Italian priest launches book sale project for 'Yolanda' victims

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines - Italian priest Peter Geremia, who has been serving communities here and surrounding towns since the '80s, will donate to victims of typhoon Yolanda through the proceeds from a new book on his humanitarian works in the country.

The book, “Seeking God’s Kingdom of Justice and Peace,” which Geremiah authored, focuses on his priestly experiences and reflections on his life since the 1986 People Power I revolution, and his missionary works in the province.

Two of Geremiah’s compatriot-colleagues in the Pontifical Missionary of Foreign Missions, Tulio Favalli and Fausto Tentorio, had been killed in 1984 and in 2011, respectively, in separate attacks in North Cotabato, while performing missionary works for impoverished Catholic communities.

Another colleague, Fr. Salvatorre Cardeza, was also gunned down in Zamboanga City in the early 1990s by suspected members of Abu Sayyaf extremists.

Geremia said he will not keep any amount from the sales of copies of his book priced at P250.

He said one of his objectives in embarking on the book sale project is to help generate public awareness on the need for community support to efforts by the government and private sectors in protecting the environment.

“Many are still unaware or are refusing to see the causes of increasing calamities. They remain in a state of denial,” Geremiah said.

He said what is equally alarming is the prevalence of continuing, massive profit-oriented ventures that “hurt the environment,” such as unwise exploitation of natural resources, causing imbalances in the ecology.