I AM THE LIGHT

 

When you say "I am the light," you echo one of the most famous statements in the Bible. Jesus Christ declared, "I am the light of the world". He promised that anyone who follows Him will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

You are echoing a powerful and historic declaration. Whether you are invoking the iconic biblical statement made by Jesus in Bible Gateway, expressing a sense of personal awakening, Got Questions, or exploring a spiritual philosophy of enlightenment, embracing that energy is all about bringing warmth, clarity, and guidance to your surroundings.

We can't see our future, direction, or destination, but Jesus can. Like the lighthouse guided the ship, Jesus directs us toward God's light. The light of Christ guides us through the darkness of sin, life, and struggle both spiritually and literally.

The validity of Jesus' testimony has been explained in John 8:12-30: "I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

To be the light means in times of darkness you offer hope, encouragement, kindness and compassion. In times where others are struggling you offer a way to help them to regain their glow and to shine. To see the good and the beautiful - it is in this that truth is re-established.

Light is the symbol of joy and of life-giving power, as darkness is of death and destruction. Therefore, in religion, light is often associated with immortality and a higher power.

As I look around, I find many of our so-called leaders, who demand us to follow them, and I hope we open our eyes and minds before we blindly follow them blind.

"I am the light of the world!" Admittedly, this sounds for many people a reconditioned exuberance while trembling to what might happen if they are not able to pay the next electric bill. 

I am also pretty sure that this year Christmas lights are not glowing as the previous years: I am not so much talking about the illuminated advertisements all over the city. I am referring to the private lights that usually brighten our homes during the Yuletide season. It's the deep sadness and depression feelings of the people around us. Maybe this Christmas celebration is not a celebration anymore in times of a new abnormality.

If we manage to overcome the "Follow-me-I'm-the light"-phonies, and after we manage to find solutions in paying our electric bills, we then sit still in our houses and plan to light a candle for our prayers.

The other side of the season should make us remember that we should never hesitate to show our good hearts even amid a crisis by rendering services to others with passion and enthusiasm. There is nothing really stronger than from the heart of a volunteer - as several UP interns voiced out many years ago.

I am the light of the world. Let's try putting this concept into our minds, hearts and souls. I am pretty sure we'll not walk in darkness especially during this enlightening season and the dramatic cuts in our daily life because of this pandemic.

Across cultures, light is an ancient symbol of understanding and intellectual thought: it is the opposite of ignorance, or darkness. Almost universally, the dark is considered to be frightening and sinister, associated with things we cannot understand. Light is said to conquer darkness and to bring order out of chaos.

"Made His light shine in our hearts." (2 Co 4:6).

Arresting social media

 

BY FATIMA GIMENEZ

JUNE 29, 2026

How can I help you? A mother of four complained that her 16-year-old son was having trouble sleeping.

To create a more relaxed interchange, I started by asking what her typical day was like. She shared that, as a single parent and with children to provide for, she always has to leave early for work. Her son has chosen to live with a sibling and attends school from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., but reportedly only gets to sleep by 12:30 a.m. He then volunteered the reason himself: he has become so attached to his cell phone. This eventually led into a discussion on his school performance. His grade in Math was in the line of eight, but he struggles with his English comprehension because he felt he was “mahina” and forgets things easily. When asked where this forgetfulness was coming from, he quickly replied that it was probably from watching too much TikTok. While I was dismayed, at least there was some degree of self-awareness.

From his story, one doesn’t have to do an in-depth analysis to connect the dots. From constant and prolonged social media use, there is sleep disruption, translating into a decrease in concentration and lack of focus, leading to a decline in academic performance.

ONG LIVE, LORD SAN PEDRO APOSTLE

Davao Archbishop Most Rev. Romulo Valles presided the pontifical mass or holy mass for the 178th anniversary of the feast of San Pedro Cathedral today at 9:30 am, June 29.

via | John Ryan Calonia, GMA Super Radyo Davao

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Dr. Anne Caoile and Dr. Marj Salazar of Elyse Aesthetics on beauty, confidence, and self-love

 

Love looks good on you

By Manila Bulletin Newsroom  

The story of Elyse Aesthetics is a story of love, from the relationship of Dr. Anne Caoile and Dr. Marj Salazar, all the way to the care that they extend to their clientele, and the self-love that they promote through their work. In an interview with the two, we were able to get a deeper understanding of the emotional core that drives Elyse Aesthetics.

Before Dr. Anne and Dr. Marj became the founders of Elyse Aesthetics, they were acquaintances who met once before drifting apart. Dr. Anne recalls that they crossed paths again years later, coincidentally practicing in the same field of medicine.

"Something sparked during that reunion that hadn't been there before. Or maybe it had always been there, and we finally had the space to recognize it. Everything just felt right. The more we talked, the more we realized how deeply aligned we were, in our values, our standards, and the way we thought about medicine and beauty," Dr. Anne reminisced.

Dr. Marj recounted, “And our skills were almost poetically complementary. Anne wanted to operate; I was drawn to skin and injectables. She would sculpt structure, I would refine and restore. Both of us were driven by the same thing: a desire to give our patients the very best of what we had, our training, our artistry, our genuine care.”

With that, they started Elyse Aesthetics together. As a young WLW (women-loving-women) couple in the beautician industry, they’ve faced many challenges just by simply existing, and the influence of that experience bleeds through to their motivations and what they do.

(L-R) Dr. Marj Salazar, CEO Co-Founder Elyse Aesthetics Medical Inc. and Dr. Anne Caoile COO, Co-Founder Elyse Aesthetics Medical Inc. (Photos: Elyse Aesthetics)

The two agreed, “When you’ve had to fight for the right to simply exist as you are, to love who you love without apology, beauty takes on a completely different meaning. “Beauty Set Free” isn’t a tagline, it’s what we lived. Every patient who walks through our doors deserves to feel that we see them, that we’re not here to reshape them into someone else’s idea of beauty. We’re here to help them feel more like themselves.”

Their philosophy is simple: aesthetic treatments should help people feel more at home in their own bodies rather than transform them into someone else. It is a shift they have increasingly noticed among their clients. Instead of arriving with photos of celebrities as references, many now bring old photos of themselves, hoping to rediscover the version of themselves they once recognized and loved.

“That shift is everything to us. Our entire approach is built around enhancement that honors the individual. We won’t chase a trend that doesn’t serve a patient’s unique anatomy and character. The best result is one where no one can tell you had anything done, they just think you look well-rested, confident, and alive.”

Their commitment to this philosophy is evident in the way they encourage clients, and anyone considering aesthetic enhancements, to pause for thoughtful self-reflection before pursuing any treatment.

“My advice: before you pursue any treatment, ask yourself, “Am I doing this because I genuinely want to feel more like myself, or am I trying to look like someone else?” One of those is self-care. The other is self-erasure. And no treatment in the world will fix the latter.”

When asked about what messages they would like to share with the LGBTQ+ youth regarding confidence and beauty enhancements, they had this to say: “We’ll be honest with you, for a long time, we were terrified of being seen. Not just as a doctor, not just as a business owner, but as a woman who loves women. And what we know now, having finally chosen to live openly and honestly, is that nothing, no treatment, no achievement, no amount of external polish, compares to the freedom of being truly known and truly yourself.”

It all comes down to the beauty that’s present within the eye of the beholder, and the beholder is you, looking in the mirror. “So when we say “Beauty Set Free” at Elyse, we mean it in the deepest possible way. We’re not just talking about your face. We’re talking about your whole self. To every LGBTQ+ young person who is still hiding, still waiting for permission to exist fully, I see you, because I was you. Whether you ever walk into a clinic or not, that liberation is available to you. Choose enhancements, or don’t, but whatever you do, do it from a place of love for yourself, never from fear of who you are. You are already more than enough. Everything else is optional.”

Beauty comes down to love and care. It is found in the relationships we nurture, in the kindness we show ourselves, and in the intention behind how we choose to present ourselves to the world. It may sound paradoxical, but both can be true: there is always room to grow, while recognizing that you have always been enough. (Nathan Marcos)

The author, Nathan Marcos, is a student at Ateneo de Manila University and is currently an intern at the Manila Bulletin.

Mereyl del Puerto Forever an Earth Queen.

Some dreams are measured by crowns, but the most meaningful ones are measured by the lives they touch and the history they create.

Although I did not bring home the national crown, I carry home something equally priceless—the honor of making history as the first-ever National Pageant Representative of the Municipality of Dangcagan Bukidnon. It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to represent a community that welcomed me with open hearts and believed in me from the very beginning.

This journey would never have been as meaningful and fruitful without the incredible people who stood beside me.

To the Municipality of Dangcagan, thank you for embracing me wholeheartedly and supporting my journey in every possible way. To Mayor Mark Vincent Dandasan, Municipal Secretary Ma'am Leah Dandasan and Sir Jhun Cuizon Bernabe—Municipal Tourism Coordinator, thank you for your unwavering trust, generosity, encouragement, and genuine love. Your confidence in me gave me the strength to keep moving forward.

To my major sponsors—Governor Oneil Roque of the Province of Bukidnon, Congresswoman Inday Audrey Zubiri Representative of the 3rd District of Bukidnon, Vice Mayor Jan-Jan Malack Tan Malack and to everyone who extended their financial support—thank you for believing in my dream. Your generosity made this journey possible. Special thanks also to Sir Cornelio Melan II Laplap Cruz for extending help and for the warm support.

To my mentors—Sir Mark Anthony Amolo, Sir Nickelson Solano, Sir Karl Sobrecarey, and Mami Cerlyn Precillas, thank you for your unwavering guidance and all-out support since Day One. Thank you for constantly reminding me of my worth, believing in my potential, and lifting me up during the moments when I struggled to believe in myself.

To my wardrobe sponsor, Mami Jessy Magaway Matandag, thank you for the breathtaking gowns and the elegant pieces that made me feel confident, empowered, and beautiful on every stage.

To Sir Jonniel Salientes Ruel, Ma'am Ariana Hermo, and Kuya Ryan Bunac, thank you for allowing me to wear your exceptional creations. It was an honor to represent your artistry.

To my beauty partners—CG Wellnesshub, AK Tàm, @M&D Medical and Spa, and my dental partner, RC Dental Center by Dr. Roy Chavez, thank you for your unwavering support and for helping me present my best self throughout this incredible journey.

To my incredible glam team—Papshy EJ Baconguis and Mamang AL D IN, thank you for making me look and feel my very best. More than the beauty you created, thank you for your patience, your care, your comforting words during difficult moments, and for constantly reminding me of what I am capable of. Your sacrifices will always have a special place in my heart.

To my KF Crown.Glory.Legacy family, especially to Tito Rodin Gilbert B.flores and Coach Enan, thank you for welcoming me into your family and for giving me mentorship that extends far beyond the pageant stage. The lessons, friendships, and memories we've built together will stay with me forever. My heartfelt gratitude as well to Ate Sweet Olea and Kuya Marlon Cañas for helping make this incredible opportunity possible.

To my Earth sisters, thank you for making this journey even more meaningful. Sharing this experience with such empowered, inspiring, and beautiful women is something I will always treasure. Thank you for the friendship, the laughter, the encouragement, and the memories that will forever remain in my heart.

To my gawshie, Juneil Selma thank you for standing by me from Day One. Thank you for your constant love, encouragement, and unwavering support throughout this journey.

To Kuya Korns Betita Abellojr, Sir Evan Fernandez, and all my pageant friends who supported me in any way possible, thank you so much po!

And finally, my Family, mama and papa, and to everyone who prayed for me, cheered for me, shared my journey, and celebrated every step with me—thank you from the bottom of my heart. This achievement belongs to all of us.

This may be the end of one chapter, but it is certainly not the end of my story. I believe that God has written even greater things ahead, and I will continue to walk forward with faith, grace, and purpose.

No crown can ever define my worth, because the greatest victory has always been becoming a woman who inspires, serves, and represents with heart.

Forever an Earth Queen. Forever grateful. Forever proud to have represented Dangcagan, Bukidnon.

This has been Mereyl Del Puerto, your Miss Philippines Earth Dangcagan, Bukidnon.

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