The double effect of routine

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

WHILE establishing and keeping a daily routine can have its great advantages, we should also be wary of its disadvantages that are often hidden and unperceived.

Indeed, routine can foster increased productivity, since it can help in prioritizing tasks, managing time and boosting productivity. It can also reduce stress, since it minimizes surprises and other uncertainties. It can improve our focus. If well managed, it can even enhance creativity, since it can free up mental resources that can allow us for more creative thinking.

But it also has its downside. Since routine involves repetitive tasks, it can lead us to feelings of monotony and boredom. It can also lead us to rigid ways that would adversely impact on our ability to be flexible amid changing circumstances. It can desensitize us from possibilities of innovation and creativity.

We should learn how to deal with this negative aspect of routine. We should not allow it to muffle our enthusiasm and love for God and others. The challenge is how to keep ourselves burning with love in spite of our routinary tasks. In fact, if we are clever enough like the serpent that Christ talked about, (cfr. Mt 10,16) we can even make use of these routinary tasks as a way to nourish our love for God and others.

For this, we have to see to it that we are always activating our faith, hope and charity by making frequent acts of faith, hope and charity in spite of the lack of gusto for them. Much like everything else in our life, there are things that we should just do even if do not feel like doing them simply because they are necessary to us. These frequent acts of faith, hope and charity can do a lot of wonder and can fan into a flame our waning enthusiasm and love for God and others.

These theological virtues, these God-given gifts are the ones that enable us to live our life in a way that is full of love, the love that comes from God himself. It’s a love that always renews itself, not allowing itself to get accustomed, much less, bored by what we do everyday.

As the Catechism would put it, these theological virtues “bestow on one the capacity to live in a relationship with the Trinity. They are the foundation and the energizing force of the Christian’s moral activity and they give life to the human virtues.” (CCC 384)

With this love that the theological virtues impart on us, everything will always strike us as something new. With it, the prose of everyday life is somehow converted into beautiful verses that are engaging to both the body and the soul, the heart and the mind.

With this love, we can manage to see beauty and find meaning in everything, even in things, events and situations that humanly speaking are not pleasant. With it we can manage to escape from the shallow and narrow appreciation that our senses and our human understanding can achieve of things in general. It lets us go to the deeper and higher levels of reality.

This love enables us to relate the material to the spiritual, the mundane to the sacred, the temporal to the eternal, the natural to supernatural. It connects us and everything else to God, the source of all good things.

Obviously, while these theological virtues are divine gratuitous gifts to us, we also have to do our part to take care of them well, otherwise they would have no effect on us. Thus, we need to develop the corresponding human virtues which the theological virtues are meant to animate. We can never overemphasize this point.

Filipino choir wins gold in South Korea

Los Cantantes de Manila sing their way to top prizes at the 2025 Busan Choral Festival and Competition

By Poch Eulalia   

Published Nov 13, 2025 09:11 amIt's time to sing praises once more, as this Filipino choir group nabs top prizes at the 2025 Busan Choral Festival and Competition (BCFC) in South Korea.

Los Cantantes de Manila (LCDM) managed to win two first prizes, for the classical mixed category and the ethnic/traditional category, and the Conductor’s Prize for the group's conductor, Darwin Vargas. The competition took place from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2 in Busan, South Korea. LCDM went up against 12 other choirs from other countries. For the ethnic/traditional category, the Philippines managed to make a clean sweep as the Ligao National High School Voice Chorale from Albay took silver and the Cebu Normal University-Chorale nabbed bronze. For the classical mixed category, Voice of Satya Wacana Christian University from Indonesia placed second, while SizzlinMix from Japan placed third.

This isn't the first time LCDM has won first prize in a major competition. In 2024, LCDM nabbed the top awards at the Moscow Spring A Cappella Festival in Russia and the Béla Bartók International Choir Competition in Hungary. The group also won first prize in 2023 at the International Chamber Choir Competition in Germany and the Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival in Manila. They also won first prize in Germany back in 2017. They have also received the Ani ng Dangal award four times from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for their international wins. 

“We are deeply honored to represent the Philippines and to share our music with the world," shares Darwin. "Through this victory, we hope to continue bringing Philippine choral artistry and cultural heritage to the global stage." This recent accomplishment comes fresh off their stint as a finalist at the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing held last Oct. 26 in Tolosa, Spain. It is considered one of the most prestigious choral competitions worldwide. 

Davao City sends relief, medicines to 'Tino' victims in Cebu

By Philippine News Agency

Published Nov 12, 2025 05:42 pm

DAVAO CITY – The city government dispatched 16 trucks carrying food packs and medicines to Cebu province Wednesday to assist communities affected by typhoon ‘’Tino.’’

CDRRMO head Alfredo Baloran said the convoy carries approximately 4,000 food packs, 2,000 bottles of drinking water, and assorted medicines for typhoon-affected residents.

“Same with what we did before, we will bring the relief goods to Cebu for the typhoon-affected residents,” Baloran said in an interview Wednesday.

The city will also provide P3.9 million in financial assistance to Cebu, Bogo City, and eight municipalities hardest hit by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake on Sept. 30.

Last month, Davao City deployed 57 personnel, including medical staff, social workers, and disaster responders, to support earthquake-affected areas in Cebu, along with 5,000 food packs, 5,000 bottles of water, and 30 boxes of medicine. (PNA)

𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩 𝐃𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬

 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩 𝐃𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬

The National Durian Industry Summit 2025 aims to equip Dabawenyo farmers to meet international standards and strengthen their foothold in the global market as the city’s durian produce enters its third year of exports.

The Durian Summit is expected to draw 350 to 400 Dabawenyos farmers and will be held on November 25 to 26, 2025 at the Grand Menseng Hotel.

Fe Oguio, Agriculturist II, Cacao/Durian Focal Person of the City Agriculturist Office (CAgrO), said that the summit is designed for farmers to raise their concerns directly with international and local experts during the open forum.

“Kaning Durian Summit opportunity gyud ni sa mga uuma nga first-hand information, nga kung unsay experience nimo sa uma og problema nimo, mao niy opportunity nimo nga mangutana kay naa tay open forum. Kay kita sa pilipinas way behind pata sa technology sa durian, daghan pata og ilearn (This Durian Summit is an opportunity for farmers to get first-hand information, if you have any concerns, this is your opportunity to ask questions because we have an open forum. Because in the Philippines, we are way behind in terms of durian technology, we still have a lot to learn),” she told Madayaw Davao over Davao City Disaster Radio on November 12, 2025.

The summit will feature international speakers from Malaysia, Thailand and Australia, alongside local experts. Thailand, with over 40 years of durian export experience, will share farm production and design and management. Malaysia will present advanced techniques in flowering and fruiting while Australia will highlight international quality standards.

Meanwhile, the Regional Crop Protection will also introduce biological pest control methods to reduce farming costs.

She added that Davao City now has 19 operating factories from 3 that previously engaged in durian export with the Puyat, D101 and Duyaya varieties, the leading exports abroad. This expanded initiative also opens wider opportunities for farmers to have a direct connection with the exporters.

Oguio also invited farmers to attend the summit since, in addition to the lectures, they will have access to exhibitors and networking events, which will provide opportunity for them to form connections with other farmers.

“Among giimbitahan ang mga mag uuma sa durian, karon na ni siya ipahigayon sa November 25 to 26 sa Grand Menseng hotel. Ang registration naa sa Php 5,000, so I’m encouraging all the farmers labi na tung naa sa durian production. Nag imbitar atung durian industry association og mga experto gikan sa Malaysia, Thailand and Australia para maoy mag discuss regarding concerns sa durian. Daghan tag pwede matun-an kaning duha kaadlaw nga summit. At the same time pwede ka mag network kay naa man tay exhibitors pod (We are inviting the durian farmers to our Durian summit, which will be held on November 25 to 26 at the Grand Menseng hotel. The registration fee is Php 5,000, so I’m encouraging all the farmers, especially those in the durian production. Our durian industry association has invited experts from Malaysia, Thailand and Australia to discuss concerns regarding durian. A lot can be learned from this two-day summit. At the same time, you can network because we also have exhibitors” she added.

Registration for the summit is still ongoing. For more details, interested applicants may visit the official Facebook page of the National Durian Industry Summit, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550335422278. CIO

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14You, Mary Moon and 12 others

A lesson from the super typhoon: Protect our mountain ranges

By Manila Bulletin

Published Nov 13, 2025 12:01 am | Updated Nov 12, 2025 05:25 pm

Tributes to the Sierra Madre Mountain Range — stretching more than 500 kilometers from Cagayan in the north to Quezon in the south — filled social media after Super typhoon Uwan’s feared devastation turned out to be less severe than expected.

Nearly 1.5 million people were evacuated ahead of Uwan’s landfall. Schools and offices were closed, homes secured, and disaster teams placed on full alert. As Uwan’s rainbands, spanning nearly a thousand kilometers, swept across the country, the nation braced for another catastrophic storm.

But once again, the Sierra Madre — long regarded as the “backbone of Luzon” — stood as our natural defense. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Uwan weakened from a super typhoon to a typhoon after making landfall over Aurora and crossing the mountain range.

Scientists, however, remind us to view this protection with measured understanding. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), citing a 2023 study by Drs. Gerry Bagtasa and Bernard Alan Racoma, found that the Sierra Madre can reduce typhoon wind strength by about one to 13 percent, particularly in Northeastern Luzon. While this may seem modest, it can make the difference between life and death in vulnerable communities.

The same study noted that the mountain range can also increase rainfall on the western side of Luzon, including Metro Manila, by up to 55 percent. In other words, while the Sierra Madre slows down wind speeds, it also redistributes rainfall — lessening destruction in some areas but worsening floods in others.

Even so, its presence matters. Compared with Typhoon Tino’s 232 deaths in the Visayas and Mindanao weeks earlier, Uwan’s 27 fatalities — mostly due to landslides — show how early evacuations and natural barriers combined to save lives. The Sierra Madre’s forest cover helps absorb rainfall, stabilize slopes, and lessen the fury of incoming storms.

Environmental groups, church leaders, and scientists have long warned, however, that this protection is being eroded. Illegal logging, mining, and large-scale infrastructure projects continue to degrade the Sierra Madre’s forests. Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines put it simply: “Faith must move us from gratitude to responsibility. If God continues to save us through creation, then the least we can do is protect creation in return.”

The Sierra Madre shelters around 40 percent of the country’s remaining forest cover and 3,500 plant species — 58 percent found nowhere else. It spans 10 provinces and serves as a vital carbon sink covering 1.4 million hectares. Beyond being a natural barrier against typhoons, it regulates temperature, prevents floods and landslides, and supports countless communities and ecosystems.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has recognized its vital role and promised to strengthen conservation efforts. Existing measures, such as the Sierra Madre Natural Park and reforestation programs under the National Greening Program, are important beginnings — but much remains to be done to curb destructive human activities.

Science tells us that the Sierra Madre weakens storms, though imperfectly. Faith tells us it is a symbol of hope and protection. Both truths lead us to one call: We must protect what protects us.

The Sierra Madre can only continue to shield Luzon if its forests remain intact. Every illegal tree cut, every mountain mined, every forest cleared weakens not just the Sierra Madre, but us — the people it has long defended.

Are we doing enough to take care of the mountain that has taken care of us?

Cratering peso sinks to new record low vs US dollar

BY IAN NICOLAS P. CIGARAL

NOVEMBER 13, 2025

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

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PH seafaring industry emerges as ‘economic powerhouse’

The Philippine peso fell to a new record low on Wednesday, as investor confidence continued to be rattled by a widening corruption scandal at home that has already taken a toll on economic growth.

The local currency weakened by 18.5 centavos from the previous day to close at 59.17 against the dollar, surpassing the previous record low of 59.13 set on Oct. 28. Trading volume was heavy, rising to $1.7 billion from $1.47 billion in the prior session.

“Locally, market confidence is being tested by governance issues and slower growth, which make investors more cautious,” John Paolo Rivera, a senior research fellow at the state-run Philippine Institute for Development Studies, said.

FIRST IN 2 YEARS

 FIRST IN 2 YEARS

A Philippine eagle was seen soaring over the forest edges of Mt. Sinaka during a monitoring activity from November 4 to 7, 2025, marking its first recorded sighting in two years.

According to experts, the eagle’s absence in previous surveys may have been due to food scarcity, territorial competition, or natural dispersal behavior.

Mt. Sinaka, covering about 1,500 to 2,000 hectares, is the smallest known natural habitat of the critically endangered species and serves as a nesting and feeding area for a breeding pair of eagles and other threatened wildlife.

CENRO Matalam