Aside from their ecclesial duties, Spanish missionaries were mandated to follow certain obligations, administrative in nature, covered by edicts issued by the Royal Crown. In fact, accounts of clerics becoming founders of pueblos are well chronicled. In Davao region, many of the colonial names assigned by...
During my college years, the "Daily Bread" program at Ateneo, designed to assist students struggling financially, caught my attention. My limited budget made the program incredibly appealing, yet I hesitated. I wrongly assumed its low profile meant it was outdated. I dismissed the program, assuming...
[gallery link="file" columns="2" size="full" ids="46783,46784"] Whenever there is a calamity, the normal thing to do is to evacuate, find a safe place, and wait for the proper agency to announce a safe return home. However, Rhoderick G. Hernandez does the exact opposite: whenever disasters occur, he...
Religious events such as fiestas have largely been unchanged in the last 150 years. The fan-fare that usually attends the annual feast in honor of a patron saint remains, and this is due to the fact that over a century of dynamic practices has become...
Advent, derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming or arrival,” has the basic nature of a time of preparation that spans a period that always has four Sundays. In fact, it always begins on a Sunday, the First Sunday of Advent, and concluding at...
Davao’s 1848 conquest in the hands of the Spanish-led expedition was a turning point to the history of Catholicism in Davao. The significance of this event betrays the expectation of a region to be forever subjugated and controlled by colonial grip. Two key facets, however,...
Dear Ate Emz, MARRIED na po ako, mag 3 years na. Duna kami 1yr old baby sa akong asawa. Happy and contented. Kaya lang ang akong asawa may pagka Mom’s girl. She cannot get over with being dependent to my in-law. Halos tanan iyang ginaasa. Ang...
For the young people, life often feels like a whirlwind of challenges. Every day, they navigate a maze of school deadlines, family responsibilities, and the expectations of society. Sometimes, they feel like drowning, lost in a sea of doubts and insecurities. It’s in these moments...
Rivalry between religious congregations, if you will, was a quarrelsome subject between the Recollects and the Jesuits (Society of Jesus). This competition started decades before the Recollects were given jurisdiction of northeastern Mindanao. This enmity is palpable in written accounts, particularly in the last half...
Advent, a season of joyful anticipation, is often overshadowed by the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations. While the world entices us with festivities, parties, and gift shopping, the Church reminds us that Advent is a time of spiritual readiness, calling us to prepare our...