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12 MAY 2004

Dear JVP Community,

It is not Valentine’s Day, but this is a message of love.

I write you from the desk of the Executive Director, a little over a week from the day I assumed office. My work in JVP is very different from the legal work I used to do as court attorney in the Supreme Court, and I must admit, I sometimes miss working on constitutional cases with my very admirable and humble former boss, Senior Associate Justice Reynato S. Puno. But as I told him in our difficult and tearful parting, we would be working on different fronts now, but would still be moving in one direction, animated by the same Hope.

It is this same Hope that animates our community. Fired by an Ignatian spirituality that moves us to respond to Christ’s call to enter, serve, and labor in the world, the JVP contributes to the building of a just society that we hope for and envision. Last night, I met with the JVP Executive Committee and discussed with them my vision for the JVP and Five-Point Program of Action in line with the recently concluded strategic planning. While the program requires some thinking out of the box and a lot of work, I am glad that the Execom expressed support for it. I shall present this vision and program in the coming General Assembly or in my subsequent communications to the community. I hope you will express the same support and we shall join hands in working for the best interest of JVP.

In the end, and in fact, in the beginning and in between, what has often been said of JVP work and life is true: what is important is that one has loved - one’s self, neighbor, country, and God. God the Son entered the world and loved in the concrete. He healed, taught, and lived and worked among the people in the society of His time. Love always looks after the good of the beloved. And so we are impelled to help ourselves, to improve others’ lives, to form communities, and thus help develop our country. Our nation is in great need and while to some, it is already hopeless, JVP continues to hope and heed the call of love for country with the service it renders. Let us all help JVP help the country.

A little yeast works the whole dough. Hope even just a little and love much. Then in faith we shall say that the JVP is not only a partner of government in striving for our country’s authentic development, but a hand of God in building His Kingdom on earth.

In Christ,

Jo Maribojoc
Executive Director

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