Lessons from the Visitation

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

          THE gospel of the 4th Sunday of Advent this year (Year C)

tells us of the many precious lessons we can learn from that beautiful

episode of Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth soon after she learned

that she was going to be the mother of the Son of God and that her

aging and barren cousin was already heavy with child in her womb.

(cfr. Lk 1,39-45)

          In that gospel episode, it is mentioned that Mary went “in

haste.” It is an example worth emulating by everyone, for it is

clearly what is proper to us. A truly good person, a holy one so close

and identified with God, would be quick to serve everybody else,

because that is simply the expression of love. Love is always a matter

of deeds and service, and not just sweet words and good intentions.

          This eagerness to serve would really identify us with Christ

who is our “way, truth and life.” He being God became man to save us,

the greatest service anyone can do. And all throughout his earthly

life, serving was the constant rule that he followed. He was always at

the beck and call of anyone who had need of something.

          Definitely, to be able to serve, one has to be humble. And

that’s what we see in our Lady, and of course, in Christ, first of

all. Pride and all its allies would always extinguish any desire to

serve others. They only are interested in serving their own selves.

          We need to humble ourselves so that we can serve everyone,

and not just those whom we like. We have to serve even those whom we

don’t like and who may not like us. If we are truly humble, our spirit

of service would not make any discrimination among the people. We

would serve everyone, whether they deserve to be served or not.

          A Christian and Marian spirit of service would neither give

rise in us to a certain sense of entitlement and privilege because of

whatever claim of authority or superiority we may have over others.

          While it’s true that we obviously are entitled to our

rights, we should not feel entitled to privileges and favors that are

above our rights and needs. If they come and we cannot avoid them,

then let’s be thankful.

          But let’s be reminded that these privileges, favors and

blessings are meant for us to strengthen our desire to serve and not

to be served. But as it is, we should try to avoid them, since they

tend only to spoil and corrupt us.

          We have to be most wary when we happen to enjoy some

privileged positions or status in life because we tend to think that

we deserve more entitlements. And not only would we expect them. We

may even demand them for us.

          Remember what Christ said once: “Be careful not to practice

your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do,

you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (Mt 6,1)

          We need to acquire the mentality of a servant which is

actually the mentality of Christ himself. Let us readjust our human

standards to conform to what is actually proper to us as taught and

lived by Christ. We usually look down on the status of servants. This

has to change! We should be convinced that by becoming a servant we

would be making ourselves like Christ. Let’s say NO to entitlements.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Typhoon 'Odette' maintains strength, now heading towards eastern part of Caraga

(Photo from PAGASA / MANILA BULLETIN)

Published December 16, 2021, 3:01 AM

by Dhel Nazario, Manila Bulletin

Typhoon ‘Odette’ has maintained its strength and is headed for the waters off to the east of Caraga region, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Thursday, Dec. 16.

As of 1:00 a.m. PAGASA said that the center of typhoon Odette was last seen 410 kilometers (km) East of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte. It is expected to make landfall in the vicinity of Dinagat Islands, Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands, or the northern portion of Surigao del Sur on Thursday afternoon.

Odette maintained its strength packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph. Signal No. 3 was raised in the areas of Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, the northern portion of Agusan del Norte, and the northern portion of Surigao del Sur.

Areas under Signal No. 2 include the southern portion of Masbate, the central and southern portions of Eastern Samar, the central and southern portions of Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Negros Occidental, Guimaras, Iloilo, Capiz, and the southern portion of Antique, the rest of Surigao del Sur, the rest of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, the northern portion of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, the extreme northern portion of Misamis Occidental, and the extreme northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte.

Meanwhile, the areas placed under Signal No. 1 were Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, the rest of Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Marinduque, Romblon, the southern portion of Quezon, the southern portion of Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, and the northern and central portions of Palawan including Calamian, Cagayancillo and Cuyo Islands, Northern Samar, the rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Samar, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and the rest of Iloilo, the northern portion of Davao Oriental, the northern portion of Davao de Oro, the northern portion of Davao del Norte, the rest of Misamis Occidental, the central portion of Bukidnon, the northern portion of Lanao del Norte, the northern portion of Lanao del Sur, the northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte, and the northern portion of Zamboanga del Sur.

Areas under Signal No. 3 are expected to experience “destructive typhoon-force winds” within 18 hours while “damaging gale-to storm-force” winds in areas under Signal No. 2 are expected within 24 hours and strong winds are likely to prevail within 36 hours in areas under Signal No. 1.

Heavy rains expected

Starting Thursday evening, (Dec. 16) heavy to intense with at times torrential rains may be experienced over Caraga, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Southern Leyte, and Bohol. Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Leyte, the southern portion of Eastern Samar, Leyte, Cebu, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, Zamboanga del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and the rest of Northern Mindanao.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Bicol Region, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, and the rest of Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and mainland Bangsamoro.

From Thursday evening (Dec. 16) through Friday evening (Dec. 17) heavy to intense with at times torrential rains may prevail over Central Visayas, Western Visayas, and Palawan including Calamian Islands, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo Islands.

Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Bicol Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and the rest of Visayas. Light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Caraga, Quezon, the southern portion of Aurora, and the rest of Northern Mindanao and MIMAROPA.

Beginning Friday evening (Dec. 17) through Saturday evening (Dec. 18), heavy to intense with at times torrential rains over the central portion of Palawan including Kalayaan Islands is possible. Moderate to heavy rains over Aurora, Quezon, and the rest of Palawan may also be experienced, said PAGASA.

“Under these conditions, scattered to widespread flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides are expected especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazard as identified in hazard maps, and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall,” it added.

A moderate to high risk of storm surge of up to 3.0 meters in height which may cause flooding in the low-lying coastal localities of Central Visayas, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and several localities in the northern portion of Palawan including Calamian, Cuyo and Cagayancillo Islands, Antique, Camiguin, Leyte, Agusan del Norte, and Davao Oriental is possible.

Typhoon Odette is likely to move generally westward after its expected landfall and cross several provinces in Central and Western Visayas regions before emerging over the Sulu Sea on Friday morning (Dec 17).

After passing near or in the vicinity of either Cuyo or Cagayancillo archipelago, this tropical cyclone is likely to cross the northern or central portion of Palawann Friday afternoon or evening (Dec.17) before emerging over the West Philippine Sea.

PAGASA said that further intensification is expected from Thursday (Dec. 16) typhoon crosses the Philippine Sea and may reach a peak intensity of 155 kph prior to its landfall.

Odette may slightly weekean, according to PAGASA as it crosses northeastern Mindanao, Visayas, and Palawan, but it is likely to remain within the typhoon category. Re-intensification is likely once it emerges over the West Philippine Sea. However, weakening may ensue beginning Sunday (Dec. 19) as the typhoon becomes exposed to increasing vertical wind shear and the surge of the northeast monsoon.

Being Decisive

By Engr. Carlos V. Cornejo *

Herbert Prochnow said, “There is a time when we must firmly choose the course which we must follow, or the relentless drift of events will make the decision for us.”  I totally agree.  Life is full of decision-making processes.  By the time we wake up options are already made available to us. In fact, the very time we get up from bed is in itself a decision we have to make.  We can choose to get up from bed by the time the alarm clock rings or decide to sleep some more.  

The drift of events Herbert Prochnow mentioned can refer to circumstances in life or persons around us that could decide things for us.  Usually, we make certain goals in life such as to finish college, to work abroad, to start our own business, etc. as our guide in making everyday decisions.  We normally ask ourselves before making a decision, “Is this activity going to bring me closer to my goals or not?” If we don’t have a firm resolve to stick to our goals, instead of spending time studying for an exam for example we could easily make excuses such as “going out with my barkada won’t be a big deal, I only do it once in a while anyway”.  But before you know it you’ve already been hooked to the group.  

We ought to follow Kenneth Blanchard’s advice: “There is a difference between interest and commitment.  When you’re interested in doing something, you only do it when it is convenient.  When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.”  The word commitment means you are going to fulfill your promise such as fulfilling your commitment to marriage, or your commitment to your boss in the office.  If we have made a commitment to get good grades for example so as to land a good job later, deciding whether to have a night out with our friends or go study for an exam will be not be a tough decision to make.  

Often times the dilemma in decision making especially for managers is not to make a decision until all data is available.  Waiting for additional information or data before making a final decision is a prudent thing to do especially if an important data is crucial to the decision we have to make.  But if you are racing with time and any delay could make the situation worse, then you’ll have to decide as best as you can.   US President Harry Truman once said, “Some questions cannot be answered, but they can be decided.”  Even when we do not have all the facts available, we usually have all the facts needed to make a decision.  

Of all matters, we have to be decisive with spiritual ones.  If we are neutral in spiritual matters, we’ll eventually find ourselves operating against heaven.  The Bible says to let the peace of God rule in our hearts (Colossians 3:15).  It tells us how to decide on things, especially the important things in life with the peace of Christ as an umpire in our hearts.  His peace can literally say “out” to that relationship and say “safe” to that business idea.  Consulting our decisions with God through prayer is a very wise and prudent thing to do.

* Former Chairman of the Electronics Engineering Department of Mary Our Help Technical Institute, a Don Bosco Engineering School for Women in Minglanilla, Cebu.  Teaches subjects on engineering, business, values and Catholic doctrine.  Has Masters in Business Administration from University of San Carlos and Masters in Telecommunications Engineering from University of Melbourne.  

Continuing discipleship

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

          WE, of course, are meant to be ‘another Christ.’ That is our

radical identity, since we have been created in God’s image and

likeness. And since Christ as the Son of God is that perfect image God

has of himself, we can say that we are patterned after him, and as Son

of God who became man, Christ is the savior of our damaged humanity.

          We have to understand though that for us to be truly

‘another Christ’ would require the supernatural power of God. We

cannot achieve that status by our powers alone, although we have to

put ourselves in the proper condition to be elevated to that dignity.

It is Christ who will do it for us, but, of course, with our free

cooperation.

          This is where the duty for us to be Christ’s disciples comes

in. To be ‘another Christ’ we need to constantly look for him, find

him, follow him, love him and do the things he wants us to do. That,

in a nutshell, is what Christian discipleship is all about. We have to

find ways of how we can turn this theoretical definition of Christian

discipleship into a living reality, spanning our whole life.

          We are reminded of this truth of faith about ourselves in

that gospel episode where John the Baptist sent two of his disciples

to see Christ and ask him if Christ was really the one they were

expecting or whether they should still look for another one. (Lk

7,18-23) Let’s hope that the need for us to be Christ’s disciples is

sharply and abidingly felt by us.

          At the moment we can examine ourselves if we have the proper

understanding of the ultimate purpose of our life, the ultimate status

and dignity that is meant for us, that is, we are supposed to be

‘alter Christus.’ We also need to ask ourselves whether we realize

that we need to be a true disciple of Christ to put ourselves to

become ‘alter Christus’ ourselves, as God wants us to be.

          To be a true disciple of Christ requires us first of all to

look for him and find him. Encountering Christ should not be a

problem, since Christ is always with us. It’s rather us who have to

learn to acknowledge his presence and to start dealing with him. We

should have the same interest in Christ as those who first met Christ

had.

          From the gospel of St. Matthew (8,18-22), we have this

interesting episode of a scribe who approached Christ and said,

“Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” He must have felt such a

serious admiration for Christ that he had to say this intention and

his willingness to follow Christ wherever he would go.

          To which Christ responded by telling him what to expect.

“Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man

has nowhere to rest his head.” In other words, to be Christ’s disciple

is no joke. It will entail extreme difficulties and inconveniences.

          We can get an idea of the kind of difficulties we can expect

as a disciple of Christ when someone told him, “Lord, let me go first

and bury my father.” But Christ answered him saying, “Follow me, and

let the dead bury their dead.” This can only mean that we have to be

willing to leave everything behind, even those who are dear to us,

just to follow Christ.

          We have to understand then that to be a true disciple of

Christ we have to learn how to be properly detached from everything in

our life.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU IN LIFE?

What counts: Faith? Hope? Charity? Very often I ask myself: What's the sense of doing like and like that? What's the real meaning of life?

Nearly every morning, we get up and hurry to work. We see so many remorseful faces of people as if there are full of problems that a smile to them is like a sunbeam trapped behind the black clouds. Yes, sure, in these pandemic times, many of us might have already forgotten to smile.

Whether in good or bad times, our day at the workplace or in the home office goes on with our colleagues, employees or employers. And leisure time is there, no matter how great or small our zest for life is. 

So, we live our life in a logical sequence: day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year.  Every day is a cycle of life: every morning is like a birth and every night like a death.

But how do we live our life? Often we can notice people living an easy-go-lucky way of life. Others feel good and satisfied when they can make someone else's life hell. Others have to escape with their bare life while still others experience life-and-death-struggle.

What counts for us? Success? Power? Or money? Is it contentment? Peace on earth and in our souls? Really zest for life? 

If I observe people who really choose to be unhappy even without any reason at all, I feel sad. Being unhappy makes life miserable. Whatever happens around me, I don't like to be unhappy. For me, the meaning of happiness is to try to manage life even with problems and difficulties. Easier said than done! I know, I know.

The Bible states that love is greater than both faith and hope. We couldn't live our lives without faith or hope: without faith, we cannot know the God of love; without hope, we would not endure in our faith until we meet him face to face. Thus, love is the virtue upon which all Christian faith and hope now stand.

Dinah Maria Mulock Craik (20 April 1826 – 12 October 1887) was an English novelist and poet. Allow me to quote her, "When faith and hope fail, as they do sometimes, we must try charity, which is love in action".

Ano ang mahalaga? Paniniwala? Pag-asa? O kaya pagbibigayan at pagtutulungan?

LPA off east of Mindanao develops into tropical depression

Photo courtesy of Dost_Pagasa Facebook page

IVAN REY R. TAN, SunStar

THE low pressure area outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) has now developed into a Tropical Depression (TD).

Based on the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) Tropical Cyclone Advisory Number One issued at 11 a.m. Sunday, December 12, 2021, the center of the tropical depression was located at 2.095 kilometers east of Mindanao.

The tropical depression is expected to enter the PAR on Tuesday, December 14, and will be named “TD Odette.”

Due to favorable environmental conditions, the tropical cyclone will likely continue to intensify and may reach the Typhoon Category with a maximum sustained wind of 120 kilometers per hour.

According to the forecast of Pagasa, by the evening of December 15 or the morning of December 16, the tropical cyclone will begin to move westward and may make landfall over the Eastern Visayas-Caraga area.

The highest possible wind signal that may be hoisted for this tropical cyclone is Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal Number Four.

Doing God’s will

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

          WE need to realize more deeply the crucial role of doing the

will of God in our life. We have to understand that it is doing God’s

will that would make us his image and likeness as we are meant to be.

It’s how we live our life with God, as it is meant to be. This truth

of faith should be very clear in our mind and should be made an

operative principle in our daily life.

          We are reminded of this truth of our faith when Christ

talked about the two sons who were asked by their father to work in

the vineyard. (cfr. Mt 21,28-32) The first said, yes, but actually did

not go, while the second said, no, but eventually went.

          Christ concluded, of course, that of the two, it was the

second who did the father’s will which is what is truly important.

It’s an episode in the gospel that somehow wants to convey the truth

that it is in obeying and doing God’s will that we truly become his

image and likeness.

          No wonder then that Christ said that the greatest

commandment is to love God with our whole heart, which, in concrete

terms, means that we have to carry out God’s commandments. St. John in

his first letter said as much: “This is the love of God, that we keep

his commandments.” (5,3)

          We have to find ways of how we can always feel the impulse

and the urge to be guided by God’s will and commandments rather than

simply guided by our own will. We have to realize more deeply that our

will cannot and should not be working simply on its own, and that by

working on its own puts it in a dangerous condition. Our will needs to

be always referred to and be animated by God’s will.

          For this purpose, we may have to develop certain practices

of piety that would help us in this direction. Like, spending time in

prayer, in meditation, in regularly reading the contemplating the

gospel, in rectifying our intentions, referring them always to God. We

have to develop virtues like humility, detachment, holy purity,

patience and optimism, fortitude, etc.

          Very important in this regard would be to familiarize

ourselves with the teaching, deeds and the very life of Christ

himself, fully convinced that he is the very pattern of our humanity.

We have to make Christ alive in us to such an extent that we can truly

say that we are “alter Christus,” another Christ, as we are meant to

be.

          In this regard, we have to be convinced that our life should

also be a liturgical life, since it is in the liturgy where the whole

mystery of Christ and his redemptive work is made present and

effective in our life. It is in the liturgy, especially in the Holy

Mass, where we can most fittingly do our part in corresponding to that

whole mystery of Christ and his mission. It’s where we can be one with

him, sharing in his redemptive mission.

          We need to feel the need for doing a widespread catechesis

on this truth of our faith. With gift of tongue and making use of

today’s powerful technologies, let us reach out to others, leading

them to realize the crucial role that doing and living God’s will has

in our life.

          Just like what St. Paul once said, we have to “preach the

Word, be prepared in season and out of season…” (2 Tim 4)

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

THOU ART THE ONE

The faults we see in others often reveal our own imperfections. We frequently criticize our own shortcomings when we see them in others. 

Very often, we hear from friends and others things they seem to hate. They even criticize others about their looks or activities during weekends, vacations or off days. 

In social networks, we are able to read comments and posts in a very bad manner about other people's houses and gardens. 

Most of the time, gossiping ruins one's life. Gossips come about because of envy. 

I know it's not that easy. But why not try to love the unlovables instead of giving them so many negative comments. And one step further: why not examine ourselves first before criticizing others?

Upon examination of my own life, I am annoyed when others are late for an appointment and keep me waiting. I feel angry when parents speak harshly and treat their children cruelly. I feel upset when individuals in a meeting monopolize the conservation. I could give you more and more examples, my dear readers.

But, at such times when I look inward, I hear the words, "Thou are the one"! I realize that imperfections I see in others are often my own.

When the Lord looks at us, He sees not only what we are but what He enables us to become. Very important - we can learn not to expect  too much for ourselves that we become discouraged. The grace of God does not change us unless we respond. It can change our outlook and with our outlook, our attitudes. With changed attitudes, we can become whatever we would never be.

Kindness, helpfulness, hospitality, obligingness, ready to do favors - and our moment of virtue  will not be destroyed by time's storm. Love and mercifulness from the bottom of our heart shared with people who will cross our path - and nobody will forget us.

Trapped in one’s own trap

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

          IN the Bible, there are a number of passages that talk about

how some people, usually the wicked and evil ones, fall into their own

snare that were supposed to be made for the others.

          For example, in the Book of Psalms, we have the following

passages: “Let the wicked fall into their own nets…” (141,10) “I did

nothing wrong, but they tried to trap me. For no reason at all, they

dug a pit to catch me. So let them fall into their own traps. Let them

stumble into their own nets.” (35,7) “They have dug a pitfall in my

path. But look! They themselves have fallen into it!” (57,6)

          This was also what happened when the chief priests and some

elders of the people tried to trick Christ by asking him about the

authority he had for doing what he was doing. (cfr. Mt 21,23-27)

          As the gospel narrated, Christ, of course, outsmarted them

and asked them a question that they themselves could not answer, since

any answer they would give would put them on the spot.

          We have to be most wary of any temptation to trick God by

playing around with the truth. We just have to be very truthful even

if we may have to suffer because of it, since by resorting to some

trickery, we would just expose ourselves to greater shame sooner or

later.

          In this regard, St. Augustine once said, “They love truth

when it enlightens them, but hate when it accuses them. In this

attitude of reluctance to be deceived and intent to deceive others

they love truth when it reveals itself but hate it when it reveals

them. Truth will therefore take its revenge: when people refuse to be

shown up by it, truth will show them up willy-nilly and yet elude

them.”

          We should therefore be most truthful, knowing how to grow in

that virtue of truthfulness especially these days when things can get

very complicated. In this we need to understand that truthfulness can

only start with our proper relationship with God. Other than that, our

truthfulness, even in what we may consider as its best form, would

always be suspect and vulnerable to elements that undermine the truth.

          In short, we can only be truthful and sincere when we are

with God who revealed himself in fullness insofar as we are concerned

in his Son who became man, Jesus Christ.

          Thus, Christ clearly said that he is “the way, the truth,

and the life. No one goes to the Father except through him.” In other

words, we can only be truthful through him. We can only find the

proper way for whatever is good for us through him. We can only have

the real life, proper to us, in him.

          Christ said it very clearly. “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and

your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the Evil One.” (Mt 5,37)

          Truthfulness therefore starts with our relationship with

God, and with how well we maintain that relationship. This is

something we have to realize more deeply, since very often we get

contented with mere human criteria for truthfulness, that are often

subjective, incomplete, imperfect, and vulnerable to be maneuvered and

manipulated.

          When we are not with God, then we can very easily play

around with the facts and data, and pass them around as truth, but

serving some self-interest instead of the common good, for example.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

PAL plane skids off runway; several flights diverted

PLANE TROUBLE. A Philippine Airlines plane skids off the runaway at Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City on a rainy Friday morning, Dec. 10, 2021. No one was harmed during the incident. 

AT LEAST 34 flights to and from Cebu have been diverted or cancelled after a Philippine Airlines flight from Caticlan, Aklan skidded off the runway upon arrival Friday, December 10, 2021.

The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) confirmed this, saying the wheels of PAL flight PR 2369 veered into the grass at the side edge of the runway as it arrived from Caticlan, Aklan around 11:40 a.m. It was raining at the time.

GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. spokesperson Edilyth Maribojoc said the plane encountered the issue during the landing.

All the 29 passengers and four crew members on the plane were safe and were taken to Terminal 1.

The aircraft was retrieved and cleared from the runway at 2:18 p.m., said Maribojoc. The runway was opened for operations at 2:38 p.m., she added.

PAL issued an apology over the incident.

“We apologize for the inconvenience caused by the partial blockage of the runway,” it said in a statement.

PAL said its operations teams assisted the passengers and promised to provide assistance.

The airline carrier said safety is its top priority and it is fully cooperating with the airport and aviation authorities conducting an investigation on the incident. (FVQ, JOB)