Insistent faith for miracles to happen

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

THAT beautiful gospel story of a centurion who approached Christ on behalf of his dying servant, importuning Christ for a miracle to happen, that is, for his servant to survive, (cfr. Mt 8,5-11) tells us precious lessons about how our faith in Christ should be.

It should be a faith that is so strong and deep that we would not hesitate to go to Christ for ask for a favor. And it should also be a faith that is so strong and deep that without asking Christ for a direct, face-to-face encounter with the persons concerned, we know that the favor would be granted.

As the gospel narrated, the centurion boldly told Christ the now famous words, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.” To which, Christ responded, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.” And the servant was healed.

We have to remember that it is faith that would let us enter into the spiritual and supernatural world. It enables us to receive God’s favor, and brings us to share in God’s wisdom and power. Remember those stirring words of Christ: “If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Remove from there, and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible to you.” ((Mt 17,20)

Without faith, in spite of our keenest intelligence, we will miss much of the more important aspects of our life as we would only be restricted to the here and now, the material and the temporal.

To those leading Jews who refused to believe in spite of the clearest evidence at least of his special powers, Christ has these strong, intriguing words to say: “They who see not, may see, and they who see, may become blind.” (Jn 9,39)

Especially in our special needs and persistent human miseries, we need to follow the example of the men and women, the blind, the lame, the deaf, the sick, etc., who did all to get close to Christ and to beg. Some even had to climb to the roof and cut a portion there to be able to be near Christ.

This is the pattern we have to follow. We have to eagerly seek Christ and importune him with all our might, accompanying our pleas with external signs of our fervent faith and love for him.

We need to understand that as the very beginning of our life with God, our life in the Spirit which is a supernatural life more than just a natural life, our Christian faith has to be taken care of, nourished and developed to full maturity.

We need to be more aware of this duty and develop the appropriate attitude and skill to carry out this responsibility effectively. We have to go beyond mere good intentions or being merely theoretical in order to be truly practical and vitally engaged with this obligation.

Faith is a tremendous gift from God who starts to share with us what he has, what he knows about himself and about ourselves. It gives us the global picture of reality, covering both the temporal and the eternal, the material and the spiritual, the natural and supernatural dimensions of our life.

Faith contains the medicine and the remedy to all our spiritual inadequacies and illnesses. It is what is required for miracles to happen, as attested many times in the Gospel.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Ein Kälte-Brocken rollt heran!

 

Ein Kälte-Brocken rollt heran! Ein bedrohliches Lila walzt sich von Nordosten Richtung Deutschland. Die Farbe Lila – sie steht für brutale Minusgrade! Der riesige Kälte-Brocken erreicht uns zwischen dem 2. und 3. Advent (4.–11. Dezember). Laut US-Wettermodellen wird es Dauerfrost geben. Richtung 3. Advent sogar Tageswerte bis minus 10 Grad, Nachtwerte bis minus 15 Grad. Bis in die zweite Hälfte der nächsten Woche wird das ruhige Herbstwetter erst mal anhalten.

Roman Catholics to observe First Sunday of Advent on Nov. 27

Published November 26, 2022, 9:43 AM

by Christina Hermoso

Roman Catholics will observe the First Sunday of Advent on Nov. 27 in preparation for the Birth of Jesus Christ on Dec. 25.

First Sunday of Advent (Catholic Online)

In all holy masses on Sunday, priests in purple vestments, the color of penitence and fasting, as well as of royalty, will bless Advent wreaths adorned with four candles: Three purple candles, which symbolize anticipation and hope, and one pink candle, which symbolizes joy, arranged in a circle of evergreen to symbolize eternal life. 

Some Advent wreaths include a white candle, which symbolizes Christ and is usually lit during the Christmas Eve mass.

After the reading of a short devotional, one of the three purple candles will be lit to signal the joyous season of waiting for Christ’s birth as well as to signify that “Jesus is the light of the world.”

Advent comes from the Latin word “adventus,” which means coming or arrival. The season marks the beginning of the Church’s liturgical year, her new year.

Observed on the Sunday following the celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the King, Advent is historically known as “little Lent” as it is also a time of repentance, prayer, fasting, and confession. 

Meanwhile, the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas (Council of the Laity of the Philippines) urged manufacturers of Noche Buena food items to impose a ceiling on the prices of their products and to consider the purchasing power of the majority of Filipinos.

“We are requesting manufacturers of Noche Buena food items not to hike the prices of their commodities too much and to consider the plight of the poor who can no longer afford most of these food products,” said Jun Cruz, president of SLP, over Radio Veritas.

“We also pray that companies will be able to provide an ‘inflationary gratuity’ aside from the 13th-month pay and Christmas bonus to their workers to help make the coming Christmas celebration merrier for everyone,” he added.

The Department of Trade and Industry earlier announced that around 195 Noche Buena food products from 223 have imposed an increase in their prices due to the rising cost of raw materials.

Mindanao Week of Peace kicks off in Zamboanga City

by Liza Abubakar-Jocson, MB 

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The 25th year of the Mindanao Week of Peace kicked off at the Paseo del Mar here on Thursday, Nov. 24, attended by hundreds of stakeholders from the religious, civic, education, and government sectors.

STAKEHOLDERS from the academe, civic, religious, security, and other sectors converge at the Paseo del Mar in Zamboanga City for the 25th year celebration of the Mindanao Week of Peace. (Peace Advocates Zamboanga photo)

Spearheaded by the Peace Advocates Zamboanga (PAZ), Interreligious Solidarity for Peace (ISP), and Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Alliance Inc. (ZABIDA), this year’s celebration has the theme, “Harnessing our Peace Efforts: Towards Solidarity.”

Mayor John Dalipe here, in his message, called on all sectors to live in peace, unity, and harmony with each other regardless of status in life, religion, or culture. 

Dalipe issued Executive Order JD 2022-079 declaring Nov. 24 to Dec. 5 as Mindanao Week of Peace.

The order enjoins the cooperation of all sectors to participate in this year’s activity in line with the Week of Peace celebration.

The celebration is also pursuant to Proclamation Order No. 127 issued by President Gloria M. Arroyo declaring the last Thursday of November up to the first Wednesday of December every year as Mindanao Week of Peace.

Mindanao Week of Peace is also celebrated in other provinces and cities of Mindanao.

GMA Network dominates 44th Catholic Mass Media Awards with 18 recognitions

by Manila Bulletin Entertainment

For the second year in a row, “Saksi” won the Best News Program award. The late-night newscast is anchored by GMA News pillar Arnold Clavio (third from left) and seasoned broadcast journalist Pia Arcangel (third from right). Joining the in accepting the award are First Vice President and Head of GMA Regional TV and Synergy and Acting Head of GMA Integrated News Oliver Victor Amoroso (rightmost) and Vice President and Deputy Head for News Programs and Specials Michelle Seva (second from right).

For consistently delivering stellar and value-filled news, public service, and entertainment programs, GMA Network dominated the 44th Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) with 18 recognitions during the awarding ceremonies held last Nov. 23.

The Kapuso Network’s “Love Together, Hope Together: GMA Christmas Station ID” took home the Best Station ID award. A holiday treat that Kapuso viewers look forward to every year, the Network’s Christmas station ID in 2021 also served as a reminder to everyone that as long as there is love and hope in each other’s hearts, Christmas will always be brighter and better if Filipinos are together.

GMA Integrated News programs earned top plums for their respective Super Typhoon Odette coverage. 

For the second year in a row, “Saksi” won the Best News Program award. Anchored by GMA News pillar Arnold Clavio and seasoned broadcast journalist Pia Arcangel, the late-night newscast provided an extensive coverage of the typhoon’s wrath in Central Philippines and the Visayas. Saksi captured not just the devastation but also the government’s relief and rescue efforts, ending with a montage of the patented Bayanihan spirit.

‘Wish Ko Lang’ took home the Best Drama Series/Program. Accepting the award was host Vicky Morales.

Meanwhile, GMA’s flagship newscast and CMMA Best News Program Hall of Famer “24 Oras” earned the Best Special Event Coverage award also for its outstanding coverage of Super Typhoon Odette. Anchored by GMA News pillars Mel Tiangco, Mike Enriquez, and Vicky Morales, 24 Oras provided viewers the information and public service at a time when they needed it the most.

“Wish Ko Lang” added another feather to its cap as it took home the Best Drama Series/Program. Hosted by Vicky Morales, Wish Ko Lang recently celebrated 20 years of granting wishes with cinematic anniversary episodes and biggest presents to date.

Championing sportsmanship among viewers, GMA Synergy’s “Stronger Together, Buo ang Puso: NCAA Season 97” was hailed as the Best Children & Youth Program. NCAA Season 97 marked the much-awaited return of the Men’s Basketball and Women’s Volleyball tournaments. 

The Kapuso Network also dominated the Radio category with its flagship AM and FM stations Super Radyo DZBB 594 and Barangay LS 97.1 Forever! taking home numerous awards.

‘GMA Regional TV Live!’ took home the Special Citation for Best Public Service TV Program.  Receiving the award are GMA First Vice President, Head of GMA Regional TV and Synergy, and Acting Head of GMA Integrated News Oliver Victor B. Amoroso (right), AVP and Station Manager for RTV Central and Eastern Visayas Ann Marie Tan (second from right), Program Executive Producer Mark Regie Abella (third from right), Senior Program Manager Suzzanne Alueta (fourth from left), and Program Host Cecille Quibod-Castro (third from left).

Winning the Best News Program was DZBB’s newscast “Super Balita sa Umaga Nationwide.” The tandem of Arnold Clavio and Connie Sison in “One on One, Walang Personalan” was named Best News Commentary, while earning the Best Public Service Program award was “Serbisyo on the Spot.”

Taking home the Best Entertainment Program, on the other hand, was “Barangay Love Stories” hosted by Papa Dudut of Barangay LS 97.1 Forever!

GMA Synergy’s “Limitless: A Musical Trilogy – Breathe” was conferred with Best Digital Advertisement – Public Service category. Breathe is the first installment of the one-a-kind musical journey “Limitless, A Musical Trilogy” headlined by Asia’s Limitless Star Julie Anne San Jose. Limitless also won the Silver World Medal at the 2022 New York Festivals TV and Film Awards.

Several Kapuso programs and projects were also conferred with Special Citations.

Asia’s Limitless Star Julie Anne San Jose. GMA Synergy’s ‘Limitless: A Musical Trilogy – Breathe‘ was conferred with Best Digital Advertisement – Public Service category. 

Earning Special Citations for Best TV Special are GMA Public Affairs’ specials “The Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews” and “Year of the Superhero.” 

Hosted by GMA News pillar Jessica Soho, “The Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews” set the bar high for future election specials, with Soho boldly asking four of the leading presidential aspirants tough questions. Meanwhile, “Year of the Superhero” was GMA News and Public Affairs’ year-end special, which featured inspiring stories behind some of the most heroic moments of 2021. The special was hosted by Kapuso power couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera.

Hit primetime series “First Lady” won a Special Citation as Best Drama Series/Program. The sequel to the Philippines’ No. 1 show for 2021, “First Yaya” (The First Nanny), “First Lady” stars the swoon-worthy pairing of award-winning actor Gabby Concepcion and dazzling actress Sanya Lopez.

GTV’s public affairs show “I Juander” likewise earned a Special Citation as Best News Best Adult Educational / Cultural Program. Hosted by Susan Enriquez and Mark Salazar, I Juander feeds Filipinos’ inherent curiosity about their identity and culture.

Papa JT and Papa Dudut

For giving Kapuso in the regions more reasons to ‘wake up to a new morning,’ “GMA Regional TV Live!” took home the Special Citation for Best Public Service TV Program. Airing weekdays via GMA Regional TV’s Central and Eastern Visayas channels, GMA Regional TV Live! is hosted by Cecille Quibod-Castro and Nikko Sereno.

Super Radyo DZBB 594’s “Bahay at Buhay Kasama si Lala Roque” and “Sumasapuso kasama si Toni Aquino” earned Special Citations as Best News Feature and Best Entertainment Program, respectively.

Also receiving the Special Citation in Best Digital Advertisement – Public Service category was the Network’s election advocacy campaign, “DapatTotoo, GMA News and Public Affairs.”

Over the years, the Kapuso Network has been recognized by the CMMA for upholding Filipino and Christian values through its wide selection of shows and telecasts.

Stocks rally past the 6,600 level

by James A. Loyola

The local stock market finished strong after a sluggish start to end the week at the 6,600 level as foreign buying continued.

The main index rose 77.43 points or 1.17 percent to close at 6,606.94 with the Property sector leading the rally although the Industrial counter lagged behind. Volume grew to 489 million shares worth P7.14 billion as gainers topped losers 100 to 69 with 42 unchanged. 

PSE

“The Philippine market remained upbeat as investors continued to assess the latest meeting minutes and its implications,” said Regina Capital Development Corporation Managing Director Luis Limlingan.

He noted that, “The latter signaled that the central bank is seeing progress in its fight against high inflation and is looking to slow the pace of rate hikes, meaning smaller ones through the end of this year and into 2023.”

Philstocks Financial Research Manager Japhet Tantiangco said “The local market extended its rally this Friday still due to expectations that the Federal Reserve and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will take a slower pace in their monetary tightening.”

He added that, “Investors also digested the Philippines’ October foreign portfolio investments which registered a net inflow of $83.44 million.”

Ballet Philippines brings back the magic this holiday season with ‘The Nutcracker’

Published November 25, 2022, 11:54 AM

by Feliciano Rodriguez III

After two years of lockdowns, it’s time to go back to the theatre and enjoy this treasured holiday show

Ballet Philippines closes the year 2022 with a full-length, on-site, ballet of “The Nutcracker,” a first since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be performances at the CCP Main Theater on Dec. 17, 8 p.m., and on Dec. 18, 2 p.m and 8 p.m.

“It’s time to go back and watch,” exclaimed Ballet Philippines’ President Kathleen Liechtenstein, at a media preview of the ballet, which was held at the beautiful and historic Mira-Nila House in Quezon City.

After two years of just watching shows remotely, Lichtenstein told guests that it was high time to get out again and enjoy ballet, and that “The Nutcracker” is the perfect piece for the “new normal” holiday season.

The Mira-Nila House was the perfect venue for the press preview. The old, genteel mansion was a suitable backdrop for the minutes-long ballet preview. The skillful Ballet Philippines dancers pranced, twirled, and wowed guest at the mansion’s courtyard. The ballet company also showed off the wondrously designed costumes that are to be featured in this year’s “The Nutcracker.”

Ballet Philippines’ Artistic Director Mikhail “Misha” Martynyuk was also present, “The uniqueness of our performance is its high level of musicality. Every scene is built precisely to the rhythm of the composer’s work.”

Lichtenstein also revealed that this year’s The Nutcracker will be extra special, as it will be performed to live music from the Manila Symphony Orchestra.

“Playing time-honored compositions of Peter Tchaikovsky, audiences can expect complete enchantment as music and dance transport senses to the Land of The Sugar Plum Fairy,” they shared.

Choreographed by Martynyuk, this full length performance of The Nutcracker brings the complete Christmas experience to audiences. Martynuk explains, “We are creating a fresh version while still respecting the classical version of the play. The performance will not only uphold the motives of E.T.A Hoffman’s Nutcracker and The Mouse King, it equally showcases the brilliant libretto of Marius Petipa.”

For tickets to Ballet Philippines’ The Nutcracker, visit www.ballet.ph or go to TicketWorld

I feel I'm not good enough

Often in life we come across such relationships and people, who are never happy with you. There may be times when you have given your all but you still realize that you’ll never be good enough for some people.

This feeling is really sad and hurting which makes you doubt yourself. This is when you feel the world will never be satisfied with you, and there could be days when you feel like a failure.

But life is not about perfection, it's about accepting people we love as they are. When the expectation of one person is too high it's not possible to be every good enough for them no matter what you do. Never let this feeling make you depressed and feeling low.

Among daily changes within the world of work, there’s never been a better time for employees to cultivate skills to help them better manage workplace challenges. This is where the idea of the ‘growth mindset’ comes roaring in – the belief that workers are capable of actively improving their abilities, rather than being innately able or unable to complete certain tasks.

Yet, this ‘can do’ mindset can be more difficult to harness than it seems. Doing so means getting comfortable with embracing hurdles, learning from criticism and persisting when things get difficult.

Even if we believe that such tenacity is worth developing, in practice, doubts and fears can dominate. “We're wired to believe our emotions,” says Elaine Elliott-Moskwa, psychologist and author of The Growth Mindset Workbook, based in Princeton, New Jersey, US. “When a person says ‘I feel I'm not good enough’, that feeling is very powerful, even though that is a belief about their abilities.”

At the heart of the growth mindset is learning to overcome such feelings of inability or inadequacy in the face of obstacles, and instead recognise an opportunity to learn. And there can be profound benefits to cultivating this approach. Employees with a growth mindset can tap into useful skills to manage stress, build supportive relationships with colleagues, cope with failure and develop attributes to help further their careers.

Approaching a challenge with a growth mindset over a fixed mindset is a choice anyone can take

Stanford professor and psychologist Carol Dweck narrowed this concept down to two approaches that can determine results: ‘fixed mindset’ and ‘growth mindset’. “Fixed mindset is the idea that your abilities are high or low, and there's not too much you can do to change it,” says Elliott-Moskwa, “whereas the growth mindset is the view that your abilities are malleable or changeable.”

While some people may naturally lean more one way than the other, people don’t outright have either a fixed or growth mindset to all problems, full stop – instead, approaching a challenge with a growth mindset over a fixed mindset is a choice anyone can take.

For many people, though, moments of difficulty often spur fixed mindsets. For example, says Elliott-Moskwa, when people take in criticism from a boss, or struggle with a new task, they might feel a sense of inadequacy. In these situations, a fixed-mindset response might be “I’m not good enough”, or “I can’t do it”, she says.

By contrast, a growth mindset approach takes a different tack on the same situation. People with growth mindsets don’t interpret such moments as personal failings, but instead recognise a need to improve. Crucially, people working with a growth mindset believe they are capable of such improvement, and are able to break down challenges into achievable steps.

This means getting out of the comfort zone and accepting a certain level of risk, uncertainty and the potential for failure that comes with trying something new. “It feels a little bit uncomfortable, and also a little bit exciting,” says Isabella Venour, a London-based mindset coach, who helps professionals understand the role their beliefs, values and patterns of thinking play in the workplace. “You've got a bit of risk that it might go wrong, but you’ve also got the potential to learn something and to grow as an individual.”

Why is the growth mindset important in the workplace right now? A can-do approach is always a plus in the workplace – it demonstrates that workers are adaptable and willing to evolve within their jobs and organisations. But fostering a growth mindset plays an important role in helping workers navigate turbulence as well as improve resilience as they feel more confident and capable of handling difficulties.

How can you improve your growth mindset? The first step towards encouraging a growth mindset is personal awareness: the ability to identify fixed-mindset thinking when it occurs, which often manifests as feelings of discomfort or inadequacy in the face of a challenge.

First, Elliott-Moskwa advises recognising and accepting such feelings – instead of beating yourself up about them. “Then, mindfully make another choice to take an action step in keeping with what you would be doing if you had a growth mindset – the belief that you could increase your abilities,” she says.

To help clients approach obstacles with a growth mindset, Venour often breaks down challenges that feel overwhelming into smaller pieces. For example, if a worker feels unable to give a presentation in front of colleagues, “how much of that is emotional and how much of that is factual?”, she asks. “Can they talk? Yes. Have they spoken in front of more than one person before? Yes. Have they done presentation slides before? Yes. So, if there are elements that they can do, [what] is the bit that they’re not comfortable with?”

Narrowing down an overwhelming challenge to a specific point of difficulty helps workers focus, and reduces the element of learning required to an achievable level.

Often, the learning itself requires asking for help. One of the key concepts of growth mindset is seeing others as inspiration rather than competition, an approach that can help foster collaborative teams. “If workers view others as resources and not as competitors, they’re open to sharing other people's skills and abilities and learning from fellow employees,” says Elliott-Moskwa.

Over time, recognising fixed mindset and practicing a growth mindset can become easier, and the prospect of taking on challenges less daunting. “Growth mindset is an empowering attitude,” says Venour. “You can really develop and grow over time as a person.”

Sometimes you might feel like you're not good enough or unique enough, but everyone is! Everyone has different personalities.

The world awaits New Year’s Countdown to 2023

by Manila Bulletin Entertainment

The countdown to the new year is on, and Newport World Resorts is capping off The World of Christmas festivities with the much anticipated New Year’s Countdown to 2023.

Power-packed performances from Power Divas Lani Misalucha and Gigi De Lana are on the slate of the Newport Performing Arts Theater (NPAT) for an epic countdown experience for a live audience on Dec. 31, starting at 9 PM.

Cap the year on a high note as Asia’s Nightingale Lani Misalucha mesmerizes with her classic hits with multi-instrumentalist Mel Villena and the big AMP band. There is nothing like welcoming the new year with the new generation diva Gigi De Lana and her band The Gigi Vibes as they pump up the evening with vibrant performances.

The grand event will be hosted by multi-talented artist, Nicole Laurel Asensio. Sweet endings and lucky
beginnings await guests as tickets are inclusive of special prize and F&B voucher worth Php 1,000.

The New Year’s Countdown is the grand culmination of Newport World Resorts’ series of live events for The World of Christmas holiday celebration. Tickets are now available at all TicketWorld and SM Tickets
outlets: P13,800 (PLATINUM) P12,500 (SVIP), P11,300 (VIP), P6,500 (GOLD), P4,800 (SILVER), and P3,000 (BRONZE). For inquiries, contact the Newport World Resorts National Sales Team via Archli Enriquez at 0917 823 9602 and Kenneth Navoa at 0917 807 9387, or call Ticketworld (02) 8891-9999, or SM Tickets (02) 8470-2222.

Escape the ordinary at Newport World Resorts, you know you want to. For more information on The World of Christmas presented by Newport World Resorts, visit www.newportworldresorts.com and follow @newportworldresorts on Facebook and Instagram, and @nwresorts on Twitter.

Make the most of your visit and sign up for an Epic Membership or download the Newport World Resorts Mobile App for free at the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Do not forsake the elderly

Published November 25, 2022, 12:05 AM

by Manila Bulletin

“Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.”

Citing this biblical passage from Psalm 71:9, Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. called for the establishment of a geriatric hospital and more benefits for senior citizens.

In pushing for measures to care for the elderly, Abante cited the Longitudinal Study of Aging and Health in the Philippines (LSAHP), showing that “Filipinos aged 60 and above are far less healthy and economically secure than the younger, working-age Philippine citizens.”

The study was presented at the recent “Policy Priorities for Dignified Aging Webinar,” organized by the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department.

To underscore the urgency of his call, the congressman said indicators in the LSAHP study “reinforce the case for better care, increased benefits, and special programs to address the concerns of our senior citizens.”

“In the twilight of their lives, our senior citizens should be able to rely not just on their families, but also on the state. Having served as productive members of society, they have earned the right to rest, retire, and live the rest of their days free from sickness and stress,” he said. “I feel that the greatest concerns of most of them that need to be addressed with urgency are financial assistance, mobility, medical and health care, and recreational and health activities, which may ultimately address the issues of stress and depression among them.”

Abante has filed House Bill No. 191 (Geriatric Health Act) that calls for the establishment of a National Center for Geriatric Health and Research Institute as well as regional geriatric specialty centers in DOH-retained hospitals. Aside from this, Abante also filed HB 4543 (An Act Increasing and Expanding the Benefits Granted to Senior Citizens).

The Manila solon’s move is aligned with the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing, a global collaboration that “seeks to reduce health inequities and improve the lives of older people, their families and communities through collective action in four areas: changing how we think, feel and act toward age and ageism; developing communities in ways that foster the abilities of older people; delivering person-centered integrated care and primary health services responsive to older people; and providing older people who need it with access to quality long-term care.”

The United Nations General Assembly declared 2021–2030 the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing after the World Health Organization (WHO) observed that “people worldwide are living longer,” noting that one in six people in the world will be aged 60 years and above by 2030.

On the domestic front, the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, said that in 2020, Filipinos 60 years old and above comprised 8.5 percent of the population, or 9.2 million — more than 50 percent higher than the 4.5-million elderly population in 2000.

We express hope Congress would heed the Manila congressman’s call because of its social impact, it’s a response to the UN’s global collaboration, and its biblical implication.

We need to care for the elderly.