Bag-ong opisyales sa “Provincial Coffee Association of Davao de Oro” ug “Cacao de Oro Provincial Council” nanumpa

 

Opisyal na nga nanumpa aron pagtuman sa mga tahas ug buluhaton nga gisalig kanila sa mga katawhan ang bag-o napiling mga opisyales sa Provincial Coffee Association of Davao de Oro (PCADDO) ug Cacao de Oro Provincial Council, sa atubangan mismo ni Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy nga maoy nag administer sa ilang Oath-Taking sa milabayng semana diha sa Davao de Oro Capitol Ground.

 

Ang ilang paghural nahitabo niadtong Nobyembre 19, 2021 atol sa giusang mga dagkong kalihokan nga gipasiugdahan sa D.A. Regional Office XI, sa opisina ni Sen. Cynthia Villar, ug sa PLGU-DdO ilalom sa pagdumala ni Gov. Tyron Uy ug SP Members sa pagpanguna nila ni Vice Gov. Maricar Zamora ug Senior BM Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy.

 

Atubangan mismo sa Gobernador dungan nga nanumpa ang mga napiling opisyales sa Provincial Coffee Association of Davao de Oro nga sila si Arcadio Sabella sa MAGROW Maragusan-ilang Chairman; si Delio Cesar sa Pine Valley Maragusan- ilang Vice Chair; si Jesilyn Calanao sa Life Brew Nabunturan-ilang Secretary; si Alma Custodio sa LAFARMCO Pantukan-ilang Treasurer; ug ilang BODs nga sila Cipriano Ellaga, Jr. sa New Leyte Maco, Remelito Amabao sa Mabini (MAFAASO), Merelyn L. Sinon sa Montevista, ug Doming Guilabtan sa New Bataan.

 

Samtang, ang mga napiling opisyales sa Cacao de Oro Provincial Council nga dungan sad nga nanumpa niadtong adlawa atubangan ni Gov. Tyron Uy sila Juanito Aquino sa Monkayo-ilang Chairman; Armando Esquadro sa Maragusan-ilang Vice Chair; Norma Panarez sa Maragusan-ilang Treasurer; Noel Molijon sa Montevista-ilang Auditor; ug BODs nga sila Mercedes Sabanal sa New Bataan, Rodel Balingcos sa Compostela, Noel Molijon sa Montevista, Francisco Benaro sa Maco; Jerry Ellaga, Jr. sa Masara line Maco, Jerry Bacote sa Mabini, Wilfredo Alfante sa Pantukan, Feliciano Cal sa Laak, Ethel Angco sa Nabunturan, Armando Esquadro sa Maragusan, ug Ricardo Ramos sa Mawab.

 

Human sa ilang Oath Taking gipangunahan sad dayon sa Gobernador ang pagtunol sa mga farm toolkits ngadto sa pampublikong mga eskwelahan sa DdO nga nagpartisipar sa Gulayan sa Paaralan, ug ang pagtunol sad nila ngadto sa mga rice-based farmer’s and irrigators association sa Davao de Oro sa mga Agricultural Machineries nga gipalit sa DA pinaagi sa Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) gamit ang P35.2 Milyones nga Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) sa palasyo. (Gilbert Magadan Cabahug PAO-ID DdO)

What really is God’s word?

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

          “HEAVEN and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass

away.” (Lk 21,33)

          With these words of Christ, we should feel the need to know

what exactly is God’s word. Why will it not pass away?

          The simple answer is that God’s word is not just an idea, a

doctrine, an ideology. It’s not just a strategy, a culture or a

lifestyle. Of course, God’s word involves all these, but unless we

understand God’s word as Christ himself, the God who became man to

reveal to us all that we need to know, all that we need to do to be

God’s image and likeness as God wants us to be, we will miss the real

essence and character of God’s word.

          We have to realize that the word of God cannot be separated

from God himself. That’s because God is so perfect as to be in

absolute simplicity. As such, God has no parts, no aspects, no quality

or property that are distinct from his very being. His word and his

being are just one. There is no distinction at all in him.

          Of course, from our point of view, we cannot help but to

describe God according to our own terms and ways that cannot help but

make distinctions between the essence of a being and its properties

and qualities. But in himself, God does not have distinction between

his essence and the properties that we attribute to him.

          Of course, this is a mystery, a supernatural truth that our

reason cannot fully fathom. That is why we need to have a strong faith

to be able to accept this truth. And once we accept by faith the

absolute unity between God and his word, then we will realize that

reading and meditating on the gospel is actually having a living

encounter with God through Christ.

          Thus, St. Jerome, a father of the Church, once said that to

read the Scripture is to converse with God—“If you pray, you speak

with the Spouse. If you read, it is he who speaks to you,” he said.

          Only when we realize that God’s word is Christ himself and

that reading it is like having an encounter with Christ can God’s word

truly be as the Letter to the Hebrews described it: “Alive and active.

Sharper than any double-edge sword, it penetrates even to dividing

soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and

attitudes of the heart.” (4,12)

          Of course, we have to be that good, rich soil referred to in

that parable for God’s word to take root in us and be fruitful.

Otherwise, no matter how powerfully effective God’s word is, if the

reader of that word does not have the right condition, that word would

have no effect. It would fail to produce fruit, “thirty, sixty and

even a hundredfold,” as Christ assured us.

          That means that we should handle the word of God with great

faith and piety. We should not just treat it as some literary or

historical or cultural reading. We have to realize that we are

listening to Christ and that what we hear from him should be taken

very seriously.

          That means that we have to involve our whole being when

reading God’s word. It should not just be an intellectual affair,

though we have to make full use of our intelligence and all our other

faculties when reading and meditating on it.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

IN TOTAL DARKNESS

When I was still hosting my radio shows with classical music  on different radio stations, I really got surprised how many people tried to come in touch with me after listening to not only the (wonderful?) classical music as well as my inspirational thoughts in between. Yes, I really felt glad and honored to be on air and getting the chance to share my passion for classical music with a really great listener ship. Once upon a time -  already several years ago.

In total darkness are many people right now because of the pandemic and the number of cases increasing to astronomical heights all over the world. Strategies against darkness?  "Why am I so sad? What am I so troubled about?" (Psalm 42,11).

If it's becoming dark, we usually turn on our lights. But, it's still daylight. It's a magnificent and wonderful day! The sun shines with might in the sky. The flowers are ablaze with amazing colors; the birds are chirping cheerfully. - "Yet, why am I so sad? Why am I so troubled?"

We experience feelings, as if darkness lies onto our souls, and light cannot get through any more. Yes, we make head or tail of it, because some really bad things happened since a couple of  months in many of our life and surroundings:

Several good friends passed away unforeseen; a wish, carried with us in our hearts never became true; all doors seem to be locked forever; financial problems because of Covid-19 bother us and don't allow the chance for three daily meals; and arduous illness seems to become incurable.

Why are we so sad? Why are we so troubled? The psalm's poet voices out innermost feelings and emotions during those times.

A very good friend ( a really very good one!) asked the following question: "How can you praise and worship this God, who allowed me always to get into a never-ending darkness?" Is my friend a dyed-in-the-wool-atheist", who underpinned his opinion with even the Psalm: "Day and night I cry and tears are my only food; all the time my enemies ask me, "Where is YOUR "God"?""

I was trained how to survive such periods of life. Even in this pandemic situation. Be patient and pray. Yes, pray! Or: "Quarrel with your soul!" No, it's not nonsense, it really works.

"Don't make such a fuss; get out of your dump and be happy!"

Or, read Psalm 103: "The Love of God".

Philippinen: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (Teilreisewarnung und COVID-19-bedingte Reisewarnung)

 

Das Auswärtige Amt gibt am 23.11.2021 bekannt:

Letzte Änderung: Aktuelles - COVID-19 (Einreise, Durch- und Weiterreise, Reiseverbindungen, Beschränkungen im Land, Hygieneregeln)


Lagen können sich schnell verändern und entwickeln. Wir empfehlen Ihnen:

- Verfolgen Sie Nachrichten und Wetterberichte

- Achten Sie auf einen ausreichenden Reisekrankenversicherungsschutz https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/ReiseUndSicherheit/reise-gesundheit/-/350944

- Abonnieren Sie unseren Newsletter https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/newsroom/newsletter/bestellen-node oder nutzen Sie unsere App „Sicher Reisen“ https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/ReiseUndSicherheit/app-sicher-reisen/350382
- Folgen Sie uns auf Twitter: AA_SicherReisen https://twitter.com/AA_SicherReisen
- Registrieren Sie sich in unserer Krisenvorsorgeliste https://krisenvorsorgeliste.diplo.de 

Aktuelles

Die Ausbreitung von COVID-19 https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/ReiseUndSicherheit/reise-gesundheit/gesundheit-fachinformationen/reisemedizinische-hinweise/Coronavirus/-/2309820 kann weiterhin zu Einschränkungen im internationalen Luft- und Reiseverkehr und Beeinträchtigungen des öffentlichen Lebens führen.

Vor nicht notwendigen, touristischen Reisen in die Philippinen wird derzeit gewarnt.

Die Philippinen sind von COVID-19 stark betroffen, wobei von einer hohen Dunkelziffer bei den Infektionszahlen auszugehen ist. Das Gesundheitssystem ist sehr belastet. Regionaler Schwerpunkt ist die Hauptstadtregion Metro Manila. Die Philippinen sind als Hochrisikogebiet https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Risikogebiete_neu.html eingestuft.

Aktuelle und detaillierte Zahlen bieten das philippinische Gesundheitsministerium https://www.doh.gov.ph/ und die Weltgesundheitsorganisation WHO https://covid19.who.int/region/wpro/country/ph.

Einreise

Bis auf weiteres ist Ausländern die Einreise für touristische Zwecke in die Philippinen verboten. Erteilte philippinische Einreise-Visa wurden für ungültig erklärt, neue touristische Visa werden derzeit grundsätzlich nicht ausgestellt. Ausnahmen gelten ausschließlich für Flugzeug- und Schiffsbesatzungen, für Familienangehörige (Ehegatten, Kinder, Eltern) von philippinischen Staatsangehörigen, für Diplomaten und Angehörige internationaler Organisationen, die in den Philippinen akkreditiert sind, sowie für Ausländer, die bereits im Besitz von Langzeitvisa sind. Die Quarantänevorgaben richten sich nach dem Aufenthalt in den letzten 14 Tagen vor Einreise aus einem der vom Gesundheitsministerium definierten Länder der „Green“ oder „Yellow List" und dem Impfstatus. https://iatf.doh.gov.ph/?page_id=77

Als vollständig geimpft gilt, wer einen Impfnachweis über eine in den Philippinen erfolgte vollständige Impfung oder einen von den Philippinen anerkannten ausländischen Impfnachweis vorlegt. Deutsche Impfnachweise in Form des gelben WHO-Impfbuches oder das Digitale COVID-Zertifikat der EU https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-eu/coronavirus-response/safe-covid-19-vaccines-europeans/eu-digital-covid-certificate_de werden anerkannt. Kreuzimpfungen werden akzeptiert, eine einfache Impfung nach einem durchgemachten Infekt ist hingegen nicht ausreichend.

Green List:

• Vollgeimpft, PCR-Test nicht älter als 72 Stunden vor Abflug → keine Quarantäne, 14 Tage Selbstbeobachtung auf Symptome.

• Ungeimpft, nicht vollständig geimpft, Impfstatus nicht feststellbar oder vollgeimpft, aber kein PCR-Test vor Abreise → Quarantäne in Quarantäne-Einrichtung, Buchung muss bei Abflug vorliegen, PCR-Test am fünften Tag, nach negativem Ergebnis Entlassung und Selbstbeobachtung auf Symptome bis zum 14. Tag.

Yellow List:

• Vollgeimpft, PCR-Test nicht älter als 72 Stunden vor Abflug → Quarantäne in Quarantäne-Einrichtung, Buchung muss bei Abflug vorliegen, PCR-Test am dritten Tag, nach negativem Ergebnis Entlassung und Selbstbeobachtung auf Symptome bis zum 14. Tag.

• Vollgeimpft, ohne PCR-Test vor Abflug → Quarantäne in Quarantäne-Einrichtung, Buchung muss bei Abflug vorliegen, PCR-Test am fünften Tag, nach negativem Ergebnis Entlassung und Selbstbeobachtung auf Symptome bis zum zehnten Tag.

• Ungeimpft, nicht vollständig geimpft, Impfstatus nicht feststellbar → Quarantäne in Quarantäne-Einrichtung, Buchung muss bei Abflug vorliegen, PCR-Test am siebten Tag, nach negativem Ergebnis Entlassung und Heimquarantäne bis zum 14. Tag.

Die Quarantänevorgaben für Minderjährige richten sich nach den Vorgaben für begleitende Sorgeberechtigte/Eltern, unabhängig von ihrem eigenen Impfstatus oder Herkunftsland.

Vollständig geimpfte Diplomaten und Angehörige internationaler Organisationen müssen bei Einreise aus einem Land der „Green List“ einen negativen PCR-Test vorlegen, der nicht älter als 72 Stunden ist. Die Quarantäne entfällt, an deren Stelle tritt 14-tägige Selbstbeobachtung auf Symptome. Bei Einreise aus einem Land der „Yellow List“ sind Heimquarantäne und am fünften Tag ein PCR-Test zu absolvieren. Nach negativem Ergebnis endet die Heimquarantäne und es erfolgt Selbstbeobachtung auf Symptome bis zum zehnten Tag.

Reisende müssen sich vor Einreise über das Portal „One Health Pass https://www.onehealthpass.com.ph/e-HDC/“ registrieren. Der Nachweis in Form eines QR Codes ist den Fluggesellschaften beim Einchecken vorzulegen.

Durch- und Weiterreise

Reisen zwischen den Provinzen sind eingeschränkt möglich. Es müssen Gesundheitszeugnisse, gegebenenfalls ein negativer PCR-Test oder philippinische/anerkannte ausländische Impfnachweise vorgelegt und in der Zielprovinz im Einzelfall Quarantäne abgeleistet werden.

Die Ausreise ist Ausländern, die sich im Land aufhalten, jederzeit erlaubt. Viele Fluggesellschaften verlangen für den Reiseantritt in den Philippinen einen negativen PCR-Test oder einen Impfnachweis.

Reiseverbindungen

Für die Einreise über die Flughäfen in Manila, Clark und Cebu bestehen Kontingente. Fluggesellschaften erhalten ihre Kontingente mit geringem zeitlichen Vorlauf, was zu kurzfristigen Umbuchungen oder Flugstornierungen führen kann.

Beschränkungen im Land

Die Quarantänemaßnahmen sind regional unterschiedlich. Derzeit gilt im Großraum Manila eine Quarantänestufe mit Einschränkungen in der Versorgung und der Bewegungsfreiheit sowie eine nächtliche Ausgangssperre für Minderjährige. Stadtbezirke können diese Einschränkungen eigenständig verschärfen.

Die zwischenzeitlich unterbrochenen regulären Verkehrsverbindungen zwischen den Inseln des Landes wurden wieder aufgenommen, können jedoch jederzeit kurzfristig wiedereingestellt werden.

Die touristische Infrastruktur ist eingeschränkt, zahlreiche Hotels und Resorts sind geschlossen.

Hygieneregeln

Im öffentlichen Raum (in Gebäuden, aber auch im Freien) gilt die Pflicht, einen Mund-Nasen-Schutz zu tragen, in medizinischen Einrichtungen zusätzlich einen Gesichtsschutz (face-shield). Es gibt das Gebot, sozialen Abstand zu wahren. Massenansammlungen sind verboten. Verstöße sind mit Geld- bis hin zu Gefängnisstrafen bewehrt. Im Fall einer Infektion erfolgt die Isolierung grundsätzlich in staatlicher Unterbringung.

Empfehlungen

• Seien Sie bei allen Reisen weiterhin besonders vorsichtig und beachten Sie unsere fortlaufend aktualisierte Infobox zu COVID-19/Coronavirus.
• Achten Sie bei Einreise nach Deutschland auf die geltenden Einreisevoraussetzungen zu Anmelde-, Quarantäne- und Nachweisregelungen (vollständige Impfung oder Genesenennachweis oder aktueller negativer COVID-19-Test).
• Achten Sie auf die Einhaltung der AHA-Vorschriften und befolgen Sie zusätzlich die Hinweise lokaler Behörden. Bei Verstößen gegen die Hygienevorschriften können hohe Geldstrafen oder Gefängnisstrafen verhängt werden.
• Informieren Sie sich über detaillierte Maßnahmen und ergänzende Informationen der philippinischen Regierung.
• Falls Sie im Besitz eines Langzeitvisums sind oder eine Sondereinreisegenehmigung mit Touristenvisum beantragen möchten, erkundigen Sie sich bei den philippinischen Behörden, in Deutschland z.B. bei der Philippinischen Botschaft, ob Sie zur Gruppe derjenigen gehören, für die eine Einreise möglich ist.
• Erkundigen Sie sich bei Ihrer Fluggesellschaft über die genauen Vorgaben.
• Bei COVID-19 Symptomen oder Kontakt mit Infizierten kontaktieren Sie das lokale Gesundheitsamt.

Sicherheit - Teilreisewarnung

Vor Reisen in folgende Regionen oder Gebiete wird gewarnt:
- Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX)
- Northern Mindanao (Region X)
- Davao-Region (Region XI) mit Ausnahme des Stadtgebietes von Davao City
- Soccsksargen (Region XII)
- Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)
- Inseln des Sulu-Archipels
- Süd-Palawan mit Ausnahme von Puerto Princesa
Von nicht erforderlichen Reisen in andere Regionen von Mindanao und in der Mindanao-See wird abgeraten

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