Good evening
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to introduce A-Rose.
A-Rose is neither an organization nor a community. It is a formation of specialized peoples, coming from totally different backgrounds, educations and experiences. What we have in common though, is our nature, of belonging to the LGBT community, as we go forward through Scientific evidences explaining how and why we live. Our flexibility and mobility empowers us to fit into any organization or community that deals with LGBT. The aim of A-Rose is to educate, enlighten and support by reasoning. In many societies, children, women and LGBT members are weakened, due to the lack of knowledge sharing, suppression and religious dogma.
Have you ever questioned the certain politicians? I presume yes, in most of the cases. Have you ever questioned a school? Also here I guess yes will be the answer.
But have you ever questioned religion or faith? And here I can say, based on a life of experience; hardly or no.
The reason for this is that living in the world where exploitation has been observed everywhere (and together with those theocratic ideologies of religion.) We grow up with it, it’s out of our reach, and only few seem to have the privilege to be connected to the divine being. When something good happens people their god, yet when something bad happens, then it’s declared as belonging to a godly plan. But criticism is not just only wanted. These bullying ideas playing with the psychology of humans, making them fear and love the ruling class at the same time. When we suffer, we are sick or poor, we are told, given a prospection of hope, that we will have a good life after death. All these peoples claiming this have never died, to come back, showing us the truth of such. This culture of mockery tell people that having resources makes one evil, that these resources are not for all, and we should be thankful and happy for what we have and just to survive according to whose ridiculous plans they are referring. But when we look at the them, insultingly well maintained and built, next to unfinished poor houses; when we see them over-fed and living with perks and luxuries. Now, time to analyze what their real motive is. The worse of all is that this wealth is a wealth grown on exploitation, donations after giving false promises and hopes and the so called tithing. Interestingly the bible quotes in Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Bankers' best guesses about the Vatican's wealth put it at $10 billion to $15 billion. The Vatican has huge investments in banking, insurance, chemicals, steel, construction, real estate, and gains income from church tax and its members, all tax free. Rome’s weekly L'Espresso newspaper called it "the biggest tax evader in Italy.
In the Philippines the Catholic Church is a huge stockholder, and together with the millions of Peso, they collect from the church goers at every mass, enormous construction are erecting throughout the country. The churches live from the masses (funny that the church service is also called mass), and the messes are poor or in the lower part of society. The money these peoples donate could fill their stomachs better, but because of false claims, the churches exploit their members, supporting poverty more than helping peoples out of it. The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) shows that the Church and affiliate Catholic groups are, in fact, the top stockholders in companies such as the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Philex Mining Corporation (PX), San Miguel Corporation (SMC), Ayala Corporation (AC), and Phinma Corporation (PHN), among others. The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila, for example, is the 4th largest owner of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) with more than 300 million shares. He is also a shareholder of Philex Mining Corporation (PX).
It is a huge business concept, running hand in hand with politics and culture.
The graphic shows the dividing of the three main categories: Economy, Politics and Culture.
The weaker an economy, the more influence can religion take on the peoples direct. Poverty and low paid jobs make peoples venerable and weak. Religion gives them hope, promises and a heaven. But they have to pay, pay from their little money. It also influences politics, as it can offer the church as a propaganda tool, manipulating the members who to vote for. The more developed a country the less influence the church has, leaving its stakes on the culture only and having no say in politics, due to the clear separation of church and state.
Collecting their tax free money works best out of a depending situation. As the owner of real estate, the tenant must pay rent. To have voters and support, politicians cooperate best, as the churches can reach the masses in their both interest.
The Philippine churches have two ways to influence and gain power.
In Poblacions, a Spanish set up from the colonial time, is a community where the church owns land and real estate. Rents and leasing amounts go straight into their pockets, and all tax free.
But even without a Poblacion, the church affiliates with politicians, offering scholarships to students and run food feeding programs. The church is use as a propaganda tool, to support the local politicians, like the mayor.
Millions of Filipinos who go to Church, every Sunday or other day, are donating their hard-earned cash that the Church now owns for this:
Table: Stock Investments of Catholic Church and affiliate Catholic Groups
Diocese / Church Foundation |
Company |
# Shares Owned |
Rank in Top 100 |
Total Investment Value |
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA |
Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) |
222,843,681 |
4th |
PHP12.724 Billion |
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MLA (REAL CASA DE MISERICORDIA) |
Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) |
41,408,841 |
8th |
PHP2.364 Billion |
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA (HOSPITAL DE SAN JUAN DE DIOS) |
Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) |
22,072,182 |
13th |
PHP1.26 Billion |
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MLA (HOSPICIO DE SAN JOSE) |
Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) |
6,016,624 |
15th |
PHP343.55 Million |
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MLA (HOSP DE SA JUAN DE DIOS) |
Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) |
4,285,572 |
17th |
PHP244.71 Million |
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MLA (MAYORDOMIA DELA CATEDRAL) |
Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) |
2,664,266 |
21st |
PHP152.13 Million |
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MLA (ST. PAUL`S HOSPITAL) |
Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) |
1,772,418 |
26th |
PHP101.21 Million |
CARMEL OF THE DIVINE INFANT JESUS OF PRAGUE, INC. |
Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) |
726,819 |
49th |
PHP41.50 Million |
EL SUPERIOR DE LA CORPORACION FILIPINA DE PADRES AGUSTINOS RECOLETOS |
Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) |
551,382 |
60th |
PHP31.48 Million |
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF JARO |
Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) |
491,385 |
64th |
PHP28.06 Million |
EL SUPERIOR DE LA CORPORACION FILIPINA DE PADRES AGUSTINOS RECOLETOS |
San Miguel Corp (SMC) |
2,370,000 |
31st |
PHP260.70 Million |
SUPERIOR DE LA CORPORACION ARCHICOFRADIA DE N.P.J.N DE RECOLETOS |
San Miguel Corp (SMC) |
1,234,603 |
75th |
PHP135.81 Million |
CARMEL OF THE DIVINE INFANT JESUS OF PRAGUE, INC. |
San Miguel Corp (SMC) |
957,516 |
79th |
PHP105.33 Million |
ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF TUGUEGARAO |
San Miguel Corp (SMC) |
856,639 |
81st |
PHP94.23 Million |
REAL MONASTERIO DE LA PURISIMA CONCEPCION DE NUESTRA MADRE SANTA CLARA DE MANILA |
San Miguel Corp (SMC) |
809,834 |
83rd |
PHP89.08 Million |
SUPERIOR DE LA CORPORACION DE PADRES RECOLETOS POR BECAS Y VOCACIONES |
San Miguel Corp (SMC) |
621,702 |
89th |
PHP68.39 Million |
CARMEL OF ST THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS |
San Miguel Corp (SMC) |
592,956 |
91st |
PHP65.23 Million |
THE DISCALCED CARMELITE NUNS OF CEBU |
San Miguel Corp (SMC) |
451,864 |
95th |
PHP49.71 Million |
ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF NUEVA SEGOVIA DE VIGAN |
San Miguel Corp (SMC) |
428,067 |
98th |
PHP47.09 Million |
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA |
Philex Mining Corp (PX) |
3,221,135 |
15th |
PHP66.68 Million |
RELIGIOUS OF THE VIRGIN MARY - B |
Philex Mining Corp (PX) |
3,125,777 |
16th |
PHP64.70 Million |
RELIGIOUS OF THE VIRGIN MARY-A |
Philex Mining Corp (PX) |
1,091,027 |
69th |
PHP22.58 Million |
ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF TUGUEGARAO |
Ayala Corporation (AC) |
24,015 |
73rd |
PHP9.29 Million |
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FRATERNAL ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILS, INC. |
Ayala Corporation Preferred Shares - A (ACPA) |
60,000 |
2nd |
PHP31.80 Million |
ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF TAGBILARAN |
Ayala Corporation Preferred Shares - B (ACPR) |
10,000 |
64th |
PHP1.02 Million |
DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL |
PHINMA Corp. (PHN) |
159,575 |
19th |
PHP2.12 Million |
ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF JUAN DE DIOS |
PHINMA Corp. (PHN) |
153,880 |
20th |
PHP2.05 Million |
RELIGIOUS OF THE VIRGIN MARY |
PHINMA Corp. (PHN) |
58,975 |
52nd |
PHP784,368 |
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA |
Concrete Aggregates Corp (CA) |
78,846 |
9th |
PHP3.47 Million |
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MLA (REAL CASA DE MISERICORDIA) |
Concrete Aggregates Corp (CA) |
13,067 |
18th |
PHP574,948 |
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA (HOSPITAL DE SAN JUAN DE DIOS) |
Concrete Aggregates Corp (CA) |
8,317 |
24th |
PHP365,948 |
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MLA (HOSPICIO DE SAN JOSE) |
Concrete Aggregates Corp (CA) |
1,898 |
66th |
PHP83,512 |
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MLA (MAYORDOMIA DELA CATEDRAL) |
Concrete Aggregates Corp (CA) |
841 |
97th |
PHP37,004 |
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA |
ISM Communications (ISM) |
38,399 |
48th |
PHP126,333 |
SOCIETY OF THE DIVINE WORD |
Filipino Fund Inc. (FFI) |
6,000 |
24th |
PHP48,000 |
ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF BANGUED |
Filipino Fund Inc. (FFI) |
1,500 |
49th |
PHP12,000 |
CATHOLIC WOMENS LEAGUE |
Benguet Corp. - A (BC) |
215 |
53rd |
PHP4,107 |
CORPORACION DE PADRES DOMINICOS |
EEI |
75,000 |
75th |
PHP256,500 |
* Rank in Top 100 – rank in the Top 100 Stockholders of the Company, a report submitted by the company to the PSE
** Total Investment Value – peso value of total shares owned, as of May 27, 2011 closing prices
Source: Company reports submitted to the Philippine Stock Exchange
As a member of the LGBT community we may come to the point asking ourselves if we are correctly positioned in this world. LGBT's have been the target of discrimination, rejection and hate crimes since hundreds and thousands of years. The main reason for this can be found in the religions that were invented by men, long ago, for the purpose of control and power by indoctrinating peoples, focusing on children, as they are the most venerable and formable in society. Religions come with huge claims that evidently have not been proven true, even after thousands of years.
They are basically “man made”, favoring men, declaring women and homosexuals as less valuable. The term evolution is not used, as in the eyes of the Religions; all was created by a god. Religion has also invented the word “sin”, stated illogically, that we were created by a perfect god, in his image, yet in total “imperfection” and “sin”, and then were demanded to become “well” and “heal”, in the set way of each different religion. Homosexuality is declared as unnatural, but homosexual behavior has been observed in more than 1,500 animal species, making it evidently not behavior or choice, but a natural fact in living beings. Religion was set up in times where peoples had no clue about Atoms, laws of Physics and the Universe. It was a way to explain natural phenomenon’s as acts of a god, to punish, threaten or reward peoples. Not believing in that the earth was flat, or the sun is turning around the earth, denying god or being Homosexual lead to torture and death for millions. Yet because of the long and strong developed strategy, building on the weaknesses of human beings, it has survived until now. Nowadays we can observe a strong decline of religion in many regions of the world, as more peoples are getting awareness, are better educated and realize that life can't be built on unproven promises and claims. Finally the criminal acts performed by religion (Discrimination and criminalization of homosexuals, ridiculous demands, suppression of women, violence against children, child abuse, castration of homosexuals, the support of totalitarian regimes, religious based wars and the killing and torture of opponents), the exposure of such in modern times, make more people doubt and reject the so called sacred world of religion.
Atheism, Agnosticism and Secularism are still words not often used by individuals, as they are unaware, left in the dark about its existence and sometimes feel insecure about them. Basically we can start of saying that these definitions deal with truth, based on evidence, resulted from reasoning, science and universally valid observation concluding into facts. Unknown or undiscovered issues will never be claimed by an Atheist as true, because it's not faith or belief based as in religion, placing claims without evidence, just to satisfy own needs or activate tools, to influence peoples’ brains to then be followed. Atheism does not serve the purpose of comfort, as reality is not always comfortable. It does not exploit its followers with the tools of fear, hate and a regulated definition of love. Atheism is not a religion, therefore not a narrow minded system. Atheism does not follow the instructions of man made invented deities. It goes with the natural and colorful world, follows humanity without
Restrictions and does not swap mythology and unproven claims with reality. It does not threaten peoples with a heaven or a hell. It encourages peoples to always ask questions, reason and conclude with a free mind. Atheism rejects self- crowned and religious authorities.
Atheism has also a long history and is defined in a broad sense as the rejection of belief and thus the existence of divine beings.
Atheism is a mind-set, that all of us are born into. Divine beings and deities are introduced to us more or less forcefully during youngest childhood, and depending on our geographical location, we are confronted and indoctrinated with the god of that location. Seeing and experiencing our surrounding, in majority following the same mind programming, we are at first left with little choice to question or deny such.
Yet if a person starts questioning, either through own conclusions or realizations, by meeting an active Atheist or reading about it, he or she might start taking the road of skepticism and curiosity. The first step towards Atheism is skepticism and curiosity, going along with asking questions and deferring between a claim and reality.
Secularism and Agnosticm may be found or defined in that transition period.
Secularism is the principle of separation between government and state from religious institutions. In one sense, secularism may assert the right to be free from religious rule and teachings, and the right to freedom from governmental imposition of religion upon the people within a state that is neutral on matters of belief. In this respect, policy decisions pertaining to topics like abortion, contraception, embryonic stem cell research, same-sex marriage, and sex education are prominently focused.
Agnosticism defines those truth values of proven and recognized claims. Claims about the existence of any deity, but also other religious and metaphysical claims are unknown until proven otherwise. Agnosticism can be explained in different ways, and is sometimes used to indicate doubt or a skeptical approach to questions. In some senses, agnosticism is the stage finding out the difference between belief and knowledge, rather than being satisfied about any religious claim or belief.
After feeling enlightened and reasoned enough, coming to conclusions after looking at all angles and corners of supernatural claims, resulting into the universal truth based world, an Agnostic will then conclude to Atheism.
One of the main barriers to make an approach towards Atheism is that, next to the issue that many people’s don't know about it, it seems not to be reachable, as it is mostly promoted by highly educated and elite peoples. Yet Atheism is for everybody, in every social layer or education level. It must be known that Atheism has no restrictions regarding humanity; in fact it's just even falling back to our natural being, inspiring our intelligent mind, aiming towards a suppressed, discrimination and doctrine free world.
Well, we are tolerating the ideologies of Religion. So, do they should also tolerate LGBT people, who are making up the society, together with the women and children…to the toiling masses who suffer exploitation based on socio-economic, socio-political, and socio-cultural milieu.
Let’s all stand to fight for our rights! Let’s all unite to make our history to emancipate ourselves the way we should be!
Comments powered by CComment