Philippine News Today

INT’L CRIMINAL COURT: IT’S A GO FOR PHL DRUG WAR PROBE

Manila’s appeal to junk quiz rejected; Duterte, others react

By ALFRED GABOT, Editor in Chief

MANILA – In what appears to be a rebuff of government efforts to quash a case against former President Rodrigo Duterte and his Philippine National Police chief now Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC), in a close 3-2 vote on July 18 rejected the Philippine government’s appeal questioning the continuation of investigation into the previous administration’s war on illegal drugs in which hundreds were reportedly killed.

Elected FilAm women seek higher offices

By CHERIE M. QUEROL MORENO

CALIFORNIA Filipinas

who have already broken the racial barrier in their political districts are banking on their

Asian hate also exists north of the border

By Gilda P. Balan, Correspondent

TORONTO, Canada

The USA’s neighbor to the north may be perceived as a more peaceful and progressive country, what with its universal health care for all citizens and residents, low crime rate and apparent absence of racism, but Canada also has also experienced irregular acts of racial hate victimizing Asian-Canadians.

success to reach higher o ce where only one man and no woman of Filipino descent has been elected.

Page 11

More than one year after experiencing an anti-Asian hate crime, the Roque family is still at a pretrial stage after an ‘uneventful’ hearing last week and the family is in a quandary whether their case will proceed to a fullblown trial with no hate crime enhancement.

As a result, along with supporters, the Roque family had feelings of dismay, anx-

MANILA – It was, at the very least, an inauspicious beginning for the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) which was signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr On Tuesday, July (Manila time). For one, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno

SC a firms junking o another case vs Marcoses

M R I F ND. The Philippines will o ially open its so ereign und a�er President Ferdinand R. Mar os Jr. signed Repu li t 11 or the Maharli a In estment Fund t. Mar os, assisted y Senators and Congressmen, is shown during the signing eremony in Mala a ang Pala e.(Rolando Mailo NIB PN )

Xi asks ex-president Duterte to promote ties with China

BE J N /MAN LA - Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte met again China s President i Jinping on July 17 at the State uesthouse in Beijing and this time the Chinese leader asked Duterte to continue to promote cooperation between China and the Philippines as relations cooled under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who pivoted towards the United States.

“The development of the two countries is rooted in the good, neighborly and friendly peripheral environment and the Asian family of win-win cooperation,” i told uterte, as quoted by Chinese state media. “ hope you will continue to play an important role in the friendly cooperation between the two countries,” i added.

Reacting to the meeting of Duterte with President i, Marcos said he sees no conflict with his predecessor meeting with the Chinese leaders.

Marcos, however, expressed hopes that uterte and i discussed the recent developments in the est Philippine Sea ( PS).

Marcos was referring to recent reports that the Chinese Coast uard vessels shadowed and blocked two Philippine Coast uard ships from entering Ayungin Shoal for a support mission in the PS.

“All of these things that we are seeing now, hope napag-usapan nila para naman magkaroon tayo ng progress kasi

yun naman talaga ang habol natin. Patuloy ang pag-uusap (they were able to talk about those issues so there will be progress because that s what we want, we want to continue the talks),” he said.

“Kaya (So), welcome any new lines of communications. If that is President PRRD, then good. Hindi importante sa akin kung sino, kung ano, basta t may makausap sila. Baka makatulong eh ( t s not important to me who they talked to, so long as it could help us),” Marcos added.

Marcos said he is expecting Duterte to release a statement about what happened during his meeting with i and “see how that affects us.”

The Chinese Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, said i “appreciates the strategic choice Mr. Duterte made to improve relations with China during his presidency.”

Duterte had adopted a more pro-China stance during his presidency but Marcos reversed that stance as he strengthened friendship with the United States, allowing more joint military drills and adding four more bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (E CA), among others.

Under Marcos, relations between Beijing and Manila became tenseful as Marcos pivoted back to US, its traditional ally.

The Philippines and the U.S reaffirmed a decades-old security alliance

during two trips by Marcos to the U.S. in September and in May, where he met with President Joseph Joe Biden Jr. at the sidelines of the United Nations eneral Assembly meeting and at the hite House and assured the U.S. commitment to defending its ally (the Philippines) was “ironclad”.

ashington has pledged to defend the Philippines under their mutual defense treaty.

Amid Filipino fisherfolk s concern

over the continued presence of the Chinese Navy and Coast uard and scores of militia ships disguised as fishing vessels in the est Philippine Sea, Marcos in June said the Philippines and China were making progress in their discussions about fishing rights in the busy waterway.

Also in June, Marcos said the Philippines “healthy” and “deepening” relationship with China outweighed the two nations differences.

PHL, US jets conduct dogfight, AIMT drills over Visayas, Mindanao

LAPU-LAPU CITY – Filipino and American military aircraft conducted air combat and maritime interdiction

tactics over the skies of Visayas and Mindanao as part of the aerial exercises of Cope Thunder 2023-2.

“A number of aircraft from the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and (US) Pacific Air Force (PACAF) soared into the skies of isayas and Mindanao during various flight missions under Cope Thunder 2023-2 from July 12-15, 2023,” Air Force spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said in a statement.

Participating PAF aircraft consisted of four FA-50PH light jet fighters and two A-28B “Super Tucanos”, while five A-10 “ arthogs” came from the PACAF.

The aircraft departed Clark Air Base, Mabalacat City, Pampanga last July 11 for Brig. en. Benito N. Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu as preparation for the air drills over Mactan and eneral Santos City.

The deployment also serves as a simulation of the 5th Fighter ing s deployment for next year s “Pitch Black” exercises in Australia.

“Flight exercises included air interdiction and maritime target (AIMT) to enhance the pilots skills on tactical air-to-surface/ ground operations against enemy objectives and air combat maneuvers(ACM), also known as dogfighting , to enhance skills in air-to-air combat,” Castillo said.

One of the highlights of the exercise is the so-called “hot refueling operations”

where the aircraft engines kept running throughout the process, allowing the aircraft to quickly return to its mission or flight.

“Known also as hotpit operations, these are especially beneficial in time-sensitive situations where minimizing ground time is crucial,” the PAF spokesperson said.

The Cope Thunder exercises started on July 2 and will run until July 21.

The first iteration of Cope Thunder for this year took place May to 12 and focused on mission planning capabilities and execution of defensive and offensive counterair operations utilizing fighter and cargo aircraft.

The original Cope Thunder exercises, which provided regular flight training for US pilots and those of allied nations, were first held in 197 and continued annually in the Philippines until 1990.

BEIJING MEETING. Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte (le�) meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on July 17, 2023. (Xinhua)

BEIJING MEETING. Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte (le�) meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on July 17, 2023. (Xinhua)

Binay vows to protect welfare of residents in disputed villages

Taguig City.

This, despite the recent Supreme Court (SC) decision that denied Makati City government s request to file a second motion for reconsideration.

In a video, Binay said students, medical patients and senior citizens from the villages with over residents will not be able to avail of the Makati City government’s various programs anymore as a result of the SC decision.

capacity to replace the benefits that the Makati City government have been providing them.

She also questioned the ability of Taguig City to provide what the Makati local government unit is extending to the residents of the villages, citing in particular the immediate grant of scholarships to more than senior high school graduates who will enter college in the incoming school year.

said the Makati City government is planning to seek the help of various national government agencies.

“Hindi kami susuko. Hindi ako susuko. Bilang inyong mayora, ipinapangako ko na hanggang sa dulo, hindi ko kayo iiwan (We will not give up. I will not give up. As your mayor, I promise not to leave you until the end),” Binay vowed.

MAKATI CITY – Makati City Mayor

Abigail Binay expresssed her worries about the welfare of thousands of residents in the disputed territory at the city’s second district that is being claimed by

“Sila ang aking inaalala. Para akong nawalan ng mga anak, magulang, lolo at lola. Sila ang mga inaaruga at inaalagaan ko sa simula’t simula (I am worried about them. It seems like I lost children, parents, and grandparents. They are the ones who care for from the start),” Binay said questioning Taguig City government s

She said these high school graduates are not qualified for the scholarship since they lack the three-year residency requirement in Taguig as well as being registered voters in he city if they are years old already to avail of the scholarship.

To continue the support and services for the city’s second district residents, she

The SC’s Special Third Division, in a resolution dated June denied Makati City’s Omnibus Motion asking for permission to file a second appeal.

The case arose from a complaint filed by the City of Taguig against the City of Makati in connection with its territorial dispute over the areas comprising the Enlisted Men’s Barrios and the entirety of Fort Andres Bonifacio.

Fishers, farms oppose Maharlika Investment Fund

QUEZON CITY – A big coalition of fisherfolk and farmers questioned President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for fast-tracking the signing of the controversial Maharlika Investment Fund bill into law amid opposition by severa groups.

“Amid the rising inflation wherein the ailing sectors badly need accessible social services, su cient production subsidies, and living wage, President Marcos has fast tracked the signing of this contro-

versial Maharlika Investment Fund into law,” the Pamalakaya said in a statement.

“We reassert our opposition against the Maharlika Investment Fund, as it reeks of corruption and grave anomalies. This measure is simply a misplaced, let alone unsettling, priority of the Marcos administration,” the group added.

“Instead, we call on the government to prioritize rollout of production subsidies for the marginalized sectors includ-

ing fisherfolk and farmers, who have been reeling from staggering prices of basic commodities and fuel products. Investing for our workforce will increase productivity, and consequently stabilize prices of basic commodities, especially agriculture products,” the group said.

“ e vow that the fishing sector won t be complacent with this new scheme of plunder of our hard-earned contributed taxes,” said Ronnel Arambulo, ice

Chairperson of the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKA A).

PAMALAKAYA has been pushing for the P15, production subsidy bill which will cover the two-month fuel expenses of a fisherfolk. Filed by the Makabayan bloc, the proposed production subsidy program under the House Bill has been pending in Congress since last year.

QC adopts initiatives to save water, utilize other water sources

MANILA – In order to help save water and utilize other available water sources such as rainwater, the Quezon City government will implement various initiatives amid impending water interruption due to the low water level of Angat Dam.

In a press statement on Wednesday, QC Mayor Joy Belmonte said the city government is now consolidating and harmonizing all initiatives under the city’s Task Force El Niño, to be institutionalized by virtue of an executive order from her o ce.

Among the initiatives being undertaken is the installation and operation of rain harvesting systems on city-owned buildings, including schools.

Belmonte earlier instructed City Engineer Dale Perral to install such a system, which she said, can help store up to 6,000 liters of rainwater that may be used for various purposes.

“Malaki ang maitutulong nito para mapagaan ang epekto ng water interruption sa ating lungsod, lalo na sa mga komunidad na maaapektuhan ng water interruption (This can help a lot in mitigating the effect of water interruption in the city, especially in the communities that may be affected by said water interruption),” Belmonte said.

Maynilad announced last week that daily water service interruptions of up to 11 hours starting ednesday (July 12) may be imposed on numerous QC villages due to the decrease in the water level of Angat Dam.

Meanwhile, aside from the rain harvesting system, Perral said the city government also has ongoing and upcoming retention basin projects that can help store up to 200,000 gallons of water.

“While retention basins are used for flood mitigation, they can also be a source of stored rainwater,” Perral explained.

Moreover, Belmonte has instructed the Infrastructure Committee to study the possible use of drip irrigation technology for ornamental plants for the city’s urban farms.

“Through this, we can optimize the use of available water supply for the various urban farms that are flourishing in our city,” Perral said.

To mitigate water loss and prevent wastage, the city government is also closely coordinating with water companies, especially in repairing of leaks.

“We encourage water companies with ongoing infrastructure projects like pipe laying and leak repairs to coordinate closely with the city government to ensure less public inconvenience. In the same manner, we are encouraging them to install water meters right beside government and school buildings and not too far from their compounds to immediately address possible water loss from leaks,” he said.

Coordination between the barangay officials and the C Community Relations Department was also strengthened for the proper information dissemination of Maynilad’s schedule of tankers that will provide water to affected barangays.

Mayor Abigail Binay

Pangasinan poised to build expressway, int’l seaport

By Ramon L. Gabot Jr.

BINALONAN, Pangasinan – Here’s go news for the people of Pangasinan here and overseas.

Governor Ramon Guico III said two major infrastructure projects will be undertaken by the provincial government with its private partners to boost business, agriculture, travel and tourism in

the province.

The two multi-billion peso projects are the 42-kilometer phase one of the Pangasinan expressway which will run across the province and link the western and eastern towns and an international seaport possibly in the coastal town of Sual which faces the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea.

Governor Guico announced that the P34-billion expressway will be undertaken at no cost on the part of the provincial government by the San Miguel Holding Corporation, the builder of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union expressway (TPLex) which now stretches from Tarlac City to Rosario, La Union and maybe extended up to Ilocos Norte soon.

Guico made the announcement after

the Sangguniang Panlalawigan led by Vice Governor Mark Ronald Lambino adopted a resolution authorizing him to sign a joint venture agreement with San Miguel for the phase one of the major road network to be known as the Pangasinan Link Expressway (PLEx) which will start in Binalonan and ends in the capital town of Lingayen passing through at least six towns and Dagupan City. Second phase will cover Lingayen to Alaminos City.

Lambino and the provincial council said PLEx will provide a better and safer road network in the Ilocos Region, speed up the development of new growth centers and industries, and boost economic growth in Pangasinan.

Construction will start in a few months and will be completed in four years.

The international seaport project was readily welcomed by Pangasinan leaders and residents who recalled that Sual was historically an international port where export of rice and other products for China were loaded. Some galleon ships were also built by Filipinos for the Spanish colonizers in Sual, according to historical records.

Governor Guico said the seaport will help decongest the Manila international container ports.

“We are accepting proposals from proponents if they want to invest through probably joint venture agreement or public and private partnership with the province,” he said.

Guico said his goal as governor is to make Pangasinan an industrial hub that is accessible by land, air, and sea.

Mayon and Taal volcanoes activities escalate: Phivolcs

By Jeanne Michael Penarandfa

LEGASPI CITY/TAGAYTAY CITY

Rumblings by Mayon Volcano in Albay and the Taal volcano in Batangas are intensifying, prompting authorities to warn people against returning to the danger zones around the volcanoes.

Alert level remains hoisted over Mayon, indicating a high level of volcanic

unrest. Under this classification, entry into the permanent danger zone is prohibited.

At press time, a new lava flow was observed along Basud gully in Mayon Volcano that extended up to 600 meters from the crater and the lava flow along Bonga gully extended from 1.4 kilometers to 2.4 kilometers.

Phivolcs reported that 267 volcanic earthquakes had been recorded in the past 24 hours, which is higher compared to

the 184 volcanic earthquakes reported on Monday, July 17.

The daily sulfur dioxide emission from the volcano also increased from 1,689 tons on Sunday to 2,212 tons on Monday.

A total of 150 rockfall events and three pyroclastic density current (PDC) events, and a repetitive pulse tremor had been observed in the volcano.

Eight volcanic earthquakes, includ-

ing five volcanic tremors, meanwhile, had been recorded in Taal Volcano in the past 24 hours, according to Phivolcs.

In its latest bulletin, PHIVOLCS said these volcanic earthquakes had a duration of five hours and 57 minutes.

The moderate emission of plumes from the volcano also grew to 1,500 from 900 meters on Monday, July 17, as the volcano emitted 5,887 tons of sulfur dioxide.

GOVERNOR RAMON GUICO III

SC suspends ex-press secretary Trixie Cru -Angeles

MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) has suspended former press secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles from the practice of law for six months, and reprimanded another lawyer.

The tribunal s third division, in an 11-page resolution published online on July 18 and promulgated March 27, said it found Angeles and lawyer Amed . Paglinawan, guilty of violating the Code of Professional Responsibility.

The complaint had been fi led by another lawyer, Roderick E. Manzano, against Cruz-Angeles and Paglinawan claiming that the two used “grossly abusive, off ensive and improper language” in a pleading fi led in a case before the uezon City metropolitan trial court.

n the said pleading, among other things, the lawyers described one of the

parties in the suit as “an NC patsy. She is Eduardo Manalo s pawn,” and described the plaintiff as “an incorrigible liar.”

The SC adopted the fi ndings of the ntegrated Bar of the Philippines Commission on ntegrity and Bar iscipline ( BP-CB ) recommending the suspension of Cruz-Angeles and Paglinawan, which said “the statements made by the respondents in the pleading they fi led on behalf of their clients are outside the allowable forms of speech expected from the work products and reminded that lawyers, while allowed to present the case with vigor and courage, are not justifi ed to use off ensive and abusive language, considering that a lawyer s language even in his pleadings, must be dignifi ed.

PHL, Australia navies hold annual drills in am ales

SUB C, ambales -- The Philippine and Australian navies kicked off their five-day annual military exercises at a former US naval base in ambales as Australia a rmed its support for the Philippines arbitral victory on the est Philippine Sea.

ubbed “Exercise Lumbas 2023,” the drills were formally opened at the Naval Operating Base in Subic, to enhance the maritime security capabilities of both countries.

One Philippine Navy (PN) ship BRP Conrado ap (PS-39) and one Australian Navy ship HMAS Anzac are joining the exercises, ABS-CBN reported.

“The ship s crew is, think, 5. e are counting it by ship,” said Commodore Francisco Tagamolila Jr., the o cer conducting the exercise.

Tagamolila said the drills would run for 5 days in Northern Luzon, with trainings including regular and emergency evolution, as well as subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE).

“Regular evolution is when the ship is underway, what are the common evo-

lutions that you undertake,” Tagamolila said.

“There are also emergency evolutions. For example, there is a threat coming, what are the steps you could take to address those measures e have to make sure to maximize the potential of our capabilities.”

“ ith the expanding role of the Philippine Navy right now with our new capabilities, we need to exchange ideas. e need to have SMEE with other navies to make sure that our doctrines and capabilities are updated.”

Tagamolila also noted that Australia has been “a good friend of the Philippines,” having developed naval ties since orld ar .

Acting Australian deputy head of mission to the Philippines James eomans said the drllls showed how both countries work together to “support international law.”

“ e learn from each other, whether they exercise in the Philippines or in Australia. Both our Armed Forces sharing constantly, sharing of experience, sharing of knowledge and building each other s

thing in partnership we work together

SC a firms dismissal o or eiture raps vs Marcoses, Tantoco

MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) has a rmed the 2019 decision of the Sandiganbayan which dismissed the complaint filed by the Presidential Commission on ood overnment (PC ) against the family of the late president Ferdinand Marcos and Tantoco family seeking the forfeiture of all properties acquired by them during the Marcos administration.

n the 2 -page decision promulgated on March 29 and uploaded on July 18, the SC First ivision dismissed the complaint against Bienvenido R. Tantoco Jr. Ferdinand E. Marcos, substituted by his heirs namely melda R. Marcos, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., mee Marcos and

rene Marcos-Araneta Bienvenido R. Tantoco Sr., liceria R. Tantoco, substituted by ominador R. Santiago and Maria Lourdes Tantoco-Pineda.

The complaint filed in 1987 alleged that the late president unlawfully withdrew from the National Treasury, the Central Bank and other financial institutions of the country and transferred these funds to various payees.

n particular, the Tantocos and Santiago were alleged to have acted as dummies in the acquisition of various real and personal properties as well as businesses of the Marcoses and obtained unwarranted benefits for themselves and their businesses as a result of their close

association.

The Sandiganabyan, in its Sept. 25, 2019 decision said the PC failed to prove the allegations of its complaint and dismissed it for insu ciency of evidence.

Among other things, the Sandiganbayan said the PC hid documents from the respondents despite several requests and did not produce the same during the proper time.

“ n order to consider petitioner s evidence as su cient to prove the allegations of its expanded complaint, the court has to perform many leaps of logic, engage in presumptions, and create inferences based on other inferences

in order to bridge the gaps in the evidence adduced. n the face of such gaps, petitioner s allegations in its expanded complaint are reduced to mere speculations, insinuations and conjectures.

Thus, while it is truly disappointing that nothing has come of this case despite the lapse of 3 years spent in litigation, the Court agrees with the Sandiganbayan that petitioner s evidence is insu cient to support the allegations of its expanded complaint by a preponderance of evidence. Accordingly, the Sandiganbayan was correct in dismissing the expanded complaint for reconveyance, accounting, restitution and damages against all the respondents,” the SC said

Former press secretary Rose Beatrix Cruz-Angeles

capability and that is the most important

and share and learn together,” eomans said.

(From page 1)

iety, frustration and, at times, even anger together with their backers that have always been there for support.

In an exclusive interview with Roque son Patrick, feelings of dismay, frustration and anger at the slow pace their case is going on with not much development happening was expressed.

“The slow pace only made us feel worse with how the court has handled our case. Considering that what they are asked to do are basic duties and it was obvious there was a crime committed, the latest hearing seem to imply that we, instead of the accused, have the burden of proof even with the amount and strength of evidence at hand,” Patrick shared.

Patrick also revealed that Judge Neetu Badhan-Smith, who first handled the case that found probable cause for two felony assaults committed by attacker Nicolas Weber has been replaced. Included in what the former judge found probable cause for felony that caused great bodily injury after reviewing evidence presented by the prosecution and the defense although the hate crime enhancement on both assault charges were dropped.

Judge Badhan-Smith claimed that there was no su cient evidence for what happened to the family to be considered a hate

Confusion...

(From page 1)

contradicted the president when he announced that he would lead the Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC), which will handle the fund.

The president had just said that neither he nor Diokno would be part of the MIC’s board of directors in order to avoid any accusations of politics being involved in any investment decision involving the controversial fund.

But Diokno told reporters that the MCI would be composed of the finance secretary as chairman, the presidents of Landbank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), two regular directors, and three independent directors.

Upon signing the bill into law in Malacanang, the president said, “inevitably if you put me or the secretary of finance in

crime case since there was a time lapse between the alleged utterance of hateful words and the actual assault on the Roque family.

While the pretrial proceedings continue to be heard by new Judge Richard Kirschner, eber has not been able to file bail and continues to be in custody.

“Our struggle to find justice continues even expand on the campaign for all hate crime victims that we are pursuing. I am optimistic that even after the enhancement for hate crime has been dropped after our case has been supposedly mishandled by the istrict Attorney s O ce, our campaign will further be intensified,” assured Patrick. “Just the same, the anger, frustration and dismay remains that at times make us feel hopeless.”

The Roques are a working-class migrant family who have missed wages to attend more than a dozen previous court dates alongside the community, who continue to support the family due to the apparent lack of urgency with which the court is handling their case.

Supporters are demanding that Weber be held accountable and the family’s interests and well-being are prioritized through the legal proceedings.

Community members continue to hold rallies, some of which have been livestreamed, to voice their concerns re-

a decision-making look, those decisions will be colored by political considerations and that must not be the case.”

Speaking in the vernacular, however, Diokno said, “In the original version, the president was the chairman of the fund, but now he said ‘let’s look at the best practices in other countries. The chairman is the secretary of finance, and that s me.”

When apprised of his seemingly contradictory stand to what the president had just said, Diokno backtracked and later said he “would only serve in an ex o cio capacity and will not run the fund.”

He added that the independent chairperson of the 9-member board would be a non-politician, who would manage the fund.

In a huge corporation that the MIC is bound to be, all the board members can expect to be rewarded handsomely, receiving large stipends for attending the

garding the slowness in justice and lack of assistance that government institutions have neglected to provide to the family and had consistently to make up for their lack of services through grassroots efforts including fundraising, in-person advocacy and support, and through community mobilization to uplift the struggles of the Roques and other migrant workers.

At the July 13 court date, the only Roque family members that were present were Patrick Roque and daughter Patricia Roque. The other Roque family members were unable to attend due to work and other commitments and this usually happens while court processes continue.

The family consistently faces the barrier of attending to court dates and meetings because they don t have the flexibility to take time off due to the need to work.

The incident occurred at a McDonald’s in North Hollywood. Nerissa (47) and Patricia (19) Roque were waiting in the drive-through line when their vehicle was struck by another car. The driver was a white male, ~6ft tall in his 20s or 30s. He

monthly or even weekly board meetings.

The board to be formed would be led by “highly competent personnel with a good record and outstanding integrity,” Marcos said in his speech.

The initial confusion between Marcos and Diokno was not the only issue facing the MIF, as several parties have stated that they would challenge its legality before the Supreme Court.

Even before it had been signed into law, the M F bill had drawn flak from various sectors. It had been called ill-timed, coming as it did during a time of rising inflation and a record-high national debt.

Senate minority leader Koko Pimentel had warned Marcos that he would be signing an “illegal” document due to corrections made under questionable circumstances by the Senate majority.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri had admitted that some senators had made corrections via Viber group chat.

Two groups that vowed to challenge the newly-signed law before the high tribunal are the Makabayan bloc in the

Asian (From page 1)

CTV News recently reported that Asian-Canadians are reporting continued mistreatment and harassment in the North American nation, due mostly to political tensions and the coronavirus pandemic.

So says a new poll, the results of which were released last week.

While this is not to say that Canada is still one of the best places for immigrants because of its superior social benefits, the survey which covered 884 Asian Canadians of various backgrounds including Filipino, Chinese, other East Asian and Southeast Asian, along with 1,625 other Canadians of different backgrounds had unexpected results.

Completed by the Angus Reed Institute and the Canadian Race Relations Founda-

approached the Roque’s car and used antiAsian slurs, spoke in a mocking accent and threatened them directly, saying “I’ll kill you.”

While waiting for the police to arrive on the scene, Gabriel Roque (62) came to meet his wife and daughter. Upon Gabriel Roque’s arrival, the driver physically assaulted both Gabriel and Nerissa, striking Gabriel several times and putting his hands around Nerissa’s neck. Ultimately, a bystander subdued the assailant and remained with the family until the police arrived. Gabriel Roque was taken to the hospital for medical care and sustained

House of Representatives and the National Union of People’s Lawyers, following warnings from economists and lawmakers that the Maharlika fund would put the Philippine economy at risk.

Kristina Conti, secretary general of the NUPL, told local media to “expect some sort of action on our part.”

The biggest criticism against the fund is that it is supposedly patterned after other, successful sovereign funds of developed nations.

Those funds are sourced from the budget surpluses of First World nations, while the Philippines is still a developing country which does not have any surplus to speak of, but which operates on a deficit year in and year out.

Initial funding for the Maharlika fund will come from the Landbank and the DBP, as well as declared dividends of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

More than professors from the UP School of Economics recently warned that the MIF as passed by the two houses of Congress was not sustainable.

tion, it was learned that many are facing ongoing abuse, harassment, and poor treatment in 2023.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Asian Canadians unexpectedly faced a sudden rise in hate and discrimination, which has since subsided. Unfortunately, other political factors sustained the ill-treatment of Asian Canadians.

In recent years, China and Canada have had rocky relations caused by a multitude of factors. These include trade disputes, suspected election interference, China’s detaining of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, and Canada’s detaining of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou, among others.

(As what happens in other countries, Filipino Canadians are often mistaken as Chinese Canadians.)

Patrick Roque speaking before the rallyists

INTL... (From page 1)

n a statement, the O ce of the Solicitor eneral (OS ) headed by Medardo uevarra said it is “disappointed in today s judgment issued by the Appeals Chamber of the CC.”

Former president uterte himself also “shrugged off” the CC decision, according to his counsel Harry Roque. Senator dela Rosa was also reported adopting the same attitude as that of his former boss even as Philippine senators vowed to protect him in case an arrest warrant would be served against him.

Sen. Francis Tolentino and a host of government o cials, at the same time, described the CC decision as an exercise in futility considering that the Philippines has withdrawn from the CC and, therefore, has no more jurisdiction over the case.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, for his part, said the Philippine government will no longer engage with the CC following the tribunal s decision to reject the Philippines appeal on the continuation of the investigation into the alleged excesses of the last administration s drug war.

“Hindi na tayo makikipag-usap sa kanila ( e will no longer talk to them). hat they will be doing will be usurpation of public functions,” Remulla said referring to the CC.

Remulla said the government s appeal with the CC was merely part of the policy of comity between nations and does not mean the government is submit-

ting to the tribunal s jurisdiction.

Remulla added that while the tribunal has no power of compulsion if it decides to issue arrest warrants in the Philippines, it may be prudent for those named in the CC case not to go to countries where the CC may have power to enforce an arrest.

“My advise is for those named in the CC case not to go to countries where the CC will be able to influence the judicial system. ag kayo pupunta sa lugar na maaring makialam ang CC. ito, hindi sila pwedeng makialam talaga rito ( on t go to a place where the CC can interfere. Here, they can t really interfere),” Remulla said adding that these may include European countries.

n a statement, Roque, who is an international lawyer, said uterte “has always maintained that as an independent and sovereign state, only Philippines courts can try any crime committed in Philippine territory.”

“ uterte has time and again said that because of this, he will face all his accusers anytime but before Philippine courts and before Filipino judges only,” Roque said in a Facebook post.

uterte pulled the Philippines out of the CC in 2019, a year after the Haguebased tribunal began a preliminary probe into the crackdown which has killed thousands.

The CC launched a formal inquiry in September 2021, only to suspend it two months later after Manila said it was reexamining several hundred cases of drug

operations that led to deaths at the hands of police, hitmen and vigilantes.

At least ,181 people have been killed in more than 200,000 anti-drug operations carried out, according to the latest o cial data released by the Philippines.

CC prosecutors estimate the death toll at between 12,000 and 30,000.

Sen. e la Rosa, the former police chief who spearheaded the previous administration s bloody drug war, shrugged off Tuesday the decision of the nternational Criminal Court ( CC) to proceed with its investigation into the program s alleged human rights violations.

“ ala. eadma lang. Hahaha. ala lang. Hayaan mo lang sila anong gusto nilang gawin, hindi naman natin sila puwedeng diktahan, at the same time hindi nila tayo puwedeng diktahan... ala akong pakialam sa kanila,” ela Rosa said.

The senator admitted that he was already expecting the CC s decision.

“Hindi na ako na-surprise, at hindi ako concerned, hindi ako nababagabag. Alam ko naman na desidido sila na ituloy yan, eh di ituloy nila yung kanilang imbestigasyon,” the senator said.

He also dared CC o cials to hunt him down “Hanapin niyo ko.” (Find me.)

“Hanapin nyo ako, nasa Pilipinas. am within the territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines,” he added.

Asked how confident is he that the Marcos administration can “protect” him, ela Rosa said “ f they cannot pro-

tect me, will protect myself.”

ela Rosa also continues to defend the controversial anti-drug campaign, saying they did it for the Filipino people, especially the youth.

“Basta ginawa namin yung war on drugs hindi naman pang-sarili namin, hindi para yumaman kami, kundi para sa kapakanan ng mga sambayanang Pilipinas at kabataan,” he said.

uterte s daughter and incumbent vice president Sara, had no words for the CC s decision when asked for a comment.

“Long after the Philippines ceased to be a party to the Rome Statute, the Philippine overnment chose to submit data to the ( CC) O ce of the Prosecutor and later to the Pre-Trial Chamber, not out of any legal obligation but purely on the basis of comity, consonant with the assertion of sovereignty,” the OS said.

Judges Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, Luz del Carmen b ez Carranza of Peru, and Piotr Hofma ski of Poland voted to reject the Philippines appeal, while presiding judge Marc Perrin de Brichambaut of France and judge ocha Lordkipanidze of eorgia dissented. n countering the Philippine government, de Brichambaut said the “ CC pretrial chamber did not err in law.”

“ would like to state that it is rejected by the appeals chamber by majority, and that the impugned decision is therefore confirmed,” de Brichambaut said, referring to CC decision.

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

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

MARILYN B. KING

Vice President for Sales and Marketing

BETING LAYGO DOLOR Manila Editor

JUNNI RANILLO

Entertainment Editor

ANGELO LOPEZ Cartoonist

ELEANOR SMITH

FRANCIS ESPIRITU

Publisher/President

THELMA L. CRUZ Vice President for Operations & Promotions

CHERIE QUEROL MORENO Executive Editor

NEIL GONZALES Chief Correspondent Northern California

ALFRED G. GABOT

Editor-in-chief

CLAIRE M. TRUE Managing Editor

Elected FilAm women...

(From page 1)

allejo (California) ice Mayor Rozzana erder-Aliga in May launched her campaign to represent District of the State Senate, uncharted by any FilAm. The first FilAm woman elected in Solano County when she was elected to the allejo School Board in 1993, the now-longest serving Vice Mayor of Vallejo is facing another Filipino American, former West Sacramento Mayor Chris Cabaldon, for the post vacated by Sen. Bill Dodd of Napa. Dodd is among her endorsers.

NICK SAGMIT

GEORGE GANGE

RENE AVENIDO Photo Correspondents

LYDIA SOLIS Chief Correspondent Southern California

Office Manager GILDA PASION BALAN FRANCO G. REGALA

ALI MACABALANG

JEANNE MICHAEL PENARANDA Manila Correspondents

THOMAS G. MADELO JR. Creative Director

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

BLESIE D. SISON

ALBERT MARTINEZ RENE AMON Account Executives

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

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

Rebranding the Philippines

hy, we must ask, is President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. so intent on rebranding the Philippines to the point that his subalterns are also joining the useless activity?

Over the weekend, he gave orders for national government o ces to adopt and use his new slogan -- Bagong Pilipinas -- in their projects and programs.

The Department of Tourism and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation had earlier wasted millions in creating new logos and slogans when the previous ones were perfectly fine.

Now we must all wait for the coming of the inevitable anthem with a martial beat no different from his father’s Bagong Lipunan song, which was played over and over ad nauseam when the dictator had near total control of broadcast media, back in the day.

It appears that Junior has also given instructions for government agencies to change their logos and slogans to jive with his message that the Philippines under his benign rule is restoring the good old days of martial law. And yes, we are being sarcastic. But sadly, this appears to be the direction his rudderless regime is going.

This ongoing re-imaging or re-imagining may well set the stage for a total revision of history, where the accomplishments of the two past Aquino administrations will be all but erased from the history books, and the brutal Marcos1 and Duterte regimes will be painted as saviors of the republic.

It will not be too hard to do since Education Secretary Sara Duterte – who is concurrently the vice president -- is also ready and willing to paint her father as one of the greatest chief executives the Philippines has ever had.

What next?

Will that stone monument of Marcos father’s head that was destroyed by native tribes be rebuilt ill a bill be filed in Congress seeking to rename the country as the Republic of Maharlika?

All this would be fine if the Marcos Jr regime possessed substance in its actions, instead of the empty form that everyone can see but which few can appreciate.

Perhaps a gentle reminder is apt.

After the Edsa Revolution of 198 , then eneral Fidel Ramos wanted to rename the Armed Forces of the Philippines as the New Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Someone must have told the future president that the proposed revised name was too reminiscent of the New Peoples Army, so Ramos quickly dropped the idea.

This nonsensical Bagong Pilipinas should meet the same fate. But it appears that the regime of Marcos Jr has already wasted millions of pesos in its new logo and slogan, and the soon-to-appear collaterals.

Naturally, his or his family’s and cronies’ buddies in the “creative” industry will be the beneficiaries of his largesse.

Excuse us, but the Tagalog term to describe the president and his administration is “puro porma,” or nothing but a non-stop series of meaningless shows.

Marcos Jr should be reminded that half the Philippine population is still considered poor. They do not need gimmickry from the government agencies, especially the O ce of the President.

They need food on the table, a roof over their head, and funds to pay for life’s necessities.

Enough of the porma, ok Mr. President?

Speaking at a panel discussion hosted July by the Filipina Women’s Network aimed at mentoring women of Filipino descent for political service, Verder-Aliga preempted a similar announcement by fellow Filipina American Jessica Caloza.

Caloza is eyeing representation of Los Angeles in District of the State Assembly, the chamber last occupied by her current boss Attorney eneral Rob Bonta, the first and still the only FilAm elected to the State Assembly and among her endorsers.

The first to speak among five panelists, Caloza, Bonta s eputy Chief of Staff, had teased that she would be “running for o ce very, very soon.” An excited erder-Aliga who spoke later did apologize for having “outed” the plans of the lifelong community organizer who identifies as a “first-generation immigrant.”

Verder-Aliga and Caloza rose to the political stage via disparate steps but expressed a common aspiration to give representation to their numerically dominant but “least represented” community and consistently referenced their Philippine heritage.

SPARATE BUT S M LAR

Quezon City-born Verder-Aliga was a teacher in the Philippines before moving to the United States in 1981 with her husband, retired US Marine Corps and Army Col. Nestor Aliga. As a newcomer, she noted the Filipino voice missing from among policymakers in the public school system that prodded her run for a school board seat.

“ was pregnant with my first (of two) sons while campaigning,” she told some 30 women from three continents at the virtual meeting. Verder-Aliga boosted her credentials by returning to school to earn a doctorate in counseling psychology. A licensed marriage and family therapist, she managed Solano County’s Behavioral Health Adult Outpatient Clinics, lending her expertise in efforts to address youth issues gangs, teen pregnancy and parenting. In she opted to run for the Vallejo City Council, where she focuses on families and “equitable access to education, jobs and housing.”

Caloza had an early start in public service. She was among delegates to the Filipino Youth for Leadership program and has served on the board of KAYA Filipino Americans for Progress and the Philippine Humanitarian Coalition, according to the Los Angeles Filipino Association of City Employees.

Her political experience spans both state and national stages. She was campaign aide in the reelection bids of former US Representative now Health Human Services Sec. avier Becerra, former US Rep Mike Honda and Rep Albio Sires of New Jersey.

n 2012, she directed the irginia field o ce to reelect President Obama, which led to her service as policy analyst in the Department of Education. There she homed in on gender, student data and privacy issues.

(Continued on page 26)

On borrowed time

For people who are ageing and people who are ill, each dawn is a blessing.

I wake each morning with a prayer of thanks on my lips for the coming of another day.

Our lives on this earth are transient. We live on borrowed time and we must make the most of it, doing good to our fellowmen whenever we can.

Death, which is inevitable, should not be dreaded . We just do not know the time or place when it will come.

I remember my late mother, Loreto “Nenita” Carreon Hernandez, who told me that she did not fear death, only the uncertainty of what lay ahead for her.

People close to me accepted death as an end to their suffering , having given up hope of recovering from their illnesses.

I am constantly amazed, when I think of my sister Carmen, at the courage she showed as she faced death, refusing possible means to lengthen her life. I suspect that she did not want to be a burden to her children any longer.

She declared that she had completed her bucket list and was ready to meet her Maker.

Most people, I believe, myself included, would jump at the chance to prolong their life, for life is wonderful and infinitely better than dying.

Have you ever wondered why there are younger people, abruptly taken from this earth while there are people who live to a ripe old age?

Who can tell what our Creator has in store for us?

Su ce it to say that those who have survived their colleagues and friends must have done so , for a reason which our finite minds cannot comprehend.

While we can, let us use the time left for us in fruitful endeavours

In preparation for the after life.

We live on borrowed time. Let us not waste it in regrets or in harboring ill feelings towards those who have done us harm . Leave them to heaven, I always say.

Each day indeed is a blessing. Thank God for it!

CHERIE M. QUEROL MORENO

My fond memories of my father

riting accolades for one’s father could be an infectious thing as I must confess I was hit by the column piece of a loving son in this page recently.

Dan Niño’s narration of his father’s great deeds and how he was driven to have his son become a politician like him during his youth is inspiring.

Breaking Through

Atty. Bonifacio Ni o who was my late uncle’s boardmate in an apartment in Manila before the Ni os moved to a nice home in uezon City was wise enough to have his son Dan christened with only letters as first name.

That way, the voters can easily write down his name on the ballot, as an said his father told him. Those days, elections were done manually including the use of a pen ( or was it a pencil ) inside the voting booth.

As it turned out, however, an did not become a politician.

But his late father may be happy to know that an eventually became president of the large Pangasinan Brotherhood nc. based in Los Angeles whose election to the post is, to me, an exercise in politics.

Topping my recollection of my own late father, Aniceto Molina Sr., is that he was the most protective ad ever. He loved his children( we re 11) so much that even a mosquito wasn’t allowed to touch us.

Those times when we were kids, he would inspect our mosquito nets before we call it a night to make sure they re properly in place, not too high that the insect could slip in nor too low that his kids inside could, in their slumber, mistakenly use the nets as blankets.

Being his first son, he showered me with attention and gifts he thought was the best for a boy.

One time while was having my class in rade 2, he surprised me and the whole class including our teacher when he suddenly appeared and handed me a ukulele after asking my teacher’s permission.

He couldn’t hold his excitement to hand the musical instrument to me. He could have waited till our class was over but he didn’t.

I was overjoyed for his wonderful gift which during those days was a rare find.

Unfortunately, may have disappointed my ad as was a slow learner when mang Benito, our neighbor-relative and all-round man, mentored me on how to use the ukulele. t looked like music was not my passion.

n time, became busy with something else.

But did my best to please my late ad when he ran for and won as a Councilor in our town. I joined some of my sisters in preparing his campaign materials and handouts.

We rubber-stamped his name and the position he was gunning for on pieces of hard paper that were cut to size.

My Dad had an advantage over his rivals because he owned a passenger bus which, election or no election, was patronized by our townmates due to the “courtesy” extended to them by its employees.

The driver was under instruction not to go past anyone from our town who was waiting for a ride by the roadside even when the bus was full.

The conductor, the one who collects the fare, was not supposed to charge them for the ride insistent to pay they may be.

So, my father had an instant political base apart from the northern villages where we were based and is collectively called BANAR , our own version of Solid North.

t was exciting to run for public o ce then as so believe my father was. Elections were done fairly with the results reflecting the free will of the people. ote-buying was still unheard of .

Unlike the case of my good friend an though, think my father did not groom me to follow after him. My first name is letters- long which must not have been easy to write on the ballot.

He wanted me to be a lawyer especially after he saw my performance in college in my first two to three years of Prelaw. But as it turned out, campus politics and other extracurriculars ruined my way to Law school. It’s saddening to recall but modesty aside, classmates with whom used to share my notes or who lagged behind in

California, Pangasinan governors: Miles apart but fate are intertwined

It appears that Pangasinan Governor Ramon V.

Guico III is well on the road to becoming one of the most accomplished chief executives of the province. In only one year in o ce, he has launched various projects, initiated reforms and mapped out more projects and services for his constituents all aimed at boosting its economy and revenues and opening opportunities to its people.

In My Heart

And his latest project with private partners is an international seaport in the coastal town of Sual, once the port where ships load rice and other Philippine goods for export to China and neighboring countries. The seaport will help decongest the Manila nternational Container Terminal in Manila, he said.

uring the gubernatorial campaign, uico vowed to initiate the construction of an eastern to western Pangasinan expressway, establish more economic zones and improve the healthcare system in the provincial hospitals, among others. Already, Pangasinan is reached faster as it is served by the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union expressway or TPLE , the North Luzon Expressway (NLE ) and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac expressway (SCTex).

Guico said the expressway which he also explained to Pangasinan leaders in California recently will provide access to e cient travel to famous tourist destinations in the province, generate more jobs, and support proposed economic zones from eastern towns of San Nicolas, Natividad, San Quintin and Umingan at the foot of the Sierra Madre mountains to the western towns of Agno, Bani, asol up to Bolinao and the Hundred Islands.

“The expressway from the sixth district to the first district that would pass through the special economic zones. t would create more jobs and massive infrastructure projects,” the youthful governor declared early on in his administration.

Guico said his administration will also push for the opening of more economic zones in Pangasinan, to add to the province first economic zone which he and his father, Rep. Ramon N. uico Jr., had initiated and opened up in his hometown Binalonan. The ecozone is located besides the uico-owned Binalonan airport complex which includes an aeronautical, aviation and technological college which is part of the CC ( orld Citi College) school and hospital system based in Metro Manila and Rizal province which are owned, managed and operated by the Guicos.

The youthful governor said the new economic zones will be put up in the capital town of Lingayen, Mangatarem, and Aguilar towns, and Alaminos City.

uico, whose family owns a big hospital in uezon City, said his administration will computerize records of patients in the 14 provincial government-run hospitals, add more modern diagnostic equipment and beef up the medical personnel with competent specialists. “If the patients do not have medical records then, they also don t have a medical history. e will link the hospitals to each other for them to access patients records,” he said.

“As a governor, will be the ambassador of the province to entice tourists to our province. To return the trust of investors to our province,” he said early on in o ce.

uico has also taken steps to continue the scholarship programs of the provincial government. uico, who once served as president of University of Eastern Pangasinan (UEP), the municipal university he set up in Binalonan and whose family owns and manages a chain of schools in Metro Manila and nearby areas, said he will be working closely with the Pangasinan State University and local universities and colleges. n tandem with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the governor plans to put up more municipal colleges like Binalonan s UEP to cater to the needs of the youth in other parts of the province.

“ e would like to leave a legacy to the people wherein they will respect me because served with competence, transparency, and an honest governor,” uico declared.

(Editor s Note The writer is a book author, professor and journalist in the Philippines and United States, having been president of the National Press Club during which he linked up with the National Press Club in (Continue on page 27)

(Continue on page 27)

Documents apostille processing updates

As accredited and commissioned Notary Public in California since and founder of Mobile Signing Services (MSS), ve been deeply concerned on the delays and very long apostille processing of documents submitted to the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section, in Sacramento, California during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. t took three weeks or more to complete the apostille processing because the front desk was closed.

After the end of the CO -19 pandemic lockdown, the apostille processing of documents submitted to the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section, in Sacramento, California was shortened into two weeks or less. At this time, we at MSS, drove to Sacramento, California and dropped off notarized documents needed in the Philippines inside the apostille box located at the lobby of the Secretary of State building in Sacramento, California, enclosed through a prepaid USPS Priority Mail envelope.

hen r. Shirley N. eber, Ph. ., took over as new Secretary of State, the apostille processing of submitted notarized documents improved considerably. t took only 7 working days or less for me to receive the apostilled documents returned through the prepaid USPS Priority Mail envelope.

For so many months, ve been sending short notes requesting r. Shirley N. eber, Ph. ., our newly-elected Secretary of State if she can work out ways so that we can go back to the one-day apostille processing of submitted notarized documents.

Then, on Monday, July 10, 2023, was delighted to know that the one-day apostille processing of submitted notarized documents needed in the Philippines, was now implemented by r. Shirley N. eber, Ph. ., our new Secretary of State.

e commend and thank r. Shirley N. eber, Ph. ., for responding to our request. also commend and thank the staff at the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section in Sacramento, California for a very friendly, e cient and prompt services when submitted seven (7) notarized documents for apostille last Monday, July 10, 2023.

The new one-day apostille processing of submitted notarized documents is a big help to our old and new clients especially those who need to beat the deadline in the submission of apostilled documents needed in the Philippines. It will also save us at MSS precious time and money in going to the Post O ce to fall in line and buy prepaid USPS Priority Mail envelope.

e at MSS, are committed, dedicated and will continue to assist and help our old and new clients specially the veterans, elderly and those physically handicapped in the signing, notarization and apostille follow-up of documents needed in the Philippines. Here are some advantages and benefits with MSS

1. DISCOUNTS FOR THE ELDERLY AND VETERANS e offer special discount for the elderly and veterans.

2. AVOID TAKE OFF FROM WORK – You don’t need to take off from work and drive to Sacramento, California just to submit the notarized documents for apostille by the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section. MSS will take care everything for you.

3. ER FLE BLE APPO NTMENTS e offer very flexible appointments for old and new clients during regular o ce hours, after o ce hours and weekends except on Sundays.

4. FREE PARK N hen we had our o ce at the Philippine Center near the Philippine Consulate O ce in downtown San Francisco, our old clients were complaining for the expensive parking fees. ith our home o ce in San Francisco, California, old and new clients can have FREE parking in our driveway and the available street parking spaces nearby.

5. FLE BLE NOTAR AT ON LOCAT ONS - For those who can t come to our home o ce in San Francisco, California, we can do the signing and notarization of documents in the privacy of your home, o ce, hospitals, restaurants, BART lobby, Post O ce station lobby and other locations.

ART GABOT MADLAING

ALFRED G. GABOT

TEDDY P. MOLINA

What next for Digong and Bato?

he International Criminal Court has decided to reject the Philippine government’s appeal to stop its investigation of the brutal drug war perpetrated by the previous Duterte regime.

That decision paves the way for the possible arrest of Rodrigo Duterte along with his then Philippine National Police chief and now Senator Bato dela Rosa.

This alone should offer some hope for the families of the thousands of mostly young men who were killed in the name of that drug war. The figures vary, with the government more or less admitting that between 5,000 and ,000 suspected drug users and pushers were killed, either by the police, or by death squads who were allowed to kill indiscriminately with the assurance that they would never by charged, much less convicted for their crimes.

That five to six thousand figure may actually rise to as high as 30,000 victims, and while most were young men, there was also a smattering of women and children. And since they were mostly poor, few bothered to fight for their rights.

This is why the Marcos regime has also adopted the laughable claim of the Duterte government that the country’s legal system was working, and that the guilty parties would be charged in court and hopefully convicted.

This is indeed an extremely grim joke, as to-date only a handful of cases have been filed. Using the low figure of 5,000 killed, and less than a dozen cases being filed, the claim that the justice system works is a huge insult to the victims and their families. The batting average of cases filed vs actual killings is too infinitesimal to be worth anything.

But then, who cares The victims were mostly impoverished young men, were they not n Tagalog, they would be the typical kanto boys, the wasted youth with no future. So their demise was no real loss to society, no At least to society as Messrs Duterte and Marcos perceive it.

There is little chance that uterte igong, not Sara, OK – as well as Dela Rosa will be surrendered by the government to the CC. Even if indications of their guilt are strong, they are too well protected.

hy is this so ell, what do you think There must be billions of reasons. Trillions, perhaps

It is not only Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla who keeps insisting that what the ICC wants to do smacks of interference in the country s internal affairs. Other supposedly learned men and women parrot the line that the ICC should not tell the Philippine government what to do because the country has already cut its ties with the court.

There is a principle that says no law can be passed retroactively, or words to that effect. t simply means that no law can be passed that covers supposed crimes and misdemeanors committed before the law was passed.

The ICC has long held that the crimes Duterte and Dela Rosa stand accused of took place when the Philippines was still a member of the ICC.

Thus far, no one has yet argued successfully against this. To say that by merely leaving the ICC the crimes committed no longer exist or may not be charged is absolutely ridiculous.

n fact, a number of lawmakers who fully supported the country’s membership in the court in the past want the public to now forget their previous righteous stand and instead stand behind uterte and ela Rosa, and Marcos too because he has chosen to repeat the failed logic of the supporters of the two.

This places the Philippines in the odd situation of begging for investments from foreigners but giving no assurance that the country will agree to judgements of any international court should litigation take place.

Put it another way, the Philippines cheered when the country took China to a world court not unlike the ICC to determine who owns the est Philippine Sea, and won. But when the ICC seeks justice for thousands of Filipinos killed at the behest of uterte and to a lesser extent ela Rosa, the government says those damn foreigners are interfering in the country s affairs.

What makes this so sickening is that the victory at the International Court of Arbitration was for all Filipinos, all more than 100 million plus of us.

Rejecting the CC, on the

Allisen Corpuz and Tiger Woods: from young golfer champions

he world of golf has witnessed the rise of numerous talented individuals, and two such golfers, Allisen Corpuz and Tiger oods, share a common bond that has shaped their careers: the unwavering support and guidance of their fathers. Both Corpuz and oods were introduced to golf at a young age by their fathers, who played a pivotal role in nurturing their talent and paving the way for their success in the professional arena.

Allisen Corpuz, hailing from Honolulu, and Tiger oods, a legendary figure in the sport, represent different eras and backgrounds. However, their stories converge when it comes to the profound influence their fathers had on their golfing journeys.

Corpuz s father, Marcos, and oods father, Earl, recognized their children s passion and potential for golf at an early stage. They both fostered their development by immersing them in the sport and providing them with the necessary resources to excel. rowing up in Hawaii, Corpuz had the advantage of her parents living near the Kapolei golf course. Her father s ardent love for golf ignited her own passion, and she began playing the game at the tender age of four or five. Marcos Corpuz s dedication to his daughter s golfing aspirations laid the foundation for her eventual triumph at the US omen s Open, making her the first American in 20 years to capture the coveted title.

Similarly, Tiger oods father, Earl oods, recognized his son s extraordinary talent and began teaching him golf fundamentals when Tiger was just a toddler. Earl’s unwavering belief in his son’s abilities and his commitment to honing Tiger’s skills played a crucial role in his rise to prominence as one of the greatest golfers of all time. Under Earl s tutelage, Tiger s exceptional talent blossomed, and he went on to achieve unparalleled success in the sport, winning multiple major championships and captivating the world with his golfing prowess.

The parallels between Corpuz and oods extend beyond their fathers’ involvement. Both golfers made their mark at a young age, displaying remarkable talent and dedication. Corpuz s recent victory at the US omen s Open marked her first LP A win, mirroring oods breakthrough triumph at the 1997 Masters, where he became the youngest player ever to don the green jacket.

Furthermore, both Corpuz and oods demonstrated a tenacious and focused approach to the game. Corpuz s consistent performance throughout the US omen s Open, being the only player to finish each round under par, showcased her ability to handle pressure and maintain composure. Similarly, oods mental toughness and unrivaled competitiveness became trademarks of his game, allowing him to deliver awe-inspiring performances in critical moments.

hile Corpuz and oods come from different cultural backgrounds, their fathers unwavering support and guidance provided a strong foundation for their success. These stories serve as a reminder of the profound impact parents can have on their children’s sporting aspirations, and the importance of nurturing talent from a young age.

Allisen Corpuz and Tiger oods, each on their respective paths, have demonstrated the influence of a supportive father figure in shaping their golfing careers. As fans of the sport, we can marvel at the achievements of these exceptional athletes and appreciate the vital role played by their fathers in molding them into the golfing stars they are today. (Continue on page 27)

As early as 2017, the problem already existed with synthetic opioids having increased by 1,027 and fentanyl has been blamed for the deaths of 20 of California’s teenagers and young adults (Wikipedia). And over 80,000 Americans may have overdosed on opioids in 2021, with higher than 11,200 of those fatalities occurring in California, as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Also, according to California Health Policy Strategies statistics, drug overdoses are now two to three times more fatal than state car accidents.

There was already a problem in California at that time, but why only now that it is being addressed t should have been acted upon to contain it ell, it s never too late, so they say… so we need to address it… quickly!

ow, these are significant figures we can t just brush aside and let go. Something must be done to address them!

No wonder, schools and other educational institutions are conducting their own trainings, both for staff and students about the crisis and making available Narcan in their health o ces for everybody to avail of. The awareness factor and the actual presence of Narcan in specified areas/o ces/departments in campus serves an assurance for the educational community to saving the lives of their students and staff.

California Governor Gavin Newsom was alarmed by said statistics, so he came out with a master plan for tackling the fentanyl and opioid crisis. He is also taking legal efforts to tackle the opioid issue, including patrols, assistance grants, and education.

The governor, we were informed, has invested over 1 billion to tackle the crisis. Through CalRx, California will seek to manufacture its own Naloxone. Master plan provides comprehensive approaches to save more lives.

Following a visit to the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San iego county, overnor avin Newsom released his administration s Master Plan after recognizing the opioid and fentanyl crisis as a multifaceted public health and public safety issue.

Governor Newsom’s Master Plan provides a comprehensive approach to save lives. The Master Plan builds on the overnor s 1 billion investment to tackle this crisis including an expansion of California National uard-supported operations that last year led to a 594 increase in seized fentanyl. The Master Plan outlines aggressive steps to support overdose prevention efforts, hold the opioid pharmaceutical industry accountable, crack down on drug tra cking, and raise awareness about the dangers of opioids, including fentanyl.

According to ov. Newsom, over 150 people die every day in our nation from overdoses and poisonings related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. That figure is alarming Fellow Californians, with this Master Plan, California is doubling down to combat this crisis and save lives. Our comprehensive approach will expand enforcement efforts to crack down on transnational criminal organizations tra cking this poison into our communities while prioritizing harm reduction strategies to reduce overdoses and compassionately help those struggling with substance use and addiction.”

The crack down on opioid tra cking, aside from enforcing the law, will combat overdoses, support those with opioid use disorder, and raise awareness about the dangers of opioids. The Master Plan provides a comprehensive framework to deepen the impact of these investments including through a new CalRx effort where California will seek to manufacture its own opioid overdose reversal drug Naloxone.

The governor’s move is a catch up project because California will further save lives through an additional 9 million in funding in the overnor s 2023-24 proposed budget 79 million for the Naloxone istribution Project to meet increased demand and provide more Naloxone to communities than ever before 10 million for grants for education, testing, recovery, and support services 4 million to make fentanyl test strips more widely available and 3.5 million in Prop 98 funding to provide overdose medication to all middle and high schools.

(Continue on page 27)

Fentanyl and opioid crisis in California need to be addressed immediately

BETING DOLOR

ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO

FERNANDO ESTRADA Tambuli Ng Bayan

Can you naturalize if your green card has expired?

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

Question: Can you naturalize if you lost your green card?

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

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

The person who lost green card may complete and properly file an Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Form -90) with USC S, with appropriate fees (if required), in accordance with the Form -90 instructions.

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

A Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) who is temporarily outside the United States for less than year and who is not in possession of a valid green card (for example, it was lost, stolen, or destroyed) may properly file an Application for Travel ocument (Carrier ocumentation) (Form -131A) to request documentation to demonstrate to an airline or other transportation carrier that he or she is authorized to travel to the United States. This transportation letter does not replace the green card. LPRs must still complete and properly file Form -90 to obtain a replacement of the green card upon arrival to the U.S.

2. hat happen if the Reentry permit is lost

f inside the United States, complete and properly file an Application for Travel ocument (Form -131) with USC S, with appropriate fees.

An LPR who is temporarily outside the United States for less than 2 years and who is not in possession of a valid green card (for example, it was lost, stolen, or destroyed) may properly file an Application for Travel ocument (Carrier ocumentation) (Form -131A) to request documentation to demonstrate to an airline or other transportation carrier that he or she is authorized to travel to the United States. The transportation letter does not replace the reentry permit. LPRs must complete and properly file Form -131 upon reentry into the United States to obtain a replacement reentry permit.

Note: This is not a legal advice. You should consult with an immigration attorney about the specifics of your case.

MPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

PET T ON FOR NURSES L N AN CARE ERS

Our Law Firm entered into agreement with nursing facilities in the U.S. to process applicants for Nurses, L N and Caregivers in the US ou may qualify if you have RN or L N license. Caregivers will need a year of caregiving experience.

Applicants nside 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 will eliminate all unsecured debts. If you are near retirement age, you must eliminate most of your debts.

CAR ACC ENTS

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

FAM L LA

e also handle uncontested ORCE.

T N and NCOME TA PROBLEMS

e can help you if you need an T N ( ndividual Taxpayer number) e also prepare income tax returns and if you are under RS audit, and need a representation with RS, need to reduce your tax liability or need to offer a payment plan to RS, we can help you with that.

SUCCESS STOR ES

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

f you have immigration problems the Law O ces 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.

NEDA Board OKs NAIA rehab, 2 other infra projects

MAN LA The National Economic and evelopment Authority (NE A)

Board chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. approved the solicited proposal to rehabilitate and expand the Ninoy Aquino nternational Airport (NA A) PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) Project.

n a briefing, NE A Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the P170. -billion Solicited NA A PPP Project is one of the three projects approved during a meeting with the President at Malacañan Palace.

Balisacan said the Solicited NA A PPP Project is under the epartment of Transportation and the Manila nternational Airport Authority.

He said the project aims to address “long-standing issues at NA A, such as the inadequate capacity of passenger terminal buildings and restricted aircraft movement,” and would help make NA A be at par with the airports of neighboring countries.

“ t aims to increase the current annual airport capacity from 35 million to at least 2 million passengers. The NA A PPP Project also aims to increase air tra c movement from 40 to 48 per hour,” Balisacan said.

“The project is also expected to improve the overall passenger experience and service quality to prevent long queues, lengthy waiting times, and other passenger inconveniences.”

Balisacan said NE A expects to have the winning bidder within the year.

He said the project would start as early as next year.

Aside from the NA A rehabilitation project, the NE A Board also approved the P7.48 billion Samar Pacific Coastal

Road 2 Project and the P12.75 billion unsolicited proposal for the upgrade, expansion, operation, and maintenance of the Laguindingan nternational Airport Project.

Balisacan said the Samar Pacific Coastal Road 2 Project involves the construction of the Laoang Bridge and Calomotan Bridge, and the improvement of existing roads between Laoang sland and mainland Samar Island with a total length of 15 km.

On the other hand, the unsolicited Laguindingan Airport PPP Project in Misamis Oriental aims to integrate concepts of “green” and “connected” airports into its design and operation and use digital technologies to enhance the passenger experience.

Balisacan said the NE A Board also approved requests for reasonable changes in scope, cost, design, and or loan validity of four ongoing infrastructure projects.

These are the loan validity extension and implementation period extension of the P7.5-billion ntegrated isaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation or RR-CCA Measures in Low-Lying Areas of Pampanga Bay Project extension of implementation period, loan validity, increase in cost, reallocation of loan proceeds, and change in scope and design of the P19. -billion Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Stage 2 project change in the project scope, decrease in cost, and extension of the implementation period for the P5.1-billion Malitubog-Maridagao rrigation Project Stage 2 and the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit loan validity extension until ec. 31, 2025.

ADB projects PHL

to post highest growth in Southeast Asia

MAN ALU ON C T The Asian evelopment Bank (A B) maintained its Philippine economic growth projection, forecasting the country as the fastest-growing economy in Southeast Asia this year.

n its A B Outlook July Update, the bank said the country’s gross domestic product ( P) will likely grow by .0 percent this year, the highest among major Southeast Asian countries.

The A B expects ndonesia to grow by 4.8 percent, Malaysia by 4.7 percent, Singapore by 1.5 percent, Thailand by 3.5 percent, and ietnam by 5.8 percent.

A B s projection also falls within the lower end of the government s to 7 percent economic growth target for this year.

The Philippine economy grew by 6.4 percent in the first quarter of the year.

“Robust investment and private consumption drove growth by 6.4 percent year on year in 1 (first quarter) 2023, supported by rising employment, expanding production and retail sales, and brisk private and public construction,” the A B said.

“Tourism bounced back, and growth remained strong for business process outsourcing and information services.”

For 2024, the A B sees the Philippine economy to grow by 6.2 percent.

A B country director for the Philippines Pavit Ramachandran told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that domestic investment and household consumption will continue to be key drivers of growth.

“Private consumption will be buoyed by rising employment and steady remittances from overseas Filipino workers. Expansion in public infrastructure spending with large infrastructure projects underway continues to lift investment,” he said.

Ramachandran said growth in services is also expected to remain robust.

“Private consumption will underpin retail trade, while the rebound in tourism is benefitting a range of services, most notably hotels and restaurants, transport, and communication. The growth in business process outsourcing and information services also remains strong,” he added.

Ramachandran cited the need to strengthen the economic recovery by further lifting investment in infrastructure and human capital development, along with building community resilience to climate change impacts and protecting the environment.

Business sector ‘bullish’ about MIF, but awaits next SONA

MAKATI CITY – Stock market insiders welcomed Tuesday’s enactment of the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), but said the bullishness it will bring to trading will likely occur after President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. delivers his second State of the Nation (SONA) address next week.

Jeng Calma, operations head at A&A Securities, said the almost 22-point decline in the market on Tuesday should not be interpreted as investors’ cold reaction toward the new law, which in fact, promises to infuse immense sum into the local bourse.

“There may have been other factors that influenced today s lackluster trading. The signing (into law by the President) of Maharika (Investment Fund) was already anticipated and was discounted. We expect to feel it (market growth) after SONA,” she noted.

Calma disclosed that numerous foreign investors have already positioned themselves in the exchange hoping to get a windfall once the MIF invigorates the market.

“As early as several weeks ago, they (foreign funds) were already positioning themselves in blue chips,” she said.

Meanwhile, Francis Chua, the chairman of BA Securities, said the MIF concept has already been tried and tested in Singapore and has been proven to deliver good results.

He recalled that in the past, the Singaporean government successfully grew state funds through calibrated and wellthought-out investments in the island territory s financial and capital markets.

“It (MIF) should be good for the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) and the economy in general. It worked for Singapore and am confident that the president’s plan will work for us,” said Chua, also chairman emeritus of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

Moreover, the business leader said that market stakeholders are eagerly expecting funds from the MIF to “pass

through” the PSE.

He echoed expectations that the stock market will see renewed bullishness once investors “digest” the contents of the next SONA, and learn more about the Marcos administration’s plans for the Philippine economy over the next five years.

“ e are confident that M F can really prop-up the market, we are looking forward to this,” Chua added.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan lauded the signing of the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) Act of saying this would help the country achieve its long-term development goals.

Balisacan said the MIF would complement the country’s existing investment platforms and support the financing of the government s flagship projects, particularly in the infrastructure sector.

“The Economic Team has always emphasized the importance of enhancing the platforms that we have for engaging with the private sector and promoting investments in strategic areas. The MIF will help us achieve this objective,” he said.

Balisacan said to augment the initial capitalization of PHP125 billion in government securities, the MIF could bring in more economic benefits if it could attract co-investments and fully pay its authorized capital stock of PHP500 billion.

He added that the MIF could invest in some of the Infrastructure Flagship Projects of the “Build-Better-More” program.

“Maharlika can invest in various areas. There are strategic areas in the energy sector that we would like MIF to invest in. There are many areas that are in great need of capital. So, we will never run out of investment opportunities,” he said.

Balisacan said the MIF could be an alternative to debt financing when the country becomes an upper middle-income country and would no longer qualify for concessionary loans, such as the O cial evelopment Assistance.

Bea Alonzo and Dominic Roque are engaged!

Yes, Maria Clara, actress Bea Alonzo and actor and model Dominic Roque are engaged!

On Instagram, the Kapuso actress shared the happy news posting gorgeous black and white photos of their special life event and this was reported also by GMA Network, Bea’s new home studio.

According to Bea, 35, whose real name is Phylbert Angelli Ranollo Fagestrom, the proposal took place at a balmy sunset on Tuesday, July 18 in Las Casas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan, where she was “there for a shoot.”

The Filipino-British actress expressed her joy with this new milestone of their life.

The actress narrated how the photographer, Mark Nicdao, kept telling her to turn around as he saw an angle he wanted to shoot, GMA News reported

While she “found it odd,” Bea obliged, and when she turned, “I found Dom kneeling with a box in his hand.”

“You see, I have done so many proposal scenes in my entire career, but

nothing beats the real thing. I have been doing it all wrong!” Bea shared laughing.

When Dominic, 32, said his speech, Bea said “it’s like time stood still.”

“Everything went in slow motion. And felt different emotions all at the same time joy, excitement, love. I started bawling,” she recalled.

According to Bea, she “didn’t want that moment to end.”

“I want this real thing to happen forever… and right then there… In front of the people we love… we decided on forever,” she ended her sweet caption.

As early as last month, rumors swirled about the couple’s engagement after Dom posted about their romantic beachside date. Quickly, Bea denied the speculations.

Last week, the actress admitted they did talk about marriage but that they have their “own timeline.”

Roque admitted that he’s had a crush on Alonzo since they first met in 2016. Back then, Alonzo thought Roque was too young for her.

They remained friends since they first met, and it was not until the latter part of 2019 during their trip to Japan when she began seeing Roque in a different light.

n April 2021, Alonzo first con-

firmed that she s dating Roque. The celebrity couple marked their second anniversary last January 28. Bea confirmed her relationship with Dominic Roque in August 2021.

Sky River Casino Welcomes Renowned Bay Area Restaurant “Dragon Beaux” Officially Opened Providing Authentic Chinese Cuisine

Sky River Casino welcomes the highly-anticipated, renowned Bay area restaurant, “ ragon Beaux”, o cially opened, providing casino guests with authentic Chinese cuisine, Guangdong dim sum and special hot pot. Willy Ng, a highly acclaimed Restauranteur nominated by James Beard and President of The Palette Group, has partnered with Sky River to bring the famed dim sum destination to Elk Grove, a new hot spot for gourmet food with family and friends.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to officially open the doors of the best, authentic dim sum of the Bay Area right here at Sky River,” said Sky River Casino’s President and Chief Operating O cer Chris ibase. “ ragon Beaux is a delicious addition to our wide selection of cuisine and we’ve been eager to finally welcome guests inside.”

The intricate decor and interior design in Dragon Beaux provide an excellent ambience for dining. Various

exquisite tea sets line the restaurant wall cabinets to make it a hotspot for selfie. ragon Beaux provides a variety of famous tea, mouth -watering Guangdong dim sum, special hot pot, and a variety of stir-fried dishes, all to satisfy your taste buds. There is a bar in the restaurant as well, so friends can have a few rounds before their meal. It is worth mentioning that Dragon Beaux is the first hot pot restaurant nested in a Northern California casino. In addition, Koi Palace Express in the Market at Sky River, also provides a fast casual dining experience with delicious selections of Chinese dim sum.

Willy Ng, President of the Palette Group, brings many classic dishes from Dragon Beaux in the Bay Area to Sky River, which are not normally served at other competitor casinos. The wellknown Five Guys Xiao Long Bao, specialty Peking Duck, featured Dragon Beaux Hot Pot, Egg White Fried Rice with Dry Scallop and Sautéed Chilean

Sea Bass, all are mouth-watering dishes.

“We’re excited to welcome Sky River guests to our new space and have the opportunity to share our delicious cuisine with the greater Sacramento area,” said Willy Ng. “Our nostalgic yet modern approach to dim sum is perfect for big groups or visitors seeking a flavorful dining experience.”

“Dragon Beaux” is open on Saturday and Sunday from 11AM to 12 AM, Monday, Tuesday and Friday from PM to 12 AM, and closed on Wednesday and Thursday. For more information and reservation, please check out Skyriver.com/dining-and-drinks/ dragonbeaux to preview the menu and reserve a table through the OpenTable reservation system.

*Must be at least 21 years of age or older and a Sky River Rewards member. Visit Sky River Rewards Club for complete details. Management reserves all rights. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Join Sky River Rewards Sky River Rewards, is one of the most hi-tech rewards programs among casinos in Northern California, allowing guests cardless play, cashless wallet, and more. The Sky River Rewards card is your key to receiving points for all your activities and those points can be redeemed for Free Play or dining credits. Become a Sky River Rewards member now to receive $20 Free Play. To activate your Free Play, visit any slot machine and place a bet. Sky River Rewards enrollment can be done online using a computer, tablet, or phone with a camera.

About Sky River Casino

Sky River Casino was built by the Wilton Rancheria in partnership with Boyd Gaming Corporation, which is building and managing the property for the tribe. The casino opened in August 2022 and includes 100,000 sq ft of gaming, 2,100 slot machines, 80+ table games, and 17 bars and restaurants. To learn more, visit www.SkyRiver.com.

Radyo 630 is back, launches whole-day programming

By Isagani de Castro Jr.

MANILA After 17 days of morningsonly programs, DWPM Radyo 630 had a nearly whole-day programming on Monday, July 17, with ABS-CBN anchors, reporters and former DZMM TeleRadyo talents filling up the afternoon to evening slots.

ABS-CBN sports news anchor Migs Bustos hosts Share Ko Lang, a program on “inspiring and trending” stories from pm to pm.

Bustos recently joined TV Patrol anchor Karen avila in the revived entrepreneurship show, My Puhunan: Kaya Mo!, on ABS-CBN platforms.

Del Prado used to host, Usapang de Campanilla, a nightly free legal advice show on DZMM TeleRadyo, from 2016 to 2020. He was also a volunteer lawyer of ABS-CBN’s Foundation’s child rescue program, Bantay Bata 163.

Radyo 630, with the call sign, DWPM, is a joint project between House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s Prime Media Holdings Incorporated and ABS-CBN Corporation that revives TeleRadyo on free radio. The Lopez-led company shut down TeleRadyo, which had only been on digital platforms and on cable television, on June 29, citing financial losses. n Radyo

30, ABS-CBN provides the content while Prime Media is in charge of broadcasting.

Radyo 630 went on a soft launch for two weeks, from June 30 to July 16, with half-day programming from am to 12:30 pm, and the hook-up of ABS-CBN s flagship news program, TV Patrol, from 6:30 pm to pm on 630 kilohertz (kHz) on the AM band. It started its YouTube streaming on July 3, opting to start from scratch than build on DZMM TeleRadyo’s social media accounts. As of July 17, it had 19,000 followers on Facebook, which means an average of 1,000 plus additional followers daily.

Veteran broadcaster Noli de Castro leads the radio talents on the news channel comprised mostly of ABS-CBN veteran

reporters and news anchors.

Aside from free radio, Radyo 630, is also on cable television (SkyCable and other cable providers in the Philippines), YouTube, ABS-CBN’s international cable service The Filipino Channel, and its streaming service, i antTFC.

According to GMA, DZBB 594 kHZ was the Philippines’ number one radio station in June 2023 with a share of 31.1%, followed by Manila Broadcasting Company’s DZRH 666 with 28.5%. In third place was Iglesia Ni Cristo’s DZEC Radyo Agila 1062 with a 13.5% share, followed by the Catholic Church’s radio station, Radyo Veritas 846, with a share of 7.5%. This is based on AGB Nielsen Philippines’ monthly Mega Manila Radio Audience Measurement.

Prior to the closure of TeleRadyo, the Reuters Institute’s Digital News Report 2023 had ABS-CBN’s TeleRadyo and GMA’s Radyo DZBB as the leading stations with a 13% share each in weekly use. Among the respondents in the study’s survey, 7 said they listened to TeleRadyo at least three days a week, the same as Radyo DZBB. Manila Broadcasting Company’s DZRH was third with a 10% share, and 5% listened to DZRH at least three days a week.

More than three years after it lost its free-to-air channels, key ABS-CBN shows are now on free tv and radio, in addition to digital platforms. Its prime time teleseryes are on tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan’s TV5 and televangelist Eddie illanueva s A2 . ts noon variety show, t s Showtime, is on MA s free tv channel, T . ts flagship news program T Patrol airs on A2Z and can be heard on Radyo 630. ABS-CBN is trying to reverse three years of financial losses with content partnerships with various local and foreign media and entertainment organizations after the Duterte administration ordered its free-toair channels shut down in May 2020 and the House of Representatives rejected its franchise renewal in July 2020. – Rappler. com

SANDARA PARK RELEASES NEW SONG “FESTIVAL”

K-pop superstar Sandara Park dropped Tuesday a digital extended play (EP), her first solo release since she debuted in South Korea more than a decade ago.

The self-titled EP consists of five tracks, with “Festival” serving as the lead single.

The EP s concept involves the 38-year-old singer inviting her fans to an amusement park named after her, according to a report by the Korea Herald.

Main track “Festival” reportedly samples music from a song of the same title by K-pop diva Uhm Jung-hwa, whom Sandara had previously described as her role model.

The music video for “Festival,” which was released alongside the EP, follows her at an amusement park. It also includes cameos from a number of popular Korean celebrities, including Uhm Junghwa, Jo Se-ho, Kim Sook, Park Na-rae, and Aiki.

Sandara enlisted the help of other Korean musicians for the album, with rapper Gray, R&B singer Heize and indie artist Sunwoo Jung-a producing the tracks “Dara Dara,” “T Map,” and “Happy Ending,” respectively.

The hashtag #WelcomeToSandaraPark topped the list of trending topics on Twitter Philippines.

Sandara rose to fame in the Philippines after joining the ABS-CBN reality talent show “Star Circle Quest” in 2004, after which she had a successful acting and singing career.

In 2009, she debuted as a member of the hitmaking K-pop girl group 2NE1, known for songs such as “Fire” and “ Am The Best.” The four-piece act eventually disbanded in 2016.

She signed with ABYSS Company in 2021 following her departure from longtime agency YG Entertainment.

Sandara, who remains much loved in the Philippines, is set to perform at The Super Stage by K-pop in Manila a local concert headlined by female K-pop acts on August 11.

She recently visited the Philippines and is happy that Filipinos still remember her.

On social media, the South Korean star shared photos from her trip to Clark, Pampanga.

“Sobrang nakakagulat at nakaka-flatter na hanggang ngayon, kilalang-kilala pa ako ng mga Pinoy. Maraming salamat sa love and support niyo sa akin Mahal ko kayo Forever ” she said on nstagram.

On Twitter, Park said she is shocked that Filipinos still remember her after several years of not appearing on Philippine television.

“Sa halos lahat ng generation, naalala pa nila ako. Kahit sa mall, sa market, sa restaurant, sa lahat ng places. Kakagulat. I’m so happy!” she said.

ACTOR-DIRECTOR RICKY RIVERO

Actor-director Ricky Rivero has died early Sunday morning, his sister confirmed. He was 51 years old.

“He passed away at 2 25 this morning,” Beverly Salvador- uintela wrote in a message.

No cause of death has been disclosed as of this writing but Rivero was reported to have suffered from a stroke in May.

Ricky began his acting career as a teen actor in 1980s when he starred in iva Films “Ninja Kids” and “Samurai Sword.”

He was also a mainstay host of GMA-7’s TV program “That’s Entertainment” along with Lea Salonga, Piolo Pascual, and Isko Moreno.

He was one of the directors of ABSCBN teleseryes “Mula sa Puso” in 2012, “Eva Fonda” and “Forevermore.”

In 2011, Ricky made headlines after he was involved in a stabbing incident in his own home. He was stabbed 17 times but survived by driving himself to a hospital.

My family and i were able to work with Ricky in a number of ABS shows. He was so friendly, courteous and easy to work with.

Rest In Peace Ricky.

Donaire guns for WBC bantamweight title anew in Las Vegas bout

he takes on Alexandro Santiago on July 30 (Philippine Time) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The showdown between the now 40-year-old Donaire and Santiago, as announced by the WBC, will be part of a fight card headlined by a much-anticipated showdown pitting former prospective Manny Pacquiao opponents Errol Spence and Terence Crawford for the undisputed welterweight championship.

The onaire-Santiago affair was initially part of the card highlighted by a clash between Frank Martin and Artem Harutyunyan scheduled this Sunday (Philippine Time) at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

However, the postponement of the bout between Jesus Ramos and Sergio Garcia led to the adjustment in the schedule of the Donaire–Sanchez bout.

Ramos suffered an injury and had to withdraw from the bout against Garcia.

Garcia will now take on a replacement fighter who will be revealed soon.

The new match remains part of the Spence-Crawford fight card but will not be

shown on pay-per-view.

Donaire, one of the Philippines’ modern-day boxing legends, seeks to reclaim the now-vacant WBC bantamweight title, PNA reported.

On May 29, 2021, Donaire, then 38 years old, stunned the world when he knocked out Nordine Oubaali to win the belt and become the oldest living champion in the 118-pound division.

However, “The Filipino Flash” relinquished the belt the following year to Naoya Inoue in their rematch.

Inoue has since moved to the super bantamweight division, vacating all his bantamweight title belts in the process.

Donaire looks to reassert his claim as the oldest bantamweight champ.

However, standing in his way is Santiago.

Santiago came just close to stripping the IBF junior bantamweight title away from another Filipino boxer, Jerwin Ancajas, in 2018.

Ancajas escaped with a controversial split draw.

PHL boxers eye Olympic berths at Hangzhou Asian Games

MANILA – The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) hopes for the best for its athletes in the coming Asian ames, which also serves as qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The Philippines will compete in six of seven categories in the men’s division and three of six in the women’s division in the Asiad scheduled Sept. 23 to Oct. in Hangzhou, China.

The finalists in the men s division and semifinalists in the women’s division will earn outright berths to the Olympics.

Among those in the training pool for the Asiad are Tokyo Olympics silver medalists Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio, and bronze medalist Eumir Marcial; Rogen Ladon, Ian Clark Bautista, Mark Ashley Fajardo, Aaron Jude Bado, Ronald Chavez Jr., Marjon Pianar, and John Marvin; and female fighters ra illegas and rish Magno.

Only Petecio will be fighting in the same weight class (featherweight) where she bagged a silver medal in the 2020 Tokyo Games as both Paalam and Marcial are moving up in weight.

“Our mandate to the boxers, let’s qualify to the Asian ames. Let s finish here so we can get everything,” said Antipolo City 1st District Rep. Robbie Puno, the newly elected ABAP president, during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the conference hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC).

Puno was accompanied by ABAP secretary general Marcus Jarwin Manalo and executive assistant Karina Picson.

For those who missed out on the Asian Games, there are still two world qualifiers next year. The Olympic qualification period ends on May 31, 2024.

Puno said the earlier the boxers get Olympics berths, the better.

“All those who do not pass in other regions, enter. So it’s much harder to join an Olympic qualifying tournament.”

Puno said

ABAP’s immediate goal is geared towards winning the elusive gold medal as per the blue print established by now chairperson Ricky Vargas when he initially served as head of the association in 2009.

Manalo revealed that except for Marcial, the Asian Games-bound boxers are training at the ABAP headquarters inside the RMSC.

The team will leave for India on July 28 for a two-part training -- first at the National nstitute of Sports in Patiala, the academic wing of the Sports Authority of India and

Asia’s largest sports institute where the Filipinos will spar with boxers from six countries session, and the second in Karnataka where they will train until Aug. 20.

LAS VEGAS – Filipino boxing legend Nonito Donaire Jr. looks to become a

two-time World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight champion at an old age as

California accelerates housing production in five cities and counties

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom announced that Long Beach, Moreno Valley, Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, and the Town of Windsor have been designated as Prohousing communities.

Through this designation, these jurisdictions are now eligible for funding incentives and additional resources through a state grant program designed to speed housing production, Newsom said in a statement sent to Philippine News Today.

To date, a total of 27 California communities are now designated as Prohousing.

To meet the needs of Californians and address our state’s housing crisis, each local jurisdiction must take accountability to build their share of housing. To tackle this challenge, decades in the making, it will take a concerted effort between state and local leaders in partnership with nonprofits, advocates, and developers to enact Prohousing policies.

Governor Newsom said: “Every city and county across California needs to work together to tackle the state’s housing crisis. Rather than evade their duties, these communities are committed to rolling up their sleeves and building more housing, faster. We are putting the needs of Californians first and seeing to it that more housing gets built throughout the state.”

Jurisdictions that earn the Prohousing Designation have demonstrated a commitment to enacting policies to accelerate housing production. They have shown themselves to be partners with the state in combating the housing crisis.

These partners recognize that increasing the availability of housing statewide is critical to bettering the quality of life for all Californians, and to ending homelessness.

“Expanding housing opportunities is critical for the social and economic well-being of working Californians, families with children, older adults, and people exiting homelessness,” said Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Lourdes Castro Ramírez.

“Under Governor Newsom’s leadership, we have provided more tools and incentives than ever before for communities to design policies and programs to build more housing in the right places. Congratulations to the five jurisdictions announced today. They join 22 others that have done the hard work to remove barriers to housing so that homes can be created that are accessible to all Californians.”

Communities that earn the Prohousing Designation receive incentives such as additional points or other preferences in the scoring of competitive funding programs administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), giving them an advantage over other jurisdictions.

“Creative efforts to enhance state and local partnerships are essential to meeting ambitious and necessary state housing goals,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. “We recognize today local governments that are breaking down barriers to affordable housing and reward those good actors with incentives to enhance the work they are already doing.”

Loan Modification soon to be a popular option for homeowners

hat is loan modification

Loan modification is when a lender agrees to alter the terms of a homeowner’s existing loan to help them avoid default and keep their house during times of financial hardship. Goal is to reduce borrowers payment so they can afford to stay and not let the property go into foreclosure.

Loan modification vs refinance

A refinance is typically the first plan of action for homeowners who need a lower mortgage payment.

However, borrowers going through financial hardship might not be able to use a refinance program.

They may have trouble qualifying for the new loan due to a reduced income, lower credit score, high-interest credit card debt, or other unexpected debt obligations (such as medical expenses).

In these cases, the homeowner might be eligible for a mortgage loan modification.

Loan modification vs forbearance

Forbearance is another way servicers can help borrowers during times of financial stress.

Loan forbearance is a temporary plan that pauses mortgage payments while a homeowner gets back on their feet.

For example, many homeowners who lost their jobs or had reduced income were able to request forbearance for up to a year or more during the COVID pandemic.

“At this time, it may be much less of an option due to the amount of forbearance provided early on, during COVID, and many are now becoming due,” says Jon Meyer, The Mortgage Reports loan expert and licensed MLO.

Unlike forbearance, mortgage loan modification is a permanent plan that changes the rate or terms of your loan.

Forbearance and loan modification can sometimes be combined to make a more effective mortgage relief plan.

Conventional loan modification

Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and private lenders of conventional loans have their own modification programs and guidelines.

n particular, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae offer Flex Modification programs designed to decrease a qualified borrower s mortgage payment by about 20%.

Flex Modification typically involves adjusting the interest rate, forbearing a portion of the principal balance, or extending the loan s term to make monthly payments more affordable for the homeowner.

To be eligible for a Flex Modification program, the homeowner must have:

At least three monthly payments past due on a primary residence, second home, or investment property

Or less than three monthly payments past due but the loan is in “imminent default,” meaning the lender has determined the home loan will definitely default without modification. This is only an option for primary residences

Certain hardships can trigger imminent default status; for instance, the death of a primary wage earner in the household, or serious illness or disability of the borrower.

Unemployment is typically not an eligible reason for Flex Modification.

Borrowers who are unemployed are more likely to be placed in a temporary forbearance plan which pauses payments for a set period of time, but does not permanently change the loan’s term or interest rate.

In addition, government-backed FHA loans, VA loans, and US A loans are not eligible for Flex Modification programs.

FHA loan modification

The Federal Housing Administration offers its own loan modification options to make payments more manageable for delinquent borrowers.

epending on your situation, FHA loan modification options may include:

Lowering the interest rate

Extending the loan term

Rolling unpaid principal, interest, or loan costs back into the existing loan’s balance

Re-amortizing the mortgage to help the borrower make up missed payments

In some cases where extra assistance is needed, FHA borrowers may be eligible for the FHA-Home Affordable Modification Program (FHA-HAMP).

FHA-HAMP allows the lender to defer missed mortgage payments to bring the homeowner’s

(Continue on page 27)

DALY CITY AND QUEZON CITY RENEW SISTER CITY TIES AND EXCHANGE CEREMONIAL KEYS

DALY CITY, CALIFORNIA – Almost three decades since the establishment of their sister city cooperation, Quezon City, Philippines and Daly City, California renewed their sister city ties during the regular session of the Daly City Council on July 2023.

Deputy Consul General and Acting Head of Post Raquel Solano, Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil, and Vice Consul Baccay were among those who represented the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco during the session at the Daly City Hall.

City Councilor Marra Suntay, and City Planning and Development Department Head Pedro Rodriguez represented Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte in the

exchange of the ceremonial “keys to the city” with Daly City’s Filipino American Mayor Ray Buenaventura. The exchange marked the renewal of sister city relations between the two cities.

In a statement, Mayor Belmonte said that the sister city agreement renewal “rea rms our commitment to foster cultural, economic, and educational exchanges.” She added that “together, we will promote our rich cultures and shared heritage, and cooperate towards economic and social development.”

Meanwhile, Councilor Suntay addressed the Daly City Council and said: “We are grateful and excited to be given the opportunity to experience the vibrant community of Daly City. I am sure the

knowledge and experience that we will gain during our visit will undoubtedly contribute to the development of Quezon City.”

Mayor Buenaventura, who was born in Quezon City, welcomed the renewal of ties between the two cities, and expressed hope that a delegation from Daly City will visit Quezon City in the near future.

“We have long known that the key to economic and cultural growth is the support of our diverse communities. We continue the effort to keep Filipino Americans engaged in our community through the celebration of our culture and connections to the Philippines,” Mayor Buenaventura said in a statement.

Daly City’s Fil-Am Vice Mayor Jus-

lyn Manalo, Fil-Am Councilmember Glenn Sylvester, and Councilmember Pam DiGiovanni also praised the revival of sister city ties between the two cities.

Quezon City-Daly City sister city relations were established on August 1994 to promote cooperation in the fields of the environment, human resources and community development, science and technology, education and sports, tourism development, and trade.

According to 2021 U.S. census figures, or of the residents of Daly City are of Filipino descent—making Daly City as the city with the highest concentration of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the United States.

FIONA MA RAISES MORE THAN $1 MILLION IN CAMPAIGN FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Breaks 7 Digits in Just 120 Days of Fundraising, Transfers $2.7M, Solidifies Position as Leading Candidate in LG Race

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (July 10, 2023) – California State Treasurer Fiona Ma’s campaign for Lieutenant Governor today announced that it has raised more than 1 million in the fi rst 120 days of fundraising.

In addition to her early fundraising success, Treasurer Ma, a CPA, will transfer $2.7 million into her Lieutenant Governor account from an existing account bringing her total fundraising advances to more than $3.7 million in the early stages of the campaign.

“I am deeply grateful for the incredible support we have received from individuals across the state who believe in our vision for a better California,” said Ma. “Together, we are building a movement centered around equity, economic opportunity, and innovative solutions to the challenges facing our communities.”

The robust fi nancial backing of Treasurer Ma’s campaign is a testament

to the strength of her platform and the trust placed in her ability to deliver results. ith a track record of eff ective leadership and a deep understanding of the issues that matter most to Californians, Treasurer Ma is poised to bring a fresh perspective to the role of Lieutenant Governor and make a meaningful impact on the lives of all Californians.

Ma has dedicated her career to public service and has a proven track record of delivering results. Currently serving as California’s State Treasurer, she has spearheaded initiatives to promote economic growth, small business development, and sustainable infrastructure investments. Prior to her role as State Treasurer, Ma served as a member of the California State Assembly, where she fought for aff ordable housing, education funding, and improved healthcare access for all Californians.

You are welcome to visit the website of Calif. State Treasurer Ma at: www.

Link

ue on City Coun ilor Marra Suntay ( enter le�), representa e o Mayor Joy Belmonte, ta es part in the e hange o eremonial eys with Daly City, Cali ornia Mayor Ray Buena entura during the regular session o the Daly City Coun il on 10 July 2023. lso in the photo are ue on City Planning and De elopment Department ead Pedro Rodrigue (le�), and Daly City i e Mayor Juslyn Manalo (right, seated). (San Fran is o PCG photo)

Deputy Consul General and ng ead o Post Ra uel Solano ( enter) joins Daly City Mayor Ray Buena entura ( enter right), and Daly City and ue on City o ials prior to the Daly City Coun il session on 10 July 2023. (Rey Guarin photo)

PG&E Customers Encouraged to Explore Financial Assistance Programs to Lower Energy Costs and Manage Summer Bills

OAKLAND, Calif.—As summer heats and home energy use increases in parts of California, Pacific as and Electric Company (P E) urges eligible customers to enroll in financial assistance programs to help lower energy costs and better manage summer energy bills.

P E also continues working with customers who have past-due balances as result of the pandemic or other financial hardship to help them set up payment arrangements or get help with unpaid balances and prevent a service disconnection.

“Customers in many of our hometowns use more electricity to cool their homes as the weather gets hotter in the summer months. For many customers, higher energy use can have a significant impact on household finances. P E wants to help, and we will work with individual customers on their specific needs,” said incent avis, P E ice President, Customer Operations and Enablement.

Programs That Can Help

Customers may qualify for support from financial assistance programs, including:

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (L HEAP) A federally funded program that helps low-income households with their energy bills, including those at risk of having service interrupted for non-payment. L HEAP is overseen by the California Department of Community Services and Development and administered by nonprofit agencies. Program eligibility is determined by income, household size, place of residence, and other factors. To find the local L HEAP agency, visit csd.ca.gov/energybills or call 8 - 7523.

California Alternative Rates for Energy Program (CARE) ualified households can save 20 or more each month on their energy bill. Customers can apply for CARE online at pge.com/CARE. Applying is easy and only takes about five minutes. ualifying customers will begin receiving the CARE program discount within their next billing cycle.

Family Electric Rate Assistance Program (FERA) ncome-qualified households with three or more people

can apply for the FERA program at pge.com/FERA for an 18 discount on their electric bill.

Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help Program (REACH) Provides income-qualified customers with financial assistance up to 500, based on their past due bill, during times of hardship (energy credit support is subject to funding availability). Customers can apply for REACH support at dollarenergy. org/MyApp.

Medical Baseline Program: Customers on the Medical Baseline program who have special energy needs due to certain qualifying medical conditions can receive a lower rate on monthly energy bills.

Post-Pandemic and Other Customer Support

n response to CO -19, P E implemented a series of emergency protections for customers including a moratorium on energy service disconnections.

hile disconnections for non-payment have resumed, the company continues working with customers having di culty paying their bills by providing assistance and payment plans to avoid disconnection.

P E distributed more than 540 million in relief to residential customers as part of two rounds of funding from the California Arrearage Payment Program. The company also launched the Arrearage Management Plan, which helps qualifying customers reduce unpaid balances through on-time payment and debt forgiveness. Customers can check eligibility by logging in to their P E account at pge.com or calling 800-7435000.

P E has flexibility to extend bill due dates or arrange for a flexible payment plan. All customers are eligible to enroll in a 12-month pay plan, and participants who remain current on their plans are protected from collections and having their service interrupted for non-payment. Customers interested in extending their due date or arranging a pay plan are encouraged to visit pge.com or call 877- 0- 789.

“ e have the flexibility to create pay plans tailored to fit each customer s unique situation and challenges. P E has done extensive outreach and distributed bill relief to residential customers throughout our service

area, and we re here to help customers get back on track,” said avis.

Additional Resources to Help Manage Summer Energy Bills

n addition to financial and bill assistance resources, P E offers a variety of programs to help customers manage their summer energy costs:

Personalized Rate Comparison supports customers by providing the best rate plan options for their household, which can help save money on energy bills.

Budget Billing averages customers monthly energy costs to help monthly payment amounts remain more consistent, even if energy use changes significantly from season to season.

Bill Forecast Alerts are notifications sent by email, text or phone notifying customers if their monthly bill is expected to exceed a specific amount set by the customer, based on how they are using energy.

Home Energy Checkup is a free service that helps customers assess their energy use and gives customized savings tips.

HomeIntel is a free energy saving program that includes a Smart Audit and a personal energy coach. Customers who have lived in their home for more than a year and have a SmartMeter installed are eligible to participate.

Power Saver Rewards is a free program that rewards participants for temporarily reducing energy use on select hot summer days when the demand for electricity is high.

SmartAC is a voluntary program that offers participants 120 off a new smart thermostat or 75 to enroll in the program in addition to a 25 annual incentive.

About P E

Pacific as and Electric Company, a subsidiary of P E Corporation (N SE PC ), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 1 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www. pge.com/ and http //www.pge.com/about/newsroom/. ou can read about P E s data privacy practices here or at P E.com/privacy.

set for 55th anniversary street fair

C T OF CARSON - The City of Carson will be hosting a Street Fair as one of its 55th Anniversary events on Saturday, July 29, 2023.

The fair will be held in downtown Carson, on Carson Street between Bonita and Civic Center rive. The day is expected to be sunny with the Street Fair kicking off at noon and concluding at 8 00 p.m. This commu-

nity event will be fun for all ages and is a glimpse of what Carson has to offer.

The Street Fair will feature live entertainment, food and craft vendors, a kid zone and car show. The headliner is RNB electro-funk group Sounds of Success, better known as the S.O.S. Band. They are known for their popular hits Take our Time ( o t Right)”, “Just

Be ood to Me”, and “The Finest”.

The live entertainment also includes the melodic sounds of Filharmonic, The Hooliganz, Fausto Cuevas III, Mariachi Santa Monica, and Kipper Jones ft. Cornelius Mims The Know- t Alls. This diverse and award-winning lineup will be enjoyed as a free event to attendees.

Author, columnist to speak at Golden Gate congregation

laing, book author and columnist with the weekly Philippine News Today, will speak during the Sunday morning worship services at the Golden Gate Church of Christ, 701-8th Avenue (near Golden Gate Park) on August 11 am to commemorate his 76th birthday.

“I am glad that James Quitoriano, minister of the Golden Gate congregation, has scheduled me to preach on the Sunday morning nearest to my 76th birthday on August 18,2023 to fulfill my commitment and promise to preach for the glory of God on the Sunday nearest my birthday, said the book author and columnist.

Art Gabot Madlaing, active Evangelist, will speak on the topic “Keep Sharing the Gospel during These Last Days.” He is a member of the WE CARE Ministries Team which had been conducting “WE CARE” Evangelism Campaign and Workshop yearly since in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao in the Philippines.

Mr. Madlaing had authored five best-

selling books printed and marketed by Amazon in hardcover, paperback and E-book namely: “LIFESTYLE FOR LONGEVITY” subtitled “How to be Heathy Emotionally, Financially, Physically, Sexually and Spiritually,” “REAL ESTATE YOU” subtitled “Your Basic Guide Information for Successful Investing in Home, Land and Income Property,” “HISTORICITY OF JESUS” subtitled “Facts and Evidences for Agnostics, Atheists, Believers and Christians,” “LONGEVITY TIPS” subtitled “Secrets You Can Discover and Do for Good Health Longevity,” and “LAUGHTER FOR GOOD HEALTH” subtitled “Humorous Anecdotes and Stories on Cooking, Events, Families, History and Personalities,” which he co-authored with Mary Ann Gove Cheatham from Laveen, Arizona USA.

There will special Pot Luck Lunch Fellowship at the Fellowship Hall immediately after the worship services to honor the speaker and other fellow August

birthday celebrants.

“I am inviting the regular readers of my weekly column and the general public to come and join our Sunday morning worship services on August at 11am and then enjoy the Lunch Fellowship after the worship services. This is a unique opportunity to meet in person the readers of my weekly column,” explained Mr. Madlaing.

To commemorate his 76th birthday, the author will be giving free complimentary autographed copies of LONGEVITY TIPS (available at Amazon in Hardcover-$15.95, Paperback-$12.95 plus shipping and handling and E-book-$7.95) subtitled “Secrets You Can Discover and Do for Good Health and Longevity” and autographed copies of the original “HISTORICITY OF JESUS” subtitled “Facts and Evidences for Agnostics, Atheists and Believers.” Reserve your copies now.

RSVP: Call (650) 438-3531 or (415) 584or email: artmadlaing@hotmail. com

SAN FRANCISCO -- Art Gabot Mad-

Community members in San Mateo came together for a beach clean-up at Coyote Point Beach, organized by the San Mateo County Park. With support from the Lions Clubs and Rotary Clubs, volunteers from various backgrounds worked relessly to restore the ea h s eauty and edu ate uture genera ons a out en ironmental onser a on. Farmers Insuran e generously sponsored the e ent, providing refreshments and nourishment to sustain the volunteers throughout the day. The clean-up not only transformed the beach physically but also fos-

tered unity and hope among par ipants. The ommunity plans to on nue ol la ora ng and ta ing a on to prote t the en ironment, inspired y the su ess of the Coyote Point Beach clean-up.

uge T N S to San Mateo County Par , SF ealth are Pro iders Cy er ions, SF Dynami ions Clu , SF ost ions Clu , Rotary Clu , and Patri Caya ya s Farmers Insuran e gen y.

California providing free legal services for undocumented farmworkers

By Claire Morales True

SACRAMENTO Governor Gavin Newsom has unveiled a new $4.5 million pilot program to provide free immigration legal assistance to farmworkers who are involved in state labor investigations.

The new program includes case review services, legal advice and representation by an attorney – all at no cost to farmworkers seeking assistance, the governor said in a statement sent to Philippine News Today.

“Farmworkers are the backbone of our economy and we won’t stand by as bad actors use the threat of deportation as a form of exploitation,” Newsom said. “In the absence of Congress modernizing our broken, outdated immigration system, California continues our efforts to support immigrant families.”

It was gathered that aAn estimated percent of farmworkers in California are undocumented. The fear of retaliation from bad actor employers, including the threat of deportation and di culties obtaining other jobs without work authorization, is a common reason why many workers in the agriculture industry do not file labor claims or provide information as witnesses.

The new pilot program looks to prevent the exploitation of undocumented farmworkers by providing additional tools for California labor enforcement departments to help address workers’ fears of pursuing their rights due to their immigration status.

“The time is now for us to ensure that immigrant labor rights are upheld and respected. We commend the state for supporting this pilot, which will help ensure that legal services are available and accessible through partnerships with trusted community-based organizations across California,” said Maria Elena De La Garza, Executive Director of the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County. “The Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County is committed to uplifting immigrant labor rights so that all families can continue to thrive.”

“Prosecutorial discretion ensures that farmworkers will be empowered to enforce their labor rights and stand against the abuse and exploitation they often face,” said Diana Tellefson Torres, Chief Executive O cer of the UF Foundation. “Undocumented farm workers – who form such a large and essential portion of our nation’s workforce – must be able to enforce their rights without the

threat of immigration retaliation. Additionally, it is of utmost importance that undocumented workers have access to free and low-cost legal services, so that any farmworker who has experienced workplace violations can come forward knowing they are protected from deportation. We are excited about the new pilot program and look forward to working with Governor Newsom to make it a success.”

This new program aligns with a recently announced Biden administration policy that streamlines and expedites deferred action for undocumented individuals who are victims of, or witnesses to, violations of labor rights. California is leading the way in coordinating with the Biden Administration to aid noncitizen workers with such deferred action requests. The California Labor Commissioner s O ce was the first state agency in the nation to successfully request deferred action from the Biden Administration for employees under an active investigation.

This pilot will be administered through a partnership between the California Labor Workforce Development Agency and the California Department of Social Services that will support the enforcement of agricultural worker labor rights,

particularly in worksite-wide investigations. Services will not be limited by an individual’s immigration status. To be eligible, cases must be under review by the Department of Industrial Relations’ Labor Commissioner s O ce, the ivision of Occupational Safety and Health or the Agricultural Labor Relations Board. Legal service providers will be available based on farmworker population estimates and provider capacity.

California has funded free immigration legal services through qualified nonprofit organizations since 2015, including more recent efforts under overnor Newsom’s leadership to continue robust funding and expand the availability of qualified services in underserved communities. The pilot is funded by existing resources and is expected to begin later this year.

These initiatives help advance equity, inclusion and a level playing field for both workers and law-abiding employers. The pilot adds to California’s leadership in protecting immigrants and supporting immigrant talent, including increased access to health care, education, and other critical initiatives that help immigrant families be safe, thrive and grow the economy with their contributions.

Living With Extreme Heat - The Most Dangerous Climate Threat

July 14, 2023 Ethnic Media Services News Briefing

In Collaboration With the California Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications

SAN FRANCISCO, California Of all the natural disasters the world currently faces, extreme heat is the most pernicious. Nearly 62,000 people died from record-breaking heat in Europe last summer, according to a study published this week in the scientific journal Nature. At least 279 people died due to heat in Texas in 2022, with similar data in other Southern states. And more than 2700 people were killed in a record breaking heatwave last summer in India and Pakistan.

At an Ethnic Media Services news briefing July 14, experts discussed the existential crisis of extreme heat in California, as well as strategies to protect its most vulnerable residents, including farmworkers who spend days toiling away in brutish conditions. One key strategy being implemented by the state and local municipalities is increasing the number of shade structures: more trees, awnings, bus shelters, as well as cooling facilities on public transportation.

KEY REMARKS:

V. Kelly Turner, Associate Director of Urban Environmental Research at UCLA: We know that that extreme heat is going to get longer and worse in the future. And then that’s made even worse by the way we build cities regionally. We put a lot of buildings and that creates what’s often called the urban heat island effect, which makes whole cities hotter than places that are not developed sometimes.

One of the most important things we can do to address extreme heat and inequity is to think more specifically about shade infrastructure. The way that people feel hot is from exposure to the sun. And so you can reduce temperatures on the

body by about 30 to 40 degrees Celsius as measured by a composite metric that we use in our lab just by erecting a shade structure.

Most Californians are effectively living in shade deserts currently. We need to be really specific about settings like schools or residential or transportation because different interventions are going to be needed in each setting. So in schools, for example, play yards need less asphalt and they need more shade to effectively address the heat issues that children are facing.

Dr. Lucía Abascal, Public Health Physician, California Department of Public Health: What are important things to consider when thinking about heat? We like to focus especially on three. So first, stay cool. f you can stay inside in places that have AC, if you’re fortunate to have it in your house, try to turn it on. If not, local libraries, malls and other places where you can get AC are good places to go.

Then the next one is to stay hydrated. It’s very important to make sure everybody, especially high risk populations, small children, pregnant women, elderly people, and people that might have a disability.

And lastly, check in in each other. If you have an elder relative that might live alone, if you know somebody that’s working on the fields, if you know somebody that has small children, let’s make sure that we take care of each other.

There’s a very big investment of millions and millions of dollars that the state is giving because extreme weather is one of the priorities of the California

Department of Public Health and from the governor s o ce.

Marta Segura, Chief Heat O cer and Director of Climate Emergency Mobilization, City of Los Angeles: The areas with the greatest vulnerability to extreme heat with excess deaths and excess hospitalizations are in areas with low income housing that lacks air conditioning, near polluting facilities, or where there is more pollution because of the urban heat island.

Heat exacerbates pollution, thus increasing the exposure to low income communities without AC or who are more likely to be pedestrians and mobile, taking the bus, or walking to school.

In Los Angeles, we now have a ten year plan for bus shelters, and we can only hope that we can accelerate that plan so that we can address the heat adaptation needs of our very mobile low income community. The energy burden is a huge obstacle and challenge to low income communities because even if they have AC, we’ve heard time and again that they don t turn it on because they can t afford it. So just providing AC is not the solution.

Sandra Young, Family Nurse Practitioner (retired) and founder, Mixteco Indigenous Community Organizing Project People s wages are tied to the quantity of fruit that they pick, so that you will literally see workers running in extreme heat with their heavy baskets of fruit to the trucks so that they can hopefully make that little bit of extra money that allows their family to pay the rent and eat.

Raspberries and tomatoes are grown

Upside...

Before coming to Sacramento, Caloza was director of scheduling for Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. Garcetti appointed her to the Board of Public Works, making her the first FilAm woman commissioner providing oversight for employees in the public works and engineering department.

Caloza called on FilAm women to “harness power at the ballot box” and rise to the challenge if they want to lead: “Be aggressive, be impatient for change, see yourselves as worthy of the title” they covet and be “responsible for …billions of taxpayer dollars by making policy decisions that impact families.”

Waiting is “no longer an option,” she warned, “otherwise we will remain vulnerable” instead of helping resolve the “homeless and housing crisis, lack of good paying middle class jobs, an underfunded public education system, a climate emergency, (and) rampant gun violence,” her focus issues.

NORTHWEST PROGRESSIVE

Health is a priority to Sofia Aragon not only because she is a registered nurse but also

in high tunnels, huge enclosed tents which trap the heat, and traps the chemicals. While there are standards in California regarding water, heat, and breaks, that these are largely ignored in the fields. ater is often far away from where people are picking, so that even to go and get water, you’re going to be raising your body temperature even more.

The majority of farm workers in California are undocumented. This means that they are very often not in a position to complain, to insist on their rights, to insist on their breaks, for fear of being fired, for fear of losing that tenuous hold on existence that they currently have.

Dr. Kimberly Chang, Family Physician, Asian Health Services: For the Asian American, Native, Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities, studies found that from 2005 to 2015, the rates of emergency department visits for heat related illnesses increased by 53%.

I work in Oakland, California. It’s an urban community. You think that there’s a lot of access to air conditioning and cooling centers. But the patients that I see, many of them are in crowded living conditions. They live in buildings that don’t have elevators. We have a very much older population that we care for at Asian Health Services. And so these are some of the risk factors for folks.

I talk to my patients about fans, windows, cooling, and light clothing. A lot of our older folks wear many layers of clothes. They’re always very concerned about getting too cold. And I tell them, don’t wear so many layers of clothing. Wear light, loose clothes, and white clothes instead of black.

(From Page 11)

mayor of Burien, Washington, since and now candidate for King County Council.

Holder of three degrees – a BA in economics from University of Washington, BS in nursing from Seattle University and a law degree from Loyola University- Chicago, Aragon has the expertise to meet her goal for her town to be “a safe, healthy and inclusive place where my family and residents both new and old can call home for a lifetime.”

A former advisor to Washington Governors Locke, Gregoire and Inslee, she advised Filipinas seeking elective or appointed posts to “follow closely people with special skills” to develop their own “facilitation and relationship skills.”

She laments anti-Asian hate attacks and calls for the return to civility in political discourse. “Let’s start by being civil and professional…set the tone conducive to problem solving.” That’s what she intends to bring to King County, among progressive policies. –Adapted from original reprinted with permission from Inquirer.net

To be concluded.

(From Page 13)

Offlineother hand, is only meant to protect two individuals – Rodrigo Duterte and Ronald dela Rosa.

Are they so sacred that the Marcos regime is willing to sacrifice the credibility of the country to make sure that justice will be denied the 5,000 or or drug war victims?

Indeed, the Philippines under Marcos Junior cannot stand shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the civilized world when its justice system is so selective, so hopelessly flawed.

Almost certainly, Digong Duterte and Bato dela Rosa will get away with their crimes. They will live out the rest of their lives secure in the thought that they will never see the inside of a prison.

They will, however, have to do so having no chance to travel to other countries, which are member states of the ICC.

Over the weekend, Duterte went to China and met with his old friend Xi Jinping. You know, the same Xi Jinping who allows his China Coast Guard, China Navy, and militia to drive away Filipino fishermen from the country s waters, and who also sends those ships to again and again enter Philippine territory which they claim is theirs.

Perhaps China is one of the few places where Duterte and Dela Rosa can still visit. Or maybe not. t seems that the People s Republic happens to still be a member-state of the ICC.

When the time comes that the ICC renders a guilty verdict on Duterte and Dela Rosa, however, their next foreign vacations will be quite limited. Maybe they can go to North Korea or maybe Iran. Russia may also be a possibility. Slim pickings,

As for the families of the victims of the drug war killings, the message of the Marcos and Duterte cabal remains the same: you are poor, so live with the fact that your relatives were murdered by the state. Justice will always elude you, fools. Tell that to the ICC.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is Marcos Junior s Bagong Pilipinas. Sucks balls, doesn t it

As I See It

(From Page 12)

These new investments, coupled with the extensive abatement, enforcement, and treatment efforts outlined in the Master Plan will save lives and make California safer.

We were likewise informed that the U.S. has faced an evolving crisis of opioid addiction, overdose, and death for over two decades, driven by Big Pharma s irresponsible marketing of prescription opioids bringing us to today s fentanyl crisis. Millions of Americans suffer from opioid use disorder and more than 71,000 Americans died in 2022 alone from fentanyl-linked overdoses and drug poisonings. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, a vast majority of fentanyl in the U.S. comes via ports of entry at the border through tra cking by organized crime rings, not by migrants.

Under overnor Newsom s leadership, and through the state s efforts to hold Big Pharma accountable, California has worked aggressively to tackle the opioid crisis. I laud him for that!

n the current fiscal year alone, the California Health and Human Services agency is investing $450 million in treatment, abatement, and prevention efforts. The 2022 Budget Act overnor Newsom signed into law included $30 million to expand the California Military epartment s existing drug interdiction efforts to thwart drug-tra cking transnational criminal organizations throughout the state, with a particular focus on assisting federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in combatting fentanyl. To support the overnor s initiative to reduce deadly fentanyl in communities, the California National Guard has hired, trained, and embedded 144 new members.

Aside from the overnor s efforts, opioid overdose prevention workshops are scheduled at the County Library locations provided by the country s Behavioral Health Services epartment and hosted by the Santa Clara County Library, according to Mariana Walker, Santa Clara County Library District spokesperson. The Santa Clara County Library istrict (SCCL ) and the County of Santa Clara s Behavioral Health Services Department (BHSD) are joining forces to spread the word about the opioid crisis, empowering residents with important information about the dangers of fentanyl and other opioids. These workshops, scheduled from July through September 9, will cover drug education, including recognizing an opioid overdose, and will provide training with the over-the-counter medication Naloxone nasal spray (commonly known as Narcan). “A recent report by the County of Santa Clara found the number of overdose deaths involving fentanyl more than doubled from April to May,” said Sherri Terao, Director for Behavioral Health Services Department. “We are encouraging everyone, especially people under 30 years old, to learn more about fentanyl and its impacts,” she added.

Earlier this year, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors approved a proposal to supply and maintain Narcan at county libraries in the event of an emergency. County Librarian

Jennifer Weeks has spoken with other library systems that already carry Narcan to learn best practices. Earlier this year, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors approved a proposal to supply and maintain Narcan

at county libraries in the event of an emergency. County Librarian Jennifer Weeks has spoken with other library systems that already carry Narcan to learn best practices.

This includes public education and voluntary staff training. “Members of our staff have volunteered to learn how to safely administer Narcan in case of an emergency, and our libraries have a limited stock on-hand should the need arise,” Weeks said. “Many school districts keep Narcan on-hand with trained staff available to administer it. Other libraries in the country have Narcan at the ready. There is a great urgency to make this lifesaving medicine and public education available and we are here to help.”

The public is invited to attend one of these free Opioid Overdose Prevention workshops. Space is limited and registration is required. Participants who complete the training will be given a free Narcan kit, while supplies last.

Opioid Overdose Prevention Workshops: Milpitas Library: Saturday, July at p.m.; Cupertino Library: Wednesday, July 12 at p.m.; Los Altos Library: Saturday, August at 1:30 p.m.; Morgan Hill Library: Tuesday, August at p.m.; Gilroy Library: Wednesday, August 16 at p.m.; Campbell Express Library: Thursday, August 17 at p.m.; and Saratoga Library: Saturday, September at p.m.

Ken Go

(From Page 20)

loan current. t can then request that HU (FHA s overseer) further reduce the monthly payment by opening an interest-free subordinate loan of to of the remaining loan balance. The borrower only pays principal and interest based on of the balance, and can pay back the remainder upon a sale or refinance of the home. Deferring this extra principal amount can help make it easier for FHA borrowers to get back on track with their loans.

FHA-HAMP is typically combined with one of the loan modification options above to lower the borrower s monthly payment.

Eligible FHA borrowers must complete a trial repayment plan to qualify for either loan modification or the FHA-HAMP program. This involves making on-time payments in the modified amount for three months straight.

t may be di cult to qualify for a refinance program during times of financial hardship. But before writing this strategy off, check all the loan options available.

Streamline Refinancing

Homeowners with FHA loans, VA mortgages, and USDA loans have an additional option in the form of Streamline Refinancing.

A Streamline Refinance typically does not require income or employment verification, or a new home appraisal. Even the credit check might be waived (though the lender will always verify you have been making mortgage payments on time).

These loans are a lot more forgiving for homeowners whose finances have taken a downturn.

Note that Streamline Refinancing is only allowed within the same loan program: FHA-to-FHA, VA-to-VA.

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

Health & Wealth

(From Page 12)

6. SAVINGS ON GAS AND MILEAGE FEES – We encourage old and new clients to come to our home o ce in San Francisco, California for savings on gas and mileage fees (($60 to $130).

7. DISCOUNTS ON MULTIPLE DOCUMENTS AND MULT PLE S NATURES e offer to our old and new clients to discounts on multiple documents and multiple signatures.

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

9. CONVENIENCE AND PEACE OF MIND With my experience as accredited and commissioned Notary Public in California since you can have total convenience and peace of mind with the e cient, complete and prompt services at MSS. Most of the time, it is more convenient and economical for you to avail yourself with the professional and complete services at MSS.

For immediate assistance and help in the signing, notarization and apostille follow-up of documents needed in the Philippines and the other member nations of the Hague Apostille Convention, just write or contact: MOBILE SIGNING SERVICES, Madrid Street, San Francisco, CA 94112. Tel. (650)438-3531 or (415)584or email:artmadlaing@hotmail.com

If you live in San Jose/Silicon Valley and need immediate help for the signing, notarization and apostille follow-up of documents needed in the Philippines, just visit or contact our partner Jevi Espanola Oclarit at: Farmers Insurance, Corning Avenue, Suite Milpitas, CA 95035, Tel. (408) 854-4274.

ATS FLETS N S 90TH B RTH A Felicidad Jimenez Relosimon, eldest sister of my beloved wife Virginia Jimenez Madlaing, celebrated her 90th birthday last Friday, pm, July at the Kusina Nen Laki Digno Restaurant located in Tebeng Road, Dagupan City in Pangasinan, Philippines.

She is the mother of our adopted son Ferdinand, who had served in the U.S. Navy and completed his reserve services in the U.S. Air Force. The 90th Birthday Celebration was organized and coordinated by her husband Cornelio Relosimon and the children namely: Don Relosimon, Ferdinand Relosimon, Amy Relosimon, Margie Relosimon Fernandez, Jovito J. Relosimon and their spouses (all residing in Daly City, California) who took their vacation

in Calasiao, Pangasinan to be able to attend the special occasion. Her youngest sister Perseveranda Jimenez Trinidad from South San Francisco, California and son Jim Trinidad and his wife Joy Trinidad and children also attended the 90th Birthday celebration. Numerous grandchildren, close friends and relatives also attended the 90th Birthday celebration.

Through special delivery, birthday cake, balloons, roses, sash and birthday greetings were sent to the venue by her other siblings and spouses namely: Virginia and Art Madlaing from San Francisco, California; Trinidad and Demie Tuliao from Daly City, California; and S. Bill and Elisa Jimenez from San Francisco, California.

We wish you a blessed and wonderful 90th birthday Atsi Fletsing!

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

Breaking Through

(From Page 12)

class have become lawyers; some of them passed the Bar after the first attempt, others after two or more tries.

didn t harbor so much regrets, though, but gnash my teeth whenever I chance by court proceedings especially in the local areas where witness some lawyers mumble or couldn t argue well. passed on to my second son his grandfather s wish. hope he ll make it in Canada where he and his family are staying.

My father was a good provider to his big family. His family always was first in his priorities. He pampered all his children with love, affection, and presents as did our late Mom. Our mother was the prime apple of his eye and he showed it.

He had been to some parts of Mindanao for his Ilocos blanket business where the locos Abel products were popular and highpriced. Those were the days when peace and quiet reigned in the South.

He had a network of compradores and sales agents there. Some of them were Ilocanos who had settled there.

His merchandise were from the inventory of the family business.

My late mom Catalina was in charge of production while my Dad took charge of Marketing and promotions. My mother had a pool of loom weavers under her whom she supplied with all the materials they needed in their work. Occasionally, she also provided them rice and cash.

Their partnership was so enterprising and robust that by the time my Dad returned home and handed over the proceeds from the business, Mom s Abel stocks were replenished. The cycle went on.

After a while, our parents earned so much that my father proceeded to beef up his transportation business.

He became a prominent figure in our town so that he was oftenly invited to barrio fiestas as honored guest. He was also asked to attend cockfights and was escorted inside to sit on the front row benches of the cockpit. I was a kid but I remember this event. It was the first time saw big birds fly and fight as so described what saw to my classmates in grade school then.

There was no one at home to look after me so he had no choice but bring me along with him.

Pretty soon, long-established local politicos took turns in persuading him to throw his hat in the political ring and in inviting him to join their slates.

To the best of my recollection, he came out second among the eight winning councilors.

In My Heart

(From Page 12)

Washington D.C. and launched NPC chapters in US. He served as a member of the Board of Regents of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila for two six-year terms, Commissioner of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Philippine Postal Corporation, among others. He is the editor in chief of Philippine News Today.)

Childhood immunization begins recovery after COVID-19 backslide

GENEVA/NEW YORK – Global immunization services reached million more children in compared to the previous year, as countries stepped up efforts to address the historic backsliding in immunization caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to data published today by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, in 20.5 million children missed out on one or more vaccines delivered through routine immunization services, compared to 24.4 million children in 2021.

In spite of this improvement, the number remains higher than the 18.4 million children who missed out in 2019 before pandemic-related disruptions, underscoring the need for ongoing catch-up, recovery and system strengthening efforts.

The vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) is used as the global marker for immunization coverage. Of the 20.5 million children who missed out on one or more doses of their DTP vaccines in 14.3 million did not receive a single dose, so-called ze-

ro-dose children. The figure represents an improvement from the 18.1 million zero-dose children in but remains higher than the 12.9 million children in 2019.

“These data are encouraging, and a tribute to those who have worked so hard to restore life-saving immunization services after two years of sustained decline in immunization coverage,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “But global and regional averages don’t tell the whole story and mask severe and persistent inequities. When countries and regions lag, children pay the price.”

The early stages of recovery in global immunization have not occurred equally, with the improvement concentrated in a few countries. Progress in well-resourced countries with large infant populations, such as India and Indonesia, masks slower recovery or even continued declines in most low-income countries, especially for measles vaccination.

Of the countries that recorded substantial declines* in coverage during the pandemic, recovered

Sedentary Death

Are we on a suicide mission?

to pre-pandemic levels, are on route to recovery and, most concerningly, have stagnated or continued declining. These concerning trends echo patterns seen in other health metrics. Countries must ensure they are accelerating catch-up, recovery, and strengthening efforts, to reach every child with the vaccines they need and because routine immunization is a fundamental pillar of primary healthcare take the opportunity to make progress in other, related health sectors.

Vaccination against measles one of the most infectious pathogens has not recovered as well as other vaccines, putting an additional 35.2 million children at risk of measles infection. First dose measles coverage increased to 83 per cent in 2022 from 81 per cent in 2021 but remained lower than the 86 per cent achieved in 2019. As a result, last year, 21.9 million children missed the routine measles vaccination in their first year of life - 2.7 million more than in 2019 – while an additional 13.3 million did not receive their second dose, placing children in undervaccinated communities at risk of outbreaks.

Heart of Hope

The way many of us abuse our body with bad diet, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, and other unhealthy behaviors, makes one wonder if we have locked-in ourselves in a self-destruct mode or are on a suicide mission. I have expounded on this in detail in my book, “Let’s Stop ‘Killing’ Our Children” (amazon.com, www.philipSchua.com), a pre-emptive and proactive strategy on healthy lifestyle cellular level and disease prevention starting from the womb.

Inactivity is a major “disease” that kills millions upon millions around the world. It is a mindset, a bad habit, a lack of discipline. Sedentary lifestyle (lack of exercise) is worse than many individual maladies a icting man today, because it is a factor in most serious illnesses, like diabetes mellitus, heart attack, stroke, sexual dysfunction, osteoporosis, etc. As a matter of fact, science has shown that physical activities, regimented daily exercises, lower the incidence, not only of those diseases listed above, but of depression and suicide, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer. An active lifestyle also helps slow down the aging process, keep our skin looking young(er), tone our muscles, enables us to have better metabolism and weight control, fortifies our immune system against diseases and infections, and even improves our outlook in life. Indeed, daily physical exercise also protects our mind – our entire body and being.

Professor Frank Booth, Ph.D., of the biomedical sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia, coined the term Sedentary Death Syndrome (SeDS) to dramatize the reality that “exercising is a matter of life and death.” That’s how important, essential, physical exercise is to the human organism. It is dreadful fact but of Americans today do not exercise regularly. Other less health-conscious people around the world are obviously even worse. Just sitting around is a world-wide phenomenon. The World Health Organization last year reported that “about million deaths annually worldwide are attributed to sedentary lifestyles.”

One of the subtitles of Professor Booth’s article is

entitled Dead Man Sitting. “Sitting kills more than Americans annually…if SeDS were a real disease, that would make it the third leading cause of death in the United States, right after heart disease and cancer,” he stated. This inactivity-related disorders affect nearly of adult and children and projected to cost the United States $1.5 trillion over the next ten years.

Is exercise essential?

Yes, very much so. To illustrate a point, let us exaggerate and consider a situation that is extreme: a person who is bedridden, a stroke victim or a quadriplegic, someone practically unable to move. What happens?

The muscles all over the body atrophy and in most instances replaced with fats, become flabby and lose bulk, the heart and lungs deteriorate, the circulation slows down, metabolism becomes impaired, the immune system declines, and the brain and all other organs function poorly. Humans, animals in general, were not meant to be vegetables. Physical activities are essential for cardiovascular fitness and fundamental to health.

Why is brisk walking better than jogging?

In the 60s and 70s, jogging was very popular as a form of exercise. However, there were significant attendant complications resulting from jogging, like injuries to feet, ankles, knees, hips, spine, etc. Studies in Sports and Cardiovascular Medicine two decades later showed that the cardiovascular benefits from brisk walking were the same as those derived from jogging, minus the many significant injuries which show as we grow older.

What is the target heart rate?

When exercising, the heart rate normally speeds up. The heart rate that one wants to achieve with exercise is called Target Heart Rate (THR). Reaching this heart rate when exercising means maximum benefit is being derived from the physical activity. To compute your THR, subtract your age from 220. Example: the THR of someone who is years old is minus or 170. When exercising, one tries to reach his/her THR, so long as no symptoms occur, like chest pains or tightness of the chest, dizziness, or fainting. Some expected shortness of breath is normal, which should subside with rest. Among the elderly and those on medications, adjustments need to be made. The best thing to do before embarking on an exercise regimen is to consult your physician, who will advise you accordingly, and prescribe what is best for you.

How many calories are burned by exercise?

For a 150-pound (about 68-kilo) person, doing the following for one hour burns the corresponding amount of calories indicated here: walking, mph, calories; walking 4.5 mph, jogging mph, bicycling mph, 12mph, jumping rope, running in place, running mph, swimming yards per minute, tennis, singles, 400. For half an hour of non-stop fast dancing (like swing or boogie), calories; and, in contrast, for a 30-minute foreplay and actual sex, only calories are burned, believe it or not. Obviously, we cannot rely on sexercise.

What is the minimum recommended?

The American College of Sports Medicine has the following minimum exercise recommendation for healthy men and women: Frequency: one hour, 3-5 days a week. It appears that exercising beyond an hour does not confer added cardiovascular benefit and only increases the stress to the heart, joints, and muscles.

Exercise in a pill?

Scientists have identified a drug that mimics the effects of exercise on muscle and bone in mice, without any negative effects on surrounding tissues. t even reinvigorates muscles and bone and joints. The drug is Locamidazole (LAMPZ), according to Tokyo Medical and Dental University. But it is not a substitute for physical exercise; it augments it, just like Viagra for men being second only to the natural sex hormones in our teenyears and in our twenties.

If you will excuse me, it’s time for my Tai-Bo, the hottest low-impact entire-body workout to hit this century, an exercise that could be done anywhere, anytime, with no gadget required. Just your body.

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

PHILIP S. CHUA

INSPIRATIONAL ARTICLE FOR THE WEEK

FAITH IS THE ANSWER

By TIM PEDROSA

LET US HAVE FAITH THAT BETTER THINGS ARE COMING; THAT THE BEST IS YET TO COME. Faith is taking the first step even when we don t see what could happen. Let us never regret anything that has happened in our lives, because it cannot be changed nor undone. e might as well take it as a lesson and move on. There are times when we might have craved for certain things, but then, unfortunately, these particular things do not come to us. Sometimes someone or something dear to us is gone. hen something happens beyond our control, we should accept it some way or the other. e should not keep chasing it for the rest of our lives.

n life, something happens that might not be according to our wishes. n such a scenario, we have to accept the reality without allowing ourselves to keep nagging about it all the time. e must not feel low but continue to have faith in ourselves and our abilities. Let us rely on the Almighty and must understand that this is part of life. hen something is gone, we must let it go Maybe it was not meant for us maybe there is something greater coming along the way. e probably deserve a lot better, and that is what is on the way.

have learned that if things are meant for us, they will come to us. All we need is to hold our patience and have enough faith in ourselves. The moment we actually have faith and trust in od, things are going to fall in their places all by themselves. Let us just accept the reality, keep working ahead and trust ourselves. e have survived a lot, and we will survive whatever is coming. e should realize that we are capable of withstanding any sort of di culties that come along our way. Feed your faith and your fears will starve to death. e often fear something because we are not aware of our own potential. Let us be confident that we are capable of dealing with all sorts of hardships, and nothing in this world can stop us from achieving all that we want to attain. Too often, we underestimate our own abilities and that is the biggest mistake that we can ever do. e have survived a lot in the past, we will be able to survive a lot more what is yet to arrive. Always believe that you have the power to renew, revitalize and regenerate your life, you can heal yourself, body, mind, heart and soul. The attitude of faith is to let go and become open to truth whatever it might turn out to be Alan atts. Life is a battle and we are just like the soldiers trying to give our best and make sure that we win. Every time we feel that we are low, let us just look back at our past and we will be able to understand that we are good enough e have survived many times, and we have a lot more to see ahead All we need is to have faith in ourselves and to od and we will be able to overcome each and every hurdle that comes along our way. hen one door closes another door opens, but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us Alexander raham Bell.

To Be In Control

bedience is among the unpopular virtues. Nobody wants to be told or to follow another. All wants to be their own master. No one wants rules or commandments for that means being subordinate. hen we obey, we submit ourselves to somebody above ourselves. et, obedience and or submission is essential and necessary in our spiritual life, our relationship with od through our Lord Jesus with the Holy Spirit. od is the Ruler thus, we obey. He has sovereignty and dominion over all hence, we submit everything to Him. Our whole life will only have purpose and meaning in the measure that we let od reign in our lives and our will in submission to His Holy ill.

n Chapter 45 of the book of Prophet saiah, od speaks about His sovereignty and omnipotence, “ am the Lord and there is no other,” He created everything and no other od besides Him. od even said “ oe to anyone who contends with their Maker shall the clay say to the potter, what are you doing ” Every word of this chapter is captivating, disturbing, and powerful at the same time in other words, the whole chapter is simply telling us, He is in control not us. This idea of control can be problematic, especially when we now move into the realm of spiritual life. Everything is grace and the primacy of grace, meaning everything is under od s control and His work. All we are to do is obey, be docile, cooperative, and like the clay, be malleable and formable. brought this topic into our reflection, because we do not want us to fall into the mentality that we are the ones in control and not od. There are things left for us to do but never be mistaken, we are not the ones doing everything, od is. e want to be in control, since the dawn of creation. e want to know all, but our heads are not big enough. e long to possess all, but our hearts will not contain all it wants. e want to hoard many things, yet our hands and arms are not capable of holding them all. Our very physical or bodily structure can reveal who we are not we are not od and we are not in control e are obsessed with control because we are emboldened by the many progress in science and technology, progress in nature, in medicine, economy and so on. However, we should bear in mind, these progress and development of many things and in many areas in human existence are already known by od. There is nothing that we are doing now and their consequences that He does not know. He even knows the things that man has made that can be his own destruction. Man can have some illusion of control, but will never have what he wants. Every advancement is just a spec in the degree of od s infinity and perfection. But humanity wants control even the illusory one just so one s ego and self-exaltation can be fed.

Control is power, but spiritual life is never in the realm of human control. n the physical and material realm, there are areas that human beings are given control and this makes us think that the metaphysical order too can be under our spell and machination. e are limited and finite beings, that should be enough for us to nurture in our minds and hearts the importance of od s presence and sovereignty. Accepting our limitations will not be weakness but rather power, for we will not only live by our own efforts but also with the consciousness that od will do great things with us and in us. Consequently, obedience to od and docility to His ways must be our daily concern. od taught us obedience by Himself obeying to human beings, Jesus obeying Mary and Joseph. By obedience to od, we learn that true control happens only when we work with od and not against Him. Control in our life is achieve by letting Christ totally be all in all of our existence, so that as He reigns in everything in us, we reign with Him. As we reign with Him, we are in control with Him. The freest person is one who considers himself a slave of Christ (Rom. 1 1), like St. Paul, like all the saints. One may consider himself free because he can do what he wants in this passing world yet the greatest freedom is of the spirit, the freedom of living for od. As you free yourself from the allurements and worldly mentalities there and then, you obtain control in life for you let Jesus, our Lord, reign in you.

REV. JOSE PELAGIO A. PADIT, SThD

Kinilaw na Bangus Recipe of the Week

Here is the recipe of my version of Kinilaw na Bangus.

Ingredients:

1 medium sized bangus,descaled, deboned

4 medium sized onions, peeled, sliced thinly

3-4 thumb sized ginger, skinned, sliced thinly

3-4 red hot chili, sliced thinly

3-4 long green sili, cut in half lengthwise, deseeded, sliced thinly

10-12 kalamansi, juice extracted

2 cups, white vinegar

1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground peppercorns

salt

To marinate the Bangus Skin

1/2 head garlic, crushed, peeled, coursly chopped

1/2 cup white vinegar

1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground peppercorns

1/2 teaspoon salt

To fry the Bangus Skin

cooking oil

Method:

Using a spoon carefully scoop out the meat from the butterflied boneless bangus. Place the fish skin including the tail and head in in a marinating bowl. Rub the inside on the fish skin with the chopped garlic, ground peppercorns and salt. Add in the ½ cup vinegar and let marinate for at least 15 minutes, keep aside until ready to fry. Cut the bangus meat into cubes, place in a bowl, add in about 1 cup of the white vinegar. Let it soak for at least 15 minutes, then drain the liquid using a sieve, lightly press the meat against the sieve to drain all the excess liquid. Using the same bowl toss together the bangus meat, ginger, onion, red chili, green long sili, ground peppercorns, kalamansi juice and remining vinegar. Season with salt to taste. Keep aside. Now cut off the tail and head from the marinated bangus skin. Cut the skin into wide strips. Keep aside. Heat generous amount of cooking oil until it start to smoke. First fry the bangus skin in batches until crisp. Next fry the bangus head and tail. Keep aside until ready to serve.

To serve arrange the bangus tail and head on a platter. Place the kinilaw/bangus meat in between the tail and the head. Top the kilawin with the crispy fried bangus skin and serve.

United

Airlines to fly direct Manila-San Francisco starting October 29

MANILA – United Airlines will start to offer daily non-stop flights between Manila and San Francisco in California beginning October 29, the only direct service to the Philippine capital from the US by an American carrier.

“Explore the beauty and culture of the Philippines with daily flights from San Francisco,” a post on United’s website read.

According to reports, the airline will use its largest aircraft, the Boeing 777-300ER, for this new route.

Only flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) offers direct flights to San Francisco, the Manila International Airport Authority confirmed.

Meanwhile, United will also boost its operations to other Asian destinations.

Beginning October 28, United will launch daily flights between Los Angeles and Hong Kong. Currently, the carrier offers twice-daily flights between the special administrative region and San Francisco.

On the same day, United will resume daily services between Los Angeles and Narita in Japan.

The airline currently offers daily services between Los Angeles and Haneda, Japan.

The carrier will increase flight frequencies to twice daily between San Francisco and Taipei starting October 29.

HOHO BUS TOUR. Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco (right) and Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna lead the launch of the Department of Tourism’s Hop-On, Hop-Off (HOHO) bus tours at the Kartilya ng Katipunan in Manila. The new circuit is the second of its kind after the pilot of HOHO Makati Financial Hub tours.