June 2026 – Page 6 – Darem Placer

What We Can Be Thankful for About the Philippines in 2026

Looking beyond the headlines, there are still many reasons to appreciate life in the Philippines today.

It is easy to focus on problems. Every country has them. The Philippines has them too.

But there are also many things worth being thankful for.

• We live in a free country. We can speak, learn, create, vote, and practice our faith freely.

• We are surrounded by relatives, friends, and communities that support us through life’s challenges.

• When disasters happen, we often help one another by sharing food, donating supplies, volunteering, and helping neighbors rebuild.

• We have more opportunities today than ever before. Technology, education, and English have opened doors that many earlier generations never had.

• We have a rich culture. Our food, languages, stories, music, and traditions make the Philippines unique.

• We have beautiful places. Beaches, mountains, forests, rivers, and islands remind us that nature is one of our greatest treasures.

• We are creative and resourceful. We are known for music, art, storytelling, and finding ways to solve problems.

• We are growing up in a time of peace rather than war or foreign occupation.

Perhaps the greatest reason to be thankful is this:

The Philippines we know today was built by countless people who came before us. It is not perfect. It never has been. But every generation has the chance to make it a little better than they found it.

The Philippines of tomorrow will be shaped by what we do today.

⌨ ᴛʸᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᴏᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʙˡᵘᵉ ᵈᵃʳᵉᵐ ᵐᵘˢⁱᶜ ᵇˡᵒᵍ

Saint John of Sahagun and the Hard Work of Making Peace

It is easy to choose a side. Building peace takes something far more difficult.

He was a priest in 15th-century Spain, a time when some family feuds lasted for years and violence often seemed easier than forgiveness.

Father John became known as a peacemaker. He defended the poor when they were treated unfairly. He confronted corruption even when powerful people did not appreciate his words. He also worked to reconcile families whose conflicts had divided communities for generations.

Helping people make peace is rarely as simple as asking them to shake hands and move on. Real peace requires truth, justice, and the courage to face wounds that have been left open for a long time.

Father John understood this. He did not ignore wrongdoing in the name of peace. Instead, he spoke honestly and helped people find a better path forward.

The challenges Father John faced still exist today. We may not be caught in medieval family feuds, but we see divisions everywhere. Friends stop talking. Families drift apart. Communities become trapped in arguments.

Saint John challenges us to become peacemakers ourselves. Sometimes that begins with a conversation, an apology, or a decision to stop carrying an old grudge.

The world needs fewer people who win arguments and more people who heal relationships.

Let’s keep learning the saints’ way—day by day.

⌨ ᴛʸᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᴏᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʙˡᵘᵉ ᵈᵃʳᵉᵐ ᵐᵘˢⁱᶜ ᵇˡᵒᵍ

A Peace of War • Darem Placer • Full album. Press play.