A lesson of obedience and humility

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

THAT’S what we can gather from the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Imagine Christ, the very son of God, submitting himself to some ritual when it would have been unnecessary for him.

Obviously, the child Jesus could be exempted from this law, and we can suppose that both Mary and Joseph would know this. Still, they proceeded to follow the law, giving us the precious lesson that like them, we should try to behave like any ordinary person, following the just laws and customs of the time and place, and choosing to forgo certain privileges that we may have. That’s humility in action.

That’s how we should behave. We may be quite privileged in life because of the many gifts and other endowments God and others may have given us, but we should never feel entitled to anything. Instead, our attitude toward these privileges should be one of willingness to serve more, doing a lot of good while passing unnoticed, and all for the glory of God and for the good of all.

It is something worth emulating, since this is a clear expression of humility, an indispensable virtue that would enable us to stick with God and his will and ways. We have to be most wary when we happen to enjoy some privileged positions or status in life because we tend to think that we deserve more entitlements. And not only would we expect them. We may even demand them for us. Without this humility, we in the end would separate ourselves from God.

Let’s be reminded that whatever privileges, favors and blessings we may enjoy in life are meant for us to strengthen our desire to serve God and others, and not to be served. But as it is, we should try to avoid them, since they tend only to spoil and corrupt us. Rather, we should try to follow what Christ himself once said—that we enter by the narrow gate instead of preferring the wide gate and the broad road that can only lead us to our destruction. (cfr. Mt 7,13-14)

This is also the example of Christ himself who, as St. Paul noted in one of his epistles, being God emptied himself to become man and went all the way to offering his life for all our sins. (cfr. Phil 2,7) This was also shown when Christ went ahead to pay temple tax when he obviously would have been exempted from it. (cfr. Mt 17,24-27) Seemingly impossible for us to do, we should just try our best to imitate that example, relying on God’s grace and on our all-out effort.

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord also reminds us that we have to give not only the best that we have to God first, but also everything that we have. We have to remember that our life ought to be spent as an offering. It has to be lived as a gift, because it is first of all a gift also from God to us. This is a fundamental attitude to develop toward our life, because absent that, we would have a gravely handicapped understanding of life, prone to all sorts of anomalies.

The feast of the Presentation of the Lord can also be considered as another epiphany, another manifestation of Christ as our savior. This time, the manifestation is done not to the three magi anymore, but to two characters, Simeon and Anna. 

The feast is a good reminder to all of us, Christian believers, that we have a duty to present Christ to everyone as he truly is to us—the pattern of our humanity and the savior of our humanity that has been damaged by sin.   

Class, work suspensions expand in Central Mindanao following earthquakes

 DISPLACED residents in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat receive food aid from the government. (DSWD-12)

By Keith Bacongco

Published Jan 29, 2026 04:55 pm

DAVAO CITY – As earthquakes continue to rock many parts of Central Mindanao, class and work suspensions have expanded to several municipalities and provinces outside of Sultan Kudarat province which has been experiencing a swarm of earthquakes totaling 2,264 as of 7 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 29.

Sultan Kudarat Gov. Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu ordered the suspension of classes and work in government offices in the coastal towns of Kalamansig, Lebak, and Palimbang following the magnitude-5.7 tremor that hit the province before dawn on Thursday.

Mangudadatu expanded the suspension of classes and work in the entire province following a magnitude-5.9 earthquake with epicenter 40 kilometers southwest of Kalamansig at 2:46 p.m. Wednesday and a shallow depth of four kilometers

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said both earthquakes were tectonic in origin.

“The provincial government assures the public that the situation is being closely monitored and managed with the highest level of readiness. All concerned offices are on heightened alert to safeguard the safety and welfare of our communities,” the governor said in a statement.

Kalamansig Mayor Ronan Eugene Garcia has ordered the preemptive evacuation of all residents in 10 coastal barangays of the municipality, citing the possible occurrence of a tsunami.

“These offshore seismic activities may result in strong ground shaking, aftershocks, sea disturbances, and possible tsunami events that may endanger lives, livelihoods, and properties,” he said in an executive order issued late Wednesday afternoon.

Following the earthquake on Wednesday, some towns in the neighboring provinces of Cotabato, South Cotabato, and Maguindanao del Sur that shares a boundary with Sultan Kudarat cancelled classes due to possible tsunami.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has not issued any advisory indicating an imminent tsunami but thousands of residents in most coastal barangays have evacuated to higher grounds following the Wednesday earthquake.

“Our latest advisory reminded the public to duck, cover, and hold, and, in addition, be mindful of the damages to structures, in case of a strong earthquake. Residents of coastal communities should be watchful of the natural signs of a local tsunami, and evacuate if any one of these signs is experienced,” Phivolcs said in a media advisory.

Phivolcs said that it is well within the mandate or discretion of local government units to decide on matters related to response actions, such as evacuation, based on the local assessment and their preparedness protocol.

As of 7 a.m. Thursday, Phivolcs recorded 2,264 earthquakes off Kalamansig since Jan. 19. It added that 677 of them were plotted by monitoring stations, of which 84 were felt. Recorded magnitude ranges from 1.3 to 5.9.

In neighboring South Cotabato, the local government units of Koronadal City and the municipalities of Surallah, Polomolok, Norala, Banga, Tboli, and Lake Sebu and General Santos City have suspended face-to-face classes as a precautionary measure against possible hazards due to the quakes also felt in the province.

Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua suspended work in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) agencies located in Cotabato City. Macacua, however, said work will continue for those involved in rescue, emergency, and health services, among other frontline offices.

Some of these class and work suspensions are until Saturday, Jan. 31.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Region 12 Disaster Response Management Division has activated its quick response teams, mobilizing personnel and resources to ensure the delivery of assistance to affected communities in the municipality of Kalamansig and neighboring towns.

DSWD-12 chief Loreto Cabaya Jr. said that as of Jan. 28, the earthquake has affected over 50,000 individuals in the towns of Kalamansig, Lebak, and Palimbang.

Cabaya said they have dispatched food aid for affected families, particularly those who are still in evacuation centers. He added further validation of affected communities is still ongoing. The DSWD has put up modular tents for affected families in evacuation centers in Kalamansig.

Viva artist Jacqueline Gulrajani to represent Tacloban province in Miss Universe Philippines 2026

By Robert Requintina

Published Jan 29, 2026 11:28 am

Miss Universe Philippines Tacloban has announced that Filipino-Indian Jacqueline Gulrajani has been chosen as the province's official representative in the prestigious national pageant later this year.

Miss Universe Philippines Tacloban 2026 Jacqueline Gulrajani

Jacqueline was welcomed by Mags Cue, Miss Universe Philippines Vice President for Global and National Search, and Rachelle Erica Chua Pineda, Local Director of Miss Universe Philippines Tacloban, during a media conference in Quezon City recently. The Viva artist said she is excited to meet her pageant sisters.

"I'm very excited to meet them. Last year, I had the opportunity to host the swimsuit competition backstage. I got to meet the girls. This year, I'm sure we will have a lot of amazing ladies with their specific advocacies. I cannot wait to meet them and learn from them," she said.

This is the first time Jacqueline is joining a national pageant, though she said she never really expected to compete in the Miss Universe Philippines contest. "I think things are just aligning this year. Now I understand that this platform is powerful. I really think this year is definitely it."

Asked how old she is, the beauty queen answered, "I feel very young."

Jacqueline also said she asked Viva Films for permission to join the competition "so there's no problem." She mentioned Miss Universe 2025 third runner-up as her favorite beauty queen.

A mentor, educator, host, and model, Jacqueline is the daughter of a saleslady and a businessman. Her mother had her at 18 and chose motherhood over college.

Growing up, Jacqueline learned at an early age the quiet cost women pay when access to education and representation is limited.

Born and raised in Tacloban, Jaqueline later moved to Manila after graduating from the University of the Philippines, with P10,000, a broken suitcase, and a borrowed place to stay.

Jacqueline applied for a one-day hiring role the next morning and worked her way from taking calls to leadership roles, mentoring emerging and senior leaders along the way.

Alongside her corporate career, she began modeling and hosting, building her name as Jacqy Raj while sharing beauty and skincare content to help young women make more informed choices.

These experiences shape Jacqueline’s advocacy today, grounded in a vision of a world where women are free to choose themselves through access to education.

Higherley provides access to education and skills, empowering people to build a living of their own. In Pen & Pearl, she writes stories that speak to readers as they heal their inner child.

Miss Universe Philippines Tacloban 2026 Jacqueline Gulrajani is flanked by Mags Cue (left), Miss Universe Philippines Vice President for Global and National Search, and Rachelle Erica Chua Pineda, the local director for Miss Universe Philippines.

Through Glow Up Diaries and her podcast, she shares her personal inner and outer glow-up journey, helping women feel safer, more informed, and more confident as they create their own paths.

“As Miss Universe Philippines Tacloban continues to rise, it stands as a testament to unity, vision, and unwavering dedication," said Rachelle. "Tacloban City moves forward with pride and confidence. Tacloban is ready. Tacloban will be seen."

PSEi suffers deepest retreat in months on disappointing GDP data

 

By James A. Loyola

Published Jan 29, 2026 05:03 pm

Philippine stocks suffered their steepest decline in months, tracking a selloff that erased more than two percent of the benchmark index’s value after government data showed economic growth stumbled to a near five-year low.

The disappointing gross domestic product (GDP) figures triggered a broad retreat across most sectors as investors reassessed the country’s recovery trajectory amid high interest rates and sluggish state spending.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index dropped 132.42 points, or 2.08 percent, to finish at 6,223.36 on Thursday, Jan. 29. While mining companies found a foothold on the back of rising bullion prices, the rally was insufficient to offset heavy losses in heavyweight banking and property stocks.

Market turnover was active, with 1.34 billion shares valued at ₱7.55 billion changing hands. Decliners dominated the session, outnumbering gainers 124 to 75, while 56 issues remained unchanged.

The selloff intensified after the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the economy expanded by just three percent in the fourth quarter of 2025, a deceleration from the 3.9 percent growth recorded in the preceding three-month period. For the full year, GDP growth averaged 4.4 percent.

Luis Limlingan, managing director at Regina Capital Development Corp., noted that the PSEi ended lower amid strong, broad-based selling pressure after the figures failed to meet market consensus.

He added that the softer growth data raised immediate concerns over the near-term economic outlook, prompting a shift toward risk-off positioning.

The equity market also faced headwinds from a weakening local currency as Japhet Tantiangco, research manager at Philstocks Financial, said the market was weighed down by the depreciation of the peso following the United States Federal Reserve’s decision to maintain its current policy rates. 

Michael Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., meanwhile, characterized the three percent fourth-quarter growth as the slowest pace since the first quarter of 2021.

Excluding the pandemic-induced contraction of 2020, the full-year performance represents the weakest expansion for the Philippines since 2011.

Ricafort attributed the slowdown to a combination of internal and external pressures, ranging from reduced government infrastructure spending amid heightened scrutiny of flood-control projects to adverse weather and geopolitical risks that have dampened global trade.

 

Strict monitoring vs Nipah virus ordered

President Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Health (DOH) to intensify its surveillance against the Nipah virus amid growing concerns over the disease. According to the WHO, Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic illness transmitted to people from animals. It can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly from person-to-person. Read more

In a related report, DOH spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said that they are tracking seasonal Nipah virus outbreaks in Bangladesh and India. No Nipah virus infections have been recorded in the country since 2014. Read more