Greetings in the Lord!

Today is the third Sunday of Easter. Today’s gospel narrates to us the experience of the two disciples on their way to Emmaus. In this story, Jesus responding to the two bewildered disciples explained that all the Scriptures point to the mystery of His person. Their hearts were burning while He explained these things to them, but they could not recognize Him until the time that He broke the bread before their eyes and shared it with them. What a very beautiful experience that the story tells us to always consider today in our Christian lives. This is an experience that happened after the Resurrection of Jesus and when He appeared to his first disciples in many and various occasions.

The Catholic Church has always held the very significant role of Scriptures in our daily lives. It teaches us that “ignorance of the Bible,… leads to ignorance of Jesus Christ himself,” quoting the great holy man St. Jerome who translated the Bible into Latin the official language of the Church until recent times. However, the Catholic Church continues to teach that only when we encounter Jesus in the breaking of the Bread

Tik Tok

Continued from page 5 scant evidence that TikTok routinely mishandles data or manipulates videos.

The RESTRICT Act applies to six “foreign adversaries” (China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela), and could be expanded to other countries. While it’s popularly known as the TikTok ban, it can be applied to other companies like Huawei or Kaspersky, which are headquartered in China and Russia. Warner has specifically identified those companies as two of the bill’s primary targets.

Danny Hernaez

wants to assure them of His love. I have experienced the Lord using me in this way in the life of other individuals. God did this in the life of Moses. He came to Moses at the burning bush to reveal His purposes for the people of Israel and His call on Moses to free them.

Has God placed individuals in your life to speak His plans for you? Are your eyes and ears spiritually sensitive so that you will know who are messengers of God? Elisha had a servant who could not see or hear with spiritual eyes and ears until Elisha prayed they would be opened. Then the servant could see the great army of God protecting them (see 2 Kings 6:17). Pray that you might see and hear with the Spirit. He may desire to reveal His purposes and plans through another individual.

The disciples thought they suffered their greatest defeat when Jesus died on the cross. However, this defeat became the greatest victory on earth. Christ's death gave liberty. Forgiveness came to all men. New life came forth - new strength for the disciples. Resurrection and new life came as a result of a "defeat."

<(((><

National security concerns may be a cover for U.S. anger over unfair business practices by China restricting foreign competition. TikTok isn’t available in China. Chinese citizens use Douyin, another ByteDance platform. Facebook,Twitter and YouTube are banned in China.

Protecting the First Amendment

Kate Ruane says two wrongs don’t make a right. “A ban on TikTok would give rise to significant First Amendment concerns,” she said.

Formerly a Senior Advisor for the First Amendment and Consumer and sharing in His cup can we fully comprehend the mystery of his person, his mission and his invitation for us to share in His own life and redeeming love. In fact, the Church believes that the presence of Jesus in the form of bread and wine consecrated at the celebration of the Eucharist is the foundation, the center and the apex of a Christian life and the basis on which a Christian community exists, is nourished and sustained.

For the past several months I tried to bring to the consciousness of our parishioners for the need to really know our faith in Jesus more personally. Since the first week of the season of Lent I have initiated a catechetical program for adults which we do in our parish

Privacy at the American Civil Liberties Union, Ruane is currently Director of U.S. Free Expression Programs at PEN America.

“For citizens, and particularly the tens of millions of young Americans who use TikTok, to witness a popular social media platform summarily shut down by the government will raise serious questions in the minds of a rising generation about the sanctity of free speech in this country,” Ruane said. She noted the U.S. condemned Nigeria for banning Twitter in June 2021; it criticized Russia for shutting down independent media in 2022; when mass protests erupted in Iran after the killing of Mahsa Amini, the U.S. strongly condemned the Iranian regime and called on them to refrain from the “blocking or filtering of services.”

“If the U.S. were to now approve wholesale banning as a means of redressing its security concerns about digital platforms, other governments will follow suit, insisting that their own security concerns are equally pressing,” she said.

Pen America favors a different approach: a robust privacy bill could address concerns not just on Tiktok but across multiple social media platforms. Ruane says the U.S. has been negotiating with TikTok. “We church every Wednesday evening. Thanks be to God, several of you have availed of the opportunity to know our faith. The catechesis that I have started is based on the new Catechism of the Catholic Church. I have tried to study with the participants the intricacies of our faith in simple terms. The purpose for all this is for you to know Jesus more intimately besides participating in the Eucharistic celebration at least every Sunday. Furthermore we have enthroned the Holy Face of Manopello on the day of my installation over a year ago. We intend to make the regular adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in our chapel more appreciated so that we can see the face of Jesus beside the Blessed Sacrament where Jesus is sacramentally but really and truly present to listen to our thanks, personal petitions and also prayers for others. see no reason that process should not continue and produce a binding agreement,” Ruane said.

Hence, the reading of the narrative of Jesus accompanying the two disciples on their way to Emmaus is also a wonderful occasion to make ourselves get closer to Him in a devotion that we are starting in this very beautiful parish of the Church of the Nativity, here in Rancho Santa Fe.

Rising anti-Chinese sentiment

John Yang, President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), noted the RESTRICT Act is aimed at the authoritarian regime in Communist China but said Asian Americans could become targets of anti-Chinese sentiment here in the U.S.

“A lot of Chinese Americans come to this country, frankly, because they want to escape the Chinese authoritarian regime in Communist China,” Yang said.

He says the lawmakers who promote the false narrative that everything Chinese is threatening and connected to actions by the Chinese government are not helping. “It is our community that often pays the price for their reckless rhetoric.”

Congress was so hostile towards the TikTok CEO that lawmakers missed a chance to talk about legitimate concerns around privacy and misuse of user data on the part of social media apps in general. “The conversation should begin and end with how to keep consumers safe and protect their privacy on any app, not just Tik Tok,” Yang said.

ATTACHED/DETACHED -- By Salvador S. Idos

We are Sinners but Good Friday reminds us that we are Redeemed Sinners. To remain in a state of Grace we need to be constantly on guard against the snares of the Devil. Our Church teaches us that we have fallen into this trap if our heart is Attached to the daily pursuit of WEALTH, POWER, HONOR and SENSUAL PLEASURE. These worldly attractions will never satisfy because we will keep on asking for more until it becomes an addiction. The challenge for us then is to remain Detached from these temptations. It is only when our heart is Attached to the Lord will we find Rest which comes with the blessings of His Joy and His Peace.

“There is a mistaken notion among some that to own a paper is to have a license to clobber one’s enemies and attack people we don’t like. A newspaper is an information tool to reach a large number of people at a given time. A newspaper should inform, educate, entertain and provide viewpoints that could give us the means to make intelligent decisions for ourselves and others.” — Ernie Flores Jr., founding editor and publisher

Alexa Ilacad opens up about body dysmorphic disorder

MANILA -- Kapamilya actress

Alexa Ilacad opened up about her struggle with body dysmorphic disorder or body dysmorphia, a mental health condition where a person spends a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance, which are often unnoticeable to others.

Body dysmorphia is most common in teenagers and young adults.

In Star Magic Conversations, Ilacad opened up about how she is accepting her condition.

"It fluctuates day-to-day. It really depends on the day or wahich side of the bed I wake up in. Sometimes it's a good day na parang, 'uy I look good today.' I have that confidence. But sometimes just flat-out no or the mood changes like umaga okay naman ako then something triggered me," she said. Asked where she gets the strength to feel okay, Ilacad said:

"Honestly I have accepted the fact and I know that progress it's not linear kasi... Pwedeng roller coaster akyatbaba ganun ang buhay, di ba?

Regarding lakas? Hindi naman ako palaging malakas. I don't have it in me all the time and I guess that's okay.

You don't have to be strong all the time. Sabi ko nga there's strength in vulnerability there's strength in being vulnerable. So I am not afraid to admit that I am not okay, not everyday," she said. Despite this, Ilacad, who started as a child star, is intent on staying in showbiz.

"I just want to keep going. Gusto ko lang ito ipagpatuloy hanggang sa puwede, hanggang sa pagbibigyan ako ng universe. I just want to keep doing what I want," Ilacad said.

Asked what pushes her to do things she does, she said: "I guess because it's my passion. I am really hungry for it in a way na I don't really see myself doing anything else. This is what I really want to do."

"There's just a fire inside me I guess

Dionne Monsanto opens up about returning to acting that I really love what I do. I really love acting, singing, performing, being in front of my camera. Hinahanap siya ng katawan ko," she added.

MANILA -- Dionne Monsanto opened up about her return to acting as part of the cast of “Unbreak My Heart,” a product of the partnership among GMA, ABS-CBN, and Viu.

Monsanto said she was surprised at how much she ended up missing acting, admitting that she hadn't anticipated feeling that way.

“Momentarily returning to acting was wild. I didn’t think I would miss it as much as I did. The energy on set still invigorates me. Doing an acting project now that I’m a mom involves a lot of scheduling and planning,” she said.

Fortunately, her sister was also in Switzerland at the time she had to film her scenes.

“So, when I was on set, she was able to look after my daughter on days that my husband had to work,” she said.

Before joining "Pinoy Big Brother" in 2021, viewers have seen Ilacad grow up from her time on the kiddie gag show "Goin' Bulilit" to her starring role on the teen-oriented comdy TV sitcom "Luv U."

Currently, Ilacad and her love team partner KD Estrada are part of the original musical "Walang Aray" from PETA. (MNS)

Anji Salvacion is bolder in new single 'Paraiso'

about competing, it’s about going with your own pace," she said.

"And that’s what the song really means to me: embracing one's self, your body, your beauty, your skin, your everything, your personality. That's what it’s all about," she added.

When asked what for her is the meaning of "Paraiso," Salvacion replied: "Paraiso for me is when you feel confident, when you feel empowered... You feel like you can do anything and that, for me, feels like paraiso."

"That, for me, is the freedom to do whatever you want. The freedom to express yourself to everyone. It's more about home, too."

With the launch of her newest single, Salvacion, who is known for her sweet and soft vocals, is also introducing a new image as a singer.

On what made her agree to do the role after retiring from showbiz a couple of years ago, she said: “Accepting the project wasn’t hard at all. I mean, this is a very historic collaboration of ABS-CBN, GMA, and Viu. I’m more than and eternally grateful to be part of it.”

The former "Pinoy Big Brother" (PBB) housemate is now based in Switzerland and recently gave birth to her daughter last April 18. She married Ryan Stalder in March 2021. The two started dating in 2018, she said, but have known each other since 2007, the same year she entered showbiz through the reality show “PBB.” While their family is now based abroad, Monsanto also said how happy she is to be back in the Philippines with her daughter for a vacation.

“Coming to the Philippines after more than two years of living abroad is something I’ve been so excited about. I missed my family and long time friends so much. I missed Filipino food. I missed the beach. But I did not miss sitting in traffic for hours though,” she said laughing.

Moving forward, Monsanto said she and her husband plan to fly back to the Philippines at least once a year so they can expose their daughter to the Filipino culture.

“It is important for us that she knows her roots. So far, I have taken her to my hometown, to the public markets I went to with my mom to buy meat and vegetables, and to the places where I played at as a child.”

Apart from "PBB," Monsanto is best known for her performance in the ABS-CBN drama series “Tubig at Langis.” (MNS)

MANILA, Apr 15 (Mabuhay) --

Kapamilya artist Anji Salvacion has shifted to a bolder and more alluring sound through her single "Paraiso", which now available on various music streaming platforms.

Under Tarsier Records, the upbeat track which shows off Salvacion's evolving musical style, vocal prowess, and growth as an artist is composed by Annie Lux and produced by Exale. Salvacion shared more about her new song described as the “perfect summer anthem of empowerment.”

“Self-confidence right now is very hard to achieve because everybody in this generation is competing with each other. I just want to remind everyone that it’s not

Salvacion, 20, first rose to fame as a contestant on "Idol Philippines" in 2019 and went on to join "ASAP Natin 'To" as a regular performer.

As the winning celebrity housemate of the 2021 edition of "Pinoy Big Brother," Salvacion drew a wide fanbase whom she endearingly calls her "sunshines."

(MNS)

Miles Ocampo talks about recent surgery

MANILA -- After she revealed her recent thyroid surgery on ABSCBN's "Magandang Buhay," Miles Ocampo shared more details about her health ordeal.

In an Instagram post where she shared snaps from the hospital, Ocampo said what prompted her decision to have her thyroid removed was her doctors' discovery that she had Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

"For someone who's afraid of needles, I feel like it was endless blood tests, ultrasound to biopsy, then the decision to remove it ASAP. We found out it was Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma," the 25-year-old actress said.

"I had to undergo Thyroidectomy surgery to remove my thyroid glands. It all happened in an instant."

According to WebMD, Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma is the most common type of cancer that can affect one's thyroid. The condition is most common in women under age 40, the medical site noted.

What led Ocampo to seek medical help was when she hadn't felt her "normal self" beginning late last year.

Ocampo recalled she had to wake up in the middle of the night because she couldn't breathe, adding she had gotten tired "so easily... para akong palaging hapong-hapo and sinasakal."

The actress shared she was then "so frustrated" about gaining weight.

But a month after the operation, Ocampo said she's embracing her journey.

She thanked her doctors, family, colleagues in showbiz, and her partner for their support from the medical checkups to her recovery.

"To my family: mama, papa, kuya, chochoy for checking on me, thank you making sure I am not alone during those times, Mahal ko po kayo," she said.

"To my Luiz, I couldn’t have done any of this without you. Thank you for encouraging me to face my fears with doctors and hospital, to prioritize myself and to love myself. Thank you for being my strongest support."

Ocampo added: "You are not alone. Sending my love to everyone. Love and prioritize yourself."

She concluded her post by telling her followers to always be kind.

"With or without any health conditions, no to body shaming. Be kind. Always. Please."

Ocampo said she is set to have one last procedure. "After that, maintenance na lang for life," she said. (MNS)

Tim Julius O. Sto. Tomas graduated Cum Laude with a Degree in Bachelo of Science in Accountancy at the Divine Word College of Legazpi City, Legazpi City, Philippines sometime in April 2009. Tim is the eldest son of Tirso O. Sto. Tomas, a retired policeman his wife, Mila Odiver, a retired public elementary teacher in Pio Duran, Albay. Tim is a full-time employee working as Tax Accountant at Shell Shared Services while studying law at Arellano University - College of Law. He passed the November 2022 Bar Exam. He is married to pretty cute Asleah E. Palawan-Sto. Tomas with two children, a girl and a boy. Your relatives here in the USA especially your Tita Jesusa "Suzette" O. Sto. Tomas is so proud of your accomplishments. More power and success to you and your family.