By Dennis Gorecho “The Gospel of the Beast” is the opening film of this year’s Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. It features Jansen Magpusao, the festival’s second youngest Best Actor. “Gospel of the Beast” is a coming-of-age film about a teenage boy, Mateo, who is ceaselessly searching for his missing father. After accidentally killing …
OPINION
Going beyond the material and the natural
By Fr. Roy Cimagala When Christ said, “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven,” (Matthew 5:20) we have to understand that Christian life will involve the task of going beyond what simply is material and natural in our life. …
Uniting to solve the education crisis
By Sonny Angara By the end of this month, a new school year will officially start. Using the numbers recorded last year for SY 2023-2024, we can reasonably expect that more or less 27 million learners will be enrolling in the basic education system this time around — 23.2 million in public schools, 3.7 …
Pitching free microcredentials for all
By Herman M. Lagon Think of a world where access to education could significantly influence the course of individuals and communities. Imagine a global initiative that offers everyone, no matter their economic status, the opportunity to gain important skills and knowledge. What kind of program would bridge education and employment, especially in under-resourced areas? …
Housing a fugitive
By Ade S. Fajardo A 2022 listing shows that the average price of lots for sale at Pinewoods Golf and Country Estate in Baguio is P34,000 per square meter. Lots paired with golf shares are cuts of at least 600 square meters. The total price for such a package would be approaching P23 million. …
Christ clarifies what marriage is all about
By Fr. Roy Cimagala Again, some wily Pharisees tried to test Christ by asking him whether it was lawful for a husband to divorce his wife. (cfr. Mark 10:1-12) This was when Christ clarified the true nature and purpose of marriage. At that time, divorce was allowed because of the hardness of heart of the …
Judas’ kiss
By Herman M. Lagon Wolfgang’s electrifying 3:35-minute “Halik Ni Hudas” unveils political deceit with the opening line: “Mga asong naloloko, nagpapanggap na tao / Pangakong matamis, puro langaw at ipis.” While in college, “Halik Ni Hudas,” along with Wolfgang’s headbanging hits like “Arise” and “Natutulog Kong Mundo (My Sleeping World),” captured our generation’s angst and disillusionment. …
The cost of dental care
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim Hold your breath: $136 billion. That’s the total annual costs in America related to dental care — as estimated by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and based on several reports and studies. In the United States, on average, over 34 million school hours are lost each …
A legacy of nation-building and innovation
By Fr. Roy Cimagala On the occasion of the 173rd founding anniversary of Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), it is fitting to reflect on BPI’s remarkable journey — a legacy of stability, progress and pioneering spirit. BPI has stood as a pillar of economic leadership, shaping the financial landscape and driving growth in our …
Outsmarting the know-it-all
By Fr. Roy Cimagala We should never dare to deceive God. In the gospel, there is a part where some leading Jews dared to trap Christ in his speech. (cfr. Mark 12:13-17) They asked if it was lawful to pay census tax to Caesar. Of course, Christ knew what was behind that question. He therefore …