Called to pure love

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

WE have to know what pure love is since we are called to it. Christ described it in this way: “You have heard that it was said, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.” (Mt 5,43-45)

We have to understand that love is something that we do and give gratuitously, without counting the cost nor expecting any reward. And it is made greater when it is given to someone whom we consider to be unlikeable or unlovable.

We have to be ready to develop this kind of love since it definitely requires a lot of sacrifice and self-denial. It requires more than our human resources and reasons for loving. It requires nothing less than God’s grace, our total identification with Christ who is the pattern of our humanity and the savior of our damaged humanity. Yes, only with God can we have this kind of love.

True love cannot and should not be quantified in terms of cost and reward. It is above all these considerations. It’s a purely spiritual operation that should not be spoiled by giving it some material and temporal value. It’s where we can approximate, keep and build up that dignity of being the image and likeness of God and adopted children of his. It’s how we become God-like.

This is the language of love that was first initiated by God to us and that has generated an endless cycle of love, of gratuitous self-giving to God and to one another. It is important that we feel this tremendous love of God for us so that we can return love with love, with God as the first object of our love and all the others as a consequence.

Let’s remember that God’s love for us accounts for everything that is good in us—our life, our talents and the many other endowments and blessings that we may not even realize. And more than this, God has given us his own self by making us his image and likeness, children of his, sharers of his divine life.

And even if we have damaged that original gift, God has given us his own Son who became man to save us. In other words, God has given us the greatest gift, no less than his own Son who, aside from becoming man like us, had to offer his life on the cross as a ransom for our sins.

We have to learn how to be most aware of this reality of God’s gift to us so that we can learn also how to give ourselves as a gift to him and to everybody else. That’s why Christ told us, “freely you have received, freely give.” (Mt 10,8)

Christ concretely expressed this way of gratuitous self-giving in the new commandment he gave us that we have to love one another as he himself has loved us. It’s a love, a self-giving that is completely gratuitous without counting the cost nor expecting any reward. 

Everyday, we have to try to approximate this kind of love. We are actually given many opportunities to develop this kind of love in our daily routine as we meet all kinds of people and situations.

Experts on how to combat ‘fake news’

Multidisciplinary perspectives on PH information disorder featured in UST’s Media Leadership Lecture Series

BY MB LIFESTYLE

Jun 20, 2023 02:05 AM

  

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(Unsplash)

In efforts to dispel the fog of disinformation occluding discourse spaces both online and offline, experts on combating the information disorder or the problem of "fake news" from the academe, church, media, and civil society discussed the current realities and possible solutions during the fifth installment of the UST Media Leadership Lecture Series. 

The Philippine Institute for Development Studies Research Information Department Director Dr. Sheila Siar, Philippine Communication Society Director/Public Relations Officer (PRO) and UST Journalism Program Coordinator Mr. Felipe Salvosa II, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila Office of Communications Director Fr. Roy Bellen, GMA Network Inc. multidisciplinary journalist and documentarist Mr. Atom Araullo, Limitless Lab Chief Executive Officer Ms. Joie Cruz, and Break the Fake Movement Founder Mr. Gabriel Billones, Jr. served as the resource speakers.

Siar discussed “Realities of Information Disorder: Misinformation, Disinformation and Mal-Information,” where she differentiated the key terms misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation; explained cognitive psychology theories as to why people may believe or share false information; examined the state of the current information disorder in the Philippines and the methods employed to mitigate it; and suggested solutions that can improve the situation.

GMA Network Inc. multidisciplinary journalist and documentarist Mr. Atom Araullo

“Two things we can do [to strengthen defenses against the information disorder] are, first, in the area of education. For me education is key. Critical thinking and analytical reasoning should start very early in life in the home and in the school…,” she says, “[Second,] community engagement and capacity building are essential. Train and engage citizens to fact check.”

She further emphasized strengthening media literacy in the basic education curriculum as well as capacitating government staff with information functions, such as information, health, DRRM officers, on crisis and risk communication as well as science communication.

"We can't stop fake news from being made, but we can stop sharing it," Siar says.

Meanwhile, Salvosa talked about “The Academe’s Role in Inculcating Critical Thinking and Analysis among the Youth versus Information Disorder,“ where he expressed concern over people’s rising selective news avoidance and low trust in the mainstream news.

“The question of how journalists can raise the public’s trust in the news is something that will occupy or even bedevil practitioners and academics alike, for years to come. Now I think the answer does not lie in the past. Given the technological upheavals and constant emergence of new platforms that have disrupted journalism, journalists need to continuously establish their credibility to the public and slowly but surely earn their trust,” he says, emphasizing the importance of news literacy and thorough fact-checking that is accessible to the masses through translation into Filipino and other regional languages.

Araullo, lamented the hostility against journalists amid the vital necessity for journalism to assert free speech and guard fundamental rights.

“[Journalists] don’t only create content for fame or money,” he says. “We produce news and stories to inform public opinion and policy, to ferret out the truth, and to hold power to account to keep the wheels of democracy turning.” 

He also emphasized the need for engaging in conversations in good faith, rather than dismissing those who disagree as ignorant or bribed.  “We can start by listening to our community and involving them in meaningful conversations, not just to gather quotes, but also to gather sentiments and feelings. True, social media can be toxic for engagement, it can be tiring, and it can ruin your day. But a common mistake we commit is to dismiss those we fiercely disagree with as trolls,” he says. “There is a real person behind every account, fake or verified. Many of them could still be persuaded through constructive interaction. In schools, around dining tables, in our neighborhood, or online chat groups, we can spark engagement behind the simple old values of honesty, respect, and compassion, which would allow us to engage responsibly and in good faith.”

The UST Media Leadership Lecture Series (MLLS) is an annual forum that takes a proactive stance in the current state of media, an advocacy of the Thomasian community to have relevant and responsive information regarding the emerging technology-driven news media landscape. This year, the theme was “The Academe, Church, Media, and Civil Society: A Multi-Sectoral Initiative in Countering Information Disorder in the Philippines.” It was held on April 14, 2023, at the UST Paredes Ballroom, and live-streamed via the UST Office of Public Affairs Facebook page, where it remains available for public viewing.

Remembering Rizal on his birth anniversary

BY MANILA BULLETIN

  

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Today, June 19, 2023, marks the 162nd anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal’s birth. We not only commemorate his life but also his legacy in various fields such as literature, arts, medicine, and philosophy. He is, after all, widely regarded as the “greatest Malayan who ever lived.”

It is disheartening that many young individuals today fail to grasp the significance of Rizal’s short yet impactful life. It is rare for someone in their 30s to exhibit such immense intelligence and have words and actions that carry profound consequences for a young nation, yet Rizal proved that age is not a limitation but merely a number.

Academicians, cultural experts, and even political pundits have consistently emphasized that to truly honor Rizal, we — especially the youth — must not forget his contributions to our nationhood. While the youth may probably recognize him from multiple films or documentaries, or as the face on our one-peso coin, the statue in the center of Luneta Park, or the namesake of a province, it is crucial that Rizal’s name continues to resonate with the values of freedom, intellectual pursuit, and national pride.

One of the best ways to (re)acquaint ourselves with Rizal is through his books. High school students cannot graduate without deep diving into the world of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. Both literary masterpieces, these works played a pivotal role in igniting the sense of nationalism among Filipinos who, for centuries, were shackled under colonization. Rizal’s pen awakened the spirit of nationalism and lit a fire within the hearts of his compatriots, urging them to fight for their rights and reclaim their independence.

Beyond his literary prowess, Rizal's intellectual curiosity is endless. A man of many talents, he was not only a skilled writer but also a painter, sculptor, musician, and linguist. His thirst for knowledge led him to become a doctor, anthropologist, archaeologist, botanist, etc.  He even knew how to speak in over 20 languages.

Despite the brevity of his 35 years on earth, Rizal left an indelible mark on our nation's history, challenging oppressive systems and enlightening minds. He proved that education possesses the power to break the chains of oppression, thus his insistence for the youth to be educated as seen, for example, in his establishment of a small school during his exile in Dapitan.

What truly sets Rizal apart is his humanity. He was not a mythical figure but a man who experienced both genius and doubt, of curiosity and caution.  His beliefs were idealistic yet grounded in reality. He advocated for peaceful change, yet he simultaneously challenged the status quo. Though he explored the world, he still yearned to set foot on the land of his birth. Today’s Filipino youth can learn invaluable lessons from Rizal’s life, helping them navigate their own paths with purpose and perseverance.

As we celebrate Rizal's birth anniversary, it is not sufficient to merely pay homage to his achievements. Each of us must hold dear the values of freedom, justice, and love for country. If we ever waver in our nationalism or lose our way when faced with challenges, we need only recall Rizal’s works, his life, and his legacy. Through these, we will surely find our way back and continue to move forward as one nation.

CCP Out-Of-The-Box Series: 'Isang Gabi ng Sarsuwela' - A night of classic and contemporary filipino musical theater

Don't miss "Isang Gabi ng Sarsuwela," a celebration of Filipino musical theater.

BY MB LIFESTYLE

Jun 19, 2023 11:42 AM

  

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The Cultural Center of the Philippines gets out of the box with its new series of concert productions, dubbed "CCP Out-of-The-Box (OTB) Series," featuring performances that audiences normally wouldn’t see in conventional programming.

Conceptualized by former artistic director Chris Millado, the CCP Out-of-The-Box Series aims to create a space “for adventurous audiences, artists, and ideas.”

The OTB Series premieres with "Isang Gabi ng Sarsuwela," featuring excerpts and songs from classic and contemporary sarsuwela works, on June 30, 7:30 p.m., and July 1, 3 p.m., at the Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez (CCP Blackbox Theater).

“When CCP was planning for this series, we thought about the things we have not yet done or haven’t done in a long time,” shared CCP current artistic director Dennis Marasigan. “We have had discussions on the possibility of producing another sarsuwela, particularly with Tanghalang Pilipino, which has done a number of sarsuwela revivals since the 1980s.”

Owing its roots to the Spanish zarzuela originally brought to the Philippines in the late 1800s, the sarsuwela became the popular form of entertainment for many Filipinos, particularly in the early 1900s. “The best proof of this is, when cinema was first introduced to the Philippines, some of the first films produced were based on many of the sarsuwela, such as 'Dalagang Bukid.' The actors of these films were mostly sarsuwela stars,” enthused Marasigan.

Franco Laurel

The CCP artistic director tapped music director Joed Balsamo, who suggested to include excerpts not only from "Dalagang Bukid" and other classics like "Walang Sugat," "Paglipas ng Dilim," and "Sa Bunganga ng Pating," but also contemporary sarsuwela productions like "Pilipinas Circa 1907," "Ang Palabas Bukas," "Hibik at HImagsik nina Victoria Lactaw," and "Ang Palasyo ni Valentin."

Ayen Munji Laurel

A typical sarsuwela generally revolves around a love story set in the context of social realism. "Walang Sugat" is set during the Spanish revolution and Philippine-American war; "Paglipas ng Dilim" tackles colonial mentality; "Dalagang Bukid," poverty and arranged marriages; and "Sa Bunganga ng Pating," the evils of usury.

For "Isang Gabi ng Sarsuwela," Marasigan and Balsamo have put together top-notch performers who have all distinguished themselves in musical theater, such as Nenen Espina, Franco Laurel, Ayen Munji Laurel, Reuben Laurente, Lorenz Martinez, Shiela Valderrama Martinez, Jonathan Tadioan, and Karylle Tatlonghari.

Lorenz Martinez

“It would be interesting to see the dynamics of the real-life couples in the cast – Franco and Ayen, and Shiela and Lorenz – as they perform love duets. Tad (Tadioan) and Nenen have done a number of sarsuwelas. Karylle and Reuben are excellent singers eager to immerse in the form. All in all, it will be an entertaining evening.”

Catch the CCP Out-Of-The-Box Series: Isang Gabi ng Sarsuwela this June 30 and July 1, 2023, at the Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez.

For latest updates, follow the CCP official social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok, and visit the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph) for tickets and other inquiries.

K-pop girl group Lapillus gears up for release of new album ‘Girl’s Round Part. 2’

BY JONATHAN HICAP

Jun 19, 2023 08:52 AM

  

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Members of K-pop girl group Lapillus are ready to release their second mini-album “Girl’s Round Part. 2” on June 21. 

“Girl’s Round Part. 2” is fronted by the song “Who’s Next” with members releasing spoilers for the song. 

Lapillus (Twitter)

Lapillus is composed of Filipino-Argentinian Chanty, Shana, Seowon, Yue, Bessie and Haeun that debuted in June 2020. 

“Girl’s Round Part. 2” will be released through various online streaming platforms that will mark the start of Lapillus’ promotional activities. 

The second mini-album, a second part of the “Girl’s Round” series, contains Lapillus’ relentless determination. 

The girls, who continuously showed their adventurous side since their debut, have even put in more powerful energy and are planning to meet their listeners with their title song, “Who’s Next.” 

The upcoming album also contains the songs "Marionette," "Ulala," "Paper" and an English version of "Who's Next.”

Lapillus debuted with the single “Hit Ya” followed by “Gratata.” As they’re a step closer to their goals, with “Who’s Next,” they plan to announce their leap forward as the frontiers of the new generation girl group.

‘Who’s Next’ is a hip-hop dance song with exciting beats and self-love lyrics. It will give courage to the listeners with Lapillus’ unique energy and the charming unique vocals of the members. 

Since debut, Lapillus have actively promoted not only in South Korea but in other countries. They successfully launched in the Philippines in just three months after their debut. They were even appointed ambassadors of the province of Ilocos Sur. 

Moreover, in their first guerilla fan meeting held in Mexico, they gathered more than 2,000 fans. They also attended the “Premio Lo Nuestro 2023” held in February in Miami. 

Lapillus will release “Girl’s Round Part. 2” at 6 p.m. KST on June 21.

Pride PH Festival to stream on ABS-CBN YouTube and iWantTFC on June 24

BY MANILA BULLETIN ENTERTAINMENT

Jun 19, 2023 10:39 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Quezon City will once again host Pride PH’s Pride Festival, one of the broadest networks of LGBTQIA+ individuals and organizations, while Pride PH is the organizer of Quezon City’s Pride Festival, with the theme “Love, Laban: A Celebration of the Fight for Love in All Forms and Ways.”

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Celebrate love this Pride Month with this year’s Pride PH Festival which can be streamed by viewers online on ABS-CBN’s YouTube channel and Facebook page and on iWantTFC this June 24. 

Apart from ABS-CBN’s digital platforms, the Pride PH Festival can also be accessed through various online and streaming channels such as Pride PH‘s Facebook page and the Quezon City Government’s official Facebook page.

Quezon City will once again host Pride PH’s Pride Festival, one of the broadest networks of LGBTQIA+ individuals and organizations, while Pride PH is the organizer of Quezon City’s Pride Festival, with the theme “Love, Laban: A Celebration of the Fight for Love in All Forms and Ways.”

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has expressed full support to Pride PH and its Pride Festival happening on June 24 at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

“More than a celebration, the Pride Festival is a call to end the discrimination, hate, and prejudice among members of the LGBTQIA+. We are holding this activity not because this sector is seeking special treatment. Rather, what they long for is simply a halt to the undeserved ill treatment and denial of opportunities they continue to suffer from,” said Mayor Belmonte.

The Pride Festival is a one day event that celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community through three major activities - Pride Expo, Pride March, and Pride Night.

“The pride marches are seen as safe spaces that provide a venue to push for equality and inclusivity. And while these festivities remain celebratory, Pride is still a protest and should remain so. Not until the LGBTQIA+ community no longer needs to fight for their human rights, their right to love, and the freedom to be their true authentic selves,” says Mela Habijan, Miss Trans Global 2020 and lead convener of Pride PH.

Cine Europa returns onsite with 28 films

The European Union (EU) Delegation and the EU Member States Embassies, together with Goethe Institut Manila, are proud to present the 26th edition of Cine Europa in 100 percent physical screenings from June 16 to July 16.

Cine Europa brings 28 multi-awarded films from different EU Member States, as well as guest country, Ukraine.

These films may be watched onsite in venue partners within Metro Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod and Davao. Cine Europa 26 opened to the Filipino audience with the film "Historja – Stitches for Sapmi" from Sweden that was screened at Cinema 3, Shangri-La Plaza over the weekend.

This Swedish film is a documentary about the Sami female artist Britta Marakatt-Labba, whose art showcases the past and the present of Sami culture, and how reindeer husbandry is being affected by the global climate crisis.

‘Murina’ from Croatia and Slovenia

‘Murina’ from Croatia and Slovenia

‘Ensilumi (Any Day Now)’ from Finland

‘Ensilumi (Any Day Now)’ from Finland

‘Historja – Stitches for Sapmi’ from Sweden

‘Historja – Stitches for Sapmi’ from Sweden

‘Murina’ from Croatia and Slovenia

‘Murina’ from Croatia and Slovenia

‘Ensilumi (Any Day Now)’ from Finland

‘Ensilumi (Any Day Now)’ from Finland

‘Historja – Stitches for Sapmi’ from Sweden

‘Historja – Stitches for Sapmi’ from Sweden

‘Murina’ from Croatia and Slovenia

‘Murina’ from Croatia and Slovenia

The other films that will be screened at Cine Europa 26 are "Murina" from Croatia and Slovenia; "My Love Affair with Marriage" from Latvia and Luxembourg; "Sweat" from Poland; "Rien à Foutre ("Zero Fucks Given") from Belgium; "Ensilumi ("Any Day Now") from Finland; "Miss Viborg" from Denmark; "The Cleaners" from Germany; "Szelíd ("Gentle")" from Hungary; "Ramona" from Spain; "Dodo" from Greece; "Róise & Frank" from Ireland; "Moi dumky tykhi ("My thoughts are silent")" from Ukraine; and "Lyuksemburh, Lyuksemburh ("Luxembourg, Luxembourg")" from Ukraine.

Also included are "Marocco/Mikado" from Romania and the Czech Republic; "From Africa with Love — OSS 117" from France; "Os Demónios Do Meu Avô" from Portugal, Spain and France; "Srdce na dlani" from Czech Republic; "Imad's Barndom ("Imad's Childhood")" from Sweden and Latvia; "Golata istina za grupa Zhuguli ("The Naked Truth about Zhugui") from Bulgaria; "Girl" from Belgium; "Bėgikė ("Runner") from Lithuania and the Czech Republic; "Mitra" from the Netherlands; "Kratt" from Estonia; "Smagen af sult ("A Taste of Hunger")" from Denmark; "Olmo" from Italy; and finally, "Le Variabili Dipendenti" from Italy.

PAL intl flights moved to NAIA Terminal 1

A Philipine Airline plane taxis on the runway as rows of planes are seen parked beside NAIA Terminal 1 and 2. FILE PHOTO BY: J. Gerard Seguia

By Alexandra J. Furio

The domestic flights of PAL started operating on NAIA Terminal 3, alongside AirAsia's domestic terminal.

PAL already issued an advisory on June 9 on their Facebook page and the next day on their official website.

As part of the advisory, PAL urged their on-boarding passengers to arrive four hours before their scheduled departure for international flights and at least three hours before departure for domestic flights.

According to the airline company, this will give the passengers enough time for immigration and security checks.

To check the international flight status, PAL advises its passengers to check their flight status on philippineairlines.com.

These reassignments are based on the Schedule and Terminal Assignment Rationalization program of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), which sees the capacity of Terminal 2 increasing from 7.5 million to 10 million passengers a year.

MIAA also started moving the terminals for other airline companies since April of this year.

Public Weather Forecast issued at 4:00 AM | June 18, 2023

5,537 views Streamed live 6 hours ago #WeatherReport #DOSTPagasa

Public Weather Forecast issued at 4:00 AM | June 18, 2023 DOST-PAGASA Weather Specialist: Grace Castañeda #WeatherReport #DOSTPagasa

Finnegan clinches vault bronze in Asian Championships

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Fil-American Aleah Finnegan boosted her 2024 Paris Olympics campaign after bagging the bronze medal in vault in the Asian Senior Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Singapore Saturday, June 17.

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Fil-American Aleah Finnegan boosted her 2024 Paris Olympics campaign after bagging the bronze medal in vault in the Asian Senior Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Singapore Saturday, June 17.

Aleah Finnegan makes a podium finish in vault in the Asian Championships. (Linee Yeo)

The 20-year-old Missouri-born gymnast, who was second in the qualifications Friday, June 16, posted a 13.483 average in her two vaults to finish behind eventual gold medalist Yeo Seojeong of Korea and Oksana Chusovitina of Uzbekistan.

Yeo, who topped the qualifications, tallied 14.317 while Chosovitina scored 13.517.

Finnegan eyes more podium finishes when she competes in balance beam and floor exercise Sunday, June 18.

She was seventh in balance beam and eighth in floor exercise after the qualifications.

Finnegan, Yulo and another Fil-Am in Kylee Kvamme already booked slots to the World Championships slated in Antwerp, Belgium late September.

The world tilt is one of the qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympics where Yulo seeks a second Games appearance.