THROUGH UNTRUE A few years ago, a Danish newspaper published 12 editorial cartoons that depicted the prophet Muhammad in ways that deeply offended thousands of Muslims. These cartoons were seen as degrading caricatures of Mohammed, and mocking the Quran and Allah as well. Many Muslims expressed...
THROUGH UNTRUE Today, on Father's Day, let us pay special attention to aging fathers who are journeying through their sunset years. The unfortunate reality is that many of them are caught in a society that excessively values youth, beauty, and athleticism. As a result, elderly fathers are often...
THROUGH UNTRUE Today, the solemn feast of the Holy Trinity, we profess our belief that God exists as one being in three Divine Persons. I recall a priest who addressed his Sunday congregation in the following manner: “My brothers and sisters, the Holy Trinity is a mystery. If we were to...
THROUGH UNTRUE Today, Pentecost Sunday, the gospel reading narrates that Jesus breathed upon his disciples saying: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven" (John 20:22-23). However, many Catholics no longer...
THROUGH UNTRUE Several years ago, I visited a famous tourist spot in Palawan called Luli, a name short for “lulubog-lilitaw.” It is a sandbar that is visible during low tide and completely submerged during high tide. Luli serves as a reminder that presence does not equate to visibility. The...
THROUGH UNTRUE Most mothers are remembered for what they have done. I remember Carmen for what she deliberately chose not to do. First, she refused to sing lullabies to her eight children, which was ironic because her name in Latin means “song.” Instead, she preferred to gently cradle or...
THROUGH UNTRUE Many Filipinos associate General Douglas MacArthur with the words “I shall return.” As the commander of the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE), he was tasked to defend the Philippines against the Japanese forces, who proved to be too strong during the Second World...
THROUGH UNTRUE It is currently the peak of summer, and many of us are daydreaming about the ideal vacation. We imagine ourselves waking up in the morning without the stress of work, or staying in bed longer without any guilt or regret. For those who spend their daily lives in cramped, cluttered,...
THROUGH UNTRUE Charles Kingsley once wrote: "We act as though comfort, security, power, position, and money were the chief requirements of life when what makes us happy is just something to be enthusiastic about." Enthusiasm is the "fire within," the exuberant energy, the fervor that fuels our...
THROUGH UNTRUE To begin again after a dismal failure or disappointment is extremely difficult. Many politicians are good at this, though. They have mastered the art of reinventing themselves after their fall from grace. The late Ronald Reagan once said jokingly: “Politics is not a bad profession....
THROUGH UNTRUE During Holy Week, we meditate on the life story of Jesus, which some may call "A Biography of a Failure." It seems that Jesus was born to suffer and fail. Unreceptive and unbelieving crowds ignored His claims as the messiah. Those who listened to Him and benefited from His miracles...
THROUGH UNTRUE When two or more events occur simultaneously, seemingly by chance and for no particular reason, we call it a coincidence. For instance, when you are about to call a friend and he suddenly calls you, this unexpected convergence of events can be a coincidence. Our gospel reading today...
