Atalaya Publication

Atalaya Publication Atalaya Publication
Cebu Eastern College, Incorporated

TODAY | ๐™‹๐™ค๐™ฌ๐™š๐™ง ๐™ค๐™› ๐™‡๐™ค๐™ซ๐™š ๐™ค๐™ง ๐™‡๐™ค๐™ซ๐™š ๐™ค๐™› ๐™‹๐™ค๐™ฌ๐™š๐™ง?โ€œWhen the power of love overcomes the love of power, there will [be] peace. But w...
14/01/2025

TODAY | ๐™‹๐™ค๐™ฌ๐™š๐™ง ๐™ค๐™› ๐™‡๐™ค๐™ซ๐™š ๐™ค๐™ง ๐™‡๐™ค๐™ซ๐™š ๐™ค๐™› ๐™‹๐™ค๐™ฌ๐™š๐™ง?

โ€œWhen the power of love overcomes the love of power, there will [be] peace. But when the love of power overpowers the power of love, there will always be chaos and many people will suffer.โ€ Rev. Fr. Christopher Carl Ompad on his homily on the 6th day of Novena Mass today, January 14, 2025, at 2:30 PM mass.

Layout Artist: Wilmar Damole

TODAY | ๐™‘๐™ž๐™ซ๐™– ๐™‹๐™ž๐™ฉ ๐™Ž๐™š๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ง!๐˜พ๐™š๐™—๐™ช ๐˜พ๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™ฎ, ๐™…๐™–๐™ฃ๐™ช๐™–๐™ง๐™ฎ 14, 2025 โ€“ The devotion to the Senior Sto. Niรฑo is felt at the Pilgrim Center...
14/01/2025

TODAY | ๐™‘๐™ž๐™ซ๐™– ๐™‹๐™ž๐™ฉ ๐™Ž๐™š๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ง!

๐˜พ๐™š๐™—๐™ช ๐˜พ๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™ฎ, ๐™…๐™–๐™ฃ๐™ช๐™–๐™ง๐™ฎ 14, 2025 โ€“ The devotion to the Senior Sto. Niรฑo is felt at the Pilgrim Center of the Basilica Minore del Santo Niรฑo as Cebu City marks the 6th day of the novena mass. Among the faithful, Cebu Eastern College, Inc. participated in the offertory, with faculty members, instructors, interns, and the entire Easternian community joining in prayer and devotion.

Rev. Fr. Christopher Carl O. Ompad, Parish Administrator of the Holy Family of Nazareth Parish in La Paz, Bogo City, delivered a powerful message emphasizing the transformative power of love over that of control. He shared, "Kung ang gahom sa gugma mo-labaw sa gugma sa gahom, ang kalibutan mag-malinawon. Apan kung ang gugma sa gahom mo-lupig sa gahom sa gugma, aduna tay panagbingkil, ug ang mga tao mahimong makaluluoy.โ€

In an interview, members of the Easternian community expressed their hopes for divine guidance as they approach their upcoming preliminary exams. โ€œPit Senior, para sa prelim kini!โ€ one Easternian student exclaimed. The community is united in their prayers, trusting that the Sto. Niรฑo will guide them toward success in their studies.

Correspondent: Federico Napiรฑas
Photojournalists: Wilmar Damole and Reynard Reiyn Cabuntagon

๐—”๐—ก๐—ก๐—ข๐—จ๐—ก๐—–๐—˜๐— ๐—˜๐—ก๐—ง | ๐™‰๐™ค๐™ซ๐™š๐™ฃ๐™– ๐™ˆ๐™–๐™จ๐™จ ๐™–๐™ฉ ๐˜ฝ๐™–๐™จ๐™ž๐™ก๐™ž๐™˜๐™– ๐™ˆ๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™ค๐™ง๐™š ๐˜ฟ๐™š๐™ก ๐™Ž๐™ฉ๐™ค. ๐™‰๐™žรฑ๐™ค ๐™™๐™š ๐˜พ๐™š๐™—๐™ช Join us for a Novena Mass, sponsored by the Cebu Eas...
13/01/2025

๐—”๐—ก๐—ก๐—ข๐—จ๐—ก๐—–๐—˜๐— ๐—˜๐—ก๐—ง | ๐™‰๐™ค๐™ซ๐™š๐™ฃ๐™– ๐™ˆ๐™–๐™จ๐™จ ๐™–๐™ฉ ๐˜ฝ๐™–๐™จ๐™ž๐™ก๐™ž๐™˜๐™– ๐™ˆ๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™ค๐™ง๐™š ๐˜ฟ๐™š๐™ก ๐™Ž๐™ฉ๐™ค. ๐™‰๐™žรฑ๐™ค ๐™™๐™š ๐˜พ๐™š๐™—๐™ช

Join us for a Novena Mass, sponsored by the Cebu Eastern College, Inc., in celebration of the 460th Fiesta of the Senior Sto. Niรฑo! The mass will be held this Tuesday, January 14, at 2:30 PM. All students are encouraged to attend before their Preliminary Exams the following day.

๐—œ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ป๐˜: All attendees must wear the prescribed school uniform and are encouraged to bring an umbrella.

๐—”๐—ก๐—ก๐—ข๐—จ๐—ก๐—–๐—˜๐— ๐—˜๐—ก๐—ง | ๐˜พ๐™ค๐™ก๐™ก๐™š๐™œ๐™š ๐™‹๐™ง๐™š๐™ก๐™ž๐™ข๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™–๐™ง๐™ฎ ๐™€๐™ญ๐™–๐™ข๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™–๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ! ๐—™๐—ถ๐—ฟ๐˜€๐˜ ๐— ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ธ ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฑ ๐—–๐—ฎ๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐˜€: January 15 & 16 (Wednesday & Thursday...
12/01/2025

๐—”๐—ก๐—ก๐—ข๐—จ๐—ก๐—–๐—˜๐— ๐—˜๐—ก๐—ง | ๐˜พ๐™ค๐™ก๐™ก๐™š๐™œ๐™š ๐™‹๐™ง๐™š๐™ก๐™ž๐™ข๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™–๐™ง๐™ฎ ๐™€๐™ญ๐™–๐™ข๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™–๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ!

๐—™๐—ถ๐—ฟ๐˜€๐˜ ๐— ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ธ ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฑ ๐—–๐—ฎ๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐˜€: January 15 & 16 (Wednesday & Thursday), ready yourselves for the first major exam of the year!

๐—ก๐—ผ๐˜๐—ฒ:

โ€ข Students must present their examination code along with the assessment to their respective instructors. (Scholars and Non-Scholars)

โ€ข Paying students are required to settle their accounts on or before the date of the examinations. Those unable to do so may obtain a promissory note from the accounting office, which must be signed by an authorized person.

๐˜ฝ๐™š๐™จ๐™ฉ ๐™ค๐™› ๐™ก๐™ช๐™˜๐™ , ๐™€๐™–๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ง๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™–๐™ฃ๐™จ!

๐—˜๐——๐—œ๐—ง๐—ข๐—ฅ๐—œ๐—”๐—Ÿ | ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฐ๐˜‚๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด, ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ด๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด, ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ต๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ดWith 2025 piercing through the holiday haze, some find themselves stuck in a...
08/01/2025

๐—˜๐——๐—œ๐—ง๐—ข๐—ฅ๐—œ๐—”๐—Ÿ | ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฐ๐˜‚๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด, ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ด๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด, ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ต๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด

With 2025 piercing through the holiday haze, some find themselves stuck in a familiar struggleโ€”the inertia that follows weeks of fun and cheer. With frozen-cold assignments gathering dust, untouched and neglected activities, unread refresher notes lurking in forgotten corners, and thesis drafts idling in limbo, comfort led to a momentary lapse. But as time ticks forward, how long will the holiday feel wilt us with complacence?

Following Atalaya Publication's recent announcement via Facebook on the resumption of classes on January 6, the students are left stressing out with a mix of emotions, from the interminable hurrah of the festive season to the untameable pressure of academic responsibilities. Students remain distracted from their target with the "other" life still on pause.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a long pause from everything; after all, rest and rejuvenation are essential for maintaining a clear mind and overall well-being. The holiday season offers a glimmer of a fresh, unbothered life with loved ones, and reflects on personal growth. However, while pauses are indeed valuable, the real burden lies in knowing when to segue back into reality. One must always respect the balanceโ€”to look at this transition with a sense of intentionality can transform the return to routine into a motivating experience rather than a stoic clichรฉ.

The time to wake up is now. Taking small, deliberate steps to refocus ensures that the energy gained from weeks of rest fuels the drive to succeed in the tasks ahead. It is about time we dust off assignments, crack open reviewers, and rekindle the passion that first brought us to this academic journey. The journey to success is neither a sprint nor a leisurely stroll; but a marathon that requires grit, determination, and a sense of purpose, and this purpose must not falter at its cusp.

The new year is not a reset button; it is a continuation of a story and another chance to fight for a place in the professional world. May 2025 be the year we hit our targets with precision and purpose.

After all, the question is not whether the year is ready for you; it is whether you are ready for the year.

Words and illustration: Wenmark Ybiernas

๐—Ÿ๐—ข๐—ข๐—ž | ๐™๐™๐™ง๐™š๐™š ๐™†๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™œ๐™จ ๐˜ฟ๐™–๐™ฎ: ๐˜ผ ๐™…๐™ค๐™ช๐™ง๐™ฃ๐™š๐™ฎ ๐™ค๐™› ๐™ƒ๐™ค๐™ฅ๐™š, ๐™ƒ๐™š๐™–๐™ซ๐™š๐™ฃ๐™ก๐™ฎ ๐™Ž๐™ž๐™œ๐™ฃ๐™จ, ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐˜ฟ๐™ž๐™ซ๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™š ๐™‚๐™ž๐™›๐™ฉ๐™จDid you know that, according to some theories...
07/01/2025

๐—Ÿ๐—ข๐—ข๐—ž | ๐™๐™๐™ง๐™š๐™š ๐™†๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™œ๐™จ ๐˜ฟ๐™–๐™ฎ: ๐˜ผ ๐™…๐™ค๐™ช๐™ง๐™ฃ๐™š๐™ฎ ๐™ค๐™› ๐™ƒ๐™ค๐™ฅ๐™š, ๐™ƒ๐™š๐™–๐™ซ๐™š๐™ฃ๐™ก๐™ฎ ๐™Ž๐™ž๐™œ๐™ฃ๐™จ, ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐˜ฟ๐™ž๐™ซ๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™š ๐™‚๐™ž๐™›๐™ฉ๐™จ

Did you know that, according to some theories, there were supposed to be four wise men instead of only three? The fourth Wise Man, often referred to as "The Lost Magus," has long been a part of Christian tradition, though he is absent from the Gospels. Many legends tell of this mysterious figure who never reached Bethlehem and missed meeting Jesus because he got lost along the way.

The Three Kings Day, or Feast of the Epiphany, is observed by Christians worldwide today, January 6. It commemorates the day a star led the Three Magi Kingsโ€”Caspar of India, Melchior of Persia, and Balthasar of Arabiaโ€”to visit the baby Jesus in Bethlehem, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. This moment reflects the divine message shared in Luke 2:10-19, where angels proclaimed Jesus' birth as good news of great joy for all people, bringing peace on earth to those favored by God. Itโ€™s a powerful reminder of the wonder and hope surrounding the birth of Christ.

In many countries, Epiphany is celebrated with pastries and the tradition of children finding small surprises tucked into their shoes, mimicking the Magiโ€™s offerings to the infant Jesus. In Eastern traditions, homes are often blessed with holy water, and baptisms are common. The Three Kings Day, or El Dรญa de Reyes, represents the Messiah's Trinity and remains an important holiday for Catholics.

Words: Jerrymei Pedros

๐—”๐—ก๐—ก๐—ข๐—จ๐—ก๐—–๐—˜๐— ๐—˜๐—ก๐—ง | ๐™๐™š๐™จ๐™ช๐™ข๐™ฅ๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ ๐™ค๐™› ๐˜พ๐™ก๐™–๐™จ๐™จ๐™š๐™จ: ๐™…๐™–๐™ฃ๐™ช๐™–๐™ง๐™ฎ 6, 2025 Following the festive Yuletide season and the sense of renewal bro...
01/01/2025

๐—”๐—ก๐—ก๐—ข๐—จ๐—ก๐—–๐—˜๐— ๐—˜๐—ก๐—ง | ๐™๐™š๐™จ๐™ช๐™ข๐™ฅ๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ ๐™ค๐™› ๐˜พ๐™ก๐™–๐™จ๐™จ๐™š๐™จ: ๐™…๐™–๐™ฃ๐™ช๐™–๐™ง๐™ฎ 6, 2025

Following the festive Yuletide season and the sense of renewal brought by the year 2025, I hope you, Easternians, are ready to defrost those frozen papers and assignments untouched since the Christmas break began. Classes will resume on Monday, January 6, 2025. We hope the holidays provided you with ample time to rest and rejuvenate with loved ones and to refresh your mental well-being. For now, enjoy the rest of the holidays!

๐—Ÿ๐—ข๐—ข๐—ž | ๐™Ž๐™๐™–๐™™๐™š๐™จ ๐™ค๐™› ๐™ฉ๐™๐™š ๐™”๐™š๐™–๐™ง: ๐™’๐™๐™–๐™ฉ ๐˜พ๐™ค๐™ก๐™ค๐™ง๐™จ ๐™’๐™ž๐™ก๐™ก ๐˜ฟ๐™š๐™›๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™š 2025?๐˜๐˜ข๐˜ท๐˜ฆ ๐˜บ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ ๐˜ฆ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ ๐˜ค๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ด ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ, ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต ๐˜ซ๐˜ถ๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ธ๐˜ข๐˜ญ...
31/12/2024

๐—Ÿ๐—ข๐—ข๐—ž | ๐™Ž๐™๐™–๐™™๐™š๐™จ ๐™ค๐™› ๐™ฉ๐™๐™š ๐™”๐™š๐™–๐™ง: ๐™’๐™๐™–๐™ฉ ๐˜พ๐™ค๐™ก๐™ค๐™ง๐™จ ๐™’๐™ž๐™ก๐™ก ๐˜ฟ๐™š๐™›๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™š 2025?

๐˜๐˜ข๐˜ท๐˜ฆ ๐˜บ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ ๐˜ฆ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ ๐˜ค๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ด ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ, ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต ๐˜ซ๐˜ถ๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ธ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ญ๐˜ด ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ง๐˜ข๐˜ฃ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ด, ๐˜ฃ๐˜ถ๐˜ต ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฒ๐˜ถ๐˜ช๐˜ฆ๐˜ต ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ค๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜บ? Mocha Mousse, Pantoneโ€™s Color of the Year 2025, is one such hueโ€”a soft brown, a tincture of sepia nostalgia and unspoken warmth. In contrast, Future Dusk, Pantoneโ€™s Lucky Color of the Year 2025, a deep blue-violet shade that speaks of quiet contemplation and the serene beauty of the night sky.

As we stand at the threshold of a new year, let these colors' quiet resilience remind us of the enduring elegance of growthโ€”slow as moss, steadfast as roots entwined in the earth. Like the grain of well-worn wood or the alchemy of coffee beans into warmth, it carries the poetry of transformation in its depth.

May this year be painted in tones of patience and possibility, where even the softest shades remind us of strength yet to be unfurled.

Letโ€™s make this year filled with exciting detours and dreams that take flight on the hues of possibility!

Words: Grace Morga
Layout Artist: Wilmar Damole

๐—Ÿ๐—ข๐—ข๐—ž | ๐™€๐™–๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ง๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™–๐™ฃ๐™จ, ๐™ฌ๐™๐™–๐™ฉ ๐™–๐™ง๐™š ๐™ฎ๐™ค๐™ช๐™ง 2025 ๐™‰๐™š๐™ฌ ๐™”๐™š๐™–๐™งโ€™๐™จ ๐™ง๐™š๐™จ๐™ค๐™ก๐™ช๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™จ? The New Year is often seen as a chance for a fresh startโ€”...
31/12/2024

๐—Ÿ๐—ข๐—ข๐—ž | ๐™€๐™–๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ง๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™–๐™ฃ๐™จ, ๐™ฌ๐™๐™–๐™ฉ ๐™–๐™ง๐™š ๐™ฎ๐™ค๐™ช๐™ง 2025 ๐™‰๐™š๐™ฌ ๐™”๐™š๐™–๐™งโ€™๐™จ ๐™ง๐™š๐™จ๐™ค๐™ก๐™ช๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™จ?

The New Year is often seen as a chance for a fresh startโ€”a time to set new goals, embrace new habits, and leave behind bad behaviors. New Yearโ€™s resolutions have an undeniable psychological appeal. They represent a clean slateโ€”an opportunity to reset priorities and refocus on what matters most, although, most of the time, many people fail before they even start in their resolutions because they make them too tough right off the start as they try to make up for lost time from the year before.

๐˜ฝ๐™ช๐™ฉ ๐™ฌ๐™๐™š๐™ฃ ๐™™๐™ค๐™š๐™จ ๐™‰๐™š๐™ฌ ๐™”๐™š๐™–๐™งโ€™๐™จ ๐™๐™š๐™จ๐™ค๐™ก๐™ช๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ ๐™—๐™š๐™œ๐™ž๐™ฃ?

The tradition of making New Year's resolutions stretches back over 4,000 years to ancient Babylonia. Their celebrations, the earliest known, honored the new year's arrivalโ€”not in January but in mid-March, coinciding with the planting of crops.

The Babylonians celebrated ๐˜ผ๐™ ๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™ช, a twelve-day festival marking the new year. During this time, people made promises to the gods, often settling debts and either enthroning a new king or reaffirming their allegiance to the current ruler. These promises, believed to secure divine favor for the coming year, are considered early forms of the New Year's resolutions. If not, they would fall out of Godโ€™s favorโ€”a place no one wanted to be.

Ancient Rome also saw a similar practice emerge after Julius Caesar's calendar reform established January 1st as the new year's beginning around 46 BC. Named for ๐™…๐™–๐™ฃ๐™ช๐™จ, the two-faced god whose spirit inhabited doorways and arches, January had special significance for the Romans. This practice, evolving through time and the adoption of Christianity, has become a secular tradition worldwide, even though the nature of the resolutions has changed.

In essence, a New Yearโ€™s resolution is a symbolic act of self-belief. Though perceived as a false promise of a new beginning, often crushed within a few days of the year commencing like a bold commitment to lose weight by eating less or to stop consuming coffee by the gallon is whimsical and ill-thought-out, the most crucial element of whether your New Yearโ€™s resolutions will be successful or not comes down to whether you stoke the flames of your fascination.

๐™ƒ๐™ค๐™ฌ ๐™–๐™—๐™ค๐™ช๐™ฉ ๐™ฎ๐™ค๐™ช, ๐™€๐™–๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ง๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™–๐™ฃ๐™จ? ๐™’๐™๐™–๐™ฉ ๐™–๐™ง๐™š ๐™ฎ๐™ค๐™ช๐™ง 2025 ๐™‰๐™š๐™ฌ ๐™”๐™š๐™–๐™งโ€™๐™จ ๐™ง๐™š๐™จ๐™ค๐™ก๐™ช๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™จ?

Words: Federico Napiรฑas
Layout Artist: Gwyneth Panonce

๐—–๐—ข๐—Ÿ๐—จ๐— ๐—ก | ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—Ÿ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ฑ ๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—–๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ!John 3:16 declares with profound simplicity, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only...
31/12/2024

๐—–๐—ข๐—Ÿ๐—จ๐— ๐—ก | ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—Ÿ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ฑ ๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—–๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ!

John 3:16 declares with profound simplicity, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

Nearly a decade ago, in the innocence of my younger years, this verse would echo through the afternoons as my father tuned in to his radio. A deep, slightly creepy voice recited it, promoting an "extraordinary" supplement. Back then, its meaning remained elusive, its profundity veiled by my youthful ignorance. Who was this "begotten Son"? And how could mere belief secure eternal life? The verse seemed distant, almost incomprehensible, as though spoken in a language my heart had yet to learn.

Now I know. It is a promise for an initiativeโ€”Hope. God seeks to save us, and in doing so, it is a firm deal that for those who believe, they will be led to search, and they will find Him, who are willing to be led. For the Child of Bethlehem came for all, to be recognized by all, to be worshipped by all and to bring salvation to all. Now, if that is not a statement of purest love, nothing is, for why would anyone want to save another who, ever so often, does not even want to save himself?

Hope is Godโ€™s enduring gift to a weary world, and that hope is His Son. It is the quiet assurance that, beyond every trial and tragedy, a greater promise awaits. In this era where despair often seems to hold the upper handโ€”where conflict, hunger, suffering, and uncertainty dominate headlinesโ€”hope remains the unbreakable anchor of the soul.

The scripture is replete with testimonies to the power of hope. From the Israelites wandering in the wilderness to the early Christians enduring persecution, hope was not merely a consolation but a driving force. It was the belief in a God who fulfills His promises, even when circumstances appear bleak. This hope, rooted not in wishful thinking but in unwavering faith, is a gift of immeasurable worthโ€”a lifeline extended from heaven to humanity.

And yet, in our modern world, hope is frequently dismissed as a mere naive optimism. Cynicism, cloaked as pragmatism, has become the prevailing attitude of this age. To hope, some argue, is to risk disappointment. But this POV is insanity as this perspective fails to grasp the essence of hope as God intended. Hope is not the denial of reality but the conviction that reality is not the final word. It is the belief that no matter how dire the present may seem, God is still at work, weaving His redemptive plan.

The Christmas story, so often reduced to sentimental nostalgia, is a very humble memento to the gift of hope. The birth of Christ in a humble manger was not for picturesque tableau; it was a declaration that God does not abandon His people. The angelic proclamation to the Virgin Maryโ€”โ€œHail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women"โ€”was a message of hope that pierces through the ages, so powerful that it made its way to our beloved prayerโ€”the Hail Mary. It is a statement that God steps into the brokenness of our world, not as as the omnipotent supreme-being, but as an active participant in our world.

Hope is the string that connects us to our faith. It is what kept Mother Mary on her feet as she accepted her role in Godโ€™s plan. It is what emboldened Joseph to stand firm despite the whispers of scandal. It is what guided the Magi through the long and uncertain journey to Bethlehem. And it is what continues to sustain us, as we navigate the complexities and challenges of our lives. It was not the nails that held Jesus on the cross, it was His hope to save us.

"Hope is God's gift into our souls that will animate our activities," said H.E. Cardinal Tagle.

Hope, like any gift, must be received and nurtured. It is not a passive sentiment but an active choiceโ€”a decision to trust in Godโ€™s goodness even when circumstances tempt us to despair. For those who grieve, hope is the promise of reunion. For those burdened by sin, it is the assurance of forgiveness. For those who feel lost and abandoned, it is the certainty of Godโ€™s presence. Hope does not promise a life free from suffering, but it does promise that suffering will not be the end.

The greatest gift of all is hopeโ€”found in Christ. Let each one of us embrace this gift, becoming bearers of His hope to a world longing for its light.

Words and illustration: Wenmark Ybiernas

๐—Ÿ๐—ข๐—ข๐—ž | ๐™…๐™ค๐™จ๐™š ๐™๐™ž๐™ฏ๐™–๐™ก: ๐˜ผ ๐™ƒ๐™š๐™ง๐™ค ๐™ค๐™› ๐™„๐™ฃ๐™ฃ๐™ค๐™ซ๐™–๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ, ๐™‹๐™–๐™จ๐™จ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™Ž๐™–๐™˜๐™ง๐™ž๐™›๐™ž๐™˜๐™š๐˜ฟ๐™ž๐™™ ๐™ฎ๐™ค๐™ช ๐™ ๐™ฃ๐™ค๐™ฌ? Josรฉ Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realond...
30/12/2024

๐—Ÿ๐—ข๐—ข๐—ž | ๐™…๐™ค๐™จ๐™š ๐™๐™ž๐™ฏ๐™–๐™ก: ๐˜ผ ๐™ƒ๐™š๐™ง๐™ค ๐™ค๐™› ๐™„๐™ฃ๐™ฃ๐™ค๐™ซ๐™–๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ, ๐™‹๐™–๐™จ๐™จ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™Ž๐™–๐™˜๐™ง๐™ž๐™›๐™ž๐™˜๐™š

๐˜ฟ๐™ž๐™™ ๐™ฎ๐™ค๐™ช ๐™ ๐™ฃ๐™ค๐™ฌ? Josรฉ Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda, also known as Dr. Jose Rizal, was not just our national heroโ€”he was also an inventor! While exiled in Dapitan, he created a cigarette lighter called "sulpukan," which he also gave to Ferdinand Blumentritt as a gift.

Who would have thought that the man who ignited the revolution with his words also sparked innovation with his hands? From writing novels that exposed the injustice of the friars to performing eye surgeries and crafting inventions, Rizal proved that freedom is not just fought with swords but also with knowledge, ideas, and creativity. He was a man who used every skill he had for a greater purpose.

And letโ€™s not forgetโ€”Rizal was also a man of passion. He loved deeply but sacrificed even more. From his first heartbreak with Segunda Katigbak to his bittersweet romance with Leonor Rivera, he experienced love and loss like any of us. Yet he chose to dedicate his heart to the nation above all else. His story reminded us that freedom demands sacrificeโ€”not just in battle but in personal struggles, dreams, and even relationships. Rizal showed us what it means to love your country more than yourself. As Josรฉ Rizal said in his poem โ€Mi รšltimo Adiรณs,โ€ written on December 30, 1896, "I die without seeing the dawn brighten over my native land. You who have it to see, welcome itโ€”and forget not those who have fallen during the night!"

The anniversary of Josรฉ Rizal's ex*****on on December 30th is observed annually with national mourning for the loss of a brilliant mind and courageous heart. His death, though tragic, ignited the flames of revolution and served as a catalyst for the Philippines' fight for independence. His legacy continues to inspire generations, reminding us of the power of one person's unwavering commitment to justice, freedom, and love of country. Reliving his memory on this day is not just about remembering his sacrifice; it's about reaffirming our own commitment to the ideals he championed. His life and death served as a powerful call to action, urging us to strive for a better futureโ€”a future Rizal envisioned but never lived to see.

Words: Bryan Steve Oculares
Layout Artist: Angelyka Braรฑanola | Probationary

๐—–๐—ฒ๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ฏ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—Ÿ๐—ถ๐—ณ๐—ฒ: ๐™ƒ๐™–๐™ฅ๐™ฅ๐™ฎ ๐˜ฝ๐™ž๐™ง๐™ฉ๐™๐™™๐™–๐™ฎ, ๐™†๐™š๐™ฃ๐™ฉ๐™ ๐˜พ๐™–๐™ง๐™ก๐™ค ๐™๐™ž๐™ข๐™–๐™ฃ!Kenth, serving as a ๐™Ž๐™ฅ๐™ค๐™ง๐™ฉ๐™จ๐™ฌ๐™ง๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ง at Atalaya Publication. You have...
27/12/2024

๐—–๐—ฒ๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ฏ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—Ÿ๐—ถ๐—ณ๐—ฒ: ๐™ƒ๐™–๐™ฅ๐™ฅ๐™ฎ ๐˜ฝ๐™ž๐™ง๐™ฉ๐™๐™™๐™–๐™ฎ, ๐™†๐™š๐™ฃ๐™ฉ๐™ ๐˜พ๐™–๐™ง๐™ก๐™ค ๐™๐™ž๐™ข๐™–๐™ฃ!

Kenth, serving as a ๐™Ž๐™ฅ๐™ค๐™ง๐™ฉ๐™จ๐™ฌ๐™ง๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ง at Atalaya Publication.

You have consistently demonstrated your passion for sports and your ability to bring every game to life with insightful and engaging writing. Your knowledge of the field, combined with your unique perspective, makes your work not just informative but truly captivating. Whether it's a big win or a tough loss, your dedication shines through, and weโ€™re lucky to have you as part of Atalaya Publication. Your contributions help us stay connected to the world of sports and continue to inspire readers.

As you celebrate another year, we wish you continued success and many more thrilling experiences in your journey as our sports writer. Your hard work and commitment are deeply appreciated by everyone at Atalaya Publication!

๐—–๐—ฒ๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ฏ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—Ÿ๐—ถ๐—ณ๐—ฒ: ๐™ƒ๐™–๐™ฅ๐™ฅ๐™ฎ ๐˜ฝ๐™ž๐™ง๐™ฉ๐™๐™™๐™–๐™ฎ, ๐™ˆ๐™จ. ๐™‚๐™ง๐™–๐™˜๐™š ๐™ˆ๐™ค๐™ง๐™œ๐™–!Grace, affectionately known to us, serves as the ๐™‚๐™ง๐™–๐™ข๐™ข๐™–๐™ง๐™ž๐™–๐™ฃ of the ...
27/12/2024

๐—–๐—ฒ๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ฏ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—Ÿ๐—ถ๐—ณ๐—ฒ: ๐™ƒ๐™–๐™ฅ๐™ฅ๐™ฎ ๐˜ฝ๐™ž๐™ง๐™ฉ๐™๐™™๐™–๐™ฎ, ๐™ˆ๐™จ. ๐™‚๐™ง๐™–๐™˜๐™š ๐™ˆ๐™ค๐™ง๐™œ๐™–!

Grace, affectionately known to us, serves as the ๐™‚๐™ง๐™–๐™ข๐™ข๐™–๐™ง๐™ž๐™–๐™ฃ of the Atalaya Publication!

Your meticulous and on-point attention to detail ensures that every article, story, captions and piece of writing meets the highest standards. Youโ€™ve played a crucial role in maintaining the quality of our work, making sure that each sentence is not only grammatically correct but also impactful. Your expertise makes a difference, elevating our content and helping to build the reputation of Atalaya Publication. Without your dedication, we would not be able to produce the polished, professional, and inspirational work that weโ€™re so proud of.

On your special day, we want to express our deepest gratitude for all the hard work and effort you've put into perfecting every piece and for taking your time to make our stories even better! Your contributions are invaluable, and weโ€™re so lucky to have you at the Atalaya Publication. As you celebrate another year, we wish you all the best in life. May this year bring you more joy, success, and fulfillment. Cheers to another fantastic year ahead!

๐—–๐—ต๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐˜€๐˜๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜€ ๐—™๐—ฎ๐—บ๐—ถ๐—น๐˜† ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ฆ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—š๐˜‚๐—ถ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ: ๐™ƒ๐™ค๐™ฌ ๐™ฉ๐™ค ๐˜ฟ๐™ค๐™™๐™œ๐™š ๐™”๐™ค๐™ช๐™ง ๐˜ผ๐™ช๐™ฃ๐™ฉ'๐™จ ๐™…๐™ช๐™™๐™œ๐™ข๐™š๐™ฃ๐™ฉ As we grow older, we realize that Santa isn't...
25/12/2024

๐—–๐—ต๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐˜€๐˜๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜€ ๐—™๐—ฎ๐—บ๐—ถ๐—น๐˜† ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ฆ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—š๐˜‚๐—ถ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ: ๐™ƒ๐™ค๐™ฌ ๐™ฉ๐™ค ๐˜ฟ๐™ค๐™™๐™œ๐™š ๐™”๐™ค๐™ช๐™ง ๐˜ผ๐™ช๐™ฃ๐™ฉ'๐™จ ๐™…๐™ช๐™™๐™œ๐™ข๐™š๐™ฃ๐™ฉ

As we grow older, we realize that Santa isn't always coming to townโ€”but your aunts certainly are, especially at family reunions where relatives gather to enjoy Noche Buena and savor the holiday spirit with family and friends. However, beyond the traditional "pamasko" gifts tucked inside ang paos, these aunts also arrive armed with their perfectly honed and often misguided critiques.

To prevent this from happening, try this: Clear your throat dramatically, gently touch your aunt's arm, and tell her the script, "๐™’๐™š ๐™‡๐™ž๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ฃ, ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™’๐™š ๐˜ฟ๐™ค๐™ฃโ€™๐™ฉ ๐™…๐™ช๐™™๐™œ๐™š!"

๐—–๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ป๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ-๐—ข๐—ณ๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜€๐—ฒ:

When Aunt attempts to criticize your appearance with a pointed finger waggle, give her a deadpan expression, slowly close your fingers around hers, and say, "๐™’๐™š ๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™–๐™ง๐™š, ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™ฌ๐™š ๐™™๐™ค๐™ฃ'๐™ฉ ๐™Ÿ๐™ช๐™™๐™œ๐™š."

When Aunt gives the spaghetti your mom cooked an imperceptible grimace, declaring it bland and tasteless, dramatically grab your fork, take a large spoonful, savor it with exaggerated relish, and say, "๐™’๐™š ๐™š๐™–๐™ฉ, ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™ฌ๐™š ๐™™๐™ค๐™ฃ'๐™ฉ ๐™Ÿ๐™ช๐™™๐™œ๐™š."

When Aunt looks at your acne breakouts with disgust and offers unsolicited, likely outdated skincare advice, gently touch her wrinkled arm and say, "๐™’๐™š ๐™ฉ๐™ค๐™ช๐™˜๐™, ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™ฌ๐™š ๐™™๐™ค๐™ฃ'๐™ฉ ๐™Ÿ๐™ช๐™™๐™œ๐™š."

When Aunt discovers you're still living with your parents after employment and starts questioning your job, shrug and say, "๐™’๐™š ๐™ ๐™ฃ๐™ค๐™ฌ, ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™ฌ๐™š ๐™™๐™ค๐™ฃ'๐™ฉ ๐™Ÿ๐™ช๐™™๐™œ๐™š."

When Aunt comments on your relationship status, advising you to "find the right fish in the sea," say, "๐™’๐™š ๐™จ๐™ช๐™œ๐™œ๐™š๐™จ๐™ฉ, ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™ฌ๐™š ๐™™๐™ค๐™ฃ'๐™ฉ ๐™Ÿ๐™ช๐™™๐™œ๐™š."

This Christmas season, let's prioritize love, care, and gratitude. Hatred and unsolicited judgments have no place at our table. Let's embrace our differences in circumstances and socio-economic status, fostering a joyful holiday season free from negativity.

๐—ก๐—ผ๐˜๐—ฒ: This approach uses metaphorical language to convey the central idea, and not intended to make broad generalizations.

Words: Federico Napiรฑas
๐—ก๐—ผ๐˜๐—ฒ: This approach uses metaphorical language to convey the central idea, and is not intended to make broad generalizations.

โ€™๐™๐™ž๐™จ ๐™ฉ๐™๐™š ๐™จ๐™š๐™–๐™จ๐™ค๐™ฃ ๐™ฉ๐™ค ๐™—๐™š ๐™Ÿ๐™ค๐™ก๐™ก๐™ฎ... ๐˜ผ๐™ฉ๐™–๐™ก๐™–-๐™ก๐™–-๐™ก๐™–-๐™ก๐™–-๐™ก๐™–-๐™ก๐™–๐™ฎ๐™–! ๐ŸŽถ Warmest wishes to our esteemed school administration, ever-bril...
24/12/2024

โ€™๐™๐™ž๐™จ ๐™ฉ๐™๐™š ๐™จ๐™š๐™–๐™จ๐™ค๐™ฃ ๐™ฉ๐™ค ๐™—๐™š ๐™Ÿ๐™ค๐™ก๐™ก๐™ฎ... ๐˜ผ๐™ฉ๐™–๐™ก๐™–-๐™ก๐™–-๐™ก๐™–-๐™ก๐™–-๐™ก๐™–-๐™ก๐™–๐™ฎ๐™–! ๐ŸŽถ

Warmest wishes to our esteemed school administration, ever-brilliant teachers, devoted students, and the entire Easternian community!

As the festive lights illuminate our dear institution, we express heartfelt gratitude for another year filled with laughter, learning, and triumphs. While our publication's motto, "Illuminate Truth, Elevate Voices," guides us year-round, this Christmas season, we embrace the spirit of "Illuminate Joy, Elevate Love." May this joyous season of Christmas bring love on your table, with genuine laughter coating around your homesโ€”to make it an assemblage of peace and contentment.

A-Fam, or Atalaya Family, sends you warmest wishes for a Christmas brimming with joy, sparkling with laughter, and resonating with the sweet melodies that fill our hearts at every gathering. May the magic of the season enchant you, filling your days with peace, your nights with wonder, and your soul with a deep, abiding love. We cherish the triumphant symphony of our shared celebrations and hope this Christmas brings you a similar feeling of warmth and belonging.

Happy Holidays, Easternians!

โ€” ๐™๐™ง๐™ค๐™ข ๐˜ผ๐™ฉ๐™–๐™ก๐™–๐™ฎ๐™– ๐™‹๐™ช๐™—๐™ก๐™ž๐™˜๐™–๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ ๐™ฉ๐™ค ๐™ฎ๐™ค๐™ช๐™ง๐™จ

Words: Federico Napiรฑas
Layout Artist: Jerah Mae Delos Reyes

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