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Unifying our external senses and our spiritual powers

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WE should do our best to pursue this ideal. We know that due to our wounded condition here on earth, there is division and conflict between our corporeal and spiritual dimensions of our life. St. Paul articulated this condition well when he said: “I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” (Rom 7,19).

But there is always hope as long as we also train ourselves precisely to unify our external senses and corporeal faculties, and our spiritual powers. Unifying our external senses and our spiritual powers brings about the basic unity of life we are meant to have. It’s a way to achieve that ideal condition of our life where we become recollected and contemplative even in the midst of our earthly affairs.

And by unity of life, we mean the ideal of first of all letting our spiritual powers be animated by the spirit of God, and then letting our spiritual powers animate our external senses. The perfection of this unity of life is when we manage to unite ourselves in the life and nature of God as we are meant to be, since we are God’s image and likeness.

Of course, our external senses—sight, hearing, feeling, etc.—feed our spiritual powers of our intelligence and will with raw data, but these spiritual powers of ours, in a manner of speaking, should refine and purify the data received, and animate them with the spirit of God, that is, with our faith, hope and charity.

We should avoid reversing the roles between our corporeal and spiritual faculties, making our external senses rule and dominate our spiritual powers. Nowadays, this anomaly is taking place and is quite common even. Our external senses are now overstimulated to such an extent that they deaden or numb our spiritual faculties.

As consequences, we are seeing a rise in mental illness and a greater vulnerability to demonic possessions and other irregular situations. Many people, especially the young ones, are falling into all kinds of obsessions and addictions.

The main problem, of course, is that the senses are not united or inspired by faith. They are just left on their own, ruled mainly by instincts and other biological factors. Or at best they may be guided only by an intelligence that is not yet enlightened by faith.

And things can become so bad that these senses can get quite hostile to anything related to faith that definitely involves spiritual and supernatural realities. We need to realize that the first, last and constant object that our senses should perceive is God since he is the origin of everything, the maintainer of the existence of all things. He is everywhere.
As St. Augustine once said: “To find where God is may be difficult, but to find where he is not, that is even more difficult.” And to be sure, God’s presence in everything is not something cold and indifferent. It is full of love and solicitude. He is always and actively intervening in our lives.

We need to train our senses to be guided by our Christian faith, hope and charity, so we can capture this very consoling reality. They should not just be left on their own, guided and ruled only by factors other than our faith, hope and charity. That state of affairs would lead us nowhere other than trouble.

Thus, if we are serious with guiding our senses and emotions with faith, we have to realize that our faith should not just be an intellectual affair, lived and pursued only in the spiritual world of good intentions and right doctrine. It has to involve the basic elements of our humanity, which are our senses, our feelings, our emotions and passions.

The silent success: A tale of a thriving small business and its unwilling owner

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The aroma of freshly baked bread, the warm glow of the storefront, the steady stream of customers – it was a picture of a thriving small business. This bakery, nestled in a quaint corner of the city, was a local gem, a testament to the power of passion and hard work. Yet, the owner, a man with kind eyes and a weathered face, seemed curiously reluctant to share his entrepreneurial journey.

This article exhibits thematic parallels with a previously published work concerning the challenges faced by entrepreneurs exhibiting reluctance to pursue growth opportunities. The present analysis emphasizes the detrimental effects of fear-based decision-making, highlighting the potential for missed opportunities and subsequent feelings of regret.

It was a stark contrast to the countless stories I’d heard from other small business owners, eager to recount their struggles, triumphs, and lessons learned. This man, however, remained tight-lipped, his silence a puzzle I couldn’t quite decipher.

I couldn’t help but be drawn to the mystery. What could be the reason behind his reluctance to share his story? Was it a fear of scrutiny, a desire for privacy, or something more profound?

Here are some possible explanations for the owner’s silence:

1. The Burden of Success:
Perhaps the owner felt overwhelmed by the weight of his success. The constant demands of running a thriving business, the pressure to maintain quality and customer satisfaction, could have left him exhausted and yearning for a quiet life. Sharing his journey, with its inherent vulnerability and scrutiny, might have felt like an added burden.

2. The Fear of Imitation:
Some successful entrepreneurs are fiercely protective of their ideas and strategies. The owner might have feared that sharing his story could inspire competitors, leading to a loss of market share or a dilution of his unique brand. This fear, while understandable, could have led to a self-imposed silence.

3. The Simplicity of Passion:
Perhaps the owner simply found no need to elaborate. His passion for baking, his dedication to quality, and his love for his community might have been the sole driving forces behind his success. He might have viewed his journey as a natural progression, a testament to his craft rather than a calculated strategy.

4. The Trauma of Failure:
The owner’s silence could be a reflection of past failures. He might have experienced setbacks or challenges that left him reluctant to revisit the past. Sharing his journey could have reopened old wounds, forcing him to confront the struggles he had overcome.

5. The Value of Privacy:
Some individuals simply value their privacy. The owner might have preferred to keep his personal life separate from his business. Sharing his story, with its inherent details about his background, motivations, and struggles, could have felt like an invasion of his personal space.

6. The Legacy of Silence:
Perhaps the owner learned from his own mentors or role models, who valued discretion and humility. He might have been raised in an environment where success was not meant to be bragged about, where the focus was on hard work and quiet achievement.

7. The Power of Mystery:
The owner’s silence could have been a deliberate strategy. By keeping his story a secret, he might have created an aura of mystique around his business, enhancing its allure and fostering a sense of curiosity among customers.

The Unanswered Question:
The owner’s silence, while intriguing, ultimately remained a mystery. It was a reminder that every entrepreneur’s journey is unique, shaped by their own experiences, motivations, and values. While some thrive on sharing their stories, others find solace in the quiet satisfaction of their achievements.
The bakery, with its warm glow and the tantalizing aroma of fresh bread, continued to be a testament to the owner’s dedication and passion. His silence, while perplexing, only added to the charm of his story, leaving a lasting impression on those who encountered his quiet success.
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If you have any questions or would like to share your thoughts on the column, feel free to send an email to jca.bblueprint@gmail.com. Looking forward to connecting with you!

Return if possible

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Ruckus has erupted following the trip of the former and now detained president as his supporters do not accept his destiny of reaching his desired destination in his desired destination. It would be recalled that the former and now detained president had expressed his desire to let the International Criminal Court (ICC) conduct the investigation on his alleged bloody war on drugs immediately as he might not live long before such investigation commence.

He challenged the ICC to come to the country to arrest him with the threat that he would slap and kick them if they happen to meet. The boisterous stance was a show of untouchable power as no individual, group or agency dared to raise any complaint against him. The situation was under his control as he carryout his bloody war on drugs with impunity.

It is of public knowledge that the survivors of the victims of the bloody war on drugs could not do anything but wail as they grieve in fear for the victims who were mercilessly killed by law enforcement authorities who were following his order to kill all suspected criminals and drug addicts. The instruction to the police was loud and clear that they have to pose in self-defense by letting the suspects resist the arrest and fight, if not, the police officers must provoke the suspects to fight to justify the killing.

After the killing, the killed suspect would then be portrayed with a gun and a cardboard label with the tag “adik ako, huwag tularan” placed on the dead body of the fallen suspect. Law enforcers were too bold to carryout the orders as they were made to believe that the killing is legal considering that the former and now detained president kept on bragging that he is a lawyer and a former fiscal who had enough experience on how to deal with criminals. But even a non-lawyer could understand that when the criminal gives the provocation, self-defense would not hold under the law.

With nowhere to go, the surviving families who were orphaned by the helpless innocent victims of the bloody war on drugs, they resorted to bring their complaints before the ICC. Supporters of the former and now detained president argued that the ICC could not take jurisdiction as domestic courts and the justice system is working in the country.

But the reality is that the courts and the justice system was well and working insofar as all cases are concerned except those against the former and now detained president and his minions in the bloody war on drugs. Police records were found replete with records of such killings, reason why the state prosecution could not start its investigation. More so that the one to be accused is the former and now detained president. In the meantime, the supporters are moving for their idol to return if possible.
comments to alellema@yahoo.com

Amendment to EPIRA Law, sustainable energy transition roadmap to address high power rate in EV

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TACLOBAN CITY – The Regional Development Council(RDC)- 8 is addressing the high power rate issue in the region through a policy recommendation to amend the EPIRA Law or Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 and the crafting of the sustainable energy transition roadmap for Eastern Visayas.

High power rates were among those challenging issues raised by the council to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during his last visit early in March.

Judah Aliposa, private sectoral representative for disaster resiliency of RDC 8, says even with the region hosting a number of renewable energy generation companies, high power rates continue to affect households.

He said the technical work group created by the council to look into policy recommendations for amendment specifically to the provision of the EPIRA Law that does not allow producers to directly sell to the users but goes to the grid instead.

“The region is host to renewable energy sources such as geothermal, hydropower, solar farms, windmills, however power generated here are not sold to us but sold to the grid which rather supplies other regions,” Aliposa said.

Alongside policy recommendations by the TWG, NEDA-8 Regional Director Meylene Rosales, the RDC-8 Vice-Chairperson, said the regional council has partnered with the United Nations-Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (United Nations ESCAP) for the formulation of the Eastern Visayas Sustainable Energy Transition (SET) Roadmap in 2024.

“The roadmap would encompass renewable energy on wider approach to the power challenge and the roadmap is expected to be finished this year,“ Dir. Rosales said.
In a move towards sustainable energy transition, the SET Roadmap for Eastern Visayas aims to provide policy recommendations for sustainable energy transition, align regional energy targets with global and national goals while considering regional context and priorities.

The region is host to renewable power generators that include the 28MW geothermal power by the Energy Development Corp. (EDC) in Ormoc City, Leyte; 6 MW Biliran Geothermal Inc. in Biliran town and 2 MW in Caibiran town, both in Biliran province.

The 14.16 MW Hydro power plants in Taft, Eastern Samar; and 2MW Leyte Electric Cooperative V in Kananga, Leyte, while there is the 206.25 MW San Isidro wind power project in Northern Samar.

The EDC is developing Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects of 30 MW in Kananga, Leyte while San Miguel Global Power has a 20 MW BESS Power project in Tabango, Leyte.
(AHLETTE C. REYES,PIA-8)

DPWH completes P84.4-M flood control project in Dulag, Leyte

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FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office (L2DEO) has announced the completion of the P84.4-million flood control project along the Calbasag River in Dulag, Leyte. (L2DEO)
FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office (L2DEO) has announced the completion of the P84.4-million flood control project along the Calbasag River in Dulag, Leyte. (L2DEO)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office (L2DEO) has successfully completed a P84.4-million flood control project along the Calbasag River in Dulag, Leyte, reinforcing the area’s resilience against flooding.

The newly completed infrastructure is designed to mitigate flood risks, offering crucial protection to residents and the Calbasag Bridge, especially during heavy rains and typhoons.

The project, which began on June 4, 2024, involved the construction of a 376.6-linear-meter flood control structure (Line 1 – 242.6 meters, Line 2 – 134 meters) standing 5.8 meters tall.

Built with structural steel sheet piles, the structure is engineered to manage excess water flow and prevent floodwaters from affecting homes and critical roadways, particularly the Maharlika Highway, where the Calbasag Bridge is susceptible to damage from strong river currents.

According to District Engineer Leo Edward Oppura, the project marks a significant step in ensuring the safety and security of Dulag residents, particularly those in flood-prone areas.
“With the completion of this flood control system, we can expect a reduction in flood-related damages, improved living conditions, and greater community resilience,” he said.

The P84.4-million project aligns with the government’s commitment to enhancing infrastructure and reducing disaster risks, particularly in areas historically vulnerable to flooding. Aside from safeguarding lives and properties, the flood control system is expected to contribute to local economic development.

Now fully operational, the Calbasag flood control project is set to provide long-term benefits to over a thousand residents in Dulag, Leyte.

The project was funded under the DPWH FY 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) as part of the Flood Management Program for the construction and maintenance of flood mitigation structures and drainage systems.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

2 NPA rebels killed in clash with government troops in Northern Samar

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TACLOBAN CITY – Two members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in separate clashes with government forces in Las Navas, Northern Samar, on March 28, 2025, the 8th Infantry Division reported.

The firefights occurred in Barangay San Francisco and Barangay Cuenco after the military launched an operation in response to reports of rebels engaging in extortion activities.
One of the casualties, identified as Domeng Tulin, alias “Pawa,” was killed in Brgy. Cuenco, while authorities are still verifying the identity of the slain rebel in Brgy. San Francisco.
Government troops also recovered firearms, ammunition, and personal belongings from the encounter sites.

Lieutenant Colonel Ricky James Rosalejos, commanding officer of the 19th Infantry Battalion, extended his condolences to the families of the deceased rebels. He also commended his troops for their swift action, emphasizing the military’s commitment to maintaining peace and security in Northern Samar.

“This operation is a direct response to the grievances of the people against the terrorist group’s extortion and intimidation. We assure the public that the 19IB will not waver in its mission to bring lasting peace to the province. We also urge the remaining members of the NPA to embrace peace so they can reunite with their loved ones,” Rosalejos said in a statement.

Major General Adonis Ariel Orio, 8th Infantry Division Commander, reiterated the government’s call for NPA members to surrender and reintegrate into society.

“We are committed to protecting all Filipinos, and we are also providing opportunities for CTG members to surrender and reintegrate peacefully. If they refuse to abandon the armed struggle and their misguided ideology, such tragedies will continue to happen,” Orio said in a separate statement.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

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