrapping up the Things That Come Back – Solar, Lunar and other Returns
- Solar Return Definition:The moment in any year when the Sun reaches its longitudinal placement in the natal chart.
- Lunar Return Definition:The moment in any month when the Moon reaches its longitudinal placement in the natal chart.
- Returns (in general):Whenever a planetary body returns to its original natal position.For Mercury this can be once a year.For Saturn that is about 29.5 years.The moment that planet returns to its natal position is when a chart is made for the 'issues' regarding that planet for that year.
In Summary:
- At the moment in time that a planet reaches its natal position, we calculate a chart that signifies the energy around that moment and it is called a return chart.
- For a Solar Return, this is a 'snapshot' of the prediction of events for the upcoming year until the next solar return.
- For the Lunar Return, this is a 'snapshot' of the prediction of events for the next month until the next lunar return.
- For other Return charts, again, this is a 'snapshot' of the return of that planet, whether it is Mercury, Saturn, or Uranus.
- It is highly unlikely that we can have a Neptune or Pluto return in someone's chart unless life is extended miraculously! J
- Sometimes people precess the Solar Return, taking into account the precession of the equinoxes.This is a matter of personal preference.However, remember that when you calculate the natal chart, you don't precess it if you are working tropically.
- Solar Returns are usually effective for the location at which the individual resides.
- There are some schools of thought that suggest that if you travel for the Solar Return to a more favorable location for the birthday, then that chart works.However, this hasn't been found to be really true from several sources such as March and McEvers, etc.
- When we review the Solar Return, we must take into consideration the natal chart as well and work with both of them.
- Solar Returns begin to affect us approximately 3 months prior to the return date and set into place no later than 3 months after the return date.
- When the Sun aligns with the outer planets in a tight aspect, such as Uranus conjunct, square or opposing the Sun, this is a year of significant change that relate to Uranian issues.Remember, too, that this is already happening in the natal chart, and, so WHERE it is in the solar return is significant.
- Whatever the aspect relationship between natal Sun and natal Venus at birth, and, since Venus has an eight-year cycle, then this suggests that every eighth year of someone's life, the same aspect relationship appears in their solar return.So around 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, etc., that the same aspect returns to the solar return.
- At age thirty-three, the solar return Ascendant comes very close to its degree in the birth chart, and Saturn is usually in the same house, if we calculate that solar return for the birth place.
- The Midheaven of the solar return will cycle through the same modality (cardinal, fixed, or mutable) for a few years in a row and then shift to another.
- You will also notice that at each subsequent solar return, the sun moves backwards into the previous quadrant and that it appears in the same type of house for a while.In other words, the solar return Sun may stay a few years in cadent houses, then a few years in succedent, then a few years in angular and not necessarily in that order.This is significant in that these houses express varied energies, the angular houses being the most action oriented.The succedent houses are a time in which much is accomplished, getting something 'done' in that year regarding that house.And when in the cadent houses, a lot is going on and the individual should try to be as flexible as possible.
- The solar return 8th pushes things to a point of confrontation and crisis, particularly if there is an emphasis in that house in any given solar return year.
- The solar return 4th is crucial in terms of how you feel on a deep, psychological level.For example, if the Sun, or, Jupiter, or, Venus is there in the solar return year, then one might experience more comfort or peace.However, with Saturn or Mars there, they may not.
- Watch where the nodes are in the solar return and the eclipses that accompany these.Measure off 90 days after those eclipses and the houses in the natal as well as the solar return in which they take place.These are points of crisis and consolidation.
Highly Suggested Reading:
- Lynn Bell, Cycles of Light, Exploring the Mysteries of Solar Returns, Centre for Psychological Astrology Press, London, UK, 2005.
- Marion March and Joan McEvers, The Only Way to Learn About Tomorrow, Volume 4, ACS Publishing, San Diego, California, 1988, pages 128 to 206.
- James Eshleman:Interpreting Solar Returns
- Raymond Merriman:The Solar Return Book of Predictions
- Nance McCullough:Solar Returns Formulas and Analysis
- Mary Fortier Shea:Planets in Solar Return
- Deanna Rose:Easy Predictions with Solar Returns
- John Townley:Lunar Returns
[1] Deanna Rose, Easy Predictions with Solar Returns, 21stCentury Metaphysical Publishing, PO Box 960, Mundelein, IL, 60060, 1982, page 3-5.
[2] Bell, page 5.
[3] SEE JPEG of 24 years of Solar Returns at Blackboard. Note how this plays out in this example.
[4] Bell, Page 94.
[5] Georgia Stathis, 2006 Astrological Appointment Book, The Professionals House, marked by dates.
Return to Part 1 of article


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Hello everyone,
I have a new model of TIFZX leak detector (with horizontal lights) and I only used it twice for testing purposes. Recently the pump inside started to be really noisy and I opened the device to check if there is any problem like blockage or lubrication. I Found out that the pump is not balanced or aligned well in the device and that causes the pump to be noisy but I couldn't fix it yet just confirmed that by pressing the pump a bit. Anyhow, I know that there are two models of TIFZX, old one is names TIFZX-1 and it is smooth with vertical lights and new one TIFZX with horizontal lights. I wanted to buy the old one which I think would be more reliable and found many great deals for great condition TIFZX-1 on ebay but the problem is that they have old probe tips. I have like 3 replacement sensors so it is not a problem to replace one if case it is gone bad because both models use the same sensor as far as I know but I searched for the old tip and it got different filters. Is it easy to change the old tip model and install the new filter and tip on the same probe or I have to buy new probe with tip? I attached few pictures for clarification. Thanks


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During the week leading up to September 16th, food banks across 9 Bay Area counties were thrilled at the chance to share our mission to end domestic hunger with the audience of KGO Newstalk 810 AM, San Francisco.
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Latest News
At least 50 die in suicide bombing of Pakistani mosque
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A suicide bomber blew himself up at a mosque during weekly prayers Friday in Pakistan's tribal area, the region that President Barack Obama described a few hours later as the "most dangerous place in the world." At least 50 people were killed and more than 100 wounded.
The attack occurred in the Khyber part of the tribal territory not long before Obama unveiled a new strategy for tackling Taliban and al Qaida extremists in Afghanistan and in Pakistan's tribal area. The bomber detonated himself just after the prayer leader cried out "Allahu akhbar" — God is great — to mark the beginning of the weekly Friday prayers, shortly before 2 p.m. local time.
The bombing was a stark demonstration of the menace that Pakistanis face, with even mosques not safe from attack. State control has been almost eclipsed from the tribal area, and government authority has been undermined across the country as the militants strike almost at will. The onslaught has left Pakistanis bewildered and angry at their government and its alliance with the West.
"People should understand that this is not a fight for Islam or to bring in sharia (Islamic law). This is an outright insurgency," said Asfandyar Wali Khan, the leader of the Awami National Party, a secular party that runs the provincial government in the North West Frontier Province. "There are foreigners based in the tribal area and they operate from there unmolested. No one challenges them."
The packed mosque was used by paramilitary soldiers stationed at a nearby post, who most likely were the target of the attack. Many of them were among the dead and wounded, officials said. The blast demolished the two-story mosque in Jamrud, a town near the Afghan border. The dead and injured were buried under bricks and slabs of concrete. Officials warned that the death toll could rise to 70.
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Jamrud lies on the road through Khyber, which NATO uses to transport the majority of its supplies to troops in Afghanistan. Although the tribal territory is a base for Taliban and al Qaida militants, Khyber used to be the safest, most stable part of the area. Extremists have struck it continually in recent months, endangering NATO supplies and imperiling the bustling city of Peshawar.
(Shah is a McClatchy special correspondent.)
Obama shifts strategy in Afghanistan: more troops, modest goals
U.S., Pakistani army chief crucial to resolving crisis?
Pakistan military endorses another Taliban truce - with a difference


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Thode, from Farmington, NM, was killed by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while leading soldiers on an operation. He served as the platoon sergeant.
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Lance Cpl. Quinn A. Keith, of Blanding, was killed on September 6, 2004. The Marine was killed in a car bomb attack near Fallujah, Iraq.
Sgt 1st Class Nathan Winder, of Blanding, was killed in Iraq on June 26, 2007. He served as a Special Forces Medic in the U.S. Army.
A fund for Thode's family has been set up at any Wells Fargo Bank.


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New Castle
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Slide 6
Written by Joseph Guarino Admin
About the Author:Joseph P. Guarino has a long history of producing business results with the application of information technology. Joseph's expertise span over 15 years in the private sector at leading technology firms and consulting organization. With Evolutionary IT, he saw a market need to bring his transformative knowledge and expertise to firms in the New England area and worldwide. Joseph is driven by a strong desire to see customer's thrive with the best business solutions. Evolutionary IT evolved out of this desire to bring a new level of quality IT solutions, align them with business goals and give customer's a competitive edge.