Most Rev. Ramon Arguelles, DD, STL

Archbishop

Archdiocese of Lipa

MONTEMARIA

Montemaria, a promontory located in Barangay Pagkilatan,

Batangas City, still marked in the map as Matuko Point, was almost unheard of before late 2006. On January 7, 2007 Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, after a High Mass on the very site, laid the cornerstone of a projected huge statue of Mary, Virgin of the poor.

Thenceforth Montemaria, as name and place, became famous the world over. With such renown, the province of Batangas obtained still the added distinction of being a blessed place. All this became possible due to the presence of the world renowned healer priest, Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Suarez, native of Botong, Taal, Batangas, who becoming a Canadian Citizen was ordained priest for the religious congregation called Companions of the Cross, a diocesan group from Ottawa.

After three years, in which many were expecting and inquiring

about the promised huge Marian image to be already in place, Fr.Suarez on February 4, 2010 at 0807H texted me: (sic) “Gud am po. I try to col u po to let u know that the board and da donors are unanimous in not building the shrine in mtmaria a condition that congressman mandanas is asking. I need to talk to u person about da development soon.” This fact was actually announced the previous night, during a concert at the Meralco Theatre. Thereafter it was made public that the last mass in Montemaria would be on February 14, 2010. Someone texted me on February 15: (sic) “Hve u heard that Fr Ido was escorted & whisked away by PNP aftr his Mass ystrday. Call & txt threats r recd....”

The news of the pullout was met with diverse reactions, mostly

negative especially against Dodo Mandanas and indirectly against the Archdiocese of Lipa. Text exchanges indicate a great deal of perplexity resulting among many, including Batangueños. The forthcoming elections did not escape being linked with the stunning declaration. Some say that he (sic) “saw one tarpaulin by d road of Dodo w/ a hole in d eye”. Dodo is Congressman Mandanas about whom it is also said: (sic) “Matutuwa si Bokal Berberabe”.

I myself cannot get away from queries. My only declaration is: “Fr. Suarez and his groups, both the Companions of the Cross as well as the so-called Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation (MMP), came without our inviting them. We accepted them with open arms trying to help them in some difficult problems. Now that they unilaterally declare their leaving Montemaria and the Archdiocese of Lipa, we cannot stop them. Let it be clear that we do not send them away.”

Questions continue to be raised. As the current shepherd of the Archdiocese of Lipa, I must give my views on how things developed.

Let me narrate the following:

1. I met Fr. Ido for the first time when he was introduced to me by Fr. Rodem Ramos sometime in 2006. He offered help for the construction of the Our Lady, Mediatrix of All Grace Church in Antipolo del Norte, Lipa City. The new parish is being gradually formed by Fr. Rodem. Fr. Rodem says Fr Suarez promised to help, but so far the help has not come as yet. Fr. Suarez also contributed an significant amount for the Masteral course of several archdiocesan priests studying educational management at the La Salle - Taft. We are deeply grateful for that help.

2. At one point in 2006, Fr. Ido through Fr. Rodem signified his desire to establish himself in the Philippines by applying to become a member of the Lipa Archdiocesan Clergy. I told Fr. Ido that the Archdiocesan Clergy is hesitant to accept priest-applicants, even fellow Batangueños, coming from other seminaries, because their formation often makes difficult their integration into the local clergy. I suggested, instead, knowing that he was ordained as priest as a member of the Companions of the Cross, that the said institute come and establish itself in the Archdiocese. I planned to put them somewhere between the new Holy Trinity Parish and the boundary between Batangas City, Taysan and Lobo. Initially their presence would assure ministry to the poorest in the province who would be relocated there, made into a community provided with livelihood opportunities. I considered the community and future parish in the area to be entrusted toMary, Virgin of the Poor (I am familiar with the Virgin of the Poor's apparition in Banneux, Belgium in 1933). Fr. Ido seemed impressed by the idea. He would know the Virgin of the Poor of Banneux, Belgium only early 2008. I was the one who gave him the idea of Mary, Virgin of the Poor.

3. In January 7, 2007, I was invited to concelebrate with His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales the Holy Mass and blessing of the cornerstone of the Virgin of the Poor image and Basilica which would rise on the location. The Virgin Statue will be taller than the Statue of Liberty. For the first time I reached Matuko Point and admired the beauty of the place. At that time, I was not asked to speak, as the local archbishop. Many noticed that. I would have expressed my agreement to the plan because of other poor who will benefit from the project.

4. It turned out that Fr Ido and Congressman Mandanas met. That meeting’s casualty was my proposal for a future Church for the poor in another area. That was shelved due to the Mandanas offer. Congressman Mandanas offers five hectares for the proposed shrine. Dodo Mandanas was the author of the word Montemaria which thenceforth replaced the name Matuko Point.

5. In mid-2009 Dodo Mandanas saw me to give a proposal, without touching on the five hectares set aside for Fr Ido's project. He says he would set aside around ten hectares for further religious site development, owned by ‘members’ but administered by the archdiocese. I realized that Mr Mandanas and Fr Ido's group had a falling away. Nevertheless Dodo Mandanas did not withdraw his pledge to donate the five hectares. I held the “arrangement” with the archdiocese in abeyance. Certainly the archdiocese cannot accept the administrative role of business projects, especially that which connotes exclusivity. (With the withdrawal of Fr Ido,s plan, this became moot and academic, Dodo avers.)

6. Many questions come from the local clergy and from other people regarding the project. Late October in the USA I was asked about Montemaria. I was with Filipinos soliciting help for the huge statue. With so many questions, after talking with the superior of the Companions of the Holy Cross who I though planned to visit the Philippines around February 2010, I made up my mind to call a general meeting of all concerned to discuss the situation at that time. Knowing there were diverse plans regarding the place most of which I am the last to know, I hoped to unify all ideas and develop a master plan for the whole area. I expressed to many that Montemaria might be the fulfillment of the dream of the late Cardinal Sin in the eighties to build “A Holy Land of Asia”.

7. The set February meeting came. Interested persons were

present, including my acquaintance from Southern California who heads the Montemaria Foundation (fundraising) in that area and the local superior of the Companions of the Cross who was assigned to represent the Superior General. The discussion focused on the donated five hectare lot which has not been turned over yet. There were many allegations which were gradually but not adequately explained. The core of the dialogue was why the donation papers have not been given yet. From what I understand the Foundation has yet no juridical personality (no SEC approval). The Companions of the Cross too has no juridical personality in the Philippines. Meanwhile Congressman Mandanas seeks also tax deduction based on the donation. Fr Totit Mandanas repeated what he has already previously explained to all, that only the Roman Catholic Archdiocese can satisfy both needs. The meeting adjourned with the Foundation saying they would discuss and decide on the matter. I gave them two weeks to decide setting a February 15 meeting in Parañaque. This meeting was rescinded when on February 4 early morning I was told on text that the Foundation decided to leave Montemaria behind and the project would be moved to Cavite, where San Miguel Corporation through Danding Cojuangco and Ramon Ang

is reported donating, more than eighty-six hectares. Anybody in the place of Fr Ido and his associates will understandably

find the better offer attractive. Batangas, especially in that Pagkilatan area, cannot donate that huge property. Long before, the place was destined to become an ecotourism center. The Foundation was reported eager to buy the needed portion around the donated zone at a low price. Batangas City's real state value is among the highest in the country. We congratulate Fr Ido and his companions for obtaining such large space in Cavite which even much earlier has already been envisioned to become ‘THE NEW JERUSALEM’.

Montemaria will remain in Batangas without the grandiose

plans. After all Dodo Mandanas was the one who coined the

word MONTEMARIA to replace the old name Matuko Point.

Batangas / the Archdiocese of Lipa may not have been the ideal place for the magnificent project. But we welcomed it when it came to us. We ask forgiveness if our generosity and openness was too limited. Forever will we be grateful to the Foundation and to Fr Ido for being patient with us and making us share immense blessings all these past three years. We cheerfully received them when they came; we consider it our loss now that they go. We wish them all success for their worthy endeavor for God and the Blessed Mother, Virgin of the Poor. #UB

Montemaria: Congressman Mandanas

CONGRESSMAN HERMILANDO I. MANDANAS

February 26, 2010

As my name has been mentioned in the Declaration issued by the Blessed Mary Mother of the Poor, Inc. dated February 16, 2010, may I state the following:

1. That I was also moved and inspired by the devotion of Fr. Fernando Suarez to the Blessed Virgin Mary when I first met him in July, 2006 in Batangas City;

2. That as requested by Fr. Suarez, I agreed to convince my business associates to donate one-hectare of land in Batangas City. It is true that we did not offer to donate the land, it was Fr. Suarez who was asking for donation, and he was also the one who chose the location, now called “Montemaria”, among several locations I personally showed him in July, 2006;

3. That it was announced by the Foundation of Fr. Suarez that donations and pledges for the building of the Shrine started to come in from around the world after the January 7, 2007 blessing and inauguration of the plan that was presented to Archbishop Ramon C. Arguelles of the Archdiocese of Lipa;

4. That it is true that the reception to the Healing Ministry of Fr. Suarez has been so successful, that he asked for more land; that the donation be increased from 1 to 2 hectares, and later, up to 5 hectares during the past three (3) years;

5. That it was not easy for me to ask my business associates to increase the donation from 1 to 5 hectares because there was already a development plan in place for the area by Architect Palafox, even before I met Fr. Suarez. And there was also a contract to develop the area into a world class resort village, with residential subdivision, commercial areas and tourism facilities;

6. That with the approval of my business associates and Developer, Architect Palafox change the plans several times because the area to be donated had to be moved and adjusted several times to fit the requirements of the project of Fr. Suarez;

7. That I am glad that after three (3) years, the Sto. Nino Chapel was completed on January 18, 2010. As of date, only the Sto. Niño Chapel has been constructed on the 5-hectare property. The actual construction of the Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary has not yet started above ground.

8. That with the spread of devotion, Fr. Suarez was inspired to plan for more facilities and asked me to donate and/or to sell more land for the project. I relayed the request of Fr. Suarez to my business associates and Developer, and they did not agree to donate more land to the Foundation, and cannot sell additional land at One Hundred Fifty (P150.00) per square meter. The Developer had the whole area appraised by an accredited appraiser that submitted three prices for the different parcels in the area: approximately Two Thousand (P2,000.00) Pesos; Three Thousand (P3,000.00) Pesos; and Four Thousand (P4,000.00) Pesos per square meter. That the best parcel appraised at more than Four Thousand Pesos (P4,000.00) per square meter was the one allocated for donation to the Foundation.

9. That in the meeting in December, 2009, attended by Fr. Suarez, myself, some officers of the Foundation and my business associates, it was announced that there is a donor for fifty (50) hectares in Cavite close to Tagaytay, and that Fr. Suarez is already transferring his ministry from Montemaria to Cavite;

10. That it is not true that the promised 5-hectare donation was not delivered to Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation as of November, 2009. The Deed of Donation was signed by my business associates and received by the Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation in August 14, 2008.

11. That the Deed of Donation which was signed by the donor was not signed by the donee, Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation, because the Foundation has not yet been accredited with the Bureau of Internal Revenue and that the technical description of the 5-hectare was not completed by the Geodetic Engineer hired by the Foundation until November, 2009.

12. That there has been no change on the terms of donation, except size (one to five hectares) and locations of the land. It is not true that some conditions of the Deed of Donation have been changed in November, 2009, and it is not true either that the promised 5-hectare donation was withdrawn or not delivered due to the shortcomings of the donor;

13. That it is true that only after the December, 2009 meeting with Fr. Suarez, when he announced the transfer of his ministry from Batangas to Cavite, that I personally informed the Archbishop through my brother, Rev. Fr. Ernesto Mandanas, Jr., that the 5-hectare can already be donated to the Archdiocese, but under the same terms and conditions under the Deed of Donation signed earlier by the donor, primarily for the construction of the Shrine of Mary Mother of the Poor, taller than the Statue of Liberty;

14. That sometime in 2008, Fr. Mandanas even suggested to me that the donation should be in favor of an institution with juridical personality under the Canon Law. However, I respectfully refused Fr. Mandanas because I have already committed to donate the land to Fr. Suarez. A written resolution from the Foundation was then made so that only upon the completion of the project will the land be transferred from the Foundation to the Archdiocese of Lipa or to the Companions of the Cross.

15. It is true that Rev. Fr. Mandanas mentioned to me that the Archdiocese of Lipa will accept the donation only if Fr. Suarez will commit to build the Statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Initially, Fr. Suarez replied that he was most willing, and that it was very good idea that the land will be donated to the Archdiocese, and that he will commit that the Shrine will be constructed in Montemaria.

16. That on February 1, 2010, Fr. Suarez announced that he will not be able anymore to commit to build the Shrine because the major donors and the Board of Trustees of Montemaria project have decided to pull out the building of the Shrine in Montemaria “due to the perceived greed and commercialization of the land around the intended Shrine.”;

17. That as regards this issue of “greed and commercialization”, neither my business associates nor the Developer was part, or even involved in the acquisition of approximately 300 hectares adjacent to our area. And they have not yet sold even a single square meter of land in the area.

18. That I am most happy to learn that a generous gift of not only 50 hectares but 100 hectares in the vicinity of Tagaytay has been offered to Fr. Suarez, where the ministry is now transferring from Batangas

19. That I am personally sad about the transfer of Fr. Suarez from Batangas to Cavite, because I believe in the original inspiration of Fr. Suarez and I still believe that Montemaria is the more appropriate place for the Shrine to the Blessed Virgin Mary, “where even stones can heal and where divine lights appear”.

20. That I humbly bow to the decision of Fr. Fernando Suarez - that it is the will of God that the transfer be made from Batangas to Cavite. I continue to fervently pray for the success of the ministry of Fr. Suarez, for the propagation of the Faith in God, and for the spread of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Thanks be to God!

SA ISYU TUNGKOL

“OUR LADY MOTHER OF THE POOR FOUNDATION FROM MONTE MARIA”

TANONG: PINAALIS BA NG ARCHDIOCESSES NG LIPA ANG OUR LADY MOTHER OF THE POOR FOUNDATION SA MONTE MARIA, BATANGAS CITY?

SAGOT: MAKAILANG ULIT NA SINABI NI ARSOPISPO RAMON ARGULLES NA TINGGAP NIYA SI FR. SUAREZ AT INIMBITAHAN ANG KONGRAGASYON NG “COMPANIONS OF THE CROSS” NA SAMAHAN SI FR. SUAREZ SA KANYANG PAMBIHIRANG MISYON NG PAGPAPAGALING SA ATING MGA KAPWA PILIPINO. ANG” OUR LADY MOTHER OF THE POOR FOUNDATION” AY NATATAG UPANG TULUNGAN SI FR. SUAREZ SA USAPING PANANALAPI NA KAILANGAN SA PAGTATAGUYOD NG KANYANG MISYON. TAHIMIK SILANG ( SINA FR. SUAREZ ) NA DUMATING AT TAHIMIK DIN SILANG LUMISAN.

TANONG: GAANO KATOTOO ANG ALIGASYON NA SINA FR. SUAREZ AY UMALIS DAHIL SA MATAAS NA PRESTO NG HINIHINGI NI CONGRESSMAN MANDANAS PARA SA MGA LUPA NA NAKAPALIBOT SA LIMANG HEKTARYANG LUPA NA IBINIGAY BILANG DONASYON NI CONG MANDANAS KAY FR. SUAREZ?

SAGOT: MATAPOS MAKAPAGDONATE NI CONGRESSMAN MANDANAS KINA FR. SUAREZ NG LIMANG HERTARYANG LUPA, NGAYON NAMAN ITONG MGA KASAPI NG FOUNDATION NI FR. SUAREZ AY GUSTONG BILIHIMN ANG MGA NAKAPALIBOT NA LUPA SA HALAGANG KATUMBAS LAMANG NG ORIGINAL NA PRESYO KADA METRO KUDRADO AT HINDI SA PREYO NG KASALAKUYANG BENTAHAN “CURRENT SELLING PRICE” NG LUPA DOON.

TANONG: TOTOOO BANG KAYA DI MAITAYO NG FOUNDATION NI FR. SUAREZ ANG KAPILYA AT IBA PANG GUSALI SA LUPANG NAIDONATE SA KANILA NG KOMPANYA NO CONG. MANDANAS AY SA DAHILANG WALA SA PANGALAN NI CONG MANDANAS .ANG MGA TITULO SA LUPA?

ANG SAGOT: ANG UMIIRAL NA BATAS SA PILIPINAS ANG DAHILAN KAYA HINDI PATULUYANG MAGAWA NG FOUNDATION NI FR. SUAREZ ANG LAHAT NILANG GUSTO SA LUPANG IPINAGKALOOB NG KOMPANYA NI CONG. MANDANAS. SANG-AYON SA BATAS, KAILNGAN NG FOUNDATION NG TATLONG TAON (3 YEARS) NA PAGTIGIL DOON. AT PARA MALUTAS ANG NASABING PROBLEMA SA KINAKAILANGANG 3 YEARS RESIDENCE, IMINUNGKAHI NG ARCHDIOCESSES NG LIPA NA IINDORSO MUNA NG FOUNDATION ANG KATUNAYANG NG PAGMAMAYARI NG LUPA SA ARCHDIOCESSES NG LIPA UPANG MAKAPAGPATAYO ANG FOUNDATION NG ANUMANG INPRASTRAKTURA SA LUPA NA WALANG LEGAL NA SAGABAL. HINDI ITO SINANG- AYUNAN NG BOARD. NG FOUNDATION.

TANUNG: MALAKING OPURTINIDAD, MATERYAL AT ESPERITWAL BA ANG NAWALA SA ARCHDIOCESSES NG LIPA ANG KONTROBERSIYA O ISYU TUNNGKOL SA MARY MOTHER OF THE POOR FOUNDATION?

SAGOT: SA MATERYAL NA ISYU MERON DAHIL NAWALAN ANG MAHIHIRAP NATING KABABAYAN NG OPORTUNIDAD MAKAPAGHANAP BUHAY, TULONG PANGKALUSUGAN AT ABULOY MULA SA FOUNDATION. SA ISYUNG ISPIRITUWAL, NA KILALA ANG ARCHDIOCESSES BILANG KABISERA NG PANANAMPALATAYA SA BUONG PILIPINAS AT SA ASYA. PERO MAGKAGAYON MAN MERON TAYONG MGA PAGDUDUDA PA RIN BAGAY SA FOUNDATION NI FR. SUAREZ. KUNG TALAGANG ANG INTENSYON NG FOUNDATION NI FR. SUAREZ AY MANGGAMOT LAMANG AT MAGING PASTOL NG MAHIHIRAP, EH BAKIT ANG MGA KASAPI NG FOUNDATION AY HINDI KONTENTO SA MALIIT NA LUPANG KANILANG PINANGUMPISAHANAT MASYADO PA NILANG HINAHANGAD NA MAANGKIN ANG MGA KARATIG NA LUPAIN.

TANONG: ANO ANG TOTOO SA ALIGASYON NA HINIHIKAYAT NI DANDING COJUANGCO NA HUWAG NG ITULOY NG FOUNDATION NI FR. SUAREZ ANG PAGPAPATAYO NG STATWA NG MAHAL NA INA NA MAS MATAAS PA “STATUE OF LIBERTY” DAHIL SI CONG. MANDANAS LAMANG DAW ANG MAKIKINABANG DITO?

SAGOT: SI CONG MANDANAS AY KILALA BILANG ISANG TAONG WALANG TINATAGO O “TRANSPARENT” BILANG ISANG SENSERONG KATOLIKO AT NEGOSYANTE. HINDI TOTOONG PANSARILING INTERES ANG MAKUKUHA O MAPAPALA NI CONG. MANDANAS SA PROYEKTO NG FOUNDATION. ANG MGA PLANO NI CONG. MANDANAS NA NAISANGUNI DIN NIYA SA ARCHDIOCESSES AY PAGLALAGAY NG MGA LUGAL PARA SA PAGDARASAL, BAHAY PAHINGAHAN NG MGA TAONG GUSTONG MAGKAROON NG TAHIMIK NA LUGAL PARA SA KANILANG PANANALANGIN O MGA RETREAT. ANG LAHAT NG MGA ITO PLANO NI CONG MANDANAS BILANG KANYAN CONTRIBUSYON O KUMPLEMENTO. PARA SA LALONG IKALALAGO NG MGA GAWAIN O MINISTRY NI FR. SUAREZ AT NG KANYANG FOUNDATION. GUSTONG MAKILALA TALAGA NI CONG. MANDANAS ANG MONTEMARIA BILANG ISANG PAMBIHIRANG LUGAL SA PILIPINAS NA MAKIKILALA SA ASYA “AS A PLACE FOR RELIGIOUS TOURISM’.

TANONG: ANO NGAYON ANG GAGAWIN SA KAPILYA NG STO. NIÑO NA NAKATAYO SA MONTEMARIA?

SAGOT: AYON KAY CONGRESSMAN MANDANAS, YUNG IIWAN NI FR. SUAREZ NA LIMANG HEKTARYANG LUOA AY KANYANG IDODONATE SA ARCHDIOCESSES NG LIPA YUN NAMANG TUNGKOL SA KAPILYA AY DEPENDE SA MAGIGING DESISYON NI FR. SUAREZ AT ARSOBISPO ARGUELLES.

TANONG: ANO BA TALAGANG TUNAY NA PROBLEMA NA MAY KAUGNAYAN SA KONTROBERSIYA?BAKIT MAY TURUAN KUNG SINO DAPAT SISIHIN?

SAGOT: NAPAKAKOMPLEKADO NG ISYO. SANA AY NAGING SIMPLE LAMANG ANG PROBLEMA KUNG ITONG SI FR. SUAREZ SA KANYANG HANGARING MANGGAMOT AT MAGING PASTOL NG MAHIHIRAP AY PINILI NA LAMANG ANG MAG- UMPISA SA MALIIT AT HINDI MAG AMBISYON PA NA UMANGKIN NG LUGAL NA MAS MALAKI PA SA LIMANG HEKTARYA NASASAKUPAN NG KANYANG POOK DALANGINAN. ANG ISYU LALONG NAGING KOMPLIKADO NG ANG MGA KASAPI NG FOUNDATION AY HINAGNAD NA BILIHIN PA ANG MGA KARATIG NA LUPA SAPAGKAT ITOY NAGBIGAY NG IBANG KULAY SA GAWAIN O MINISTRY NI FR. SUAREZ. ANG MASAHOL PA NITO AY ANG GUSTONG PRESYO NG MGA KASAPI NG FOUNDATION SA PAGBILI NG MGA KARATIG NA LUPA NG MONTE MARIA AY YUNG PRESYO PA KADA METRO KWADRADO NOONG MGA ILANG TAON NA ANG NAKARARAAN YUNG PRESYO NA GUSTO NILA AY PRESYONG UMIIRAL PA MARAMING TAON NA ANG NAKALIPAS.MAS LALONG LUMALA PA ANG PROBLEMA NG FOUNDATION DAHIL SA HANGGANG SA NGAYON AY HINDI PA NAKAKAMTAN NG DOUNDATION ANG KANILANG KAPASIDAD NA LEGAL “LEGAL CAPACITY” PARA TUMANGGAP NG DONASYON NA LIWAS SA INAASAHAN NG MALALAKING DONORS NILA PARA SA PAGPAPATAYO NG NAPAKATAAS NA ISTATWA NG MAHAL NA BERHEN AT IBA PANG PROYEKTO NA KANILANG NAILATHALA NA SA WEBSITE.

ON THE EXODUS OF THE OUR LADY MOTHER OF THE POOR FOUNDATION FROM MONTE MARIA

ON THE EXODUS OF THE

OUR LADY MOTHER OF THE POOR FOUNDATION

FROM MONTE MARIA

Msgr. Ruben Dimaculangan

Vicar General

Archdiocese of Lipa

The exodus of the Our Lady Mother of the Poor Foundation from Monte Maria to Cavite has spread like wildfire. There is a need to clarify certain issues obfuscated by filtering and lack of necessary information. Since many of our confused friends have been sending text messages of mixed emotions, I deem it important for you to know the following replies to some questions below. As a recommendation, it will be wise to learn the facts involved but it would not be advisable for anyone to square off with the media unless he is mandated by H.E. Archbishop Arguelles as spokesperson and unless he is armed with an official written statement:

Question: Is it true that the Archdiocese of Lipa drove the Our Lady Mother of the Poor Foundation away?

Reply: Archbishop Arguelles said a number of times that he welcomed Fr. Suarez and invited the Companions of the Cross to accompany Fr. Suarez in his unique healing mission to the Filipinos. The Our Lady Mother of the Poor Foundation came into the scene because it wanted to assist Fr. Suarez financially. Silently they came and now silently they leave.

Question: How true is their allegation that they left because of the exorbitant price tagged by Congressman Dodo on the surrounding lots of the 5-hectare land donated to Fr. Suarez?

Reply: Dodo said that after having donated the five-hectare land, some members of the Foundation were seeking to acquire spots of surrounding land at the original price when it was bought, that is, from the current selling price of P4,500/square meter to P150/square meter.

Question: Is it true that the reason why the Foundation was not able to construct the thematic chapels and other buildings was because Congressman Dodo did not have the titles in his name?

Reply: Congressman Dodo replied that it was the Philippine law which prohibited the Foundation from owning the five-hectare area for lack of residence. Accordingly, the Foundation needed three years. Besides, although the titles of the land were not yet in his name, Congressman Dodo attests that he really owns the land. To solve the aforementioned problem posed by the requisite 3-year residence, Fr. Totit Mandanas, representative of Archbishop Arguelles on the matter, proposed that the title be endorsed first to the Archdiocese of Lipa so that the Foundation could construct without legal impediment. Allegedly, not all members of the Board of the Foundation welcomed this provisional solution.

Question: Has this exodus of Monte Maria Foundation thrown away from the Archdiocese such a big opportunity, materially and spiritually?

Reply: Materially, yes. For some of our poor, this could have been a source of job opportunities, health assistance and donations from the Foundation. Spiritually, this would have exhibited the Archdiocese as the spiritual capital both in the Philippines and in Asia. But whether the Archdiocese has lost a big opportunity for spiritual growth with the exodus of the Foundation, the way things go, I do have some doubts. If the real intention of the Foundation was to make Fr. Suarez heal and shepherd the poor, its members should have been contented with starting small without so much passion to acquire adjacent lands.

Question: There was an allegation that Danding Cojuanco discouraged the Foundation to put up the statue of our Lady taller than the Statue of Liberty because it would have benefited only Congressman Dodo.

Reply: Congressman Dodo was all the time transparent that he was both a sincere Catholic and a businessman. Certainly, the statue would have benefited the affairs of the Congressman. Whether he intends it or not, it could have been his effective standard bearer, financially and politically. But it was not 100 per cent business: Side by side with the 5-hectare donation to Fr. Suarez, he was planning to put up thematic parks and hotels that would cater to the needs of club members who want to have a place for prayer and rest. For the Archdiocese, he was planning to donate under BOT terms, parks and buildings, etc., that would cater to the spiritual needs of the common people. The latter however will have access to the theme parks owned by Congressman Dodo. Thus, all the while Congressman Dodo has always admitted that it was a business venture in tandem with the healing ministry of Fr. Suarez and with the pastoral guidance of the Archdiocese. The three separate ventures are not in conflict because comprehensively they will make up a unique ambience in the Philippines or in Asia noted as a place for “religious tourism”. He added that for some Chinese partners this business would not be a goose that would lay golden eggs because of its association with sick people who frequent the area. And yet although not being a lucrative business, he is willing to risk pushing through with such a unique spiritual enclave.

Question: What happens to the recently blessed Santo Nino Chapel which has cost Mr. Garcia P80M to construct?

Reply: According to Congressman Dodo, he will donate the 5-hectare land to the Archdiocese. Concerning the Santo Nino Chapel, the decision would depend upon Fr. Fernando Suarez and Archbishop Arguelles.

Question: What do you think has been the real problem in this controversy? There have been fingers pointed at different personages as the party to blame.

Reply: It is a complicated issue. The problem could have been simpler had Fr. Fernando Suarez chosen to start small with the primary motive of healing and shepherding the flock without dreaming of acquiring a site bigger than the 5-hectare enclave. I think it started to become a problem when he made the innocent mistake of accepting and announcing the construction of the statue of our Lady, bigger than the statue of Liberty, as a condition for acquiring the 5-hectare land for the Foundation’s thematic chapels and other centers. The issue became complicated when some members of the Foundation allegedly tried to purchase adjacent lands because it put a different color to the ministry of Fr. Suarez. It became even more complicated when they insisted in the name of the Foundation to acquire adjacent lands at their original price many years ago. It compounded with the Foundation’s legal incapacity to receive donations vis-à-vis the expectant hope of the big donors that the announced grand statue of Our Lady and the other projects portrayed in the website would have been built.

Question: Any concluding remark?

Reply: Fr. Fernando Suarez is a holy man. I can see it from his simple but incisive homilies. His gift of healing helps him to be holy. He has a grand dream for the country, especially for its poor. He is a man to trust. But the way things have gone this far seems to show he should discern whether he is just being used by people who did not or do not really have the intention of using him. He should know that healed people who try to assist him still need to be guided home to the idea that his primary objective is to heal people and the country not through grand, if not grandiose, structures or enclaves which in the end may become standard bearers only of themselves, not of the healing Christ. I still think that in this Country the real standard bearers of the love of Christ are structures where our poor will be more overwhelmed by a very welcoming simple healing ambience than by structures owned by an elite that could alienate their being sick and poor.

NOTE:

THIS IS FOR YOUR OWN EYES ONLY. THE MOTIVE OF DISCUSSING THIS IS JUST TO HUMBLY TAKE THE LIBERTY OF INFORMING YOU ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS YOU MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN. THE CONCLUDING PART IS ONLY MINE.

- moderator curiae -