Crackdown on vs. Mindanao Christian schools 


BY ATTY. BATAS MAURICIO

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Remember this: Whosever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously with also reap generously…” (2 Corinthians 9:6, the Holy Bible).

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DEPED CRACKDOWN VS. CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS: The end-times-prediction of Jesus Christ in Matthew 24:9-11 about believers being hated by all nations because of their belief and faith in Him, and being handed over to be persecuted and put to death, is happening in the Philippines, particularly in Mindanao, with frightening speed nowadays.

Proof of this is the clear crackdown by officials of the Department of Education against Christian schools in the countryside, most especially in Mindanao, resulting in the harassment and closure of many of these schools, even in areas where DepEd schools are either not available or are unable to provide basic elementary or high school education to the young.

Roberto T. Rivera, the head of the Samaritan Educational Consulting System and who acts as a consultant of these Christian schools, told me that the latest victim of the DepEd crackdown is The Lighthouse Accelerated Christian School of Digos City in Davao, which DepEd officials wanted immediately closed, despite having a license from DepEd’s Permit 001, Series of 1996.

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CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS FACING CLOSURE: Rivera wrote a letter to Education Secretary Armin Luistro deploring DepEd’s closure decision of The Lighthouse Accelerated Christian School of Digos City: “The Lighthouse… a member of the Association of Christian Educators of the Philippines (AsCEP), is operating an educational ministry under Permit 001, s. 1996 for Church schools….

“(This) ensured the effective delivery of the Constitutional mandate in Art. XIV of the Constitution, statutory mandate in Presidential Decree 603 (in its Articles 79, 80 and 83) and Sec. 1 (4) of Republic Act 9155 which states that `schools and learning centers shall be empowered to make decisions on what is best for the learners they serve,’ ” Rivera said.

“Unfortunately, (DepEd officials in Digos City) are unaware of the (foregoing) Constitutional, statutory and legal mandates in education, and demanded the immediate closure of The Lighthouse… Their actions make education inaccessible to the learners…” Rivera added, and, if I may say so, also violative of God’s command to teach the young of His Word.

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TIME FOR RECKONING WILL SURELY COME: It is often said that we should watch out over the things we say and do, for we will be held accountable for all of these at some future time. We may think there is no one who sees us and that we could go away with whatever pleases us, but, for believers, that is not so. There is a time for reckoning.

“For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil,” the Bible, in its Ecclesiastes 12:14 says. And in its Ecclesiastes 11:9-10, it is written: “Be happy young man, while you are young… Follow the ways of your heart… but know that for all these things, God will bring you to judgment…”

Jesus Christ, on the other hand, said: “… a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out---those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned…” (John 5:28-29).


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 Mindanao Christian schools, ipinasasara 


INSPIRASYON SA BUHAY: “…Alalahanin ninyo ito: Sinuman ang nagtatanim ng kakaunti ay aani ng kakaunti, at sinuman ang nagtatanim ng marami ay aani ng masagana…” (2 Corinto 9:6, Bibliya).

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DEPED, KUMIKILOS VS. CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS: Ang babala ni Jesus ukol sa galit ng buong mundo laban sa mga nananampalataya sa Kanya, daan upang marami sa kanila ang uusigin at papatayin bago dumating ang wakas ng panahon sa Mateo 24:9-11, ay nangyayari na ngayon sa Pilipinas, lalo na sa Mindanao.

Isang pruweba nito ay ang crackdown o pagkilos ng mga opisyales ng Department of Education laban sa mga paaralang pagmamay-ari o pinatatakbo ng mga grupong Kristiyano lalo na nga sa Mindanao, dahilan upang ma-harass at masara ang marami sa mga paaralang ito, kahit na walang DepEd schools o hindi kaya ng DepEd na magbigay ng edukasyon sa mga lugar na iyon.

Ayon kay Roberto T. Rivera, pinuno ng Samaritan Educational Consulting System at consultant ng maraming Christian schools, ang pinakahuling biktima ng DepEd crackdown ay ang The Lighthouse Accelerated Christian School sa Digos City, Davao, na nais na agarang maipasara ng DepEd, bagamat ito ay may lisensiya mula sa DepEd Permit 001, Series of 1996.

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CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS, NAHAHARAP SA PAGSASARA: Sa sulat ni Rivera kay Education Secretary Armin Luistro na kumukuwestiyon sa pagsasara ng The Lighthouse Accelerated Christian School sa Digos City sinabi niyang “Ang Lighthouse… ay miyembro ng Association of Christian Educators of the Philippines (AsCEP) na nagpapatakbo ng isang educational ministry sa ilalim ng Permit 001, s. 1996 para sa mga eskuwelahan ng mga Simbahan…

“(Nagdulot ito) ng mahusay na pagtupad sa utos ng Saligang Batas, sa kanyang Art. XIV, ng Presidential Decree 603 ( sa kanyang Artikulo 79, 80 at 83), at Sec. 1 (4) ng Republic Act 9155, na nagsasabing `ang mga paaralan at sentro ng linangan ay may kapangyarihang magdesisyon kung ano ang pinakamabuti para sa kanilang mga mag-aaral,’ ” dagdag pa ni Rivera.

“Sa kasamaang palad, (ang DepEd sa Digos City) ay hindi nakakaalam sa mga utos ng Konstitusyon at ng mga batas, at nag-utos ito ng agarang pagsasara ng Lighthouse… Ang ganitong pagkilos ay nag-aalis ng karapatan sa edukasyon ng mga mag-aaral…” sabi pa ni Rivera, at, sa ganang akin naman, ay lumalabag din sa utos ng Diyos na ituro ang Kanyang Salita.

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ORAS NG PAGTUTUOS, DARATING: Dapat ay binabantayan natin ang ating mga sinasabi at ginagawa, sapagkat lahat ng ito ay ipagsusulit natin pagdating ng panahon. Maaaring isipin ng marami sa atin na wala namang nakakakita sa atin kaya maaari nating gawin ang anumang nais natin, pero, sa mga mananampalataya, hindi ito tutoo. May panahon ng pagtutuos.

“Ang lahat ng ating gawa, hayag man o lihim, mabuti man o masama, ay ipagsusulit natin sa Diyos,” sabi ng Bibliya sa kanyang Ecclesiastes 12:14. At sa Ecclesiastes 11:9-10, nasusulat: “Magpakasaya ka, anak, habang bata ka pa… Sundin mo ang naisin ng iyong puso… pero alalahanin mong sa lahat ng ito, tutuusin ka ng Diyos…”

Ayon naman sa Panginoong Jesus: “…dumarating na ang panahon kung saan ang lahat ng nasa mga libingan ay makaririnig ng Kanyang tinig at sila ay magbabangunan---ang mga naging mabuti ay muling mabubuhay, at ang mga naging masama ay hahatulan…” (Juan 5:28-29).