Opinion

Dec242021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

God became man

One of my favorite Christmas stories (many of you may have heard this already) is about a man who did not believe in Christmas. For him, the idea of God becoming man was simply absurd. And so, one Christmas Eve, when his wife and children invited him to join them for the midnight Mass, he politely begged off, giving lame excuses.He was left alone in the house that night. Soon he noticed some birds tapping on his window pane. They were trying to get in to avoid the freezing temperature outside. He went out of the house, opened wide his barn and drove the birds to the direction of the barn so they could be saved from the bitter cold.The birds only scampered and flew away. He returned to the house, brought out some bread crumbs, and scattered them on the snow in trails leading to the ...

Dec222021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Colorless aid

Opinion

Help for those affected by Typhoon Odette has been pouring in the province, particularly in southern Negros that was severely beaten by the storm.It took a day for everyone to realize the devastation it caused, particularly in Kabankalan City, and three more days to discover the extent of destruction it also caused in other LGUs further down south, particularly in Sipalay City which has the highest death toll.I’m not new to disasters and have covered many through the years as a reporter on the ground. You view it with a different lens, trying to stay stoic even while looking at the tragic scene around you, in your attempt to get the figures and report it back immediately.Last Sunday, the experience was different. I joined Rotarians from Negros deliver aid to affected areas....

Dec202021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Nature’s wraths: pandemic and calamities

Opinion

It is tragic that a few days before Christmas, most parts of the Visayas and portions of Mindanao as well as Palawan suffered another nature's fury with the onslaught of tropical storm "Odette" late last week.Viewing the captured videos and photos of the storm’s impacts shared online was depressing, especially since the damages to properties and agriculture are severe while several lives were lost.Heavy flooding occurred in pathways of the storm, and whistling winds blew rooftops and destroyed houses and other infrastructures. Floodwaters inundated many urban centers since heavy rain continuously poured for quite a time starting at night of December 16 to early in the morning of the following day.As of this time, relief and recovery efforts are still underway as many were rende...

Dec192021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

By way of humility

Opinion

We have finally come to the last stretch of our preparation for Christmas. For the past weeks, we have seen how God prepared his people for the coming of the promised Messiah. Contrary to Israel’s expectation of a glorious savior and a triumphant entry, God chose to send his Messiah quietly (even surreptitiously). God chose to send his Son into the world by way of humility. The setting, the people and the circumstances that led to the first Christmas - all speak of humility.The first reading tells of God’s choice of the insignificant town of Bethlehem to be the birthplace of his Son. When Joshua partitioned the promised land and listed the towns apportioned to each of the twelve tribes of Israel, Bethlehem was not in the list of those allotted to Judah. Absent from the map, it had to b...

Dec142021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Covid-free Bacolod?

Opinion

Footages from the lights-on ceremonies at the Bacolod Public Plaza by the city government last Monday, December 13, showed a huge crowd, although far from the 15,000 claimed by their press release if you based it on drone shots they shared. Still, there were thousands of people crowding around as if Bacolod has become Covid-free.It was in stark contrast from what went on at the Capitol Lagoon by the provincial government that also switched on their lights’ display and even had fireworks to celebrate the Christmas Season and also the birthday celebration of Gov. Bong Lacson.Tables and chairs at the Lagoon were arranged with physical distancing in mind and although it cannot be denied that at some point, people took off their masks to eat, there was obvious thought from the organizer...

Dec142021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Human persecution of Philippine eagles

Opinion

I virtually attended one of the breakout sessions of the 2021 Philippines Biodiversity Symposium last week, and there were many interesting paper presentations.Organized by the Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines, this annual event is on its 29th year where scientists, conservationists, academe, non-government organizations and other development workers, and local and national government employees, among others, gather for sharing updated information and knowledge on biodiversity in the Philippines.Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the symposium has been held online for two consecutive years now.One of the interesting presentations, although a bit sad and depressing, was the paper of Dr. Jayson Ibañez of the Philippine Eagle Foundation on the human persecution of the P...

Dec122021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Be happy

Opinion

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice.” Our entrance antiphon on this Third Sunday of Advent sets the mood of our Eucharistic celebration. From the color of the candle and the vestments (a lighter shade of purple or pink) to the prayers and the readings, the whole liturgy is bursting with uncontainable joy and anticipation. The reason is that “the Lord is near” (second reading), so near as to be actually “in your midst.” (first reading)Today’s liturgy and the readings, in particular, remind me of the story of St. Dominic Savio. When he heard Don Bosco preach in one of his homilies that God’s will for everyone is to be holy, the young student resolved there and then to become a saint. Since then, he changed from a lively typical teenager to a serious loner. He stopped playi...

Dec72021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Unity in diversity

Opinion

They may have different choices for president in the coming elections, but the leaders of Love Negros and the United Negros Alliance have found ways to strengthen their hold at the local level, at least in most areas.The unity ticket has made it possible for most local chief executives who are running unopposed to support whoever they want for the national positions. And from what I heard from the grapevine, the biggest winner is likely to be Davao Mayor Sarah Duterte who is also the choice for vice-president among those who are said to be supporting the presidential bid of Vice-President Leni Robredo.Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer is going for former Senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. which is not surprising because he is married to the granddaughter of Roberto Benedicto, a known ally of...

Dec62021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Negros Occidental local conservation ng momentum

Opinion

It was a delight to know that the provincial government of Negros Occidental, through its Provincial Environment Management Office, has recognized the positive outcomes of declaring Local Conservation Areas in the different cities and municipalities of the province.The awarding was part of the commemoration of the province's Wildlife Month in November. Governor Bong Lacson and Provincial Environment Management Officer Julie Ann Bedrio led the awarding ceremony to sites that have shown conservation outcomes.Since all nominated sites comprised mostly areas within the coastal and marine ecosystems, this year's awarding used the Marine Protected Area Management Effective Assessment Tool in determining the winners, Maria Elena San Jose, PEMO head of the technical support services divisi...

Dec52021 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Sacred history

Opinion

Our gospel reading opens with a list of “who’s who” in the political and religious world of John the Baptist, as he starts his ministry in the desert.The use of precise historical references is typical of Luke in writing his gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. What is his purpose?Luke writes of something deeply spiritual and mystical, but also real and factual. He wants to underscore that the story of Jesus and the Church is historical, and not a legend or a myth. Thus, he takes particular care to situate the happenings of his narrative in real-time and space, putting them in the context of historical persons and events.Luke’s distinctive regard for the historicity of his gospel manifests not only his fidelity to Truth, but also his sensibility to the sacred character of histo...