Day: April 7, 2023

A ‘faith destination’ opened to the public in Barangay Marahan, Marilog District here on Maundy Thursday, aiming to attract the younger generation. The Majestic Peak at Sitio San Miguel, a 2.8-hectare land converted into a haven for devotion, features the Stations of the Cross, 14 stops of prayers and reflections from the condemnation to death of Jesus Christ until His burial. In an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA), the owner, who refused to be identified, said the youth is so engrossed with technology that she feels a need to reintroduce the value of devotion. ‘We strongly encourage the younger generations to come since they are capable of climbing more than 500 steps. But we don’t discourage the older ones to come,’ she added. Each visitor will pay PHP50 as entrance fee. All proceeds will be donated to fund for the ongoing construction of the nearby San Miguel Parish. ‘God is very majestic. There are no words to describe Him. This [place] is something where they could relax. If you would go up and see the cross, it would give you a feeling of happiness and you will appreciate the effort of coming up,’ she said. The Stations of the Cross, also known as Via Crucis or Way of the Cross, recall the events during Jesus Christ’s final days on Earth. The devotion is most common during Lent.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Holy Week is supposed to be a time for rest and reflection for Filipino Catholics. However, national sepak takraw athletes Allyssa Bandoy and Mary Ann Lopez have to set aside bonding time for now as they gear up for the Cambodia Southeast Asian (SEA) Games slated in May. Bandoy and Lopez are currently in Thailand with the rest of the team for a training camp. “Medyo sanay na kami na mahiwalay sa parents namin (We’re somehow used to being away from our parents),” Bandoy said in an interview. The team left for Bangkok on April 1 and will stay there for the entire month. They will be home for a few days before leaving for Phnom Penh. Bandoy and Lopez said they miss home but playing for the country is for their families, too. “Ginagawa naman namin ito hindi lang para sa amin kundi para sa pamilya namin (We’re doing this not just for ourselves but for our families also),” Lopez said. Lopez was part of the gold medalist hoop team during the 2019 Manila edition while Bandoy was with the regu squad that took the bronze. The hoops event was excluded in last year’s meet in Hanoi while Bandoy’s squad missed out on a medal in the regu. Lopez and Bandoy are eyeing payback in Cambodia. “Nandito na ‘yung excitement (The excitement is already here),” the duo said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

A soldier of the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) was wounded during an encounter with the remnants of the dismantled New People’s (NPA) Army Northern Negros Front (NNF) in the hinterlands of Toboso, Negros Occidental on Thursday afternoon. The 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) said the trooper, whose identity is still being withheld by the unit, is now in a stable condition at a hospital here, where he received the Wounded Personnel Medal from Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, commander of 303IBde, on Friday morning. ‘It is with great pride that I commend the tireless efforts of officers and troops of 79IB under Lt. Col. J-Jay Javines. The same goes for our wounded personnel. Truly, the devotion and sacrifices made by our soldiers to their oath to safeguard fellow Filipinos and the country are beyond measure,’ Edralin said. He added the 303IBde appreciates the continued support of the locals who provide information to the troops on the presence of the NPA rebels in their community. ‘They have now understood that communist-terrorists are the menace of the society. The 79IB also acted immediately to the information given by the locals,’ he added. At around 4 p.m., soldiers engaged about 10 NPA fighters in Sitio Seraje, Barangay San Isidro after residents complained of extortion and propaganda activities. Based on the accounts of the locals, at least three wounded rebels were seen withdrawing from the encounter site, the report said. During the clearing operation, troops recovered two homemade shotguns with two magazines and live ammunition, mobile phone battery, medicine kits, hammocks, rainboots and other personal items, and subversive documents. The NNF, which was part of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor, was dismantled by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police in April 2021. From late 2021 to 2022, some of its top leaders have been killed in clashes while some members have surrendered, although others continue to conduct recruitment and recovery efforts, particularly in the hinterland villages in the boundaries of Escalante City, in Toboso and Calatrava towns, and in other remote areas of northern Negros

Source: Philippines News Agency