4.4.24-4.10.24 by Philippine News Today

www.pnewstoday.com

PHL MOUNTS COUNTER MEASURES VS CHINA

Biden, China’s Xi tackle SCS woes to diﬀuse tension as summit nears

By ALFRED GABOT and CLAIRE MORALES TRUE Editor in Chief and Managing Editor

MANILA/WASHINGTON – As President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. readies for an April 11 summit at the White House with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on economy, defense and security,

UPSIDE

2 ex-Cabinet men clash over Duterte ‘deal’ with China’s Xi

By Be�ng Laygo Dolor, Editor

Page 9

Gen Zer is Daly City’s youngest commissioner

(Conclusion)

COMMISSIONER Fernando Montanes hones his organiza�on skills as sales team lead at a shop in Serramonte Center.

Daly City’s youngest commissioner Fernando Montanes has learned that putting his life on pause as needed can lead to positive

Page 10

Asian Americans remember 2001 Atlanta shooting, unite vs racism, discrimination

By Cesar Antonio Nucum Jr

SAN FRANCISCO --

Hundreds of Asian Americans nationwide came together in the cities of San Francisco, New York City, Los Angeles and Atlanta

to commemorate the third anniversary of the Atlanta spa shootings and honor victims of hate, demand action, and build unity and solidarity in the face of racism and discrimination.

This year’s

Page 18

Portland community unites after anti-Asian hate assault

By Gilda P. Balan, Correspondent

PORTLAND -- For 73-year-old Xinmin Liang, it should have been a quiet day on the Portland waterfront, along the Willamette River. A nice day to go ﬁshing.

Although he normally engaged in this pastime with a companion or two, this day was diﬀerent. Fish-

ing solo, however, proved to be a mistake, one with near fatal consequences.

An unidentiﬁed attacker came out of nowhere, picked up a log, and bashed Xinmin over the head.

Xinmin’a son Jie said his father had been ﬁshing in the area since 2020, although usually he

Page 6

Page 4

nonproﬁt organiza�on ALLICE Alliance for Community Empowerment for dedica�on to promote safe and health interac�on at home and communi�es through educa�on. The all-volunteer team was among 14 individuals and organiza�ons honored by the City of Daly City to cap Women’s History Month. Manalo herself was named among Assembly 19 Women of the Year by Member Phil Ting. ALLICE 2024 Vice President Jennifer Jimenez Wong (center) and Kumare Lydia Pomposo received the honor for their group. Complete list of honorees in Community. - CMQUEROLMORENO

by Cherie M. Querol Moreno

MANILA – Two former Cabinet secretaries of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte have come out with opposing versions of the same story.

Hudson Liao Founder and execu�ve Director of Asians are Strong Hudson Liao (center at mic) and the representa�ves from Asian American groups

WOMEN MATTER. DALY CITY Mayor Juslyn Manalo (le�) commends

CMQM photo

Carpio: Duterte exceeded authority in WPS deal with Xi

Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said former President Rodrigo Duterte acted beyond his authority and surrendered the country’s rights if he did indeed enter into a “gentleman’s agreement’ with China not to maintain BRP Sierra Madre, the Philippine Marine outpost in Ayungin Shoal.

“Duterte knew that without repairs the BRP Sierra Madre would soon collapse and thus end our presence in Ayungin Shoal,” Carpio said in a statement.

“Yet Duterte agreed, in a conces-

sion to China, that the Philippines could only bring food and water to BRP Sierra Madre, and would not bring materials to repair the Sierra Madre.”

Carpio explained that Duterte made this concession even as the Arbitral Tribunal had already ruled in its July 12, 2016 ruling that Ayungin Shoal is part of the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), with the Philippines having exclusive right to erect structures on Ayungin Shoal.

“Duterte’s ‘gentlemen’s agreement’

was lopsided in favor of China, which under the Arbitral Award, had no right to erect any structure on Ayungin Shoal, and had no right to stop the Philippines from erecting any structure on Ayungin Shoal, much less any right to stop the Philippines from repairing the BRP Sierra Madre. That ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ was a disguised surrender of our EEZ rights over Ayungin Shoal, as it gave China veto power over our exclusive right to erect structures on Ayungin Shoal,” Carpio said.

Survey shows 88% oppose ‘Cha-cha;’ solons question results

Are Filipinos opposed to proposed amendments to the Philippine Constitution?

Yes, if a Pulse Asia survey is to be believed.

But House of Representative leaders criticized Pulse Asia’s recent survey showing that 88 percent of Filipinos believe that the 1987 Constitution should not be amended now or any other time.

House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, Deputy Speaker David Suarez and Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin said the survey could be a black propaganda to undermine eﬀorts to remove the constitution’s restrictive economic provisions.

Dalipe of Zamboanga City’s 2nd District said questions about term extension for national and local elective oﬃcials, change of the presidential system to a

parliamentary system of government, and shift from bicameral to a unicameral legislature were “irrelevant” since these are not part of Charter change (Cha-cha) eﬀorts.

“Why include questions that people don’t want and are not related to the ongoing process in Congress? Is this black propaganda?” he said.

The Pulse Asia survey conducted March 6 to 10 showed 88 percent of the 1,200 adult respondents are against amending the 1987 constitution while only 8 percent favor amendments.

Of the 88 percent, 74 percent opposed changes this year or any other time; 14 percent said the constitution may be amended some other time; and 4 percent responded “they don’t know” if the constitution should be “amended or not amended at this time.”

The opposition against charter change is highest in Mindanao (91 percent) and in income class E (93 percent), which is the lowest.

The survey results were released a week after the House of Representatives approved on ﬁnal reading Resolution of Both Houses No. 7 (RBH 7), which aims to amend speciﬁc economic constitutional provisions related to public utilities, education, and advertising.

RBH 7 has been sent to the Senate, which is tackling a similar resolution known as RBH 6.

Another data research ﬁrm, Tangere, also conducted a survey that showed that 52 percent of Filipinos support Cha-cha.

Speaker Martin Romualdez said in a news release on March 24 that the Tangere survey result “indicates a pivotal shift in

public sentiment, revealing a growing acceptance and willingness among our citizens to consider the merits of constitutional reform.”

Suarez of Quezon’s 2nd District said the Pulse Asia survey wants to derail the constitutional reform process.

“Including unrelated questions in the survey only serves to confuse and mislead the public,” Suarez said, calling for a more objective approach in future surveys.

Garin of Iloilo’s 1st District expressed disappointment with the survey’s attempt to sway public opinion.

“Surveys should reﬂect the real concerns of the people, not push a particular agenda,” the lady lawmaker from Iloilo said.

Dalipe said “the best way to gauge public opinion on Cha-cha is through a plebiscite, not surveys.”

Re�red Supreme Court Associate Jus�ce Antonio Carpio

Marcos suffers double digit losses in approval, trust ratings: Pulse Asia

MANILA - If the Pulse Asia survey is to be believed, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr’s trust and approval ratings are down by double digits.

This despite the overall survey in which he remains appreciated by the majority of Filipinos.

Marcos’ performance rating slipped 13 points from 68 in December 2023 to 55 in March 2024, the survey ﬁrm said in its latest report.

The President’s performance ratings were down across the board with the biggest cuts in Mindanao (40 percent from 62 percent) and Class E (48 percent from 68 percent).

Meanwhile, his trust rating slid 16 points in the March 2024 survey at 57 percent from 73 percent in December 2023. His trust scores also logged the biggest drops in Mindanao (38 percent in March from 70 percent in December ) and Class E (45 percent from 74 percent).

Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte’s trust rating only lost 7 points at 71 percent from 78 percent in March.

Her biggest drop of 16 points was in Metro Manila (60 from 76) , followed by Class E (69 from 84), Class ABC (68 from 78), and Visayas (72 from 83).

Duterte’s performance rating went down to 67 percent from 74 percent, with the biggest drop in Class E where she slipped to 65 percent from 79 percent.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri’s

trust rating gained 2 points at 53 percent, while his performance rating went up to 52 percent from 49 percent.

Speaker Martin Romualdez’s trust rating went down to 31 percent from 40 percent. He took double digit drops in Visayas, Mindanao and Class E.

His performance rating also slid to 31 percent from 39 percent. He suﬀered double digit drops in Mindanao (25 percent from 42 percent) and Class E (20 percent from 50 percent).

The survey was conducted from March 6 to 10, 2024.

Comelec: Most Filipinos abroad may vote online in 2025 polls

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced that internet voting would be the primary method of casting votes for overseas voters in the 2025 midterm elections.

Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco noted that Filipino registered voters who are living or working in other countries will be able to cast their votes on their mobile phones, gadgets, or personal computers.

“User friendly po ang internet voting kung marunong kayo magFacebook, makipagchat at kung may online banking kayo, kasing dali lang nito ang paraan ng pagboto. Mayroon pong phone application na idadownload, dito magregister ang voter para makaboto ,” he added.

Laudiangco also said in-person and mail-in voting will be implemented in countries where internet voting is restricted.

Heat trigger suspension of classes in several areas

PASIG CITY – The Department of Education (DepEd) and some universities suspended in-person classes in some areas of the country due to sweltering temperatures.

Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas said learners will shift to alternative delivery mode (ADM) amid the hot weather.

“As of this hour (suspension of face-toface classes in) Iloilo city was declared by

LGU (local government unit) (for) April 1 and 2, automatic shift to ADM, and the municipality of Tantangan in South Cotabato, suspended for afternoon classes only,” he said.

“Please take note that only the in-person class modality is suspended,” Bringas added.

Besides Iloilo City and Tantangan, South Cotabato, local government units in Bacolod

City, Roxas, Capiz, Kabankalan in Negros Occidental, and E.B. Magalona in Negros Occidental also suspended face-to-face classes in private and public schools.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA) warned that several areas may experience “dangerous” levels of heat, which may cause exhaustion and heat cramps, with

the possibility of heat stroke for individuals with high and continued exposure.

Areas with the highest or more than 40 degrees Celsius heat index include Aparri, Cagayan; Pili, Camarines Sur; Catarman, Northern Samar and Zamboanga City in Zamboanga Del Sur.

Pulse Asia: Erwin Tulfo, Tito Sotto, Rodrigo Duterte top latest senatorial poll

By Jennifer T. Santos

QUEZON CITY -- Former Social Welfare Secretary and now ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo has topped the latest senatorial preference survey conducted by Pulse Asia.

Meanwhile, in the presidential survey, Vice President Sara Duterte and Tulfo are statistically tied, Pulse Asia stated in a report.

Tulfo, a brother of Sen. Rafael Raﬀy Tulfo, had 57.1 percentage points in the survey, was followed by actor ND former Senate President Vicente Tito Sotto (51.8) and former President Rodrigo Duterte (47.7).

They were followed by Senator Christopher Lawrence Bong Go (44.2), Senator Juliana Pilar Pia Cayetano (37.7), and former Senator Emmanuel Manny Pacquiao (33.7).

Rounding up those in the top 12 placers in the survey are Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, Senator Imelda Imee Marcos, former Manila Mayor Francisco Isko Moreno Domagoso, broadcaster Ben Tulfo, Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., and Makati Mayor Abby Binay.

Just outside the top 12 are former Senator Panﬁlo Lacson, TV personality Willie Revillame, Senator Manuel Lito Lapid, and Dr. Willie Ong.

LTO to use MMDA cameras in catching trafﬁc violators

QUEZON CITY – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will use the cameras of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to record and catch traffic violators in the act in the National Capital Region (NCR).

LTO Chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, said such videos will be used to issue a show cause order (SCO) against any erring motorists.

“The cameras installed by the MMDA are being used to monitor traffic situations, especially in major thoroughfares in Metro Manila. We might as well use them to run after erring motorists who would openly defy traf-

fic safety rules,” Mendoza said.

The MMDA agreed to the LTO’s proposal during a meeting between officials led by MMDA acting chair Romando Artes, Director for Enforcement Victor Nuñez and METROBASE NCAP and Overspeeding Group Head Ronezes Rivera.

Initially, the LTO will focus on violators of the EDSA busway, with the MMDA responsible for forwarding captured videos of violations –including details such as the date and time of the violation and the license plate of the vehicle involved.

“These captured videos that will be transmitted to our office will be used

as the basis of SCO that would be issued to erring motorists,” he said.

In March, the Supreme Court ruled that the MMDA has jurisdiction over traffic regulations in the NCR, prohibiting local government units (LGUs)

from issuing their tickets.

In response, the MMDA deputized the traffic enforcers of the 17 LGUs in NCR to allow them to continue issuing traffic citations to erring motorists.

secret deal between China and the Philippines.

While former spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping had a “gentleman’s agreement” regarding Ayungin Shoal and the stranded warship BRP Sierra Madre, former chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo said no such deal existed.

Panelo said that anyone claiming to know of the supposed agreement was not only lying, but was also seeking publicity for himself.

While no documents have come out to conﬁrm the reported agreement, Roque said then Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano made the agreement public.

Panelo, however, said he had spoken to Duterte twice over the long Holy Week holiday and he quoted the former president as saying, “I have not entered into any gentleman’s agreement whatsoever.”

He further quoted Duterte as stating that the ex-president had been “avoiding that Ayungin Shoal like a hot potato” because it was too hot of an issue. Thus, he did not come to any agreement with anyone.

Under the supposed agreement, the Philippines would only be “allowed” to deliver food and water to the Filipino troops stationed in the Sierra Madre.

Roque, however, appeared to backtrack on his claim by saying there was no

“Anyone who says the contrary is either lying or misinformed,” said Roque in a Facebook post this week.

Roque then took a potshot at the Marcos administration by saying it had “no clear China policy” two years into its sixyear term.

The president last week reorganized the National Coast Watch System into the National Maritime Council, and expanded its membership.

To this, Roque said: “Why is it only now that he’s forming this oﬃce if he had a very clear idea of how he should proceed with Philippine-China bilateral relations?”

He also said that the country should sit down with China and discuss the Sierra Madre and ask if repairs would be allowed if the World War ll-vintage ship were to be decommissioned.

Among the Marcos regime’s steps visà-vis the ship and the shoal where it sits is to adopt a “transparency initiative,” one which would expose China’s “dangerous” actions in the country’s waters, speciﬁcally its exclusive economic zone.

For its part, the Chinese foreign ministry earlier said “candid and in-depth exchange of views” would continue to be held, which would help “de-escalate the situation in the South China Sea.”

Erwin Tulfo, Tito So�o, Rodrigo Duterte

Davao family court orders Quiboloy’s arrest

DAVAO CITY – The Davao Regional Trial Court Branch 12-Family Court has ordered the immediate implementation of an arrest warrant against Apollo Quiboloy and ﬁve others for child abuse and sexual abuse.

The Davao RTC earlier issued a warrant of arrest against Quiboloy, Jackielyn W. Roy, Crescente Canada, Paulene Canada, Ingrid C. Canada and Sylvia Cemañes last March 14, but its implementation was suspended following an appeal ﬁled before the Department of Justice by Quiboloy’s camp.

In an order dated April 1, Judge Dante Baguio noted that while the defense ﬁled a motion to defer and suspend the proceedings, and hold in abeyance the issuance of warrants of arrest pending a motion for reconsideration ﬁled before the DOJ, no ruling has yet been handed down by the DOJ on whether it has decided to withdraw the indictments.

The court said “more than reasonable time has lapsed” and it has yet to receive any resolution of Quiboloy’s motion for reconsideration by the DOJ, and “neither a copy of the same was furnished to the court by accused’s counsels nor a manifestation was duly

ﬁled, at the very least.”

“Having received none as of this date, the Court declines this time to await. As what was earlier determined upon judicious examination and perusal of information where it found probable cause, let the warrants of arrest already issued be implemented immediately,” it said.

Meanwhile, Justice Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez told reporters that prosecutors will be meeting shortly to plan the prosecution’s next move following the issuance of the arrest warrants.

Quiboloy and the others were charged for violating Republic Act 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Law, speciﬁcally the provision on sexual abuse of minor and maltreatment.

Fishers warn against proliferation of corporate ﬁsh pens in Laguna de Bay

TAYTAY, Rizal — The militant ﬁsherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) slammed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and its attached agency, the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), over a Board Resolution that increases the allocation of private and corporate ﬁsh pens in the 90, 000-hectare Laguna de Bay.

In a statement, PAMALAKAYA warned that the reallocation in favor of private fishing corporations could result in “proliferation of fish pens beyond the lake’s 10% carrying capacity”. The fishers’ group said that the existing fisheries law only allotted 10% of the surface area of lakes and rivers for aquaculture purposes.

“Nababahala kami na magresulta ang kautusang ito ng DENR at LLDA sa muling pamamayagpag ng mga naglalawakang ﬁsh pen na sobra sa kapasidad ng lawa. May malubhang epekto ito sa ekosistema ng lawa dahil sa di-sustenableng pamamaraan ng pagpapalaki ng mga isda ng malalaking akwakultura.

New Affordable Homes for Sale in Mission Bay

148 Below Market Rate Condominium for middle-income, first-time homebuyers. One-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom homes priced from $260,000 - $501,000 without parking will be available. Applicants must be a first-time homebuyer and earn no more than the income levels listed below:

One

Four People

Five People

Apply online through DAHLIA, the SF Housing Portal at www.housing.sfgov.org | Applications Due May 31st

• Saturday, April 27th | 10:00am - 12:00pm

• Friday, May 3rd | 11:30am - 1:30pm

• Wednesday, May 8th | 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Today! www.400ChinaBasin.com

Acorda retires, Marbil is new PNP chief

By Jeanne Michael Penaranda

CAMP CRAME, Quezon City – Philippine National Police chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. ﬁnished his four-month extended term and ﬁnally retired on March 31.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. designated Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Peralta as the

oﬃcer-in-charge (OIC) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) following the retirement of Gen. Acorda Jr. but after only a day, on April 1, he appointed General Francisco Marbil as the new PNP chief.

Marbil, who is known to be close to Speaker Martin Romualdez, took over the police organization on Monday during a change-of-command ceremony and will retire on February 7, 2025 when he turns 56.

Marbil, a classmate of Acorda and Peralta at the Philippine Military Academy, was also promoted to the rank of Police General during the same ceremony.

Before his appointment as PNP chief, Marbil served as head of PNP Directorate for Comptrollership (DC) and director of Police Regional Oﬃce 8 in Eastern Visayas, which covers the home turf of Speaker Romualdez.

“I hereby assume the position as Chief Philippine National Police eﬀective April 1, 2024,” Marbil said at the ceremony.

The new PNP chief also served as head of the PNP Highway Patrol Group. In December last year, a photo stating that Marbil will replace Acorda made the rounds of social media. This was immediately denied by the PNP.

(From page 1)

did so with companions.

“That’s his favorite spot,” Jie told Oregon Public Broadcasting, “It doesn’t occur to him that the place is not safe. It never came across his mind.”

The attack left Xinmin with a concussion and a broken arm. And because he does not speak English, he had to take public transit home before someone called 911 for him.

Jie is hoping that the crime will be investigated as a hate crime.

According to Jie, “If the city wants people to enjoy public places safely, we have to put things in measure to make people feel safe.”

Three weeks after the assault, the Asian-American community in Oregon state decided that enough was enough. They have joined forces to take action and hope-

fully prevent similar cases of apparent Asian hate from happening again.

Last week, community leaders met in order to organize a response to the attack.

Said Iris Zhao of the Chinese Friendship Association of Portland, “Waterfront Park is a public park, we should feel safe to visit there anytime, no matter (if) you go ﬁshing or go walking.”

She told a local news station, “We feel in this public place it’s so unsafe for us, especially volatile for the Asian community.”

One of the community’s ﬁrst steps was to organize 18 organizations to co-host a unity event near the site of the attack.

Organizers of the unity event say the assault was part of a troubling trend.

Olivia Jhao of the Lung Kong Tin Yee Association told a local station that “We’ve had a lot of Asian people get hurt, get beat up for no reason.”

David Ji, vice president of the Chinese Friendship Association of Portland, said, “The event is to raise awareness by the public, by the policymakers, by the oﬃcials, that Asian hate and violence against any groups of this society should not be tolerated and the criminals should be punished.”

He said their mass action should cause the community “to work together to make this city a safe place again, for us and for seniors and for our future generations.”

This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Paciﬁc Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to https:// www.cavshate.org/.

NEW PNP CHIEF. President Marcos congratulates new PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil as Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. and other PNP oﬃcers look.

VP Duterte, Tulfo statistically tied as 2028 presidential frontrunners: Pulse Asia

QUEZON CITY— The country’s next presidential election is still years away but politicians and the people are already talking about possible candidates.

Based on a Pulse Asia survey, broadcaster and neophyte Sen. Rafael Raﬀy Tulfo and Vice President Sara Duterte are statistically tied in ﬁrst place for the 2028 presidential elections.

Pulse Asia asked 1,200 respondents nationwide from March 6 to 10 the question: “Who would you vote for if the 2028 national elections were held today?”

Tulfo at 35 percent had a 1 percent lead over Duterte’s 34 percent. Pulse Asia President Ronald Holmes, as ABS-CBN reported, said this is a statistical tie, citing the survey’s +/-3 margin of error.

Tulfo enjoyed huge margins over Duterte in the National Capital Region (41 to 26), Balance Luzon (37 to 23), and Visayas (46 to 20) and Classes ABC (36-22)

and E (46 to 28) while Duterte led Tulfo in Mindanao (72 to 18) and Class D (37 to 33).

Former Vice President Leni Robredo was a distant 3rd at 11 percent, followed by Sen. Imee Marcos at 5 percent, former Sen. Manny Pacquiao at 3 percent, Sen. Robin Padilla at 2 percent, Sen. Risa Hontiveros at 1 percent, and Speaker Martin Romualdez at 0.5 percent.

Others mentioned were former President Rodrigo Duterte (0.2 percent) and former Manila Mayor Isko Morendo Domagoso (0.1 percent)

Meanwhile, Sen. Grace Poe, who lost the 2016 presidential elections, topped the Vice Presidential poll at 35 percent, with Sen. Marcos a distant second at 16 percent. Pacquiao was at 14 percent, Padilla at 14 percent, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri at 7 percent, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro at 4 percent, and Romualdez at 1 percent.

P1.08-B aid alloted to El Niño-affected farmers

QUEZON CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) alloted P1.08 billion worth of aid to farmers whose livelihoods are aﬀected by the impact of the El Niño phenomenon.

According to the DA’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center’s latest bulletin, P1.06 billion of the total amount was allocated for ﬁnancial assistance in Cagayan Valley and Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan).

The DA also distributed P17.65 million worth of mung beans, hybrid rice seeds, corn seeds, and fertilizers, among others, particularly in Ilocos Region and Western Visayas.

“The Department provided hybrid rice seeds worth P7.87 million and fertilizers worth P7.63 million to non-vulnerable areas in Western Visayas, and corn seeds worth P1.16 million in Ilocos Region for maximization of production to compensate for incurred losses,” the DA said in a separate statement.

Other interventions also include cloudseeding operations, distribution of 570 water pumps, improve-

ment of irrigation canals and water flows, distribution of native animals, and diversified alternative livelihood technologies, as well as P10.20 million worth of indemnification grants.

To date, there are 54,203 farmers aﬀected nationwide due to the El Niño phenomenon.

The total value of loss has already reached P2.64 billion, with the highest damage accounted for rice worth P1.72 billion, followed by corn pegged at P591.74 million, high-value crops at P326.68 million, and P59,600 for livestock and poultry.

In January, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order (EO) No. 53 to streamline, reactivate, and reconstitute the old El Niño task forces under EO No. 16 (s. 2001) and Memorandum Order No. 38 (s. 2019).

Under EO No. 53, the President instructed the task force to secure a comprehensive disaster preparedness and rehabilitation plan and ensure “systematic, holistic, and results-driven interventions” to aid the Filipinos and alleviate the devastating eﬀects of disasters.

Metro villages, condos told to conserve water amid El Niño

In a bid to ensure suﬃcient water supply in Metro Manila amid the scourging heat due to the El Niño phenomenon, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Water Resources Management Oﬃce is urging village heads and property managers to save water.

The DENR bulletin on water management for Metro Manila villages and condominiums contains instructions on how to observe management measures and practice easy-to-do conservation measures and hacks that will help save water.

These include the regular monitoring of water meters, preferable in the early morning or late at night when there is no activity, to detect any possible leaks.

The use of water catchment systems, such as drums in downspouts, is also encouraged to collect and store water that

may be used for cleaning, while discouraging swimming pool maintenance work that will require draining and replacing the water from the pool.

The bulletin also lists easy-to-do tips for households like avoiding the use of dishwashers, running washing machines at full load, and using the right amount of detergents so that less water will be used for rinsing.

Meanwhile, some water-saving hacks include placing a small bottled water in the toilet water tank to reduce water used in ﬂushing, using basins in washing fruits and vegetables instead of running water, and ﬁxing water leaks.

The bulletin was also jointly issued by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and the National Water Resources Board (NWRB).

Phivolcs: Tremors in Taiwan won’t reach northern PHL

QUEZON CITY – With Taiwan’s close proximity to the northern part of the country, the head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) assured that tremors in Taiwan won’t reach northern Philippines.

“The shaking won’t reach, and won’t be felt in Northern Luzon. The only eﬀect in case of a major earthquake is if it would cause a tsunami, it would surely hit the northern part of the Philippines,” Phivolcs Director

Teresito Bacolcol said.

He also noted that earthquakes are random, and the earthquake in Taiwan will have nothing to do with the movements of the Philippines’ active faults.

“When the country’s active faults move, it’s because it is part of the Paciﬁc Ring of Fire, and because these faults are very much active,” he said.

Taiwan, he said, could experience aftershocks as high as magnitude 6.4 in the next few hours or weeks.

Meanwhile, Bacolcol said it is important for the public to know the signs of a tsunami.

“If there’s a strong earthquake that makes you almost unable to stand, and you notice a sudden drop of sea level and you hear a rolling sound coming from the sea, you should immediately move to higher grounds,” he said.

He added that authorities would have time to issue a tsunami warning if it is far, like what happened in Taiwan.

VP Sara Duterte, Sen. Raﬀy Tulfo

PHL...

(From page 1)

the Philippine leader set into motion countermeasures against China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea, vowing that the country will not be “cowed into silence” by Beijing after China Coast Guard attacked Philippine vessels again that injured Filipino troops and damaged the vessels and harassed by helicopter Filipino scientists conducting maritime surveys there.

Amid the high tension, US President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their ﬁrst direct talks on Tuesday since personally meeting in November where they had agreed to open military communications.

“The two leaders welcomed ongoing eﬀorts to maintain open channels of communication and responsibly manage the relationship through high-level diplomacy and working-level consultations in the weeks and months ahead...,” the White House said.

During their over 30 minutes of phone conversation, Biden and Xi discussed the escalating tension in Taiwan and the Philippines which the US leader said he hoped would be diﬀused.

Biden and Xi tackled ways to manage competition, avoid conﬂict and keep lines of communication open, the White House added .

In a statement on social media, Marcos said he has ordered the implementation of a “response and countermeasure package” in the face of China’s continued aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

The United States, Australia, Japan and the Philippines, meanwhile, are planning anti-submarine drills in the South China Sea during this month’s annual Balikatan military exercises jointly by Filipinos, Americans and troops from other countries. The drills will also include targeting a vessel in the sea with missiles and joint patrol by US, Philippines, France and Australian ships. (See related stories)

The United States and several countries condemned China for its continued aggression.

The US also again aﬃrmed its “ironclad” commitment to its defense treaty with the Philippines in the wake of the latest water cannon attack by China.

The United States government condemned China’s latest aggression as it again reaﬃrmed its “ironclad” support for the Philippines following China’s latest “attacks” on Philippine vessels in an eﬀort to prevent a resupply mission in the West Philippine Sea and harass Filipino marine scientists.

The Philippine government again denounced China’s latest “dangerous manuevers” and threats, vowing to make counter measures to prevent similar incidents even as China justiﬁed its act, accusing Philippines of violating its sovereignty which the Philippines branded as “all Chinese lies.”

The US expressed its grave concern as US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III called Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr. to express their commitment under the Philippines-United States Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951.

The United States, the European Union, Japan, Australia and about 16 other countries expressed support to the Philippines and the rule of law, according to the Department of Foreign Aﬀairs in Manila.

South Korea’s foreign ministry also expressed “grave concerns” over China’s recent use of water cannons against Philippine ships.

“We are gravely concerned about the recent and repeated use of water cannons in the South China Sea,” Seoul’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Lim Soo-suk.

These developed as Senator Imelda Imee Marcos called on her brother’s administration to adopt a more diplomatic approach in dealing with China amid the escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

Senator Marcos urged President Marcos to resume negotiations with China and to disregard what she referred to as the United States’ “warmongering.”

In another development, National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano and US counterpart Jake Sullivan discussed “the recent spate of illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions by the China Coast Guard and the Chinese Maritime Militia” in the West Philippine Sea.

Año and Sullivan also tackled the preparations for the upcoming US-Japan-Philippines trilateral leaders summit at the White House in Washington DC next week and aired hope for its success.

The President’s Executive Order No. 57 which was made public by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin on March 25 highlighted the need to boost maritime security and maritime domain awareness due to “serious challenges that threaten the country’s territorial integrity and the peaceful existence of Filipinos.”

“Despite eﬀorts to promote stability and security in our maritime domain, the Philippines continues to confront a range of serious challenges that threaten not only the country’s territorial integrity but also the peaceful existence of Filipinos, including their fundamental right to live in peace and freedom, free from fear of violence and threat,” Marcos said in a statement.

“Strengthening the country’s maritime security and domain awareness is imperative to comprehensively tackle the crosscutting issues that impact the nation’s national security, sovereignty, sovereign rights, and maritime jurisdiction over its extensive maritime zones,” he added.

Under the executive order, the National Maritime Council (NMC) — formerly the National Coast Watch Council (NCWC) — was designated to formulate policies and strategies for the country’s maritime security and domain awareness framework, among other functions.

Marcos also instructed NMC to craft and issue guidelines for implementing EO No. 57, which will take eﬀect immediately upon its publication in the Oﬃcial Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.

NMC will consist of heads of the following government agencies: the Department of National Defense, National Security Adviser, Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Department of Foreign Aﬀairs.

The council also includes secretaries of the Department of Finance, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Transportation, the Solicitor General, and the Director General of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.

Also attached to the NMC is the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), which was created through EO 94 (s. 2016) “to orchestrate, synchronize and operationalize the employment of the capabilities of diﬀerent agencies for a uniﬁed actions in the WPS.”

Marcos said he has met with the country’s security and defense oﬃcials in the past few days following the water cannon attack of China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia on a Philippine supply vessel in Ayungin Shoal that left three crew members injured.

The President also disclosed that he has been in “constant communication” with representatives of the country’s allies, partners, and friends in the international community.

“They have oﬀered to help us on what the Philippines requires to protect and secure our Sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction while ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Paciﬁc,” Marcos said.

“I have given them our requirements and we have been assured that they will be addressed,” he added.

Ironically, China blamed the Philippines for raising tensions in the hotly contested waterway, which Beijing claims almost entirely, triggering protests from the Philippine government and foreign media covering the confrontations in the sea.

In a statement, foreign correspondents in Manila belonging to the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) rejected a claim made by China that the Philippines had journalists manipulate videos taken during resupply missions in the South China Sea to make it look like a “victim.”

The FOCAP, whose members include journalists from international media agencies like Reuters, CNN, AP, AP, EFE and others, “takes deep oﬀence at the insinuation that the press is a ‘troublemaker’ and in cahoots with the government to forward a political agenda,” said in a statement.

Marcos mounts ‘countermeasure’ vs. China aggression in WPS

The statement was in response to a post by China’s Assistant Minister of Foreign Aﬀairs, Hua Chunying, on platform X on March 26.

FOCAP said it “strongly rejects and condemns the false, baseless claims” of Hua and the Chinese Embassy in Manila, which reposted the comments on platform X. Foreign and local journalists have joined and covered the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard resupply missions in the disputed waters.

In the White House summit, Japan and the United States are set to strengthen their security partnership with Britain, Australia and the Philippines to counter China’s assertive military posture, Kyodo News reported, quoting government sources.

Under the closer security ties, the ﬁve countries will increase joint drills in the Indo-Paciﬁc region and promote cooperation on defensive technologies, the sources said.

The new partnership is expected to be agreed upon at a meeting of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and US President Joe Biden during an April 10 summit in Washington. It will be included in a joint statement to be issued after the summit.

Philippine News Today is published weekly by Philippines Today LLC with business and editorial oﬃces at 156 South Spruce Ave Ste 205 South San Francisco CA 94080 Phone no . 650-872-3200 E-fax # 650-745-1442 and website address www.pnewstoday.com and email address advertising@philippinestodayus.com or editor@philippinestodayus.com

MANILA OFFICE: Le Marquis Townhomes, 51 P. Tuazon Blvd. Quezon City 1112, Tels. 8546.8426, 8451.1892, 8546.8421

MARILYN B. KING Senior Account Executive

BETING LAYGO DOLOR Manila Editor

JUNNI RANILLO Entertainment Editor

ANGELO LOPEZ Cartoonist

ELEANOR SMITH

FRANCIS ESPIRITU Publisher/President

THELMA L. CRUZ Senior Account Executive

CHERIE QUEROL MORENO Executive Editor

NEIL GONZALES Chief Correspondent Northern California

LYDIA SOLIS Chief Correspondent Southern California

MA. CECILIA G. MADELO Graphic Director

ALFRED G. GABOT Editor-in-chief

CLAIRE M. TRUE Managing Editor

JENNIFER T. SANTOS Entertainment Editor

THOMAS G. MADELO JR. Creative Director

The Personnel Commissioner, 23, has done it twice, and says it works wonders.

The ﬁrst was a year after his high school graduation, when his grandmother passed away. For the ﬁrst time, Fernando “went home” to his native land with his mother for the interment.

“Emotions were high,” he recalled, as they pondered their loss, prodded him to put college on hold, weigh his priorities, and search his soul. Instead of attending class, he learned how to organize his peers and began volunteering.

“Taking a break from school was a hard but necessary decision” to “get a job, save money, and explore the role of being a youth organizer and build community with people I had a chance to build relations with when I was in high school.” Looking back he calls the step “the best decision” he ever made.

BLESIE D. SISON

NICK SAGMIT

GEORGE GANGE

Oﬃce Manager GILDA PASION BALAN FRANCO G. REGALA ALI MACABALANG

RENE AVENIDO Photo Correspondents

JEANNE MICHAEL PENARANDA Manila Correspondents

ALBERT MARTINEZ RENE AMON Account Executives

VAL G. ABELGAS, HOMOBONO A. ADAZA, PERRY DIAZ, JOJO LIANGCO, JO ERLINDA G. NEBRES, ROY C. MABASA, ART G. MADLAING, FR. JOEPEL PADIT, RODEL E. RODIS, LOURDES TANCINCO ESQ, MELANDREW T. VELASCO, DANTES & CYNTHIA VELUZ, CRISTINA OSMENA, LUDY ONGKEKO. COLUMNISTS

The views and opinions expressed herein by writers, columnists and advertisers are their own and do not necessarily reﬂect those of the publisher, management and staﬀ of Philippines Today. We are not responsible for incorrect printing, photographical errors or information listed or for loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts. Reproduction or redistribution in whole or in part is prohibited.

Why is Imee Marcos contradicting Bongbong Marcos?

This is a question that needs to be asked, now more than ever as it involves China’s growing threats to the Philippines.

But we need to ask: Why is Senator Imee Marcos contradicting the administration of President Bongbong Marcos?

Speciﬁcally, why is she taking the cudgels for former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose own former spokesman admitted that there was a supposed “gentleman’s agreement” between the ex-chief executive and Chinese leader Xi Jinping?

The revelation came two years after Duterte stepped down, but if indeed there was such an agreement, then China may rightfully believe that the Philippines was the party that broke its word.

To Chinese and Filipinos alike, word of honor is a very important matter, not one to be taken lightly.

The current Marcos administration earlier said that there was no proof that such an agreement existed, that there were no documents to back up China’s claims.

Lawyer Harry Roque, Duterte’s former mouthpiece, ﬁnally admitted that such an agreement did take place, and was in some way binding even if it was sealed with little more than a handshake.

The National Security Council rejected the so-called gentleman’s agreement, and retired Supreme Court associate justice Antonio Carpio added that it was null and void from the beginning.

Yet Senator Marcos at the start of this week said that those who lambasted the agreement were “overacting.”

There was, she said, nothing wrong with any president doing his part to maintain the peace and order situation within the Philippines’ maritime territory through a verbal agreement.

It would appear that Ms. Marcos is using her being the ‘ate’ of the president to give herself the authority to contradict him. She is 68, he is 66.

But to agree with Duterte who had practically surrendered the country’s rights in its own territory is not acceptable.

Perhaps Ms. Marcos is following the Duterte line that opposing China was to risk war, one that the Philippines has no chance of winning.

Therefore, it is better to surrender to a bully than to ﬁght the good ﬁght, even when chances of winning are slim and none?

We think not.

The rest of the world has seen how mighty China has been humiliating the Philippine Coast Guard as well as Filipino civilians again and again through the use of lasers and water cannons, along with ramming the smaller Philippine ships with their bigger vessels.

Quite frankly, every time such incidents occur, we get madder and madder. Yet Roque’s revelation that Duterte had agreed to concessions to China gives us pause to think. China had always claimed that sending food and water to the stranded derelict warship Sierra Madre at the Ayungin Shoal was acceptable, but not building materials.

A Filipino president had indeed sold the country down the drain by taking the cowardly way out.

But why does Imee Marcos have to air her support for Duterte when the former president is clearly beholden to China for reasons we cannot fathom.

She may be an older sister, but it is her brother who occupies Malacanan Palace. At the very least, she should support his stand that his government cannot be party to any agreement entered into by Rodrigo Duterte that Carpio said “is lopsided in favor of China.”

Employment, in turn, helped hone his interpersonal skills, taught him to handle “diﬃcult customers” and built his stamina for enduring hectic holiday pressure.

In 2020, he worked as a student assistant with the Skyline College Promise Scholar program. Two years later he became an ambassador for the Kapwa Kultural Youth Advisory and last year he joined the board of directors of the Pilipino Bayanihan Resource Center.

He remains at his retail job part-time and is now “team lead” while on his second sem break to take stock, focus on himself for a change, and eventually prepare for his pursuit of a political science degree at San Francisco State University.

VALUABLE MENTORSHIP

Montanes was 15, a sophomore and a self-described “wallﬂower” when, less out of passion than curiosity, he joined the Filipino Barkada club on the advice of his teacher and “very ﬁrst mentor” Joal Truong-Vargas, a FilAm.

Never involved in extra-curricular activities prior, he had expected to keep to the shadows and “be ignored” at the ﬁrst meeting. He was surprised to be welcomed - “included” is his term of choice - and “automatically made friends” with members who saw him as a potential leader of the club, that he did not see coming. Ultimately he became vice president and then president. Montanes blossomed with Barkada as he learned how to “build a village” with the guidance of Truong-Vargas. Along the way he crossed paths with individuals whose own journeys inspired his transformation.

Vice Mayor and Skyline Ethnic Studies Professor Rod Daus-Magbual’s grasp of Philippine history and humility as a teacher and public oﬃcial amazes him.

He admires Mayor Juslyn Manalo, whom he counts as his personal advocate, for unifying and “mobilizing the city” in the face of Asian hate, and her “personal aﬀection for her the neighborhood that raised her,” mirroring his own.

The two oﬃcials’ political success has awakened their juniors like himself, he said, to follow in their public service footsteps.

He is grateful to PBRC co-founder “Tita” Perla Ibarrientos for inviting him to be the nonproﬁt‘s youngest ever board member.

All four mentors “understand that they need to pay it (their success) forward, to nurture the next generation, and to raise the village that raised them,” he said. (Continue on page 20)

Birthday wishes to Goya Navarrete

Next Monday, April 8, Gloria “Goya” Navarrete, a long time resident of South San Francisco, will be marking another milestone in her life.

The BFF of my late sister, Carmen Hernandez, Goya has become a part of my life as well over the years.

I do not recall when I ﬁrst met Goya. I know that whenever I came to America, Carmen would take me to Goya’s house for a delicious meal prepared by Goya and whenever Goya came to the Philippines, she would see to it that we had lunch or dinner together.

Goya’s claim to fame is largely due to her son, stand-up comedian Rex Navarrete, a two-time Aliw awardee.

She is much more than a mother to Rex and Joy, however. She is a socio-civic leader, an activist, an entrepreneur, a restaurateur, who has rubbed elbows with the rich and famous, and a philanthropist.

Born in Lipa, Batangas to an aﬄuent family, Goya, her husband Danny and their children migrated to the United States in search of greener pastures many years ago.

As most migrants early on Goya had her share of hardships, which she overcame by dint of perseverance and hard work.

Despite her years in America, Goya has never stopped caring for her countrymen in the Philippines. She has supported seminarians, helped the less fortunate, and is abreast of political events in the Philippines.

Not surprisingly, tha charming and aﬀable Goya has accumulated numerous friends in the United States and the Philippines.

Goya is the hostess par excellence, for she loves to entertain friends and family, wherever she may be.

Besides helping others, Goya loves to travel and has been to many parts of the world, except South America and Africa.

I have the utmost admiration for Goya and her accomplishments, despite her being a cancer survivor for many years.

Today, I send my birthday wishes to the remarkable Goya Navarrete, for love, peace and prosperity on her special day and always.

CHERIE M. QUEROL MORENO

Clients cite need, commend mobile signing services

Last month, Ed and Myrna, husband and wife, called Mobile Signing Services (MSS) and requested help and assistance in the signing, notarization and apostille follow-up on Special Power of Attorney (SPA) needed in the Philippines.

Protecting Mother Earth, 3 years of Million Trees All

Fools Day: Don’t be fooled!

Ed called my cell phone at (650) 438-3531 and arranged for the signing and notarization of the SPA noontime of Thursday, March 28, 2024 in their home in Pittsburg, California because this was the regular day oﬀ of his wife from work while Ed can take a short lunch break from his job nearby.

Driving from our home in San Francisco, California, my beloved wife Virginia Jimenez Madlaing and I arrived at the home of Edgar and Myrna 30 minutes early on Thursday, March 28, 2024.

After some preliminaries, I found out that Ed and Myrna and their parents were originally from Laoag, Ilocos Norte in the Philippines. It was a coincidence that my grandparents (in the mother side) were originally from Laoag, Ilocos Norte, who migrated to Binalonan, Pangasinan. That’s why we have sitio “Calaoagan” in Binalonan, Pangasinan because the original residents were from Laoag, Ilocos Norte. As a result, we had friendly conversation with Ed and Myrna in Ilocano.

“Agyamanak Manong Art ta adda daytoy Mobile Signing Services ket nakaumay kayo ditoy balaymi ita nga aldaw gapo ta regular oﬀ ni asawak idiay trabajona.” (Thank you for this Mobile Signing Services Maoong Art and for driving to our home this regular day oﬀ of my wife), said Ed.

“Parti ti serbisyo mi ti umay iti kabalbalayan dagiti cliyentimi, “ (It’s part of our full-time services to come to the homes or residents of our clients), I explained to Ed and Myrna.

“Adda tinawagak a Notary Public idiay San Jose, California. Sinaludsodko no makaumay ditoy balay ngem konana a saan a makaruar idiay oﬁcinana,” ( I called a Notary Public from San Jose, California. I asked him if he can do home visitation but he said he can’t get out from his oﬃce), Ed echoed.

“Manmano ti adda home visitation services kadagiti Notary Public. Naidumduma daytoy a servisyomi ditoy Mobile Signing Services,” ( Very few Notary Public oﬀers home visitation services. This is one of the unique services at Mobile Signing Services), I explained to Ed and Myrna.

After the brief conversation with Ed and Myrna, I had them signed the three sets of Special Power of Attorney. I also had Ed and Myrna signed my Journal of Notarial Acts and put their right thumb marks. Then, I had my wife and the sister-in-law of Ed signed as witnesses to their signatures.

After notarization, my wife and I subsequently drove to the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section in Sacramento, California and submitted the notarized Special Power of Attorney for apostille to make it legal and binding in the Philippines.

We, at the Mobile Signing Services (MSS), are committed and dedicated to assist and help old and new clients in the signing, notarization and apostille follow-up of documents needed in the Philippines and the other member nations of the Hague Apostille Convention. Here are some beneﬁts and advantages with MSS:

1. VERY FLEXIBLE APPOINTMENTS --- Because of our very flexible appointments, Ed and Myrna were able to arrange our appointment for the signing and notarization of the Special Power of Attorney on the day off from work of Myrna. We offer flexible appointments during regular office hours, after office hours and weekends except on Sundays.

2. DISCOUNTS FOR THE ELDERLY AND VETERANS—We oﬀer 5% to 10% discounts for the elderly and the veterans.

3. AVOID TAKING OFF FROM WORK – You don’t have to take oﬀ from work and drive to Sacramento, California just to submit notarized documents at the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section. We, at MSS, will take care everything for you.

4. FLEXIBLE LOCATION OF APPOINTMENTS ---- For those who can’t come to our home-office in San Francisco, California, we can do the signing and notarization of documents in the privacy of homes, offices, hospitals, restaurants, BART Station lobby, Post Office Station lobby and other locations.

5. SAVINGS ON GAS AND MILEAGE FEES – We encourage both old and new clients to come to our home oﬃce in San Francisco to save on gas an d mileage fees ($60 to $130).

6. FREE PARKING --- When we had our office at the Philippine Center near the Philippine Consulate Office, our old clients were complaining for the expensive parking fees. With our homeoffice in San Francisco, old and new clients can have FREE parking in our driveway and the available street parking nearby.

7. DISCOUNTS ON MULTIPLE DOCUMENTS AND MULTIPLE SIGNATURES --- We oﬀer 5% to 10% discounts on multiple documents and multiple documents for old and new clients.

8. DISCOUNTS ON DOCUMENTS DRAFTING AND PREPARATION – With our paralegal partner and lawyer-friends, we oﬀer special discounts in the drafting, preparation and copying of documents for old and new clients.

9. CONVENIENCE

Filipinos especially those in provinces greatly aﬀected by El Nino welcome the El Nino Advisory issued by PAGASADOST this month.

The advisory noted that El Nino shows signs of weakening. It is expected to last until May during which it will transition to ENSOneutral conditions from April until June. However, according to the advisory, there is a 55% chance for La Niña to develop from June-August.

THE OUTSIDER

El Nino refers to a large scale oceanographic/meteorological phenomenon that develops in the Paciﬁc Ocean, and is associated with extreme climatic variability. In our country, indicators of the El Nino phenomenon include delayed onset and early termination of the rainy season, and fewer tropical cyclones entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility. The dry spell and drought being experienced by many provinces throughout the country are associated with the El Nino phenomenon. It was reported that El Nino has caused. P1.23 billion in agricultural damage with aﬀected crop area reaching 26,731.4 hectares.

The government has formulated a National Action Plan to address challenges of the El Nino phenomenon and to increase the resilience of aﬀected communities. On January 19, 2024, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. issued Executive Order No. 53 reactivating and reconstituting the Task Force El Nino. The Task Force, chaired by Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro is tasked with the implementation of solutions “to ensure food, water and energy security, safeguard livelihoods, and improve the country’s disaster and climate resilience” delineated in the Strategic El Niño National Action Plan. It is also mandated to revise and update the action plan.

It will be recalled that in 2001, a Presidential Task Force was created for better coordination in the formulation and implementation of measures to mitigate the eﬀects the El Nino phenomena.

This Task Force was reconstituted in 2019 as the El Nino Task Force.

After El Nino comes La Nina which is characterized by above normal rainfall conditions across most areas of the country.

El Niño and La Niña are the warm and cool phases of a recurring climate pattern across the tropical Paciﬁc—the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, or “ENSO” for short according to the website El Niño & La Niña (El Niño-Southern Oscillation)

Past experiences remind us that heavy rains usually result in inundation that damages agricultural crops, aﬀects energy supply, destroys infrastructure including residential structures, and even loss of lives.

Extreme heat, droughts and ﬂoods are unfavorable outcomes of climate change. One step to address these challenges, is reforestation. Many beneﬁts are derived from trees: from preventing soil erosion, as habitat for wildlife, playing an important role in the water cycle, providing livelihood, to combatting climate change, among others.

Trees absorb carbon which is a major driver for global warming. The absorbed carbon is converted into nutrients needed by trees. Reforestation helps arrest the damage to our planet resulting from natural causes and human activities.

It is our duty to leave behind a healthy and livable global home to future generations. As former U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson stated, “If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them something more than the miracles of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through it.”

The Million Trees Foundation, Inc, while primarily established to support the Annual Million Tree Challenge (AMTC) of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, is committed to help address global warming and climate change with its treeplanting activities. So far, it has been successful in sustaining the gains of AMTC that has now planted and grown more than 7 million since 2017 in trees in the last seven years.

Have you been fooled on April Fools’ Day?

Yes, this is a practical joke, a bitter prank, if you are not familiar with the annual custom, well… hoax if you will, that’s victimizing many, even today.

Jokesters often expose their actions by shouting “April Fools!” at the recipient, which should not be taken seriously. It’s a joke! Yeah, but sometimes, it becomes irritating to some when there was a delayed gesture announcing the joke.

Although many theories have been advanced, the exact origin of April Fools’ Day isn’t exactly known. There were coincidences or disputed associations but none is actually traceable to established facts.

For example, a disputed association between April 1 and foolishness is in Geoﬀrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales (1392). In the “Nun’s Priest’s Tale”, a vain cock Chauntecleer is tricked by a fox on “Since March began thirty days and two,” i.e. 32 days since March began, which is April 1. However, it is not clear that Chaucer was referencing April 1 since the text of the “Nun’s Priest’s Tale” also states that the story takes place on the day when the sun is “in the sign of Taurus had y-rune Twenty degrees and one,” which would not be April 1. Modern scholars believe that there is a copying error in the extant manuscripts and that Chaucer actually wrote, “Syn March was gon” If so, the passage would have originally meant 32 days after March, i.e. May 2. (Wikipedia)

Also, in 1508, Wikipedia further wrote, French poet Eloy d’Amerval referred to a poisson d’avril (April fool, literally “April’s fish”), possibly the first reference to the celebration in France. Some historians suggest that April Fools’ originated because, in the Middle Ages, New Year’s Day was celebrated on March 25 in most European towns, with a holiday that in some areas of France, specifically, ended on April 1, and those who celebrated New Year’s Eve on January 1 made fun of those who celebrated on other dates by the invention of April Fools’ Day. The use of January1 as New Year’s Day became common in France only in the mid-16th century, and that date was not adopted officially until 1564, by the Edict of Roussillon, as called for during the Council of Trent in 1563. However, there are issues with this theory because there is an unambiguous reference to April Fools’ Day in a 1561 poem by Flemish poet Eduard de Dene of a nobleman who sent his servant on foolish errands on April 1, predating the change. April Fools’ Day was also an established tradition in Great Britain before January 1 was established as the start of the calendar year.

In 1686, John Aubrey referred to the celebration as “Fooles holy day”, the ﬁrst British reference. On April 1, 1698, several people were tricked into going to the Tower of London to “see the Lions washed”.(Wikipedia)

Theories, both real and false, tie April Fools’ Day to Roman times, according to an article written by Aliza Chazan published in CBS News

Some believe April Fools’ Day dates back to Hilaria festivals celebrated during classical Roman times. The festival was held on March 25 which, in Roman terms, was called the “eighth of the Calends of April,” according to the Library of Congress.

One theory tying the source of April Fools’ Day to Roman times is a hoax. In 1983, an Associated Press reporter reached out to Joseph Boskin, a historian at Boston University, to discuss the origins of April Fools’ Day. Boskin spun a tall tale to the reporter, assuming it would be fact-checked and revealed as fake.

It wasn’t.

(Continue on page 20)

Last year, MTFI tree planting activities at the La Mesa were conducted in collaboration with Alpha Commerce Corporation, ATOS Information Technology, Inc., Balitang A2Z, BDO-TBG CMS, Bulacan Bulk Water, Century City Estates Association, Inc., Christian Dior, ClockworX, Dashcarr Pro, Flying Future Services, Inc., Fonterra Brand Philippines, Inc., Green Media Events Company, Grundfos, Hino Motors, Hitachi Solutions, Philippines, Howden Insurance & Reinsurance Brokers (Phils), ICA Alumnae Association, ING Hubs Ph, Isuzu Inteco, Jardine Schindler Philippines, Kilos Ko Youth,Kiwanis International Philippine Luzon District Division 4A-2, MCVO, MEAD Johnson Nutrition Philippines, Inc., MNL City Run, Nestle Philippines, Inc., Netﬂix, New World Makati Hotel, NFWC, Pambayang Dalubhasaan ng Marilao Teachers, Philippine College of Chest Physicians, Philippine College of Physicians, Philippine Veterans Bank, PICC, RI District 3800, Rotaract Club of Manila Metro,Rotary Club Makati Gems, Rotary Club of Manila-Claro

Although no biblical scholar or historian is known to have mentioned a relationship, some have expressed the belief that the origins of April Fools’ Day may go back to the Genesis flood narrative. In a 1908 edition of the Harper’s Weekly, cartoonist Bertha R. McDonald wrote: “Some authorities gravely go back with it to the time of Noah and the ark. The London Public Advertiser of March 13, 1769, prints the following paragraph concerning this theory: ‘The mistake of Noah sending the dove out of the ark before the water had abated, on the first day of April, and to perpetuate the memory of this deliverance it was thought proper, whoever forgot so remarkable a circumstance, to punish them by sending them upon some sleeveless errand similar to that ineffectual message upon which the bird was sent by the patriarch.”— Bertha R. McDonald (1908). (Wikipedia) A friend of mine posted on FB (Group chat) he won the lotto $300K. He is a credible person, respected, and posted it with seriousness. He did not take it back immediately, so his friends thought he was really a winner. His friends started planning a lot of group friends’ activities to be funded by him and even proposed a cruise of the group for a week. He was silent… for hours.

(Continue on page 20)

This is something because most pranksters immediately say “April Fools” but in his case it let it pass for a while before telling the group it was a joke, an April fools’ day joke. But before that, he even told his friends he is in the lottery oﬃce claiming the prize… before he ﬁnally mentioned April Fool’s Day! That was a problem because it allowed it to pass for hours. There was a gap, so his friends were angry and never again (Continue on page 20)

“

ART GABOT MADLAING Health & Wealth

ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO

MELANDREW T. VELASCO

PHL hits record-high $104-B goods, services exports in 2023

MAKATI CITY – Despite global trade challenges, Philippine exports surpassed the US$100-billion mark in 2023, an all-time high revenue for the country’s outbound trade.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said that based on the balance of payments (BOP) from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), exports of goods and services reached US$103.6 billion.

This is higher by 4.8 percent from the total exports of US$98.8 billion in 2022.

DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual said this is the ﬁrst time the Philippines breached the US$100-billion mark in export revenues.

Pascual said the strong exports last year was driven by services, especially the information technology and business process management (ITBPM) and tourism services.

Services exports rose 17.4 percent in 2023 to US$48.29 billion from US$41.12 billion in 2022.

According to the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines, ITBPM revenues last year stood at US$35.5 billion, while government data showed that travel services reached US$9.1 billion last year.

On the other hand, exports of goods last year declined by 4.1 percent to US$55.32 billion from US$57.71 billion in 2022.

The country’s top goods export alone, electronics, decreased by 3.4 percent or US$955 million in 2023 compared to its previous year.

“This decline highlights the importance of diversifying export portfolios and enhancing competitiveness in key sectors,” the DTI said.

“The path to global excellence and export growth requires shared ambition, where the government and the private sector must intensify and sustain collaborations. Our guideline is the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) 2023-2028, which aims to address constraints to production, diversify and improve access to markets, and develop a strong and innovative export ecosystem,” Pascual said.

However, export revenues last year were US$23.2 billion away from the PEDP target of US$126.8 billion for 2023.

“We recognize the ongoing challenges in both the domestic and global trading environments and hope to address the binding constraints to Philippine export competitiveness as we continue to implement the PEDP for 2023 to 2028,” the DTI chief added.

He said the DTI continues to work with Philippine exporters and relevant stakeholders to address their concerns by developing programs and services that would help them thrive amid the challenges in the global trade.

“Each exporter counts, and with cooperation, we can open the door to a future in which Philippine exports have increased their mindshare in the global market, underpinned by global competitiveness and innovation,” Pascual said.

PHL economy forecast to grow by 6.1% in Q1

MANILA – Philippine economic growth is projected to accelerate in the ﬁ rst quarter of the year, mainly driven by the government’s infrastructure spending, a report released by the First Metro Investment Corporation (FMIC) and the University of Asia

and the Paciﬁ c (UA&P) said.

In the latest issue of The Market Call released on Monday, FMIC and UA&P forecast the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by 6.1 percent in the ﬁ rst quarter of the year.

“The economy looks set to accelerate in 2024 with Q1 (ﬁ rst quarter) GDP estimated at 6.1% as infrastructure spending goes into high gear with national government (NG), buoyed by ODA (oﬃ cial development assistance) funding, and PPP (public-private partnership) projects gain traction,” the report said.

FMIC and UA&P expect NG and infrastructure spending to accelerate this year.

“We expect NG to have a strong start in 2024 after the understandable tentativeness of the diﬀ erent departments at the start of 2023 when the then new administration had just been in an organizational mode,” FMIC and UA&P said.

“Infrastructure spending, both government-funded [i.e., huge P1.0-trillion Department of Public Works and Highways budget alone] and PPP projects, should accelerate in 2024 as NG bids out and awards large undertakings starting with the recent $3.0-b(illion) Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) expansion,” they added.

Meanwhile, inﬂ ation, which accelerated to 3.4 percent in February, is projected to remain within the government’s 2 to 4 percent target for this year.

“We also don’t see a repeat of the February inﬂ ation spike as rice prices abroad had begun to ease while crude oil prices have little upside given the weak China economic recovery and surplus capacity in both OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) and non-OPEC countries,” the report said.

FMIC and UA&P forecast headline inﬂ ation to settle at 3.7 percent in the ﬁ rst half of the year, and decelerate to 3.5 percent in the third quarter.

Employment based petition for caregivers under EB3

Many people are asking me if they can petition their relatives as caregivers. The answer is yes. It should be one of your option in uniting family. Relatives are more reliable as workers because of their loyalty to the owner. Aside from helping them to come to the U.S. you have made your business stronger because they can help you outside the box. Your relatives include your children, grandchildren, siblings, uncle, aunt, cousins, niece, nephew.

Aside from the position of caregiver, you may be able to petition them as skilled worker in the Care Home like administrator or supervisor. The EB3 (Employment Based 3rd Preference) include skilled and other workers. Caregivers are classiﬁed as other workers.

Petitioning caregivers is a long and complex process that you should be aware of. You need to know this to save time and money. This is a very challenging time for those Care Home Facility owners because of the shortage of Caregivers. Many caregivers can be petitioned by the facility owners whether they are coming from the Philippines or already in the United States. Our Law Firm can handle the process from start to ﬁnish. As of this writing the priority for caregivers is May 1, 2020. However, if you are inside the US you can ﬁle an adjustment of status based on approved I-140 petition if your priority date is May 1, 2020.

Note: This is not legal advice and presented for educational purposes only. Our oﬃce successfully obtained a green card for caregivers.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

1. PETITION FOR CAREGIVERS

Our Law Firm entered into agreement with Care Home Facilities in the U.S. to process applicants for Caregivers in the US

You may qualify if you six months experience as Caregivers

Applicants Inside the United States or in the Philippines or other countries may qualify.

Bankruptcy Basics

We also process Bankruptcy cases.

1. Bankruptcy will actually improve your credit within one year because your unsecured debts are discharged. Although the bankruptcy will be in your records for 10 years, not ﬁling bankruptcy will make your credit even worse until most of your debts are paid.

If you have immigration problems the Law Oﬃces of Crispin C. Lozano 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 has practiced immigration law, bankruptcy, and income tax representation since June 1999. His contact phone is 1-877-456-9266, email: info@ CCLlaw.net Website: www.crispinlozanolaw.com/ with oﬃces in Hayward and Cerritos, CA.

Villar tops PHL Forbes billionaires list, only Filipino to make it to world top 200

MAKATI CITY - Former Senate President and Speaker turned real estate magnate Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr. is now he only Filipino in the world’s top 200 billionaires in 2024 as ranked by Forbes Magazine.

The prestigious and inﬂ uential magazine said Villar ranked 190 out of the 200 billionaires in the world in 2024 with a total net worth of $11.7 billion (P660,125,700,000).

Last year, Villar’s assets were $8 billion (P451,376,000,000), the Forbes magazine said.

Villar grew his fortune to $11 billion from $8.6 billion in 2023 as he chairs

several listed ﬁ rms, including his biggest assets Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc. and Golden MV Holdings, a developer of mass housing projects and memorial parks.

“Villar is diversifying his business with new investments in free-to-air TV and plans to build a casino and a theme park in southern Metro Manila,” the magazine said.

According to Forbes, the former lawmaker’s biggest asset is his stake in Golden MV Holdings, a developer of housing projects and memorial parks.

Villar also leads Vista Land & Lifescapes, a property development company managed by his son Manuel Paolo Villar.

The Villar patriarch also controls four other publicly traded companies, which include mall operator Vistamalls, home improvement chain AllHome, supermarket chain AllDay Marts and Premiere Island Power REIT.

In June 2022, the company introduced VistaREIT, a real estate investment trust, with an initial collection of

10 shopping malls and two oﬃ ce towers, according to Forbes.

Villar is the husband of Sen. Cynthia Villar and the father of Sen. Mark Villar and Rep. Camille Villar (Las Piñas).

Villar ran for president during the 2010 elections but lost to former President Benigno Aquino III.

Villar also became the former speaker of the House of Representatives from 1998 to 2000 during the administration of former President Joseph Estrada during which he endorsed the impeachment of Estrada to the Senate that eventually resulted to Estrada’s fall.

In the Top 50 billionaires in the Philippines, meanwhile, Villar ranked second next to the Sy Siblings who has a combined wealth of $14.4 billion (P812,476,800,000).

Villar top the Forbes list because the Sy siblings were ranked individually in the world list.

Villar was followed by ports, arrastre, shipping and casino magnate Enrique Razon with his net worth rising to $10 billion from $7.3 billion in 2023.

San Miguel Corp. president and chief executive oﬃ cer Ramon S. Ang was third with a net worth of $3.5 billion, up from $3.4 billion.

Next on the PH list are the SM “Syblings” Hans Sy ($2.6 billion), Henry

Sy Jr. and Herbert Sy ($2.5 billion), tobacco tycoon Lucio Tan ($2.5 billion), Harley Sy ($2.4 billion), Teresita SyCoson ($2.3 billion), and Elizabeth Sy ($2.1 billion).

Megaworld Corp. chairman Andrew Tan ($2 billion), Jollibee Foods Corp. chairman Tony Tan Caktiong ($1.4 billion), and JG Summit Holdings corp. chairman Lance Gokongwei ($1.1 billion) rounded up the country’s top 10.

Villar is hundreds of billions behind this year’s No. 1, Bernard Arnault and his family, with a net worth of $233 billion.

Arnault is head of LVMH, the luxury fashion and cosmetics conglomerate in France bannered by Louis Vuitton, and his family is usually in the top three of Forbes’ wealthiest people in the world lists.

The wealthiest woman on the billionaires list comes in at No. 15: Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, the granddaughter of the founder of L’Oreal. As the richest woman in the world, she is worth $99.5 billion.

Forbes reported that the number of billionaires worldwide has increased to 2,781,141 more than last year.

This growth comes despite geopolitical unrest and ongoing inﬂ ation concerns as their wealth expands.

Manny Villar

Kathryn Bernardo says she’s healed; fans prefer Alden Richards over Jericho Rosales for her

Good news to fans of Kathryn Bernardo.

After her breakup last November with Daniel Padilla, she now admits that she is healed and looks forwards to many projects.

Kathryn and her close friends just recently celebrated her birthday in El Nido, Palawan without Daniel Padilla, of course, but her co-star Alden Richards and actor Jericho Rosales were there with other friends.

This led fans and social media users to comment on the next possible partner of Kathryn - Alden or Jericho?

And it looks like social media users prefer Alden over Jericho to pair with Kathryn Bernardo, Philippine Star’s Jan Milo Severo reported.

Citing a recent poll by Philstar.com, Severo reported that Alden was the runaway winner among Facebook users.

Meanwhile, Kathryn admitted that she’s now healed.

In her interview with Mega Magazine as PhilStar reported, Kathryn said she’s now in a better position in life.

“Now, where I am is exactly where I’m supposed to be. February for me is the new January. Parang ’yon ’yong tapos na. I know that I’m okay. I can say I’m healed,” she said.

“You have to experience all the process, all the pain, lahat. But I always make sure that when it comes to my work, nothing is aﬀected,” she added.

Kathryn also talked about forgiveness in her interview, Jan Milo Severo wrote.

“Ang lalim kasi ng word na forgiveness. For me, you can forgive people who deserve it. But when I forgive you, it doesn’t mean that I have to keep you in my life. I forgive you for my peace of mind, for clarity, and for everything. But it doesn’t mean na puwede kang bumalik. It depends,” she said.

“I’ll just keep my distance; you keep your distance. We’re okay like that. I

mean, kunwari, I got hurt, why would I allow you to come back? It depends. It’s a case-to-case basis,” she added in the report.

Kathryn and Daniel announced their breakup last November 30.

In another issue, Daniel allegedly prohibited Kathryn from doing “Hello Love Goodbye” (HLG) sequel with Alden Richards.

Veteran entertainment reporter Reggee Bonoan reported in Bandera that a source told her that the blockbuster movie’s sequel was in the works right after it became successful when it was released in 2019, but Daniel prohibited his then girlfriend Kathryn to do it.

“Nu’ng kumita ang HLG, may followup agad sana at naka-set na kaso nagkaroon ng pandemya kaya 2021 dapat sinimulan. Eh, umarya ang lolo Daniel mo at binawalan si Kathryn na ‘wag gawin kaya hindi natuloy,” the source said.

Now that Daniel and Kathryn are already separated, the sequel will possibly be in the works, the source added.

“Eh, ngayong hiwalay na, itinuloy na. Wala nang bawal-bawal kay Kathryn ngayon. Gagawin niya ang alam niyang makagaganda sa career niya at saka kaibigan niya si Alden noon pa,” the source said as Philstar.com reported.

“Hello Love Goodbye” was once the top grossing Filipino movie of all time with P880 million until Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera’s 2023 movie, “Rewind,” topped it with P900 million. “Mas

ok si Alden Kasi halata na matino at hindi loko-loko,” a Facebook user commented.

“Siympre ung hndi kasal. Sakit nyo sa ulo, may asawa ‘yung isa e,” another user wrote.

Meanwhile, some commentors want Kathryn to stay single and enjoy her life, according to Philstar.com.

“Wala, Kat is better oﬀ alone for now. Rediscover herself ﬁrst,” a Facebook user commented.

“Sino tayo para pumili para sa kanya? Our choice is irrelevant,” another commented.

Meanwhile, Alden surprised Kathryn at her post-birthday party. In her birthday, Alden sang during the El Nido party.

In Earl Semitara’s Instagram (IG) account, the creative director shared videos of the celebration on his IG story.

In the video, Alden can be seen giving a bouquet of red roses to Kathryn. They were also seen having a sweet moment while they were taking a photo together.

Alden and Kathryn were co-stars in the smash hit 2019 ﬁlm “Hello, Love, Goodbye.” Fans have been wanting to see a sequel or continuation of the movie since it was released almost ﬁve years ago.

Kathryn and Jericho have been spotted in several occasions, such as a late-night jog and the latest birthday celebration of talent maker and former Star Magic head Johnny Manahan.

‘Rewind’ tops on Netflix Philippines

“Rewind” has marked another milestone!

The Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantesstarrer has clinched the top spot in Netﬂix Philippines’ Top 10 movie list, according to Star Cinema, the ﬁlm’s co-producer.

“Rewind” is also the streaming platform’s top movie in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. It was also in Netﬂix’s top 10 list in Canada, Hong Kong, Malta, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore.

“Walang hanggang pasasalamat at mahigpit na yakap sa lahat ng mga nanood at sumuporta!” Star Cinema wrote in a Facebook post and reported by GMA Network, also a co-producer of the movie.

“Rewind” began streaming on Netﬂix on March 25.

In January, the ﬁlm became the Philippines’ highest-grossing ﬁlm of all time with ticket sales of almost P1 billion at that tiem. It also surpassed the previous

record in domestic sales set by “Hello, Love, Goodbye,” starring Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards.

The ﬁlm was part of the recent Metro Manila Film Festival and Manila International Film Festival in California.

“Rewind” marks DongYan’s return to the big screen since 2010’s “You to Me Are Everything.”

Aside from “Rewind,” other Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2023 entries like “GomBurZa” and “Mallari” are soon going to be available for streaming on Netﬂix.

Netflix started streaming the Marian Rivera-Dingdong Dantes global box-office, comeback film “Rewind” last March 25.

On April 9, Araw ng Kagitingan, the three martyred priests’, Jacinto Zamora, Jose Burgos and Mariano Gomez, wrongful conviction during the Spanish period in the award-winning ﬁlm “GomBurZa” will premiere on the platform.

TFC Kids’ Zone presents learning and discovery treats for children around the world

Educational programs now available on TFC cable and satellite, IPTV VOD and via live feed

On its 30th anniversary, TFC, the ﬂagship multimedia brand of ABS-CBN Global group of companies, unveiled this March a delightful treat for Filipino children around the world. TFC Kids’ Zone debuted on March 11 and promises a rich treasure trove of learning and discovery that parents and their young ones will ﬁnd enriching and empowering.

TFC Kids’ Zone program block has three learning pillars:

Kwentoons which oﬀers animated short stories that impart values and lessons to children;

Musikantahan which features Filipino and English nursery rhymes and songs; and

Wikaharian which are Filipino language lessons hosted by Teacher Michelle Agas.

The Kid Zone block, which incorporates the use of the Filipino language, also envisions the programs to serve as a platform for children to acquire the conﬁdence to learn and speak Filipino which further helps in appreciating Filipino heritage and cultural traditions.

“TFC Kids’ Zone is a much welcome addition to TFC’s programming on multiple platforms,” said ABS-CBN Global COO Jun Del Rosario. “We want families to have an easy, accessible go-to media destination for safe educational content that contributes to the learning process of children but at the same time is fun to watch. We hope to engage young viewers and help foster their learning and valuing of Filipino roots.”

How to Buy a House in California with No Money Down

Call for new zero down loan program and see if you can qualify, here are the more traditional options. You can get a government or a private sector program loans all across California for those who need help with their down payment requirement. Common examples of government assistance include:

• U.S. Department of Veterans Aﬀairs (VA) loans

• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) loans speciﬁc to home buying in rural areas

• U.S. Federal Housing Authority (FHA) loans

• 97% LTV loans VA Loan One of the big benefits of being a veteran of the armed services for this country is the home buying assistance from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, better known as the VA Loan. The program is intended to help military veterans who may not have had the opportunity to seek large incomes to more easily get into a home with fewer hassles. Who is Eligible for a VA Loan? The first qualification is that the borrower needs to be a qualified veteran of any of the armed services. This includes everything from the Marines to the Air Force to the Coast Guard. The borrower will need to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from VA agency. What Are the Fees? While the VA Loan program offers a lot of benefits, it’s not provided for free. The borrower does bear some cost in being an applicant and approved. This cost is borne via the VA Funding Fee charged to every approved VA Loan. USDA Loans The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides a rural homeownership loan for homebuyers who specifically choose to purchase in designated rural areas. The home being purchased must be located in a USDA designated rural area. What are the Fees? The USDA program has two fees, a USDA mortgage insurance premium of 1 percent of the loan borrowed and 0.35 percent annual fee. Basically, one can expect to pay $1,000 for every $100,000 borrowed up front, and then a $350 fee annually.* Both can be built into the mortgage amortization versus being charged immediately. FHA Loan (Low Down Payment Home Loan) The FHA program is not a no down-payment option. Unlike the other programs above, there is a down payment element involved, but it is much lower than typical market requirements. The other big element is that FHA loans don’t have as many fees or their fees are much smaller than the average market sale process, again big savings. Who is Eligible for FHA Loan? The most common and successful applicants for the FHA program tend to be first-time home buyers who are trying to get into the home ownership market and need a leg up on the daunting down-payment requirement. They may have savings, but it’s not enough to meet a typical “skin in the game” requirement from private lenders. Additionally, those who do not have a great credit score or fall into the lower income bracket realize a big help from the program as well. Both would be entirely shut out of the housing market on the private side. What are the Requirements? The program requires a 3.5 percent down payment for applicants scoring over 580 in a credit score, or 10 percent from those above 500 but below 580. The appraisal of the property will be performed by an FHA appraiser, not a private choice. Mortgage

insurance has to be paid. The borrower needs a steady income source and proof of employment for at least two years by the same employer, be over 18 years of age, and will use the home as a primary residence. Borrowers also need to be able to handle a 0.85 fee of the loan value, charged monthly, which pays for the costs of the FHA Loan program.* What are the Fees? There is a 0.85 percent loan value fee for mortgage insurance, charged with the mortgage payment. There is also a private mortgage insurance fee charge, also combined in the loan, for 1.75 percent.* Conventional 97% LTV Mortgage The private market option for a no or low down-payment purchase is essentially the Loan-toValue (LTV) Mortgage option. This is a private lender vehicle that is not available from every lender ﬁnancing home sales. It’s worth looking at, however, because the actual down payment requirement is a low 3 percent of total purchase value. Eligible borrowers typically include those with debt lower

than 45 percent of income, a fairly good credit score above 640, no previous home ownership in the last 36 months, primary residence intent for the property being bought, and the overall ﬁnancing is 97 percent maximum. What are the Fees? There is a private mortgage insurance component. It will range from 0.75 to 1.25 percent of the purchase value and can be paid monthly within the loan.* There are also closing costs typical of the market. Conclusion Buying a home in California is possible with little or no down payment, but buyers need to do their research heavily and understand each path’s requirements before engaging. Lots of mistakes happen because folks don’t do their homework and then get frustrated from an impossible situation that can’t be ﬁxed in the middle of the process. Call for new zero down loan program and see if you can qualify Call Ken Go of 1st Innovative Finance Group 562-508-7048 or write to kennethgo@verizon. net CABRE 01021223 NMLS 238636

Hidilyn Diaz fails to win Paris Olympics berth but 3 Pinoy lifters

By Jeanne Michael Penaranda

PHUKET, Thailand -- It was a sad day for the country’s ﬁrst Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz after she failed to claim a berth for the Paris Olympics at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup in Phuket, Thailand.

Diaz’ loss, however, is compensated by the victory of three weightlifters to secure a part in the next Olympic Games this July for good showing at the Phuket competition, the ﬁnal round for gaining a berth in the coming games.

The three winners are led by Diaz’ protege from Cebu City, Elreen Ando, 25, who competed in the same division (59 kg) as that of Hidilyn Diaz.

In a stunning turn of events, Ando seized her chance for another Olympic appearance and snatched the Paris berth for the Philippines in the women’s 59kg weight category from Hidilyn Diaz.

Ando secured her place in the Paris Olympics, her second in the games after Tokyo, when she scored a combined lift of 228kg in the 59kg weight division on Wednesday.

Also assured of berth in the Paris Olympics was John Ceniza who competed in the w79kg division.

Ando lifted 100kg in the snatch and 128kg in the cleanand-jerk.

“Sobrang saya ko, dahil nagawa ko lahat ng training ko,” an ecstatic Ando said as quoted by ABS-CBN’s Dyan Castillejo. “Ang daming kong na-sacrifice. Ang laki ng tiwala ko sa sarili ko. Naisip ko, nabuhat ko na ang 128kg sa training [I am so happy because all my training paid off. I made a lot of sacrifices, and I have a lot of confidence in myself. I told myself that I had already lifted 128kg in training.]”

Ando’s success, however, meant that it was the end of the road for Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo for what could have been her ﬁfth Summer Games.

The sad turn of events for Hidilyn Diaz came after the 55kg division in the Olympics where she grabbed gold in Tokyo was scrapped, forcing Diaz to move up to the heavier 59kg division.

Diaz-Naranjo was ranked higher than Ando entering the World Cup, but her combined lift of 224kg was surpassed by the rising Filipina lifter. Under new rules, a country may only send one athlete per weight class to the Olympic Games.

Diaz-Narajo lifted a total of 22kg in the World Cup -99kg in the snatch, and 123kg in the clean-and-jerk. Her total was two kilograms oﬀ her best lift, which she achieved in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in September 2023.

Despite failing to make her ﬁfth Olympics, Diaz-Naranjo was grateful for the support she received in Thailand.

are in

“Thank you for supporting me … I’m always grateful,” said Diaz-Naranjo. “Even today, I’m grateful that I have true friends. Kahit manalo, matalo, nandiyan kayo. Maraming salamat sa prayers and support.”

Cebu’s Jerusalem reclaims WBC world title

MANILA - Cebu’s Melvin “Gringo” Jerusalem has reclaimed his World Boxing Council world minimum weight title he lost last year.

Jerusalem did the feat as he dethroned Japan’s Yudai Shigeoka via split decision to win the World Boxing Council (WBC) world minimumweight title on Sunday, March 31, in Nagoya, Japan.

In taking home the title, Jerusalem ended the Filipinos world title drought in boxing.

The Cebuano pugilist knocked down twice the heavily favored Japanese world champion in their 12-rounder back-and-forth battle.

Jerusalem ﬁrst became a world champion last year after he knocked out Japanese Masataka Taniguchi via a second-round TKO to win the WBO world minimumweight strap.

The Cebuano, however, lost the world title to Puerto Rican Oscar Collazo in May 2023 in his ﬁrst title defense held on the latter’s turf in Puerto Rico.

In Nagoya, Jerusalem got the nod of the two judges, Jae Bong Kim and Barry Lindenman, who identically scored the bout 114-112, while one judge, Malcom Bulner, scored Shigeoka winning at 114-113.

Jerusalem knocked down Shigeoka twice, ﬁrst in the third round with a counter right straight.

In the sixth round, Jerusalem landed another right straight that downed the Japanese champion again.

The win improved Jerusalem’s record to 22 wins with 12 knockouts and three losses. He inflicted Shigeoka’s first loss in nine fights with five knockouts.

Jerusalem is the ﬁrst Filipino world champion since Marlon Tapales lost his IBF and WBA world super bantamweight titles against Japanese boxing superstar Naoya Inoue in Tokyo, last December.

Jerusalem landed the telling blows in each toe-to-toe battle.

Also, Jerusalem landed the more signiﬁcant punches, especially his right straights that caused Shigeoka’s nose to profusely bleed in the middle rounds, according to media reports from Nagoya and Manila.

(From page 1)

events, “Stand Together: Remembering 3/16,” feature Asian American leaders, activists, artists and community members addressing anti-Asian hate, voter engagement, multiracial solidarity and mental health.

”Unity is our strongest response to racism, hate and violence. The anniversary of the Atlanta Spa shootings is a signiﬁcant day for Asian American communities — to honor the lives lost and show the power of our communities by standing together,” stressed Justin Zhu, co-founder of Stand with Asian Americans, a lead organizer of events in San Francisco and New York City and a sponsor of other events, including in Atlanta.

Today, according to Pew, 58% of Asian Americans report experiencing discrimination, and Asian American communities face critical issues including workplace discrimination, mental health concerns, and lack of political representation. The national commemoration of the Atlanta spa shootings represents how Asian American communities are committed to turning shared experiences and trauma into power.

Events were held in Atlanta, New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco where Founder of Asians Are Strong Hudson Liao announced demands related to the death of Ms. Wu on behalf of the Asian Justice Movement.

The San Francisco event held at Hotel Kabuki in Japantown featured musical performances, speakers on mental health and combating workplace discrimination, and voices of activists and survivors of anti-Asian hate.

Speakers in the San Francisco event included Helen Zia, journalist, activist, founder of Vincent Chin Institute, Jennifer S. Cheng, poet and essayist, Hudson Liao, Founder, Asians Are Strong, Justin Zhu, Co-Founder, Stand with Asian Americans, and Filipina musician and spoken word artist Amihan who represented Filipinos in the event.

“I want to echo the demand for Ms. Wu a recent victim of Asian hate,” Amihan started her talk. “Why is the City of San Francisco through Mayor London’s Breed budget putting up a million dollars to the police and sheriﬀ’s oﬃce while basic services are being defunded, the basic services that are the very means of our community to be safe?”

“I am a daughter of migrants from the Philippines. My mother and my father were born and raised here in San Francisco and I want to share to you all my family’s history that hopefully will relate to all other families. I want to sing for all the mothers, daughters, sisters and grandmothers we lost in that shooting tree years ago in Atlanta,” reiterated Amihan.

Amihan is an emcee, vocalist, self-taught musician and producer born and raised in the Mission, SOMA and Excelsior districts of San Francisco. She creates hip hop & rnb music. Her unique sound incorporates live instrumentation with inﬂuences of neo-soul and jazz melodies over boom bap drums and

hyphy 808s.

As an independent and self-managed artist, she dedicates her music and live performances to raising awareness of issues impacting Filipinos both in the Bay Area and in the homeland, while also fundraising donations for those communities. Amihans’ lyrics speak to themes of gentriﬁcation, past and present histories of colonization, as well as legacies of resistance.

Both her music and her work with Anakbayan Davis--a youth and student organization ﬁghting for the liberation of our people in the homeland and the diaspora--she has connected our local struggles for social justice to the movement for national sovereignty in the Philippines.

Helen Zia writer activist and daughter of Chinese immigrants; launched; last year the Vincent Chin Institute too counter hate violence and promote solidarity. Her role as a leading activist in the landmark civil rights case of anti-Asian violence was featured on the Oscar-nominated documentary, “Who killed Vincent Chin?”

Hudson Liao founder and executive Director of Asians are Strong, a movement which aims to empower and protect the Asian American Community in the wake of senseless attacks scapegoating and hate incidents revealed that “in a meeting with acting commander of San Francisco Police Department, he provided no substantive information to our questions and refused our demand to release the video of the attack.

“Two days later there was information leaked to the press that incident was an accident. Just last week, the same person who killed Ms. Wu reportedly had attacked a 71-year-old Chinese woman sending her to the hospital,” stressed Liao. “We will not al-

low to gaslight these attacks anymore. Our people should be able to walk the streets of San Francisco in peace. Our Asian seniors should not worry being killed on accident or being murdered by someone having a bad day. Ms. Wu’s husband never believed it was an accident. He was only a block away when he saw his wife being shoved to the ground.”

Liao demands that the San Francisco Police Department release the video immediately. We want to know why you concluded that this was an accident when the husband of the deceased, an eyewitness said it was not.

“I can ﬁnally see the city can claim the rate of anti-Asian Hate has dropped by 90%. There are a lot of fewer hate crimes if you keep classifying them as accidents,” Liao sarcastically claim. “Go back to your country are the common words yelled at immigrants and their families. But not at San Francsico that leads with actions. San Francisco will treat Asians so badly that you actually mean that you go back to your country. This is the case with Mr. Wu who has since went back home to China after his wife’s tragic death. And also the man who was dropkicked out of his wheelchair in 2020. He has also moved back home to China.”

“We will no longer let you ignore us and our demands for change. You have been stalling anti-Asian hate cases long enough and we know your tactics. We know what you are trying to do trying to drag these cases out as long as possible hoping we will forget and the public pressure will die down. But I am here to tell you it won’t. we won’t forget,” Liao angrily shouted. “We will not stop until justice is served. This is not the San Francisco I was born and raised in. and it will not be the San Francisco I will leave behind.”

The community has done its part. We held

protests, rallies, marches, townhalls demanding the city to protect our community. We started patrolling Chinatown and escorting our seniors just so they can go grocery shopping. We needed to start self-defense classes so they feel a little bit safer.

But we cannot do this alone. We need our elected city officials to step up and do something. We don’t need lip services and empty promises. And we definitely do not need fingerpointings and blaming each other. What we do need is for you to raise your hand and take responsibility to fix these problems. Here are our demands:

Immediately release the video of the July 13 incident involving Ms. Wu.

Investigate Ms. Wu’s death as a homicide and a possible hate crime.

Investigate the attack on a 71-year-old woman on March 4 as a possible hate crime.

We demand justice!

San Francisco Mayor London Breed, came with San Francisco City’s Police Chief William Scott, impressed that “the way that you deal with some of the challenges is of course making sure that there are open lines of communication.”

“And in fact we have invested millions of dollars into ambassadors and senior escort programs we can provide you with details of that. But my goal is to work with the community in any way that could be helpful and to help make sure that people are safe and supported and that is all I ever want to do. And programs like the self-help for the elderly and community center are just two of the programs within the Asian community that I have strong working relationship with. And they have been instrumental in helping us to draft an anti-Asian hate.

Breed conﬁrmed reports that last year was a decline in Asian hate rate by over 75%. These is the police, this is a number of nonproﬁt organizations that we worked with, and of course it had lot it probably has a lot to do with a lot of people who are. People who are working to help in combatting a lot of the issues and we have to keep working together to make sure there is justice and accountability and that what I am here to do.

Event organizers, sponsors and supporters in the commemoration included Stand with Asian Americans, the Asian Justice Movement, the Georgia AAPI Caucus, Advancing Justice–Atlanta, Dear Community, the Korean Cultural Center-Atlanta, AntiAsian Hate Crimes Coalition, Asian Paciﬁc American Dispute Resolution Center, Asian Youth Center, Rosemead Park & Recreation, Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment, OCA - Greater Los Angeles, LA County Asian American Employee Association, Together Against Crime Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Justice, Community Relations Service.

Recent Asian Elder A�ack Vic�ms

EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN. The City of Daly City celebrated Women’s History Month March 28 at City Hall. Mayor Juslyn Manalo honored the following: Women of Excellence - Marion Brown, Perla Ibarrientos, Marian Mann, Shireeb Malekafzali, Taufailematagi Roberta (Becca) Meafua, Phyllis Rizzi, Kalimah Salahuddin, and Ana Valenzuela; Young Women of Excellence - Alice Li, Lauren Tam and Charlo�e Tsang; Woman Organiza�on - ALLICE and GABRIELA Daly City, and Woman Warrior - Liezel Chan Lucero. Manalo recognized the honorees for their “resilience and indomitable strength day in and day out,” and urged them to “remember the world is yours and we will keep advoca�ng for spaces and places of equity.”

Amihan

Demands of Asian Americans on Asian hate incidents

Bataan Death March 82nd Anniversary Commemoration on April 13 at SF National Cemetery

March 27, 2024, San Francisco, CA

– The Bataan Legacy Historical Society, in partnership with the San Francisco

National Cemetery and American Legion Corregidor Post 510, will commemorate the 82nd anniversary of the Bataan Death March on Saturday April 13 at 10AM at the San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio at 1 Lincoln Boulevard, San Francisco, CA.

Eighty-two years ago, on April 9, 1942, approximately 75,000 Filipino and American troops of the U.S. Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) were forced to surrender to the Imperial Japanese Army after fighting in the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines. Despite suffering from massive disease, starvation and fighting without any air support, the USAFFE troops were able to delay the 50-day timetable of the Japanese Army by defending Bataan for 99 days. After the Fall of Bataan they were forced to march to their prison camp about 65 miles away

LA County Supervisor Hahn urges fixes to dangerous105 freeway intersection

Intersec�on saw 12 crashes and 2 fatali�es in 2023 alone

NORWALK, California – Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn has asked the State of California to make immediate safety improvements to the dangerous intersection where the I-105 abruptly ends in Norwalk at Studebaker Road. The intersection had 12 severe crashes in 2023 alone, including two fatalities.

“The way the 105 freeway ends is dangerous and the intersection has become a crash-magnet,” said Supervisor Hahn. “Too many people have been injured or killed because of this badly designed freeway. I am asking the State to put in place safety improvements as soon as possible to safe lives and protect drivers and the Norwalk community.”

Crashes at the intersection have become so common that the medical facility which operated at the intersection was forced to close due to the number of cars that have crashed into it. Last year, Hahn’s oﬃce convened representatives from the City of Norwalk, Caltrans, and other agencies to ﬁnd ways to work together to deliver safety improvements, and since then Norwalk and Caltrans have been discussing what can be done.

Hahn sent a letter to California Secretary of Transportation Toks Omishakin asking the State Transportation Agency to work immediately to install more lighting, signage, and rumble strips along the I-105 freeway leading up to this intersection as a means of preventing future accidents.

under extreme tropical conditions with no provisions for food, water, shelter or medicine. Those who could no longer go on were beaten, bayoneted, shot and some were even beheaded. Thousands died during this march, which became infamously known as the Bataan Death March. It became a rallying cry in the United States as thousands enlisted to join the war.

This year’s commemoration will bring together Filipino and American descendants of the U.S. Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) and civilians during WWII in the Philippines. The program will have the participation from members of the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force), law enforcement and firefighters from the Bay Area, ROTC and JROTC cadets, veterans and cadets from civic and youth organizations. American Legion Corregidor Post 510 will award the WWII Filipino Congressional Gold Medal to several Filipino families whose ancestors fought in the Philippines. Lt. General Edward Soriano, USA (Ret), the son of a WWII Filipino veteran, will lead the award. Other flag officers include VADM Andrew Tiongson, USCG, BG Derek Salmi, USAF, BG Steven McLaughlin, USA, BG Colin Morrow, USA and RADM Jonathan Yuen, USN (Ret).

Brig. Gen. Steven McLaughlin will be the Master of Ceremonies. Philippine Consul General of San Francisco Neil Ferrer will be one of the speakers and the keynote speaker will be ViceAdmiral Andrew Tiongson, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, Pacific Area and Defense Force West. Rear Admiral Jonathan Yuen, USN (Ret) will lead the Tolling of the Bells, a series of prayers for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. He will be joined by flag and senior officers of the Armed Forces, local law enforcement and descendants. Music will be provided by members of the 191st U.S. Army Band, the Universal Choir and Soprano Judith Javier-Tiu. A 3-Rifle Volley Salute will be made by The Marine Corps League, General J.C. Breckenridge San Francisco Detachment #10. A flyover tribute to the Missing Man will be made by the Memorial Squadron while Taps is being played.

Bataan Legacy Historical Society, a 501(c)(3) organization, worked successfully with the California Department of Education to include WWII in the Philippines as part of Chapter 16 of the Grade 11 U.S. History curriculum framework. For more information, please visit our website www.bataanlegacy.org.

Health & Wealth... (From

Page 11)

AND PEACE OF MIND --- With my experience as accredited and commissioned Notary Public and licensed Real Estate Broker (DRE #00635976) since 1981, and with the complete, unique and eﬃcient services at MSS, you can have total convenience and peace of mind. Most of the time, it is more convenient and economical for YOU to avail yourself with the full, competent, prompt and unique services at MSS.

For immediate assistance and help in the signing, notarization and apostille follow-up of Aﬃdavits, Special Power of Attorney (SPA), Parental Travel Permit (PTP),DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE, Proof of Life, DEED OF DONATION, Waiver of Rights, Deed of Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate and other documents needed in the Philippines and the other member nations of the Hague Apostille Convention, just contact: MOBILE SIGNING SERVICES, 730 Madrid Street, San Francisco, CA 94112 Tel. (650) 438-3531 or (415) 584-7095 or email: artmadlaing@hotmail.com

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

As I See It

(From Page 11)

told him they will no longer believe on him… next time.

I immediately recalled the story of the boy who asked for help and every time people responded, he said it was a joke. He again asked for help for the second time and people responded, then he told them it was a joke. When the real danger came, he then called for help… but this time, nobody tried to help him.

Well, this might be the opposite but the real issue here is credibility of the person making statement or asking for help or the immediacy of the joke.

Another recollection I have was in the field of journalism (I was a field reporter myself so I knew it.) Veteran reporters in the beat have the tendency to make a joke on new reporters (newbies) by giving him/her a false story. The newbies then submit the story only to find out it is not true. He/she was electrocuted/shocked (in Tagalog, we call it na-kuryente), a practice new reporter needs to know. This must be the version of April Fools’ day in journalism.

April Fools? Nah!

Let us be discreet in our jokes!

The Outsider...

(From Page 11)

M. Recto, Rotary Club of Metro Escolta, Rotary Club Metro East Taytay District 3800, Rotary Club Pasay,RTI International, Task Us Ph, The Raya School, and Union Bank of the Philippines.

I am also happy to share that nearing completion is the QBE Park, a project MTFI is undertaking with QBE Insurance Group. This is another step toward achieving the goal to bring people closer to nature, let them contemplate on its beauty, and inspire them to protect Mother Earth.

Now on its third year, MTFI with its Million Trees Eco Learning Center has forged partnerships with diﬀerent organizations and stakeholders not only for tree-planting and tree-growing activities but also to raise awareness on the importance of environment protection.

In behalf of MTFI Chairman Emeritus Gen. Reynaldo V . Velasco and MWSS Administrator Leonor Cleofas, we thank San Miguel Corporation through SMC President and CEO Ramon S. Ang for its annual endowment of P5-million to the foundation and the two MWSS concessionaires - Maynilad and Manila Water - for their continuing institutional support.

As a proverb goes, “we don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”

Join the Celebration of Filipino Food Month: A Feast of Flavors and Culture

San Francisco, April 1, 2024: The Filipino Food Movement (FFM), in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, Philippine Consulate General in New York, the Philippine Embassy in Bern, Switzerland, Department of Trade and Investment Center in Silicon Valley (PTIC) and the Department of Tourism (DOT), announces the launch of Filipino Food Month, a month-long celebration showcasing the rich and diverse culinary heritage of the Philippines. Throughout April, FFM encourages diners to experience the vibrant ﬂavors and cultural traditions of Filipino cuisine.

Filipino Food Month was established in 2018 through Philippine Presidential Proclamation 469. It aims to spotlight the unique fusion of ﬂavors, cooking techniques, and ingredients that make Filipino cuisine genuinely remarkable. The series of events will feature activities and programs designed to engage, educate, and delight food enthusiasts.

Celebrate Filipino Food Month and discover the extraordinary ﬂavors and culture of the Philippines. The range of events and initiatives oﬀers something special to all, from purveyors, to advocates and enthusiasts.

The Filipino Food Month is commencing its kickoﬀ events in New York, San Francisco and Las Vegas to unveil a series of exciting activities and initiatives, including:

● Kulinarya Live. Join expert chefs for cooking workshops, as they prepare traditional and expanded Filipino dishes. Learn the techniques and secrets behind the cuisine from chefs Melissa Miranda of Musang in Seattle, Domingo Domingo of Millesens in Bern, Switzerland, Augee Francisco of Kabisera West in New York City, and Cat Carlucci of the Istorya popup in Las Vegas. The series will also include participation from the Filipino chef community in London, U.K.

● Passport Program. For diners in select cities in Northern California, Las Vegas, Nevada, and the East Coast, a restaurant passport program ensues month-long. Participating diners get the chance to win a roundtrip ticket to the Philippines and more awesome prizes courtesy of the PTIC, DOT and Philippine Airlines. #lovethephilippines

● Eat Filipino Food. Snap a picture, post it on social media, and tag #ﬁlipinofoodmovement #letsgoﬁlipino #kainna

● Merienda at the Platform by the James Beard Foundation. Experience a Filipino merienda in New York City featuring chefs Dale Talde, Leah Cohen, Woldy Reyes, LJ Amendras, and entrepreneur Diana Manalang, hosted and curated by FFM Board Director Nicole Ponseca.

● Dinner at Bahay Buko. A collaboration of more than a dozen chefs and restaurateurs and the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Nevada will participate in a culminating dinner at The Assembly at The Uncommons in Las Vegas on April 29.

For more information about the schedule of activities and how to participate, visit the FFM website, www.Filipinofoodmovement.org.

The Filipino Food Movement is also building a global directory of all Filipino food trucks, pop-ups, bars, cafes and

Upside...

tos for inviting him to be the nonproﬁt‘s youngest ever board member.

All four mentors “understand that they need to pay it (their success) forward, to nurture the next generation, and to raise the village that raised them,” he said.

He also recognizes the Filipino Mental Health Initiative, a component of San Mateo County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services, and Kapwa Kultural Center founders Stephanie Balon, Christi Morales Kumasawa and youth advisory coordinator Alaina Moguel as “mentors and advocates for my mental health.”

MAKING HIS MARK

Had George Bernard Shaw met Montanes perhaps the great Irish author would not have been inclined to state his infamous view that “youth is wasted on the young.”

“If we are to promote volunteerism and community service to the youth, we have to give them ownership of the community and make them feel that they belong,” the future educator/politico expressed what might be

restaurants. Registration provides access to wholesale and discounted ingredients made in the Philippines, courtesy of the PTIC oﬃces. Availability varies by location. Follow @ FilipinoFoodMovement on Instagram for updates, announcements, giveaways, and mouthwatering pictures of pure enjoyment.

“Let’s come together to savor the ﬂavors, embrace the culture, and celebrate the diversity of our Filipino cuisine during this exciting month-long event,” invites PJ Quesada, Founder and Chairperson Emeritus of the Filipino Food Movement. About the Filipino Food Movement:

The Filipino Food Movement (FFM) is a 501(c)3 nonproﬁt organization that preserves, promotes, and progresses Filipino cuisine. FFM was established in 2014 to create broad awareness, appreciation, and enhanced investment in Filipino Culinary Arts. FFM created the ﬁrst Filipino American food community through events, mainstream media advocacy, and social digital platforms. FFM is an all-volunteer organization. Funds from sponsors, sales of merchandise, and participation in events enable the organization to make a sustainable impact on the Filipino Culinary Arts industry.

his retort. “To help the next generation recognize themselves as heirs to leadership and community service, they need to be seen as the leaders that they are now.”

Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg and Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai come to mind.

About a year ago, Montanes took point in calling concerned citizens to gather at a vigil for Daly City resident Frances Kendra Lucero, who was shot dead allegedly by her ex-partner in front of their two children. The community responded vigorously to his impassioned appeal, packing the City Hall of Daly City and PBRC oﬃces to support the Lucero family.

Montanes is deﬁnitely making a mark as he forges toward his vision to see himself and his contemporaries as “legitimate stakeholders in the boardrooms, the dais, and in all positions of power who will provide fresh and new perspectives and cultivate an intergenerational relationship which will only strengthen our community as a whole.” – Adapted from original reprinted with permission from INQUIRER.NETUSA

(From Page 10)

EDD Online Application Now Available in Top Eight Languages

What You Need to Know: California’s Armenian, Korean, and Tagalog communities can now apply online for unemployment beneﬁts in their preferred language. This enhancement adds to English, Spanish, Simpliﬁed Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese languages already available. Together, these eight languages represent the top spoken languages of working-age adults in California.

SACRAMENTO– Today, the Employment Development Department (EDD) announced that it has further expanded language access options in its myEDD online portal and UI Online for individuals to apply for unemployment beneﬁts via applications translated into Armenian, Korean, and Tagalog.

“Through EDDNext we continue improving the customer experience, including better service for California’s diverse communities,” said EDD Director Nancy Farias. “This major boost to customer service will help millions of Californians in the top eight most frequently spoken languages,” Farias added.

Unemployment customers will also receive timely updates about the status of their claim and payment notiﬁcations delivered via email or text message in their preferred language.

The additional language options are available when applying for unemployment beneﬁts through UI Online after logging into myEDD. Next, EDD will be adding language enhancements for the disability or Paid Family Leave applications and Beneﬁt Overpayment Services.

Applying for Unemployment Beneﬁts Online

EDD customers must ﬁrst create a myEDD

account and then register for UI Online, the fastest and most convenient way to apply for beneﬁts and manage an unemployment claim. For languages other than English, customers should select the globe icon at the top of the myEDD login page, revealing a menu of language options (see the following image). Customers are encouraged to indicate their preferred written and spoken language when applying online, which helps the Department to better serve customers seeking multilingual services.

Unemployment customers can get answers to their questions and complete most claim-related tasks through UI Online. Within UI Online, customers can certify for their bi-weekly beneﬁt payments, check payment information, reopen an existing claim, update contact information, reschedule an eligibility phone interview, and send secure messages to unemployment customer service representatives.

The EDD has also established dedicated phone lines in the top languages for unemployment customers who need assistance navigating the claim process.

EDD Language Access Initiatives

Expanding UI Online access adds to the Department’s previously announced eﬀorts to better serve limited English proﬁcient (LEP) individuals – people whose primary language is other than English or have limited ability to read, speak, write, or understand English, including deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

The EDD has already:

• Established a Multilingual Access Advisory Committee that will advise on language

considerations that aﬀect people seeking and receiving EDD services.

• Opened an EDD Language Access Oﬃce directed by its Language Access Oﬃcer.

• Increased its website’s translated content, including vital information about all EDD programs, forms and publications, and contact information, as well as providing access to interpreters in over 200 languages at no cost.

• Provided customers with helpful how-to videos for UI Online in diﬀerent languages.

Expanding language access to California’s diverse communities is part of EDDNext. The multi-year modernization eﬀort is dedicated to completely transforming the EDD’s customer and employee experiences based on customer research and feedback.

For more information, please visit Language Resources. The EDD will share new updates regarding language access improvements in future news releases and its bi-monthly newsletter, which oﬀers the latest information on major changes impacting EDD customers.

About EDDNext

EDDNext is an ongoing transformation effort that includes updating online applications, contact centers, the claims process, policies, procedures, and forms, to make the EDD experience easier and faster. It involves working with customer service experts, such as Ama-

zon Web Services and Salesforce, to ensure EDDNext is forward-thinking and embraces the best technology and practices. Recently, the EDD started simplifying the unemployment application process by removing some questions and working on a rewrite of the application to make it easier to understand and navigate. The Department also switched benefit debit card services to Money Network which supports providing a new direct deposit option later this year. EDD has also continued to streamline benefit determinations, added customer satisfaction surveys after calls, added text message updates to State Disability Insurance claims, created a new How to Apply for Unemployment guide, launched a new shared customer portal called myEDD, launched dedicated phone lines with EDD staff fluent in California’s eight most commonly spoken languages, and created new multilingual resources pages.

Heart of Hope

Since new strains of COVID-19, XBB.1.5, and the variant before it, JN.1, are the dominant strains infecting people, the CDC recommends people ages 12 and older to get the latest mRNA vaccines for COVID-19: Pﬁzer COMIRNATY bivalent, Moderna’s SPIKEVAX, or NOVAVAX. The older vaccines, including the bivalent boosters last year have been discarded, no longer used.

The previous bivalent vaccines targeted Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 and the original SARS-CoV2 viruses. The latest vaccines are eﬀective against the new XBB.1.5 and JN.1 strains, and also against the other earlier variants of SARS CoV2 viruses.

These new vaccines are for those whose previous boosters were given more than 4 months ago or earlier, whose protection has waned.

The CDC and Yale infectious specialists and a host of other medical centers are reminding people that the latest strains are more easily transmissible, and that although the symptoms are milder, the infection today can still lead to hospitalization and death. And there is also the complication of developing Long COVID, a debilitating chronic sequela of this viral infection which could last for years.

The CDC reported more than 200,000 deaths since January of 2022, 600 of them adolescents and ages 19 and younger.

The risk and danger of COVID-19 are far from over. Let’s not be complacent or arrogant. Wisdom and humility to this stealth enemy of our time can save lives, including ours

New COVID vaccines

and those of our loved ones’.

Cybercrimes

There has been more than 125 percent increase in cyber-attacks globally since 2020. The most common type is Phishing (attacked impersonating someone else via email or other electronic means to steal information), with more than half a million victims in a year. Nearly 1 billion emails were hacked and data breaches cost businesses an average of 4.35 million two years ago, and about half of American internet users were affected that same year, about 97 victims per hour. There were 236.1 million ransomware attacks globally in the first half of 2022. Poland has the highest score in its ability to fight cybercrime. UK has the highest number of cybercrimes, followed by the USA. The 3 types of cybercriminals are pure hackers, identify thieves and cyber terrorists.

Using strong passwords and changing them often, not opening any emails or calls from strangers, and having high degree of suspicion index, including not opening your door to people you are not expecting, or strangers at your door, and not opening emails even if the sender has a famous logo asking for your personal data are some useful safety tips. And as important is having a home security alarm system and security cameras around your home, which will scare potential home invaders. A popular inexpensive DIY system is SimpliSafe, and wiﬁ-security cameras linked to cellphones are available for much less than $100, for monitoring your home while away, even abroad. In this day and age, these security measures are vital to our peace of mind, for mental health.

Sudden Infant death

Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SUID) is still a nightmare to parents, especially to mothers. In the United States alone, there are about 2,300 babies (usually between 1 and 4

months old, more commonly boys) who die from Sudden Unexplained Infants Death each year.

This happens in spite of “knowledge of and intention to follow safe sleep guidelines for infants, mothers often engaged in non-recommended sleep practices,” a series of small focus groups and surveys showed.

This study also revealed that “among 25 mothers, 80% reported holding or rocking their infant to sleep, and 76% reported feeding their infant to sleep,” as reported by Lara McKenzie, PhD, MA, of Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and colleagues.

While all of the mothers in the survey displayed knowledge of the ABCs (Alone, Back, Crib) for safe infant sleep, many do not follow these recommendations by the AAP [American Academy of Pediatrics], which increases the infant’s risk of SUID [sudden unexplained infant death].”

“Nearly all of the mothers (92%) reported using at least one product not approved as infant sleep space by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, including a car seat (56%), swing (48%), and/or an infant carrier worn on an adult’s body (40%),” according to the report.

Using terms such as “suﬀocation,” may help parents understand the risk better and thus follow the AAP guidelines for safe sleep for infants.

Smoothies for health

Instead of those marketed fruits and veggies capsules, which are processed products, smoothies taken once or twice a day, using various types of berries, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, chia seeds, finely crashed walnut, acai powder, protein collagen powder (optional) and pineapple juice as the liquid mixer, are fresher, and more effective, as vigorous antioxidants, and “pain-reliever” for those

with arthritis. This is a healthy beverage that has eliminated the need for pain pills among many arthritis patients after drinking it for 8 weeks or more. (And, of course, as always, in contradiction: soft drinks of any kind are toxic to our body).

Veggies called Nightshades (Solanaceae family) are inﬂammatory food items which aggravate arthritis. They are: tomatoes, tomatillos, eggplants, various peppers (but not peppercorns), curries, paprika, potatoes (but not sweet potatoes), Goji berries, Ashwagandha. Those with arthritis are advised to avoid these food items.

The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people to live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation, or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable to or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health.

Philip S. 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, presented by then Indiana Governor, US senator, and later a presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. 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

Recipe of the Week

Pinoy Pineapple Fiesta Ham Spaghetti

Ingredients:

1 kilo spaghetti noodles, cooked as per package instructions

1/2 kilo Fiesta Ham, cut into slices then cut into squares

6-8 pcs. cheese hotdog, cut into thin slices

1 large can (500g) pineapple slices in heavy syrup, cut into small wedges, reserved syrup

1 large can sliced button mushrooms, drained 1/2 block cheddar cheese, grated

1 large spaghetti sauce

1/2 cup sweet chili sauce

1-2 tbsp. chili garlic in oil

1/2 head garlic, peeled, chopped

3 medium size onion, chopped

1/2 cup cornstarch

salt and pepper

cooking oil

Cooking procedure:

In a large sauce pan sauté garlic and onion until fragrant. Add in the ﬁesta ham and stir cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Add in the hotdog and button mushroom and continue to stir cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Now add in the pineapple syrup, spaghetti sauce, sweet chili sauce, chili garlic in oil and about 2 cups of water, bring to a boil and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes stirring occasionally. Add in the hotdogs, pineapple and grated cheddar cheese and continue to simmer for 5 to 8 minutes. Correct saltiness if required, season with pepper. Thicken sauce with cornstarch diluted in 1/3 cup of water, cook for another minute or until the sauce thickens. Pour sauce over a platter of spaghetti noodles with grated cheddar cheese garnish.

Mingay Beach:

An off-the-grid getaway

By Leilanie Adriano

LAOAG CITY – Oﬀ the beaten path is the majestic cove of Mingay located in the quaint village of San Julian in Sta. Praxedes, Cagayan.

The cove is described by both locals and visitors as a hidden gem, and unique for being both a recreation and economic place, being located in a ﬁshing village. It is also where the lush forest meets the open sea.

Realizing its great potential for ecotourism, the local government of Sta. Praxedes led by Mayor Esterlina Aguinaldo decided to oﬀer overnight stays for visitors looking for a rest disconnected from modern-day distractions. No electricity, no internet, just a moment of peace with nature and away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

“Mingay is indeed a true gem that can be handed over from generations,” said Aguinaldo as she enjoined everyone to promote responsible travel practices while nurturing the local community and the environment.

of the north”.

From the drop-oﬀ point in Sitio Mingay, trek downhill for about 40 minutes.

The cove can also be reached by a 30-to-40-minute boat ride after coordinating with the local tourism oﬃce. Boats for hire are available at the Taggat blue lagoon in Claveria, Cagayan.

Rock formations oﬀ Mingay beach. (Leilanie Adriano)

Plan ahead, discover more

For the safety and convenience of visitors, Villamin Lizardo Jr., a member of the rescue team of Sta. Praxedes, said guests are urged to plan their travel and discover more adventures in Mingay.

“Aside from the Mingay Beach which

Apart from tents, at least three solar-powered teepee houses with basic amenities are available in the area for an overnight stay.

Aguinaldo said the local government also set up picnic tables and tents for rent. Showers, restrooms, and swings are also available.

Pre-booking however is a must with no walk-in accommodations for overnight guests to ensure their safety and security, according to the Santa Praxedes Tourism Facebook page.

How to get there

There are two ways to reach the cove. With the aid of Google map or waze, pin Mingay Beach in Barangay San Julian, known by locals as the “greenest garden

is divided into small and big cove, there are other beaches such as the Nanaplaan and Kimmansir Beach that visitors may consider visiting,” Lizardo said.

“These are comparable to the beaches of Palawan,” he noted.

Beautiful rock formations and waterfalls are likewise worth the adventure for swimming, diving, and underwater exploration, he added.

“Going to Mingay is an experience of a lifetime. It gives me reasons to love the Philippines even more,” said Aileen Rambaud, a visitor from Pinili, Ilocos Norte who, along with some friends experienced trekking downhill to reach Mingay last weekend. (PNA)

CALM AND PEACEFUL. Mingay beach in Santa Praxedes, Cagayan. It is an oﬀ-the-grid rest haven. (Leilanie Adriano)