A blessing named ‘father’

by Manila Bulletin

Through the years, and with the melding of cultures of the east and the west, a father has taken on more non-traditional roles. To his children, he’s become father and mother, brother and sister, playmate and competitor, provider and teacher, cook and taste-tester, life coach and friend. Sometimes he is at the “driver’s seat” of a family’s journey. Other times, he is the passenger and back-seat driver.

In any role, to his children, a father is just “tatay,” “daddy,” or “papa” — no matter if he is a CEO, or staff member of a company, if he is an elected official, or the barangay kagawad of a city, or if he is breadwinner or house-husband.

With Father’s Day just days away, it’s a time to celebrate the many roles of a father — biological or figurative — in our lives. Was he the bread-winner who provided for all the family’s needs, including tuition for graduate studies? The disciplinarian who limited one’s social life? Or the soft heart who over-ruled a strict mother’s rules? The hero who secretly “corrected” many wrong decisions? Or was he the family driver-on-call 24/7?

With a father’s many roles, one would expect him to be everywhere, including on social media. But today, it is not typical to read captions like — “He’s my father!” — declared openly in a social media account, or displayed by affection in a public place. Except on Father’s Day. It’s as if a father steps out of the picture when a child’s career takes over.

But a father will never leave the “picture” even of an adult child’s life; he will likely hover around. It is said that a father’s instinct to nurture and protect a child never goes away. In the extended Filipino family, it is an instinct also shared by father-figures like grandfathers, uncles or friends who have fulfilled a father’s role because of circumstances.

In Europe, the United States, and many countries around the world, the significance of fathers in people’s lives is celebrated every third Sunday of June.

In the Philippines, President Corazon C. Aquino signed on June 8, 1988, Proclamation No. 266 declaring every third Sunday of June as Father’s Day in the Philippines. (The same proclamation also declared every second Sunday of May as “Mother’s Day.”) That date had remained as Father’s Day even after another proclamation signed by President Joseph Estrada in 1998 had declared “the first Monday of December as ‘Mother’s Day’ and Father’s Day,” to return the traditional celebration on the date declared by a proclamation in 1921.

The “mother” of Father’s Day is a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, who initiated the celebration of the day inspired by her father who raised six children after their mother died in childbirth, according to reports from history publications. The first Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, the month of the birthday of Dodd’s father.

Sunday, June 19, is Father’s Day. There is time to write a tribute or greeting to the man who had helped develop the way you think and live today. If he’s not around, say a prayer. A father in one’s life is a blessing.

Chikungunya confirmed in Davao

By Ruth Palo, Manila Times

THE Davao City Health office has confirmed two cases of chikungunya in Barangay Ilang after test results arrived from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Metro Manila.

Ernie Cequiña, a nurse at the City Health Office (CHO) Tropical Disease Prevention and Control Unit, in a report from the City Information Office, said 16 more suspected cases of chikungunya were also recorded in the barangay (village).

Cequiña, however, added that the suspected 28 cases earlier reported in Barangay Panacan are still being verified.

The CHO Tropical Disease Prevention and Control Unit has intensified intervention efforts to control the Aedes mosquito species, the same species that carries dengue, in the area after the city confirmed its first case of chikungunya in Barangay Ilang on June 8, 2022.

Cequiña said the CHO responded with critical mosquito control measures, such as an awareness drive in the villages, Aedes aegypti larvae surveillance and fogging, and later conducted misting or indoor residual spraying.

Chikungunya symptoms are particularly difficult to determine as the patients usually manifest symptoms similar to those of dengue (fever, nausea, pain behind the eyes) but with more severe joint pains and early onset of skin rashes, he added.

According to Cequiña, the city remains steadfast in monitoring these cases and conducting intervention measures.

He, however, said protective measures, such as maintaining cleanliness of surroundings, remain the best method of preventing an outbreak.

Cequiña reminded Davaoeños to practice the 4S procedure; which stands for "Search and destroy" mosquito breeding grounds, practice "Self-protection" from mosquito bites, "Seek early medical consultation" and "Say yes" to community prevention and intervention measures.

Celebrate Father's Day with live orchestral music

For the first time after a two-year hiatus, the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO), the MSO Junior Orchestra and the MSO Music Academy will be officially coming back to one stage, for a live concert in time for a Father's Day celebration.

Be captivated once again by the beauty of live orchestral music on June 19, 5 p.m. at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Makati City.

Papa Mia, a MSO Family Concert will highlight piano and violin ensemble pieces to be performed by the students of the MSO Music Academy.

This will be followed by favorite classical pieces from Mozart and Handel and Filipino folk songs performed by the MSO Junior Orchestra.

The highlight of the evening will be an awe-inspiring performance of popular movie theme pieces from "Themes from 007," "Mission Impossible," "The Avengers," "Mamma Mia" with modern classical tunes by the MSO, Asia's longest performing orchestra.

More people avoid 'depressing' news – report

By Agence France-Presse

THE depressing state of the world is leading people to switch off from the news, the Reuters Institute reported on Wednesday.

The combined impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine war and cost-of-living crisis have led to declining interest in the news, a survey by the British research group found.

Across 46 countries surveyed and 93,000 participants, it found the share who said they actively avoided the news had increased from 29 to 38 percent since 2017.

The numbers doubled in some countries, including Brazil (54 percent) and Britain (46 percent).

Young people in particular found the news to be a downer, but the chief reason for avoiding the news was its repetitiveness, especially around Covid and politics.

"I actively avoid things that trigger my anxiety and things that can have a negative impact on my day," a 27-year-old British respondent told the researchers.

"I will try to avoid reading news about things like deaths and disasters."

Others said the news led to arguments they would rather avoid, or a feeling of powerlessness, while many young people said they found it hard to understand.

Lead author Nic Newman said the findings were "particularly challenging for the news industry."

"Subjects that journalists consider most important, such as political crises, international conflicts and global pandemics, seem to be precisely the ones that are turning some people away," he was quoted as saying.

Most of the study was completed before the invasion of Ukraine in February, but subsequent surveys in five countries found these issues had only deepened in its aftermath.

Trust in the media fell in half the countries surveyed, and rose in just seven, the report said, reversing gains made during the pandemic.

Overall, trust was at 42 percent, down from 44 percent when the media had a small positive bump from the pandemic.

The United States showed the lowest level of trust at 26 percent, tied with Slovakia.

Finland has the highest levels of overall trust — 69 percent — up four points on last year and 13 points in 2020. In Asia, trust has risen in the Philippines (+5) and Japan (+2). A survey conducted by Publicus Asia in April showed that The Manila Times was the sixth most trusted news outlet in the Philippines with a 34.8 percent trust rating.

CNN and GMA-7 were the most trusted, with 49.3 percent and 46.9 percent, respectively. They were followed by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star and Manila Bulletin.

OFW remittances fall to 11-month low

By Mayvelin U. Caraballo, Manila Times

THE amount of money sent home by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) fell to its lowest level in 11 months in April, according to data released on Wednesday by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Personal remittances, or cash or kind transfers between families, totaled $2.67 billion in the fourth month of 2022, down 7.51 percent from $2.88 billion in March of this year, but up 3.76 percent from $2.57 billion in April 2021. It's the smallest amount sent since $2.65 billion was sent in May last year.

The year-on-year gain in April was attributed to a 4.7-percent increase in remittances from land-based workers on one year or longer contracts, which inched up to $2.02 billion from $2.93 billion a year ago, the central bank noted. Meanwhile, remittances from sea- and land-based workers on short-term contracts saw an uptick of 1.4 percent to $581 million in April 2022, up from $609 million a year earlier.

Total remittances for the first four months of the year totaled $11.31 billion, picking up 2.6 percent from $11.02 billion in January to April 2021, according to the latest numbers. In the meantime, cash remittances were $2.39 billion in April, plunging 7.67 percent from the previous month, but accelerating 3.90 percent from $2.30 billion a year ago.

The BSP said revenues from land-based and sea-based workers soared by 4.7 percent to $1.86 billion from $1.77 billion and 1.4 percent to $533 million from $526 million, respectively, fueling the annual increase in cash remittances in April.

Cash remittances surged by 2.7 percent from January to April 2022 to $10.16 billion, rising from $9.89 billion a year earlier. "The growth in cash remittances from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Taiwan and Singapore contributed largely to the increase in remittances in January-April of 2022," the Bangko Sentral reported.

In the four months ending April this year, the United States had the greatest share of overall remittances, accounting for 41.2 percent. Next were Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Qatar, South Korea and Taiwan. Remittances from these 10 countries accounted for 79.2 percent of all cash remittances for the four-month period.

The BSP forecasts a 4-percent increase in cash remittances this year, citing "projected improvements in global growth prospects and further opening of economies along with the continued mass use of vaccines to prevent the spread of Covid-19 are also expected to continue to lend support to the growth prospects for OFW remittances."

Europe 'epicenter' of monkeypox outbreak – WHO

By Agence France-Presse

COPENHAGEN: The World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday Europe remained the epicenter of the global monkeypox outbreak, which posed a "real risk" with more than 1,500 cases reported in the region.

The UN health body already announced on Tuesday that it would hold an emergency meeting next week to determine whether to classify the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern.

"Europe remains the epicenter of this escalating outbreak with 25 countries reporting more than 1,500 cases, or 85 percent of the global total," Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, told a press conference Wednesday.

WHO's European region comprises 53 countries, including several in Central Asia.

Until the past few months, monkeypox had generally been confined to Western and Central Africa.

Kluge said that the majority of cases reported in Europe "have been among men who have sex with men", but also warned against stigmatisation.

He stressed "that the monkeypox virus is not in itself attached to any specific group."

The regional director also warned that the risk was increasing as summer had arrived with "tourism, various Pride events, music festivals and other mass gatherings planned across the region."

"These events are powerful opportunities to engage with young, sexually active and highly mobile people," Kluge said, but stressed that "monkeypox is not a reason to cancel events, but an opportunity to leverage them to drive our engagement."

Speaking next to Kluge, Steve Taylor, director of European Pride Organisers Association, said that some 750 Pride events were planned across the European region and welcomed the WHO's recommendation not to cancel these events.

"Sadly, but entirely predictably, some of those who oppose Pride and who oppose equality and human rights have already been attempting to use monkeypox as a justification for calls for Pride to be banned," Taylor told reporters.

The EU announced Tuesday that it had purchased almost 110,000 vaccine doses to help tackle the outbreak, though the WHO does not recommend mass vaccination against monkeypox.

The model prayer

By Fr. Roy Cimagala*

“IN praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.” (Mt 6,7) With these words, Christ is telling us to be wary of the dangers of the way we pray. And he immediately tells us how to pray. Thus, we now have what is known as the Lord’s Prayer, or the “Our Father.”

We need to realize that this is the model prayer that shows us what dispositions we ought to have when we pray, how we ought to address God our Father, what we have to ask, etc. Thus, we have to assume the spirit with which the prayer is given to us by Christ.

In the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we are told that “the Lord’s Prayer reveals us to ourselves at the same time that it reveals the Father to us.” (2783) 

In other words, we are told who we really are and who God is to us. Thus, no matter how our life here on earth goes, we should never forget that we are children of God who will do everything to bring us back to him. Psalm 129 reinforces this truth of our faith: “With the Lord, there is mercy and fullness of redemption.”

We just have to make sure also that, as expressed in this prayer, we also have to be merciful to everyone just as God is merciful to us. “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

We have to understand that forgiveness or mercy is the ultimate expression of love which is the very essence of God and which is also meant to be the essence of our humanity since we are God’s image and likeness, children of his.

And as if to underscore the importance of this point, Christ reiterated: “For if you will forgive men their offences, your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offences. But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you for your offences.” (Mt 6,14-15) It’s clear therefore that we can only be forgiven if we also forgive others.

We have to be clear that this injunction is meant for everyone, and not only for a few whom we may consider to be religiously inclined. That’s why when asked how many times we should forgive, he said not only seven times, but seventy times seven, meaning always.

That’s also why he easily forgave the woman caught in adultery. And to those whom he cured of their illnesses, it was actually the forgiveness of their sins that he was more interested in.

To top it all, Christ allowed himself to die on the cross as a way to forgive all of our sins, and to convert our sins through his resurrection as a way to our own redemption. What he did for us he also expects, nay, commands that we also do for everybody else. 

Thus that indication that if we want to follow him, we have to deny ourselves, carry the cross and follow him.

It is presumed that all of us sin one way or another. That’s why St. John said: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 Jn 1,8) I am sure that our personal experience can bear that out easily.

We really need to live the spirit behind this model prayer!

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

KC Concepcion's fundraising to finish movie gathers $10K

KC Concepcion on the set of ‘Asian Persuasion.’ INSTAGRAM PHOTO/KRISTINACONCEPCION

By Shennah Romanillos, Manila Times

KC Concepcion and her team from "Asian Persuasion" have yet to reach their goal to raise $50,000 to finish their Hollywood film.

Over the weekend, donations reached $10,748 or 21 percent of the goal.

The actress earlier appealed to her fans for financial help to finish her film after encountering financial problems during its filming.

One of the film's main stars contracted Covid-19, pausing production for 12 days. The delay cost them $100,000.

"We are asking for your help to recover the funds lost during our one-week pause. While we are actively continuing to fundraise throughout the post-production period, we currently need $100,000 to supplement our ongoing private fundraising efforts to complete this movie," the team said in a statement.

"Asian Persuasion" is a romantic-comedy about chef Mickey (Dante Bosco) who sets up a scheme to marry off his ex-wife, KC, to avoid his alimony obligations. It is directed by three-time Tony-Award and Grammy-winning producer Jhett Tolentino.

On Instagram, the 37-year-old actress appealed, "The filming is done, now the hard work begins. And YOU can help bring our movie to the FINISH LINE."

The actress also shared why she agreed to do the movie — more than getting an acting job in America, Asian Persuasion presents an opportunity for Concepcion to represent Asians and Filipinos.

"I think I speak for so many Asian actors who grew up wishing and waiting for this time to come for us to be seen, heard, and represented, in all our different skin tones, body shapes, and backgrounds. This movie is about family, relationships, love, failures, resilience, success, and fighting for what you love. That's why this story is YOURS, as much as it is mine."

Closed season seen to increase prices of fish in Davao Region

by Antonio Colina IV, Manila Bulletin

DAVAO CITY – Prices of fish in the Davao Region will likely increase due to the implementation of the three-month closed fishing season at Davao Gulf, an official of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-Davao said.BFAR-Davao Region Director Raul Millana said that the prohibited fishing activities would affect the local supply of fish that would result in higher prices.

He added that aquaculture might help cushion the inflationary effect of the fishing ban, prompting the agency to support small fisherfolk in setting up marine fish cages, including even the inland waters.

Millana said production of fresh water fish, including tilapia and catfish, would help abate the increase in the prices of fish.

The implementation of the ban, which is now in its ninth year, must be enforced to allow pelagic fish to reproduce since the period from June 1 to August 31 has been established as their spawning season, according to Millana.

The Departments of Agriculture (DA) and Interior and Local Government (DILG)-issued Joint Administrative Circular No. 2 in 2014 established a three-month closed fishing season in the Davao Gulf to “conserve marine resources, to secure the spawning period of pelagic fishes in the Gulf, and continuously implement measures to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.”

The order bans small-scale to large-scale commercial fishing vessels from 3.1 to 150 gross tons and the use of bag nets and ring nets in the Gulf, which the BFAR identified as a spawning ground for tuna and other fish species and one of the 10 major fishing grounds in the Philippines. The protected species include big-eyed scad, mackerel, and moonfish.

He said the ban gives small pelagic fish time to regrow its population, emphasizing that extractive fishing activities would have long-term effect on the supply of fish.

Davao villages monitored for chikungunya virus

By Ruth Palo, Manila Times

THE Tropical Disease Prevention and Control Unit (TDPCU) of the Davao City Health Office is closely monitoring the signs and symptoms of the chikungunya virus in two villages in the city.

Chikungunya virus is caused by Aedes mosquitoes, the same mosquito family spreading dengue fever.

Melodina Babante, pest control worker at TDPCU, said Davaoeños should not only be cautioned about the dengue virus-carrying mosquitoes since Aedes mosquitoes can also spread the chikungunya virus.

Babante said these villages include Panacan and Ilang.

"We need to explain the diseases caused by Aedes mosquitoes. It has not been confirmed yet but in Panacan and Ilang, our team found signs and symptoms that are still being confirmed if it's chikungunya," she said.

The public must be aware that chikungunya is unlike dengue that you would only have a fever.

"With chikungunya, aside from fever, you would experience joint pains and rashes. Rashes that seem like measles. If you have symptoms such as these, report immediately to your health centers," she said.

She said that Barangay Ilang experienced a chikungunya outbreak before. This is why confirmatory tests are currently being done to determine the new symptoms found in the barangay (village), as well as in Panacan, to properly address the problem.

Babante underscored the need for Davaoeños to observe the 4S campaign, which stands for "search and destroy" mosquito breeding places, "secure self-protection" from a mosquito bite, "seek early consultation" when signs and symptoms of dengue occur, and "say yes to fogging" as a last resort when there is an impending outbreak.

Dengue cases rise in CAR

Virus-carrying mosquitoes, according to her, have a peak biting time from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., that's why she urged parents not to let their children leave the house at this time without protection.

"Don't let them wear shorts but let them wear pajamas or long pants. They should wear long sleeves. Apply mosquito repellent. Don't let them wear dark colors like black which is attractive to mosquitoes," she said.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat chikungunya virus infection.

Lorenzana faints during Rizal Park rites

By Kristina Maralit  and Francis Earl Cueto, Manila Times

(UPDATED) DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana was rushed to hospital after he collapsed during the Independence Day rites at Rizal Park on Sunday.

Sen. Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, who was at the flag-raising ceremony, told reporters he heard what he believed was Lorenzana's head hitting the pavement.

"When we talked to him, he said he got dizzy," the senator said.

An ambulance took Lorenzana to an undisclosed hospital.

Go said the Defense chief was able to talk.

"I hope he's stable. I think he lacks sleep; he just came from a trip. It's really difficult when you haven't slept and the weather is quite hot," he said.

The 73-year-old outgoing secretary was among the top government officials who joined President Rodrigo Duterte during the flag-raising and wreath-laying at Rizal Park. Defense department spokesman Arsenio Andolong later said in a statement that Lorenzana fainted but is in "stable condition." Lorenzana "has been advised to rest" by his doctors, Andolong added.

He said that during the past weeks, the secretary went through a "hectic schedule," and was made to endure the hot weather on Sunday morning.

Lorenzana arrived from Singapore early Sunday where he attended a dialogue with his regional counterparts, he said.

"The Secretary also traveled recently to South Korea and other parts of the Philippines, while overseeing the defense operations of the country and transition to a new administration," Andolong said.

Lorenzana is now back in high spirits and is able to talk, Andolong said.

The Defense chief wanted to go home, but his doctors urged him to stay in the hospital for further observation, he said.

SHOPPING OR LOVE AND CARE?

Plastic money (or better known as credit cards), loneliness, and advertising - that's a dangerous mixture, owing to more and more people falling straight into shopping ecstasy.

Yesterday was Thursday again, the sunbeam touched us too much outside, the heat maybe too much too.  We were on the way to a shopping mall. Yes, they are really tempting us with their offers. The credit cards of many people glowed - everyone is all right for the money.

We don't need decent clothes any more! Our shoes make us a laughing-stock. Top stylish or even the latest fashion for a few pesos, sure, we can afford it!

Women especially (really?) arrange to meet very often for substantial shopping sprees. It's just fun, but sometimes it becomes a competition: Who gets hold of the most stylish and best special offers? It's paradoxical; actually they are not able to afford it. In spite of their strained financial situation, many people do unnecessary free-living shopping. They feel happy, content, satisfied, and relaxed.

Is shopping a substitutive or vicarious satisfaction because of less love and care? Yes, for a short moment shopping satisfies and eases mostly unfulfilled longings for love, appreciation, receiving attention and affection.

The shopping ecstasy will be followed by a happiness-intoxication. The new dress becomes a four-leaf clover and a lucky break. But, we became addicted... .

Disastrous, unlucky and awkward in shopping is that the special offers are not really needed. That's the point: it's just a kick-down which can be felt while shopping for useless things. Clothes, shoes, jewelry, or cosmetics will be used just once or once in a while, they will be cleared or concealed and hidden from other people. Our conscience is pricking us. Depression follows, an empty inwardness causes pain - up to the next ecstasy!

It's a dangerous vicious circle, which can bring us to a financial precipice. For a long time experts have warned: "The limits between pleasure, desire, frustration, and ecstasy shopping are fluent and fluid." I remember the lady yesterday "trying" to pay an amazing amount with three credit cards - always getting the cashier's "Excuse Ma-am, there is a problem with your credit card!". The lady went away by saying the wonderful sentence: "Okay lang, actually I don't need all this stuff!". Wow... .

Let me anticipate this: I don't want to mess up anybody's  shopping mall stroll. Not everybody buys a lot and is at the same time shopping-addicted. Boisterous and superfluous "reward-shopping" can be absolutely normal. Only a permanent recurring irresistible shopping compulsion needs an immediate action.

By the way: Love and care are emotions inherent in human beings. They are crucial in every relationship.  Care refers to a feeling of concern or interest or the act of attending to someone or something. Love, on the other hand, bears broader meaning.

The pursuit for truth

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

WE have to realize that the pursuit for truth is a very tricky one. To be sure, truth is not just a matter of citing facts and data. Though these are important and even indispensable, they are useless unless they are animated by the true spirit of truth.

We need to be familiar with the Spirit of Truth. He is the one who will show us the whole truth and not just some aspects of it. If we really want to be in the truth and not confused and lost in the many appearances of truth, we need to get in touch with the Spirit of Truth.

Christ himself said: “When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own. He will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” (Jn 16,13)

We have to take note that this business of getting to the whole truth involves a process. It’s not a one-shot deal. It involves some kind of journey. No one can ever say he has the whole truth until he reaches where the Spirit of truth would finally lead him, and that is when God becomes “all in all.” (cfr. 1 Cor 15,28)

We have to remember that everything that exists has something of the truth, since by merely existing, that something is already true. But as to whether it has the whole truth, it would depend whether it has the Spirit of truth or not.

The most important thing is to see if something that we consider to be true is in conformity with the Spirit of truth. Otherwise, we will be deceived and trapped by the many appearances of truth that do not bring us to the real thing which, in the end, can only be God.

Thus, we can say that even the devil, who is a liar and is the father of lies (cfr. Jn 8,44), has some truth in him. That he exists is already an indication that he is true and real. And everything that he says to tempt us certainly contains a lot of truth, otherwise we would not be tempted.

We really need to know what the truth is. That was the question Pilate asked Christ. (cfr Jn 18,38) But Christ already answered that question before it was asked. “Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice,” he said.

There we have a clear answer as to what the truth is. It’s when we hear the voice of Christ, this time in the Holy Spirit. It’s a voice that is full of charity, understanding and compassion on others, patience and mercy. It’s also a voice that knows how to be strong and implement the requirements of justice.

Truth therefore is not just cold facts that we observe, nor some objective data that we derive from our studies and researches. Much less is it simply a matter of political opinion or some ideological bias or things of that sort. While giving us some aspects of truth, these do not have the last word. And as such, they are incomplete and can easily be manipulated.

That is why right now with everyone trying to say the truth without God, we are practically sinking in an ocean of fake news, hoaxes, disinformation, urban legends, propaganda, inane trivias, superstitions, biased opinions that seek to absolutize the relative and relativize the absolute, etc. As a consequence, we generate a very toxic atmosphere where conflicts, anger and hatred dominate.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Why does the Tagalog language use 'Mahal' which means 'expensive' or 'precious' to say 'love'?

 

Dayang Marikit

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Because when you love something, it's of high value, it’s precious and priceless… (Mahal) originated in Arabic meaning “abode”, it got adopted in Persian and Indian languages and became the word for (Palace). Then in Southeast Asia it got adopted as the word for “expensive”. Lastly in the Philippines, (Mahal) took on several meanings… expensive, love, and also as a honorific for royals.

• (Mahal) pertaining to something expensive was adopted from Malay.
• (Mahal) pertaining to love is to express that someone is very precious to you.
• (Mahal and Kamahalan) in the context of being royal honorifics are similar to “your highness” when conversing with a rajah/ruler... again, to express that this person is precious.

Lastly the original Tagalog word for (Love) is (Sinta), similar to (Cinta) in Indonesian.

Germany donates drone to PCG

DRONE DONATION Philippine Coast Guard (PCCG) Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu accepts the drone donated by Germany, through its Ambassador to the Philippines Anke Reiffenstuel (center) and the German Corporation for International Cooperation Country Director Immanuel Gebhardt (right). The turnover ceremony was held at the PCG headquarters in Manila on Friday, June 10, 2022. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

By Franco Jose C. Baroña, Manila Times

THE Federal Republic of Germany has donated an unmanned aerial vehicle, commonly known as a drone, to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to support its capability development.

In the turnover ceremony at the PCG headquarters on Friday, PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu expressed his gratitude to the German government represented by its Ambassador Anke Reiffenstuel and the German Corporation for International Cooperation Country Director Immanuel Gebhardt for the donation.

In his remarks, Admiral Abu recognized the emerging importance of unmanned systems in the performance of coast guard functions.

"More than its contribution to maritime surveillance for drug interdiction, illegal fishing operations, marine pollution and other nefarious activities, these UAV can improve PCG disaster response and relief operations particularly in damage assessment and in identifying areas where relief operations are badly needed," the PCG commandant said.

Abu said the UAV will also be utilized to provide imagery for reconnaissance purposes and generate high-resolution maps that can be used for a variety of maritime scenarios, such as rapid damage assessment of an oil spill incident or a quick survey of an area of interest for possible unlawful acts at sea.

"For these, the PCG and the whole Filipino nation are truly grateful to the German government. We are looking forward to our continued engagement and fostering a stronger partnership with our German friends," Abu said.

Peso takes a beating against dollar

Philippine peso had its worst day in three-and-a-half years, falling to P53 to the United States dollar. File Photo

 

By Mayvelin U. Caraballo, Manila Times

June 11, 2022

(UPDATE) THE Philippine peso had its worst day in three-and-a-half years, falling to P53 to the United States dollar on Friday.

The local currency bled 5 centavos to $53:$1 from the previous day's close of P52.95. It hasn't been this soft since Dec. 20, 2018, when it closed at 53.10:$1.

The peso's slide was probably due to market participants anticipating the US Federal Reserve's (Fed) 50-basis-point interest rate hike next week, Domini Velasquez, chief economist at China Banking Corp., said.

"Generally, we still see USD-PHP (dollar-peso rate) moving upwards both because of the Fed's aggressive monetary tightening cycle and domestically, the value of import purchases are still bound to increase as oil and food prices continue to remain elevated. Hence, still more demand for dollars," Velasquez said.

ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Antonio Mapa said the peso was simply following the trend among regional currencies.

US inflation becoming everyone's problem.

"Hawkish tilt from the ECB (European Central Bank) and a likely similar stance from the Fed keeping Asian currencies on the backfoot. Markets await US inflation out later tonight for more direction," Mapa said.

Michael Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said the recent increase in US Treasury rates to above 3 percent for most long-term tenors contributed to the dollar's recent rise against key global currencies.

"Market sentiment also weighed as global crude oil prices posted new 3-month highs recently and also near 14-year highs, at above US$120 per barrel recently, that could potentially add to elevated inflation and could also add to the country's oil import bill," Ricafort said.

He also said the peso has recently depreciated slightly against the US dollar due to signs of a probable reduction in large banks' reserve requirement ratio later this year.

But the depreciation has been countered by the possibility of more local policy rate hikes during the next rate-setting sessions in June and August this year, Ricafort said.

Friday's close already hit the upper end of the government's P50-53:$1 peso-dollar exchange rate forecast for the year.

The Development Budget Coordination Committee said various depreciation (for example, US policy normalization, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and widening trade gaps) and appreciation pressures (higher foreign exchange inflows via tourism, business process outsourcing and overseas Filipino workers remittances, and ample foreign exchange reserves) continue to influence the peso's medium-term outloo

𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐎𝐫𝐨'𝐬 𝐅𝐌𝐑𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐢𝐳 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬

Another farm-to-market road opens new beginnings in Brgy. Napnapan Pantukan, Davao de Oro. Recently, completed Barangay Development Program (BDP) funded projects undergo ongoing official turn-over ceremonies by the provincial government.

In total, Davao de Oro ranks second after Davao City with the most projects from BDP of the National Task Force ELCAC, with one-hundred twenty-eight (128) projects received by sixty-five barangays (65) formerly under the brink of chaos due to insurgency.

The right implementation of the BDP-funded projects in DdO sets a trajectory for sustainable development in tourism in the province. Formerly hidden and hard to reach, more eco-tourism spots were now discovered and businesses began to boom which open more jobs for the people. From coffee shops in the mountain ranges and lake-side to highland resorts and adventure parks are some of BDP’s positive impacts in Davao de Oro.

According to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Davao de Oro is the best implementer for the BDP Projects, evidence of good governance through implementing government programs for the benefit of communities in far-flung communities.

Governor Tyron Uy, together with the DILG, PNP, AFP, and the office of Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), personally handed the completed FMR in Brgy. Napnapan with a length of 1,580 meters, following other turn-overs of much-needed community projects such as water systems, and health centers. 

Other completed FMRs were now of service to the people of  Brgy. San Miguel Compostela, Lebanon Montevista, Brgy. Golden Valley Mabini, Brgy. Kahayag New Bataan, Brgy, Ngan Compostela, Brgy. Magangit, Sangab and Libay-libay of  Maco, Davao de Oro. (Jasteen Abella, PAO-IPRD, photos by G. Mativo)

True charity surpasses our human systems

By Fr. Roy Cimagala*

“I TELL you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.” (Jn 5,20) Words of Christ that warn us of the danger of self-righteousness as exemplified by the scribes and Pharisees of his time and that undermine the true charity that comes from God who is the very essence of love as fully manifested by Christ.

We have to understand that this charity surpasses whatever human standard we have about love. This charity is a love without measure, given without calculation, without expecting any return. It just gives and gives, even if along the way it encounters difficulties, rejection, suffering. It embraces them, not flee from them. By its nature, it is given gratuitously. 

Love engenders generosity and its relatives: magnanimity, magnificence, compassion, patience, pity, etc. This is the language of love, the currencies it uses. It thinks big, even if the matter involved is small according to human standards. In fact, it’s love that makes small, ordinary things big and special.  

    

      That’s in theory. In practice, though, there can be elements that put limits and conditions to that love. This can be due to a number of reasons. One of them is because man grows by stages, and his capacity to love also develops in stages. It goes through a development timeline, much like one’s growth timeline from childhood to adulthood and maturity.      

We have to understand that to be able to love, we need to be with God, for God is love. He is the source, pattern and end of love. All our loves here on earth, to be real, have to be inspired by that love that is in God. Otherwise, they are fake.   

It stands to reason then that we need to go to him, to pray and meditate on his love—how he created us and endowed us with the best things in life, making us his image and likeness, and in fact children of his.      

 

We need to realize deeply that his love goes to the extent of forgiving us for our sins and stupidities, and not only by decreeing things, but by assuming even our sinfulness and dying to it.     

We need to feel that love in a very direct and immediate way, which can only be achieved first of all with his grace, but also with our effort. We need to feel that such love is the one that inspires, directs and energizes our loves here on earth. 

So, we really need to spend time entering into this reality, first of all, by praying, by meditating, then by studying the doctrine of our faith, since God’s love is not mere sentiments. It involves truth whose substance is passed on to us through the doctrine revealed and lived by Christ, and now authoritatively taught by the Church.    

We need to outgrow our tendency to fall for an unrealistic and sugary understanding of love, so common these days, especially among the young, or worse, associating love with the purely carnal and selfish. Unfortunately, there are many caught in this kind of predicament.   

   

      When we have this kind of love, we will spring into action, always with joy and peace. Sadness, feeling lazy and the like are dregs and signs of self-love. God’s love, on the other hand, makes us very alive even in the midst of so much trials and suffering.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Why is Sinigang so popular among Filipinos?

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Proud Bisaya Ko

Barok and Takya Blog | Bisaya Podcast

Sinigang is a famous super sabaw[1] among Filipinos for its sour and savoury flavour. The sourness of the soup comes from tamarind, which is a fruit that is commonly used in Southeast Asian cuisine. Tamarind gives the soup its distinctive tart flavour, which is balanced out by the savoury taste of the meat or seafood that is used in the dish.

 Sinigang[2] is also unique because it can be made with meat or seafood, including chicken, pork, shrimp, and fish. This flexibility makes it a popular choice for home cooks and professional chefs. In addition, Sinigang is relatively easy to make, and it can be tailored to individual taste preferences. For these reasons, Sinigang remains a popular dish in the Philippines.

Footnotes

[1] Filipino Soups You Need to Try: SUPER SABAW Edition

[2] 6 Best Sinigang Dishes You Can Make at Home