Ang Ikalawang Tagapagtanggol

Ika-6 Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay:

Sa mga salita ni Hesus sa Ebanghelyo (Jn 14:15-21). Ipinahahayag niya na pagkatapos niyang mabuhay namagmuli, ipadadala niya ang Espiritu Santo sa mga Alagad. Sa ganitong paraan naipakilala na ni Hesus ditto ang hiwaga ng tatlong Persons sa Banal na Santatlo.

Kung wagas ang pag-ibig natin kay Hesus, tutuparin natin ang kanyang utos. Wika ni san Juan Crisostomo: “Ito ang wagas na pag-ibig na pag-ibig: ang tumalima at manampalataya sa iniibig” (Komentaryo tungkol kay Juan,74). Una tayong inibig ng Diyos, kaya dapat natin siyang mahalin at ang ating kapwa (1 Jn 4:19, 21).

Ang ipadadala ni Jesus ay ang Espiritu Santo, ang “Paraklito” na nangangahulugang “tinawag sa tabi ng isang tao” upang magbigay-payo at dangal at magtanggol. Siya ang isa pang Paraklito, sapagka’t si Kristo mismo ang ating Tagapamagitan (Heb 9:15).

Maaari nating ituring ang Anak at ang Espiritu Santo bilang dalawang Tagapagtanggol natin ditto sa lupang ibabaw. Marapat lamang na kilalanin natin ang Espiritu Santo, sapagka’t siya ang karamay natin habang tayo’y nasa “bayang kahapis-hapis” (Aba Po, Santa Maria).

Ang Espiritu Santo ang bukal na kabanalan ng lahat ng mga tao. Higit sa lahat, siya ang bukal ng kabanalan ng taong ipinaglihi at isinilang ni Maria, at lalong siya rin ang bukal ng kabanalan ni maria. Mula sa simula ng paglilihi sa kanya, ang Taong ito, na anak ng Diyos, ay nakatanggap mula sa Espiritu Santo ng ibayong kaganapan ng kabanalan, na katumbas ng karangalan ng kanyang Persona bilang Diyos (halaw kay Santo Tomas, S. Th., III, Q. 7, AA. 1,9-11)” (Juan Pablo II, Katekesis tungkol sa Sumasampalataya, Mayo 23, 1990).

Ayon kay San Basilio Magno: Santo, naibabalik sa atin ang paraiso. Sa pamamagitan ng Espiritu Santo, naibabalik sa atin ang paraiso. Sa pamamagitan niya maaari tayong umahon sa kaharian ng langit. Sa pamamagitan niya nakakamit natin ang pagiging ampong anak ng Diyos. Sa pamamagitan niya naibibigay sa atin ang tiwala na tawagin ang Diyos na ‘Ama’ gayungdin ang pakikibahagi sa biyaya ni Kristo, ang karapatan na tawaging mg anak ng liwanag, ang maging kaisa ng walang hanggang kaluwalhatian, at sa madaling salita, ang kaganapan ng tanag pagpapala, sa buhay na ito at sa kabila. Sa pamamagitan niya, maaari nating pagmasdan na parang salamin, na wari bang naririto na ang mga mabubuting bagay na ipinangako at inihanda para sa atin at ating inaasahan, sa pamamagitan ng pananampalataya, na makakamit” (Tungkol sa Espiritu Santo, 15).

Ayon kay San Basilio Magno: Santo, naibabalik sa atin ang paraiso. Sa pamamagitan ng Espiritu Santo, naibabalik sa atin ang paraiso. Sa pamamagitan niya maaari tayong umahon sa kaharian ng langit. Sa pamamagitan niya nakakamit natin ang pagiging ampong anak ng Diyos. Sa pamamagitan niya naibibigay sa atin ang tiwala na tawagin ang Diyos na ‘Ama’ gayungdin ang pakikibahagi sa biyaya ni Kristo, ang karapatan na tawaging mg anak ng liwanag, ang maging kaisa ng walang hanggang kaluwalhatian, at sa madaling salita, ang kaganapan ng tanang pagpapala, sa buhay na ito at sa kabila. Sa pamamagitan niya, maaari nating pagmasdan na parang salamin, na wari bang naririto na ang mga mabubuting bagay na ipinangako at inihanda para sa atin at ating inaasahan, sa pamamagitan ng pananampalataya, na makakamit” (Tungkol sa Espiritu Santo, 15).

Tunghayan naman natin ang pangaral ng patron ng mga kura paroko, si San Juan Maria Vianney: “Walang nang ibang bukal ng kanilang kaligayahan ang mga banal kundi ang kanilang katapatan sa pagsunod sa mga galaw na ipinadadala ng Espiritu Santo sa kanila” (Sermon tungkol sa pananatiling tapat hanggang wakas). Sabi naman ni Beato Juan XXIII: “Ang bawa’t isa sa mga Banal ay obra maestro ng Espiritu Santo” (Allocution, Hunyo 5,1960).

Magsilbi nawang mitsa ang mga banal na karunungang ito upang maglagablab sa pag-ibig ang ating pananalangin, at magpaigting sa hangarin nating sumunod sa pagkilos ng Espiritu Santo na laging nagtuturo sa atin kung paano iibigin ang Ama at ang Anak na pinakamainam at nararapat na paraan.

~ P. Emmanuel C. Marfori ~

Why Does the Church Have Bishops? (Series LXXXVI(

St. Timothy is Ephesus and St. Titus in Crete each received instructions from the apostle Paul about the qualifications for a bishop (see 1 Tm 3:1-7; Ti 1:7-9). This “noble” officer was to “teach” and to “manage” the affairs of the Church in each locate. (The Greek word for bishop, episkopos, literally means “overseer.”) How did the office of bishop come about?

Our Lord appointed the apostles to teach and govern the Church (see Mt 28:16-20). Since the place of Judas had been vacated by the traitor’s suicide, a successor was appointed by the other apostle to fill his “office” (see Acts 1:20) — literally, his “episcopacy” or bishopric” (Greek, episkopen). The first apostles, then, were bishops, as were their appointed successors (*see “Is Apostolic Succession in the Bible?” next series).

In referring to ordained Church leaders, biblical writers do not always distinguish clearly between bishops/overseers and presbyters/elders/priests. St. Luke, for example, refers to the leaders of the Church at Ephesus first as “presbyters” and then as “overseers” (see Acts 20:17, 28). But those distinctions were clarified within a generation after the apostles, as evidenced by the writings of their immediate successors, such as St. Ignatius, bishop of Antioch.

Since the beginning, then, the Catholic Church has been governed by bishops, maintaining an episcopal form of government. Protestant denominations have experimented with a variety of alternative structures, such as congregational (governed by vote of the entire congregation) and Presbyterian (governed by a system of courts composed of elders). But having received her Episcopal structure form Christ, through his apostles, the Catholic Church has preserved it for two thousand years as a divine mandate — though with some historical variations in the method of appointment and the exercise of the office.

The bishops serve as shepherds of God’s flock (see 1 Pt 5:1-4). In governing the Church, they are to imitate the pastoral care of Jesus himself for his people. He is the chief “shepherd and guardian [episkopos] of ...souls” (1 Pt 2:25).

RELATED SCRIPTURE — Texts cited: Mt 28:16:20; Acts 1:20; 20:17018; 1 Tm 3:1-7; Ti 1:7-9; 1 Pt 2:25; 5:1-4. General: Jer 23:4; Mt 9:36; Mk 6:34; Phil 1:1; Heb 13:20. CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH — 3; 77; 815-816; 830; 833; 873; 857-864; 869; 873-896; 919; 935-839; 981; 1087; 1120-1121; 1142; 1369; 1483; 1549; 1560-1561; 1575-1577; 1593-1596; 1600; 1673.

REPLICA

By: Ed J. Titular
041708, Chasan-ri

Starvation, scarcity and street marching,
Sighs and agonies and hopelessness are what they are
On the other side, brainstorming and psy-war,
Having those expensive stones and said, "they are for the poor",
Pause. This is the replica of our society.

Having that "looks" for a Sunday mass,
And talking with someone else is your fashion and fads
Some are kneeling to ask for healing
Some are standing for they are looking
And some just come for their problem and merry making.

Saturday nights you are very alive,
Stirring yourself with your favorite game inside
And back home your family is in the state of congestion
And can't buy foods with proper nutrition
And all is gone by your pride and mind's condition.

Everyone project his own replica
Some are angelic but venomous
Some are deceitful and unpredictable
Some are just simple but lovable
And you, what is your own replica?

(That's your Titular, the poet on his own unique way! Photo with Grace during the KLEI Seminar)

Return From the Gates of Hell (The End))

...Concluding part

Colombia, South America Interview of Dr. Gloria Polo by Radio Maria

And the Lord told me: That is love for your fellowman. And then He told me: You will go back, but you won’t repeat this 1000 times. You will repeat it 1000 times 1000. And woe of those who don’t change their ways despite having heard you, because they will be judged much more severely, just like you will when you come back here again, even their anointed or their priests, or any of them, because the worst deafness is that of a man who refuses to hear. And this, my brothers and sisters, is not a threat. The Lord doesn’t need to threaten us. This is the second chance you have and that, thanks be to God, I lived through what I did. When each one of you gets his Book of Life opened in front of you, when each one of you dies, you will see that moment just as I saw it. And we will see each other just as we are? the only difference being we will see our thoughts in the presence of God, and the most beautiful part, with the Lord in front of each one of us, once again, begging us to convert and to become a new creation with Him, since we cannot do it without Him. May the Lord bless each one of you abundantly. All glory be to our God! All glory be to our Lord Jesus Christ!

Philippine Citizenship
Q. Is the rule the same in the case of a non Filipino (male) marrying a Filipina?
R. No, Philippine citizenship may not be acquired by the non Filipino husband through the same process, but through regular naturalization proceedings filed in Philippine courts. However, he is eligible to apply for permanent residence in the Philippines upon the petition of the Filipina wife.

Q. Are there any potential problem areas for Filipinos in the possession of dual nationality?
R. It would appear that because of Republic Act No. 9225 or the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003, the former inconveniences experienced because of immigration regulations, ownership of real estate, taxation and other privileges of Philippine are now things of the past. However, the implications of dual nationality on various aspects such as on property ownership, hereditary succession, taxation, and other matters that also affect citizenship laws of two countries, needs a fuller and more detailed discussion.

Q. Is dual nationality allowed under Philippine law?
R. Again, because of the above law (RA No. 9225) dual nationality is recognized and allowed under Philippine law. What the Philippine Constitution disallows is dual allegiance.

Q. Has there been any law passed in the Philippine Congress to deal with dual citizens?
R. Yes. The Philippine Congress passed Republic Act No. 9225, more popularly known as the “Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003”. Thus, it is now a State policy that all Philippine citizens who acquire or have acquired the citizenship of another country shall be deemed not to have lost their Philippine citizenship under the conditions spelled out in the law.

Q. In concrete terms, what does this mean?
R. It means that:
1. Natural born citizens of the Philippines who have already lost their Philippine citizenship ( by the time this law became effective) by reason of their naturalization as citizens of a foreign country are deemed to have re-acquired their Philippine citizenship after following the procedures laid down in the law and after taking the oath of allegiance to the Republic;
...To be continued

Schizophrenia (7)

... continuation
Neural: Functional magnetic resonance imaging and other brain imaging technologies allow for the study of differences in brain activity among people diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Studies using neuropsychological tests and brain imaging technologies such as fMRI and PET to examine functional differences in brain activity have shown that differences seem to most commonly occur in the frontal lobes, hippocampus, and temporal lobes.[75] These differences have been linked to the neurocognitive deficits often associated with schizophrenia.[76] The role of antipsychotic medication, which nearly all those studied had taken, in causing such abnormalities is also unclear.[77]

Particular focus has been placed upon the function of dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway of the brain. This focus largely resulted from the accidental finding that a drug group which blocks dopamine function, known as the phenothiazines, could reduce psychotic symptoms. An influential theory, known as the Dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia, proposed that a malfunction involving dopamine pathways was the cause of (the positive symptoms of) schizophrenia. This theory is now thought to be overly simplistic as a complete explanation, partly because newer antipsychotic medication (called atypical antipsychotic medication) can be equally effective as older medication (called typical antipsychotic medication), but also affects serotonin function and may have slightly less of a dopamine blocking effect.[78]

Interest has also focused on the neurotransmitter glutamate and the reduced function of the NMDA glutamate receptor in schizophrenia. This has largely been suggested by abnormally low levels of glutamate receptors found in postmortem brains of people previously diagnosed with schizophrenia[79] and the discovery that the glutamate blocking drugs such as phencyclidine and ketamine can mimic the symptoms and cognitive problems associated with the condition.[80] The fact that reduced glutamate function is linked to poor performance on tests requiring frontal lobe and hippocampal function and that glutamate can affect dopamine function, all of which have been implicated in schizophrenia, have suggested an important mediating (and possibly causal) role of glutamate pathways in schizophrenia.[81] Further support of this theory has come from preliminary trials suggesting the efficacy of co-agonists at the NMDA receptor complex in reducing some of the positive symptoms of schizophrenia.[82]

There have also been findings of differences in the size and structure of certain brain areas in schizophrenia, starting with the discovery of ventricular enlargement in those for whom negative symptoms were most prominent.[83] However, this has not proven particularly reliable on the level of the individual person, with considerable variation between patients. More recent studies have shown various differences in brain structure between people with and without diagnoses of schizophrenia.[84] However, as with earlier studies, many of these differences are only reliably detected when comparing groups of people, and are unlikely to predict any differences in brain structure of an individual person with schizophrenia.

Treatment and services
Molecule of chlorpromazine, which revolutionized treatment of schizophrenia in the 1950s. The concept of a cure as such remains controversial, as there is no consensus on the definition, although some criteria for the remission of symptoms have recently been suggested.[85] The effectiveness of schizophrenia treatment is often assessed ...To be continued

Mga Bugtong, Salawikain, at iba pa

Manalig Kayo sa Diyos

Ika-5 Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay:

May mauunawaan ang Ebanghelyo ngayong Linggo kung babasahin ang mga naganap bago ang sanaysay na ito. Makikita sa kapitulo 13 ng Ebanghelyo ni Juan na si Hesus ay kumakain ng Huling hapunan na kasama ng kanyang mga disipulo. Sa hapunang ito, siya ay namamaalam na ang sabi: “...sandali na lamang ninyo akong kasama , Hahanapin ninyo ako …”(13:33). Sa hapunan ding ito naganap ang pagbubunyag ng nalalapit na pagkakanulo ni Judas kay Hesus at ang magaganap na pagtatakwil sa kanya ni Pedro.

Kung ilalagay natin ang ating mga sarili sa katayuan ng mga alagad, siguradong tayo ay mababagabag at maaaring itanong natin kay Hesus: “Paano kung wala ka na?” Siya na kinikilala nilang pinunong magtatanggol at gagabay sa kanila, ngayon ay namamaalam at nagsasabing “hindi makapupunta kung saan ito paroroon” (13:33). Palagay ko ay mauunawaan ng kahit sinuman ang damdamin ng mga alagad na pagkabagabag.

Hindi manhid si Hesus. Nakita at nadama niya ang pagkabagabag na ito ng mga disipulo. Kaya nga’t sinabi niya sa kanila: “Huwag mabagabag ang inyong mga puso. Manalig kayo sa Diyos, at manalig din kayo sa akin” (14:1). Kung gayon, pananalig ang maaaring pagmulan ng pagkawala ng pagkabagabag. Inaanyayahan sila ni Hesus na manampalataya, dahil balang-araw ay makakasama rin nila siya kung saan man ito patutungo (14:3).

Hindi madali ang manalig. Maaaring maging kalakip nito ang pag-iwan sa mga bagay o tao na higit nating pinahahalagahan. Halimbawa, si Abraham na isa sa mga ama ng ating pananampalataya ay kinakailangang iwan ang kanyang lupang tinubuan at magtungo sa lugar na ipinangako sa kanya ng Diyos. Si Hesus mismo ay nanalig sa Ama sa kabila ng lahat na alam niya kung ano ang maaaring maging gantimpala ng pagpapahayag niya ng Mabuting Balita. Siya ay nagpahayag ng tunay na pananampalataya: “Abba (Tatay), lahat ay posible para sa iyo. Alisin mo sa akin ang ang kalis na ito. Ngunit hindi ayon sa aking kalooban kundi sa iyo” (Mc 14:36). Kaya’t ito rin ang paanyaya niya sa mga alagad: “Manalig kayo sa Diyos, at manalig din kayo sa akin” (14:1)

Bakit dapat manalig kay Hesus? Siya mismo ang nagsabi: “Ako ang Daan, ang Katotohanan, at ang Buhay” (14:6). Idinagdag pa niya: ‘Maniniwala kayo sa akin na nasa Ama ako at nasa akin ang Ama. Kung hindi dahil sa akin, maniniwala kayo dahil man lamang sa mga gawa” (14:11). Kung tutuusin, nararapat lamang na manalig dahil hindi naman iniwan ni Hesus na nangungulila ang mga alagad. Ipinangako niya ang pagdating ng Banal na Espiritu”… ibibigay ng Ama sa inyo ang bagong Tagapagtanggol upang makasama ninyo magpakailanman: ang Espiritu…”(14:16). Sabi pa niya: “Hindi ko kayo iiwang ulila; pabalik ako sa inyo”(14:18.

Kung gayon, tama ang sinasabi ng makararami. Ang patunay ng muling pagkabuhay ni Kristo ay hindi lamang ang walang libingan. Higit na patunay ni Kristo ang pagkawala ng takot ng mga disipulo dahil sa kanilang pinagtataguan at ipinahayag nila ang Muling Pagkabuhay ni Kristo dahil nadama nila mismo na ito ay “buhay”ang tunay na Daan patungo sa Ama, ang Katotohanan dahil siya ang buhay na Salita, at ang Buhay na nagbibigay buhay sa lahat ng nananalig sa kanya.

Pagninilay:
· Paano ko nakikita at nadaram sa buhay ko ngayon na “buhay” si Kristo?
· Nananalig ba ako na siya ang tunay na Daan, Katotohanan at Buhay?

~ Sr. Maria Cecilia M. Payawal, PDDM ~

Why Does the Church Follow So Many Traditions? (Series LXXXV)

When the Pharisees challenge Jesus for failing to practice some of their religious traditions, he rebukes them sharply: “You nullify the word of Go9d in favor of your tradition that you have handed on” (Mk 7:13). Some Christians quo9te this passage to condemn Catholic tradition as a whole as something contrary to the “word of God.” But is Jesus actually condemning all tradition

The word “tradition” means literally “that which is handed down.” Anything received from others and passed on to others is thus a tradition: language, culture, scientific knowledge, and even faith itself. Jesus is certainly not condemning all of these things.

Is the Lord rejecting specifically religious tradition, then? If we examine other biblical passages, we must conclude that he is not. In speaking of the Eucharist, for example, St. Paul notes that he received it from Christ himself, to be handed down to others: “For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you…” (1 Cor 11:23). He explicitly commends the Corinthians for adhering to such traditions: “I praise you because you… hold fast to the tradition, just as I handed them on to you” (1 Cor 11:2).

Some Christians insist that only Scripture is authoritative for Christian faith and life. They deny the Catholic teaching (and the historical reality) that Scripture is actually a written portion of a much wider sacred and authoritative Tradition, which includes other elements passed down orally and by patterns of behavior. They fail to realize that if Scripture were the only legitimate source of Christian belief and practice, the early Christians who lived before the New Testament was written and circulated could not have lived the faith.

St. Paul alludes to this reality. He tells the Thessalonians how to discern the truth from error: “Brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement [oral tradition] or by a letter of ours [Scripture]” (2 Thes 2:15). In addition, religious tradition can be enacted, a way of life handed down as an example: “Consider the outcome of [your leaders’] way of life and imitate their faith” (Heb 13:7).

The only traditions Jesus condemns, then, are those that contradict what we know, from divine revelation, to be God’s will (see Mt 15:3).

RELATED SCRIPTURE — Texts cited: Mt 15:3; Mk 7:13; 1 Cor 11:2, 23; 2 Thes 2:15; Heb 13:7. General: Mt 15:1-9; Mk 7:1-13; 1 Cor 4:15-17; Col 2:8; 2 Thes 3:6; 2 Tm 1:13. CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH — 75-84; 95-98; 113; 120; 126; 172-175; 182; 1124; 2650-2651; 2661.

SA MULING PAGPATAK NG IYONG LUHA!!!

Ni: L.V.L.

Mahigit kumulang na isang dekada na rin ang unti unting lumipas.
Di ko na namalayan... Parang ang bilis nang panahon. Tumatanda na pala ako...
At sa paglipas ng panahon, sa bawat pagpapalit ng kulay ng mga dahon...
Sa kanilang pag patak.... at sa muli nilang pagsibol, parang ang dami kong nakaligtaan...
napabayaan.... nakalimutan at tuluyan nang di napaglaanan ng pansin....

Pero sa lahat nang ito.... ikaw at tanging ikaw lang ang di nawala sa aking gunita...
Laging may mga bagay na nagbibigay ng mga alaala ukol sa’yo...lagi kang anduon.... kasama ko...
Nakakalungkot mang isipin na sa haba nang panahon na di na tayo nagkasama...
Sa isa't isa pa rin tayo tumatakbo kung me problema tayo.... kumukuha nang suporta...

Halos isang dekada na rin.....Bumuo tayo nang pangarap at unti unti din itong tinibag nang panahon at di pag kakaunawaan.....Tinibag nang kawalang pag-aala-ala sa mararamdaman nang isa...
Ilang beses ko na bang pinapatak ang mga luha sa iyong mata.... Di ko na mabilang...
At di ka man maniwala sa aking mga sasabihin ngayon...

Sana ay mapatawad mo ako nang lubusan, sa lahat nang aking mga pagkukulang....
Wala akong intensiyon na paluhain ka.... na saktan ka... na balewalain....
Nabulag lang ako nang aking mga pangarap... at nakaligtaan ko na paglaanan ka
nang oras at nang aking sarili...
Ngayon, dahil sa aking pagkamakasarili at kawalan nang pakiramdam...

Alam ko na patuloy ka nang lalayo dahil sa mga nagawa at nasabi ko...
Sa paglimot ko sa mga pangakong tinuran ko sa iyo nuon...
Na sa tagal nang panahon at naging mga pangako na lamang...
Mapatawad mo pa sana ako...

Patawad sa mga idinulot kong luha....
Sana sa muling pagpatak nang luha sa iyong mga mata, di na ako ang laman nang iyong gunita....
Na sana sa pagpatak muli nang iyong mga luha... sana’y di na pasakit ang dahilan kundi saya...
Sana sa pagpatak muli nang iyong mga luha.......... di na ako ang dahilan....

Return From the Gates of Hell (16th of a Series)

Colombia, South America Interview of Dr. Gloria Polo by Radio Maria

With intense pain I cried out to her... mommy, how ashamed I am! I was condemned, mommy! Where I’m going I’ll never get to see you again! At that moment, they granted her a beautiful grace. She was still but her fingers moved and pointed upward. A couple of very painful scales fell from my eyes, that spiritual blindness. I saw a beautiful moment, when one of my patients told me: Doctor, you are very materialistic and some day you’ll need this. When you find yourself in imminent danger, ask Jesus Christ to cover you with His Blood, because He will never abandon you. He paid the price of blood for you. With that immense shame and pain I started to cry: Jesus Christ, Lord, have compassion on me! Forgive me, Lord, give me a second chance! And that was the most beautiful moment. I have no words to describe that moment. He came and pulled me out of that pit. When He picked me up, all those creatures threw themselves on the ground. He picked me up and he pulled me onto that flat part and told me with all His love: You will go back, you will have a second chance, but He told me it wasn’t because of my family’s prayer. It’s normal for them to pray and cry out for you. It’s because of the intercession of all those foreign to your body and blood who have cried, have prayed, and have raised their heart with immense love for you. I began to see many little lights lighting up, as little flames of love. I saw the people who were praying for me. But there was a big flame, it was the one that gave out the most light. It was the one that gave out the most love. I tried to see who that person was. The Lord told me: That person you see right there loves you so much, but he doesn’t even know you. He showed me how this man had seen an old newspaper clipping from the previous day. He was a poor peasant who lived in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (translator’s note: in northeastern Colombia). That poor man went into town and bought some processed sugar cane. They wrapped it for him in an old newspaper from the previous day. My picture was there, all burned. When that man saw the news, without even reading it in full, he fell to the ground and started crying with the deepest love. And he said, Father, Lord, have compassion on my little sister. Lord, save her. Look, Lord, if you save my little sister, I promise you I will go on pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lord in Buga (translator’s note: in southwestern Colombia), but please save her. Imagine a very poor man, he wasn’t complaining or cursing because he was hungry, but instead he had this capacity to love that he could offer to cross an entire country for someone he didn’t even know. And the Lord told me: That is love for your fellowman. And then He told me: You will go back, but you won’t repeat this 1000 times.

...To be continued

IWAS PUSOY !

Philippine Citizenship

Q. What are the common instances of dual citizenship that may frequently apply to Filipino citizens?
A. The most common example of dual citizenship is when a child whose parents are citizens of a country which uses the Jus Sanguinis Principle (blood principle) is born in another country which uses the Jus Soli Principle. (soil) Under the Jus Sanguinis Principle (which is observed in the Philippines), the child’s citizenship follows that of its parents, while under the Jus Soli Principle (which is followed in the United States of America), the child is conferred citizenship of the country where it was born regardless of the nationality of its parents. Thus, a child of Filipino parents born in the United States of America is both a Filipino citizen and an American citizen.

Q. Does a Filipino woman who marries a non Filipino lose her Philippine citizenship upon the marriage?
A. It depends. The loss or retention of Philippine citizenship by a Filipina marrying a non Filipino depends on the laws of the Philippines and that of the husband’s country.
Before the 1973 Constitution, the Filipino woman lost her Philippine citizenship if by virtue of the laws of the husband’s country, she acquires his nationality.

Under the 1973 Constitution, the Filipina retains her citizenship, unless there is an act or omission on her part which may be considered as one of the ways of losing Philippine citizenship under Philippine law (renunciation, naturalization, taking an oath of allegiance and joining the armed forces of the other country). This rule, which has also been retained in the 1987 Constitution, is now the prevailing rule.

Q. Does this rule apply to a Filipino male who marries a non Filipino?
A. Under the 1935 and 1973 constitutions, it only applied to the Filipino woman. Under the 1987 Constitution, it made the rule applicable to male or female Filipinos marrying non-Filipinos.

Q. Does a non Filipino woman who marries a Filipino man acquire Philippine citizenship?
A. Yes, but it is not automatic, in the sense that the non Filipino wife still has to prove in proceedings that she has none of the disqualifications in becoming a Philippine citizen. The non-Filipino wife in this case who wishes to acquire Philippine citizenship has to file a petition with the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines.

...To be continued

Schizophrenia (6)

Social: Living in an urban environment has been consistently found to be a risk factor for schizophrenia.[51][39] Social disadvantage has been found to be a risk factor, including poverty[52] and migration related to social adversity, racial discrimination, family dysfunction, unemployment or poor housing conditions.[53] Childhood experiences of abuse or trauma have also been implicated as risk factors for a diagnosis of schizophrenia later in life.[54][55] Parenting is not held responsible for schizophrenia but unsupportive dysfunctional relationships may contribute to an increased risk.[56][57]

Substance use: The relationship between schizophrenia and drug use is complex, meaning that a clear causal connection between drug use and schizophrenia has been difficult to tease apart. There is strong evidence that using certain drugs can trigger either the onset or relapse of schizophrenia in some people. It may also be the case, however, that people with schizophrenia use drugs to overcome negative feelings associated with both the commonly prescribed antipsychotic medication and the condition itself, where negative emotion, paranoia and anhedonia are all considered to be core features.[58] Amphetamines trigger the release of dopamine and excessive dopamine function is believed to be responsible for many symptoms of schizophrenia (known as the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia), amphetamines may worsen schizophrenia symptoms.[59] Schizophrenia can be triggered by heavy use of hallucinogenic or stimulant drugs.[60] One study suggests that cannabis use can contribute to psychosis, though the researchers suspected cannabis use was only a small component in a broad range of factors that can cause psychosis.[61]

Psychological: A number of psychological mechanisms have been implicated in the development and maintenance of schizophrenia. Cognitive biases that have been identified in those with a diagnosis or those at risk, especially when under stress or in confusing situations, include excessive attention to potential threats, jumping to conclusions, making external attributions, impaired reasoning about social situations and mental states, difficulty distinguishing inner speech from speech from an external source, and difficulties with early visual processing and maintaining concentration.[62][63][64][65] Some cognitive features may reflect global neurocognitive deficits in memory, attention, problem-solving, executive function or social cognition, while others may be related to particular issues and experiences.[66][56] Despite a common appearance of "blunted affect", recent findings indicate that many individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia are highly emotionally responsive, particularly to stressful or negative stimuli, and that such sensitivity may cause vulnerability to symptoms or to the disorder.[67][68][69] Some evidence suggests that the content of delusional beliefs and psychotic experiences can reflect emotional causes of the disorder, and that how a person interprets such experiences can influence symptomology.[70][71][72][73] Further evidence for the role of psychological mechanisms comes from the effects of therapies on symptoms of schizophrenia.[74]

Neural: ...

...To be continued

MGA BUGTONG, SALAWIKAIN, SAWIKAIN at mga PILING TULA

Ni C.S. Canonigo
(Book I) © 1996 Cebu City, Philippines

buto't balat = payat na payat = malnourished (literal=skin-and-bone)
BIBIG (MOUTH) tulak ng bibig = salita lamang, di tunay sa loob = insincere word (literal=pushed- by-the-mouth)
dalawa ang bibig = mabunganga, madaldal = nagger, talkative person = (literal=two-mouthed)

BITUKA (INTESTINE)
halang ang bituka = salbahe, desperado, hindi nangingiming pumatay ng tao
= a person with no morals compunction (literal=with a horizontal intestine)
mahapdi ang bituka = nagugutom = a hungry person (literal=sore intestine)

BULSA (POUCH/POCKET)
makapal ang bulsa = maraming pera = rich, wealthy (literal= with a thick pocket)
butas ang bulsa = walang pera = poor (literal=with a hole in the pocket)
sukat ang bulsa = marunong gumamit ng pera, marunong magbayad at mamahala ng kyamanan= someone who knows his ability to pay ng kayamanan

BUTO (BONE)
nagbabatak ng buto = nagtatrabaho ng higit sa kinakailangan = one who works hard
matigas ang buto = malakas = a strong person

...To be continued

Ang Puso at Tinig ng Mabuting Pastol

Ika-4 Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay:

Ang Mabuting Pastol. Ito na marahil pinakakaaya-ayang larawang ginamit ni Hesus sa natatanging talinghaga sa ebanghelyo ayon kay San Juan upang ilarawan ang tunay na kahulugan sa kanya. Isang malalim na kaugnayan na nagdudulot ng kapayapaan at kaginhawahan gaya ng nasasaad sa Salmo 23: “Ang Panginoon ang aking Pastol pinagiginhawa akong lubos…” Alam ng mga tupa ang tinig ng tunay na pastol, at ang makarinig at makakilala sa tinig na ito ay nabibihag at napasusunod sa kanya.

Ano nga ba ang nasasapuso ng Mabuting Pastol? Paano ba natin siya makikilala? Paano natin malalaman ang kanyang tinig? Si Hesus ang Mabuting Pastol. Ang Mabuting Pastol ay may pusong mahabagin at handang mag-alay ng sariling buhay. Siya’y Pastol na nagbabantay at nagtatanggol sa kanyang mga tupa. Siya’y Pastol na gumagabay patungo sa isang “payapang batisan”. Kahit ano pa man ang mangyari, ang tunay na pastol ay hindi kailan man mang-iiwan o magpapabaya ng kanyang mga tupa. Di nga ba’t noong si Hesus ay nagpakain ng limanlibong katao, siya ay naawa sa kanila sapagkat para silang mga tupang walang pastol (Mc 6:34).

Si Hesus, ang Mabuting Pastol, ay kapiling natin sa Banal na Sakramento. Kinakalinga niya tayo at binubusog ng kanyang mga Salita na mapagpalaya at nagbibigay buhay. Inaakay niya tayo patungo sa maginhawang pastulan ng Ama sa langit. Sino nga ba ang hindi mabibihag sa kanyang tinig at pag-ibig? Ayon sa ating Santo Papa Benito XVI: Ang tao ay naililigtas ng pag-ibig. Kapag siya ay nakaranas ng dakila at tunay na pagmamamahal sa kanyang buhay, ito ay isang karanasan ng kaligtasan na nagbibigay ng bagong kahulugan sa buhay…(Spe Salvi #26). Si Hesus ang Mabuting Pastol na naglalarawan sa atin ng tunay na pagmamahal at kagandahang loob ng Diyos. Ang taong nakaranas ng kagandahang-loob at nakarinig sa matamis niyang tinig, ay magnanasang hanapin, yakapin at sundan ang tinig na ito. Nanaisin niyang magkaroon ng mas malapit at malalim na ugnayan sa Pastol na nagbibigay ng kaligtasan at buhay na walang hanggan. Ngunit iilan lamang ang nakaririnig ng tinig na ito at sumusunod sa kanya upang ipahayag ang kagandahang-loob ng Diyos. Maraming tupa ngunit kakaunti ang mga pastol… Maraming ani, ngunit kaunti nag manggagawa. Dahil dito, si Hesus ay nakiusap na manalangin tayo: “ Nang makita ni Hesus ang makapal na tao, naawa siya sa kanila sapagkat hirap sila at lupaypay na parang mga tupang walang pastol. At sinabi niya sa kanyang mga alagad: ‘Marami nga ang aanihin at kakaunti naman ang mga manggagawa. Idalangin ninyo sa Panginoon ng ani na magpadala siya ng mg a manggagawa sa kanyang ani’ (Mt 9:36-38).

Sa linggong ito na tinatawag nating “Linggo ng Mabuting Pastol” ay ipinagdiriwang din natin ang Pandaigdigang Araw ng Pananalangin para sa Bokasyon. Ginagabayan tayo ng Mabuting Pastol sa pamamagitan na rin ng mga parin na tinuturing nating mga pastol ng Sambayanang Kristiyano, kasama ang mga taong nag-alay ng kanilang buhay bilang relihiyosa at relihiyoso. Binibigyang kaganapan at makatotohanan ni Hesus ang kanyang larawan bilang isang Mabuting Pastol sa huwarang buhay ng bawat pari. Tunay nga, tulad ng pagpapaalala sa atin ng “Vatican II’, na ang pari ay kumakatawan kay Kristo, ang pinunong pastol ng Simbahan. Tayo ay kanyang tinitipon bilang isang kawan at katawan kung saan siya ang ulo. Ang hamong tuwina ay kung paano natin pinatutuloy ang pag-aalay ng puso ng Mabuting Pastol. Sa ating pananalangin para sa bokasyon upang ang kagandahang loob at pag-ibig ng Ama ay maihasik, suriin din natin ang ating mga sarili. Nakikilala ba natin ang tunay na tinig ng Mabuting Pastol, at hinahayaang mabihag tayo nito? Nakikinig ba tayo sa kanya at pinagninilayan ang mga kataga ng pagmamahal na ibinubulong niya sa ating mga puso, upang ito ay maibahagi rin natin sa iba? Nakikita ba sa ating pagkatao ang larawan ng isang Mabuting Pastol?

~ Sr. Ma. Anthony E. Basa, PDDM ~

Did Paul Challenge Peter’s Authority? (Series LXXXIV)

“When [Peter] came to Antioch,” St. Paul told the Galatians, “I opposed him to his face because he clearly was wrong” (Gal 2:11). He explained that he had rebuked St. Peter in person when the latter lapsed into practices contrary to the truth of the gospel (see 2:12-14).

Some non-Catholic Christians cite this event as evidence that Paul challenged Peter’s position as chief of the apostles. The implication, they insist, is that Christ’s choice of Peter as the “rock” of the Church did not bestow on the apostle any special authority in matters of doctrine or discipline, and that Peter’s successors (the popes) also lack such authority.

We must note, however, that Peter’s doctrinal and disciplinary authority was not challenged by Paul. Rather, Peter was rebuked for his hypocrisy. So Paul’s criticism had no bearing on Peter’s office, or on Paul’s position relative to it.

Consider this biblical parallel. In ancient Israel, the prophet Nathan rebuked King David for serious sin (see 2 Sm 12:1-14). But that rebuke was not a rejection of David’s office as king. In a similar way, Paul’s rebuke was not a rejection of Peter’s office as leader of the Church.

The truth is that Catholics have a long history of rebuking decadent clerics — popes included — while not denying their authority in the Church. (St. Bernard, St. Thomas Becket, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Dominic come to mind immediately.) In fact, St. Paul’s rebuke, far from implying a denial of St. Peter’s supremacy, implies just the opposite.

Paul stated that Peter’s bad example would “compel the Gentiles to live like Jews” (Gal 2:14, emphasis added). Peter’s behavior was imprudent and could do much harm precisely because of his authority as the leader of the Church.

The authority of St. Peter as the first pope was exercised on several occasions, as recorded in the Bible. He presided over and opened the first council of Christianity, in Jerusalem (see Acts 15:7-11). He was the first to recognize and refute heresy, in Simon Magus (see Acts 8:14-24). His proclamation at Pentecost concerning the “hose of Israel” (Acts 2:36) contains a fully authoritative interpretation of Scripture, a doctrinal decision, and a disciplinary decree (see Acts 2:14-41) - an example of “binding and loosing” (see Mt 16:17-19). He had the authority to judge the first recorded case of Church discipline (see Acts 5:1-11).

RELATED SCRIPTURE — Texts cited: 2 Sm 12:1-14; Mt 16:17-19; Acts 2:14-41; 5:1-11; 8:14-24; 15:7-11; Gal 2:11-14. General: Is 22:22; Lk 22:31-32; Jn 21:15-17; Acts 3:6-12. CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH — 552-553, 641-642; 765; 881-882.

EL DORADO

By: Ed J. Titular
04.10.08

Flickering lights no more,
All are happy for no fear,
Peace reflects in their eyes,
Even angels come and sing,
In the dreamland called El Dorado.

Famine and war overruled,
Love and care are over flown'
Forest and mountain are all blooming,
All are dancing even fishes in the ocean,
This is the land of El Dorado.

The sky is blue and true,
All is smooth and calm,
The air is fresh and pure,
And no one is a bum,
All are equal at El Dorado.

El Dorado is a city of gold,
Life there is bold and can't be fold,
All are free and nothing to worry,
This is a place for you and me... and the weary,
Let’s build and dream this place of El Dorado.

Return From the Gates of Hell (15th of a Series)

Colombia, South America Interview of Dr. Gloria Polo by Radio Maria

What spiritual treasures do you bring? And my hands were empty! That’s when he told me: What was the point in your owning two condos, houses, and office buildings? You thought yourself a successful professional. You couldn’t even bring the dust off of one of those bricks here. What did you do with the talents I gave you? Talents, I thought. You had a mission. The mission to defend the kingdom of love, the Kingdom of God. I had forgotten I had a soul so I could hardly remember I had talents, that I was the merciful hands of God. Much less that all the good I didn’t make, hurt the Lord. Do you want to know what the Lord kept on asking me? About lack of love and charity. That’s when He told me about my spiritual death. I was alive, but dead. If you could have seen what spiritual death is, it’s like a soul that hates. Like a terribly sour and fastidious soul that injures everyone, full of sin. I could see my soul on the outside, smelling well, with good clothes on, but my stench on the inside, living deep in the abyss. No wonder I was so depressed and sour! And he told me: Your spiritual death began when you stopped hurting for your brothers!? I was warning you by showing you their plight everywhere. When you saw media coverage on murders, abductions, refugee situations, and with your tongue you said, on the outside, poor people, how sad?, but you didn’t really hurt for them. You felt nothing in your heart. Sin made your heart into a heart of stone. You can imagine my deep sorrow when my book closed. I had deep sorrow with God my Father for having behaved like that because, despite all my sins, despite all my filth, and all my indifference and all my horrible feelings, the Lord always, up until the last instant, searched for me. He would always send me instruments, people, He would talk to me, He would yell at me, He would take things away from me to seek me. He looked for me up until the very end. God is always begging? at each one of us to convert. I couldn't accuse Him of condemning me! Of course not. Out of my free will, I chose my father, and my father was not God. I chose Satan, he was my father. When that book closed, I noticed I was heading down into a pit with a door at its bottom. And as I’m heading there, I started calling out to all the saints so they would save me. You have no idea how many saints I remembered, being such a bad Catholic. I thought I could ask for help from Saint Isidore or Saint Francis of Assisi. When I ran out of saints, the same silence remained. I felt great emptiness and hurt. I thought everyone back on earth was probably thinking I had died a saint, perhaps even waiting eagerly to ask for my intercession. And look! Where was I headed? I lifted my eyes and they met the eyes of my mom. With intense pain I cried out to her...

...To be continued

IWAS PUSOY !

Why this guide?
c. Appearance Fee — the amount paid to the counsel for expenses he has incurred in appearing in a court scheduled hearing, conference or meeting.

In these cases, Ercof is ready to act as liaison between the Overseas Filipino client and the lawyer he or she may eventually select, as well as to monitor the conduct of the case, to help ensure that services are being rendered to the satisfaction of the client.

In any case, it is always prudent to seek legal advice if one is in doubt or simply desires to ascertain the legal consequences for certain transactions about to be entered into. Because of their absence from the Philippines, Overseas Filipinos are unable to look after the welfare and rights of their family members or their properties, and are prevented from easy access to legal information or representation. Consulting this legal manual or accessing the Ercof legal referral system presents a solution to this problem.

Philippine Citizenship

Q. What is Citizenship?
R. Citizenship refers to the full possession of civil and political rights by a person who is considered a citizen of a particular country, and who because of this status owes permanent allegiance to the said country and its Constitution, laws and government institutions and is turn entitled to demand protection from its government.

Q. What is the difference between Citizenship and Nationality, or between a citizen and a national?
A. Citizenship is a term used in Municipal Law (the laws of a particular country) to denote that a certain person is in the full possession of civil and political rights, while nationality is a more comprehensive term used ion International law which signifies the status of being the subject of a state, regardless of whether or not that person is in possession of civil and political rights.

Q. What is dual or multiple citizenship?
A. Dual or multiple citizenship is a situation where a person is simultaneously considered a citizen of two or more countries because he/she possesses the qualifications of citizenship under the laws of these countries.

...To be continued

Schizophrenia (5)

...the proportion of individuals expected to experience the disease at any time in their lives, , is commonly given at 1%.

A 2002 systematic review of many studies, however, found a lifetime prevalence of 0.55%.[3] Despite the received wisdom that schizophrenia occurs at similar rates throughout the world, its prevalence varies across the world,[36] within countries,[37] and at the local and neighbourhood level.[38] One particularly stable and replicable finding has been the association between living in an urban environment and schizophrenia diagnosis, even after factors such as drug use, ethnic group and size of social group have been controlled for.[39] Schizophrenia is known to be a major cause of disability. In a 1999 study of 14 countries, active psychosis was ranked the third-most-disabling condition, after quadriplegia and dementia and before paraplegia and blindness.[40]

Data from a PET study[41] suggests that the less the frontal lobes are activated (red) during a working memory task, the greater the increase in abnormal dopamine activity in the striatum (green), thought to be related to the neurocognitive deficits in schizophrenia.

While the reliability of the diagnosis introduces difficulties in measuring the relative effect of genes and environment (for example, symptoms overlap to some extent with severe bipolar disorder or major depression), evidence suggests that genetic and environmental factors can act in combination to result in schizophrenia.[42] Evidence suggests that the diagnosis of schizophrenia has a significant heritable component but that onset is significantly influenced by environmental factors or stressors.[43] The idea of an inherent vulnerability (or diathesis) in some people, which can be unmasked by biological, psychological or environmental stressors, is known as the stress-diathesis model.[44] The idea that biological, psychological and social factors are all important is known as the "biopsychosocial" model.

Genetic — Estimates of the heritability of schizophrenia tend to vary owing to the difficulty of separating the effects of genetics and the environment although twin studies have suggested a high level of heritability.[45] It is likely that schizophrenia is a condition of complex inheritance, with several genes possibly interacting to generate risk for schizophrenia or the separate components that can co-occur leading to a diagnosis.[46] Recent work has suggested that genes that raise the risk for developing schizophrenia are non-specific, and may also raise the risk of developing other psychotic disorders such as bipolar disorder.[47][48]. Prenatal — It is thought that causal factors can initially come together in early neurodevelopment, including during pregnancy, to increase the risk of later developing schizophrenia. One curious finding is that people diagnosed with schizophrenia are more likely to have been born in winter or spring, (at least in the northern hemisphere).[49] There is now evidence that prenatal exposure to infections increases the risk for developing schizophrenia later in life, providing additional evidence for a link between in utero developmental pathology and risk of developing the condition.[50]

...To be continued

Salawikain (1)

Ang Tagalog ay mayaman sa mga sawikain. Ang sawikain ay mga salita o pagpapahayag na karaniwang ginagamit sa araw-araw. Ang mga pagpapahayag na mga ito ay nagbibigay, hindi ng tiyakangkahulugan ng bawat salita, kundi ng ibang kahulugan.

The introduction and selections on this page were taken fromC.S. Canonigo's-MGA BUGTONG, SALAWIKAIN,SAWIKAIN at mga PILING TULA(Book I) © 1996 Cebu City, Philippines

A
~ agaw-buhay = naghihingalo = between life and death
(literal=life about to be snatched away)
~ anak-pawis = magsasaka; manggagawa = farmer; laborer; blue-collar worker
~ anak-dalita = mahirap = poor
~ alilang-kanin = utusang walang sweldo, pagkain lang = house-help with no income, provided with food and shelter

B
~ balitang kutsero = hindi totoong balita = rumor, gossip, false story
~ balik-harap = mabuti sa harapan, taksil sa likuran = double-faced person, one
who betrays trust
~ bantay-salakay = taong nagbabait-baitan = a person who pretends to be good,
opportunist
~ bungang-araw = sakit sa balat = prickly heat (literal=fruit of the sun)
~ bungang-tulog = panaginip = dream (literal=fruit of sleep)

BALAT (SKIN)
~ balat-sibuyas = manipis, maramdamin = a sensitive person (literal=onion- skinned)
~ balat-kalabaw = mahina ang pakiramdam, = one who is insensitive;
di agad tinatablan ng hiya with dense-face, (literal=buffalo-skinned)
...To be continued

Kapiling natin si Hesus

Lahat tayo ay nakararanas maglakad papuntang Emaus. Ang dalawang disipulo na binabanggit ngayon sa ebanghelyo, kapwa patungong Emaus, ay kumakatawan sa ating lahat na tagasunod ni Hesus.

Malungkot na naglalakad ang dalawa mula sa Jerusalem kung saan si Hesus ay ipinako at namatay sa krus tatlong araw na nakalilipas. Ito ang dahilan kaya’t kapwa sila namamanglaw sapagkat ang Hesus na kinilala nilang guro, kaibigan, at tagapagligtas ay wala na. Umaasa pa naman kaming siya ang tutubos sa Israel, wika nila. Hindi ba’t ganito rin madalas ang ating buntonghininga kapag tinatakasan tayo ng pag-asa at lakas ng loob? Akala ko pa naman … Umaasa pa ako… Nakahihinayang… Nasaan ba kasi ang Diyos? Mga himutok ito ng bigo at nagtatampo kapag ang mga pangyayari sa buhay ay naging taliwas sa kanyang inaasam.
Bigo ang dalawang disipulo sapagkat hindi nila nakamit ang kanilang inaasahan. Umaasa sila sa isang mesiyas o tagapagligtas pero alinsunod sa kanilang pag-uunawa: isang mesiyas na magiting, malakas, at hindi nagpapalupig sa kaaway. Hindi tuloy nila lubos maunawaan o matanggap ang pagliligtas ni Hesus: isang Mesiyas na mapagpakumbaba, mapagtiis at namatay sa krus.

Samakatuwid, ang labis nilang pagkabigo ay dulot ng mahinang pananampalataya sa Diyos at sa kanyang paraan ng pagliligtas. Hindi tuloy sila makapaniwala sa balitang nabuhay na muli si Hesus, ni hindi nila siya nakilala agad na nakisabay sa kanila papuntang Emaus. Ngunit hindi pababayaan ni Hesus na mabulid tayo sa dilim ng lumbay at pagkabigo. Unti-unti niyang ibubunyag ang sarili niya sa dalawang disipulo. Ang daan papuntang Emaus ay mistulang isang proceso ng pagmumulat ng mata ng pananampalataya kay Kristong muling nabuhay.

Sa pagpapaliwanag ng Kasulatan, mula kay Moises hanggang sa lahat ng propeta, ibinunyag ni Hesus sa dalawang disipulo na ang lahat ng naganap sa Mesiyas pati na ang pagdurusa nito ay ay nasasaloob sa plano ng Diyos. Oo, ang kasulatan ay tungkol sa pag-ibig at pagliligtas ng Diyos na nasa katauhan ni Hesu-Kristo. Sa paghahati at pagsasalo ng tinapay, iminulat ni Hesus ang mata ng dalawang disipulo na siya ay tunay na sumasaatin tuwing dumudulog tayo sa kanyang banal na hapag o Eukaristiya. Niloob ni Kristo na ating ipagdiwang ang Eukaristiya sapagkat ang tinapay at alak ay tunay niyang katawan at dugo para sa ating kaligtasan.

Ito ang katotohanang nabunyag sa dalawang disipulo” Buhay si Hesu-Kristo! Buhay siyang tunay sa kanyang Salita (Kasulatan) at buhay siyang tunay sa kanyang Katawan. (Eukaristiya). Sumasaatin siya tuwing ating pinagsasaluhan ang kanyang Salita at Katawan bilang magkakapatid na may bukas na puso at dalisay sa pananampalataya.

Ito ang Emaus: masalimuot na pagbabalik-loob at pananalig sa Diyos, sa kabila ng ating mga pag-aalinlangan at pagdududa. Kailangan lamang nating buksan ang mga mata sapagkat si Hesus ay buhay at kapiling natin tuwina.

~ Kris Emmmanuel L. Llacer, SSP ~

Why Does the Church Require Celibacy for Priests? (Series LXXXIII)

An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord,” St. Paul tells the Corinthians. “But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and he is divided” (1 Cor 7:32-34). In light of that observation, the example of our Lord Jesus, and long historical experience, the Church has concluded that the celibate priest may be better able to devote himself single-heartedly both to God and his flock.

We should note that the Church holds celibacy as the disciplinary norm of practice for priests; she allows for some exceptions. Many ancient priests and even bishops had a wife at some point (see 1 Tm 3:2), including the first pope, St. Peter. (Matthew 8:14 speaks of his “mother-in-law.”) Today many Catholic priests of the Eastern rite are married. And even in the Roman rite, a handful of married men (usually clergy converts from a non-Catholic Christian tradition) have been given a special dispensation by Rome to be ordained as priests.

The Church doesn’t teach as a part of the Catholic faith, then, that celibacy is an inherent quality of priesthood - part of its essence. But as St. Paul observes, celibacy has distinct advantages for the man who must give himself wholly to God in ministry to his Church.

Opponents of celibacy often simply assume that such a life is utterly impossible. But St. Paul undeniably teaches the contrary (see 1 Cor 7:7-38), and our Lord speaks without criticism of those who “have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 19:12).

Celibacy is both a matter of personal choice and, on a deeper level, an acceptance of God’s calling. St. Paul acknowledges the divine impetus (see 1 Cor 7:7, 20) as well as the free-will initiative of human beings in the matter (see 1 Cor 7:35, 38). If a man is called to celibacy, he will be given both the desire and the ability to carry out this way of life successfully (see Phil 2:13).

Finally, we should note that the Catholic Church does not in any sense reject marriage or sexually (see 1 Cor 7:38), as long as these remain within the proper biblical and moral guidelines. According to the Catholic faith, marriage and ordination are both sacraments, both positive and wonderful means of God’s grace.

RELATED SCRIPTURE — Texts cited: Mt 8:14; 19:12; 1 Cor 7:7-38; Phil 2:13; 1 Tm 3:2. General: Sg 1-8; Mt 19:1-12; Lk 2:36-37; Rv 14:1-5. CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH — 922-924; 1579-1580; 1599; 1619; 1694; 1832; 2338-2350.

IF YOU ONLY HAVE THE HEART

By Ed J. Titular

If you only have the heart
That is willing to give unconditional love,
A heart that is willing to sacrifice
A heart that knows what is good, fair and unjust,
A heart that is genuine and true.

If you only have the heart,
A heart that could feel the pain of others,
A heart that could sympathize and empathize,
A heart that could give in if it is untrue,
A heart that is humble and not conceited,
A heart that is full of joy and willing to share.

If you only have the heart,
This young boy has his room to sleep,
There is no abandonment and broken family,
If you only have the heart,
There’s no old woman begging for food even on rainy days.

If you only have the heart,
There is no rich or poor on this earth
There is no war and injustices,
There are no babies thrown on a garbage can,
There’s love, peace and happiness to everyone.
if only you have the heart...

Return From the Gates of Hell (14th of a Series)

Colombia, South America Interview of Dr. Gloria Polo by Radio Maria

...and a soul was formed, my soul, grabbed by the hand by God my Father, such a beautiful God. So marvelous! Looking for me 24 hours a day. What I saw as punishment was nothing but His love because He didn’t look at my flesh but rather at my soul and He would see how I was straying away from salvation. Before I finish I have to give you an example of how beautiful the Book of Life is. I was very hypocritical. I would tell someone? You look beautiful in that dress, it looks great on you? But inside of me I would think ?what a disgusting outfit and she thinks herself the queen!? On the Book of Life, it would show up exactly as I had thought about it, even though my words also appeared, as well as the inside of my soul. All my lies were uncovered for everyone to see. I would often play hooky on my mom because she wouldn’t let me go anywhere. I would lie to her about going to the library with some friends to work on a school project and my mom would believe me. And I would head off to watch a pornographic movie or to a bar to drink beer with my friends. But my mom saw my life, nothing escaped her. The Book of Life is very beautiful. My mom would pack bananas, guava paste, and milk for my lunch because my parents were very poor when I was little. I would eat the banana and would throw the peel anywhere. . I was never aware that someone could get hurt if I did that. And the Lord showed me who it was who fell because of that banana peel and how I could have killed that person due to my lack of mercy. The only time I did a good confession, with sorrow and repentance, was when a woman gave me back too much change. She gave me back 4,500 pesos more than she was supposed to at a grocery store in Bogota. My dad had taught us to be honest and never to take anyone’s money. I noticed her mistake in the car, heading to my office. That stupid woman gave me back 4,500 pesos more than she was supposed to and now I have to go back! There was a huge traffic jam so I decided not to turn back. After all, why was she so stupid! But the hurt remained because my dad had planted well the seed of honesty. I went to Confession on Sunday and I accused myself of stealing 4,500 pesos because I didn’t give them back. I didn’t even pay attention to the priest’s words. The devil couldn’t accuse me of having stolen. But do you want to know what the Lord told me? You didn’t repay that lack of charity. That money was pocket change for you, but to her, making the minimum wage, it was three day’s worth of food. The saddest part was that he showed me how she suffered and went hungry for a couple days. Because of me, her two little ones hungered. That’s how the Lord shows these things. It shows how someone suffered with something I did. The Lord asked me: What spiritual treasures do you bring?

...To be continued

IWAS PUSOY !

THE GUIDEBOOK (Gabay sa OFW’S)

Why this guide?
Q. “In reading the legal manual, I could not understand many or some of the legal terminologies or expressions used in the manual. Or, I have a problem or inquiry that is not covered by your manual. What should I do?”
R. While ERCOF had tried its best to use the simplest language and expressions in this manual, certain legal terminologies could not be avoided or simplified. This first edition was not also meant to cover all legal situations, and a second and more comprehensive edition is already being planned. The best thing to do would be to contact us or any of our focal persons or organizations listed in the appendix, through email, telephone or fax. You may also ask a relative or friend in the Philippines to contact us personally. We would be happy to assist you in answering your questions, or direct you to others who may help.

Q. What are the costs for the legal service?
R. Ordinarily, Ercof will not charge anything if the inquiry involves a simple request for legal guidance or information that may be acted upon by email or telephone, and would not entail any financial outlays from Ercof. Ercof is setting up a legal fund to sustain this service, and voluntary donations of any amount would be welcome.
It is when the legal matter involves an extended period of consultation or would need the services of a specific lawyer, where it is difficult to give an estimation of the costs for legal services as its computation depends on several factors such as:
:: Nature of legal action to be initiated or defended
:: Intricacies of the legal issues involved and amount of investigation and research necessary to prosecute, defend, or appeal
:: Standing and reputation of the law office or lawyer engaged to handle the case
:: Other factors such as distance of the court from the counsel’s office; legal fees required by the Supreme Court in prosecuting a case; reproduction of pleadings; transcription of proceedings by the clerk of court; and other incidental expenses.
Nevertheless, costs for legal services will generally include the following:
a. Acceptance Fee — the fee paid to the lawyer/law office for accepting the responsibility of representing the client. This fee does not include the costs for actual representation or intervention.
b. Attorney’s Fees — the cost for legal services rendered by the counsel to the client in a specific case or legal action. This may be computed on a time basis (hourly rate); stage billing (predetermined amount to be paid at each stage of the case); or some other arrangment agreed upon between the client and counsel.
...To be continued

Schizophrenia (4th)

Signs and symptoms (Continuation)

Another criticism is that the definitions used for criteria lack consistency;[24] this is particularly relevant to the evaluation of delusions and thought disorder. More recently, it has been argued that psychotic symptoms are not a good basis for making a diagnosis of schizophrenia as "psychosis is the 'fever' of mental illness — a serious but nonspecific indicator".[25]

Perhaps because of these factors, studies examining the diagnosis of schizophrenia have typically shown relatively low or inconsistent levels of diagnostic reliability. Most famously, David Rosenhan's 1972 study, published as On being sane in insane places, demonstrated that the diagnosis of schizophrenia was (at least at the time) often subjective and unreliable.[26] More recent studies have found agreement between any two psychiatrists when diagnosing schizophrenia tends to reach about 65% at best.[27] This, and the results of earlier studies of diagnostic reliability (which typically reported even lower levels of agreement) have led some critics to argue that the diagnosis of schizophrenia should be abandoned.[28]
In 2004 in Japan, the Japanese term for schizophrenia was changed from Seishin-Bunretsu-Byo (mind-split-disease) to Tōgō-shitchō-shō (integration disorder).[29] In 2006, campaigners in the UK, under the banner of Campaign for Abolition of the Schizophrenia Label, argued for a similar rejection of the diagnosis of schizophrenia and a different approach to the treatment and understanding of the symptoms currently associated with it.[30]

Alternatively, other proponents have put forward using the presence of specific neurocognitive deficits to make a diagnosis. These take the form of a reduction or impairment in basic psychological functions such as memory, attention, executive function and problem solving. It is these sorts of difficulties, rather than the psychotic symptoms (which can in many cases be controlled by antipsychotic medication), which seem to be the cause of most disability in schizophrenia. However, this argument is relatively new and it is unlikely that the method of diagnosing schizophrenia will change radically in the near future.[31]

The diagnosis of schizophrenia has been used for political rather than therapeutic purposes; in the Soviet Union an additional sub-classification of sluggishly progressing schizophrenia was created. Particularly in the RSFSR (Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic), this diagnosis was used for the purpose of silencing political dissidents or forcing them to recant their ideas by the use of forcible confinement and treatment.[32] In 2000 there were similar concerns regarding detention and 'treatment' of practitioners of the Falun Gong movement by the Chinese government. This led the American Psychiatric Association's Committee on the Abuse of Psychiatry and Psychiatrists to pass a resolution to urge the World Psychiatric Association to investigate the situation in China.[33]

Epidemiology
Schizophrenia occurs equally in males and females although typically appears earlier in men with the peak ages of onset being 20–28 years for males and 26–32 years for females.[1] Much rarer are instances of childhood-onset[34] and late- (middle age) or very-late-onset (old age) schizophrenia. The lifetime prevalence of schizophrenia, that is, the proportion of individuals expected to experience the disease at any time in their lives,

...To be continued

The Community