Since he returned to the White House, US President Donald Trump made it clear that common sense and clarity will return to American life starting from the top. In his latest move, Trump formally ended the “Transgender for Everybody” insanity of the Democrats and this means dismantling the subversive woke policies that harmed children, women and families. The latest executive move is also about restoring decency in America as we know it.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the White House announcement. Some parts in boldface…
Two years ago today, the Biden Administration desecrated Easter Sunday with a “transgender” message that elevated radical leftist ideology over faith, family, and biological truth. This Easter season, the Trump Administration is celebrating a decisive victory: the swift and unrelenting dismantling of subversive, woke policies that endangered children, eroded women’s rights, assaulted common sense, and dragged America toward moral and cultural decline.
Under President Trump, the era of government-sanctioned delusion is over:
President Trump declared it the official policy of the U.S. Government that there are only two immutable sexes: male and female.
President Trump banned federal funding, sponsorship, or promotion of the chemical and surgical mutilation of minors — protecting children from irreversible harm and directing agencies to defund institutions engaged in these practices.
As a result, more than three dozen health systems across the country — including Kaiser Permanente, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Children’s Minnesota, Denver Health, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Stanford Medicine, NYU Langone, and many others — announced they are stopping or suspending child mutilation programs.
The Trump Administration ended the un-American indoctrination of schoolchildren by terminating federal support for “gender ideology” and “equity” curricula — enforcing parental rights and putting states on notice to remove such content or lose funding.
President Trump ended the unfair, demeaning practice of forcing women to compete against biological men in sports — which resulted in both the NCAA and the International Olympic Committee, as well as multiple state high school athletics associations, to realign with biological reality.
The Department of War reinstated standards requiring service members to serve according to their biological sex, banned transgender individuals from military service where it conflicts with readiness and cohesion, and prohibited taxpayer funds for sex change procedures — restoring the military’s focus on excellence, not ideology.
The Department of Health and Human Services conducted a comprehensive review of so-called “gender-affirming care” and confirmed the lack of medical or scientific evidence supporting its irreversible effects on minors.
The Trump Administration — including across the Department of War and the Department of Veterans Affairs — ceased all funding for sex change surgeries and related procedures.
President Trump eliminated radical gender ideology from U.S. service academies and training programs.
President Trump directed enforcement to protect single-sex spaces designed for women and girls — including bathrooms, locker rooms, and shelters — based on biological sex.
The Trump Administration axed billions of dollars in grants that had been used by states to perpetuate radical gender ideology and related propaganda.
The Trump Administration ended the practice of allowing gender self-identification on federal documents — including passports — restoring biological sex as the sole basis for official records.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think President Trump and his administration executed enough reforms to restore decency and common sense in America? Are there many members of your family who allowed themselves to be consumed and even controlled by the LGBTQ mobs? Was there a significant increase of members of your local community who came out identifying themselves as transgender or non-binary individuals? Are the transgendered people in your local community openly supporting Palestinian terrorists and the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran?
While the Philippines continues to be active on attracting investments from around the world, it still has yet to wipe out the plague of corruption which remains a persistent challenge in the private and public sectors. That being said, the United States pointed to the corruption as a major barrier to trade and investment with the Philippines, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. This is not the first time America noticed Philippine corruption in relation to economics.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
The United States (US) has once again flagged corruption as a major barrier to trade and investment with the Philippines, as recent efforts to clean up regulatory and judicial processes have failed to yield positive results.
In this year’s National Trade Estimate (NTE) report, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) said corruption continues to be a “pervasive and longstanding problem” in doing business in the Philippines. The report was released on Tuesday, March 31.
This year, unlike last year’s NTE report, the USTR specifies that corruption remains a persistent challenge in both the private and public sectors.
“National and local government agencies, for example the Bureau of Customs (BOC), are beset with various corruption issues, including allegations of overt bribery,” it said.
The USTR said attempts by the BOC to address customs and corruption concerns continue to fall short, as reports of corruption and irregularities in customs processing remain widespread.
In particular, US businesses are complaining about incidents of undue and costly delays, irregularities in the valuation process, exhaustive inspection and testing of some products, and inconsistent assessment of fees.
The USTR also called out the “lack of transparency in judicial and regulatory processes,” which ultimately undermines efforts to address corruption.
The agency is urging the Philippine government to deal with corruption once and for all, warning that it may impact trade and investment flows between the two longtime allies.
“If left unchecked, bribery and corruption can negate market access gained through trade negotiations, frustrate broader reforms and economic stabilization programs, and undermine the foundations of the international trading system,” the USTR said.
Despite the Philippines’ efforts to strengthen its intellectual property (IP) protection and enforcement, the USTR said the US remains dissatisfied with “inconsistent enforcement activities.”
“Stakeholders report issues with online piracy and sales of counterfeit goods, including apparel, shoes, watches, jewelry, perfume, and electronics,” it said.
Issues involving counterfeiting and piracy led to the continued inclusion of Greenhills Shopping Center in the 2025 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy, or the USTR’s Notorious Markets List, released last month.
The government’s efforts to combat issues involving IP rights are weakened by the slow prosecution and conviction of cases, the USTR said.
Further, the USTR said that the US has concerns about the Philippines’ laws regarding the protection of internationally recognized labor rights, as well as the enforcement of labor laws.
The USTR noted that the Philippines currently does not have a ban on the importation of goods produced with forced or compulsory labor, which earlier prompted the agency to investigate the country along with 59 other economies.
Meanwhile, the agency also raised its objections to the country’s persistent problem with wildlife trafficking, which undercuts regulated trade in wildlife products and may lead to the contamination of global supply chains that would ultimately reach US consumers.
Without sufficient measures in place, the USTR said these market-distorting practices may weaken the trading relationship between the US and the Philippines.
“The Philippines has not entered into an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade with the US that includes commitments to address these distortions,” it said.
Philippine imports to the US, minus some exemptions, are subject to a 10-percent global tariff. This is lower than the 19-percent tariff imposed on such goods during the second half of last year.
Unlike countries that have negotiated tariff deals with the US, the Philippines remains at the whim of US President Donald Trump and his ever-unpredictable global trade agenda.
With the 2025 NTE report essentially shaping Trump’s tariff scheme last year, the USTR said the new 2026 report is no different, as it seeks to outline the US’ aim to rectify what it considers unfair trade practices of its trading partners.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the government of the Philippines consistently fell short on wiping out corruption and improving the many processes? Is the Philippines the least transparent nation in Southeast Asia when it comes to international trade and foreign investments? Do you think the deep corruption of the Philippines will become a major campaign issue in the 2028 Presidential, National and Local elections? Do you think the Philippines’ hosting of the ASEAN Summit will make Filipinos complete forget about corruption?
Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. This is the Holy Week special and I have below some selected videos for your faith in the Lord, for your enlightenment about Israel and more.
#1 Only Jesus Live Video By Hillsong Worship – This past February, Hillsong Worship posted a live worship music video of the song Only Jesus. The song emphasizes that through scripture, Lord Jesus is revealed as the risen King, seated on the throne, and exalted forever. The song will help lift you up spiritually to worship the Lord and the music video itself has been viewed over a million times. Enjoy the video below.
#2 Bless The Lord Lyric Video By New Life Music – Bless The Lord is an original worship song by New Life Music. The song is a reminder to the faithful to honor the Lord by blessing His name, praising Him with gladness and living on with uncompromising faith in Him. Watch and enjoy the lyric video of Bless The Lord below.
#3 The Love Of My Father Video By Planetshakers – The Love of My Father is a worship song from Planetshakers’ Open Door Live Album and it will remind you that God is our father and His love for the faithful (His children) is real, eternal and always holy. We live in an age in which more people in modern society have drifted away from the Lord because of worldliness and they were influenced by rabid feminists and gender activists who openly hate the patriarchy and hate the concept of fatherhood. As such, The Love of My Father is needed for our worship of the Lord and to deepen our relationship with Him. Lift yourselves up with the Planetshakers music video below.
#4 Teachings By Pastor Paul and Shoddy Chase – I encourage you all to deepen your faith in the Lord with the respective teachings of God’s Word led by Pastors Paul and Shoddy Chase. I personally attended their teachings on separate Sunday worship services at New Life Alabang. Grab your bible and notebooks, be ready to write something down and watch the videos below.
#5 Breakthroughs In The World – We live in a twisted and unpredictable world. No matter what happens, we must never let the dark forces separate us from the Lord. As such, we all need to pray to the Lord for protection, endurance and miracles. Within this twisted world we live in, there are indeed developments and good news that happened under the watch of the Lord. Learn what has been happening in the CBN News videos below.
#6 HolyLandSite Israel Videos – I have said it before and I will say it again. Israel is the land God designated to the Jewish people and He sent His only begotten Son Lord Jesus to them to save the lost and unsaved. Israel is the Holy Land and the many miracles and breakthroughs that happened there were recorded in the Holy Bible. Having toured Israel myself, I can clearly say that the Holy Bible came to life in front of me when I visited the holy sites.
In ending this Holy Week Special, I share with you the following scriptures from the Holy Bible.
Jesus answered him,
I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God.
John 3:3 (AMPC)
Grace and spiritual blessing be to you and [soul] peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah),
Who gave (yielded) Himself up [to atone] for our sins [and to save and sanctify us], in order to rescue and deliver us from this present wicked age and world order, in accordance with the will and purpose and plan of our God and Father—
To Him [be ascribed all] the glory through all the ages of the ages and the eternities of the eternities! Amen (so be it).
Galatians 1:3-5 (AMPC)
For God is one, and there is one Mediator between God and the sons of men—the true man, Jesus, the Anointed One.
1 Timothy 2:5 (TPT)
Thank you for your time. Always move forward with uncompromising faith in the Lord. Always remember that Lord Jesus is the hope of ALL nations as He is God’s son as well as the Anointed Mediator between the Heavenly Father and men. Also pray to the Lord to support Israel, its people and for the peace of Jerusalem.
Remember that God always loves the faithful and Lord Jesus is absolutely the hope of ALL nations!
Recently in General Santos City, elements of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) successfully apprehended three Pakistani nationals for violating immigration rules, according to the official announcement by the bureau. The BI agents were supported by the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police in the said city.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the announcement by the BI. Some parts in boldface…
The Bureau of Immigration (BI), through its intensified intelligence and enforcement operations under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen border control and uphold the rule of law, arrested three Pakistani nationals for immigration violations in General Santos City.
The operation forms part of the government’s broader efforts to protect local labor and ensure that foreign nationals comply with Philippine laws, in line with the President’s continued push for a secure and well-regulated immigration system.
The arrest was carried out on March 17 by operatives of the BI Intelligence Division–Mindanao Intelligence Task Group (MITG), in coordination with elements of the Philippine Army and the General Santos City Police Office, by virtue of a mission order.
Apprehended were Arslan Ali, 30, and Suleman Ali, 28, both Pakistani nationals, at a surplus vehicle display center located along Apopong National Highway, Barangay Sinawal, General Santos City. The two were found actively engaged in business operations despite lacking the appropriate work visas.
Initial investigation revealed that Arslan Ali had overstayed in the country for nearly five years and admitted to having a pending deportation case. Meanwhile, Suleman Ali was found to be holding a tourist visa.
A third foreign national, identified as Mudassar Miraj, was also encountered during the operation. Records showed that his 9(g) work visa had expired in February 2026, but claims he has a pending application for extension. He was also brought in for verification.
The arrested individuals face charges for violation of of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, as amended, for overstaying, and for engaging in gainful employment without the proper visa or permit.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you concerned that there could be a lot more Pakistani nationals in the Philippines who could be engaging in illegal activities? Have you ever wondered why were there visitors from Pakistan who overstayed in the country and even went as far as doing business operations? Do you think the Bureau of Immigration should work faster to find and arrest any remaining illegal aliens around the country?
For decades, Israel has long been the target of terrorists from the Middle East and also those from other parts of the world. Countless people died in acts of violence and destruction committed by the terrorists. Knowing this, the Knesset of Israel approved a bill that would legislate the death penalty for terrorists with the tally of 62 to 48, according to a news report by The Jerusalem Post.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of The Jerusalem Post. Some parts in boldface…
The Knesset plenum passed a law mandating the death penalty for terrorists in Israel in final readings on Monday evening. The bill passed with 62 lawmakers in favor, 48 against, and one abstained.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the Knesset to vote in favor of the controversial legislation, openly showing his support.
The bill, which was sponsored by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit Party, would, according to its proponents, act as a deterrent against terror and serve a measure of justice for victims of terrorism.
Ben-Gvir has pushed for the legislation since the start of his tenure as national security minister, repeatedly stating that its passage was a condition of Otzma Yehudit’s coalition agreement with Netanyahu.
Upon the bill’s passage, Ben-Gvir celebrated, stating, “Today, the State of Israel changes the rules of the game: anyone who murders Jews will no longer breathe freely or enjoy prison privileges.”
“This is a day of justice for the victims, a day of deterrence for the enemies. No more revolving doors for terrorists, only a clear decision. Those who choose terror choose death. Those who believe do not fear. The people of Israel live!” he added.
Discussions on the bill have been held in the plenum since morning, ahead of its second and third readings. The bill passed its first reading in November 2025 and has been debated in the Knesset National Security Committee since then.
The updated outline of the bill proposes that executions for terrorists would be carried out by hanging, implemented by the Israel Prison Service. The bill stipulates that a terrorist who intentionally kills a person as part of an act of terrorism will be sentenced to death.
From the outset, Ben-Gvir wanted an automatic death penalty for terrorism convictions, and that was the outline passed in the first reading. The revised version stipulates that a judge would decide between capital punishment and life in prison.
Terrorists from the West Bank, however, would still get the automatic death penalty, barring specific appeals.
The legislation has undergone several changes in recent weeks to soften some of its technical aspects, following criticism that certain provisions were too harsh or unrealistic.
The bill had also originally proposed carrying out executions by lethal injection before switching to hanging. Under the current outline, the execution would be carried out within a defined time frame of up to 90 days from the date of the sentence.
Strong opposition to the bill has also come from lawmakers within the Arab parties in the Knesset. Ben-Gvir has clashed with them on numerous occasions as the bill was being developed.
Yisrael Beytenu Party leader Avigdor Liberman voted in favor of the bill after his stance had been unclear. On Sunday, it was reported that his party would only vote in favor of the bill if Netanyahu and Arye Deri, leader of the Shas Party, arrived to vote.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) stated that he opposed the bill during remarks at the plenum. “What is on the Knesset table here is not a law. It is a distorted public-relations stunt, cynically using the justifiable pain and anger of Israeli citizens for political gain,” he said.
Blue and White Party leader Benny Gantz also voted against the bill.
The haredi Sephardic Shas Party stated on Monday that it would vote in favor of the death penalty bill at the directive of the Council of Torah Sages, after various changes were made to it.
Content of the death penalty bill – Representatives from several Jewish human rights organizations have attended multiple committee discussions, voicing opposition to the bill on ethical grounds.
After the Knesset National Security Committee advanced the bill last week for its final readings, Ben-Gvir called it a “historic moment of justice” and vowed to “continue to lead an uncompromising policy against terrorism.”
The Knesset committee has held marathon discussions on the bill to advance it rapidly, with the discussions continuing amid the war. Opposition lawmakers have sharply criticized the coalition for advancing controversial legislation unrelated to the war during Operation Roaring Lion.
MK Zvika Fogel (Otzma Yehudit) opened remarks at the plenum on the bill on Monday, saying that “This law is not about revenge or rage, but about the responsibility of a state towards its citizens, the responsibility of leadership towards human life.“
For other updates about what has been going lately in the Middle East, watch the YouTube news videos below.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the approved death penalty bill for terrorists has been long overdue? Do you know anyone who was killed by Islamic terrorists?
As the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran made passage through the Strait of Hormuz tremendously difficult, tremendous economic disruptions connected with oil shipments negatively impacted economies around the world. For Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the only long-term solution to the Hormuz crisis is the rerouting of pipes westward across Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, according to a news report by The Jerusalem Post.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of The Jerusalem Post. Some parts in boldface…
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said that a long-term solution to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz would include the construction of pipelines that would carry the Gulf state’s oil and gas to the Mediterranean.
“Long-term solutions include rerouting energy pipelines westward, across Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea and Mediterranean, bypassing Iran’s geographic choke point,” Netanyahu explained in an interview with conservative US media outlet Newsmax.
Currently, the Strait is one of the main chokepoints in the energy market, with 20% of global oil exports passing through it.
While Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman have territorial waters in the Strait, the presence of Iran on the other side of Hormuz has made it vulnerable, with the Islamic regime having the capabilities of threatening global energy markets by attacking ships that go through the Strait.
This has been Iran’s main strategy during the current war, alongside its missile attacks towards Israel and the Gulf States. Netanyahu noted that, while a military solution might offer short-term stability, a deal that eliminates the strategic importance of the Strait might be the best route long-term.
‘Beyond halfway point’: Netanyahu avoids giving precise end date to war – Netanyahu also said in the interview with Newsmax that the war with Iran is “beyond its halfway point,” although he avoided giving a precise end date for the war.
“We’re beyond the halfway point in terms of mission success,” Netanyahu said, adding that the IDF’s current focus is on destroying the remaining nuclear capabilities of the Iranian regime.
“We’ve already degraded their missile capabilities, destroyed factories, and eliminated key nuclear scientists,” he explained, warning that Iran is “pursuing nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them to American cities. That’s what this war is about, preventing that outcome.”
Netanyahu also pointed out that the regime was able to attack the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean, with this being Iran’s longest strike and a demonstration that their missiles could reach almost any country in the region, including most of Europe.
“It wasn’t an intercontinental missile, but it’s getting there, about 4,000 km. That puts much of Europe within range,” Netanyahu pointed out.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you agree with Prime Minister Netanyahu about rerouting pipes westward to the Mediterranean as the main solution to the choke point of the Strait of Hormuz?
As the armed conflict in the Middle East continues to cause economic disruptions, hiked oil prices and impact international air travel, luxury hotels in Thailand have been cutting down their prices as a way to deal with the slowdown on tourism, according to a news report of VnExpress.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…
Luxury hotels across Thailand, the second largest economy in Southeast Asia, are rolling out deep discounts to attract domestic travelers as international arrivals weaken due to disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict.
Thai residents and expatriates are being offered discounts of up to 70% at five-star hotels, where nightly rates can typically reach US$1,000, Bloomberg reported.
At Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, one of the capital’s most iconic riverside properties, rooms are now priced below $300 per night. In southern Thailand, a luxury resort overlooking the dramatic limestone cliffs of Railay Beach is offering stays from around $430 per night, roughly half its usual rate.
The steep promotions come as flight cancellations and airspace closures tied to the conflict in Iran disrupt key Europe-Asia travel routes, making journeys to Thailand more complex and costly.
Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism fears a loss of 596,000 visitors and 40.9 billion baht ($1.29 billion) in revenues if the conflict drags on for more than eight weeks.
Phangnga Province has already seen a sharp decline in European arrivals and estimates losses at nearly 1.7 billion baht ($52.3 million), according to its hotel association, Bangkok Post reported.
Authorities are also preparing contingency measures to offset any decline in arrivals from long-haul markets including Europe and the U.S. Thailand experienced a tourism downturn last year amid a combination of kidnapping incidents, flooding and border conflict.
The country is aiming to attract 37 million foreign visitors this year, a projected increase of more than 11% from 2025 but that target is increasingly at risk.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Does the discounting of room rates by luxury hotels in Thailand entice you to visit them? How long do you think the slump of tourism will last?
Recently in the City of Parañaque, the local police successfully pulled off a buy-bust operation that resulted in three suspects arrested and the seizure of illegal substances worth P102,000, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
Operatives of the Parañaque City Police Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) arrested three drug suspects and seized shabu worth P102,000 in a buy-bust operation early Wednesday, March 26.
Col. Nicolas Pinon, Parañaque City Police chief, identified the suspects as Wowie, 51; Miguel, 20; and Alex, 50. They were apprehended at around 1:51 a.m. on Pelaez Street in Barangay San Dionisio, Parañaque City.
Pinon said the suspects were on the police watchlist for illegal drug activities.
An undercover police officer acting as a poseur-buyer was able to transact with the suspects for the purchase of shabu, which led to their arrest. Authorities confiscated about 15 grams of shabu worth P102,000, along with the buy-bust money.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you thankful to the police for their successful operation that captured the drug suspects?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
As the joint military operations against the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran continues, the Trump administration is considering a possible military operation to seize Iranian uranium and prevent the regime from developing nuclear weapons, according to a news report by Newsmax. Keep in mind that the Trump administration is having negotiations with Iran.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Newsmax. Some parts in boldface…
President Donald Trump is weighing a potential military operation to seize nearly 1,000 pounds of uranium from Iran, a high-risk mission that could place U.S. troops in the country for an extended period, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.
U.S. officials told the Journal that Trump has not made a final decision but remains open to the idea as part of his broader goal of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
The proposed operation would be complex and dangerous, potentially requiring American forces to operate on the ground in Iran for days or longer. Officials said Trump is considering the risks to U.S. personnel before moving forward.
At the same time, the president is pushing for a diplomatic solution, urging advisers to press Iran to hand over the uranium as a condition for ending the conflict.
According to the report, Trump has made clear in private discussions that Iran cannot retain the material and has raised the possibility of taking it by force if negotiations fail.
Regional powers, including Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt, have been acting as intermediaries between Washington and Tehran. However, direct negotiations between the U.S. and Iran have not taken place.
“It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the commander-in-chief maximum optionality. It does not mean the president has made a decision,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
The Pentagon declined to comment, and U.S. Central Command did not provide a statement.
Before U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last June, Iran was believed to possess more than 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, and nearly 200 kilograms enriched to 20% — material that can be further refined into weapons-grade fuel.
International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi has indicated that much of the uranium is likely stored at key sites, including an underground tunnel at the Isfahan nuclear complex and another cache at Natanz.
For other updates about what has been going lately in the Middle East, watch the YouTube news videos below.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think President Trump will decide to start a military operation to seize Iranian uranium very soon? Do you think the United States can compel Iran to surrender the uranium they have? Do you think NATO has any concerns about Iran having the capability of developing nuclear weapons?
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from my personal experiences and observations during the Israel pilgrimage tour I joined and what happened during my free time. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back, readers and fellow followers of the Lord! This is the 11th chapter of my ongoing series of articles about the holy nation of Israel with recollections about the experiences and discoveries I had during the pilgrimage tour I joined with my local church (hosted by strategic partner Behold Israel) in 2023. To see my previous Israel tour articles, click here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here. No matter what happens in this unpredictable and chaotic world we live in, I will always stand with Israel and my faith in the Lord remains uncompromising!
In this latest edition of my Israel 2023 series, I share with you what I experienced when I visited Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem not once but twice. Also referred to as the Wailing Wall, the Western Wall is a very holy site and is one of the most definitive places to be in with regards to worshiping the Lord.
For starters, I share with you the very video I recorded about my first time ever to arrive at the Western Wall Plaza (note: I was with my pilgrimage tour group companions, our pastors and our hard-working local tour guide) as well as my first-ever approach (starts at 2:01 in the video) to the Western Wall itself. It’s a video of more than three minutes and it’s available for public viewing via YouTube. Watch the video below and pay attention to the details closely.
As you can see in the above video, I stopped recording before entering the perimeter to get closer to the Western Wall. What happened after was my personal discovery and my personal sensing of the Lord’s presence.
About The Western Wall
To put things in perspective, the Western Wall is a retaining wall which was part of the Temple Mount expansion that King Herod (Herod the Great) did in around 19 BC. It is one of the four supporting walls of the Temple Mount which remained intact after the destruction of the Second Jewish Temple many decades later. Above it is the Temple Mount already.
Historically, the First Jewish Temple was built on the top of Mount Moriah during the time of King Solomon. The temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. In 19 BC, King Herod started rebuilding a new temple and this includes enlarging the Temple Mount platform a lot which made it 1,575 feet long and 985 feet wide. Herod had ten thousand men working and trained a thousand priests to work on the most sacred parts of the Second Jewish Temple.
The construction was done after several years but the decoration was completed in 64 AD. Six years after the Second Jewish Temple was fully completed, the Romans destroyed it but the western side of the Temple Mount survived. This happened in 70 AD, long after Lord Jesus conquered death and ascended to Heaven.
At the part of the Western Wall near the corner of the Southern Wall is this area that was massively damaged when the Romans destroyed the Second Jewish Temple. Several huge rocks that fell from above during the 70 AD destruction have remained.
The Western Wall faces westward and it is the closest in proximity to the site of the Holy of Holies, the most sacred location in the Temple for the Jewish people. Be aware that Mount Moriah is the same exact mountain where Abraham almost sacrificed his son Isaac before God sent the angel to intervene and provided the ram as the sacrifice.
For centuries, the Western Wall became a great source of influence and inspiration. It became the focus of yearning and prayer for the Jewish people for countless generations. The open-air section of the Western Wall serves as a place of worshipping the Lord and it is officially a synagogue. Apart from worship, the Western Wall keeps the memory of the Jewish Temples alive and it has also been used by the State of Israel for formal ceremonies. For centuries, pilgrims from around world came to the wall to pray and leave written noted in its ancient stones.
Physically, the Western Wall is 488 meters long and the height of the exposed section reaches a height of 40 meters above the bedrock of the eastern hill of Jerusalem (Mount Moriah). The open-air section of the wall (visible to the Prayer Plaza) is comprised of 46 layers of stone and the very large stones (that many are able to touch) were put in place during the time of King Herod (Second Jewish Temple period).
My First Visit – February 13, 2023
The widest shot of the Western Wall I managed to take during my first-ever visit.
After recording the video, I placed my smartphone into my pocket, entered the worship area and gradually made my way to the wall.
With my Holy Bible in my left hand, I touched the Western Wall with my right hand and started spending quality timewith the Lord God, praying to Him. With all my heart, I expressed my thanks and dedication to Lord Jesus there at the wall. I also prayed in support of Israel and the peace of Jerusalem.
Each moment I had there, I truly felt God’s presence and I did not confuse it with the wall’s visual magnificence. As I prayed, I felt the unction from the Lord to open my eyes and look straight up at the blue sky above knowing that He is spiritual, and He is in Heaven. The Lord is not inside the stones of the wall but in His Kingdom. That said, I did not worship the stones (reminder: idolatry is foolish and unholy) as I directed my worship directly to the Lord knowing He is in Heaven.
Many people praying at the wall touching it. There were others who did the same while standing or seating on a chair. In the lower-left corner of the picture is Wilson’s Arch which leads into the indoor synagogue.
Partly seen in the background is the fence that separates the men from the women. Above everyone at the right is the platform leading to Temple Mount.
The men’s side on the left and women’s side on the right. More of the high platform leading to the Temple Mount.
Because we only had fifteen minutes to spend as our tour group had a schedule to follow, I wisely spent time to praising and honoring the Lord. Let me remind you all that Lord Jesus will someday return and He will fulfill His promise. He will return in Israel and Jerusalem will be His destination.
After praying to Him, I spent the remaining minutes looking around and observing. I was surrounded by Ultra-Orthodox Jews, National Religious Jews, rabbis, tourists and Christians. I witnessed the religious rituals and practices of the Jewish people and I know deep inside that the ties between Jews and Christians are biblical.
As I walked out to rejoin my pilgrimage tour group, I took shot of the women’s area of the Western Wall.
The whole area is indeed sacred and that means visitors should be respectful and should practice decency near the Western Wall. People praying to God are to be respected and when there are many others praying while touching the wall, you will really have to wait for your turn. Be mindful that the Lord is always watching you as there is simply no reason to cause disrespect, playing around and causing trouble at the Western Wall.
When my fifteen minutes ran out, I went to the exit to rejoin my tour group.
My Second Visit – February 15, 2023
I took this shot of the Western Wall after making my way through from the Temple Mount.
Two days later, it was our tour group’s one and only rest day. After having a really early breakfast at our hotel, I marched to the Old City of Jerusalem and visited the Temple Mount for the first time ever. After spending time up there, I took the exit and made my way down to return to the Western Wall.
Once again I took time touching the wall and praying to the Lord and expressing my thanks to Him with a lot of heart. After several minutes, I took a seat to pray to Him while resting my legs. Then I noticed a North American man (who looked so much like Hillsong Church’s Phil Dooley) with the Holy Bible at one end of the fence (separating the men and the women) by the wall facing at the other direction (his back on the wall). He preached the Word of God and asked the Lord to save everyone. What he said reminded me that God has a plan for everyone, including the Jews (His chosen people) and there is still time for the lost and unsaved to realize Jesus as the Lord and the Savior of all.
My hand touching the Western Wall. I spent much more time praying to the Lord during my 2nd visit there.
After I was done praying by the wall, I decided to visit Wilson’s Arch as I was so curious why a lot of people had been entering and exiting it. It turned out to be Western Wall tunnel (with an arch area) and inside was a synagogue where there lots of Jews read the Old Testament, the Torah and pray. At the entrance/exit, a Jewish rabbi invited me in and assured me that foreigners and non-Jews were welcome. So I went in and he showed some parts of the indoor synagogue.
As it was a place of worship by the Jews, I was cautious moving inside and spending time observing. Carefully I only took a few photos for this feature article and it was astonishing to see more of the Western Wall indoors. Not only that, it was impressive to see the arches – including those huge stones above our heads – and it turns out they were constructed during Herod’s time and without any cement at all. There were also lots of shelves of books on both sides.
I took this shot during my short visit inside the Western Wall tunnel.
See those huge stones above everyone? Those were put into place during the time of King Herod and no cement was ever used. It is amazing to see as it was constructed without any of the modern construction technologies of today.
The Western Wall tunnel synagogue is one of the holiest synagogues in Israel due to its proximity to where the First Jewish Temple was wherein the Holy of Holies resided.
The indoor synagogue is one of the holiest synagogues in Israel due to its proximity to where the original Jewish Temple was wherein the Holy of Holies resided. Since it was my plan to revisit the Upper Room and visit both King David’s Tomb and Oskar Schindler’s grave, I eventually left the Western Wall tunnel. Before tracing my way back to the Jewish Quarter (where we visited two days prior), I took one last look back at the Western Wall. I intend to revisit it and spend quality time with the Lord there again in the future.
Biblical Significance
While it is a fact that the Western Wall was not explicitly mentioned in the Holy Bible, it has always been part of the Temple Mount since Herod’s time. To put things in perspective, we need to go back to the time when King Solomon dedicated the First Temple asking God to hear the prayers made toward it. Learn from the holy scriptures below.
that Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place. And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive.
1 Kings 8:29-30 (NKJV)
“Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for Your name’s sake (for they will hear of Your great name and Your strong hand and Your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this temple, hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name.
1 Kings 8:41-43 (NKJV)
The First Jewish Temple eventually got destroyed by the Babylonians. Centuries later, Herod executed the massive rebuilding of the Temple (Second Jewish Temple) in Jerusalem as well as the expansion of the Temple Mount itself. What was achieved drew reactions from many people who saw it and there were references of such reactions in the New Testament. For insight, read the scriptures below.
Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!”
Mark 13:1 (NKJV)
Then the Jews replied, It took forty-six years to build this temple (sanctuary), and will You raise it up in three days?
John 2:20 (AMPC)
To be clear, the forty-six years mentioned in John 2:20 refers to the massive renovation and the expansion of the Second Jewish Temple.
Long before the Second Temple got destroyed, Lord Jesus prophesied its destruction. By the time Lord Jesus made the prophesy, He was already rejected by the religious Jews. Those people refused to accept Him as their Messiah and they had disobeyed God as a result. Lord Jesus wept for Jerusalem knowing that suffering and destruction would come and it happened in 70 AD. Learn from the scriptures below.
Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying,
“If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
Luke 19:41-44 (NKJV)
Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them,
“Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
Matthew 24:1-2 (NKJV)
As it is very clear that God always has a plan for the faithful and His chosen people, it was prophesied that He would bring the Jews (scattered around the world) back to Israel in the last days. This prophecy was fulfilled in May 1948 when the modern State of Israel was formally established and a lot of Jews returned or settled in since then. Lord Jesus will return to us some time in the future and there is time for the Jews to accept Him as their Messiah, to repent and submit to Him. The other lost and unsaved people of the world still have opportunities to realize Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Very clearly, Lord Jesus is the hope of ALL nations! Learn from the scriptures below.
If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you. Then the Lord your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers.
Deuteronomy 30:4-5 (NKJV)
Jesus answered him,
“I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3 (AMP)
Beloved ones, let me repeat emphatically that the gospel entrusted to me was not given to me by any man. No one taught me this revelation, for it was given to me directly by the unveiling of Jesus Christ.
By now you have heard stories of how severely I harassed and persecuted Christians and how systematically I endeavored to destroy God’s church, all because of my radical devotion to the Jewish religion. My zeal and passion for the doctrines of Judaism distinguished me among my people, for I was far more advanced in my religious instruction than others my age.
But then God called me by his grace, and chose me from my birth to be his. He was pleased to unveil his Son in me so that I would proclaim him to the peoples of the world. After I had this encounter, I kept it a secret for some time, sharing it with no one. And I had no desire to run to Jerusalem and try to impress those who had become apostles before me. Instead, I withdrew into the Arabian Desert. Then I returned to Damascus, where I had first encountered Jesus.
Galatians 1:11-17 (TPT)
For He is [Himself] our peace (our bond of unity and harmony). He has made us both [Jew and Gentile] one [body], and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us,
By abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the enmity [caused by] the Law with its decrees and ordinances [which He annulled]; that He from the two might create in Himself one new man [one new quality of humanity out of the two], so making peace.
And [He designed] to reconcile to God both [Jew and Gentile, united] in a single body by means of His cross, thereby killing the mutual enmity and bringing the feud to an end.
And He came and preached the glad tidings of peace to you who were afar off and [peace] to those who were near.
For it is through Him that we both [whether far off or near] now have an introduction (access) by one [Holy] Spirit to the Father [so that we are able to approach Him].
Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens), but you now share citizenship with the saints (God’s own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself); and you belong to God’s [own] household.
You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone.
In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord].
In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God in (by, through) the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:14-22 (AMPC)
Conclusion
This was me during my first-ever Western Wall visit on February 13, 2023. I had The Passion Translation (TPT) Holy Bible with me. My thanks to the guy who took this picture for me.
My two visits to the Western Wall were very significant to me personally. As seen above, each visit has been different, new discoveries happened and I spent quality time with Lord. The place is holy and it is a must-visit for anyone going to Israel. If I ever visit Israel again, I would return to the Western Wall to praise, thank and honor the Lord. If you are a person of faith who is about to visit Israel for the first time, I urge you to visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Learn from my experiences. I also encourage you all to stand united in support of Israel, learn to love and bless the Jewish people, help the lost and unsaved come to Lord Jesus and always pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they prosper who love you [the Holy City]!
May peace be within your walls and prosperity within your palaces!
For my brethren and companions’ sake, I will now say, Peace be within you!
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek, inquire for, and require your good.
Psalm 122:6-9 (AMPC)
Israel is the holiest place to visit in the whole world! Visit Israel with the Holy Bible! Pray to the Lord wholeheartedly and reveal to Him your heart’s desire to visit Israel to deepen your faith in Him. Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus! Follow the light of Lord Jesus, keep on praying to support Israel, learn to love and bless the Jewish people and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Watch out for more Israel 2023 travel articles here. There is more to come! Thank you for reading.
Author Carlo Carrasco 