Attempts to erode faith in Christ

It was well-timed. James Cameron is reportedly producing another picture that will show that DNA recovered from the possible burial jars that contained the bones of Jesus Christ will portray the truth that will rock the foundations of Christian faith.

Of course, as explained, that is not bolstered by scientific facts but speculations based on the discovery of a burial site years ago by an archeologist. And worse, it also indicates that the bones recovered included those of Mary Magdalene and several children.

In short, it picks up where the Da Vinci Code left off. It only confirms suspicions that there is a determined effort by some quarters to erode Christian faith in Christ. Well, that's a prophesied phenomenon. The Church will undergo persecution during the Last Days. And the faith of Christians will be tested and false prophets will rise up dime-a-dozen to fan the flames of unbelief.

But there is also the welcome news. Starting this week, neo-catechumenal comities of Molo (Arevalo) in Iloilo City will participate in the so-called Reditio. This is a rite where the faithful will give public testimony on how God touched their lives. Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo will preside over the Molo affair.

And there will be many from Bacolod who may attend these rites which will be done at the Molo Church before the entire congregation three times a week until the Holy Week.

There will also be a similar rite this coming Sunday for the remaining three members of the neo-catechumenal community of Bata.

In short, while there is a determined effort to undercut Christ, there are also those who continue to preach that Christ is alive and intervening in their respective personal histories.

Now, the neo-catechumenal communities of Bacolod have launched a popular mission in anticipation of a similar drive later in Sydney, Australia, in next year's youth day.

It may come as a surprise to most of us that popular mission have become the fashion in many dioceses of the world since that popular mission by several communities from several countries in Nuremberg, Germany.

Fr. Angel Mojica, the Italian catechist of the Visayas, reported that already there is one community born in Nuremberg since after the mission by the Filipino catechumens.

And they are living the word of God among what is now considered an atheistic community until the arrival of the Filipino neo-catechumenal communities.

Amid the confusing din among our politicos this electoral season, God somehow reminds us that there are those who continue to preach the truth in their own quiet ways without fanfare but just as effectively.

Thus, God works mysteriously among us. Silently, without forcing us, always respecting our freedom yet just as effectively countering efforts to erode our faith in the Christ.

As I had previously reported, Bernie Miaque had reported to me that he is definitely running for governor in Guimaras province versus reelectionist Gov. JC Rahman Nava.

But Bernie this time believes that he has better chances of winning against Nava. He has just been appointed by KAMPI president Luis Villafuerte party chairman for Guimaras. And several of the province's town mayors had also been named KAMPI chapter chairmen.

His prospective tandem in the congressional race is Rep. Edgar Espinosa. Also another KAMPI member.

Miaque claimed that Rahman in the last elections suddenly shifted his support to Fernando Poe Jr. But, despite that act, Guimaras still went heavily for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, although Miaque lost to Nava.

Now, Miaque believes that with the party help plus the support of several Guimaras mayors, he has all the chances of winning the gubernatorial race.

Well, he must be able to overcome the thousands of fisherfolk who had won compensation from the Petron oil insurer amounting to more than a thousands pesos per family.

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Retired General Bebot Delfin is running against Rep. Exequiel Javier. That's the biggest catch by Antique Governor Sally Zaldivar-Perez who claims that she had already been harassed by Javier.

What is strange is that the two - Sally and Exequiel - have been squabbling over the way the lady-governor has been commemorating the martyrdom and the birthday of the former Antique Governor who was killed in broad daylight in front of the provincial capitol just a few days before EDSA Uno.

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Actually the investment in the core sampler by the Mill District Development Council and the Lopez Sugar Corporation was the one that spurred local farmers to adopt the higher-yielding sugarcane varieties. These now comprise 80 percent of canes milled by the sugar central. One can only appreciate the impact of this by comparing the per lkg price of sugar today against that of several years back. Then one can fully understand what is means to sugar farmers.*

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