DepED asks schools, offices to hold ‘simple yet meaningful’ Christmas parties

by Merlina Hernando-Malipot

The Department of Education (DepED) reminded schools and offices to ensure that Christmas parties will be held in a “simple yet meaningful” manner.

Photo from Unsplash

In DepED Order No. 52 series of 2022 signed by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte dated Nov. 2, the department issued guidelines for the celebration of Christmas within the DepED. 

DepED urged its community to “strive for a genuine celebration of hope, unity, and service for others” every Christmas season.

Given this, public schools as well as DepED Central and field offices were directed to ensure that celebrations related to Christmas should be “simple yet meaningful.”

This, DepED said, can be done by keeping in mind the “true spirit of the season” and the “austerity called for by the difficult economic times.”

Voluntary, practicable

In its latest issuance, DepED urged all concerned to ensure that all Christmas parties, themes, costumes, decorations, and exchange gifts remain voluntary.

“No learner or DepED personnel should be forced to contribute participate or use their money for the celebration,” the department said.

DepED also stressed that contributions for celebrations in schools or offices, whether in cash or kind, “should be strictly voluntary.”

Likewise, the department added that “no learner shall be excluded from joining the Christmas celebration by reason of their failure to give the voluntary contribution or absence of a prepared of a prepared gift.”

To help ensure that celebrations in schools and offices are “practicable,” DepEd said that “Christmas party themes should not result to expenses that will become a burden on parents, students and DepED personnel.”

Likewise, DepED enjoined schools and offices to use or recycle old Christmas decorations. The purchase of new decor was also discouraged. Furthermore, DepED said that no learner or personnel should be “required to make decors specifically for a party.” 

Christmas parties in schools, DepED added, may also be organized within class hours “so long as it does not interfere with the scheduled lesson plans intended to be taught to the students.”

DepED offices, however, were reminded that the conduct of Christmas get-togethers and other similar year-end activities “should not compromise the provision of departmental services.”

When it comes to gift-giving, DepED said that this should be “guided by the spirit and of sharing and should not lead to extravagant spending.”

DepED personnel were also reminded that solicitations, whether in cash or in-kind, are not allowed for Christmas parties or holiday celebrations.

The provisions of this order, DepED said, cover all that schools and offices in the country.

Schools Division Offices (SDOs) were also allowed to issue additional guidelines based on their local customs and traditions, subject to the issued guidelines.

For private schools, community learning centers, as well as state or local universities and colleges, DepED said that they may “choose to adopt the provisions” of the newly-issued order as a basis in the conduct of their own Christmas parties or celebration.

Beware of the critical spirit

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

THAT gospel story of the paralytic brought by his friends with great effort to Christ for healing, (cfr. Lk 5,17-26) can tell us a number of things. One is that we need a strong faith when we need to ask God for some special favor. 

Another would be that miracles are meant more to forgive sins than just curing some physical ailment. That’s because spiritual health is more important than our bodily health. After all, it is our spiritual soul when animated by the Holy Spirit that gives life. (cfr. Jn 6,63) The body’s life and health ultimately depends on our soul, the principle of life.

Still another lesson we can get from that gospel story would be that we have to be wary of our tendency to have a critical spirit. That’s because in that gospel story, Christ first forgave the sins of the paralytic for which some of the Pharisees around accused him of blasphemy, convinced that Christ was already overstepping his authority and power. That was when Christ proceeded to cure the paralytic to show he had the power to forgive sins since he indeed was the expected Messiah from God.

Let’s be wary of our tendency to be fault-finders, negative thinkers, incorrigible critics, etc. This tendency usually springs from a brand of righteousness that is not properly rooted on the real source of righteousness who can only be God, as shown to us by Christ and inspired in us by the Holy Spirit. It is more self-righteousness.

We have to be most wary of this spiritual anomaly that can come to us anytime. It usually takes advantage of our natural inclination to seek the truth, the good and the beautiful in life—in short, what is right—and corrupts that inclination because it is not properly rooted on the ultimate source of righteousness, which is God himself. It’s so blinding that it can even assume the appearance of holiness.

Most prone to this illness are those with some special endowments in life, be it intelligence, talents, wealth, fame, power, health, beauty, etc. When all these gifts are not clearly grounded and oriented toward God, the source of all righteousness, the problem starts.

This is the irony of ironies because one can earnestly pursue the path of holiness and does practically everything to be good and holy, and yet ends up the opposite of what is intended. That’s when one practically has the trappings of goodness and holiness and yet misses the real root of righteousness who is God.

To deal with this tendency properly, we have to see to it that in whatever we do, we should always have purity of intention. And that can only happen when everything we do, from our thoughts, desires to our words and deeds, is done for the glory of God and for none other.

Also, we have to learn how to react properly when we see the defects, mistakes and sins of others. That we see them does not entitle us to be critical and uncharitable. Rather, we should try our best to help them in any way we can. And the most basic thing we can do is to pray for them, even offering sacrifices for them, so that they can be transformed or converted by God’s grace.

We should never be critical-minded for long. While we cannot avoid being critical of our spontaneous reaction, we should try our best to overcome it as soon as possible.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

EmMANUEL: A Christmas Feast, gilunsad sa LGU Monkayo

MONKAYO, Davao de Oro - Pormal na nga giabrehan sa Lokal nga Panggamhanan sa Lungsod sa Monkayo ang "EmMANUEL: A Christmas Feast" — ang selebrasyon sa munisipyo alang sa kapaskuhan.

Nahisama sa usa ka Christmas Village ang palibot sa Government Center human napuno kini sa kahayag sa mga suga nga maoy usa sa mga simbolo sa pasko. Napuno usab og mga dekorasyon ang palibot niini sama sa Belen, Parol ug Christmas Lights nga nagdungag og kanindot sa Christmas Village.

Adunay 21 ka mga parol ug 11 ka mga Belen ang opisyal nga gipasundayag ngadto sa publiko ug giatangan sab sa katawhan ang pagpasiga sa dako nga Christmas Tree nga adunay katas-on nga 12 metros nga masayran kutob Disyembre 25 ug ang Fireworks Display.

Sumala pa ni First District Congresswoman Maricar Zamora, “Ang tinood nga diwa sa pasko dili makita sa dekorasyon apan makita sa sulod sa kasing-kasing. Karong gabhiona, atong masaksihan ang pagpasiga sa pinakataas nga Christmas Tree nga atong nahimo sa lungsod sa Monkayo sukad pa sauna” Subay sa paglunsad, gi-abrihan sab ang Christmas Bazaar diin mga barato lamang ang baligya niini sama sa mga sinina, sapatos ug uban pa.

Anaa sab ang lamiang mga pagkaon sa Christmas StrEAT diin nahimong konsesyonaryo ang mga lokal food vendors.

Sa samang seremonya, gipakita usab ngadto sa katawhan ang usa ka presentasyon nga gitawag og “A Decade of Hope and Thanksgiving: Emmanuel (God is with Us)” isip paghinumdom sa ika- 10 nga anibersaryo sa Bagyong Pablo.

“Napulo ka tuig sukad nga ang lungsod sa Monkayo ug ang kinatibuk-ang probinsya nakangkon og usa ka dako nga pagsulay pinaagi sa Bagyong Pablo. Dinha sa napulo ka tuig, atong napamatud-an nga kaya diay natong mubangon tungod kay ang Ginoo kauban nato. Emmanuel, God is with us.” matod pa ni Congresswoman Zamora.

Anaa ang presensya sa tibook LGU Monkayo gipanguluhan ni Mayor Manuel "Way Kurat" Zamora kauban si Congresswoman Maricar Zamora, Vice Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, Senior Board Member Herv Martelle Zamora-Apsay, Vice Mayor Manuel "Junjun" Brillantes, Jr., kauban ang Sangguniang Bayan Members Hon. Manuel "JayR" Zamora, Jr., Hon. Allen Cabag, Hon. Jocelyn Cabag-Burgos, Hon. Maria Ceniza, Hon. Bienvenido Esguerra, Hon. Kimberly Benazir May Codilla-Amad, Hon. Crison Martesio, Hon. Domingo Estrada, Hon. Ivan Jello Cajes, Hon. Carlos Duron, Hon. Moises Bacolod ug ang 21 ka mga Barangay Kapitan sa lungsod.

Gilingaw usab sa bandang Muses ang katawhan human nagpasundayag sa ilahang nindot nga mga sonata. Mulungtad ang EmMANUEL: A Christmas Feast hangtod Disyembre 25, 2022 ug sa matag adlaw niini adunay mga pakulo nag giandam ang Lokal nga Panggamhanan sama sa Live Band, Children Film Viewing, ug uban pa matag gabii.

Nakigduyog usab sila Board Member Renato Basañes, Board Member Eutropio Jayectin, Mayor Levi Ebdao, Mayor Gerald Ford Balbin, Vice Mayor Larry Pagalan, Vice Mayor Ricky Hechanova, Vice Mayor Joey Lungtad inubanan sa mga SK members sa matag munisipyo. 

Municipal Information Office Local Government of Monkayo

December 4, 2022

Pre-Christmas family movie ‘Puss In Boots: The Last Wish’ opens Dec. 7

by Manila Bulletin Entertainment

This holiday season, everyone’s favorite leche-loving, swashbuckling, fear-defying feline returns. For the first time in more than a decade, DreamWorks Animation presents a new adventure in the Shrek universe as daring outlaw Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for peril and disregard for safety have taken their toll. A hero to some, an outlaw to others…everyone agrees that this swashbuckling cat has style to spare. Known for his iconic (and beautifully cobbled) boots, Puss is a skilled swordsman, charming, fearless, determined and a crazy-good dancer.

Puss is a legend who has lived all these lives. He goes from town to town and party to party. He’s the life and soul of everywhere he goes. But just like the rock star who plays the concert every night and is in top form, he goes back to his hotel by himself every night—lies in bed and doesn’t have anyone around. That’s the story of Puss. He’s never let anyone in. Along the journey, he’s starting to question that choice.

The long-awaited follow-up to the 2011 Academy Award®-nominated blockbuster, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish stars Academy Award® nominee Antonio Banderas who returns as the voice of the notorious PiB as he embarks on an epic journey into the Black Forest to find the mythical Wishing Star and restore his lost lives. The last time we saw Puss in Boots, in his 2011 solo outing as a movie star, he was purring about his cunning ability to save the world and be adulated for it. Now  with only one life left, the devil-may-care feline is wondering if he’s forever lost his mojo…and with it, the very essence of what makes him Puss in Boots. 

“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” features an all-star voice cast that includes Oscar® nominee Salma Hayek Pinault as Kitty Softpaws, Harvey Guillen as Perrito the mutt, Oscar® nominee Florence Pugh as Goldi, Oscar® winner Olivia Colman as Momma Bear, Ray Winstone as Papa Bear, Samson Kayo as Baby Bear, Emmy winner John Mulaney as Jack Horner and Wagner Moura as Wolf.

The character of Puss in Boots first appeared in 2004’s Oscar®-nominated Shrek 2 and instantly became a global, scene-stealing sensation. Puss then co-starred in two other Shrek sequels and his solo film, as well as in multiple DreamWorks Animation videos and a TV series. The Shrek and Puss in Boots films have collectively earned more than $3.5 billion worldwide.

Antonio Banderas has lived with (and brought life to) Puss in Boots for almost two decades, and he has seen the impact of the character first-hand in every area of the globe. “I have had interviewers from all around the world and thought, ‘Wow. When that person saw Shrek 2, they were seven, eight years old,’” Banderas says. “Now, they are interviewing me about this character they saw years ago, and now they are 28 or 29. It’s beautiful that younger people have grown up with this character that produced such a strong impact in their lives. It seems like the time to pick up Puss and throw him back to the biggest screen, the place where he belongs.”

“Coming back to voice this memorable hero has been a remarkable experience,” Banderas says. “I felt like I was visiting a very dear, clever friend that I hadn’t heard from for a few years. We both have greyer whiskers and are no longer the brash, young players we used to be. What I love most about playing Puss is that deep down inside, he has a strong sense of honor and loyalty—as well as a mischievous and funny side, which endears him to audiences of all ages,” concludes Banderas. 

A DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures feature, “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” breaks into local cinemas starting Dec. 7. 

New wave of oil price rollback due next week

by Myrna M. Velasco

Consumers can enjoy continued financial relief on their fuel budgets next week, as domestic pump prices will be on another round of significant price rollbacks on Tuesday, Dec. 6 based on the calculation of the industry players.

Gasoline prices may be trimmed by P1.90 to P2.30 per liter while diesel prices will be reduced by P1.80 to P2.20 per liter. 

For kerosene, a commodity essential for the aviation industry and for heating fuel and cooking needs of some households, the price cut was calculated at P1.35 to P1.65 per liter.

Despite the series of price downtrends in recent weeks though, a monitoring report of the Department of Energy (DOE) showed that cost movements since the start of the year still registered net increases of P33.85 per liter for diesel; P17.75 per liter for gasoline; and P27.85 per liter for kerosene products. 

Global oil prices nosedived to as low as $81 per barrel for international benchmark Brent crude last week, but regained strength to the level of $85 per barrel as of Friday, Dec. 2, trading.

According to industry experts, the escalation in prices toward the end-week trading had been due to clearer signals from China that it may relax its Covid restrictions soon, a move that could drive up fuel demand moving forward.

Market watchers are also raising assumptions that if China will re-open, even the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its ally-producers (collectively known as OPEC+) may no longer pursue planned production cutbacks.  

Global oil producers, which will meet Sunday, Dec. 4, are expected to tackle the main agenda on proposed price capping of Russian oil by the European Union-member countries apart from the supply-demand trajectory to be weighed by China.

EU economies had tentatively decided on $60 per barrel price cap on Russian seaborne oil to take effect immediately on Monday, Dec. 5.

The OPEC+ meeting next week is seen as one of the key developments that will influence global price movements in the days ahead, especially if they will come up with major pronouncement on any new output quota.

What is the geography and climate like in the Philippines?

Bisaya

Proud Bisaya Ko

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The Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,100 islands situated between the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea in Southeast Asia. The country is roughly divided into three central geographical regions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Luzon is the largest island and home to the capital city of Manila, as well as other major cities such as Quezon City, Caloocan, and San Juan. The Visayas region comprises around 7,107 islands and is known for its beautiful beaches and coral reefs. Mindanao is the southernmost region and home to most of the country's Muslims. The Philippines has a tropical climate characterised by hot weather and high humidity levels. The rainy season typically runs from June to October, while the dry season lasts from November to May. Typhoons are also a common occurrence during the rainy season. Despite these challenges, the Philippines is a beautiful country with a rich history and culture. It is also home to some of the most welcoming and hospitable people in the world. Thanks to its natural beauty, diverse landscape, and friendly locals

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 , the Philippines is a popular tourist destination for travellers from all over the globe.

Footnotes

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Do you think that Filipino culture is unique? Why or why not?

Bisaya

Proud Bisaya Ko

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Barok and Takya Blog | Bisaya Podcast

As someone who was born and raised in the Philippines, I can say with confidence that Filipino culture is indeed unique. Even though other cultures have influenced us, we have managed to retain our own identity. What makes us different from other cultures is our strong sense of family and community

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 . We are always willing to help our extended family and our neighbors. We also have a strong sense of pride in our culture

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 and our history. We are known for our resilience

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 , our ability to persevere in the face of adversity. I believe that these qualities make us uniquely Filipino. And even though we may sometimes be divided by politics or religion, at the end of the day, we are all united by our love for our country and our people.

Footnotes

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https://barokandtakya.com/category/filipino-society-and-culture/

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The Spirit of Being Resilient in Filipino Culture

Advent is a call for conversion and penance

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

THE gospel of the 2nd Sunday of Advent, Year A, celebrated this year on December 4, presents us with these words of St. John the Baptist that have to be taken seriously: “REPENT, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mt 3,1)

Conversion and penance are actually what we have to do all the time. It’s quite clear that we need it, given our weakened, wounded and sinful condition in the entirety of our earthly sojourn. But it has its more intense moments, one of which is precisely the period of Advent.

The spirit of conversion and penance is not actually something that is dark, negative, painful, etc. It’s not something we should run away from. In fact, it’s not something that we should just bear and tolerate since we cannot avoid it.

We need to develop and live this spirit of continuing conversion and penance because it is clear that sin continues to dominate us in this life. In fact, it is quite clear that things are getting worse. There are now powerful and well-established structures of sin in our midst before which we are simply an easy prey.

The networks of corruption, pornography, godless and worldly ideologies, etc. are proliferating, taking advantage of the powerful technologies and the easy vulnerability of many people, especially the young ones, who are not yet prepared to properly handle these networks.

We know that the sense of sin itself is largely disappearing. Pope Francis and the previous Popes have pointed that out and are warning us of this condition. They are strongly encouraging us to truly develop the spirit of conversion and penance.

Advent is indeed a time to give special attention to our conscience, if only to clean, polish and fine-tune it, so it can more correctly and punctually hear the voice of God who is the only one to tell us what is truly right and wrong, moral and immoral, etc., in these very confusing times.

This spirit of continuing conversion and penance can only be developed if we truly have the love that comes from God. With this love, we will realize that there is no limit to our need for conversion and penance. Love will continue to make new demands on us, because life itself will also make new challenges and trials on us. Let’s never forget that our life will always be some kind of warfare.

With every conversion we make, we get closer to God, we grow in his divine wisdom and goodness. No doubt, we get to gain a lot more than what we seem to lose every time we make a conversion.

We should put our faith in this personal testimony of St. Paul: “Whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.” (Phil 3,7-8)

The mark of true saints is precisely this hunger and thirst for repentance and conversion. Whatever good they did humbled them instead of leaving them proud. They knew who and what was behind all the accomplishments they made, and were more keenly aware of their inadequacies, their mistakes, faults, infidelities, etc.

It’s not that they led a miserable life of having a dark outlook in life and a negative attitude toward their own selves. They were a happy lot, whose joy sprang from their faithful union with God, their father, but also aware of their total dependence on G.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com