Philippine News Today

NBI FILES MULTIPLE MURDER, OTHER CHARGES VS TEVES

Negros solon’s passport maybe canceled after filing of raps

By ALFRED GABOT, Editor in Chief

Nat’l Asian American coalition sues founder for fraud, makes report to CA attorney general

MANILA – After almost three months since the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others in March in their Pamplona town compound, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed multiple murders, multiple attempted murders and multiple frustrated murders against fugitive Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. before the Department of Justice.

herself at the expense of the State of California.

70% to 80% of PHL cops, soldiers may opt for early retirement

By Be�ng Laygo Dolor, Editor

MANILA – A serious – some say fatal – financial mistake by the previous Duterte administration has placed the Marcos regime in a predicament that has no solution acceptable to all.

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AG Bonta, Orange County leaders discuss hate crimes and incidents

By Jun Nucum

vs Hate campaign, California Attorney General Rob Bonta followed up by joining Anaheim Mayor Asleigh Aitken and local leaders in Orange County in an anti-hate roundtable discussion.

LOS ANGELES – A lawsuit filed by the National Asian American Coalition (NAAC) against its founder and former CEO, Faith Bautista, details how a once-celebrated community champion led a fraudulent conspiracy to enrich

Research on hate crimes, discrimination faced by Asian Americans completed

By Gilda P. Balan, Correspondent

ANAHEIM, California -

More than a week after the State of California declared war against hate through its CA

The tenth in a series of meetings he led as he travels around the state, the roundtable in Anaheim that Bonta attended brought together local elected officials, law enforcement officers, and community leaders to

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CHICAGO - In order to paint a true picture of the hate crimes and discrimination that the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community faces on a daily and regular basis, two organizations recently teamed up to conduct the most comprehensive research possible.

In a statement, NACC stated that the lawsuit charges Bautista with fraud, receiving

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Because of that error, acting Defense chief Carlito Galvez Jr says anywhere from 70 to 80 percent of all Page 8

Roque family commemorates first year of assault at McDonald’s with supporters

By Jun Nucum

LOS ANGELES - It was an anniversary not to be celebrated but should always be remembered

in the hope that it will never be repeated on anyone else. And the Roque fam-

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daily average Covid-19 cases up 25% P4

Muntinlupa court junks drug raps vs de

Gilas cagers regain gold medal

$1.00= P56.11

California State A�orney General Rob Bonta (le�) join Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken (right) and many local leaders in Orange County in a roundtable discussion to combat hate crime and incidents. (photo by Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

ATTACK ANNIVERSARY. A community gather at a North Hollywood McDonald’s on the one-year anniversary of the an�-Asian a�ack against the Roques, a local Filipino family.

Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr.

Faith Bau�sta, Founder of NAAC

Australia FM in Manila, rallies ASEAN on South China Sea Code of Conduct

MAKATI CITY – Australia has renewed calls for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to negotiate a Code of Conduct (COC) on the South China Sea that would not impact the rights of outside parties.

While Australia is a non-claimant state, visiting Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the country has a stake in the busy sea lane, where trillions of dollars’ worth of trade pass through annually.

“We respect ASEAN centrality and they have, as an entity, a right to discuss these issues,” she said.

“All we are saying as a party that has an interest, as many do in the South China Sea and in international law, is we would urge states not to agree to anything that lessened their rights.”

In the past, Australia said any document that impacts the current rights of

states under international law to exercise freedom of navigation and conduct military exercises with partners in the region “would be a cause of concern for Australia.”

The COC is being drawn up by China and members of the ASEAN to serve as an upgraded and more binding version of the 2002 Declaration of Conduct on the South China Sea. While not meant to resolve the maritime row, the accord is expected to help manage tensions and reduce the risk of confrontations in the area where China has overlapping territorial claims with the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

During the ASEAN Summit last week, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. urged his fellow leaders to push for the early conclusion of the COC. Meanwhile, Wong noted that Canberra would work with Manila in promoting a region that is

“stable, peaceful, and prosperous.”

“(W)e all want a region in which rules ameliorate the exercise of power. And it is through that that countries can maintain their sovereignty and their capacity to make their own decisions,” she said.

She also emphasized Australia’s continuous support for the country’s 2016 arbitral win and its assertion of its national interests.

“And we will continue to be, because ultimately, states like us – so, we regard ourselves, we’re not a great power. Some call us a middle power, but we want a region where norms and rules continue to apply,” Wong said.

“We don’t want a region which is dominated to an extent where other countries cannot make their own decisions. And so for us, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea is important.”

Index crimes down 11% from Jan. 1 to May 13: PNP

CRAME, Quezon City – The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported a 10.59 percent drop in index crimes in the first five months of 2023. In a statement, Philippine National

Police (PNP) chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr said 13,469 index crime incidents were recorded from January 1 to May 13, lower than the 15,064 committed during the same period last year.

The report said the monthly index crime rate decreased by 8.51 percent –from 13.87 in 2022 to 12.69 this year.

Focus crimes, which include murder, homicide, physical injury, robbery, theft, rape, and carnapping of motor vehicles, likewise decreased by 10.66 percent, from 14,990 cases in 2022 to 13,392 cases in 2023; while incidents of physical injury recorded the highest decrease of 25.68 percent, from 2,142 incidents in 2022 to 1,592 cases in 2023.

“This continuing decrease of incidents is attributed to the consistent implementation of numerous policies, such as intensified police visibility, intelligence-driven operations, community-based programs, strengthened partnerships with other agencies, and improved crime reporting and monitoring systems,” Acorda said.

Acorda said a similar trend was also noted in the anti-illegal drugs campaign, resulting in the confiscation of illegal drugs with an estimated worth of P5.68 billion and the arrest of 22,826 drug of-

fenders in 17,202 operations.

Meanwhile, Acorda was honored at the “Pammadayaw” in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte hosted by the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP).

In his message, the PNP chief called for “serbisyong nagkakaisa” (service with unity), or public service that is united in its commitment to provide equal access to justice and protection to all, regardless of social status or economic standing.

Acorda also expressed his commitment to lead the PNP with honor, integrity, and dedication, and to work towards a safer, more prosperous, and more united Philippines.

He highlighted the PNP’s five-focused agenda towards aggressive and honest law enforcement operations, boosting personnel morale and welfare, integrity enhancement, strengthening capabilities in information and communication technology, and expanding engagement and interaction with citizens.

CAMP

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong

Gloria Arroyo replaced as House senior deputy speaker

QUEZON CITY - The House of Representatives has elected Pampanga Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, Jr. the Senior Deputy Speaker, replacing former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

In a statement, House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe said the

move was to unburden former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who represents the second district of Pampanga, “of the heavy load required from the position.”

In her own statement, Arroyo said the move was “the prerogative of the House.”

Comelec okays internet voting for overseas voters in 2025 polls

MANILA - Good news to thousands of overseas Filipino voters. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has approved internet voting for overseas voters in the 2025 national and local elections (NLE) to counter slow voters turnout during the past elections.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said “internet voting” is intended to achieve higher overseas voter turnout.

“Spending P411 million resulting to a dismal 39 percent turnout (although highest in history) is not value for money so to speak. Why are not so many overseas Filipinos voting personally by (the present mode of voting for them)? Maybe they need another mode,” Garcia said.

The approval of the conduct of electronic/internet voting for overseas Filipino voters was based on Section 16.11 of Republic Act No. 9189, Section 28 of RA 10390 and Section 23 of RA 10390.

Garcia said Comelec is now set to prepare the roadmap for electronic voting for overseas Filipinos.

Court junks 1 of 2 remaining drug raps vs. de Lima

“Under the circumstances of this case, the testimony of witness Ragos is necessary to sustain any possible conviction. Without his testimony, the crucial link to establish conspiracy is shrouded with reasonable doubt,” the court said.

De Lima was cleared of alleged violation of Section 5 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act that penalizes the “sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribu- tion, and transportation of illegal drugs.”

the Muntinlupa RTC Branch 256.

Judge Romeo Buenaventura set hearings for next month.

A decision has yet to be released on her application for bail but if convicted, she faces life imprisonment.

De Lima’s co-accused in the remaining complaint are her former aides Ronnie Dayan and Joenel Sanchez, former BuCor chief Franklin Jesus, his former staff member Wilfredo Elli, and a certain Jad de Vera.

EU has been closely following the proceedings against the embattled lawyer and hoped for the “quick decision” on her bail plea for her pending case.

“Only recently, Members of the European Parliament and the EU Special Representative for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore have visited Senator De Lima in her detention centre,” he said in a statement.

MUNTINLUPA CITY – The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) has acquitted former senator Leila de Lima of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading, one of the two remaining charges related to her alleged involvement in shady deals inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City when she was still justice secretary.

Presiding Judge Joseph Alcantara of Branch 204 said after key witness and former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) deputy director Rafael Ragos recanted his testimonies last year, it cast a reasonable doubt on the guilt of the 63-year-old de Lima, who has been under detention since February 2017.

The prosecution claimed proceeds from the sale of illegal drugs were delivered to de Lima in two tranches of PHP5 million on Nov. 24 and Dec. 15, 2012.

Ragos and intelligence agent Jovencio Ablen were initially presented as witnesses but the judge noted that only the former claimed knowledge of the supposed source of the money.

“The rule of law has prevailed and it just points out to us that the independence of the judiciary is a basic foundation of our democratic system,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla told reporters.

The charge of tolerating the drug trade inside the NBP is pending before

In a statement, de Lima said she did not doubt from the very beginning that she would be acquitted in all the cases fi led against her “based on the merits and the strength of my innocence” and she is “extremely grateful to all those who stood by and prayed for me all these years.”

Happy for De Lima

In another statement, opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros said she is happy that her friend and colleague has been acquitted and she is anticipating “her full vindication and eventual liberty.”

European Union (EU) Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Veron said the

“[W]e hope for a quick resolution of the remaining case against the former senator, while ensuring the highest standards of rule of law and human rights.”

In a tweet, German Ambassador Anke Reiff enstuel described the ruling as a “progress”.

“The rule of law is essential for a functioning democracy & important for further strengthening Philippine-Germany relations. Germany will continue to follow the remaining case in which Leila de Lima fi led a petition for bail,” she said.

Denmark Ambassador Franz-Michael Mellbin also congratulated De Lima and similarly hoped for “a positive bail decision”.

Metro Manila Covid-19 positivity rate slightly rises byk 25.4%

the National Capital Region (NCR) has reached 25.4 percent as of May 13.

OCTA Research Group fellow Dr.

Guido David said the figure was a slight increase from the region’s positivity rate of 22.7 percent from May 1 to 6.

“High positivity rates seen in Bataan (20.2 percent), Batangas (33.7 percent), Benguet (20.3 percent), Bulacan (25.2 percent), Camarines Sur (46.5 percent), Cavite (36.9 percent), Isabela (36.6 percent), Laguna (29.9 percent), Oriental Mindoro (29.5 percent), Pampanga (24.8 percent), Quezon (42.7 percent), and Rizal (44.4 percent),” he said.

The positivity rates in the Visayas and Mindanao regions were low except for Aklan with 56.9 percent and Leyte with 21 percent.

Earlier, the Department of Health told the public to focus on measures that would protect oneself against Covid-19,

such as wearing face masks, getting vaccinated, and receiving booster doses as cases rise.

Cop hired as ‘hitman’ by Teves family falls

CAMP CRAME, Quezon City – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) operatives arrested a police sergeant implicated in two slay attempts in Negros Oriental in a follow-up operation inside Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Arrested was Staff Sgt. Noel Santa Ana Alabata Jr. in front of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group Building (PDEG) at Camp Crame.

Alabata was arrested using two arrest warrants for cases of attempted murder and attempted homicide issued by two courts in Dumaguete City.

He was later taken to the CIDG office for documentation and custody while awaiting a Commitment Order from the issuing courts.

“The accused was formerly assigned to PDEG Region 6 (Western Visayas) and allegedly used by the Teves as a hitman

for a certain ‘Ong,’ a rival of the Teveses in their business,” CIDG director Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr. was quoted as saying in the CIDG statement.

“Our verification is ongoing on the accused who was tagged as gunman of the Teveses to know if he is involved in other cases. We will be fair on all the information that we would obtain to ensure that justice will prevail,” he added.

The CIDG has been focusing on cases of killings in Negros Oriental following the death of Negros Oriental Governor Noel Degamo and at least nine others in a daring assassination near his residence in Pamplona town on March 4.

Raids were conducted and cases have been filed against some members of the Teves family in connection with the operations that resulted in the confiscation of caches of firearms.

MANILA – The positivity rate or the number of people testing positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in

US fugitive wanted for sex crimes nabbed in Zambales

staying American wanted by federal authorities in Nevada, USA for sex crimes was arrested on May 15 in Zambales by operatives of the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

Fugitive Eduardo Rojas Minas, 60, was arrested in Sta. Cruz, Zambales by operatives of the BI’s fugitive search unit (FSU), Commissioner Norman Tansingco said

He, however, had already flown to the Philippines a month before his warrant came out and has never left the country since.

“He will, thus, be deported for overstaying and being an undesirable and undocumented alien. He no longer holds a valid passport since it already expired in Jan. 2013 and was not renewed,” Tansingco said.

for his crimes.

Citing information obtained from US authorities in Manila, BI-FSU acting chief Renell Ryan Sy said the foreigner was charged before the Nevada court with two counts of sexual assault and two counts of statutory sexual seduction. He is now detained at the BI holding facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending deportation proceedings.

STA. CRUZ, Zambales – An over-

Minas has been on the wanted list of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) since November 2006 when a warrant of arrest was issued against him by a court in Las Vegas township, Clark County, Nevada.

Compensation for Marawi IDPs to be fast-tracked

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The anticipated payment for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Marawi City due to the 2017 siege is going to be accelerated with the imminent release of guidelines governing the Marawi Siege Compensation Act, an official said Wednesday.

In a public hearing, Marawi Compensation Board (MCB) chairperson Maisara Latiph said once the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 11696 or the Marawi Siege Compensation Act will be finalized, its distribution of financial aid will follow.

“All the MCB members are one with the IDPs in its aim to fast-track the payment,”

Latiph said.

The MCB organized the last leg of public consultations in line with the May 16-23 observance of the Marawi Week of Peace, which is now in its sixth year. The body listened to the comments and suggestions of the IDPs, represented by their leaders, whose houses were destroyed in the “ground zero” during the siege.

The weeklong peace observance was organized by the government under the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM).

TFBM Assistant Secretary Melissa Aradanas said bringing back Marawi City’s “economic glory” remains the overall goal in keeping government agencies.

Minas, he said, would be perpetually barred from re-entering the Philippines

OVERSTAYING FUGITIVE. US fugi�ve Eduardo Rojas Minas, wanted by federal authori�es in Nevada, USA for sex crimes, is arrested in Zambales on May 15.

New PHL brand shows ‘our best’ to the world: Paul Soriano

the country replacing the country’s longtime tourism slogan “It’s More Fun in the Philippines,” Presidential Adviser on Creative Communication (PACC) Secretary Paul Soriano said.

In a statement, Soriano clarified that the latest country branding project is “not solely a tourism campaign.”

The clarification was made in response to negative reactions to a bus advertisement in London featuring Filipina-British nurse May Parsons, the nurse who gave the world’s first coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine, with the slogan “A Filipina. We Give The World Our Best. The Philippines.”

Soriano said the office of the PACC (OPACC) rolled out the country branding campaign with the goal of “making us proud to be a Filipino, here at home and anywhere, everywhere all over the world.”

initiative, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s bid to uplift the Filipino name and reputation in and around the world.

Soriano explained the bus advertisement in London, which came out in time for King Charles III’s May 6 grand coronation given the anticipated large international crowd to attend the historic global event, was just “among the first communication outputs” of the OPACC’s nationbranding project.

“Unfortunately, the London (advertisement) was misconstrued as part of the country’s tourism promotion campaign. OPACC wants to clear the confusion and clarify that it was not meant, in any way, to promote the country’s tourist destinations,” he said.

Middle East, featuring overseas Filipino workers making a name for themselves.

The OPACC, he said, had engaged several “respected and well-known” creative directors to conceptualize and prepare communication materials to be used in implementing the project.

Soriano added that his office had already informed and briefed various government agencies that will play key roles to make the long-term country branding campaign successful.

“Among these agencies include the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Department of Migrant Workers, the Department of Tourism, and the Department of Trade and Industry,” he said.

Secretary Paul Soriano

MANILA – “We Give the World Our Best – The Philippines.”

This is the new campaign slogan of

“At its core, the project intends to let the whole world know how good, compassionate, and competent Filipinos are. Filipinos bring their ‘best’ through daily actions that touch lives all over the world,” he said, adding that the campaign spearheads a long-term country branding

“Video (advertisements) featuring true stories of successful Filipinos in different countries were also released within the same period, aired overseas. The first two ads tell the story of Charm, a Filipina caregiver in the UK, and DJ, a barista in Italy.”

Soriano said the OPACC is planning to release similar advertisements in parts of the world like in the United States and the

Soriano said talks with several government agencies, including the DOT, are underway for the launch of their “own versions of the ‘best’ branding.”

“Through this country branding campaign, we want to uplift the spirit of our overseas Filipinos and honor them, particularly for their values that make Filipinos known to do their best at whatever chosen field, wherever they go and whatever it is they do. They truly deserve this,” Soriano said.

PHL, Aussie troops hold warfare training in Rizal

TANAY, Rizal – After training with American soldiers, Philippine Army soldiers are now training with Australian troopers on jungle and urban warfare at Camp Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal.

Army spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement that the training is part of the Philippine-Australia Army-toArmy Exercise “Kasangga” 23-2.

Participating troops are from the Australian Defence Force and the PA’s 2nd Infantry Division.

“The 114 soldiers from 2ID (Infantry Division) will train side-by-side with 43

stolen property, breach of fiduciary duty, aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty, deceit, constructive fraud, negligent misrepresentation and conversion.

In addition to Faith Bautista, the lawsuit, according to the statement, also named Josefina Bautista (NAAC’s former CFO), Bing Crosby Bautista (who is married to Josefina Bautista and is Faith Bautista’s brother), Nora Penaflor (NAAC’s former Director of Housing), Marissa Samaco (a former independent contractor to NAAC), and Floradema, LLC, which is a company owned by Faith Bautista.

As the complaint alleged, the fraudulent conspiracy stems from NAAC’s participation in the National Mortgage Settlement (NMS) program. The NMS program provides nonprofit Housing Counseling Agencies $750 for every counseling session they provide.

Faith Bautista, according to the statement, allegedly caused NAAC to submit approximately 15,672 counseling sessions to the State of California’s NMS program

Australian soldiers during the bilateral exercises which will culminate on June 23, 2023,” Trinidad said.

They will participate in urban operations combat tracking; jungle warfare and survival training; long-range marksmanship; tactical combat casualty care; sensitive site exploitation, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations; and small unit leader’s training through an exchange of tactics, techniques, and procedures.

Australian defense attaché to the Philippines Col. Paul Joseph Barta said

plus submitted other related expenses for reimbursement, resulting in payments to NAAC totaling $12,356,288.

According to the complaint, however, the number of counseling sessions Bautista and her team submitted were “absurdly impossible.” For example, despite the fact that a counseling session generally took at least one hour, defendants’ records claim that one counselor conducted 35 counseling sessions in a day, the complaint noted. Another counselor is credited with 45 counseling sessions in a day, it alleged.

To make the scheme work, the complaint alleged that the defendants used the names of California residents from unrelated caller and voting lists to submit fraudulent claims for reimbursement, including a “Filipino Under 50” list where defendants used nearly 200 names to support false submissions.

To make sure nobody actually contacted these people, the listed addresses and telephone numbers were changed, it was alleged. The complaint also alleged that defendants tricked more than 100 Marines into signing intake forms as part of their effort to falsify and fraudulently

Australian troops expect to learn jungle warfare and survival skills from 2ID soldiers, known by their nickname “Jungle Fighters”.

On the other hand, 2ID assistant division Commander Brig. Gen. Augusto Villareal said Filipino troops will be taught urban operations by their Australian counterparts.

The Exercise Kasangga 23-2, an annual bilateral training exercise that is anchored on the Philippines-Australia Defense Engagement Plan, will bolster Army-to-Army ties and interoperability

document compensable counseling sessions to obtain counseling fees.

According to the lawsuit, “The defendants’ actions grossly violated their strict fi duciary duties owed to NAAC, and at a more basic level, violated the trust of the Asian American and other marginalized communities they were supposed to be serving. These communities needed and expected the long-delayed funds from the National Mortgage Settlement program to directly benefi t their communities. Instead, substantial portions of the funds were spent to fuel defendants’ egos and quench their thirst for money.”

The lawsuit continues: “In embarking on this shameless conspiracy to defraud NAAC and the State of California, defendants profi ted handsomely at the expense of NAAC and ultimately at the expense of California’s taxpayers. To protect the charity from further harm, NAAC now takes the unfortunate but necessary step of suing its own founder and her co-conspirators to force them to return every penny they selfi shly siphoned from this charitable

between the two ground forces, Trinidad said

organization and to help NAAC resolve its repayment obligation to the State of California.”

The NAAC Board was compelled to file the lawsuit by the findings of a more than eight-month investigation conducted by one of the nation’s leading global law firms, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP. The investigation uncovered substantial evidence of fraud and other wrongdoing, according to the statement.

The investigation was launched after NAAC’s independent outside auditor notified the Board of numerous red flags relating to Faith Bautista’s conduct.

The Board has a fiduciary duty to protect the integrity of NAAC and ensure the funds it received from the State of California were spent appropriately. Accordingly, the Board also announced it has reported the fraud to the California Attorney General’s Office, which regulates charities and nonprofit organizations.

The NAAC provides comprehensive affordable homeownership counseling to over 25,000 minority families in California.

(From page 1) NAAC...

Roque...

(From page 1)

ily and their supporters did just that as a commemoration right at the site of the attack was held and even livestreamed at the North Hollywood McDonald’s to mark the injustices of the verbal and physical assault against the Roques the night of May 13, 2022.

The participants, apart from the Roque family themselves, made sure that the dark day when alleged assailant Nicholas Weber attacked the Roque family is not forgotten as they mobilized to the scene of the crime to reaffirm the community’s continuous fight against racial hate and for justice for the Roques.

The event was just a continuation of the support shown to the Roque family by the Filipino community and other supporters as exemplified by the attendance of nearly a hundred people in the preliminary hearing on April 17 of Weber to hear the court’s decision on the case.

Judge Neetu Badhan-Smith found probable cause for two felony assaults committed by Weber, including one with great bodily injury after reviewing evidence presented by the prosecution and the defense during a marathon of preliminary hearings from April 4-6. The hate crime enhancement on both assault charges were, however, dropped.

The ruling on not considering it a hate crime, nonetheless, even bolstered support for the victims who were assured of the community to continue the fight alongside with them.

Opening the event was Roque daughter Ysabel Roque who lamented the judge’s ruling saying, “For the hate crime charge to be dropped, shows that the justice system does not provide justice to people like us.”

Roque patriarch Gabriel, who sustained a broken rib after the attack, reflected that the wounds and injuries have healed but they haven’t healed from the aftermath of the attack.

“We’ve been in the courts for one year, and it’s been very disappointing. We are just asking for justice, not only for us, but for others,” Gabriel said.

For her part, mother of the family Nerissa was thankful for the support they are getting as they acknowledged that their fight is not theirs alone.

“Up to now, we didn’t get the justice we wanted, but we’re not losing hope. Our fight is your fight. We’re still going to fight as long as the community is still here for me and my family,” stressed Nerissa.

Despite the overwhelming disappointment the family feels, they turned towards grassroots organizing as a means to find justice that the courts have denied.

“Ever since that night of the incident, there have been some positive developments. I helped establish a new student and youth organization, Pilipino Youth Kollective (PYK),” another Roque daughter Patricia announced. “PYK is a newly formed organization based at CSU Northridge that campaigns for the rights of Filipinos in the San Fernando Valley.” Community organizer with Migrante Los Angeles and Roque son Patrick admitted that immigrants in the U.S. usually face dim reality after their family learned and experienced firsthand how the justice system treats immigrants and workers.

“Immigrants in the U.S. like my family – they have been dehumanized and not accommodated for when they testified in court. This is reflective of the for-profit system that upholds and maintains white supremacy,” rued Patrick Roque

Representing the youth supporters, Joopy Nicolas from Kabataan Alliance echoed the importance of being backed by the community and organizing with the community as a form of protection for ourselves and everyone else.

“I want to stress how important community organizing is, and how it’s raised the consciousness of so many people,” Nicolas stated.

From Anakbayan Los Angeles, Abi Felix shared her observations that from the beginning the Roques still haven’t received financial assistance or support.

“It’s been the community helping provide the Roques with mental health services, finding pro bono support, and fundraising for them,” revealed Felix.

Another leader of Anakbayan Los Angeles Jhenine Cordero, reiterated that they had to continue to outreach, raise awareness, and recruit into organizations to grow the movement to stop Asian hate, to stop racial violence, to continue to protect one another, but also to see genuine change because the court system isn’t changing.

“More and more community members keep joining the campaign for justice – keep mobilizing in support of the Roques,” Cordero said.

(From page 1)

That survey resulted in a published report called “Righting Wrongs: How Civil Rights Can Protect Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders.”

It should be noted that Filipinos and FilAms are classified not as Asians but as Pacific Islanders.

The results of the survey had a few surprises, not the least of which was that while violent hate crimes are the most frequently reported by mainstream media, they do not constitute the majority of hate incidents. Instead, they only comprise less than 25 percent of the hate incidents reported to Stop AAPI Hate.

The report, however, stated that a good number of incidents could qualify as civil rights violations. Almost half, or 49 percent, of AAPIs surveyed said they had experienced discrimination or unfair treatment that could be deemed illegal.

(From page 1)

Philippines (AFP) as well as officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) may soon apply for early retirement, putting the Philippines external and internal security at risk.

All because the Duterte government decided to practically double the pay of both AFP and PNP men and women, whose pension plan was already at risk.

In a Senate hearing this week, Galvez said a large majority of military and uniformed personnel (MUP) were uneasy enough with the possible reform to the pension system that they may simply up and quit.

The Defense department OIC said he anticipates that “around 70 to 80 percent of our enlisted personnel, eligible or optional retirement, will retire.”

Galvez explained that most of the MUP wanted to avail of their pension under the current system our of fear that the coming reform will affect their pay as well as their

According to an openly gay Filipino woman from Maryland, she had experienced several incidents.

“The most common and recent was racial slurs screamed at me for bringing Filipino food to work for my break along with sexist comments and name calling ‘wh@ re’ and ‘sl*t’ for being a woman along with ‘f@g’ for being a gay woman in my workplace,” the victim said.

She added: “It’s becoming more frequent and the higher ups are doing nothing about my complaints and rather joining in with these men.”

The survey further found that slightly more than half, or 51 percent, of the discrimination occurred while they were customers at a business, while 47 percent said it was experienced in their workplace.

Discrimination was also common in school, while on public transportation, while seeking government services, and

retirement benefits.

Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla had filed bills seeking to reform the current system, which the likes of Finance chief Benjamin Diokno and National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon have called “unsustainable.”

Unlike members of the Social Security System (for private sector workers) and the Government Service Insurance System (for public sector employees), the country’s soldiers and police do not have to remit any portion of their pay for their pension plan. The AFP and PNP pension plans are all shouldered by the national government.

De Leon stated that without correcting the system, pension spending for the AFP and PNP will reach P1.5 trillion by 2040, with interest expenses skyrocketing to P171 billion by that year.

The PNP agreed with the acting Defense chief that a high number of the country’s cops may opt for early retirement.

PNP Brigadier General Ronaldo Olay told the Senate hearing that they are presently “hemorrhaging,” with senior officers being afraid of what is

while doing business either as a renter or a buyer.

The sad results of experiences with discrimination resulted in 31 percent altering their behavior, switching schools, finding new jobs, and finding other places to shop.

The joint survey found that only 20 percent, or one in five, AAPIs who experienced discrimination bothered to report it.

Of the nearly 80 percent who did not report their experience, 52 percent said they did not believe it would make a difference, while 22 percent said they did not trust the government to take action.

Some who wanted to file a complaint –36 percent – said they did not know where to go or what to do to report their experience.

As a result of the survey, Stop AAPI Hate listed down four recommendations for Congress, namely:

· Fund state and local government ef-

now happening.

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, said it was “very revealing that this impending passage of this new law that we are proposing right now is resulting in brain drain as far as the MUP is concerned.”

He added that the training and experience of the senior officials cannot “be matched by new entrants.”

Galvez told the senators that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr was “very much concerned” at the probable impact of the new law, which while admittedly painful is still deemed as absolutely necessary.

Officers from the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Corrections said that while they recognize the growing fiscal problem and the need to take immediate corrective action, the proposed reforms should only apply to new entrants.

Short-term corrective measures being considered include raising the pensionable age of police and soldiers, but this is deemed a “very sensitive issue,” according to Galvez.

Optional retirement age may also be raised to 25 or 30 years, thereby prevent-

forts in partnership with community groups to address discrimination and other hate incidents;

· Codify the language access coordinated at the US Department of Justice;

· Update Title ll to include retail stores and other businesses where discrimination takes place; and

· Improve civil rights data nationwide.

(Note: Title ll is the Supporting Effective Instruction State Grant Program that provides federal funding for various learning initiatives.)

Since March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began to quickly spread worldwide, more than 11,000 hate incidents targeting the AAPI community has been recorded by Stop AAPI Hate.

Clearly stopping Asian hate remains a problem in search of a permanent and lasting solution.

ing a number of soldiers and police from leaving the force early.

With no clear solution in sight, Galvez said the best they can do is to consult with the country’s soldiers and cops and try to work out “some sort of common ground.”

The AFP has a manpower compliment of more than 140,00, while the PNP has some 220,000 personnel. This translates to a combined might of about 360,000. Should 70 percent retire in the near future, this means around 250,000 will no longer be around to protect and to serve the Filipino people.

If 80 percent choose to quit, this leaves 280,000 who will return to civilian life, leaving only some 80,000 to protect the Philippines with its population of more than 113 million.

And while former president Duterte cannot be blamed for the non-contribution pension system of the AFP and PNP which had long been in effect by the time he assumed the presidency, he must bear the bulk of the blame for worsening the problem with his ill-advised step of raising the salaries of the country’s MUP without providing a source for the funds.

Bonta...

(From page 1) AG

in addressing hate crime.

Since last year, the Attorney General has also engaged with local leaders through roundtables in San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, Riverside, Long Beach, Santa Ana, San Jose, and Stockton.

As in previous meetings Bonta spearheaded, the roundtables are broadly aimed at developing strategies to address bias and hate, increasing awareness around available resources for members of the public, and strengthening responses to hate crimes in California.

“There is no place for hate in California, and now more than ever, we must stand united against hate and extremism,” stressed Bonta. “By utilizing every resource possible, we will raise awareness around the staggering rise in hate crimes and proactively prevent future extremism from occurring. Every Californian deserves to feel safe in their cities and communities.”

In the same breath, Bonta also thanked Mayor Aitken and local leaders in Orange County for their partnership and commitment to combating the rise of hate, fostering holistic, community-based responses, and providing resources where they are most needed.

For her part, Aitken claimed that Anaheim is a proudly diverse, global city that draws strength from our people and cultures.

“That is something we must always embrace, uphold and protect. Hate thrives when unaddressed, and building community awareness is one of the most effective steps we can take to ensure Anaheim thrives as a welcoming place for all,” Aitken strongly believes.

In 2021, California experienced an alarming 32.6% overall increase in reported hate crimes, the highest number of reported hate crimes in the state since the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Although not captured in statewide hate crime statistics, it’s also

important to remember that hate incidents — acts that do not rise to the level of a crime — are also incredibly harmful and can leave lasting, negative impacts on all our communities. The critical discussion focused on developing community-based solutions to protect residents and communities from harm.

Attorney General Bonta has issued a series of reports, guidance, and resources to help the public and law enforcement better understand and address hate crimes in California.

Given the ongoing challenge presented by hate crime, the Attorney General urges leaders across the state and members of the public to review and make use of these important resources, which include a law enforcement bulletin summarizing applicable civil and criminal hate crime laws, guidance to prosecutors to help strengthen prosecution and enforcement, and brochures and fact sheets in more than two dozen languages to assist Californians in identifying and respond-

(Continued on page 9)

NBI (From page 1)

NBI Director Medardo de Lemos personally attended the filing of the complaints which also saw voluminous boxes of evidence submitted by the NBI to prosecutors to back up the charges of murder, multiple frustrated murder, and multiple attempted murder against Teves who continues to deny the charges.

Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla and the Department of Justice have yet to release a copy of the complaint though an earlier resolution indicting Teves’ former aide Marvin Miranda claimed there were two prior attempts to assassinate Degamo in December 2022 and February 2023 using a sniper rifle and a rocket propelled grenade launcher.

The DOJ is expected to summon Teves and require him to file his counteraffidavit.

Remulla said once the summons are issued to Teves’ last known address, the

(From page 8)

ing to hate crime events.

Last year, Attorney General Bonta launched the Racial Justice Bureau, which, among other things, supports the California Department of Justice’s broader mandate to advance the civil rights of all Californians by assisting with new and ongoing efforts to combat hate and bias.

Bonta also released a special report on anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic, which offers important context and analysis regarding the recent increases in anti-Asian hate crime events.

suspended legislator “has to personally appear to swear by the contents of his counter-affidavit.”

“He has to come home or they will file the case in court and a warrant will be issued in absentia,” Remulla said.

If a warrant of arrest is issued and Teves is not arrested or refuses to surrender, then he becomes a fugitive from justice.

“He will lose a lot of things if he becomes a fugitive. Cancellation of passport is one. So, he will have a hard time moving around,” Remulla said.

Remulla said there were no other respondents in the complaints because the investigation was still ongoing.

Aside from Degamo, nine other people died in the March 4 massacre in Pamplona town, while 17 others were wounded. The slain governor was in the middle of a meeting with some of his constituents when several armed men entered his residential compound and opened fire.

More broadly, the Attorney General is deeply committed to responding to the needs of historically marginalized and underrepresented communities and, last year, also launched the Office of Community Awareness, Response, and Engagement to work directly with community organizations and members of the public as part of the effort to advance justice for all Californians.

Members of the public can further explore the most recent hate crime data on OpenJustice.

If you believe you or someone you know has been the victim of a hate crime,

Remulla earlier said Teves appears to be the main orchestrator of the killings, claiming he funded the planning and the firearms used. Teves has repeatedly denied the allegations.

Teves’ lawyer, however, said that he believes the cases filed are not airtight, as he cited reports that some suspectwitnesses recently began to refuse to give their statements to authorities.

The House of Representatives Committee on Ethics, meanwhile, denied the request by Degamo’s widow, Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, for the expulsion of Teves from the lower chamber of Congress.

Rep. Felipe Espares of COOP-NATCCO, the panel’s chairperson, said the committee will hold a meeting on May 23, a day after the expiration of Teves’ 60-day suspension for his continued absence without travel authority.

Remulla clarified that they initially received information that Teves purchased

notify local law enforcement and consider taking the following steps:

• If you are in immediate danger, call 911 and if needed, seek medical attention.

• Write down the exact words that were used and take note of any other relevant facts.

• If safe to do so, save all evidence and take photos.

• Get contact information for other victims and witnesses.

• Reach out to community organizations in your area that deal with hate crimes or incidents.

a ticket for a Philippine bound flight Wednesday. Teves’ camp, who has insisted that there are threats on his life, has denied that he had planned to return home.

“Ang alam kasi namin ticketed na siya (What we know was that he is ticketed), basta we have sources to tell us his movements. We will not release it if we do not have any reasonable ground to believe that something was going to happen, something may happen and that’s part of it. We have our sources to tell us what the facts are,” Remulla said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Remulla have urged Teves to return to the country and face the charges. “Well, flight is an indication of guilt, by any language, by any jurisdiction, by any legal system,” the DOJ chief added.

Remulla said the presence of Teves is required if he wants to formally refute the allegations that he masterminded the attack which resulted in the death of their family’s political rival and nine others.

Reports of hate crimes and incidents can also be made to the California Office of Civil Rights CA v. Hate hotline and network online at any time in 15 languages or by calling (833) 866-4283 or 833-8-NOHATE, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and talking to a trained civil rights agent in over 200 languages.

Outside of those hours, people can leave a voicemail or call 211 to report a hate incident and seek support from a professional trained in culturally competent communication and trauma-informed practices.

AG Bonta...

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Dealing with epidemic of loneliness, isolation

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EDITORIAL

A sure loser gets chance to spew more lies

We may have all had a sense of déjà vu after witnessing Donald Trump’s town hall meeting last week.

For all intents, he was repeating the exact same things he was saying in the aftermath of his defeat in the 2020 presidential elections.

The very first thing he said was that the election was rigged. With that, everything that followed was to be expected. It was lie after lie after lie, and he was lucky – and this was host CNN’s mistake – in gathering an overwhelmingly pro-Trump audience who cheered every falsehood that came out of his mouth.

It has been described as a disgrace, a disgrace, and a dumpster fire.

Incidentally, news network CNN has been lambasted for giving the 45th president an opportunity to face not just an adoring crowd of followers, but more importantly millions of people interested in finding out what platform he was offering in his bid to return to the White House.

He had nothing new to offer. Worst of all, Trump only reinforced the belief that he is somehow beholden to Russian President Vladimir Putin. While the rest of the world has slammed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Trump could not even bring himself to admit whose side he was on. He only said that he wanted the war to end, which was not saying anything at all.

The former president also blatantly lied when he said he did not know E. Jean Carroll, who last week won a court judgement against him after a jury determined that he sexually assaulted her then added insult to injury when he defamed by saying he never met her and was only out for some easy cash.

CNN reasoned that the people should know what kind of man Trump is now, which will help them decide if he is worthy of their votes next year. For now, Trump remains the frontrunner to become the Republican party’s candidate for president in 2024.

There are no official figures yet, but it is not improbable to think that by his performance in that town hall, Trump may have lost some votes.

At the very least, he did not gain any new votes, specifically from the independent voters who will very likely again decide who will occupy the Oval Office after next year’s elections.

The reaction from a number of Republican lawmakers and state officials says that a good many of them were likewise turned off by the things that Trump said last week.

About the only positive thing that can be said about Trump now is that he still commands a large enough following that he may well be the GOP’s nominee next year.

But while a big chunk of registered Republicans will vote for him come hell or high water, it will not be enough. He is still destined to lose the popular vote by many millions, and the electoral college by a solid number.

His chances of winning have also been lessened by his loss of support from the likes of Fox News, which has relegated him to the backroom, to be treated as nothing more than a sure loser. Which is precisely what he is. Not just in elections, but in life.

Note: Upside is deferring to the May 1 letter by the U.S. Surgeon General on a crucial issue especially besetting older adults. As Americans live longer, social connection and community become lifesavers, fighting isolation resulting from loneliness, which leads to depression and eventually poor mental and physical health. Published in full in time for May, Mental Health Awareness Month.

WHEN I first took office as Surgeon General in 2014, I didn’t view loneliness as a public health concern. But that was before I embarked on a cross-country listening tour, where I heard stories from my fellow Americans that surprised me.

People began to tell me they felt isolated, invisible, and insignificant. Even when they couldn’t put their finger on the word “lonely,” time and time again, people of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds, from every corner of the country, would tell me, “I have to shoulder all of life’s burdens by myself,” or “if I disappear tomorrow, no one will even notice.”

It was a lightbulb moment for me: social disconnection was far more common than I had realized. In the scientific literature, I found confirmation of what I was hearing. In recent years, about one-in-two adults in America reported experiencing loneliness. And that was before the COVID-19 pandemic cut off so many of us from friends, loved ones, and support systems, exacerbating loneliness and isolation.

Loneliness is far more than just a bad feeling—it harms both individual and societal health. It is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and even greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity. And the harmful consequences of a society that lacks social connection can be felt in our schools, workplaces, and civic organizations, where performance, productivity, and engagement are diminished.

Given the profound consequences of loneliness and isolation, we have an opportunity, and an obligation, to make the same investments in addressing social connection that we have made in addressing tobacco use, obesity, and the addiction crisis. This Surgeon General’s Advisory shows us how to build more connected lives and a more connected society.

If we fail to do so, we will pay an ever-increasing price in the form of our individual and collective health and well-being. And we will continue to splinter and divide until we can no longer stand as a community or a country. Instead of coming together to take on the great challenges before us, we will further retreat to our corners—angry, sick, and alone.

We are called to build a movement to mend the social fabric of our nation. It will take all of us—individuals and families, schools and work-(Continued on page 26)

Can time heal all wounds?

Time, they say, heals all wounds. It probably does, in most cases, but not in all. I know people who have harbored grievances against their fellowmen for decades. Time has not healed THEIR wounds!

As Christians, we believe that we need to forgive those who have hurt us , following the Lord’s Prayer “ forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”.

Admittedly, is is difficult to forgive people who , we believe, have betrayed our trust or harmed us, intentionally or not, by word or deed.

To my regret, I have cast off former friends who proved to be user-friendly, fair –weather friends, people I trusted who spoke ill of me.

Time has whittled my anger towards them, taught me to understand what motivated their words and actions, all of which pained me.

Often, people say that they have forgiven whatever hurt done to them , but declare that they have not forgotten or will never forget.

I believe that once one has forgiven his fellowman , one should learn to forget the hurt, in time.

What comes to mind is a time , years after my ticket’s defeat at the National Press Club elections , when I crossed paths with my then opponent, on a street. I had been so mad at him for years , but when our eyes met, I greeted him as he greeted me. I wondered then: why on earth did I do that? Obviously, time had healed my wound.

The path to being more like Christ is certainly a thorny one. To forgive is to swallow one’s pride, to quell one’s anger, and to let love prevail.

Thankfully, for many of us, time can and does blur the memory of past hurts and that is what should matter , as we prepare to meet our Maker , at this journey’s end.

CHERIE M. QUEROL MORENO

Upside

Chinese militia vessels

When a group of Southeast Asian navy vessels went to a disputed area in the South China Sea to conduct a rare drill with the Indian Navy, several Chinese militia vessels rushed to the same area to confront the multinational gray ships.

IN THE TRENCHES

It could be an awkward situation when gray ships have to deal with unarmed, civilian vessels attempting to disrupt a non-threatening and peaceful naval exercise to test readiness and interoperability of like-minded countries to respond to any emergency at the high seas.

Some of the naval vessels from that drill were heading to the Philippines to take part in a fleet review this week and another maritime exercise within the country’s territorial waters.

The Philippines has drawn up a scenario where an international luxury ship would be attacked by pirates and a mysterious disease would infect passengers of the vessel.

Southeast Asian navies — Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam — would come to the rescue of the luxury liner.

Laos, which does not have a navy because it is a landlocked country, will send an observer team. There will also be participants from Cambodia, Malaysia, and Myanmar.

This will be the first time Mania will host an Asean-wide naval drill as well as a fleet review, where it will display its new naval assets.

The guided-missile frigate, BRP Jose Rizal, will play a starring role along with the patrol ship BRP Gregorio del Pilar (an ex-USS Hamilton-class cutter), a landing dock platform BRP Tarlac, two newly acquired missile-capable and small but fast BRP Asero-class fast attack interdiction craft, and three other picket ships.

Other Southeast Asian navies will send frigates and patrol vessels for the first-of-its-kind activity in the Philippines.

As Southeast Asian navies have been increasingly conducting cooperative activities, a jealous China has been stepping up its own activities to defend what it had claimed to be part of its territory — the South China Sea.

The four Southeast Asian states, which have conflicting claims on the South China Sea, are no stranger to China’s gray zone tactics. But the other navies, perhaps, saw for the first time how China’s gray zone tactics worked.

In the past, Chinese vessels rammed Vietnamese ships in disputed waters. Nearly 40 years ago, China sank a Vietnamese Navy ship near Fiery Cross Reef, the only known postwar naval skirmish in the South China Sea.

In 1992, Southeast Asian nations agreed to sign a political document in Manila, a declaration on the South China Sea, to pursue peaceful means to resolve conflict in the disputed.

Ten years later in Phnom Penh, the 10 Southeast Asian states signed with China an informal code of conduct in the South China Sea — the Declaration of Parties to the South China Sea (DOC).

The agreement continues to hold as Asean and China continue to negotiate a formal and legally binding Code of Conduct. It has prevented China from occupying uninhabited reefs and shoals.

But it did not stop China from resorting to gray-zone tactics to effectively gain control of maritime spaces in the region.

China respects the DOC that it did not build new structures or occupy uninhabited features in the Spratlys and other areas in the South China Sea.

But China has been deploying its militia vessels to gain control of waters near uninhabited features, like what it did to Scarborough Shoal.

China did not build structures but used its coast guard and militia vessels to control the waters around the shoal.

It has hundreds of militia vessels in the Spratlys, deploying them to waters which it wanted to control, like around Sabina Shoal and in the Reed Bank.

These militia vessels were also used to block other claimant countries’ vessels, an added layer of wall to prevent other countries from freely navigating the South China Sea.

SMC initiatives to fuel agricultural growth

Get 3 books for the price of 1 until this August 18

THE OUTSIDER

As a country that is basically agricultural, I am troubled by reports of continued imports of agricultural products—crops, poultry and meat included. How I wish by this time we have addressed the problems confronting the agricultural sector embedded for generations. How I wish we are now a self-reliant and self-sufficiency country in terms of food at par or even better than our neighbors in the region. I had the great privilege of serving as communications and media consultant at DA during the stints of then Secretary Leonardo Montemayor and former Secretary Arthur Yap with the late Undersecretary Jesus Emmanuel Paras.

I remain optimistic though that we will get there with the right government policies under the leadership of PBBM who has taken on the role of Secretary at the Department of Agriculture, and with the help of the private sector. While this is noble, I believe it’s about time President Marcos Jr. must now appoint a permanent DA Secretary.

Over the past week, three reports caught my attention. The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the value of production in agriculture and fisheries at constant 2018 prices in the first quarter of 2023 registered P428.69 billion which indicates an annual growth of 2.1 percent. Another report, this time on employment rate in March 2023, revealed that it was higher at 95.3 percent than last year’s 94.2 percent for the same month. According to the report, by broad industry group, the agriculture sector accounted for 23.5 percent of total employed persons. Sadly, agriculture and forestry was among the five sub-sectors with the largest drop in the number of employed persons from March 2022 to March 2023.

The third news I found very inspiring was about San Miguel Corporation’s direct corn buying program that provides farmers with a ready market for their corn produce at fair prices. The program was launched in 2020 and to date, SMC has purchased P23.9-billion worth of corn. This translates to over 1.3 million metric tons of local corn.

Farmers from 13 provinces are the beneficiaries of this program. These provinces are Batangas, Bicol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu Davao, Iloilo, Isabela, Ormoc, Pangasinan, Tarlac and Zamboanga. Plans are afoot to expand the number of provinces to be included in the corn buying program this year. Through this program, farmers earn more as middlemen are eliminated.

SMC President and CEO Ramon S. Ang envisions the program as a means to support local farmers and increase economic activity.

“Supporting local farmers provides our country multiple benefits—from creating jobs and improving livelihood in the provinces to stimulating local economies and reducing our dependence on imports,” he said.

Likewise, the program will help preserve farmlands. “These can be sustained for food production and remain viable resources for generations to come,” he added.

SMC’s direct corn buying program could be a template for other local food manufacturers who are dependent on imported raw materials for their products. A program like this ensures a steady supply of raw materials. It could also entice more Filipinos to engage in farming knowing that there is a ready market for their produce.

It will be recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, SMC established the Better World Diliman to provide consumers with fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices. SMC collaborated with Rural Rising Ph to rescue over 1.7 million kilograms of fruits and vegetables from farmers who had difficulty finding market for their agricultural harvests. This collaboration boosted incomes of about 4,500 farmers from Luzon, prevented crop spoilage and wastage, and ensured the availability of food despite the pandemic.

During the pandemic, SMC subsidiary San Miguel Foods, Inc. purchased 5000,000 metric tons of corn from farmers nationwide who were affected by quarantine protocols and supply chain difficulties.

As book author, columnist and active Evangelist, I was encouraged to receive many orders of our latest global bestseller “LAUGHTER FOR GOOD HEALTH” subtitled “Humorous Anecdotes and Stories on Cooking, Events, Families, History and Personalities.”

& Wealth

“LAUGHTER FOR GOOD HEALTH,” which I co-authored with Mary Ann Gove Cheatham from Arizona, was featured prominently last week by Amazon with the Back Cover & Front Cover designed by Gilford Denis from Baguio City and Terry Denis, founder of the Restoration Books and the Publishing Corner from San Francisco, California.

Amazon also displayed and featured Praises on “LAUGHTER FOR GOOD HEALTH” for the global market. LAUGHTER FOR GOOD HEALTH (305 pages) is now available through Amazon in Hardcover ($25.95 per copy), Paperback ($19.95 per copy) and E-book ($9.95) Here are some praises and comments on the book displayed by Amazon for the U.S. and global market:

“I highly recommend this book that makes me feel good and makes me laugh each time I read it, and which, I am certain, will also make you laugh for your good health,” said RAZZLE ROWE, R.N. from Phoenix, Arizona USA.

“LAUGHTER FOR GOOD HEALTH is a must reading for every couple and family as antidote to stress and worries. Order your copy now, read it and be blessed with a merry heart,” echoed FELIX L. OLIDAN, JR., Evangelist and Minister, WANCHAI CHURCH OF CHRIST, Wanchai, Hong Kong

“I am delighted to recommend LAUGHTER FOR GOOD HEALTH co-authored by Art Gabot Madlaing and Mary Ann Gove Cheatham. This is a lasting gift you can give to your children and grandchildren,” wrote MILDRED WARD, Children’s Bible Class Teacher, GOLDEN GATE CHURCH OF CHRIST, San Francisco, California. USA.

“I commend co-authors Art Gabot Madlaing and Mary Ann Gove Cheatham for jointly writing LAUGHTER FOR GOOD HEALTH, a new bestseller. I personally recommend this timeless book to every individual and family who desire to have good health and joyful life,” echoed ATTY. JUNAS T. SAGURIT, President, ASIAN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY, Bugallon, Pangasinan, Philippines.

“I personally recommend this timeless book LAUGHTER FOR GOOD HEALTH to the young people and millennials like me. Get your copy, read it and be joyfully blessed,” wrote BRENT M. SOLIS, Evangelist and Minister, DAGUPAN CITY CHURCH OF CHRIST, Dagupan City, Pangasinan, Philippines.

“LAUGHTER FOR GOOD HEALTH is a must reading for anyone interested to have good health and joyful life,” said HENRY T. BRAVO, Evangelist and Elder, SURREY CHURCH OF CHRIST, Vancouver, B.C., Canada

“As practicing physician, I fully understand laughter as natural antidote to stress and worries. I commend and thank co-authors Art Gabot Madlaing and Mary Ann Gove Cheatham for jointly writing LAUGHTER FOR GOOD HEALTH. Every hospital must have copies of this timeless book available for the patients and the general public,” affirmed YVONNE P. BULONG, M.D., Baguio City, Philippines.

“LAUGHTER FOR GOOD HEALTH , a new bestseller, is a lasting gift for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Graduation, Wedding Anniversaries and other occasions. I highly recommend this book to everybody especially to our students and Chinese friends,” wrote KEVIN KIM COLLADO, Academics Dean & Chinese Language Professor, ASIAN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY, Bugallon, Pangasinan, Philippines.

“With so much worries and anxieties adversely affecting men and women today, I am glad that Art Gabot Madlaing and his co-author Mary Ann Gove Cheatham wrote the timely book LAUGHTER FOR GOOD HEALTH as antidote to stress and worries,” said JOHN JEFFREY, Evangelist and former Elder, UPTOWN CHURCH OF CHRIST, San Francisco, California USA.

(Continue on page 27)

The militia vessels were effective in sea control and sea denial strategy but the latest inci-

‘We are happy to help bridge the gap between farmers and end-consumers by ensuring farmers get better-than-farmgate prices for their agricultural produce to earn higher incomes while offering these directly to consumers, including our employees,” RSA had said.

(Continue on page 27)

“LAUGHTER FOR GOOD HEALTH, a new bestseller, is a magnificent read for individuals, couples and families. This is a very timely book as

ART GABOT MADLAING Health

MANNY MOGATO

MELANDREW T. VELASCO

What De Lima’s acquittal means

It is unfortunate that Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla has put a damper on the court’s acquittal of former Senator Leila de Lima of the trumped up drug charges that the Duterte regime filed against her.

Herself a former Justice secretary, De Lima’s acquittal was met with general praise from most quarters. After all, she had spent six years in prison for a crime she did not commit.

But Remulla had to say that her being cleared “does not mean there’s absolutely no guilt.”

As for Duterte, the former president initially said that everyone should accept the verdict, adding that he had nothing to do with the cases filed against De Lima.

But while saying the court’s decision “must be accepted,” he added that he believed it was also “flawed.”

While she is still incarcerated pending her bid to be allowed to post bail in her third and final drug case – she will not only be granted bail but will be found innocent of the charges, which are little different from the first false cases – De Lima can and should run for her old Senate seat.

More than that, she should file the proper raps against her tormentors, led by former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre. This is the same Cabinet secretary who was practically forced out of the Duterte government under still mysterious conditions.

Of course he would not have filed the raps against the then sitting senator without the approval of Duterte, but also charging the former president is an iffy situation at best.

Charging a former president for acts committed during his or her presidency is not unheard of. Remember what happened to a certain Gloria Macapagal Arroyo? What about a guy named Joseph Ejercito Estrada?

But those two incompetent presidents eventually got off scot free. One is still in government service who always travels with the incumbent president in his frequent foreign forays, while the other is enjoying life as an old man with all the money in the world and who frequently gets invited to both government and private sector events.

De Lima may dispense with the filing of charges against Duterte for now, but she has been advised by the likes of former senate president Franklin Drilon – yet another former Justice secretry -- as well as noted lawyer Chel Diokno to go after Aguirre.

It will be interesting what the man with the awful toupee will say once he is under oath.

Sadly, in the Philippine justice system, denial is a frequent and accepted defense. Then again, it’s no different from the US, where Donald Trump still denies his many crimes and misdemeanors and get away with it. Most of the time, at least.

A bigger criminal enterprise than we thought

The recent revelations regarding human trafficking in the Philippines point to those accursed Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations, or POGOs, as being at the center of it all.

It has long been known that the mostly Chinese run POGOs had been importing workers from the mainland, with a smattering of Filipinos, to run the day to day operations.

The supposed “gaming” operations were actually online gambling sites at first, but somewhere along the way its operators found out that easier money was to be made by turning them into call center-like operations where workers call on prospects – almost always from the West’s English speaking countries – to sell them such scams as Bitcoin.

Having such operations is one thing, but turning the workers into slaves is another. And Philippine authorities are somehow complicit in the racket when they barely regulated the POGOs, most of which didn’t even bother to pay the right taxes from the start.

A few lawmakers are showing their proverbial slip when they came to the defense of what they call “good” POGOs. This is like saying there are good as well as bad prostitution houses.

They reasoned that the POGOs have boosted the real estate industry, specifically the office and home rental markets.

Poetry for all seasons

“Poetry is the art of understanding what it is to be alive.”

-Archibald MacLeish

“”Poetry is the record of the best and happiest, moments of the happiest and best minds.”

-Percy Bysshe Shelley

There is an element of magic when you are home – the first house you built with your beloved wife. There are enchanting memories that fill your mind and overpower your heart. Cascading reminiscences run like the crystal waters of the Dinangasan River always reminding you of the past gone by. Ah, but it was only like yesterday when my wife and I were playing with our kids when they were just toddlers – Eileen, Happy and Erwin as Mark came thirty years later. And oh, how they have all grown with the years.

And as I walk into my garden seeing the pile of sand, a reminder of unfinished work, and the lone orchid which survived the rest after years of neglect have defied time and circumstances – still with white flower and smelling sweet.

Wonders of creation: So I remember the poems I memorized a long time ago when, as a line of a song goes, “my heart was young and gay”. Yes, I remember William Blake writing in Auguries of Innocence – “To see the world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour.” Bit it is an hour that lasts forever. Indeed, I see Heaven in the flowers of the orchids who were cared for my wife and my mother with so much devotion as if they were rearing their own children. What could be more Heaven than that?

Rustling of the leaves: As I hear the rustle of the leaves of the trees in my garden and seeing them lively dancing to the soft gentle touch of the breeze, Joyce Kilmer’s Trees reminds me that “I think that I shall never see, A poem as lovely as a tree. A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast, A tree that looks at God all day, And lifts her leafy arms to pray, A tree that in the summer wear A nest of robins in her hair, Upon whose bosom snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain. Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree.” Joyce Kilmer has written the indisputable and every time I see trees, I remember Joyce Kilmer reminding me how futile is the challenge of the seemingly powerful to the power of God.

Dazzle the mind: The wonders of creation dazzle the mind of the genius or the fool. The geniuses who wrote poems – William Shakespeare to Ralph Waldo Emerson, Rudyard Kipling to T. S. Eliot, Pablo Neruda to Octavio Paz, Gabriela Mistral to Toni Morison, Mathew Arnold to Thomas Gray, Percy Bysshe Shelly to William Blake to Archibald MacLeish, Alexander Pushkin to Lu Hsun, Kahlil Gibran to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Robert Browning to Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Christina Rossetti to William Ernest Henley, Robert Frost to Edward Fitzgerald, Robert Burns to William Cullen Bryant, Homer to Miguel de Cervantes, Lord Byron to Geoffrey Chaucer, John Donne to Samuel Ullman, Dante Alighiere to George Santayana, William Butler Yeats to Walt Whitman, Christopher Marlow to Ben Johnson, William Wordsworth to John Greenleaf Whittier, Oscar de Zuñiga to Rolando and many other poets whose names escape me for the moment.

A Tale of Twin Lies

As a citizen, I’m bothered by latest developments happening in the political arena these days. In fact, I am wondering why our leaders have the nerve to tell a lie, own it and then refuse to resign!

It is really very heartening to note that an incumbent congressman and a former president propelled and perpetuated themselves to power and insisted to be in power by committing lies and misrepresentations.

A jury determined on Tuesday that former president Donald Trump is liable for defamation and battery of E. Jean Carroll. (Ryan Bort @ Rolling Stone).

On the other hand, Congressman George Santos (R-N.Y.) was criminally-indicted and had no indication he will resign. He gave his first public statement following his arrest flanked by protesters holding signs decrying the many lies he’s told the public. (https://www.rollingstone.com/author/nikki-mccann-ramirez/)

With the findings, both Trump and Santos denied the indictment and both pleaded not guilty and insisted they should be acquitted. Santos is not resigning and is holding on to his position as congressman and Trump is continuing his bid for GOP standard bearer and his quest for the 2024 presidency.

In fact, Trump wanted to know from the jurors, who will begin deliberating on Tuesday, if he is the real victim. He didn’t believe of the jury decision and is trying to question their decision.

The former president wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday: “Waiting for a jury decision on a False Accusation where I, despite being a current political candidate and leading all others in both parties, am not allowed to speak or defend myself, even as hard-nosed reporters scream questions about this case at me. In the meantime, the other side has a book falsely accusing me of Rape, & is working with the press. I will therefore not speak until after the trial, but will appeal the Unconstitutional silencing of me, as a candidate, no matter the outcome!”

What’s worse is, Trump claimed he was not allowed to speak or defend himself, but the author said that was a lie because Trump had every opportunity to defend himself in the trial. During the trial Judge Kaplan still gave Trump a chance to speak, but his legal team failed to file the paperwork, so Trump lost his chance to speak on his own behalf.

So, Trump had every opportunity to defend himself in front of jurors, but he opted to stick to his Truth Social account. Judge Kaplan told Tacopina last week that Trump may be “tampering with a new source of potential liability” by railing against Carroll on social media. The warning came hours after Trump called the allegations a “made up SCAM” and accused Carroll’s lawyer of being a “political operative.”

Trump was accused in 2019 by Carroll, a columnist who has written for Elle and other publications, of raping the latter in a department store dressing room in the mid-’90s. Trump bashed her repeatedly following the allegation, leading her to sue him for defamation. She filed another suit late last year, this one for battery, under New York’s recently enacted Adult Survivors Act. Trump has denied Carroll’s allegations, largely by claiming he would have never raped her because she is not his “type.” Video of Trump’s deposition released last week showed the former president mistaking Carroll for his second wife.

As to the representative from Long Island Congressman George Santos (R-N.Y.), he was indicted and arraigned Wednesday on 13 criminal counts that included wire fraud, money laundering, and lying to Congress. “I will not resign” declared a defiant Santos in a press conference outside of the Central Islip, New York, courthouse, where he sparred with reporters and incensed protesters.

(Continue on page 27)

Indeed, the POGOs do need office space to operate from and their non –Filipino workers need a place to stay when they’re not trying to fool help-

Bright and Beautiful: As I continue to be amazed by the wonders of creation, I get to remember a poem – All Things Bright and Beautiful - which I chanced to memorize when I was in grade school in my home town, Catarman , Misamis Oriental, now of that fabled island of Camiguin. It was one of my favorite poems, written by Cecil Frances Alexander, when I was young as it is supposedly for children, in the line of Frank Sinatra, from one to ninety-one. And so it goes, “All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful, The Lord God made them all. Each little flower that opens, Each little bird that sings, He made their glowing colors, He made their tiny wings. The purple-headed mountain, The river running by, The morning and the sunset, That lighteth up the sky; The cold wind in the winter, The pleasant summer sun, The ripe fruits in the garden, He made them every one. He gave us eyes to see them, And lips that we might tell, How

(Continue on page 27)

When he attempted to claim that the charges against him were a “witch hunt” and shifted attention to the finances of the Biden family, a chorus of booing interrupted the congressman. “The reality is it’s a witch hunt,” Santos said, “it makes no sense that in four months — four months, five months — I’m indicted. You have Joe Biden’s entire family receiving […] money from foreign destinations into their bank accounts […] and yet no investigation (Continue on page 27)

BETING DOLOR ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO

HOMOBONO A. ADAZA Diliman Way

IMMIGRATIONS

When does a child born abroad becomes a U.S. Citizen?

Achild of a U.S. citizen born abroad is a U.S. citizen by operation of law. However, the parents need to register them as a child of a U.S. citizen by applying for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) at the State Department. In the case of a child born to an immigrant who later naturalize, the child will be a U.S. citizen under certain requirements.

Under Section 320 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA 320) it provides that children acquire U.S. citizenship if they satisfy certain requirements before age 18 which include:

• Have at least one U.S. citizen parent by birth or naturalization

• Be admitted to the United States as an immigrant for lawful permanent residence.

• After admission to the United States, reside in the country in the legal and physical custody of a U.S. citizen parent

• If the child is adopted, his or her adoption must be full and final so that the adoption process is legally complete and fully recognized by the U.S. state where the child is residing.

If you and your child reside outside the United States, your child may apply for a certificate of citizenship through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) under Section 322 of INA 322 and take an oath of naturalization to complete the child’s citizenship acquisition. This includes children of U.S. government employees and members of the armed forces who live abroad with parents stationed outside of the United States. To acquire U.S. citizenship under INA 322, you must demonstrate to USCIS your child meets certain requirements before age 18 which include:

• Have at least one U.S. citizen parent by birth or naturalization

• Have a U.S. citizen parent who has been physically present in the United States for a total of at least five years, at least two of which are after age 14. If the child’s U.S. citizen parent cannot meet the physical presence requirement, one of the child’s U.S. citizen grandparents must meet it.

• The child lives abroad in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent and is temporarily present in the U.S. pursuant to a lawful admission and is maintaining that lawful status.

Note: This is not a legal advice an is presented for educational purpose only. You may seek an appointment for consultation with our office for more information.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

1. PETITION FOR NURSES LVN AND CAREGIVERS

Our Law Firm entered into agreement with nursing facilities in the U.S. to process applicants for Nurses, LVN and Caregivers in the US

You may qualify if you have RN or LVN license. Caregivers will need six months of caregiving experience.

Applicants Inside or outside the United States may qualify.

Bankruptcy Basics

We also process Bankruptcy cases.

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

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

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

4. 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 $675.000.

FAMILY LAW

We also handle uncontested DIVORCE.

ITIN and INCOME TAX 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 April, 2023, we received approval from USCIS for four naturalization applications, one Fiancée visa petition, two 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 practiced immigration law, bankruptcy, personal injury and income tax representation since June 1999. His contact phone is 1-877-456-9266, email: info@CCLlaw.net Website: www.crispinlozanolaw.com/ with offices in Hayward and Cerritos, CA.

Marcos renews Malampaya service contract until 2039

MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed the renewal agreement for the Malampaya Service Contract No. 38 (SC 38) that would allow the continued production of the Malampaya gas field for another 15 years until Feb. 22, 2039.

During the ceremonial signing at the Malacañang Palace, Marcos said the renewal of the contract, which was originally set to expire in 2024, is significant to achieve the country’s energy security as Malampaya powers 20 percent of Luzon’s energy needs.

“This is the key to our drive to energy security and calculated to advance the nation’s energy interest. This project will reduce our dependence on oil imports while ensuring a stable supply of energy,” Marcos said.

The 15-year extension for the Malampaya gas field concession, Marcos said, is consistent with the Constitution, and the state policy of hastening discovery and production of the country’s indigenous petroleum.

He reiterated the administration’s commitment to actively pursue the exploration, development, and utilization of the country’s indigenous energy resources, and to optimize the country’s energy mix.

“As we renew Service Contract (SC) 38, we optimistically look forward to the continued production and utilization of the remaining reserves of the Malampaya gas field, as well as further exploration and development of its untapped potential,” Marcos said.

The Malampaya Project will reduce the country’s dependence on oil imports and ensure a more stable supply of cleaner energy from an indigenous source.

Marcos urged the Department of Energy (DOE) to oversee the project’s implementation through strict monitoring and ensuring that the consortium’s goals are aligned with the country’s national interests.

DOE Secretary Raphael Lotilla welcomed the renewal of SC 38, adding that the department has “meticulously evaluated” the consortium.

Lotilla noted that the assessment encompassed legal, technical, and financial capabilities, and confirmed the consor-

tium’s capacity to sustain the production operations and meet its obligations under the renewal agreement.

“The DOE recommended the renewal of the service contract, anchored on the commitment of the consortium to actively explore and evaluate additional gas resources,” Lotilla said.

“Through the stringent due diligence observed, the government aims to uphold responsible and sustainable energy practices while effectively managing the valuable resource that is the Malampaya gas field,” he added.

This policy was first laid down in 1972 through the landmark Presidential Decree No. 87 issued by the president’s father, former president Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.

From the discovery of the gas field more than three decades ago, and the project’s commissioning in 2001, the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project has been a boon to the Philippines, providing 20 percent of Luzon’s energy requirement.

The Presidential Communications Office, in a news release, said through the project, the government was able to generate P374 billion in revenues.

In 2022 alone, the project yielded about P26 billion in government revenues.

Among the officials present during the event were House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Senator Raffy Tulfo, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil, Defense Officer-in-Charge Undersecretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Prime Infra Chairperson Enrique Razon, and Philippine National Oil Company – Exploration Corporation President and CEO Franz Josef George Alvarez.

Meanwhile, Speaker Romualdez welcomed the signing of the renewal agreement which could help avert business losses and ease people’s suffering from frequent brownouts.

“This is a welcome development as the Malampaya gas field provides a significant portion of our country’s energy requirement,” Romualdez said in a statement.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signs the renewal agreement for the Malampaya Service Contract No. 38 (SC 38) at the Malacañang Presidents Hall on May 15, 2023. (Rey Baniquet/PNA)

Yassi Pressman open to joining cast of ‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo’ in the future: ‘That’s my family’

ness not only as a versatile actress, but as a gifted singer and dancer. Yassi can regularly be seen not only in TV series but on variety shows, blockbuster movies and multiple product endorsement ads.

She started appearing in TV commercials at the age of 6, her first being Colgate in 2001.

In 2006, she was cast in the ABS-CBN drama series Gulong ng Palad as the young Luisa.

In 2009, she became a regular GMA Network talent as one of the female dancers of SOP. Pressman was known as the “Princess of the Dance Floor” of Party Pilipinas. When SOP was replaced by Party Pilipinas, Pressman became a part of Sayaw Pilipinas.

Yassi Pressman has admitted that she’s open to joining the cast of “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” which stars her former “Ang Probinsyano” leading man Coco Martin, if she’s given the chance to do so.

Pressman made the statement in response to a question from “Magandang Buhay” host Regine Velasquez, as seen in a snippet froom the morning show’s May 17 episode which was uploaded on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s official YouTube channel.

Pressman Best known for her breakthrough role in Ang Probinsyano as Alyana R. Arevalo-Dalisay, Yassi has made a mark in Philippine showbusi-

In 2013, she signed a co-management contract with Viva Artists Agency. Yassi was also one of the top VJs at MTV and appeared in many online shorts.

In 2014, she was cast as Lorraine “Lory” Keet in the film Diary ng Panget with Andre Paras as her on-screen partner. Pressman also starred as Audrey Dela Cruz in the film Talk Back, and You’re Dead with Nadine Lustre and James Reid.

In 2016, Pressman transferred to ABS-CBN as a housemate in Pinoy Big Brother: Lucky 7. She also became a regular performer in ASAP and joined the longest running teleserye on Philippine television, the teleserye adaptation of FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.

Philippine Madrigal Singers in 3-day concert in New York

NEW YORK - The famous Philippine Madrigal Singers has a series of concerts in New York this May.

Recognized by the UNESCO as Artists for Peace for “putting their fame and influence to promote cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and a culture of peace,” the Philippine Madrigal Singers is one of the most awarded choral groups in the world, having won all the top prizes in most of the world’s prestigious choral competitions, including the Grand Prix in the 2016 Concurso Internazionale di Guido d’ Arezzo, Arezzo, Italy.

The group holds the distinction of being the first choir in the world to win the prestigious European Grand Prix for Choral Singing twice (1997 and 2007) and the first Asian choir to be accorded the BrandLaureate Premiere Award by the Asia Pacific Brands Foundation (2012).

The group’s virtuosity across a vast repertoire range, its continuing promotion of Filipino choral works and the rousing and deeply emotional impact that each performance has on all audiences the world over, as they sing in the distinctive set-up of sitting in a semi-circle without a conductor, have established their reputation as a pioneering force in choral music and an inspirational role model for other choirs.

Founded in 1963, by National Artist

for Music Professor Andrea O. Veneracion, the UP Madrigal Singers, now under designated successor Mark Anthony Carpio, demonstrate every day that choral music can be socially relevant and transformational. They have continued to touch hearts and souls of those who come to their performances and carried

on various programs to nurture and develop future generations of conductors and choral singers all over the world.

Leo Paolo Leal, in a statement sent to Philippine News Today, said the Philippine Madrigal Singers concerts in New York will be on May 20, 25 and 26.

The concert schedule and venue fol-

low:

May 20 - Saints Cyril and Methodius in Deer Park, NY, 730 p.m.;

May 25 - Basilica of Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, NY, 700 p.m.;

May 26 - Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Queens Village, NY, 700 p.m.

R’Bonney Gabriel reminisces childhood in visit to dad’s Malate home

Filipino American beauty queen R’Bonney Gabriel could not help but wax nostalgic over her childhood as she visited her dad’s home street in Malate, Manila and was warmly welcomed by family and the neighborhood.

On Instagram, the Miss Universe 2022 shared several photos of her visit in Barangay 743, handing out meals and school supplies for children.

In the photos shared by JKN Global Group’s Hello Universe Facebook page, the reigning Miss Universe is shown providing school supplies to children in the community. Since her visit coincided with the celebration of Mother’s Day, she also gave red roses to some mothers in the area.

Likewise, R’Bonney had the opportunity to spend time and dine with her family in her father’s house located on Smith Street. Her American mother, Dana Walker, was also there.

R’Bonney is said to be very close to her Filipino father, Remigio Bonzon “R. Bon” Gabriel. Her chic name was derived from her dad’s nickname, “R-Bon”.

R’Bonney, who was accompanied by her parents, carried babies and took photos with fans, according to Manila media, including GMA News, ABS-CBN and Daily Tribune.

Although she resides in the United States, R’Bonney said she often

comes back to visit her dad’s house in the Philippines during summer.

“I spent many summer days playing on this street as a child,” she said. “From walking to buy pandesal in the morning, playing in the rain when it flooded, watching the fiesta parade, and sweating in the heat playing tongits on the plastic tables.”

The Filipino-American beauty queen said she remembers the warmth of the neighbors and was

happy to see familiar faces.

“This street showed me how different my life was in America and taught me how to be grateful for everything I have,” she said.

“To be able to visit again after everything and give back to a place so close to my heart is one of the biggest blessings of Miss Universe.”

R’Bonney attended the Miss Universe Philippines 2023 coronation night last Saturday.

She reunited with her Filipino family during her trip and also met fellow Fil-Am Jessica Sanchez.

Sarah G shows she’s OPM queen at her 20th anniversary concert

wed actor/host Matteo Guidicelli in February 2020, laughingly apologized, “Sorry Lord! Sorry, Mama!”

It was just one of the funniest lines the audience heard from Sarah, in between performing updated versions of old songs and upcoming ones from an album she’s working on.

The Philippine Star report continued:

when Sarah openly “flirted” with her husband onstage, Regine teased her.

The pop star would later on explain, “Nakakatuwa pong maglandian nang kasal na. It has the Lord’s blessing. There’s no more shame hahaha!”

At her 20th Anniversary Concert which was soldout, Sarah Geronimo went all out as a performer, proving to all and sundry she’s now the Original Pilipino Music (OPM) industry’s “queen.”

The declaration was made no less by her idol Regine Velasquez in a portion of the Sarah G Big Dome show, reported Philippine Star’s Nathalie Tomada, adding it was strangely felt like an official passing of the baton.

While Sarah and husband Matteo Guidicelli plus the concert guests, fans and supports were visibly happy with the turn of events, the couple appears to be downhearted at the same time due to their relations with Sarah’s parents, Divine and Delfin.

Matteo admitted in a talk with Boy Abunda that he still has no communication with his parents-in-law, disclosing that there were “several instances” in which he and his wife Sarah had attempted to visit her parents’ house.

“They are my mother-in-law and father-in-law. I want to respect them the best way possible, and I just wish one day everything will be OK because I know how much they love Sarah and I know how much Sarah loves them,” he told Abunda his GMA network show Fast Talk with Boy Abunda.

“We’re civil—I’d like to believe so. I pray every day for strength, wisdom and humility na hopefully one day maging OK ang lahat for Sarah’s peace of mind,” Guidicelli added.

“They’re my in-laws and I wish to love them for Sarah’s sake and for the family’s sake,” he added.

Guidicelli admitted that Sarah has an open communication with her parents, but it is not the case for him as they are still not on speaking terms with him.

Guidicelli said he remains hopeful that they will reconcile in the future, noting how anything is possible with a “pure heart.”

Philippine Star reported that it was the concert’s “quieter” moments, when Sarah offered an intimate glimpse into the other sides of herself — wife, daughter and even future mom — that could explain why she continues to command the most loyal of fans, the Popsters.

The result is you have a sold-out show at a time when K-pop and other foreign acts are dominating the country’s biggest venues.

Sarah’s repertoire started off with her latest hit, Dati Dati, which saw the 34-year-old “Popstar Royalty” entering the venue through an audience entrance and weaving through a sea of Patron ticket holders on their feet, Philippine Star reported, adding it was perhaps, it was her way to reconnect with fans right away five years after her last concert in 2018.

Sarah couldn’t have made the passage of time more obvious when she said, “2018 was when I last had my concert, dito po, dalaga pa po ako nun. Bi-virgin-virgin pa!” Then realizing she might have gotten a whole lot “bolder” than she was last seen onstage, Sarah, who

Like her megahit Tala, the tempo appeared to be slower and featured new dance choreography. While G-Force, her former perennial dance group, wasn’t present (she would thank them in the closing segment), she brought in more dance groups this time around. One of her earliest hits, Sa Iyo by Jun Murillo, got a revamp with a Gary Valenciano/Michael Jackson ‘80s hit-song vibe. She also debuted My Mind, an upbeat collab with Billy Crawford, and sang for the first time Healing, an emotionally-charged piece written by KZ Tandingan.

Transporting audiences back to her beginnings, after winning the singing search Star For A Night as a 14-year-old, she rendered other singles from her first record Popstar: A Dream Come True such as Forever’s Not Enough by Vehnee Saturno, and Narito and If Only, both by Ogie Alcasid.

Ogie’s compositions became an opportunity for Sarah to share the stage anew with Regine VelasquezAlcasid.

Asia’s Songbird later told Sarah: “You’re the queen of everyone, you’re the queen of our hearts, and most of all, you’re the queen of this industry, we love you.”

Sarah is known to be fiercely private, with the press often relying on the media-savvy Matteo sharing bits and pieces of their married life. Not to mention very proper, no cheesy public displays of affection. So,

Sarah, however, turned shy when Matteo asked and received a quick smack on the lips after their mini-duet of The Gift (because, as Sarah put it, Matteo has been true to the meaning of his name, “gift of God,” in her life). As expected, it was more than enough to send the crowd cheering. She joked, “Nag-kiss lang. Tuwangtuwa kayo. ‘Di ba kayo naka-kiss?”

“Alam niyo po pinagdadasal ko po na sana magaganda yung mga anak namin. Sana po talaga, Lord!” she further quipped in what would be, to the best of our knowledge, her first public mention of her desire to have children. “Ang importante po, magiging healthy ang anak namin at magiging mabait. Maganda ang puso. Napaka-advance naman? Hahaha! Pero paanong napaka-advance eh kasal na nga.”

As for Matteo, he couldn’t be any prouder of his wife. “Ladies and gentleman… the most beautiful person in this entire world, Mrs. Sarah Geronimo-Guidicelli,” he began when called on stage to join his wife, their initial “flirty” banter turning into an earnest look into how they are as husband and wife.

Sarah said, “Alam mo mahal, wala kang choice, dinesisyonan mo yan, forever na ‘to.”

“Forever na talaga,” Matteo quickly agreed.

What she learned from her three-year marriage so far is “ang forever, it’s not a guarantee.”

“What will make it last for a very long, long time is your faith in God,” she added.

May forecast projects 5% increase despite tumultuous economy LA County property values near $2 Trillion

LOS ANGELES, CA – After what can be characterized as a tumultuous year in the real estate market, Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang announced the May 15 forecast for the 2023 Assessment Roll.

The Assessor reported to the Board of Supervisors that taxable property values are anticipated to increase approximately 5% over 2022, marking 13 years of continuous growth.

The May forecast projects the anticipated growth rate for the annual Assessment Roll, which closes in early July. The forecast is an important tool for local governments as they prepare their annual budgets in anticipation of property tax revenues.

The annual Assessment Roll is the inventory for all taxable property in the County and can provide insight into the state of the real estate market and the local economy.

“It has been a challenging couple of years as the local and national economies respond to a variety of factors, including COVID. But our analysis indicates property value growth for the 13th consecutive year. This is good news for property owners and for local government, which depends on property taxes to pay for vital public services,” Assessor Prang said. “However, the real estate market in 2022 began more

robustly than it ended, and the sluggish market is likely to continue through this year.”

Although the housing market did cool considerably since 2021, home median sales prices (MSP) remained strong through much of the year, reaching a record high exceeding $900,000. The strength of the single-family residential market through the first two quarters of 2022 is projected to produce a significant increase in transfer assessments. Property transfers are anticipated to add more than $63 billion to the Assessment Roll.

The inflation adjustment mandated under Proposition 13 is the second most significant factor contributing to the Roll, adding the maximum 2% allowable under law and resulting in an estimated $37 billion increase to the 2023 Assessment Roll. The Assessor also expects a moderate increase of $5.2 billion in new construction, while decline-in-value reductions will remove more than $2 billion from the Assessment Roll.

The nearly $2 trillion estimated total net value translates into about $20 billion in property tax dollars for vital public services such as public education, first responders and healthcare workers, as well as other County services. Assessments are based on the value of property on January 1, 2023. (Claire Morales True)

Rising delinquencies change the housing landscape

With a very anemic housing inventory, are we to say that foreclosures looming around us? The recent homebuyers that have taken this low down pay risky loans will lead the pack of property defaults. These are the same high-risk loans that created the big bubble in the mid to late 2000s’. I don’t see the scale to be as large but for buyers who are looking for deals, they will come but you will have lots of buying competition for these properties.

Underwater homeowners — owing more on their mortgage than their home’s current fair market value (FMV) — are more likely to be delinquent on their mortgages than those in a positive equity position.

Nationally, 5% of mortgages originated in 2022 are underwater as of Q3 2022, and an additional 19% of mortgages originated in 2022 have less than 10% equity. Most of these no- and low-equity mortgages are FHA-insured and VA-guaranteed loans, which have little to no down payment requirements.

A seller typically needs at least 10% equity to be able to sell and cover the 5%-6% broker fees as well as pay for any necessary repairs, improvements or other seller concessions demanded in a buyer’s market.

Without at least 10% equity in a property, a traditional sale is not possible, and foreclosure follows when mortgage payments are not paid. As this dynamic snowball in 2023-2025, a rise in real estate owned (REO) property will occur as the number of bankowned properties balloons.

Generally, when going into foreclosure season, mortgage lenders are without staff to properly manage pricing at trustee’s sale or work out payment moratoriums for recently unemployed homeowners. Thus, the lender starts foreclosure and bids on the property for the debt rather than accept a market price at the auction a 3rd party bidder is willing to pay. The result is the lender becomes the owner, and the property becomes classified as REO inventory.

Real estate agents are preparing to work with REO properties and maybe short selling might be coming back. Preparing to invest as a real estate syndicator who purchases REO property at a steep discount for a long-term rental property investment; becoming a property manager of REO property to ensure regular income when traditional listings are sparse; and acting as a listing agent of REO property by making contacts with mortgage servicing companies which will soon see their REO inventory rise to an unmanageable number.

January 2023 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows there were a total of 31,557 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings — default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions – up 36 percent from a year ago, and up 2 percent from the prior month.

” The uptick in overall foreclosure filings nationwide points toward a trend that may suggest more increased activity is on the horizon as we enter the new year,” said ATTOM CEO Rob Barber.” While both completed foreclosures and foreclosures starts have stalled slightly over the past month, the annual increase in overall activity seen over the past 21 months may indicate a more substantial trend that could continue into 2023.”

Lenders repossessed 3,896 U.S. properties through completed foreclosures (REOs) in January 2023, up 6 percent from last month but down 19 percent from last year – the first annual decrease in completed foreclosures since June 2021.

States that had at least 100 or more REOs and that saw the greatest annual decreases in January 2023 included: Florida (down 53 percent); Maryland (down 23 percent); Michigan (down 22 percent); New Jersey (down 15 percent); and Texas (down 14 percent).

Counter to the national trend, only 3 states with 100 or more REOs in January 2023 saw an annual increase, including: New York (up 76 percent); Pennsylvania (up 12 percent); and California (up 4 percent).

Those major metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) with a population greater than 200,000 that saw the greatest number of REOs included: Detroit, MI (783 REOs); Chicago, IL (206 REOs); New York, NY (149 REOs); Philadelphia, PA (100 REOs); and Riverside, CA (66 REOs).

Highest foreclosure rates in Delaware, Illinois, and Michigan

Nationwide one in every 4,425 housing units had a foreclosure filing in January 2023. States with the highest foreclosure rates were Delaware (one in every 2,109 housing units with a foreclosure filing); Illinois (one in every 2,279 housing units); Michigan (one in every 2,617 housing units); New Jersey (one in every 2,858 housing units); and Maryland (one in ev-

(Continue on page 27)

Gilas cagers regain gold medal as PHL team surpasses Hanoi SEA Games medal haul

PHNOM PENH/MANILA – Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chair Richard Bachmann commended Filipino athletes in the ongoing 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia for winning 57 gold medals as of May 17 surpassing the country’s output in the previous edition in Vietnam.

“I am proud of our athletes. I saw how they worked hard—with my own eyes— while preparing for the Games and when they did battle in Cambodia,” Bachmann said in a statement.

“Each moment our flag was raised in honor of a win was a proud moment for every Filipino,” he added.

On Tuesday, Gilas Pilipinas put an exclamation point on the country’s campaign, thumping a suddenly listless Cambodian side 80-69 to regain the gold medal that matters most to Filipinos at Morodok Techo Stadium Elephant Hall 2 in Phnom Penh.

The Gilas’ victory came after arnis and freestyle wrestling delivered a pair of golden wins that raised the country’s total to 56 before 7 p.m., four more than the country’s harvest in the 2022 Hanoi Games last year for a fourth-place finish.

Another gold, courtesy of Gretel de Paz in the 56kg of kickboxing low kick event, made it 57 an hour later.

Alvin Lobrequito took the honor of delivering the country’s 52nd gold by

humbling his Thai opponent, Nattawut Kaewkhuanchum, 6-2 in the men’s freestyle wrestling event, while arnis proponent Trixie Marie Lofranco delivered the 53rd gold by ruling the women’s individual anyo non-traditional open weapon category.

Another arnis entry, Crisamuel Delfin, topped the men’s anyo non-traditional

event for the 54th gold and another wrestler, Ronil Tubog, made it 55 by beating Indonesian Zainal Abidin in the men’s freestyle 61kg event.

The wrestling team has four gold medals.

“A lot of people doubted this team the first time we lost. But the first words I told

them when we lost was this was the one we could afford. And I thought that was the loss that we needed,” said Gilas coach Chot Reyes, whose wards delivered the 56th gold.

“Win or lose, this was going to be my last SEA Games, I promised I’ll never coach in the SEA Games anymore. At least, I will go out with a gold medal.”

A day after ending the reign of Indonesia, its conqueror last year, Gilas hurdled the final obstacle in its bid to reclaim the gold with a pesky defense that stopped the Cambodians’ usually high-octane offense.

The team’s solid defensive effort was in full display in the second quarter, where they scored 23 while limiting the hosts to just 11 to grab a 44-33 halftime lead.

“We kept this team of what, five, six American imports to below 70 points, that is great defense, man,” said Reyes, who earned the ire of Filipino fans when the team lost in Hanoi after 13 straight golds.

Bachmann vouched for the PSC’s full support to Team Philippines’ campaign in future international competitions.

“We reaffirm our support to our national athletes,” he said. “The PSC will continue to work as hard as you train. Salamat sa lahat ng inyong sakripisyo (Thank you for your sacrifices!).

Substitute wrestler powers Team PHL in SEAG

PHNOM PENH – Female athletes powered the Philippine campaign on Monday, May 15, as a substitute wrestler starred in a four-gold harvest that pushed the Philippines into the 50-gold mark in the 32nd Southeast Asian Playing-coach Cristina Vergara, 44, pressed into action when the country’s bet in the 65-kilogram (kg) women’s freestyle category got injured, dominated hometown bet Sambat Vannak via a 12-2 technical superiority to secure

Her 18-year-old daughter, Cathlyn, made it a family affair, bagging a bronze medal in the 59kg class, also in

After Levi Espuerta got injured, Cristina Vergara accepted the challenge to replace her.

It was her third SEA Games gold after 2003 Vietnam and 2005 Manila, on top of one silver and a bronze.

She retired after the 2007 SEA Games in Thailand.

“Di ko maipaliwanag emosyon ko. Napakasaya ko (I can’t explain how I’m feeling. I’m so happy),” Vergara said in a news release by the POC-PSC Media Bureau. “I never thought I can still do it.”

She beat Sopha Thammavong of Laos by superiority in the semifinals.

Bright future

Ann Tuyet Tran of Vietnam and Salinee Srisombat of Thailand bagged the silver in Cathlyn Vergara’s class but her mother couldn’t be prouder.

Weightlifter Vanessa Sarno started the day right for the Filipino contingent, extending her reign in the women’s 71kg category in record fashion despite lack of sleep, having come all the way from the Asian championships in Jinju, South Korea.

Female arnis exponent Ma. Ella Alcoseba delivered the country’s third gold for the day, ruling the women’s full contact live stick contest in the bantamweight class while Dexler Sandigan Bolambao won the country’s fourth mint by topping the same weight class in the men’s division.

Gilas Pilipinas added to the celebration by ending the one-year reign of Indonesia, scoring an 84-76 decision in their semifinal battle.

The four-gold haul pushed the Philippine squad within two of duplicating the country’s 52-gold haul last year in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Earlier in the day, Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino said he expects the team to reach the 60-gold mark.

“We will surpass our medal tally in Vietnam,” said Tolentino. “It’s achievable. God-willing, it might (even) reach 60 (golds).”

In its Facebook page, the Philippine Sports Commission lauded the elder Vergara’s golden finish.

“I keep pushing her to train smart and harder because she has the opportunity to excel. She can still go to the Olympics because she’s still young,” Vergara said of Cathlyn, a freshman BS Nutrition and Dietetics student of the University of Santo Tomas.

Vergara’s gold was the second for wrestling here after Jason Balabal’s triumph in the men’s 87 kg Greco Roman on Sunday.

“It’s a great improvement on our part after coming out with no gold medals in the Vietnam Games,” said Alvin Aguilar, president of the Wrestling Association of the Phil-

The wrestlers also had seven silvers and five bronzes in

REDEMPTION. The Philippines reclaims the Southeast Asian Games gold medal a�er get�ng back at host Cambodia, 80-69, in the men’s basketball finals of the 32nd SEA Games at Morodok Techo Stadium Elephant Hall 2 in Phnom Penh on May 16.

WORLD BOXING ICON and former Senator Emmanuel Manny Pacquiao greets and celebrates the 74th birthday of his mother Dionisia together with rela�ves and friends at her residence in General Santos City. (Photos by Wendell Alinea)

Cris�na Vergara (center), gold medal, women’s wrestling freestyle 65-kilogram category

Governor Newsom releases balanced revised budget plan

By Claire Morales True

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom has released his May Revision proposal, a balanced budget plan that maintains critical investments to address our biggest challenges while preparing for continued economic uncertainty due to global economic issues.

The Governor’s budget closes a projected $32 billion budget shortfall while protecting key investments in the issues that matter most to Californians, including education, health care, housing and homelessness, public safety, and climate action.

Following two years of unprecedented growth, revenues have fallen short of monthly estimates since the 2022 Budget Act was enacted last June. California has planned for this potential shortfall, with the Governor and Legislature paying down the state’s prior debts, building unprecedented reserves and prioritizing one-time investments.

“In partnership with the Legislature, we have made deep investments in California and its future – transformative efforts that will benefit generations of Californians, and that this budget will continue to guide as we navigate near-term ups and downs in revenue,” said Governor Newsom in a statement sent to Philippine News Today.

“As we prepare for more risk and uncertainties ahead, it’s critical that we keep the state on a solid fiscal footing to protect Californians and our progress in remaking the future of our state,” Newsom added.

MAY REVISION FACT SHEET

With unprecedented investments over the past two state budgets, in addition to federal funding targeting infrastructure and inflation reduction, California will invest more than $180 billion over the next several years in clean energy, roads, bridges, public transit,

water storage and conveyance and expanded broadband service. These investments will create hundreds of thousands of new jobs while building the infrastructure to make our state better connected, safer and more prepared for our future.

While the May Revision does not forecast a recession, it recognizes increased risks to the budget since January that could significantly change the state’s fiscal trajectory in the near term. Taking this into account, the plan reflects $37.2 billion in total budgetary reserves, including $22.3 billion in the Budget Stabilization Account.

In addition to addressing the budget shortfall, the May Revision maintains investments in key priorities for Californians. This includes:

Papan Bill to Remove Toxic Chemicals from Menstrual Products Unanimously Approved by Assembly

SAN MATEO – Today, Assembly Bill 246, a bill to remove toxic chemicals from menstrual products introduced by Assemblymember Diane Papan (D-San Mateo), was approved by the State Assembly by a vote of 64-0.

“These once ubiquitous, forever compounds have been linked to health problems, including breast and other cancers, hormone disruption, kidney and liver damage, thyroid disease, developmental harm, and immune system disruption,” said Papan. “With viable alternatives available, there is no longer a good rationale for their use in menstrual products.”

In California, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) class chemicals have already been removed from clothing, children’s toys, cookware,

and food packaging but remain in many menstrual products. Assembly Bill (AB) 246 will remove these chemicals from menstrual products.

PFAS cannot be metabolized and instead accumulates in the human body. Exposure to PFAS and the accrual of these chemicals pose long-term health risks. Research has linked high rates of contaminant exposure in the vaginal area to a variety of health conditions including: accelerated ovarian aging, period irregularities and ovarian disorders like polycystic ovarian syndrome.

“Women’s health must be prioritized over the use of these unnecessary chemicals. It’s well past time to protect women and our environment,” said Papan.

The bill will now be assigned to a policy committee in the State Senate.

PROTECTING HEALTH CARE ACCESS. Following Governor Newsom’s actions to expand health care access and reduce costs, the May Revision maintains billions to continue implementing these measures – programs like CalAIM to transform Medi-Cal, extending health care to low-income Californians of all ages regardless of immigration status, making insulin more affordable through CalRx, and more.

TACKLING HOMELESSNESS. Governor Newsom has invested $15.3 billion to address homelessness – up from $500 million when he took office and more than ever before in state history. The May Revision maintains billions of dollars for aid to local governments, encampment resolution grants,

and more. With this funding will come new accountability – no more status quo.

INCREASING HOUSING SUPPLY. In the last four years, California invested more to increase housing supply than ever before in state history while holding local governments accountable. The state continues to deploy a comprehensive set of strategies –improving state financing, targeting housing investments, providing technical assistance, eliminating regulations, and leveraging land use tools. The state adopted a legally binding goal that local governments must plan to build approximately 2.5 million new units by 2030, and 1 million of these units must be affordable.

CALIFORNIA’S CLIMATE COMMITMENT. California is advancing a $48 billion multi-year commitment to implement its world-leading agenda to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045, protect communities from harmful oil drilling, deliver 90% clean electricity by 2035, and more. It also proposes the development of a Climate Resilience Bond to increase and sustain investments in our climate initiatives.

KEEPING CALIFORNIANS SAFE. The May Revision sustains over $800 million in record-level public safety investments, including supports for victims’ services, officer wellness and training, nonprofit security grants, efforts to combat fentanyl, and more.

UNIVERSAL TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN. The May Revision continues to fully fund the first and second years of expanded eligibility for TK, creating a whole new grade.

FREE MEALS FOR EVERY STUDENT. California is investing $1.6 billion for all students, regardless of income, to access two free school meals per day – up to 12 million meals per day statewide.

Social Security Update

SOCIAL SECURITY’S PLAIN LANGUAGE MAKES THE GRADE

By G. Samson

Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in the Bay Area

Social Security achieved the highest score of any federal government agency on the Center for Plain Language’s 2022 Federal Plain Language Report Card.

Our policies and programs can sometimes be complex and difficult to explain. That’s why we always strive to use plain language that is clear, easy to understand, and useful.

The Center evaluated 21 Executive Branch agencies, including all 15 cabinet-level departments, and graded each between an A+ and F- for writing quality and organizational compliance.

Social Security received an A+ for organizational compliance and an A for writing quality. This is an improvement over last year’s high scores of A+ and B.

“An excellent model to follow is the Social Security Administration’s ‘Contact Us’ page, the only one to earn an A+,” the

Center said in its key findings.

“The web page is clear in its intended purpose to provide information readers seek,” the Center said. “The page has clear and concise language and the reader is addressed directly,” it noted.

The Center also cited “excellent use of links, colors, fonts, sizing, bolding, bullets, and imagery to highlight important information.”

In addition, the Center recognized our Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request page as an excellent model for other agencies. The 2022 Plain Language Report Card was released on January 10, 2023, at www.centerforplainlanguage. org/2022-federal-plain-language-reportcard.

To learn more about Social Security’s plain language efforts, please visit our Plain Writing page at www.ssa.gov/agency/plain-language.

Governor Newsom presents revised budget plan in Sacramento

Ethnic Media Services News Briefing

SAN FRANCISCO, California — The culture wars neatly dividing the U.S. into two camps have set their targets on transgender people. So far this year, more bills targeting transgender rights have been introduced and become law than at any time in US history. Some 29 bills have already become law in 14 states, compared to 20 bills passed into law in 12 states last year, according to an analysis of ACLU data by The Washington Post.

Critically, in a number of states, healthcare providers face felony charges for providing gender-affirming care. Advocates for the trans community say such care is integral for a successful transition. Data indicate that 82% of transgender individuals have considered killing themselves and 40% have attempted suicide, with suicidality highest among transgender youth.

Ethnic Media Services held a news briefing May 12, with transgender advocates discussing anti-trans legislation in three states: Florida, Texas, and North Carolina. A fourth speaker discussed the crisis of trans people and their families fleeing their homes for fear of being attacked or denied access to healthcare.

SPEAKERS

� Gene Wu, Texas State Representative, D-Houston

� Sailor Jones, Associate Director, Common Cause North Carolina

A War on Transgender People

� Susan Maasch, Founder, Trans Youth Equality Foundation

KEY REMARKS

Nadine Smith — We are fighting over the definition of freedom, and we are fighting over the definition of democracy. And everybody has a stake in that. You don’t have to know a trans person to understand that when schools are being told you must take books off of the library where you cannot teach about racial justice, that you cannot tell the truth about American history.

All of these attacks are very much emerging from a demographic reality, which is the graying of America and the browning of America colliding. And the graying of America, because of a whole host of inequities, means that that older demographic is overwhelmingly white. And the emerging demographic, there is no single racial group that is in the majority. And so what had been primarily a city phenomenon of racial diversity is now nationwide.

It is rooted in a fear that America is changing privileges, slipping away from a group that isn’t accustomed to acknowledging that it has privilege.

Rep. Gene Wu — I think it says a lot to the fact that the Texas state Legislature is devoting this much effort to going after a small minority population that really has done nothing to any of them and not done anything to those communities, but they’re going after them. And unfortunately, this is actually pretty standard MO.

Chinese community because the Asian community as a whole, we don’t have a lot of political power and we’re not super active. And so that was a really convenient thing to do. Fortunately, we were able to sort of rally the troops and rally the community to defend against it. But they still have other targets.

The people in charge look for communities, look for groups that are convenient targets that people in general don’t necessarily understand, and may not have the most sympathy for.

Sailor Jones — Advocates for LGBTQ rights have been tracking upwards of a dozen anti-trans proposals in North Carolina’s general assembly in 2023 across multiple categories including education, health care, and sports. And several of these bills have already advanced through at least one chamber: the so called Parents Bill of Rights, which would require healthcare providers to get written parental consent before even treating trans young people, including for gender affirming questions putting trans youth at risk of violence. The so called Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, which would bar trans youth from the sports that they identify with and things like surgical and gender bars for trans minors, which would limit life saving care for young people.

service that “violates their conscience.” So, like so many states, legislators have made it their mission to limit kids sports participation based on their gender identity, as well as ban, drag performances, and other types of LGBT curriculum in schools.

Susan Maasch — We’re a national organization. But recently we decided that we would announce that we were offering micro grants to any families that were fleeing red states. We have heard from hundreds of people. And the stories are heartbreaking.

Our families come from all over red states; I would say the most that we’re hearing from is Florida and Texas. Families are so scared of the rhetoric and the discrimination and the emboldening of hate towards them, towards their children. Even in school, it’s increased so much that there’s a fear and there’s an urgency that a lot of families feel.

Hundreds of people packing up cars, leaving their houses, either selling them quickly or dumping them, leaving their families, their friends, they’re all their relatives. Some of them have lived in these states for generations, but they’re leaving everything that they know and doing it almost in the dark of night kind of situations.

And children that are afraid and feeling a lot of expression, of feeling guilty and sad and worried about their parents, that they’re responsible somehow for the stress that their families are going through, that their siblings are going through.

� Nadine Smith, Executive

Director, Equality Florida

This session we’ve been dealing with anti Chinese bills that directly target the

In North Carolina, we’ve even seen a bill in addition to drag- bans, and ‘don’t say gay’ bills that fortunately stalled in the North Carolina house that would have given health care providers a license to discriminate against trans youth any health care

More Power To You: PG&E and BMW of North America Start V2X Testing in California

PG&E and BMW of North America Expand Collaboration by Testing Vehicle-to-Everything Technology That Will Improve Grid Reliability and Help EV Customers Lower Their Electric Bills by Exporting Power Back to the Grid During Peak Demand Periods

OAKLAND, Calif. – As electric vehicles (EVs) become more prevalent, with approximately 40% of all EVs in the United States driving on California roads, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and BMW of North America (BMW) are collaborating to test how vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology can serve as a solution to offset growing demand on the power grid, improve reliability for electric customers, and maximize the usage of renewable energy. In addition, V2X technology could eventually enable customers to use their vehicles as backup home generation when needed.

The V2X testing is taking place at PG&E’s Applied Technology Services (ATS) Lab in San Ramon and is the focal point of an extended partnership to advance V2X technology and explore the utilization of EVs as a flexible grid resource. The collaborative testing builds on the momentum of the ChargeForward smart charging program, which was announced in 2015 and offers PG&E customers who drive a BMW EV, incentives to align vehicle charging with renewable energy to help support the overall sustainability of the electric grid.

“Electric grid sustainability is becoming an increasingly complex challenge across the U.S.,” said Adam McNeill, Vice President, Engineering, BMW of North America. “That’s why we started our ChargeForward program in 2015, to connect our vehicles, our customers, and the grid. V2X takes smart charging to the next level, exploring how EV batteries can be used for backup generation and other grid services. We’re excited to continue pursuing additional customer benefits while helping make the grid more dependable and sustainable.”

V2X technology will someday empower EV drivers to return excess stored energy from their vehicle batteries back to the grid in exchange for compensation, presenting an ideal response to high-demand power conditions and a key solution for grid stability and resiliency. Additionally, V2X technology could play an important role in increasing the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG)-free resources powering the grid by storing solar and wind energy generated during the day to supplement the availability of clean energy during the peak evening demand period and overnight.

“The utility and automotive industries are creating a transformative clean energy future together. At PG&E we are working with partners like BMW to unleash the full potential of EVs to enhance grid resilience and reliability for our customers, while reducing carbon emissions in our hometowns” said Aaron August, PG&E Vice President, Utility Partnerships and Innovation. “Clean-powered EVs are vital to the battle against climate change. Using V2X technology to create virtual power plants from EVs can help utilities like ours meet peak electricity demand without the need for non-renewable energy resources. With smart, managed bi-directional charging, we can decarbonize our planet at a lower cost to our customers.”

The pilot is assessing how a typical home could maximize its renewable energy usage by switching between EV battery stored renewable energy and grid-provided renewable

energy. The EV battery charges when the renewable energy mix on the grid is highest and the battery discharges throughout the day to support the household load. Results show that a vehicle-to-home connected EV is capable of providing roughly double the amount of renewable energy that a typical California household would be able to use on an average day, significantly increasing customers’ ability to use more green energy on a daily basis. Testing also offers insights on how V2X vehicles perform under real-world scenarios, taking into consideration vehicle functionality and driver behavior to ensure that EVs can be used as a viable grid resource while still meeting customer needs.

PG&E and BMW will continue collaborating to better understand how these learnings can be applied to consider other customer and utility benefits.

ChargeForward Program

This expanded partnership, focused on V2X testing, is a direct result of the success of ChargeForward. Conceived eight years ago, and now in its third pilot phase, BMW and PG&E were the first to offer customers cash incentives for maximizing renewable energy by optimizing their EV charging times to support the overall reliability of the electric grid. It is available to all BMW battery and plug-in EV drivers in Northern and Central California who are also PG&E residential electric customers.

This last year showed that by aligning charging with renewable energy, BMW drivers helped the grid generate and support more clean energy. In California 1.4 million miles were powered by 100% renewable energy in 2022.

What’s next?

BMW and PG&E have agreed to extend their partnership until March 2026 with a focus on smart charging testing. In the next stage of this collaboration, BMW and PG&E will work together to continue testing V2X-enabled vehicles, specifically vehicle-to-grid (V2G), in a field trial at BMW Group Technology Office USA located in Mountain View, Calif. BMW will develop a test fleet of V2X vehicles that will be used in day-to-day operations and serve as a grid resource to help integrate renewable energy and balance the grid. This field test will evaluate how V2X technology can be used for advanced use cases that can be commercialized in future years and help support renewable integration on a neighborhood level to increase grid reliability on a larger scale.

PG&E plans to share more in the coming weeks on its V2X testing collaborations and the work the company is doing to maximize the benefits of EVs. Media interested in learning more or visiting the EV Test Bay at PG&E’s ATS Laboratory are encouraged to contact PG&E’s communications department.

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www. pge.com/ and http://www.pge.com/about/ newsroom/.

Pabatid sa Publiko

Iminungkahing Budget sa Mga Taon ng Pananalapi 2024 at 2025 ng VTA Mga Pampublikong Pagpupulong

Magdadaos ang VTA ng mga pampublikong pagdinig at mga presentasyon ng komite para sa Iminungkahing Budget sa Taon ng Pananalapi 2024 at 2025. Sa susunod na dalawang taon, nagmumungkahi ang VTA ng:

•Walang pagtaas ng pasahe sa transit.

•Pananatilihin ang mga antas ng serbisyong inaprubahan noong 2019 na New Transit Service Plan(NTSP).

Iprinisenta ng VTA ang Iminungkahing Budget sa Lupon ng mga Direktor ng VTA noong Ika-21 ng Abril sa workshop ng lupon para repasuhin at humihingi ng pag-apruba ng budget sa Hunyo 1 Pagpupulong ng Lupon ng mga Direktor ng VTA.

Pwede ring makita ang Iminungkahing Budget sa www.vta.org/budget.

Mga Pampublikong Pagpupulong sa Iminungkahing Budget sa Taon ng Pananalapi 2024 at 2025 sa pamamagitan ng Zoom

•Miyerkules, Mayo 24 sa ika-6:00 p.m. VTABudgetMeetings.eventbrite.com

•Biyernes, Mayo 26 sa ika-12:00 p.m. VTABudgetMeetings.eventbrite.com

Kung kailangan mo ng espesyal na akomodasyon o pagsasalin sa wika upang makabahagi sa mga pagpupulong, paki-contact ang VTA na hindi bababa sa limang araw ang kaagahan bago ang pagpupulong.

Tatanggapin ang mga komento gamit ang telepono: (408) 321-2300 Hirap sa Pandinig (TTY only) (408) 321-2330 Email: customer.service@vta.org

Newsom bares pact to reopen Yuba River to salmon, river restoration Upside...

By Clairer Morales True

YUBA RIVER – At the launch of one of the most ambitious watershed recovery efforts in California, Governor Gavin Newsom joined state, federal and local officials to announce a landmark framework agreement that will reopen miles of habitat to multiple native fish species.

The agreement sets the stage for the return of imperiled spring-run Chinook salmon to their native habitat in the North Yuba River for the first time in more than 100 years.

The collaboration between the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Yuba Water Agency and the federal NOAA Fisheries agency resolves years of conflict and includes major actions to help recover imperiled fish, Newsom said in a statement sent to Philippine News Today.

Also part of the project are:

Building a new fishway – a channel resembling a natural river that salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and lamprey can follow to get around the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Daguerre Point Dam to reach over 10 miles of healthy spawning habitat.

Building a modernized water diversion at Daguerre Point Dam to supply irrigation water south of the lower Yuba River that will protect fish passing the intake.

Launching a comprehensive reintroduction program to support recovery efforts of spring-run Chinook salmon with a goal of returning them to their original habitat in the North Yuba River above New Bullards Bar Reservoir as soon as 2025.

The agreement will restore unimpeded access for fish to the full reach of the Yuba River from the confluence with the Feather River up to Englebright Dam for the first time in nearly a century. Last year, California invested $100 million to support salmon and $30 million of that will go to this project on the Yuba River.

“California is taking action to restore vital habitats and return fish to their historic home – turning the page on outdated water infrastructure that has blocked passage for these fish for

over a century,” Newsom said.

“Together with historic investments, we’re restoring crucial waterways across our state and laying the groundwork for a salmon resurgence that’s not only good for fish, but a lifeline for the communities and Native peoples who rely on a healthy fish population,” Newsom added.

The Newsom Administration has long fought to protect California’s iconic salmon runs and their needed habitat, even through significant obstacles faced by the species year after year. California has taken unprecedented action to restore connectivity, invest in infrastructure improvements and reopen miles of cold water habitat that has been blocked to the fish for decades.

America’s Largest River Restoration: Through many years of effort alongside the Karuk and Yurok Tribes, the first of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River is scheduled to be removed this fall as the largest river restoration project in American history begins. This project, 20 years in the making, received final approval in December 2022. It will revitalize nearly 400 miles of historical habitat to salmon and steelhead that has been blocked for almost 100 years.

Returning Fish Home and Prioritizing Native Habitats: Earlier this month, CDFW announced an historic co-management agreement with the Winnemem Wintu Tribe for continued work to return salmon to the McCloud River. This follows efforts from July 2022 when the Tribe and federal partners returned approximately 20,000 fertilized endangered winterrun Chinook salmon eggs to the McCloud upstream of Shasta Reservoir for the first time since the construction of the Shasta Dam in the 1940s. Last year, about 300 threatened spring-run Chinook salmon were moved to native habitat above Eagle Canyon Dam on North Fork Battle Creek, about 20 miles east of Cottonwood, in Shasta and Tehama counties for the first time in more than 110 years. CDFW also moved threatened spring-run Chinook to Clear Creek, in Shasta County. Colder water temperatures in these waterways better support spawning and help their eggs survive during drought conditions.

places, health care and public health systems, technology companies, governments, faith organizations, and communities—working together to destigmatize loneliness and change our cultural and policy response to it. It will require reimagining the structures, policies, and programs that shape a community to best support the development of healthy relationships.

Each of us can start now, in our own lives, by strengthening our connections and relationships.

Our individual relationships are an untapped resource—a source of healing hiding in plain sight. They can help us live healthier, more productive, and more fulfilled lives. Answer that phone call from a friend. Make time to share a meal. Listen without the distraction of your phone. Perform an act of service. Express yourself authentically. The keys to human connection are simple, but extraordinarily powerful.

Loneliness and isolation represent profound threats to our health and well-being. But we have the power to respond. By taking small steps every day to strengthen our relationships, and by supporting community efforts to rebuild social connection, we can rise to meet this moment together. We can build lives and communities that are healthier and happier. And we can ensure our country and the world are better poised than ever to take on the challenges that lay ahead.

Our future depends on what we do today

VIVEK H. MURTHY US Surgeon General HHS.org

(From Page 13)

Offlineless people into purchasing useless bitcoins.

A friend actually earned a pretty penny by providing transport for the workers, picking them up and taking them back to their residences every day. She even asked me if I wanted to enter the downstream business because I have an all purpose vehicle, but which turned out to be too small for the purpose.

When the offer was made, I was still under the impression that POGOs were legit corporations. After a while, I decided that some of them were fine, while others were not. Now I have come to believe that all of them are illegal in some way or form.

See, the first POGOs were hosting gaming sites, which is a euphemism for gambling sites. Still, this is sort of legit in many countries.

The recent revelations have shown that so many companies which are self-identified as POGOs are no longer involved in gaming or even gambling, but in online selling of useless and even dangerous products and services.

Poor workers from all over Southeast Asia are the preferred employees, as they are so desperate for work that they may even willingly take part in illicit or illegal work. Those that do well are amply rewards, but those who don’t are punished. Not exactly a fair exchange, no?

Incidentally, the family of a very powerful Cabinet secretary is reportedly making millions of pesos monthly on the POGO companies operating out of a former island-resort that they took over some time ago,

While there has been a growing call for the dismantling of the entire POGO industry, Mr. Secretary has been mostly non-committal. At least he hasn’t been vehement in defending the useless industry, perhaps because his family has already earned billions from the business.

The president has indicated that he is in favor of ridding the Philippines of POGOs, so if he has a sudden change of heart, we will all know why.

The pro-nuclear president

Finally, the current president continues to voice his support for the entry of a nuclear plant in the country.

Do you wonder why?

Well, his old man was the one who approved of US company Westinghouse building what’s known as the Bataan Nuclear Powere Plant. And it is no secret that millions of dollars in commissions were involved in the deal. Crony Herminio Disini was the “businessman” who brokered the deal, but there is little doubt that the strongman must have gotten a fair sized chunk of the, uh, gratuities that Westinghouse willingly offered.

So if papa made plenty of coin from that one deal, why not Junior?

Why not, indeed?

As I See It

has launched unto them.”

(From Page 12)

When questioned by reporters on allegations that he collected unemployment benefits while working at a Florida investment firm and receiving a $120,000 salary, Santos said, “I don’t understand where the government is getting their information but I will present my facts.”

The 20-page indictment against Santos covered three major allegations against the congressman: Unemployment fraud, donor fraud, and making false statements to Congress in campaign disclosure forms. Authorities alleged that Santos used funds raised through his campaign to purchase designer goods, paid off his credit cards, and even financed his car payments.

In a statement released by the Justice Department Wednesday, U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said: “This indictment seeks to hold Santos accountable for various alleged fraudulent schemes and brazen misrepresentations. Taken together, the allegations in the indictment charge Santos with relying on repeated dishonesty and deception to ascend to the halls of Congress and enrich himself… My Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively root out corruption and self-dealing from our community’s public institutions and hold public officials accountable to the constituents who elected them.”

Bernarda Villalona, former prosecutor and criminal defense attorney, offered Santos on CNN some free advice: “Shut up, shut your mouth, no interviews because anything you say can be used against you. So, shut up, callate.”

What’s bothering me more is that despite all these lies and misrepresentations, Trump is still the front runner of GOP’s standard bearer in his bid for the 2024 presidential election and Santos is still an active member of Congress and a member of important committees in the lower house.

Trials for both politicians may have to be slow and stale, but if it will drag up to the 2024 elections, it will be upon the voters if they tolerate these when they cast their votes.

So, where will we go next?

ery 2,967 housing units).

Foreclosure starts increase monthly in 31 states including the District of Colombia

Lenders started the foreclosure process on 20,752 U.S. properties in January 2023, down 1 percent from last month but up 75 percent from a year ago.

Those states that saw the greatest number of foreclosures starts in January 2023 included: California (2,513 foreclosure starts); Texas (2,136 foreclosure starts); Florida (1,725 foreclosure starts); New York (1,375 foreclosure starts); and Illinois (1,309 foreclosure starts).

Among those major metropolitan statistical areas with a population of at least 200,000, those with the greatest number of foreclosure starts in January 2023, included: New York, NY (1,370 foreclosure starts); Chicago, IL (1,156 foreclosure starts); Los Angeles, CA (774 foreclosure starts); Houston, TX (629 foreclosure starts); and Philadelphia, PA (612 foreclosure starts).

Thanks for your inquiries, call Ken Go of 1st Innovative Finance Group for your home mortgage needs, call 562-508-7048 or write to kennethgo@verizon.net CABRE 01021223 NMLS 238636

Health & Wealth

The Outsider

(From Page 12)

The SMC top executive believes food security is a pressing issue. That is why SMC is committed to support the agricultural development of the country. And this commitment goes beyond purchasing excess produce but also providing marketing facilities and supporting community-based agriculture initiatives.

Other SMC initiatives to help the agriculture sector include sourcing cassava, an important raw material for its business through the cassava assembler’s program. It also has contract growers for its poultry requirements.

Rent-free spaces for farmers are provided by SMC at the Circolo Market in partnership with the Cabuyao Agriculture Office in Laguna. Farmer and fisherfolk relocatees at the San Miguel Christian Gayeta Homes in Quezon province also benefit from rent-free spaces at the San Miguel Market in Sariaya town.

(From Page 12)

antidote to stress and worries. I recommend it highly,” echoed ERLINDA A BIANAN, R.N., Author of the best-selling book “Nurses Notes on Medical, Surgical and Critical Care Nursing,” Sacramento, California USA.

“Congratulations to co-authors Art Gabot Madlaing and Mary Ann Gove Cheatham for writing LAUGHTER FOR GOOD HEALTH. Every Hispanic couple and family must order a copy, read it to enjoy god health and life full of rejoicing, wrote ALBERTO RODRIGUEZ, Evangelist, HISPANIC COMMUNITY, San Francisco Bay Area, California USA.

I commend co-authors Art Gabot Madlaing and Mary Ann Gove Cheatham fro writing the new bestseller LAUGHTER FOR GOOD HEALTH. This is the best and lasting gift you can give to your FRANC (Friends, Relatives, Acquaintances, Neighbors, Co-Workers). Order copies now and enjoy,” said JAMES QUITORIANO, Evangelist and Minister, GOLDEN GATE CHURCH OF CHRIST, San Francisco, California USA.

“This unique book on humorous anecdotes and stories on cooking, events, families, history and personalities is a must reading for everybody, I personally recommend LAUGHTER FOR GOOD HEALTH,” affirmed DEBORAH Q. MARCOS, Nursing educator and practicing nurse, KAISER PERMANENTE, San Francisco, California USA.

“Christians must be the happiest and joyful people on earth. LAUGHTER FOR GOOD HEALTH will encourage you to be laughing, joyful and happy. I personally recommend this timeless book to everybody specially to our global MY ANGEL RADIO listeners and viewers, confirmed EDWIN BACANI, Founder & global Director, MY ANGEL RADIO, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.

THREE BOOKS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE - I commend and thank Purita Dorotan from Carson in Southern California and Justina Napenas from San Francisco in Northern California for responding to our Special Offer of THREE BOOKS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE through our BOOKS MINISTRY.

Purita Dorotan sent $20 check (rounded from $19.95 per Paperback copy) for autographed copy of “LAUGHTER FOR GOOD HEALTH” plus autographed copy of “LONGEVITY TIPS” (Paperback) subtitled “Secrets You Can Discover and Do for Good Health and Longevity” and autographed copy of the original “HISTORICITY OF JESUS” subtitled “Facts and Evidences for Agnostics, Atheists, Believers and Christians.” These three books are excellent addition to your Personal Library or Family Library.

To commemorate our 49th Wedding Anniversary last May 5, 2023, my beloved wife Virginia Jimenez Madlaing and I are extending our Special Offer of THREE BOOKS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE through our BOOKS MINISTRY, until August 18, 2023, my 76th Birthday.

To get your autographed copies of the three books (LAUGHTER FOR GOOD HEALTH, LONGEVITY TIPS and HISTORICITY OF JESUS) just send $20 (in check or money order) to: ART G. MADLAING, 730 Madrid Street, San Francisco, CA 94112 Tel. (650)438-3531 or (415)584-7095 or email:artmadlaing@hotmail.com

You can also order autographed copies of the three books as your lasting gifts to your FRANC (Friends, Relatives, Acquaintances, Neighbors, Co-Workers).

(ART GABOT MADLAING is accredited and commissioned Notary Public and licensed Real Estate Broker (DRE# 00635976) in California since 1981. Art is the 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.)

In the Trenches

(From Page 20)

Among the 223 metropolitan statistical areas with a population of at least 200,000, those with the highest foreclosure rates in January 2023 were Fayetteville, NC (one in every 1,322 housing units with a foreclosure filing); Bakersfield, CA (one in every 1,522 housing units); Cleveland, OH (one in every 1,557 housing units); Detroit, MI (one in every 1,575 housing units); and Laredo, TX (one in every 1,953 housing units).

Other than Cleveland and Detroit, among the metropolitan areas with a population greater than 1 million, those with the worst foreclosure rates in January 2023 included: Chicago, IL (one in every 2,074 housing units); Riverside, CA (one in every 2,123 housing units); and Las Vegas, NV (one in every 2,341 housing units).

SMC and the Department of Agriculture in 2020 expanded Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita rolling stores located at Petron stations to help farmers sell their produce.

The conglomerate also supports RSA Farmers Association members in their rabbitry and hog-raising livelihood projects.

Let us help ensure the growth of our agricultural sector, not only to feed Filipinos but to make it a strong driver of economic development.

Let us work to guarantee agricultural productivity and profitability. Let us be inspired by the example set by SMC and its top honcho Don Ramon S. Ang.

great is God our Father, Who doeth all things well.”

It is one of my habits to recite poems - when I am alone and lonely or with a group of friends. In a trip to Toledo City with my friends Raul and Verie Corrales, Cathy and Jen Manguni, our young and very intelligent legal assistant, I was provoked to reciting this poem while we were viewing atop a hill the beautiful landscape with a meandering river. They appreciated more the beauty of the landscape as they listened to me reciting the beautiful poem – a tribute to the wonders of God’s creations.

The dawn: While the dawn started to break and seeing it from the comfort of my garden in my residence in Cagayan de Oro City, I remember the great Sanskrit poet Kalidasa with these lines, “For yesterday is but a dream and tomorrow a vision, But today well-lived, Makes everyday yesterday a dream of happiness, And every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well therefore to this day such is the salutation to the dawn.” Such very inspiring and enchanting lines, indeed! Being a dreamer all my life and having realized some of my treasured dreams for this country, I continue to dream for the country and our people, with the prayer and hope, with God’s blessings we all get there. As I told President Ferdinand Marcos once at a wooden rattan sofa at the back of his table in a lonely passage leading to a place I didn’t know where, when he was trying to convince me to join him because, in his words, we both graduated from the UP College of Law, we dreamed dreams for our people, we were both ideologues and, on top of that, we are two of a kind. Very true indeed and Marcos was right but for reasons of principles and the issue of honor and integrity, I replied to him, “I’m sorry Mr. President, I can’t join you. There is no royal road to the Promised Land. You travel yours and I travel mine and one day, we might meet there.” Well, as the RAM and YOU leaders like General Ed Abenina and Colonel Oscarlito Mapalo used to say each other and the other officers who participated in that noble endeavor in 1989 to establish a country worthy of our race, “Our dreams never die.” That’s Kalidasa for you!

The lonely task: After a hearty breakfast of hard boiled egg, a cup of Milo, a glass of milk, a piece of morado banana, few pieces of crispy danggit, and japonica rice ending with a pieces of durian and marang, I go to my lonely room trying to analyze the problems of the country. With the immensity of the problems, I remember these lines from Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold, “Ah, love, let us be true to one another for the world, which seems To lie before us like a land of dreams, So various, so beautiful so new. Hath really neither joy, nor, nor light,, No certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain; to And we are here as on a darkling plain, Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight, Where ignorant armies clash by night.” A very pessimistic picture like the current national situation!

(From Page 12)

dent to confront the Asean-India maritime exercise revealed another Chinese tactic.

China can deploy these militia vessels as the first line of defense. They could ram other vessels or they could stop naval ships by blocking their routes.

Gray ships will hesitate firing at unarmed civilian large vessels but these reinforced steel-hulled ships can cause great damage to smaller coast guard and naval vessels.

Before a navy vessel could deal with an equally powerful Chinese People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) vessel, it would engage first with militia vessels.

It’s a classic “cabbage strategy” that the Philippines and other claimant states have to deal with. China has no intention to use its navy against smaller coastal states, like the Philippines. It does not want to risk an American response under the Mutual Defense Treaty.

But it has been using the militia vessels to send a strong message, not only to the Philippines and other claimant states, but to the US as well.

Responses: Being an irretrievable romantic and unrelenting dreamer, I remember that life like poetry has its ups and downs, its light and darkness and its triumphs and tragedies. So despite the gloom and seeming hopelessness, I remember If of Rudyard Kipling telling me, “If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about don’t deal in lies, Or being hated, don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build ‘em with worn out tools: If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you .

Diliman Way

(From Page 13)

WHO: Don’t use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control

GENEVA – The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new guideline on non-sugar sweeteners (NSS), which recommends against the use of NSS to control body weight or reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

The recommendation is based on the findings of a systematic review of the available evidence which suggests that use of NSS does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children.

Results of the review also suggest that there may be potential undesirable effects from long-term use of NSS, such as an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality in adults.

“Replacing free sugars with NSS does not help with weight control in the long term. People need to consider other ways to reduce free sugars intake, such as consuming food with naturally occurring sugars, like fruit, or unsweetened food and beverages,” said Francesco

Branca, WHO Director for Nutrition and Food Safety.

“NSS are not essential dietary factors and have no nutritional value. People should reduce the sweetness of the diet altogether, starting early in life, to improve their health,” Barca added.

The recommendation applies to all people except individuals with pre-existing diabetes and includes all synthetic and naturally occurring or modified non-nutritive sweeteners that are not classified as sugars found in manufactured foods and beverages, or sold on their own to be added to foods and beverages by consumers. Common NSS include acesulfame K, aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia and stevia derivatives.

The recommendation does not apply to personal care and hygiene products containing NSS, such as toothpaste, skin cream, and medications, or to low-calorie sugars and sugar alcohols (polyols), which are sugars or

sugar derivatives containing calories and are therefore not considered NSS.

Because the link observed in the evidence between NSS and disease outcomes might be confounded by baseline characteristics of study participants and complicated patterns of NSS use, the recommendation has been assessed as conditional, following WHO processes for developing guidelines. This signals that policy decisions based on this recommendation may require substantive discussion in specific country contexts, linked for example to the extent of consumption in different age groups.

The WHO guideline on NSS is part of a suite of existing and forthcoming guidelines on healthy diets that aim to establish lifelong healthy eating habits, improve dietary quality and decrease the risk of NCDs worldwide.

A cruise: like life itself

Heart of Hope

PHILIP S. CHUA

xploring the world, meeting people in their native countries, learning about their history, heritage, culture, and experiencing their way of living firsthand, does wonders to our mind, body, and soul. The journey reveals that we, as a species on this planet, have greater commonality and mutual interests than our selfish individual differences. The wonderful visit to countries eager to please tourists is always refreshing to the spirit. Vacation, a decompressing break from our daily stressful life, is wonderful and healthy for both the visitor and the tourism industry of the target destinations.

Our group of 21 medical colleagues, spouses, and a friend from Las Vegas, Chicago, Indiana, Kentucky, and New York just returned from a 14-day (April 22nd to May 8th, 2023) transatlantic cruise to Malaga, Valencia, and Palma de Mallorca (Spain); Marseilles (France); and Florence and Rome (Italy).

On board the Odyssey of the Seas of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, the Windjammer Restaurant on the 14th deck became our meeting place several times a day and “headquarter” during the 14-day cruise. From Day One, I had informed our group that “according to the cruise’s rule,” we were supposed to eat every two hours. And we almost followed that “rule,” but conscious of our health, practically all of us violated this anyway. But the Lobster Night was irresistible. Our group picture with the Captain of the Ship, Per Kristofferson, showed almost everyone gained a few ounces, if not a pound or two.

The cruise package included an added 2 days of land tour in Rome which provided us the opportunity to meet with the Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio “Chito” Tagle on Saturday, May 5th. According to Inside the Vatican: Pope Francis selected Cardinal Tagle to head the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. The congregation, which handles evangelization in Africa, Asia, and Oceania, is expected to be combined with the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization, which has focused primarily on Europe, as envisioned by the Pope.

On Sunday, May 8th, we travelled for more than four hours in three rented driven vans to San Giovanni

ERotondo (Fr. Pio Pilgrimage Church), 237.3 miles south of Rome, to view the body of Fr. Pio in a sealed plastic vault designed for public viewing.

Francesco Forgione, OFMCap, popularly known as Padre Pio and as Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, was an Italian Franciscan Capuchin friar, priest, stigmatist, and mystic. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, celebrated on September 23rd each year. Fr. Pio was born on May 25, 1887 in Pietrelcina, Italy, died on September 23, 1968, and buried in the Sanctuary of Saint Mary of our Lady of Grace. The new Fr. Pio modern-structure pilgrimage church is on the left side of the old church of Saint Mary. The river of devotees from all around the world honoring the mystical saint Fr. Pio seemed unending. The rigorous walk back to our vans, on an uphill climb, was a great challenge to many of us in our mid-70s and mid-80s, with arthritis and other ailments. A self-imposed penance? Maybe. But it gave us an inspiring, uplifting, and a most spiritual feeling with inner peace.

We got back to the Star Hotel of Metropole in Rome at almost 9:00 PM, just in time for our “last supper” with the Rev. Fr. Roderick Ignacio (Padre Ricky) at the Antico Ristorante Bar Imperium, a famous restaurant a couple of blocks from our hotel. Fr. Ricky is Parish Priest of Santa Maria Maggiore, San Paolo Apostolo, and Santa Lucia Trocchio. He is also the Rector of Shrine of our Lady of Piternis, Cervaro Delegato dei Sacerdoti in Diocesi, and del Rappresentante del Consiglio Pastorale. Fr. Ricky is a close friend of Pope Francis.

While on this cruise, we had the privilege of meeting fellow Pinoy cruisers, 31 from Hawaii, and very importantly, countless fellow Filipinos working on the Odyssey, young and vibrant, very courteous, and willing to please. Proudly a Filipino trait. They all left their loved ones in the Philippines to support their families back home and provide education and a better future for their children. While they were always cheerful, like their fellow workers from other countries, you could witness how hard they work each day, devoid of enough sleep, longing for their spouse and children back home, and practically slave to their job, with meager salary. Indeed, a great personal sacrifice on their part, all in the name of love of family and survival itself. (A tip for future cruisers: Gratuities helps these noble workers. Let generosity prevail among us who are more blessed to share our loving compassion with them.) Even before the cruise ended, some were already asking when the next one would be. Indeed, life must be enjoyed fully!

A cruise is certainly like life on this good earth. During the journey you discover the nature of men and their individual philosophy, behavior, interests, frailties, strength, personality. The very same qualities and attitude in life become obvious among all of us and our fellow cruisers on our voyage in life itself. Qualities unknown before, shining through, good, bad, or in between. Indeed, life and cruising are almost twins, people traveling in time and space, sometimes on treacherous terrains or rough waters, all unable to change the ocean waves and the wind direction, but with a God-given option to adjust the sail to navigate the course and arrive at the target destination. Unfortunately, some try to control the waves and the wind like a god, instead of wisely adjusting, and are destined to be lost at sea. In our life, bringing one’s sunshine and smile to every occasion, with a back-up umbrella just in case, but keeping it unopened because of faith, all contribute to a healthy and happy life with soothing inner peace.

The greater the human contacts among various peoples of the world, the greater the chance of understanding, liking, and respecting one another and cementing lasting friendship with each other, one person and one nation at a time, especially among children whose innocence is devoid of poisonous biases and prejudices. They are our hope for the future, and prayerfully, a chance at achieving world peace. Most unlikely in our generation, but hope reigns in my heart.

The human species better “cruise” peacefully together now on a global scale with a devotion to world peace before it’s too late, or we are doomed to disintegrate together into cinders and ashes in the galaxy in a colossal nuclear Armageddon turning Planet earth into a ball of fire and particles of black dust, exposing our stupidity.

Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a decorated recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995. 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

INSPIRATIONAL ARTICLE FOR THE WEEK

THE DANGER OF BOREDOM

By TIM PEDROSA

When we are surrounded by love, the feeling of excitement could fade away, and we tend to ignore the true love that lies in between peace and dullness. It could happen to anyone in any relationship. Life could become repetitive, uninteresting, unexciting, dull, wearisome, tedious, monotonous or boring; consequently, we have the tendency to be sensitive, touchy, irritable, ill-tempered, short-tempered or depressed. We tend to blame others, particularly our spouse, if we are not rational enough to analyze the situation. We impatiently find some diversions, like drugs, gambling, etc. that are risky, dangerous and have led to many shattered lives. We have to be on our guard against boredom; it’s the mother of all the deadly sins. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop (English Proverb). The heart of the wise inclines to the right but the heart of the fool to the left (Ecclesiastes 10:2 ). When we are surrounded by love, the feeling of excitement could fade away, and we tend to ignore the true love that lies in between peace and dullness. It could happen to anyone in any relationship.

Life could become repetitive, uninteresting, unexciting, dull, wearisome, tedious, monotonous or boring; consequently, we have the tendency to be sensitive, touchy, irritable, ill-tempered, short-tempered or depressed. We tend to blame others, particularly our spouse, if we are not rational enough to analyze the situation. We impatiently find some diversions, like drugs, gambling, etc... that are risky, dangerous and have led to many shattered lives. We have to be on our guard against boredom; it’s the mother of all the deadly sins. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop (English Proverb). The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left (Ecclesiastes 10:2 ). However, with constructive attitude, we can find happiness by transforming our world from one of monotony and dullness to one of excitement and adventure. Peace and happiness could be ours by finding reasons to be grateful for the abundant blessings all of us have plenty to enjoy.

There was a beautiful and inspiring story written by a certain Stephen that I came across several years back. It tells us how a faithful and dedicated husband skillfully handled the dilemma of his bored and fed up wife. After three years of courtship and several of years into marriage, she would admit, that she was getting tired of it. The reasons of her loving him before, had transformed into the cause of all her restlessness. She is a sentimental woman and extremely sensitive when it comes to a relationship, her feelings or what she wants to have. She always yearns for the romantic moments, constant attention and the material things, like a little girl yearning for candy. Her husband is her complete opposite. His lack of sensitivity and inability to please her always has disheartened her about their relationship. One day, she finally decided to tell him her decision, that she wanted a divorce. “Why?” he asked, shocked. “I am tired, there are no reasons for everything in the world!” She answered. He kept silent the whole night, seemed to be in deep thought with a lighted cigarette at all times. Her feeling of disappointment only increased, here was a man who can’t even express his predicament, what else could she hope from him? Finally he asked her:” What can I do to change your mind?”

Looking deep into his eyes, she slowly answered: “Here is the question, if you can answer and convince my heart, I will change my mind, Let’s say, I want a flower located on the face of a mountain cliff, and we both know that picking the flower will cause your death, will you do it for me?” He said: “I will give you your answer tomorrow….” Her hopes just sank by listening to his response.

She woke up the next morning to find him gone, and saw a piece of paper with his scratchy handwriting underneath a milk glass on the dining table, that goes…. “My dear, I would not pick that flower for you, but please allow me to explain the reasons further..” The first line was already breaking her heart. She continued reading. “When you use the computer, you are irritated when it is very slow and you mess it up, I have to save my fingers so that I can help fix and restore it. You always leave the house keys behind, thus I have to save my legs to rush home to open the door for you. You love traveling but always lose your way in a new place, I have to save my eyes to show you the way. You always have the cramps whenever your “good friend” approaches every month, I have to save my palms so that I can calm the cramps in your tummy. You like to stay indoors, and I worry that you will be infected by infantile autism. I have to save my mouth to tell you jokes and stories to cure your boredom. You do not want to tarnish your manicured fingernails so I have to try very hard to prepare our meal and see to it that I do the clean up. I have to save my eyes so that when we grow old, I can help to clip your nails, and help to remove those annoying white hairs. So I can also hold your hand while strolling down the beach, as you enjoy the sunshine and the beautiful sand… and tell you the color of flowers, just like the color of the glow on your beautiful face… Thus, my dear, unless I am sure that there is someone who loves you more than I do… I could not pick that flower yet, and die.. ”Her tears fell on the letter and blurred the ink of his handwriting… and as she continued on reading… “Now, that you have finished reading my answer, if you are satisfied, please open the front door for I am standing outside bringing your favorite bread and fresh milk…” She rushed to pull open the door, and saw his anxious face, clutching tightly with his hands, the milk bottle and loaf of bread…. Now she is very sure that no one will ever love her as much as he does, and she has decided to leave the flower alone. Love shows up in all forms, even very small and intricate forms. There has never been a model. It could be the most dull and boring form, flowers and romantic moments are only used and appear on the surface of the relationship. Under all these, the pillar of true love stands and that’s how our life goes, love not words win arguments.

Among the themes of Easter Season is The Good Shepherd; Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd. He says: “I am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep (Jn. 10: 11).” And His sheep, “listen to His voice, He calls His own sheep by name (Jn. 10:3).” The sheep, “follow Him because they know His voice… they will never follow a stranger… because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice (Jn. 10:4-5).” To never fall away from the Lord Jesus, we must renew our commitment to follow Him faithfully. He is our Good Shepherd who gave His life for our salvation, and now as His redeemed people, we must listen to His voice attentively in order to follow Him closely. When we listen, it means, we do not only understand the message, we also intend to put it into practice. We have to understand that the word of God demands that we listen and put it into practice. But do we always listen to Christ’s voice? We know that there are many voices out there in the world; but there is only one voice that brings to eternal life; it is the voice of the Lord Jesus.

In our time, we are aware that there are many voices out there that competes with Christ’s voice; we must not listen to them, or we should rather silence them with the truths and teachings of the Lord Jesus. So, for this reflection, I would like us to address this challenge; the mimicking of the voice of the Good Shepherd. This mimicking voice would like us to listen to it and make our life be patterned to it. Unfortunately, there are people who have fallen already into that trap and deception; hence, instead of moving closer to Jesus; they rather, drifted away from Him.

Mimicking the voice is an act whereby the person adjusts or modifies his voice in order to be like the voice of the other person he wants to imitate. When we were kids, we like to imitate the voice of our parents; especially, when other siblings are not behaving well in the other room. So, when they hear the mimicked voice of our father or mother, they would become quiet or behave. There are a lot of this kind in our time; thus, we must be vigilant and be informed more about our faith.

These mimicking voices of Jesus are statements that begin with truth and with good presentation. For example; the truth is; “God is good all the time; since, He is Good, we who are sinners - we are not good all the time” (up to this point all things said is correct); “thus, God can or should just accept us whatever we do and whatever we want to make us happy,” (here, is where the mimicking voice is leading somewhere away from Jesus Christ). We must never forget that, we cannot do whatever we want to make us happy; because, oftentimes, what we end up doing is sinful, or that happiness we are having is sinful; such cannot be right and good before God. This example, and many similar ones, is happening in our time. Many people are misled and deceived. The truth, God is good, so He will just be good to us and He will bless us, is very attractive to people; but then, the mimicking voice will use it to inject its evil agenda that will lead the person away from The True Shepherd, Jesus. If we are not vigilant, we would fall into following these mimicked voices. Second example; God is merciful; this is truth, then, the mimicking voice will add this; so, there is no need to change our ways; as long as we are happy, that is fine, for God wants us to be happy too. Here, if the person will follow this, he will surely be led astray. We must, therefore, continue in our journey of conversion and renewal. We are not perfect; hence, we have things that we need to change. If we will say, it is okey not to change our ways; even if, we know we have some sinful ways and bad attitudes; then, such mentality or mindset is a mistake and will surely lead us away from God. We must be vigilant at all times. These mimicking voices that pretend to be the voice of Jesus Christ are real. We must educate ourselves deeply with the truths of our faith and with the moral principles of our faith. Our mind must be filled with the truths and teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our hearts must fall in love of Him deeper. Only when we are vigilant assisted with the grace of God in us; we will be able to recognize easily the mimicking voice or voices, and able to shun them. Mother Mary, help us to be attentive to Your Son Jesus by helping us to recognize His voice accurately. Amen.

Cristina Vergara (center), gold medal, women’s wres-

REV. JOSE PELAGIO A. PADIT, SThD

Afl ame The Heart

Recipe of the Week

Chicken

Asado,

Ingredients:

1 k. chicken, cut into serving pieces with the bones intact

1/4 cup kalamansi juice

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 cup tomato sauce

2 medium size onion, chopped

1/2 head garlic, minced

4 potatoes, quartered

3 pc. bay leaf

salt and pepper

cooking oil

Cooking procedure:

In a bowl marinate chicken with kalamansi, soy sauce, salt and pepper for 10 to 20 minutes before cooking. In a sauce pan fry chicken for 3 to 5 minutes or until colour turn to golden brown in batches. Remove from pan, set aside. In same sauce pan sauté garlic and onion, add in chicken, stir fry for 2 to 3 minutes, Add tomato sauce and bay leaf, stir cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in 2 to 3 cups of water and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Add in potato and simmer for another 5 to 10 minutes or until chicken and potato are cooked and tender and until most of the liquid has evaporated. Correct saltines if required. Serve hot.

PHL opens up further for travel, tourism as 5-year plan approved

By Jennifer T. Santos

MANILA - The country has a new National Tourism Development Plan for 2023 to 2028, which in gist aims for an accumulated total of 51.9 million tourist arrivals and 34.7 million tourism-related jobs by 2028.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the plan tol serve as the administration’s blueprint and the development framework for the tourism industry, said Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco.

The approval came following a meeting of Marcos with the Department of Tourism and concerned agencies in Malacanang..

During the meeting, Frasco reported the tourism industry earned no less than P1.74 trillion in 2022 as a composite of domestic visitor seats as well as foreign visitor receipts and also generated at least 5.2 million local jobs.

Frasco said the country is geared towards promoting the country’s tourism industry while maintaining the health protocols against COVID-19.

This developed as the Philippines breached the two million mark in international arrivals for the first five months of 2023, surpassing last year’s baseline target.

The DOT announced the good news over the weekend, citing the latest data of 2,002,304 international visitor arrivals from January 1 to May 12 that exceeded the entire 2022 target of 1.7 million foreign visitors.

“Notwithstanding the challenges and difficulties that our country faced, a pandemic and the various calamities that come into our shores, the good news is that these have done nothing to break the Filipino spirit or to diminish the beauty of the Philippines,” Secretary Frasco said.

“We’re very optimistic for the prospects in out country in terms of being a tourism powerhouse in Asia, anchored on the strength of our Filipino culture as well as the values of sustainability, resilience and global competitiveness,” she said.

South Koreans made up almost a quarter of the total number of visitors with 487,502 (24.35 percent); followed by Americans with 352,894 or 17.62 percent; Australians, 102,494 (5.12 percent); Canadians, 98,593 (4.92 percent); Japanese, 97,329 (4.86 percent); Chinese, 75,043; Taiwanese, 62,654; British, 62,291; Singaporeans, 53,359; and Malaysians, 36,789.

The DOT recorded P168.52 billion in inbound visitor receipts from January to April, or 782.59 percent higher than the P19,093,427,035.59 generated during the same period last year.

“We’re very grateful to our President for articulating very early on in his administration his priority for tourism development, and this has resulted in a con-

vergence among government agencies as far as giving full support to the development of the industry recognizing the losses that have been ensued as a result of the pandemic and various calamities,” Secretary Frasco said.

“We’re very excited to launch in a few short weeks the Philippine experience which gives our fellow Filipinos an opportunity to experience not just our destinations but also re-introduce them to the heart and soul of the Filipinos through our festivals, our food, and the like,” she added.

Frasco stressed it is just one of the programs of the President aimed at maximizing domestic tourism, boosting the economy, as well opening up the country to international tourists.

Frasco also expressed gratitude to the President for approving the NTDP, saying they are looking forward to instituting all of the tourism programs towards ensuring that Filipinos enjoy gainful employment and livelihood from successful tourism industry, and positioning the Philippines in a primary role in Southeast Asia and the world.

As a result of consultations among the Tourism Coordinating Council, as well as various tourism stakeholders from different regions all over the Philippines, the NTDP laid down the seven DOT objectives that focus on the essential pillars of development which could give the Philippines a fighting chance at becoming a tourism powerhouse.

The NTDP provides a framework to guide the development and implementation of programs, projects, and activities towards a sustainable, innovative, inclusive, and globally competitive tourism industry.

NTDP’s seven strategic goals include improvement of tourism infrastructure and accessibility; cohesive and comprehensive digitalization and connectivity; enhancement of overall tourist experience; equalization of tourism product development and promotion; diversification of the tourism portfolio through multidimensional tourism; maximization of domestic and international tourism; and strengthening tourism governance through close collaborations with national and local stakeholders.

Asked by reporters on the DOT’s focus on how to make the Philippines a tourism powerhouse, Frasco said the department will not only focus on promotions but more importantly, product development to unlock the roadblocks that prevent the Philippines from occupying a more primary role in Southeast Asia.

“Kasali na po diyan iyong pinaka-basic infrastructure, building more quality roads towards our tourism destinations not just in our key destinations but also our lesser known and emerging destinations taking a look at the capacity of these destinations to handle drainage, storage, water treatment and the like since the

Vehicle sales up 21.8% in April

28.1 percent to 127,927 units from 99,903 units in the same period last year.

On a year-to-date basis, sales growth of passenger cars was higher than the commercial vehicle segment at 30.5 percent and 27.3 percent, respectively.

Sales of passenger cars in the first four months of 2023 reached 32,070 units compared to 24,582 unit sales in the same period in 2022.

MAKATI CITY — The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) reported their combined sales in April 2023 increased by 21.8 percent to 30,643 units from 25,149 units a year ago.

Both year-on-year sales of passenger car and commercial vehicle segments improved by double digits. Passenger cars sold a total of 7,317 units last month, 16.9 percent higher than the 6,259 units sold in April 2022.

Commercial vehicle sales in-

creased by 23.5 percent to 23,326 units in April 2023 from 18,890 units a year ago.

“The improving economic indicators, which in fact remain favorable until the end of the year according to a government report, is an essential metric for the continued growth of the auto industry. At the same time,

this is perfectly timed with the market availability of a wider range of motor vehicle models being offered by our members, responding to the growing needs of customers,” CAMPI president Rommel Gutierrez said in a statement.

From January to April 2023, CAMPI and TMA sales jumped by

Commercial vehicles sold 95,857 units in the January to April 2023 period, higher than the 75,321 units sold in the same period last year.

“As the economic outlook remains favorable, the auto industry is optimistic to attain full recovery from the pandemic-induced challenges –well-positioned to grow to significant levels, even higher than the pre-pandemic figures. It is worth noting that the industry has already recorded this growth trajectory in the past four months compared with the 2019 levels,” Gutierrez added.

Top vehicle brands in the country as of end April 2023 were Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Ford, and Honda.