Rev3Highlights: 2024

Monday, December 23, 2024

Zechariah’s Victory

Monday, December 23, 2024
Advent Weekday
Readings for Today

Saint John of Kanty, Priest—Optional Memorial

The Birth and Naming of St John the Baptist by Barent Fabritius, via Städel Museum

Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Luke 1:64

This line reveals the happy conclusion to Zechariah’s initial failure to believe in what God revealed to him. Recall that nine months earlier, as Zechariah was fulfilling his priestly duty of offering sacrifice within the Holy of Holies in the Temple, he received a visit from the glorious Archangel Gabriel, who stands before God. Gabriel revealed to Zechariah the good news that his wife would conceive in her old age and that this child would be the one to prepare the people of Israel for the coming Messiah. What an incredible privilege that would have been! But Zechariah disbelieved. And as a result, the Archangel struck him mute for the nine months of his wife’s pregnancy.

The punishments of the Lord are always gifts of His grace. Zechariah was not punished out of spite, or for punitive reasons. Instead, this punishment was more like a penance. He was given the humbling penance of losing his ability to speak for nine months for a good reason. It appears as if God knew that Zechariah needed nine months to silently reflect upon what the Archangel had said. He needed nine months to ponder his wife’s miraculous pregnancy. And he needed nine months to ponder who this child would be. And those nine months produced the desired effect of a full conversion of heart.

After the child was born, it was expected that this firstborn son would be named after the father, Zechariah. But the Archangel had told Zechariah that the child was to be named John. Therefore, on the eighth day, the day of his son’s circumcision when he was presented to the Lord, Zechariah wrote on a tablet that the baby’s name was John. This was an act of faith and a sign that he had fully turned from disbelief to belief. And it was this act of faith that undid his prior doubt.

Every one of our lives will be marked by failures to believe on the deepest level of faith. For that reason, Zechariah is a model for us of how we are to deal with our failures. We deal with them by allowing the consequences of past failures to change us for the good. We learn from our mistakes and move forward with new resolutions. This is what Zechariah did, and this is what we must do if we wish to learn from his good example.

Reflect, today, upon any sin you have committed that has had painful consequences in your life. As you ponder that sin, the real question is where you go from here. Do you allow that past sin, or lack of faith, to dominate and control your life? Or do you use your past failures to make new resolutions and decisions for the future so as to learn from your mistakes? It takes courage, humility and strength to imitate the example of Zechariah. Seek to bring these virtues into your life this day.

Lord, I know I lack faith in my life. I fail to believe all that You speak to me. As a result, I often fail to put Your words into action. Dear Lord, when I suffer as a result of my weakness, help me to know that this and all suffering can result in giving glory to You if I renew my faith. Help me, like Zechariah, to return to You always, and use me as an instrument of Your manifest glory. Jesus, I trust in You.

Sunday, December 22, 2024

What are the reasons for some Filipinos being against foreigners moving to their country?

Lily C Hidalgo

Former Part- Time Independent Consultant 15h

What are the reasons for some Filipinos being against foreigners moving to their country?

China nationals have spuriously acquired fake Philippines birth certificates thru decades in connivance with filipino corrupt officials. This enabled them to purchase lands in the Philippines that pose security threat amid fears of criminal operations with possible links to such sales.

Some important excerpts from report below:

‘Scratch the surface’: Manila probes land-owning Chinese with fake citizenship

These Chinese nationals reportedly own huge plots of land in Luzon after acquiring fake Philippine citizenship, local reports say.

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3284643/philippines-probe-land-owning-chinese-fake-citizenship-stirs-security-fears

a Senate committee investigating links between offshore gaming operators (Pogos) and killings tied to former president Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war revealed suspicious land purchases by several Chinese individuals who have bought thousands of hectares of land in the Central Luzon region (northwest of Manila) involving 300 property titles
Acquiring properties enables the quick setup of enterprises linked to criminal activities in the Philippines — a common money-laundering tactic for actors involved in gambling or scam operations. These people convert or buy citizenships and then convert funds from online gambling or scam compounds into actual economic assets in the country
With land already owned by Chinese nationals, foreign companies come in – e.g. a Chinese Macau and Hong Kong company in cyber scams could easily find a partner.
Some of these are already Filipino- Chinese, & a lot easier for them to bring investments and money from abroad that can be used for criminal activities
“Sherwin Ona, a visiting fellow at the Institute for National Defence and Security Research in Taiwan, said many such property acquisitions could be ‘part of a broader influence agenda and even possibly espionage activities’”.
Dismissed Bamban town mayor Alice Guo, who faced accusations of being a Chinese state agent was found to have fingerprints that matched with those of a Chinese national named Guo Hua Ping, who entered the Philippines in 2003.(The Department of Foreign Affairs had cancelled her passport, citing fraud, and the Office of the Solicitor General filed a petition to cancel her birth certificate)
Chinese nationals were found to have bought properties adjacent to military bases and sites under the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (which allowed American forces to operate in these locations in line with Manila’s 73-year-old treaty alliance with the United States)
The use of illegal assets facilitate the operations — with Pogo (Philipoine Online Gambling Operations) facilities located near Philippine military sites used as targets for Chinese intelligence operations
In Central Luzon in particular, Chinese-linked illegal activities have been able to flourish far away from Manila where security was tighter
Prior to the recent Pogo raids, Chinese criminal organisations had already been involved in illegal business activities in the Philippines, such as smuggling and unauthorised mining.
They also buy certain ports & resorts that give these criminal organisations opportunities & cover to smuggle goods & espionage activities.
Endemic corruption in the Philippines & inefficient bureaucracy have allowed Chinese nationals’ activities to go on and compromise security
The problem had previously surfaced in other parts of the country with the National Bureau of Investigation uncovering nearly 1,200 falsified birth certificates – mostly belonging to Chinese nationals – registered in the local civil registry of Sta Cruz town in Davao del Sur since 2016.

“These malign activities are happening not only in the Philippines but also others like the US and Taiwan, to name a few,” Ona, who is also an associate professor at the De La Salle University’s political science department, told This Week in Asia.

Which country is the best to visit in Europe?

Voris Zentorian

Game Designer, iOS Developer, GamerUpdated 3y

Which country is the best to visit in Europe?

I believe I am the right person to answer your question.

Due to the nature of my previous job, I had to travel a lot.

I mean a lot! I have visited all the countries in Europe.

I like travelling very much.

There are many amazing places to visit in Europe but if you want me to choose only one country the answer is simple. Greece.

Have you ever wondered why the elite choose this country every year for vacation? Let me answer the question for you.

These people have the means to go anywhere they want on this planet but they choose a small country in the mediterranean again and again. Why?

Because they know one little secret that the average person doesn't know.

Greece provides the best combination of advantages that the tourism industry has to offer.

Weather

It's a mediterranean country which means hot summers, mild winters and a significant number of sunny days during the year.

Place: Islands, Lakes and Mountains

This beautiful country has thousands of islands with the most famous being Mykonos and Santorini. You can't imagine how many other countless alluring islands Greece have that most people had never heard of them.

Each one of them different and unique. Crete, Zante, Lefkada, Corfu, Antipaxi, Mylos, Samothraki, Rodos. If I keep going the list won't end. Greece has over 6000 islands!

While this country is in everyone's mind as one of the most popular places in the world for summer holidays, few people know(fortunately) that winter is a period full of options there.

Mainland Greece is mountainous with stunning landscapes. There are many ski resorts and picturesque villages with outstanding facilities (from budget-friendly hotels to 5 star spa resorts with indoor heated pools) where you can do a lot of activities, like hiking, mountaineering/climbing, rafting, kayaking, horse riding, archery, paragliding, cycling etc.

Food

Oh. My. God.

Souvlaki, Pastitsio, Gyros, Tzatziki, Moussaka, Hilopites, Dolmades, Greek salad(Choriatiki), kokoretsi, feta, kontosouvli, galaktoboureko, Baklava, Bougatsa, Loukoumades, Saganaki and so on, this is a definite destination for people who love good tasty food. Their cuisine is one of the best in the world.

Trust me.

Prices

In Greece you will find lower prices than most european countries.

Ok, don’t misunderstand me, Greece is not Vietnam in terms of prices!

Bear in mind that Greece is a developed country and member of the European Union. Yes it’s cheaper in general than other european countries but don’t expect a huge difference.

Safety

This is one of the safest places in Europe and to be more specific in the world.

If you afraid of terrorist attacks -like ISIS- this is your place/heaven.

There has never been a terrorist attack like in other European countries as of this writing(14/02/2018)

There is a very good reason for this but I won't explain that now.

Also, women don’t need to be afraid walking alone in Greece, you can walk at 4 am in all major cities and feel perfectly safe and not being shot, murdered, raped.

No comparison to other European countries or the USA, where there are ghettos and gangs. Crime in smaller cities and villages is almost inexistent.

Nightlife

These people have party in their blood. You need to see it with your own eyes to believe.

Clubs open at midnight and close when the sun rises. Even at 7am clubs are crowded not only on the weekends and big holidays but during the week. They have clubs where they stay opened until midday!

All these, while they’ve been 7 years consecutively in recession. Sincerely, I can't imagine how more awesome was greek nightlife before recession.

Only in Spain I have seen something similar but in my honest opinion, Spain comes second. And yes, before you ask, I have visited Ibiza and have stayed over 2 months there.

History

Greece is a country with a very rich history and the homeland of many famous personalities throughout centuries. Moreover, Ancient Greeks created the Western Civilization.

If you visit Greece you will experience once in a lifetime opportunity to trace the “fingerprints” of Greek history from the Paleolithic Era to the Roman Period in the hundreds of archaeological sites, as well as in the archaeological museums and collections that are scattered throughout the country.

Sharks - Swimming in the sea is like swimming in the pool

Forget about tropical waters full of sharks. In Greece you will forget the theme song of Jaws while swimming!

While there are sharks in Greece, most species are harmless. Sightings are extremely rare and, in general, shark attacks in the Mediterranean are also rarely reported. Given the vast number of people spending time in the warm and often shallow waters along the shores of Greece, encounters with sharks are few.

In the existing records of sharks in the Mediterranean, there is only one anecdotal tale of a fatal shark attack in the Greek islands, and that was reported nearly a century ago. Other official sources list a total of nine fatal shark attacks in Greece over the last 160 or so years. It's not clear what species of shark may have been responsible; one Greek fisherman swore he saw a great white shark in the Aegean a couple of decades ago, but it was probably a small whale - which are also rare but present in Greece.

While there are some Mediterranean shark attacks reported each year, they seem to cluster around the shores of France, not Greece.

So the only shark you’ll probably come face to face in the Greek waters is that on the picture below.

People

First of all, they ALL speak English. Literally. I mean 9 to 10 people they speak English. If you ever traveled abroad you know how important is this.

Now, If there is one Greek word that everyone should know, it is this word "philoxenia" literally translated as "friend to the stranger" but has a deeper meaning than that. In ancient Greece, hospitality was a value ranking high on the list of virtues. There was great respect and honor bestowed from host to guest.

Philoxenia today can be as simple as a smile, helping a stranger, buying a meal for a homeless person or opening your home to friends and family.

Greeks in general are very friendly and kind something that I’ve seen only in the land of smiles, Thailand.

Known for its plethora of ancient ruins, whitewashed villages, sunny beaches, tasty cuisine and friendly atmosphere, it is no wonder that Greece ranks always among Europe’s top travel destinations.

IS SINGAPORE THE WORLD’S BEST CITY

Megaworld Asia

Posted by

Megaworld Asia

IS SINGAPORE THE WORLD’S BEST CITY

The short answer? yes, undoubtedly. To its detractors, it’s still the little red dot, too expensive, sterile, and a police state. For those who appreciate it’s efficiency, cleanliness, organization, and high tech development, it’s unmatched. When it comes to residing in Southeast Asia, if you have the financial capability, Singapore is at the top of the desirable locations. If you don’t have the financial capability then Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia are probably the next best options. Even so, having lived in Thailand for almost thirty years I’ve always said that if I was twenty years younger, I’d move to Singapore in a heartbeat. Some may find this surprising.

Thailand is often viewed as the ultimate place to reside or enjoy life long-term. Twenty years ago, it probably was but like many who’ve spent a couple of decades in the place all that once seemed appealing, no longer is. Once the novelty of the nightlife, frisky ladies, and spicey food wears off, the negative aspects start to compound. Noise, traffic, pollution, inefficiency, rampant corruption, lethargic bureaucracy, visa issues, scams, overcrowded tourist areas, cultural differences, and language barriers eventually take their toll. Additionally, a country which places ever more reliance on a rise in GDP, from increasing levels of tourism, is eventually going to have some serious issues. Does forty million plus tourists a year, arriving in a country which is already behind in infrastructure capability, seem like a positive look for the place? I don’t think so. All the issues mentioned above will only get worse simply because of the local authority’s inability to plan ahead properly, or even decide on solutions. By comparison, Singapore has something which Thailand probably never had. Governments which think long term and get things done. So it’s goodbye to the chaotic Disneyland of Thailand and hello to the calmness and efficiency of Singapore.

If you’ve spent any time in the Lion City you’ll know that there’s more to the place than shopping trips along Orchard Road. It may be small, and full of high-rise buildings, but there’s a surprising number of green areas throughout Singapore. A bit of time spent looking at Google Maps will reveal plenty of parks, gardens, and nature reserves. One of the best is the MacRitchie Reservoir, located just a few kilometers from Orchard Road. This green area has some excellent hiking trails/walking tracks which will give you seriously good workout. The round trip from the carpark is approximately 12 km and runs around a dam, and through some great jungle terrain. The highpoint is the tree top suspension bridge which runs for approximately 250 meters through the upper branches of the dense jungle.