OPINION: Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco (Zamboanga City)

JESUS SAID: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

OPINION: Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco (Zamboanga City)

JESUS ASKED them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered Him, “No.” So Jesus said to them: “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple, whom Jesus loved, said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”

OPINION: Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco (Zamboanga City)

"I WAS hard pressed and was falling, but the LORD helped me. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my Savior. The joyful shout of victory in the tents of the just..."

OPINION: Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco (Zamboanga City)

EASTER SUNDAY, the Resurrection of the Lord. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad! My heart rejoices jubilantly for Jesus our Savior has Risen! Fr. Jomel Manalo exhorts: “Jesus won His battle victoriously! Jesus fought a good fight!”

OPINION: Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco (Zamboanga City)

THEY PROCLAIMED: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.” As we offer our palms to honor Jesus, our true Savior and King of our lives, may we reflect on His great love for humanity. In Isaiah 50:4-7 “the Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them.”

OPINION: Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco (Zamboanga City)

“I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus.” 

MAY THIS verse from Philippians inspire us to pursue our goals and persevere in life toward Jesus our ultimate goal.

OPINION: Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco (Zamboanga City)

“I SOUGHT the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” This psalm is a soothing, calming guide to me as we embark on this 9th Journey toward Public service: CAMPAIGN PERIOD FOR LOCAL CANDIDATES!

OPINION: Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco (Zamboanga City)

“I AM has sent me to you!” Moses notices the burning bush and listens to God’s call.

OPINION: Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco (Zamboanga City)

THE WORDS of God, the Father, orders us to listen to Jesus! Last week, I had to attend weddings and could not write my Sunday Reflection since the nuptial Eucharist and reception entail presence.

OPINION: Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco (Zamboanga City)

THE FIRST Reading speaks about Perseverance amidst tribulations with the gift of fortitude to be resilient!   

OPINION: Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco (Zamboanga City)

“Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is the LORD.”

THE FIRST Reading is connected to the Gospel. From the Reflections of Fr. Ben Y. Sim, S.J., the poor are described as lacking in influence, those who have little or no voice in society, those who lack material possessions, and those who are totally dependent on God. In the context of the Beatitudes in the Gospel, to be poor in Spirit means total trust and reliance in God alone.

OPINION: Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco (Zamboanga City)

‘In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.’

TODAY’s Psalm is a realization of what transpired in office. We were distributing vitamins to all the offices of the City Government, then came the Engineer’s Office and a literal “Angel” came and whispered God’s seal of consolation.

OPINION: Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco (Zamboanga City)

THE SECOND reading defines Love. Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, it is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. “It does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices with the TRUTH.”

OPINION: Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco (Zamboanga City)

“THE SPIRIT of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord,” Jesus reads this in the synagogue. 

OPINION: Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco (Zamboanga City)

TODAY’S READINGS are special for the Church in the Philippines as we celebrated 500 years of Christianity last year. In my recent visits to Cebu, I would find time to visit the Sto. Niño and in a few seconds offer fervent prayers.

OPINION: Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco

‘The Baptism of the Lord’

“YOU ARE my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” This wonderful recognition of God the Father on Jesus is an affirmation which gave the Lord strength in his public ministry all the way to the crucifixion.

OPINION: Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco (Zamboanga City)

‘Peace’ 

JOHN WENT throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah - A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

OPINION: Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco (Zamboanga City)

NOVEMBER 14 is my Uncle Cesar Climaco’s 37th Death Anniversary. And 8 years ago, another Mayor Climaco was assassinated, Arsenio; and on October 12, Randy Climaco of Tungawan town in Zamboanga Sibugay province. Three Mayor Climacos gunned down! The risks of the job is real, but this does not deter us from service to do God’s mission! I was wondering what Uncle Cesar’s relevance would be to me as Mayor in this pandemic time?

OPINION: Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco (Zamboanga City)

‘GOD’S PROVIDENTIAL coincidence?’ 

I always believe in Kairos, Qadar, God’s Perfect Timing. After attending the Beautiful Mass of the Holy Spirit for the ADZU MEDICAL SCHOOL LEVEL 1 till Batch 2026, we sought the Holy Spirit to guide our Ignatian doctors.  Dr. Dulce Amor Dagalea Miravite was an alumna, who celebrated her birthday with the Eucharistic celebration. Thanks to Boya De Los Santos who invited us and Fr. Koko, S.J., who echoed Jesus as the Divine Healer. 

OPINION: Sunday Reflection by Zamboanga Mayor Beng Climaco

“FEAR THE LORD, your God!” This is taken from the Old Testament. “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.