HOMILY | 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 HOMILY | 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Matthew 20:1–16a

In this Sunday’s Gospel, the owner of the vineyard asks a question that should make us reflect. He says: “Are you envious because I am generous?”

The workers who came first and worked from the beginning were not cheated. They received the just wage they had agreed upon. But when they saw that those who came later received the same wage, they became angry.

Not because they received too little. They became angry because the others received just as much as they did.

And this is the point of the Gospel.

Sometimes we are already happy with our situation—but our feelings change when we begin looking at what others have.

We are content with our position—until someone else gets promoted.

We are happy with our blessings—until someone else receives more blessings.

We are happy to serve—until somebody else receives the praise and recognition.

Constantly comparing ourselves with others can slowly poison our hearts.

And this tendency toward envy is one of the attitudes among us Filipinos that we need to change through the I CHOOSE GOD Movement that we have begun.

When we say, “I Choose God,” we are not talking only about elections or politics. We are talking about forming our hearts and our consciences.

Because corruption does not begin with money. It begins in a heart that says: “I want more for myself.”

We become willing to accept vote-buying when our question is, “What can I get? What will I receive?” instead of, “What will be good for everyone?”

The abuse of power begins when public office becomes a means of enriching oneself, one’s family, or one’s own group, instead of becoming an opportunity to serve the common good.

The workers in the Gospel kept looking at the people beside them: What did he receive? Why did he get that? What about me? Why didn’t I get anything? I’m being shortchanged here! Why should they be the only ones receiving something during the elections while I get nothing?

But Jesus invites us to look upward—to look to God—and ask: “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

That is the heart of I Choose God. That is the heart of a person who chooses the Lord.

Before we make an important decision, perhaps there is only one question we need to ask: “Will I choose what benefits me, or will I choose what is right before God?”

If someone offers you money for your vote—may you choose God, not the money.

If friendship pressures you to vote for someone even though that person is unqualified and lacks the necessary competence—may you choose God, not your friend.

If you can benefit from lying or cheating—may you choose the Lord, not the benefit.

If signing an illegal transaction could make you rich—may you still choose God, not wealth.

——

There is a story about a father walking with his little son. They passed by a store, and the boy saw another child holding a beautiful toy.

The boy said, “Papa, I want that!”

The father replied, “But you already have so many toys at home.”

The boy answered, “Yes, Papa, but I don’t have that one!”

——

Sometimes, brothers and sisters, we adults are still very much like that little boy—we have simply grown older and bigger.

We have already received so much. But the moment we see that someone else has something we do not have, suddenly everything we have seems insufficient.

Brothers and sisters, a peaceful heart does not constantly ask: “What can I get?”

A Christian heart asks: “Lord, what is the right thing for me to do?”

And when this becomes the habit of our hearts—in our homes, our businesses, our communities, and in our lives as citizens—then I Choose God will no longer be merely a slogan.

It will become a way of life.

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HOMILY | 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Matthew 20:1–16a

In this Sunday’s Gospel, the owner of the vineyard asks a question that should make us reflect. He says: “Are you envious because I am generous?”

The workers who came first and worked from the beginning were not cheated. They received the just wage they had agreed upon. But when they saw that those who came later received the same wage, they became angry.

Not because they received too little. They became angry because the others received just as much as they did.

And this is the point of the Gospel.

Sometimes we are already happy with our situation—but our feelings change when we begin looking at what others have.

We are content with our position—until someone else gets promoted.

We are happy with our blessings—until someone else receives more blessings.

We are happy to serve—until somebody else receives the praise and recognition.

Constantly comparing ourselves with others can slowly poison our hearts.

And this tendency toward envy is one of the attitudes among us Filipinos that we need to change through the I CHOOSE GOD Movement that we have begun.

When we say, “I Choose God,” we are not talking only about elections or politics. We are talking about forming our hearts and our consciences.

Because corruption does not begin with money. It begins in a heart that says: “I want more for myself.”

We become willing to accept vote-buying when our question is, “What can I get? What will I receive?” instead of, “What will be good for everyone?”

The abuse of power begins when public office becomes a means of enriching oneself, one’s family, or one’s own group, instead of becoming an opportunity to serve the common good.

The workers in the Gospel kept looking at the people beside them: What did he receive? Why did he get that? What about me? Why didn’t I get anything? I’m being shortchanged here! Why should they be the only ones receiving something during the elections while I get nothing?

But Jesus invites us to look upward—to look to God—and ask: “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

That is the heart of I Choose God. That is the heart of a person who chooses the Lord.

Before we make an important decision, perhaps there is only one question we need to ask: “Will I choose what benefits me, or will I choose what is right before God?”

If someone offers you money for your vote—may you choose God, not the money.

If friendship pressures you to vote for someone even though that person is unqualified and lacks the necessary competence—may you choose God, not your friend.

If you can benefit from lying or cheating—may you choose the Lord, not the benefit.

If signing an illegal transaction could make you rich—may you still choose God, not wealth.

——

There is a story about a father walking with his little son. They passed by a store, and the boy saw another child holding a beautiful toy.

The boy said, “Papa, I want that!”

The father replied, “But you already have so many toys at home.”

The boy answered, “Yes, Papa, but I don’t have that one!”

——

Sometimes, brothers and sisters, we adults are still very much like that little boy—we have simply grown older and bigger.

We have already received so much. But the moment we see that someone else has something we do not have, suddenly everything we have seems insufficient.

Brothers and sisters, a peaceful heart does not constantly ask: “What can I get?”

A Christian heart asks: “Lord, what is the right thing for me to do?”

And when this becomes the habit of our hearts—in our homes, our businesses, our communities, and in our lives as citizens—then I Choose God will no longer be merely a slogan.

It will become a way of life.

Don't treat blessings like a pizza

By Fr. Rolando V. De La Rosa, OP

Published Sep 20, 2026 12:05 am | Updated Sep 19, 2026 04:30 pm

THROUGH UNTRUE

In today’s Gospel, the workers who had labored all day complained that they were not treated fairly. The landowner paid them the same wage as those who had worked for only a few hours. But their grievance was not really about justice. They were angry, not because they had been paid too little, but because they thought others had received too much. The landowner exposed their real problem when he asked: “Are you envious because I am generous?” (Mt 20:15).

Envy is one of the most subtle sins because it can disguise itself as a concern for justice. When they started working, the complaining workers must initially have been grateful to have found employment. But when they began comparing their wages with those of the latecomers, their gratitude vanished. Instead of thanking the landowner, they accused him of committing a gross injustice.

Envy usually begins with comparison. Is that not how envy often works in our own lives? We are perfectly content with what we have until we compare it with what others have. Eventually, comparison turns into competition. We mistakenly imagine God’s blessings as though they were a pizza of limited size. If another person gets a bigger slice, we think there will be less left for us. We have to compete with others to get our fair share of the pizza.

Social media aggravates this attitude by constantly exposing us to other people’s travels, awards, beautiful homes, and apparently happy lives. Their success becomes our personal disappointment. We begin to measure our worth not by what God has given us but by what others enjoy. Envy is putting our happiness in the pocket of someone else.

Interestingly, we seldom envy those whose wealth, status, or achievements are far beyond our reach. We do not consider them rivals. We envy our peers or equals. This is why envy can be particularly destructive within families, friendships, workplaces, and communities. When we see a fellow worker, neighbor, friend, or sibling rise above us, we feel diminished by the comparison. Worse still, envy can make us secretly happy when someone close to us fails because it makes us feel better about ourselves.

Envy is at the root of what we Filipinos call “crab mentality.” Like crabs in a basket pulling down one that is trying to climb out, many of us find it difficult to celebrate the success of our fellow Filipinos. Instead of applauding them, we belittle their achievements and say, “Sino ba siya?” A Filipino athlete wins an international competition, and instead of saying, “Nakaka-proud maging Pilipino,” some ignore the achievement and say, “Nakatsamba lang siya. Di ’yan tatagal.”

There are Filipino values that can serve as antidotes to envy, such as pakikipagkapwa and bayanihan: sharing what we have, helping those in need, and celebrating the success of others. Christianity further transforms these values into something more profound and socially effective. As Christians, we do not merely help, share, and celebrate together; we also actively help others rise because, as St. Paul reminds us, “We belong to one body. If one member is honored, all are honored and rejoice together” (1 Cor 12:26).

God’s generosity is boundless. When we realize this, we can avoid what the Scriptures warn us: “Envy makes the bones rot” (Proverbs 14:30). Another text says, “Where envy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice” (Letter of James 3:16).

St. Paul gives us another practical piece of advice: “Rejoice with those who rejoice” (Letter to the Romans 12:15). We must learn to be grateful for what we have and genuinely happy for what others have. Instead of asking, “Why do they have more than I do?” we can say, “Thank you, Lord, for blessing them. And thank you for everything you have given me.”

When gratitude takes the place of comparison and competition, we experience the real meaning of communion. We are not rivals competing for a limited supply of divine goodness. We are brothers and sisters receiving different gifts from the same generous Father.

Aga Muhlach urges Atasha to focus on work amid online criticism

 

By Ian Ureta

Published Sep 19, 2026 04:08 pm

Aga Muhlach has urged daughter Atasha to focus on her work and tune out online criticism as she takes on the lead role in “Bongga Ka ’Day: The Annie Batungbakal Musical.”

The musical opened Friday at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City, with Atasha playing Annie Batungbakal alongside Sam Concepcion as Romer and KD Estrada as Burn.

Atasha had faced criticism on social media in the weeks leading up to the show's opening, with some questioning her casting and performance. She previously said she chose to concentrate on preparing for the production and giving audiences her best.  

Aga said he gave his daughter similar advice as she dealt with the backlash.

“Just always quiet the noise. Yung ingay na dinaan niya, sa mga, well if I’m being honest doon sa mga tumitira sa kanya, sabi ko wag mo na lang pansinin mo. Malaking show ang gagawin mo, so just do your work,” he said.

Aga and his wife, Charlene Gonzales, watched Atasha perform on opening night. Aga said he was pleased with what he saw, describing his daughter as “magaling talaga.”

Charlene, meanwhile, praised the effort that went into the production and said she was proud to see Atasha take the stage.  

“Nakita ko kasi lahat ng hardwork na pinagdaanan niya, preparation for the show, the love and passion that she put into this project and the family that they created. It just warms my heart,” Charlene said.

Atasha also performed despite dealing with a sprained right foot.

“It’s my right foot, it’s the same injury. Okay lang, laban pa rin. At least, we finished the show and we’re very very happy with the outcome,” she said.

Her co-stars also praised her preparation for the musical.

“Super, super professional. Day 1 pa lang ng rehearsals, drop scripts na siya,” KD said.

Sam similarly noted that he had never seen Atasha rely on the script during rehearsals.  

“I’ve never saw her hold the script. Memorize niya lahat,” he said.

Aga also addressed those who have criticized his daughter, saying he sees her as someone simply trying to work and build her career.

“At sa inyo naman na nanira sa kanya, galing sa isang ama po, nagtatrabaho lang yung bata,” he said. “Wala namang pinagyayabang, gusto lang mag-hanapbuhay, gusto gumawa ng show, panoorin nyo po.”

Gilas Women gun for 2-0 slate vs Hong Kong

 

Elizabeth Means goes for a floater (AINAGOC photo)

By Reynald I. Magallon

The Gilas Pilipinas women's team looks to sustain the momentum from its roaring start when it locks horns with Hong Kong in the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 at the Aichi International Arena on Sunday, Sept. 20.

The Gilas Pilipinas women’s team looks to sustain the momentum from its roaring start when it locks horns with Hong Kong in the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 at the Aichi International Arena on Sunday, Sept. 20.

Tip-off of the match is at 10 a.m. with the Nationals looking to pick up their second win of the tournament and get the inside track on one of the top two spots in Group B.

Only the top 2 teams of the groups will advance to the knockout rounds scheduled to begin on Sept. 24.

Naturalized player Elizabeth Means is expected to once again lead the charge for the Filipinas, who routed Kazakhstan, 86-58, in their opening assignment.

Veterans Janine Pontejos and Afril Bernardino along with Gilas mainstay Jhazmin Joson, Stefanie Berberabe and Karl Pingol all primed to provide valuable contributions.

Defense will once again be the key for the charges of head coach Burke ‘BT’ Toews after Gilas registered a whopping 26 steals against the Kazakhs, enough to fuel their transition attack.

“More than the adjustment that I made, I thought this group came in and for that one week of practice, they were great. So what people saw on the floor today is a credit to these guys. Really excellent,” said Toews.

Hong Kong, on the other hand, is hoping to recover from a 114-37 drubbing at the hands of powerhouse Japan.

A win for the Filipinas should also serve as a great momentum boost before they take on the hosts on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

DAVAO CITY RISES TO 3RD IN THE PHILIPPINES!

Davao City climbs to 3rd nationally and 470th globally among the world’s 1,000 largest cities in the 2026 Oxford Economics Global Cities Index.

That’s a notable jump from 5th in the Philippines and 519th globally in 2025.

The Oxford Economics Global Cities Index evaluates the world’s 1,000 largest urban economies across five key pillars: Economics, Human Capital, Quality of Life, Environment, and Governance.

2025: 5th in the Philippines | 519th globally

2026: 3rd in the Philippines | 470th globally

Davao City continues to climb the global urban rankings.

Source: Oxford Economics Global Cities Index 2026

#DavaoCity

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CinePanalo 2026 lineup bets on unusual Filipino stories to bring audiences to cinemas

By Neil Ramos

Published Sep 18, 2026 12:50 pm 

A ghost comes back from the dead to confess his love.

A farmer and his carabao take a magical road trip to Manila.

A manicurista accidentally becomes a hitwoman.

A college student joins a pageant to figure out who she really is.

These are not exactly the movies audiences see every weekend at the mall.  

And that is what makes the latest CinePanalo lineup, ermm, intriguing.

The festival brings together 26 films spanning comedy, horror, romance, drama, coming-of-age stories and political satire. Some are tender, some are bizarre, and a few sound almost too strange to explain in one sentence.

But at a time when getting people to choose a Filipino film over everything else competing for their attention is a challenge, perhaps strange is not such a bad place to start.

Take “Multwoh (Patay Na Patay Sa’yo),” a supernatural queer comedy directed by Rodina Singh and starring Sassa Gurl and Joao Constancia.  

A college student dies suddenly, returns as a ghost and, instead of seeking revenge, comes back with one unfinished mission: finally saying “I love you.”

Then there’s “Beast,” directed by Lawrence Fajardo and starring John Arcilla, about a farmer and his loyal carabao embarking on a magical journey to Manila while chasing the ghost of a niece the years stole from him.

“Patay Gutom” puts Khalil Ramos, Ian Pangilinan, Agot Isidro and Cris Villanueva in a supernatural story involving a shut-in, a lonely ghost and an accidentally opened third eye.

Yes, a third eye.

“Stuck on You,” directed by Mikko Baldoza and starring Xyriel Manabat and River Joseph, follows a heartbroken manicurista who accidentally takes on a hitman’s job and finds herself caught in a deadly conspiracy.

Meanwhile, “Wantawsan,” directed by Joseph Abello and starring Joross Gamboa, Rita Daniela and Zion Cruz, follows a cash-strapped father whose encounter with a newly elected mayor sends him into an unexpected adventure.    

Mind, not everything is deliberately offbeat.

“Apol of My Ai,” directed by Thop Nazareno and starring Zanjoe Marudo, Zion Cruz and Rochelle Pangilinan, deals with first love, family and growing up.

“Mono No Aware,” directed by BC Amparado and starring Juan Karlos Labajo and Perry Dizon, follows a Filipino worker in Japan who meets an elderly widower asking him for one final favor.

The student shorts are equally adventurous, with stories about a queer archivist preserving memories of the Philippines’ first Pride March, a young lawyer searching for her estranged activist mother, a transgender student entering a campus pageant and a father fighting bureaucracy after his daughter’s death.

The bigger question is whether these unusual stories can translate into something every film festival ultimately needs: people actually showing up.

“Every film in this year’s CinePanalo carries the passion of its creators,” says Ivy-Hayagan Piedad, festival chair. “Giving these stories a platform where audiences can experience and celebrate them is our way of supporting Filipino artistry and contributing to the continued growth of Philippine cinema.”

CinePanalo is, in effect, making a case for Filipino movies by offering films that don't necessarily look like the usual multiplex fare. For audiences, that could mean discovering something they didn't know they wanted to see. For filmmakers, it means putting distinctly Filipino stories, including some wonderfully odd ones, on the big screen.

CinePanalo 2026 runs from Sept. 23 to Oct. 4 at Gateway Cineplex 18, TriNoma, Fairview Terraces, Ayala Malls Feliz, Ayala Malls Circuit, Ayala Malls Manila Bay and Market! Market!

The festival is spearheaded by Puregold. 

'Habagat' could return this weekend, bring scattered rains to parts of S Luzon, VisMin

Rest of the country may experience localized thunderstorms

By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz

Published Sep 18, 2026 12:47 pm |

At A Glance

• In its weekly weather outlook, PAGASA said scattered rains and thunderstorms may affect Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Palawan, and Occidental Mindoro until Tuesday, Sept. 22
• The habagat may weaken again starting Wednesday, Sept. 23
• The rest of the country may experience localized thunderstorms, mostly in the afternoon or evening

PAGASA

The southwest monsoon or “habagat” is expected to affect parts of the country anew starting this Saturday, Sept. 19, as the low-pressure area (LPA) west of Palawan may dissipate, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

PAGASA weather specialist Leanne Loreto on Friday, Sept. 18, said the LPA may dissipate within the next 24 hours once it reaches the West Philippine Sea.

As of 8 a.m. Friday, LPA 09f was located 140 kilometers south of Pag-asa Island in Kalayaan, Palawan.

As the LPA is expected to dissipate, the southwest monsoon will likely prevail over the western sections of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao from Saturday to Tuesday, Sept. 22.

In its weekly weather outlook, PAGASA said scattered rains and thunderstorms may affect Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Palawan, and Occidental Mindoro until Tuesday.

The rest of the country may have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

PAGASA said the habagat may weaken again starting Wednesday, Sept. 23.

From Wednesday to Friday, Sept. 25, partly cloudy to cloudy skies are expected across the country, although isolated rain showers or thunderstorms may still occur, particularly in the afternoon and evening.

Meanwhile, Severe Tropical Storm Dujuan was located 2,365 kilometers east-northeast of extreme Northern Luzon as of 8 a.m. Friday.

Dujuan, which is moving westward at 25 kilometers per hour, is no longer expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility or affect any part of the country, Loreto said.

 

PSEi tumbles to 5,800 level as oil, inflation, rate worries weigh The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) ended the week sharply lower at the 5,800 level as investor sentiment continued to be dampened by concerns over oil prices and their impact on inflation and, consequently, interest rates. The main index fell by 102.73 points, or 1.72 percent, to close at 5,855.91 on Friday, Sept. 18. Read more Diesel prices could surge ₱10 per liter next week Based on the four-day Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS), diesel prices could jump by around ₱10 to ₱10.50 per liter, while gasoline prices could increase by ₱4.50 to ₱5 per liter. The Department of Energy (DOE) will release the final weekly price adjustments on Monday, Sept. 21. However, if the ₱10 spike persists, the average price of diesel could rise to over ₱100 per liter. Read more

3 students killed, 6 hurt in South Cotabato

 

3 students killed, 6 hurt in South Cotabato school shooting; House leaders dispute ‘isolated case’ claim

At least three students were killed and six others were reportedly wounded in a shooting incident inside Banga National High School in Banga, South Cotabato at around 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Chief Rolly Aquino said. Read more

Ranking House of Representatives members have expressed sadness and continued shock over the latest fatal school shooting in the country. Deputy Minority Leader ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio agreed that the school shootings could no longer be described as "isolated." Read more