A MISTAKEN BELIEF

 

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

Mistaken or irrational beliefs are truly mistaken or irrational because they fly in the face of reality. They set up expectations that are unrealistic, thus causing emotional upset when the expectations are not met. The more rigid the mistaken beliefs, the more emotional upset they produce.

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, 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. 

In order to give an “air of reality” to the defence of honest but mistaken belief, there must be: (1) evidence of lack of consent to the sexual acts; and (2) evidence that notwithstanding the actual refusal, the accused honestly but mistakenly believed that the complainant was consenting.

Chilly temperatures across the Philippines and a Tropical Wave near Mindanao

LPA nearing Mindanao, Bagyo Update 28th January 2024

Breaking the habit: Why ditching 'Filipino time' is crucial for success

BY RHOWEN DEL ROSARIO

While the Philippines may be known for its warm hospitality and delicious cuisine, it is also known for a prevalent cultural norm—the “Filipino time.”

Photo from Unsplash

The concept of Filipino time is when Filipinos tend to be consistently late for appointments, gatherings, and even work-related commitments.

This habit has become deeply ingrained in Filipino society, often seen as a "lighthearted cultural stereotype," rather than a serious issue.

Given this, as noted by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), there is a "critical need" for societal change in terms of time consciousness.

This is highlighted during the National Time Consciousness Week (NTCW) 2024, taking place from Jan. 1 to 7.

In response to this cultural norm, a social media user recently expressed her thoughts on the practice of "Filipino time" when people tend to arrive late or delay appointments without prior notice.

“Cancel me, block me, unfriend me all you want, but Filipino time is toxic. Not only does it cause inconvenience, but it's also a major disrespect to someone who values time,” the user said in a Facebook post.

"It is no longer a culture. In fact, it is not a culture. Accepting that it is a prevalent Filipino culture is merely a justification of Filipinos' indolence and incivility," the user added.

This cultural norm, according to many, also "hampers" productivity and efficiency in both personal and professional settings.

In a Facebook live session on Jan. 11, DOST-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Astronomical Publication and Planetarium Unit Chief Mario M. Raymundo sought to instill a "sense of responsibility" and "efficiency" in the younger generation.

This is to ensure they recognize the value of time in shaping a progressive and dynamic society.

"Time is important because it is the one thing we can never get back. Once it's gone, it's gone, and we can never get it back. This powerful message emphasizes the deep importance of time in our lives," Raymundo said.

According to him, time is a "powerful tool" for shaping individual and professional success. It also showcases professionalism, dedication, and discipline to complete tasks promptly and meet deadlines.

Embracing punctuality

“Let's shift from the saying that 'the Pinoy is always late' to 'Filipino time is always on time,” Thelma Cinco, officer-in-charge of DOST-PAGASA Office of the Deputy Administrator for Research and Development said.

While embracing punctuality can be challenging at first, the inconvenience it may bring to others can be even more daunting.

To properly embrace the habit of being on time, the department recommended taking a few steps.

Firstly, it highlighted that people should start by acknowledging the negative impact of tardiness on personal and professional relationships.

Understanding that being late can result in lost opportunities or strained connections can motivate individuals to make a change and build stronger relationships based on trust and reliability.

"It is helpful to set reminders and alarms to keep track of time commitments," it said.

Another important part is setting "realistic goals" and gradually adjusting one's schedule to allow for more time between activities. This can help ensure timeliness without feeling overwhelmed.

Moreover, it added that practicing effective time management techniques such as prioritizing tasks, breaking them down into smaller steps, and creating schedules or to-do lists can greatly improve punctuality.

Ahtisa Manalo ready to conquer the Miss Universe stage: 'I'm a lot stronger now'

BY ROBERT REQUINTINA

  

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AT A GLANCE

• In 2018, Ahtisa won first runner-up at Miss International. In 2020, She filed an application for Miss Universe Philippines but decided to withdraw at the last minute. 

Ahtisa Manalo (Instagram)

Former Miss International first runner-up Ahtisa Manalo has been appointed as the official delegate of Quezon Province for Miss Universe Philippines 2024. This time, she's ready to conquer the Miss Universe stage.

"When I joined Bb. Pilipinas in 2018, I was very young - 20. I didn't feel I could utilize the platform to explore my full potential. And now, at 26, I have many life experiences, and I've grown a lot. I feel like now I can utilize the platform very well," said Ahtisa during an interview for ABS-CBN on Saturday.

In 2018, Ahtisa won first runner-up at Miss International. In 2020, She filed an application for Miss Universe Philippines but decided to withdraw at the last minute. 

"I don't think I was ready then. I had a lot of growing to do. It felt like it was only two years after Bb. Pilipinas. I didn't think I had anything new to offer," she said.

Ahtisa, 26, she's ready for pageantry again.

"I feel like I'm a lot stronger now. I can handle many more things better, and I also feel like being an entrepreneur has helped me utilize my skills and see the potential that the Miss Universe Philippines platform has," she said. 

Ahtisa recalled she had joined pageants in Quezon in elementary school.

"I was born in Candelaria, Quezon. I grew up there most of my life. I spent 20 years of my life. I only left for Bb. Pilipinas. I started joining pageants when I was in fourth grade because I wanted to help my family by sending me to school. So they're the ones who've been sending me to school ever since I started kindergarten. 

"And I felt like I needed to help, and my pageant, then Little Miss Inverga, had one-year free tuition if you won, so I don't have anything to pay. So doon ako nagsimula mag-pageant because I saw the potential in helping my family and myself," she said.

Ahtisa emphasized the significance of having good communication skills for a beauty queen. 

"Communication skills are a big factor in being able to convey your thoughts. You don't need to speak a specific language and be fluent in one, but I think it is important to be able to make people understand what you mean," she said.

The beauty queen also discussed her advocacy. "I'm working with Alan Academy. It is an organization where we believe that the best way to empower children is through education and education, a holistic form of education that starts from a very young age, which teaches global citizenship, social skills, and an entrepreneurial mindset."

In 'Expats,' Nicole Kidman is happy to share the limelight Read Next

By Associated Press

January 28, 2024 10

In Nicole Kidman's new series "Expats," which premiered on Amazon Prime Video, she once again emotionally jumps off a cliff. At the center of "Expats" are three women, played by Kidman, Ji-young Yoo and Sarayu Blue, who are each expatriates living in Hong Kong. Their lives are all altered when the young son of Kidman's character, Margaret, goes missing.

Lulu Wang ( "The Farewell" ) directed and was the showrunner of the six-episode series, filmed on location in Hong Kong.

"When Nicole came to me, to make the series, I just felt like she was meeting me at the height of the success of 'The Farewell.' But people who know me from childhood know we were immigrants (from China)," Wang says. "I felt like the series had to represent that aspect of my life, like, yes, I'm an American expat in certain contexts, but in another context, I'm a Chinese immigrant. I wanted to really challenge this idea of a bubble that expats have."

An idea that Wang had was to make the fifth episode some 90 minutes and focus on the domestic workers, expats themselves and tasked with keeping other women's households running.

"Imagine you've just met Nicole Kidman and you're like, 'Hey, I've got this idea for an episode and you're in the background. What do you think about it?'" Wang laughs.

An executive producer, Kidman wasn't just receptive to Wang's thoughts and ideas — they spoke to a true career passion, championing others."What I want to do at this point in my life and career is support women like this and support the new visionaries and auteurs that are coming up and try to create paths for them," Kidman says.

"I had never worked with a writer's room before," Wang says. "It's a very sort of solitary task to write usually. Here it was a room of women, helping to develop the story."

One of those writers on the show was Janice Y. K. Lee, whose novel "The Expatriates" inspired the series.

"She was so not precious about the book. And the reason, honestly, I wanted her in the room was so that we couldn't mess things up and so that she would be involved in the process," Wang explains. "You can't get better research than having the person who experienced it and wrote it in the room.... We would always reference the book and quote it back to her, and she was always quite embarrassed."

In addition to the women in front of and behind the camera, Kidman is happy to share her spotlight with Brian Tee, who plays her husband."I'm so happy he's gotten the chance to do this and to act opposite him," she says, adding that, as on-screen spouses, they were bonded by trauma."We really helped each other. We were very much each other's best friend and support system. And because we're playing a married couple whose child is missing, we're doing that together," she says.

To go to those emotional places as Margaret "was harrowing at times," admits Kidman, who says she had to lose herself in the moment. "It's an exploration.... It's like, put me in the place, put me in the scene, and let's go off to the objective and whatever comes through will come through."