Opinion

Our readings today speak about something that is of paramount importance. They speak of the human heart’s deepest desire – happiness. All our life is spent in pursuit of happiness. Everything we do is ultimately aimed at gaining happiness. Everyone goes his way in search of happiness; some find it while others don’t. What is happiness?In the gospel, Jesus teaches the beatitudes as a way to 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.We see it all around us. We read stories of men and women, great in the eyes of the...

Businessman Willy Au (standing) , one of the owners of Luk Foo Palace Bacolod, with guests*From an array of delectable dimsum to their mouth-watering main courses, the newest restaurant in town offers authentic Cantonese flavors which promises unparalleled dining experience for their guests.Luk Foo Palace which originated in Davao City and has another branch in Alabang, opened its doors in Bacolod yesterday, further establishing the City of Smiles as a food destination.Located in the compound of Acacia Hotel, Luk Foo Palace is having an introductory offer of 50 percent off on their dimsum and noodles until the end of March.The food at the Luk Foo Palace* JunJun Espina and Citoy Taño photosCherry Pea Maddela, President of CHMI Hotels and Residences, Inc. that owns and ma...

This year is a special year - a Jubilee Year. I’m personally excited about it because I truly believe that every Jubilee brings with it a windfall of graces and abundant blessings. We remember the jubilees celebrated in the Old Testament when properties were returned to their original owners, debts were condoned, prisoners freed, and slaves emancipated. Even the land was not planted with crops to give it rest. The Jubilee is a time of grace from God for all to have a new beginning and start a new life.Today the Church continues to observe the same spirit in the Jubilee it celebrates every 25 or 50 years. It is special time for renewal and conversion. As Pope John Paul II explains, “For the Church, the Jubilee is a ‘year of the Lord’s favor,’ a year of the remission of sins and of punis...

The first reading taken from the Book of Nehemiah is probably one of the most poignant stories in the Old Testament. After fifty years of captivity in Babylon, a portion of the Jewish people returned to Jerusalem. Finding their beloved city in utter ruin, they started the long and difficult work of its reconstruction. When they had finally finished rebuilding the temple and the city walls, the priest, Ezra, gathered the people, men, women, and those children old enough to understand. He read out to them the Book of the Law from morning till noon, and they all listened attentively. As they heard the words of the law, everyone wept. Ezra then blessed the people, who responded, “Amen, amen!” and they prostrated themselves to the ground before the Lord.How much they must have missed the To...

Once I had a lively discussion with our priests on IVF (in vitro fertilization) or test tube babies, its risks and moral implications. Considering its prohibitive cost and the ethical exigencies, I thought that the possibility of such reproductive technology was remote only to learn that it is being practiced here already.“But why resort to such controversial and dangerous means, when a childless couple can adopt a child?” I asked.Many volunteered an answer or two. The couple would prefer to have a child of their own genes and DNA… Besides, there are many biases against adopted children. What if they are born from rape or from some problematic parents, etc.?“But are we not all adopted children ourselves?” I countered.We are all children of Adam and Eve, our dysfunctional pa...

The story of the Magi is among the best loved stories of all time. We commonly refer to them as the Three Kings who came from the East to pay homage to the newborn Messiah in Bethlehem. It is not certain however if they were actually three, or even kings at all. The idea came about because Matthew tells us in his gospel that they offered the Child three gifts, befitting a king: gold, frankincense and myrrh.Through the years, many stories have been written, which draw inspiration from the inexhaustible richness of the original Christmas story. One such story is the legend of Artaban, which I always loved listening to as a boy.The story goes that Artaban was supposed to be the fourth wise man to travel with the other three to Jerusalem in search of “the newborn King of the Jews.” Unf...

        God was good in 2024 and He will be good in 2025. He alone is worthy of our daily praise and service.  Everything we do or think should be for His honor and glory (Col 3:17).  Through a cooperative services/ministry we reached people in the Philippines and USA in 2024. Together we impacted the souls of our fellow human beings, warriors, and families not only during our lifetime but for eternity.  Many came to know God personally in their hearts. Others returned and started worshipping God on regular basis. Broken relationships were mended. Prayers were answered. God healed many from their sickness. A handful few followed the LORD in baptism. Sadly, we lost family members (my sister Linda Lewis Hayward) and friends. They were...

Every Sunday after Christmas, the Church celebrates the feast of the Holy Family. And fittingly so because God entered our world and became one of us by way of the family. In the same manner, God also enters our life by way of our family.It is in our family where we first come to know God. From our parents and grandparents we learn our prayers and catechism. Above all, it is in our family that we experience God in the love we receive and give each other.Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Beleaguered by worldly concerns and burdened with all sorts of problems, many families lose sight of their reason for being.They say that we can choose our friends but not our family. Our family is a given. It is given to us by God as a gift and a responsibility.As we celebrate the...

Chaplain Manuel A. Biadog Jr. with his granddaughter Pollyanna following the Christmas Eve service in Port Orchard, WA.*Cindy Gore photoThe real meaning of ChristmasChristmas is all about Jesus Christ, God’s greatest gift to humankind. Christmas celebration comes every year. The followers of Jesus observe the true meaning of Christmas because this blessed holiday offers a wonderful message. The Bible records the Good News of the birth of the Savior. The word "Immanuel" in Hebrew means, "God is with us" (Matthew 1:23 NLT). He, who resided in Heaven, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, willingly descended into our world. He did not come to frighten us, but to show us the way to warmth and safety. He breathed our air, felt our pain, knew our sorrows, and died for...

Last October our diocese celebrated our Third Diocesan Pastoral Assembly (DPA3) which was a singular experience of synodality. As one diocese, we gathered together - bishop, priests, religious, and lay faithful (representatives from all our parishes and chaplaincies) - to draw up our diocesan pastoral plan.The diocese holds a pastoral assembly every five years. Preceded by months of preparation and consultation at the parish level, the diocesan pastoral assembly assesses the previous 5-year pastoral plan, revisits its vision-mission statement, formulates its priority objectives, etc.But unlike any ordinary corporate strategic planning, our diocesan assembly’s primary task is one of discernment. More than creating our plan for our diocese, we seek to discover God’s own plan for our ...