saksi

The toothpaste-maker's formula for success

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:18:36 GMT

What will you do if the only customer of your multimillion-peso business says his company can do without you? This Wednesday on 18Probe Profiles,' Cheche Lazaro gets the answer from Dr. Cecilio K. Pedro, a businessman who turned adversity into opportunity.

In a one-on-one interview, Dr. Pedro recounts his humble beginnings and his life-altering experience as a discarded supplier for a multinational toothpaste brand. Looking back at the day he was told that the company no longer needed his goods, Dr. Pedro shares his gung-ho approach to business as he turned the death of his multimillion-peso firm into the birth of a small wholly Filipino-owned toothpaste company--Lamoiyan Corp., makers of Hapee toothpaste--that dared to compete with the giants in the industry.

In a field where the bottomline is the common yardstick of success, Dr. Pedro imparts lessons on how to keep a business thriving while treading the thin line between profitability and social responsibility.

Get ready to learn Dr. Pedro 19s formula for success on Wednesday, August 19, on 18Probe Profiles 19 after 18Bandila 19 on ABS-CBN. 18Probe Profiles 19 is replayed Fridays at 3 a.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. on the ABS-CBN News Channel. The episodes may also be viewed for free on Probe 19s official website, www.probetv.com.

In a day, three images of death

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 07:52:24 GMT

A young Filipino soldier, a newly wed at that, died in combat with the Abu Sayyaf this week. The last thing Darylle Toroy had texted his wife was that he was going into an operation, and goodbye.

In Quezon City, an unidentified man was found dead in an abandoned bus last night. Holed up in the bus for two weeks, with no one handing him alms or food, the man supposedly died of hunger.

As of this moment, Christian Rossiter, 49, is very much alive in Australia -- happy, he says, that he has won his right do die. Yesterday, a judge ruled that Rossiter, whose arms and legs are both paralyzed and who could hardly breathe, now has the right to refuse feeding and to waste away and die.

In philosophy of religion, we reflect on death. We say that death is not the end -- there is hope. But there are people still living and breathing, even we ourselves when we least notice it, who think they have reached the end.

The challenge is to counter this culture of death with the spirit of hope. How can we be hope to others?

'I am good'

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 06:43:33 GMT

As we saw in this week's mourning, it is easy to extol the goodness in other people. But why is it that we find it difficult, even vain, unnatural, and unacceptable, to appreciate the goodness in ourselves?

At the end of each day, we thank God for acts of goodness extended to us and say sorry for our misdeeds, sometimes to the point of self-flagellation. It will also be a good practice, I think, to spend some time recalling our own good deeds and thanking God for these. Beyond self-praise, we ought to pay tribute to the God who created us and said, "It is good."

Finding goodness where it is difficult to find it--in difficult people, in problems, in tragic events--is a skill that needs to be honed. It starts with the person whose goodness we appreciate the least: ourselves.

The drama behind the King of Comedy

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 14:55:21 GMT

Far from his on-screen image, the life of Dolphy is not at all a laughing matter. This Wednesday, 18Probe Profiles 19 peels the layers of Rodolfo 1cDolphy 1d Quizon and reveals the drama behind his movie persona.

Profiles 19s host Cheche Lazaro sits for a tete a tete with Dolphy who shares highlights of his private life seldom discussed in public. The 81-year-old comedian weaves a powerful story of his triumphs and losses as a lover, father and friend, punctuated by repartees only the King of Comedy can deliver with perfect timing.

Catch Dolphy in his most unguarded moments on 18Probe Profiles, 19 July 29 after 18Bandila 19 on ABS-CBN. 18Probe Profiles 19 is replayed Fridays at 3 a.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. on the ABS-CBN News Channel. The episodes may also be viewed for free 14in premium quality 14on www.probetv.com.

The magic of aging Bata

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:46:58 GMT

When billiards legend Efren 1cBata 1d Reyes bowed to the younger Ronnie Alcano in a much-awaited showdown last June, fans lost heart. Has 1cThe Magician 1d run out of tricks?

In a rare sit-down interview with Cheche Lazaro for 18Probe Profiles, 19 Bata, hailed as 1cThe Magician 1d of billiards, discusses life at the top and slowing down. He demonstrates his skills on-cam and intimates how he is taking his losses.

One of Time magazine 19s Asian heroes, Bata harks back to his beginnings as a 1cbata 1d standing on stacks of Coke cases to reach the pool table to his iconic rise as a world champion. He talks about billiards 19 rising stars, his lucky charms, and his ebbing game.

Lazaro asks Reyes the question foremost in everyone 19s mind 14will his magic ever be back? Watch out for the answer and The Magician as he weaves his magic and deals with thoughts of retirement in this episode of 18Probe Profiles 19 on Wednesday, July 22, after 18Bandila 19 on ABS-CBN. 18Probe Profiles 19 is replayed Fridays at 3 a.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. on the ABS-CBN News Channel. It may also be viewed for free 14in premium quality 14on www.probetv.com.

Judas and Jesus

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:18:55 GMT

"Whatever Judas's degree of guilt and whatever his motive, it is extremely important to note that Jesus identifies his betrayer by feeding him. Not by turning over the table and casting him out. Not by tying him to his chair so he cannot carry out his plan, but by feeding him--dipping a morsel into his own cup and giving it to Judas, whose feet he has just washed.

Knowing who Judas is and what he is about to do, Jesus does not throw him out. He bathes him and feeds him, which means that Judas is never--never--excluded from the circle of friends. He is included until he excludes himself.

Jesus went on giving himself away to the one who would give him away, because his faithfulness did not depend on theirs. When he dipped the morsel in his cup and handed it to Judas, he not only revealed who Judas was, he also revealed who he was. The one who feeds his enemies--who goes on treating them as friends--loving them to the end."

--Barbara Brown Taylor

Courtesy of Fr. Danny Huang, SJ. Visit his site for more Lenten reflections.

Why confess?

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:12:45 GMT

Lenten reflection #1 from the blog of Fr. Danny Huang, SJ:

"If we go to confession, it is not to plead for forgiveness from God. It is to thank him for it. . . When God forgives our sins, he is not changing his mind about us. He is changing our minds about him. He does not change; he is never anything but loving; he is love."

--Herbert McCabe, OP

Padre Roque: Sa tuwing nawawalan ng gana...

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 07:28:57 GMT

"May panahong parang nagkakasalungat ang damdamin at pag-uunawa. Halimbawa, merong isang doktor na sabik na sabik sa medisina. Nararamdaman niyang meron siyang ginagawang mahalaga at nakatutulong sa kapwa. Meron siyang interes, pananabik. Subalit sa paglipas ng panahon, napapagod siya sa trabaho, nawawalan ng gana. Pero nauunawaan niyang maaari pa siyang magtrabaho. Matutulungan pa niya ang kanyang kapwa kahit wala nang sabik na damdamin.

[...]

"Sa pagkapagod, maaaring maunawaan niyang nakatutulong pa rin siya sa iba, na makabuluhan pa rin ang kanyang ginagawa.

"Samakatuwid, ang pag-uunawa ay ginagamit ng tao para makita ang katotohanan. Hindi ibig sabihin nito'y hindi na mahalaga ang damdamin. Pero kahit mawala ang damdamin, mauunawaan mo pa ring may saysay ang iyong ginagawa."

-Padre Roque Ferriols, SJ Nobyembre 13, 2007 (mula sa isang post ni Junefe Gilig Payot sa 'Ferriols Babies' group sa Facebook)

The ultimate blurring of lines

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:32:35 GMT

It's Korina Sanchez holding hands with Mar Roxas on Showbiz News Ngayon -- a showbiz program using a newscast format -- as the journalist and the politician talk about their wedding. It's a watchdog of the powerful, a.k.a. a woman of media, planning to get wed with the powerful himself, a.k.a. one who might be President, on a show reporting on gossip using a format, a.k.a. a newscast, that's supposed to be based on facts.

Between news and propaganda and information and entertainment, the lines are blurrier than ever.

'All is given ... all is received'

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 13:53:05 GMT

"'All is given, all is received.' Nothing really important in my life was chosen by myself; everything came (as Cardinal Ratzinger likes to say) "from outside, and ultimately from the Lord." I cannot think of a single really major task to be done, responsibility to be borne, endeavor to be undertaken, which was not given from outside myself; everything was 'assigned,' 'received.'

"The choice of theological graduate studies at Rome and seminary teaching afterwards, the starting of what is now LST, unexpected assignments from the two Roman Curias--not one came from me; they were given .... I might be allowed to cite again the words of Teilhard the Chardin regarding his own life: 'My self, my life ... have been given to me, far more than they were shaped by myself.'"

-Fr. Catalino Arevalo, SJ, in his Windhover essay titled "All is given ... all is received," in celebration of his 50th year as a fully professed Jesuit.

TGIF!

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 13:42:12 GMT

When we say “TGIF,” or “Thank God, It’s Friday,” we do not just refer to Friday. TGIF is a loaded phrase—loaded by the five days of the work week, which we often see as a burden. With it we echo Job in today’s First Reading: “Is not man’s life on earth a drudgery? ... In bed I say, ‘When shall the day break?’ On rising, I think, ‘When shall evening come?’ and I toss restless till dawn.”

Jesus in today’s Gospel comes close to our experience of TGIF. In Mark, Jesus retreats to a deserted place to pray—finally, after a busy night of curing the sick and driving demons away. If we were Jesus, we might have exclaimed “TGIF!”—and would have went off with everything it means, like sleeping, going out with friends, watching TV, or binge eating. The point is that work is over and it is time to pamper oneself.

Not until someone like Simon enters, breaking the silence of Jesus perhaps frantically: “Everyone is looking for you.”

If we were Jesus, what could have we done? We have come to a situation where the people we serve are asking some more of us. But it is our moment of TGIF. Can’t they wait and give us time for ourselves?

Jesus’ response comes as surprising, for those of us who count the days to the weekend as the weekdays, to us, are a burden. “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose, I have come.”

The point is not that we must forsake our weekends. We need to rest; God also did. The point is that we may have to review our disposition towards work. Do we avoid it as much we can, so much so that only weekends bring life back to us? Or do we, like Jesus, consider it our calling—“For this purpose, I have come”—and not just something to be over and done with?

This week we pray to be disposed like Jesus towards work. May we not see it as a burden, but as an opportunity to spread the Gospel to others—in whatever capacity God has graced us with. Work is a way of preaching the Gospel. So may we say not only “TGIF”—though of course we look forward to Fridays!—but may we profess, like Paul in the Second Reading: “I cannot boast of announcing the Gospel: I am bound to do it.”

Pagkapraning sa hinaharap

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:42:03 GMT

May napulot na naman ako kanina mula sa dati kong guro, ang 84 taong gulang na ama ng pilosopiyang Pilipino, si Padre Roque Ferriols, SJ. Matapos akong mangumpisal sa kanya kanina, napag-usapan namin ang samu't saring bagay kabilang ang kamatayan.

"Kapag matanda ka," aniya, "may kahiligan kang magtaka kung kailan ka na nga ba mamamatay. Lalo na kung katulad kong 84 na. Ang nanay ko, namatay sa edad na 104. Mahirap nang maabot ang 104 sa panahon ngayon. May kahiligan ka tuloy na palaging magtaka kung malapit ka na."

"Pero hindi rin iyon mabuti. Dahil kung lagi kang mag-iisip kung kailan ka mamamatay ... baka malimutan mo nang mabuhay. Walang dapat masayang na oras; mahalaga ang bawat sandali. Alam ng Diyos kung kailan ka mamamatay kaya hindi mo iyon dapat alalahanin."

Baka makatulong ito hindi lamang sa matatanda, kundi lalo sa mga praning sa hinaharap--na nalilimutan nang mabuhay sa kasalukuyan at magpako ng pag-asa sa Lumikha.

Exerting authority

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 16:20:45 GMT

As the Son of God--as we see in the Sunday Gospel--Jesus has authority to expel the devil. As adopted sons and daughters of God, we also do.

Albeit in a limited sense--as opposed to Jesus' omnipotence--we have the authority, like Jesus, to expel the devil in our personal or professional circles. A mother has the authority to expel the devil in the form of bad habits in her child. A teacher has the authority to correct the rowdiness of her class. A journalist, like myself, has the authority to probe into problems and demand accountability from the powerful.

We have the authority, as followers of Jesus, to expel the devil in our own ways and in our individual capacities. What we need to do is to find out how and, like Jesus, to command the devil: "Quiet! Come out!"

Panaginip ko sa tunay na buhay

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 06:45:47 GMT

Napanaginipan ko kanina na nakahanap na raw ako ng maliit na dorm para sa napipinto kong pagpasok sa kolehiyo. Sa lungsod ng Maynila lang daw ako puwedeng pumasok--sa Manila Doctor's--dahil wala na raw kursong Comm sa ibang paaralan.

Nalugmok ako sa panaginip ko; gusto kong mag-aral sa Ateneo!

Mabuti na lang at naalala ko--sa loob ng panaginip ding iyon--na teka, bakit ako mag-a-apply sa Comm ng Manila Doctor's, na kursong pang-undergraduate, eh nakatapos na nga pala ako sa Ateneo? Nalimutan ko. At oo nga pala, may trabaho na rin ako. Tinawag ko ang nanay ko sa panaginip ko: "Mommy, ayoko na pala mag-apply sa Manila Doctor's! Bakit pa, eh tapos na nga pala ako ng Comm sa Ateneo at may trabaho na ako!"

"Master's na lang ang kukunin ko!"

At ayun, paggising ko, bumalik sa alaala ko ang isang pangarap ko--sa tunay na buhay. Pagkatapos ng mga limang taon, gusto kong lumipad sa abroad at mag-master's doon--M.S. Journalism sa Columbia University, o puwede ring M.A. Journalism o Communication sa Singapore, o puwede ring mas espesipikong M.A., kung mayroon, sa broadcast journalism. Gusto ko ng solidong pundasyong teoretiko, at maprinsipyo, bilang tatak ng pamamahayag ko.

Kapag 27 o 28 na ako--bago ako magpakasal!--dapat tapos na akong mag-aral sa abroad at nakabalik na ng Pilipinas. Dapat mangyari ito bago ko lubusang karirin ang media. Gusto kong maging magaling na alagad ng media.

Sana lang, at ito ang dasal ko, hindi ko malimutan ang tamang dahilan kung bakit nangangarap ako--kung bakit ako nabubuhay sa mundo.

Ba't bumait ang pulis nang makita ako

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:36:28 GMT

Beating the red light daw ang cameraman/driver namin kanina, si Kuya Denor. Pinahinto kami ng pulis.

Pulis: Ser, beating the red light po kayo ah. Tagasaan po ba kayo?

Denor: Ah, sa Quezon City po kami, sa Probe.

Pulis: Ah, sa Probe Team po, Probe Team? Patingin na lang po ng ID.

Dinukot ni Kuya Denor ang wallet niya para ipakita ang ID niya. Samantala, napatingin ang pulis sa likod ng van. Dalawa kaming nakasakay sa likod--kasama ang supervising producer na si Ate Cel--at ako ang nahuli ng tingin niya.

Pulis: Uy! Teka ser!

Ako: Uh--

Pulis: Ser, napapanood ko po kayo sa TV! Oo nga, kayo po nga po 'yon!

Iniwan ng pulis si Kuya Denor, at umikot mula sa may driver's seat patungo sa may kinauupuan ko. Siyempre natakot ako 'no. Baka may napansin din siyang iligal na ginagawa ko--eh bakit, kumakain lang naman ako no'n ng Burger King ah? O dapat ba naka-seatbelt kahit sa likod nakaupo?

Kumatok ang pulis sa bintana. Kabado, pinagbuksan ko siya. Iniabot niya ang kamay niya sa akin.

Kinamayan niya ako.

HAAAH?

Pulis: Ser, nakikita ko kayo sa TV! Oo ser napapanood ko kayo!

At nakipagchikahan na ang pulis tungkol sa mga expose ng XXX--nalimutan na ang pagtingin sa ID ni Kuya Denor maging ang nagawang pagkakasala.

Pulis: Sige po, ser, salamat po!

HAHAHA!

Newsbreak: (FRF) Mr. Congressman goes to ...

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:30:54 GMT

Mr. Congressman goes to ...

This lawmaker from Central Luzon is surely out of the country now, as his practice during congressional breaks, but guess how he decides where to go each time.

Recently, stressed over something at his office, he sent a globe spinning while yelling, without addressing anybody in particular: “I want to go…”

Then he randomly pointed at a spot on the globe: “Here!”

More at http://newsbreak.com.ph

'Uy, nakagawa ako ng mabuti!'

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:49:03 GMT

Whenever we do something good, we tend to call attention to ourselves. In today's Gospel, priests and Levites become curious about John the Baptist, whose name has been making the rounds as a holy man who baptizes people. They ask him, "Who are you?"

"John recognized the truth and did not deny it. He said, 'I am not the Messiah.'"

Dr. Onofre Pagsanghan, a teacher at the Ateneo High School for over 50 years now, has always considered John the Baptist as the patron saint of teachers. "Because St. John the Baptist," says a former student, "was the model of what a true teacher should be like: someone who, when he taught, inspired his students not to look at him and admire him, but to look at Jesus."

It would have been easy for John to claim the fame. With the numbers baptized by John, people would have believed him if he claimed to be the Messiah. But John knew who he was. He was unlike us who itch for praise, who claim the credit when, in fact, all is grace from God.

Sent by the Jews to John, the priests and Levites pressed on: "Tell us who you are, so that we can give some answer to those who sent us. How do you see yourself?"

How does he see himself? How do we see ourselves?

Nang inidolo ko ang 'tambalang hindi mapapantayan'

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 13:35:30 GMT

Kanina at kahapon, tinapos ko ang 24 Oras. Matagal ko na iyong hindi nagagawa. Noong kolehiyo, nawalan ako ng oras; ngayon sa trabaho, siyempre tutok dapat sa sariling atin.

Nagkataong nabasa ko uli kanina ang mga testi ko sa Friendster. Iisa ang tema nila: "siya ang number one fan nina Mike Enriquez at Mel Tiangco." Totoo naman. At kahit alam nating tagabasa lang sila ng teleprompter, malakas kasi ang dating nila. Sa totoo lang, malaking dahilan sila at ibang mga taga-GMA na inidolo ko kung bakit media ang pinili ko.

Kaya rin yata hindi ako sintangkad ng inasahan ko--high school pa lang, gabi-gabi na akong puyat sa panonood ng balita. Nanood na ng Saksi, manonood pa ng Frontpage. At inabangan ko mula sa mga programa ni Cheche Lazaro, na todo ko ring inidolo (Cheche Lazaro Presents tuwing Linggo, puwera tuwing ikalawang Linggo ng buwan, kung kailan pumapalit ang palabas ng isang manghuhulang di ko na matandaan ang pangalan; mga I-Witness niya tuwing Lunes; at The Probe Team tuwing Martes) hanggang sa palabas ni Jessica Soho tuwing Miyerkules at Debate tuwing Huwebes (puwera Emergency).

(At dahil diyan, dumayo pa ang I-Witness sa bahay ko ilang taon na ang nakararaan, para sa special nila tungkol sa mga fan daw nina Kara David at Howie Severino: isa raw ako. Waha!)

Wala naman akong malalim na punto rito. Hindi rin sa gusto kong maging Kapuso. Ngayong unang araw ng bagong taon--na talaga naman, pulang polka dots na Chinese na Chinese at matronang matrona ang suot ni Tita Mel--na-senti lang ako sa mga unang inidolo ko, na nagbigay sa akin ng ideya na pasukin ang media.

The year in quotes

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:34:08 GMT

'Sadista sa sarili,' 1/31/08

Sometimes, I feel bad about myself because no matter how hard I pray, I continue to commit the same mistakes: pride, prejudice, insensitivity to the needs of others, laziness, irresponsibility... and more. No, it's not true that the person who prays a lot always feels good about himself, because he is close to God. To the contrary, he feels more and more sinful day by day. "The closer we come to the light of God," says Fr. Thomas Green, SJ*, "the darker our own darkness appears by contrast."

‘A tip we forget in choosing a career,’ 3/3/08

When it was invented, the first pencil did not determine its purpose by itself. The inventor did. We are not pencils but our experience is similar. To determine our career paths, of course we have to consider what we want to do. Above that, however: what does the Maker will for us?

‘Beautiful to say goodbye,’ 3/28/08

It was hard to say goodbye but at the same time joyous; I felt I was immersed in mystery, and awed. It is the mystery of God putting us in one place to meet new friends and to learn new things, then herding us towards a new one we do not yet know -- with the painful experience of leaving the old -- to experience so much more.

‘‘Connecting people,’ but ...,” 3/31/08

In split seconds, we can connect ourselves with people from as far as America. But we forget the person sitting beside us, itching to start some conversation. We connect with our friends through chat, but we forget the more genuine connection (because it's face-to-face) waiting for us in the living room--with our families.

‘Grinning alone on the train,’ 4/21/08

I want to be a journalist because I want to enjoy the stories of the world, the way I enjoy the stories of commuting. The beauty of the job, I think, is in getting myself amused at the world's peculiarities, and also captivated by its wonders. There is, of course, the blood and drama and terror and hunger …. But that's the beauty of journalism--to plunge into emotions, to dig into stories, simply to get curious, as they say in metaphysics, to know all that there is about what there is.

‘Shut up!’ 5/1/08

Prayer is not about being in the mood or feeling sentimental or "high." Of course those feelings can help us, but they are not the centerpiece of prayer. Otherwise, we pray merely to indulge in some warm and fuzzy feelings. Prayer is not about pleasing ourselves; it is about pleasing God.

‘He doesn’t need to drive a taxi, but still he does,’ 5/5/08

We work because we need to have an outlet by which we can extend ourselves--to the tasks assigned to us, then to other people and ultimately to God. Work is a way to go beyond ourselves; it is a way to become fully human.

‘Acceptance speech: Speaking out for the other,’ 5/24/08

There is a temptation, in opinion writing, to aim to prove that one’s opinion is the best to believe—period. It is a temptation because it revolves only around the self (“I believe … I argue … I emphasize … I think …)—and it is out of the question whether the research is deep or the arguments are brilliant.

A good opinion writer shouldn’t merely assert himself; he should argue for the other.

‘Tanong ng bayan! Ulat mula sa QC Circle,’ 6/23/08

Nasa Quezon City Circle ako kanina, nag-iinterbyu ng mga taong dumaraan (man-on-the-street interviews) kasama ang aming cameraman, soundman at isang boom mic. At ang tanong ng bayan ay: "Para sa inyo po, sino ang taong maituturing nating malnourished?"

A: Malnourished? Syempre ano di ba? Oy baka kalokohan lang yan, ano ba yan, baka Wow Mali lang ‘to.

Q: Sa Probe ‘to, Probe Team.

A: Ah, Probe.

‘Career is part of our story,’ 6/13/08

We forget that the universe is vast—which means that the question, “What is my place in the world?” shouldn't be confined to work schedules, salaries or perks. What truly matters is the bigger picture: What story is my life a part of? How can my years on earth contribute to that piece?

‘On a lazy weekend, why read?’ 7/20/08

Reading allows us to register more information, making us sharper, more articulate, even more inspiring or influential as we shape the thoughts of others through our own. It has no substitute.

‘Padre Roque: Kapag bata ka, mabilis kang mawalan ng pag-asa dahil …,’ 10/27/08

"Alam mo," sabi ng 84-taong-gulang na pilosopo, "ang mga kabataan ngayon, kapag nakaranas ng pagkabigo, madaling mawalan ng pag-asa. Sabi ng isang napanood ko, siguro raw dahil kulang pa sila sa karanasan.

"Dahil mura pa ang edad nila, hindi pa nila masyadong nararanasan, na sa harap ng pagkabigo, may kakayanang bumangon ang tao. Kapag napaglipasan ka na ng panahon, mararanasan mo 'yon--na kaya pala ng taong bumangon. Kapag bata ka pa at kulang sa karanasan, mabilis kang mawalan ng pag-asa. Akala mo kasi tapos na."

MARAMING SALAMAT PARA SA 2008!

Holiday retreat now online

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 05:03:27 GMT

You begin your retreat by lighting--or clicking--a 'virtual prayer candle,' and you proceed with illustrated slides of Bible readings, video reflections, and accompanying music for your PC or laptop. The retreat has three parts, says the website of the Philippine Jesuits. "You can do all of them in one sitting if you have an hour and a half, or you can do them one at a time."

"Advent on the Brink," an online retreat hosted by jesuits.ph, is suited for people who neither have time nor money to go on an out-of-town retreat, but long for "moments of hush after the Christmas rush."

Subtitled "Waiting for Joseph," it takes off from the most silent character in the Nativity story--we never hear a word from Joseph!--and lets his experience of awaiting a baby not his own, speak to us about our own experience of waiting.

Offered in the busiest of places nowadays--the World Wide Web--the retreat was designed by Fr. JG of the Society of Jesus, the company of men who call themselves contemplatives-in-action.

'Christmas cannot be Christmas without gifts' - Joseph Galdon, SJ

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 18:54:05 GMT

In his book "The Laughing Christ," Fr. Joseph Galdon reminds us, "Christmas is all about gifts. I know that sounds shocking, coming from a Jesuit, but if you really think about it, the gifts of Christmas are the gifts of love (at least they ought to be!)."

"But the greatest gift of Christmas is not what we buy for other people," says Fr. Galdon, "or even that we give to God. The greatest gift of Christmas is God's gift to us--his only son who would teach and heal us, who would die for us because he loved us."

The focal point of Christmas, Fr. Galdon reminds us, is not our offering to the baby in the manger. Our gifts to Jesus are important, but to fixate on the gifts we can offer to Christ can be self-centered and vain.

Today we celebrate the gift of God to us. This is the focal point of Christmas. We celebrate the mystery of God, Maker of the Universe, choosing to be a creature in space and time, a fragile baby whose skull we can crush easily. We do not celebrate a God who waits for our gifts before he gives us something in return. We celebrate the God who loved us first.

So today, of course we pray for the grace to offer the best gifts to Jesus. But before that, we pray for the grace to be grateful for the gift of Jesus to us. We pray for the grace to overflow with thankfulness--so overflowing that grace would then flow from us to other people, and eventually back to God. Mula sa Iyo ang lahat ng ito, muli kong handog sa Iyo.

"Pasa Pag-asa": Pamaskong handog at 21st anniversary special ng Probe

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:42:52 GMT

In time for Christmas amidst a global crisis, Probe celebrates its 21st anniversary with a chain of giving that aims to ease the burden of the economic downturn on the most vulnerable and bring cheer during the holidays.

Actor Diether Ocampo, television host Bianca Gonzalez, and Pinoy Dream Academy singing sensation Bugoy Drilon help the longest running investigative television news magazine realize the mission by using the power of celebrity. The three celebrities join Probe reporters in a friendly competition that brought them out of their comfort zones.

Given the overall responsibility of leading a team, Diether, Bianca, and Bugoy face the daunting task of looking for a complete stranger they must help and ensuring that the beneficiaries repeat the cycle within 36 hours. The team with the longest chain of giving, the most creative way of solving a problem and with the most impact in the life of the stranger wins the contest.

Watch how Diether, Bianca, Bugoy and their Probe-reporter teammates try to outsmart (outwit, outmaneuver) one another in a pay-it-forward scheme where giving cold cash and spending their own money are not allowed!

Whose team tried begging in the streets? Who gave away a house and lot? Who had the most embarrassing experience with a potential donor? Who will win the hearts of the beneficiaries and the votes of the respected judges?

The answers to these intriguing questions and other revealing moments are all in an exciting Christmas-cum-anniversary episode by Probe on December 17 and 24, on ABS-CBN Channel 2, 11:30 pm right after Bandila.

'Happiness is contagious in social networks' -CNN.com

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 01:18:29 GMT

(CNN) -- If you're feeling great today, you may end up inadvertently spreading the joy to someone you don't even know.

This network from 2000, colored for average mood, shows yellow as happy, blue as sad, and green as in-between.

New research shows that in a social network, happiness spreads among people up to three degrees removed from one another. That means when you feel happy, a friend of a friend of a friend has a slightly higher likelihood of feeling happy too.

The lesson is that taking control of your own happiness can positively affect others, says James Fowler, co-author of the study and professor of political science at the University of California in San Diego.

"We get this chain reaction in happiness that I think increases the stakes in terms of us trying to shape our own moods to make sure we have a positive impact on people we know and love," he said. Watch more on how happiness spreads »

Sadness also spreads in a network, but not as quickly, the researchers found. Each happy friend increases your own chance of being happy by 9 percent, whereas each unhappy friend decreases it by 7 percent. This reflects the total effect of all social contacts.

[...]

If you are the hub of a large network of people -- that is, if you have a lot of connected friends or a wide social circle -- you are more likely to become happy, the study found.

More at CNN.com

For those who are beset with fear

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:24:22 GMT

I saw this quote this afternoon during a shoot at the office of a Christian group: "Every opportunity to fear is also an opportunity to trust in God."

It reminds me of today's Gospel, taken from Matthew: "As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, 'Son of David, have pity on us!' When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, 'Do you believe that I can do this?'

"'Yes, Lord,' they said to him. Then he touched their eyes and said, 'Let it be done for you according to your faith.' And their eyes were opened."

To us who are afraid of what tomorrow brings, to us who are beset with the impossible, Jesus also asks, "Do you believe that I can do this?"

The city that works at night

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:14:26 GMT

As I was riding a cab from Ortigas just a few minutes ago, I found it amusing how, at two in the morning, the city still buzzes with life. People were loitering outside their buildings, perhaps taking a break. A spa was still open. There were people eating hotdogs at 7-11.

And I -- I was coming from a hotel where our producers are spending the night, and clutching a voice-over tape ready for editing at the office where I was headed to. I was one with the city that is busy at night.

Just a quick reflection: what could be the concerns of other people who work at late-night? The concerns of young men like me--having no family to feed--are a lot more different than people whose families depend on them.

The city that works at night is perhaps a sign of the times: we live at a time when days are not enough. To feed the family, to simply survive, we've had to squeeze what we can even from hours that prove ungodly--or, if it were just possible, even more than 24.