VISA UPDATES: IS STAYING HERE GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE?

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In this video we talk about a new Immigration Advisory, Changes on the SRRV retirement visa and airline updates. 0:00 Airline Updates 2:47 Tourist Visa Fees 5:33 SRRV Changes All passengers bound for the Philippines must register to E-TRAVEL: https://etravel.gov.ph/ If you’re 50 years old or over and want a visa to stay long-term in the Philippines, go here: https://forms.gle/UtpidfyNVB6q1LrB6 Facebook Group:   / 16jp9sdepq   Foreign Tourists, except those covered by Balikbayan Privilege, may be required by airlines upon check in to show an onward/exit ticket or be denied boarding. You may rent a ticket here to satisfy this requirement for just $16: https://onwardticket.com/jennifer Send Money to the Philippines https://www.worldremit.com/en/downloa... $20 Voucher Code: JENNIFERTERRIH1 Some of the links above are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — thanks for supporting the channel. Hey there! I'm Jennifer Terri, your go-to gal for all things Philippine Travel News & Updates on YouTube since 2020. Facebook:   / jenniferterriupdates   Subscribe:    / jenniferterri   Support more through Paypal: https://www.paypal.me/jhodgson564 Email: Jenniferterricontact@gmail.com 

Our tendency to be impenitent

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

“THEN began he to upbraid the cities wherein were done the most of his miracles, for they had not done penance. ‘Woe to thee, Corozain, woe to thee, Bethsaida: for if in Tyre and Sidon had been wrought the miracles that have been wrought in you, they had long ago done penance in sackcloth and ashes.’” (Mt 11,20-21)

Thus lamented Christ over the people he had been giving a lot of favors. It’s a lament that continues to take place up to now, since we cannot deny that despite all the good things we have been having over the years, we still continue to be impenitent over our weaknesses, mistakes and sins.

While it’s a given that we cannot avoid sin, considering our wounded condition, it should also be given that we need to also have an abiding need for penance. Nowadays, it would look like while our sinfulness has become worse, our duty to do penance is practically neglected. 

The sense of sin is being aggressively undermined. And that’s simply because we are not anymore referring things to God. We are simply referring them to our own ideas. The clear distinction between good and evil is practically erased.

Our sense of penance is in crisis because our idea of what is good and evil is now reduced to our personal preferences, or at best to what can be termed as our social, political, cultural or even ideological consensus. Our legal system is often regarded as explicitly atheistic or agnostic, to free it from the so-called religious bias.

We need to make an effort, even a worldwide campaign, to boost our spirit of penance, explaining our dire necessity for it and the ineffable benefits we can derive from it.

The spirit of penance is not actually something that is dark, negative, painful, etc. It’s not something we should run away from. In fact, it’s not something that we should just bear and tolerate since we cannot avoid it. 

We need to embrace it, to love it, and thus, we have to develop that spirit as best that we can. It is actually something beautiful, since it is purifying and liberating. It recovers us from our wounded condition and reinforces our dignity as persons and children of God.

We need to develop and live this spirit of penance because it is clear that sin continues to dominate us in this life. In fact, it is quite clear that things are getting worse. There are now powerful and well-established structures of sin in our midst before which we are simply an easy prey.

The networks of corruption, pornography, godless and worldly ideologies, etc. are proliferating, taking advantage of the powerful technologies and the relative vulnerability of many people, especially the young ones, who are not yet prepared to properly handle these networks.

The virtue of penance should include the desire and practice of regular and frequent recourse to the sacrament of penance, where through the ministry of priests, Christ comes to us as father, friend, judge and doctor. This sacrament not only reconciles us with God, but also repairs whatever damage our sin would cause on others and the Church in general.

This virtue of penance also includes the desire and practice of continuing atonement and reparation. This can be done in many ways—exerting greater effort to pray, being more generous with our sacrifices and daily self-denials, especially in food, drink, and comfort. It can be done also by doing many corporal and spiritual works of mercy, etc.

The parable of the Good Samaritan

 

By Manila Bulletin

Published Jul 13, 2025 12:05 am

REFLECTIONS TODAY

Gospel • Luke 10:25-37

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him.

The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Who proves ‘neighbor’ to the victim?

In his encyclical Fratelli Tutti (“Brothers All”)—on Fraternity and Social Friendship—Pope Francis draws a parallelism from the various characters in Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan. The parable begins with the robbers who waylay a traveler, strips and beats him, and leaves him half-dead.

In our world today, they represent those who use violence, trickery, and lies in order to oppress, dominate, and exploit others for their own advantage. These robbers can come from fellow poor or the rich alike—like the petty thieves, pickpockets, terrorists, kidnappers, human traffickers, corrupt politicians, and unscrupulous capitalists—that is, anyone who enrich themselves at the expense of others. “We have seen, descending on our world, the dark shadows of neglect and violence in the service of petty interests of power, gain and division” (FT, 72).

The priest and the Levite see the victim, but pass on the opposite side. They surmise that the man is dead, and touching him may render them unclean. Pope Francis says that they are the “passersby” of our era, people afflicted with indifference or insensitivity, a great malady and sickness that separates people. Pope Francis notes: “There are many ways to pass by at a safe distance: we can retreat inwards, ignore others, or be indifferent to their plight. Or simply look elsewhere, as in some countries, or certain sectors of them, where contempt is shown for the poor and their culture, and one looks the other way, as if a development plan imported from without could edge them out. This is how some justify their indifference: the poor, whose pleas for help might touch their hearts, simply do not exist. The poor are beyond the scope of their interest” (FT, 73).

Thirdly, there is the Samaritan traveler, a “stranger” to the victim by reason of his ethnicity and religious affiliation. And yet, he is the one moved with compassion and attends to the wounded man. He is the one who proves neighbor to the robbers’ victim. Jesus then tells his questioner, a scholar of the Law, to go and do likewise.

Pope Francis writes that like St. Francis of Assisi, we can build a society based on harmony and love that transcend the barriers of geography and distance, and declares blessed all those who love their brother (FT, 1). He urges us to imitate the Good Samaritan: “In the face of so much pain and suffering, our only course is to imitate the Good Samaritan. Any other decision would make us either one of the robbers or one of those who walked by without showing compassion for the sufferings of the man on the roadside.

The parable shows us how a community can be rebuilt by men and women who identify with the vulnerability of others, who reject the creation of a society of exclusion, and act instead as neighbors, lifting up and rehabilitating the fallen for the sake of the common good” (FT, 67).

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025.” E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

Gilas Women face daunting task vs Aussies

 

Gilas Pilipinas' seemingly impossible mission in the FIBA Women's Asia Cup begins Sunday, July 13, when it collides with No. 2 Australia at the Shenzhen Sports Center in China.

By Mark Rey Montejo

Published Jul 12, 2025 02:49 pm

Up against taller and heftier Aussies, the Nationals need more than breaks of the game if they are to pull off an upset in their 4:30 p.m. clash in the event serving as a qualifier for the World Cup.

The Nationals are bracketed in Group B, which many branded as Group of Death as they take on the hot-shooting No. 9 Japanese squad on Monday and No. 54 Lebanon on Tuesday.

Before heading to the ultra-modern metropolis that links Hong Kong to China’s mainland, the Nationals saw action in Taiwan’s Jones Cup but had little success.

They finished a dismal fifth place with a 1-4 record.

Meanwhile, Group A features No. 4 China, No. 26 New Zealand, No. 14 South Korea and No. 57 Indonesia.

Veterans Jack Animam and Vanessa De Jesus should be extra sharp along with Naomi Panganiban, Sumayah Sugapong, Ella Fajardo, Angel Surada and Khate Castillo.

Other members of the team are the country’s emerging stars in Kacey Dela Rosa, Kent Pastrana, Louna Ozar, Yvette Villanueva, and Cielo Pagdulagan, who all played key roles in their respective schools in the collegiate ranks.

FASHION PULIS: Controversial couple

 

By Mike Lim

Published Jul 12, 2025 11:37 am

At A Glance

Given the lack of posts of them together on social media, netizens assumed they're done.

Audacious Man (AM) is more public than Pretty Woman (PW). But PW was thrown in the limelight when netizens realized she was with AM.

AM is controversial as he was involved in a quiet scandal. He was not directly involved in the issue, but his agreement with his parent organization was suddenly cut.

The move was costly for the organization but principle prevailed as rumors were bound to create doubt on AM and the others involved.

However, AM rose above the issue and moved on.

AM subsequently fell for Entrepreneur Lady (EL). As a result, their moves were watched and the attention was overwhelming.

AM was able to explore his other strengths during this relationship. Fans thought they were bound for the altar. That was not the case though as the young couple eventually moved on and stayed away from each other for good.

The aftermath was challenging for AM. The public sympathy was with EL and AM couldn’t do anything about it except rise above the controversy.

PW subsequently faced the same wrath when she and AM were seen together in public. Her quiet world was rocked and love sought payment with the hate for AM directed at her.

Time passed and soon they were no longer being linked to EL.

Sadly, a new issue is in the grapevine. Given the lack of posts of them together on social media, netizens assumed they’re done.

‘I'm kind of ashamed to be a celebrity. I don't understand wanting to read about other people's dirty laundry. I think celebrity is the biggest red herring society has ever pulled on itself.’ — Jude Law

Moving on

After Dashing Personality (DP) was involved in a high-profile relationship with Model Actress (MA), he did not take much time to find someone new.

Over many years, DP and MA were perceived as a novelty. The two came from diverse worlds.

DP was a private person who minded his own responsibilities and constituents. MA was a public personality as her face has graced many functions as well as various forms of media. MA was reliable in her roles, whether she’s the good girl or the scheming villain.

The years passed and seeing either in their respective events thrilled followers. Their presence sent the message that they had a solid relationship as they painted each other’s world. Seeing their worlds merge increased hopes they were bound for forever. No one loudly disagreed. Fans rooted for them. Time was not kind, as events exposed certain issues.

While MA was caught in controversy that she subsequently denied, DP stood by her. Risking his name and privacy, DP protected MA.

MA felt she was secure and perhaps hoped DP was the one for her. Then, followers noticed the absence of DP in significant events and trips of MA.

Followers dismissed his absence to his busy schedule. The absence went on and the logical conclusion was that DP was no longer interested in pursuing anything long-term with MA.

The grapevine was then abuzz with MA pursuing a businessman but nothing seemed serious. Corollary to this gossip is that DP has also moved on. He allegedly is with a new non-showbiz woman. Perhaps, DP already wanted a quieter and more private relationship this time.

‘Once you've lost your privacy, you realize you've lost an extremely valuable thing.’ — Billy Graham

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