Thursday, March 18, 2021
Spotting A Fake Gospel
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40:8
The document’s final words read, “Gospel of Judas,” and the content of the same would lead anyone to conclude that the author is the disciple of Jesus, the one who betrayed Him in the garden for 30 pieces of silver, and then hanged himself in contrition for the dark deed. It seems to be more than a mere coincidence that National Geographic released a special on this manuscript during Holy Week as though it was something just discovered, when, in effect, scholars have known about the document discovered in the sands of Egypt for a long, long time.
“Just one more confusing old manuscript,” say some, not quite sure what to believe and what not to believe. There is one thing for certain: nobody counterfeits brown wrapping paper. And what does that mean? For everything in the world that is genuine and authentic, there is a counterfeit, a cheap imitation, a piece that is fraudulent no matter how colorful or interesting it may be. Is this real or counterfeit?
Here are the facts.
Fact #1: Judas never put his hand to this document. While the New Testament was written in Greek, this document was written in Coptic, an Egyptian language, unknown in all likelihood to Judas. Furthermore it was probably written about 400 AD though some scholars-based upon the scribe’s handwriting, the ink that was used, and the linguistic styles commonly used in the second and third centuries–say that it was written earlier, perhaps about 200 A.D. Whoa! Two centuries after the whole event is totally out of sync with the dates for the other New Testament documents. In existence today is a portion of John 18 dated 125 A.D. An unknown author, with an axe to grind, a point to prove, wrote this, asserting that Judas was the author, when he had actually been dead for a long, long time.
Fact #2: The whole message of the document flies in the face of the New Testament books. It reflects a Gnostic message that the flesh is evil and we need to escape from it–which is why Judas, who betrayed Jesus, looks like the hero, not the villain. Paul condemned this teaching in his letter to the Colossians.
Fact #3: Church fathers consistently denounced Gnostic teaching, and to suggest that this fits into the New Testament framework reflects a bias which is better known as heresy. No wonder Paul wrote, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!” (Galatians 1:8).
Fact #4: The suggestion that this is a “Gospel” is a misnomer—a fraud designed to glean support through confusion. The Greek word uniformly used in the New Testament for “gospel” means “good news,” a “good message.” The first record of the word’s use was on a Greek inscription when one army triumphed over another and a runner carried the “good news” of the victory.
Fact #5: This is but one of many manuscripts or documents written in the aftermath of the spread of Christianity where “wannabees” – people who wanted to be something else–wrote, using an assumed name.
A final thought. When anthropologist and missionary Don Richardson told the story of the Gospels to the Sawis of Papua New Guinea, he was appalled that they cheered for Judas. “No,” he thought, “they got it wrong.” He retold the story. Yes, they liked Judas. Then Richardson learned that the Sawis valued treachery above integrity and so they cheered for the bad guy. I think the old Sawis would like the alleged “Gospel of Judas.” But, thank God, as the result of Richardson’s ministry there, the new Sawis no longer cheer for the traitor. They know the truth, and the truth has set them free.
Scripture reading: Jeremiah 36
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/spotting-a-fake-gospel/
From TV’s No. 1 to digital hit, ‘Ang Probinsyano’ poised to continue, assures Coco Martin
The Philippines’ undisputed No. 1 TV program until its home network ABS-CBN was forced off free broadcast in mid-2020, the long-running “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” has re-emerged as a massive digital hit, with an ever-growing list of platforms where viewers can follow the iconic Cardo’s crusade for justice.
Since its September 2015 debut on ABS-CBN’s Channel 2, “Ang Probinsyano” had been the consistent top TV show across the country, according to Kantar Media, until a congressional panel voted to reject the network’s bid for a fresh broadcast franchise.
In February 2020, the last full-month survey of Kantar Media prior to the coronavirus lockdown, “Ang Probinsyano” retained that distinction with an average national TV rating of 34%. Its highest-ever viewership for a single episode — 47.2% nationwide — was recorded in October 2018.
“Ang Probinsyano” then migrated fully to digital in July 2020, a month ahead of the launch of Kapamilya Online Live, the free livestreaming of ABS-CBN programs on YouTube and Facebook.
Cardo (Coco Martin) would go on to mark numerous milestones in terms of concurrent viewership online, or those watching its live stream at the same time — from 56,000 for its digital debut, separate from Kapamilya Online Live; to 80,000 on YouTube alone in January 2021.
Its Kapamilya Online Live audience would steadily grow in the following months. In the first half of March 2021, for instance, “Ang Probinsyano” slowly but surely breached the 100,000 mark — now its average.
Meanwhile, the four-part upload of each episode, accessible for a week immediately after its Kapamilya Online Live stream, now averages a total of 2 million views on YouTube.
‘DAHAN-DAHAN, NAKAKABANGON’
Those numbers exclude the audience of “Ang Probinsyano” on other digital platforms. The series has long been available on ABS-CBN’s iWant TFC — and starting March 20, will also stream on WeTV and iflix, along with two other “Primetime Bida” programs.
It's time to celebrate! 🥂
— iflix Philippines (@iflixph) March 17, 2021
WeTV iflix will now show your favorite ABS-CBN Primetime Bida teleseryes 'FPJ's Ang Probinsyano,' 'Huwag Kang Mangamba', and 'Init sa Magdamag' two days earlier than free TV starting this Saturday, March 20 for AP & HKM. ❤️💚💙#WeTViflixKapamilya pic.twitter.com/BBOo8CCIIq
“Primetime Bida” is also seen on cable via Kapamilya Channel; and on free and digital television via TV5 (nationwide) and A2Z Channel 11 (Metro Manila and nearby provinces).
“Sobrang saya,” Martin said of ABS-CBN’s partnership with WeTV iflix. “Dinadasal halos lahat ‘yan ng mga taga-ABS-CBN, na dahan-dahan at muli tayong makabangon, na maipalabas ulit ang lahat ng pinaghihirapan nating mga teleserye, pelikula.”
Martin was among several primetime stars of ABS-CBN who attended the virtual trade show of WeTV iflix on Wednesday, where the “Primetime Bida” deal was announced.
Under the partnership, episodes of three primetime programs — “Ang Probinsyano,” “Huwag Kang Mangamba,” and “Init sa Magdamag” — can be accessed by VIP users of WeTV iflix two days ahead of their regular broadcast.
“Ang ABS-CBN, kung anuman ang nangyari — may pandemya man, nawalan man tayo ng prangkisa — hindi huminto,” Martin said. “Patuloy pa rin tayong lumalaban, kasi hindi lang para sa atin ‘tong ginagawa natin. Para sa lahat ng mga empleyado ng ABS-CBN, para sa pagseserbisyo natin sa lahat ng mga Pilipino, ginagawa natin ‘to.”
Noting the respective debuts of “Huwag Kang Mangamba” on March 22 and “Init sa Magdamag” on April 19, Martin added: “Alam ko, lahat, pinaghihirapan, tinututukan, mas lalong pinagbubuti. Tuloy ang trabaho para mapaligaya natin ang mga tao, especially ang mga Pilipino na naghihirap at ito lang ang nagiging kaligayahan nila sa gabi-gabi at nakakapagbigay sa kanila ng inspirasyon.”
“Kaya, laban lang! Tulong-tulong lang. Hindi susuko para sa lahat ng mga Pilipino.”
‘NAPAKAHABA PA NG LALAKBAYIN’
Prior to the March unveiling of ABS-CBN’s partnerships with TV5 and WeTV iflix, a media report claimed that “Ang Probinsyano” was due to conclude “soon” — a rumor subsequently denied by the Kapamilya network.
Martin, who is also one of the creative heads of “Ang Probinsyano,” similarly said on Wednesday that the series’ end is indeed not yet in sight.
“Hitik na hitik pa kami sa kuwento. Nagsisimula pa lang maghiganti si Cardo para kay Alyana,” he said, referring to the character of Yassi Pressman, who exited the show in February.
The characters of Lorna Tolentino (Lily), Joel Torre (Teddy), Susan Roces (Lola Flora), Richard Gutierrez (Lito), and Jane de Leon (Lia) will also have their respective arcs, Martin teased.
“Sa napakaraming characters, napakarami niya pang pupuntahan,” he said. “Hitik — ‘yung action, drama, comedy, romance, lahat ‘yan pupuntahan namin.”
“Kung pag-uusapan natin ang istorya, napakahaba pa ng lalakbayin ng kuwento natin,” Martin said.
Palace floats possible change in quarantine status in April
Amid spike in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the country, the government might be forced to impose a stricter community quarantine in April, Malacañang said Thursday.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque floated the possibility of a more restrictive quarantine status in the country if healthcare utilization rate and bed care utilization rate reached the “critical” level.
“Fixed po ang ating formulas on quarantine. So, kung talagang magiging critical po ang ating healthcare utilization rate, then, that may justify changing our quarantine status (We have fixed formulas on [implementing nationwide community] quarantine. So, if our healthcare [and bed] utilization rate[s] become critical, then, that may justify changing our quarantine status),” he said in a virtual presser.
Covid-19 infections have ticked up further, as the Department of Health reported more cases of new coronavirus strains.
The Philippines on Wednesday reported an additional 4,387 Covid-19 cases, bringing the country’s total case count to 635,698.
On Monday, the Philippines logged 5,404 new infections, the highest single-day count recorded this year.
OCTA Research, an independent research group monitoring the Covid-19 cases in the country, warned that daily cases nationwide may jump to 8,000 by month-end, and could even reach up to 20,000 by mid-April, if the upward trend in infections continues.
Roque remained confident that the government would be able to slow down the spread of Covid-19.
“In fact, nakikita natin na bumagal na. Hindi na po siya 5,000 plus. Nasa 4,000 na. And I think we can further slow it down gradually – 3,000 hanggang 2,000 back to the 1,000 level (In fact, it is slowing down already. It’s no longer 5,000 plus. And I think we can further slow it down gradually to 3,000, and then to 2,000, back to the 1,000 level),” he said.
Roque also said the local government units (LGUs), with the cooperation of their constituents, are doing their best to contain Covid-19 within their respective localities.
“Gumagawa nga po tayo ng mga hakbang para huwag magkatotoo ‘yung mga projection (We are looking for ways to avoid the projections [made by OCTA Research]). And I think the local government units already know what to do,” he said.
The OCTA Research Group said the Covid-19 cases in the country may hit to 11,000 by the end of March if the at least 2.03 reproduction number will not change.
Due to the rising Covid-19 cases, Metro Manila LGUs imposed tougher measures anew. The local officials in the country’s metropolis decided to implement a two-week curfew beginning March 15 and banned minors aged 18 and below outdoors to help curb coronavirus infections.
Meantime, Roque said there is no need to discontinue the public engagements of President Rodrigo Duterte despite upward trend in Covid-19 cases.
Roque maintained that Duterte is avoiding places with high cases of Covid-19.
“Itutuloy po iyan kasi iyong lakad naman niya ay sa area na mababa po ang Covid ‘no (His activities will proceed as planned because they will be conducted in areas that have low Covid-19 cases),” he said.
Duterte on Thursday visited Guiuan, Eastern Samar to lead the quincentennial commemoration of the Philippine Part in the First Circumnavigation of the World.
After his visit to Eastern Samar, Duterte would attend the joint meeting of national and regional task forces’ ending local communist armed conflict in Tacloban City.
PRC receives 3 rescue boats to boost response ops
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), the foremost humanitarian organization in the country that has been actively and deeply involved in saving lives and alleviating human suffering, received three rescue boat donations worth PHP300,000 each.
The three rescue boats that come with four life vests each were recently donated and turned over to the PRC national headquarters by Engr. Vergil Bargola, president and CEO of VeMoBro E-Commerce, Capex Cargo, and VJB Construction Corporation, and also the president of the Rotary Club of Kamuning, Quezon City.
The additional rescue boats will be assigned to the PRC Quezon City Chapter and will provide assistance to hasten relief efforts in times of calamities.
PRC Chairman and CEO, Senator Richard Gordon praised the efforts of Bargola for his help and support to help alleviate human suffering especially in times of emergencies.
“Ang karagdagang rescue boats na ito ay malaking tulong upang mas mapabilis natin ang pagsagip sa buhay ng mga tao. Malaking tulong ito lalo na sa panahon ng bagyo na kung saan maraming kababayan natin ang nai-stranded sa mga bubong sa di inaasahang pagbaha sa kanilang mga lugar (These additional rescue boats are a big help to hasten our efforts to save lives, especially during typhoons where many of our countrymen are stranded on top of their houses due to flash floods),” Gordon said in a news release on Thursday.
Palawan says no
After three days of canvassing, the Provincial Plebiscite Board of Canvassers made it official last Tuesday: Palawan will remain one united province.
It was a stunning verdict, a vindication of the work of the passionate groups that had relentlessly campaigned since 2018 against the ratification of Republic Act No. 11259, which would have chopped up Palawan, touted as the country’s last ecological frontier for its rich biodiversity, into three smaller provinces, namely Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur.
Earlier, Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez, the main voice calling for the division of Palawan, had grudgingly conceded defeat when it became obvious that the nays had it — even in his hometown of San Vicente where his daughter is the mayor.
The Board of Canvassers did not even need to wait for the voting results from the smallest municipality of Kalayaan off the West Philippine Sea to conclude the voting exercise, as the available numbers were already a decisive victory for the No vote with 172,302 against 122,223 Yes votes.
Alvarez accepted the result, but tried to downplay it just the same as supposedly the Palaweños’ ultimate loss: “Hindi naman ang pamahalaang panlalawigan ang natalo. Ang natalo dito ang sambayanang Palaweño dahil ang batas na ito ay para sa kanila ngunit hindi tinanggap.”The measure to divide Palawan was introduced in March 2018 by Palawan Reps. Franz Josef George E. Alvarez, Frederick F. Abueg, and Gil P. Acosta, ostensibly to “hasten the economic and social progress” of the 23 municipalities comprising the proposed provinces and “to bring the seats of government nearer, accessible and more responsive to the needs of the inhabitants of the new provinces.”
Congress then roused itself and acted with uncharacteristic speed to approve the measure despite concerns expressed even then that no consultations had been held and there was no clamor for what was clearly a gerrymandering exercise. The House of Representatives passed the measure in August 2018, the Senate concurred in November, and President Duterte signed the bill into law in April 2019. The law called for the holding of a plebiscite where Palawan residents could vote on whether they approved or rejected the move to split their province.
That the measure was ultimately spurned at the March 13 polls, and by a margin far bigger than expected, can be attributed to the dogged grassroots education advocacy campaign waged by the various nongovernment organizations, civil society groups, peoples’ organizations, and church-based groups that banded together to oppose the move. Spearheaded by the Save Palawan Movement, the campaign carried the message that partitioning Palawan would benefit neither the people nor the province but rather the entrenched Palawan politicians who had lobbied hard in Congress for the law’s passage.
“For many Palaweños, having three provinces would mean more politicians, more opportunities for corruption, and more bloated bureaucracies,” declared the Save Palawan Movement. “The same people who failed to alleviate poverty in various areas in Palawan will dominate these new provinces, perpetuating their weak style of governance, as well as the same social and environmental issues that have made lives difficult for the Palaweños, especially the poor and marginalized.”
Dividing Palawan, the groups warned, meant it would be easier to corrupt now smaller constituencies into approving logging, mining, and other interests that would damage the province’s fragile ecosystem and unique biodiversity. Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the lone senator to vote against the measure, also expressed concern at the “deep geopolitical repercussions” of the move, since Palawan is at the forefront of the West Philippine Sea issue between the Philippines and China.
Division proponents argued that partitioning Palawan into more manageable sizes would mean improved local governance and delivery of public services. Sen. Juan Edgardo M. Angara, chair of the Senate committee on local government who sponsored the bill in the Senate, said it was designed to “spark growth” in the country’s largest province. Palawan, he pointed out, “can fit” five Batangas provinces, and was too big to be governed as one.
In the end, that argument didn’t fly with Palaweños, despite the formidable administration-backed political machinery deployed by the partition camp. “The big lesson for the politicians who attempted to divide Palawan into three is to make sure that the desire actually came from the people,” reminded One Palawan prime mover Cynthia Sumagaysay-del Rosario. “The desire of a few cannot win over the desire of the majority.”
One other vital lesson from the plebiscite: Elections can be held even during the pandemic. The successful plebiscite is a repudiation of those insidiously pushing for the postponement of the May 2022 polls.