Let our hope spring eternal

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

WE all have reason to be always hopeful and even optimistic despite the ugliest fears and worries we may have in our life. And that reason can only be that we can always count on God who is all powerful. Not only that, he truly cares for us, though in ways that may escape our understanding and appreciation. 

This truth of our faith is highlighted in that episode where Christ drove out a legion of evil spirits that possessed a man. (cfr. Mk 5,1-20) Even in the worst scenario, when we inflict ourselves with the gravest of sin, there is still hope because as St. Paul said, “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.” (Rom 5,20)

We have to reassure ourselves, based on what Christ has promised and has actually done for us, that there can be no crisis that is too big for the grace of God to handle.

We have to remember that nothing happens in this life without at least the knowledge and tolerance of God. And if God allows some really bad things to happen, it is because a greater good can always be derived from them. 

We just have to put ourselves in God’s side to tackle whatever crisis plagues us. That is the real challenge we have to face. And just like what Christ did and continues to do to redeem us, we have to follow the formula he once spelled out: deny ourselves, carry the cross and then follow him. (cfr. Mt 16,24)

If we are willing to do that, then we can even gain a lot more than what we appear to lose and to suffer. In other words, we can say that the bigger, the more serious the problem, the bigger, plentier and stronger also the grace God will give us. So, let us just be game and do our part of the bargain.

It’s not easy, of course. But neither is it impossible. It would really depend on how we see things. If we only consider the enormity of the problem, then we cannot help but feel overwhelmed and even get discouraged. But if we consider God’s abundant grace, even the impossible can be possible for us.

We need to educate ourselves to always remain calm and optimistic when faced with grave problems, and just try our best to discern what God is showing us with respect to resolving a crisis.

Yes, we have to learn to suffer. But let’s never forget that there is always the resurrection of Christ. Christ has already won for us the war against any form of evil. We just have to learn to be with him and not to be so stupid as to do things simply on our own.

We have to strengthen our conviction that every problem and crisis is an opportunity to grow in strength and quality in our spiritual life, in our love for God and others and the world in general. Yes, we need to develop a proper love for the world. We have to conquer the world that will always be beset with the effects of our sins.

Again, let’s do all this with a sporting spirit based on our faith, hope and charity. We may get dirty from time to time, but we can always get up and then move on. To repeat, there is no crisis too big for the grace of God to handle!

A MISTAKEN BELIEF

 

A mistaken belief accompanies each and every one of us daily. Incorrect decisions and wrong doings are part of our daily life.

Mistaken or irrational beliefs are truly mistaken or irrational because they fly in the face of reality. They set up expectations that are unrealistic, thus causing emotional upset when the expectations are not met. The more rigid the mistaken beliefs, the more emotional upset they produce.

It is almost a ridiculous fact that man wants to know certain truths about mundane things. But really he seems least interested in even mundane truths as can be read many times in newspapers for example. There seem to be too many rash judgments, and the readers absorb these and make these their own. A fatal attraction!

This is sometimes referred to as journalistic mentality wherein accusations are generously made without proof. Evolution started this trend, when scientists stated for example that man evolved from the apes, without proof. The only proof they had was the missing link, and if I am not mistaken, it's still a missing proof until now.

To look for proofs is a mental activity, which is no longer a common thing nowadays, because it takes really time, effort and is too serious to think about. Yet in Christian education, thinking right is very important.That's why Philosophy is important in Christian life. To avoid error in thinking, the rules of right reasoning must be studied and mastered. Is it really totally neglected in today's modern education?

Thinking is actually an enjoyable activity but when one is pressured to get a good job for one's sustenance, then the other more mundane becomes attractive. After all, great thinkers often do not get (good?) jobs... .

Spiritual writers like the British Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) noticed that mankind had stopped thinking even two centuries ago. That was during his age. Man probably stopped thinking even earlier. He has ceased many times to search for the truth. It's easier to listen to gossip and believe in it. What a sign of weak minds!

Too often are we blind to the truth and as a consequence we easily believe in lies we only have to like it. Too bad, if people always like to close their eyes and ears especially while experiencing the delusion of error. 

In order to give an “air of reality” to the defence of honest but mistaken belief, there must be: (1) evidence of lack of consent to the sexual acts; and (2) evidence that notwithstanding the actual refusal, the accused honestly but mistakenly believed that the complainant was consenting.

Chilly temperatures across the Philippines and a Tropical Wave near Mindanao

LPA nearing Mindanao, Bagyo Update 28th January 2024

Breaking the habit: Why ditching 'Filipino time' is crucial for success

BY RHOWEN DEL ROSARIO

While the Philippines may be known for its warm hospitality and delicious cuisine, it is also known for a prevalent cultural norm—the “Filipino time.”

Photo from Unsplash

The concept of Filipino time is when Filipinos tend to be consistently late for appointments, gatherings, and even work-related commitments.

This habit has become deeply ingrained in Filipino society, often seen as a "lighthearted cultural stereotype," rather than a serious issue.

Given this, as noted by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), there is a "critical need" for societal change in terms of time consciousness.

This is highlighted during the National Time Consciousness Week (NTCW) 2024, taking place from Jan. 1 to 7.

In response to this cultural norm, a social media user recently expressed her thoughts on the practice of "Filipino time" when people tend to arrive late or delay appointments without prior notice.

“Cancel me, block me, unfriend me all you want, but Filipino time is toxic. Not only does it cause inconvenience, but it's also a major disrespect to someone who values time,” the user said in a Facebook post.

"It is no longer a culture. In fact, it is not a culture. Accepting that it is a prevalent Filipino culture is merely a justification of Filipinos' indolence and incivility," the user added.

This cultural norm, according to many, also "hampers" productivity and efficiency in both personal and professional settings.

In a Facebook live session on Jan. 11, DOST-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Astronomical Publication and Planetarium Unit Chief Mario M. Raymundo sought to instill a "sense of responsibility" and "efficiency" in the younger generation.

This is to ensure they recognize the value of time in shaping a progressive and dynamic society.

"Time is important because it is the one thing we can never get back. Once it's gone, it's gone, and we can never get it back. This powerful message emphasizes the deep importance of time in our lives," Raymundo said.

According to him, time is a "powerful tool" for shaping individual and professional success. It also showcases professionalism, dedication, and discipline to complete tasks promptly and meet deadlines.

Embracing punctuality

“Let's shift from the saying that 'the Pinoy is always late' to 'Filipino time is always on time,” Thelma Cinco, officer-in-charge of DOST-PAGASA Office of the Deputy Administrator for Research and Development said.

While embracing punctuality can be challenging at first, the inconvenience it may bring to others can be even more daunting.

To properly embrace the habit of being on time, the department recommended taking a few steps.

Firstly, it highlighted that people should start by acknowledging the negative impact of tardiness on personal and professional relationships.

Understanding that being late can result in lost opportunities or strained connections can motivate individuals to make a change and build stronger relationships based on trust and reliability.

"It is helpful to set reminders and alarms to keep track of time commitments," it said.

Another important part is setting "realistic goals" and gradually adjusting one's schedule to allow for more time between activities. This can help ensure timeliness without feeling overwhelmed.

Moreover, it added that practicing effective time management techniques such as prioritizing tasks, breaking them down into smaller steps, and creating schedules or to-do lists can greatly improve punctuality.

Ahtisa Manalo ready to conquer the Miss Universe stage: 'I'm a lot stronger now'

BY ROBERT REQUINTINA

  

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AT A GLANCE

• In 2018, Ahtisa won first runner-up at Miss International. In 2020, She filed an application for Miss Universe Philippines but decided to withdraw at the last minute. 

Ahtisa Manalo (Instagram)

Former Miss International first runner-up Ahtisa Manalo has been appointed as the official delegate of Quezon Province for Miss Universe Philippines 2024. This time, she's ready to conquer the Miss Universe stage.

"When I joined Bb. Pilipinas in 2018, I was very young - 20. I didn't feel I could utilize the platform to explore my full potential. And now, at 26, I have many life experiences, and I've grown a lot. I feel like now I can utilize the platform very well," said Ahtisa during an interview for ABS-CBN on Saturday.

In 2018, Ahtisa won first runner-up at Miss International. In 2020, She filed an application for Miss Universe Philippines but decided to withdraw at the last minute. 

"I don't think I was ready then. I had a lot of growing to do. It felt like it was only two years after Bb. Pilipinas. I didn't think I had anything new to offer," she said.

Ahtisa, 26, she's ready for pageantry again.

"I feel like I'm a lot stronger now. I can handle many more things better, and I also feel like being an entrepreneur has helped me utilize my skills and see the potential that the Miss Universe Philippines platform has," she said. 

Ahtisa recalled she had joined pageants in Quezon in elementary school.

"I was born in Candelaria, Quezon. I grew up there most of my life. I spent 20 years of my life. I only left for Bb. Pilipinas. I started joining pageants when I was in fourth grade because I wanted to help my family by sending me to school. So they're the ones who've been sending me to school ever since I started kindergarten. 

"And I felt like I needed to help, and my pageant, then Little Miss Inverga, had one-year free tuition if you won, so I don't have anything to pay. So doon ako nagsimula mag-pageant because I saw the potential in helping my family and myself," she said.

Ahtisa emphasized the significance of having good communication skills for a beauty queen. 

"Communication skills are a big factor in being able to convey your thoughts. You don't need to speak a specific language and be fluent in one, but I think it is important to be able to make people understand what you mean," she said.

The beauty queen also discussed her advocacy. "I'm working with Alan Academy. It is an organization where we believe that the best way to empower children is through education and education, a holistic form of education that starts from a very young age, which teaches global citizenship, social skills, and an entrepreneurial mindset."

In 'Expats,' Nicole Kidman is happy to share the limelight Read Next

By Associated Press

January 28, 2024 10

In Nicole Kidman's new series "Expats," which premiered on Amazon Prime Video, she once again emotionally jumps off a cliff. At the center of "Expats" are three women, played by Kidman, Ji-young Yoo and Sarayu Blue, who are each expatriates living in Hong Kong. Their lives are all altered when the young son of Kidman's character, Margaret, goes missing.

Lulu Wang ( "The Farewell" ) directed and was the showrunner of the six-episode series, filmed on location in Hong Kong.

"When Nicole came to me, to make the series, I just felt like she was meeting me at the height of the success of 'The Farewell.' But people who know me from childhood know we were immigrants (from China)," Wang says. "I felt like the series had to represent that aspect of my life, like, yes, I'm an American expat in certain contexts, but in another context, I'm a Chinese immigrant. I wanted to really challenge this idea of a bubble that expats have."

An idea that Wang had was to make the fifth episode some 90 minutes and focus on the domestic workers, expats themselves and tasked with keeping other women's households running.

"Imagine you've just met Nicole Kidman and you're like, 'Hey, I've got this idea for an episode and you're in the background. What do you think about it?'" Wang laughs.

An executive producer, Kidman wasn't just receptive to Wang's thoughts and ideas — they spoke to a true career passion, championing others."What I want to do at this point in my life and career is support women like this and support the new visionaries and auteurs that are coming up and try to create paths for them," Kidman says.

"I had never worked with a writer's room before," Wang says. "It's a very sort of solitary task to write usually. Here it was a room of women, helping to develop the story."

One of those writers on the show was Janice Y. K. Lee, whose novel "The Expatriates" inspired the series.

"She was so not precious about the book. And the reason, honestly, I wanted her in the room was so that we couldn't mess things up and so that she would be involved in the process," Wang explains. "You can't get better research than having the person who experienced it and wrote it in the room.... We would always reference the book and quote it back to her, and she was always quite embarrassed."

In addition to the women in front of and behind the camera, Kidman is happy to share her spotlight with Brian Tee, who plays her husband."I'm so happy he's gotten the chance to do this and to act opposite him," she says, adding that, as on-screen spouses, they were bonded by trauma."We really helped each other. We were very much each other's best friend and support system. And because we're playing a married couple whose child is missing, we're doing that together," she says.

To go to those emotional places as Margaret "was harrowing at times," admits Kidman, who says she had to lose herself in the moment. "It's an exploration.... It's like, put me in the place, put me in the scene, and let's go off to the objective and whatever comes through will come through."

PAGASA sees ‘low chance’ of tropical cyclone forming until end of January

 

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Jan 26, 2024 #ManilaBulletinOnline #ManilaBulletin #LatestNews

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday, Jan. 26 said there is a slim probability that a tropical cyclone will form or enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) until the end of the month. (Video Courtesy of DOST-PAGASA)

Long live Filipiniana!

Is the revival of the terno only a trend?

BY POCH EULALIA

Jan 25, 2024 11:19 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• If you’re not convinced of the global appeal of the terno, why don’t you go back to 2008, when the sleeves so closely associated with the Philippine terno fluttered down the Chanel runway at Paris Fashion Week in 2008? 

If you still think the Philippine dress, the terno, is a thing of the past, you must have been living in the past.
The Filipino formal wear isn’t even always formal anymore, and yet as formal wear, it is so unmistakably haute. Just looking at the intricate process alone to make such outfits is enough to make anyone appreciate it as the thing to wear to something special.
But for your sake, in case you think this is just some passing fancy, like the hipster movement, let’s debunk a few of the myths surrounding the iconic dress.

Photo Ternocon 3 | Instagram

Wearing a terno is old-fashioned
Once upon a time, much of the imagery younger generations would associate with the terno was that it was something older people wore or something to consider to a costume party. They would imagine lolas dressed up like doñas from the Spanish era, flaunting off riches and proud of their status from the olden days. While some ternos you see around still look old-fashioned—now you call them vintage—you can’t help seeing every designer—young or old, classic or progressive—doing their bit to give the terno a new spin. Just take a look at the vibrant and playful designs presented by Lesley Mobo at last year’s Ternocon 3, where Joey Samson, drawing inspiration from Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, also brought the terno, as well as other Filipiniana, to the next level.  It was as though the pages of the books came to life, except this time with the attitude of Michelle Dee and the swagger of David Licauco!  

Photo Rommel James de Dios | Facebook

Photo Kultura website

Photo Yassi Pressman | Instagram

You can’t wear the terno to the movies
If you think kids like yourself consider it only suitable for formal affairs like Filipiniana-themed weddings or the State of the Nation Address or, worse still, a barrio fiesta, think again. For University of Sto. Tomas College of Fine Arts and Design graduate Rommel James de Dios, the terno can be worn as every day, everywhere. As seen from his thesis photo collection shared on Facebook, the young designer drew inspiration from famous K-Pop and P-Pop girl groups to create a casual terno look perfect for your next hangout. Who knows, maybe you’ll find these stylish modern ternos worn by the next big P-Pop group in the future? There's also Kultura's recent campaign that had some of the most inspiring women of the Philippines wearing stylish new takes on the classic dress, showcasing how it can be worn in different settings by women of various backgrounds. Then there's Yassi Pressman, standing out from the LA crowd of a Jo Koy performance, for rocking a crop top terno fit designed by Dee Javier. 

Photo De La Salle College of Saint Benilde

Ternos only ascribe to one style.
You might think the terno only has one specific style, but it only takes a glance at the history of the outfit to learn it has gone through so many iterations over the decades, particularly over the last 10 years. Hoping to shed light on the terno’s rich history, several dresses were put on display at De La Salle College of Saint Benilde during the limited exhibition Fashion, Power, Modernity: The Ternos of the Benilde Collection, held last year. It showcased designs from four icons of Philippine fashion—Ramon Valera, Pitoy Moreno, Ben Farrales, and Aureo Alonzo. The exhibit had over 31 quintessential ternos and four traje de mestizas. One look at the set of 1950s ternos just from the personal wardrobe of former First Lady Luz Banzon Magsaysay by National Artist of the Philippines for Fashion Design Ramon Valera is testament enough that no two ternos are exactly alike, unless you were the Single White Female type preying on your current bestie.

Photo Rakuten Fashion Week website

Terno doesn’t have a global appeal
If that were the case, then you must have missed the Rakuten Fashion Week in Tokyo, Japan. In what is regarded as one of Japan’s most well-known fashion festival, the terno took center stage as part of a collaboration between Bench and the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Much of the crowd were at awe by the terno outfits designed by Dennis Lustico, Chito Vijandre, Ricky Toledo, and Joey Samson. If Tokyo, one of the most fashionable places in Asia, could find appreciation for the terno, then it certainly does have a global appeal. 
Either that or you’ve never heard of the butterfly sleeve unfurling itself on high at the Paris Fashion Week haute couture spring/summer 2022 shows, in which Samar-born, Dubai-based Michael Cinco unleashed a kaleidoscope of ternos at the American Cathedral in Paris in the presentation of the 30-piece collection of crystal-studded ball gowns and menswear he proudly described as “very Filipino.”
If you’re not convinced of the global appeal of the terno, why don’t you go back to 2008, when the sleeves so closely associated with the Philippine terno—many thanks to presidential mother, the Imeldific, Imelda Romualdez Marcos and her reign as first lady-to-watch from 1965 to 1986—fluttered down the Chanel runway at Paris Fashion Week in 2008?

K-pop group ITZY to launch second world tour with Manila as one of the stops

BY JONATHAN HICAP

Jan 26, 2024 00:55 AM 

K-pop girl group ITZY announced the launch of their “ITZY 2nd World Tour: Born to Be,” which will span 18 countries in Asia including the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Europe and North America. 

In Manila, ITZY will hold the concert on Aug. 3 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, ITZY and Live Nation Philippines announced. 

ITZY will launch their second world tour in February (JYP Entertainment, Live Nation)

“MIDZY! ITZY is coming back to Manila! #ITZY #MIDZY #ITZY_BORNTOBE #ITZY_WORLD_TOUR,” according to an X post by Live Nation Philippines.