It’s the most wonderful time of the year so let’s partake of this heartfelt message from national treasure Manny Pacquiao:
“Ang Pasko ay nagpa-paalala kung gaano kadakila ang pagmamahal ng Diyos sa atin. Sa tingin ko ang tunay na diwa at simbolo ng Pasko ay pag-big at pagpapakumbaba. Sana ay bigyan natin ng puwang ang Diyos sa ating mga puso. Sana sa pamamagitan ng Pasko ay maalaala natin ang pagpapala at walang hanggang kabutihan ng Panginoon Diyos. Mahalin at lingapin natin ang ating kapwa, lalo na ang mahihirap, mga matanda, mga balo at ulila. Kung may tunay na pag-big sa ating mga puso ay wala ang mga kaguluhan, gutom at digmaan. Sundin natin ang halimbawang ipinakita ng Panginoon Hesukristo. Kung ang Anak ng Diyos kayang magpakumbaba tayo pa kaya?”
Simply put, in translation: Christmas reminds us of God’s unending love for mankind. I believe the true meaning and symbol of Christmas is love and humility. Let’s give God a space in our hearts. This Christmas let’s recall the blessings and endless goodness of God. Let’s help and love our fellowmen, mainly the poor, the elderly, widows and orphans. If there’s genuine love in our hearts, there will be no conflicts, hunger and war. Let’s emulate the divine example shown by Our Lord Jesus Christ. If God’s own Son humbled himself, so can we.”
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Love and humility. Out there in the Philippine Sports Commission, it cannot be said that they had suffered a sudden attack of generosity in handing the great Carlos Loyzaga a long-overdue bonus. The heroic exploits of Loyzaga as main man for the Philippine national team in international competitions, capped by a bronze medal finish in the 1954 World Basketball Championships in Brazil, where Loyzaga was named member of the World Mythical Selection, cannot be measured in gold.
But the million-peso check handed to the greatest Filipino basketeer ever brings joy not only to King Caloy, but to Philippine sports as a whole. The heartfelt gesture showed that we’ve never been indifferent to the man called the Big Difference, after all.
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Yes, the only path is the path with a heart.
With this, may we ask for prayers for Samboy Lim, and also beg for a Christmas miracle for his revival and recovery from a stroke.
The latest bulletin says Samboy has been able to breathe on his own with no need for a ventilator. His heart and other vital organs are normal, although his neurological condition is unchanged.
There’s hope and tinge of joy.
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Of course, it’s also worth pondering if Samboy had indeed lapsed into a coma with a broken heart.
This had to be asked following reports the Skywalker had been unceremoniously sacked as top Ginebra team official in the middle of a practice session. Reports said he was practically shooed out of the court.
This brutal incident was confirmed by a Samboy close ally in the old group of so-called Danding Cojuangco favorites in the national team coached by Ron Jacobs.
There are doubts Cojuangco himself knew of the heartless sacking that had helped knock out the great Samboy.