Pray simply and from the heart

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

THAT’S what Christ practically told his disciples as to how to pray. “When you are praying, speak not much, as the heathens. For they think that in their much speaking they may be heard,” he said. He then continued: “Be not you therefore be like to them, for your Father knows what is needful for you, before you ask him.” (Mt 6,7-8) And he concluded by saying the Lord’s Prayer or the Our Father.

This prayer is the model prayer because, first of all, it came directly from Christ who can rightly be regarded as the master and model of prayer since he gives us what the Father gave him. And as the Word made flesh and as our Savior, he knows our needs and teaches us how to express them. He is the perfect link, perfect mediator between God and man.

This prayer is the model prayer also because it gathers the whole Christian Gospel into a simple form. It is the summary of the whole gospel, reflecting the heart of Christianity that shows us who God is and how we, as God’s children, should respond.

It also teaches us what to desire and in what order, showing us how our priorities should be with respect to what we have to ask God our Father. In other words, it orders our desires. It also trains us to pray as God’s children, and not just as isolated individuals. Thus, it is considered as the prayer of the whole Church.

This prayer is also considered as the model prayer because it is ordered toward God’s glory and God’s will. It includes the duty to ask for forgiveness for our sins as well as to extend mercy to those who may have done us wrong.

More than that, this prayer asks for deliverance from the real spiritual dangers we face in this life. In this prayer, we ask for protection even as we are encouraged to be vigilant and confident of God’s ever-ready help.

But more importantly, Christ tells us that our prayer should be trustful, God-centered and morally transformative, and not just performative or merely wordy. He warns us against “heaping up empty phrases” and “vain repetitions,” since prayer is not persuasion-by-volume, but rather is humble asking.

We have to understand that to pray properly means that God already knows our needs. It is not about informing God about what we need. It is rather turning our heart to him, showing how our relationship with him should be one of dependence on a Father who already knows our needs and cares for us.

Our prayer should have as an effect a certain conversion of heart and not just some vague feeling of being spiritual. It should lead us to acknowledge our sinfulness and our sins and should lead us to desire for reconciliation and change of ways.

We should therefore realize how important it is for us to know how to pray properly, since it is our way of uniting ourselves with God, our Creator and Father, with whom we are supposed to be always, since our life, as an image and likeness of God, is meant to be a shared life with God.

Praying is to our spiritual life what breathing and the beating of the heart are to our biological life. That is why St. Paul clearly said, “Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thes 5,17-18)

When we manage to truly pray, we can also manage to protect ourselves from all kinds of evil, and to heal whatever wounds and weaknesses we may have because of our sins. A sense of holy invulnerability can come to us. 

Valdez upbeat despite Alas loss

 

By Mark Rey Montejo

Published Jun 15, 2026 03:44 pm

At A Glance

• Veteran Alyssa Valdez, the face of the sport for more than a decade already, was holding back her tears while answering the question on why she took the challenge to lead Alas Pilipinas' campaign in the just-concluded 2026 AVC Women's Volleyball Cup in Candon City.

Veteran Alyssa Valdez, the face of the sport for more than a decade already, was holding back her tears while answering the question on why she took the challenge to lead Alas Pilipinas’ campaign in the just-concluded 2026 AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup in Candon City.

“I’ve been asking myself bakit ko ginawa itong decision na ito sa volleyball career ko, and I think na actually lumabas was kung ano ‘yong love no’ng bata ako sa volleyball hanggang ngayon ‘yon pa rin ‘yong love ko sa pag-represent sa bansa,” said Valdez.

Her simple answer gained not only admiration but also much love and respect from men and women who chronicled the event for more than a week.

“So, sarap sa pakiramdam, pero… hindi man naging maganda ‘yong resulta pero para sa mga bata magtuloy-tuloy talaga ‘yong fire nila to represent the country,” she added moments after the Philippines settled for eight overall in the continental joust following its 21-25, 12-25, 21-25 loss to Iran.

With the young and brightest opting not to join the PH squad, perhaps due to leadership squabble, Valdez and other veterans like Jovelyn Gonzaga, Ces Molina, Ara Galang, and Royse Tubino stepped up on the plate for the love and pride of serving the country though they are no longer as quick and strong as before.

It is their hope that the young members of the team – Alyssa Solomon, Thea Gagate, and Niña Ytang – will never get tired wearing the tricolors and play with passion and fire.

She also urged other rising stars to stay focused, dream big and not be affected by the outside noise that put the volleyball association in a bad light of late – again.

“Para sa bawat atletang patuloy na nangangarap – lalo na sa mga kabataang nagsisimula pa lang, padayon tayo,” Valdez wrote on her social media post. 

“Sana hindi kayo mapagod, matakot, o sumuko sa pangarap n’yong magrepresent ng bansa sa kabila ng ingay at gulo sa paligid,” she added.

Valdez, a former Ateneo standout and longtime star of the Creamline Cool Smashers, also called for clarity amid the issues surrounding the path of the country's volleyball body, expressing hope for "leadership in all its forms" for betterment of the next generation.

“At a time like this, what the sport needs is not more division, but leadership in all its forms. Leadership that listens. Leadership that puts the welfare of athletes first. For the sports community, for the fans, for the country,” Valdez continued.

“Pero ngayon, higit kailanman, kailangan natin ang suporta ng volleyball community. Ngayon, hindi man pare-pareho ang paraan, ang mahalaga ay iisa ang hangarin – isang mas maayos, patas, at mas matatag na sistema para sa susunod na henerasyon ng atletang Pilipino,” she concluded. “Maraming salamat sa patuloy na naniniwala at magtitiwala.”

Crown Material PH's Choices: Best in Runway – Reyna ng Davao 2026

 

Crown Material PH's Choices: Best in Runway – Reyna ng Davao 2026

The 20 Reynas lit up the stage in vibrant cocktail dresses inspired by the colors of the beautiful rainbow community. This was undoubtedly one of the toughest categories for us to judge, as almost everyone delivered and brought their own unique energy to the runway.

Our rankings were based primarily on runway skills, while also taking into consideration the overall look, confidence, and stage presence of each candidate.

After much deliberation, here are Crown Material PH's Top 5 Best in Runway:

Reyna No. 18 – Ahriana (Cabantian)

Reyna No. 6 – Elle (76-A Bucana)

Reyna No. 9 – Eugene (Buhangin)

4th Place – Reyna No. 5 – Ani (Talomo)

5th Place – Reyna No. 12 – Micah (Barangay Gov. Duterte)

Congratulations to all the Reynas for delivering a colorful, exciting, and highly competitive runway competition!

Anne Curtis, Kim Chiu, Paulo Avelino lead Filipino nominees at Seoul International Drama Awards 2026

By Jonathan Hicap

Published Jun 15, 2026 05:05 pm

Filipino stars are once again making their mark on the international stage as several local actors earned nominations at the 2026 Seoul International Drama Awards (SDA), one of Asia's most prestigious television awards events.

Among the biggest Filipino names nominated for the Outstanding Asian Star category are Anne Curtis, Paulo Avelino, Kim Chiu, Dingdong Dantes, Joshua Garcia, Gerald Anderson, Carlo Aquino, Angelica Panganiban, Bela Padilla, and Shaina Magdayao.

The nominations come as the SDA announced a record-breaking year, receiving 352 drama entries from 46 countries and regions—the highest number of submissions in the festival's history. The figure surpassed the previous record of 346 entries set in 2024 and is significantly higher than last year's 276 submissions.   

For Filipino fans, the spotlight is now on the Outstanding Asian Star voting, which officially opened on June 15 and will run until July 14 through the IdolChamp app.

A total of 23 Filipino actors and actresses are competing in the category, representing some of the country's most talked-about television projects.

The Philippine nominees are:

• Paulo Avelino ("The Alibi")
• Kim Chiu ("The Alibi")
• Anne Curtis ("It's Okay To Not Be Okay")
• Carlo Aquino ("It's Okay To Not Be Okay")
• Joshua Garcia ("Love Is Never Gone," "It's Okay To Not Be Okay")
• Dingdong Dantes ("The Master Cutter")
• Gerald Anderson ("Sins of the Father," "Blood vs Duty")
• Angelica Panganiban ("The Silent Noise")
• Bela Padilla ("Blood vs Duty")
• Shaina Magdayao ("Sins of the Father")
• Charlie Dizon ("What Lies Beneath")
• Kaila Estrada ("What Lies Beneath")
• JM De Guzman ("What Lies Beneath")
• Jake Cuenca ("What Lies Beneath")
• Ivana Alawi ("Love Is Never Gone")
• Zanjoe Marudo ("The Silent Noise")
• Amy Austria ("The First Vote")
• Anton Vinzon ("The Fist")
• Katrina Halili ("The Fist")
• Roi Vinzon ("The Fist")
• Max Collins ("The Master Cutter")
• JM Ibarra ("Ghosting")
• Sofia "Fyang" Smith ("Ghosting")

(Clockwise from top left) Doh Kyung-soo, Anne Curtis, Win Metawin Opasiamkajorn, Dilraba Dilmurat, Kazuya Kamenashi and Jisoo (Photos from SDA)

The Outstanding Asian Star award recognizes performers who have made a significant impact in six participating territories: the Philippines, South Korea, China, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand.

Meanwhile, South Korea's nominees include some of the biggest names in Hallyu today, including Jun Ji-hyun, Gang Dong-won, Kim Seon-ho, Go Youn-jung, Ji Chang-wook, Doh Kyung-soo, Kim Woo-bin, Suzy, Lim Yoon-a, Park Bo-young, and BLACKPINK member Jisoo.

Thailand is also strongly represented with nominees such as Win Metawin, Gemini Norawit, Milk Pansa Vosbein, Love Pattranite Limpatiyakorn, Namtan Tipnaree, Film Rachanun, and Rebecca Patricia Armstrong.

Beyond the fan-voted categories, this year's Seoul International Drama Awards showcases productions from across Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, Oceania, and Africa. Organizers also noted a growing number of short-form drama submissions and increased participation from African countries, with Algeria, Rwanda, and Togo joining the competition for the first time.

The 21st Seoul International Drama Awards will be held on Oct. 8 at KBS Hall in Seoul, with the official list of nominees for the international competition expected to be announced later.

From The People Of Davao City!

In times of need, Davao City never fails to rise to the occasion. It consistently extends its help to those affected by hardship, reaching beyond its own borders to bring hope, relief, and compassion to fellow Filipinos. This is the true spirit of unity and service.

#DavaoCity #fromthepeopleofdavaocity #ProudDabawenyo #PrayForMindanao #lindol

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Remittances drop to 11-month low as global inflation pinches overseas Filipinos

By Derco Rosal

Published Jun 15, 2026 12:05 pm

Money sent home by overseas Filipinos (OFs) fell to $2.72 billion in April, dropping from the $2.87 billion recorded in March to hit its lowest level since May last year, as tighter budgets constrained cash transfers.

According to the latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) released on Monday, June 15, cash remittances in April emerged as the lowest in nearly a year, since hitting $2.66 billion in May 2025. Despite the month-on-month decline, cash remittances increased by 2 percent compared to the $2.66 billion recorded in April last year.

During the month, land-based workers contributed $2.12 billion to the total, a 2.1 percent year-on-year increase, while sea-based workers brought in $590 million, up 1.9 percent. The BSP noted that cash remittances in April remained resilient “amid prevailing global economic conditions.”

Meanwhile, Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion, chief economist at the Union Bank of the Philippines, said the softer April inflows were due to cautious cash transfers driven by “tighter budgets” among overseas workers facing global uncertainty. Asuncion added that news about the looming signing of a peace deal between the US and Iran “could help stabilize employment prospects and support remittance flows from the region, reducing downside risks in the near term.”

“Overall, remittances should remain resilient, but growth is likely to stay modest as elevated inflation continues to constrain both senders and recipients,” Asuncion said.

For SM Investments Corp. Group economist Robert Dan Roces, the month-on-month easing could not necessarily be attributed to the Middle East conflict, as it typically points to seasonality or changes in deployment and transfers.

“One month of softer remittances is usually more about timing effects, seasonality, or fluctuations in deployment and transfers rather than a direct impact from the Middle East conflict,” Roces said, adding that it is too hasty to link a single month’s data to the war. “If anything, the bigger concern is whether a prolonged conflict starts affecting employment, incomes, or the mobility of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the region.”

Personal remittances—a broader category that includes informal channels and in-kind transfers—reached $3.04 billion during the month, up 2.1 percent from $2.97 billion in the same month last year.

From January to April, cash remittances increased by 2.6 percent to $11.40 billion from $11.11 billion in the same period last year. This year-to-date figure follows a record-breaking performance in 2025, when annual cash inflows reached an all-time high of $35.63 billion.

During the first four months of 2026, the United States (US) remained the primary source of cash remittances, accounting for 39.7 percent of the total. This was followed by Singapore at 7.3 percent, Saudi Arabia at 6.4 percent, Japan at 5.1 percent, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at 4.6 percent.

Cumulative personal remittances for the first four months reached $12.70 billion, a 2.7 percent increase from the $12.37 billion recorded a year earlier.

According to the BSP, the US’s dominance as a source is partly due to the common practice of remittance centers abroad routing funds through US-based correspondent banks. Additionally, several money couriers are headquartered in the US, leading banks to attribute the origin of funds to the most immediate source rather than the actual country where the worker is located.

Cash remittances, which serve as a major economic growth engine, accounted for 7.4 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2026. They accounted for 7.3 percent of GDP in 2025, a slight decline from 7.5 percent in 2024 and 7.7 percent in 2023.

For the full year of 2026, the BSP forecasts cash remittances to reach $36.7 billion, representing a 3 percent growth rate from the actual 2025 figure. However, this expansion is expected to ease from the