Monday, December 28, 2020
Robi Domingo for JINS Airframe U376 (Faded Charcoal)
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| Jins Airframe U376 (Faded Charcoal) |
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| 2008 Adidas Ateneo sesquicentennial hoodie (blue/white) |
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| Philippine Flag Lapel Collar Pin |
There Is Hope For Every Day Of The Year
I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20, NKJV).
Christmas is over, at least it is for most of you. However, in some places such as in Russia, Christmas is observed in early January. But no matter when you celebrate Christmas, there comes a time when it is over; and when it is over, it is over.
You may be rather glad Christmas is over because now you can start to put your home back in order. Others of you may also be glad it is over, not because you can now eliminate the mess caused by your children or grandchildren, but because in your heart you felt the loneliness and quietness of your room as you sat by yourself and did battle with the memories of the past.
There is always a psychological letdown after any big push, and the post‑Christmas blues are part of it. It would not only be inaccurate but rather foolish if I told you that your emotions should never dip. No one rides a perfectly level plane of emotional stability, not even the principal characters of the nativity drama.
After the excitement of Jesus' birth and the visit from the shepherds, there had to be a letdown for Mary and her husband, Joseph. It is well possible that a period of time--perhaps 12 to 18 months--elapsed after Jesus' birth until the wise men came who were guided by the star. Meanwhile, life took on a daily schedule of shopping, cooking, cleaning, and washing.
There must have also been large periods of time in the life of Jesus which were neither spectacular nor exciting. Following the excitement at Bethlehem came the two-year sojourn in Egypt as Herod sought the life of the infant Jesus. As Jesus grew up, His early childhood was lived in a rather dull village called Nazareth, where Joseph had a carpenter shop. The most outstanding and, I think I could add, exciting, event in the youth of Jesus, was the trip to Jerusalem at age 12, when He became separated from His parents and amazed the learned doctors of the law. Luke passes over those years by saying simply that "Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:52).
There is good news no matter where you are, and no matter how you feel. The coming of Jesus Christ to our earth has an abiding importance the week after Christmas, and the week after that, and the week after that. His coming endows life with the touch of God in such a way that the common, routine, ordinary things can take on new significance. How? By accepting and believing that Jesus meant what He said. I take note of the promises He made to those who believe in Him. For example, He said, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20, NKJV), and "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5, NKJV).
This includes after Christmas. It spans my times of depression or periods of loneliness. His presence is not an emotion or a psychological elevator. It is a fact which touches the depths of my being, my emotions included. G. Campbell Morgan once read the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:20 to an old woman on her deathbed and said, "Isn't that a wonderful promise!" "Sir," replied the woman, "that isn't a promise‑‑it is a fact!"
Be encouraged, no matter where you are‑‑no matter how you feel‑‑there is one who cares for you deeply. His presence can flood your heart and lift your spirits. Never forget He promised, "I am with you always, even unto the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20, NKJV).
Resource reading: Hebrews 13:1-25
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/there-is-hope-for-every-day-of-the-year/
Duterte signs P4.5-T 2021 national budget
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday signed into law the P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021.
The President signed the spending measure for next year in a ceremony in Malacañang attended by select members of the Senate and the House of Representatives as seen in a pre-recorded video aired over PTV.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I stand before you today happy and proud to sign the 2021 General Appropriations Act,” Duterte said in the pre-taped speech.
“This important piece of legislation attests to the importance of active and fruitful collaboration between the executive and the legislative branches of the government, especially this time when the health and welfare of the people are at stake.
Among the salient provisions of the budget is the P72.5 billion allocated for the government’s vaccination program against COVID-19.
Of this figure, P2.5 billion is lodged under the Department of Health (DOH) while the rest is under unprogrammed appropriations.
“Let me stress that one of the most important items in the 2021 budget is the allocation of P72.5 billion for the purchase of storage, transportation, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines,” Duterte noted.
“Every centavo of this budget must be spent to ensure the nation’s recovery, resilience, and sustainability. Let me, therefore, serve an assurance to the Filipino people—this coming year, we intend to recover as one nation,” Duterte added.
The education sector, which covers the Department of Education, state universities and colleges, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, accounts for the largest bulk of the budget at P708 billion.
The Department of Public Works and Highways received the second-highest allocation at P694 billion.
The health sector came third with a P287 billion allocation. This funding covers the Department of Health, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, specialty hospitals, the Philippine Institute Of Traditional And Alternative Health Care, and the Health Facilities Enhancement Program, and the COVID-19 vaccine.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1377017/duterte-signs-p4-5-t-2021-national-budget
DOH says to recommend travel restrictions from countries with new COVID-19 variant
The Department of Health will recommend extending travel restrictions to all countries which report a case of the new COVID-19 variant, Usec. Maria Rosario Vergeire said Monday.
The inter-agency task force on COVID-19 will be meeting on Monday morning to discuss measures the country will take against the new variant, which is supposedly more contagious.
"This is urgent. We all know that the decisions will be critical and should be immediate," she told ANC's Headstart when asked about the travel ban.
"We are going to recommend that we expand the restrictions in our borders to include the other countries which also have this variant identified already," she said.
Scientists from the United Kingdom identified the new variant of COVID-19, which appears to be more contagious and genetically distinct.
December 24 until December 31. All passengers who have been in transit to or from the said country within 14 days are also barred from the country, according to Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque.
Travelers from UK who arrived before Christmas Eve were also required to observe quarantine.
Sunday, December 27, 2020
Mag-inang binaril ng pulis sa Tarlac hinatid na sa huling hantungan
Inihatid na sa huling hantungan sa Paniqui, Tarlac nitong umaga ng Linggo ang labi ng mag-inang Sonia at Frank Gregorio, isang linggo matapos silang mapatay sa pamamaril ng kapitbahay na pulis.
Hindi inalintana ng mga kaibigan at tagesuporta ng pamilya ang ulan maging ang banta ng COVID-19 para sumama sa libing.
Katuwang naman ng Central Luzon police ang mga tauhan ng barangay sa bayan para matiyak na ligtas at maayos ang pagdaraos ng prusisyon para sa mag-ina.
Noong nakaraang Linggo, binaril ni Police Staff. Sgt. Jonel Nuezca ang mag-ina sa bahay ng mga Gregorio.
Nakakulong na siya ngayon at nahaharap sa kasong 2 counts of murder, at dismissal mula sa serbisyo.
Ayon sa kaanak na si Avelina San Jose, napatawad na ng pamilya si Nuezca para dapat pa rin itong managot.
"Ang ano namin magkaroon ng justice. Napatawad na po namin siya. Patawarin natin ang tao pero may justice, mayroon po tayong batas, managot po siya sa mata ng Diyos, managot siya sa mata ng tao," ani San Jose.
Nakuha pa ring magpasalamat ng pamilya sa pulisya.
"Hindi ako galit. Kinagagalitan ko lang po 'yong mga taliwas na ginagawa ng iba nating mga kababayan na PNP (Philippine National Police)," ani San Jose.
Muli namang iginiit ng Central Luzon police na hindi gawain ng buong organisasyon ng PNP ang nangyari.
"May talagang ilang bulok na kasali sa hanay ng PNP. Hindi dapat i-blame ang buong organisasyon ng PNP," ani Col. Narciso Domingo, deputy director for administration ng Central Luzon police.
Hinihintay pa sa ngayon ang utos ng korte para tuluyang mai-turn over ang kustodiya ni Nuezca sa Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
Ayon sa PNP, 7 witness ang nakapagbigay ng sinumpaang salaysay habang patuloy din ang psychological assistance sa lahat ng mga nakakita ng krimen, kasama ang 8 menor de edad.
-- Ulat ni Angel Movido, ABS-CBN News
Saturday, December 26, 2020
PRRD withdraws plan to resume face-to-face classes
President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday directed the Department of Education (DepEd) to cancel the planned resumption of face-to-face classes in areas deemed low risk for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in January 2021.
Duterte gave the latest directive after a new strain of Covid-19, which was allegedly more infectious, has been detected in the United Kingdom (UK) and has already been reported in other neighboring countries like Malaysia.
In his meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and infectious diseases experts, Duterte said he could not put the lives of learners at risk.
“I have allowed the face-to-face classes as pilot projects all over the country,” he said. “I’m calling back the order and I will not allow face-to-face classes of children until we are through with this. We have to, I said, we have to know the nature of the germ that we are confronting. Wala pa tayong alam (We know nothing yet). I cannot take the risk of allowing the children.”
Duterte admitted that it would be a “disaster,” should he allow the planned resumption of face-to-face classes to push through in January next year.
“That would be a disaster actually. So (we have to be) mindful of that: I am canceling the order I gave a few days ago – a few weeks ago – to Secretary (Leonor Magtolis) Briones of the Education Department to suspend everything, all activities of children, especially ‘yung (the) face-to-face classes,” he said.
On December 14, Duterte gave his nod to the proposed conduct of a dry run of face-to-face classes in select schools in areas that will be considered at low risk for Covid-19.
In a statement sent to Palace reporters, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Briones would heed Duterte’s fresh directive.
“On her part, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones will implement the President’s instruction to recall limited face-to-face classes,” Roque said.
The DepEd was supposed to start the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes in areas categorized as low-risk areas under modified general community quarantine in January next year.
Before Duterte’s latest order, the DepEd planned to make the participation of learners in the pilot study to be voluntary with the requisite permit issued by the parents.
The proposed face-to-face classes will also not be held for the full week schedule and with reduced class size to observe proper physical distancing within the classroom.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125717
Friday, December 25, 2020
God Is With Us!
The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father. John 1:14
And before you hear from my dad, this is Bonnie Sala, president of Guidelines, wishing you Merry Christmas! Today my dad shares what is my all-time favorite Guidelines Christmas devotional. It's the story of two missionaries, Rudolph Bosshardt and Arnolis Hayman, who were left behind, when the communists took over China in 1949.
The two were arrested and thrown into prison. Days turned into weeks and weeks into months. China is a vast country, but what many do not realize is that in the northern part of China it gets very cold as the Siberian winds come whistling from the north.
As the months began to drag by, the two soon realized that they would spend Christmas alone and without their families. Forbidden to speak to each other, the two men sat in the cold, unheated prison cell as Christmas day dawned. Shivering from the cold, their thoughts were filled with memories of past Christmases, the warmth of families together, to say nothing of thoughts of Christmas dinner, which would not be their good fortune on that Christmas.
As they sat there, a feeling of hopelessness seemed to settle over them. Arnolis reached down and began playing with pieces of straw on the prison floor. He began making letters--IMMANUEL. The two looked at it‑‑"IMMANUEL," one of the names given to Christ meaning, "God is with us!" And gradually, by their own statement, the reality of what Arnolis had just written began to sink in‑‑GOD IS WITH US. The gloom of a prison was driven back, and the reality of what Christmas really is, sank in.
Seven centuries before Jesus was born, the Lord gave a sign to Ahaz, saying, "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). Matthew 1:23 quotes the passage from Isaiah, citing the birth of Jesus as fulfillment of Isaiah's words. But what does it all mean in our world? When the Apostle John took pen and parchment to record the birth of Jesus, he wrote, "The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father" (John 1:14). Theologians have called it "the Incarnation," but it simply means God became flesh and lived among us.
Watching the world with its misery and conflict, we desperately need to discover the meaning of the Incarnation. Many today are imprisoned; but instead of the steel bars of a jail, they are captured by human suffering, the guilt of a troubled conscience, their inadequacies and failures. Bound by ignorance, fear, superstition or just plain sin, they feel that no one cares, no one understands. The Incarnation means that God understands and cares.
On one occasion, a Christian was sharing his faith with a Hindu who just could not grasp the fact that God became man. As the two were talking, the Christian looked down and noticed an ant crawling on the sidewalk. Stooping over he said, "Suppose that I could compress myself to the size of an ant and could put aside my human strength and could live in the body of an ant. Only then could I really understand an ant's world, and that is exactly what Jesus did." "Yes," replied the Hindu, "to understand, one must be one."
And that is exactly what the Incarnation really means‑‑God cared enough to allow His Son to take upon Himself a robe of human flesh, to suffer as we suffer, to experience what we experience, and finally, to give His life in our stead that for all eternity we may dwell in His presence. Yes, the Word, Jesus Christ, became flesh and dwelt among us.
Resource reading: Romans 8:38-9
Behind the Music: 'Pasko Na, Sinta Ko' by Gary Valenciano
Not every popular OPM Christmas song weaves a love story. However, Gary Valenciano’s “Pasko Na, Sinta Ko” started that way.
This sentimental Yuletide ballad that has been crooned by Filipinos for more than three decades, has an interesting romantic story.
Back in 1986, when Valenciano had just joined WEA Records, the company immediately planned to release a Christmas album for him. “Take Me Out of the Dark,” a song Valenciano penned that year, was readily included in the line-up of tracks.
Yet, Valenciano’s wife and manager, Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano, insisted that her husband include a Christmas song that her Sigma Delta Phi sorority sisters at the University of the Philippines (UP) would render during caroling nights.
The song was written by someone who was also from UP (Francis Dandan) and his professor (Aurelio Estanislao).
“I told Angeli, ‘No one knows the song’!” Valenciano told ABS-CBN News. “But Angeli insisted that it had to be part of my Christmas album. She kept on singing the chorus to me and bits and pieces of the song.
“Then, Louie Ocampo told me he knew the song, so we asked him to arrange it and it became such a huge hit. The rest is history.”
Dandan collaborated with UP professor, baritone Aurelio Estanislao, who wrote the lyrics of “Pasko Na, Sinta Ko” before the song landed on Valenciano’s lap.
“The story’s background is supposedly about a young member of the UP Concert Chorus, Fred Gutierrez, whose love of his life, Melba, was leaving for the USA before Christmas in the late ‘70s,” Valenciano added. “But she passed away."
“Meantime, Francis’ story is tragic as he took his life in 2001 due to undisclosed reasons and that was so sad for us.”
Through the years, “Pasko Na, Sinta Ko” has become one of the most iconic Christmas ballads ever recorded and Valenciano cannot be any happier about that fact. The popular song has undoubtedly become Valenciano’s signature anthem during Christmas. It was the carrier track of his first holiday album, “From Gary, Merry Christmas.”
“Having a song that hits is one thing, but having been given a chance to record a song that eventually becomes a classic is different feeling,” Valenciano said. “Somehow, it takes longer for it to sink in.
“Most of the time, it really tugs at my heart when I hear ‘Pasko Na, Sinta Ko’ being played after all these years. What a blessing to have been given this song. I count it an honor to have been the first to record the song, but we were very sad that we couldn’t do more for Francis Dandan as we were unaware of his mental condition.”
At about the same time Valenciano and Ocampo were trying to record the song then, they found out that young singer, Keno, wanted to do the same thing. “But we beat Keno to it,” Valenciano said. “And his manager then, Arsi Baltazar, and Angeli had such a fun time arguing about what happened.”
“Pasko Na, Sinta Ko” has been in the roster of Christmas songs every Yuletide season. It has become a sentimental favorite by many. It always warms Valenciano’s heart when people come up to him to say how they have embraced the song.
“I’ve had many who have come up to me either just laying their hand over their chest, like to signify how much they’ve been affected by my song, as others have that look on their faces like they want to cry,” Valenciano disclosed.
“Both of those actions are done in a light and almost joking kind of way. It is easy to tell though that the song is something. That they relate to quite well.
“Pasko Na, Sinta Ko” was not the first original Christmas song recorded for the album, “From Gary, Merry Christmas.” Valenciano also did another Tagalog Christmas ditty, “Himig ng Pasko,” by Levi Celerio and other well-known traditional Christmas classics like “Joy To the World,” “Little Drummer Boy,” “Silent Night," and "O Holy Night.”
“Pasko Na, Sinta Ko’ may not have been the first, but the album would never have been complete without it,” Valenciano said. “Of course, there is the ‘Hele ni Inay,’ composed by Roy and Lissa del Valle.
“I composed ‘Once Again It’s Christmas’ for Kiana 20 years ago, which won for her Best Christmas Recording and Best Performance by a Child Recording Artist at the Awit Awards of 2000 when she was only seven.”
Through the years, “Pasko Na, Sinta Ko” has been re-imagined and rendered onstage several other artists, like Martin Nievera, Sharon Cuneta, Tim Pavino and even the Philippine Madrigal Singers.
Behind the Music: 'Tuloy Na Tuloy Pa Rin ang Pasko' by Apo Hiking Society
If there is perhaps an apt OPM Christmas song at this time of the pandemic, it is the Apo Hiking Society’s “Tuloy Na Tuloy Pa Rin ang Pasko.”
While many are wary about celebrating Christmas this year, Filipinos will find every reason to still enjoy the holidays however they can, in whatever way they can.
It was back in 1991 when the Apo Hiking Society trio of Jim Paredes, Danny Javier and Buboy Garovillo recorded their first Christmas album, “Pasko nApo,” that contained 11 original Christmas tunes.
Among the tracks in Apo’s 12th studio album was “Tuloy Na Tuloy Pa Rin ang Pasko,” one of the well-loved OPM Christmas tunes ever recorded. The song has been embraced by both young and old through the years.
“I loved the song the moment I heard it,” Apo member Jim Paredes told ABS-CBN News. “It was a great song. We had Eddie Munji III arrange it. He was the same guy who arranged ‘Panalangin.’ He made ‘Tuloy Na Tuloy Pa Rin ang Pasko’ a big winner.”
Through the years, “Tuloy Na Tuloy Pa Rin ang Pasko” has been constantly included the roster of Christmas songs every Yuletide season. It has become a sentimental favorite of many Filipinos.
The OPM Christmas tune is a familiar piece for carolers, students, choirs and pop groups who never fail to render it for their celebrations. The upbeat tune has become a staple in Christmas get-togethers or presentations annually.
Back in 2006, Orange and Lemons recorded a re-imagined version of “Tuloy Na Tuloy Pa Rin ang Pasko” that was used in that year’s Christmas station ID of ABS-CBN. After more than a decade, the song was given a new feel and Paredes couldn’t be any prouder when he heard it.
“It is always a good feeling when another artist does a take on a song that we previously made a hit,” Paredes maintains.
The trio’s “Pasko nApo” Christmas is full of great songs and Paredes immediately went on a trip down memory lane when asked to talk about the album.
“I especially like ‘Lata ang Aming Tambol,’ ‘12 Days of Pinoy Christmas,’ ‘Sanggol na Mahiwaga’ and our ‘Pasko na Sinta Ko-Miss Kita Kung Christmas’ medley,” he said.
The album contains other tracks including “Paskong Walang Pera,” “Himig ng Pasko,” “Pasko Na sa Mundo” and “Panahon ng Pag-ibig,” “Pasko Na” and “Ang Pasko.”
Fifteen years after “Pasko nApo” was recorded, the 11-track album was digitally remastered and a new cover was created with the CD release.