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Year: 2023

Pope calls Christians to be ‘modern-day prophets’

Pope Francis encouraged Christians to reflect on how they live out their baptismal calling to be prophets in their daily lives

Pope Francis addresses the crowd from the window of the Apostolic palace overlooking St Peter’s Square for the Angelus prayer in the Vatican on July 2. (Photo: AFP)

ANGELUS
Saint Peter’s Square
Sunday, 2 July 2023
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Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno!

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says, “The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward” (Mt 10:41). The word “prophet” appears three times. But what type of prophet? There are some who imagine a prophet to be some type of magician who foretells the future. But this is a superstitious idea and a Christian does not believe in superstitions, such as magic, tarot cards, horoscopes and other similar things. In parentheses, many, many Christians go to have the palms read… Please… Others depict a prophet as a character from the past only, who existed before Christ to foretell his coming. And yet, Jesus himself speaks today of the need to welcome prophets. Therefore, they still exist. But who are they? What is a prophet?

Each one of us, brothers and sisters, is a prophet. In fact, with Baptism, all of us received the gift of the prophetic mission (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1268). A prophet is the one who, by virtue of Baptism, helps others read the present under the action of the Holy Spirit. This is very important: to read the present not like news, no… to read it as enlightened and under the action of the Holy Spirit, who helps to understand God’s plans and correspond to them. In other words, the prophet is the one who points Jesus out to others, who bears witness to him, who helps live today and to build the future according to his designs. So we are all prophets, witnesses of Jesus, so “that the power of the Gospel might shine forth in daily social and family life” (Lumen Gentium, 35). A prophet is a living sign who points God out to others. A prophet is a reflection of Christ’s light on the path of the brothers and sisters. And so, we can ask ourselves: Do I, – each one of us – Do I, who am “a prophet by election” through Baptism, do I speak, and above all, do I live as a witness of Jesus? Do I bring a little bit of his light into the life of another person? Do I evaluate myself on this? I ask myself: What is my bearing witness like, what is my prophecy like?

In the Gospel, the Lord also asks to welcome the prophets. So it is important to welcome each other as such, as bearers of God’s message, each one according to his state and vocation, and to do it right where we live – that is, in the family, in the parish, in the religious community, in other places in the Church and in society. The Spirit has distributed gifts of prophecy in the holy People of God. This is why it is good to listen to everyone. For example, when an important decision needs to be made – let us think about this – it is good to pray first of all, to call on the Spirit, but then to listen and dialogue trusting that each person, even the littlest, because they have something important to say, a prophetic gift to share. Thus, the truth is sought and the climate is spread of listening to God and our brothers and sisters where people do not feel welcome because they say what I like, but they feel accepted and valued as the gifts they are.

Let us reflect on how many conflicts could be avoided and resolved in this way, listening to others with the sincere desire to understand each other! So, finally, let us ask ourselves: Do I know how to welcome my brothers and sisters as prophetic gifts? Do I believe that I need them? Do I listen to them respectfully, with the desire to learn? Because each of us needs to learn from others. Each of us needs to learn from others.

May Mary, Queen of Prophets, help us see and welcome the good that the Spirit has sown in others.

Eraserheads, Voltes V, and fight against oppression

From left, Buddy Zabala, Ely Buendia, Raymund Marasigan and Marcus Adoro. (Photo courtesy of WEU Management Services)

Dennis Gorecho
July 4, 2023

The weapon known as the ultra electromagnetic top, resembling a spinning top, which Voltes V launches from within its torso became the inspiration behind the  Eraserheads’ groundbreaking album, “Ultraelectromagneticpop!”.

The album contains the songs “Shake Yer Head”, “Toyang”, “Ligaya”, “Tindahan ni Aling Nena”,  “Pare Ko”, “Shirley”, and “Maling Akala”.

University of the Philippines (UP) has played a special role in the formation of Eraserheads since they started to perform at the Diliman campus in the 1990s, composed of Raymund Marasigan,  Buddy Zabala, Ely Buendia, and Marcus Adoro.

Zabala and Marasigan were my roommates for two years (1989 to 1991) at the UP Molave dorm during my last college years.

Since its formation in 1989, Eraserheads had seven studio albums, 44 singles, a live album, four compilation albums, 10 music videos, and three extended plays.

I usually go out every time our room was used as their “practice area” since I could not study due to the “noise” they were creating.

It was beyond my comprehension that the “noise” that I tried to avoid made them known as one of the most successful and critically acclaimed bands in OPM history, earning them the accolade “The Beatles of the Philippines.”

I was just seven years old when the Japanese anime television series Voltes V first aired in the Philippines on May 5, 1978, on GMA Network.

As kids of the 1970s, it was our routine at that time to rush home from school to watch the daily airing of from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m of Japanese robots anime: Mekanda on Mondays, Daimos on Tuesdays, Mazinger Z on Wednesdays, UFO Grendizer on Thursdays, while Friday was reserved for the ultimate rating-raking Voltes V.

The cartoon series was about an alien race of horned humans from the planet Boazania out to conquer Earth. It was up to Voltes V to defeat the Boazanians’ giant robots, known as beast fighters, sent to destroy the planet.

I was happy when my father bought me a plastic Voltes V toy but I envied a cousin who had a metal version with detachable parts.

Forty-five years later, the series is resurrected this year via Voltes V: Legacy by GMA Network which acquired the rights to make a live-action adaptation through Telesuccess Productions, Toei’s Philippine licensee.  It made its television debut on May 8, 2023.

Directed by Mark Reyes V,  it stars Miguel Tanfelix as Steve Armstrong, Radson Flores as Mark Gordon, Matt Lozano as Robert “Big Bert” Armstrong, Raphael Landicho as “Little Jon” Armstrong, and Ysabel Ortega as Jamie Robinson.

I had the chance to watch the theatrical version of Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience through the special block screening of GMA Pinoy TV.  The 107-minute film covers content from the first 15 of the 80 episodes of the television series.

The block screening of Voltez V Legacy last April coincided with the celebration of National Intellectual Property Month. It aimed to foster the public’s appreciation of the significance of intellectual property in relation to the country’s social, cultural, economic, and technological development.

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Church to celebrate 3rd World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

Pope Francis speaks with faithful after 22 March 2023 General Audience  (Vatican Media)

The Church is preparing to celebrate the 3rd World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, on Sunday, 23 July 2023, near the Feast of Sts Joachim and Anne, with the motto ‘His mercy is from age to age” (Lk 1:50).

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

The Church is preparing to celebrate the third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on Sunday, 23 July, announced the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, in a statement on Thursday.

The Church observes the World Day each year on the fourth Sunday in July, close to the feast of Jesus’ grandparents, Saints Joachim and Anne.

Pope Francis instituted this Day in 2021 since, he believes, grandparents are often forgotten, yet they “are the link between generations, passing on the experience of life and faith to the young.”

‘His mercy is from age to age’

Pope Francis chose as this year’s theme “His mercy is from age to age” (Lk 1:50), which expresses the link with World Youth Day, 1-6 August 2023, which will take place shortly thereafter in Lisbon, Portugal.

The World Youth Day’s theme “Mary arose and went with haste” (Lk 1:39) shows us, the Dicastery’s statement noted, the young Mary who sets out to go and find her elderly cousin Elizabeth and who loudly proclaims, in the Magnificat, the strength of the alliance between young and old.

On the occasion of the Day, the Holy Father will preside over a Eucharistic liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica and invites parishes, dioceses, associations and ecclesial communities from all over the world to celebrate the Day in their own pastoral context.

Pope Francis makes first public speech since hospitalization for abdominal surgery

Catholic News Agency
June 19, 2023

Pope Francis delivers his Angelus address from the window of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on June 18, 2023. Photo by Vatican Media via CNA

Pope Francis appeared in the window of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on Sunday to make his first public speech since his release from the hospital on Friday.

The 86-year-old pope waved and smiled on June 18 as he gave thanks for the prayers and messages that he received during his nine-day stay in the hospital to recover from surgery to repair an incisional hernia.

“I wish to express my gratitude to those who, during the days of my hospitalization at Gemelli Hospital, have shown me affection, care, and friendship, and assured me of prayerful support,” the pope said.

“This human and spiritual closeness has been a great help and comfort to me. Thank you all, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

In his Angelus address, Pope Francis urged Christians to show the world the closeness of God by “performing many deeds of love and hope in the name of the Lord.”

Pope Francis reflected on how Jesus asked his apostles to preach that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt 10:7). He noted how Jesus also began his preaching with this proclamation that the God of love is in our midst.

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Cubao bishop emphasizes mercy during 25th episcopal anniversary Mass

CBCP News
June 19, 2023

Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of the Diocese of Cubao. (Photo by Jire Carreon)

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the episcopate, Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao said the blessings bestowed on him are because of God’s forgiveness and mercy.

Standing before a packed Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Sunday, June 18, he gave thanks for the occasion as he reflected on the graces he’s shared with the faithful.

“I pray in gratitude for the love and mercy of God, which allowed me to survive and continue serving him,” Ongtioco said in an emotional homily.

“And it is this love and mercy that endures forever which I invited you all to celebrate with me today,” he said.

Twenty five years ago, Ongtioco was ordained bishop for the Diocese of Balanga in the northern province of Bataan.

On August 28, 2003, St. John Paul II appointed him as the first bishop of the Diocese of Cubao.

Among those celebrating with the bishop were many who have known him for a long time, including his family and friends.

In one part of his homily, he also paid tribute to the clergy, the religious, and the laity— “the three solid legs on which our diocese stands”.

“There have been so many wonderful things that happened because of the engagement and collaboration of these three pillars of the diocese,” the bishop added.

Ordained priest for the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Ongtioco celebrated his 50th priesthood anniversary on December 8, 2022.

Also joining him in the celebration were about 10 bishops, including Cardinal Jose Advincula of Manila and Archbishop Charles Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines.

Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan and Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara of Pasig, current president and vice president, respectively, of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, also graced the occasion.

Ongtioco will turn 75 on October 17 this year, which is the age when bishops must offer their resignation to the pope.