Philippine News Today

AMID TENSION, PHL NAMES 4 MORE BASES FOR US TROOPS

Ex-governor brother faces raps over seized guns and explosives

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

WASHINGTON/MANILA – As tension remains high in the Indo Pacific region, the Philippines and the United States announced the location of four more military bases to be used by American troops, two of them in Cagayan and Isabela provinces in Northern Philippines near Taiwan and another near the hotly disputed South China Sea.

Teves, ex-aide tagged in Degamo killing, multiple charges readied PH stands to lose EU trade perks

By Be�ng Laygo Dolor, Editor

MANILA – The trade perks that the Philippines has been receiving from the European Union (EU) may be withdrawn unless the Marcos administration can prove that it has turned its back on the brutality of the previous regime.

Those perks are no small matter as they include zero tariff on goods that the Philippines exports to EU countries, estimated at more than 6,200 products under its Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+).

The EU is the Philippines’ fourth largest trading partner af-

ter the US, China, and Japan.

The EU Parliament had previously “urged” the Philippines to improve its record on human rights, lest it lose the GSP+ perks.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) recently asked the EU to set clear guidelines to help it decide if the Philippines can maintain those fringe benefits due to accountability concerns.

HRW said the GSP+ should be used as a tool to help address human rights issues. To continue to be entitled to the GSP+, there are 27 international

Is your retirement income enough for the future?

MANILA – Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said another key figure in the March 4 attack that killed Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo has been captured and will be charged shortly.

The officials identified the suspect as Marvin Miranda who was arrested on March 31 by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Barangay Mayabay, Barbaza, Antique.

Remulla said Miranda as one of the “major players” behind the

FBI report on hate crimes still fails to show whole truth

By Gilda Balan, Correspondent

Updated figures released last month by the FBI paint an even bleaker picture of hate crimes committed against Asians and Asian-Americans including Pacific Islanders than originally thought.

Hate crimes against the community more than doubled between 2020 and 2021.

The FBI report printed in The Marshall Project – a nonprofit website for independent journalism – says reported hate crimes has been growing since 2014, but “still represents a fraction of bias-related incidents,” says the report.

attack that also killed eight others.

The DOJ chief also tagged suspended Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. as the “the producer or executive producer of the whole production.”

Remulla said the assistance of the Interpol has been requested to pinpoint where Teves has been hiding since his last stay in the United States. Teves has denied any part in the Degamo murder as the Senate was set to subpoena him to appear with other suspects in a hearing to be led by

“Most go unreported or are not policed because hate crime laws vary across the country,” it adds.

Reported hate crimes rose by more than 11 percent in the 2020 to 2021 period, with the highest increases occurring not only among the AAPI community, but also among Sikhs and LGBTQ people.

The latest report only covers the period up to 2021 when the US and the rest of the world were in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a need for an updated

Hudgens now PHL’s global tourism ambassador $1.00= P54.57

TOURISM ENVOY. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. congratulates FilAm actress Vanessa Hudgens a�er conferring on her the �tle as Global Tourism Ambassador for the Philippines in ceremonies in Malacanang. Hudgens describes her mother’s na�ve country as a tropical paradise. (See stories inside)

Marcos thanks GMA for advice, guidance on her birthday

MANILA President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. extended birthday greetings to former president Gloria MacapagalArroyo, thanking the incumbent House of Representatives Deputy Speaker for her “advice” and “guidance” on the presidency.

“I would like to extend a very grateful and very joyful happy birthday to former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,” Marcos said in a short video greeting uploaded on his official Facebook page.

Marcos said he would not be able to greet the former president properly without mentioning “all the help and assistance and guidance that you have provided in all of the things that we have been doing.”

“And there are many things that I cannot imagine we would not have been able to do if not for your advice and your guidance on many of these very important issues. So, thank you very much for that, President GMA, and I’ll just add a very, very happy birthday,” he said.

Marcos once described MacapagalArroyo as his “secret weapon” during his first participation at the 29th AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Bangkok, Thailand in November last year.

He personally invited Macapagal-

Arroyo to accompany him during the APEC Summit, noting that her experiences and insights were valuable.

Macapagal-Arroyo supported Marcos during the 2022 presidential elections.

Known by the acronym “GMA,” she was born in San Juan, Rizal on April 5, 1947 to former president Diosdado Macapagal and Dr. Evangelina Macaraeg Macapagal.

She began her professional career as an assistant professor at the Ateneo de Manila University from 1977 to 19 7 and professor at the University of the Philippines School of Economics in those same years.

She chaired the Economic Department of Assumption College from 19 4 to 19 7 before assuming the post of assistant secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry from 19 9 to 1992.

Macapagal-Arroyo was elected senator in 1992 and was re-elected in 199 .

On May 11, 199 , she overwhelmingly won the vice presidential race. She was then appointed as secretary of the social welfare department.

This established her as the first woman to hold the country’s second-highest position since its independence from Spain in 1 9 .

She was sworn in as president in January 2001 as a result of the EDSA II Revolution, which was triggered by the impeachment trial of then-president Joseph Estrada.

When she left Malaca ang as the 14th president on June 30, 2010, she likewise set the record for being the first among the former presidential children to be elected to the country’s highest post.

On July 23, 201 , she was sworn in as the 21st Speaker of the House of Representatives, making her the first Filipino woman to occupy the speakership the fourth top post in the country’s hierarchy after the presidency, vice presidency, and Senate head.

She became Deputy Speaker of the 19th Congress in July 2022.

MANILA President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has designated Abdulraof Macacua and Bai Mariam Mangudadatu as officers-in-charge (OICs) of the newly created provinces of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, respectively.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said only Macacua was sworn in as Maguindanao del Norte OIC in a ceremony at Malaca an Palace on April .

Before his appointment, Macacua served as Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Senior Minister.

He is also the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forc-

es (BIAF) chief of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Apart from Macacua and Mangudadatu’s appointments, the President also named Bai Fatima Ainee Limbona Sinsuat as OIC of the Office of the Vice-Governor of Maguindanao del Norte, and Datu Nathaniel Sangacala Midtimbang as OIC of the Office of the Vice Governor of Manguindanao del Sur.

They have yet to take their oaths.

In February, an organization of local chief executives in Maguindanao del Norte called on Marcos to appoint an OIC in the newly created province to put an end to the on-

going crisis confusing provincial employees and residents.

Northern Kabuntalan Mayor Umbra Dilangalen, president of the United Bangsamoro Development Council (UBDC), said installing an OIC or an acting governor would end the confusion among local leaders and residents who wondered who to take orders from and whom to report to a few months after conducting the plebiscite.

In May 2021, former President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed into law Republic Act No. (RA) 11 0, dividing the province of Maguindanao into two distinct and independent provinces known as Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.

OICs of 2 new Maguindanao provinces named Navy frigate BRP Antonio Luna deployed for Philippine Rise patrol

MANILA – The Philippine Navy (PN) has deployed the missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF-1 1), one of its most ad-

vanced and capable ships, to patrol the Philippine Rise (formerly Benham Rise) off the coast of Aurora and Isabela.

“BRP Antonio Luna carried out maritime patrol to intensify naval presence in the Philippine Rise, the 13-million-hectare undersea volcanic ridge located east of Luzon,” said the ship’s acting commanding officer, Commander Jim Aris Alagao.

The vast Philippine Rise region is part of the country’s extended continental shelf, which is said to be abundant with natural resources, such as minerals and gas.

Alagao said the patrol is “part of the government’s mandate to safeguard the country’s national maritime interests in the northern frontier.”

“The PN will always continue to be at the forefront in protecting the country’s maritime domain and interests, he added.

Earlier, the crew of BRP Antonio Luna on April 1 raised a new Philippine ag atop the highest peak of Mavulis Island in Batanes, the country’s northernmost island and the first line of defense.

The ag raising was part of the PN’s “Operation Bantay-Layag,” which began

on March 31 and will run for a month.

The event was the second ceremony to be held on the island since the pandemic broke out in 2020. The first ag-raising activity was held in April 2021.

The hoisted ag also symbolizes and asserts Philippine sovereignty over the island.

“Among others, FF-151 also assisted the troops in Mavulis in troubleshooting the island’s generator, as well as re-provisioned the troops with food and drinking water,” Alagao said.

DILG chief set to endorse nominee for next PNP chief

QUEZON CITY Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said he will recommend a sole name to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to be the next chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Current top cop Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. will retire from the service upon reaching the mandatory age of 56 on April 24.

Abalos has yet to submit his recommendation to the President.

Among the possible contenders for PNP chief are the three top officers of the command group -- deputy chief for administration Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, deputy

chief for operations Maj. Gen. Jonnel Estomo and Lt. Gen. Michael John Dubria, chief of the directorial staff.

Other contenders are Directorate for Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Benjamin Acorda, Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management chief Maj. Gen. Eliseo Cruz; Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr. and National Capital Region Police Office head Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo.

“Well ako, personally, isa lang ang gusto ko although ito inuulit ko, maraming magagaling, but this person I really trust him at nakita ko yung kanyang actions. Hindi ko pa naipapasa (to the President),” Abalos said.

Abalos, meanwhile, assured that those responsible for sneaking into the country the P6.7 billion suspected shabu that was seized in Manila last year would be identified and punished.

In a press briefing at the Pasay City Hall, Abalos said he believes many ranking police officials were involved in the case.

“This is considered one of the biggest drug hauls. What is important is we pinpoint the mastermind but I am very disappointed. There are many police officers involved here and some are in high positions. I cannot just let this pass. I want them removed,” Abalos said.

SC final ruling: BGC is part of Taguig; Makati raises constitutional issues

By Jeanne Michael Penaranda

TAGUIG CITY

The Supreme Court (SC) has issued its final ruling that the 729-hectare Bonifacio Global City complex and several other adjoining villages are part of Taguig City and not Makati City.

The Taguig city government called the ruling the start of “a new chapter for Taguig and its people.”

“In a way Taguig is not the only victor in this legal contest. In a bigger sense, with both parties putting their trust in the legal system, it is the rule of law which prevailed,” it said.

“We will work even harder to expand and improve the services we run for our

constituents, by introducing new programs and projects. We have the resources to bring about a transformative, lively, and caring city,” the city government said.

In a statement, Don Cami a, head of Makati City’s law department, said that Makati has filed on omnibus petition asking the High Court to hear the case on en banc since the ruling was made only by the SC’s third division.

“This legal recourse is provided for under Section 3, Rule 2 of the SC Internal Rules,” Cami a said.

Camina said there are “constitutional” issues that should be addressed in the land dispute case that favored Taguig City’s jurisdiction over the Fort Bonifacio military

reservation.

In a statement, Cami a said the city government had asked the Supreme Court (SC) to elevate the case to the entire high tribunal after its Special Third Division ruled that Fort Bonifacio – including the revenue-rich Bonifacio Global City (BGC) – belongs to Taguig.

The ruling affected Makati’s barangays known as “embos” or “enlisted men’s barrios,” and the transfer of these to Taguig would adversely affect Makati’s voter base and cause instability in its business environment, Cami a said.

The “embo” barangays – Cembo, South Cembo, Comembo, East Rembo, West Rembo, Pembo and Pitogo – are located

in Makati’s second congressional district, represented by Mayor Abigail Binay’s husband, Rep. Luis Campos Jr.

“We believe that the decision involves constitutional issues that need to be addressed by the entire court. Not only will the decision have far-reaching consequences on the operation and stability of businesses in the affected areas, it could also prejudice the right to vote and the access to vital social services of both Makati and Taguig residents,” Cami a said.

In a two-page resolution, the SC’s Special Third Division denied the motion for reconsideration filed by the Makati City government, seeking the reversal of a Dec. 1, 2021 decision favoring Taguig City.

Pasig village residents now ‘BIDA’ advocates

PASIG CIT – Aiming to promote peace and order in the community, Barangay San Antonio (BSA) in Pasig City has heeded the call of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for barangay leaders to encourage residents to be advocates of the Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) program.

During the Barangay Assembly Day for the first semester of the year held on Thursday, BSA chairperson Raymond Lising commended the Lupong Tagapamayapa, the body that comprises the

barangay justice system, for being empowered and passing the latest evaluation of DILG on Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentive Awards.

“Ang atin pong tagapagpamayapa ngayon ay talagang very empowered na po, talagang very active doon sa pakikipagtulungan sa DILG. And a little update lang po sa ating cases as of March 21, we have eight cases, one is criminal, seven are civil five have been settled, one has been issued a certificate to file action at dalawa po rito ay pending),” he said.

Sandigan clears state flying college execs in P25-M deal

PASA CIT – The Sandiganbayan has reversed the conviction of offi cials of the Philippine State College of Aeronautics (PhilSCA) implicated in an alleged irregular bidding process.

In a 21-page decision on Friday, the anti-graft court’s Second Division reversed and set aside the March 2 ruling of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 231 convicting Reynalo Roca, Louie Timajo and Erwin Abon of violating Republic Act 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Roca was associate professor and vice president for academic aff airs, Timajo was Bids and Award Committee (BAC) vice chair, and Abon was aircraft maintenance technologist of PhilSCA.

They were charged for their participation as BAC members who oversaw the purchase of fi ve Cessna training aircraft models 172 in 200 worth P2 million.

Private complainants examining the bidding documents claimed irregularities in the procedure and fi led a com-

plaint before the Ombudsman for allegedly giving unwarranted benefi ts to Aviatour.

In clearing the offi cials, the Sandigan said “the appellants did not award any contract for the purchase of the aircrafts from Aviatour and no such contract was ever executed.”

The decision noted that the three appellants “merely recommended to consider Aviatour as the single calculated responsive bid for the procurement of fi ve Cessna 172 aircrafts.”

The actual purchase of the aircrafts did not materialize because of questions regarding the nature of the documents, which Aviatour was required to submit, the Sandigan said.

In 2013, then-Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the dismissal from government service of Enerico Sampang, former PhilSCA president, for gross negligence connected with the 200 bidding.

At the time, Sampang was a member of the board of trustees of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasay.

ADVOCATES. Pasig City’s Barangay San Antonio (BSA) Chairperson Raymond Lising at the Barangay Assembly held at the BSA Covered Court.

ZAMBOANGA CITY The death toll in the Basilan ferry fi re incident rose to 31 on April after three remains were separately fi shed out from the sea, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Ensign Arturo Alamani Jr., Isabela City Coast Guard Station commander,

said the casualties as Anacleto Ponollera Jr., 7, of Barangay Sta. Catalina here Staff Sgt. Audro Cerbatos, 40, of the Army’s 11th Infantry Division (ID) and Jack Bungso Sr. of Maimbung, Sulu.

Their remains will be brought to this city for proper disposition, he said.

Twenty passengers remain missing as of Wednesday, among them Private 1st Class Marion Malda of the Sulubased 11ID.

Alamani appealed to fi shermen to immediately report to them whenever they see bodies oating at sea when they go fi shing.

Deat toll in Basilan ferry fire rises to Cops

“Our search and retrieval is ongoing,” he said.

The M V Lady Mary Joy 3 caught fi re at about 11 30 p.m. on March 29 near Baluk-Baluk Island, Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan while sailing to Sulu from amboanga City.

step up manhunt vs. other suspects in Gov. Adiong ambush

investigators to intensify efforts to arrest other suspects in the Feb. 17 ambush of Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr.

Brig. Gen. Allan Cruz Nobleza also vowed the BARMM police will continue to hunt the remaining suspect.

Specifically, Nobleza directed the Special Investigation Task Group “to bring in” Gandawali criminal gang leader Oscar Capal Gandawali, who allegedly masterminded the plot to kill the Lanao Sur governor.

Adiong and another civilian aide were injured but three police escorts and a civilian driver were killed.

To date, four suspects have been arrested, two were slain, and two firearms stolen from the slain officers have been recovered.

CAMP S PENDATUN, Maguindanao

Norte – The newly installed police chief of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has directed

“We will continue to conduct hot pursuit operations to apprehend the remaining at-large suspects in the Gov. Adiong case. Police Regional Office-BARMM will not stop until the suspects pay for their crime and bring justice to the slain brave policemen,” Nobleza said.

Brig. Gen. Allan Cruz Nobleza, the newly installed police chief of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. (Photo courtesy of PRO-BARMM)

Nation marks Holy Week; church rallies faithful

By Jennifer T. Santos

MANILA Thousands, if not millions, of Filipinos have started the exodus to the provinces for the observance of Holy Week made longer with the declaration of Monday, April 10, as a holiday.

Catholic Church officials reminded the faithful that the essence of Holy Week activities is about re ection and devotion to faith.

Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Public Affairs Committee (CBCP-PAC), encouraged Catholics to take time to cleanse their spiritual being during Holy Week activities.

“Well, you go to Visita Iglesia it’s a moment to re ect, it’s a moment to pray. It’s not a socialization activity but when you go there, make sure it’s for sacred purposes and not for other practical or mundane purposes,” he said.

“It’s about looking at ourselves and making all these sacrifices that we can, at least share in Christ’s passion,” the Catholic priest added.

In Malacanang, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. called on Filipinos to “know Jesus Christ more” to become better agents of change as Christians around the world observe the Holy Week.

“I urge all of us now to make this promise personal: Let it stir in each of us the desire to know Jesus Christ more so that we may become better agents of change and conveyors of truth wherever we go,” he said in his Palm Sunday message.

“With the hope for a brighter future by the grace of God, I wish everyone a meaningful celebration,” he added.

Marcos recognized how Filipinos take the time to commemorate the blessed occasion in “varying degrees and traditions.”

“Ultimately, no matter how constant or diverse this occasion is in the Filipino psyche, one thing emerged true each time: That God, in His divine and everlasting wisdom, manifested His immeasurable and incomparable love to us all through the very human person of Jesus Christ,” he said.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), meanwhile, joined the call of an environmental organization for a safe and nature-friendly commemoration of Holy Week this year.

In a statement, CBCP president Bishop Pablo Virgilio David encouraged the faithful to maintain cleanliness in performing the Visita Iglesia (church visits) and going to various pilgrimage sites to meditate and pray this week.

The Caloocan prelate reminded those

who will be visiting churches on Maundy Thursday and attending procession on Good Friday to take care of the environment by making their pilgrimage trash-free.

The Philippine National Police (PNP), meanwhile, said all units have been placed on heightened alert as part of security preparations for the observance of Holy Week.

The heightened alert status took effect a.m. on Sunday and will be in place until a.m. on April 11, PNP officer-incharge Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia said during Monday’s command conference in Camp Crame.

Visita Iglesia (visit to churches) is a Holy Week tradition among Roman Catholics where they visit seven or more churches to re ect and pray before the Blessed Sacrament in each church.

Among the traditional activities during the Holy Week are via crucis (way of the cross), senakulo (passion play),

pabasa (passion reading) and salubong (Easter vigil).

He also urged the faithful to physically participate in the religious activities this week as the threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is slowly being controlled.

“You should go to churches physically. They should come to churches. They should participate in liturgical activities in the churches in person,” he added.

Secillano also asked them to comply with the existing health protocols of the churches.

“If one parish tells you to wear mask, you have to abide by that parish’s rule,” he said.

On the other hand, Secillano said churches should still offer Holy Week activities online for particular sectors.

“For the physically impaired, for the old people, for those who could not go to churches, we still have to cater to them by allowing them to participate in the online platforms,” he said.

At the height of the pandemic, churches were only holding Holy Week activities online as the people were directed to stay at home.

Meanwhile, CBCP Episcopal Commission on Liturgy (ECL) chairman Bishop Victor Bendico called on the faithful to seek conversion this Holy Week.

“The Holy Week summons us to conversion, to a change of mentality and heart, especially in prayers and charity,” he said in a radio interview.

“The Catholic Church still teaches us about restitution... that we are required to make reparation for injustices committed and restore stolen goods to their owner. Let us save our house, our life, through restitution,” Bendico added.

41% of Filipinos support charter change – Pulse Asia

QUEZON CITY

Forty-one percent of Filipinos are now supportive of amending the Constitution, according to the new survey results released by Pulse Asia.

The nationwide survey, conducted from March to and polled respondents aged years old and above, showed that public support for charter change increased by 10 percentage points from the last survey conducted in September

However, the March survey found that opposition to amending the Constitution is still higher with percent of Filipinos against such proposals.

Of the percent, percent do not see the need for charter change now or at any other time in the future, while percent are open to it someday.

Pulse Asia noted that less than half of the country’s adult population, or percent, have prior awareness of proposals to change the Constitution, while around percent have not heard, read, or watched any charter change motions before they were surveyed.

More than half of the respondents are not in favor of some proposed amend-

ments to the country’s charter, particularly related to foreign ownership and term extension for elective officials.

In particular, the survey showed that around percent are against the proposal to lift the prohibition on foreign ownership of communications companies, 55 percent do not want to lift the prohibition on foreign ownership of utilities like electricity, percent are not in favor of allowing foreign individuals and companies equal ownership in mass media and advertising.

Other proposed constitutional amendments that received opposition include removing limits on shares of stocks in Philippine corporations that may be owned by foreign individuals and companies at percent, allowing foreign individuals and companies to own residential and industrial lands at percent, and allowing foreign individuals and companies to utilize Philippine national resources at percent.

Meanwhile, a politically-related proposal to extend the terms of office of national and local elective officials was thumbed down by percent of the respondents.

As for the mode of amending the Constitution, only percent of the respondents agree with the creation of a constitutional convention.

As regards their knowledge of the Philippine Constitution, percent of Filipino adults admit knowing little

about it while percent have almost or completely no knowledge about the charter.

On the other hand, percent said they know enough about the Philippine Constitution while only percent said they have a great deal of knowledge.

Manny Villar wealthiest Filipino for 5th straight year - Forbes

nard Arnault with a 211-billion net worth.

Forbes estimated Villar’s real-time net worth at 9 billion as of April 4, 2023.

The in uential magazine cited Villar’s stake in Golden MV Holdings as his biggest asset, as it develops mass housing projects and memorial parks. He also chairs Vista Land Lifescapes, which listed its real estate investment trust (REIT) on the Philippine Stock Exchange in June 2022.

ident Ramon Ang with a 3.4-billion net worth. He was listed as the 2nd richest across the globe.

SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) covice-chairman Henry Sy, Jr. followed as he was ranked 1,217th richest with a 2. -billion net worth. He also serves as chairman of SM Prime Holdings, which operates the group’s property arm.

the late John Gokongwei Jr., came in at 2,020th with 1.4 billion. He is currently the president and chief executive officer of JG Summit Holdings Inc., which has interests in food, real estate and hospitality, air transportation, banking, and petrochemicals.

MA ATI CIT - For the fifth straight year, former Senate President and Speaker Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr. remains the country’s richest Filipino based on the Forbes Billionaires List for 2023.

Villar, who is a real estate tycoon known for housing and township development, malls, condominiums, among others,, saw his wealth grow to .6 billion, topping 13 other wealthy Filipinos in the Forbes list.

In the list, Villar climbed to 21 th from 232nd spot among the richest in the world now topped by luxury goods tycoon Ber-

Villar’s wife Cynthia Aguilar Villar and son Mark Villar are current senators, while his daughter Camille currently serves as a member of the Philippine Congress representing Las Pi as City.

International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) chair Enrique Razon Jr. followed Villar in the list with a 7.3-billion net worth, making him the 312th richest person in the world.

Razon expanded the business overseas, after being started by his grandfather in 1916, and rebuilt by his father after World War II.

The third richest Filipino now is San Miguel Corp.’s (SMC) chairman and pres-

Alliance Global Inc.’s (AGI) chair Andrew Tan was listed as the world’s 1,217th richest with a 2. -billion net worth, with his firm having interests in food, beverage, gaming, and real estate.

Also listed were Hans Sy and his brother Herbert Sy who both ranked 1,272nd with 2.4 billion each, along with tobacco and property magnate Lucio Tan who was ranked the same with 2.4 billion.

They were followed by siblings Harley Sy and Teresita Sy-Coson at 1,36 th with 2.2 billion each. Both currently serve as executives of the SM Group their father started. Their sister Elizabeth Sy was ranked 1, 7 th with 1.9 billion.

Lance Gokongwei, the only son of

Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) chairman and founder Tony Tan Caktiong was ranked 2,2 9th with 1.2 billion. The group’s brands include Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Burger ing, Dunkin’ Donuts, and The Coffee Bean Tea Leaf, among others.

I igo obel returned to the list with a 1-billion net worth, making him the 2, 40th richest globally. A cousin of the obel patriarch Jaime obel de Ayala, most of his fortune is from a stake in San Miguel where he sits on the board.

The global list was topped by LVMH chairman and chief executive Bernard Arnault with 211 billion, Elon Musk with 1 0 billion, Jeff Bezos with 114 billion, Larry Ellison with 107 billion, and Warren Buffett with 106 billion.

Abalos vows regular inspections to avert jailbreak

MANILA – Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)

Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos Jr. on Wednesday vowed to implement measures to prevent another jailbreak.

SWIFT ACTION. Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos Jr. (center) on Wednesday (April 5, 2023) congratulates and commends Pasay local government led by Mayor melda ali to ubiano (le�) and the Pasay police in a press conference at Pasay City Hall for the immediate apprehension of the ailbrea ers from Malibay Sub-Sta�on deten�on cell facility. Abalos vowed to carry out several measures to improve and decongest ail facili�es. (P A photo by Avito Dalan)

Abalos, in a press conference held at Pasay City Hall, said he will order regular inspections of jail facilities, help address jail congestion, and review the security protocols as well as the accountability of police officers and officials.

He lauded the

PHL gov’t debt soars to P13.8 trillion

By Jeanne Michael Penaranda

MANILA - The national government’s total outstanding debt has reached P13.7 trillion as of end-February 2023, according to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).

In a statement, the BTr said that for the month, the NG’s total outstanding debt increased 0.4 percent primarily due to the net issuance of domestic securities. ear-on-year, the debt level rose by 13.7 percent, the treasury bureau added.

Of the total debt stock, 31.3 percent was sourced externally while 6 .7 percent were domestic borrowings.

The national government’s domestic debt amounted to P9.44 trillion, 0.6 percent higher compared to the end-January 2023 level which the BTr said was due

to the net availment of domestic financing amounting to P . billion and the P1.34 billion effect of local currency depreciation against the US dollar on onshore foreign denominated securities.

From the year ago level, the local debt rose 12.2 percent.

Meanwhile, the external debt amounted to P4.31 trillion, 0.1 percent lower from the previous month due to the P21.1 billion net repayment of foreign loans and P32.32 billion impact of thirdcurrency adjustments against the US dollar, the BTr said.

These outweighed the effect of local currency depreciation against the US dollar, which amounted to P 0. 1 billion.

Compared to the end of February 2022, the country’s external debt has increased by 17.1 percent.

collaborative effort among the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Pasay City Government, and the public for the swift capture of 10 escapees from the Malibay Police Sub-station 6 detention facility.

Abalos also commended Pasay Mayor Imelda “Emi” Calixto-Rubiano for her initiative in bridging the coordination between the PNP and the barangay authorities.

“Ito yung sinasabi nating basta magkaisa ang bansa, walang imposible. Ito na ang nadarama natin ngayon (This is what we have been telling that when the country unites, there is no impossible. This is what we feel now),” Abalos told reporters citing how fast law enforcers resolved the big cases.

“ ung titingnan niyo ang mga nangyayaring krimen sa ating bansa ngayon, halos lahat mabilis na nareresolba (If you look at the crimes happening in our country now, almost all are swiftly resolved.

The Degamo case in less than 24 hours nahuli agad yung tatlong suspek (the three suspects were immediately arrested),” he added.

Abalos stressed the importance of the PNP’s high-visibility in the community saying it leads to better communication and coordination.

National Capital Region Police Office Director Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo, also present during the media briefing, said the police officer on duty in Malibay Police Sub-station during the incident was relieved from post and already charged with evasion through negligence.

The police official said cases like direct assault, attempted homicide, and physical injuries will also be filed against the 10 detainees.

For her part, Mayor Calixto-Rubiano congratulated the PNP, barangay officials, and other local organizations for working non-stop until the detainees were captured.

Flow of passengers at NAIA ‘orderly’; seaport rules relaxed

MANILA The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) on Holy Wednesday reported an orderly ow of passengers at the country’s main gateway amid the peak season.

“So far naman po so good ngayon and maayos po ang ating mga pila (So far, so good, and queues were orderly),” MIAA senior assistant general manager Bryan Co said in a Laging Handa public briefing.

Co attributed this to the proper coordination with the airlines, ground handlers, and the various agencies manning the airport.

He said many tourists were going through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) but it was not overcrowded as the passenger ow was continuous.

Teves...

(From page 1)

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police chief.

Justice spokesperson Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said that the DOJ will file charges against him “very soon” as there’s strong evidence linking the lawmaker to Degamo’s murder.

Teves has denied that he and his brother, former Negros Oriental Governor Pryde Henry Teves, are involved in the killing.

Remulla said politics played a major part in Degamo’s killing.

“Kumbaga sa pulis, case closed na ito, prosecution na tayo pagkatapos, but we know who masterminded it. (In police terms, this is already case closed. We are now in the prosecution phase but we know who masterminded it),” Remulla said.

When asked when charges against Teves will be filed, Remulla said they have to observe “due process”.

“He can answer questions in the preliminary investigation,” he said of Teves.

“Kung sa sine natin titingnan ito, analogy to ng movie, si Marvin was a director, producer of the props and cast-

FBI...

(From page 1)

report because initial data was deemed severely under-

NAIA registered an on-time performance (OTP) an indicator of ight punctuality – of 7 percent on Holy Tuesday.

The OTP rates from Saturday to Monday were 70 percent, 6 percent, and 91 percent, respectively.

Co also said the MIAA has been recording 110,000 to 120,000 passengers at the NAIA in the past few days.

The MIAA is expecting a 10 percent to 15 percent increase in these figures by Wednesday and Thursday when more travelers are expected, he said.

Passenger surge is also expected on Sunday and Monday.

Co said authorities continue to augment their manpower with the MIAA assisting the Office for Transportation

ing director. Siya ‘yung nag-recruit ng mga tao, siya ang talagang kumuha sa mga tao at nag-recruit sa kanila (If this were a movie, Marvin is the director, props producer and casting director. He was the one who recruited people),” he added.

Secretary Abalos Jr. said Miranda is the “missing vital link” and “one of the main conspirators” behind the assassination of Degamo, based on the testimonies of the other suspects who were either arrested or surrendered.

“Napaka-importante ng taong ito (Miranda). Base sa rebelasyon at confessions ng arrested suspects, including a discharged former AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) member who had direct participation in the killing of Gov. Degamo (This person is very important. Based on the revelation and confession of the suspects including a discharged former AFP member),’’ Abalos told reporters.

Abalos disclosed that Miranda, on orders of a certain person known as “Boss Idol”, “Big Boss” or Kalbo”, recruited the suspects and the person who provided them with the logistics and material support during the planning and execution of the assassination.

Records showed Miranda was a long-time security staff and bodyguard of Teves, had criminal records, and

stated because “nearly 40 percent of police agencies did not participate.”

The FBI faced harsh backlash from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers for failing to compile a more realistic figure representative of the national figure. It was noted that California and New York City, the state and city where hate crimes skyrocketed during the pandemic era, did not even provide data to the initial FBI report.

Steven Freeman, director of legal affairs at the Anti-Defamation League, said, “the updated report still raises a lot of questions about the overall credibility of the FBI’s hate crime statistics.”

He added, however, that the bothersome figures still offered “a more complete picture” of what Asian and

PH...

(From page 1)

conventions on good governance, labor, the environment, and human rights that countries must comply with.

The EU’s biggest concern where the Philippines is concerned is the latter’s human rights record.

According to HRW, “the EU should identify clear, time-bound human rights benchmarks that would guide its decision to end or renew the benefit to the Philippines. The EU should use GSP+ to improve rights by making it clear that renewing it will not come without tangible progress.”

That the EU is far from pleased with the progress of the Philippines can be gleaned by the statement last week of Eamon Gilmore, EU special representative for human rights, who pointed out that there have been painfully few convictions on former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

Gilmore said the Philippines must do more to exact accountability over the killings of drug suspects, whose

Security so that their personnel could focus on processing passengers at the pre-departure and boarding gates.

Additional personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard were deployed to the NAIA to help manage the queues at the screening checkpoints.

Meanwhile, Co said certain airlines have been allowed to open their check-in counters earlier to accommodate passengers.

Passengers were advised to arrive three hours before an international ight schedule, and at least two hours before a domestic ight.

“During this season, we have put up help desks across the four terminals to ensure efficiency and address the concerns of our passengers,” he said.

was arrested on June 29, 2020, for illegal possession of firearms.

Abalos said Miranda pleaded guilty to a lesser offense and was meted with up to two years in jail and a fine of P10,000 by an Aklan court.

Miranda was tagged as one of the alleged mastermind in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, and will be charged for nine counts of murder, 13 counts of frustrated murder, and four counts of attempted murder.

In a statement, the DOJ said that the indictment was based on the disclosures given by certain Antipolo, Javier, Rodriguez, Labrador, and Rivero in their respective extra-judicial confessions that “Miranda played an indispensable part in the planning of the assassination of the governor.”

“The state prosecutors found that Miranda conspired in the commission of the crimes and recommended his indictment, together with Accused Antipolo, Isturis, Javier, Pattaguan, E. Gonyon, and JL. Gonyon, who were previously charged in court,” the agency said.

“In effect, the state prosecutors would be amending the informations previously filed in court to include Miranda as one of the accused,” it added.

Asian American communities, among others, continue to face.

Lawmakers in several states are also considered as playing a large role in goading some sectors of society to engage in various forms of hate crime.

For example, Texas and South Carolina have pending legislation that seeks to ban “aliens” such as Chinese, Russian, Iranian, and North Korean nationals from owning land, with lawmakers from other states mulling their own version of the proposed law.

With one of the top federal agencies unable to determine the full extent of hate crimes against vulnerable communities like Asian and Asian-Americans, the problem will not only refuse to go away, it is likely to worsen in the months and years to come.

number ranges from a low of to as high as Only the cases of Kian Loyd Delos Santos, Reynaldo De Guzman, and Carl Arnaiz have resulted in murder convictions.

Gilmore told local media: “There have only been three convictions out of acknowledged extrajudicial killings. I think those figures speak for themselves. There is clearly a need to do more in the area.”

Worst of all, after Duterte stepped down, the killings have not stopped.

“While the killings have decreased since Marcos took office, they still continue. In January, the International Criminal Court (ICC) resumed its investigation into these killings as possible crimes against humanity,” according to HRW.

President Ferdinand Marcos’ recent statement saying that he would stick with the Duterte regime’s “disengagement” from the ICC could yet result in the EU’s disengaging the Philippines from its GSP+, dealing a serious blow to the economy.

AMID... (From page 1)

Passenger surge is also expected on Sunday and Monday.

MANILA

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) on Holy Wednesday reported an orderly ow of passengers at the country’s main gateway amid the peak season.

“So far naman po so good ngayon and maayos po ang ating mga pila (So far, so good, and queues were orderly),” MIAA senior assistant general manager Bryan Co said in a Laging Handa public briefing.

Co attributed this to the proper coordination with the airlines, ground handlers, and the various agencies manning the airport.

He said many tourists were going through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) but it was not overcrowded as the passenger ow was continuous.

NAIA registered an on-time performance (OTP) – an indicator of ight punctuality – of 7 percent on Holy Tuesday.

The OTP rates from Saturday to Monday were 70 percent, 6 percent, and 91 percent, respectively.

Co also said the MIAA has been recording 110,000 to 120,000 passengers at the NAIA in the past few days.

The MIAA is expecting a 10 percent to 1 percent increase in these figures by Wednesday and Thursday when more travelers are expected, he said.

Co said authorities continue to augment their manpower with the MIAA assisting the Office for Transportation Security so that their personnel could focus on processing passengers at the pre-departure and boarding gates.

Additional personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard were deployed to the NAIA to help manage the queues at the screening checkpoints.

Meanwhile, Co said certain airlines have been allowed to open their check-in counters earlier to accommodate passengers.

Passengers were advised to arrive three hours before an international ight schedule, and at least two hours before a domestic ight.

“During this season, we have put up help desks across the four terminals to ensure efficiency and address the concerns of our passengers,” he said.

Malaca ang said the four additional “suitable and mutually beneficial” locations for the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) are the Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana, Cagayan Lal-lo Airport in Lallo, Cagayan Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela and Balabac Island in Palawan.

The four bases have been inspected and assessed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), adding the four

locations are seen to boost the disaster response of the country as they will also be used for humanitarian and relief operations during emergencies and natural disasters.

President Marcos announced last month that Filipino and American officials have agreed on the four new sites, with the main goal to defend the country’s eastern coast.

Marcos granted US troops access to four more Philippine military camps on top of the five existing locations under the EDCA in February.

The five are Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City.

To overcome opposition from some local government units (LGUs) not keen on hosting US forces and equipment, Marcos talked to local officials and explained the importance of the EDCA sites in their jurisdictions.

DND chief Carlito Galvez Jr. said he is thankful to the Chief Executive for giving him authority to announce the four new EDCA sites.

Washington also announced the four new bases since their American counterparts have been waiting for the announcement so that their Congress can allocate the necessary budget.

“Actually yan ang hinihintay ng ating (that announcement is being an-

ticipated by our) counterparts so that (they) can immediately make necessary recommendations (to their) Congress, kasi (because) it will be budgeted by their Congress. The earlier it will be announced, the faster it will be,” he added.

Galvez said the new EDCA sites are “very strategic”, especially the Naval Base Camilo Osias and the one in Balabac Island.

In the case of Balabac Island, Galvez said the location is near the socalled “SLOC” (sea lanes of communications) which is a major shipping route.

He added that the new EDCA locations are beneficial to the country as this will provide “all-around security.”

Earlier, DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said the EDCA sites would not be American military bases but storage and warehouse facilities for military logistics.

The Pentagon announced that the United States and the Philippines have agreed to review the full range of their maritime cooperation in the 2 + 2 meeting in Washington DC starting April 11.

The EDCA, signed in 2014, allows US troops access to designated Philippine military facilities, and the right to build facilities and preposition equipment, aircraft and vessels, but rules out permanent basing.

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

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Conclusion

RADUATES of St. Theresa’s College in Quezon City commemorated their 75th foundation day with the launch of “Solitaires: Stories of Light, Life and Love”. Among the alumnae whose stories are featured are Filipino Americans who have made a difference in their adopted countries. Last issue focused on career and life coach Terry Samala de Guzman and tech journalist Marilou Sazon Porter.

BERNADETTE ABRERA TJAR S

NICK SAGMIT

GEORGE GANGE

RENE AVENIDO Photo Correspondents

LYDIA SOLIS Chief Correspondent Southern California

Office Manager GILDA PASION BALAN FRANCO G. REGALA ALI MACABALANG

JEANNE MICHAEL PENARANDA Manila Correspondents

THOMAS G. MADELO JR. Creative Director

JO ERLINDA YABUT Entertainment Editor MA. CECILIA G. MADELO Graphic Director

BLESIE D. SISON ALBERT MARTINEZ RENE AMON Account Executives

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EDITORIAL

The cost of not indicting Trump

e have to ask all of the Republicans who argue against indicting Donald Trump. They blame New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg for engaging in a political persecution of the former president, conveniently forgetting that the indictment was approved by a grand jury.

Some of them insist that at worst, what Trump did only qualifies as a misdemeanor, not a full-blown criminal case.

At least this argument could hold for the hush money payoff to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

But what of the other charges the former president faces?

What of his role in inciting the mob that stormed the Capitol on January 6? What of his attempts to steal the election which he lost fair and square by coercing a number of personalities to prevent Joe Biden from assuming the presidency? What of the documents at Mar-A-Lago that he tried to hide, and which should not have been in his possession the moment he left the White House?

In fact, the indictment that Trump faces this week may arguably be deemed a misdemeanor. It was a private matter between a then private citizen and a woman who was not his wife. To put it bluntly, so what if they had sex? It may have been shocking a hundred years ago, or even 50 years ago, but in this day and age the public can grudgingly accept that the very rich can do pretty much as they please, as long as they do no harm to other people.

Granted for the sake of argument that his hush money pay off to Ms. Daniels does not qualify as a federal crime, his allies in the GOP and they are admittedly legion would want the American people to ignore his more serious offenses.

They want him to be given a free pass so that he can pursue his wild dream of going back to the Oval Office and play the role of POTUS.

This is kind of thinking is dangerous, to say the least. The Republicans would put him in a pedestal tantamount to an emperor, one who is not covered by the law.

They would single him out as not merely a leader but a savior.

Presuming that the Republicans who seek special treatment for Trump are still in control of their facilities, they would now want to set the most dangerous of precedents.

In practically deifying Trump, they cannot see what dangers lie ahead for the USA in the years and decades, perhaps even centuries to come. Being a mere mortal, Trump will one day pass on. His name will forever be etched in the history books, but his mortal remains will sooner or later turn to dust.

But it is his dangerous style of politics that may live on after him. His blatant racism, his childish insults aimed at his perceived enemies, his declared admiration for dictators who do not believe in human rights, his leadership style will be embraced by countless present and future Republicans.

It is for this reason that Donald Trump must not be allowed to get away with his crimes or his misdemeanors. He must be treated as any ordinary American, who must never, ever be above the law.

He must be indicted for all the illegal acts he committed, whether as president or as private citizen.

Justice must always be blind.

Bernadette Abrera-Tjarks gained her expertise in mental health at Catholic University in Washington, DC where she earned a PH in social psychology after acquiring her BS Pre-Med at the University of the Philippines. Today she teaches psychology and statistics online and is a university lecturer in Texas.

The STCQC HS ’67 grad worked at American Airlines and GTE Verizon Wholesale Business Development Division. Her narrative honors her father, whom she lovingly describes as a “towering figure” and whose passing “blindsided” her.

“The congruence between STC values and my father’s attributes kept me focused during my schoolyears,” explained the middle child. She constantly won medals for excellence and praise from her parents as a result. Beyond school, however, her desire to please in relationships waned, leading her to re ect on what truly matters.

MARICHELLE ROQUE LUT

Marichelle Roque Lutz ultimately resumed her journalism that peaked in Manila as editor in chief of Woman’s Home Companion when she married a missionary and uprooted to Pennsylvania in the early 19 0s. Undeterred to settle comfortably into her transplant life, she looked up and tried out jobs detached from the glittering scenario of fashion shows and celebrity parties typical of invitations inundating mail boxes of women’s magazines. No one was surprised when Roque Lutz eventually joined the newsroom of Intelligencer Journal in Lancaster County until she retired. In 201 she penned her memoir “ eeping It Together” and is working on a novel.

Her narrative is a veritable act of contrition that bares her regret for shunning her childhood best friend and fellow journalist over a boy. The story manifests the STC HS ’57 grad’s humility and grace as she asks forgiveness when her former bestie’s life is cut short.

NINA CABRERA MUNO

Nina Cabrera Munoz was among Theresian sisters who strongly believes her educational “path” was a crucial “strand” that prepared her for her legal career. Law, she says, “looks glamorous on TV but it’s tedious work.” She’s a workaholic, she admits, a perfect fit in the law arena where “analysis and verbal combat” are prerequisite.

Now a retired administrative law judge in workers’ compensation in Los Angeles, Cabrera Munoz defies the docile Asian stereotype. When she came to the US, the STC HS ’70 grad vowed “never to become a second-class citizen” and aimed for the top wherever she went. At 19 0s giant Prudential Insurance Company, she took advantage of the educational perk offered in her department, choosing law as her next field.

She dedicated 20 years practicing law, enhancing her understanding of both plaintiff and defense ends of cases. Confidently she took qualifying exams and was appointed by the governor through the Dept. of Industrial Relations. She chose to highlight her STCQC education in her narrative because it led “internally” to the pinnacle of her career. “The years in STC you carry throughout your life travels with you, something you wear inside you maybe the drive for excellence or whatever the occasion demands,” she affirmed.

“Solitaires” is a keepsake for everyone who attended or who has (Continued on page 26)

The measure of love

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Such is the measure of love!

CHERIE M. QUEROL MORENO

Vanessa

t a time when the waters of the West Philippine Sea and the South China are getting warmer due to tensions between the United States and China and their Asia Pacific allies, it was cool that popular Hollywood actress Vanessa Hudgens recently dipped into the turquoise waters of paradise-like El Nido in Palawan.

Lady airline passenger a blessing to seatmate in distress

homeland

In My Heart

It was not just cooling off after a long 12-hour and hectic trip to Manila from California, but fulfilling a lifetime dream to explore and discover her roots in the native country of her Filipina mother Gina Guangco Hudgens, who hails from Ozamis City.

From her posts and reports from local and foreign media, Vanessa, in oral bikini, at times accompanied by her mother and fellow actress sister Stella, was seen soaking up the sun, basking and kayaking in the blue waters and lagoon of El Nido’s Bacuit Bay off the amazing world class Pangulasian island resort and the Miniloc island.

The Filipino American star, who is proud of her Filipino heritage, had one word to describe the place she explored – “Paradise” – which she wrote herself on Instagram, adding the hashtag #foreverphilippines, as she shared her unforgettable experience.

Later in media interviews, Vanessa described it as a “really magical place.” She elucidated: “It’s got paradise, it’s got a metropolitan city. It’s got kindness, everybody is so warm, so friendly…The hospitality is unmatched.”

I know how Vanessa feels in “paradise” that is El Nido as I had explored its Pangulasian and Miniloc islands myself years before her, swimming and playing with rainbow colored fishes, dancing and enjoying wine, juice and native dishes and fruits prepared by natives under coconut trees, hiking as the sun rises and sets while the waves murmer and birds chirp, among others.

And retiring to the island resort hotel after a hectic tour and island hopping, ensconced in first-class and comfortable sofa, and later retiring in immaculate white beds, one can watch satellite-fed television shows not only of the Philippines but also in the United States, as if you have not left America. And thanks to modern technology, surprise of all surprises while in an isolated island miles away, one can dial the phone in your room and connect to America and elsewhere and talk to your friends or relatives as if they were just in the next door

There are some experiences though that Vanessa enjoyed which I did not while on vacation there. One, she tried dancing the “tinikling” with bamboo poles during impromptu program at lunch break in an island where she partook of a plate of chicken adobo displayed on banana leaves, something that she shunned for years since turning a pescatarian. Then the catamaran cruise befitting of a celebrity like her. During my and friends’ island hopping, we took only an ordinary boat, but the experience is unique as you can touch the cool sea waters and touch almost the small and big fishes following us.

What’s heartwarming about Vanessa is that she ew in not only for a well deserved vacation and rest and enjoy “paradise” but to do a documentary about her and her family, especially her Filipino roots. That documentary film to be done by award-winning director Paul Soriano, who happens to be also the Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is

(Continue on page 27)

hen we were younger, our old folks used to say that when misfortune befalls you, you sure shall recoup from the distress by way of a blessing going your way in return.

It’s called blessing in disguise.

Breaking Through

In my column last week, I wrote about my “misfortune” of having encountered a brusque lady staffer of the Delta Airlines, a fellow Filipino, who manned one of the ‘S’ departure gates at the Tacoma International airport in Seattle, Washington when we were there for our connecting ight March 22.

Our (my wife was with me) luckless encounter with her initially occurred when we met her inside the elevator going down to where we would take an airport train. The train brought us to the gates.

She was with us all the way from the elevator to the train ride, and when we got down from the train till we parted at the foot of an escalator that took us one oor up.

All the way she kept talking on and repeating the same issue the supposed QR code requirement for our air travel.

She was fired-up all the more when I feigned ignorance in using my mobile phone to access the QR code originating website and do the works.

She was blatantly rude. She warned us: “you can’t leave the airport without it.”

In fairness to the Delta lady, she eventually offered to help us secure the QR code.

But, she went on by narrating her alleged difficult experience in assisting Pinoy passengers before our encounter.

The problem with Filipinos is that they come to the airport late.” She complained that she couldn’t assist them completely as she would then be busy doing her job at the gates. We were at the airport hours before ETD so I thought she was not chiding us but I felt slighted by the way she mentioned “Filipinos.”

It’s as if she isn’t a Pinoy herself. If she were not a Filipino, she may have been have been guilty of discrimination for singling out our compatriots. Talk of aggravating circumstance.

I’m not sure of the legal nuances or moral circumstance but her situation could be worse because her slur was thrown against her own race.

She took a glance of my wife’s hand bag and after noticing that she was pulling a luggage and carrying a backpack, the Delta lady said she won’t allow her to bring the handbag inside our connecting Delta ight.

She, however, advised us to disperse the bag’s contents to our luggages and backpacks, which was not possible for lack of space. As has happened several air travels before though, my wife’s handbag was a non- issue at the departure gate. Now for the “blessing.”

When we were in- ight in our connecting plane, my wife’s phone got battery-drained. I tried to plug in her iPhone charger to the slot below the mini-TV screen in front of my seat but it won’t fit. I tried it again and again but won’t go, then I realized the slot is for android phone chargers.

Suddenly, after noticing what I’ve been doing, a lady passenger seated next to a seatmate on my left was extending her right hand to my direction holding a red-colored phone cable. I tried it and.. lo’ and behold, Problem solved It fitted the slot and Susan’s Iphone.

She’s truly a rare bird, an angel sent from above Who would expect at that moment of need someone would rise to the occasion and solve the problem!

Her name is Cassandra Banania. She was traveling with her family -- her sister Sherlyn and Lorena Rivera, their mom.

I didn’t have much time to interview Cassandra and her family members as we were about to disembark from the plane when I got the chance to talk to them. Cassandra was seated one seat away from me and we were sandwiched by a US marine officer who was so silent and composed that I couldn’t talk too long with Cassandra.

I’ll try to get in touch with her mom to get more details. But my initial search showed that Cassandra is an artist and she’s very good at that. I found

(Continue on page 27)

2 books to read during the “Semana Santa”

n Palm Sunday, April the so called “Christendom” started celebrating the “Semana Santa” or “Holy Week” which will include “Good Friday” on April and “Easter Sunday” on April

& Wealth

Millions of believers from all over the world will focus and re ect on the life of Jesus Christ which include: Passover Celebration, Gethsemane Prayer, Betrayal and Apprehension, Trials and Sentencing, Crucifixion, Death and Events on the Cross, Burial, Resurrection, Post Resurrection Events and Ascension.

As active Evangelist with the GOLDEN GATE CHURCH OF CHRIST in San Francisco, California, I highly recommend two books which our readers and the general public can order and read during the “Semana Santa” and beyond, namely: “JESUS CHRIST” subtitled “The Final Days on Earth Before His Return to Heaven” written by Evangelist John Jeffrey and “HISTORICITY OF JESUS” subtitled “Facts and Evidences for Agnostics, Atheists, Believers and Christians,” written by yours truly.

By reading JESUS CHRIST book, you’ll follow the journey of Jesus Christ before he ascended to heaven. Listen to the apostles as they tell the story of Jesus from the Passover Celebration until he ascended to heaven. Learn the truth straight from the writings of the apostles in the gospel books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. This book is free from religious denominational doctrines and bias. You can decide for yourself what is true and thereupon establish your faith.

The front cover of HISTORICITY OF JESUS showed Jesus nailed on the cross between two thieves with the subheading GOSPEL: POWER OF GOD TO SALVATION. The back cover showed a picture with then Congressman and now Senator Manny Pacquiao during a Courtesy Call Prayer Session inside his mansion in General Santos City, Sarangani, Philippines last February 19, 2016 by members of the WE CARE Ministries Team.

Foreword to the updated Edition of HISTORICITY OF JESUS was written by Atty. Junas T. Sagurit, Evangelist and President, ASIAN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (ACU) in Bugallon, Pangasinan, Philippines. Here are some reviews and comments on HISTORICITY OF JESUS:

“This book can bring millions of Filipinos to Jesus, the Prince of Peace, for salvation and spiritual awakening. HISTORICITY OF JESUS must be made available in all libraries for everybody to borrow and read” wrote CORAZON M. NERA, Former Chair, Regulatory Board of Librarians Director of Libraries, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Manila, Philippines.

“I highly recommend this book. For faith building and antidote to fear and worry, everyone must read the book especially with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown,” said DARLENE VI GAMBLE, Teacher who finished BA in Special Ed and MA in Reading at HARDING UNIVERSITY, Searcy, Arkansas, USA.

“I was blessed to meet and had prayer session with Evangelist Art Gabot Madlaing and the members of the WE CARE Ministries Team in our home in General Santos City, Mindanao last February 19, 2016. For reformation, moral and spiritual regeneration, I recommend his book to everyone especially to Filipinos at home and abroad,” echoed EMMANUEL “MANN ” PACQUIAO, Boxing icon and former Philippine Senator, General Santos City, Sarangani, Philippines.

“Reading HISTORICITY OF JESUS should make it impossible for the smallest seed of doubt to be sown in anyone’s mind,” confirmed JUANITA ROBERTSON, Retired Professor, City College, San Francisco, California USA.

“This is a special book which everyone must read especially with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown,” wrote HENRY T. BRAVO, Elder, SURREY CHURCH OF CHRIST, Vancouver, B.C., Canada

“My faith in the reliability of the Word of God, and the actuality of the resurrection of Christ, and the Truth presented by the Apostle Paul, have been enhanced and encouraged,” said JUD MILLER, Author of 19 motivational and Christian books, Pasadena, Texas, USA

“I recommend this timely book. It is a must reading for agnostics, atheists, believers ad

Fil-Am

Hudgens discovers, enjoys ‘paradise’ in her mother’s

ART GABOT MADLAING Health

TEDDY P. MOLINA

ALFRED G. GABOT

Breakdown of law and order in our motherland

on’t look now, but law and order appears to be breaking down under the rudderless regime of Bongbong Marcos. Or perhaps it was already broken when he assumed the presidency.

All kinds of petty crime are taking place everywhere, along with some very serious ones as well. It has gotten so bad that it is no longer safe to walk the streets of most cities after sunset.

Even supposedly safe places like condos, gated communities, and dorms are not as safe as they’re supposed to be.

I have to mention dorms because of last week’s killing of a graduating co-ed from one of the La Salle schools. Queen Leanne Daguinsin had been living in a dorm when a crook entered her room through an open window, robbed her of her belongings, then stabbed her repeatedly until she died.

Photos of the co-ed show an attractive woman who was pretty enough to be a model. The first police report said she had been found without clothes in her lower body. This was later clarified to mean that she was wearing panties but no shorts or skirt.

And no, she was not raped. That at least offered a little relief to her family. It would have been way beyond painful had she been raped and killed. Her wounds indicate that she fought off the crook, who was quickly apprehended after he was shown on CCTV leaving the premises.

This is one of many, many crimes that happen on a regular basis.

As this is being written, a report came out that two policemen also in Cavite province had been suspended pending an investigation and the filing of charges after they had raped a young woman, whom they were friends with.

The woman, her boyfriend, a friend, and the two cops were having a drinking session, and when the boyfriend went out to buy some more drinks, the two cops took turns in raping her.

The past two months gave a strong indication of how bad the situation has become, after four government officials were either killed or were hurt in assassination attempts.

The figure is correct. Four government officials in a one month span, with the most well-known being the killing of a governor, with a congressman being tagged as the mastermind.

Before that, a vice mayor along with four of his companions were shot to death while on their way to Manila.

Prior to that, another provincial governor was shot and wounded, while four of his companions were killed.

There may not be any mass shootings in the Philippines, at least so far, but it seems that loose firearms are easily available to anyone with some money.

This is not to say that the government is not trying its best to solve the big crimes. It has solved a couple of mega crimes, and very quickly at that. But what is most disturbing is the fact that government officials are the prime suspects in a number of the high-profile crimes.

The assassination of broadcaster Percy Lapid, for example, had the Bureau of Corrections head as the main suspect.

The killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo had a congressman from his home province as the mastermind.

Again and again that old quote comes to mind. General, what is happening to our country?

It was spoken after a respected politician was shot, and thankfully survived. That was several decades ago, and criminality has become as rampant now as it was back then, when the Philippines had a global reputation of being the modern day Wild, Wild West.

What other crimes have hogged the headlines this year?

How about the hazing death of an Adamson University student That case was also quickly solved with the apprehension of his would-be frat brothers. But lesser known was a similar case in Cebu, when a college student wishing to enter the same frat was similarly beaten to death.

It certainly appears that violence is a way of life in the Philippines, and there is no one to blame but the chief executive. In talks with fellow journalists, both print and broadcast, we have come to the conclusion that Bongbong Marcos carries the heavy baggage of being both a weak leader whose parents are accepted worldwide as two

(Continue on page 27)

FULL DISCLOSURE:

This writer met former President Donald Trump in person in July 2016 in Cleveland Ohio, when he was a Hawaii delegate to the Republican Convention. After Mr. Trump was nominated, he hosted a party the following day for the original 500 persons who had supported his candidacy, and this writer was invited. Mr. Trump shook hands with the guests, including this writer who was on the front row. This writer handed his business card to Mr. Trump who read it, smiled at this writer, and then put the card inside his coat pocket. This writer had a selfie with Mr. Trump.

What’s Up Attorney

“The best defense when you are indicted for a criminal offense is to get the best lawyer your money can buy excellent legal education, competent, diligent, experienced, and courageous.” “Memoirs of Emmanuel S. Tipon”

President Trump can win the criminal case against him if his defenders really try.

On April 4, 2023, former President Donald J. Trump was indicted by a New York grand jury for 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree in violation of New ork Penal Law §175.10. We have read the 16-page indictment. See https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000187-4d9a-dc00a3d7-4d9f97b40000

Mr. Trump pleaded “Not Guilty” to all 34 counts.

The next hearing will be on December 4, 2023. No one expects the case to be resolved before the November 2024 elections, considering that there will be pre-trial motions, a lengthy trial, post-trial motions, appeal to New York appellate courts if Trump is found guilty, and the U.S. Supreme Court if Trump receives an unfavorable ruling. What if Trump wins the election? Can a sitting president be tried for a crime? If he can and is convicted, can he pardon himself?

LAW ALLEGEDLY VIOLATED

NY Penal Law 175.10 (2019) provides:

“ 17 .10 Falsifying business records in the first degree. person is guilty of falsifying business records in the first degree when he commits the crime of falsifying business records in the second degree, and when his intent to defraud includes an intent to commit another crime or to aid or conceal the commission thereof.

Falsifying business records in the first degree is a class E felony.”

NY Penal Law 175.05 (2022) provides:

“ 17 .0 Falsifying business records in the second degree. person is guilty of falsifying business records in the second degree when, with intent to defraud, he:

1. Makes or causes a false entry in the business records of an enterprise; or

2. Alters, erases, obliterates, deletes, removes or destroys a true entry in the business records of an enterprise; or

3. Omits to make a true entry in the business records of an enterprise in violation of a duty to do so which he knows to be imposed upon him by law or by the nature of his position; or

4. Prevents the making of a true entry or causes the omission thereof in the business records of an enterprise.

Falsifying business records in the second degree is a class misdemeanor.”

TSUNAMI OF MOTIONS

A tsunami of motions could be filed to obtain the dismissal of the indictment.

A. MOTION TO DISMISS BECAUSE THE LAW IS VOID FOR VAGUENESS

A motion to dismiss the indictment could be filed on the ground that the statute under which the defendant is charged is void for vagueness in violation of due process of law. N.Y. Constitution, Article 1, provides that “No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law.”

The gravamen of the indictment is that the defendant “made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise”.

What constitutes making a “false entry”? The statute does not define it. Do the following

(Continue on page 27)

I’m witnessing history in the making (actually all of us are) as former President Donald Trump entered a Manhattan courtroom, fingerprinted and waited to be arraigned.

Trump waved when he arrived at the Manhattan Criminal Court on April 04, 2023 in New York, New York. He was arraigned during his first court appearance following an indictment by a grand jury that heard evidence about money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. With the indictment, Trump became the first former U.S. president in history to be charged with a criminal offense who is actively campaigning for another term in the White House.

This unprecedented development was being watched by millions of Americans because it will surely impact the forthcoming 2024 presidential election and the fate of the nation in general. The ripple effects will be felt by all concerned and may even spill over the affairs of the government, both federal and local, in their discharge of their functions. It might also affect the economy and other sectors of society. That’s how significant his indictment arraignment trial is for us to be concerned with.

Trump was indicted by the Grand Jury of New York for paying hash money to silence Stormy Daniels who allegedly had sexual relationship with him before the 2020 presidential elections.

The indictment has generated mixed emotions among Republicans, Democrats and the ordinary Americans. This is the first ever for a former President of the United States to be indicted and criminally charged.

My friends said, “It’s high time somebody got the nerve…” and others say “it’s unfair and not properly done for a former president...” Well, whatever the current generated by the latest court decision, it will surely follow its course and we just hope it will be properly conducted under the rule of law.

The process of the court proceedings was in place and just like any other person criminally charged, he was fingerprinted and faced the judge and the jury who will be prosecuting him for the offenses charged.

Donald Trump pleads Not Guilty to 34 felony counts as details of indictment were unsealed (Virginia Chamlee, People/Politics). He sat at the defense table with his defense team in a Manhattan court in New York City after pleading not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, multiple outlets report, following an investigation into an alleged hush money payment he made to adult film star Stormy Daniels while he was a presidential candidate in 2016.

The 34 counts of criminal charges stemmed from eight checks issued by him falsifying business records and alleged money payments to Daniels to silence her as it may affect his 2016 presidential campaign. Previous prosecutors maintain that the charges against him are strong, so As I See It, his future in the criminal court seem to be stormy too!

The investigation that led to unprecedented charges against the former president traces back to an alleged affair Trump had with Daniels, rumors of which surfaced in 2018, when the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump arranged a $130,000 payment to the ex-porn star a month before the 2016 election so she’d keep quiet about the alleged sexual encounter they’d had years earlier. (Virginia Chamlee, People/ Politics).

While Trump and his longtime lawyer Michael Cohen initially denied the claims of an affair, Cohen later admitted that there was a payment made to the porn star in the amount $130,000. As told to The New York Times, he labeled the payment as “a private transaction,” paid out of his own pocket in 2016, but he said Trump had not reimbursed him although he has since admitted he authorized the payment.

That was a payment to allegedly to silence Daniels from talking, yet…Trump claimed there was no sexual encounters that transpired.

Okay, so Trump will go through the process, just like any other person criminally charged, but what will happen next?

Now that Trump has pleaded not guilty, the arraignment starts and the judge, together with (Continue on page 27)

How to defend Trump by really trying

Nobody is above the law, not even Trump!

BETING DOLOR ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO

EMMANUEL SAMONTE TIPON

IMMIGRATIONS

Is your retirement income enough for the future?

he many questions we have about our retirement age are: Will my retirement income be enough to cover my daily expenses and medical bills?

Will I be carrying a mortgage that I cannot pay during my retirement?

Will my long-term care cost and medicines be covered by my pension?

Will increases in the cost of living and medicines be covered by my pension?

On average, retirement income for seniors ranges from to a month. This income does not increase to cover the ever-increasing cost of living and medicines. Long term care cost and medicines will not be covered by the monthly pensions of seniors if they do not have any savings or pension plan. There are seniors who are still carrying a mortgage and putting all their money on it in anticipation of an increase in value of real estate. This method is the worst kind of money management.

It is unimaginable that you will be depending on your monthly pension and still owing a lot of debts. The best time to plan for retirement is now. If you have no way of supporting your daily expenses because of debts, then it is time to consider filing for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. ou can discharge most of your unsecured debts by filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. Many people, especially those close to retirement, are stressed out because of all their financial obligations. ou do not have to put yourself in this very miserable situation because of debts. ou worked hard for so many years to have a comfortable retirement and you deserved it. ou can retire debt free if you want. There is nothing to be ashamed of in filing for bankruptcy. It is made into law to give people a chance to start fresh and be free from past obligations. Many millionaires are also filing for bankruptcy for many reasons since bankruptcy law is created.

Question: Will the creditors take away my social security pension and retirement accounts if I file bankruptcy

Answer: No. Social security checks and retirement accounts such as IRA and 401 are exempt from creditors up to 1.1 million. Seniors who file bankruptcy will come up with fresh start without seeing a big percentage of their retirement income

to be paid to creditors. Any penny saved from paying creditors goes into your retirement.

Note: This is not legal advice and presented for information purposes only.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS PETITION FOR CAREGIVERS

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

BAN RUPTC

We help clients file for Bankruptcy. The benefits of bankruptcy are Bankruptcy will improve your credit within one year because your unsecured debts are discharged. Although the bankruptcy will be in your records for years, not filing bankruptcy will make your credit even worse until most your debts are paid.

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

Collection actions continue and you can be sued if you are in debt settlement. Chapter 7 will eliminate all unsecured debts. If you are near retirement age, you must eliminate most of your debts.

CAR ACCIDENTS

Our Law Firm successfully settled a car accident for 67 .000.

FAMIL LAW

We also handle uncontested DIVORCE.

ITIN and INCOME TA PROBLEMS

We can help you if you need an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer ID number) We also prepare income tax returns and if you are under IRS audit, and need a representation with IRS, need to reduce your tax liability or need to offer a payment plan to IRS, we can help you with that.

SUCCESS STORIES

For the month of March 2023, we received approval from USCIS for three naturalization applications, one Fianc e visa petition, one removals of condition on residence and five adjustment of status applications.

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 acticed immigration law, bankruptcy, personal injury and income tax representation since June 1999. His contact phone is 1- 77-4 69266, email info CCLlaw.net Website www.crispinlozanolaw.com with offices in Hayward and Cerritos, CA.

ADB keeps 6% growth forecast for PHL this year

MANDALU ONG CIT – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) keeps its 6 percent growth outlook for the Philippine economy this year but sees a faster expansion of 6.2 percent for 2024, citing the expected slowdown of domestic in ation.

ADB Philippines Country Director elly Bird said among the drivers for this year’s gross domestic product (GDP) include the recovery of tourism, employment and retail trade; continued rise of the manufacturing sector; and the government’s bid to further increase infrastructure investment.

However, Bird said the risks remain due in part to the sharper-than-expected slowdown in advanced economies, increased geopolitical tensions and the still elevated rate of price increases.

He is optimistic the domestic economy “will grow at its potential this year and next and is on track toward its goal to become an upper middle-income country.”

“Like most other economies, the Philippines will be increasingly challenged by the impacts of climate change and the effects of emerging technologies on the labor market,” he added.

ADB’s growth forecast for the country this year is within the government’s 6 to 7 percent assumption, which is the same range until 2025.

Bird said an increase in the domestic interest rate in the country is expected to have an impact on economic growth starting in the second half of this year, citing that the lag of interest rate hike is about six to 18 months.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) started to increase its key rates in May 2022 in a bid to help address the impact of the pandemic on the domestic economy as well as the elevated in ation rate.

The ADB forecasts in ation to average 6.2 percent this year before decelerating to percent next year.

Bird expects in ation to slow down to around percent level before end-2023.

He said growth is not an issue for the domestic economy this year but the sticky in ation rate resulting from supply constraints on some food items due partly to import trade restrictions.

“But we do think that the in ation rate is about to peak and we hope that over the next couple of months, it show(s) sign of declining and moving back towards percent towards the end of this year,” he added.

The impact of the elevated in ation rate on domestic growth is somehow expected to be countered by the effects of the higher infrastructure spending, which Bird said has a long-term impact on the economy and inclusive growth.

Fitch Solutions sees last BSP rate hike for 2023 in May

MANILA – With in ation expected to remain elevated in most of 2023, Fitch Solutions Country Risk and Industry Research forecasts another 25 basis points hike in the central bank’s key rates in May, seen as the last for the year.

Last week, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) policy-making Monetary Board (MB) hiked by 2 basis points the central bank’s key rates to 6.2 percent for the overnight reverse repurchase (RRP) rate, bringing to 42 basis points the total uptick, from the record-low rate of percent in 2020.

In a report, Fitch Solutions sees in ation to return within the government’s to percent target band only in the second half of this year.

“Although the central bank dialed back on the pace of monetary tightening, we still think that the cycle has a little further to run as in ation will remain elevated over the coming months,” it said.

The rate of price increases decelerated to .6 percent last February, little changed from the previous month’s 14year high of .7 percent.

The report said that since domestic in ation rate remains sticky, “concerns about price stability will spur the BSP towards hiking rates a little further at its next meeting” or on May 1 , 2023.

The research arm of Fitch Group said a pause in the central bank’s rate hiking cycle is forecast for the rest of the year as “signs of economic weakness will become increasingly evident in the data.”

It sees economic growth to be around .9 percent this year, slower than the 7.6 percent in 2022 and below the government’s 6 to 7 percent assumption for this year.

“We think that the economic slowdown will be driven by lackluster global demand and the lagged impact of domestic monetary tightening,” it added.

The report cited that with the peso still “susceptible to sell-offs in the near term due to a sustained wide currency account deficit”, risks for any hike in the BSP’s key rates is on the upside.

“In a risk-off event, the BSP may be forced to hike more aggressively than we expect to defend the currency. Sec-

RESILIENT GROWTH. Asian Development Bank (ADB) Philippines Country Director Kelly Bird.

Willie Revillame leave Villar’s AllTV

Don’t look now but the fortune of popular television host Willie Revillame is changing again.

This as he has reportedly resigned from Manny Villar’s AllTV Channel of the All Media Broadcasting System (AMBS), just months after leaving GMA Network which hosted his popular “Wowowin” show.

Reports on Revillame’s quitting AllTV is splashed in Manila media, including Bilyonario.com, Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP).

Showbiz television host Cristy Fermin reported that Willie has resigned from AllTV.

“Isa pong source ang nakapagbalita sa amin na sumulat na po si Willie Revillame sa pamunuan ng ALLTV ng AMBS at nag-resign na po siya, wala na siyang kinalaman sa istasyon,” she said.

Cristy said it would not be surprising if Willie turns out in another television station.

Cristy compared Willie to a cat who has “nine lives” for surviving the challenge.

“May siyam na buhay! Nakailang buhay na ba siya, Dos, (ABS-CBN), Singko (TV5), Siyete (GMA-7) at itong AMBS2 apat (na). May lima pa. Kaya niyang humanap ng paraan para siya ay makabalik,” Cristy said.

PEP’s Jo Gabinete, however, reported that Revillame did not resign, but asked in a letter to Villar that he be released from his exclusive contract with the new station.

It was reported that Revillame did not want that he continues to be a “burden” to AllTV and receiving his talent fee while his program and other programs in the station were on hold. Reports indicated that two television stations are considering taking Revillame, but the singer, actor, composer and television host has yet to decide on his next move.

AllTV stopped airing “Wowowin” and the network’s two other original productions earlier this year.

The 62-year-old host left his top-rating show on GMA Network in February last year to join Villar’s AllTV, which is airing on the Channel frequency lost by the Lopez family following Congress’ denial of ABSCBN’s franchise application.

Fermin reported Revillame readily joined Villar out of “utang na loob” or debt of gratitude despite the immense popularity of his show on Felipe Gozon’s network.

“So bilang ganti po at tinatanawan niya ng utang na loob nu’ng imbitahan siya ng pamilya Villar para buuin po itong AMBS2 sumama siya. Iniwan

niya ‘yung napakagandang kapalaran niya sa GMA,” she said.

AllTV was earlier reported to be suffering from lack of advertisers to support its shows and had transmission network problems, prompting to freeze “Wowowin” and other shows.

It was reported that AllTV would resume its program after fixing its transmission problems but this could take months to complete.

After leaving AllTV, Revillame is planning to air his show on his digital platform in the short term.

Revillame reportedly got tired of being given the runaround by AMBS which has yet to come up with a game plan for AllTv.

Villar suspended the airing and production of Revillame’s show including the programs of Toni Gonzaga and the trio of Ruffa Gutierrez, Ciara Sotto and Mariel Rodriguez last February due to mounting production costs, poor ratings and measly revenues. The shows were on air for only five months.

Jaya responds to John Lapus as he alludes to singer liking ‘anti-trans tweets’

Jaya asserted that she is not against transgender people as she reacted to John Lapus’ tweet, in which the comedian asked about an unnamed singer who apparently liked anti-transgender tweets.

“Mga anak sino daw yung singer na panay ang like ng mga anti-trans tweets dito?” Lapus said on his Twitter page on Tuesday, April (Children, who is the singer who apparently keeps on liking anti-trans tweets here?)

While the comedian did not name anyone specifically, netizens seemed to have concluded that Lapus was referring to Jaya, as they responded to his tweet with apparent allusions to the singer and her songs. Some even named Jaya and tagged her Twitter handle.

TV director Jojo Saguin also chimed in as he shared Lapus’ tweet and asked, “Sino ito? (Who’s this?) Twitter do your thing! Go!”

Jaya asserted that she is not against transgender people as she reacted to John Lapus’ tweet, in which the comedian asked about an unnamed singer who apparently liked anti-transgender tweets.

“Mga anak sino daw yung singer na panay ang like ng mga anti-trans tweets dito?” Lapus said on his Twitter page on Tuesday, April (Children, who is the singer who apparently keeps on liking anti-trans tweets here?)

While the comedian did not name anyone specifically, netizens seemed to have concluded that Lapus was referring to Jaya, as they responded to his tweet with apparent allusions to the singer and her songs. Some even named Jaya and tagged her Twitter handle.

TV director Jojo Saguin also chimed in as he shared Lapus’ tweet and asked, “Sino ito? (Who’s this?) Twit-

ter do your thing! Go!”

Jaya, who is currently based in the US and who appeared to have associated the tweet to herself, then shared Lapus’ tweet and said that he could have asked the singer before “assuming” what she believes in.

She also talked about Gays against Groomers, an organization of gays that claims to be “against the sexualization, indoctrination and medicalization of children under the guise of ‘LGBTQIA+.’” It can be noted that Jaya liked tweets from the said organization, as well as tweets from other Twitter users who involve the transgender community.

“John, I am not anti-trans but if you will follow [Gays against Groomers], they are a group of LGBT that is against grooming young children here in America to get surgery without consulting with their parents and these kids can’t even drink alcohol or get a tattoo,” she wrote.

“Sana (I hope) you guys can ask me what is going on before assuming what I believe and am tweeting. Mas ok if magtanong muna (It’s better if you would ask first),” she added. “Wala kayo dito ( ou’re not here in the US] so you are not aware of our daily lives here.”

Lapus has yet to respond to Jaya and confirm or deny if he was referring to the singer in his tweet.

FilAm Vanessa Hudgens now global tourism ambassador for PHL

By CLAIRE MORALES TRUE

Yes, Virginia. Filipino American Hollywood actress Vanessa Hudgens is now the Global Tourism Ambassador of the Philippines.

No less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. presented the document making Vanessa as such during a call on the President in Malacanang.

The appointment was part of the administration’s ongoing efforts to promote Philippine tourism and raise the country’s global status, the President said.

The awarding was witnessed by several government officials, including Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications Paul Soriano and Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco.

Soriano is also the producer and director of an upcoming documentary on Hudgens’ family history and Filipino roots.

After the awarding which was made after her arrival from California and in between her shooting for a documentary that took her to El Nido, Palawan and other tourist sports like Intramuros, President Marcos told Hudgens that Malacanang Palace has held in its walls “a lot of history for the Philippines.”

“Beyond that, it has a lot of history for me. I lived here 20 years and now I’ve come back to live here again,” the chief executive said.

Other guests during the event include Hudgen’s mother Gina, who hails from Ozamiz City, and sister Stella who is also an actress, as well as private sector personalities such as PJ Lhuillier Group of Companies president and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier and Vista Land and Lifescapes president and CEO Manuel Paolo Villar III.

Malacanang said the initiative is a branding campaign and marketing strategy aimed at attracting international tourists as the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Creative Arts (OPACC) and the DOT set their sights

on creating opportunities to aggressively push for the resurgence of the Philippines as a travel destination.

The OPACC and DOT have selected Hudgens to become the Philippines’ Global Tourism Ambassador given her huge following on Instagram (49 million), Twitter (6. million), Facebook (17 million) and ouTube (239,000).

As a digital in uencer, Hudgens is seen to take part in a range of future initiatives to promote the nation’s unique culture and assist the country in reaching a wider global audience, creating awareness and conveying the Philippine brand as a tourist destination.

To promote the country’s tourism sector and raise its global status, the OPACC, in collaboration with the DOT, has proposed to carry out projects focusing on the country’s branding including the invitation to Hudgens as one of its pioneering partners to kickstart the initiative.

In line with this, the OPACC and DOT are looking at producing a documentary project highlighting Hudgens’ homecoming to the Philippines, with an aim of reconnecting the Fil-Am actress with her roots and at the same time promote the country’s tourism industry.

The historical landmarks in Intramuros, the National Museum and El Nido in Palawan are the proposed destinations for the documentary project.

Hudgens made her film debut in the movie Thirteen (2003) and rose to prominence as Gabriella Montez in the High School Musical film series (2006-200 ), resulting in significant mainstream media success, including her signing with Hollywood Records.

Hudgens also co-produced several films such as The night Before Christmas (2019) and the three installments of The Princess Switch (201 , 2020, 2021).

Born in Salinas, California, Vanessa, who loves pancit and adobo, has own back to the United States after her whirlwind tour of the native country of her mother which he called “paradise.”

She said she will surely come back to the Philippines to know more about the country and the Filipinos and their culture.

Hours before ying home, Vanessa held a press conference at the Manila House in Bonifacio Global City.

She later recorded “Dahil Sa’yo” in the same room where she entertained interviews from reporters.

From there, she reportedly went to Intramuros in Manila to shoot more scenes for her documentary film.

Hours before he ew back to California, she figured in an exclusive interview with Paul Soriano’s wife, actress and singer Toni Gonzaga.

TV host Boy Abunda had his “fast talk” segment with Vanessa Hudgens during her press conference but thisd was reportedly cut short because it was only originally part of the conference.

But Vanessa reportedly gamely answered some of the questions of the popular TV host.

In one of the fast talk, the Hollywood actress was made to choose between choices like “sex or chocolates,” to which she gamely declared, “sex.”

When asked who could be seen inside if her heart is to be opened, she said, “Cole,” referring to her baseball star fiance Cole Tucker.

Soriano, who authorized the press conference, is the director behind Hudgens’ travel documentary about her Filipino heritage. The “High School Musical” star visited the country for the first time last month to shoot footage for the film.

Vanessa is set to tie the knot soon with Tucker but respectfully begged off to give further details, saying she is not comfortable answering such questions, and that she preferred to keep the details of her personal life private, and hoped that people respect her wishes.

She however said that if it were just her choice, she

would consider marrying Tucker in Palawan, where she had been for a few days to soak up the sun together with her Filipina mom and sister Stella, according to a Philippine Star report.

In El Nido, Palawan, Vanessa had an early morning hike to view the majestic sceneries.

She later swam in the pristine waters of the island resort together with her mother and sister Stella.

It took more than 30 years for Vanessa to finally visit the Philippines and she was impressed all the way.

She said her “eye-opening” experience in Palawan and Manila came at a good time as she is now older and wiser and that she is able to focus on returning to her roots as she prepares to start her own family.

“I’m in my now [and] I’m thinking about raising a family,” she said in a press conference in Bonifacio Global City as quoted by ABS-CBN. “And I want to be able to know my heritage so I can bring that forth, so that my kids can know their background [and] they can know more about their own blood.”

“[The Philippines] has always been on my list, of course, but it never happened,” she admitted. “I feel like everything happens when it’s meant to, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. [Now] I get to come here with my mom and my sister.”

Vanessa arrived in Manila last March primarily for the filming of a travel documentary about her Filipino roots.

While she admitted that she was for the most part raised “very American,” Hudgens said her trip to the Philippines made her tap into other aspects of herself that turned out to be “very Filipino” all along.

“It’s been really interesting coming here, it’s beautiful and eye-opening... All these things that have just been innately stuck within me, I realize come from my heritage,” she said as ABS-CBN reported.

“I’m so obsessed with the use of natural elements, the rattan, the mother of pearl. It’s all just so beautiful to me, and something that I’ve always loved,” Hudgens cited as an example.

“And I’m like yeah, it makes sense because it’s Filipino,” added the actress, who wants to go to Cebu and Mindanao in the future.

Vanessa called Palawan a tropical paradise. It was one of the settings of her documentary which has the working title “The Awakening.,”

Fil-Am Bamboo set for US, Canada concert tour with KZ Tandingan

For the first time, apamilya artists Bamboo and Tandingan will embark together on an American and Canadian concert tour in April.

“It’s the first time we’re on a tour,” said Bamboo, a Filipino American who migrated to San Francisco Bay Area when he was 10 and whose real name is Francisco Gaudencio Lope Belardo Ma alac, during a recent online media conference for the announcement of their North American concert tour.

said that she’s honored to be part of the show in the US and Canada. “I feel very excited. I’m lucky to have been chosen to join the tour with coach Bamboo. Siguro if there’s something to expect from us, every time we go on stage, it’s always high energy, in our performance. So yun na lang talaga ang kailangan nilang abangan when they go to our shows. After watching wala na silang matitirang energy dahil ilalabas na namin lahat.”

Bamboo and will kick off the show at the Enso Event Center in Vancouver, Canada, on April 14 Snoqualmie Casino in Seattle, Washington, April 16 Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino in Palm Springs, California, April 22 Hard Rock Live in Sacramento, California, April 23 and Jefebet Event Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 2 .

“ and I take a lot of pride in our live shows. At the end of the night, people were sweating. They were just immersed in our shows. They didn’t feel like they were watching the show. Furthermore, they feel like they’re part of the show,” said Bamboo.

“And that’s something we both take pride in it. We bring it every single night. So I’m just happy to be sharing this with as well.

“Iba yung nagto-tour ka sa ibang bansa eh.

Yassi Pressman back on tv series

assi Pressman has returned on television after the successful run of Rolling In It Philippines to play what looks like twin characters separated at birth.

It is an adaptation of the 19 0s urdapya comics, but set in the modern-day. The show is also her first-ever lead comedy project, so for her, it is a big deal in her career.

“Sobrang excited ko po dito sa urdapya Unang-una, bago po sa akin maging kambal. Bago po sa akin ang mapagkatiwalaan po ng isang comedy project,” she said.

The director is Easy Ferrer of Momshies Ang Soul Mo’y Akin and The Missing fame. assi’s co-stars include Ryza Cenon and Nikko Natividad, who will be working with the actress for the first time. assi just marvels at the idea that she could freely work with many people in the industry that she hasn’t shared a scene with yet.

urdapya premiered last March 1 over TV .

It’s a different time. I always call it a fox home Parang you sort of spend the time together. And that creates certain bonds that affect the playing of music as well.

“The first gig is always the shakiest one. But when the ball starts rolling, Man, it’s a beautiful thing. So I’m excited,” said the Filipino-American musician.

Bamboo also stated that the team will have no musical director when they go on tour in the US.

“We’re going with my band. So we don’t have a musical director. It’s a collaborative team from our process. Luckily enough, it’s a band that ’s familiar with as well. We also share the same layers. So we’re one big happy village,” he said.

Asked to describe as a singer, Bamboo said “I just want to say she’s a true artist. She has visions of what she wants. That’s the best I think I can say,” he also said.

Reacting to Bamboo’s statement, commented “He’s a true icon. He has paved the way for all local artists na gustong habulin yung pangarap namin sa music, especially the artists who don’t necessarily follow the mold for artists dito sa Pilipinas. So coach Bamboo paved the way for all of us. That it’s okay to be different and show who you truly are as an artist.”

Following the international concert tour, Bamboo and will return to their coaching roles in

“The Voice ids” on ABS-CBN.

“We’re sort of in the middle of the process (for The Voice ids),” said Bamboo, adding that the show should go live when they get back to Manila.

Bamboo and also shared their thoughts about the kids who auditioned in the current season of the reality show, together with coach Martin Nievera.

“Every season is different and I really enjoy it. I enjoy working with the kids I’ve been in the business for a while, so to be able to guide our young artists, that’s a gift in itself,” said Bamboo.

“As a teacher to these kids, you learn as well. They are so immersed in music. Malawak na ang taste nila. Before it used to be very different. They’re coming in with a lot of knowledge,” he added.

said “We always tell the kids to have fun on stage. asi at this point they are still trying to figure out what they want to be so sometimes, ino-overthink nila yung performance they have to sound in a certain way or sing like the artist singing the original song.”

“Sometimes they forget to have fun on stage and that’s important that the audience would be able to connect with them, that you are having fun on stage. We tell them to just relax and enjoy. Let the story tell through you,” she also said. (Robert Requintina Manila Bulletin)

NEW LOAN PROGRAM CRP WANTS YOU TO KNOW

Home Loan Program

For First Time Home Buyers and Investor Investment Home Buyers

Below Are the Following Home Loan Programs:

a. Stand Alone 2nd Loan Program: This loan program is being offered for home owners that have low interest rates on their first mortgage and desire to consolidate existing debt obligations, paying off high interest credit card, student loans, vacation, and for home improvement if needed.

b. Twelve (12) months Bank Statement Loan Program: This is for self-employed borrower and does not require income/tax return who wishes to buy a home and refinances his existing home loan. Bank deposit for 12 months are the source of income for home loan qualification.

c. DESR Loan Program: Program for investor who wishes to buy rental properties or to be used as AIRBNB. Property rental income is the basis of income calculation. No Income requires from tax return.

d. ITIN Loan Program: This program for borrower who uses TIN number in filing taxes and has no SSS Card and being employed for 2 years. If qualified, borrower can buy a home.

e. FHA Loan Program: This program can buy a home

with 0% down, 3.5% and up. With perfect credit history and have two years of continuous employment.

f. Free credit repair enhancement for financially qualified home buyers Special is up to December 31, 2023.

Buying a dream home is perfect tax right off, equity builder and status symbol builder. The very important things to consider to buy a home are the following:

1. Good and Perfect Credit.

2. Acceptable Debt to Income Ratio: 43%- 52% Ratio

Formula: Total Monthly Debt Obligation divided Monthly Gross Income= Debt Income Ratio ($4500.00 monthly debt obligation divided by Gross Income $10,500.00 =DTI43%.

3. Employment must be two years supported by years W2 of years income tax return.

For home loan evaluation needed items are the following:

1. One month paystub with start date, Job Title, and Employer contact number

2. recent w2 and tax return

3. Credit card info to run the credit.

Items 1,2 and will determine if you are eligible for a home loan, it takes 20 minutes to inform you how much property purchase price you are qualified.

For more detailed information call:

For Home Loan:

Claro R. Perez Home Loan Specialist

For Home Purchase and Listing Carlo A. Perez License

BRE Broker

Phone number: 626-331-8889

Cell Phone 626-922-4916

Email: crpbusinesssolution@ ya hoo.com

net

Phone number 626-922-4013 Email carloperez verizon.

BRE License 01416534 NMLS: 900303

FHA Down payment Assistance Program

ONE down payment assistance program that you may use nearly nationwide (not available in WA) Completely forgivable grant, equals or of purchase price May be combined with up to seller concession for closing costs No resale restrictions.

PARAMETERS PROPERTY TYPES ELIBIBLE TERMS 30 year fixed

TRANSACTION T PES Purchase only The maximum limit is DTI The maximum DTI limit is 1-2 Unit Primary Residence Manufactured Housing Singlewide, Multi-wide, MH Condo Projects FHA HRAP Approved Condos Minimum fico score is 620

How down payment assistance works

Down payment assistance (DPA) helps homebuyers with grants or low-interest loans, reducing the amount they need to save for a down payment. Provided you qualify, you could receive a forgivable loan or an outright cash gift that never has to be repaid. Some loans must be repaid but with low or no interest. Many DPAs can be used for closing costs, too.

Most DPA programs are offered at the local level. And eligibility requirements vary from one program to the next.

Many DPAs require that you be a first-time home buyer (meaning you haven’t owned a home in three years) with a decent credit score and a low or moderate income. But not all programs have these same rules. Also, note that many DPA programs have a list of “participating lenders” they work with. So you may have to choose a lender that’s approved by your assistance program.

Types of down payment assistance programs

There are four main types of down payment assistance:

Grants: Gifted money that never has to be repaid

Loans: Second mortgages that are paid monthly along with your primary mortgage

Deferred loans: Second mortgages with deferred payments that only have to be paid when you move, sell, or refinance

Forgivable loans: Second mortgages that are forgiven over a set number of years (often five, but maybe up to 1 or 20). These only need to be repaid if you move, sell, or refinance too early

Some DPA loans are interest-free, some have lower rates than your first mortgage, and others require the same or a higher rate than that. quick count of the programs listed below suggests all four types of DPA are widespread. Grants are the most common, but not by much.

Please call Ken Go of 1st Innovative Finance Group for more information. Call en Go 62- 0 -704 or write to kennethgo verizon.net CABRE 01021223 NMLs 23 636

Claro R. Perez

Rare disease warrior Pamela Price ran 340 miles from LA to Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS Former American Ninja Warrior, Wipeout finalist and rare disease warrior Pamela Price ran 340 grueling miles from the Santa Monica Pier to the Las Vegas sign with Team Unlimited Women for The Speed Project relay race.

In hours, the Filipina athlete endured freezing temperatures, high elevation, desert heat and high winds as she and her teammates proved that women can do anything they set their mind to. The Speed Project included teams from countries, according to her statement sent to Philippine News Today.

Departing at am from the Santa Monica Pier, Pamela took on relay segments, from fast mile repeats for miles in Death Valley to long 8-mile race segments at sunrise.

Pamela is mixed Filipina-American and ran alongside Korean-American, Rosa Kwak (Winner of Ventura Marathon) and Chloe Gloriani Ang who also represents the Filipino running community.

trained dancer, Pamela traded in her pointe shoes for

sneakers after discovering her love for distance running. Diagnosed with Behçet’s disease in a rare autoimmune disorder caused by in ammation of the blood vessels, Pamela lives with permanent nerve damage on her right side.

Scouted for NBC’s hit show, American Ninja Warrior, she also starred in TBS’ reboot of Wipeout, making it to the finals. Suffering from multiple concussions and a rotator cuff injury, Pamela continues to compete, run the mountains of SoCal and rock climb.

Sponsored by It’s Boba Time, she has finished first place at races such as Valencia Trail Race, Spacerock Trail Race, Spartan Trail and Tougher Mudder. Off the course, she is the senior executive producer of the Hollywood Beauty Awards, known as the ‘Oscars of beauty’ and a journalist/Vice President of the daily news site, LATFusa.com.

In Pamela launched the care package community and rare disease resource program: We Care When You Flare, operated under WE CARE WHEN Inc. She is an active member of The American Behcet’s Disease Association and activist for the #BehcetsWarrior community, corresponding with women and men living with Behcet’s Disease around the world. (Claire Morales True)

10th Fil-Am Criterium Grand Prix set in Clark

MANILA Cycling enthusiasts are looking forward to the 10th Fil-Am Criterium Grand Prix this month in Pampanga.

The Clark Development Corp.’s parade grounds in Angeles City will once again host the tournament organized by former national cyclist Wilson Blas.

Races in the junior (15 to 18 years old), masters (5560), senior (24-34) and veterans (35-44) categories are scheduled on April 22.

The managers race, masters (45-54), men’s pro, Junior (19-23) and women’s open as well as mountain bike (amateur) competitions are also set on the same day to be

followed by the awarding ceremony.

“The Fil-Am Criterium Grand Prix is my little way of giving back to the sport. I want to help my fellow cyclists,” Blas said in an online interview on Monday.

Blas was a member of the national track team from 1993 to 2004. The native of Malabon City migrated to the United States in 200 .

He staged the first Fil-Am Criterium Grand Prix at the Neopolitan Complex in Fairview, Quezon City in 2012. Other venues were Meycauayan, Bulacan and Quezon City Memorial Circle.

“I am very thankful to my friends and teammates here

who donated the prizes for the tournament,” said Blas, who was a sophomore nursing student at Arellano University before he left and continued his studies in the US.

He broke the 1-km national record in the UCI World Cup and eclipsed the national sprint record in the 2001 Asian Cycling Championships in Taiwan.

Blas also won the silver medal in the 1995 SEA Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He was a bronze medalist (1-km event and team pursuit) in the 1997 SEAG in Jakarta, Indonesia and bagged the bronze (team sprint and team pursuit) in the 2001 Kuala Lumpur edition. (Jean Malanum/PNA)

PBA Greats Alvin Patrimonio, Atoy Co, Jerry Codinera wish LA Tenorio well

“Bakit pa nga ba ako tinawag na Iron Man kung hindi ko kayang gampanan ang big sabihin nito.”

Thus was how Philippine basketball’s ’Iron Man,” LA Tenorio, told this writer in an interview a week before Christmas Day three years ago in answer to query why he should not play for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel during a bubble tournament resuming action in the playfor-pay league due the Covid 19 pandemic lockdown.

The then 36-year-old Gin Kings point-guard had earlier announced he planned not to join the Kings when they made it to New Clark City for the bubble due to a couple of personal and family reasons.

First, his wife Chesca had just given birth to their fourth child, their first baby girl. And second, he has just gone under knife for an appendectomy days prior to the team’s departure to the tournament site.

But at the prodding of PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, San Miguel Corp. sports director and Ginebra governor Alfrancis Chua and Chesca herself made him change his mind.

Came March, 2023, Tenyente, as he is referred to by the country’s basketball community, had, a few days ago, announced that he was diagnosed as to have been suffering from Stage Colon Cancer, leading many to believe that his days of longevity were over and fans, especially, inquiring whether they will be seeing LA coming down the oor again or not

Never see his little grin as he outmaneuvers his defender around like a yo-yo then suddenly bursts with a behind-the-back, no look pass to an open teammate for a baseline jumper

“Never see that again ” asked a fan, a man on the street-friend and a loyal reader of this sportswriter, via a text message a day after LA’s social media announcement.

But based on that interview by this reporter in December, 2020 and recent stories by media men, plus LA state-

ments himself following his announcement, this 17-year pro and father of three boys and a baby girl with wife Cheska won’t live the sports he loves most and its fans just yet.

“I will return to basketball,” the superstar reportedly told PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial Marcial two days before the 17-year veteran made an announcement through the league’s website that he will be stepping away as he battles the Big C.

And the commissioner of five years believes him as well as fans and members of the basketball community, do, too.

“I believe him,” Marcial assured this writer Saturday evening. “LA is the PBA’s ‘Iron Man.’ He owns a legacy that he’s ready to fight for to prove he can go beyond the 744 games he has so far played.”

“I am not yet retiring from the game I love, and with the help of the best doctors in the Philippines and Singapore, I believe I can touch a basketball once more and return stronger,” Tenorio himself declared in a statement he released via the league’s official website when he announced his latest off-court battle.

Which, of course, drew elation from PBA legends Alvin Patriminio, Atoy Co and Jerry Codinera, who all expressed happiness to the 36-year-old’s brave heart and love for the sport his countrymen consider theier favorite pastime.

Codinera, a long-time bossom friend of Patrimonio at the Purefoods franchise owned by the RSA (Ramon S. Ang) Group of San Miguel Corp. who was diagnosed as suffering from Ulcerative Colitis, an asymtomatic, no cure or prevention disease in the early years of his pro career, cautioned LA in his statement of returning to playing again as soon as possible.

“Colon cancer is a stress-related sickness, meds o virus. So, hindi kailangan ni LA na mag-isip na bumalik agad sa basketball, gustuhin man niya,” the now 56 –year-old son of baseball/softball great Filomeno “Boy”

Codinera told this writer in a separate conversation, also last Saturday.

“My advice to him, therefore, is kalimutan muna niya ang basketball. Let his body recover completely. Don’t stress himself so much by thinking of returning immediately. Baka instead of recovering makasamapa lalo,” Codinera, whose 1.96-meter physical attribute made the owner oa the league record 11 block shots in a single game, suggested.

To which Patrimonio, one of only two players to have won the league MVP four times and from whom LA took the ‘Iron Man’ honor, agreed completely to his pal’s observation.

“Returning to basketball is easy. Tama si Jerry, magpagaling ka muna fully for your sake, wife Cheska’s and children’s who are all still very young. Kawawa naman sila kung ano man mangyari sa ‘yo.”

‘We’re all athletes and as such, kasama natin ang ating pamilya sa ating career at adhikain. Take it easy, LA, your time to return to the sport we all love will come. Trust the Lord, ibabalik ka niya ng ni hindi mo nalalaman. Kasama sa aking araw-araw na dalanging makabalik ka agad,” Patriminio vowed.

One of the legendary Crispa Redmanizers’ greatest products, the 1979 PBA MVP Atoy Co, has this to say: “It’s good to learn mabuti na ang lagay mo, Mr. Iron Man, and that na-agapan agad. But don’t be complacent, magingat ka pa rin lalo for your sake, Kawawa pamilya, especially your children na still very young. Yang sakit na cancer, traydor yan bigla na lang umaatake. Ingat, LA. Stay safe and healthy always!”

EDDIE G. ALINEA

The 2023 Medical Mission and Beyond in the Philippines

The 2023 Medical Mission and Beyond in the Philippines was a mission collaborated by 3 Lions clubs, namely

1. San Francisco Dynamic Lions Club

2.San Francisco Host Lions Club

3.San Francisco Healthcare Providers Cyber Lions Club

These e clubs provided Medical, Dental, Vision, Health and Wellness and beyond such as food and books distribution to schools, laptops to elementary and high schools, and other learning supplies. We also distributed medical and dental supplies in some areas.

We had our medical, dental and vision mission of the following provinces.

1. Jan. 14 1 , 2013- Sta. Maria, Sta. Ana, Pampanga. The venue on these 2 days mission was at the Sta. Maria Elementary School covered court. All teachers of the said school, headed by the school principal Mr. Ronnie Villeza helped and organized the said mission to make sure that everything was in place. Barangay officials , health workers and volunteers were present led by the Barangay Captain Grace Ganboa Salas. 9 Lion members of SF Dynamic Lions Club visited the venue 2 days before the mission to make sure that the place is safe. The hotel for the volunteer dentists and other workers was also visited. Dentists and other volunteers came from different parts of Metro Manila to help and serve our ababayans in need, the said mission was a success. During these 2 days mission, we were able to serve 600 dental patients, medical which also involved

pediatric patients served 400. Vision screening served 400 patients and distributed 1000 eyeglasses. The pharmacy or disposing of prescribed medications were managed by the siblings of Lion Rhodora Macalino David, including the 1 day accommodation for the dentists and other volunteers. laptops and books were donated to elementary schools. T-shirts were also given to some students and patients.

The first leg of the mission was very successful. Thank you Lion Lina Alfonso for spearheading the Pampanga mission and beyond. Thank you for providing all the meals to our volunteers and workers. This mission in Pampanga was their first time to have medical, dental and vision. People in this barangay were very thankful and looking forward to the next one.

The second leg of the mission was held on Jan. 21 22, 2023 in San Miguel Bulacan, spearheaded by Lion Al Ortega and Lion Elvie Ortega. We had a group of 12 dentists, doctors and volunteer doctors from the military. The municipality was so involved on these 2 days. Municipality provided all the meals to all workers and volunteers throughout the mission including the accommodation for the dentists and other volunteers. Lions Al and Elvie Ortega accommodate the other volunteers from San Francisco. The dental department served a total of 12 0 patients, medical services served 400, vision screening served 11 0 and distributed1 00 eyeglasses. The pharmacy department was so busy disposing

of prescribed medications from the dental and medical departments. Books were also delivered to some schools, T-shirts were given to some students and parents, and a feeding program was also implemented. The mission in this barangay served a lot of our ababayans.

The third leg of the mission was done in San Carlos, Pangasinan on Feb. 3 4, 2023, spearheaded by Lion Rodger Cayabyab and Lion olanda Cayabyab. A day before the actual mission, the team distributed food to the out of school children and youth. Gift boxes, T-shirts and books were also given to the youth, which was held at the youth center, the future Lions insight. During the 2 days of the mission, same services were given medical which include pediatric services, dental and vision screening. eyeglasses were also distributed. There were 12 dentists present and a municipal dentist who did surgical procedures.The municipal officials were actively involved, led by Lion Dr. Luisa Cayabyab and made sure that all medications and other supplies were provided. Meals for the entire mission in this province were provided by the municipal officials. During the mission, the dental department rendered 1 services, medical services 4 0 patients, and 00 ababayans for vision screening. 1 00 eyeglasses were also distributed. The team also donated 2 wheelchairs and 6 walkers.

To sum it up, it was a very successful and fulfilling mission

Many thanks to all our volunteers who not only gave their time, but also monetary

assistance to make these 3 missions a success.

1. Lions Jack and Narcy Cachola served as dental supervisors, and helped at the pharmacy and vision department.

2. Lions Al and Elvie Ortega headed the Bulacan mission, and served as dental coordinators and constant coordination with all the volunteers and municipal officials.

3. Lion Lina Alfonso headed the Pampanga mission and beyond (monetary support and donations to elementary schools, 2 barangays, and1 parish church). Served in the pharmacy department in Bulacan and Pangasinan.

4. Lion Lily Chua served in the dental and pharmacy department and provided uniforms to volunteers.

. Jeckson Hospital and the Chua family provided the transportation for the Lions from SF for their entire stay in the Philippines.

6. Ann Qui for accommodation and monetary support.

7. Lion Evelyn Quintin for accommodation and travel guide

.Lion Gina Foronda Alimusa for photography and dental coordinator

9. Lion Noli and Bing Moncada for the wifi

10. Lion Eric and Lion Ara Aguilar, vision screener and photography

11. Lion Roger Gulen and Late Lion Magie Gulen for grading the eyeglasses.

12. Lion Espe Agbayani headed the eyeglasses distribution

Social Security pdate

HOW WE PROTECT YOU FROM MISLEADING ADVERTISING AND COMMUNICATIONS

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

Social Security works with the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to protect you from scams that use Social Security as bait. Section 1140 of the Social Security Act allows OIG to impose severe penalties against anyone who engages in misleading Social Security-related advertising or imposter communications. ou can review Section 1140 at www.ssa.gov OP Home ssact title11 1140.htm.

For example, the OIG may impose a penalty against anyone who Mails misleading solicitations that appear to be from or authorized by Social Security.

Operates an imposter internet website or social media account designed to look like it belongs to or is authorized by Social Security. Sends emails or text messages or makes telephone calls claiming to be from Social Security.

Sells Social Security’s free forms, applications, and publications without our written approval. Charges a fee for a service that Social Security provides free of charge without providing a clearly visible notice that Social Security provides the service for free.

If you receive a misleading or suspicious Social Security-related advertisement or imposter communication, please let us know immediately. Try to capture as much infor-

mation about the communication as you can.

Here’s what you can do

For suspicious websites or social media accounts, please take a screenshot of the page. Please note the website address or social media link – and how you came across it.

For emails and text messages, please capture the entire message and any message links.

For U.S. mail solicitations, please retain the complete communication, including the outside envelope and all inserts.

For telephone solicitations, please note the caller identification phone number and any company name or call back number that the caller or recorded message provides.

ou can help us stop misleading advertising and communications. We encourage you to report potential scams to the OIG at oig.ssa.gov. ou can also call our fraud hotline at 1- 00-269-0271 or send an email to OIG.1140 ssa.gov.

This information will help OIG locate the source of the suspicious solicitation or communication. ou can also check out our publication, What ou Need to now About Misleading Advertising, at www.ssa.gov pubs EN-0 -1000 .pdf.

Please share this information with friends and family and help us spread the word on social media

Success Story. A�y. hris aday Lozano successfully obtained a green card for oshua Melanio Mar uina based on same se marriage.

Quo Vadis Filipino Americans three years into the pandemic?

It has been three years since the pandemic began but about of Filipino Americans (FilAms) in California, according to the tracking data, are still not fully vaccinated and boosted despite having a high percentage of health workers and professionals.

FilAms are said to have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic by three key factors: overrepresentation as frontline and essential workers (e.g., healthcare, food production, and delivery sectors), social inequities (i.e. barriers to economic opportunities, healthcare services, education, and other necessary resources), and the inherent distrust in government (due to historical mistreatment and systemic discrimination). These disparities, together, make this population vulnerable to Covid misinformation that have led many to become hesitant about vaccines.

Additional probing questions

Today, it’s important to look into the three factors that have impacted the FilAm community with the question as to whether they have changed, especially the distrust in government and the continuing impact of Covid misinformation.

Also, do the reports of anti-Asian hate crimes and incidents, related to the pandemic and fueled by false information and conspiracy theories, also added another layer of Covid misinformation?

In Filipino culture, “Pakikisama” is the desire to belong and be a part of a group and words of mouth play a crucial role. But it also has a negative effect as it can also perpetuate false information and rumors on issues like Covid and vaccines. So after three years, have these social conversations among friends and relatives on Covid and vaccines changed in any way?

And finally, it has been widely recognized that virtually all demographic groups have experienced mental health issues due to the constant barrage of Covid misinformation, fueled by political polarization, and the uncertainty around the pandemic. In the FilAm community, have these stressors caused many to augment their distrust towards government’s Covid information and become hesitant about vaccination?

What data tells about where we are

In a July article “Latest Data on COVID-19 Vaccinations by Race/Ethnicity” by Nambi Ndugga, then federal data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that of the total population in the United States have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine while vaccination coverage increased in the first half of 2022, vaccination and booster uptake has leveled off and remains uneven across the country.

Overall, Asian (62%) and White (56%) people had the highest shares of eligible people who had received a booster dose as of July while across the states for which a total vaccination rate could be calculated by race/ethnicity as of July 11, of Asian, of Hispanic, and 64%of White people had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, higher than the rate for Black people (59%).

The overall vaccination rate across states for Asian people was higher compared to White people (87% vs. 64%), which was re ected across all reporting states except for North Dakota, South Dakota, and Colorado.

Lawrence Lipana, a dual board-certified physician, specializing in anesthesiology and pediatrics with a subspecialty in regional anesthesiology and acute pain medicine found a January study and it says that Filipino nurses in Southern California are actually more likely to get vaccinated than their white counterparts.

September study shows of healthcare workers in North America were vaccinated with physicians and nurses leading those vaccinated. of Los Angeles County healthcare workers were fully vaccinated.

“The number of those vaccinated with an updated booster in LA county is at so there are a multitude of factors affecting the decision to vaccinate/not vaccinate. Decreasing death rates, less availability of vaccine pop-up clinics, looser federal mandates, more people getting COVID and realizing they only experience a mild illness, lack of education about effectiveness of the bivalent boosters,” believes Lipana.

Social characteristics

On whether the cited three factors still have have strongly impacted the FilAm community or have they changed either positively or negatively, especially on the distrust in government and the continuing impact of Covid misinformation, Lipana supposes that the biggest change is probably COVID fatigue and despite the CDC not making the official declaration, the world has transitioned from the pandemic to the endemic phase of the outbreak.

Lipana also imparted that he has not personally talked to any of his Filipino friends/family about vaccine status/booster status.

“I can, however, tell you that in just about all my social circles in Southern California, life has gone back to pre-COVID. Even those who were initially very cautious with COVID have returned to ying on airplanes, enjoying amusement parks, and attending indoor sporting events and concerts,” shared Lipana. “Of course, this is not medical advice, as everyone needs to take their risk tolerance and personal health into consideration.”

Lipana also stressed that the constant barrage of Covid misinformation and uncertainty around the pandemic have caused distress and confusion to the hesitancy.

“Filipinos are generally a resilient and gregarious group of people! We love spending time with friends and family and enjoying the blessings in life. The COVID-19 pandemic caused nearly everyone to feel anxious and nervous, but it also strengthened bonds between colleagues in healthcare and forced people to evaluate their priorities in life,” Lipana surmises.

Little Manila’s Equity in COVID and Health Outcomes (ECHO) Team Director Kevin Sunga of Stockton California observed that access to health services and economic inequality go hand-in-hand in contributing to negative attitudes on vaccine uptake and that still remains to be true for our communities today.

“During the pandemic there was a reliance on communitybased organization to outreach and coordinate clinics helping increase vaccine rates among our residents, many of whom are Filipino/Filipino-American. Collectively, we helped make a positive impact increasing vaccination rates. It’s no surprise,” Sunga initially reported. “But the Federal Emergency legislation that allowed for funding to pass seamlessly to community funding COVID-19 related work is scaling back at a rapid rate pulling resources and staff capacity that helped with building healthier communities. That means less accessible opportunities for people to get vaccinated and reliance on traditional healthcare systems that many don’t trust. This is also a problem for residents that can’t access a clinic for miles.”

Misinformation

Sunga also admitted that misinformation does play a role, especially around the belief that the primary series is enough protection against variants.

“We want to point out that we’re seeing more misinformation opposed to disinformation. It’s not the inherent purpose of the residents we talked to spread information maliciously. It’s a misunderstanding in protocols that we need to clear up. Racist and discriminatory policies against our communities, especially for the Filipino and Little Manila community, brought disinvestment,” regrets Sunga.

Sunga further explained that disinvestment leads to less opportunities and lack of quality education in our immediate community for decades and the systemic issue that has led to much of misinformation that is perpetuating in their communities.

Sunga considers that Filipino Americans tend to be more trusting of their healthcare providers as it has been identified in their outreach efforts.

Family values

“FilAm’s are more inclined to listen to their healthcare provider and get vaccinated to protect loved ones. The sense of “Kapamilya” is strong among our FilAm’s. I think the attitudes towards healthcare and health agencies have positively increased but there’s still more that needs to be followed-up on such as keeping up with general health checks where stigma still exists,” maintains Sunga.

Most definitely the pandemic caused many mental health issues, such as anxiety and stress, among Filipino Americans as Sunga emphatically stated.

“Sharing space at parties, celebrations or just as family is one of our key traits as Filipino Americans. At the height of the pandemic, all that paused and many were isolated. Some of our residents who were due to celebrate weddings or graduations couldn’t do it so that definitely takes a toll. That is indeed a loss. Loss of opportunity is just as real as physical loss. Physical loss from death due to COVID-19 or other disease was also a reality,” expounded Sunga.

Add to this, Sunga cited that hospitals were actually more strict during the time of COVID that resulted in having limited visitations and hours in seeing a very ill loved one and that funeral attendance were limited due to social distancing which is really unfortunate but necessary for those who are grieving.

Sadly Sunga and his group see the reduced attitude to bivalent booster uptake is fatigue from the constant updates in safety protocols and fatigue on the COVID-19 subject matter which has been the priority for the last two years.

“I think people are glad to get together. As we approach an Endemic, there are more conversations around what’s next. Some questions I’ve heard are if COVID-19 vaccine schedule will mimic the u vaccine schedule and the worry of what COVID-19’s long-term effects for those who tested positive in the past. Residents are thinking about what recovery looks like during the unprecedented time we endured,” wondered Sunga.

Social inequity

California Nurses Association and National Nurses United Filipina American President enei Cortez remarked that, three years into this pandemic, the Federal and State governments made it a little easier to access vaccines and booster shots but not until after healthcare justice advocates like nurses who fought for equal and easy access to vaccines and booster shots.

“This is not how we should treat people, especially those who cannot afford to pay for health care. We should all have equal access to healthcare when we need it, regardless of who we are. Healthcare is a human right ” declared Cortez. “FilAm nurses have been in the forefront in helping educate the public and our communities about the importance of being vaccinated and boosted. Our FilAm nurse members have also participated in giving vaccine shots and boosters in public healthcare clinics in the communities throughout the state.”

In a statement, Cortez reminded that frontline nurses have been battling the pandemic nonstop although they are tired, not just physically, but emotionally and mentally as well.

The healthcare and hospital industries have branded nurses as being burned out but that is far from the truth as she underscored that they are morally distressed.

“We know we can do more for our patients and their families, but our working conditions and resources are preventing us from doing so,” vowed Cortez. “Nevertheless, we will continue to care for our patients regardless. As far as how long we can keep it up? Nurses do not know. Only time will tell. Until then, we will remain true to our patients, we will continue to advocate for them.”

Dr, Lawrence LipanaKevin Sunga

Zenei Cortez

Richard Yap hris�ne Von aesfeld

Local Students Focusing on STEM Education Encouraged to Apply for College Scholarships of Up to $10,000

PG E orpora�on ounda�on Boos�ng Support ith Addi�onal Scholarships This ear

OAKLAND, Calif. The PG&E Corporation Foundation (The Foundation) is inviting applications for its annual Better Together STEM Scholarship Program and will award scholarships to 60 students 20 more than last year pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) disciplines.

The Foundation will provide $350,000 in total funding for scholarships, an increase of $100,000 over last year. The program will award 20 $10,000 scholarships, and 20 $2,500 awards, as it has in years past. This year, it has added 20 new scholarships of $5,000 each.

Better Together STEM Scholarships are designed to give the next generation of Californians an opportunity to learn and succeed in higher education and support students who have made an impact in their community or who have overcome personal challenges.

“For more than 10 years, The PG&E Corporation Foundation has helped students follow their dreams of becoming future scientists, innovators and engineers who give back to our state and communities and lay the critical building blocks for our clean energy future. This year, we’re excited to expand these opportunities to even more students with the addition of 20 new $5,000 scholarships,” said Carla Peterman, PG&E Corporation Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer, and Chair of the Board of The Foundation.

The Better Together STEM Scholarship program continues to evolve and expand to help lessen the financial burden of attending college for students and their families.

Last year, responding to a trend in applications from students admitted to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), eligibility expanded to students planning to attend HBCUs anywhere in the United States, in addition to California colleges and universities.

Since 2012, the Better Together STEM Scholarship Program has awarded more than $6.75 million to accomplished students based on a combined demonstration of community leadership, personal triumph, financial need and academic achievement. Watch this video to hear how last year’s winners are pursuing their dreams.

Deadline and criteria

Interested applicants can learn more and apply here. Deadline to apply is May 2, 2023. Scholarships will be awarded in August.

Scholarships will be awarded based on academic achievement, demonstrated participation and leadership in school and community activities, and financial need. Students must pursue qualifying degrees in STEM disciplines include engineering, computer science/information systems, cybersecurity, and environmental sciences.

Applications are open to:

High school seniors or graduates

Students who have received a GED certification

Current undergraduate students

Non-traditional students or military veterans returning to school or pursuing their first undergraduate degree Applicants must live or be a dependent of a resident in PG&E’s service area in Northern and Central California;

G H B L CHAMPIONSHIPS

City Golden Hoops Baskeball League ended their winter league with two champions at Bayshore Community Center’s gym. Games are played every Sunday and

plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study for the entire 2023-2024 academic year and be seeking their first undergraduate degree at an accredited four-year institution in California or HBCU.

PG&E Employee Resource Group scholarships

In addition to the Better Together STEM Scholarship Program, PG&E’s 11 employee resource groups (ERGs) and two engineering networking groups (ENGs) award scholarships to help offset the cost of higher education. The funds are raised entirely through employee donations, employee fundraising events and Campaign for the Community, the company’s employee giving program. Since 1989, more than $5 million ERG scholarships have been received by thousands of recipients. Applications are taken in December.

About The PG&E Corporation Foundation

The PG&E Corporation Foundation is an independent 01(c)(3) nonprofit organization, separate from PG E and sponsored by PG&E Corporation.

Fiona Chan Integrated Multicultural Communications Pacific Gas and Electric Company 415.793.0374 cell Fiona.chan@pge.com 415.973.5930 24-hour media line www.pge.com/chinese www.pge.com/espanol

Please use GlobalLink to submit your translation request. For new users, please click here to register. It can take up to 24-48 hours to process the request for access. You can read about PG&E’s data privacy practices here or at PGE.com/privacy.

Demoli�ons Team, Division B

Le� to right Dante avelo, erome Mole ona, easar Holmes, Michael Sablad ( oach), ohn ohnson, Harry Alpay, Travis Tang (MVP), olie Garcia, and aime Espiritu

Spoilers Team, Division A

Le� to right Bobby Duval, Paul Bu od, hris Licudine, Gio Magat, Manny Gamdan (MVP) Art Larosa, Glenn iloteo, Sal Samson ( oach), Bob i angco, udy Lacson (Advisor) Michael Sablad ( ommissioner), and ichard Ganaban.

BUMUO NG MGA KAHUSAYAN

TUMULONG SA IBA

KUMITA NG PERA

Daly

open to the public with no admission fee. This league has been going on for almost four decades. Rudy L. Lacson

Ready to Win Big This Spring? Visit Graton Resort & Casino

ROHNERT PARK, Calif. Graton Resort Casino

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Bataan Death March 81st Anniversary Commemoration on April 15 at SF National Cemetery

April 5, 2023, San Francisco, CA

The Bataan Legacy Historical Society, in partnership with the San Francisco National Cemetery, VFW 91st Division Chinatown Post 4618, American Legion Riders Chapter 105 and Memorial Squadron, will commemorate the 1st anniversary of the Bataan Death March on Saturday April 15 at 10AM at the San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio at Lincoln Boulevard, San Francisco, CA.

Eighty-one 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 af-

ter 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 holding on to Bataan for 99 days. After the Fall of Bataan they were forced to march to their prison camp about 65 miles away 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 of the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard), the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department, San Francisco Fire Department, BART Police, University of San Francisco ROTC Program, the San Francisco Unified School District JROTC Program, the American Legion Riders, the Golden Gate Young Marines, the Civil Air Patrol and the Memorial Squadron.

Brig. Gen.(Ret) Steven McLaughlin will be Mas-

Upside...

ter of Ceremonies. Philippine Consul General of San Francisco Neil Ferrer will be one of the speakers and the keynote speaker will be Maj. Gen. Miles Davis, Commanding General of the 63rd Readiness Division. Rear Admiral (Ret) Jonathan Yuen will lead the Tolling of the Bells for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. He will be joined by ag 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. 21-gun salute will be provided by the American Legion Riders Chapter 10 . A yover during the procession will be provided by the San Francisco Sheriff’s Air Squadron while a yover 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. Its mission is to instill civic pride and engagement in young adults through the lessons of WWII in the Philippines from the perspectives of Filipino and American military and civilians.

Registration (Free) is encouraged through Eventbrite. For more information, please visit our website www.bataanlegacy.org.

(From Page 11)

Journalist Marichelle Roque Lutz

ormer administra�ve law Judge Nina Cabrera Munoz

Photos courtesy STCQC Alumnae Associa�on.

Te as university lecturer Bernade�e Abrera T ar s

a loved one who attended St. Theresa’s College. It is also a road map for anyone seeking role models, especially those living far from home, away from their comfort zone.

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

(From Page 13)

Offlineof the biggest thieves the world has ever seen.

With Marcos Jr. at the helm, countless government workers from the highest to the lowest ranks must believe that it is not only ok to practice wholesale graft and corruption, it is also perfectly acceptable to engage in the most violent acts imaginable, with the belief that maybe they can get away with it.

And why not? Marcos Jr. is a convicted tax evader and his mother and former first lady Imelda has already been convicted of using government funds for her personal use with finality. The fact that she has gotten away with large-scale fraud sends the signal to everyone, most especially that those working in government, that blatant thievery and all other crimes are now perfectly acceptable.

Before blaming Marcos Jr., it must be noted that his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte was an even worse human being if he can be called that than the senior citizen who still calls himself Bongbong.

Duterte surrounded himself with fellow crooks, and some of them got away clean with billions in dirty money. Not just millions of hundreds of millions, but billions.

Pharmally Pharmaceuticals, anyone?

With so many Duterte officials leaving government with riches far beyond their legal capacity to earn, yet no one being charged for their crimes, it can now be expected that the current batch of officials will include a good number who will join the ranks of the country’s billionaires by the time Junior steps down in five years or so.

Indeed, we have both white collar crimes coupled with senseless acts of violence perpetrated mostly by government officials against fellow government officials that has become the norm in the time of the second President Ferdinand Marcos.

Lately, the biggest crime of all the theft of the presidency in the last elections is now being exposed bit by bit, but chances are low that the true winner of the May elections will ever occupy the presidential palace.

This may even be a good thing. At least she will not be destroyed by a system that is utterly hopeless, one that gives praise to the corrupt, and crushes any man or woman who only wishes to do the right thing.

Benigno Aquino III, anyone

As I See It

the grand jury, will prosecute the case.

(From Page 12)

That same day, he ew back to his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida and addressed his supporters saying the charges were politically motivated. He even started attacking the judge’s family and calling Judge Alvin Bragg as “criminal”.

The judge didn’t issue a gag order but warned Trump not to talk about the merits of the case but Trump ignored this and even resorted to character assassination by calling the judge “criminal” and attacking his family despite court’s warning.

What will happen next Well, As I See It, it will be a long process with Trump calling the cases to be dismissed and his team of lawyers filing motions to delay the trial. It was theorized that it may last for months, even years, as the rule of law has to be in effect giving both sides the rights they deserve.

Okay, if this is the case, what are possible scenarios that will happen while the case is being heard?

Despite the charges, Trump will continue to campaign for his second term of office by 2024. He is seeking the party endorsement but has to contend with many GOP presidential contenders wanting also to be president. While the biggest rival is in Florida Governor Ron DeSanctis, who has yet to announce formally his candidacy, about 12 more party mates are trying to oppose him. I think the more GOP candidates, the better chances for Trump to be officially endorsed. He needs only about 25% to 35% support from GOP to be able to be nominated as the party standard bearer.

If he does not get the party nomination, I think he will still run for president as an independent candidate. Knowing him, he will do everything to bolster his ego and he thinks he will be able to do it because he thrives on controversies. He did it before, so he thinks he can do it again.

The worst scenario is for him to withdraw from the presidency and become a kingmaker. With the millions of dollars in his campaign chest mostly generated from the fund-raising efforts due to his arraignment, he will be able to catapult a candidate of his choice.

Fellow Americans, will you support Trump when you go to the polls in 2024

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

What’s Up Atty

Constr. Co., 269 U.S. 3 , 391, 46 S.Ct. 126, 70 S.Ct. 322 (1926).” Johnson v. United States, 76 US 91, 13 S Ct 2 1, 2 6- 7 (2015).

The Supreme Court said that the Government violates the guarantee of due process “by taking away someone’s life, liberty, or property under a criminal law so vague that it fails to give ordinary people fair notice of the conduct it punishes, or so standardless that it invites arbitrary enforcement.” Johnson v. United States, supra.

B. MOTION TO DISMISS BECAUSE INDICTMENT DOES NOT CHARGE AN OFFENSE

A motion to dismiss the indictment could be filed on the ground that it does not charge an offense. Take the first count as an example. It charges the defendant with intent to defraud by making or causing a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, “an invoice from Michael Cohen dated February 14, 2017, marked as a record of the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.”

But the indictment does not state why the entry is false. That is the gravamen of the offense. The most essential element of the crime is not alleged.

C. MOTION TO REDUCE THE CHARGE FROM FELON TO MISDEMEANOR motion to reduce the charges from felony to misdemeanor could be filed.

The only allegation that makes falsifying business records a first degree offense and thereby a felony is that the defendant’s intent to defraud included an “intent to commit another crime or to aid or conceal the commission thereof.”

But the indictment does not allege facts relating to the other crime that the defendant intended to commit. Nor does the indictment allege the other crime that the defendant intended “to aid or conceal the commission thereof.”

Therefore, the indictment is not supported by allegations or facts that make the offense charged as falsifying records in the first degree and consequently a felony. In fact the indictment does not charge an offense, or if at all it is simply falsifying business records in the second degree, which is a misdemeanor.

D. MOTION TO DISMISS BECAUSE THE INDICTMENT IS BARRED B THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS motion to dismiss because the indictment is barred by the statute of limitations could be filed.

New York law provides that “A prosecution for a misdemeanor must be commenced within two years after the commission thereof.” NY Crim Proc. 30.10(2)(c).

The indictment against Mr. Trump alleges that the various crimes were committed in 2017. Since they are only misdemeanors, the statute of limitations prohibits their prosecution.

E. MOTION FOR A BILL OF PARTICULARS

A motion for bill of particulars could be filed.

The indictment simply tracks the language of the statute. The defense could request the prosecutor for a bill of particulars on the ground that the indictment does not recite items of factual information pertaining to the offense charged, the substance of defendant’s conduct, and whether the defendant acted as principal or accomplice or both. If the prosecutor refuses to comply the defendant could move the court to order the prosecutor to comply with the request. See N. . Crim. Proc. Law 200.9 .

F. MOTION FOR A CHANGE OF VENUE

In the event that the indictment is not dismissed outright, a motion for change of venue could be filed. It could allege that the hostility toward Mr. Trump in New ork City evidenced by, among others, the fact that Biden reportedly won 0 of the votes in New York City, together with the extensive pretrial publicity, have poisoned the minds of potential jurors, thereby rendering them unable to render a fair verdict, and that voir dire would not be able to detect or reveal juror bias. See Skilling v. United States, 130 S. Ct. 2 96 (2010).

Other motions could be filed. But these motions should be sufficient to keep Mr. Trump out of jail.

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

In My Heart

(From Page 12)

shot in Manila and Palawan and other places. Already with the title, “The Awakening,” the film would be a big boost to the country as it tries to attract more investors and tourists to be able to recover from the debilitating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, natural calamities induced by climate change, among others.

Realizing such importance, President Marcos Jr., upon recommendation of Presidential Adviser Paul Soriano and Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, readily conferred the title of Global Tourism Ambassador for the Philippines in fitting ceremonies in Malacanang in what the government described as part of the administration’s ongoing efforts to promote Philippine tourism and raise the country’s global status.

A Malacanang announcement stated the Office of Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications (OPACC) headed by Paul Soriano and Department of Tourism have selected Vanessa Hudgens to become the Philippines’ Global Tourism Ambassador given her huge following on Instagram (49 million), Twitter (6. million), Facebook (17 million) and ouTube (239,000). As a digital in uencer, Vanessa Hudgens is seen to take part in a range of future initiatives to promote the nation’s unique culture and assist the country in reaching a wider global audience, creating awareness and conveying the Philippine brand as a tourist destination.

Before returning to California, the Hollywood star will still shoot at the historical landmarks in Intramuros, and will visit the National Museum for her documentary project. Already, she admitted she is looking forward to her next visit, adding, hopefully for a longer period to discover more about the Filipinos and the Philippines.

Hudgens made her film debut in the movie Thirteen (2003) and rose to prominence as Gabriella Montez in the High School Musical film series (2006-200 ), triggering her mainstream media success, including her signing with Hollywood Records.

Hudgens also co-produced several films such as The night Before Christmas (2019) and the three installments of The Princess Switch (201 , 2020, 2021).

Good luck Miss Vanessa Hudgens, proud Filipino American star. Till next visit.

Health & Wealth

(From Page 12)

Christians. I encourage my INC friends to order copies, read and be blessed,” echoed FELI L. OLIDAN, JR. Evangelist and Minister, WANCHAI CHURCH OF CHRIST, Wanchai, Hong ong HISTORICIT OF JESUS is available through Amazon (Hardcover- 1 .9 Paperback- 14.9 E-book- .9 plus shipping and handling.) To commemorate our 49th Wedding Anniversary on May , 2023 and my 76th Birthday on August 1 , 2023, we are offering Special BU ONE TA E TWO FREE through our BOO S MINISTR . This Special Offer is good only in the United States until August 1 , 2023, my 76th Birthday.

OU can order the Hardcover or Paperback copies of HISTORICIT OF JESUS at the Amazon price and you’ll get FREE copies of “JESUS CHRIST “written by Evangelist John Jeffrey and “LONGEVIT TIPS” subtitled “Secrets” ou Can Discover and Do for Good Health and Longevity, with FREE shipping and handling. YOU can also order extra copies as lasting gifts to your FRANC (Friends, Relatives, Acquaintances, Neighbors, Co-Workers).

For your autographed copies of “HISTORICIT OF JESUS” with the two FREE books, just send the number of copies ordered with corresponding payment in check or money order to ART G. MADLAING, 730 Madrid Street, San Francisco, CA 94112 Tel. (6 0) 43 -3 31 or (41 ) 4-709 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 (aka FITNESS FOR CHRIST) and ACAPINOY. Art is active Evangelist with the GOLDEN GATE CHURCH OF CHRIST in San Francisco, California USA

(From Page 13)

constitute making a “false entry” erasure or deletion of an existing entry, writing incorrect information bookkeeping error innocent mistake in making an entry negligence in making an entry or failing to make an entry.

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. What is beautiful to one person may not be beautiful to another. “False entry” is in the eye of the beholder. What is a “false entry” to one person may not be a “false entry” to another. Therefore, the statute is vague. It “fails to give ordinary people fair notice of the conduct it punishes, or so standardless that it invites arbitrary enforcement.”

The prohibition of vagueness in criminal statutes “is a wellrecognized requirement, consonant alike with ordinary notions of fair play and the settled rules of law,” and a statute that outs it “violates the first essential of due process.” Connally v. General

He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, New York, and the Philippines. He practices federal law, with emphasis on immigration law and appellate federal criminal defense. He was the Dean and a Professor of Law of the College of Law, Northwestern University, Philippines. He has written law books and legal articles for the world’s most prestigious legal publisher and writes columns for newspapers. He wrote the annotations and case notes to the Immigration and Nationality Act published by The Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Co. and Bancroft Whitney Co. He wrote the best-seller “Winning by Knowing Your Election Laws.” Listen to The Tipon Report which he co-hosts with his son Attorney Emmanuel “Noel” Tipon. They talk about immigration law, criminal law, court-martial defense, politics, and current events. It is considered the most witty, interesting, and useful radio show in Hawaii. NDI 1270 AM band every Thursday at 00 a.m. Atty. Tipon was born in Laoag City, Philippines. Cell Phone ( 0 ) 22 -264 . E-Mail filamlaw yahoo.com. Website https www.tiponimmigrationguide.com The information provided in this article is not legal advice. Publication of this information is not intended to create, and receipt by you does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.)

Breaking Through

(From Page 12) samples of her work. I hope I can get permission to share them one of these days.

(The writer is a veteran journalist in the Philippines and the United States and is now based in Hercules City, California.)

1 in 6 people globally affected by infertility: WHO

GENEVA --- Large numbers of people are affected by infertility in their lifetime, according to a new report published by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Around 17. of the adult population – roughly 1 in worldwide experience infertility, showing the urgent need to increase access to affordable, high-quality fertility care for those in need, the report stated.

The new estimates show limited variation in the prevalence of infertility between regions. The rates are comparable for high-, middle- and low-income countries, indicating that this is a major health challenge globally. Lifetime prevalence was 17. in high-income countries and 16. in low- and middle-income countries.

“The report reveals an important truth infertility does not discriminate,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General at WHO. “The sheer proportion of people affected show the need to widen access to fertility care and ensure this issue is no longer sidelined in health research and policy, so that safe,

effective, and affordable ways to attain parenthood are available for those who seek it.”

Infertility is a disease of the male or female reproductive system, defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. It can cause significant distress, stigma, and financial hardship, affecting people’s mental and psychosocial well-being.

Despite the magnitude of the issue, solutions for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infertility – including assisted reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) - remain underfunded and inaccessible to many due to high costs, social stigma and limited availability.

At present, in most countries, fertility treatments are largely funded out of pocket – often resulting in devastating financial costs. People in the poorest countries spend a greater proportion of their income on fertility care compared to people in wealthier countries. High costs frequently prevent people from accessing infertil-

ity treatments or alternatively, can catapult them into poverty as a consequence of seeking care.

“Millions of people face catastrophic healthcare costs after seeking treatment for infertility, making this a major equity issue and all too often, a medical poverty trap for those affected,” said Dr Pascale Allotey, Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at WHO, including the United Nations’ Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP). “Better policies and public financing can significantly improve access to treatment and protect poorer households from falling into poverty as a result.”

While the new report shows convincing evidence of the high global prevalence of infertility, it highlights a persistent lack of data in many countries and some regions. It calls for greater availability of national data on infertility disaggregated by age and by cause to help with quantifying infertility, as well as knowing who needs fertility care and how risks can be reduced.

Walking vs jogging

hile cheetah, gazelle, horses, deer, and other animals in the wild were obviously born to run, it is becoming clearer, medically, that we humans were born to walk, not to jog or run. While jogging became popular since the late 60s, forty years thereafter, the negative health effects became obvious, overshadowing the health benefits.

till they reach their goal.

Heart of Hope

Jogging traumatizes the body, including muscles, joints, heart and kidneys, especially when excessive. Running thickens the heart tissue, causing fibrosis (scarring) causing atrial fibrillation. It also leads to cardiac diastolic dysfunction and stiffening of the large arterial walls. Other injuries include shin splints and stress fractures. More obvious and more common are injuries to the spine, hips, knee, and ankle joints, leading to arthritis of those joints and chronic pains. Some seniors eventually requiring hip or knee replacement.

Current research reveals that walking brisk steps or more per day confers great health benefits, practically equal to the benefits from jogging, minus the attendant injuries from running. More importantly, most seniors are only able to brisk walk or walk but not jog anymore. Indeed, brisk walking is in.

Brisk walking is defined as walking 3 miles an hour If one can recite lyrics of a song, with a pause (to breathe) between phrases, but unable to sing them, they are walking briskly.

The new study demonstrated that “walking just one to two days is still associated with significant reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.” Each additional day of walking provides even greater health benefits.

“People taking just steps one or two days a week are also less likely to die over a ten-year followup period, less likely to die compared to people who were sedentary, and reduction for those who walked 3 to 7 days a week,” concludes the study published in JAMA Network.

This is, indeed, a wonderful finding, which would inspire and encourage everyone, especially seniors, to take those steps to better health. And add another day at their own pace and comfort every week or two

For those with medical issues, consult your physician before embarking on any exercise regimen.

Spring COVID booster

There has been fake news on television and social media that claimed the bivalent COVID-19 booster was unsafe, causing cardiovascular side-effects. Thanks to a new French study, the world now has factual scientific data. The population-based study “found no evidence of an increased risk of cardiovascular events at days among the recipients of the bivalent vaccine versus recipients of the monovalent vaccine, including strokes, heart attacks, pulmonary embolism and all four events combined.”

This is a welcome news, especially to those immunocompromised and seniors with health issues, since the spring booster (bivalent) is recommended by the CDC, because those who had the original booster, with or without having been infected, are all recommended to have a spring booster. The reason is the immunity of those who had the first booster, and even those who have natural immunity from getting the infection have protection that would have waned by spring. Natural immunity is less stable, less consistent, and less effective than immunity from the vaccines. At any rate, the bivalent booster has been proven all over again to be safe and effective. Getting the bivalent booster this spring will confer safety from a serious residual COVID-19 infection and as of yesterday, April 3, 2023, there were still more than a million (1,066,17 ) active cases, and new deaths.

Seaweed and endometriosis

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (like omerga-3 and omega-6) reduce proliferation of endometriosis lesions and most beneficial in managing this common female illness where tissues that lines the inside of the uterus grow outside the womb, in places they do not belong (like the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and bowels, or even the lungs and the brain) It causes abdominal pains and irregular and painful period, among other symptoms, like pain during intercourse or bowel movements.

Seaweed, fish, and nuts contain a lot of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and found to be helpful when added to the diet. Seaweed has been long proven to benefit women with endometriosis, alleviating their symptoms. Adding more vegetables, particularly cruciferous ones, legumes, and fruits, providing rich antioxidants and fiber, also help. Dietary changes, adding those items

listed above plus ginger, turmeric, and gluten-free items, certainly benefit women with endometriosis, as pointed out in the British Medical journal Open in This diet, together with prescribed therapy by the Gynecologist, will make life a lot more comfortable to women with endometriosis.

Toxin triggers MS

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a long-term condition that a icts the central nervous system, causing muscle weakness and vision problems, as the immune system stacks the outer coating of the nerve cells to the eyes. MS most often victimizes young adults between the ages and also seniors, more in women than men. There are about million individuals around the world living with MS. The cause of MS is still a mystery. new study has determined that “a toxin from a common bacterium may trigger MS in people with a genetic susceptibility.” This recent discovery would lead to more scientific investigation worldwide to eventually find for the prevention and or cure for multiple sclerosis, a gravely debilitating disease.

D

When thrown back to a body of water, fish do not drown. However, they do drown (suffocate) when the water does not have enough dissolved oxygen in it, like in eutrophication (too much nutrients or harmful chemicals in water), or drought. They also drown following the removal of their fins (as in harvesting sharks’ fins for Chinese soup delicacy). Throwing back sharks after fin removal results in their suffocation since they need their fins to swim. When their gills are damaged by predators, they also drown. So, technically, fish do drown too.

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

PHILIP S. CHUA

By TIM PEDROSA

It takes all of us to make our world a more hopeful and caring place. We need to be agents of change. Love is the master key that opens the gates of happiness, of hatred, of jealousy and most easily of all, the gate of fear. The great Mark Twain said that anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured. Like anger, hatred could destroy so much. It never fails to destroy the man who hates and this is an indisputable fact. It is easy to hate and difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve and bad things are very easy to get. Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love and this is the eternal rule as well. Let us learn from the following article the effect of hatred in our lives inspired by the writings of an unknown writer. As the story goes, a kindergarten teacher decided to let her class play a game. The teacher told each child in the class to bring along a plastic bag containing a few apples. Each apple will be given a name of a person that the child hates, so the number of apples that a child will put in his/her plastic bag will depend on the number of people he/she hates. When the day came, every child brought some apples with the names of the people he/she hated. Some had two apples some had three apples while there were a few with up to five apples. The teacher told the children to carry the apples in the plastic bag with them wherever they go, for one week. Days passed by and the children started to complain about the unpleasant smell let out by the rotten apples. Children with five apples complained the most as they had to carry heavier bags. After a week, the children were relieved because the game had finally ended. The teacher asked, “How did you feel while carrying the apples with you for one week?”The children let out their frustrations and complained about the trouble they had to go through to carry the heavy and smelly apples wherever they go. The teacher finally told them about the hidden meaning behind the game. The teacher said, “This is the exact situation to what happens when you carry hatred for someone inside your heart. The stench of hatred will contaminate your heart and you will carry it with you wherever you go. If you cannot tolerate the smell of rotten apples for just one week, can you imagine what it is like to have the stench of hatred in your heart for your lifetime?”Moral of the story: Throw away any hatred for anyone from your heart so that you will not carry a burden for a lifetime. The best attitude to take is to forgive others! Love others even if you don’t like them. Hate no one no matter how much others wronged you. Live humbly no matter how wealthy you become. Think positively, no matter how hard life is. Give much, even if you’ve been given little. Keep in touch with the ones who have forgotten you and forgive who has wronged you and do not stop praying the best for those you love.

The Lesson of Divine Disguises

e are to see that in our life all its trials, suffering, and any form of challenges are sources actually of blessings and not rather simply causes of a miserable life. All events in our life must be seen, with the eyes of faith in God, to be bringing either some gifts to be enjoyed or some message to be paid attention to. We cannot just say because life is difficult so, it is what it is this is a pessimistic attitude. Though life may be is hard but it could be a set up for some better and brighter days ahead. We have to look at our daily life in the context of the lesson of the Paschal Mystery though there is the pain and suffering of the Passion, yet there was too into them some element of glory since in Christ there was the willingness of doing them out of sheer act of love. Love made the suffering fruitful that it is not only about the pains being endured but it was also the fruits to be gained from them. And then, we have the element of victimhood of Christ yet, being done with determination for it is through it, that victory is achieved not only for humanity but for the whole creation. There are many of these sorts of opposites or ironies in our Christian faith that we have to pay attention to them to attain some relevant lesson for our daily existence and growth in our spiritual journey.

It is important that we learn and inculcate into our mentality and behavior any lesson we can take from what I call divine disguises. For us, humans, suffering and pain can never become joy and glory neither being a victim ever become a good news of victory. Maybe for some very rare occurrence, but cannot be a rule or a teaching that such is the case in life. Only in the faith we are taught about these divine disguises that we encounter in life and with the faith we are to live according to their lessons. Dear reader, can you easily see that the Cross became not only cause of sorrow but also a cause of joy? Do you see that the instrument of torture and murder, became an instrument of joy and salvation? In your life, do you see divine disguises?

Since God sees in His omnipotent power and infinite intelligence everything that can be good or bad for us, He wants always what is best for and He wants also that we be away from what could be dangerous and destructive for us. That is why, these divine disguises are given to form in dispositions and attitudes to always be vigilant and optimistic. The former, I mean that if we will not listen and take on the lesson of God turning upside down things, we may end up being or getting the sorrow and suffering or being victim ourselves, that the divine disguises proclaim. The Latter, I mean that we must not fail to see and believe the good fruits that can be gained through our passing through of pain, suffering and victimhood. For our faith in Christ Jesus will enlighten us to see what we are passing through not according to our human limited logic, but with the divine logic.

Lastly, in our spiritual journey suffering is our road to sanctification. During this Easter season, we ask ourselves, what could be the personal message of Jesus’ resurrection We are to believe that by Christ’s resurrection everything changes and been transformed in our life and human existence. The Cross is only a disguise of the resurrection. The Risen Christ is Victim yet the Victor. Hence, there must always be hope “hope does not disappoint (Rom. ) ” hence, we cannot give up on anything good and on anyone. We cannot give up on loving people, for example, even if at times people hurt us. We cannot give up on good things that we are doing, like volunteer service or ministry, since it is all about love of God in others rather than thinking only about oneself. So, we cannot give up on our journey of spirituality only because it is becoming hard precisely, there is the hardship for, it is the element that will propel to the place where God wants to be. Do not escape from sufferings for they can sanctify us. Do not resist the troubles that come our way, for they can be our way to train become the people God wants us to be. Do not escape some situation of us being offended and oppressed for God will become our Deliverer, our Vindicator, and Consolation. Christ’s Resurrection has given a view of the world and its things that was not there prior to His Paschal Mystery. Hence, with faith and love of God, let bear in mind whatever lesson there is to be found in any divine disguise that God brings our way. Amen.

REV. JOSE PELAGIO A. PADIT, SThD

Recipe of the Week

Crab with Sotanghon in Black Bean

Ingredients:

4 to 6 medium size crabs, steamed, cut in half

grams vermicelli noddles, soaked with warm water, drained

1 thumb size ginger, cut into thin strips

1 2 head garlic, chopped

3 to stalk Chinese parsley, chopped

1 small bundle spring onion, chopped

1 small size onion, chopped

1 4 cup black bean sauce,

1 small can fermented black beans, drained, rinsed

2-3 tbsp. soy sauce

1-2 tsp. sugar

salt and pepper

cooking oil

Cookingprocedure

In a large wok sauté garlic, ginger and onion until fragrant. Add in the crabs and parsley and stir cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Add in the soy sauce, black bean sauce, sugar and 2 to 2 1 2 cups of water bring to a boil and simmer for 2 to minutes. Add in the soaked vermicelli noodles and cook for 3 to minutes stir-

Hundred Islands Nat’l Park welcomes 1st cruise ship amid pandemic

ring occasionally until most of the liquid is absorbed by the noodles. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Now add in the fermented black beans and spring onion, stir cook for about half a minute. Serve with a lot of rice.

ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan The Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) has welcomed some foreign guests and Filipino crew of the first luxury cruise ship to visit the park during the pandemic.

The City Tourism Office said the guests arrived at the national park from Singapore on Sunday onboard MV Star Breeze. From the Philippines, the ship will proceed to Hong Kong.

MV Star Breeze is the first to visit the park as travel restrictions were eased since the pandemic started in

The Quezon Island in the national park where the luxury cruise ship’s guests were received was closed to other visitors on Sunday.

They were greeted with cultural presentations and served with the delicacies of Pangasinan, including the famous longganisa of Alaminos City.

The guests went hopping with motorboats specifically at the Pilgrimage, Ramos, Quezon, Governor’s, Lopez, Mimpis and Marcos islands where they enjoyed the sceneries and water and ecosports activities.

City tourism officer Miguel Sison said

two more international cruise ships --MS Minerva and MS Seaborn Sojourn, are tentatively arriving on May 10 and June , respectively.

“We have been preparing for the return of these cruise ships to showcase the beauty of the Hundred Islands as well as the different activities and products of the whole province of Pangasinan,” he said.

The HINP recorded tourist arrivals from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2022.

Of this number, Sison said 11 ,4 9 were local tourists or those from Pangasinan, were domestic tourists or those from Philippine areas outside Pangasinan, and the rest were foreign tourists.

“The number of tourists increased since the restrictions were eased in he added.

The HINP generated at least P33.3 million in income in surpassing its P2 -million target last year.

Although the number of tourist arrivals has not yet fully returned to its prepandemic level of 20,000 in 2019, the number is already beyond the 93,000 visitors to the national park in and the 0,000 in 2021. (Hilda AustriaPNA)

With Biden administration approval, California ushers in new era of clean trucks

to accelerate a large-scale transition of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles, as directed in Governor Newsom’s 2020 Zero-Emission Vehicle Executive Order, which requires 100% heavy-duty vehicles in California wherever feasible by 2045.

The ACT rule requires truck manufacturers to increase new truck sales to 55% (Class 2b-3), 75% (Class 4-8), and 40% of semi-tractor sales to be zeroemissions by 2035.

SACRAMENTO Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a statement following the U.S. EPA’s decision to grant a waiver formally approving California’s standards to reduce heavy-duty truck emissions.

California will require truck manufacturers to accelerate their sales of zero emission vehicles, setting increasing ZEV manufacturing standards starting from 2024 through 2035 that several

big deal for climate action. Last year, California became one of the first jurisdictions in the world with a real plan to

hicles – off our streets, and other states and countries are lining up to follow our lead around the world,” Newsom added.

Eight states have moved to adopt or are working to adopt ACT and follow California’s lead while a 27-country coalition California is part of is working towards 100% ZEV new truck sales by 2040.

Following Governor Newsom’s 2020 executive order to develop new rules, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved one of the world’s first regulations last year requiring 100 percent of new car sales in California to be zeroemission vehicles (ZEVs) by 2035.

Nearly 19% of cars sold in the state