The reason for our hope

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

AS we approach the end of the Easter season when we celebrate the truth of our faith that Christ is alive and has gained victory over sin and death, we are reminded of the presence and crucial role of the Holy Spirit who continues Christ’s presence and redemptive work in us till the end of time.

“When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father,” Christ said, “he will testify to me.” (Jn 15,26) With these words, Christ was reassuring his apostles, and us, that he would continue to be with us, despite his death, resurrection and ascension into heaven.

Later on, he warned his apostles, and us, that we should not worry even as we continue to have troubles and suffering in this world, since as long as we are with him, everything would be taken care of. 

“I have told you this so that you may not fall away,” he said. “They will expel you from the synagogues. In fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God.” (Jn 16,1-2)

Given the fact that our condition on earth is that of a pilgrim, we should be strong in this virtue of hope that would enable us to be always on the move toward our ultimate, spiritual and supernatural goal without unnecessarily getting entangled with our human and temporal affairs, let alone, our unavoidable troubles here on earth.

Hope is first of all not just a virtue that we produce, cultivate or keep ourselves. It is first of all a gift from God, given to us in abundance. It is the gift of Christ himself who, by the Holy Spirit, is made present in us through his words, his sacraments, his Church. All we have to do is to correspond to this wonderful reality as vigorously as possible.

That is why we need to be most mindful of the truths of our faith, giving time to meditate on them and to make them sink in our very consciousness. We have to be wary of our tendency to be carried away by our earthly concerns, no matter how legitimate they are. For again, as the gospel would say, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mk 8,36)

It’s important that just like in that management style called MBO (Management by objective), we have to have a clear vision of our ultimate goal and make it the strongest desire of our life, so that we avoid getting entangled unnecessarily with the ups and downs and the drama of life.

This, of course, will require some significant effort, because nowadays people are getting too hooked in their earthly, temporal affairs. Hope gives one the conviction that God has the last word, goodness has the last say. It reassures everyone that it is all worthwhile to suffer a little or a lot in life as long as one does not lose sight of his eternal goal.

Hope gives one a deep sense of peace and joy, and an abiding sense of confidence, regardless of how things play out in one’s life, since life always has more to offer than what we can expect or handle.

When we seem to be overwhelmed by trials, challenges, tasks, pressures that can come anytime, I believe the attitude to have and the reaction to make is to be calm, pray hard, and while we do all we can, we have to learn to live a certain sense of abandonment in the hands of God.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Govt warning out on 'monkeypox'

By Red Mendoza, Manila Times

(UPDATE) WHILE the rise in Covid-19 cases in Metro Manila is "not alarming" to health experts, the outbreak of a new viral disease called "monkeypox" in parts of the world is enough for the government to warn the public against its spread if health protocols are ignored.

The Department of Health (DoH) has issued a public health advisory on monkeypox after an outbreak was reported in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Monkeypox, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is "a viral disease from animals and primarily occurs in the tropical rainforest of Central and Western Africa."

It can be transmitted to humans through "close contact via fluid transmission with an infected person or animal or through contaminated materials," according to WHO.

Symptoms of the disease include "fever, rashes and swollen lymph nodes, which could also lead to medical complications," it said.

"But it is less contagious than smallpox and causes less severe illnesses," it said.

More than 80 cases of the disease have been reported in 11 countries, with the UK having the most since it was first detected in a passenger from Nigeria.

PH reports 8,702 new Covid-19 cases

The DoH, in a public advisory late Friday night, said that although no case of monkeypox has been detected in the country or its borders, health screening has been intensified and surveillance systems are in place.

The DoH said that minimum public health standards currently enforced against Covid-19 such as "wearing your best-fitted mask, ensuring good airflow, keeping hands clean and physical distancing" will also prevent the spread of monkeypox in the country.

In a separate briefing, Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, emergency medicine specialist, said that monkeypox is different from the Covid virus as its method of transmission is different.

He said that the smallpox vaccine, which has not been produced since the eighties, can be used to prevent a possible spread of monkeypox.

Herbosa said the country's borders should not be closed even with the detection of monkeypox in other countries, noting that public health measures will be enough to prevent the spread of the disease without hurting the economy.

"Ang pagsara ng borders, malaki ang epekto nito sa turismo at ekonomiya at supply chain ng ating mga goods and services, [so] hindi tama na mag-close down (Closing the borders will have a huge impact on tourism, the economy, and the supply chain of goods and services, so it is not right that we close down)," Herbosa added.

Meanwhile, the independent OCTA Research group downplayed the increase in the number of Covid cases in the National Capital Region (NCR).

OCTA said on Friday that cases in the region increased by 19 percent to 71 cases per day during the week of May 13 to 19, higher than the 59 daily cases the week before.

It also noted an increase in the average daily attack rate to 0.50 cases per 100,000 individuals, while the reproduction number increased to 0.9 from 0.76.

Herbosa, the special adviser for the National Task Force Against Covid-19, assured that there was no cause for alarm for as long as the source can be determined and to make sure that the infected are isolated to contain the spread.

Herbosa also said that the government aims to administer the second booster shots to about 12 million senior citizens and health care workers by the end of the month.

He urged the next administration to continue the national Covid-19 program blueprint implemented by the Duterte administration because it has been effective in containing the spread of the virus.

"Magbibigay tayo ng magandang operational plan at ang National Action Plan Phase 5, hopefully 'yung susunod na administrasyon papalawakin pa [para sa] ating economic recovery (We will give a good operational plan and we hope that the National Action Plan Phase 5 will be continued and expanded by the next administration for our economic recovery," Herbosa said.

Omicron subvariant detected

Even as health experts downplay the Covid increase in the NCR, a Filipino who arrived in the country from the Middle East last May 4 was found positive for the BA.4 sublineage of the Omicron variant four days after he planed in.

This comes amid the detection of other sublineages of Omicron, such as BA.2.12 and BA.2.12.1, in the country.

No other details were shared except that he was asymptomatic.

"The immediate priority is to ensure the case has been cared for and his close contacts quarantined to interrupt transmission," the DoH said.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has classified the BA.4 sublineage as a variant of concern due to its capacity to either spread faster or cause worse illness.

Early studies suggested that BA.4 transmits faster because of its ability to evade immunity provided by vaccines, especially for those whose protection had waned over time.

The DoH has coordinated with concerned local government units to implement detection and isolation activities, as well as seek out those unvaccinated and those eligible for boosters.

Ivermectin trials terminated

In a related development, the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) said that it has terminated the clinical trials of the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin as a possible cure for Covid-19.

According to Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato de la Peña, the decision was made upon the recommendation of the DoH and the DoST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development governing council in its meeting on May 11.

De la Peña cited delays in the submission of deliverables, lack of clinical benefits of ivermectin based on more recent clinical studies, the issuance of the recommendation against the use of the drug, and the availability of effective therapeutics for the early phase of Covid-19.

Last year, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the clinical trials amid increased clamor by several lawmakers and groups who claimed that the anti-parasitic drug would be helpful in preventing early-stage

YOU HAVE THREE WISHES

What are the most common 3 wishes? The most common wishes were for friends, happiness, health, marriage, money, success, self-improvement, and to help other people.

When I was still a young boy, I was taught that there might be

fairy creatures offering us three free wishes. We should be always so

wise enough to think it over very well and select the best wishes for

our very own. Sure, there will be always classic stupidities regarding

fairy-wishes. We are all human beings and don't belong to the fairy

category.

Your wish is my command! And, there is someone who wishes at first a

strong health, and - sure, he or she receives it, because good fairies

never hesitate. And now and then? Here he is, for example, the healthy

man is like a boulder in the surf, but surrounded by a world of war,

flames and so-called military conflicts. But this man is still alive

and as fit as a fiddler. Why should he wish for a strong health...?

Well, maybe we have to formulate our wishes for something more

improved. But what? Discretion is the better part of valor. Let's try

it like a fairy-tale and ask for wealth, riches and abundance. These

are the one and only things on earth, right?

With money we can travel around the globe, find friends, even in far

away distances, and we can do charities. Well, and if we might become

sick, maybe seriously sick, we must not worry. We can afford and

finance the most affordable doctors and most updated hospitals to give

us back to good health. And if not?

In many fairy tales, we can also find the one with unassuming manners,

inconspicuous, poorly dressed-up, a little bit silly, mostly disregarded

and easily to be overlooked. This guy has only one wish, such as

eternal salvation and bliss with a little stool in heaven besides God.

And guys, be sure, that he will get it, and, he is happy and very

thankful. So far so good, it seems the simpleton has been the

brightest.

It's all right: three wishes and no one more. A different thing, isn't it?

If all human beings on this entire globe could be all around happy,

which means to say: nobody must go hungry any more, nobody must be

despairing, nobody must be worried about wars and catastrophes, and

everybody should be able to enjoy health and happiness without bearing

trials ... yes, if ... Then we wouldn't need fairy-wishes...

Real life looks different. Real life is not a fairy tale. We need

prayers and should be more respectful and friendly to each other.

Each one of us has his or her own three wishes. Me too. One of them

is: I wish for peace on earth!

Hidilyn retains weightlifting title

WORTH HER  WEIGHT IN GOLD  Philippines’ Hidilyn Diaz wins gold in the women’s 55 kg weightlifting event during the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Hanoi on Friday, May 20, 2022.  PHOTO COURTESY OF AFP

By Jean Malanum, Manila Times

(UPDATE) HIDILYN Diaz emerged the winner in a battle of Olympic champions to retain her title in the 55-kilogram weightlifting category Friday in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Diaz's victory provided one of the three gold medals that added to the country's medal harvest for the day. The other two came from esports and judo.

It also provided a bright note on a day when the Philippines slid to fifth place in the medal standings.

Diaz, who gave the country's its first Olympic gold medal, in Tokyo last year, lifted 92 kg in the snatch and 114 kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 206 kg, 3 kilos more than the tally of 2016 Rio Olympics gold medalist Sanikun Tanasan of Thailand.

Diaz was trailing Sanikun in the snatch after failing to clear 93 kg. The Thai then lifted 110 kg in her second attempt in the clean and jerk, but Diaz wiped out the Thai's lead by raising 114 kg in her first attempt.

Sanikun tried to match the Filipino's lift but was unable to do so in her third attempt.

Amit pockets women's 9-ball gold in Vietnam

Diaz tried to add the icing to her cake by going for a new SEA Games record of 121 kg. She failed but still managed a smile.

Natasya Beteyob of Indonesia lifted 188 kg to finish third.

Diaz said later winning at the SEA Games was just the beginning of her quest for a third Olympic gold.

"My journey toward Paris [Olympics] starts here, so this SEA Games gold is very important for me," she said.

Wong leads PH wushu team in SEA Games

Diaz admitted having struggled while training for the Hanoi Games because of commitments she had to attend to after her Olympic victory.

At the Vietnam National Convention Center, Team Sibol bagged the second gold medal for the esports team with a victory in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB).

Team Sibol defeated Indonesia, 3-1, in the best-of-five final series.

The Philippines earlier downed Singapore, 2-1, while Indonesia beat Malaysia, 2-0, in the semifinals to arrange the championship showdown.

PH bags 2 more golds, slips to 4th place

The Philippine MLBB team is composed of Jonar Villanueva (captain), Russel Aron Usi, Kyle Dominic Soto, Dexter Louise Alaba, Danerie James Del Rosario, Salic Imam and Lee Howard Gonzales.

Team Sibol won its first gold medal last Wednesday in the Legends: Wild Rift (Mobile) women's team event.

At the Hoai Duc Gymnasium, Filipino Japanese judoka Shugen Nakano ruled the men's 66 kg category as he defeated hometown bet Hoang Phuc Truong, 1-0, in their final match to retain the title he won at the 2019 Manila Games.

Obiena wins gold, breaks own SEA Games record

Thailand settled for the bronze medal following a 1-0 win over Cambodia.

t was Singapore who dislodged the Philippines from fourth place in the standings.

As of 8 p.m. on Friday, the country had collected 42 golds, 59 silvers and 80 bronzes.

Still on top was host Vietnam with a 162-97-92 medal tally. followed by Thailand (65-73-105), Indonesia (47-66-63) and Singapore (47-44-62).

The Philippines, however, remains on track for snagging the coveted gold in basketball. Undefeated Gilas Pilipinas tries to move closer to retaining the men's title when it battles Malaysia at 11 a.m. at the Than Tri Gymnasium on Saturday.

"We all know that the big test is Indonesia, but we can't look past Malaysia. We've been watching. 'Yung Malaysian [team] sa atin nagpatigas 'yan (toughened up after they played us). They played in the Philippines and we really like the way they play," Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes said.

The team's final game will be against Indonesia on Sunday.

In billiards, the Philippines is assured of two more golds since the final matches in women's and men's 10-ball singles will be all-Filipino affairs.

Chezka Centeno and Rubilen Amit downed their respective rivals in the semis to arrange a showdown for the women's title, while 9-ball singles gold medalist Johann Chua and Carlo Biado duel for the men's crown after ousting their Singaporean opponents in the semis.

Veteran actress Susan Roces passes away, tributes flood social media

By Christina Alpad, Manila Times

THE Queen of Philippine Movies Susan Roces has passed away, her family confirmed. She was 80 years old.

"With great sadness, we announce the loss of our beloved Jesusa Sonora Poe, whom many of you know as Susan Roces. She passed away peacefully on a Friday evening, May 20, 2022, surrounded by love and warmth, with her daughter Grace, her nephews Joseph and Jeffrey and many of her family and close friends. She lived life fully and gracefully," a statement from the office of Roces' daughter, Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares, read.

"Remember her in her beauty, warmth and kindness. She is now with the Lord and her beloved Ronnie — FPJ. We will miss her sorely but we celebrate a life well lived. Susan Roces — daughter, mother, grandmother, a true Filipina and a national treasure."

Jesusa Purificacion Levy Sonora-Poe in real life, Roces made her acting debut in the 1952 film "Mga Bituin ng Kinabukasan."

She was married to the "King of Philippine movies," Fernando Poe Jr. from 1968 until his death in 2004.

Roces was last seen portraying Lola Flora in the long-running TV series, "FPJ's Ang Probinsyano."

Condolences and tributes from personalities in show business and politics flooded Twitter.

"Susan Roces," "Rest in Peace," and "Lola Flora" — the character Roces last portrayed in the long-running TV series, "FPJ's Ang Probinsyano" — quickly reached the top trending topic list of the social media app.

"My sincerest condolences to Sen Grace and the family and loved ones of Ma'am Susan Roces... Rest in peace po Ninang Susan... you will be missed..." Senator-elect Francis "Chiz" Escudero shared via his Twitter account, @SayChiz.

"Rest In Peace Ninang Susan Roces," Senator-elect Jose Victor Ejercito also tweeted.

"Nakakalungkot naman. Isang napakabuting tao ang nagpaalam. Hinding hindi ko makakalimutan ang kabaitan mo sa amin mga nakatrabaho mo. RIP Susan Roces," actress Alex Gonzaga tweeted via @Mscathygonzaga.

"Sincerest condolences to the Poe family Rest in peace, Ms. Susan Roces," shared TV host Bianca Gonzales via @iamsuperbianca.

Host, comedian and talent manager Ogie Diaz, who was among the first to share the sad news, simply wrote, "Rest in peace, Tita Susan Roces."

Covid cases on the rise in Metro Manila

 KIDS' VAX. A health personnel administers the Covid-19 vaccine to a young girl during the rollout vaccination for children aged 5 to 11 years old at the Calabash Health Center in Sampaloc, Manila on Friday (May 20, 2022). (PNA photo by Rico H. Borja)

COVID-19 infections in Metro Manila went up by 19 percent during the week of May 13 to 19, the independent OCTA Research group reported Friday.

OCTA said there were 71 cases a day during that week, higher than the 59 cases during the previous week.

OCTA senior fellow Dr. Guido David also reported an increase in the average daily attack rate (ADAR), to 0.50 cases per 100,000 population from 0.42.

The reproduction number has also gone up to 0.9 from 0.76, David said.

A reproduction number of less than one indicates that viral transmission among infected individuals is still under control.

FDA grants EUA for Sinovac jab for kids

Despite the rise in cases, the positivity rate remained at 1.2 percent, and the health care utilization rate and the intensive care unit utilization also stayed under low risk.

OCTA's indicators are different from that of the Department of Health (DoH), which relies on CovidActNow figures used by the Harvard School of Public Health.

In a statement, the DoH said that the slight rise in cases did not translate to increased admissions or utilization rates.

It also said Metro Manila is still classified as minimal risk since its two-week growth rate remained at -17 percent.

PH vaccination rate against Covid-19 reaches 70% of target population

The DoH reminded the public that to prevent another Covid surge, they should continue to follow the minimum health protocols and get themselves vaccinated and boosted.

According to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officer in charge Dr. Oscar Gutierrez, no manufacturer has applied for an amended emergency use authorization to use booster shots on children ages 5 to 11 years.

Gutierrez said during a televised briefing the agency has not received any application from Pfizer, whose booster vaccine was approved for use on children in the United States.

An application will be evaluated by its vaccine panel, a process that could take three weeks, he said.

Covid-19 pill gets FDA approval

Philippine Medical Association President Dr. Benito Atienza said he does not expect early approval of the booster vaccine for kids because it has not yet gone through a comprehensive study.

Atienza said most doctors are waiting for the Sinovac vaccine specifically for the age group to be approved by the Health Technology Assessment Council.

Gutierrez also said any decision to administer second booster shots to overseas Filipino workers rests solely with the DoH.

Second booster shots put on hold

He also welcomed the development of a recombinant vaccine by vaccine manufacturer Moderna, which contains the original virus and the Omicron variant.

The DoH also said the FDA is evaluating the EUA application for the Convidecia vaccine from CanSino Biologics of China.

Convidecia was given an emergency use listing by the World Health Organization on Thursday, making it the 11th vaccine to get such a listing.

Convidecia is a single-dose vaccine that uses a modified human adenovirus that synthesizes the Spike S protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

It has an efficacy rate of 64 percent against symptomatic disease and 92 percent against severe Covid-19.

Also on Friday, former Health secretary and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin reminded the public to be cautious because the highly transmissible Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 is spreading.

"Alam na nating hindi pa tapos ang pandemya, alam nating mas nakakahawa ang subvariant na ito, kaya habang maaga pa ay pigilan na ang pagkalat nito (We are all aware that the pandemic is far from over. Knowing that this subvariant is contagious, we must act quickly to prevent its transmission)," Garin said.

Close to 55 million Filipinos should have been given booster shots by now, she said. As it is, only 13.7 million people have been given boosters. If the current low rate of immunization continues, Garin said a surge could happen.

The DoH recently confirmed the local transmission of BA.2.12.1, a highly infectious subvariant of Omicron.

WITH MOISES CRUZ

6 benefits of using bamboo for restoring ecosystems

Photo by Eleonora Albasi from Unsplash.

by Jerome Sagcal, Manila Bulletin

More countries have been recognizing the potential of bamboo in restoring damaged ecosystems. Among these countries is the Philippines which as part of the country’s enhanced National Greening Program, included bamboo planting as a tool to rehabilitate degraded watersheds. 

Bamboos have a lot to offer for their environment, so here are six benefits of using them for ecological restoration.

Fast-growing

Bamboos are considered the “Ferraris” of all woody plants. This is because of the speed at which they grow, as developing bamboos can add up to 1.2 meters to their height each day. Because of this, cutting down bamboo is not that damaging to the environment as they are easily replaceable. They can even complete their growth cycle in just three to four years and can even be harvested in a way that if only a third or sixth of the bamboo culms — the woody stem of the bamboo — are harvested per year, then more culms will actually grow in the following years.

Resilience

Bamboos forests have an underground network of fibrous roots called rhizomes which can extend up to 100km per hectare of bamboo. This biomass allows bamboo to survive and regenerate in locations that would otherwise be impossible to survive on. This makes bamboo resistant to the damaging effects of fire, flood, and drought on the environment. 

Improves soil quality

This underground root system also allows bamboo to grow in loose soil and steep slopes, which is often incompatible for other plants. It does this while counteracting soil erosion and improving soil quality. This is why bamboos are considered pioneer species as they can be introduced to an environment with poor soil quality and help improve it. 

A study in India showed how soil damaged by the local brickmaking industry successfully recovered after bamboos were planted in the area. Bamboos also raised the groundwater table level of the area.

Improves water regulation

In Colombia, planting of guadua bamboo (Guadua angustifolia) improved degraded soil by decreasing soil compaction. This enabled the return of ecological functions like water regulation and nutrient recycling. This was proven again in China, where a study comparing bamboo and sweetpotato plantations revealed that bamboo plantations exhibited 25% less water runoff compared to the sweetpotato plantations. 

Reduce coastal erosion

Bamboos are also used to reduce coastal erosion such as in the case in Thailand where bamboo poles were used as a fence to protect coastal mangroves. The bamboo fence received the full force of waves, reducing the strength of the waves by 70% and their height by 87%. After three years of using the bamboo fence alongside the mangrove trees, coastal erosion was averted with coastal sediments even increasing by 56cm.

Economic boon

Part of making people see how bamboos help restore ecosystems is to make them realize how the plant could directly help their lives. The bamboo industry is worth around US $60 billion and benefits over a third of the human population. Because of how fast they grow, people have been using bamboo to create a wide range of products. There are around 10,000 documented uses of bamboo. Among these include modern applications of bamboo in the field of construction and bioenergy.

‘Bubble Gang’ gets revamp with new faces, segments

by Manila Bulletin Entertainment

Bubble Gang, the longest-running gag show on Philippine television, is out to make the program more relevant by introducing new members, new segments, and new flavors.

During a Zoom conference last Friday, May 13, director Frasco Mortiz said the program will continue to evolve by keeping up with the trends. ”May efforts na talaga kami to do something new. How does Bubble Gang stay relevant? Nag-iisip sila ng ways kung paano sumabay sa current trends.” 

Bang Arespacochaga, consultant for the show, explained the new changes in the program. “We wanted a small group, para maka-focus sa sketches, and the characters. Kung sino yung sikat diyan sa online, ‘Bubble Gang’ is very much open.”

As Bubble Gang makes its relaunch, expect new faces like Dasuri Choi, Tuesday Vargas, and Kim De Leon on the show. Those who bid goodbye to the program were Lovely Abella, Arra San Agustin, Antonio Aquitania, Denise Barbacena, Myka Flores, Liezel Lopez, Diego Llorico, Mikoy Morales, and Ashley Rivera.

Despite the changes, friendship never ends among cast members. “The friendship does not end there. We still talk with one another,” said mainstay Paolo Contis.

Michael V shared that he felt the need to explain the changes to the outgoing cast. “Give them an insight, kung bakit siguro nagkaroon ng ganoong mga dahilan, para hindi sumama ang loob nila, and at the same time para ma-inspire sila.”

The production will not only focus on television, but it will also reach a wider audience through social media platforms. Some new segments for “Bubble Gang” include “Bes Friends”,  and “Marites United”, (Mare, ano ang latest?) 

Asked about his working relationship with Direk Frasco, Michael V said: “Hindi pa kami nagkaka-trabaho ni Direk Frasco sa studio, most probably in the coming days.”

“It’s a group effort. It’s really the whole team, the collaboration of everyone,” said Bang on the cast effort to make the gag show alive and funny. “Hindi kami p’wede maging stagnant kung ano kami 10 years or 15 years ago, kasi maluluma kami.” 

“I think yung secret dun sa longevity nung show is the ability of the show to change with the times. Kumbaga, nage-evolve siya along with you,” said Director Frasco. 

Michael V added: “To sum it up, the objective of the show is to be funny, to be relevant, to be revolutionary, and evolutionary. As long as nami-meet ng show ‘yung mga requirements na ‘to. I believe the show will be here for a long time.” (Jazzle Anne Calanao and Diannevie Feliciano/practicum)

OUR FAITH

 

Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20-21.

Yes, our faith can move mountains. What’s the origin of the phrase ‘Faith will move mountains’? From the Bible. It is recorded in the 1582 Rheims Bible, in Matthew XXI 21, as: “If you shal haue faith, and stagger not, … and if you shal say to this mountaine, Take vp and throw thy self into the sea, it shal be done.

To be or not to be. Sein oder nicht sein. Shakespeare. To say it clearly: without faith, we’re really nothing.

Faith is belief; believe in us, in our works, talents and our personalities. We should also believe in our parents – or much better, in our whole family including the black sheep, which can be found everywhere.

We should believe in our friends, even though it seems to become very difficult many times.

Please remember, my dear readers: without faith will we reach the rock bottom. Don’t say, it’s a likely story.

The German poet Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1815) has mentioned in his drama “Maria Stuart”: “Even the word might be dead, but faith keeps it alive!” Chapter I of Second Thessalonians gives encouragement to all Christians, who were undergoing persecution for or because of their faith. Yes, faith is really not everybody’s thing, or “not everyone has faith”.

“If I have faith, that can move mountains” (First Corinthians 13,2).

Faith is a tantamount to convincing and conviction. Richard Wagner (German classical composer and poet, 1813-1883) found the following lyric: “Blessed are those people, who know how to live their life in humility and faith.”

So, let’s even continue believing in our government or the institution church. Faith means also a belief specially in a revealed religion. Faith is trust or reliance. Faith is really a pledged word.

Faithful love is loyal, reliable, exact and honorable love. Faithful love means even to love your enemy.
We attract good things because we believe and expect good things to come. Similarly, when we believe and expect bad things to come, we also attract that into our lives. Faith is the pathway for abundance, so be sure to hold it at the forefront of your mind. Don’t be afraid to expect the very best for yourself.

Allow me to close this column with a Chinese proverb: “People without faith in themselves cannot or will never survive!” – Worth to think about it!

True love described

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

CHRIST said it very clearly. He who is not only the fullness of the revelation of God but is also the embodiment of what true love is said: “Love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (Jn 15,12-13)

Somehow those words tell us that true love can only have a universal scope. We can note that he simply said to “love one another as I love you” without further qualification.

And immediately after those words, he described what it is to be his friend that gives us an idea about what the essence of friendship is. “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” (Jn 15,14) Thus, friendship is all about doing Christ’s commands. It’s not so much about having common likes and dislikes with others, or some other criteria or standards.

If our love is true, that is, it is a love that is a vital part of Christ’s love for all of us, then it is open to anything. That love would remain steadfast and would continue to grow and to be creative irrespective of how it is received by the object of such love.

It can be received well or not, it can be reciprocated generously or be betrayed. Regardless of the fate it falls into, that love will remain faithful. Thus, St. Paul once said: “If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” (2 Tim 2,13)

This basic truth about true love should be known and appreciated by everyone of us, and especially those who are into some commitments, like married people and those with special vocations. They have to pattern their love and sense of commitment after Christ’s love that has as its objects the Father and all of us.

Christ was and is open to anything because of pure love. This is the kind of love that we should try our best to cultivate in ourselves too. It’s purely gratuitous, and even more, it will do everything to recover the beloved even if the latter not only does not correspond to that love but also betrays and goes against that love. It’s a love that is willing to bear the sins, mistakes and offenses of the others, and even willing to offer one’s life for them.

We can only do this if we are true friends of Christ, that is, persons who obey Christ’s commands. It’s this friendship with Christ that would enable us to be friendly with everybody else regardless of how the others are.

As one saint said, we should be willing to go to the very gates of hell, without entering it, of course, if only to save a soul. This obviously would require us to be tough and clear about the real goal to reach, and yet flexible and adaptable to any person and to any condition.

In this regard, we have to learn how to fraternize with sinners. We have to replicate Christ’s attitude towards sinners, who actually are all of us—of course, in varying degrees. We have to give special attention to the lost sheep and to the lost coin. We have to open all possible avenues to be in touch with all sinners.

This is what true love is all about. It may not be all sweet according to our human standards. But it is what is truly proper to us!

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com