Some eschatological considerations

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

          WE should not be surprised that as we end the liturgical

year, the readings of the Mass these days focus on the end times. They

are not meant to scare us but rather to encourage us to be properly

prepared and to really lock our attention on what are truly essential

in our life. This is when we have to make what we can refer to as some

eschatological considerations.

          We have to examine ourselves on how prepared we are to meet

our death, which some saints have affectionately called as “Sister

Death,” because if we go by our Christian faith, death is actually

just a transition from our earthly life of being created and redeemed

by God to our definitive eternal life with God who wants to share his

life with us, we being his image and likeness, his children.

Talking about proper preparation, we have to realize that this is none

other our spiritual preparedness. It is what gives us the full picture

of our life and destiny, opening ourselves to a supernatural life with

God. We are no mere creatures of nature. We have been made in the

image and likeness of God, elevated to be children of his in Christ.

          Our spiritual preparedness takes us to a higher ground,

giving us a glimpse of what is beyond our human horizons and natural

limits. This is not to mention the corrections it will make to our

inadequate if not erroneous understanding of our life here on earth.

          It affords us an apocalyptic worldview, because it unveils

and reveals, which is what apocalypse means, the true meaning and

purpose of our life. In other words, with this kind of preparedness,

anything can happen in the world, and we can still manage to come out

safe and sound, in the ultimate sense of the words.

          As a consequence of pursuing our spiritual preparation, we

need to learn how we can relate our earthly and temporal concerns to

our ultimate spiritual and supernatural goal. In short, we have to

know how to connect time with eternity.

          We have to overcome our narrow-mindedness or blindness with

respect to the spiritual and supernatural goal of our life, because no

matter how much we ignore it, we cannot deny the fact that the full

dimensions of our life go beyond the temporal, the material and

natural. We are also meant for the eternal, spiritual and

supernatural.

         And the way to do that is simply to live as fully as

possible, in the richness of their practical implications, those

divine gifts of faith, hope and charity. All the other human virtues

and values that we pursue in our life here on earth should be animated

by these theological virtues.

          It is through these gifts of faith, hope and charity that we

get connected with God who actually always intervenes in our life

since he is still creating and redeeming us. We are still a work in

progress. We are not yet a finished product. Our correspondence to

God’s abiding interventions in our life is through these virtues of

faith, hope and charity. This is how we can connect our time with the

eternity of God.

          The fact that we can think and reason out, wish and desire,

choose or not, love or not, are clear indications that we are not

meant only for the here and now, the tangible and the worldly. We go

beyond them.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

NPC says global syndicate behind scam text surge

by Gabriela Baron, Manila Bulletin

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) on Tuesday, Nov. 23, said the recent scam text surge offering dubious jobs are run by a global crime syndicate.

In a statement, NPC Commissioner Raymund “Mon” Liboro clarified that it is not run by a group that has gained unauthorized access to contact tracing forms, which was one of the first suspicions.

“If our initial findings prove true, that personal data is being exploited by criminals abroad, then this also becomes a matter of national security, which should compel government, the private sector, and advocate groups to work hand in hand and take more urgent and concrete action to safeguard,” Liboro said.

The NPC also summoned the data protection officers of Globe Telecom, Smart Communications, Dito Telecommunity, Shopee, and several banks to report on their spam prevention measures and further steps to combat the spate of scam text messages.

“We have summoned them to detail their current and future measures to combat smishing. Ultimately, we want to secure their commitment and focus in fighting these fraudulent practices so we can best strategize how to block these messages and protect our data subjects,” Liboro reiterated.

In meeting with industry players, the NPC aims to be kept abreast with the scam trends and discuss potential coordination in exchanging crucial information to prevent the unlawful collection and misuse of personal data.

“We hope to find areas where the NPC and these industry players can establish a more proactive approach in fighting smishing and other scams, moving forward,” Liboro added.

He reminded data subjects to remain vigilant and not open suspicious links.

Liboro also told the public to always scrutinize the messages they receive and not easily believe its lofty promises of easy, passive income opportunities and high-paying jobs.

“If from an unknown number, and with an offer that is too good to be true, it is most probably not true and is a scam,” he added.

Liboro assured that the NPC will continue to monitor the situation and encouraged victims to immediately file a report against the malicious senders, especially if they think their personal data has been compromised.

P1 Milllion Electrification Project sa Brgy. Mapaang, Maco, Davao de Oro gi turn-over

Human makompleto pag install ang 1 Million Pesos nga proyektong pasuga sa probinsya diha sa Purok 2, Brgy. Mapaang, Maco kini opisyal na nga giturn-over sa barangay mismo ni Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy ug mga kauban nga sila Liga ng Barangay Provincial Federation President Raul Timogtimog ug PEO District 2 Area Engineer Rhammer Eling sa milabayng semana.

 

Ang bag-o nahumang P1 Milllion Electrification Project sa probinsya diha sa Brgy. Mapaang opisyal nga gitunol sa mismo sa Gobernador ug iyang mga kauban atol sa giusang turn-over ug cutting of ribbon, ug kini malipayong gidawat sa mga katawhan sa pagpanguna ni Brgy. Capt.Rogelio Cocosa kauban ang mga opisyal sa Barangay ug ang mga Purok Officials.

 

Samtang diha sa Brgy. Manipongol, Maco gipangunahan sad nila ang turn-over ceremony kon pagtunol sa mga Gardening Toolkits ngadto sa 15 ka mga beneficiaries nga nakahuman sa libreng skills training pagbuhat og organic fertilizer kon “Produce Organic Fertilizer NC-1” ilalom sa Special Training for Employment Program (STEP) sa Oplan Pagbabago-ELCAC nga gitabangan pag-implementar sa PLGU Davao de Oro ug TESDA. (Gilbert Magadan Cabahug PAO-ID DdO, photos by A. Dayao)

DdO Farmer’s association gets P35.2M of agri-machinery

The Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) has distributed P35.2-million worth of agricultural machinery to rice-based farmer’s and irrigators association in the province on November 19, 2021, at the Capitol Compound.

 

The distribution of agricultural machinery is under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program that aims to raise rice farmers’ profitability and competitiveness through the use of mechanization technologies.

 

A total of twenty-three (23) identified recipient associations received the said machines coming from the municipality of Compostela, Maragusan, Monkayo, Montevista, New Bataan, Mawab, Laak, and Nabunturan. Turned over were 14 four-wheel-drive tractors, 9 units of combine harvester, and 1 unit of hauling truck.

 

Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy thanked the national government for continuous support in upgrading and boosting agriculture in the province by providing farm machinery and equipment to the farmers.

 

He also encouraged the farmer recipients to give utmost care to the machines given to them and continue following good agricultural practices in farming.

 

In response, Jerry F. Barayuga, PAFC Chairperson of CVIPCO expressed heartfelt gratitude to the government for helping them save time and efforts for they will no longer endure the traditional way of farming by using modernized farm machinery.

“Kun kaniadto manual pa ang mga buluhaton sa pag-uma, karun dako kaayung tabang ang mga ekwepo nga inyuhang gihatag sa amua kay mas mapadali ug ginapagaan na niini ang amuang mga trabahoon sa umahan”, Barayuga said.

 

Present during the turn-over ceremony were Engr. Baldwin G. Jallorina PHILMECH Director, Epifanio Loyola Jr. Chairperson of RAFC XI, and Roy Jose D. Pascua DA-RAFC XI Coordinator.

 

The activity was made successful through the active support and participation of PLGU counterparts through the Provincial Agriculturist Office of Davao de Oro. (Rheafe Hortizano – Provincial Information Office)

Endure, persevere with faith and hope

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

          GIVEN the fact that we have already been warned by Christ

that the world will end badly and that in our life, we will always

have some trouble, (cfr. Lk 21,12-19) we should be properly prepared

for this condition in our life by learning how to suffer with faith,

hope and optimism, how to endure and persevere in the drama of our

life.

          We have to remember that if Christ could not help but had to

offer his life to save us, how can we think that our life and the

world in general would take a different path? Remember Christ telling

his disciples, “A servant is not greater than his master. If they

persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” (Jn 15,20) But let’s

always keep in mind his assurance, “In this world you will have

trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16,33)

          Let’s just have to learn how to suffer, always with Christ,

that is, with faith, hope and optimism, convinced that all these

troubles will always be for the good. It would also help a lot if we

maintain a sporting spirit in life with a good and healthy sense of

humor.

          To be sure, we can manage to find joy in suffering only if

we identify ourselves with Christ. With Christ, suffering becomes an

act of selfless love that can take on anything. Only in him can we

find joy and meaning in suffering. With him, suffering loses its

purely negative and painful character, and assumes the happy salvific

character.

          We need to process this truth of our faith thoroughly,

always asking for God’s grace and training all our powers and

faculties to adapt to this reality. That’s why Christ told us clearly

that if we want to follow him, we simply have to deny ourselves, carry

the cross and follow him. There’s no other formula, given our wounded

human condition.

          This self-denial and carrying of Christ’s cross will enable

us to see that suffering is obviously the consequence of all our

sins—ours and those of others. Embracing suffering the way Christ

embraced his cross unites our suffering with that of Christ.

          For us to have this conviction, we really need to deepen and

strengthen our faith which will lead us to have an unwavering hope

that despite whatever, everything would just turn out right.

          With faith and hope, we can manage to endure anything and to

persevere, because as St. Paul told us once: “God, who began the good

work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished

on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Phil 1,6)

          The Pauline words somehow tell us that the secret of

perseverance is our strong faith in God, in his omnipotent and

merciful providence that can always make do with whatever situation we

may find ourselves in any given moment.

          We have to see to it that we keep that faith alive and

burning. And to make that faith vibrant, we need to keep ourselves

always in love. It’s love that keeps our faith going. It should be a

love that goes beyond good intentions, sweet words and nice feelings.

It has to be expressed in deeds.

          One clear manifestation of an operative love that nourishes

our faith that in turn enables us to persevere and to be faithful to

the end is the practice of a daily examination of conscience. Such

practice will help us to be always vigilant and properly focused and

directed.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Christian poverty, generosity, self-giving

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

          THAT gospel story of the poor widow giving her two small

coins into the temple treasury (cfr. Lk 21,1-4) once again reminds us

about how true Christian poverty leads to generosity and total

self-giving which is the very essence of love that in turn is the very

essence of God, as St. John says it so explicitly, “Deus caritas est.”

(1 Jn 4,16)

          One lesson we can learn from that episode is that generosity

is not a matter of how much we give but rather of total detachment

from the things of this world so that our heart can only be for God.

We therefore have to be wary of our strong, if often subtle,

attachment to the things of this world such that our heart would at

best be a divided heart, which is actually an impossibility.

          We have to learn to let go of our possessions, our

preferences, our opinions, etc., until we can say that we are letting

go of our whole selves so as to give everything to God.

          This is what generosity is all about. Instead of feeling

emptied, we feel filled with peace and joy. No earthly happening can

add or diminish that peace and joy. It’s a peace and joy that can only

be the effect of having God with us. As St. Teresa once said, “Solo

Dios basta,” with God we have enough.

          Christian poverty is never a state of misery and pure

suffering and privation, even if in human eyes it can be seen that

way. It is always motivated by love of God and neighbor, and is filled

with all goodness, generosity and magnanimity.

          It is a spirit of total self-giving that goes beyond any

effort at quantification and measure. It’s never a matter of how much

we give and keep. It’s purely a matter of total self-giving that

identifies us with God of whom we are supposed to be his image and

likeness.

          We have to learn to develop and live this true spirit of

Christian poverty which first of all would need God’s grace which we

have to constantly beg and, of course, to exert our all-out effort. We

have to learn to continually conquer our tendency to be improperly

attached to earthly things, even as we know that the things of this

world are also important, but only as means, never as ends in

themselves.

          Yes, we have to continually rectify our intentions and give

ourselves concrete standards, criteria and goals to guide us in the

way we use the things of this world while living true Christian

poverty.

          We have to learn how to live Christian poverty while using

the things of this world. While it’s true that Christ told the rich

young man, and us, to “sell everything and give to the poor…and come,

follow me,” (Mk 10,21), we need to understand that the Christian

spirit of poverty and detachment does not prevent us from having the

things of this world, like money.

          But, yes, we need to be careful that our having the things

of this world does not undermine our love for God. If ever, the things

of this world should be pursued and used for the sole purpose of

loving God and everybody else. We are not angels. We are not pure

spirits. We need things to live and survive, and to give glory to God

and to help everybody else.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

COVID: Germany faces 'national emergency'

The hospitalization incidence will be the new benchmark for tougher COVID regulations in Germany.

German Health Minister Jens Spahn on Friday said that the pandemic situation has worsened over the past week and it's now "more serious than last week," adding that the country is facing "a national emergency." 

When asked about the possibility of imposing a new lockdown for everyone, he said: "We're in a situation where we can't rule anything out."

The comments came as Germany's upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat, approved new restrictions to curb COVID, a day after the lower house passed the measures.

Spahn was talking at a press conference together with Lothar Wieler, the head of the country's infectious disease agency the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). 

Wieler painted a dramatic picture of the coronavirus situation, pointing out that in over a quarter of districts nationwide, the seven-day incidence rate is above 500 new infections per 100,000 people and that many hospitals are at breaking point. "We need to turn the tide. There's really no time to lose."

Wieler also stressed the importance of vaccinations. "Vaccinations are working very, very well," he said, adding: "We need to close the vaccination gaps now."

What is the current COVID situation in Germany?

In the past two weeks, the number of new cases has jumped by more than 60%.

On Friday, Germany recorded 52,970 daily new infections, a day after registering over 65,000 daily cases, a record since the start of the pandemic. Health officials are warning that the number is likely to at least double in the coming days.

Uwe Janssens, secretary-general of the German Society for Internal Intensive Care, told DW the numbers were "absolutely worrying."

He pointed out that patients who suffer severe disease after getting infected with the virus end up in the intensive care unit much later, "with a delay of up to 15 days."

"Currently, around 0.8% of infected people will have to be treated further in an intensive care unit during the course of an infection," he said. And if there are 50,000-60,000 new infections a day, "you can count how many people will reach the intensive care units in 7 to 10 to 12 days."

The situation is becoming "too much to handle," he stressed. 

What are the new rules?

As per the new rules, the so-called hospitalization incidence will be the new benchmark for introducing tougher COVID regulations in the country.

According to that metric, if more than three inhabitants per 100,000 in a region are hospitalized with COVID, the "2G" rule will apply for all public leisure activities in a given state — referring to the shorthand in Germany for a rule that allows freedoms like access to restaurants and hotels only to those who are either vaccinated or have recovered from COVID.

The "2G+" rule will kick in when the hospitalization incidence hits a value of six per 100,000, meaning even the vaccinated and recovered people will be required to produce an additional negative COVID test result. From a value of nine, further measures such as contact restrictions are to be implemented.

At present, all German states except Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein and Saarland are above the value of three. Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia are above the value of nine.

What else has been agreed?

The plans include mandatory daily testing for employees and visitors of care homes, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated or not.

They also include "3G" rules (vaccinated, recovered, or tested) requiring people to show proof of full vaccination or recovery or a valid negative COVID test result for workplaces and on public transport.

Rapid antigen tests will remain free of charge for everyone. Work from home rules would also be reinstated. Nurses, especially those working in intensive care facilities, will receive a bonus.

Germany's 16 states will be also able to retain and introduce protective measures. This includes restricting or prohibiting recreational, cultural, and sporting events, banning entry to healthcare facilities and the sale and public consumption of alcohol, and closing universities.

Measures will not include school closures, blanket travel restrictions, or mandatory vaccination.

The new rules are likely to come into force next week.

What other steps can Germany take?

Talking to DW, German Green Party lawmaker and doctor Paula Piechotta said the country should only introduce a general lockdown as "the measure of last resort." However, Germany is already very close to this step, she added.

"If a lot of legislators and deciders don't act, a general lockdown will be necessary," Piechotta said.

Piechotta also warned of low levels of trust in vaccines in Germany and Europe.

"If we can't achieve sufficient vaccination rates on a non-mandatory basis," she said, "we have to talk about vaccine mandates, especially for people who work in vulnerable settings like nursing homes and hospitals."

Making vaccination mandatory would be less disruptive than another general lockdown, she added.

Bavaria imposes 'de facto lockdown' for the unvaccinated.

Bavaria announced on Friday that it's canceling all Christmas markets in the state. 

The state government has also imposed a lockdown on all districts that have a seven-day COVID incidence rate of over 1,000 per 100,000 people.

Premier Markus Söder said there will be a "de facto lockdown" for unvaccinated people by implementing the "2G" rule across the state. 

The unvaccinated will lose access to even places like hairdressers, universities or adult education centers. There will also be contact restrictions, with the unvaccinated allowed to meet with a maximum of five people from two households.

Even in areas with incidence rates lower than 1,000, there will be restrictions.

For sports and cultural events, the number of spectators will be limited to 25% of the venue's total capacity and the "2G+" rule will apply — meaning even the vaccinated and recovered people will be required to produce an additional negative COVID test result.

In retail stores, there will be a limit on the number of customers allowed inside: one customer per 10 square meters. All retail outlets and restaurants will also have to be closed by 10 p.m.

Saxony applies new restrictions

To the north of Bavaria, the eastern German state of Saxony on Friday announced widespread public restrictions to start Monday and remain in place at least until December 12 to combat a surge in COVID cases.

Christmas markets throughout the state, including one of Germany's largest in Dresden, are canceled.

Bars, nightclubs, gyms, museums and many other public venues must close. Retail stores and restaurants may remain open until 8 p.m. under the "2G" rule. Schools and daycares will remain open. Sporting events can continue, but without an audience.

There will also be a night curfew in place starting Monday from 10:00 p.m. to 6 a.m. in districts with seven-day incidence rates of 1,000 cases per 100,000 people, said Saxony's social affairs minister, Petra Köpping. There are currently two districts in Saxony with seven-day incidence rates topping 1,000/100,000.

Health officials say the COVID surge in Saxony can be attributed to the state's lagging vaccination rate, which with less than 58% of the population fully vaccinated, is the lowest in Germany.

Meanwhile, Germany's Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) on Thursday recommended booster shots for all adults. It said the boosters should be given six months after the last vaccine shot. However, that could be shortened to five months if there is enough capacity.

The committee recommend priority for booster shots be given to the immunocompromised, people over 70, residents and caregivers at elder care homes and staff in medical facilities.

Regardless of what vaccine was given previously, mRNA vaccines should be administered as booster shots. Pregnant women after the second trimester should also receive booster shots.

Nevertheless, Germany's vaccination rate has stagnated at under 70% in recent weeks, a relatively lower vaccine take-up compared to other parts of Western Europe.

"We have to intensify vaccinations as much as possible, but above all, the boost to vaccination and unfortunately, the vaccination centers were closed, even though the development was foreseeable. Now we are chasing after things," Janssens underlined.

Hospitals under severe strain

The latest COVID wave has put hospitals in parts of Germany under immense strain.

"In the south of Germany, in Bavaria, Saxony and Baden-Württemberg and other areas, the hospitals and even the intensive care units have such a high pressure, such a high load that in some regions there are zero free intensive care unit beds," Janssens said, adding: "So we have to postpone planned operations."

Hospitals are struggling to cope because of not only rising number of patients but also a shortage of trained personnel.

Long hours, low pay and stress during the pandemic have served to put people off a job in the health care sector.

wmr,sri/rt (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)

Philippines to allow entry of foreign tourists soon — DOT

 

This undated file photo shows immigration counters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism said the Philippines would welcome international tourists for leisure travels soon.

This development came after Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat announced on Friday that the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) “has approved in principle the entry of fully vaccinated tourists from Green List countries/territories/jurisdictions” upon the request of the agency.

She said the entry of foreign tourists would follow the guidelines that would be finalized and approved by the IATF-EID.

The DOT said a Special Technical Working Group on Travel has been tasked to craft the said guidelines for the final approval of the IATF.

It is composed of representatives from DOT, the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Health, Finance, Trade and Industry, Transportation, Labor and Employment, Public Works and Highways, Bureau of Quarantine, Bureau of Immigration and Board of Investment, according to Department of Justice Undersecretary Jon Paulo Salvahan, the deputy of the Small Working Group on Travel.

The proposed guidelines, according to Puyat, would also be based on strict conditions.

Under this proposal, the country would open leisure travel from the “green countries” classified by the Department of Health as low-risk countries to COVID-19.

Green list

Based on the latest IATF Resolution No. 148-A signed last November 11, the following countries are classified under the “green list” from November 16 until 30:

American Samoa

Bhutan

Chad

China (Mainland)

Comoros

Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

Falkland Islands (Malvinas)

Federated States of Micronesia

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China)

India

Indonesia

Japan

Kosovo

Kuwait

Kyrgyzstan

Malawi

Mali

Marshall Islands

Montserrat

Morocco

Namibia

Niger

Northern Mariana Islands

Oman

Pakistan

Palau

Paraguay

Rwanda

Saint Barthelemy

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Saudi Arabia

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Sint Eustatius

South Africa

Sudan

Taiwan

Togo

Uganda

United Arab Emirates

Zambia

Zimbabwe

The tourism agency added that only fully vaccinated individuals with vaccines recognized by the country’s Food and Drug Administration under an Emergency Use Authorization or those authorized by the World Health Organization would be allowed entry to the country.

Puyat said the approval of the DOT’s proposal would help the country’s tourism industry get back on its feet.

"Allowing tourists from green countries or territories that have the majority of its population vaccinated and with low infection rate, will greatly help in our recovery efforts--increasing tourist arrivals and receipts among others. This move will likewise aid in bolstering consumer confidence, which is a large contributor to our gross domestic product or GDP growth," Puyat said.

In 2019, the Philippines recorded 8.26 million tourist arrivals, which dropped to just 1.48 million in 2020.

The tourism industry likewise contributed 12.7% to the country’s GDP in 2019 but the DOT noted a 61.2% decrease in 2020 with only 5.4% contribution to the GDP. This is reportedly the lowest in two decades.

“According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Tourism Direct Gross Value Added (TDGVA) dropped to P973.31 billion last year compared with the P2.51 trillion in 2019.,” the DOT said in June.

Strategies for tourism industry recovery

The DOT, however, then said it is “optimistic that this transient situation will soon be over and that with the collective effort of the private and public sectors, the Philippine tourism industry will emerge bigger, better, and more resilient in the new normal.”

It lodged the following three strategies to overcome the tourism setback which are also stated in its Tourism Response and Recovery Plans: 

Ensure protection of jobs and safety of tourism workers, visitors, and communities

 

Support the recovery of tourism enterprises

 

Rebuild confidence and grow demand in the domestic and foreign market

“The pivot towards domestic tourism that led to the gradual reopening of various local sites, the lobbying for the protection of tourism workers through their inoculation, and the marketing of destinations highlighting the safe travel campaign are among the many efforts of the department that aim to facilitate the slow but sure recovery of the tourism industry,” the DOT said. 

“For the next two years, the Philippines will be positioned as a ‘safe, fun, and competitive destination’ rooted in strong partnerships with communities and visitors. This will be achieved by developing and marketing portfolio of products that harness the natural and cultural endowments to benefit the present and future tourism generation,” it added.

Puyat also said the welcome development on looming entry of international travelers to the country also came as neighboring countries have already reopened their borders to international leisure travelers.

“Our ASEAN neighbors like Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia also did the same. We believe that it is also time for us to reopen our borders for inbound tourism as a way towards full recovery,” Puyat said.

The DOT has been proposing the green lane that will facilitate the entry of foreign visitors who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 since May in an effort to help the reopening of the economy.

It is also working with the Small Technical Working Group on Travel for another proposal "Vaccinated Travel Lanes or Bubbles" as a special program for vaccinated tourists coming from yellow list countries, who may be able to enter the country under certain restrictions and strict conditions.

As of writing, the IATF resolution classifies all other countries/territories/jurisdictions not listed on the green list and red list as part of the yellow list. So far, only Faroe Islands and The Netherlands are under the red list.

WHAT COULD BE A CHRISTMAS GIFT?

Gift giving and receiving and Christmas simply but surely go together. Many times it incurs our indignation. Many of us defer the most important decision during the most jolliest season of the year. What is the best Christmas gift for our loved ones??? Is it really an important decision, or does it delete the real meaning of Christmas? I am sure, many of us know the real answer.

The giving spirit of the holiday season seems to fade in the light of necessary obligations and finances, along the painful dilemma of giving gifts to those who want to buy for as opposed to those for whom you should buy!

Let’s think about it: To whom are we obligated at Christmas: our boss, our cousins, our parents, our partner or our children and friends as well? What about the children? Should they give presents to people either then family members? How about the innumerable large families especially in the Philippines, because of economics, resort to the name drawing process at Christmas.

For me firstly Christmas is spirit. You can always find ways to give gifts without expenses. The most well known and always remembered gift is to give to someone like giving time. In my family we do this mostly during the holiday season.
But if I look more closely, mmh, sad to say, that “time as gift” doesn’t satisfy most of all. Well, it’s okay. There are so many ways to use your mind in terms of giving someone other things than putting Peso or Dollar notes. I am sure you know that home made gifts can also be a very good idea… .

Sure, there is etiquette of gift giving at Christmas and also other occasions. Homemade gifts are most appropriate especially as Christmas gifts, according to Stuart E. Jacobson, book author of “The Art of Giving”. Allow me to quote Jacobson, “Homemade gifts are wonderful. A gift of imagination, a gift of creativity, a gift that shows (also!) time was put into it. A created time is a wonderful present.”

When considering a homemade gift, instead of tumbling through crowded shopping malls (as I tried again yesterday!) and getting a headache (I really got!)! While stumbling from one mall to the next, I found out again, that the real and whole essence of giving a gift is to bring pleasure to the person receiving it.Jacobson says in his book, “Homemade gifts are also ideal for children to give as presents. Kids can create things because they have a unique imagination. Children should feel free to give something to anyone they spend a lot of time with. No monetary value should be placed on what a child should give to someone.”

Very well said. I am just afraid that it seems more or less impossible nowadays in these modern times… .

The Solemnity of Christ the King

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

          THIS Solemnity marks the end of a liturgical year, somehow

reminding us that as long as we are still in this temporal world, we

have to go through a cycle of beginning and ending, until we spin off

to the world of eternity where our definitive life and home is.

          With this ending of the liturgical year, we are reminded

that we are presented year after year with the whole life and mystery

of Christ who is actually everything to us, for he is our “way, the

truth and the life.” We are given a chance not only to know him, but

also to love and serve him, which is what is most important to us, the

ultimate purpose of our life.

          Many things come to mind when we try to consider the

significance of the solemnity of Christ the King. Christ is our King

because in the first place we come from him and we belong to him in

the strictest sense of the words “come” and “belong.”

          As God the Son, the second person of the Blessed Trinity,

Christ is the very pattern of our humanity, which happens to be the

masterpiece of his creation. As God who became man, he is our Savior

who redeemed us after we spoiled our original creation. How Christ is

should also be how we should be. We are supposed to be “alter

Christus,” if not “ipse Christus.” That is actually our radical

identity.

          There could therefore be no greater king than him. His

kingship is not merely political or social. His kingship penetrates

the very core of our being and covers the whole range of our humanity

in all its aspects, conditions and circumstances. His kingship rules

us in our entirety, both body and soul. And He is king to each one of

us individually as well as to all of us collectively.

          His kingdom is already with us. That’s why at one time,

Christ said: “The kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Lk 17,21)

At the same time, it is still to be perfected in some other time,

place or, better said, state of life. Thus, he also said: “My kingship

is not of this world.” (Jn 18,36)

          The Solemnity of Christ the King should also remind us that

whatever we begin in life we should also end well, that ending well

ultimately means making Christ our king, the “all in all” in us, the

be-all and end-all of our life, and that the way to achieve it is to

learn to love the way Christ has loved us and continues to love us.

          Learning the art of ending well the things in general is not

a matter of solving all our problems and perfectly achieving all the

earthly goals we have set for ourselves. That will never happen. When

we die, there will still be unfinished businesses, let alone, problems

unsolved, challenges not yet tackled.

          Rather, ending things well is a matter of reconciling

ourselves with God and with everybody else. Thus, everyday, before we

go to bed, we should make sure that we ask forgiveness from God for

any weakness, fault or sin we may have committed during the day, as

well as asking forgiveness from anyone whom we may have wronged in

some way.

          We have to make sure that we end the day with Christ always,

and not just with some work accomplished and achieved. That’s how we

would really make Christ our King!

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com