Let’s be like St. John, the Apostle

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

ON the Feast of St. John, the Apostle and Evangelist, on December 27, let’s try to capture his youthful love for Christ that would truly help us in our spiritual life. Like him, we should be both most eager to look for Christ and yet restrained to observe what we may also consider as some legitimate earthly protocols.

Yes, let’s be forceful and eager in our love for God and yet know how to be discreet and natural about it, given our human and earthly conditions.

This was shown in that gospel episode where the apostles were told about the empty tomb of Christ, and Peter and John immediately proceeded to check on it, but it was John who arrived at the tomb first. And yet he waited for Peter, the head of the apostles, to arrive before entering into the tomb. (cfr. Jn 20,1-8)

Here we can clearly see how the youthful John is showing the vigor of his love and fidelity to Christ. It was also this kind of love and fidelity that enabled him to be the first one to recognize Christ in that episode where the risen Christ appeared in the shore where the apostles were fishing. (cfr. Jn 21,7)

When the risen Christ at the shore first asked the apostles whether they had caught some fish, they did not at first recognize him. It was John who, by his youthful love for Christ, immediately recognize him. “It is the Lord,” he said.

We have to see to it that our love for Christ is authentic and not just something that we profess but not supported by our deeds. If there is true love, there is some kind of forcefulness and eagerness to do things, even at great cost, that would be unavoidable.

It’s true that where there is love, there is also some kind of forcefulness, an abiding state of being driven despite the variations of our bodily and other earthly conditions. Where there is love, we can only echo what Christ himself said: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Lk 12,49)

Where there is love, we would be clear about what the real and ultimate purpose of our life is, we would have a good sense of direction even if we are presented with many alternative options, we would not mind the many difficulties and challenges we can encounter as we go along. In fact, we would find great meaning in them.

This is the ideal condition for all of us. Even if we are endowed only with the most phlegmatic and melancholic temperaments, something must be burning inside our heart that cannot help but burst into a flame, a flame of love, of self-giving, of serving without expecting any return, without counting the cost. If it is not yet there, then let’s enkindle it.

For this Christian instinct to develop in us, we have to learn how to look for Him in everything that we do and handle so we can find him. And finding him, we can be drawn to serve him.  This, I believe, is what loving Christ actually entails.

This should be like a healthy obsession that we have to cultivate. This obviously goes beyond our natural powers. The grace of God is needed, but we should also do our part. Let’s ask the intercession of St. John the Apostle for this intention!

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

“Giving back” this Christmas: DdO extends relief aid in Odette-hit areas

Davao de Oro Province---“Daghang tawo ang mitabang kanato kadtong panahon nga mi-atubang pod kita ug trahedya tuig 2012. Katungdanan nato nga tabangan usab ang atong mga igsoon nga nanginahanglan sa atong pag-alalay. Ang pagtabang mao’y tinuod nga diwa sa Pasko,” said Governor Tyron Uy referring to the time the province was hit by Typhoon Pablo on December 4, 2012.

After making landfall in Visayas and a large portion of Mindanao, Typhoon Odette caused extensive damage to life and properties, and placed survivors in a situation where access to primary needs is scarce.

Right after, the provincial government of Davao de Oro initiated a relief operations movement calling various sectors both public and private for in-kind donations such as food and other necessities for the survivors of Typhoon Odette. The province alone donated close to P3M worth of food and non-food items plus additional in-kind donations coming from various individuals, groups, and businesses who gave their donations at the Provincial Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

On December 23, 2021, Gov. Uy sent off the “Walang Iwanan” team led by PDRRMO head Joseph Randy Loy to give the assistance for the provinces of Dinagat Islands, local government units of Siargao, and Surigao del Norte. The team first arrived in Butuan City and checked in at the RDRRMC EOC and later at the DSWD Regional Office. DSWD Usec. Felicisimo Budiongan and DSWD OIC Regional Director Ramel F. Jam extended their thanks to the province for the assistance. From there, the team went to oversee the unloading of ten (10) heavy trucks carrying the relief goods.

In the afternoon, they arrived at Surigao City to hand in yet another set of donations at their Provincial EOC and proceeded to Brgy. Togbongon to personally visit and distribute the 350 relief goods to the affected families. “Wala gyud mi nagdahum makaabut mo diri, bisan pa sa kalayo sa among lugar. Maayo na lang makapamasko pa gihapon mi sa inyong tabang,” a teary-eyed elderly resident said.

Then and now, DdO’s “bayanihan” way of helping is not only bound for its people, but it also extends its service, and lives through the merit of “Walang Iwanan.”(JA, PAO-IPRD)

Between the years

Many times we are really in too much of a hurry while feeling uncomfortable if we notice how time flies. Yes, my late grandmother was right, when she said: The older you become, the faster time passes by. My late mother told us the same. Yes, I am 68 now. I can only strongly agree with them.

When I was still a teenager, I was longing to be an adult already. Later, I enjoyed listening to my late grandmother (born 1898!) stories such as "Once upon a time" or "When I was young" from her life yesterday's life... .

After a couple of years, especially while observing that time really flies like a racket to the moon, I also have the same question in mind: Are the present hours and days less valuable?

Of course, each day has its own set of happiness and trials. But it also holds very high possibilities of how we take the initiative to do or to move something, if ...! Yes, the luring term IF lets us look into the future  with an overblown "glistening" eye: IF I will finish my studies - IF my children become adults - IF I might become rich and win in the lottery, yes IF! And then?

Christmas is gone, if you might read this. The next turn of the year is just around the corner. For most of us it's time to come to our senses. The future prospects smile at us already. What might the New Year bring us? Is life in the future easier, nicer, more charming and more fulfilled compared to the present or the almost finished 2021? The thoughts fill me with horror, because tragicomic future visions can easily blur away our present day.

A possible topsy-turvy world of a golden youth tries to let us forget that also the past has had its shares of disappointments, pains, tears, darkness, tricky as well as desperate days... yes, lost days, irretrievable time... .We dream our impossible dreams from last year, this 2021 to the future and vice versa. We forget that between yesterday and tomorrow is our valuable presence. Well, now well then - if we know how to fulfill this period.

I will be taking a short break from many tasks and appointments. I will be trusting in God, because He takes care of me and my future.  Don't allow the daily hectic and stress of this season kill your senses. 

Why the long Christmas celebration?

We’ve been in a holiday mood since September, but now that we have about two more weeks to wrap up the party, we can ask ourselves why we celebrate this occasion so long.

By Edgar Timbungco *

ESSENCE OF YULETIDE Christmas Belen

Filipinos take pride in having the longest celebration of Christmas this side of Christendom. Now that that the long wait is over, though we can keep the décor and the Christmas tree up for two more weeks, what benefits has this months-long celebration given us?

A quick crowd sourcing from family members and friends in social media, yielded the following benefits:

Economic gains

The first set of benefits point to the apparent economic gains, now enjoyed by both traditional and online retail outlets. My daughter is quick to point out how the pandemic has prompted consumers to resort to e-commerce for purchasing food and other essential items for their household. This has become part of the “new normal,” a major vehicle for the Filipinos’ Christmas shopping.

A former colleague writes, “The long celebration provides more opportunities for these businesses, in the process stimulating economic activity on and boosting the local economy to go back to pre-pandemic levels.” Certainly, many of us joined the bandwagon in the 9/9, 10/10, 11/11, and the 12/12 sales promos!

The amount of spending is always expected to spike at Christmastime. This year, since the restrictions in some urban centers had been relaxed by government some weeks ago, the economy has been given the chance to take advantage of the Christmas boost.

Emotional boost

Another workmate says, “The four-month celebration gets people into the jolly and generous Christmas mood earlier. If you have kids, it would provide a good incentive to get them to behave themselves before Christmas time.” I am reminded of how my grandson perseveres to do good in school so he could get the Christmas gift he has been praying for.

Meanwhile, a co-teacher describes how “it sort of primes us up that Christmas is coming (as) we need to prepare financially, emotionally, even physically for the long parties and reunions come December.” A photographer friend adds that “it stretches the yearning for a good family holiday and puts one in the mood.”

The long celebration of Christmas in the Philippines will persist, as long as there are kids who are excited to open their presents under the Christmas tree and as long as there are adults who find joy in putting a smile on their loved ones’ faces.

Meanwhile, a friend mentions that “the long Christmas celebration (also) gives us time to plan and think about the gifts we could give to our loved ones or the charitable acts we would like to do.” This is reinforced by a friend who observes that “Pinoys tend to be more generous during Christmas.”

Another thing to plan for are the “get-togethers, reunions, and extended vacations.” These are driven by Pinoys’ love for celebrations, my wife adds, admitting that she is one of those who really get excited the moment the “ber” months begin.

Joyful anticipation

As a Christian nation, we are afforded “greater opportunity to enjoy the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ,” even if the misa de gallos, noche buenas, and kris kringles now have their virtual options because of safety concerns. A team lead says the long-celebration engenders hope as we anticipate the series of joyful events from September to January to see us through these uncertain times.

All these are good for our mental health, a friend states. “An extra opiate for the public (in a good way),” a nephew adds.

But there were also those who question the practice, suggesting that it should be cut short to two months, worried perhaps about the seeming impracticality of the overdrawn celebration. One couldn’t help but be cynical, “are there benefits, to begin with?”

These opposing views notwithstanding, I think the long celebration of Christmas in the Philippines will persist, as long as there are kids who are excited to open their presents under the Christmas tree and as long as there are adults who find joy in putting a smile on their loved ones’ faces when affirmations of love accompany the hearty food that they serve and partake of at the Noche Buena table.

ANALYZING BENEFITS The author, Ed Timbungco

The public relations manager of Mang Inasal, the author is also teaching corporate communication and organizational planning and development at the School of Management and Information Technology of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. He is an accredited public relations practitioner by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines and certified professional marketing educator by the Philippine Marketing Association. He was likewise granted with the crisis communication planner title by the International Consortium for Organizational Resilience.

Why are Filipinos in every corner of the globe?

Ryan Fernandez

History Geek based in Manila

Why shouldn't we be? It's a global marketplace after all. Filipinos like everyone else respond to the law of supply and demand. There's a nursing shortage in the UK? Someone's got to fill it up. Housekeeping vacancies in Italy? Filipinos show up. Skyscrapers being built in Dubai? It's Filipino engineers who lay the foundation. Singaporean or Hongkonger parents too busy to raise their kids? It's Filipina nannies and maids who run the upkeep of their households. Filipino executives work in Indoensian companies; Filipino English teachers work in Vietnamese, Thai, and Korean schools; and Filipino soldiers staff the United States Armed Forces.

With a population of 105 million that's on the young end, the Philippines has a large labor force, but as a developing nation, does not have enough employment opportunities. That's changing because of new industries like the outsourcing sector.

Filipinos going overseas is nothing new. Ilocano farmers were sent to Hawaii in the early 1900s to grow pineapples.

Even earlier, Filipino artists, political thinkers, and liberals were hobnobbing in France, Germany, and Spain the late 19th-century.

Even earlier, so-called Manila Men settled in Louisiana, and Chinos - a catch-all label for all Asians but mostly Filipinos - migrated to Mexico during Spain's 300-yearlong hold on the Philippines.

Even earlier than that, pre-Hispanic ‘Filipinos' were reportedly working as sailors and mercenaries all across Southeast Asia.

Even earlier, their Austronesian ancestors explored the islands of Southeast Asia, reaching as far west as Madagascar and as far east as Easter Island.

Simply put, we get around.

Anti-COVID pill

 

Coverage by Xave Gregorio, Philippine Star

Merck & Co.'s breakthrough antiviral drug has been approved for emergency use in the Philippines. The Food and Drug Administration's greenlight for molnupiravir allows its adoption across the health system, when only 89 hospitals were previously allowed to administer it.

What it does: The pill was found in phase 3 clinical trials to prevent hospitalization for COVID-19 by 50% among those who have been infected.

Source of funds

Source of funds

Coverage by Xave Gregorio and Bella Perez Rubio, Philippine Star

The government has "immensely" run out of disaster response funds—or at least that was President Duterte's version of the story. Officials dismissed the claim, pointing to several sources of financing to aid typhoon-battered regions.

A P2-billion calamity fund with NDRRMC. “We still have P1 billion, and then another billion given or allocated to local government units," an Office of the Civil Defense official said.

Duterte's contingent fund of P2 billion, according to the acting budget chief.

Rep. Carlos Zarate (Bayan Muna party-list)'s own estimate, on the other hand, suggests there is still more than P4 billion to tap for both the president's contingent and the NDRRMC's funds.

P1.44 trillion in unused funds from stalled and idle infrastructure projects, which the Commission on Audit flagged. Sen. Franklin Drilon suggests government can dip into this massive pool through realignment.

"Our social and health services took a backseat precisely to fund these infrastructure projects that the COA found delayed and idle... [T]he government must examine its prioritization, once and for all," Drilon said.

God is a tremendous lover

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

THAT “Benedictus” prayer that was said by Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, as an expression of a most profound sense of praise, thanksgiving and blessing for the great favor he received, highlights the reality of the tremendous love God has for all of us. (cfr. Lk 1,67-79)

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of the house of his servant David…” And Zechariah went on, pouring his heart out, and in the process was actually making a most wonderful prophecy.

Why does God love us so much? It makes us wonder why. Just consider these points which I am sure are not complete. In fact, they are still very far from complete, even if we think they are already quite exhaustive and overwhelming.

First, He created us when there was no need for him to do so. More than that, He created us in his very own image and likeness, taking the risk that we can replace him ourselves. 

And when finally we, in Adam and Eve, fell to that temptation of replacing God, he continued to love by sending his own son to redeem us. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (Jn 3,16)

And the son assumed all our sins by dying on the cross and resurrecting. There can be no greater love than this.  God has done this because the Son, the second person of the Blessed Trinity, is the perfect image of God himself. And since we are the image and likeness of God, the Son has to repair that divine image of ours that has been deformed by our sin.

God in Christ continues to go through the process of redeeming us by dying and resurrecting all throughout time by sending the Holy Spirit, founding the Church and instituting the sacraments, especially that of the Holy Eucharist. St. Josemaria Escriva has described the Holy Eucharist as God’s madness of love for us.

And the list goes on and on. It will never end. Again, why does God love us so much? We can only repeat some words of the Psalms: “What is the man that you are mindful of, and the son of man that you care for him?” (8,4)

We can only wager some possible answers. One of them could be that it is precisely because we have been created in his image and likeness that God cannot leave us alone. In a way, we can say that he sees himself in us, no matter how much we deform that divine image in us.

In this regard, God is like the mother mentioned in the Book of Isaiah. “Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion for the son of her womb? Even these may be forgotten, but I will not forget you.” (49,15)

Besides, even in the natural plane, there is hardly any mother who will not clean her child no matter how dirty the child is. It’s instinctive of her to do whatever is needed to clean the child or to get him out of any predicament. 

That, at the very least, is how God sees and treats us. He of course does a lot more. 

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Military responders to celebrate Christmas with typhoon survivors

 

by Keith Bacongco, Manila Bulletin

DAVAO CITY – Like many of the responders, Cpl. Henry Baleña will celebrate Christmas with typhoon Odette survivors in Caraga region.

Baleña, who belongs to the Philippine Navy, is one of over a hundred personnel who joined the newly-activated Joint Task Force Sambisig of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Eastern Mindanao Command that departed for the typhoon-hit areas to conduct relief and rehabilitation efforts.

The task force is primarily composed of personnel from the Army, Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force, Medical Corps and Army Engineers.

Aside from from the soldiers under the Eastern Mindanao Command, personnel from the Office of Civil Defense and Philippine Coast Guard also joined the contingent that departed for Surigao City on Wednesday morning.

Baleña admitted that his hometown in Rosario, Agusan del Sur was also partially hit by the onslaught of the typhoon.

“Our town was partially hit by the typhoon but there’s not much damage, only some agricultural crops. Most important is that my family is safe,” he told Manila Bulletin shortly before their departure on Wednesday morning.

Eastern Mindanao Command spokesperson Maj. Alex Mindalano said the Joint Task Force Sambisig will serve in the typhoon-hit areas until the relief and rehabilitation efforts is completed and the situation is normalized.

“Some personnel are already in the area and there will be shifting of personnel because some will also need a break. So those who left today will be spending their Christmas with the typhoon survivors,” Mindalano explained.

He added that the contingent brought at least 10 truckloads of relief aid for the typhoon survivors.

The OCD provided what they call as ‘family packs’ that contain kitchen utensils, sleeping kit and hygiene kits, the military officer said.

On December 16, Typhoon Odette shredded the provinces of Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Southern Leyte, Bohol, Cebu, Negros and Palawan.

The trail of destruction left hundreds of thousands of people homeless with just 10 days before Christmas.

Like Baleña, Army Pfc. Jay Recarro will also spend his Christmas helping the typhoon survivors.

Recarro, who hails from Tagum City, added that he is also glad to be a part of the contingent because he will also have the opportunity to check his relatives in Surigao City who were also affected by the onslaught of the typhoon.

“We will spend our Christmas in the area but it’s okay because that’s part of our job. But I will be home for New Year,” he said in the vernacular.

Davao de Oro chases target through National Vaccination Days Part 2

The second part of the National Vaccination Drive (NVD) officially started in Davao Oro from December 20 to 22, 2021 with an aim to ramp up the number of vaccinated dabawenyos province-wide.

The second part of the NVD was originally set from December 15 to 17, 2021, and was moved on a later date in Davao Region due to Typhoon Odette. On the first implementation of the NVD, DdO successfully jabbed around 14k individuals and will increase the coverage of the vaccines until everyone is safe.

 Rural health units all over the province will simultaneously conduct the mass vaccination drive to eligible individuals during the NVD and will also target areas that have low vaccine coverage.

On the first day of the mass vaccination drive, DdO jabbed 12k individuals and reached 52.49% of the daily target, way more to go for the remaining 2 days.

As of December 21, 2021, the province vaccinated around 484k dabawenyos reaching 39% out of the projected 70% target population for herd immunity.

Dr. Antonio Ybiernas, in his message, highlighted the importance of being inoculated with the vaccine against Covid-19 as this will not only provide protection for everyone but will also help businesses to re-open and the economy to push forward.

The kick-off ceremony of the NVD Part 2 was held at the Municipal Cultural Center of Maragusan, Davao de Oro and was also attended by Assistant Secretary of Health in Visayas and Mindanao, Dr. Roy B. Ferrer, Dr. Anabelle Yumang of DOH Region XI, DILG Provincial Director Noel Duarte, Mayor Maricel Vendiola and Vice Mayor Ceasar Colina. (JA PAO-IPRD, photos by J. Cadiz)