Not yet!

BY FR. JERRY M. ORBOS SVD

MAY 4, 2025

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The story is told about a reporter who asked a group of people at a political rally: “Were you forced to come here?” In chorus, they shouted: “No!” Then he asked them: “Were you transported here?” Again, they shouted: “No!” And finally, the reporter asked: “Were you paid to come here?” They forcefully shouted: “Not yet! Not yet!”

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In today’s Gospel (John 21: 1-19), we hear how the resurrection of Christ has not yet sunk into His disciples’ minds, so they went back to fishing, their original work before they followed Jesus. It took time for them to fully accept, that indeed the Lord has risen from the dead. But the Lord did not give up on them. He surprised them, and called them again. Yes, our God is a God of surprises and second chances, and unending calls and chances!

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The Lord continues to reveal Himself to us. He always finds ways and means to make His presence felt, and to remind us of His love. There is always something or someone there to remind us, who are always so forgetful and ungrateful.

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The disciples recognized the Lord when He broke the bread and gave it to them, the way He did at the last supper. May we, too, learn to recognize the Lord, and remember His love for us. “We remember how you loved us through your death; and still we celebrate, for You are with us here; and we believe that we will see You when You come in Your glory, Lord; Yes, we remember, we celebrate, we believe!” (“We Remember” by Marty Haugen)

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Many of us do not yet recognize the Lord in people around us. Why? Because we are too focused on ourselves, in our own agenda, and do not have a heart for others, especially the lost, the last, and the least in our midst. May the Lord, help us to be more mindful and more respectful of other people, our sisters and brothers.

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“Do you love Me?” If the Lord asks you this question now, what would you say? What can you say? Like Peter, may we be able to say: “Yes Lord, You know that I love You.” Like Peter, may we be able to say: ”Lord, You know me, You know my failures and weaknesses, but You also know that I really trying to love You.” A humble and contrite heart, the Lord will not spurn!

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The Lord tells each one of us today: If you really love Me, then love your brothers and sisters, take care of them, work for them, sacrifice for them. True communion with the Lord leads to mission; true mission is motivated and strengthened by our personal communion with the Lord.

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“If God puts you through it, He will get you through it.” (Corinthians 10:13) May we take courage and not be dismayed when we experience that we are not yet strong and consistent in our love for the Lord and in our service to His people.

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We do not yet know who our next pope will be. We have our wishes and hopes, but we know and believe that it is the Holy Spirit that will lead our cardinals in the conclave to choose the next pope, according to God’s loving will and plan.

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The month of May is the month of Mama Mary. Let us not worry about May, for the Lord and our Mama Mary are with us, come what may. Today, we pray: “Our Queen, our Mother, remember that we are your very own, defend and protect us as your personal possession.”

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Let us ask the Lord and our Blessed Mother to defend and protect our people from greedy, corrupt, and nonfunctioning public servants. Many of our people are suffering because of a few people who make us suffer as a nation.

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Sharing with you this beautiful prayer: “Lord Jesus, enlighten what is dark within me; strengthen what is weak within me; mend what is broken in me; bind what is bruised in me; heal what is sick in me; and lastly, revive whatever peace and love that has died in me. Amen.”

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A moment with the Lord:

Thank you Lord, for you are patient and forgiving to us who are not yet that strong in our faith and in our loving. Amen.

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momentswithfrjerry@gmail.com

The children that were left behind

BY ELEANOR PINUGU

MAY 5, 2025

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For most of his adult life, Arnold (not his real name), along with his wife and two kids, lived in a kariton and survived through begging. He tried finding work in several establishments but could not consistently hold a proper job because his inability to read often led to certain challenges. “Tulad po ng simpleng pagsakay sa jeep. Kailangan tanungin saan papunta dahil hindi ka makabasa (As simple as riding a jeepney, I need to ask where it is headed because I could not read the signs),” Arnold shared. Once, he was able to land a job at a gasoline station, only to realize that he had unknowingly signed a contract for a salary that was much lower than what was verbally promised to him. He felt cheated and ashamed and found himself constantly worried that he would be taken advantage of.

Arnold’s struggles began in childhood. In school, Arnold had trouble learning how to read. But even without meeting the basic learning competencies, his teachers kept promoting him to the next grade level. He lost interest in his classes because he could barely understand what was being discussed. Eventually, he completely stopped going to school.

When children struggle with reading, it can quickly lead to a downward spiral if their learning needs are left unaddressed. Multiple studies show that students with poor reading skills had higher levels of anxiety, depression, and feelings of social isolation compared to their peers. These emotional challenges make it even more difficult for them to keep up in school because it negatively affects their motivation to learn along with their ability to stay engaged in class. Consequently, they’re more likely to have behavior problems and drop out entirely.

Unfortunately, even those who stay in school do not necessarily fare much better. According to the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media survey, an estimated 18.9 million Filipinos who completed junior high school are considered functionally illiterate. This means that they still do not have the necessary reading, writing, and comprehension skills to thrive in real-world situations. For example, they may be able to write their name or read simple sentences, but they struggle to understand paragraphs and complex written instructions.

As illustrated by Arnold’s sharing, a functionally illiterate person faces limited job prospects and is often confined to low-paying work. Even when employed, they are less likely to receive promotions or professional training. In an information-driven society, those who cannot read and write are systematically excluded from being able to fully participate in economic, civic, and social life.

Children of functionally illiterate parents often inherit the same struggles, leading to intergenerational disadvantage. Studies consistently show that a child’s literacy levels are deeply tied to their literacy environment at home. When parents cannot help with homework, are unable to read bedtime stories, and cannot model a love for learning, their children are less likely to thrive in school.

The Department of Education has introduced several initiatives in the past year to help improve reading skills among public school students. Last week, Education Secretary Sonny Angara reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening literacy reforms. I am hopeful that this will translate into meaningful investment, not just into programs, but also into the people expected to carry out the interventions. In previous columns, I have written about the quiet but powerful work of many public school teachers to help nonreaders catch up. Their requests are often the same: give them (1) more time in their schedules so they have enough bandwidth to carry out remedial programs, (2) more flexibility to tailor their lessons to the skill level of their students, and (3) more age-appropriate learning resources to guide them in developing the sessions. If we want to see real change, we must listen to these calls.

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In 2013, Arnold met a Catholic missionary couple who helped him slowly improve his family’s life. The couple gave him some financial assistance, which allowed him to have a more permanent home, and helped him secure a job as a dishwasher at the cafeteria social enterprise that I run.

But the most life-changing gift was that they were able to find a volunteer who would sit down with Arnold after work and his then 5-year-old son to teach them how to read. At 38 years old, Arnold finally learned how to decode basic words. His goal was not anymore to read books; he was just grateful he could understand the world around him a little more each day. What gives him hope is that his son might have a better future.

While Arnold was very fortunate, most adults in his position are unlikely to receive the same support. That’s why we cannot solely rely on individual acts of charity; we need to scale up interventions to enable those who were left behind the opportunity to catch up, while also addressing the systemic gaps that caused (and are continually perpetuating) these problems. Only then can we ensure that no child today slips through the same cracks.

Is the Black Forest in Germany as scary as the name implies?

Volker Eichener

4,119 followers

0 following

Professor at Hochschule Düsseldorf

Studied Political Science & Sociology at Ruhr University BochumGraduated 1999

Is the Black Forest in Germany as scary as the name implies?

It is not scary at all. In fact, it is lovely.

Actually, nobody knows why this mountain range is called “Black Forest”. The ancient Romans called it “Mons Abnobae”, after the Celtic goddess Abnoba (Diana in Latin). The word “Black Forest” (“svarzwald”, “silva nigra” in medieval Latin) appeared for the first time in a document from 868, and we have no clue why. (One theory says it was just a writing error, because the name was derived from the Latin word “Nicer” for the river Neckar.)

Over the centuries, the Black Forest changed its appearance several times. Originally, it was a dense forest of leafy trees (mainly beeches) and coniferes. Then, almost all the trees were cut in order to use the wood. After that, it was reforested with fast-growing firs which have a darker appearance. Today, the forest stewards let it grow naturally, so the leafy trees are becoming more rife.

Anyway, it is a region which is perfect for hiking and mountain-biking.

Most trails are wide as shown in the picture above. There is nothing dangerous in the woods, no aggressive animals and not poisonous plants. The only dangerous thing is the common tick (however, I have never got bitten in 50 years). And maybe a hangover after having a glass wine too much in the evening before.

EDIT:

Here an excerpt of Avienus, Rufius Festus: Descriptio Orbis Terrae from the 4th century:

A votive stela for goddes Diana Abnoba, still visible in Badenweiler:

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When trials, failures strike us

BY FR. BEL R. SAN LUIS, SVD

May 3, 2025 00:30 AM

  

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WORD ALIVE

There was a “fake news” that Jesus Christ had risen from the dead because the grave was borrowed. The wealthy owner, Joseph of Arimathea, was getting it back allegedly since he needed it.

That’s not true. Jesus wanted to prove what he predicted and promised that he would rise on the third day.

* * *  

The gospel of this 3rd Easter Sunday relates how the risen Christ appeared at the Sea of Tiberias.

His appearances served to strengthen and reinforce the faith of his close followers, telling them that he was really their Master who was crucified, died, and resurrected.

* * * 

Just as the apostles had believed in the Risen Lord and his teachings, so we his present-day followers should do the same. It’s easy enough to believe in Jesus when life is stress-free and comfortable. However, it’s not so when trials, failures, and adversities strike us.

* * * 

I had a friend who was very active in her parish as member of the Legion of Mary, Cursillo and other organizations. When she migrated to the USA, she continued her pastoral involvement.

Everything went well, until she was diagnosed to have cancer of the uterus.  The finding devastated her. But she and church co-workers prayed earnestly, trusting the Lord would heal her. 

* * * 

Instead of getting better, the insidious sickness spread and became even more painful. The lady got so dejected that she stopped praying altogether. Not too long after, she passed away. When I learned about it, I felt very sad and enunciated prayers, asking the Lord to understand her physical and mental disposition then. To paraphrase Jesus’ last word, “Father forgive her for she did not know what she was doing.”

* * * 

There are other adversities and challenges we encounter like financial difficulties, unjust treatment from one’s superior or employer, family problems, to mention some.

Do I reflect that, perhaps, the fault lies in me as, for instance, I incur lung cancer due to cigarette smoking? Or, drinking too much of alcoholic beverages? On the national level,  is our economy slow in progress because of corrupt officials and leaders? 

* * * 

“Letting go” means getting rid of our negative attitudes and practices that hamper personal and national progress.

In the context of Easter, it means dying to our bad traits and vices, and rising to a new life. 

 

* * * 

Moral integrity in election

Do not vote on the basis of popularity, affinity or friendship or candidates who’re known plunderers, tax evaders and vote buyers. We should also show concern by volunteering as poll watchers of authorized groups like NAMFREL and PPCRV.

A leader may be the best economist who can solve the country’s financial woes but if he is corrupt, stealing from the government coffers or pocketing multi-million-pesos from ghost projects, then his talent is all trash.  

That’s the reason why a country cannot prosper economically.

* * *

How true are the words of the Greek philosopher Plato: “Poverty consists not in the decrease of man's possessions, but in the increase of one’s greed.”

Another writer puts it, thus: “There’s enough resources for every one’s needs but not enough for every one’s greed.”

* * *

Help seminarians. A benefactor wrote: “Father. I would like to adopt a seminarian. This is my way of giving back some of the blessings the Lord has given to me.”

May I appeal to others to “give back some of the blessings God has given to you”  by donating an amount or sponsor a seminarian's schooling for a year. For inquiry, e-mail: belsvd@gmail.com.

Actor Ricky Davao passes away at 63

BY ROBERT REQUINTINA

May 2, 2025 07:11 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• News about his death made the rounds on social mediaon May 1. But it was only on May 2 that his family confirmed his death.

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Ricky Davao

Award-winning actor Ricky Davao, who was Frederick Charles Caballes Davao in real life, has passed away at the age of 63.

Newbie actress Ara Davao, daughter of Ricky, confirmed his demise in a statement issued on May 2. The full announcement: 

"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Ricky Davao. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his children and loved ones, after bravely facing complications related to cancer.

"For more than four decades, he dedicated his life to the craft of acting and directing. His remarkable body of work and award-winning performances have left a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire. Most of all he was a loving father, brother, son, and friend.

"We are deeply grateful for your prayers, love, and kind messages during this difficult time. Details about his memorial service will be shared soon," Ara wrote.

News about his death made the rounds on social media on May 1. But it was only on May 2 that his family confirmed his death.

The full statement: 

On March 25, Ara Davao, Ricky's daughter, said his father was recovering and resting. She did not elaborate.

Born on March 23, 1961, Ricky, son of legendary actor Charlie Davao, started in showbiz as a member of the famous dance group the Vicor Dancers. Then he became a theater actor before appearing in TV series and movies.

In 1989, Ricky married actress Jackie Lou Blanco. They have three children Arabella, Rikki Mae, and Kenneth. But they separated. 

Last April 12, Ricky's mother-in-law, Asia's Queen of Songs Pilita Corrales passed away.

Ricky was last seen in the movies Sosyal Climbers and Sinagtala. His last television stint was for the "Love Before Sunrise" series in 2023. 

The actor was supposed to appear in the much-awaited fantasy series "Encantadia Chronicles: Sang'gre" scheduled to be shown in June.

Miss Universe Philippines 2025 Top 6

BY ROBERT REQUINTINA

May 2, 2025 10:48 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• The winner will represent the Philippines at the Miss Universe Competition in Thailand on Nov. 21.

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Miss Universe Philippines 2025 Top 6 (Facebook)

The final six for the Miss Universe Philippines 2025 Competition have been chosen.

They are delegates from Cebu City, Muntinlupa, Quezon Province, Siniloan, Laguna; Sultan Kudarat, and Taguig City. 

The winner will represent the Philippines at the Miss Universe Competition in Thailand on Nov. 21.

SONG OF SONGS

 

By Klaus Döring

The Song of Songs (or Canticle of Canticles) is an exquisite collection of love lyrics, arranged to tell a dramatic tale of mutual desire and courtship. It presents an inspired portrayal of ideal human love, a resounding affirmation of the goodness of human sexuality that is applicable to the sacredness and the depth of married union.

US musician and author Ted Gioia argues in his excellent book Music: A Subversive History (2019): "At every stage in human history, music has been a catalyst for change, challenging conventions and conveying coded messages – or, not infrequently, delivering blunt, unambiguous ones. It has given voice to individuals and groups denied access to other platforms for expression. Pop music has often been dismissed as "lightweight" given its young audience, simple snappiness and mainstream status, but those elements are really where its strength is concealed. Pop songs don't originate themes of mental wellbeing, equality, liberty, activism – but they do transmit them to the broadest platforms possible".

Snap the radio on, zip to any station, and what are you likely to hear? Love songs. Songs of new love, songs of disappointed love, songs of grateful love, songs of crazy love. I still remember my time as a radio host in Davao City several years ago playing the Hits of the 60's, 70's and 80's. Nothing has changed. Times change, but through history the flow of love songs is a constant.

Plenty of people are surprised or even shocked to find an explicit love song in the bible - complete with erotic lyrics. But "Song of Songs" is exactly that. It shows no embarrassment about lovers. Consequently, intermittent attempts have been made  to rule "Song of Songs" out of the bible. It's like making it "for adults only". Imagine, my dear reader, in 16th century Spain for instance, professor Fray Luis de Leon was dragged out of his classroom and taken to jail for four years. His crime? He translated "Song of Songs" into Spanish.

If you start reading "Song of Songs", you will find out that this book conveys a very different atmosphere from most modern love songs and pop music. Since love songs are always popular, many people approach "Song of Songs" with great expectations. However, readers often find the book much different from what they had expected. One is the poetic imagery. Second: "Song of Songs" is hard to follow. One part  doesn't seem connected to the next.

Try to explore the "Song of Songs". One thing is for sure. You'll learn a lot about the love between God and His people.

When we’d just be chasing after the wind

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

THIS happens when with all the excitement we put into our earthly activities, we fail to reach the ultimate end proper to us, and that is, to be with God, to do everything to show our love for him, and to give him glory. In other words, when we fail to follow what Christ once said: “Do not work for food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life.” (Jn 6,27)

We cannot deny that we are notorious for making ourselves, instead of God, as the goal of our whole life. We are prone to fall into self-indulgence against which we should declare an unrelenting war. Yes, this has always been a problem to us, and these days it is much more so.

With the many new wonderful things that can instantly give us convenience, comfort, pleasure and satisfaction, many of us are trapped into the very sticky web of distractions, obsessions, addictions and the many other forms of self-indulgence that feed on our weaknesses, like lust, pride, conceit, gluttony, unhinged curiosities, envy, etc., etc.

We just have to give a cursory look around to see how bad this problem is. Many people are just looking at their cellphones most of the time. There are reports saying that many young people often forget their meals and lose sleep because of what they do in the Internet. It’s clear they are terribly hooked there and it seems it’s now next to the impossible to get them out of there.

As a result, many duties and responsibilities are left unattended. Disorder and chaos are fast gaining ground as priorities are skewed. Superficiality has now become a mainstream lifestyle, reinforcing the trend toward consumerism, materialism and what Pope Francis refers to as the “throw-away culture” where ethical and moral considerations are ignored or even flouted, i.e., regarded with contempt.

We have to be wary of this danger of self-indulgence that is becoming widespread. There is a slippery slope to it. We should therefore be constantly guarded against it. For example, we can start going to the Internet for the legitimate purpose of getting information that we need. But along the way, we get distracted by something else that can appear to us as interesting. 

We take a bite, and then another bite, until we fail to realize that we are already getting entangled and hooked. It is like being hijacked. We lose our sense of direction, and before we know it, we would already have forgotten why we went to the Internet in the first place. We would be trapped in a state of obsession and addiction that can be so strong that it can defy rationality and common sense.

To counter this strong bad tendency of ours, we should see to it that our strongest attraction should be God and no other. If we make God the source and cause of all our attractions, of all our pleasures, of what ultimately gives us perfect satisfaction and ultimate fulfillment, all the other things can attract us and give us joy in the proper way, always respecting our true dignity as persons and as children of God.

Otherwise, there is no other way but for us to have merely a fake kind of joy, pleasure and satisfaction that can only lead us to bigger dangers. We really have to train ourselves to make God and to make following his will and ways the constant source and cause of our attraction and joy.