𝐁𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦, 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬

Only a few Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) are left to be established with a DepEd school according to Governor Tyron Uy during his message on the turn-over ceremony of the newly constructed one (1) unit, two (2) classroom buildings at Sitio Tagbawi, Brgy. Rizal, Monkayo, Davao de Oro on March 16, 2022.

The deterioration of red strongholds in the province is instrumental for government interventions to reach even the farthest corners of the valleys. From farm-to-market roads, health centers, water systems, sitio electrification, solar dryers, daycare centers, and integrated schools accredited by DepEd, government services now provide ease for the uplands.

Barely after a month of “Bayanihan” construction, the newly constructed building with complete amenities from school chairs, tables, boards, and comfort rooms can readily be used by two more neighboring sitios of Tagbawi; Sitio Little Depot and Upper Pasian.

Traversing the kilometers-long path down to the barangay proper of Rizal will no longer be a burden for the children as the school was now accessible and only a few meters away from their homes.

Sitio Tagbawi was once a guerilla-infested sitio in Brgy. Rizal, and in the year 2017, the community fully withdrew from supporting the communist group and became a beneficiary of the Oplan Pagbabago Program of the provincial government of Davao de Oro. 

Further, a Solar Dryer project of the provincial government can now be used by the residents as a pavement for drying farm produce such as corn and coffee. The project was funded by the development fund of the province, and it's multi-purpose. A road-concreting project is also underway in Tagbawi. In no time, Tagbawi can be a whole new Sitio like no other.

The turnover ceremony was attended by Governor Tyron Uy, Vice Governor Maricar Zamora, Congressman Manuel Zamora, LTC Michael Aquino of the 25th Infantry Battalion, Rommel Jandayan OIC-SDS DepEd DdO, SGOD Ruben Reponte, Barangay Functionaries of Rizal, teachers, and staff of Rizal Memorial Elementary School, and Provincial employees. (JA, PAO-IPRD, photos by J. Cadiz)

Be truly poor to be truly rich

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

“THERE was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores…” (Lk 16,19-20)

With this parable, Christ is telling us about the problem of the rich and the blessedness of the poor. As the parable unfolded, both died and the poor man was carried to the bosom of Abraham while the rich man was buried in the netherworld, tormented.

We have to be wary of the big problem of the rich. Christ spelled it out when he said, “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mt 19,24)

The big problem of the rich, in short, is his attachment to his wealth such that he cannot give himself fully to God. He may give the appearance that he is giving a lot, but if it is not the whole of himself, then it is not the total self-giving which God deserves and expects from each one of us.

Let us always remember that God wants the whole of ourselves. He wants our entire heart, not a divided heart. He wants to be everything to us, the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega. He wants to be given priority over everything else, including our own life.

This is not selfishness on his part, an act of ego-tripping. It is simply in recognition of the basic truth that everything, including our life, comes from him and also belongs to him. We have no right whatsoever to expropriate as our own what actually comes and belongs to God.

We need to remind ourselves constantly that even if we can say we are the owners of great wealth, resources, talents, power, fame, and indeed of our whole life, we actually are at best only stewards who have to give account to the absolute owner of all these things that we possess.

We have to continually fight against the tendency and the constant temptation to think that all these things are simply our own, that we are their absolute owners. This is not going to be easy, of course, because even within ourselves we have the villain that will always push us to think that way.

To be truly poor in order to be truly rich means that even if we are in possession of great wealth and all that, and yes, we use them and to a certain extent, enjoy them, we should be entirely detached from them so that our love for God is never compromised or diluted even if it is just a bit.

To be sure, a certain detachment from the things of this world and even from people is required of us if we want to be a true and effective disciple of Christ—and to be like Christ as we should.

He himself said it quite clearly: “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Lk 14,26-17)

Let’s be reassured of what Christ promised us if we observe the proper priorities in our life. “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.” (Mt 19,29)

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

DEUTSCHE FORSCHER ENTDECKEN Birken essen Mikroplastik

Für Allergiker ein Alptraum, für unsere Umwelt ein Träumchen

Foto: Getty Images/imageBROKER RF

Bäume sorgen nicht nur für saubere Luft, sondern auch für sauberen Boden!

Die Wurzeln von Birken können Mikroplastik aus der Erde aufnehmen und tief in die Wurzelstrukturen transportieren. Das fanden nun Forscher des Leibniz-Instituts für Gewässerökologie und Binnenfischerei (IGB) heraus.

Export-Verbot von Plastikmüll gefordert

Auch wenn ab Juli viele Einwegplastikprodukte EU-weit verboten sind – die globale Plastikemission steigt. Der Kunststoff „lebt“ lange.

Bis 2050 droht eine Vervierfachung der Plastikmüllkonzentration in den Ozeanen.

Sie wiesen in knapp 20 Prozent der Wurzeln von Hängebirken die kleinen Plastikteilchen nach. Weltweit werden jährlich 400 Millionen Tonnen Plastik produziert, ein Großteil davon zerfällt in kleine Partikel, die die Umwelt verschmutzen. Dazu gehören auch Kosmetika , durch die Mikroplastik ins Grundwasser gelangt.

▶︎ Neben Plastik können Birken auch Schwermetalle aus dem Boden entfernen, die dann von Mikroben abgebaut werden.

𝐁𝐃𝐏 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐮𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 ...

 

... 𝐠𝐢 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧-𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐚 𝐬𝐚 𝐁𝐫𝐠𝐲. 𝐁𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠, 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧

Duna nay sementadong “Farm to Market Road (FMR)” ug “Solar Street Lights” ang Brgy.Bagong Silang, Maragusan nga gi turn-over dayon sa mga katawhan sa barangay pipila ka adlaw human ang Construction and Installations mismo nila ni Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy  ug Mayor Maricel Colina-Vendiola.

Kining mga proyektoha apil sa gatusang mga proyektong imprastraktura nga gipaspasan pagpatrabaho sa probinsya gamit ang dakong pundo nga gihatag sa Davao de Oro ni Pang. Rodrigo Roa Duterte pinaagi sa National Task Force (NTF) – ELCAC ug Oplan Pagabago ELCAC.

Sa milabayng Huwebes (Marso 10,2022) nag-uban sila si Gov. Tyron Uy ug Mayor Maricel  Colina-Vendiola ug mga kauban nga sila si 66th IB Commander Julius Munar, RPSB Team Leader Police Master Sergeant Leonilo Vicere, ug ang  Municipal ug Brgy. Officials pagtunol sa bag-o lang nahumang sementado nang “Farm to Market Road (FMR)” ug “Solar Street Lights” ngadto sa mga katawhan sa Brgy. Bagong Silang.

Human niini gi turn-over sad nila dayon niadto gihapong adlawa ang laing tulo ka mga BDP Funded Projects nga sementadong karsada, Solar Street Lights, ug School Building sa Brgy.Coronobe nga sakop gihapon sa lungsod sa Maragusan.

Ilalom sa maayong pagdumala ni Gov. Tyron Uy ug SP Members sa pagpanguna nila ni Vice Gov Maricar Zamora ug Papa Gov Senior BM Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy ang PLGU Davao de Oro nakapangayo sa kauluhan og P1.3 Bilyones pundo sa BDP para sa 65 deklarado nang insurgency free barangays sa probinsya nga nakabahin og tag P20 Milyones diin kasagaran niini gigamit sa probinsya pagpatrabaho sa mga proyektong imprastraktura nga sa pagkakaron aduna nay ubay-ubayng nahuman. (Gilbert M. Cabahug PAO-IPRD DdO)

How to watch 70th Miss World finals via Upstream PH

Miss World Philippines Tracy Maureen Perez

by Robert Requintina, Manila Bulletin

     After a long wait, The Miss World 2021 Coronation Night is finally happening as it pushes through this month after being postponed last December 17 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Our Philippine bet Tracy Maureen Perez is ready to conquer greater heights and show the world that we can get the crown this year as she is set to compete with 40 contestants who are aiming for the Miss World 2021 crown. 

 

    The Cebuana beauty queen already had a great start, as she secured a spot in the Top 30 after winning the 2nd round of the Head-To-Head challenge, and was named one of the Top 5 finalists for the Beauty With A Purpose challenge, where she highlighted the importance of empowering single parents. 

     Miss World 2021 is set to crown a new queen at the Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico this March 17, 8am, Philippine Standard Time. 

   And to give our supporters the best viewing experience, the coronation night will be streaming live online and commercial-free via Upstream PH. 

    Streaming also starts at 8 am. You can purchase tickets for only P149 on that day. 

     Time to show our full support once again and witness Miss World 2021 coronation night anytime, anywhere, brought to you by Upstream PH! Follow Upstream PH on Facebook, Instagram and www.upstream.ph to get the latest updates about the live-streaming and how to get tickets!

Diesel prices up by P13.15/liter; gasoline by P7.10/liter

by Myrna M. Velasco, Manila Bulletin

Filipino consumers will need to swallow a ‘very bitter pill’ when it comes to their fuel expenses this week, as the price of diesel products will be on historic astronomical rise of P13.15 per liter, as announced by the oil companies.

Gasoline prices will also be increased by P7.10 per liter, while kerosene prices, a key commodity for critical industries, including aviation, will drastically climb by P10.50 per liter.

As of press time, the oil companies that already announced their price hikes effective Tuesday, March 15, include Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation; Chevron Philippines, which is retailing Caltex brand at its stations and Cleanfuel. Their industry rivals are still waiting for the price trends of other companies – especially the cost adjustments to be enforced by industry leader Petron Corporation.

 

The price upticks at the domestic pumps could be attributed to the wild rally in prices in the world market last week – as international benchmark Brent crude surged to as high as $131 per barrel; while Dubai crude, which is a reference pricing for Asian markets, surged to $122 per barrel because of the niggling Ukraine-Russia war.

For this week, prices have been steady at softer level of $110 per barrel for Brent crude, and Dubai was still hovering also above $110 per barrel – fundamentally declining from last week’s record spikes since 2014.

Given the anticipated surge in pump prices this week, Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi indicated that they pleaded to the oil firms “to take a cut, reduce their industry take,” which essentially entails that they must strive for lower margins in their products’ pricing.

He said the Department of Energy (DOE) is “reviewing the pricing mechanism,” with him emphasizing that the cost components are being fleshed out across the value chain “so we can see where we can potentially reduce prices or how we can minimize the increase.”

The energy chief similarly disclosed that President Rodrigo Duterte was calling for a meeting Tuesday, March 15. “We’re going to discuss with DOF (Department of Finance) that we are asking for the deferment or suspension of the excise tax.”

The stand of the DOE on the excise tax suspension is aligned with the wishes of the players in the oil sector, although the other major weight to muster in that tug-of-war is the finance department.

Fernando L. Martinez, chairman of the Independent Philippine Petroleum Companies Association (IPPCA), sounded off that if the excise taxes will be immediately suspended, the heavy blow of this week’s big-time hikes could be diffused – because that will entail cost reduction of P10 per liter for gasoline; and P6 per liter for diesel products.

 

“It means to say, the price increases due for implementation on Tuesday, March 15, will be mitigated, so there’s no need to explore for alternative measures,” he noted.

Martinez added the oil firms are supporting “the targeted subsidy to jeepney drivers, bus operators as well as for the fishermen, because the government can also cut its expenses with that – and the P5.0 billion subsidy can be easily recovered with VAT (value added tax) collections.”

He explained that when the Expanded VAT Law enforcing 12 percent tax rate on petroleum products was enacted in 2005, “the product cost as basis then was just at P25 landed cost; but now, our pump prices are at P60 to P65 per liter, so with higher VAT collections, there is now a leeway to suspend the excise taxes because with higher prices, the government will also have higher VAT collections.”

‘IT’S SUMMER!’

‘IT’S SUMMER!’ – Residents join tourists in enjoying the cool and clear water of Bolinao Falls 2 in Pangasinan, which saw the huge influx of visitors for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out two years ago. (Zaldy Comanda, Manila Bulletin)

𝐁𝐃𝐏 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬, 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐬

The newly constructed development projects worth PhP20-M opened more opportunities to the residents of Barangay Bagong Silang and Coronobe in the municipality of Maragusan following the separate turn-over ceremony on March 10, 2022. 

These projects include concreting of farm-to-market roads, solar street lights, and the construction of a school building with three (3) classrooms funded under the Barangay Development Program (BDP) of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy congratulated the residents and said that the high-impact projects will provide better economic opportunities, and contribute significant mechanisms in achieving the goal for quality education for all learners. 

He also commended the collective efforts of the national and local government agencies as well as the troops of the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police for their unending support to end the insurgency. 

Mayor Maricel Colina-Vendiola gave thanks for bringing the government projects to the upland barangays as it drastically changed the lives of the people in the area. 

“The residents could now safely travel at night because of the solar street lights and have better access roads in transporting their farm produce to the town proper", Vendiola said. 

She also added that the school building is expected to benefit hundreds of students once face-to-face classes resume.

The BDP is a hallmark program of the NTF-ELCAC with the end goal of empowering former conflict-prone communities through development projects. In Davao de Oro, sixty-five (65) barangays have benefited from the aforementioned program which consists of infrastructure and livelihood projects.

Gracing the ceremony were Vice Mayor Cesar C. Colina, LTC Julius M Munar, Battalion Commander of 66th IB, RPSB Team Leader PMSg Leonilo B Vicere, and municipal and barangay officials. (Rheafe Hortizano -Provincial Information Office, Photos by Jonie Cadiz)

Mein jetziges Leben auf den Philippinen - my present life in the Philippines

 

Es ist einfach erklärt: als Rentner mit der Familie ist es wunderbar. Wir sind bereits seit 24 Jahren hier und  haben viele arbeitsreiche Jahre auf den Philippinen hinter uns. Ich arbeite gelegentlich immer noch etwas: wer rastet der rostet. Aber, wir leben in Frieden.

It's easy to explain: as pensioner with my family, it's wonderful. We have been here for 24 years now and got many busy years in the Philippines behind us. We still work occasionally. The one who rests rusts!!! And we live in peace!

Judging and being merciful

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

“BE merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged…For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” (Lk 9,36-38)

We need to process these words of Christ slowly if only to conform ourselves to them, something that given our human condition is most likely very difficult if not impossible for us to do.

More than processing them slowly, we first have to pray, asking for grace, for definitely the possibility of us following this divine indication can only take place if we have God’s grace. If we simply depend on our good intentions and best human effort, forget it! We can never give life to these words.

We have to understand that our ability to forgive and to judge properly can only take place when we are with God. For this we have to follow as closely as possible the example of Christ who, out of love for us and in spite of our grave sins, was and continues to be willing to bear our sins and to offer forgiveness.

We have to remember that if we truly have to be ‘another Christ’ as we ought to be, we have to know how to be merciful the way Christ, the fullness of God’s revelation to us, was and continues to be merciful to all of us.

And how was Christ merciful to all of us? First of all, being the son of God, he emptied himself to become man. That way, he already adapted himself to our wounded, sinful condition. He identified himself with us so that we would have a way to identify ourselves with him. He preached the truth about God and about ourselves. 

He gave preferential attention to the sick, that is, the sinners. He was always ready to forgive, his mercy and compassion having no limits—“not only seven times, but seventy times seven times.” (Mt 18,22) He taught about loving the enemy and living it. He did not mind all the insults and mockeries that were poured on him just to accomplish his mission of saving us.

And in the end, he assumed all our sins without committing sin by dying on the cross. In that way, he dealt death to all our sins, and with his resurrection he offered us a way for our own salvation and reconciliation with our Father God. He was thoroughly magnanimous.

And so, we just have to learn to forgive and move on. This is what we should do if ever we become a victim of some offense by someone. We should be quick to forgive and then move on, focused on doing what we are supposed to do. We should avoid getting stuck with the offense, wallowing in anguish, complaints and hatred, and keeping resentments, grudges and desires for revenge.

Let’s remember that all of us have sins that need to be forgiven also. And as Christ said it clearly, we can only be forgiven if we also forgive others. “If you will forgive men their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offenses,” he said. “But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you for your offenses.” (Mt 6,14-15)

We have to develop the proper attitude in this particular issue because, truth to tell, we cannot avoid being offended by others just as neither can we avoid offending others also. That’s part of our human condition here on earth.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com