Theo-ethical literacy on ‘social structures’: reading “water is life” and online news on Philippine Watersheds

Abstract

The paper aims for theo-ethical literacy on the concept of ‘social structures’ vis-à-vis the issue of water as intimated in the 2000 CBCP pastoral letter “Water Is Life”. The document will be ‘re-read’ using Daniel Daly’s reconfigured ‘social structure’. Alongside this theo-ethical re-reading, the paper will delve into online news on Philippine watersheds the past three (3) years, in particular on three (3) select river basins in the country representing Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and how ‘social structures’ are enmeshed in its public discourses. Select cases and its ethical presuppositions on ‘social structures’ will be considered through Daniel Daly’s distinction between virtuous and vicious structures.