Dream Homes PH

25/10/2026

SHALLOW FAME AND NAME
By Fr. Jerry M. Orbos, SVD

A RABBI was once asked how he divided the collection he gets from his church services. “Oh that’s easy. After the service, I throw the collected money upwards. That which stays up there belongs to God. That which comes down belongs to me” was his short, smart reply!
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The Gospel today speaks about rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and rendering to God what is God’s. (Mt. 22:15-21) The fact is that everything belongs to God. Even our very life comes from God. But we often think we can outsmart Him when we leave Him out of our lives. We often do not render unto Him what is His, and appropriate for ourselves the time, the talents, the treasures which He has given unto us. Do not ever think that you can manipulate God, or outsmart Him. He has the final say. He holds the final accounting. So, when will you stop playing God in your life, and allow God to be God?
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There are some people who are so selfish and so self-centered. They have no sense of giving. Only getting. They actually believe that unto them only belong the power, the fame, honor and the name. Like this one person I met at a party once. For five minutes or so he kept talking about himself, his achievements, his opinions, etc. I just kept quiet and listened. After a while, he noticed how he was monopolizing the conversation, so he said “How about you Father Orbos? What do you think...about me and about what I just said?” Wow! For some people, it’s just I, me and myself all the way!
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The ability to go beyond oneself and not to grab anything for oneself is what we surely need in our country today. I spent four years as a missionary in South Korea, and I admire the discipline they have as a people and their strong sense of nationalism. “URI NARA”—our country—is a constant refrain on the lips of everyone young or old. In the Philippines, we talk or think much in terms of our family, our clan, our company, but hardly about our country. We will never have a better Philippines unless and until we learn to really sacrifice for our country and for our common good. Let us go beyond personal fame and name, and render to God, and to others what belongs to them.
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It is autumn now in Korea. It is a beautiful time of the year when the rice fields are ready for harvest and the trees are laden with fruits. The Koreans have a beautiful custom of not harvesting everything in the fields and leaving some fruits in the trees so that the animals and the birds will have something to eat when the cold winter sets in. Yes, let us render unto nature what is nature’s. Let us take care of our land, our natural resources. Let us be considerate of Mother Nature, and she will be there for us and for the children, long after we are gone.
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It is disgusting and sickening to hear lying politicians and government leaders spill out their convenient truths before the public. What I have noticed is that they are getting better and bolder all the time, and somehow they seem to get away with it. Truth indeed has become such a lonely word. Justice has become so selective, and public service has become so anemic. This is a simple case of God being left out, and gospel values being evicted in order to uphold what is profitable and convenient.
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The greatest enemy of commitment is that which is convenient. When values are gone, then anything is possible. Remove God from the picture, then even the frame collapses. Remove God from the heart, from the family, from a nation and from the world, then there will be chaos, disorder and confusion. At this point, let us all ask ourselves: Am I an instrument of God’s truth, or am I an instrument of my selfish dreams and schemes?
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By the way, someone once asked about the difference between a politician and a statesman. A statesman thinks he belongs to the country, while a politician believes that the country belongs to him. Elsewhere, I also read that a statesman is one who works for the good of the nation, while a politician is one who works for the next election. Wanted, more statesmen (women) in our country!
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The whole world belongs to God, and we must render unto Him what belongs to Him. Today is World Mission Sunday. Please pray for all our missionaries all over the world and continue to support them. They have left home, country and family, braving deprivation, loneliness, and even persecutions “out there” to proclaim the Kingdom of God. We too, “in here” must do our share, and do our mission, wherever God has placed us.

“Precious is the life given for the mission.” (St. Arnold Janssen, SVD)
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A moment with the Lord: Lord, more than fame and name, help me to seek to do Your will in everything. Amen.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

24/10/2026

GUMAMELA POTENTIAL🌺

A hot-water extract made from gumamela flowers was found to trigger cell death in laboratory-grown breast cancer cells, including those from a type of breast cancer that can be particularly difficult to treat.

The researchers used flowers from Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, commonly known in the Philippines as gumamela. They ground the flowers into powder and extracted the material using water at 60°C for three hours. The mixture was then filtered, frozen, freeze-dried, and prepared at measured concentrations for laboratory testing.

The extract was tested on two human breast cancer cell lines. One was estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer, while the other was triple-negative breast cancer, a subtype that lacks three common treatment targets and can be more challenging to treat.

In both cell lines, the extract induced apoptosis, a natural process of programmed cell death. The researchers also observed that higher concentrations of the extract generally resulted in greater cancer-cell death.

When tested on normal human skin cells, the extract caused little to no cell death at concentrations that had significant effects on the breast cancer cells. This suggests a degree of selectivity under the laboratory conditions, although it does not establish that the extract is safe for use in humans.

The researchers also examined how the extract interacted with chemotherapy drugs. When combined with Taxol or cisplatin, it increased cancer-cell death in the triple-negative breast cancer cell line compared with treatment using those drugs alone. The same improvement was not observed in the estrogen-receptor-positive cell line.

The findings were published in May 2019 in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine by researchers from the University of Windsor in Canada.

The experiments were conducted on cells grown in a laboratory, not on cancer patients or animals. While the results suggest that gumamela flowers contain substances worth investigating, they do not establish that the plant can prevent, treat, or cure breast cancer in humans.

The hot-water extract was also a specially processed laboratory preparation, not ordinary gumamela tea. Drinking boiled gumamela flowers has not been shown to produce the same effects, and herbal preparations should not replace prescribed cancer treatments. People undergoing cancer treatment should consult their doctors before taking herbal products because some may interfere with their medications.

Further research is needed to identify the substances responsible for the observed effects and determine whether they could eventually have a safe and effective medical application.

13/10/2026

Need a stay that feels like HOME, but better? 🏡

Welcome to DIMORA RAPHAEL, where cozy comfort meets hotel-like convenience! Enjoy 2 bedrooms, a hot shower, 200 Mbps Wi-Fi, and Netflix for your relaxing getaway. 💚👩‍❤️‍👨

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12/10/2026

Wake up to nature 🌳🌲🏔️
Where everyday is like vacation. ⛳️

Come home to West Highlands Golf Estates, where you can build your dream home here in Butuan 🌆

Message or contact Rowena at 0912.326.7766

11/10/2026

"Never lose hope. Waiting might be long but when God say it's time, it's time." - Fr. Jerry

04/10/2026

NO ENEMIES

The story is told about a priest who was preaching about loving one's enemies.

When he asked the gathered faithful who among them had plenty of enemies, no hand was raised.

When he asked who among them had a few enemies, a few raised their hands.

When he asked who among them had no enemies, an old parishioner raised his hand.

When the priest asked him why, he said, "Father, I am 102 years old, and all my enemies are dead."

A MOMENT WITH THE LORD
Lord, help us to be a blessing to others as we journey through life. Amen.

A MOMENT WITH THE LORD
"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

27/09/2026

SAN SEBASTIAN MOMENTS

Sitting at the back of San Sebastian Church after a wedding, my thoughts went back to the time when I was an elementary school student in San Sebastian College, and I would spend some moments in the church while waiting for Papa in a worn-down jeep to fetch me from school. I remember, too, how I would drop whatever extra coins I had from my allowance in a box that had a "For the Poor" sign.

I never imagined that someday I would be saying Mass in that church. I am filled with gratitude to my parents who taught me about values and about God, and who always told me to live a meaningful life. Papa and Mama, thank you, with all my heart, for lessons of faith and generosity.

A MOMENT WITH THE LORD
Lord, thank You for heartwarming memories and meaningful moments. Amen.

A MOMENT WITH THE WORD
"I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart." Psalm 9:1

20/09/2026

20/09/2026

His plans are always greater than ours.🙏

06/09/2026

"Do not let the past disturb you. Leave everything in the Sacred Heart of Jesus and begin again with joy." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta