Prayer sustains our faith

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

“HIS disciples asked him in private, ‘Why could we not drive the spirit out?’ He said to them, ‘This kind can only come out through prayer.’” (Mk 9,28-29)

This is the concluding part of that gospel episode where Christ was approached by the father of a boy possessed by a mute spirit. (cfr. Mk 9,14-29) According to the father, “wherever the mute spirit seized the boy, it threw him down; he foamed at the mouth, ground his teeth, and became rigid.” It must have been a terrible sight!

But the father complained that when he asked Christ’s disciples to drive it out, they were unable to do so. That’s when Christ retorted, “O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you?”

Somehow Christ was highlighting the need for faith for the disciples to be able to drive the spirit out. “Everything is possible to one who has faith,” he said. And then he asked the father of the boy if he too had faith that the spirit can be driven out. 

That’s when the father said the famous words: “I do believe, help my unbelief!” He somehow captured the usual condition we have in relation to our faith. We like to profess that we have faith, but we also know that our faith is oftentimes wavering.

When Christ finally drove out the spirit from the boy, the disciples asked why they could not do it. That’s when Christ made it clear that “this kind can only come out through prayer.”

Somehow from this episode we can make the following conclusion: for us to share in the very power of God, especially when we are faced with extraordinary challenges and problems, we need to have a strong faith. And for that faith to be a working faith, it has to be sustained always through prayer.

In other words, to live our life with God and share in everything that he has as we are meant to be, we need to pray to keep our faith going. Prayer should be a constant activity for us. It should be like the very beating of our heart.

We have to realize more deeply that it is a basic need of ours to pray. If we understand our life to be a life always with God, as our Christian faith tells us, then we need to pray always.

Prayer is actually more important and necessary than the air we breathe, the food we eat or the water we drink. We should do everything to learn to pray always. On this, St. Paul clearly said, “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thes 5,17)

In fact, in that Pauline passage, what went before and after it are very interesting. St. Paul says that we have to rejoice always and be thankful in all circumstances because that is the will of God for us. (cfr 1 Thes 5,16.18)

We have to find ways of how to conform ourselves to this clear indication of St. Paul. We have to learn how to pray always, converting everything in our life, including those that we consider as negative or bad elements, into an occasion, a means, a reason for praying.

We need to go beyond that common understanding of prayer that pegs it only to the recitation of some vocal prayers or to spending time in some special places to do meditation or contemplation. While these forms of prayer are important and, in fact, are indispensable, they do not have the exclusive ownership, so to speak, of the ways of praying.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

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Philippine Eagle Foundation to benefit MiceCon

By Ruth Palo, Manila Times

DAVAO CITY: The Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) was chosen as the beneficiary of MICE (Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions, and Exhibitions) convention set on March 1-3 at the SMX Convention Center in SM Lanang Premier here.

The city is hosting this year's MiceCon after three years of being postponed.

The PEF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the endangered Philippine eagle and its rainforest habitat.

The Philippine eagle, among the four symbolic icons of Davao City, is a strong symbol apt for this year's MiceCon attached in its logo.

Kennedy Kapulong, the former co-chairman of Davao MiceCon 2023, said that the "majestic" Philippine eagle symbolizes the city's "resilience and strength."

Kapulong said that selecting PEF as the beneficiary is in line with the Department of Tourism's (DoT) advocacy for sustainable tourism.

"Likewise, DoT's sustainability efforts and advocacy can be mirrored with the successful initiatives of the PEF to save the national bird. When I was asked for a CSR partner, PEF was the top choice," he said in a statement Friday.

Ann Pelingon, MiceCon Davao's head for corporate social responsibility (CSR), also believes that the foundation matches what MiceCon aims to achieve — resiliency from the ever-changing times.

"Like Davao City, we are known for being resilient. For how many years, the Philippine eagle has been resilient for how many years. It's symbolic and it's just right that the Philippine Eagle Foundation be our beneficiary," she said.

The pandemic, she said, had hugely affected the PEF's operation. Now with the threat of the avian flu, Pelingon said that the center needs financial help.

She said the MiceCon wants to contribute to the foundation's conservation effort of sustaining the population of eagles not only in the city but for the entire country.

"The center really needs funding, especially in ensuring the preservation of the raptor and other endangered animals being sheltered in the center," Pelingon said.

Proceeds from the convention's registration will go to the PEF. In addition, Pelingon said they are also eyeing the delegates to be the center's potential donors.

"At least the delegates, aside from being potential donors, could also help spread the word in the center's conservation efforts," she said.

With MiceCon's goal of having a sustainable tourism industry, Pelingon said the convention is a great avenue for this advocacy.

Pelingon, a former PEF volunteer, believed in the importance of preserving the eagles, which is an indicator of a healthy environment.

She also hoped that many would heed the call for more volunteers in the foundation.

Carla Salvacion, PEF conservation education program team leader, said they are thankful that MiceCon selected the foundation as its beneficiary.

"MiceCon is a huge help not only in raising awareness but also in raising funds for the center to continue its run," she said.

With the theme "MICEConverge: Blaze New Trails," the three-day conference will serve as a gateway to provide more business opportunities and strengthen ties with domestic and international stakeholders.

It is a hybrid event expected to bring in 500 in-person delegates and up to 2,000 online participants from here and abroad.

Highlights of the event include the MICE Youth Challenge and Power Dressing and Glam Makeup Sessions and Workshops where Davao's finest tourism and product services will be on full display with the sub-themes, "Celebrating Nature," "Celebrating Diversity" and "Celebrating Travel and Technology."

LPA seen to cross eastern part of PH landmass, trigger more rains in next 3 days — PAGASA

Published February 18, 2023, 10:03 AM

by Charie Mae F. Abarca

The low pressure area (LPA) spotted near Mindanao remains less likely to develop into a tropical cyclone, but the state weather bureau’s latest forecast scenario showed that the weather disturbance will cross the eastern section of the Philippine landmass and trigger more rains in the next three days.

PAGASA’s Tropical Cyclone Threat Potential forecast showing the LPA’s low likelihood of cylone development. (Screengrab / PAGASA YouTube)

Last seen 285 kilometers east southeast of Davao City, the LPA continues to dump rains over Visayas, Caraga, Davao Region, northern Mindanao, Bicol Region, Romblon, Marinduque, and Quezon. 

“[On Saturday, Feb. 18], the LPA will be closest to Caraga Region and eastern Visayas. By [Sunday, Feb. 19] it is expected to be in the Bicol Region, while on [Monday, Feb. 20] it will be in the eastern section of northern or central Luzon, and by that time another surge of the northeast monsoon will begin,” said Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Weather Specialist Benison Estareja in Filipino on Saturday, Feb. 18.

By Tuesday, Feb. 21 PAGASA expects the weather disturbance to dissipate while crossing the northern Luzon area.

Along with the LPA, the northeast monsoon, also called “amihan,” will bring light rains and cold winds in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon. The lowest air temperature recorded on Saturday was logged in Baguio City: 13.0°C at 4:50 a.m.

Due to the strong to gale force winds associated with the northeast monsoon, a gale warning remained hoisted in the eastern seaboards of southern Luzon and Visayas and the northern and eastern Seaboards of Mindanao; the central and western seaboards of Visayas; the western and southern seaboards of southern Luzon; as well as the seaboards of northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of central Luzon.

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Fishermen with small sea vessels were advised not to venture out into the sea due to rough sea conditions.

PBBM pushes rice yield increase thru hybrid seeds

by Argyll Cyrus Geducos, MB

Malacañang said that the Department of Agriculture (DA) has started developing a “strategy plan” to promote planting hybrid seeds on 1.5 million hectares of rice land during the dry season.

FARMERS in Western Visayas are set to receive in-bred rice seeds for wet season planting. (DA-6)

The Palace said this in a statement on Friday, Feb. 17, after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. approved the adoption of hybrid rice varieties that will help local farmers enhance their crop production. 

In its statement, Malacañang, citing Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Operations Arnel De Mesa, said Marcos has ordered to ensure that rice farmers have enough support.

The DA will also launch a financial and credit program to persuade farmers to shift to hybrid rice.

“Sapat na suporta kagaya ng patubig, fertilizer at iba pang ayuda katulad ng (Enough support like water, fertilizer, and other help like) Rice Farmers Financial Assistance,” Mesa said.

“Ang mga ito ay nararapat na maibigay sa tamang panahon (These assistance should be provided to them at the right time),” he added.

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According to Malacañang, the President, also the DA Secretary, is optimistic that the country will attain its rice self-sufficiency target within two years using hybrid seeds.

The DA is looking at expanding production in Regions 6, 8, 12, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon regions have already adopted the hybrid rice technology.

Apart from expanding financial support to local farmers through the loan financing program, President Marcos committed to bringing the best farming practices used by Central Luzon farmers to the rest of the country.

Based on a joint study by the DA and local government units (LGUs), the hybrid system has produced a 41-percent higher yield than conventional inbred seeds for the past two years.

In 2023, the DA earmarked P30 billion in funds under the National Rice Program to provide hybrid and inbred or certified seeds, production-related and post-harvest machinery, small-scale irrigation, and extension and training activities.

This is on top of the P10B-Rice Enhancement Competitiveness Fund sourced from the excess tariff collected under the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), which aims to improve farmers’ competitiveness.

Makati gov’t orders temporary closure of Wantusawa oyster bar after alleged food poisoning

By James Patrick Cruz, interaksyon 

Composite shows oysters and Makati City's Business Permits and Licensing Office representatives putting up a closure order notice on Wantusawa Oyster Bar (Wantusawa/Facebook; My Makati/Facebook)

The Makati City government ordered the temporary shutdown of Wantusawa Oyster Bar after its customers claimed that they experienced food poisoning early this year.

On February 13, the city’s Business Permits and Licensing Office served a closure order against the restaurant for violating the Sanitation Code. 

Mayor Abby Binay issued this order “to restore order and discipline in Makati and protect the interest of legitimate businesses, Makatizens and the general public.”

The restaurant’s management was quoted in a report as saying that the Makati City government implemented the temporary closure as it wait for the result of the water and oyster test. 

As it waits for the resumption of its operations, the oyster bar said it would conduct “maintenance work and repairs to help improve the quality of service we provide.”

Last January, the review section of the restaurant’s Facebook page was flooded with complaints. 

The restaurant’s customers claimed that they experienced stomach discomfort and food-related illnesses after allegedly consuming meals from the oyster bar.

Following this, it released a statement addressing online allegations of food poisoning.

Wantusawa said that it takes customer feedback and reviews “very seriously,” adding it is “taking it to heart.”

“We always strive to provide freshly prepared meals while adhering to critical safety and health standards,” it added.

The restaurant also said that it conducted laboratory tests on samples during the dates it received complaints.

The oyster bar said the results “have shown a negative result for bacteria and thus clearing the possibility of any food poisoning.” 

Wantusawa lamented the alleged continued “social media bullying” despite its efforts, laboratory tests and health clearances.

“In our pursuit of truth and due process, we shall likewise review our options to take any legal action against these purveyors of bullying and untruth,” it said.

Social media users, however, found the restaurant’s statement “insensitive.”

Wantusawa opened in Poblacion in 2018 and has since opened a food truck in Rockwell.

It offers fresh, baked, grilled and fried oysters, as well as shareable seafood plates. It also serves bowls of rice and noodles.

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Foreign investment approvals up in Q4

By Niña Myka Pauline Arceo, Manila Times

February 17, 2023 

FOREIGN investment (FI) approvals rose by 30.1 percent to P173.61 billion in the fourth quarter from P133.47 million a year earlier, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Thursday.

"The bulk of FI commitments for the fourth quarter of 2022 was from Singapore (64.2 percent), followed by Japan (21.5 percent) and the United Kingdom (5.9 percent)," the PSA said in a statement.

"Singapore committed P111.47 billion, while Japan and the United Kingdom pledged P 37.41 billion and P 10.22 billion, respectively," it added.

The approvals involved pledges received by six investment promotion agencies: the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan, Board of Investments (BoI), BoI-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Clark Development Corp., Philippine Economic Zone Authority and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

No investment approvals were reported by the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, Poro Point Management Corp., and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, the PSA said.

Information and communications accounted for the most pledges at P114.29 billion or 65.8 percent of the total. Real estate activities was second with P35.57 billion or 20.5 percent, followed by manufacturing with P19.30 billion or 11.1 percent.

The biggest chunk of approved fourth-quarter foreign investments, amounting to P101.36 billion or 58.4 percent of the total, was for projects classified as "nationwide" or situated in various regions of the country.

The Ilocos Region took the next biggest share of P32.66 billion (18.8 percent), followed by Region IV-A (Calabarzon or Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) with P30.71 billion (17.7 percent) and Central Luzon with P5.70 billion (3.3 percent).

Approved investments of foreign and Filipinos combined hit P478.16 billion during the period, 17 percent higher compared to the P408.54 billion seen a year earlier. Filipinos accounted for the bulk at P 304.55 billion or 63.7 percent.

A total of 37,766 jobs could potentially be created, the PSA said. "Out of this total anticipated employment for the period, approved projects with foreign interest were projected to generate 23,364 employment," it added.

Michael Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said the increase could have been due to the reopening of the economy and improved prospects for the country.

"The improvement may also have to do with the various investment commitments after the visits of the administration to different countries in recent months," he added.

Are we ready for ‘The Big One’?

Published February 17, 2023, 12:05 AM

by Manila Bulletin

How prepared are we in the event “The Big One”—a magnitude-7.2 earthquake triggered by the movement of the West Valley Fault—strikes in Metro Manila?

The question comes to mind in the wake of the devastation caused by the magnitude-7.8 earthquake that hit Turkiye and Syria.

A study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency for the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority paints a grim scenario in case The Big One occurs. 

Based on the study released in 2004, at least 34,000 persons will die while 114,000 will be injured, and 40 percent of residential buildings in Metro Manila will be affected—170,000 houses will collapse while another 340,000 will be partly damaged—and about 500 fire incidents will occur within the first hour of the earthquake.

With this bleak picture, to what extent has the government prepared for this?

To get a clearer view of how the government will respond to such an eventuality, House Speaker Martin Romualdez is planning to summon all disaster agencies and first responder units.

He wants to find out if the government has an operational plan or “Oplan” in case The Big One hits the country. 

“We want to find out if we are really ready and what the public needs to do,” he said, recalling that the same level of catastrophe already happened during Typhoon “Yolanda” where first responders also became the victims. “Who’s going to replace them, do we have enough equipment to dig through the rubble or does the government have enough food packs for the thousands who would be affected by this earthquake?”

“Do we have enough equipment and manpower? Because the first 24 hours are very critical. If we don’t have, then let’s prepare and anticipate,” Romualdez said. “We really have to be ready from rescue to medical attention and food distribution.”

Romualdez’s move is a welcome development and the House of Representatives should waste no time in summoning disaster officials so they can unveil their plans. If something is lacking, then there is still time to fine-tune it. If the plan is well-crafted, then brief the public now to educate the people on what to do and how to react in the event The Big One happens.

We should take note that the West Valley Fault may be due for another major movement. In previous briefings, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology bared studies showing that the West Valley Fault moved four times in the past 1,400 years, with a movement interval between 400 to 600 years. The last major earthquake event generated by the movement of the fault was in 1658. Based on this, a major movement may happen in our generation.

We can’t prevent an act of nature from happening, but we can prepare for this eventuality and pray for God’s intervention.

Let’s do it now. Tomorrow might be too late.

Filipinas yield to Wales in Pinatar Cup opener

by Manila Bulletin Sports

By NIKOLE JAVIER 

The Philippine national women’s football team got into a rocky start in its 2023 Pinatar Cup campaign after absorbing a 1-0 loss to the higher-ranked Wales at the Pinatar Arena in Spain on Wednesday, Feb. 15 (Thursday, Manila time).

The Filipinas couldn’t convert an equalizer after playing a promising defense for most of the first half against the 32nd-ranked Welsh side.  

National team center-back Dominique Randle handed over a penalty after a miscue on her end just as the first half was about to conclude, giving Kayleigh Green of Wales the chance to nail the first and only goal of the match past Philippine goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel at the 45th minute. 

Staring at the deficit, the Filipinas quickly sprung back to action in the ensuing half with Katrina Guillou being brought in and firing a good shot at the 47th minute which was ultimately turned back by Wales keeper Safia Middleton-Patel.

Despite being limited in possessions for most of the contest, the national team refused to let the Welsh get their way once more in added time with McDaniel’s crucial save that kept the score at 1-nil. 

However, time would run out for any last-ditch effort as the Filipinas will remain scoreless in full-time.  

In the earlier play, Iceland defeated Scotland, 2-0, to surge to an early lead in the tournament. 

Meanwhile, the 53rd-ranked Filipinas will attempt to bounce back against the world No. 25. Scotland on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 10 p.m. (Manila time) at the same venue.