BALITANG LC

Preparations are well underway for the 2009 National Assembly to be held on October 17-19, 2009 at the H. de la Costa Formation Center in Trece Martires, Cavite.  Delegates from full member communities, observer communities and emerging communities that have applied for accreditation as observer communities are expected to attend the Assembly.

The NA Planning Team led by VP Joy Bautista has adopted the theme:  “CLCP-An Apostolic Body Spreading the Ignatian Fire.” Preparatory steps by way of the following modules have been developed to be taken up in the coming months to predispose members to the NA’s theme and objectives:

+ Understanding What Apostolic Body Means – c/o Formation Institute

+ Understanding Formation as CLCP’s National Apostolate

+ Understanding the Signs of the Times – c/o Signs of the Times Discerning Group

+ Understanding the Strategic Plan – c/o StratPlan Team

Group Guides have been asked to conduct these sessions with their communities and to help members discern whether they are being called to serve in the National Leadership Community.  The deadline for LC nominations is June 16, 2009.  The CLC Comelec has disseminated election packs containing nomination forms and election guidelines among full-member communities who are qualified to vote at the NA.

Nominations have started to be received.  After final screening by the Comelec, each nominee will be asked whether or not they accept the nomination.  After the deadline, a final list will be presented to the LC and shared with voting communities.

The NLC and FI concluded late last year the series of regional visits to Cebu, Bicol, NCR, Davao, Zamboanga, Baguio, Batangas, Laguna and Bulacan.  These regional encounters were conducted with the help of Regional LCs to promote members’ ownership of the Magis at 40 Mandate through an alignment of individual and communal values along the Magis priority areas.  A report on the World Assembly at Fatima was rendered during the encounters.

These encounters also served to generate data from the different local and regional leadership communities to be used as inputs to the strategic planning process. Data gathered included an assessment of the state of communities and their apostolic involvements, the identification of needs and concerns, and action plans at the local and regional levels.

After the consolidation of all the data, the members of the Magis Regional Encounter Teams gathered again last February 7, 2009 for a 1-day workshop to discern God’s movements in and through the collated data and seek integration with the themes of Magis at 40 and Fatima. The   process resulted in the identification of common concerns among the various regions, and the prioritization of national and regional needs that may point to planning directions for the future.

Patrick Lim and his team are leading the strategic planning process, beginning with a situation analysis based on an evaluation of the attainment of the 2003-08 Strategic Plan objectives through focus group discussions and key informant interviews.  An organizational assessment study of the CLCP will also be conducted, using a tool that has been adapted for the CLCP by the team.

At the latest LC meeting, the need was raised to devote more time to analyzing all the data that is being collected, recognizing a new challenge to “put our house in order” before rushing to complete a new strategic plan.  A 2-day workshop has been scheduled on July 25 & 26, 2009 for this purpose.  It is hoped that the process would result at least in the setting of broad directions for the next two years until a new LC is in place to develop a new plan along those directions.  Representatives of the different Regional LCs will be invited to participate in this data analysis and direction-setting process.  The resulting document on Strategic Directions will be presented to the body at the 2009 NA.

The LC has found support in carrying out the Mission Team mandate through the Signs of the Times Discerning Group (STDG), formed last November upon the initiative of Lanny Nañagas and Fr. Tony de Castro.  STDG’s objectives include providing CLC members with information about current societal issues and with a venue for open and transparent discussion and balanced analysis.  Through its activities, STDG is helping the CLCP engage and respond to national issues and do its part to shape society and share in Christ’s mission to build God’s kingdom.

Responding to the call for CLCP to take a stand on national issues, the LC has issued a statement expressing its stand on six issues, namely Cha-Cha, 2010 elections, graft and corruption, public accountability and good governance, poverty alleviation, and multi-sectoral dialogue and ANV as the means to resolve conflict and enact laws.  The statement has also authorized four STDG members to represent and involve the CLCP in relevant public and citizens actions that support its stand.

At the February 28^th LC meeting, STDG members Lanny Nañagas and Theody Demaisip appeared before the body to present the group’s analysis of the issues of the 2010 elections, the expansion of the comprehensive agrarian reform program (CARPER) and the worsening socioeconomic condition of the country.  Responding to their appeal for support and urgent action, the LC formed and mandated a group to approve the statements on these issues on behalf of the Community ahead of the August LC meeting.

The current term of the NLC has been extended as a result of the re-scheduling of the 2009 National Assembly from May to October.  Recognizing the need for an interim plan of action for the period November 2008 to October 2009, the NLC conducted a tactical planning session to review and prioritize remaining action points and tasks.  The appointment of an Executive Director has facilitated the monitoring of actions taken.  At its last meeting, it was noted that almost all of the tasks identified for the extension period have been accomplished.

Legal advice is being sought by the NLC as to the need for an amendment to the Statutes for the extension of the term of office of its members.

Responding to the call to provide opportunities in the various regions to enable members to take an annual retreat, Regional LCs in Davao, Bicol, Baguio and Cebu organized retreats and recollections for members during the Holy Week.

At the national level, the Formation Institute organized 3-, 5- and 8-day Holy Week retreats for CLCers and non-members alike at the De la Costa Formation Center in Trece Martires City, Cavite and at the Mirador Jesuit Villa in Baguio City.

Fr. Tony de Castro, our National EA, is working with the FI to introduce a new multi-year retreat structure to enable members to experience the full four weeks of the Spiritual Exercises.   This new plan was started this year with a focus on the First Principle and Foundation of the SpEx.

A key objective has been realized to develop a Communications Program and a management information system   in order to strengthen community relations and enhance CLCP’s public face.

The communications plan consists of three regular newsletters (Balitang LC, Balitaan and Kwentong CLC), a CLCP website, and-as the latest addition-a CLCP Multiply blogsite.

A system has also been put in place to maintain and regularly update CLCP’s database.

From your Leadership Community,

John, Joy, Donnabelle, Cho, Je, Chin-Chin and Teto

9 June 2009