By ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW

(Can-aw Michelle Allad-iw, my grade four daughter, is guest for the advocate. Her piece was re-printed from Damag, the official Tagalog publication of the Elementary Department of Easter College.—Ed)

Papalamig na ang simoy ng hangin. Palatandaang paparating na ang Pasko. Unti-unti na ding nararamdaman ang init ng diwa ng Pasko.

Pero ano ang kahulugan o diwa ng Pasko? Read the rest of this entry →

By MARY ANN MANJA BAYANG

If Jesus Christ were alive today, what would he be doing this Christmas? Will he be attending a wedding at Cannah? Feeding the hungry and quenching the thirst of the thirsty? Healing the sick on Sabbath day? Throwing a feast for the prodigal son?

Will he be in Iraq cradling a lifeless body of an infant, or be in Disneyland enjoying a vacation? Will he be in Africa giving water to a thin hungry child suffering from AIDS, or be frolicking in the beaches of the Caribbean? Will he be in Afghanistan healing the wounds of war, or be in the land of milk and honey drowning in wealth and wine? Read the rest of this entry →

By KATHLEEN T. OKUBO

It was International Human Rights Day when I had to bid the greatest man in my life goodbye and on the following Saturday we – his sons, grandchildren and great grandson, friends and relatives – buried him in his garden with my mother and my younger brother.

I was also a son to him like the rest of my brothers for a long sometime … whenever he had to call us as a brood for dinner, to help load or unload the wagon, or to go to school, he always shouted out: “Boys! …” And I was part of that until I was at the age of crushes and dates, when he and my brothers, like me, would all turn nervous and fidgety while waiting for my date. After that first visit, my rowdy family of males teased and joked me about it so much that I had to run to my Mom for refuge and instead we also end up laughing at their antics. Read the rest of this entry →

By ARTEMIO A. DUMLAO

On Dec. 19, the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines – perhaps the largest journalist group in the country with over 30 provincial chapters nationwide – launched its 20 Steps to Safety campaign back-to-back with the Media Guide on HIV/AIDS Reporting at the Newsdesk Café in Quezon City, in Subic, and also in Iloilo City. Read the rest of this entry →

By REV. LUNA L. DINGAYAN

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased.” — Luke 2:14

War on Terror

According to the Lukan Gospel, Jesus was born when Augustus was the emperor of the Roman Empire and Quirinius was the governor of Syria (Lk.2:1-2). In other words, Jesus was born when Palestine was under Roman colonization and domination. Emperor Augustus introduced a foreign policy that looks like an ancient version of a “war on terror” popularly known as Pax Romana (Roman Peace), wherein the Roman Empire tried to maintain “peace and order” and to quell every form of rebellion throughout its territory by the use of military force, state terrorism, and political killings. Read the rest of this entry →