Philippine News Today

SOLON CHARGED WITH 4 MURDERS IN NEGROS

4 suspects in slay of governor, others charged; mastermind hunted

By ALFRED GABOT, Editor in Chief

MANILA – Criminal charges have been filed before the Department of Justice against Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves in connection with murders which occurred in the province in 2019.

PH sees 4 assassination attempts in one-month span

By Be�ng Laygo Dolor, Editor

Even SF’s Chinatown not a safe haven against Asian hate

By Gilda Balan, Correspondent

SAN FRANCISCO - A recent syndicated story from ABC News Internet Ventures entitled ‘Anti-Asian racism still haunts San Francisco community’ relates the story of the Jeung family.

Back in the late 1800s, the Jeungs were forced out of their Monterey, California home.

According to Stop AAPI Hate group co-founder Russel Jeung, “When the townspeople wanted the Chinese out, the landlord evicted them. When the Chinese wouldn’t leave, a fire burned down the entire vil-

lage.”

He told ABC News that his great grandparents “saw their entire life’s work burned down.”

His forefathers eventually made their way to San Francisco’s Chinatown, considered as one of the biggest Chinese community in the world. Only the Chinatown in Binondo, in the Philippines’ capital city of Manila is older and bigger.

Jeung said their great grandparents’ new home was the “only place of safety against that racism” more than a century ago.

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Joel Wong advocates for diversity and unity

By Elpidio R. Es�oko

Santa Clara, California – “I am willing to help anyone who promotes diversity and unity!”

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The Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) charged Third District Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. and a certain Hannah Mae, allegedly his secretary, before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

MANILA -- The fourth assassination attempt in a onemonth span was the deadliest yet, not only resulting in the death of a provincial governor but also eight of his house guests, said to be his constituents paying him a visit in his regular Saturday open house.

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VP Harris meets small business, local officials in SF Chinatown

By Jun Nucum

SAN FRANCISCO - The second highest official of the land took time out to have roundtable-type conversations with San Francisco small business owners, local official and community leaders at Him Mark Lai Library in Chinatown.to highlight the Biden-Harris Administration’s investments to support America’s small businesses.

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This was the message of Asian-American leader Joel Wong, president of the National Asian American United (NAAU) and also the president of the SF Bay

In her opening statement, Vice President Kamala Harris praised the work of owners and leaders of small businesses who are also civic and community leaders whose work have been “encouraging innovation, ambition and aspiration as all society

benefits from their work since half of American workforce works or run small businesses that employs the substantial amount of people who benefits the entire economy of the nation. .

“The work that we

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Californians get more time to file taxes

Pope appoints new bishop for Capiz

Hidilyn

NEW AIRPLANES. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. witnesses the acceptance, turnover and blessing of the C-295 Medium Li� Aircra� acquired by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City. The PAF planes will boost the security of Philippine territory, especially in the West Philippine Sea and its exclusive economic zone bordering South China Sea.

JOEL WONG

Vice President Kamala Harris

rge to re o e CCs for re ging ro e ts in Ca ite

C he militant fisherfolk group ambansang Lakas ng ilusang Mamamalakaya ng ilipinasM L renewed its call for the epartment of nvironment and atural esources to revoke the environmental permits of two dredging proects in the southern area of Manila ay.

n a statement, M L said that Silver uest Mining esources nc. SM ac uired an environmental compliance certificate CC in to conduct a seabed uarrying covering , hectares of municipal waters of ernate and aic in Cavite. hile a utch company Boskalis is carrying out a dredging activity in osario, Cavite since last year.

“Mula nang mag-simula ang dredging sa municipal waters ng aic noong , tinatayang na lamang ang kita ng mga mangingisda sa dalawang araw na pagpalaot, o katumbas ng kada araw,” the group said in a statement.

“Maraming isda ang halos hindi na

mahuli tulad ng asohos common whiting fish , besugo red seabream , at alimasag dahil nabubulabog ang mga ito ng ingay at polusyon na likha ng dredging,” the group added.

“ ananawagan kami sa na agarang ipawalambisa ang environmental permit na ipinagkaloob nito sa mga mapanirang dredging sa Manila ay. Muli rin naming pinapaalala sa na mismong ang pag-aaral nito ang nagsabi na sagana pa sa bahura coral reefs ang katimugang bahagi ng Manila ay sa lalawigan ng Cavite, na nanganganib na masira dahil sa mga nasabing aktibidad,” said Fernando Hicap, M L ational Chairperson in a statement.

he fisherfolk leader was referring to the study of ’s cosystems esearch and evelopment ureau which reported that of coral reefs in Manila ay are found in Cavite.

“ he dredging activities in the municipal waters of aic have caused significant

disturbance to marine life, resulting in a decline in catch, particularly for species such as common whiting fish, red seabream, and crab. hese activities have caused ecessive noise and pollution, making it difficult for these marine creatures to thrive and survive,” the group stressed.

Last week, M L met with the ureau of Fisheries and uatic esources F to complain about the loss of fishery resources in Manila ay due to dredging pro ects. he F said during the dialogue that they were not consulted by the when the environmental impact assessments of the dredging activities were conducted.

“ agama’t may kaukulang permit ang dredging, malinaw na hindi naman ito dumaan sa tamang proseso. Hindi nakonsulta ang mga susing ahensya tulad ng BFAR, at lalong walang naganap na pampublikong konsultasyon sa mga mangingisda na direktang maaapektuhan ng proyekto,” ended Hicap.

to eef se rit for offi ials it t reats

CAMP CRAME, Quezon City

More security personnel will be deployed for politicians with “validated” threats to life and safety in the wake of attacks on local officials, the hilippine ational olice said.

he made the decision which is supported by President Ferdinand Marcos r. in response to calls by senators, congressmen and local officials.

This developed as Leyte Governor Carlos ericho etilla said he is “beefing up” personal security following the recent killing of egros riental overnor oel egamo.

“There are changes in our security and that is a natural reaction. here is always a risk, and we can only reduce that risk,”

Petilla told reporters

The country’s top cop earlier said the recent attacks that targeted elective local government officials are isolated cases

and do not re ect the peace and order situation in the hilippines as a whole.

“ espite these recent shooting incidents involving elective government officials, in separate locations, there is no evidence that these incidents are connected with each other. From all indications, all these incidents stemmed from peculiar motivations of the assailants and does not re ect the whole peace and order situation in the country wherein for the past months of anuary and February a decline of almost percent of crimes were recorded as compared to year same period,” said chief, en. odolfo urin r., in a press briefing in Camp Crame, ue on City rig en. Matthew accay, head of the ’ irectorate for ersonnel and ecords Management, said the police and the epartment of the nterior and Local overnment L met with of-

ficials of the nion of Local uthorities in the Philippines, League of Governors, and the League of Mayors on Tuesday to discuss security measures for elected officials.

he meeting was held three days after the assassination of egros riental overnor oel egamo in broad daylight at his home.

accay told the House Committee on ublic rder and Safety that the is eyeing what it calls “security package” to local officials facing threats. He said the detail for elected politicians is limited to two personnel.

“ ut the ’s in the process of studying providing a security package especially for those with threat assessments that are validated,” accay said. “For now the move of the is to provide additional security personnel for those with validated threat assessment

and for the others who wish to avail of S s protective security personnel and s protection agent .”

he police official said the will also step up operations against guns for hire and conduct checkpoints in possible hotspots ahead of the ct. barangay and Sangguniang abataan elections. hreats against elected officials will be continuously validated, he added. Meanwhile, lawmakers said the should step up security measures for elected officials.

“ think we have to have a new threat assessment kasi ibang ball yung because it was a di erent ball before election and now after almost a year,” said Laguna ep. an Fernande . “ t’s a di erent ball game again considering the series of killing on the elected officials.”

efense foreign ministerial meet set in ril

M L he efense and Foreign ministerial meetings between the hilippines and the nited States have been scheduled for pril , the epartment of Foreign ffairs F reported.

he announcement came days following a meeting between Foreign ffairs Secretary nri ue Manalo and S nder Secretary of State for olitical ffairs ictoria uland in Manila.

The DFA said both sides agreed to e pand the scope of the to include broader security considerations, such as food security, energy, cybersecurity, telecommunications and supply chains.

he upcoming meet will be hosted

by the nited States and will be coled by the hilippine epartments of Foreign Affairs and Defense and the S epartments of State and efense. Manalo and uland who met last March had underscored the importance of the hilippine- S alliance and partnership to promoting peace, stability and resilience in the region.

The two officials exchanged views on recent developments in the est hilippine Sea South China Sea, the F said in a readout.

The two also discussed bilateral and global issues of mutual concern, “with an eye towards identifying concrete measures that the two countries can pursue jointly, and together with other like-minded partners.

THE FISHING community in Naic, Cavite a ected by the dredging ac�vity.

Negros Oriental governor, 8 others killed; 3 suspects nabbed; arms used seized

By Jennifer T. Santos

DUMAGUETE CITY – Less than a month after his election as Negros Oriental governor was sustained by the Supreme Court, Roel Degamo was shot dead by armed men disguised in military uniform and reportedly wearing bullet-proof vests while attending to his constituents at the family compound in Pamplona town.

Eight other people were killed along with Governor Degamo, and at least 13 others were injured.

Alert police and military operatives immediately arrested three suspected gunmen after a chase in nearly Bayawan City, two of them former Army soldiers.

he gunmen ed in three getaway vehicles: a black Mitsubishi Montero with plate number YAP 163, a Mitsubishi Pajero with plate number NQZ 735,

and a green Isuzu pickup truck with plate number GRY 162 which were later found abandoned in Barangay Kansumalig in Bayawan City, according to police.

A fourth suspect, whose name was withheld, was killed during an encounter around p.m. Saturday, also in Barangay Cansumalig, after he refused to surrender and traded shots with law enforcers.

Joint police and military authorities also recovered a cache of firearms and explosives in Barangay Cansumalig, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, believed to have been used in the assassination of Governor Roel Degamo, said Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Degamo.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Vice President Sara Duterte and government leaders, including Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Benhur Abalos Jr., and the League of Governors denounced the killing, saying the governor did not deserve such kind of death.

Marcos condemned “in the strongest possible terms” the attack, which local authorities said happened at about 9:40 a.m. right inside Degamo’s residence in Pamplona town.

Initial reports showed about men got o separate vehicles and barged into the Degamo compound, where the governor was in the middle of a meeting with beneficiaries of the poverty alleviation measure Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, and fired up egamo and the crowd.

Last February 14, the High Tribunal dismissed the petitions questioning the result of the Negros Oriental gubernatorial race between Pryde Henry Teves and Roel Degamo.

Suspects in Adamson student hazing death undergoes inquest proceedings

Like the six other respondents, Perry will be detained while waiting for the preliminary investigation.

Jopia said Perry confessed to his parents after news broke out on the discovery of the body in a shallow grave on Feb. 28.

Fellow suspects Earl Anthony Romero, Tung Cheng Teng, Sandro Victorino, Michael Lambert Ritalde, Jerome Balot and Mark Pedrosa are likewise under police custody.

A certain alias “Sakmal” who was allegedly among the initiators has died by suicide, it was reported on Friday.

Salilig’s remains are now in his native Zamboanga City.

to put these suspects on the watchlist so that at least the (Bureau of) Immigration will be alerted just in case these people try to ee outside of the country,” urin said.

The Laguna police said at least 18 people are considered persons of interest in the hazing of Salilig, seven of them are under custody, while one of them allegedly committed suicide.

The family of Salilig earlier reported that he had been missing since Feb. 18.

The last time he was seen alive was when he was boarding a bus en route to Laguna.

Lt. Col. Virgilio Jopia, Biñan City, La-

guna police station chief, said in a statement that 23-year-old Daniel Perry admitted to being a part of the Tau Gamma fraternity initiation rites on Feb. 18.

He was also among those who took the remains of Salilig to a vacant lot in Imus, Cavite.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has requested the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue a lookout bulletin for all the unaccounted suspects involved in the alleged hazing rites that killed Adamson University engineering student John Matthew Salilig last February.

PNP chief, Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., on Tuesday said they already provided the DOJ with names when the case was filed against the suspects.

“We already coordinated with the DOJ

Taguig hails ‘honest’ business taxpayers

TAGUIG CITY – Taguig City Mayor

Lani Cayetano thanked conscientious business owners in the city who declared their correct tax base after an initial low tax assessment.

Cayetano said the business owners’ honesty is admirable and worthy of emulation.

“We pray that their businesses continue to ourish we hope their honesty also encourage(s) others to follow their example,” she said, adding that the city would continue to endeavor to be business-friendly and provide more benefits and better services to its people.

The City of Taguig reported collecting business taxes amounting to PHP4.38 billion during its Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS) so far this year, marking a PHP1.17 billion increase from the figure reported in the same period in 2022.

BOSS 2023 allows business owners to apply for permits and pay taxes quickly, accurately, and hassle-free.

Under the program, the Business Permits and Licensing ffice and the City reasurer’s ffice integrated the payment of barangay fees so business owners no longer need to secure clearances from the barangays separately.

usiness ermits and Licensing ffice head, Tes Veloso, said new protocols for handling applications of taxpayers were implemented, resulting in fewer requirements and faster and more convenient processing of permits.

Business owners could also process business permits at two other venues – the SM ura Satellite ffice and the newly opened Convention Center at the New City Hall Building.

It turned out that Salilig would be subjected to initiation rites by Tau Gamma Phi members.

His body was later found buried in a shallow grave in Imus, Cavite province, as the location was squealed by one of the suspects.

Based on the investigation, Salilig was hit at least 70 times during the initiation rites and later died.

His remains was then buried by the hazing suspect

Manila Cathedral invites faithful as Lenten pilgrimage starts

MANILA – The Manila Cathedral is open to pilgrims for the Season of Lenten.

In a social media post, it said a Holy Mass is scheduled on Wednesday, the offi cial start of the Lenten pilgrimage season.

“To signal the beginning of Lenten pilgrimages this year, Fr. Kali Pietre M. Llamado will celebrate the 7:30 a.m. Mass on Wednesday, March 8,” the Manila Cathedral said.

After the Mass, the priest will expose to pilgrims the Jubilee Cross where the relic of the True Cross of our Lord is enshrined.

He will also bring the Most Holy Sacrament to the adoration chapel as it reopens for the pilgrims.

“May your visit to the Cathedral be truly a spiritual experience to prepare ourselves for the worthy celebration of the Paschal Mystery of our Lord,” it said.

A pilgrimage is traveling to a destination, such as a holy site, outdoor space, or even near to home, in a bid to be closer to God.

The 40-day Lenten Season started on Feb. 22, Ash Wednesday. It is a period of prayer, sacrifi ce, and charity for Catholics.

MANILA – The alleged master initiator of the hazing ceremony which killed John Matthew Salilig, the 24-year-old Adamson University engineering student, has undergone inquest proceedings before the Department of Justice.

Pope Francis appoints new Capiz archbishop

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Pope Francis has named Bishop Victor Bendico as the new Archbishop of Capiz. Bendico’s appointment as the new head of the Archdiocese of Capiz was made public in Rome on Friday, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines

(CBCP) said.

Before this new appointment, the 63-year-old Bendico has been serving as bishop of the Diocese of Baguio since 2017.

He will be the fourth archbishop of Capiz.

The Capiz archdiocese has been “sede vacante,” a term for the state of a diocese without a bishop, for two years after it was vacated in 2021 by now Manila Archbishop Jose Advincula.

Since then, the archdio-

Magnitude 5.9 quake jolts Davao de Oro anew

MANILA – A magnitude 5.9 earthquake shook Davao de Oro Tuesday afternoon, the second in the area this week, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

Phivolcs earlier logged the quake as magnitude 6.2 but later downgraded it and updated the details.

The tectonic quake struck 8 kilometers southeast of the municipality of New Bataan at 2:02 p.m. It was 10 km. deep.

The quake was felt at Intensity V in Maco, Maragusan, Nabunturan, New Bataan, and Pantukan, Davao de Oro; and Intensity IV in Monkayo, Davao de Oro; City of Tagum, Davao del Norte; City of Bislig, Surigao del Sur. Intensity III was reported in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur;

City of Davao; City of Mati, Davao Oriental; while Intensity II was felt in Cagayan de Oro City; Antipas, Carmen and City of Kidapawan, Cotabato; and Columbio in Sultan Kudarat.

Intensity I was reported in Aleosan, Cotabato; Esperanza, Lutayan and President Quirino in Sultan Kudarat.

Phivolcs also logged the following instrumental intensities using an intensity meter that measures ground acceleration:

Intensity V - Nabunturan, Davao de Oro Intensity III - City of Davao; Malungon, Sarangani; Tupi, South Cotabato Intensity II - Carmen, Bohol; Abuyog, Leyte; City of Malaybalay, and Talakag, Bukidnon; Banisilan, and Magpet, Cotabato; Alabel, Sarangani.

cese has been overseen by Monsignor Cyril Villarreal. Bendico was born in Roxas City on Jan. 22, 1960. He finished his philosophical and theological studies at the University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary in Manila. He was ordained as a priest at the Archdiocese of Capiz on April 14, 1984.

Aside from serving as Baguio bishop, he also served as Apostolic Administrator of San Fernando, La Union from 2017 to 2018.

Archbishop Victor Bendico.

Marcos assures drivers won’t lose jobs due to jeepney modernization

C resident Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the government is making sure that eepney drivers and operators will not lose their means of livelihood when it finally implements the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP).

He made this assurance in a media interview following the launch of a special Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) outlet dubbed “KNP Para sa Manggagawa” (KNP for Workers) in Quezon City.

“…Ang problema na kanilang sinasabi ay baka hindi sila mapa-utang para makapag bili ng bagong sasakyan. Kaya ‘yan ang tinitignan natin ngayon, na tiyakin na walang mawawalan ng trabaho dahil hindi nakapagbili ng electric vehicle pagdating ng panahon. Wala pa tayo doon (I think the problem they mentioned is they might not be able to get loan to buy new vehicle. So, that’s we are studying, to make sure that no one will lose ob ust because they cannot a ord to buy an electric vehicle when the time comes, but we’re not there yet),” he said.

Transport groups earlier opposed the planned phaseout of traditional eepneys to replace them with electric eepneys, saying they needed stronger financial support because they were incapable of repaying the huge loan under the PUVMP.

Marcos, likewise, welcomed the decision of transport groups Manibela and Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at perator ationwide S to end the supposed weeklong nationwide strike to oppose the PUVM.

The nationwide strike was supposed to be held from Monday to Saturday but was cut short following a meeting between transport group heads and Presidential Communications ffice Secretary Cheloy arafil and ffice of the ecutive Secretary Undersecretary Roy Cervantes.

“Ako’y nagpapasalamat naman sa kanila na sa palagay ko they have made their point very clearly na kailangan natin tignan at pag-aralan ng mabuti (I am grateful to them because I think they

D AL E. Presiden�al Communica�ons ce ecretary Cheloy ara l 2nd from le� and ce of the E ecu�ve ecretary ndersecretary Roy Cervantes le� hold a dialogue ith P president Mody lorada right and Manibela ransport roup chair Mar albuena in Malaca ang on uesday March , 2 2 to thresh out concerns regarding the implementa�on of the P moderniza�on program. he transport leaders ended on uesday night hat as supposed to be a eeklong transport strike. Photo courtesy of PC

have made their point very clear that we need to carefully look and study this program),” Marcos said.

“Eto yung mga sinabi ko noon na balikan natin itong sistema na sa pagpalit ng sa eepney at saka sa mga bus, at saka

sa mga iba’t ibang transport areas ay kailangan natin tignan ng mabuti na hindi tayo nagbibigay ng dagdag na pahirap para sa ating mga transport workers (This is what I’ve said before that let’s review this system of replacing eepneys as well as the buses, as well as the di erent transport areas that we need to carefully look into so that we do not give additional burden to our transportation workers),” he added.

Marcos earlier directed the Department of ransportation r and the Land Transportation and Franchising Board (LTFRB) to conduct regular consultations with drivers and operators to ensure the smooth implementation of the program.

He hopes that concerned agencies would have enough time to consolidate the guidelines of the PUVMP after its deadline was moved from June 30 to Dec. 31 this year.

“Sa palagay ko sapat na panahon ‘yun upang magawa na natin lahat ng kailangan gawin para ayusin ang sistema ng pag-inspeksyon at pagpalit ng ating mga eepney think that is enough time for us to do everything that needs to be done to fi the system of inspection and replacement of our eepneys ,” he said.

Marcos also reiterated that passengers’ “safety” will be factored into the review of the implementation of the PUVMP.

“Ngayon ang ginagawa lang natin tiyakin lang natin na safe ang ating mga sasakyan, na hindi malagay sa alanganin ang mga pasahero ang mga commuter (Now, we are making sure that our vehicles are safe and the safety of our passengers and commuters will not be compromised),” he added.

The PUVMP aims to achieve a restructured, modern, well-managed and environmentally sustainable transport sector where drivers and operators have stable, sufficient and dignified livelihoods while commuters get to their destinations quickly, safely and comfortably, according to the LTFRB.

Oil spill from sunken tanker in Mindoro spreads to nearby provinces

Cavite Representative Elpidio Baraga r. filed House esolution o. calling for the full inquiry into the oil spill a day after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced it has located the sunken tanker that was carrying 800,000 liters of industrial oil.

ar aga said the oil spill has a ected around 10 municipalities but could also reach other coastal islands, including Palawan, Capiz Batangas Antique and Romblon.

“Additionally, the oil spill might affect , hectares of coral reef, , hectares of mangroves, and 6,000 hectares of seagrass and could possibly coat the marine habitats and animals…which can clog the gills of fish and marine invertebrates…damage the feathers of bird and fur of marine mammals,” he stated in the resolution.

ceana, an international environmen-

tal group, earlier called on the government “to immediately implement mechanisms and actions to stop further damage on the marine environment, fisheries resources and livelihood in the a ected Verde Island Passage which is the ‘center of the center of marine biodiversity in the world.’”

It also asked the government to “start the investigation and testing on the extent of contamination…immediate assistance of the local fisherfolk dependent on the a ected body of water.”

The capsized tanker, the DENR said, is about 1,200 feet below sea level and located 7.5 nautical miles from Balingawan oint, facing ola municipality in riental Mindoro.

The DENR added that the tanker is “believed to have moved southeast from its last known position where it completely submerged.”

The environment department, howev-

MANILA – Expressing concerns over serious damage that the oil spill may bring to the environment and marine life, a lawmaker pushed for the investigation, in aid

of legislation, of the incident caused by the capsizing of MT Princess Empress in the waters o au an town in riental Mindoro province on Feb. 28.

Comelec vows peaceful, orderly barangay polls

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it would spare no effort in preventing violence in the forthcoming October 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

“The power of the Comelec will only be effective during the Election Period, once the Election Period kicks in. This is a warning to everyone, who want to spread violence during the BSKE: The Comelec is not okay with you terrorizing the people to prevent them from voting. We will do all things possible to prevent violence

in all parts of the country,” Comelec chair George Erwin Garcia said in a press briefing on the sidelines of the National Election Summit 2023 held at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila.

On the other hand, Comelec Executive Director Teopisto Elnas noted that security preparations are being done for the October polls.

“Once the election period sets in, the Comelec will be empowered, and we will do everything as far as security preparations is concerned to ensure the safety of all, be it voters, candidates, teachers, or poll workers,” he

said.

The election period for the BSKE will be from July to November 14.

Elnas made the assurance amid the spate of killings of elected officials -the latest of whom is Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.

Meanwhile, Garcia also noted that the input of stakeholders are needed to be able to come up with a collective plan to improve the conduct of poll exercises in the country.

“The sovereign through the 1987 Constitution have empowered the Commission on Elections with such

mandate and duty to administer and enforce election laws in the country,” Garcia said in his welcome message.

“Even with such a plenary authority, it is to be admitted that we cannot do it alone. We need your help, your guidance, your criticisms, your wellmeaning suggestions on how to further improve the conduct of all electoral exercises in the country. This is what the first election summit is all about.”

The Comelec chief also underscored the role of the people in crafting good policies and programs.

PH, US special forces troops hold urban warfare sniping drills

MANILA – Troops of the First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSSR) and the US Special perations Command acific S C C kicked o their oint training activity aimed at improving the sniping capabilities of both forces in ungle and urban environments.

Philippine Army (PA) spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad, in a statement Wednesday, said the training began at the FSSR base in Camp Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan on March 6.

“The exercise is an annual bilateral training activity that focuses on crosstraining and bolstering the interoperability of the PA Special Operations Forces and US Army SOCPAC. The 2023 iteration of the exercise will focus on sniper operations and target interdiction in the ungle and urban environment,” rinidad said.

The training course known as Exercise SOCPAC Piston (ESP) 23-2, formerly known as Exercise Balance Piston, is expected to conclude within this month, he said.

“The ESP will be participated in by

personnel from the 21st Scout Ranger (SR) Company; SR School; Scout Sniper Platoon; and personnel from the Special

Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 1316, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion,

PH, US team up vs. maritime sanctions evasion

MANILA – The United States, together with Customs, Coast uard and legal officials from the hilippines, ndonesia, Vietnam and Taiwan has sought to strengthen regional cooperation in enforcing international maritime sanctions, the US Embassy in Manila disclosed.

In a US-led workshop, held from Feb. 28 to March 2, participants developed closer working relationships to ointly address sanctions evasion activities in the region, the embassy said.

hey also oined tabletop e ercises where they applied skills in investigating and preventing sanctions evasion.

Delegates discussed the impact of sanctions on key stakeholders; regional examples of sanctions evasion;

challenges to the enforcement of sanctions; and models for implementing relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

“This event is a great opportunity for the delegates to meet and share each nation’s response to maritime sanctions evasion activities. The workshop and relationships developed will provide contacts for future collaboration and cooperation,” the embassy’s Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) Program Regional Advisor Ransom Avilla said.

hilippine Strategic rade Management ffice S M officer in charge irector anice imayacyac recogni ed the initiative’s potential contribution in preventing illegal trade activities in the region, especially with Southeast Asia which is “located in a strategic area prone to various sanctions evasion tactics”.

While in Manila, the participants also visited the Philippine ational Coast atch Center for a briefing on the center’s functions and its best practices in countering maritime threats.

The EXBS program, under the Export Control Cooperation ffice of the S State epartment’s ureau of nternational Security and Nonproliferation, seeks to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, destabilizing and irresponsible transfers of conventional arms and illegal e ports of strategic goods by building an e ective national strategic trade control system worldwide.

1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), US Army,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Army Signal Regiment on Tuesday unveiled its new warehouse facility.

“The signal warehouse will be a storage of the Army’s signal equipment that is significant for combat e ectiveness.

The facility will also serve as a depository of command and control communications, and cyber systems (C4S) assets prior to issuance down to Army units,” Trinidad said.

Army Signal Regiment commander Col. le andro . apa said the new warehouse would help in the preservation and maintenance of the PA’s C4S assets.

“ his building is specifically built for the whole PA and let’s use it wisely and e ectively. ith this new development and your continuous e orts, am sure that the command will scale new heights in all aspects,” Papa said.

(From page 1)

t was the first, and possibly only, time in the postWorld War ll decades that so many assassination attempts on elected leaders had taken place, with the four taking place throughout Mindanao, the Visayas, and Luzon.

The shootings raised the prospect that political violence has become a way of life in the Philippines.

n March , egros riental overnor oel egamo was shot and killed, along with eight individuals at his compound, with 14 others wounded. The assassination took place in Pamplona town, and some of the victims were there to receive financial assistance from the government’s 4Ps program.

resident Ferdinand Marcos r. visited the wake of the fallen governor this week. He said he believed the killing was political in nature, and egamo’s opponent in the last elections was tagged by the police as the mastermind, with ustice Secretary esus Crispin emulla telling media that one of the arrested suspects claimed to possess a video of a conversation he had with the supposed mastermind.

efore egamo, the most recent shooting victim was Mayor Ohto Caumbo Montawal of the town of atu Montawal, Maguindanao del Sur. he mayor survived an ambush attempt along o as oulevard in

(From page 1)

nd so it was for many decades. San Francisco’s Chinatown soon became a thriving community as it was a peaceful place where not only Chinese or ChineseAmericans found sanctuary. Other Asians and Asian mericans, Filipinos and Fil ms included, would live and work there without fear of being harassed for their being “di erent.”

he C - pandemic changed all that. he historic Chinatown became the center of anti-Asian racism.

fficials of the great orthern California city re-

asay City on Feb. . He was shot on the hip and left arm.

The mayor from Mindanao could be considered lucky, as his would-be assassin could not be considered a professional.

he same could not be said of ice Mayor ommel lameda of parri, Cagayan, who along with five companions was killed by armed men in police uniforms while on their way to Manila.

hey were waylaid in agabag, ueva ci a on Feb. . lameda was headed for Manila to attend a Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines national convention.

The string of failed or successful assassinations began on Feb , when Mamintal diong r. of Lanao del Sur was wounded while four of his companions were killed when they were driving between Maguing and Amai Manabilang towns.

Three suspects who are still at large as of press time were charged with four counts of murder, three counts of frustrated murder, and multiple counts of attempted murder at the ffice of the rovincial rosecutor in Marawi City.

The assailants of Vice Mayor Alameda and Mayor Montawal were also still at large as of press time.

In the four shootings, the death toll stood at 19, in-

ceived reports of hate crimes against sian merican and acific slanders, which includes Fil ms people in . his was more than a percent increase compared to the nine incidents reported the year before.

Jeung’s group recorded some 11,500 hate incidents against the AAPI community nationwide between March 2020 and end-March 2022.

C ews reported that the figure was much higher than the number of reported hate crimes during the same two-year period. Worse, advocates say that the actual figure could be substantially higher due to unreported cases.

lderly sian mericans especially are known to

cluding ov. egamo and ice Mayor lameda, with more than a dozen wounded, some seriously.

he assassination of egamo was the most brutal as the perpetrators were in full battle gear. The four suspects who were apprehended were military men who had gone AWOL. One other suspect reportedly fought the arresting team comprised of elements from the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army. egarding the killing of egamo, resident Marcos said the government “will not rest until we have brought the perpetrators of this dastardly and heinous crime to justice.”

“You can run but you cannot hide,” he said. recent report from Frankfurt states that close to 70 politicians are killed every year in the Philippines for the past 15 years. But that yearly total rose to more than 90 political killings during the six years of the uterte administration.

That report compares the deadly political violence in the country to the likes of South Africa, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico.

The PNP does not believe there is a pattern in the four shootings within a one-month period, but are rather “isolated incidents.”

keep lesser incidents to themselves, sometimes due to the language barrier. When the hate crimes are in the form of spoken words and not physical violence, they are likely to let such incidents pass.

Whatever the numbers, the hate crimes against Asian Americans continue. While reports indicate that the numbers have dropped nationwide, “the trauma and reality of this hate remains,” said the report.

At least California has taken numerous steps to prevent more cases of sian hate, befitting the state’s status as home to the largest numbers of immigrants and citizens of Asian descent.

Still, a single hate crime against any Asian or Asian American can be considered as one case too many.

Harris...

(From page 1) VP

do to support small businesses requires that kind of partnership between government and also between our community to continue to talk about how we can continue to

invest in a smart way,” Harris underscored.

Harris then proceeded to pride the Biden-Harris administration for the work they had in the last two years in what she claims “has resulted in the largest growth of small businesses in America for any two year-period in our history.”

“And it has been very intentional. The work we did at the height of the pandemic was about making sure that our small businesses could stay open. But the work also has been about the investment in the medium and long-term to grow small businesses in America which by extension means growing the job market, growing jobs and allowing communities to thrive,” shared Harris.

Harris also mentioned the legislative achievements that they had including the n ation eduction. ct, the Chips and Science Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that are expected to put trillions of dollars to the economy in a number of ways.

“One way I am most excited about is a clean energy economy around building up resilient and adaptation as it relates to the extreme climate that we are experiencing as a country. We are investing in American manufacturing in the ideas that we have the talent, skills to actually grow what we can do as a nation in terms of building here and investing in innovation in a new clean energy economy,” Harris explained.

The Vice President added that of manufacturing companies in America have 20 or fewer employees but these small businesses play an important role in generating those that understand software, startups and think about technology and innovation in terms of the future of our country.

Harris also cited the role played by the community development financial institutions C F as a lot of work that the administration has done to support small businesses has been to invest in the community banks as

they are situated in the neighborhood, in the community they understand the culture, the needs in the way big banks don’t always.

“ he work that these C F s are doing is not only about a loan. Is it also making the small business owners believe in their capacity and have the resources that are necessary to successfully run a small business. That might include giving support and feedback around how to deal with payroll, taxes, how to think about investing in the business capital so the business can grow and thrive,” Harris emphasized.

California Assemblymember Phil Ting representing th istrict was happy that ice resident Harris came out to Chinatown and met with its small businesses and local leaders like him..

“The discussion focused on entrepreneurship in the community and the Vice President shared information about the dministration’s e orts to e pand small business access to capital,” ing imparted. “Having the first sian acific slander ice resident come to meet with Chinatown small businesses and discuss the issues they care about was a significant moment for our community and I am glad to see that we have an ally in the White House.”

eing the only Filipino to attend the event, hilippine ews oday publisher Francis spiritu was also elated that the first and highest leader of the country with sian descent took the chance to meet and converse with small business leaders who are given a much-needed push especially after the punishing consequences of the pandemic that still are being felt by some.

“Having Vice President Kamala Harris herself talking and interacting with small business leaders and local officials is a big boost for the community that is assured that they have the administration’s backing and muchneeded support,” spiritu stressed.

Solon... (From page 1)

he filing of charges against eves came as the widow of slain egros riental overnor oel egamo blamed politics behind the killing of her husband in their residential compound, short of linking their political rivals in the province. See earlier stories

t least four suspects, all former soldiers, in the killing of overnor egamo have been arrested and charged with murder and frustrated murder for the killing of egamo and several supporters and in uring other supporters.

wo counts of murder were likewise lodged against ichard Cuadra alias oy Cuadra, asper anasan alias obong ansan and olando inili alias nday, and one count of murder against le Mayagma.

rivate counsel Levito alingod said the testimonies against the respondents were provided by persons whom eves allegedly paid , “per pro ect.”

he cases include the killing of Sangguniang anlalawigan member Miguel ungog in front of the Siliman niversity Medical Center in umaguete City March , .

former agent of the ational ureau of nvestigation, ungog was supposed to seek reelection in the midterm polls that year.

wo more incidents of killings in-

cluded in the charge sheets were at Sitio Labugon, asay town on May , and at arangay Malabugas, ayawan City une , .

eves and his brother, ryde Henry, are also being linked to the assassination of egros riental overnor oel egamo and eight others on Saturday.

egamo unseated ryde Henry after the votes of a nuisance candidate, uel egamo, was credited in his favor.

n a Facebook video on Monday, eves said the accusations against him and his brother were e pected but he insisted they have nothing to gain from ordering egamo’s killing.

wo suspects who have e ecuted e tra- udicial confessions in connection with the attack on the residence ov. egamo last weekend have tagged a prominent person as the mastermind behind the killing.

eves and his representatives have not commented on new allegations linking the lawmaker to the killing.

ccording to the -C ’s filing, three counts for violation of rticle of the evised enal Code were filed against eves and five other respondents.

Meanwhile, the complainant’s legal counsel tty. Levito aligod said their witnesses were the alleged assassins themselves.

eves has denied that he and his brother Henry were involved in the killing of overnor oel egamo

amid allegations that the incident over the weekend was politically motivated. ine individuals, including egamo, died after armed men fired shots while the governor was distributing aid at his residence in the town of amplona. were seriously in ured in the shooting.

ccording to aligod, the alleged assassination team composed of three people killed individuals.

“ ng sinasabi ng mga ito ay dahil kalaban sa politika. specially si dating board member Miguel umog.

Sinasabi nila na nagkaroon kasi ng survey doon kung sino yung pwedeng lumaban kay Mr. eves at lumabas ang pangalan ni Miguel umog na popular siya doon,” aligod said. aligod said the supposed assassins also had regular obs, with one of them allegedly having worked for eves for years.

aligod said they have been talking to the witnesses prior to the killing of egros riental overnor oel egamo.

EXTENDING SYMPATHIES. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visits the wake of slain Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo in Dumaguete City on March 8.

Philippine debt rises to P13.7-T as of January 2023

MANILA - The national government’s total outstanding debt rose to . trillion as of the end of anuary from P13.42 trillion the previous month, the Bureau of Treasury saidy.

he . billion or . percent increase was due to the net availment of domestic and external debt, Treasury said in a statement.

Out of the total debt stock, 31.5 percent was from foreign lenders, while . percent was domestic bor-

(From page 1) Joel

Area Region, APAPA – Asian, in an email interview while celebrating his blog’s one year- anniversary the other day.

His main purpose in his blog was to support “Empowering Asian Americans Promoting Better relations with China and Asian acific countries.”

In all his blogs, Wong believes in the Asian people’s potential and all it needs is to cultivate and expose it at the proper time and forum.

Who told you that Asians are not that good? Wong asked in his blog. They are good! All they need to do is harness and nurture their potentials… and that’s it!

rowing, the agency said.

omestic debt amounted to . trillion, 1.9 percent higher compared to December, while external debt was at P4.31 trillion, up 2.4 percent, Treasury said.

The government earlier said its debt-to- ratio improved to . percent in the third uarter of . percent debt-to- ratio was considered high by global standards.

Wong believes in the Asian people’s potential and all it needs is to cultivate and expose it at the proper time and forum. This has been the tone of his blogs for one year now– harnessing the potentials of Asians and uniting them for progress and prosperity.

He gave the example of Michelle Yeoh, the Malaysian actress who became the first Asian to win in the SAG Awards for best female actor in a leading role in Everything Everywhere All at Once. The SAG awards have been held since 1995, and the event is attended by some of the biggest names in Hollywood. “The awards ceremony celebrates individual performances as well as ensemble casts and is widely regarded as a precursor to the Academy Awards, as many

of the winners of the SAG Awards go on to win scars,” ong said.

Wong mentioned that James Hong, a persevering actor, took him nearly seven decades of work to get him the SAG Awards stage. “ got my first S card years ago. My first movie was with Clark gable,” Hong said as he accepted the ensemble honor for Cast in a Motion Picture.

Hong remarked. “Back in those days, I have to tell you this, the leading roles were played by these guys with their eyes taped up.” He continued while his verything Everywhere cast members -including Yeoh, Key Hut Quan and Stephae Hsu – stood beside him… recalled the producer saying, at that time, that “Asians were not good enough

and they are not bo office.” “ ut,” Hong said, “look at us now, huh?’

In her acceptance speech, SAG awardee Yeoh said that she hoped her performance would stand as an inspiration to Asian women. “This is not just for me; this is for every little girl that looks like me… thank you for giving me a seat at the table because so many of us need this. We want to be seen, we want to be heard, and tonight you’ve shown u that it is possible, and I’m grateful! And my mom will be eternally grateful to you ” she said.

So, Asians are inherently good! All they need to do, Wong said, is for them to develop their talent and nurture them to be able to show them when the right time comes.

Wong...

EDITORIAL Creating instant millionaires

The Philippines’ House of Representatives AKA the lower house of the bicameral Congress, has never had a reputation for excellence. Throughout its existence in various guises, the elected congressmen and women who populated the legislature were more known for all kinds of scandals as well as proposed laws that never made any sense.

It may have been long ago and far away when one congressman sponsored a bill that would outlaw typhoons. Mostly though, the lawmakers of the lower house would sponsor senseless bills renaming streets after their fathers or mothers. Never mind if those parents never achieved anything of note. If governors or mayors could do it, why not them, the congressmen who had the power of the purse over the operations of the Executive department.

Its leader, therefore, would either be the best of the best, or the worst of the worst, depending on what type of character the House had at any given point in time.

his time, the House of epresentatives is led by a first cousin of resident Ferdinand ongbong’ Marcos r. he Speaker is also named Ferdinand, but his surname is Romualdez, which means he is related to the president on his mother’s side.

ven before she became First Lady, melda omualde Marcos came from a clan that was a permanent fi ture in local politics in the isayas region.

Sad to say, today’s Speaker Ferdinand Martin omualde is lording it over a House that is hellbent on pushing for charter change via a constitutional convention, or cha-cha via con con.

The proposed con con will see representatives being elected from the same congressional districts that produce the motley assortment of congressmen and women that the country has had for ages. And it will be a dead certainty that the majority of the con con delegates will be relatives or husbands and wives of the same political dynasties which have done little but to entrench themselves in either executive or legislative positions since the post-World War ll years, or even before.

It’s easy to see why.

All delegates – and this will include some who will be appointed rather than elected, but who will come from the same dynasties now in power – will receive a princely sum that will make them millionaires (at least in peso terms) in the one or two or more years that it will take to craft a new charter.

Under the leadership of Speaker Romualdez, the law will be passed that will dictate how the con con will operate. Every damn delegate will be receiving P10,000 a day. This may not seem like much in dollar terms of about $181/day. But that translates to , every two days, which is more than what the average Filipino makes monthly. orking five days a week, each delegate makes , . his translates to , per month, more or less, or P2.4 million a year. The same delegates will also be allowed all sorts of allowances and fees, further jacking up their already bloated salaries.

Thus, if there are 300 delegates elected or appointed, there will be that many instant millionaires, courtesy of the current House of Representatives led by its Speaker.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of healthcare workers remain unpaid for the services they rendered during the height of the pandemic. eachers, nurses, and rank-and-file employees will remain underpaid. But don’t tell that to the out-of-touch Speaker. Plain and simply, the con con will be nothing more than a sinful extravagance that the Republic of the Philippines does not need.

First of Parts

World-renowned singer-songwriter Burt Bacharach died Feb. at age , sending his now-classic compositions back on the airwaves, stirring memories for the many generations whose sentiments he captured for over years.

More than the multi-award winner’s greatest hits, however, Daly City resident Rebecca Ruth Roque remembers the many times he treated her to a personal performance in his home.

o ue was officially the cook at the Malibu mansion Bacharach shared his then-wife and co-songwriter (along with Hal David) Carole Bayer Sager. As one of two housekeeping sta , she switched chores depending on the need. hen she was not busy in the kitchen, she would babysit Bacharach’s son. Those were the times when the author of “Do You Know the Way to San Jose” and “Raindrops eep Falling on My Head” would call her with his son into the music room.

“He would play the piano and sing for the baby,” o ue recalled a special benefit of her employment.

“He was very close to Filipinos,” she noted, and was “very proud to know hilippine culture.”

Her employer was “kind and smiled a lot,” and so were his friends and associates. Throughout the year she worked for him, she would open the door for Hollywood icons like Diana Ross, Barry Manilow, Michael Jackson, and Dionne Warwick, whom Bacharach “discovered” from a group of backup singers for her unique vocal styling. Elizabeth Taylor would pop in from next door.

hen her one-year contract with acharach ended, o ue moved on to the household sta of other entertainment tycoons whose fortunes were made in front and behind film cameras or bankrolled productions. One bigwig she met along the way gifted her with a BMW.

Roque had essentially reinvented herself when she decided to take on a job that came out of the blue.

She was born in Manila, educated at St. Mary’s High School and later at Far astern niversity where she received her bachelor’s in Arts Sciences. By the time she was married and a mother of three, she had become manager of a finance company, accounting clerk, certified gemologist and ewelry appraiser. n the early s, she owned a pawnshop at irra Mall in Greenhills, San Juan.

HIGHER POWER

She possessed that entrepreneurial spirit, but she believes her fortune comes from the divine.

“My relationship with God guides me now as it always has,” she proclaims. She is an avid member of Crossroads Christian Center in Daly City where she studies the Bible on weekdays and attends fellowship on Sunday.

Back in Manila she was active in the born-again Christ for Every Home movement that studied the Bible to ensure they followed the word of God.

“ e met almost every day, putting od first in everything we do,” she e plained. “ eing born-again is not about going to Mass regularly but having the presence of God in your life. For e ample when make decisions ask od if what have in mind is the right choice. nd He helps me make the right decision.”

Her fellow born-again Christians here and Manila are extended family. She calls one of them “ ita Fe aide,” a leader who in was helping a Manila employment agency recruit a cook for the new ritish Consul eneral in Los ngeles.

(Continued on page 25)

Student loan forgiveness – will it fly?

Is President Biden showing compassion for students who borrowed heavily to finance their higher education by announcing on August 25, 2022 that the federal government will forgive hundreds of billions of dollars in student loans or is it merely a political ploy to get the votes of these students of whom about 26 million have already applied for the loan relief.

wo significant issues have emerged from this announcement.

Up Attorney

Does the President have the power to forgive student loans?

Is it fair to the students who (a) borrowed money for higher education and have paid their loans, or (b) never borrowed money for their higher education, or (c) did not seek higher education but borrowed money to finance a business

These issues are now before the Supreme Court in Biden v. Nebraska, No. 22-506, which was argued on February 28, 2023.

PRESIDENTIAL POWER TO CANCEL DEBT

The Secretary of Education, in carrying out the President’s directive, announced that the government would discharge the balance of a borrower’s loan up to $10,000 for people earning less than $125,000 per year, or $250,000 per household, and $20,000 for those who received Pell Grants for low-income families.

The Executive Department invoked the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students (HEROES) Act of 2003 that was enacted after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York, providing debt relief for the brave men and women fighting the war on terror. ub. Law No. 108-76.

The Act authorizes the Secretary to “waive or modify any statutory or regulatory provision applicable to the student financial assistance programs under title of the Higher Education Act of 1965] as the Secretary deems necessary in connection with a war or other military operation or national emergency to provide the waivers or modifications authorized.”

he authori ed waivers or modifications are for “affected individuals.” ected individuals are those serving in the military or the National Guard; living or working in an area declared a “disaster area” in connection with a national emergency or su ering “direct economic hardship as a direct result of”, a war, military operation, or national emergency.

The Act does not say anything about loan forgiveness.

he ecutive claims that the C - pandemic is a national emergency that ustifies the loan-forgiveness program. As they say in Tagalog “palusot”.

But the States say that if Congress wanted the HEROES Act to empower the Secretary to cancel student-loan debt, it needed to do so clearly. But it failed to do so. Furthermore, the pandemic is over.

The States challenging that action claim that the Secretary’s act is ultra vires and adds to the federal deficit between $400 and $519 billion out of the $1.6 trillion student debt currently owed. The States claim that they have compelling interests in objecting to the violation of the separation of powers. They claim that no law permits the President to cancel student loan debts and that the President has no inherent constitutional authority to forgive student debt. Accordingly, the loan-forgiveness program is illegal.

The States claim that the Executive’s pandemic argument is merely a pretext. The President previously claimed that the loan forgiveness program is a fulfillment of a “campaign commitment” motivated by the belief that “the cost of borrowing for college” imposes “a lifelong burden that deprives” borrowers of the chance to build “a middle-class life.”

Chief Justice Roberts and a majority of the Justices seemed skeptical of the President’s plan to wipe out student debt, the Chief saying that “that’s something for Congress to Act on.”

The Supreme Court decision, expected in June, has farreaching consequences more than just student loan forgiveness. If Biden wins, it will alter the balance of power among the three branches of government. (Continue on page 27)

The measure of love

Ihave said it and written about it often: The measure of love is what one is willing to give up for it.”

The recipient of love may be one’s parents, children, significant other, friends.

People loosely profess their love for others, forgetting that love is aptly manifested in deeds, not words.

Love is what parents have for their children. Often , parents deprive themselves of pleasures to be able to give their children the comforts of life, the best education available, all without any expectation of returns.

Husbands and wives , and partners too, show their love for each other when they surrender certain freedoms which they enjoyed when they were single. They do this freely, becoming, as I kiddingly say, “prisoners of love.”

Children manifest their love for their parents by obeying them and observing their house rules and by trying to make life for them easier, which may be difficult at times, but such is the measure of love.

To demonstrate what love is not, I always think of the suitor, who was calling his beloved on a stormy night. “I would climb the highest mountain, swim the deepest ocean to prove my love for you,” he declared. Yet when she asked him to come over, he looked out the window of his room at the pouring rain, and told her: “Sorry, I can’t go there. It’s raining cats and dogs!”

Love of country is proven by our heroes who faced death to preserve their countries’ freedom such as the beleaguered people of Ukraine and by our overseas living heroes, Filipino workers , who struggle abroad to keep their families alive and well.

Such is the measure of love!

(The writer is a respected journalist who is known in the entertainment circle. She is the founder of the Aliw Awards Foundation.)

Notarization and proof of life

Rosemary, an old client, called and text me last week requesting help and assistance in the notarization and apostille of Special Power of Attorney (SPA) prepared by her lawyer for the sale of some real estate properties in the Philippines.

Wealth

The SPA covering the sale of properties owned by her widowed mother, now confined at the ewish Home in San Francisco, California, must be signed by her mother before notarization and then be submitted to the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section in Sacramento, California for apostille.

osemary arranged with the nursing sta at the ewish Home in San Francisco, California for me to visit her Mom in her room for the signing of the three copies of SPA last Wednesday, 12 noon, March 1, 2023. In addition to the signing of the SPA, Rosemary requested that I’ll bring the latest copy of a local newspaper for her Mom to hold while I’ll take her picture holding the newspaper as PROOF OF LIFE because she is already old. Accordingly, this is required in the Philippines. I was surprised to know the new requirement because I’ve notarized so many SPA through the years without PROOF OF LIFE as additional requirement for the signed SPA by an elderly client.

Before meeting the widowed mother of Regina at the Jewish Home, went first to allgreens and bought a copy of the San Francisco Chronicle dated March, 1, 2023, Wednesday. Then, I drove to the Jewish Home in San Francisco. The security guard at the Gate Entrance told me to see and meet the parking attendant which required me to pay $10 for one-hour stay with my elderly client.

Before 12 noon on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, I meet the nursing registry sta at the lobby, who instructed me to sign the isitors’ egistration Log. fter showing my proof of two C accination shots and one ooster shot issued by Kaiser Permanente, the lady at the registry took my body temperature. With everything normal and okay, I was allowed to see osemary’s mother in her room in the second oor of the Jewish Convalescent Hospital, for just one hour as strict requirement in the convalescent hospital.

Rosemary’s widowed mother was smiling when I met her. After some preliminaries, I had the elderly widow sign the three copies of SPA and then had her sign my Journal of Notarial Acts and put her right thumb marks.

Then, I had Rosemary’s mother hold the front page copy of San Francisco Chronicle dated March 1, 2023, Wednesday. With the widow smiling, I took her picture holding the newspaper using my iphone. One Friday, March 3, 2023, I drove to the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section, in Sacramento, California and submitted the notarized SPA inside the Apostille Box in the lobby of the Secretary of State building, for apostille.

As further instructed by Rosemary, I sent the screenshots of the signed and notarized SPA with the picture of her smiling Mom holding the front page copy of the San Francisco Chronicle, to her cousin in Metro Manila by email.

When the apostilled SPA will be returned by the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section, in Sacramento, I was further instructed by Rosemary to send the apostilled SPA through LBC Courier, to her cousin in San Pedro, Laguna, Philippines. Rosemary texted to me her cousin’s address and telephone number as required by LBC.

As can be observed from the foregoing processes of notarization, apostille follow-up and the additional requirement of PROOF OF LIFE for elderly client, our complete and unique services at Mobile Signing Services (MSS) is not just the ordinary notarization of signatures.

We, at MSS, “ walk the extra mile” doing beyond what our old and new clients expected us to do.

We, at MSS, are committed, dedicated and will continue to help and assist old and new clients, particularly the elderly, veterans and those physically handicapped, in the notarization and apostille follow-up of ffidavits, Special ower of Attorney, DEED OF DONATION, Proof of Life, DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE, Waiver of Rights and other documents needed in the Philippines and the other member nations of the Hague Apostille Convention.

For immediate help and as-

ART GABOT MADLAING Health &

EMMANUEL SAMONTE TIPON What’s

Strong signs of a breakdown in law and order

In a span of one week, three elected government officials were targets of assassination. ne attempt succeeded, while in the two other cases, the officials were in ured, but survived. he same could not be said of the companions of two officials, who were killed.

lso last week, a tourist from New Zealand was shot and killed after he fought a gunman who was attempting a hold up in Makati City.

t least in that case, the suspect was caught. He actually turned himself in after his face was caught on CC cameras, and he would have been the sub ect of a silent shoot-to-kill order if he had not surrendered.

hat suspect denied being the gunman, but at least five witnesses pointed to him as the killer.

he crime may have been solved, but it left a huge black eye for hilippine tourism.

For one, the suspect was already wanted for a previous violent crime. hy, then, was he allowed to move about scot free he fact that he was so afraid of what the police would to do him for his latest crime says that he could have been arrested before under pain of being another tokhang victim.

For those who may have forgotten, tokhang refers to the operations of the police during the uterte regime wherein drug suspects were mercilessly gunned down without being given the chance to peacefully surrender.

he series of violent crimes sends a strong message to the public that no one is safe. Criminal elements are everywhere and guns are easy to procure, not ust legally but illegally.

elative to the seeming breakdown of law and order is that fact that an innocent person former senator Leila de Lima remains incarcerated for crimes she did not commit.

he former ustice secretary has been under arrest for si years, even as most witnesses against her have retracted their testimonies and implicated officials of the uterte regime for the trumped up drug charges she still faces.

S and uropean lawmakers and organi ations have consistently pointed to e Lima’s arrest as proof that the udicial system in the country is barely working, if at all.

here’s an old saying that says there are two systems of ustice in the country, one for the rich and powerful, and the other for ordinary people. n the latter case, ustice is a hit-ormiss proposition.

here are stories told of very poor inoys stealing something as inconse uential as a loaf of bread, and being sentenced to years in prison for what should be a forgivable o ense.

n fact, lawlessness has practically become a way of life for many Filipinos.

Some decades ago, after a government official was shot, a high-ranking official famously asked “ eneral, what is happening to our country ”

he answer to that is, it’s gotten from bad to worse. nd there is no indication that it will improve any time soon.

he ma ority of Filipinos are aware that the likes of former first lady melda Marcos should be in prison. She was convicted with finality. et she has not spent a single minute of incarceration.

ne past hilippine ational olice chief said he could not and would not order the arrest of melda Marcos “because of her age.”

he same reason was used to allow uan once nrile to be free, and even serve as Cabinet secretary. He didn’t even have to wear a neck brace or be pushed around in a wheelchair to try and earn some sympathy like loria Macapagal- rroyo.

melda’s high priced lawyers were able to take all known delaying tactics to prevent her being arrested and imprisoned. echnicalities have always been the first resort of lawyers defending the obviously guilty.

y all accounts, rap and inggoy strada, along with ong evilla should be inmates at the ew ilibid rison. here, they can at least live in lu urious surroundings, ust like the inmates who still manage to pursue their criminal enterprises while inside.

Hasn’t happened, has it

hat there can be no real ustice for countless Filipinos can be gleaned from the current and previous administrations’ reecting the nternational Crimi-

(Continue on page 27)

CL , Canada he highest is ero. t’s the first time ever heard of it and was startled. hen heard it, thought my math teacher, she who taught us that ero is the lowest number, would have been shocked. fter a while, thought le a got it all wrong. was going down the stairs in my son’s and daughter-in-law’s home here ednesday when overheard le a’s declaration.

s reached the bottom of the stairs, saw my wife standing, talking to the smart gadget placed on top of my son’s office table in a corner of their home where he prepares and notari es legal documents and it was then that reali ed she was asking about the weather.

es irginia, you heard it right. e got a super frigid situation here in Calgary right now as write this column. he virtual assistant declared “ t’s minus degrees Celsius with cloudy skies right now in Calgary, lberta. onight, you can e pect a high of ero degree and a low of minus degrees.”

t’s winter time. Snow is everywhere. he moment we stepped out of the Calgary airport, felt the biting cold chilling me to the bones. ran to the parking area where my son Clarence’s car was situated.

looked at my wife behind me but she didn’t change pace and was ust simply walking alongside our two grandchildren who was with their ad waving e citedly their smart phones that embla oned welcome greetings for us minutes earlier, and whom we haven’t seen since Covid - intervened.

ur beautiful daughter-in- law aren was not with them but we were all reunited later at their couple-friends’ home in ew righton who were celebrating three milestones- man and my Castillo’s wedding anniversary, man’s th birthday and their youngest child’s birthday. man has a high paying ob in an oil and gas Canadian company.

Some of their friends and families were there arwin Franco with his wife adette, onald and enielyn Mauhay, and the Franco and Mauhay children more families had left by the time we came in.

ne thing observed in Canada, at least here in Calgary, is the tight and close-knit ties of kinship and friendship prevailing among Filipinos and this closeness e tends to their children. hey help and support each other, always ready to lend a hand to anyone of them in need.

ll one in need has to do is to make a call, and pronto, a schedule is agreed upon which mostly occurs on weekends when many of them are o from work.

es irginia, the ayanihan’ spirit lives on here

e it helping fi a house, troubleshooting a car, dropping or picking up a kid to or from school or school engagements, or what have you, there’s always a inoy friend to rely on.

saw this happen several times in our previous visit here. saw it again this time.

My daughter-in-law’s hirlpool laundry machine wasn’t working and before knew it, we were already in onald and enielyn Mauhay’s home in Copperfield with aren using the couple’s laundry machine

o cap the hospitality, the Mauhays treated us with a sumptuous Filipino dinner inside their home.

he Covid pandemic was a test of the inoy brand of oneness and camaraderie. t that time,when a family gets caught by the fast-spreading virus, e pect a lot of inoys delivering foodstu s and medicines at the doorsteps of their aficted compatriots . his was when the virus can easily get into defenseless people’s lungs within it’s range.

Like when it happened to my son and his family. veryone of them was knocked down by Covid- . hen word got around they got hit, their inoy friends appeared at their door, bringing all that they needed.

ll year round, the same bayanihan’ practice of helping the distressed and each other prevails, Covid or no Covid.

Mabuhay Calgarian inoys

(The writer is a veteran Filipino journalist who is now based in Hercules City, California.)

Happy anniversary, Joel!

oel ong, president of the ational sian merican nited , is celebrating his blog’s one-year anniversary today whose main purpose in his blog was to support the “ mpowering sian mericans romoting etter relations with China and sian acific countries.”

Having in mind the strength of our sian culture and the need for diversity and unity, oel thought of coming out with a medium, so he could articulate his ideas about sian culture and its heritage. ursuant to this, he thought of starting a blog to pursue his goals by highlighting sian strength, culture, heritage, and its best practices to be able to rally support and cooperation among sians.

“ t the encouragement of some of you, started a blog at oelwong.net about a year ago t has been a rather prolific year, as have averaged about . blogs per week. s well, am gratified by the general positive feedback for my e orts,” oel said. oel continue to capture sian presence in the ay rea and finds it encouraging to continue because of the support being e tended to him. He is actually overwhelmed by the pouring feedback he is getting from his blogs.

oel is willing to work with individuals and organi ations to be able to promote unity and diversity. his has been the tenor of his blogs for one year now.

met oel during the celebration of this year’s Lunar ew ear held at ing ing Silicon alley Community Media Studio founded by iana ing located at Santa Clara City.

He moderated the Civic Leadership Forum Silicon alley during the Lunar ew ear celebration this year with r. iaoyan hang delivering the keynote speech on “How social media divides us and how leaders leverage their cultural strengths to work together.”

fter his speech a panel discussion ensued participated in by known sian community leaders in the ay rea in the persons of Francis spiritu, resident ublisher of hilippine ews oday and past president of the San Mateo County Filipino merican Chamber of Commerce aomi akano-Matsumoto, resident of Fremont nion High School Christine on aesfeld, C for non-profit organiation ran u, ietnamese ournalist and nnouncer Chris orwood, resident, Milpitas nified School istrict M S and athy atanabe, councilmember, City of Santa Clara.

ong e plained “ ithout a doubt, my most popular work was ll f s elong ight Here’ which started out as a poem on pril , . t the suggestion of some of you, composed a rather catchy chorus and made it into a song, and then a Music ideo. he crowning achievement of this e ort was a oat, named after this theme song, at the recent San Francisco Chinese ew ear arade, with a strong multi-ethnic group of singers, dancers and band members celebrating our country’s diversity.”

He further said “ t this point, have to pause and thank the many people who have supported my e orts and, in particular help make the video, the oat and the parade possible. My partners in crime are en, iana, ennis, e , Christine, Herbert, Maeley, a Hsuan and many others.”

oel acknowledged that “ hrough my blogs, have made friends and gained supporters. he S has in general been good to us but alas, some fellow countrymen and women fail to appreciate that there is strength in diversity and unity. thers could not or would not stop playing a “ ero sum game” and accept a world that has increasingly turned multi-polar.”

He finished his comments by saying “ verall, it has been a year of great e perience for me ”

f course, oel, ’m one with you percent in saying here is strength in unity and diversity n fact, can safely say that this is the crowning glory for the strength of California and even the whole of the S with immigrants contributing and helping continue to shape merica as a world leader.

oel has been an advocate of unity and diversity. He believes that diversity is very important in our society because we can learn various cultures that will lift us up to greatness and will teach us to be innovative and creative. t will also lead us to understand each other

The ‘Bayanihan’ spirit is pretty much alive in Canada !

ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO

TEDDY P. MOLINA

IMMIGRATIONS

Travel outside the US for more than six months

Many clients have an expired green card and ask me if they can naturalize. The answer is it depends on your period of residence inside the U.S. If you have been in the U.S. for continuous years (3 years for married to U.S. citizen based green card) then you may qualify for applying for naturalization based on residency, On the other hand there are those who overstayed outside the U.S. for more than 180 days but less than one year. They may qualify if they can prove that they did not relinquish their residence in the U.S. For those who overstayed for more than one year they will have to start counting the days of residence in the US by maintaining a continuous residence for four years and one day after returning to the U.S. to apply for citizenship

Green cards are important especially when traveling abroad and applying for citizenship. There are certain issues about replacing green cards which we will discuss below.

1. Lost green card.

he person who lost his green card may file to renew their SC S-issued green card that have expired or replace ones that have been lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, or that contain an error. If you need to apply for naturalization and you believe you qualify except you lost your green card you may discuss this matter with an immigration attorney.

he person who lost their green card may complete and properly file an pplication to eplace ermanent esident Card Form - with SC S, with appropriate fees if re uired , in accordance with the Form - instructions.

What happen if the green card is lost while outside the U.S.?

Lawful ermanent esident L who is temporarily outside the nited States for less than 1 year and who is not in possession of a valid green card (for example, it was lost, stolen, or destroyed may properly file an pplication for ravel ocument Carrier ocumentation Form - to re uest documentation to demonstrate to an airline or other transportation carrier that he or she is authorized to travel to the United States. This transportation letter does not replace the green card. L s must still complete and properly file Form - to obtain a replacement of the green card upon arrival to the U.S.

2. What happen if the Reentry permit is lost?

f inside the nited States, complete and properly file an pplication for ravel ocument Form - with SC S, with appropriate fees.

n L who is temporarily outside the nited States for less than years and who is not in possession of a valid green card (for example, it was lost, stolen, or destroyed may properly file an pplication for ravel ocument Carrier ocumentation Form - to re uest documentation to demonstrate to an airline or other transportation carrier that he or she is authorized to travel to the United States. The transportation letter does not replace the reentry permit. LPRs must complete and properly file Form - upon reentry into the nited States to obtain a replacement reentry permit.1

Note: This is not legal advice and presented for information purposes only. f you have immigration problems the Law ffices of Crispin C. Lo ano can help you find a solution before your problem gets worse which could lead to deportation and family separation.

Bankruptcy Basics

1. Bankruptcy will actually improve your credit within one year because your unsecured debts are discharged. lthough the bankruptcy will be in your records for years, not filing bankruptcy will make your credit even worse until most your debts are paid.

2. If you are being sued by your creditors, most money judgment can be eliminated in bankruptcy.

. Collection actions continue and you can be sued if you are in debt settlement.

. Chapter will eliminate all unsecured debts. f you are near retirement age, you must eliminate most of your debts.

IMPORTANTANNOUNCEMENT . F

C S

Our Law Firm entered into agreement with nursing and care home facilities in the .S. to process applicants for Caregivers in the S. e also process petition for caregivers from the Philippines.

. F S F S LF- M L

he Coronavirus Cares ct Sick and Family Leave for Self- mployed provides big tax refunds for self-employed individuals for tax years 2020 and 2021. If you have filed your ta return and failed to avail of this refund contact us for consultation. The refund ranges from $4000 to $32000 per individual self employed depending on your income.

Call our office at - - - for confidential consultation.

CL M F S

We help our clients recover from employers’ unpaid minimum wage and overtime. ndocumented workers are ualified to apply. (Continue on page 27)

n ation still ig at resi ent o a s interagen ommittee to om at in ation

M L resident Ferdinand . Marcos Jr. has approved the creation of a high-level inter-agency advisory body to mitigate in ation and ensure food and energy security, National Economic and Development uthority Secretary rsenio alisacan reported.

Balisacan said the advisory body will be called nteragency Committee on n ation and Market Outlook.

“This newly formed committee shall serve as an advisory body to the President and the Cabinet on measure to mitigate ination and ensure food and energy security while balancing the interests of local food producers, consumers, and the overall economy,” he said in a statement.

The interagency committee will be cochaired by and the epartment of Finance (DOF), with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) as vice chair.

Meanwhile, the cash aid program and several fiscal measures are set for implementation to help address in ation rate in the country, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said.

n a briefing in Malacanang, iokno, who attended a sectoral meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier in the day, said one of the measures proposed to alleviate the impact of in ation is the distribution of PHP500 monthly cash aid for two months, amounting to about . billion, to about . million households across the country.

He said an improvement in tax collections would allow the government to have the needed funds for this program, which will be implemented in the coming days.

mong the beneficiaries of the cash aid are farmers, fisherfolk, and those in the transport sector, he added.

nother measure to cushion the impact of in ation presented before the resident is addressing the agriculture sector’s supply chain needs, such as post-harvest facilities, warehousing, distribution, and transportation.

he advisory body to the Chief ecutive will also be composed of the Department of griculture

He said these short- and long-term measures aim to dampen in ation rate, which registered a slower year-on-year rate of . percent in February compared to January’s -year high of . percent.

iokno said authorities forecast in ation to return to within the government’s percent to percent target band by October this year, noting that February’s in ation rate is near the lower end of the Bangko Sentral ng ilipinas’ . percent to . percent forecast for the month.

, epartment of rade and ndustry (DTI), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

It will also have the Philippine Statistics uthority S , angko Sentral ng ilipinas S and hilippine Competition Commission CC as its resource institutions.

“The advisory body will lead the close monitoring of in ation particularly on food and energy and their main drivers and causes , facilitate regular and efficient data-sharing among concerned agencies, assess the supply-demand situation for energy and essential food commodities, provide forward estimates given various scenarios, and provide timely recommendations to the President and relevant agencies on measures to curb possible price spikes and promote food and energy security,” Balisacan added.

The advisory group will also closely monitor global and regional developments and issues that may a ect local commodity prices.

he nteragency Committee on n ation and Market Outlook will be reporting to the President on a quarterly basis on food and energy supply-demand situation and outlook for the country.

“Recent data on economic and labor market performance indicate a robust and sustained recovery, especially with the reopening of the economy and strong consumer demand. However, foremost among our challenges this year is the relatively high level of in ation,” alisacan said.

he S reported in ation in February remained elevated at . percent despite slightly easing from . percent in January this year.

Meanwhile, Balisacan said Marcos also approved the establishment of the Economic Development Group.

“ ith and F sitting as cochairs, the group will assist the Executive Department in harmonizing, coordinating, complementing, and synergizing the efforts that will ensure the country’s rapid, inclusive, and sustained growth,” he added.

Members of the Economic Development Groups include heads of the Presidential Management Sta , , M, , , S , L , epartment of Public Works and Highways, Department of Transportation, Department of Information and Communications echnology, Department of Tourism and Department of Labor and Employment.

The group may also request the participation of the central bank governor, as well as of other officials of relevant government agencies.

Balisacan said the creation of these high-level interagency bodies is part of the administration initiative to implement monetary and non-monetary measures to ease price pressures.

“With the creation of the Interagency Committee on n ation and Market utlook and the Economic Development roup, the Marcos dministration’s conomic Team is committed to directly addressing the root causes of high food prices to ensure food security, protect the purchasing power of Filipinos especially that of the poor and vulnerable sectors in the short term and is committed to ensure that our country remains on track to meet our poverty reduction targets for the medium term,” he added.

25 bps hike in BSP rates eyed as inflation decelerates

later this month after in ation rate posted a slower year-on-year expansion last February.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported during the day the deceleration of the rate of price increases to 8.6 percent in February from the previous month’s 8.7 percent, a 14-year high.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) chief economist Michael icafort said last month’s in ation rate is a major factor for the next policy rate decision of the central bank following BSP Governor Felipe Medalla’s earlier statement on the possibility of 50 basis points hike should in ation reached percent.

against the US dollar is also a major consideration.

“However, this is o set by the fact that supply-side in ationary pressures, not due to higher demand, would not make further rate hikes e ective, thereby could be better addressed by non-monetary measures to increase local supply of food and other commodities in an e ort to bring down prices and overall in ation,” he said.

Medalla and Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno have repeatedly cited the need for the implementation of more fiscal policy measures to help address the elevated in ation rate in the country.

monetary authorities will likely consider vis-à-vis any rate adjustment.

“So if the peso exchange rate is relatively stable, just like recently, any future local policy rate adjustments would just match any future Fed rate moves in the near future,” he added.

MANILA

– Economists are considering a 25 basis points increase in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) key rates

He said any adjustment in the BSP’s key rates also depends on the future Federal Reserve rate hikes after the recent signals from Fed Chair Jerome Powell on possible higher peak in funds rate “especially if the US labor/employment market remains strong.”

Ricafort said performance of the peso

The BSP’s key rates have been hiked a total of 450 basis points since May 2022 to help address the elevated in ation rate and the impact of the coronavirus-induced pandemic that started in the first uarter of 2022.

Ricafort said appreciation of the local currency, currently at eight-month high against the US dollar, is another factor that

In a commentary, HSBC Global Research said a 25 basis points increase in the S rates is still possible since it is “difficult to conclude whether in ation already peaked given the e tent to which in ation spilled over to other goods and services.” hile headline in ation decelerated, it said core in ation, which e cludes volatile food and energy prices, rose to 7.8 percent year-on-year last February from monthago’s 7.4 percent, the highest since March .

“ espite in ation easing, we e pect the BSP to hike rates by 25 bp in March to manage any second round e ects that may still be reverberating in the economy,” it added. (PNA)

Gov’t to implement more measures vs. inflation

MANILA – The cash aid program and several fiscal measures are set for implementation to help address in ation rate in the country, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said Tuesday.

n a briefing in Malacanang, iokno, who attended a sectoral meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier in the day, said one of the measures proposed to alleviate the impact of in ation is the distribution of PHP500 monthly cash aid for two months, amounting to about PHP26.6 billion, to about . million households across the country.

He said an improvement in tax collections would allow the government to have the needed funds for this program, which will be implemented in the coming days. mong the beneficiaries of the cash aid are farmers, fisherfolk, and those in the transport sector, he added.

Another measure to cushion the impact of in ation presented before the resident is addressing the agriculture sector’s supply chain needs, such as post-harvest facilities, warehousing, distribution, and transportation.

Diokno said authorities would determine if there is a shortage of supplies and this measure will provide them the time to allow the importation of necessary items.

He said processes for importation, among others, will be streamlined and/or digitalized to fast-track the process and prevent supply issues.

Diokno also disclosed the formation of the nter-agency Committee on n ation and Market Outlook, which was tasked to study and come out with a scientific way of forecasting supply and production of food, among others, to prevent supply-side problems in the future.

The committee is composed of representatives of the Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Depart-

ment of Agriculture (DA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Diokno said the committee is a permanent one and is tasked to report to the President every month to help in decision making, such as on importation to boost supplies.

He said an economic development group, to be composed of the DOF, DBM, NEDA, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), DA, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Presidential Management Sta MS will also be formed to fast-track the implementation of measures eyed to address economic issues in the country.

Several legislative measures were also proposed to be prioritized, among them the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which is targeted as a condonation program for agrarian reform beneficiaries with an estimated debt of PHP58 billion.

“This will allow farmers to focus now on their e orts to increase production rather than, iniisip pa nila paano ko babayaran itong lupa na ito (them thinking of ways to pay their properties),” he added.

Diokno said they are also supporting the National Land Use Act, which is targeted to properly identify land for the specific use, such as for agriculture and fisheries, settlement development, and infrastructure.

He said these short- and long-term measures aim to dampen in ation rate, which registered a slower year-on-year rate of 8.6 percent in February compared to January’s 14-year high of 8.7 percent.

iokno said authorities forecast in ation to return to within the government’s percent to percent target band by October this year, noting that February’s in ation rate is near the lower end of the Bangko Sentral ng ilipinas’ . percent to . percent forecast for the month.

He said food items continue to drive ination rate given the upticks in the prices of vegetables, meat, sugar, and fish, hence the need to address challenges of the agriculture sector.

Diokno said the central bank continues

to help address in ation rate and has increased its key rates by a total of 450 basis points since May 2022 after cutting this to a record-low percent for the overnight reverse repurchase (RRP) rate in 2020. (PNA)

Rizal Commercial Banking Corpora�on chief economist Michael Ricafort

Liza Soberano doesn’t mind being tagged a ‘clout chaser’

Filipino American star Liza Soberano does not feel bad when netizens label her a “clout chaser” after having met a number of international personalities.

In an interview in Bea Alonzo’s vlog, Soberano noted that “there is no harm, there is no shame in clout chasing.”

“That’s what the industry is. That’s what I don’t get actually about the Philippines. Everybody is so afraid of social climbing or clout chasing. But our industry is all about exposure and collaboration,” she said in an ABS-CBN report.

“That’s what I love about America. They don’t see it as clout chasing. They see it as you getting the bag. They see it as you working hard to achieve your goals, being proactive with your career,” she added.

When she meets with world-renowned celebrities, Soberano said she is doing that to gain knowledge

through them.

“I want to gain collaborations, more fans hopefully if they like what I do. If they don’t like what I do, that’s okay too. Pero yes, I do use their clout to help myself. That’s how it should be in entertainment I think.”

Although she is trying to carve her own path in Hollywood, Soberano emphasized that she is abandoning her career in the Philippines.

“ still want to be able to do stu here by leveraging what I’ve achieved as an actress here. Pero for the next few years, ang focus ko talaga is in Hollywood because there’s a lot of work to be done,” she said.

“I am a nobody there so I still have to work hard and put in a lot of time and e ort. can’t do t

Soberano also reassured her Filipino supporters that she still cares about them and her career in the Philippines, but it isn’t just her focus right now.

GMA wins big at 2023 Platinum Stallion, 5th Gawad Lasallianeta

GMA Network continues to receive recognition for its world-class entertainment, credible news reportage, and unparalleled public service -- this time reaping several awards at the 2023 Platinum Stallion National Media Awards and 5th Gawad Lasallianeta.

Taking home 28 awards, GMA was conferred once again the TV Station of the Year by the Platinum Stallion National Media Awards organized by the Media and Communication Department of Trinity University

of Asia. GMA was also the winner in the last Platinum Stallion National Media Awards in 2021.

For the sixth year, the Network’s regional arm, GMA Regional TV, was recognized as Regional TV Network of the Year for “its zeal for social service, inspiring accomplishments and outstanding contribution in the growth and furtherance of the media industry.”

he etwork’s agship M radio station Super Radyo DZBB was once again chosen as AM Radio

Station of the Year with Mike Enriquez recognized as AM Broadcast Journalist of the Year.

Several Kapuso shows also emerged winners again this year.

Oras won as Best TV News Program with one of its anchors, Vicky Morales, taking home the Female News Anchor of the Year award. Atom Araullo, on the other hand, was named Male News Anchor of the Year for GTV’s State of the Nation.

KathNiel, Coco Martin among top celebrity taxpayers in 2022

Kapamilya stars Coco Martin, Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla were among the top celebrity taxpayers in 2022, the Bureau of Internal Revenue revealed.

he regional office of the in uezon City said that the tandem, also known by their portmanteau, “KathNiel,” was among the celebrities diligent in filing their taxes as Filipino citizens.

n their speech, aniel affirmed that they paid “lots” of taxes while Kathryn said she hoped it would inspire others to fulfill their responsibilities as citi ens.

“Malaking bagay ‘to sa’min and hopefully, this will inspire everybody to do our responsibility bilang Filipino na nagbabayad ng tax,” she said on March 8, Wednesday.

ther showbi personalities recognized by the BIR for being top taxpayers include actors Anne Curtis, Judy Ann Santos, Maja Salvador, Coco Martin, and Liza Soberano.

“Maraming-maraming salamat po sa award na ito at maraming-maraming

salamat sa dami naming binayad na tax,” adilla said in est as reported by SCBN.

“Hopefully, this would inspire everybody to do our responsibility bilang Pilipino na magbayad ng tax,” Bernardo added.

ther top celebrity taxpayers were Judy Ann Santos, Liza Soberano, Vic Sotto, Willie Revillame, Michael V., Sarah eronimo, nne Curtis and Ma a Savador.

In her acceptance speech, Curtis urged Filipinos to pay their taxes on time.

“I just wanna say that now I am a mother, I think it’s so important that we lead by example to the future generations and encourage others to think about the progression of our country as well for the future generations that have yet to come,” she said.

“So, let’s all lead by e ample and support the BIR and let’s pay everything on time.”

GMA reimagines history in “Mga Lihim ni Urduja”

Another groundbreaking drama set in pre-colonial and modern worlds via “Mga Lihim ni Urduja” was launched last February on GMA Network.

The series is a reunion project of the well-loved ncantadia Sang’gres and the jewels of Philippine TV primetime: Kylie Padilla as Gem, Gabbi Garcia as Crystal, and Sanya Lopez as Hara Urduja.

t follows the story of em, a careerdriven rookie cop and Crystal, a budding entrepreneur and jewelry designer. They were assigned to work in a special law enforcement operation to recover priceless heritage jewelries. The said jewels are believed to have been used as magical amulets of the legendary Hara Urduja.

he operation becomes more difficult because of their personal di erences—Gem is a bit uptight while Crystal can be too spontaneous. But aside from their clashing personalities, they must also navigate through combat challenges and deadly opponents. Will they succeed amid the presence of bounty hunters who are out to possess Urduja’s jewels?

Meanwhile, the show will also take the viewers inside the ingdom of awalisi located in the pre-colonial hilippines. here lives Hara rdu a, a mystical warrior queen who rules an army of strong, skillful, and extraordinary women.

She holds a big responsibility to lead her followers and maintain peace in their land. But will Hara Urduja be able to protect herself from people who want to dethrone her and use her power in vain? How will the lives of Gem, Crystal, and Hara rdu a intertwine in this epic-modern adventure?

Completing the star-studded cast are Zoren Legaspi as Maestro Marius, the ill-defined head of the Mission rdu a Jeric Gonzales as Agent Greg, a liaison

officer that will protect em and Crystal in their special operation rra San gustin as Valencia, a seductive bounty hunter who is best in disguises ochelle angilinan as Dayang Salaknib, Urduja’s most trusted ma on general ancho Magno as Kenzo, the fearsome and most brutal member of the huntsmen s uad inwyn Marquez as Dayang Iloguin, the deceitful ma on general of rdu a Michelle ee as Freya, a highly-skilled combatant and ny ’s most trusted member risto er Martin as Ryker, a slick bounty hunter who is an e pert in gadgets and weaponry in brenica as ny , the cunning leader of huntsmen searching for rduja’s jewels.

“Mga Lihim ni rdu a” is made possible under the supervision of GMA SVP for ntertainment roup Lilybeth . asonable for rama Cheryl Ching-Sy for rama Helen ose Sese rogram Manager ennis oi . entulan and Senior ecutive roducer Mona Coles-Mayuga.

Actor Coco Mar�n and love team athryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla. Photo by M elipe, AB -CB e s.

ABS-CBN

Entertainment – Southeast Asia’s number one YouTube channel in media and entertainment –expands digital offerings

AB -CB s ou ubeverse o ers ne interna�onal content on apamilya nline Live, Made for ou ube and upervie

prom night, and “Tatak Star Magic Celebrity Conversations” where viewers get up close and personal with Kapamilya stars like the DonBelle loveteam, Andrea Brillantes, KD Estrada, and more one-on-one interviews.

Other “Made for YouTube” shows launching this year are fun Pinoy challenges in “Paano Two,” while viewers can go on a behind-the-scenes virtual tour in “Metro’s Most Beautiful Homes” and “BGYO BINI US Tour.”

Meanwhile, viewers can continue to feel the ‘kilig’ in new episodes of “Love Bites Season 2,” “Teen Clash Extras,” and “Dear MOR: Celebrity Specials.” Additionally, viewers can still watch episodes of “GG-Han” on CineMo’s YouTube channel where Joshua Garcia, Jane de Leon, Janella Salvador, and Macoy Dubs give their hot takes on trending topics.

Superview

On ABS-CBN Superview, viewers are treated every month to new titles of well-loved movies and series that are available for free. Movies available for binge-watching this month are “To Love Somebuddy,” “Just The Way You Are,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” “Always Be My Maybe,” and more which are available on ABS-CBN various YouTube channels for a limited time only.

S-C ’s e orts to continue to serve with entertaining and inspiring stories boosts the company’s transition into being an agile digital company where audiences on its YouTube channels can watch “Made for YouTube” exclusive shows, regularly updated titles of movies and series for free streaming via Superview, and on Kapamilya Online Live’s livestreaming and on-demand viewing of Kapamilya shows.

Watch the promo here: https://youtu.be/fsh8t1XE0HM

Enjoy all of these and more for free by subscribing to the YouTube channels of ABS-CBN Entertainment, Star Magic, Metro, Cinema One, Cinemo, iWantTFC, Star Cinema, Jeepney TV, Yey, and Black Sheep.

LOS ANGELES, CA – With over 42.7 million subscribers, ABS-CBN Entertainment has become the number one YouTube channel in the media and entertainment category in Southeast Asia. It continues to delight its growing number of subscribers by expanding its “YouTubeverse” experiences with fresh and exclusive shows for its Kapamilya Online Live, “Made for YouTube” and Superview content available for viewing internationally.

KapamilyaOnlineLive

The ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube channel houses Kapamilya Online Live which is available only in select countries. t o ers on-demand streaming with a seven-day unli-replay of its shows, where fans continue to tune in to the thrilling and actionpacked episodes of “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” “The Iron Heart,” and “Dirty Linen.” These three programs dominate primetime and amassed a combined total of 189,106,381 digital views for February 2023.

side from the primetime shows, music aficionados can also catch the livestream on Kapamilya Online Live of “The Voice Kids” and the upcoming new season of “I Can See Your Voice.”

“MadeforYouTube”

ABS-CBN’s various YouTube channels will also have all-new “Made for YouTube” shows such as “Pampered Pets” where celebrity guests such as Catriona Gray, Sam Milby, Karen Davila, and Tim Yap talk about their fur babies. “Made for YouTube” also has lack Sheep’s latest o ering “Sparks Camp.”

The Star Magic family has exciting and exclusive YouTube shows in store for viewers with the “Star Magical rom,” the talent agency’s first-ever

AREIT, Ayala Land set swap deal for P22.5B worth of assets

MANILA – The Philippine Real Estate Investment Trust (AREIT) and Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) will have a third property-for-share swap involving . billion worth of agship offices and malls in vis-à-vis 607,559,380 AREIT primary common shares.

In a disclosure in the local bourse on Wednesday, AREIT, Inc. said the swap deal with its sponsor will cover assets located in the Manila central business district such as the latest one, which is the One Ayala Avenue East and West BPO Towers at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Edsa.

Other properties include the Glorietta 1 and mall wing, the business process outsourcing (BPO) buildings at Ayala Center, and the MarQuee mall in Angeles City, Pampanga province.

The company said these assets have a combined gross leasable area (GLA) of 190,000 square meters (sqm), an overall occupancy rate of 99 percent, and a weighted average lease expiry (WALE) of 14.5 years.”

“ALI and AREIT are targeting to complete the transaction within the year,” it said, citing that AREIT’s Board of Directors approved it on March 7, 2023 although it is subject to the approval of shareholders during their annual meeting on April 26, 2023.

The company has surpassed its growth plans since its initial public o ering in uly and has registered a 52 percent total shareholder return.

To date, the company has 673,000 sqm. assets under management (AUM), equivalent to P64 billion, up from the 153,000 sqm, equivalent to PHP30 billion, in 2020.

The company said “this new infusion in 2023 will almost triple the Company’s AUM to PHP87 billion and boost its L more than five-fold to thousand sqm from the IPO, making AREIT one of the largest and the most diversified commercial in the Philippines.” president and chief e ecutive officer Carol Mills said “the rebound of commercial businesses is an opportunity for AREIT to widely diversify its assets with more retail buildings.”

“The infusion of Glorietta 1 and mall and BPO buildings, as well as the brand new One Ayala Avenue BPO towers, is testament to AREIT as Ayala Land’s agship ,” she said.

“As we did in the last two years, we are committed to continually grow and diversify our assets to increase shareholder value for AREIT while ALI maximizes capital recycling and reinvests further in Philippine real estate,” she added.

Need Cash to survive?

Easy or quick cash loan solution is a basic form of loan, but there are still things you should know before you start taking on this type of loan when you need it in the future.

Most of us have experienced financial hardship at one point in our lives. It could be medical emergencies, family expenses, and bills to pay. And using cash to overcome the above cases has become a problem specially if you don’t have enough credit limit to use to available credit card. Lucky are those who have family and friends they can run to in case they need to borrow more money. However, it doesn’t always happen and the people we usually go to can’t o er cash either.

You may be thinking of getting an easy payment solution, which fortunately is always available. But before you decide to take out a quick cash loan, make sure you understand what it means and what its limitations are and if its worth the cost of the money you are borrowing.

If you are on a tight budget and need cash urgently, many options can help you uickly solve your financial problems. Below, we’ve covered the pros and cons of an instant cash solution - factors that you need to consider before making your decision.

Advantages of quick cash loan solution

Easy application.

Many lenders o er instant cash advance solutions available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and even have online apps for Android or iOS. Signing up is easy and approval is instant, making this type of loan attractive to those in dire need of cash.

Almost No conditions.

One of the reasons why instant cash solutions are such an easy option for an individual in need of instant cash is because it requires fewer requirements.

Unlike traditional loans, they require a lot of requirements to verify your ability to repay the loan. you only usually need the following:

Between 18 and 53 years old (female), or 58 years old (male) ust card

Signed a labor contract with the enterprise worked for months

Sometimes they will need a collateral of some sort No credit check required.

Another good thing with the quick cash loan solution is that if you have a bad credit history or have a low credit score, you can still get a loan. For instant cash solutions, no credit check is required. In addition, there are already many online lenders that o er uick solutions for bad credit.

But be wary of this, you can get cash fast, but with high interest rates and big penalties if you miss any agreed repayment period. hat is the most significant drawback of fast cash advance, and is sometimes the reason why many individuals accept criminal o enses in order to pay their debts.

Disadvantages of quick cash loan solution

If there are advantages, there are also disadvantages to payday loans and here are some of them:

Very High interest rate.

If you’ve tried taking out a personal loan or using your credit card, you probably know that the interest rates between the two compared to a quick cash loan solution are huge. Technically, payday loans are expensive, which is why some borrowers get stuck in a debt cycle because they can’t repay the total amount on schedule.

Time constraints.

Besides the high interest rates of payday loans, time constraints also become an issue. Some financial institutions o er repayment periods of up to months, but often, fast payment solutions are paid o immediately, which makes it difficult for some

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Carlos Yulo captures gold, parallel bars silver, vault bronze in Doha campaign

DOHA, Qatar After ruling the oor e ercise for a gold medal, Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo captured silver in parallel bars and and bronze in vault competitions at the 2023 International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Artistic Gymnastics World Cup series in Doha, Qatar over the weekend.

Yulo, who was world champion in 2019, settled for silver in the parallel bars event with a 14.933 score at the Aspire Dome in Doha, just behind Ukraine’s Illia Kovtun who tallied 14.966.

The bemedalled 23-year-old dimunitive athlete also garnered a 14.883 average in his vault after performing a handspring front double pike and a Kasamatsu double twist to claim the bronze medal.

Armenia’s Artur Davtyan clinched gold with 15.083 while Ukraine’s Igor Radivilov got the silver with 14.899.

Last week, Yulo claimed the top spot in his favorite event oor e ercise with his awless routine for a gold medal.

Before his Doha campaign, Yulo only managed to get a bronze in the parallel bars in Germany last week.

Yulo will head to the next leg of the World Cup series in Baku, Azerbaijan on March to then the final phase in Cairo on April 27 to 30.

n the oor e ercises, apan’s azuki Minami, the 2019 champion in Cottbus, Germany and Paris, France, finished second with a score of .

while Luke Whitehouse of Great Britain scored 13.966 to settle for third place.

Yulo, who won four gold medals in the 2022 Vietnam Southeast Asian Games and is a triple-gold medalist at the 2022 Asian Championships, submitted the second-best score of 14.933 in the parallel bars event won by Ukraine’s Kovtun, who scored 14.966.

Kovtun also topped the event in the first leg held in Cottbus last month.

Two-time European champion Ferhat r can of urkey took the bron e medal with a score of 14.733.

In the vault event, Yulo scored 14.883 to settle for bronze.

The gold medal went to 2020 Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist and 2022 world champion Artur Davtyan (15.083).

Ukraine’s Igor Radivilov, a four-time European champion, secured the bronze medal with a score of 14.899.

Japan’s Yuya Kamoto (high bar), China’s Yang Liu (rings) and Kazakhstan’s Nariman Kurbanov (pommel horse) were the other gold medalists.

Hidilyn Diaz, Philippine Sportswriters’ Athlete of the Year for 4th time; others honored at PSA rites

MANILA – The best and brightest in Philippine sports last year led by Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz were honored during the San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Annual Awards Night at the Diamond Hotel Manila on March 6. Diaz, who is gunning for another gold in the 2024 Paris Olympics, was named Athlete of the Year for the second straight time by the oldest media organization in the Philippines headed by its president, Rey Lachica, sports editor of Tempo.

The Athlete of the Year award is the

fourth in the last seven years for the 31-year-old Zamboanga City native, who earned the honor in 2016 after ending the country’s 20-year Olympic drought with a silver medal at the Rio De Janeiro Games.

Manny Pacquiao, Luisito Espinosa and Nonito Donaire Jr. (boxing), Rafael Paeng Nepomuceno and Olivia Bong Coo (bowling), the late Lydia De Vega (athletics) and Efren “Bata” Reyes (billiards) were also named Athlete of the Year three or more times.

De Vega was inducted into the PSA

Hall of Fame in recognition of her astounding achievements in and out of the country.

De Vega’s bosom buddy, Elma MurosPosadas, the undisputed long jump queen of Philippine athletics, was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Tennis player Alex Eala was bestowed the PSA President’s Award while Major Awards were presented to Carlos Yulo (gymnastics); Ernest J Obiena (athletics); Philippine women’s football team; Carlo Paalam (boxing); Meggie Ochoa and Kimberly Anne Custodio (jiu-jitsu); Junna Tsukii (karate); Rubilen Amit, Carlo Biado, and Johann Chua (pool); Vanessa Sarno (weightlifting); Jovelyn Gonzaga and Sisi Rondina (volleyball); Esports organization Blacklist International; and jockey Jessie Guce and champion horse Boss Emong.

Others honored outside of the SEA Games gold medalists were Chezka Centeno, Marie Antoinette San Diego, Efren Bagamasbad, Ronald Lomotos, Philippine Navy Standard Insurance, Philippine pencak silat team, Letran Knights basketball team, Joyce Reboton, Dottie Ardina, Rianne Malixi, Kaizen dela Serna, Andrico Mahilum, Mark Julius Rodelas, and Sandi Abahan.

Institutions who got the same award were the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.

The PSA Special Awards were also presented to POC Chairman Abraham Tolentino (Executive of the Year), Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (National Sports Association of the Year), Scot-

tie Thompson (Mr. Basketball), Sarina Bolden (Ms. Football), and Hidilyn Diaz (Milo Champion of Grit and Glory).

The Tony Siddayao Awards for the Junior Athletes of the Year by Milo went to William John Riley Go (karting), Aleia Aielle Aguilar (jiu-jitsu), Miguel Carlos (archery), Karl and Elaiza Yulo (gymnastics), Heleina Dominique So and Robert Dayanan Jr (karate), Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh (swimming), and the Philippine Junior chess team.

PRESCO CARCOSA defeats Arnel Baconaje via split decision to win the vacant Philippine Boxing Federa�on super feather eight championship in the main event of Manny Pacquiao Presents Blo by Blo held at the Lagao ymnasium in eneral antos City. Photos by endell Alinea

A LE E E EAR. okyo lympic eightli�ing gold medalist idilyn Diaz receives another Athlete of the ear a ard during the an Miguel Corpora�on-Philippine ports riters Associa�on MC-P A A ards ight held at the Diamond otel grand ballroom on March . he is sho n on stage ith L-R Philippine ports riters Associa�on P A president Rey Lachica, Philippine lympic Committee president and agaytay City Mayor Abraham Bambol olentino and Philippine ports Commission chairmanRichard Bachmann. P A

Media and trusted experts can help mitigate harmful effects of mis- and disinformation

false and things that are spread with the intent to deceive people. I would like to know that while we care about the intent it often becomes irrelevant.”

Hickey recalled that when the pandemic first emerged back in , the orld Health Organization also noted as early as then that we were experiencing an infodemic a massive spread of missing dis-information where rumors, lies, and just misunderstandings spread in ways that are very similar to these viruses.

Disinformation in itself has seemed to become a plague that caused and still is causing immeasurable destruction, havoc and even pain among the populace that trusted experts and responsible media outlets to respond accordingly to somehow mitigate the situation.

This is one of the main takeaways from the main takeaways from the media briefing that Ethnic Media Services Myth Buster Project and the National Conference on Citizenship titled Disinformation Update -- Current COVID 19 and Vaccine/ Booster Tropes and Narratives, it also underscored that digital media monitoring, including on in-language social media platforms is a critical component to understanding disinformation narratives that are spreading.

he briefing also served as special workshop and disinformation update with Cameron Hickey, CEO of the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC), an expert in misinformation and its e ects on democracy, and one of the nation’s leading e perts in this field and enabling trusted experts and media outlets to respond to false claims in a timely and e ective manner the media briefing also had Hickey sharing the latest findings of his team of in-language media monitors and help reporters know what to look for particularly about Covid-19, vaccines and boosters, treatments and related public health issues.

An expert also in misinformation and its e ects on democracy, mmy-award winner Cameron has served as the Director of the Algorithmic Transparency Institute, a current project of NCoC, for the past years where his expertise in the analysis of misinformation has led to the development of groundbreaking tools like Junkipedia and the establishment of the people-powered misinformation monitoring program, the Civic Listening Corps. Prior to joining NCoC, Hickey helped lead the Shorenstein Center’s Information Disorder Lab at the Harvard Kennedy School to monitor misand disinformation in the 2018 midterm elections.

With his colleague Caitlin Dowling who led the work as a senior analyst at ATI over the last year and a half in particular focused on these issues, Hickey has until the end of last year produced a series of briefings based on these same kinds of insights for the office of the Surgeon General to inform their work in terms of outreach and priorities.

“We all understand that viral misinformation is contagious and dangerous. It is in some cases as problematic as some of the actual viruses that are spreading in that it can instigate people to make very poor decisions that can put their health at risk.

We think about mis- and disinformation in ways that are very similar to the ways that we think about the spread of viruses,” Hickey explained. “So we often talk about the di erence between misinformation and disinformation as being a di erence between things that are

“They are contagious, they go from one person to another, they evolve and they mutate as they spread across our information ecosystem. And so recognizing that they bear these same traits is really important as we move to think about how we try and understand them and eventually tackle them and mitigate their impact,” Hickey believes.

Hickey emphasized that it is important to recognize that the problematic messages that we see on and here online have many di erent forms as sometimes they are called misinformation, sometimes we will call them disinformation. Sometimes they are called rumors, conspiracies, and even hate speech that have problematic content, junk news and that’s not totally false. ll of these are di erent forms of the kind of stu that we’re concerned as it’s going to mislead and needed to be addressed. If people are misled whether they were or were not done so intentionally can be beside the point. So when we think about the kinds of rumors that are spreading and what things we can do to address them, let’s focus on the point that all of it is misleading.

“We frequently see conspiracy theories come in many forms, that they were not quite so mainstream several years ago, and now they are incredibly mainstream, that reference an important boogeyman with an ulterior motive, some powerful actor who is bad and alleging some motivation behind what they are doing,” Hickey o ers. “ e also see things that maybe seem mundane like things that are missing context. So there may be information that on the surface is technically true but when shared without the proper context can be incredibly misleading.”

Hickey continued that any time messages even allude to concepts that are about identity, they serve to divide, and play on stereotypes and that even if it’s not overt hate speech these kinds of messages are often problematic ones that lead to misunderstandings, and misinformation and our sources who use this kind of language are often also the sources of other forms of mis and disinformation such of which are:

Faulty logic which often emanates from frequent arguments that while can’t be proven to be false aren’t necessarily exactly true, either. They often come in the form of what we call logical fallacies. he first key theme is a theme that has been reappearing that we’re titling sudden death. There are a wide variety of claims in particular when it comes to high profile deaths, deaths of celebrities to claim that now we’re seeing a rise in such quote-unquote sudden death and the allegation being that the covid-19 vaccine caused those sudden deaths. It usually is the case when exploiting families who have lost loved ones suddenly due to other reasons and they’re now turning to blame vaccines as the reason for the loss of their loved ones although what is known is that there have been many high-profile deaths and that those high-profile deaths don’t have anything to do

with vaccines. There is no evidence of that nonetheless because high-profile people have died recently people are attaching themselves to this new sort of theme and misinformation.

Another key theme is the concept of excess deaths that are defined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as the di erence between the observed numbers of deaths that we have in society in a specific time period and our expectations based on historical data and what we would assume we would see at a given time period. We know that it is a fact that excess deaths have increased in many places. It turns out that vaccine activists are claiming that excess deaths are driven by what we just talked about sudden deaths from vaccines or other long-tail vaccine side e ects. There are many concerns that the vaccines were released originally in order to reduce the population. There is no evidence to link those two things together and there is evidence connecting many other reasons for increases in deaths compared to previous moments in time.

Then there is vaccine detox, a particular popular false idea within Chinese language communities that harmful vaccine ingredients can be something that you can remove from your body by using herbs and supplements. So the idea is that you’ve got bad stu in your body because of the vaccine and here are some illegitimate ways to get rid of it.

Another is climate lockdowns where there is a misunderstanding that certain actions being taken in certain cities are in e ect an e ort to limit our ability to move and that those are responses to concerns around climate change. It’s being weaponized by folks who are concerned that the green movement is overreaching. There are concerns that we previously had lockdowns associated with covid-19 and that those original covid-19 lockdowns were not to stop the spread of covid-19. But we’re using it instead to control us and to control our lives.

There are other issues that also are controversial as the use of natural gas stoves is causing increases in asthma and other health risks and in reaction to that we’re seeing the risk of mis/ disinformation about that spreading often for political reasons, concerns about bird u the h n virus as we are seeing increased cases, among others.

As was seen with covid-19 the facts on the ground can shift quickly and it’s important to be responsible and thoughtful and up-to-date as we think about how to cover.

There are these messages spreading that this is a major problem although It does not mean there is nothing that can be done anything about it.

Journalists in particular we have a frontline responsibility in educating the public and educating our communities.

Social Security Update

SLAM THE SCAM: HOW TO SPOT GOVERNMENT IMPOSTERS

ByG.Samson Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in the Bay Area

Do you know how to spot a government imposter scam? Knowing how to identify potential scammers will help safeguard your personal information.

There are common elements to many of these scams. Scammers often exploit fears and threaten you with arrest or legal action. Scammers also pose as Social Security or other government employees and claim there’s a problem with your Social Security number SS or your benefits. They may even claim your SSN is linked to a crime.

When you identify a potential scammer: Hang up right away or ignore the message. Never give personal information or money.

Report the scam immediately to our ffice of the nspector eneral at oig. ssa.gov/scam-awareness/report-the-scam.

If you owe money to Social Security, we’ll mail you a letter with payment options and appeal rights. We only accept payments electronically through Pay.gov, Online Bill Pay, or physically by check or money order through our offices.

We will never do the following: Threaten you with arrest or legal action because you don’t agree to pay us money immediately. romise a benefit increase in echange for money.

Ask you to send us gift cards, pre-

paid debit cards, wire transfers, internet currency, cryptocurrency, or cash through the U.S. mail.

Scammers continue to evolve and find new ways to steal your money and personal information. Please stay vigilant and help raise awareness about Social Security-related scams and other government imposter scams. For more information on scams, please visit www.ssa.gov/scam.

Tell your friends and family about government imposter scams. Let them know they don’t have to be embarrassed to report if they shared personal financial information or su ered a financial loss. he important thing is to report the scam right away.

Together, we can “Slam the Scam!”

San Francisco Chapter of University of the Philippines Alumni Association welcomes new board and officers in induction rites at the Philippine Consulate

SAN FRANCISCO, FEBRUARY 22, 2023 – The University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco SF had its officers’ induction on February 3, 2023, at the Sentro Rizal, at the Philippine Consulate General in the city.

Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer administered the oaths of office of the board and officers for - .

The new board is chaired by Eric Golangco, who studied Civil Engineering at . . iliman, finishing his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Santa Clara University and Stanford after moving to the U.S. Most of his career is spent as a senior manager for site development and construction in the real estate construction industry.

he SF officers are led by the new president, Chato Calderon, a civil engineer from UP Diliman, and alumna of Harvard and Syracuse universities. She is UP Engineering R&D Foundation former President and current advisor and San Francisco SCORE Vice Chair.

Tancinco Law P.C. Principal Partner and GMA Pinoy TV host Atty. Lou Tancinco is the Executive Vice President.

his is the first time in the history of UPAASF where the board chair and the president are both Civil Engineering graduates.

he - SF oard of Directors are composed of:

Chair Eric Uy Golangco; Vice Chair Simeon Godinez; Secretary Luisa Yee; with Board Members - Chato Calderon; Immediate Past President Liza Gino; Sonia Delen; Letty Quizon; Mae Dizon Perez; Edcelyn Pujol; Irene Townsend; Wennie Conedy; Tanya Cruz-Duldulao; Dr. Sheryll Casuga, Psy.D; Elvie Barron Teodoro; and Jim Cortes.

he - fficers are resident Chato Calderon; Executive Vice President Lou Tancinco; Recording Secretary Francis Siapno Lopez; Treasurer Francis Faeldonea; and Public Relations fficer ia Lope banos-Carrion.

Consul General Ferrer commended the SF for their “un inching commitment to serve the community and the motherland.” He is also looking forward to productive relations with the organi ation’s new set of officers since the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco and the UPAASF have worked together on a few other projects like the

latter’s nnual Filipino Cultural mmersion Summer Camp for young Filipino Americans.

he SF board and officers will be finali ing the organi ation’s pro ects and priorities for the year to ensure that activities are in line with ’s guiding principles of honor and excellence.

Residents of the San Francisco Bay Area who have studied at any of the constituent universities or campuses of the University of the Philippines system are encouraged to join the UPAASF. Visit UPAASF.org to learn more about the benefits of membership and to register.

One A Day: Small Daily Acts of Self-Care Go a Long Way to Health By the We Can Do This COVID-19 Public Education Campaign

Mental health and physical health are closely related. Our emotional, psychological, and social well-being a ect how we think, feel, and act. Caring for all parts of ourselves helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.

online or with a phone call or chatting with a neighbor outside can help you connect and keep you from feeling isolated.

that may have waned over time and keep you healthy to participate in activities you enjoy.

The Lunar New Year has started, and spring is in sight. As the days start to lengthen, it is a good time to tend to your overall health and well-being, including your mental health, by practicing daily acts of self-care.

Making small healthy choices each day can build habits and make a di erence as we move out of winter and into spring. Here are some self-care activities you can fit into your daily routine: Take breaks to unwind through meditation, music, gardening, or new hobbies. Try new things and make the ones that make you feel good a regular part of your week.

Find ways to connect with family and friends, get support, and share your feelings. Staying in touch with friends and family

Make physical activity part of your daily life. Tending to your health through physical activity doesn’t re uire a gym membership. Dancing, taking a walk, or even working in your yard or cleaning house can improve your mood and your overall health.

Treat yourself to healthy foods. Splurge when you can on fresh fruits and vegetables. Finding a vegetable that you’ve never had before at a farmer’s market or trying a new recipe can be a fun way to include more fresh food in your diet.

Make sure you are up to date on vaccines, especially COVID-19 vaccines. Updated COVID vaccines can restore protection

“Staying current on COVID vaccines not only reduces the risk of getting long COVID, but it also allows people to continue doing the things they love from hiking to family gatherings with extra peace of mind about their health and the health of others” said Dr. Scott Huang, D.O., Family Medicine, Medical Director of Chinese Hospital Clinics.

Move into spring, a time of renewal, with a renewed commitment to healthy habits and actions.

For more information about COVID vaccines and to find a vaccine near you, visit vaccines.gov.

Philippine Consul eneral eil errer le� leads the oath-taking ceremony of the PAA Board and cers. Photo courtesy of Richard Ang

Philippine Consul eneral eil errer 5th from le�, seated and other consuls oin the nely inducted board and o cers of the PAA . Photo courtesy of Miguel Carrion

Philippine Consul eneral eil errer congratulates the ne ly inducted board and o cers of the PAA . Photo courtesy of Miguel Carrion

Are We Done With Masks? Three Experts Review the Latest Findings

ByPeter White

new study finds masks do little to prevent the spread of viruses like the u and Covid, and that hand washing and vaccines o er more protection.

n international network of health researchers reviewed randomi ed controlled studies and concluded that wearing masks has little or no e ect on spreading the u, C, or other respiratory diseases.

he Cochrane collaborative published their findings in a anuary report which found fre uent hand washing did more than masks to prevent viral infections.

t a March MS news briefing, three medical e perts shared their views about the efficacy of wearing masks in light of the study. cept for vulnerable patients where masks o er an added layer of protection, their consensus was to forget about wearing masks and get vaccinated.

hey also stressed the importance of not losing trust in public health officials for changing their advice over time as they work to keep up with the latest scientific research.

Masks are not magic’

r. illiam Scha ner, a professor at the anderbilt niversity School of Medicine, led o the session by describing the challenges of conducting mask studies in the first place, whether in a health environment or in the community. “ ou can’t monitor people about their mask-wearing behavior all the time. hat’s certainly something you can’t do, and of course masks have to be worn correctly,” he said.

hile many researchers have looked at multiple physical measures to prevent people from catching a virus, the Cochrane reviewers evaluated studies that compared ust three interventions surgical masks, respirators, and hand hygiene.

ased on the results they were uncertain whether masks help to slow the spread of viruses but decided hand hygiene “may help to slow the spread of respiratory viruses,” Scha ner said.

et he also pointed out that in most cases, mask wearing was accompanied by social distancing, and “in certain communities, we were in a lockdown. we stayed home. So, we did all those things more or less simultaneously. nd it’s hard impossible really to determine what proportion of the reduction we saw on Covid was due to the mask itself.

s for his own advice, Scha ner emphasi ed that “masks are not magic.” ut he said that people in high-risk groups may start wearing them again ne t u season. “ hey will o er another layer of protection to protect me, a highly vulnerable person, from acuiring an infection from others.”

o more mask mandates

“ don’t think we can impose mask mandates on the public anymore,” said r. Monica handi, rofessor of Medicine and ssociate ivision Chief of the ivision of H , nfectious iseases, and lobal Medicine at CSF in San Francisco.

andhi noted a anish mask study where no mandate was in e ect at the time, and two others in angladesh and uinea- issau where entire villagers wore masks. he study found “there was very little e ectiveness” in wearing masks.

uring the elta surge, range County, California did not impose a mask mandate but nearby L County did. “ nd there was no di erence in transmission or death rates. ery importantly, the vaccination rates made all the di erence,” andhi said.

he most important thing people could do during the pandemic is to get vaccinated, andhi advised. “ think we have to keep it a choice for the masking.”

andhi’s recently published book, ndemic, is about the politici ation of public health policy. She said that closing schools during C was a politically driven decision and “not good for children in the lue

Filing time for state taxes for Californians affected by December-January storms extended

By Claire Morales True

S C M n addition to ta relief measures which overnor avin ewsom announced in anuary, California is also e tending the state ta filing and payment due dates to ctober , for Californians impacted by the winter storms in ecember and anuary.

he e tension of filing aligns California with the iden dministration, which announced that the S e tended various due dates until ctober , as well, ewsom said in a statement sent to hilippine ews oday.

“ s communities across the state continue recovering from the damage caused by the winter storms, California is working swiftly to help recovering Californians get back on their feet,” said overnor ewsom. “ he state is aligning with the iden dministration and e tending the ta filing deadline in addition to the ta relief announced earlier this year.”

Last month, overnor ewsom announced ta relief for those impacted by winter storms, giving people the ability to claim a deduction for disaster loss and e tending certain filing

deadlines.

ewsome identified the counties where residents and businesses are eligible for the etended ta relief, per the S announcements. hey are lameda, lpine, mador, utte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, el orte, l orado, Fresno, lenn, Humboldt, nyo, ings, Lake, Los ngeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Mono, Monterey, apa, evada, range, lacer, iverside, Sacramento, San enito, San ernardino, San iego, San Francisco, San oa uin, San Luis bispo, San Mateo, Santa arbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cru , Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, ehama, rinity, ulare, uolumne, entura, olo, and uba counties which have been a ected by severe winter storms, ooding, landslides, and mudslides are eligible for ta relief.

o help alleviate some of the hardship many have endured during this trying period, the F has e tended the filing and payment deadlines for individuals and businesses in California until ctober , .

States, because the ed States kept their schools open.”

r. Mina Hakim, a pediatric specialist at South Central Family Health Center in Los ngeles, o ered a similar view about masks from “down in the trenches.”

“ he results of the study were clear in that surgical masks, masks, did not make a di erence in the transmission of Covid or the u,” Hakim said.

“ he mask is a small piece of a much bigger shield that we have against C . would use the bigger piece of the shield, which is a vaccine, and would not recommend masks for the general population,” Hakim added. Like Scha ner and andhi, he

recommended masks for vulnerable populations.

ids and masks

He said the Cochrane review looked at a few studies that were specifically for children, and those results were even more definitive.

“ ids are the worst at keeping things on. ou’d be lucky if you have a kid with their pants on at the end of the day let alone having a mask on that increases humidity, increases difficulty of breathing, and it’s ust overall uncomfortable,” Hakim said.

hey’re constantly touching things, wiping their nose, taking their mask o to eat and drink. hey share pencils and pens that have been in other kids’ mouths. nd teenagers are horrendous at being compliant, Hakim added.

Like Scha ner and andhi, Hakim recommended wearing masks for vulnerable people.

“ f we could provide masks particularly to those high-risk people, think that might increase the trust because we’re not imposing the masks on them, but making them available, so that people feel more comfortable and reassured that it’s a good thing to do,” says Hakim.

ll three speakers agreed that as studies like the Cochrane report reveal new findings about the efficacy of preventive care, these should not diminish public trust.

“ ne of the most difficult things for the general public to understand is that we will give you our best advice today but if we learn something tonight, we may have to change that advice tomorrow, and that this is an ongoing process,” Scha ner says.

RIGHT TO BE HOSTS BYSTANDER INTERVENTION WORKSHOPS TO COMBAT RISE IN HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION

RightToBe

Hosted alongside Wells Fargo and NBC News/MSNBC anchor Richard Lui; seminars open tocommunity organizations will take place at AMC Theatres in New York and San Francisco in March

NEW YORK, March 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the alarming rise in hate incidentsacross major U.S. cities, Right o e formerly Hollaback , a nonprofit working to endharassment in all its forms, and Wells Fargo have joined forces to hold bystander interventionworkshops at AMC Theatres in New York City(March 9) and San Francisco(March 15).

Hosted alongside NBC News MSNBC anchor Richard Lui and made possible with additionalsupport by Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC and AARP, the events will feature aneducational session covering the fi ve ’s of bystander intervention istract, Delegate,Document, Delay, Direct) and a panel discussion with community leaders on bias-motivatedharassment. The workshops aim to educate individuals on the proactive measures they cantake to safely de-escalate situations and assist victims. To learn more about bystanderintervention, visit RightToBe. org Hate crimes in the U.S. have increased steadily in recent years, with 7,262 cases reported in2021, per FBI data, marking the third-highest total in the last decade. Recent

data suggests thatcrimes motivated by race, religion, gender, or other factors continued to rise in major Americancities last year.

New York City and San Francisco were selected as the fi rst two locations forbystander intervention workshops due to their high number of reported hate crimes.

“We can witness harassment in various forms, from covert racial microaggressions in everydaylife to overt gender discrimination in the workplace. ftentimes, we want to di use thesituation but don’t know how,” said mily May, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Right ToBe. “These workshops will empower the public with the skills they need to navigate instances ofharassment as a bystander. Our goal is to transform bystanders into allies ”

The events are part of a national bystander intervention initiative launched last December withthe release of a series of online videos directed by Richard Lui as a volunteer on behalf of theAsian American Journalists Association (AAJA). A public service announcement for theprogram is currently airing on Comcast channels nationwide and ran in AMC movie theatersacross all 50 states.

“In my reporting on anti-Asian hate and attacks against Black, Latina/o/x, and LGBTQIA+communities over the past ten years, ’ve seen how bystanders want to help but aren’t surehow,” said ichard Lui. “ he need to equip folks to safely intervene and deescalate a situationis greater than ever.”

“At Wells Fargo, we are committed to creating a culture with broad representation of who weare, how we think, and how we make

decisions. Having an inclusive environment in whichdi erences and perspectives are respected and valued is both a business imperative and theright thing to do,” added imberly Bertz, Wells Fargo Head of Diversity Equity nclusionStrategy and mployee airs. “As an organization that operates in many cities andneighborhoods where hate incidents have occurred, this also is a concern for Wells Fargo. Thebystander intervention workshops are a great way of celebrating belonging, because theycreate a sense of unity and connectedness among individuals, while reminding us all of theimportant role we play in keeping our communities safe.”

AboutRightToBe

Right To Be is a people-powered movement working to build a world free of harassment andfi lled with humanity. e are a team of educators, motivators, and facilitators who are listening,guiding, and cheering you on. Every day, we train hundreds of people to respond to, intervenein, and heal from harassment. We hold space for people experiencing harassment to share theirstories for affi rmation and support. And we prepare new leaders to create workplaces, schools,and communities around the world that are fi lled with humanity. For more information or howyou can get involved, visit www.righttobe.org. Follow Right To Be on Twitter and Facebook at,@ righttobeorg.

AboutWellsFargo

Wells Fargo Company (NYSE: WFC is a leading fi nancial services company that hasapproximately $1.9 trillion in assets,

PG&E Customers’ March Natural Gas Bills Expected to

Oakland, Calif. After three months of higher-than-normal natural gas market prices driving up energy bills, acifi c as and Electric Company (PG&E) customers can expect, on average, a 75% decline in their March natural gas bills.

The decrease is due in part to PG&E distributing the state’s pril Climate Credit one month earlier than in previous years. Even without the Climate Credit, March

natural gas bills, on average, would decrease because of a signifi cant drop in the market prices PG&E pays to buy natural gas to serve its customers, and customers using less gas as colder temperatures moderate. The estimated decrease, which is for natural gas usage in March, is based on customers using 38 therms (a unit of energy) compared to 50 therms in February. Depending on billing cycle, customers may not receive statements for March usage until April.

PG&E does not control market prices, nor does it mark up the cost of gas and electricity that it purchases on behalf of its customers.

“We supported the California Public tilities Commission’s decision to distribute the statewide Climate Credit earlier than previous years, and we’re grateful to pass on that savings to our customers. Even with this bill credit, we know that after three months of sustained high natural gas prices, some customers may have diffi culty paying their bills, and we’re here to help with individualized customer support, including payment plans,” said Vincent Davis, PG&E Vice President, Customer Operations and Enablement.

The average residential non-CARE customer bill for natural gas service in March is projected to be about $37.00, which includes the gas Climate Credit of $52.78. In February, the average residential non-CARE customer bill was about $150.00.

atural gas prices also a ect the cost of electricity since many power plants use natural gas to generate electricity. Customers can expect, on average, a 37%

decrease in March electric bills. The average residential non-CARE customer bill for electric service in March is projected to be about $91.00, which includes the Climate Credit of . . hat’s compared to $145.00 in February.

orts Save Customers ver Billion

In late January, California average daily prices for natural gas were fi ve times higher than the U.S. benchmark, according to the United States Energy Information Administration. The higher market prices between November and January were driven by market forces including increased natural gas demand due to colder than normal temperatures; increased demand for gas-fi red electric generation due to less hydroelectric generation and fewer electric imports lower acifi c regional natural gas storage inventory; and natural gas pipeline delivery constraints.

PG&E customer bills could have been even higher during this time. ’s team that purchases natural gas on behalf of its customers was able to save customers well over $1 billion through a series of measures. Among these actions: maintaining a diversifi ed natural gas portfolio that includes interstate pipeline access to three natural gas supply basins, using natural gas storage, which was full at the beginning of the winter, and using fi nancial hedging to protect against rising winter prices.

In February, market wholesale prices were well below the January average. Customer natural gas rates for the month are generally set based on wholesale prices at the end of the previous month.

Customer Support

proudly serves one in three U.S. households and more than 10% of small businesses in the U.S., and is a leading middle market banking provider in the .S. e provide a diversifi ed set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, aswell as consumer and commercial fi nance, through our four reportable operating segments:Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking,and Wealth Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked o. on Fortune’s rankingsof merica’s largest corporations. n the communities we serve, the company focuses its socialimpact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing a ordability,small business growth, fi nancial health, and a low-carbon economy.

News, insights, and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com Twitter: @WellsFargo SOURCE Right To Be

on

75%

While March bills are expected to drop, some customers still may have diffi culty paying bills from the sustained higher prices this winter. o ers individualized solutions and other ways to save:

Customers who need more time to pay can extend their due date or make a payment arrangement through their online account at pge.com.

o ers many fi nancial assistance programs that can help customers lower their monthly bills.

In addition to the statewide Climate Credit, approximately 300,000 customers who e perienced fi nancial hardships during the pandemic also received a one-time automatic bill credit under the California Arrearage Payment Program.

Customers who participated in the Power Saver Rewards Program last year and reduced energy use on event days may receive a bill credit on their February or March energy statement, depending on billing cycle. The program is providing over $55 million in bill credits to participating PG&E customers. Over the 10 event days in 2022, the average customer bill credit for participating customers was $35.

About PG&E acifi c as and lectric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and http://www.pge.com/about/newsroom/. ou can read about ’s data privacy practices here or at PGE.com/privacy.

Upside...

As I See It

(From Page 11)

She politely said no when Zaide, who Roque says is related to the historian Gregorio Zaide, asked if she would be interested in the job that would send her to the land of movie stars. Roque confessed that she did not know how to cook and had her pawnshop to run.

As Tita Fe ran out of candidates and the agency ran out of time, Zaide pressed her friend, sweetening and clinching the deal with an o er to get her a crash course in cooking and table setting.

“I was introduced to an instructor at Philippine Women’s University who taught me to make boneless rellenong manok chicken stu ed with ground meat ,” o ue related how she learned to concoct what is now her signature dish. – Adapted from original reprinted with permission from INQUIRER. NET

Offline

(From Page 13)

nal Court, which has decided to proceed with its investigation of the Duterte regime’s brutal drug war.

The apologists for both Marcos Jr and Duterte have said and continue to say that the Philippines has a fully functioning justice system.

A visiting team of European parliamentarians last week said it best. There are an estimated 6,000 victims of summary execution during the Duterte years. Only 20 cases have been filed. nly three have been convicted.

nd guess what he , figure is the low end of the number of mostly young men – and children – who were killed as a result of Duterte’s tokhang. The high estimate says that the number is closer to 30,000.

But the government insists that the justice system is alive and well, and thriving.

Presume that the actual number of tokhang victims is closer to 30,000. Now imagine the number of their friends and family who now accept that they will never find ustice for their fallen loved ones.

They are the best candidates for recruitment by the communist underground, aren’t they?

For now, there is no chance that the justice system can be fi ed. ot with the country’s chief e ecutive himself aunting the law. He remains totally silent on the P200-plus billion in taxes his family owes the government.

The country also has a justice secretary whose son was almost instantaneously cleared of drug charges. He claims he had nothing to do with that act of instant justice. One must wonder how stupid he believes the people are.

Last week’s series of high-profile crimes are very likely not the last. There will be more assassination attempts at government officials, be they honest or corrupt.

The honest ones will be targeted by the enemies they made in the performance of their duties, while the corrupt will be in the crosshairs of those who want to take their place.

Meanwhile, as long as the most powerful past and present officials are around, never to be touched by the supposed long arm of the law, how can anyone in his right mind expect that justice will reign over the poor, pathetic Republic of the Philippines?

Can a totally broken-down system ever be repaired?

With the nursery rhyme, was anyone able to put Humpty Dumpty back together again?

(From Page 12)

promoting better communication leading to good relationship not only among individuals but with the community.

Joel, enjoy your day and I just hope your blog will continue to usher hope and inspiration to our fellow Asian Americans!

(ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO was a veteran journalist in the Philippines and a multi-awarded journalist here in the US. For feedbacks, comments… please email the author at estiokoelpidio@gmail.com.)

What’s Up Atty

Immigrants Help

CAR ACCIDENTS

(From Page 12)

It will be an unbridled license for the Executive to do whatever he wants, with or without a law to support him.

THEFAIRNESSQUESTION

During the oral argument, Chief Justice Roberts and other conservative justices addressed “the fairness argument”. Loan forgiveness punishes those students who did not go to college or paid o their loan by working hard.

Roberts said: Suppose there are two high school graduates, neither of whom could a ord to go to college. One obtained a loan to attend college, the other took out a loan to start a lawn care business. At the end of years the college educated person will do significantly better financially than the person who did not go to college. And then the government tells the college educated person that you do not have to pay your loan. But leaves the lawn care person stuck with his debt.

S “Legal fight over student debt a prelude to a political battle,” headlined the ssociated ress on March 1, 2023. The AP said: Facing the possibility that the Supreme Court will reject President Biden’s plan for student loan forgiveness, he aims to turn the political heat toward epublicans while de ecting criticism from disappointed borrowers. At stake is the loyalty of young, college-educated voters who are a critical part of the Democratic coalition that Biden is counting on to return him to the White House. However, the White House admitted that they do not have another plan to cancel student debt. Republicans claim that the debt cancellation plan is a “bailout for the wealthy” college graduates. Ronna McDaniel, Republican National Committee chair, said that “Biden’s student loan cancellation unfairly punishes Americans who saved for college or made a di erent career choice. hile hardworking families struggle with soaring costs, Biden is giving a handout to the rich, and voters see right through this desperate vote grab.”

Atty. Emmanuel Samonte Tipon was a Fulbright and Smith-Mundt scholar to Yale Law School where he obtained a Master of Laws degree specializing in Constitutional Law. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines. He placed third in the 1955 bar examinations.

He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, New York, and the Philippines. He practices federal law, with emphasis on immigration law and appellate federal criminal defense. He was the Dean and a Professor of Law of the College of Law, Northwestern University, Philippines. He has written law books and legal articles for the world’s most prestigious legal publisher and writes columns for newspapers. He wrote the best-seller “Winning by Knowing our lection Laws.” Listen to he ipon eport which he co-hosts with his son ttorney mmanuel “ oel” ipon. They talk about immigration law, criminal law, court-martial defense, politics,

and current events. It is considered the most witty, interesting, and useful radio show in Hawaii. KNDI 1270 AM band every Thursday at 8:00 a.m. Atty. Tipon was born in Laoag City, hilippines. Cell hone - .Mail filamlaw yahoo.com. ebsite https www.tiponimmigrationguide.com

The information provided in this article is not legal advice. Publication of this information is not intended to create, and receipt by you does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

What’s Up Atty 2023 03 01 Student loan forgiveness –will it y

Health & Wealth

sistance, just write or contact:

(From Page 12)

(From Page 14)

Our Law Firm successfully settled a car accident for $675.000.

FAMILY LAW

We also handle uncontested DIVORCE.

SUCCESS STORIES

For the month of February 2023, we received approval from USCIS three naturalization applications, two Fiancée visa petition, two removals of condition on residence and four adjustment of status applications.

f you have immigration problems the Law ffices of Crispin C. Lo ano can help you find a solution before your problem gets worse which could lead to deportation and family separation.

Chris Caday Lozano, Esq. is an active member of the State Bar of California, the American Immigration Lawyers Association and San Francisco Trial Lawyers. He practices immigration law, bankruptcy, personal injury and income tax representation since June 1999. His contact phone is 1-877-456-9266, email: info@CCLlaw.net Website: www.

Ken Go

(From Page 20)

borrowers. There are monthly expenses and budgeting that need to take place, and repaying the loan in full can be very difficult.

Final conclusion

Easy cash loan solution is a form of quick loan; You will have the money you want without any hassle. However, it has some drawbacks that require you to be cautious. You can always take out a payday loan, but make sure you only use it for essentials and not for luxuries. In addition, you have used all possible resources to borrow money. That way, you know that payday loans are the only option left for you. Thanks for your inquiries, please call Ken Go of 1st Innovative Finance roup for your financing needs. Call Ken 562-5087048 or write to kennethgo@verizon.net CABRE

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The

late

Burt Bacharach was among Hollywood elite who showed kindness to Ruth Roque. Peninsula Family Service Filipino peer group Kapihan par�cipants learn to make Chicken Relleno from counselor Ruth Roque th from le� .

Massive efforts needed to reduce salt intake and protect lives

Embargoed copies of the report are available on request

, March first-of-its-kind orld Health Organization (WHO) Global report on sodium intake reduction shows that the world is o -track to achieve its global target of reducing sodium intake by 30% by 2025.

Sodium, an essential nutrient, increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and premature death when eaten in excess. The main source of sodium is table salt (sodium chloride), but it is also contained in other condiments such as sodium glutamate. The report shows that only 3% of the world’s population is protected by mandatory sodium reduction policies and 73% of WHO Member States lack full range of implementation of such policies.

mplementing highly cost-e ective sodium reduction policies could save an estimated million lives globally by 2030. It is an important component of action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal target of reducing deaths from noncommunicable diseases. But today, only nine countries (Brazil, Chile, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Uruguay) have a comprehensive package of recommended policies to reduce sodium intake.

“Unhealthy diets are a leading cause of death and dis-

ease globally, and excessive sodium intake is one of the main culprits,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This report shows that most countries are yet to adopt any mandatory sodium reduction policies, leaving their people at risk of heart attack, stroke, and other health problems. WHO calls on all countries to implement the ‘Best Buys’ for sodium reduction, and on manufacturers to implement the WHO benchmarks for sodium content in food.”

A comprehensive approach to sodium reduction includes adopting mandatory policies and WHO’s four “best buy” interventions related with sodium which greatly contribute to preventing noncommunicable diseases. These include:

1. Reformulating foods to contain less salt, and setting targets for the amount of sodium in foods and meals

2. Establishing public food procurement policies to limit salt or sodium rich foods in public institutions such as hospitals, schools, workplaces and nursing homes

3. Front-of-package labelling that helps consumers select products lower in sodium

4. Behaviour change communication and mass media campaigns to reduce salt/sodium consumption

Countries are encouraged to establish sodium content targets for processed foods, in line with the WHO Global Sodium Benchmarks and enforce them though these policies.

Mandatory sodium reduction policies are more e ective, as they achieve broader coverage and safeguard against commercial interests, while providing a level playing field for food manufacturers. As part of the report, WHO developed a Sodium country score card for Member States based on the type and number of sodium reduction policies they have in place.

“This important report demonstrates that countries must work urgently to implement ambitious, mandatory, government-led sodium reduction policies to meet the global target of reducing salt consumption by 2025,” said Dr Tom Frieden, President and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, a not-forprofit organi ation working with countries to prevent million deaths from cardiovascular disease over 30 years. “There are proven measures that governments can implement and important innovations, such as low sodium salts. The world needs action, and now, or many more people will experience disabling or deadly—but preventable—heart attacks and strokes.”

Cannabis – heart disease

bout 18 percent of Americans (48.4 million) have used cannabis, which contains 540 chemical substances, at least once in 2019. The name cannabis describes all products derived from the plant cannabis sativa. The name marijuana refers to parts or products from cannabis sativa that contains large amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). There are about 3.43 million recreational users in the USA. In 2020, the most prevalent users were those 50 and older and among 1825. The highest pot users per year are New York (USA), followed by Karachi (Pakistan), New Delhi (India), and Los Angeles, USA. In 2023, the estimated retail sales of cannabis in the United States is $38.8 billion. About 30 percent of the users have marijuana use disorder.

Heart of Hope

Recent studies revealed that cannabis use was associated with a percent higher risk for coronary heart disease, an entity that causes heart attacks, compared to people who do not use cannabis/marijuana.

The use of marijuana/cannabis products causes vascular in ammation that increases the risk for blockages in the heart arteries (main cause of heart attacks), independent of alcohol or cigarette use.

This 2-part research from Stanford University in California, was presented at the American College of Cardiology/World Congress of Cardiology (WCC) March 4-6, 2023.

Cannabis products/marijuana are not benign and harmless. hey have side e ects that a ect the brain, the heart, and other organs. They could also cause interaction with other medications. They are addictive too.

While medical marijuana has a place in medicine, recreational marijuana is only adding more problems in a society that is already complicated. There are so many ways for people to enjoy life with family and friends, without the need for more drugs. The responsibility and moral culpability belong to the legislators in various states which have legalized recreational marijuana in the excuse of collecting more taxes. Are we stupid and masochistic, or what?

MetforminandCOVID

The latest analysis of the phase COVID-OUT tri-

Aal showed that the anti-diabetic drug metformin (other brand names Glucophage, Fortamet, Glumetza) showed “a significant dose-related e ect in lowering S SCoV2 viral load” in COVID-19 infection, within days of administration of metformin. This is the latest addition to the multitude of benefits from the drug metformin, including possible improved longevity among those taking them.

As posted by Medscape Medical News, the analysis revealed “important secondary outcomes including a reduction in emergency room visits and in hospitalizations and/or deaths by day 14, and a 58% reduction in hospitalizations/death by day 28. A further sub analysis has shown a reduction in long COVID compared with placebo….In this phase randomized controlled trial, metformin showed prevention of severe COVID, prevention of Long C , and an antiviral e ect, and this is consistent with other data.

In the United States, possibly on a global basis too, metformin, as a monotherapy drug is used by percent of those with diabetes T2, ranking second to insulin. There were more than million prescriptions for metformin in 2020 in the USA. In The Philippines, approximately 73.8 percent of diabetics are on metformin. There are about 10 million Filipinos have diabetes T2, about 8.4 percent of the population; 14.2 percent of the population have pre-diabetes. China has around 172 million of its people with diabetes T2, among its 1.439 billion population. Metformin is also widely used in China; some still prefer herbal medications.

COVID-19 Updates: As March 6, 2023, the daily average COVID-19 cases was 33,156, with 521 deaths (per day) and 25,693 currently hospitalized, according to a COVID-19 daily tracker. Let us all be vigilant and careful, especially those vulnerable.

UPFs-colorectalcancer

A clinical investigation, among various other past studies, suggests that consumption of ultra processed foods Fs have long-term adverse e ects on health, and more specifically increases the risk for colorectal cancer. Other studies also implicated UPFs and overcharred or burnt meats on high-temperature grilling, as elevating the risk for pancreatic cancer.

Bad diet is arguably the greatest risk in colorectal cancer, with percent of cases linked to diet and lifestyle, which are both modifiable risk factors. lcohol, obesity, and diets high in red meats, especially processed ones (sausages, hot dogs, salamis, pepperonis, hams,

etc.) are associated with elevated risk for cancer in general and colorectal malignancies in general. Mediterranean diet, basically plant-based, high in fibers, wholegrains, nuts, vegetables (broccoli, celery, etc.), fruits, minimal red meat and carbohydrates, is associated with lower health risks and generally healthier. A moderate amount of salad (kale, arugula, spinach, lettuces, other green leafy veggies, onions, spices, and olive oil/vinaigrette dressing) as a starter (instead of high calorie appetizers) is healthier, conducive to lesser illnesses and improved longevity.

Diabeticcure?

significant number of diabetics is due to increased insulin resistance, a condition that prevents natural insulin our body produces from entering the body cells to help in healthy sugar metabolism. Insulin is needed by our cells to metabolize glucose (sugar) to provide us fuel (energy). The popular drug, for instance, is one that reduces insulin resistance, enabling our own body insulin to enter the cells to do their job in maintaining a healthy level of blood sugar in our blood.

While there is no known drug or therapy to cure diabetes for good, disciplined diet control and exercise and losing significant body weight has been shown to result in good blood sugar level, even after stopping insulin among those who were taking insulin before the significant weight loss regimen. Severe control of ecess weight or obesity, through dieting, appears to be the “magic” therapy that is money-saving, body-shape improving, drug-eliminating, health-inducing, and longevity increasing modern option for those with diabetes Type2. This recent clinical discovery is, indeed, most inspiring, proving that discipline and a great resolve are true wonders in our hands for most life matters, including disease prevention or control.

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, and philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

PHILIP S. CHUA

INSPIRATIONAL

By TIM PEDROSA THE EVIL OF GAMBLING

ambling is a sickness, a disease, an addiction, an insanity and a gambler is always a loser in the long run. Gambling is hazardous. It can turn into a dangerous two-way street when we least expect it. Weird things could happen suddenly, and our life could go all to pieces. There are many harsh lessons to be learned from the gambling experience, but the harshest one of all is the di erence between having fun and being smart. By gaming we lose both our time and treasure, two things most precious to the life of man. have long understood that losing always comes with the territory when we wander into the gambling business, we could get crippled for life and pain is part of the bargain. ambling is addictive, the more we gamble, the more we want to do it. Nobody is always a winner and anybody who says he is, is either a liar or doesn’t play poker. We know of many people, especially seniors, who go to the casino two or more times a week. heir obvious e cuse is, they are bored. t is very convenient for them because casino bus is waiting for them somewhere. What a foolish way to entertain oneself. It is not hard to understand why casino houses ourish in convenient places like ies. ambling is somehow, like we go out for a night and we don’t know where we are going to end up the next day. It could work out good or it could be disastrous. t’s like the throw of the dice. nother great evil arising from gambling is the desire to be thought or to get rich; or rather, from the desire not to be thought poor. t is the destructive thing which has been honored by the name of speculation’ but which ought to be called gambling. inning is a eeting thing in the gambling business. Today’s winners are tomorrow’s blinking toads, dumb beasts with no hope, ending up a troublesome life. Countless relationships, lives, marriages and families have been shattered and wrecked by the gambling e ects, let us not be one of them. he ma ority of casino players leave too much to chance when playing in a casino. o put it bluntly, they don’t have a clue as how to play – Henry Tamburin.

Temptations and Sin

Union with God must not be compromised. he devil will always make ways to destroy our bond of relationship with God; that is why, temptations and deceptions happen. he devil devices many sorts of temptation and snares to make us fall into sin; so that in sin, we are separated from God. Dear reader, do you consider temptations as destructive to your relationship with the Lord Jesus? Do you consider seriously winning over temptations

Lenten Season reminds us of Jesus’ forty days and forty nights in the desert where He was tempted after His fast. n His hunger, the devil thought that this could be the way to win over Him. ndeed, temptations come to us during our most vulnerable moments in times, when we unguarded. We must know, dear reader, the times most of the temptations happen to us and if we fall into them. We also must know the places where most of our failures in winning over temptations happen. Let us also consider the kind of temptations that the devil threw at us in order to make us commit sin. It is a reality, we many times are defeated, but it does not mean that we ust have to let it be that way without finding ways to become victorious over them. e have to avoid the places where we fall into sin. e have to avoid the company, the friends and people, who in uence us to sin. e are to avoid the things that lead us to sin; and shun the so-called triggers for our mind to consider falling into sin. he devil can win easily when we are not vigilant and irresponsible with our spiritual and moral life.

n every temptation, we are to learn the movements or actions that happen let us consider the temptation of ve in the ook of enesis 1 – Now the snake was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He asked the woman, “Did God really say, ou shall not eat from any of the trees in the garden’ ” he woman answered the snake: “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; it is only about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ou shall not eat it or even touch it, or else you will die.’” ut the snake said to the woman “ ou certainly will not die od knows well that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, who know good and evil.” he woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and the tree was desirable for gaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. See here, the serpent tried to let ve focus on herself and forget od. nd it succeeded as ve departed her focus from od into oneself “the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes… was desirable for gaining wisdom.” ll sin happened because we focus on ourselves and we forgot God. While in the temptation of Jesus by Satan in the desert in the gospel of Matthew 1 – 11 (please read for yourself), the action of Jesus was always to connect Himself to God. His three responses to Satan were all anchoring Himself to God; for example, He said; “not on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of od” or His last response, “ he Lord, your od, shall you worship and Him alone shall you serve.” esus did not compromise His relationship with od He is our model. e cannot be complacent against the devil otherwise our bond and union with God will be broken. If we break our bond with od, we break too ourselves. Sin is our destruction sin is our death. Having no od is having no life at all even f, we could still be breathing bodily, but we are like living-dead, like ombies morally and spiritually speaking. We cannot underestimate the temptations and the sins that we fall into because of them. he presence of od in our lives is worth every e ort to fight for. he presence of the Holy Spirit in us cannot be taken for granted, we are to fight against sin, we are to win over temptations in order not to fall into sin. Let us focus always in od. Let us never let our mind and heart be distracted from our Lord esus Christ the moment we do so, we can be lost. Let us anchor ourselves always in God and in His presence; that is why, daily prayer is important. ur times of prayer are concrete ways of anchoring ourselves to od. nd od’s grace will have more e ectivity in fighting and winning over temptations and sins since, it will be od’s grace helping our resolve never to be separated from od. Let this Lenten Season be filled with victories against sin rather than failures and defeat into sin. men.

REV. JOSE PELAGIO A. PADIT, SThD

Recipe of the Week

Mais at Patola, Sweet Corn and Luffa Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:

young corn in a cob

medium size patola, peeled, cut crosswise medium size eggplant, sliced into strips

1/4 kilo pre-boiled pork, cut into strips

1 cup small shrimp, shelled

2-3 long green chili

1/4 head garlic, chopped

1 small size onion, chopped

1 medium size tomato, chopped cup fish sauce

salt to taste

cooking oil

Cookingprocedure:

Using a knife cut of the corn kernels of the cob, keep aside, discard cobs. In a sauce pan suttee garlic, onion and tomato until lump. Add in the pork and shrimp, stir cook for a minute. dd in fish sauce and stir cook for another minute. Add to cups of water bring to a boil and simmer for 1 to minutes. Add in the corn and continue to simmer for to 30 minutes, add more water as necessary. Add in the vegetables and simmer for to minutes, correct saltines if required. Now add in the green chili and cook for another half a minute. Serve with steaming hot rice.

MANILA/PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan – Yes, hundreds of foreign tourists and scores of cruise ships are arriving in the Philippines as the country relaxed all Covid-19 health restrictions.

Last year, more than two million tourists arrived in the Philippines and the Department of Tourism is hopeful arrivals could go back to the old pre-Covid level of over 8 million tourist arrivals in 2023.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco though has set a modest target of double the arrivals of last year and its tourism revenues at least 4.8 million in foreign visitor arrivals in 2023 and US$5.8 billion in revenues..

Latest data showed that the Philippines has breached its 1.7 million arrivals target for 2022, hitting over 2.46 million tourists and P149 billion in receipts.

With the administration’s focus on tourism and the various measures implemented to ease travel, Frasco said she is optimistic Manila could even surpass the pre-pandemic tourism figures before .

DOT’s initial forecast indicated that Manila will not reach more than 8 million tourists until after 2025, a projection Frasco described as “alarming”.

“[T]o me, that was an alarming projection in a sense that is so far o for us to obtain our pre-pandemic levels until after 2025 and that really forced us to take an inward look as to how we can expedite the recovery,” she said.

“Having set out policies under the Marcos administration, precisely to serve the more aggressive approach towards tourism recovery, we’re seeing now that we have been able to breach the previous projection as well as the high projection (for this year),” she added.

Aside from constructing rest areas and improving connectivity for inbound tourists, Frasco presented more initiatives DOT sets to undertake in the next few months.

These include showcasing the country as a top cruise destination by 2023, coordinating with the relevant office to ease visa processing, and strengthening the promo-

tion of Mindanao -- especially for halal tourism.

Frasco said DOT and the Department of National Defense are soon to sign a Memorandum of Agreement to obtain necessary data to determine the “most ideal areas to begin the process of reopening Mindanao.”

For halal tourism, DOT eyes tourists from Indonesia, Malaysia and the Middle East, she said.

Meanwhile, uerto rincesa City officials welcomed the second cruise ship to visit Palawan after the Covid-19 pandemic, saying cruise ship tourism is a major boost to the local economy.

City ourism fficer emetrio lvior Jr. said the Westerdam cruise ship, carrying , passengers, is the first of four cruise ships scheduled to visit the city this March that will usher in a total of 5,000 tourists.

“So far, they had a smooth sail towards Puerto Princesa and the weather was favorable,” said Alvior, who led the welcoming party.

“Aside from this ship, we are also expecting another ship which is bigger, to arrive on March and then another on March and 7,” he added.

The three other cruise ships scheduled to arrive this month are MV Arcadia with 2,000 passengers, MS Nautica with 824 passengers, and MS Seven Seas Mariner with 700 travelers.

Seabourn ncore, the first cruise ship to visit the Philippines after the pandemic, arrived here last Feb. with 512 passengers aboard, signaling the return of cruise ship tourism after a two-year hiatus, Alvior said.

“This is actually also the second of a total of 21 ships scheduled to arrive this year but we were informed that there might be additional. So we are glad that our place is among the first to be visited by cruise ships because it will surely bring in more tourists, favoring our tourism industry,” he said.

“So we are expecting around 55,000 tourists this year from cruise ships alone, including the crew,” he said.

Westerdam sailed from Singapore and will proceed to Boracay.

More foreign tourists, cruise ships arriving; PHL eyes $5.8-B tourism revenue in 2023