From mere curiosity to serious commitment

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

THINGS like this can happen in life. What may appear at first as something insignificant and casual may end up as something extraordinary and very special. This was the case of St. Andrew, the apostle, who was simply curious at where Christ was staying after St. John the Baptist referred to Christ as the “Lamb of God.” 

He ended up as an apostle who had to give up everything just to follow Christ most closely. And he eventually invited his brother, Peter, the unlikely person to be the head of the apostles, to be the first Pope to whom the “keys of heaven” were first given. (cfr. Jn 1,35-42)

It can even happen that what may appear first to be something against the things of God can provoke an instant conversion, just like the case of St. Paul who in the middle of his campaign against the early Christians heard the voice of Christ that led to his conversion.

The providence of God, the ways of God, can certainly work beyond what we can imagine and expect. It can adapt itself to the ways of men and can take advantage of whatever human condition and circumstance there is to execute his divine designs for us. As is said, God can write straight with crooked lines.

There have been many stories of unlikely characters who became saints or at least made significant transformations for the better in their lives. That was the case of St. Augustine, for example. 

Of course, there also have been unfortunate stories of men and women who started well but ended badly. This only shows that in our relationship with God, there is always the interplay of God’s grace and our freedom at play. It’s in how we use our freedom that would determine whether things would go north or south.

What we should draw from this observation is that every event, condition and circumstance of our life, whether considered humanly good or bad, can be a pathway to God if we only know how to deal with these situations properly, as shown to us by Christ himself.

Yes, Christ has shown us how to deal with any situation, whether we are at the peak of human glory and success, or at the abyss of the worst human misery imaginable. That is why we can never overemphasize the need for us to know and follow Christ who himself said that he is “the way, the truth and the life” for us.

Making Christ the center of our life, making him alive in our life through our prayer, studying his life and words, and having recourse to the sacraments, etc., should be the main concern that we should have. After all, he is the one who will enable us to make any situation in our life as a way to heaven, a means to achieve our sanctification which is the fullness and perfection of our humanity.

That is also something that we have to be more aware of. The fullness and perfection of our humanity is when we truly become God’s image and likeness, sharers of his divine life and nature, as he wants us to be. This truth of faith may sound too incredible to us, but that is just how it is. 

Let’s remember that we are not meant to understand everything about God and ourselves. What we are meant is to be guided by faith, hope and charity more than anything else.

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

 Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

REAL WINNER IN MMFF 2022

By: ReniMV Valenzuela

The character of a nation cannot be far from the kind of movie it produces, watches and rewards with accolades.

On New Year's Day, I watched the movie Family Matters with my family and we liked it very much as we enjoyed every bit of it. There was no dull moment. It has depth. Everyone in the theater seemed to be in perpetual anticipation of what will happen next, and how might the story end. There were a few laughs in between and sometimes tears in the eyes.

I seldom appreciate a movie for its overall quality, but this one, for me, takes the awards if the awards were to be given based on correct criteria. Though, in fairness to the other Metro Manila Film Festival entries, I haven't seen any one of them. But having said that, it's a huge, huge wonder why Family Matters didn't win a single award except for Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award, whatever that award means. Worse, its actors and actresses didn't even get to be nominated when they performed so well and I thought they had very good chances of winning the best acting and best supporting acting awards as they are all natural before the camera, including the children.

Family Matters can be likened to the 1975 movie, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. It was a light but poetic drama. There were no spectacular scenes and acting in the movie but it was aptly applauded in the Oscars as a runaway winner, having bagged 35 awards, including best picture, best actor and best actress.  The only difference is that Family Matters lost, and lost big, during the MMFF awards night.

It's curious. Could there be manipulation or corruption among the festival's organizers/people?

Family Matters is an excellent drama movie without being excessively dramatic. It has profoundness in its story and script, and in the manner it was directed. The movie is intentional in teaching moral lessons and imbibing good values to its viewers. It is a drama about a fairly big family to which every Filipino family today can relate.

I liked the portions wherein some scenes would have evolved to transform the movie into a heavy drama flick, but each one was prevented from making the heavy drama happen because everyone involved in the squabble/fracas knew how to forgive.

The movie is a rebuke to the children who are uncaring to their elderly parents, to the busy parents who are irresponsible, and to the modern youths who are addicted to gadgets. The plot's heavy drama is left in the imagination of the viewers. Watch well every scene, listen intently to the words of the characters and fathom the message - and thus it is expected that one would leave the movie house a better child, a better father, a better parent, a better husband and wife and a better grandchild.

Actor Noel Trinidad's words rang a bell when he collected the phones and gadgets of every member of his entire family for a three-day special family bonding occasion: "In order to connect, you have to disconnect."

You lost, Family Matters, but cheer up! You won big in much greater aspects/categories, and in Heaven's eyes. You are the real winner.

Congratulations!

renivalenzuelaletters@yahoo.com

MIND YOUR MIND!

As human beings, we’ve all indulged in some form of negative self-talk in the past. In most cases, these types of unhealthy thinking patterns usually stem from mistaken beliefs — core beliefs we learned while growing up and were taught to us by authority figures such as parents and teachers. They refer to our “life outlook” or “attitudes,” and are unfortunately at the root of much of our anxiety.

Feelings can either be helpful or unhelpful. Helpful feelings give direction - like a compass. Unhelpful feelings overwhelm and paralyze. Most unhelpful feelings are fueled by mistaken or irrational beliefs. In other words, mistaken beliefs turn irritation into rage, sadness into depression, and appropriate nervousness into panic.

A mistaken belief accompanies each and every one of us daily. Incorrect decisions and wrong doings are part of our daily life.

It is almost a ridiculous fact that man wants to know certain truths about mundane things. But really he seems least interested in even mundane truths as can be read many times in newspapers for example. There seem to be too many rash judgments, and the readers absorb these and make these their own. A fatal attraction!

This is sometimes referred to as journalistic mentality wherein accusations are generously made without proof. Evolution started this trend, when scientists stated for example that man evolved from the apes, BUT without proof. The only proof they had was the missing link, and if I am not mistaken, it's still a missing proof until now.

To look for proofs is a mental activity, which is no longer a common thing nowadays, because it takes really time, effort and is too serious to think about. Yet, in Christian education, thinking right is very important.That's why Philosophy is important in Christian life. To avoid error in thinking, the rules of right reasoning must be studied and mastered. Is it really totally neglected in today's modern education?

Thinking is actually an enjoyable activity but when one is pressured to get a good job for one's sustenance, then the other more mundane becomes attractive. After all, great thinkers often do not get (good?) jobs... .

Spiritual writers like the British Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) noticed that mankind had stopped thinking even two centuries ago. That was during his age. Man probably stopped thinking even earlier. He has ceased many times to search for the truth. It's easier to listen to gossip and believe in it. What a sign of weak minds!

Too often are we blind to the truth and as a consequence we easily believe in lies we only have to like it. Too bad, if people always like to close their eyes and ears especially while experiencing the delusion of error. Countering mistaken beliefs may take a lot of time, energy and hard work, but remember that they will increase your level of self-esteem as you learn to respect and believe in yourself. But mostly, they’ll reduce unnecessary pain and suffering.

Bong Go seeks heightened monitoring of border control amid China’s COVID-19 surge

Published January 4, 2023, 9:24 AM

by Hannah Torregoza, MB

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has called on the government to strengthen its monitoring system in the country’s borders as more travelers coming from China raises concerns of a surge in more COVID-19 cases. 

“Secure our borders. Intensify our monitoring. Review our current protocols especially from incoming travelers from China because it has been reported that COVID-19 cases there are increasing and they are having lockdowns,” Go said in Filipino during an ambush interview in Misamis Oriental on Monday, January 2.

Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, likewise, urged the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) to review and strengthen COVID-19 guidelines in order to prevent the Philippines from being impacted by the surge of COVID-19 cases in China.

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“Reviewing the guidelines should be a daily basis so that not one positive for COVID can get through because it’s difficult to start all over again,” Go said.

“It is very difficult to put to waste what we worked hard for. We have come a long way in our COVID response and we don’t want to go back to what was done before, strictly imposing lockdowns. Many of our countrymen will lose their jobs again,” he added.

As far as he is concerned, the senator said Filipinos should not relax their vigilance as long as COVID-19 is still present. 

“It’s important for us to balance everything. While COVID is still here, it is still dangerous,” he said.

Go reiterated his call for people who are still unvaccinated to get jabbed and those who are eligible for boosters to get themselves boosted, stressing these are essential for combatting COVID-19.

“Vaccination is the only key or solution so that we can gradually return to our normal lives and have herd immunity. When we are vaccinated, we are more protected,” he stressed.

Local tourists spend long New Year weekend in Tanay, Rizal’s famous falls

by Nel Andrade

Tanay, Rizal’s famous water falls, the Daranak Falls, was filled with local tourists during the long New Year weekend.

Tourists, mostly coming from Metro Manila, spent the first and second day of the New Year by dipping into the refreshing water of Daranak Falls, one of the famous attractions in Tanay.

Most of the guests at the Daranak Falls were families amnd groups of friends who opted to spend the first long weekend of the year in Tanay.

Daranak Falls, which is managed and maintained by the Tanay Municipal Government, records hundreds of visitors during weekends and holidays.

Joicee Gapido of the office of Tanay Mayor Rafael “Lito” Tanjuatco told the Manila Bulletin that the local government has enough local government personnel, including life guards, to ensure the safety of the visitors going to the town’s tourist spots.

Parking attendants are also deployed to assist motorists.

Aside from Daranak Falls, other places worth visiting in Tanay are some upland resorts and restaurants which offer a scenic view of Rizal’s portion of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range.

Last December, at least three tourists spots in Tanay were recognized by the Department of Tourism-Region 4-A Office — the Tanay Highlands, for being a finalist and official nominee for Customer Service Excellence Award for Food and Beverage; Best Casual Dining Experience Innovation Award and Sustainability Award; and Pico De Pino Café and Restaurant as the People’s Choice Award for Restaurant during the 3rd Calabarzon Tourism Excellence Awards ceremony.

Tanay upland scenic spots and tourist destinations can be reached from Metro Manila by private vehicles via Ortigas Avenue by traversing the Antipolo City proper route towards the Sampaloc, Tanay Road.

Commuters can ride the tricycle from Tanay’s town proper or they can ride the jeepney at the town’s transport terminal in going to Daranak Road or Barangay Sampaloc.

Air traffic mess: Ex-CAAP chief points to ‘unqualified’ personnel

By 

Catalina Ricci S. Madarang 

TECHNICAL GLITCH. Passengers at NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City queue at the check-in counter as it resumes its operation after Air Traffic Management Center of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines experienced a technical issue on Sunday (Jan. 1, 2023) However, on the official website of the Manila International Airport Authority, there are still international and domestic flights that have been canceled on Monday. (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)

A former executive of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines blamed unqualified authorities for the air traffic mess last Sunday.

In an interview with DZRH, former CAAP Director General Daniel Dimagiba bared that the current management within CAAP lacked experts in the field of air navigation. 

Dimagiba recalled that such a muddle within the organization started when the Department of Transportation acquired CAAP’s projects.

“Nung naging DOTr ang DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communications), lahat ng project ng CAAP, kinuha ng DOTr. Kaya wala silang espesyalista sa navigation. Meron silang civil engineer, mechanical engineer, electrical engineer, but wala silang navigation engineer, 

“Ang inuna kasi ng DOTr, puro ano e. Build, Build, Build. Buildings, Buildings. Yan ang inuna nila. Sa navigation, pinabayaan nila,” the former official also stated.

The “Build, Build, Build” is the main infrastructure project of the previous administration.

Dimagiba further described supposed “consultants” of the transport sector as “walang indoctrination,” or sufficient training, in aviation.

“Wala silang indoctrination. Indoctrination ng airworthiness, operations, license in engineering and aircraft accident. Kami pa nagtuturo sa mga consultant. Baligtad,” he said.

Dimagiba requested Malacañang to hire people who are qualified in the field to resolve the prevailing air transport issues.

“Sana ang higher up natin, ang Malacañang, maglagay naman ng qualified. Hindi basta kakilala, ilalagay mo. Ang nangyayari ngayon, puro kakilala ang nilalagay e,” he said.

How Filipinos reacted online

Several users sounded off their frustrations over the alleged nepotism and corruption even within the aviation sector.

“This is a typical problem in most agencies that require highly trained and experienced personnel. Positions are being handed out to ‘people’ of political allies and friends without regard to their qualifications, starting at the top,” one Redditor said.

“This is beyond infuriating as CAAP is endangering thousands of flight passengers because of its incompetence and greed. Is there still any government office doing its job honestly and properly?!” another Redditor said.

Other Filipinos also called for the government to investigate into these allegations within CAAP, DOTr and other related agencies.

On upgrading new equipment

In the same interview, Dimagiba said he received a report from a former air traffic controller that CAAP supposedly did not consider the request to upgrade the memory card of its systems.

He noted that this memory card holds the necessary data to keep up with the current air travel operations.

“May nagreport sakin na air traffic controller, retired… May pinabibili ang controller ng memory card sa head ng CAAP. Hindi iniintindi, hindi binili. Yung memory card na yun, andoon lahat ng system para mai-deliver sa mga airline,” Dimagiba said.

“Yung lumang ginagamit pa natin, hindi na suitable para sa new operations. Kasi marami ng flights ngayon e,” he added.

The former CAAP executive also said that he received another report claiming a piece of equipment with a huge budget did not materialize.

“Meron pang isa. May nagsumbong pa sakin. Na yung navigation communication parallel system, naka-budget ng ilang million. Hindi daw nabili. Ewan ko… kung nasunog ang pera, di malaman,” Dimagiba said.

Current CAAP Director General Manuel Tamayo said in a previous briefing that the technology it is using is “outdated.”

“Now, our CNS/ATM (Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Systems for Air Traffic Management) was conceptualized way back in the late 90s’, naumpisahan ‘to I think 2010, and finally, it was completed in 2018.  So medyo — as far as the technology is concerned — it is already outdated,” Tamayo was quoted in a report.

The former head, however, reacted with disbelief at this admission.

“Kalokohan yun. Ang radar natin perfect. Meron tayong primary, meron tayong secondary radar. Lahat yan perfect yan. Mga technician natin, mag engineers natin, okay yan. Highly trained yan. Highly professional,” Dimagiba said.