Ideas & Perspective

A core belief for Christians –

Permit me to begin this article with a story. This was first told to me by my parents and later repeated, often, by the teachers in my grade school, most of whom were Irish missionary sisters.

I think this is a most beautiful story –

There is a wonderful tradition that St. Patrick, the great missionary to Ireland, helped the people to understand, to some extent, the reality of the Holy Trinity as Patrick desired to bring this reality to be ne new reality to converts in the Church in Ireland. It was for him, a difficult task as the mindset of the people of that time could not easily grasp unity and diversity in one reality.

On Christmas Eve 2024, Pope Francis formally announced the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025. This was very much a tradition that began as early as the 15th century. This special event had been in planning since 2022.  For those of an earlier time the expression was “Holy Year.” Together with the announcement came the symbolic event of opening a special door at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It was a moment to strengthen and reinvigorate the faith of the followers of Jesus in the community of the Catholic Church. The newly opened door to be used during the Jubilee Year would be for many a sign of renewal, for some to start over again.

It is terribly alarming for a country to be considered the 3rd largest plastic waste generator globally and at the same time also the 3rd largest contributor to plastic pollution worldwide, particularly one coming from Asia. These are based on the results of research made in 2015 by Jambeck et al., and by the Ocean Conservancy and Mckinsey.  Looking at its location in the global map, the Philippines may be considered small in size, but it struggles with high rates of plastic waste generation and low recycling rates, contributing significantly to marine plastic pollution.

There is a beautiful movie that I have viewed a number of times – The Song of Bernadette.   It tells the story of a young peasant girl, Bernadett Soubirous from the small town of Lourdes in Southwest France, quite near the Spanish border.

The Paris 2024 Olympics had it all—unforgettable performances, controversies, and unforgettable moments. Held from July 26 to August 11, these Games captivated the world, blending athletic excellence with artistic grandeur.  Organizers of the 2024 Paris Olympics unveiled “Games Wide Open” as their official slogan.  Phryge, as the friendly Paris Olympics 2024 mascot, showed the real meaning of red liberty caps as the symbol of French freedom.

Humankind is us, the only member of the genus Homo with the thinking ability called Homo sapiens, or the “wise man” because of our intelligence. Over thousands of years, we tried to understand our own intelligence through a deeper study on how our brain perceives, predicts and manipulates a world far larger and more complicated than itself. The world is continuously evolving to a wider and bigger field of intelligence. Modern era is no longer focused on human intelligence only but also in building intelligent entities that can act effectively and safely in a wide variety of circumstances.

Amidst the rising environmental challenges, reforestation stands out as a promising beacon—a vital initiative committed to rejuvenating our depleting forests, addressing climate change, and advocating for sustainable land management practices. This essay takes on a comprehensive journey, thoroughly investigating the complexities within three key reforestation categories: ecological, afforestation, and commercial. By intricately examining their specific goals, focal regions, and diverse advantages, we aim to uncover the significant influence these endeavors wield on our planet.

To catch a Meaning of Easter, it is helpful to look at the sources of what people celebrate and believe on  this special occasion.

LISTEN, SEE,  SHARE,  DO –

For many persons and families and communities and even nations, the Christmas story is an essential part of this month of December. The celebration has many traditional features – bright lights, joyful music, a spirit of warmth during family gatherings and many parties among communities and workers in various places.

But also, for very many the special moment is when the Bethlehem Crib is set up in the home, in many schools and in churches. We see the beautiful Bethlehem before our eyes –Mary and Joseph and the Child there in the small shelter with the animals and most often with some shepherds and sheep.