The Ilocos Times

BEGGING your pardon for that rather naughty title of this piece, what I would like to bring out is that if we truly have the Christian spirit, that spirit should animate not only our spiritual soul but also our body all the way to our sexuality as represented by our genitalia where the crudest and strongest forms of our animality are found. That’s because our Christianity should not only be a spiritual affair. It has to impact the whole man, body and soul. Let’s remember that man is always a unity of body and soul. He is not just pure body nor pure spiritual soul. And as our Catechism teaches us, the body, properly animated by the spiritual soul, shares in the dignity of the “image of God.” (cfr. CCC 364) We can say that once our sexuality is animated by the Christian spirit, we truly can consider ourselves as authentic and consistent Christian. That’s because our sexuality can be regarded as the last frontier where the Christian spirit has to conquer. And it’s not an easy frontier...

In theory , price controls have no place in a free market economy. The idea is simple: let supply and demand determine market prices, and let healthy competition do the rest. In such an ideal world, the government would play referee, not participant. Suggested Retail Prices (SRPs), for instance, should logically be set by manufacturers or distributors—not by government agencies. And yet, as with many things, theory doesn’t always line up with reality. In the Philippines, the concept of the Maximum Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) appears to be something of a local innovation. It’s not widely seen—or even recognized—in other countries. While the term “suggested” implies a degree of flexibility, the inclusion of “maximum” adds a controlling tone that veers uncomfortably close to a mandated ceiling. This duality conflicts with the principles of a free market economy, where private businesses ideally have the autonomy to price their products based on value, cost, and demand. This raises a...

By   Engr. Carlos V. Cornejo Fraternal correction is an act of charity of pointing out to others their fault which could harm themselves and others.   The Catechism of the Catholic Church specifically includes fraternal correction as one of the proofs of our love for others.   “The fruits of charity are joy, peace, and mercy; charity demands beneficence and fraternal correction.” (CCC 1829) We live in a very imperfect world inhabited by very imperfect people.   It’s unavoidable that we would offend others or at the receiving end of an offense whether intentional or not, thus we need to correct one another.      Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us how to correct one another in the following passage of St. Matthew’s Gospel.   “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.   If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.   But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you,...

  Pagudpud  Mayor Rafael Ralph Benemerito congratulates their town’s pride Lance Lyam Aguila Bartolome for bringing home 2 bronze and 2 silver medals in gymnastics in the recently concluded Palarong Pambansa 2025. (Photo courtesy of LGU Pagudpud)

Who was that senatorial candidate who boldly declared that if elected, he would not propose any new laws because we already have enough? Crazy as he might have sounded to some, there is a ring of truth to his words. We do have enough laws. The real problem is that we are far too slow in implementing them—even though we are too fast in passing them. Yes, that is the grand irony of our legislative system: we keep churning out new laws, yet we neglect to implement them. Equally ironic is that we do not revisit our old laws that clearly need to be updated. In fact, the “new” laws we need are those that refine and modernize existing ones—not add to the pile of unread statutes collecting dust. Talking of ironies, one of the most glaring is how our environmental laws are being ignored—ironically treated like garbage. Republic Act No. 9003, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, is a prime example. Despite its clear and detailed mandates, it is often overlooked. Our waste managem...

By Carlos V. Cornejo God pays attention to small things.   We should too.   When Christ did a miracle of multiplying the loaves and fishes to feed five thousand people, he instructed his disciples to gather the left-over food.   “When they all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’   So, they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.”   (John 6:12-13) In fact, God rewards generously those who take care of the little things, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much: enter into the joy of your master.”   (Matthew 25:23) Many people are not moving with God today simply because they were not willing to take the small steps He placed before them.    Let’s look at the number of young people who have finished college in the Philippines for example. ...