Catholicism and convenience: Musings of a religious educator

BY AARON S. MEDINA

Filipinos tend to put more importance on cultural practicesand traditions like “palaspas” on Palm Sunday 

In late 2011, a big change occurred in the Catholic Church: the release of the new English translation of the Mass. The response “And also with you” became “And with your spirit.” “I am not worthy to receive you” was now “I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof.”

One change aroused controversy: the more frequent use of the longer Nicene Creed than the shorter Apostles’ Creed. It was controversial because of the theologically-heavy word “consubstantial.”

Many years ago, in a conversation about that very topic, a now Jesuit priest told me: “Hindi iyan maintindihan ng mga tao, ng mga masa.”

And it hit me: This, in my humble opinion as a religious educator, is an issue with the Church in the Philippines. Here, there is a tendency for Catholicism to be more about convenience and less about intellect and effort. It’s more about cultural practices and tradition—more about palaspas during Palm Sunday and puto bumbong during Christmas and less about an actual, day-to-day conversion into becoming better people.

What do I mean by this rather provocative claim?

In the USA, where I lived for two years as a graduate student at Yale University, I was blessed with the most beautiful of faith experiences. Normally, a church in the US would limit their Sunday Masses to around three, with one of those Masses being a Solemn Mass. A Solemn Mass would likely feature incense, a trained choir, use of the pipe organ, and the priest chanting the prayers of the liturgy.

In the Church of St. Vincent Ferrer in New York City, run by Dominican priests, their Sunday Solemn Masses were always at noon. It always had incense, and the priest would solemnly chant the liturgical prayers from start to finish, all within one hour. And, to my joy, the church was always filled with young people! And yes, those Masses were in English, not in Latin.

Another observation, this time on Church music. Churches in the US take their liturgical music and choir training very seriously. The music director of my go-to parish, St. Mary Church in New Haven, Connecticut, holds a doctorate in music. Yes, you read that right: a doctor of music for a church choir. The choir would carefully and meticulously base their music on the antiphons and readings for that Sunday. They didn’t just keep reusing their version of “Tinapay ng Buhay” or “Purihin ang Panginoon” out of convenience.

I benefited significantly from those faith experiences, to say the least. And I was incredibly moved by them. Why? Because both priest and congregation prayed with real intentionality and disposition. Each and every Solemn Mass was a loving devotion to God, to be prepared for with thoughtful minds and open hearts. For them, Mass and other liturgical experiences were about contemplation, deep reflection, and conversion.

Meanwhile, here in the Philippines, the atmosphere I constantly feel is that Catholic life has come to mean attending Masses of convenience. Meaning, let’s just fit Sunday Mass into the schedule so we can go shopping after the service at the mall chapel finished.

Meaning, let’s just stand outside the church so we can leave right away after the final blessing—even before the priest has left the altar area. Meaning, after Mass, we can just go back to our usual ways of lying and cheating other people. It’s an undeniable observation: This is what’s occurring in the Philippines.

Let’s stop and think about all of this very seriously. Is our faith simply a faith of convenience and of feeling good? A faith that’s just cultural practice? A faith that only comes alive during Palm Sunday because of palaspas and Simbang Gabi because of puto bumbong?

The call of Jesus Christ is to love and sin no more, as He says to the woman caught in adultery in the Gospel of John. The faith that Jesus calls us to have is a faith that demands a conversion of our whole selves. It’s a faith that demands justice and our time and effort. Why? Because the grace of our God is worth more than anything in this world! Grace transforms us and those around us beyond our expectations. Indeed, Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

So, here is my call, from both a religious educator’s perspective and a proud member of the lay faithful:

To our beloved Filipino Catholic bishops, priests, and clergy, I sincerely appreciate all your efforts and service. But don’t be afraid to challenge us. After all, you are our spiritual shepherds here in the Philippines. Pray the Mass with intentionality, solemnity, and dignity. Do not rush the prayers because of your 30-minute homily in which you just say the same thing again and again. Go straight to the point. And please, encourage better song selections and choir quality for the Mass.

To my fellow lay faithful, let us use our skills, talents, and time for the good of the Church and of society. We are all called to be holy. All of us. Not all of us can be doctors in music, and many of us are busy with our demanding jobs that we need to earn our keep. But there are so many of us. Imagine the good that can be reaped if we combine our forces and talents.

To God the Holy Trinity, who loves and calls us to love, be glory and honor, now and forever. Amen. 

Decluttering your stress

BY ANNA CRISTINA TUAZON

APRIL 3, 2025

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April is Stress Awareness Month. Stress is an all-too-familiar word. We all experience it and usually more often than we’d like. The World Health Organization defines stress as a “state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation,” while the American Psychological Association assures us that stress is a “normal reaction to everyday pressures.” Since living has its ups and downs, there is no such thing as a stress-free life. Stress, despite its unpleasant sensations, is a good tool for survival. It prompts our body systems to be on alert and ready for challenges. The increased heart rate? That’s to get ourselves ready to run or fight. What differentiates healthy stress from unhealthy stress is its chronicity. Even soldiers need time to rest and recover; our bodies, too, need to recover from a stressed state so that it is ready for the next emergency.

Then there is overwhelming stress: the sheer amount of stressors we face at any given time. Sometimes it cannot be helped, especially in certain high-pressure jobs. However, in my clinical experience, I find that we add more stressors on our plate that we don’t need. Just like we do for the home, let’s declutter our stresses so that we can make more space for joy and ease:

Sort your stressors

Connected yet alone

BY SEBASTIAN ISAAC QUIAMBAO

MARCH 29, 2025

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It’s crazy to think that we Gen Zs can spend millions of hours on social media instead of enjoying what Earth has to offer.

I recently spent eight hours bed-rotting, scrolling through TikTok, watching YouTube videos, and chatting with my friends on Messenger. And yet, it feels empty—it feels shallow and disconnected. It made me ask: Are we really experiencing what modern life is, or has it made us more distant from one another?

Modern media has absolutely changed the way we communicate. With a simple tap on our screen, we can reach friends anywhere, keep up with the news, and even build communities that we once had to be physically connected to. Social media, messaging apps, and digital platforms have allowed people to connect, share ideas, and stay informed about important issues. Many of us think that social media is more than just entertainment—it is an aid for connection.

It has been an instrument for spreading awareness about social issues, organizing help during crises, and giving unheard voices a platform. This was especially evident during the height of the pandemic when news, donation drives, and charity efforts peaked in helping those in need.

I remember when I was in senior high school—my class and my university sent out charity donations to those who could not afford basic necessities like face masks, alcohol, and clean clothing. We also organized numerous donation drives to support fellow students who struggled to afford expensive medical bills after surviving COVID-19. Even something as simple as an oxygen tank was a harsh financial burden in an already struggling economy.

But alongside these benefits, modern media has also brought new challenges. One of the most concerning is the rise of content biases. Algorithms tailor our feeds to show content we agree with, making it easy to fall into a cycle of confirmation bias, which can lead to the spread of misinformation.

This has played a significant role in political discussions in the Philippines, where social media has become both a platform for opinions and a breeding ground for misinformation. Rather than bring people together, these digital communities often push us further apart, making meaningful conversations difficult.

When people ask why I don’t have X (formerly Twitter) or engage in threads, it’s because of the toxicity and harmful comments directed at what could have been decent discussions. Instead of civil arguments and constructive criticism, people resort to profanities, rage-baiting, and even death threats.

Modern media has also changed the way we form relationships. Conversations have been reduced to emojis and quick replies, making interactions feel shallow. A laugh that was once heard and shared in real-time is now just a simple “haha” in a chat. While social media has made it easier to stay connected, it often lacks the depth of actual conversations. Many of us spend more time curating our online personas than building real-life relationships.

We see photos of people’s lives—filtered and edited—leading to pressure to measure up. This can contribute to feelings of discontent and isolation, especially among younger generations who grew up in the digital age.

Have you ever compared your life to someone else’s perfectly curated Instagram posts and felt a sense of FOMO? Have you ever felt pressured to maintain a TikTok streak just to keep a connection alive, even when the conversations felt empty? Because I have. The stereotypes of having the perfect body, the perfect face, a good work-life balance, and more made me feel like I was wasting time and space, knowing I couldn’t live up to those ideals.

Where do we go from here? Should we just disconnect? That doesn’t seem like the answer either. Instead, we need to be intentional about how we use modern media. We can start by being mindful of the content we consume, stepping outside our homes, and engaging in deeper, more meaningful conversations. It’s also crucial to balance online interactions with offline relationships—taking time to be present with the people around us. Maybe that means putting our phones away when hanging out with friends or choosing to call someone instead of texting when they need us.

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It may be easier said than done, especially with how convenient it is to maintain an online presence. But trust me, as an introvert who doesn’t like going outside or talking to people, you will need it.

As I log off and put my phone down after writing this piece, I ask myself: Are we truly using modern media to connect, or are we just filling the silence?

What would happen if, for just a moment, we choose to disconnect—to be present in the real world rather than the digital one? The answer, perhaps, lies in what we truly want to achieve. And those choices, no matter how small, can make life a tiny bit better—starting with simply turning your phone off.

—————-

Sebastian Isaac Quiambao, 22, is a third-year digital journalism student at the Mapua University. He lives in Taguig City.

The epidemic of loneliness

BY SHEILA TAN

MARCH 25, 2025

ILLUSTRATION BY RUTH MACAPAGAL

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The world’s productivity comes at the expense of the quality of our lives. Opportunities unimaginable in the past have now become a reality for many, thanks to technology. So many are now able to earn a living in the comfort of their pajamas. People can now afford better experiences—food, travel, fashion, and gadgets.

And yet, we are lonelier than ever. Are we aiming for the wrong target? Could we be missing the point?

In November 2023, the World Health Organization declared loneliness “a global public health concern.” Studies have linked loneliness to health risks including heart diseases, stroke, and dementia. In 2024, US surgeon general Vivek Murthy declared loneliness an epidemic in America. He described loneliness as “feeling invisible,” “that if I was gone tomorrow, no one would notice,” and “having no one to be vulnerable with.”

For many of us, loneliness may just feel like a void, or that “there’s something missing.”

Antidotes

Acknowledging it at the right time allows us to find solutions. Ignoring it comes at a steep price. Here are some ways we make our lives lonelier and the antidotes to each.

1. Lack of awareness with one’s inner world. Many of our perceived problems are symptoms of something small. So many of us do not even know how we feel. All we know is that there’s a feeling of discomfort. Our low tolerance for the slightest discomfort prevents us from even being curious. We misdiagnose it as boredom so we soothe it with distractions. Drinking, binge-watching, eating, shopping—all these could be attempts to silence what’s begging to be heard inside of us.

Antidote: Make it a habit to check in with yourself in silence. Inquire into what’s happening in your mind and body. What sensations do you feel? What thoughts are running in your head that are causing the sensations? What emotions are emerging? Awareness alone could already be healing.

2. Shallow connections. Our deepest desire is to be seen and heard. The busy-ness of our calendar doesn’t equate to depth of connection. What determines the quality of our connections is how much of ourselves we share, not the number of interactions. Our inability to go deep is what keeps things at surface level.

Antidote: Find your person. Find someone who can be there to be present with you in exploring what’s beneath the surface thoughts, anxieties, and worries. Give words to your feelings even if they defy logic. In these moments, the best company is someone who allows us to feel safe to dive into the scary internal world we’ve created for ourselves.

Sense of safety

3. Vulnerability. So many of us can’t have meaningful connections because we wear masks. We pretend to be okay even when we’re not. We mostly gaslight ourselves first, talk logic into validating our own emotions. Once we’re convinced, we convince other people of our lies, too.

Antidote: Find a way to feel a sense of safety within yourself. An image or sound in our mind that calms us is a great choice. Sometimes, it needs to be in the presence of someone you trust. Once you find this safe space, understand the torments that are happening inside. Are there fears, regrets, and hurts that are bubbling up? Just acknowledging their presence allows us to know ourselves better.

It’s a great start to have the space for vulnerability.

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4. Being hyper dependent. We pride ourselves in being self-sufficient. Not needing anyone has become a goal. The ease with which we can achieve so many things has increased social isolation. This hyperpower has also given rise to the illusion that we are happy on our own. This illusion branches into thinking we are wasting other people’s time, and vice versa.

Antidote: Be part of a community. If this is something new, it may not feel good all the time, especially at the start. Familiarize yourself with giving and getting small favors. This is how networks begin. Having our presence acknowledged and our absence noticed are messages that our ewxistence matters. This is the best antidote for isolation.

5. Care for something. Somewhere along the way, we somehow got the idea that not caring is cool. Apathy and numbness are trending. With all the bad news going around, it makes sense to want to shield ourselves from the everyday trauma of reality. Taking the indifference to an extreme is bound to impact our own life experience.

Antidote: Choose an advocacy that resonates with you. Become an active or silent contributor of a positive vision. Allow yourself to feel pain for something you feel strongly about. This opens the passion to make a difference the opposite cause.

Loneliness and connections are two ways to go about life. The choice is ours, and ours alone. That choice determines the quality of our lives. Choose wisely.

Alarming shortage of pharmacists

 

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 04:36 AM March 19, 2025

The Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) formed to support the government’s economic programs recently sounded the alarm over the shortage of registered pharmacists across the country, just another symptom of the sorry state of the country’s public health-care system.

The situation is dire indeed.

PSAC data showed that the Philippines needs some 57,500 pharmacists but there are only 30,000 as of the latest count, thus the gap of 27,500. And with the country producing just around 4,000 board certified pharmacists every year, and assuming that the demand will stay at current levels, it will take seven years to fill that gap, the advisory council said.

More realistically, it will take even more time than that considering that not all licensed pharmacists actually get to practice their profession, with a number going into the private sector, academe, or fields other than the pharmaceutical sector.

Republic Act No. 5921 or the pharmacy law mandates at least one pharmacist per shift per drugstore or pharmacy, a particularly daunting challenge in the Philippines. Not only are there not enough pharmacists to go around, they are also unevenly spread.

Not surprisingly, the majority of pharmacists end up in the urban centers or in larger hospitals and drugstores, forcing patients in the rural, remote areas of the country to travel far and wide just to get life-saving medicines.

Ideally, there should be one pharmacist per 2,000 people based on the standard of the World Health Organization.

But in the Philippines, the ratio is a paltry 0.57 per 2,000 people, about the same level as in Indonesia and Vietnam, but lagging behind Thailand where the ratio is 0.8 per 2,000, according to PSAC data.

Given that it will take years before the supply can catch up with the demand for pharmacists, the PSAC health cluster led by AC Health chief executive officer Paolo Borromeo proposed that licensed pharmacists be allowed to oversee multiple pharmacies remotely.

This will hasten the expansion of community pharmacies, particularly in underserved regions, thus immediately improving access to essential medicines.

Another suggestion from PSAC was to make the most of telepharmacy services and enhance the role of pharmacy assistants to bring public services closer to those who need them most.

“We are working toward a more equitable and sustainable health-care system,” said Borromeo during the group’s meeting last March 6.

This was not the first time that the worrying lack of pharmacists had been raised.

Back in 2014, the Drugstores Association of the Philippines already warned about the implication of the waning number of students taking up pharmacy, which they said would then pose a significant threat to the future of the country’s pharmaceutical industry.

Among the reasons behind the low number is the lack of appreciation for their role, thus not enough Filipinos are encouraged to enter the field.

“Most often, people would view pharmacists as just salespersons, but they don’t realize that we are health-care professionals behind that counter,” said Ma. Gilda Saljay, then president of the Philippine Pharmacists Association.

The Department of Health also said in 2021 that the Philippines was facing a shortage of 14,000 pharmacists, on top of the shortages in other health-care professionals, from doctors and nurses and even radiologists.

Sen. Pia Cayetano echoed this finding in 2023, when she noted that : “Everything that makes a health system sustainable, we have a shortage (of).”

Clearly, there is no lack of knowledge of how serious the problem with the shortage of medical professionals is, but what is missing is the commitment to go beyond just wringing hands and take decisive action to solve the problem.The Marcos administration can take up the suggestion of PSAC to take the “regulatory sandbox” approach and consider loosening the current requirement so that pharmacists can oversee several pharmacies and drugstores at the same time to multiply their impact.

While that is being considered, the government can think more long term by, for example, providing financial assistance to those who are keen on entering the health-care field but do not have the financial resources to do so. Another way is to introduce a stepladder approach so that those who are already working in the field such as pharmacy assistants can get credits to work their way into becoming registered pharmacists.

Finally, greater appreciation for health-care professionals must be demonstrated by giving them the commensurate salaries and benefits they deserve, including those who risked their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic and who are still waiting for their long-delayed allowances.

The STANDS - An Inquirer Sports Newsletter

 

View in browser   |   Download our app March 14, 2025 It's going to be another tough encounter between Barangay Ginebra and TNT. (PBA IMAGES) Hey there sports fan, Later tonight, Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner's Cup gets going. Let's unwrap all the storylines for this Finals showdown. For Barangay Ginebra and TNT Tropang Giga, this championship battle is another chapter in their growing rivalry. These two powerhouses have met in high-stakes matchups before, and once again, they clash for supremacy in a best-of-seven series. Ginebra, known for its massive fanbase, seeks redemption after previous heartbreaks against TNT.  The Tropang Giga, despite missing key veteran Jayson Castro, remain confident in their ability to challenge the Gin Kings with their deep roster and experienced play. The Finals schedule is set, with every game expected to be a test of endurance, adjustments, and sheer willpower. For Ginebra, this series represents an opportunity to finally break through against TNT, a team that has often had their number in recent years. Their passionate supporters, known for their unwavering belief, are hoping this time the magic works in their favor. For TNT, this is a chance to reinforce their dominance, even in the absence of a key leader. The team has thrived under pressure, proving that their depth and versatility make them a formidable opponent. While Castro's absence will be felt, the Tropang Giga have weapons that can exploit Ginebra’s vulnerabilities. Beyond just a title bout, this duel is a renewal of a rivalry that will be long remembered. Both squads have championship pedigrees, and this latest collision will add another compelling chapter to their history. Who will seize control in Game 1 and set the tone for the rest of the series? Basketball fans are in for a battle worthy of the biggest stage. Like this email? Forward it to your friends and let them know that they can sign up here. ZUS Coffee is through to the quarterfinals. (PVL IMAGES) Meanwhile... Here's a trivia question: Which UAAP women’s volleyball star is currently undergoing an internship as a teacher of Grade 3 students? I'll give you the answer later. Speaking of volleyball, brace yourselves for the biggest game in the first round of the UAAP women's volleyball tournament. Season leader National University hopes to keep its record spotless and will face a chill University of Santo Tomas on Sunday. And oh, the PVL All-Filipino Conference now has a complete set of quarterfinalists and guess what? ZUS is part of that field.  What we're up to next: The knockout rounds are done and the PVL All-Filipino heads to its quarterfinal round with some surprising and intriguing matchups. We don't expect Barangay Ginebra to fumble in the semifinals anymore so we're focusing now on how the championship of the PBA Commissioner's Cup will shape up. And, of course, we will keep track of the UAAP women's volleyball tournament.  Number of the Week: 1 NBA players who have scored at least 30 points, 20 rebounds and 20 assists in a single game: Nikola Jokic. QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Hopefully, we can win at least one against Belen. Please [Belen], let us have one.” —Detdet Pepito, UST captain, joking about how she has yet to beat goodfriend Bella Belen in the UAAP.  Hi Klaus, Have feedback? We're happy to hear it. Give Suggestions 68. That's the answer to the trivia question above. Think you can ace the rest of our weekly sports quiz? Head over to our Viber community and try the test out! Buy the Inquirer at newsstands, subscribe to our digital edition, Inquirer Plus, visit our online site and follow us on socials (Twitter: @inquirersports; FB: facebook.com/inquirersports) for more stories and updates—or to send us questions or suggestions of stories you'd want to read. See you next Friday! Francis Francis T. J. Ochoa is the Sports Editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. For comments, suggestions and questions, hit him up on Twitter (@ftjochoaINQ).