Was Saint Paul a Celibate Catholic Priest?

 

Posted by Dr. Taylor Marshall 

The Protestant Reformers claimed Saint Paul as their own. For Luther and Calvin, Paul was merely a preacher and minister with the title "Apostle." The Protestantsclaimed that Paul taught salvation by faith alone, scripture alone, that the sacraments were not infallibly operable, that the Eucharist was not a propitiatory sacrifice, that celibacy was an abuse, and that the sacerdotal priesthood was a false invention of the Catholic Church.

And yet when we read the pages of Saint Paul's epistles, we find a man who spoke of losing the grace salvation ("you have fallen from grace" Gal 5:4). We find a man who's sacramental theology is as realist as it gets. His discussions of the Eucharist involve discerning the Lord's body and he uses sacrificial language at least twice when discussing the Eucharist. Notably, the most obvious and powerful exhortation to celibacy is found in his 1 Corinthians. He even refers to himself as a priest (Rom 15:16 - see the Greek if you have a Protestant translation).

All this shows that Saint Paul was a celibate Catholic priest. He even called himself "Father" a number of times. For example:

“For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, by the gospel, I have begotten you.” (1 Corinthians 4:15, D-R)

Saint Paul was a celibate Catholic padre and he knew it. Today as we remember and venerate Saint Paul and Saint Peter we should reflect on how the Catholic priesthood was lived by these two great Apostles. They spent themselves entirely for the sake of Christ and His Church.

Mag-Aso Falls: When in Negros Occidental

Written By
Yvette Sol Pineda

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When in Manila, and in the province of Negros Occidental in particular, the summer  is like no other! Mine started with a surprise invitation from my elder sister and her family last March 31, 2012.  There is always a first time for all of us, as the saying goes. That is why, I am so grateful I had the chance to visit Mag-Aso Falls for the first time.

 Mag-Aso Falls is one of the tourist interests of the City of Kabankalan.  It is located at the southern part of Negros Occidental.  From the capital city , the City of Smiles (Bacolod City), you will spend a travel time of more than two hours on the road.  However, it is worth the while when you reached the resort because of  the unique ambiance it presented as soon as you arrive.   

The following are the features of how the resort look like, to wit:

The entrance

The guests’ area

The cottages

  

The swimming pool with its flowing water from the spring.

A hundred and more steps down to reach the water falls.

 

The refreshing turquoise water of Mag-Aso falls! 

The entire cool view of the area.

Up close with the local divers.

          

When in Manila, there are famous resorts that are world-reknown but this  Mag-Aso Falls on this side of our province is worth a visit, too, when you are looking for a place away from the noise and traffic of the city not to mention a not-so-congested resort to relax with.  You may contact the City Government of Kabankalan under its City Economic Enterprises Development & Management Office at telephone no. (034) 471-2441.

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate needs.

Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City for only P12,000.00/month with its own parking lot. Hurry while the supply of units last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown below. Tel. Nos. (032)555-8464/09164422611/09173378637

The Interesting History of Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Our Lady of Perpetual Help (or of Perpetual Succour) is a Byzantine icon from the late middle ages and has resided in Rome since the late 1400s. The Eastern Catholics call it "Holy Theotokos of the Passion." The image depicts the Blessed Virgin Mary wearing a blue mantle and veil. On the left side is the Archangel Michael, carrying the lance and sponge of the crucifixion of Jesus. On the right is the Archangel Gabriel carrying the cross and nails. The Christchild rests in her arms and looks intently at the cross. Tradition states that the icon memorializes an occasion in which the young Christ awoke from a dream in which He saw the instruments of His passion. Mary comforted Him, but remained solemn since she knew that that the dream was a portent of her Son's future passion. The icon brilliantly captures both the reality of the incarnation and the reality of the crucifixion of Christ in one single image that mystically links the events to Mary - who was present for each. The icon was brought to Rome by a pious merchant, who desired that the picture should be exposed in a church for public veneration. It was exposed in the church of San Matteo, Via Merulana, between St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran. The rascally French invaded Rome in 1812 and destroyed the church - and the icon disappeared. In 1865, the icon was rediscovered to the joy of many. Pope Pius IX as a boy had prayed before the icon in the church of San Matteo before it was lost during the French invasion. Pius IX took great interest when the icon was finally rediscovered - since he had been especially devoted to it. He subsequently approved a liturgical feast in commemoration of the icon. The Redemptorists especially revered the image for its profound spiritual meaning. Today it is one of the most popular images of Our Lady and it is one of the few images that is universally revered in every rite of the Catholic Church - East to West. Feast Day: June 27

Spanish-Filipino Fusion Cuisine Just Outside Manila

Spanish-Filipino Fusion Cuisine Just Outside Manila

Written By
Isabel Rodriguez

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Great places and food finds are not only to be found, When In Manila.

Cavite’s Paradiso Terrestre, “the biggest and finest events venue in the South”, is home to Spanish-Filipino restaurant Via Romana.

A 15-20 minute drive from Alabang through Daang Hari will get you to Paradiso Terrestre. Just outside of the city, this is perfect venue for any event, gathering, or, in our case, a quick escape from the city.

Parradiso Terrestre has 6 available event venues, and their own pools. Guest rooms and suites are also available for those who seek longer retreats. Aside from all these amenities, Paradiso Terrestre also has their own mini plantation in the compound. These same organic greens are then harvested and served by their restaurants.

Also under Paradiso Terrestre‘s friendly staff and excellent management is Via Romana. A restaurant which offers a dining experience different from those usually found in the area,Via Romana gives diners that fine dining experience in a more relaxed setting.

Established in 2007 with the rest of the Paradiso Terrestre estate, Via Romana has just been renovated and reopened to give their patrons an even better experience.

Via Romana’s new menu combines old favorites with new Spanish-Filipino fushion dishes.

One such favorite is the Paradiso House Salad. Freshly grown organic lettuce topped with cheese, mangoes, cucumbers, and bacon, served with the choice between their Thousand Island Dressing or Balsamic Vinaigrette.

The Feta Cheese and Aubergine in Filo Salad is one of the new additions. Inside the filo bread wrap,  the most glorious mix of eggplant and feta awaits. The tomato and pesto sauce perfectly compliment the dish, a definite favorite from my Via Romana experience.

One of the definite bestsellers is the Pancit de Paradiso. Take out orders for this pancit in bilao’s fill the restaurant’s order queue and I understood why when I finally tried it. Definitely better that a lot of pancit dishes I’ve had in the past.

 

The Oyster Trio Sauces are oysters baked and topped with ingredients. There are 3 different types– the the ones with spinach and green bell pepper, a group with parsley and parmesan, and a batch with white wine and tomato sauce. Although I usually prefer my oysters raw with just a little bit of lemon, I found the ones with parmesan delightful. The oysters were baked just right.

Another one of my favorites would be the Crispy Kare Kare. The marriage of two most ordered dishes in the restaurant has resulted into this wonderful dish. The combination has brought out the best in both worlds, the undeniable crispness and texture of the Crispy Pata and the flavor of the Kare Kare.

The Barbeque Short Ribs is another new addition. The sauce is a little sweet, great even for kids.

 

What is Spanish food without Paella? Via Romana’s Paella ala Paradiso.

The Legua Con Setas is divine. The tender meat topped with shiitake mushrooms gave this lengua dish an extra kick to it.

 

For desert, Turon de Paradiso was served. An amazing turon concoction with lanka and ube served with ube ice cream and strawberry syrup. And though ube and ube ice cream was something I never enjoyed, this well prepared desert taught me that there’s always a first time for everything.

 

Yes, I ate half of this desert. I would’ve finished it too, if I didn’t have those other 6 dishes.

The group that ate all that food, with Shyanethe Maarat of Paradiso Terrestre.

A meal that was most certainly one for the books, Via Romana serves good Filipino-Spanish fusion cuisine. And then after that wonderful meal, wouldn’t it be most convenient to take time and relax in Paradiso Terrestre? Yes, perhaps I make this my game plan for the next time I visit.

Make sure that you don’t explore food and places only When In Manila. Expand your world and you just might find hidden gems such as this. Visit Paradiso Terrestre’s Via Romana.

And they cater, too!

 

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To join, just Retweet this:

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When in Cebu City please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate needs.

Parradiso Terrestre

(02) 584-4127 / (046) 477-1097 / 0920-9383707
www.theparadisoterretsre.com

Wildlife tour India – an exciting journey through wildlife sanctuaries When In India

When In India, taking the glorious glimpses of the royal beasts in the jungle very closely and experiencing the pleasure of living those creatures in a natural habitat is such a rewarding moment. As an animal lover you must be enthusiastically thinking of some adventurous activities that may allow you such exciting experiences. India is the only land in the world that encompasses this wholesome experience of encountering the deadly variant creatures very closely. The India wildlife tour offers different safari experiences to the tourists to watch the deadly creatures at its amazing jungles and wild reserves. These wild reserves have been particularly established for the welfare and preservation of the extinguishing wild species from earth. Additionally such attractive reserves are the perfect reasons for special wildlife holidays India that attracts thousands of national and international vacationers to the various parts of this unparalleled land of wild beings. Let us find some of the incredible wildlife reserves that embellish and promote the wildlife tour India: Corbett National Park Considered as the first National Park in India, the Corbett Park is one of the most popular reserves in India that invades large varieties of flora and fauna at its soothing and attractive surroundings. Earlier known as Hailey National Park, this wild reserve came forward with a new name as Jim Corbett National Park in the honor of the legendary hunter turned conservationist in 1956. The Corbett reserve is located in the Himalayan foothills in Uttaranchal state and is elevated at an altitude of 365 m – 1100 m above the sea level. Ranthambore National Park Ranthambore National Park is one of the largest national parks in India situated in Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern Rajasthan. In 1955 it was being established as Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary by the Government of India and was declared as one of the Project Tiger Reserves in 1973. Tigers can be found in abundant in this area and one can find them even in day time freely roaming at the surroundings. An elephant and jeep safari can be the perfect mediums to watch these majestic predators in the Ranthambore jungle. Kaziranga National Park The eastern part of India proudly holds the large variety of carnivorous animals in the Kaziranga National Park in Assam. The Kaziranga National Park is famous for one horned rhinoceros, Hoolock Gibbons and wild buffalo in Golaghat and Nagaon district of Assam covering an area of 430 sq km. The landscape of Kaziranga is simply amazing and thus one can find a wide variety of animals in its vicinity. Along with that the tourists can enjoy various interesting activities including bird watching, elephant and jeep safari. Bandhavgarh National Park Bandhavgarh National Park is widely spread in Vindhya hills in Madhya Pradesh by covering the core area of 105 sq km and the buffer zone of 400 sq km. The topography of this reserve varies between steep ridges, undulating, forest and open meadows. Bandhavgarh is famous for the highest density of the Royal Bengal Tigers in India. Earlier the location was the hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa but nowadays it is the famous hub for attractive white tigers. The tourists can enjoy the soothing environment, vast landscapes and close encounters of a variety of wild animals including royal Bengal tigers and white tigers. When In India, a visit to such lovely wild reserves will really be a fascinating experience. Wildlife holidays India will definitely bring remembering and outstanding experiences for animal and nature lovers.

Why should I go to Wellington? 7 Reasons why YOU should visit New Zealand’s Capital

I moved to Wellington about four months ago. To this day, I can’t actually think what drove me to come here. I’m originally from the UK, so it’s not like New Zealand was right on my doorstep. However, one day I got on a plane and, after a few months pottering around the rest of the country, Wellington is where I eventually settled. Not a day goes by when I’m not glad to be here.

When in Manila, some of you might be thinking, ‘Why the heck should I go to Wellington?’

Well, here’s my list of reasons to spend some time in New Zealand’s coolest little capital.


1. It’s pretty. No, scratch that. It’s Beautiful. Wellington is enclosed by rolling hills, and surrounded by crystal blue water. I’m not even exaggerating: look below.

 

Try: Braving the climb up Mount Victoria on a sunny day. Trust me; the views are worth it. You can even see the South Island on a clear day. Take a picnic and make an afternoon of it. it’s where I look the above photo.

2. It’s friendly. NZedders are renowned for being a chilled out bunch of dudes and dudettes, and the ones who reside in Wellington are no different. People smile at you over shop counters, and offer help willingly if you need it. They’re interested in you and where you came from, and are happy to share stories over a cold pint of lager.

Try: Pub Quiz at the Green Man, Corner of Willesden and Victoria Streets. A great way to make friends and have a yarn on a Monday night.

3. The nightlife is awesome. It’s true. Don’t let the size of this capital deceive you; Wellingtonians know how to party. Courtenay Place on a Friday and Saturday night is nothing short of rambunctious, with music blasting out of the many clubs and bars and a festival atmosphere on the street. If a quieter night is more your thing, there are plenty of other well-stocked bars on tamer streets, so you’ll never be short of somewhere to go.

Try: Matterhorn Bar, Cuba Street. Voted best bar in the country and a great vibe. Hashigo Zake on Taranaki Street is also a personal favourite of mine, and offers a mind-boggling selection of brews and amazing Umeshu (Japanese plum wine).

4. It’s artsy. This also. In the day time, if you’re not too hungover from a night spent on Coutenay Place, there is SO much to see and do in this city, and mostly at cheap prices. There’s a whole ton of art galleries you can mosey your around in, or you can just sit and listen to the vast array of buskers and street performers on Cuba Street. Also, why not take a trip to the theatre?  I recently went to see a production at Bats Theatre, and it really was impressive.

Try: The Medicine stand up comedy, at Meow on Te Aro Street. Fine comedians, 2 hours of comedy, and a great setting. What more could you ask for at 5 bucks a pop?

5. The shopping is great. High Street chains on Manners and Willis street. Funky independent stores on Cuba street. High End boutiques on Lambton Quay. Whatever your shopping style, Wellington definitely caters for it. You can pick up some awesome bargains, too.I got some nifty little ankle boots from High Street store Cotton On the other day, and they only cost NZ$15!

Try: JayJays for cheap fashion, and Typo for luscious stationery. Both have stores on Manners Street.

Typo goodies

6. The food is even better than the shopping. New Zealand is a melting pot of so many races and cultures, and this really shows up in the food that’s on offer. Japanese, Thai, Turkish, Indian… it’s all here, and there are some great authentic little restaurants.

Try: Pan De Muerto Mexican Restaurant on Kent Terrace. Authentic Mexican cuisine, great cocktails, and $5 tequila shots on Saturday nights. Perfection.

7. It’s relatively cheap to stay here. Maybe I’m just used to London, but I find that Wellington is surprisingly gentle on the purse-strings. I stayed at a number of backpacker hostels when I first arrived, all offering rooms at around NZ$27 a night. New World and Pac n’ Save supermarkets sell your staple foods at low prices, and watch out for countless cheap drinks deals at the student bars around town.

Try: Downtown Backpackers, Bunny Street. Conveniently close to the shops and train station, and a huge list of activities on offer. Dorms start at $25 per night.

So there we have it; I hope I’ve managed to convince you that Wellington really is worth a visit.

When in Manila, if you want to go to Wellington, all you need to do is apply for a visa!

Mount Pulag Mountain Travel Guide: Walk on the Clouds

When In Manila, more and more people are heading out into the mountains and beaches of our beautiful jewel of the Pacific. Whether you just want to reinvigorate your senses in the cool air of Tagaytay or Baguio (not so much the latter as of late, thanks to SM and rampant, unregulated development), or unwind and soak up some rays on the white sands of Palawan or Boracay, or if you’re an adrenaline junkie and want to learn to ride some waves in La Union, Baler or Siargao, or wakeboard in CamSur or dive in Anilao, or challenge yourself in the caves of Sagada…there’s something for everyone. It truly is more fun in the Philippines! For this post, I’ll be providing you with the first mountain travel guide here on WhenInManila.com. I joined a group of first-timers to conquer the second highest peak in the Philippines: Mount Pulag. To start off, it’s time to get prepared like a proper boy scout. What You’ll Need: Watherproof clothes: A jacket that will protect you from the cold, as well as a raincoat. Weather is unpredictable so you have to be prepared. Gloves, extra socks, leggings/thermal underwear, a scarf/beanie (unless you have a high tolerance for cold, you need these). Packs: North Face’s Flight series comes with a pull out rain cover which is essential for keeping your pack dry. Columbia also has good day packs. If you’re on a budget, just borrow, or get Tribu, Sandugo or Conqueror which are cost effective and of good quality. The Gear  A good pair of trekking/hiking shoes. Again, North Face, Columbia, Timberland have good selections. Sandugo and Tribu are also good if you’re on a budget but still want quality and durability. Energy bars: Something to keep you going during the hours and hours of hiking. Water: Nothing like good old H20. Don’t need to bring more than a 1 or 2L thermos or platypus as there are fresh mountain springs to refill with along the way. Nalgene and Columbia thermoses are shatterproof. Headlamp: For the dawn hike to the summit. You’ll need your hands, but a flashlight will also do. Food: Bring it packed (you can buy packed lunches on the way up to the Ranger’s Station) or ready to eat/cook. Of course, to cook you’ll need to bring a portable stove, utensils, etc. Bring for dinner and breakfast. A tent and a sleeping bag: Good tents and sleeping bags by Coleman, although I’m sure there are a lot of other good ones there, these are just the ones I used. An earthbed is also recommended (although I didn’t have one) because the cold really seeps in from the ground. Money: About Php3000 for transport, food, porters (optional), park fees. Where You’re Going: To reach the summit, you have a choice of two routes: the Ambangeg or Akiki trail. For beginners, the Ambangeg trail is recommended. It’s this trail that our wussy group took. Ambangeg/Babadac Trail This is the well established and considered the main or “celebrity” trail going to Mt. Pulag. Vehicles can negotiate the trail all the way to the Ranger Station which is the entire Ambangeg Trail. Still others can choose to hike the entire trail. The DENR office and the Ranger station are located along the trail, a few meters from the park entrance. From there, the Mt. Pulag base camp is a 4-km hike along the well-paved trails with a convenient rest stop waiting shed. From the base camp, the summit is just a 45-90 minute hike away. source  Pulag Mountain Travel Guide: 5a breakfast stop at Jollibee Session Road Akiki Trail The Akiki trail is a more challenging route to Mt. Pulag, dubbed as the “Killer Trail” by mountaineers because of its steep slopes. It requires 10-11 hours to reach the summit from this trail, whose up-and-down paths pass by Eddet River (2 hours) where one can camp, rest, and bathe, and continuing across steep, scenic pine-covered slopes to what is dubbed as Marlboro Country (4-hours), so-called because its brown, wide landscapes evoke those seen in the cigarette commercials. Just like the other trails to Pulag, this trail would then pass by the montane forest (3 hours) until reach the grassland area. After the challenging trek, the summit views are rewarding, and the saddle campsite affords a closer access to the summit, being just 15 minutes away. source  Pulag Mountain Travel Guide: Orientation at the Pulag National Park DENR Station  Getting There: 2100: Meet up at Victory Liner station at EDSA Cubao Day 1 0400: Arrive at Baguio City. Have breakfast then hire a jeepney. You can see a group of them waiting outside the Victory Liner terminal. Round trip is about P700 per head.  Pulag Mountain Travel Guide: Other mountaineering groups commemorate their ascent of Pulag by leaving their IDs and team banners at the DENR Station on the way down. 0800: En route to Kabayan, Benguet. Stop over at Ambuklao Dam for sightseeing. There’s also a food stop where you can take an early lunch or have a pack lunch to take with you. 0900: Orientation at the Mount Pulag National Park DENR station. 1400: Arrive at the Ranger’s Station. This is the jump-off point for the hike for poser mountaineers like myself. Before there were jeepneys running these trails, people would hike from the DENR station! We had a late lunch here, and as it had started to rain, you can also buy some trash bags for less than Php20 since some in our group didn’t have raincoats.  Pulag Mountain Travel Guide: My pack’s not heavy at all. Really. 1700: Arrive at the camp site! 1800: Dinner of cheese, bread, dried pork, and would you believe, carbonara? 2000: Lights out.  Pulag Mountain Travel Guide: The bigger the tent, the more bodies you can pack in it to generate more body heat (at night, temperatures drop to as low as -4°C!) Spot our giant tent which can hold six. 0300: Wake up and hike for an hour and a half in pitch darkness to the summit. The Payoff:  Pulag Mountain Travel Guide: Summit sunrise above the clouds!  Pulag Mountain Travel Guide: Aching body, sweating and freezing at the same time, lacking sleep, no breakfast. This is what victory tastes like!    Pulag Mountain Travel Guide: Jump shots are mandatory (and not lame) at this altitude! After enduring the freezing bus ride, getting our brains rattled inside a jeepney for a few hours, the cold, the fatigue, the hunger and thirst, the seemingly endless trek up steep rocky inclines, at one point the motorcycle I hitched I ride on wiped out when it hit a patch of mud, and not to mention the swarms of flies (these are from the mounds of fermenting cabbage which the locals leave alongside the road which they’ll later use as fertilizer for their crops–yes it smells pungent), you are scramble up that final few meters with all your might and are given something new. Sitting on the top of the mountain, higher than I’ve ever been before, with the air cleaner and fresher that I could ever imagine, with a thick blanket of clouds below me, I am greeted by a sunrise unlike any I’ve seen before. As the sky below me starts to glow and become suffused with color, and the sun peeks its golden crown and the first rays of sunlight touch my brow, all my weariness melts away. After a few minutes, the moment passes. You snap a few more photos and then head back down. Over twenty four hours (up and down) of hardship for a spectacle that lasts just a few minutes? It was totally worth it. When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.  Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City for only P12,000.00/month with its own parking lot. Hurry while the supply of units last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown below. Tel. Nos. (032)555-8464/09164422611/09173378637 Pulag Mountain Travel Guide: Enjoy a short video of the trip