The best condition for us

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

IN the gospel, there is a part where Christ went to the house of Peter and cured Peter’s wife, after which many others who were sick came to be healed by Christ. Even evil spirits that possessed a few came out of those they possessed. (cfr. Lk 4,38-44)

We have to understand that the best thing for us to do, especially when we are faced with all sorts of problems and difficulties, is to go to Christ. Being with Christ, asking for his help is actually the best condition for us to be in, even as we also would exhaust all possible human means we have to resolve our predicaments.

To be with Christ is always doable. All we have to do is to rev up our faith which tells us that Christ is always around, eager to help us and even willing to offer his life for us. It’s always a question of faith.

As Christ himself said, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Mt 17,20)

The faith of our Lady made possible the incarnation of the Son of God that led to our redemption. The faith of the apostles and all the other saints, despite their weaknesses, made them able to do what may be considered as impossible to do.

We should just learn how to deal with the difficult and the impossible things in our life with faith more than our human efforts alone. Let’s remember that as long as we are here on earth, we have to contend with all sorts of difficulties, trials and temptations. 

And as if these are not enough, we also have to contend with the truth of our faith that tells us that we are meant to pursue a supernatural goal that definitely cannot be achieved simply with our own human powers, no matter how excellent they are.

The secret is always to go and to be with God who can make the impossible possible. In all our affairs and situations in life, we should always go to God to ask for his help and guidance, and to trust his ways and his providence, even if the outcome of our prayers and petitions appears unanswered, if not, contradicted.

We should always remember that God never abandons us and is, in fact, all ready and prompt to come to our aid, albeit in ways that we may not realize, at first, just like what happened in that story of the two disciples on their way to Emmaus. (cfr. Lk 24,13-35)

We should not allow our feelings of sadness to be so dominant and pervasive that we shut off God’s many and often mysterious ways of helping us. If we do not pose a deliberate impediment to God’s ways, there is always hope. In our darkest moments, some light will always come piercing and dispelling the darkness away.

Everyday, we should find a way of how to be with God, fanning our desire to go to him always and sharpening our awareness of his constant presence and interventions in our life, etc.

We should strengthen our conviction that amid the varying situations in our life, the best condition for us to be in is to be with God.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Support for the academe assured

For over two years of not having the traditional face-to-face learning modality, the Department of Education officially reopened its doors for students to physically engage in the four-corners of every classroom last August 22, 2022.

The full-swing of the face-to-face classes exposed urgent necessities in public schools, especially that classrooms are considered dormant since the outbreak of the pandemic. With this, the Provincial Government of Davao de Oro headed by Governor Dorothy Montejo Gonzaga assured to extend its support for the Department of Education in the province.

In the recent district teacher’s meeting conducted by DepEd New Bataan District, the Governor was represented by Executive Assistant Edward Macapili. In his talk, the executive assistant conveyed that the governor will support the educational institution towards providing education with an appropriate and a competitive standard. He also stressed that a conducive learning environment is vital on molding the minds of the younger generation, and this can be realized through working hand-in-hand with DepEd and the provincial government. The district meeting was attended by hundreds of public school teachers from New Bataan District, school principals and staff, and municipal officials of New Bataan.

Not only a good school curriculum can determine the efficacy and efficiency of teaching methods for students, but also the physical atmosphere where the delivery of the instruction will take place. This is where the support from the governor will go in, through the improvement and provision of school amenities in public schools.

During the conduct of the Brigada Eskwela prior to the reopening of classes, Governor Dorothy Gonzaga alongside with Congressman Ruwel Peter Gonzaga showed their dedicated support for the public schools  through provision of school buildings, school tables and chairs, and funds needed by the parents-and-teachers association and other matters that concern school improvement. The working governor and congressman visited several public schools and personally reached-out the communities to acknowledge their concerns. (JA, PAO-IPRD DdO)

‘Filipinas’ no more: DepEd adopts the use of ‘Pilipinas’ in schools

JOJO RINOZA / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN

by Merlina Hernando-Malipot, Manila Bulletin

Following the decision Commission on the Filipino Language or Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), the Department of Education (DepEd) directed public and private schools nationwide to stop using “Filipinas” in the teaching and learning process.

The DepEd Memorandum No. 74, s. 2022 signed by DepEd Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Epimaco Densing III dated Aug. 26 reaffirmed KWF’s decision to revoke Board of Commissioners Resolution No. 13-19.

Issued to bureau directors, directors of regions, superintendents of schools, and heads of public and private schools, the DM No. 74 s. of 2022 was DepEd’s response to the decision of KWF Chairman Arthur Casanova on the matter.

As per KWF’s decision, DepEd directed schools to bring back the use of “Pilipinas” in the teaching and learning process because the official name of the country is “Pilipinas” and not “Filipinas” as stated in the 1987 Constitution.

“Pilipino” should also be used when referring to the people and culture of the Philippines.

Despite this, DepEd said that there is no need to change the spelling — from “Filipinas” to “Pilipinas” — when it comes to printed materials such as books, Self-Learning Modules (SLMs), Weekly Home Learning Plans, Learning Activity Sheets, and other types before the release of the said memorandum.

“Iwasto na lamang ng mga guro at kawani habang ginagamit sa proseso ng pagtuturo (Teachers and personnel simply need to correct it while using it in the teaching process),” DepEd said.

Moreover, DepEd asked schools to use the correct spelling prescribed by KWF in instructional materials and correspondence that will be officially released.

In 2013, National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario, who was then the chairman of KWF, pushed for the use of “Filipinas” as the international name of the country.

Tagle, pope's special envoy for bishops' meet in Bangkok

By Franco Jose C. Baroña

POPE Francis has appointed Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as his special envoy for the upcoming and biggest gathering of Asian bishops in Thailand's capital city of Bangkok.

Tagle, the pro-prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, will preside over the closing Mass of the 50th general conference of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) on October 30 at the Assumption Cathedral, the principal Roman Catholic church of Thailand at the Bang Rak District of Bangkok.

The Asian bishops' meeting will begin on October 12 and will be held at the Baan Phu Waan Pastoral Center of the Archdiocese of Bangkok.

More than 140 bishops from Asia are expected to attend the conference.

This year's conference theme is "FABC 50: Journeying together as peoples of Asia...and they went a different way." (Mt 2:12).

The assembly also marks the belated 50th anniversary celebration of FABC, which was established in 1970 with the approval of the Holy See.

The FABC Secretariat said the 19-day conference will "reflect on the re-emerging and emerging realities and challenges of the Church in Asia."

Before being appointed to the Dicastery for Evangelization, Cardinal Tagle headed the FABC's Office of Theological Concerns while he was still the Archbishop of Manila.

The FABC is an association of Catholic episcopal conferences in Asia to foster solidarity and joint responsibility for the welfare of the Church and society in the region.

The association's leadership is currently led by Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon as president, with Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo as vice president, and Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo as secretary general.

The FABC earlier called on Catholics to pray for the association so it will continue to be steadfast in its mission.

This charge was given by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in a circular sent to dioceses last week.

'Tagle could be next Pope'

Originally written in English, the "Prayer for FABC 50" was translated in four Philippine languages: Tagalog, Waray, Hiligaynon, and Cebuano.

The FABC asked its member episcopal conferences that the prayer be prayed in all churches until October 30 for the success of its general conference.

In his message for the occasion, Pope Francis expressed hope that FABC will "renew the Churches in Asia in fraternal communion and in missionary zeal for the spread of the Gospel among the richly diverse peoples, cultures and social realities of the vast Asian continent."

What faith and obedience can enable us

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

THAT gospel episode where Christ asked Peter to put out into deep water and lower his nets for a catch shows us that when we would simply have faith in God, we can do wonders in our spiritual life and apostolate despite the great odds that we may have to contend with. (cfr. Lk 5,1-11)

At first, Peter was doubtful if what Christ told him was worth following. “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,” he said. but to his credit, he immediately corrected himself. “But at your command I will lower the nets.”

The story is very moving indeed, and the good news is that it can happen to any of us as long as we have faith and trust in God. And because of that faith and trust, we can just obey God’s will and ways even if humanly speaking they may appear to us as an impossibility.

We need to learn to trust God, and in his word and in his ways, no matter how unreasonable, impractical or impossible. For this, we have to go beyond our own understanding and estimation of things, and open our mind and heart to the light of our faith and love for God and for others.

While it’s true that we have to use all our human faculties in dealing with our earthly affairs and concerns, that is, our intelligence and will, our sciences and arts, our common sense and cultural and social wisdom, we should not forget that all these would have no real value unless they are engaged with our faith in God.

God knows everything. He is omnipotent. He actually intervenes in our lives in the most intimate way since he is the one who ultimately supports our existence and who governs it wisely with his providence.

We have to realize that God continues to work and to govern over all his creation, and as his image and likeness, as his children, we are meant to cooperate in carrying God’s work and governance here on earth. Seen in this way, any work we do, as long as it is honest and good work, is actually first of all God’s work before it is ours. We should be excited to carry out that work with him!

We should just develop the sense of feeling at home with the fact that our life and all the challenges and trials we are going to face in it will always demand from us things beyond our powers and resources. And that’s simply because we are meant to go to God for all our needs, without neglecting any effort we can give along the way.

With God, we have everything. As St. Teresa de Avila would put it, “Solo Dios basta!” What we lack in our humanity, we can always make up by relying always and completely on God. 

But, alas, this can happen only when we have faith, for faith is our best resource. As St. John puts it in his first letter, “This is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith.” (Jn 5,4) Without faith, we are left with a big problem right from the start.

Thus, before all this exciting drama and adventure of life, our attitude should be that of being sporty and game, based on our faith in God and trust in his all-powerful and merciful providence. This attitude is actually what is presumed every time we enter into some form of commitment, whether to a vocation or marriage or work, etc.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

UNDUE CARE AND ANXIETY

 

Worries, doubts, and anxieties are a normal part of life. It’s natural to worry about an unpaid bill, an upcoming job interview, or a first date. But “normal” worry becomes excessive when it’s persistent and uncontrollable. You worry every day about “what ifs” and worst-case scenarios, you can’t get anxious thoughts out of your head, and it interferes with your daily life.

Constant worrying, negative thinking, and always expecting the worst can take a toll on your emotional and physical health. It can sap your emotional strength, leave you feeling restless and jumpy, cause insomnia, headaches, stomach problems, and muscle tension, and make it difficult to concentrate at work or school. You may take your negative feelings out on the people closest to you, self-medicate with alcohol or drugs, or try to distract yourself by zoning out in front of screens. Chronic worrying can also be a major symptom of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), a common anxiety disorder that involves tension, nervousness, and a general feeling of unease that colors your whole life.

If you’re plagued by exaggerated worry and tension, there are steps you can take to turn off anxious thoughts. Chronic worrying is a mental habit that can be broken. You can train your brain to stay calm and look at life from a more balanced, less fearful perspective.

We hardly count our blessings. We enjoy counting our crosses. Instead of gains, we count our losses. We don't have to do all that counting - computers do it for us. Information is easily had.

Just remember this: Opportunity doesn't just knock - it jiggles the doorknob, and "your friend" - the worrier, is with you day and night, at every corner, following your every step. Complaining and grumbling are good excuses, aren't they? We have time and opportunities to do almost anything. So why haven't we done it? We have the freedom of bondage or restraint, every one of us in his or her very special way - but, we're still our old inferior selves.

The overbearing person, who tyrannizes the weak, the person, who wants to domineer and to bluster, is simply nothing else than a worrier, who might claim to be a friend. But he isn't! Really not! The bullying of fellow citizens by means of dread and fright has been going on since Paleolithic times. The night wolf is eating the moon. Give me silver, and I'll make him spit out.

Well, when will we start counting our courage and not our fears, or enjoy instead our woes? Worrying itself is pointless. Of course,  no society has achieved perfect rules of law, never-ending education or unique responsible governments. Let's seek out the worries but avoid the warriors, because they try to avoid liberty.

Covid cases down by 15%

By Kaithreen Cruz, Manila Times

THE nationwide seven-day average of new Covid-19 cases further dropped to 2,959 as of August 27, a 15-percent decline from the previous week, according to OCTA Research.

OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David said the seven-day average was at its highest just two weeks ago at 4,071 cases.

The average daily attack rate (ADAR) was 2.69 per 100,000 population — classified as low — as the reproduction rate, or the number of new cases caused by one infected individual, slid from 0.96 on August 17 to 0.91 on August 24.

A decrease in the positivity rate was also observed, from 16.2 to 14.3 percent as of August 26.

"If the current trends in the growth rate hold, this projects to less than 1,000 cases per day nationwide by mid-September and less than 500 per day by end of September," David said.

The World Health Organization set a 5-percent positivity rate benchmark to indicate that the infection is under control.

OCTA also observed that the Covid-19 reproduction number in the National Capital Region (NCR) was going down, to 0.99 on August 23 from 1.02 on August 16.

It was the first time since last May 11 that the reproduction number in Metro Manila had dropped below 1.

Covid positivity rate in NCR dips

David said infected numbers might be finally trending down, although at a slower rate.

The NCR positivity rate was at 13.6 percent on August 25, down by 1.1 percent from August 18, with new cases also decreasing to a seven-day average of 1,002 and a one-week growth rate of -9 percent.

"With the current pace, it could take eight weeks before the positivity rate decreases to less than five percent," David predicted.

Health care utilization for Covid-19 and ICU occupancy in NCR both dropped — from 37 to 35 percent and from 31 to 27 percent, respectively, from August 20 to August 25.

Last Friday, Department of Health (DoH) Officer in Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire reminded Filipinos to get vaccinated and boosted against Covid-19 to prevent hospitalization and deaths due to the virus.

The Pinas Lakas campaign is trying to administer booster shots to 23 million Filipinos before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s first 100 days in office.

The DoH has administered 17.5 million boosters, 4.8 million of which were from NCR.

Vergeire noted that 60 percent of severe and critical Covid cases were either unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated.

Common tower policy to boost internet service

Information and Communications Secretary Ivan John Uy. Photo from Facebook page of Department of Information and Communications Technology

By Franco Jose C. Baroña

Information and Communications Secretary Ivan John Uy. Photo from Facebook page of Department of Information and Communications Technology

THE government has launched several programs that will "definitely speed up the deployment of better, more reliable and more economical connectivity" in the country, the head of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said.

Interviewed on "Business and Politics," a weekly TV program hosted by The Manila Times Chairman Dante "Klink" Ang 2nd, DICT Secretary Ivan John Enrile Uy said the Philippines has gone up several notches in terms of internet connectivity.

"But I am not happy and not satisfied. We aim to improve it further," he said.

Under the concept, telecommunications or communication service providers (telcos) will erect towers that they can lease to other telcos.

"So, each tower can now host several telcos instead of one tower per telco," Uy said.

The concept could bring the Philippines "up to par or even exceed" its neighbor Vietnam in terms of connectivity and internet speed, he said.

To further expand 5G, more towers need to be put up because the frequency requires that the towers be closer to each other, Uy said.

"For 4G you can have towers farther apart, 3G even farther apart. As we go higher, the density of the towers in a certain area has to increase. That is the challenge now," he said.

In the latest Speedtest Global Index, the Philippines' fixed broadband download speeds still lagged behind Vietnam's, but were well ahead of Asean countries Laos, Brunei, Indonesia, Cambodia and Myanmar.

The country's mobile internet download speeds are just below Vietnam's, according to the index.

Uy said the DICT is also helping Elon Musk's satellite-based Starlink set up business in the Philippines.

Starlink is run by SpaceX and provides satellite internet access to 39 countries.

"Filipinos can start to feel the benefits of this technology in less than 12 months," Uy said.

He said DICT already had several talks with Starlink officials.

"They are very encouraged because of our foreign direct investment laws. These have actually been liberalized and so they have been incentivized to bring in their business here. In fact, that is one of the reasons why they decided to set up Starlink in the Philippines," Uy said.

He stressed satellite technology is "not for everyone," particularly in urban areas where fiber optics had been laid down.

Uy noted that fiber optic technology is still the best in terms of bringing broadband to homes and businesses with its almost unlimited capacity in terms of speed, latency and economies of scale.

However, for the Philippines, which has more than 7,100 islands, satellite technology is more appropriate.

"The benefits of satellite technology will be more apparent in remote areas in the Philippines since in many of those islands fiber optics technology will not be feasible, at least not economically," Uy said.

"There are very small and sparsely populated islands and laying out those [fiber optic] submarine cables can cost too much for the income that can be generated from those small communities. We really have to use satellite technology in order to effectively provide internet connectivity to these areas," he added.

Uy said a lot of other foreign technology companies are "waiting, seeing and observing" how these investment laws in the Philippines will play.

"We would be having a mission soon to the US to explain to tech companies what the liberation for investments that the country has are and invite them over to do more investments," he said.

Last week, Uy said he met with US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Loss Carlson to discuss investment opportunities American businessmen might want to explore in the country.

"She was very optimistic about the increased opportunities for foreigner investment of US companies in the country. She really actually looks forward to even more trade and economic activity between the two countries," Uy said of Carlson.

Albay prepares for Mayon eruption

BEAUTIFUL AND PERILOUS Mount Mayon in Albay appears calm from a distance on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, but it may erupt anytime. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the restive volcano might produce pyroclastic flows due to the lava dome blocking the volcano’s crater. Photo by Rhaydz B. Barcia

By Rhaydz Barcia

LEGAZPI CITY: The provincial government of Albay is bracing for a complex disaster as Mount Mayon is again showing signs of an impending eruption amid the typhoon season and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Gov. Noel Rosal urged the province's disaster officials to prepare for an intricate situation after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) resident volcanologist, Dr. Paul Alanis, warned of a possible lava-dome collapse that might generate pyroclastic flows.

Rosal also called for an emergency meeting with national government agencies and disaster responders to discuss the measures, guidelines and strict enforcement of a no-man's land within the 6-kilometer permanent danger zone.

The new governor of Albay told the disaster officials of various local government units to bar civilians, specifically the farmers toiling on the fertile soils of the Mayon Volcano slopes, from entering the 6-kilometer permanent danger zone.

Rosal also ordered all the local government units to start evacuating residents living inside the no-man's land to ensure their safety and security.

Alanis warned of a possible collapse of the lava dome from the summit, which might generate pyroclastic flows that would cascade down the southeast quadrant of the volcano facing Legazpi City, Sto. Domingo, Daraga and Camalig.

Phivolcs hoisted Alert Level 1 over Mayon Volcano on Sunday afternoon, August 21, for exhibiting restiveness.

Alanis said the lava dome at the volcano's crater generating a faint glow may crumble anytime, posing danger to the people who might enter the 6-kilometer permanent danger zone.

Magna carta for Filipino seafarers pushed

By Javier Joe Ismael

SEN. Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go on Saturday pushed for the passage of the proposed Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers as he emphasized the need to recognize the rights and contributions of the country's seafarers.

Go had earlier filed Senate Bill 1191 which aims to provide for a Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers to secure the right of the country's seafarers to decent and humane employment and set a guide for seafarers on training, overseas employment, and retirement.

The proposed measure seeks to institute mechanisms for the enforcement and protection of Filipino seafarers and provide the compulsory benefits that they deserve.

"The Philippines has been the primary supplier of maritime labor and considered the manning capital of seafarers globally since 1987. Of the 1.5 million mariners worldwide, 25 percent are Filipinos, making them the single biggest nationality bloc in the maritime industry," Go said.

"Despite the risk associated with a seafaring job, many Filipinos still chose the profession and gambled their life on board just to provide a better life for their families. Filipino seafarers' remittances have been genuinely beneficial to the Philippine economy. In fact, they contributed $6.54 billion or around 21 percent of the total OFW remittances in 2021," he said in a statement.

The senator underscored the need for the country to enhance and strengthen its measures in fulfilling its duties and obligations as the 30th Member State to ratify the International Maritime Labor Convention of 2006 (MLC).

"It is high time for the government to pass an additional piece of legislation that would benefit Filipino seafarers and give them rights corresponding to the MLC standards," Go stressed.

The Magna Carta codifies the rights of the seafarers into a single reference law, including their right to just terms and conditions of work, self-organization, educational advancement and training, information and consultation, fair treatment in the event of an accident, and against discrimination.

It also provides standard terms and conditions of employment for seafarers, including provisions related to wages, hours of work and rest, leaves, and social welfare benefits. It likewise mandates ship owners to provide medical care, both onboard and ashore, as well as a financial security system to assist our seafarers in case of injuries.