When faith shouts louder

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

BLINDNESS is not always a matter of the eyes. A person may enjoy perfect

vision yet fail to recognize what truly matters. We can become so absorbed in our plans,

worries, ambitions, and routines that we no longer notice the presence of God quietly

passing through our ordinary day.

That is why the story of the blind beggar near Jericho remains so relevant. It

reminds us that the greatest sight we can ever receive is the grace to recognize Christ

and to follow him with confidence wherever he leads.

The Gospel for Monday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time (Lk. 18:35-43)

presents a man who possessed very little in terms of material wealth. He depended on

the kindness of others, yet he had something many around him lacked. He knew who

Jesus was and believed that only he could truly change his life.

When he heard that Jesus was passing by, he refused to remain silent. He cried

out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Those words were more than an

emotional plea. They were a sincere profession of faith in the promised Messiah.

Though unable to see with his eyes, he recognized with his heart the One whom

many with perfect eyesight failed to recognize. Spiritual vision often comes before

physical sight. A humble and believing heart sees what pride and self-sufficiency can

easily miss.

The crowd tried to silence him. They saw him as a nuisance, someone unworthy

of attention. But instead of giving up, he shouted even louder. His persistence teaches

us one of the greatest lessons about prayer.

Real prayer does not disappear when God seems silent or when obstacles arise.

It perseveres because it trusts that the Lord hears every sincere cry. Genuine prayer is

less about forcing God's hand than about refusing to stop trusting his love.

Many of us become discouraged after a few unanswered prayers. We may think

that God is no longer listening or that our concerns are too small. Yet the Gospel

encourages us to continue asking, seeking, and knocking with patient confidence.

When Jesus stopped and asked, "What do you want me to do for you?" the blind

man answered simply, "Lord, let me receive my sight." He knew exactly what he

needed. Prayer becomes powerful when we approach God with honesty, humility, and

trust.

Jesus answered, "Receive your sight; your faith has saved you." The miracle was

not magic but the fruit of a living encounter with Christ. Faith opens the heart to God's

transforming grace and removes the barriers created by fear, doubt, and self-reliance.

The healing immediately changed the man's life. He did not simply enjoy his

restored vision and return to his old routine. The Gospel tells us that he followed Jesus,

glorifying God. That is the true purpose of every grace we receive.

An authentic encounter with Christ always leads to discipleship. God's gifts are

never meant to end with ourselves. They are invitations to love him more faithfully, serve

others more generously, and become living witnesses to his goodness.

The people who witnessed the miracle also gave praise to God. Faith has a quiet

but powerful way of spreading from one heart to another. A transformed life often

becomes the strongest testimony to the presence and action of Christ.

The blind beggar's story is also ours. We all carry areas of blindness and

moments of discouragement. Yet if we recognize Christ with the eyes of faith, persevere

in prayer, and faithfully follow him once he answers us, our lives too will become a joyful

witness of gratitude, hope, and enduring discipleship.

LIFE IS TOUGH...

LIFE IS TOUGH...

by Klaus Döring

,.. whether you are dealing with daily pressures, unexpected setbacks, or emotional exhaustion.

Everyone faces moments where the path feels steep, the elements work against them, or things do not go as planned. strength does not always look loud or triumphant; often, it is just the quiet, stubborn choice to keep going one day at a time.

 It is okay to pause: Rest, breathing room, and processing heavy emotions are necessary parts of the process rather than signs of failure.

When the whole picture feels too big, focus only on the next immediate hour or single task.
Drop the extra pressure: Carrying unrealistic expectations of perfection or trying to handle everything alone makes simple moments feel twice as hard.

Leaning on trusted friends, family, or support systems helps lighten the load without shame. Life is undeniably tough, but you are tougher. It is perfectly okay to feel overwhelmed by the weight of everyday challenges. When things get heavy, try to focus solely on what you can control—your daily habits, your reactions, and how you treat yourself.

Ever since I could read I have been obsessed with the power of words, and it’s words that invariably turn things around for me when life gets tough.

Life is full of ups and downs. It's okay to find yourself feeling frustrated and lost when you're going through some hard times. Accept whatever negativity you have to face, and choose to face them with a positive attitude.

Life can be tough, and it's not your fault. Despite what many people might say, you are not responsible for the challenges that come your way. There are many factors that contribute to the difficulties we face in life, and it's important to recognize that they are not always within our control.

When you make your way through tough times, you'll become stronger and more successful in life. That's why the phrase “what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger” really does ring true. The wisest and most well-rounded people you meet are usually those who have gone through tough times themselves.

Putting yourself through hard things, and holding yourself accountable will automatically build discipline and mental strength. You will be so locked in, and disciplined, that exercise will be an essential part of your day. Because of that, you will become stronger and in better shape than you've ever been in.

“In this life, people will love you and people will hate you and none of that will have anything to do with you.” — Abraham Hicks

So important to remember when life gets tough.

Every time I speak at a public event, give an opinion at a meeting, go to a networking event, or just meet new people, I think of this quote.

At the end of the day, what other people think doesn’t matter as much as we think it does.

Haters gonna hate, likers gonna like, and life goes on.

There were some tough days, there were some good days, but you have to just keep going, keep dreaming, and keep believing.

Buddha’s famous saying tells us: “It is your resistance to ‘what is’ that causes your suffering.” Think about that for a minute. It means that our suffering only occurs when we resist how things are. If you can change something, then take action! Change it! But if you can’t change it, then you have two choices: (1) either accept it and let go of the negativity, or (2) make yourself miserable by obsessing over it.

+++

Questions, comments or suggestions? Email me: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook  or LinkedIn or visit one of my websites www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com.or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.

Philippines faces difficult mix of high inflation, sluggish growth — BSP

 

Alyana Uy - Philstar.com

November 12, 2026 | 11:07am

MANILA, Philippines — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is focusing on the “second-round effects” of global supply shocks and the risk of eroding public trust as the country faces “a difficult combination” of rising inflation and sluggish growth.

The BSP said on Wednesday, November 12, that it is also considering weak aggregate demand as it works to bring inflation down. It added that restoring price stability and purchasing power is crucial to rebuilding public confidence in the central bank and the economy.

"Signs of improvement would include easing inflation, more stable inflation expectations, stronger business and consumer confidence, and a recovery in investment and employment," the central bank said.

Intending to bring inflation back to its 3% target by 2028, the BSP has raised its benchmark interest rate by 125 basis points in 2026 alone, with a "jumbo" 50-basis-point hike implemented in October.

Inflation for the same month was recorded at a three-year high of 7.8%, driven by high energy and transport costs. Economic growth, meanwhile, weakened to 2.1% in the third quarter of 2026.

he BSP will convene for its final Monetary Board meeting on December 17 and release its last monetary policy report on December 23.  

Manila Bulletin Morning

 

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The Philippines should consider imposing an initial carbon charge on fossil fuels, electricity, and selected industries while preparing a mandatory emissions trading system, according to a new United Nations (UN)-backed policy paper that also called for safeguards to protect consumers from higher energy costs. Read more

Increased Malampaya gas use helps cut power generation costs, lower electricity bills

Natural gas production from new Malampaya gas field

Prime Energy President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Donnabel Kuizon Cruz told reporters on Thursday, Nov. 12, that a 17-percent increase in average Malampaya gas utilization has helped bring down generation costs for gas-fired power plants. Read more

 

ASEAN priorities: oil, food prices, regional security — PBBM

President Marcos Jr. (Facebook)

President Marcos Jr. wants the Philippines to prioritize oil and food prices, security, agriculture, jobs, and livelihoods during the 49th ASEAN Summit. He said regional challenges, including rising oil prices and the approaching El Niño, require coordinated action among ASEAN member states. Read more

3-Stufen-Plan: Zuckersteuer trifft Spezi und Limo – so teuer wird es im Supermarkt

 

Stand:

12.11.2026, 15:10 Uhr

Von: Sven Trautwein

Die Zuckersteuer ist vom Kabinett beschlossen – kommt aber erst 2028. (Symbolbild) © Sven Hoppe/dpa

Die geplante Zuckersteuer auf Erfrischungsgetränke wird auf 2028 verschoben – wie von der CSU gefordert. Doch drei geplante Steuerstufen sorgen für Zündstoff.

München – Für bayerische Brauereien, Brunnenbetriebe und Verbraucher im Freistaat bringt der jüngste Berliner Koalitionskompromiss zur Zuckersteuer mehr Vorbereitungszeit, aber auch veränderte finanzielle Rahmenbedingungen. Die Spitzen der Regierungsfraktionen von Union und SPD haben sich darauf verständigt, die Einführung der geplanten Abgabe auf zuckergesüßte Erfrischungsgetränke vom 1. Juli 2027 auf den 1. Januar 2028 zu verschieben. Gleichzeitig sieht die Einigung eine wesentliche Änderung bei der Staffelung vor: Statt der bisher im Kabinettsentwurf vorgesehenen zwei Stufen soll die Steuer künftig in drei Progressionsstufen nach dem Zuckergehalt erhoben werden.     

Mit dem Aufschub um ein halbes Jahr hat sich vor allem die CSU durchgesetzt. CSU-Landesgruppenchef Alexander Hoffmann hatte im parlamentarischen Verfahren wiederholt mehr Vorlaufzeit für mittelständische Hersteller gefordert. Im Freistaat sind alkoholfreie Erfrischungsgetränke wie Spezi, Limonaden und Schorlen für viele Betriebe längst zu einem wichtigen Standbein geworden. Bei Erdinger Weißbräu und weiteren bayerischen Betrieben hatte man vor empfindlichen Belastungen gewarnt. Durch die Fristverlängerung bis Anfang 2028 gewinnen Brauer und Brunnen nun Zeit, um Rezepturen schrittweise anzupassen.

Zuckersteuer in drei Stufen ab 2028: Diese Schwellenwerte gelten für Limonaden

Der geänderte Gesetzentwurf greift eine Initiative von Bundesfinanzminister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) auf, stark gezuckerte Getränke über eine zusätzliche Progressionsstufe stärker zu belasten. Während Erfrischungsgetränke mit weniger als fünf Gramm Zucker je 100 Milliliter steuerfrei bleiben, orientieren sich die neuen Stufen an drei Grenzwerten:  Unter 5 Gramm Zucker je 100 ml: Steuerfrei

• Stufe 1 (ab 5 Gramm Zucker je 100 ml): Erste Abgabenstufe
• Stufe 2 (ab 7 Gramm Zucker je 100 ml): Mittlere Abgabenstufe
• Stufe 3 (ab 9 Gramm Zucker je 100 ml): Höchste Abgabenstufe

Klassische Cola-Getränke und viele traditionelle Limonaden oder Spezi-Mischungen, die typischerweise rund 10 Gramm Zucker pro 100 Milliliter aufweisen, fallen künftig in die höchste Progressionsstufe.

Was bleibt steuerfrei?

Der Gesetzgeber hält an geplanten Ausnahmen bei der Zuckersteuer fest. Unberührt von der Abgabe bleiben:   

• Zero- und Light-Getränke: Produkte mit rein kalorienfreien Süßungsmitteln bleiben abgabenfrei.
• Naturbelassene Säfte und Schorlen: Reine Fruchtsäfte ohne Zuckerzusatz, Milchmischgetränke und pflanzliche Drinks (Hafer, Soja, Reis) sind befreit.
• Alkoholfreie Brau- und Weinspezialitäten: Alkoholfreies Bier, alkoholfreier Wein und alkoholfreier Sekt sind explizit ausgenommen.
• Kleinbrauereien und Kleinhersteller: Betriebe mit einer Jahresproduktion von unter 70.000 Litern sind komplett befreit; für Hersteller mit bis zu einer Million Litern wird eine EU-Freistellung angestrebt.

Was kostet der Kasten im Getränkemarkt?

Da auf Verbrauchssteuern an der Ladenkasse zusätzlich die gesetzliche Mehrwertsteuer von 19 Prozent anfällt, schlagen die Steuersätze auf die Endverbraucherpreise durch, wenn Handel und Hersteller sie weiterreichen. Bei einem angenommenen Steuersatz von 32 Cent je Liter (wie im bisherigen Vorentwurf für stark gezuckerte Limonaden) verteuert sich eine Einliterflasche brutto um rund 38 Cent, ein Kasten mit zwölf Flaschen um rund 4,57 Euro.   

Sollte für die neu geschaffene dritte Stufe über 9 Gramm Zucker ein höherer Satz greifen, warnen Branchenvertreter vor noch deutlicheren Preissprüngen von fünf bis sechs Euro pro Kiste.

Debatte um Zusatzstufe: Industrie warnt vor Abkassieren – Verbraucherschützer fordern Rezepturwechsel

Die Einführung der dritten Progressionsstufe stößt bei den Getränkeherstellern auf deutliche Kritik. Detlef Groß, Hauptgeschäftsführer der Wirtschaftsvereinigung Alkoholfreie Getränke, erklärte gegenüber Bild: „Eine zusätzliche dritte Steuerstufe für klassische Limonaden macht die Zuckergetränkesteuer endgültig zur Abkassiersteuer. Eine Kiste Cola oder Limo verteuert sich deutlich um fünf Euro. Es geht offensichtlich nur um Geldbeschaffung.“