The last time many Filipino relatives truly stand shoulder to shoulder is beside a coffin, under a white tent, with folding chairs scraping the concrete and coffee going cold. Death becomes the appointment that everyone finally honors. I find this quite sad, and quietly tragic.

I have watched this pattern repeat itself too many times to dismiss it as a coincidence. Weddings are postponed, birthdays reduced to greetings on a screen, reunions endlessly rescheduled because someone has overtime, another has a deadline, another is “too tired from work.” Then one dies, and suddenly time loosens its grip. Leave credits appear, long drives are endured, and plane tickets are bought without complaint. The dead, of course, no longer benefit from the effort.

Work is the most convenient and most accepted excuse. Filipinos are proud workers—resilient, reliable, willing to sacrifice rest for responsibility. But somewhere along the way, busyness has been mistaken for virtue, and absence has been normalized. We say “next time” with such ease that it begins to sound like a promise, even when experience tells us it rarely happens.

What makes wakes so crowded is not just grief, but guilt. Conversations begin with apologies: Ang tagal nating hindi nagkita, sayang, ngayon lang tayo nagkasama. Laughter sneaks in between prayers, stories are exchanged, food is shared, and for a moment, the family looks whole again. That brief warmth is real—but it is painfully ironic that it blooms only when someone is already gone.

There is something unsettling about how death becomes a social magnet. The deceased turns into the unwilling host of a reunion they will never witness. Candles flicker, relatives reconnect, old misunderstandings soften, and yet the one person who could have enjoyed seeing everyone together lies silent. It feels like offering flowers to someone who can no longer see color.

Filipino culture is rich in family values, but this habit exposes a contradiction. We claim closeness, yet practice distance. We praise togetherness, yet delay it indefinitely. The wake becomes proof that gathering was always possible—it simply lacked urgency until death supplied it.

I am not blind to the pressures people carry. Jobs are demanding, commutes are brutal, and survival leaves little room for sentiment. Still, if time can be carved out for mourning, it can be carved out for living as well. A shared meal, an ordinary Sunday visit, a reunion with no tragedy attached, should not feel like an extravagance.

Perhaps the quiet lesson here is simple and uncomfortable: do not wait for a coffin to summon family. Gather while voices are strong, laughter is loud, and stories can still be corrected by the people who lived them. Reunions should be gifts to the living, not condolences to the dead.

As the United States and Israel pound the defiant Iran, the need for alternative sources of energy source becomes a thunderous voice. Every time war erupts in the Middle East, the Philippines pays the price. The US–Israel invasion of Iran will once again s raise oil prices soaring, and Leyte and Samar are left at the mercy of forces far beyond our shores.
Kay anon ga diri kita maniguro pag pamilng hin iba na source ?

Eastern Visayas already suffers from poverty rates around 30%—far higher than the national average of 18%. Now, rising fuel costs make shipping goods between islands more expensive, farmers struggle to move their harvests, and families relying on diesel generators face unbearable electricity bills. This cycle repeats every time global oil markets tremble.

History has shown us the danger of dependence: the 1973 oil crisis drove inflation above 30% in the Philippines, and the 1990 Gulf War plunged us into blackouts. Today’s conflict threatens to replay those scars. But unlike before, we now have a choice.

Leyte is blessed with geothermal energy, a resource that powers thousands of homes. Samar has untapped potential in wind and solar. The seas around us could fuel tidal power. These are not dreams—they are lifelines. Investing in renewable energy is not just about protecting the environment; it is about protecting our people from the next oil shock.

The message is simple: Eastern Visayas must break free from oil dependence. If we fail to act, every distant conflict will continue to dictate the price of rice on our tables. But if we seize our natural strengths, we can turn crisis into opportunity—and finally light our homes with power that is truly ours.

We must look for Alternative Sources of Energy and celebrate the chance . We must not sow doubt on the Electric Cars and Solar Panel that somehow ease our dependence on crudo.

Our attitude must be curious and open to the Alternative Source such as Solar, Battery Power, Wind and even Hdropower.

We must not be victims and hostages to fossil fuels power!

Women entrepreneurs are increasingly shaping the business landscape, bringing innovation, creativity, and unique perspectives to various industries. However, the path to entrepreneurial success is often fraught with challenges. To navigate these hurdles and thrive in the competitive business world, aspiring women entrepreneurs need solid advice and strategies. This article provides essential tips, emphasizing the importance of networking, mentorship, and self-belief.

The Power of Networking

Networking is a critical component of entrepreneurial success. It involves building and maintaining relationships with other professionals, industry experts, and potential partners or investors. For women entrepreneurs, networking can open doors to opportunities that might otherwise be inaccessible.

• Expand Your Reach: Networking events, industry conferences, and professional organizations provide platforms to meet like-minded individuals and expand your professional circle.

• Gain Insights: Engaging with experienced entrepreneurs can offer valuable insights into market trends, business strategies, and potential pitfalls.

• Find Opportunities: Networking can lead to new business opportunities, collaborations, and access to resources that can fuel growth.

• Build Support Systems: Creating a network of supportive peers can provide emotional support and encouragement during challenging times.

• Master Navigation: Women entrepreneurs put their ideas to the test through networking. They follow up to ensure they sow their seeds of ideas in the most fertile networking ground.

Seeking Mentorship

Mentorship is another vital resource for aspiring women entrepreneurs. A mentor can provide guidance, support, and advice based on their own experiences and expertise.

• Gain Valuable Advice: Mentors can offer practical advice on various aspects of running a business, from developing a business plan to managing finances.

• Learn from Experience: Mentors share their successes and failures, providing valuable lessons that can help you avoid common mistakes.

• Expand Your Network: Mentors can introduce you to their network of contacts, opening doors to new opportunities and collaborations.

• Receive Encouragement: A mentor can provide encouragement and support, helping you stay motivated and focused on your goals.

• Find Role Models: Mentors can serve as role models, demonstrating what is possible and inspiring you to achieve your full potential.

Believing in Yourself

Perhaps the most critical factor for entrepreneurial success is self-belief. Aspiring women entrepreneurs must believe in themselves and their abilities to overcome challenges and achieve their goals.

• Develop Confidence: Building confidence involves recognizing your strengths, celebrating your achievements, and learning from your failures.

• Embrace Risk: Entrepreneurship involves taking risks, and believing in yourself can give you the courage to step outside your comfort zone and pursue new opportunities.

• Stay Motivated: Self-belief can help you stay motivated during challenging times, reminding you of your goals and your ability to achieve them.

• Overcome Obstacles: Believing in yourself can empower you to overcome obstacles and persevere in the face of adversity.

• Trust Your Vision: Confidence in your vision will help you stay motivated through challenging times, while also providing the courage to take risks and make bold decisions.

Additional Tips for Success

• Develop a Robust Financial Plan: A comprehensive financial plan is essential for the success of your business venture. It addresses all aspects, from tax planning to budgeting, providing a solid foundation for long-term growth.

• Leverage Digital Platforms: In today’s digital age, it is crucial to use digital platforms to reach your target audience. Invest in creating an engaging web presence and explore social media channels for promotions.

• Invest in Professional Development: Continuing education is essential for staying ahead. Invest in professional development opportunities to enhance your knowledge and skills.

• Create a Strategic Plan: Develop a strategic plan that considers all aspects, from marketing to sales. Include clear objectives and timelines for each goal to achieve long-term success.

• Be Decisive: Move quickly with your ideas. Implement and analyze them. Seek feedback, modify, and try again. Action is a key component of being an entrepreneur.

Conclusion

Aspiring women entrepreneurs have the potential to make a significant impact on the business world. By prioritizing networking, seeking mentorship, and believing in themselves, they can overcome challenges and achieve their entrepreneurial dreams. With the right mindset, strategies, and support systems, women can thrive in the world of business, driving innovation, creating jobs, and contributing to economic growth.
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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!

THIS is none other than to do everything in our life with the intention of loving and glorifying God. And given how we, as children of God, are related to him, we should also do everything with the intention of loving others. We should not be doing things just for our own good.

This is what purity of intention means. We should be very careful with our intentions. Since they are hidden, we can easily play around with them. We can appear good outside but bad inside. Our deeds may be considered as acts of generosity and compassion, but the intentions may be those of envy, conceit and the like.

We have to be most careful in handling our intentions. They play a strategic role in our life, for how and where we direct them would determine whether we want to be with God or simply with our own selves.

Our intentions express who and where in the end we want to be. Do we choose God, or do we simply choose ourselves, or the world in general? It’s actually a choice between good and evil.

We really need to take care of our intentions. We have to do our best to see to it that we always have purity of intention in everything that we do, so that we only love and serve God, and because of that, we can properly love and serve everybody else.

This concern was somehow referred to in that gospel episode where Christ lamented over the hypocrisy and inconsistency of the leading Jews at that time. (cfr. Mt 23,1-12) “All their works they do for to be seen of men. For they make their phylacteries broad, and enlarge their fringes. And they love the first places at feasts, and the first chairs in the synagogues,” he said.

When our intentions are not pure, when they are diluted with some ulterior motives, there is no way but for us to fall into some form of inconsistencies and improper priorities.
We need to realize then that we have to take care of our intention, making it as explicit as possible, and honing it to get engaged with its proper and ultimate object who is God. We should try our best to shun being simply casual or cavalier about this responsibility.
Right now, we can say that hardly is this concern given due attention. People seem to be simply pursuing their own personal intentions, practically doing self-indulgence. We need to correct this anomaly.

In anything that we do, let’s see to it that our intentions are pure. That is to say, that we have to be motivated always by love for God and neighbor. And by love, we mean that we follow God’s commandments as clearly articulated by Christ himself: “If you love me, keep my commandments.” (Jn 14,15)

And the epitome of this obedience to God’s commandments is Christ himself, who said: “I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but to do the will of him who sent me.” (Jn 6,38) The secret therefore of love, which is obeying God’s will, is to have the mind and heart of Christ. That is to say, to be ‘another Christ’ which we can always attain because Christ himself has given us all the means to achieve that ideal.

For us to have purity of intention, we should be humble enough to ask for it from God first. We should not dare to think that we can have purity of intention by simply relying on our own efforts. We need God’s grace first of all.