分类： society

Nearly 9,000 kilometers from the original House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus, Turkey, a full-size, exact replica of the sacred shrine has opened its doors to pilgrims in the Catholic-majority nation of the Philippines. Inaugurated in early 2024, the site sits in a quiet field outside Alfonso, a small town in Cavite province roughly 70 kilometers south of the capital Manila, offering local devotees a accessible pilgrimage destination that has long required a costly trip across continents.

The project was spearheaded by Dennis Paez, a Catholic priest and psychologist who works with vulnerable youth. From the earliest planning stages, Paez framed the replica as far more than a copy of a historic sacred site: it was conceived to be a judgment-free place of refuge for people facing hardship, grief, or uncertainty. “The idea began as a place of refuge,” Paez explained. “This is a place where no questions are asked.” For Paez, who specializes in supporting young people navigating life struggles, the space fills a unique emotional and spiritual need. “There is no therapy here. The therapist is our Mother,” he said, referring to the Virgin Mary.

Construction of the 67-square-meter structure took roughly 10 months to complete, and mirrors every architectural detail of the original Ephesus site, from its overall dimensions and shape to the appearance of each individual stone. A particularly notable element of the build was the participation of workers from multiple different faith traditions across the Philippines — a reality Paez says embodies the unifying spirit of the site, demonstrating how the Virgin Mary brings people of all backgrounds together as one community.

Per long-held Catholic tradition, the original House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus is where Mary lived out her final years after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. According to religious lore, the apostle John brought Mary to the region to protect her from religious persecution in Jerusalem, and she remained there until her assumption into heaven. For centuries, the site has been one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage destinations in the world, drawing millions of visitors annually from across the globe.

The new replica fits seamlessly into the deep-rooted culture of Marian devotion that has defined Filipino Catholicism for more than 500 years. The Philippines is home to roughly 113 million people, nearly 80 percent of whom identify as Roman Catholic. Devotion to the Virgin Mary, widely referred to by Filipino faithful as the Blessed Mother, has been a core part of national religious life since Spanish colonizers introduced Christianity to the archipelago in the 16th century.

Religious historian Michael Delos Reyes notes that this devotion has taken on unique national meaning through key moments of modern Philippine history. Many Filipinos credit the Virgin Mary’s intercession for the peaceful 1986 People Power Revolution that ousted authoritarian president Ferdinand Marcos. When Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded, devastated the central city of Tacloban in 2013, survivors turned to the Blessed Mother as a source of hope and resilience amid overwhelming tragedy.

Deirdre de la Cruz, a professor of history and Southeast Asian studies at the University of Michigan, explains that Mary’s maternal identity is the core of her deep resonance in Filipino culture. “To Jesus through Mary” is a common phrase that sums up her central role in Filipino spiritual life, with believers turning to her to intercede on their behalf before God. “Her maternal dimension is what Filipinos find meaningful, as well as her power to intercede on believers’ behalf,” de la Cruz said. “As someone who is known to provide comfort, Mary is a very familiar figure and someone to whom one can appeal in difficult times.” This deep cultural attachment is visible across daily life: Marian images and rosaries are common fixtures in Filipino homes, private altars, vehicles, public transport, and community spaces across both urban and rural areas.

Inside the new Alfonso replica, donated Marian icons from across the country line the walls, with a statue of Mary modeled on the original Ephesus sculpture standing at the center, alongside a relic believed to be a fragment of the Virgin Mary’s veil. Most of the displayed icons were donated by Maritess Pineda, an art collector and Filipino culture advocate who had spent years building a private collection of Marian art, and welcomed the chance to give the collection a permanent public home at the new shrine.

For many local faithful who had already visited the original Ephesus site, the project felt like a calling to contribute. Rupert Suarez and his wife traveled to Turkey to visit the original House of the Virgin Mary years ago, and when they learned about plans to build a local replica, they immediately joined the project. “It’s so very blessed that we already have this replica built,” Suarez said.

Personal stories of comfort and renewal abound among early visitors. Daphne Oseña Paez, a recent pilgrim, said her devotion to Mary grew deeper in adulthood after a difficult high-risk pregnancy left her seeking spiritual refuge. “We don’t pray to Mary herself, but Mary intercedes for us,” she explained. “In my times of trouble, and I’ve had a lot, I really clung on to the love and comfort of her as a mother.”

Despite minimal public promotion since its 2024 inauguration, the shrine has already drawn a steady stream of pilgrims seeking refuge and connection. For Paez, this organic growth is no accident. “I don’t at all think that it is me bringing them,” Paez said. “It’s The Blessed Mother asking them, inviting them to come.”

After months of high-profile legal proceedings that spanned two Southeast Asian nations, an Indonesian court handed down guilty convictions this Tuesday to 19 members of a transnational baby trafficking syndicate, closing one chapter of a disturbing case but leaving a critical, human-centered question hanging in the balance: what will become of the dozens of infants trafficked for illegal adoption?

The syndicate, whose operations stretched from West Java to Singapore, was found to have trafficked at least 34 infants to sell through fraudulent adoption channels. Investigations confirm that at least 12 of those babies have already been placed with adoptive families in Singapore, a detail that has turned the case into a major bilateral controversy that has gripped public attention in both countries for months. Now, as the legal battle against the traffickers concludes, the unresolved status of the infants in Singapore has grown even more urgent, with anxious adoptive families waiting for clarity on whether they will be allowed to keep the children they have raised for years.

For David, a Singaporean adoptive parent who spoke to the BBC on condition of anonymity to protect his family, the months of waiting have been an unrelenting period of fear and uncertainty. “It’s been almost a year of fear and anxiety from waiting,” he said following the verdict. “Since the case is concluded, how can we move on and what will happen to our son? I sincerely hope that both authorities can come to a decision based on the best interests of the children. We respectfully ask that, in making this decision, consideration be given to the fact that both our son and our family are victims of the circumstances surrounding this case.”

David and his wife Ally insist they had no knowledge the child they adopted was trafficked, and say they completed all required background checks on their end, and passed multiple layers of vetting conducted by Singaporean government authorities before the adoption was approved. They maintain that those official screenings should have caught the fraudulent activity if proper protocols had been followed.

To date, neither the Indonesian nor Singaporean governments have issued a definitive public statement on their plans for the infants already in Singapore. Following Tuesday’s verdict, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the BBC that multiple key details remain under review, including the children’s legal status, the confirmed identities of their biological parents, and ongoing parallel proceedings in Singapore. The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to prioritizing “the best interests of the children” in any final decision, while Singaporean authorities have not yet responded to repeated requests for comment from the BBC.

Experts and child welfare advocates hold conflicting views on the proper outcome for the infants, highlighting the messy legal and ethical complexities of the unprecedented case. Ni Made Martini Puteri, a criminologist and lecturer at the University of Indonesia, notes that public data on the post-rescue outcomes of trafficked children within Indonesia is already extremely limited, with almost no existing precedent for how to handle children trafficked across international borders.

Indonesian anti-trafficking organizations and independent child rights groups have taken the firm stance that all trafficked children should be repatriated to Indonesia as a matter of principle. Ai Maryanti, a commissioner with Indonesia’s independent child protection commission, argued after the verdict that the children’s best interests have not been properly centered to date, because their true identities have still not been fully confirmed. She added that existing adoptions in Singapore should not be considered final, saying: “Of course, children who are victims of human trafficking must be returned. Even if they’re already adopted, what’s the legal basis for that? What we don’t want is Singapore saying that the adoptions complied with their law. According to our law, we found there was a high level of manipulation, resulting in Singapore easily accepting [the adoption applications].”

During the trial, investigators uncovered that the trafficking ring systematically created falsified identity documents for the infants: they listed ring members as the children’s birth mothers to obtain fraudulent birth certificates and official family registration cards from local Indonesian officials. The ease with which the syndicate obtained these legal documents has sparked widespread criticism and raised serious questions about regulatory oversight and the failure of local officials to conduct required background checks.

Legal experts in Singapore note that overturning the existing adoptions and repatriating the children would be an unprecedented and logistically complicated process, with no local precedent for revoking a finalized adoption order. Derek Choo, associate director at PKWA Law Practice, explained that Singapore’s adoption framework is built around extensive upfront safeguards, so finalized adoption orders are almost universally treated as irreversible.

Lim Fung Peen, a legal consultant at Yuen Law, outlined the key factors a Singaporean court would consider if authorities move to revoke the adoptions. One critical factor is the severe long-term psychological harm that could come from separating young children from the only caregivers they have ever known, a risk child psychologists have repeatedly warned about. The court would also weigh how long each child has lived in Singapore, the stability of their current home environment, and the conditions they would face if repatriated to Indonesia. Because the birth certificates underpinning the adoptions have already been confirmed as fraudulent, Lim added that courts could also rule the original adoption basis is legally questionable.

The infants were trafficked to Singapore between 2023 and 2025, meaning the oldest among them are already at least three years old, and have spent their entire lives with their Singaporean adoptive families. Compounding the complexity, Indonesian authorities have still not identified the biological parents of many of the trafficked infants, meaning some would have no family to return to even if repatriated, and would be placed in Indonesian state orphanage care. Eight other infants rescued from the same trafficking ring are already being cared for in an orphanage in Bandung.

Puteri, the University of Indonesia criminologist, argues that the unique circumstances of each child must guide the final decision. “Suppose a child is recognised as a trafficking victim and returned to Indonesia, but nobody here knows who the biological parents are because our evidentiary system is weak,” she explained. “I would argue that if the child has only known life in Singapore since infancy, then it makes more sense for the child to remain in Singapore with the adoptive parents. However, if the biological parents are later identified, the child should still have the right to know who they are.” She added that Singapore should extend official victim protection status to both the children and their unwitting adoptive parents, who themselves were victimized by the trafficking ring’s fraud.

For adoptive parents like David, the only goal is a swift resolution that gives their child the stability they need. “We only wish to live a normal family life, like any other couple hoping to raise a child in a safe, stable, and loving home,” David said. “We hope that this matter can now be brought to a resolution so that our son can move forward with certainty and security.”

In the quiet coastal town of Ogunquit, Maine, a viral community movement centered on six-foot-tall metal rooster sculptures has captured international attention, all launched to support a 6-year-old autistic girl and her deep connection to the giant decorative creations.

The story begins with Pyper LeBlanc, a young girl adopted by David and Sara LeBlanc after joining their family as a foster child. When Pyper first arrived, she brought with her a beloved stuffed rooster, and the bird quickly became her favorite animal. During a family trip to a local Tractor Supply Store last year, Pyper spotted a large metal rooster sculpture for sale and asked her father what the statue was “saying.” David jokingly replied, “I think he wants to come home,” and the family brought the rooster home with them.

Over time, the LeBlancs’ collection grew to more than two dozen giant roosters, which they rotated on their front lawn for seasonal and holiday displays. For Pyper, the roosters became far more than just yard decor: every morning while waiting for her school bus, she hides behind one of the giant statues, a routine that her parents say helps her regulate her emotions and navigate the transition from home to school. Comfort objects like these are widely recognized as beneficial for autistic children, explained Beverley Cush Evans, a special education professor at Lesley University, noting that familiar items support emotional regulation and create a sense of safety for neurodivergent youth during periods of change.

Conflict emerged earlier this year, however, when Ogunquit code enforcement officer Tyler McOsker ruled that the lawn roosters counted as unpermitted advertising for the LeBlancs’ adjacent restaurant, The Omelette Factory. After the couple added a rooster graphic to their restaurant logo and branded merchandise, the town classified the lawn sculptures as commercial signage. McOsker issued $450 in fines in April and ordered all roosters removed, citing a 2025 local newspaper article that described the statues as an unconventional way to advertise the restaurant’s opening. David LeBlanc pushed back against this characterization, explaining that the quote was a misinterpretation of a customer’s joke, and that the roosters existed solely for Pyper’s comfort, not business promotion. McOsker later told the Zoning Board of Appeals he had no awareness of the roosters’ connection to Pyper’s autism until the couple appealed the fines.

During a June zoning board meeting, some members raised questions about the necessity of the large collection, with one member asking for medical proof of the roosters’ benefit and questioning how many sculptures the family actually needed. Ultimately, the board ruled it did not have the authority to cancel the existing fines, but it approved a disability variance allowing the LeBlancs to keep two roosters on their property, with the caveat that the number would not be allowed to grow. The variance requires the roosters to be integrated into a home railing, however; since the family has so far only bolted the roosters to their front steps, they have been issued an additional $500 in fines for noncompliance.

Rather than fighting the ruling, David LeBlanc chose to reframe the situation, offering the extra roosters to community members who wanted to foster them as a show of support for Pyper and autism acceptance. What started as a local gesture quickly spread into a global movement, amplified by local news coverage and the *Roosters of Ogunquit* Facebook page. Giant roosters have now appeared on front lawns across southern Maine, from motel properties in nearby Wells to the grounds of Ogunquit’s Memorial Library. Support has even reached as far as New Zealand, where one supporter shared photos of his own family’s rooster display in solidarity.

Hetal Patel, owner of a motel in Wells who has a neurodivergent relative, was so moved by Pyper’s story that she drove all the way to New Hampshire to track down a rooster after local stock sold out. “We found the last one,” she said. “We couldn’t wait to put it out. People were so supportive, they were honking. It was so nice to see all the love for Pyper.”

LeBlanc says Pyper understands the silver lining of the conflict: “She understands that the roosters being taken away were the lemons, and Sam and his friends, fostering them, are the lemonade. It’s a beautiful thing.”

Fresh official monitoring data has uncovered a disturbing pattern of targeted violence and hostility against Muslim places of worship across the United Kingdom, with an average of one attack on a mosque recorded every five days over the past 12 months. The surge in anti-Muslim vitriol has sparked sharp criticism from Muslim community leaders, who argue the national government has failed to address the growing crisis with the urgency it demands.

The British Muslim Trust (BMT), the government’s official partner tasked with tracking and addressing anti-Muslim hatred, documented more than 70 separate attacks against mosques across the UK in the last year. These incidents span a wide spectrum of hate-fueled activity, ranging from physical violence, intimidation, and vandalism that damages community property, to in-person harassment, harmful hate speech, and sustained online abuse targeting worshippers and mosque leadership.

Geographic analysis of the data shows three regions bear the brunt of these attacks: London, Greater Manchester, and the West Midlands. London recorded nine distinct incidents targeting mosques, while one Birmingham-based mosque was attacked three separate times within a single 12-month window.

These localized attacks on places of worship align with broader national trends of rising anti-Muslim hostility. Official Home Office statistics confirm that recorded anti-Muslim hate crimes across England and Wales jumped 19% in the 12-month period ending March 2025. The total number of reported offences rose from 2,690 in the year ending March 2024 to 3,190 just one year later, marking one of the sharpest annual increases in recent years.

Akeela Ahmed, chief executive officer of the BMT, emphasized the steady upward trajectory of these attacks and called for more decisive government action. “We are seeing a steady rise in the number of attacks against mosques, and we believe the government should be doing everything it can to help mosques protect themselves,” Ahmed said.

In response to growing pressure, the UK government has committed up to £40 million (equivalent to $53 million) to fund security upgrades for mosques, Muslim faith schools, and Muslim community centers across the 2026-2027 funding cycle. Eligible sites can apply for grants to cover costs for critical security infrastructure including CCTV systems, intruder alarms, perimeter fencing, and on-site security personnel.

However, BMT leaders say the program has been crippled by systemic issues that leave vulnerable communities exposed. Bureaucratic red tape, unmotivated refusals of well-founded security concerns, and processing delays that can stretch as long as 18 months have left many at-risk sites without the protection they need. Current government guidance requires applicants to submit extensive, concrete evidence that they face an imminent threat to qualify for funding.

Ahmed argued that the requirement for specific threat evidence ignores the inherent risk Muslim places of worship face in the current hostile climate. “A mosque is vulnerable purely because it’s a mosque. Currently, they’re waiting for months while living in fear of another attack because of the backlog. In many cases, police aren’t even responding to low-level incidents, leaving people frightened and vulnerable,” she explained.

Ahmed’s warning comes on the heels of a string of high-profile, alarming incidents across the UK that underscore the growing threat. In Northern Ireland, anti-Islam activists constructed a replica mosque and placed it on a large loyalist bonfire in a deliberate act of provocation. Earlier this month, a 14-year-old boy appeared in court charged with offences linked to extreme right-wing terrorism after police uncovered an alleged plot to attack two mosques in south London.

Compounding these concerns, new joint research from the BMT and think tank British Future found that one in six British adults view the country’s growing Muslim population as a “foundational threat to UK culture”, reflecting the deep-seated anti-Muslim prejudice driving the rise in hate crime.

A week after a devastating landslide struck Pengshui County in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality, rescue teams have recovered three more bodies from the mountain of debris, pushing the confirmed death toll to 11 while 50 people remain unaccounted for, local Chinese authorities announced Thursday.

The massive slope collapse, which occurred last Friday, buried over 10 residential buildings in the mountainous county, leaving 10 people injured in its immediate aftermath. Eight fatalities were pulled from the rubble in the first 48 hours after the disaster, and the latest recovery operations have added three more names to the list of the dead.

Despite ongoing search operations, local government officials confirmed in an official statement that no signs of life have been detected in recent days, after repeated attempts to locate trapped survivors across the disaster site.

Pengshui County, located in southeastern Chongqing along the city’s borders with Hubei and Guizhou provinces, has posed extraordinary hurdles for first responders. The landslide deposited an enormous volume of rocky debris, including dozens of massive boulders that have blocked access to large sections of the impact zone.

To overcome these obstacles, search teams have deployed heavy construction equipment and aerial drone technology to map the area and clear rubble. Crews have also carried out controlled blasts to break down oversized boulders into manageable fragments, a necessary step to continue the painstaking search for missing residents. Rescue leaders have emphasized that the scale and composition of the collapsed material make the entire operation exceptionally challenging, with teams working around the clock to advance through the debris field.