OPINION PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY February 1 - 15 , 2017
Reyfort Publishing & Entertainment
Office Add : 9955 -149th Street , Surrey , B . C . V3R 7N2 Email : info @ philippinenewstoday . ca Website : www . philippineasiannewstoday . com http :// www . reyfortmediagroup . com Tel : ( 604 ) 588-news ( 6397 ) Fax : ( 604 ) 588-6387 Now available : Alberta Province
Efren Saylon Tel : ( 780 ) 707-1477
Photograhers- Charles De Jesus / Christian Cunanan
Copyright of letters and other materials submitted and accepted for publication remains with the author , but the Publisher may freely reproduce them in any other forms . Opinions and views expressed are of the author ’ s and do not necessarily reflect the views of the PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY . E-mail : info @ philippinenewstoday . ca
Breaking Point
By Rosette Correa
According to Benjamin Franklin , there is nothing that can be said to be certain in this world , except death and taxes . The year has already set itself right in , and now that it ’ s February , people should be feeling a bit more sure and settled . Unfortunately , it ’ s not the normal February that we are used to having , and this could be for a number of reasons .
First , the snow . We ’ ve not had this much snow in a few years , and what makes this one so different is that people weren ’ t ready for it . While other provinces think our snowfall is lame compared to their six long months of it , Vancouverites think we ’ ve had too much of it . Being used to milder winters and sunnier springs and summers , the snow is welcome at first , especially when the nice , white fluff makes its way onto our yards . However , when it gets hard , muddy and unreasonable , we start disliking it . Plus the fact that our city governments don ’ t know how to handle a lot of it compounds our worries and pocketbooks , as well as our inability to put elbow grease into the mechanical plowing we need to do on
Bulong Pulungan
By Deedee Siytangco
Reprinted from Manila Bulletin
ANGEL THOUGHTS
“ Life is the greatest gift that God has bestowed on human beings . Since human life is created in the image of God , it belongs to Him . We have no right to destroy it .” — Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta *************** Listening and watching the ongoing Senate investigation in the shameful kidnapping and killing of a Korean businessman , Mr . Jee , within the grounds of the PNP Headquarters , Camp Crame , can be very bad for your health .
The lies , counter lies , and allegations between Supt .
our sidewalks .
People have become impatient and have lost a sense of awe , like children , at the sight of miracles , like snow .
Second , Donald Trump . Whether we Canadians admit it or not , US politics is much more exciting than ours , and when The Donald stepped in , it became a full blown circus , a much better show than the Cirque Du Soleil . His recent Executive Order on banning visitors from seven Muslim countries is his nth attempt at infamy , and restlessness followed one after the other , and so did crimes against Islamic people . Canada wasn ’ t spared , as Quebec saw its first violent attack on a Mosque for the year . Thousands of Canadians gathered together , Muslim , Catholic , non-denominational people alike , banding against an a insidious plan to discriminate against one group the world has identified as “ terrorists ” in general , as did Americans who rallied against the illegality of the EO . With families being separated by the EO , people wait helplessly and cheered on the judge who said the move was unconstitutional . Although people have shown a sense of empathy , anger
Atty . Dumlao and his subordinate , SPO 3 Ricky Sta . Isabel is shameful , outrageous , and a national shame . It can raise your blood pressure in anger and frustration and yet the “ star ” characters are still playing the senators and us the public as fools . They have been denying to high heavens any involvement in the heinous crime . As I surmised a week ago , the corrupt police will come out unscathed , except perhaps a dismissal from the service and the conclusion that Jee , the victim , committed suicide then burned himself ! * * * “ Come in silence … and
WWW . PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY . COM
Rey Fortaleza - Publisher Carlito Pablo - Editorial Consultant Rosette Correa - Senior Editor Jun Cordero - Associate Editor Writers - Crisanta Sampang ; Columnists - Geoff Meggs , Ben Berto , Editha Corrales , Mon Datol , Fr . Jerry Orbos SVD , DeeDee Sytangco , Alan Samuel , Erie Maestro , Sandee M . Ed Malay , Jayne Anastacio , JJAtencio and Willie J . Uy ( Manila Bureau Chief ) Alvin Barrera - Graphics and Layout ; Rolly Fortaleza - Graphics Design / JoelCastro . com - Website ; Julian Fortaleza - Sports Editor ; Photography Editor : Dean Guzman ; Assistant to Photography Editor : David Gabriele
When Virtues aren ’ t Googleable
has mastered their emotions .
And then there is Duterte , who continues to beguile the Filipino people with his speech , rhetoric and seemingly good nature . When the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines came up with a pastoral letter , Duterte spins off with another round of foul ammo , joined by his side kick Bato , seconded by their minions who continue to attack the Church . The funny thing is that none of our Muslim or Jewish brothers resort to name calling , yet our so-called Christian brothers from the same fold t are quick to offer a word or two about the clergy . The fact
Come and listen
listen to the Lord .”
This exhortation from Abbot Ronald Thomas “ Archie ” Corte zgreets every pilgrim at the Monasterio de Tarlac . And when the mass begins , it is always a moving reminder from the Abbot : “ Let us remember we are at the foot of the Cross .”
Fr . Archie also reminds pilgrims that the relic of the true cross , a tiny shard of the wooden cross of the Crucified Christ , is enshrined beneath the altar of the small chapel . It is the reason the Monasterio built from ground zero by the then new monastic community of the Servants of the Risen Christ founded by Fr . Cortez is now a religious
that the issue at hand is the abominable extra-judicial killings which , in any religion , tenet and moral society , is wrong in itself ; however , it becomes secondary to what is an attack on an institution that only aims to tell us the truth . Sadly , our society does not want to hear the truth . Archbishop Fulton Sheen said that “ Wrong is wrong , even if everyone says it ’ s right ; right is right , even when nobody says it ’ s right .” People have lost their sense of right and wrong , and have succumbed to what is popular .
What is happening to our world right now is that we ’ ve lost one thing we used
pilgrimage site from all over the country and the world . The governor then , Jose Yap , seeing the goodwill of such a religious site gave the community the land , which was part of a government ecotourism park . The monastery grounds are now the “ crown jewel ” of the park .
Tourists and pilgrims visit the monasterio the whole year round , but last Saturday , it was a special occasion to be there . It was the 10th anniversary of the Enshrinement of the relic . Ten years ago , the Papal Nuncio then enshrined the relic , which came from Germany from a monastic community whose Abbot entrusted its to have when not everything could be googleable - our virtues . Virtues are what makes us human , and our sense of humanity comes from virtues . The truth is , and no one wants to hear it , is that we will never be in control of any situation , and everything is temporary . We can always distract ourselves from reality , but it will always come back . While I agree with Franklin that death and taxes are the only two sure things in this world , I hope that virtue would make a good third - for humanity ’ s sake .
*************
care and propagation to the Filipino priest and asked him to build a church for it . He also encouraged Fr . Archie to form a monastic community . Thus , were the Servants of the Risen Cross born .
Getting there is half the sacrifice as the monasterio is atop the higher hill in the eco-park . The roads now are smooth but the zig-zags are steep and sharp . Your vehicles need to be in top condition to navigate them . Already , the hills are beginning to be populated by homes and commercial stalls and the lone concrete one-lane bridge is being widened to accommodate more vehicles . Yes , the monasterio has
CONT 8