Philippine News Today

TEVES STILL IN U.S.? DEFIES CALL TO RETURN

Ex-governor brother faces raps over seized guns and explosives

By ALFRED GABOT Editor in Chief

MANILA – Even as Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. and Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla hinted that there are “strong evidence” against the masterminds behind the March 4 massacre of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and eight supporters inside his residential compound, Rep. Arnolfo Teves, who is pinpointed by two of the arrested suspects as alleged behind the slaying, charges have been filed against his former governor brother in connection with more firearms and ammunition seized from their sugar mill compound.

By Jun Nucum

Amnesty Int’l: PHL human rights situation worsened under Marcos Jr.

By Be�ng Laygo Dolor, Editor

MANILA – If the human rights situation in the Philippines was bad under the previous Duterte administration, it has in some ways worsened under the current Marcos regime.

So says Amnesty International, which said in its current ‘State of the World’s Human Rights’ report that extrajudicial killings, repression of dissent, and attacks on the press continued under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Meet a 14 yo girl who wants to end Asian hate

By Gilda Balan, Correspondent

Kristie To is not your ordinary 14-year-old Asian-American girl on the cusp of adulthood.

This high school lass was just a freshman from Irvine, CA when she took it upon herself to do her part to stop Asian hate. Her way was to put up her own non-profit organization, which she called Hearts Against Hate. That was two years ago.

Kristie was recently featured in the website of

Marcos: PHL ‘disengaging’ from Int’l Criminal court

MANILA – The Philippines is “disengaging” from any contact and communication with the International Criminal Court (ICC) after it rejected the country’s request to suspend its ongoing investigation into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said.

Marcos made this remark after the ICC Appeals Chamber, in a decision dated March 27, denied the Philippines’ plea “in the absence of persuasive reasons in support of ordering suspensive effect.”

“At this point, we essentially are disengaging from any contact, from any communication I guess with the ICC…We ended up with the same position that we started with and that is we cannot cooperate with the ICC,” he told reporters in a media interview during an event at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

He said the ICC decision to reject the country’s plea ends the Philippines’ involvement with the Hague-based international court.

“We don’t have a next move. That is the extent of our involvement with the ICC. That

Filipina power wows at Bay Area rites P24

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Guns, ammo seized in Teves sugar mill raid (inset) Pryde Teves

SAN JOSE - An international peace non-governmental association held its annual com-

memoration as it renewed calls for peace in the world. Dubbed the 7th

Speakers in the event from different religious groups

PHL ending all involvement with Int’l Criminal Court

MANILA – The Philippines is “disengaging” from any contact and communication with the International Criminal Court (ICC) after it rejected the country’s request to suspend its ongoing investigation into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. made the remark after the ICC Appeals Chamber, in a decision dated March 27, denied the Philippines’ plea “in the absence of persuasive reasons in support of or ering pen i e effect.”

“At this point, we essentially are disengaging from any contact, from any communication I guess with the ICC…We ended up with the same position that we started with and that is we cannot cooperate with the ICC,” he told reporters in a

media interview during an event at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

He said the ICC decision to reject the country’s plea ends the Philippines’ involvement with the Hague-based international court.

“We don’t have a next move. That is the extent of our involvement with the ICC. That ends all our involvement with the ICC because hindi na tayo pwedeng mag-appeal (we can no longer appeal),” he said.

“The appeal has failed. And there’s – in our view, there is nothing more that we can do in the government,” he added.

He said the Philippines “no longer” has any recourse when it comes to the ICC.

“We have not been involved with the actual action. Merely as a comment, we

would comment, and the appeal is part of a comment. But we have not appeared as a party in the ICC because we do not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC. And so that is again, as I said, we have ended up now at the end where we really started,” he said.

He cited “serious questions” about the ICC’s jurisdiction, saying he considered it to be “interference” and “practically attacks on the sovereignty.”

To recall, the Philippine government submitted two requests a notice of appeal in February and an appeal brief in March to suspend the probe after ICC authorized its prosecutor, Karim Khan, to investigate alleged crimes committed during the Duterte administration’s anti-narcotics campaign.

In March 2018, Duterte ordered the Philippines’ termination of the Rome Statute that created the ICC after former prosecutor Fatou Bensouda continued with the preliminary examination.

The Philippines formally cut ties with the ICC on March 17, 2019, exactly a year after the revocation of the Rome Statute.

In September 2021, the ICC launched a formal inquiry into the drug war but suspended its move two months after the Philippine government vowed to re-examine the cases of drug operations.

In June 2022, the ICC prosecutor requested to reopen the inquiry as it was not ati fie ” with what the hi ippine was doing.

Groups renew support to Million Trees project

LA MESA WATERSHED, Quezon City - Two years after its establishment, the Million Trees Foundation, Inc. (MTFI) led by Chairman Emeritus PDDG Reynaldo V. Velasco (ret) and President Melandrew T. Velasco together with representatives from institutional partners and stakeholders inaugurated the foundation’s phase 2 projects at the La Mesa Watershed in Novaliches, Quezon City.

he occa ion a o ar e the fir t anniversary of the Million Trees Nurser an co- earning enter in the fi ehectare area of the watershed compound leased by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to MTFI for 15 years.

The ribbon cutting was followed by the opening of Splash Tree, a visual art exhibit that showcased the works of Janddie Castillo who is known as “Master of Splash Art” for his unique art style and technique.

MWSS Administrator Cleofas delivered the welcome remarks where she also reported that out of the 1.7 million trees pledged in 2022 for the Annual Million Trees Challenge (AMTC), 1.2 million trees have been planted. This constitutes a portion of the 10 million more trees target by 2030.

i the o cia partner o MWSS to ensure the continuity of AMTC and expand its coverage throughout the country.

In his remarks, MTFI re i ent an elandrew T. Velasco spoke about the accomplishments of the Foundation for the past two years. He shared that there are now members of MTFI’s Green Army Brigade and the Foundation together with partner stakeholders have planted 20,000 trees inside the La Mesa Watershed area.

ther acco p i h ent are: the completion of the SMC Multi Center (Eddie’s Green Barn) which wa ina g rate a t ctober 23, 2022; construction and completion of new rest roo , taff ho e, an green houses. During the same period, MTFI procured Philippine native trees, ornamental plants, fruit-bearing trees and vegetables.

It also undertook improvement works on the MTFI grounds and procured garden tools, wooden swing, mango table and

LL EES DA A E SA . ers and partner stakeholders of the illion rees ounda�on, n . led y former SS hairman Administrator no hairman Emeritus en. eynaldo . elas o and resident and E e u�ve Dire tor elandre elas o led the ri on u ng of the founda�on s hase pro e ts in ele ra�on of its se ond founding anniversary and the rst anniversary of the ilion rees ursery and E o Learning enter. n the photo L Bula an Bulk ater Edgar Dona, hilippine Bam oo ndustry Development oun il E e u�ve Dire tor But h ada rang, SEL A hairman un Ave illa, resident el elas o, ep. . . Savellano, hairman ey elas o, aynilad resident on ernandez, SS Administrator Bo y leofas, anila ater resident ot de Dios, egulatory roup ead o ris�ne elera, and SS hairman Eli ega.

bahay kubos and new landscaping for ea tification o the area.

Representatives from institutional partners Manila Water and Manila Water Foundation, Maynilad, San Miguel Corporation, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) congratuate an rea r e the co it ent o their respective organizations to support the advocacy of MTFI.

Manila Water President J.V. Emmanuel de Dios, Manila Water Foundation Reginald Andal and MWCI Regulatory Group Head Jo Kristine Celera formally turned over its P1-million institutional support to MTFI Chairman Rey Velasco and MTFI President Mel Velasco joined in by MWSS Chairman Vega and MWSS

Administrator Cleofas.

Likewise, Maynilad President Ramoncito S. Fernandez and MWSI Corporate o nication ea nnete e campo also turned P1-million institutional support.

Fernandez rallied MTFI partner stakeholders to give special focus on the massive degradation of Laguna Lake which is also a vital source of water to both Maynilad and Manila Water.

DENR NCR Regional Executive Director ac e ine . aancan, represented by DENR-NCR Assistant Regional Director Engr. Ignacio R. Almira r. co en e or it effort to protect and conserve the La Mesa Watershed through the AMTC.

Gov’t mulls reforms in military pension system

MANILA – The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is eyeing to implement reforms in the military and uniformed personnel (MUP) retirement and

pen ion te to a oi a fi ca co ap e” caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

n a a ace pre riefing, epartent o inance ecretar en ain io no ai arco expressed support for four proposals namely:

-- The reform to apply to all active personnel and new entrants.

-- Removal of automatic indexation of pension to the salary of active personnel o ing e ran .

-- Military and uniformed personnel will receive their pension starting at ear o , not a tomatically after 20 years of service.

-- Mandatory contributions will be required for active personnel and new entrance similar to the Govern ent er ice n rance te pen ioner . io no cite i e in the current pension system such as how it is noncontributory which means retirement pensions and enefit are n e by the national government through annual appropriations despite having no contribution from the retirees.

Smooth Home Buying and Selling Experience

e ought our rst home a k in ith a eev and oni a. Being a rst �me uyer, they e plained the hole pro ess of home uying in detail to us. e ere e tremely omforta le ith them. a eev s e tensive e perien e saved us from uying a home ith lots of ork and found us a ank o ned property E in great ondi�on.

hile a eev nego�ated a great pri e and terms for us, oni a helped us ith a loan that orked ith our do n payment. hey are a great team and e ere so thankful ome , e planned to move and

listed our home for sale ith a eev. e advised e a tly hat needed to e ed in our home, made vendor appointments and sold it at a great pri e ith minimal �me on the market. he est part is that a eev and oni a stayed onne ted ith us even a er the sale. m a ustomer for life and feel lessed to have them oton

First phase of new NLEX-SLEX connecting expressway inaugurated

By Jennifer T. Santos

MANILA – Caloocan to Manila in

fi e in te orth zon pre wa a intawa to a ang in in te e , that i now po i e with the . i ion, eight- i o eter, a e eate orth zon pre wa onnector ro a oocan it to ani a which wi re ce tra e ti e ro two ho r to in te ro a intawa to the o th zon pre wa in a ang. re i ent er inan . arco r. e the ina g ration o the fi r t ection o the onnector ro a oocan it to pa a . in ani a, hopethat the pro ect wo e co p ete within the target ti e ra e.”

he onnector wi e the econ e e ate e pre wa connecting the orth an o th zon e pre wa , the fi r t eing the tage e e ate epre wa i t a an ig e orp. i iar an ha een in e or eera onth now.

n hi peech ring the arch e ent, arco ca e on the epart ent o ran portation r an orp.n to wor c o e an eff ecti e” to co p ete the roa pro ect witho t e a . r er har , a we a o, to ta within the target ti e ra e. tho gh o r cce rate in thi regar i e e -

p ar , a oi nnece ar e a an fi ni h the pro ect a che e o that the i ipino peop e wi e a e to reap the enefi t a oon a po i e,” he ai . arco ai the onnector wi oon pro i e an a ternate ro te that wi re ce tra e ti e or otori t an ignifi cant i pro e the o i it o peop e a we a goo an er ice . e ai the opening o thi pro ect a o how that hi a ini trationtain an acce erate the o ent tarte the pre io a ini tration in ter o in ra tr ct re e e op ent.

n er the i , etter ore progra , we wi contin e to p h or the interconnecti it o a or roa an e pre wa a we a i e en ore roa an ri ge in trategic p ace within the archipe ago,” he ai . arco than e concerne go ernent agencie an the pri ate ector or a ing the roa pro ect.

han o to the orporation an the etro acifi c o wa orporation or co p eting thi part o thi pro ect. e certain nee to recognize a we o r contin e eff ort in i pro ing o r co ntr in ra tr ct re te ” arco ai .

wo a o i e to ac now e ge the eff ort o o r o cia an e p o ee in the r an the epart ent o ic or an ighwa an a it attache agencie who ha e p a e

a er i portant an cr cia ro e in the cce o thi pro ect. et eep p the goo wor ,” he a e .

e a o owe that hi a ini tration wi contin e to e e op a high interconnecte roa networ ” that wi aci itate the co ntr rapi , inc i e an taine econo ic growth.

ring the e ent, arco wa rie e re i ent an enera anager . igi a ti ta on the onnector pro ect.

ecretar an e onoan an etro acifi c n e t ent orporation chairper on an e . angi inan a o oine the re i ent ring the ina g ra ri e thro gh on oar a pic - p ehic e.

he ate t onnector wi pa thro gh the citie o a oocan an ani a, with the a oocan nterchange onnector oa in a intawa , a oocan it an the pa a nterchange onnector oa in ani a.

he roa pro ect wi or an integra part o the zon pine prewa etwor , which wi e a co ponent o the hi ippine igh tan ar ighwa etwor . o arch , the onnector ection ha een co p ete whi e ection i percent acco p i he an i targete to e co p ete ne , pro i e that the right-o -wa or the ection i e i ere to the contractor the en o arch.

Manila eyes sidewalks as parking spaces

he it o ani a i p anning to con ert o e i ewa into par ing pace to a re the contin ing increa e in ehic e that ca e o tr ction .

enni ia e, ani a ra c an ar ing rea a i er, ai the a thorit to e ignate par ing area i containe in it r inance , or the ra c o e o the it o ani a which create the agenc .

he cit go ern ent i thin ing a o t how to acco o ate e er one eca e the n er o ehic e contin e to increa e t the treet are not increa ing. he i ewa with par e otorc c e wi ha e a pace in the i e where pe e trian can pa ,” he ai ring the a itaan a ar or iew new or ho te the ani a it a eporter ociation.

hir i trict ep. oe h a ai a oca go ern ent nit ha the power to reg ate it treet in the or o reg ation .

hat i where the or inance co e in, the po ice power o egi ation, to tate which can an cannot e par e at,” he ai .

he , accor ing to it an ate, a e ta i h, operate, aintain an or a ini ter ter ina , par ing aci itie , ic c e path , inc ing co ection o er ee an charge .

ong a it i in the or inance, that i pro i e the aw. o want to a a e tion, o can, t o t fir t e tion the or inance that e power the cit to pro i e par ing,” h a a e . ani a o nci or ei ac na echoe ia e tate ent that an can co e p with wa to create par ing pace .

here are aranga i age that are a , o e are wi e, o each chairper on ha a ifferent approach on how to ea with par ing pro e . t we a e re it i in accor ance with the aw,” ai ac na, a o the iga ng ga arangaani a pre i ent.

NLEX CONNECTOR. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. rides a vehicle with DPWH Secretary anuel Bonoan and etro a i hairman anny angilinan as they inaugurate the rst se �on of the orth Luzon E press ay LE onne tor from aloo an to Espa a. Alfred rias A

Carmona town’s cityhood plebiscite set July 8

CARMONA, Cavite – A plebiscite for the conversion of the municipality of Carmona in Cavite into a component city will be held on July 8.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) through Resolution No. 10901 set the plebiscite and the Information and Campaign Period from June to July 6.

During the period, it is prohibited to re-

move, destroy, deface, and tamper lawful plebiscite propaganda materials; appointment or hiring of new employees or promotion or giving salary increases; release of public funds; vote-buying and vote-selling; and construction of public works.

The plebiscite period in Carmona, Cavite will be from June to July 15.

Not allowed during the plebiscite period

are the carr ing o firear an other ea weapons; maintenance of reaction forces; tran er o o cer or e p o ee in the ci i erice pen ion o oca e ecti e o cia an illegal release of prisoners.

A liquor ban would be implemented while campaigning is prohibited on July 7, the eve of plebiscite day.

On plebiscite day, voters may cast their

votes from 7 a.m. to p.m.

The canvassing of votes by the Plebiscite Board of Canvassers is expected around p.m., to be followed by the proclamation of the plebiscite results.

Republic Act 11938 has approved the holding of the plebiscite for the town to be converted into a component city.

Oriental Min mayor suspended for illegal cockfight permits

GLORIA, Oriental Mindoro – The Office o the an ha or ere the suspension without pay for six months of a Mindoro Oriental municipal mayor and another o cia o n g i t o i p e iconduct for allowing the operation of illega coc fighting fi e ear ago.

Assistant Ombudsman Pilarita Lapitan directed the Department of the Interior and Local Government to immediately implement the decision against Gloria Mayor

German Rodegerio and municipal Busine er it an icen ing ce o cer Wilfredo Sabado.

Rodegerio and Sabado issued a total of 127 mayor’s permits for Gloria Cockpit rena to ho i ega coc fight ” at least four times a week in 2019.

The complainants claimed the two ga e nwarrante enefit to which did not have a franchise.

The separate complaint for grave mis-

conduct and violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical tan ar or ic cia anployees against the two and Sangguniang Bayan members Rodolfo Dapito, Crispin Bawasanta, Lauro De Belen, Norma Paz, Gregorio Favorito, Rose Ann Balbasto, and Henry Soberano were dismissed for lack of merit.

The mayor claimed he acted in good faith and merely continued what his pre-

decessors did when he issued permits to GCA.

He said the issuance was based on municipal resolutions issued by past administrations and even during the time of thenvice mayor Ramon Solas, who was one of the complainants.

Gloria, with 27 villages, has a population of about 51,000 as of the 2020 census. It is located some 77 kilometers away from Calapan, the provincial capital.

Voters okay split of biggest village in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan

SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, Bulacan –

Residents of Barangay Muzon in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan have approved the split of the village into four, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported.

Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudingco said a total of 12,324 residents, or 92.51 percent of the 13,322 registered vot-

ers who participated in the plebiscite on Saturday, agreed to split their biggest barangay into four – Barangay Muzon Proper, Barangay Muzon East, Barangay Muzon West, and Barangay Muzon South.

The barangay has a total of 43,771 registered voters, but only 30.44 percent (13,322) participated in the plebiscite.

“Given this clear mandate from the constituency of Barangay Muzon, considered the most populous area in the City of San Jose del Monte, the original barangay will henceforth be divided into four distinct and in epen ent aranga ,” a ingco ai .

The move to split the barangay into four is aimed at improving the delivery of basic

social services.

Laudiangco said the Comelec en banc, headed by chair George Garcia, expressed gratitude to poll employees as well as all its stakeholders, including the local government of Bulacan and the City of San Jose del Monte, for their help and support in ensuring a peaceful and orderly plebiscite.

troops in alakni oin sling load drills

ter a t arch a part o thi ear a a ni ” ri . po e per on o . er e rinia ai the e ane er in o ing an a ort ent o he icopter too p ace at the agana atro a e, ort ag a a , e a ci a.

he high ight o the e erci e i the ing oa training where o ier rigge p piece o arti er , i itar tr c an crate onto a -weather, e i - i t hinoo an ac aw chopper ing ing et , cargo net , an other pecia e igne e ip ent,” he a e . rini a ai ing oa ing e ipent a ow nit to a oi o tac e that a hin er the ro pro pt reaching their target e tination.

he techni e i a o e to reach area where the e o con o i ipractica or n ea i e,” he a e . n arch , the an the -

a o con cte a he oca t e erci e -- an air orne techni e that a ow pecia operation orce to in ert into an area ping irect ro a he icopter into water -- a part o the ongoing a a ni ” e erci e.

e a e that the he oca t e erci e i part o the ongoing fir t pha e o aa ni which wi prece e the a i atan” e erci e ate in the econ wee o pri he econ pha e o a a ni ” i che e or the thir arter o . a a ni ” which ean hie in ocano i an ann a co ine e erci e etween the an the , i geare at o tering interopera i it etween the two an orce . ro n , i ipino an erican o ier are participating in the e e erci e which tarte arch an wi conc e on pri .

ing oa e erci e ” in o ing he icop-

a y test fires anti ship missile decoys off am ales

SUBIC, Zambales – The Philippine a te t-fire it new ac ire fighter” chaff anti- i i e eco in a a e water a t arch .

he e en i e weaponr were fitte a oar the o e iza - an ntonio na - .

he fighter i a new generation o eco or per rapi ooing off oar chaff an other a ncher te to protect na a e e p to the ize o rigate again t anti- hip i i e ,” po e per on aptain en o egranza ai in a tate ent. e ai the chaff were te te an fire the ff hore atro orce a oar the two i i e rigate .

he pa oa o the chaff i effecti e again t i i e with o ern an ophiticate ee er an e ectronic protection ea re ,” egranza a e .

er er ai chaff wor itracting ra ar g i e i i e ro their target prea ing or i pen ing a a

Makati

he hi ippine ationa o ice an the a ati e ica enter o n ation igne a

c o o a in , eta ize g a fi er or p a tic which appear a a c ter o target in ra ar creen .

he ac i ition o the chaff co nterea re capa i it i part o the n orizon o ernization progra to capacitate the co ntr war hip to e en again t o ern na a war are threat .

he o e iza an it i ter hip ntonio na are o ern war hip capa e o r ace, - r ace, air an e ectronic war are ing tate-o -the-art e ectronic en or , ong-range i i e , aco tic g i e torpe oe an e ar e anti- arine he icopter .

he o e iza wa e i ere to the hi ippine in a an co iione in o the a e ear whi e the ntonio na wa co i ione on arch , .

he contract or the two hip wa p ace at i ion with another iion or weapon te an nition .

he recent con cte chaff firing i

i e ring the con ct o oint g nner e erci e o hip n er ff hore o at

orce na e o e iza an n re oni acio - .

e oran o agree ent to trengthen the organizationa capacit o po ice hopita an e ica treat ent aci itie .

chie , en. o o o z rin r., an chairper on an e angi inan igne the pact at the ain i ing in a ati it .

he partner hip ai to i pro e the a it o hea th care er ice or per onne an their a i ie .

n er the agree ent, the wi a i t the ea th er ice in e e oping a taina e an trategic organizationa an operationa anage ent p an, a we a pro e iona co petenc , eigne to trengthen ho pita .

he ag hip progra o , the ic- ri ate artner hip progra or the organizationa trengthening o the enera o pita an the ea th er ice , wi pro i e organizationa trengthening an inno ation to ho pita , inc ing pro e iona capa i it thro gh ario inter ention ,

ch a con erence , wor hop , coaching, an entoring e ion , an training inter ention or a concerne hopita anage ent taff.

z rin than e the or it pport or thi en ea or. e are co itte to wor ing c o e with the o n ation to en re the cce o thi progra . e are opti i tic that with thi tea - p, we can ring a o t po iti e change to the hea th erice,” he ai in a tate ent. e weco e the po i i it o i co ering new a en e or co a oration with i e- ine organization who hare o r goa o i ing a trong an re i ient co nit oc e on hea th an we ne .”

wo octor ro , apt. hri topher tepa an apt. ar rian aza, are n ergoing re i enc at the a ati e , which the wi co p ete in .

A E S . ials of the hilippine a�onal oli e and the aka� edi al enter ounda�on pose a er the signing of a memorandum of agreement in aka� ity.

, e a ci a hi ippine r an r acific troop con cte

Medical enter ink pact on etter health ser ices for cops

PHL Navy gets 2 ex-Cyclone patrol ships from US Navy

These two former US patrol vessels were stationed at Manama, Bahrain at the time of their decommissioning.

“Philippine Fleet commander, Rear Admiral Renato David, who headed the PN delegation attending the decommissioning ceremony in Bahrain, has expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the transfer of the two combat-proven vessels to the Philippine Fleet inventory through the EDA program,” Negranza said.

He added the PN leadership is grateful for the transfer of the two vessels which wi efinite oo t the a capa i it in fi ing it an ate o protecting the state and its people.

The PN earlier expressed interest in aciring the e hip to ee p it eet in 2021.

Negranza said the two ex-Cyclone patrol craft will augment the BRP General Mariano Alvarez (PS-38), the former USS Cyclone (PC-1), which was transferred to the PN in 2004.

BRP General Mariano Alvarez played ignificant ro e ring the co nter-in rgency operations in Southern Mindanao.

US NAVY SHIPS. The Philippine Fleet Commander, Rear Admiral Renato David, heads the avy delega�on during the de ommissioning eremony of the t o US Navy Cyclone-class coastal patrol ships held in Bahrain on March 28. He also re eived the t o vessels during the handover eremony.

MANILA – The US Navy has transferred two newly decommissioned Cyclone class patrol craft to the Philippine Navy following the decommissioning of two vessels in Bahrain last March 28. The Cyclone-class patrol ships are the

former USS Monsoon (PC-4) and USS Chinook (PC-9) that were transferred to the PN through the Excess Defense Article (EDA) program, Navy spokesperson Capt. Benjo Negranza said in a statement sent to the Philippine News Agency.

P4-B ‘shabu’ seized in Baguio City

BAGUIO CITY – Joint operatives of the National Capital Region Police Office an the hi ippine r g Enforcement Agency (PDEA) seized 575 kg. of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P4 billion and arrested a Chinese national in Baguio City on May 29.

NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo said 51-year-old Ming Hui was arrested during the implementation of a search warrant in Purok 4, Irisan, Baguio City at about 8:55 a.m.

The search warrant was issued by Baguio City Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Rufus Malecdan Jr. .

Okubo said the operation stemmed from the surveillance operations of the NCRPO, in coordination with PDEA, to locate the possible storage site of a big haul of illegal drugs until it was found to be in Baguio City.

“Due to the unfavorable operating environment of these illegal drug syndicates in Metro Manila and rigorous anti-illegal drugs operation of NCRPO, these drug syndicates had no other choice but to hide these illegal drugs to Baguio City, which is known to have very low cases of drug affectation, there , eco e con ci e for less likelihood of detection,” he said.

Okubo said initial investigation showed that the seized illegal drugs were to be distributed or sold in Luzon.

He added that the PNP would take custody of the evidence gathered for safekeeping and further investigation while wo n erta e r g profi ing to

establish the DNA of the narcotics to aid the conduct of follow-up operations.

Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. thanked all the participating units that had worked together to attain a whole-ofnation approach in the fight again t i egal drugs.

“Ang approach dito is whole-of-thenation, whole-of-government approach. Hindi lang gagalaw ang PDEA, hindi lang gagalaw ang kapulisyahan, hindi lang NBI, sanib puwersa lahat ito. Ang maganda rito kasama ang Cordillera police at ito ay simula lamang. Marami pa itong pupuntahan namin mga ganitong bagay (The approach here is whole-ofnation, whole-of-government approach. Not only PDEA, not only the police, not only the NBI conducted the operation. They joined forces. What is good is that the Cordillera police was also involved. This is just the beginning. We are going to have a lot more of these things),” Abalos told reporters in an interview in Baguio City.

He said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the PNP and other law enforcement agencies to run after highlevel drug syndicates.

PDEA Director Gen. Moro Virgilio Lazo said they would continue to comply with the re i ent or er to n erta e pp re ction effort an arre t tope e r g tra c er .

“This is one accomplishment towards the end. Kung tutuusin mo yung bulk na ito malaki ang mase-save natin sa mga gumagamit, kasi nahuli naman natin.

“These 55-meter vessels will be able to co p e ent the patro g n oat in their campaign to ensure the safety and security within the littoral waters of the porous borders and vast maritime environment of the Philippines, being equipped with the firepower an etha it or ittora operations,” Negranza said.

Negranza said the two ships are expected to be delivered to the country by the second quarter of this year.

He added the vessels will undergo reactivation activities to incorporate all the desired capabilities and peculiarities of the PN to the platforms prior to their deployment to operational areas.

These Cyclone-class patrol craft are projected to undertake coastal patrols a ong the co ntr ittora water an ea lanes of communications, maritime interdiction, escort, surveillance and special operations, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster response missions.

The Cyclone-class patrol ships are a class of US Navy coastal patrol boats consisting of some 14 ships and were constructed from 1992 to 1994.

These vessels weigh around 328.5 long tons and have a length of 179 feet, a beam of 25 feet, and a draft of 7.5 feet. Their maximum speed is placed at 35 knots and they have a range of between 2,000 to 2,500 nautical miles.

Cyclone-class patrol vessels are armed with two 25mm auto-cannons and several high-powered machine guns.

Meet...

(From page 1)

Points of Light, which aims to create a “civic century” an age when people become the driving force to transform the world.

It almost harkens back to the spirited ‘60s, when the belief spread that one man (or woman) could make a ifference.

r, it co a o e what wa ca e r ati e ction back then.

ri tie non-profit ha now eco e one o the leading forces in the Asian American racial justicerelated space due to its unique mission and youth-led structure,” according to Points of Light.

While Miss To led volunteerism activity at the start of the pandemic such as preparing and distributing care packages for those in need, she took a bolder step in acting to Stop Asian Hate.

he got her e ow teen to oin the fight again t racism that often led to verbal and physical attacks against

Marcos...

(From page 1)

ends all our involvement with the ICC because hindi na tayo pwedeng mag-appeal (we can no longer appeal),” he said.

“The appeal has failed. And there’s – in our view, there is nothing more that we can do in the government,” he added.

He said the Philippines “no longer” has any recourse when it comes to the ICC.

“We have not been involved with the actual action. Merely as a comment, we would comment, and the appeal is part of a comment. But we have not appeared as a party in the ICC because we do not recognize the jurisdiction of

tric jeepneys.

Amnesty...

(From page 1)

The drug war killings of the Duterte era which saw anywhere from 6,000 to 30,000 fatalities did not end when the former president stepped down last year. Meanwhile, red tagging or accusing critics of the government even by legal parties continued unabated.

As an example, just last week Vice President Sara Duterte – daughter of the past president – accused the Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list group of having ties with the underground communist movement because it supported the jeepney strike which was protesting the forcible switch by operators to elec-

the Asian and Asian-American community.

o a , her effort ha e pai off in e era wa , including building a team of more than 600 members, as well as partnering with 10 other organizations. Her non-profit ha i tri te ore than , care pacages, not just in California but nationwide. She has also garnered more than 10,000 podcast interactions.

Kristie says she is a “strong believer in student voice and student advocacy.”

She also believes in teaching the youth about their history as well as their civic rights.

Hearts Against Hate seeks to help pre-teens to repect one another e pite their ifference rai ing their tolerance for cultural sensitivity.

The pandemic provided her with a valuable learning experience.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, I really started to spend more time watching more videos about what was happening in my community,” she told Points of Light, adding that she realized “anti-Asian hate was occurring close to my home.”

She recalls reaching out to her local city council to

the ICC. And so that is again, as I said, we have ended up now at the end where we really started,” he said.

He likewise cited “serious questions” about the ICC’s jurisdiction, saying he considered it to be “interference” and “practically attacks on the sovereignty.”

To recall, the Philippine government submitted two requests a notice of appeal in February and an appeal brief in March to suspend the probe after ICC authorized its prosecutor, Karim Khan, to investigate alleged crimes committed during the Duterte administration’s anti-narcotics campaign.

In March 2018, Duterte ordered the Philippines’ termination of the Rome Statute that created the ICC after

The Amnesty International Report covers the period 2022 to 2023 and used inputs from university-based research group Dahas, which said 324 drug-related killings by the Philippine National Police and quasi-military vigilante groups were committed. Of this, 175 – or more than half – took place after Marcos Jr. assumed the presidency.

The UK-based Amnesty International said that while Marcos said his administration would review the killings during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s sixyear reign, impunity continued with the “vast majority” of the cases largely going uninvestigated.

fin o t what effort were eing ta en to co at thi , “and found that not much direct work was being done.”

That was when she decided to become a proponent of student voice, reaching out to her city’s vice mayor where she expressed her concern about anti-Asian hate.

That vice mayor was so impressed by her that Kristie was invited to speak at a Stop Asian Hate press conference in Irvine.

That was the start for Kristie, who found herself invited to other forums and to have her voice heard in local media.

“That’s the moment I realized how strong student voice can be and how that can translate into volunteer and community service work,” she said.

She may still be relatively tender in years, but has shown that age has little to do with having a voice against society’s ills. Stopping Asian hate has found a champion in this Asian-American who believes love trumps hate anytime.

She is not alone. She has her steadily growing Hearts Against Hate organization behind her.

former prosecutor Fatou Bensouda continued with the preliminary examination.

The Philippines formally cut ties with the ICC on March 17, 2019, exactly a year after the revocation of the Rome Statute.

In September 2021, the ICC launched a formal inquiry into the drug war but suspended its move two months after the Philippine government vowed to re-examine the cases of drug operations.

In June 2022, the ICC prosecutor requested to reopen the in ir a it wa not ati fie ” with what the hi ippines was doing

The continued harassment and killing of media workers which made the Philippines one of the deadliest places to work for practitioners likewise continued, with high-profi e roa ca t o rna i t erc Lapid being shot and killed while on his way to work. The main suspect in his killing is suspended Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag.

Lapid was known for his hard-hitting commentaries against both the Duterte and Marcos governments.

Meanwhile, Nobel Peace prize winner Maria Ressa, CEO of online news organization Rappler, has been hobbled in her work by a series of lawsuits, some of which have been dismissed for being frivolous in nature.

Amnesty International also said the constant red tagging of political activists, human rights groups, and critics has led to more killings, harassment, and arbitrary detentions.

n the fir t onth o a t ear, o e Maria Galias and Silvestre Fortades –members of a labor rights and farmers’ group, were killed by gunmen, who reain ni entifie ore than a ear ater.

A community doctor has been in and out of detention, accused of being a terrorist.

A judge, meanwhile, was accused of being a communist sympathizer for refusing to designate the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, as terrorist organizations.

Meanwhile, the National Telecommunications Commission was also accused o ta ing part in the ti ing o egiti ate media when it blocked websites of independent news organizations on suspicion

of being either terrorist sympathizers or terrorist organizations.

Critics say that Ferdinand Marcos Jr is following the same tack as his late father and namesake, who frequently accused the communists of various crimes often with no proof.

The older Marcos famously said communists killed his most well-known critic, former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. An independent commission later determined that Marcos’ military had killed Aquino.

Teves... (From page 1)

The Negros Oriental lawmaker, meanwhile, has refused to return to the Philippines allegedly due to security fears despite assurances from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of his safety when he returns, and is believed to be still in the United States, although his location has been unknown to law enforcers for days now.

Teves sought for 60-day extension of his stay abroad but the request was denied and he was suspended based on the recommendation of the House of Representatives Committee on Ethics. Governor Degamo’s widow and allies called for the expulsion of Rep. Teves.

Charges for possession of illegal firear an e p o i e ha e een fi e against former governorr Pryde Henry Teves before the Department of Justice (DOJ), according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

he cri ina co p aint fi e again t the younger Teves last Monday arose ro the eiz re o a cache o firear , ammunition and explosive materials unearthe a t wee en ro hi fi e-hectare property used as a sugar mill in Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental.

Arrested at the scene and subsequently subjected to inquest proceedings were Jeson Timtim, Dionilo Mayagma Jr. and ige ectona, chie ec rit o cer at the sugar mill compound operated by the HDJ Agri-Venture Corp., in which Teves is reportedly the president.

Col. Jean Fajardo, PNP spokesperson, said Pryde Henry Teves was also charged “since he was the subject of the search warrant.”

Teves denied ownership of the guns an a nition an a o too fir that he and his lawmaker brother have nothing to do with the killing of Governor Degamo.

Earlier, Secretary Abalos said they now have a “strong evidence” to identify the mastermind behind the March 4 attack on Governor Degamo.

“Just so, baka mamaya sabihin niya (he might say) everyone is deemed innocent until his guilt is proven but right now this is what I assure him or kung sino man ang mastermind nito (whoever is the mastermind behind this). Malakas na ang aming ebidensya ngayon (We already have a strong evidence),’’ the DILG chief ai in a pre riefing in a p ra e, Quezon City, without mentioning names.

Abalos also said most of the suspects who killed Degamo and several innocent individuals are already in the hands of authorities.

Citing that the suspects’ testimonies are not the only important in the case, Abalos noted that authorities now have the oren ic pointing to the firear , ammunition, explosives and other pieces of evidence seized by law enforcers.

Abalos also stressed that there is no person in his right mind that will collect a h ge n er o high-powere firear , saying that the pieces of evidence are “crystal clear”.

Dispelling claims that the evidence might be planted, Abalos showed the videos and photos of a backhoe digging into the compound of former Negros Oriental Governor Pryde Henry Teves where the pieces of evidence were uncovered.

He also insisted that the high-powered firear were rie eep n er the oi for future purposes.

Secretary Remulla said the weapons and other contrabands seized in Negros Oriental over the weekend corroborated the information by witnesses on the murder of Gov. Roel Degamo.

Ten men already under government custody said they were billeted in a facility that was near the area raided by Criminal Investigation and Detection Group operatives, a sugar mill compound in Sta. Catalina town reportedly owned by former governor Pryde Henry Teves.

“The IEDs (improvised explosive devices) that were found [during the service of arrest warrants] were consistent with the statements made [by the surrenderers],” Remulla said

In another developent, a or er po ice ocer who is now the security chief of an agribusiness compound in Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental owned by former Governor Pryde Henry Teves has allegedly played a vital role in the assassination of Governor Roel Degamo.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said Nigel Lagunay Electona, a former cop assigned at Dumag ete it o ice ce, was arrested during the service of a search warrant at the HDJ Bayawan Agriventures Corporation, Tolong compound on March 24.

Pryde is the brother of suspended Negros Oriental third district Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr., who was earlier tagged as one of the alleged masterminds in the killing fo Degamo.

Recovered during the March 24 raid in Pryde’s compound were various highpowere firear , inc ing a niper ri e, ammunition and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) which were kept underground and cash amounting to almost P18 million.

The operating team unearthed the IEDs using a backhoe and other heavy equipment during the operation.

Fajardo said that on March 26, police raided Electona’s residence in Barangay Villareal in Bayawan City by virtue of a search warrant, which yielded alleged ilega firear an a nition, han grenades, pictures of Degamo and his family, maps, house routes and a photo of the gate of Degamo’s residence.

Fajardo said Electona was arrested due to illegal drugs in 2016 and was dismissed from the police service in 2017.

He then started working with Pryde an ater eca e the chie ec rit o cer of the HDJ Tolong compound.

Fajardo said Teves has a lot to explain following the seizure of a large cache of firear an the arre t o hi chie ecrit o cer.

Secretary Abalos Jr. said the items that were seized during these operations were “believed to have been used during the planning stage of the murder” of Degamo.

“In light of these recent developments,

the Special Task Force Degamo is very confi ent that we are nearing to the en of unmasking the masterminds behind the shocking and gruesome murder of Governor Degamo and others,” Abalos said.

The legal counsel of Congressman Teves Jr. requested the House of Representatives to lift the 60-day suspension against him over his continued absence despite an expired travel authority.

In a letter dated March 24 to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio urged the panel to take into consideration the matters that “may have been overlooked” in its proceedings against Teves, who has been pen e or hi contin e efiance to the orders of the lower chamber to return to the country and perform his duties as House member. The letter was released to the media on Monday.

Topacio noted that threats to Teves’ life, which were cited as reasons for the lawmaker’s inability to appear before the House, do not always come with “demonstrable proofs.”

Topacio further argued the threat that Teves conceives falls under “unavoidable circumstances,” which prevents his physical presence in the sessions of the House, as well as an exempting circumstance under Section 17, Rule 1x of the House rules.

“It could be by inference from circumstances that are not susceptible to tangible proof, as his in this case. Yet, everyone has a right to be cautious about threats he perceives against his very life,” he said.

Group...

(From page 1)

Annual Commemoration of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) with the theme of “Institutional Peace: Strengthening Communication to Build Trust,” the event was spearheaded by the Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light(HWPL) and held at the Roosevelt Community Center in San Jose.

Around150 delegates participated in the event that was also held in 41 other countries from Africa, Europe, North America and Asia.

More than 7,000 participants from the fie o po itic , ega pro e ion and religion, education, media, women and youth, were expected to join the event where the participants share the ca e o con ict pre ention, e iation, and resolution to institutionalize peace as a universal culture and norm with the foundation of “Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)” as a tool for comprehensive global peacebuilding cooperation,

“This declaration, comprised of 10 articles and 38 clauses, aims to restore the spirit that served as the basis for the establishment of the United Nations and to achieve sustainable peace by promoting the universal values of the global community. The DPCW contains the message of no war, peace between nations and societies, friendly relations, prosperity, happiness, this is a simple

message and everyone can relate to this message,” explained Prof. Dr. Md Nazrul Islam, Chairman of International Law, University of Dhaka who drafted the DPCW.

In his progress report presentation, Pravin Parekh, President of the Confederation of Indian Bar, presented major activities of overcoming disconnection and distrust and the progress for realizing the introduction of the DPCW to the United Nations. “HWPL has been strengthening trust and communication with youth, women, and civil society around the world in solidarity through activities such as Legislate Peace Project, ce, an eace cation,” he shared.

In his speech, Chairman Lee Man-hee of HWPL emphasized, “Peace cannot be achieved alone. If everyone can live together as one, there will be no wars or con ict . the a ing goe , o e o r neighbor as yourself, war will disappear only when there is love for each other. Current international law cannot prevent war. Russia, a permanent member of the United Nations, waged a war. The DPCW was introduced to renew the inoperative international law to eliminate war. Now is the time to achieve peace. Just as people learn when they have to create (something), peace must be taught at home and at school to create peace. If people’s hearts change, a better world will be created. Let everyone in the global village become messengers of peace.”

In the event, action plans to advo-

cate peace in Ukraine were prepared and attendees wrote a “Peace Letter” for Ukraine and Russian further more participants from over 100 countries write this letter to denounce Russian invasion of Ukraine as a violation of international law and demand Russian President Putin a total withdrawal from the Ukraine territory. “Future generations of Russians will remember you and this war as an indelible and shameful history, and you will be left in history as the one responi e or acrificing co nt e innocent lives,” the letter stated. These letters will be collected and sent to Ukraine, where a peace monument will be erected.

One of the participants is Carmela Cabreros originally from Taguig, member of the HWPL for four years now who joined the group in her desire for peace.

“When I saw their work in Mindanao, that inspired me more to join them. I learned from them that it is possible to have peace in this world especially with the religious dialogue and we signed a letter for the Ukraine president. I believe that through this we can start the process of attaining peace. Peace seems elusive t thro gh o r concerte effort we can make it happen, Cabreros narrated.

Last January, HWPL organized the fir t ationa eace on ention at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) were more than a thouan ro ifferent ector inc ing lawmakers, university presidents and educators, youth and women leaders, media, religious leaders, and civil soci-

armela a reros le originally from aguig, mem er of the L for four years no ith ka a ayan Angeli a Domingo

ety organizations participated.

With the themed “Peace Builds One Nation, One Future – Peace is Here”, it aimed to to establish a roadmap towards the attainment of national unity through peace in consonance with the Marcos Administration’s agenda. Through this event, a resolution will be presented to President Bongbong Marcos for a possible declaration of National Peace Day – a special working holiday.

EDITORIAL

How sick is Putin?

There ha e een n erifie report that ian pre i ent a i ir tin i nwe , ph ica that i . e i ai to e ffering ro ai ent not nco on or a enior citizen i e hi e .

hi e he a or a not e in the pin o hea th, the wor t now e won ering i he ffer ro a ore erio aient, one that i enta in nat re.

e co e, in other wor , enta ic , perhap to the point o eing erange .

ow e e can an one e p ain hi contin ing threat to e hi co ntr n c ear ar ena , nowing we that an e o n c ear weapon on an co ntr i certain to re t in o e or o reta iation, a o t certain with the e o a i i ar weapon.

a t wee , tin again e hi n c ear car when he ai that he wo e ep o ing tactica n c ear weapon in e ar , one o the ew a ie tate to ia.

t wa ro e ar that part o the ian i itar a nche it in a ion o raine a t ear.

e , it re ain a car threat to the re t o the ci i ize wor . t a o oe n t a e en e eca e no one o t that ia ha a ight n c ear ar ena within it territor , o wh other tran erring the ea e ice ne t oor

t een ai that the n e that tin want to o e to e ar are not trategic n c ear weapon , t rather tactica n c ear weapon .

he are not the in that can re t in a wor war to en a wor war , t are rather a er o that can e e in a att efie . he can ti ca e e ten i e a age, tho gh, an ten i not h n re o tho an wi e annihi ate .

t i c ear that tin i p a ing the a t o hi car or the i p e rea on that the ian ar ha een e po e a a paper tiger, oing to the a er raine ar eca e their anpower i ntraine an i -e ippe , their o cer inco petent, an wor t o a , their e ip ent in erior to what raine an ha e een throwing their wa .

tin pecia i itar operation” wa ppo e to on a t a ew wee , t now ore than a ear a ter ia in a e raine, the ha e ha ore e eat than ictorie in the att efie .

a i ir tin i a tro e ea er at thi point. ia cannot win the war that it tarte , an the co ntr econo i eginning to ee the pinch o a tea i a tering econo a a re t o the anction i po e the e t.

or t o a , he ace the night are o o ing ri ea, which he anne e a eca e ago. o o e ri ea i a cenario tin cannot accept. h , he a et n ea h hi on re aining weapon at hi i po a tho e tactica n e which can on gi e hi the o t rrhic o ictorie .

e t an one orget, the nternationa ri ina o rt ha a o ie a warrant or hi arre t. e a ne er ace act a arre t an incarceration, t he ha o t o t i not a the pre tige he ha earne in ea ing other ia o t o the near co ap e it ace with the i o tion o the or er nion o o iet ocia i t ep ic .

o i a i ir tin a eno gh to e a weapon that wi tiate re t in the en o ia

o one can a or re. t a no one can a with certaint that he ti ha contro o hi aci itie .

STCQC Solitaires sparkle

First of Parts

Wro ario pro e ion who ha e i e an a e their ar on erican ociet are a ong anae o t. here a o ege ezon it honore with the p ication o their per ona torie in a oo co e orating their a a ater th o n ation anni er ar a t ear. he a or a not e -i enti a i ipino erican,” t what i n enia e i their i entit a here ian . n o ing nat re o t precio ge , gra ate ro ifferent fie an generation etai their tran or ation in o itaire torie o ight, i e an o e”. i e the centerpiece ia on a ter which the antho og i tit e , the tan o t, ha ing o erco e cha enge to eco e the e t er ion o the e e , hape the in tit tion g i ing princip e o ea er hip, e ce ence, a ocac , i cip ine an i cip ehip, er ice an i p icit , tr th acco nta i it an re or .

o itaire ” crown the choo ia on anni er ar ce e ration. hi e high ighting the in piring i e o a nae, the pro ect i a enefit or the o treach progra o the i ionar i ter o the ac ate eart o ar ch a pro i ing ea or tho e in nee an tranportation to choo or chi ren in otherwi e inacce i e area .

he pro ect egan with a ca to the here ian co nit thro gh c a repre entati e or fir t-per on narrati e . ent chair i ian a ” e entar an nae ociation hea ari a o o er aw the pro ect. itor ari ip ro a, orna a aw iro an e n pi a re iewe an c a ifie the torie . an an a o e igne the pro ct whi e aria i a a ar e on on inter iewe the a reate or co panion i eo ringing eeper inight into their e orie . ach ta e i i tinct a it re ect the writer here ian pirit. e wante to capt re an connect the ot o o r e perience, ro o r o n ation to to a ,” e entar tre e . igne with their choo i ion to n rt re tho e in their e ange izing e cation” to co it genero in re pon ing to the ca o o to participate in the rea ization o o reign o peace, o e, ree o , o i arit an tice,” the gra ate p r e in i i a a piration on i tant hore inc ing the nite tate , where their or ation wa te te , their ett e pro en. a a a e z an tate her c rrent pro e ion a a career i e coach an ine con tant, the r it o her ti i cip inar o rne that egan in her ear a a a newco er in ew er e ro ani a a ter he gra ate ro co ege in . er pwar o i e an itinerant career tarte in corporate finance at erican pre in ew or eore he eca e o e core e cor ia on ting i i ion. he hi te to e cation to eco e o thica ie ton choo , a o in ew or . an then hea e p the inance an a ini tration epart ent a enior a ociate ean o ni er it o irginia ar en choo o ine . he wa o the e o onte porar rt in hicago. erhap eca e o , rather than e pite her cce , e z an he ear the nee o her irth an . he o n e , a nonprofit that pro i e e cationa opport nitie or o th in the hi ippine an the nite tate . he contin e to it on the oar o ie ont o irginia o nit o ege o n ation. er oo , ere a , earning a ong the wa ”, i trate her core e ie that i inate her wa . azon orter rpri e her e when he eca e a o tware engineer a ter co p eting her co p ter cience t ie at an ranci co tate ni er it . echno og wa in it na cent tage at the ti e, an her ather gge te that he con i er earning a egree n aenta to a tech-re ate career. o a he i an n ng hero in tech, ea ing a tea o technica writer or a o ton co pan pecia izing in pre cripti e e icine or(Continued on page 26)

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CHERIE M. QUEROL MORENO

ConCon – No! New Constitution –Yes!

“The Constitution is an experiment as all life is an experiment. Every year, if not every day, we have to wager our salvation on some prophecy based on imperfect knowledge.”

- Justice Oliver Wedell Holmes

The above quotation comes from one of the greatest minds who ever graced the American Supreme Court, if not the whole United States of America. That’s why when we talk about the Constitution, we cannot entrust the framing of it to the hands of people whose knowledge of the Constitution is, at best, minimal, and, at worst, dismal.

That is what the Constitutional Convention (CONCON) is all about – in composition.

h o a that t p ain an i p e. First, the kind of delegates who will be elected will be politicians, creatures of politicians, economic oligarchs and their agents and representatives, and ambitious men and women who would like to be politicians to have a crack at power and tre en o in ence. econ , o t o the ha e ini knowledge of constitutions and constitution-making, if at all. Third, most of them are propelled by personal interest, not by national interest. Fourth, the cost of electing delegates will amount to billions of pesos. Fifth, the time wasted on useless and lengthy debates Sixth, the product of the CONCON will be a disaster.

i goo in theor , not in practice. h he answer is that our constitutions have not been written for our people but for politicians, people with vested interest and aw er who ha e con icting interpretation o the eaning of the provisions of the Constitution.

So why must we have a CONCON? This is the surest way of conning our people again – again and again! That is how the po itica ga e in o r co ntr wor . e i e in a world run by traditional politicians and conspiring oligarchs – with the poor scrounging for food while the rich and the pri i ege i e in rio contin ing con ption. hat a world! Yes, this is the world of the majority in this country –as though it is the natural course of things.

Qualities: Constitutional experts will tell you that these are the qualities of a good Constitution – brief in form, broad in scope and clear in meaning. Our current Constitution is an example of one of the worst Constitutions ever written on the face of this planet –very lengthy, it is so broad beyond anyone’s imagination that in the words of the late Vicente G, Sinco, Dean of the UP College of Law and author of the best Political Law books in this country, that it has “the prolixity of a code”, and the meaning of so many provisions are not clear. If it can be compared to other constitutions, for its clear or unclear meanings, the Cory Constitution can best compared in its length and non-observance of its provisions to the on tit tion o the e nct an the fir t on tit tion of the Peoples Republic of China. And they are the best examples of bad constitutions.

Importance:: A constitution of a country is known as the fundamental law because every act passed by the legislature or congress must conform to the provisions of the Constitution otherwise it will likely be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Similarly, any act of the President or any p ic o cia which io ate a pro i ion o the on tit tion wi ffer the a e ate. n act that i ec are ncon titutional will cease to be a law –rendered invalid and of no effect. hat i how i portant i o r on tit tion. rece ent hen the erican on e eration a e a bid for independence from England, the men who were behind it tasked a Virginian to write the American Declaration o n epen ence that an i na e ho a effer on. e later became President of the United State of America. The incandescent words of the American Declaration became the cornerstone of American democracy and many democracies in the world today, including ours. The portion of the Declaration which is pertinent to all of us in the framing of a new Constitution runs as follows:

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FULL DISCLOSURE:

“It is not the size that matters

Even an ant bite can sting.” – From “Memoirs” of Emmanuel S. Tipon

“You are a better performer than my husband,” cooed the ravishingly beautiful mestiza to her lover. “And he is younger,” she added as a footnote.

What’s Up Attorney

The Ilocano lawyer who wa the o ect o her affection responded. “I do not have erectile dysfunction. I could make love with you every night.”

“How about during the day?” asked the mestiza, expecting the lawyer to say “touche”.

“I have to work during the day so I can give more money to you,” answered the lawyer, who was quick at repartee and avoided acknowledging a touche.

WHAT IS ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION?

According to Matthew Ziegelmann, M.D., a doctor at the Mayo Clinic: “Erectile dysfunction (impotence) is the inabilit to get an eep an erection fir eno gh or e .”

IMMIGRATION RELATED MARRIAGE NOT CONSUMMATED igration o cer to i a app icant a o r arriage consummated?

Visa applicant: No sir. cer o o r arriage i not ona fi e. Applicant: It is sir, but I cannot have an erection. I have erectile dysfunction.

Patay kang bata ka. (You are dead, young man.)

NO ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION IN ILOCANO

There is no Ilocano word for “erectile dysfunction”. Our associate Mae Joy and I are writing an English-Tagalog-Ilocano ictionar . e o not ha e an entr or erecti efunction”. There is no such creature as “erectile dysfunction” among Ilocanos.

There is no evidence that the following story is true: A a i a an an an hi new ri e went to a fir t c a hotel in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte for their honeymoon. As they were consummating their marriage, the man asked his wife, “Darling, na feel mo?” The wife replied in disgust: “Napilco” (It is bent).

NO ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION IN THE BIBLE

i ica cho ar fin no ch thing a erecti e nction” (ED) in the Bible. King Solomon reputedly had 1,000 women in his life (700 wives and 300 concubines). 1 Kings 11:3. You cannot have sex with such a large number of women if you have ED.

King David, father of Solomon, had less, but still a significant n er. a i ha to a e o e re ent to the young Bathsheba, a woman of incomparable beauty, whom he lustfully saw bathing under the last rays of the setting Mediterranean sun. David stole her from her husband Uriah, a younger man and a soldier in his army, whom David sent to the battlefront to get him killed. David was about 70 years old when he died, but still making love. He is considered rae greate t ing. a i wa a fir e ie er in o an God rewarded him. No ED.

Then there is Abraham, said to be the patriarch of David and Jesus, who was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born to him and his wife Sarah who was 90 years old. In addition, Abraham had to make love with the young Hagar, a slave, who was Sarah’s handmaiden but who gave her to Abraham so that he could have a child with her and have an heir. That was before Sarah herself had a child with Abraham. hen agar eca e pregnant, howe er, arah eca e eao an treate her har h an he e into the e ert. he bore a child who was named Ishmael. But after Sarah died, Hagar came back and Abraham married her. This proves that if you do not waver in your faithfulness to the Almighty He will reward you by allowing you to have a mistress, have an erection, and children even though you are 100 years old and above.

I have read the Bible – both the English and Ilocano version. There is no “erectile dysfunction”.

VIAGRA AND ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

Most people never heard of erectile dysfunction until 1998 when viagra was introduced

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Tips on buying & selling at the same time

Some of our old and new clients with MSS were asking me if I’m still practicing as Real Estate Broker since I’m wearing several hats as commissioned and accredited Notary Public and active Evangelist.

Health & Wealth

YES, I’m still practicing as licensed Real Estate Broker (DRE #00635976) in partnership with full-time Realtor and full-time Mortgage Broker. In fact, with three real estate professionals working together, we offer con tation on ea tate Home Loans.

o ecti e , we are haring ip on ing e ing at the a e i e or o r rea er an the genera p ic. hen it comes to buying a new home at the same time you are selling your current home, PLANNING is key and TIMING is critical.

er thing t a into p ace at the right o ent. ith the proper strategy, you will not have to worry about double mortgage payments or end up without a place to live for a few days or longer.

BEFORE YOU BUY -Here are some tips you MUST do:

1. Make necessary repairs or improvements to prepare your current home for the market. 2. List your home with a fulltime Realtor. If you’d like, please call: (650)4380-3531 or (415)584-7095 or email:artmadlaing@hotmail.com so that our team of real estate professionals can help you with the process;

. eter ine how o wi fin the own pa ent, ch as drawing from your current HELOC, retirement funds, savings, or a bridge loan; 4. Get pre-approved for a new mortgage o it a rea in p ace when o fin a new ho e. r ortgage ro er partner can he p o in ite o . .

. a e a contingenc p an in ca e o can t fin a new home before the sale of your current home closes (e.g. live with family or friends, rent back from new owners or rent temporary housing.

IF POSSIBEL, COORDINATE THE TIMING OF THE CLOSINGS OF BOTH HOUSES: Often you can close your old home just prior to closing on your new home. If this isn’t possible, you will need to have a plan in place for that time gap. or ing c o e with e perience rea e tate pro e ionals will help you protect your interest and make the process go smoother.

My partnership with full time Realtor and Mortgage Broker/Financial Consultant will work best for you. For immediate help and assistance, just call: (650)438-3531 or (415)5847095 or email:artmadlaing@hotmail.com e recei e several orders on the latest edition of my best-selling book ” tit e o r a ic i e Information for Successful Investing in Home, Land and Income Property.” It’s not yet late for you to order your copy.

The Foreword was written by Atty. Cesar Fumar. The late t ition o ” page in arco er, aper ac - oo i e ce ent a ition to o r personal or home library as well as lasting gift to FRANC rien , e ati e , c aintance , eigh or , o- or er . Here are some brief comments and reviews on the book:

“Yes, this book is understandable for folks who haven’t spent years studying real estate laws and practices. It can save you money!” said PATRICK ANDERSEN, Editor, Asian ee , an ranci co, a i ornia .

“Art Madlaing’s book on real estate is very informative. I ha e to co en hi ro hi pioneering effort in writing thi book,” wrote HON. RONALD E. QUIDACHAY, Superior Court Judge, San Francisco, California USA.

“This book is a must reading for anyone deciding and planning to invest in real estate anywhere in the world,” echoed HENRY T. BRAVO, Elder, SURREY CHURCH OF CHRIST, Vancouver, B.C. Canada

Very readable and easy to understand, which should be a o t right or a i it ,” ai , an Francisco, California.

“I salute and commend Art Madlaing for writing this book. Every Christian couple and family must order their copies, read it and be guided accordingly,” wrote FELIX L. OLIDAD, , ange i t ini ter,

Erectile dysfunction, immigration, and an Ilocano lawyer

ART GABOT MADLAING

HOMOBONO A. ADAZA Diliman Way

EMMANUEL SAMONTE TIPON

Portrait of a Filipino warlord, circa 2023

It is extremely sickening to note that in this day and age, there are still Filipino warlords who believe they have the power to do anything in their turf. Literally anything. They can kill whoever they want, and they still manage to get themselves elected to local posts again and again because the voters from their town, city, or province are terrifie o the con e ence o not voting for them.

They often show their brutality to send the message that they are not to be messed with. Nowhere was this more apparent than in the assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.

he go ern ent, pecifica tice ecretar e Crispin Remulla, has tagged Congressman Arnie Teves as either the mastermind behind the killing, or at least one of several masterminds.

The killers did not only target the governor, but they very mercilessly killed eight others while seriously injuring 15 more. All of the victims were at the governor’s residence for the usual reasons. They were asking for some kind of help or assistance. Or they may have simply wanted to pay their respects.

a a o t eing in the wrong p ace at the wrong ti e. t before the shooting, which was caught on CCTV by the way and which has been shown again and again on broadcast meia, there appeare to e a chi or two pre ent. o e report say they were shielded by the adults.

Philippine media did a great disservice to the victims, by the way. All print and broadcast media organizations covered the tragedy of the governor’s slay, but I did not see a single one covering the other victims. Not a peep. For all intents, they were relegated to being mere statistics.

t ac to e e , or pecifica the e e a i . ai were conducted on several properties belonging to the congressman as well as his brother, former governor Pryde Henry Teves, who had been unseated by Degamo.

As can be expected of any warlord family, the raiders found high-powere firear a we a i ion o pe o in ca h in a couple of properties. There was also an errant grenade or two, along with home-made improvised explosive devices.

The lawyer of Teves said that the big guns were, in fact, p ante , t thi wa e ie oca o ern ent ecretar enh r a o who ai that the firear ha een rie more than six-feet deep.

he firear were, in other wor , propertie o the eveses for the longest time, none of which were registered. Maybe because civilians are not allowed to own automatic and semi-automatic weapons.

Pryde Henry, incidentally, has initially been declared winner over Degamo in the last elections, but the Commission on Elections overturned that victory after deciding that a nuisance candidate whose name sounded too much like Roel Degamo ran and won some votes.

Those votes were enough for Pryde Henry to narrowly defeat Roel Degamo. Good thing the Comelec wisely decided that the nuisance candidate was planted to mislead the voting public, who thought they were voting for the real Roel Degamo.

Votes for the pretender were eventually credited to Roel Degamo, which were enough to give him the governorship.

Of course the Teves clan would not let “their” governorhip e ta en ro the . o ething ha to e one.

ecretar a o ai , the a ter in or a ter in is or are the devil incarnate. I would have to agree with him wholeheartedly.

ccor ing to ecretar e a, there were two pre io assassination plans to cut short Degamo’s reign, one of which was to have a sniper end the governor’s life.

The third try was successful, but was so vicious that the innocents who just happened to be at the Degamo compound that fateful day would either be killed or seriously wounded.

hen fir t earne o the a hooting an the na ing of the congressman as a suspected mastermind, I could not e ie e it. re thi co not e the a e c an o or er congressman and Cabinet secretary Gary Teves, I told myself.

For those who are not aware of it, Gary Teves was a muchrespected lawmaker a few de-

Training for war

Filipino army soldiers are, or the fir t ti e, te t firing an a e in, or an a ance anti-tank weapon system-mei - an-portable, during this month’s bilateral Army-to-Army con entiona e erci e, aaknib, in northern Luzon.

he nite tate r is also demonstrating what the igh o i it rti er oc et tecan o to e en coa ta area , o tering anti-acce an area enia capa i it p hing awa ho ti e navies from the country’s shorelines.

The army-to-army drills between the two closest allies in the n o- acific region hi te ro non-tra itiona i itar activities, like counter terrorism and humanitarian assistance an i a ter re ie operation , to territoria an eternal defense operations.

The focus of operations was to test the combat readiness o the hi ippine r to wor c o e with the nite tate r in the acific, which ha e igne region-wi e ri ca e acific athwa .

The drills will improve interoperability of the two armies in fighting war in the region, trengthening coa ta e en e and repelling potential invasion from a third country.

Although the drills are not directed at any particular country in the region, it is common knowledge that the two armies are preparing a potentia con ict with the e erging threat in the region.

hina ha een e ing it c e an inten i ing it pro ocati e an aggre i e acti itie in the o th hina ea an aiwan trait .

or ei ing, re nification with aiwan i not negotia e. t considers the self-ruled island as a renegade province.

Beijing will not stop until it completely reunites all Chinese territories in the region, restoring its old glory of the Ming dynasty.

The last imperial dynasty, Qing, was humiliated by European powers from the early 19th century, carving out territories along its eastern coastline, like Macau and Hong Kong. apan a o in a e re o rce-rich anch ria an arge part o it coa ta area in the ear th cent r , inc ing hanghai an ei ing.

China wanted to emerge from the humiliation to become the wor ightie t i itar an riche t econo , one hundred years after the Chinese Communist Party led by Mao Zedong rose to power with the defeat of nationalist forces led by Chiang Kai-shek in a civil war at the end of World War II.

an hi ippine i itar p anner ha e een i ent staging simulated war games to prepare an eventual confrontation with hina when a con ict er pt o er aiwan.

ince hina wi not gi e p on aiwan, the nite tate will be forced to defend the island when Beijing crosses the red line and invades it.

he pre ence o i itar orce an the pro i it o the con ict to the hi ippine wi rag the co ntr into the con ict.

The Philippines is also a potential target of Chinese aggre ion a ter it a ow i itar orce acce to oca a e c o e to aiwan in the north n er the nhance een e ooperation gree ent .

h , it i on pr ent or oth the an hi ippine to prepare for possible air and naval attacks from China.

The Philippines has small and weak naval forces that ight not r i e an con ict with hina t it ha arger ground forces that can stop Chinese forces from getting close to the shores and prevent an amphibious landing.

As early as during the administration of the late presient enigno ino, the i itar ea er , i e en. ar o Oban and Admiral Alexander Pama, had been planning for the country’s coastal defense.

Women History Month: Let’s recognize the woman behind the man

Welcome to Women’s History Month!

Women’s History

Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society and has been observed annually in the month of March in the nite tate ince .

he an o e o orp Diversity Committee spearheaded a celebration of Women’s History Month in the Gym last week (March . t wa a n e ent with the Name that Tune game (identifying the title of the song an who i the e a e arti t who ang ai ong participate in t ent an taff, accor ing to enter irector a ina Hernandez.

While there’s a saying “Behind every successful man, is a woman” when interpreted means Behind every successful man there is a woman, but the recognition is for the man, not for the woman. This time, during the Women’s History Month celebration, we will be celebrating the achievements in life of women… the woman behind the man.

The expression Behind Every Great Man Is A Great Woman originate o eti e in the fir t ha o the . eop e used it to try to give recognition to the wives or mothers of successful men. This is because the women often helped the men in their lives a lot, but… their work went unrecognized.

Hence, the phrase “behind every successful man is a woman” became a popular saying that suggests that a man’s cce i arge e to the pport an acrifice o the women in his life, typically his wife or mother.

n the e age o o orp ationa irector ache orre , he recognize the effort o wo en ea er in pporting o orp . or er ecretar o a or rance erkins helped drive the creation of the Civilian Conservation orp , the progra that ater in pire the creation o o orp .

itho t the gro n wor ai own wo en i e ecretar er in , we wo n t ha e progra i e o orp , which has helped serve almost million men and women ince it inception in ,” orre co ente .

Torres explained: “I share that piece of history to recognize those women who came before us and worked hard to instill change, so that we could continue to shape our world. As educators and mentors, it’s so important to remind the next generation of the work that was done for us. And the work we ti nee to contin e to o to a e re e er o orp tdent has the opportunity to break boundaries like the alumni retire tar a ia an or .

an or te tifie that her career fir t a a pro e iona basketball player in the WNBA, and now as an investment a i or wo n t e i t witho t o orp . er o , acie, atten e the progra an wa a e to create a ta e financial future for her family.

Among the women who succeeded in life on their own efort wa orence ightinga e. he ai her cce epen on being discreet and persevering. “I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took an excuse.”

Nightingale was an English social reformer, statistician an the o n er o o ern n r ing. he ca e to pro inence while serving as a manager and trainer of nurses during the Crimean War, in which she organized care for wounded solier at on tantinop e. i ipe ia .

(Continue on page 27) (Continue on page 27)

n one o the t a e en e oar eeting in Hawaii at that time, Oban, an air force general who had commanded the 5th Fighter Wing who rose to become chief of taff, an a a, a na ag o cer who co an e the na , asked their American counterparts for precision-guided missiles as well as shore-to-ship batteries to improve the countr capa i it an p h

From a very young age, Nightingale was active in philanthropy, ministering to the ill and poor people in the village neighboring her family’s estate. By the time she was 16 years old, it was clear to her that nursing was her calling… her i ine p rpo e. n ate , ightinga e recei e a etter ro ecretar o ar i ne er ert, a ing her to organize a corps of nurses to tend to the sick and fallen soldiers in the ri ea. ightinga e ro e to her ca ing an ic ae e a tea o n r e ro a ariet o re igio or er and sailed with them to Crimea and superbly did their job as ordered.

For Estee Lauder, always in the know about fashion trends, and founded her namesake brand at a time when Givenchy, Chanel, Dior, Balenciaga and other designers were shaping the latest fashions, was an American beautician and business executive who started a beauty company with a skin cream developed by her chemist uncle. (Continue on page 27)

BETING DOLOR

ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO

MOGATO

Is your petition under investigation?

o fi e a petition or o r po e an the ca e i pen ing or o an onth or ear , chance are that the i in e tigating o r petition. he co a o en o r petition once the e i ence the gathere i n a ora e to o r ca e. o ho recei e a notice o ntent to en e ore the wi en o r petition.

the petition wa initia appro e , o a get a otice o ntent to e o e the appro a o o r petition or rea on that the ha e i co ere ater in o r ca e. he e t trateg i to p an to e en o r ca e t in ca e an n a ora e eci ion i recei e . o ai e to re pon to the re e t or e i ence, o r ca e wi e enie . the proo o itte i not cient to o erco e their fin ing , the wi a o en o r petition.

o ho con t with an igration ttorne who pecia ize in a i i igration an fi ing appea . o r ca e i enie o can fi e an appea to the . enie - petition are appea e to the oar o igration ppea . here are an rea on or enia o petition. ne i incon i tencie ring the inter iew. ther inc e negati e fin ing a o t the a i it o the arriage. here co e e tion a o t goo aith arriage. he o t erio fin ing wo e arriage ra . n thi it ation, o ho it proo o goo aith arriage. o ai e to o erco e the ra charge o r po e wi not e a e to e appro e in an petition e en i it i e p o ent- a e petition.

he aw i pecific that i there i a fin ing o arriage ra , no petition wi e appro e . t e ore that happen o ho e prepare to appea in o r ca e. e ha e a ca e where there i a fin ing o arriage ra in the fir t arriage petition. owe er, the i not o ow the proce ra e proce ring the proce ing o the fir t petition an the econ petition wa ti ate appro e . roce ra e proce i a con tit tiona g arantee o airne in a ication o the petition.

ther rea on or enia o petition an a t ent o tat are i o entere the nite tate ing a ifferent na e or co itte a cri e. here are a ariet o i igration option o a ti p r e t it i e t to con t with an e perience i igration attorne a o t o r ca e.

ote hi i not ega a ice an pre ente or in or ation p rpo e on . o ha e i igration pro e the aw ce o ri pin . ozano can he p o fin a o tion.

r aw ir entere into agree ent with n r ing an care ho e aci itie in the . . to proce app icant or aregi er in the . e a o proce petition or caregi er ro the hi ippine .

e he p c ient fi e or an r ptc . he enefit o an r ptc are an r ptc wi i pro e o r cre it within one ear eca e o r n ec re e t are i charge . tho gh the an r ptc wi e in o r recor or ear , not fi ing an r ptc wi a e o r cre it e en wor e nti o t o r e t are pai .

o are eing e o r cre itor , o t one g ent can e e i inate in an r ptc .

o ection action contin e an o can e e i o are in e t ett eent.

hapter wi e i inate a n ec re e t . o are near retire ent age, o t e i inate o t o o r e t .

r aw ir cce ett e a car acci ent or . .

e a o han e nconte te . an

e can he p o i o nee an n i i a a pa er n er e a o prepare inco e ta ret rn an i o are n er a it, an nee a repre entation with , nee to re ce o r ta ia i it or nee to offer a pa ent p an to , we can he p o with that.

or the onth o e r ar , we recei e appro a ro or three nat ra ization app ication , two ianc e i a petition, two re o a o con ition on re i ence an o r a t ent o tat app ication .

o ha e i igration pro e the aw ce o ri pin . ozano can he p o fin a o tion e ore o r pro e get wor e, which co ea to eportation an a i eparation.

hri a a ozano, . i an acti e e er o the tate ar o a i ornia, the erican igration aw er ociation an an ranci co ria aw er . e ha practice i igration aw, an r ptc , per ona in r an inco e ta repre entation ince ne . i contact phone i - - - , e ai in o aw. net e ite www.cri pin ozano aw.co with o ce in a war an errito , .

California continues creating jobs

a i ornia contin e creating o in e r ar , a ing , new o acro eight a or intr ector .

he tate ha create o in o t o the a t onth an ear-o er- ear ha a e , o , accor ing to a tateent ro the capito . e r ar the er a i ornia create , o in e -

r ar ight o a i ornia e e en a or intr ector a e o he ne p o ent rate ro e . percent to . percent ear o er- ear, a i ornia ha a e , o an increa e o . percent he tate ha create ore than iion o ince pri the igge t hiring pree in the nation

Fitch Solutions sees last BSP rate hike for 2023 in May

ith in ation e pecte to re ain e e ate in o t o , itch o tion o ntr i an n tr eearch oreca t another a i point hi e in the centra an e rate in a , een a the a t or the ear.

a t wee , the ang o entra ng iipina po ic - a ing onetar oar hi e a i point the centra an e rate to . percent or the o ernight re er e rep rcha e rate, ringing to a i point the tota ptic , ro the recor - ow rate o percent in . n a report, itch o tion ee in ation to ret rn within the go ern ent to percent target an on in the econ ha o thi ear.

tho gh the centra an ia e ac on the pace o onetar tightening, we ti thin that the c c e ha a itt e rther to r n a in ation wi re ain ee ate o er the co ing onth ,” it ai . he rate o price increa e ece erate to . percent a t e r ar , itt e change ro the pre io onthear high o . percent.

he report ai that ince o e tic in ation rate re ain tic , concern a o t price ta i it wi p r the

towar hi ing rate a itt e rther at it ne t eeting” or on a , . he re earch ar o itch ro p ai a pa e in the centra an rate hi ing c c e i oreca t or the re t o the ear a ign o econo ic wea ne wi eco e increa ing e i ent in the ata.” t ee econo ic growth to e aro n . percent thi ear, ower than the . percent in an e ow the go ernent to percent a ption or thi ear. e thin that the econo ic owown wi e ri en ac ter g o a e an an the agge i pact o o etic onetar tightening,” it a e . he report cite that with the pe o ti cepti e to e -off in the near ter e to a taine wi e c rrenc acco nt eficit”, ri or an hi e in the e rate i on the p i e.

n a ri -o e ent, the a e orce to hi e ore aggre i e than we e pect to e en the c rrenc . econ , i price pre re rpri e to the p i e, po i e e to rther pp i r ption , the centra an wo i e ha e to hi e it po ic rate e en rther to anchor in ation e pectation ,” it ai .

Land Bank-DBP merger proposed, questioned

By Jeanne Michael Penarandfa

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is seriously studying a proposal by Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno to merge the Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).

The controversial proposed merger is in line with the administration’s thrust towar financia e cienc a ong tateowned banks, Diokno said at a media riefing in a acanang.

The proposal met initial opposition ro h n re o o cia an e p o ee who are expected to lose their jobs with the merger.

Oppositors also claimed that the two go ern ent an ha e ifferent andates which were provided by separate laws and the amending the laws that created the Land Bank and DBP will have to be amended by Congress before any merger could be carried out.

Earlier, Land Bank and the United Coconut Planters Bank, which is owned by coconut farmers, were merged under questionable circumstances.

he fir t an that an an a or e through an executive order of then President Rodrigo Duterte was the Philippine Postal Savings Bank on the pretext that it will be made the Overseas Filipino Bank but eventually ended up as a subsidiary of an an . n re o o cia an e -

ployees of the Postal Bank lost their jobs when Land Bank took over in violation of a law that created the Postal Bank’s parent agency, the Philippine Postal Corporation, which mandated Philpost to re-open the Postal Bank earlier ordered closed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“The President expressed the desire to merge the two to make it the biggest bank in the country because of the recent financia e e op ent a roa . n that really the best practice, the biggest bank usually is owned by the state globally,” io no ai in a pre riefing in a acañang.

Diokno said Marcos initially expressed concern that merging the two banks would mean that services provided by either bank would be lost.

“We assured him that with the merger—because both the Landbank and DBP are universal banks, they do almost the same, right, except that one is focused on agri, the other one on industrial projects,” Diokno said.

In a separate statement, the DBP said there is no formal decision on the Landbank-DBM merger which, it added, would “require an act of Congress as both institutions were created by enabling laws.”

“The DBP echoes and shares the sentiments of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on the need to conduct a thorough and meticulous legal study on the proposed erger o an which he fir

declared during a meeting with all stakeholders in Malacañang today, March 28, 2023,” the DBP statement read.

In 2016, Marcos also opposed the merging, saying it will deprive farmers of an agricultural bank that is mandated to serve their needs.

Diokno, however, said they assured the President that the two banks “do almost the same” and will result in savings of at least P5.3 billion per year.

“Given what’s happening now globally, you have banks which are now being closed right? For example, Credit Suisse. Who would have thought Credit Suisse would go under? So, there’s really a strong need for solidifying the government bank,” he said.

“We’re not saying that the current system is broken but as policy-makers, we have to constantly seek better ways of doing things, especially if we want to improve the performance of particular government agencies,” he added.

Diokno said the merger is also consistent with Marcos’ goal to rightsizing the government bureaucracy.

“If we are able to do that successfully, then we’ll have more money for really essential projects like healthcare, education and infrastructure,” he added.

Should the merger push through, Diokno said Landbank would be the surviving entity because it is “at least four times bigger” than DBP.

“Ang advantage nito talaga (The advantage of this) is that we will be able to save a lot of money for the national government… For the projected operating cost savings due to the merger, (these) could reach at least P5.3 billion per year.

So for the next four years, at least P20 billion and this is even understated,” he said.

“This does not include revenues that can be derived from the sale of redundant assets of DBP, various properties such as it hea o ce in a ati, a propert in BGC, various branch properties, equipment and licenses and income that can be derived from the proceeds of such sales,” he added.

Diokno said the merger is expected to ta e effect e ore the en o the ear.”

Diokno added the merger will cause o e a off , t a re that eparation packages will be given to the said employees.

“In any reorganization, there will be peop e who wi e affecte an that wh we provide a very liberal separation package. They can use that, they can invest it in new businesses if they want to, or they can live on it. But we are doing this for the greater good,” he said.

In 2016, the Governance Commission for Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GCG) cancelled the implementation Executive Order No. 198, which aims to merge Landbank and DBP.

BLACKPINK brings incredible energy in historic shows at Philippine Arena

BOCAUE, Bulacan (Rappler) - At this point, it’s no secret that BLACKPINK has become one of the biggest names in the music industry. And that feat became even more apparent when the K-pop girl gro p a e hi tor a the fir t act to ho back-to-back sold-out shows at the Philippine Arena, which the Guinness World Records dubbed as the world’s largest mixed-use indoor theater.

ince fir t anno nce they were coming back to the Philippines, Filipino BLINKs were determined to make it a show memorable for the Pinks an affectionate ter or the e er , e pecia ince it the gro p fir t return to the country since 2019. Plus, the group, now with a more extensive discography, would be performing in a much larger venue.

After waiting for more than four years, BLACKPINK successfully made their return to the Philippine concert stage on March 25 and 26 with their BLACKPINK WORLD TOUR (BORN PINK) MANILA (BULACAN) shows.

The anticipation for the show was tangible even before the members graced the stage, but the energy went over the roof when o cia opene

Photo courtesy of YG Entertainment

their two-hour shows. From the get-go, the four-piece act wowed with hard-hitting performances of their hits “How You Like That,” “Pretty Savage,” “Whistle,” “Don’t Know What To Do,” and “Lovesick Girls.”

The atmosphere in the arena quickly became electric. The group was welcomed with deafening screams of fans.

“It’s been four years, and the crowd is crazy,” Rosé told the Filipino crowd. Lisa also mentioned how she could barely hear herself while singing, adding that they’re “so excited” to be back in the Philippines.

Jennie also expressed her shock over the massive turnout of attendees.

“I didn’t know they had the seats up so high. It looks like it’s the stars up there,” she said.

BLACKPINK might not have a robust discography compared to their contemporaries, but what the group lacked in quantity, they made up with quality. The presence of backup dancers and a live band, plus the constant explosion of confetti cannons, made each of their stages even more spectacular.

The opening set was then followed by fier per or ance o i hi o e,” “Crazy Over You,” “Playing With Fire,”

and “Tally.”

The Pinks were visibly overwhelmed by the support coming from their Filipino BLINKs, with Jisoo even asking Jennie to feel her heartbeat as the energy of the crow ga e her o er owing e cite ent.

“I think this is one of the loudest crowds,” Rosé said. “I must say, you guys are really getting us excited.”

Just when the members thought that was the wildest the pink wave could get, it got even crazier as BLACKPINK performed the lead single of the BORN PINK album, “Pink Venom.” During the Sunday show, the quartet also got surprised with the “loudest” and “longest” fan wave by their Filipino fans that Rosé even joked that it could be a Guinness World Record holder.

Each member also had a chance to showcase their distinct style and skills with their solo stages. Jisoo charmed the crowd with her sultry cover of Camila Cabello’s “Liar,” while Jennie thrilled BLINKs with a performance of her unreleased track “You and Me.”

Rosé’s vocal prowess was highlighted with her performance of “Hard to Love” before mellowing it down with the emotional number “On The Ground.” Lisa then ended the solo set with a ang thro gh fierce performances of her tracks “LALISA” and “Money.”

i ipino efinitely pulled out all the stops with their fan projects, leaving the Pinks surprised with colored waves for the members’ solo stages. With the concert dates so close to member Lisa’s birthday, fans also

prepared banners, a birthday cake, billboards, mascots, and even an aircraft that carried a welcome greeting, all to commemorate the idol’s birthday.

“So happy I got to celebrate my prebirthday together with my BLINKs,” she wrote in an Instagram post after the show.

The quartet showed no signs of winding down when they returned onstage as a full group with their performance of “Shut Down” and “Typa Girl.”

Jennie also encouraged the Filipino fans to “keep going,” hyping them up even more as she said what has become her iconic line throughout their world tour – this time for the Philippines – “Manila, let’s go!”

First-ever international G! Kapamilya Tour ends with rousing success in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI - ABS-CBN’s newest event brand, G! Kapamilya ended its first international three-city tour this March the way it started it: with ecstatic and thrilled crowds on their feet.

Following their stops in Barcelona and Milan, Zanjoe Marudo, Daniel Padilla, Kathryn Bernardo, Joshua Garcia and Eric Nicolas took Abu Dhabi by storm recently, packing the National Theatre of Abu Dhabi for the last show of their G! Kapamilya tour.

The fabulous five’s winning on-stage chemistry, the curation of the performances and the pacing of

the show delighted the audience no end. The audience came prepared for the party vibes with their placards and signs, screaming and shouting their support for the charming, easygoing cast. They came from all over UAE and the Middle East to catch the Abu Dhabi show.

“As always, any ABS-CBN event endeavor is always for the fans,” said ABS-CBN Global Head of Events and Managing Director for Europe, Middle East and North Africa Joseph A. Garcia. “For this first G! Kapamilya tour, we travelled light but

packed a wallop in terms of Kapamilya spirit. We wanted to bring pure joy and excitement in entertainment, a show where everyone feels safe to sing, dance and do what true fans do. The artists’ personal involvement and dedication to the project made it even more special for their fans. We’re very glad to see everyone in the audience had a good time including the cast and all our partners and sponsors.”

And as they say, the pictures tell the real story. Here are some:

ans pa ked the a�onal heatre of A u Dha i for the nal stop of the rst ever apamilya our of ABS B

athryn, Daniel and the rest of the ast took the audien e to a rolli king nale full of e u eran e and fun

o less than is E ellen y, hilippine Am assador to the nited Ara Emirates Alfonso erdinand A. er, got up on his feet to heer and dan e ith the audien e

Fil-Am Vanessa Hudgens explores, awed by El Nido, Palawan

By Claire Morales True

EL NIDO, PALAWAN/LOS ANGELES - Award-winning Filipino American actress and singer Vanessa Hudgens has own to wor a o re ort town o i o, a awan ro ani a where he fir t to che own.

Vanessa is accompanied by her Filipino mother Gina Guangco Hudgens and her i ter te a who are et to oin her in fiing a oc entar whi e in the hi ippine . ane a, who i pro o her i ipino heritage and likes “pancit” and other Filipino oo e ore he t rne egetarian, i i en o e her fir t i it to i o a e on report ro a awan.

ane a, who ha ong wante to i it the an o her other which her ather hi e ha o e , arri e in i o on n a , arch , an wa we co e a tea o i ipina inger an a cara ao, accor ing to - .

She was also shown bonding with o e high choo t ent an nati e o a awan an a o hi ing ear in the morning as she immediately explored the cenic i o, a o or it pri tine eache an riche arine i e, ca e an e era i an an i et . i e ro a awan, the i actre wi a o hoot o e cene in ani a. ee i e o r i ch a re ata e tor to o an wo en a o er the wor ,” ane a ai in an - report. “The more that we can share, the more we can i t each other p.”

Last year, Vanessa aired her hopes to ha e the i igrant tor o her i ipina other a e into a o ie.

o i ro the hi ippine , and growing up, there weren’t really that many women who looked like me and o an a i on creen. t o i portant to hare a the ifferent torie eca e erica i a a i e e ting pot, [just like the] world,” she said in an interiew with a o r .

Vanessa was reportedly amazed by the

ea t o a awan a he went on a hi e to witne the reathta ing iew ro atop the o ntain .

As she reported in her Instagram post, he tarte her hi e at a. . a ong with the who e tea fi ing her oc entar .

“Well good morning,” she said as she panned her camera to capture the breathta ing iew o the p ace.

a hi e to the top o the wor ,” she wrote, along with the emoji with heart eyes and the emoji with hearts around its ace.

he a o po te a photo o the nri e on her Instagram Stories, writing, “Well goo orningggg.”

ane a oc entar fi which i still untitled is to be produced and directed by Paul Soriano, who is also the Presidentia i er or reati e o nication in the Philippines, and will be about Vanesa a i hi tor an their i ipino root .

eport on ane a i it an new pro ect were p a he a o er the owood media – Hollywood Reporter, Variety and Net Shark, among others – and tho e in the hi ippine , the ho e o her mother, Gina Guangco Hudgens, who is oining her in the i it.

ane a, who ha ong wante to i it the hi ippine which her ate ather ha o e , i e pecte thi arch in ani a, and Palawan to do a documentary with Filipino director Paul Soriano, who is Presi entia i er or reati e o nication to re i ent er inan arco r.

orn in a ina , a i ornia an rai e a atho ic in the e t oa t ro regon to o nge e in o thern a i ornia, ane a, now , i one o i ipino erican who ro e to a e in the i ne hanne origina o ie igh choo ica erie .

ane a o e ear her i ipino other an her i ipino heritage an o e pia,” pan it” an a o o.” he dropped “adobo” later when she stopped eating eat. he a itte he e to eat rice in e er ea .

ate , ane a ha een one o i celebrities who supported the campaign again t icio hate cri e again t ian erican .

n an inter iew ear ac , ane a recalled that her mother Gina came to erica ro the hi ippine with anea ather, reg, an engineer, an a he knew then was her husband and another a ghter te a.

he ai her a , who ha i ite the Philippines many times and admired i ipino a peop e who o e ic, ie o cancer in , the night e ore he p a e izzo in o rea e i e” an he e icate her acc ai e per orance to her ather.

Vanessa always pay tribute to her parent who were a o t in her career, ri ing her to a ition wa ac . he e cri e her mother as a hardworking woman who wa e ote to her h an nti he pa e awa . parent ne er orce e to o anything I didn’t want to do, which I’m grate or. a o grate that it acta wor e o t or e. io , it still a work in progress and, with God’s e ing, e a e to o thi or a er ong ti e. t, o ne er now,” ane a a itte in an inter iew o r ear ago.

As an actress and singer, Vanessa also per or e in tage p a an ica ch a aro e , he izar o z, the ing an , he ic an, ita, he nch ac o otre a e, the ing an an in ere a, a ong other .

Her debut in Broadway was through igi.”

In the romantic comedy “Second Act,” ane a co- tarre with enni er opez, i o enti ig ia an eah e ini. ane a appeare in an o ie , inc ing a o or i e,” he rincess Switch” and “The Princess Switched Again,” and “The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star” where she also was a pro cer an wa hown in et i . ane a fi which a oriano wi irect an pro ce ha no tit e et. i ing wi tart in ani a an ater

o e to a awan pro ince which a e ow a i ornian, ice re i ent a a a arri ear ier i ite .

t wa gathere ro o woo eia that the fi wi e p ore ane a Filipino heritage, including her relationhip with her a i an her o rne a a i ipino erican ce e rit .

ee i e o r i ch a re ata e tor to o an wo en a o er the wor ,” he ai in a tate ent. he ore that we can hare, the ore we can i t each other p.”

Vanessa disclosed that she had been wanting to e e op a o ie a o t her other ina i igrant o rne . ina, a pro cer an actor her e , i igrate to the . . at the age o .

Vanessa’s co-producer and director, a oriano, ha pro ce ann aciao iopic i a ” in .

“We are honored to work with Vane a or thi fi pro ect,” oriano ai in a tate ent. t in piring to note that with e er thing he ha achie e in i e, he want to i co er her i ipino root and pay homage to her mother’s countr . ope , thi open oor or an ore co a oration to co e.”

a oriano wa a o the irector o a anita a co petition entr at the o o nternationa i e ti a an a o pro ce a iaz a to the orrow ter , which won a pecia fi awar at the er in nternationa i e ti a an ran it , which was the Philippines’ entry in the e t nternationa i ategor or the th ca e war . oriano hi ippine o ti e t io i pro cing the new gen oc.

Hudgens had just co-hosted this year’s car war pre- how. he e ec ti e pro ce an tarre in et i he night e ore hri t a ” an e a three in ta ent o he rince witch” ranchi e. he o t recent tarre in in- an e iran a ic , ic Boom!” and is slated to star in the upcoming indie comedy “French Girl” alongside ach raff.

Premium ABS-CBN dramas now streaming on India’s leading OTT platform MX Player

ABS-CBN continues to strengthen and expand its reach among international audiences through a strategic partnership with India’s OTT (over-thetop) market leader, MX Player.

The collaboration between ABS-CBN and MX a er i a fir t or oth co panie who e ine operations extend across continents. ABS-CBN, a Philippine-based media and entertainment organization, has been involved in content creation and pro ction or near e en eca e . he opany has international subsidiaries in the U.S., Canada, Middle East, Europe, Australia, Asia, and the acific an . o a , it content i a ai a e through cable/satellite, IPTV (video-on-demand set-top box), and iWantTFC (OTT).

MX Player, having bolstered its presence since its launch in 2019 with over a billion downloads, i now a ai a e a an p at or in the . ., ana a, tra ia, o th erica an part o Asia.

ccor ing to a pre tate ent ro Player, “MX Vdesi is a content category that is per or ing e tre e we on o r p at or , an we strive to bring viewers compelling stories ro aro n the wor in an n ian ang age o their pre erence. e re e ighte to e pan into a new internationa territor with the a ition o the e fi e i ipino tit e an we e ie e the high relevant and relatable narratives will strike a chord with Indian audiences.”

- , nown or cro ing or er thro gh endeavors such as international co-productions, content adaptations, and multi-lingual distributions, deems the partnership a timely opportunity as the company expands its viewership to the international market. “In this partnership, ABS-CBN and MX Player are able to show to a wider range o a ience the hare c t re o i ipino an Indians, and – more importantly – a true humanity through exceptional storytelling. Whether it’s a o t re enge or a o e tor , cri e or action, ai or ociet , iewer wi re fin a tor apt to their taste,” said Maribel Hernaez, ABS-CBN o a anaging irector or ia acific region. a er er can now en o the o owing arra o pre i i ipino content e in various Indian languages such as Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, Bengali, Kannada, and Malayalam on their desktop and laptop computers, tablets, mobile phones, smart TVs, internet-enabled devices and gaming consoles:

The General’s Daughter

A story of three genera�ons of love and etrayal, and ho the sins of the past on�nue to haunt t o families hose lives are des�ned to e intert ined.

A Mother’s Guilt (Hanggang Saan)

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A roman� family drama that ta kles diverse rela�onships and se ngs.

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A rime drama a out ompli ated so ial rela�onships and realiza�on of us� e.

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A story of sisters turning into rivals, of family tradi�ons, and of heart reak.

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PHL ice hockey team wins world championship gold

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. praised the Philippine Men’s Ice Hockey Team for winning the gold e a in the nternationa ce oc e e eration or hapionship Division IV in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The national team beat IIHF World Championship Division hosts Mongolia with a core o - in o erti e on aturday at the Steppe Arena in the Mongolian capital.

r war e t congrat ation go out to the Philippine Men’s Ice Hockey Team and Hockey Philippines for their outstanding performance in the International Ice Hockey Federation Divisional or ha pion hip,” arco ai on hi o cia ace oo page an witter account.

“This triumph is a testament to their skill and perseverance, and we are honore to ce e rate their cce ” he aed.

In a separate post, the Philippine port o i ion a o congratulated the national team for sweeping their way to the crown.

“Congratulations Philippines Men’s Ice Hockey Team for winning the gold e a at the or hapionship Division IV in Ulaanbaatar, ongo ia ” the ai .

“The Men’s Ice Hockey Team went undefeated the entire tournament winning against Indonesia, host Mongolia, an wait,” it a e . he hi ippine tea fini he with eight points in the tournament with three

wins. All other teams in the division already have at least one loss.

It dominated the competition, scoring goa an aintaining a goa ifference o .

n it we ite, the ai the hiippines’ victory sees the team move up to next season’s Division IIIB competition.

“There, it will renew acquaintance with the ingapore tea that in icte a e i-fina e eat at the o thea t ian a e ,” the ai .

“That game was played at the SM Mall of Asia rink in Pasay, just south of Manila, which became the main hub for the Filipino hockey community this week as it gathered to watch the action ro ongo ia,” it a e .

The national team was handled by Finnish head coach Juhani Ijäs, Hockey hi ippine ai on it o cia ace oo page.

The team’s forwards are Patrick Daniel Abis, Mikel Sean Miller, Manvil Billones, Carl Michael Montano, Jorell Crisostomo, Jan Aro Regencia, John Steven Füglister, Miguel Alfonso Relampagos, John Glenn Lagleva, Kenwrick Sze, Lenard Rigel Lancero II and Carlo Angelo Tigaronita.

n e en e are inzenn a , ar o Pastrana, Julius Frederick Santiago, Eishner Jigsmac Sibug, Jann Gerey So Tiong and Carlo Martin Tenedero.

The goaltenders are Gianpetro Iseppi an ao o paffor .

PHL wins 3 golds in Albania youth world weightlifting tourney

he hi ippine ic e off its campaign on the right track after winning three gold medals over the weekend at the start of the International Weightlifting Federation Youth World Championships at Ramazan Njala Sports Complex in Durres, a port city in western Albania.

Delos Santos, a resident of Angono, Rizal, sizzled with three medals, including two golds, in the men’s 49kg category.

e ran e fir t in natch g an despite settling for second in clean and er g , itte the highe t tota o g or a two-go an one- i er fini h.

Eron Borres of Cebu City claimed the third gold for the Philippines after topping the c ean an er g . e p ace thir in natch g an econ o era g in hi fir t internationa co petition.

India’s Darush Loganathan got the siler e a in natch g an the ronze e a in c ean an er g an tota g .

“This is the future of PH weightlifting. he o ha e fina arri e . t a wa een the gir an wo en. e re fighting now to be the world’s best even in the boys and men’s categories. We’re really lucky to have good coaches and sponsors such

as the Philippine Sports Commission. And most of all, to God be the glory. Mabuhay ang i ipina ong i e the hi ippine ” Monico Puentevella, Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president, said in an interview on Sunday.

Angeline Colonia of Zamboanga City was scheduled to compete in the women’s g categor n a ti e . he - ear-o o onia e i ere three e a in the o th wo en g categor ring the ian o th an Junior Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Albert Ian Delos Santos, who saw action in the o th or ha pionships in Saudi Arabia, will compete in the en g categor on arch whi e fellow Zamboangueño Rosalinda Faustino wi ie in the wo en g categor on arch , oth at a. ., hi ippine ti e. n the a e z e i tan eet, Faustino pocketed three gold medals. he fi e ath ete are acco panie coaches Gregorio Colonia, who competed at the eo pic , an iwa Delos Santos, a Southeast Asian Games ronze e a i t. ean a an

TOP THREE. Gold medalist Prince Keil Delos Santos (center) and silver medalist Eron Borres from the Philippines pose with bronze medalist Darush Loganathan of India (right) during the awarding eremony in the nterna�onal eightli ing edera�on outh orld hampionships at amazan ala Sports omple in Durres, Al ania

By

Simple Steps for the Best Spring Break Ever

the We Can Do This COVID-19 Public Education Campaign

pring rea i aro n the corner, an a i ie e er where are p ing out the essentials to prepare whether that n creen to catch o e ra , extra layers to hit the slopes, or getting pa port an i a to i it a i an rien . o a e the o t o t o their ti e off, a i ie ho o o e e tra ho ewor to a e re an tra e in their pring rea p an goe ooth . e ore fina izing o r tra e p an an e ar ing on a pring rea o rne , re iew the o owing chec i t o steps to ace your break: hec tra e re ire ent . o o r re earch e ore eparting or o r tra e e tination to chec i there are an accine or e ication o wi nee e ore o r arri a . o e e tination a a o ha e ongoing hea th

ri , ch a n a e tap water, n a iiar i ea e , or p ic hea th e ergencie . o a want to chec in with o r hea th care pro i er a we e ore o r epart re. an or ne pecte i e . on i er getting tra e in rance an a ing photocopie o o r pa port, go ernent , an tra e tic et to ha e a a ac - p. o a earch to p an how o can acce hea th care aci itie at o r e tination in ca e o e ergenc . o are tra e ing a one, e re to e ignate an e ergenc contact ro ho e. ac accor ing . re ent i ne or i co ort ro i r pting o r trip by packing sunscreen, weather-suitable c othing, g repe ant, an a water ott e to eep o h rate . a e re whate er i i o pac eet an

carr -on ag re ire ent or a e a plan to purchase replacements upon arri a . p ate o r - protection. et an p ate accine i o r a t o e wa e ore epte er . can ti e prea thro gh crow an an p ate accine can re tore protection ro ho pita ization, e ere i ne , or eath. on i er ta ing e era a with o a we i o wi e in arge gro p or crow e p ic tran portation.

Spring break is a great time to make e orie an gi e o r i a rea ro the har wor that the e p t in ring the choo ear. a ing ti e to p an or a n an hea th pring rea wi he p o a ta hea th an a e ho r o hea ache an e a i tro e

Papan Bill to Direct Water Polluter Penalties to Impacted Communities

o a , e i , a i to en re i pacte conitie recei e po tion re e iation in e t ent ro tate water oar an intro ce e e er iane apan - an ateo , wa nani o appro e the e o ittee on n iron enta a et o ic ateria . e i wi re or the tate ater oar ean p an ateent cco nt to en re that fine an pena tie pai water a it io ator are ent ac to the i pacte co nitie o t i pacte po te waterwa . ith i ite re o rce a ai a e to

re e iate po te waterwa we t en re that high i pacte co nitie recei e the nece ar n to aintain a hea th en iron ent,” ai apan. hi i an i portant e it an p ic hea th i e.”

tate an egiona water oar in a i ornia are charge with en orcing the e era ean ater ct, etting water a it tan ar an i ing reg ation . erhap o t i portant , water oar are a o charge with en orcing water a it r e an pena izing io ator . pica , io ator pa fine that go into the tate ater oar ean p ate ent cco nt which pport the

clean-up waterways in communities most i pacte po tion. n recent ear , howe er, the tate ater oar ha ent an increa ing hare o ean p an ateent cco nt onie to on a e ect ew egiona oar ea ing an a i ornia co nitie -- inc ing an owinco e co nitie o co or -- witho t the n ing nece ar to c ean p po te water . e i wi re ire that o ean p an ate ent cco nt n ing e ret rne to egiona ater oar to c ean p the o t po te waterwa i pro e onitoring o water a it e e op co nit capacit o

that re i ent in the o t i a antage communities can participate in the reguator an per itting proce e an n re earch thro gh the new ean ater nno ation cco nt e ta i he n er thi egi ation. ogether, the e ea re wi en re that the ater oar areing i ite re o rce to c ean p the o t po te waterwa in the tate i aantage co nitie . n ring e ita e i tri tion o the e critica po tion re e iation n i on air an wi pro ote i pro e community health in communities that nee it o t,” ai apan.

So ial Se urity pdate

GETTING TWO SSI PAYMENTS IN ONE MONTH

By G. Samson Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in the Bay Area

For most months in the year, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients get their SSI payment on the fir t a o the onth.

t when the fir t a o the onth a on the wee en or a e era ho ia , o recei e o r payment on the last busine a e ore the fir t a o the onth. hat means you may get two SSI pa ent in the a e onth.

e o thi to a oi p tting o at a financia i a antage an a e re that o on t ha e to wait e on the fir t o the onth to get o r pa ent. t oe not ean that o are recei ing a p icate pa ent in the pre io onth, o o o not nee to contact to report the econ pa ent.

ere how thi wi wor in pri

. pri , , a on a at r a , o we wi issue your SSI payment or the onth o pri on arch , . n thi example, you get two SSI pa ent in arch. he fir t arch paent, on arch , i o r reg ar che e paent or arch. he econ arch pa ent, on arch , , i o r pa ent or the onth o pri .

n o r we ite, we pro i e a chee o ocia ec rit enefi t a ent or the c rrent an pco ing ca en ar ear at www. a.go p ca en ar. ht .

ec ring to a an to orrow tart with eing in or e . ea e hare thi in or ation with o r rien an a i . ro ce at . . ta pa er e pen e

A�y. hris aday Lozano su essfully get the approval of r. ar ia immigra�on ase

FILIPINA POWER: PH CONSULATE IN SF’S WOMEN’S MONTH FORUM

HIGHLIGHTS FIL-AM WOMEN GOVERNMENT LEADERS IN THE BAY AREA

SAN FRANCISCO, USA – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco assembled a powerhouse panel of Filipino American women government leaders in the San Francisco Bay Area, for a hybrid forum in celebration of National Women’s Month in the Philippines and Women’s History Month in America.

The Consulate hosted “Women in Government: A Forum with Filipina American Leaders in the Bay Area”—held in partnership with the San Francisco Filipino American Chamber of Commerce, and the Friends of the Filipino American Community—on 22 March 2023 at Dynamico Space, Philippine Center in San Francisco.

Moderated by Consul Rowena PangilinanDaquipil, the forum shone a spotlight on Filipino American women who have taken up the reins of government of one of the most dynamic and progressive metropolitan areas in the United States. The event follows the sectorbased events that the Consulate has organized for National Women’s Month, namely the “Women in Tech” virtual forum in 2021 and the “Women in Health” online forum in 2022.

Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer opened the online event by paying tribute to trailblazing Filipino American women government leaders in California and the United States.

“Here in Northern California, former Davis Mayor Ruth Uy Asmundson holds the distinction o eing the fir t i ipino erican woman to become leader of a NorCal city, while returning Colma Mayor Joanne del Ro-

ario i the fir t i ipina erican to eco e Chief Executive of a Bay Area city or town,” said Consul General Ferrer.

“Statewide, former California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil Sakauye is the fir t erican o i ipino e cent to ea the state’s highest court. Let us not forget that beon a i ornia or er , the fir t-e er i ipino American legislator in the United States was a woman, Thelma Garcia Buchholdt, who was elected to Alaska’s House of Representatives in 1974,” Consul General Ferrer further said.

In the “Women in Government” forum, the invited Filipino American women leaders shared their stories and experiences in running their communities, their views on local and national issues, and their thoughts about the in ence o their i ipino ance tr an heritage in their ro e a go ern ent o cia and public servants.

Daly City Vice Mayor Juslyn Manalo, who has previously served as Mayor of the Bay Area’s “Pinoy Capital” in 2017 and 2020, shared that she is thankful that she began her journey in public service at a young age.

“When I was in college, the issue that really touched my heart was the Filipino World War II veterans. Through my advocacy for the , ha fir t e perience oing egi ative visits. Learning about their plight, which was really long for these elders to endure, that was what stemmed my service to the community,” Vice Mayor Manalo said.

Berryessa Union School District Board Trustee Jaria Jaug, the only Generation

member in the panel, also shared her motivation in r nning or p ic o ce at a o ng age.

“When I was researching, I learned that there has not actually been a Filipino American woman congressmember. I thought to myself: How could that be? How is it that we give so much to our communities and to our country, and yet we are not represented at the table? That’s what really struck me that [the government] is an area where I can bring my voice to the table,” Board Trustee Jaug said. or er ew a en nifie choo itrict Board Trustee Linda Canlas said that one of her priorities during her time in the Alameda County-based school board is pushing for more inclusion in the education curriculum.

“Some people who would see themselves in the textbooks, their pictures and their colors, get interested more when they see themselves in the books… Everybody who came [in America] played a role in being a part of this history. Once students understand that they are part of history, student achievement increases… Safety increases when the students in our classrooms are happy and are focused on whatever they are doing,” former Board Trustee Canlas explained.

Berryessa Union School District Board r tee he a oac i confi ent that woen and women of color can break glass and bamboo ceilings, and can overcome the challenges that come their way.

“I never listened to people telling me what I can and what I cannot do... If you want to go higher, you have to be comfortable in your own skin. My mother taught me: ‘Never be ashamed because you didn’t steal anything, you’ve never been to jail. Why in the world

should you be ashamed?’” Board Trustee Boac said.

Vallejo Vice Mayor Rozzana Verderiga, the fir t e ecte i ipina erican leader in Solano County, shared how her Filipino ance tr an heritage in ence her eci ion an action a a go ern ent o cia and public servant.

“It is the values that I learned from my parents: love for God, family and community. If you subscribe to these three tenets, you got it. You got to do what you need to do to help others, and make our community and this world a better place,” Vice Mayor Verder-Aliga said.

Deputy Consul General Raquel Solano, the Consulate’s highest ranking woman officia , c o e the o en in o ern ent” forum by underscoring that there is still more wor to e one in the fight or gen er epowerment and equality, citing United Nations data between women and men in terms of education, access to resources, and decision-making roles in government.

n i portant a pect o thi fight i changing mindsets, of both women and men, to enable us to see and believe with conviction that women are equal to men, in terms of their capacity to contribute towards economic growth and development and in making a positive change in society. Only then ha we e a e to ta e a concerte effort to mainstream women in policy and law, in programs and services, in access to education and resources, and in leadership and governance,” Deputy Consul General Solano said.

The “Women in Government” forum may be viewed in its entirety on the video tab of the on ate o cia ace oo page http www. ace oo .co in i eo

Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer delivers his welcome message at “Women in Government: A Forum with Filipina American Leaders in the Bay Area,” held on 22 March 2023 at Dynamico Space, Philippine Center in San Francisco. (San Francisco PCG photo)

Governor Newsom eases drought restrictions

By Claire Morales True

YOLO COUNTY – Governor Gavin Newsom has rolled back some drought emergency provisions that are no longer needed due to current water conditions, while maintaining other measures that support regions and communities still facing water supply challenges, and that continue building up long-term water resilience.

Amid climate-driven weather whiplash, the state has taken action to boost water supplies through groundwater recharge, stormwater capture, reservoir storage, and more.

The governor’s action comes as the state announced increased water deliveries to 29 public water agencies that serve 27 million Californians, now expecting to deliver 75% of requested water supplies – up from announced in February, and the highest since 2017.

While recent storms have helped ease drought impacts, regions and communities across the state continue to experience water supply shortages, especially communities that rely on groundwater supplies that have been severely depleted in recent years.

The governor’s order is responsive to current conditions while preserving smart water measures:

Ends the voluntary 15% water conservation target, while continuing to encourage that Californians make conservation a way of life;

Ends the requirement that local water agencies implement level 2 of their drought contingency plans;

Maintains the ban on wasteful water uses, such as watering ornamental grass on commercial properties;

Preserves all current emergency orders focused on groundwater pp , where the effect o the ti- ear ro ght continue to be devastating;

aintain or er oc e on pecific water he that ha e not enefite a ch ro recent rain , inc ing the aath River and Colorado River basins, which both remain in drought;

Retains a state of emergency for all counties to allow or ro ght re pon e an reco er effort to contin e.

“We’re all in this together, and this state has taken extraordinary actions to get us to this point. The weather whiplash we’ve experienced in the past few months makes it crystal clear that Californians and our water system have to adapt to increa ing e tre e wing etween ro ght an oo ,” Newsom said in a statement sent to Philippine News Today.

“ As we welcome this relief from the drought, we must remain focused on continuing our all-of-the-above approach to t re-proofing a i ornia water pp ,” ew o a e .

Since Governor Newsom announced the 15% voluntary conservation goal, Californians conserved 600,000 acre-feet of water – representing 1.2 million households’ yearly usage.

The Governor visited the Dunnigan Groundwater Recharge Project in Yolo County, where he highlighted the state’s work to accelerate and increase groundwater recharge to make the most of winter storms. California is working to expand groundwater recharge by at least 500,000 acre-feet in potential capacity as part of our water supply strategy.

Leveraging the state’s long-term water supply strategy and more than $8.6 billion committed by Governor Newsom and the Legislature in the last two budget cycles to build water resilience, California is taking aggressive action to prepare for hotter and drier conditions driven by climate change that could reduce the state’s water supply by up to 10% by 2040. In the 2023-24 state budget, Governor Newsom is proposing an

Inaanyayahan ka na dumalo sa mga pampublikong pagpupulong ng Lupon ng mga Direktor ng VTA sa 2023. Ang mga pagpupulong ay sa:

Huwebes, Abril 6................................5:30 pm

Biyernes, Abril 21

(Workshop na Pagpupulong ng Lupon) ....9:00 am

Huwebes, Mayo 4................................5:30 pm

Huwebes, Hunyo 1..............................5:30 pm

Biyernes, Hunyo 16............................9:00 am

a itiona i ion or oo protection an i ion for drought-related actions.

Here are other actions that Governor Newsom and the Legislature have taken to boost water supply, expand storage, and improve infrastructure:

EXPANDING SUPPLY STORAGE BY 1.1 MILLION

ACRE-FEET: California has bolstered supply and storage through groundwater recharge and other projects, including a combined 1.1 million acre-feet of water – enough for 2.2 million households’ yearly usage.

EXECUTIVE ORDERS TO CAPTURE STORE

MORE WATER: During recent storms, Governor Newsom signed executive orders to accelerate stormwater capture to boost groundwater recharge and other conservation measures. -

The state is expanding groundwater recharge by at least 500,000 acre-feet in potential capacity – streamlining permits and $1 billion for groundwater recharge projects for 88,000 more acre-feet per year.

MAXIMIZING STORMWATER CAPTURE: $176 million for 67 stormwater projects and streamlining permitting to take advantage of major storm events.

EXPANDING STORAGE ABOVE BELOW GROUND: California is supporting seven locally-driven water storage projects that would expand the state’s capacity by 2.77 million acre-feet – about three times as much water as Folsom Lake can hold. And, California is working to expand San Luis Reservoir by 135,000 acre-feet to store more storm r noff.

ADVANCING CLEAR, AMBITIOUS TARGETS: 142 actions to improve water resilience and bolster water supplies, and a roadmap for expanding urban stormwater capture capacity by 250,000 acre-feet and adding 4 million acre-feet of water storage capacity.

MODERNIZING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE: California is working to modernize aging water conveyance systems across the state to safeguard long-term water reliability an he p carr winter tor r noff into torage.

Mangyaring bumisita sa vta.org/board para kumpirmahin ang mga petsa at lugar ng pagpupulong, para tingnan ang agenda at iba pang kaugnay na impormasyon.

board.secretary@vta.org

Their Cultures are Different, Their Values are Not

that p zz e hi great .

he e a ization o o ng gir , the o io ep oitation o wo en an en that a e e nco orta e or re,” he a . hine e ten to e ch ore re er e .”

ichae a o i not n er tan what he e cri e a the ca a ier attit e o an atino en, an the e a p e he aw o atina wo en arr ing ore than once, with chi ren ro iff erent h an . e oe n t n er tan that co p ete nora ,” anc a . wo e p ain it to hi , iter ha a h an , he e t her, o he wa a one with a a an then he ha a econ h an . e wa i e, no, that not po i e.”

ByPilar Marrero

anc an ichae co e ro er iff erent ct re , t the o n in each other the e path , coit ent an hare p rpo e in i e the were oo ing or in a partner.

heir iff erence are an e i ro aiwan, the on o hine e re gee who e ao e ong o ni t hina. he i ro erto ico, i ing in o nge e , where he a e a career a a te e i ion o rna i t an , ater, a p cho ogi t.

anc an ichae et in , when hi copan too o er a a -care progra or a t with i a i itie that he irecte in anta arita. he e t the co pan hort therea ter, t the ha tarte ating a ter he off ere to ta e her to a octor appoint ent.

tho ght that wa weir ,” he ai , t agree . ine ear ater, the are ti together. r ct re are er iff erent,” anc a . t we are partner he i the one or e.”

ichae i ore re er e , e o tgoing, e ta ati e. anc i o tgoing, o e ic an ancing an ten to i an h g peop e e en i on t now the ,” he a , o ething ichae i not acc to e to.

or ichae , anc wa t ea to i e.” he ha e path . or anc , ichae wa the oppo ite o the acho” c t re that he e when he e t erto ico. e ha re pect or wo en.”

anc an ichae ha e een together ince . heir re ation hip wa trengthene a ter anc wa iagno e with cancer in . he a e cha ini t c t re co n t ta e it,” anc a . ichae a on t e en now what that i .”

t anc rea aw what ichae wa a e o when he wa iagno e with cancer ac in ne o .

hat when tr aw hi , i e ha ne er een another h an eing e ore in ter o hi pport or e, hi n ing pport,” he a . e wa there or e er ing e che otherap e ion, he ept with e in the ho pita roo e . got e tre e i , an he wo c ean e. pent a o t a ear in e , crea ing ro the e ere pain e er a . e off ere nwa ering pport thro gh he , a ing eer thing ea ier.”

ichae wa e thi off .

t wa n t o a or e,” he a . en o e the ho pita oo an e er thing.”

i e ear ater, anc i c o e to eing ec are in re i ion an their re ation hip i a trong a e er. he hare a pa ion or tra e , an he ha acco panie her to erto ico. t, watching atino te e i ion an i iting the i an , ichae aw thing

PALMA BALLESTEROS

1945-2023

Mr. Edmund Fermin Palma Ballesteros, of Manila, Philippines, entered into eternal rest on January 12,

ichae ee the who e thing a nrea . i e a pani h no e a,” he ch c e . t o trange to e that ociet ac ie ce to thi in o a e eha ior.” or anc , ichae c t re i co p ete a cinating. he appreciate art ro a co p ete ierent per pecti e. i o i an arti t, he can o ca igraph in hine e, he now hin e opera. or e it i e a a an ereng e,” he a gh . t fi r t, anc a i wa eptica a o t ichae . n chino the wo a , what i he a o t, what oe he eat ”

owe er, anc a he earn o ething new ro ichae e er a . he pea an arin hine e, a er rich ang age, an e er thing i a e on torie . t poetic, o he i a wa a ing ana ogie with the e torie a o t thing that happen to e. t enriche i e.”

anc an ichae ha e a o een the g ine o anti- ian hate that ha en re in o e corner o the nite tate or cent rie .

e were ha ing inner in r oc , a a town in tani a o nt ,” anc a . e went o t o the re ta rant an the e two ng o g co e at an a , hat i thi hine e oing here e

t e t a a t a we co .”

a ing o erco e the wor t o her i ne , ichae an anc recent opene a ine together. t an a t hea th care center, ch i e the one the et in.

oth thin the wi e together or the re t o their i e . anc i , an ichae i . e are together i e one per on,” anc a . t we re pect o r iff erence .”

hi artic e i part o the o e cro o or ine erie , a co a oration o ethnic e ia o t et oo ing at interracia arriage in a i ornia at a ti e o ri ing hate. i it o e cro o or ine to ee ore in the erie .

Upside...

Born on October 1945, in Tuguegarao, Cagayan, he was the son of the late Adoracion Palma Ballesteros and the late Fermin C. Ballesteros Sr. Edmund graduated from Far Eastern University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and worked for Philippine Airlines for years. project that he worked called the “Test Cell” is still on display at the Nino Aquino International Airport. He married Beatriz G. Nogoy on April 1975 in Pampanga, Philippines before moving to California. He spent most of his adult life in California, where he worked for and Lanier as a Mechanical Technician. After retiring from Lanier, he chose to keep busy and worked as manager at McDonald’s and Jollibee.

arly on he lo e tra elin to ifferent states ith his a ily eatin at ifferent restaurants an watching movies. He also enjoyed playing mahjong and poker with his family and friends.

Survived by: wife, Beatriz Nogoy Ballesteros; two daughters, Maripet Beach and Madonna Ballesteros; his son, Matthew Ballesteros; son in law, Steven Beach; daughter in law, Mika G. Ballesteros e ran chil ren Sean an ei o Uyenoyama, Aiden Short, Chloe Schuler and MJ Ballesteros; his sister, Evelyn Aragon; his brother, Eugene Ballesteros; sisters-in-law, Marina O. Ballesteros and Erlinda D. Ballesteros; as well as a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death one brother, Fermin Ballesteros II.

Memorial service will be conducted at P.M. on Tuesday, April at Duggans Serra Mortuary, Westlake Avenue, Daly City, CA 94014.

The family will receive relatives and friends prior to the memorial beginning at P.M. until P.M. on Tuesday, April at Duggans Serra Mortuary Westlake Avenue, Daly City CA 94014.

(From Page 11)

in pre cripti e e icine or cancer. he a o co-a thore a co ege co p ter te t oo on concept . o rna ing wa azon orter ear ie t or o writing. n the , howe er, he earne a o t her e , her hi en i an her nte te trength. he e in o e, got arrie , eca e a other, an then a wi ow in o e ear . he can i e when he ta a o t how he carrie on or the a e o her then - ear-o a ghter nowing he tri phe o er orrow an ear. hat ortit e co e ro her ac gro n a a here ian thro gh high choo gra ation in , he ai , a ring rea er there i hea ing ro the o t e cr ciating pain. apte ro origina reprinte with per i ion ro . o e conc e

So are engineer ar ilou Sazon orter. hotos ourtesy S Alumae Asso ia�on. Life oa

erry Samala

Cherie M. Querol Moreno is the proud daughter of a cradle to high school Theresian. “Solitaires” is available at for PhP880 or plus postage and handling at https://www. stcqcaa.org/solitaires

(From Page 13)

Offlinecades ago. He was a brainy and approachable lawmaker who was a favorite of journalists, especially those covering the business beats.

Gary Teves back then was the equivalent of today’s Joey Salceda, brainy economists both.

A friend from the province told me that the Teves clan was split into two camps. One side where Gary Teves belongs to are generally regarded as the good guys, while the other camp is…well, what else can they be called if not the classic Filipino warlord family.

There are countless stories of Filipino warlords of decades past.

The Teves case only proves that they are still very much around. Go to any province where political dynasties rule, and where drugs and illegal gambling are commonplace, then in all likelihood a political warlord with tons of cash will be found.

In many cases, the warlord families will invest in legitimate ine e t i e the afia a i ie . he a own a t oo joints, large poulty, piggery, or cattle farms, but will also have illegal businesses on the side.

By his own admission, Arnie Teves said he was involved in esabong operations, which was pretty dumb of him to go on record that he ran an illegal and illegitimate business.

It was not a slip. As far as he was concerned, he was doing no wrong. It would surprise no one that he will claim that he was involved in all sorts of business, legal and extra-legal, in order to provide employment to his provincemates.

One last thing. I must admit that I was once contracted to help a known warlord family somewhere in the north. God must have frowned on that poor choice of mine, as I fell seriously ill barely weeks into what was supposed to be an easy campaign.

That candidate lost. But that’s no happy ending of the end of a warlord family. See, he was defeated in the battle for governor by his own close relative. It was because their patriarch had chosen to retire because he had grown old and sickly.

In the short time that I was involved in the campaign, my group was protected by heavily armed bodyguards even when we were doing nothing more than conducting house-to-house surveys to determine our bet’s winnability.

The random acts of violence back then involved the followers of the two ain can i ate , who were a ter a ati fie at the tho ght that the province still belonged to them no matter who won.

It would seem that warlordism is a way of life in the Philippines, and there is nothing that anyone can do about this sad and tragic state of our motherland.

They are like cancers to our society, which cannot be removed because they control all of Philippine politics.

As I See It

(From Page 12)

She attributed her success to hard work. “I never dreamed about success. I worked for it,” she said. She was an iconic American entrepreneur. Estée Lauder was an American beautician and business executive who started a beauty company with a skin cream developed by her chemist uncle.

In 1985 she published an autobiography, Estée: A Success Story. It described some of her basic strategies: opening the Estée a er co nter at each new tore in per on, offering ree pro otional items, and remaining personally involved with the company. to e en e er, an erican a thor, i a i it right a ocate, political activist and lecturer, she lost her sight and her hearing a ter a o t o i ne when he wa onth o . e er o ercame the adversity of being blind and deaf to become one of the 20th century’s leading humanitarians. She was an advocate for the blind and deaf and co-founder of the ACLU. Stricken by an illness at the age o , e er wa e t in an ea . eginning in , e er teacher, nne i an, he pe her a e tre en o progre with her a i it to co nicate, an e er went on to co ege, graduating in 1904. During her lifetime, she received many honors in recognition of her accomplishments. (Wikipedia) e er i nown or her ote pti i i the aith that ea to achievement.”

Judy Garland was an American actress and singer. While critica acc ai e or an ifferent ro e thro gho t her career, he is widely known for playing the part of Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz. She was one of the brightest, most tragic movie stars of Hollywood’s Golden Era. (Wikipedia) he i o t re e ere or her princip e e a fir t-rate ersion of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.”

ri ochiyama’s principle in life was: “Life is not what you alone make it. Life is the input of everyone who touched your life and every experience that entered it. We are all part of one another.”

ochi a a was a Japanese American political and civil rights activist. During World War II, the

U.S. government forcibly removed her and her family to an incarceration ite or apane e erican . or fi t ear , ochi a a spoke out about oppressive institutions and injustice in the United tate ri. n ence her apane e- erican a i e perience in an American internment camp, her association with Malcolm X, and her Maoist beliefs, she advocated for many causes, including black separatism, the anti-war movement, reparations for Japanese-American internees, and the rights of political prisoners.

Shirley Chrisholm was better known for her principle: “You don’t make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.”

hi ho eca e the fir t rican erican to r n or a a or party’s nomination for President of the United States in the 1972 . . pre i entia e ection, a ing her a o the fir t wo an e er to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. Shirley Anita Chisholm was an American politician who, in 1968, became the fir t ac wo an to e e ecte to the nite tate ongre . Chisholm represented New York’s 12th congressional district, a district centered on Bedford–Stuyvesant, for seven terms from 1969 to 1983. (Wikipedia)

Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm’s motto and title of her autobiography—Unbought and Unbossed—illustrates her outspoken advocacy for women and minorities during her seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Chisholm retired from Congress in 1983; taught at Mount Holyoke College and co-founded the National Political Congress of Black Women. In 1991 she moved to Florida, and later declined the nomination to become U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica due to ill health. Of her legacy, Chisholm said, “I want to be remembered as a woman … who dared to be a catalyst of change.”

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,” Maya Angelou said. She was an American memoirist, popular poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. Maya Angelou was a civil rights activist, poet and award-winning author known for her acclaimed 1969 memoir, ‘I now h the age ir ing , an her n ero poetr an essay collections. (Wikipedia)

Women’s contributions to the world are great! Let’s honor them, as them, not the woman behind the man! . wa a eteran o rna i t in the hi ippines and a multi-awarded journalist here in the US. For feedbacks, comments… please email the author at estiokoelpidio@gmail.com.)

In the Trenches

(From Page 13)

away Chinese vessels at a safe distance in the high seas.

Pama was instrumental to developing the country’s coastal defense by equipping the Marines with modern anti-ship and anti-air missile defense systems.

The Marines have formed a coastal defense regiment and acquired two batteries of Indian-made Brahmos hypersonic missiles.

Oban also helped to start the modernization of the air force’s integrate air e en e te ac iring ra ar , fighter an ground-based air defense missiles.

t ha ta en a tep intro cing o th oreanight fighter that wi prepare co at pi ot to per onic - .

The Air Force has installed three air defense radars and has acquired Israeli ground-based air defense missiles to defend radar sites.

Aware of the country’s severe air and naval defense limitations, the United States has started to train local military forces hands-on with modern equipment, like the Javelin anti-tank missiles as well a the ophi ticate , which a hington ent to i to repel Moscow’s invasion.

In next month’s joint and combined Balikatan exercises, the US will not only demonstrate HIMARS’ capability in sinking a vessel in the West Philippine Sea but will also show how Patriot groundto-air missiles will intercept and shoot down air-to-ground tactical and strategic missiles. or the fir t ti e, in ore than three eca e , an hiippines drills are becoming more conventional to prepare for an act a con ict.

Delivering a lecture in Singapore this week, Admiral John i ino, the co an er o the n o- acific o an , ai Washington will defend freedoms in the region but it will not seek a irect con ict with hina o er aiwan.

However, China’s new foreign minister, Qin Gang, has warned that if the tense situation continues in the region, the United States ri a con ict with hina.

He shared a similar view with another US four-star general who pre icte a con ict with hina o er aiwan in two ear .

There’s nothing wrong with preparing for any contingency if a shooting war erupts in the region.

Whether the Philippines likes it or not, it will be dragged into the con ict. t i etter to e prepare than orr i that ti e co e .

(Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Manny Mogato wrote this column for PressOne.Ph.)

Health & Wealth

, anchai,

back copy, FREE shipping handling). For your autographed copies at discounted price, just send your book order number of copies together with corresponding payment in check or money order to: ART G. MADLAING, 730 Madrid Street, San Francisco, CA 94112. hi pecia ffer i goo on in the nite tate , nti g t , 2023 to commemorate my 76th Birthday.

(ART GABOT MADLAING is accredited and commissioned Notary Public and licensed Real Estate Broker (DRE #00635976) in California since 1981. He is founder of MOBILE SIGNING SERVICES, FITNESS FOR HUNAMITY (aka FITNESWS FOR CHRIST) and ACAPINOY. Art is active Evangelist with the GOLDEN GATE CHURCH OF CHRIST in San Francisco, California USA.)

What’s Up Atty

(From Page 12) by a pharmaceutical company as a “cure” for erectile dysfunction.

The Ilocano lawyer tried viagra. A few minutes later the ceiling turned blue. His heart beat faster. He whispered to his playmate in bed that he had taken viagra. His playmate remonstrated: “You told me I was your viagra.”

The lawyer whispered: “You are still my viagra. I just tried viagra once t to ee it effect.”

Viagra can have deadly results. The Ilocano lawyer was told this story when he went to Ilocoslovakia. A former congressman’s son, who was the Ilocano lawyer’s classmate in elementary school, reportedly was told by a woman companion at a hotel to take viagra. He took a pill. It did not work fast enough. She egged him to take another one. He did. He died in bed. The woman e . o ice were ca e to in e tigate a ea o in the hote . he found 2 viagra containers on the table. The police caught the woman who confessed to what happened.

RELIEF FOR ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

Matthew Ziegelmann, M.D. said: “Having erection trouble from time to time isn’t necessarily a cause for concern. If erectile dysfunction is an ongoing issue, however, it can cause stress, afect o r e -confi ence an contri te to re ation hip pro e . Problems getting or keeping an erection can also be a sign of an underlying health condition that needs treatment and a risk factor for heart disease. If you’re concerned about erectile dysfunction, talk to your doctor even if you’re embarrassed. Sometimes, treating an underlying condition is enough to reverse erectile dysfunction. In other cases, medications or other direct treatments might be needed.”

The Ilocano lawyer – who is now 90 although looking much younger according to adoring women – was told by his beauteous 40-something doctor on May 20 that he could expect to live another 10 -12 years and that he can still have children. What is the aw er ecret pen ignificant ti e with o ng wo en an above. Any one below that might get you in trouble with the law. Their youthful vigor and outlook on life will be absorbed by means of osmosis. There are also enzymes (which speed up chemical reactions in the body) made in the young woman’s mouth which can be transmitted by passionate kisses. Drink at least half a quart of pasteurized goat milk every day. Eat goat meat. Eat meat from animals with big sexual organs like bulls and bisons. Take all the necessary supplements including those containing horny goat weed and iron. Exercise every day. Exercise even during the long 10-hour airplane ight ro ono to ani a. ini ize tre . e po iti e. e optimistic. Believe that everything will be all right.

A very exciting sex life can be achieved if the man has no ailments, all his organs are disease free and functioning proper , an o t i portant he ha rich re oo owing ooth into the penis coupled with a sexually attractive young woman who knows how to stimulate the man to the height of simultaneous orgasm. As the song goes: “It takes two to tango.” As the poem puts it. “Useless each without the other.” Or as Emmanuel S. Tipon puts it: BS (Blood and stimulation).

Diliman Way

(From Page 12)

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all me are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, - that to secure these rights, Governments are instated among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, -That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter and abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers and in such form, as to them ha ee o t i e to effect their a et an appine . rdence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established shall not be changed for light and transient causes, and accordingly all e perience ha hown, that an in are o t i po e to ffer, whi e e i are ffera e, than to right the e e a o i hing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it i their t , to throw off ch o ern ent an to pro i e new Guards for their future security.-…”

(From Page 12)

The germinal ideas in this quoted part of the Declaration is found, not in the same words, in section 1, Article II of our current which states that – “The Philippines is a democratic and republican State. Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.” EDSA 1 is rooted on a similar provision of the Marcos Constitution. EDSA 2 is based on the previously quoted provision of our current Constitution.

Governor Newsom bares $30 insulin through CalRx

prescription drugs for Californians and increase accountability and transparency in health care.

“People should not be forced to go into debt to get life saving prescriptions. Through CalRx, Californians will have access to some of the most inexpensive insulin available, helping them save thousands each year. But we’re not stopping there – California will seek to make our own Naloxone a part o o r p an to fight the entan cri i ,” ew o ai .

The announcement will bring down the price of insulin by about 90%, saving cash-paying patients between $2,000 and $4,000 annually. With CalRx, and unlike private companies, we’re getting at the underlying cost – the price is the price, and CalRx will prevent the egregious cost-shifting that happens in traditional pharmaceutical price games.

DOWNEY, CA – Governor Gavin Newsom, as part of his tour of the State of California, announced that CalRx has secured a contract with a manufacturer (CIVICA), to make $30 insulin available to all who need it.

The Governor also announced that California will seek to manufacture its own Naloxone.

The announcement makes good on Governor Newsom’s pro i e on hi fir t a in o ce, to ring own the price o

Heart of Hope

Firing squad – drug shortage

“Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) signed a bill that will allow for executions to e carrie o t firing squads, as the nationwide shortage of lethal-injection drugs continues.” (AP)

D3wonders

Vitamin D supplement has been shown in a study of 12,000 older adults to lower the risk for dementia by 40 percent, compared to people of the same age who did not take the D3 supplement, according to the University of Calgary in Canada and the University Exeter in England and co-authors.

This sunshine vitamin is also known to boost the immune system, improves brain function, prevent osteoporosis, manage blood pH level, prevents rickets (softening bones), strengthens bones, prevents certain types of cancer, boosts mood, lowers risk for diabetes, aids in weight o , fight in a ation, he p ower oo pressure, and might help lower risk for heart disease.

CPAP and SPO2monitoring

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) i the go tan ar an the on effecti e wa to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Worldwide estimate is about one billion (1/8 of the global population), between ages 30-69, have varying degrees of OSA. In the United States, there are around 18 million people with sleep apnea, 6.2 percent of the US population, or 1 in 15 Americans. In the Philippines, about 11.3 million, have OSA, 10 million with insomnia, and 46 percent of the population (about 114 million) do not get enough sleep, one of highest sleep-deprived nation in Asia.

ignificant n er o patient on therapy have not been monitored around the clock (continuous SPO2+heart rate monitoring also while asleep).

SPO2 is the blood level of oxygen (O2 saturation, which is normally between and 100 percent, ideally). Patients on CPAP should undergo continuous SPO2 monitoring because while CPAP will keep the airway open for good ventilation, it does not improve the SPO2 of those with asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that results in poor lung function and leads to low oxygen saturation level). More than million people in the USA are on CPAP therapy and many

It’ll cost $30 to manufacture and distribute, and that’s how much the consumer can buy it for. You don’t need a voucher or coupon to access this price, and it’s available to everybody regardless of insurance plan. This is a crucial step in not just cutting the cost for the consumer, but cutting costs across the board in order to bring cheaper prescription drugs to all Californians.

o a re the affor a i it cri i in a i ornia, we ha e to address the high cost of prescription drugs,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency. “The CalRx Biosimilar Insulin Initiative will

Vital med tips

of them are also using oxygen with their CPAP. Wellue brand (CheckMe) Bluetooth pulse oximeter for SPO2+heart rate monitors (work with a cellphone App to record large data) are available on amazon. People who are on CPAP therapy should consult their physician about continuous overnight SPO2 monitoring, even if they do not feel short of breath during the daytime. The monitoring will show how many drops in heart rate and oxygen saturation and how low the O2 level goes down to, while one is asleep. Blood oxygen saturation below is unhealthy, and below that even dangerous. All organs, the brain, heart, liver, kidneys, etc.) are deprived of enough oxygen if the SPO2 drops below the normal level.

It is worthwhile to do SPO2+heart rate monitoring while asleep because it is non-invasive; just wear the monitor like a watch and put the detector ring around one o the finger or one wee or o. hi i t a precaution to prevent a potentially serious problem during sleep.

Silicone butt injections

To improve the butt and achieve a JLo butt admired by women, silicone could be injected to buttocks to achieve a more attractive, sexy, protuberant derriere. But hold it, and listen to this warning from a model and TV personality Blac Chyna, who sounded an a ar a o t the potentia ri an i e-effect o i icone butt or breast injections. They include long-term pain, in ection , carring an per anent i fig re ent, embolism (blood clots blocking blood vessels), stroke, and even death. These complications were also found after liposuction procedures. To undergo a cosmetic procedure that could be potentially deadly is obviously unwi e an a wa te o one . i e an hea th fir t e ore beauty.

Sleep and heart health

A new study on 300,000 people revealed that poor sleep is associated with a shorter lifetime for heart health. It also suggests people with sleep apnea, especially untreated, are at a higher risk for poorer cardiac health. People who slept poorly had two years less of heart health, meaning they developed cardiac disease two sooner than those who were sleeping well, achieving restorative rest. The research was done by the University of Sydney, Australia, and the University of Southern Denmark. A restful sleep is vital to general health. Lack of sleep is like low-bat in devices, with poorer perfor-

enefit a i ornian who are to a pa ing too ch or a medication that we know is life saving and life altering.”

KEY DETAILS

A 10mL vial will be made available for no more than $30 (normally $300)

o o pre-fi e pen wi e a e a ai a e or no more than $55 (normally more than $500)

No new prescription will be needed. Californians will be able to ask for the CalRx generic at their local pharmacy or via mail order pharmacies. Pharmacies must agree to order/ stock the product.

ance an e cienc , an horter i e.

AmazingMetformin

A retrospective analysis showed Metformin users had a 24 percent reduction in relative risk of developing osteoarthritis. Its versatility as a drug includes improving fertility to increasing lifespan. Metformin is the fir t r g in the initia treat ent o ia ete . t act to reduce insulin resistance. For our body insulin produced by the beta cells of our pancreas to work, it must be able to enter (penetrate) the more than 37.2 trillion cells in our body.

About percent of T2 diabetics are non-insulin dependent, meaning their body is able to produce insulin, but it is unable to get into the cells (a condition called insulin resistance), so then insulin is unable to be absorbed to do its job in sugar metabolism, resulting in high blood sugar level (known as diabetes T2). Insulin-dependent diabetes is caused by the pancreas not producing enough insulin, causing diabetes (aboutn10 percent of all diabetes). On the other hand, in diabetes due to insulin resistance, the pancreas produces enough insulin, but it is unable to penetrate the cell. Metformin reduces cell resistance, making insulin able to go into the o ce to o it o . ff- a e e o et or in includes weight reduction, infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome, prevention of pregnancy complications, and obesity. Metformin has also been found to improve executive function skills, learni9ng and memory attention among patients with Alzheimer’s. It is now being te te or the anage ent o in a ation an eta olism conditions. Those on metformin need Vitamin B-12 supplement. Lactic acidosis, which is rare, should be watched for. Generally, metformin is very safe, the second most common drug prescribed globally (52 percent of all international prescriptions), and taken by more than 120 million people around the world.

Philip Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a decorated recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, Astronaut Gus Grissom (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com,

PHILIP S. CHUA

INSPIRATIONAL ARTICLE FOR THE WEEK

By TIM PEDROSA ANTIDOTE TO WORRY

What is a worrier? A worrier is a person who has lots of fears, insecurities, apprehensions in life and all that. But basically, a worrier is one who forgets who he is and who God is in his life. A worrier is simply one who lacks trust in God. Don’t cry over the past, it’s gone. Don’t stress about the future, it hasn’t arrived. Live in the present and mark it beautiful. Here are some words of wisdom from the minds of some experts about worry. In his desire to be in control of everything and of everyone (including himself), a worrier forgets that there are accumulation, accommodation and even deception so that he can hold on and control. Not wanting to “lose his grip,” he’ll hold on to anything or to anyone instead of holding on to God. God helps those who help themselves, right? Right! Act as if everything depended upon you, and pray as if everything depended upon God, right? Right again. So what’s the problem? The problem is that, we adults tend to exaggerate more the action part, “just in case.” And we proudly call that being mature, being grown-up and being practical, “just in case.” We look down on people who are so trusting, and see them as naïve, strange, or even stupid, like children. An adult surely can not be careless! But God is not asking us to be careless when we trust as adults. All He is asking us is that, we care less, because He cares for us! Someone said that 92 percent of what we worry about never really happens and the percent usually is manageable, and that which happens was bound to happen. It was not within our control from the very start. Instead of worrying about it, why don’t you entrust what is bound to happen to God who has a reason, a plan (a good one) for anything that will happen? Don’t forget there is a bigger plan than your personal plans. That’s why it is called a master plan. It is your Master’s plan. Some people ha e e er thing p anne p financia p an, hea th p an, acation p an, retire ent plan, memorial plan; but forget their Master’s plan in this life and in the life to come. Most of our worries, whether real or imagined, stem from fear. The antidote to fear is not worry but trust. Don’t forget what someone proclaimed some 2,000 years ago a o t the ir in the air, an the ower that oo an i ather who ta e care o the . ow ch ore wi e ta e care o i a ghter an on . ear i e e . What is needed is trust. Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles. It empties to a o it trength- ar nge reit. or tho e who are worrie an eep worr ing about their health, remember, none of us will leave this world alive! So, stop worrying! The more you worry about it, the more your health deteriorates. Worry is like a rocking chair. It will give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere. Don’t worry for tomorrow for tomorrow shall take care of itself. Thank God for what you have, trust Him for what you need. A certain writer used to worry about his n a co n. ro Monday on, he would start agonizing already about what to write, what to say, etc., etc. Later, He decided to start worrying ro ri a on . n other words, he had learned how to deal and cope with worry. Change of outlook i a ig ifference. t more than outlook, it’s the up look that really works! You’re not happy? Maybe it is because you worry. So, don’t worry, be happy! Remember the song? Sing it. Don’t worry if you’re out of tune. Just sing, sing your song as if no one is watching. Lord, deliver us from fears, worries and useless anxieties. Amen.

The Triumph of Mercy

od is love (1 Jn. 4:8); and we are to love in the way He loves. His love is merciful love; loving us humanity not only willing for our greatest good, but also loving us even as sinners, meaning in state of separation from Him in sin; hence, there is His mercy for us; that’s merciful love. Our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross displayed this merciful love of God triumphant. Love cr cifie eca e it cho e to eco e the acrifice, an in that acrifice, o e i proclaimed as God’s boundless mercy. Every time we are to look upon the Cross of the Lord Jesus; let us bear in mind His great merciful love for us and leads us all into the wellsprings of salvation. Having gained our salvation and redemption; that is victory! How can we be triumphant also in our practice of forgiveness? The Lord Jesus gave us the answer: “…not seven times, but seventy-seven times (Mt. 18:22).” So, we have to forgive all the time. In order to be forgiving, we must know why we have or must forgive? I want us to consider from our point of view, and from God’s point of view: or the or er, we are to e orgi ing a h an eing an in our human realm; because, we must restore the harmony broken and build up again the relationships destroyed. If we do not reinstate and restore harmony and peace into the sense of community, fraternity and friendships; then, there will be the propagation of chaos, the spreading of antagony and animosity. If there will be no forgiving and pardoning; then, there could happen the promotion of the brokenness of hearts and lives. We cannot live daily with grievances in our hearts and minds, and say we are at peace. There will be no serenity when we think that somebody has something against us; or that we are carrying in our hearts ill feelings and vindictiveness. There will be no harmony and peace without mercy. But that is not the case; we know and can experience peace. We know we are capable of living in harmony with everyone. The human heart is capable of choosing to act peacefully and to maintain peace. That is why, forgiving must be done in order that negativity in relationships be ousted, rather, goodwill and communion must exist. ro o r h an tan point, we ho par on an e erci or, it i or o r h an o ri hing that e en here in thi te pora i e, a tho gh we cannot achieve perfection in human relationships, yet we can achieve it in greater egree in wa that o i g orifie an honore eing merciful; that’s the triumph of mercy.

or the atter, ro the point o iew o o , we t o e i wi to orgi e an e erci to each other or two rea on ir t, we are all His children. Whether we are the victim or the villain we are both His children. Hence, we are to see each other as siblings of the same family of God. In Christ Jesus, we are all adopted children of God; so, we must forgive because the other is not an enemy even if it might ee o, t or o iew, we are i ing , i i o r ather. econ reason, is we are in His space and are given by Him life. Like parents towards their children, the parent goes to console and lift up the child that wa offen e an h rt an then, the parent a o goe to the offen er and would punish and reprimand him. But both remains in the same home, the same space with the parents; for at the end of the day, they are all family in one roof. We are not owners of our lives. We are not owners of the world we live in. All things, including who we are and what we have, are all gifts from God. So, if we are in the same space with God; thus, we must forgive as He is forgiving, for we just live and reside with o . n the ather ho e it i i r e an e a , orgi e an you will be forgiven (Lk. 37).” So, we obey; so that, there is be peace in o r ather ho e. orgi ing i a win-win co r e o action or . t can e i c t an ti e , t we ee it in o point o iew, we will realize that what is important is no longer the hurt but the healing; the disunity is abhorred and replaced with unity; brokenness disappears since wholeness is the one chosen. When we forgive and restore harmony in our hearts and restore peace around us, the world around becomes a better and more beautiful place. That’s the triumph of mercy. Hence, we are to be merciful, for doing so and being so will make us imitate God. Amen.

REV. JOSE PELAGIO A. PADIT, SThD

Recipe of the Week

Chicken Relleno Rolls, Embutido Style.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 kilo chicken, deboned, trim excess meat, remove wings and legs

Marinade:

1/4 cup soy sauce

juice from kalamansi

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper powder

1/2 kilo ground chicken

1/2 kilo ground pork

150 grams, chopped ham

1/2 cup chopped Vienna sausage a ize carrot, fine ice

To Marinate:

Marinate the deboned chicken with soy sauce, garlic powder, kalamansi juice and salt and pepper to taste for 4 hours or overnight, place in the refrigerator. n a ig ow i the fir t o rteen ingre ient or the t ng. ea on with a t an pepper to ta te. t ff the i t re into the e- one chic en.

To Roll:

Cut the deboned into three equal sizes keep aside. i i e the t ng i t re an ai egg into three equal parts, keep aside. In a large platter layout determined size of aluminum foil, lay the deboned chicken skin in the middle of the foil making sure that there is enough chicken skin on at least 1/2 side of the roll. Place one part on the chic en t ng o er the chic en in to or a lug/roll about 3” in diameter. Before rolling distri te part on the ai egg in the chic en t ffing. Roll the chicken mixture making sure that 1/2 of the roll is covered with the chicken skin. Repeat process on the remaining two/parts ingredients.

To Bake:

Put the chicken rolls in middle rack on the oven pre-heated at 200°C. Bake the chicken rolls at

a ize e pepper, fine ice

ta ce er , fine choppe

e i ize onion, fine ice

1/2 cup pickled relish

1/2 cup raisins

1 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese

1 tbsp. garlic powder

4 eggs, beaten

1/4 cup soy sauce

hard boiled quail eggs

salt and pepper to taste

Others:

1/4 cup butter

banana ketchu

200°C for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Then remove the aluminum foil from the chicken rolls and arrange on a baking tray, ensuring that the chicken skin side on the rolls are on top. Brush the skin with the mixture of butter and banana ketchup. Increase the oven temperature to 250°C. Continue to bake or to in te . ring the fina in te of baking brush the skin with the mixture of butter and banana ketchup one more time. Let cool down and slice into 1” thick and serve with banana ketchup.

- i e in Puerto Princesa, the capital city of Palawan, depends largely on tourism. From small businesses that cater to tourists to infrastructure projects like hotels, almost , peop e enefit ro the ector in one way or another.

When the pandemic forced the city, home of the famous Palawan underground river, beach resorts, among other tourist attractions, to restrict the entry of tourists, it also restricted one of its main o rce o i e ihoo . o e i ion of potential tourist receipts had been lost every year for the past two years, according to e etrio ior, r., cit to ri o cer.

“Now, we’re on third year and losses continue to pile-up every day. But so far, the worst was when another disaster struck while the pandemic was still raging,” ior said, recalling the damage ro ght a o t per phoon ette last December.

With people being told to stay at home, tourist destinations were losing one acro the co ntr . ccor ing to the Department of Tourism, visitor receipts dropped by percent in the fir t ear o the pan e ic, a o nting to P82.24 billion in 2020 from P482.15 billion in 2019.

Tourism helped put Puerto Princesa among the country’s top destinations. Now, after a super typhoon that came in the middle of a pandemic, the city hopes tourism might help save the local economy too.

Puerto Princesa reopened its shores to o e tic i itor a t ece er , ior said. But then Odette hit the city more than a week after, damaging the people’s access to electricity, drinkable water, and even to the outside world.

Thousands were left homeless since their houses were destroyed by the devastating typhoon.

The damage to tourism infrastructure and livelihood reached more than P300 i ion, accor ing to the ce o the Civil Defense (OCD), and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management ce .

This, on top of the damage brought

about by the pandemic, had at times brought the sense of loss in the city “beon co prehen ion,” ai ior.

But with the cooperation of the public and private sector, the city is determined and is paving the way to recover.

“For the past two years since the outbreak, we never ceased to hope that the future will be better. The year 2022 is no ifferent,” ior ai .

The renewed sense of optimism comes more than a week after the Philippines started accepting fully vaccinated foreign tourists from 157 visa-free countries. They no longer have to undergo quarantine upon arrival.

Puerto Princesa to expand tourism industry

Groups lobby California legislature to pass bill on fuel ‘price gouging’

SACRAMENTO – In advance of a hearing on Big Oil’s price gouging at the p p that e to recor profit , an the Governor Gavin Newsom’s call for a Price Gouging Penalty, a coalition of more than 100 groups have voiced their support for action.

More than 100 activist groups are calling on California’s state legislature to adopt Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) proposal to penalize oil companies for “price gouging.”

The groups maintained in a letter Tuesday that expediting the proposal introduced by state Sen. Nancy Skinner (D)

is necessary “to hold the oil industry accountable and protect Californians from the in tr gree an profiteering.”

“While Californians paid as much as $2.60 more for their gasoline than average US gasoline prices, California oil refiner contin e to po t recor - rea ing win a profit itera profiting off Californians’ pain at the pump,” the letter continued.

Greenpeace USA, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Club’s California chapter were among the dozens of groups that signed the letter.

Newsom unveiled the proposal in ear-

ly December with the aim of penalizing oil companies for generating “excessive profit .” ogether with inner, he ai the move could “deter excessive price increases and keep money in Californians’ pockets.”

Skinner’s bill, introduced alongside the governor’s proposal, would require operator o a i ornia refinerie tomit an activity report to the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission within 30 days of the end of each calendar month.

o c r profit , the egi ation wo also establish a maximum gross gasoline

refining argin at a et n pecifie a o nt per gallon while authorizing the commission to adjust the margin each year.

In addition, the bill would allow the commission to issue an administrative ci i pena t i a refiner e cee the a imum margin.

ena izing the tate igge t oi refiners “is needed when they tripled corporate profit in a i recor price at the pump for working class Californians,” Raquel Mason, policy manager of the California Environmental Justice Alliance, one of the groups that signed the letter, said in a statement.

PHL vehicle sales rise 27% in February

MAKATI CITY – Philippine assemblers of automotive vehicles sold 30,905 units in February this year, 27.2 percent higher than the same month in 2022 with sales of 24,304 units.

This was disclosed by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturing of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA).

Year-on-year, both sales of passenger cars and commercial vehicles recorded

increments.

Passenger car sales increased by 21.6 percent to 7,189 units in February 2023 from 5,914 units in the same month last year.

Commercial vehicle sales rose 29 percent in the same comparative period to 23,716 units from 18,390 units.

or the fir t two onth o the ear, industry sales improved by 34 percent to 60,404 units from 45,069 units in January

to February 2022 period.

Year-to-date sales of passenger car segment increased by 25.6 percent to 14,695 units from 11,698 units.

On the other hand, commercial vehicle sales had an improvement of 37 percent, with total sales in January to February this year at 45,709 units from 33,371 units last year.

“Members of CAMPI and TMA remain optimistic that it will further

grow by 10 to 15 percent, heading towards the 395,000-unit sales mark this 2023 from the actual sales of 352,596 units recorded last year. Favorable various economic indicators are prevailing, leading to improving the overall outlook of the economy alongside increasing consumer demand for new motor vehicles,” CAMPI president Rommel Gutierrez said in a statement.