Thursday, April 8, 2021
How God Views Success
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Mark 8:36
In 1923 a group of men who were considered winners met at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. Present were eight of the world’s most successful financiers. Like whom? Charles Schwab, president of Bethlehem Steel, was there along with the president of the world’s largest utility company, Samuel Insull. Richard Whitney, the president of the New York Stock Exchange, was also there. Also attending that meeting was Albert Fall, then a member of the U.S. President’s cabinet, along with the heads of the world’s largest investment firm, the greatest monopoly in the world, and the Bank of International Settlement, respectively.
And what happened to these men who had clawed their way to the very top? Charles Schwab, the man who headed the largest steel company in the world, died bankrupt and lived on borrowed money for the last five years of his life.
Samuel Insull, the man who headed the largest utility company in the world, ended his days as a fugitive, broke, and living in a foreign country. Richard Whitney, the man who was president of the New York Stock Exchange, was released from Sing Sing prison to die at home.
Albert Fall, the man who was a member of the U.S. President’s cabinet, was pardoned so that he also could die at home.
These individuals made it to the top, but once they got there, something went wrong. Very wrong! What price success? What cost to win?
For sixty seconds, focus your attention on these individuals, likewise people considered winners: Actor Robin Williams; fashion designer Alexander McQueen; Arthur Chevrolet, the designer of the automobile built by General Motors; Linebacker Jovon Belcher; Author Sylvia Plath; country singer Mindy McCready; and Edwin Armstrong who invented FM radio. And to this group I could add the names of Ernest Hemingway, Marilyn Monroe, and Kurt Cobain for a beginning. What do they have in common? Two things: They were successful and they were also suicides.
I said they were successful. But were they really? Perhaps that depends on how you define this nebulous word. If reaching the top is success, they made it, but as Dr. Charles Malik, the Lebanese statesman and former president of the U. N. General Assembly defined success, they fell dismally short. “Success,” said Malik, “is seeking and knowing and loving and obeying God; and if you seek, you will know; and if you know you will love; and if you love, you will obey.”
Success from God’s point of view, from the vantage of looking back over life and valuing relationships is vastly different. Jesus put it, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36).
I think if Jesus were alive today, he might well put it, “So what if a person gains the company presidency, wins an Academy Award or climbs the greasy ladder to the top but loses his family, his self-respect, and his soul in the process?”
A closing thought: It is never too late to change directions in life. Some people strive for survival; some for success. But some achieve significance, and with that level of accomplishment comes the peace of God that means your life was worth living. Don’t simply occupy space on Planet Earth. With God’s help make your life count for something lasting, worthwhile, something that will endure the fire.
Resource reading: Mark 9:34-38.
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/how-god-views-success/
2,952 Filipino WW2 veterans still alive; 279 over century mark
By Ben Cal
Of the 151,824 Filipinos who fought during World War II, there are 2,952 who are still alive as of Thursday (April 8, 2021), with 279 over the century mark.
The oldest among them is Sgt. Malomalo Salag, born in 1909 and who turned 112 on Valentine’s Day, according to the records of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), headed by Defense Undersecretary Ernesto Carolina.
Nine other war veterans who are younger than Salag are Sergeants Alangadi O. Mauna, Monera P. Paday, and Macaalang P. Ditanto, all 111 years old; Concepcion B. De Guzman, 109; Rafaela A. Vicente and Mamangco P. Mangara, both 108; Martin M. Maguiwe, 107; and Pedro C. Torres and Jose S. Quilatan, Sr., both 106.
PVAO data also showed 2,635 veterans are 90 to 99 years old, while 38 others are aged between 80 and 89 years.
They continue to receive their monthly pension and free medical aid, according to PVAO.
The veterans were among those who witnessed the fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942. The province was the last stronghold of Filipino and American forces in the Philippines during the war. They surrendered to the Japanese, but not after a long and fierce battle that lasted over three months and until they ran short of ammunition, food, and medicine.
The Japanese thought they would conquer Bataan in a few days, but they were wrong.
“There was an atmosphere of chaos and pandemonium. It was hell!” retired Constabulary Col. Jose Agdamag Jr. recalled in his book, “150 Days of Hell”, written in collaboration with his son, retired Navy Capt. Vicente Agdamag.
Filipino and American soldiers who escaped continued the fight all over the country until liberation came following the return of Gen. Douglas MacArthur on Oct. 20, 1944.
Misis natagpuang patay, may laslas sa leeg sa CamSur
Natagpuang patay at may laslas sa leeg ang isang 31 anyos na ginang sa kaniyang bahay sa bayan ng Camaligan, Camarines Sur Miyerkoles ng gabi.
Duguan at wala ng buhay nang makita ng kaniyang mister na sundalo si Ressian Bechayda-Dumagat sa loob ng kanilang kuwarto bandang alas-10 ng gabi.
Wala na rin ang saplot pang-ibaba ng biktima.
Ayon sa pulisya, patuloy pa ang kanilang imbestigasyon sa insidente. Hindi rin nila makumpirma kung ginahasa ang biktima bago pinatay.
Supervisor ng health maintenance organization ng Bicol AccessHealth Centrum Hospital, isang pribadong ospital sa Naga City, ang biktima.
Nakiramay ang ospital sa pamilya Dumagat.
"The Bicol AccessHealth Centrum community deeply condoles with the husband, son and family of Ms. Ressian Xhanie Bechayda Dumagat and extend its prayers for her eternal peace. We hope that justice shall be provided for this truly sad and unfortunate event," pahayag nito sa Facebook.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/08/21/misis-natagpuang-patay-may-laslas-sa-leeg-sa-camsur
Pamimigay ng ayuda sa ilang parte sa Maynila, inabot muli ng hatinggabi
Muling inabot ng hatinggabi ang pamimigay ng ayuda sa Maynila nitong Miyerkoles.
Pero hindi ito alintana ng mga residente na naghihintay maabutan ng tulong. Sa Barangay 420 sa Sampaloc, tig-30 lang ang pwedeng manatili sa covered court.
May numero na ang mga beneficiary at inaanunsyo lang sa public address system ang pupunta roon. Kaniya-kaniyang bitbit din sila ng papel na may sulat na ng kanilang pangalan para hindi na kailangang maghiraman pa ng ballpen.
Para sa mga residente, kahit ginabi ang distribusyon ay wala silang reklamo dahil sa bahay naman sila naghintay at hindi na pumila nang matagal.
Ngayong Huwebes, higit 60,000 beneficiaries pa ang target na mabigyan ng ayuda sa Maynila.
Dahil mataas ang exposure ng mga empleyado ng city hall at mga pulis na kasama sa distribusyon, isinama na sila sa mga maaaring magpabakuna konta-COVID-19 bilang proteksyon.
Bukod sa frontliners at persons with comorbidities, muli nang itutuloy ang pagbabakuna sa senior citizens matapos aprubahan ng DOH at FDA ang paggamit ng Sinovac sa kanila.
Dinagdagan pa ang vaccination sites sa lungsod na ngayon ay may 20 na vaccination site na para mas mapabilis ang pagbabakuna sa mga residente.
TINGNAN: Daan-daang SAP beneficiaries nagpalipas ng gabi sa paaralan sa QC
Inumaga na ang pamimigay ng ayudang pinansyal para sa mga social amelioration program (SAP) beneficiaries sa Barangay Batasan Hills, Quezon City, kung saan nasa 2,000 benepisyaryo ang nakatakdang mabigyan sa unang batch ng ayuda.
Ayon sa mga tauhan ng DSWD alas-11 ng umaga nitong Miyerkoles nag-umpisa ang verification process ng mga tatanggap ng ayuda, pero dakong alas-4 na ng hapon na mag-umpisa ang mismong payout dahil kinailangan pa nilang iimprenta lahat ng payroll ng mga beneficiaries.
Dahil diyan, daan-daang residente ang nagpalipas ng gabi at matiyagang pumila para sa ayuda.
Muling nagpaalala ng mga taga-barangay na tanging mga nasa masterlist lang ng second batch ang dapat na pumila para sa ika-2 araw ng pamimigay ng ayuda.
Ayon sa kanilang official page, sa Quezon City University gaganapin ang pamamahagi ng ayuda para sa ika-2 batch ng kanilang mga beneficiaries.
Makikita rin sa naturang page ang listahan ng mga naka-schedule na tumanggap ng ayuda Huwebes simula alas-8 ng umaga hanggang alas-5 ng hapon.
SK chairman, nars timbog sa droga sa Nueva Ecija; 2 iba pa tiklo
Tiklo ang 4 na suspek, kabilang ang isang SK chairman at isang nars, sa magkakahiwalay na operasyon kontra ilegal na droga sa Nueva Ecija nitong Miyerkoles.
Inaresto ng mga awtoridad si alyas Ai, ang 22-anyos na aktibong SK chairman sa lungsod ng Gapan, sa isinagawang buy-bust operation sa Barangay Bayanihan.
Nakuha umano ang 5 sachet ng hinihinalang shabu mula sa kaniya.
Magkakasama namang inaresto ng mga awtoridad sa Cabanatuan City ang 32-anyos na nars na si alyas Anne, at 2 pang iba.
Nakuha sa tatlo ang 9 na sachet ng hinihinalang shabu at 2 stalk ng dried marijuana, na humigit kumulang P10,500 ang street value.
Inaaayos na ang pagsasampa ng kasong paglabag sa Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act laban sa lahat ng nahuling suspek. — Ulat ni Gracie Rutao
Alkalde ng Arayat, Pampanga nagpositibo sa COVID-19
Nagpositibo sa COVID-19 ang alkalde ng Arayat, Pampanga na si Emmanuel Bon Alejandrino, kinumpirma niya nitong Martes.
Hindi idinetalye kung kailan siya nagpositibo pero sinabi niya sa kaniyang Facebook page na nasa maayos na siyang kalagayan at work from home siya sa mga trabaho nito sa munisipyo.
Pina-disinfect umano niya ang town hall dahil sa kaniyang positive result. Patuloy ang isinasagawang contact tracing sa mga na-expose kay Alejandrino.
Bagamat walang nagpositibo sa mga kasama niya sa bahay, iniutos ng alkalde, sa bisa ng isang executive order, ang pansamantalang pagpapasara sa munisipyo ng Arayat mula Abril 5 hanggang 7 para magbigay daan sa paglilinis at disinfection sa lahat ng opisina.
Base sa official statistics ng Arayat, lumalabas na 5 sa 200 na mga COVID-19 confirmed case sa bayan ay mula sa munisipyo.
Sarado ang lahat ng opisina sa town hall maliban sa Bureau of Fire Protection, municipal social welfare and development office, at municipal health office.
Sa bisa ng isa pang executive order, pinaiksi mula 4 a.m. hanggang 12 p.m. ang pamamalengke para masiguro ang araw-araw na paglilinis at disinfection sa pamilihang bayan ng Arayat.
Epektibo ito hanggang Biyernes, Abril 9.
Bukod kay Alejandrino, nauna na ring tinamaan ng COVID-19 ang ilan pang alkalde sa Pampanga, tulad nina Crisostomo Garbo ng Mabalacat, Bobong Flores (Macabebe), Darwin Manalansan (Floridablanca), at Rene Maglanque (Candaba).
Nasa 1,855 ang mga active COVID-19 case sa buong Pampanga.
Dahil sa lumolobong bilang ng mga inpeksyon sa lalawigan, patuloy din ang pagdadagdag ng mga isolation facilities sa naturang probinsiya.--Ulat ni Gracie Rutao
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/08/21/mayor-ng-arayat-pampanga-nagpositibo-sa-covid-19
2 lungsod at 11 bayan sa Ilocos Sur, isinailalim sa MECQ
Isinailalim sa modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) ang 2 lungsod at 11 bayan sa Ilocos Sur para mapigilan ang pagtaas ng bilang ng kaso ng COVID-19 sa nasabing lalawigan.
Epektibo ang MECQ sa Ilocos Sur mula Miyerkoles, April 7, hanggang April 21, 2021.
Kasama sa MECQ ang mga lungsod ng Vigan at Candon, at mga bayan ng Cabuago, Bantay, Sinait, Cervantes, Narvacan, Santa, Sta. Maria, San Esteban, Sta. Lucia, Suyo, at Tagudin. May curfew din sa mga naturang lugar, mula 10 p.m. hanggang 5 a.m.
Ito'y alinsunod sa Executive Order No. 28, series of 2021 ni Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Luis Singson na kaniyang inanunsiyo sa kaniyang official Facebook page.
Sa huling tala ng Ilocos Sur nitong Martes, umabot na sa 763 ang kaso ng COVID-19 sa lalawigan, at 317 dito ay aktibo. Nakasaad sa EO na karamihan sa mga kaso ay galing sa mga nabanggit na lungsod at mga bayan.
Ilan sa mga kailangang sundin sa ilalim ng kautusang ito ay lahat ng residente na nasa ilalim ng MECQ ay hindi pinapayagang lumabas mula sa sariling lungsod o bayan maliban lamang kung ito ay para sa essential at emergency needs o travels.
Ang mga residenteng nagta-trabaho sa labas ng lalawigan ay ay maaring lumabas pero kailangan na sumunod sa mga regulasyon ng kanilang lokal na pamahalaan.
Ang mga residente naman na galing sa National Capital Region, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna at iba pang lalawigan at high-risk areas ay pansamantalang hindi pinapayagang bumiyahe sa mga lungsod at bayan na nasa ilalim ng MECQ sa Ilocos Sur, maliban lamang kung ito ay emergency at essential travel.--Ulat ni Grace Alba
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/08/21/2-lungsod-at-11-bayan-sa-ilocos-sur-isinailalim-sa-mecq
CBCP to bishops, priests: Pray for pandemic’s end on Divine Mercy Sunday
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) urged its members to fervently pray this coming Divine Mercy Sunday for the end of the pandemic.
In a circular released Wednesday, Davao Archbishop and CBCP President Romulo Valles D.D. told bishops and priests to include in their prayers "our plea to the Lord, the Lord of the Divine Mercy, to put an end to this pandemic that has brought us so much misery and sorrow."
"Needless to say, such a plea and urgent prayer fits well into the liturgy of this day, which focuses on the Lord Jesus as the Lord of mercy and compassion," Valles said.
The Catholic Church will be celebrating the Feast of the Divine Mercy this Sunday, April 11.
'Nandito lang si Tatay Digong': Go posts Duterte photos amid questions on his whereabouts
Senator Christopher "Bong" Go on Wednesday posted photos of President Rodrigo Duterte amid questions about the president's whereabouts.
In a Facebook post, Go posted photos of him with Duterte working on his desk.
"Sa mga may masasamang Hangarin, Wag muna kayo mag celebrate!! Nandito lang si Tatay Digong. Tambak ang trabaho. "Hindi ito ang panahon ng pagsisisihan kundi panahon ng Pagtutulungan," Duterte's former aide wrote.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque earlier said Duterte will skip his weekly public address after his security team confirmed over 120 COVID-19 infections among its members.
Duterte's weekly "Talk to the People" was expected to air Wednesday, after it was postponed from its usual Monday night airing schedule.
"The physical safety of the President remains our utmost concern," Roque said in a statement. "In addition, the preparation for the Talk to the People Address entails a number of staff complement and we also take due consideration of their well-being."
Duterte last delivered his "Talk the People," a weekly speech that tackles the COVID-19 pandemic and a wide range of issues, on March 29. He celebrated his 76th birthday the day before.
The celebration made headlines with a photo showing Duterte blowing a lit candle on top of a plate of rice, prompting critics to accuse him of pretending to be poor.
UN calls for inclusion of IDPs, refugees in Philippines' COVID-19 vaccination drive
The United Nations office in the Philippines on Wednesday called for the inclusion of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees in the country's COVID-19 vaccine drive.
The UN said in a statement it will be providing logistics equipment such as mobile storage units, generators, and transportation to move medical supplies, as well as technical aid for local government units, for the Philippine vaccination program.
"Committed to leave no one behind, the UN is coordinating with the DOH (Department of Health) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to advocate for the inclusion of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, especially those belonging to priority vaccination groups, in the national vaccination programme," it said.
The UN said it will also supply cold chain management equipment needed to store COVID-19 vaccines, including specialized vehicles, in conflict-ridden Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The global organization affirmed its full support for the Philippines' vaccination program, citing its backing for the COVAX Facility, a global initiative which aims for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.
"The UN is supporting the Philippines on both fronts and making sure that this phase of COVID-19 recovery is a success," UN Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez said.
The Philippines has so far received 525,600 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from the COVAX Facility. It is the only approved vaccine in the country for the elderly.
The government plans to inoculate 70 million Filipinos by yearend to reach herd immunity but it has been slammed for the slow rollout of vaccines. Of the 2.5 million doses received, almost 1.5 million have already been distributed.
Of this number, only 740,000 had been administered.