By Fr. Roy Cimagala With Ash Wednesday, we once again begin the season of Lent when, as a way to pursue spiritual growth, self-reflection and preparation for Easter, we are encouraged to go through the process of repentance and conversion, deepening our relationship with God through prayer, fasting and self-discipline, and focusing on caring for …
OPINION
Keeping the future bright in IT-BPM
By Sonny Angara The information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) industry remains among the country’s most successful and productive sectors. Employing up to 1.2 million Filipinos, it continues to pump into the economy some very vital dollar earnings. In 2016, the industry earned nearly US$22.9 billion. This year, it already surpassed that performance with …
God calls us despite whatever
By Fr. Roy Cimagala That intriguing story of how St. Matthew, a tax-collector, was called by Christ to be one of his apostles (cfr. Matthew 9:9-13) brings out the truth of our Christian faith that God can choose anyone to pursue a special vocation and ministry, irrespective of how that person is. It should be …
Tagging people with mental health conditions ‘weak’ is dangerous, expert warns
Mental health professionals have warned that labeling people with psychological conditions as weak is not just insensitive. It is dangerous. Psychiatrist Dr. Jules Juen, in an interview with ABS-CBN News, said equating mental illness with weakness reinforces stigma and may further discourage people from seeking help. “Hindi po natin dapat tawaging weak ang isang taong …
Ready for charter change?
By Ade S. Fajardo The Supreme Court has affirmed with finality the dismissal of the 2025 impeachment charges against Vice President Sara Duterte. The court’s decision has been scored for “judicial overreach.” Iloilo 3rd District’s Representative Lorenz Defensor is alarmed over how the judiciary is “dictating how we interpret our session days. It bothers me …
How writers win RSPC, NSPC
By Herman M. Lagon The room always smells the same. A mix of fresh bond or pad paper, ballpen ink and nervous sweat. Someone taps a pencil. Another flips through the contest kit as if a miracle might be hiding between the pages. A student leans over and whispers, “Sir, what if I forget everything?” …
The Filipino youth is not weak
Editor’s note: We share this statement from the Psychological Association of the Philippines to highlight the urgent need for further public discourse on certain topics. We are concerned by recent public remarks from Senator Robin Padilla describing today’s young people as “weak,” as reported by different news outlets. This framing is stigmatizing and misleading, and …
The 14th month pay debate
By Herman M. Lagon There was a time when the idea of a 14th month pay did not sound radical to me at all. It sounded practical. At Ateneo de Iloilo, where I once worked, it was something we quietly campaigned for, discussed in hallways, justified in meetings, and eventually enjoyed. It came midyear, modest …
Everything starts with God’s love
By Fr. Roy Cimagala This is very fundamental and indispensable for us to know. Otherwise, we would have a wrong idea of what our life is all about. God loves us first before we learn to love him and everybody and everything else in return. Thus, we need to know what that divine love involves …
Love languages: How important are they in making relationships work?
Love is universal yet how it is spoken, felt and sustained is deeply personal. For some, love sounds like “I’m proud of you.” For others, it comes in a packed lunch prepared before sunrise, a hand held in silence, a thoughtful gift, or an undivided time after a long day. This is where the idea …