Haring Alabel

 This year gifted me with three milestones that I will forever treasure. First was a proud family moment—our younger brother, Jun2x, finally graduated from college. Watching him reach this goal after years of hard work and sacrifice filled our hearts with joy and gratitude. It was a reminder that perseverance truly bears fruit and that family victories are shared victories. The second milestone was a deeply meaningful spiritual journey. Together with my younger sister, Lyka, I attended our first National Youth Day in the pilgrim city of Naga, Camarines Sur. Being surrounded by thousands of young people united in faith, prayer, and hope was an unforgettable experience that strengthened our commitment to serve and live our faith more fully. The third milestone made the year even more special. I, together with my younger siblings Lyka and Jun2x, attended our first Philippine Conference on the New Evangelization at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. Experiencing this national gat...

Sometimes, I need to hibernate. My sleeping pattern hasn’t been normal since 2017, the same year I started drinking coffee regularly. Back then, it felt harmless, even necessary. Coffee became a tool to survive long days, tight deadlines, and the constant need to be present, productive, and dependable. One cup turned into a habit, and the habit quietly rewired my sense of rest. Since then, nights have lost their boundaries. Sleep comes late, leaves early, or arrives in broken pieces. There are moments when my mind is exhausted but refuses to shut down, and mornings when my body wakes up tired, as if rest never fully happened. I learned how to function on less sleep, how to push through, how to convince myself that being tired was normal. But the body remembers everything. So there are days, sometimes weeks, when I crash. When I sleep longer than expected, withdraw from conversations, and feel the urge to disappear into silence. It looks like hibernation, and maybe that’s exactly wh...

Checkpoints that Miss the Point In many checkpoints across the country, it has become a familiar sight: commuters are asked to alight from buses or jeepneys, clutching their bags as police officers wave a stick to “inspect” their belongings. The process, though intended for public safety, often ends up more as a ritual than a genuine security measure. The question arises—does this really make us safer, or does it merely inconvenience the very people it aims to protect? For ordinary commuters, this routine feels like an unnecessary burden. Workers and students already endure long hours of travel, only to be delayed further by inspections that are, at best, superficial. A stick pointed at a bag cannot detect a real threat. If security is the goal, then checkpoints must be conducted with proper tools, trained personnel, and consistent standards. What makes the situation even more troubling is the unequal treatment between public and private transport. While commuters are subjected to sear...

 

 Happy 51st Birthday to Our Beloved Mother Today, September 21, 2025, we celebrate not only your birthday, Mama, but also the story of your strength, sacrifice, and love that has shaped who we are. You are five decades and one year of grace, courage, and resilience. When Papa was still alive, he always told us: “The only inheritance we can give you is education.” Back then, we didn’t fully grasp what he meant. We thought we were already rich enough because we could eat three meals a day. But life proved to us the depth of his wisdom. When Papa passed away in 2018—a year before my college graduation—he never had the chance to see me march in my toga at MSU. Yet, Mama, you carried on for us. You worked singlehandedly, washing clothes for others, borrowing from lenders, and sacrificing your own comfort just to keep us in school. Papa may have left early, but his SSS pension and, most importantly, your unbreakable spirit sustained us through the hardest years. Many doubted we could sur...

 This old photo reminds us that we had a happy family — even in the midst of challenges, we could still smile and live life to the fullest. In this memorable picture with my late husband, Allan Laya, my son Christian Jay Sope Laya, my younger brother Arnold Navarro Sope and his daughter Ferry Diana Sope, together with our close friends, the Maranguit sisters, we shared smiles as if there were no tomorrow in the timeless waters of Ladol, a glorious beach in Alabel full of cherished memories.

 Sa katahimikan ng gabi, bumabalik sa aking alaala ang tinig at halakhak ng aming ama. Subalit higit pa sa alaala, tila may multo akong inaasam—ang pagkakataong muling makapiling siya. Ang aking multo ay hindi ang anino ng takot, kundi ang pangungulila na bumabalot sa aking puso. Sa bawat pagdapo ng hangin, sa bawat kaluskos ng dahon, iniisip kong siya’y muling darating, nakangiti, at yayakapin kami gaya ng dati. Ang aking multo ay ang pagnanais na maibalik ang oras, na maranasan muli ang kanyang gabay, at maramdaman ang init ng kanyang presensya. Ngunit tulad ng lahat ng multo, nananatili lamang ito sa pagitan ng panaginip at pag-asam—hindi mahahawakan, ngunit laging nadarama.

I have come to realize that success is not confined to the shiny symbols of wealth—owning luxury cars, flaunting the latest branded gadgets, or curating picture-perfect travels for social media applause. While these things may signify achievement for some, they are merely fragments of a much bigger picture. They are external validations, fleeting in nature, often mistaken for the true essence of success. For me, real success is rooted in something more profound and enduring—the accumulation of knowledge and wisdom. It is found in the lessons we embrace, the values we uphold, and the growth we experience along life’s journey. Success lives in the classrooms where curiosity is sparked, in the voices of mentors who shape our character, and in the stories shared by elders whose wrinkles are maps of experience. It thrives in the quiet halls of museums where history whispers truths, in the sacred silence of churches where faith deepens, and in the shelves of libraries where ideas transcend t...

August is Altar Servers Month , and I take this opportunity to look back with gratitude on my more than eight years of serving as an altar server at San Isidro Labrador Parish of Alabel, Sarangani Province. When I first started, it was not a common routine for young people like me. I had to make sacrifices, especially waking up early, and I often had to battle with fear and shyness in front of people. Standing at the altar was not easy—I was nervous about making mistakes and unsure if I was worthy to serve. Yet through God’s grace, I gradually learned that serving was not about perfection, but about offering myself fully to the Lord. Over the years, this ministry has shaped me in ways I never imagined. It taught me humility, discipline, and the importance of being present not just physically, but spiritually, during every Mass. It allowed me to experience the liturgy more deeply, to understand the richness of our Catholic faith, and to witness firsthand the beauty of our traditions. Th...

Today, I fully embrace adulthood—not just by age, but by heart, spirit, and understanding. I come from a life of poverty and hardship, where survival was a daily challenge. Yet, despite the struggles, our father taught us to move forward, to dream bigger, and to never lose hope. We found joy in simple things—'law-oy' and ginamos were feasts in our eyes. We didn’t have much, sometimes just one or five pesos for school, and I often skipped recess, choosing instead to train my mind and imagine possibilities beyond our reality. I studied not just what's in the books, but even those topics that no one paid attention to—because I knew knowledge would someday be my way out. Poverty made me shy, made me feel like an outcast, and turned academic success into a far-fetched dream. But today, I realize: despite it all, I have arrived. Not yet at the finish line, but far from where I started. This is adulthood—with scars, wisdom, and unshakable resilience. Christian Jay Laya currently s...

The Legacy that shaped a Generation: Mayor Salarda’s Lasting Impact by Christian Jay Laya, LPT, CSPE- HGE, MAPS (CAR) After nearly nine years at the helm, Mayor Vic Paul M. Salarda is set to conclude his tenure as the chief executive of Alabel, Sarangani Province, in June 2025. Not seeking any elective post in the upcoming elections, Salarda leaves behind a legacy defined by innovation, good governance, and a strong commitment to public service. Under his leadership, Alabel witnessed significant developments across multiple sectors. Major infrastructure projects, including new road linkages, were completed, while people’s associations and cooperatives were expanded to empower communities. Salarda also prioritized the welfare of Alabelians during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring timely interventions and support mechanisms. Throughout his administration, Salarda pushed for innovations in economic governance, strengthened the local education system, revolutionized agricultural practices...

Easter Sunday’s Final Mass: An Afternoon of Light and Hope in Alabel On April 20, 2025, the San Isidro Labrador Parish in Alabel, Sarangani Province concluded its Easter Sunday celebrations with a solemn and spirit-filled 5:00 PM Mass, the final liturgical gathering for the day. As the golden hues of the setting sun bathed the church in warm light, parishioners came in quiet procession, hearts uplifted in celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Mass was presided over by Rev. Fr. Elmer Cantular, a Claretian missionary priest currently assigned in Datal Anggas, one of Alabel’s most remote and mountainous barangays. His presence brought a profound reminder of the Church’s missionary spirit—bridging distance and difference to proclaim the Good News to all. Fr. Cantular’s homily centered on the enduring message of Easter: hope rising from the tomb, light dispelling the darkness. Drawing from his pastoral experiences in the uplands, he shared heartfelt reflections on how even in...

A Hit Can Win Votes, a Flop Can End Careers by C J Laya   A campaign jingle serves as an auditory brand for a political candidate, shaping public perception through melody and message. A well-composed jingle, with catchy tunes and meaningful lyrics, can evoke emotions, reinforce campaign themes, and leave a lasting impression on voters. It becomes a powerful recall tool, making the candidate's name and platform memorable.   On the other hand, a poorly executed jingle—whether due to off-key singing, awkward lyrics, or an unappealing melody—can have the opposite effect. Instead of drawing voters in, it may annoy or even alienate them, making the campaign seem unprofessional or out of touch. In worst cases, a bad jingle may become a subject of ridicule, spreading negative publicity and discouraging voter support.   Ultimately, the success of a campaign jingle depends on its ability to resonate with the public. A strong jingle reinforces a candidate’s image and mess...