My favorite Christmas story is “The Other Wise Man” by Henry Van Dyke, an American clergyman and educator.
Written in 1896, “The Other Wise Man” is also known as the Fourth Wise Man, the one who failed to join The Three Wise Men- Melchor, Gaspar and Balthazar – to witness the birth of Jesus Christ.
In Van Dyke’s story, the Fourth Wise Man was Artaban who lived in the city of Ecbatana, in the mountains of Persia (now Iran).
Gusto kong ibahagi sa inyo itong kuwento ng aking kaibigan na si Ching Suva, dating press undersecretary at ngayon ay vice president for public affairs ng Manila Hotel at Manila Bulletin.
Noong isang biyahe ni Pangulong Ramos sa Amerika, nawala ang isang maleta ni Ching na puno ng mga damit at pinamili niyang pasalubong sa mga kamag-anak at kaibigan.
Pumunta si Ching sa simbahan para humingi ng tulong sa Panginoon na makita ang kanyang maleta. Nang nandoon siya sa simbahan, nakatabi niya ang isang ale na halos mangiyak-ngiyak na sa kanyang pagdadasal. Sabi ni Ching, siguro ang laki ng problema ng aleng ito.
The Vogue Magazine feature on Angelina Jolie is inspiring.Click here for the article by Jonathan Van Meter and more photos by Annie Leibovitz. Inquirer’s man…
Many times, we ask where is divine justice when those who lie, cheat and steal continue to remain in power. This Christmas, let’s reflect on…
US cancels military exercises with RP over rape case
By Veronica Uy
Agence France-Presse, INQUIRER.net
THE United States has cancelled its annual joint military exercises with the Philippines due to the continued detention of a US Marine convicted of rape, an embassy spokesman said Friday.
“The custody issue is at the heart of this,” embassy spokesman Matt Lussenhop told INQUIRER.net. “Due to the current custody issue (over the US Marine), the usual protection provided to US servicemembers is in doubt.”
Following is Fe Zamora’s story ” Isafp holds lavish Christmas bash with ‘Emperor’ “in today’s issue of Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Decadent!
Update: AFP warned soldiers against solicitation for their Christmas party but played deaf and blind to reports of solicited appliances given away by ISAFP Chief Delfin Bangit in their party last Wednesday.
AMID shouts of “Long Live the Emperor,” Armed Forces intelligence chief Brig. Gen. Delfin Bangit threw P500 bills, like they were candy, at the Isafp (Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines) Christmas party held on Wednesday night.
We all know that Gloria Arroyo speaks with a forked tongue.
At the 71st anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines she extolled the military under the leadership of AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon: “You have pushed back vested interests, you have upheld military justice, you have maintained command discipline and rallied around the flag.”
Arroyo also said “Transparency is crucial.”
There is now a new crime in the Philippines: distributing DVD copies of movies Gloria Arroyo does not like.
Following is the report of Malaya’s Victor Reyes on the trial by court martial of first Lt. Artemio Raymundo for,believe it or not, sharing with fellow marines DVD copies of former President Joseph Estrada’s biographical movie.
And we are supposed to be a democracy!
THE staff judge advocate of the Marine Corps has recommended the trial by court martial of a junior officer for distributing copies of the former President Estrada’s biopic in videodisc.
Sa kakatutok ko sa isyu ng Cha-Cha at Con-Ass hindi ko napansin na magpa-Pasko na pala at hindi pa ko nakahanda ng aking mga pang-regalo.
Noong nanood nga kami ng concert ni Otoniel Gonzaga at Dulce sa Philamlife noong Dec. 9, doon ko na-realize na nagsimula na pala ang Christmas season dahil marami sa kanilang kinanta ay Christmas songs.
Ang aking pamangkin ay dumadalo sa simbang gabi kaya kapag almusal nakikita kong may sapin-sapin at kutsenta. Sabi ko sa kanya bumili ng puto bumbong at bibingka ngunit ang haba raw ng pila sa ganoong kakanin.
I think Gloria Arroyo’s latest flip-flop on cha-cha was driven by her fear of being abandoned by her opportunistic allies now that she is seen as a lameduck.
Yesterday morning, in her speech at the Asian Development Bank, Arroyo said she will pursue cha-cha with “urgency and vigor.”
With the prospect of her staying in power beyond 2010 courtesy of cha-cha, she can still command the support of congressmen, especially when impeachment time comes again next year.