Charity requires toughness

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

          WHEN Christ talked about the lost sheep and how the good

shepherd would do everything to find it (cfr. Mt 18,12-14), he must be

telling us that we should be tough in our love and care for one

another, such that even if someone is in grave error, we should do our

best to help and save him rather than leave him to remain lost.

          This is the charity Christ is showing us. It’s the charity

that is meant for us. With God’s grace, let us learn to develop that

charity, cultivating the relevant allied virtues of optimism, patience

and fidelity, so that instead of being turned off or scandalized by

the evils of others, we would even rev up our concern and solicitude

for those in some form of disorder.

          We need to be tough in this life, otherwise we will fail to

follow Christ who is the epitome of how we should be since he is the

pattern of our humanity, the savior of our damaged humanity, the “way,

the truth and the life” for us.

          Christ was tough to carry out his mission of saving us. He

knew from the beginning that he would be betrayed by someone close to

him, that he would suffer and die a most ignominious death, but these

did not deter him from pursuing his mission. His love for us was and

is such that he can take on anything that would come his way.

          Christ already warned us of the kind of suffering to expect

in our life. “They will seize and persecute you,” he said. (Lk 21,12)

“You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and

friends, and they will put some of you to death.” (Lk 21,16)

          All these should not affect our charity. If anything at all,

we should even be more charitable with those who give us trouble.

Thus, St. Paul described such charity when he said that “love bears

all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all

things.” (1 Cor 13,7) Christ already reassured us that as long as

suffer with him, we will also have the victory of his resurrection.

          In other words, we have to learn how to be friends with

everyone regardless of how they are, because only then can we help

them to attain the ultimate goal common to all of us. We also have to

learn how to deal with any situation, no matter how difficult and

ugly, not so much in physical terms as in the spiritual and moral. If

we are truly Christian, we would have his desire “not to condemn the

world but to save.” (cfr. Jn 3,17)

          As one saint said it, we should be willing to go to the very

gates of hell, without entering it, of course, if only to save a soul.

This obviously would require of us to be tough and clear about the

real goal to reach, and yet flexible and adaptable to any person and

to any condition.

          In this regard, we have to learn how to fraternize with

sinners. We have to replicate Christ’s attitude towards sinners, who

actually are all of us—of course, in varying degrees. We have to give

special attention to the lost sheep and to the lost coin. We have to

open all possible avenues to be in touch with all sinners.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

What are some major social faux pas to avoid when visiting Philippines?

Ethan James Coronel

Pragmatic humanist

Interests include history, politics, philosophy, culture, economics, law and science. I love writing, playing video games and watching movies and anime.

Pragmatic humanist, as the bio says. “Pragmatic” in the sense that truth, for me, is whatever unbiased and unfabricated empirical data says is both effective and appropriate for solving issues according to their contexts and constraints. “Humanist” in the sense that social constructs NEVER reduce the worth of any human being; the only constraint to this is my abhorrence for heinous crime, which makes me support the death penalty. They keep each other in check so I don’t become a dumbass who thinks in black and white terms.

I abhor dogma and malicious propaganda. I will attack both of them relentlessly. That’s why I attack American exceptionalists and Chinese ultranationalists equally.

I am usually open-minded until you are a bigot who dehumanizes people on account of either their sex, gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, creed, physical or mental disability, or socioeconomic status. Bonus demerits if you are a Nazi or a Social Darwinist.

Never get on my bad side. There is only one thing you can do for that to occur: making assumptions about who I am without providing any evidence to back up your claim. You can disagree and criticize with me but please do so civilly. If not, I will treat you like shit.

DP is Violet Evergarden from the anime of the same name.

Down to brass tacks:

As a sign of respect (unless you’re told its ok), don’t step inside a house with your shoes on. Politely leave it outside the door.

If you’re offered food casually or asked if you’ve already eaten, don’t take it at face value. In the Philippines, it is more a sign of courtesy than it is an invitation. However, if you’re a guest in a house, accept the offer and eat but don’t forget to leave a little morsel in your plate otherwise, you’ll be branded a glutton.

Never criticize a political leader no matter how strong the urge to do so or asked by your guest or a local. Just say something vague.

If you have local friends and you’re visiting, it would be a welcome treat if you bring with you some small items (‘pasalubong’). Not bringing anything creates the impression that you’re a tightwad.

Not many Filipinos appreciate their heads being touched as a sign of greeting. Shake their hands or nod to acknowledge them.

Don’t take offense when Filipinos call you “Hey, Joe.” To most of us, any Caucasian male/female is American unless you are pointedly asked what your nationality is.

Filipinos are non-confrontational so if you find yourself in situations where you need to assert yourself or correct something, avoid raising your voice or using profanity. We respond better to level-headed and even-handed treatment.

Filipinos are very sensitive and like the Chinese, we have an acute sense of “face” (or saving face). If you can, be diplomatic and never embarrass a local in front of everyone else. Talk to him/her in private if you can. Otherwise, let it go, especially if its small stuff.

We’re big on respect for elders so learn a few terms - use uncle or auntie to people older than you; or lolo (grandpa) or lola (grandma) to the seniors. Calling them merely by their names can be construed as being “fresh.”

A lot of Pinoys are lawbreakers (crossing a street while the stoplight is red, dropping cigarette butts on the streets, throwing candy wrappers or other small thrash items indiscriminately, etc.) but don’t interpret that as a license to imitate the behavior. I once saw a foreigner crossing the middle of Roxas Boulevard while the cars whizzed past. It was totally off-putting.

Fil-Am beauties crowned at Ms Philippines USA 2021 pageant

 

by Robert Requintina, Manila Bulletin

Cheska Angeles, 23, from Tracy, California has been crowned 2021 Ms Philippines USA.

Ysabella Sapienza, 17, from East Brunswick, New Jersey won the title of Ms Young Philippines USA.

Presented by the Geoffrey Jimenez Group of Companies, an evening of glitz and glamour filled the stage at the City National Grove of Anaheim last Nov. 21, during the grand Coronation Night of the Miss Philippines USA 2021 Beauty Pageant, the longest-running Filipino American beauty pageant in the US, now on its 10th successful year.

The 28 outstanding contestants were carefully selected after an arduous nationwide search.

Runners-up for Miss Young Philippines USA were Sophia Salon (Miss Tourism), Hanna Uyan (1st runner-up), Alyanna Santos (2nd runner-up) and Lorraine Mendoza (3rd runner-up). For Miss Philippines USA, runners-up were Bianca Tapia (Miss Tourism), Ericka Zayas (1st runner-up), Samantha Frank (2nd runner-up), and Khayzel Cornel (3rd runner-up).

Annually hosted by TV news correspondents Tony Cabrera of ABC 7, and Cher Calvin of KTLA TV, the star-studded extravaganza was graced by celebrities, including: Gazini Ganados, Miss Universe Philippines 2019, Marc Anthony Nicolas, two-time Emmy award-winning producer of CBS’s “The Talk;” Ben Baller, Jeweler to the Stars, with special guest performances from Jake Zyrus, JayR, 13th PMPC Star Awards for Music Male RNB Artist of the Year Garth Garcia, international singer Angel Bonilla and Michael Keith.

Miracles more for our salvation than mere cure

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

          THAT beautiful gospel episode about a man with palsy who was

brought to Christ by his friends for a cure in a very dramatic way

(cfr. Lk 5,17-26) teaches us the lessons that a strong faith is needed

for miracles to happen, that miracles are meant more to forgive our

sins and for our salvation rather than just curing an ailment, and

that we have to be wary of our tendency to be fault-finders due to our

unbelief.

          Indeed, miracles require a strong faith since they are an

extraordinary divine and supernatural intervention. They are like

asking God to go beyond but not against our natural capabilities that

will always be hounded by our limitations, weaknesses and the

consequences of our sins.

          God never abandons us and is always solicitous of our needs.

The problem is simply ours because we tend to ignore him and, worse,

to be weak in our faith or even not to have faith. We need to do

something to address this predicament of ours. Let’s study the

doctrine of faith, start to live it by making many acts of faith

throughout the day, etc.

          Let’s remember that if we have faith, Christ assured us that

nothing would be impossible. Let’s relish his words: “If you have

faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain,

Remove from there, and it shall remove, and nothing shall be

impossible to you.” (Mt 17,20)

          Also, we have to realize more deeply that miracles are meant

more for the forgiveness of our sins, for our salvation, rather than

just giving us some cure or remedy to an ailment of ours.

          In fact, we can say that any miraculous cure is meant for

the purpose of our salvation. It’s not just to give us some earthly

relief, though there is no doubt that such relief would already

constitute a tremendous favor. We should never miss this aspect of a

miracle that can come to us, otherwise that miracle would go to waste

or would spoil us.

          In this particular gospel episode of the man with the palsy,

Christ did not immediately cure him of his ailment. Rather he forgave

the man’s sins which led to some of the unbelieving Jews to question

him. Christ used that occasion to clarify that he has the power to

forgive sins, precisely because he is God who became man to save us.

The miraculous cure served as some kind of proof to his divinity.

          We also have to be wary of our tendency to be unbelieving,

especially because we have to contend with spiritual and supernatural

realities that may challenge our understanding. Here, we simply have

to be humble to be able to receive what is told to us by faith. We

have to realize that our life, being a life with God and therefore is

supernatural, needs to be lived by faith more than just by our reason

alone.

          We have to constantly struggle against our tendency to be

dependent only on our reason and our feelings. These human faculties

of ours can only capture a part of the reality that governs us. It is

the faith that gives us the global picture of things, since it relates

us to God, our Father and Creator, and tells us everything we need to

know and do to be able to be with God, as our life ought to be.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Advent and our ultimate goal

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

          THE gospel of the Second Sunday of Advent (cfr. Lk 3,106)

somehow reminds us to appreciate the role of St. John the Baptist in

the whole economy of salvation. It’s definitely a role that encourages

us to be very clear about our ultimate goal in life for which we have

to do everything, so we can attain it. Let’s remember that this is the

most important concern we have in this life.

          And this ultimate goal is nothing other than that we be

“another Christ” who is the pattern of our humanity and the savior of

our damaged humanity. All the other things in our life—our personal

circumstances, our profession, our politics, etc.—should only serve as

means to our ultimate end.  While we have to be immersed in them, we

should see to it that we are not confused, trapped and lost in them,

diverting us from our true goal.

          We have to be more sharply and continually aware that all

the things in our life serve simply as the occasions where Christ is

intervening in our life to create and redeem us, to shape us to be

like him. For this, we have to avail of the appropriate means to keep

that awareness alive. Ignoring this condition in our life would

compromise the real purpose of our life here on earth.

          Thus, we have to come up with the proper plans and

strategies that would help us effectively act on this condition and

purpose of our life. They obviously should be plans and strategies

that should be inspired by our faith and not by some human motive or

ideology alone.

          Let’s remember that our faith gives us the complete picture

of the reality and purpose of our life. Any awkwardness or difficulty

we have in living our faith should be overcome. This obviously will

require some discipline. But we need to study our faith, and start

living or putting into practice what our faith teaches us.

          We have to understand that our formation in this regard

should be a lifelong business. We need to realize that our Christian

formation will take our whole lifetime. This should come as no

surprise to us, since our ultimate goal in life is none other than for

each one of us to be “alter Christus,” another Christ. And can anyone

dare to say that he is Christ-like enough?

          We always have to remember that our march toward full

development and maturity, human and not to mention Christian, never

ends in this life. It’s supposed to be an ongoing affair, a work in

progress. We should never say enough.

          The duty to take care of our formation is coterminous with

life itself, which will always give us lessons. And that’s because the

basics and essentials, the absolute, old and the permanent truths,

which we may already know, will always have to cope and somehow need

to get enriched by the incidentals in life, by the relative,

innovative and changing things.

          In his second letter, St. Peter urges us to go on with our

formation: “Strive diligently to supply your faith with virtue, your

virtue with knowledge, your knowledge with self-control, your

self-control with patience, your patience with piety, your piety with

fraternal love, your fraternal love with charity.” (1,5-7)

          And as we all know, charity is a never-ending affair, ever

making new demands on us, and introducing us to more aspects,

dimensions and challenges in life. It will always push us to do more,

to give more, to be more!

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

MUSIC, CHRISTMAS AND GOD

Are all terms in the right order? In logical sequence? For some of you, my dear readers, they must have passed out by a dozen. 

Honestly, writing about political topics is really tiring me. Especially now and today. While writing this piece, I am getting tons of political news.Yes, I am very well understanding everything. But why do I choose "Music, Christmas and God"? Again, the right (or wrong?) order doesn't matter. Really!

Christmas is just around the corner. Almost.  I become very thoughtful and melancholy during the season. That's okay. Maybe also you. I try to delete topics such as war, corruption, killing, pandemic,natural disasters et cetera et cetera pp. I even try to delete them here in my opinion. I try to look forward to Christmas with a happy heart.

Christmas is just around the corner. God is with me daily. He is my companion during every second of my life. And, what has this to do with music?

Music has been my second life companion for many years. I remember the day my parents first lugged the heavy accordion up our front stoop, taxing the small frame. They gathered me in the living room and opened the case  as if it were a treasure chest. And guys, it really was. And, it was several days BEFORE Christmas. 

"Here it is," my parents said. "Once you learn to play it, it will be with you for life!" Thank God, it is. Believe it - up to now. Here in my house in Davao City. My very first instrument... .

Anyway, back to the past: if my thin smile didn't match my parents' full-fledged grin, it was because I prayed for a piano! It was at the end of the 1950s, and I was glued to my AM- and ShortWave Radio Stations, playing classical music 24/7. Accordions were nowhere in my hit parade - even later during the 1960s and 1970s... .

Sometime on a Sunday, one of my favourite days till now, I started taping radio shows with classical music. It seemed that I was hanging on every note. I joined the college band. But I admired classical composers such as Beethoven and Mozart, just to mention two. I never became perfect in my piano play to coax sweet sounds. I also admire people who can do so. But I developed a passion for music.

Music, God - and, yes: Merry Christmas to all of you - also from this corner, even there are still some more days.... .

Carefree Fun South of Surigao and Agusan

What good vision and blindness really are

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

          THAT gospel episode where two blind men approached Christ

asking for a cure of their condition (cfr. Mt 9,27-31) somehow reminds

us of what really is to have a good vision and what true blindness is.

I believe that our common understanding of these two realities in our

life does not go far enough to enter into the question of what they

really are.

          We usually say that we can consider ourselves as having good

vision when we can see things clearly, as in having what some eye

specialists term as 20/20 visual acuity. And blindness is understood

as when we do not see things at all or clearly enough. Obviously,

these are correct descriptions. But they are not enough.

          Let us remember that all our human powers and faculties—our

intelligence, will, all our senses, emotions, memory, imagination,

etc.—are given to us by our Creator so that we can be what he wants us

to be—his image and likeness, sharers of his divine life. They are all

meant for us to be able to be with God, since our life is not meant

only to be a natural life, but is also meant to be a supernatural life

with God.

          In other words, the proper object of all our faculties and

powers, including our sense of sight, is God himself. If we only use

them to engage ourselves with earthly and temporal things but failing

to relate ourselves to God, then we would actually be misusing them.

That is when, in the case of our sense of sight, we can be regarded as

blind, even if we can see things clearly. Unless we see God through

our sense of sight, we can consider ourselves as somehow blind.

          Obviously, our sense of sight would need a higher faculty to

put it in its proper condition. That is where our intelligence and

will have to do their part in connecting themselves with God’s gift of

faith so they can train our senses, including our eyes, to discern the

presence of God whom they have to see, hear, taste, etc. Our senses

just cannot be on their own. They need to be guided by our

intelligence and will that in turn should be enlightened by faith.

          When one has faith, even if it is just little, we can

actually see the marvels of God taking place all around us everyday.

Our eyes can see God everywhere. It is faith that lets us enter into

the spiritual and supernatural world. It brings us to share in God’s

wisdom and power. Remember those stirring words of Christ: “If you

have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain,

Remove from there, and it shall remove, and nothing shall be

impossible to you.” ((Mt 17,20)

          It is faith that tells us that God is present everywhere,

and more than that, he is actually and abidingly intervening in our

lives, since he is still creating and redeeming us through the

ordinary events and circumstances of our life. In other words, God

speaks and shows his will to us through the all the things that

comprise our day. It’s when we fail to realize this truth that we

truly become blind.

          This is a truth of faith that we should be constantly aware

of, so we can do our part in corresponding to God’s actions on us. We

need to train all our faculties and powers, including our senses,

especially our eyes, to capture that basic reality of our life.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

TS 'Nyatoh' to enter PAR soon; rains over northern, central Luzon due to 'amihan' — PAGASA

by Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz, Manila Bulletin

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) continues to monitor a tropical storm, with an international name “Nyatoh,” as it may enter the country’s area of responsibility between Wednesday afternoon and evening, Dec. 1.

PAGASA weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said the center of Nyatoh was located 1,330 kilometers east of southern Luzon at around 3 a.m., Wednesday.

It has maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph while moving west-northwestward at 15 kph.

Aurelio said Nyatoh will be assigned its local name “Odette” once inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) Wednesday afternoon or evening.

He added that the storm is only expected to stay briefly inside the PAR and may have no direct effect on the country in the next few days.

However, Aurelio said PAGASA will continue to monitor this weather disturbance for a possible change in the scenario.

PAGASA said the northeast monsoon, locally called “amihan,” will be the dominant weather system, particularly affecting Luzon.

In the next 24 hours, cloudy skies and rains may prevail over Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, and Aurora.

PAGASA warned those in these areas to stay vigilant against possible flash floods or landslides, particularly in the event of moderate to, at times, heavy rains.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will only have partly cloudy to cloudy skies and isolated light rains due to the amihan.

Meanwhile, Visayas and Mindanao may experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms.

Those in Visayas and Mindanao should also remain vigilant as severe thunderstorm activities may sometimes trigger flash floods or landslides, PAGASA said.

From intention and words to deeds

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

          “Not everyone that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into

the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is

in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 7,21)

          With these words of Christ, we are clearly reminded that we

should not only have good intentions and beautiful words of promise,

but rather the strong conviction to bring those intentions and words

into action. What is important is that we do the will of God, and not

just wish and promise to do it. This is what to be a true Christian

is, and not just a Christian in name.

          Let’s remember also that parable Christ said about the two

sons who were asked their father to work in the vineyard. (cfr. Mt

21,28-32) One said ‘yes’ but did not go, while the other said ‘no’ but

actually went. The conclusion of that parable, of course, was that the

one who initially said ‘no’ but went to the vineyard was the one who

did the will of his father.

          Obviously, the ideal is that what we intend, what we say and

promise, should be carried out into deeds. St. Paul has something very

relevant to say about this. “Not the hearers of the law are just

before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” (Rom 2,13)

St. James says something similar: “Be doers of the word, and not

hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (1,22)

          Christ himself lived by this principle, even at the expense

of his own life. “I do nothing of myself, but as the Father has taught

me...” (Jn 8,28) And in the agony in the garden, he expressed that

most eloquent submission to his Father’s will, “Not my will but yours

be done.” (Lk 22,42)

          We need to understand that our whole life is a matter of

conforming ourselves to God’s will, the very seat of our ultimate

identity as persons and children of God. This would involve the stages

of knowing that will, believing it, then professing it and putting it

into action. In short, receiving our faith, then turning it into life

itself.

          All saints and the parade of holy men and women all through

the ages have done nothing other than this. They had their ups and

downs, their wins and losses, but they always stood up after each fall

or loss, they repented, and went back to action again.

          Of course, the epitome among the saints is Our Lady, who was

praised by Christ himself to high heavens. When someone in the crowd

told him his mother was around, he said: “Behold my mother and my

brethren. For whosoever shall do the will of my Father, that is in

heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Mt 12, 29-50)

          We should see to it that we are good not only in words and

in intentions, but also and most especially in deeds. Our usual

problem, given our human nature and the current condition of our

woundedness, is that we tend precisely to be very good in words and in

intentions but really poor in performance and consistency.

          We have to remember that what is truly important is that we

always live by God’s will. This is how we become truly human and

Christian, image and likeness of God as he wants us to be.

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

roycimagala@gmail.com