Opinion

Today’s gospel brings to a close the Sermon on the Plain, which has been the subject of our reflection for the past two Sundays. It is Luke’s shorter version of Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount.Both sermons are a collection of Jesus’ teachings, particularly on discipleship. We have seen the radical demands of following Jesus as articulated in the beatitudes and in such teachings as loving our enemies and being merciful, like the Father.In this last portion of the sermon, Jesus directs his words to his followers who would eventually be the teachers and leaders of his Church. Using three vivid images, he warns them to be wary in choosing spiritual guides. Do not follow a blind guide lest you both fall into the pit.Before volunteering to remove a speck from someone’s eye, remove first th...

BY INDAY ESPINA-VARONAJoel Abong, photo by Kim Komenich (May 4, 1985)My Facebook profile says, for education, “studied activism at the University of the Philippines.”I went into UP thinking of following in the footsteps of our mother, Dr. Lourdes Espina. I took one look at the syllabus and asked, “can I switch to journalism.”Writing was also half of our legacy. Dad, Rolly Espina, was a journalist, one of the “deans” of the Negros media.But going into UP, I also knew – at 16 years of age – that activism was also in my blood.Graciano Lopez Jaena was the brother of our grandmother’s father. In the Espina side, great grand uncles had been exiled by the Americans, and grand-aunts and grandfathers had worked for the resistance against the Japanese invaders of World War 11...

All’s well that ends well.This was what businessman Ian Lo said following the reconciliation between him and his mother, Corazon recently.I was very happy to hear that because the last time I wrote about the Lo family, that was my very wish for them – to be reunited. And the first step in that direction is always, open communication.I was able to talk to Ian after the reconciliation and he said he was “very happy with making up with Mommy, because while things did get ugly then, at the end of the day, my love and respect for my mother remains.”He said that although he has not seen his mom for a long time, also because of the pandemic, “I never stopped reaching out to my mom and she would do the same, through calls and messages.”What made it even better was that Ian and ...

The story of Viktor Frankl, who survived the horrors of the Nazi camp, remains one of the most inspiring stories of our time.In his book, “Man’s Search for Meaning”, the author narrates how one day while naked and alone in a small room, he became aware that he had one thing no one could take away from him, “the last of the human freedoms—to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.”Between what was happening to him and how he would react to it, he was free to choose his response. He could either give up and give in to the temptation of suicide, or he could hold on to life.The power of the will is truly extraordinary. It can make us rise above pain and suffering, even the most inhuman inflicted by the grossest injustice. It can even move u...

Our readings today speak about something that is of supreme importance. They speak of the deepest desire of every human heart – happiness. All our life is spent in pursuit of happiness. Every act we do is ultimately aimed at gaining happiness. Everyone goes his way in search of it. In the end, some find it, while others don’t. What is happiness?In the gospel, Jesus teaches the beatitudes as a way of happiness that transcends every difficulty and suffering in this present life. The word beatitude literally means blessedness or happiness. Jesus declares that a man can be happy even when he is poor, hungry, mournful or despised.Likewise, a man can be cursed even while he is rich, full, content and well-regarded. What constitutes happiness?Jeremiah offers an answer in the first rea...

The breaking news that mayoralty candidate, Albee Benitez, is supporting the candidacy of presidential aspirant, former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. generated so much interest in such a short time and was shared over a thousand times.We all know that this election is very polarizing especially where Marcos and Vice President Leni Robredo are concerned, as the two are considered the frontrunners in the coming presidential election.Many were not surprised by Albee’s alliance with the Marcoses because historically, his father was a close ally of the late dictator.But many Albee-converts, especially those who are pro-Leni hoped that Albee will stay neutral especially when he stated during the debate-that-never-was, that he will be a party-man and will go with whomever his party, PD...

Wednesday last week was the commemoration of the World Wetlands Day with the theme "Wetlands Action for People and Nature”.The United Nations General Assembly declared February 2 as World Wetlands Day, which is probably the latest global conservation event since the proclamation was only made in August 30 last year. This declaration was anchored on the Wetlands Convention, an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.The 50th year of the treaty on wetlands was commemorated in 2021. The UN adopted the convention in 1971 and it came into force in 1975 in the Iranian City of Ramsar, the reason why it is also known as the Ramsar Convention. Almost 90 percent of the UN member states acceded to become contractin...

Soon after Pope Francis was elected, he was interviewed by the editor of Civilta Cattolica. The editor’s opening question was, “Who is Jorge Mario Bergoglio?” Apparently caught by surprise, the new Pope paused for a moment and then responded, “I am a sinner. This is the most accurate definition. It is not a figure of speech, a literary genre. I am a sinner.”Nine years after that first interview, we now see even more clearly the sincerity of the Pope’s response. It did not come from some feigned modesty or pa-humble effect, but from a deep awareness of his own sinfulness vis-a-vis the mercy of God. Thus, his motto, Miserando atque Eligendo (Miserable yet Chosen).In today’s readings, we see the same honesty in Isaiah, Peter and Paul. Overwhelmed by the intense experience of God’s maj...

It seems 2021 had just passed so fast and while there were restrictions in our movement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many happenings in the country caught our attention.Aside from the hot issues related to the forthcoming national and local elections in May 2022 and concerns on how the pandemic was being addressed, before the year ended many islands in the Visayas, some parts of Mindanao, and Palawan were devastated by super typhoon Odette.Strong winds and severe flooding destroyed houses and many public infrastructures, including road and water, power, and communication servicing facilities. A number of deaths were also reported.In Negros Occidental, 2021 started with heavy flooding in the northern part of the province and ended with another one in the south.Amidst all th...

Today, we continue to read from last Sunday’s gospel wherein Jesus picked the passage from the Book of Isaiah, describing the messianic time. At the end of the reading, Jesus declared, “Today, this passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” The initial reaction of the townspeople was one of admiration and amazement. Then it turned into skepticism and resentment.“Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” Finally, it degenerated into fury and murderous rage. “They rose up, drove him out of the town… to hurl him down headlong.”What happened? Why the sudden change of mood? The people’s initial euphoria about Jesus might have come from their realization that the Messiah could indeed be one of their own. They had earlier heard of Jesus’ fame as an eloquent preacher and a powerful miracle worker in Cape...