By Herman M. Lagon There is a familiar feeling when you watch a public hearing long enough. At first, you listen closely. Then, somewhere along the way, you stop expecting answers. You just try to follow the flow, hoping something real comes out of it. The words sound right. The tone is steady. It all …
OPINION
Over 10% of world’s oceans now under protection
More than 10 percent of the world’s oceans have been formally designated as protected areas for the first time, according to a joint study published by the UN Environment Program World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The study puts formal ocean protection coverage at 10.01 percent, …
An attitude of gratitude
By Sonny Angara The world’s major religions all extoll the virtues of gratitude. From Christianity to Islam, Buddhism to Hinduism — some reference is always made to the importance of gratefulness to achieving a good life. Even science has shown that adopting an “attitude of gratitude” yields immense benefits — including better mental health outcomes …
Spiritual healing more important than bodily healing
By Fr. Roy Cimagala That’s what we can gather from that gospel episode where Christ first forgave the sins of a paralytic man before curing him of his disability. (cfr. Matthew 9:1-8) And that’s simply because it is the spirit and not just our bodily or biological constitution that truly gives us the life and …
Delayed obesity treatment fuels heart, kidney diseases: experts
Medical societies warned that delayed treatment of obesity is contributing to the increasing number of Filipinos developing heart, kidney and metabolic diseases. At a press briefing, the Philippine College of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, together with the Philippine Heart Association (PHA), Philippine Society of Nephrology (PSN), and the Philippine Association for the Study of Overweight …
Is Madriaga credible?
By Ade S. Fajardo Ramil Madriaga’s testimony at the House of Representatives committee on justice last week may be synthesized as follows: He helped establish ISIP, a non-profit organization intended to propel Sara Duterte to the presidency in 2022. ISIP stands for Inday Sara Is My President movement. *** When Duterte slid to the vice …
China oil deal trap
By Herman M. Lagon There is something about the way the idea is being floated that feels too smooth. Joint oil exploration with China is being sold as practical, even inevitable. Rising prices and global uncertainty make that argument easy to accept. But easy answers deserve a second look. For many Filipinos, the West Philippine …
US negotiators go, but Iran says no direct talks
US negotiators are scheduled to leave for Pakistan, but Iran said its officials did not plan to meet the Americans to discuss ending the war that has killed thousands and roiled global markets. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are due to depart for talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas …
Beyond the savior myth
By Herman M. Lagon You know that moment when you agree with something — and then realize you’re not quite ready to live by it? That was me when Mayor Leni Robredo said we need to move away from the idea of a “savior.” The first instinct is to nod. Of course. That makes sense. …
God’s grace and our effort
By Fr. Roy Cimagala Those two parables Christ told his disciples that compared the Kingdom of God to some seed that when planted on earth would just grow, become big and bear fruit (cfr. Mark 4:26-34) highlight the truth of our faith that God always provides for our needs but we also have to do …