DFF conducts first Apologetics Seminar in the City of Pines

The first ever apologetics seminar in Baguio was conducted by DFF jointly with the group Catholic Shield last May 17 and 18, 2008. Despite a very stormy weather which saw the typhoon signal progressed from signal no. 1 to 3 with lots of rain and wind, it did not dampened the desire of Baguio faithful to flock to the venue of the seminar, the Catholic Renewal Center at the Bishop’s House to learn more about their faith. Various topics were taken up by the speakers composed of Vicar General Fr. Andy Cosalan and DFF members Atty. Marwill Llasos and Carlos Palad. Among these issues were the Bible, Mary, the Magisterium, as well as a discussion on how to defend against the attacks of non-Catholic sects. DFF Chairman Henry Siy gave a briefing on the activities of the foundation. The members of the Baguio Catholic Shield are John Emperador, Patrick Carbonnel, Mark Ramos, Richard and Jesse. It was only by the Grace of God that the seminar took place at all and that participants even came despite the heavy rain and strong winds. The Baguio faithful flocked to the venue armed with their umbrellas, notebooks and pens and contributed lively to the discussion during the open forum. DFF would like to thank its Spiritual Advisor the Archbishop Paciano Aniceto of Pampanga and concurrent Chair of the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, for his valuable support to the members of the team. As a result of the seminar, there is now a clamor in Baguio for more teaching seminars not only to the lay, but also to the seminarians. We hope to be able to conduct a follow up seminar within two months.

Members of the team: (from left) John, Richard, Caloy, Mark, Marwill, Henry, Patrick and Alex

First day of seminar with Fr. Andy Cosalan, Vicar General of Baguio Diocese (in blue barong)

Bro. Marwil Llasos conducting a DFF Seminar on Mariology, Saturday Nov. 5, 2005 at the Red Ribbon Training Centre in Greenhills

This course is offered every Saturday, from 9AM-12NN at the Red Ribbon Training room, Red Ribbon building on Connecticut St. in Greenhills, San Juan. Interested parties may join any session. Please contact tel no. 723-4326 or email DFF at info@defensoresfidei.com.

Remaining Sessions:
Jan 7 -- Papacy by Msgr. Alex Amante
Jan 14 -- Local Sects like INK, ADD, Quiboloy, etc with special guest
Jan 21 -- Foreign Sects like Protestants, JW, Mormons, SDA, etc with special guests

Download Course Outline (PDF file)
Download Lecturer's Profile (PDF file)

Sadly, June 21st, 2005, marked the passing away of one of our most active and vocal advocates for truth and justice, Jaime Cardinal Sin. We in Defensores Fidei Foundation mourn with Catholics and non-Catholics alike for this great loss to the Filipino nation. Indeed, some of our most memorable and uplifting events in the country are not complete without the mention of our beloved Pastor and Shepherd, who in his infectious humor would refer to his abode as the House of Sin. EDSA People Power, who can forget the voice of our Beloved Cardinal Sin over AM radio exhorting the masses and the flock to go and "protect" the soldiers of General Fidel Ramos? Perhaps we in this generation should be thankful indeed for having seen and heard and swayed by this saintly Sin.

May our Lord Jesus Christ welcome the soul of our most loved Cardinal Sin. He will be sorely missed but at the same time, we should rejoice that his earthly suffering has come to an end and that he now enters in the heavenly gates of Paradise.

Let us pray for our dear Cardinal Sin: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be...

The Defensores Fidei Foundation joins the whole of Christendom in mourning the passing away of one of the greatest Popes who ever lived, Pope John Paul II. It was a privilege for us in this generation to have witnessed the workings of a great priest and leader. His leadership had served to strengthen us in our journey and emboldened us in our desire to help out in the needs of the Church. At the same time, we rejoice in the knowledge that the Holy Pope has been called back by our Creator to receive his just and good reward in the company of the Saints and Martyrs and will finally enjoy his Heavenly Peace in that place which all faithful call their final destination. Please join us as we continue to pray for his soul.

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

Lord, may Your perpetual light shine upon our dearly beloved Pope John Paul II.

Amen

Blessed to Be Catholic

Oct 1, 2004 -- DFF founding members Henry Siy and Alex Tan meet with Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales together with Kerygma's Bo Sanchez to discuss the "Blessed to be Catholic" convention on January 23, 2005 which will be highlighted by American convert Steve Ray's witnessing. Additionally, this project is partnered with Bo's group and as everybody knows, Bo is one of the best speakers and evangelists in the Philippines. Archbishop Rosales gave his blessing and support to this project, the aim of which is to make Catholics be more aware of the foundations of their faith and make them appreciate more their being born into the one and only true faith.

DFF distributes Encyclical Redemptionis Sacramentum

In pursuit of its apostolate mission to actively spread Ecclessial Information, Catechetical Instructions and Apologetics to help make good Catholics better Catholics, DFF endeavored to distribute Redemptionis Sacramentum, a recent encyclical providing instructions to correct the serious errors committed to the Holy Eucharist.

Last July 2004, DFF was able to distribute 1,000 copies of this new encyclical to the Philippine Bishops during their Plenary Session at the Pope Pius XII Center in Manila after the National Congress of the Clergy. This was made possible through the financial assistance and generosity of many recipients of DFF's Daily Meditations, generating a total fund solicitation of Php 35,000.

(Photo: Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, DFF Spiritual Adviser, with Cebu's Cardinal Vidal.

Stephen Ray Visits Manila (2002)

Photo taken with Steve Ray and wife Janet at a Christmas dinner capping a successful speaking visit in late 2002. One of the highlights of this visit was Steve's induction as honorary member of the Defensores Fidei Foundation which Steve graciously accepted.

In an unprecedented pro-life move, the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life in cooperation with Pro-Life Philippines and Defensores Fidei Foundation, invited eminent obstetrician, founder of the pro-choice movement turned staunch pro-life advocate, Dr. Bernard Nathanson, to keynote the Family and Life month celebration in February of 2002.

Dr. Nathanson was the founder of the former National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (NARAL) now known as the National Abortion Rights Action League. At the peak of his career and with the help of abortion rights advocates, he founded what was once the biggest abortion clinic in the western hemisphere where around 70,000 babies were systematically killed.

Growing up as a nominal Jew, Dr. Nathanson outlined how his journey from agnosticism to pro-life advocate and later to Catholicism was impacted to a large extent by the love, peace and support of pro-life advocates demonstrating within the premises of abortion clinics. During his 4-day stint in Manila, he exposed how he, as a pro-abortion advocate, twisted statistics and numbers of botched abortions to justify their cause to the media. This was then followed up by a rabid campaign to promote reproductive health among the radical feminist movement.

He then encouraged the thousand of students, health care workers, political leaders and media personnel who attended the talks to learn from the experience of the west and not fall into the slope leading to the laxity of laws which may eventually permit abortion. Foremost of these are the laws in the guise of reproductive health and population control.