THE liturgy for today sets the stage for the coming memorial of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The reading from Isaiah (42:1-7) heard in today’s Mass is a prophetic description of the faithful servant who will bring justice to the earth and be a light for all people. The reading from the Gospel according to John (12:1-11) narrates how Mary anointed the feet of Jesus, six days before the Passover. While the Gospel portrays Jesus as the Messiah, God’s anointed, Judas appears as a duplicitous and greedy man who had not understood what Jesus tried to teach. In the Gospel reading Jesus and Lazarus represent a threat to the Jerusalem religious establishment. Jesus brings a new teaching while the resurrected Lazarus is living a testimony to the power of God.

IN a move that would considerably ease tensions in the Spratlys, the Philippines, China, and Vietnam signed this week an agreement on a joint seismic research in the South China Sea. This is breakthrough in implementing the Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea among ASEAN and China.

THE coincidence between the passing of George F. Kennan, architect of the US policy of Containment during the Cold War, and the announcement of the first joint military exercises between Russia and China brought to my mind the theory of balance of power that I learned in high school.

THANKS for inviting me, but I must say no." That was the way Susan Roces turned down the invite to join the Laban party reorganization meeting where she was to be offered a berth in the Senate slate.

THE farmer had achieved practically all his goals in life. For his age, these were quiet remarkable.

IN a great effort to remind the peoples of the world that individuals and groups have the right to live as they see fit, an International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is celebrated March 21 of each year. It has become not only a day to celebrate the achievements that have been reached in creating what is a relatively harmonious and culturally diverse world, but also to recognize that racism is still a serious problem and a constant threat to the harmony of the peoples of the world and much work remains to be done to eliminate and prevent racial discrimination.

JUST when nothing but disaster news dominated the state of affairs last week, the sudden torrential rain Friday afternoon was more of a blessing than an omen.

KOSOVO of Abu Sayyaf was a deadly killer. Cassava of Bohol was deadlier – 27 children dead in one eating session.

ALMOST a year after the outbreak of hostilities between the Katipuneros and the Spanish troops, the Philippine Revolutionary Government and its Army were born on March 22, 1897 at Tejeros, San Francisco de Malabon in Cavite. General Artemio Ricarte was named Captain General of the Ejercito en la Republica de las Islas Filipinas or the Revolutionary Philippine Army. This date marked the founding day of the modern-day Philippine Army.

WE’VE reached the most significant part of the church calendar, Holy Week. In Spanish, Semana Santa; in Pilipino, "Mahal na Araw."

POETRY against Discrimination" is this year’s World Poetry Day theme. Discrimination is a practice that divides peoples and countries. To the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), poetry is a powerful medium of communication, of sharing experiences and knowledge between peoples and cultures. It is a bridge towards greater understanding.

SIX days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for Him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with Him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Then Judas the Iscariot, one [of] His disciples, and the one who would betray Him, said, "Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?" He said this not because He cared about the poor but because He was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. So Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of My burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me."