IT’S amazing that despite the many good things Christ said and did that impressed many people, there were still some leading Jews who doubted him and were fond of asking some what are termed as ‘gotcha’ questions. (cfr. Mt 22,34-40)

One of these questions was, “Which commandment in the law is the greatest?” This was asked by no one less than a scholar of the law who later on was floored when Christ responded, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”

And without being asked what the second greatest commandment was, Christ volunteered to also tell him, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Somehow, Christ wanted to teach him—and us—that love for God is never separated from love of neighbor.
Indeed, we have to realize that loving God and neighbor is meant to be the very essence of our humanity. It is the primal force and principle of our whole life. It is what would keep us moving and living as we should. It is what integrates the different aspects and dimensions of our life—the material and spiritual, the personal and social, the temporal and eternal, etc.

That is why Christ said it very clearly that loving God and neighbor are the dual commandment that occupies the greatest place in our life. But we also need to realize that our capacity to love God and neighbor can only take place if we always feel God’s love first. We should realize that it is God who loves us first (cfr. 1 Jn 4,19), and we can only learn to love properly if we know, feel and imitate that love of God for us.

That is why Christ said it also very clearly that we have to love one another as he himself has loved us. (cfr. Jn 13,34) We therefore need to know how Christ loved us and continues to love us. Better said, we have to be truly like Christ because he is the very personification of true love, a love that can handle all conditions and situations in life, both in good times and in bad, etc.

To know and feel God’s love for us, as shown by Christ who shares that love with us, is crucial because that love is what would keep us going properly in this life which will always be marked with all kinds of challenges and difficulties.

We should never depend only on our own human version of love. This kind of love cannot go far. It lacks the stamina and the strength to handle life’s many twists and turns, let alone dealing with those problems that not only are difficult to solve but also are humanly unsolvable already.

That is why there are many cases of people nowadays who find it hard to persevere in their commitments. Initially they are filled with fervor, but as time passes, they slowly become disenchanted, losing steam and finding no meaning in the things they need to do.

This is when they really need to feel God’s love which they can achieve if with humility they realize that they need to pray and meditate on Christ’s life and love, avail of the sacraments, the usual channel of grace, and resolve to make another renewal of their commitment, etc.

It’s when we are touched by God’s love that we will feel energized to love again!

Going into the final stretch of the campaign period for the forthcoming barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections on 30 October 2023, candidates are jockeying for financial support from politicians who are running in the 2025 midterm elections. The cash flow are open from the coffers of provincial, city, municipal, congressional and party-list aspirants who foresee the need for support from the barangays. The old leaders who were defeated in the last elections are seeking linkage from their old benefactors who are still in power.

But politicians are getting wiser in their future plans by shifting support to the new barangay officials who defeated their old bets. Truly, there is good basis for these politicians to doubt the ability and capabilities of such defeated barangay bets. The people would know how among the candidates are capable of performing the full responsibility once elected.

It is unfortunate that many candidates had the temerity to assume that voters are akin to commodities that carry a tag price on their heads for the candidates to pay in exchange for their then sacred votes. This practice not only degrades the sanctity of the ballot but the dignity voter as well.

The rampant vote-selling are true at every barangay level as the gullible majority are dictated by the power of money. Human needs for the time-being are temporarily assuaged by the shocking downpour of cash flowing from the politicians who are in a proxy war at the grass roots level.

Aside from the financial support that politicians give to practically all candidates, there too are the usual guns, goons and gold. But voters are expecting cash despite the guns and goons in some areas.

Government must do its duty to ensure that there will be an honest, orderly and peaceful elections. Vote buying could be prevented by strict law enforcement, the control of small bills in the hands of vote-buyers and the stoppage of electronic cash transactions days prior and until the day after elections.
comments to alellema@yahoo.com

The National Dairy Authority (NDA) has earmarked P850 million to help boost the country’s milk production by 6 times in 5 years by constructing 5 stock farms and importing dairy herd animals.

The NDA has released the designated areas where the 5 stock farms will be positioned Luzon: General Tinio, Nueva Ecija, Guinobatan, Albay; Visayas: Ubay, Bohol, and in Mindanao: Malaybalay, Bukidnon and Davao City.

Accordingly, the stock farms will breed island-borne cows in order to help improve the genetics of the animals. The NDA will import 2,000 cows in 2024 with its requested additional budget of P360 million. The imported cows will coming from temperate countries free from cow disease.

The plan is to bred the imported cows and their progeny will be released and distributed to qualified farmers. With the support coming from the Dairy Confederation of the Philippines targeted P2 billion to be turned over to the NDA purposely to support the increase of stock for genetics improvement. The NDA forecast that it will take at least 2 years before realizing the benefit from the initiative. An increase by 500 percent to 80 million liters milk production per year is projected.

The NDA is planning to increase the milking herd to15,000 heads and produce 15 liters of milk per cow per day. The Authority reports that the current daily average milk production per cow is about 8 to10 liters, but could be increased to 15 to 16 liters by using good quality feeds. To realize the NDA targeted milk production, food centers will be established in rural areas to address one of the costliest farm inputs.

MY COMMENT:
Very noticeable is the absence of Eastern Visayas in the proposed locations of stock farms in the NDA’s effort to help the Philippines boost milk production. I suggest that the plan be revisited as to expand the stock farm, beef up milk out put.
Ooo000ooo NEXT TOPIC : “Economic Team – Foreign investors interested in MIF”
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The Israel-Hamas war is a conflict that has been going on for decades, but recently escalated into a full-scale war that has killed thousands of people and displaced millions more. The war has also affected the international community, including the Philippines, in various ways. In this essay, I will discuss how the Philippines can be affected by the Israel-Hamas war in terms of political, economic, and humanitarian aspects.

Political aspect:

The Philippines has a long-standing friendship with Israel, dating back to 1958 when the two countries signed a Treaty of Friendship. The Philippines is one of the few countries that supported the creation of Israel in 1947 and recognized its sovereignty in 1948. The Philippines has also maintained diplomatic relations with Palestine since 1989 and supports a peaceful resolution of the conflict based on the two-state solution.

The Philippines has expressed its solidarity with Israel in its fight against Hamas, which it considers a terrorist organization. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that the Philippines will always stand with Israel in this war against the “inhuman terrorist attacks” by Hamas. He also thanked Israel for rescuing over 20 Filipinos and bringing them to safety, while expressing concern for the three Filipinos who remain unaccounted for.

However, the Philippines has also condemned the violence on both sides and called for an immediate ceasefire and dialogue. The Philippines has urged both parties to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians, especially children and women. The Philippines has also joined the United Nations and other countries in calling for an end to the hostilities and a lasting peace in the region.

Economic aspect:

The Israel-Hamas war may have some economic implications for the Philippines, especially in terms of trade, tourism, and remittances. Israel is one of the Philippines’ trading partners, with bilateral trade amounting to $1.5 billion in 2020. The Philippines exports various agricultural products to Israel, such as bananas, pineapples, mangoes, coconuts, and coffee5. The Department of Agriculture said that the impact of the war on the Philippine agri sector is “minimal” as most of the exports are shipped to other parts of Israel that are not affected by the conflict.

Tourism is another sector that may be affected by the war, as Israel is a popular destination for Filipino pilgrims and travelers. According to the Department of Tourism, more than 40,000 Filipinos visited Israel in 2019. However, due to the pandemic and the war, travel to Israel has been restricted and discouraged. The Department of Foreign Affairs has raised Alert Level 2 in Israel, which means non-essential movements are limited among Filipinos there. The DFA has also raised Alert Level 4 in Gaza, which means mandatory evacuation for Filipinos there.

Remittances are another source of income for the Philippines that may be affected by the war. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, there are around 29,000 Filipinos working in Israel, mostly as caregivers for elderly Israelis. These Filipinos send money back home to support their families and contribute to the Philippine economy. However, due to the war, some of them may lose their jobs or face difficulties in sending money. The BSP said that it is monitoring the possible impact of the war on inflation and exchange rates.

Humanitarian aspect:

The most tragic impact of the war is on the lives and welfare of innocent people caught in the crossfire. The war has caused immense suffering and devastation for both Israelis and Palestinians, especially in Gaza where most of the casualties and damage have occurred. According to the United Nations, more than 200 people have been killed, including over 60 children, and more than 1,400 have been injured since the war began on Oct. 7. More than 58,000 people have been displaced and are staying in UN-run schools or with relatives. The war has also damaged or destroyed vital infrastructure such as roads, water systems, electricity networks, health facilities, schools, and mosques.

The Philippines has expressed its sympathy and solidarity with the victims of the war and offered humanitarian assistance to both sides. The Philippine Red Cross has sent medical supplies and personnel to Gaza to help treat the wounded and provide relief services. The Philippine government has also pledged $1 million to support the UN’s humanitarian appeal for Gaza. The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv has also coordinated with Israeli authorities and Filipino community leaders to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipinos in Israel.

Conclusion:

The Israel-Hamas war is a complex and protracted conflict that has far-reaching consequences for both parties involved and for the rest of the world. The Philippines, as a friend of both Israel and Palestine, has a stake in this issue and can be affected by it in various ways. The Philippines has shown its support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas’ attacks, but also its concern for the plight of the Palestinians and the need for a peaceful solution. The Philippines has also taken measures to protect its economic and humanitarian interests and to assist the victims of the war. The Philippines hopes that the war will end soon and that a lasting peace will be achieved in the region.