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Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight
ONE of the most important personages during the Advent season is John the Baptist, the immediate forerunner of Christ. A fierce man with an uncompromising message, John preached repentance to the people to prepare the way of the Lord: "…and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet. The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God." (Lk 3:2-6)
GRP-MILF: A peace agreement finally?
By Fidel V. Ramos
THANKS to Secretary Jesus Dureza, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, a timeline of the negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was recently provided me. Since 09 July 2007, the GRP Panel has been chaired by LGen. (Ret.) Rodolfo Garcia, former AFP Vice Chief of Staff, replacing Secretary Silvestre Afable (who remains Adviser to the GRP Panel). Garcia’s assignment as lead negotiator was apparently well-received by the MILF side as well as the Malaysian authorities who represent the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) – as "honest brokers." It was during Afable’s stint that the highly controversial issue of the "Ancestral Domain" – which created a 14-month impasse – was substantially resolved, and now awaits the drafting of the agreement on said issue when the next round of talks resumes before end-2007.
Bridging the digital divide
By Edgardo J. Angara
OVER the last two decades, China and India have used ICT to drive their economy and lift millions of their people out of pervasive poverty.
Survivors re-live Hawaii attack 66 years ago
By AUDREY McAVOY
Associated Press Writer
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) – A few dozen graying Pearl Harbor survivors observed a moment of silence in honor of their comrades who perished in the Japanese bombing of Oahu 66 years ago.
Analysis
By LOLITA C. BALDOR
Associated Press Writer
MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) – Persian Gulf nations must demand that Iran come clean about its past nuclear ambitions and openly vow to not develop such weapons in the future, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Saturday.
Analysis
By TONY CZUCZKA
Deutsche Presse Agentur
WASHINGTON (dpa) — Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney sought Thursday to dampen questions about his Mormon faith, saying he would keep his religion out of the White House if elected in 2008.
Human Rights Day 2007: Dignity and justice for all of us
THE Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is generally recognized as the foundation of all international human rights laws. Adopted on December 10, 1948, close to two years after members of the United Nations (UN) proposed the formulation of an international bill of human rights, the UDHR has inspired a rich body of legally binding international human rights treaties, currently numbering more than 80, and the principles enshrined in its has been incorporated in the laws of the UN member states that have ratified the declaration and adopted by regional organizations.
Speaking Out
Ignacio R. Bunye
THE President’s seven-day, two-nation European mission kicked off in Madrid, Spain, with meetings with our embassy officials, led by Ambassador Lani Bernardo, and a sizeable Filipino community there. Spain is a preferred country of OFW deployment because it offers one of the highest pay scales to foreign workers among European countries. Spain also extends equal treatment and other benefits, including 14th month bonus, paid vacation leaves and yearly pay increase to its foreign workers.
Business Beat
Melito Salazar Jr.
YESTERDAY, December 9 was International Anti-Corruption Day as designated by the United Nations General Assembly in a resolution adopted in October 31, 2003. Subsequently, in Merida, Mexico on December 9-11, the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) was opened for signature. The Philippines became a state party to the instrument on Nov. 8, 2006.
Weighing In
Pat Sto. Tomas
GOING on a foreign trip or a state visit with the President of the Republic must seem like the ultimate travel opportunity to many. Truly, sharing a plane with the highest official of the land is a privilege. But it can also be a test of energy, wits and the capacity to improvise when something goes wrong. And believe me, something unexpected can always happen.
The Treaty of Paris of December 10, 1898
ON December 10, 1898, the American and Spanish peace commissioners signed an agreement now known as the Treaty of Paris. Under the treaty, Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States and the United States agreed to indemnify Spain the amount of $ 20 million.
Human Rights Day 2007: Dignity and justice for all of us
THE Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is generally recognized as the foundation of all international human rights laws. Adopted on December 10, 1948, close to two years after members of the United Nations (UN) proposed the formulation of an international bill of human rights, the UDHR has inspired a rich body of legally binding international human rights treaties, currently numbering more than 80, and the principles enshrined in its has been incorporated in the laws of the UN member states that have ratified the declaration and adopted by regional organizations.
International Anti-Corruption Day
INTERNATIONAL Anti-Corruption Day observed on December 10 is an opportunity for nations and other institutions to acknowledge that the best check on corruption is to strengthen the governance with which to prevent it from happening and to fight it when it does.
Fashion King
EDILBERTO C. DE JESUS
BANGKOK, THAILAND — Foreigners here associate yellow with religion or with royalty. Buddhist monks wear yellow robes. Guests at ceremonial functions where the King will preside receive a reminder not to wear yellow.
Creating better relationships
By Fr. Bel R. San Luis, SVD
I PICKED up these tips from an unknown author and took liberty to choose excerpts and adopt them for local consumption.
Closure for stability and progress
By Rene Espina
I AM not at all amused with the antics of those who are supporting the walkathon of farmers from Sumilao to Manila, which is about 1,600 kilometers. To begin with, the said issue has already been decided with finality a long time ago. And government would be well advised to respect the consequences of a judgment that has become final. Let’s examine some revived issues. First question: Is there no other property in the whole wide, wide province of Bukidnon that could be given to the said four dozen or so farmers? If there is, then why not award them the said land? That should settle the matter altogether. Second: So, the farmers and more probably their blackers insist that the said Sumilao land be given to them and no other? If so, would they be willing to pay the and owner, San Miguel, the purchase price which they paid, which is the market value of said land – which by the way is much, much higher than the proposed forced sale price of said land years ago, as approved by DAR? I doubt if they are willing, after all, they are very, very poor… so San Miguel, which is rich must sacrifice… right? That will be their plea? Oh yeah! Third, will they be willing to refund San Miguel Corporation for the buildings that have already been constructed? Of course not… the rich must donate to the poor farmers! Anyway, this discussion would lead to more ridiculous situations. Fortunately, I don’t own a single share of stock of San Miguel Corporation, or any of its subsidiaries, so I could speak with utter frankness.
Revival of nuclear energy
By Ricardo M. Lantican
National Academy of Science and Technology
IN a previous article, I indicated that coal remains the predominant source of power for generating electricity worldwide and is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. I also described a proven "clean-coal technology" based on: (1) a clean-up process of the exhaust gas to remove particulates and oxides of sulfur and nitrogen; and (2) carbon dioxide capture and storage or sequestration in geologic structures. The capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide will entail the deployment of needed infrastructures which will add significantly to the cost of generating electricity. This combined process must be demonstrated and introduced on a large scale. This might well be one of the greatest engineering challenges in energy use of this century.
The preaching of John the Baptist
Matthew 3:1-12
The healing of a paralytic
ONE day as Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem, and the power of the Lord was with Him for healing. And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and set [him] in His presence. But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus. When He saw their faith, He said, "As for you, your sins are forgiven." Then the scribes and Pharisees began to ask themselves, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?" Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply, "What are you thinking in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" — He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home." He stood up immediately before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, "We have seen incredible things today."
The story of the two buckets
By Nelly Favis Villafuerte
MANY of us are familiar with the story of the two buckets that is mentioned in the book of John Maxwell titled The Winning Attitude. One bucket was an optimist, and the other was a pessimist. The story goes this way:
DNA wonders and doubts
THE marvels and spectacles that DNA (DeoxyriboNucleic Acid) has contributed to the world of science have continued to fascinate everyone. And more essentially, it has been able to set out facts, as well as unravel new, organized branches of knowledge that hitherto were difficult to establish, say, a decade ago.
They went along to expand their horizons
Floro Mercene
THE President junketed in three countries in Europe with 34 congressmen and three senators in tow.
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