Emerging from a meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. in Malacañang last week, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) announced that upon the President’s directive, dialysis coverage will be increased from 90 to 156 sessions; the pay-whichever-is-lower corporate policy...
There is no question about it, the jeepney is an icon that says “Pinoy” like no other symbol. Miniature jeepneys, like toys, are in department stores and souvenir shops and are popular with balikbayans and tourists because there’s nothing like it in other parts of the world. In the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY John 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42 [or 4:5-42] Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon. A woman of Samaria came...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Fasting is the inevitable response to a grievous sacred moment in life, such as death, sin, and tragedy. When one is moved to tears by grief, one loses the urge to eat. Fasting helps people to express grief over their sins and their seriousness in returning to the path of godly...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Discipleship is essentially diakonia or service down to the lowliest ones: the children. The stance of genuine service comes from treating each one as equal. In the Jewish society where children are considered as having no social status until they reach adulthood, Jesus shows his...
REFLECTIONS TODAY In an earlier episode, the Twelve were given authority over unclean spirits as they were sent on a mission (Mk 6:7) and on their return they reported to Jesus what they had done. The Lucan version—the sending of the Seventy—has them reporting to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Mark’s account of the transfiguration of Jesus has elements similar to Moses’ encounter with God: the mountain, the cloud covering the mountain, God speaking to Moses (Ex 24:12-18; 25:1). In one instance, Moses was accompanied by Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the 70 elders of...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The healing of the blind man at Bethsaida represents in a way the gradual understanding of the disciples regarding the identity of Jesus. The previous episode ends with Jesus’ question: “Do you still not understand?” (Mk 8:21). What is unusual about this healing is that it...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The discussion shifts from the Pharisees to the disciples of Jesus who are very close to the agenda of the Pharisees who have argued with and tested Jesus. The disciples now worry over their lack of bread, forgetting that Jesus had multiplied bread and fed the multitude on two...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The Pharisees act like the Israelites at the time of the Exodus who demanded further signs from Moses, even though they already received manna which was an obvious sign of God’s providence (Ex 17:1-7). Despite the miracles of healing and multiplication of the bread, the...
Despite the economic challenges and social upheaval brought about by the Covid-19 in the past two years, the Manila Bulletin (MB) remains true to its commitment to be the exponent of Philippine progress. MB President Dr. Emil C. Yap III attributed the company's resilience during the most pivotal...
First Lady Louise "Liza" Araneta-Marcos was one of the dignitaries who graced the 123rd founding anniversary celebration of the Manila Bulletin at the Manila Hotel on Thursday, Feb. 2. First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos joins Manila Bulletin executives as they raise a toast to Manila Bulletin's 123rd...
