WE need to understand that there are times that we need to persist in bothering God for some extraordinary interventions in our lives. To be sure, God knows all our needs, even before we get to realize them or to express them. But there are times when God wants us to strengthen our faith by going to the extent of nagging him with our petitions if only to have his power and compassion shown on us.
This was shown, for example, in that story of Hannah, the mother of the prophet Samuel, who went to the temple to importune the Lord to give her a male child. (cfr. 1 Samuel 1,9-20) This was also shown in that parable of the persistent widow who did not tire to ask the judge to give her justice even if at the beginning she was rejected. (cfr. Lk 18,1-8).
When these times come, we should not worry much. Rather, we should welcome them since we are actually given a chance to strengthen our faith, the first step that would lead us to be united with God and to share in his life, nature and power.
We have to understand that Christian life, while it can be hard and very challenging, since it demands from us everything, is also very easy, because God in Christ has already given us everything that we need to achieve our true and ultimate purpose in life.
Obviously, we would not be exempted from suffering as we have to face all sorts of difficulties, challenges and trials in this life. But if our faith is strong and abiding, we know that all these hardships will always work out for the good. (cfr. Rom 8,28) Christ has converted all the possible negative things in our earthly life as an occasion and means for our salvation which is what truly matters in our life.
We should just develop a healthy sporting spirit because life’s true failure can come only when we choose not to have faith that always engenders hope. That happens when our vision and understanding of things is narrow and limited, confined only to the here and now and ignorant of the transcendent reality of the spiritual and supernatural world.
Besides, life involves a till-death struggle against all sorts of enemies, starting with our own treacherous self, the ever-seductive world, and worst of all, the spiritual enemies who certainly are more powerful than us.
Finally, life involves pursuing a goal that is much greater, yes, infinitely greater than ourselves. We should not be a bad sport who gives up easily without even trying, or who surrenders in the middle of an exciting and suspenseful game.
We therefore have to develop a strong spiritual sportsmanship in the tenor expressed in some words of St. Paul: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.” (1 Cor 9,24).
Aside from a strong sense of self-discipline and submitting ourselves in a continuing training program, an indispensable ingredient of this healthy sporting spirit is the sense of acceptance and abandonment that we need to deliberately cultivate. This does not come automatically, as if it’s part of our genes. We have to develop them.
As we can see, if we follow by our Christian faith, our life, while having all sorts of challenges and difficulties, can actually be easy. Christ himself said as much. “My yoke is easy and my burden light.” (Mt 11,30).
SEA OF CLOUDS. Personnel from the Department of Tourism- Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (DOT-TIEZA) conducted an ocular inspection at Borongan City’s tourism pride, ‘sea of clouds.’ The visit could lead to possible funding by the TIEZA to further improve the said tourism attraction. (DAYAN AGDA)
SEA OF CLOUDS. Personnel from the Department of Tourism- Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (DOT-TIEZA) conducted an ocular inspection at Borongan City’s tourism pride, ‘sea of clouds.’ The visit could lead to possible funding by the TIEZA to further improve the said tourism attraction. (DAYAN AGDA)
TACLOBAN CITY – The personnel from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) and Department of Tourism – 8 conducted a joint site inspection on Sunday(Jan.7) at the “Hebacong Sea of Clouds and Nature Park” in Borongan City.
Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda welcomed the TIEZA and DOT-8 personnel saying their visit could result in the improvement of facilities and services provided in said attraction.
“They are here to see for themselves how they can help Borongan develop Hebacong Sea of Clouds into a more attractive, beautifully yet sustainable and environmentally-friendly tourist spot,” Mayor Agda said.
Agda added that the site inspection is necessary because it would ensure that funds needed for the improvement of the tourism facility could be provided to help the city government in its campaign to attract more visitors that would not only the community but the city’s economy as well.
The Hebacong’s sea of clouds was formally opened last year by the city government as an additional tourist destination that tourists may visit when they are in Borongan. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
NEW RATES. The local government unit of Palompon has issued an advisory for the new rates for those who will visit the famed Kalanggaman Island. The new rates, ranging from entrance fee to overnight stay, and rental of pump boat will take effect on Jan.16. (KALANGGAMAN ISLAND, PALOMPON, LEYTE)
TACLOBAN CITY – Visitors at the famed Kalanggaman Island in Palompon, Leyte, need to pay adjustment entrance fees.
NEW RATES. The local government unit of Palompon has issued an advisory for the new rates for those who will visit the famed Kalanggaman Island. The new rates, ranging from entrance fee to overnight stay, and rental of pump boat will take effect on Jan.16. (KALANGGAMAN ISLAND, PALOMPON, LEYTE)
This after the municipal government approved a resolution for this purpose.
The new rates, which cover entrance rate, pump boat, and cottage rentals, will take effect on Jan.16.
“The ordinance aims to ensure the sustainable development and management of eco-tourism facilities within the municipality and to support the preservation and enhancement of our natural resources while improving the overall eco-tourism experience for visitors,” the advisory posted on the official social media account of the Palompon local government said.
Based on the posted rate, the new fee for foreign tourists costs P1,000 for a day tour or P1,500 for an overnight stay.
The entrance fee for non-Palompon residents is P300 for a day tour or P450 for an overnight stay while the locals would only pay P100 for a day tour and P150 for an overnight stay.
Non-Palompon students would pay P40 to P80 for a day tour and P60 up to P120, for an overnight stay.
Students from the town are to pay less than their counterparts coming from other areas, ranging from P5 to P20 for a day tour and P20 to P50 for an overnight stay.
The amounts vary depending on the levels of the students.
Senior Citizens who are not from Palompon town will have to pay an entrance fee worth P240 for a day tour or P360 for an overnight stay. While elderlies from the town are free of the fee.
Those who wanted to rent the entire island will have to pay P300,000 for 24-hour use.
The pump boat rate going to the island costs P4,500 for one to 20 passengers, P5,000 for 21 to 25 passengers, P5,500 for 26 to 30 passengers, and P6,000 for 31 to 35 passengers.
Cottage rates range from P375 to P1, 000.
“All concerned individuals, establishments, and organizations are advised to familiarize themselves with the approved revised fee,” the advisory said.
The LGU also advises tourists who want to visit the island to make a prior reservation by contacting their number at 09950276488 or sending them a message at their Facebook account LGUPalompon and at their website www.palompon-leyte.gov.ph for them to have a hassle-free visit.
Kalanggaman Island is considered to be Leyte’s tourism jewels serving hosts to hundreds of tourists and is one of the top generators of income for the local government of Palompon. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
BISHOP OF CATARMAN. After almost two decades, the diocese of Catarman has a new bishop in Nolly Buco, who was formerly assigned as the auxiliary bishop of Antipolo. Bishop Buco assumed the post in December last year who refused an elaborate ceremony on his assumption. Buco’s predecessor, Emmanuel Trance, resigned from his post due to ‘health reason.’(DIOCESE OF CATARMAN)
Perito files petition in Calbayog City
BISHOP OF CATARMAN. After almost two decades, the diocese of Catarman has a new bishop in Nolly Buco, who was formerly assigned as the auxiliary bishop of Antipolo. Bishop Buco assumed the post in December last year who refused an elaborate ceremony on his assumption. Buco’s predecessor, Emmanuel Trance, resigned from his post due to ‘health reason.’(DIOCESE OF CATARMAN)
TACLOBAN CITY-A lawyer has filed a petition calling for the court to bar any personnel from the International Criminal Court of Justice (ICCJ) from entering the country, and if they are already in the country, should be prevented from doing any investigation regarding the bloody drug war of the Duterte administration.
Lawyer Fernando Perito filed his petition before the Office of Clerk of Court in Calbayog City, Samar on December 15, 2023, together with Joseph Forrosuelo, who was described to be an overseas Filipino worker with an address of Malabanan, Biñan, Laguna province.
The petition, it was learned, will be scheduled for a court raffle on Jan.8.
The 13-page petition seeks for a preliminary injunction barring all personnel, directors, and staff of the ICCJ from entering the country to conduct any investigation on alleged extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration.
But this early, this petition was belittled by a former president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Leyte chapter, Alberto Hidalgo, for ‘lack of cause of action.’
“My prediction is this petition will be dismissed by the court for lack of cause of action or for want of legal standing to sue,” he said in a Facebook interview via private messenger on Thursday (Jan.4).
“What is his legal standing to file the action? Is he a proper party? Is he part of those who will be investigated by the ICC?” Hidalgo added.
He also doubts if Perito was given authority either by former President Duterte or Senator Ronaldo ‘Bato’ de la Rosa, among those primarily subjected of the ICCJ probe.
Perito, who is from Calbayog City, in his petition, claimed that considering that the Philippines has exited from the ICCJ in 2019, it ceased to have any jurisdiction to conduct any investigations, like that of the controversial drug war waged by the Duterte administration.
He also dismissed the allegations that during the six-year drug war, about 30,000 people were killed saying these were without any basis and just ‘exaggerated hyperboles.’
“The Republic of the Philippines is a sovereign country, its duly elected officers in the persons of President Rodrigo Duterte and its policemen are being sued for crimes which the ICCJ is making up stories…,” Perito said in his petition, a copy of which was obtained by the Leyte Samar Daily Express.
He added:” The so-called charges against Pres. Duterte of allegedly ordering or allowing execution of thousands of suspected drug offenders are just exaggerated hyperboles…and media hyped concocted by politicians and their minions who are pretending to be more popish than the pope.”
“If those ignorant personalities in the ICCJ can have a sense of reflection, they can perceive themselves as unwelcome usurpers of our justice system. They have no place here…,” Perito added.
He also lambasted what he called ‘human rights advocates’ whom he said were ‘more eager to expose the efforts of the most loved president who would do everything to save the Filipinos and the youths.’
“(And) with all our laws and rules, policies in order, are we to succumb to international pressure to ignore our own existing laws, rules, and procedure, simply because that international court is so powerful?” Perito said.
Perito, it was learned, has been involved in filing petitions in the past.
Among these include his petition before the Sandiganbayan seeking deposed former president, Joseph Estrada to stop from running for presidency during the 2010 elections and his petition to disbar former senator Leila de Lima, among the high-profile victims of the drug war of the Duterte administration.
The former senator was put in prison allegedly due to her connection to illegal drug activities but was freed by the courts after almost seven years of detention.
RUSSIAN MUSEUM IN GUIUAN. The city government of Moscow, Russia plans to put up a museum in Tubabao Island, Guiuan town, Eastern Samar as a testament of the historical role played by the town which served shelter of the fleeing ‘white’ Russians after China became a communist country. Photo shows Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan making her speech during her visit to Moscow to attend the 7th Session of the International Cultural Historical Council held last November 27 to December, 2023. (MAYOR ANNALIZA GONZALES-KWAN)
Island once home to over 6,000 Russians
RUSSIAN MUSEUM IN GUIUAN. The city government of Moscow, Russia plans to put up a museum in Tubabao Island, Guiuan town, Eastern Samar as a testament of the historical role played by the town which served shelter of the fleeing ‘white’ Russians after China became a communist country. Photo shows Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan making her speech during her visit to Moscow to attend the 7th Session of the International Cultural Historical Council held last November 27 to December, 2023. (MAYOR ANNALIZA GONZALES-KWAN)
TACLOBAN CITY– An ‘open-air museum’ is being planned to be constructed in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, giving homage and preserving the historical and cultural ties between the Philippines and Russia.
This was disclosed by town Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan who said that the planned shrine would be constructed on Tubabao Island where about 6,000 Russians took shelter between the periods of 1949 to 1951 as they fled from China when the communists took control of much of the said country led by Mao Zedong.
Among those who arrived at Tubabao Island was St. John Maximovitch or St. John of Shanghai. The group included highly skilled Russians who built their own city on the island complete with a plaza, market, and school.
“We plan to build an open-air museum where we can feature the story of the Russians using physical reconstruction and heritage interpretation using data from the research,” the Guiuan mayor said in her speech during the 7th Session of the International Cultural Historical Council held last November 27 to December,2023 held in Moscow.
The visit of Gonzales-Kwan was extended by the Minister of the Government of Moscow.
In a Viber message, she said that she could not say yet as to when the planned museum would be erected and if the Moscow government would help in providing the needed funding.
But this early, Gonzales-Kwan said that if this would be realized, not only the museum would cement the ‘cultural and historical ties’ of Guiuan, in particular, and Russia but could also help attract tourists, and even investments.
“This will help promote the relationship between the Philippines and Russia as this will highlight the kindness of the Filipino people that we were still rebuilding after the war yet we accepted 6,5000(Russians),” she said.
(And of course), this will also help promote the (the two countries) heritage and the development of Guiuan,” Gonzales-Kwan said.
And on a personal note, the town mayor also disclosed that her ballet teacher was a student of a Russian ballerina who was among those who arrived on the island.
Gonzales-Kwan said that when Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ (international name: Haiyan), pummeled her town 10 years ago, one of those destroyed was the ‘tangible evidence’ found on Tubabao Island on the occupation of Russians on the island.
“(But) we were able to reconstruct that forgotten history by using memories and archival documentations. We conducted oral history of former Russian residents on the island and did archival research abroad,” she said.
Incidentally, among those who extended assistance to the people of Guiuan were ordinary Russians whose ancestors could have been among those who took shelter on Tubabao Island.
The town of Guiuan, located at the southernmost tip of Samar Island facing the Pacific, has played several historical events.
For one, it was in this town, particularly Homonhon Island, where the Philippines was rediscovered by Ferdinand Magellan back in 1521.
And during World War II, the Americans built one of the massive naval and air bases in the Far East which helped in the liberation campaign of the country and end of the war in the Far East. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
Rep. Marcelino ‘Nonoy’ Libanan of the 4Ps party-list group disclosed that the Borongan Airport’s improvement will continue as he earmarked an additional P200 million. (PHOTO COURTESY)
Rep. Marcelino ‘Nonoy’ Libanan of the 4Ps party-list group disclosed that the Borongan Airport’s improvement will continue as he earmarked an additional P200 million. (PHOTO COURTESY)
TACLOBAN CITY- House Minority Floor Leader Marcelino Libanan said that the improvements at the Borongan Airport would continue as he disclosed that an additional P200 million was earmarked for this purpose.
Libanan, who is a party-list representative of 4Ps, said that amount has been included under this year’s general appropriations.
“The amount of P200 million has been earmarked in the 2024 General Appropriations Law to build up the infrastructure of Borongan Airport,” Libanan said on Tuesday (Jan.2) in a press statement.
The airport has just resumed its operations using the Manila-Cebu-Borongan flight in December of 2022, and is located at the city’s Punta Maria Road, 21 kms away from the city proper.
“The airport’s improvement will facilitate the transfer of people and goods, and help bring in more tourists,” Libanan, who once served as the lone congressional representative of Eastern Samar and authored for the conversion of Borongan into a city, said.
“Our goal is to increase the airport’s capacity to accommodate more commercial flights,” he added.
Libanan said that further improvements and an increase of passengers, he expects more airline companies would come in and operate at the Borongan Airport.
At present, only Philippine Airlines is operating at the said airport.
“We look forward to other airlines operating flights in and out of Borongan,” Libanan said.
At present, the airport is undergoing a 200-meter extension of its 1.3 kms runway to accommodate bigger planes.
Libanan, meanwhile, credited the Borongan City government led by Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda for aggressively promoting sports tourism.
“We all want Borongan to become the surfing capital of Visayas,” Libanan said.
Last month, the city hosted a national surfing competition attended by more than 150 surfers from across the country. (JOEY A. GABIETA/ROEL T. AMAZONA)
Christian life is both hard and easy
WE need to understand that there are times that we need to persist in bothering God for some extraordinary interventions in our lives. To be sure, God knows all our needs, even before we get to realize them or to express them. But there are times when God wants us to strengthen our faith by going to the extent of nagging him with our petitions if only to have his power and compassion shown on us.
This was shown, for example, in that story of Hannah, the mother of the prophet Samuel, who went to the temple to importune the Lord to give her a male child. (cfr. 1 Samuel 1,9-20) This was also shown in that parable of the persistent widow who did not tire to ask the judge to give her justice even if at the beginning she was rejected. (cfr. Lk 18,1-8).
When these times come, we should not worry much. Rather, we should welcome them since we are actually given a chance to strengthen our faith, the first step that would lead us to be united with God and to share in his life, nature and power.
We have to understand that Christian life, while it can be hard and very challenging, since it demands from us everything, is also very easy, because God in Christ has already given us everything that we need to achieve our true and ultimate purpose in life.
Obviously, we would not be exempted from suffering as we have to face all sorts of difficulties, challenges and trials in this life. But if our faith is strong and abiding, we know that all these hardships will always work out for the good. (cfr. Rom 8,28) Christ has converted all the possible negative things in our earthly life as an occasion and means for our salvation which is what truly matters in our life.
We should just develop a healthy sporting spirit because life’s true failure can come only when we choose not to have faith that always engenders hope. That happens when our vision and understanding of things is narrow and limited, confined only to the here and now and ignorant of the transcendent reality of the spiritual and supernatural world.
Besides, life involves a till-death struggle against all sorts of enemies, starting with our own treacherous self, the ever-seductive world, and worst of all, the spiritual enemies who certainly are more powerful than us.
Finally, life involves pursuing a goal that is much greater, yes, infinitely greater than ourselves. We should not be a bad sport who gives up easily without even trying, or who surrenders in the middle of an exciting and suspenseful game.
We therefore have to develop a strong spiritual sportsmanship in the tenor expressed in some words of St. Paul: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.” (1 Cor 9,24).
Aside from a strong sense of self-discipline and submitting ourselves in a continuing training program, an indispensable ingredient of this healthy sporting spirit is the sense of acceptance and abandonment that we need to deliberately cultivate. This does not come automatically, as if it’s part of our genes. We have to develop them.
As we can see, if we follow by our Christian faith, our life, while having all sorts of challenges and difficulties, can actually be easy. Christ himself said as much. “My yoke is easy and my burden light.” (Mt 11,30).