By Marivic Mercene In the Philippines, fair skin is often seen as the standard of beauty. From whitening soaps and lotions to countless advertisements, the beauty industry thrives on the idea that being maputi (fair-skinned) means being more attractive or successful. This mindset traces back to our colonial past, when lighter skin was associated …
By Marivic Mercene “To be a missionary is to be with the people,” Fr. Enrique Escobar reflects. “You walk with them, you eat with them, you suffer with them, and you rejoice with them.” Looking back at his journey—from a diocesan priest in Peru shaped by the missionary spirit of the Maryknoll Missionaries to …
By Marge Condes Being a volunteer at Our Lady of Remedies Parish, Malate, gave me first-hand experience of how the Columban Fathers, including lay missionaries, live out their mission. Although of varied nationalities, the Columban Fathers have one thing in common — they live simply, immerse themselves in the community, and embrace our country’s history …
By Monica Alaisa Picayo “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” – Proverbs 19:21 These are the lines that remind me how God can change my life in just a blink of an eye. My name is Monica, and I’ve been a member of …
A Gift of the Columban Spirit By Fr. Jude Genovia, SSC In the summer of 1995, I had to leave for Japan as part of my First Mission Assignment (FMA). This cross-cultural assignment outside the Philippines marked the realization of the next phase of my vocation discernment. A significant aspect of this cross-cultural journey occurred …
