Revisiting Christian poverty

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

          THE Memorial of St. Francis Assisi (October 4) reminds us of

the strategic role of poverty and detachment from earthly good in

pursuing true Christian charity. And the gospel of that day reinforces

this crucial theme in Christian life. It’s about the rich young man

who wanted to know from Christ how to inherit eternal life. (cfr. Lk

10,25-37)

          We cannot overemphasize the strategic relevance of this

virtue. With all the glut of material and temporal things and

amenities now on us, we need to be more conscious and adept in living

and developing this virtue of detachment.

          I don’t think we can afford to be casual about this concern

anymore. The worldly things are now so attractive, so tempting and so

riveting that if we are not careful, there’s no way but be swept away

by its rampaging worldly laws and impulses.

          In fact, at one time, Christ compares the great difficulty

involved in resisting the allure of worldly things in a very graphic

way: “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle

than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” (Mk 10,25)

          This virtue has the primary purpose of emptying our mind and

heart of anything that can compete or, worse, replace the love for God

and for others which is proper to all of us.

          It’s not about running away from worldly things, much less,

of hating the goods of the earth and our temporal affairs, but of

knowing how to handle them, so as not to compromise the fundamental

law of love that should rule us.

          To repeat, it is not just a matter of emptying ourselves but

rather of filling ourselves with what is proper to us. In short, we

practice detachment to acquire and enhance the attachment proper for

us as God’s image and likeness and as God’s children.

          Christ many times praised this particular virtue, referring

to it in one of the beatitudes as being “poor in spirit.” Also, in

that episode where a rich young man asked Christ how he could enter

heaven, the answer was, after following the commandments which the

young man said he was doing, to sell all he had, and to give to the

poor and to come, follow Christ. (cfr Mk 10,21)

          It’s quite clear that a requirement for entering heaven is

detachment from earthly things. This should be clear to all of us, and

should guide us in the way we use the things of the world. These

things should lead us to God and to others, not isolate us, building

up our own world and destiny.

          So the detachment our Lord is asking of us actually does not

mean that we hate our life, our parents and others, and the things of

this world. Rather it is a detachment that asks of us to have

rectitude of intention, that everything that we do be for the glory of

God.

          St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians said as

much: “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever else you do,

do all to the glory of God.” (10,31)

          We should not be afraid to go through the required

sacrifices and self-denial, since these can only lead us to the joy

and peace meant for us. We need to do better than have a shallow and

narrow view of our earthly life, a knee-jerk reaction to things.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

The Beauty of Nature

My column in Mindanao Daily News and BusinessWeek Mindanao

OPINION

By KLAUS DÖRING

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Even as a little boy, I enjoyed staying and playing outside. That was easy because I was born and raised in the deepest province in Germany. To this day, I am a great advocate for preserving nature. Some of previous columns at this corner may confirm that.

 

Honestly, have you ever thought about how beautiful nature is around us? Doesn’t it look just like a painting on canvas?

I have many times stood awestruck at the beauty of nature unfolding like magic. Just look at the colors scattered on the sky in the sunset. How versatile the sky is every day.

But, nature is quite tricky at times. Nature only reveals its beauty to people who really want to feel nature.You really have to start exploring nature to see its hidden gems.Many times you would have to hike the toughest route or walk the muddiest trail, to see nature at its best. But, the efforts would always be worth it.

Nature and its beauty are infinite. You really can see the beauty of nature in all things around you.

But, as Plato once said, ‘beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder,’ it really matters how you see things around you. Some people find beauty and happiness in little things. But, some of us fail to see the beauty of nature around us.

Nature is splendid, beginning from the tiny butterflies and flowers to mountains and beaches. It never fails to amuse us. Just open your eyes and look around for a while. You will start seeing the beauty of nature in the very simple things around you.

 

Psalm 104 shows appreciation for every aspect of nature, even creatures like wild goats, lions and whales - just to mention a few. The author of Psalm 104 saw how the world fits together. Everything is in its proper sphere. At night, wild animals hunt; at daybreak humans go out to work. The rain falls, nourishing crops for people and grass for cattle, but also watering the forest to provide a place for birds to nest.

 

No, don't worry. I don't live in an illusory world. Let's put all natural disasters and climate change aside for a moment. Modern people are often preoccupied with the fear of overcrowding and poisoning nature. But you can still find beautiful parts in this country - alone and abandoned.

 

I think, in addition to the mental clarity of being called to our senses, I also believe nature makes people genuinely smarter. Everyone loves having fun and one thing I’ve learned is that nature really does have something fun for everyone.

 

And one more thing: it doesn’t matter if you’re an omnivore, carnivore, vegetarian or vegan… if it weren’t for nature, you wouldn’t have food. Worth to think about it... .

 

+++

 

Comments, suggestions or questions? Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or

follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com .

Refining our spirit of penance

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

          WE have to be wary of the conditions nowadays that would

tend to desensitize us from our constant need for penance and

conversion. This, I believe, is the message Christ wanted to impart to

us when he said, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if

the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon,

they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.”

(Lk 10,13)

          We cannot deny that there now are many elements that would

lead us to be self-absorbed and self-centered, to be just concerned

about the here and now and forget about the hereafter, to be stuck

with the material and temporal and ignore the spiritual and eternal.

Even worse, there are now moves toward outright irreligiosity,

directly contradicting God’s laws by legalizing immoral actions like

abortion, etc.

          We need to have a drastic revival of our spirit of penance

and conversion. Our spirit of penance and conversion is in crisis

nowadays because our idea of what is good and evil is now reduced to

our personal preferences, or at best to what can be termed as our

social, political, cultural or even ideological consensus.

          In short, we are not anymore referring things to God but to

ourselves. This is what is called the post-modern thinking which views

“realities as plural and subjective and dependent on the individual’s

worldview.”

          It proclaims that there can be diverse interpretations of

truth. It rejects sharp distinctions and global, absolute and

universal truths. It sees truth as highly individualistic and

subjective, as absolutely bound by culture, time, place and all sorts

of conditionings.

          We need to go back to God by first acknowledging our

sinfulness. That we are all sinners and in need of conversion should

come as no surprise to us. We just have to be realistic in handling

this lifetime predicament of ours, making use of all the means that,

thanks to God, have also been made available in abundance.

          There’s confession, for one, and the Holy Eucharist,

spiritual direction, regular examinations of conscience, indulgences,

etc.

          There’s just one interesting thing that, I believe, is worth

bringing up at this point in time. And that is that conversion should

not just be a matter of a moment, but should rather be a stable state

of mind and heart.

          St. John Paul II’s encyclical, “Dives in misericordia” (Rich

in mercy), has some relevant words about this point. “Authentic

knowledge of the God of mercy, the God of tender love,” the saintly

Pope said, “is a constant and inexhaustible source of conversion, not

only as a momentary interior act but also as a permanent attitude, as

a state of mind.”

          He continues: “Those who come to know God in this way, who

‘see’ Him in this way, can live only in a state of being continually

converted to Him. They live, therefore in ‘status conversionis;’ and

it is this state of conversion which marks out the most profound

element of the pilgrimage of every man and woman on earth in ‘status

viatoris.’” (13)

          It would be good to go slowly on these words if only to feel

at home with this wonderful truth of divine mercy as well as our

lifetime need for it. Let’s hope and pray that we can manage to

conform our attitudes and core beliefs along these lines expressed by

St. John Paul.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

10 reasons why Filipinos and Germans are alike

 

By: Stephanie Zubiri-Crespi - Philippine Star

Two worlds so far apart … a land rich in history, royalty, castles, emperors, deep and dark evergreen forests, winter wonderlands and snowy mountains, peaceful harmony in austerity and discretion in a recently reunited land; the other a young republic, tropical and lush jungles, bright sun and torrential rains, happiness in chaos, a flamboyant population in raging Asian capitalist development.

Their children have flaxen blond hair and eyes as blue as the sky. Our children have shiny raven hair and friendly, almond-shaped onyx eyes.

Germany and the Philippines, two worlds so far apart and yet we have so many things in common that many here on our warm, palm tree-lined shores have yet to discover.

1. Friendliness. I have to say that Filipinos pride themselves on being hospitable and open-hearted. We welcome guests from far-off lands and are happy to help people in need. Far from the post-World War II Golden Age of Hollywood films that portray Germans on the big screen as cold, calculating and evil Nazi soldiers, Germans are extremely friendly, kind and warm people. I’ll never forget when I left my allergy medicines back home and was trying to purchase some in a pharmacy: the lady was truly concerned, tried to find different non-prescription, homeopathic options, and when she heard me whispering in French she immediately tried to practice hers. It’s a common trait that I’ve found, whether in the countryside in a tiny organic vegetable shop or in a Berlin café, people are kind, gentile and considerate. They love to learn about where you’re from and what it’s like and are very willing to muster up English, French, Spanish or even some Tagalog words to make you feel at ease.

2. Beer. We Pinoys love our beer, ice-cold, below-zero — it’s the perfect tropical refreshment. We order by the bucket, barkada nights with friends, a nice brewski after work, buy one take one during happy hour. The Germans, however, boy, do they take their love affair with beer to another level. And I mean, it’s serious. Go to any beverage shop and it’s like you died and went to beer heaven. A whole Miss Universe pageant of glorious beer: blonds, amber, honey tones and ebony … from the palest pilsen to the richest stout, there are over 1,300 breweries in Germany that produce around 5,000 different kinds of beer. The German Beer Purity Law was introduced in 1516 and is the oldest and strictest food law in the world! The Oktoberfest (which actually occurs at the end of September) is a grandiose testament to their love of the malty bubbly. Beer is considered a beverage and not really alcohol; they even have non-alcoholic beer. The variety is so mind-boggling that the new trend is to create a getränkemarkt or beverage supermarket alongside the actual supermarket just to house the beverage section. Yes, a whole building 70-percent-filled with beer of all sorts. Some other soft drinks? Vitamalz, a malty soda that tastes not unpleasantly like liquid pumpernickel and beer. So the beer buds (taste buds) get trained and nurtured.

3. Boy, do we love our parties and barrio fiestas! Every year there’s some sort of celebration and parade where people come together to feast, dance and sing. Little German towns in far-flung areas of the countryside nestled in gorgeous wheat fields and fawn-laden forests have their own dorffest, a local band place where they come together on the town square singing and rejoicing. Translated it literally means town festival or barrio fiesta! And guess what? They have their own lechon.

4. Germany has fattiest, happiest, tastiest pigs I’ve ever seen or eaten. Oh, yes. For big celebrations they roast one whole, just like our very own lechon. Crispy-skinned and juicy spannferkel is enjoyed by everyone. It’s no wonder that German expats feel rather at home in the Philippines. They probably nix the Mang Tomas sauce and would willingly trade garlic rice for potatoes, but their love for pork is almost as strong as their love for beer.

5. Speaking of pork, the sausage connection. It’s always been a mystery to me why Filipinos love sausages so much. Back in high school, before the grand era of readily available, locally made gourmet sausages, friends would sneak into the country hand-carried kielbasa sausages. I was like any other Filipino child nourished in kiddy parties with bright neon-red hotdogs on a stick with multicolored mini-marshmallows. Thank heavens for globalization and the discovery of what a real sausage is all about. Grilled on charcoal, a variety of wursten, or sausages, start pale and turn golden and start to crack open, letting flavorful juices out. Served with some bread or potatoes or pommes (French fries) they’re absolutely delicious, the right texture and saltiness with an intoxicating smoky flavor. If our hotdog aisle looks long and ample, one trip to a German supermarket and you’ll realize the absolute pure glorification of the pig in all examples.

6. We both love live bands and cheesy local music. There’s a real local pop culture for drinking songs and festive music. The German music scene, hardly ever exported except in my language class, where I had to survive two weeks of dissecting and memorizing the melancholic and unfortunately catchy Die Griescher Wein, is thriving. Our local OPM bands are no different. I kid you not. I was in Cagayan de Oro not too long ago on an exciting Friday evening in what they call “Divisoria” and I had a flashback of a biergarten in some plaza in Hamburg. Live band music? Check. Barbecues and grilled sausages? Check. Overflowing beer? Check. For the general public in Germany, having a good time is all about hanging out with friends over a beer, some pulutan and great music.

7. Family. Germans and Filipinos are very family-oriented. There are lots of parks and activities created for the family to enjoy. Kids have a big role in society and in all the numerous restaurants and cafes, you’ll see families eating together. Unlike some other European countries and famous capitals where children are hardly ever seen in restaurants, cute little golden-haired kiddos eat like the big guys, sit happily at the table and join in conversations.

8. They can’t live without potatoes like we can’t live without rice. I didn’t realize how drastic it was until a German friend of my brother’s was in town. He came over to my house for raclette and potatoes and exclaimed: “Finally! Potatoes! All I’ve been eating is rice!”

9. Christmas. Just set foot in a mall on Sept. 1 in Manila, you’ll hear a Jingle Bells or two. Filipino Christmas is Christmas on steroids. It’s an insane moment of happiness and frenzied togetherness. Christmas in Germany is like the fairytale we try to recreate with our store-bought snow and mistletoe. The traditions, Christmas carols, the weinachsmarkt or Christmas markets are just splendid. I spent Christmas there last year going around saying, “Ooh, those are real icicles! Ah, that holly is real! And there’s honest-to-goodness real frost on it! Snowflakes really do look like snowflakes!” While they don’t play Christmas carols in September, like we do, their love for the holiday is just as deep.

10. Germans have a sweet tooth. Sound familiar? The number of eiscafes or ice cream parlors in astonishing. I can’t even fathom finishing one-eighth of the towering, mountainous gelato confections they serve. The only places I’ve seen lines just as long for ice cream is the Philippines. Donuts, apfelstrudel, tarts and pastries of all kinds… Your Dunkin Donuts/Mr. Donut Bavarian cream? Well, honey, Bavaria is southern Germany. Every merienda moment is sweet kiss from Deutschland.

Although my German is minimal, I did notice that after a few “Prosts, Mabuhays,” and several glass-clicking moments, more and more words and phrases get unlocked. It doesn’t take much to feel at home in Germany: I’ve got my beer, my sausages, my cheesy music and warm, friendly faces: I raise my glass and churn out the most sophisticated phrase I know in German: Auf das was wir lieben! To the things we love! Then we chug the beer, hope for the best and the hung-over morning after, the pharmacy guy will be extra nice.

YOUR WISH IS MY COMMAND

My column in Mindanao Daily News and BusinessWeek Mindanao 

OPINION

By KLAUS DÖRING

 September 29, 2021

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When I was still a young boy, I was taught that there might be fairy creatures offering us three free wishes. We should be always so wise enough to think it over very well and select the best wishes for our very own. Sure, there will be always classic stupidities regarding fairy-wishes. We are all human beings and don't belong to the fairy category.

Your wish is my command! And, there is someone who wishes at first a strong health, and - sure, he or she receives it, because good fairies never hesitate. And now and then? Here he is, for example, the healthy man is like a boulder in the surf, but surrounded by a world of war, flames and so-called military conflicts. But this man is still alive and as fit as a fiddler. Why should he wish for a strong health...?

Well, maybe we have to formulate our wishes for something moreimproved. But what? Discretion is the better part of valor. Let's try it like a fairy-tale and ask for wealth, riches and abundance. These are the one and only things on earth, right?

With money we can travel around the globe, find friends, even in far away distances, and we can do charities. Well, and if we might become sick, maybe seriously sick, we must not worry. We can afford and finance the most affordable doctors and most updated hospitals to give us back to good health. And if not?

In many fairy tales we can also find the one with unassuming manners, inconspicuous, poorly dressed-up, a little bit silly, mostly disregarded and easily to be overlooked. This guy has only one wish, such as eternal salvation and bliss with a little stool in heaven besides God. And guys, be sure, that he will get it, and, he is happy and very Thank you. So far so good, it seems the simpleton has been the brightest.

It's all right: three wishes and no one more. A different thing, isn't it?
If all human beings on this entire globe could be all around happy, which means to say: nobody must go hungry any more, nobody must be despairing, nobody must be worried about wars and cat astrophes, and everybody should be able to enjoy health and happiness without bearing trials ... yes, if ... Then we wouldn't need fairy-wishes... .

Real life looks different. Real life is not a fairy tale. We need prayers and should be more respectful and friendly to each other. Especially nowadays. All around the globe. Each one of us has his or her own three wishes. Me too.

One of them:  peace on earth!

How does being a Filipino affect your selfhood?

 

By: Bisaya

Barok and Takya Blog | Bisaya Podcast

Being a Filipino is such an incredible, rewarding and challenging thing to be.

The Philippines is such a beautiful country with so much history and culture. One of the most traditionally rich cultures in the world, which unites 128 million people in peace and hope for a better future. We have temples that surpass architectural beauty, with meticulous attention to every detail built by our ancestor's generations ago. Natural wonders range from perfect white sand beaches to majestic mountains with lush cascades of waterfalls pouring down their sides, leaving you speechless from their majesty. When we make these things accessible to you, not only do you feel proud but also energised because there is always something grand on this island, never ceasing its natural beauty or cultural heritage, which unite us as one.

The motivation to be a Filipino, however, comes from within; the rich history of our forefathers and ancestors who fought for freedom against foreign rule. We were even one of the few countries in Southeast Asia freed from colonial control, which gives us such a rare sense of pride and gratitude towards leaders like Rizal and Bonifacio, who fought for us before. We do not forget the lessons of history and how it tells us, as citizens, to fight against oppression to ensure democracy lives on forever constantly.

The rich culture ignites our passion every day because it shapes who we are today. The values instilled in us promote responsibility which all Filipinos know is vital for success in society. We value honesty, diligence, patience, humility and generosity, among many others which live on through us even today into the future generations of Filipinos. These values are what makes us strong as a people because they give us the moral compass to direct our lives in a way that brings glory to God and benefit for society at large.

It is important to remember we are Filipinos, and we make it a point to be the best citizens we can be. We never let anyone or anything diminish our Filipino identity, which makes us stand tall and proud in society today. The values instilled in us give us the confidence to continue fighting for others when times get tough because there is no greater calling on this earth than to be a Filipino, fighting for freedom and democracy in the name of God.

For that reason, I am very proud to be a Filipino.

We will always fight for our rights as citizens, and we shall never forget who we are as Filipinos. We live simply because there is no such thing as having too much; we live a humble life because we know the value of what we have and how it should be used responsibly. We do not waste. We respect our elders and give to those less fortunate than us, giving them the same opportunities as everyone else in society. Our values are deeply embedded in our history, culture and religion, making them so essential for us to live by. Our culture gives us joy and happiness every day, so we can always share with others less fortunate than us.

Our rich history of war against oppression fills us with the courage to face any challenge life has for us. The lessons of all the great Filipino heroes before fuel our fire today to fight for democracy, freedom and what is proper. We never stop fighting, and we never give up on our goals because we know they make us a better citizen and person in the long run. A Filipino is someone who will always stand for what is right, fight against oppression and support democracy no matter which corner of this earth we may be in.

Continuing Christ’s redemptive mission

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

          CHRIST’S redemptive mission is very much an ongoing affair,

and he involves all of us actually in this business. Those words that

he addressed to his apostles, giving them their mission, can be

considered as addressed to us also.

          “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few,” he said,

“so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his

harvest.” (Lk 10,2) The task, of course, is overwhelming and we are

asked to give our all. But we should not worry because Christ will

always be with us. It’s his work, after all, before it is ours. We

should just cooperate with him.

          In this regard, we have to give special attention to what

may be considered as the new mission lands nowadays where we do not

have to go far to carry out this duty. This can be done right where we

are.

          Yes, there is no doubt we are all meant to be apostles of

Christ, to be his ambassadors. That’s simply because we are meant to

be like Christ, to be ‘another Christ,’ and so we share also in his

redemptive mission which is a continuing affair as long as we are

still in this world.

          No wonder then that Christ would just choose his apostles

seemingly at random. He would just pass by a certain place, and upon

seeing someone, he would just say, “Come, follow me.” And wonder of

wonders also, the person called would just follow him without

question. In fact, it is said that the person called would leave

everything behind (“relictic omnibus”).

          We are all meant to be apostles of Christ with the lifelong

concern for doing apostolate, taking advantage of all the occasions

and situations in life. Vatican II spells it out very clearly. “The

Christian vocation is by its very nature a vocation to the

apostolate.” (Apostolicam actuositatem, 2) So, anyone who wants to be

truly consistent to his Christian identity and calling should realize

ever deeply that he is called to help others get closer to God. This

is what apostolate is all about.

          We need to be familiar with this Christian duty. We have to

do apostolate, and we need to see to it that the zeal for it is always

nourished, stoked and fanned to its most intense degree.

          We have to understand though that in doing apostolate, we

should rely only on Christ’s power. Thus, Christ in commissioning his

apostles, told them to “take nothing for the journey, neither walking

stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money…” (cfr. Lk 9,1-6) He will provide

for everything that we need.

          And nowadays, we seem to get more convinced that the new

mission lands are not anymore those places and people who are far away

from the mainstream, those who still are kind of primitive in their

culture and deprived even of the basic material necessities, or who

are still into their own pagan ways. Of course, due attention and

evangelization should continue for them. These should never stop.

          But we are more convinced that the new mission lands are the

more developed countries that are in the middle of the mainstream

world but are very far in their faith. More than far from the faith

and from God, they look more like resistant and even against God and

anything that has to do with religion. They are more challenging since

the attention and evangelization to be given to them require a more

complex strategy.

          We have to give special attention to these new mission lands!

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

What comes on your mind when you hear the word “Philippines”?

Bisaya

https://barokandtakya.com

To some, the word "Philippines" will mean hope for tomorrow. There are people in this world who stay positive even when their environment dictates otherwise. I am one of them ‍and I plan on staying that way. My home country is just like me - bright, with many talents ‍but also plagued by poverty ‍still, there is always hope that things can get better in time ‍we might not be perfect right now, but at least we're still trying.

Other people might think about sun-drenched beaches and sari-clad girls who move to create a beat so irresistible you feel you could dance all day ­— not because it's what they want to do, but because it's in their blood to move when music plays. To others, the Philippines means family and friendship; when times get hard, they lean on each other to stay strong when they're close to falling apart. There are still others who regard the country as a land full of history, rich with natural resources and where every event is marked by tradition.

To me, the Philippines means many things: courage, strength and resilience ‍because as long as we have those qualities, anything is possible. This country has been through a lot, but her people have always persevered through thick and thin ‍the only way forward now is up. Let us take inspiration from those who came before us and stand tall in the face of adversity. So, even if you're struggling, even if the world is against you, ‍take heart in knowing that there are others out there just like you who have faced --and are facing-- difficulties. We may not be perfect, but at least we are willing to do what's necessary to succeed. You can do it, too, just like you always have. Just like the Philippines.

The Philippines are unique because of its diversity in both natural and cultural resources. There are many things to discover about this country, so you better get started! Lastly, rest assured knowing that your home country is on your side. Don't forget that you have a home in the Philippines.

PLGU-Davao de Oro adds school amenities for Tagugpo public schools in Pantukan

 

 The eradication of conflicts in far-flung communities prompted the increasing population of school children province-wide. Even in the middle of the pandemic, PLGU-Davao de Oro strongly supports the Department of Education in providing quality education for the younger generation.

On September 24, 2021, the provincial government headed by Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy officially handed the newly built school amenities to Tagugpo Elementary School, and National High School in Pantukan.

Tagugpo Elementary School officially received the new Teacher’s Cottage, while Tagugpo National High School received the multi-purpose covered court. These infrastructure projects were funded by the provincial government and was made possible thru the initiatives of the officials.

The blessing and ceremonial turn-over were attended by Governor Tyron Uy, Mayor Roberto M. Yugo of Pantukan, Brgy. Captain Ulyses B. Alcosero of Tagugpo with his Brgy. officials, and functionaries, and the teachers and staff of the primary and secondary school.

“Priority nato ang mga lagyo nga lugar ilabi napod nga kinhanglan gyud sa mga teachers ug kalidad nga kasilungan o teacher's cottage. That's why naka decide mi sa probinsya nga magpa buhat ug mga teacher's cottage alang sa atung mga magtutudlo. Education is very important, maskin pa anaa kita sa pandemya, dili gyud nato kalimtan nga supportahan atung mga kabataan kutob sa atung makaya kay kami sa gobyerno, andam perme mutabang.” said Governor Uy.

PLGU-DdO plans to establish more cottages for the teachers assigned in rural communities. Around 21 school sites will be given with teacher’s cottage, identified first by DepEd.

 (Jasteen Abella, Information Division, Davao de Oro, photos by Jonie Cadiz)

Angels are real

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

          ON the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael

(September 29), we are presented with that amusing gospel episode

about the calling of Nathanael. (cfr. Jn 1,47-51) We might be

wondering how Nathanael’s vocation is related to the existence of

angels.

          My personal take on this question is that Nathanael, whom

Christ described as a man without guile, must have been enabled to

recognize Christ as the Son of God, the King of Israel, through the

help of the angels.

          When Christ told him, in response to Nathanael’s question

about how Christ knew him, that Christ saw him under the fig tree

before Philip came, some angels must have been involved in that event.

          We can somehow support that speculation by referring to the

fact that at the end of gospel episode, Christ told Nathanael, “Amen,

amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God

ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” What Nathanael was doing

under the fig tree must have something to do about who the Son of Man

is, and about heaven and angels.

          In any event, our faith tells us that angels are real and

that they are our great ally, helping us in all our needs, from the

most trivial to the most important. Yes, angels exist. They are real.

We need to say this now since angels, if they are ever referred to

nowadays, are often considered as mere figments of our imagination

that at best can be used as literary and sentimental devices.

          Obviously, faith is needed to believe in angels. They are

creatures whose presence goes beyond what our senses can perceive.

They can however assume bodily forms as mentioned several times in the

Bible. But essentially, they are pure spirits. As such, they are

readily available to help us, since they are not limited by time and

space.

          We have to develop and popularize a devotion to angels,

especially to the archangels. They are great allies that we can count

on especially during our difficult moments. They are so close and so

identified with God that we can refer to them as God’s organic or

vital extensions of his own self, if we may describe them that.

          Remember what Christ said about angels in general? It was

when he talked about the angels of little children whom the disciples

wanted to shoo away from Christ for being a disturbance. “See that you

do not despise one of these little ones,” he said. “For I tell you

that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in

heaven.” (Mt 18,10)

          Our guardian angels, for example, are very helpful to us in

our task of navigating the most tricky spiritual and supernatural

realities. When there are strong temptations, or when some unknown

evil spirits seem to bother us, or when we are undertaking a spiritual

and supernatural project like coming up with an apostolic initiative,

our guardian angels make themselves available to help us in any way.

          It’s important that we be aware of the existence of these

very powerful angels who, for sure, would be most willing and most

happy to help us in their own way. We just have to enliven our faith

in them and develop the appropriate devotion.

          Many great saints have benefited from the help of the

angels. It would be good if we train ourselves to develop an intimate

relationship with them. To be sure, only good things can come out of

such relationship!

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com