BEAT THE BLUES!

What does "beat the blues" mean? Without context, I would suppose it to mean "to overcome a blue mood or tendency toward feeling depressed."

The more rainy days like at the moment - the more people feel low. Not really depressed but a bit lackluster. Especially during Sundays or the first days of a longer vacation. Living in the Philippines is also much more different than in my home country Germany. As an expatriate, I learned to change my lifestyle here. I don't want to give suggestions or advice "about what to eat and to drink", or, better "what NOT"! Other experts and fellow columnists might do that much better.

However, I experienced myself that some simple things are really working well:

Distract yourself: the last thing you should do is lying in the bed wallowing in self-pity. It's better to distract yourself with a dose of normality. Watching a movie (possibly not a drama or tragedy!) or even cleaning the kitchen on a Sunday can help. Important is, that you move away from where you feel bad. I mostly love to re-arrange my office at home or do a simple walk around into nature. It really does miracles.

Forgive someone: when you forgive someone or even yourself, you release anger and resentment that's bogging you down. If you remain angry, you're carrying all the negatives of the day and maybe from the whole world. Check the news: there is already enough negativism. Natural disasters, war, corruption, incompetent politicians, bullying neighbours etc. etc.

Switch to realistic thinking: the happy medium between rose-tinted positive thinking and beat-yourself-up-negativity is when you can say, "Okay, I am having a bad day, but it doesn't make me feel a failure", instead of, "I feel awful and/or my life is awful". The last will only make you feel worse.

Develop a positive attitude: I met several expatriates, who love to complain about everything and everyone. I try my best to stay away from them. Nowhere on earth is paradise! Examine your thoughts and perceptions, and replace unhelpful thoughts patterns with a more positive approach. The difference between a happy person and someone who is really depressed isn't that one has all the world's luck. But, they perceive what's happening to them differently.

Do a life audit: some people become stuck in a rut because they don't take time to work out where they are heading. Try to make decisions to change your life and ask yourself what is getting in your way and what can you do about it. It is the same principle as going through your cupboards and tossing out the clothes that don't fit you any more. If there are no uses, they are just cluttering your life. And remember, you might even laugh about it later. Stop crying to "cope" (making sure everything goes smoothly!) and deal with life more simply.

Whether it's the weather, trouble at work or a broken heart, if you are dragging yourself through the day like a little slug of sadness I've got these ways to improve your mood that are free, easy and involve chocolate and hugs.

The distinctive mark of a true Christian

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

CHRIST said it very clearly. “This is how all will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another,” he said. (Jn 13,35) And in another instance, he described how this love for one another should be. “This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you.” (Jn 15,12)

Let’s make no mistake about how this love should be. It definitely has a universal scope, such that even our enemies would be objects of our love. It’s a love that is inclusive despite our unavoidable differences and conflicts. It’s a love that, as St. Paul would describe it, “is patient and kind, does not envy or boast, not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.” (1 Cor 13,2-8)

And the secret is to learn to see Christ in everyone, including those with whom we may have serious differences or are in conflict, no matter how deformed the image of Christ they bear. We have to go beyond seeing others in a purely human way without, of course, neglecting the human and natural in us.

In short, we have to see others in a spiritual way, within the framework of faith, hope and charity. Otherwise we cannot avoid getting entangled in our limited and conflict-prone earthly condition. And no amount of human justice and humanitarianism can fully resolve this predicament.

Thus, we need to develop and hone our skills of looking at others beyond the merely physical, social, economic, cultural or political way. While these aspects are always to be considered, we should not be trapped by them.

There are many reasons for this. First would be that we are all brothers and sisters, created by God in his image and likeness, and made children of his through his grace.

In spite of our differences—race, culture, beliefs, etc.—we are meant to care and love one another. Thus, our Lord told us to “love your neighbour as I have loved you.” (Jn 13,34) 

And how did Christ love us? By becoming man and assuming all our sinfulness, dying to it to give us a new life in him. His love was for everyone, and especially for those who were weak and handicapped not so much in the physical sense as in the moral sense.

It’s a love that is inclusive in spite of our unavoidable differences and conflicts in the areas of lifestyles, cultures, ideologies, opinions, preferences and even in beliefs, spiritualities and morals.

This is the inclusivity of charity that goes together with the exclusivity of truth. Working this combination out will always be, of course, a work in progress, with prudence and fortitude playing an important role in the process. Let’s just take it easy and be cool and calm as we also seriously undertake the lifelong task of combining this inclusivity of charity with the exclusivity of truth.

We need to remember that we always have to contend with our natural human limitations, not to mention the more subtle effects and consequences of sin, ours and those of others. We should not be too surprised and worried about this given condition in our life. We just have to do something about it.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Extreme Wetterlagen häufen sich: Bedeutender Klimawert fast überschritten

Von: Lisa Klein, Merkur 

Extreme Wetterlagen gibt es aufgrund der Erderwärmung immer häufiger – auch in Deutschland. Der Klimawandel scheint schneller voranzuschreiten als angenommen.

Der Klimawandel ist weltweit, aber auch in Deutschland immer deutlicher spürbar. Das Wetter verändert sich, die extremen Wetterlagen nehmen zu: Hitzewellen, Dürre, Starkregen, Überschwemmungen, schwere Stürme und enorme Schneemassen sind alles Folgen des Klimawandels. Experten warnen in Deutschland aktuell vor extremer Trockenheit, wie echo24.de bereits berichtete. Während vor einigen Jahren Extremwetter oftmals nicht in direkten Zusammenhang mit dem Klimawandel gebracht wurde, sieht es heute ganz anders aus. 

Wissenschaftler sind inzwischen überzeugt: Extreme Wetterlagen und der Klimawandel hängen zusammen. Die menschengemachte Erderwärmung verändert das Klima unserer Erde – und sie scheint schneller voranzuschreiten als angenommen. Die globale Durchschnittstemperatur eines Jahres könnte laut Weltwetterorganisation (WMO) bis 2026 erstmals mehr als 1,5 Grad über dem vorindustriellen Niveau liegen.

Extrem-Wetter in Deutschland nehmen zu: Erderwärmung schreitet voran

„Wenn die Durchschnittstemperatur steigt, nehmen auch die Extremwetter-Ereignisse zu, und es gibt mehr Hitzewellen. Wir wissen auch: Eine wärmere Atmosphäre enthält mehr Wasserdampf, weshalb stärkere Regenfälle zu erwarten sind“, erklärte Wissenschaftskommunikatorin Susan Joy Hassol bereits 2017 in einem Interview mit klimafakten.de. Beobachtungen von extremen Wetterlagen häufen sich. Die Wetter-Bilanz für 2021 ist schockierend.

Philippine economy grows 8.3% in Q1, beating expectations

People cross a street to shop in the Divisoria district of Manila on November 30, 2021. AFP / Ted Aljibe

By Ramon Royandoyan - Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine economy managed to post a stellar growth in the first quarter, smashing expectations despite the Omicron onslaught at the start of the year.

Gross domestic product, the sum of all products and services created in an economy, grew 8.3% year-on-year in the first three months of the year, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported Thursday.

The latest reading exceeded analysts’ expectations. A BusinessWorld poll of 17 economists yielded a GDP growth median estimate of 6.7% for the period.

Quarter-on-quarter, GDP grew 1.9%. National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa said real GDP in the first quarter exceeded the comparable period in 2019, or before the pandemic hit.

If anything, the faster-than-expected growth last quarter might prompt the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to start hiking rates soon. Governor Benjamin Diokno last month said the BSP might consider lifting rates in June if the economy, which has grown dependent on cheap money amid the pandemic, is strong enough to sustain its recovery.

But Alex Holmes, Asia economist at London-based Capital Economics, said there's a chance that "the strength of the recovery will begin to wane soon" amid an elevated inflation that could cripple consumer spending anew. The BSP's looming tightening to fight price spikes would also weigh on growth.

"The recovery will have gained momentum in recent months after the Omicron wave faded and restrictions were almost all removed. But while day-to-day disruption from COVID-19 is largely in the rear-view mirror, new headwinds are building," Holmes said in an e-mailed commentary.

"A jump in prices is eating into consumers’ real purchasing power, with inflation hitting 4.9% y/y last month. Meanwhile the central bank is set to begin tightening policy," he added.

This is a developing story.

LPA, ITCZ to bring rains over most of Mindanao – PAGASA

by Charie Mae F. Abarca, Manila Bulletin

Residents of Caraga, Davao Region, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and SOCCSKSARGEN may experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in the next 24 hours due to the low pressure area (LPA) and the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), said the state weather bureau on Thursday, May 12.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that the LPA was last spotted 490 kilometers (km) east of Davao City. It is embedded along the ITCZ affecting Mindanao.

“Ayon sa ating latest analysis ay mababa ‘yung tiyansa nito na maging bagyo ngunit continuous monitoring pa rin tayo. Ngayong araw ay nakikita po natin na magdudulot ang LPA at ITCZ na ito ng mga pag-ulan sa malaking bahagi ng Mindanao (Based on our latest analysis, this weather disturbance remains less likely to develop into a tropical cyclone, however we will be monitoring it continuously. Today, this LPA and ITCZ may bring rains in most parts of Mindanao),” said PAGASA weather specialist Grace Castañeda in a public weather forecast.

Meanwhile, generally fair weather with a slight chance of isolated rains may prevail in most of Luzon, including Metro Manila.

Due to the expected prevalence of hot and humid weather, residents were advised to avoid direct exposure to sunlight in order to prevent heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke.

No gale warning is issued over the country’s seaboards. Fisherfolk and seafarers are free to sail, added Castañeda.

What are misconceptions about lechon?

Lechon is a dish that originates from the Philippines. The word "lechon" actually refers to the roasted suckling pig itself and not the plate as a whole. Lechon is typically served with a dipping sauce made from vinegar, garlic, and chili peppers. Lechon is often done at special occasions such as weddings and parties.

There are a few misconceptions about lechon. First, some people believe that lechon must be roasted over an open flame to be authentic. However, lechon[1] can also be baked in an oven or even steamed. Second, some people believe that lechon is always served with rice. While rice is a common accompaniment, it is not required. Lechon[2] can be enjoyed on its own or with a side of vegetables. Finally, some people believe that only certain pig parts can be used for lechon. In reality, any pig part can be used, although the belly and loin are most commonly used. Lechon is a delicious and versatile dish that everyone can enjoy.

Footnotes

[1] The World's Best Lechon Baboy

[2] 11 Filipino Dishes: Pinoy Handaan Menu

Why it’s difficult to believe in Christ

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

“HOW long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” (Jn 10,24)

Perhaps we too can ask the same question. In spite of what we already know about Christ, we may still be harboring doubts as to whether Christ is really the one he presents himself to be.

I believe the simple answer is that to believe in Christ requires the grace of God. If we just rely on our human faculties, like our intelligence and common sense, we would actually not go very far. At a certain point, we would start to entertain doubts about who Christ really is.

And that is also simply because Christ, while truly a man, is first of all divine. He is a supernatural being. In fact, he is the Supreme Being who has no beginning and no end. While we can know him through his words and deeds as recorded in the gospel, he will always remain a mystery still to us. He overwhelms our capacity to know him.

With him, what we have to do is to believe first before we can start to understand him more deeply. With him, we need to have faith first before the operations of our intelligence and our other faculties do their thing. 

Thus, both St. Augustine and St. Anselm enunciated the proper way to understand and believe in Christ. “Credo ut intellegam” (I believe that I might understand) was what they were saying. They made an appeal to follow first our faith before we start to use our intelligence. Or better said, we have to make our reasoning be inspired by our faith first.

We therefore have to see to it that we develop an operative faith. Our faith should not remain only in the theoretical, intellectual level. It has to be a functioning one, giving shape and direction in our thoughts and intentions, our words and deeds. In fact, it should shape our whole life. 

The ideal is that we feel it immediately. Indeed, it should be like an instinct such that whatever we think, say or do, or whenever we have to react to something, it is our faith that should guide us.

We have to understand that it is our faith that gives us the global picture of things, since it is God’s gift to us, a gratuitous sharing of what God knows about himself and about the whole of creation. It is meant for our own good, for us to live out our true dignity as children of God.

It is a kind of knowledge that will lead us to our eternal life. It will make us relate everything in our earthly life, both the good and the bad, to this ultimate goal in life which is to be in heaven with God, a state that is supernatural. But it is a divine gift that we need to take care of. It is like a seed that has to grow until it becomes a big tree and bears fruit.

For this, we really need to have a living contact with Christ who is the fullness of God’s revelation to us. He is the substance, the content and the spirit of our faith. So, the first thing that we have to do is to look for him always whatever we may be thinking, saying or doing. Never mind if we do not understand him fully. We should just follow him!

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

May 9 declared as special non-working holiday

A volunteer feeds a sample ballot to the vote-counting machine or VCM during a trial run for the May 9, 2022 elections at San Nicolas in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya on Tuesday, April 12, 2022.

The STAR / Victor Martin

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte declared May 9, election day, as a special non-working holiday for the conduct of the national and local elections, Malacañang announced Tuesday.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea signed Proclamation 1357, which stated the need to declare May 9 as a special non-working holiday “to enable the people to properly exercise their right to vote, subject to the public health measures of the national government.”

The Commission on Elections earlier asked Duterte to declare May 9 as a special non-working holiday to ensure full participation in this year’s high stakes polls.

There are around 65.7 million locally registered voters and 1.69 million overseas voters.

Pre-election surveys show Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., the son and namesake of a former dictator, is on track to win the elections. — with report from News5/Maricel Halili 

𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐎𝐫𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 “𝐁𝐮𝐰𝐚𝐧 𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐”

In celebration of Filipino Food Month or “Buwan ng Kalutong Pilipino 2022”, the Provincial Government of Davao de Oro through the Provincial Administrator’s Office- Tourism Division, in partnership with the food business establishments of Davao de Oro, successfully took part in the 3-day celebration exhibit which showcase and promote the province’s rich diverse flavors and food products at Abreeza Mall, Davao City on April 27-30, 2022.

Harping on this year’s theme “Pagkaing Pilipino, Susi sa Pag-unlad at Pagbabago”, different provinces in Davao Region including Davao de Oro with the support of food business establishments such as Davao Lechon King, Elisabeth Pastries of Laak, Kakanins of Maco, Lyurot of Mainit, KapeNegra Maragusan Highland, Byais, kalamansi and other pasalubong products of Jorgetown, Axl Dave Bibingka and kakanins, Braytside Pastries and MAMPCO Chocolates were present and highlight their iconic, best and inviting unique local dishes that shows the culinary history and cultural heritage of the province.

Moreover, PAO-Tourism Head Ma’am Christine Dompor extends her appreciation and thanks to the buyers, food business establishments, DoT personnel, and Tourism office staff for their support in the success of the participated event. 

The said event was successfully launched by the Department of Tourism (DOT)-Davao Region, in partnership with the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Department of Agriculture (DA).  This celebration is in line with the goal of appreciating, preserving, promoting, and ensuring that the diverse Filipino culinary traditions and cuisines should be transmitted and treasured to our future generations, which later support various industries, farmers, and agri-communities of the provinces. (JF, PAO IPRD DdO, Photos from DdO Tourism Office)

THAT'S A BAD IDEA !

Very often - sometimes too often! - the thought is back! If we wake up in the morning (or even many times in the middle of the night), the thought is back. Sometimes, the thought will not let us sleep. The "act of thinking", the "reflection", the "opinion" or the "serious consideration", no matter how we describe it - our memory and conscience is always with us as a permanent companion.

We brood over unsettled problems. Sometimes, we bear unfair treatments, arrogance, ignorance, incompetent know-it-all-betters, and unbearable oddballs, who inexorable love to make our life a hell while living themselves a disorderly life.

We would not like to be distracted, but we're toying with some good ideas how we could throw overboard all that "human garbage". What will come next is a matter of conjecture.

Of course, I've got my ideas, but I'm not a mind reader. Too many trains of thought make us thoughtless and absent-minded -  especially in difficult and important daily life situations.

Does waiting and/or sleeping solve our problems? Or is it just again in time? Our life's central idea should not be that while waiting, time solves all our problems. Thoughts should intensify, condense and deepen plans followed by actions.

It's good and helpful to carry thoughts in us all the time. Incomprehensible, or better unfinished and un-matured thoughts, no matter whether positive or negative, should be slept on, before tiredness outstrips us with supersonic speed.

Sometimes, we feel that our thoughts and ideas can't be fulfilled with life. Where the heart is willing, it will find a thousand ways; but where the heart is weak, it will find a thousand excuses. If doubts begin to take roots, we should rouse from pink-tinted idealism or wear down and annihilate nightmares and erase and wipe out such thoughts and ideas.

If our thoughts are good and have the chance to be fulfilled in action, especially if "the other side" is prepared and willing to step on to such a bridge of life, we might get support and words of encouragement.

And, if not? No action? Iyan ay hindi isang masamang ideya.

Maybe it is God's will to keep and protect us from a careless, rash, disadvantageous and uneasy action. Every new day gives us new inexhaustible possibilities to survive, to bear trials and to start a new beginning. We overlook and fail to notice many chances to lie through our sluggishness and laziness while thinking and dreaming of unequaled and unfulfilled ideas.