TACLOBAN CITY– In the spirit of fostering a sustainable future, the Department of Education (DepEd), under the leadership of Secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte, has embarked on a tree planting activity.
The activity, dubbed as “236,000 trees- a Christmas gift for the children,” is in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other agencies and was held on December 6 across the country.
In the region, DepEd Regional Director Evelyn Fetalvero led teachers, students, and school personnel in the tree planting activity.
“236,000 Trees – A Christmas Gift for the Children” transcends the traditional exchange of presents during the festive season, presenting a gift that echoes through time, benefiting not only the current generation but also those yet to come,” Fetalvero said.
She added that the significance of planting trees for the environment cannot be overstated.
“DepEd’s commitment to planting 236,000 trees underscores a dedication to environmental stewardship, recognizing that the well-being of our children is intricately connected to the health of our planet,” she added.
Fetalvero believes that the initiative is a beacon of hope, emphasizing the importance of instilling ecological consciousness in the younger generation.
“By gifting trees to the children, DepEd is sowing the seeds of responsibility and environmental awareness, “she said. (LIZBETH ANN A ABELLA)
CHRISTMAS ATTRACTION. With colorful Christmas lights and decorations, the Leyte II Electric Cooperative (Leyeco II)office in Real St., Tacloban City has become ‘hot spot’ for those who want Christmas-related photo. (LEYECO II)
CHRISTMAS ATTRACTION. With colorful Christmas lights and decorations, the Leyte II Electric Cooperative (Leyeco II)office in Real St., Tacloban City has become ‘hot spot’ for those who want Christmas-related photo. (LEYECO II)
TACLOBAN CITY– The Leyte II Electric Cooperative (Leyeco II) held the ceremonial switch-on of its Christmas lightings at its main office on December 6.
According to the management of Leyeco II, the activity is a part of their annual Christmas tradition and as a way of bringing the holiday spirit to its member-consumer-owners (MCOs).
The Christmas lightings is open to all who want to visit, take photos, and celebrate the holidays.
“May the joyous holidays bring you love, peace, and abundance of blessings, and may the bright lights symbolize the hope we hold on amidst the countless challenges and hurdles we have faced this year” the management of Leyeco II, addressing its member-consumers. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
As one of the largest consumers of rice worldwide, our country has been experiencing a persistent upward trend in rice prices, which is ironic because we used to be the rice granary of Asia. We can hardly comprehend the intricate factors that contribute to this phenomenon. Why this continuous increase in rice prices? A lot of people just can’t understand.
One of the primary factors behind the rising rice prices in the Philippines is the disparity between supply and demand. The nation heavily relies on rice as a staple food, with domestic consumption exceeding production. Limited arable land for cultivation and insufficient agricultural infrastructure hinder the country’s ability to produce enough rice to meet the soaring demands of its growing population. Additionally, the adverse effects of climate change, manifested through erratic weather patterns, natural disasters, and dwindling water resources, further exacerbate the unstable supply chain. These factors contribute to low domestic production and a consequent dependency on rice imports, driving up prices.
Government policies, particularly those related to importation and trade regulations, significantly impact rice prices in the Philippines. Import duties and tariffs imposed on the importation of rice aimed at safeguarding local farmers can inadvertently lead to higher consumer prices. Furthermore, the government’s move towards tariffication, a process that replaced quantitative restrictions with tariffs on rice imports, has impacted the stability of rice prices. The shift in policy has exposed the industry to global market trends, making the prices susceptible to fluctuations caused by international trade situations and exchange rates.
The ever-increasing prices of rice hurt the Filipino population, particularly the vulnerable segments of society. Rice, being a staple food, accounts for a substantial portion of the household budget. Therefore, when prices surge, it amplifies the burden on low-income families, pushing them further into poverty. Inflation resulting from increased rice prices can also have a cascading effect on other basic commodities, exacerbating the overall cost of living. These implications warrant careful analysis and prompt intervention from policymakers to safeguard the welfare of the population and mitigate the widening socio-economic disparities.
Addressing this problem requires a comprehensive approach, including initiatives to enhance domestic production, improve agricultural infrastructure, and develop sustainable farming practices. Additionally, the government should ensure that trade policies strike a balance between supporting local farmers and maintaining affordable food prices for the general population.
An intangible yet pervasive part of our lives, time often appears to pass at an alarming rate. Seemingly, as we grow older, the subjective experience of time accelerates, leaving us bewildered by its seemingly fleeting nature. We can delve into the phenomenon of time’s apparent acceleration from a psychological and philosophical perspective, explore the complexities underlying our perception of time, and decipher the possible reasons behind its elusive nature.
Time perception relies heavily on our cognitive processes and how we perceive the world around us. The popular saying “time flies when you’re having fun” holds some truth as positive emotions have been found to distort our perception of duration. Conversely, moments of boredom or discomfort can create an illusion of time’s deceleration, making it appear as if it lingers. The subjectivity of our experiences demonstrates the intricate link between perception and the passage of time.
Our perception of time is also deeply intertwined with the way we form and recall memories. The vividness and novelty of events influence our memory’s accessibility, leading us to believe that they occurred recently. As we age, our cognitive filtering mechanisms become more refined, and novel experiences become rarer, resulting in less memorable moments. This narrowing of memory may contribute to the feeling that time accelerates with age, as fewer novel events occur, reducing our perception of the passing of time significantly.
As we progress through life, temporal compression becomes a notable aspect of our experience. The repetitive nature of daily life with commitments such as work, responsibilities, and routines can lead to time seemingly blending, creating a sense of temporal compression. This tendency increases as we age, further exacerbating the impression that time is slipping away faster than ever before.
The illusory nature of perceived time becomes apparent when analyzing the difference between objective and subjective time. Objective time remains a constant, unchanging entity, while subjective time is heavily influenced by our emotions, experiences, and mental states. Moreover, our perception of time is susceptible to external factors like cultural context, societal norms, and environmental conditioning. Recognizing the subjectivity of time pushes us to question its true nature and its role in shaping our existence.
Our perception of time’s swift passage can serve as a catalyst for reflection and self-evaluation. Realizing the potential brevity of existence instills a sense of urgency, encouraging individuals to seize opportunities and make the most of their limited time. This introspective aspect of time’s elusiveness is particularly relevant in educational settings, where students are driven by the desire to acquire knowledge and contribute to their chosen field before time slips away indefinitely.
The perception that time flies rapidly is therefore influenced by the factors mentioned. Rather than succumbing to the anxiety associated with time’s acceleration, we can embrace the sense of urgency it instills, using it as a powerful motivator to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives. Ultimately, the fleeting nature of time reminds us to cherish our experiences, strive for personal growth, and leave a lasting legacy during our brief sojourn in the enigmatic realm of time.
Being discussed in the congressional hearings is the issue on the budget for travel of the office of the speaker of the lower house. The alleged huge travel budget was raised in a commentary by one Jeffry Celiz, a broadcaster of Sonshine Media Network, Inc. (SMNI) a television network that was granted congressional franchise believed to be owned by Apollo Carreon Quiboloy albeit denials of such ownership. The commentator who disclosed the travel budget which purportedly amounted to 1.8 billion pesos was invited by the lower house to shed light on such news regarding the huge travel budget that was disclosed in his commentary program.
The resource person refused to reveal the identity of his source on the basis of Republic Act 53 known as the Sotto Law or the Press Freedom Law that protects journalists from being compelled to reveal the name of their news sources. The said law affords journalists to maintain the safety of their news sources from all forms of pressure or harassment that the news subjects might take against the news sources. The commentator consistently insists that he is protected by said law and he is bounden to protect his news sources. He also cited his constitutional right under the bill of rights and the right of the people to information on matters of public concern.
Indeed the travel budget is a matter of public interest as it is source from taxpayers’ money. What appears to be a concern on the part of the office of the house speaker is its negative repercussions on the integrity and credibility of the lower house. The commentary is being connected to the political squabble between the house speaker and the vice president who are both positioning for the upcoming presidential derby. The attacks on the house speaker is being construed by the house members as emanating from the former president and his daughter vice president as close allies of pastor Apollo Carreon Quiboloy.
In the course of the house investigation, the commentator disclosed that the issue of that huge travel budget was leaked by a senate insider. The revelation stirred varied reactions from the senators with the outright denial by the senate president. The senate urged the lower house to continue its investigation. Meanwhile, the lower house made efforts to compel the commentator to name his source or else he would be cited in contempt and detained.
The threat of being cited for contempt and detention did not deter the commentator, standing his ground to protect his source and protect his rights as a journalist as well as other journalists from revealing their news sources. He insisted that what he raised was in the form of a question as to the truth or falsity of the alleged leaked information. The lower house had already retorted with its report that the travel expenses incurred by the office of the speaker of the house of representatives this year is about 4.347 million pesos. That would settle the issue without pressing the commentator to reveal the name of his news sources.
DECEMBER 12 is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe whose image was miraculously imprinted on a simple cloak of a Mexican of Aztec descent, now saint, Juan Diego, back in 1591. The image has become so famous that it now is a national symbol of Mexico. It also reminds us of so many interesting things about Our Lady and us.
For one, it reminds us that Our Lady is always a mother who constantly cares for us, acting as our most reliable intercessor before God. She does not hesitate to make some extraordinary interventions in our life, as when she makes apparitions, if only to remit to us some important messages, if not warnings, over matters that may have gone quite serious.
In the readings of the feast’s liturgical celebration, we are reminded of the basic truth of our faith that tells us about the dignity that we have. And that is that we enjoy the highest connaturality with God, since God created us to be his image and likeness. (cfr. Gen 1,27)
Although that image has been damaged because of our sin, there is one person who managed to keep herself immaculate. And that is Our Lady. She can be considered as the perfect specimen of how a human person should be.
Thus, in the responsorial psalm, this passage from the Book of Judith is applied to her: “You are the highest honor of our race.” (15,9) It’s good that we be familiar with these words because even if it is incredible to apply them to us, the truth is that at the end of the day, we, too, like Mary share in that connaturality with God.
We should just try our best to imitate our Lady in living out that dignity as faithfully as possible. And the secret is simply to have the same faith, the same openness to God’s will, her obedience to the divine designs for man that undid the disobedience of our first parents and that of ours.
Her “Fiat” (Be it done unto me) is the best example of the obedience of faith that a human person as a creature can have in relation to the will of God. It perfectly echoes in a mysteriously anticipative way Christ’s obedience to the will of his Father—“If it is your will, let this cup pass by me, but not my will but yours be done.” (Mt 26,39)
Mary’s “Fiat” is the perfect model of how our will ought to be conformed to God’s will. We have to be reminded that by the very nature of our will, the very seat of our freedom, our will is supposed to be in synch with the will of its Creator. It just cannot be by itself, turning and moving purely on its own.
It is meant to be engaged with the will of God, its creator and lawgiver. It is the very power we have been given by God that enables us to unite ourselves with God in the most intimate way. All the other aspects of our life—physical, biological, chemical, etc.—are also governed by God-given laws but, by themselves, they cannot bring us into intimate union with God.
We cannot expropriate our will to be simply our own. We are meant only to be stewards of it, not its owner nor its designer, creator and lawgiver. It has to submit itself to the will of God, otherwise it would be working without proper foundation and purpose.
