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Wishing, whispering and working with Hope

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In these desperate times, where economic and political malady affect us, we cannot help but get some inspiration from the past. The column here in was written last January 2026, it was a hopeful day and I was kind of looking forward for a great year, I am still hopeful now although the year is ending and hardships are here, still I am wishing, Whispering and working with hope!

Every morning is more than just the rising of the sun—it is a divine reminder that life, no matter how heavy yesterday may have been, always offers a chance to begin again. The gift of dawn is God’s way of whispering to humanity: “There is hope, there is renewal, there is life beyond the storm.” History and lived experiences show us that mornings have carried people through trials, wars, disasters, and personal struggles, making life bearable and meaningful.

On a personal level, mornings remind us of second chances. A farmer who lost his harvest to floods once thought his livelihood was gone. But when the sun rose the next day, he chose to plant again. Months later, his field yielded more than before. His story reflects the truth that every morning is God’s invitation to rise above despair, to trust that renewal is possible, and to believe that promises of hope are fulfilled daily.

On many occasions and on forgotten seasons we have faced the torment of hopelessness only to recover with the new hope that every morning fascinatingly gives.

Indeed, every morning is a promise fulfilled—a promise of life, of hope, and of renewal. It is God’s daily gift, reminding us that yesterday’s burdens need not define today. Each sunrise is an assurance that we are not abandoned, that we are loved, and that we are given another chance to begin again. To wake each day is to witness the fulfillment of a divine promise: that light will always conquer darkness, and that hope will always rise with the sun.

Kun may kakurian ug ano pa man iton
Diri na manluya, matutuhay naton.

 

Authenticity is not enough

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MANY admire sincerity, bluntness, and “being real,” but the Gospel reminds us that authenticity alone is never enough. A person may pride himself on having no hidden agenda, yet still fail to recognize God standing before him. The tragedy of our age is not only hypocrisy but also the assumption that honesty automatically equals truth.

In John 1:47–51, Jesus praises Nathanael as “an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit.” Yet this compliment is only the beginning. Nathanael must still move beyond his limited judgments. Moments earlier he had dismissed Nazareth with prejudice: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” His integrity did not prevent error, nor did his sincerity free him from assumptions.

This should challenge modern Christians who equate personal opinion with divine wisdom. Many proudly say, “I just speak my mind,” as though frankness were the highest virtue. But the Gospel exposes this illusion. A mind untouched by grace remains captive to appearances. Even an honest heart needs conversion.

Christ does not flatter Nathanael into complacency. Instead, He reveals that He had already seen him beneath the fig tree. This is more than a display of supernatural knowledge. It proclaims that no human life escapes the gaze of God. Every thought, hidden desire, silent struggle, and private compromise is already known before a single word is spoken.
That truth dismantles the comfortable religion of selective discipleship. Many welcome a Jesus who comforts but resist a Jesus who sees everything. They gladly receive mercy while avoiding repentance. They desire blessings without surrender. Yet the Lord who knows us completely refuses to leave us unchanged. Divine love never excuses spiritual mediocrity; it calls us to holiness.

Nathanael immediately responds with faith: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” His confession is sincere, but Christ directs him toward something greater. The Lord refuses to let His disciples remain captivated by extraordinary signs. Miracles are not the destination. They are invitations to deeper faith.

This lesson is urgently needed today. Many believers pursue visions, emotional experiences, private revelations, and sensational claims while neglecting daily conversion. They long for dramatic interventions but remain impatient, unforgiving, dishonest, or proud. They seek heavenly wonders while overlooking the ordinary acts of faithfulness through which holiness is formed.

Christ then makes an astonishing promise: “You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” Heaven is no longer distant. The barrier created by sin has been broken. In Christ, heaven and earth meet. He alone is the living bridge that no philosophy, ideology, political program, scientific achievement, or human effort can replace.

This claim challenges every culture that believes humanity can save itself. Technology promises mastery, wealth promises security, politics promises paradise, and psychology promises fulfillment. Yet none can overcome sin, death, guilt, or the deepest longing of the human heart. Every substitute eventually collapses under the weight of reality.

The Gospel therefore confronts every form of self-sufficiency. Salvation is not built from below but received from above. The ladder to heaven is not constructed by human ambition but established by God in His incarnate Son.

The challenge is deeply personal. It is not enough to be honest, religious, intelligent, or morally respectable. We must allow Christ to expose every disguise, purify every prejudice, correct every false certainty, and draw every part of our lives toward Himself. Only then does sincerity become holiness, knowledge become wisdom, and earthly vision open to the realities of heaven.

The Gospel does not merely congratulate authenticity; it calls us to transformation.

Authenticity is not enough

0

MANY admire sincerity, bluntness, and “being real,” but the Gospel reminds us that authenticity alone is never enough. A person may pride himself on having no hidden agenda, yet still fail to recognize God standing before him. The tragedy of our age is not only hypocrisy but also the assumption that honesty automatically equals truth.

In John 1:47–51, Jesus praises Nathanael as “an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit.” Yet this compliment is only the beginning. Nathanael must still move beyond his limited judgments. Moments earlier he had dismissed Nazareth with prejudice: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” His integrity did not prevent error, nor did his sincerity free him from assumptions.

This should challenge modern Christians who equate personal opinion with divine wisdom. Many proudly say, “I just speak my mind,” as though frankness were the highest virtue. But the Gospel exposes this illusion. A mind untouched by grace remains captive to appearances. Even an honest heart needs conversion.

Christ does not flatter Nathanael into complacency. Instead, He reveals that He had already seen him beneath the fig tree. This is more than a display of supernatural knowledge. It proclaims that no human life escapes the gaze of God. Every thought, hidden desire, silent struggle, and private compromise is already known before a single word is spoken.
That truth dismantles the comfortable religion of selective discipleship. Many welcome a Jesus who comforts but resist a Jesus who sees everything. They gladly receive mercy while avoiding repentance. They desire blessings without surrender. Yet the Lord who knows us completely refuses to leave us unchanged. Divine love never excuses spiritual mediocrity; it calls us to holiness.

Nathanael immediately responds with faith: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” His confession is sincere, but Christ directs him toward something greater. The Lord refuses to let His disciples remain captivated by extraordinary signs. Miracles are not the destination. They are invitations to deeper faith.

This lesson is urgently needed today. Many believers pursue visions, emotional experiences, private revelations, and sensational claims while neglecting daily conversion. They long for dramatic interventions but remain impatient, unforgiving, dishonest, or proud. They seek heavenly wonders while overlooking the ordinary acts of faithfulness through which holiness is formed.

Christ then makes an astonishing promise: “You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” Heaven is no longer distant. The barrier created by sin has been broken. In Christ, heaven and earth meet. He alone is the living bridge that no philosophy, ideology, political program, scientific achievement, or human effort can replace.

This claim challenges every culture that believes humanity can save itself. Technology promises mastery, wealth promises security, politics promises paradise, and psychology promises fulfillment. Yet none can overcome sin, death, guilt, or the deepest longing of the human heart. Every substitute eventually collapses under the weight of reality.

The Gospel therefore confronts every form of self-sufficiency. Salvation is not built from below but received from above. The ladder to heaven is not constructed by human ambition but established by God in His incarnate Son.

The challenge is deeply personal. It is not enough to be honest, religious, intelligent, or morally respectable. We must allow Christ to expose every disguise, purify every prejudice, correct every false certainty, and draw every part of our lives toward Himself. Only then does sincerity become holiness, knowledge become wisdom, and earthly vision open to the realities of heaven.

The Gospel does not merely congratulate authenticity; it calls us to transformation.

Marcos checks Samar’s Walang Gutom Kitchen ahead of October launch

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WALANG GUTOM PROJECT. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. inspects the Walang Gutom Kitchen in Catbalogan City, Samar, on Friday, Sept. 25, as part of preparations for the facility’s formal launch in October. The facility is a joint initiative of the DSWD and the Samar provincial government that will provide free, nutritious meals to vulnerable communities. (PCO)
WALANG GUTOM PROJECT. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. inspects the Walang Gutom Kitchen in Catbalogan City, Samar, on Friday, Sept. 25, as part of preparations for the facility’s formal launch in October. The facility is a joint initiative of the DSWD and the Samar provincial government that will provide free, nutritious meals to vulnerable communities. (PCO)

TACLOBAN CITY – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inspected the Walang Gutom Kitchen (WGK) in Catbalogan City on Friday, Sept. 25, as the facility prepares to begin serving vulnerable communities under the government’s efforts to address hunger and food insecurity.

Marcos, accompanied by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan and Catbalogan City Mayor Dexter Uy, toured the facility ahead of its scheduled formal launch in October.

The President inspected the kitchen and food preparation areas, dining area and other service integration facilities that will support the delivery of meals to beneficiaries.

He also visited the Tara, Basa! Reading Corner, the Pag-Abot Desk, which provides assistance to individuals and families in vulnerable situations, and the Feedback Corner where beneficiaries can raise concerns and provide suggestions about the program.
The WGK is a joint initiative of the Samar provincial government and the DSWD intended to provide free, nutritious meals to vulnerable communities while linking beneficiaries to other government social protection services.

The facility will function as a community-based food bank and soup kitchen, forming part of the government’s broader efforts to improve food access and nutrition among disadvantaged families.

The Catbalogan facility is expected to start regular operations following its formal launch in October.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

Pagsanghan opens P3.35-M child development center in Barangay Bangon

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NEW CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER. DILG Samar and Pagsanghan municipal officials formally turn over the newly constructed Child Development Center in Barangay Bangon, Pagsanghan, Samar, on Sept. 25. The P3.35-million facility was funded through the LGSF-FALGU program, with the national government providing P3 million and the municipal government P350,000.(DILG-Samar)

In Samar

NEW CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER. DILG Samar and Pagsanghan municipal officials formally turn over the newly constructed Child Development Center in Barangay Bangon, Pagsanghan, Samar, on Sept. 25. The P3.35-million facility was funded through the LGSF-FALGU program, with the national government providing P3 million and the municipal government P350,000.(DILG-Samar)

 

TACLOBAN CITY – Children in Barangay Bangon, Pagsanghan, Samar now have a dedicated facility for early childhood education and development following the turnover of a newly constructed Child Development Center on Sept. 25.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Samar and the Pagsanghan local government formally turned over the facility to the community during a ceremony attended by local officials and representatives of various municipal offices.

The project, known as the Construction of Multi-Purpose Building (Child Development Center), Barangay Bangon, Pagsanghan, was funded under the Local Government Support Fund-Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (LGSF-FALGU) for fiscal year 2025.
It received a P3 million national government subsidy, with the Pagsanghan LGU providing a P350,000 counterpart, bringing the project’s total funding to P3.35 million.

The facility will serve as a venue for early childhood education, care and development programs, as well as other activities intended to support the welfare of children in the community.

DILG Samar Provincial Director Judy L. Batulan, Pagsanghan Mayor Sed Hendrix Tan, Vice Mayor Renato Pedrita, Sangguniang Bayan Member Evangeline Cañones and Bangon Punong Barangay Dina Cachero led the turnover ceremony, which carried the theme “Building a Better Future for Our Children and Community.”

Representatives from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, Municipal Planning and Development Office, DILG and the DILG Samar Project Development and Management Unit also attended the event.

Batulan emphasized the importance of providing children with a safe and suitable environment where they can learn and develop good values.

“An bata matutuduan han maupay na pamatasan tubtob nga hiya dumako, agud maging produktibo nga tawo ngan diri maging problema hit sosyodad,” Batulan said.
He said investing in children is also an investment in the future of communities and the nation.

“Kay kon mag-i-invest kita ha usa ka bata, nag-i-invest kita para hit future hiton aton kumunidad, future hit aton nasyon ngan future hiton bug-os nga kalibutan,” he said.
The turnover placed the completed facility under the care of the local community, providing Barangay Bangon with a permanent venue for programs supporting early childhood development and welfare.

The project is part of the national government’s LGSF-FALGU program, which provides financial assistance for local infrastructure and other projects intended to strengthen basic services in communities.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

San Vicente wins Matag-ob’s 2026 BGT Care Awards

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TACLOBAN CITY – Barangay San Vicente has been named the overall champion of Matag-ob’s 2026 BGT Care Awards, earning a P2-million development project from the municipal government for its performance in governance and community development.

The award was announced during the municipality’s recognition program honoring barangays and schools that excelled in governance, education, environmental protection, agriculture, disaster preparedness, peace and order, and other areas of community development.

Mayor Bernardino Tacoy said the awards recognize the accomplishments of barangay officials and school personnel while encouraging them to further improve public service.
“Ang inyong award, diri lamang premyo it is a recognition and effort as barangay leaders, and more importantly it is a responsibility to continue doing better,” Tacoy said.

He stressed that the BGT Care Awards should not be viewed simply as a competition among barangays, saying improvements in individual communities contribute to the overall development and resilience of the municipality.

“When one barangay improves, Matag-ob improves. When one barangay become more resilient, responsive, and innovative, our entire municipality becomes stronger,” he said.
San Vicente also received the Responsable Pag-atiman sa Kalikopan Award, together with San Vicente Elementary School, and the Agrikultura Award in both the barangay and school categories. The barangay also won the Kalinaw ug Kahusay Award.

Other barangays and schools were recognized in various categories.
Tacoy also announced the start of the 2027 BGT Care assessment cycle and urged barangays to raise their standards in governance, responsiveness, transparency, innovation and accountability.

“Let us remember that every product, every peso, every decision, and every service must ultimately answer one simple question, makatabang ba kini sa atong katawhan?” he said.
Tacoy said the program is ultimately aimed at strengthening public service and improving the lives of Matag-ob residents.

“Public service is not about recognition, it is about responsibility. It is not about who gets the biggest award, it is about who makes the greatest difference in the lives of our fellow Matag-obanon,” he said.

The Barangay Governance Tracking–Community Assessment and Reward System (BGT-CAReS) is an initiative of the Matag-ob municipal government that assesses and recognizes barangay accomplishments in governance and community development.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

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