Goodwill at its high rung EDITORIAL

WHEN President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. attends today the coronation of King Charles 3rd at Westminster Abbey in London, he will be adding goodwill between the Philippines and the United Kingdom.

The 65-year-old President and first lady Marie Louise Araneta-Marcos flew out to London, soon after his official visit to the United States, to attend the coronation of Charles 3rd and his wife, Camilla, as king and queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The coronation will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.

The presence of the President would ‘not only add momentum but also indicates the high level of commitment of the Philippines to the enhanced partnership’ of both countries

Charles, 74, acceded to the throne on September 8, 2022, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II.

There is no legal requirement for a coronation, and other European monarchies have in fact done away with the ceremonies, but the big coronation of King Charles 3rd today will also be cementing Queen Consort Camilla’s role as a senior member of the British royal family.

Shand—has had many changes to her title since the beginning of her relationship with Charles, from Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order and the Duchess of Cornwall, to her latest as queen consort.

Heads of state of the region like European Union leaders Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel and Roberta Metsola will also be there. Germany and Italy are sending their ceremonial presidents Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Sergio Mattarella, rather than heads of government Olaf Scholz and Giorgia Meloni.

In a pre-departure press briefing in Malacañang, DFA spokesman Ma. Teresita Daza said: “The presence of the President at this momentous and historic event adds to the goodwill between both the Philippines and United Kingdom and would serve to strengthen and enhance our overall bilateral relations across all areas of cooperation.”

The DFA official said the presence of the President would “not only add momentum but also indicates the high level of commitment of the Philippines to the enhanced partnership” of both countries.

The “unique gathering of leaders from all regions” also presents opportunities to discuss at the highest level potential collaboration across all areas of cooperation, she added.

Buckingham Palace has announced the coronation service will reflect the monarch’s role in modern times while observing longstanding traditions replete with pageantry.

Philippine Ambassador to the UK Teodoro Locsin Jr. earlier said Charles and Mr. Marcos “know each other because they used to play polo together.”

The President also studied in the United Kingdom, as did his three sons.

A man worth watching

By Thor Cuatro

HIS job appears to be cut out for him; it is fraught with risks and perils. Because of his calling, he is hounded by his detractors like agitated wasps and hornets.

Police Colonel Hansel M. Marantan is the regional chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for Metro Manila. As such, he has to rub elbows with even the crime bosses of the underworld and the white-collar, casinoplaying criminals in sartorial suits.

I won’t even be surprised to know if he chews death threats for breakfast.

His critics will definitely take delight in seeing him being humiliated and removed from his designation at the equally controversial CIDG.

But he is not easy to be intimidated nor cowed.

He can be as “tough as nails,” if you ask me.

Marantan’s critics will definitely take delight in seeing him being humiliated and removed from his designation at the equally controversial CIDG

He has nerves of steel.

If there were real-life superheroes, I’d call him Superman, the Man of Steel.

Like the Marvel superhero, Marantan works quietly and operates efficiently, avoiding fanfare as much as possible.

No, I’m not into some kind of hero-worship or idolatry; it’s just that the officer impresses me so much as he parried off the blows and disproves allegations during a Senate committee hearing.

It has taken a grieving widow to amplify Marantan’s courageous deeds in public.

The wife of murdered governor of Negros Oriental, Janice Degamo, has made a lasting impression with her remarks during her testimony before the Senate.

“I’ve heard many good things about him. Siya rin ang nanghuli sa Bersamin killers (a politician in Abra) and the assassins of another politico in Visayas. “We don’t want many men on the ground but only those who are passionate about their job. Si Colonel Marantan, hindi natatakot gawin ang

“I GIVE you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. Love one another as I have loved you.” This is Jesus’s final message to his disciples.

Love is the central theme of God’s relationship to man.

This infinite love is why God sent His only son to be incarnate, reveal himself to us, and die on the cross so that we will be reconciled with Him and become heirs of eternal life.

God’s relation to humanity has been consistent all about the profundity of His love for his people. This love is the unbreakable bond that binds God with His church.

This should also be the unitive end of every family and marriage, that is, to nurture and deepen this love.

It is love that sustains any and all relationships, whether it is the family, the community, or the nation. Without it, everything will fall apart.

In the Gospel today, Jesus is giving his disciples his farewell message that final night in the upper room.

And the message was to love one another. This is the truest mark of being one of His disciples. This love is not an exclusive kind of love, limited only to whosoever we want to love.

We are asked to transmit this love to others, even to our enemies, because we have been gifted with a relationship with Him.

By showing love we are revealing God to the world.

Yet it is easy to love people who do good to us but infinitely difficult to express this love to those who hate or cause us pain and suffering.

But, as already said, giving this love even to our enemies is the true mark of discipleship.

Taking his cue from the day’s Gospel, Pope Francis explored the fruit that can be seen when a Christian abides in Jesus’ love.

Jesus, said the Pope, “invites us to abide in His love so that His joy may be in us and our joy may be full.”

He said this love has its origin in God the Father, who is love and flows like a river through Jesus, His Son, to us.

“The love Jesus gives us is the same with which the Father loves Him: pure, unconditional, freely given love,” said the Pope.

“By giving it to us, Jesus treats us like friends, making us know the Father, and He involves us in His same mission for the life of the world.”

This is what will lead us to the new heaven and new earth.

It’s not about material possessions or wealth, but about the spiritual nourishment that comes from following the New Commandment.

Jesus’ sacrificial love for humanity, demonstrated through his death and resurrection, is the highest form of love and spirituality.

To truly love, according to Jesus’ teachings, we must practice nonviolence and non-retaliation.

When faced with difficult situations or conflicts, we should look to Jesus on the cross as an example of love and forgiveness.

In the same passage, Jesus summarized His commandments with the words: “that you love one another as I have loved you.”

Pope Francis said loving like Christ means going beyond our own selves and opening up to those in greater need.

“To love as Christ means to put yourself at the service of your brothers and sisters, as He did in washing the feet of the disciples,” said the Pope.

“It means making ourselves available, as we are and with what we have. This means to love not in word but in deed.”

The Old Testament tells us to love your God with all your heart with all your mind with all your soul and with all your might.

But why the same God is now telling us to love one another as I have loved you as the new commandment?

What is the difference between the commandment in the Old and in the New Testament? The New Commandment is about serving others, forgiving our enemies, showing compassion and mercy to those in need, and loving one another as Jesus loved us.

It is only through living in this way that we can create a new church, a new life, and a new family in the time of baptism.

Baptism, along with the other sacraments, is a covenant between ourselves and God, and it is important that we remain faithful to this covenant, just as God is always faithful to us.

Unfortunately, many of us fail to live up to these teachings, and this is why we see so many problems in families and society.

We must learn to love our enemies, show compassion, and avoid spreading hatred and violence.

If we can practice these teachings in our daily lives, then we can truly experience the newness of heaven and earth that Jesus promised.

In front of contradictions, in the face of uncertainty and confusion, always love more.

I committed this big mistake in the last few weeks as I grappled with my illnesses and external pressure. Because of this, I hurt people I care for deeply.

Moving forward, I can only pivot, apologize, and seek forgiveness. And love more.

Website: tonylavina.com. Facebook: tonylavs Twitter: tonylavs kanyang trabaho.“

The senators present at the Senate committee hearing tried to pin him down on allegations of irregularities against him and his men at the CIDG. Their line of questioning was rather tame, as if not intending to disrespect an officer and a witness.

Senator Francis Tolentino sought to clarify Marantan’s status at the CIDG.

The “tough cop” said he submitted a courtesy resignation out of delicadeza as he invoked “command responsibility.”

But no case was ever filed, according to Marantan.

Senator JV Ejercito also asked about the charges that linked Marantan and his men to an alleged “hulidap” or robbery and extortion on Chinese nationals during a Paranaque raid.

All these allegations Marantan debunked point by point.

Exemplifying grace under pressure, he takes the opportunity to turn the tables against his critics: “There was an allegation, categorical and conclusive statements, made by the DCA himself (P/Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia. We thought there were pieces of evidence to back up the allegations.”

Marantan: ”It is a very basic (rule) in investigation that before you can make accusations, there should be a complaint/affidavit from the victims. But there was no such complaint-affidavit from the supposed complainants or victims.”

Instead, the 13 Chinese nationals later came up with an affidavit stating they were not complaining and there were no irregularities allegedly committed by Marantan and his team.

The DCA “is biased against my men,” Marantan said.

“We can stay here even for as long as one year but nothing will come out of it because there is no case at all,” Marantan added.

The senators were beaten to the draw by Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla who had awarded Marantan with the PNP Medal of Valor long before the lawmakers could raise their questions.

Now, Marantan is back in the saddle of the CIDG-NCR, going about his sworn duty “to serve and protect” the people.

Marantan’ star is on the rise. One star at a time and no one will complain, I’m sure. Here’s a tough cop who’s well worth watching.

Perhaps next time, instead of stinging hornets and wasps, the friendly and well-meaning witnesses will come and visit CIDG to help him solve more crimes.

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia—Clutching overstuffed suitcases, bleary-eyed civilians described a harrowing escape from violence-wracked Sudan across the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia, sobbing at memories of air strikes and urban combat.

Elderly women in wheelchairs and babies asleep in their parents’ arms were among nearly 200 people from 14 countries who disembarked from a naval frigate in the coastal city of Jeddah on Monday night after daring –and draining –- journeys to safety.

“We traveled a long way from Khartoum to Port Sudan. It took us around 10 or 11 hours,” said Lebanese national Suhaib Aicha, who has operated a plastics factory in Sudan for more than a decade.

“It took us another 20 hours on this ship from Port Sudan to Jeddah,” he told AFP as his young daughter cried on his shoulders.

“There were many difficult moments, all of which involved fear, tension and anxiety,” said another Lebanese passenger, a woman who declined to give her name.

“We were not sleeping, eating or drinking. We lived through many difficult days.”

Fighting broke out in Sudan on April 15 between forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy turned rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

At least 427 people have been killed and more than 3,700 wounded, according to UN agencies, and many are now grappling with acute shortages of water, food, medicines and fuel as well as power and internet blackouts.

Late on Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Burhan and Daglo had agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire.

Even so, those who reached Saudi soil on Monday said they were grateful to be out of a country where the doctors’ union has reported that “morgues are full” and “corpses litter the streets.”

Saudi ‘leverage’

Saudi Arabia announced the first successful civilian evacuation from Sudan on Saturday, welcoming 150 people including foreign diplomats and officials in Jeddah.

Earlier on Monday, a C-130 Hercules military plane flew dozens of South Korean civilians, among them a small child and a nun in a white-and-blue habit, to Jeddah’s King Abdullah Air Base.

Saudi officials are coming under pressure to do more than facilitate evacuations, given their close ties to the two generals whose troops are fighting it out in and beyond Khartoum

All told, 356 people have been evacuated to the kingdom from Sudan so far—101 Saudis and 255 foreigners from more than 20 countries, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.

Saudi state media have provided wall-to-wall coverage of the operation as well as statements of gratitude from countries whose citizens have benefited.

As the naval frigate approached Jeddah port on Monday night, the state-affiliated Al-Ekhbariya channel broadcast images of passengers waving their arms and smiling, while others recorded the scene on their smartphones.

Staring into the camera, a Saudi man waved the green, sword-emblazoned Saudi flag in one hand and his green passport in another, declaring: “This is the strongest passport in the world.”

Writing in the private newspaper Okaz, columnist Abdo Khal said Saudi Arabia’s relatively speedy organization of evacuation planes and boats highlighted the kingdom’s “international value.”

“Definitely this shows an eagerness by the Saudi kingdom to position itself as a central actor in regional crisis situations and to take advantage of the leverage it has over both sides of this conflict,” said Umar Karim, an expert on Saudi politics at the University of Birmingham.

But Saudi officials are coming under pressure to do more than facilitate evacuations, given their close ties to the two generals whose troops are fighting it out in and beyond Khartoum.

“Saudi Arabia is a critical player in the ceasefire diplomacy in Sudan,” Alan Boswell of the International Crisis Group told AFP.

“African and Western governments are looking to Riyadh for help in convincing Sudan’s military to give talks a chance.” AFP