(This was the last message that Fr. Amado “Picx” Picardal posted on his social media page at 7:37 a.m. on 29 May 2024, about five hours before he collapsed and died in Busay, Cebu City.) CEBU CITY (MindaNews / 29
In recent years machines have been invented and developed that are apparently smarter or more intelligent than people. There is a lot of talk nowadays about generative Artificial Intelligence or AI. What is AI and what are the benefits and
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Mt 16:24 As we once again celebrate the paschal mystery – the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus – our thoughts usually focus
(MindaNews / 1 November) – A blessed Feast of All Saints to all! For whom do we celebrate this feast today? I believe this is not primarily for the canonized saints who have their own individual feast day. This is
ROME (MindaNews / 24 April) — As the elections draw near many are anxious about what will happen after the winner of the presidential race is announced. Whoever wins will have an impact on the country for the next six
ROME (MindaNews / 21 September) — On September 15, 2021 the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court gave authorization to the Office of the Prosecutor to launch a full investigation on the charge of crimes against humanity for
I am a voice of the voiceless – the over 1,400 murdered in a phony war in Davao waged by the mayor and his death squad. I am a voice of the voiceless – the over 30,000 and their families
April 18, 2020 Greetings from Rome. Still surviving five weeks of lockdown. The number of cases in Italy has reached 168,941 with 22,170 fatalities; 109 priests died of the virus – mostly in the north. I am praying fervently for
ROME (MindaNews / 1 April) – Greetings from Rome. First a bit of good news. The number of new cases (4,050 today) has been coming down for the past three days, and if this trend continues we may have reached
Greetings from Rome. The lockdown continues as the numbers of casualties continue to rise: 80,589 cases, 10,361 recovered, 8,215 dead (including 66 priests and 1 bishop). Compared to the Philippines that’s catastrophic but don’t rejoice – on the 1st week
ROME (MindaNews / 27 March) — Greetings from Rome. We are still on lockdown (over 31,000 cases and 2,500 dead including 10 priests and 1 nun in Italy). Some Suggestions on Living under COVID-19 lockdown. Most of us have been
Can my vote make a difference? This is the question that those who will be voting this coming elections often ask. The answer is: yes, of course. It may be one vote but when added together will either plunge this nation deeper into a crisis or shed light amidst the darkness.
Two weeks ago (August 11), I almost became a victim of extrajudicial killing and the fourth priest to be killed under the Duterte Regime had I stuck to my routine. For over four months, I have been living a quiet
(Pre-departure statement of Redemptorist priest Amado L. Picardal on March 14, 2018, start of his 16-day “Bike for Life and Peace” journey from Baclaran in Metro Manila to Iligan City in Mindanao). Today, here at the Shrine of Our Mother
The bullet-riddled corpses sprawl on the sidewalks, the dark alleys or inside the shanties waiting to be laid to rest in public cemeteries or dumped in common graves. The inconsolable widows & orphans or shocked fathers and mothers cannot not
I’ve been trying to understand the nature of addiction. The most helpful, so far, is a book written by Dr. Gabor Mate – In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounter with Addiction. Here’s a poem I wrote based on
(Excerpts from the talk given by Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR during the Human Rights Day celebration of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) held in Cotabato City on December 10. The forum was organized by the Regional Commission on
We Who Mourn* You mourn for the loss of the 44 who perished in our cornfields. We, too, mourn not only for them but for our dead: 18 Mujahideens, a little girl and four other civilians caught in the crossfire.
BACLARAN (MindaNews/23 Jan) — In his welcome address to Pope Francis in Malacanang a week ago (Jan. 16, 2015), President Benigno Aquino III paid tribute to courage of the clergy during Martial Law and for vividly living up to
BACLARAN (MindaNews/15 January) — Finally, Pope Francis is here. A grand welcome has been prepared for him by both the Philippine Church and the government. Why is he really here? What is the purpose of his visit? No one really
(Pre-departure Statement of Fr. Amado L. Picardal aka Fr. Picx, who will bike from Baclaran to Iligan City starting December 10 in what he calls a “Climate Ride. ”) BACLARAN (MindaNews/08 December) — From December 10 to 23, 2014, I
Redemptorist priest Amado Picardal, who is on a 56-day journey around the country, never made it to the main gate of Malacanang last Sunday morning.
When the vehicles of television networks GMA 7 and ABC were stopped at a checkpoint, a soldier approached Picardal, also Dean of Academics at the St. Alphonsus Theologate in Davao City, and asked if I was the biking priest. When I told him that I would like to deliver the letter to the president, he told us back down.”
(Redemptorist priest Amado “Picx” L. Picardal, who is on a 56-day bike journey around the country “for life and peace” arrived in Baclaran Church at 4 p.m. April 6, en route to his northern Luzon leg.
He left Davao City on Easter Monday, March 24.
The entry below is from his blog, http://amadopicardal.blogspot.com / — MindaNews ed)
As usual I woke up early this morning to pray and to pack my bags. I celebrated the six o'clock mass with Fr. Nestor and his parochial vicar concelebrating. Some of the local bikers attended the mass. By 7:15 Fr. Nestor and the local bikers accompanied me to the pier where I got on the Supercat. I am deeply touched by the hospitality of Fr. Nestor who also paid for my boat ticket.
(Redemptorist priest Amado “Picx” L. Picardal, who is on a 56-day bike journey around the country “for life and peace” is now in Luzon and will be in Manila by April 6.
He left Davao City on Easter Monday, March 24 and has biked 968 kilometers until Calapan.
The entries below are from his blog, http://amadopicardal.blogspot.com/ — MindaNews ed)
Day 10, April 2: Iloilo-Kalibo
At 6:10 this morning, my Irish Redemptorist confreres saw us off in front of the St. Clement's Church. Seven Iloilo cyclists turned up to bike with me. Patrick was also biking his last leg with me. A police patrol car led the way, followed by a pick-up car with Fr. Ryan taking pictures. A support vehicle followed us with Fr. Pat Sugrue inside. One of the Iloilo bikers who joined is Dr. Ramon Mirasol, a 71 year old dentist who told me that he was diagnosed with a heart disease 28 years ago and he decided to take up biking to cure his ailment. I told him that I, too, had myocardial ischemia last year and my biking has strengthened my heart. Yes, I am biking for my life also.
(Redemptorist priest Amado “Picx” L. Picardal, who is on a 56-day bike journey around the country “for life and peace” is now in Iloilo en route to Kalibo and will be in Manila by April 6.
He left Davao City on Easter Monday, March 24 and has biked for 740 kilometers until Bacolod City.
Fr. Amado “Picx” L. Picardal, CssR, is on a 56-day journey around the country. The entries below are from his blog, http://amadopicardal.blogspot.com/ — MindaNews ed)
Days 7 & 8, March 30-31: Dumaguete-Kabankalan-Bacolod
At 6:15 yesterday morning, I left Dumaguete with Patrick and 25 members of the Negros Oriental Bikers Association (NOBA). This is a unique biking group which usually bikes for a cause (recently they biked for truth and accountability in response to the corruption scandal)
Days 4 & 5, March 27 and 28. Cagayan-Bohol-Cebu
Yesterday, after celebrating the five am mass, I had an early breakfast with Archbishop Ledesma. By 6:30 am I biked to the pier where I took the boat for Jagna.
The boat landed in Jagna at 1 pm. Mar Caballo, a biker friend from Bacleon, and his companion met at the pier and biked with me to Tagbilaran. It was an easy and pleasant bike-ride along a flat highway by the sea. We reached Tagbilaran after 5 pm (after biking 65 km) and proceeded to the bishop's residence beside the cathedral. I met Bishop Medroso during supper – he was very welcoming and supportive.
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, 26 March — At 6.30 this morning I continued my journey to Cagayan accompanied by 2 priests (Frs. Erap and Teting), 1 baptist pastor (Rev. Serino) and 7 other Malaybalay bikers of TREK-M.
MALAYBALAY CITY (25 March) — At 8:00 am yesterday (March 24), we gathered at the archbishop's residence (in Davao City) for the press conference and send off. After giving my departure statement, Archbishop (Fernando) Capalla gave his blessing and I started my journey. There (were) 15 bikers who accompanied me for the first leg – (Cotabato Auxiliary) Bishop Colin Bagaforo and Fr. Armand of Cotabato, Fr. Pol and 5 bikers from Kidapawan, 4 diocesan priests from Davao and 3 local bikers.
PEACE TALK: Philippine Bike-Tour for Life and Peace: Preaching the Gospel of Life amidst the Culture of Death
By Fr. Amado L. Picardal, CSsR
(Copies of this departure statement were handed over to the journalists by Fr. Picardal near the gate of the Archbishop's Residence, before pedaling off with 12 other cyclists, among them a Bishop, on Easter Monday, 24 March)
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/24 March) — Today I begin my journey around the Philippine on a bicycle. I will be pedaling around 5,000 kilometers in 56 days – from Davao across Central and Western Visayas to the tip of Northern Luzon and traversing the Cordilleras on my way back to Davao through Southern Luzon, the Eastern Visayas and Eastern Mindanao. I will be biking the entire distance alone but I will be accompanied at times by local bikers as I pass their cities and towns.
