𝐁𝐃𝐏 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬, 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐬

The newly constructed development projects worth PhP20-M opened more opportunities to the residents of Barangay Bagong Silang and Coronobe in the municipality of Maragusan following the separate turn-over ceremony on March 10, 2022. 

These projects include concreting of farm-to-market roads, solar street lights, and the construction of a school building with three (3) classrooms funded under the Barangay Development Program (BDP) of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy congratulated the residents and said that the high-impact projects will provide better economic opportunities, and contribute significant mechanisms in achieving the goal for quality education for all learners. 

He also commended the collective efforts of the national and local government agencies as well as the troops of the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police for their unending support to end the insurgency. 

Mayor Maricel Colina-Vendiola gave thanks for bringing the government projects to the upland barangays as it drastically changed the lives of the people in the area. 

“The residents could now safely travel at night because of the solar street lights and have better access roads in transporting their farm produce to the town proper", Vendiola said. 

She also added that the school building is expected to benefit hundreds of students once face-to-face classes resume.

The BDP is a hallmark program of the NTF-ELCAC with the end goal of empowering former conflict-prone communities through development projects. In Davao de Oro, sixty-five (65) barangays have benefited from the aforementioned program which consists of infrastructure and livelihood projects.

Gracing the ceremony were Vice Mayor Cesar C. Colina, LTC Julius M Munar, Battalion Commander of 66th IB, RPSB Team Leader PMSg Leonilo B Vicere, and municipal and barangay officials. (Rheafe Hortizano -Provincial Information Office, Photos by Jonie Cadiz)

Mein jetziges Leben auf den Philippinen - my present life in the Philippines

 

Es ist einfach erklärt: als Rentner mit der Familie ist es wunderbar. Wir sind bereits seit 24 Jahren hier und  haben viele arbeitsreiche Jahre auf den Philippinen hinter uns. Ich arbeite gelegentlich immer noch etwas: wer rastet der rostet. Aber, wir leben in Frieden.

It's easy to explain: as pensioner with my family, it's wonderful. We have been here for 24 years now and got many busy years in the Philippines behind us. We still work occasionally. The one who rests rusts!!! And we live in peace!

Judging and being merciful

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

“BE merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged…For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” (Lk 9,36-38)

We need to process these words of Christ slowly if only to conform ourselves to them, something that given our human condition is most likely very difficult if not impossible for us to do.

More than processing them slowly, we first have to pray, asking for grace, for definitely the possibility of us following this divine indication can only take place if we have God’s grace. If we simply depend on our good intentions and best human effort, forget it! We can never give life to these words.

We have to understand that our ability to forgive and to judge properly can only take place when we are with God. For this we have to follow as closely as possible the example of Christ who, out of love for us and in spite of our grave sins, was and continues to be willing to bear our sins and to offer forgiveness.

We have to remember that if we truly have to be ‘another Christ’ as we ought to be, we have to know how to be merciful the way Christ, the fullness of God’s revelation to us, was and continues to be merciful to all of us.

And how was Christ merciful to all of us? First of all, being the son of God, he emptied himself to become man. That way, he already adapted himself to our wounded, sinful condition. He identified himself with us so that we would have a way to identify ourselves with him. He preached the truth about God and about ourselves. 

He gave preferential attention to the sick, that is, the sinners. He was always ready to forgive, his mercy and compassion having no limits—“not only seven times, but seventy times seven times.” (Mt 18,22) He taught about loving the enemy and living it. He did not mind all the insults and mockeries that were poured on him just to accomplish his mission of saving us.

And in the end, he assumed all our sins without committing sin by dying on the cross. In that way, he dealt death to all our sins, and with his resurrection he offered us a way for our own salvation and reconciliation with our Father God. He was thoroughly magnanimous.

And so, we just have to learn to forgive and move on. This is what we should do if ever we become a victim of some offense by someone. We should be quick to forgive and then move on, focused on doing what we are supposed to do. We should avoid getting stuck with the offense, wallowing in anguish, complaints and hatred, and keeping resentments, grudges and desires for revenge.

Let’s remember that all of us have sins that need to be forgiven also. And as Christ said it clearly, we can only be forgiven if we also forgive others. “If you will forgive men their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offenses,” he said. “But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you for your offenses.” (Mt 6,14-15)

We have to develop the proper attitude in this particular issue because, truth to tell, we cannot avoid being offended by others just as neither can we avoid offending others also. That’s part of our human condition here on earth.

* Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com